by Gini Koch
Queen Renata smiled. “A very apt description.”
“I like her.” I looked back at Chuckie. “Does that mean we have to bring in Mister Coleman?”
“I don’t particularly want to. I’d like to know the ramifications with Alpha Four if we do or don’t acquiesce.”
“My great-uncle is not in condition to deal with this, due to the attack on his life. My mother and the Chief Councillor are. And since Gregory is my mother’s eldest son . . .”
Chuckie heaved a sigh. “Got it. Alpha Four’s already angry enough. Why make it worse?”
“Who’s the Chief Councillor and what’s his job description?” I didn’t get a lot of glares or exasperated looks, so I figured this wasn’t in the briefing papers, or if it was, it wasn’t given a lot of space on the pages.
“When we were on the home world, the Chief Councillor functioned as the liaison between the monarchy, the Diplomatic Corps, and the other sovereign planets,” White said. “While the goal is to have someone in that position long-term, it tends to be a short-term post.”
“Why? Death or desertion?” Retirement seemed out.
“Usually resignation.” White shrugged. “It’s a difficult position without a great deal of popular public support.”
“It’s still that way,” Alexander agreed. “Our current Chief Councillor has been in place for the past decade, however.”
I considered this. “Why? What’s going on that’s made whoever’s in that post seem either like the greatest option around or so necessary that things’ll go to pieces if he takes off?”
Alexander looked uncomfortable. “Nothing out of the ordinary.” This was mumbled. I wondered how they managed to lie to each other and why they were even trying to lie to us when it never worked.
Chuckie smiled at me. “I’m so proud.” He looked at Alexander. “I want the answer, too. Now.”
Alexander nodded. “My great-uncle has . . . certain views. Many feel those views are outdated.”
“We are all tired of living under the yoke and control of Alpha Four,” Neeraj said from the holding cell.
“No one turned the intercom off?” Chuckie sounded exasperated.
“It would not matter,” Willem said. “We can hear you through the glass.”
“We’re a good twenty-five feet away,” I pointed out.
Willem shrugged. “We can still hear you. Clearly.”
“All of you, or just the Major Doggies?” We all got closer to the holding cell. Clearly, stepping away hadn’t made a difference.
Willem looked like he really wanted to snarl at me, but he glanced at the Poofs on my shoulders and controlled it. “We Canus Majorians have the best hearing, but the Feliniads and the Reptilians also have hearing above that of any others in our solar system.”
Felicia nodded. “Those from Betas Five and Six are much closer to Earth people in terms of abilities.”
I wondered if this meant they were closer to us in terms of ability to be treacherous, but I didn’t voice it. “They have one heart, so that makes some sort of sense. How’s your sense of smell?”
Willem grinned. “We all know what you had for your last several meals.”
Felicia sniffed. “Not that we can create enthusiasm for your choices.”
“Sorry, we’ll round up some interstellar rats for you. Oh! Quick thought! They’re probably in the room with you right now.”
Chuckie and Martini both chuckled while Felicia’s eyes narrowed, and she flexed her claws. I got the impression she was willing to see if she could take the Poofs, which was, all things considered, sort of impressive.
White cleared his throat. “However, the issue at hand is the current political situation. Feel free to share that with us. For example, there was no Planetary Council before we left, but I have no idea what may have changed since then.”
“I’d bet not much.” Chuckie looked at Queen Renata. “Because I don’t buy that the Alpha Four government has ever okayed a Planetary Council.”
She nodded. “They have not. We are all considered dissidents, in that sense, not just my planet.”
“Well, not completely,” Alexander corrected. “The Reptilians and Feliniads are considered allies, particularly when it comes to dealing with the other planets.”
Chuckie looked over at the prisoners. “Do you agree with that assessment?”
Neeraj, Felicia, and Willem came to the window. The others started to move, I looked at a Poof on my shoulder, and they stayed put. “We would, to a degree,” Neeraj said. “We and the Feliniads have been sentient and space-traveling almost as long as those from Alpha Four. However, because they successfully reached space and the other planets in our system first, they insist they are the leaders. In all things.”
