Alien Diplomacy

to let a dicey topic for ACE die, and, since I could feel ACE being slightly uncomfortable, now was the time. I figured, though, that it couldn’t hurt to go for it and see if I could get anything else helpful.

I know it’s wrong to ask, but can you give me any hint about what’s coming at the President’s Ball tomorrow night?

Things Kitty is prepared for, as well as things Kitty is not prepared for.

Is there anything I can do to be prepared for whatever it is I’m not prepared for?
    ACE was quiet for a few long moments. I almost thought he’d signed off when he spoke again.

Kitty should not trust.

Not trust who?

The ones who are not really Kitty’s friends.

I rarely trust people who don’t like me.

Even Kitty can be fooled. This was true, of course.

But Kitty also must trust.

Who should I be trusting?

Those who wish to help Kitty.

Are you saying they aren’t the people I think they are, whoever the different theys are you’re talking about?

In some cases. Before I could ask for more specifics, ACE spoke again, this time with a lot more urgency.

ACE must go. Lorraine and Claudia need ACE’s help. With that I felt my mind’s connection to ACE evaporate.



CHAPTER 25
    M Y EYES SNAPPED OPEN. I looked around. Still alone in the infirmary. I got up. “Let’s get Daddy and everyone else, Jamie-Kat. I think your fairy godfather ACE needs us to at least provide an assist.” She cooed.
    I tried to open the door to the examining room. It was locked. This was weird, but I decided I could ponder this or merely knock to gain entry. I knocked.
    Tito opened the door. “Kitty, we’re in the middle of something.”
    “Yeah, I realize that. However, the Yates Gene Experiment needs to be put on at least a short hold.”
    He jerked. “How did you—”
    “I’m a good guesser. Look, I think Lorraine and Claudia need us.”
    He stared at me. “Why? Have they called you?”
    “Um, no. But even if they had, I don’t have my purse with me.” As I thought about it, the last time I’d seen my purse was right before I’d taken a dip in the Potomac. Tried not to worry about its whereabouts. Failed. However, bigger worries were pressing.
    “You don’t? You feeling all right?”
    “Yes, just had a lot going on. Like right now, for instance.”
    Tito’s eyes narrowed. “Did you just talk to ACE?”
    “Yes. How’d you guess?”
    “I know you by now.”
    I could see the others starting to crowd around the door. “Look, unless there’s an orgy going on—and if so, I want to know why I wasn’t invited—I think everyone in the room is going to be better used being wherever the girls are.”
    Tito opened the door. Everyone was clothed. Jeff and Christopher both were shooting me dirty looks, so I assumed they’d heard my orgy comment. “No one’s called us on the com,” Christopher said pointedly.
    Tito shook his head. “I have the infirmary on lockdown when we do these tests, and that includes incoming and outgoing alerts. That’s why I had you turn your cell phones off.”
    “They’re not due to deliver for a couple more weeks,” Melanie said, sounding just a little worried. Everyone else looked confused and suspicious.
    I couldn’t blame them. Of the three of them, I’d really expected Doreen to deliver first. Apparently her baby wanted to go to the President’s Ball in warmth, comfort, and style. I looked at Jamie in my arms. She looked back, expectantly, if I was any judge. “I know, but babies come when they want to.”
    “Kitty’s right,” Tito said briskly. “Let’s get this shut down. We need to save the information, but we can finish later.” He, Melanie, and Emily started bustling about, the women at hyperspeed.
    “Baby, what’s going on?” Jeff’s eyes were closed. “I’m not picking up anything from the girls or the flyboys.”
    I thought about it some more. ACE had sounded stressed. “Jeff, we didn’t talk about what…happened with me and Jamie during delivery.”
    Per everyone I’d died on the table and come back. I still didn’t remember. However, per ACE, that had happened because Jamie had misunderstood Jeff’s fears about my dying in childbirth.
    “Right,” he said, as he opened his eyes and gave me a stern look. “And we still shouldn’t.”
    “No, I think we should. Because while no one’s babies have…acted like Jamie did in the womb, that doesn’t mean they aren’t talented in some way.”
    “So?” Jeff asked. “You’re worried about