Hi all,
Once again, sorry about the delay. Just some more computer problems. Hopefully things will get back to normal now.
Thank you for the great reviews! They really mean a lot!
Enjoy,
Failte
………………………………………………………………………………
Sky was the last to enter the conference room for the meeting. She had to check in with Castle Control to make sure a guard was covering for her before hurrying to the room next door. Keith sat at the head of the long table while Pidge, Hunk, Lance, and Brina sat on one side. Erik and the twins sat on the other side with an empty seat waiting for Sky.
"Now that we're all here," Keith said as she took her seat between Declan and Erik. "Let's get down to business. As you all know we have been participating in an investigation with the local police. Over the past few months, twelve individuals linked to the Bittor Coalition and Vinn have been arrested on Arus, the last arrest having been a month ago. We had thought, and hoped, that we had finally found the last of them. New information has now surfaced that leads us to believe an entire cell of Vinn supporters has gathered nearly fifty miles south east of Alforia."
"Where have they come from?" Erik asked.
"That's what we're trying to figure out," Lance said. "We are going to start cracking down on all ships who entire Arus. We are setting new guidelines for anyone attempting to gain clearance to land."
"We are also going through the logs of all ships who have been given clearance over the last six months," Hunk added. "Paton is leading her detective division in an investigation of any unidentified arrivals around the planet."
Keith nodded, "We will know where they came from."
"Do we know how many there are?" Brina asked.
"Estimates are between fifty and seventy-five. But if we don't find out where they are coming from, more might arrive."
"So much for a pleasant holiday season," Declan muttered.
"We're hoping to have this taken care of before Christmas," his father told him.
Erik leaned over the table, "What's the plan?"
"We've been pretty lax with keeping you all on castle grounds, well, that's going to change. I want you all the stay in the castle and be prepared to go to battle at any time. In this case you will be more likely to use your hand to hand and handheld weapons as opposed to the Lions. We are going to up your practice time in both hand to hand combat and target practice, starting tomorrow morning." Keith explained.
The five teammates nodded their understanding.
"Keep your communicators on at all times and be prepared," Keith repeated. "You're dismissed."
…………………………………………………..
Cady sat at her desk and turned on her computer, letting out a small sigh of disappointment when she saw that Tristan was not signed on. She wanted to speak with him. Something was going on, but she didn't know what it was. A meeting had been called the evening before and her parents, along with Uncle Lance, Pidge, and Hunk, were all preoccupied. Not to mention the added practice the team was undergoing.
The atmosphere within the castle had become tense and quiet, the total opposite of the cheerful holiday spirit of earlier in the week. Cady was feeling alone and bored. Her friends were too busy for her, her boyfriend was thousands of miles away, and her parents were occupied with security issues.
She glanced at her clock and saw that she still had some time before everyone was getting together for dinner and to decorate the tree. Cady was really looking forward to this evening, hoping it would raise her spirits a bit more. She had been feeling down ever since Tristan had told her he couldn't be there for Christmas. She had fallen into a sulk that had everyone nagging her to snap out of it.
Cady knew she was being immature and annoying, but it made her feel better to feel sorry for herself. She just wasn't used to not having her way.
And on top of all that, she knew something was going on, but no one was telling her what it was. It drove Cady crazy the way that her parents and their friends, as well as the Force, would work together and completely exclude her. As the next in line to rule the planet, she felt as though she should be privy to whatever it was that concerned the safety of the planet and its people.
Cady stretched her arms above her head, still watching the screen, mentally sending a message to Tristan. Sign on!
She sighed heavily and pushed back from the desk. Looking around for something to occupy her mind and her time, Cady picked up the small gift bag sitting on her bedside table. She had picked Nicky's name for the ornament exchange. That had been an easy gift to purchase. Her youngest brother was a sports fanatic with a real love of football and soccer. While browsing in a store a few days earlier, she had found an ornament of a snowman wearing a baseball cap and holding a football, a hockey stick, a basketball and balancing a soccer ball on its foot.
Next year, Tristan will be here to take part in all of these traditions, she thought. I wonder what kind of traditions his family have? Realization dawned on Cady. She knew almost nothing about his family. He was an only child and he came from a wealthy family with several aunts, uncles, and cousins, but that was all she knew. It wasn't entirely her fault. Tristan didn't like talking about his family. They weren't close and whenever she brought them up, he quickly changed the subject.
She jumped at the tone coming from her computer. A small window had popped up and she hurried over to her desk.
