Alien Tango

hybrids. And because you’re on Alpha Team, and that means we put the most powerful consciousness in our solar system into the mind of someone who’s already proved he’s capable of handling great power and responsibility.”
    Gower seemed to be considering all of this. Brian spoke, eyes still foggy. “Orders were wrong.”
    “I know. They didn’t understand what they were doing to you, though, I think.” I knew they were quite clear on what they were doing to Earth and all who lived on it.
    “You forgive them?”
    I stroked his head. “They sent people, and you, to protect us. Not for good reasons, but still, that’s how it’s worked out. All my friends, and the man I love, wouldn’t be here but for that. So, yeah, I forgive them.”
    “This one loves you, too.” Brian’s eyes closed. “Some others, also.”
    “I know. But it has to be mutual. That’s why Paul has to agree to let you join him, why you can’t just take over a body and make it yours, why Brian and Daniel and Michael are all fighting you. Why you’ll have to let Paul take the lead and share with him, not try to make him do what you want.”
    Brian’s eyes opened. Still foggy. “Understand. Agree.”
    “What if it reneges?” Gower asked.
    “Then I pull it out. I can do that, it’s why it’s attracted to me.” Brian nodded. “It’s my job, why I’m really on Alpha Team. I’m the one the space entities all wanna hang with.”
    Gower laughed. “Seems that way.” He sighed. “Aside from being kind to a clearly pathologically lonely being, why should I take this risk?”
    I looked at him and I knew the smile I was giving him was my mother’s. “Because if Centaurion Division controls the PPB net, then Centaurion Division cannot be made to do anything it doesn’t want to do.”
    Gower grinned. “Oh, you are your mother’s daughter.” He took a deep breath. “What will it do to me, when it joins?”
    “No harm,” Brian said. “Must protect.”
    “You won’t be able to join all the consciousnesses of the dead any more,” I reminded the entity. “That would overload Paul’s mind, and you can’t afford that.”
    “Maybe some,” Gower amended. “We can decide together, but Kitty’s right—I’ll have to make the final decision.”
    Brian nodded. “Agree. Not in charge, here to protect.”
    “Can you be with someone who is in charge? Because Paul has to run many things and make many decisions.”
    “Will help, decisions must be his.”
    “Works for me. How about you, Paul?”
    He nodded. “Sure.” He closed his eyes. “Can I . . . say good-bye to Jamie, just in case?”
    “Yes.” I stroked Brian’s head. “Just don’t take too long.”
    Gower sighed. “I know.” He got up and went to the door, Reader unlocked it and then locked it a moment later. Hyperspeed was a wonderful thing.
    “He fears.”
    “I do, too. Don’t you?”
    “Fear loneliness. Nothing else can hurt.”
    “Why?”
    “No body. Spirit only.” We were quiet for a few long moments. “What if he refuses?” I could hear the fear.
    “Then I’ll find someone else. I won’t desert you.”
    Brian’s arms went around me. “I know.” He sighed. “So good to touch.”
    “I know.” I leaned my head back against the wall. I wondered if the A-Cs who had created this sentient net had considered how cruel they were being, or if they’d cared one way or the other. I knew it was the empathic portion that was causing the entity’s trauma. It was a very loud reminder that Martini felt things more strongly than others. I wanted to hold him and tell him I wasn’t going anywhere, but I wasn’t sure if he’d pick it up correctly right now.
    “He . . . is too close,” Brian said. “Loves you so much . . . can’t read clearly.”
    “You mean Jeff can’t read my emotions right?”
    “When angry, scared, jealous, no.” The negative emotions clouded Martini’s abilities, at least in regard to me? Interesting.
    “How can you tell?”
    “Feel it. Out of balance.”
    “Am I bad for him?”
    “No!” Brian looked up at me. “Needs you. But . . . needs to feel . . . safe.”
    “Safe?”
    Before the entity could answer, Gower came back in. “Okay. I’m ready.”
    “Sit.” Brian was still holding me. Gower sat next to me again. “Hold hands.”
    We did, and I felt something flowing through me, from Brian to Gower. It was strong and lonely and a little bit frightened, but also fascinated and excited. It had seen many things