by Robin Roseau
"Who was that woman?"
"Gina Larkin, the director of the CIA."
"Oh no. I was really rude to her."
"It was fully deserved," Amaryllis said. "If it wasn't, I would have silenced you sooner. Are you all right?"
"I will be."
"Good. The president wants to see you."
"What?"
"She wanted you to come to the White House. I told her you were at home with family, and you were staying there. So she is coming here. I would rather you not turn her away."
"President Singleton is coming here?" I asked, trying to catch up to the conversation. Then I smiled. "I suppose that's not half as notable as you coming here."
"Oh, we'll make a diplomat of you yet," Amaryllis said at the same time Posey muttered something that sounded vaguely like "suck up", but in Catseye. "Yes, President Singleton is coming here."
"Do I need to change clothes?"
"No. I was half hoping to find you in a bathrobe."
I blushed. "We were in the bathtub when Azalea said you were coming."
"You got ready quickly," she said. "Skye, we can track you anywhere on the planet. We'll never lose you."
"You mean you can track the glasses they stole from me."
"No. I mean we can track you. Your spy thrillers talk about tiny gadgets your CIA has. But of course, that technology remains beyond human reach. It does not, however, remain beyond our reach."
"You have a tracker on me?"
"Yes. Do not be offended."
"I'm not." I smiled. "Good. Um. Where is it?"
"Where is what?"
"The tracker."
"Oh. You're the tracker. It's part of you. There's nothing anyone can remove." And so I nodded understanding. "Good. The president won't stay long. She's a good woman, and she seemed quite distraught when she finally believed me."
"You called her after?"
"Yes. But I meant earlier. Skye, when I engage in forceful diplomacy, I don't start at the bottom."
"Oh shit. How forceful were you?"
Azalea snickered. "She told everyone in the room that if you weren't returned, relatively unharmed, the United States wouldn't be a superpower by morning."
"Oh, Amaryllis, You shouldn't do something like that for me."
"Yes, I should," she said. "But it wasn't just for you. It was for you, and for me, and for the next person they think they can kidnap. And I'm not done scaring them, so you will let me do most of the talking."
"Yes, Ambassador."
"I'm sorry this happened to you, Skye, but it was inevitable. They've tried to take some of us this way before, but they've failed. I'm glad it's finally happened so I can deal with it directly."
"You won't let them do it again?"
"There are a lot of people who hate us," she said. "But I'm doing my best. The individuals involved this time won't do it again, and I'm pretty sure the CIA will learn its lesson."
"Ambassador, no offense, but I doubt it."
"I hope your wrong, Skye. We have a few minutes. Perhaps we can sit." She smiled. "I didn't offer a ride, so she's flying via Marine One. It's slow."
Azalea moved us into the living room. Once we were settled, I said, "I'd like to host a little thank you party for the people who helped you rescue me."
"That isn't necessary."
"I think it is," I said. "But I'll bow to your wisdom."
There was a pause, then Azalea said, "We'll host it here."
"They're warriors," I said. "I bet they'd love a comfortable meal in a casual setting. And if they were human warriors, possibly a keg of beer, but I wouldn't want them to turn rowdy."
"They'll enjoy that," said Amaryllis.
"Will you attend, Ambassador?"
"I wouldn't miss it," she said. "Do you understand why you couldn't answer their questions?"
"Yes, but that's not entirely true. I could answer some questions."
"Oh?"
"At the restaurant. Azalea heard." I paused. "I could answer general questions. But I couldn't answer specific questions."
"You won't be able to talk about Africa," Amaryllis said. "You've probably noticed this in your interactions with your fellow classmates."
"I tell them that Mom is a cook for an American company operating in Africa. That's about as detailed as I can get."
"How do you feel about that?"
"It's fine. It made me scared when I couldn't tell them anything. She wasn't asking anything important. It made her mad I wouldn't answer. I didn't think there was any reason I couldn't answer when she ask me when I first met one of you."