Maverick84: Hi Cady
CadyWhit:Hi Tristan! I was just thinking about you and hoping you'd sign on.
Maverick84: Is everything all right?
CadyWhit: I'm just bored and lonely.
Maverick84: Why?
CadyWhit: I don't know what's going on. They're having secret meetings and Dad has us all under lockdown in the castle now.
On Terra, Tristan felt the first licks of worry. What was going on? He hadn't heard of any new threat to Arus, but then they weren't required to report problems to the Garrison. He really hated the distance between them, but the thought of her being in trouble made it even worse.
Maverick84: Be careful, Cady. Do what your father says.
CadyWhit: Oh stop it! I know how to behave.
Maverick84: I'm serious Cady.
CadyWhit: I know I know. Do as I'm told, stay locked in the castle and slowly go crazy.
Maverick84: As long as it keeps you safe.
CadyWhit: I wish you were here. Then you could be assigned as my guard and I wouldn't be alone.
Maverick84: LOL! Yeah right. Like your father would ever assign me to be your guard. If anything, there will be a special guard assigned to keep me away from you.
CadyWhit: And why, pray tell, would he need to do that?
Maverick84: To keep me from having my way with you.
CadyWhit: Then who would keep me from having my way with you?
Maverick84: No one. Ever.
CadyWhit: That's a double standard.
Maverick84: I can live with that :-)
CadyWhit: Have you heard anything about your new assignment yet?
Maverick84: No. I should have all the information by the end of the week.
CadyWhit: You'll let me know as soon as you do, right?
Maverick84: Of course I will
"Come in!" Cady called at the knock on her door.
"Come on, Cady, let's go." Sky said as she and Erik walked in.
"I'll be down in a moment, I'm talking to Tristan."
"Tell him we said hi," Erik told her.
CadyWhit: Erik and Sky say Hi!
Maverick84: Hi back. How are they?
CadyWhit: They are fine. Dinner's ready, it's our annual Christmas tree trimming party.
Maverick84: Don't let me keep you. Have fun.
CadyWhit: You're not keeping me.
Maverick84: Go, have fun. I have work to do any way.
CadyWhit: Okay. I'll talk to you later.
Maverick84: Be careful, Cady.
CadyWhit: I know I know :-P
Maverick84: I'm serious, Cadence.
CadyWhit: I love you, Tristan.
Maverick84: I love you too. Don't make me worry about you.
CadyWhit: As long as you're thinking of me.
Maverick84: Good bye.
CadyWhit: Good bye :-
As soon as she signed off, Tristan opened his email account and typed up a note to Erik. He had to know what was going on, if he really needed to worry about Cady. She had a habit of ignoring any rules she found annoying or unnecessary. Which encompassed any rule placed upon her.
Spoiled brat, he thought fondly, a small smile crossing his lips.
……………………………………………………………
Sky reached over and slipped her hand into Erik's as they walked down the hall. She was feeling happy, giddy actually. Sky loved Christmas, especially the weeks after Thanksgiving, leading up to the holiday. But this year was different. Her life was going great, she was flying Red and was a member of the most elite military organization in the known universes. She had started taking military classes both at the university and the smaller Arusian Military Academy, and she had moved to the head of her class with the twins. And to top it all off, she had Erik. Sky sent a sideways glance to the man walking beside her. The tall, handsome, goodhearted man she was madly in love with.
As though he sensed her watching him, Erik looked at her and winked, gently squeezing her hand.
"So, how's Tristan doing?" Erik asked his cousin as Cady caught up with them in the hall.
"Good."
"Any word on his transfer?"
Cady shook her head, "He should know by the end of the week."
"Maybe he'll be sent some place closer," Sky said.
"That would be nice."
The rec room was already crowded and noisy when they arrived. The stereo blasted out Christmas music while Keith, Pidge, and Lance tried to untangle the strands of lights. Allura, Darcy, Becca, Paton, Tess, and Brina were carefully unpacking ornaments from boxes while Hunk was kneeling on the floor playing with the younger children, trying to catch peanuts in his mouth as the kids tossed them. The coffee table was laden with trays and plates of small sandwiches, cheese and crackers, and vegetables and dip. Small bowls of nuts were set on the side tables along with plastic pitchers of juice and a bottle of wine.
"Mistletoe!" Charlotte giggled as they entered the room.
