Cassandra's Challenge

by M. K. Eidem

  “If it were me, you wouldn’t keep me from Lucas.”

  “This is my decision. We go to our quarters.”

  “But you love the Admiral, right?”

  “Yes Tori I do. Now let’s get you out of here.” Jumping off the bed she takes Cassandra’s hand and walks out the door. The Admiral is waiting for them.

  “Ready to go?” He looks at from one to the other.

  “Yes.” Tori replies.

  “We’re going to walk to our quarters.” He’s informed.

  “Really?’” Is all he says as he turns, walking with them out of medical.

  “Where’s Lucas?” Tori asks walking besides the Admiral.

  “He needs to get some sleep before his next patrol. He said to tell you he’ll see you later.”

  “Oh.” Cassandra looks at William and realizes he’d understood. The walk from Medical to their quarters isn’t all that far, but for a little girl just recovering it seems that way.

  “Tori.”

  “I’m fine.” When they finally they reach their quarters Tori heads straight for the bed.

  “Damn!” Cassandra whispers. “I should have made her let me carry her.”

  “I believe she has too much of her Aunt in her to allow that.” Putting a hand behind her neck he tips her head up pulling her close. “I’ll get the program sent so you can keep her occupied.” She flashes him a grateful smile.

  “You will sleep when she is.” He orders quietly “Or I will be moving you both into my quarters. Don’t fight me on this Cassandra!” He orders as she opens her mouth. “You know I’m right! Hutu will be providing all your meals, call when you’re ready for them. If she’s up to it, come to my quarter’s tonight.” He pauses, “Otherwise let Hutu know.” Pulling her close he kisses her deeply.

  “Secure the door.” He says walking through it. Cassandra secures the door then climbs in next to Tori, pulls her close she’s asleep.

  Entering the bridge the Admiral goes to his consul sending the Regulian language to Cassandra’s quarters. That completed turns to Quinn.

  “So what’s on the agenda for today?”

  Chapter 5

  Waking Cassandra finds Tori already up, sitting on the couch.

  “Aunt Cassie?”

  “Yeah?” She rolls out of bed.

  “What am I suppose to do for four whole days!” Smiling Cassandra rubs her face.

  “Well, I suppose I could make you scrub the floors!”

  “Aunt Cassie! I’m serious! I’ll die of boredom!” Knowing just how close she’d come to dying wipes the smile off Cassandra’s face.

  “Tori, do you remember what we were talking about before you got sick? About learning Regulian?”

  “Yeah.” Tori leans forward excited.

  “Well I talked to the Admiral. He thinks it’s a good idea. So he’s going to send they’re learning program to our counsel here so you can study it while you’re recovering.”

  “Really?” She loved learning different languages.

  “Yes.” Walking over the comm center she sees there’s something there from the Admiral, she smiles at Tori.

  “Looks like it’s here. Ready to get started kicking some Regulian butt?”

  “Yes!” Several hours later they’re interrupted by a call.

  “Yes?” Cassandra asks distracted.

  “Mam, this is Hutu. Are you ready for second meal?” Looking at the clock Cassandra realizes it’s past time for Tori to eat.

  “Yes, Hutu. I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner.”

  “That’s not a problem mam, I will bring it directly.” Putting the headset down Cassandra looks a Tori.

  “Tori.”

  “Yeah,” She replies as distracted as Cassandra had been.

  “Hutu’s on his way with lunch. There’s something you need to know.”

  “What?” Her eyes move away from the screen.

  “When you got sick the other night, it was from the sauce you dipped your nugget in.”

  “The sauce made me sick?” Tori gives her a confused look.

  “Yes.” Cassandra isn’t going to tell her someone tried to kill her. “Hutu blames himself.”

  “Why? It wasn’t his fault. He didn’t do it on purpose.”

  “No he didn’t. You might want to let him know you don’t think it’s his fault.”

  “Okay.” Tori jumps up at the knock on their hatch. Opening it she lets Hutu in.

  “Hi Hutu!” Tori smiles at him.

  “Hello little one.”

