Kitty Katt 11: Alien Separation

Raves for the
Alien
novels:

“For those craving futuristic high-jinks and gripping adventure, Koch is an absolute master!”

—
RT Book Reviews
(top pick)

“Koch still pulls the neat trick of quietly weaving in plot threads that go unrecognized until they start tying together—or snapping. This is a hyperspeed-paced addition to a series that shows no signs of slowing down.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“Aliens, danger, and romance make this a fast-paced, wittily-written sf romantic comedy.”

—
Library Journal

“Gini Koch's Kitty Katt series is a great example of the lighter side of science fiction. Told with clever wit and non-stop pacing . . . it blends diplomacy, action and sense of humor into a memorable reading experience.”

—
Kirkus

“The action is nonstop, the snark flies fast and furious. . . . Another fantastic addition to an imaginative series!”

—
Night Owl Sci-Fi (top pick)

“Ms. Koch has carved a unique niche for herself in the sci-fi-romance category with this series. My only hope is that it lasts for a very long time.”

—
Fresh Fiction

“This delightful romp has many interesting twists and turns as it glances at racism, politics, and religion en route . . . will have fanciers of cinematic sf parodies referencing
Men in Black, Ghost Busters, and X-Men.”

—
Booklist
(starred review)

“It's no secret that I love the series, and wish more people would pick it up and start reading.”

—Gizmo's Reviews

DAW Books Presents GINI KOCH's
Alien Novels:

TOUCHED BY AN ALIEN

ALIEN TANGO

ALIEN IN THE FAMILY

ALIEN PROLIFERATION

ALIEN DIPLOMACY

ALIEN VS. ALIEN

ALIEN IN THE HOUSE

ALIEN RESEARCH

ALIEN COLLECTIVE

UNIVERSAL ALIEN

ALIEN SEPARATION

ALIEN IN CHIEF

(coming in December 2015)

Copyright © 2015 by Jeanne Cook.

All Rights Reserved.

Cover art by Daniel Dos Santos.

Cover design by G-Force Design.

DAW Book Collectors No. 1690.

DAW Books are distributed by Penguin Group (USA).

All characters and events in this book are fictitious.

Any resemblance to persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book may have been stolen property and reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher. In such case neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal, and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated.

Nearly all the designs and trade names in this book are registered trademarks. All that are still in commercial use are protected by United States and international trademark law.

To all my fans at home and around the world—may we never be separated.

Once again all my love and thanks to my fantastic and incredibly patient editor, Sheila Gilbert (she's a saint), and my awesome agent, Cherry Weiner (she's my hero), without whom my career, and sanity, would not be what they are today. (Take that as you will.) Much love and chocolate is in the mail to you both.

Same again to my awesome crit partner, Lisa Dovichi, and to the Fastest Beta Reader in the West, Mary Fiore, who once again came through at the eleventh hour because I was writing up until the eleventh hour, so to speak. (Okay, more than so to speak.) You're the best and I love you both.

My list of those I want to thank gets longer each book, and for that I'm extremely thankful, grateful, and just plain jazzed about. So, once again and in no particular order, here's this book's list of especially awesome folks who made my writing journey that much more special.

Love and thanks to all the good folks at DAW Books and Penguin, to all my fans around the globe, my Hook Me Up! Gang, members of Team Gini new and old, all Alien Collective Members in Very Good Standing, Twitter followers, Facebook fans and friends, Pinterest followers, the fabulous bookstores that support me, and all the wonderful fans who come to my various book signings and conference panels—you're all the best and I wouldn't want to do this without each and every one of you along for the ride.

Special love and extra shout-outs to: my awesome assistants, Joseph Gaxiola and Colette Chmiel for continuing to keep me sane, on time, and efficient; Bob & Mary Rehak for loving support and a fantastic vacation; Adrian & Lisa Payne, Hal & Dee Astell, and Duncan & Andrea Rittschof for continuing to always show up everywhere, with smiling faces and books (and Poofs) in hand, ensuring anywhere I'm at is always a warm, fun place to be; Oliver & Blanca Bernal for always having the welcome mat out and the comfy bed ready whenever I'm in town; Tom & Libby Thomas, Pat & Barbara Michel, Koren Cota, Chrysta Stuckless, Missy Katano, Christina Callahan, Amy Thacker, Jan Robinson, Mariann Asanuma, Koleta Parsley, Mikel Dornhecker, Tina Williams, Terry Smith, Joan Du, Janet Armentani, Colette Chmiel, Anne Taylor, and Shawn Sumrall for bestowing beautiful, wonderful, and delicious things upon me what seems like all the time; Robert Palsma for continuing to like everything I do; Paul Sparks for continuing to send me scientific proof that I know what I'm writing about; Edward Pulley for instantaneous research on minutiae that's driving me nuts; and all members of The Stampeding Herd—Lisa Dovichi, Hal Astell, Barb Tyler, Marcy Rockwell, Lynn Crain, Sue Martin, Terry Smith, Phyllis Hemann, and Teresa Cutler-Broyles, for ensuring that, even though I was the most frighteningly late I've ever been on anything, the Herd kept me running at top speed—this book would not have gotten done without you guys.

Always last in the list but never in my heart, thanks to my husband, Steve, and daughter, Veronica. You're the best in the world and, as always, I'm glad you're mine.

R
EVENGE IS A DISH BEST SERVED COLD.

Yeah, I have no idea what that means, either. But it's what they say when you're ready to go after someone who's done their best to destroy you. I think it's supposed to mean that you should be levelheaded and calm while plotting your enemy's ultimate, untimely, and ugly demise.

Sound plan. Pity that I work better angry. But then again, I'm pretty angry. So we should be good here.

Of course, that's probably being far too optimistic.

Not sure what was more shocking—discovering that there's a zillion and one universes out there and I'm representing in most of them, or discovering the identity of the Mastermind.

Visiting another universe was kind of cool. Nice to see how the other half was living with basically no aliens on the planet. Not as well in some ways, just dandy in others. It was a “fun” vacation, if we define fun to mean spending a couple weeks unsure if I'd ever get home again or if I was going to spend the rest of my life in Oz, both literally and figuratively.

Coming home was better—always nice to have that “took a trip but boy it's great to sleep in my own bed and have great sex with my mega-sexy alien husband again” feeling.

But while I got to save the day for the other world, I'm not so sure how to manage back in mine. The term “it's complicated” has never been more apt. And, as in the other world, a frontal attack is probably not the right plan.

A battle will be coming, though, one way or the other. Because it's time to take the bull by the horns and ram those horns right into the Mastermind's personal tenders. So to speak.

But at least I won't be fighting this battle with only a small commando force. For this battle, I'm going to ensure I have an army. And, to quote one of my favorite '80s glam rockers, it's time to make the Mastermind Stand and Deliver. For I am a Woman of the Multiverse and I will not allow evil to continue unchecked.

 • • • 

Yeah, fine, fine. Let's go with what's been working all this time. Yo, Mastermind—just thought you should know that Megalomaniac Girl is back and she's madder and badder than ever. So watch your step, 'cause I'm coming for you.