by Gini Koch
Squeezed his hand and we both looked up. My iPod graced me with “Perfect Planet” by Smash Mouth. Wanted to tell Algar that I understood. And he’d been right—we’d needed to see this.
The clarity was shocking. The portion of the scope you looked through was large—easily three feet in diameter. The glass didn’t need to be adjusted for eyesight limitations, either. Had no idea if this was just because the telescope had been made that way, or if Algar had had a hand in it. Gave it even odds for either or both.
It was easy to see why the people on this planet felt this was the high holy spot in the world, though—looking through this telescope was literally like gazing at the heavens.
If, you know, the heavens were filled with spaceships.
CHAPTER 60
THERE WERE SO MANY spaceships in Beta Eight’s solar space that I literally couldn’t count them all. It was difficult to see the other planets in the system, let alone all the other things out there in space, because they were blocked from view by the spaceships.
“I see at least seven kinds of ships out there,” Reader said finally.
“I spy Alpha Four battle cruisers, the Reptilian Birds of Prey, Major Doggies Paws, and Cat People Heads, so the gang’s all here.”
“There are three other designs, too. Different enough that I think they represent other planets.”
“Probably. Know what else I notice?”
“They’re scattered and firing at each other?”
“Got it in one! We’re not just talking about starting a civil war on this planet. I think there’s a much bigger civil war going on. I think we have a civil war within this entire solar system.”
“Looking at what’s up there, it’s easy to agree with you, babe. Based on Reynolds’ theory about this planet’s core, they could be fighting over who gets to rape this world.”
“I’m sure that’s part of it. But not all.”
“Think this is going to be the end of the rule of Alpha Four in this system?”
“I think our enemies want it to be, yeah.”
“Why are you assuming that Alpha Four’s enemies are our enemies, too?”
“Because we’re here. Because the others have disappeared. Because someone has Paul and Jamie, and therefore they have ACE. Because our luck never runs any other way. Because I put Alexander on the throne and Chuckie advised Councilor Leonidas. We made enemies when we overthrew Kitler. Those enemies are Alexander’s enemies, too.”
“And Alexander has blood ties with Earth.”
“And he and some of those ships up there came to save us from the Z’porrah.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew what was going on. That my iPod graced me with Motörhead’s “War for War” was merely icing on my Megalomania Girl Cake. “I know what’s going on.”
“Care to actually explain it to me, or are you going to do what you always do and keep it all to yourself until the big reveal?”
“Wow, bitter much? You sound as whiny as Jeff, Chuckie, and Christopher normally manage to be.”
“It’s been a long few days, girlfriend.”
“True. And it’s you, so I’ll be kind and share. This is a chess game.”
He groaned. “It’s always a chess game.”
“Yes, but this one is the complex, three dimensional chess game. You know, like on Star Trek?”
“I’ve heard of it, yeah.” Reader’s sarcasm knob was heading toward eleven.
“So touchy. Anyway, there’s the usual three plans going. I’d assume that each plan has three smaller plans within it, too.” I waited. It was Reader, I kind of expected him to make the same leap I had.
“That’s it? Three-dimensional chess and three plans and a bunch of mini plans going? That’s what you’re giving me?”
Okay, apparently not. “I thought you’d make the leap.”
“No leaping here.”
“Fine. You disappoint me and I’m worried about you, but fine.”
“Leaping like you tend to do is, frankly, Tim’s job, and he’s not here. So, explain it for me, Megalomaniac Girl.”
“Well, when you ask so nicely . . . Plan A is to get us the hell off of Earth, hopefully to be killed in a solar system far, far away, meaning Plan A involves Cliff and LaRue and probably Leventhal Reid.” Controlled the shudder. The snakipedes were better than Reid. Anything was better than Reid.
Reader squeezed my hand and I got it together and forged on. “So, in order to achieve Plan A, there had to be interaction and connection with Plan B, which is to overthrow Alpha Four’s leadership in the solar system, which also involves making this planet a sitting duck for takeover.”
