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“Follow me,” I say, and am secretly pleased when he does.

As we cross the barren yard that lies between the greenhouse and the living quarters, Raid and Kam stroll out of the recreation hall.

“Well, if it isn’t Solano and the little scientist,” says Kam.

Raid crosses his arms against his chest and glowers.

“Thought you two would be working.” I meet Raid’s stare with a glare of my own.

“Got the day off,” Raid says. Since he works with my grandfather, I suspect this is a lie. Grandfather never takes a day off during the week, and I know he demands Raid follow his example. He claims it will take Raid a few more years to master the intricacies of the 3-D copiers used to replicate certain machine parts and small household goods.

“And you never work if you can help it,” I say to Kam.

The redhead motions upward, toward the tall windmills spinning in the steady breeze. “No need. Turbines working just fine. Anyway, it’s none of your biz, Solano.”

“So all your energy comes from wind and solar?” Dace’s tone conveys a serious interest in the answer.

I glance at him, impressed that he displays no signs of being intimidated. “Yes. That’s why it’s important,” I make a face at Kam, “that the energy jockeys responsible for the collectors don’t crap out on their jobs.”

Kam snorts. “Like you’re always slaving away in the greenhouse? Nobody buys that, Solano.”

“Now Kam, be fair.” Raid’s dark eyes are fixed on me with a gaze that makes heat rise in my face. “Ann takes her work seriously. Just not anything else.”

Dace looks from Raid to me and back again. “Right now,” he says, his voice devoid of emotion, “Ann’s going to be my guide while I do some research on your planet’s plants and animals.”

“Oh? So she can take your uncle’s offer to jet off Eco, I suppose?” Raid drops his arms to his sides, but his fists remain clenched.

“That’s the idea,” says Dace. “So if you don’t mind, we need to go and get stuff together for our first expedition. I don’t want to waste any time. Not sure when the ship will be repaired, and I know Connor won’t want to hang around here any longer than necessary.”

Raid’s eyes narrow. “Is that right, Ann? You’ll be leaving us soon?”

“Could be,” I reply, giving him a warning look. As Dace glances back at the windmills, I mouth, “He doesn’t know,” at Raid.

Raid’s black eyebrows rise to meet the swoop of black hair falling across his brow. “Interesting. Well, let’s hit the kitchens, Kam, and see what we can scrounge for breakfast.”

I shake my head. “You haven’t eaten yet?”

“Just got up. Late night.” Raid shoots me a significant look.

This might bother me if I thought there was another girl, but I know all about his limited choices. One of the many reasons I can’t take his desire for me too seriously. Who else is he going to pursue? Emie is off-limits, and his other options are Karla, who’d be uninterested even if she wasn’t already in a relationship with Caroline, and the fifteen and unders. It’s me by default. Somehow, being the only option doesn’t thrill me.

Raid pulls an exaggerated yawn. “Yeah, didn’t get much sleep. How ’bout you, Kam?”

“Me neither. Or Emie.” Kam gives me a wink.

Of course, there are the older women in the colony, but they’re all matched with someone. Although, as I study Raid’s face—with its heavy-lidded eyes and self-satisfied smile—I wonder.

“Well, I certainly don’t want to keep you from … food.” I lift my chin and refuse to look away from Raid’s intense gaze. “Dace and I will just get our stuff together and head out while you guys chow down.”

“See ya later, losers,” says Kam. “Come on, Raid. Let the kiddies go exploring.”

“Sure.” Raid flashes one of those smiles that always catch me off-guard. “Have fun, Ann. I’m sure it’ll be a blast.” He nods his head toward Dace. “Beautiful scenery, stimulating company, and all that.”

Dace turns to me, his expression clearly indicating confusion. “I’m sure Ann will be a great guide.”

“Hell yes.” Raid leans in and pats Dace on the shoulder. “She’ll be terrific. She’s got the proper scientific mindset. Detached and analytical—that’s her.”

Kam laughs. “You should see your face, Solano.”

