“I ran into Melinda Andrews in town just now, and she tells me you have been nominated for this year’s Homecoming Court?” she greeted me, eyebrows nudging her graying hairline.
Her astonished skepticism didn’t even hurt my feelings, I was so used to it. “Um, yes. Bri and Deb filled out the petition for me and got all the signatures. I know I probably don’t—”
“Marsha, this is wonderful! Homecoming Court is a great honor. Melinda and I agreed that we need to do all we can to make sure you win, as it could be a nice addition to your college resumes next year. I thought perhaps cookies that you can hand out to your classmates tomorrow? Now, which do you think your little friends would like best—my cranberry walnut oatmeal cookies or classic chocolate chip?”
Too startled to answer, I just stared at her. “Um—”
“Let’s make a few dozen of each, shall we? Here, I have an extra apron you can wear. I’ll phone Louie at work and ask him to pick up a pizza on his way home so we don’t have to worry about dinner.”
I could never remember Aunt Theresa being this pleased with me—and for something I’d had virtually nothing to do with! We spent the evening baking cookies together while she chatted about how much more I would enjoy school, now that I was finally becoming more popular. Unreal as it seemed, I was grateful I’d at least have this one happy memory of Aunt Theresa to file away for whatever future lay ahead.
As I was getting ready for bed, I received a message on my omni from Shim. My statement had already been broadcast all over Nuath and he reported that while at least half of the population was in frightened denial, many were offering their help to the Scientists already working on the problem. He also mentioned that after receiving the results of our graell tests from Kyna, he had gone on the air himself to share an edited version of the researchers’ conclusions.
“While this Grentl news has already done much to turn people’s minds from the topic of your potential out-of-fine pairing, I’m hopeful that providing them with scientific evidence of your bond may prevent it again becoming an issue, should the Grentl attack be somehow averted.”
Any humor I might have found in the first part of that sentence was wiped out by the last. Clearly, Shim didn’t think it any more likely we’d find a way to stop the Grentl than Kyna did. Still, on the off chance we could, Martian opposition to Rigel and me as a couple would again be the biggest problem facing us, so it was good Shim had a plan for that.
Though I felt beyond foolish carrying my huge box of cookies onto the bus the next morning, Aunt Theresa turned out to be right. Even before we got to school, Bri and Deb seized the opportunity to hand some out to the few other juniors on our bus.
“Cookies were a great idea, M,” Bri told me as we headed into the building. “Yesterday I didn’t think you were really into the whole campaigning thing.”
I shrugged. “Actually, the cookies were Aunt Theresa’s idea. Deb’s mom told her I was nominated and she went nuts. Got totally excited about it. It was weird.”
“Didn’t we tell you Homecoming Court was a big deal?” Deb grinned at Bri, who grinned back. “Go stash these in your locker for now and we’ll hand out the rest over lunch.
Rigel had been hanging back, but joined me as I turned toward my locker. “You might as well have fun with it,” he murmured. “Who knows if—”
“Yeah.” But I knew. We both knew.
35
Potential transformer
The news that her cookies were a hit put Aunt Theresa in such a great mood that evening, she didn’t even question me when I said I might be later than usual getting home from Molly’s tonight. We would supposedly be putting a few finishing touches on our Government project.
“Your grades are even more important than Homecoming Court, so be sure to do your best.”
I nodded, hoping Molly really had been able to finish that project like she’d promised, since I’d been way too busy to help.
“I’ll leave the front porch light on. Call if you’ll be much past ten so I don’t worry.”
The whole O’Gara family was already waiting in their minivan when I arrived.
“Kyna messaged that we’ll be at the Stuarts’ house again,” Mrs. O explained. “We’d best hurry, since it’s likely to be rather a long meeting.”
Like when we’d reconvened here Monday night for me to use the device, Kyna allowed Rigel and his mom, as well as Molly, Sean and Mr. O to join us. I was glad, since I could already tell from the emotions of those physically present that no one had good news to report. Having Rigel in the room would help keep my courage up.
