"To ensure that His Royal Highness is safe and well," Franklin said. "But they plan to stay here. Because that's their job-to babysit your arms dealer."

"He's not our arms dealer," Jeff said. Drax looked hurt and Jeff grunted. "Not officially and not yet, at any rate. Where are they, these retainers?"

"At the only place we could put them where they wouldn't cause more problems," Siler replied cheerfully. "The Alpha Centaurion Embassy."

CHAPTER 37.

"I'M MISSING ALL the good stuff. I was just there and chose to come here when I could have stayed longer and met our newest surprise guests. I'm bitter."

Jeff sighed. "Yes, I realize being in the White House is a letdown."

Felt bad. "Well, no. But my particular style isn't suited to our new gig."

"You said that when we took over the Embassy, and everything worked out," Jeff said.

"So to speak," Chuckie added.

"Et tu, Brute?"

"You know that she's right and that all our enemies are going to exploit this weakness, too," Reader said. "Kitty's every evildoer's Enemy Number One."

"Et tu, Brute Two?"

"What do you suggest?" Jeff asked, sarcasm knob heading for eleven. "That I explain that my wife isn't going to be around a lot because she's off leading the armed forces?"

"That could work," Franklin said with a laugh. "But you can all relax. Frankly, the Vata were very pleasant, apologetic, and cooperative. I didn't get the impression they were here to cause trouble. They're here because they've been searching for their missing prince for two years. Your Concierge Majordomo said to tell you that all is being handled."

"Sounds about right for the timeline, and Pierre's a national treasure. So, what did you find at Drax Industrial's Sentient Headquarters?"

"Pretty much what he said we'd find," Buchanan replied. "But we left everything there. The building's secure and it doesn't appear to attract a lot of attention."

"Far less like a lair than his home," Siler added. "Reminiscent of any factory you've ever seen, albeit extremely high tech. It's clear he's a tinkerer."

"As long as no one's shooting at us from the catwalks, I'm good. So, Iron Man here has the skills, at least as far as we can tell?"

Siler chuckled. "I liked Booster Gold better."

"Well, the jury's still out on which one he gets to keep. Maybe both. I like to mix it up and keep everyone guessing."

Buchanan rolled his eyes. "Yes, you do. And it appears that Drax does have the Iron Man skills, so to speak. He now also has official babysitters. They said they weren't leaving unless or until he was leaving."

"Do they look any different from Drax?"

"They aren't relatives, if that's what you mean," Franklin said.

"No, she means can they pass for humans or not," Siler said. "And yes, they can. Their hair is long just like his is. Hides the plates."

"Did you have time to do the robot and android tests?"

"No," Drax answered. "I was quite willing and still am, but my family interfered. Just as they always do." He sounded as bitter and teenaged as I'd ever heard Stephanie or Lizzie sound. Interesting. Figured I should find out how Vata aged sooner as opposed to later.

"Parents worry about their children. Oh, speaking of which, Nightcrawler, Lizzie's been moved into the White House. Apparently the Elves feel that she needs the stuffy yet stable environment the White House will provide. And she's enrolled at the Sidwell Friends School. If you have any issues, take it up with Vance and Pierre and good luck complaining to the Elves."

He looked surprised but not displeased. "That's good, I guess. I kind of thought that we'd be staying in family quarters together, though, at the Embassy. Like we have been for the last few days."

"As did we all. However, wiser heads and all that. Apparently she's now my ward. Don't ask me, I don't make these decisions. I apparently have people to do that."

"And yet she's unhappy," Jeff muttered to Chuckie.

"She's adaptable, but sometimes it takes her a while," Chuckie replied. "You know how she is about wealth, she gets it from her father."

"I'm in the room and I'll be offended for me and Dad both later on. So, here's my question-are there any other Vata ships on our horizon?"

