Close Obsession (The Krinar Chronicles 2)

Mia’s eyes widened. If they had been children together, then she was in the presence of two aliens who measured their age in thousands of years. “Were you classmates or something?” she asked in fascination.

Korum shook his head, his lips curving slightly. “Not exactly. We were playmates. Our children are educated very differently than humans – we don’t have schools like you do.”

“No? Then how do your children learn?”

Saret grinned at her, apparently pleased by her curiosity. “A lot of it is play-based. We let them develop most of the key skills they need through socialization and interaction with others, be it children or adults. Later on, they do apprenticeships in various fields with the goal of honing their problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities.”

Mia looked at him in fascination. “But how do they learn things like math and history and writing?”

Saret waved his hand dismissively. “Oh, those are easy. I don’t know if Korum has talked to you about this before –”

“I haven’t yet,” Korum said. “You got here as soon as Mia woke up. All I had time to do was mention the language implant.”

“Oh, good.” Saret sounded excited. “Would you like to get that done tonight, Mia?”

Mia hesitated. If Korum wasn’t lying to her, then she would be an idiot to pass on this opportunity. “Can you please explain to me again what exactly this implant is and what it does?” she asked, looking at Saret.

Korum sighed, looking exasperated. “Yes, Saret, please tell Mia exactly what the implant is. She doesn’t seem to trust my explanation.”

“Can you blame me?” she asked Korum, trying to keep the bitterness out of her tone.

Saret’s eyebrows rose, and he grinned again. “Still some unresolved issues, I see.”

Korum shot him a warning look, and Saret’s grin promptly disappeared. “Never mind,” he said hastily. “I don’t know what Korum told you, Mia, but the language implant is a very simple, very straightforward device that many Krinar get upon maturity – once our brain is fully developed. It’s a microscopic computer made of special biological material that essentially acts as a highly advanced translator. Its function is to convert data from one form into another – thought pattern to language and vice versa. It acts on one area of the brain only and has absolutely no harmful side effects.”

“Does it ever malfunction?” asked Mia. “Or can it do something else to me?”

“Like what?” Saret looked perplexed. “And no, this technology has been in existence for over ten thousand years, so it’s been fully perfected. It doesn’t malfunction, ever.”

“Can it make me think something that I don’t want? Or broadcast my thoughts?” Now that she’d said it out loud, Mia could hear how ridiculous that sounded.

Saret shook his head with a smile. “No, nothing like that. It’s a very basic device. What you’re talking about is far more advanced science. Mind control and thought reading are still in theoretical stages of development.”

“But it is theoretically possible?” Mia asked in amazement, the psych major in her suddenly salivating at the prospect of learning even a tiny sliver of what the Krinar knew about the brain. Now that she wasn’t so nervous, it occurred to Mia that the K sitting across from her was probably a veritable treasure trove of knowledge about her field of study.

Saret nodded. “Theoretically, yes. Practically, not yet.”

Mia opened her mouth to ask another question, and Korum interrupted, looking amused at her unabashed interest, “So does this make you feel more comfortable about getting the implant?”

Mia considered it for a second. How much should she trust them? Korum had already proven himself to be a master manipulator, and she had no idea what Saret was like. But then again, like Korum said, they didn’t really need her permission to do this. The fact that they were giving her a choice is what ultimately convinced her.

“I think so,” she said slowly.

“Okay then, Saret, can you please do the honors?”

“Um, wait,” Mia said, her heart starting to beat faster, “you mean I can get it right now? Is there an

anesthetic or anything?”

Saret smiled. “No, nothing like that. It’s very easy – you won’t even feel it.”

“Okay . . .”

Korum got up, still holding Mia’s hand. Saret stood up also and approached them. “May I?” he asked Korum, reaching for Mia.

Korum nodded, and Saret extended his right hand, brushing Mia’s hair back behind her left ear. She shuddered a little at the unfamiliar touch. Her nails dug into Korum’s hand, and she fought the urge to flinch. Even though they’d told her it wouldn’t hurt, she couldn’t help her primal reaction.

“That’s it.” Saret stepped back.