Kitty Katt 11: Alien Separation (37 page)

L
UCKILY FOR ME,
Rahmi was behind me, because the door flew open and I flew back. She caught me as we all saw a happy sight—Reader was there. “Get out!”

Didn't have to tell us twice. We ran and he slammed the door behind us, as more explosions went off.

“How did you get explosives in there?” he asked me, as Wilbur put his paws on my shoulders and licked my face.

“Long story. I can guess how you found us—good boy, Wilbur—but how did you get the snakipedes to stop and drop?”

“That took a different kind of persuasion.” Reader pointed and I looked to see Ronaldo 2.0 on his knees, with Fancy's very long claws at his throat and face, with particular emphasis on his eyes. Meanwhile, Ginger was growling right at his groin.

The explosions continued. The whole place shook, but nothing came down. “How'd you catch him?”

“Wilbur tracked you, and as Ronaldo there ran out and closed the door he laughed, meaning Ginger could hear him and she attacked. He's clawed up a lot on his backside. Fancy joined in and we suggested that he call off whatever was attacking you or we'd slice him up slowly and let him watch us feed him to the Poofs.”

“I love it when you're nasty.” The explosions finally stopped. Heaved a sigh. “Girls, you were awesome. How long were you in there?”

“Days,” Abigail said. “We landed in the throne room. We were outnumbered and they captured us.”

“We took down twenty before they did so,” Rhee said. “I counted.”

“Good job. How did you survive in there for minutes, let alone days?”

“We were in a cage,” Rahmi replied. “The cage dumped us out about a minute or so before you arrived. We used it to hold them off for a while, but then when it got knocked aside, we went back to our normal fighting styles.”

“Good call. I wonder why they captured you, though. Everyone else has treated us all like Gods or at least strangers to help.”

“He knew who we were.” Abigail went over to 2.0. “And I know who you are.” Her voice was low and icy and more dangerous than I'd ever heard. “You're why my brother and my aunt are dead, and because of that, why my sister is dead.”

Went to her and put my hand on her shoulder. “No, he's not. He's not the real Ronaldo Al Dejahl. He's a clone. The one who caused us all so much trouble during Operation Infiltration was a clone, too. There are a lot of clones around, and not just the snakipedes.” Pulled Abigail gently away from 2.0. Now wasn't necessarily the time to kill him.

“The what?” Rahmi asked.

“The things we were just fighting.”

“Oh, them. They told us they were called the Horrors. That name seemed apt.”

“It is apt but, um, well, you know . . .”

“Shealla is the Giver of Names,” Fancy said, as she nodded solemnly to the three girls, while never letting her claws waver from 2.0's face and throat. “You are the Venida. You know the Queen of the Gods will rename as she sees fit.”

The girls stared at me. “Long story. They all, um, know we're Gods here, okay? So don't try to fool them.”

“No,” Abigail said dryly, “we surely wouldn't want to do that.”

“We need to verify that all the snakipedes and the snakipede cloning equipment is destroyed,” I said quickly.

“I'm not willing to die from radiation poisoning,” Reader said. “So I vote that we take it on faith and send in a hazmat team later.”

“We need to find the others,” Fancy added.

“Speaking of whom, Ronnie, where are your other prisoners?”

“I don't have any.” He sounded strained, not snippy, meaning he was very aware of the claws and fangs hovering nearby. “I'm injured.”

“I care. Deeply. But until I have every single solitary prisoner of yours in my custody, you're just going to keep on bleeding. And potentially keep on getting clawed up. Hard to say at this precise time.”

“Where are the other warriors under your command?” Rahmi asked him.

“Her creatures ate them,” 2.0 said.

The girls all looked at me. “All of them?” Rhee asked.

“Think so. Not sure. Ah, Poofies? Where are you? Come to Kitty.”

Waited. No Poofs appeared. Oh great—we now had this moment's new definition of “not good.” Lucky us.

“Who else is missing?” Abigail asked while I tried not to fret. Failed.

“Everyone. We were all together and only missing you three, but there was a trap set around a dead body—one of the Amazonian Ancient Clones—and the others ran into it. We five didn't.”

Abigail turned back to Ronaldo 2.0. “So where are they?” she snarled. “You took them and put them somewhere. Tell us, and I might let them stop me from doing to you what I wanted to do to your clone brother.”

“I have no idea. You three were the only ones who landed here.”

Wished Jeff was here, for multiple reasons. Right now, though, I wished that I could tell if 2.0 was lying.

“You obviously knew there were others,” Reader said, picking up the slack. “Otherwise you'd have chosen your words differently.”

“You all just told me there were others here,” 2.0 snapped. “I had three aliens land in my throne room, obviously attempting an assassination. They failed. Clearly the rest of you are doing a better job eliminating me.”

“Why would you think we were here to assassinate you?” Rhee asked. “When you pulled us here?”

“Wasn't me pulling anyone here. We don't have the technology to do that on this planet.”

