by Gini Koch
“Pretty much. The Reptilians have control of all the rest of the Z’porrah ships.”
“That’s great, but I’m still worried about what we’re going to do with the supersoldiers,” Christopher said. “I’m not the only one who’s noticed that the minute they’re broken we get an extra-resilient superbeing, right?”
“No, you’re not the only one,” Chuckie said. He had something in his ear.
“Did you just join The Matrix, or are you on a weird headset?” It certainly wasn’t a Bluetooth from Hacker International.
He grinned. “Weird headset. I’m talking to the Alpha Four command ship. They’re aware of all of our various problems. Just handling them in order of need.”
One of the Alpha Four battle cruisers hovered over the debris, and another hovered over the parasites. Both drew their targets inside the ships’ bellies.
“Wow, I hope they have some sort of antiparasite lining inside there.”
“We do.”
Turned to see Alexander standing there. Correction—King Alexander. He looked much less like the unsure kid we’d befriended and much more like a ruler.
Chuckie bowed his head. “Your Highness.”
“Good to see you . . . Your Highness.” I followed suit and did the head bow. Jeff and Christopher did as well.
Alexander smiled at me. “Our apologies for being late.”
“Yeah, we know, you had to be sure all the crap with Ronaldo and LaRue wasn’t just a really elaborate ruse on Earth’s part to bring the Z’porrah to conquer your system.”
“True enough.”
“Took you long enough to figure it out and get here,” Jeff said. Then he handed Jamie to me, grabbed Alexander and hugged him, and it was back to informal. Christopher and Alexander also hugged, Chuckie shook his hand, and Jamie and I got a joint hug. Then Alexander took Jamie from me and did all the goo-goo stuff people do with babies.
“Thanks for the Peregrines, they rock. We were a little slow on the warning messages, though.”
Alexander shrugged as he patted Bruno’s head. “It happens.”
“By the way, why did Christopher and I wake up before the Peregrines arrived?”
Alexander looked surprised. “Because of your talents. And because Christopher is the Primary, and therefore the overall protection of the principality rests with him.”
Christopher and I exchanged an “oh really?” glance. “Great, good to know. Just checking and all that.”
Jeff took Jamie back as the last superbeing on the ground was destroyed. “What are you going to do with the Z’porrah ships?”
“We’ve destroyed at least half of the fleet they sent,” Alexander said. “We could destroy them all. But we’ll show them mercy, and they’ll be clear that we’ve so done. We will also ensure they understand that should they try this again, we will destroy them all.”
Chuckie was having a quiet conversation with no one, so I assumed he was talking to the Command Ship again. “Yes, thank you.” He turned back to us. “The Z’porrah have officially surrendered. The ones in the air are being sent back to their solar system. Their command ship is the one on Earth, and we will be taking the crew as political prisoners.”
“Is their ruler here?”
“Hardly,” Alexander said. “Their ruler is back on their home world.”
“Where most rulers tend to hang out. Why are you here?”
“Because my family and principality were being threatened, and we needed to show the Z’porrah we are not cowardly. My mother and Councilor Leonidas, as well as the rest of the Planetary Council, are still on Alpha Four. And this way, I got to get out of the palace and do something exciting.”
“Oh. So Jareen isn’t here? Or Queen Renata, Felicia, or Wahoa?” Now that I knew we’d see tomorrow, it would have been nice to see the rest of my friends, too.
Alexander grinned. “The others wanted to come with me. However, Jareen is expecting, and warp space travel is not recommended for pregnant women of any race. The rest needed to remain to ensure our solar system was protected in case we were not successful in protecting Earth. Everyone sends their good wishes to you and suggests you visit our solar system for once.”
The Feliniad and Canus Majorian ships encircled the Z’porrah ships and herded them toward the remaining Reptilian ships. The sky between the Reptilian ships had a weird, wavering sheen to it. “Have they created a spatiotemporal warp net thing?”
“Yes,” Chuckie replied. “It’s got a more official name, but I know better than to waste breath telling you what it is. It’ll send the Z’porrah back to their part of the galaxy.”