“Some of their laws we don’t mind,” Felicia said. “Most we do.”
“None are allowed to travel the solar system without Alpha Four’s permission,” Willem added. “Let alone go beyond.”
“How did you all get here, then? How did you have interstellar ships at hand? Or did you jack some Alpha Four ships along with the Poofs?”
Neeraj glared at me. “Our ships are our own. We all are capable of interstellar flight on our own, and Alpha Four allows us to build our own vessels.”
“Because they might need us,” Felicia added.
“Do the parasites show up on your worlds?” Martini asked.
Neeraj shook his head. “We all have ozone shields protecting us. One of the gifts from Alpha Four.”
“And something they could remove if they chose to,” Willem added.
“Wow, bossy and nasty. What a fun combo. But, no one’s answered my question about the Chief Councillor.”
“His name is Leyton Leonidas,” Alexander said.
“Say that five times fast.”
“I’m sorry? I don’t understand you,” he said politely.
“Few ever do. So, what’s Leonidas done to stay in the job so long?”
“He has walked a careful line between support of the monarchy and support of planet’s rights,” Queen Renata answered. “He is truly a great man.”
Coming from the Queen of the Amazons, I had to figure this meant Leonidas was beyond impressive, at least in terms of his political skills.
“Queen Renata is correct,” Neeraj agreed. “His skills have kept all the planets in check since well before the attack on Alpha Four’s monarch.”
“He also suggested the idea of the Planetary Council,” Felicia added. “Though that’s not widely known among the people. Any of the people.”
“You’re all high up in your world governments?”
They nodded. “None of us are the leaders,” Willem said. “We are more like him.” He pointed to Gower.
“The high-level, in-the-know advisers?” That’s what Gower was for the Pontifex, in one sense. More nods. “So, not really diplomats like you told us when you got here.” Though, of course, Gower was probably the head diplomat on Alpha Team.
“We are here on a diplomatic mission, in that sense,” Queen Renata said. “We desperately need Earth’s help.”
“To do what?” Martini asked. “Because if it’s to bring back a new king of Alpha Four, you’re out of luck.”
“No,” Felicia said. “What we truly need is protection and emancipation from Alpha Four’s control.”
“But I’m not sure you’ve earned that,” Chuckie said. “You’ve come in disguise, undercover, and have lied about your intentions. We don’t tend to support governments that do that.”
Felicia snorted. “Oh, really? Let us give you a term I know your country is familiar with. We are freedom fighters, requesting assistance to remove ourselves from the yoke of tyranny.”
“Wow, you’re good.” Hey, I was impressed.
Felicia looked extremely smug. “Radio waves travel.”
“So we’ve heard. And that reminds me, we still have to figure out what Kyrellis is doing.”
“I would like to question Moira,” Queen Renata said. “Perhaps
I can get some information from her you could not.”
Chuckie shrugged. “Fine with me.” He smiled the evil smile I was fairly sure my mother must have taught him. “I’d like to question the ‘freedom fighters.’ Without a lot of witnesses. And before we have anyone from the Diplomatic Corps in attendance.”
The emissaries looked a little worried, especially when Martini smiled. Apparently my mother had taught him the scary smile, too. “You’re the boss.”
CHAPTER 33
ALL NONESSENTIAL PERSONNEL WERE SENT back to their jobs, guards were doubled around the holding cell and given orders to do whatever Chuckie said, and we took Queen Renata down to visit Moira. Wasn’t my preferred plan, but it had to be tried.
“I don’t think Moira’s going to see the light.”
“I’m sure she will not,” Queen Renata sighed. “However, I must try.”
“Think Reynolds will get more out of the rest of them?” Martini asked me quietly as we headed down in the elevator.
“Yes, and even if he doesn’t, I know he’s still studying the A-C system, so he’ll get something from that.”
“Getting it memorized?”
“He already has it memorized. He’s doing analysis now, I assume. While doing the interrogations.”
