Unexpected

Chapter Twenty-Four

A/N: Turns out I got a good idea over the night and since a few of you said I shouldn't put it on hold, here I am back again! There will definitely be more updates now. Thank you to those of you who commented last A/N, and enjoy.

Don't forget to Vote and Comment! Thanks.

KAI

After the visit to the market, they had returned to the New Beijing Palace an hour later. Not a minute after they'd settled on the couch, Cinder's portscreen had buzzed to life. Turned out Iko was calling.

Currently Cinder was staring at the portscreen with a scowl on her face. Kai inched forward, not sure whether to approach an angry Cinder or not. The girl could be incredibly feisty when she wanted to be, and he got the vibe Cinder was unhappy.

She was crouched over the device, it's screen glitching from the recipient. "Iko-Iko, I can't hear you. You're glitching up. Iko?"

Kai tapped her shoulder. "Is the device broken?"

Cinder shook her head, assessing the device as she tipped it up in the air. "Nope," she confirmed. "It's from the other side. It's glitching from Luna." She cast him a worried look. "Do you think something's up?" She went back to tapping on the screen, which was glitching again.

"I don't think so," Kai frowned. "You've got Iko there. What about Jacin and Kinney? He's your personal guard. Iko would have him with her."

"Well, yeah, normally." Cinder muttered. "Jacin's on a democratic tour with Winter, visiting the sectors. And Kinney's supposed to be with Iko. But I don't get it. Since on Luna when I was there, screening calls to Earthen leaders and such, nothing's been wrong with any of the devices and connections. I wonder what happened?"

Kai said nothing, only her words increased the concern he already held. From their experience over the past year with the war and Queen Levana's guards and spies, they had learned to be increasingly aware and careful of their surroundings. Kai took anything out of ordinary a suspicion. 

Then a distorted sound came from the portscreen and Kai's gaze snapped back to it. The call from Luna was coming in again, and Cinder quickly tapped green. The screen pixelated then slowly went clear, until Kai could see the command center from Luna and...Iko.

"Kai!" Came a screech from the device's speakers.

Cinder jolted back, her face twisted. Kai laughed. "Hey there, Iko."

Iko's face came into view. Blue hair spun into braids, and her eyes were a disturbingly bright yellow color. "Cinder, hello! Kai, oh, my stars, you look as wonderful as ever. Are you two okay? Nothing wrong, right?"

Cinder clutched at the portscreen and held it up so they could see Iko better. Iko was waving vigorously, and Kinney was in the background. But Kai noticed something was wrong. The way Iko's eyes flickered from left to right, and from the stance Kinney held-an offense crouch.By the way Cinder frowned, he could tell she saw it too.

"Is something up?" Cinder prodded gently. 

Kai sank down beside Cinder, pitching to see Iko. Iko suddenly looked serious. Uh-oh. It was positively rare to see the bubbly android serious and neutral, and Kai saw the bright yellow in her irises had transformed to a dull bronze. Somehow he preferred the yellow.

"Cinder, I don't know what happened here. When you left for Earth, it was okay. I swear it was. Everything was working just fine until the day before yesterday." Iko's voice held a panicked edge. Cinder's knuckles turned white as she gripped the device harder.

"Iko, tell me what's wrong." She ordered. 

Iko took a deep breath. "Before yesterday the port was working fine, as it should. Then it shut without command. The whole network's been infiltrated, at least that's what the mechanics and engineers here tell me. We can't open up the portship, so basically we're cut off from any trading routes or any traveling done." Iko's gaze flashed. "Including the fact you will have to stay on Earth until this matter is resolved."

Cinder groaned and rubbed her forehead. "This is what happens when I leave. Do you have any idea who did this?" Kai watched her worriedly. This was not good. Not good at all. How come nothing ever stayed calm for them? 

"No, none. The person who did this hacked our network very well, Cinder. They didn't leave a single cyber footprint. The best engineer and mechanic out here in Luna said that the signal is bounced around Earth's satellite over ten times."

Kai could tell Cinder was struggling to regain composure. She had just become Queen, and now her city was in jeopardy-not to mention her palace. Cinder furrowed her brows. "A professional, then." Cinder sighed. "Is this why the call is glitching and everything?"

Iko shrugged. "I guess. I mean, only the people in the palace know of this. Not the entire Artemisia, and Jacin and Winter swore them to secrecy. They don't want any chaotic decisions or movements while you're gone."

"Jacin and Winter?" Cinder demanded. "They're back?"

"Yeah, they just returned. Don't worry, Cinder. The people listen to Winter."

"Where are they now?" Cinder asked. "Can I talk to them?"

Iko shook her head. "They're gone trying to find a solution to this. Cinder, you should know something."

Cinder sank back into her seat, obviously anxious. Kai, knowing there was nothing to say, reached over and started to massage her shoulders. She shot Kai a grateful look, but he could sense the panic, the fear in them. It's going to be okay, he mouthed. 

"Some of the thaumaturges are getting restless." Iko said. "They're doubting your rule, saying your political influence on Earth is minimal and your relationship with Kai is too intimate for political standards and affairs."

"I'm coming back there as soon as I can," Cinder ground out. The muscles in her jaw were working, the way her teeth were gritted Kai could tell she was struggling not to panic, or to become furious. "Do you have people working on the dropship problem?"

Iko nodded. "Yes, but..." she hesitated.

"Don't worry," Cinder smiled wryly. "There's been so many bad news I guess I can take one more."

"They say it's nearly impossible to fix." Iko groaned and rubbed her temples. "And that the dropship is sealed shut tight, not responding to any of the signals. And since the Palace's network is down, we have no choice but to wait it out." Iko peered at the screen. "Any problems down at Earth? Any connections?"

Cinder exchanged a glance with Kai. Kai shook his head. "Not quite, but I won't be surprised if we see something out of the ordinary soon."

"Well this is just great, right?" Iko laughed dryly. "Well, Cinder, I'm doing the best I can. I'll contact you---" the screen glitched severely and Iko's voice turned distorted. Cinder frowned and tapped the edge of the device until Iko's image pixelated so severely the screen went black.

"Iko? Iko?" Cinder let out a cry of frustration and flung the device onto Kai's bed and stared blankly at the wall. Kai sat down next to Cinder and slid her into a hug, pressing his chin on her head. Cinder sagged into him, her arms limp as his dark brown gaze met her hazel-brown irises.

"What am I going to do, Kai?" She whispered.

"I don't know. But we'll figure it out together." Kai answered and pressed a light kiss to her forehead.

A/N: That cliche last part of the chapter is not something to be proud about. Okay, guys, do me a favor and comment on this? Thank you  <3