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Kassandra’s Page

Bar, Jayne and Mirth gathered in Nikki’s living room, anxiously milling around.

“So any idea what is so important?” Bar said to Nikki, who shrugged.

“No idea, Kassandra just said we all had to watch the video together and that I’m supposed to give you all these.” She said, handing them each a manila envelope, Mirth starting to rip hers open right away.

“Mirth, stop you’re supposed to wait!” Nikki exclaimed, stopping Mirth mid-tear.

“Well then why don’t we watch the thing?” Jayne said, as she plopped down on the couch.

“Sounds like a good idea to me.” Mirth said, as she sat next to Jayne.

Nikki rolled her eyes as she popped the disc into the player and sat down, hitting play.

After a moment a clearly nervous Kass appeared on screen. “Hi everyone, I hope everything back on Earth is good. Since its been a while I thought I should send you all a video, since there have been some changes since you left.”

Mirth reached over and grabbed the remote from Nikki, pausing the video. “I know those are Kass’ quarters but they look…different.” She said, making Jayne roll her eyes as she snatched the remote.

“Yeah, well she said there were changes, so why don’t we watch this and find out what?” with that she hit play again.

“I’m sure that Nikki handed you the envelopes and that at least one of you already tried to open them.” Kass laughed before continuing, “I’d like you to open them now, inside you will find four more envelopes marked with numbers. Open the first one only.” Kass stopped and looked into the camera as if watching them.

Nikki, Jayne and Bar opened their envelopes as Mirth ripped the first one open and pulled out a picture. “Finally!” she exclaimed as she looked at the picture of Kass and Evan in the moonlight on the beach. Evan was down on one knee, holding Kass’ hand, looking up at her.

On the screen, Kass grinned and spoke again. “As I’m sure at least one of you has figured out, Evan proposed, FINALLY.” Suddenly something off-screen drew Kass’ attention, her face lighting up brightly as a familiar voice drifted in.

“What do you mean by finally?” Evan said teasingly, as he appeared in the frame covered in dirt and grime, clearly having just arrived back.

Kass looked at him and laughed, “You know darn well what I mean by ‘finally’ Evan.”

In response he rolled his eyes and waved at the camera. “Hello everyone, sorry to interrupt her video.” he paused as he leaned over and kissed Kass for a moment. “I should let her finish it.” With that he wandered out of the frame his next words drifting back and making Kass blush. “I’ll just be in the shower if you need me, dear.”

Kass turned a glare off-screen and scolded him reproachfully, “Evan!” then quickly turned back. “Okay, so where were we? Oh yes, envelope number two. Go ahead and open it though, after that it’s almost pointless.”

Mirth was doubled over laughing as Jayne looked over at her as she pulled out the envelope. “So what do you suppose this one is?” She said, as she tore it open. Pulling out the photograph, she grinned as she saw Kass and Evan carrying stacks of crates into her quarters marked with ‘Major E. Lorne’. “Shoulda known!” she muttered softly.

On screen Kass was now beaming a little brighter, “as I’m sure you gathered Evan moved in with Kenzie and me a few weeks after you left. It’s been an easy transition since he was all but living here anyway.” Kass paused clearly pondering adding more but then opting against it. “So, I guess this brings us to envelope number three. When you open it let me start with, I’m sorry.”

Bar, having ripped the envelope open, lunged across Mirth and grabbed the remote pausing the video. “What the heck?!” she exclaimed as she examined the picture closely.

Mirth stared at the picture, which appeared to be Kass and Evan involved in the middle of….a wedding ceremony and then turned to Nikki. “Did you know about this?”

Nikki looked back and tried to hide her grin but failed miserably. “Kind of, but only because I read the mission report.” She said.

Jayne turned and looked at Nikki before asking, “Mission report? Why would there be a mission report for a wedding?”

Nikki laughed, as she caught the remote that Bar had tossed her. “Why don’t we let her explain?” she said, as she clicked play and nodded at the TV.

On-screen the picture changed from Kass to a grainy MALP feed. There was no sound but Kass’ voice narrating it. “So, one day I went out on some trade negotiations with a new planet, only things didn’t go exactly as planned.”

Suddenly Evan’s chuckle could be heard, “Aw, come on, why don’t you just tell them you got arrested?”

Kass sighed in the background as the video rolled, Kass being presented to Evan, then the ceremony itself. “Because I wasn’t arrested!” She exclaimed. “I didn’t realize that it was a matrimonial based society in which they’d only trade with someone who was married!”

“Riiight, and that was why you insisted that my team and I come along.” Evan scoffed as the video ended and switched back to them.

“So to make a long story short, the planets elders insisted that I be married. Thankfully there was a suitably eligible bachelor along on the mission, so Evan and I went through with the ceremony.” On-screen Kass grinned and blushed as Evan tugged her close and whispered into her ear. Glaring at him reproachfully for a moment, Kass turned back to the camera still pink. “So, Evan just reminded me that we’ve yet to cover the most important envelope.”

Jayne reached over and grabbed the remote pausing the video and looking at Mirth and Bar. “I bet that so is NOT what he really said.” She paused gesturing to the screen. “I mean look at how pink she is!”

“Well of course that’s not what he said!” Bar piped up.

“Aw come on, I wanna know what’s in here!” Mirth exclaimed waving the fourth envelope about.

“Just start it then!” Bar said as she reached across and hit play.

Kass suddenly seemed to regain her composure on-screen, “Inside the fourth envelope you will find a clue to our next great adventure.” As before, she sat staring into the camera, though now she snuggled deeply into Evan’s side.

Mirth yanked the photo out and stared at it. “That house looks familiar, but I don’t know why.” She said as she looked at the others. Jayne and Bar nodded in agreement, Nikki grinning knowingly.

On-screen Evan spoke up, Kass suddenly a brilliant shade of pink again. “So I’m sure that place seems familiar as it well should. That is my house up in Colorado Springs. Kassandra, Kenzie and I will be back on Earth for fourteen days soon and we’d love for you all to drop by and visit. Just be sure you call first.” Evan grinned as he added the last part before glancing at his watch. “Okay, well we have to sign off now if this is going to make it there on time.”

Kass sat back up and grinned into the camera, “We’ll see you guys soon.” She said and with that the screen went black.

Mirth looked at Jayne and Bar and then over at Nikki, “So do you think she really didn’t know about the planet?”

Jayne and Bar shrugged, mumbling something that sounded like, ‘no idea’.

Nikki laughed before answering, “I don’t know, but you can ask her yourself in four days.”

“Four days?!” Mirth exclaimed, bewildered, “That’s not near enough time!”

“It’ll have to be, the Daedalus drops them off at the mountain then.” Nikki spoke as she stood up and walked off into the kitchen.

The End