Alien in the Family

heels seemed like a smart one—too bad it hadn’t occurred to me before we’d gotten here.
    We were lucky—the moon was full. We had a plethora of weapons with us, but I didn’t think they were going to matter, or help.
    “Okay, we’re here. Early, hopefully. So, what’s going on?” Chuckie was looking around while my flyboys handed out weapons to everyone. “You know, we’re out in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night with an invisible gate for an exit. Was this wise?”
    “No. But they’re going to be here shortly.”
    “We still have hours,” Kevin protested.
    “No. We are supposed to think we still have hours. They knew we’d intercept the communication. They’ll be here soon. What time did the light show start up?”
    “Midnight. On the dot.” Chuckie sighed. “Okay, so that’s when they’ll show again, right?”
    “Right. I need our Animal Planet helpers.”
    “You are lucky Charles explained your sense of humor,” Willem said, as he and the others came closer to me. “We could call you naked apes, you know.” All of them were back to their normal, unaltered forms.
    “Go for it. Like I’d care? We need you guys to move your ships. They’re gonna get smooshed if you don’t, and we have to have an escape plan.”
    Willem barked an order. Literally, he barked. Wahoa barked back, then she and Wrolph took off toward Chiricahua. It was miles and miles away, but I got the impression they’d be back soon.
    Felicia and Arup nodded. “We will be back as well.” They ran off, but toward Animas.
    “So, Iguanodon? What’s the status for your ship?”
    Neeraj smiled. I was impressed. It was both scary and nice at the same time. I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to see it again. “We do not need to be in our ship to fly it.” He and Jareen did something funky between them, and I felt a very large thing fly over us. “Our ship is near. Would you like it uncloaked?”
    “Can the Alpha Four folks see it through the cloak?”
    “Yes.”
    “Then uncloak away.”
    They did. It looked a little like a lizard with wings. “Wow, did the folks who created Star Trek hang with you guys?”
    “I’m sorry,” Neeraj said. “I don’t know what you mean.”
    “No worries. Few ever do.”
    “Would you like the lights on?”
    “Sure, as long as we can turn them off right away if we have to.” Neeraj nodded, and we were bathed in light. Something resembling a cat’s paw and a dog’s head landed on either side of the Flying Lizard. They put on their brights, too. “You know, why is it humans make rockets that look like bullets, but all of you imitated yourselves?”
    “No idea,” Neeraj said. “You think strangely.”
    “Yeah. I think right, too.” I thought about this. “I think I know what ACE’s counterpart is going to be doing.”
    “Can’t wait to find out,” Martini said. “You going to share anything or just keep the rest of us in suspense until we die?”
    “Boy, are you testy tonight. Feeding you was the wrong idea, I guess.”
    He shook his head. “I was happier with the toasts coming than this, I can say that.”
    “Me too. Okay, fine, let’s break it down.” I took a deep breath. “This is all a chess game. Accept that, and it becomes easier to understand. We’re playing chess for the same reasons that someone would challenge Death to a match—it’s the only shot we have.”
    “Kitty, that was amazingly unclear, even for you.” Tim was next to Reader. “You need some tunes or something?”
    “Yes, but not just now. Look, chess, everyone know the game I’m talking about?” Most of the heads nodded. Chuckie spoke quickly and quietly to the heads that didn’t nod, and I continued. “Okay, it’s a game of strategy, of intellect. And in order to win, you have to be cagey. It’s rare to win a chess game by just barreling toward the other side’s king. You have to create action on all parts of the board, so your opponent is distracted from your true main gambit.”
    “Is the main objective finding a new king for Alpha Four?” Chuckie asked me.
    “No. Though even Gregory thinks it is. But he’s not actually the one moving the pieces on his side of the board.”
    “Who is?” Martini asked me quietly.
    “The person with the most to gain and lose.” I looked at Alexander. “How long ago was the king of Alpha Four hurt?”
    “Months,” Alexander said promptly.
    “And he’s Jeff’s grandfather, so he’s older than Alfred, so he’s in,