Close Liaisons

by Anna Zaires

  That was crazy. Mia tried to imagine what would happen when the Ks learned that they were being attacked. She remembered the days of the Great Panic and shuddered.

  “John,” she said slowly, “would they really go without a big fight? You know what happened before . . . how much damage they could do even with bare hands –”

  “That’s true,” agreed John, “they could definitely fight back – and it could get very bloody for both sides. That’s why the information you got for us is so crucial. You see, if the Keiths are right, these blueprints also contain the design for one of their most advanced weapons. Once the shields are down and we let the Ks know that we have this weapon, they would be suicidal to do anything but surrender. Because if they fight, we will use it – and every K in their colonies would be turned to dust.”

  “Turned to dust? What kind of weapon can do that?” asked Mia in horrified shock.

  “It’s weaponized nanotechnology on a massive scale. It can be programmed with very specific constraints, so we could set it to only destroy Ks within a certain radius and to spare whatever humans may be in the area at the time.”

  Mia’s eyes widened, and John continued, “Of course, we still expect some Ks to try to escape from the colonies when they learn of the attack, so we’ll have our fighters stationed all around to capture and contain those – and that could get bloody. We might still end up suffering heavy casualties, but we stand a very real chance of winning here.”

  Mia swallowed, feeling nauseous at the thought of any bloodshed. Knowing that something she did led to “heavy casualties” or extermination of thousands of intelligent beings – she didn’t know how she would handle that kind of responsibility.

  But there was no choice now, not that there had ever been any for her. Ever since she’d laid eyes on Korum at the park, her fate had been decided. Her only choice had been to meekly accept being his charl or to fight back – and she had chosen to fight. And now that decision might result in the loss of many lives, both human and Krinar.

  Mia bitterly wished she’d never gone to the park that day, had never learned about what goes on in the K Centers. If she could somehow turn back the clock and go back to her regular life, knowing next to nothing about the Ks, she would gladly do so – and leave the liberation of Earth to someone better equipped to deal with it. But she knew, and that burden felt unbearably heavy right now as she looked into John’s glowing face and imagined the upcoming bloody battle.

  “Mia,” said John, apparently sensing her distress, “please don’t forget: they came to our planet, they imposed their rules on us – and killed thousands of people in the process, until we had no choice but to give in. Do you remember how it was during the Great Panic?”

  Mia nodded, thinking of the terrifying chaos and bloody street fights of those dark months.

  Satisfied, John continued, “I know that your only exposure to them has been through Korum, and he has probably treated you nicely so far . . . because he thinks of you as his current favorite pet. But they’re not nice at all. They’re predators by nature. They evolved as parasites, as vampires, sustaining themselves by consuming the blood of other species. In fact, they developed humans for that purpose – to satisfy their own perverse urges with us –”

  That wasn’t exactly what Korum had told her, but she didn’t feel like arguing that point right now.

  “– and they have no regard for our rights. Most of them view us as inferior, and they would not hesitate to enslave us completely if it suited their purposes.”

  “I know,” said Mia, rubbing her temples to get rid of the tension. “I know all of that – that’s why I’m helping you, John. I just really wish there was another way . . . some way we could just make them go away without spilling any blood.”

  “I wish there was too,” said John, sighing heavily. “But there isn’t. They invaded our planet with force – and now we take it back from them in the same way. And if some lives have to be lost in the process – well, we just have to hope that not too many of them are on our side. It’s war, Mia – the real War of the Worlds.”

  John left, and Mia sat down on her bed to digest everything.

  How had she – a regular college student – managed to get involved in a war? Spying was something she’d always associated with glamorous secret agents, men and women who’ve had extensive training in everything from martial arts to defusing a bomb. A psychology major from NYU just didn’t fit the bill. Yet here she was, supposedly aiding the Resistance in their most important fight against the Ks.

  A terrifying thought occurred to her. Once Korum knew what was happening – that their settlements were being attacked – would he realize that she was the one responsible? Would he make the connection between his carefully guarded blueprints being stolen and the human girl he slept with every night? Because if he did – and he was still in New York at the time – then her days were likely numbered as well.

  A tentative knock on her door interrupted her dark musings.

  “Yes, come in!” she called out, relieved to have a distraction from that line of thinking.

  To her surprise and dismay, it was not Jessie. Instead, Peter stood in her bedroom doorway, his wavy blond hair and blue eyes looking even more angelic in the bright light of the day. There were still black and blue marks on his throat.

  “Peter!” she exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

  “I came to see you,” he said. “Your roommate told Edgar that you would be home today, and I just wanted to make sure you were all right after what happened that night –”

  “Oh gosh, Peter, that’s really nice of you,” said Mia, desperately trying to think of the quickest way to get rid of him. She couldn’t imagine that Korum would be pleased to know that Peter was anywhere near her right now, much less in her bedroom. He probably wouldn’t find out, but she didn’t want to chance it. It was enough that she had almost gotten him killed in that club.

  Peter was looking at her with a concerned expression. “What happened that night, Mia? Did that monster hurt you in any way?”

