Cassandra's Challenge

by M. K. Eidem

  “Go for it. Oh, Amina, I got ahold of your dad. He’ll let your mom know. He said to tell you he loves you and he’ll see you soon.”

  “Okay.”

  As the girls leave she turns to the consul. Should she work on it or wait? Time is running out. Just then the Retributions guns start to fire. Following Leander’s advice she starts looking for things that could fall. Just like earthquake proofing back on Earth. After she’s done, she sits down to wait. She always sucked at waiting.

  As the battle rages on its hard to tell who’s winning. Two against one are bad odds even when the ones a Battle Star. So far they’d managed to prevent any direct hits on the Retribution but that couldn’t last forever.

  “Admiral! We have an inbound nuke. Starboard side.”

  “Rig for impact!”

  As alarms sound throughout the ship, the ship lurches to one side. The girls come running to Cassandra. She’s heard this alarm before. With a child on each side she pulls them close.

  “Shhh now. It’s going to be okay.”

  “But Aunt Cassie…”

  “It will be okay Tori. We’re safe and we’re together right? Isn’t that right Amina? Soon this will be over and we’ll all get to go to Carina. What’s it like there? Where’s your favorite spot?” As alarms continue to sound Amina tells them about Carina.

  Much later, after the alarms final cease, the comm center rings. Leaving the girls on the couch, Cassandra picks up the headset.

  “Chamberlain.”

  “Mam, this is Hutu. Just checking to see what time you would like third meal.”

  “Hutu, we’ve just finished a major battle.”

  “Yes mam, but you and Tori still need to eat.” Cassandra is constantly amazed by his dedication.

  “Well, we wouldn’t refuse food but there are three of us. Amina is here.”

  “I’m sure the Michelakakis’ greatly appreciate that mam. I will plan accordingly. What time would you like it?” Looking at the clock Cassandra realizes it’s already 1800.

  “Whenever you can bring it would be fine Hutu. Thank you.”

  “Damage report!” The Admiral demands.

  “Sir, the worst damage is to Decks C, D, and E, sections 53-68. It took the hit from the nuke. There was a moment of decompression before the shields kicked back in.”

  “Casualties?”

  “Unknown at this time sir.”

  “Other damage?”

  “All considered minor, sir. We kicked ass! Sorry sir.”

  “Nothing to be sorry for Ensign. We did. I want a secure line to the High Admiral, and get me that casualty report!”

  “Yes, sir.” Looking at Quinn, the Admiral walks into his ready room.

  “Will, that section on Deck E is where the class room is.”

  “I know.”

  “Victoria?”

  “In our quarters. Cassandra got her and Amina out at the first sign of trouble.”

  “Thank the Ancestors!”

  “Yes, hopefully they are all safe.” As his comm rings the Admiral reports to the High Admiral.

  “Thanks Hutu, this is awesome!” Victoria exclaimed as she sees a huge pile of chicken nuggets.

  “I thought you and Amina might like this.”

  “You bet! Aunt Cassie, can we take it into my room? It would be like a sleep over!”

  “Go ahead.” After the girls leave Cassandra turns to Hutu.

  “Tell me.”

  “I don’t know much mam. The worst of the damage is on decks C, D, and E. It took a direct hit. There will be casualties but no one knows how many yet. Both Regulian ships were destroyed. The threat is over.”

  “But you don’t know much.” She gives him a weak smile as she walks over to the couch to sit down, her legs suddenly weak. “Thank you Hutu.” Seeing how pale she is Hutu picks up the plate he’s checked and brings it to her.

  “You need to eat. The Admiral will be unhappy if he finds you passed out from hunger. Did you eat your lunch?”

  “The girls needed it.”

  “You should have called.”

  “We were in the middle of a battle Hutu. I couldn’t have eaten anyway.”

  “You’ll eat now.” Cassandra sees the determination in his face.

  “I will,” At Hutu’s look she touches his hand. “I promise.”

