Free No Life But This by Anna Sheehan Page B

grinned at me. ‘There’s nothing Xavier can’t solve. He’s brilliant, and so are his kids. You knowBren’s mom is head designer in the graphics department. Well, his Uncle Ted is actually a scientist, and he went up to Europa a few years ago to study the signalling … thing … that the M9 microbes do. And how to keep them alive. Xavier’s been in contact with him since I told him you were sick.’
    ‘
Why?’
I signed.
    ‘Because I wanted you better.’
    I knew for a fact that communications to Europawere usually sent on a weekly feed, rather than a continuous stream. The only continuous messaging system to Europa was the emergency feed. Jamal always had to wait to hear about anything from his family, except for the time he’d disappeared and they had to inform Captain Jagan that his son might be dead. Jamal had only skipped out to the beach with some college friends without telling anyone, butthat was the only time I had ever heard of a communication outside of the weekly package. Xavier Zellwegger was pulling some serious strings even talking to his son.
    ‘
What’s he say?’
    ‘Well, he studies the microbe itself. He’s been trying to keep it alive, so they can study it on Earth. You know they won’t survive in a tank. Well, apparently, he’s managed to extend their life spans with low levelelectro impulses, echoing the currents in the natural ocean. They
think
that your problem might be a flaw in your cellular communication. Like you’re not getting the right signals or something.’
    I nodded and took her hand. ‘
They’ve always thought that. It hasn’t done them any good. They can’t turn Earth into Europa.’
    ‘Which is why Ted wants you up there,’ Rose said. ‘He thinks the team on the
Minos
might be able to figure out something. They’re the ones who created you, really. It’s a risk, and Dr Svarog thinks we’re nuts. But it’s a chance, right? So … do you think you want to go?’
    I blinked. Wait a minute. Send me to Europa? Were they really thinking it? I didn’t think they could cure me, not really. But to escape Earth, to travel to Jupiter, to see the moon of my origin …! My heartbeat a little faster in my chest, and I hoped it didn’t mean I was going to be dead in a minute. My hands were shaking as I signed,
‘You mean it?’
    Rose only looked confused, so I grabbed both her hands with me.
‘Are you serious?’
    Rose closed her eyes as the immense joy I felt poured into her head. It was almost painful to her. I pulled away.
    ‘Sorry,’
I signed.
    ‘It’s okay, I know,’ Rose said,though her voice was a little shaky. Then she looked up at me and laughed. ‘I have
never
seen you look this happy.’
    I realized I was smiling – really smiling, my expressionless face twisted of its own accord into a sunny grin.
    ‘I take it this means you want to go?’
    I lay back down on the bed, wordless with excitement.
    ‘You realize this is experimental, right?’ she said. ‘We have no idea ifthis trick of Ted’s will even work, and—’
    I stopped her with a hand on her arm.
‘Rose. It’s Europa. Procedures or not, I don’t care. There could be nothing there but ice and an oxygen unit, I’d still want to go.’
    Rose grinned. ‘I guess I’ll tell Xavier to make the arrangements.’ She stood up. ‘There’s a colony transport leaving from Luna Base at the end of the week. I think we can go throughthe preliminary quarantine in that time.’
    ‘
We?’
I signed.
    ‘Of course. I’m going with you.’
    I think a beam of sunlight might have passed through me at that point I was so happy. ‘Xavier’s been postponing a UniCorp visit to Europa, anyway. He was going to wait and send a delegation in another year or so, but he can do it himself.’
    Even the knowledge that Xavier was coming with us did not dampenmy spirits. ‘
You and me. At Europa.’
    ‘Mm-hm.’ She kissed my forehead as she lay me back down. ‘You get some rest and we’ll start the legislation.