Victoria's Challenge (32 page)

“Of course they were
, the alarm sounded. You read the results.”

“Then where the fuck are they!”
he says frustrated.

“I don’t know…
. Lucas….” Lucas looks at her sharply then follows her gaze. Looking out the cockpit’s dome, he sees the Regulian Fleet.

“Oh shit!”

“Lucas, how are we not picking them up?” She moves to the co-pilot seat to enter some codes.

“I don’t know.
” Suddenly the Phoenix shudders.

“Lucas?”

“Some type of energy pulse, I don’t know, all systems still seem to be functioning.” Lucas is rapidly checking all panels.

“For them to be here this fas
t, they have to be going at least Warp Seven. Why are they in such a hurry?”

“Victoria, we need to start preflight.”

“They won’t detect us?”

“Not as fast as
they're moving.” Together, they prep the ship to follow the Regulian Fleet, once done Lucas starts the Phoenix’s engines.

“Go check your family
. You have five minutes.” Nodding, she raises and heads back into the living quarters. Her parents are awake and waiting.

“Mom and dad
, you need to put your harnesses on. We’re going to be moving.” She continues on to Brett. “Hey kiddo, how are you doing?” Victoria finds Brett out of bed.

“Better.”

“Good. Look, I need to get you into the other room and get your harness on, we need to move.” Leading him to the couch she finds her father has the harness ready.

“Victoria?
” Peter stops her.

“The Regulian Fleet is passing, we need to maneuver to follow,
and it might be bumpy.”

“Victoria!
” Lucas hollers.

“Coming!
” Giving her family what she hopes is a reassuring smile she leaves them.

Slipping in behind the fleet, the Phoenix follows at Warp 7. It’s a fleet consisting of twelve battleships and one Battle Star. The Phoenix’s screens still show empty space.

“Lucas, this isn’t possible, we can
see
them!”

“It has to have something to do with that energy pulse
. They’ve developed something to block our scans.”

“That means Quin
isn’t going to know they’re coming.”

“No.”

“What are we going to do?”

“If I hadn’t lost the long range antenna
, we could signal them!”

“That wasn’t your fault.”

“I was piloting.”

“And I was navigating.
” Reaching over she squeezes his hand.

“Tori
! It’s mom!” Brett comes running in.

“Go, I’ve got this.
” Lucas tells her.

In the living quarters Cyndy is struggling to breathe as she vomits, Peter supports her as she leans over the receptacle.

“Help her!
” Grabbing the syringe, Victoria quickly gives her nausea medicine.

“That’s going to help mom,”
Victoria is on her knees beside her. “But you need to try to relax. Come on mom, you can do it, relax just a little and then I can give you the respirator.” After several tense minutes, Cyndy is finally able to lean back. “Here you go mom, just breath.” With the medicine entering her lungs, she’s finally able to take a deep breath. “There you go, relax. You’re doing great, mom.” Victoria looks to Brett. “Brett, come here.” She sees scared eyes. “It’s okay, I’m going to have you help mom,” Startled eyes meet hers. “Hold this here just like I’m doing.”

“Tori….
” Peter questions.

“He needs to be able to help
, dad.” With Brett holding the respirator, Victoria rises to get the scanner. She’s surprised by the results. Cyndy’s lungs are half way clear. “It’s looking good, mom.” Victoria meets tired green eyes, so like hers. “I know it doesn’t feel that way, but you’ve gotten rid of half the matter in your lungs. Before much longer, you won’t be coughing anything up.”

“You
’re sure?” Peter demands.

“Yes dad
. Mom, do you want something to help you sleep?”

“No.
” Is her hoarse reply.

“Ok
ay, but you need to try and rest. Here’s some water, sip what you think you can tolerate. In a little while, we’ll try some more soup. Brett, I think we’re good.” Victoria takes the respirator turning it off. “How about I show you how to program the soup? Then you can get some whenever someone’s hungry.” When he nods, they head into the galley.