“You think he walks on water, don’t you?”
“Wow, that sounds so jealous. I’m going to pretend it wasn’t said with so much sarcasm. And, no. I know how smart he is. Jeff, he’s in an incredibly powerful position, very young. He’s not there because he has connections—my mother didn’t know aliens existed before I met you, remember?”
“Yeah.” He sighed as we got out of the elevator and headed for Moira’s cell. “And, as much as I hate to admit it, I know he’s brilliant. He’s also a pain in the ass. But, and I really hate admitting this, he was right about being in charge. It’s been helpful.”
“It’ll probably be more so. But that means he’s got a big target on him now, too.” The worry crashed over me like a tsunami.
“Nice to know you care.”
I stopped walking. The others continued on. “That wasn’t funny.”
Martini sighed. “I know. And I know you’re worried about all of us, not just him. I’m trying with the jealousy, okay? It’s just . . . they all want you.” He looked lost and lonely.
“Jeff, what’s wrong?”
He pulled me into his arms. “I think we’re missing something, and it’s going to cost us. Like we missed what was going on and James almost died.”
My brain kicked, hard. “Oh, my God. That’s it!”
“What? What’s it?”
I pulled out of his arms and ran to catch up to the rest of our crew. “Alexander, Renata, were any of you in Las Vegas, New York, or Los Angeles in the last day or so?”
They looked at me as if I were insane. I was so used to that look by now that it didn’t even faze me. “No,” Alexander said slowly. “We only arrived a short while before you captured us.” Queen Renata nodded.
“Renata, would you say Kyrellis has more restraint than Moira?”
She gave a bitter chuckle. “Hardly. Kyrellis is the leader of the dissidents. She has no restraint whatsoever.”
“So it would be hard for her to enter a room full of men, while pretending to be a man, and not hurt them?”
“It would be impossible for her to be around a man and not kill him,” Queen Renata said dryly. “I wish it were otherwise. But she was the head of our armed forces before she believed God was guiding her.”
“Alex, you set off the light show on your home world, right?”
“Yes.”
“Did you do the one here?”
“No.” He sounded confused. “I assumed one of His Majesty’s retainers had done so.”
“Jeff. My name is Jeff. You can call me Mister Martini, Martini, or Jeff. Even Jeffrey. If you call me or refer to me as Majesty, Highness, or Your Royal anything, I will kill you with my bare hands.”
“I told you, he’s really not into the royalty thing. Okay, so no one from our Interstellar Dirty Dozen set off the light shows over the past year or impersonated Christopher. Kyrellis and Moira wouldn’t have been able to enter any A-C facility without going all Kill Bill, and I don’t credit either one of them with the stealth involved to impersonate the Catering department so they could drop off the bugged pineapple.”
“Kyrellis is more . . . straightforward, yes,” Queen Renata confirmed.
“So, who pretended to be me, then?” Christopher asked. “We can’t identify anyone out of our own people.”
I thought back. “They’ve been here a year. A year of working as spies. And what do spies do in a foreign country?” I didn’t need Chuckie here to answer that question. “They do their best to blend in. They don’t wear the Armani Fatigues. They don’t act like A-Cs. They look and act like any other hot guy.” I felt stupid and somewhat offended.
“Who are you talking about?” Martini asked.
“Remember those two good-looking guys at THEhotel who were smiling at me? One held the door for us, probably because he’d just gotten back from New York via his personal floater gate. The other was coming from the elevators, probably after having delivered the food and interstellar pineapple to Chuckie’s room.”
Martini closed his eyes. “I can’t really remember much about them. I was trying to ignore them.” He shook his head. “I didn’t notice their heartbeats, one way or the other.”
“I saw them again at a craps table when James and I were heading out to go shopping. And one of them knew I was there, even though his back was to me.” I wondered if he was an imageer-empath combo, or if they’d just been keeping a watchful eye out. Figured we’d probably end up finding out, one way or the other.
“Could just be coincidence,” Martini said doubtfully.
