Jerry ginned at her. “Oh, I make sure I never miss anything you do.” She laughed and Gower rolled his eyes.
“We will now be proceeding to the main event,” Hughes shared, sounding far more official than I was used to. But then again, he was the head dude whenever the flyboys were rolling, and that meant he got to joke the least in these situations. “Kitty, just want to say that if we get home and the American Centaurion flag is still an issue, a picture of you flying sideways is always an option for a new design.” Relatively speaking, apparently, on that whole serious thing.
We had NASA Base on the line, and were, in fact, talking to Jeff’s dad. Because the extra pressure was apparently something the cosmos felt we all needed. But Jeff didn’t seem thrown by it, so decided not to worry. And it was nice to hear another friendly voice.
“Alfred, where is the Z’porrah ship?” Chuckie asked.
“They just passed Mars and have shared that the Aicirtap are right on their tails.” He cleared his throat. “They’ve shared farewell messages they’ve asked us to get to their loved ones.”
“Screw that. Matt, put the pedal down.”
“You got it, Commander.”
Felt the ship moving faster. “Will be to the Z’porrah ship in thirty seconds,” Walker said.
Chuckie whistled. “Damn.”
“We’re in a new age, son,” Alfred said. “Just ensure that all of you survive this to see it.”
“Slow down once we reach the Z’porrah ship.” Turned to Wruck. “You sure you’re up for this, Martian Manhunter? Not only the risk, but seeing Ancients and Z’porrah both?”
“I am.” He flipped his blast visor down. “Alfred, please advise them that I’ll be boarding via unconventional means.”
“Already done,” Alfred replied.
Wruck went to Walker’s station, which had the largest viewing screen. We basically pulled up alongside the Z’porrah ship by circling around them and matching their velocity, which was damned fast. But not as fast as we’d been going.
“See you on the other side,” Wruck said. Then he touched his Beaming Bling and disappeared.
“John Wruck is confirmed to be on the Z’porrah ship,” Alfred said a few seconds later. “Alive and well.” And totally on his own now. No one had had a guess for what range the Beaming Bling might have, Z’porrah power cube or no Z’porrah power cube. And we knew it wasn’t capable of interstellar transfers, or else LaRue wouldn’t have based on Earth.
“Great. Matt, let’s move it, we have a fight we’re late for.”
We swung back around and headed off for Mars. Would have totally been excited, but this wasn’t going to be the trip where mankind stepped onto the Red Planet. This was the trip where we hoped to keep Earth from becoming a second Mars—all red and devoid of life.
My music turned on. “I Can Change” by Brandon Flowers. We were back to inscrutable clues unless Algar wanted me to change my plans, which seemed unlikely, since I was pretty sure this was exactly what he’d wanted us doing.
We started slowing down. “Aicirtap fleet in enhanced visual range,” Walker said. He did something, and what he was seeing flipped up onto a large screen that lowered from the ceiling. Drax was one with the idea of impressive luxury extras.
What we saw was a lot of dark silver ships massed near Mars. They were relatively small, all things considered, and were yet another new design. They were rounded and kind of hunched, with a long nose, what kind of looked like a thick shell on top that might be the entry and exit hatch or might not be, four extended legs in the rear, two smaller legs that faced forward in the front, and a rounded engine on either side, sitting right above the back legs. There were strong lights beaming out from right next to the engines.
“You know what I don’t see?” I asked, as my music changed to the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies’ “When I Change Your Mind.”
Still had no idea what Algar meant. Possibly because I was tired and hungry. Despite checking in regularly with Mr. Watch, which shockingly wasn’t working in space, time had jumbled completely for me. Not only could I not remember the last time I’d eaten—though I suspected it was when I’d been with Raheem—but my body had no idea what time zone it was in, let alone what time zone it was going to consider home when it cashed the check my adrenaline had been writing. And, despite the situation, said adrenaline wasn’t recharged yet.
“Gun turrets,” Chuckie answered. “I don’t see torpedo bays, either.”
“They just may be waiting to shoot at us,” Hughes warned.
“Refugees share that the Aicirtap have been, ah, hands on,” Alfred said.
“Maybe they don’t shoot?” Jeff asked, sounding like he didn’t believe any sentient race didn’t use guns of some kind. Tended to agree with him.
“Muddy is with me,” Alfred said. So that’s where he’d gone. Interesting choice. “He shares that, before the uplift, the Aicirtap did not use projectile weapons of any kind.”
“Interesting,” Chuckie said. “That means they’re all hand-to-hand. Meaning it’s even more dangerous for all of you. Because they won’t be shooting at you, where you have a hope of avoiding the bullets or lasers or whatever if you’re fast enough. They’ll be grabbing you, and I can guarantee, based on the pictures that we’ve seen, that they don’t follow the Marquess of Queensberry rules.”
“Huh?” Jeff said.
“They don’t fight fair,” I translated. “And they’ll happily gang up on us.” Meaning we were going to have to be really damned fast. Hoped the new weapons were up to it. But this was their first test, and if they didn’t work, then our only choice would be to escape or go down fighting against a race that apparently really enjoyed their work when it came to rending and destroying other living things. Tried not to feel afraid. Failed.
The song ended, my music switched to The Fray’s “How to Save a Life,” and I heard a voice in my head.
Mommy, are you there?
Jerked. Jamie, is that you?
Yes. Why are you so frightened?
I can’t explain it right now, sweetheart. The last thing I wanted to do was tell my little girl what was scaring me and why.
I think you need to have a snack and a nap.
Managed to control the Inner Hyena—I’d said this to her a lot and she was parroting it right back, with the exact same inflections I used. I’m sure you’re right, but, sadly, Mommy has to wait to do either. Are you and your brother okay?
Yes. That’s not why I’m talking to you. She sounded impatient.
Okay, then why?
Fairy Godfather ACE needs to tell you something, but he can’t, because things are watching.
Things. That boded. Are they trying to hurt Fairy Godfather ACE or you?
They can try. She sounded just like me again—my little girl was ready to share that the cosmos could feel free to bring it.
Okay, well, I’ll try to figure it out, then. I don’t want you or Fairy Godfather ACE hurt, Jamie.
I know, Mommy. I don’t want you or Daddy hurt, either.
Considered this statement. Um, Jamie, are you the reason why all the emotions aren’t hurting Daddy?