“Here dad, you need to eat.
” Peter eases the sleeping Cyndy back, taking the cup.

“What’s going on?
” Peter’s eyes met hers as he sips. Victoria wonders what she should tell him. “Victoria Lynn! I need to know.” There he is, the man she remembers from her childhood, strong and in command.

“The Regulian Fleet has some new type of technology that makes them invisible to our systems
. It’s not a good thing.” Her eyes are serious as they meet his. “The Regulians are traveling at Warp 7, at that speed we’ll be at the border in just under thirty-seven hours.”

“Can’t you contact your fleet?”

“Our long range antenna was damaged by the Earth’s debris field. All we have left is the short range.”

“
So what’s the plan?”

“I don’t know yet
. I need to go help Lucas run some probabilities, can you handle everything here?”

“Go.
” Giving him a grateful smile, she leaves.

Leaning back in the co-pilot seat, Victoria closes her eyes. She has been running probabilities for the last thirty hours she can’t find a way to contact the fleet in time. They’re going to be caught unaware.

“
You need to sleep Victoria.” Lucas reaches over to take her hand.

“Lucas, it’s going to be a massacre.
” Exhausted eyes met his. “I can’t find a way around it.”

Lucas is silent, he’s figured out a way
, a way she won’t agree with. Lifting her hand, he kisses it.

“Go check your family
. If your dad’s awake, send him up, would you?”

“Lucas?”

“Hey it’s okay. We’re still,” He looks at the clock they’d set. “Five and a half hours from the border.” He squeezes her hand reassuringly. “Go check your family.”

Nodding
, she rises then stops. Going to him, she leans down and captures his mouth in a demanding kiss. Hitting the autopilot, Lucas pulls her into his lap, pulling her close. There’s desperation in the kiss neither can hide. Finally, Lucas breaks off, resting his forehead against hers.

“I love you
, Victoria, with everything I am, I love you.” His eyes blaze into hers and she sees something that frightens her.

“I love you too
. Lucas….”

“
Shh, it’s going to be okay. Go check your family, send your dad up.” He sets her on her feet and disconnects the autopilot, with one last look she turns to do as he asks.

“How are you feeling dad?”

Peter looks into his daughter’s serious eyes.

“I’m fine.”

“You haven’t been sick?”

“No, must be all those treatments I got in the service.”

“Lucas would like to talk to you in the
cockpit.” Peter raises an eyebrow then looks at Cyndy.

“Go Peter, I’m fine.
” Both women watch him leave.

“What’s going on
, Tori?” Cyndy demands as soon as he is gone.

“Brett
, would you get mom some soup?” As he leaves the room, Victoria sits next to her mother.

“I can’t find a way to warn our Fleet
, mom.” Her eyes fill with tears. “If the Regulians attack undetected, it will be a massacre.”

“There’s always a way
, Tori.” Her mother pulls her close giving her the comfort she needs.

“You wanted to talk to me?” Peter enters the cockpit looking through the dome in amazement. He’s never seen outer space before, never seen ships as large as the Regulians.

“Sit.
” Lucas motions to the co-pilot seat turned backwards. “There a handle on your right, you can swing the seat forward. As Peter does so, he looks at all the controls.

“The Regulians are going to arrive at the border
undetected. With this much firepower, the Fleet doesn’t stand a chance, not without a warning. In the chaos, the Regulians will have a clear shot to Carina.”

“If they
were warned?” Peter understands what the young man was saying.

“If they were warned
, it would still be a difficult fight, they outnumber us more than two to one, but we’re better pilots.”

“How much warning would they need?
” Peter frowns.

“Ten minutes to activate all defenses and get crews in the air.”

“You have a way.” Peter can see it in his eyes.

“Yes
. One Victoria wouldn’t ever think of, would never consider.”

“What?”

“When we get close enough, I’ll cause a diversion and the Phoenix makes a run for the border at Warp 9. It’ll take it about ten minutes to get close enough for the short-range antenna to work. Then you can warn the Fleet.”

