I don't own the WWF/E characters, and unless we suddenly become involved in an intergalactic war I don't think this could ever conceivably happen. I'm not making money. Why not? I don't know. But I'm not and there it stands.

"Hurricane, pull up."

"I've got it, Red."

"I told you to pull up, Hurricane."

"And I told you I've got it."

"Dammit Shane, pull up, you're too close!"

"I know what I'm doing! Lemme do it!"

Lita watched the screen closely, following each of Shane's maneuvers with a growing sense of fear in her chest. "Bogey at 5 O'clock Shane."

"Got it!" He reassured her. Then, "Dammit! I'm hit!"

"Then get the fuck out of there!"

A long pause. "System malfunction. I've gotta go to emergency procedures."

"You've gotta learn how to do this yourself."

"A little help here?"

"You've gotta do this one on your own."

"I'm going down!"

There was a flashing red light over the screen, alerting Lita to Shane's doomed condition. She did nothing as she watched the ship blow up in mid dive.

Lita sighed heavily, rolling her eyes. "Now do you get what I was trying to tell you?" she yelled.

Shane exited the simulator, "Yeah, yeah, I get it. I get it. Be prepared and alert at all times."

"Very good. Now, when you can pilot that mission without dying you get your wings. Until then you're grounded."

Shane nodded. "I get it, I get it." He sulked as he walked away.

The red haired girl shut down the program and sighed again. Why oh why did the boys keep insisting they could do this when this was the third time this week one of them had failed the simulation? And the one that did pass only got away with it because of his completely insane tactics. She was sick and tired of seeing Jeff risk his life any time he left the base.

Her com went off. "Yes?"

"Lita? Jericho. I need to talk to you."

"Be there in a second, oh captain my captain."

"Don't call me that."

Lita headed for the chambers of the ship's commanding officer. When she arrived he motioned her in.

"Sit down," he instructed. "Lita, listen. I know that being positioned out here wasn't exactly what any of us had in mind."

"Chris, I don't mind it that much," she told the blonde man. She adjusted the zipper on her top for comfort's sake. She had to keep it pulled up further during sims so the guys would concentrate.

"Don't tell me that," Chris handed her a drink and sat down across from her in what was supposed to be his living room. "Look, this isn't a place you ask to be assigned. Border patrol is far from glamorous, and it's also the most deadly job I could imagine taking. I hate it, you hate it, and the guys mostly hate it. But you've handled it well."

"Is this going somewhere?" she asked before taking another sip of her drink.

"Speaking of going anywhere, what's up with you and the older Hardy Boy. And when does he become a Hardy Man?"

"Very funny."

"Lemme guess, you've already made him a Hardy Man?"

"Chris, if we weren't friends I'd probably be failing at an attempt to kick your ass right now. And for your information, our relationship is just fine, thank you."

"Just wondering," Chris defended himself. "I just wanted to know, because, as you know, we have an inspection coming up."

Lita nodded. Sure enough, that bitch Stephanie would be dragging her ass out there, along with her brother and their bastard friends who'd stuck her out here. "But what does that have to do with me and Matt?"

"Well, Lita, you know how I'm kinda lax about that whole 'chain of command' thing? If I wanna keep my job, they're gonna expect me to have a second in command."

"And you want me to tell Matt it's him?"

"Not exactly. Matt's good…but he's not what I need. I need somebody that knows what's going on. You've been training the guys in sim for how long now? A year?"

"Around that, yeah. Why am I training them, anyway?"

"Well, you know how you kinda got up to level 19?"

"Yeah."

"Well, you're kinda only the second female around here to do that. The first was Chy before she left."

"Why didn't you tell me that before?"

"Well, see, that's not the only thing. The percentage of guys who make it to level 19 is pretty low. In fact, it's around a 5 percent chance of making it that far."

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"Lita, I want to appoint you my second in command."

The girl sat in silence. Then, after a long and tense pause, she said simply, "Okay."

Jericho brightened. "I figured you would. Great. Oh…wait. There is one other thing," he said, as if he were adding it as an afterthought.

Lita raised her eyebrows. She'd been working with Chris long enough to know this was not going to be a small thing. "And that is?"

"Well, I need you to watch the replay of last week's encounter."

Lita turned to face the screen in Jericho's room. The battle replay began and Lita heard every transmission over the radios.

"X-treme 1, I want you backing up Edge."

"Red, I'm coming to help you."

"No, you're going to back up Edge, I have this one."

"Red, listen to me. I'm not losing you."

At this point Lita watched as Matt's ship on the screen dove towards her, leaving Edge's completely alone and heading into a large concentration of enemy ships.

"Dammit X-treme 1, he can't handle them all on his own! Turn away from me and go back him up!"

"Fuck him!"

"X-treme 1, if you do not turn around right now and go back up Edge I will personally kick your ass. If we make it out of this. Just go back him up NOW!"

