Catching my thought, Rigel took my hand. How can anyone not look at you? You’re pretty much perfect. Maybe now you’ll believe me?
I smiled up at him. Nah, it was Aunt Theresa’s cookies that got me elected. Still cool, though!
We all had to stand there in our sashes while Jeremy took pictures for the website and yearbook, then everyone in the stands was allowed to come down and congratulate us. Bri, Deb and Molly were practically jumping up and down with excitement at my win, while Trina glared daggers my way. I very carefully did not read her emotions.
A few minutes later the bell rang and everyone started streaming toward their lockers and the buses. I wanted to ask Molly if she’d heard anything from her mom but I couldn’t, with Bri and Deb right there. At times like this it would be convenient to have that telepathy thing with people other than Rigel…though definitely not worth the hassle of guarding my thoughts from everybody.
After stopping by our lockers for books we might never need again after tonight, we headed outside. Rigel, Sean and I were standing around by the buses, still being congratulated, when we saw Mr. Stuart waving at us from the parking lot. Quickly excusing ourselves, all four of us hurried over to him.
“What? Does this mean there’s news?” I asked breathlessly.
“Apparently so. I’m to bring you home immediately so you can be briefed. Molly and Sean can come, too.”
We all piled into the SUV, bursting with excitement and questions.
“I don’t know any of the details yet,” Mr. Stuart told us when we let him get a word in. “Just that the Scientists have come up with something based on what you suggested last night. Let’s all hope it’s a solution.”
36
Flash hazard
Rigel and I jumped out of the car as soon as it stopped in the driveway and raced into his house, with everyone else on our heels, eager to hear how we could stop the Grentl from blasting Earth back to the Stone Age. The full Council was waiting in the living room. So was Arthur, the NASA aerospace engineer who’d participated in Tuesday afternoon’s video conference about the Grentl plan specifics.
At everyone’s somber expressions, my eagerness turned to disappointment. “You didn’t find a solution after all?”
“In fact, we may have.” Kyna looked as serious as I’d ever seen her, which was saying something.
Rigel’s confusion mirrored my own. “But…that’s good news, right? You really found some way M, er, the Sovereign and I can stop the Grentl?”
“Perhaps,” Arthur replied. “After trying various simulations all night and most of this morning we finally found one that could possibly work. In theory, at least. We were forced to extrapolate from your test results to predict the power you might produce under a true threat situation. However, to be certain, we really should measure your potential output again, see if it can be increased at all.”
“Okay, fine,” I said impatiently. “Let’s do that.”
Nodding, Arthur motioned us to follow him into the dining room, where another multimeter sat in the middle of the table. It was similar to the one from our graell tests Sunday night, but about three times larger.
“This meter is capable of measuring far greater voltages than the one previously used. Hopefully without sustaining damage.” He gave us a dry smile, though I could tell he wasn’t joking.
“So you want us to create a bigger bolt than before?” I asked.
“I’d like you to try. Even if you can’t, this device should be able to measure your full electrical potential, though crudely.”
Swallowing, I linked hands with Rigel like before. Let’s imagine we really are fighting off the Grentl. That ought to create the biggest spark yet.
No kidding.
We waited while Arthur adjusted some settings on his meter and then stepped back, motioning everyone else who’d crowded into the room to move away as well. “All right. Stand just a bit closer, so we can capture as much charge as possible without losing it to the surrounding air. And…go.” He took one more big step back.
Okay. They’re coming, and we’re the Earth’s last line of defense, Rigel thought to me. Ready?
I forced myself to focus on the mental image of attacking Grentl satellites instead of the feel of Rigel’s hand in mine. Ready.
The bolt we unleashed forced us both backward half a step as it arced between us and the silver contraption on the table. It definitely looked stronger than last time, though I wasn’t sure by how much. Strong enough to leave a big scorch mark on Dr. Stuart’s nice maple dining table.
“Oops,” I said, just like Sunday night when we’d sent the little multimeter flying. “Sorry, Dr. Stuart!”
