At last Betty got Infantor alone. Mom and Dad had placed a crib in the same corner of their bedroom where Purrsey used to sleep--until now--and Betty had asked if she could tuck him in for the night.

"Finally!" she hissed, closing the door. She tossed her foe on the bed and jabbed a finger at him. "Start talking, Infantor! What's this all about?"

He let out an evil cackle. "Well, I think my lullaby says it all, don't it?"

"You're up to something."

"Ain't we always." He bubbled with pleasure.

"'We?'"

"Me and the...Maximus Adoption Agency. Mr. I.Q. has had you under surveillance, and when he found out what mommy and daddy wanted, he set it up. Heeheehee!"

She advanced on him. "We're going to see my parents right now, and you're going to tell them it was all a mistake and then I never want to see you in my home or on my planet again, understand?"

But at that moment, mom and dad crashed into the bedroom. "Oh, just look at them!" mother gushed. "Brother and sister bonding!"

"Goo-goo." Infantor held out his arms to mom, who gathered him up. "Gah-gah!"

Dad stood tall with pride, watching the scene. "We're going to be such a happy family!"

Betty's heart sank. I thought...we already were.

Purrsey, standing behind dad, coughed up a hairball.

The next day, Mom was spoon-feeding Infantor when Betty's bracelet went off. She ran down the hall and activated the hologram. "Yes, Admiral?"

"Atomic Betty, thank heavens you're there! We've just received word that Maximus I.Q. is readying a major assault on the Lode Star system. Our intelligence indicates he wants to use its vast natural resources to build fleets of destroyer robots large enough to overrun every major planet in the galaxy. We need you to stop it!"

Betty knew that system. Its fourteen planets were indeed the richest in the known galaxy. If Maximus gained control of it, there was no telling how many robots he could build, and how fast!

She smiled and saluted, welcoming a chance to get away from her domestic nightmare. "I'm on it, Admiral!"

Suddenly a fearful squawking started in the kitchen. "Bet-ty!" Infantor was howling to raise the roof. "Want Bet-ty!"

"Betty!" Mom called out. "Your baby brother's asking for you. Oh, isn't that sweet!"

The girl tightened. "Uh, mom? There's something I have to do--"

"During summer vacation? What would that be, dear? Come on, your brother's starting to cry." An awful waaaaaaAAAAAHHHH was starting, like fingernails dragged across a blackboard. Betty winced.

Finally, defeated, she shuffled out to the kitchen.

"Bet-ty!"

Infantor looked so happy to see her.

"Admiral?"

After a minute of having the villain slobber all over her again, Betty managed to return the baby to her mother, mumbling that she had to use the bathroom. Now she stood in there with the door closed, hearing Infantor wailing down the hall.

"Betty--my goodness, what is that noise?--I thought you were on your way! What's the matter?"

"You hear it! That little mutant keeps yelling for me, and my mom won't let me go!"

"Surely you can get away for just--"

"WWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"

The voice was so loud and so screechy it made the hologram flicker. DeGill was wincing too now, hands over his ears, and Betty was sure she was going to be sick.

"Sir," she croaked. "I...don't think I'm going to make it...you'll just have to send...Sparky and X-5...without me."

"Yes. I guess we'll have to. I'll be in touch. DeGill out." Hastily he disconnected, and the hologram vanished.

"Honey!" Mother yelled over the din.

Betty returned with head hung.