Cassandra's Challenge (36 page)

“A
child
! Remember, you said you’d give
me one. But you’d already made your plans for my life hadn’t you.
You’d already talked to the High Admiral about returning to Carina.
So I suppose it was a promise after all, I’d have a child, it just
wouldn’t be
yours
.” She can’t keep the pain out of her
voice, the tears from falling down her face. The buzzing of the
hatch breaks the silence. Gently easing her down, William goes to
let Hutu in with lunch.

“I’ll take it Hutu, thank you.” Securing the
hatch, he returns to find Cassandra at the comm center. Setting the
tray down, he approaches her. Squatting down, he puts tentative
hand on her thigh, needing the contact, she immediately
stiffens.

“I love you Cassandra. The thought of you not
protected…again…” The unmistakable pain in his voice causes her to
look down at him. “I can’t tolerate it, I won’t.” Realizing he has
her attention he presses on.

“Falco is on me, all me. You tried to tell me, I
dismissed you’re instinct, you and Tori paid the price for that. I
misjudged. Something I rarely do. As Admiral you’re not allowed
too. But with you…you say I make you unable to think clearly...you
do the same to me…I want you protected, no matter the cost. Please
wait.” William pleads as she starts to rise. Sitting back down, she
watches him, her eyes unreadable.

“My head tells me I’m being unreasonable, but my
heart…Cassandra I’ve been in the Coalition for over thirty cycles,
in all that time I’ve always been able to make my decisions based
on what needs to be done, not who it affects. Even with Lucas on
board, I pick the best pilots and send them out. It’s what I did on
Earth. But with you, it’s how can I protect you.”

“I’ve never asked that of you.”

“No, you never asked, you just trusted me, on
the Raptor, when you had no reason too. Then you protected me, even
as you knew your family was dying, you protected.”

“What are you talking about?”

“When the alarm went off, you
understood…horribly understood what it meant for your family, but
as the blast hit, you covered my eyes, protecting them from the
blast. As you tears soaked my hands
you
protected
me
.”

“That’s…”

“No one’s ever tried to protect me before. I
knew then, on that Raptor, that you would be important in my life.
I was right. You are my life.” William moves his hands to her
waist. A waist his hands could encircle.

“I’ve always believed you had to be willing to
sacrifice if something really mattered to you.”

“Even if what you sacrifice
is
what
matters?” He momentarily buries his head in her lap. Her fingers
itched to touch him.

“See, that’s what I couldn’t see. I just knew I
needed to protect. I needed
you
to show me what I was doing,
but you couldn’t because I didn’t tell you. I’m used to keeping
things close.”

“Just not people.”

“No. Not people. Quinn is my oldest friend, and
even with him I keep a distance. But you shattered all that, you
were everywhere in my life, and I wanted you there. Needed you
there, but old habits die hard.” William raises a hand to gently
caress her cheek. When she doesn’t pull away he knows he has to
give her the truth.

“I knew the Regulians wanted you. I knew if they
couldn’t get to you, they would try to kill you. I knew if I could
get you to Carina you would be, if not safe, safer. So I did what
I’ve always done, I made a decision. I would make the sacrifice,
meaning my career. It was easy. Everything I’ve ever done has been
leading me to this, to you. But you have to believe me,” His eyes
plead with hers.

“I never meant for it to mean sacrificing you,
our
future,
our
child. But once it started I couldn’t
see any way to stop it. If that was the cost
I’d
pay it, not
you, not Tori.”

“Admiral to the bridge. Admiral Zafar to the
bridge.” The comm center announced.

“Fuck!” William stands to connect to the bridge
when Cassandra’s hand stops him.

“They want you there for a reason.”

“We have more we need to talk about.”

“You’re needed on the bridge Admiral, you need
to go.” Cassandra looks into his eyes, the indecision there a
testament to what she really does mean to him.

“Go do you job William, we’ll finish this
later.” He’s ready to argue until he hears her say his name. It
seems like cycles since he’d heard it.

“Cassandra…”

“Please, I need to think. And William,”
Cassandra waits until he looks at her. “You’re the Admiral because
you make the right decisions, military decisions, Tori and I will
always be safe as long as you do.” Leaning down he gives her a
wrenching kiss, telling her he doesn’t want to leave.

