Waking Up On The Europa

Posted on Fri Jun 12th, 2026 @ 8:42pm by Nathan Crawford & Cassandra Lennox

1,306 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Before

Cassandra woke with a start as she realised she was in a brightly lit room. She instantly came awake, remembering where she had woken up in a brightly lit room before. She looked down at herself, dressed in a hospital gown, before she took in the room that she was in. It was a metal-walled room that had several other beds, but it was silent other than the beeping of the monitor next to her and the drip of the IV line.

Where the hell was she? Hadn't she just got back to Thristledrift? She slowly stood up and ripped the IV out, frowning at the pain and the sound from the monitor as she took that off.

A nurse entered the treatment area when the monitor alarms sounded. He looked at the woman and grabbed several gauze pads for the minor bleeding on Cassandra's arm where she had removed the IV needle. "Apply direct pressure. Have a seat and I'll get the doctor for you."

Cassandra looked at the man and backed up several steps as the man came towards her. She glanced down at the blood running down her arm and took the gauze. “Where am I?” She demanded refusing to sit down despite how unsteady she felt.

The male nurse glanced from Cassandra to the door and back again. "You are aboard the SS Europa. A cruise ship that is jointly operated by the Royal Navy and British Merchant Navy. Erm, if you don't mind waiting a moment. I'm under orders to get the ship's doctor as soon as you regained consciousness." The nurse turned and stepped out.

Less than a minute passed, when a man wearing a white lab coat arrived along with Commander Crawford and Cassandra’s mother.

Cassandra instantly took a deep breath as she saw the pair come in. She sat back on the bed and relaxed as her mum was there. "Oh my dear." Maureen said, gathering Cassandra in her arms. She had no time for doctors at that moment she just needed to reassure her daughter.

Nathan placed a hand on the doctor’s shoulder, silently communicating to allow mother and daughter a moment. The doctor acquiesced, standing back and giving the two women time.

Maureen held the woman for a few moments, offering whispered words until the woman settled down and would not need a sedative. "She is all yours, doctor," Maureen said gently as the woman curled up on the surgical bed.

The ship's doctor approached and gave Cassandra an examination that took several minutes. "Well, there are no signs of infection, though you have scarring on your abdomen. Appears to be from a knife attack a few weeks ago."

"Yes," Cassandra confirmed as Maureen stepped away to provide some privacy to the woman. She had always been a private person as a teenager, and more so now, she would not want her mum interfering or knowing too much there and then.

The doctor moved off to record a few notes.

Nathan stepped up and nodded, a friendly smile on his face. "Feeling better, Miss Lennox?"

"I thought we had come to an agreement that it was Cassandra?" Cassandra asked quickly, putting on her mask that would protect her mum from the realities of what happened. "But yes, I am... I believe I have you to thank for catching me? I am sorry that you saw me at my weakest."

Nathan wore an expression of soft admiration for Cassandra. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Miss Len...Cassandra. You also have no need to thank me. I'm just glad I was in a position to help. You made a journey across England to rejoin your family. That's a miracle considering the state of the world at the moment."

Cassandra smiled a little as she stood up awkwardly, trying to keep the gown closed. "I am guessing you got your port as I am onboard your ship?" She questioned, grabbing up the other gown, putting it on so she could move without fearing she was going to show her butt or more off.

Nathan shrugged and nodded. "Seems that way. Captain Skye is ashore right now discussing terms with the town council. Hopefully a mutually beneficial accord can be struck."

The doctor returned to find Cassandra on her feet. He didn’t frown, just released a sigh. He stepped over to a locked cabinet and extracted two bottles. Then stepped out of the room. He stepped over to Maureen and handed her the bottles one at a time, explaining what each contained. "This first bottle has a seven day supply of antibiotics I want your daughter to take. The second is painkillers to take as needed. If she doesn't use all of them, she can return the unused pills next week. She needs to stay hydrated, avoid caffeine and alcohol for the next week and try and rest in bed as much as possible."

Maureen glanced at her daughter and took both bottles knowing fall well that she would not take the painkillers but she would try and get her to rest. “Did you hear all of that girl?” Maureen called to the woman who was looking at Nathan intrigued.

“I did mum.” The young woman said turning to look at her.

“Are you going to listen or are you staying here?” Maureen challenged.

“I think I can do that if I’m allowed to leave.” Cassandra asked looking at the doctor before looking at the Commander. “Let’s hope they vote favourably.”

“They will.” Maureen assured. “There is strength in numbers and working with NATO and what remains of the government.” Her husband would never forgive her if she did not at least attempt to.

The doctor gestured to a cabinet. "You will find your clothes in there and I will have your discharge form signed by the time you're done getting dressed. You can pick it up at the nurse's station when you're ready." The doctor then disappeared.

Nathan hitched a thumb over his shoulder. "I'll wait at the nurses station with your mum and then escort you pierside."

Cassandra nodded and quickly grabbed up her clothes. They were clean and pressed and there was a bag with them and a note from Gema connected to it. She would look properly later but she was relieved to see deodorant in the bag.

He departed the treatment bay with Maureen and turned to the older Lennox woman at the nurse's station. "I have only known your daughter for about 24 hours now, but I must say. She is certainly a woman of strong character and conviction." He felt a growing admiration for the woman now dressing in the other room.

Maureen looked up at the man and laughed a little. “I used to see that look in teenagers who turned up at my door wanting to speak to the pretty mechanic.” She chuckled thinking of how Cassandra had used to help her fathers in the mechanics and got a reputation for making the boys annoyed for being better at that type of thing before she had gone off to university.

Nathan looked from Maureen to the door behind which Cassandra was getting dressed. He turned back to Maureen. "No. It's nothing like that. I'm not attracted to your daughter like that. Not that she isn't attractive, erm...uh...she is quite attractive. I was simply admiring her strong sense of character. You're daughter is a remarkable woman in that regard."

Maureen just laughed and patted the man’s shoulder. “Of course not dear.” She said as Cassandra came out shouldering the bag and tying up her long hair as she went.

“What have you been talking about?” She wondered seeing woman’s glee and the man’s embarrassment.

“Your sense of character.” Maureen said simply.

 

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