Alien Tango

side to renew.” I gave Alfred a close look. Yep, there was definitely a twinkle in his eyes that was familiar. “Alfred, Jeff’s not really up to the kidding right now. Can you please stop?”
    “What are you talking about?” Alfred asked. I could see he was trying not to grin.
    I sighed. “Look, the ribbing, it’s hilarious. But it’s hurting him. He doesn’t get that you’re kidding. He thinks you want me to run off with some human. Maybe you do, at that, but Jeff doesn’t really need you pointing out options to his girlfriend in front of him.”
    Alfred shook his head. “The super empath and he can’t pick up when I’m joking.” He gave Martini an amused look. “You’d think you could spot it by now.”
    I thought about what ACE had told me. “He can’t. He’s too close to you.” I managed not to add that Martini had said he had some major blocks up against his parents. I doubted he wanted to admit it, but the reactions he and Christopher had around Alfred told me both of them felt like the redheaded stepchildren.
    Alfred took a closer look at Martini. “I’m sorry, son.” He reached over and patted Martini’s cheek. “I was teasing. You could use a sense of humor.”
    Martini’s father didn’t think he had a sense of humor? Oh, this was illuminating. And dread-worthy, since it was likely the entire Martini clan didn’t think he had a sense of humor. Meaning he was so miserable around them he was in his Commander-mode at all times. Or worse.
    “Whatever,” Martini muttered. We all started walking again. “I don’t think tonight is a good idea. We have more operatives here now.”
    “Claudia and Lorraine should go back to Dulce,” Alfred said sternly.
    “Oh, so sorry, but they report to me. And I don’t want them going back.” Unlike Martini and Christopher, who were used to doing it, I loved to pull rank.
    “What do you mean, they report to you?” Alfred looked shocked.
    “Head of Airborne, remember? All five pilots, Tim, and the girls report in to my unit. And, considering how much activity we’ve had, the fact that all my humans are the worse for wear, and the fact I have to deal with Psycho Chick at dawn, I want my medical team and my flyboys here.”
    “Seven additional members,” Martini added.
    “Oh, and I want Michael, Brian, and Daniel with us, too, because I think we need to keep the astronauts under observation for a while. No idea if Daniel and his wife have kids, but that’s at least four more people. Now, if Daniel insists, I’d be okay with some A-Cs going home with him to keep him under observation, but they would be A-Cs not directly reporting to me.”
    “So, way too many for dinner, let alone sleeping arrangements,” Martini said, trying to sound businesslike and not panicked. “We’ll settle into a hotel nearby or go up to East Base.”
    “How many rooms do you think you’ll need?”
    “Over twenty,” Martini said quickly.
    Alfred gave him a long look. “I’m sure some can bunk together.”
    “Yes, and I’ll be happy to tell you who’ll be bunking up.” Alfred looked at me with his eyebrow raised. “Lorraine and Claudia will be with Joe and Randy. I’ll be sleeping with Jeff, James will be with Paul. Tim, Jerry, Matt, and Chip can bunk together in one room for four or two rooms for two. Michael and Brian, same thing, and Kevin can bunk with Christopher.” I sort of figured this was letting him have it with both barrels, but, oh, well. “So, eight rooms, give or take. However, we’re all fine with going to a hotel somewhere. None of us want to put your family out for this.”
    “No, it’ll be fine.” Alfred pulled out his cell phone and dialed. “Hello, dear. Yes, all’s well. Several close calls. Yes, we should be home in a short while. We have more operatives than originally estimated, though. Oh? You plan so well. Yes, the guesthouse needs to be ready, too. We’ll need every available room.” He was quiet for a bit. “Yes, they do plan that. I’ll ask.” He looked at me. “My wife would like to request that the, ah, couples sleep separately.”
    I gave him a very nice smile. “We’ll be at a local hotel.” I started walking again, dragging Martini with me.
    Alfred caught up. “You’ll be safer at our house.” He still had the phone open. I had a feeling Martini’s mother was listening in.
    I kept on walking. “We’re all adults. The youngest person who’s in a couple situation is Lorraine, and she’s