Cassandra's Challenge

  “No baby, no, it’s the Regulians. You said the Glitter Man was a man. A big man.” Tori looks up at her.

  “There were others there I couldn’t see them, I could hear them.”

  “Tori! When did you remember this? Tori!” Cassandra gives her a little shake. “When!”

  “Back on Earth when the Regulians first arrived.”

  “Why didn’t you say something?”

  “If I talk about what happened they’ll hear me. They’ll get me again.”

  “Who told you that! Victoria!”

  “The Glitter Man!” She wailed, “I’m sorry Aunt Cassie, I’m sorry.”

  Cassandra grips the little girl tightly to her chest. “Shhhh…it’s okay baby it’s okay, it isn’t your fault. Shhhh…calm down.” Cassandra hears the guns of the Retribution firing, repelling the Regulians. The Retribution shakes as it takes fire.

  “Aunt Cassie?” Tori voice is shaking for a different reason.

  “It’s okay baby, Lucas and the Admiral are out there.” Cassandra tried to ignore the stab of fear in her heart. “They’re making it safe. So the Regulians can’t hurt us. That’s what they do. Trust the Admiral, Tori. I do.”

  “Aunt Cassie, can I tell you a secret?” Cassandra looked down at her worried.

  “Of course you can.”

  “Lucas is my life mate.”

  “You’re what?!?”

  “Life mate, that’s what they call soul mate up here. Like mommy and daddy, and grandpa and grandma, and …”

  “I get the idea Tori, who told you this?”

  “Amina, when we were having the sleep over, she really likes Jules, she thinks he might be her life mate.”

  “Who told you Lucas was yours?”

  “No one I just know, like you know the Admiral yours.”

  The raging battle fades into the background, Cassandra is shocked, its as if a light goes on.

  “Why would you think that Tori?” She whispers

  “Because,” Tori answered, “He didn’t let go did he? He held on, on the Raptor. He’s a really big man but he’s not mean, not like…” she trails off “and Lucas is his son.” She finishes.

  Oh to be able to think like a nine year old.

  “You won’t tell him will you?”

  “What?” Cassandra’s trying to keep up.

  “You won’t tell Lucas will you? I’m too little to be his life mate yet, but when I’m eighteen he’d better watch out!” Cassandra stares at her niece wondering who is the wiser.

  “Why eighteen?” She’s curious to know.

  “That’s when Carinian women are considered ‘of age’. So you won’t tell him?” Tori is nothing if not persistent.

  “No I won’t. You know what? Sometimes you give me a headache.” Tori giggles. “Let’s just be quiet for a little bit okay?”

  “Okay.”

  Cassandra holds her niece close as the sounds of the battle echo throughout the ship. Closing her eyes she prays.

  The Admiral surges onto the bridge just as the first guns start to fire.

  “Two minutes Quinn! What the fuck is TWO MINUTES! Why weren’t they picked up sooner!”

  “At this point I don’t know Admiral, all I could do is respond. The Sentinel picked them up first, they’re taking the hardest hits. They only had a forty second warning.”

  “Are our fighters launched?”

  “Working on it sir.”

  “Get them up! Get them up now!”

  Lucas is in his Blade ready to launch. “You ready to kick some Regulian ass Hotdog?” Lucas asks.

  “All over that Hawk!”

  “Then let’s do it!” Lucas launches. In seconds they were in the fray.

  After nearly an hour of heavy fighting the Regulians are driven back into the Relinquished Zone. While all ships received some damage the Sentinel was again targeted. Crews were sent to assist.

  “We may need to send it back to Carina for repairs Admiral.”

  “We’ll see, maybe a stop at Rodham will do the trick.”

  “What’s our damage?”

  “All reports indicate light damage sir. We were the furthest away, had the most time.”

  “Since when is two minutes time! What happened! Falco! Report!”

  Falco looks at the Admiral for the first time since her dressing down in his ready room earlier that morning.

  “Sir, it appears the Regulian came in at warp 9.9 reducing speed only when they were ready to launch fighters. That’s when the Sentinel picked them up, when we all picked them up sir.”

