Alien vs. Alien

rest of us. Also didn’t mention that I knew female imageers were rare, meaning Jennifer wasn’t on fieldwork only because she wasn’t good at normal Dazzler Duties. We had other things going on; I’d mention these points later.
    “Okay, great. I need you two to try to find Ambassador Martini.” They stared at me. “What?”
    “You’re right here,” Jeremy pointed out.
    “Oh. I mean former Commander Martini. Right, I was a Commander, too. I mean the other one. My husband, Jeff.”
    “Ah. Right.” Jeremy looked at his sister. They both gave off an “I’m so uncomfortable” vibe.
    “What is it?”
    “We were told you might, ah, drop by,” Jennifer said. “All of us, I mean, not just me and Jeremy.”
    “And what were you told, and who told it to you?”
    They didn’t speak. White sighed. “Children, are you aware of who I am?”
    “Oh, yes, sir, Pontifex White,” Jeremy said quickly.
    “Then answer the Ambassador’s question. Honestly and quickly, please.” I noted he didn’t correct them by adding “former,” which, under the circumstances, I was A-okay with.
    They exchanged another glance. “I’ll do it,” Jennifer said with a sigh. “That way you won’t get in trouble.”
    “And Alpha Team’s current Captains will be more than supportive,” I added. “Time, guys. It’s of the essence.”
    “We were told by Commander Reader that you’d probably try to help out, and that we should advise him and send you back to the Embassy.”
    “Great, I’d imagine he told you this during your prep meeting right?” They both nodded. “Super duper. Here’s the deal—things have changed since prep time, and if someone doesn’t help me find my husband and Charles Reynolds pretty much immediately, heads are going to roll in uncomfortable ways.”
    White cleared his throat. “We could very well be in a state of emergency. We can’t confirm that until we can confirm where Ambassador Martini and Mister Reynolds are.”
    The siblings looked at each other and nodded. “We’ll help you,” Jeremy said. “But I’m not sure how, other than being two more people looking for them. There are too many people here for me to be able to pick anyone out specifically based on their emotions.”
    “And a picture won’t tell me where they are right now,” Jennifer added.
    I had to remind myself that Jeff and Christopher had always been the most talented and that their Surcenthumain boosts had ensured no one was going to catch up any time soon.
    Serene could find Chuckie and Jeff, if they were within fifty miles of her. Since I’d sequestered her at the Dome, which was in New Mexico, that option was out. Jeff had told me earlier he couldn’t find Chuckie emotionally because of all the interference at the Festival, so Jeremy being unable wasn’t a surprise.
    Christopher might be able to tell, but pictures told him about a person, not necessarily that person’slocation. Then again, part of Christopher’s Surcenthumain Talent Extension meant he could see anyone, externally and internally, to the point of being able to assist Tito in performing brain surgeries. He also had the best range around, to put it mildly.
    I sent him a text asking him to use his Heavy Duty Searching Powers to find our missing men. Got a snippy text back sharing that he was already on that case, in between policing pregnant women and keeping the Security guys feeling important, and so far had nothing, but wasn’t even close to being done with his search because he’d started at the Festival and searching through that much interference was a slow process.
    It dawned on me that if someone wanted to kidnap pretty much anyone, this Festival was an awesome way to neutralize the people most likely to be able to stop said kidnapping. I had a sinking feeling I’d finally tuned to the Bad Guy Radio Channel, only I’d missed some important programming updates.
    But before I could remark on how our luck was always consistent, in that it always sucked, Jeremy stiffened. “It’s not the Ambassador, but someone’s in real danger.”
    “Let’s go, kids.” I grabbed White with one hand and Buchanan with the other. “You run, we’ll keep up.”

    Yi

CHAPTER 52

    B UCHANAN GRABBED TITO and White took hold of Armstrong, and then we were off at the slower version of hyperspeed. I could see Bruno flying just above us. He was having no issues keeping up, even with Bellie in his claws. He was obviously carrying her versus trying to