Victoria's Challenge (22 page)

“I’m right here.
” Victoria’s slipped out of the office, unseen, during the commotion. Now she steps around Magnes. She blocks out the fear she sees in Gabor’s eyes, concentrating on Reymont.

What does she think she’s doing
! Fear grips Lucas’ heart.

“You bitch
! You think you can just walk away after killing Jager! Go out drinking and dancing after killing my son!”

“I didn’t kill either of them.
” Victoria’s voice is calm and controlled as she steps to the left, her eyes never leaving him. She needs him to turn so someone can get a shot.

“You think you’re so fucking
special
! That you can do whatever you what! Telling Cade you
understand
what he was going through!”

“I
did
understand.” She moves a little more. “Let Gabor go, she has nothing to do with this.”

“Do you think I’m
stupid?” He turns just slightly. “
She’s
your friend. You don’t deserve
any
!”

“Why?
” She’s going to keep him talking, trusting Lucas and the Admiral to take him down.

“Because you don’t
belong
here, you
bitch
! You’re not even a
Carinian
.”

“That may be true
, but
I
didn’t kill Cade.
You
did!” Victoria’s rage is easily heard.

“Fuck you!
” Reymont turns more but not far enough.

“No
!
Fuck you
, you son of a bitch!” Victoria steps angrily towards him. “Cade didn’t self-terminate, he was
injected
with Xyphrine!
By you!
Then you brought him in and
let
him die! You’re nothing but a piece a
shit
! You murdered your own son, and now you’re hiding behind a woman! Jager at least had the guts to take a direct shot!”

Reymont howl
s in rage and whips the stunner away from Gabor’s neck. Shoving her away before turning the stunner on Victoria. It’s the opening the guards have been waiting for. They take Reymont down then instantly surround him.

“Gabor!
” Victoria drops to the floor next to her friend. “Gabor.” Victoria whispers, putting a hesitant hand on her shoulder.

“I’m okay.
” Gabor lifts her head. Her face is pale but steady eyes meet Victoria. “The guard?”

“I don’t know
. Come on, let’s find out.” Hands are there to help both women off the floor. Victoria doesn’t need to look to recognize Lucas’ touch.

Magnes is with
Ensign Niles who is just coming around. “You’re going to be fine Ensign.”

“Report
, Ensign!” The Admiral demands.

“Sir?”

“I want to know how the fuck this happened! How did your prisoner get your stunner? Why were you in medical?”

“Admiral, we responded to a disturbance call on the flight deck.
” He grimaces when Magnes presses on his shoulder. “Upon arriving, the prisoner was being restrained by several members of the flight deck. Reymont was obviously drunk, sir. We put restraints on him and were enroute to the brig when he started to double over, complaining he was going to vomit. Since we were near medical, we brought him in.”

“Is that procedure
, Ensign?” The Admiral’s tone is deeply cold.

“No sir, but u
nder the circumstances…”

“What
circumstances
Ensign?”

“Sir
.” Niles looks uncomfortable and not from the stunner hit. “Before he doubled over, Reymont, I mean the prisoner, was screaming and yelling about how his brother had been murdered, his son killed, about special treatment for some.” Niles looks at Victoria and Lucas. “How he was being attacked because he was willing to speak the truth.”

“You kn
ow the prisoner, Ensign? Tar questions. “Personally?”

“Yes sir.”

“So instead of taking him to the brig, as ordered by a
superior officer, y
ou let your personal opinion influence you and brought him
here
.”

“Sir, I was t
rying to give him a break. He’s taken some hard hits lately.”

“A
break
! For a man who injected his own son with Xyphrine!”

“What
?” Niles pales.

“Castel!
” Tar turns to the other guard. “Is this your report?”

“Sir, up to giving him a bre
ak. I know it isn’t procedure sir, but we were walking right by, it seemed… expedient to bring him here first, get him checked out.”

“You’re expediency nearly got two women
killed
! Master at Arms!”

“Sir!”

“I want these two on report! A full investigation of their conduct and a full review with all security on the proper handling of prisoners! Is that understood?”

“Yes sir!
” The Master at Arms salutes.

“Magnes, status on Reymont?” The Admiral demands.

“Critical.”

“I want him restrained at all times, no one in alone with him. Understood?”

“Yes
, Admiral.”

“Gabor,
” The Admiral’s voice softens. “Hof is on his way. You’ll return to quarters, rest until your statement is taken. Understood?”

“Yes
, Admiral.”

“Victoria
.” He looks to her. “What you said about Cade, you have proof it wasn’t self-termination?”

“I
’d just shown her the final report Admiral, when this happened,” Magnes speaks first. “I felt she had the right to know.”

“I want a copy sent to me
immediately
!”

“Yes
, Admiral.”

“Major.
” He looks to Lucas. “It seems your instincts were right on, a good thing to have.” Tar turns, leaving medical.

The walk to quarters is silent but once the hatch is secured, Lucas explodes.

“What the
fuck
did you think you were
doing
?” Grabbing Victoria’s arms, he gives her a hard shake.

“What are you talking about?”

“Reymont didn’t know you were there! There was no reason for you to risk yourself like that!” Lucas can’t forget the fear he’d felt when she stepped out from behind Magnes.

“He had Gabor
,” she says as if that explained it all.

