Jacinda's Challenge (Imperial 3)

by M. K. Eidem

  "It was fine and you can thank Jacinda for that, she packed in record time."

  "Really?" William raised an eyebrow at that. "You'll have to teach Cassandra that trick."

  "Teach me what trick?"

  Jacinda watched as the sound of his wife's voice had William immediately rising to pull out the empty chair for her. "How to pack quickly. Did she go down okay?"

  "Yes." She sat. "Hello, Jotham."

  Jacinda saw the warmth in the Queen's eyes as she greeted Jotham. They quickly cooled as she glanced at her, waiting.

  "Good morning, Cassandra," Jotham replied. "I'd like to introduce you to Jacinda Michelakakis. Jacinda, Queen Cassandra Zafar."

  "Majesty," Jacinda bowed her head slightly.

  "Madame Michelakakis." Cassandra acknowledged her before looking to her husband. "So are you saying I take too long to pack?"

  William frowned slightly at his wife's coolness to Jacinda. "There are times."

  "Hmm, I guess I'll have to let you start packing for yourself then."

  "Michelakakis? Lieutenant Michelakakis is your daughter?"

  Jacinda looked over to find herself under the gaze of Peter Chamberlain's brown eyes. "Yes, Stephie was thrilled to be selected for your advanced training program, although I'm sure she'll be mortified when she finds out I called her by her childhood nickname."

  "Daughter? I didn't realize any of the trainees were women." Cyndy frowned at her husband.

  "I never thought it important, Pixie."

  "But you said this is the most aggressive training program you've ever put together, that you've already had to cut a third of the class.

  "Pixie...." Peter gave her a warning look.

  "What?" Cyndy demanded.

  "It's alright, Captain. I have the greatest faith in my daughter."

  "You don't believe she's among the ones already cut?" Peter asked curiously.

  "No," Jacinda's answer was swift and decisive. "My daughter has never failed at anything, once she's set her mind to it, and she's set it to graduate from your groundbreaking program. So she will." She saw Peter's lips twitch.

  "I see where the Lieutenant gets her confidence from."

  "Oh no," Jacinda waved a dismissing hand, "trust me. That all comes from her father."

  "He was an Assemblyman for the House of Protection, wasn't he?"

  Jacinda looked back to Cassandra, sure the Queen already knew the answer. "Yes, for nearly forty cycles."

  "But you're not."

  "I'm sorry. I'm not what?"

  "From the House of Protection."

  "No. I was born into the House of Healing."

  "Where your father was also an Assemblyman."

  "Along with both my grandfathers and several other ancestors."

  "Yet you wed a man from the House of Protection."

  "As you did. I've never believed it should make a difference what House your life mate comes from. "

  "You believe Stephan Michelakakis was your life mate?" Cassandra raised a questioning eyebrow.

  "No. I know Stephan was my life mate."

  "Hmm."

  William frowned at his wife, then turned his attention to Jacinda. "Stephan was a good man. We had many spirited conversations."

  Jacinda pulled her gaze from Cassandra. "Spirited. Really? You mean you argued loudly, don't you?"

  "At times," William smiled and looked to Peter. "If his daughter has half his belief, dedication, and stubbornness she will be an invaluable asset when she completes Peter's program."

  Peter nodded slightly, letting William know he understood. He would have to take a special interest in Stephanie Michelakakis' training.

  Jacinda took a sip of her coffee and grimaced slightly at its strength, then set it down to add a cube of sugar before she slid the sweetener toward Jotham, knowing he would want it.

  "Is there a problem with your coffee?" Cassandra asked coolly, bringing Jacinda's attention back to her.

  "No, it's just a little strong. I normally drink a milder blend from an establishment in Pechora."

  "Pittaluga's?" William asked longingly causing Cassandra to frown.

  "Yes." Jacinda looked back to William.

  "I haven't had a cup of his special blend in cycles."

  "I brought two pounds of it with me for my sister. I'm sure she won't mind parting with one."

  "I didn't think Pittaluga sold his special blend."

  "It's a closely guarded secret, but I'm sure he'd be more than willing to send some to you, High Admiral."