"I asked," Franklin said. "Multiple times and in various ways. The reply was a consistent no. They've found Prince Gustav, he's safe and happy on Earth, that information has been relayed home, and they're staying to guard him and help him with whatever it is they think he's doing here."

"Does this happen to other Presidents?" Jeff asked. "I mean that seriously."

"Some have it worse, some have it better, but I can tell you that President Johnson definitely went through something like this," Chuckie said. "When your emissaries first arrived."

"Good point." Jeff ran his hand through his hair. "So, do we announce this?"

"You don't have to," Franklin said. "I'd talk to Mort and Hammy about it, but I'd imagine they'll both counsel that you keep this quiet. The Vata are in the Embassy. Keep them there for now and all should be well. Great choices, moving Mort and Hammy into the positions you did, by the way."

"I'd have moved you in, too, but everyone insisted we needed you to stay at Andrews."

"They were right. And I'm glad to be there-I find my job very rewarding, since I can confirm that I'm helping on a daily basis. Not everyone can say that." He clapped Jeff on the shoulder. "You're doing a great job. I realize the weight of the world is on your shoulders, but you'll handle it and then some."

Franklin said goodbye and that he'd be in touch and we should feel free to call him day or night. Then Serene escorted him to the Executive Washroom where he took a gate back to the base.

"Now what?" Tim asked.

"Now Alpha Team takes him to Dulce," Jeff nodded at Drax. "Do the tests Kitty wants done."

"Take the other Vata to do the tests, too."

This earned me looks. "Why?" Reader asked.

"Five metal heads able to talk to electronics are better than one. Maybe one of them will catch what Drax doesn't."

"That's a security risk," Chuckie said. "Having Drax in Dulce is a huge risk in the first place. Four other Vata there is a potential breach of epic proportions. And before you mention the religious aspect, I heard it already, and while I respect the idea of their beliefs, we've seen too many wars fought in the name of religion on this planet for me to trust that these Vata aren't willing to do wrong against us if they feel it's right for them."

"I'd argue this, but I conceded your point," Drax said. "The only way for us to earn your trust, however, is for you to allow us to do so."

"He hasn't launched the missiles," I pointed out. "None of them have. I know you're not a trusting person, Chuckie, but there has to be a middle ground."

"There is," he said. "In the middle of Groom Lake."

"That works," Reader said. "You want us doing that tonight?"

"No, everyone needs some rest," Jeff said. "Drax has been here two years and, as Kitty said, he hasn't blown us up. I'm willing to err on the side of trust, at least at this level. Take him to the Embassy and keep him with you," he said to Siler.

"I'll go, too," Wruck said.

"Please, and thank you. Can you handle all five of them if you have to?" Jeff sounded worried.

Wruck nodded. "I can. Shape-shifting has its advantages."

"Where do you want me?" Buchanan asked.

"I'd say here, but I'll try to keep an eye on my wife tonight. So, the Embassy might be the better choice."

"I agree." Buchanan shot me a half-smile. "Try to stay out of trouble for a few hours, will you, Missus Executive Chief?"

"Everyone's a hater."

"We'll stay at the Embassy, too," Reader indicated himself and Tim. "Serene, here or Dulce?"

"I'll go to Dulce and get the Groom Lake test area set up for us."

"I'm still living in the Embassy," Chuckie pointed out. "So I'll be there, too." He sighed. "I need to find somewhere else to live now, though." Jeff opened his mouth and Chuckie put up his hand. "The Director of the CIA cannot live at the American Centaurion Embassy, Jeff."

"Or the White House, so don't suggest that either, Jeff. But it's fine, I know where you're going, Chuckie, never fear." Sent a text to Pierre, who said he'd handle the request with the Elves immediately.

"And where is that?" Chuckie asked.

"The Cairo. With Nathalie and Elaine. We already have the building under guard, and you'll like it, it's very cool. The Operations Team will handle it, you'll just need to sign whatever lease. Oh, and make sure that they install gates in your apartment and in Nathalie's and Elaine's, too."