  As Hutu leaves she leans her head back against the couch. What a day and it isn’t over yet, it won’t be until William is home safe. Leaning forward Cassandra looks at plate Hutu has brought her. Picking it up she makes it through half before her stomach wouldn’t take anymore. Standing she heads to the consol ready to start on the new possibility.

  What if there was something else going on, that has nothing to do with the House of Knowledge. Just like Falco’s attacks on her, had nothing to do with the Regulians. Falco hadn’t even known the Regulians looking for her, it had been a coincidence, and they’d assumed they were related.

  What if some of these attacks on the fleet were the same? If not her, then who and why?

  There had been transmissions between someone in Carina space and the Regulians. They talked about the light. Did all of them? Had they found all of them? William had given her access codes to communications. She needed to come up with a way to search them. Something’s being missed.

  Going back to the first known transmission, from the Regulians to Carina, she studies more than just what it said. They knew it came from a Regulian ship Cimex, but not who it was sent too. They also knew it was about her. How did they know it came from the Cimex? There has to be some type of imbedded coding. Cassandra quickly writes a program comparing the first two transmissions, looking for similar coding’s. As the program starts there is a buzzing at the hatch. Switching the console to privacy mode Cassandra opens the door to Leander and Javiera.

  “Hi.”

  “Cassandra…” Tears fill Javiera’s eyes.

  “What? What’s wrong?”

  “If you hadn’t taken Amina…”

  “What…” Leander puts his arm around his wife.

  “Cassandra the hit the ship took,” She nods at Leander. “It was a direct hit on the class room. If Amina had been there…” He can’t finish. Cassandra pales at the thought.

  “We owe you more than we can say.” Javiera embraces her.

  “No, no you don’t. You would have done the same for Tori.”

  “Mom? What’s wrong?” Amina sees her mother crying.

  “Nothing’s wrong honey, I’m happy everyone’s okay, that’s all.”

  “Hey baby girl.” Leander walks over to his daughter, picking her up. “Give your old dad a hug.” As all three embrace Cassandra sees Tori in the doorway, a sad look on her face. Walking over to her she squats down pulling her into her arms.

  “I love you Victoria Lynn.”

  “I love you too.” After several minutes Michelakakis’ leave, Cassandra looks down at Tori.

  “So what would you like to do?”

  “I’m tired I think I’ll just go to bed.” Cassandra looks at the clock realizing it’s only 2000.

  “You’re sure?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Alright then let’s get you ready for bed.”

  “I can do it myself Aunt Cassie.” Turning Tori leaves the room.

  “Oh.” Cassandra is left wondering what’s going on. Entering the private chambers, Tori’s hatch is closed. Undecided on what to do the comm beeps, telling her that the search was done.

  Reading the results Cassandra begins to smile. “Now we’re on to something.” Sitting down she starts refining the search while adding more variables. “I’m onto you now you son of a bitch!”

  “Casualty report sir.”

  “Eighteen.”

  “Confirmed?” The Admiral scans the list, grateful Lucas isn’t on it.

  “Yes sir. Twenty-eight are in medical with serious but not life threatening injuries. All others are accounted for.”

  The Admiral knows it could have been worse, if the R
egulians had made it to Carina, millions could have been lost. But he considered any loss of life on his tours an insult.

  “Get me the names Colonel. The families will need to be notified.”

  “Yes sir.” Quinn knows the Admiral sends a personal letter to the families of all those he loses.

  “Any news on the first son?”

  “No Admiral. They’re still scrambling to stabilize the ships.”

  “Get me the High Admiral back on a secure line.”

  “Yes sir.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense!” Cassandra argues with her consol. “How can it have only one!” After peeling back layers of coding she’s finally been able to isolate two strings of identical series’ of numbers in the first three transmissions. They have to have some significance. But with the fourth transmission, the one giving the location of the fleet, she could only match one string. How could that be?

