“I can’t believe it has come to this,” I said. “And on top of it, the virus is spreading. Why fight in the streets when people would be safer inside?”
Roki said, “They believe in their cause. That’s stronger than the fear of death.”
I had never thought about it like that before. I had never truly understood how devoted people were to their clans. Not until I saw them fighting, losing their lives for their beliefs. Only now did I realize the power the upper class and the media had over the masses. Quite frankly, it made me sick.
In the video, words on the bottom of the screen read: Surrvul Clan denies involvement in Nurlie war. Claims soldiers are rebels and not endorsed by Surrvul.
They had said this to save face, I figured. The clan leaders needed to keep up appearances, keep up their moral standing in the eyes of Decens-Lenitas. It was all blindfold politics. It wasn’t for the people. It was all an act for the other illustrious families!
On Roki’s screen, a massive ship came from the sky above the Nurlie capital. The back hatch opened, and P5 Protectors spilled from the ship by the dozen and used their booster systems to hover toward the ground. They immediately started using their built-in supersonic artillery to push back the invading islanders. It was mayhem. People were blasted back into buildings, against flaming cars. I could hear the screams.
From the rooftop were blasts of light. “Oh no!” I said. “The rebels are using remote plasma cannons!”
“Yeah,” Roki said.
We both watched the green particle beams launch off the rooftops and dissolve entire groups of P5 Protectors like they were made of butter. It was a barrage of laser fire back and forth. Human and robot, rebel and defender, Gurnot and Nurlie and Surrvul—they all fought and died in the ruined city, the P2 camera drones recording all the action for the people watching in their homes, one last bloody show before they died of the KS3 virus.
“The humanity,” I said. “I can’t watch it. Please, Roki. Please turn it off!”
He deactivated his visin. We were entering the mansion, and I said, “Can you mask our presence until we’re in my apartment? I’m supposed to be under quarantine.”
“I already am,” he said, giving me his sweet smile. “I’ve been masking us since I heard your call and zipped across the world. I’m tuned in to your voice. If you say my name, I will always come.”
“But—”
“Don’t worry,” he assured me. “I haven’t been listening to your thoughts. I’m still not. I guess I don’t really need to. I can tell what you’re thinking without listening. I guess it’s because of the bond between us.”
“I guess so,” I said. But I didn’t want to fall back into our old ways. I was still mad. I couldn’t let Roki’s charms seduce me. I had to ask, “Is it possible for a Min to control a person to get what they want? I need to know if Lordin entered the body of a woman named Hagan. I also need to know if Lordin is conspiring with her mother. What I’m asking is, has Lordin used being a Min to bring about all this destruction to get her mother’s revenge?”
Roki let out a sigh. We were in my room now, and he plunked himself down on my sofa while I sat on its arm, observing him. “Yes,” he said. “It’s what Min do best. They invade bodies to manipulate events. I’ve been a little busy these last few weeks and didn’t really have my eye on Lordin, so I can’t say for sure if she is involved. But it is possible. A Min can do pretty much anything.”
An idea burst into my head like a bomb, shaking me to my core. A Min can do anything. If I were a Min, I could save the world!
It was a good thing Roki had stopped reading my thoughts. He would never have let me consider dying to become a Min. My friends, my family … my husband. I would be abandoning them all. Yet how else could I stop the virus? If Lordin was the kingpin of this terrible design, I could never stop her in my useless human body.
“Thanks anyway,” I said. “The Crown of Crowns is no help. I don’t know if I can trust Zawne. I’ve recently found out Emell killed Mama. And now—”
A message blipped onto my visin. “Sorry,” I said to Roki while I opened it. “It’s from Raad. Oh no …” I gasped. “Raad says they had to let Emell go free. There was no evidence to suggest she had designed and unleashed the virus, nor that she was withholding the proper medicine. He says an antiviral is in the works but won’t be ready for approximately thirty hours. That means Emell is going to distribute the cure just in time to avert mass extinction.”
“It’s not enough,” Roki said. “The virus is spreading too fast. Thirty hours will mean at least two million casualties.” He buried his face in his hands. “I can’t believe it. I thought humans had a handle on these viruses. How could one woman have done all this?”
“The scorn of a loved one,” I said, catching Roki’s eye. “It’s amazing what a broken heart can do.”
“Kaelyn …” he said. I could see the yearning in his eyes. He wanted to touch me, to explain himself. I wasn’t having any of it.
“Don’t start,” I said. “I saw the photos. I’m not blind.” I shook my head. “Thank you for being here, Roki, but I think I need to be alone now. I have a lot of decisions to make.”
“I’ll always be here,” Roki said. And then he vanished. Not even his scent lingered when he was gone.
I had lied to Roki. I only had one decision to make.