"Oh, will do, Boss Lady." He laughed. "But that's a good compromise, honestly. If they have a vacancy."

My phone beeped. "They do, and you're in."

"That fast?" Chuckie sounded shocked.

Jeff grinned. "We move fast, remember?"

CHAPTER 38.

IT WASN'T ALL THAT LATE but we were all that tired and more. So everyone headed off to either their rooms or their residences. The Planetary Council was briefed about the Vata at the Embassy, and they were all on board with the new arrivals and also about not sharing that said new arrivals were here with anybody else.

Raj was living in the White House along with the other A-C White House personnel, so he and Antoinette took care of getting everyone out and headed home. Not that we wouldn't see most if not all of them first thing in the morning, but we liked to pretend our lives were normal occasionally.

Since Dad and her grandchildren were there, and his wife and child were also, Mom and Christopher came upstairs with us. "So, what does Malcolm want me to have plausible deniability for?" she asked.

"Shouldn't we not mention that until we're in a room without bugs?"

Mom shot me a look. "What was bugged?"

"The Oval Office," Jeff replied. "And Chuck said he swept it yesterday."

"Plus Vance gave us the Walls Have Ears speech on the way down," Christopher added.

"I'm so proud. That was a Kitty-ism at its finest."

Mom and Christopher both grimaced-her at the state of things, him at me-and she pulled out her phone and made a call. "Kevin, have Security do a full sweep of the White House complex, the Embassy, and Dulce. Probably the Cairo, too. Yes. Yes, I know they were checked yesterday. Today, the Oval Office had an infestation." She barked a laugh. "Yeah, exactly, why would we expect that?" Laughed again. "Oh, good point. Yes, keep me posted." She hung up and heaved a sigh.

"What would you expect?" Christopher asked.

"That no one coming in would be bringing bugs in with them. Kevin suggests Kitty's purse be thoroughly searched."

"And he's probably not wrong. Mom, who could be bringing bugs in? This place is supposedly secure."

"It's also gigantic, and any system can be gamed. You do it all the time."

Christopher and I looked at each other. "Several times today, as a matter of fact," he shared.

"Traitor."

"I'm with Kitty, Angela, about the security, even though my wife and cousin are clearly stating that I'm an idiot to think we're safe. Who should I be firing?" Jeff sounded tired and worried, not that I could blame him. Put my arm around his waist. He was incredibly tense. Hugged him and he put his arm around my shoulders. Felt him relax a bit.

"Neither one of us thinks that, Jeff."

"What Kitty said," Christopher added. "We just both know that we got out easily enough, meaning someone else can get in. So, like Jeff asked, who should we be wary of, Angela?"

"Everyone. No one." Her phone beeped. "God, I love hyperspeed and A-C efficiency. Per Kevin, there are no bugs anywhere in the complex. The Embassy is clean as well. Bugs were removed at the Cairo from, and I'm sure this will totally shock you, the apartments of Nathalie Brewer and Elaine Armstrong." Mom was texting almost as fast as Tim usually did. "Kevin feels that the only reason there aren't bugs at the apartment Charles will be in is because no one knows he's moving in there yet."

"Geez. Elaine was just moved in. By the Operations Team."

"Yes, but then they left. I'd assume that every single Alphabet Agency had teams sneak in here to plant those bugs in the Oval Office. And of course your many enemies would have done so, as well. I'm having agents sent to the homes of every one of Jeff's new appointees and also to the homes of those few that are holdovers from Vince's regime."

"How would they do that? We were all here, right here, today."

Mom shot me a look I was quite familiar with-her "don't try to lie to me, missy" look. "Not everyone was 'right here' all day, as Christopher and you just mentioned, and those who were here were busy. The staff is still reeling from Vince's death, so if they saw someone who looked like they should be here, they'd ignore it. The Secret Service is spending all its time trying to keep you and Jeff from being killed. They're focused far too internally right now."