Alien Proliferation

people we can trust.”
    “Who might that be?”
    Dad smiled at me. “Put it this way, kitten. Your Uncle Mort doesn’t go into lockdown. Your Uncle Mort stays out and makes sure other people are safe.”
    “Oh, no. You’re not serious. You’re going to call in the Marines to deliver my baby stuff?”
    He shrugged. “Your Uncle Mort is aware of the current security issue. He’s also aware that his favorite niece just gave birth and has nothing for her baby. A baby he has not yet seen.” Dad turned to Reader. “James, could you take me to the library? A large number of people want to tell you how relieved we are that you’re around to take care of business.”
    Reader flashed the cover-boy grin. “Happy to be of service.”
    Dad looked at Jeff. “We’ll call Alfred and Lucinda and let them know. Half of both families are with them, after all.”
    “Thanks.” Jeff sounded dazed.
    “Baby? They helped James plan our entire wedding in about two days. My family lives for this kind of stuff, and apparently yours does, too. Just go with it.”
    “You didn’t even want a shower.”
    “True. But I can’t begin to describe how much I want a bassinet, cradle, or crib.”
    He grinned at me. “Okay, point taken.”

 
    CHAPTER 30
     
    D AD AND READER LEFT THE ROOM. I waited until Reader closed the door behind them. “Okay, why didn’t you two want me telling my dad?”
    “Because your parents are unlikely to think this is the coolest thing in the world, and it’s smarter to keep you as a secret weapon than tell the world that you’re now one of the X-Men.” Chuckie looked around. “This information goes no further than the people in this room. I know Reader’s already clear on that. Has Camilla seen Kitty or Jamie’s charts?”
    “Not sure,” Tito replied.
    “She’s trustworthy,” Emily said.
    “Yeah, so was Beverly.” Jeff’s sarcasm was back up to eleven. “We’ll check it out, Reynolds. Swear her to secrecy or keep it from her, depending.”
    Chuckie nodded. “Paul Gower can know, but not the Pontifex and, for the foreseeable future, not White, either.”
    “Christopher wouldn’t do anything to hurt Kitty.” Jeff didn’t sound like he was arguing. I got the impression he just felt he had to support Christopher. I couldn’t blame him.
    “I agree. However, he’s not in his right mind and hasn’t been since he made the decision to shoot up. That makes him a security risk and a danger, to himself and everyone else. He needs to be focused on cleaning up, not on anything else.”
    “What about Tim and the rest of Airborne?” I asked.
    “No,” Chuckie said flatly. “What part of secret weapon doesn’t click for you?”
    “I trust these guys with my life, and they do the same with me. I’ve got powers now. I can agree with not telling Richard or Christopher. I disagree with keeping the rest of the team in the dark.”
    “I don’t.” Jeff didn’t sound at all like he was saying this just to show willing. “Serene couldn’t keep a secret from Brian if the entire safety of the world depended on it. She, Lorraine, and Claudia are all pregnant and don’t need any extra worries—we have enough right now. Same for their husbands. Sure, Tim, Jerry, Chip, and Matt might be able to keep it to themselves—Tim’s been with us a good while, and the flyboys are all military. But why ask them to? Tim has enough secrets from Alicia—why give him one more?”
    I blinked. “Okay, lecture points taken, no more argument.”
    “What?” Jeff sounded as shocked as Chuckie looked. “That was too easy. What’s wrong?”
    “Where is Alicia? We pulled in families. Did we pull her in, too?”
    Jeff was on his phone. He looked at me. “Tim’s not answering.”
    Chuckie was on his phone now, too. He moved away a bit and started barking quiet orders.
    “Com on.” I didn’t shout, I was proud of myself.
    “Yes, Commander Martini?”
    “Is Tim Crawford on premises?”
    “Running search.”
    Took a deep breath and hoped.
    “No, Commander. Captain Crawford is not.” Oh, yeah, Tim had the Captain title, too. Not that I ever used it for him, either.
    “Start scanning every Base we have. See if you can find Tim or his fiancée, Alicia Young. If you’ve got some way to track Tim, do it. Check the Martini estate, too.”
    We waited. “No, Commander, no sign.”
    I looked at Jeff. “We forgot her, didn’t we? But I’ll bet our enemies didn’t. And I know Tim didn’t. He probably