This wasn't true. But none of the natives had known about the power sphere and 2.0 didn't sound like he was lying.

“So you thought someone beamed some assassins in here?” I asked him.

“Why not? Every other planet has higher tech than we do. They wouldn't be the first to try.”

Oh really? “Why would someone want to assassinate you?”

“You mean besides them and her?” He waggled his eyebrows toward Fancy.

“I am containing a dangerous prisoner,” Fancy said haughtily. “If I wanted you dead, you would already be dead.”

“She has a good point, Ronnie. I'm still back on how you would think two Free Women would be here to assassinate you, when you had a room full of them at your beck and call.”

“I figured they were with her.” Now the brows waggled toward Abigail.

“So, you did know what your clone brother did to my family?” Abigail asked, voice silky with menace. I'd never seen her like this, but then again, I could understand her mindset.

“No,” 2.0 said with clearly forced patience. “I was warned about all of you before I took the throne. And I was also warned about my enemies in this solar system.”

Realization dawned. “Who are they?” Pointed to Rahmi and Rhee.

“The bloodline of the Royal Family of Beta Twelve, and the sworn enemies of those who protect me. Is this some sort of stupid test?”

“Yes. Why would you think they were coming to assassinate you?”

He rolled his eyes, which was an interesting look considering Fancy's claws were still in front of them. “Because I know there are a lot of other inhabited planets in this system and they all want my world. Beta Twelve, in particular, wants it.”

They did? “They do? Why?”

“Because what we have will give them the spaceflight ability they want more than anything else.”

“Q
UEEN RENATA IS
aware of why her people aren't being allowed spaceflight.”

Ronaldo 2.0 shrugged. He was ballsy, I had to give him that. But then, that was a Ronaldo Trait. As was being an asshat, a jerk, and a murderous psychopath, so I didn't allow myself to get too impressed. “Maybe when you last saw her she was good with it. Now? Not as much.”

“What changed?” Reader asked, of Rahmi and Rhee as much as Ronaldo.

Rahmi shook her head. “When we were sent to Earth, things were exactly as Kitty has said. My mother was in close agreement with the Planetary Council and the King of Alpha Four about most, if not all, things.” Rhee nodded.

“So how do you know this?” Fancy snarled at 2.0.

“I have spies on the other planets,” he replied, as if this was obvious. “Just like they have spies here. I think your pets ate some of them.”

“Bummer. Maybe.” Thought about this. “You know . . . why would the Snow Globe Beetles have eaten all the snakipede corpses, but not have eaten the Usha clone corpse?” Got a sick feeling in my stomach. “Do you think the Usha and other Amazonian Ancient clones are deadly in some way if ingested?” Because, if so, I'd just killed all my Poofs.

Felt ill. Then felt something soft at my neck.

Reached up and found Poofikins in my hand. The Poof purred at me, mewled a bit, and I snuggled it to my face. “Kitty is
so
glad you and the others are okay.”

“Poofs are okay?” Reader asked, sounding tense. He had a Poof he loved, too. We all did, and they were all on this planet with us.

“Yeah. Per Poofikins they've been searching the castle. Amazingly enough, Ronnie here isn't lying—none of the rest of our people are in here. In fact, there are no other living souls in here, since we apparently wiped out the snakipedes, go team.”

“They checked the area that had just been nuked?” Abigail sounded worried.

Poofikins mewled at her, purred, then went into my purse. “Yes, they were fast.” And protected. Being Black Hole Universe creatures, they had protections the rest of us didn't and probably never would. Being Algar's pets meant they could do what they wanted, when they wanted, so I was personally relieved that they'd all searched for the others. Attached Poofs were
attached
, so that made sense.

“There were other Poofs,” Reader said. “More than I thought had come with us.”

“Good point. Ah, Poofikins or Harlie, if it's convenient, could you come to Kitty?”

Poofikins popped out of my purse with a sleepy grumble. The Poofs believed in napping at any and all times when they weren't needed. Wasn't sure if they'd picked this up from the A-C's or vice versa, but it was a trait I was very familiar with by this time. Poofikins mewled, purred, grumbled, and mewled again. Then back into my purse. Apparently the Poofs were tired out from their activities, because, as I looked in, I had a lot of them in there now.

“Yes, those are local solar system Poofs. Here to help us, regardless of their owners' views.”

“Are you saying Alexander or Victoria are against us?” Reader sounded worried. Couldn't blame him.

“No, but there are a lot more Poofs now, and therefore, a variety of different owners. Alexander has allowed the Poofs to go to other planets.”

“Why?” Abigail asked flatly. “That seems remarkably stupid or generous. Or both.”

Looked at 2.0 and thought about it. “Because not all spies have to look like us.”

The Poofs were attached to me, but they were also attached to the Alpha Four Royal Family, and had been attached to them first and for far longer than they'd been with me. For millennia, really. And the same was definitely true of Algar. And my husband and therefore our daughter were also part of that Royal Family.

