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I turn my head and stare at a blank holo monitor mounted on the wall. “Everyone. All on Eco who are able. We’ll take shifts so no one has to do too much. Raid thinks we can collect enough to make it profitable, even if we each only spend a couple of hours a week on the project.”

“Ingenious.”

“Well, we don’t know if the other colonists will agree, but it seems like a great compromise. I mean, it helps everyone, and since we can’t jet off to Earth anyway … ”

“Yet.” Dace tugs on my sleeve, forcing me to look at him. “You’re going to help Emie with her campaign, aren’t you?”

“Yes. Maybe I can’t go to a major university, but I can do the virtual equivalent using holodiscs and the ’sphere. Learn all I can about social systems, and politics, and the law, and then … ” I meet his brilliant gaze and hold it, “ … work to change things.”

“Sounds like a plan.” A smile twitches Dace’s lips. “You and Emie—the powers-that-be don’t have a chance.”

“It’ll take time.”

“So will my studies. But that’s something we both have, I hope—time.”

“Yeah.” I study his face for a moment. “So you’re definitely leaving with your uncle?”

“Have to. That degree’s even more essential now. Might be other creatures like the Selk who need protection.”

“You’ll be back, though? To study the creatures on Eco, I mean?”

“Sure. Every chance I get. Breaks and holidays. I have a lot more research to conduct on the Selk.” He tips his head to one side, examining me as if I were one of his alien species. “And you know, I might need some more lessons before I’m ready to tackle those university girls.”

I unsuccessfully attempt to swallow a chuckle. “You’re not supposed to tackle them, exactly … ”

“See—you’ve already helped.” He flashes a bright, toothy grin before continuing in a more serious tone. “I know Raid’s here. And he’s pretty awesome—even I can admit that. So I’m not expecting anything. But I want us to be friends.”

“I don’t have a problem with that.” I return his careful appraisal. “We can holo chat every now and then, although don’t expect too much—sometimes our communication system craps out for months at a time. But there’s messaging, too.”

“Still good. Keep in touch. Only … ” Dace strokes one finger across the back of my hand. “It’s not quite like being in physical proximity.”

“Physical proximity?” I raise my eyebrows. “Okay, Professor, another little tip, free of charge—drop that kind of talk if you want to interest a girl. Be a bit more informal.”

“Like this?” Dace takes hold of my hand and pulls me in for a kiss.

It’s a nice kiss. No, better than that.

It’s a kiss that flips everything, that fills my head with confusion again.

“Damn, who have you been practicing on?” I make sure to keep my tone light.

Dace grins again. “No one. Just allowed myself the freedom to be a little more informal.”

“Huh.” I sit back. We stare at each other for a full minute before I find my voice. “So, that stuff Calla said about the Selk. Are you going to investigate that as well?”

“If I can convince Uncle to take me to Shenlong, sure.” Dace rests against the pillows, his eyes never leaving my face. “It is weird such similar creatures would pop up on distant planets. I suppose it’s possible, if you take into account the theory of convergent evolution … Oh, sorry. I’m being too pedantic again, aren’t I?”

“’Fraid so.” I make a mental note to look up “pedantic.” “Anyway, Calla claimed the creatures on Shenlong weren’t native to the planet. That means, what?”

“They were transported there.”

“But by whom?”

“Or what?” Dace smiles. “It’s fun, huh? Exploring, discovering new things. Keeps life interesting.”

“Yeah.” I lean in and adjust his pillows so his body slips down and he ends up flat on his back. “Now, you’re supposed to be sleeping. Boris is gonna throw me out if we keep talking.”

“I’ll shut up, then.” Dace looks up at me. “I don’t want you to go. Will you stay with me awhile?”

“Sure, but do you mind if I sit on the edge of the bed? This chair’s hard as those rocks in the cavern.”

“No problem,” says Dace, moving over as I settle onto the bed. “You can even lie down if you want.”

“Hmmm … I think I’ll just lean back on one of these extra pillows, thanks.”

