that are destroying your world, Zac. The plants and animals are dying. People will die too if they stay here.”
“But you know where they all are, so you can make them leave before it’s too late.”
Tukui shook his head. “We haven’t found everyone, I’m afraid. A lot are hiding, because they’re scared. We were at war, and they don’t believe we wish to help them now that it’s over. So we search and do our best to prove we mean them no harm now.”
What if Tukui failed to find his parents in time? “Did you check all the houses? Their jobs?”
“We’re working on it. See that map? Those are search grids, which help us not miss anywhere. If someone asks us to locate a certain person, we get their last known address. Then we use these tracking devices to tell us where we need to go. I’ll give you a lesson on how they operate after the training exercise.” He indicated a wall of small, black devices, all plugged in.
Zac stared at the wonderful map Tukui had pointed to. “What are those red lines on the edges?”
“That’s where the containment fields are. They keep the poison gasses from leaking into the clean air, at least for now. Eventually, those gasses will escape. We have to be off Earth by then.” Tukui dismissed the map, turning to grin at him. “My teams have already met up with the people they’re trying to bring in. They’re free for the extra training I told you about. Are you ready to watch the emergency rescue simulations?”
“I’m ready.” He forgot to hide his excitement.
“Let’s go then.”
Tukui led, navigating the room on a path that took them by the wall of trackers. Obeying a sudden urge of inspiration, Zac’s small hand shot out and grabbed one from the lowest row of charging banks. He slipped it into his secret pocket on the inside of his jacket. He kept his head down, almost cringing as he anticipated someone yelling, “Thief!”
There were no yells. The Kalquorians were bent to their viewscreens, absorbed in their work. Zac’s crime had gone unnoticed.
He hurried faster after Tukui, zipping up and adjusting his jacket so it hung normally, concealing the evidence.
* * * *
Hidden behind a tree, Tina watched her brother as he pointed at the Kalquorian rescuers at the far end of the practical simulation grounds. Crouched next to him, Tukui said something that made Zac laugh.
Tears streamed down her cheeks. Her Dramok was reaching Zac. Her wonderful clanmate was performing magic, just as Osopa had earlier. They were showing the boy it was okay to like them.
She was mindful of Yorso’s warning that she’d be punished for not taking it easy. Even so, she’d not been able to resist checking on the situation after waking. After eating lunch, she’d had to confirm all was still well.
Tina hadn’t dared to hope for the results she’d witnessed. Yet it was obvious Osopa and Tukui were winning her brother over.
She retreated from the exercise field to return to the apartment before she was caught spying. Once she was out of earshot, she allowed laughter to join her tears. She giggled and wept the whole way.
“I love my clan. I love Tukui, Osopa, and Yorso. I love them!”
Chapter Twenty
Zac opened his eyes as the bedroom door creaked shut. He lay on his side facing the wall, certain Tina had left, but needing to be sure. He was still for several seconds that dragged like hours, listening to Callie breathe.
He guessed Tukui and Osopa had been right about her needing to take a break. It was the same as when his mother had taken a ‘me-day’. Mommy insisted on those once a month. Zac wasn’t sure what made me-days special. Mommy hadn’t gone anywhere exciting. She stayed at home, lying in bed and reading until lunch. Her afternoon would be spent taking a bubble bath, watching old movies, and eating fancy chocolates she wouldn’t share with him. Since she always had a treat ready for Zac too, he didn’t mind. She’d do her nails and other boring stuff. Dinner was ordered in so she didn’t have to cook or clean up. As dull as me-day seemed to him, Zac noticed how happy it made Mommy.
When Tukui and Osopa brought Zac to the apartment that evening, Tina had acted pretty happy too. She’d been interested in whether he’d had fun watching Osopa and Tukui at their jobs. “Tell me all about it,” she’d invited, her gaze