Cassandra's Challenge (5 page)

Cassandra hesitates as she looks at Leander.
While it’s true that Amina and Victoria were close friends
Cassandra wasn’t sure Javiera is thrilled with it. “Let me talk to
Tori, see how she feels, nights are pretty hard on her.”

“She’s having problems?” Leander asks concerned,
it’s the first he’s heard of it.

“It’s just…” Suddenly the Alert sounds across
the ship.

“Alert Status One, repeat Alert Status One. We
are tracking Regulian ships inbound!”

“Stay in my office.” The Chief orders Cassandra,
she hasn’t been trained in combat operations. As Cassandra gets out
of the way, the engineering crew jumps into their assigned
positions. Across the fleet hatches are secured, fighters launched.
The sound of the Retribution’s guns reverberates within the ship.
Cassandra closes her eyes praying that Victoria is alright, that
Lucas and the Admiral are safe, her heartaches at the thought of
any of them being hurt.

Suddenly the Retribution shudders violently.
Something has gotten through the defenses. In engineering, system
alarms start going off.

“Fuck! Get the backup system running!” The Chief
hollers at Ensign Truple. “Do it manually!” Cassandra looks into
engineering to see that the laser system has been compromised. That
the backup hasn’t automatically kicked in.

“Chief! What the
fuck
is going on down
there! I need my lasers!” The Admiral voice booms through the
comms.

“Working on it sir! That was a direct hit on the
system. We’re working on the backup now.”

Cassandra can tell from the readouts that the
backup isn’t going to come up, it was too close to the hit.
Thinking about the conversation she’d just had with the Chief she
turns to get what she needs. Leaving the office she tries to get
find him.

“Damn it Michelakakis I need those lasers NOW!”
The Admiral’s voice demands. Deciding she can’t wait, Cassandra
heads to the hatch on the upper level of engineering opening it a
hand spins her around.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Leander
demands.

“Your backup system is fried! You know that!
There’s another option.” She looks him in the eye.

“You want to go into array, while it’s
active
and reroute the lasers?!?” Leander doesn’t know if
she is the bravest or craziest woman he’s ever met.

“How long can the ship last without those
lasers?” Leander doesn’t respond. “That’s what I thought.” Climbing
in feet first she starts down the ladder, Leander is right your
average Carinian wouldn’t fit. Bringing the schematic into her
mind’s eye Cassandra locates the first chip she needs to change,
moving further down the ladder the second changes just as easily.
The third she finds it’s a little more stubborn. With sweat running
down her back she’s finally able to replace the chip.

“Hustle up Chamberlain!” Leander yells.

“Done! On my way up!” As the Retribution takes
another hit Cassandra slips slamming her cheek into the ladder.
“Shit!”

“Admiral! Lasers are restored!” The Chief
reports to the bridge.

“Fire them!” The Admiral orders.

Back in engineering Leander is pulling Cassandra
out of the array. She’s sweaty, dirty, with a bruise forming on her
cheek but otherwise fine. Closing the hatch they hear the lasers
firing.

“Nice work Chamberlain.” Leander doesn’t want to
think about what might have happened if she hadn’t of been
there.

“You would have found a way.” Cassandra says,
not realizing his thoughts. “Do you think the girls are okay? I’m
not sure how Victoria is going to handle this.” Worried eyes meet
his.

“Reese knows what to do. Once the fighting has
stopped they’ll release the kids. Javiera will go pick up Amina,
I’ll can call her and have her get Tori too.”

“No, I’d better go.”

“You need to clean up first.”

“What?”

“You’re a mess Chamberlain. After we’re done
here you head to quarters, Javiera will pick up both girls and drop
Tori off. That will give you time to clean up.”

“You’re sure she won’t mind?”

“It will be fine. Why don’t you go see if you
can figure out how to fix the main laser system.” Walking away the
Chief doesn’t see Cassandra’s jaw drop. Closing it she heads to the
laser control station.

On the bridge the battle is winding down, with
the Regulians taking heavy losses.

“It doesn’t make any sense Quinn. They’re
attacking as if we’ve stolen something.”

“I agree this wasn’t some border skirmish.”

“I want damage reports all vessels, and get the
Michelakakis up here, I want to know what happened to my
lasers!”

“Yes sir.”