Erik and Sky looked up to see the small clutch of green leaves and white berries hanging the doorway. Cady moved quickly out of the way as Erik tightened his grip on Sky's hand and yanked her closer. He wove his fingers into her hair and closed the distance between them. Sky brought her other hand up and clutched his shoulder for support.
"Move it! Coming through!"
Sky and Erik broke apart as the twins pushed into the room, each carrying a box of decorations.
"Mistletoe!" Lance and Pidge shouted.
The twins looked at each other and then up. Sky moved aside quickly leaving Erik.
"No," he said as the twins advanced on him. "That's not funny, don't even think about it."
Declan set his box down and brought his joined hands up to his cheek, puckering his lips and fluttering his lashes, "Come on, Commander, give me some sugar."
"Oh, no, me first," Gideon stretched his arms out and made kissy sounds.
"Hey!" Brina shouted at her boyfriend. "You better not be cheating on me!"
Declan whirled around and gave her the most innocent look he could muster, "It was just a one time thing, baby."
Gideon sidled up to Erik, "My lady's not here, wanna make the most of the mistletoe and freedom?"
Erik rolled his eyes, "Thanks for the offer, sicko, but my lady is here and…"
"Oh, no it's okay," Sky interrupted. "I don't mind, we have an open relationship."
"Kiss him, Gid!" Tess cheered.
Nicky clapped his hands, "Yeah!"
"I will knock you out cold if you take one step closer," Erik hissed.
"Children," Keith called above the catcalls and laughter. "Break it up! Boys, bring the boxes over here."
Erik moved to stand behind Sky and lowered his voice, "So we have an open relationship, huh?"
"Yup, but it only applies to when you want alone time with the twins," she whispered back.
He tugged gently on her ponytail, "I'll keep that in mind next time you want alone time with me."
Sky snorted, "Yeah right, I want to see you keep that promise."
"Everyone's here!" Nicky shouted, jumping to his feet.
"Yeah!" Tori joined him. "Let's 'change orn'ments!"
Allura clapped her hands to get everyone's attention, "Okay, listen up, everyone, we're going to do this in a calm, orderly fashion."
Keith grinned at his wife, "I doubt that, sweetie."
No one had heard Allura as they all found their person and presented them with small bags or boxes.
"Erik, dis is for you," Tori said, holding up a small shopping bag with as much pride as a five year old could muster.
"For me?" He sat down beside her and took the bag.
"Yup, I picked your name and I picked out this orn'ment all by myself."
"I can't wait to see it," he said, reaching into the bag and pulling out a small box. Wrapped in tissue paper was a black bear standing on its hind legs holding a log in its front paws with the year engraved in it. Erik studied it a moment, trying to figure out why she picked it out for him and what he was supposed to say. "It's…it's really cool, Tori, thank you."
She beamed at him, "I wanted to get you a black lion, but they didn't have one, so I got a black bear. Dat's close enough."
"Yes it is," Erik kissed the top of her auburn head. "I love it. Thank you."
"Come on," she jumped to her feet and tugged at his hand. "Let's hang it on the tree."
"Schuyler," Declan appeared at her side. "Guess who picked you?"
She rolled her eyes heavenward and sighed, "I can only hope it was you, Dec."
"Well, your prayers have been answered," he held out a small box. "Happy tree trimming."
Holding the box away from her face, Sky slowly opened the lid and hesitated a moment. When nothing exploded or popped out, she brought it closer and peered inside. Nestled in red tissue paper was a small resin golden retriever caught in mid run with its hair and ears flying back and its tongue hanging out of the side of its mouth. Touched, she looked up at him, "Thank you, Declan, its great. Really."
He grinned, giving her a flash of the Whitaker charm, "I'm not always an immature pain in the butt. I saw it and it reminded me of Chewy."
Sky threw her arm around his shoulders in an impulsive hug, "You're a good guy, Dec, thank you."
"Did he tell you how I had to convince him to not buy you the clown ornament?" Gideon asked.
Sky sighed, "Yeah, that sounds more like him."
"But I made the right choice," Dec whined.
All around them the small gifts were exchanged and exclamations were made.
Natalia, Hunk and Paton's four year old daughter (actually, if you asked her, she was four and a half, meaning she turned five in three months, but that half was still important for her, don't try to figure it out, four year olds aren't good with fractions), climbed onto the couch beside Cady. "Hi, Cady."
"Hi Natalia."
"Dis is for you," the little girl held up a small package.
"Why, thank you, Nat, I can't wait to see what it is," Cady said as she tore into the package. "Who gave you an ornament?"
