Facsimile (23 page)

Raid rests his ear against Dace’s chest. “He’s breathing.” He sits back on his heels, stripping off his T-shirt. “Emie, come here and hold this against that cut on his head. Got to stop the bleeding.”

The Selk make a high-pitched sound that scrapes my nerves like a file. I turn my head to see they have all gathered at the shoreline.

Alive.
I concentrate all my energy on the thought.
He’s alive.

Their wails descend into a quiet keening.

I continue to stare at them, these alien creatures.

No, not so alien.
Us
, they claimed. We were different, our creation and development separated by space as well as species. But we shared things too. Enough to make our continued survival matter to both of us.

“Ann!” Raid’s voice draws me back. “We need to get him help, but I’m afraid to move him without a medic checking him out first. If Calla followed our advice, if my mother’s here, she can tell us what to do.”

Dace looks so fragile, lying on the ground with one arm twisted at an odd angle. Crimson blossoms through the fabric Emie holds against his head. She looks up at me, her lips tightened in distress.

“Emie, you stay with him. We’ll go for help.” My voice sounds like it’s emerging from someone else’s throat. I squeeze my friend’s shoulder. “The Selk can comprehend whatever you think, to a degree. If we give a signal—a shout or something—you tell them to flee. Just think ‘flee’ or ‘escape’ as hard as you can. Understand?”

She lifts her chin. “I’ll do it, I swear. No matter what.”

“Good.” Raid leans in to kiss Emie on the cheek. “Kam never deserved you,” he adds with a warm smile.

“No, he sure didn’t.” Emie strokes Dace’s still hand. “Go on. I’ll keep watch and listen for any signal.”

I spare one last glance for Dace. His face has paled to the color of sand. “Raid—let’s go put a stop to this.”

“How?” Emie’s voice quivers. I know the fear in her eyes isn’t for herself. That knowledge makes me stiffen my spine and meet Raid’s questioning eyes without hesitation.

“I don’t know. But we’ll do it. We have to.”

We climb over fallen rock to reach the passage that leads outside. Raid, shirtless, collects several cuts on his torso, as well as his legs and arms. One sharp fragment scrapes the pad of my heel and I leave a trail of bloody footprints to the entrance. But for some reason, the pain barely registers.

The opening is wider than before. I shrink back against the stone wall of the passage to stay out of sight, then inch forward to peer around the corner. Raid moves in close behind me, his chest pressed so tightly against my shoulder I can feel his heartbeat.

“See anything?” he whispers in my ear.

“It’s a standoff. Kam and his crew on one side, hunched behind their rovers; Calla, my family, and some others taking cover behind their own vehicles. Both sides pointing laser guns at each other.” I turn my head to look up into Raid’s face. “Your mom is here.”

A spasm of anxiety twitches Raid’s good eye. “We need her help with Dace. Does she have her med kit?”

“Looks like it.”

“So we gotta step out there. Tell them what’s up. Let me go first.” Raid brushes past me. “Hopefully they won’t shoot at anything that moves.”

“Raid,” I say, “you’re not going anywhere without me.” I take his hand in a firm grip.

He looks down at me. Even with his face marred by cuts and bruises, he still manages a seductive smile. “I like the sound of that.”

We both exhale before stepping out into the light.

“Hold your fire!” my father’s voice rings out.

I blink in the sunlight. Still holding Raid’s hand, I clear my throat before raising my voice. “We need help. Dace is injured … ”

Connor Patel jumps out from behind one of the rovers. Kam, who’s cradling something in his palms, stretches out his hands.

“Stay put!” Kam waves one hand over his head. “I still have the detonator.”

Patel freezes in place. “My nephew—he’s never harmed you.”

“Really?” Kam saunters into the buffer zone that separates the opposing groups. “He and his little investigations just closed Earth’s doors to me.”

“Would’ve been discovered anyway,” says my grandmother.

I catch her eye. Her calm gaze steadies me. “Kam, Dace really does need help. Can we take Doctor Lin to him? Please?” I hate to beg Kam for anything, but this is Dace we’re talking about.

