“Wow, I’m not used to seeing anyone so casual in one of these, Jeff in particular.”
Jeff stood up and shrugged. “I wasn’t at a point of collapse, baby. I was heading that way, but I could have lasted for quite a while more. It just made more sense for me to get into a chamber and relax.”
“Jeffrey saw the light of reason when Charles pointedly asked who had adrenaline with them.” White’s eyes twinkled. “I chose to come along to keep him company.”
“Uncle Richard is rarely an emotional issue for me,” Jeff added, as he gave me a hug. “And before you say it, yes, baby, you are an emotional issue for me, but for all the right reasons.”
Hugged him back. “Good. I sincerely hope you’re really all rested up and such, because we have some news we need to share with you and my mother at the same time. And Mom would like that time to be pronto.”
We headed for the main gate, which, as per usual for most Bases, was on the ground-level floor, which was currently packed with Caliente Base residents returning home. “Where are we heading?” Jeff asked Buchanan.
“Dulce. Then Bermuda.”
We all stared at him. “We’re going on an impromptu vacation?” I asked. “I’m not against it, but I kind of thought we had issues going on and all that.”
Buchanan sighed. “Trust me, we won’t be there long. At either location.”
Jeff grunted as we went to one of the larger gates that would allow several of us to go through at the same time. He shared our destination with the gate agent, said agent calibrated the gate, Jeff swung me up into his arms, I buried my face in his neck, and we all stepped through.
As always it was nauseating and, also as always, it was a hell of a lot less nauseating because Jeff was holding me. It wasn’t a long trip from Caliente Base to the Dulce Science Center, so that was good. It was going to be a lot longer to Bermuda. Made a mental note to reapply my sunscreen before we left.
As per usual when arriving at Dulce via the gates, we exited onto the Command Center Level, aka the Bat Cave, where a lot of The Future: NOW! looking science-y stuff was being used and everyone, human and A-C, was bustling about like the busiest of bees. It was a lot more crowded here than normal, because of Caliente Base being evacuated.
The majority of Earth’s A-Cs worked in the Science Center. NASA Base had the second highest A-C population, with the rest of the A-C population spread out to the other Bases worldwide. Meaning that many of the people living in the Science Center had children who’d moved to Caliente Base. So there were a lot of family groups hanging out talking, working, hugging, and so on.
Apparently we were stopping at Dulce to leave the K-9 unit with their remaining prisoners. Though it didn’t seem likely that any of them—sorta prisoners or K-9 squad—was going to be leaving any time soon.
Bud and Cujo were being shown around by Len and Kyle, who had apparently forgiven the younger guys for going to a school that wasn’t USC, playing on a rival football team from the Trojans, and being in a frat other than whatever frat Len and Kyle had been in as undergrads. Realized I didn’t know. Realized I currently didn’t care, either, but added it to the Worst Boss Ever List that I was keeping for myself.
Bud and Cujo also had expressions I was familiar with—the “I can’t believe there are this many hot chicks in the world!” looks. They were getting eyed by several of the younger Dazzlers who hadn’t gone back to Caliente Base yet. Had a feeling we’d just scored two new recruits, because if the Dazzlers were interested, it meant Bud and Cujo were smart.
Mickey and Garfield were in medical, getting treatment, and Tito refused to allow them to be taken back into custody. Melville didn’t argue much, probably because the Dazzlers on Duty were a great distraction, and also because Jeff made the “what Tito wants, Tito gets” statement and no one felt like arguing with the Top Man.
The working girls were a different situation, however. Because they were insisting they needed to come with me.
“I want to help Code Name: First Lady,” Jane said emphatically. She’d been told my name but refused to use it. Decided that there were more important battles to be fought. “We helped already. We want to help more.”
Rhonda nodded. “I think we added our share. And we’d be dead if the First Lady hadn’t saved us. We heard it was part of the plan, that the weirdo robot thing knew she’d rescue everyone, but I gotta tell you, we aren’t taking that for granted. Plus, we’re ready to kick some ass if anyone tries anything.”
“I just do not want to go back to jail,” Meriel said quietly. “Or back to our pimp. And I would like to be helpful to the people who have helped us.”
“I knew this was going to happen,” Jeff muttered. “The new jocks aren’t leaving either, and the old men aren’t going to be allowed to leave until they’re already so integrated in they won’t want to go.”
“How is this my fault? How? Just because they’re jazzed about helping out? That’s a good thing. Citizens need to be involved. Look at it as a great way of getting the recruiting process started.” Which gave me an idea. “Girls, I’d like to ask you to help work on a really important project.”
The three girls gave me their utmost attention. “Whatever you need,” Rhonda said. Jane nodded enthusiastically. Meriel looked suspicious.
“We need to create a recruitment campaign that encourages people to sign up to become a part of Centaurion Division to protect Earth and her allies, whether they’re here on the planet or far away.”
Meriel brightened up. “Oh, a propaganda campaign! I know about those, my grandfather told me all about them.”
Decided now wasn’t the time to get all the pertinent details, especially when I took a look at Jeff and Chuckie’s expressions. “Super! So, um, you guys get started on that. You’ll have to integrate your ideas in with the larger team’s but well begun is half done and all that other Mary Poppins stuff.”
Waved Len and Kyle over, explained the new assignment, and added them, Bud, and Cujo to the mix, meaning that the prisoners would be under Len and Kyle’s guidance and watchful eyes. Gently suggested that if Officers Melville, Larry, and Curly had input they should share it as well, but made it clear that the team leader was Len with Kyle as second in command.
Working girls now put to work on something other than sexual favors, potential new jock recruits also put to good use, Len and Kyle not feeling totally left out, K-9 unit officially watching their prisoners, so to speak, and my sunscreen reapplied, we headed to the elevator bank in order to get to the main gate level, which was where Buchanan wanted us leaving from.
While waiting, a nose nudged at my knee. Sure enough, Prince was there and shoved in between me and Jeff.
Who heaved a long-suffering sigh. “Someone let Melville know that his dog wants a trip to Bermuda.”