Cassandra's Challenge (12 page)

“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?”

“As well as can be expected, I actually think
Tori is handling it better the Cassie.” Lucas knows the storm has
past.

“Cassie! Why the hell are you calling her
‘Cassie’!” William demands.

“I guess I picked it up from Tori.” Lucas
shrugs, walking over his father’s desk he opens a drawer taking out
the bottle containing Carinian ale and two glasses. Opening it he
pours some into each before walking over to his father handing him
one. William raises an eyebrow as he taps his glass to
William’s.

“It’s been a hell of a day.” William looks at
his son, proud of the man he’d grown into.

“I’ll second that.” Taking a drink he walks over
to his desk and sits.

“Anything I can help with?”

“No, mostly reports to write.” William knew how
much his son likes reports.

“Then I’m going to catch some shut eye.” Lucas
finishes his drink setting the glass on the desk. “You find
anything I need to know you’ll call?”

“I’ll let you know.”

As Lucas leaves, William leans back in his chair
thinking about the Regulian transmission they’d decoded. The
Glitter Man told Tori she wouldn’t ‘take’ his light. But the
Regulian transmission said they were ‘looking’ for the light.

Something they were going to use to get what
they wanted, otherwise they would destroy it. Whoever the Carinian
traitor is they wanted it bad enough to give the Regulians Carinian
technology to track a little girl.

A little girl, on a planet, that wasn’t on any
Carinian star chart. Earth is closer to Regulian territory then
Carinian. How would he have found out about her? What made her so
special? Light. Imperial Light.

William writes up his report then decides Lucas
is right. It’s enough for one day. Getting into his bed alone he
lifts the pillow that carried Cassandra’s scent and laying his head
on it goes to sleep.

Turning the corner from the classroom Cassandra
runs straight into Lucas.

“Whoa,” He grips her arms to keep her from
falling. “You okay?”

When she looks up at him he’s startled at what
he sees. She looks even more exhausted then the night before.

“Cassie, what’s wrong.” He pulls her aside
lowering his voice. “Did Victoria have another nightmare?” He’d
hoped the removal of the thread would end them.

“No, no nightmares, she had a great night’s
sleep. She couldn’t wait to get to class to see her friends.”
Cassandra nods towards the hatchway. “I just dropped her off.”

Lucas releases the breath he hadn’t realized
he’d been holding. Stepping back they start walking.

“Limits, Lucas.” She mutters.

“Understood.” He replies. “So if she had a good
night why do you look like crap?” Cassandra stops in the middle of
the corridor. There is no way she’s telling him that after one
night she couldn’t sleep without his father’s arms around her.

“Why Lucas Zafar I didn’t realize you were such
a sweet talker.”

Stopping Lucas, realizing what he just said and
starts to turn red. “Look, I didn’t mean… it’s just…” He
stutters.

“Yes?” She stares at him trying not to grin.

“You just look tired and if it was a good
night…Oh hell I’m just digging deeper.” Cassandra starts to laugh,
he looks at her grinning. Turning they see the Admiral standing
several feet away.

William hadn’t slept well. Her scent isn’t
enough now that he’s held her. This morning he’d decided they would
talk, he’d cleared time. Going to her quarters discovering them
gone hadn’t been a good start. Now he finds her laughing in a
corridor with his son. She should be laughing with him! As
Cassandra looks at him she stops laughing.

“Admiral.” Lucas speaks first noticing his
father’s stillness.

“Lucas, you on patrol today?” His eyes never
leave Cassandra.

“Yes, sir.”

“Shouldn’t you be preparing then?”

Knowing when he’s been dismissed Lucas looks at
Cassie seeing her eyes locked with his father’s.

“Yes sir.” Cassandra turns to look at Lucas.

“Thanks for the compliment.” Lucas gives her a
quick grin leaving the two of them in the corridor. Turning back to
the Admiral, Cassandra discovers she’s ready for a fight.

“Something I can do for you Admiral?” She asks
walking towards him, her eyes unreadable.

William falls into step beside her. “We didn’t
finish last night. I’ve cleared time this morning.”

“Cleared time. How nice.” She replies
testily.

The Admiral gives her a frigid look that she
ignores. Others in the corridor don’t, hastily getting out of their
way.

Within minutes they are in the Admiral’s ready
room. As soon as the door is secured Cassandra turns ready to tell
him what she thinks about him ‘clearing time’ for her, only to find
herself crushed between his massive chest and the bulkhead.

William can no longer control his desire. Before
she can speak her mouth is ravished, the fight she’s ready for
changing into passion. Groaning into his mouth she struggles to get
her hands free to grip his back, matching his desire.

Releasing her mouth he attacks all the sensitive
points on her neck he’d discovered earlier. Cassandra goes wild in
his arms, she has to have him.

William!” She pleads wrapping her legs around
his waist. Turbulent violet eyes blaze into uncontrolled blue and
what he sees has him ripping her pants down, loosening his.

“Please William!
Now
!” She begs and with
one thrust he enters her to the hilt.

“YES…” She groans throwing her head back pumping
her hips against his.