Cassandra's Challenge (48 page)

Cassandra nods, putting a hand on his thigh.

“You do not open the hatch, to
anyone
.”

“I won’t.” Giving her a hard kiss he leaves
their quarters, pulling on his jacket.

“Tar! Status!” The Admiral enters the
bridge.

“Admiral, we’re ninety minutes out.”

“Contact Marat. Tell him his men are to be at
their stations in thirty.”

“Yes sir.”

Going to his comm he contacts Leander.

“Chief, you have sixty minutes.” Then Lucas.
“Leander’s in sixty.” Disconnecting he turns to Quinn.

“You ready?”

“Yes sir.”

“I need to contact King Jotham.”

“I have a secure line ready for you sir.”

“Connect me.”

As the Admiral puts on he’s headset, he looks
around at his people on the bridge. They knew something was up,
their quick glances telling.

“Jotham.”

“Your Majesty, we are less than ninety minutes
out.”

“Why the change?”

“High Command.” He replies.

“Understand Admiral, ninety minutes.”

“Thank you, Majesty.”

“Wake up Victoria we need to get you to
Javiera’s.”

“Aunt Cassie?”

“Yeah. Come on wake up.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong, it’s just time to get you
dressed and get to Javiera’s. Time to find the Glitter Man.”

“Really?”

“Really. Quick shower, change and we need to
go.”

“Okay.”

With Victoria the shower Cassandra fixes the bed
for one last time. Taking a moment she runs her hand across it,
thinking about everything they’d shared there. Picking up a pillow
she smells William on it. She knows this isn’t the end, but
Victoria is right, it is still hard to leave. Putting the pillow
back down she turns, time to start they’re future.

“How you coming Tori?”

“Just about ready.”

Picking up the bag she put her and the Admiral’s
clothes in after her shower, she goes to collect Victoria’s.
Finding her brushing her hair she smiles at her.

“Aunt Cassie?”

“Yeah.” Leaning down she picks up the towel Tori
dropped.

“Are you and the Admiral going to get married?”
Freezing Cassandra looks at her.

“I don’t know. Why?”

“Well, if you get married, I could call him
Uncle instead of Admiral. He’d be family.”

“Yes he would. But Victoria,” She crouches down,
“He’s already family. Family isn’t just your related to by blood,
it’s who you love.”

“I know that!” She says in an exasperated
voice.

“Then what?”

“Everyone one calls him Admiral, even you
sometimes. No one calls him Uncle.”

“That would be special wouldn’t it.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I can’t promise anything, but you never
know. Now finish up, we need to go.”

“Okay.”

Leaving the heat of the bathroom, Cassandra
leans against the wall. She’d stood too quickly. As the room rights
itself she takes a deep breath. She doesn’t have time for this.

“Ready.”

“Let’s go.” Opening the hatch Cassandra
discovers guards.

“Mam.” Marat nods to her. He’d witnessed her
take down Falco in the Brig, while he isn’t sure what was going on,
he knows his job is to protect her.

“I’m sorry,” Cassandra looks at the rank on his
uniform. “Chief. I don’t know your name.”

“Marat, mam.”

“Chief Marat, I need to take Victoria to
Michelakakis’ quarters.”

“Yes mam, you will be escorted.” Securing the
Admiral’s quarters, Cassandra turns, as she and Victoria start done
the corridor the security force closes around them.

Entering Michelakakis’ quarters, she finds Lucas
pacing the room, seeing Victoria he immediately calms.

“Hi Lucas!” Victoria runs over giving him a
quick hug.

“Hi.” Leaving him she runs to Amina.

“Ready?” Cassandra looks from Leander to Javiera
to Lucas.”

“We’re ready.” Lucas answers for all of them.
Walking over to the girls Cassandra squats down.

“Victoria, I need to go back to the Admiral’s
ready room. I’ll meet up with you on the shuttle, until then Lucas
is in charge. Do you understand me?” Tori looks from her Aunt to
Lucas and back with serious eyes.

“Yes Aunt Cassie.”

“Okay, give me a hug, you too Amina.” As they do
she gives each a quick kiss and stands. “I’ll see you at the
shuttle.”

