Camp Alien (54 page)

Confirmed with Reader that my request for the Vata and the Planetary Council to be in attendance tomorrow was one he was willing to forward to Jeff and the others. Then he took off for Important Meeting Central and I took off for our suite, which I actually found without help.

Had Nadine and Lizzie bring the kids over—mine and the Maurer kids—and we all had dinner with my team in the Family Dining Room. Chase was ten and Cassidy was eight. They'd had a good time with the Lewis kids, so I had hopes that they'd fit into our extended family without too much issue.

Dinner done, we had the usual security folks take the Maurers back to their home. Despite my wanting to have someone with the dainty skills around, it wasn't right to ask Mrs. Maurer and her grandchildren to come with me to Camp David. Besides, I had Vance for that.

“What do you mean I'm going tomorrow?” he asked after we'd sent the Maurers home in one of the A-C limos.

“I mean that I need to not blow it and that means I need you there. Not Guy, though. I think we don't want lobbyists there if we can help it.”

Abner looked worried. “What if something happens tomorrow like it did yesterday?”

“See?” Vance said to him. “I told you—it sounds safe but things blow up around Kitty.”

“Dude, you're going. Abner can get out of it because I don't think I need a decorator or designer there. But you cannot.”

He heaved a dramatic sigh. “Abner, if I don't return, please ensure that my funeral is fantastic and that I get a decently sized memorial stone.”

“I will.” Abner looked even more worried. He hugged Vance, then me. “Be careful, Kitty.”

I reassured him that I'd be the soul of discretion and tucked him into his own limo with his own security.

“So, you staying here tonight or going home tonight? I think we're leaving at some hideously early time, as a warning.”

“I'll spend tonight in my own bed, because it might be the last time I see it.”

“Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence.”

Vance grinned. “I'm confident that there will be trouble. Just know that I'll be behind you all the way.”

“Of that, I have no doubt.”

T
HE REST OF
the evening was uneventful. As Reader had said, Jeff might have been “in” the White House, but if I considered our rooms to be “home,” then he was home late.

The kids were asleep in their rooms and Lizzie and Nadine were in for the night, animals with all of them, well before Jeff finally dragged in.

“God, that was exhausting,” he said as he went into the closet to get undressed.

Followed him in. “Want to talk about it?”

“Honestly? No. I just want to not have to think for a couple of hours and relax with my wife. Is that okay?” he asked, sounding worried all of a sudden.

“It's great.” After all, I'd find out how things were soon enough.

We snuggled into bed and Jeff found an old Godzilla movie. For whatever reason, if it was an old and totally kitschy movie or TV show, Jeff loved it. We fell asleep before Godzilla had defeated Mechagodzilla, but I knew how the movie ended, and while Godzilla did visit me in my dreams, he was mostly benign and took me for a fun ride on his shoulders, where we surfed from Japan to Hawaii while the Beach Boys sang “Surfin' Safari” as our soundtrack.

We woke up to the rocking sounds of “Wake Up” by American Hi-Fi. Same title but much more rocking than the song from yesterday. Of course, the lyrics were kind of foreboding. Chose to ignore that.

Vance was already on-site and he and Raj had everything organized before we were out of our suite. There were
some real advantages to being the President and First Lady. Knew they weren't going to outweigh the disadvantages, but we did soldier on.

We were required to ride up to Camp David in the Beast, though Len was our driver and Kyle had shotgun. Literally our family group, which was six what with Lizzie and Nadine, was all that could fit into this limo comfortably. Didn't share that Bruno, Lola, Mork, and Mindy were also in the car, or that I'd checked my purse and I had a lot of Poofs on Board. By now it should be assumed that Poofs and Peregrines were coming along.

Our luggage went in a burly SUV driven by Secret Service, just like everyone else's luggage. Lost count of the number of SUVs carrying luggage versus people. Lost count of the number of cars overall that we had in our impressive convoy, but it was a lot, many more than we'd had when we were heading into Operation Epidemic and onto the Murder Train.

Jeff spent the entire hour's drive on the phone with my mother—who was still at NSA headquarters and would join us tomorrow—and a variety of others. He did a lot of grunting, and anytime he actually spoke it was about foreign policy, international diplomacy, or equally exciting topics. Len was focused on driving and Kyle was on his own headset having his own grunting conversations. Clearly the men were Occupied.