  Frustrated she starts to pace. Seeing that Victoria’s door is still closed she realizes there’d been no goodnight hug , no goodnight kiss. Something is wrong.

  Entering the room she finds her niece asleep with the tracks of her tears still visible. What has happened? She’d seemed okay when Amina was here. It wasn’t until Leander and Javiera had come…. Crap! Amina’s parents had come to get her. Why hadn’t Cassandra realized….as she’s about to wake her, the outer hatch buzzes.

  Opening it she finds Lucas, still in his flight suit, somehow he’d known. Turning she leaves him to secure the hatch.

  “Everything okay here?” When he gets no response he touches her shoulder.

  “Cassie?”

  “We’re fine. Victoria’s just a little down.” Lucas looks towards the private chambers. “She’s asleep.”

  “Oh.”

  “But it might do her some good to see you.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “She’s missing her parents. Leander and Javiera came to get Amina after the battle. It reminded her of what she’s lost. Seeing you might make her realize she’s gained a few things too.”

  Turning the lights on low, Lucas sees the tracks the tears had left on Victoria’s sleeping face. His heart aches at the thought of her crying herself to sleep.

  “Victoria.” Gently rubbing her back she wakes her. “Come on Tori wake up for a minute.”

  “No.” Come’s the crabby voice causing Cassandra to smile a little.

  “Lucas is here to see you.”

  “Lucas?” Tori opens her swollen eyes.

  “Yeah, right over there.” She points to the hatch.

  She watches her niece look at Lucas and realizes missing her parents isn’t the only thing bothering her, she’s worried about Lucas too. The man she’d put in charge of her protection.

  “I need to get some work done in the other room. Not too long.” Cassandra gives a pointed look to Lucas. Receiving a nod she leaves the room.

  “What’s your situation Zafar?”

  “We’re good High Admiral, moderate damage, eighteen lost, twenty-eight in medical. Could have been worse.”

  “A lot worse. You did an amazing job.”

  “I hear the fleet is still scrambling to stabilize ships.”

  “Yes, they got caught looking.”

  “Someone gave them their location, there’s a difference. The first son?”

  “No word.”

  “Fuck! How long until they are able to defend the border?”

  “At least a week, maybe more.”

  “You’re sending support?”

  “Three more battle ships.”

  “How long?”

  “They’ll be at the border in three days. Admiral.”

  “We’ll stay in place until the fleet is secured, unless you want us at the border.”

  “No, I want you right where you’re at. If the Regulians try another attack we’ll need you to protect Carina. The other will have to wait.”

  “Understood, I would like to be kept appraised on the First Son.”

  “I know you’re his Second Father. I’ll let you know as soon as I do.”

  “Appreciate it.”

  Lucas finds Cassandra at the comm center as he quietly closes the hatch to Victoria’s room.

  “Sleeping?” She turns to him.

  “Exhausted, I didn’t know a little girl could cry that much. It about killed me.”

  “Seems you handled it or she’d still be crying.”

  “How do you deal with it? With everything you’ve lost?”

  “By remembering we still have each other, remembering those we’ve lost, and being grateful for those we’ve found.” As the comm beeps she turns back to it.

  “What are you working on?”

  “Trying to find connections between the Regulian transmissions.”

  “Any luck?”

  “Not much.” Cassandra sees the fatigue in Lucas’ eyes. “Go home Lucas, you look like crap.” Grinning she stands up to lead him to the outer hatch.

  “You’ve been waiting to say that to me.”

  “I have. Thanks for helping with Tori.”

  “Anytime.”

  Securing the hatch she returns to read the results of her latest search. There is still only the single series in common in all four communications. That had to mean it was either the same person sending the transmission or receiving it.

  Which is it?

  What about this latest attack? Was there a transmission before it? What did the coding mean? Is it a signature, security clearance? What! Wait, security clearance.

