That one vial could kill every person in the ship-not to mentionevery last terra-former, and me, Javier, and the other kids-if Idon‘t destroy it. But there‘s no way to get back into the sealedglovebox right now without exposing myself.
"If the Collective returns to this planet one day, it will bewith a corrected genetic makeup to our epiderm-filters. Thiscould take several units, but we can ensure this settlement willbelong to the Collective and the Collective alone. It is truly akindness to humanity to halt those who would destroy thisplanet, as they‘ve done to their own. A new origin!" - P235
Feathers rolls over in her cell. I stare down at her round, pinkcheeks. Javier was her age when he was taken out of stasis. I can‘timagine her growing into an old woman here on the ship. TheCollective stole Javier‘s youth, stuffing him down there in thatstupid lab. The thought of someone spending all those yearsalone makes me feel seasick. I can‘t let that happen to them. - P238
Like Dad used to do in church, I place a bead between mypointer finger and thumb and rub my fingers over its surface. Imove on to the next and realize Dad‘s patience is in every lastone of these beads. His love and kindness flows over its smoothsurface into my fingers.
I slip it over my head, and it weighs heavy on my chest. Iwonder how the whole Jesus thing works if we‘re on a differentplanet on the opposite side of the galaxy in another solar sys-tem. If Jesus was the son of God and God was the god of theuniverse, does it work here too? - P240
I realize how differentandcreepy a lot of Mexican folklore is. Love, humor, pain,
magic, lost souls-all woven to create stories most culturesmight sugarcoat. - P243
Now, I know that somewhere insideEpsilon-5 is my little brother, hiding my chocolate egg behindhis back. Somewhere inside he‘s still Javier, and he wants to live.
I take shallow breaths and stare up at him, unable to speak.
I want to reach out and take his hand, make him remember, tellhim I won‘t let anyone hurt him and he no longer needs to hide. - P246
"Books became our language. Booksbecame our home. Books became our lives." - P248
I don‘t move or speak. Mom always said you can never knowexactly what someone is going through. Sometimes I must besilent and give them time. So, we just sit. Finally, he takes a longbreath. - P249
"You‘ve been given an opportunity others would trade any-thing for," I repeat him exactly. "You have a responsibility torepresent our family. To be kind. To work hard. Don‘t fight."
Javier‘s gravelly voice continues. "We are Peñas. Everythingwe do from this moment on will bring great pride or great sad-ness to our ancestors." - P250
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