Lita watched as Matt came after her anyway. In Edge's sector she saw Jericho's ship come out of nowhere to aid him.

Jericho's voice. "I've got him Red. And X-treme 1, we will talk about this back on base."

Jericho stopped the replay. "What do you think?"

Lita shook her head, looking surprised. "I didn't know he came after me. My sensors were pretty shot from the dog fight before hand. I thought he turned around and went for Edge."

"Well, he wouldn't turn around. He came after you and put the life of another member of the crew in danger. Lita, I want to give you the second in command position, but I need proof that you're going to be able to put personal feelings aside."

Lita gave a grim but understanding smile. "In other words, I have to punish Matt for this."

"Basically."

"This is kind of sudden Chris."

"I know. But we have days until the inspection, Red. Make your choice."

Lita set down her glass, carefully. After a pause she pulled out her com. "Matt, I need to see you in Jericho's quarters, now."

After a few minutes, the serious looking boy showed up. "What's going on?" He asked when he saw the look on Lita's face.

Jericho looked at the two of them. "I'll leave you two alone to talk," he announced as he left the room.

Matt looked at Lita again. "What's wrong?" After a pause. "Aw shit. You're pregnant."

An incredulous look crossed Lita's face. "No, no, I'm not pregnant Matt. I need to talk to you."

"About?"

"Last week, the encounter where you disregarded my orders, blatantly."

"Lita, listen. You know I love you, and I just couldn't leave you there to die."

"Matt, I understand, but still, you shouldn't have abandoned Edge when he was in more danger than I was."

"He got out of there," Matt argued, as if that was the end of it.

Lita looked at him in disbelief. "Yeah. Because Chris risked his life to save him. Matt, I'm sorry, but what you did was a danger to the entire team. You can't just dash in and save me because there's a big bad in front of me. I was fine. Edge was about to die."

"What is this all leading up to?"

Lita sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. "Matt, are you able to not do that?" She opened her eyes.

"Lita, I can't help it. Every time I think of something happening to you, I just have to come after you. I got scared and came for you."

"Can you control it?"

Matt paused. "No. I am in love with you, and I will risk anything to save you."

Lita sighed. "Then I'm sorry Matt."

"Sorry for what?"

There was a long, uncomfortable pause. Then, Lita's face grew more serious than Matt had ever seen it. "For grounding you for three weeks. After that your return will be purely based on whether or not you've gotten over this."

"WHAT?"

"I'm sorry Matt, but you're endangering the team."

"WELL WHO THE FUCK DIED AND MADE YOU MISS HIGH AND MIGHTY?" Matt yelled at her.

"Jericho," Lita deadpanned. "He appointed me second in command earlier. Right before you came in."

"And so you just decided to abuse your power and fuck with my head?"

The fight to stay calm was evident on Lita's face. "This isn't easy for me Matt. But I have to do this. I have to prove I'm not going to let you off easier just because we're together."

"So you're gonna fuck me here and then you'll just fuck me tonight, right?"

"Matt, please. This is what I have to do."

"And you have to do it to me?"

"Matt…"

"After everything we've been through?"

"Matt…"

"I can't believe you'd do this to me. I thought you loved me."

"MATT!" Lita finally yelled, her eyes wild.

The boy stared at her as she fumed.

"NOW YOU LISTEN TO ME!" she screamed. Then calming down. "I would treat anyone the way I am treating you. Just because we happen to sleep together doesn't mean you get preferential treatment. And if you do not stop arguing with me this instant I will ground you for six months. I don't want this to affect our personal lives, but I will also not let our personal lives affect this. Now, are there any questions?"

Matt was silent. He nodded with a dark look on his face.

"You can go," Lita said, turning away from him.

"I am," Matt responded.

Lita heard the door slam shut and wished she'd made a different choice.

"So, you're saying that you actually used that in sim Jeff?" Shane asked as he sat down with his friends in the mess hall.

"Yep," the boy replied, pushing a strand of purple hair out of his face. "Lita was gonna bitch, but I did get through the simulation, and you guys know she's pulled some stupid shit before."

"Like?" Shane asked, skeptical.

"The time she got into a dog fight with Malenko just to prove she could," Edge mentioned as he sat down with the other boys. "And the time Chyna decided to challenge her and they put each other in the infirmary for two weeks. Lita's done some stupid stuff in her day."

"Yeah, like dating Essa," Jeff sighed as he pushed the same strand out of his face so it didn't cover up his left eye which was lined ancient Egyptian style with black liner.

Shane was staring at that eye now. "What's with the eye makeup, again?"

Jeff laughed. "That's a deadeye mark. It's an old tradition in some places across the border. You see, when you've done something exceptional out there, made some kind of amazing save or risked your own life with incredible results, you earn the right to wear it."

Helms looked skeptical. "And what did you do to deserve it?"

Jeff's face lost it's normally carefree demeanor. "The first TLC mission."

