Sunnydale and Searching
Disclaimer: See First Chapter
Chapter 2 – Sunnydale and Searching
Sunnydale, California
I sit up in my seat as we pass the cheerful sign “Welcome to Sunnydale!” The sign looks as though it has been knocked down and the posts reinforced. I smile and think that it must be teenagers with nothing better to do.
Once I get off the bus, the sun shining and the breeze warm and inviting, my skin breaks out in goosebumps and I wonder if I should really be here.
I quickly shake off my doubts and head to a nearby motel to get settled.
“I need a room” I tell the clerk as I find a cheap looking motel at the edge of town.
“Sure. It’s twenty a night. If you pay in advance, we can rent the rooms for eighty five a week.”
I quickly calculate my money situation.
“Okay, I will take the weekly rate, please.” I pay the clerk and get the key to my room.
After settling in, I gather together the trappings of my new “identity” and head off to find a job and register for school. Thank goodness I paid attention to learning how to use a computer… even if Sam wouldn’t approve of how I used that knowledge.
Walking through town towards the high school, I pass by a club called “The Bronze”. A sign by the door says “Help Wanted”, so I head in to fill out an application.
People are milling around the empty club, getting ready for the evening. I walk up to a woman who hands me an application and a pen and points me toward one of the empty tables.
After completing my application with the fabricated information I had created, I handed the application back to the woman and got ready to head out.
Before I could leave, the woman said, “Hi Cassandra, would you like to go ahead and give me few minutes to look this over, then we can talk?”
Surprised but happy, I nodded.
Forty minutes later, I headed out toward the high school, newly employed and optimistic for the future – for the first time in a very long time.
Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado
“What do you mean, she’s GONE? Can’t you trace her? Did anyone see where she went? Did you check the bus stop?” With each question, Colonel O’Neill’s voice got louder and louder.
“Sir, with all due respect, yes, I checked. I showed her picture to all the clerks at all the bus stations, airports, and train stations around here. I even got a list of taxis and where they made stops all over town yesterday. It is like she just disappeared.” Carters voice was strong until the last statement and a shimmer of a tremor could be heard.
“Okay everybody, lets calm down” General Hammond broke into the conversation. “We need to remain calm and think about what she would do. She is a sixteen year old girl whose mother has just died. Running away is not that uncommon behavior.”
“Actually General, she is a sixteen year old alien whose entire civilization was wiped out by an evil race who then murdered her adoptive mother. I don’t really think we can oversimplify the situation.”
“Indeed. I agree with DanielJackson.”
Jack O’Neill looked around the briefing room at the members of SG-1 and the General and said,
“Okay campers. General – request permission for SG-1 to be on stand-down until Cassie is found.”
“Granted. This is a highly sensitive mission. Cassandra, as we all know, has Naqueda in her blood and we cannot risk her being found by the NID. Lets keep this under wraps as long as possible. Dismissed.”
“Oh, Cassie left letters for each of you” Carter stated as she handed envelopes to Teal’c, Daniel, Jack, and the General.
As SG-1 left the briefing room, the General looked at Jack and said, “Please find her – we need to keep her safe.”
Colonel Jack O’Neill nodded and walked out the door.
Sunnydale, California
Today was productive. I have a new job and I am registered for school. I start tomorrow. The principal seems nice enough, but he wants me to talk to the Guidance Councilor before starting classes to deal with any “adjustment” issues…
…….Flashback to meeting with Principal Wood:
“Cassandra Carter. You are 18, have no history of school attendance and are living on your own. How did you come to be in this situation?” Principle Wood asked as he looked at the information I had given him.
“Well sir, my parents were environmentalists and home schooled me. Unfortunately, they passed away in a car accident last year. I don’t have any other family, so I really want to continue my education and make something of myself. I was the equivalent of a high school junior last time I was tested.”
“I am sorry for your loss, Cassandra. I do not see a problem with you enrolling in school, but I want you to take some placement exams and meet with the Guidance Councillor before you start classes. Please know that if you have any problems adjusting the faculty and staff are here to help.”
“Thank you Principal Wood. When can I take the exams and meet with the Councilor?”
“I will set it up for tomorrow at 8 am.”
“Thank you Sir”.
……………………………………………………….End Flashback
Well, I guess seeing a councilor will be okay… can’t be any worse than McQuack, right?
Besides, there is no use worrying about it. I have my first shift tonight and then I have to be up bright and early tomorrow morning.
Later that night at the Bronze:
The majority of clientele are high school students, so I don’t feel too out of place. While cleaning up a table, I hear a conversation between a couple of girls my age:
“Did you see their eyes? They were yellow! It was like they were glowing!”
“I am sure you were imagining it, Susie. People’s eyes don’t glow. They were probably on PCP and their face looked all weird.”
“Yeah… I guess. I am just glad that that chick showed up and gave us a chance to run away. I wonder what happened to her?”
“I think it was that new Guidance Councilor, Ms. Summers. She is really strange.”
“Well, strange or not, she saved my ass.”
My heart stopped in my chest… could there be Goa’uld in Sunnydale?
