“I doubt it, because you really are not as stupid as you are acting. I know that much. So are you going to come to the residence they have set aside for us?” she asked sourly. Remembering she would be sharing the same house with her. The woman shook her head.
“No, the king has said I may remain here until a ship comes for us. I have what I need,” she said. Melissa turned and walked out of the room afraid of what she might say to her former boss and friend. The king and the others had moved down the hall, out of earshot. Sergeant Jones was the only one directly outside. She smirked and went in when Melissa left. That seemed strange to her and Captain Lancer was furious. The king was worried. As she approached he bowed low.
“My apologies my dear. I did not wish to begin any trouble between the ambassador and you,” he said. Melissa let out a deep breath. The king’s kindness helped her.
“No worries Your Majesty. Your request only reinforced what was already in my mind to say. Unfortunately, I may be out of a job. Since she is staying here, is it permissible for me to remain at the residence for the time being?” she asked and he smiled slightly.
“Of course you may. As long as you like. The staff and liaisons love you, so you are no bother,” he said.
“Thank you Your Grace. I will continue trying to figure out what is going on because none of this is making sense,” she told him and glanced at the captain. He was staring at the ambassador’s door.
“Thank you. Your communication device at the residence can reach my people. Feel free to contact me if something occurs to you. I could use any insight you may have. I will do the same.”
She thanked him and bowed with the captain. Then they left. They went a few turnings and then stepped into a vacant room.
“Ok, what the hell happened Mac? I thought me leaving would calm things down,” he stated.
“Me too. Funny how things work out. Somebody is pushing her buttons. It has to be, because I realized there at the end that Rosanna Torrance is not that stupid or reckless. She is getting pressured. It is weird. Speaking of weird, what is up with Jones?” she asked him he snarled.
“She came here last night and accepted the ambassador’s offer to be her guard. Personal guard. She never said a word about it to me and now will not take my orders. I told her to find another uniform,” he said disgustedly. Melissa did not blame him.
“I would suggest cutting her out of the information loop. It just occurred to me that she may be the one telling tales to my boss. Or old boss. She knew all about the use I put my spare time to yesterday,” Melissa told him.
“So what. It is none of her business is it?”
Melissa sighed at his words.
“Technically no, but she is making it so.”
“Actually, I am now beginning to wonder about Jones. If we believe the separatists had help from Ilona and as I mentioned to the ambassador, from our team as well, Jones could be part of the problem. Damn I am not trusting anyone right now. We have to get to the bottom of this. You are almost the last one I trust so don’t go doing anything weird, ok?” he told her jokingly.
She started laughing and it snow balled until she actually had to sit down until her laughter retreated to giggles. He was watching her with his arms crossed, waiting for her to calm down.
“It wasn’t that funny,” he told her when she had.
“You want to hear weird Captain? In just about twenty-four hours I have: nearly been blown up, became temporarily head of our embassy, dated two men at once, got fired, lost a friend over it and now, I am apparently advisor to the King of Ilona when I have no idea what is actually going on,” she finished. It was his turn to laugh. She started up again and by the time they were done it was time to go home.
It was strange, but after a day the villa did feel like home. She saw Cardel and Fonte at the vehicle and felt a warm flush in her center. She realized she was really falling for those two guys. In one day’s time!
*****
They took Cardel and Fonte with them back to the villa. Melissa filled them in on what was going on. They were as confused as everyone else. They did have some ideas though and both Melissa and the captain were open to any help they could get.
“So let’s look at what is going on,” Cardel said. “There is a hunt for separatists both human and Ilona going on. That seems the most important to me, considering the dangerous possibilities they represent. Then there is the loss of the alliance that our people, and I had thought, your people were supportive of,” he concluded.
“So are they tied together or is the end of the Alliance out of strictly fear on someone’s part?” Fonte asked.
“Both, I am sure of it,” Captain Lancer said. “The separatists, by their very nature, are fearful of anything new no matter how beneficial. I also believe that whoever they are, they have some leverage with the Earth Federation Council and perhaps the ambassador as well. Now that I have had time to consider it, you are right Mac. She was intentionally pissing us off, driving us away,” he said looking at her. She nodded thoughtfully.
“That makes sense. How do we go about finding out who is behind all of this though?” Melissa asked.
“Well is seems to me we all have people we can talk to. Cardel and I have resources; Captain, I have no doubt you can do some digging. You have made some admirable contacts in your short time here, and you Melissa I would suggest calling your council contact. I am wondering how much of what is going on they know about. The king is a big believer in respecting your chain of command. With the ambassador awake, he would not think of going through anyone but her,” he said.
Melissa had not thought of that and nodded. It would be an uncomfortable conversation, but she believed it was a good idea. Any information was better than what they had. When they got back to the villa the captain took off immediately. She grabbed Cardel and Fonte’s hands.
“Thank you for your council my friends. You managed to shake us out of our shock. Good luck with your contacts,” she told them. One at a time they leaned down and gave her a slow kiss and they both energized her with it. She could feel how much they cared for her, as well as how much she cared for them. Despite what the last two days had been like, she felt she had gained something important by allowing herself to open up to these two wonderful people. They smiled and shared a group hug before they left. It was time to make her call.
