Victoria's Challenge

  “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.

  “Not 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, her 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.

  “It will grow back.”

  “I know it’s just hard. It’s all hard.”

  “But it will get easier, they’re getting better Victoria,” He turns her to face him. “And once we get them back to Carina, they’ll be better still.” Vivid green eyes meet his they are rested and clear.

  “I know.” Victoria wraps her arms around his waist, resting a cheek on his chest. “I need to get back to them.”

  “You need to eat first.”

  “I will in medical.”

  “Victoria….” He tips her face up.

  “I promise I will, I just need to check them first. Will you be on the flight deck?”

  “Working on the Phoenix.” He knows what she’s doing, trying to distract him. “I’ll bring you something from the mess.”

  “Lucas….”

  “I’ve had to watch you exhaust yourself, knowing it’s what you needed to do, but not now!” He pulls her to her toes. “Now, I will take care of you!” Lifting her, he captures her lips in a hard possessive kiss.

  Wrapping her legs around his waist, Victoria sinks into him. She could have lost him yesterday. Could have never felt this way again, so she wouldn’t take it for granted. Pulling his shirt off, she attacks his chest with hot quick kisses.

  “Victoria…” Lucas groans as her passion washes over him. Sliding his hands under her robe, he grips bare skin, grinding against her. Talented fingers slide down, releasing him, guiding him to her entrance. With one thrust, Lucas fills her to his hilt. Holding her still, he tries to regain control.

  “I need you Lucas.” Green eyes burn into his. “I need you.” Capturing his lips, she wraps her arms around his head, breaking what little control he has left. Bracing her against the wall Lucas withdrawals to fill her again and again, passion and need rules now. Passion for his life mate, need to mate with her, to satisfy her, completely.

  “I’ve got you, Victoria…” Violet eyes, nearly black with desire, blaze into hers as he increases the pace. “Let go.” Leaning down, he captures a taut nipple and feeds. Victoria tightens viciously around him as he suckles her. Feeling her trembling, Lucas knows her release is close.

  “Yes, oh god Lucas, yes….” Throwing her head back, she groans as her entire existence has shrunk down to this one moment with this man. This is all that matters. Lucas. Her body explodes. Feeling her release, Lucas thrusts one last time emptying himself into her.

  Breathing heavily, he lifts his head, looking at his life mate. Her pale skin is flushed with satisfaction, her swollen lips pa
rted as she tries to catch her breath. Green eyes slowly open to meet his and in them, is his world.

  “I love you, Victoria.” The joy his words bring her easily read in her eyes.

  “I love you, Lucas. I always have.” Giving him a gentle kiss, she lays her head on his shoulder.

  “I’ll bring you a meal.” Lucas tells her again, once they’re dressed. Looking at him, she understands his need, knows he struggled on the Phoenix, wanting to care for her. She needs to let him care for her now.

  “Okay. I wouldn’t mind eating. For some reason, I’m hungry.” She gives him an impish grin as she finishes pulling on her boots.

  “I’ll have to make sure you're satisfied then.” Lucas smiles back.

  “Oh you have, trust me.” Standing, she walks up to him to caress his cheek. Holding it against him, he kisses her palm.

  “I plan on keeping you that way. Come on, I’ll walk you to medical.” Eyes watch the pair as they walk the Retribution’s corridors, whispers following them. Had they really been to Earth? Was it really the Queen’s family in medical? The Phoenix is all but destroyed. Rumor has it, Chamberlain refused a direct order from the Admiral, had actually ordered him to launch the Blades, had single handedly saved Hawk. Entering medical they head directly back to her family, finding three empty beds, Victoria panics.

  “Lucas…”

  “There’s an explanation, don’t panic.” He puts a reassuring hand on her back. “Magnes!” Lucas turns back to the main treatment room but instead, he sees Gabor quickly approaching them.

  “Major, we moved the Royal Family into the private treatment area.” Victoria immediately heads to it. Entering, she finds her family awake, sitting up, eating first meal. Lucas sees her relax.

  “Thank you, Gabor.” Victoria turns grateful eyes to her friend.

  “No problem, Tori.” Smiling she walks away.

  “I’ll go get you first meal.” Lucas leans down giving her a quick kiss. “Then you can eat with them.”

  “Okay, thank you.” Turning, she goes to her family.

  “Is it true Major?” Entering the line, Lucas looks up to see Kip.

  “Is what true Kip?” he asks.

  “Tori’s family is on-board? That you rescued them from Earth?” Hard eyes met Kip’s, revealing nothing. “Sir?” Looking around, Kip realizes there are many ears listening.

  “I need a meal to go Kip, all her favorites, load it up.” Lucas can’t help but return the smile that breaks across the big man’s face.

  “Yes sir! A loaded meal to go!” Humming, Kip sets to work.

  Reading the charts, Victoria is satisfied that her time away from her family hasn’t set them back. Brett and her father slept nearly the whole time and her mother had only one attack that while short, had produced a great deal of matter. Magnes’ treatment is working. Smiling, she looks at Brett.

  “So how’d that taste?” She looks at his empty bowl.

  “Okay. When can I try those nugget things again?” Amber eyes met hers.

  “You ready to try them again?” She’s surprised she didn’t think he’d ever want them again.

  “They were good!”

  “I’ll talk to Dr Magnes, see what he thinks. Maybe second meal.”

  “Okay.” She can tell he’s disappointed.

  “Anything else I need to know? Anything hurt?”

  “No, can I go look around?”

  “No, you need to stay in this room, at least for right now, okay?”

  “Okay.” He says sullenly, shaking her head, she walks over to her parents, her father sitting in a chair next to Cyndy’s bed.

  “How are you two doing?” Looking at their cups, she finds them empty. “More?”