“You think they’ve figured out about anything other than the core?”
“No, but the core of this planet is more than enough reason for why all those ships are in this planet’s solar space. But Plan B is why specific people were yanked out here. Mom and Richard were right—it’s based on our wedding, because whoever was doing the yanking or being fooled into yanking us only had Operation Invasion to go on. I’m sure Cliff and LaRue didn’t care about everyone who was tossed into this system, but Centaurion Division and American Centaurion’s core team are off planet, and the Vice President has also disappeared.”
“I really hope we get home soon. The longer Jeff’s gone, the harder it’s going to be to explain away his absence.”
“The VP is usually a no big deal job. I’m sure Vince and Mom can shuck and jive it enough to cover. But that’s not the real problem.”
“Regardless of what’s going on here, it’s our real problem, babe.”
“No, it’s not. Our real problem is Plan C. Plan C is for the Z’porrah to overtake this solar system. Without Alpha Four’s leadership, this system is going to fall into and stay in what we’re watching on our Telescopic Vision Channel—civil war. But most of the planets are evenly matched, so it’s going to be a long, drawn-out civil war. All the planets are going to fight each other, destroy each other, and so on. And then, when they’re all worn and weary, the Z’porrah are going to sweep in here and destroy them.”
And whichever conqueror got their hands, paws, claws, or talons on this planet was going to win. But at the cost of all the life on Beta Eight, and potentially all the life in the Alpha Centauri system, too, possibly before the Z’porrah armada even arrived. Mephistopheles all over again.
Reader was quiet for a few seconds. “And then they’ll come and destroy Earth. We only survived before because Alpha Four and their allies intervened.”
“And because of ACE. And Naomi and Abigail. Meaning Abigail’s in danger—she wasn’t taken because she was filling Michael’s slot—she was taken because of her power. They must not know that she’s not recovered from Operation Destruction. Or else they want to be sure she can’t ever recover.”
“And we have no idea where she is, any more than we know where Paul and Jamie are.”
“Yeah, and Paul and Jamie are in danger, too. Wherever they are.” My daughter needed me and I had no idea where she was. Or where her father was. Or where anyone else who mattered was. It was literally me and Reader and three Planet Colorful natives against the War of the Super Powerful Worlds right now. Felt the panic try to take over.
Reader put his arm around my shoulders and hugged me. “In my dream, Paul wasn’t afraid. They’re with friends, Kitty, I’m sure of it.”
Took a deep breath, let it out, and leaned my head on his shoulder. As always, a nice place to be, and it helped me relax and focus. “They may be with friends, but that just means those friends are in danger. Not all the traitors from Operation Invasion are dead. And those who are dead had friends and relatives who were clearly not on the side of Alpha Four Right.”
“Alpha Four all the way?”
“When in doubt, always back the guy who’s had your back when it counted. Alexander’s earned our loyalty. So
, yeah, Alpha Four for the win. Besides, the Planetary Council told us that they need Alpha Four’s leadership. To prevent all this.” As Eminem’s “Bad Meets Evil” came on my personal airwaves, I waved my hand at the telescopic images.
And triggered something. Because the picture changed.
CHAPTER 61
THE IMAGE EXPANDED, and we weren’t seeing the ships anymore. At least, not the ships we’d been seeing. But they were certainly ships I recognized. Your typical saucer-shaped ships out of every movie and UFO sighting ever, with a little dome on top. And, as before, there were a thousand if there were ten.
“That’s the Z’porrah fleet,” Reader said, voice low. “Any guess for how far away they are?”
“No. Without Chuckie or the girls looking we have no idea if they’re at the edge of the galaxy or at the edge of this solar system. But if they’re moving already, then I think we can assume that this war has been going on a long time. It was probably starting when Queen Renata sent Rahmi and Rhee to us.”
