Arduous

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

[Lucina, 11:00, Catherine's House]

Mr Zonde took the news pretty well, if you asked me. Adam/Lucas only acquired four new bruises and another bump on his head. Finally, Mr Zonde embraced his son for the first time in many years.

Tears bristled in Mr Zondes eyes as he said, "welcome home, son."

A small chuckle escaped Adam/Lucas, "hi, dad!"

Mr Zonde stepped away from his son, and plopped down into Catherines armchair again.

"Uh dad, I was sitting there." Catherine said. Her peanut butter was in her hands again.

"Too bad." Mr Zonde stated. "Go sit by Lucina on the couch."

Catherine looked to me, then to Anne. I was in the middle seat. "Lucina, move over."

I obliged and moved to the armrest. Catherine looked at Anne. "Move."

Anne stayed put, not moving an inch. "No."

"Do not test me woman!" Catherine pointed her peanut butter filled spoon at her.

"Fiiiine!" Anne sighed as she slid over to where I had previously sat.

I saw Catherine smirk as she sat down in Annes seat. "Guilt always works!"

I felt as Anne elbowed Catherine in the side, and heard an oomph.

Mr Zonde ignored the two, since it was a daily occurrence for them, and turned his full attention to his son. "What should we call you now?"

"What do you mean?" Adam looked confused.

"Should we call you Adam or Lucas?"

Adam thought that question over. Finally he came to a conclusion. "Call me Adam. Lucas just brings back too many difficult memories from my time being held captive. Plus, you know me as Adam better."

We sat in silence, not for the first time, except this time the quiet was interrupted by the ringing of Mr Zondes cell phone.

"Is that...?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Yup." Catherine replied. "My dad has the 'Mission Impossible' theme song for when anyone from the mafia calls him."

I couldn't help but chuckle at the irony of that.

"What is it?" Mr Zonde demanded into his phone.

We all were silent as we tried to decipher what was happening through the phone. Mr Zonde kept giving small agreements that he had heard, then shut the phone without any 'goodbye'.

"We've got a problem." Mr Zonde said to us.

"What is it, dad?" Catherine asked, suddenly on the edge of her seat.

"The Northwest Territory was captured." Anne gasped as soon as Mr Zonde exclaimed this.

"What happened?" Anne asked. "I thought the Canadian Mafia in the North took care of it?"

Mr Zonde sighed in exasperation. "They were supposed to, but their members just aren't as strong as ours. The provincial leaders of the Northwest have been killed, along with the capitol, Yellowknife. The Russians sent others to rule the other large cities of the Northwest as well. We think they're headed to Nunavut next."

"What are we going to do?" Catherine couldn't help but ask.

"Nothing."

"Nothing? But this would be where we would usually come in, since the others screwed up."

Mr Zonde shook his head. "Not this time. I have a more important mission for the four of you."

"The four of us?" Anne asked.

I furrowed my eyebrows, as did Adam.

"Yeah. Ive decided we could use her petite form and unsuspecting nature of Lucina will make a great spy out of her."

I must have looked as surprised as I felt, because Mr Zonde chuckled at me. "Don't worry, Lucina. With our help, you will be as trained in combat as these two here."

Anne shook her head. "I don't want her to be apart of the Mafia."

"I agree!" Catherine spouted. "She'll only get in our way."

"I thought you were wanting her to join us." Anne said, suspiciously.

"That was before..." Catherine trailed off.

"Before what?" Anne asked.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Adam give Catherine a strange look, but I thought nothing of it.

"Do you know what?" Catherine suddenly exclaimed, her face bright red. "Let her join!"

Mr Zonde nodded in approvement, even as Anne scowled.

"Do I get a say in this at all?" I asked.

"Sure, as long as you say you don't want to join." Anne stated.

"But what if I do?" I wondered.

Everyone just stared at me in surprise.

"I-I guess, if you really want to join..." Anne stuttered, surprised at me.

"Good, because I want to join." I stated. I was just as astonished by my bravery as Anne was.

"Okay, good, that's great!" Mr Zonde exclaimed. "We will start your training after lunch."

"Where is our mission, dad?" Catherine asked, curious.

"Ottawa." Mr Zonde stated. "We'll need to keep an eye on the Prime Minister. I have a feeling it won't be too long until the Russians get to him, and we have to be ready for them."

I looked to Adam, and saw his eyes went to mine as well. His face showed an expression only I could know what it meant. I looked over to Mr Zonde again, and felt Catherines eyes on Adam and I.

"Im sorry to interrupt, but how long will this training take?" I shyly interrupted.

"Um," Mr Zonde pondered, "I want to be in Ottawa in a week. Even if you can't fight very well by then, Anne, Catherine and Adam will be able to fight for you." Mr Zonde paused, before saying, "well, Anne and Catherine will be there to fight for you. Yours and Annes job will mostly be spying, anyway, on the Prime Ministers daughter. Catherine and Adam will have the difficult job of keeping their eyes on the Prime Minister himself."

"What will you be doing?" Catherine asked. "Did you find another Librarian?"

Mr Zonde snapped, "you're lucky I like you."

"No," Mr Zonde continued, "I have the new job as secretary at the House of Commons."

"You, a secretary?" Catherine scoffed.

Mr Zonde ignored her. "Don't worry about your mother, Lucina. Just give her this letter, and it will explain everything." Mr Zonde handed me a large envelope.

"What will it explain?" I asked. The large envelope felt light in my hands.

"It tells of a boarding school that wants you in Australia. It says that it starts next week. Everything is paid for, so your mother has got to say yes." Mr Zonde explained.

I nodded. I was actually excited to go on this mission!

"Now," Mr Zonde said, "lets eat lunch, and then start on Lucinas training."

"Good, because I'm starving! My pancakes burnt this morning." Catherine exclaimed.