"Tess. Itsa ballerina, its on da twee."
"You'll have to help me hang my ornament and then you can show me yours."
"'Kay," Natalia swung her legs impatiently as Cady carefully unwrapped the tissue paper.
"Oh, Nat, I love it!" Cady gasped, holding up an ornament in the shape of a crown with various colored plastic gems pasted on it.
Natalia grinned at her, "Itsa a Pwincess cwown."
"And it is so pretty. Come on," Cady stood and held her hand out. "Let's go hang it on the tree."
"Ha! This is great, Uncle Hunk, where did you find this?" Gideon asked, holding up an ornament in the shape of a Tampa Bay Buccaneer's helmet.
"Had to special order that from Terra," Hunk told him.
Declan held up his ornament, an elf dress as a jester, and called across the room, "Hey, Aunt Becca, are you trying to tell me something?"
"Now what makes you say that?" She asked innocently as she hung the ornament Allura had given her of a pregnant woman wearing a shirt that said 'Baby' with an arrow pointing down and the year printed on her hat.
The new ornaments were hung on the tree first followed by the ones that had been collected over the years. Homemade ones pasted together by small hands, a couple of paper ones the Force had made their first Christmas on Arus almost twenty five years earlier, and the ones given as gifts over the years. As big as the tree was, it was quickly filled.
"Hey, Sunny," Erik said quietly, appearing at Sky's side as she hung a small ball on a branch.
"Hey, babe," she smiled at him.
"I know I didn't pick your name, but I wanted to get you something anyway, so, here," he handed her a small box.
She kissed his cheek, "You didn't have to do that."
"I know. Open it."
Sky pulled open the lid and looked inside. Her smile grew into a full-fledged grin as she felt her heart flutter at his sweetness. "You're something else," she whispered.
"You like it?"
"I love it," she pulled out the glass elephant with its trunk wrapped around a clutch of holly. "I don't know how you are able to find all these elephants."
"Getting sick of them?"
"Never," she assured him, leaning over to kiss him gently. "I love you."
Cady looked around the room and felt her heart sink. She saw Sky and Erik, Brina and Declan, her parents, Lance and Darcy, Pidge and Becca, Hunk and Paton. Feeling suddenly lonely in a room full of people, she reached over to snatch a sandwich off the tray and took a ravenous bite out of it.
"How's it going, sis?" Gideon asked as he fell onto the couch beside her.
"Peachy."
"Come on, Cady, this is one of the best nights of the year, don't pout."
"What do you know?"
"I know pouting gives you wrinkles. Prematurely."
The corner of her mouth twitched up, "Shut up, Gid."
"Is that the start of a smile that I see?"
"No."
He scooted closer, "I think it is."
"Leave me alone, Gideon."
"I can't leave you without a smile."
Cady tried to snarl at her brother, but failed, and a small giggle escaped, "You're such a pain in the butt."
He raised an eyebrow, "I am?"
"Yes, you are."
"Hey, Nicky," Gideon called over his shoulder. "I need your help."
Cady tried to move away but was stopped when he grabbed her arm.
Always eager to help his older brother, Nicky appeared beside them, "What?"
"I need your help getting Cady to smile."
"I'm smiling," she whimpered, baring her teeth. "See? Smile."
"Not good enough, get her, Nick!"
Her brothers tackled her onto the couch, Gideon sat on her legs and tried to hold her arms while Nicky moved in to tickle her.
"No!" She screeched. "Help!"
Hearing his sister's cry, Declan deserted his girlfriend and hurried over to the couch to help. He grabbed Cady's arms and held onto them so Nicky and Gideon could properly attack. Cady had tears rolling down her cheeks as she tried to protest through her laughter.
"Boys," Allura stood at the head of the couch with her arms folded over her chest. "Let your sister go."
Nicky stepped back and Gideon stopped tickling, but the twins didn't let her go.
"She was bringing us down with her un-Christmas-like attitude," Gideon explained innocently.
"I doubt that sitting on her will help with that," his mother pointed out.
Before he could reply, a strand of gold tinsel was wrapped around Gideon's neck and Sky whispered in his ear, "Get off her or be prepared to pay the consequences."
"Death by tinsel," Declan said, releasing his sister's arms. "Not really the best way to go, Gid."
Cady sat up and wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand, hiccupping, "That's it, Mother, (hic) I want a (hic) guard to protect me (hic) from Tweedle Dum and (hic) Tweedle Dumber."