  “That’s our second already.” Peter tells her and watches a big smile break across his daughter’s face.

  “Really? That’s awesome! Maybe we’ll try something more solid for second meal.”

  “You look better.” Cyndy gives Victoria a knowing woman’s look that has her blushing.

  “I slept really well.” Peter looks at his two women and Cyndy squeezes his hand. “I’m going to talk to the Admiral, see if we can’t find you private quarters until we leave for Carina.”

  “How long?” Peter had followed yesterday’s conversation.

  “I don’t know yet, dad. Lucas is going to be heading to the flight deck shortly to start repairs.”

  “Why isn’t he there now?” Peter demands.

  “Because, I’m getting Victoria’s first meal.” Lucas tells him as he enters the room, setting the covered tray down, he gives Peter a hard look. Nodding Peter backs down.

  “Kip made you that tray himself, you’d better eat it all, or his feeling will be hurt.” Victoria raises an eyebrow and walks over to the tray, removing the cover she gasps.

  “Who the hell did you tell him he was feeding? Half the Fleet?” As she turns, Peter sees the over flowing tray and he has to cover his mouth.

  “Just a hungry woman.”

  “Yeah right.” Victoria covers the tray. “Dad wants to know how long until the Phoenix is repaired.”

  “I don’t know yet. Lorre is starting her evaluation as we speak.”

  “Can you spare her? How many Blades did you lose?”

  “A total of twelve,” He sees the fear in her eyes. “None from my squadron, it would have been much worse if you hadn’t warned the Fleet.” He caresses her cheek. “Lorre’s the best. The High Admiral demanded the best for the Royal Family. That’s what he’ll get, unless you want to argue with him again?”

  “I didn’t argue. I just pointed out the fact that I wasn't one of his crew so he couldn't order me around,” Victoria argues back getting a smile from Lucas.

  “If that’s what you need to tell yourself, you do that.”

  “Hey!” Victoria slugs his shoulder playfully.

  “I need to get to the flight deck. Eat. I’ll stop by later.” Giving her a quick hard kiss, he’s gone. Turning back to her father, she sees his frown.

  “Get over it dad. He’s mine.” Picking up her tray, she walks over to Brett’s bed. “Willing to help me with this?”

  “What is all that?” Brett looks at it curiously.

  “Lots of different things, let’s see what you like.” After nearly a half hour of Victoria eating and Brett trying small bites, they make a good dent in the tray.

  “Well I don’t know about you, but I’m full.” Brett nods, moving the tray away as Victoria stands and stretches.

  “Chamberlain.” She turns to Magnes as he enters the room. “Transmission for you.” He hands her a headset. She knows who this is. Looking at her father, she puts it on.

  “Chamberlain.”

  “Victoria Lynn Chamberlain! I am furious with you! If you were here right now, I would knock you on your ass! You had no right to have William keep this from me!”

  “Aunt Cassie...”

  “Once your back here, you are so grounded!”

  “I think I’m too old for that…”

  “Oh I don’t think so young lady!”

  “Aunt Cassie… there’s someone here you need to speak to…”

  “What?????”

  Taking off the headset, Victoria sets it on her father’s head and looking into his eyes nods.

  “Cassie?”

  “Peter??? Oh God! Peter???” Victoria can hear Cassandra’s voice break. She hopes Uncle William is with her. Peter’s hand gropes for Cyndy’s as Victoria walks over to Brett.

  “Who is that?” Brett whispers, watching his father’s eyes well up.

  “That’s Queen Cassandra Qwes Zafar, your aunt, dad’s baby sister.” Victoria gives him a smile. “Just like you’re my baby brother.” Victoria pokes him in the ribs. “Dad’s nine cycles older than Aunt Cassie, just like I am you.” Victoria pauses she’d never realized that before.

  “What’s wrong with dad?”

  “It’s just…. he thought she was dead, she thought he was, that mom was. She didn’t even know
you’d been born. She’s going to be really happy to see all you.”

  “Really?”

  “Really.”

  “Tori?”

  “Yeah?” She can see he has a question.

  “What’s a Queen?” Victoria’s eyes widen. She’d never thought…. hadn’t considered….

  “Brett? What did you do in the shelter?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Can you read?”

  “You mean like books?”

  “Yes.”

  “Mom taught me the alphabet, but there weren’t that many books.” Victoria’s mind starts to fly. She could help with this. Brett had already shown he was smart, she’ll get him reading, and the world would open up for him.

  “Queen is someone who rules a lot of people. Basically, it is her job to make sure people are protected and treated fairly. Aunt Cassie is a very good Queen. She cares about her people, she’ll fight for them.”

  “Victoria.” Looking up, she sees her father handing her the headset.

  “Aunt Cassie?” Victoria puts the headset on.

  “Thank you, Victoria.” She can hear the trembling in her Aunt’s voice.

  “Is Uncle William there?” she demands.

  “Yes, he’s here. But you and I need to talk.”

  “I agree but not now. You need some time, time with Uncle William. We’ll talk Aunt Cassie, I’ll tell you everything but first you need to rest, you need to take care of my niece.”

  “What? How could you possibly know?” Victoria smiles on her end.

  “Aunt Cassie, I’m a doctor, I know you. I know how you act when you’ve conceived. That it’s a girl…. well, I’ll let Uncle William explain that one. I love you.”

  “I love you too. Contact me when you have time to talk.”

  “I will. Hug Uncle William for me, I was kind of hard on him yesterday.” Pulling off the headset, she looks at her family. Her mother and father are quietly talking while Brett watches her.

  “How are you holding up?” She walks over to them.

  “I know you said she was alive but until I heard her voice….” Peter’s throat tightens back up.

  “It was the same for her. Mom?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Can Brett read?”