Ah yes, loyal readers, Douglas left you (and Ben) with a cliff-hanger at the end of Chapter 20. Well, it appears my wily writing partner sent it right back to me. However, in between volleys, Ben lets all of you know the background and motivations of Captain Hatcher. In a chapter much different than anything we've doe so far, Ben gives you a short biography of one of the SFA's top captains. You already know how he ended up going from the captain of a flagship to the captain of a ship crewed by juvenile deliquents. Now you will see how he rose to being that flagship captain, and learn more about his relationship with his two sons. To Willie, and any others who may have noticed what Willie wrote us about, the end of this chapter should, I hope, indicate why the sabateour was willing to do what he did where he did it....he never really saw himself as being in danger. Thanks again for reading. Ben and Douglas
The Boys of the Lady Lex Chapter 21 "Hat Trick" Written By Douglas DD and Benjamin TC
Stevie Hatcher skated down the ice pushing the puck with his hockey stick. His ten year old legs used every ounce of energy they had as he did a fake shot, spun around and shot the puck into the undefended goal. Stevie Hatcher heard the crowd roar and cheer as he raised his arms with his stick in hand above his head. He skated around the empty rink, parading around, celebrating his winning shot. The cheers of the crowd were drowned out by the reality of his father clapping. Stevie stopped and looked around. He was in the Pittsburgh Penguins Hockey rink, where his father was a custodian. After games, his father would let him skate on the ice as he did his custodial duties. Stevie has been skating and playing hockey ever since he could remember. His dad always joked that he was born with skates on his feet and a hockey stick in his hands.
"Come on Stevie, time to go home. Your mom is waiting on us," yelled Randy Hatcher, Steve Hatcher's father. He was a tired looking man. He was 44 years old, but looked 64. He was bald on top, but with strands of hair lying across on top. Crow's feet were very evident around his brown eyes, as well as his double chin. His hands were rough and callused and he was slightly over weight.
"Coming Dad." Stevie Hatcher skated off the ice. He sat down on the bench and removed his skates and put on his shoes.
The boy and his father soon left. Stevie Hatcher was very close to his father. He would spend every minute he could to be with his father. If he wasn't with his father, he was with his best friend Jay Hood. Most of the time, Jay would come to the hockey games with Stevie, but tonight Jay was sick and couldn't go.
"You have fun tonight?" asked Randy Hatcher.
"Yeah, I wish we would have won though."
"The Red Wings are a tough team this year." Randy began to punch in a number to the console phone in their falling apart car shuttle.
"Calling mom?"
"You know I always give her a call to let her know we are coming home."
Stevie leaned back in his seat. He stared out the window as they drove into the projects, his neighborhood. Stevie knew they were poor. But he also knew he was rich in love. And just spending time with his dad and doing hockey stuff with him made him the wealthiest kid in the universe.
"That's strange. She's not answering."
"Maybe she is next door helping Mrs. Wannamaker with her 50 bajillion cats," laughed Stevie. He liked his neighbor, Mrs. Wannamaker. She was a sweet old lady. She was only five feet tall, but about 250 pounds. She was 89 years old last June. The thing that Stevie always remember about Mrs. Wannamaker is that her house always smelled of a combination of cats, because she took in every stray cat that came across her doorstep, and of ham and cabbage soup.
Randy pulled up the car and parked it in front of an apartment complex that housed five (six) apartments, three upstairs, and three downstairs. The building was old and falling apart. It was just a matter of time that the city would declare it condemned and then Randy and his wife would have to find another place to live with their son. But hopefully, it would be after the winter season. For they couldn't afford any other place.
Randy and Stevie walked into the front door. Immediately their noses became alert to the aroma of gas. Stevie left out a cough.
"What's that smell?"
"Steve get out now. Go to the car and call 911. Tell them there is a gas leak in our building." Stevie was scared at this point, but he did as he was told. As he exited the building, he saw his dad pull out a handkerchief from his pocket and placed it over his mouth and nose as he ran upstairs to his apartment.
Stevie ran to the car and jumped in. Just as he finished making the phone call for help, he turned to look at the building. With no warning, there was a horrible explosion. The building was engulfed in flames. The explosion caused the car to roll over several times, with Stevie rolling inside it. Fortunately for him, the only wound he received was a cut under his chin.