"Sorry, sweetie," Allura smiled. "But you're on your own with your brothers."
With the twins causing such a distraction, no one heard Keith's communicator go off or notice him slipping from the room. He went straight to Castle Control and to the guard on duty. "What is it Corporal?"
The young man handed him a print out that had just arrived. Keith's name was printed in the top right corner with the words 'Important' and 'Classified' beneath it in bold.
"Thank you, Corporal," Keith muttered, scanning the paper. "I will deal with this. If anything else arrives, let me know immediately."
"Yes, sir." The guard saluted and turned back to the console.
Keith returned to the rec room and motioned for Paton and Allura to join him. They slipped from the room with no one noticing since the twins had found a way to hogtie Luke with a string of lights.
"What is it?" Allura asked in the hallway.
"This just arrived," he held out the print out. "I know Paton needs to see it and I thought you should know too. At least two dozen more Bittor soldiers have been found, this time in an encampment hidden deep in the woods about sixty miles northwest of Alforia, near Arnotville."
Allura took the report and skimmed over it, "How are they getting here?"
"I am going to contact the elders of all the towns on the planet and request all logs listing who has landed on Arus in the last six months. If was don't find anything, I'll go back twelve months. We will find out where they are coming from and put a stop to it."
"Do you want my men?" Paton asked.
Keith shook his head, "They have been doing an amazing job, Pat, but I think its time we pass this on to the military and the Force. It is more important that your men protect Alforia, my men will look after the planet. We have to wait and see what they have planned, they might be trying to immigrate here. So far they have done nothing more than settle on the outskirts of a couple of our small towns, they haven't threatened or harmed anyone."
"Yet," Allura muttered.
"And that's why we're keeping a close eye on them, so the won't have the opportunity to harm anyone."
………………………………………………………………………..
It was late when Erik returned to his bedroom. He and Sky had stayed up with Allura, Keith, Lance, Darcy, Pidge, Becca, and Cady. Since it was a holiday, they all sipped a glass of wine (except for Becca who made do with juice). He smiled and mentally filed away the fact that Sky had a rather low tolerance and that the single glass of wine went straight to her head.
He helped Cady get Sky to her room, but had left the two of them alone, after they pulled Sky off him, giggling and blowing kisses.
I'll have to keep that information tucked away, he thought as he flipped on his computer and changed into his pajamas as it booted up.
After deleting all the junk email, Erik started to sift through the messages from his friends. Three from friends back on Pollux, one from his mother, and one from Tristan. Curiosity overtook the others and he opened the email from Tristan.
Hi Erik,
How is everything on Arus? I was speaking to Cady and she said there were some secret meetings going on and her father had everyone locked in the castle. Is there anything I need to know about or is she just being overly sensitive? I've been keeping an ear open for any news concerning Arus that comes through the Garrison pipeline, but nothing has come up yet. I know she has a habit of reading too much into things, but I wanted to make sure I didn't have to worry about anything.
I'm sure you all have been keeping track of any news on Vinn. Four more charges have been brought up against him and the Tribunal has moved his trial date up to March.
Well, I hope everything is going well on Arus. Please keep me posted. I am going mad sitting here behind this desk and I cannot wait to get back there.
Tell everyone I said Hi!
Talk to you later,
Tristan
Erik shook his head and sighed. Of course Cady noticed that she was being kept out of meetings, she always noticed that. Keith never wanted to worry or upset her, so he only told her what he felt she needed to know.
Tristan,
Don't worry about Cady, man, we have everything under control. And as you know, Allura and all six of the heirs are very heavily guarded. She is perfectly safe. I can't really go in to what is going on here, at least not until you're here working with us.
Now that I've said that, I realize it just frustrates you even more. You are just going to have to take my word for it and trust me. Nothing is going to happen to her. If I thought she was in any kind of danger, I would tell you.
For the most part, things are fine here. We're just preparing for the holidays. The only problem being Cady moping around because you aren't here. She just isn't used to not getting her own way. But I assure you, she is fine.
I'm sorry to hear you're bored. Cady said something about finding out your new assignment this week, I hope it's something better.
Well, I have to head off to bed, we have early practice tomorrow. Don't worry, Tristan, we have our eyes on Cady, she's fine.
Later,
Erik
He sent the email feeling a little guilty. He could only imagine how it would feel to be hundreds of thousands of miles away from Sky and to not know if she was safe or not. But then Sky was not Cady, Erik knew he never had to worry about her, Sky could take care of herself.