It was only then I became aware of the breathless amazement in the room. Some fear emanated from a Royal or two, but Arthur mostly registered excitement.
“Well?” Kyna said, as Arthur hurried forward to check the meter.
“6.7 gigajoules.” Arthur was visibly impressed. “Very nearly enough. If being under a true threat allows them to manage just a bit more—and if they are able to maintain the burst for approximately twice as long—there is indeed a chance.”
“A chance to do what?” I demanded.
“To turn the Grentl’s EMP back upon itself, essentially short-circuiting it and destroying the satellites in a chain reaction. But the risk—”
He and Kyna exchanged glances.
“A worse risk than what the Grentl plan to do?” I asked disbelievingly. “What, could we blow up the planet or something?”
“No, Excellency.” A deep crease formed between Kyna’s eyebrows. “The risk wouldn’t be to the planet, but to you and Rigel.”
I let out a breath, hope bubbling back up. “We’re just two people. If the Grentl let off that EMP, you said billions could die. This should be a no-brainer.”
Rigel took my hand in a firm grip. “What would we need to do? And what exactly is the risk?”
“Arthur, would you like to explain?” Kyna’s voice was tight, distressed. “You headed up the simulations.”
He nodded. “Our simulations so far had indicated that a series of positron emitters would be our best hope. Unfortunately, we only have three and they are far too small to have the sort of effect on the satellites that would be necessary.”
“Cool!” Sean exclaimed. “I didn’t know Echtrans had created a positron emitter. Why wasn’t that ever mentioned in—?”
Mrs. O shot him a stern glance and he subsided. “Oh, sorry, never mind. Go on.”
“We could think of no way to amplify an emitter’s output sufficiently to achieve the desired result until Kyna suggested incorporating the data from Sunday’s test of your electrical, ah, ability. Even that seemed doubtful, as nearly eight gigajoules are needed to have a chance of disrupting the EMP. What you have just produced is close enough to give me hope that you may indeed be able to do what is needed. However—” He paused to glance at Kyna— “there is no question that the attempt would put the two of you at extreme risk.”
“Risk of what?” Rigel persisted. “Exactly?”
Arthur hesitated, looking from me to Rigel and back. “Death by electrocution. Or, more precisely, by vaporization.”
Okay, that didn’t sound fun, but… “Would that be if we succeed or if we don’t succeed?”
“Possibly either. Eight gigajoules of electricity can vaporize organic matter instantly. That energy would be doubled as it rebounds from the just-forming EMP field, even if your timing is precise enough to abort it before it reaches Earth. The positron emitter will almost certainly be destroyed and, quite honestly, I don’t see how anyone in its immediate vicinity could survive the resultant explosion.”
I could feel my palm sweating in Rigel’s. We have to try, I thought to him. I don’t see how we have any choice.
Rigel nodded. “If it’s the best hope we have, we’re in. Just tell us what to do.”
The various Council members’ expressions ranged from relieved to awed to—in Nara’s
case—tearful. She started to say something, but Kyna stopped her with a raised hand and motioned for Arthur to continue.
“First, we need to find a place that is relatively isolated from other humans, where we can set up the positron emitter in advance. Somewhere you can reach by shortly after midnight tonight. I strongly recommend no one else be within a quarter mile, to reduce the chance of additional casualties. And the timing must be precise. The burst must happen just as the EMP is released. Too early, and the stream will dissipate before having the desired effect. Too late, and the EMP will be impossible to stop.”
He went on to detail the precise sequence of events necessary, going over them until he was confident we would be able to do this on our own without hands-on guidance.
“But where can we do this?” Connor asked. “Where, within an easy distance of Jewel, can we be certain there will be no one else within a quarter mile?”
Together, Rigel and I said, “The cornfield.”
At everyone’s confused looks, Rigel elaborated. “The same place we fought off Faxon’s forces last year. There’s a clearing between a quarter and a third of a mile from the school. At that time of night, nobody should be anywhere around. If you can put the emitter in the clearing for us ahead of time, we should be able to pull this off. If we succeed, then…” He swallowed. “Someone can come back afterward to see if we, um, made it.”
