Chapter 14: Park Adventure
Kai spent half the night tossing in his bed before his exhausted mind crossed the threshold into unconsciousness. Before he retired to his bedchamber he made another stop by Dr. Erland's office to request another meeting with Cinder as soon as possible. To his surprise the doctor didn't resist the idea, even seemed eager to see the girl mechanic again, and suggested a meeting outside the palace.
This reverse from the reluctance Dr. Erland showed before was surprising, especially when the doctor offered to chaperone the meeting himself. When the prince asked the doctor replied that he enjoyed Cinder easy manner and quick wit, something that to which Kai agreed.
Kai had to clear a part of his schedule for late afternoon to make the rendezvous, since Torin would inquire about the reason for the change and Kai hoped he would accept the excuse that Dr. Erland was preparing. Seeing Torin simply wishing the outing to go well indicated that Dr. Erland's excuse was accepted, although the doctor wouldn't elaborate. They climbed into an unmarked hover, one of several kept by the palace for low profile excursions, and were soon lost in the traffic.
Soon Kai realized that they were not headed in the direction of the R.U.R. restaurant. He realized he had no idea where they were headed.
"To the Memorial Plaza Park Your Highness," The doctor replied to Kai's question, "since it is a little late for lunch and too early for dinner I thought it would better suit you and the young lady to mingle in a public setting. And because the warm weather has driven all but the most determined inside it should be fairly private as well." The smile that he gave Kai made the prince squirm. Kai didn't know which was worse, that he was risking discovery by venturing out so unprepared like this or the fact that the doctor actually believed that he was romantically interested in the cybernetic mechanic.
"Uh Doctor, I have a confession to make." Kai started. "I really don't have that kind of interest in Cinder, if you know what I mean?"
"No?!" The Doctor gasped as his face took on a serious expression. "And you lead me to believe that you had an infatuation with the girl. Well it's about time, Your Highness. I was beginning to wonder how long you'd try to keep the ruse up."
"Wait a minute!" Kai said. "You knew?!"
"Of course Your Highness. I may be an old scientist who spends his days working away in laboratories, but even I was young once. You don't have that look of a man run away in passion to the point where he would defy social protocol." The doctor explained. "Besides she's a cyborg."
"What does that have to do with anything?!" Kai cried, though he was surprised by the force of his own outrage.
"Because," Dr. Erland raised an eyebrow, "I know that cyborgs are not your type. Especially ones as extensive as Ms. Pyrenee. Ah, here we are." The hover landed in the parking lot and they got out. Dr. Erland gestured to one of the walkways that went into a grove of trees.
"How did you know that I don't have a thing for cyborgs?" Kai ask sarcastically.
"Experience and intuition Your Highness, most young men your age wouldn't be interested in half machine women, besides I got a good look at your reaction to the cable in Ms. Pyrenee's head." The revelation made Kai flinch as he remembered the incident from yesterday, then he realized something.
"Wait Dr. Erland, were you eavesdropping?" He asked. If the doctor heard what he had asked Cinder to do, it could all be the end of this most delicate scheme, his only way out.
"I wouldn't call it eavesdropping Your Highness, after all you were in my laboratory with a young lady unaccompanied, I had to chaperone you in some way."
"How much did you hear?" Kai asked.
"Just about everything," The doctor answered. Kai squeezed his eyes shut in embarrassment. What was he going to say to the doctor? What would the doctor say? Then he realized that the doctor had known about his scheme when he agreed to accompany Kai and when he had arranged the meeting. The question wasn't what was the doctor going to say but why did he help Kai. Could he actually agree with Kai's aim?
"Doctor you know what I am trying to do, right?"
"Yes, I think I do." The doctor replied.
"And you're not go to try to talk me out of it?" Kai asked.
"No, I don't think I will." Dr. Erland.
"Why?" The doctor stopped and turned to Kai, the prince stopped to face him.
"I believe that if your most trusted advisor cannot dissuade you from searching out the Lost Lunar Heir, then neither could I." Replied Dr. Erland. "So if I can't dissuade you, I'll have to do what I can to keep you out of trouble." They resumed their walk in the grove until they reached the prearranged spot. They stood only a moment before Kai caught sight of Cinder approaching them with a companion in tow.
This companion was the most peculiar woman he had ever seen. At first, Kai didn't know how to describe her, but then his mind caught up to the sight. She was...pink, all shades of pink! Every article of clothing and even her hair were pink or at least colors similar to pink. The shifting tones of pink allowed Kai to observe the woman's outfit in detail; high-heeled shoes, short shirt trimmed with lace, and a frilly blouse, all expensive designer in appearance to his limited educated eye. Shimmering gold jewelry adorned the young lady's wrists, ears, but a classic string of pearls hung from her neck.
