Close Obsession (The Krinar Chronicles 2)

The Protector smiled and reciprocated the shoulder-touching gesture. “Thank you, Arus.” Then, turning his attention to the rest of the Council, he acknowledged their presence with a few curt nods.

So these were Korum’s opponents, Mia thought, observing them with a great deal of interest. Loris’s hair was jet-black, and his eyes were the color of onyx. He reminded her of a hawk, with his sharply handsome features and a faintly predatory expression on his face. In contrast, Arus seemed much more approachable. With olive skin, black hair, and dark brown eyes, he was very typical of his kind, and there was a certain genuineness in his smile that made Mia think he might not be all that bad as a person.

After the greeting was complete, Arus returned to his podium, leaving Loris standing there.

Hearing movement behind her, Mia turned around and saw that Korum had risen to his feet. He walked around the podium toward the center of the arena, his movements slow and deliberate. Smiling coldly at Loris, he asked, “Is the Protector ready for the presentation?”

Loris nodded, a look of barely contained anger on his face. It seemed that Korum hadn’t exaggerated when he said that Loris hated him.

With a flick of his wrist, Korum brought up a three-dimensional image that hovered in mid-air, easily available for everyone to see.

“My fellow Earth inhabitants and all who are watching us on Krina right now,” Korum said, his voice echoing throughout the dome, “I would like to show you proof of a crime so heinous that the likes of it haven’t been seen in Krinar history for over a hundred thousand years. A crime in which a handful of traitors unhappy with their standing tried to send fifty thousand fellow citizens to their death in a pathetic grab for power. These traitors – the seven individuals you see before you right now – had no desire to advance us as a species, as a society. No, they simply wanted power, and they didn’t care what they had to do to achieve it. They lied, they betrayed our people, they manipulated humans susceptible to their empty promises . . . and they would have killed each and every single one of you in their quest to rule this particular planet, to be worshipped by the gullible humans as their saviors –”

“That’s a lie,” interrupted Loris, speaking through clenched teeth. Red spots of color appeared underneath his swarthy skin, and Mia could almost feel the effort it took him to control himself. “You set them up –”

“It’s not your turn to speak right now, Protector,” Korum told him, his lips curving in a contemptuous smile. “It’s my turn to present the evidence.” And with that, he made a small gesture with his hand, and the three-dimensional recording came to life.

The scene was a familiar one for Mia – she had been there in a virtual setting only yesterday. As the recording played, she again saw the old hut where the traitors had taken shelter during the Resistance attack and heard their communication with the mysterious human general. She witnessed the Resistance forces’ attempt t

o storm Lenkarda with their K weapons and relived their crushing defeat. And even though she was seeing this for the second time and knew that most of the human fighters had survived, Mia still felt sick to her stomach by the time the film was over.

Another movement of Korum’s hand, and the next recording began to play – this one of a phone conversation between one of the Keiths and some Resistance leaders. They were clearly coordinating their actions prior to the attack. And there were more: three-dimensional videos of the Resistance meetings where they had talked about the Keiths, interactions between human government officials discussing the potential for Earth’s liberation, and even a video of John telling Mia about their change in plans and how she had to steal Korum’s designs.

Watching all this, Mia again realized just how thoroughly Korum had manipulated her. While she’d thought she was spying on him, he had been tracking her every move; there had never been an opportunity for her to help the Resistance – she had always been his pawn. Her stomach twisted unpleasantly at the thought.

By the time all the recordings had been shown, at least four hours had passed. Mia was hungry and thirsty, and she had a pounding headache, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave her spot on top of Korum’s podium, morbidly fascinated by the proceedings.

Finally, Korum’s presentations appeared to be over.

In the deathly silence that gripped the arena, Korum said in a ringing tone, “And that, fellow Krinar citizens and Earth inhabitants, is why I propose the ultimate punishment for these traitors: complete rehabilitation.”

A murmur ran through the crowd, and Mia could almost feel the shock emanating from some of the spectators. Whatever complete rehabilitation meant, it was clearly not something that was commonly used.

The Keiths looked shocked as well, and Mia could see the fear on some of their faces. Whatever punishment they’d been expecting was obviously different from what Korum had just proposed.

The Protector stepped forward. Like Korum, he had been standing in the center for the entire time that the recordings had been playing. His black eyes were filled with fury. “That’s unthinkable, and you know it,” he gritted out. “Even if they were guilty, what you’re proposing is out of the question.”

“Are you admitting their guilt then?” Korum asked, his tone dangerously soft.

Loris’s brows snapped together. “Far from it. You know they haven’t done anything wrong –”

“We’ll let the Council and the Elders decide that, won’t we?” Korum replied, staring at the other Krinar with a mocking look on his face. “Your turn to present is tomorrow, and I, for once, am very eager to hear how these traitors could possibly be innocent.”

“Oh, you will see,” Loris said, giving him a look of sheer hatred. “And so will everyone else.”

And on that note, a chime sounded again. The trial proceedings were over for the day.

* * *

The Krinar drew in a deep breath, glad that the first day of the trial was over. It had gone exactly as he’d expected.

Korum had demanded the ultimate punishment for the ones he regarded as traitors. If the K hadn’t taken precautions, he could have easily been the eighth figure standing there, being judged by the Council.

He had distanced himself from the Keiths just in time. Now nobody would suspect his involvement in the attack on the Centers.

He had made sure of that.

Chapter 6