Cassandra's Challenge (9 page)

“You aren’t going to be any help to her beating
yourself up.” Looking up she realizes he’s fully dressed.

“What are you doing?”

“Going with you.” Standing she just looks at him
then sighing nods.

“Okay.”

At Michelakakis’ hatch with William at her side
she knocks, Leander opens the door almost immediately.

“Cassandra, she’s in here.”

Stepping back he lets her in. “Admiral” William
nods, as he watches Cassandra rush over to the softly sobbing child
lying on the couch, Javiera moves to the side.

Sitting down, Cassandra puts a gentle hand on
her back as she softly whispers, “Tori, it’s alright, I’m here.”
Tori opens red rimmed eyes and is instantly in her arms, her
sobbing increasing.

“Shhh, it’s ok baby, it’s ok. I’ve got you, your
safe. Come on stop crying.” Cassandra is cooing to her, rubbing a
hand up and down her back as she holds her tightly. “Look at me
Tori,” Cassandra tucks her hair behind her ear, “Come on,
look
at me.”

As Tori raises tear filled eyes Cassandra frames
her face with her hands, looking directly into her eyes. “You’re
safe!” Her voice is urgent voice. “It was just a bad dream. I won’t
let anything happen to you.”

“Fire,” Victoria whispers in a pitiful voice. “I
couldn’t get out of the fire Aunt Cassie.”

Pulling her close with a fierce hug she tells
her, “We got you out Victoria remember. We got you out.”

Victoria looks up, “You, the Admiral, and
Lucas.”

“Yes, you’re safe.”

“Promise?”

“I promise. Now should we get out of here so the
Michelakakis’ can get some sleep?” Nodding Victoria closing her
eyes, laying her head on Cassandra’s shoulder as she goes to stand
William steps up.

“Let me take her.” William says softly as he
kneels down reaching for Victoria. “She’s too heavy for you.”

“I’m not sure she’ll let you.” Victoria opens
her eyes to look at him.

“Victoria is it ok if I carry you?” He
waits.

Watching him with unblinking eyes Victoria
slowly lets go of Cassandra’s neck and holds her arms out to him.
Standing William pulls the small body close, feeling her arms wrap
around his neck.

“Leander,” Cassandra starts.

“It’s ok, we’ll talk later.” Nodding she follows
William.

Opening the hatch to their quarters Cassandra
secures it once William is inside. Stepping around him she goes to
the bed pulling back the covers.

“Lay her down over here.” She whispers.
Victoria’s fallen into an exhausted sleep on the walk over. Gently
laying her down William removes her arms from around his neck. When
he eases back Cassandra pulls the covers up around her. Victoria
opens exhausted eyes.

“The Glitter Man was there.” She whispers and
Cassandra freezes.

“What? Where?”

“In the dream. He was there, watching. He’s
trying to find me Aunt Cassie.” Frightened eyes look into hers.

“No Tori, no. He’s not coming for you, you’re
safe! It was just a dream. A
bad
dream.”

“It’s the
Glitter Man
.”

“He’ll never find you Victoria.”

“He said he’d always be able to find me.”

“When Tori? When did he say this?” Cassandra’s
voice is urgent.

“Back when he took me.” She replies a single
tear falling from her eye. Cassandra doesn’t know what to say.

William silently listening speaks up. “I wasn’t
there last time Victoria. Neither was the Retribution or Lucas. He
won’t be able to take you from us. You’re safe here.”

Cassandra and Victoria both look at him.

“You’re safe. I promise.” Cassandra swallows
hard as she turns back to Victoria.

“You see, you’re safe. The Admiral promised you.
Now sleep. I’ll be here.” Victoria closes her eyes and is instantly
asleep.

Standing, William pulls her quietly across the
room and into his arms. She rests her head on his chest.

“Who’s this Glitter Man she’s talking about?”
Cassandra puts a hand over his mouth her eyes dart back towards the
bed.

“Shhhh….Not here. If she wakes up and hears us
talking about it…” Her eyes plead with his.

“But he’s real. Not something she’s made
up?”

“He’s real.”

“Ok.” He puts a hand under her chin so she’s
looking at him. “We’ll talk about it tomorrow. You need to get more
sleep.” He quickly looks around the quarters they’d been assigned.
“Where do you sleep?”