Edge shuddered, remembering the beating each of them had taken during that. "That was hell."

"Edge here earned his deadeye that day too, but he won't wear it," Jeff mentioned.

"Yeah, and if I remember right so did your brother," the blonde interjected, pointing his fork at Jeff. "And he doesn't wear it either."

"Yeah, but Matt's not the kind to do that kinda stuff," Jeff pointed out. "And neither is Chris."

"Chris? You mean Jericho has a deadeye?" Shane squealed.

"Yeah. Third TLC mission. Lost his partner soon after," Jackie seated herself with the boys. "What's going on?"

"Not much," Edge informed her. "Shane's bitching about not having his wings yet."

"Feel lucky you've even come close kid. Most people don't. Or they do and then something stupid comes up and makes 'em leave. Like Chy…" Jackie shook her head. "There was a tough bitch."

"I could say the same about you," Rob Van Dam mentioned as he sat with the growing group. "Considering you're the top in hand to hand around here."

"No. I just get into more bar brawls than most people. Don't soften the damn blow." Then, "Anyone mind if I smoke a cigar?"

All the boys shook their heads.

"Good, 'cause if I did mind, I'd beat you until you didn't." Jackie removed a metallic silver tube and tapped the end until a cigar came out. "Not the best in the world, but better than some of the shit I've had."

"Well, they told you to stay away from that Carnathian shit," Tori told her as she joined the group. "And do you listen? Noooo, you don't."

"Up yours sunshine," Jackie spat as she lit her cigar. "Where are Matt and Red?"

As if on cue, Matt stormed into the mess hall. "The audacity of that BITCH!"

"What are you talking about?" Edge asked as Matt sat down and put his head in his hands.

"Lita just grounded me for three weeks for saving her life."

There was silence.

"You mean grounded as in…revoked your flying privileges?" Jeff asked.

"Yes. For getting her out of that mess last week."

"Oh," Edge brought up, "the mess you nearly got me killed during?"

Matt nodded behind his hands. "She told me I unnecessarily risked the life of another in order to protect my girlfriend."

Silence again.

"Well, speaking as the life you unnecessarily risked, I say 'Good for her,'" Edge finally said. "But how can she? She doesn't have that kind of power around here."

Matt glared at Edge angrily. "Jericho appointed her second in command about an hour ago. Apparently he needs to look good for the inspection crew so he doesn't lose his post."

"Can't blame him for covering his ass," Jackie admitted as she puffed the cigar. "But why Red?"

"Not real sure. I guess because she made level 19. Like that's an accomplishment," he spat. "I mean, how hard is it for a girl to make a level 19?"

Tori paused. "Uh, Matt, I never made level 19. Are you saying I can't fly?" She glared at the dark haired boy.

Matt ignored her question, desperate in his search for validation. "Well, Jackie, what about you?"

Jackie puffed her cigar and let out a sharp laugh. "Are you stupid or something? I'm the mechanic, numbnuts. I don't fly. I can't make level 19!"

Matt turned to the rest of the table. "Guys, back me up here…"

Edge met his gaze. "I made a level 19, but I still don't think he entirely trusts me. I mean, I was on the wrong side during the first TLC mission."

"I did," RVD mentioned. "But dude, can you picture me as second in command?"

Matt looked at his brother, begging.

Jeff shrugged. "I did, but I'm too risky for a second. Chris knows that."

"And it doesn't hurt that you're completely immature," The group became aware that Chris had entered the conversation. "And that Lita has also shown that she's capable of training you people. She's good, and I don't wanna hear any more questioning of my decisions." This was directly aimed at Matt. "And I thought there was no smoking in here," that was aimed at Jackie.

"Like you ever enforced the rules before. I asked 'em if they minded."

"Which we didn't," Rob backed her. "At all."

Jericho sighed and bowed his head. Then, raising it again, he delivered the news. "Inspection crew, three days."

The entire assembly stared at him. "WHAT?" they yelled, almost in unison.

Chris shrugged. "They moved it up. I can't do anything about it."

"Who's coming?" Edge asked as he finished his chicken.

"Regal, Stephanie and her husband, Hunter. Other than that I don't know."

"Stephanie's coming?" Tori asked, slyly. "So, Chris, how good are you trying to look for this again?"

"Shut up Tori," Chris ordered. "I don't like her."

There were stifled giggles around the table. "Riiiiiight," Edge smirked.

"I don't!"

"Then why are you always commenting on her breasts?" Jeff asked.

"Because I'm making fun of her," Jericho answered, hastily.

"But that means you're looking at them."

A smug grin crossed Chris's face. "How can I not? They're so huge it's hard to get around them."

More laughter, except for Matt, who still looked like he was ready to hunt down his girlfriend and kill her.

The door opened again, and Lita walked into the room. "Hello guys," she smirked as she sat down at the opposite end of the table from Matt.

