Victoria's Challenge (30 page)

“Can I get it?”

“Sure, but I’ll watch to make sure you get the right thing okay? You don’t want something nasty.” Following him, she watches as he pushes all the right buttons.

“Well aren’t you the smart one!
” She ruffles the little hair he has.

Returning, Tori checks her mom
. “Doing okay, mom?”

Cyndy
nods.

“
Good, then I think I’m going to go grab a quick shower and change clothes. I won’t be long.” She’s about to turn when her mother’s eyes shoot to her. “What?”

“A shower?
” The desire in her mother’s voice is obvious. Victoria kneels down beside her.

“If you’re fe
eling up to it after I’m done, we can get you one. Would you like that?”

“
Yes.”

“Then it’s a plan.”

In the
shower, Victoria leans against the wall. God, she just needs a minute, a minute to settle. It’s good mom wants a shower, that she’s showing an interest. She thought she was going to lose her earlier. How would she survive that? To have her back then lose her.

Straightening
’ she plunges her head into the hot spray. She won’t have too because she’s not going to lose her. Quickly finishing up’ she steps out to dry and dress. Entering the living quarters, she finds all three have finished second meal.

“Looks good
. How are you feeling mom?”

“Better.”

“Let me clean this up, it’ll give your food time to settle and we’ll get you that shower.”

“Sounds wonderful.”

“Al
l right, let me set up the bathroom okay? It’ll just take a second. Dad, if you want to help mom, you can start walking her to the bathroom. Brett, will you be okay by yourself for a minute?”

“Yeah.”

In the bathroom, she puts a chair in the shower knowing her mother isn’t strong enough to stand the whole time then makes sure everything they’ll need is at hand. Turning, she finds them standing in the doorway.

“Okay, let’s do this
. Mom, sit and we’ll help you undress.”

“Peter, go be with Brett.”

“What?”

“Brett, he’s not used to being on his own
. Please?”

“But….”

“Tori can handle this. Please…” Cyndy’s tone is getting a little desperate.

“Leave the outside hatch open, I’ll yell if I need help.
” Victoria’s wondering what’s going on.

“Okay.
” With her father gone, Victoria helps her mother undress.

“Are you going to tell me?
”

“
What?”

“Mom, you didn’t want dad in here
. He’s seen you naked before….” Understanding slowly dawns. “He hasn’t seen you recently.”

“No and he doesn’t need too
, it will only upset him.” Victoria thinks about her own reaction to her mother’s condition and nods, understanding the need to protect the one you love.

“Okay, I’ll go along with you…
for now.”

Cyndy moans as the hot water hits her body. It’s been so long since she’s had a shower... since she’s felt clean. When Tori hands her a cloth with some sort of liquid on it, she frowns.

“It’s like shower gel
, Aunt Cassie’s favorite scent, vanilla.” Rubbing it down her arm, it immediately foams and the scent fills the air. She’d forgotten something could smell like that.

“Cassie
’s alive?”

“Yes, she’s married, has three
sons, and is expecting her fourth, a girl.”

“Cassie’s
married?” Cyndy can't hide her shock.

“Yes, to Uncle William, High Admiral William Zafar
. He’s a good man, mom. They love each other.”

“Zafar?”

“Lucas’ dad.”

“
His father…. then he’s…”

“He’s older then Aunt Cassie, yes
, about twenty five cycles. Grandpa would have liked him.”

“Three sons?
” Cyndy continues to wash her body.

“Kayden
the oldest, he’s a few months younger than Brett, then there’s Jacob, after grandpa, he’s six and Willie, named for his father, he’s not quite three.”

“And now a little girl.”

“Yeah, in a few moon cycles, sorry months. Its moon cycles on Carina. They are actually pretty close to Earth’s. There are a lot of similarities to Earth there, a lot of differences too but you’ll learn all that. How are you feeling?”

“Clean
. For the first time in… I don’t know how long.”

“You weren’t showering in the shelter?”

“We started having problems with the water and were having to ration some. I…. oh no!”

“What?”

