"How do you mean?"

"I don't think the stuff we thought were plugs actually are plugs. They didn't unplug when I pulled them out of the board-they ripped."

"So? I'm not following you."

"It's not plugs or needles or tubes, going into them. What's in them are wires. Thin wires, like landlines use."

"You know what the internal workings of landlines look like?"

"Yeah, most of the infrastructure out there is landline based, and the uncles wanted to be sure I knew how to tap a phone line from a distance."

"Gotcha. And it's a great skill. But I don't see how these wires being thin wires like old phones use is relevant."

She heaved an impatient teenaged sigh. "I don't think this board is a computer so much as it's a transference device. I think that the wires from the android side were being inserted into the human side."

CHAPTER 65.

"THAT SOUNDS IMPOSSIBLE." But even as I said that, I knew it wasn't. The Alpha Centauri system had things that were so advanced that to us they seemed like magic. What could a galaxy core planet have? Things that definitely seemed magic. And while this could be Drax technology, Marling had created realistic androids for years.

"Yeah? Then explain how the wires here," she indicated the stuff that was making up the android innards, "are the same color and shape as the wires going into those guys."

"There could be a noninvasive reason." Though I doubted it. Our luck didn't run that way.

"Well, I think that if we check we're going to find out that they have wiring in them already."

"How much?"

She shrugged. "I have no idea, but I don't think we should let them pull the wires out or cut them or anything. They may have to be surgically removed."

"If they can be removed." Looked up to see Joe and Randy watching us. Took a deep breath and went back into the room they were in.

"How bad is it?" Randy asked before I could say anything.

"We know it's bad," Joe added. "We know you, Kitty, and your expression says it's really bad."

"We're androids already, aren't we?" Randy asked, sounding calm in the way someone is right before they totally lose it.

"No. See all those wires? They're all supposed to be inside of you. You're not a full android with all of that still outside of you."

"But we're partial," Joe said flatly.

"Maybe. Lizzie suggested that we not remove or cut the wires that are in you guys. Just in case."

Both guys looked ready to ignore that and pull the wires out. In fact, their hands were moving-Joe's toward his inner elbows, Randy's toward the back of his knees.

"I thought you said these guys were smart," Lizzie said, her Derisive Teenager Tone set to eleven.

Both guys stopped and stared at her. "What?" Joe asked finally.

She rolled her eyes. "Your commander just told you to leave that stuff alone. Me, I'd totes love to see you guys, like, pull your brains out through your skulls because how cool would that be? But Kitty likes you and besides, we don't have a camera, so I can't take footage and be sure I can afford to go to any college I want."

There were a long moments of silence while Joe and Randy stared at Lizzie. I'd known these guys a long time, and I had no idea what they were going to do right now. Also didn't know how much wiring was already inside of them and how it might be affecting their thoughts and actions.

The silence went on, and I knew that it had to break in some way. Decided Lizzie had given me an opening and I should take it. "I'm ordering you both to leave that crap alone right now."

They both looked at me now, but they straightened up and put their hands to their sides. "How do we get dressed?" Joe asked stiffly.

"Really?" Lizzie shook her head. "How are we a superpower? You wrap the stupid stuff around your legs and around your arms. We find a way to cover your heads and keep those wires covered and safe. How is it that you even have to ask?"

"Fear affects everyone," Adriana said softly. "Even those trained for years to ignore it. I believe I've found head coverings." She was holding two knit caps. "The weather is a little warm for these, but they should do what's necessary."

White took one of the hats from her. "Let us help you," he said gently, as he went to Joe and gathered the wires up, twirled them together in a way that looked like it wouldn't tangle, then slipped the hat onto Joe's head. Adriana did the same for Randy. They looked kind of dorky in a cute way, but the wires were definitely hidden.

"What was Stephanie doing with knit caps?" I asked as the guys seemed to get themselves under control and started to put their pants on. White and Adriana helped them with the wires around their knees and they didn't object.

Adriana shrugged. "It gets cold here, and you think she's been here a good while."

"Good point. Did she have any long-sleeved men's shirts lying around?"

"Not that I saw." She cleared her throat. "I did find women's clothing, though. I believe you should take a look at it-it didn't appear to be clothing for Stephanie."

"I'll do that in a bit."

Joe shook his leg a little and a wire slipped out from under his pant leg. "This isn't going to work."

"I know!" Lizzie ran off.

"That kid reminds me a lot of you," Joe said quietly.

"In good ways," Randy added loyally.

"I'm sure. She's been through a lot. More than you guys, really."

"If she's been adopted by who you say, she's been through a ton." Joe sighed. "I don't feel like myself."

"Because of real reasons or because you're freaked out?"

"Probably freaked out," Randy said with a grin. "You know how much of a scaredy-cat Joe is."

Joe grinned. "Yeah, just like you, farm boy."

Lizzie returned with four elastic elbow braces and four knee braces. "The chick running this place likes to be prepared, I'll say that. These were with the first aid stuff. She's totes set up for a siege of epic proportions."

"Whatever works."

White and Adriana again helped the guys get their wires tucked safely and the elbow braces on. "Kind of restrictive," Joe said, flexing his arms.

