Earth Unaware (The First Formic War 1)

"Apparently Victor can. Tell me what you need."

"Four clones of my father." She explained as quickly as she could how the Eye was giving her too much information and leaving her blind to immediate threats.

"I'm sending Dreo your way," said Concepcion. "He might be able to tweak the Eye's programming. Rena and Mono will come as well and help however you need them. In the meantime, I'll put spotters at every window to look out for drifting debris. Don't worry. We'll figure this out."

"Thank you," said Edimar, and ended the call.

She felt so relieved that she could no longer hold back the tears. She removed her goggles, covered her face with her hands, and sobbed. Some of her tears were for the Eye and all the stupid pent-up frustration it had caused, but most of them were for Alejandra. Her sister. Jandita. Her best friend. The only person with whom she had ever been able to talk to about Father's temper or wearing a bra or what it would be like to get zogged one day, things she could never bring herself to discuss with Mother. And now Alejandra was out there. Gone perhaps. And Edimar would never speak with her again.

There was a noise in the tube that led to the crow's nest, and Edimar quickly composed herself, wiping at her eyes and taking deep calming breaths.

Three people floated into the room, and the sight of them further put Edimar at ease.

"Give me a pair of goggles," said Dreo. "I want to see the code on this thing."

Edimar handed him a pair. "It's tagging every piece of debris as a collision threat. I need to create perimeters that will isolate only those objects that are indeed too close. But I don't know how to do that."

Dreo had the goggles on. "All you need to do is write in a simple script. Toron didn't teach you how to do that?"

"I'm sure he knows how, but he doesn't want me tinkering with the programming."

"Then he shouldn't be leaving you alone," said Dreo. "It's irresponsible and puts all of us in danger. How old are you anyway?"

Rena put an arm around Edimar's shoulders. "Yes, yes, Dreo. Why don't you worry about the Eye and let Mono and I tend to Edimar."

"Don't give her all of that chili," said Dreo.

Rena was holding a container with a hot pad.

"I could use some of that, too, you know," said Dreo. "We haven't eaten on the helm in hours."

"Fix this Eye, Dreo, without further harping on Toron or Edimar," said Rena, "and I will make you your very own pot."

That put a smile of Dreo's face. "I'll be silent as space."

Rena took Edimar's hand, and they flew over to the other side of the room with Mono.

"Did my Father really leave on a quickship with Vico?" asked Edimar.

"Yes," said Rena. "And with my husband. They're looking for more survivors."

Edimar bowed her head. "They won't find any. It's been too long."

"We don't know that," said Rena. "We didn't expect to find anyone when we got here, and so far we've found nine."

"Believe me," said Mono. "If anyone can find more people, it's Vico. He might even find Alejandra."

Rena tensed slightly at this and glanced awkwardly at Edimar. "We certainly hope so, Mono," said Rena. "We're all praying for that very thing."

Edimar wanted to feel bolstered by the boy's innocent optimism, but she knew it was hopeless. And she could see that Rena thought so, too, only pretending to be optimistic for Edimar's sake. "Here," said Rena, handing Edimar the container of chili. "This is probably cool enough to eat. You must be famished." She popped off the lid on the straw and the aroma of beans and meat and cilantro wafted up to Edimar, who suddenly realized how hungry she was.

"Thank you," said Edimar.

"I can smell that, too, you know?" said Dreo. "You're making it difficult to concentrate over here."

Edimar sucked up a mouthful. It was warm and spicy and exactly what she needed. She wanted to cry again. Rena seemed so much like Alejandra in that moment. Edimar knew it was silly to even think it--Rena was old enough to be Jandita's mother--but the way she had pulled Edimar aside and showed her kindness was exactly what Alejandra would have done.

"What kind of parameters should I set up in the program?" Dreo asked.