Alien Tango

was happening. Just before I slid away he grabbed the hose and hauled me back.
    We stayed on the ground, and Reader pulled me into his lap, locked his legs around my body, and supported my hold on the nozzle. “You know, right now I really wish I was straight. Even though I can’t see your face because of whatever it is you’re wearing.”
    “I’m here for you if you ever want to give it a shot. And this is a T-shirt, and it probably saved your life, so I’m not going to apologize for the look. Tim’s to our left, and he’s out. I have no idea where anyone else we know is, and less idea where the fire’s coming from.”
    “That I can help with.” Reader aimed the hose, and then we started laying down a steady stream of water back and forth.
    “What happened?” I might was well get the details now.
    “Jeff, Kevin, and Paul all made it into this room, then something blew up. I tried to get to the fire hose, but I couldn’t. I think whatever exploded had some kind of knockout gas in it.”
    My fear spiked. “I don’t know where Christopher went. But we heard the explosion. Why isn’t the fire alarm going or the sprinklers sprinkling?”
    “I’m guessing because they want us dead.”
    Damn, that was my guess, too. “Why didn’t I pass out?”
    “Maybe your impromptu burka did the trick. Or the gas dissipated due to the smoke. Or something. I’m just grateful for one small favor. And that you never obey anything Jeff or Christopher tell you to do.”
    “Why change what’s been working?” The smoke was starting to clear up, and I could see the flames. We trained the water on them, and they started to die. I could now make out other water, coming from the opposite side of the room.
    Out of nowhere, the sprinklers and alarm started at the same time. I didn’t know you could be more than drenched, but Reader and I were that much wetter in moments. “There are guys lying facedown,” I shouted to Reader.
    “I think I can control the hose, you get them turned over.”
    We disentangled, and while I could tell he was struggling with it, Reader had better control alone than I had. The smoke was lessened enough that I took my shirt off and left it with Reader. Then I moved as fast as I could and got to Tim, moved him into a sitting position and slapped his face. He coughed and came to. “No time, people are lying facedown in water. Get moving!”
    He nodded and got to his hands and knees. I helped him up, and he staggered off toward Reader and the men lying that way.
    It was undoubtedly wrong of me, but I was looking for my guys, only. I found Kevin first—apparently the humans had been hit faster with whatever it was. I got him turned over—he was still breathing. I was so frightened I didn’t even take time to regret there was no need for me to do mouth-to-mouth. I slapped him and, like Tim, he came around.
    Same process—got him to his feet and sent him off to get others out of danger. I tried to figure where my A-Cs would have gone and had to guess straight toward whatever had been blown up. Not that they were idiots, but the hyperspeed would have kicked in, and I knew their first inclination would be to put out the fire.
    I found Gower first. He was on his back, but that just meant water was raining down on him. He was breathing, but it was more shallow than the humans’ breath had been. I managed to get him sitting up. He was big like Martini, and it was hard to do. His head lolled back against my shoulder. “Paul, come on, wake up.” I slapped him. Nothing. I guessed this was really bad, but I knew next to nothing about medicine.
    But I knew people who did.

CHAPTER 24
    I DUG MY CELL OUT of my purse and made the call.
    “Hello?” Lorraine answered on the second ring.
    “We’re at Code Red. No time, no arguments, no delays. Break necks if you have to. I need you and Claudia at the Kennedy Space Center like ten minutes ago. If there’s any way, arrive inside our jet and come in that way.” Who knew? Maybe there were minigates installed on the thing. “Bring full medical. I think Paul’s dying, and I’m guessing Christopher and Jeff will be worse.”
    “On it.” She hung up, and I waited and prayed.
    Lorraine and Claudia were female A-Cs. Like the men, the women were beyond gorgeous, and, to myself, I called them the Dazzlers. Because, young or old, on their worst days they still looked better than I could manage on my best. Lorraine was a buxom blonde a few years younger than