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“Gladys isn’t at the Science Center?”
“No. She was called to NASA Base earlier tonight,” White replied. “She can still monitor it, however.”
I looked at Michael. “I wonder if that’s how the prisoners got out?”
He shook his head. “No idea.” He pulled out his phone and made a call.
White spoke again. “Miss Katt, I do believe this is about succession. I spent some time with Alexander. His brother clearly wants the throne. The ruling king doesn’t agree. Alexander does not want the throne and has already refused it. Therefore, succession must be fought for. They could stall it off before, but now . . .”
“Now the Free Women went nuts and started a galactic war, so things need to be speeded up. Because rulers are dead or dying, and someone strong has to take control.”
“Yes.” White shook his head. “I don’t know why they won’t leave us alone.”
“Because they don’t consider us their equals. We’re their garbage dump. Gregory started them off, somehow. I know it.” Though I had a strong feeling he’d had help, even if Gregory himself didn’t know it.
“I’m sure he did. Alexander feels very responsible.”
“Jeff said he was clean. So to speak.” Another though occurred. “Can I get your cells programmed in?” I had a feeling I’d want to talk to Ericka or Stanley soon.
Ericka put out her hand, and I gave her my phone. “I’m programming in all our numbers, including Abigail’s and Naomi’s. And we’ll make sure every A-C here stays near a human counterpart.” I took my phone back and dropped it in my purse. Thank God for cell phones. Our whole operation would go down without the phone system.
I got a fu
She came over. “I thought you left.”
“Trying to. I need the P.T.C.U. to monitor all the telecommunications industry. I’m betting it’s going to go down, and soon. I have no idea if we can keep it up or not, but whatever system the A-Cs are on has priority. Oh, and keep Richard with you and Dad, please. They’re after him, of course.”
Mom nodded, but Stanley seemed confused. “Why do you think they’re after Richard and not Jeff?”
“Well, they’re after all of us, but Richard’s the king, and they can only win if they take the king. Gotta dash, great meeting you all, hope I see you again and we’re all still alive. If we lose telecommunications, make sure you get the families out of here. The fight will head here, if they can do it, because they know you’re all here.”
Mom looked at me. “This went from bad to worse, didn’t it?”
“Mom, we’ve been at DEFCON Worse for hours. Ericka, Stanley, this is my mother, Angela, just in case you haven’t met. Mom, listen to them and get caught up; they sort of know what’s going on.”
I grabbed Michael, and we ran for the door.
“I’ve talked to Gladys,” Michael told me as we worked our way out of the restaurant. “She cleared all nonagent perso
“What’s her power?”
“Jeff hasn’t told you?”
“If I knew, why would I ask?”
“She’s a combo, dream-reader and empath. And she’s trustworthy.”
“She’s Lucinda and Richard’s sister, isn’t she?”
He laughed. “Yeah. But from his second wife.”
“Can we trust her?”
“Yes, believe me. And the children couldn’t be safer—God help anyone who tries to hurt someone Gladys has under top priority protection.”
“NASA Base is where? The Martini compound?”
“I thought you only asked if you didn’t know.”
“Whatever.”
Michael gri
“One day, I’ll get this all straight.” Maybe. We reached the others. “Okay, we’re officially at DEFCON Oh My God. Ancient history for any A-C history buffs in attendance. Chuckie, we need to get to the area in New Mexico and Arizona between the peaks. That’s where they’ll be landing.”
He nodded. “Figured. On it. Martini has a floater gate coming; we were just waiting for you.”
“Weapons of all kinds coming in from Home Base,” Martini added. “Issue with jets, though. Need to send the flyboys to Home Base if we want jets.”
I shook my head. “No, they’ll just shoot them out of the air. I think we want to keep our opponents on the ground.” I looked at the other emissaries still with us. “We need to know, right now, if you’re with us or against us.”
“With you.” Queen Renata sounded confused.
I checked out the other’s expressions. “Jeff, what are they feeling?”
“Confusion, baby, just like the rest of us. Alexander, too.”
“Okay . . . Gregory indeed had more going on. He’s started an ancient Alpha Four succession ritual to claim the throne. The Planetary Council are pawns in that, and so are the Amazonian assassins. Problem is, they’re all out, and their reinforcements are coming.”
“Great.” Chuckie sounded as though he was getting a migraine.
“But it should be official Free Women warriors,” Alexander said. “Not any who side with the dissidents.”
“I promise you, we’ve got the crazy ones coming.”
“How do you figure?” Martini asked.
“Because I think this has been pla
“Great.” Chuckie sounded as if the migraine was getting worse.
“It’ll get better. Assume they’ll knock out telecommunications first. We’re extremely reliant on it, and Gregory knows that now. Everything going on so far has been a part of the succession test, triggered because we’re getting married.”
“Great.” Martini was joining Chuckie in Migraine Land.
“They’ll want to take out Richard. He’s here, and my parents and others will be staying with him.”
“Why my father?” Christopher sounded angry and afraid. I could relate.
“Because he’s the head of your religion. If Jeff wins, they will want to force him to go back to Alpha Four. Richard, as the religious leader, would be able to support Jeff staying here. Without him, your entire race crumbles. At least in their minds.”
I looked to Gower. “Paul, I need to talk to ACE.” It was time to confirm what I was pretty sure Gower and I both already knew.
He nodded and twitched. “Yes, Kitty, ACE is here.”
“The sentient net from the Free Women planet is on its way, isn’t it? That’s who you meant when you said ‘she’ was evil. Not Moira or even Kyrellis, but your godlike counterpart, who considers itself female.”
“Yes, Kitty.” ACE sounded both relieved and scared. “ACE wanted Moira to stay unaware so Moira could not bring Moira’s God to us any faster.”
“It’s not a god, ACE, any more than you are.”
“She is freer than ACE. And more ruthless.”
“We’ll handle it, ACE.”
“ACE will help. ACE will have to.” I heard the fear.
“You’ll handle it, too. We won’t let them destroy you, either, ACE. I told you that—I won’t desert you, ever.”
Alexander cleared his throat. “I know the succession ritual you’re speaking of. But we haven’t practiced that for centuries, mille
“But they’re still available for use. And your king is hurt and dying. And you refused the crown, and he knows Gregory is unfit. So . . . he said yes, in the hope that we’d handle his problems for him. Just like always.”
“Gate’s here, baby. Using a big one, so we can all pretty much go through together.”
“Okay, Chuckie and Christopher first, you and me last. Everyone else, remember that the humans must have an A-C near them or there’s a good chance they’ll be dead fast. Tito, Planetary Council members, Alexander—welcome to what it’s like with us. Now’s the time to back out and stay with our families. We won’t hate you, as long as you help protect the people we love. Everyone else, you’ve all been here before—let’s remember that this is our world, not theirs.”