Alien in the Family

and started a galactic war, so things need to be speeded up. Because rulers are dead or dying, and someone strong has to take control.”
    “Yes.” White shook his head. “I don’t know why they won’t leave us alone.”
    “Because they don’t consider us their equals. We’re their garbage dump. Gregory started them off, somehow. I know it.” Though I had a strong feeling he’d had help, even if Gregory himself didn’t know it.
    “I’m sure he did. Alexander feels very responsible.”
    “Jeff said he was clean. So to speak.” Another though occurred. “Can I get your cells programmed in?” I had a feeling I’d want to talk to Ericka or Stanley soon.
    Ericka put out her hand, and I gave her my phone. “I’m programming in all our numbers, including Abigail’s and Naomi’s. And we’ll make sure every A-C here stays near a human counterpart.” I took my phone back and dropped it in my purse. Thank God for cell phones. Our whole operation would go down without the phone system.
    I got a funny feeling in my stomach. “Mom!”
    She came over. “I thought you left.”
    “Trying to. I need the P.T.C.U. to monitor all the telecommunications industry. I’m betting it’s going to go down, and soon. I have no idea if we can keep it up or not, but whatever system the A-Cs are on has priority. Oh, and keep Richard with you and Dad, please. They’re after him, of course.”
    Mom nodded, but Stanley seemed confused. “Why do you think they’re after Richard and not Jeff?”
    “Well, they’re after all of us, but Richard’s the king, and they can only win if they take the king. Gotta dash, great meeting you all, hope I see you again and we’re all still alive. If we lose telecommunications, make sure you get the families out of here. The fight will head here, if they can do it, because they know you’re all here.”
    Mom looked at me. “This went from bad to worse, didn’t it?”
    “Mom, we’ve been at DEFCON Worse for hours. Ericka, Stanley, this is my mother, Angela, just in case you haven’t met. Mom, listen to them and get caught up; they sort of know what’s going on.”
    I grabbed Michael, and we ran for the door.
    “I’ve talked to Gladys,” Michael told me as we worked our way out of the restaurant. “She cleared all nonagent personnel out of Dulce when she went to Florida. All the human children in your family are there now, including the ones who were here in Vegas with their parents. All other American personnel are spread out at Caliente, East, NASA, or Home Bases; she’s left the other worldwide bases as is, but they’re all on alert. Security seems okay, but they have no idea of how the prisoners escaped, and Gladys feels Security wasn’t infiltrated.”
    “What’s her power?”
    “Jeff hasn’t told you?”
    “If I knew, why would I ask?”
    “She’s a combo, dream-reader and empath. And she’s trustworthy.”
    “She’s Lucinda and Richard’s sister, isn’t she?”
    He laughed. “Yeah. But from his second wife.”
    “Can we trust her?”
    “Yes, believe me. And the children couldn’t be safer—God help anyone who tries to hurt someone Gladys has under top priority protection.”
    “NASA Base is where? The Martini compound?”
    “I thought you only asked if you didn’t know.”
    “Whatever.”
    Michael grinned. “Well, it’s actually connected to the Martini estate, but they can and do function separately.”
    “One day, I’ll get this all straight.” Maybe. We reached the others. “Okay, we’re officially at DEFCON Oh My God. Ancient history for any A-C history buffs in attendance. Chuckie, we need to get to the area in New Mexico and Arizona between the peaks. That’s where they’ll be landing.”
    He nodded. “Figured. On it. Martini has a floater gate coming; we were just waiting for you.”
    “Weapons of all kinds coming in from Home Base,” Martini added. “Issue with jets, though. Need to send the flyboys to Home Base if we want jets.”
    I shook my head. “No, they’ll just shoot them out of the air. I think we want to keep our opponents on the ground.” I looked at the other emissaries still with us. “We need to know, right now, if you’re with us or against us.”
    “With you.” Queen Renata sounded confused.
    I checked out the other’s expressions. “Jeff, what are they feeling?”
    “Confusion, baby, just like the rest of us. Alexander, too.”
    “Okay . . . Gregory indeed had more going on. He’s started an