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“Who’s Arus?” Mia remembered that name mentioned earlier, during Saret’s visit.
“He’s another Council member and, among other things, he’s our ambassador to the human leaders.”
“You don’t like him either?” Mia guessed.
Korum’s lips curved into a grim, humorless smile. “Let’s just say we’ve had our share of political differences.” The look in his eyes was cold and distant, and Mia shivered slightly, glad that it wasn’t directed at her.
“I see,” she said again. She didn’t really, but she didn’t think it would be wise to pursue this topic further. Taking a deep breath, she remembered the original reason why she’d wanted to talk to him. “Um, Korum, I wanted to ask you something . . .”
His expression softened a little. “Sure, what is it?”
Mia looked at him imploringly. “I have to call Jessie. My cell phone doesn’t seem to have reception here . . .”
His eyebrows rose. “Call your roommate? Why?”
“Because she’s going to be worried if she doesn’t hear from me for a couple of days,” Mia explained, “and because I have to ask her for a big favor. All my stuff is still in my room, and the girl who’s subletting it will be moving in on Monday. I should’ve been packed and out of there yesterday, but . . .”
“But you ended up here instead,” Korum said, immediately understanding. “All right, you can contact Jessie and let her know where you are. Maybe she can pack your things for you. If she does, I’ll have my driver pick them up and bring them to my New York apartment.”
“That would be great, thanks,” Mia said, smiling in relief. “And if I could do a quick call to my parents too, that would be really awesome.”
He smiled at her. “Sure. I just wouldn’t tell them where you are.”
“No, definitely not,” Mia readily agreed. She tried to imagine her parents’ reaction to the news that she was in an alien colony in Costa Rica, and it wasn’t a pleasant picture. Thinking ahead, she asked, “What about when I go to Florida? What am I going to tell them then?”
Korum shrugged. “The truth, I imagine. I’ll be with you, so they can ask me whatever questions they want to reassure themselves of your safety.”
Mia’s jaw dropped. “You’re going to meet my parents?”
“Of course, why not?”
“Um . . .” Mia could think of a dozen reasons why not. She settled on the first one. “Well, I’m not sure how they would react to, you know, what you are . . .”
He looked amused. “A Krinar? They’ll have to get used to the idea if they want to keep seeing you.”
Mia stared at him. “What do you mean, if they want to keep seeing me?”
“I mean, Mia,” he said softly, “that you’re with me now, and your family will need to come to terms with it.” At the anxious look on her face, he added, “And don’t worry, I’ll be patient with them. I know they care about you, and I’ll do my best to set their mind at ease.”
* * *
A few minutes later, with Mia still in shock at the thought of her parents meeting her alien lover, Korum gave her a thin, silvery bracelet that resembled a wristwatch.
“This is something I just created for you,” he explained, placing it around her left wrist. “This will be your personal computing device while you’re in Lenkarda. I made it so that it’s capable of connecting with human cell phones and computers, and you can use it to call or video-chat with your family. I programmed it with all your connections –”
Surprised, Mia studied the pretty object on her arm. It looked very much like a stylish piece of jewelry, and she vaguely remembered seeing some Ks on TV wearing something similar. “How does it work?” she asked, not seeing any obvious buttons on it.
“It will respond to your verbal commands – that will be the easiest way for you to operate our technology right now.”
“So it will understand me if I just say the instructions in natural speech?”
Korum nodded. “It will understand you perfectly in any language because I designed it specifically for you.”
Mia blinked. She wasn’t sure, but she suspected that Korum was one of the very few Ks who could do something like that – create a unique piece of technology solely for the use of his charl. “Thank you,” she said gratefully. “I’ll call Jessie right now.”
Seeking a little privacy, Mia went into the bedroom. Sitting down on the bed, she lifted her left wrist closer to her mouth and spoke to the bracelet. “Call Jessie, please.” Two seconds later, she heard what sounded like dial tones signifying that the call was connecting.
“Hello?” It was Jessie’s voice, and it emanated from the little device on Mia’s wrist. Unlike with the speakerphones that Mia was familiar with, she could hear Jessie with crystal-clear precision, as though she was in the room with her.
