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the biosphere into copies of themselves, if they so desired.”
    It took a minute for that to sink in. “Okay, that’s pretty sinister. So, Darren wants to make sure that whatever he develops in the nanotechnology field will be used strictly for the good of mankind. It sounds reasonable. What’s so controversial about that?”
    Xavier swiveled slowly back and forth in his chair. “Well, some people read his paper and thought he was advocating a ban on all research and development of nanotechnology to avoid any adverse consequences from the science.”
    “Like that would ever happen. Since when has an approach of saying no to the progress of science been effective?”
    “Never,” Elvis said. “You can’t tell scientists not to explore nanotechnology when there are so many excellent possibilities and benefits to be gained from the research.”
    “Not to mention fortunes,” Xavier added.
    “So then what was Darren saying?” I asked.
    “I think he’s just trying to raise the bar,” Elvis explained. “Like encouraging us to address the ethical use of nanotechnology before we start designing things all willy-nilly.”
    “How can I get a copy of the article?”
    Xavier stood and walked over to a printer and pulled off some sheets for me. “Way ahead of you, Lexi.”
    “Thanks.” I stood. “Does STRUT have a chat room?”
    “Of course,” Xavier said.
    “You can hang out there if you join STRUT,” Elvis told me. “It’s a member-only section.”
    “How do I join?”
    “Just proclaim your ever-dying devotion to using technology responsibly.”
    I wasn’t sure I was well read enough on this topic to join, but it didn’t look like I had a lot of choice. Time was of the essence and I’d do what I’d have to do, especially if it helped me figure out why Darren Greening had fingered me in a weird cryptic note.
    “Well, I guess that means I’m your newest member.” I replaced the blanket on the chair. “Thanks, guys.”
    Elvis walked me to the door. “I’ll ask around about Darren. Maybe he has some connection to you that we’re all missing.”
    “You guys are the best,” I said and Elvis smiled.
    “I’ll walk you to your car.”
    “I appreciate that,” I said, even though I didn’t think Neck-Snapping Man would follow me around.
    When we got to my car, he reached out and twirled a strand of my hair around his finger. “You be careful, okay?”
    Xavier called out from the doorway, “Yeah, and don’t forget to tell Basia I’m looking forward to tomorrow night.”
    “He’s counting the nanoseconds.”
    Again I felt a flash of annoyance that Basia hadn’t told me about the forthcoming date, but I promised to give her Xavier’s message when I saw her later tonight.
    I turned up the heater in my car to offset the cold November air as I drove home to my cozy little one-bedroom apartment. Actually, it’s tiny more than cozy, but I had started trying to be more of a glass half-full type of person. I made a conscious decision to look on the bright side of things—like being alive, having a job and living in my own cozy apartment.
    I tossed my keys on the kitchen counter and went to the living room. I pulled out my Georgetown yearbook and lugged it back to the kitchen. Sitting at the small, round kitchen table, I opened a Diet Coke, and chugged it straight from the can. I flipped pages until I came to Darren Greening’s picture and spent some time gazing at it. In this photo he looked all of twelve years old, skinny with faded acne scars. But his gaze was intense, almost scary. I could see the genius lurking there.
    I scanned the rest of the yearbook, but there was nothing else of interest on Darren. No cocky phrases, famous quotes, and as far as I could tell, he hadn’t had any other extra-curricular activities at Georgetown. Just your everyday regular, geeky college kid.
    I shut the yearbook and stood. I was starving, but figured I’d just pick up something to eat in the food court at the