“Where we all hope they’ll stay.” The first Z’porrah ship went into the net thing and did a fast fade. Not much better than a slow fade, really, at least per my stomach.
“You’re right,” Chuckie said. “They visit here a lot. We’re going to put a stop to that. Somehow.”
Alexander coughed discreetly. “Handled.”
“How?”
He shrugged. “In addition to the fact that we’re explaining to the Z’porran leadership that Earth solar is considered as off limits as Alpha Centauri solar, we gave your . . . special friend . . . some much needed new instructions.”
“By ‘special friend’ I hope you mean ACE.”
“I do.”
“What instructions?”
“Permissions might be a better choice of words. We removed several overriding initiatives within the PPB Net programming.”
“As in, you removed the guilt?”
“Hopefully. I’m sure ACE will need some adjustment time.” Alexander looked me in the eyes. “He may choose to leave.”
“And if he does, I’ll birth him, just like I said I would when we fought your late brother for your throne.”
Alexander nodded. “Good. I feel more than a little . . . responsibility toward him.”
“Good.” Alpha Four finally had a leader who cared about more than himself. While that wasn’t the only requirement for good, effective leadership, it was a requirement I personally found vital.
“If ACE does leave you, we will provide some kind of assistance to ensure the Z’porrah aren뀀O’t able to casually use Earth as their playground.”
“Thanks. And wise. Because they were planning to head over to you guys the moment they had us subjugated.”
“We were impressed with your world’s restraint,” Alexander said. “Once the first wave of nuclear missiles didn’t work, the fact that you sent no more toward the Z’porrah was quite intelligent.”
We all smiled and nodded. If Alexander wanted to think humans had been smarter than we normally were, why disabuse him of that notion? ACE wouldn’t mind us taking the credit on this one, I was sure.
“How’s the Dome?”
“Safe,” Chuckie said. “Our allies arrived before it was damaged. Our people are back inside, everyone’s accounted for.”
Heard a soft mewling behind us. Turned to see some Poofs. “Harlie, Poofikins! Where have all my Poofies been? Kitty’s been so worried.”
The Poof that was Jamie’s bounded to her. “Mous-Mous!” Jamie squealed.
We all stared. “Did she just say her first word?” Jeff asked.
“I think so.”
“And instead of Daddy or Mommy, she said Mous-Mous?”
“Yes. I think . . . I think that’s her Poof’s name. Mous-Mous?” The Poof in Jamie’s arms looked at me and purred. “Mous-Mous it is.”
Jamie seemed to be saying moose-moose, but I knew she wasn’t spelling it that way in her mind. Which was a bizarre thing to be thinking. The Poof looked at me, and I realized that it knew how its name was spelled, which was why I knew how its name was spelled. I sensed another new career option—pet psychic.
Mous-Mous hopped out of Jamie’s arms and over to my feet. It went large and toothy. It was a younger Poof, so it didn’t go Jeff-sized, but it was easily as big as one of the Z’porrah. Mous-Mous opened its mouth and hacked.
“Y
ou’re kidding me,” Christopher said. “It’s throwing up on us?”
It was indeed throwing up, but what Mous-Mous tossed up wasn’t regurgitated food. It was a glowing Power Cube.
“Hey, that’s the one we had growing up,” Jeff said.
“Mous-Mous, did you find the cube at home?”
Mous-Mous mewled and looked pleased with itself.
“Oh, really? That was Part Two of your mission after you came by to remind me to get the supersoldiers active? Well done.” I looked at the other Poofs. They all looked exceedingly pleased with themselves. “Did you each take a Power Cube?” Many purrs. “And you could because as long as one Poof had a Power Cube, all Poofies have access to use the Power Cube and so can go in and out of the dead-zone rooms?” More purrs. “And are the Power Cubes safe inside my Poofies, and vice versa?” Many purrs again.
