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“There are scholarships.” Dace doesn’t wilt under Kam’s bitter smile.

“For their friends. Or maybe if you screw the right people.”

“Shut it, Kam.” I muster my most threatening expression—the one that mimics my grandmother’s glare. “Young kids present.”

Kam snorts. “Like they never hear such crap in this tin can colony. Okay, Solano, I’ll shut up. I’d like to get back to crushing Raid, anyway. Enough of this shit.” He turns and strides over to the game console. Flipping the switch that restarts the game, he shoulders his laser tag rifle. “Ready to get some action going, widget-maker?”

“It’s on, power-jockey.” Raid leaps to his feet and strides to the middle of the room, facing Kam. Marissa and most of the others follow and surround the two young men as they prepare for battle.

I shake my head. “Boys and toys.” I glance at Dace. “Sorry. Didn’t mean you. You seem more sensible than most.”

Dace smiles. “I don’t know. I like my virtual games too. But I wouldn’t take on those two. They’re pretty bad-ass.”

“So, you think what you’ve found on Eco’s really going to help with your research?” Trent slides his cushion a little closer to the sofa.

Dace’s face lights up. “Oh yes, especially with what we saw in the cavern … ”

I press my foot over his instep. Dace grunts and shoots me a surprised glance.

“What cavern?” Trent looks from Dace to me and back again. “There’s a cavern?”

“No, I … ” Dace’s eyes widen.

I grab his flailing hands and pull him close to me. “Cavern? You mean that tiny cave under the rock pile? Where you spied those lizards?”

Out of the corner of my eye I observe Trent’s stubborn expression.

“Lizards are everywhere,” he says. “And Dace said cavern. You talking crap, Ann?”

“No, of course not.” I yank Dace forward until we’re nose to nose. “Dace is disoriented. Must’ve gotten too much sun today. Scrambled his brains.”

Dace jerks my hands. “Wait a minute, there was a cavern … ”

Before Dace can say another word, I lean forward and kiss him, full on the lips.

I make it a good kiss—a long, lingering kiss that will shut him up for the foreseeable future.

“Damn,” says a familiar voice. “That was fast.”

I pull away from Dace and stare up into a pair of flashing dark eyes. Raid’s standing in front of the couch, still holding his laser rifle.

“Mierda,” I mutter.

Dace drops back against the sofa cushions, his face a study in confusion.

“Game over,” Raid yells to Kam. Tossing his rifle to Trent, who clutches it to his chest in astonishment, Raid strides toward the back of the game room. He sheds his headpiece and gloves as he goes, dashing them to the floor.

“What was that all about?” Dace is staring at me, his brown eyes very wide in his narrow face.

“Nothing.” The back door slams. I toss my hair over my shoulder. “You were sitting there, looking all serious and scientific and stuff and I just had this urge to kiss you. Mind?”

“No, I mean, I’m not sure … ” Dace jumps to his feet. “I think I’ll go back to the ship now.” He speaks with exaggerated dignity, tugging down his rumpled shirt. “I’ll meet you tomorrow, at the front gate. What time?”

“Eight, if that’s okay.”

“Fine.” Dace strolls off, exiting through the main door.

I catch Trent staring at me. “What’re you looking at?”

“You kissed him. I thought you and Raid … ”

“People around here are too freakin’ interested in other people’s business.” I stand, looking about for Emie. There’s still no sign of her, which is weird, especially since Kam hasn’t left the room. “See you later, kid. Need to find my friend.”

“Which one?” asks Trent.

I leave, but not before chucking a pillow at him.

I walk through pools of light cast by our solar lamps, stepping from shadow to light and back into darkness. Near the front doors of the greenhouse I spy a couple lounging on a discarded crate. My heart slams into my ribcage, but of course it’s not my mother. She’d never do something so foolish. It’s just Karla and Caroline. Entwined in each other’s arms, they’re oblivious to my presence. I hurry on, not wanting to disturb them.

I wander aimlessly. Emie’s probably in her family quarters, grabbing some rest after a long day. Her apprenticeship to Ivana, our computer and communications expert, is quite demanding, especially since Ivana doesn’t believe in things like breaks or lunch.

