Cassandra's Challenge (3 page)

“You seemed pretty attached.” Bliant nods
towards the washroom.

Lucas feels his anger rising. “They just saved
my life. Oh and the Regulians nuked their family for it, but
besides that...”

“Take it easy, just asking, it’s not regulation
to bring in unknowns on board.”

Lucas doesn’t reply as he sees Cassandra and
Victoria approach. Bliant moves on to his next patient, nodding to
the two but gives a second look to the woman. There is something
about her.

“Should we get out of here?” Lucas asks limping
over to them.

“How long until we can get back?” Cassandra
demands, Lucas motions that they should walk as they talk.

“Look, the Regulians are still attacking the
cities. It’s safer here.” Lucas gives a pointed look to Tori. “Once
their gone we’ll get you back. But for now, let’s see if we can
find you some food.”

Leading them to the mess hall Cassandra hears
the Admiral’s voice booming out of a room.

“What the
fuck
are they doing?”

Lucas looks down at Victoria seeing she’s heard
his father. “That’s the command center.” Cassandra walks towards
the hatch. “That’s not the best idea.” Ignoring him she enters the
room and is astounded.

The room is filled with crew, each apparently
with a specific duty. There are clear screens showing locations of
ships, movements and the Earth. The one the Admiral is swearing at
shows the Regulians firing at the Earth’s moon.

Watching in horror she sees a large chunk of the
moon being blown out into space, only to be caught by the Earth’s
gravitational pull. Not realizing she’s moved she finds herself at
the Admiral’s side.

“How big is that?” She asks staring at the
screen.

The Admiral’s head whips around. How the hell
had she gotten into his command center? Looking up he sees his son
at the hatch with a hand on the little girl’s shoulder. He shrugs
in apology.

“What the
fuck
are you doing here!” The
Admiral voice is frozen fury, causing even the Colonel who’s come
to his side to cringe. The woman is unfazed.

“How big?” She asks again, pulling her eyes away
from the screen to look into his.

What he sees confounds him. There is pain, fear,
sorrow, anger, knowledge and understanding all flashing at once in
her eyes.

“One-hundred thousand cubics.” He tells her.

“It will decimate the planet.”

“Yes. I want all planes back on board! Combat
landings! NOW! Falco I want us out of here Warp eight as soon as
all planes are accounted for, is that clear!”

“Yes Admiral!”

Gripping Cassandra’s arm he removes her from the
command center, past Lucas and into the corridor. “I don’t know
what you think you’re doing,” The anger in his voice a living
thing.

“I believe it’s called watch everyone on my
planet die.” She interrupts, her voice as dead as Earth will
shortly be, killing the Admiral’s anger. He hasn’t known this woman
long but the utter lack of emotion in her voice cuts at him.

“Aunt Cassie?” The sound of the small voice has
her closing her eyes for just a second before she looks down at
Victoria.

“Mommy, Daddy and Grandpa are dead, aren’t
they.” The pain the Admiral sees in Cassandra’s eyes makes him wish
they hadn’t changed.

Dropping down to her knees Cassandra tells
Victoria the truth. “Yes, baby, they are.” She pulls her into her
arms.

Knowing there is nothing he can do, the Admiral
turns to his son. “Get them some quarters. They’re going to be with
us for awhile.” Walking back into the command center he finds it
difficult to put them out of his mind.

Over the next few days Lucas stays close to the
two refugees from Earth. He secures them quarters on G Deck, that
while small it did have a couch and private bathing facilities. He
shows them the mess hall on their deck and supplies them with
changes of clothing while trying to explain things to them.

“Lucas.” Cassandra starts one night after
Victoria is asleep. “Don’t think we don’t appreciate what you’ve
been doing for us. But why are you?”

Lucas looks from Cassandra to Victoria. He isn’t
about to tell her that there is something about her niece that
pulls at him. What he’s thinking isn’t possible. Looking back to
Cassandra he says.

“I think I owe you, both of you.” She just looks
at him.

“As much as I’d like to blame you, this wasn’t
your fault. If anything we owe you, we’d be dead too if you hadn’t
crashed.”

“So maybe we’re even.” Lucas gives her a slight
smile.