  “No, of course not,” she tried to reassure him. “He just got jealous – I never expected him to react like that, believe me. I’m really sorry about everything that happened. I should’ve never danced with you that night. You got hurt because of me –”

  He waved his hand dismissively. “It’s not a big deal. I was once beaten up in high school because the head quarterback thought I was flirting with his girlfriend. Believe me, this was nothing in comparison.” And he grinned at her, his smile utterly infectious.

  Mia smiled back a little. It was good to hear that he didn’t hold a grudge against her. But he still needed to go away for his own safety.

  “Listen, Peter, thanks for checking up on me,” she said. “That was really sweet of you. But we now know that my boyfriend is not too keen on our friendship – and it’s really for the best if he doesn’t find out you were here –”

  “Mia,” said Peter seriously, his smile completely gone, “are you really dating that creature? I just never pictured you as a xeno –”

  “I’m not!”

  “You’re not a Krinarian, are you?”

  “Of course not! I’m not religious at all!”

  “Then why are you seeing him?”

  Mia sighed. “Look, Peter, that’s not really any of your business. He’s my boyfriend – that’s all you need to know. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that when we first met. I was just having a fun time at a girls’ night out. I really didn’t mean to mislead you in any way –”

  “That’s bullshit,” said Peter vehemently. “A boyfriend – that’s a human guy, not some vicious alien who drags you out of the club like that.” He paused for a second and asked quietly, “Mia, is he forcing you to be with him?”

  “What? Why would you think that?” Mia stared at him, wondering what would make him ask something like that.

  He looked back at her, his brows furrowed in a frown. “You just don
’t seem like the type to seek out one of these monsters.”

  “What type is that?” wondered Mia, genuinely curious to hear the answer.

  He tugged at his ear in frustration. “Well, a lot of people in the entertainment industry actually . . . models, actresses, singers – they get bored and look for something to spice up their lives . . . They’re shallow, and many of them are stupid – all they see are the pretty faces and not the evil underneath –”

  “Evil underneath?” asked Mia, surprised that he felt so strongly about the Krinar. Prior to her own close encounters with Korum, she’d had zero exposure to the invaders and no real opinion about them. Maybe Peter was religious himself and believed the claim that the Ks were demons?

  He grimaced. “I’ve seen people disappear, Mia, when they get involved with these creatures. That, or end up really messed up at the end. It’s not natural for us – to be with their kind. It never ends well . . .”

  Mia took a deep breath and said firmly, “Peter, look, I appreciate the concern, but there’s really no need in this case. I know what I’m doing. I’m neither shallow nor stupid –”

  “I never said you were,” protested Peter.

  “– and I don’t really appreciate you implying anything about my relationship. I’m with Korum because I want to be, and that’s all there’s to it.”

  She sincerely hoped that was enough to get Peter to go away. The last thing she needed was a bumbling white knight trying to save her from the evil monster – a white knight who would definitely end up getting slain in the process. Maybe later, if she survived the next couple of weeks, she would apologize to Peter for being so harsh. She liked him, and it would be nice to become friends with him, particularly if her life ever got back to normal.

  He looked slightly hurt. “Of course, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply anything. Obviously, you can be with whomever you choose. I just wanted to make sure you were all right, that’s all.”

  Mia nodded and gave him a faint smile. “I understand. Thanks again for stopping by.” Reaching into her bag, she pulled out the laptop and a couple of books.

  Peter immediately got the hint. “Sure. I’ll see you around, okay?” he said, and walked out of the room. Mia heard him talking to Jessie and Edgar for a minute, and then he was gone, the front door closing decisively behind him.

  Mia plopped down on her bed with relief. How had it happened that a cute guy – with whom she actually had a decent connection – had come along at such a wrong time in her life? Had she met him two months ago, she had no doubt that she would have been ecstatic to have him pay attention to her like that – but it was too late now.

  Like those people he knew, she would likely end up messed up in the end – either that or dead at the hands of her alien lover.

  Chapter 19

  Shortly after Peter left, Edgar departed as well. Mia heard them kissing and giggling by the door, and then there was silence. Almost immediately afterwards, Jessie came into her room.

  “So,” said Mia, smiling at her roommate, “I take it things are going well with Edgar?”

  Jessie gave her a huge grin. “They are going very well. He’s just so nice, and so fun, and so cute . . .”

  Mia laughed and said, “I’m glad for you. You deserve a good guy like that.”

  “That I do,” said Jessie without any false modesty, still grinning. And then her expression abruptly became serious. “And so do you, Mia –”

  Uh-oh, thought Mia. Here comes the lecture.

  “– and you’re clearly not getting it.”

  “Jessie, please, let’s not beat a dead horse –”

  “A dead horse? I’d like to beat up a certain K!” Jessie took a deep breath, clearly riled on Mia’s behalf. “Peter is such a nice guy, and he seems to really like you – to come all the way here like this after everything that happened . . . and you’re stuck with that monster!”

  Mia rubbed the back of her neck to get rid of some tension there. “Jessie, please stop worrying about my relationship . . . everything will get resolved in its own time –”

  “Speaking of getting things resolved, did you talk to him about the summer?”