Thought about my one-on-one fight with the Z’porrah. “Did my Poofies take the Power Cubes so the nasty Carnivorous Flying Dinos wouldn’t be able to sing their funny song and blow us up?” Mo뀀 re purrs, some jumping up and down. Got the impression the Poofs were pleased with how I was once again impressively insightful and rightfully proud of themselves.
Mous-Mous swallowed the Power Cube and went back to small and fluffy.
“Damn,” Chuckie said under his breath.
“Will the Poofies give the Power Cubes to Kitty, or Jeff, or Chuckie, or some of the others, if we need them?”
There was some mewling about this. The Peregrines got involved.
“What are they saying?” Christopher asked finally.
“Oh, the Poofs and Peregrines both want to be sure the Power Cubes don’t get used against us or abused by anyone. They’re working out who should have access when, their own Avenger Initiative sort of thing. I think our Power Cube access is going to be on a need-to-have basis, not a want-to have, but they’re still working it out.”
“I’m so pleased you have found a way to have the Poofs and Peregrines work together,” Alexander said. “It’s a rare talent, but we had faith in you.”
“Per Stryker, without the Power Cubes in place, we’re now able to ‘see’ and map all the dead zones and tunnel system,” Chuckie said. “So, good initiative from the Poofs.”
“My Poofies and Peregrines know how to get the job done.”
“Only my girl.” Jeff put his arm around me. “You know there’s no way Imageering was able to hide all of this.”
“Or that the Field teams can alter memories enough,” Christopher added.
“We’re outed.” Jeff sighed. “Alexander, any chance we can all move back to Alpha Four?”
“Absolutely, if you wish it. We are prepared to evacuate our people, if it’s requested or necessary. And any humans who are in danger as well.”
“You’re the best, Alex. But I don’t know . . . maybe we won’t have to.”
“Love your optimism, baby. Why do you think we won’t be run off the Earth?”
I looked around. “Because the A-Cs being here is the only reason our allies came to help. Without the A-Cs, Earth would already be conquered.”
“Think that’s going to be a viewpoint the average person will buy?” Jeff asked.
“Depends on how it’s spun,” Chuckie replied. “I honestly have no guess. Could be the best thing to happen to the A-Cs, could be talked up as one huge Hollywood marketing ploy, could mean we’re all running for our lives.”
“Guess we’re going to find out.”
“Can’t wait,” Christopher said, sounding as though he actually could wait.
“We have friends in high places. And low ones. And far, far away ones. We’ll be okay.”
As I said this, the last Z’porrah ship was shoved through the Reptilians warp net. Three Feliniad ships swooped down and carefully and accurately hovered over each su뀀*perbeing. There wasn’t as much air blowback as a bunch of helicopters, but I could still feel the air moving.
However, being blown around a little bit was well worth the outcome, because when they finished, the superbeings were no more, sucked up into the Feliniad ships. And as soon as the superbeings were
gone, the supersoldiers and androids all went still.
“Who flipped their switches?”
“Ravi,” Chuckie said. “King Alexander, I’d like to formally request that you demand that the supersoldiers and androids be given into the custody of Alpha Four and removed from Earth.”
“Why?” I asked before Alexander could reply. “They held off the Z’porrah until the cavalry arrived.”
“Because if we can control them, so can someone else,” Jeff replied. “They aren’t benign. They were all programmed to destroy. We were lucky this time. I don’t want to bet that we’ll be lucky again.”
“We will make that demand,” Alexander said. “And then we will have them all destroyed. Charles, I assume you would like to bear witness to their destruction?”
“Yes, thank you. We need to catalog who the androids were impersonating before they’re disposed of, but otherwise, the sooner we can remove these creatures the better.”
“If one megalomaniac can think these things up, another one can as well.”
“Which is why I don’t want to leave any parts around for the next wave of evil geniuses to find,” Chuckie said. “Reader and Crawford know where the bases in Paris and Paraguay are. We’ll be razing those in the next few days.”
“No argument, I’m with you. Why risk a Terminator scenario? Especially since we just had War of the Worlds. And then some.”
Chuckie sighed. “True enough. Ravi doesn’t think we found all of the androids, by the way, just the ones in the U.S.”
