Double Chance - Chapter 7

'So… Caleb,' Clara said uncertainly, looking at the boy in front of her. 'Where are you from?'

'France,' Caleb answered shyly.

'Ooh, isn't that where Daft Punk is from?' Clara asked excitedly.

'Where what is from?' Chance asked confusedly.

'They're like this synthpop band,' Clara shrugged. 'I like them, they're really cool. I found this blog about them actually. It's really cool, follows their concerts and stuff. Better than scouring the depths of Youtube.'

'What are you talking about?' Caleb asked.

'You know, Youtube… that video site on the internet?' Clara looked at him confusedly.

'The what?' Caleb shook his head. 'I have no idea what you're talking about.'

Clara eyed him for a moment. 'Caleb, what year is it?'

'1940,' Caleb said without hesitation. 'What does that have to do with anything?'

Clara hid her shock well. 'There's something I have to go do… it'll only take a moment. If you could just wait here… make yourself at home.' She spun on her heel and practically sprinted to the lift.

'Well, that was odd,' Caleb said to himself, turning away from the lift and looking around at the greenhouse he was in. He walked over to the glass wall that stretched completely around the room that served as the entire top floor of the building so that he could look outside. He froze. He was looking down on a fantasy world.



'You kissed me,' Claire accused, looking at Alice with narrowed eyes.

'Can you blame me?' Alice asked with a wink. 'Look at you, you're gorgeous. And if I recall correctly, you totally kissed back.'

Claire thought back to the day before. She'd been present at the crash site of the Centaurian craft, then she and Alice had gone back to Claire's apartment to work on an article to cover it up. They'd settled on the idea of an airplane crash, and Claire had sent it to three of her editor friends to publish in the morning's papers. Then she and Alice had celebrated their good work with a bottle of wine and Alice had brought up the idea of Claire working with her team. Claire had been interested and she and Alice had agreed to meet the next day. Then, as Claire had led Alice to the door, Alice had turned around suddenly and pressed a hard kiss to Claire's lips. Claire had been stunned for a moment before regaining enough sense to push Alice away. Claire blushed at the memory. She could see how Alice could get the impression that she'd returned the kiss.

'You did,' Alice raised her eyebrows at Claire's blush.

'I didn't,' Claire shook her head. 'But why? Why would you…'

'It's a trick of Alice's,' Kendrick offered. 'She applies a special lipstick that contains a compound that conceals recent memories; it's an amnesia gloss of sorts. She does it that way because she just likes kissing every soul who crosses her path.'

'I only use the gloss in special cases with gorgeous people,' Alice said defensively.

'Sure, sure,' Kendrick said disbelievingly. 'Moving on.'

'But why bother making me forget if I was only going to remember again?' Claire asked, confused.

'Alice likes to test people,' Kendrick explained. 'I remember when I first joined up. She had me running up and down the Welsh coast, she did.'

'Had to make sure you were up to snuff,' Alice shrugged. 'I only hire the best. And Claire, I like what I've seen.'

'This was all a test?' Claire demanded. 'You were putting me through my paces like some sort of lab rat?'

'Think of it as more of an entrance exam,' Alice shrugged. 'And you passed. With flying colours, I might add. Not only did I not expect you here so soon, that memory blocker was supposed to last at least a week. It's a mark of a quick mind that you remembered so quickly.'

'Always with the flattery,' Kendrick rolled his eyes. 'I refuse to allow you to try and take advantage of Claire.'

'Why would I try to take advantage of Claire?' Alice asked confusedly.

'Come on, Alice, you're not exactly the paradigm of virtue,' Kendrick raised an eyebrow.

'That's incredibly hurtful,' Alice said sulkily.

'Yeah, sure,' Kendrick chuckled. Alice grinned.

'Oh fine,' Alice rolled her eyes. 'But I swear to you, my intentions are mostly pure. Yes Claire is gorgeous and quite irresistible, but I want her here for reasons other than the, er, less than virtuous, despite the electrifying body she's got.'

'Shocking,' Kendrick deadpanned.

