Aliens Abroad

by Gini Koch

  The Moon Suits would protect against anyone accidentally taking in a mouthful of mercury or rubidium, so the risks of drowning were less, and the risk of someone getting splashed and inhaling the stuff was slim to none.

  Since Wruck was off exploring the solar area, the Kristie-Bot did the first test. She had no issues holding her breath and keeping her mouth shut, or seeing under the mercury, and Tito declared her fine.

  Impressing me to my core, the next people to dive in were some of Jeff’s Cabinet—Jordan Harris, the Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Davis, the Secretary of the Interior, and Jack Gibson, the Secretary of Veteran Affairs. These three all went under, and stayed under for a few long seconds.

  Gibson surfaced first. “It works. I can see perfectly. It’s amazing! And so buoyant, too! You have to try it!” The other two surfaced and chimed in on the awesomeness. So, after they came out, Tito wanded them, and they were declared still fully human and not poisoned in any way, the rest of us joined in.

  There was no way in the world we were letting Charlie go underwater—he hadn’t mastered swimming yet—but Jamie and Lizzie were both good swimmers. Jeff stayed in the shallows with Charlie, Christopher, Amy, Becky, and JR, while I went with the girls and the other kids, all of whom were able to swim.

  Mrs. Maurer was with us, of course, as were her son and her grandchildren. It was really neat to see their little family having a fun, normal time together. The Maurers had been through a lot, and this vacation was as necessary for them as it was for us.

  As Jamie and Lizzie pulled me under so I could look at the creatures in the mercury with us, realized that I was thinking of everything here as normal. Didn’t know whether that showed my great ability to adapt, or whether Cradus was just so nice and relaxing that I’d come to accept it as perfectly safe and fun. As a tiny octopus-type creature with seven tentacles wrapped gently around my wrist, then let go when I tickled the top of its head, decided I didn’t care.

  Chose instead to enjoy the feeling of bouncing while under the mercury. Swimming in water was really going to be a letdown after this.

  Schools of silver and black fish that looked a bit like trout, a bit like salmon, and a lot like aliens—seeing as they had sixteen fins each—swam by. There were what looked like forms of seaweed and coral that grew at the edge of the shallows and went as far as I could see into the depths, the seaweed golden, the coral copper. More septopi came to play with us, as tiny fish that looked like silvery baby bass swam into the shallows, to tickle the toes of those there.

  How we could see through viscous liquid or submerge in such a dense substance I didn’t know. Maybe it was the Moon Suits. Maybe it was the goggles. Maybe it was magic. Maybe I didn’t care. Cradus was, basically, da bomb and I was hella grateful for it.

  The older kids started to have swimming races, though they listened to Feoren and didn’t go out past where they had the Cradi version of lifeguards stationed. They had no dangerous deep dwelling predators, but Feoren saw no reason to take chances, and all the adults agreed that precaution was a good way to go.

  Lizzie went to race with the other older kids, while Jamie and I floated on our backs holding hands and looking at Spehidon.

  “It’s so pretty here, isn’t it, Mommy?”

  “It is. I’m glad we came.”

  “Me too. I wish we could stay.”

  “But then we wouldn’t see your grandparents and all our other friends and family again, Jamie-Kat.”

  “Oh, I know. It’s not a real wish, Mommy, just a fun time wish. Auntie Mimi knows that.”

  Managed not to stiffen or react. “Oh yeah?”

  “Yeah. She says that what we want and what we need aren’t the same thing.”

  “She’s very right. Um, does she grant your real wishes?”

  “Only when people need help. Fairy Godfather ACE says that otherwise it’s des-pot-ic.”

  “He’s not wrong.”

  “He doesn’t let us help nearly as much as I think we should.” Said in the disapproving tone you’d use to share that a teenager was constantly having to be nagged to do their chores—punishment might be needed, but it would have to suit the level of the crime.

  Cleared my throat. “You do realize that Fairy Godfather ACE is much older and far more experienced than you, right?”