“With Tori.” He lets out a large sigh.

“We really haven’t been taking very good care of
you have we?”

“We’re fine, the bed is huge. It’s more than
enough for the two of us.”

He lets it drop, because if he has his way,
which he damn sure plans on having, they wouldn’t be here for
long.

“Tomorrow, come to my quarters, we’ll have third
meal and talk.”

“William, I need to stay with Victoria.”

“Both of you, 1800, I’ll have Lucas can join us.
Then you’ll tell me what’s happened to Victoria.”

Cassandra nods knowing he’s right, he needs to
know. “Ok.” Leaning down he gives her an urgent kiss.

“Secure the door behind me.” He orders. In the
corridor he waits until he hears the locks engage before
turning.

The next morning Falco is standing at attention
in the Admiral’s ready room. Leaning back in his chair William’s
eyes bore into hers.

“Explain.”

“Admiral last night at 1900 hours I entered your
ready room with what I considered vital information on the
Retribution’s navigational system. Once inside I encountered what I
considered unauthorized personal. I identified myself, stated my
business, demanded to know hers, she refused, I informed her I was
calling security.”

“What makes you think you have the right to
demand anything from someone in my ready room?”

“William,” Falco starts.

“It’s Admiral, Senior Chief!” He cuts her off.
Falco stiffens her face turning red.

“Yes sir! Sorry sir!”

“Finish.” He orders.

“Sir, the woman was coming out of you private
quarters, which is off limit to
all
personnel. I believed
she was possible there to cause harm being who she is.”

“And who would that be Senior Chief?” The
Admiral asks leaning forward in a deceptively quiet voice.

“Sir, she’s that refugee from Earth. She can’t
possible have any business in your private quarters! When she
refused to disclose her reason for being there I informed her I was
calling security.”

“Then why didn’t you?”

“What?” Falco is thrown off.

“You didn’t call security. You called
me
in the communications room. How did you come by that information?”
The Admiral fires at her. Falco doesn’t respond.

“Answer Senior Chief!”

“Sir, I was informed of your location by the
woman.”

“That tell you anything Senior Chief?” He
demands.

“Sir, I didn’t know that’s where you were until
I confirmed it, sir.” Falco is starting to sweat.

“Why the secure line?”

“Sir, I was protecting the Admiral’s
reputation.” He leans back in his chair waiting. “Sir, a refugee
was able to gain access the Admiral’s private chambers. I knew you
didn’t want that to be common knowledge on the ship.”

“Now
you
know what I want my crew to
know? Is that what you’re telling me Senior Chief?” Falco realizes
she’s sinking herself.

“No sir.”

“What did you discover as a result of the call
Senior Chief?” William demands, drilling the point home, Falco’s
attitude towards Cassandra is rubbing him wrong.

Falco swallows not wanting to say is out loud.
“That the refugee had permission to be there, sir.”

“And you didn’t!” He finishes for her.
“Understand this Senior Chief,
Cassandra
has permission to
be in my quarters, at
any
time.
You
do not. Is that
understood!”

“Yes Sir!” Her hatred for Cassandra grows.

“You have no reason to be in my ready room
unless so ordered here. Is
that
understood Senior
Chief?!?”

“Yes Sir!”

“Dismissed!”

“Sir!” Falco salutes the Admiral and turns to
escape.

“Senior Chief,” She turns back slowly. “Where is
this vital information?”He asks raising an eyebrow at her.

“Sir?”

“The report you said is the reason you were in
my ready room.”

“Sir, I left it on your desk.”

He spreads his hands across his desk.
“Where?”

“Sir I left it right in the middle, the refugee
must have taken it.” Falco can’t bring herself to say the name.

“Really, why would
Cassandra
do that?”
William says in a neutral voice, making sure he emphasizes her
name.

Falco’s jaw tightens at the name on William’s
lips. “Sir I’m sure it is to throw suspicion in my direction, to
discredit me in your eyes.”

“Why would Cassandra want to do that?”

“For having access to your ready room, sir.”

“YOU DON’T!!” The Admiral erupts, standing he
sends his chair into the wall. “DO YOU UNDERSTAND SENIOR
CHIEF!”

Falco cringes under his rage, “Yes sir!” She
finally gets out.