'Anyways,' Alice reprised control of the conversation. 'How about it Claire? Are you going to join my little team? You'd really be an asset. I'm not always very convincing in my writing. Well, there's a reason I never became a journalist.'

'You became just about everything but,' Kendrick chuckled. 'How many doctorates have you racked up?'

'Too many for you to count,' Alice smiled. 'Now. Claire. I can have a desk set up for you in a jiffy. Can I count on you to be my new right hand woman?'

'I thought I held that position,' Jonathan walked out of his office with a pout on his lips.

'How can you be my right hand woman if you still haven't outgrown your little girl pants?'

'Ouch,' Jonathan looked genuinely offended.

'Potty training takes forever,' Alice said conspiratorially to Claire and Kendrick.

'Not to worry, ma'am, I've fully trained Captain Jones,' Chance walked out of Jonathan's office, straightening his tie as he walked before smoothing out his jacket. 'He's learned quite a few new tricks.'

'Ordinarily when someone would say something along those lines, I'd ask what kind of tricks were being learned,' Alice looked up at Chance with an eyebrow raised. 'But this time… I honestly don't want to know.'

'You'd think you would know,' Kendrick commented with a sly smirk.

'Ew,' Alice grimaced, much like a child would when confronted with a meal they did not like.

'Don't worry, Al, I'll tell you all about everything Chance taught me later,' Jonathan grinned.

'I hate you,' Alice shook her head. 'Oh, Chance, could you set up a desk for Claire? That is, if she's still interested in working with us.' She looked to Claire expectantly.

'One has already been set up,' Chance smiled. 'I had a feeling Claire would not be able to refuse. Was I correct?'

'Impressive,' Claire smiled. 'It's like you can read minds.'

'Chance often proves himself to be almost clairvoyant,' Alice said proudly. 'Best thing I ever did was recruit him.'

'Excuse me?' Jonathan protested. 'I think I did all the recruiting there.'

'I must agree with Jo,' Chance chuckled. 'I found him to be… an irresistible force of nature.'

'You were just irresistible,' Jonathan smiled flirtatiously.

'"Were"?' Chance repeated with a raised eyebrow. 'Well, if you have someone better, I suppose I'll just be on my way.'

'This family is falling apart,' Alice shook her head. 'I blame you, Jonesie.'

'You always do, dearest,' Jonathan leaned over to kiss her head. 'Oh, by the way, Ken, the baby's awake. She's with MOTHER, but whenever you're ready we can do the checkup.'

'MOTHER?' Claire asked. 'Who's that?'

'Maternal Operations Technology in Hydraulic Electric Robot,' Chance said at once with no hesitation. 'An artificial intelligence who works as a nanny. Alice and I salvaged her from a Nepti crash a few years ago. Gareth got her up and running for us.'

'A what crash?' Claire asked.

'Nepti,' Kendrick repeated. 'Four star systems away, or so. It's a binary solar system. The sixth planet orbiting the suns is home to a variety of races, much like Earth. The crash Chance is referring to happened six and half years ago when Nepti scientific explorers drifted too close to Earth's atmosphere and lost control. They crashed off the coast of Hawaii. Alice brought us there to see what we could do for any survivors. There was only one. He didn't last long. That was when Alice met Kai and Clara.'

'She saved my life,' Kai added from across the room. 'Because she's amazing.'

'Oh you, flattery will get you everywhere with me, love,' Alice smiled.

'It's not flattery, my nahenahe,' Kai smiled back. 'You're my playbunny saviour.'

'That's Victoria Secret model,' Alice corrected.

'Don't lie Al,' Jonathan said with a mischievous grin. 'You may have modeled for Victoria Secret, but I know you were in at least one issue of Playboy.'

'Hey, she's hot, why not?' Kendrick chuckled.

'I'm disturbed that you actually went out looking for that,' Alice said with a grimace.

'Didn't,' Jonathan shrugged. 'A friend of mine showed me.'

'Disturbing,' Alice frowned. 'Anyways, Ken, will you take this dunce and Chance to their daughter and make sure she's healthy?'

'Of course,' Kendrick nodded and led the way to Chance's office.

'Now, Claire dear,' Alice smiled at Claire. 'Let me show you to your desk.'