“I’ve been in here too long! I shouldn’t have…”

“
Mom
!” Victoria cuts her off. "It’s okay. The Phoenix will recycle all the water. You can take as long a shower as you want!”

“But Brett
and your father….”

“Will have plenty of water.
” She sees the doubt in Cyndy’s eyes. “I swear to you mom, this isn’t a problem.”

“Okay but I’m done
. I need to get dressed before Peter comes looking for me.”

Turning off the water
, Tori hands her mother a towel.

“Sit there, dry off and I’ll get you some clean clothes.”

“Clean clothes? But…”

Victoria should have realized.

“Mom, I have more clothes for you, you’re not putting those back on until they are cleaned, and I might even have some eadai for you.”

“What?”

“Underwear, very nice underwear. Now stay sitting…. please.”

“Okay.”

Dressed again
, Victoria can tell she’s tiring. “Let’s go find the men, mom.”

“Yeah, your dad’s probably climbing the walls.
” What they find is Brett asleep with his head in his dad’s lap. Victoria remembers when she used to do that, a lifetime ago. His eyes follow them as they cross the room.

“Here you go
, mom. Would you like something to drink? Water? Juice?”

“Juice?”

Victoria smiles.

“I’ll see what I can find that’s
similar to juice on Earth.”

“How’s Brett?”

“Full and content,” her dad replies.

“Good, after I get mom the juice
, I’ll show you how to run the shower.”

“I’m fine.”

“Peter, go take a shower.” Cyndy tells him. “It feels incredible.”

Juice in hand
, Victoria returns to find her mother sleeping and dad standing looking down at her.

“She’s just tired.
” Victoria sets the bottle down where she can find it, checking to make sure Brett is still asleep, she turns to her father.

“Ready
? She’ll be okay. I’ll just be gone a few minutes.” Victoria tells him, finally, he nods and she leads him to the bathroom.

“Hot
… Cold. This is soap you can use and a cloth, towels and clean clothes. Put what you’re wearing in that container. Stay in as long as you want, there’s plenty of water, it recycles. I left the chair in case you get tired.” Turning, she leaves.

“Tori…
about before…” He can see the hurt in her eyes, that he had hurt his daughter like that tears at him.

“You’re e
ntitled to your feelings, dad. I need to get Lucas’ second meal. I’ll leave the outside hatch open. Yell, if you need help.” Returning to the living quarters, she finds Cyndy still asleep and Brett nowhere to be seen. After checking the galley, she heads for the cockpit.

“Now you see that button there?
” Brett, strapped into the copilot seat nods. “Flip the cover up then press it.”

“Really?
” Brett gives Lucas a disbelieving look.

“Really.”

When he does, a star chart appears on the window.

“Wow…”

“Replacing me?” Victoria asks as she slides her arms over the top of chair to rest them on his chest. The grin Lucas gives her, trips up her heart.

“You have some competition
. Brett here’s a quick learner.”

“I noticed, he can already order up chicken nuggets.”

“Really? Very impressive.” The look he gives Brett has the boy grinning.

“What
do you want for second meal?”

“Some soup will be fine
, in a sealed cup.”

“Any specific kind?”

“Surprise me.”

“Oh you know how I like to do that.
” Lean down, she kisses the top of his head. Brett watches with interest. “Are you staying here?”

“He’s fine
. How’s everyone else?” Lucas asks.

“
Dad’s in the shower, mom’s sleeping after hers. Brett will be next.”

“For what?”

“A shower.” When he wrinkles his nose, she laughs, little boys are all the same. “Oh you’ll have one.”

“Don’t like cold water.”

“Cold?” Victoria frowns, realizing he’d probably never had a real shower. “You’ll have hot water, you’ll like it, trust me and some clean clothes.” Rubbing Lucas’ shoulders, she leaves to get his soup. Brett looks at him with questioning eyes.

“What’s your question
, Brett?”

“Are you my sister’s husband?”

Lucas jolts at the question.

“No, I’m not.
”

“Why not
? You touch each other all the time.”

