Homecoming

Posted on Sat Mar 14th, 2026 @ 3:20pm by Cassandra Lennox & Maureen Lennox & Gema Melero & Juliet Parrish & Father James Aldridge & Nathan Crawford

2,244 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Before
Location: Thistledrift
Timeline: 21st March 2011

Nathan sat on the passenger side of the box truck as the vehicle slowly rolled down the coast road. Cassandra sat between him and the driver, Gema Melero. He had a map of the region out, mostly out of habit. He was mostly relying on Cassandra for directions to Thistledrift. A place he was hoping could serve as a safe homeport for the Europa. Providing a deal could be struck with the inhabitants. "I hate to sound like an impatient child, but how much longer before we reach Thistledrift?"

Cassandra was trying to not be thrown around the truck despite the seatbelt. She had not been in any type of vehicle since the undead had started travelling mostly by foot. “Yet you do sound like a child.” Cassandra commented making Gema smirk. “Turn left here Gema. It’s a tight road and steep but there will be no traffic coming up.” Gema turned slowly left and followed the instructions relieved when the road levelled out and she could see what Cassandra meant about the natural defence of the cliffs.

Nathan, out of habit, checked his map. He leaned forward slightly to look at Gema. "Take it slow. Stop about 50 meters before we get to the first building." He didn't want to spook the residence. "Anything you can tell me about the townsfolk that might help with negotiations?" He was trying to be cautiously optimistic. The Europa was in desperate need of finding a suitable homeport, if Thistledrift didn't work out they would need to find something in the Humbar Estatuary.

“Oh I am going to have to stop well before there sir,” Gema commented as a metal fence came into view. It surrounded the whole road in front of her and disappeared into the forest around them.

“Oh wow.” Cassandra said as they slowed to a stop. “My mum is retired and dad runs the garage.” The woman said as someone called out from the fence.

Nathan disembarked the vehicle, helping Cassandra out as well. He set his carbine on the bench seat. He glanced at the guard for a moment before turning to Gema. "Listen. If things go south. You kick this lorry into gear and head back to the others. Got it?"

Cassandra was not at all sure the dramatic order was needed but she inclined her head. “Yes Sir.” The woman said quietly as Cassandra slipped out the car with the man.

Nathan closed the passenger side door and held out his hands away from his body. "Oi. I am Lieutenant Commander Nathan Crawford with Her Majesty's Royal Navy." He gestured one hand at Cassandra. "I spoke briefly with someone on the wireless yesterday afternoon. I am bringing Cassandra Lennox home. I'm here to also speak with your city council on a matter of some importance."

The person behind the fence raised a weapon at the uniform and grading until he said Navy. He stopped as he heard the surname. “Maureen’s bairn?”

“ Eyup. Very much. Though not so much a bairn,” the woman waved her hand at the man. She recognised him but could not name him at all.

Word of visitors arriving spread fast throughout the town. People started gathering at the entrance to see the newcomers. Father James Aldridge, Rector of the local church and town councilman amongst them. He gestured for the guards to allow Cassandra and her companions through the barriers.

Juliet stood in the crowd, curious to know what all the excitement was about.

“Father Aldridge.” Cassandra declared as she tugged Gema and Nathan inside the barrier before they change their minds. There was a moment of confusion as a woman pushed past two guards and a woman rushed to Cassandra and hugged her down to her.

“Cass… how on earth are you here?” Maureen demanded.

Nathan stepped forward with a glance at Cassandra before focusing his attention on the older woman. "She trekked across the breadth of England to return here madam." He glanced at Cassandra again with a slight expression of admiration. "My search team came across her yesterday afternoon. Your daughter is a remarkably resourceful woman."

“I nearly shot him with an arrow.” Cassandra teased a little making Maureen laugh. She had no doubt her daughter made an input. “Where’s dad?” Cassandra asked and the group went silent around them.

Father James looked at Cassandra and then Maureen's sudden sorrowful expression. He turned to Cassandra again. "I am deeply sorry to tell you. He had a heart attack about two weeks ago. He...."

"No... I... got here to see him." Cassandra whispered, stepping back in disbelief. If only she had not gotten held up in York, she would have been there. She turned away and shook her head. "I could not be too late." She said, clenching her hands, trying to calm her nervous system down.

Nathan looked at Gema then back to the distraught woman. He was at a loss for words. He had seen this kind of scene too many times. The world had become a dark and miserable shadow of its former self. The mission could wait for the moment.

Gema indicated that he should comfort the woman. She was not blind to the fact that the woman intrigued him enough that he had done all of this just to find them a home port. "It's okay, Cass," Maureen said softly, but Cassandra held up her hand.

"I was too late. I tried. I got held up in York and..." She finally collapsed into tears.

Father James looked at Maureen. "Take her too the house." He spotted Juliet a few paces away. "Miss Parrish would you please go with them?"

Nathan stepped forward. Looking directly at Maureen. "If I and Petty Officer Melero can be of assistance...." His voice trailed off. He could only offer to help.

"Thank you, dear," Maureen said gently as she looked at her daughter, pained by the way she crumbled.

"Come on, Cassandra," Gema said, hauling the woman up in a nononsense tone, but Cassandra just looked exhausted and defeated. "This might be easier if you help, Sir."

Nathan stepped forward and wrapped one arm around Cassandra's waist, and lifted one of her arms to hang to his shoulder. "Let's get you home Ms. Len...Cassandra."

Cassandra nodded and lay her head against his shoulder as he picked her up. "It's this way... are you sure you can carry?" Maureen said, looking worried, that she had never seen her girl fall apart like that.

