Sheena announced. “I know what we’re going to do. We’re going to start a science club. But it’s just for us. Nobody who’s not five can be in it.” She looked scathingly at Toni.

“What are we going to do in science club?” Felix asked, launching himself onto the cushions so that he could press against the transparent curve of the bubble and look down at the waves passing below. From here, he could see the patterns of plants and stuff shift on the rocky bottom as the swells rolled over.

“We’re going to do science, Felix. Just like the grownups. Mom’s a microbiologist. She studies life-forms that you can only see through a microscope. You know, itty bitty.” She made a scrunching with her thumb and forefinger to show just how small she meant.

“Okay,” Felicity said with a shrug. “What do we do?”

“Well, first”—Sheena crossed her arms defiantly—“I’m the Director.”

“Why you?” Felix demanded, turning back from the transparency.

“Because it’s my club, space gunk.” Space gunk. That was what they’d heard one of the crewmen on Ashanti call one of the not-so-smart cargo techs.

“And,” Sheena declared, “I brought the first specimen for us to study.”

“You did?” Breez seemed absolutely dazzled by the concept.

But, being only five—as Felix’s mom said—she bought into anything.

“I did.” With a flourish, Sheena produced a small 10cc sample jar from her overall pocket.

Felix crawled across the cushion, looking closely at it through the jar’s transparent sides. Even with Sheena’s fingers blocking most of the contents, he knew what it was. “That’s algae.”

“Like what’s on our fingers?” Felicity asked. “You know, that stuff never comes off. My fingers are still slippery from when I rubbed yours. I barely touched you. And I washed and washed.” She lifted her hand. “And worse. It’s spreading across my palm and it itches.”

“That’s what science club is all about,” Sheena said with certainty. “We’re going to find out what this stuff is and why it doesn’t wash off.”

“And why it tingles on our fingers.” Breez held her hand up, played like she was trying to pull her slippery fingers clear off.

“Where did you get that?” Felix asked, dropping to his feet to stand next to Sheena. The little jar fascinated him.

“Michaela canceled everybody’s work, remember? Everybody was up in the cafeteria talking about Shin getting killed. So I went down to the Underwater Bay and got some. There’s more of it now. Spots of it growing along the dock. I didn’t even need to reach. I just scooped it up and put it in the jar.”

“So, what are we going to do with it?” Tomaya was crowding close beside Felicity to stare at the jar. Breez started jumping, trying to get high enough to see past the older kids.