“What the hell is going on Melissa? The ambassador is not responding to my calls. She is only communicating with the councils P.R. and liaison office. Now the king is not taking my calls either,” he asked with a fearful urgency she understood. If what he said was true, the whole Earth Federation Council would be ready to pull their hair out. She filled him in on everything that had happened, as well as the reasoning they discussed in the sled.
“Since Rosanna must know we would find out what was going on eventually it seems like she is buying time for something. Stay near your communicator Assistant Mac. I am going to do some digging on this end. It is obvious to me the separatists have contacts on the council, so maybe the time Rosanna is buying is for them. You realize the ambassador’s career is now over do you not?” he asked. She nodded grimly.
“I do and what’s more sir, so does she. Her career has always meant everything to her, so whoever is pulling the strings is dangerous,” Mellissa replied, and it occurred to her that the councilman was right.
“Agreed. Like I said, stay put so you can pass on the information to the captain and the king for the council. At least he is talking to someone. This shit is maddening!” he said by way of goodbye and signed off. Melissa sighed.
“You are not going to just sit and wait are you Miss Mac?”
Melissa turned and it was her assistant Lenah. She saw she had a tray of steaming liquid. It smelled like coffee. She quickly got to her feet and moved towards her.
“Those are my orders Lenah. Is that coffee?” she asked. Lenah smiled and nodded.
“Yes it was sent over with the ambassador’s things. You left
in such a hurry this morning you did not get a chance to have some,” she told her. Considering she was not really a part of the embassy staff anymore she knew she should not be using their resources, but after everything going on she really wanted a cup of coffee.
“May I make a suggestion Miss Mac?” she asked as Melissa poured herself a cup.
“Of course Lenah and please call me Melissa,” she told her. She sipped the coffee and sighed. It was heavenly.
“Well Melissa, if you are not working for the ambassador any more that makes you a private citizen does it not?” she asked.
“Yes, I guess it does,” she responded.
“Then you are doing the council a favor by being a go between with the captain. If you so desired, with your free time, you could let King Remole know what you are thinking. His honor won’t let him press for it, but I am sure he desires it. I normally would not mention such a thing but it does involve my people as well as yours. I love King Remole, as we all do, but his honor and integrity in such times can be ah…” she paused, looking for the right words. Melissa smiled.
“Maybe inhibiting is what you are searching for.”
Lenah smiled at Melissa’s words.
“That will do. Will you call him? He would appreciate it as would his people,” she told her. Melissa nodded. The king had asked her to call so she was technically obliged to do so anyway. It did not take her long to find the right communication path and she was able to talk to King Remole and fill him in. When she finished she was halfway through her coffee and tipped back in the chair. Cardel came in then. He took one look at her and smiled.
“It is a great comfort to me that you are not so nervous about this office, my dear,” he told her.
She realized how she must look. She was reclined in the ambassador’s chair behind her desk, and without thinking she had unbuttoned her blouse. It was feeling a little confining. She sat up and shrugged.
“Might as well, the ambassador is not coming here anyway. I talked to the king. He told me the security squad has traced the separatists. It is looking like they are really closing in. He very much wants to take them alive because they may have some information we need as well. It also turns out that until we untangle where the support for our separatists is coming from he does not want to engage with the Earth Federation Council or the ambassador. I am his go between now. I think I got a temporary job to replace my old one,” she told him with a chuckle. He laughed.
“I said it before, you should be the ambassador. A pity your government does not see it. Then again, I am biased,” he remarked. She moved around the desk and hugged him. He returned it.
“You do realize Fonte and I were smitten with you at first exposure to your beauty, do you not?” he asked softly. She sighed contented.
“It did not take long for me either. It is strange to feel so much for two people, but I just can’t find it in me to protest. You have both been so good to me. Far beyond your duties. The king congratulated us on our relationship, by the way. He does not miss much,” she told him. He was surprised.
“There truly is more to him than any of us realize I think. We are lucky in our leader. As much as I would rather snuggle up with you and let the world pass us by, I do have some information,” he said. Melissa would have liked to snuggle too. He opened his mouth to continue, but she heard someone shouting for her. They both immediately ran out of the room and saw Captain Lancer coming down the hall with Lenah.
“I received word the original embassy residence was hit. It happened right around when we left the medical center this morning. I believe it was a feint and I have pulled in everyone to form a tighter perimeter here. I am afraid things may get exciting soon. From my initial study of the villa the cellars would be the safest place so we need to get you down there now,” he said pointing to Melissa. She felt fear begin growing in her belly.
“Why am I a target Lancer? Even as an assistant I wasn’t worth targeting,” she asked him and could hear the fear in her own voice. He shook his head and took her arm as Cardel took her other and they followed Lenah down a hallway towards the kitchens on the other side of the villa.