“Makes sense. That’s over two years ago, though. Meaning this war’s been going on long enough that at least one planet is probably looking for elements to replenish their supplies, or the edge that will give them the upper hand.”
“Hence why they’re all here shooting at each other over Beta Eight. I’m just hoping the Z’porrah are far enough away that we have time to fix this problem and get this system focused on the bigger threat, rather than merrily continuing their infighting.”
“What’s your plan for that? I ask because as far as I can see, we’re pretty much the definition of being once again caught between a rock and a hard place.”
Sadly, I didn’t really have a plan. “Something’s Gotta Give” by Royal Crown Revue came on my iPod. It was a good song, but I preferred the Aerosmith version. Totally different songs, music and lyrics both, of course. And while I liked RCR’s version of the Sinatra classic, I’d rather hear my Bad Boys from Boston, especially when things were dire. And they were definitely dire.
Considered manually changing the tunes to something other than the Algar’s Not All That Helpful Clues Playlist. But I didn’t. Because I realized I was focusing on the music versus the clue, mostly because I was clear that something was going to have to give. I was just afraid that it was going to be our side.
Negative thinking wasn’t going to help anything, though. Gave myself a mental shake and focused back on the situation at hand. “Okay. We have to foil Plan B in order to foil Plan C and Plan A. And not only because we’re here, in the midst of Plan B, but because it’s the crux of the entire three-dimensional chess game. Save the day here, save the day everywhere. Fail here, fail everywhere.”
“I can agree with all of that.” Reader sighed. “I know that, as Head of Field, I should be coming up with some great save-the-day plan. But I’ve got nothing right now. Our fighting force, if you can call it that, is captured. At least we think they’re captured. So it’s five of us and some Poofs against every ship in every fleet. And that’s just this solar system.”
Thought about what he’d said. “Actually . . . give me a minute to think.” Might actually have the answers and I tried to get them into order.
“Ah, you’re being quiet? Are you okay?” Reader sounded legitimately concerned.
“Other Me wasn’t an out-loud thinker anymore.”
“Yeah, dealt with that. She adapted, babe. I see that you did, too, but you’re home and, frankly, I prefer to hear you talk out your thoughts.”
“Really? I thought that drove everyone crazy.”
Got another shot of the cover boy grin. “Not me, babe. I like hearing my girl’s thought processes.”
Heaved a dramatic sigh. “And yet, you still refuse to turn straight or even bi and take me away from all this.”
Reader kissed my cheek. “True enough, but you’re still and always my girl. So do what my girl does best and tell me what you’re thinking.”
“Okay. We have to think like our enemy is—in three dimensions, if you will. By that I mean that each plan is connected to the others in more than one way. So, if we can figure out how to counter even one part of one of the Big Plans, we can cause issues for all three Plans at the same time.”
“Fine. So, what are we countering?”
“Frankly, it’s what we’re missing that’s the key.”
“Besides the rest of our people that we’d finally found, our people who we haven’t found, and our allies on this planet, you mean?”
Turned and looked at Fancy, Ginger, and Wilbur, who all looked back at me rather expectantly. “But we haven’t lost all our allies. The three most important are standing right there.”
“Mind explaining that one?”
“Stop thinking like a Naked Ape and think like a Galactic Man About Town.”
Reader groaned. “I’m channeling Christopher right now. That Kitty-ism I’m not getting, girlfriend.”
“You’re thinking that because Ginger and Wilbur seem like a cat and a dog that’s it. But they’re more than that—they’re leading their particular clans, all of whom can fight and all of whom are also safely in Haven. You know, along with all of Fancy’s Ferrets, all the Black Wolverines, and a host of other Albino Clan Lecanora. As in, we have a fighting force and then some. And we actually have the one being who can galvanize them all still with us.”
“You mean Fancy. And yeah, I’m sure she can. But I don’t know that she’s ready to lead her people into battle with what’s out there.”