  “How the fuck did they know where we were without scanning Quinn.”

  “Someone would need to be transmitting to them Admiral.” Falco replies.

  The Admiral shoots her a fridge look. “Was I speaking to you Senior Chief?”

  “No sir!”

  Quinn leans over to him, “But it’s a thought especially with the translation. Could be they receive a signal for the general area we’re in but not an exact location. That would explain how they can come in so hot.” The Admiral thinks on it.

  “How far have we gotten on monitoring transmission?”

  “Started at 0600 this today, all ships have extra ears.”

  “Can we go back 36 hours?”

  “Yes sir. You sniffing something Will?”

  “Maybe. You got this under control?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll be in my quarters. You find anything let me know.”

  “Yes sir.”

  As William approaches his quarters Lucas meets him from the opposite direction.

  “Nice hunting.” The Admiral tells him.

  “Yeah, felt really good.” Lucas replies, causing the Admiral to raise an eyebrow. “I kept my head.”

  Entering the ready room they continue back to the private quarters finding lights blazing and two sleeping females. As they approach Lucas hesitates he doesn’t want to scare Victoria again. Walking around him William squats down to gently rub Cassandra’s leg.

  Her unguarded eyes open slowly revealing relief when she sees he’s unharmed, she blinks and it’s gone. She starts to shift and realizes she’s holding Tori. Looking up she sees Lucas.

  “Your both okay?”

  “Yes.” William answers, squeezing her leg. “You two?” He receives a serious look.

  “We need to talk. All of us. Tori.” Cassandra gives her a little shake. “Wake up baby.”

  “Let her sleep.” Cassandra stares Lucas down.

  “No. Come on baby. Lucas and the Admiral are back. Wake up.”

  “Lucas is back?” Tori asks drowsily.

  “Yes, open your eyes and see.” Lucas isn’t sure this is a good idea.

  “Maybe...” He starts then meets Victoria’s green eyes, she smiles at him. Leaving the safety she’s found with Cassandra she walks over to him, lifting her arms. Leaning down he picks her up, pulling her close. She puts her arms around his neck and settles in. Lucas is humbled by the simple act and closes his eyes.

  That’s when Cassandra realizes that it isn’t just Victoria who believes they’ve found their life mate. She looks to William.

  “It will be okay.” He tells her quietly.

  “Victoria,” Cassandra says firmly, “You need to tell the Admiral what you told me.” Lucas feels Victoria stiffen in his arms. His protective instincts kick in.

  “Aunt Cassie...” She whispers.

  “We need to figure this out Tori. You’re the only one who can help us.”

  “He’ll hear!” Tori whimpers.

  “Who Tori.” William asks. Scared eyes look at him then up at Lucas.

  “Who Tori.” Lucas repeats.

  “The Glitter Man.” She whispers rubbing her right arm, William frowns.

  “How long has she been doing that?” He turns to Cassandra.

  “What? Rubbing her arm? Since she was taken, whenever she talks about the Glitter Man, it’s a reflex.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not.” William looks at Lucas.

/>   “Tell me what you remember Tori.” William sits next Cassandra motioning Lucas to sit with her.

  “I remember getting up, Aunt Cassie was gone. I put on my new robe and slippers we bought them especially for the trip.” Tori looks at Cassandra.

  “I remember baby. Go on.”

  “I went into the courtyard to the orange tree. I wanted an orange.” She looks up at Lucas. “He was just there.”

  “Who Tori? What did he look like?” Lucas asks gently.

  “He was big, really big, he reached the top of the tree,” William hears Cassandra suck in a breath. “He picked me up, my slippers fell off then it got really dark then.” Victoria shivers causes Lucas to hug her closer.

  “Do you know where he took you?” William quizzes her.

  “No, it was really bright but really dark. It hurt my eyes. There was this humming sound, and….”

  “And what Tori?”

  “It sounded like voices but I couldn’t understand them. Then he was standing there, looking at me, looking at my feet, my hands.”