“Chamberlain!” The Chief calls out, seeing her
slide out from under a control panel he walks over shaking his
head. She has a nasty bruise growing on her cheek. “I’m heading to
the bridge, finish up there and head to quarters. Javiera will be
by with Tori in about an hour.”

“Okay Chief, thanks.” She slides back under the
panel. Still shaking his head Michelakakis heads to the bridge.

In his command center the Admiral is reading
damage reports, the Sentinel has received the most damage, as if it
was being targeted, while the Retribution, even when its lasers
went down, was basically left alone. The Chief approaches the
command center.

“Sir.”

“What happened to my lasers, Chief.”

“Admiral, it shouldn’t have been able to happen.
One of the Regulian hits sent a Buric shock through engineering. It
basically fried the laser system.”

“But it didn’t affect the backup.”

“Actually sir, it fired that too.”

“What! So how did you get my lasers back on
line?” The Chief looks the Admiral in the eye.

“I didn’t sir. Chamberlain did.”

“Chamberlain.” The Admiral says quietly.

“Yes sir. I’ve been bring her up to speed on the
Retribution specifics, as you authorized.” Leander thought it might
be good to remind the Admiral. “We’ve been discussing this other
potential back up, but because of its location I considered it
infeasible.

“Why?”

“Admiral, it involved replacing three circuits
in the array. To get to it you have to remove the casing that alone
takes at least an hour. In a situation like we just had it’s too
long.”

“How did you manage it then?”

“Chamberlain was able to fit in the array with
the casing on.”

“With the array active?” The Admiral’s voice
icy.

“Yes sir, she was able to replace the circuits,
thus reestablishing the laser system.”

“Her status?”

“Admiral?”

“Was she hurt, Chief.” The Admiral’s voice is
deadly.

“Sir, a couple bumps and bruises. She’s
currently working on main laser system trying to bring it back on
line.” At the Admiral’s look he hastens to add. “She knows the
system Admiral. She’ll get it back up faster than anyone on the
ship, including me. By now she should be heading to quarters. She
wanted to clean up before Javiera brought Tori home.”

“Dismissed Chief.” The Admiral turns back to his
damage reports.

Cassandra fixed the laser system. She entered an
active array. She was injured. With his mind racing he pretends to
read his reports. She’s found a champion in the Chief Engineer. He
hadn’t touched her in seven days. She’s hurt. The Chief said bumps
and bruises. He needs to see for himself.

“Colonel, you have the bridge.” The Admiral
leaves to find out for himself.

Knocking on Cassandra’s hatch he discovers it’s
not secured. Entering he secures the hatch and hears the shower
shut off. Moments later Cassandra comes out of the bathroom wearing
nothing but a towel.

Getting back late to quarters Cassandra knows
she needs to move. Victoria can’t see her like this. Pulling a
towel around her she walks into their living area freezing when she
sees she isn’t alone.

“Admiral…” Is all she can get out, how had he
gotten in? She can tell he’s assessing her.

Looking at her he sees that while she is ok, she
has a major bruise forming on her right cheek.

“Is there something I can do for you?” She
hitches the towel up.

“You left your hatch open.”

“Oh.” Looking behind him she sees the hatch is
now closed. As he approaches she stiffens.

“You’re hurt.”

“Just a bruise,” Cupping her jaw he gently rubs
his thumb across her cheek. “Admiral.”

“Shhh…..” Seeing the confusion in her eyes he’s
relieved he isn’t the only one.

“I don’t understand.”

“I think it should be self-explanatory,
especially to someone who can fix the Retribution’s laser
system.”

Looking up at him she states the truth. “You
don’t like me.”

“You’d be wrong.” Putting an arm around her
waist he pulls her close, letting her feel how much he likes her.
“Does that feel like I don’t like you?”

“I…”

“Let me explain it this way,” Leaning down he
gently kisses first her bruised cheek, then her lips. Changing the
angle of the kiss he increases the pressure, fully aware of the
difference in their sizes.

Monetarily stunned Cassandra quickly finds
herself responding. At her response William lifts her by the waist
so their bodies are more aligned. When the towel begins to slip he
groans easing her feet back to the floor looking at her.