“The battle’s coming, whether they’re ready or not.” Motioned for Fancy and the others to come to us, which they did. “Look up.” They did. “What you’re seeing are spaceships that belong to a race of aliens that hate all of us—those who live on your planet, my planet, and every other planet in this system—because we sort of belong to their most bitter enemies. They’re coming here to destroy everything and everyone, wipe all our planets clean, and start over with people made in their own image.”
“They are the enemies of the Gods?” Fancy asked.
Considered how to answer this. It was one thing to pretend to be Gods. But Gods had powers we didn’t. And if I was going to ask Fancy to risk her people, I had to tell her the truth. “They’re our enemies, yes. They’re called the Z’porrah, and they hate us, deep in the bone.”
“The enemy of my God is my enemy,” Fancy said calmly.
“We appreciate that. But . . . we aren’t Gods, Fancy. What we are is aliens, for you, at least. We come from a planet that’s far away from yours, not even in the same solar system. There are a lot of inhabited planets in your solar system, but only one in ours. We’ve become friends with many of the planets in your system.”
“The Gods come from far away, Shealla. This is not news.”
“True, but this invasion is.” Waved my hand again and, happy day, the closer view of a ton of spaceships that weren’t Z’porrah ships appeared. “And here’s more news. All of the planets in your solar system appear to be fighting now. And if they’re fighting in your planet’s solar space, and they are, then they’re fighting over who gets to take over your planet.”
“Why would they want our planet?”
“Your planet’s core is valuable for weapons of mass destruction.” Why bring up the katyhoppers and strautruch powers right now? I was still hoping we’d avoid anyone else learning about them, and even though Fancy knew by now, the less we talked about it, the better.
“But to reach the core, that would mean destruction of our world, wouldn’t it?”
Wished Chuckie was here to bask in the glow of a really smart Bronze Age Like An Ancient Greek Lecanora. “Yes, it would. There are ways to drill safely, but no one’s going to do that because this isn’t their planet, it’s just someplace they see as having resources they want.”
“Why would they do this to us? Especially if they call you friends?”
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“None of them know any of you down here—most of them aren’t bad people, but they’re at war with each other, and that means they’ll do bad things in the name of winning. And they can tell themselves that it’s okay because they haven’t gotten to know you, any of you.”
But we had. And now I realized why Algar had ensured we’d all land where and how we did. If I’d made it to wherever Gower and Jamie had, seen the Z’porrah fleet coming somehow, and been told this planet had all we’d need to defeat the Z’porrah, I might have said, oh well, just move the natives. Might have even said to kill them if they resisted, under the good of the many outweighs the good of the few mindset.
But I knew them now. And now I’d fight to protect them, we all would. Because they were ours somehow, just as they felt we were theirs. Their Gods, our people. Our responsibility. And yet, we still had the free will options to do whatever we wanted to. Algar worked in mysterious, sneaky, and really calculated ways.
“We’re more like you than not. And so are they. Oh, they look different—some more like Ginger on her hind legs, some more like Wilbur on his.” Well, that was stretching it. The Canus Majorians looked far more like our Egyptian dog statues than the pig-dogs the chochos were. But still, close enough for government work.
Forged on. “Some are walking and talking lizards. And some look like we do. But we all come from the same kind of origins. So, the moment most of the people in those ships up there realize that you’re just like them, we’ll be able to reason with them, and to explain that what they think they want to do is wrong.” I sincerely hoped.
“We hope,” Reader said under his breath. Wondered if we had a katyhopper nearby, but figured this wasn’t mind reading so much as a clear understanding of human, and probably Alpha Centauri Populated Planets, nature.
“And they also need to know that we all need to band together to fight against the invader who hates us all. But to do that, we’re going to need your help, and the help of your people.”
“You are our Gods,” Fancy said, still sounding calm. Wondered if she was grasping the situation properly. She pointed down. “Look.”