  “Is it nuggets?”

  “Not today, Dr Bliant said you should have soup. So…” He takes the cover off revealing ‘nugget soup’. Tori giggles, he then removes Cassandra’s cover. Cassandra watches as he quickly checks the plates making sure there were no ‘additions’.

  “It looks good Hutu, thank you.”

  “Yeah, thanks Hutu.” Tori walks up to the big man, crooking her finger for him to lean down to her. Hutu looks at Cassandra then squats down so they are at eye level. Putting her small hands on his cheeks she stares into his eyes.

  “I know you didn’t make me sick. So stop blaming yourself.” She gives him a quick kiss then turns to her food. Rising slowly Hutu finds he can’t speak with a nod to Cassandra he turns and leaves. After the meal Tori’s eyes begin to droop.

  “Hey kiddo, why don’t you lay down here on the couch, take a little rest?”

  “Aunt Cassie, I’m not a baby. I don’t need to take naps.” She says huffily.

  “I didn’t say you were a baby. But you’ve been sick and your body needs extra rest. If you want to get back to class you need to rest.” Cassandra grabs a pillow and blanket off the bed.

  “But the Regulian….” Tori protests

  “It will be there when you wake up.” She drops the pillow on the couch. “Come on, put your head on it.” As she lies down Cassandra covers her. Teary eyes look at her. Cassandra drops to the floor.

  “Oh honey what’s wrong? Does your stomach hurt?” Fear grips her heart.

  “No.” She whispers as tears starting to fall.

  “What then?” Cassandra pleads.

  “I miss mommy and daddy.” She whispers tears quietly falling.

  “Oh baby!” Cassandra pulls her into her arms rocking her. “So do I!”

  “I’m sorry I’m not braver.” Tori whispers.

  “What?”

  “Brave like you.”

  “Tori…” Cassandra’s throat tightens.

  “Lucas and the Admiral are brave too.” Cassandra has to close her eyes.

  “Sweetheart, you are brave.” She looks into Tori’s drenched green eyes. “You are. Who jumped out of that fire? You swung up into the Raptor. You’ve faced the Glitter Man and now you’re learning a strange language so we can stop him. You’re the bravest little girl I know!”

  “But I still miss mommy and daddy and grandpa.” She whispers tears fall from Cassandra’s eyes.

  “So do I. We’ll miss them for the rest of our lives, baby. That’s what happens when you love someone. When they’re not there, you miss them.”

  “But it hurts Aunt Cassie, in my heart.”

  Pulling her closer Cassandra lets her tears fall. Something she hadn’t been letting Victoria see. That’s been a mistake. How many others is she making?

  “I hurt too, baby. I miss them all too.” Tori wraps her arms around her. As they cry they find comfort in each other.

  “Tori,” Cassandra pulls back a little, not bothering to dry her eyes, Tori needs to see them. “We will always miss them. We love them. They loved us. But we need to remember all the good times we had together. We were a family. They would what us to continue living, be happy. It’s what you would want for them wouldn’t it?”

  “Yes.” She whispers.

  “So we remember them. We talk about them, all the fun times we had. But we go on. Just living Tori, that’s brave.”

  “But Lucas and the Admiral, they fight the Regulians.” Tori persists.

&n
bsp; “So are you, your learning their language so you can know what they are doing. That’s fighting. The Admiral says it’s a difficult language. There are all kinds of brave Victoria.” Cassandra informs her.

  “Really?”

  “Really. Now why don’t you take that rest?” She lays her back onto the couch.

  “Okay.” Drained, she’s asleep in moments.

  Later studying the Regulian program the comm center rings. Looking over to make sure it hasn’t woken Tori she picks up the headset to answer.

  “Chamberlain.” She says in a quiet voice.

  “She’s sleeping?” William asks on the other end, a warm feeling fills Cassandra.

  “Yeah, fell asleep after lunch.” William looks at the clock it’s 1500.

  “She’s doing ok?”

  “We’ve had our ups and downs. But she will be.” Cassandra voice is firm.

