a minute.”
He stood up so abruptly that the girl scrambled backward to get out of his way.
“You’re going to let my people die? You were created to protect me and this dome and all the Kampii. And now you’re going to let us all die?”
The girl looked at him with lidless black eyes. “It’s not my fault!”
“You’d rather fix a stupid clog in a drain than try to save us.”
“If I help, I will be shut down,” she said. “My dreams are so empty. I’m scared of the darkness. I don’t want to be trapped there forever!”
He hadn’t thought of that. Now he felt bad for trying to guilt her into helping. For better or for worse, Aluna had rubbed off on him. All he cared about was his own mission. He kept forgetting that other people had lives, too.
“What’s your name?” he said.
“Technician one-zero-zero-seven-seven-one,” she said. “But at one time, I was also Liu.”
“Liu,” he said. It was a pretty name, much nicer than a string of numbers. “I’m Hoku. How can we — how can I help you?”
Liu stared up at the ceiling while she thought. Eventually, she said, “I wouldn’t mind going back to sleep if I had something pleasant to dream about. . . .” She hooked her hands together behind her back. Her cheeks blushed pale pink.
Hoku narrowed his eyes. Where was she going with this?
“I’ll take you to the control center, if you give me something in return.” She took four skittering steps closer. “My price is a kiss.”
Now it was Hoku’s turn to blush.
“But I have a . . .” Was Calli really a girlfriend? “And Aluna would . . .” Would probably laugh. “And I don’t know how . . .” But he did know how to kiss, sort of. “And you . . .” Are a crab-girl, he wanted to say, but wasn’t Calli a bird-girl? That certainly hadn’t stopped them from kissing.
“Enough!”
Dash shoved aside the swimming clothes he’d been hiding behind and strode over to where they were standing. He turned to the crab-girl.
“Beautiful lady, I am Dashiyn,” he said, touching two fingers to his heart and bowing his head. “I am honored to meet you. If you deem me a suitable substitute for our Kampii friend, I would be happy to render the requested price.”
The crab-girl clapped her hands with glee. “Why, yes!” she said. “You will do nicely —”
Before she could finish speaking, Dash slid his good arm behind her back, looked into her eyes for several long moments, and then kissed her.
Even though he wasn’t playing a part in it, Hoku could tell it was a good kiss. Both Dash and Liu had their eyes closed. Their faces pressed together firmly, but not awkwardly. He and Calli hadn’t had a chance to work on that part yet. But the biggest reason he could tell it was good was because both of them seemed to forget he was even in the room.
When it was over, Dash stared into the girl’s eyes for another long moment, then pulled one of her hands to his mouth.
“Thank you,” he whispered, then kissed her knuckles. His eyes never left hers.
Liu bobbed a curtsy, her face more flushed than ever.
“No, thank you,” she said in the same hushed tone he had used. “Now I won’t be afraid to go back to sleep.”
They smiled at each other, and Dash gently released her hand.
The girl turned to Hoku, her eyes suddenly full of life. “We’d better hurry,” she said. “The control center isn’t far, but I probably don’t have much time.” She turned and scuttled out the hatch.
He looked at Dash. For the first time, Hoku didn’t see the horse-boy’s broken arm or his claustrophobia or his fear of being underwater. He saw a boy who already knew who he was and what he was capable of. He saw a leader.
Then Dash turned to him and, with panic in his voice, said, “Please don’t tell Aluna.”
Hoku laughed.
THE DOG TOOK OFF down the street, weaving between two buildings at a fast trot. Luckily his legs were short. Aluna jogged after him and managed to keep up.
“Who lives here?” she asked. The tall silvery buildings were etched with waves and glinted in the sunlight.
“Dogs and Gizmos and Meks,” the dog said. “Cats and rats and Mess-ups.”
“That’s not very helpful,” she said. Gizmos were probably Upgraders. Whatever a Mess-up was, she didn’t want to meet one.
The dog ignored her. “Middle Green is where Fathom keeps his toys,” the