Finally, leaving the desert they continued across the grassy plains of the Midwest. Their plan was to avoid the more modern and traveled tourist areas, staying off the main freeway system. Many of the roads were neglected and deteriorating along the old Route 66 they followed. They had passed several last century ghost towns along the way. Lidda was relieved to see signs of civilization, green landscapes, and rugged hills as they pushed northward.

They stopped at a local eatery without realizing it was the last bastion of civilization for the next fifty miles and the last place to get a drink of hard liquor for anyone heading north. They had gotten out of the vans to answer the call of nature and order some food. Conner and James stayed with the infants. Lidda had ordered some sandwiches and was lingering by the counter listening to the canned music playing when a rowdy bunch of guys came in smelling strongly of alcohol. The apparent leader told the clerk behind the counter to set up another bottle for them.

"Get a glass for the little lady here," he added.

Lidda spoke up firmly "No thanks. I don't want any."

"Aw now that isn't any way to act. Just want to give you a taste of our home-grown hospitality. Only the best, right boys?"

A mumbled and drunken consensus followed.

"Well, I can't drink anything because I'm pregnant," Lidda replied.

"That didn't stop my mama from drinking, did it boys?" Laughter followed.

"Or having sex with the whole damn town." More guttural laughter and snorting.

Lidda turned to walk out. The last thing they needed was a scene. She saw Hal heading her way. Father Pen and Mara were coming out of restrooms to the far side of the establishment. Trouble was brewing and she needed to warn them. "I said, I didn't want any," she yelled loud enough for Hal to hear. So much for telepathy.

The leader stepped in front of her, blocking the doorway. Great. She was hoping to not draw any attention to their party. Lidda grabbed a bottle of drink mixer from a rack near the door and smashed it against a countertop. She held the broken bottle neck and tried to remember the self-defense course she took in high school. Her chip had perfect recall. Nice. "Get out of my way!"

Hal waved at Father Pen and Mara to stay back, and Lidda heard a door to the children's van slam shut. The leader turned halfway around at the noise. James had gotten out of the van and was walking very deliberately toward them, his long strides closing the distance quickly.

"Well, which one of you boys is the daddy? Or do you know who is the daddy?" the man called out.

"I wouldn't concern myself with things that are none of your business," James rebuffed. He had dispensed with his disguise so the men could appreciate his full size and height of six-feet eight-inches.

"You are the one who should be concerned, gettin' in the way of my recreation," the man shot back. "We aim to have some fun, don't we boys?"

James went into action like the smooth oiled machine he was. He stepped forward placing his foot behind the man's heel, then reached out with a single finger and pushed him off balance. The man reeled and tried to regain his posture but fell clumsily backwards to the floor. As much as she wanted to jump in, Lidda decided it was smarter to duck out the door. Hal pulled her aside and away from the fight.

"You need some help, James?" Hal asked

"No, I have this." James waited as the drunken man slowly got to his feet and stupidly lunged at the android. James easily took his opponent's wrist between his thumb and forefinger while using the man's own momentum to swing him in a circular motion. As the man ran forward to catch his balance, James stopped suddenly. An audible crack signaled the breaking of his wrist as James released him to the ground where he lay moaning with pain.

The three buddies inside were either too drunk or just didn't have enough sense to know they were out classed. James waited just outside the door as they foolishly dashed toward him. James dispatched them one after another in smooth effortless moves until they all lay on the ground nursing various injuries.

"He broke my damn arm!" One of them complained.

"Well, you better get your buddies and head for a hospital then" Hal advised.

They collected themselves, got in their truck and left, spinning gravel behind.

Hal stepped inside and spoke calmly to the clerk. "Sorry for the disturbance. We'll be leaving just as soon as the food is ready."

"Uh, coming right out, mister." the clerk sputtered and headed to the kitchen. "We don't want no trouble. Those boys were drunk is all, they're normally good boys."

"I'm sure they are. You might want to remind them to be a little nicer to your customers next time," Hal said.

Lidda went back to the van with James while Hal waited on their sandwiches.

