shoulder. “Something about the sun, and light, and … ” I search my memory. “Above. Some idea of above.”
Dace says nothing. He simply searches my face for a moment, as if trying to see into me, to study me on a subatomic level.
“So what’s that mean, scientist guy?” I laugh, trying for lighthearted and hearing instead a trill of nervous agitation.
“Not sure.” Dace drops his arm and leans forward, reaching for his discarded equipment pouch. “Can I try something?” He holds up the device he used on the insect and lizard creatures.
I adjust my position on the hard ground. “Gonna put me in a bubble?”
“If you don’t mind.” Dace stands and holds out the device, waving it about like a wizard’s wand.
“Not sure, but go ahead.” I pull my knees to my chest.
A shimmer of gold swirls about me, casting a veil of light around my body. When I look toward Dace, I can see only a shadow moving beyond the globe that envelops me.
As swiftly as it appeared, the light dissipates and everything comes back into focus. Dace’s slender form is clearly etched against the pale gray of the evening sky. I watch as he manipulates the device with several taps and swipes of his finger.
“Anything interesting?” I rise to my feet, slapping at the dust shining like diamonds against the dark blue of my damp jeans.
Dace continues to stare into the small monitor, his fingers obviously manipulating data and images. After a few minutes, he looks up at me.
His eyes hold awe and wonder—the same expression that lit his face when we first saw the water creature. “Ann,” he says, in a voice that cracks with excitement, “it’s the same. Just a little bit, just a tiny snip of genetic coding, but … ”
“What the hell are you yapping about?” I stride forward, ripping the device from his hands. There are two images placed side-by-side on the screen. I know little of genetic markers, but even I can see a similarity—one significant spike in each image. “So what are these?”
“One of them is info I got from the water creature. The other one is … you.”
I stare at him. “That’s ridiculous,” I say at last. “Impossible. I’m human. That thing isn’t. Hell, it isn’t like anything on Earth. You said so yourself.”
“I know.”
“Your data must be corrupted.”
“It isn’t.” Dace slides the device back into the equipment pouch. “Your DNA displays a snippet of genetic code that matches that creature. Probably the reason you felt a connection when it voiced those sounds. You heard something else, some type of direct communication.”
I walk toward him, placing one foot in front of the other in measured, precise steps. Standing directly before him, I lean forward and grab the fabric of his shirt with both hands.
“You will tell no one.” I pull him close, until his face is only inches from mine. “Understand?”
“I must.” Dace’s whole body goes rigid. “It’s an amazing discovery. No way I’ll hide it.”
I loosen one hand’s hold on his shirt and smooth the crumpled fabric. “Just for now. Just for a little while.” I allow my fingers to slide up his chest, to rest under his chin. “You can put it all in your report, once you leave Eco. Use it to get a scholarship, I don’t care. But don’t tell anyone yet.” I stroke his jawline with one finger. “Okay?”
Dace swallows hard. “Why do you care? You’re probably not alone, you know. I bet whatever caused the mutation is tied to being born and raised on this planet. So everyone except the first colonists would be affected.”
“I don’t care about everyone.” I let go of his shirt and step back.
Released from my grip, Dace sways on his feet for a second. “I mean, you’re no different than most people on Eco. You’re not a freak or anything.” He rubs absently at his jaw, his eyes never leaving my face.
“I would be, on Earth.” I return his steady gaze. “Wouldn’t I? Maybe they wouldn’t even allow
Dace says nothing. He simply searches my face for a moment, as if trying to see into me, to study me on a subatomic level.
“So what’s that mean, scientist guy?” I laugh, trying for lighthearted and hearing instead a trill of nervous agitation.
“Not sure.” Dace drops his arm and leans forward, reaching for his discarded equipment pouch. “Can I try something?” He holds up the device he used on the insect and lizard creatures.
I adjust my position on the hard ground. “Gonna put me in a bubble?”
“If you don’t mind.” Dace stands and holds out the device, waving it about like a wizard’s wand.
“Not sure, but go ahead.” I pull my knees to my chest.
A shimmer of gold swirls about me, casting a veil of light around my body. When I look toward Dace, I can see only a shadow moving beyond the globe that envelops me.
As swiftly as it appeared, the light dissipates and everything comes back into focus. Dace’s slender form is clearly etched against the pale gray of the evening sky. I watch as he manipulates the device with several taps and swipes of his finger.
“Anything interesting?” I rise to my feet, slapping at the dust shining like diamonds against the dark blue of my damp jeans.
Dace continues to stare into the small monitor, his fingers obviously manipulating data and images. After a few minutes, he looks up at me.
His eyes hold awe and wonder—the same expression that lit his face when we first saw the water creature. “Ann,” he says, in a voice that cracks with excitement, “it’s the same. Just a little bit, just a tiny snip of genetic coding, but … ”
“What the hell are you yapping about?” I stride forward, ripping the device from his hands. There are two images placed side-by-side on the screen. I know little of genetic markers, but even I can see a similarity—one significant spike in each image. “So what are these?”
“One of them is info I got from the water creature. The other one is … you.”
I stare at him. “That’s ridiculous,” I say at last. “Impossible. I’m human. That thing isn’t. Hell, it isn’t like anything on Earth. You said so yourself.”
“I know.”
“Your data must be corrupted.”
“It isn’t.” Dace slides the device back into the equipment pouch. “Your DNA displays a snippet of genetic code that matches that creature. Probably the reason you felt a connection when it voiced those sounds. You heard something else, some type of direct communication.”
I walk toward him, placing one foot in front of the other in measured, precise steps. Standing directly before him, I lean forward and grab the fabric of his shirt with both hands.
“You will tell no one.” I pull him close, until his face is only inches from mine. “Understand?”
“I must.” Dace’s whole body goes rigid. “It’s an amazing discovery. No way I’ll hide it.”
I loosen one hand’s hold on his shirt and smooth the crumpled fabric. “Just for now. Just for a little while.” I allow my fingers to slide up his chest, to rest under his chin. “You can put it all in your report, once you leave Eco. Use it to get a scholarship, I don’t care. But don’t tell anyone yet.” I stroke his jawline with one finger. “Okay?”
Dace swallows hard. “Why do you care? You’re probably not alone, you know. I bet whatever caused the mutation is tied to being born and raised on this planet. So everyone except the first colonists would be affected.”
“I don’t care about everyone.” I let go of his shirt and step back.
Released from my grip, Dace sways on his feet for a second. “I mean, you’re no different than most people on Eco. You’re not a freak or anything.” He rubs absently at his jaw, his eyes never leaving my face.
“I would be, on Earth.” I return his steady gaze. “Wouldn’t I? Maybe they wouldn’t even allow
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