Kenzi was in her downstairs office within her private chambers with her assistant Beatrice making preparations for her first Agency assignment. When Kenzi first arrived at the Presidium she found her chambers beyond enormous and with her daily schedule barely had the time to fully explore them. But once she had returned from the Agency Training Facilities, that were substantially and appropriately less affluent than her private chambers she took the time and explored each and every room.
She realized she hadn't played any video games since she had first arrived at the Presidium and so directed the Seneschal to have the Brynai Society convert one of the sitting rooms upstairs into a video room with a bar. Beatrice laughed when she shared that piece of information with her, and the look on the Seneschal's face when she played her first zombie hooker game in front of them. The Seneschal were even more horrified when Kenzi, who had just recently hosted a dinner party with Bo, Lauren and their children, Trick and Eva, along with Atia and Dakari, Ian, Gunnar and Beatrice had them all playing as well. Kenzi swore she would find her game missing the next day, the Seneschal having disposed of it, and her fears came true, but what she found in its place shocked her. The Seneschal had her gaming system integrated into the communications system so whenever ever Kenzi played it was like her entire drawing room was one, big simulated environment. She nearly kissed the Seneschal when she first saw but restrained herself. The Seneschal replied with their usual, "We are here to serve."
"How long will you be gone?" Beatrice asked.
"Depends on my assignment, but Ian and Gunnar said to prepare for at least six months."
"Six months? That's cutting it pretty close with the Installation Ceremony right after the Convocation. Will you be here for it?" Beatrice asked.
"I better be!" Kenzi replied.
"The DRM contacted me. They would like you to meet with them when you return. With the Transition happening they've been directed to review what programs you and Bo started that can be rolled into the implementation strategy." Beatrice said.
"I was planning on it. Have some ideas already. Did you all set something up?"
"We weren't sure of the flexibility of your schedule yet." Beatrice replied.
"Let's plan for right after I arrive."
"Very good." Beatrice replied. Then the Seneschal entered the room.
"Milady, you have a call from Ash Thornwood." The Seneschal informed.
"Oooh! Fantastic! Call on!" Kenzi replied. The air shimmered and Dyson's image flooded the room.
"Hey Kenz, Beatrice!" Dyson greeted.
"D-man!" Kenzi replied.
"Blessings and Felicitations, Your Excellency." Beatrice replied.
"It's me, Beatrice." Dyson said.
"I'm a lost cause now, Your Excellency." Beatrice replied. Dyson chuckled.
"What's happening?" Kenzi asked.
"Calling to see how you're doing. Heard you're done with your initial training." Dyson replied.
"Yep, hitting the books hard." Kenzi lied. She had siphoned all the reading material they gave her in a matter of days.
"Looks like you're home. Where's Tammy?" Kenzi asked.
"Still at the Ash Compound. We're preparing for our move to the new Ducal Compound." Dyson replied.
"I heard! Excited?" Kenzi asked.
"No." Dyson replied.
"It's the future D-man! Need to move with it." Kenzi said.
"That's a whole other conversation we need to have over beers." Dyson replied. Kenzi and Beatrice chuckled.
"So, it was announced your first assignment will be back here at the County." Dyson said matter of factly.
"Yep!" Kenzi replied.
"I didn't know first assignments entailed assassinations." Kenzi's perkiness quickly went away.
"Yes." Kenzi replied evenly.
"Did you know that when you accepted The Queen's offer to join the Agency?" Dyson asked.
"They gave me an opportunity to say no. I didn't." Kenzi replied.
"Kenzi…" Dyson started.
"It's not the first time D-man, and it won't be the last. Besides, I see it as not only am I protecting Bo, Lauren and their brood, but you, Tamsin and Trick as well." Kenzi replied.
"Yeah, but Kenz…" Dyson started again.
"You forget I will do whatever it takes to protect you all." Kenzi replied.
"No, I didn't forget. I will never forget. It's just…you will always be that scared girl I found curled up on a bench in a cemetery." Dyson said. Kenzi smiled.
"No matter what we have, not matter what we're surrounded by, all we have are eachother and I mean to do my part to keep our family safe." Kenzi replied.
"Understood." Dyson said then took a deep breath. "Tamsin's looking forward to seeing you when you return, if your schedule permits."
"I will make the time. Wait, won't I see you too?" Kenzi asked.
"I think we'll just miss one another. I'm heading there as you are coming here." Dyson replied.
