Alien vs. Alien

convince to hide out anyway. The fourth, however, I could get here based on the fact that I had cute girls who also needed protecting. Dialed again.
    “Hey, Kitty, what’s up?”
    “Michael, are you in the middle of anything?”
    “Just waiting for the One World event to kick off in a few minutes. It’s dull waiting because nothing’s going on until launch. And after that, it’ll be hours of speeches. Basically, I’m in the middle of a long period of boredom.”
    “Great! I’m going to save you from boredom.” I was saving everyone from boredom today, go me.
    “I’m not supposed to leave my post.”
    “What is your post and who are you with?”
    “I’m in the audience and I’m alone.” He didn’t sound happy about the alone part.
    “Seriously? Look, I need you for a plan of higher importance.”
    “So you claim.”
    “I have cute human girls who need protecting, and you’re the A-C for the job.”
    “You do know my weakness.”
    “I do. Zip over to the Romanian Embassy, will you? Use hyperspeed, please, not a gate.”
    “Be there shortly. What do I tell James or Paul if they ask?”
    “Tell them you need to pee.” He laughed and we hung up. I turned back to White. “We need a floater gate.”
    “Already handled. I have a Bat-Line to Gladys just like you have with Mister Reynolds.”
    “As always, you rock above all others, Mister White. Olga, Adriana, I’d really like the two of you to hide with the rest of our team.”
    “Why so?” Olga asked. I was clear she already knew, but wanted to make sure I knew. Not a problem.
    “Because after they don’t find us at the Embassy, they’re going to come here to find us. For all we know, they’ll come here first, just like the Club Fifty-One people did. Maybe
because
the Club Fifty-One people did. And if you and Adriana are here, they have hostages we care about. However, I don’t want your husband or the rest of your diplomatic mission panicking and searching for the two of you, either.”
    Olga smiled. “Not to worry.” She nodded to Adriana, who went to the desk in the room, dialed the phone, and handed it to Olga. Olga spoke to someone in what I assumed was " face="Romanian, since I didn’t understand a word. But she said one sentence very slowly and clearly. Then she hung up. “We are fine. None will panic when we are not here.”
    “Nice to see you and Andrei have a code phrase.”
    “If you do not, you should rectify that error immediately.”
    “Yes, ma’am. Just as soon as we ensure everyone’s all tucked away safely.” I looked around. They weren’t going to like what I was going to say next. “Richard and Senator Armstrong will stay with me. Len, Kyle, and Amy, you’re going with Adriana and Olga.”
    They gaped at me. “Why?” Amy asked. It really was the Question of the Day.
    “Because none of you are A-Cs, and I need people with the children, my child in particular, who I know will protect her.”
    “Our jobs are to protect
you
,” Len said.
    “Nope. You’re supposed to protect me
and
Jamie, and Chuckie said I was the boss unless he overruled me, and we don’t have time for you to call him. Malcolm’s around somewhere, he’ll show up when needed as was proved such a short while ago. Otherwise, I can’t do my job if I have to worry about my baby.”
    Amy nodded. “You’re right. I’ll be Team Lead on the inside.”
    The boys looked like they were going to argue. White and Olga looked like they were trying not to laugh. I decided to forestall both outcomes. “Works for me, Ames.”
    “Are we okay to keep our cells on?” Amy asked.
    White nodded. “The Dome allows calls in and out but scrambles positioning. Even with the best GPS software, no one could determine where you were based on your phones.”
    “Awesome. If you find you need supplies while you’re there, be sure to send one of the Security guys and have Len and Kyle scan them.” I looked to Bruno, who bobbed his head at me. Good. Any Peregrine Enforcers at the Dome would be on the alert as well.
    “What about me?” Oliver asked. “I don’t believe you consider me a protector, but you haven’t given me an assigned duty.”
    “Oh, you have a duty, MJO. You’re going to be causing our distraction.”

    Yi

CHAPTER 44

    T HE DOORBELL RANG. I realized it was the first time I’d ever heard it. Either Adriana was slipping, or she was so engrossed in our planning that she hadn’t noticed that we had someone arriving.
    She, Len, and