Unexpected

Chapter Twenty-Five

A/N: To make up for all the late updates in this month, here's another chapter. I've noticed the number of comments and votes dwindling down along with the reads, and I'd love it if you guys commented? I can't progress without your inputs. Thank you, but don't feel this is an obligation :)

CINDER

"Does this mean I'm stuck here until the dropship opens up again?" Cinder asked, running a hand through her hair, trying to calm herself down. Kai put his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him.

"Cinder, you'll be fine. Any suspicious activities here I'll put my best team to investigate. It may lead to whoever did this to the Artemisian Palace." Kai reassured her, his voice low and soothing as he gazed into her eyes. The eyes that he sorely loved looking into, but were full of panic.

"So you actually think they're connected?" Cinder muttered, and glanced at the door. 

"I don't know of many people who have the capacity and ability to hack into an facility in outer space. Well, think about it." Kai said thoughtfully, standing up and pacing the room. His eyes were narrowed in concentration. "To hack a network that vast from here, on Earth-across light years and satellites signals and everything, it literally is impossible."

Cinder sat up. "Which means that the culprit is in Luna."

"Unless someone's stuck inbetween orbit enough to influence both systems between Earth and Luna," Kai offered. His eyes widened, a flash of realization hitting his face. "Cress was Sybil Mira's protegee, right? Cress was close enough to Earth and Luna's orbit to influence both our technologies."

"Cress surely didn't do this," Cinder argued. "She's our friend."

"I'm not saying it's Cress," Kai said slowly.

"But if there's another person taking up the same job." Cinder finished. She stood up. "Kai, can we go to your Command Center to see if your radios or transmitters have picked up any signals coming in from the abyss between Earth and Luna?"

He nodded and raced towards the door. In ten minutes flat after they'd taken the elevator, they were standing outside the C.C, New Beijing's Palace monitoring center for any outer space activities. Kai flashed out his ID card and slit it through a slot on either side of the door. It slowly swung open, and Kai pulled Cinder inside.

There were few men and women working on separate 'booths' or little desks of their owns. The Command Center was filled with computers, huge netscreens, portable devices, and anything techy needed to determine and receive signals from Luna.

Kai strode in. Every member inside stood to attention, and bowed. 'Your Highness and Your Majesty' were mumbled from across the room. Cinder quietly observed the entire room, taking in the vast amount of data and information scrolling across blue-tinted screens. "I'm sure you've heard of the Artemisian Palace's dilemma," Kai announced.

One man stepped forward, and bowed. His uniform and the badges pinned to it suggested he was a higher status than his colleagues. The name-tag glinted by his collar, saying 'Milos Quinn' in bold letters. "Greetings, Emperor Kai and Your Highness. Yes," he answered. "And we're trying to communicate with Luna's servers, but no luck so far."

Cinder tilted her head and poked Kai's shoulder, drawing back his attention. "How does he know of the 'dilemma'?" she hissed under her breath. "We've only just heard about it. Were they spying?" Cinder gasped, horrified at the prospect.

Kai laughed, shaking his head. "No. But do you honestly think that Luna would contact you first? I'm thinking either Winter, Jacin or Kinney-and Iko influenced this decision to contact with Earth's servers before you, but rather the thaumaturges pushing them."