Reaching the back gate, I climb its metal rungs and stare over the top rail toward the Augusta Ada. A light shines, illuminating the cargo hold. I identify Calla, her blonde head easily recognizable amid the clutter of dark boxes. Next to her, perched on a crate, sits Emie.

“Your friend seems to have a fascination with cybers.”

I turn my head to face my mother.

“She thinks they’re victims of discrimination.” I jump off the gate.

“Interesting.” Mom is backlit by the solar lamps, the light turning her fair hair into a halo. “She’s plotting a social revolution?”

“On Eco? Not likely.” I grip one of the gate’s smooth metal rails for support. “You’re out late.”

My mother’s gentle smile is more brutal than a slap in the face. “Couldn’t sleep. Thought I needed a bit of exercise. So,” she tilts her head to examine me, “where’s that boyfriend of yours? Or have you thrown him over for Connor’s nephew?”

So she isn’t trying to hide their first-name basis. “Oh, Raid was playing some game with Kam.” I refrain from mentioning he stalked off before I left the room. “And I think Dace went back to the ship. We plan to head out early tomorrow.”

Mom moves closer. “You know, Ann, I’m very grateful you took Connor’s offer. Of course, I’m aware you’ve always been as desperate as I am to get off Eco, but still—escorting the nephew about, I appreciate that.”

“Dace,” I say, eyeing my mother with suspicion. “His name’s Dace, not ‘the nephew.’”

“Right.” She reaches me and leans against the fence, one slender hand curled about a gate rail, the other resting on my shoulder. “Dace. Funny name.” Her hazel eyes sweep over my face. “Anyway, I’m glad you managed to grab the opportunity. If I’m not mistaken, you manipulated things to your advantage?”

There’s admiration, not accusation, in her words.

“Maybe.” I stand very still as she lifts her hand to stroke my cheek.

“You’re so much like me. Smart, ambitious, determined … ” The fingers trace the length of my nose. “Though you don’t really resemble me. Except perhaps about the eyes, and the mouth.” She taps her fingers against my lips. “Do you know the main reason I dream of leaving Eco? It’s because I want more for you, Ann. More than I had. I hope you know that.”

“I know,” I reply, although this is the first time I’ve heard her say it.

She drops her hand to her side. “Eco is such a dead end. What is there for you here, except to keep a greenhouse of plants alive and shack up with that admittedly handsome Asian boy?”

“Raiden Lin.”

“Yes, Raiden. Quite a looker. But still, just one more loser who’ll never be able to give you what you want, what you deserve.”

“Don’t think I’d call Raid a loser … ”

Mom pats my arm. “Oh, my darling daughter, consider. No plans to leave Eco? Would be perfectly happy screwing you, interspersed with playing holo games and tinkering with those machines your grandfather loves? Yes, I’m afraid ‘loser’ sums it up quite nicely.”

I stare into her lovely face. “I have no plans to shack up with anyone. Not for a while, anyway. Not until we’re living on Earth.”

My mother’s smile turns beatific. “Good girl. You just keep that in mind. Now come, let’s head back to our quarters. It’s late, and your father will be worried.”

As if you care. But I don’t speak those words. Like the pathetic chicken-shit I am, I simply smile in return. Like I always do when she’s nice to me.

When she shows me a smidgen of love.

Mom drapes her arm about my shoulders as we walk away from the fence. “You and I,” she says, as she smoothes my hair with her free hand, “are a force to be reckoned with, Ann Cooper Solano.”

I don’t bother to correct her version of my name. “The Earth won’t know what hit it.”

“Not at first, anyway.” Mom hugs me closer, forcing me to shorten my stride. “But eventually, everyone will know of our magnificence.”

I glance at her face. Her jaw is set, her lips drawn into a thin line. There’s no question she’s determined to achieve her goals, one way or the other.

With or without me.

I pull the handle of the door that leads into the living quarters and motion for Mom to walk in ahead of me. “Here we are, home sweet home.”

She turns in the open doorway to level me with a chilling stare. “This is not home, Ann. Don’t forget that. This will never be our home.”

I swallow hard and nod in agreement before following her down the hall to our quarters.