There’s definitely a mischievous glint in Dace’s dark eyes. “What’s the matter, Ann? Don’t trust yourself?”

I stare at him for a moment, my lips pulled tight. “Now get this straight, Dacian Keeling. I have no intention of giving you any more lessons. And certainly … ” the smile escapes despite my attempt to smother it, “ … not until you have both hands available.”

Dace’s laughter draws Boris back. The medic just stares at us and mutters something about “kids” before shaking his head and walking away.

In just a few hours, the Augusta Ada will blast off Eco. Standing in our tiny, unattractive, living space, I watch my father scramble eggs.

“You should go and say goodbye,” he tells me, without turning around.

He’s talking about Mom, of course. She sent word by Grandfather that she’s in the lab, gathering up the last of her things. After the Council decided to follow my plan for mining Promissium on a small scale, she moved her belongings into the lab. I don’t know if she’s been sleeping there or on the ship with Connor Patel, but I’ve decided it doesn’t matter. She’s leaving, and my father’s apparently made his peace with that. Or so he tells me.

“Not sure I want to.” I pad over to the microstove and lean into his back, wrapping my arms around his waist.

“Careful, chica. Don’t want to splatter,” he says, but reaches up one hand to pat my arm.

“Sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine.” Dad lays down his plastic spoon and turns off the burner with a wave of his hand. “Want some eggs?”

“No thanks.” I release him and step back.

He turns around, allowing the eggs to congeal in the pan. His brown eyes study me with the intensity he uses to examine engineering diagrams. “Now—what’s this I hear about Kam traveling on the Ada? You know what’s up with that?”

“Captain Patel made a deal with him or something. He has to replace Calla … ” I take a breath. “Anyway, he’ll be another pair of hands. And it’s better than him staying here with everyone watching him all the time.”

“Makes sense. Good of Patel to offer.” Surprisingly, there’s no trace of rancor in Dad’s voice. “Of course it’ll be rough work, but it is probably better if Kam stays off Eco for a while. The rest of his family, and the others who helped them, are going to be under surveillance for some time.”

“I imagine so.” I fiddle with my braid. “I really don’t want to go, Papa. Not sure what there is to say.”

“You’ll regret it later if you don’t.”

“Did you?”

“Talk to her? Yes, briefly. There wasn’t much to say that hadn’t already been said. I understand why she’s leaving, and I can deal with it. It’s been a long time coming and now that it’s here … ” he shrugs, “it’s actually something of a relief. But, chica, I’m not her daughter.”

I draw small circles with the tip of my boot. “All right, I’ll go. For you.” I stand on tiptoe to plant a swift kiss on his cheek.

“Gracias, mi hija.” Dad turns back to the skillet. “I’d better eat this before it gets cold.” He examines the eggs without making any move to scoop them onto his plate.

I head for the door, pausing before I step into the hall. I catch Dad still staring at the skillet. “You’re really okay?”

“Sure,” he replies, with a smile. A sad smile, but still … “It’s just going to be different, you know?”

“New,” I tell him. “It’s going to be new. A brand new life.”

This time I receive a real smile.

***

My steps slow as I approach the lab. I know my mother’s disappointed in my decision to remain on Eco. Just like I’m hurt by her decision to leave—especially after I said I wouldn’t accompany her.

Mom’s standing in the middle of the room, the filtered light creating a nimbus about her golden hair. All her things have been cleared away, and I realize she’s already moved her belongings to the Augusta Ada and only returned to speak with me.

To tell me goodbye.

“Still time to change your mind,” she says, as I walk toward her.

A few feet separate us. Soon it will be millions upon millions of miles. Facing her, it occurs to me how young she looks. She has many years ahead of her—plenty of time to rebuild her life, to recreate herself. To become whatever it is she wants to be.

I straighten to my full height and meet her determined gaze. “I’m staying—for now. I have things I need to do before I can think of leaving.”