“
How are you going to cause a diversion and fly the Phoenix?”

“I’m not
. I’ll be in the Raptor, trying to slow down the Regulians to give the Fleet some extra time. Victoria will be flying the Phoenix.” Hard violet eyes met brown.

Peter silently contemplates the young man his daughter loves
. What he’s talking about is basically suicide. Sacrificing himself, so his people have a chance, so Victoria’s family has a chance.

“Victoria doesn’t know this.”

“No. She’s going to fight me on it.”

“She loves you.
”

“Yes and I love her
. I’m going to make sure she’s safe. She’ll blame herself, for not finding another way.” Lucas’ eyes bore into the man who would have been his father-in-law. “Don’t let her. She’s needs to live a full life.”

“One without you?”

“If that’s the way it’s meant to be than yes.”

“Tori.” Peter enters the living quarters, looks at his daughter, his eyes hooded.

“What’s going on dad?
” Victoria’s stomach clenches.

“Lucas needs to talk to you.
” Slowly rising, she walks towards the cockpit.

“Shut the door Victoria.” As she slowly does, Lucas hits the autopilot turning his chair towards her.

“You’ve thought of a way.
” She searches his eyes.

“Yes.
” He meets her look.

“I’m not going to like it.
” She can’t bring herself to let go of the door. Lucas knows there’s no easy way to explain this to her so he just tells her, watching her pale.

“No!”

“It’s the only way for the Phoenix to warn the Fleet.”

“
We
fly the Phoenix to warn the Fleet, the Regulians aren’t expecting us, we catch
them
off guard!”

“They’ll lock onto us before we’re can signal the Fleet
. If I attack with the Raptor, it will give you time.”

“No.”

“Victoria, think. If they get through the Fleet, they have a clear shot to Carina. No one will know what happened. Dad and Cassie are on Carina, the boys, Kyle’s family. Everyone we love will die. We’ll have saved your family only to have them die in space.”

“I’ll think of another way!”

“There is no other way. You know that!” Lucas watches as the tears well up in her eyes, sees the pain before she opens the door and is gone. Taking a deep breath, he turns his seat back and disengages the autopilot.

“Tori….” Brett forgets the question he is going to ask at the look on his sister’s face. Pausing, Victoria looks at him, her little brother, someone she never knew. Then her mother and father, two people she’s just found again. To save them, she has to sacrifice her life mate. The one thing she’d told them on Earth she’d never do. With a slightly hysterical laugh, she heads towards the cargo area.

There has to be something, something she’s missing
. She’s waited so long for Lucas, so long, to lose him…. Pacing the bay, she let her tears fall. How will she survive without him? Does she even want too? He’s right though, if the Regulians get through the Fleet with no warning, everyone on Carina is at risk. Everyone. It’ll be Earth all over again. They can’t let that happen!

“God damn it
, Victoria!
Think!
” She yells. Turning she looks at the Raptor, while it has the same defenses as a Blade it’s not nearly as maneuverable. It could take out a Striker but not a fleet. Lucas will die in this Raptor, die to give her time to warn the Fleet and for her to be safe.

How much time will she need
? How long can Lucas hold off the Strikers? Would there be enough time for help to arrive? It’ll take ten minutes for the first Blades to launch and depending on the speed of the Regulians, it could take another ten to intercept, probably more, since the Blades can’t travel as fast as the Phoenix.

As a plan forms in her
mind, she enters the cockpit of the Raptor. There is still dried blood in the pilot’s seat from Lucas’ leg wound just three days ago... A lifetime ago. Checking gauges, she steps back out on the bay and makes the necessary connections. He wasn’t going out there without the Raptor at 100%. Entering the living quarters, she looks at her family.

“Brett, I need to show you a few things.
” Going to her bag, she pulls out the pressure syringes. Explains to him what each one is for, and how to use it. “Do you understand?”