"But you're not upset?"
"About that? No. I'm glad. I didn't want to help them. I didn't want to think about what they were going to do to me, but once I realized they couldn't learn anything from me, at least I knew they weren't going to win." I paused. "Did you get the rest of my things back?"
"Yes. And then in front of everyone, I ordered them to self-destruct. It was quite dramatic. We'll issue new ones for you."
I nodded and squirmed more tightly against Violet, pulling my feet up. We made small talk for a few minutes, then Bluebell announced, "The president has landed and is being escorted here." Her tentacles quivered. "The secret service isn't happy."
"Why not?" I asked.
The tentacles quivered some more. "Because I won't allow them to accompany her. I am not pleased with the American government, Skye. I am not at all pleased."
When the chime rang, I didn't recognize it for what it was. I'd never heard it. But Bluebell urged us to our feet. It was Posey who ran ahead to get the door and Amaryllis who arranged us. She studied us then told Violet, "Keep hugging her."
"Has she seen tentacles before?"
"Yes," said Amaryllis. "Please open the door, Posey."
I couldn't believe we'd left the president of the United States standing outside the door.
Posey let her in. She wasn't alone. That woman was with her, Gina Larkin, the CIA director.
"What is she doing here?" I asked, but at least I said it in Catseye.
Bluebell turned to me. "Daughter! That is the leader of the free world."
"Yeah, but the woman who is standing beside her is the one who ordered this!"
Bluebell paused about a half second, and then she leapt after the director, surprising everyone. Before the woman could react, Bluebell had her tentacles wrapped completely around her, pinning her arms to her sides. She lifted her into the air and began shaking her. "What did you do to my daughter?" she screamed in Catseye. "How dare you touch my daughter?"
Then Azalea and Amaryllis were both there, pleading with Bluebell to calm down, pleading with Bluebell to set the woman down.
Violet turned to me. "Go to her. Tell her you're okay. She's going to kill her." She gave me a push, propelling me, and I took the four steps at a run. I set one hand on Bluebell's shoulder and another on the middle tentacle.
"Mom," I said in Catseye. "Bluebell, look at me. Mom, I'm fine."
Bluebell shook the struggling woman once more then stilled, turning her head to face me.
"Put her down," I said. Then I repeated it in English. I continued in English. "Mom, she's old. Stringy. She tastes terrible. You'll get an upset stomach."
"What?" screeched the woman.
"Mom," I said in Catseye. "Put her down. For me. Put her down."
Bluebell looked into my eyes, and then she nodded. She lowered the woman to her feet then pushed her away as she unwrapped her tentacles. As soon as the woman was free, I pushed myself into Bluebell's arms, clutching tightly.
"I'm sorry," she whispered to me.
"Don't be," I said. "You scared the crap out of her. I think she made a mess."
Bluebell snorted, her tentacles now wrapped around me. I felt her sucking, and I knew my back was going to be filled with marks, if it wasn't already.
Once she was calm, I turned around, but stayed in her embrace. Violet moved over and added her touch.
Ms. Larkin
had her back against the wall, trying to watch all of us. Posey was at the door, or I thought she'd have fled already. I ignored everyone else.
"Do you speak Catseye, Ms. Larkin?"
"No," she said, still panting.
"Bluebell is a little protective of me. She considers me a third daughter. She wanted to know how you dared to touch her daughter. Do you have children, Ms. Larkin?"
"What?"
"Do you have children? Are you a mother?"
"A son. He's grown now."
"Grandchildren?"
"Two."
"Tell me. What would you do if someone did to any of them what you tried to do to me?"
"But I didn't-"
"I'm not sure anyone in the room believes that," I said. "I have a very difficult time believing you would be kept out of the loop for something like this. If Amaryllis were the ambassador from, oh, let's say Bermuda, the CIA wouldn't kidnap her aide without your approval. I can't imagine the CIA would kidnap the aide of the Ambassador for the Federated Planets without your approval. About the only thing I don't know is if President Singleton knew about it."
