Call for Help

Posted on Sun Feb 8th, 2026 @ 5:46pm by Cassandra Lennox & Lola ‘Myth’ McDowell & Gema Melero & Robert Skye & René Rouen & Albert 'Bert' Smith & Douglas Wyatt & Nathan Crawford

1,715 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: The Light House
Location: The Pub and Radio Station
Timeline: 18 December 2013, 1230 (12:30pm)

René rushed into the and glanced about the crowded area. He knew from experience that lunch was the busiest meal of the day. Most of the adults would be gathered there. He had been there not more than 30 minutes prior to get two to go meals for Lola and himself. It was something he had begun to do for almost a week now, taking his lunch break and bringing Lola's so she didn't have to trudge out into the cold during her radio watch.

Rene spotted Cassandra sitting alone at a table reading. He approached her and saw the large tome he had given her his first night in Thistledrift. "Mademoiselle Lennox, you're needed at the radio station. Lola got a call from the Europa. They are on approach to the harbour, but are having a problem and have requested to speak with you."

Cassandra looked up from her book and frowned. That did not sound good at all but she glanced at her citizen eco drive and frowned, they were never going to make it in now with the weather the way it was. “Douglas save me some soup and bread. I will be back for it.” Cassandra said rising putting her book down.

"Yes ma'am." Douglas replied with a playful salute to the town leader.

"This soup isn't too bad, mate." Bert commented before taking another slurp of the food soup from his spoon.

"I know right! Who would have thought left over deer would make a good soup but here it is!" Douglas replied with a giggle. "Seems to be a hit with everyone!"

"I'm surprised there was any left over from yesterday's deer roast." Bert replied.

"The hunting team did good! Was a big fat one! Plenty of meat to go around!"

René moved to the door and waited for Cassandra to join him there for the walk back to the radio station.

Cassandra frowned as she stepped outside of the pub and pulled up her hood against the chill that was hitting the village now that winter was firmly there. Her boots crunched on the ground as she walked the familiar path to the radio station. The Europa calling specifically for her normally met trouble and something they could not handle.

René pulled open the door to the radio station and gestured for Cassandra to enter first. Stepping in after her he closed the door and removed his bomber jacket as he followed Cassandra to the room with the radio.

Cassandra sighed as she thanked the man for opening the doors for her and went the familiar route to where she could see a little light coming from. She stepped into the room and smiled at the woman who was pacing a little bit in her worry. "Let's see what this is all about," Cassandra said, sitting in the chair and picking up the headset. "Lennox here." She said, pressing the microphone.

Nathan's voice came over the radio speaker. "Cass...Ms. Lennox, Commander Crawford here. There's an issue with our lighthouse team. We've had no contact with them for two days. We just received a transmission from a woman that states the Undead have breached the lighthouse. Captain Skye wants to speak with you."

René remained quiet as Cassandra and Commander Crawford spoke. He draped his bomber jacket over Lola's shoulders.

Lola looked up surprised as he jacket was draped over her and offered a smile as she stopped pacing for a moment.

"Oh, hello, Commander," Cassandra murmured a smile touching her lips at the sound of Nathan's voice, before she frowned at the comment that the Captain wanted to speak to her and then remembered the camera that was hiding in her desk, which left her stomach in knots. "Put it on loud speaker then, and we can discuss."

"One moment for Captain Skye."

Cassandra smiled and leaned back in the chair a little as she heard the familiar clicking and whirl of connections before the static came back. “Miss Lennox… we need your support. This time of year we cannot get into port without the lighthouse.” Robert admitted letting the silence descend between them as they both knew it would mean the ship travelling up to Scotland and Thistledrift not getting power or supplies to spring.

“You need us to go to the lighthouse and fix the problem.” Cassandra commented.

“Yes!” The Captain said without hesitation. It was the only way as they could not get a boat to shore.

René turned to Cassandra. If a group was going to the lighthouse to clear the Soulless and restore power to the beacon, it would need someone with close combat experience and a familiarity with mechanics. He was, admittedly, not a certified mechanic, but he knew a few things from having to fix and maintain the motorcycle he'd been using since the Fall. "I should be on the expedition to the lighthouse. I have a lot of experience in fighting the Soulless in confined spaces such as inside buildings."

