Victoria's Challenge (35 page)

There is a pause on the other end
. “Then what?”

“Sir,” Lucas looks at Quinn
. “I don’t know what happened next. All I know is I was engaging multiple Strikers, my Raptor down to eight percent when the Phoenix appeared taking out multiple targets and obtaining strikes against numerous battle ships. Reinforcements appeared within thirty seconds.”

“Eight percent
, Major?” Only Quinn hears the alarm in the High Admiral’s voice.

“Yes sir
, I had barely broken off my attack when I lost all power.”

“And….
” William’s voice is tight, thinking of how close he’d come to losing his first born.

“Sir
… I’m not sure you want to know.”

“Major!”

“Sir,” Lucas could no longer speak to the High Admiral. “Dad, Victoria shot in front of me, opened the cargo bay doors of the Phoenix and hit the brakes.” Lucas looks at Quinn. “It should never have worked. It should have killed us all, but I’m here.”

“Victoria?”

“Currently working in medical.”

“Admiral, I need to speak with her
. I need to know what the Regulians have.”

“Understood
, High Admiral.”

“Dad…
. She’s running on little to no sleep for the last five days.”

“Understood
, but there are bigger concerns here. What if there is another hidden fleet? Admiral, set it up, I’ll give you fifteen.”

“Yes
, High Admiral.” Quinn disconnects. “Lucas we’re heading to medical.”

“God damn
it, Quinn! She’s exhausted! She’s trying to keep her family alive!”

“And the High Admiral is trying to
do the same for the rest of us!”

People step aside as the Admiral and Zafar head to medical. The look in their eyes daring someone to stop them.

“Magnes!
” The Admiral enters medical.

“They are this way
, Admiral.” Lucas leads him to the curtained area. Stepping behind it, he finds Victoria, her head lying on her mother’s bed, holding her hand. She’s finally asleep.

“Can’t this wait?
” Lucas whispers.

“Lucas?
” Victoria raises her head at his voice and Quinn is shocked at what he sees. She is pale and more than exhausted, it hurt his heart to see her so, but the three on the beds shock him more.

“Victoria, the High Admiral needs to speak with you.
” Quinn tells her.

“What?
” Lucas can see she doesn’t understand.

“Victoria!
” Quinn makes his voice harsh. “You need to report!” At his aggression, he sees a man rise behind her. He is pale, malnourished, and obviously weak but he rises nonetheless.

“Who the fuck are you!
”

Victoria’s head whips around
. “Dad! It’s fine. This is Admiral Tar. He’s in command the Coalition Fleet.”

“Not doing a ve
ry good job from what I’ve seen.” Amber eyes clash with violet.

“Chamberlain?
” Quinn looks to Lucas. “Peter Chamberlain?”

“Yes.
” Lucas answers him. Slowly Quinn walks up to him.

“It is a
privilege to finally meet you sir.” The Admiral holds out his hand. Peter looks first to Victoria and then Lucas who nods. Peter shakes the Admiral’s hand. He doesn’t understand this.

“Admiral, what do you need?
” Magnes enters the curtained off area.

“The High Admiral needs to speak with Victoria
. I need your secure link.” Nodding, Magnes turns to his office. Quinn watches as Lucas leans over to whisper in Victoria’s ear, sees her nod. Turning, she checks the tiny pale woman still sleeping on the bed readjusts the respirator then walks around to check the boy. When Magnes returns, she walks over to Lucas.

Peter watches as Magnes sets some type of device down on the counter
. The Admiral walks over, presses some buttons then steps back.

“High Admiral, I’m with Victoria.”

“Report Chamberlain!” The High Admiral demands.

“Excuse me?
” Victoria raises an eyebrow. Her tone, as icy as a queen’s. She is tired, her family is still at risk, and she’s had enough.

“Report!”

“I am
not
one of your men, High Admiral, you can’t give me orders!” Lucas puts a warning hand on her back.

“Damn it
, Victoria, I need to know what happened.”

“Then
ask
.” She hears him take a deep breath.

“
How you were able to identify and destroy the Regulian’s new technology.”

“Once we started our run to the Retribution
, we were able to observe the entire Regulian Fleet. They were flying in an unusually tight formation. In front of them was an extremely strange looking ship, unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”

“You believe you’ve seen all the Regulian ships?
” The High Admiral questions.

“I’ve studied all available data on the Re
gulians, High Admiral,
and
the unavailable. I have a vested interest in knowing them.”

“Yes you do
. Continue.”

“Once we passed the ship
, we encounter the energy pulse again. Passing through, we made our run to warn the Retribution. Once done, we returned to assist Hawk.”

“How did you take out the technology?”

“I didn’t, I was busy flying. My father did.”

“Excuse me?
” All eyes in the room turn to Peter.

“My father was in the co-pilot seat, I need
ed extra eyes. He concurred that the lead ship must be creating the energy pulse. He used the co-pilots weapon controls and took it out. I concentrated on the Battle Ships and assisting Hawk. My father is an expert shot, High Admiral.”

“
So Cassandra’s informed me on more than one occasion. Were you able to discover anything that would help us in detecting them?”

“I haven’t been able to dow
nload the data yet, High Admiral. I’ve been a little busy.”

“Data
? What data!” The High Admiral demands.

“I engaged all reco
rders as soon as I saw the Regulian formation. It’s on the Phoenix.”

