Demon in the Dark

     Electra was just returning to her quarters after a very promising meeting with Noel's teacher, Nakara. Apparently, Noel's marks had improved one-hundred-fold from two yahrens prior. She was a very bright student and was being considered for a level jump. Electra couldn't have been ahppier. It seems like her little sister was finally a normal, young girl, except occasionally, if someone stood too close, or approached her too swiftly. But most of her fears had vanished. What remained were survival reactions.
     Electra was due to report to Capt. Kristalys in two centaurs, but that was more than enough time to check on Noel and give her the good news about the teacher's conference.
     As she approached the door to their quarters, her stomach began clenching down. Something was wrong, her instincts told her. Swiftly, she drew her blaster from its holster and quickly entered the chamber, ready to confront any unwanted person there.
     What she found shocked her. Chairs had been tossed around. Books thrown about. Glass peices everywhere. The artificial Taa-Osh tree Electra had made with help from a few friends was toppled over. Some of the ornaments broken.
     Tomorrow Noel would have taken down the ornaments and Electra would have folded up the tree for the next Taa-Osh. Everything that was usually so neat and orderly was now scattered throughout the quarters, as if a cyclone had hit.
     "Noel!" Electra cried frantically, "NOEL!!"
     But there was no answer. She knew there wouldn't be. Instantly, her chest tightened. Her breath became quick and shallow. Her hands, usually so steady, shook out of control. Electra picked up a photo, still framed, off the floor. She looked at the picture of her embracing Noel.
     Unable to control herself farther, she sank to the couch, holding the picture to her heart. Noel was gone. Someone had come and taken her right from her home. Electra found herself sobbing. She had told her little sister that she would be safe here in the Fleet. That no one would harm her now. But someone had taken Noel against her will. perhaps they had even hurt her, or God-forbid, had even raped her.
     All the terrible memories from Hadesonia saturated Electra's mind. Cruelty abounded there, but here in the Fleet, she thought things were different, that those terrible things wouldn't happen to her sister anymore. As she sat there weeping she wondered, how could she have been so wrong?
 

     Captain Kristalys looked at the young, dark-haired mand as he entered her office in his duty uniform. His blue-green eyes sparkling brightly.
     "Yes, Captain?" he asked, having been summoned to her.
     "Sgt. Electra Cireese's sister has been kidnapped," the Captain replied with distate.
     Shock entered the man's eyes. "What?! When?"
     "Electra found her quarters ransacked about eight centaurs ago."
     It was obvious the Captain really didn't seem moved by the situation.
     "Whoever did this was thorough," she continued, "They left no clues. The Civic Officers are still searching through the rummage trying to find something that might be a lead."
     "And that leaves us where . . . ?" he asked.
     "You and Electra are to go undercover in the Fleet and try to locate her sister." Kristalys pushed over an electronic notepad to him. "This is a list of all shuttles that have left the Galactica in the alst 24 centaurs."
     He took it, scanning the list. "It's not much to go on."
     "Well, just do what you can," she replied rather dully.
     He sensed that to the Captain, the success of this mission didn't really matter. It bothered him that his sister could be so cold.
     "Kristal, if you don't seem to care about this situation and the Civic Officers are already on the case, then why are you sending us out?"
     Her blue eyes grew sharp. "It's what's expected," she replied harshly. "How would it look to Commander Adama if I sat around and did nothing about a crisis one of my Warriors was facing?"
     Suddenly, he nodded with understanding. His sister was cold through and through. She wasn't worried about Electra, she was only worries how she would look . . .
     "I see . . ." he replied.
     "Do you, Aaron?" she asked.
     "I think so," he replied, "When do we start?"
     "You meet Electra in the Galactica's Alpha shuttle bay in 1 centaur."
     "Just tell me one thing, sis . . . Just what is it that you have against Electra?"
     Kristalys' face flushed in anger. "You're dismissed, Ensign."
 
