"I believe a variety of jumps might be preferable."

"Makes sense." It did. If we were congregating in one area then jumping again, logic would determine that we hadn't left someone behind. Logic would be wrong, but it was worth a shot, and I didn't want to take too long to get things and precious cargo locked up and away.

My phone chose this moment to ring. "Hey Christopher, what did you find?"

"Nothing, which I suppose is a good thing. What have you come up with?"

"Oh, I think it's time for us to have a party."

He was quiet for a few long moments. "Is this you trying to pass along information in a way no one else would understand?"

"Yes."

He sighed. "I'm not James, Jeff, or Reynolds. I don't get your Kittyisms first thing out of the gate."

"And yet, there you are, right with me on the plan."

"No. I'm nowhere with you on the plan. I have no idea what the plan is, and if we continue on this way much longer, I won't have anything other than a migraine."

I had to accept that this was probably true. "I want to get everyone who's in danger and not equipped to properly protect themselves to safety. I also want to be sure said someones have others with them capable of kicking butt. And I want them hidden very safely somewhere that's still easy enough for us to access."

"Kitty, seriously, in the time you'll spend trying to get me to figure out your innuendos, they could launch their plan and kill everyone. Let's assume our phones aren't tapped and everyone in the room with you is trustworthy, and just tell me what the hell you want me to know."

"You take all the fun out of everything, you know that?"

"Not according to Amy. Seriously, what's going on?"

"We need to gather up every family with a new hybrid baby or one on the way, along with any Embassy personnel who aren't A-Cs or equipped to kick serious butt, and get them hidden safely where our enemies wouldn't expect."

"Where is that? We gave them all our responses to emergencies. They know everywhere we'd go, and in what order."

I rifled through the papers. Sure enough, no one had mentioned it. I could try to get him thinking along my lines but Christopher was probably right-I had to trust those with us and that our phones weren't tapped or we got nowhere. Nothing for it but to forego innuendo and tell the world of the genius that was me and White.

"Your dad and I want to get everyone out of Dodge and into the Dome."

CHAPTER 43.

THE DOME'S FULL NAME was the Crash Site Dome. It was the real spot where the first aliens to visit Earth, the Ancients, had crash-landed on their second visit. So far as we knew, they'd done a lot better their first time coming around to say hi.

The remains of the Ancients' spaceship powered the Dome. Apparently their fuel cells had a half-life like nothing else in the galaxy. The Dome was the main gate hub for the entire world, and had the most Security of any A-C facility. It was, essentially, the A-Cs' version of JFK, LAX, and every other big airport rolled into one, without the mess and fuss most airports put you through, like parking garages and a zillion Cinnabon outlets.

It was also hidden from anything and everything human technology could discover. As far as I could tell, it was hidden from alien technology, too, because, so far, no one had tried to take the Dome out of commission. Maybe they couldn't, I didn't know. But I did know where it was and that it was going to be the last place anyone would think we were staying.

"Oh." Christopher was quiet. "That's a really good plan."

"Thank your dad, he's the brains of the operation. Anyway, I want everyone other than you, Tito and Walter out of the Embassy and over to the Dome. Tell them they're going to a tea party."

"Why?"

"Because I want the kids excited or acting like kids who don't want to go to a girly thing, not crying. Ask Denise to pack some extra clothes and diapers and such for Jamie. Ensure all the pets, including my dogs and cats, go along as well." I hoped he'd realize that "all" included Poofs and Peregrines.

"Can't wait," he muttered. "What about Jeff's bird?"

What about Bellie? Reality said I didn't like her and she didn't like me. Reality also said that if any animal was going to stress out the folks in hiding, it was going to be her. Of course, reality additionally said that if I left Jeff's bird to die, he'd never forgive me. Reality also said that if Bellie tried anything with me, she was going to be dinner.

"Keep her at the Embassy. I'll get her and take her with me. Have her stay with either Tito or Walter, depending on which one she likes best, until I get back."

"Why?"

Nice to see he was still focused on asking the big questions. "Because she has intel, and lord knows when she'll want to share it, but those of us in active roles need to hear it, and not filtered through from those in hiding."

"Whatever. She likes me better than Tito or Walter."

"Then you score Bellie-sitting duty. Get everyone, Denise and her kids and Doreen, Irving, and Ezra in particular, moving. I want Pierre with them."

"Why?"

"Because out of every adult I'm going to send over, Pierre's the one who's most likely to come up with things that will keep everyone calm and focused on the fun of the moment, versus the terror. If he wants to bring 'picnic' supplies, let him. I don't think we want them sending for take-out and such."

"Good points. Should I escort them?"

"Yes, then get yourself back to the Embassy. Leave Bellie in our room, in her cage, until you're back, and don't let anyone say anything about this in front of her."

"Why not?"

I resisted the impulse to give a sarcastic reply. "Because she's a freaking parrot, and the last thing we want is her blurting out where we hid everyone in front of the wrong people."

"Oh." He sounded embarrassed. "Right."

"Get moving. I'll meet you at the Embassy if we don't time out to go back together." We hung up, and I dialed again. "Lorraine, how goes it?"

"Fine. You sound stressed."

"Nice to see maternity leave hasn't slowed you down."