“My colleagues have spent nearly all day running simulations,” Kyna told us right at the outset. “Unfortunately, assuming the specifications given us by the Sovereign are correct, no weapon we might create in time is likely to have the least effect on the Grentl satellites.”
“What about weapons that already exist?” Connor asked anxiously. “Duchas weapons? I heard something in the news today about missile tests and wondered—”
Kyna nodded, but grimly. “Yes, those so-called tests were attempts by the American military to destroy Grentl satellites. Israel made a similar attempt, though it was not publicized. All, unfortunately, were ineffective. Even had one worked, there would be no way to destroy all seven hundred and twenty of those satellites, distributed as they are. In addition, an experimental anti-satellite laser weapon was fired at two satellites. It was no more successful than the missiles. More countries do seem to be taking the threat seriously now, at least, which increases the likelihood that they will implement our recommended precautions.”
“By tomorrow night?” Mr. Stuart was clearly skeptical. “I’ve seen the news stories relaying the astrophysicists’ predictions of an intense solar storm, but it’s no small matter to shut down power grids worldwide, not to mention grounding all flights.”
“Precisely,” Kyna agreed. “Due to the inevitable bureaucracy involved, I consider it extremely unlikely that more than a small fraction of the planet will be protected in time.”
Which, I knew, would ultimately mean billions of deaths. “Then you need to let Rigel and me try again with the device. It sounds like it’s our only hope at this point.”
Kyna sighed heavily. “Despite the potential danger to you, Excellency, I am inclined to agree. If you can in any way dissuade the Grentl…”
“Even if we can’t,” Rigel volunteered from the corner, “maybe we’ll be able to find some chink in their armor. Some vulnerability we didn’t pick up on last time. Definitely worth a shot.”
“It is. We should do it tonight. Now.” Though I cringed at the prospect, I’d just as soon get it over with.
“That’s the primary reason we’re meeting here instead of at the O’Garas’ house,” Kyna admitted. “I realized earlier today it would likely come to this. I’m sorry, Excellency.”
At her signal, Mr. Stuart and Malcolm left the room and returned a few moments later with the device, which they again set carefully on the living room table.
“Right, then. Let’s do this.” Rigel’s voice sounded surprisingly firm and confident compared to the wildly fluctuating emotions I sensed from him…and shared.
His dad frowned worriedly. “You’re sure about this?”
We both nodded.
Kyna, Breann, Malcolm, the Stuarts and the O’Garas arranged themselves around us in a circle. The holograms of Nara and Connor stood slightly closer, since they weren’t at any real risk if the Grentl zapped us.
“Together from the start this time?” Rigel suggested, moving with me to the device.
“Right.” I hoped desperately they wouldn’t suddenly decide to hurt Rigel for bending their Sovereign-only rule.
This time he put a hand on my shoulder, skin on skin, before I even touched the thing. Absorbing one more fortifying dose of strength from him, I reached out and grabbed the copper projections.
One heartbeat, two, and then the prongs warmed in my hands, even faster than last time. They al
ready knew I…we…were here. I felt them pulling at my mind almost immediately. Before shutting them out, I tried sending a thought.
Please, spare our planet! We are no threat to you. Billions of lives are at stake.
Would they answer? Again I counted heartbeats—three, four—and then, “RISK TO GALAXY TOO GREAT. EXPERIMENT UNSUCCESSFUL.”
What would count as success? I pleaded. Can you give us another chance?
This time they didn’t answer, just tried to suck memories and experiences out of me again. Not knowing what else to do, after another second or two of resisting, I let them. As the images flashed past at lightning speed, I was aware of them accessing some of Rigel’s memories as well, no doubt because our minds were so closely linked with him actually touching me. I felt him flinch once or twice and knew he was experiencing the same thing I was—the replaying of particularly upsetting recent memories.