Cassandra pressed the mute button on the radio and frowned at him. “We can discuss that in a minute.” She whispered to him as Lola pulled the man back and made a shh signal as Cassandra turned the radio back on. “I will take a team and go sort out the problem.” She looked at her watch and calculated how quickly they could get over there. It would take a good 3 hours but the hunting party had confirmed that morning the paths were clear.

“I knew we could count on you.” The Captain said. “I will pass you back to Crawford and Melero.”

Nathan's voice came over the speaker once again. "Be careful, we don't know what happened to the lighthouse team. We don't know who the stranger in the lighthouse is. There's too many variables that we just don't know yet. Be. Safe."

Casandra connected the headset so that her conversation was a little more private with the man. “It’s just me and you right now. I need to know more information.” She stated hearing the pointed instruction that was for her specifically. Lola smiled and indicated to René to step outside with her for a moment.

Not even ten minutes later did Cassandra come out into the corridor, shoving a piece of paper into her jacket pocket. “I have turned it all off as you are going to need to come with us, Lola.” Cassandra looked at René and sighed. “And I guess you, as well as I, know you are useful. Go and get your gear. I am going to have to round up a few more people in the pub and some supplies. We won’t make it there and back tonight.”

René glanced at Lola. He was concerned about her safety going on the lighthouse mission. He turned back to Cassandra and nodded. He looked to Lola and shrugged. "Let's go pack."

Lola nodded and skipped off to their cottage, leaving Cassandra to head back to the pub to get some other people to come. She quickly got her soup and eat that before she stood up on a table and let out a whistle. "I have an announcement."

Douglas was drying some glasses that had been washed up behind the bar. He finished doing the one he had in hand and placed it on the shelf. Before throwing the tea towel over his shoulders to listen.

Bert was just scraping round his bowling getting the last of soup out. He stuck the spoon in his mouth before placing it in the empty bowl. He burped under his breath as he turned to look at Cassandra. "Excuse me." He muttered.

Cassandra looked around as all eyes were on her. “We have an issue that require some of us to go to the lighthouse in the next hour. I need volunteers.” She declared hoping that some people would volunteer and then she could go into detail with them properly. It was the way she worked and people knew this. She turned to step down from the table when Bartholomew appeared to help her down with a had. “Thank you. I assume you are volunteering.”

“Of course.” He shrugged. He was one of the few who went in and out often enough for it not to be a big deal. Plus he liked the walked to the lighthouse.

René arrived at the pub with his backpack ready for a 24 hour overland trek, including having a 20-litre gas can strapped on with rope. He nodded to Cassandra as he entered and set down his pack. "Lola will be here shortly. She was packing a few hand held radios to bring along."

Bert stood up, "When do we leave?" He smiled. It was time to start repaying the faith they had shown in him.

“Less than an hour.” Cassandra said. They all knew winter daylight winter hours were shorter than the winter months and it was already midday. From discussion with Nathan the Europa had been waiting in the estuary since last night for their radio hours to contact them.

“Make sure you pack sleeping bag and mat as well as close combat weapons.” Cassandra advised knowing that a few people would not know where they were heading as they had never been to the lighthouse before.

René patted his backpack. He had an extreme cold weather sleeping bag, several waterproof tarps, rope, nylon cord and his small sterno stove. He just needed to load provisions for the journey. He looked to the door as Lola arrived carrying her own backpack.

Bert nodded, "I'm going to need some supplies. I didn't come with much." He said, feeling like he was begging for more.

Bartholomew smiled and indicated for the man to follow him, they always had packs ready for any emergencies like this. Cassandra followed after to head to get her own supplies and get the argument with her mother out of the way. It left Lola coming back in ready to go and grabbing some soup to keep her going as she had not really eat much with her mood so low the last week or so. She needed Nathan to come back to talk to and explain what had happened, he would know what to do.

 

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