Chuckie didn’t believe in coincidence and neither did I. “Trust me, they’re the actual spies for the Alpha Four royal family. And they’ve been here at least a year, maybe longer.”
“If so, I don’t know about them,” Alexander said. He wasn’t lying. But he did look worried. “I don’t know if Gregory is aware of them or not.”
“I’m actually betting not. Because he’s been stupid, and I doubt he wants the king or the Chief Councillor to know.” And I was betting at least one of them, if not both, knew. Another thought occurred. “Alex, why did you land your ships where you did?”
“We assumed we were supposed to—traditionally, the light display indicates where visiting dignitaries will sit to observe the royal nuptials. The one peak was quite difficult.”
“Hatchet, yeah, it would be.” So, someone had suspected a coup of some kind was coming at least a year ago—or had been planning one. Interesting. I looked in Moira’s cell. She seemed awake but fuzzy. “I need to get in there again.”
“Are you sure?” Queen Renata asked. She sounded worried.
“She’s strapped down and I’m not without the skills.”
“She’s strapped down and if she wasn’t, she’d break Kitty’s neck, but, yeah, let her in. Baby, please remember that you are not up to taking her, okay?”
“Fine, fine. Need in, now.” Security opened the door, and I trotted inside. The door was shut before I realized six of the Poofs were inside with me. I realized it because they all started growling, softly, but with great menace. “Yeah, I don’t like her either, Poofies.”
Moira stirred. “You. Has my mate destroyed yours yet?”
“No. We’re giving her time. How long did you watch us before you tried to kill my friend, the one you thought was my lover?”
She looked at my shoulders. “What are those?”
“No idea what you’re talking about. How long did you watch us?”
“They are staring at me. Growling.”
“No idea what you mean. How long did you watch us?”
“I watched you all arrive. Why are they on your shoulders?”
“Nothing on my shoulders. How many of us arriv
ed?”
“Your lover and his other lover and another man,” she spat the words. “Then two beautiful women with six beasts. Then you and him,” she looked at Martini. “We will kill him, all of them.” The Poof growling increased. “Why don’t they like me?”
“What are you talking about? So, what did you do, after we all arrived?”
“I waited. My mate knows how to destroy a more numerous enemy.”
“I’ll bet she does. So, you waited and then what?”
She gave a drugged giggle. “Then you and your lover came out. It was so clear he was the one you loved the most, and he loved you most, too.” She looked right at me and smiled. “It was so easy to follow you. But to watch him paw you and see you enjoy it, to see him dress you like you were his whore, to see you fawn over him—that was not easy. I enjoyed hurting him. I made him think I was his other lover. I attacked him in that hideous form. He thought his other love was jealous and was the one who killed him.” She smiled beatifically.
I’d heard people say that something made them so mad that they saw red, but I’d always thought it was just a saying. It wasn’t. Moira’s joy in letting Reader think it was Gower who’d tried to kill him made me feel as if my head were going to explode from rage. The room looked red, and all I could see was her throat and how easy it would be to rip it out.
The Poofs jumped off my shoulders and turned large and in charge. To a one they were growling and had all their teeth bared. Moira looked at them and started to scream in terror. “They want to devour me!”
“They do, don’t they?” I forced myself to calm down, at least somewhat. “Where was your mate while you were watching us? Tell me, and I won’t let them eat you.”
She shook her head. The Poofs moved closer and she sobbed. “Please, no. Take the monsters away. My God, my God, help me!”
I waited. Nothing. “Your God’s not here yet, Moira. I think it’s coming, and when it does, there will be some hell to pay. I’m going to make sure you pay it. Now, answer me—where was Kyrellis when you were following us?”
Her whole body jerked. “How . . . how do you know her name?”
“We have her. And we’ll kill her unless you tell me where she was. She won’t tell, but I’ll do all the things I told you and more if you don’t. I’ll let them eat her, slowly, in front of you. From the feet up.” I had a feeling the Poofs would do it, too, if I wanted them to. I hoped we’d stop Kyrellis before I wanted to.