“And I’m leaving—for now.” Her lovely lips curve into a smile. “I won’t say forever, because that’s not how things work. Hope you’ve learned that.”

“I have. One thing you’ve taught me.”

The smile leaves her eyes. “A good lesson. Nothing is forever, my dear. Change and adapt if you want to survive.”

“And if I want to do more than that?”

My mother closes the gap between us in two strides. “Then you must find what matters to you and pursue it, whatever the obstacles.” She presses her cool hand against my cheek. “You must know yourself and what you want.”

I gaze into her hazel eyes. They reflect, as always, her fierce will, but something else as well. It might be pride. It might even be love.

“That’s my plan.” I capture her falling hand and close my fingers around it. “I hope you find that, Mama, for yourself. With Captain Patel, traveling, or whatever.”

She tilts her head and examines me, her eyes bright and beautiful as those of Eco’s lizards. “I will try. I’ve never really known exactly what I wanted, you see, so that’s the first step.” She swings our clasped hands. “Don’t be shocked if I don’t stay with Connor, though. Not really sure about that yet. Early days.”

I think about Raid and Dace. “I won’t be shocked. You will follow through on divorcing Dad, I hope? Not right to keep him hanging on.”

“I will.” She pulls her hand from mine and crosses her arms across her chest. “When did you become so grown-up? I expected you to fight to keep us together.”

“When you weren’t looking.” Despite my best intentions, I can’t resist a little jab.

A sound suspiciously like a chuckle escapes her lips. “Oh, you’ll do just fine, Ann.” Her bright expression fades. “Will you answer, if I call you?”

“Of course,” I say. “If you’re paying.”

She laughs out loud and pulls me into an unexpected embrace. “Ann Cooper Solano, you will definitely be just fine.”

I hug her and step back, out of her arms. “Wrong name if you’re planning to holo me, Mom. It’s Anna-Maria Solano.”

She looks me up and down. “Very well.” As she walks past me, heading for the door, she allows her fingers to graze my bare arm. “Are you coming to see us off?”

“No. I already said goodbye to Dace. And I guess this is our goodbye.”

Mom pauses in the doorway. “A temporary farewell. I expect to meet up with you soon, my dear, in space or elsewhere.”

“Maybe on Earth, if Emie and I achieve our goals.”

“Now that is something I would happily put credits on,” says my mother. She leaves the room without looking back.

A temporary farewell. Just like my goodbye to Dace. Because, if I’ve learned anything from my very difficult, very brilliant mother, it’s that you can never predict what the next moment might bring.

***

Grandmother is in the greenhouse. I see her dark head moving behind a screen of tangled sweet potato vines.

“The ship just took off,” I call out as I make way down the aisle to her side.

“I heard it. Not deaf yet.” She continues clipping tendrils of vine to the metal grid.

“Mom’s gone.”

“And your friend?” Grandmother looks over at me, her dark eyes glittering like the silver-flecked stone of the cavern.

“Yes, but it’s not forever. I mean, for either of them. I’ll see them again.”

“Of course.” Grandmother straightens, pressing her fist into the small of her back. “There’ll come a day when I can’t do this anymore. You planning to stick around to help out, or should I be training someone else?”

I want to lie, but know there’s no point. “You might want to find a few additional kids to train. I’ll be here for a few years yet, but I don’t know about after that.”

“Going to study at the virtual u, are you?”

“Yes. General stuff, and then Law. If I can.”

Grandmother looks me up and down. “You can do anything you put your mind to, I expect. So that’s that.” A slow smile spreads across her face. “I figured you’d come to it eventually. The thing you’d put all your heart and soul into. Knew it wouldn’t be this.” She waves one hand, indicating the rows of plants.

“It is very important, what you do.”

“Sure, but it isn’t for you. Bien. We all have our own paths.”

I fiddle with the leaves on one of the vines. “Like Mom. She has her own path too.”

“Took her awhile to decide. Best if you don’t do that, nieta. Or at least, don’t involve too many other people until you’re sure.”