Stevie ran out of the wreck and towards the fire. Some elderly black man grabbed Stevie by the collarbone. "Whoa son. You can't go in there."
"But my dad and mom are in there!" cried Stevie. The elderly gentleman looked at the crying boy. The fire reflected off of the boy's tear covered cheeks.
"It's too late son. They're gone."
Stevie collapsed on the hard pavement of the road. Everything that mattered to him just was yanked from him. The only thing he ever cared for was gone forever. He couldn't understand why. His father was a good man. A hard working man. His mother was loving and caring. Yet they both died brutally.
Stevie sat by himself on the curb outside the hockey stadium. He didn't know where else to go. The firemen found the remains to his parents. They were identified by the jewelry they were wearing. Stevie kept wishing that the last 48 hours was just a horrible nightmare and he would be waking up soon. But unfortunately it wasn't a nightmare. It was life.
"Hi," said Jay Hood walking up to Stevie. Stevie didn't say a word. He just sat on the curb with his arms wrapped around his legs with his knees pressing into his chest. Stevie just stared towards the pavement, but his stare took him past he pavement and into another world.
"I'm sorry about your parents."
Stevie still said nothing. He wished Jay never tracked him down. He just wanted to be left alone. Because he was a poor boy and no family to speak of, other then his parents, no one really knew he existed. That was one reason that social services didn't take him in. For all they knew, Stevie Hatcher didn't exist.
"Where are you staying?" asked Jay who by this time sat next to his best friend.
"No where," mumbled Stevie barely audible. A cold winter wind then brushed up against the boys, sending chills through both of them.
"You hungry?"
Stevie nodded his head. The past 48 hours he's been sleeping an old condemned building out of the winter nights. As for food, Stevie hasn't really eaten anything since the night his parents were killed.
"You wanna come to my house?"
Stevie nodded his head once again. Jay stood up and reached his hand out to his best friend. Stevie looked up with tears still in his eyes. He took Jay's hand and the two boys headed to Jay's house.
Jay's father was a drunk and didn't care about Jay. Jay's mother had left him and his father a long time ago. So Jay had free reign pretty much. Jay only went to school when he wanted to and he even experimented with drugs and cigarettes at a very young age. Stevie on the other hand stayed away from drugs and cigarettes. His father had taught him that, but he would soon start to forget what he learned.
Over the next two years, Jay's influence started to mold Stevie's character. His father and mother were no longer alive to teach him right from wrong. The two boys began to steal appliances and jewelry for money so they could pay for their bad habits of drugs. A few times they were caught, but the courts dismissed them with a warning or sent them to St. Joseph's Delinquent Home for Boys for six months. Then at age 12 they broke into a house to steal what goods it held within its walls. But in doing so, the boys accidentally knocked over some candles, causing the house to burn down. They would have been in the clear if the nosey neighbor hadn't seen them break into the house. Because of this, the judge, who was tired of seeing them, sent both of them to St. Joseph's for six years. He figured the only way to keep them off the streets was behind bars. He knew both boys had great potential. He just hoped they would find it at St. Joes.
"That's him?" asked a man wearing a SFA uniform.
"That's him," smiled Coach Bob Haskins.
Both men watched the 18 year old high school senior skate like no one saw before. He handled that puck on the floor with confidence and skill. His look was determined.
"What's his story? We normally don't consider admissions to the academy let alone scholarships for delinquents."
"His folks were killed in a fire when he was 10. Because he had no one to take care of him, he and his best friend, Jay Hood, the goalie you see there, took the life of the streets. One thing led to another and ended up here. When he first got here, he was full of anger and hatred. He blamed society on the death of his parents. He would constantly get into fights. Then I took him under my wing and taught him how to take that negative anger energy turn it into positive energy on the ice. He didn't want to at first because he gave up hockey after his father died. But finally we got him on the ice and his talent just emerged. He still likes to drop the gloves every now and then, but not near as much as he first began 6 years ago. You have seen his stats. You will get to see him play in a few minutes."
"Coach, the way you talk, you changed a boy's life for the good. But like I said before, we don't normally look at delinquents for the academy."