“Have a copy of that report sent to the bridge
by 0900! DISMISSED!”

Falco hustles out of the ready room.

Cassandra is trying to give Victoria a normal
morning, or at least as normal as they are on the Retribution.

“So now that we’re done with breakfast, what do
you want to do?”

“Can we go to the play room?” An area on the
ship in the family section that kids can go and hang out. “Amina
said they were going there today.”

“Sure if you want.” As soon as they arrive
Victoria sees her new friends.

“Is it ok if I go?” she asks.

“Go.” She tells her. Seeing Javiera, she walks
over to sit by her.

“I have to thank you for last night.” She
begins.

Javiera waves a hand at her. “No you don’t, I’m
just sorry she had such a terrible dream. I didn’t even think about
it. She seems to have adjusted so well to all the changes this last
month. But it has to have taken a toll on her, you too.”

“Yeah, we’re working on it.”

“She slept ok the rest of the night?”

“Yeah, she only ever remembers bits and pieces
the next morning.”

“Makes it easier on her, harder on you.”
Cassandra says nothing.

“Look Cassandra.” Javiera looks over to see that
the kids are occupied, than turns to her. “I’ve been an officer’s
wife for close to ten cycles. Before that I was on several ships,
following my father. So I know my way around, if you have any
questions about procedures, who’s who, why things are done certain
ways you can ask me.” She looks her in the eye. “And I don’t
gossip, what you ask or tell me stays between us.” Cassandra
remains quiet.

“
I realize I should have offered sooner
but to be honest, I wasn’t sure I was going to like you.” She
shrugs her shoulders. “Leander thinks you’re great and normally I’d
just trust that but…”

“It’s another woman he’s talking about.”
Cassandra finishes for her. “And not a Carinian woman who knows
what’s allowed and what’s not”

“Exactly!” Javiera smiles at her seeing she
understands. “But I’ve gotten to know you, seen you with Victoria
and understand more. I think we could be great friends.”

Cassandra is a little amazed. “That would be
nice, but really I thought after last night…”

“Please, all kids have nightmares. Victoria’s
are unfortunately based in reality.”

“Yes.”

“So some night soon we’ll try another sleep
over.”

“She’d like that.”

“So would Amina, Victoria’s her bestest
friend.”

Back in quarters Cassandra sits Victoria down on
the couch.

“Tori, we need to talk about last night.”

“I’m sorry Aunt Cassie.” Her sad voice breaks
Cassandra’s heart.

“No! No, Victoria, you have nothing to be sorry
for. Look at me Victoria,” She raises her eyes. “Nothing.” Watching
to make sure she believes her Cassandra goes on. “I need to know
what you meant about the Glitter Man looking for you.”

“He said he’d always be able to find me.” She
whispers digging at her right arm, something she’s always done when
talking about her kidnapping.

“When?”

“When he had me.”

“Tori, you never said that before.” Cassandra
looks at her seriously.

“I just remembered it Aunt Cassie.” She starts
to cry softly.

Gathering her in her arms Cassandra stops the
digging. “Shhhh, its ok honey. Shhh. Is there anything else you’re
remembering?” Victoria shook her head. “Okay but if you do,
anything Victoria, you need to tell me, okay?”

“Okay.” Time to change the subject.

“Guess what we’re doing tonight.”

“What?”

“We are going eat third meal with the
Admiral.”

“Where?”

“In his quarters.”

“What are we having?”

“I don’t know we’ll have to be surprised.”

“We’re surprised a lot.” Cassandra laughs.

“Yes we are. Why don’t you go get cleaned up so
we’re ready when it’s time to go.”

“Okay.” Giving Cassandra a quick kiss she jumps
down.

William’s day continued at a somewhat less
confrontational rate. The report delivered didn’t really say
anything. Before he confronts Falco again he wants to think on it.
He contacted High Command on secure channels relaying the
information they’d obtained and his suspensions. He made contact
with Lucas telling him about supper, and he notified Hutu of the
number for supper and that one was a child.

Cassandra and Victoria arrive outside the
Admiral’s quarters. “So who’s going to knock you or me?”
Cassandra’s suddenly nervous.

“I will.” Victoria knocks on the hatch. The
hatch opens almost immediately.