Alien Diplomacy

Cantu or anyone else politically connected. Without it we might as well quit before they fire us.”
    “I didn’t think spies got fired.”
    “True. We get burned. Or killed. I’d like to avoid both choices.”
    “No argument here.”
    “Go eat the dinner you whined for.”
    “Yes, Mom.”
    I contemplated my plate and decided I could wait just a little longer. I trotted over to Chuckie instead, reached into his pocket,and pulled out the picture. “Since everyone knows, other than Nurse Carter, who likely suspects, let’s save ourselves a lot of pain.” I handed the picture to Christopher. “Time to show off the skills.”
    He sighed. “Can I eat first? I’m hungry.”
    “You can’t eat and paw a picture at the same time?”
    “I can. However, I’d prefer to do it on a full stomach. The speed I had to go to get you and my father to safety demands rest and fuel.”
    “Wimp.” Though, he was eating the food, so clearly, he was a braver cuisine enthusiast than I was.
    I sat down and gingerly tried my food. Most of it was actually pretty good, but from the way everyone else was chowing down, you’d have thought they were either starving, international gourmands, or ate these foods every day. I voted for starving. I was, which was why I was overcoming my current food fear.
    Michael and Chuckie were quietly explaining some things to Caroline, and everyone else was chatting about whatever while they ate. I wanted to think, but that meant talk, and my mother was in the room. I didn’t want the “don’t talk with your mouth full” lecture again, and certainly not with this many witnesses present.
    So I forced myself to try to untangle what was going on while trying not to look at what I was putting into my mouth. This, of course, meant that, instead of focusing on the problem at hand, my mind was merrily wandering all over the place.
    “Caro doesn’t have a date for the President’s Ball anymore.”
    Jeff snorted quietly. “I’m sure Michael will be more than happy to stand in.”
    This appeared to be true, since Michael clearly had the charm turned up to eleven. “Okay, great, so that’s good. But should she go?”
    “Yes,” Christopher said. “Because if she doesn’t, it could indicate that we’re onto their plan. Whatever it is.”
    “I think Len and Kyle should go, too.”
    “Why?” Jeff asked. “Besides, they don’t have dates.”
    I snorted. “I’m sure they can both head over to either Dulce or NASA Base and find at least a dozen A-C girls, each, who’d be willing to take one for the team and go to the President’s Ball with two cute human guys of eligible age.”
    “Stop matchmaking.”
    “I’m not. At all. But I think we want as much of our team as possible there, because I have a feeling we’re not going to stop thewhatever from happening, at least until such time as we’re physically on-site.”
    “Let’s keep trying anyway,” Christopher said. “Just for laughs.”
    “Kitty, Pierre says that we have dress fittings tomorrow morning,” Amy shared.
    “Can’t wait.”
    “He also says that he’s ordered up something for your friend Caroline, too, since she’s now part of our strike force.” Amy was clearly acting as the Pierre Translator. I assumed he was too well-mannered to shout at me the way everyone else usually did. I didn’t expect this nicety to last, of course.
    “Excellent. Maybe we’ll all match or something.”
    “I don’t see why you’re being snippy,” Amy said, sounding hurt. “Pierre wants to be good at his job.”
    “I’ll bet cash money that Pierre is always good at any job Pierre wants to do. He was James’ go-to guy during our wedding.”
    “Caroline wasn’t in your wedding either, right?” Amy asked, voice carefully neutral.
    “Nope, like you and Sheila, unable to make it due to my fab planning skills.”
    “Ah. That’s too bad.”
    “Yeah, well, I look at it as another close friend who missed my wedding race and the embarrassment thereof and count it in the win column. The President’s Ball should be nostalgic, though. We’ll be all dressed up and likely running for our lives.”
    I saw Jeff pass a sign to Christopher, who turned to Amy. “You’ll look great, don’t worry. And I’ll be there to protect you.” This set them off on a little nuzzlefest, which I didn’t begrudge them. Though they definitely kept it at the G-rated level, presumably because Christopher’s dad and my mom were nearby.
    Jeff nudged me