"Commander Natter, Steve is a special boy. He's been through a lot when he was a kid. He never had anything like you and I did growing up. Steve shows great interest in the stars. But he still needs discipline. He needs structure in his life. You've seen his grades, they are top notch. His skills in hockey are top notch. He shows signs of leadership. But he has no way to pay for any higher education. Most schools won't look at his application because he attends a delinquent school. Steve needs a second chance, Commander. He needs a break. I promise you that if you get Steve into the SFA Academy on a full scholarship, he will not let you down. Because that is how Steve is."
"I'll watch the game. Then if I like what I see, I'll interview him. But I make no promises."
"Thank you Commander. I promise you, you will like what you see and hear."
Steve walked into Coach Bob's office. Coach Bob was sitting at his desk. Sitting in a chair in front of the desk was a man wearing a SFA Uniform.
"You wanted to see me Coach?"
"Yes, Steve, come on in." Steve came in as Commander Natter stood up. "Steve this is Commander Natter from SFA Academy. He watched your game last night."
Steve shook Commander Natter's hand. "Hi. Pleasure to meet you."
"Pleasure's all mine Steve. Please sit down."
"So you watched us play tonight?"
"Yes I did. You were quite impressive on the ice. I can see why you wear the letter `C' on your uniform. Not to mention scoring three goals. Not too often I get to see a hat trick."
"That was only my second one this season."
"Only your second one." Natter laughed. "Coach Haskins tells me you are interested in Sol Force Alliance Academy.
"That's right."
"Why is that?"
"Before my dad died during the winter months we would go to hockey games together, mainly because my dad was a custodian at the stadium. But during the off season, we would go along the river's edge at night and just stare up at the sky. My dad told me that one day I will be traveling around those stars. He could tell it by what he saw in my eyes."
"But with the talent you have for hockey, I would think you would want to go pro."
"I would love to go pro and play for the Penguins. But if I blow out my knee or something and have no education, then I am stuck. At least if I go to the academy to play on their hockey team, I can get the best of both worlds."
"Steve, our hockey team is a pitiful sight. We almost always finish in last place. We have never came close to a title. Doesn't that bother you?"
"Titles are great. Being a champion is great. But they are only temporary. Going to a normal college you form a team, maybe win a championship, and then you all go different directions once you graduate. You go to the academy, you form a team, then that team goes into the fleet still a team. Sure they might go to different ships and stuff, but the chances of them working together as a team again is far greater then that in the civilian sector."
Commander Natter didn't say a word. He just listened to Steve as he talked, telling him the reasons why he thought the way he did. The more Steve Hatcher talked, the more Commander Natter envisioned him one day in the captain's chair on the bridge of a starship. After Steve was finished, Commander Natter finally spoke again.
"Steve, what would it take to get you to sign up? I am willing to offer you a full hockey scholarship right here and now."
Steve smiled. He couldn't believe this. "Does my goalie get to come with me?"
"Steve, Commander Natter came here to see you, not Jay," said Coach Bob.
"Commander, if Jay can't go with me to the academy, then I will have to decline your offer."
"Steve?" Coach Bob couldn't believe him. But he knew the boys were like brothers and inseparable.
"It's alright Coach. I admire a man who is loyal to his friends. Loyalty is a key element in SFA foundation. Steve, I tell you what. I saw how Jay played tonight, and he was very impressive. He did have a shut out game after all. Let me look at his school records and talk to him. If he fits the criteria and willing to join SFA, then I will highly recommend you two for the buddy program we just started up."
"What's that?"
"You two will go to the academy together and upon graduation, you will serve your first assignment together. After that, you could be stationed together again or maybe not. But, we do guarantee the first assignment. It's a recruiting tool is what this is."
"It's a deal Commander Natter. If Jay meets your criteria and I already knows he's interested in SFA, then you can count me in, but if he doesn't get in, then I stay here."
"Understood Steve." Commander Natter stuck out his hand and shook it.
A month later Steve and Jay each got a letter in the mail. It was welcoming them both to Sol Force Alliance Academy.
"Watch it!" yelled Midshipman Steve Hatcher as the sports trainer examined his swollen wrist in the locker room. Steve was drench with sweat. His left eye was already turning black and blue and swollen a little. A small gash next to his eye was seeping blood upon his cheeks.
"I don't think it's broken, but you might have a hairline fracture. I'll take you to the hospital," said the old sports trainer with a thick Russian accent.
"After the game. We are down by one goal and the third period just began. Wrap it up so I can get back on the ice."
