Facsimile by Vicki Weavil

Author:Vicki Weavil [Weavil, Vicki L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: science fiction, romance, alien, military, teen, young adult
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC
Published: 2016-04-05T07:00:00+00:00

Raid says nothing, merely saunters toward us, exaggerating his customary swagger.

“How’d you find us?” I jump to my feet as Raid moves closer. We’re toe to toe. I stiffen my back. Might as well meet that sneer with bravado.

“Followed the tracks. Saw your bikes parked outside and boot prints leading to an opening in the rocks. Figured it out fairly quickly.” Raid’s eyes narrow, slicing his face like razor blades. “May not be as clever as the professor here, but I do possess a few brain cells.”

Dace rises to his feet. “Don’t get the wrong idea.” He sweeps up our discarded clothes. “We’ve just been exploring.”

“Obviously.” Raid shoots a fierce glare my way before gazing around the cavern. “What’s this place, anyway? Besides your personal playground, I mean.”

“Part of an interconnected cavern system that runs beneath the surface of Eco.” Dace refuses to take the bait. He moves closer, dropping the clothes at his feet.

Raid looks me over. “Interesting outfit. Been swimming? Didn’t know you had it in you, Solano.”

“You don’t know everything about me.” I pluck at the edge of my tank top. My wet top and shorts cling to my curves like a second skin.

Raid’s expression changes. The anger morphs into something else, something that sends a flush radiating out from the nape of my neck. I cross my arms and hug my body.

Raid flexes his fingers before shoving his hands into his pockets. “Learning more all the time.”

Fabric drapes over my bare skin. I turn my head. Dace is standing behind me, adjusting my jacket around my shoulders.

“Anyway … ” Dace steps back. He grabs his T-shirt and continues to talk while he slides it over his head. “We suspect Eco’s laced with a network of underground lakes and rivers, all linked together.” Pulling down the shirt to cover his slender torso, Dace eyes Raid without rancor. “Something you might have found sooner if you’d bothered to, you know, explore the planet you live on.”

Raid yanks his hands out of his pockets. The fingers are balled into fists. “Think you’re pretty clever, don’t you, spacer? Well, in case you hadn’t noticed, some of us have to work. Don’t have the luxury of farting around all day.”

“It’s not play.” I lift my chin so I can stare into his face. “Dace’s research is every bit as important as your job, Raiden Lin. And I’ve been his guide, not some follower.”

Raid taps my lips with two fingers. “No doubt. Seems like you’ve been teaching him quite a few things.”

I swat away Raid’s hand. “Who says I had to teach him anything?”

I catch the flash of a smile before Dace ducks his head and concentrates on pulling on his pants.

“So, thought you’d experiment a bit before spacer here blasts off for parts unknown?” There’s a flicker of pain in Raid’s eyes.

“Honestly, Raid,” I grab one of his fists and pull it to my chest, “is that all you think of me? Just some girl making out with any guy she can get her hands on? I thought you knew me better than that.

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