Once he got through the color and the clothes, the woman herself came into view. She was a beauty, despite the unneeded, heavy make-up that covered her face, with perfect features. Her smile, accompanied by a high, childish laugh, communicated her carefree and perky attitude. The way she carried herself, half mince, half strut, completed the message of the stereotypical spoiled rich girl. So different from Cinder, who wore no make-up, a plain set of blue trousers and a brown blouse.
An old friend of Cinder's I guess, Kai concluded, but why did she bring such crème puff here? She can't possibly have forgotten how important this is! He began to panic once he realized what would happen when the diva recognized him, and took a step back to leave. He stopped himself as his need to know overcame the fear of being discovered. He would wait and face this unseen complication, having faith that Cinder could handle the woman.
"Hey," Cinder greeted them in a casual tone, as if meeting friends for a regular stroll, while ignoring an awkward joke from the 'Lady Pink.' "Hope I wasn't too late, just get here?"
"Yeah," Kai replied. Cinder turned to the doctor with a slight expression of surprise.
"Dr. Erland?" Cinder said. "This is a pleasant surprise, I didn't know that the duties to Royal Medical Director extended to babysitting the prince while out of the palace."
"No, of course not my dear, merely tagging along to enjoy your company." Was the doctor's reply. During this exchange between the Cinder and Dr. Erland, Kai noticed out of the corner of his eye the other young woman crept closer to him and just stared at him with wide blue eyes. The way she seemed to titter nervously as if waiting for him to notice her pushed Kai into facing this dreaded introduction.
"Yes?" Was all he could say. Her face lit up like a Christmas tree and began to bounce up and down in a undignified, fan girl manner.
"Your him aren't you?!" The young lady squealed in unfettered delight. "You're Prince Kai! I can't believe I'm actually meeting you face to face, do you know what this means?! Of course you know what this means, you're the prince!" Her voice seemed to carry and Kai glanced around to see if anyone was near enough to listen. Lucky for them, no one was in sight, though he had to admit that the foliage and trees were dense enough in some places as to restrict his view to less than 5 meters. The girl grabbed his hand with surprising strength and he was lurched forward as she pulled it toward her. "I can't believe I am actually holding the hand of the Prince! It's dream come true! Such a pink day! Cinder look! I didn't think it possible but, he's even better looking in person, can I kiss you?!"
Lucky for Kai, Cinder came to his rescue. "Slow down Iko," she said calmly, while prying the young woman's fingers from Kai's hand and nudging her back gently, "you're bound to scare him off before I tell him what he wants to know. You just met after all and haven't even introduced yourself." The pink girl, Iko blushed and became even pinker, if that was possible.
"Oh! I'm so sorry Your Highness," Iko apologized with a sheepish grin and a curtsy. "You must think I'm a terrible person, coming onto you like that, I tend to forget myself sometimes and you being a prince and all. I'm Iko, and you, you're Prince Kai!"
"Yes I am," replied Kai with a formal bow, which seemed to make Iko recover her former perkiness. "A pleasure to meet you Miss..."
"Pyrenee, Your Highness! Now that we've been introduced, can I kiss you?" Kai took an involuntary step back. He'd seen some crazy obsessed girls before but this one was fast taking the cake. Again Cinder came to his rescue.
"Iko, I think that is a little too much to expect from a new acquaintance," she said as she pushed Iko in the direction of Dr. Erland. "Why don't you introduce yourself to the doctor?" She followed up with a whisper in Iko's ear. Iko complied and struck up a conversation with the older man which seemed to keep her occupied. "I'm sorry about that, my cousin is well known in the family for her enthusiasm."
"I can understand that, but why did you bring her?" Kai asked.
"My father said I had to, he didn't like the idea of a young lady going to meet a young man in such a secluded spot alone." She replied.
"Yes, but did it have to be her?" He asked with a little more annoyance.
"Afraid so, Your Highness, why? Are you scared that she will overhear our conversation and publish it to all her followers on the net?" She gave him a knowing smirk.
"Well yes, I mean look at her!" He said gesturing to Iko's clothes. "I'd be surprised if half the city didn't know if she was here with you right now and that the other would know tomorrow."
"Relax Your Highness. Iko may attract more attention than is good for her, but trust me as I tell this, when it comes to keeping secrets she is all but infallible." The serious expression on her face communicated her truthfulness regarding Iko, so Kai let it go. Cinder moved on. "Now, I suppose you want an update on Michelle Benoit. I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that my father's connections haven't been able to trace her whereabouts, they are certain she is still in France somewhere, but tracking her will take time. The good news is Scarlet Benoit, her granddaughter is safe."