  “He touched you?” Lucas asks in a very controlled voice.

  “Some, he said something to someone, I couldn’t understand it. Then he told me he’d find me no matter where I went, he’d hear me, find me, I wouldn’t take his light.” William goes very still watching Victoria rub her right arm again.

  “You said you had a doctor check her after she was returned?” He turns to Cassandra.

  “Yes.”

  “They do a body scan?”

  “A what?” The Admiral’s comm center rings. William gets up to answer.

  “Zafar.”

  “Admiral, Quinn. You were right there was a low frequency transmission made at 0230 this morning.”

  “From…”

  “The Retribution sir. Can’t pin point it any further than that.”

  “Good work Quinn.” He looks at Cassandra.

  “We need to get Victoria to medical.”

  “Why, what’s going on.”

  “We need to do a body scan on her.”

  “What?”

  “Aunt Cassie.” Tori starts to squirm in Lucas’ arms.

  “It’s okay Tori,” Lucas tells her. “Look at me,” he tips her face up to his. “It won’t hurt, there’s nothing to be scared. I’ll be there with you.’

  “You will?”

  “Yes.”

  “Aunt Cassie too?” She looks to her Aunt.

  “You couldn’t keep me away baby.” Cassandra glares at the two men.

  “Let’s get this done.” William notifies Dr. Bliant to be available.

  Arriving in medical the four are ushered into Bliant’s office.

  “So what’s up?” He smiles at Victoria.

  “I want a body scan done on Victoria for Regulian technology.”

  “What!” Bliant is stunned.

  “Primarily her right arm.”

  “Why would you think…” The Admiral cuts him off. He’s at the end of his patience.

  “Just do it!” He orders. Victoria shrinks in Lucas’ arms. It’s Cassandra who responds.

  “That’s enough Admiral! You’re scaring her! And until you explain to me just what the hell is going on nothing will be done!” Bliant watched the drama unfolding, glad they are in his office.

  “This is a military decision,” The Admiral begins.

  “She’s not military! The truth or we’re out of here.” Remembering what Cassandra wants most in a relationship, honesty, even if she didn’t like it, he tells her.

  “At 0230 this morning a low frequency transmission was sent from the Retribution to the Regulian fleet allowing them to pin point our location, to make a high speed attack. We have to find the source of that transmission.”

  “Why would you think…” Things start falling into place for Cassandra. “You think…”

  “We need to know.”

  “Cassie,” Lucas draws her gaze. “The scan won’t hurt her.” She looks at Victoria.

  “What’s going on Aunt Cassie?”

  “Have you been listening?” Tori nods.

  “Do you understand what the Admiral’s worried about?”

  “That the Glitter Man can find me because he put something in my arm.” All three men suck in a sharp breath, amazed such a young child would understand.

  “Do you think he did?” She never breaks eye contact with Tori. Slowly she nods yes.

  “So we’ll let them do the scan to see.” Tori looks to Lucas.

  “It won’t hurt?”

  “No, sweetheart it won’t. I’ll be right here.”

  Tori looks the Admiral in the eye, “Okay.”

  “Do it!” The Admiral orders Bliant.

  Turning on a scanner the size of Cassandra’s hand, Bliant runs it up and down Tori’s left arm, then her right arm, it starts beeping over the spot Tori always rubs. Cassandra closes her eyes. He quickly goes over the rest of her body with no more signals.

  “Now what?” Cassandra asks.

  “We remove it.”

  Dr. Bliant walks up to Victoria, still in Lucas’ arms. “This is what we’re going to do young lady,” He says. “You are going to sit right where you are. I’m going to wrap this,” he shows her what looks like a white bandage, “around your arm here.” He touches the spot. “It will slowly get tighter, it might be uncomfortable but shouldn’t hurt at all. It’s going to get that nasty little thread out of you.”

  “Thread?” Tori asks.

  “That’s what it’s called, should be done in five minutes tops!”

  Tori allows him to put on the device sitting very still in Lucas’ arms. A few minutes later Bliant takes the device off immediately putting it in a container.