“Hijo de puta,” I mutter, before turning to Dace. “Don’t worry about them. They have nothing better to do than tease. Makes them feel superior, I guess.”

As I turn to leave, Raid grabs my arm. “Be careful out there,” he says in a very different tone of voice. “Remember what happened to your grandparents.”

I look back at him. “I’m always careful.” Shaking off Raid’s hand, I stalk away, not bothering to check if Dace is following.

“What was that all about?” Dace jogs to my side, matching his pace to my furious strides.

“Oh, nothing.” I glance at him. His face displays concern rather than any prurient interest. “Nothing to worry about. Living on Eco—it’s just like some tiny town in those classic holo books. Everybody knows everyone else and watches everything you do … Sometimes it gets on your nerves, you know?”

“I see the problem,” says Dace thoughtfully. “It’s not like you can meet new people any day of the week.”

“No, we don’t have many choices in our friends, or anything else.” I pause at the entrance to the living quarters. “Head to your ship to change and gather those things I suggested, and meet me back here as soon as possible. I’m going to grab bikes, my kit, and some jackets, but that’ll only take a sec.” I study him for a moment. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Just don’t want to waste your time if you have better things to do.”

I snort. “Better things? On Eco? Hardly. Anyway, it’ll be cool to see what you do. For your research, I mean. And you’ll get some good samples, I promise.”

“Great.” Dace smiles. The expression lights up his narrow face.

I can’t help but smile in response. “So—back here in a few. Then off we go, trekking into the unknown like those ancient explorers.”

“Making great discoveries,” says Dace. “Hey, don’t smirk—you never know. It’s always possible.”

“Anything’s possible,” I say, and for the first time in many years, I believe it.

Dace has no trouble handling the solar bike, zooming ahead and even spinning a few wheelies as we speed over the flat terrain.

“You’ve done this before,” I yell at him over the hum of the electric engines.

He just grins at me from behind his helmet visor before zipping away.

I gun my engine to keep up with him. I’m not comfortable with the speed we’re traveling, but I refuse to allow this tourist to best me.

“There might be hidden rocks, moron!” I shout. “Keep your eyes open!”

He nods, but I have the feeling he’s laughing at me.

Close to the first of the black rock outcroppings, I swing my bike around in a wide arc in front of him.

Dace slows his bike to a normal speed.

“Stop here.” I gesture toward the rocks. “Best place to start looking for stuff.” I kill my engine and climb off my bike.

Dace stops and pulls off his helmet before dismounting. I giggle. His dark hair is standing up all around his head, framing his face like spikes.

“That bad?” He runs his hands through his hair, succeeding only in flattening it slightly. “So, what should I be looking for?”

“I don’t know. You’re the scientist.” I slide off my own helmet, thankful my tight braid has kept my hair relatively neat. “There’re a few insect thingies that hang out around these rocks, and some lizard-type creatures. Thought you might be interested.”

“Come out here often?” Dace pulls a small pouch from one of his bike bags.

“Sometimes. There are these crystals I collect for barter. Not especially valuable, but pretty. Look like amethysts. Traders seem to like them.”

Unwrapping some digital gadgets and small metal tools, Dace glances up at me with a little smile. “Crystals, huh. Do you tell these traders what they’re really worth?”

“Not always,” I admit. “I mean, I don’t state they’re actually valuable.”

“And you don’t say they’re not.”

“Merida! You sound like my grandmother.”

Dace’s eyes spark with humor. “Not what I was going for.” He examines one of his gadgets. “So, this Raid guy. Is he your boyfriend?”

“Uhm, no. Well, maybe.” I rub at the side of my nose. “Guess it depends on what you call a boyfriend.”

“Dating? Kissing? Stuff like that.” Dace walks toward the cluster of black rocks, holding up some type of digital device.

“We hang out sometimes,” I say, not sure why I don’t want to admit to anything more. “What about you? Did you leave some girl pining for you back on Earth?”

“Nah. Never had time.” Dace waves the device around then pulls it back and peers into the screen.

