Victoria's Challenge

  "Really?"

  "Yes and it is all because of you and Cyndy.” William gives him a serious look. "You were never replaced Peter, not by me, not by anyone, Victoria would never have allowed it, but she blessed me by calling me Uncle."

  "And we were blessed that she had you, you and Cassie.” Peter looks at William with clear eyes. "I couldn't have picked a better man then you, William, not for Victoria and not for Cassie. It would be an honor if you would walk with me to give our daughter away to the only man we will ever both agree, is good enough for her.” Peter holds out his hand and William immediately grips it.

  "The honor is mine, Peter, and if Lucas ever does something to upset her, I get first crack at him."

  "As long as you leave some for me.” Peter agrees.

  “How much longer?” Gad whines.

  “If you ask me that one more time, you little foabhor, I will eject you into the Relinquished Zone, fuck the credits!” Degas doesn’t know how much longer he’s going to be able to put up with this little foabhor. He’s done nothing but whined and complained for the last four days.

  “Come on Degas, it’s been like forever, I’m tired of being on this piece of shit, there’s no hot water, the beds suck and I want some real food not this crap.” He flings the ready-made packet aside, sounding like the spoiled brat he is, but he is also a dangerous one and Degas doesn’t forget that.

  “If you don’t like the food complain to your father. He’s the one who figured out how to forge orders. He's the one that chose this ship.”

  “Right, like he figured that out.” Gad sneers.

  “What are you talking about?” Degas gives him a sharp look.

  “My father doesn’t have the faintest idea how to forge an order. He only discovered it because of Oschofield.”

  “Oschofield?”

  “Yeah. Teaching at the Academy doesn’t earn a man as many credits as an Assemblyman, yet Oschofield didn’t suffer, in fact he was doing even better. My father got suspicious and discovered that Oschofield had a Private on the Bering that was forging supply orders then selling them on the black market.”

  “He didn’t get caught? Using the High Admiral’s signature?”

  “He didn’t use the High Admiral’s signature. The Private wasn’t stupid. He knew that would be double checked so he use some other name, one that was common and only take small quantities, that wouldn’t be missed. That changed when my father got involved.” Degas looks at Gad for a moment then turns back to the controls.

  “Thirty more minutes and we’re at Messene. I get my credits then I’m gone. You call daddy to come save your ass, and you both forget about me or I’ll make you pay. I’ll give those codes to the High Admiral then tell your father how I got them, if I even think you’re going to double cross me. Do you understand me, Gad?” The eyes Degas turns on Gad, lets him see Degas’ true hatred for him and his father.

  “Yes Degas. Perfectly. I’ll make sure my father understands too. No one will ever bother you again.”

  ‘Because you’ll be dead,' Gad thinks to himself.

  “Good, now buckle up and give me the landing coordinates.” As he does, Degas transmits them to the Coalition forces on the Messene.

  Cassandra’s eyes flash as she reads the data William’s obtained from Stannic’s files over the last few days. The man is insane. He truly thinks, with her death, that he will be named the first male ruler of the House of Knowledge.

  “I want him, William... him, Gad, Oschofield, all of them. I will not have this… this disease in my House. It goes beyond his threat to me, to Sabah, he threatens all of Carina.”

  “He does,” William agrees. “He was a strong supporter of Audric’s although he did it quietly.”

  “Is he in anyway involved with the latest Regulian attack?” she demands.

  “I don’t know yet, we’re still going through all the data, but secret meetings on Messene are never good.”

  “No. I expect you to keep me informed, High Admiral.” Cassandra looks to her husband and he understands what she is saying. The uninterrupted time, they’ve been able to have since her family’s return and the birth of their daughter is at an end. He needs to return to a more active role in his duties and that means leaving the Palace.

  “You will go nowhere without your Guard,” William orders.

  “I will stay inside the Palace, but I will also return to my duties.”

  “Cassandra…”

  “William, we didn’t hide from them before and we won’t hide now. I will take no unnecessary chances, not with myself, not with our children.” She puts a comforting hand on his cheek. “And neither will you or your wife will be very upset.”