Requested music, so we listened to the All-American Rejects album
When The World Comes Down
played not nearly loud enough, but a girl had to take what she could get. Spent the drive playing word games with Lizzie, Jamie, and Nadine, while we all entertained Charlie to keep him from trying to lift the car or anything in it. Settled for him merely lifting some of the Poofs out of my purse and juggling them without using his hands. The Poofs didn't seem to mind, so chose not to stress out about this. Much.

So the time passed in a rather conventional manner. No one tried to run us off the road, shoot at us, bomb us, or kidnap us. Was texting with people in various cars in the convoy, and everyone reported that it was all work and serene driving. Had a glimmer of hope that this would end up being a really boring camping trip combining work and
awkward small talk and Poof juggling that I'd have to explain as a magic trick.

We finally reached Camp David, where I discovered it had an official name—Naval Support Facility Thurmont—and I was impressed. It was large, and rustic, and staffed by Navy and Marines, making it nice and secure. The tall wire fences looked remarkably like those around the NSA black site and enhanced the feeling of security. My hopes for a good few days rose.

We were installed in the Aspen Lodge, where the President always stayed. Because we were rolling with so many people, we had a lot more in here than was probably recommended. However, while this was supposed to be where the Pres and his family went to relax, we weren't even trying to pretend that this was anything but work for everyone.

Unpacking took a short amount of time. Fortunately, because we were “camping” in cabins with hot and cold running water, indoor plumbing, and central heat and air—for which I was incredibly thankful—I'd been allowed to be in jeans and Converse. I was even allowed to wear an Aerosmith shirt, since my love for my Bad Boys from Boston was, apparently, well known. Decided that meant I was known as a fun girl and refused to worry about it.

In addition to Alpha Team, who were supposedly already on-site, Doreen, White, Mahin, and Abigail were representing for the Diplomatic Corps and our key White House Staff and Cabinet members, the Vata, and the Planetary Council were also along for the ride, as requested. Happily, Uncle Mort was here, too, representing as the newly minted Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Totally shocking me, Abner was here as well. Grabbed him while Jeff talked to Uncle Mort about their plan for how the next few days should go. “It turns out you can make changes here if you want to,” Abner told me by way of nervous explanation. “And I . . . decided that I should be here in case you . . . need me.”

“Abner, I'm honestly touched. But, and do not take this the wrong way, where are you sleeping?”

Was prepared for him to tell me he was going to be on our couch. “I'm bunking with Vance.”

“Works for me.” Felt that I'd managed to hide my relief,
since he didn't look hurt. Of course, for all I knew, Vance was in our cabin. Now wasn't the time to worry about it, though.

While Lorraine and Claudia were here with the rest of Alpha Team, the flyboys were all at the Embassy, seeing as air support was not needed, since we'd driven. It was felt that the five of them deserved the rest, Joe and Randy especially. Based on how many people we had here, I was actually glad they'd stayed at home, so to speak, though they'd all probably have bunked in the barracks.

Camilla was around somewhere, as was Buchanan. Not that I saw either one of them, but Reader insisted they were on-site so I chose to believe him.

Mister Joel Oliver and Bruce Jenkins and their camera crews and assistants and such were the only reporters allowed access, as per usual, and they both seemed quite thrilled. The teams with them seemed almost giddy. Decided not to ask where they were bunking, since I figured they'd all be too busy taking pictures and doing interviews to actually sleep.

With all the people coming with us, wasn't sure that we actually had enough space to house the Israeli and Iraqi contingents, but it turned out that a lot of our people were going to house at the barracks on-site.

The Shantanu had thought ahead and brought a very small portable city with them. This one was actually small enough that it should have been called a portable two-story extra-large suburban home, but I wasn't going to argue with the wisdom of Rohini's people ensuring that those from their system along with the Vata would all be housing together, so as not to put the humans and A-Cs out. That they could fit it onto the grounds when there were so many trees around was the real surprise.

Confirming that everyone was everywhere they should be fell to Raj and Vance, apparently. This was made much easier thanks to hyperspeed.

The Israeli and Iraqi contingents, who didn't have the luxury of hyperspeed, were still getting settled when Raj and Vance returned to share that everyone was where they were supposed to be and we were due to have our first casual meet and greet by the pool, wherever that was, in around thirty minutes.

