Chương 10: Kara's Theory (3)

On her way back to her room, Kara received strange looks from everyone she passed. Opening the door to her room Kara went straight into her bag and pulled out her makeup to conceal the mark on her face, she couldn't believe Lila hit her.

"If she thinks I owe her something, I make her regret ever having that thought."

Finish applying the makeup Kara exited the room refreshed and ready to meet the Commander.

____

"We have been stuck drifting in space for hundred days, and all that will get us moving is a cleaning?"

Kara couldn't believe all Pace could come up with was to clean the engines, even she knew not to give such a sorry ass explanation.

Not going to spare his feeling, Kara laughed out loud with the Commander.

Feeling Pace's glaring at her, Kara didn't back down and stared straight at Pace with a coy glare of her own.

The tension between the two could be felt by everyone in the room.

Finished with his laughter, the Commander had secretary Jun, bring the two back from their own world to the subject at hand. Competition is all well and good, but pressing issues comes first.

*Cough Cough*

"Kara, do you know why the engines have failed?" Secretary Jun took the hint from the General, steering the room back towards the matters at hand.

"Actually, I do. However, I need to speak with the Commander General alone, if possible, about it." Kara replaced the coy look she threw at Pace, with a very obedient scholarly look for the Commander.

The Commander has always been very astute by nature, so he saw the quick change in Kara's eyes when she faced him. This made his assumptions of Kara jump from prey to predator.

"Sure. You two are dismissed."

Pace wanted to demand he should stay since Kara got to hear their theories, but the Commander's tone broke no room for arguments.

Leading Pace and Kai to the door, before returning to the General's side Secretary Jun, wondered what could be so secretive about the engines that she wanted to tell him in private.

With only the three of them left inside the room, the silence in the room was deafening. The Commander didn't urge her, he just sat there quietly waiting for Kara to speak.

Kara took a breath and calmed her nerves, she had played this act a hundred times before although never in front of someone as formidable as like the Commander.

"Commander General, I have a theory on why the engines have failed, but I need extra hands to put my hypothesis to the test..."

"There are over a thousand crew members here at your disposal."

*Cough* "...yes, that is true, but I was wondering if I can have some friends help me with this plan I have...I would feel more comfortable with them by my side than people I haven't work with before."

"You have worked with these people before...on what? And why haven't I heard about them?" The Commander gave a sharp looked at Secretary Jun, wondering if he was slipping, could he have possibly missed such an essential people?

"Oh, just a couple of school projecting, and research papers..." Kara didn't want to oversell Lila's use to the Commander, she was the genius after all.

"Kara, we can't have a bunch of unauthorized people inside the engine room. I understand the need you intellectuals have for secrecy, but I will not allow the engine room to become a playground for your friends." The Commander was growing irritated with this conversation.

Feeling ecstatic the Commander was playing right into her hands, Kara knew all she had to do now was seal the deal.

"Okay, how about just one person then. We will have the engines up and running by the end of the month!"

"A month?..." Hearing that in a month they can be on their way, really made the Commander perk up.

The Commander ran calculations in his head, then looking towards his secretary him his thoughts.

"If we can leave by the end of this week it would be even better.."

Kara's ears jumped at what was said.

"Did he just say by the end on this week? Is he crazy!" Kara thought to herself.

"En, you're right...Okay, I'll give you your friend as long as you can get the engines running by the end of the week." The Commander stood up from his seat to leave.

"Sir! Sir, your not giving us much time to..."

"Kara." The Commander's tone as he stopped in front of the door was the same tone he gave when he dismissed Pace and Kai from the room.

"You told me you have a plan to solve the engines. Whether I give you a month or your friend you still have to fix them, correct?... Besides, do I need to stress to you how important it is that we get back on course? Take my kindness while I'm giving it to you."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

"Oh, and Kara if you can't fix the engines...well I don't need to tell you what will happen to you if I find out you lied to me, do I?"

"No, sir!" There was no room for negotiation, Lila only had a week to find the problem and fix it, or she'll be in big trouble.

"Is there anything else?..."

"Umm...Commander, can you issue a direct command for her cooperation?" Kara knew she needed to use the Commander's power to control Lila, or else she'll never help her.

Both the Commander and secretary Jun turned to face Kara, staring at her with curiosity written on their faces.

"Why is this needed for your friend?"

Ah! Well, you see Lila use to follow me, but after people pushed me into the spotlight she started to become jealous, and we grew apart. She really justs wants recognition from everyone. So, I thought this would be the perfect way to help her achieve some credit, I hope you can help me with this little request..." Kara said with a sweet innocent smile gracing her face.

"Sure, It's an easy request...Secretary Jun, I'll leave it to you."

"Yes, sir.

"Is that it?..." The Commander looked at Kara.

"Yes, I'll get started on those engines immediately. I won't disappoint you, sir." Kara said as the Commander and Secretary Jun left the room.

"All that time I wasted on convincing and putting up with her attitude, I could have made it much easier on myself and ordered her to be my assistant..." Kara walked out of the conference room with her head held high.

_____

Inside his office, Tomas sat behind his desk looking over files, as Secretary Jun stood in front of him with a pondering face.

"Sir?...If I may ask you a question?"

You want to know why I choose to entrain Kara in her lies?...."

"Yes, sir." Jun nodded his head.

"....because she promised me fixed engines, and the engines top priority right now...." Thomas stood up from his chair and walked to the floor to ceiling windows in his office.

"....after they are fixed though..." Thomas laughed as he thought about the audacity Kara had to lie straight to his face.