  “See that wasn’t so bad was it?” Bliant asks. Tori rubs her arm then beams up at him.

  “Thanks!”

  “You’re welcome, young lady.”

  “Lucas, why don’t you walk them back to quarters, I’ll be right behind you.” After they leave the Admiral turns to Bliant.

  “It’s actually relatively low grade Admiral, at least seven cycles old, I don’t know why they’d use it.

  “Unless it was top of the line seven cycles ago.”

  “But the thing is, it’s basically Carinian technology with a few Regulian additions, without those additions the scanner wouldn’t have picked it up.”

  “I want it secured, no one knows about it, is that clear?”

  “Clear sir. And sir, Victoria shouldn’t have any side effects from the removal.”

  “Understood.”

  In the corridor Lucas stops as Cassandra turns toward their quarters.

  “What are you doing?” He asks still carrying Tori.

  “Going to our quarters.”

  “That’s not what he meant Cassie.” Cassandra has reached the end of her rope.

  “I could really care less what he meant Lucas. Its late Victoria needs to get some sleep, real sleep in her own bed. I’m her aunt. I make the decisions concerning her well being, not you, not the Admiral. If you can’t deal with that then give her to me.” She holds out her arms.

  “I’ve got her, go.” He nods towards their quarters. Once inside he reluctantly puts a drowsy Victoria down.

  “Tori, why don’t you go into the bathroom and get ready for bed.”

  “Ok.” Once the door shuts Cassandra turns to Lucas ready to tear into him but instead lets out a tired sigh.

  “Look, Lucas, I don’t know exactly what this thing is between you and my niece. To be honest right now I’m too tired to argue about it.” She looks him directly in the eye. “But we will be discussing it.”

  Lucas can see Cassandra is exhausted and tries to help ease some of her worry.

  “I’d never hurt her Cassie, she’s important to me.”

  “She’s nine!”

  “I know that! But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to watch out for her now! Maybe if I’d been there seven cycles ago none of this would have happened.” Cassandra is
shocked at his passionate response.

  “You couldn’t have done anything Lucas.”

  “I could have held her when she was scared.”

  “She had her parents for that.” Lucas looks at her. “I’m all she has left, I’m her parent now. Do you understand me?”

  Lucas gives her a level look and in voice eerily like the Admiral’s says. “I understand what you’re saying but now she has me too.”

  “Fine, just as long as you understand there are limits.” The bathroom door opens and Tori comes out in her night clothes, hair brushed, face washed.

  “Tell Lucas goodnight Tori, he has to leave.” She walks over to him, lifting her arms.

  Lifting her up, she wraps her arms around his neck giving him a big hug, “Goodnight Lucas, I love you.”

  He holds her for a moment then lowers to the floor and in a tight voice replies, “Night Tori, I love you too.” He’s rewarded with a big smile before she turns to the bed. Cassandra silently witness’ the scene before she walks him to the hatch.

  “Goodnight Lucas thanks for the help.” She opens the door.

  “Anytime.” Walking through he hears it secure behind him.

  William approaches his ready room knowing he still has dozens of things he needs to take care of, but his priority is Cassandra. Things happened tonight that she misunderstood. They need to talk, to straighten this out. He needs her, if only to hold. Entering he finds his quarters empty. Hearing the hatch open he sees Lucas enter, alone.

  “Where are Cassandra and Victoria!”

  “In their quarters.” Lucas shuts the hatch.

  “You knew I meant for you to bring them here!” William’s patience is gone.

  “I know, but Cassie wanted Tori in her own bed.” Lucas didn’t have to wait for the explosion.

  “That’s not where I wanted them!”

  “It really isn’t up to you is it?”

  “The fuck it isn’t! There are still things to settle!” He heads for the hatch.

  “Dad! They’re both exhausted! It’ll keep until tomorrow, shit it’s almost tomorrow now.” Lucas blocks his path. “What are you going to do? Kidnap them?” That stops William from just moving him aside. He turns rubbing the back of his neck.

  “They’re ok?”