“You need time to adjust to all these changes,
but never think I don’t like you.” He runs his thumb across her
slightly swollen lips, never breaking eye contact. “We need too...”
He doesn’t get to finish as the hatch opens. He quickly turns
shielding her, only to find Victoria entering the quarters.
Cassandra quickly readjusts her towel.

“What are you doing here?” Victoria demands
walking towards him.

“Checking on Cassandra.”

“Why?” Stepping around the Admiral she sees
Cassandra’s bruise, “What did you do to her?” She turns accusingly
to the Admiral.

“Victoria! Stop! The Admiral would never hurt
me. You will apologize!
Now
!” The two Chamberlain women
stare each other down.

“You didn’t hurt her?” Victoria looks to the
Admiral.

“Never,” He replies. “Men don’t hurt women.”

“They can.” Victoria persists.

“Not
Carinian men.” He insists. There was
something more behind this. Victoria stares intently into his
eyes.

“I’m sorry than, it was wrong for me to accuse
you.” The Admiral raises an eyebrow. Victoria turns back to
Cassandra. “What happened?”

“I fell down during the attack. You know me and
my big feet.” Cassandra looks up at the Admiral and he realizes she
doesn’t want him to say anything.

“Then why is
he
here?” She jerks her head
at the Admiral.

“To make sure she’s okay.” Tori stares at him
very seriously.

“You worry about her too?” Cassandra rolls her
eyes, the Admiral squats down so he is at eye level with Tori.

“Yes I do.”

“Good.”

Standing he turns back to Cassandra, “We’ll talk
later.”

Cassandra says nothing as he leaves.

Over the next few days the Admiral makes a point
of stopping by engineering, checking on the laser status. Looking
in his eyes Cassandra sees… something, she’s just not sure what to
make of it. How different are relationships between men and women
on Carina then Earth? She doesn’t know and has no on to ask.

Amina’s sleep over arrives and while Victoria is
excited, Cassandra’s concerned.

“You’re sure you want to do this?” She asks one
last time as they walk to Michelakakis’ quarters.

“It’s going to be fun Aunt Cassie!” Tori’s eyes
sparkle.

“Okay then.” Arriving, the hatch opens to
Amina’s excited face.

“You’re here! Come on, I want to show you my
room!” Victoria turns gives Cassandra a quick hug and is gone.
Cassandra looks to Javiera.

“If you have any problems I’ll either be in
engineering or my quarters.”

“Everything will be fine.” Javiera reassures
her. “You go enjoy the time to yourself.” Javiera hesitates.
“Cassandra, Leander told me what you did with the Laser system.”
Cassandra waits saying nothing. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“A ship without lasers is unprotected. My
husband and daughter are on this ship. So thank you. You didn’t
have to go into that array.”

“It needed done.” With that she leaves feeling
Javiera’s eyes on her. Nearing engineering she meets up with Ensign
Truple as they talk Cassandra laughs.

In engineering the Chief is talking to the
Admiral about the possibility of allowing Cassandra to work on the
laser tracking system.

“It won’t take her long to get up to speed. She
sees our systems differently. I think she’ll find ways of improving
it, like she did with the lasers.”

“What’s she say about it?”

“I brought it to you first Admiral.”

“Get her in here. Let’s see if she thinks she
can handle it.” The Admiral demands impatiently while inside he’s
glad for a reason to talk to her.

“She’s not here sir. Amina’s having a sleepover,
Cassandra took Tori to it.”

“So that’s why
you’re
still here.” The
Admiral grins, Leander grins back.

“Five little girls, I think it will be quieter
in a launch port.”

“You might be right. Bring it up to her, let me
know.” Rising he leaves, disappointed that he won’t see her.
Thinking about Cassandra alone tonight the Admiral walks down the
corridor to find her laughing with Ensign Truple. His face turns to
stone.

“Ensign Truple! Nothing to do?” His tone is
harsh.

“Admiral, sir, huh, I’m on my way.” Truple makes
a hasty retreat leaving Cassandra with the Admiral.

“Cassandra I need to speak with you. My ready
room.” As they walk to the Admiral’s quarter’s neither speaks.
William is wondering how he could become so jealous, so quickly all
because she’s laughing with another man. This woman pulls at him in
a very basic way, stretching his renowned control. Cassandra enters
the room first, moving towards his desk while the Admiral secures
the door.