trudge up the steep ramp that leads into the belly of the Ada. One of the crew, obviously on guard duty, eyes me as I step into the cargo hold. His unnaturally blue eyes betray his status as a cyber, a human whose body’s been substantially enhanced with implants or prosthetics. I’m always startled by his kind. Their otherness sets something fluttering in my stomach. Logically I know this is foolish—they’re still human, mostly. I also know cybers don’t choose to replace original body parts with digital implants and prostheses. Most are former soldiers, severely injured during their stint in the military. The restoration of their bodies is a reward for their service.
But they never receive the restoration of their full human status.
I stare at the man as this realization slams into my mind. Emie makes this point often enough, but it never really sank in until now. “I’m here to see Dace. Is he anywhere about?”
“Dunno.” The man gestures toward a tall woman standing in the shadows. “Calla might have some idea.”
The woman steps forward. Her pale hair, streaked with green highlights, is cropped short, and her features display the inhuman perfection of a doll.
I gnaw on my lower lip, wondering where and how this woman’s original face was destroyed. A fire, perhaps, or an explosion. Not an uncommon danger for a soldier or any other spacer.
“Haven’t seen the boy,” says Calla. Her voice is artificially enhanced as well.
I shiver, envisioning the horror of an accident that could inflict such damage. It must’ve been hell—the pain of the treatment on top of the original injury, the terrible sense of loss. “Do you mind if I check his quarters? I’m his guide around Eco, and I’d like to chat with him before tomorrow.” I slowly extend my arm. “Ann Solano.”
Calla makes no move to take my hand. “I know who you are. Had to vet you, didn’t we?” She looks me over. “Guess it’s all right. Move along, then.” With a flick of her gloved hand she motions toward the back of the cargo bay. “Through there. Down the hall and make a right. First hatch.”
I walk past the two cybers without looking directly at them.
Stepping into the narrow hall is like entering a drainage pipe. Dull metal plates cover the sides and curve to form an arched ceiling. I shake off the sensation that the walls are pressing in on me. If I’m lucky enough to get passage on this ship I’ll have to get used to the close quarters.
The first hatch stands open, blocking the view into Dace’s berth. I peer through the sliver of space between door and frame, then step back.
Mom is standing in Dace’s room, next to a built-in shelf. She’s balancing something in her palm, turning her hand this way and that to examine the object. It looks like the mineral sample Dace brought back from the cave. That’s strange enough—my mother on this ship, in a young man’s quarters, fondling his belongings. Even odder is she’s not alone.
Captain Connor Patel is standing beside her. Standing very close.
I position myself where I can watch without being seen.
“So, you think it might be worth further study?” Patel lays his palm over the rock sample, covering my mother’s delicate fingers with his large hand.
“Oh, definitely.” Mom glances up at him, flashing a smile as bright as Eco’s sun. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I’d like to examine it in more detail, with some of my parents’ equipment. Do you think your nephew would mind if I borrowed this piece? Just for tonight, you understand.”
“I’m sure he’d be fine with that.” Connor Patel stares into my mother’s hazel eyes as if he’s just sighted the lost moon of Arias.
I clamp my lips together to trap the swear words in my mouth.
“Well,” Mom tilts her head and gazes into Patel’s face, “I don’t want to cause any trouble.”
“Don’t you?” The captain’s voice takes on a teasing tone. “I’d have thought trouble was
But they never receive the restoration of their full human status.
I stare at the man as this realization slams into my mind. Emie makes this point often enough, but it never really sank in until now. “I’m here to see Dace. Is he anywhere about?”
“Dunno.” The man gestures toward a tall woman standing in the shadows. “Calla might have some idea.”
The woman steps forward. Her pale hair, streaked with green highlights, is cropped short, and her features display the inhuman perfection of a doll.
I gnaw on my lower lip, wondering where and how this woman’s original face was destroyed. A fire, perhaps, or an explosion. Not an uncommon danger for a soldier or any other spacer.
“Haven’t seen the boy,” says Calla. Her voice is artificially enhanced as well.
I shiver, envisioning the horror of an accident that could inflict such damage. It must’ve been hell—the pain of the treatment on top of the original injury, the terrible sense of loss. “Do you mind if I check his quarters? I’m his guide around Eco, and I’d like to chat with him before tomorrow.” I slowly extend my arm. “Ann Solano.”
Calla makes no move to take my hand. “I know who you are. Had to vet you, didn’t we?” She looks me over. “Guess it’s all right. Move along, then.” With a flick of her gloved hand she motions toward the back of the cargo bay. “Through there. Down the hall and make a right. First hatch.”
I walk past the two cybers without looking directly at them.
Stepping into the narrow hall is like entering a drainage pipe. Dull metal plates cover the sides and curve to form an arched ceiling. I shake off the sensation that the walls are pressing in on me. If I’m lucky enough to get passage on this ship I’ll have to get used to the close quarters.
The first hatch stands open, blocking the view into Dace’s berth. I peer through the sliver of space between door and frame, then step back.
Mom is standing in Dace’s room, next to a built-in shelf. She’s balancing something in her palm, turning her hand this way and that to examine the object. It looks like the mineral sample Dace brought back from the cave. That’s strange enough—my mother on this ship, in a young man’s quarters, fondling his belongings. Even odder is she’s not alone.
Captain Connor Patel is standing beside her. Standing very close.
I position myself where I can watch without being seen.
“So, you think it might be worth further study?” Patel lays his palm over the rock sample, covering my mother’s delicate fingers with his large hand.
“Oh, definitely.” Mom glances up at him, flashing a smile as bright as Eco’s sun. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I’d like to examine it in more detail, with some of my parents’ equipment. Do you think your nephew would mind if I borrowed this piece? Just for tonight, you understand.”
“I’m sure he’d be fine with that.” Connor Patel stares into my mother’s hazel eyes as if he’s just sighted the lost moon of Arias.
I clamp my lips together to trap the swear words in my mouth.
“Well,” Mom tilts her head and gazes into Patel’s face, “I don’t want to cause any trouble.”
“Don’t you?” The captain’s voice takes on a teasing tone. “I’d have thought trouble was
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