  “Oh, yes, Mommy, I know. Auntie Mimi says the same. And I would never do something to hurt Fairy Godfather ACE, either. But sometimes it’s hard to not help.”

  “Oh, I know that feeling, sweetie, I really do. Is that why you disobeyed and came out without permission earlier?”

  “Oh, no. Fairy Godfather ACE approved that, Mommy. I don’t disobey him very much. Hardly ever at all. I don’t want to make him, you, Daddy, or Auntie Mimi disappointed in me.”

  Squeezed her hand. “We’re never disappointed in you, Jamie-Kat. Ever. You’re the best little girl any parents could ever have.” Looked at Jamie out of the corner of my eye, which was possible in these goggles—she seemed quite pleased. Good. Considered what to say next. “How often do you talk to Auntie Mimi?”

  “Oh, once in a while. Don’t worry, I won’t tell Uncle Chuckie, Uncle Paul, or Auntie Abby. I understand why it would make them feel bad to know that Auntie Mimi isn’t talking to them.”

  Whatever story Naomi had to give Jamie to keep her from sharing this news was A-okay with me. “That makes sense.”

  “Oooh, look at Spehidon, Mommy. It’s twinkling!”

  It was, looking like sparkly orange confetti was coming from the planet, which was presumably some reflection from the sun. But it was beautiful to watch and we stopped talking about stressful things and just enjoyed floating on an ocean of mercury on the other side of the galaxy from where we’d started.

  Finally, though, it was declared time to try and get some sleep. There was much good-natured complaining about this, but no one seemed peevish or on the verge of a tantrum. The utopian atmosphere seemed to be rubbing off on everyone.

  Swimming, sunning, so to speak, splashing, and floating became a twice-daily pastime. We got up and ate, then everyone went to the platinum beach that felt like sand. We made platinum castles, swam with the septopi, played beach volleyball once that concept was explained to Feoren and the right equipment was created, rowed around on boats made of silver filigree with copper paddles, and generally acted like the happiest bunch of tourists anyone could hope to meet.

  Lunch was followed by different trips each day. One day we went to the forest areas, other days we toured the rest of the light side of the moon—different towns that all looked alike, different people of all interesting kinds, ever-shifting landscapes that never got boring—and we always checked on the rabbits, who were making steady progress on the Orange Scourge. They all looked a bit bigger to me, but not fatter, every day. Decided not to worry about it.

  Dinner led to the second beach excursion of the day, where we all did more of the same as we’d done after breakfast. Then it was bedtime for everyone, with Mother allowing us natural sleep. Jeff and I got to have a lot of great sex, too, because once the kids were asleep they were out for at least eight hours, which made this a fantastic vacation in my opinion. The only bummer was that we weren’t able to do it in the mercury ocean, but you couldn’t have everything. Jeff managed to make up for this by figuring out how to do it in the Moon Suits, so that was a very sexy memory we’d have that was just ours, too.

  We even got Hacker International to join us for a few hours each day, with them alternating the excursions so they could experience all of them, too. Chuckie felt that the mental breaks were important for them, and by the second day, they weren’t whining about said breaks at all.

  Adam and the Kristie-Bot spent their time having fun and bemoaning that they’d run out of video on the first day on the moon, since they hadn’t had the extra memory on them when the Distant Voyager took off. Dion quietly too
k pictures, without rubbing it in, since his camera was digital and he’d brought a ton of spare memory cards with him. Jenkins was interviewing every single Cradi who was willing to talk to him, which was pretty much all of them. So the Press Corps was having fun, too. Presumed Oliver was having fun being part of the away team, so didn’t feel sorry for him, though had a feeling Adam and the Kristie-Bot were both jealous that they hadn’t gotten to go.

  The fourth day’s midday excursion was to the rubidium lake. This wasn’t treated as a place to swim, but more like a great mud bath with medicinal advantages. The Cradi waded in up to their necks and relaxed, chatting about various things. We were safe to do so as well, though most of us just went up to knees or waists. Other than the young adults, all of whom went up to their necks, presumably because Sidney dared everyone to do it.