***

I can’t sleep. Dace’s astonished face and Raid’s angry one keep swimming before my eyes. There’s only one person I want to talk to. I wonder if she’s in her room.

It’s worth a shot—better than lying here staring at the ceiling. I swing my feet over the edge of my bed, feeling with my toes for the slippers I kicked off earlier. I throw a loose jacket over the T-shirt I wear as a nightgown and slip out of my tiny bedroom—barely large enough to fit a single bed, built-in closet, and dresser—and make my way to our front door. By the variety of snore patterns, I can tell everyone else is asleep.

Emie’s family quarters are one hall over. As I pass the door to the rooms where Raid and his mother live, I hesitate. No, I can’t talk to Raid now. It’s better if he stays angry with me. Perhaps it won’t hurt so much when I leave.

The door to Emie’s quarters is unlocked—not unusual on Eco. I slip into the living area and tiptoe to Emie’s bedroom door, using two knuckles to tap our secret code. I glance about the living area; it looks just like ours, except for the clutter. Emie’s mother is less organized than Mom—one reason I always feel more comfortable in this space.

Emie’s dark head pokes out from behind the door. “Ann. What’s up?”

“Can I come in? Need to talk.” I don’t wait for an answer. I push past Emie, take a few steps, and flop onto her narrow bed.

“Sure. Make yourself at home.” Emie closes the door and stands very still, staring at me.

“So, what was up with you earlier?” I sit up and pat the hard mattress. “Come—talk to me. We haven’t talked,
really
talked, in ages.”

Emie crosses to the bed. There’s a puffiness beneath her dark eyes that tells me she’s been crying. “It’s the middle of the night.”

“We’ve talked all night plenty of times,” I remind her, as she settles beside me.

“Yes, but that was before we had real jobs.” Emie uses both hands to smooth down her unruly curls. “You know how demanding Ivana is. She works me to death.”

“I know. I lucked out with my grandmother. As long as I get my assigned chores done, she doesn’t force me to put in any specific number of hours.” I study Emie’s face. “You’ve been crying. Why?”

Emie waves her hand before her face. “Oh, nothing. It’s silly. You wouldn’t get it, anyway.”

“Kam?” She’s right; I wouldn’t understand shedding any tears over her boyfriend.

“No, nothing to do with Kam, or boys. More important.”

“Oh? Spill.” I lean back on my elbows and stare at the metal ceiling.

“It’s just … ” The hesitation in Emie’s voice doesn’t negate the vibrancy of her tone. “Okay, here’s the thing. I chatted with some of the crew of the Augusta Ada this evening. That’s why I left the game room early—I wanted a chance to talk to them without … ”

“Kam?” I glance over at Emie’s solemn face. “So—you arranged a convo with some cybers?”

“Yes. Calla and Jacobi. They were keeping watch over the cargo hold.” Emie chews on her pinky nail before continuing. “I saw them earlier in the day and decided I had to speak with them.”

“What about?” I sit up and watch Emie closely, a little afraid she’s uncovered my lie regarding Captain Patel and his offer.

“Their lives, mostly. How they came to be cybers, what it’s like.” Emie lays her hand on my arm. “Did you know it can take over twenty operations just to fix one major injury? And they often have multiple injuries. Just imagine how hard it must be.”

I recall Calla’s artificial face. “I have. It makes me want to puke.”

“Think how it makes
them
feel.” Emie’s tone sharpens. “They are people, not cybers. People with replacement parts, but human just like you and me.” Her black eyes flash. “It isn’t fair, Ann. They give their all, and what happens? They either spend their lives maimed and crippled or they accept the cyber parts. And once they do, what then? Everyone shuns them. Earth bars them entry. They aren’t even allowed to visit their families unless it’s off-world.”

“That does suck,” I admit. “But they knew the dangers when they signed up … ”

Emie continues as if I hadn’t spoken. “Did you know that Jacobi has children? Including one he’s never seen, except by holo. And Calla has a sister who’s very ill. She’ll never see her again in person. Neither one of them can hold their loved ones, can even touch their hands. It isn’t right, Ann. It just isn’t.” Tears sparkle on Emie’s dark lashes.