“I
… yeah, we do. We love each other. She’s my life mate.”

“What’s that?”

“It means we’ll be together forever.”

“So married.”

“It’s called a Union on Carina and eventually we will be.”

“Why aren’t you now?”

“Because your sister’s only eighteen.”

“So?”

“That’s too young,” Lucas tells him.

“
Too young for what?” Victoria asks walking in. Handing Lucas his cup, she runs a quick scan of his leg and smiles.

“To be married, Unioned
,” Brett replies.

“Have a Union
,” Lucas corrects him.

“A Union
? What are you two talking about?” Victoria gives Lucas a confused look.

“Brett asked if you were my wife.
” He sees the surprise in her eyes.

“Your wife…
” She whispers, her eyes staring into his not sure what she’s seeing.

“Yeah, you act like mom and dad, well kind of
. You work together. Help each other.”

“Oh well….
” She shifts her gaze to Brett. “We’re life mates.”

“That’s what Lucas sa
id. What’s the difference?”

“Well…
” Looking at Lucas, she sees she won’t be getting any help from there. “Ummm… life mates are two people who know they are meant to be together, they love each other. A Union doesn’t have to be.”

“So life mates don’t have Unions?”

“They can, if they decide they want too. It’s an official ceremony, legal.”

“What’s legal?”

“It’s means it’s recognized by other people. People witness it. Life mates… well, I guess it’s more private.”

“But….”

“Brett!!!”

“Ooops, that’s dad.
” Undoing his harness, he hustles back to the living quarters.

Lucas hits the autopilot then turns, looking at her as he sips from his cup.

“What?
” She can feel the heat start creeping up her neck.

“Interesting questions
. Interesting answers.”

“Well you were no help.
” Putting an arm around her waist, he pulls her into his lap.

“I wanted to hear
what you’d say.”

“What’s going on Lucas?
” She’s never known him to be this evasive.

“We’
ve just never talked about it. I wasn’t sure what your thoughts were.”

“On?”

“Being my wife.” He watches her eyes widen before she pulls his head down for a deep slow kiss.

“I’m your life mate
, Lucas. I’ve always known that.” She mummers against his lips. “It would be an honor to be your wife, whenever you decide the time is right.”

“I think it would be a mutual decision.
” He looks into her eyes.

“It seems you think I’m too young.
” She had understood what he was saying.

“You
just
turned eighteen, Victoria.” He looks at her, caressing a cheek. “You’re already trying to decide what to do with your career.”

“And you don’t think I’d take you into consideration deciding that?”

“I want you to decide what
you
want to do, where
you
want to be.”

“That’s easy, where ever you are.”

“Victoria…” He watches her pale before pulling away from him.

“You don’t want me with you
...” Green eyes fill with pain.

“
That’s not what I’m saying!
” His arm tightens around her. “Fuck, you know that’s not true!”

“Tori!
” Brett runs in. “It’s mom!” Lucas immediately releases her and she’s gone.

“You said you’d stay with her!” Peter accuses, as he sits helplessly next to his wife.

“Come on mom, relax,
shhhh. It’s okay. There you go, spit it out.” She wipes her mouth. “Good. The steam from the shower helped loosen it up some.” Victoria looks into her mother’s pale face. “That wasn’t as bad as last time now was it?”

“It still hurt
,” Cyndy whispers.

“I know, I’m sorry
but you got up about twice as much without needing a shot. That’s good. You know what this means, don’t you?” She smiles into her mother’s eyes.

“What?”

“At least one hot shower a day for you whether you want it or not.” That gets her a slight smile.

“Speaking of which, dad
, Brett needs his. I promised him hot water. You’ll need to show him where everything is.” Tori looks to her father.

“I’m not leaving Cyndy alone.”

“She won’t be.”

“That’s what you said before!”

“Dad, I needed to take Lucas his second meal. He needs to keep his strength up. He’s been injured, by
you
. We can’t get to safety if he’s not flying!”

“Stop it
, you two.” Cyndy whispers. “Peter take Brett in, he’s never had a hot shower. I’ll be fine with Tori.” Reluctantly, Peter rises.