"Thanks," she said to James. "That was pretty impressive. When did you learn to do that?"

"It's just math," James answered.

Conner was waiting for them and asked her telepathically, "Are you really pregnant, Lidda?"

"I'm uh, no! I don't know why I said that. It just came to mind is all." But she could feel his gaze penetrating her body.

"Pfft, I'm not pregnant," Lidda said and when he did not respond, "Conner, I'm not pregnant. Am I?"

"Either that or you are growing a second brain."

"I can detect another chip forming in your mid region as well." James said.

"That can't be possible, I'm supposed to have...Oh no, what have I done?"

"You were supposed to have Reddge's child," Conner finished her thought.

"Does Hal know?" Lidda asked.

"No. I'm helping you block again if you don't mind," Conner said.

"No, I appreciate it. Let me tell him in my own time," Lidda said with some measure of relief. "What of our plan? I've destroyed all Reddge was working towards, the weapon..." Lidda was paralyzed as the full significance hit.

"It may already be too late for that plan if the demon ship is close by." James said. "But we will rendezvous with Reddge soon and could perform an invitro."

"A what?" Her stomach was churning from the recent encounter, the pregnancy, and the very thought of seeing Reddge again. She couldn't imagine breaking the news to him that she was pregnant with Hal's child. Now the demon ship was coming into play. Lidda felt like a rabbit, running scared, with a bird of prey about to swoop down and pluck her from the desert, destroying whatever life she had hoped for ahead.

"Invitro meaning external fertilization. We could implant the embryo in another female of childbearing age." Conner explained.

"You can do that?"

"I understand there is a breeding facility at the sanctuary." James offered.

"A breeding facility for what?" Lidda asked. Things were getting weird again.

"Horses."

"You can't be serious!"

"The process is much the same, Lidda," Conner remarked. "A few modifications are all that would be needed. A somatic cell from your intestine could be harvested..."

"Ok, spare me. I'll do whatever is necessary," Lidda said remembering she was born for this very purpose. This was not about her life at all. "Enough information. I don't want to know anymore right now."

If she was back to being a pawn in the game, then what choice would she have but to be moved from one square to another. The androids were in charge. Without them, it would be 'checkmate' for the entire planet.

Hal was approaching with some rather greasy food which finished turning Lidda’s stomach inside out. "Later Hal, I'm done for now. I just need to lie down." She got back into the van and lay back in her seat. Lidda soon felt Conner on the edges of her mind gently soothing her to sleep.

***

Lidda slept throughout the night, and the sun was coming up when she awakened. The landscape had changed from hills to low mountains. They approached a secluded country estate up a winding drive flanked by huge oak trees. The manor house could be seen looming ahead. The architecture was centuries old and an eclectic mix of stone masonry with intricate wooden gingerbread trim, stained glass windows, turreted towers, tall archways, and an enclosed courtyard. She had to wonder how Reddge found a property such as this as they stopped at the gatehouse to gain admission.

Hal let out a whistle and looked at his atlas. "This place isn't on the map." They all got out to walk about and stretch their legs.

"It was here before most modern maps were printed." Father Pen said. "I wasn't sure it was still standing."

"Well, it looks like someone has been taking care of the place," Mara noted as she juggled two of the infants who had awakened for their next feeding.

"Where are we?" Lidda asked, her mind still clouded with sleep.

"We have reached the sanctuary," Conner answered. "Evidently, it is not new to Father Pen."

"It is one of the original headquarters of our order on this continent." Father Pen affirmed. "I last visited here when I was a young boy. The place is shrouded in legends and miracles."

The gate keeper was a grizzled old man with a scraggly beard and ill-fitting hat. He closely examined their party as Conner got out to speak with him privately. Lidda nervously watched Conner disappear inside the gatehouse. She always hated the waiting. When the two finally emerged, the mood had changed and the gatekeeper was most congenial as he waved them through.

"What did you say to him?" Lidda asked.

"I have you to thank, Lidda. It seems the family name Castonea is well known in these parts, and he was more than happy to welcome home the lost lords of the manor."