  "It’s Will, Jacinda. We've known each other for far too long to stand on protocol, at least in private."

  "Alright. Will."

  Jotham shot Will a grateful smile.

  "I wasn't aware you two were that well acquainted." Cassandra’s tone became even cooler as she looked from her husband to Jacinda.

  "I've known Jotham and Will since our Academy days, and while we did have several classes together, I was a cycle ahead of them."

  "You're older than them?"

  "Cassandra!" This shocked exclamation came from Cyndy.

  Jacinda wasn't shocked. It seemed the Queen was wanting to get her digs in. Well, two could play at that game.

  "Yes, I'm older. As such, I was never part of Jotham and Will's special 'tutoring' program."

  Will, who had just taken a sip of his coffee, choked.

  "Tutoring?" This question came from a grinning Peter. "Really, Will?"

  "I... Well... we were young and..."

  "Jotham, I'm surprised at you. I thought you met Lata at the Academy."

  The censure in Cassandra's voice was unmistakable and Jacinda wasn't going to stand by and allow it to happen. Especially not when it was because of something she'd said.

  "He did," Jacinda spoke first. "And as soon as he met her he never 'tutored' another woman. He is a very loyal man."

  "I thought you didn't know him all that well back then," Cassandra challenged.

  "I didn't, but my sister, Palma, was Lata's roommate. She visited our home quite often and we were friends."

  "I find that... surprising," Cassandra gave her a disbelieving look.

  "Why?" Jacinda challenged back. "You don't know me and you never knew Lata. We did." She gestured to William and Jotham. "She was one of the sweetest, kindest, most loving woman you'd ever be lucky enough to meet. She also had a wicked sense of humor. She loved Jotham and she loved her son. The universe has been a dimmer place since we lost her."

  Silence reigned for a moment at Jacinda's impassioned, heartfelt words. No one could doubt she meant every one of them. Including Cassandra.

  "Lata was all those things," William agreed breaking the silence. "She could also be quite the... rule-breaker."

  Jotham and William exchanged a look they thought only they understood.

  "Are you referring to how you used to distract the other girls on the floor so Jotham could sneak into Lata's room?" Jacinda asked, giving William a too innocent look as she took a bite of her meal.

  "I... How did you know about that?" William demanded giving Jotham a shocked look. "Palma always went home whenever we did that!"

  "Palma never went home, unless it was for a holiday," Jacinda told them emphatically.

  "What?" It was Jotham's turn to give her a shocked look. "But Lata always said Palma had gone to see her family."

  "She had." She gave him a teasing smile. "Me. She would pack a bag and spend the night in my room. It was the only way the two of you could have any real time together without everyone watching."

  "Thank you," Jotham reached over and squeezed her hand.

  "It's not like I did anything. I just let my sister sleep on the couch. I'm not sure what you did once I graduated."

  "Were you in security too, Jacinda?"

  Peter's question pulled Jacinda's gaze away from Jotham's little smirk that said he'd never tell.

  "No. I served in communications on the Talon." Jacinda answered him.

  "Communications?" Cassandra
asked.

  "Yes, I was in charge of monitoring all incoming and outgoing communications, not very exciting, but necessary."

  "Yes, it is." William agreed, looking at Cassandra. "It can get hectic with the unpredictability of the volume you can get."

  "Yes, the only thing reliable was Jotham's nightly call to Lata." Jacinda took another bite, unaware of the shocked looks she was receiving from not only William and Cassandra but also Jotham.

  "You always knew when Jotham called Lata?" The stillness of William's tone had Jacinda looking up to find her staring into the eyes of the High Admiral. Straightening, she answered.

  "Of course, he called her at eight every night unless he was on duty."

  "How could you possibly know that?" Jotham asked, frowning at her.

  "Because of your Royal Coding." Jacinda didn't understand why that seemed to upset him.

  "You broke the Royal Coding?" Cassandra demanded, her expression tense.

  "Of course not!" Jacinda instantly denied. "That code is unbreakable!"

  "Then how did you know?" Jotham asked quietly.