“Time was really a problem?” I watch Dace with interest, wondering what he’s measuring.

Dace glances at me with a rueful smile. “Okay, so it wasn’t only time. I just never met anyone who interested me that much. I mean, enough to want to spend a lot of time with them. And to be honest, I didn’t seem to fascinate the girls that much. I’m not, you know, really built or anything.”

“I don’t think that’s the main … ” Dace holds up his hand and I snap my mouth shut.

“Got it!” In front of him a small circle of light glimmers. Within that faintly illuminated globe darts a flying insect. “Don’t worry, it won’t be harmed.”

“I’m not worried. Those things pester me to death when I’m outside. Kill it, for all I care.”

“I don’t want to kill anything,” says Dace with a frown. “Have you ever really taken a good look at these creatures? They’re pretty awesome.”

I move closer and stare into the sphere. The insect has the gossamer wings of a dragonfly, but its body resembles something else. “Looks like those seahorses from Earth. Pictures I’ve seen, anyway.”

“Yeah, it has the biological structure of a sea creature. Weird, considering the lack of oceans here.” Dace swipes a finger across his digital device and the globe disintegrates. The winged creature flies away.

“I thought you wanted to gather samples.”

Dace taps the device with his forefinger. “I have it in here. This can analyze any living creature and download all its vital information without harm. All the info I need is stored for later study.”

“Wow—must’ve cost a fortune.”

Dace shrugs. “I worked several part-time jobs to buy my equipment. Saved up for a while.”

I sit on one of the rocks that have tumbled off the larger pile. “Didn’t you go to school? I mean, I know we just study independently here on Eco, but I thought it was different on Earth.”

“It is different—if you’re rich.” Dace squats down and examines the base of the rock pile. “My family couldn’t afford for me to go to school. So I did the holodisc and ’sphere thing, just like you. At least that was free, thanks to the library. Hey, did you know there’s air rising up from under these rocks?” He places his hand over one of the small fissures in the pile.

“What’s that mean?”

“Probably caverns under here. Makes sense. You said there’s lots of underground water?”

“Yes, but near the compound it’s held in pockets. Natural cisterns.”

Dace holds up his hand, palm up. “Damp. Which means there’s water down there. I bet that’s where those flying insect-like creatures actually live.” He leans forward and peers at the base of the rock pile.

“Careful. Those stones are unstable.” I shift on my hard seat. I certainly don’t want to lose my family’s ticket off Eco to a slide.

“Damn!” Dace rocks back on his heels. He swings his electronic device in a wide arc over the ground and another globe forms.

Trapped in its soft glow is a tiny lizard-like creature.

“Oh, wow.” Dace gets down on his hands and knees to stare into the globe. “Come look at this, Ann.”

I don’t move. “I’ve seen them skittering around plenty of times.”

“Yes, but have you ever really looked at them? I mean, really looked.” Dace turns his head to gaze at me.

The wonderment in his eyes captures my attention. I slide off the rock and crawl over to examine the creature. “What’s so fascinating?”

“Well, check it out.” Dace sits up, making room for me to peer into the globe.

At first glance, it looks like an ordinary lizard. At least, like all the holo images of lizards I’ve seen. As I look closer, I realize the creature is covered in perfect, iridescent scales. Its tiny head has the snout of alligator, but its eyes, quite large for its face, are as green as new leaves.

“It’s beautiful.” I whisper, surprised to hear those words leave my mouth.

“Yes, and again, more like something that lives mostly in water, not on land.” Dace adjusts something on the device then swipes to free the little creature. It darts away, disappearing into a small crack in the rock pile.

“Well, you’ve lucked out so far. Those two things are basically all I’ve ever seen around here.” I rise to my feet, brushing the sand from my jeans. “There’s one other little insect thing. Smaller than the one you found. Don’t know if we’ll see any of those today, though. They usually come out closer to dusk.”

“This is fantastic.” Dace stands, slipping the digital device into his pocket. “Really.” He turns to me with a bright smile. “Thank you, Ann. You knew exactly where to look.”