Alien Proliferation

lights, started downstairs.
    “I’d have thought after barfing your guts out, doing a variation of the Dance of a Thousand Veils on the bar, and then passing out, you’d have never wanted to drink again.”
    “Dude, it was one freaking frat party, okay?”
    “You’d have been gang-raped if I hadn’t been there.”
    “Which was why I took you with me, if you’d care to recall.” We reached the bottom and stepped into the basement.
    “Yeah. As I recall, we got into a huge fight about me going with you, and I was only along because I threatened to call your mother. Are there lights in here, do you think?”
    I squinted. “I can see in the dark now. But all A-Cs can, so maybe not. I forgot what a narc you were when we were younger.”
    “Wonderful. I’m not enhanced, so I can’t see a thing. And I did it for your own protection.” He sounded hurt.
    I squeezed his hand. “I know, I’m just teasing you. Sort of. You did end up in the appropriate line of work, I guess.”
    “Yeah, tell me that later, once you see what they did to my apartment.”
    Squeezed his hand harder. “I’m just so thankful you were with us, not there.”
    “Me too. Let’s find a light switch or a flashlight. I don’t want to see what we’re going to find, but I’d rather see it than feel it, if you catch my drift.”
    My cell rang. I dug around in my purse. “Jeff, what’s up?”
    “Lights are behind the gate.” He sounded annoyed.
    “Thanks. You’re supposed to be blocking this from Jamie.”
    “Wow, news flash, I can do that and talk to you at the same time. Realize I’m not as awesome as Reynolds is, but I sometimes make do.”
    “You know, did we not just have the jealousy chat? Again?”
    He sighed. “Yes. You’re holding his hand.”
    “Because I’m freaked out and would like not only Jamie, but you and all the others to not know what we’re doing. Not, I obviously must add, because Chuckie and I are going to have sex in the icky, creepy basement just so we can earn the title of World’s Stupidest Clandestine Lovers but so, in fact, we can discover the horror and keep it from the rest of you. Feel free to continue to piss me off, however, and I may consider kissing him just to prove your ridiculous jealousy concerns are valid. I mean, you so clearly want to be right and all.”
    “I’m willing,” Chuckie said, loudly enough that I knew Jeff could hear it.
    He was quiet for a moment. “You’re really expecting this to be beyond God-awful, aren’t you?” His voice was very gentle and also low.
    “Yes. Well beyond.”
    “Okay, baby, I’ll do my best. Tell Reynolds to keep his paws off you.”
    “Yeah, he and I have that one memorized, Jeff.”
    “Be careful.”
    “We will.” Hung up and looked around behind the gate. “Good grief, they’re not all tall. Chuckie, I’m going to lead you to the light switch. I can’t reach it.” I put his hand on the wall, but the lights didn’t go on. “Um, dude? Why are we still in total darkness?”
    “I haven’t flipped the switch yet. Who would put a light switch up this high?” he asked slowly.
    I looked around some more. Found another switch, at a normal height, but had to let go of Chuckie to get to it. “Um . . . you know, this is why I brought you with me. Don’t turn that on yet.” Flipped the switch I could reach, lights came on, just like magic.
    We took a look. Boxes and crates. Lots of them. Chuckie still hadn’t flipped the switch his hand was by. We both looked at it. “I don’t see anything. I feel it, but I don’t see it.”
    “It’s cloaked. I can see it because I’m enhanced. Dude, this is going to suck in a really bad way, I think.”
    He reached out and grabbed my hand again. “Okay, I want you to see if I’ve tripped something.”
    I looked. “Can’t see anything. But I can’t tell, either. You’re Mister Covert Ops. I’m Megalomaniac Girl. Different skills.”
    “Okay. If I die from turning this thing on, I just want to go on record that if you wanted to be stupid enough to go for it here just to prove your husband right, I’d honestly be willing.” He grinned. “Of course, I’m also willing to just pretend we did and torture him that way.”
    “You’re as evil as my mom.”
    “I did pick up some tips from her, yeah.” He took a deep breath. “You ready?”
    “Born ready or some such. Flip it, big guy.”
    He did. And the last thing I was expecting happened.

 
    CHAPTER 78
     
    O KAY, PERHAPS NOT