"Hey Red, congrats," Shane smiled at her.

"Thanks Shane," Lita opened her bottle of water and took a swig.

Edge grinned at her. "So, how's it feel to know you can actually get away with bossing us all around now?"

Lita shot a half smile in his direction. "Feels good."

"Yeah, must feel real good to punish someone for getting you out of a certain death situation," Matt grumbled.

Lita set down her bottle of water deliberately. "Matt, I explained this before,"

Rob picked up his tray. "I've got to go…"

Jackie put out her cigar and started to stand. "Yeah, me too. I gotta check on some engine problem…"

The rest of the crew all began moving, as if to follow suit.

"STAY," Lita ordered.

They all sat down again.

"Matt…all of you…listen. You are all my friends; at least I like to think you are. We are all very close. But if you, any of you, except Chris, decide to question my authority again, I will not be very lenient. I want the same amount of respect you give Chris."

There was a long pause, before Matt stood up angrily. "Then EARN it."

He stormed out.

Matt returned to his quarters and stood in the center of his living room for a few seconds before releasing a huge scream. He then sat down, put his head in his hands once more, and fought the urge to cry. How could she? How in the HELL could she?

There were footsteps outside Matt's door. He heard someone try to open the door and the reply came "Door is locked and privacy is requ…"

A male voice cut the computer off. "Command override, Captain Christopher Jericho."

"Voice match," the computer acknowledged as the doors slid open.

"EARN IT?" Jericho asked Matt as he watched the boy sit and fume. "EARN IT? Matt, the girl earned a fucking level 19! You know how many women have earned a level 19? Two. She's only the second. Only five percent of guys even make a level 19. And that hasn't earned your respect than your standards are too high."

"I'm supposed to take this shit from the woman who supposedly loves me?" Matt spat out.

"Yes, because the woman who loves you happens to be your commanding officer now. And you have to learn how to deal with it."

"She's been sleeping with you, hasn't she?" Matt asked. "She's been fucking you for months, right? That's why she got this job."

"Could you be anymore of a bratty ass-clown?" Jericho asked. "I AM THE BRATTY ONE ON THIS SHIP. AND I HAVE NOT FUCKED YOUR GIRLFRIEND." Jericho took a deep breath. "Though at this point, she seems more like your ex. She walked out of the mess hall with her head high, but ten to one she's in her room hating herself for this. And she does not deserve this."

"Well, what does she deserve?" Matt challenged.

"Respect. And if you can't or don't respect her, there's the problem of the rest of the crew not respecting her. We can't risk that with an inspection in three days. The point of this rant is, junior, get the fuck over it."

Jericho turned and left. As he was leaving, Jeff rushed into the room before the doors could close.

"What do you want?" Matt asked his brother.

"I can't side with you on this one, Matt," Jeff replied. "She's good, she's damn good. Given the opportunity she could have earned a dead eye already. So get over it. And after this, never call me immature again."

Matt put his head back in his hands and only heard his brother leave the room.

"Door is locked and privacy is requ…"

"Command override, Captain Christopher Jericho."

"Voice match," Jericho heard the computer announce as he entered Lita's quarters.

He approached the crying red head. "You okay, Red?"

"How can he hate me?" she sobbed. "I told him I didn't want to, but dammit Chris, he nearly got Edge killed."

"I know Red. He's just being an asshole, that's all," Jericho sat down beside her on the couch. "And you've handled assholes before."

"But I've hated those assholes before. I don't hate Matt."

Chris could see that she had a photo frame in her hands, containing a picture of herself, Jeff, and Matt on the day they found out they were being stationed together. Chris remembered the fit Lita's then boyfriend Essa Rios had thrown, the intense Spanish rant he'd subjected her to. Saying something about her "running off with those boys again," and how "she planned this so she could leave him" and possibly something about "not watering the sheep last week." Jericho's Spanish only went so far.

Essa had verbally abused her. But it was when he'd physically hit her Chris had been tempted to go after the ass-clown himself. Would have, if the Hardy's hadn't beaten him to it. Truth be told, Lita was like his kid sister, and Matt's accusing him of fucking her was like being accused of incest. His heart lay elsewhere, and everyone on the ship knew that.

Whether HE'D admit it to them or not, he was in love with Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley. Plus, she loved him back.

And if the crew ever found out, he'd have to kill them all.

But this wasn't about him and Steph right now, it was about Lita and Matt and their problems.

"Chris, I don't know if I can do this. Is anyone going to take me seriously and not just look at me as Matt's girlfriend?"

"I think you already know they're not going to think of you like that," Jericho assured her. "But it's up to you. It's a choice you've got to make." His com started going off. "Ah, what the hell?"

He flipped opened his com. "What is it?"

"Um, captain," Shane's voice was shaky on the other end of the com. "We have a slight problem with the inspectors. They're here. Now."

"Fucking hell?" Chris asked. "What are they doing here so soon?"