"Sorry Steve, not tonight. You're finished playing hockey tonight."
"No fucking way. Wrap it up, Doc."
"Stephen, I am taking you to the hospital. That was a hard blow with the stick your wrist took."
"Doc, it's alright. I am going out to play." Midshipman Hatcher got off the examining bench and headed back to the ice.
"Mr. Hatcher, you walk out of this locker room and I guarantee you that your hockey days will be over for the rest of the season. Now you will get your gear off and accompany me to the hospital."
"Doc, let me play. I am ok."
The old sports trainer walked over to the persistent and stubborn hockey player. He grabbed both of his hands with each hand. He saw Steve try to hide the pain that was caused when his wrist was moved, even though Steve did his best to hide it.
"If you can squeeze hands to the point where I get on my knees, you can play. If not, you are going to the hospital."
Steve tried squeezing. His right hand was doing its job, but his left hand caused too much pain. He could barely grip on the sports trainer's hand, let alone squeeze it hard enough to endorse pain. Reluctantly, Steve accepted defeat.
"Can we at least wait until the game is over before we go?"
The sports trainer smiled. "That I will allow. But let's put your arm in a sling first."
After witnessing his team losing, Steve went to the local hospital. He sat on gurney waiting to be seen. Then a young beautiful brunette came walking in. She was wearing a nurse's uniform. Steve immediately sat up.
"I'm here to take your vitals," she smiled. She placed a small square computer box on Steve's chest. After it beeped she removed it.
"You're heart rate seems a little fast."
"That's because you walked in the room." Steve could feel himself stir between the legs. He seen many beautiful women, but there was something about this nurse.
"I bet you say that too all the nurses in training."
"You're not a full fledge nurse?"
"Not yet. I have another year in school. Look at that eye. Honestly, what gets in you hockey players to beat yourself up like this." She took a sterile wipe and cleaned up around his eye. "The doctor will heal that up before you go I'm sure."
"You don't like hockey?" asked Steve.
"I never been to a game actually."
"You never been to a hockey game?"
"I never had the interest to go see one."
"What will it take for you to come see me play this Friday night?"
"Are you asking me out on a date?"
"No. If I was asking you out on a date, I would sit with you at the game, but I will be either on the bench or on the ice. Once the doc performs his healing magic on my wrist with modern medicine."
"So you want me to come see you play a game I know nothing about. Sit by myself and watch you get beat up?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"But I don't even know your name."
"Steve, Steve Hatcher. But everyone calls me Hat Trick."
"Hat Trick? Is that because you perform magic to win young nurses over?"
Steve laughed. "No, not at all. Hat Trick is a term used when a player scores three goals in one game. It is a big feat in hockey."
"And I take it you have done this?"
"When Commander Natter from SFA Academy came to see me play back in school, I shot a hat trick. When I came to the academy he introduce me as Hat Trick and the name stuck."
"So you must be some sort of hero then."
"Nah, I'm just a hockey player who one day will be soaring the stars with SFA."
"So are you going to be a captain of a star ship some day?"
"I hope to be."
"Which one?"
"They just commissioned the SFA "Excalibur". She is a beauty of a ship. I had a chance to get a tour of it before she left space dock. I want to sit in that captains chair on the bridge as her skipper."
"The SFA "Excalibur"; isn't that the ship that is replacing the SFA "Lexington" in the fleet?"
"Yes it is. The Lexington is being decommissioned and sent to Mothball Graveyard. She will probably be turned into razor blades or something. She'll never see another crew again. She lived a good life though."
"It was nice talking to you Mr. Hatcher. But I have to go check on other patients. Be careful on that ice. Ok?"
"I'll try," said Steve inconvincibly. The nurse started to leave. "Wait, what's your name?"
"Linda," she smiled as she left before Steve could figure out how to get a hold of her in the future.
Steve and Jay exited the stadium after getting cleaned up after their game. They were talking to each other about how sucky the game was.
"I can't believe Flip blew that shot," said Jay.
"And because we lost tonight we won't make playoffs, even if we do win our two last games," said Steve disappointedly.
"Steve, we have one year left to see playoffs. I do hope we can do it next year, otherwise that's it."
"No wonder you look like the way you do as many times as you crash into the glass like that."