“Please
eat something.” The Admiral heads
for the bridge.

“This had better be important Quinn.” The
Admiral demands entering the bridge.

“The Regulians have attacked the fleet Admiral.
They used nuclear devices. There was heavy damage on both
sides.”

“Casualties?”

“On all ships, the Sentinel is dead in
space.”

“The First Son?”

“Unknown at this time.”

“Fuck! What happened?”

“It was the same as before, they had the direct
coordinates.”

“Who’s feeding them the Intel? How are they
getting it?”

“I don’t know but Admiral, the Dioscuri reports
several ships broke off, after discovering the Retribution gone.
They’re heading towards us.”

“How long?”

“If we make a run for it we can get to Carina
before they catch us.”

William’s first instinct is to heed Quinn advice
and run for Carina, keeping Cassandra safe. But the Admiral knows
it’s wrong. To protect Cassandra he needs to make the right
military decision.

“No, go to Alert Status One, I want all fighters
in their planes. The Regulians aren’t reaching Carina. Navigation,
plot an intercept course. Communications contact the High Admiral,
I want a secure line. NOW PEOPLE!!” The Admiral’s furious voice has
the entire bridge jumping.

Cassandra stares at the consul, her fingers
unmoving. She doesn’t know what to do. What to think. She didn’t
doubt William’s sincerity that’s obvious. He isn’t the type of man
to lie, if he said something he meant it. She’s always known that.
It’s the things he doesn’t say that keep causing problems. Can she
trust he’ll tell her what she needs to know? No matter what?

“Alert Status One! All pilots to their planes!
Repeat Alert Status One!”

“Attention crew!” The Admiral’s voice booms over
the comms. “The Regulians have attacked the fleet. There have been
heavy casualties. Two Regulian ships are heading towards Carina,
they are carrying nukes. We will intercept and stop them. All hands
are to make ready for extreme combat.”

Cassandra freezes in her chair. How had the
Regulians found the fleet again? How had they found the
Retribution? Something is very wrong. They were carrying nukes,
they weren’t taking any chances.

She has to get Victoria home. This isn’t going
to be a regular attack. The Admiral made that clear.

“Admiral, Valerian is on the comm, secure
line.”

“High Admiral.”

“Zafar, what the fuck is going on.”

“We have a traitor High Admiral.”

“It isn’t on my end! No one knew what was going
on.”

“At this point it doesn’t matter. You’ve
received the reports from the Dioscuri?”

“Yes.”

“We are moving to intercept the two Regulian
ships.”

“You consider that wise Admiral with the cargo
you’re carrying?”

“It won’t matter if Carina is destroyed,
sir.”

“You’re right.”

“Sir, are there any other ships in the area to
assist?”

“None that will get to you in time, I’ve ordered
them to surround Carina in case you fail.”

“Understood sir.”

“Don’t fail.”

“I have no plans too.”

The Admiral knows that while he was on a secure
line to the High Admiral the entire bridge has heard the
conversation. He wants it that way. He wants his crew to know
they’ve been betrayed. It would spread like wild fire throughout
the ship. And if the person is on
his
ship they would be
flushed out.

“Navigator!”

“Yes sir.”

“How long to intercept?”

“Sir, thirty minutes, sir.”

“Relay the information throughout the ship.”

“Yes sir.”

Entering the class room the comms announce
thirty minutes until they will intercept the Regulians. Seeing her
Aunt, Victoria starts to pick up her bag then sets it back
down.

“Victoria? What are you doing? We need to get
back to quarters.”

“Aunt Cassie…I can’t leave Amina.”

“What? Amina where’s Javiera?”

“She has to man a post. She’ll come when the
battle is over.” While the little girl is trying to be brave but
Cassandra sees the fear in her eyes.

“Can you call her?”

“No.”

“Well you’re not staying here. Come on you’re
going with us, I’ll let your dad know once we get back to
quarters.” As the girls pick up their things the educator
approaches.

“You can’t just take her with you. A parent has
to okay it.”

“I will call Leander once we’re back to
quarters.”

