“Yes,” Walker answers.

“No,” I say.

Everyone looks at me. Even our stoic driver is staring at me in the rearview mirror.

“What do you mean, no?” Walker asks, her eyebrows raised. “I thought we were clear on this.”

“We’re not killing Sanderson,” I say. “We don’t fight humans. We sure as hell don’t kill them.”

“Kid, I’ll pull the trigger if you get me in front of him,” Walker replies.

“You can arrest him, if you want,” I say. “Charge him with treason.”

“The penalty for treason is death,” Walker exclaims, sounding exasperated. “Anyway, his MogPro cronies won’t let an arrest go through. And you think anything in the courts is going to matter once Setrákus Ra is here?”

“You said it,” I reply. “Setrákus Ra is who’s important.”

“Right. Instead of Sanderson, it’ll be you guys there to greet him at the UN. We’ll show the world the difference between good aliens and bad aliens. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, my people will dismantle MogPro.” Walker rubs her temples. “I’ve got other agents already in position. Around the time we take out Sanderson, a dozen other MogPro traitors will—”

I cut her off. “If you’re about to tell me about more assassinations, I don’t want to know.”

Nine raises his hand. “I want to know.”

“That’s not what we do, Walker,” I continue. “It’s not what we’re about.”

“Kid, you want to get the word out about the Mogs, sooner or later you’re gonna have to get your hands dirty.”

“And what if Sanderson gets the word out for us?”

Walker squints at me. “What’re you talking about?”

“He’s giving a speech at the UN, right? Going to talk up Setrákus Ra, tell humanity how it’s safe to welcome the Mogadorian fleet.” I shrug, trying to seem nonchalant about this, confident in my plan. “Maybe he gives a different speech. Maybe he delivers a warning.”

“You’re talking about turning him?” Walker exclaims. “This late in the game? You’re out of your mind.”

“I don’t think so,” I reply, glancing left and right at Nine and Sam. “My friends and I are pretty persuasive.”

“Yeah,” Nine jumps in, grinning fiercely at Walker. “I’m convincing as all hell.”

Walker stares at me for a long moment, then turns around and goes back to typing coded messages into her phone. “I didn’t realize I was teaming up with some hippy-dippy peacenik aliens,” she sighs. “Fine. If you can talk Sanderson into flipping sides in front of the UN, go for it. But if I’m not convinced, I’m shooting him.”

“Sure,” I reply to Walker. “You’re in charge.”

We stop at a gas station in New Jersey to fill up the SUVs. Since I’ve got a few minutes alone, I decide it’s a good time to check in with Sarah. I take out my phone and wander across the parking lot. As I do, I can feel Walker’s eyes boring into my back.

“Where are you going?” she calls after me.

“To call my girlfriend,” I say, raising the phone. “Remember? You illegally detained her that one time.”