Sheena shrugged. "Not necessarily. This could be about Angus and Erin. The Guardians are using the alien portal for time travel … or something like it. Nate's father must have known. Dad's work ruled out going backwards in our own time. It's possible though that Angus and Erin were stolen from another universe, where life happened for them just like they keep telling us it did."
"Another universe?" Bri ran both hands through her hair. "I didn't see that answer coming."
Sheena nodded. "They come from Universe 6, according to Nate. Dad's notes said he and the Guardians had located the space-time coordinates for 11 or 12 universes. I also found out they brought another version of Erin here from some other universe who did not survive the transition. That Erin died from depression. But our Angus and Erin? They're hardcore survivors, aren't they?"
Bri nodded. "Angus and Erin came to the cells below deck to bust me out just because I was a MacNamara. They made Darcone bring them to see me and I could tell they were still frightened of him back then. I was not kind to them, Sheena, but they dished it right back. And I'll tell you something else-the aliens adore those two people. They would never let anything happen to them if they could prevent it. Now I'm afraid for them and for the aliens. How crazy is that?"
Sheena snorted. "Not crazy at all, considering I just found out the people I work for paid someone to sleep with me and that they might be trying to start another world war. I signed up to save humanity, not to work for a bunch of irrational warmongers. I'm more grateful than ever now that I saved my best work for myself."
Bri sighed. "I'm glad Mom and Dad aren't here to worry about our fuck-ups."
"Agreed," Sheena said, putting her head back on the sofa. "The only way I can take care of the new Angus and Erin is if I stay close by for a while. Nate doesn't like them enough to really watch over them. I'm hoping I'll get orders from Novus Prime to officially stay. I'm hoping I don't have to grovel to make it happen."
"I still think you're underestimating him," Bri said.
"Really? His bedroom looks exactly like it did when I left. He's had four other wives, Brianna. Are you telling me none of them redecorated? If they did, Nate must have erased their existence after they left. He hates change and my life is devoted to discovery. We're like oil and water. That's why it never worked out for us."
"People change, Sheena. I did. Or at least they modify themselves."
Sheena chuckled at her own thinking being mirrored back to her. "Yes, but you're my awesome sister and a MacNamara. We're adaptable. Mom and Dad made sure of that."
"Nate would be a more effective leader if he had even a smidgeon of flexibility. Maybe you're meant to be that influence for him."
Bending from the waist, Sheena leaned forward and laughed. "You're selling Nate really hard. Maybe you ought to consider working with Angus and Erin as a matchmaker."
Bri laughed. "Wouldn't work. I'd just be poking on the horny aliens trying to start fights. From what I hear, Angus has enough work on his hands keeping things under control in that quadrant of the airship. I do think they're right about the program. The whole process needs to be more … organic."
"Aliens are not organic," Sheena said.
"Of course, they are. They're just not organic to New Earth."
Sheena snorted. "Okay. Good point."
"Where are you sleeping tonight?"
Sheena sighed. "Where do you think? Next to my deceiver. I need him to believe the story I implanted come morning."
Chapter Ten
Darcone raised an eyebrow at his hesitation, but didn't comment. Out of excuses and pride, Nate raised his fist and let his knuckles rap on the door.
"Leave now," Darcone said in a growly whisper. "No go in there."
Startled by the strange advice, and by Darcone speaking so much to him, Nate's gaze swung to the grumpy alien. "I have to go in," he answered. He'd fallen asleep on Sheena when she'd come to see him. That at least deserved an apology, especially after his cock-blocking crew broke in on them earlier.
"Happy, you will not be," Darcone warned, as Bri answered the door.
"Oh, good morning. I thought you were Angus."
"No, thankfully I'm not him. Is Sheena awake?"
"Yes, but she's a bit distracted this morning, Nate. We had a late night visitor. How about you come back later?"
"If it wasn't important, I wouldn't be here, Brianna. I need to see your sister this morning."