  William’s mind is filled with everything that needs done as he heads to his office. Seeing Lucas and Peter, he finds himself smiling, yes this could work.

  “Captains my office.” He orders, missing Peter’s raised eyebrow at the use of his old rank but both follow. “Hamlin, have the Arrow prepped, I will be leaving for Bering shortly and hold all comms unless it’s an emergency,” he orders, walking into his office.

  “Yes High Admiral.” Hamlin immediately turns to his consul.

  “Close the door.” Moving behind his desk, William pulls out the files he wants to take with him. Things are going to happen quickly now and he needs to be prepared. “Sit.” He orders, gesturing to the chairs. Finally satisfied he has what he needs, he sits, seeing two well-trained men awaiting their orders.

  “There is a threat, to the Queen, to all of Carina.”

  The High Admiral selects a transmission and plays it.

  “Dad thinks he’s so smart. “He uses the moon cycle name then adds the name of someone he wants dead or who he’s killed. “See, we’re in the moon cycle of Nallag. It’s the cycle the Queen’s first son was born, Kayden. Therefore, the passcode is kaydennallagdeathtothetraitorsdescendents. He thinks the longer it is, the less chance anyone will figure it out.”

  “That’s Gad.” Lucas pales at the thought of what he’s hearing. How can his father remain so calm, this is his brother they are talking about, his father’s son!

  “Yes. That's Intel we’ve been able to receive because of you.” William looks at his first-born. “And the cooperation of Degas.”

  “Degas! You trust him?” Lucas demands.

  “So far. He’s given us invaluable information, given us Stannic’s codes. It’s nearly as bad as Audric.”

  “He’s been in contact with the Regulians?” Lucas can’t hide his shock.

  “Not that we can find. It all seems to be within the House of Knowledge, with him terrorizing those he should be protecting.”

  “Who’s Stannic?” Peter asks.

  “Assemblyman Rogue Stannic.” William replies, looking to Peter. "He is a powerful Assemblyman for the House of Knowledge. He's been quietly working against the Queen since her return. He feels she should be removed due to her not being born on Carina and her Union to me. That he should be named King.”

  “I thought only a female could rule the House of Knowledge.” Peter says.

  “Yes, Stannic thinks he can change that,” William informs him.

  “He has that much support?” Peter demands.

  “No, but he thinks he does.”

  “Then he’s crazy.”

  “Crazy dangerous, especially now that the heir has been born,” William informs him.

  “He’s lost his opportunity.” Peter frowns, instantly understanding.

  “Yes, so we have to proceed carefully. The Coalition can’t touch him, he's not a member of the Fleet, not unless we can prove he’s endangered the Coalition, and the Queen can only accuse him of treason if she has proof.”

  “And do you?” Peter demands.

  “Working on it. Lucas discovered his son, Gad, had information he shouldn’t. He's in the Coalition, and we’re working him. His father thinks he’s gotten him out of our reach, so does Gad.”

  "That's how you got the transmission.” Lu
cas says quietly. “He thinks he's safe."

  "Yes, right now he’s thirty minutes from Messene, on the Trier, piloted by Degas. He’s given Degas all his father’s codes in exchange for him helping him ‘escape’, not knowing they’ve been transmitted to me.”

  “Degas is willing to set him up? Knowing it will ruin him?” Lucas asks.

  “As long as it doesn’t affect his younger siblings in the Academy.”

  “And you trust him?” Peter asks.

  “He’s been forth coming with information. He could have caused a great deal of damage on the Retribution if he’d wanted too, but he stood down even when Gad ordered him to fire.”

  “They were on the Retribution… when we were?” Peter looks to Lucas for confirmation.

  “Yes. I discovered he’d been transferred over right after the Regulian attack, he was on my flight deck and after what he did to Victoria, I couldn’t wait to get a piece of him but it quickly became something else.”

  “What… did… he… do… to… Victoria…” Peter says through clenched teeth, his eyes bore into Lucas.