She didn't say anything to that but kept glancing from my eyes up to Bluebell's, then her eyes settled on the tentacles, wrapped around me.
I caressed one. "Does this bother you?" I asked. "Did you see the marks on my back? Does that disgust you? Because let me tell you. This family treats me better than you have."
"I-"
"Madam President, is there any reason this woman is here?"
The president paused only a moment. "No."
"Bluebell, are there some very large people out in the hallway?"
"Yes."
"Posey, throw Ms. Larkin out. I don't care if she encounters the far wall in the process."
Posey didn't actually do it. She opened the door and made a gesture. Ms. Larkin couldn't have scrambled out any faster if Posey had thrown her. Posey closed the door, and I could see the pleasure in the way her tentacles waved.
"Well, that was interesting," said the Ambassador. "Madam President, I believe you may remember Skye Andrews. Holding her are Bluebell Beamer and her daughter, Skye's girlfriend, Violet. You remember Azalea Beamer, of course, and manning the door is the youngest in the Beamer family, Posey."
I didn't correct her. I was youngest.
I stepped forward. Violet and Bluebell released me, but they maintained contact against my back, which was nice.
"Madam President," I said. "I was too young to vote for you, but I was happy you won your election."
"Thank you, Ms. Andrews. On behalf of the American government, I wish to extend our apologies to you for the events earlier today." She held out her hand. I stared at it, and she waited. I thought this was an important moment, and I didn't quite know what to do.
"You should accept," Azalea said quietly in Catseye. "Please."
And so I nodded and took the hand. The president smiled and nodded as we shook briefly.
"Are you all right?" the president asked. "No serious damage?"
"They hadn't gotten that far, but I think it was coming up," I said. "How does that make you feel, Madam President? I am an American citizen, a 19-year-old girl. I used to think 19 was so old, and legally I'm a woman. But in many ways I'm still a girl. How do you feel about that?"
She paused then asked, "Perhaps we could sit."
"Of course," said Amaryllis. She gestured towards the living room. "Refreshments?"
"That would be lovely."
"Posey, would you see to it?" Azalea asked.
"Yes, Mom."
Amaryllis ushered us into the living room. She and the president sat at the same time, and then Bluebell and Violet pulled me to the sofa, and I found myself between both of them. Azalea took a chair, and we all looked at each other.
"I think I should wait for Posey to return before I answer," said the president.
"Of course. Perhaps you'll answer another question. Is this going to happen again?"
"Absolutely not!" she said firmly. But then she turned to Amaryllis. "Ambassador, I must protest the unlawful extradition of American citizens."
"Ambassador," I said. "Would you let me address that?" Amaryllis offered a subtle gesture of amusement and nodded. "Madam President, there are things we all know. Today, I was kidnapped by members of, I presume, the CIA, operating within the terms of orders they received. Are we agreed so far?"
"The investigation is just beginning."
"I see. Are we playing that game?"
We studied each other, then she actually lowered her eyes. "No. Yes, you were kidnapped by members of the CIA and held at a CIA safe house. We do not yet know how official an operation it was."
"From that, there are two possibilities. Either you knew about it, or you didn't. For the sake of argument, let us assume you didn't. Do you want to get to the bottom of it?"
"Yes. Absolutely."
"If the CIA conducts an internal investigation, the highest this is going to go is, at best, an overzealous under-flunky. The investigation will go no higher. And it might not make it that high, as the agents involved could easily disappear. On the other hand, if Amaryllis allows her team to perform the investigation, they will pursue this to a complete conclusion. Now, unless you wish to protect someone, perhaps yourself, perhaps Ms. Larkin, you won't care for that. And now we're in over my head. Ambassador?"
"Madam President, if you knew about this, perhaps Ms. Andrews would accept a personal apology from you." She turned to me. "Won't you, Ms. Andrews?"
"Yes," I said immediately.