"I love my little Ross, but I'm also kind of bored." I heard Claudia chime in that she felt the same way.

"Awesome, you're together, and with the kiddos. I have just the cure for boredom, too. I need you two to pack up diaper bags for an extended stay of possibly a couple hours and possibly a couple days. Pack some extras for Jamie, please and thank you." Sure I'd told Christopher to have Denise do the same, but extra diapers, food, and clothes weren't going to be a bad idea.

"We're at DEFCON Worse?"

"And this is why I call you. Yes, we are."

I heard Claudia in the background. "Claudia wants to know if they're after our kids."

"You know, you two are so much smarter than the rest of us." Well, they were Dazzlers. Dazzlers had it all when it came to brains.

"We're not surprised, really," Lorraine said. "I'll tell you why later."

"Ross and Sean are already manifesting hybrid talents?"

"You're smart too. Okay, where are we meeting you, and who else, if anyone, should we bring?"

"Your mothers, if they're around, and your dads, if they want to go. Serene and Bryan, regardless of whether they want to go. Any other families with hybrids newly arrived or coming. Other than those in our Embassy, who are likely already there waiting for you."

"Gotcha. So, where is it they're waiting and we're going?"

I considered playing the innuendo game, but figured that time was really of the essence and decided to just go for it. "The Dome."

She was quiet for a moment. "You're really worried, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I am."

"Okay, I won't tell anyone else where we're going until we get there."

"Have Gladys do your gate transfer." I looked at White. He nodded emphatically.

"On it. I'll bring med kits, too."

"Always a good plan." Hung up and considered. There were four other hybrids out and about. Three of them I knew I needed and probably wouldn't be able to convince to hide out anyway. The fourth, however, I could get here based on the fact that I had cute girls who also needed protecting. Dialed again.

"Hey, Kitty, what's up?"

"Michael, are you in the middle of anything?"

"Just waiting for the One World event to kick off in a few minutes. It's dull waiting because nothing's going on until launch. And after that, it'll be hours of speeches. Basically, I'm in the middle of a long period of boredom."

"Great! I'm going to save you from boredom." I was saving everyone from boredom today, go me.

"I'm not supposed to leave my post."

"What is your post and who are you with?"

"I'm in the audience and I'm alone." He didn't sound happy about the alone part.

"Seriously? Look, I need you for a plan of higher importance."

"So you claim."

"I have cute human girls who need protecting, and you're the A-C for the job."

"You do know my weakness."

"I do. Zip over to the Romanian Embassy, will you? Use hyperspeed, please, not a gate."

"Be there shortly. What do I tell James or Paul if they ask?"

"Tell them you need to pee." He laughed and we hung up. I turned back to White. "We need a floater gate."

"Already handled. I have a Bat-Line to Gladys just like you have with Mister Reynolds."

"As always, you rock above all others, Mister White. Olga, Adriana, I'd really like the two of you to hide with the rest of our team."

"Why so?" Olga asked. I was clear she already knew, but wanted to make sure I knew. Not a problem.

"Because after they don't find us at the Embassy, they're going to come here to find us. For all we know, they'll come here first, just like the Club Fifty-One people did. Maybe because the Club Fifty-One people did. And if you and Adriana are here, they have hostages we care about. However, I don't want your husband or the rest of your diplomatic mission panicking and searching for the two of you, either."

Olga smiled. "Not to worry." She nodded to Adriana, who went to the desk in the room, dialed the phone, and handed it to Olga. Olga spoke to someone in what I assumed was Romanian, since I didn't understand a word. But she said one sentence very slowly and clearly. Then she hung up. "We are fine. None will panic when we are not here."

"Nice to see you and Andrei have a code phrase."

"If you do not, you should rectify that error immediately."

"Yes, ma'am. Just as soon as we ensure everyone's all tucked away safely." I looked around. They weren't going to like what I was going to say next. "Richard and Senator Armstrong will stay with me. Len, Kyle, and Amy, you're going with Adriana and Olga."

They gaped at me. "Why?" Amy asked. It really was the Question of the Day.

"Because none of you are A-Cs, and I need people with the children, my child in particular, who I know will protect her."

"Our jobs are to protect you," Len said.

"Nope. You're supposed to protect me and Jamie, and Chuckie said I was the boss unless he overruled me, and we don't have time for you to call him. Malcolm's around somewhere, he'll show up when needed as was proved such a short while ago. Otherwise, I can't do my job if I have to worry about my baby."

Amy nodded. "You're right. I'll be Team Lead on the inside."

The boys looked like they were going to argue. White and Olga looked like they were trying not to laugh. I decided to forestall both outcomes. "Works for me, Ames."

"Are we okay to keep our cells on?" Amy asked.

White nodded. "The Dome allows calls in and out but scrambles positioning. Even with the best GPS software, no one could determine where you were based on your phones."

"Awesome. If you find you need supplies while you're there, be sure to send one of the Security guys and have Len and Kyle scan them." I looked to Bruno, who bobbed his head at me. Good. Any Peregrine Enforcers at the Dome would be on the alert as well.

"What about me?" Oliver asked. "I don't believe you consider me a protector, but you haven't given me an assigned duty."

"Oh, you have a duty, MJO. You're going to be causing our distraction."

CHAPTER 44.