"That is good." Kai said. "And did you check her out?"
"You mean is she the Lost Lunar Heir? I'm afraid the answer is no," Cinder replied. "However, my father's men did discover she has Lunar ancestry, apparently Michelle Benoit did more than fly diplomats back and forth while she was on Luna. It certainly explains the 'oddities in her background.'"
"She's part Lunar?" Kai asked, his curiosity was perked despite the disappointment that the girl Scarlet was not Selene.
"Yes," affirmed Cinder, "one quarter Lunar."
"Does she possess glamour?" He inquired.
"Apparently not," Cinder answered, "according to expert opinion, her genetic potential for glamour is quite low." He nodded at the comment.
"Does she know anything?" Kai asked, getting impatient. "About where Princess Selene is or where she may have gone?"
"No," came Cinder's disappointing response. "She has no clue as to whether her grandmother sheltered the Princess or not. Nor does she know where the Princess might be."
"So were there any problems getting her out?" Kai asked.
"Yes, a lot of problems actually, but all caused by Miss. Benoit!" Cinder chuckled and shook her head. "Since speed was of the essence, my father's men decided for a direct extraction, however their charge didn't take kindly to their methods. Can you believe she pulled a gun on my father's men, and demanded that they surrender and tell her where her grandmother was?! Ha! My father says that she actually managed to hit one of the guys sent to get her to safety and the language she was cursing with... well I won't get into that."
"She sounds hot-tempered." Kai commented.
"You could say that again, right now my father is more worried about her escaping than someone taking her."
"So no one was inquiring about her as far as your father can tell?"
"Actually yes," Cinder said, "My father says that his men picked-up some local chatter regarding her and are tracking the man who was asking the questions."
"That was fast." Kai commented, surprised at the speed of success.
"Well my father only employs the best." Cinder agreed with a smile. "I'll be sure and pass on you compliment."
"Do you know where she is being held?" Kai asked, a desire to see this girl, whose missing grandmother was his only link to a way out of his nightmare, rising in his bosom.
"Yes, at a family chateau in the Andorran mountains. She's quite safe there, it's largely inaccessible and my father has taken extra measures to beef up security to keep anyone from getting close."
"Good, good." He didn't know what else to say and felt like a fool. "May I see her?" Cinder looked a little uneasy.
"Of course Your Highness, it's just that Miss Benoit is still settling in and part of the security requires keeping a low profile for a while." Cinder explained. "As soon as things die down you can see her. We're also bringing in her father, so if you want to question him as well he'll be made available to you."
Kai sighed, and thanked Cinder for her father's efforts. They didn't lead to the results he wanted yet, but they were far more than he could have done by himself. They began to whine down their conversation when Kai heard rustling in the brush on the opposite side of Cinder. The four turned automatically to face the sound.
A man, a large man, rose from the bush. His clothes were just a bit ragged and his face was covered in stubble and streaked with dirt. In his eyes intensely looked over them all, focusing on Cinder for a moment and switching to Iko. A knife came out "Give us all what you've got now!" He demanded in a harsh yet low voice.
Kai realized that while they had been distracted by this man, two others had sneaked behind them, knives in their hands as well. His first instinct was to step between the nearest assailant and the women, a noble but futile gesture as his better judgment caught up to the situation. The demand was repeated from more than one thieves this time and so Kai began to empty his pockets and the others followed suit. He didn't have much, just a few tidbits in his pockets, Dr. Erland and the girls had more, especially Iko, whom had to hand over her jewelry.
Once the thieves gathered and pocked all Kai and company had dropped they turned to Cinder. "You still got something in your glove! Give it here!"
Kai looked at Cinder and saw that she was still wearing her characteristic glove over her cybernetic left hand. He could also tell that she didn't have anything in her glove, and the fact that their thieves claimed there was meant they were high on something. In fact, the whole situation seemed wrong, they were being robbed in a fairly public place during daylight. Daylight crimes were rare, even with the down turn in the economy, so the only conceivable reason for this crime was that the thieves were high on drugs. That made them even more dangerous especially since they were still lucid enough to execute an ambush.
Where is my security?! Kai thought as one of the thieves grabbed Cinder by the arm and pulled her away from the group.
"Give it or I'll cut you!" He repeated his demand waving his knife wildly in the air but getting closer to Cinder.
