Chapter 8
The very next day at the agency, Smith overheard Jackson, Johnson and Thompson talking about the mystery man who had made quite an impression on the future queen of Zion the night before.
"I don't know about you guys, but did you notice he was wearing an earpiece just like ours?" Johnson asked.
"Yeah, I thought that was a little odd too. He could be a rogue agent." Thompson said as he raised one eyebrow through his dark shades.
"Or he could have been a virus sent by The Architect to 'bewitch' the princess. And we all know how that old fart likes to stir up shit every once in awhile." Jackson said.
"And did you notice how the other chicks at the ball were looking at him too?" Johnson asked with a very annoyed tone in his voice.
"Yeah! It's like we didn't even exist." Thompson said just as annoyed.
"Well guys from what I understand, no one and I mean, no one knows who he is or where he went after he ran off last night." Jackson said.
A few moments later, Jackson turned on the TV and there was Queen Machina and Princess Kestra holding a press conference. Cameras flashed all around them as Queen Machina handed Kestra the earpiece that Smith left behind. The three agents including Smith gathered to watch the conference.
"Princess, do you believe you will find him?" Asked a random reporter from the crowd.
She held the earpiece up for all the cameras and the crowd to see. There was a close-up on TV and when Smith saw it, he felt like the wind had been knocked out of him.
'So that's where it went!' Was his thought.
The other three agents turned to look at him.
"What' the matter Smith? You look like you've seen a ghost or something?" Thompson said.
"Uhm, no just feeling a little uh ... tired ... you know, long night and all." Was his excuse.
They all turned back to the screen when Kestra started to speak into the microphones.
"First off I want to thank the people of the machine city for showing me some wonderful hospitality during my birthday party last night."
She paused and looked into the camera and almost looking at Smith through the TV.
"But as some of you know I met someone unexpected last night and even though I don't know his name, but I feel that in the short amount of time we spent together, I believe I might have found my soul mate. In a rush he left this behind."
The camera got a close up of the earpiece and then it cut back to her. She spoke again.
"Every man in the mega city will be have to try this on until I find it's owner. And when I find the owner, he is the man I will marry." The princess announced.
A hush fell over the crowd as well as Smith and the other agents in the office as they watched the broadcast.
"Dude! Did you hear that?" Johnson nudged Thompson.
"Yeah! One of us might bag a princess!" Thompson answered high-fiving Johnson.
They continued to watch as the conference came to a close and Kestra thanked the crowd for coming. A an african-american female with what looked several braided buns in her hair for Zion Action News came on camera with a microphone.
"You heard it here first ladies and gentlemen! Princess Kestra is off to find the owner of that earpiece! More news as this story develops and I am Niobe for Zion Action News! Back to you Trinity and Seraph!"
The scene flashed by to a TV studio where a woman with short black hair and covered in PVC from head to toe sat at her desk. Next to her was an asian man who made further commentary.
"So you were at the ball last night? Did you see this mystery man Trinity?"
"Yeah actually I did. He was really cute though. But enough of that for now. We have Ghost with the weather."
The scene switched to Ghost the weatherman and his five-day forecast. By this time Jackson took the remote and turned the TV off.
"Well looks like every guy who was there last night will get to try that thing on. So that means the princess should be here anytime now." Jackson said with a smile.
"I thought she said every man in mega city?" Smith said.
Jackson rolled his eyes and looked in Smith's direction.
"I believe she was referring to every man who was there last night and since you weren't there last night, you don't qualify to try it on."
Little did Jackson know ...
"Besides, don't you have some work to do?"
"Oh yes. I'll get right on it." Smith answered him.
But as he walked down the hall and was out of sight of the three agents, a ghost of a smile creeped across his face and he started whistling Zoot Suit Riot as he doing somewhat a little dance down the hall. It would not be long before he would see Kestra again.