"Always in motion, aren't we?" Kenzi commented.
"Wouldn't be us any other way. I better let you two go." Dyson replied.
"Love you." Kenzi said.
"Love you." Dyson replied. The call ended.
"Well, I think I have everything I need to finish making your travels plans and coordinating your schedule for your return back the County." Beatrice said as she stood up.
"Thanks Beatrice!" Kenzi replied.
"I will catch up with you later." Beatrice said as she departed the room.
Kenzi hated keeping the particulars of her underlying mission from Dyson, but she and Bo had a plan and they needed to stick to it, even if it meant keeping Lauren, Dyson, and Tamsin in the dark. Secrets. She knew secrecy would soon become her daily life, to the point one day she would be keeping secrets from Bo herself in the interests of protecting Bo. Crazy.
Kenzi stood up and started to walk over to her desk when she saw everything around her suddenly move in slow motion. She stopped and turned around and as she turned she saw a wave that her body movement had made in the middle of the air. She then looked up and saw herself where she had stood only a few moments ago looking straight at herself. Then she saw the Seneschal enter and her eyes went wide. In that instance, everything snapped back together, and when she regained her focus she saw everything had returned to normal. The Seneschal looked unfazed as they approached.
"Milady?" the Seneschal queried. Kenzi just stared at the Seneschal.
"Milady, are you all right?" the Seneschal prompted.
"What do you mean by alright?" Kenzi asked not sure of what they saw.
"You look disoriented." Whew! Kenzi thought.
"I'm fine. Lost my train of thought that's all. What's up?" Kenzi asked.
"His Serene Highness Antony is here asking to see you." The Seneschal replied.
"He's back? Yeah, let him in!" Kenzi replied. As she watched the Seneschal walk away Kenzi turned and slammed her hand on her desk.
"God, that was close!" Kenzi chastised herself. She then quickly realized she needed to check her appearance, and went to the nearest mirror and started primping.
"You look just fine." Antony said behind her. Kenzi smiled to herself then turned around and faced him.
"It has been a full day, Your Serene Highness." Kenzi replied with a smile.
"Please, just Antony." Antony replied.
"So are you home now?" Kenzi asked.
"Yes, for now." Antony replied.
"How's Nassoria?" Kenzi asked.
"Still investigating."
"No changes?" Kenzi asked.
"No."
"So what brings you here to see me?" Kenzi asked.
"I would like to ask you out for an evening."
"You mean a date?"
"Yes."
"Really? Are you allowed?" Kenzi blurted. Antony chuckled.
"What I meant by that is…well, I'm…" Kenzi stumbled.
"I believe I know what you meant. And while I can see whomever I choose I did ask for the blessing of my family and they gave it." Antony replied.
"Your whole family?" Kenzi asked
"Yes." Antony replied. That made Kenzi sit down.
"But you are a monarch who runs entire armies, and God knows what else you do around here as if that isn't enough already. Shouldn't you be interested in someone more at your level?" Kenzi asked.
"What makes you think you are not at my level?"
"Dude, really? I mean, c'mon!" Kenzi replied. Antony chuckled again.
"You might think this is funny now, but dating me could get complicated for you." Kenzi said.
"I think I can handle anything that may come my way in that regard."
"Antony…."
"I want to see you. Formally. And I would like to take you out for an evening. Do you accept?" Antony asked.
"if you insist." Kenzi replied with a blush.
"Good. Do you still have the small paddle I gave you?" Antony asked.
"Yeah, I do."
"Please bring it with you when we take our first evening together. You will need it."
"Okay."
"Til then." Antony said with a smile.
"Til then." Kenzi repeated. Then Antony turned and left.
Kenzi allowed the smile on her face to linger a bit and then it disappeared and she thought about what had just happened right before Antony showed up.
"Call Beatrice!" Kenzi shouted into the air. The air shimmered and Beatrice's image appeared.
"Yes, Kenzi?" Beatrice prompted.
"I need you to contact Savina Yordanka." Kenzi said.
"Oh dear! What for?" Beatrice asked.
"I just need to see her! And it needs to be quiet. No one must know. Not even Bo." Kenzi replied.
"Okay. I will see to it." Beatrice said with some apprehension in her voice.
"Thanks!" Kenzi replied and ended the call. She then collapsed in a nearby chair.
"What is wrong with me?"