Leaving the security detail closes around her.
Entering the ready room she secures the hatch than sits to
wait.

“Navigator, put us into orbit.”

“Yes Admiral.”

“Admiral, I have High Admiral Valerian on the
comm.”

“Put it on speaker. Zafar.”

“Admiral, you’re late.”

“Actually we’re early sir, we were scheduled to
arrive at 1000, it’s 0800.”

“Don’t tell me what time it is Zafar!”

“Yes High Admiral.”

“My shuttle will be arriving in ten minutes,
have your landing bay ready!”

“Yes sir.”

Uneasy glances flash around the bridge. It was
obvious to everyone that there was trouble brewing between their
Admiral and the High Admiral.”

“Communications inform landing bay A that the
High Admiral’s shuttle will be landing in ten minutes.”

“Landing bay ‘A’ sir?”

“Yes ‘A’. Navigation, send the landing
instructions to the High Admiral’s shuttle.”

“Yes sir.”

“Communications, inform Landing Bay D that a
shuttle from King Jotham will be arriving in the next thirty
minutes. They are to be given priority landing instructions.”

“Yes sir!” Something definitely going on.

“Colonel, you are to wait for the King’s
shuttle, then escort the detail to my quarters.”

“Yes sir.”

“Colonel you have the bridge until the King’s
shuttle is on approach.” The Admiral was taking no chances that the
High Admiral could change his orders. Going to his comm the Admiral
inserts a memory foil, enters a sequence of codes, and waits. Once
the foil is full he removes it. Looking around the bridge then
turns to Quinn.

“You have the bridge Colonel.”

“Yes sir.”

Leaving the bridge of the Retribution for the
last time the Admiral heads to his quarters and his future.

High Admiral Valerian raises and eyebrow as he
and his staff approach Admiral Zafar’s quarters. A security force
of six lines the corridor.

“Chief.”

“High Admiral.” Marat salutes his superior
officer.

“Why is there a security force outside the
Admiral’s quarters?”

“Sir, because the Admiral ordered it, sir.”

“Open his hatch Chief. We’ll wait inside.”

“Sir, I am unable to do that sir.”

“Excuse me?”

“Sir, I don’t have the authorization codes to
access the Admiral’s quarters.”

Moving to the security panel the High Admiral
enters his security code. When it is denied he is enraged.

“High Admiral Valerian nice to have you on
board.” Zafar approaches from the opposite direction. “Marat.” He
nods to the Chief.

“Sir.”

“Zafar! You will explain the meaning of
this.”

“Of what sir?”

“Of my clearance not working on your hatch.”

“Because the future Queen of the House of
Knowledge requested it, High Admiral.”

Marat freezes at the Admiral’s comment. Future
Queen of the House of Knowledge? He’s talking about Cassandra. He’s
self-proclaimed life mate. Marat finally realizes what they are
facing. Looking at his men he knows they realize it too.

Stepping up to the security panel the Admiral
enters his code. As the locks release he gestures.

“High Admiral.”

Valerian passes but the Admiral stops his
staff.

“Just the High Admiral.”

“My staff is with me Admiral.”

“Yes sir, and they can wait in the
corridor.”

“You’ve over stepped your authority Zafar!”

“It is my command until I leave the ship High
Admiral. I have authority, unless you wish to remove me from that
command. To do so you will need to contact High Command, call a
commission and explain your decision. Or you may enter my quarters
alone and within the hour I will be off the Retribution.”

The look in Valerian’s eye is deadly. Turning he
addresses his staff.

“You are to stay here.
No one
enters
these quarters. Is that understood?”

“Yes High Admiral.”

Cassandra had been sitting when she heard the
locks release on the hatch. Hearing the High Admiral she stands
walking over to the painting of the setting suns. The man is
disrespecting the Admiral, on his own ship, in front of his crew.
Something she is not going to tolerate. She’s dealt with
self-important men before. Those who thought they knew more just
because they were men. Apparently Carinian men weren’t that
different than those on Earth.

William scans the room as he enters, finding
Cassandra in front of their favorite painting. The High Admiral
glances at her than takes a seat.

“Explain Admiral.” His total disregard of
Cassandra pisses William off.