Juliet scurried off towards the clinic to grab her bag and a few of the pharmaceutical supplies they had left.

Nathan gave Maureen a nod that he could manage carrying Cassandra. He glanced at the lorry outside the entrance. "Asiide from my weapon in the front. The truck and the contents in back are for the town." He then began following Maureen.

"I will sort it Sir," Gema assured as she smirked at the man as Maureen led the way to a cosy cottage near the middle of town, opposite the local garage and what used to be the post office. "Through the kitchen into the living area," Maureen explained as she unlocked the door.

Nathan did as instructed and then gently placed Cassandra on the couch. He noticed she was significantly lighter than she appeared. He wasn't a doctor, but if he had to hazard a guess, she was probably malnourished from her trek across England. He paused to look out the window then turned to Maureen. "Doesn't this town have a doctor?"

“We have a doctor. She’s on her way.” Maureen said fussing in wrapping the woman up in blankets before she stoked up the fire to warm up the room more. “She’s so thin and pale. I have never seen her like this before. She has never been the type to cry,”

Nathan went to the window and peered outside. What was taking so long, he thought. He felt helpless to help. He was a naval officer and he did not like feel this way.

Maureen knelt by Cassandra as she heard the door open again. “Juliet?” Maureen called.

Juliet entered the living room and rushed to Cassandra's side. She began taking vitals and performed a cursory inspection of the woman. She began pulling things out of her backpack. She looked at Nathan "You, sailor. Come here and hold this up." Nathan approached and had an IV bag shoved into his hand. Juliet attached a tube and, after finding a vein, inserted a needle into Cassandra's forearm.

The woman winced but said nothing as she closed her eyes. “Oh Cass. It’s okay rest my girl. Your father would be so happy to see you home and here.” Maureen whispered caressing her hair out of her face and wiping her tear streaked face.

Nathan remained silent, observing the everything happening. He finally turned to Juliet. "Is Ms. Lennox going to be okay."

Juliet looked up at Nathan. "I don't know for sure. Probably, but I will need to perform a complete examination and run a few tests to be sure. Unfortunately the clinic isn't equipped to run all the tests I'd like."

Nathan nodded. Hospitals and clinics had been the first places overrun by the undead. Any not overrun had been the first thing looted during the fall. He glanced at Maureen. "I am Second officer aboard the Europa. It's a modified cruise ship that was tasked with providing assistance to coastal communities whenever possible. We were operating out of Portsmouth until a destoyer captain went rogue and took control. We have a fully equipped sickbay, with surgical and diagnostic suites. If I can get it here we might have everything Ms. Lennox needs."

Maureen looked at the man surprised but now understood why Cassandra would have brought them here. They used to get small cruise ships to visit them on random routes, they were small but those ships had been the life blood. “I only have one vote but why would you do that for her?”

Nathan sighed. "Europa needs something as well. A safe home port with which to operate from. A place we can do repairs on the ship, allow the crew to rest between cruises. We can contribute to your community. Our only other option is Kingston-on-the-Hull in the Humbar Estatuary. The Captain would prefer a deep water harbour with a defensible seaward approach. Thistledrift is ideal in that regards."

"Kingston-on-the-Hull is gone." A voice said from the doorway. A young woman stood there. "I'm Lola. I um... I run the radio station we have here. Father Aldridge is waiting to hear news." She admitted she had been sent to see what was happening, as she was less of a nuisance.

Nathan turned to the newcomer standing in the doorway. He wanted to know what she knew, now wasn’t the time though.

“Of course he does. I suspect Garrett is with him too?” Maureen asked pressing a kiss to her daughter’s temple. “Stay here Nathan. I will be back soon.” She assured him. Lola offered a smile as she came into the room more watching what Juliet was doing.

Nathan eyed Lola with curiosity. "You're the one we spoke with on the radio yesterday." It wasn't a question. Just a statement.

“Yes.” Lola stated quietly. “And she is the woman I spoke to?” She answered back just as matter as factly as she held her hand out for the IV line. They could take turns for a moment.

Juliet continued her examination of Cassandra as best she could. She could feel padding on
Cassandra's stomach. She slipped a hand discretely under the bottom of the sweater and felt gauze. She wanted to do a full body examination, but the living room was not the best place to conduct one. "Let's let Cassandra rest here for a bit. Perhaps move her to her bedroom in an hour." She gestured to a coat tree by the front door. "If you bring the coat tree over, we can hang the IV bag on that."

Nathan immediately moved to comply with Juliet’s suggestion. He took the IV bag back from Lola, hanging it on one of the coat prongs.

Lola offered a smile to the much older man before she looked to Juliet. “Do you need anything fetching?” She wondered hoping that Cassandra was okay when her dad had spoken all the time about his daughter who had gotten out of the small village and lived down south.

Nathan realized that he was probably more likely to be in the way than actually useful at the moment. He turned to Juliet. "I will wait outside on the porch for my radio operator. If you're in need of anything just let me know." He then exited the house and took a seat on the steps.

Juliet stood up. "We should give Cassandra some space for now. Then move her to her room in a half hour or so."

“Let’s hope Maureen persuades the council to allow his ship in,” Lola commented as she sat down on the couch opposite looking at the unconscious woman.

Juliet nodded. Having the Europa home port at Thistledrift would provide s mesns to acquire supplies and equipment not available locally. Having the skill sets of mechanics and electricians would come in handy. "I agree. There's a lot we need that a ship that size could get."

 

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