“That’s not the way it’s done.”

“Look I really don’t care how it’s
done
.
I am taking both these girls to the Admiral’s quarters. If you have
a problem with that then I suggest you call the Admiral, he’s on
the bridge, a little busy, but I’m sure he’ll
love
to talk
to you.” Cassandra goes toe to toe with the taller woman.

“Are you going to call?” As the woman does
nothing Cassandra turns, “I didn’t think so. Let’s go girls we need
to hustle.” Back in quarters Cassandra turns to the girls.

“I want you to go into the other room girls. I
know you didn’t get lunch, there’s a plate of something on the
table, Hutu brought right before the announcement. Go ahead and eat
it. I’ll call your dad Amina, tell him where you are, he’ll let
your mom know okay?”

“Okay.” As the girls leave Cassandra sits down
in the Admiral’s chair, using his comm center she punches in
Leander’s number.

“Michelakakis.”

“Leander, Cassandra.”

“A little busy here.”

“I know but you need to know that I brought
Amina home with me from class.”

“What?”

“Javiera needed to man a post I wasn’t leaving
her in that classroom alone so I brought her home, to the Admiral’s
quarters, with Victoria and me. You need to let Javiera know.”

“Cassandra…thank you…that’s the safest place on
the ship.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“She’s okay?”

“A little scare, I think we all are. What am I
supposed to do Leander?”

“You stay put. Make sure the hatches are
secured. Stay away from anything that can fall on you. Once it’s
over there will be an announcement.”

“Leander?” Cassandra hears the break in his
voice.

“Tell my little girl I love her okay? Her mom
and I love her very much.” Cassandra hears the fear in his voice.
“If something happens…”

“She’ll be safe Leander. I promise, she’ll be
protected, I’ll see to it.”

“Thank you. Gotta go.”

Disconnecting Cassandra leans back in the
Admiral’s chair. Leander is worried they might not survive this
attack. There have been casualties reported within the fleet. The
Retribution is alone. The Admiral has chosen to attack, to risk,
with her on board.

He said she clouded his mind as much as he did
hers, that his need to protect her has caused him to make some bad
choices. He admitted that to her. A hard thing for a man used to
keeping things close.

He is making the right decision, even if it puts
her in danger. If they went to Carina, the Regulians would follow.
They’d nuke Carina, just like they had Earth. The Retribution is
the only thing in the way.

Any doubts she may have, fall away. Yes they
still had a lot to work out, things weren’t perfect. Isn’t that
what Sabah had said, they’d had an imperfect life, but one
together. They hadn’t known what would happen, but they took the
chance to live an uncertain life, together with no regrets.

Is she strong enough to do the same?

Leander is worried they might not all live
through this battle. If William died, with the way things currently
were between them, could she live with herself? Not having told him
one more time that she loved him? Before she can stop herself she
enters the code to the Admiral’s private line to the bridge.

“Are all launch ports operational?”

“Yes Admiral.”

“Get them filled.”

“Yes sir.” Turning to the ringing of his comm he
sees it’s his private line. Picking up his headset he connects the
call.

“Zafar.”

“I brought Tori and Amina back to our
quarters.”

“Good. I need to go.”

“I love you.” Cassandra disconnects first.
Pushing away from his desk she goes to see what the girls are
doing.

Removing his headset the Admiral looks around
the bridge. She still loves him. He’d protect her by making sure
the world they lived in was safe, safe for
their
children.

“Launch all fighters!”

“Yes sir. Launch all fighters. Launch all
fighters.”

Back in their quarters Cassandra finds the girls
have devoured her lunch. Good thing since nerves have her stomach
rolling.

“So what are we going to do?”

“We were going to go play in my room if that’s
okay Aunt Cassie.”

“Go for it. Oh, Amina, I got ahold of your dad.
He’ll let your mom know. He said to tell you he loves you and he’ll
see you soon.”

“Okay.”

As the girls leave she turns to the consul.
Should she work on it or wait? Time is running out. Just then the
Retributions guns start to fire. Following Leander’s advice she
starts looking for things that could fall. Just like earthquake
proofing back on Earth. After she’s done, she sits down to wait.
She always sucked at waiting.