  The rubidium was warm and comforting, making this seem like a trip to a fancy spa. It seeped into the Moon Suits, but that was what it was supposed to do. We couldn’t feel the rubidium on our skin, but it seemed to revive the Suits. It certainly revived the Cradi, all of whom were more sprightly when they got out of the rubidium lake than when they’d gone in.

  Considered how pleasant and benign this moon was, especially for how different it was from what we were used to. Earth was abundant, so were most of the other planets our various friends, allies, frenemies, and enemies came from. But Cradus was even more giving, in that sense. It was hard to come up with another world that altered itself in whatever way its people and guests wanted.

  Something about that thought made my brain nudge, but couldn’t figure out why.

  We were just leaving the lake when Louise Valentino, the eldest young adult here, looked up and pointed, interrupting my musing. “Look!”

  We all did, in time to see what looked like sports car section heading for us. We took the fast ground roller coaster back to the Distant Voyager and were in time to watch it rise up to join with the saucer. This wasn’t a quick process, but it was pretty and interesting to watch, and as the two sections came together, everyone cheered. We were definitely in the vacation spirit. Hoped we didn’t make the away team feel bad for missing out.

  Once the complete ship was back down again, we waited for said away team. Didn’t have to wait long. They all came out with bathing suits on under their Moon Suits. “Mother said that we might as well relax while we debrief you guys,” Tim said with a grin.

  “Good,” Jeff said, “but it’s dinnertime first, though.”

  “We won’t say no,” Kyle replied. “We’re starving.”

  “Didn’t you eat on the trip?” I asked.

  “We did,” Drax said, as Fathade and Feoren ran to each other, hugged, and kissed. “But we chose to not eat these past few hours and just focus on getting back as quickly as possible.”

  “We found something,” Len said to me quietly. “We need to discuss it, and soon. Over food seems best.”

  “What’s the status on finding Kreaving’s location?” Reader asked as we headed off.

  “Nada,” Stryker said. “We’ve narrowed more, but we’ve still got too much space to cover. We haven’t been able to pinpoint a system yet, though we think we may have found his home planet.”

  “Well, it’s something,” Tim said. “Not what we need, but something.”

  Camilla took my arm, nodded to the others, and held me back. Jeff stayed back as well. “What is it?” I asked her once the others were farther ahead. “We all need to go into the safe room at the same time.”

  “They can wait a minute,” she said briskly. “This news can’t. None of us are actually starving, that’s just the story to get us all into the safe room together ASAP without a Cradi nearby. Fathade was powered down when we discovered this, and we haven’t told her about it yet—we felt it was safer for her if we shared the news when she was back on the moon, just in case. She was okay in space, but like an asthmatic fighting an attack—she had to labor to breathe.”

  “So, that means this news is hella stressful then, right?”

  “Oh, definitely right. You know how the Cradi think that the Orange Scourge came from somewhere other than their system?”

  “Yes,” Jeff said.

  Camilla heaved a sigh. “They’re wrong. The spores are absolutely coming from Spehidon.”

  CHAPTER 67

  WE CAUGHT UP TO THE OTHERS. Fathade and Feoren said they’d meet us after we ate, so as per usual we had no Cradi in the safe room with us.

  Had Amy, Denise, and Lizzie handle Jamie and Charlie, since we needed an immediate meeting and none of us wanted the kids involved. We point-blank told the civilian adults that they were also to keep the rest of the kids fed and with them. No one argued—the expressions on the away team’s faces now that there were no Cradi around didn’t welcome complaints.

  In addition to the nine of our people who’d gone on the excursion, we had all the rest of the usual suspects, Jeff’s Cabinet, my available staff—since I valued both Vance and Mrs. Maurer’s input—and Hacker International. In other words, the usual vast number that was the reason we’d had to create the Large Situation Room in the White House.

