15 Check (2)

"So, Pace let's start with you...Why were you in the engine room?"

Once everyone was seated, the Commander instantly started the interrogation. His fleet had become a circus, a person was injured, and worst of all he felt not in control.

"A couple of days ago Kara bumped into me, she looked scared. I stopped her from running off, thinking it might have something to do with the engines..." Pace stole a look at Lila sitting across from him. Though it was supposed to seem inconspicuous, it was picked up by everyone in the room.

"...she said she was having a hard time with her friend, her friend was becoming someone she didn't know anymore. I suggested she finish the work herself and handle the problem with her friend afterward. Even though she nodded her head yes, I could tell from her eyes that Kara still going to work her." Pace pointed his chin towards Lila's way.

Listening to the story, Lila supposes this was Kara's plan to deal with her once she finished fixing the ships, she just didn't know if this "Pace" guy is part of it.

The Commander gesture for Pace to continue.

"Yesterday, when I went to visit Kara in the engine room, I found no one there. Later on, I saw her at a cafeteria. I asked if I could see some of her work, she agreed...When we got there and ran some diagnostic tests, we discovered that someone was tampering with the equipment. Kara was furious, she said Lila had been making mistakes after mistakes..."

"That is a lie! How could I have been making mistakes when I'm the one who fixed the engines!" Lila might not know who this person was, but she now knew he was working with Kara.

"Sit down!" Thomas' voice wasn't loud, yet it made sweat appear on Lila's back.

Retaking her seat, Lila was aware that the Commander might actually believe these lies.

Pace smirked at Lila's outburst, he knew once he calls in to question her work ethics, like any hardworking person she would be confrontational.

"Continue."

"Yes, sir." Clearing his throat, Pace adjusted his seating to face the Commander, removing Lila from the interrogation.

"After we had found the mistakes, Kara let it be known that Lila was once a good friend who she trusted with her whole life, but Lila's attitude towards her changed when Kara won her ticket...I once again suggested to her to pull Lila off the assignment before she does something that puts everyone's lives at risk...She agreed, saying she would speak with Lila the next morning, which is today..."

Pace asked if he could get glass water. Secretary Jun bought him a glass, and after seeing him drink a third of it, Thomas told him the continue.

"This morning I found a letter on my room door from Kara."

Pace pulled out a piece of paper that was stuffed inside his pocket.

Secretary Jun took the piece of paper, smoothed it out and passed it to Thomas.

On the piece of paper, Thomas found Kara's handwriting explaining Lila tempering with the engines, and how she felt she let everyone down. And in the morning if Pace could not find her, he was to find the Commander for help. Meaning Kara felt that her life was in danger.

Thomas gave the paper back to Secretary Jun so he can pass it to Lila.

Once Lila read the letter she felt hot and cold at the same time. She knew this didn't look good for her, Kara was once again five steps ahead of her.

"...It was Kara who taught you how to fix the problem with the engines just now...?"

"No. Yesterday when Kara and I were looking over the engines together, I noticed the air flow was wrong and corrected it. Today, when I heard the alarms go off, I knew Lila did it again. That is how I knew what to fix."

At the end of Pace's recount, the whole room went quiet. All the soldiers knew this was serious. If found guilty this girl's punishment would not be light. Everyone was looking at the Commander when the room door open.

"Sir, Miss Kara is awake." One of the soldiers who transported Kara to sickbay came back with the news.

"What is her condition?"

"Trauma to the head and blood loss. They gave her a blood transfusion and sutures. She woke up a few moments ago."

"Bring her here."

"Yes, sir." The soldier left again to get Kara.

Thomas turned towards another soldier. "Bring Pace back to his room, he is not allowed to leave without my direct order."

"Yes, sir."

The soldier escorted Pace from the room, leaving Lila by herself at the table.

"So, Lila care to explain your side of the story?