"But not too bad," Randy added as he took his pants off and started to redo the wires around his legs. "We'll be fine." He cleared his throat. "Thanks, kid."

Joe nodded as he followed suit. "Yeah. Appreciate the help. And the ass-kicking. Normally Kitty's the one doing that."

"She likes you guys a lot more than I do. Though, to be fair, I don't really know you. Jerry's funnier, though."

"He always charms the ladies," Joe said with a sigh.

"But we're the ones who are married to the hottest women around." Randy grinned. "Present company excepted."

"Nice to see you two feeling more normal. I hate to ask this, but did anyone find their shoes and socks?"

"Socks yes," Adriana replied as Joe and Randy waved their socks at me. "Shoes, on the other hand, no."

"God, we've got more shoes to pick from than at a DSW outlet," Lizzie said. Accurately.

"I just don't think we want the guys in some dead person's ancient shoes. Plus, finding their sizes isn't as easy as just walking out and picking a pair of shoes at random."

Lizzie shot me a look that said I was getting older than was good for me rapidly. She trotted off again.

"Should you be letting a kid wander around her by herself?" Joe asked. "Even a kid as competent as Lizzie seems to be?"

"Pick your battles and all that."

Lizzie came back, holding two pairs of shoes. "These were by the tree near the entrance to this Cave of Wonders."

"I love her, I really do." Took the shoes from Lizzie and stared at them. "Um, guys? I think these are actually your shoes. They look like government issue for officers." They also didn't look like they were part of Forest Haven's Shoe Department. These shoes were used and well cared for, not filthy and filled with despair.

Handed a pair to each of them. Sure enough, the flyboys took one look at the shoes, traded, and put the shoes on. "Definitely mine," Randy said.

"Mine, too. Thanks for finding them," Joe said to Lizzie.

She shrugged. "Wasn't hard. They were just sitting there."

Managed not to mention that there had been no shoes near the entrance when we'd first come down here. Managed also not to look around for helpful ghosts. Might never sleep again, and would definitely need to go with an entourage the next time I needed to buy shoes, but I was damned if I was going to point out how freaking spooky this was.

"You want me to look at the clothes?" Lizzie asked Adriana. "If you think they weren't for Stephanie, I have a guess whose they are."

"We'll both go," I said firmly. I was still the one in charge.

Lizzie shrugged but we both trailed after Adriana. "This is the room where I found Joe and Randy's clothes," Adriana said when we reached yet another glass room. It was far away from where the guys had been and blocked by one of the tree trunks.

There were what I thought of as Washington Wife Clothes hanging neatly on a rolling rack. "Oh yeah, I think they're even Crystal Maurer's size."

"I think she was wearing something that looked just like this, only in a different color," Lizzie added. "So, that proves she's an android, right?"

"Well, no, but it ratchets the likelihood up to at least ninety percent."

"What do we do with these clothes?" Lizzie asked.

"The same thing we're doing with most of what's here-nothing."

Adriana nodded. "We will need to have personnel come back and raid this facility, but for right now, what matters isn't this. I just wanted you to see it." She cleared her throat. "I also want you to see something else."

She led us to the far side of the room, an area blocked from sight of the rooms Joe and Randy were in. There were a wide variety of rooms here that looked just like the ones the flyboys were in, complete with two beds, computer light boards, and what definitely appeared to be android innards on one of the beds in each room.

The other beds held photographs of the intended androids. Me, Jeff, Christopher, White, Gower, Reader, and Tim were all nicely represented.

"So, the little Abigail got from the androids was right-Stephanie has definite plans for who she wants to destroy and control."

"She's one wacked out bitch, isn't she?" Lizzie asked.

"She is."

"I don't know that you want the others to see this," Adriana said. "I don't think Joe and Randy will be able to emotionally handle it right now."

"I'm sure you're right. Lizzie, is your phone working to take pictures?"

"Yeah, gotcha." She pulled her phone out and took a few snaps of each of the rooms. "You're going to need to show these to Jeff to make him accept that Stephanie isn't a good person, right?"

"Got it in one."

Creep Out Time and Picture Time both over, we headed back and rejoined the men. White looked like he'd just finished a short counseling session. Considering the circumstances, he probably had. But the guys looked a little better, so the time and effort hadn't been wasted.

"Now that we're all ready to go, I wonder if we should take the computer boards with us," White said, looking worried. "If there are foreign objects in the boys, it might be best to have all the data."

"We need to bring supplies more. Besides, unless we can figure out how to make a phone work around here, we aren't taking much."

"We can come back if needed," Adriana said. "Stephanie is incarcerated, so she won't be returning any time soon."

"As long as we find the Kendroid, I agree with Adriana." Looked at the flyboys. "But that decision's up to you two."

"I don't want to cart that thing around," Joe said. "It looks heavy and it's not made for carrying."

"I'm lazier than Joe, so I agree we leave them here and take our chances."

"Super. Let's hope that decision goes better than most we make. Let's get back to the others."

Lizzie took some pictures of the computer boards while Adriana put her stuff back into her backpack and the rest of us gathered more water, more food bars, and more first aid supplies.

White pulled me aside as we gathered stuff. "I feel it again."

"Feel what?"