“Maybe.” But she can’t bring herself to smile
back.

Over the last few days Cassandra’s been trying
to figure out what to do. How were they going to adjust, find their
way in this new place. Nearly everything they’ve ever learned is
irrelevant here. They need knowledge if they are going to survive,
especially Victoria.

“Lucas, you said that Tori isn’t the only child
on board. There are families.”

“Yes.”

“So what do they do? How do they learn?”

“They go to class, on E Deck. There’s an
educator.”

“Would Tori be allowed to go?”

“I don’t see why not.” He’s concerned though.
“Don’t you think it’s too soon?”

“She needs something to focus on. To keep her
mind occupied. On Earth she was considered a very intelligent
little girl. Here she’ll have to start over, find her way. I need
to get her into some kind of routine, she needs as close to normal
as I can give her.”

“Not only Tori.” Lucas looks at her.

“No not only Tori. Can you look into it for
me?”

“Yeah, I will.”

Leave their quarters Lucas heads to his
father’s. Entering the Admiral’s ready room he finds him sitting at
his desk reading reports. Taking a seat he waits.

Finishing the report the Admiral leans back to
look at his son. While he seems to be recovering from his injuries,
he still isn’t back on the flight schedule.

“What’s up?”

“What do I need to do to get Victoria into
class?”

“Victoria?”

“The little girl from Earth.” Lucas says
impatiently.

“I know who she is Lucas.” The Admiral replies
in the same tone. “Why would you think she could handle our
classes?”

“I don’t know if she can but Cassie does. She
wants to get her into some kind of routine.”

“And she thinks throwing her into something she
isn’t going to understand will help?”

“She says by Earth standards Victoria’s
considered very intelligent.” Lucas holds up a hand to stop his
father. “I know, but they have been adjusting very quickly,
understanding differences. That our languages are similar, as
unusual as that is, seems to be helping.” Lucas looks at his
father. “She’s going to have to learn it eventually.”

“You seem to have gotten pretty involved.”
William watches his son. The woman named Cassandra keeps intruding
in his mind at odd times. Knowing his son is spending time with her
irritates him.

“I’m just trying to help make it right Dad.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“That’s what Cassie says too.”

“What?” William can’t keep the surprise out of
his voice.

“She said I don’t owe them anything, that if
anything they owe me. If I hadn’t crashed they’d be dead too.” The
Admiral is silent, the thought bothering him for some reason. “They
helped me when I needed it, now I need to help them.”

“Have her at the classroom tomorrow. I’ll
arrange it with the educator.”

“Thanks dad.” Lucas gets up to leave. “Did you
ever find out why the Regulians destroyed the planet?”

“No.”

“Are you sure I can do this Aunt Cassie?”
Victoria asks before they leave their quarters.

“Of course I’m sure. You’re not going to know or
understand everything right away. It’s going to take some time but
after awhile you’ll get it.” Victoria looks up at Cassandra with
trusting eyes.

“Okay.”

“And besides, we’re Chamberlain women aren’t
we?” Cassandra puts her fist out for a bump, Tori gives her
one.

“Yes.” Opening the hatch they find Lucas about
to knock.

“Ready to go?” He looks at them.

“Yes.” They say in unison.

Approaching the classroom Cassandra sees the
Admiral coming out of the room, followed by an attractive
woman.

“Hello Victoria,” The woman says as if she’s
talking to a slow child, Cassandra frowns. “I’m Madam Reese, your
educator.” Victoria stares at the woman.

“Hello Madam Reese, I’m Victoria
Chamberlain.”

Cassandra step forward, “I’m Cassandra
Chamberlain, Tori’s Aunt.” She holds out her hand. The woman looks
at the Admiral then shakes Cassandra’s hand.

“Well Victoria, let’s go in and get you
situated.”

“What time is class over?” Cassandra
interrupts.

“1600.” Reese tells her.

“I’ll see you then Tori.” Cassandra tells her as
she crouches down to look into Victoria’s nervous green eyes.
Lifting her fist she waits. The nerves leave Tori’s eyes as she
gives her Aunt a bump. Turning she follows the educator. Rising
Cassandra finds herself under the scrutiny of the Admiral.

