If Looks Could Kill

Chapter 5

Cassandra stood on her toes and peeked into General Taylor Hagan's office. He was sitting in his chair, with his back to her talking on the phone. She didn't want to sound rude by just barging in, or surprise him by setting off the alarm. She wasn't that egotistical. So she went with the usual direction, knocking on the door and waited. She heard a goodbye then a shuffle of papers before he answered in a gruff voice, "Come in."

She exhaled and opened the door. The first thing she smelled when she walked in was coffee, fresh planter and leather. She looked around, the office didn't look like an interrogation cell, instead it looked roomy like Jane's. The walls had a pale color to it matching the gray tone carpet flooring, on one side of the wall hung military and family photographs taken in the 90's and 2000's, and medals and certificates written in ivory calligraphy. Leather couches were placed in front of a brown oak desk, and sitting there was General Taylor Hagan himself. He nodded his head a couple times, then he hung up the phone. He turned around in his chair, taking a sip of his mug of hot coffee and organizing through his documents when he looked up.

Startled, he abruptly swallowed the hot coffee, "Huhg...gah... what?! Cassandra Cho? Is that you? You weren't supposed to come back in another year!...Cough!"

She hid her laughter behind her hand and saluted. "Haha...ahem, good afternoon General Hagan, sir. Reporting for duty sir! I apologize for my entrance sir! "

General Hagan wiped his mouth with a napkin. He raised an eyebrow, "At ease cadet and sit."

She obliged, feeling the cold leather skin against her own. He leaned forward in his seat and eyed at Cassandra, making sure she wasn't an illusion, and she was the real thing. He frowned a few times and Cassandra felt slightly annoyed because she didn't like it when people stared at her for too long. Hagan finally leaned back in his seat and smiled, "Welcome back Cassandra. I presume your five years away went according to plan?"

She relaxed and nodded, "Yes sir. The training in New York as well as in a few other areas for the past years has done me some good. I followed your orders too. I also have made some friends and enemies while I was crossing state borders."

He laughed and crossed his arms, showing his three stars on his shoulder and small medals on his breast showing his rank and authority. The light in the room gave his short cropped brown hair with little white streaks in it a little touch of light. His familiar brown eyes gave off wisdom and humor, but with power in them as well. Strong jaw and a stubble on his chin aged the general in his 50's, but he looked younger than that.

He smirked, "I highly doubt any enemies would want to mess with my niece. Your fierce and strong Cassy-Cat."

Cassandra slowly smiled at her uncles nickname. He was the second person who called her that family name, and the only member besides Jane as family. She didn't dare want to lose him as she lost her parents when she was just the age of seven. Cassandra blames herself for their disappearance. After years of searching, jumping from one foster house to another, she got a call from a family member on her fathers side. The man said he was her fathers younger brother and uncle. At first, she didn't know who this relative was because her father was so secretive and didn't like talking about their relatives background. The first thing she did when the strangers in black suits dropped her off in what looked like to her a prison cell was run. She ran and ran, afraid of being caught and punished when she was hugged into a hard chest. Tears rained down her cheeks as she yelled and squirmed in her captors arms. The mans warm voice stopped her and he said, "Shh, I'm here Cassandra. Please don't be afraid, I will protect you, I promise."

Those words grew on her ever since and Cassandra knew that no matter what happens, she will stay strong for not just for herself, but for her parents too.