“Admiral!”

“I’ll see to it immediately, High Admiral.”

“Victoria…
. How are you?” William finally lets the personal in.

“I’m okay, the flying lessons came in handy
. Sorry about the Phoenix.”

“What?”

“I kind of beat her up. The good news is, you can tell Leander to increase the red line.”

“You pushed
her past the red line?” William asks in a deceptively quiet voice.

“Just a little.”

“How far, Victoria Lynn?”

“9.2.”

“Fuck!”

“How’s Aunt Cassie?
” Victoria tries to distract him.

“Still in the dark
. Feeling big. She is going to be
pissed
.”

“Dad, it’s going to be awhile before we can head to Carina.
” Lucas interjects.

“Why?
” He demands.

“
Victoria isn’t exaggerating. The Phoenix is going to need extensive repairs before it’s ready to fly again. We blew out the fluid lines. They need replaced and refilled before she’s ready to fly.”

“You lost your lines?”

“The last of the fluid came out on the flight deck.” Silence greets his statement.

“Victoria…
. your family…. how are they?”

“Doing better every day…
” Victoria’s voice finally breaks. “Thank you, Uncle William.” Lucas pulls her into the comfort of his arms.

“
Not necessary. It’s family. We do whatever’s necessary to protect them.”

“When are you going to tell Aunt Cassie?”

“Once I’m back on planet. She has the right.”

“Yes, yes she does
. Have her contact me?”

“Oh trust me
. I won’t be able to stop her.” They can all hear the smile in his voice. “Magnes!”

“Yes
, High Admiral.”

“Do you have what you need to treat the Chamberlains?”

“Yes sir, Victoria made great progress before they arrived.”

“Good, they are Royals
, Magnes.”

“Understood
, High Admiral.”

“Quinn
, get me that data!”

“Yes
, High Admiral.”

“Victoria, you need to sleep.” The Admiral leaves to retrieve the data as Lucas tips her face to his.

“I need to stay with my family.”

“Victoria.” She turns at her father’s voice. “Do you trust Magnes?”

“Yes.”

“Then go sleep. We’ll be fine.” Lucas shoots Peter a grateful look.

“No
t until Magnes checks Lucas’ leg.” She tells Lucas her terms. Sighing heavily, he nods and looks to Magnes.

“Come on Major, let’s get you scanned and treated before she falls on her face.”

“Gee thanks.” Victoria mutters but watches them leave. “Dad…” She walks over to him.

“Why did you tell the High Admiral that?”

“Tell him what?”

“That I destroyed that
ship.”

“Because you did, I couldn’t have done it and flown at the same time
. It was your skills that saved the Fleet.”

“I
only pulled the trigger.”

“Someone had too
. Dad, your skills, they still have value here. I know things will be different from now on, but you still matter.”

“How did you realize….”

“Aunt Cassie felt the same way at first, so did I but there are a lot of similarities between Carina and Earth. A lot of differences too, but you will learn them. I’ve had nine cycles dad. Give yourself a break.”

“Cycles?”

“Years. On Carina it’s called cycles, it’s pretty much the same as on Earth. That in itself is amazing, considering Carina has three suns.”

“What?”

“I know but you’ll get used to it. It creates some amazing sunsets.” She turns as Lucas and Magnes return.

“He’s good
. I gave him another booster to be safe. You did a good job. No infection, no side effects.” Victoria releases a heavy sigh of relief.

“Come on Victoria, time to go.
” Lucas puts an arm around her waist. “Peter, we’ll see you later.”

“Take care of her.”

“I will.”

Waking slowly, Victoria discovers her body full of delightful little aches, groaning, her lips are quickly captured by Lucas. Feeling him at her entrance, she wraps her legs around him pulling him in.

“Victoria…
” Sinking into her, he savors every sensation. He never thought he’d experience this again, loving his life mate, they’d come so close to death. He
would
be dead if it wasn’t for her,
thousands
would be dead if not for her. Slowly withdrawing, he lifts his head to look at her. Deep green eyes search for him, locking on to violet. In them, he sees the love, the commitment and the desire…. for him. Lacing his fingers with hers, he sinks fully into her, feeling her surround him in hot wet heat.

“I love you
, Victoria, with everything I am, I am yours. You are my life. Accept me, all of me!” Suddenly passion held back breaks through.

“Lucas!
”

“Accept me!”
he demands.

“Yes!
” Her hips pump against him her, body tightening, seeking its release as she explodes around him, Lucas continues driving into her, giving her no rest.

“Again!
” His eyes are wild with the need to mate with her, to make her his forever. Feeling her body tightening again, he attacks her breasts, fiercely suckling them as his fingers attack her swollen nub.

“Lucas!
”

“Look at me!
” He growls when her eyes start to close. Unable to refuse him anything, she lets him see her soul. “You're mine, Victoria! For beyond forever!” With one last deep thrust, he takes them both to paradise.

“Let me.” Watching her attack her hair Lucas takes the brush from her. Looking at him in the mirror, Victoria can’t help but smile. The man loves to play with her hair. Thinking about her mother’s, the smile fades.

“What?
” Lucas senses the change in her.

“Mom, he
r hair used to be like this. How hard it must have been for dad to watch it fall out.” Lucas frowns, thinking about how he’d feel if it was Victoria.