Alien in the Family

about the ramifications, Your Majesty.”
    “Thanks, Charles. I think I’ll need it.”
    “I believe I’d like a copy as well,” Leonidas said.
    “Absolutely.” Chuckie and Leonidas were smiling pleasantly at each other. I got the distinct impression they were weighing and examining each other in a lot of ways I was missing. “Are you staying on as King Alexander’s Chief Councillor?” Chuckie asked finally. He didn’t sound as though he was going to disapprove if Leonidas said yes, but I also wasn’t sure if he’d disapprove if Leonidas said no.
    Leonidas shrugged. “That’s up to His Majesty.”
    “And the people,” Alexander added.
    Either ACE had projected this or Victoria or Leonidas had, because I heard murmuring from the crowd. They seemed pleased.
    “Oh, I’m sure the people will be very happy with Chief Councillor Leonidas staying on,” Chuckie said. “From what you’ve said, he has the people’s well-being foremost in his mind.”
    Leonidas gave Chuckie one of their formal little head bows. “From what we’ve seen, Mister Reynolds, you function in a similar capacity.” Even knowing they’d been spying on us for a long time, it was still a shock to hear him use Chuckie’s name as if they’d been introduced.
    I tried to figure out how what someone in the C.I.A., even Chuckie, did could be compared to what Leonidas did, but before I could, Alexander’s face lit up. “Maybe you could stay here and become my adviser?”
    Chuckie looked interested. I could guess that some others with us were, too. And, surprisingly, Leonidas didn’t seem against the idea. “That could prove helpful. I’m sure we could learn a great deal from each other.”
    Chuckie opened his mouth. I beat him to the reply. “No.”
    “No?” Chuckie and Alexander chorused. The unison thing was getting to me. Too many alpha males in small spaces equaled bad for Kitty’s sense of propriety.
    “No. Because you have to learn to do it on your own. Could Chuckie stay and help you guys out? Sure, he’d be awesome. Some of the others would, as well. But you need to rebuild Alpha Four, not rebuild it into Earth: The Alpha Four Experience. Maybe once you’re stabilized. Let’s see how you do on your own before we send one of the guys we need to you, okay?”
    Alexander nodded. “That makes sense.”
    “It does?” Chuckie asked.
    “Yes. Besides, I think Alexander has a Chief Councillor here already who knows what’s going on in this solar system a lot better than any of us, even you, would.” Leonidas gave me a pleasant smile. “And I don’t want said Chief Councillor learning even more about us than he already knows.”
    His eyes narrowed, though his expression remained pleasant. “I don’t follow you.”
    I snorted. “You’d learn as much from Chuckie as he’d learn from you. That’s great, but now’s not the time. You all need to prove that we can trust you before you get to pick this particular brilliant brain.”
    Leonidas gave me a long look. “Understood.” He cleared his throat, straightened up, and bowed to Alexander. “Your Majesty, if you are willing, I would be happy to stay on as Chief Councillor.” It was clear from what he did and how he said it that this was an official moment of protocol, and that the response wasn’t in question.
    Alexander gave the little head bow. “It would be an honor for us if you would remain in this position of responsibility, respect, and confidence.”
    I could feel the crowd around us relax. “You sure this is the right way?” Chuckie asked me quietly.”
    “Yes. You can spend your summer vacation here another time. Now shut up, and let’s go home.”
    Is Kitty ready? ACE asked politely.
    I looked around. Almost. “Victoria, what happens with the Poofs?”
    There was much Poof mewling and whining at this question. One of the Poofs, the one Leonidas has identified as Alexander’s, jumped onto his shoulder. The others scattered—back to Martini, Christopher, Reader, and Michael. Poofikins stayed with me. The last one whined and jumped onto Chuckie’s shoulder.
    Victoria chuckled. “They are attached.”
    “I’m not from Alpha Four, and I’m also not marrying in,” Chuckie said.
    She shrugged. “Attached Poofs pine without the one they are attached to with them. Harlie was listless for close to fifty years. If it is attached to you, it’s yours. Take it as our gift of thanks.”
    “Thanks, I think.” Chuckie seemed confused.
    “You