 

     In the shuttle bay, Electra tried to appear calm as she sat on a bench waiting for Aaron. She looked different from her usual self. Deliberately, she had chosen a pair of long, baggy gray-blue pants (she rarely wore blue, it wasn't one of her favorite colors) with a matching, long-sleeved, high collared, baggy blouse that looked two sizes too large and a long, brown, velvet vest over the blouse. Her ahir was brushed straight and put up in a pollyanna and as a final touch, she wore gold-wire glasses. She wanted to look meek and practically unnoticeable. She didn't want to be recognized easily by anyone.
     From her pocket, she pulled out a small, golden, oval locket. She opened it and gazed at the pictures inside . . . one of her father before his death, and the other of her sister, that had been taken just last yahren. When she had discovered her little sister gone and their quarters destroyed, her first feelings were of fear and sorrow, but as time went on, it had been replaced with anger and then absolute fury. It was the same emtoion she had felt when Noel had been raped back on their home world.
     If anyone has laid a hand on her . . . she thought. Instantly, her mind went back to the past. Her actions, even then, spoke for themselves. If anyone hurt her little sister, Electra would make them pay. No one was going to get away with hurting her little sister! No one!
     "Lord, please keep her safe . . ." she whispered.
 Swiftly, she closed the golden locket and placed it back in her pocket. In moments, her eyes were drawn to the entryway. Aaron was there. She could see his shadow. Soon he would be there with her and she would have to keep her emotions in check, or she risked being pulled from the assignment for being too close. She couldn't let that happen. She had to find her sister - at any cost.
     Aaron entered the landing bay and looked around at the crowd. It had taken him a centon for him to recognize her. She looked so . . . different. Of course, the whole way there he had been thinking about what to say to her. The closest equivalent he had to her pain was lsong his brother . . . and he wasn't going to bring up the subject of death. He didn't want her to start thinking Noel was dead . . . though he knew that was a possibility.
     As he approached her, she gazed up at him with cold, hard eyes. He could feel her anger boiling just below the surface . . . Then their shuttle began to board.
     "Well, are you ready?" he asked.
     "Oh, I'm ready," she replied, still cold, still angry and a bit fearful, but in control.
     As they approached the shuttle, he pulled out their boarding passes.
     "Is this the transport to the Tyrellis Freighter?"
     The man nodded. "This is the one."
     "Good," Aaron replied, handing over the passes.
 

     It was a short flight to the freighter. Out of all the ship destinations listed on the pad his sister had given him, Electra had felt Tyrellis was the most likely destination. This had been decided before he had been called into Kristalys' office.
     The Tyrellis wasn't one of the worst ships in the Fleet, but it did have its hare of solium leaks and systems failures. But most things worked and there were no rodents, like on such freighters as the Shakal and the Oman, where those that lived their sometimes ate what they caught.
     When Aaron and Electra arrived at their compartment, an uneasiness entered Electra. The compartment was small, but adequit. There were two bed mats, storage compartments, a table and two chairs. There was also a private lavatory.
     Electra took a deep breath and sank into a chair, feeling her stomach lurch. Noel was there, somewhere . . . she could feel it. She had to start looking.
     "Let's take a look around. Maybe we'll find a lounge or dining area where we can talk to some people," she said as she headed for the door, trying to fight the sick feeling building in the pit of her stomach before she threw up.
 

