Cassandra's Challenge (11 page)

“We couldn’t find anything physically wrong with
her, but she couldn’t remember anything, not even getting out of
bed, only what she called the Glitter Man. She said he was really
big and his eyes seemed to ‘glitter’ at her. Until last night,
that’s all she’s ever remembered.”

“What did your grandmother mean?” William asks
replaying what she’d said in his mind.

“Back when my grandmother was a young girl, she
lived in Kayseri, she was abducted, her word. She was gone a week,
when she was returned, again her word. The man she was supposed to
marry refused her, he believed she’d been with another. No one
believed her, except my grandfather. They married leaving the
‘homeland’ as they called it behind. This was the only time my
grandmother went back. It’s amazing though,” She looks at William.
“She described the Regulians perfectly.”

“You believe the Regulians abducted your
grandmother cycles ago.”

“I believe my grandmother. I believe Victoria.
That’s it,” She stands. ”That’s what I know.”

“The nightmares.” Lucas asks. Cassandra looks at
him.

“Every night for the first year, then they
tapered off. I think it’d been close to a year before the Regulians
attacked. After we got here she been having them every night but
only about being trapped in the fire, it was getting better until
last night. It’s the first time the Glitter Man has shown back up.
Hopefully the last, I need to check on Tori.”

“I will.” Lucas is on his way to the door before
Cassandra can say anything. There was something there that needs
explaining.

Lucas needs to make sure Victoria is okay.
Cassandra’s story of what she’d been through has shaken him. She’d
been unprotected. That wouldn’t happen again. She looks at
William.

“He’ll make sure she’s alright.” Walking around
the desk he leans against it watching her. “Are you?”

“Am I what?”

“Alright.”

“I’m fine I need to get Tori back.” William
grabs her, pulling her into his arms for a blazing kiss that melts
any defenses she thought to build in her anger with him. When she
finally responds some of the fear loosens in him. Fear she would
shut him out. Breaking off the kiss he rests his forehead against
hers.

“I didn’t tell Lucas anything about what is
happening between us.” Cassandra snaps out of the haze William’s
kiss had put her into. Her eyes shoot to his. “I didn’t have too,
all he had to do was see us together. My son knows me Cassandra. He
knows I don’t do this on a tour.”

“What exactly is the ‘this’ you’re talking
about?” Before he can answer there is a scream from the other
room.

“NO! NO! GO AWAY!” Victoria screams as Lucas
tries to comfort her. Cassandra races to her side.

“MOVE!” She tells Lucas but he won’t budge.

“Lucas!” William grips his son’s arm, pulling
him away. “Let Cassandra handle this, your scaring her.”

“Victoria! It’s Aunt Cassie!” Her voice is firm
pulling the struggling child into her arms. “You’re safe!”

“He’s here! The Glitter Man is here!!!” She
cries.

“No! No he’s not! William get the lights on!”
she orders. William immediately turns the lights up.

“Look baby, look it’s just you, me, Lucas and
William! No Glitter Man!”

Lucas gets his first look at Victoria’s face.
He’d thought he’d understood, between what his father had said and
Cassandra. But nothing prepared him for the terror he sees in
Victoria’s eyes. It rips his guts out knowing he’s scared her, that
he couldn’t comfort her, his life mate.

William still has his arm. “Easy Lucas, this
isn’t about you, don’t take it that way.”

“How am I supposed to take it?”

“As a nine cycle girl, who’s had a
nightmare.”

Victoria’s eyes start to clear, she looks at
Cassandra, then turns her head seeing William and Lucas.

“He found me Aunt Cassie.” She whispers urgently
as she rubs her right arm. “He found me.”

“No baby, no.”

“Set Alert Status One throughout the ship!
Repeat Alert Status ONE! Regulian ships approaching, two minutes to
contact!”

“Fuck!” The men say in unison.

“Stay here!” The Admiral orders. “It’s the
safest place on the ship.” He and Lucas head for the door. In the
corridor William grabs his son’s arm.

“Get your head on straight, you’re no help to
her,” the Admiral gestures back Victoria, “if you’re dead!” Lucas
nods both men head in different directions.

“It’s the Glitter Man, he’s trying to get me.”
Tori cries in Cassandra’s arms.

“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.”