Alien Proliferation

advice.”
    I hugged all of them. “Mom, you sure you’re okay?”
    “Yes, we’re fine. He didn’t want to hurt us—I know he wanted the babies, and I think he wanted me to take care of Jamie. Lord alone knows. Don’t care. Why isn’t Jeff just breaking his neck?” She sounded annoyed. Knew where I’d inherited my desire to kill the baddies and save trouble.
    “He’s enjoying himself. You should have seen what they did to him and the other guys. Let him have a release.”
    “Right. Where are the other guys?”
    Oh, right. Most of our team were still out there, somewhere. “Jeff, we have to get the others.”
    “I’m not done killing him yet.”
    White was speaking to Gower. I could see they were arguing. I went to them. “Richard, it’s not time for this, and I’m not the right person.” Gower sounded upset.
    “Paul, you are the right person. By the way, how is ACE?”
    He sighed. “Better. Not fully back to normal, though. He had to protect me again while we were in isolation so Al Dejahl’s mind control couldn’t work on me.”
    “So ACE wasn’t, ah, spotting me during any of this?”
    Gower shook his head. “ACE says that you were able to do what you did because of all the hormones running around in your body right now.”
    “Don’t piss off the new mother?”
    “Exactly.”
    “The drug does work on the id, doesn’t it? And I’m seriously pissed.”
    “Yes. Your rage was definitely helping you.” Gower cleared his throat. “ACE also says to expect to be extremely tired once your rage fully wears off.”
    “Can’t wait. How long before ACE is better?” It was bad enough when someone was hurt, but it wasn’t as though I could tuck ACE into bed and give him juice and aspirin to make him feel better.
    He twitched. “ACE says that he should be fine shortly, so, and I quote, Kitty can stop worrying about ACE.”
    “Okay, as long as both of you are going to be alright soon, I’ll focus the worry elsewhere. But I think Richard’s right. Who we protect needs to change. And the best way for our people to understand that is if you do what he’s asking.”
    Gower shook his head. “I’m not the right person to be Pontifex. It should stay within the family line.”
    I snorted. “Like Christopher has the Zen to be the religious leader? From the first day I was with you guys, I knew who Richard’s successor would be. At least, who it should be.”
    “But you have to accept it, Paul.” White’s voice was gentle. “And I must insist you decide quickly. The Pontifex needs to advise Jeffrey whether we should let our enemy live or not. I can’t make that decision objectively any longer—I know what that means.”
    Gower swallowed. “I promised to protect you with my life, Richard.”
    White nodded. “Protect me now as our religious leader. Protect the world by working with the superconsciousness that loves us.” He stroked Jamie’s head. “A new day is coming, Paul. Change is here, and we have to adapt to it properly or we will perish. Please—I ask this as my last act as Sovereign Pontifex, that you succeed me while I live, not after I die.”
    Gower looked at both of us. Then he nodded and turned around. “Jeff, let him live.”

 
    CHAPTER 65
     
    J EFF HEAVED A SIGH but he stopped slamming Al Dejahl into the wall. “Oh, fine. I want him locked up and not on the same floor where I live.”
    “That won’t be an issue, I’d assume, Jeffrey.” White gave me a small smile. “Let’s get the rest of our people, shall we? Then we can discuss personnel changes.”
    A contingent of big Security A-Cs showed up and carried Al Dejahl off. Camilla shook her head. “Killing your enemy is a lot safer.”
    Gower nodded. “In self-defense, yes. Just because you can? No.”
    Jeff came over to me. He picked me up and kissed me. “I suppose telling you to stay here while I go back to the others is useless.”
    “You know it. Mom, do you have any milk left?”
    “Plenty.”
    Jeff put me down, helped me take the Snugli off, then he cuddled Jamie and kissed her head. “Mommy and Daddy will be right back, Jamie-Kat.” Mom took her, and we strapped the Snugli on her. Jeff looked at White. “You’re sure?”
    White nodded. “Yes.” He looked at the others. “We’ll do this more officially, I’m sure, but as of now, I am no longer Sovereign Pontifex. That honor, and all the authority and respect that comes with it, now belongs to Paul Gower. Listen to him as you’ve listened