“Yes.
” Brett raises eyes far too old for a nine year old to have.

“Good.
” She turns to her parents. “Mom, if you have an attack Brett will give you the shot, okay?”

“Victoria
… what’s going on?” Tori looks to her father, seeing the sympathy in his eyes.

“Dad will fill you in
. I’ll be in the cockpit.” Turning, she closes the cockpit door.

“How long?” She asks as she slides into his lap. Lucas doesn’t pretend he doesn’t understand.

“Couple hours.”

“How far will we be from the border?”

“Less than a hundred light years, it will give you the best shot of
outrunning them.” Victoria does some quick calculations in her head. It’s not ideal, but it could work.

“I have all systems on the Raptor charging.
” Lucas nods as he pulls her close. Laying her head on his chest, she listens to the beat of his heart and settles in. All her life she’s been wishing time would pass faster, wishing she were older so she could be with Lucas. Now she is wishing it would stop but it wouldn’t. They’re both quiet as time speeds by, each content with just holding the other but it can’t last.

“Victoria.
” Lucas leans down to kiss the top of her head. The eyes that rise to his, take his breath away. They are full of love and commitment.

“I love you
, Lucas Zafar.” Stretching up she captures his lips in a deep kiss, sealing their souls.

“I love you
, Victoria. I always will.” His eyes bore into hers. “When this is over, when you’re back on Carina….”

“
We
, when
we
are back on Carina.” Lucas opens his mouth. She covers it with her hand. “I’m not saying goodbye, Lucas. This isn’t goodbye. I know we’re going to be together, no matter what. The same way I knew my family was alive. I have no proof, just a belief. I need you to believe it too.”

“Victoria, the chances….”

“You’re the best
fucking pilot
in the Coalition. I need you to fly like it, Lucas. To not give up, no matter what. I need you to promise me that and mean it, because if you don’t, I will knock you out and do this my way. We are stronger together then we ever are apart. You know that!” Lucas looks into her eyes and sees the truth. She would have left her family on Earth for him. She needs to believe he will survive this.

“I promise I will fly
that Raptor until it’s got nothing left.” Knowing that’s the best he can do, he kisses her.

“Victoria, I need to go prep the Raptor.” Lucas forces himself to slide his hands out from under her shirt.

“I know.
” She doesn’t move.

“Victoria…
”

“Just give me a minute.
” Closing her eyes, she takes a deep breath, pushing herself away from him she stands. “When you’re done prepping the Raptor, let me know, I’ll open the cargo bay.”

Lucas rises from the pilot’s chair and looks into shuttered eyes
. He understands what she’s doing. She has to shut him out to get through this.

“I will love you for
eternity, Victoria.”

“I’ll hold you to that.
” Rising up, she gives him one last kiss then takes his seat. “I need dad up here.”

“What
? Why?”

“I need a second pair of eyes.
” Nodding Lucas watches her disengage the autopilot.

Entering the living quarters, three pairs of eyes turn to him. Each with differing emotions in them.

“You’re going to want to strap in
. I’m going to go prep the Raptor. Peter, Victoria would like you to sit in the co-pilots seat. She’s going to need help. Good luck.” Turning, he heads to the cargo bay.

“Peter…
” Cyndy whispers, concerned.

“Brett, come sit
with your mom. Can you handle the injections if she needs them?” Peter asks.

“Yes sir.”

“Cyndy.” Peter looks to his wife, not wanting to leave her but knowing the best way to protect her is to help Victoria.

“I’ll be fine, go do what you do best.
” Giving her a hard kiss, he smiles at his son.

“Strap in
, this is going to be one hell of a ride.”

“Take the co-pilot’s seat, dad.” Sitting Peter turns to his daughter and finds he can’t read a single emotion on her face, the eyes that turn to his would put the most seasoned Special Forces member to shame. “There are some things you need to know. To your right, center column, second row from the bottom is a red blinking light. Do you see it?” Peter turns and looks.