The President eyed the ambassador then me. Then she turned back to the ambassador. "I would like the Federation of Allied Planets to lead an independent investigation, but I insist on updates. And I cannot allow you to execute or imprison American citizens."
"Perhaps we should discuss a final resolution once the investigation is complete," said the ambassador.
At that moment, Posey returned. She had glasses and cups on a tray, held with two limbs. She also had two tea pots, a pitcher of water, and a pot of coffee. She set everything down, the president staring at her.
"It takes some getting used to," I said. "I keep offering to help carry things, but they usually laugh at me."
"That seems very convenient," she said. "My father liked to putter around the house, and he was frequently lamenting the need for additional hands."
Posey served and then sat down on the floor so she could lean against -- and wrap around -- my legs. That felt nice.
"Ms. Andrews asked me a question," said the president. "She asked how I felt about today's events. They sicken me, Ms. Andrews. And frankly, it doesn't matter how old you are, what gender you are, or what nationality. It sickens me."
"You didn't mention species," I observed.
"Ah. No. I should have. An unintentional oversight."
"Very good." I sipped from my tea. "It's safe," I said with a gesture. "There are spices in this house you wouldn't care for, but there's nothing you can't consume."
"That's not true in my household," Amaryllis clarified. "The Catseye are somewhat unique in that they adopt choices befitting the planet they are on. It is quite remarkable. Most of us either can't consume foods from other planets or would sicken from malnutrition if we tried it."
The president looked around briefly. "This could be any home in America."
We talked carefully for a few minutes, then I asked her if we were keeping her from anything important.
"I cleared my schedule," she said.
"Then it's a pity."
"A pity I cleared my schedule?"
"A pity that the president of the United States couldn't possibly let herself be taken as vassal to, oh, the ambassador of the Federation of Allied Planets."
"Oh, that wouldn't do at all," she replied. "But I think I'm confused."
I smiled. "There is a game that is popular in this household."
"One that requires I become someone's vassal?"
"Well, no
rmally I'm the first vassal, but you'd be new blood," I said. "And these five are sharks."
"Are you offering to teach me this game? Could I count on everyone's discretion? I wouldn't want the press to hear about this."
I smiled.
* * * *
Everyone surprised me. They left both of us alone. It took me time, but I made my first unassisted capture in the game. Eventually it was Bluebell who captured us both, but I kept the president of the United States as my vassal for a good twenty minutes.
So the day wasn't entirely bad.
Dual Major
Two days later, Audra and Mom appeared. Until then, Violet hadn't left my side, and Bluebell could barely pull her away. But the two of them were practically quivering until Bluebell announced, "Skye, perhaps you should get the door."
I couldn't have been more surprised, and I flew into their arms.
I knew why they were there, but no one said a word about the events. Mom only made sure I was okay, and at dinner, Audra asked if I'd seen my apartment at school yet.
"No. I don't think there's an apartment. I think I'll be living out of the car."
"I'm hurt," Bluebell said. "We'll go tomorrow."
Audra then turned to Bluebell and said, "Baby elephant?"
Everyone laughed.
"I'm on Africa time," she continued. "I could get up early tomorrow and have a couple of hours before anyone else is up."
"Ah, but someone -- probably me -- would have to get up with you and see to it."
"I'll do it," said Posey. She turned to Bluebell. "You'll have to authorize it, but I can handle it." She turned back to Audra. "For a price."
Audra narrowed her eyes. "What price?"
"Two things," Posey said. "One. Unlimited tickling."
Everyone at the table laughed. We all long knew how much both girls liked to tickle the humans.
"What's the other price?"
"Unlimited hugging."
Audra cocked her head. "For how long?"
"Forever."
"No," Audra said. "Okay, unlimited hugging forever, if you want, but the tickling ends at the end of this trip. And no tickling when we're in public or when we're supposed to be doing something else."
"By unlimited hugging, that also means you will wear clothing similar to your sister's, and when a Catseye hugs, we taste."