  Mia bit her lip. She hated lying to Jessie, and she so badly wanted to talk to someone about the whole maddening mess. If John was right about the Keiths’ timing, her trip to Florida would be merely delayed – and not even by all that much. Of course, that assumed she would still be alive at the time. Mia decided on a slightly edited version of the truth.

  “I have,” she said slowly.

  “And?”

  “And we agreed that I’ll go later in the summer, and do an internship here in New York instead.”

  Jessie stared at her in shock. “What internship?”

  “I’m not sure yet. Korum promised to find me something in my field.”

  “Oh my God, he’s not letting you go, is he?” Jessie looked completely horrified.

  “Not exactly,” admitted Mia. “He did say, though, that we’ll go to Florida together once his business in New York is done.”

  “Together? What, he’s going to meet your family?” The expression on Jessie’s face was utterly incredulous.

  “I have no idea,” said Mia, and she really didn’t. She hadn’t had a chance to think about it, with everything that had gone on – but she couldn’t imagine her normal down-to-earth family interacting calmly with her alien lover. “We didn’t get as far as discussing the particulars –”

  “That bastard! I can’t believe he’s doing it to you! No wonder you’re helping the Resistance – you probably hate his guts.”

  Mia couldn’t believe her ears. “What? What did you just say?”

  “Oh come on, Mia,” said Jessie calmly. “I’m not an idiot. I can put two and two together. John was waiting for you here in the apartment even before you showed up. Clearly, he knew you were coming. You’re communicating with them, aren’t you?”

  Damn it. Sometimes Mia forgot just how astute her pretty, bubbly roommate could be. Denying it any longer would be pointless, but Jessie could not know the extent of Mia’s involvement – it would be much too dangerous for both of them.

  Mia gave her a piercing look. “Jessie, listen to me, don’t ever say something like that – and don’t ever talk about it with anyone, not even Edgar. Do you promise me?”

  Jessie nodded, her eyes narrowed. “I would never say anything. When Edgar asked me if you and John were dating, I just said that he was an old friend of your family’s.”

  “That’s good,” said Mia with relief. Then she added, “Look, I am not doing anything too crazy, I promise. John just asked me to keep an eye on Korum’s activities and report to him occasionally. That’s all I was doing today. Korum met a couple of other Ks recently, and I just wanted to tell John about it. Turns out he already knew, so it really wasn’t a big deal.” Mia had no idea where she had learned to lie so smoothly.

  “Not a big deal? Mia . . . you’re dealing with an extraterrestrial who has no regard for human life. You saw what he did to Peter – and that was just for dancing with you! If he catches you spying, he would kill you for sure! Of course, it’s a big deal!” Jessie blew out a frustrated breath.

  There was nothing Mia could really say to that, so she just shrugged.

  “And it’s all my fault for blabbing about you to Jason! I can’t believe those bastards decided to use you like that.”

  Mia rubbed her neck again. “They just saw an opportunity and decided to use it. It doesn’t really change my situation. I’m still with Korum, whether or not I’m spying on him. So I might as well try to help out, you know?”

  Jessie gave her a frustrated look. “I can’t believe all this shit is happening to you. You’re the most by-the-book person I know . . . and you end up sleeping with a K and spying on him.”

  Mia sighed heavily. “I know. I’m so screwed, Jessie – and not just in a good way.”

  A small smile broke out on Jessie’s face, and she shook her head in
reproach. “Mia . . .”

  Mia grinned at her. “I know, I know, that was pretty bad.”

  “Not James Bond caliber, that’s for sure.” And Jessie grinned back.

  * * *

  That evening, Korum got home around eight o’clock. Mia was already back at his place and frantically working on her paper.

  He entered her study room and came up to kiss her. “Hey there, looks like somebody is hard at work,” he teased, brushing his lips briefly against her cheek.

  Mia gave him a little frown. “Yeah, I have to finish this paper tonight. I have this and my Child Psychology paper due Thursday, and I’m not done with even one of them.”

  “Sounds terrible,” Korum said, the slight curve of his lips giving away his amusement.

  “It is!” said Mia, her frown getting worse. Couldn’t he see she was stressed? He didn’t have to laugh at her just because her worries seemed minor to him.

  “Do you want some help with it?” he asked, causing Mia to give him an incredulous look.

  “Help with my papers?” Was he serious?

  “Isn’t that what you’re stressing about?” He didn’t look like he was joking.

  “Uh . . .” Mia was speechless. Finally finding her tongue, she mumbled, “That’s okay, thanks . . . I should be able to handle it.”

  Stifling a grin, she imagined turning in a paper on the effects of environmental factors in early childhood development – written from the perspective of a two-thousand-year-old extraterrestrial. The look on Professor Dunkin’s face would be priceless.

  “I can write in English, you know,” said Korum, apparently offended by her reluctance.

  Mia smiled with some condescension. “Of course you can.” This was the strangest conversation ever. “But there’s more to writing an academic paper than just knowing the language. You have to have read all these books and attended the lectures . . .” She gestured toward the big pile of paper books sitting at the corner of her desk.