Mr. Stuart volunteered that he remembered where the clearing was and offered to drive us to the edge of the cornfield around midnight. I had no idea how I’d get away without Aunt Theresa noticing, but that was the least of my worries right now.
Finally, everyone seemed satisfied that all the details had been worked out as thoroughly as possible on such short notice. Fervently wishing us luck, the holographic Council members winked out and Breann and Malcolm left. It was four-thirty, according to the clock on the Stuarts’ mantel.
“Aunt Theresa will be home any minute, so I’d better get back. Maybe she’ll be happy enough about me making Homecoming Court that she won’t ask too many questions if I’m extra late.”
Molly suddenly launched herself at me for a bear hug. “You really are my hero, M! And don’t worry, we’ve got the perfect excuse. As Junior Princess you’re required to come to the party after tonight’s game. Tell her my mum will pick us both up and then you’ll spend the night at my house.”
“Required?” I asked skeptically.
“She won’t know any differently, will she?”
I had to smile. “I guess not. Okay, that’s what I’ll tell her. If she doesn’t buy it, though, I’m making you come up with something else. You’re way better at that sort of thing than I am.”
Molly laughed. “It’ll work. Actually, if we can stop by my house first, I’ll come with you. I was going to ask to come over anyway, so I can dress you for tonight. I totally get to play Handmaid again, since tonight you get to be Royal in front of everyone—and I know just the outfit!”
* * *
Sure enough, Aunt Theresa was over the moon about me making Homecoming Court. So much so, she didn’t even raise an eyebrow when Molly showed her the dress she was “lending” me—a gorgeous purple, sleeveless, chiffon-like confection that was actually one of mine she’d brought along from Nuath and had been keeping at home in her closet.
“That’s very generous of you, Molly. I hope Marsha has expressed proper gratitude for everything you and your family have done for her.”
Molly nodded vigorously. “She has—lots of times! Oh, did she tell you about the party after the game tonight? The football team and cheerleaders and the whole Homecoming Court are expected to be there, for pictures and things. My mother offered to drive us and pick us up, and M can sleep over at my house after, if that’s okay?”
“Of course.” My aunt wore that rare, genuine smile that always creeped me out a little. “I’ll be sure to thank your mother when I see her at the game tonight.”
With that, Molly hauled me upstairs to my bedroom to play dress-up on me—something she claimed to have missed terribly since leaving Mars.
Looking at my reflection an hour later, after she’d put the finishing touches to my hair and makeup, it was obvious that a couple months without practice hadn’t made her lose her touch.
“Wow, Molly, you’ve outdone yourself. Thanks!”
Her reflection grinned at mine. “Least I could do for someone about to risk her life to save the world.” Though I could sense her intense anxiety, she hid it impressively well.
“And hey, if the worst happens, at least I’ll go out in style,” I answered in the same spirit.
“Exactly. Oops, I need to run! Amber’s picking me up in less than half an hour and I have to change into my cheerleading outfit. See you at the game!” With a convincingly cheery wave, she grabbed my packed overnight bag and raced off down the stairs, leaving me to follow more slowly.
Uncle Louie had come home from the dealership early—Homecoming was a big deal for the whole town of Jewel—and Aunt Theresa was just putting dinner on the table.
“My! Don’t you look nice,” she exclaimed, surprise slightly undercutting the compliment.
Uncle Louie was less reserved. “Theresa tells me we have a princess in our midst, and boy, don’t you just look it! Make sure you wave at us from that float tonight, you hear? Want to show you off to everybody.”
I promised, flattered and embarrassed by more praise than I could ever remember receiving from either of them.
After dinner they drove me to the game, where I had to go sit with the rest of the Homecoming Court until the halftime parade. Since Rigel couldn’t be with me, I felt awkward and out of place despite knowing I looked my absolute best. Even Sean treated me more formally than usual, though I wasn’t sure if it was because of what would be happening later tonight or because his devastatingly gorgeous partner was monopolizing him so thoroughly. Which he didn’t seem to mind at all.