I’d do anything for Dace
. The thought slams against my skull like the voices of the Selk. I tighten my grip on Raid’s hand. Dace and Raid. This could be a problem. But not one that matters right now.

“Kameron.” My mother’s honeyed tones immediately capture Kam’s attention. “I’m sure you don’t want Dace or anyone else to come to any real harm. Why not allow the doctor to take a look? The rest of us will stay here. As hostages, if you want.”

My father lays a hand on Mom’s shoulder. “Yes, you can keep us here. We’ll even put down our weapons.” He holds up his gun and tosses it out into the open space between the two sides. “Just permit Doctor Lin to check on Dace.”

“And Emie?” Mr. Winston casts me a frantic look.

I lock my gaze with that of Emie’s father. “Emie’s okay. She’s watching over Dace, but she’s unharmed.” Refocusing on Kam and his followers, I drop Raid’s hand and step forward. “What do you say? Let the doctor take a look?”

Kam’s fingers twitch, and a flash of fear crosses every face, even those in his own family. “Not the doctor. The colony can’t afford to lose a medic. Someone else can check, but no funny business. I swear I’ll blow those other charges if anyone pulls any crazy shit.” His gaze sweeps over the group that includes my parents and grandparents. “Anyone else here know first aid?”

Calla steps forward, holding her gun over her head. “I do. Trained for basic emergency response in the military.”

Kam studies the cyber for a second. “All right. Toss over your gun and grab the doc’s med kit.”

Calla carefully lowers her gun to the ground and kicks it toward Kam.

As Doctor Lin hands over the bag, she casts furtive glances at Raid, obviously concerned about his condition. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Raid mouth something at her. Reassuring her, no doubt.

I look back at my family. They’re all staring at me, except for my mother, whose eyes remain fixed on Kam. I lift my hand and smile to indicate I’m fine.

“So, here’s the deal.” Kam turns to his uncle, swiftly swapping the detonator for a laser pistol. “My guys are going to keep you lot under surveillance. And Uncle’s quite willing to blow those charges if anyone steps out of line.”

Doug Frye’s skin is the color of dough. He glances from his brother to his nephew before cradling the detonator close to his chest.

“I’m going to escort the cyber inside,” continues Kam, pointing the gun at Calla. “Just to make sure these two are telling the truth.” The pistol swings about to target Raid and me. “When we get back, we’ll see about finishing this.”

“We could finish it now if you’d listen to sense,” says Mom. She walks right up to Kam.

I’m not the only one to gasp when he points the gun at her.

“Go ahead.” Mom tosses her gleaming blonde hair. She’s several inches shorter and many pounds lighter than Kam, but not one iota of fear shadows her face. “You think that will solve your problems, but it won’t. The only thing that’s going to help you now, Kameron Frye, is to put down that gun, tell your uncle to lay down the detonator, and all of you—just walk away.”

Kam presses the barrel of the pistol against Mom’s forehead. “You need to back off.”

Mom lifts one slender hand, but instead of pushing aside the gun, she lays her fingers on Kam’s wrist. “Really, Kameron, this is so melodramatic.” She strokes his arm. “Drop the gun, please, and I will walk back to join my family. We don’t want to destroy our friendship do we?”

Kam’s eyes appear glazed. He lowers the pistol. Mom takes the opportunity to back up, step by step, until she bumps into Connor Patel who’s rushed forward to meet her. He wraps his arms tightly around her. I glance at my dad; he’s staring at his boots.

“Okay, then. Get a move on.” Kam wheels around to face Raid and me. “You,” he motions toward Calla, “walk in front of me—behind those two.”

“One moment.” My grandfather strips off his jacket. “Can I toss this to Raid? He looks cold.”

Kam stares at Raid. “Yeah, what’s up with the half-naked thing, dude? Took a moment out of your rescue operation to screw Solano?”

“We were swimming,” replies Raid calmly, his teeth chattering. It is colder outside than in the caverns, and what little clothes we’re wearing are still damp.

“Throw it over here,” Kam instructs Grandfather. When the jacket sails to his feet, Kam snatches it up and searches its pockets before tossing it to Raid.

