“I think I need to stay as well,” Raj said regretfully.
“I agree.” Leaving the Super Troubadour with the politicians was probably going to be a good thing, and that meant we had the Number Two in the A-C CIA on site as well.
“So, you want the rest of us to go with you?” Harris asked, trying really hard not to sound or look nervous and not totally succeeding. Most of the Cabinet looked like they were trying to be calm and cool and also were praying really hard that Jeff was going to say no.
“No,” Jeff said. “Kitty, who do you want?”
“Hammy and Nathalie.” Nathalie had already been gung ho, but it was nice to see that Hamlin appeared pleased versus freaked out. Not that I’d expected any less from him.
“And?” Chuckie asked.
“And that’s it. I mean, unless you’re asking if I want you to stay, Secret Agent Man, and the answer is not just no but hell no. You’re coming with us. Gustav, it’s up to you and Mister Gadhavi to decide what you two want to do.”
“If you feel confident that the ship can function without Prince Gustav, I strongly suggest he remain,” Gadhavi said. “Again, royalty means much to these people.”
“The ship has been tested and repaired,” Drax said, “and as long as Mossy and the hackers are with you, you should be fine without me for this portion. Plus, should something, ah, delay your return, I can ask my father for assistance in returning those of us who remain behind to Earth.”
“Makes sense—you’re the one most likely to get help fast.” Including if we needed someone to come rescue us, which was always a possibility. “Wasim stays with me, though.”
“I agree,” Gadhavi said. “And that means I stay with you. And before you say anything, yes, his bodyguard is excellent. However, one man is not enough.”
Chose not to point out that we had a lot more than one person watching out for Wasim. Gadhavi coming along was not going to be a bad thing.
“I recommend that we leave Mister Jenkins as well,” White said.
“Not MJO or Dion? Or Adam and Kristie?”
“Mister Joel Oliver will not miss the opportunity to go where we’re going,” White said. “Dion will likely want to take the rarest photographs in the galaxy. Kristie will be better utilized with us, and Adam as well. Mister Jenkins, on the other hand, is quite good with people, and it will ensure that we have someone immortalizing the events.”
“Oh, gotcha. Bruce is the Royal Scribe who will take notes about the ceremony and such so that all will know of it sort of thing?” And it would leave someone we could trust keeping an eye on the politicians, too.
White nodded. “Anyone else you want to remain?”
“Camilla.” Said by me, Jeff, and Chuckie in unison.
“Agreed.” White sighed. “You need to offer this to the others, Jeffrey. But be prepared for them to say no.”
Considered this. “I have an idea how to get at least some of them staying. They’re part of the Royal Family, meaning they’re representing you to this new solar system.”
“It’s worth a shot,” Jeff said. “But you just said that the kids won’t want to be left behind.”
“I meant our three. The others won’t want to be left, either, but I think if we spin it right, they’ll be willing.”
Raj nodded. “I can do that and I’m sure I can convince Sylvia, Jonathan, and Marianne. Clarence will do whatever Kitty asks. However, the children are excited about visiting Ixtha—we all spoke with her in the DreamScape and everyone learned the language, including those we’re now leaving behind.”
“That’s okay. If everything goes according to plan, they’ll get to meet Ixtha and see her world.”
“The goal is to bring that system back into the galaxy in some way?” Moskowitz asked.
“Yes,” Jeff said. “I assume that’s why they’re calling us.”
“Could be for another reason,” Gower said. “But it’s a good working hypothesis.”
We decided that there was no time like the present to share what we wanted to do, so we headed off en masse. Happily, everyone other than the command crew were in the Observation Lounge, so Raj was able to explain things one time, once Drax, White, and Gower got the Ignotforstans out of the room on the pretext of going over the different worlds with them.
I also got the opportunity to be a mother for a couple of minutes. Jeff was holding Charlie, I had Jamie and Lizzie. While Raj was talking, made sure I quietly told the girls what was going on from my viewpoint, so they didn’t create arguments.
There were, of course, the expected protests from the others. But we quelled them fairly easily by sharing that we expected to bring Ixtha to them. Plus, the Cabinet members who were staying all stressed that this was a mission of vital importance to the nation and solar systems.
Dion asked to remain with Jenkins. The opportunity to take rare pictures was overridden by his desire not to die. Couldn’t blame him. Besides, he was getting along really well with the Ignotforstans, so that just meant he was going to do double duty as a diplomat.
After some discussion, the agreement was that family groups would not be split up. If one was staying, all were staying, and vice versa.
“I want to stress that the Valentino and Price kids are all talented, and that means you guys need to be paying attention and being careful. You’re going to have to be functioning at a higher level than normal, especially you older kids.”
Who all looked thrilled with the authority. Kimmie did, too. “We’ll do a good job, Aunt Kitty,” she said. “We promise.”
“I know you will. Take direction from Raj, you guys. Don’t go off on your own on commando missions. Remember—you’re all representing the Royal Family. If Wasim wouldn’t do it, you don’t do it.”
“We’ll all follow that rule, Aunt Kitty,” Louise said. “I’ll make sure of it.” The other kids all nodded, even JP Junior and Miriam, who I expected to not be allowed out of their parents’ sight, based on Jonathan and Marianne’s expressions.
I’d insisted that the Maurer family and the Kramer kids stay as well. This meant we’d lose one of our androids, but that meant that those staying in the Apata system would have an android with them, and who knew if they’d need one or not. Mrs. Maurer seemed relieved and Clinton seemed pleased. Yeah, I’d figured he’d want to stay wherever Louise was.
Tried to get Christopher to stay, but he and Amy were having none of it. Couldn’t complain. Had a strong feeling we were going to need the hybrid kids, and we always needed the Flash. And Amy always came through. Plus White was coming with us, so we weren’t breaking up that family.
Didn’t even suggest that the Dwyer, Weisman, Muir, and Billings families stay behind—we needed all the flyboys, with Drax gone Brian’s expertise was even more vital, whether Mother allowed him to fly the ship or not, and I wanted the girls with us anyway. Irving was the only one who looked disappointed.