  “When Victoria was fifteen, Gad physically assaulted her,” William speaks first. “At school, outside her room, he felt she should appreciate his… attentions… she didn’t and she put him down and filed a report. Gad tried to claim she attacked him for no reason but there was visual recordings refuting that.”

  “You knew this and didn’t kill the little foabhor!” Peter rages at Lucas.

  “Lucas did what was necessary and because of that, we now know who has been threatening not only Victoria but the Queen!” Peter and William’s eyes clash, neither man willing to stand down in the protection of their family until Peter remembers something.

  “Foabhor… ” He looks to Lucas. “That’s who you were talking about with Barek when Brett overhead.”

  “Yes. Barek was there to interview Gad and his two friends,” William speaks before Lucas can.

  “Victoria knew this… she was okay with the way it was handled.”

  “Yes. The only thing that upset her, was that because of him, I wasn’t able to return to Carina with you,” Lucas tells him.

  “Because it would look like special treatment.”

  “Yes.” Lucas acknowledges.

  Peter is silent for several moments as he looks at Lucas, searching for the truth from his future son-in-law.

  “I owe you an apology then, the High Admiral is correct. You did exactly right but understand this… “ Peter looks from one man to the other. "I will have no qualms about taking either of them out given the opportunity."

  "Understood." William responds. "So this is what I need you two to do."

  Gad can’t hide his smile as Degas lands at his father's private retreat. Soon, Degas will pay for the way he's treated him, with his life. The idiot really thinks he's going to let him wait away with his father's codes. His father would kill him if he even thought he knew them.

  "Let's go Gad, I want to get my credits and get out of here."

  "Sure Degas, no problem.” Gad quickly nods as he moves to the hatch. Outside will be his father's people, and they will take care of Degas. Opening the hatch he leads Degas to his fate only to freeze as a dozen stunners point at him.

  "Keep coming, Ensign.” Sergeant Paa orders.

  "What is this?” He demands, stumbling forward when Degas gives him a hard shove. “What's going on?”

  "Ensign Stannic, you are under arrest for the dissemination of classified information, desertion and conspiring to assassinate Queen Cassandra."

  "What! Wait! No!” He looks frantically around for help.

  "You will be presented to the High Council for sentencing and punishment."

  "No!” Gad pales. "It wasn't me! Truly! It's my father! He's lost his mind!”

  "Are you willing to testify to that Ensign?” Tibullus steps from the shadows. "Before the Assembly?"

  "The Assembly?” Gad pales even more.

  "Yes, High Treason must be presented to the Full Assembly.”

  "High Treason!” Gad squeaks. "What High Treason?"

  "The giving of classified information to the Regulians is High Treason, Ensign."

  "We never... he never... I never...” Gab stutters.

  "Are you willing to go on record, Ensign?” Tibullus demands.

  "He'll kill me," Gad whispers.

  "Take him to the High Council, Sergeant.” Tibullus turns to leave.

  "No! Wait! Promise I won't be tried for High Treason. That you’ll keep my father from killing me and I'll tell you anything you want to know!” Gad quickly sacrifices his father.

  "You'll tell me everything!” Tibullus rounds on him so swiftly that Gad takes a startled step back from the rage rolling off him.

  "Yes... yes of course."

  "One lie Stannic.” Tibullus holds up a finger. "One thing left out and we're done, and you stand beside your father!"

  "Sure... of course... anything you say, Colonel."

  "Then sit down.” He gestures to a chair. "We'll start with how you learned about the turminan filter."

  "The Guardian leaves in one moon cycle, you have three weeks to get your affairs in order doctor then you need to report.” Victoria taps a few keys. "I am transmitting your orientation packet as we speak, read it. It contains the transport and assignment orders you will need to get on the Guardian. Welcome aboard, Dr. Uecker.” Removing her headset, Victoria leans back in the chair stretching. It's been an exhausting few weeks with nearly nonstop interviews for the positions on the Guardian, but now it was done, the last position filled. Spinning in her chair, she's surprised to see Lucas leaning against the wall, watching her.

