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going to catch me,” Michael says.
    “I’d like to see them catch me,” Lindsey says. “I will kick some alien butt if they do.”
    That makes Michael smile. Lust will do that. It can make crazy look cute.
    “I know I’ve been able to hide things from them,” I say.
    “Me too,” Lauren says.
    “They aren’t as strong as they think they are,” I say.
    “Not nearly,” Lauren says.
    “They can’t catch us,” Michael says.
    Then we lapse into silence.
    “So we’re ready,” Lauren says, breaking it.
    “Except that we don’t know how to get past the security traps and whatever else is out there,” I say.
    “What security traps?” Lauren says.
    “I’ve been meeting a girl in a dream,” I say. “She told me about them.”
    This pretty much stops conversation. Everyone is looking at me. They’re waiting. When you go through an alien invasion, your perspective kind of changes. I can feel their skepticism, but I feel something else, too.
    “She’s his dream girl,” Michael says.
    “Dream girl?” Lauren raises her eyebrows. They practically form disapproving question marks.
    “She’s not my dream girl,” I say. “I communicate with her in a dream. That’s not the same thing.”
    “Of course not,” Michael says, winking at Lindsey.
    She laughs. Lindsey says, “Is this some kind of joke?”
    “No,” I say.
    It’s strange, but I can feel that they all kind of believe me.
    “So where is she?” Lauren asks.
    “Locked in a room.”
    “Why?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Probably that’s where they keep dream girls,” Michael says.
    Lindsey and Michael actually high-five each other. I really wish they hadn’t gotten together.
    “She knows things,” I say.
    “What kind of things?”
    “She knows about the rebels. She seems to know about the aliens.”
    “How?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Doesn’t that worry you?” Lauren says. “It worries me.”
    “She’s like us, but she knows more and we need her.”
    “I don’t like this. She’s locked away by herself. She comes to you in a dream. We don’t know anything about her.”
    “It doesn’t matter,” I say. “What matters is that we don’t know enough.”
    “Enough?” Lindsey says. “What are you talking about?”
    “We don’t know enough to get out of here alive,” I say. “If she can give us some edge we need her.”
    “Maybe,” Lauren says.
    “I say get her,” Lindsey says. “We’re going to need all the help we can get.”
    “Dream girl,” Michael says. “Talking to a girl in dreams. We’re all freaks, Tex, but you are freak squared.”
    Lindsey giggles. I think for a moment they’re going to high-five each other again, but I’m saved from that when Lauren says, “I trust you, Jesse. If you say we need her, then I guess we do.”
    Everyone starts eating again. We’re scared. We’re excited. A Handler passes close by. I can feel his power more now that I’m stronger. We all can. For a few seconds the air buzzes as if it’s full of bees. We keep eating, but the excitement is gone. The fear, though — it stays.

To Senator & High Lord Vertenomous:
    I am aware of the delicacy of your situation. I understand the political ramifications of a scandal. We still don’t have any proof that they are aware or even capable of hearing without our help. If you could allow me to conclude my investigation before making the transfer, I can ensure the success of the colony.
    To Senator & High Lord Vertenomous:
    Yes, I have received the official inquiry from the Coalition of Species Rights and other inquiries from religious sources who claim to be concerned that this product may be capable of linking to the One. If those fanatics had their way, we would still be struggling to survive in our dying solar system or we would be extinct. I know how you feel about them. I know you agree with me. If we just put them off and keep them away from the planet, all will be fine. The number of product that can hear on this planet is