Alien Proliferation

Not that he ever hit me with any kind of force, but I liked showing some kind of improvement.
    He left himself open, and I landed a hit to his stomach at full force. Jeff went down. “Oh, my God, are you okay? Did I hurt you?” I was on the floor next to him, holding his upper body. “Jeff, are you okay?”
    “Uhhh . . . yeah.” He patted me. “I’m fine, baby. You just knocked the wind out of me.”
    “Sorry, I didn’t mean to. You just left yourself open.”
    “Yeah.” Jeff got to his feet and pulled me up. He hugged me to him. His hearts were pounding. “So, Reynolds, in answer to your question—no, she wasn’t that fast, or strong, before.”
    “What do you mean?”
    Jeff was still holding me tightly. “I wasn’t at full hyperspeed, baby, but I was going fast enough that normally you wouldn’t have been able to block me, let alone hit me.”
    “I never thought I’d be able to say this, but I’m shocked out of my mind.” Chuckie sounded ready to lose it.
    “Oh, come on. I don’t have two hearts or two heads.” I pulled out of Jeff’s arms. “You’re both overreacting.”
    “No, they’re not,” Melanie said as she and Emily came back. “Your blood’s changed.” She shook her head. “I don’t know how to say this, but, Kitty? You’re not fully human any more.”

 
    CHAPTER 29
     
    L ET THAT ONE SIT on the air for a moment. “So, you’re saying . . . what?”
    “You have A-C regenerative powers, and you’re gaining speed and strength. No idea of what else yet.” Tito was reading the results from Melanie’s clipboard. “Standard recovery for an A-C female after pregnancy, by the way. Interesting.”
    He pulled his stethoscope out of his scrub pocket and took a listen. “But still only a single human heart. So she’s not an A-C, just gained some of the abilities.”
    Melanie nodded. “Her blood is different, so is Jamie’s. So is Jeff’s, but we already knew that. Comparing to the Gowers’ now, and Serene’s.”
    Everyone, to a person, looked freaked out. “So, let me get this straight. I get hurt, I’m going to recover right away?” Heads nodded. “And I’m catching up to the A-Cs in the speed department?” More nods. “And I’m getting su-perstrong?” Nods again.
    Considered all my reaction options. Wow, they were all the same.
    “Oh, my God, are you kidding me? Are you serious?” I started jumping up and down. “This is the GREATEST! I’m Wolverine with boobs! I’m Wolverine with boobs! This is like the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me.” Looked at Jeff’s expression. “Um, well, other than marrying Jeff and having Jamie. But right after that.”
    “Stop jumping, it’s giving me whiplash.” Jeff shook his head. “Only my girl. You’re thrilled? The rest of us are ready to have hysterics, and you’re excited by this?”
    “Uh, comics geek-girl, remember? Hell, yes, I’m excited about it! I have my body back, and I didn’t have to diet or exercise or anything . Name a woman who wouldn’t be thrilled with that alone.” This totally made up for the almost dying thing. Figured I shouldn’t say that aloud, though. Wanted to continue to jump for joy. Since I’d been ordered not to jump, however, did the happy dance instead.
    “You’re doing the Purina Cat Chow dance.” Reader started to crack up.
    “Chow, chow, chow! I’m a super! I’m a super! God . . . who can I tell? Where’re Lorraine and Claudia? And I gotta get a message to Jareen and Queen Renata and Felicia and Wahoa! They’ll be excited for me!” My girlfriends from the Alpha Centauri system were all kick-butt types. Sure, Jareen was a Giant Lizard, Felicia was a Cat Person, Wahoa was a Major Doggie, and Queen Renata was the head of the Amazons, but they were still among my best friends ever.
    “You know, I feel somewhat responsible for her reaction.” Chuckie sounded like he was still wavering between amused and freaked out.
    “Dude, you cannot stand there and tell me this isn’t the coolest thing in the world ! I mean, wow. I have superpowers. And I’m not evil or some horrible parasite host. I can kick serious butt now.” Looked at Jeff. “I wonder if I can still drive and fly.”
    “Can’t wait to find out.” Jeff sounded like he could wait.
    “You’re not walking or talking faster. Maybe you’ll be able to do both.” Reader was starting to sound like this was no longer freaking him. “I wonder if it’ll work that way for the