Alien Diplomacy

him switching to Glare #4 was something of a clue.
    “Well, he’s dedicated.” Walter, at least, was doing a great job. One whole person in our Embassy had transitioned without major incident. We probably should award Walter a medal.
    “I also had to field a lot of questions from most of our Embassy neighbors, the people working on the gas leak, and anyone else who could call or come by.” Christopher clearly hadn’t enjoyed this, if his tone and expression were any indication. Or he’d just eaten a lemon. It was interesting to see this look combined with Glare #5.
    “Why? Did everyone really get to see me taking a dip in the Potomac?”
    “Both of us, actually,” Jeff said.
    Serene nodded. “Yes, I’m sorry, Kitty. We couldn’t hide it, there were too many witnesses.”
    “Oh, well. Maybe it’ll make all our Embassy neighbors hate us a little less. Or at least feel sorry enough to forgive us for whatever else we’ll screw up next.” I looked at Nurse Carter. “But enough of that. I’ve spent well over a year and a half watching Paraguay pop up again and again and being told, every time I ask, that it’s on a need to know and I don’t.”
    “It is classified, and you’re not cleared for it,” Mom said with a resigned sigh.
    “I’ve spent the past two days with people trying to kill me and all manner of weird going on. Frankly, if anyone deserves to know what the hell is going on with Paraguay, it’s me.” I stood up. “However, fine and dandy, you all don’t want to tell me, for whatever reason. So, no worries. Instead of you telling me, I’ll tell you. You can correct me when I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure I’m right.”
    Mom leaned her head on her hand. “Go to town, kitten.” I recognized the expression on her face. I decided not to share that, as far as I could tell, my mother was testing me. Again. Oh, well, she liked to ensure the skills were kept up to snuff. And this way, she could legitimately say that neither she, Kevin, nor Chuckie had told me anything.
    I looked at Nurse Carter. “You’re supposedly Paraguay Secret Police.” She nodded. “And you’re investigating what’s happening to your poorest citizens.” Another nod. “And yet, your intel runs from extremely sketchy to downright wrong, you’re working as a real nurse, and you didn’t kill me or anyone else when you had the chance.”
    She looked uncomfortable. “What are you driving at?”
    “You’re no more Secret Police than I am.” Reader coughed. “Okay, scratch that. I’m more Secret Police than you are. What I really think you are is someone who lost a loved one to the supersoldier program I freaking know some lunatic’s running in the middle of the Chaco.”
    Her mouth dropped open, but she snapped it shut. “You’re wrong.”
    Chuckie was trying not to laugh. Mom had an expression I was really used to on her face—her “you’re so busted, but please, do continue to dig your hole deeper” look. It was one of her classics, honed to perfection throughout the years.
    “What you are is someone who has some skills and followed some leads, and you’re in way, way over your head. Your government isn’t going to ask for you back, because your government isn’t aware that you’re here undercover doing the work they aren’t interested in doing. Your government is either trying to handle this on their own or, very possibly, approves of the supersoldier plan and is using Aliens as a blueprint.”
    “That was a good movie,” Tim commented. “But the monsters weren’t controllable. What would make anyone think a superbeing could be controlled?”
    “I have one word for you: Mephistopheles. I also point to yesterday’s odd superbeing cluster right there in the Chaco again and say trust me on this one. So, Nurse Carter, what’s your take? Is your government fully behind the idea of Aliens: The Next Generation?”
    “Not everyone in the government,” she said quietly.
    “Just like here. How nice, we have something in common. So, since you knew who he was, what’s the story on my ‘uncle,’ Peter the Dingo Dog?”
    “Dingo Dog?” Mom stared at me, then her head snapped toward Nurse Carter. “Are you saying that the man who tried to kill Kitty was the Dingo?”
    Nurse Carter nodded. “Yes.”
    “Just who is the Dingo? I mean, I’ve heard some wacky names in my time, but his takes the prize.”
    “He’s an assassin,” Mom said.
    “Him trying to kill me all day yesterday, and