Alien vs. Alien

touched the ship. “This one was at the head before. The beings in it feel familiar.”
    “They’re kind of flying in a triangle shape, aren’t they?”
    “Yes, not that I know if this will mean anything for us,” Christopher said.
    “We’ll find out shortly. Migratory birds shift around the bird in the lead all the time, maybe it’s the same for them. Now that we have confirmation, see if you can help Jeff and the others make the cube work right.”
    Christopher trotted over to enlarge and enhance Team Wonder.
    Amazingly enough, Bruno was still snoozing, though Bellie looked alert. I went to the avians. “Bruno, my bird, it’s almost show time. Bigger birds are coming. You and your flock are awesome, but I’m not sure you’re up to taking on an entire avian armada.”
    He pulled his head out of his wing and warbled nicely at me.
    “Wow. No idea of what you’re saying. Hope this isn’t me losing our connection at the worst time possible.”
    Bruno stretched his neck out and rubbed against my cheek.
    “Aww, thanks. Okay, I’ll stop stressing. Bellie, my girl, what’s the good word?”
    Bellie looked right at me. “Evolution.”
    “Time to move it, gang! We need to get prepped and get to the Mall.”
    “We’re not done,” Jeff said.
    “We’re not close to done,” Abigail added.
    “Then screw it. Time is of the essence.” Bruno hopped down and stared at me. “Okay, we have a little time. Bruno says we can use the cube.”
    “I don’t want us using it too much,” Chuckie said. “I’m worried about what it’s doing to our minds and bodies.”
    “Seems to have done Jeff a world of good.”
    “Hilarious. We need weapons before we run off anywhere.”
    “I’ll get them ready,” Christopher said. “What do you want, Kitty, a rocket launcher?”
    “Just extra clips for my Glock.”
    “You’re optimistic.”
    “Oh, you’ll have the rocket launcher, I’m not worried.”
    Bruno warbled at me, then disappeared. “Where’s your bird going?” Jeff asked.
    “He’s getting his own reinforcements. He’ll meet us at the Mall.”
    “You’re sure that’s where they’re coming?”
    “Is the International One World Festival there? Has it already been the scene of at least one ‘kidnapping,’ if not more? Does that not mean there are more reporters than you can shake a stick at around or nearby? Is it not our nation’s capital? And, to Mona’s point, isn’t this right where Clarence, Cantu, and whoever the other captain Bellie’s talking about are?”
    “She’s right,” Chuckie said. “Let’s get prepped for this. As much as we can.”
    “Bruno said we probably have a couple minutes. Which is good, because I want to change my clothes.” The ones I was in had already seen a lot of action.
    “I’ll go with you,” Jeff said. “Because, I need to change, too.”
    “I’ll stick with looking beat up and disheveled,” Chuckie said.
    “It looks good on you,” Naomi said with a laugh.
    “Liar.” Chuckie grinned at her and gave her a one-armed hug.
    “Don’t you need to wait for Christopher to get back with weapons?” Abigail asked.
    “James and Tim are bringing our real weapons. Chuckie, you need to get the nine you have control of out of storage and activated. I want them with us.”
    “I want Mimi and Abby with me. But I’m not convinced any of this will be enough,” Chuckie said quietly. “That’s a huge armada.”
    “And there are thousands of parasites in front of it,” Christopher added as he returned with the first ton of weapons, which he dumped on the floor at our feet.
    While the menfolk divvied up the guns and explosives, I trotted over to Ravi. Time to try the next thing that might not work. “I know we have control of the supersoldiers. But have you found the androids yet?”
    “Not really. There are a huge number of them, but their signals aren’t as clear as the supersoldiers’ are.”
    “Can you communicate with them?”
    “I suppose we could send a signal to them, but so far they haven’t responded to anything we’ve tried, so I’m not convinced we’re getting through.”
    “Send one word to them, see if it changes anything. Evolution.”
    Ravi typed away. I held my breath. Taking cues from a parrot seemed crazy—but that was our Initiative. And the way Bellie had reacted made me think I’d given her a code phrase to react to. Or else she liked to say “evolution” a lot and just hadn’t around me this weekend.
    Ravi drew in