Since we were right down front, we had a great view of both the game and the cheerleaders—which meant there was no missing the venomous glances Trina kept shooting my way. For the first time, I felt a prickle of discomfort about going to that party at her house, even for half an hour.
Halftime was wonderful, though. Since there wasn’t time for him to change, Rigel rode on the float in his football uniform—though not his helmet—and held my hand the whole way around the track.
“You look amazing tonight, M, you know that, right? I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”
I shoved him gently with my shoulder, not minding his dirt and sweat a bit. “I’m the one sitting here with the star quarterback who’s in the process of winning yet another big game.”
It was like we’d made a pact not to talk about what we’d be doing later on, even silently. As we waved to the Homecoming crowd in the stands with our free hands, we kept our banter light and mostly about the game. Only once did Rigel hint, obliquely, at what loomed tonight.
“Coach has yelled at me twice now for being distracted. I’ll have to do better next half,” he commented as we finally finished our slow circuit of the stadium.
Swallowing, I made myself say, “Gee, maybe I shouldn’t have let Molly make me look so good after all.”
In answer, he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and hugged me to him. “Maybe not. I’ll just have to do my best not to stare at you too much. See you after, M.” He gave me a quick kiss, then jumped off the float to go join the team, now gathering on the sidelines for the second half.
Even though Rigel wasn’t playing quite up to his usual standard, our team still beat Elwood 31-20. I was one of the first to congratulate Rigel, since I was practically sitting on the field, then I had to run and find Aunt Theresa and Uncle Louie before they left.
“You looked very pretty up on that float.” My aunt was all smiles, though I suspected some of that was for the benefit of her friends standing nearby. She was obviously enjoying the heck out of lording it over them with my status tonight. “I hope
you didn’t let that quarterback smudge Molly’s dress.”
“Oh.” I glanced down at myself, partly to hide my temptation to laugh. “Um, I don’t think so. Anyway, I wanted to say goodbye to you and Uncle Louie before you went home.”
Seized by a sudden premonition that this might be the last time I’d ever see them, I pulled them both into a hug. They looked surprised but hugged me back.
“I’ll, uh, see you guys in the morning.” I awkwardly released them. “Don’t forget to unplug the computer before you go to bed tonight, plus all that other stuff they recommended in the paper.”
Turning away before my unexpectedly-threatening tears could escape, I hurried off to find the O’Garas.
“There you are!” Molly greeted me. “Where’s Rigel?”
I forced a smile. “Probably still changing. I wanted to say goodbye to my aunt and uncle. In case…you know.”
For a split-second, Molly’s fear showed on her face, then she hid it again. “It’s going to be fine. I just know it is. Won’t it?” She looked to her parents for confirmation.
But I could tell they were worried, too, despite their smiles. “I have great faith in our Scientists,” Mr. O’Gara said with more firmness than his emotions reflected. “And in the Sovereign and Rigel, as well. They’ve demonstrated repeatedly what a powerful force their bond can be.” The look he sent me held yet another apology for all he’d done to the two of us last spring.
Mutely, I accepted it. “Right. And we’ve beaten the odds before,” I reminded them all, as well as myself. “Like last year, against Faxon’s people.”
Mrs. O, at least, seemed to take comfort from that. “Indeed you have, dear, and I have confidence you’ll do so again. Now, where is Sean? We should be going.”
“Oh, he said he was getting a ride with Missy,” Molly volunteered. “Sorry, I should have told you. I think he might be just the tiniest bit smitten.” She giggled, then sent me an apologetic look. “Oops, sorry, M, I didn’t mean—”
“No, I think that’s great,” I said quickly—and meant it. Sean had clearly been serious Tuesday night about trying to move on, and that was all to the good. “But…do we really have to go to this party? I wouldn’t put it past Trina to poison my punch or something.”
Starfall: A Starstruck Novel Page 33
