TheIELighten

"Cassira is missing."

Valevia's first though was, that's impossible. Cassira is safe with Deana. Deana was a black belt in the art of defense. She was Cassira's protector. Valevia had left Cassira with Deana because she knew and trusted that with her Cassira would always be safe. It was not possible for Valevia to have been wrong about something so important.

"You are mistaken, surely." Valevia responded lightly.

Brady shook his head, "there is no mistake, My Lady. Deana has been taken into police custody for questioning."

Valevia thought, Deana should not be in police custody she should be watching Cassira. If she is not watching Cassira, then where is my daughter?

"Where is my daughter?" Her voice trembled slightly.

"My Lady, that is what I have been trying to tell you. We don't know where she is."

Valevia's next though, then find out, you imbecile, was less than saintly. What she said was, "Then we need to find out. What has been done so far to locate her?"

"Deana provided the initial search, then called me. I told her to call the police. Then I called the police to corroborate the details, and now they are conducting an inquiry." Brady recited.

"We need to go to the police. I need to speak to Deana. I need to look her in the eyes and find out how this happened."

"I will alert the captain at once."

Valevia watched him hurry off, eager as always to please her. She felt her legs give way the moment the door swooshed shut behind him. She fell back against the wall and slid down to the grey patterned carpet. Leaning her head back she closed her eyes and prayed, Sovereign Creator, I beseech thee do not cause my daughter to pass through the fire. I died for her once, Most Holy One, allow me to do it again.

Valevia thought, I've sacrificed my life, I've sacrificed my death, what more must I give to keep her safe?

Suddenly there arose a clamor, somebody was pounding on her door. Forcing herself upright, she glanced in the mirror to be sure her eyeshadow was not running before calling out, "Enter."

The door swooshed open at her vocal command, and Captain Orrin barged in and immediately began verbally assaulting her, or at least in Valevia's current condition every word felt like a lash in the face. "When I agreed to take you on as a passenger it was under the precises agreement that your errands would not interfere with my business. And yet, just now, your little monkey boy has had the audacity to order me to reroute and head toward a planet that I have never even heard of before. And my answer to him and to you is I do not honour your authority!"

For a moment the only response Valevia could manage was rapid blinking while she tried to control the tears threatening to leak out of her eyes. Valevia did not cry as a rule. Crying showed weakness, and when one has been lifted up as a religious icon emotions are seen as marring the image. Orrin, however, as he so clearly stated did not see her as an icon, perhaps this was why she felt safe enough to give in to the emotion as ferocious wave after wave of deep shuddering sobs rocked her body. She wasn't thinking anything at this point, the pain and anguish and worry and concern which she had been holding in for the past eight years was drowning her, and she was aware of nothing else. When she finally came to herself, she was lying in a crumpled heap on the floor, and Orrin was kneeling beside her with a look of consternation and constipation.

"Was it something I said?" He asked in a much milder tone than he'd used before. "I admit I may have overreacted a smidgen, but your reaction well that was just ...." he shook his head , "it was unexpected. I guess is the best word I can think of." He looked constipated again, "do you need a doctor? I can call Rachel if you do do."

Valevia, for once, was glad of his chatter, it gave her time to pull herself together after what she could only imagine had been a spectacular display of human emotion. Had she broken down in front of anyone else she would have been filled with mortification and shame. Instead, she actually felt better. "I'm sorry for my breakdown there, Captain." She offered him her hand, and it only took a moment's hesitation before he took it and helped her up from off the floor.

"And no, it wasn't anything you said. You see, just moments before you burst in here my monkey informed me that my daughter has gone missing."

Now it was time for Orrin to blink. "You have a daughter?" He sounded shocked.

"She has been my secret since her birth. I hope you realize how sensitive this information is, I am only telling you now because it is with the utmost urgency that you take us to the coordinates that Brady gave you." She paused there, feeling the first wriggle of doubt that this man could be trusted, but what choice did she have? Someone had to take her to Deana, which meant that someone had to be trusted with the information. Besides, with a now open police investigation the truth was bound to come out eventually. Another pang of fear struck her heart as she worried over all of the possible ramifications.

"Is that where you were keeping her? Planet Sevalla? Why haven't I ever heard of it before, and why would you keep her existence a secret?" Orrin looked as if he wanted to ask other questions as well, but pursed his lips as he thought better of it.

Valevia sighed. "If you turn this ship around and head towards Sevalla I will do my best to answer some of your questions." She turned her brown eyes on him hopefully, realizing as she looked in the mirror that they now looked black. She would beg if she had to, but as with any sacrifice it is best to leave the most extreme options till there were none others to be found.

Orrin replied formally, almost graciously. "Since this is obviously an emergency situation I will grant your request, and there is no need for you to tell me anything you feel is none of my business. Though, I should add that I do have experience with kidnappings and other hostage situations, so the more that you do tell me, the more likely it is that I can help you."

Valevia was not certain if the man who had barged in moments ago was indeed the same man standing before her now. His moodswings are tremendous. "Thank You, Captain, I appreciate the offer. I would be a fool to not accept any help that I can get. Cassira is very precious to me."

His blue eyes changed subtly at the mention of her name, then he shoved his hands in his trouser pockets awkwardly and said, "I'll go tell Shy there has been a change in plans."

It occurred to her then, "Will you be sharing my story with the rest of the crew?"

He shrugged, "How can I? You haven't told it to me yet? But I will have to tell them something."

Valevia acknowledged this. "You may tell them what I have told you, and then perhaps later, I will share more."

"Acceptable." Orrin, actually smiled at her then. It was a brief one, but rather nice, Valevia couldn't help noticing.

"Open," Orrin spoke, and the door swooshed open.

He could have entered my quarters at anytime, but he chose to respect my privacy. She thought as she watched him go. Perhaps he wasn't quite as obnoxious and ignorant as she had previously believed.