Steve stopped and turned to see where that comment came from. Jay continued on walking and complaining about the game. After about ten feet, he realized he lost Steve.
"You came?"
"You invited me," said Linda who was bundled up in her winter coat. Chicago winds could be brutal at times.
"I can't believe you came. I'm glad you did though. How did you like it?"
"It was interesting."
"Ah, hello? Remember me Steve?" said Jay as he came up to the couple.
"Oh, Jay this is Linda my nurse."
"Hi, Linda. I'm Jay Hood the best goalie this team ever saw."
"Oh, so you're the one who let the winning goal score then?"
Steve blurted out a laugh. Jay didn't find it funny.
"Yeah, that would be me," said Jay not too happily.
"You have to forgive Robin here. He had an off night."
"Robin? I thought you said his name was Jay?"
"Jay is my name. Robin is my call sign. We all get them in the academy. Steve here is Hat Trick. I am Robin."
"Why Robin?"
"Because my last name is Hood and when I was a kid, me and Steve were arrested for stealing."
Steve elbowed Jay in the ribs. He didn't want Linda knowing his past just yet.
"Stealing?" asked Linda who was beginning to shiver.
"You are freezing here. Would you like to join me in Lee's Coffee House for a cup of coffee?"
"I'd like that."
Linda and Steve walked down the street towards the coffee house, leaving Jay alone. Jay stood outside coffee shop and watched them through the window. Why was he upset to see Steve and Linda laugh and act like they have a good time? He and Steve been on many double dates before. Maybe that was it. Steve always went on double dates with him. He never left him alone until tonight.
Linda sat in the crowed stands in the stadium. It was the final game to the play offs. She would have never guessed that a year after meeting Steve Hatcher in the hospital that she would be going to every game possible afterwards. She watched Steve come out of the locker room after the second period. The score was 2-0 and Boston University was in the lead. This was an important game for both teams. If Boston won, it would be their tenth straight championship, a feat no one had ever accomplished before. On the other hand, if SFA Academy won, it would be their first championship title since they joined the league over 20 years ago. That was a big feat for them because they never made it this far before.
The players took the ice. Linda held onto the locket around her neck that Steve had given her on their second date. She was holding if for good luck. She then stood up and cheered as she saw Steve score the academy's first goal of the night. She applauded and yelled her boyfriend on. Later on in the period, Steve scored the tying goal. The Academy fans went wild. They were still in this game. Two minutes left into the game a Boston player had a breakaway. It was just he and Jay the goalie. Boston hit a slap shot, but Jay blocked it. He sent the puck flying. Almost a minute left to the game, Jay skated off the rink, only to be replaced by Steve. He skated frantically to the puck and he took charge of it. With only six seconds left to the game, he scored not only his hat trick, but the winning goal. The SFA Dolphins won the championship.
Linda applauded, cheered, laughed and cried all at the same time. She was so proud of Steve. She wiped away the tears of joy as she watched Steve, the team's captain, skate around the ice holding the cup above his head. He was soon joined by his excited teammates. They did it. They had won the championship.
Steve cheered and screamed with joy. He did it. His team did it. They won the championship, just like he told Jay they would over a year ago. But his night wasn't complete yet. He wanted to add to his joy. He wanted to make his life complete. And he made up his mind that either win or lose he was going to do what he is about to do.
He went to the bench and grabbed something. Still carrying the cup, he climbed into the cheering fans. He went to where Linda was sitting. He gave her the cup. "There's something in there for you."
Linda reached into the cup. She pulled out a diamond ring. She immediately burst into more tears.
"Linda I love you and it would mean more to me then winning tonight's game to have you become my wife." Steve knelt down on one knee. "Linda Liguirie will you marry me?"
Linda cried even more. She nodded yes and then said, "Yes I'll marry you. You're my hero. I love you Steve."
Steve placed the ring on her left hand ring finger. Then the couple kissed and hugged as the crowd went even wilder then before. Standing off on the ice watching from the distance was Jay.
Lieutenant Junior Grade Stephen R. Hatcher sat one last time in the helmsman chair on board the SFA "Chambers". He was feeling and admiring the controls one last time. Four years ago he came here as an ensign and now he was leaving as a Lieutenant J.G. He was excited on his new assignment where he would be a pilot in a Fighter Squadron called the Black Widows.