“Ok Mac, you haven’t been listening to local broadcast reports, but since the first attack it is your name that keeps coming up. At first the ambassador was out of commission and the king spoke of you as his contact. Due to what he has said, other reports from various sources have been talking you up as the face of Earth on Ilona. Your picture was in the media reports and the Ilona like to talk as much as we do, so over the last two days you have become a household name,” he said shocking her. She turned to Cardel and he shrugged as they entered the kitchen.
“Both Fonte and I told you how we look at these things on Ilona. Our cultures are different in that respect. You were no longer an assistant as soon as you were the only one available to speak to. Sorry Melissa, but Captain Lancer is right. You are a target.”
She shook off their hands and stood her ground.
“This is all well and good but you are forgetting the real ambassador. Whatever I may think about what she is doing, she is still a target too!” she said forcibly.
“That is why I sent someone to get her Melissa. Give me some credit, I know she is still a target. My people should be getting her to safety now. So if you will please get your butt downstairs now!”
“Haven’t I always told you to listen to security Melissa?” They turned and saw Rosanna with Fonte standing next to her.
“Look who I found along the road home?” he said with a smile.
“I was able to get away from Jones. I don’t know where she is, but I managed to find my way mostly here. I wanted to apologize before everything goes to hell,” she said forthrightly. Melissa was stunned at the sudden appearance of her mentor. Captain Lancer was not willing to waste any more time.
“Glad to see you Ambassador. Now we are getting both of you into the cellar, even if we have to carry you. Move ladies!” he demanded and in a whirl she was rushing down some steps to the cellar with ambassador at her side. They came down into a large open area with several doors around the side. The three guys went around the room to check the doors.
“I am very sorry Melissa dear for what I have put you through. Jones is behind the separatists that are on planet. She managed to contact and involve locals who are not pleased with having aliens living on their planet. It goes back to something that happened on my first off planet assignment. She started threatening me about some things that happened back then as soon as I woke up at the Medical Center. I was disorientated and scared. I had no time to adjust and panicked. Nothing I said to you was warranted. Or you Captain, I am sorry for the words I said at the Med Center.”
He glanced at her and gave her a distracted smile and nod. Melissa was beginning to get more and more nervous.
“Accepted Ambassador. Let’s just keep you two safe and we can worry about everything else later,” he said. There was a rumble and faint weapons fire came from up above.
“Here we go people. Fonte, Cardel, I want you two to barricade the entrance when I go up. Unless you hear from me, or one of your people that you trust, let no one in. Understood?” he asked. They both nodded. Melissa found it a tribute to his command ability that neither had a problem taking orders from him. He looked at them all briefly and then headed out of the cellar.
Just as he was heading up the stairs and out of sight they heard a shot fired quite close. Melissa and Rosanna jumped back with startled cries. The two guys stood in front of them as Captain Lancer fell down the stairs, followed by Sergeant Jones. She held an automatic rifle at her hip and stood at the bottom of the steps, keeping it trained on the captain. He was holding his shoulder and blood was oozing out between his fingers. His face was full of rage as he stared at his former soldier. Melissa felt herself trembling and her heart was thudding in her ears.
“Sorry Captain, but I knew you would bring them down here as soon as danger threatened,” she smiled softly as she looked over at
Rosanna and Melissa.
“I got here before you did Ambassador. I knew you would come to this place as soon as you disappeared on me. You were worried about being disgraced, now you have to be dead too. Father would be pleased,” she said tightening her grip on her weapon. Melissa found some courage within her. She stepped in front of the ambassador next to Cardel, who was snarling at the armed woman. Cardel put his arm out to keep her from going further.
“Look, I don’t know why you are doing this Jones. Bitter maybe, washing out. I don’t care. You just said the ambassador had to die. What do you think is going to happen to you? There is no way you will be getting off planet alive even if you kill all of us. You are a dead woman, you walking dumb ass! Has it occurred to you that…” she was cut off.
“You are stalling Assistant Mac. Nothing will stop me from getting revenge for my father and I am glad you will die not knowing. You have disgraced Earth as much as the cowering woman behind you,” she said and her voice had scaled up into what sounded like hysterics. She began raising the gun and they all heard someone shout.
“Have some soup!” A metal pot flew through the air from the stairwell and hit Jones in the back of the head. There was a loud clang and she dropped. Hitting the ground as fast as the pot did. Lenah and Daria walked out of the stair entrance shaking their heads.
“I offered her soup, she is very rude,” Daria said. Melissa felt her knees begin to give way and Cardel quickly put his arm around her to keep her from falling in a faint. It was a close thing.
*****
“So Jones was holding onto that hate for all these years because of her father?” Melissa asked. The captain sighed.
“Yeah. Her old man was on a mission to Eclabar, Rosanna’s first off planet mission. She was credited for stopping a war, and that made her career. Unfortunately, her assistant was doing things he should not have and it was he that had precipitated the hostilities. Rosanna covered it up and it kept Josiah Jones-Stark out of jail, but he lost his career over it. He apparently told his teenage daughter stories and when she got a chance to get on ambassadorial duty she took it. Hoping for a chance at revenge. The whole separatist thing was her way of getting recruits. That all those people, ours and theirs, died over that nonsense is such a waste,” he said sadly.
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