  "Because of the way the communications system used to be set up." She frowned at Jotham. "Different priority levels ran through different systems. Only you or Admiral Kannon ever had the authority to send a communication at that level, and there were only three comms that had that capability. Admiral Kannon's, on the bridge and in his private chambers, and the one in your quarters. I brought it to the attention of Captain Jaq that while no one knew what was being communicated, Jotham was still at risk as they would know his location."

  "And what was Jaq's response?" William asked tensely.

  "He informed me not to worry my pretty little head about it. That men were in charge and handling it."

  "Jaq was always an ass," William spat out, tossing his napkin down on the table in disgust.

  "Yes, but he was an especially big ass to women," Jacinda told him quietly.

  "Why?" The soft question came from Cyndy.

  "He didn't believe women should be allowed to serve in the Fleet," Jacinda told her. "He felt they were a 'distraction' and served no 'real purpose.’"

  "Chauvinist pig," Cyndy muttered causing Jacinda to frown in confusion.

  "He said that to you?" Jotham demanded angrily.

  "To me and every other woman under his command. It's why so many women requested transfers."

  "But you didn't. You served both cycles of your tour on the Talon," Jotham reminded her.

  "I wasn't going to let that old foab..." she cut herself off, suddenly remembering the children were still at the table, "bully force me out of a position I loved."

  "Good for you." Cyndy nodded her approval.

  "I'd say your daughter has a lot of you in her." Peter eyed her with a new respect in his gaze.

  Jacinda just smiled.

  "It was you," Jotham's quiet words had Jacinda losing her smile to look at him.

  "What did she do?" Cassandra demanded, her eyes hardening on Jacinda.

  Jotham ignored Cassandra and concentrated on Jacinda. "You were the one who brought it to Stephan's 'attention.’ It's because of you that the entire communications system was upgraded and the codes changed."

  "You were the reason it changed, Jotham. Not me," Jacinda denied.

  "Because Stephan brought it to my attention. Why didn't he just say it was you?" When Jacinda just looked at him, he pressed. "Jacinda?"

  'Because I wasn't from the House of Protection," she finally admitted.

  "What the hell does that have to do with it?" Jotham demanded.

  "Jotham, think back," Jacinda told him softly. "You know how divided the Assembly was back then. You had just taken the throne and Stephan's and my Union was barely six cycles old. There were those who would have voted against funding that project just because I was the one who had voiced the concern."

  "I never even considered it could have been you," Jotham spoke quietly. "I always thought it was Will." Jotham looked to his old friend.

  "Me?" William gave his friend a shocked look. "Why me?"

  "All Stephan would ever say was that it was someone who served in the Coalition and was a friend of mine. Who else was I to think it was?"

  "Why didn't you ever say anything, Jacinda?" William asked.

  "Because it wasn't important. What was important was that there was no way a Royal could be targeted in the Fleet. That's all that mattered."

  "King Jotham?"

  "Yes, Kayden?" Jotham looked down the table to find him the focus of confused eyes.

  "Who is Lata?"

  Every adult at the table sucked in a shocked breath at the innocent question and watched Jotham swallow hard.

  "Lata is the Queen of the House of Protection," Jacinda finally answered for Jotham.

  "She is the Queen?" Kayden frowned looking to his mother. "Why haven't I ever met her then?"

  "She died, Kayden," Jotham spoke quietly looking at the boy. "Cycles before you were born."

  "Like Grandpa Jacob did?" he asked quietly.

  "Yes."

  "Oh." Kayden was silent for a moment. "I'm sorry. You must miss her. I'd miss Mom if she were gone."

  "Thank you, Kayden," Jotham replied tightly.

  Uncaring about who saw, Jacinda reached over to squeeze Jotham's hand that was fisted on the table, giving him her silent support. Jotham gave her a grateful look and laced his fingers into hers. The action wasn't missed by any of the adults at the table.

  "Mom, may we be excused?"

  Cassandra looked down the table to find three empty plates, and her youngest shoveling the last of his in as fast as he could. He obviously didn't want to be left behind.

  "Yes, but remember you're to be in the classroom at eight."

  "Mom?"

  Jacinda's gaze went to the smaller, thin boy who sat next to Cyndy.