The bridge was empty with the exception of himself. Just a couple days before, he had piloted the "Chambers" into dry dock for some major overhaul. While the ship was in dry dock, no one needed to man the bridge.
"Leaving your first ship is always a sad thing," said a voice behind him.
Hatcher turned and saw Captain Elijah Storm standing behind him. His hair was black with very few gray hairs starting to appear.
"Captain Storm, what are you doing here? You transferred a year ago."
"Yeah, I know. But I was in the area and decided to take a walk in my past. How are you Steve?"
"I'm doing good. I report to the Black Widows next week. Jay is going there too."
"I heard that. Captain Tidwell told me that. They are an elite flying force and you will do well in that group, I am sure."
"I am really looking forward to it. But I will miss this chair."
"You'll return to the bridge."
"What makes you so sure? I might end up going from one squadron to another and finish out my career."
"Of the two years I worked with you, I saw you in action on this bridge a great deal. You're meant to work on a bridge. You just don't know it yet. You're just like me, except with me it's engineering. I been offered Admiral a couple of times and I turned it down. I belong in engineering not behind some desk doing the paper shuffle. I think its your destiny that someday you will be a commanding officer of a starship and I do hope that I will be your chief engineer because it would indeed be an honor to serve with you again."
Hatcher smiled. "You taught me a lot Captain Storm and I do hope we can work together again sometime."
"Only time will tell. So how are Linda and Tina?"
"They're doing well. We have an addition to the family."
"Oh?"
"Mark. He was born about seven months after you left."
"Congratulations."
"Thank you. He is such a wonderful boy. He reminds me so much of myself even though he is only 18 months old."
"I bet he is going to be a hockey player just like his father."
"You know it. When I am not away I will spend every minute I can to be with him. To be a great father for him. He is my pride and joy and nothing will ever change that."
"Don't forget about Tina."
"I won't. But she is more her mother's daughter."
"Are you and Linda going to have any more kids?"
"Nope, this is it. We got one boy and one girl. That is all either of us want. Besides with a son like Mark, I don't want another one."
Ely said nothing. Then he looked at his watch. "I have to get going. You take care Steve and keep in touch."
"It was good seeing you Captain Storm."
"Steve, the only time you can call me Captain Storm is when we are stationed together on the same ship and I out rank you either by grade or positional authority. Please call me Ely."
Hatcher smiled. "Ah, right, Ely. Thanks."
Lieutenant Stephen R. Hatcher quickly parked his star fighter. He quickly released the canopy and climbed down. He had been gone for 1 week while patrolling a sector that intelligence had spotted some illegal Kriton ships in that area.
"How is she?" asked Steve as Jay greeted him.
"She's alive. She is at the hospital."
"When did this happen?"
"Last night."
"Did they catch the bastard?"
"No they haven't."
Steve and Jay went to the hospital. Steve took a deep breath as he walked into his wife's room. His heart sunk as he saw her beautiful face covered with cuts, bruises and swollen bad. He would have never recognized her.
"There's my hero," she said very weakly.
"Oh Linda, who did this too you?"
"I don't know Steve. It was dark and he was wearing a hood." She began to cry a little as the nightmare kept playing over and over her head.
Steve stood next to the bed and took hold of her hand. How could someone do this to his beloved wife? If he ever found out who the bastard was that did this to her, he would kill them wear they stood.
"Did he...uh.." His eyes motioned towards the private area in between Linda's legs.
Linda cried all the more. Steve squeezed her hand for two reasons. One was to give her reassurance that he was there for her. The second reason was that anger built up in him. He was flat out pissed that someone raped his wife. He just hoped that the bastard who did this would be caught.
"Attention on Deck," was yelled. Everyone in the ready room stood at attention as the Black Widow's commanding officer, Commander Max Griffin.
"Please be seated. Men, Geldon Raiders had been attacking passenger ships in the Tango Delta Sector. We are being dispatched to police the area. I will be leading this mission. I will be taking eight other pilots with me. Gimble, Robin, Boxer, Keg, Turtle, Dusty and Tiny will all be going on this mission. We will leave first thing tomorrow. It will last about two weeks, could be longer."
"Excuse me Sir," interrupted Turtle. "I am due in court the day after tomorrow. There is no way I can get out of that."
"I forgot about that. Of you remaining ten pilots, do I have any volunteers?"
