Alien in the Family

finally. “I wish I could get field reports from my operatives this well-detailed.”
    Wayne and William looked pleased, but then they both looked at Jeff. He nodded. “Lots of good information here, thank you.” Both brothers visibly relaxed. “I appreciate the notes from the C.I.A. meeting, too.”
    “We recorded it as well, Commander,” William said, “per Mister Reynolds’ request.”
    Jeff raised his eyebrow at Chuckie. “You tape everyone?”
    “Just everyone I don’t trust. I’d like a copy of the recording.” Jeff nodded and William pulled out his phone.
    “Coming down to you now, sir,” he said, hanging up.
    Chuckie heaved a sigh. “I don’t think we have enough to go on definitively yet, but I’ll work on it.”
    “It’s the holidays. You’re allowed time off. The rest of your agency’s taking their two weeks, why not you?”
    Chuckie shook his head. “You know the saying—evil never sleeps.”
    “Yeah, too true.” I yawned. Wow. Nap time already. In addition to the other joys, I got tired out much more quickly these days.
    Jeff opened his mouth but Chuckie beat him to it. “I’m going to get back to my office. I’ll be in touch on this, and I expect the same from you if you hit on anything. You get some rest, Kitty. Gentlemen, Martini,” he said with a nod. He whistled softly and Fluffy jumped up onto my shoulder, purred, rubbed, and then leaped onto Chuckie’s shoulder, did the purr and rub thing, then snuggled into his pocket. I managed to refrain from saying how adorable this was, but it took real effort.
    Before Chuckie could leave, William’s phone rang. He put up his hand. “Yes, got it.” He hung up. “Commander Martini, we have an issue with the recorded copy Mister Reynolds requested.”
    “And that is?” Jeff asked.
    William looked grim. “All the recordings have been destroyed.”
    That sat on the air for a moment. “How?” I asked finally.
    He shook his head. “We don’t know. All recordings for the past week have been corrupted, the ones from today are completely gone.”
    “Internal sabotage,” Chuckie said, and from his tone, he was certain. “Not good. Any clues as to who did it?”
    “No, sir,” William said. “Commander White’s ordered a full investigation.”
    “It’ll have to do.” Chuckie didn’t look happy, and I couldn’t blame him. I also couldn’t control another yawn. “I’ll add this to the pile of things we need to know about. Please guard those reports—you two are the only proof we have now that something was wrong with those superbeings.”
    “Yes, sir,” Wayne said with a small smile. “We’ll guard them with our lives.”
    Chuckie managed a short laugh. “Good job.”
    Jeff seemed to be struggling with something. “I’ll walk you out,” he said finally. “You two, take down the equipment.”
    They left while William and Wayne did as instructed. “You didn’t give me a file,” I mentioned.
    Wayne laughed. “We’re already clear you wouldn’t read it.” He grinned and put a folder into my nightstand. “Here’s a copy for later, though. You know, when you get around to it. In about a year.”
    “Wow, you are good. So, what’s the CliffsNotes version?”
    They both looked at me blankly for a moment. A-Cs were capable of reading at hyperspeed, too, so why read an abbreviated version? William recovered first. “You want the highlights, Commander?”
    “Please and thank you.”
    “We think they’re genetically engineered,” Wayne said. “But there’s no human in there.”
    “That we can tell,” William added. “Didn’t feel like there’s parasite in there, either.”
    “That we can tell,” Wayne said. “They didn’t feel…right.”
    “Robotic?”
    “Could be,” Wayne allowed. “But if so, it’s a more natural robot.”
    “Like an android?”
    William shrugged. “Could be. We don’t really work with this side of things. Kill ‘em, get the folks to safety, that’s our normal assignment.”
    “Why are you doing live at the exciting scene of my bedroom, then?”
    They exchanged a quick glance. “Ah, special assignment,” William said.
    That meant either they were being punished or they were hand-selected. “Assigned by whom?”
    “Commander White,” William answered.
    So, handpicked. Unless Christopher was really interested in seeing how my space cadet ways messed with their minds. I voted for the former. “Why you two?”
    Wayne’s turn to shrug. “We’re really good.