“High Admiral Valerian, may I present Cassandra
Qwes Chamberlain.” Hearing the slight change in William’s voice
lets her know he’s no happier with the High Admiral than she
is.

Turning, her eyes are cool and calm as they
stare at Valerian. Turning her gaze to William she nods then
retakes her seat, as the Admiral takes his.

“So this is the Earth woman you think can
challenge Queen Yakira.”

Saying nothing Cassandra continues to meet the
High Admiral eyes. She’s found through her years of study it really
irritates some men.

“Will challenge and win.” William answers,
watching Cassandra watch Valerian.

“Show me the birthmark.”

“No.” She answers. Never breaking eye contact
she leans back, crossing her right leg over left. Her boots, socks
and pants covering her birthmark.

“Excuse me?” Valerian sits up higher in his
chair.

“Hearing problem?” Cassandra challenges.
“I...said...'no’.”

“Zafar what the hell is going on? You contacted
me that there was a challenge to Queen Yakira.”

“I contacted you because we have a traitor
that’s killed seven billion people to stop the possibility that
there is a challenger to Queen Yakira.”

“She knows this?” Valerian jerks a thumb to
Cassandra.

“Yes.”

“Have you lost your mind? Why would you tell
her? This is restricted Coalition information!”

“It is an assassination attempt on the future
Queen.”

“Oh please….she won’t even show her birthmark to
me
.”

“Are you member of the Assembly?” Cassandra
brings Valerian’s eyes back to her. “A ruling King? A First Son?”
She fires questions at him

“
No.”

“Do
you
carry a royal birthmark?”

“No.”

“Then why would I show you mine.”

“You obviously don’t know who I am.” Valerian
starts.

“You are High Admiral Ossie Valerian, only son
of Oscar and Calla Valerian. You went to the Academy where you were
an
average
student, not really excelling in anything. You
married had a daughter. They were both killed in a Regulian attack
on Fortas. Since that time you’ve moved up the chain of command by
being single minded in your hunting of
all
Regulians. Nine
cycles ago you were promoted to High Admiral by the Coalition
Council, by one vote, seems some of your tactics were
questionable.”

“I get results!” That this ‘woman’ thinks she
has the right to talk to him like this enrages him.

“You make sure there are never
any
Regulian survivors on any of your missions. That’s not battle,
that’s revenge.”

“How dare you
!” Valerian surges towards
Cassandra. The Admiral is immediately between them.

“I wouldn’t.” His voice deadly.

Looking from the Admiral to Cassandra Valerian
suddenly understands. “You’re slamming her!”

Valerian doesn’t see the calming hand Cassandra
places on William’s back. “Be very careful High Admiral.” William
voice is tense. Removing her hand she steps around William.

“You have no understanding of the position
you’re
in Valerian.” Cassandra stares him down. “You only
became High Admiral by
one
vote. ONE! What do you think the
High Council will do when they find out that for nearly eight
cycles you’ve allowed a traitor free reign in the Coalition. That
there have been easily found transmissions, in Regulian, on
Carinian channels, that you’ve ignored. That this traitor has not
only made a deal with the Regulians, but has traveled to and from
the Relinquished Zone, and you allowed it. That this traitor is
trying to assassinate a future Queen of Carina, and you’ve done
nothing
? How do you think they will vote? Do you have to
guess how
I
will vote?” Cassandra’s coldly enraged eyes bore
into Valerian’s.

“You have no proof.” He fires back, refusing to
acknowledge the possibility he is in the wrong.

“Don’t I?” She raises an eyebrow.

As the Admiral’s comm rings Cassandra calmly
walks to the side of his desk. The Admiral makes no move to answer
his comm until Valerian sits.

“Zafar.” He puts the call on speaker.

“Admiral, this is Tar, your detail is at the
hatch.”

“Understood.” Disconnecting he looks to
Cassandra.

“What’s going on Zafar!” Valerian demands.

“High Admiral Valerian, it is time for the
future Queen to leave the Retribution.”

“I have not given her that right.”

“It’s not yours to give.” Making sure he’s
between them he opens the hatch.

Immediately eight very large males, dressed in
black with purple jackets enter the room. They carry what Cassandra
has come to know as stunners their jackets bearing the insignia of
King Jotham.