Alien vs. Alien

distant relatives.”
    “Speaking of whom, why aren’t they helping us?”
    “It’s the start of World War Two. We’re England. They’re the United States.”
    “It worries me that I understand exactly what’s going on based on that explanation.”
    “I like to think it’s because we’re so in tune with each other.”
    “Whatever spin works, girlfriend.” He cleared his throat. “This is the real test, isn’t it? If Tim and I can handle things. If any of us can, without Jeff or Reynolds.”
    Reader rarely indulged in self-doubt. And even though I’d had that exact same thought, this wasn’t the time for him to take that particular plunge.“Every time is a test, James. Every time one of these freaking fugly monsters, insane politicians, or demented evil geniuses decides to go for their version of the gold is a test. And we pass those tests. Every time.”
    “We’re going to take casualties on this one. I can guarantee it.”
    I knew he could because I’d just seen that jet go down. And that might be where his self-doubt was coming from. But I didn’t want Reader to know we were watching any more than I wanted him to doubt himself. Knowing might affect him negatively in some way. Frankly, having to talk about someone in his command who’d just died might affect him. So I pretended.
    “You mean if we haven’t already? Yeah, I’m sure we are. I just want to do everything in our power to ensure the casualties happen to their side, not ours.”
    “We’ve been lucky. Luck doesn’t last.”
    “Per our enemies and the C.I.A., I exhibit extreme random tendencies.”
    “What the hell does that mean?”
    “It means I’m your Lady Luck.”
    “You always have been, girlfriend. And you always will be. You still my girl?”
    “Always have been and always will be.”
    “Then everything’s still right with my world. We’ll make it happen, Kitty. Or die trying.”

    Yi

CHAPTER 76

    W E HUNG UP AND I REJOINED THE OTHERS. Jamie’s Poof jumped onto my shoulder, rubbed and purred, then disappeared. Hoped it was heading back to Jamie.
    Bruno, job done for the moment, went back to his nest in Omega Red’s crap and went right back to sleep. Bruno was clearly an A-C animal and fully on board with the A-C idea of napping anywhere and anytime the opportunity presented itself.
    Bellie, being an Earth animal, wasn’t cooperating in that way. However, she and Oliver had obviously bonded, because she was happily snuggling with him and staying mercifully quiet. I’d been given to understand parrots were one-person birds. Clearly Bellie didn’t go in for that sort of nonsense and was of the opinion that she wanted a sugar daddy to nuzzle at all times, regardless of where her cage resided. Worked for me.
    The people weren’t napping, which was nice. Abigail gave me the thumbs up, so I assumed this meant Tim was clear on his part of our current Plan O’ Fun. The hackers were hacking, everyone else was looking stressed and concerned, and Tito was holding a box. I looked in it. It was filled with printouts.
    “Are you trying to take over the job of doing the light reading?”
    “No. We need to get these in for analysis. And it has to be fast analysis. Due to what’s going on, the person who takes these to the Dome needs to be someone Paul, Christopher, and Serene will listen to. Came down to me or Richard. I’m less necessary.”
    “Hardly. You’re our medic and chief butt-kicker.”
    Tito grinned. “Thanks. But we’re not fighting here, Kitty. And I can get back fast if you need me. We need the information, and you need the A-Cs here focused on something other than analysis.”
    He was right, and I knew better than to argue. “Tell Christopher he’s the acting Chief Ambassador right now, because I’m abdicating.”
    “Not a good time for jokes,” Abigail said.
    “I’m not joking. Jeff’s disappeared, so he’s abdicating, too, or whatever the proper term is for an ambassador who’s been kidnapped and so can’t make any decisions. I’m about to make a call, and when I do, I’m going to get some high-level information. When I get that, I’m going to commit political suicide. Ergo, I’m not the Ambassador any more and am not speaking for American Centaurion in any way.”
    White nodded. “That makes sense. I’m not convinced anyone will believe it, however. At least, not anyone who matters.”
    Oliver coughed. “I can make one call and get this story onto the front page of the
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