Evan sighed bringing his transport to a stop near Manhattan. It wasn't a stop he usually made on his usual supply and trade routes. Hell, he rarely went there except when he was looking for the sorts of things you really couldn't find anywhere else.
And yet there he was. Running the trade route for the sole purpose of letting a blind girl hitch a ride with him. She wasn't very talkative. He'd figured that out pretty quickly. That didn't bother him much though. He was used to really having no one but himself to talk to in the vast emptiness of wherever his job took him.
He glanced over at her, she was sleeping right now. It was the only time she really looked at peace. He hated to wake her but alas they had arrived.
'Cassandra,' He said gently touching the girl's shoulder. As always she jerked awake as though she was expecting an attack.
'We're here.'
'Oh, um'¦ okay.' She said. Evan helped her to her feet and then guided her out of the ship and onto the landing pad.
'Well do you see her?' She asked nervously looking around as though she could still see.
'Your description sucked.' Evan replied. 'I still don't even know what I'm looking for.' He straightened his sunglasses and scanned the passing crowd.
'Well hopefully she can pick you out of the crowd.' He commented.
It took seconds, then a young woman in a white blouse and jeans appeared out of the crowd and headed for them. She looked worried, and headed straight for Cassie. When she was close, she shouted "Cassie!" And moved faster. As she drew from the crowd, a small girl of eleven could be seen holding her hand. The twoo were there a few moments later. Alexis Hunter gently touched Cassie's cheek.
"Hey Cassie...I'm here. So is Rika, my daughter. Hold out your hands; We'll guide you home."
Alex smiled softly, knowing full well it couldnt bee seen by the poor girl. Rika Hunter looked up at Cassandra, then moved forward to hug her.
"I'm Rika."
Natsumi Hideyoshi (The Order) | Alexis Hunter (Liberty Navy) |
The hug was unexpected and through Cassandra off balance for a moment only for Evan to steady her a minute later.
"Oh... um, uh, hi Rika." Cassandra replied meekly. She held out her hands waiting for Alexis while Evan turned to return to his ship.
"I'll have them unload your ship onto the pad here. I'll cover your parking fees for the next week."
"You uh, you really don't have to do that Mr. Nilson!" She called after him. Of course Evan had already turned his music player back on simply so he could claim he never heard her later.
"Hey... uh... thanks for coming Captain Hunter." Cassandra said turning back to where she guessed Alexis was standing.
Rika took one of her hands as Alex took the other.
"Call me Alex...and I can't turn away a friend in need."
Alex gently leaded Cassie through the crowd until they reached an apartment building. Cassie could hear the sounds of the lobby as Alex lead her to an elevator. In a matter of minutes, they were in her apartment. Alex lead Cassie to a room as Rika let go and went into the kitchen. Alex pushed a door open a guided Cassie to a bed.
"This is my spare room. If you need anything, call for Rika,or Izzy. Don't call for Strix. But everyone here will help you get around, get food, and all that. You just rest."
Alex then guided her across the room to a door, opened it, and guided Cassie's hand along the surfaces.
"Here is your bathroom. I'll help you familiarise with your room and bathroom so you can go between the two without trouble. Rika is,right next door, Izzy across the hall. I'm down the hall to the right."
Alex brought Cassie into a hug.
"I'm sorry this happened Cassie."
Natsumi Hideyoshi (The Order) | Alexis Hunter (Liberty Navy) |
"It's not your fault." She replied. "I'm the one who decided to pull the trigger on a ship full of nukes. I uh... really should have seen this one coming." She laughed but there wasn't really any humour behind it.
"Well the doctors said that if my sight returns it'll take a week and if it's not back by then it probably never will be." She tried to sound casual about it. Like being permanently blind was really no big deal. But the fact of the matter was she was completely and utterly terrified and it was taking all of her self control not to just burst into tears at the first available opportunity.
Fifty fifty chance. That's what they told her. All depends on how lucky she got. Well, Cassandra's luck hadn't been so great as of late so she wasn't liking those odds.
Alex kept her in the embrace for a few more seconds before letting go she tucked som loose strands of hair behind Cassie's ears.
"Whatever happens, this will be your home. Never forget that."
Alex gently touched Cassie's face before leaving the room. Her footsteps could,be,heard, as well as the sound of her shoes dropping the the floor. Her feet padded across the carpet, then hit the tile of thr kitchen. Then sounds of bustling activity in the kitchen was heard-cuboard opening, freezer closing, knives slicing, some sizzling later on. Across the hal, the sounds of computerized gunfire and explosions was heard. Next door was quiet. The last room, only whispered sounds came out of two people talking. Otherwise, Cassandra was alone in her room.
Natsumi Hideyoshi (The Order) | Alexis Hunter (Liberty Navy) |
Cassandra sighed and felt her way over to the bed before lying down. Alexis had said Izzy was here and that was slightly concerning. The two hadn't really met on the best of terms and Cassandra still wasn't totally sure whether or not Izzy even liked her. She shook her head and rubbed her eyes before taking the medicine the doctors had given her.
She sighed and closed her eyes. Her home. She supposed that was at least partially accurate. She felt safer here. And that's how you were supposed to feel at home... right? The rest of that line of thought drifted off as she remembered just how exhausted she still was and slowly the girl fell asleep again.
Alex scooped the ingrediants into the pot. They sizzled when they hit the water, sending up a gout of steam before she added rhe rest, making the meat and vegetables now swimming in a gravy-like liquid. She smiled before setting the top on, then started up the side dish, which was baked potatoes. She started them up then left them in the care of Izzy. She glanced at Rika, who was baking her homemade cookies. She smiled, then went down the hall. She opened the first door on the left.
"Strix, Violette, dinner in twenty minutes."
The groggy albino-colored eyed girls looked up, with the purple-eyed Gallic nodding. She closed the door and opened the door to Cassandra's room.
"Hey Cassie. Dinner in twenty minutes. I'll have Rika come in and help you to the table."
Natsumi Hideyoshi (The Order) | Alexis Hunter (Liberty Navy) |
"Oh," Cassanda replied. That was right, food. She hadn't eaten since early that morning... why was she only realizing she was starving now?
"Um yeah, sounds great." She added. It occured to her that she hadn't had an actual homecooked meal in a long time. For years it had been instant noodles, canned meat, and whatever else she could manage to buy with her very meagre budget. Whoever said bounty hunters were rich was a liar.
"It, uh... smells good..." She commented. It really did. Just the smell was making her hungrier.
There was a slight knock on the door, before it swung open, what appeared to be a little girl behind it. She walks into the apartment, paying no attention to the food being cooked. Instead she leans against the wall clutching a book to her chest, waiting for someone.