Alien Proliferation

through the lower level. No one was there—including Clarence. Not a good sign, but not a surprise, either.
    Moved up, no one on any of the lower levels. “This is just like Operation Fugly. Everyone was up top. Why do the bad guys like to herd everyone into one damned spot?”
    “Easier to perform genocide. Or make the pronouncement that there’s someone impersonating your Pontifex and he should be killed on sight.”
    “Yeah, I was sort of expecting that, too.”
    “I assume he’s told everyone that the others are being mind-controlled or impersonated, which is why you sent them after Amy.”
    “That and, frankly, you and I seem to be doing pretty darned okay on our own.”
    White laughed. “You do make becoming a field agent sound more appealing than it ever has before.”
    Reached the library level. Lots and lots of people in here. But they were quiet. They were listening. “And, unfortunately, Gower is unable to function now. We’ll need to pull the entity out of him in order to keep his mind from destroying itself.” It sounded like White, unless you actually knew how he talked.
    I pulled his head down. “At least some of them have to be wondering what’s wrong with ‘you.’ You don’t talk like this.”
    “Enough will be too frightened to notice.” We were in the back, behind a pillar, and we both scanned the room. “I don’t see your parents. Or the baby.”
    I closed my eyes and concentrated. “Oh, God. He has them locked into isolation chambers. Paul was already there, but Serene, Lorraine, Claudia, my mother and father are in chambers, too. I don’t know how he did it.”
    “He’s a hybrid. We have no idea what his talents are. He may have mind control abilities. Do you see the baby?”
    I moved us a bit. Now we could see Al Dejahl. He looked just like White normally did—full Armani suit, handsome, kindly. And he was wearing a Snugli carrier. With my baby inside it. I was ready to lunge.
    White squeezed my hand. “Not without a plan. He’ll kill her or escape with her.”
    I nodded. “Okay. I’m open to ideas.”
    White was quiet for a few moments, while Al Dejahl spent some time discussing how badly demolished Alpha and Airborne teams were. “Are you able to go so fast that you can run on the ceiling?”
    I thought about it. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure.” Pulled out my iPod, tuned it, set for repeat. “Under the circumstances, anyway.”
    White took a look. “Elton John, ‘The Bitch is Back.’ I was expecting Aerosmith.”
    “I like to mess it up, keep the bad guys guessing.” I looked at him. “Ready, partner?”
    “Lead on, Missus Martini. Remember to tell me what size catsuit you wear.”

 
    CHAPTER 63
     
    T OOK A DEEP BREATH and let the music play. Didn’t take long to rev me, I was already running on waves of fury.
    Turned us and ran, fast. Hit the wall and went up it. Kept moving as we hit the ceiling and perspective turned. It was a little like when I’d fought Uma in the bubble created by ACE and the other PPB entity, Lilith. Didn’t matter, wasn’t going to be up here long.
    The library was huge, and Al Dejahl was at the far end. He wasn’t using a microphone to project his voice—more proof he was a troubadour. More reasons for the people in here to not believe him. But then again, they were all quiet, all acting too sheeplike. My family, in particular, were acting far too docile.
    Reached the target and dropped. We spun in the air and landed right behind him. I grabbed his arms. “Get away from my baby, you bastard.”
    “Gladys!” Al Dejahl shouted. “Need Security!”
    “Gladys, belay that! He’s an imposter . . . and your half brother.”
    “Richard is my half brother.” Gladys sounded angry, but also confused.
    “Yeah, Richard is. The guy with me, not the guy holding my baby.” Al Dejahl was fighting me and he was really strong. The people in the library weren’t moving. “Gladys, why are they all acting like sheep? Why are you? Think dammit!”
    White unhooked the baby carrier and got Jamie. This was the trigger—the rest of the A-Cs and humans started to move forward, like zombies. “Mister White, run, get out of here.”
    He nodded. “Hurry.” If I looked at it like a human, he disappeared. But I could see that he was just running very, very fast. Superpowers were fab.
    Distractions, however, weren’t good. Al Dejahl got loose, spun and swung at me. He was fast, too, and we were fighting furiously in a moment. “How