Alien Proliferation

The Poofs aren’t exactly stress creators.”
    Toby jumped out of my purse and onto Christopher’s shoulder. It started purring and nuzzling his neck.
    “So, someone let Toby out. Or Toby let itself out.” We weren’t sure what the Poofs could or couldn’t do. They were androgynous and only mated when an Alpha Four Royal Wedding was imminent. Other than that, their ability to go huge and toothy, and their ability to travel at some kind of Poof hyperspeed, we knew almost nothing about them—except that they were adorable.
    The analysis team arrived. All younger Dazzlers. Emily had them check everything, including the water, for contaminants. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when all were pronounced normal.
    Melanie let Christopher out of the restraints. A part of me was waiting for him to actually do the evil laugh, attack us, and run off to start world domination.
    What he did was stretch, bend over, and get the kinks out of his neck. Then he kissed the baby. And hugged me. “Thanks.”
    “Any time I can stare at something with no comprehension but save the day, I’m glad to do it.”
    Christopher laughed. “Good to know. Now, what I want to know is who the hell kept me in here, and why?” His Commander voice was on full. I felt tons better.
    Naomi opened her eyes. “Chuck’s heading for us, dead run.”
    “He’s furious, and worried about Christopher,” Abigail added.
    I gave Jamie to Christopher. “Hold your goddaughter.” I trotted outside of the chamber to see Chuckie running toward us at full steam. He could have been on the track team with this kind of speed. “Ahead of you, only just.”
    He skidded to a stop. “I hope to hell your husband’s kicking the asses of every one of your so-called Diplomatic Corps. How’s White?”
    “I’m good. Sort of.” Christopher walked out, Jamie leaning against his shoulder. “Freedom. It’s so nice. Who did this to me?”
    “The same damn people who hooked you in the first place.” Chuckie was so angry he could barely talk. “You don’t remember how you started shooting up, do you?”
    Christopher and I exchanged a glance. “No, I don’t. Kitty asked me about that, and it’s all . . . not there.”
    “Yeah, it’s not there because you didn’t actually do it willingly.” He took a deep breath. “Let me rephrase that. You did agree to take the drug, because they couldn’t have forced you unless you’d been willing in some way. But you were manipulated into it, and your memory was wiped. Once you’d shot up the first time, the drug kicked in and the subliminal suggestions they gave you helped make you want more. By the third time, you were hooked. Anyone would be, it’s that powerful.”
    “Who, exactly, did this to Christopher?”
    Chuckie looked at me. “Put it this way. I should have killed them at your wedding, not just arrested them.”

 
    CHAPTER 41
     
    “W E HAVE A DIPLOMATIC CORPS WHY?”
    “They help us in Washington.” Christopher didn’t sound enthused.
    “Uh-huh, yeah, I’ll bet.”
    “Tradition,” Melanie added, also sounding unenthused.
    “They provide that so-called needed check and balance,” Emily offered, sounding the least enthused of the three of them. I agreed with the lack of joy.
    I looked around. “Let’s get out of this area.”
    We headed back to the elevators. Christopher kept hold of Jamie, and Toby stayed on his other shoulder. They looked kind of cute and funny. I figured he wouldn’t want me to mention that aloud.
    “So, what’s the full story on the drug?”
    “Most of what we got we already know. The drug was originally created to put both humans and A-Cs into suspended animation for long-range space flight. It was altered to focus on an individual’s strengths. In the case of regular humans, it makes them more like A-Cs if they have the capacity for it. In the case of regular A-Cs, it makes them stronger. In the case of those with talents, however, the results are less consistent but also much more advanced.”
    “What about how the drug focuses on the negative emotions? Was that planned?” I wondered if it would affect me in the way it had everyone else. So far, I hadn’t noticed any unusual emotions, even taking my pre- and post-pregnancy mood swings in stride. I hadn’t had all that many, really. So maybe the drug was helping. I didn’t count on it, of course. Our luck almost never ran that way.
    “No. The fact that the drug focuses on the id and enhances negative