Alien Proliferation

desert.”
    “A wise choice. I’m sure she’ll bravely carry on her parents’ work while we desperately search for them to no avail.”
    “You’re actually the best liar, too. Wow, Richard, you totally rock.”
    “Really, baby, stop lusting after my uncle. It bothers me on the same level you saying my dad’s hot bothers me.”
    “You worry too much. So, we need two other couples?”
    “Yes, two or three, depending on what official role I take, but not all the positions need to be filled at this moment. As long as we can announce that you and Jeffrey will head up the Diplomatic Corps in the Colemans’ absence, all will remain reasonably calm.”
    “Who’s going to head up Field, Imageering, and Airborne, though? Let alone Recruitment?” I looked at Jeff. “I can’t imagine you willingly taking orders from someone.”
    He shrugged. “I can take them from James.”
    “Seriously? You’ll put a human in as the head of Field?”
    “And as the new head of Airborne, yeah. Tim deserves the promotion.”
    “Considering we’re all pretty much alive because of him, yeah.”
    “More because of you and Richard, but I’ll give you we’d be in a lot of trouble if not for Tim.”
    “We’d be like dead. But fine. So, who’s going to head Imageering?”
    Jeff coughed. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but . . . Serene.”
    “You’re high.”
    “No. She held out against Al Dejahl’s mind control. Gladys couldn’t, but Serene, Lorraine, and Claudia could.”
    “But she has a baby coming, too.”
    “You’re arguing against us putting a woman in a position of power?” Jeff sounded shocked.
    “No, not so much. I just thought this was a ‘protect the babies’ move.”
    “There are always going to be babies,” White said quietly. “Some will have to grow up faster than others, some will not.”
    “Plus, with almost no parasites showing up, Imageering is going to have to work more closely with the other government agencies. It’s already become a less active position—Christopher was complaining about it a few months ago. Then he started shooting up and his focus changed, but since he’s clean now, I think we’ll hear him whine about it soon.”
    “Geez, Jeff, he was tricked into it.”
    “Yeah, yeah. Anyway, Serene won’t be in the danger Christopher was before you cleared out good ol’ granddad and brought the ozone shield down on Alpha Four.”
    “Okay. I can see most of this. James is a great leader and focused on protecting the new Pontifex in all sorts of ways. Tim’s shown super ability to cover the Airborne role of thinking like the psychos. And Serene has those nifty and expanded imageering powers. I’m clear on all that. But who’s going to do Recruitment? Paul can’t, ACE shouldn’t, and besides, Recruitment also functions as protection for the Pontifex.”
    White coughed. “You.”
    “I thought I was supposed to be the diplomat’s wife? I’m getting confused here.”
    “You’re supposed to be the diplomat.” Jeff didn’t sound like he was joking.
    “Jeff, really. What is my role? I’m tired, and the torpedoes are anxious.”
    “You and Jeffrey both will need to function in a diplomatic capacity. You, however, have hired better and faster than anyone else. You’ve identified talent and brought it on when we needed it. You’ve trained operatives to the point where they can assume leadership positions. In addition to Tim and James, I believe we will be moving Lorraine and Claudia into positions of Captains, to fill the slots James and Tim’s promotions will leave open. As such, we need you to move to the head of Recruitment. This will force you to spend time with Paul, James, Tim, and Serene as well as the rest of your former team. I do hope you can handle it.”
    “Sarcasm is such an ugly trait in a former Pontifex. Fine, but you’re helping me with it. I think we work well as a team.”
    “Yes, got it, you’re attached to my uncle at the hip now and refuse to let go. He’ll be living in the same building. I draw the line at our bedroom.”
    “He’s so possessive. It’s sweet, though.” I heard a baby crying, screaming, really, and my breasts started to leak. “I hope that’s Jamie.” Ran to the entry door to see Tito escorting my mother and screaming baby in. I grabbed Jamie and cuddled her. She was still crying but a little less. “Mommy’s here, Jamie-Kat.”
    “She refused the bottle,” Mom said with a sigh. “I think she knew