Alien Proliferation

like her big brother’s—dream and memory reading. But she could also manipulate and change those memories. The girls worked as a team more often than not, though they’d never done any real fieldwork, unless you counted my wedding, which was an A-C talent boot camp all by itself.
    Naomi kissed Jamie’s head, and her eyes went wide. She looked at me. “You know she didn’t understand.” She sounded just like ACE had when I’d asked him if Jamie had almost killed me, and I knew she’d seen something in Jamie’s mind.
    “I know. ACE is watching over her, just like he did for you two and Serene.”
    Naomi relaxed. “Yeah. It was nice to find out who our ‘voice in the sky’ was.”
    Abigail nodded. “Should have guessed, especially after ACE went into Paul. But I think he didn’t want us to know.”
    “ACE was afraid we’d hate him for taking care of you.”
    Both girls shook their heads. “I can’t imagine what we would have been like if ACE hadn’t helped,” Naomi said softly.
    “I know. We’re extremely lucky ACE is our loving observer.”
    Abigail stroked Jamie’s head. “Interesting.” She looked at me. “She’s really processing things well.”
    “I’ve just been told that her brain functions are advanced.” Melanie and Emily both nodded their confirmation.
    “Yes, but that’s not what I mean. There’s a lot of emotions going on and she seems very . . . calm.” Abigail cocked her head, and Naomi leaned hers against Jamie’s. “She’s definitely empathic,” Abigail said slowly.
    “There’s imageering ability in there, too,” Naomi added. “More talents, too, at least possibly. I think she’s going to be more advanced talent-wise than any of us so far.”
    I wasn’t sure if I should be incredibly proud or worried. Settled for both. “Is she having trouble handling everyone’s emotions or whatever it is imageers have trouble handling?”
    “Imageers have to stop themselves from touching pictures before they can handle the feedback,” Melanie said. “So just keep her away from pictures and she’ll be fine.”
    “If she’s as advanced as Christopher, she might make pictures in the air,” Emily added. “But those are usually nothing to worry about. And they can be helpful.”
    Naomi nodded. “She’s very well controlled.” She looked as if she were going to say something else, but Abigail nudged her, and Naomi quickly nuzzled Jamie instead. I got the impression the Gower girls had spotted the blocks Jeff had installed somehow and were also fully aware of how much watching over ACE was actually doing. I also got the impression they didn’t want to talk about it here, for whatever reason.
    “Speaking of which, we weren’t joking,” Abigail said briskly. “Christopher needs someone in there with him. He asked Richard and Paul both to leave him alone.”
    “And they did?”
    Abigail snorted. “Look, as a race we don’t have a lot of experience with addiction. But spending time with Chuck has taught the two of us a lot.”

 
    CHAPTER 38
     
    M Y WHOLE BODY WENT TENSE, and Jamie started to cry again. “Is Chuckie addicted to something?”
    Abigail shook her head. “No. Relax, really. He’s like the cleanest guy out there. I’ve seen him take one drink in the entire time we’ve known him. He could be an A-C, he’s that clean. Well,” she looked into Christopher’s chamber, “that’s a bad example, but you know what I mean.”
    “He taught us about addictions because we had a lot of issues when we hit minds addled by alcohol or drugs.” Naomi was rocking Jamie and got her quieted down. They both seemed very happy. “It helped a lot. I know Jeff and Christopher resent him, but he’s the best friend Abby and I have ever had.”
    “Abby?” Not that I minded, but only Jeff used a nickname, since the A-Cs lived for certain formalities.
    Abigail grinned. “Chuck calls me Abby and Sis here Mimi.”
    Naomi shrugged. “We both like it. He treats us like normal adults.”
    “Everyone thought you were normal before.”
    “Yeah, but we’re the babies. You know, I’m twenty-four and Mimi’s twenty-five, but we’re infants to the others. Besides, I think Jeff’s right. We need to adapt to humans because we’re never going back to Alpha Four.”
    “I don’t know, the current monarchy is very pro Earth and Earth A-Cs.” The king had been in our wedding party, after all.
    Abigail shrugged now. “Don’t know, don’t care. We belong here. I