"I'll go," said Steve eagerly.
"Hat Trick, you're a great pilot, but your wife's condition. Isn't she due any day now?"
"Yeah, but she'll understand." Steve cast a look to Commander Griffin.
"Very well, you're on."
After the brief, Hatcher went home. His expecting wife was laying on he couch reading a book.
"Da da" yelled a two year old Mark as he saw his father come in the door.
"Hey Buddy," he picked up Mark and gave him a hug. He kissed him on the forehead.
"There's my hero. How was your day?"
"I got called on a mission. I leave tomorrow. I will be back in about two weeks."
"Ah Steve, I was hoping you will be here for the birth."
"I know you do, but duty calls."
"Steve, answer me truthfully. Did you volunteer for this mission?"
"Yes."
"Why? Why do you want to miss the birth of your son?"
"My son? We don't know if he's my son. Are you forgetting what happened to you nine months ago?"
"No, I haven't forgotten. I'll never forget that regardless how hard I try too. But this baby inside me will need a father just like Mark and Tina does."
"How can I be a father to the bi product of what that bastard did to you?"
"We don't know that. This baby in me can be as much yours as his. But you are so willing to write him off. When I give birth, I will have a test performed to see if he is your son."
"I don't want any tests done. Now I have to go pack."
Linda left out a deep sigh and placed her hand on her belly. The baby inside kicked reminding her that any day now, he would be in her arms.
Hatcher was in his star fighter. A passenger ship was under attack by Geldon Raiders. He and Jay were the only fighters in the area. Earlier the fliers divided the sector into four quads, two fighters covering each quad. Hatcher was very pleased that his partner was his best friend Jay.
Hatcher out flew everyone in the dogfight. He was showing the same skill in the dogfight against the Geldon Raiders as he did on the ice against Boston University. Finally he took out the last Geldon Raider.
"Steve, I'm in trouble," said Jay.
"What's wrong? I lost all control. I am on a collision course of the passenger ship."
"Eject!" yelled Steve.
"She won't eject. Steve shoot me."
"What? You insane?"
"Steve in less then three minutes I will collide with the ship injuring a bunch of innocent people. Shoot me before that happens."
"I can't do that. I can't kill you."
"Either way Steve I am dead. Do this now, it's the only way. Besides, sacrificing my life for those people might make up for some mistakes I've made in the past. Now shoot before it's too late."
Steve had a major war going on between his head and his heart. Jay was his best friend. Jay was always there for him. But he knew when him and Jay joined SFA, they swore they would die to save the lives of others. Steve targeted Jay's damaged ship.
"I love you brother." Steve then fired. A single tear rolled down his cheek as he watched his best friend, his brother; go up in a fiery flaming explosion. The passenger ship was safe.
Within ten minutes, the rest of the squadron appeared to help out, but the fight was over. They had won for the time being. But Steve knew there would be more fights, more decisions like today. He just hoped they wouldn't come too soon.
"You ok,>Hat Trick?" asked Commander Griffin on the comm. System.
"Yeah,"
"Where's Robin?"
"He didn't make it, Sir."
Silence flooded the airwaves. The shuttles then formed up a flight formation to render honors to a fallen comrade. As soon as they were done flying pass the passenger ship, a transmission came in. Jesse Hatcher was born.
Steve was going through his best friend's apartment. Packing up his personal belongings. He couldn't believe that Jay was dead and that he pulled the trigger. He found a shoebox of pictures that were taken over the years. Steve sat down and started looking at them. At first he didn't think anything of it, but the farther along he went, the more he noticed that these pictures were all of his wife Linda. He even remembered when majority of these pictures were taken, because he was there. Matter of fact, he even took some of them himself. Then at the bottom of the shoebox, he found something he never thought he would see again. It was the locket necklace that he gave Linda on their second date. The last time anyone ever seen it was the night Linda's rapist ripped it off her neck.
"Jay how could you?" was all Steve managed to say.
The next couple of years were a stressful time for the Hatcher Family. Steve paid more and more attention to Mark, but paid little attention to Jesse. He didn't want to get to know the bi-product. Finally one night, Steve and Linda had a very bad argument. Linda wanted to have tests done to prove that Jesse was indeed Steve's son and not her rapist. She said rapist, because Steve never told her what he found out after Jay's death. He kept it to himself.