“We won’t be long.”

“There are clean clothes for Brett in the bag. Enjoy your first real shower, Brett.” Victoria gives him an encouraging smile. Once they leave, she turns back to her mom.

“I’m sorry
, mom.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for, you need to take care of your man too.
” The flash of pain in Tori’s eyes surprises her. “Tori?”

“How bad does your throat hurt
? Truth mom, I can’t help if you hold back.” She changes the subject.

“It’s raw.
” She continues to watch her daughter.

“The juice irritated it
, didn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Okay let’s try something else. I’ll only be a second.” Returning, she’s carrying the Carinian equivalent of a popsicle.

“Try this, the cold should feel good on your throat.
” Cyndy takes it and after a few seconds swallows.

“Yeah that helps
, Victoria, about your father….”

“It’s fine mom
. Eat that before it melts.” Picking up the blanket that had fallen during the attack, she puts it across Cyndy’s lap. “Is your head cold?”

“
Hmm. A little.”

“Will you be okay if I go into my quarters for a
sec?” Cyndy nods. Grabbing her green nightgown, she heads back out.

“Let’s see if I remember how to tie one of these.
” She smiles at her mother as she cuts off the straps then down a seam.

“What are you doing?
” Cyndy is aghast.

“We’re going to make you a
head wrap. This is the perfect color, it matches your eyes.” Working the material for several minutes, Victoria’s finally satisfied. “There, that should keep you a little warmer.”

“
Tori that was yours.”

“And now it’s yours.
” Leaning down, she kisses her cheek. “Rest now, mom, you’ll get better faster.” Leaning her head back, Cyndy is asleep.

How could she think that? Lucas adjusts their course. If he had it his way, she’d never leave his side, but she specializes in burn victims and the best medical facility for that is on Carina.

He can’t ask her to
go on tour with him, treating broken bones and cuts when she should be treating burns victims like Hot Dog. Shit, if she hadn’t been on the Retribution he wouldn’t be flying right now.

Rechecking
guidance, he leans back. The look in her eyes, the pain he’d seen, shit he’d caused that by not coming right out and explaining himself. He isn’t very good at it, he doesn’t do it often but he’d learn to because that look has his guts in a knot. They’d be talking as soon as this shift was over because this is the last time she's ever going to doubt he wants her with him.

Rising, Victoria lets her father sit down next to Cyndy. Looking at Bret, she smiles. “So how was it?”

“Stra
nge.” He frowned. "It was hot and there was a lot of it.”

“Really
? Well you’ll get used to it. Come on, let me scan you.”

“Again?”

“You want to get better, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I guess.
” Running the scan, she frowns.

“Brett, are you sure you’re feeling okay?
” When he suddenly pales, Victoria grabs the receptacle and Brett by the waist as he leans over vomiting.

“Brett!
” Cyndy tries to rise.

“I’ve got him mom.
”

"
What’s going on?” Peter demands.

“Radiation sickness.
” As Brett finishes emptying his stomach, Victoria eases him to the other couch. Going over to her bag, she pulls out a syringe and quickly gives him a shot.

“What are you giving him?
” Cyndy asks, concerned.

“Nausea medicine, it should help calm his stomach, here Brett, just sip.
” Victoria holds a water bottle to his mouth, when he shakes his head, she sighs. “Just a sip, rinse out your mouth then spit it out.” When he finally does, she eases him back.

“I’m going to give you a booster and another radiation shot Brett, both will h
elp you get better.”

“It makes me sick.”

“No, it doesn’t. I should have kept you on the soup like mom and dad. Your system isn’t ready for the heavier foods yet, but it will be.” She tips his face up to hers. “I promise Brett.”

“Am I going to get sick again?”

“You might.” Victoria’s not going to lie to him. “But you still need to eat as much as you can. It’ll make you stronger so you
won’t
get sick.”

“Mom…”

“Come here baby.” Helping him over, Victoria watches as Brett lays his head down in his mother’s lap. He’s pale, clammy, and exhausted, in seconds he’s asleep.