From him, they pulled his experience in the Mind Healing facility on Nuath, to include what it felt like to have his memory erased, then his awakening in Ireland and his increasing confusion at school between what he’d been told and the memories trying to surface. From me, they pulled the heartbreak I’d felt when Rigel hadn’t recognized me and even actively avoided me. Then, from both of us, the memory of our incredible kiss in the cornfield when we’d re-bonded and Rigel’s memories had come flooding back.
Finally, they were done. I waited, but they still didn’t say anything. Frustrated, drawing on every bit of Rigel’s mental strength as well as my own, I again tried probing their minds, determined to find out whether they were at all reconsidering their plan.
They weren’t.
Their timetable for the EMP was exactly the same as before, following all the same steps I’d extracted from them last week. Tears of defeat were starting to prickle behind my eyelids when I caught Rigel’s careful thought, sent only to me: Look for a weakness.
Nodding, I screwed up my face and pushed harder, trying to sense even the tiniest trace of uncertainty or fear from their collective consciousness. Nothing. Except…
There! A quick flash, an image of Rigel and me holding hands, focusing on the night sky. Then, before I could figure out exactly what it was we were doing, it was gone. The copper projections cooled and I could feel the Grentls’ minds retreating, closing themselves off from me. I was about to try again when I felt Rigel tugging on my arm and realized I was shaking and sweating again, nearly spent.
Relief warred with disappointment as I let him pull me away from the device, releasing my hold on the prongs. You stopped me! Maybe if—
You were about to hurt yourself, M. Besides, I think maybe we got what we needed.
Turning away from the device, I blinked up at him. We did?
That last image. I think maybe we are their vulnerability. You and me. Somehow.
I stared at him as understanding dawned. I think you’re right! I was trying, hard, to sense any doubts or reservations from them and that’s what popped up. Then they shut us out as fast as they could.
In sudden excitement, I swung around to face the others so quickly, Rigel had to steady me on my feet. “It’s us! We think it might be us!”
At their confused expressions, I realized Rigel’s and my exchange just now had been silent. My voice shook slightly as I attempted to explain.
“The Grentl—they pulled out everything about our bond. How we can talk to each other, the electricity thing, and…how we feel about each other. Then I did everything I could to find some weakness of theirs we might be able to use and saw…” That image came back into my mind, clearer this time.
Rigel picked up the explanation. “She saw—we saw—us. Together. Doing something—we’re not sure what, exactly—to fend off the Grentl. Can you somehow add the data from Sunday’s graell tests to your simulations? See if there’s something we might be able to do to stop them?”
Kyna and Mr. Stuart exchanged perplexed looks, then Kyna gave a little shrug. “We have nothing else to try at this point. I’ll get our Scientists on it immediately and let you know if they turn up anything at all promising. Let’s all pray they do.”
* * *
“Look at Trina, that big copycat!” Bri hissed to Deb, Molly and me at lunch Friday. Following her gaze, I saw Trina walking up and down the rows of tables, a big, beribboned basket over her arm, handing out what looked like plastic-wrapped muffins.
Deb jumped up and ran to one of the tables Trina had already hit, then came back a minute later. “Candace’s Gourmet Muffins. With stickers on each one saying ‘Trina Squires for Junior Princess’ and little tags on ribbons inviting everyone to a party at her house after the game tonight. Those must have cost her a fortune!”
Matt Mullins, passing our table just then, overheard. “If so, she didn’t get her money’s worth. You want the rest of mine?” He dropped a half-eaten muffin on Deb’s tray. “Your cookies were way better, M. You’ve got nothing to worry about.” With a wink, he continued toward the tray drop.
I had to laugh. “Like the vote will hinge on who hands out the best goodies?”
“It could,” Bri said seriously. “Last year Tiffany gave out doughnuts with sprinkles, and she made Homecoming Queen. Rosa just passed out chocolate kisses, though, so no threat there.”
I just rolled my eyes. “Look, if I get it, great, but I’m not going to cry if I don’t and I don’t want you guys to, either. Okay?” Homecoming Court might barely be on my radar just now, but I didn’t want my friends feeling bad if I lost.
“At least we’re making Trina work for it.” Deb sounded philosophical.