     They wandered around the freighter for what seemed like an eternity to Electra. With as mixed up as she was emotionally, plus trying to remain professional was placing a great deal of strain on her. Her nerves were already on edge. Then, adding the connection she felt for her sister, knowing she was there nearby somewhere . . . She wondered if she'd be able to keep anything in her stomach. Even thought she wasn't prone to female swoons, the agitation she felt was beyond reason. Her senses were more responsive . . . hearing, sight, smell, touch . . . The acids in her stomach were eating away at her and all she could think about was Noel. Her sister was a young, vulnerable girl. She didn't know how to protect herself - which Electra blamed herself for. She should have had Noel in a self-defense class . . . But who would have thought that she would have needed that knowledge here in the Fleet.
     Angry tears threatened to fall from her green eyes as she heard Aaron's announcement that they had reached a dining area. As they entered, it was almost deserted. A few people were at tables, but the place was very empty. It was dimly lit and the aroma drifting through the air wasn't half bad. In minutes they found a table and took a seat. Electra sighed, pulling off her glasses momentarily and massaged the bridge of her nose up to her forehead.
     "Are you all right?" Aaron asked with concern.
     She nodded and put her glasses back on. "I'm okay . . . just a slight headache . . ." she took a soft breath. "I'm sorry I've been so quiet and cold," she said, looking into his warm aqua-colored eyes, "I've been kind of wrapped up in my own thoughts . . . I hope you understand. It's just that Noel and I are so close . . . She's more like my daughter than my sister . . . I raised her. I took care of her. I changed her diapers, fed her, clothed her . . . I read her stories and watched over her when she was sick or hurt . . ." Once again, tears threatened to fall, "She's my little girl, Aaron. I don't want to lose her . . ." Suddenly, she took a deep breath in and smiled sardonically, "Listen to me . . . Crying about my sister to you. Some Colonial Warrior I am."
     Aaron was stunned. This was probably one of the longest conversations he'd ever had with her one-on-one and she was talking about her feelings. It was totally unlike Electra, though he was glad for it. It was a look into what might be going on in her head.
     A serve came up and they ordered drinks, Aaron ordered a glass of ambrosia, while Electra asked for a fruited brandy - doubled. She wanted to calm her nerves and dull her senses to a normal level. As soon as the drinks arrives at the table, she grabbed her's and took a long shallow. Aaron had never really seen Electra drink before. It was strange for him. It seemed that her whole personality seemed to have altered completely from who she normally was. He wasn't sure if it was caused by the stress and worry about her sister's abduction or what, and considered the fact that at same point.  in their mission he would have to find out.
     Electra's mind was suddenly back to the night on Hadesonia when she had lured Randye, her sister's rapist, into an alley and executed him for his crime. She had known, instinctively that nothing would have been done to him. It wasn't considered a crime to the local Drug-Lord. So she took the responsibility for it . . . For her sister and other innocent girls like her.
     She remembered clearly how she had dressed carefully, choosing a tight, satin, electric-blue dress that barely came halfway down her thighs. it had been low-cut in the front and back, and had long sleeves. She had used make-up to look like she was easy - a slut - and had hooked Randye in a dance club with such ease . . . All it took was the promise of sex any way he wanted to make him follow her into the alley across the street. Once there, it took only microns to pull out her dagger from its hiding place at her thigh, and slit his throat. For some reason, her mind chose to focus on the event after that . . .
     Electra had hidden her normal clothes in the alley and quickly changed into them, leaving the soiled dress behind with the corpse. She wiped off the make-up and swiftly brushed out her hair. But as she left the alley, her eyes had crossed the street to the club she had just left with Randye. Standing there, watching and smoking a mini-fumarello, was a man. He look about 35 yahrens old, with long sandy blond hair, cut in uneven layers with steel gray eyes behind dark-rimmed glasses.  He had stared at her carefully, before she gained her senses and continued home to get Nico and Noel, so they could leave that world behind forever . . .
     Periodically, she wondered about that man . . . Had he been the one to find the body? Had be given the local Enforcers (the Drug Lord's private police) a description of her? It didn't matter, she knew . . . She wasn't there anymore. But there had been something about that man that had seemed familiar . . . Of course, it was stupid to think about. It wasted time. But her mind, as of late, kept returning to that night . . . and that man.
     "Electra?" Aaron said, gently touching her shoulder.
 It jarred her from the awful memory with a start. Her partner stared at her with worry evident upon his features.
     "I'm fine, Aaron . . ." she replied. "I . . . was just lost in some bad memories. That's all . . . I'm okay . . ."
     "Well, if you don't mind me suggesting, maybe we should take a rest period," he said, looking around the place. "It'll be busier here later. Then we can try to find someone who might be able to help us . . ."
     "I hope so," Electra replied. "Because I know she's on this ship . . . And we have to find her before its too late."
     Aaron took a deep breath and stood up and Electra followed suit. Soon they were back in their quarters, each taking a sleeping mat. For a time they just stared at each other, until Aaron turned away from her. And then, their eyes became droopy. She was finally tired. All the stress and worry had taken its toll on her body and she fell into a deep sleep.
 

     "I know who you are," came a voice, "I know what you've done and I've come to make you pay . . ."
 Electra was frightened. She heard the voice and she turned around in a circle to see where that voice had come from, but no one was there. She was alone in what seemed to be a dark room, but then light began to flood the area.
     Suddenly, she found herself in an alley. The same alley on Hadesonia where she had killed Randye! Then she looked at her hands. They were covered with blood. Below her was a puddle of water, but it was enough to cast her reflection. She was in the blue dress with her hair teased out and make-up, but her dress was stained with blood. A few inches away was Randye's dead body, lying lifeless on the ground surrounded by a pool of bright red blood.
     Again, there was a voice, "I know who you are, Electra Cireese, and I've come for you!"
 Before she could react, there was a man dressed in blacks and browns before her. He had a knife! Instantly, she recognized him. It was the man from across the street with the blond hair.
     "Time to die, little girl!"
     She was frozen. She wanted to run for her life, but couldn't seem to move. Her arms and legs would not cooperate. She was how cold the man's eyes were cold as steel. He had no soul. He was only full of menace and hate. She could feel it emenate from his body.
     Suddenly, she found herself toosed to the ground. The man was above her, pinning her down with his body. Ever so slowly, he raised the blade over her heart.
     "You shall die for the murder of my nephew!" he whispered with contempt, "You took his life, so I shall take your's!"
     She saw the blade rise only a fraction of an inch before it began its terrify descent. She was really going to die! Her reaction was to scream! She screamed as loud as she could!
     Then she was sitting up. She was in the quarters on the Tyrellis Freighter. But Aaron wasn't on his mat. She looked around and noticed the light on in the lavatory. In moments, he walked out and looked at her wearing pants and reaching for his shirt.
     "You're awake . . . Good," he replied.
     "Yeah," she nodded. gaining her barings. After a few moments, she got to her feet. Her head was beginning to ache, but she ignored it and walked by Aaron and into the lavatory to get ready to continue their mission.
 

