“Mia, please, just wear the ring. That’s all I will ask you to do. If you get an opportunity, great. If not, well, at least we will have tried.”
“And if I get caught wearing this device? If Korum is as brilliant as you say, won’t he recognize their technology from a mile away?”
“He has no reason to suspect you. You’re just his charl. He won’t be expecting a threat from you. And here, see, the ring is truly nice-looking. You could claim that it’s a gift from your sister if he asks.”
Mia stared at the device. The little silver circle was thin and stylish, and it probably wouldn’t look out of place on her finger. To confirm that theory, she extended her hand. “All right, let me try it on – see if it’s even my size.”
John gave her the ring with a relieved smile. Mia slid it on the middle finger of her right hand. It fit perfectly. If she hadn’t known its purpose, she would have never thought it was anything other than a simple piece of jewelry. She hoped that Korum would be fooled as easily.
With his mission accomplished, John rose to his feet. “Mia,” he said, “I hope you realize that if this works, if you succeed, then our species will enter into an entirely new era. We will have our planet back, and our freedom. And we will have a lot more knowledge – science and technology that we wouldn’t have had for hundreds or maybe thousands more years. You will be a hero, your name written in the history books for generations to come –”
Mia felt chills going down her spine.
“– and you will have nothing to fear from him again, ever. And girls like my sister will finally be reunited with their families, and they would be able to lead normal lives again – as will you.”
He painted a compelling picture, but Mia couldn’t imagine how she could possibly bring something like this pass. “John,” she said, “I’ll try. That’s all I can promise you.”
“That’s all I want.” He put his hand on her shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Good luck.”
And then he walked away, leaving Mia with the alien device that was supposed to determine the future of humankind sitting innocuously on her finger.
Chapter 16
Jessie joined Mia in the park a few minutes later. “Ugh,” she said, “I hate BioChem. So glad that torture is over.”
Mia smiled at her. “No one said it’s easy being a pre-med.”
“Yes, well, not all of us chose the easy route with a psych major –”
“Easy, please! I have to write three papers by Thursday, and I’m only done with one so far!”
“My heart bleeds for you . . . it really does –”
“Oh shut up,” said Mia, and they both grinned at each other.
“So what are you doing now? Going to the library?” asked Jessie, wrinkling her nose.
“Nah, I think I’ll head back to Korum’s place. All my books and stuff are there now –”
Jessie’s expression immediately darkened. “Of course. I should’ve known.”
“Jessie,” said Mia tiredly, “please don’t give me a hard time over this. One way or another, I’m sure this relationship will be over soon –”
“Mia, is there something you’re not telling me?” Jessie was looking at her suspiciously.
“No! I just meant that I will be going home to Florida – and he may not want to continue seeing me when I return, that’s all.”
“You’ve talked to him about this already?”
Mia shook her head. “I’ll do it tonight.”
“Okay, good luck with that. Let me know how that goes.” She paused and then added, “Oh, and by the way, Edgar said that Peter’s been asking about you.”
“What? Why?”
Jessie shrugged. “I guess he’s suicidal. That, or he really likes you. It’s hard to tell, you know?”
“Is he feeling better now?”