Alien Proliferation

do.”
    “You’ll be relieved to know that James is aware of what you don’t care for in terms of baby showers. And despite your justified concerns based on, as you put it, all the wedding rigmarole, the induction ceremony is quite short. We’ll all be able to regroup sooner than you think.”
    The video ended, and Gower was up there with the mic, looking mildly uncomfortable. He cleared his throat. “My first real act as your new Pontifex is a joyous one.” There was a smattering of applause.
    Gower looked at us, at Jamie really, and the discomfort was gone—in its place I saw the next religious leader of our large and now-extensive tribe. “Welcome to the family, little one. You’re one of us, now and forever, and we will never forsake you.”
    The A-Cs all stood and clapped. The humans followed suit. Reader went back to the dais, and Gower got down.
    “That’s it?” I whispered to Jeff.
    He grinned. “That’s it.”
    “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    He shrugged. “Sometimes I like to watch you try to wriggle out of something you’ll actually enjoy.”
    “You know, they all say I’m the crazy one, but sometimes I really wonder about you.”
    Jeff chuckled as Reader took the mic again. “Folks, you know a girl who can still sprint during her wedding likes things to move fast. To that end, and because, as most of you know, it’s been an exciting week here, we’re going to do things the A-C way—which, for us humans means we eat, drink, and be merry and let the parents open the gifts when the baby’s napping. Should only take them to her first birthday to go through all the gifts, right?”
    This earned laughs and my total relief. Okay, Reader still loved me, and I still loved him. The world was okay.
    My Uncle Mort took the stage and the mic. “The United States Marine Corps would like to congratulate the Katt-Martini family on their newest addition.”
    The Marines all over the room stood up and did a loud cheer in unison, earning wild applause from the rest of the attendees. It was impressive. Jamie only fussed a little over it, too.
    Uncle Mort winked at me. “We also heard the new parents were missing a very important item.”
    Four Marines walked in solemnly, carrying something on their shoulders. They reached us, did the whole military thing, and placed it in front of us.
    I squealed at the top of my lungs. “I love you, Uncle Mort!”
    This was better than winning the lottery. It was beautiful, tricked out with everything, at least, everything I could think would make sense to trick it out with.
    “What is it?” someone shouted from the back of the room.
    Jeff and I answered in unison. “It’s a bassinet!”

 
    CHAPTER 74
     
    W E WERE ABLE TO USE the hungry, fussy baby excuse to leave after a little while. Jamie seemed to have reached her limit, and I was ready to lie down, too.
    The issue was, where were we supposed to go to sleep? Turned out Al Dejahl was indeed locked up in a very secure containment cell on the fifteenth floor. For whatever reason, Jeff therefore refused to sleep in the Lair. I felt weird going back to the Embassy, but according to Gladys, it had been swept for any form of bug, bomb, or tripwire, so it should be secure.
    The rest of Alpha and Airborne and what I now considered our extended team gathered around us as we argued about where to go to sleep for the night. Jamie was fussing, and I was close to lying down on the floor—I was too big for the bassinet.
    I grabbed White as he joined us. “Richard, why was there nothing in the Embassy? I mean, if you were showing us the Colemans’ penthouse, it sure seemed devoid of any personal items.”
    He shook his head. “No idea, Missus Martini. The rest of the Embassy was also devoid of belongings.”
    “Maybe they figured they were going to skip town,” Tim suggested.
    “Or the planet. Still, seems kind of . . . odd.”
    “I’d suggest my place,” Chuckie said, “but it’s trashed, and I can’t guarantee it’s safe, either.”
    “Your parents’ house, or mine?” Jeff sounded as tired as I felt.
    “No, we went into lockdown for a reason.”
    “Thought that reason was handled.”
    “Not for sure yet. I’m just too tired to deal with what I think most of us noted during the showing of James’ Documentary in Embarrassment.”
    Reader grinned. “You looked great. But, yeah, hadn’t paid any attention to our mystery couple before.”
    “Caliente Base?” Jeff was at least focusing on