Nudged Jeff who had finished with Uncle Mort. “Want to see what this place is like?”

He looked around. “Sure, I think we can do that, baby. Raj, we're going to take a quick look at the entire grounds.”

Raj didn't argue. “Just be back in time for the reception.”

Jeff swung Jamie up onto his shoulders. “Ready for a ride?”

“Yes!” she squealed.

I put Charlie onto my hip and took Jeff's hand. Looked at Nadine and Lizzie. “You coming?”

Nadine shook her head. “I'll pass and take the short break.”

“I'd like to,” Lizzie said hesitantly.

“Hang onto Daddy, Jamie-Kat,” Jeff said. “I have to hold onto Mommy and Lizzie.”

“Okay, Daddy!” Jamie sounded totally excited. “It's so pretty here!”

“It is, isn't it?” It was. Felt myself actually relax. We could do this.

Jeff started off at the slow version of hyperspeed so we could see what was here. There was a lot, really. Including a gigantic trench that had the familiar fencing on both sides, effectively making it hard for anyone to casually get in here.

We did a fast run around the perimeter by following the paved path right next to the trench and discovered that this area was really big, easily larger than the area around and including Forest Haven. Turned out to be a sort of an asymmetrical pentagon, though one that was sort of elongated, with ragged, uneven sides, and there were so many trees it would have been hard to tell without doing this at hyperspeed.

The lowest corner, which was to the left of the main entrance, had a helipad, a skeet shooting range, and a building that I thought might have been housing a basketball court, but we didn't go in so I couldn't confirm.

Going up from there were just a lot of trees but, as we turned to go along the “top,” we spotted the military barracks, which was actually a small complex. And a back entrance or exit. The rest of the sides were all trees, trees, and more trees, though we did spot horseback riding trails. On a total positive, apparently there were horses to ride if we wanted them. Figured that if things went well, maybe I'd
have Jamie try riding while we were here. There were also some trails that led outside of the compound, most notably one at the rear near to Laurel Lodge.

Took a look at Laurel Lodge, where most of the meetings and meals were going to take place. Seemed nice, but we had the kids so we didn't really go inside.

Now we did a run through the interior. Somehow they'd managed to fit a small golf course in the lower right corner of this area. There were also tons of cabins in the “middle”—which gave me a feeling of great relief—tennis courts and a fitness center up near the barracks, the Evergreen chapel near to Laurel Lodge, areas for archery and horseshoes, and, per Jeff's briefing, there was also bowling, movies, a trampoline somewhere that we'd missed, the swimming pool outside of our cabin which only I had missed, billiards—or as I and the rest of the normal people called it, pool—hiking, biking, fishing, and, in winter, lots of other sports.

This place was both totally outdoorsy and a Jock's Dream Palace. Seriously considered if we could get a small football field in here for Len and Kyle and so I could start training all the kids in track and field. Not that I was anti-tree, but there were so very many of them that if we had to knock down a couple of dying ones I wouldn't feel too guilty. Decided to wait to suggest that until we'd been on the job for at least a couple of weeks and my Dad, who was totally ecologically focused, couldn't hear me suggest destroying any of the lovely trees and such.

“It's totes beautiful here,” Lizzie said. “So much less creepy than Forest Haven, too.”

“It's like you read my mind.”

Jeff stopped running and pulled us all in for a family group hug. “I can't tell you how relieved I am that you two are back with the rest of the family, safe and sound. I want the two of you to try to focus on having fun with Jamie and Charlie more than anything else. Especially you, young lady.” He grinned at Lizzie.

Who grinned back. “Will do, Commander.”

Jeff looked sort of wistful. “Not a commander anymore.”

Couldn't help it, the Inner Hyena released. “Are you kidding me? You're officially the Commander in Chief of the entire U.S. military. Stop kidding yourself, Jeff. Like I said
last night, you've been prepping for and doing this job for your entire adult life.”

Jeff gave me a very loving smile. “I'm glad you still think so, baby.” He sighed. “I think it's time for us to get back.”

We headed back for Aspen—which was neither in the center nor near Laurel, but was quite close to the golf course, go figure—and got there as people were starting to gather. Jeff zipped us into the cabin so we could walk out at human normal. So it was kind of a shock to see that someone other than Nadine or our Secret Service teams were in here. Not that it should have surprised me.