"It's just a glove, take it easy you're starting to hurt me!" Cinder said. She tried to reach for the glove to pull it off, but the way the thief was yanking her, it proved a difficult task. Finally his knife did cut her across the arm, and then a pink storm hit. He didn't realize what he was seeing until it was over, but when his memory caught up to the present, he stared at Iko in horror. She was grasping two wickedly curved knives of her own, karambits from southeast Asia Kai recognized, and standing over the bodies of the thieves.
He remembered the girl he thought as a cream puff leaping to Cinder's side and with a single blow sent the man reeling to the ground and his knife, still covered in Cinder's blood, slipped from his hand. That was when the knives appeared in her hands as if by magic and whirled onto the other two thieves. They tried to fight back and even displayed surprising skill, however they were no match for Iko. She tumbled in midair above their heads, avoiding their first attacks, and landed behind them. With scientific efficiency, Iko proceeded to parried their blows, disarm their knives, and then to precisely cut the tendons in the ankles and elbows, leaving them helpless.
Bleeding from multiple wounds and groaning in pain, it was clear they were still alive but badly wounded. Kai then heard the first thief try to get up, still dazed from the blow that Iko had dealt him. He reached for the knife but Cinder blocked his way. Still on the ground, he moved to sweep her legs from under her, but yelped in pain as he made contact with her left leg. Cinder smiled at the would be mugger and pointed to her thigh.
"Metal leg," She announced proudly, loud enough over the screams of the other muggers for Kai to hear. "Iko you missed this one." She admonished her cousin.
"I thought you might want to dispatch him yourself," Iko replied, "he did cut you after all."
"You're right," Cinder conceded, looking down at her still bleeding wound. A sharp kick with her left foot knocked the man unconscious. Dr. Erland approached Cinder, hand out to take her bleeding arm. She waved him off. "Don't worry about it doctor, help Iko with those two over there, Kai can handle this."
The doctor obeyed, but when Cinder's back was turned, he quietly snatched the knife with her blood on it.
"Kai get over here and help me," Cinder chastised the dazed prince. He jumped to help her with her arm. Seeing that they had no bandages, he torn the bottom of his hoody. As he wrapped the strip of cloth around the cut, he was relieved to see that the bleeding was slowing. "Thanks, Your Highness. I don't know who your security chief is, but I'd fire him." Kai agreed.
"We should call the police," he stated, though not looking forward to the probable media storm that was to come as a result.
"Already done," Cinder answered. Kai looked at her, he hadn't seen her pull out a portscreen. She pointed to her head. "Being a cyborg does have its advantages."
"Yes, but it's nice to know that you're still human enough to bleed." He affirmed in morbid humor, surprised by his own ability to cope with recent events. Then again evil incarnate was living under his roof so this should be a little matter.
"Yeah, it is but I would prefer not to be reminded of my human mortality too often. After all, like you, I only have so much to spare." She replied, unbothered. They heard crying. They both turned to Iko standing nearby with a pink handkerchief trying rub something off her blouse. "Oh no!" Sighed Cinder, walking over to her cousin and putting her arm around Iko. Kai followed.
"Mmmmy out...outfit," the young lady wailed. She rubbed even harder at what Kai now could see were drying blood stains. He noticed her knives were gone but a quick check over her failed to reveal their location.
"I'm so sorry Iko." Cinder consoled.
"I I bought it just fo...for today! The ddday that I was to mmmeeeet the pprince! It wwwas supposed tttoo bee a pppink ddday! Why dddddid there hhhave tooo beee bbbblood tttooday! Oooh I should hhhave worn red! Then no one would be able to see!" Iko looked at Kai mournfully. "You must think me as some kind of monster!"
This was as pathetic and strange a sight Kai had ever seen. Not ten minutes before he saw this very person take down armed men nearly twice her size without batting an eye, now she was crying over blood stains on a blouse and skirt. But as weird a sight as it was Kai felt a surge of pity rise in his heart. "It's okay Iko," He placed his hand on her shoulder and felt her jump at the contact. "You probably saved my life, so it's okay that you may not look your best right at this moment."
Iko smile at his kind words, but then her face became worried again. She looked at Cinder. "Stars! What about your father!"
"My father, right." Cinder rolled her eyes and sigh in the face of some terrible inevitability. "Oh...he won't be happy. Too much of a ruckus and too much attention."
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Kai asked. He didn't want to lose Cinder, not when some real progress was being made because of his overzealousness and lack of precaution. "An official pardon perhaps?"
Cinder smiled. "I'm afraid not, Your Highness, but you shouldn't worried too much. It really was out of our hands, so I expect the most my father will do is ship Iko and I out to see our step-family a day ahead of schedule." That was exactly what he didn't want to hear. Now she could be out of reach.
