Alien Research

CHAPTER 94

THE POOFS AND PEREGRINES accompanied us downstairs. Chose not to question. Clearly they were all still really worried about Chuckie. Couldn’t blame them.

Looking like the Pied Pipers of Poofdom and Peregrineland, we entered the conference room. Alpha and Airborne were in attendance, along with Jeff, Mom, our Embassy staff other than medical, and Cliff Goodman and Evander Horn. Pierre had provided drinks and snacks. Clearly we were going to be here for a while.

“Glad you brought reinforcements,” Tim said as the animals settled themselves along the far wall.

“I never walk alone.” Realized we were also missing Buchanan, but decided not to ask why because for all I knew he’d just stepped out to use the bathroom. And if he wasn’t here then he likely had a really good reason.

Cliff and Horn both gave Chuckie the manly sympathy hugs, then we sat, Chuckie between me and Mom. “So, is this about the love connection between Club Fifty-One and the Church of Hate and Intolerance that’s happening outside, or is there more fun we’ve missed?”

“Mostly them,” Cliff said. “We know they’re going to protest at Michael’s funeral. The church members weren’t so bad, but their numbers have increased tenfold by adding in Club Fifty-One. We’re concerned about security.”

“To the point where the President isn’t sure if the funeral should go on as planned,” Horn said.

“Colonel Franklin’s offered to let us do the floater gate trick again,” Reader said. “But while I’m sure plenty of them are stupid enough to fall for it a second time, we can’t be sure we’ll get all of them. In part because I don’t think all of them are out on our street right now.”

“The suggestion to call in the National Guard has been offered by more than one Cabinet member, too,” Horn added. “Even the Secretary of Transportation agreed.”

“Wow, if Langston Whitmore’s concerned about our safety, what does that tell us?”

“Prepare for war,” Christopher said.

“No,” Gower said quietly. “We aren’t going to turn my brother’s funeral into a military action.”

“I agree,” Jeff said. “This isn’t something we wanted in the first place, but to allow these people to turn the funeral into a reason to create the wars we’ve just managed to avert isn’t the answer.”

“You’ve explained your feelings,” Mom said. “But you haven’t made a compelling enough case for us to shoot down the idea. The President doesn’t want this turned into a slaughter, an assassination, or a riot.”

Aha. Jeff had indeed asked us to come down for a good reason. Gower needed support, and he needed it from the only person able to give it in an official capacity. And he wanted Chuckie here to ensure that the three head dudes for the three most important Alphabet Agencies to us were all here to hear it.

“Here’s a compelling answer for the President and Cabinet, Mom. We’re not allowing the National Guard because our Supreme Pontifex doesn’t want it. And if that’s not quite good enough, we’ll just add a pleasant ‘because I said so’ and call it good. And yes, this is me speaking as the Head of the American Centaurion Diplomatic Corps.”

“I agree,” Reader said quickly. “As the Head of Field for Centaurion Division.”

“That’s our three heads of state making the decision. Is that good enough for the President, Mom?”

She sighed. “It’ll have to be. It’s not going to do anyone any good if a riot breaks out, and we know they plan to create a situation where a riot will be extremely likely. Having A-Cs do riot control is a bad choice in this situation.”

“What about Secret Service?” Horn asked.

Cliff nodded. “They’ll be on the scene anyway to protect the President.”

Looked to Kevin. “You’re our Defense Attaché. What do you think?”

“Speaking in my capacity for American Centaurion, I agree with you. Speaking as a member of the P.T.C.U., I agree with Angela. And I’m not saying that to curry favor with both my superiors. I’m saying it because we’re in a delicate position and I’m not convinced any course of action we choose will actually work out as we’d like it to.”

“What Kevin said,” Tim said. The flyboys all nodded. “Believe me, we understand the emotional reasons you all have for this, but Kitty I think you need to take back that official decree. We’re down by four in the bottom of the ninth—it’s hard to come back from that.”

“Just need to load the bases and hit a grand slam.”

“Hard to get four back is all I’m saying, especially when the game hasn’t gone your way.”

“Four?” Horn asked.

Harlie jumped onto the conference table and mewed. Angrily.

“Yes, four. We lost a Poof in the line of duty, too. Fuzzball’s going to be buried with Michael.”

“What did the Poof say?” Jeff asked in the resigned tone of a man who’s given up asking why he lives in the loony bin but still hopes to see the normal world again one day.

“That the Poofs want to be able to see Fuzzball’s service honored. I, ah, don’t get the impression they’re used to losing Poofs to early deaths. At all.” The idea that Harlie and Tenley were the original Poofs Algar had brought with him was strengthened. “They also feel that whatever Paul wants is what Paul should get.”

“I’m with Cliff and Vander,” Christopher said. “Regardless of the Poofs’ opinions. We have no idea if we destroyed all of that drug. Our enemies might already be armed up to our levels. I’d like the National Guard, the Marines, and all the Navy SEALS and Army Rangers, while we’re at it.”

Serene nodded. “I’m with Tim and Christopher. I think we need to ensure they can’t hurt us any more.”

“I’m on the side of bringing in the military,” Abigail said. “I only have one brother left and I don’t want to lose him, and we all know Paul will be the next target.”

“Or you will be,” Jerry said, voice tight. “Or Kitty.” Len and Kyle were clearly backing Jerry’s concerns.

“Frankly, everyone around the casket will be a target,” Irving said. “I don’t know that the National Guard can protect us from all the possibilities.”

“It’s politically bad to look like the only reason you’re not being stoned to death is because the government brought in the military,” Doreen countered. “The images from the 1960s of the Flower Children against the National Guard are still used today to show the brutality of stopping peaceful protest with armed force.”

“These people aren’t peaceful protestors,” Amy said. “But Doreen has a point. The media will have a field day with it.”

“So, we’re a house divided. And you all have good points. Richard, what do you think?”

He sighed. “I think our enemies expected and wanted this—for us to be fearful, for us to be divided about the correct course of action, for the government to feel the need to bring out military to protect us, which sends a bad message. But people being murdered at the ceremony will send a worse message.”

“So, fight or flight? Those are our only options?”

Raj cleared his throat. “There may be another way.”