  Fortunately, the room could accommodate. We sat as close to each other as possible, though, so everyone could hear without anyone having to shout.

  “Len spotted it,” Reader said, “Kyle convinced Fathade to power down and kept her distracted when she powered back up, and MJO was able to use his camera’s zoom to get some good shots, so good call on those three, Kitty.”

  “I’m supposedly still the Head of Recruitment for Centaurion Division for a reason. But what did you guys find?”

  “May I?” Oliver asked. Reader nodded. “We cruised the general solar area. This system is relatively isolated but we feel that we’re likely in the Norma Arm of the galaxy.”

  “That tracks with their star charts,” Chuckie said.

  “It’s always wise to verify,” Wruck said. “Just in case.”

  “No argument.” Chuckie nodded to Oliver. “Go on, please.”

  “Based on Crion’s position in the galaxy, Mister Wruck was able to determine that it’s indeed likely that a neutron wave from the star Mephistopheles destroyed hit Spehidon right before the Orange Scourge appeared.”

  “So that tracks with what Fathade told us,” I said. “But it didn’t hit this world like it did Kreaving’s ship.”

  Oliver nodded. “This is a moon. That the wave affected the Eknara as it did may have had some to do with where they were exploring, because they couldn’t move to avoid its direct path. The moon and planet have no ability to maneuver in that way, and they’re both large enough to not be affected like the Eknara was. If Cradus was on the opposite side of Spehidon from where the neutron wave hit, then it could have felt far fewer effects as well.”

  “Okay, but Camilla said that the spores are from Spehidon. How?”

  “The neutron wave likely affected Spehidon in some way. However, I captured pictures of the spores being ejected from the planet.”

  “In all directions?” Jeff asked.

  Oliver shook his head. “Only toward the moon.”

  “You’re sure that it wasn’t just random?” Chuckie asked.

  “Yes. The spores expelled toward the moon—it’s moved since we left, and the location from which the spores came changed as well, to match the moon’s location.”

  “How often?” Chuckie asked.

  “Every other day,” Reader said. “Len spotted it the moment we were closer to the planet. Believe me, it took a lot to keep Fathade from realizing this.”

  “I know a lot about Cradus’ history now,” Kyle said. “She’s a great teacher, so there’s that.”

  “If they’ve got part of a Superior in them, does that mean that the spores, the Orange Scourge, or whatever’s in Spehidon are sentient?” Or evil, which seemed possible, considering what it was doi
ng to the moon.

  “Doubtful,” Oliver said. “Not impossible, but it’s unlikely.”

  “John?” Jeff turned to Wruck. “What do you think?”

  “I think that we’re going to have to figure out how to evacuate this moon.”

  Hochberg and Hamlin both nodded. “We agree with John,” Hochberg said. “The Distant Voyager may be able to accommodate them in some way to keep them alive until we can find another world they can thrive on.”

  “Leaving them here is going to be akin to murder,” Hamlin added. “Fathade was very clear about what the Orange Scourge does to them.”

  “So, we’re going to evacuate an entire race and just give up on their home world?” Jeff sounded upset, not that I could blame him.

  “No,” I said. “We’re not.”

  This got me the group’s attention. “How so?” Tim asked.

  “I have several ideas, after wandering this moon for the past few days.” My brain nudged again. There was something about Cradus that was bothering me. “Kyle, have a question for you before I make any suggestions, though.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Did Fathade mention how they manipulate Cradus to do whatever they want?”

  He looked thoughtful. “No, not really. She indicated that it was all via telepathy, not that she came out and said that, though.”

  My brain shared that I’d read about things like this before.

  “Okay.” Considered options. Considered something else. Dug into my purse, pulled out my phone, and opened my music up. Steely Dan’s “King of the World” was queued up. Nice to always have Algar on my wavelength. “Look, I need to go talk to the rabbits. So, let’s eat, because I can’t leave the room until everyone’s Moon Suits are back on.”