“Put it on and move out.” Pointing the pistol toward the cavern entrance, Kam waits until Calla falls in behind Raid and me before striding forward. “Remember, I’m still back here, and I’m the one holding the gun.”

“Yeah,” mutters Raid, as he follows me to the entrance. “Real brave, asshole.”

I shush him and lead the way into the passage. With the entrance blasted open, it’s brighter than before, but I still keep one hand on the wall to guide my way down. “Watch for falling rock,” I call over my shoulder just as a chunk of Dace’s mineral splits off the ceiling and crashes at my feet.

“Shut up and walk,” says Kam.

I share a glance with Raid. There are three of us—four, once we reach the first cavern—and one of Kam. He has a laser gun, but …

Raid nods, as if reading my mind. He taps my shoulder. “When we’re inside,” he whispers.

“No talking!” yells Kam.

The large chamber opens before us, the light from the shafts piercing the shadows. We pick our way over a barrier of stones to take the path down to the shore.

Emie’s sitting by Dace’s still body. She looks up at our approach, her joy turning to fear when she spies Kam.

“Don’t worry,” Raid calls out, “we’ve brought help.”

I gaze out over the lake. The Selk have submerged for the moment, but their dark forms are clearly visible swirling through the water. As we reach the bottom of the path, I catch Kam staring at the lake.

His expression radiates suspicion. “What’s moving in there?”

“The Selk, of course.” I walk toward the water’s edge.

“Stop,” commands Kam. “No communication with your alien friends.”

I feel a giggle rise in my throat. Stupid time, bad place, but Kam’s so right he’s wrong … The giggle erupts in a peal of laughter.

“You nuts?” Kam strides forward and grabs me by the arm. He jerks me around to face him.

“Hey!” Raid moves in, his fists raised.

Calla steps between him and Kam. “Enough. We’re here to help the kid.”

“Right.” Raid glares at Kam, who drops my arm but keeps his gun trained on us.

“How’s he doing?” I ask Emie.

“No better, no worse.” Emie’s dark eyes are shadowed under her lowered eyelids.

Whatever you think
… I know what she’s doing. A very smart girl, as my father said.

My foot’s throbbing, but I push the pain aside. “Can we go to him?” I ask Kam.

He gives a curt nod. “You and the cyber. Raid can stay here and keep me company.”

Calla and I make our way to Dace. Kneeling, I place my arm around Emie’s shoulders. “You want to get up and stretch for a minute?” I whisper.

“Still thinking,” she replies, with a little tip of her head toward the lake.

I pat her arm and turn my attention to Dace. “How is he?”

Calla, focused on examining Dace’s head injury, doesn’t look up. “He’ll live. Nasty cut, though.”

“He’s been out quite a while.” I take one of Dace’s hands. It feels cool, but not limp. “Sure that’s okay?”

“Probably better than thrashing about.” Calla rummages through the med kit for some antiseptic and a bandage.

Kam’s pistol is still trained on Raid, but the redhead keeps sneaking glances at the lake. Obviously, the Selk are affecting him in some way, which might mean he can be easily distracted. “Do you think … ?”

Calla looks up at me, her strange eyes unreadable. “Four to one. Yeah, I’ve thought it. But only after I fix up the kid. Next thing is a splint for that arm. Might need your help.”

I move around to the other side of Dace’s prone body and hold his arm at the proper angle for the splint.

“You ’bout done?” asks Kam. He’s shifting his weight from foot to foot.

“Almost,” says Calla.

I catch Raid’s eye. “Four to one,” I mouth, when Kam glances once more at the lake.

Raid nods. I walk over to Emie and kneel beside her. “Be ready to take him down,” I say in her ear.

“No whispering!” Kam shoves the barrel of the gun into Raid’s back. Forcing Raid to walk in front of him, Kam crosses to us. “Get up, Solano!”

I stand, helping Emie to her feet. “Just discussing Dace’s condition.”

“Over there.” Kam jerks his head toward a shallow indentation in the cave wall. “Stand over there.” He gives Raid a shove. “You too.”

As we move toward the wall, Kam pushes Calla aside and leans over Dace. “Not done yet? He looks okay to me.”