Charlie was in Jeff’s lap, situated so that he had a clear view of the window. We’d arranged the other adults so that his view wouldn’t be blocked.
Abigail and Mahin were stationed at the window. Gower, White, Jeremy, Jennifer, Siler, Rahmi, and Rhee were standing by, when, not if, the girls needed to get energy and power from them. Tito was on hand just in case, and I’d assigned Buchanan to be on guard in this room, versus following me. Under the circumstances, he hadn’t argued about it. Much.
“Remember, I’ll tell Uncle Jerry to give the signal. Don’t start until he tells you to, because that could cause a lot of problems.”
“We promise, Mommy,” Jamie said cheerfully. The kids all looked excited and the adults all looked worried and/or grim. So, as I’d expected.
My music changed to “God Give Me Strength” by Elvis Costello. Which was Algar’s way of telling me to step on it. Took Jamie’s hand in mine. Are you sure you can leave her safely?
ACE is sure, Kitty. Jamie will be fine. Jamie is strong and the other children will ensure that Jamie does not fall asleep as others do when ACE or Lilith leave them.
Then let’s do this thing.
ACE left Jamie and filtered into me. Having both ACE and Lilith inside of me was beyond anything I’d experienced before, but it wouldn’t last for long. Welcome back, ACE.
Jamie leaned against Lizzie, who kissed her head. “It’s all okay, Mommy,” Jamie said. “You do your part and I’ll do mine.”
Bent and kissed her head. “That’s my big little girl.” Kissed Lizzie’s head, too. “And my bigger big girl.” Jeff and Charlie were next to the girls, so I kissed Charlie’s head. “Be safe, my little man.” Kissed Jeff on the lips. “And my big man.”
“Meddler.” He didn’t say it like it was a bad thing.
“You disapprove?”
“Hell no. I was going to have that talk with him, you just beat me to it.” He took my hand in his. “Promise me that you’ll be safe.”
“I promise that I’ll do my best, Jeff. That’s all I can promise.”
He squeezed my hand. “And that’s always been enough. See you on the other side, baby.”
On to the next stage of my setup, before I delayed any longer. “Great. My team, with me, please.” Headed out, with Christopher, Kristie, Butler, Mossy, and Wruck.
We went to the cargo hold. Christopher, Butler, and Kristie made sure that everything other than the vat with the Anti-Mother in it was tightly tied down. Wruck shifted into a form that was hella strong and moved the container next to the part of the ship that would open and lower when the hold was opened.
Put my hand on the vat. You’re sure?
Yes, the Anti-Mother said. But, I do have one request.
What?
I’d like a different name. A name that you like, that means something good, and something good to you.
Had no idea what name to pick. My music changed to “Lucinda” by The Knack. It was fitting. How about Lucinda? That’s my mother-in-law’s name. She’s lovely, makes the best brownies in the galaxy, and loves her entire extended family and all their friends. And she and I started out as antagonists but now we love each other. A lot.
I love it! Thank you. We will not disappoint you or betray your trust.
And I won’t betray yours, either. Had to say it, now, before we were all committed. You know, if this doesn’t work, or doesn’t work as we’re all hoping, the sun will go supernova and you’ll die.
No. I will live in everything. That is what Cradus showed me—how I can be more than I ever imagined, no matter what happens next. And this is why your enemies become your friends—you warned me before you knew if I could be trusted. Because you care.
I do. Time to stop stalling. Good luck and let’s go save the solar system and thereby save the galaxy.
Nodded to the others, but before we rolled, Chuckie and Nathalie arrived. Nathalie was glowing and she had a very large diamond on her left ring finger. Chuckie was very good at determining what kind of ring each woman actually wanted.
They didn’t need to say anything. I already knew, and it was easy for the others to guess. Hugs and kisses all around. “You’re sure this will work?” Chuckie asked me.
“Dude, I’m as sure of this plan as I am of all the others.”
“So, no,” Christopher said.
Chuckie shook his head. “See you on the other side.” He took Nathalie’s hand and they headed off, presumably for their posts in the Observation Lounge, Nathalie to assist Tito if needed, Chuckie to advise as needed.
“Ready?” I asked the others. They all nodded.
Christopher reached his hand to me and I took his in mine. ACE flowed from me to him. Felt a little loss, but not the energy drain, because Lilith was still inside of me.
Christopher’s eyes were opened wide. “Wow. This is . . . amazing.”
“You have to return him to Jamie when this is done. Unless ACE wants to be free, like Lilith.”
“ACE does not,” Christopher said, in a voice that wasn’t his, indicating that ACE had control of the mind and body. “ACE will never leave Jamie, or Kitty. ACE loves ACE’s home. How can ACE protect if ACE leaves?”
“Just want you to know that you always can, if you want to. We don’t want you to go, either, so we’re all on the same page there.”
“That was freaky,” Christopher said. “Hey, no palsy.”
“Maybe you’re better at it than Paul was.”
Christopher laughed. “I think it’s that ACE is better at it, honestly.”
“Let’s hope. Okay, gang, group hug.”
We hugged and a part of ACE and Lilith went into the others. Everyone had Christopher’s reaction, even Butler and Kristie.
Once the Sharing of the Superconsciousnesses was over, Wruck shifted into a star surfer. “Ready.” We’d discussed it and he felt that, while he could double Christopher, star surfers were the fastest beings out there, so that was his choice for the Plan.
Mossy flew onto my shoulder. “I’ll shift once the hatch opens.” Per my talk with him, Turleens did this sort of thing for fun, and with the turbo boost of having a bit of ACE and Lilith inside him, Mossy had no worries.
Kristie and Butler had also felt more than capable, in no small part because we were all still in Drax body armor and face masks. At least my team was eager and confident. My music changed to “Built for Speed” by American Hi-Fi. Algar also had no concerns, so that was good.
Kristie hit her communicator. “Jerry, connect me and John Butler to Kitty, Christopher, John Wruck, and Mossy.”
“Will do,” Jerry said in my ear. “Godspeed, everyone. And I mean that in all the ways it can be taken.”
“Remember that the perspective of how the galaxy is spinning depends on where we are in relation to it,” Butler said. “And that might change once we get this system closer.”