"Stephanie said something about wanting to get to this one fast. I think we're in trouble."

"Are they starting the inspection NOW?"

"No, they're waiting for tomorrow. But they want to spend the night on the ship."

"I'll be right there," Chris closed the com and put it back on his belt. "Sorry kid, we'll continue this later. But right now, you've gotta dry your eyes and we have to greet our unwelcome guests."

"Well, well, well," Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley smirked as she entered the ship. "Captain Christopher Jericho, what an honor. I intend to have a lot of fun with this one."

"If your idea of fun is putting up with my brand of humor for the next few days, then we're going to have a grand old time," Jericho smiled widely at her.

"Well, I can see with the way this is going, we may have a few problems, Captain Jericho."

"The only problem we'll have Mrs. McMahon-Helmsley, is if your little friends burst and drown out all the equipment."

"Captain Jericho," Stephanie snapped, standing nose to nose with him, "I do not believe that you should take such liberties when speaking with me, seeing as how your job will be dependent on the next few days."

Jericho laughed. "Honey, my job may depend on you, but my gag reflex is reacting to you."

"Jericho!" She looked at him wide eyed as her husband and her brother entered the room.

"Are you starting already?" Steph's brother Shane asked. "Can't you wait until we're at least settled to begin insulting my sister?"

"No," Jericho said matter-of-factly to Shane.

Lita stood behind Jericho, stifling a giggle. Shane shot her a look, as did the newly arrived Commissioner William Regal. He stared at her with his better-than-thou art scowl. "Young lady, is it really appropriate for you to be laughing at a superior officer?"

"Lita," Jericho turned to the girl. "You have my full permission to laugh at Commissioner Ass-Clown and the Golden Son."

"Duly noted, sir," Lita nodded, hands behind her back.

Hunter dropped the bags on the floor. "Can I get some help here?"

Chris turned to the rest of the crew. "Hurricane? Jeff? You guys wanna help Hunter with his bags?"

The two boys picked up the bags. Shane looked up at Stephanie in amazement. "You're Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley?"

She nodded. "And you are?"

"Shane Helms. But everyone out here calls me Hurricane."

"Hurricane?" Regal asked. "I don't think that's the appropriate way to address a crew member, Captain Jericho. Call signs are only to be used during combat purposes."

"Maybe closer to home, Commissioner, but it's how we address each other out here. And I don't think the way I address my crew is any business of yours."

Regal smiled. "It will be my business tomorrow, Captain."

"As I understand, Commissioner. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to make sure your bags get to your rooms. Lita, show Hunter and Stephanie to their room. I'll take care of Shane, Regal, and…who else is back there?"

A bald headed man entered the room.

Jericho winced. "Austin…good to see you."

"Shut up, Jericho. Do you know who I am? I am Stone Cold Steve Austin."

"Of course. Right this was Stone Cold Steve Ass-Clown."

"What?"

"Stone Cold Steve Austin."

Lita led Hunter and Stephanie to the quarters they'd set aside for them. "Here's where you'll be staying."

Stephanie looked around the suite. "This isn't exactly what I had expected."

Lita panicked internally. "We had to make due with what we had. I'm sorry."

"You know, I believe I'm going to have a word with the Captain."

Stephanie turned and walked out the door.

When she was gone, Hunter turned to Lita. "Why do I have a feeling that word is 'orgasm'?"

Lita laughed, softly in spite of herself. "You think she's cheating on you?"

"I KNOW she's cheating on me. I have known it for years."

"Well, pardon me for saying this, but I'm not exactly feeling sympathetic here."

"What?"

"Well, last time we met, you and Austin kicked my ass for defending Matt," Lita reminded him. "The bar incident? I still have a scar."

Hunter shrugged. "Yeah, you survived. You survived and then you came out here and proved you're tougher than most of the females I've ever met."

"And that matters because?"

Hunter shrugged. "I LIKE tough girls."

Lita rolled her eyes. "Yet you married Steph?"

"She's tough, in her own way. Not like you, Jackie, and…Chy…"

Lita was quiet for a second. Then, against her better judgment, she looked at hunter sympathetically. "You took losing her hard, didn't you?"

Hunter nodded. "I was in love with her, completely and utterly. I left her for Stephanie because I wanted more power. More money, more EVERYTHING. I lost her." Hunter sat down on the couch. "And of all the people in the world, I open up to you."

"After you nearly killed me, might I add," Lita sat down beside him.

"Yeah. I did. And then I ended up getting hurt and having to sit standby for a long time. I came back and Austin's a pussy, my wife's deep in her affair, and Regal's an ass." He thought for a moment. "Okay, that last part isn't really that much of a change. Point is, I'm sick of it."

"I can understand," Lita said, feeling like she was betraying herself with every word. "I'm having problems of my own."

Hunter stood up and mixed himself a drink. He motioned to Lita who shook her head. "I'm on duty."