  “What happened?”

  “I screwed up.” She replies before she thinks. Looking at the couch she sees Tori’s starting to wake. “Look William, she’s waking up, I need to go. Everything’s being handled.” Disconnecting she moves to Victoria.

  Removing his headset William looks at it. What is it about this woman? Something’s happened. It’s upset her. He could hear it in her voice. But does she ask him for help, her life mate. No, she says she’s handling it and hangs up on him. Tossing the headset aside he stands.

  Quinn watches him. Unknown to both of them so is Falco from her navigation station.

  “Falco, how long until we reach Rodham? Falco!” The Admiral demands his temper showing.

  “Sir, at current speed, just over five days.” She replies. The Admiral isn’t happy. That woman is making him unhappy. She’d have to pay for that.

  “Quinn. How are repairs coming on the Sentinel coming? Can we increase speed?” He walks over studying a chart.

  “No sir. All repairs that can be completed in route have been. This is their max speed until they get to Rodham for more extensive repairs.”

  “They’ve been notified so they’re prepared. I want these repairs expedited. We need that ship back.”

  “Yes Admiral, they’ve received copies of all the damage. They say two days until its battle ready.”

  “Fine. We’ll put the fleet in for two days.”

  “I’ll let medical know they’ll be having a run on Ollali Juice” Quinn jokes missing the Admiral’s startled look.

  “Admiral, I have a communication for you from Carina.” The communications specialist on duty tells him. The Admiral goes to his desk picking up his headset.

  “Hey there, did you have a good rest?” Cassandra walks over to the couch.

  “Pretty good,” Mumbling Tori leans into her as she rubs her back, giving her time to fully wake up. After a couple minutes Tori lifts her head.

  “Can I have a drink?”

  “Sure, let me get you some water.” Filling a glass in the bathroom she returns, Tori drinks thirstily.

  “You ok? You want to talk?”

  “I’m ok. I want to work on the program more.” There’s a gleam in her eye.

  “Alright, but you’re not going to overdue is that understood.”

  “Aunt Cassie…”

  “I mean it young lady.”

  “Ok, ok.” Together they head back to the consul. Several hours later Cassandra leans back from the consul rubbing her neck. Glancing at the clock she realizes it’s already 1745.

  “Tori, time to stop.”

  “What? No just a little longer!” She pleads.

  “Tori we need to give it a rest let it soak in. Now,” Cassandra raising a finger, “you know I’m right. We can start again tomorrow.”

  “But what if I have the dream tonight?” She demands.

  “Well then it will be a good test. So mark where we’re at and shut it down.”

  “Okay, but what are we going to do for the rest of the night?”

  “Well, the Admiral has invited us to dinner in his quarters. Are you up for it? Or would you rather stay here?” Tori looks at her then away.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Victoria Lynn. What?”

  “It’s just, what if something bad happens again?”

  “You mean getting sick? That won’t happen again.”

  “And the other?”

  “Your arm?” Tori nods. “But that was a good thing. We found the thread, got it out, now you’re safe.”

  “Yeah, I guess I didn’t think about it that way.” Victoria watches puzzled as her Aunt goes into the bathroom. Returning Cassandra squats down in front of her, opening her hand she lets her see what’s in it, then puts the chain around neck. Touching it Victoria looks at her.

  “It’s your lucky ring.” Tori’s eyes are wide.

  “You wear it.” Cassandra smiles at her.

  “Really?” Her green eyes hopeful.

  “Really. So what’s your choice here or the Admiral’s?” Tori looks around their quarters, it would be nice to get out for awhile. And the Admiral’s is bigger and nicer. Then there’s the chance that Lucas might be there.

  “Let’s go to the Admiral’s.” Tori grins at her aunt.

  “Sure you can walk that far?”

  “Yes.”

  “Alright, go brush your hair then we’ll go.”

  “Ok.”

  William can’t believe he’s been so irresponsible. What is he some cadet with his first girl? On Carina contraception is the man’s responsibility. Ollali juice causes the male to become infertile within twenty-four hours, the effects wearing off within twenty-four hours of stopping. How could he have forgotten? Cassandra could already have conceived.