Bri nodded. “Still, I’d give almost anything for you to win, M, if only for the look on her face when it’s announced. I’m going to have my phone ready this afternoon to snap a picture of that!”
Ten minutes into seventh period, everyone was dismissed to attend the big Homecoming spirit assembly in the school gym. Rigel and I walked hand in hand, oblivious to the excited buzz of voices around us. The votes would all be collected and tallied at the start of the assembly, but with the Grentl attack looming tonight, neither of us had attention to spare for anything else.
Wouldn’t your dad have called if the Scientists found something? I asked Rigel for at least the fourth time today.
Maybe not. He was way more patient with me than I deserved. He’ll definitely let me know as soon as I get home, though. You sure you don’t want to come straight to my house after the pep rally?
I’d better not. If I’m going to have to stay out super late tonight—if they figure out something we can do—I’ll need to butter up Aunt Theresa all I can first.
Everyone was putting their voting slips into a big, decorated box outside the doors as they entered the gym, which was festooned with black and gold streamers and paper cutouts of diamonds and jaguars. Once inside, Rigel had to join the rest of the football team so I went to sit with Bri and Deb in the bleachers. The cheerleaders were already in action, waving their black and gold pompoms and leading cheers at the tops of their lungs.
“TWO, FOUR, SIX, EIGHT! WHO DO WE APPRECIATE? JAGUARS! JAGUARS! GOOOO, JAGUARS!”
“C’mon, M, you’re not getting into the spirit,” Bri chided me. “Look! They’re about to introduce the team—you have to yell for Rigel!”
Doing my best to shake off my sense of impending doom, I plastered a smile on my face and screamed along with everyone else as our team jogged to the middle of the gym so the coach could announce all their names—like everybody didn’t already know. He saved Rigel for last, as our star quarterback, and everyone in the gym jumped to their feet and redoubled the volume until the air throbbed.
After half a dozen more cheers, the players filed out and Principal Johannsen walked to the middle of the gym floor, taking the microphone from Coach Glazier.
“As you all know, this year marks Jewel High School’s seventy-second year, our twelfth in this building. Since its founding, our school has produced several notable graduates.”
She went on to list a handful of athletes, several war heroes, an artist and a musician that had achieved relative fame, then launched into more trivia about the history of the school. I tuned her out and went back to obsessing over what was likely to happen tonight until Bri gave me a hard nudge.
“—the moment you’ve all been waiting for,” the principal was saying. “It gives me great pleasure to announce this year’s Homecoming Court! Our Freshman Prince is Toby Mullins and the Princess is Andrea Perkins.” The two fourteen-year-olds made their way down from the bleachers, where they were draped with black and gold sashes.
“Ooh, Matt’s little brother,” Deb whispered excitedly, pointing at Toby.
The Sophomore Prince and Princess were Jared Gross and Ginny Farmer, and then it was our turn. Even though I’d been telling myself all week I didn’t care about silly Homecoming Court when the fate of the world was hanging in the balance, I caught myself holding my breath.
“Our Junior Prince this year is again Rigel Stuart,” Ms. Johannsen announced, to no one’s surprise. And this year’s Junior Princess is…Marsha Truitt.”
Deb let out a squeal, while Bri exclaimed triumphantly, “You did it! And…I got it! What an awesome picture of Trina’s expression.”
I barely glanced at her phone because I had to climb down the bleachers to join Rigel in the middle of the gym to receive my own sash.
Junior Princess! Rigel thought to me as I crossed the floor, walking right past Trina’s still-outraged face. Not quite as big a deal as Sovereign of a whole race of people, but still pretty cool.
And without nearly as many strings attached. I grinned as I took my place next to him. Wish all the Sovereign ever had to do was ride on floats and wave at the crowd.
As Principal Johannsen announced Homecoming King and Queen—Sean, of course, and Missy Gillespie—I couldn’t help thinking how my status at school had changed nearly as much as it had on Mars. Until last year, I’d been one of the least popular dweebs in school. And look at me now!
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