Hunter nodded in understanding and sat back down beside her. "What kind of problems?"

"Boy trouble. Matt troubles. I had to ground him after he did something stupid, and now he's pissed off at me."

"You decided to lay down the law and he got angry, right?"

"Exactly."

Hunter nodded. "Look, let me try and explain. I'm not defending him, but you have to understand. We guys…we all still have caveman instincts. We've evolved out of many of them, but they still retain others. Like jealousy anytime any touches their wife," Hunter spat out.

"So, you're saying Matt's upset because a woman told him what to do?"

"No, Matt's upset because HIS woman told him what to do."

"You really think that's his problem?"

"Yeah, sounds like it."

"How do you know these things?"

"Because Matt's acting like a total asshole. And it takes an asshole to know an asshole."

"Captain Jericho, I have some things to say to you."

Jericho spun around to face Stephanie. She stood in his doorway, smirking at him and holding a bottle of champagne. "You want something to drink, Captain?"

"Well, Mrs. McMahon-Helmsley, I'm on duty, and I have an inspection coming up tomorrow."

She slipped into the room. "Oh, I think you're gonna pass with flying colors."

Jericho stood still as she approached him. "Hmmm…how am I gonna do that?"

"Well, it might be because you have a very special relationship with someone who owns Regal's ass," she teased as she set down the champagne bottle.

"Don't bring his ass into this," Chris muttered as she slipped her arms around his neck. "You have the only ass I'm interested in." He kissed her deeply, nudging his tongue into her mouth. She returned the kiss just as passionately as they moved towards his bedroom. Jericho broke the embrace for a split second to dim the lights, and then moved towards the love of his life.

"She's hot!" Hurricane exclaimed Rob and Edge as he crashed in the common room. "She's fricking hot!"

"She's a bitch," Edge warned him. "She's a selfish, spoilt little brat. There's nothing hot about her."

"Except her body!" Shane exclaimed. "And her voice…and she's so smart."

Rob smiled sadly at the kid, "Look, kid, she screws everybody and plays favorites. I remember…"

"Uh, oh. Flashback time…" Edge rolled his eyes.

Rob flipped him the bird before continuing. "Right before I was assigned out here, There was a lotto to see who'd end up here and who'd end up at base. I should have been put on the base, but Austin cheated and set it up so another friend of his got the base, and I ended up out here."

"And Stephanie just went with it?" Shane asked, amazed.

"Yes, she did. She didn't do anything to piss off Austin. He was her and her brother's golden boy. I think it's sickening," Rob confessed.

"But…she's changed, right? She's not the same woman she was then?"

"I don't know," Rob exclaimed. "I don't think she can change."

"She's gorgeous."

"She's dangerous."

"She's…"

"Fucking Jericho," Tori announced as she joined the boys. "She's fucking him in his quarters right now, if I know her."

"Of course, she's fucking him," another female voice joined. Everyone cringed as the medical officer, Trish Stratus, entered the room. "I wouldn't doubt it."

"Yeah, well you fucked her daddy to get a job, so you're worse in my book," Tori smiled at Trish as she said this.

Trish raised a perfectly tweezed eyebrow. "Um…and who was body guarding her for cash?"

Tori's expression darkened. "I did what I had to do."

"So did I," Trish smirked at her. "And I did it well."

"Obviously not well enough if you're stuck out here," Jackie filled in. "If you were any good at all you'd have your cushy job at base and only the real tough bitches would be out here." She accentuated this by slapping Tori five.

"What's up, Space Cowgirl?" Tori asked.

"They wanna give us a Trainee, some kid named Nidia. Sounds like she's tough enough to handle it."

"You really think she's gonna cut it?" Tori lounged in one of the chairs.

"She went through basics with flying colors," Jackie sat backwards on one of the chairs at the card table and lit a cigar. "I'd say she sounds like she could handle it."

There was a collective groan as Commissioner Regal entered the room. "Hello everyone, how are we this…Dear god, are you smoking a cigar in here?"

Jackie shrugged. "Yeah, what about it?"

"Do you realize that smoking is bad for you health? And more over, do you realize how un-ladylike that is?"

"Un-ladylike?" Jackie stood up and got in the Commissioner's face. "You wanna see un-ladylike? Then try this!" She pushed the lit end of the cigar into his forehead, and then kneed him in the groin. "Now, that's un- ladylike."

There was a roaring round of applause for Jackie as she sat back down. "Oh, and that stays off the record 'cause your damned inspection don't start until tomorrow. Now get the hell out of here."

Regal retreated as quickly as he'd arrived.

Lita was still talking to Hunter when she sensed something was wrong. "Hold on for a second…" she instructed as she headed for the windows. She paused for a second, then her eyes widened. "Hunter, I have to go." She ran for the door, while pulling her com off of her belt. "Everyone to battle stations, red alert! We're under attack, repeat, under attack!"