“Admiral.” She nods to him, turning she finds
Lucas behind her. “Thanks Lucas. I’m going to head back to
quarters.” Turning she leaves before her tears fall.

The Admiral watches her retreating back having
caught just the glimmer of tears, before she blinked them away.
Telling him she’s more upset then she’s letting on.

Lucas looks at the hatch Victoria has just
walked through. The two men start to walk down the corridor.

“I’m going to head to medical, see if I can’t
get Bliant to clear me so I can get back on the flight schedule.”
Lucas tells the Admiral.

“Good, let me know what he says.”

Once secured in her quarters Cassandra begins to
strip heading straight for the shower. With the water running she
slides down the wall, hugging herself, as she weeps, for her
father, her brother and sister-in-law, for all the senseless loss
of life on Earth. Why? She has no answers.

All the fears and doubts she wouldn’t let
Victoria see come pouring out as she cries where no one can hear…or
care. After what seems a lifetime she leans her head back against
the wall. What is she going to do? On Earth she’d been considered
extremely intelligent. She’d been nominated for the Magellan
Award.

Graduating Harvard at 15 with three majors she
was teaching at 19. Now she feels like a three year old trying to
relearn everything. If only there were books she could read. She
has a photographic memory and once she reads something, she never
forgets it. But unlike some with this skill she could actually
apply and connect the information in an extremely fast fashion. Her
mother always told her she was the brightest light. Now she doesn’t
know what to do.

“Sitting here in the shower isn’t going to help
anything.” She berates herself. Standing she gets out of the shower
and dries off. Touching the ring she wears around her neck, she
takes it off. Looking at the ancient ring she kisses the stone then
hangs it on a hook. It’s time for her to find her place in this new
world, to make a life for herself and Victoria.

Leaving her quarters Cassandra starts to explore
this ship called the Retribution that is, at least for now, their
home. Wandering on the ship she receives a few looks but is mostly
just ignored something she’s not used too. She’s over 6’, on Earth
that drew attention. Here she’s short Tori’s the only one she’s
seen shorter.

Finding herself in engineering she’s is amazed
at the technology. There are panels and screens everywhere.
Different systems controlling speed, navigation, life support, and
defenses. Her mind is racing trying to make sense of it all,
wanting to know how it all works.

“Who the fuck are you?!? How’d you get in
here?!?” Cassandra turns to find a large, hell they are all large
here, blonde man behind her.

“I’m Cassandra, Cassandra Chamberlain and I
walked in through that hatch.” She points to the hatchway. “Who are
you?” The blonde man starts to sputter.

“I’m
Chief Engineer Leander Michelakakis!
What are you doing here?” The chief grips her arm leading her into
what seems to be an office.

“I’m just looking, I didn’t touch anything.”
Cassandra knows how she is about her equipment. “Your technology is
above what we had on Earth, do you have some manuals or books I can
read on it? What type of lasers are you using? How are you…”

“Stop!” The Chief looks at her. While her
questions are valid, he isn’t allowed to discuss them with her, not
without the Admiral’s approval. “Sit.” He tells her pointing to a
chair. Walking over to his communications consul he picks up a
headset.

Connecting to the bridge he waits.

On the bridge the Admiral picks up a headset.
“What is it Chief?” When the chief explains the situation the
Admiral goes still. “I’m on my way.”

“Colonel, you have the bridge.” Quinn watches
the Admiral leave.

Going directly to Michelakakis’ office the
Admiral enters to find Cassandra and the Chief standing next to
screen arguing.

“Chief!” He slams the door. The Chief
immediately turns to the Admiral.

“Sir!” Cassandra turns a little slower saying
nothing.

“What’s going on here Chief?” The Admiral eyes
bore first into him then move to Cassandra.

“Sir, sorry sir, we were discussing the pros and
cons of the carbonite cooling system in relation to a crystal
laser.”

“What!”

“Sorry sir.”

“What are you doing in my engineering station?”
The Admiral demands of Cassandra.

Cassandra bites her tongue at the response she
wants to give. With a father and brother both having served she
knows the rules, and it doesn’t seem that different here.