  "Hi," Smiling as she stands.

  Straightening, Lucas moves to her, they've both been so busy, they've had little time together, except at night but that's going to change. He just finished notifying the last applicant for the Guardian and it seems Victoria has too, now they can concentrate on each other. Pulling her close, he seals his lips to hers.

  "Hi," he replies, minutes later, against kiss swollen lips, he'll never get enough of this woman, the way she responds to him, the unfocused look in her eyes that only he can put there. Resting his forehead against hers, he silently thanks the ancestors.

  "Wow. What brought that on?" she asks breathlessly.

  "I missed you.” His simple admission is rewarded with a brilliant smile.

  "I missed you too. I didn't think I'd see you until tonight."

  "Finished the last of the assignments for the Guardian and decided it was time to see to things here."

  "So did I… just finish that is. What did you need to see to here?” A sassy look comes to her face at the thought.

  "That too.” Lucas gives her a hard kiss. "But first, we need to set the date for the wedding. Barek will be on planet in five days, so I'm giving you seven to get ready to be my wife.” He smiles as her tears fill her eyes before widening in shock.

  "Seven! How am I..."

  "Don't tell me you haven't already been planning, you told me you talked to Kia."

  "I did but..."

  "We have one moon cycle before we leave. I'm giving you one week for the ceremony then we're heading to the cabin for at least a week... two, if we can manage."

  "The cabin...” She smiles at the thought of just the two of them at the Zafar cabin. "Can I do the leap, since I'll be a Zafar then?"

  Lucas pales at the thought of her attempting the leap. "You're going to be too busy to do that.” He captures her lips, stopping her protest.

  Cassandra silently reads the report Peter has compiled under the High Admiral's orders. That this could be going on in her own House. To her own people and she not know! The two names listed were people she trusted. For them not have come to her... devastated eyes look to Peter.

  "This wasn't your fault, Cass."

  "Why didn't they come to me?” She whispers. “I would have helped them."

  "I know that and you know that, but apparently t
hey didn't. Stannic had them before they could get to know you. Not everyone is as strong as you Cass.” Looking at her, he pauses. "I've always felt guilty about that, about how you got that way."

  "What?” Cassandra's eyes fill with confusion.

  "I should have stopped dad from sending you away.” Guilt ridden eyes meet hers.

  "Peter...” Rising Cassandra wraps her arms around her brother, realizing he's regained nearly all his size. "There wasn't anything you could have done. You had your own life by then, a unit to get back too. No, let me finish.” She stops him as he opens his mouth. "It hurt, I won't lie, you left, Grams... she cried whenever she saw me and dad... he couldn't even look at me. He spent all his time in the barn with his furniture. When he sent me to boarding school... it was almost a relief, at least there, I wasn’t a reminder of everything lost.”

  "Cass..."

  "But we worked it out, Dad and me, Grams too. It took time but I always knew he loved me, just as I knew you and Grams did. We just needed time, time to heal, and thankfully, we got it. I don't think I would have had the strength to survive everything that came after if we hadn't. If I questioned it for even one second, it had to happen for us to be here... now... so I'm at peace with it.”

  “If you’re at peace with it, then I am.” Peter gives her a hard hug before stepping back. “There's something else you need to see.” He hands his Queen the file on how Gad found out about the turminan filter, knowing it will upset her more.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “Turn.” Kia orders, watching the flow of Victoria’s gown with a critical eye. This gown is extraordinary and she wants it perfect. She and Cyndy have been working for weeks to recreate her union gown with the subtle changes Victoria wants. It will be unlike one ever seen before.

  Victoria smiles indulgently at Kia. She knows she’s been working her magic yet again. The mirror reflects the ivory velvet gown, with off shoulder long fitted sleeves that opened into bells at the elbows, revealing her forearms. The bodice is fitted to the waist then drapes away at her hips, pooling on the floor. Kia embellished the bodice with clear crystals and a belt made of deepest violet to ride low on her hips before it follows the drape of the gown to the floor. Turning, she finds the laces in back match the belt.