"How in the hell can we be under attack NOW?" Edge bitched as he pulled on his jacket and ran from his room.

"Don't ask me," Rob answered, hopping on one foot as he pulled on his right boot. "I don't get it either."

Tori met them in the hall as they hurried towards the docking bay. "Yeah, can you believe these guys. First they break border treaty, and then they do it in the middle of the night."

Lita was heading for her ship when she saw Matt climbing into his. "Matt, what the hell are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm gonna go stop this," he replied.

"Matt, you are grounded. Remember? Get out of there now."

"Lita, you can't be serious!"

"I am VERY serious Matt. Get out of there."

"I'm not going to!"

Lita breathed deeply, closing her eyes and trying to calm herself.

"Matt, out of the ship!" Jericho came to her aid from behind her. "NOW!"

Matt scowled and climbed out of the cockpit of the small fighter ship. Jericho turned to Lita. "I'm flying this one for you."

"Chris…"

"You are not in a mental state that equates to flying. Go to the bridge and direct traffic."

Lita paused, then nodded. "Understood." Then, quietly, "Gracious."

Jericho shrugged. "I already watered the sheep," he assured her. He ran for his own ship and climbed in. "See you when we get back."

Lita saluted the others, and then headed for the bridge.

"Full screen," Lita ordered on the bridge. "I want clear visuals at all times."

"Understood," the computer replied.

"What's going on?" Stephanie asked as she rushed onto the bridge.

"Under attack. We've gotta cut 'em off now." Lita answered, her eyes never leaving the screen. She adjusted the small microphone like device near her mouth. "Role call ladies and gents. X-treme Two?"

"Ready and rarin' to go!" Jeff answered.

"Tortured Soul?"

Edge whooped into her earpiece.

"Mr. Monday Night?"

"You've got the whole F'in show right here."

"Good to know," Lita responded. "Ninja Girl?"

"Dammit, I am changing my call name again!" Tori yelled.

Jackie laughed from behind Lita. "How many times will that be, Miss Green Goddess?"

"Shut up Jackie, I heard that."

"Lionheart, you read me?"

"Of course I do, Red. We're heading in."

Lita watched carefully as the ships headed for the hot zone. "I want you to be careful in there. No high risk maneuvers until I clear it, read me?"

There was a groan that Lita assumed was Jeff. "I mean it, X-Treme Two. Nothing stupid."

"I hear you, I hear you," Jeff replied.

Lita studied what she could see on screen. "It looks like they've got an unprotected left side. Steer clear, it's a trap. I've seen this formation before."

Regal appeared beside her. "Why aren't they approaching in standard formation?"

"Because out here your enemies don't typically use standard formation," Lita told him, covering the microphone while keeping her eyes focused on the screen.

"This is very far away from standard procedure."

Lita grit her teeth. "Well, Commissioner, out here we are fairly far removed from standard procedure out here." She spoke into her mike again. "Mr. Monday Night? I want you a strong offense out there. In and out as fast as possible, okay?"

"Got it Red."

Lita switched off the mike and turned to Jackie. "What are the conditions of the ship?"

"Edge's ship took a beating last time. I tried to fix as much as I could, but it was pretty rough. It'll fly, and he should be in good shape. Other than that, they're in top shape."

Regal looked at Jackie. "And do you smoke cigars while you work on the ships as well?"

"Yeah. And when I'm done I sit down with a six pack and a Playgirl, what's your problem?"

"Cut it out!" Lita ordered, turning the mike on again. "Alright folks, I want a basic Twist of Fate. Lionheart, you flying X-Treme One's position?"

"Yeah. What side should we go from?"

"Jackie, what kind of ships are we dealing with out there?"

"Hmmm, looks like old R-452's. Completely shielded on the bottom and sides."

"So we've gotta hit them high. Alright, Twist of Fate as quickly as possible to get them worn down. Then I want strong aerial offence. Mr. Monday Night nail them as hard as you can. Ninja Girl, put them through some tables."

"Got it," Tori registered as she flew into position.

"X-treme Two, when you've recovered from the Twist of Fate, I want you to hit them with a Swanton Bomb."

"Read ya loud and clear Red."

The crew began the attacks as she had instructed. Just as Jeff was about to fire off his missiles, Lita caught site of a problem.

"X-Treme Two, pull out! They're waiting for it!"

She watched as Jeff tried to pull out, but failed. The missiles went off anyway and Lita watched the other ship move, taking absolutely no damage.

"X-Treme Two, you're out of big guns. Hang back."

Jeff obeyed.

"We're going to have to try something different. Mr. Monday Night, think you can handle a simple MoonSault?"

"No problem Red."

"Just don't think you're stealing my signature off of me. I'm loaning it to ya."

"Understood."

Rob flipped backwards, aiming for the lower ship. He nailed a direct hit, and the crew on the bridge watched the explosion.

