Alien in the Family

by the fact that the late and unlamented Adolphus had had spies on Earth for a long while. “Do you trust them, Mom?”
    She glanced at Doreen. Who grimaced. “Tell the truth, Missus Katt, I don’t know how anybody could trust my parents.”
    Mom shrugged. “No, I don’t either. But, then, I don’t trust most lobbyists. What do you think they’re going to attempt?”
    “My guess is that they aren’t going to go for violence,” Chuckie said, “which is one small favor. However, if they can cause chaos and disruption long enough . . .”
    Lucinda looked ill. “I had to invite them. It would be very bad for Richard and the boys if I hadn’t.”
    “They’d have shown up even if you hadn’t,” Doreen spat out.
    “Things still tense between you and your parents?” I asked her.
    She nodded. “We haven’t spoken, not really, since I moved to Caliente Base. The only messages I get from them say I have to leave Irving if I want their forgiveness. I don’t want anything from them, not any more. Not now, not ever.”
    Lucinda put her arm around Doreen. “It’ll work out, dear.” Doreen didn’t look as though she believed this. I couldn’t blame her—I didn’t either.
    Mom shook her head. “We need to stop them, but it has to be done in a politically correct manner, or we’ll all feel a lot of heat I’d like to avoid.”
    “How long has Robert Coleman been in charge? Maybe we can use inexperience as an excuse.”
    “Hardly. He replaced Theresa White after her death.” Lucinda looked uncomfortable. “He wasn’t who Richard would have chosen. But he was in no condition to help make a selection.”
    “The Pontifex normally chooses the Diplomatic Corps?”
    “Yes, he makes the recommendations. They have to be approved by the majority of our people over the age of forty, though.”
    “Who assigned the Diplomatic Corps when you all first arrived?” Chuckie asked.
    “Richard and Theresa did. But once she died and Ronald came on in her place, most of the original Diplomatic Corps resigned.”
    “Coleman moved the Pontifex’s supporters out and his own supporters in,” Chuckie said. The way he said it, I knew he had no doubts, meaning I had no doubts.
    “I suppose so.” Lucinda sounded as though she had some doubts. “None of us were in any condition to worry about it. Losing Theresa the way we did . . . the boys and Richard consumed all of our attention. Besides, the Diplomatic Corps perform a hugely important function for us. Robert is the person who ensures any issues we create get smoothed over and smiled away, if you will. He’s done a good job, honestly, they all have. We don’t get along with every government agency as well as we do with NASA, Angela, or Mister Reynolds.”
    “And Jeff would never say he and Chuckie get along.”
    “Neither would I,” Chuckie said. “So the people with the most influence in both the A-C community and with all the governmental agencies, outside of those in the actual wedding party, want to stop this marriage. And we have to stop them in a way that won’t cause repercussions in the A-C community.”
    “Nicely summed up, dude.”
    “Great. Have you any idea of how we’re going to manage this?”
    “Give me a minute.” I closed my eyes. ACE, I have to talk to Richard White. Can you help me do that?
    Yes, Kitty, ACE can help. There was a pause.
    Yes, Miss Katt? You never fail to surprise in your ability to communicate at any time and via any source possible.
    Robert and Barbara Coleman and their cronies forced you to make a bad deal, right?
    Yes. Long story I shared with the only person capable of doing anything about it.
    You told James because you knew I’d do what he said?
    And because he would do it with haste, discretion, and accuracy so to speak. How did you find out?
    Serene has a daddy-crush on you. She spent her time when we weren’t fighting for our lives watching over you, so she saw the ‘let’s attack Richard when he’s got a lot more important things going on’ meeting.
    Ah, intriguing. However, you and Jeffrey are racing along, so I foresee no issues.
    This is why you have Alpha and Airborne. We have identified major issues. My question to you—if I have the Colemans and their gang detained and removed from the premises, what kind of problems does that create for you?
    What would your reasons be?
    Suspicion of terrorist activities.
    Sounds nasty.
    Sounds like a trip to wherever the C.I.A. likes to take people.
    We can’t