  William hesitates, would that really be so bad? The thought of her carrying his child is taking root, his desire for the child surprisingly strong. Entering his ready room he hears laughter, securing the door, he follows it into his private quarters. Walking back he sees Cassandra on the floor tickling her niece.

  “Hi Admiral!” Victoria giggles seeing him first.

  Cassandra twists around her face full of mischief, those beautiful blue eyes sparkling. “Hi Admiral.” She mimics, she sees the serious look in his eyes before it’s gone.

  “Looks like you’re feeling better.” He makes himself smile at Victoria.

  “I am.” Tori gets up from the floor. Walking over William helps Cassandra up, pulling her close. Could she be carrying his child? He wonders, she raises an eyebrow at his serious look, her smile dimming. Leaning down he kisses her gently.

  “Hi.”

  Cassandra puts a hand on the side of his face. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong, just glad to see you, both of you.” He turns to smiling at Tori. “I wasn’t sure you’d be up to it.”

  “I’m good.” She says, a thought crossing her mind. “Really good.” With a gleam in her eye she walks up to hold his hand. “Maybe you could order Aunt Cassie to let me go back to class tomorrow.” William has been watching the little girl’s eyes as the idea comes to her. She is going to be a handful.

  “Victoria Lynn! You are not going tomorrow!”

  “But he’s the Admiral. He gets to order people around. Don’t you?” Tori asks still holding his hand.

  “Well, let’s see.” William wonders how he is going to get out from between two females. “No. Yes. I’ll go see where Hutu is.”

  “What?” Tori looks her Aunt as the Admiral makes a hasty retreat to his ready room.

  “No, he’s not going to order me. Yes, he gets to order people around. And what you just witnessed is a man not wanting to be in the middle of an argument between two women.”

  “Oh.” Tori looks at the door. “Is he coming back?”

  “Oh eventually. Why don’t I go check to see when Hutu’s going to be here okay?”

  “Sure.”

  Entering the ready room she finds William leaning back in his chair. “We kind of chased you out of your quarters, Admiral.” William watches as she c
rosses the room to him. He’s eyes serious again.

  “What’s wrong? What don’t I know?” William’s continually amazed at his life mate’s intuition. Pulling her into his lap he kisses her.

  “There’s nothing wrong, just something we need to discuss.” A knock at the hatch interrupts him. “But not right now.” Releasing her he opens it to Hutu.

  “How is the Regulian going?” William asks as they sit down to eat. Tori gives him a pained look.

  “It’s okay, it would be better if Aunt Cassie wouldn’t go so slow.” She complains.

  “It’s a difficult language Tori, don’t feel bad if you didn’t get very far today.”

  “Yeah, we only got a third of the way.” Tori takes a bite of her dinner.

  William looks at Cassandra. “A third?!?”

  “I know!” Victoria agrees. “If Aunt Cassie didn’t make us go so slow, we could have gotten a lot further.”

  “You’ll remember more if you take it in smaller chunks. You know I’m right.” Cassandra stops Tori from arguing with her.

  “A third?” William looks at Cassandra to see if he’d heard right.

  “Yeah?” She isn’t sure what he’s asking.

  “The two of you made it through a third of the program in….”

  “I don’t know, five, six hours? Wouldn’t you say Tori?”

  “Yeah, slow!” Tori looks at Cassandra hopefully “I could do some more when I get done eating.”

  “No, but if you wanted to practice the writing for what we’ve done so far you can.” Tori shoots her a disappointed look.

  “Ok.”

  William is trying to decide if the two of them are joking with him. He’d known Cassandra was ‘smart’ that Victoria was very ‘intelligent’ for her age but this….

  “So just how smart are the two of you?” Two pair of eyes turns to him.

  “I guess depends on your point of reference.”

  “Aunt Cassie is the smartest person on the planet!” Tori exclaims proudly.

  “Victoria!”

  “What? That’s what Great Grams always said. She said you were the brightest light!”