     They returned to the dining area and found that the place had become more crowded, but not by much. There were two families, a handful of couples and a few odd groups scattered around the chamber.
     "If anyone would know who to contact, it would be the food handler, I bet," Aaron said, eyeing the man at the counter.
     He was heavyset with blue eyes and blond hair that was graying. He seemed ragged and gruff . . . He fit the profile . . .
     "All right, I believe you," Electra replied. "Let's do it . . ."
     They approached the food handler slowly, casually glancing about.
     "Let me take the lead," he urged.
     She nodded her agreement.
     "My . . . associate and I are in the market for  . . . something VERY special . . ." Aaron began.
     "Would you happen to know anyone who might be able to . . . aquire this . . . special item?" she finished, slipping a few cubits onto the man under her hand.
     Swiftly, he swiped the money off the counter and looked at them, sizing them up.
     "I might know such a person . . ." As he spoke, his eyes darked to a dimply lit corner.
     As Electra and Aaron casually turned around, they saw two men talking and drink quietly. They both looked rough and knew their way around the bad areas of the Fleet.  Electra and Aaron exchanged glances and began heading for the table. Without being invited they sat down. The bearded, scruffy men, looked at the two with irritation.
     "What do you think you're doing?" the younger of the two asked. "My brother and I were here first . . ."
     "We are here to talk business," Aaron said, pulling a few cubits out of his pocket. "There is more to come if you can aquire what we want . . "
     The older one grabbed the money and looked at it, then shoved it in one of his pocket . . . "What is it that you seek?"
     Electra turned her green eyes to Aaron briefly, before looking toward the man. "We are looking for a girl -"
     "There are many girls in the Fleet that are easy enough to get without dealing with us," he replied cutting her off. "They are free for the asking."
     "No, we require a special girl . . . Very special . . . Our boss has . . . unusual tastes," Aaron replied.
     "Oh . . . ?"
     "She must be about so high," Electra replied, motioning with her hands Noel's approximate height. "She must have a supple, young body. She also must have long brown hair with very green eyes  and must be fairly young . . ."
     "You boss does have unusual tastes . . . Very uncommon," was the replied. "How much is he willing to pay?"
     "How much do you want?" Aaron asked.
     "Wait!" Electra interrupted, "Before we agree on a price, since I am the one our boss's wrath will fall on if we fail, I must now if you can aquire such a girl . . ."
     The men nodded. The younger man immediately spoke up. "I know of one," he replied. "We should be able to aquire her with little problems. She fits your description perfectly . . ."
     Electra nodded. "Very well . . . now we can discuss price . . ."
     The conversation went on for another fifteen centons until a deal was struck for 500 cubits. Electra would pay any amount if it meant getting Noel back safe and sound. They all had a round of drinks to seal the deal. Electra and Aaron would pay half right then, and then the rest upon delivery and acceptance of the merchandise. They made arrangements to meet at their chamber in three centaurs. As they all got up and departed the table Aaron smiled. He had a feeling things were going to be all right, but Electra was hit by a wave of dizziness. She fought it as they returned to their chamber to wait, but then she started getting flashes of being hot and cold, and the corridor walls began to look strange . . . as if they were moving. No sooner had she entered the chamber when everything began to spin and become a blur, shortly to be followed by darkness as she fell to the floor unsconious and drenched wtih perspiration. As Aaron saw her, he ran to her side frantically calling her name.
     "Electra! Electra!" This can't be happening, he thought. They were just about to see if their work had paid off . . . if they had indeed found Noel! But one look at her and he knew he had to get to back to the Galactica and to the Life Center immediately. He went to the telecom and contacted Captain Kristalys, but she as unavailable and he spoke with Lt. Jolly. Once the matter was explained he hurried to get to her the landing bay.
 