"We're down one people. Let's keep it up. X-Treme Two, what the hell are you doing?"

"I wanna try the Swanton again."

"Your out of big ammo."

"I wanna try it with the smaller stuff."

"It won't work X-Treme Two. Physical impossibility."

"Not if I fire two rounds instead of one."

Lita paused for a split second to calculate. "You may be right. But even so, I don't like the risk factor involved."

"Shit!" Tori broke in. "I'm hit. We've gotta finish these bastards now Red."

"Tortured Soul, how long has it been since you tried a DownWard Spiral?"

"Not sure. Over a year, I think."

"You remember how?"

"It's like riding a bike."

"Nail the sons of bitches."

Edge spiraled down onto the enemy, guns bursting. He waited until the last possible second before pulling out.

"How many did I get?"

"Only three. We've gotta take one more down to be in the safe zone."

"Red?"

"What is it X-Treme Two?"

"Tell Matt I love him if I don't come back!"

"DON'T YOU DARE!"

Lita watched Jeff set up for another Swanton.

"Somebody stop him! NOW!"

She watched Chris beat Jeff into position and set himself up for something.

"Lionheart, what the HELL are you doing? There's not enough free airspace for a MoonSault."

"I know."

She watched in horror as Chris began the move anyway, zooming straight for the enemy ship.

"Lionheart, what is going on out there?"

Chris's ship got closer and closer.

"Pull out now."

Closer…

"NOW!"

Closer…

"DAMMIT CHRIS."

The ship fired off its two biggest guns. The other ship exploded in a fiery ball.

"Pull out Lionheart, you're heading into the explosion."

Chris's ship didn't pull out.

It headed straight into the heart of the explosion.

And it didn't come back out.

The other ships were retreating, and Lita could hear her crew celebrating in her earpiece.

"Lionheart, come in," she half whispered.

No answer.

"Lionheart, come in now," a little louder.

Still no answer.

"LIONHEART?" she screamed.

Static.

"GOD DAMMIT CHRIS! ANWER ME! YOU HAVE TO BE THERE!"

Still more static.

"Red, what's wrong?" Jeff broke in.

"Chris…" Lita choked. "I didn't see him come out of the explosion."

"He made it out Red."

"Is he on your homing screen?"

"Nah, but his device was probably screwed up in the fight. He made it out."

Lita pause. "Alright. Everyone get back here. I want your radios switched off and only turned back on in an emergency."

The radios clicked off. Lita took of her earpiece quickly. "Computer, locate the ship belonging to Captain Christopher Jericho."

"Damage Report. Ship destroyed."

Lita heard Stephanie gasp.

"Check again," Lita ordered.

"Damage Report. Ship destroyed. Casualties: Captain Christopher Jericho."

"No," Stephanie whispered. Lita couldn't blame her, she herself was thinking the same thing.

"Margin of error?" Lita asked the computer.

".01 margin of error. Ship's sensor is still responding. Cockpit was blown out of ship, no chance of survivors."

Stephanie maintained her composure. Lita looked at her and knew exactly what was going through the other woman's head.

Down in the docking bay, the crew was whooping it up, celebrating another victory. Then, they saw Lita, Jackie, Trish, Matt, Hurricane, and Stephanie.

"Why are you so depressed! Come on, we won!" Rob grinned at them. "Look, when Chris gets back we'll…"

The cringe on Lita's face gave it away.

"Oh my god…"Tori whispered.

Lita nodded. "He's dead…" she explained as she finally gave in and began to cry.

Edge ran to her and hugged her. "It's okay, it's okay kid."

"I didn't know what he was going to do…" Lita cried. "I didn't know he was going to try that."

"You couldn't have stopped him," Edge whispered.

"Yes I could have," Lita sobbed. "I should've flown, not him."

Matt looked on as Edge hugged Lita, and jealousy flared up inside of him. He knew it was inappropriate, and he knew Edge was only trying to comfort her. But that didn't help. He was jealous as all hell.

Stephanie began sobbing too at this point, in her own quiet way. Hurricane turned to her and hugged her gently to comfort her. She hugged back to his surprise. She was crying into his shoulder in soft sobs.

The others were milling about, trying to decide how to react. Jackie was trying to remain stoic, but her eyes were quivering almost imperceptivity. Tori was frozen in shock and was hanging on to Jeff's shoulder for support. Jeff was wiping at his eyes, and then pulled his hand back to reveal smudged black eyeliner on his hand. Rob snarled and began punching at the side of his ship as if that could solve anything.

There was a somber air in the docking bay when Commissioner Regal entered it. "Well, we've all had a very busy night, haven't we? It is now two o'clock in the morning. Your inspection begins at eight. Lita Dumas, as first officer on this ship, it is now your duty to act as Captain due to Jericho's untimely demise. I'll see you all in a few hours."

And with that, he left in his stuffy and brisk manner.