“But he didn’t have
you
! You put yourself in his sights.”

“Yes and I’d do it again
. I knew all I had to do was get him to turn, and the guards would take him down.”

“He could have hit you first!”

“It was a necessary risk.”

“No it wasn’t!
” He pulls her to her toes. “You won’t risk yourself like that again!”

“
You
will not tell
me
what I can and can’t do, Lucas Zafar! You risk yourself every day flying a Blade! Do
I
tell
you
that you can’t?” Victoria’s eyes rage into his. “I love you but that doesn’t mean you control me, that I’m going to change who I am for you!” She rips herself away from him, striding across the room. “I’ll do whatever
I
consider necessary.”

Lucas doesn’t move
. Is that what he’s doing asking her to change? To change for him? He loves her for who she is and her unfailing courage to stand for what she believes in. It just scared the hell out of him.

“Victoria.
” He walks over, gently rubbing her arms. “I’m not asking you to change. I love who you are.” He turns her to face him, tipping her chin up. “It scared me, seeing you standing there, knowing I couldn’t protect you. There have been too many times I haven’t been able too.” The eyes that meet his, while angry haven’t shut him out.

“I know and I’m sorry
! But Lucas
every day
you go out in a Blade. Risking yourself and I can’t protect you. I have to trust you. Trust that you’ll come back safe.” Lucas closes his eyes, resting his forehead against hers and realizes she’s right. He has to trust her, trust in her abilities, her judgment.

“You’re right.
” He sees the shock in her eyes. “Yes, I can admit when I’m wrong.” He gives her a slight smile. “I love you. I trust you. I know you can handle just about anything but not by yourself, not anymore. I’m here now and it’s my right to protect you.”

“Okay.
” She caresses his cheek. “As long as it works both ways.” Nodding, Lucas gives her a hard kiss that quickly deepens.

“Major Zafar to the flight deck
. Major Zafar to the flight deck.”

“Your job is calling Major.
” Victoria breathlessly tells him.

“Yeah.
” Trying to regain some control, he eases her away. “I’ll see you at third meal.”

“I’ll be waiting.
” With a last hard kiss, Lucas leaves their quarters.

Punching the bag, Victoria tries to burn up some anger. She can’t get her mind around it. Why? Why had Reymont done it? Cade was his son. How could he have injected him with Xyphrine? How could he have sent him to such a dark place? She doesn’t understand! She punches harder.

“Victoria?
” Hard angry eyes turn to Lorre, fists still raised. “Whoa… hey I’m friendly.” Lorre takes a quick step back.

“What?
” Victoria looks down and grimacing, lowers her fists. “Sorry, was in a zone.”

“I shouldn’t have interrupted.”

“No, it’s fine.” Victoria bends, putting her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. “I needed to stop.”

“I heard about what happened
. I thought you’d like to talk.”

“I don’t know that there’s much to talk about.
” Rising, she looks at Lorre and sees only honest concern. “I don’t understand it. Can’t get my mind around it.”

“You can’t always understand everything.
” Lorre hands Victoria a towel. “Look, we don’t know each other very well, but I’ve seen you in action. You’re passionate about what you do, believe in it. You take failure personally, even if it isn’t
you
that’s failed. You didn’t lose Cade. You never had a chance with him. You aren’t to blame for Jager’s fixation on you. You didn’t ask for it. All you’ve done is help, the kids, the injured and the Major, but sometimes it’s not enough. Sometimes, shit just happens.”

“I don’t believe that.
” Victoria wraps a towel around her neck. “I believe every choice a person makes effects everyone else. You may not know when or how but it does. Something I did caused Jager to think I was interested. That belief caused him to attack me. That attack got him put in the brig. If he hadn’t been in that cell, he wouldn’t have been injured and killed in the Regulian attack.”

“You don’t know that
,” Lorre argues back. “Wait, hear me out. I’ll agree that every decision we make effects everyone else but that said, Jager made his
own
decisions. Bad decisions that led him to be in that cell at that time.
His
decisions, Victoria.” Lorre is somewhat shocked at the pain she sees in Victoria’s eyes.

“What could I have done to change
it?”

“Nothing
. You’re only responsible for
your
decisions. Don’t make life harder by taking on everyone else’s.”

“Is that what I’m doing?”

“You’re trying to control your life because so much was taken away from you as a child. You feel responsible. You’re not. Others made those decisions too.”

“I…
” Victoria isn’t sure what do say. She’d never thought about it quite that way before.

“No one knows yo
u better than you do, Victoria. Give yourself the benefit of the doubt.”

“That Blade finally done, Tank?”

“Yes sir Major.
” Tank can’t wait any longer. “Major… about Reymont.” Seeing the banked fury in the Major’s eyes, he has to swallow hard. “I should have gotten him off the flight deck, sir. I’m sorry. I knew he was drunk.”

“He’s responsible for himself.”

“Sir, yes sir, but what he was saying… sir, no one believes him. We stand behind
you,
sir.”

“I
… thank you Tank. Have a good evening.” Turning, Lucas heads to his office.

Sitting behind his desk
, Lucas leans back closing his eyes to think. Today is the first day of his and Victoria’s life together. It had been eventful. The last time he’d felt so helpless was when Victoria had been poisoned. She’d told him
he’d
been one of the reason’s she returned, because of her love for him.