     Boomer quickly grabbed Electra from Aaron as Sheba, in civilian clothing followed Aaron.
     "I'm to stay with you on this deal in case anything goes wrong . . ." she explained.
     "Sure," he replied, watching the shuttle take off and knowing there was nothing else he could do for his partner except get her sister back for her. "Well, we've got to get back to the chamber . . . I just hope they haven't shown up early for the drop."
 

     "Electra," came a whisper, followed by evil chuckles. "Electra . . ."
     He's here, she thought, panic-striken. I know that man is here somehwere! She could hear his laughter surrounding her. But she couldn't move! She felt almost as if she couldn't breathe and she was drenched with perspiration. The heat was unbearable. She tried to wipe her forehead, yet her arms wouldn't move. She couldn't even see anything. Darkness encompassed her. She was trapped and alone, with only that evil man's laughter as company.
     "Where are you?!" she screamed, "face me like a man!"
     Suddenly his face was before her. That man from the dance club . . . Randye's uncle. "If I don't get you know, I will get you later!"
     His eyes were cold . . . menacing . . . Again, she tried to pull away, but she was still bound by invisible restraints. She couldn't fight him! Then his hands were at her throat! He was pushing her chin up. Suddenly, she felt something cold against her neck! it was the knife again! But she could see nothing. Fear took hold.
     Instantly, she bolted up. There she found herself in the Life Center, on an observation bed, in a white medical gown. She was drenched with perspiration. She caught her breath and sat up on the edge of the bed. With surprise, she ran a hand through her hair trying to gather her thoughts.
     "Good! You're awake," came a voice from the door. Standing there was a young man with sandy brown hair and deep green eyes. "I'm Dr. Shay," he introduced, "I checked you out when you arrived. You were out cold. What's the last thing you remember?"
     "I . . . uh . . . I was board the Tyrellis Freighter . . . I suddenly begam dizzy . . ." she said, still trying to put the events together. "The next thing I knew I was falling and . . . everything became black . . . I couldn't stop it . . ."
     "Well," he began, "The fact of the matter is someone out there doesn't like you very much. I ran a few tests on your blood and I turned up a very interesting chemical compound - Hydra Binocade. Of your partner hadn't been with you and had someone bring  you here immediately, you very well might have died. Hydra Binocade is a very powerful drug. It use to be used on Gemini a long time ago when certain parties wanted to get rid of someone quietly. It causes fever, delusions, and death."
     "Delusions?" she asked, still getting her thoughts together. "What about Aaron? Where is he? You said he had someone bring me here?"
     "Yes, Lt. Jolly from Blue Squadron brought you in. I suppose your partner, Aaron must still be aboard the Tyrellis Frieghter."
     "Then I have to go!" she cried, trying to get to her feet.
     Instantly Dr. Shay was by her side laying her back down again. "I don't think so. I just treated you with the antigen for Hydra Binocade not more than 20 centons ago. You have to stay here inder observation for at least 24 centaurs."
     "But I have . . . I have to get there! I have to rescue my sister!" she said on the verge of tears.
     "I'm afraid the only rescue you'll be doing is your own . . . here . . . by resting and letting the medication take affect," he smiled warmly. "Belive me, I understand your plight, but for your own health you need to stay here. You're welcome to read, watch the monitor, but you need to stay here. Are you hungry?" he asked.
     Slowly she shook her head as a mild wave of nausea swept through her. "No . . . food doesn't sound very appealing. Is there any way I can get in touch with my Captain?"
     "I've already relayed a message to her about your condition. You just worry about taking it easy. I'll be back to check on you in awhile," he smiled and then turned to leave.
     "I don't believe this," Electra whispered in frustration as she rubbed her temples. Her head was definitely aching. What was she going to do? Someone was out there who wanted her dead, who was going to any length to get her within reach. Then her nightmares came back to haunt her. Could it be that man, she asked herself. She'd had dreams before that had contained pieces to troubleing problems, but she'd always dismissed them, figuring her subconscious had been hiding the answer all along. Could it be the same for this, she wondered? "How could he be here in the Fleet," she asked herself. "It's just not possible!"
     Completely drained with fatigue, she settled back into bed, her head throbbing. If it were this man, then the game wasn't over. She knew that, because she wasn't dead yet. He would make another move on her, but the question was when . . .
 