So, the Poofs were going to be on Alexander's side, and, by extension, ours. Perhaps he had a talent for Poof Chatting like I did, or else the Poofs got their points across to him. But I was pretty sure he was utilizing the Poofs as a spy and defense network. Which was hella impressive, when you thought about it.

And it begged a question—had the Alpha Centauri Poofs come to help us on their own, because of a request from Harlie, or because Alexander had asked them to?

“So, where are the others, then, if they're not in this castle?” Reader asked, pulling me back to the most relevant conundrum.

“No idea,” 2.0 said. “I only knew you were coming because you came through the tunnel.”

“You're saying you know of the tunnels?” Fancy asked with a little growl.

“Yes. I let you raid. Because I'm a nice king that way.”

“Dude, seriously, no one here likes you. Stop baiting everyone, or someone's going to end your life, and, news flash, there is no way for you to make another Ronnie. And even if there was,
you'll
be gone.”

“Tell her why you supposedly allowed her to raid,” Reader added. “Or I'll be happy to agree to let the ocellar and chocho eat you. Because as far as I'm concerned your original murdered my in-laws and I'm really not above taking all our rage and grief out on you. Sure, it's not fair, but then neither is life, right?”

“James, seriously, I
love
it when you're nasty! Now, Ronnie, let's try this again. Answer the questions.”

“You people . . . you think in such straight lines. Look, can everyone stop threatening me? I'm aware that half of you can catch me and all of you want to kill me. This position isn't comfortable. Can I at least sit?”

Figured Fancy and Ginger could be getting tired. “Sure. Wilbur, you sit behind the nasty man, Ginger, stay in front, and the rest of us will surround all of you. All campfire cozy.”

Fancy and Ginger backed off a bit, Wilbur got into position, and 2.0 sat on his butt. “Finally. Thank you.”

“So, you were trying to insult us, I think. So do go on.”

“Not an insult. You all just tend to think in straight lines. ‘If I wasn't caught when I raided, then they don't know I was here.' And so on.”

“How is that thinking in a straight line?” Abigail asked. “It makes sense.”

Reader nudged me. “You don't think in straight lines,” he said quietly. “It's one of the reasons you always figure out what's going on.”

He was right and I decided to take the hint and once again toss on my Megalomaniac Girl cape. “I get why you'd let them think they weren't seen if you were trying to trap them. But you don't appear to be trying to trap them . . . Oh. Duh.”

“What?” Rhee asked.

“He let Fancy's Ferrets raid so that he could follow them back. They're good, and they were cautious, so it took time. Get a little farther each time. Soon enough, you know where Haven is. Then you sneak your spy into Haven and wait.”

“I didn't have a spy in Haven,” 2.0 said. I shot him a look that said I knew he was a liar. He shook his head. “Seriously. You're right, I had them followed. And yes, we were ready to attack tonight. That got foiled.” He made the Ate A Lemon Face. “I presume by all of you.”

“Pretty much. But I still don't buy it. Usha was in Haven and she was trying to open the door to let snakipedes in. If she wasn't working for you, who the hell was she working for?”

“You mentioned that name before. I don't know an Usha.”

“Pull the other one, it has bells on.”

He shrugged. “I just thought you were using a common Free Woman name. I didn't have a spy in Haven. Frankly, if you hadn't shown up, I wouldn't have needed one. Open the doors, let in my Horrors, no more Haven.”

“Fancy, you said the Horrors had been here forever, right?”

“Yes, Shealla.”

“Have we, by any chance, destroyed all the Horrors by blowing up the giant pen they were in?”

“No, Shealla. Because where you and the Venida were is not their nesting place. The Horrors nest out of doors, at the far side of the castle. We have never entered the room you and the Venida were in.”

“Huh. So, Ronnie, why were you making Horror Clones? Just not enough bad in the world or something?”

“You actually have to ask? Because I can control them and they are the best fighting force anyone could have.”

“Not quite, apparently. What about the naturally born ones? Can you control them, too?” As the words left my mouth, I knew the answer. Of course he could. And, point of fact, of course he
was
. Contemplated all my options. Decided to go for the best one. Stood up. “Ginger, please come to Kitty.”

She backed away from 2.0 and came to me. Picked her up and gave her to Reader. Then stepped closer to 2.0 and gave him a nice roundhouse to the head. He went down.

The others stared at me.

“Not that I object,” Rahmi said finally, “but may I ask why?”

“The why is that he was spending his time ‘being helpful' so that he could call the other snakipedes here. I'd imagine we have a bunch of them really close by, and if they can get inside this castle in some way, assume that they have done and are doing so.”

Sure enough, heard a far-off hissing and what sounded like scales scraping against rock.

“Oh, good,” Reader groaned. “So, we're once again caught between a rock and a hard place.”

“Figures,” Abigail said, as she and the other girls stood up. “Or, as we call it, routine.”