"Where exactly is that?" He asked holding his breath.
"A town just outside the capital, Garan-Tai. I'm sure you've heard of it." He had, it was an exclusive township for the wealthy in the Commonwealth established four years ago by a rich widow. Far enough from the capital for privacy and peace but close enough not to be out of the loop. This could still work, as it happened he was suppose to make a special appearance at the town's annual Letumosis Research Fundraiser at the end of the week. A couple days before his coronation. He let her know.
"Maybe I could visit you?" He asked carefully. "That's if it would be too much trouble. I mean we still got a lot to do, finding you know who."
"Oh you're talking about the Princess Selene!" Iko realized, a bit too loudly. Kai had almost forgotten she was even there.
"Iko can keep a secret." Cinder reminded, she must have seen something in Kai's expression. "Can't you Iko?" Iko nodded excitedly at Cinder then Kai. The sirens of the police and a ambulance arrived. "Ah here comes the cavalry, we're saved! Why don't you go meet them Iko and distract them." Iko obeyed and made her way to the officers exiting their hover cruisers.
"How did she do that?" Kai asked when Iko exited his field of vision and her astounding performance replayed in his mind. Cinder cast a quick glance at her cousin.
"Oh Iko, well there is more to her than meets the eye." She shrugged.
"I gathered that when she jumped over those muggers heads and disarmed them like a kung fu master from legend. And then the sobbing over blood on her clothes." He gave her an inquisitive tilt from his head as if asking with words was sufficient for his curiosity.
"Iko doesn't like when we talk about it." Was Cinder's response.
"She's a cyborg too?" He asked.
"After a fashion, and let's leave it at that." And Cinder closed the subject before the first officer reach them. "Oh, and one more thing, since you are coming to the Fundraiser, I would like to ask a favor of you. Would it be too much if I made a special introduction for you while you're there?"
"Sure," Kai agreed, "Is your father going to be there?" Cinder laughed.
"No, no, my father rarely makes public appearances," she explained. "The introduction I was going to make was my sister, Peony. She's kind of a big fan of yours, and well kind of promised her that I would introduce her. I promise she won't too much of a pest, but if you don't come she'll never speak to me again." Cinder's eyes were filled with genuine pleading and before Kai knew what he was doing, he had agreed.
The police officers were quite unprepared to be taking a statement from their would be emperor, but with his encouragement they took it anyway. They didn't ask many questions and Kai guessed that Iko had been very descriptive in her statement. After the paramedics worked on the three muggers they tried to help Cinder but she refused stated she was fine. Then she and Iko disappeared into the darkening park .
Torin was waiting for him. It seemed that no matter where he went, eventually Torin would be waiting him somewhere. It irritated Kai, like bad news that would never go away, always hanging over him, smothering joy. It wasn't fair to Torin, the man only brought what there was to bring, but how Kai wish his advisor would bring good news. I wonder how Torin feels to have become the unofficial royal Harbinger of Doom?
"Your Highness," The advisor grimaced as Kai entered the doors from the garage. "I hear you have had quite an adventure in the park."
"I guess you could say that." Replied Kai. "My security seemed to be lax, would you look into that for me."
"Of course Your Highness, I should never have let the doctor take you on that extrusion, I honestly don't know how he managed to convince me. However Your Highness, that does not excuse you." The last words were laced with the venom of frustration. Kai, who hadn't looked at his advisor the whole way down the hall, stole a glance at the man's features. They were hard, unrelenting, angry, desperate.
"I suppose the Lunar Queen knows." Kai sighed.
"That would be an understatement, Your Highness. I have spent the last half hour trying to avert war over an insult. How could you go to see that girl when I told you not to?!" The advisor demanded. Then Kai's own resolve hardened. He stopped and faced Torin.
"Because I am the Prince, Torin, and you are my advisor. You may give me advice but it is up to me to take it, never forget it. If you are unsatisfied with me you are free to leave." Torin was taken aback by this declaration. Perhaps he had become so use to having his advice taken that he felt entitled to give orders. Well that illusion was shattered, and Torin stamped his pride and bowed to his ruler.
As they continued their way into the palace to Kai's apartments, Kai asked Torin to fill him in on Queen Levana's 'protests.' Torin ran through a long list of complaints and ended with a summary. "In short I am afraid she has been demanding to know why the future emperor of the Commonwealth is shirking his duties to a visiting sovereign of another nation to play with a tramp in the park."
Kai smiled and shook his head. He would be in for it tomorrow when he faced the Lunar Queen, but he was too tired and desensitized from the adventure in the park to worry. "What does she expect me to do, wait on her hand and foot?"