     Once back in the chamber, Aaron sat down on the bed mat and tried some deep breathing exercises. He was stressed to the breaking point. Everything had been quiet for the last 30 centons and he was beginning to worry that they had come and gone. He looked to Sheba who was gazing at something on an electronic pad and seemed oblivious. He was also concerned for Electra. Though he didn't know her that well, she was a good Warrior and he respected her abilities . . . including the way she had been able to handle this situation . . . But now she was incompassitated by something. He didn't know what, but could tell she was deathly ill . . . Life was just very unfair at times . . .
     Suddenly, chimes sounded at the door. Sheba stood and went to the door. As it opened the men entered with a young girl who was bound at the wrists and had a sack over her head.
     "Who's she?" the younger man asked.
     "She is the one to make the final decision . . ." Aaron explained.
     This seemed to satisfy the men as they nodded to each other. Quickly, they pulled the sack off the girl's head and in that instant, Aaron knew they had Noel. She looked scared and dirty, but essentially all right. As her eyes fell on Aaron recognition filled them and the fear abated.
     "So what do you think," he asked Sheba, giving her a subtle nod to let her know this was the right girl that they were looking for. But they still had to play along. Sheba stood, allowing the skirt she wore to flow around her for a moment. She appoarched Noel and circled her with an appraising glance, nodding as she did so.
     "Yes . . . very nice . . . very, very nice . . ." she said. "She'll do beautifully . . . Pay the men . . ."
     Quickly Aaron pulled out a pouch and through it to the older man. He caught it examining the number of cubits inside. Once convinced the money was all there, she nodded.
     "Our business is completed . . . should your boss need anything else . . ."
     "We'll be sure to think of you," Aaron replied quickly trying to get them to leave.
     It worked. Without another moment's hesitation, the men left. As the door shut, Sheba undid the binding around Noel's wrists. The young girl immediately ran to Aaron and threw her arms around him.
     "Thank you! Thank you so much for finding me!" she sobbed . . . As her cries lessened she looked at Sheba with puzzlement. "Where's my sister?"
 

     The flight to the Galactica was a relief to Noel as she sat next to the Colonial Warriors knowing that no one could harm her at the moment. But all she could think about was her sister. Her sister had been poisoned while trying to find her! Electra could have died! The thought frightened Noel more than anything in the universe. As soon as they were aboard the Galactica Aaron had to restrain her from taking off at a run to the Life Center. But once there, no one could stop her. She ran directly to Electra and embraced her with all her might. He could see tears welling up in Electra's eyes as she gazed at him.
     Thank you, she mouthed to him not willing to let her sister go.
 

     After the 24 centaur period, Electra was released from the Life Center. To her surprise she was immediately called into Captain Kristalys' office. As she entered, the Captain motioned for her to take a seat, which she did immediately.
     "How are you feeling today?" Kristalys asked.
     "Much better, Captain."
     "Good," she replied curtly, "We need to talk . . ."
     Immediately Electra did not like the sound of this. "All right," she replied.
     "I think you need a vacation . . . You've been under a lot fo stress these last few days," Kristal replied, with her usual false concern.
     She was a lousy liar, Electra though as anger rose in her. "But I'm feeling better, Captain! The doctor gave me a clean bill of health! I am ready for another mission!"
     Kristalys stared down her Sargeant. "This is not up for discussion. You've been under too much stress. It's as simple as that."
     "But, Captain!" she began to object again.
     "You have your orders," she replied coldly, "You need to take care of whatever is going on in your personal life before returning to duty. I will not have you jeopardizing my other warriors with whatever petty problems you're having . . . When you've done that, we'll take about you resuming your duties."
     "What do you mean by petty problems?" Electra asked, still fighting back her anger.
     "Someone tried to kill you . . . I can't risk my other Warriors for your problems," she finished. "My mind is made up. As of now, you are off duty."
     "For how long?" Electra replied, feeling the dread rise in her.
     "We'll start with 2 sectons, but believe me, the length of time can be increased."
     Electra stood up taking a deep breath in and exhaled. There was nothing more to say. She hated to be taken off of active duty but what could she do? And what was worse was that her life and that of her sister's was in danger and Captain Kristalys didn't care. She didn't want to risk the lives of her other Warriors and if Electra were expendable. Silently she walked to the door and exited letting the door close behind her knowing that she had to find a way to protect her sister and herself since they were now on their own.