A Future Caskett
By
UCSBdad
Disclaimer: You know this by now, right? Rating: K Time: See below.
When they arrived home, they found Alexis waiting for them.
"What happened Dad? What was this all about?" She asked, very curious.
Rick explained in great detail what had been said at the party. He had always told Alexis the truth, although he wished he could just ignore everything they had just heard.
Alexis was extremely upset. "A war? That's horrible. People dying? People being forced to fight. What are you going to do, Dad?"
'There's not much I can do, Pumpkin. It's not like I can just tell the Union to stop."
"But this is our fault. We took the Union province of Marlborough and kicked all of the Unionists out. We should do something."
"Alexis, that happened over forty years ago. Since then, people have been born who now have homes and lives here. People like you and Kate, and if you'll remember, me. What will happen to all those people? Don't you think it would be unfair for them to be asked to just give up everything and go…Where?"
"I don't know. But this is wrong. I don't want to see my friends conscripted into the Army."
"Pumpkin, have you ever heard of an Elite being conscripted?"
"That's not right either."
"Pumpkin, I don't know what's going to happen. The best we can do is keep calm and hope for the best. Okay?" He checked his watch. "Now I think we should all go to bed. It's late."
Alexis stared at her father for a second as if she were going to argue, but then nodded, kissed her dad, said goodnight and went upstairs.
Once in bed, Castle pulled Kate to him, but she put her hand on his chest and pushed him away. "I know you don't want to upset Alexis and I don't blame you. But I think you know more than you told her. Talk to me, Rick."
Rick thought for a moment. "You know the Protectorate doesn't like their citizens getting news from outside. That's why our TVs and radios are built so they can't pick up Imperial stations right across the river. But, I…"
"Know a guy." Kate quickly said.
"Several, actually. I get several Imperial news magazines every week. First, the Union isn't demobilizing its armed forces. As far as I can tell, there are no plans to do so. And they're continuing to recruit more people. Secondly, they took several islands to the north of us from the To-AAn during the war. They're expanding the bases the To-AAn had there and are building more. This puts their aircraft with range of the Protectorate if they use aerial refueling. Thirdly, they're moving troops into their ally Pirenna d'Cor. Mostly construction troops to build more bases, but they have moved air and ground units in already."
"On the bright side, the Union has been at war for over forty years. They may be too tired of war to start another one. They may just be threatening us to get us to start some kind of negotiations. Then again, they have a combat experienced military and a population inured to war. They may fight."
"What do you think they'll do?" Kate asked, holding Rick's hand tightly.
"I'm inclined to think they'll fight, but what the outcome will be, I have no clue. I wish I did." Rick pulled her close. "Anything else?"
"Yes. I think you really need to make love to me."
More than two months went by before Rick made an unexpected announcement at breakfast on Monday.
"Ladies, as you know, next weekend is Birthday…."
Kate made a face. "Please don't remind me. There's nothing a cop hates more than Birthday."
"Why?" Alexis asked. "Its nothing but a bunch of silly parties. Why get upset?"
Castle beamed. "I am so happy that my little girl doesn't know what Birthday is really like."
Alexis raised an eyebrow, something she'd picked up from Kate. "Then tell me what the big secret is."
Kate spoke before Rick could. "Lord Protector Bracken wants everyone to be happy on his birthday. Consequently, he hands out free beer, wine and hard liquor all over the Protectorate. And I don't mean something like a bottle for everyone, he sends out massive amounts of free booze. The result is mass drunkenness all over and that means fights, vandalism, rape, theft, burglary, in fact every crime a drunk can think of. Plus, there are some crims that are smart enough to stay sober the better to rob and loot. The police, the military, fire services and the medical services are supposed to stay sober, but that doesn't always happen. Worse yet, Birthday happens on Sunday this year and Bracken is going to start handing out the free liquor starting at midnight Friday and continue through midnight Sunday. It's going to be a disaster."
"That's why were going on vacation in New South Hibernia." Castle said smiling. "We'll have an entire week of not being around for Birthday and enjoying one of the Empire's most exciting cities."
Kate shook her head. "Rick, there's no way I could get an hour off this weekend, let alone a week."
Rick smiled and handed her a piece of paper. Kate read it. "Because of Detective Katherine Beckett's outstanding service to the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of State Security is awarding Detective Beckett one week of additional leave, with full pay and allowances, not to be charged against her regular leave for one week beginning Thursday…." Kate stopped. "Rick, I've never heard of anything like this."
"That's because no one has ever been so instrumental in helping to write two of the best-selling books in the entire history of the Ministry of Culture before. You deserve this, Kate. You really do."
"We're going on vacation?" Alexis said happily. "All three of us?"
