Touched by an Alien

told them, then the rest of my plan wouldn’t work. But I wasn’t an A-C. “Sure. We’re going to go out to whatever deserted desert area Paul gets cleared for us, and we’re going to lure Mephistopheles there. I’m going to let him grab me, and we’re all going to spray him with that alcohol, hopefully in the mouth, but it’s worth a shot to try it everywhere.”
    “ That is your plan?” Martini sounded incredulous. “Your entire plan? That’s it?”
    “It’s insane, even for you,” Christopher added.
    This from the Density Twins? A lot of witty comebacks flashed through my head, but, again, I needed them saved for later. “I think it’ll be best to brief the whole team at once.”
    “Don’t let the power go to your head,” Christopher muttered.
    “I’ll do my best.” I thought about something I needed to ask them. “Is this the time when you tell the team to say good-bye to loved ones, just in case?”
    “Daily,” Martini said. He sounded subdued.
    “Do Claudia and Lorraine know that?”
    “In a way,” Christopher said. “Probably not. We should have them do the ritual.”
    “Ritual?”
    “Religious,” Martini answered. “In case we die in the field.” He looked over at Christopher. “I’m not doing it. You get the fun of handling this one.”
    Christopher gave him a dirty look. “It’s more your line—they’ll be functioning as field.”
    “And your father’s the Sovereign Pontifex, and this is their first real mission,” Martini countered “They also don’t think you’re quite as stupid as me, so it’ll mean more coming from you.”
    “Fine. I’ll take care of that now, so you two can be alone.” Christopher sounded angry again.
    “Don’t start,” Martini said, tiredly. “There’s undoubtedly no reason anymore.”
    Christopher shot a piercing look at me. “We’ll see.” He stalked out, closing the door behind him.
    Martini was still resting his head on his hand. His eyes were closed now. “Anything else you want to ask me?”
    Yes, but it had to wait. “Not really.”
    “Yeah, I figured.” He stood. “We normally regroup on a different level than you’ve been to. Just ask for the launch area, and someone can direct you.” He headed toward the door.
    “Jeff, why are you stomping off?”
    He stopped at the door, hand on the knob. “It was a great day. One of the best I’ve ever had.” He wasn’t looking at me, just the door.
    “What do you mean?”
    He gave a bitter laugh. “I felt your reaction when I said we had to use you for bait. I can’t blame you.” He looked at me, and it was the shower all over again. “It’s my job. I have to do what’s best for the greatest number of people. Same with Christopher. We don’t have a choice.”
    “There’s always a choice.”
    “Yeah. And I made the one I had to. The one I always have to.” He closed his eyes again. “Look, I just want to go, okay? I can’t take it any more.”
    “Take what?”
    He opened his eyes and looked at me as if I were taunting him. “Feeling you hate me.”
    I was prepared for a number of different responses, but not this one. “What? Jeff, what are you talking about? I don’t hate you.”
    He gave another bitter laugh. “Empath, remember? I can feel it.”
    I shook my head. “No, Jeff. I don’t know what you’re feeling, but it’s not coming from me. I don’t hate you at all.”
    “Right. Look, there’s no one else in the room, and I can feel the hatred just rolling off you. Please stop torturing me, Kitty.”
    I got a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. “Jeff, please don’t leave. Don’t leave the room, and don’t leave me right now.”
    “Why not?” he asked, sounding so tired.
    “Jeff, it’s not me you’re feeling. It’s got to be him.” I’d been pretty calm, all things considered. But this was beyond creepy.
    Martini looked at me with his eyes narrowed. “You’re human, you can lie well.”
    “I’m human, and I’m freaked out. You picking up any of that?”
    I could see him concentrate. “Yeah … just vaguely.” He was still vacillating, and I couldn’t imagine what I’d do by myself right now. I couldn’t feel Mephistopheles, but part of him was in me somewhere.
    “Jeff, he’s trying to take over. I don’t know what to do, okay? I know what to do to kill him. But I need you. And he knows it and is trying to drive you away.” I wondered what I was going to do to turn off Reader, Claudia, or Lorraine. Christopher