“You expected this,”
Peter says quietly.

“Yeah, actually took longer than I thought
. You’ve all held your food down pretty well.” Victoria meets her father’s look. “He’s probably going to sleep for a while, there’s nothing left in his stomach. We can move him into the other room.”

“
He’s fine here.” Cyndy tells her.

“Mom, it’s going to be this way for
a while. For all of you, now that you’re getting regular food. You need to rest as much as you can. Especially you… you have more dust in your lungs than dad and Brett.” Victoria looks to her father.

“Cyndy, let’s put him in the bed, we’ll leave the door
… hatch open.” Peter says, and the two stare at each other until Cyndy finally nods.

“I’ll take him.” Lucas says entering the room, leaning down he
picks up the exhausted boy.

“We’ll be back in a minute.
” Victoria looks to her parents then follows Lucas, stepping around him, she pulls back the blankets, so he can lay Brett down, and then tucks them tightly around him.

“Victoria.
” When she stands, he pulls her close. “We need to talk. You can’t honestly believe I don’t want you with me.” Tipping up her chin, he sees her exhaustion, her doubts.

“I can’t
… Lucas I can’t…” Her eyes start to fill as she tries to pull away.

“
Shh…. I love you, Victoria Lynn.” Gently he wipes her tears. “With everything I am, I love you but I need you safe and protected, for all those cycles when I couldn’t.”

“Lucas…
”

“We’ll talk
after you've rested, figure it out, but
never
think I don’t want you with me!” His voice is urgent, his eyes letting her see his soul.

“I
… I
know
that. I’m sorry, I don’t know why…” She buries her head in his chest.

“You’re exhausted, it’s the only time you doubt yourself
. Come on, you need to rest.” Lucas starts to lead her out of the room.

“I need to treat mom and dad.”

“Victoria…”

“I’ll rest once that’s done.”

“In our quarters,” Lucas tells her.

“On the couch
,” She argues back.

“Damn it Victoria!
” Lucas’ voice easily carries to the outer area.

“What’s wrong?
” Peter demands rising from the couch.

“Nothing dad, Brett’s fine.
” She knows he’s concerned about him.

“Victoria’s not, she’s exhausted.
” Victoria is Lucas’ concern.

“Damn it Lucas!
” She turns frustrated eyes to his.

“You’re mine to protect Victoria!
” As Lucas’ frustration breaks through an alarm sounds from the cockpit.

“Go!
” Victoria pushes him. “Dad. Sit.” She orders.

“What’s wrong?
” Peter demands.

“I don’t know
, but Lucas will handle it. Get mom’s harness on, I’ll go take care of Brett’s.” Securing Brett to the bed, Victoria hears the engines shutting down. Returning to her parents, she finds Lucas walking towards her.

“What is it?
” She asks softly.

“Long range scans picked up movement.
” His eyes are serious. “Massive movement.”

“The Regulians.
” Her eyes are steady as they met his.

“Yes
. We can’t outrun them, not at this distance, we’re going to have to play dead and hope they don’t pick us up.” Lucas looks into the eyes he loves and sees absolute trust.

“Okay
. Anything else you want shut down?”

“No.”

“What’s going on?” Peter’s trying to follow the conversation.

Lucas looks over at Victoria’s father
. He’d been a member of a shock troop on Earth, highly trained. Just because for the last nine cycles he’s been out of combat doesn’t mean he won’t understand. He needs to know what they are facing. Lucas leads Victoria over to sit, pulling her close and explains.

“There is a massive Regulian battle fleet entering the Relinquished Zone
. If we continue, they will pick up our warp signature. It’s the way we found Earth nine cycles ago because of theirs.”

“They won’t see us sitting here?
” Peter demands.

“Hopefully our trail will have dissipated by the time they scan this far,
their scanning capabilities aren’t like ours, they should fly right by.”

“And after?”

“We’ll follow them. Our signature will blend in with theirs. Once we get close enough to the border, we’ll make a run for it.”