"I guess we are." Kate agreed.
On Thursday morning the three headed for New South Hibernia. They had, as far as Kate was concerned, far too much stuff with them. There was so much that Rick had a town car following them loaded with baggage.
They rolled onto the ferry that would take them across the river. As soon as their cars were stopped, Castle jumped out and led the two ladies to the restaurant aboard the ferry. There he happily presented Kate with her favorite coffee, a grande skim latte with two pumps of sugar free vanilla. Alexis got an excellent lemonade and Rick had an Imperial beer. They had just finished when the ferry docked and they had to go through customs.
Rick talked briefly with the Imperial Customs officers, then turned to Kate. "We have a small problem."
"Do they want something?" Kate knew what Protectorate customs officers were like. She had hoped the Imperial ones were different.
"Sort of. It seems Heat Wave is hugely popular here and they want us to autograph their copies."
"Us? Rick, I'm not a writer or a celebrity. Why me?"
"Because you really are Nikki Heat. Come on, Kate. It'll just be a few books."
Twenty seven books and many selfies later, they got back in the car and drove off.
"How do you stand to do those book signings?" Kate asked, tired from signing her name and smiling.
"I just remember these people bought my books and are responsible for all I have. All I have except you and Alexis, that is. But now were headed to the Neptune Grill for lunch and then to the Portside Shopping Center, the biggest and best mall in all of New South Hibernia."
At the Neptune Grill, Kate had her first ever lobster which she greatly enjoyed. Then it was on to the gigantic shopping center where Castle seemed determined to buy one of everything for both Kate and Alexis.
Kate and Alexis got another shock when they finally got to their vacation house. They had both assumed that Rick would get a small place suitable for a one week stay. This place was twice the size of their own home, although it was a one story place, and it straggled along the River Tee and even had its own boat dock. Rick led them through it, showing them they had both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, an exercise room that had every exercise machine imaginable, a kitchen that wouldn't have been out of place in the Lord Protector's mansion, and more bedrooms than they could use, even if they stayed a different night in each one.
Kate knew what all of this meant. She had, in the back of her mind, been expecting this all along. She carried her gifts from Castle into the bedroom and stood looking out the window at the river. She was determined not to cry, but if she did, she didn't want Rick to see. She intended to leave with her dignity intact. "Rick, you didn't have to do all of this for me. I appreciate it and all, but I've known from the start that one day we'd end our relationship. I want to thank you for all…." Before Kate could say another word, Castle had turned her around and was kissing her.
"I have no intention of ever being without you, Kate. Not unless you leave for some reason and then I'll fight to get you back. I'll fight for the rest of my life if I have to."
"You're not dumping me?" Kate asked and now she was starting to cry.
"Never. We'll be together always."
Kate leaned into him and tried to stop crying. "Always?"
"Always."
"But you're right that I do have an ulterior motive for coming here and now we need to talk to Alexis. So, go dry your eyes and repair your makeup. Then we'll go see Alexis."
Kate had no idea what Alexis had to do with anything, but quickly dried her eyes and joined Rick as they entered the living room.
"Alexis, can you come over here, please." Rick said, standing by a large table.
"What is it, Dad?" The redhead asked. She noticed that Kate had been crying and hoped there was no problem with her dad and Kate.
"This." Rick reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a piece of paper, unfolded it and put it on the table. When Alexis saw it her normally pale complexion turned even paler.
Rick began reading it. "The Manifesto of the Associated Students of the Protectorate. Let's see. You want the Lord Protector and his Executive Council to be elected by all adults. You want the Ministry of State Security abolished. You want an independent commission established to investigate corruption. And you want a negotiated settlement with the Union as to the status of the Protectorate. And you have a long list of things you want after that."
"Dad, I'm not going to apologize for my beliefs." Alexis said stubbornly.
"I wouldn't expect you to. However, I question both your timing and your ability to accomplish any of this. Alexis, they found your fingerprints on several of these manifestos. The only reason you're not in jail right now is because all of the people responsible for this manifesto are all the children of Elites. They want to make sure they get everyone involved and also to make sure they don't arrest any innocent Elites. In addition, they know that Kate walked you past a police checkpoint by showing her badge."
"Dad! Kate has nothing to do with this. She had no idea what I was carrying and the police never stop Elites anyway. You can't let Kate be punished for this."
As Alexis was talking Kate was also demanding that Rick not let anything happen to Alexis.
"I am not going to let anything happen to the two people I love more than anyone in this world. But, there are discussions at the highest levels of the government as to how much to punish everyone involved in this, but one way or another, you both are looking at prison time."
That set Kate and Alexis off again, demanding that Rick save the other one.