Before anyone could reply, ask questions, or fret about our android situation, the hatch of the Z’porrah ship opened, and a beam of light came from it.
Yi
CHAPTER 103
WE ALL BRACED FOR ANOTHER ATTACK, but there was none. Apparently the beam of light thing was how the Z’porrah got in and out of their ships every time, even if they were only traveling about three feet.
The six of us zipped down the stairs and over to the flying saucer. We were joined by a lot of Field agents. Reader and Tim were there as well. “Military’s on the way,” Reader said as we joined him.
“Why aren’t they here already?”
“Same reason we’re not looking forward to a nuclear winter—nothing would work.”
I leaned against Jeff. ACE, are you there?
Yes, Kitty, ACE is here. And Alexander is wrong. ACE does not wish to leave.
I’m glad. Thank you for keeping us from destroying ourselves while trying to destroy the Z’porrah.
ACE does not like the Z’porrah.
Because they’re evil, or because what they do is evil?
The Z’porrah are not evil. But the Z’porrah are wrong.
About what? Silence. Do I need to know?
Kitty does not need to know right now. The machines will work again now. ACE cannot always interfere.
We understand. Thank you again for saving us.
ACE only did some. Others helped ACE.
Who? ACE was quiet, but he didn’t feel distressed. Time to guess. The Poofs?
To some extent. Control of the Power Cubes is important. The Poofs did well.
There had to be more. Thought about it. Jamie and the rest of the hybrid babies?
Yes. ACE will not leave. ACE has many new penguins to care for, and these need ACE. ACE is happy to be needed.
And loved, ACE. Never forget that.
ACE does not.
ACE? How did Jamie get to us in time?
Jamie knew Kitty and Jeff and Christopher needed Jamie. There was a bit of evasiveness in his tone.
Why did she come when she did? No reply. Thought about it. Did she come because I specifically mentioned her?
In a way.
Thought about it some more. Were you keeping her in the Dome and safe?
ACE . . . did not want Jamie to go into danger
until Jamie had to.
So, did you let her go or did she get away from you?
There was another long pause. Even ACE can lose concentration. He sounded embarrassed.
It happens, even to the most watchful of parents, ACE. And she really did save the day.
ACE is happy Jamie did well and that Kitty and Jeff and Christopher and all the others are still alive. ACE wishes ACE could have saved everyone. But ACE could not.
He sounded so sad, regretful, and tired I wanted to hug and hold him, but that wasn’t really something I could do, unless I found Gower and hugged him, and that wasn’t quite the same thing.
No, but ACE appreciates Kitty’s caring for ACE.
Were you hurt?
ACE would like . . . time to rest.
Are you able to rest? Is it over?
Yes. For now.
Well, that’s all we can hope for, isn’t it?
Yes. Kitty is wise. Kitty thinks right. ACE is always thankful for Kitty.
And I’m always thankful for you, ACE.
Felt ACE hug my mind, and then he was gone.
Reader was barking orders, telling each Field team to take control of one Z’porrah. Wasn’t sure how many Z’porrah there were, but hopefully we had enough A-Cs to handle it.
“Ambassadors Martini,” Armstrong’s voice boomed behind us. “There you are. Safe and sound, I see.”
Armstrong wasn’t alone. White was with him, which was nice, but a number of other people who looked vaguely familiar were with him, too—meaning they were probably politicians I’d met but hadn’t really interacted with—which wasn’t. Fabulous. On the plus side, Oliver was with him as well, looking as though all his dreams had come true at the exact moment he didn’t have a camera on him.
“Senator,” Jeff said a trifle suspiciously. “Good to see you.”
“Better to see you,” Armstrong said. “Excellent work on the experimental aircraft. American Centaurion truly does amazing work. Doesn’t it, Mister Reynolds?”
Chuckie stared at Armstrong for a good long few moments. I had a feeling that Chuckie’s answer was going to determine how hard the Powers That Be pressed for Centaurion to become the War Division. “These weren’t American Centaurion design,” he said finally. “These ships weren’t created in this