  How did a person send a transmission? What authorization would a person need? Is each person assigned their own? She’d have to ask William.

  Leaning back in her chair she rubs her eyes. She needs to take a break, checking on Tori she finds she’s kicked her covers off. Tucking her back in she leans down to give her a light kiss and whisper.

  “I love you Victoria Lynn, only good dreams.” Tears fill her eyes as she turns to leave discovering William just inside the room.

  Coming home William isn’t sure what he’ll find. He hoped Cassandra would be sleeping, he’s given her a bad couple days. Finding her in Tori’s room, with tears in her eyes isn’t what he expected.

  “She’s okay?” He keeps his voice low looking at Tori.

  Nodding, she moves past him, quietly he shuts the door. Walking into their quarters she quickly wipes her eyes.

  “What’s wrong then?”

  “Nothing.” She can’t seem to stop the tears. He’s safe, Victoria’s safe, Lucas, and the Michelakakis’ are safe. So why is she crying? William turns her around so she’s facing him.

  “It’s not nothing, you’re crying.” With his thumbs he gently wipes her cheeks, causing them to flow faster. “Please tell me.”

  Raising tear drenched eyes she looks at the man she loves. She never would have known him if the Regulians hadn’t attacked Earth. If he hadn’t saved her and Tori, but he hadn’t been able to save them all. The pain swimming in her eyes staggers him.

  “Cassandra…please…what’s wrong?”

  “Could you just hold me for a minute?” She whispers.

  Wrapping her in his arms William lifts her off her feet, carrying her over to the couch pulling her across his lap. As she burrows in sobs rack her body, he can do nothing but hold her, rubbing her back like she’d do with Victoria. Tucking her in close, he rests his cheek on the top of her head, this is the strongest woman he’s ever known, and she is devastated. What has happened? What didn’t he know?

  Is this how she feels when he keeps things from her? Blindsided? Unsure of yourself? It is something he’ll never do again.

  As the sobs subside he puts a finger under her chin tipping her face up to his. Searching, he finds her beautiful blue eyes red rimmed and exhausted. Leaning down to gently kiss her he picks her up, carrying her to their bed. Laying her down, he gets her sleeping top and tucks her in. Turning away he walks back to the closet.

  “William?” Cassandra finally finds her
voice, watching him change into the matching bottoms.

  “Sleep Cassandra, you’re exhausted.” Sliding in next to her he pulls her close. “We’ll talk later.” In the safety of his arms she lets herself fall sleep.

  With her sleeping in his arms William replays the events of the day, starting with the most important, he isn’t giving up his life mate, together they will find a way. Even if it means leaving Carina, they will have a life together, children. But to have that he first needs to find out who is trying to kill her. The traitor needs to be found. With his life mate in his arms he sleeps.

  Opening heavy eyes Cassandra discovers she’s in William’s arms, protected, safe. Turning her head she softly kisses the place where his heart beats, his arms tighten. Looking up at him she finds drowsy eyes full of love and concern looking back.

  “You haven’t slept long enough.” He mummers rubbing a hand up and down her back. She looks at him, her life mate, he held her while she cried, comforting her, soothing her, without knowing what was wrong.

  “What?” He asks when she continues to stare at him.

  “Thank you.”

  “I didn’t do anything.”

  “Yes you did.” Lifting herself up she kisses him. “Yesterday was a difficult day.”

  “My fault.”

  “A great deal of it, yes.” Honesty, whether you like it or not. “But not all, you aren’t responsible for the Regulians attacking. You’re not responsible for what happened after.” William watches her, understanding she is searching to find the words.

  “What happened after?” He asks.

  “Leander and Javiera came to get Amina.” William waits. “Leander wasn’t sure how this battle would end. I could hear the fear in his voice, for his daughter. When it was over Amina’s parents came for her. They were still a family.” He begins to understand.

  “Victoria’s parents never came for her.”

  “No. It upset her, brought it all back. She cried herself to sleep.”