Alien Proliferation

to White. I don’t even want to think about what Serene’s got going, not that I’ll be able to avoid finding out.”
    “So . . . what? Dude, if you have a theory, really, spit it out. The baby’s gonna wake up for a torpedo soon.” I knew this because my breasts were trying to burst out of the nursing bra.
    “I want a full background check run on Serene, her mother, the cousins, everything. Try to pin down anything we can about her father.” Chuckie sounded both worried and very in charge. “I also want a DNA test run as soon as possible.”
    Jeff looked like he was going to argue. I did my best to send an emotional signal not to start. “Chuckie . . . who do you think is Serene’s father? I know it’s just a guess, but I want to hear your guess.”
    He looked right at me. “Let’s hear yours, first. Bet they’re the same.”
    I swallowed. “Most of the A-Cs were told Richard White’s father, the original exile, died when they first arrived. Only a handful knew that he was alive and calling himself Ronald Yates. Serene’s part of the family is clearly not well connected—no one working at the top levels knew of her existence. So they probably didn’t know Yates when he was on Alpha Four, or if they did, in the same way I’d have known the President, you know, before I found out my mom hangs with him on a regular basis—pictures from afar. Richard and Christopher both confirmed that Yates’ looks had altered greatly by the time the rest of the A-Cs got here. Her mother was young when she had Serene, I know that much from talking to her. Very young. About twenty, no more than twenty-one.”
    Jeff looked sick. “Ronald Yates loved to spend his time with young girls.”
    “Yeah.” All four of us looked at each other. “Well, on the plus side—at least Serene will have some family now. And she already has a daddy-crush on Richard.”
    “Who would be, in actuality, her older brother.” Reader sounded about this as I did—sort of glad, sort of grossed out.
    “Thank God she married Brian and not, say, Christopher.” Jeff ran his hand through his hair. “Not that Christopher’s ever shown interest in crazy chicks.”
    “He liked Kitty.” Chuckie grinned at me. “But she’s special.”
    “Awww, you’re both so sweet, how do I keep the blushing away? Seriously, guys, what are the odds?”
    “Gladys is really powerful,” Reader said. “Everyone tends to forget she’s Richard and Lucinda’s half sister when discussing how the Martini family had no significant A-C talents in it before Jeff showed up, and how Christopher’s mother brought in the A-C talents to the White side. I know why they try not to mention Yates. But it’s the Yates half mixed with her mother that made Gladys strong. Maybe Richard’s mother was the, pardon the phrase, weak link.”
    “And Serene’s mother wasn’t.”
    “Odds are long but also likely at the same time.” Chuckie shook his head. “We have to find out as much as we can about Serene’s parentage. Under the circumstances, we need a DNA test from the Pontifex.”
    Jeff opened his mouth. “Fine, I’m sure Richard won’t object,” I said quickly. Jeff’s mouth snapped shut.
    “I agree. The Pontifex does seem willing to actually help us solve mysteries instead of tossing himself in front of us like a roadblock.” Chuckie said this staring right at Jeff, who had the grace to merely grimace. “And, frankly, we need to find out as much as we can about Ronaldo Al Dejahl. Discovering anything about his and Serene’s parentage is going to be difficult. Which, in a way, brings us back to Amy. I still don’t trust her part in this. At all.”
    “If Ronaldo’s after me, or us, or whatever, then her involvement makes a lot of sense.”
    Chuckie shook his head. “It’s too damned convenient. Especially using her father’s name to lure the Pontifex.”
    “Maybe that’s what we’re supposed to think.” I rocked Jamie. Not that we had a rocking chair, or anything else. The men looked at me blankly. “Guys, think. Whoever planned to take out the ETD and P.T.C.U., and let’s assume it’s our pal Ronaldo, has had some time to set it up. He’s crafty. His father knew Amy’s parents, meaning Amy might know him, or recognize him, but even if she doesn’t, using Amy’s dad’s name to lure Richard isn’t that much of a leap—I mean, if Richard had run it by me, I’d trust Amy’s dad, right? If our Head Fugly makes it look like