  "Go ahead, Brett, have fun."

  "Thanks, Mom." And with that, all four quickly left the room.

  Before the door could close, Javiera stepped into the room. "Cassandra, there is a comm for you." Her eyes traveled over the room. "Jacinda?" Her shock at seeing Jacinda sitting there was evident.

  "Hello, Javiera."

  "Hello. What in the world are you..." she trailed off when she realized whose hand Jacinda was still holding. "King Jotham."

  "Good morning, Javiera," Jotham acknowledged not moving his hand.

  Cassandra rose wiping her mouth. "I’ll take it in my office." Leaning down, she kissed William. "I'll talk to you later."

  "Trust me, you will." William gave her a hard look.

  Nodding her understanding, she straightened and left the room. With a last look at Jacinda, Javiera followed her.

  "High Admiral." A guard wearing House of Knowledge blue entered. "There is a comm coming in from Nuga." Both William and Jotham instantly stood.

  "Jacinda," Jotham looked down at her.

  "Go. It's why you're here. I'll be fine."

  Leaning down, Jotham gave her a quick, hard kiss. "Thank you." Then Jotham and Will left the room.

  "I need to get going too." Peter gave his wife a quick kiss and stood. "I'll see you tonight, Pixie. Madame Michelakakis, it's been a pleasure meeting you."

  "You too, Captain, and please call me Jacinda."

  "Only if you call me Peter."

  "Agreed." And with that he was gone. Jacinda looked around the suddenly empty table then smiled at Cyndy. "So, what should we do now?"

  Chapter Twenty

  "I love this spot." Cyndy sat down on the bench in the Memory Garden.

  Jacinda looked around the small walled-in garden taking in the large stone with a name carved into it.

  "Jacob Chamberlain," she read.

  "Peter and Cassandra's father."

  "He died during the Regulian attack on Earth?"

  "Yes. Victoria snuck out the back door and followed Cassandra as she helped Lucas after he crash landed and was hurt."

  "I had heard that.”

  "Pe
ter wanted to go, but he had just gotten back from a mission." Cyndy continued to look at the stone. "He injured his shoulder and leg and Cassandra knew he couldn't support Lucas' weight. We didn't know Tori was even gone until we headed for the shelter."

  "You must have been terrified." Jacinda couldn't imagine it. If one of her children were out, alone during a Regulian attack, she would have gone crazy."

  "I was, but I was three months... moon cycles along with Brett and Peter wouldn't let me go look."

  Jacinda watched Cyndy's eyes cloud over as she remembered.

  "I remember when the ground began to shake and tremble. It knocked us off our feet, then Peter was up and started sealing the door. I was screaming at him to stop! I was pounding on his back, clawing at him. He was sealing my baby outside."

  "I can't even imagine..." Jacinda felt her throat close up and couldn't speak at the thought of what this small woman had gone through.

  "What does it say about me, that I never once thought about Cassandra or Jacob?" Pain-filled eyes turned to Jacinda. "All I cared about was Victoria."

  Jacinda found she could no longer stand and sat down next to Cyndy, taking her hand. "It says you are a loving mother. Victoria was your priority, as she should have been."

  "I think I went crazy for a while. Peter just held me and cried, begging me not to give up."

  "He was protecting what he had left. The woman he loved and his child yet to be born."

  "None of us would have survived if any of them had made it to the bunker."

  Jacinda had to strain to hear the words Cyndy was whispering like a deep dark confession.

  "What?"

  "The bunker was only stocked with four years of food." Cyndy's eyes were flat as they looked at her. "Without the others there, Peter was able to stretch it to nearly nine."

  "Four years...." Jacinda knew she meant cycles.

  "Yeah. Four years for four people."

  "But there were five people in your family then, Cyndy. You, Peter, Victoria, Cassandra and Jacob."

  "Jacob never planned on getting into that bunker." Her eyes turned to the stone. "It took me a while to realize that."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Jacob was deeply in love with Peter and Cassie's mom. She was killed in a car accident when Cassie was nine and Peter eighteen. It devastated him. He couldn't even look at Cassie because she looked so much like Cassidy. He finally had to send her away... to boarding school."