Kenzi walked down the corridors of the North American Agency Headquarters with Agents Ian Greystone and Penacus Mauntell, whom Kenzi had readily nicknamed Peni. They had just returned from a recent emigration assignment and were enroute to meet with Agent Gavan Madrais, head of Transparency Operations and one of the few Agents not culled by Agent Prime after the discovery of Rumlar's treacherous infection of the ranks. With Rumlar still on the loose and the Convocation happening, everything remained uncertain. If the 25th Delegation's petition failed, it was expected the Agency would pull the plug and return to the Presidium, leaving the Human Plane to its own devices. However, much to Kenzi's amazement, in the short time the Agency had been operating on the Human Plane, many of the Agents had become invested in their work, and some even voiced support for the petition to succeed. Kenzi was glad her recent assignments involved helping in some of the emigration efforts. It exposed her to Fae she had only heard about through myth, if even at all.
Kenzi was looking forward to their next emigration mission: The Kraken was being moved back to her home plane of Utticus later that evening. Because of the importance of the Kraken, her move warranted the presence of politically important Fae in the Realm hierarchy to see her off to include Deputy Agent Prime Gerrelt de la Brosse accompanied by a contingent of selected representatives from the Realm. Tamsin also showed up with Reed Evangrassi and some of the Elders in tow. It fell upon Agent Tane Essosis, Agent over the Artic Ocean area to coordinate the move, and Kenzi couldn't tell by his frenzied movements if he was excited or frantic about it or both.
Agent Mauntell, however, was very excited. Traveling to the Artic was like heading on Spring Break. Peni emanated from the Cerulean plane, a winter-like place that would challenge even the most devout Chionophile. If it wasn't 25 below zero he wasn't happy.
"I can't wait to get to the Artic. Closest thing I got to home here. Miss the cold." Agent Mauntell replied as they walked along.
"Only you would miss the cold, Peni." Kenzi replied.
"Cold is good for you." Peni replied.
"Again, only you, Peni." Kenzi replied. "And by the way, can someone warn a girl when lunch being served is alive and flipping around." Kenzi complained.
"Well, it could have been humans instead." Peni replied.
"Ha! Ha! Very funny!" Kenzi said.
"The Chef thought it would be nice for the visiting Selkies." Ian replied.
"What about the rest of us mere mortals?" Kenzi asked.
"There was soup available." Ian reminded.
"Yeah! Puffer fish which, by the way. Ew!" Kenzi said.
"Not yet used to the exotic cuisine of the Presidium?" Peni asked.
"Oh! I've seen some exotic cuisine for sure, but still. Puffer fish soup? Ew!" Kenzi replied. Ian and Peni smiled.
"You can't eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches all day, Kenzi." Ian said.
"Watch me." Kenzi replied. Then someone called out from behind them.
"Agent Malikov!" Everyone stopped and turned. It was one of the guards on the Compound.
"Yeah?" Kenzi prompted.
"You have a visitor." The guard informed.
"A visitor?" Kenzi asked. "Tamsin and Reed are already here." But then her answer rounded the hallway corner, and everyone promptly stopped and extended their courtesies, except Kenzi whose mouth dropped open in surprise.
"Antony!" Kenzi blurted. Antony smiled. Antony was accompanied not only by his Bas, Bas Asra Tahu, but by a contingent of soldiers from both the Combined Armies and the Knights of the Guard, walked behind him a synchronized formation, followed by Usasas, Planar Representative for the Utticus Plane.
"Agent Malikov!" Antony greeted when he reached her.
Kenzi suddenly remembered she called him by his first name in public and she didn't curtsey. She quickly curtsied to wit he quickly acknowledged, and then everyone righted themselves.
"Your Serene Highness." Kenzi corrected herself. Antony smiled broader. "What are you doing here?"
"We're here to represent Their Majesties when the Kraken returns to the Utticus Plane this evening. I take it, you recall His Excellency, Planar Representative Usasas? He's here to accompany the Kraken personally back to Utticus." Antony informed.
"Of course! We met at the Juggerbol game. Hi, Your Excellency!" Kenzi said with a smile.
"Agent Malikov." Usasas returned.
"Well, this is quite the layout for the Kraken." Kenzi said.
"Her return is long overdue." Usasas replied.
"Agent Malikov, do you have a moment?" Antony asked.
"Of course, Your Serene Highness!" Kenzi replied. Antony then turned to his Bas.
"See that His Excellency meets up with Deputy Prime. I will catch up with you soon." Antony directed.
"Yes, Your Serene Highness." Bas Tahu bowed and then directed Usasas and the contingency of Guards to follow him. Automatically, the last two guards fell out of the formation and stayed with Antony.
"We'll catch up with you later!" Ian said to Kenzi and then he and Peni quickly bowed and followed Usasas and the guards.
Antony directed Kenzi to a nearby room, and when they entered he shut the door behind them.
"This is a surprise!" Kenzi said. Antony advanced on her, took her chin, raised it slightly but gently, and kissed her lightly on the lips. Kenzi swirled in the moment. After a few long moments, they broke their kiss.
"Well, hello!" Kenzi greeted softly.
"I take it my presence surprises you?" Antony asked.
"Definitely! I saw bits and pieces of the Watch. Impressive!"
"It is quite the ceremony."
"Is that something accorded all rulers of the Realm?"
"Each in their own way."
"So, you're here to escort the Kraken? Don't you have a like a ton of other things to do?"
"Of course, but this is also my duty, and because the Kraken is the Kraken we had to transport 100,000 soldiers and Knights, and special viewing flotilla so we could interact with the Krakon without getting washed over."
"We have ships here. Big ones, in fact." Kenzi reminded.
"Your human-built ships wouldn't survive the ceremony."
"I dunno. Noah was pretty good." Kenzi replied. Antony smiled. "When do you have to go back?"
"After I'm done here." Antony replied.
"That's unfortunate. Thought we could spend a little time together."
"That's why I thought that, after seeing off the Krakon, we could squeeze in a second date before I go back."
"That would be lovely."
"Beatrice had recommended…" Antony started as he reached into his side pocket.
"Beatrice?"
"Well, I can't very well go on a date with you without checking with her first." Antony said as straight-faced as possible. Kenzi giggled.
"Since I intended to take you on a second date Beatrice recommended several activities here but then Dyson…"
"Dyson?" Kenzi blurted.
"He happened to be there when I was discussing options and he suggested this." Antony replied then pulled out two tickets. "He gave me these." Kenzi took them, read them, and her eyes widened.
"He said you would enjoy this?"
"You scored two ringside tickets to the UFC Super Heavyweight Fight? Dude! These are impossible to come by!"
"Dude?"
"That's said with love."
"That's what I understand from Bo. I take it you're happy with this choice?"
"Yes! Most definitely, yes!" Kenzi replied with excitement then a thought ran across her face. "How's Atia, by the way? I had received a call from her about needing my help after the Great Sleep was over, but she didn't say what. Do you know?"
"No idea." Antony replied.
"Hm."
"We should get back at it. Duty calls."
"Duty can wait a moment." Kenzi replied and then pulled Antony in for another kiss.