One day Steve had no choice but to watch Jesse. He took the little toddler on board the ship he was currently assigned too, the SFA "Joshua Chamberlain". It was orbiting Earth. Finally he had to know. He walked into the sickbay. There a bald headed man was finishing up a patient.
"Congratulations Steve on being selected for Lieutenant Commander."
"Thanks, Larry."
"Hello, there kiddo?" said Dr. Daniels as he smiled at Jesse.
Jesse giggled at the man.
"Aren't sons great?" asked Dr. Daniels.
"I couldn't ask for a better one. Mark is showing signs to be a good athlete just like his old man."
"Did I tell you that Mary's pregnant?"
"No. Now its my turn to offer you congratulations."
"Thank you. She's due in February. Douglas is going to be a big brother now. So what brings you here."
"Larry, I want you to perform a test on Jesse."
"What kind of test?"
"DNA test. Then I want you to compare the results to these three DNA patterns." Steven handed Dr. Daniels a computer padd with some stuff on it.
Dr. Daniels looked at it. "This is the pattern to your DNA, Linda's and whose this?"
"Just someone from my past."
"Are you saying?"
"I don't know what I am saying Larry. It's just Linda went through a nightmare nine months before Jesse was born. I always put it off, but putting it off is causing me to lose my wife and I can't afford that. I need to know."
"Alright." Dr. Daniels performed some tests on Jesse. They were painless tests. He came up with the results and gave them to Steve.
Steve looked over the results. "Destroy them and let's pretend this never happened." Dr. Daniels didn't like destroying test results, but something told him inside to destroy these. But he didn't always listen to his inner self.
"What's seem to be the problem?" said Captain Hatcher as he entered the bridge to the Lady Lex.
"The `Wonder Boy' is speeding out of control. It is on a collision course with the "Lexington", Captain," said Ensign Bond.
"Have you contacted them?" asked Commander Creevey as she was just a few steps behind Hatcher.
"We tried but they're not responding."
Captain Storm and Major Zjan-Ren both came on the bridge. They saw what was happening.
"Cadets, off the bridge. Sound General Quarters." Hatcher sat in his command chair wondering what the hell is going on the "Wonder Boy".
"She's still not responding," yelled Ben.
"I'm trying to contact the Lady Lex, but comms are down," yelled Nipper.
"We're gonna have to pull the plug," ordered Kalon who was working frantically but accurately. "Everyone strap into your seats. This is gonna be a hard flight.
"What are we going to do?" asked Douglas as he stood up.
"We are pulling the plug on her," said Kalon as he was unscrewing a floor panel rapidly.
"Eight minutes to impact," said Scottie.
Kalon threw the floor panel to the side. "Nipper, I need you." Nipper came up to Kalon.
"What?"
"You are small enough to crawl in there. You will find a big red handle about six feet under the floor. You need to crawl there. When I tell you, pull the handle. It will cut all power, including gravity, inertia dampeners, and environmental systems."
"You're gonna cut off our air supply?" asked a frightened Douglas.
"Relax, we will reboot her, but even if we can't get her started again, we have enough air in here until some one rescues us. Now Nipper get in there."
Nipper jumped into the hole that was about waist deep on him. He then ducked under the floor and crawled down the small hole. "I found it!" yelled Nipper.
Meanwhile Kalon was unfastening two panels, one on the starboard bulkhead and the other on the port bulkhead. "Andrew, Jesse, I need each of you to go into this crawl space. About eight feet in, on the inner wall, you will find a green pull handle. When I tell you both of you will pull your handle simultaneously."
"What will that do?" asked Andrew.
"We are blowing two air tanks to change our projectory. Now get in there."
"Three minutes until impact," bellowed Scottie.
Trevor heard the general quarters alarm go off. "Good lord Ian, what did you do?" He looked one more time and saw that Mike was gone. He quickly ducked out of the pantry and shimmied back up into the ventilation system.
"Captain three minutes until impact," said Ely who was monitoring closely.
"Major Zjan-Ren, target phasers on the Wonder Boy."
"Steve?" said Ely.
"We don't know what's wrong. For all we know there could be a terrorist on board the `Wonder Boy'. Don't you remember your history on what happen to New York City and Washington DC 500 years ago."?
"Captain phasers are locked on target."
"What's the last minute you can wait without it causing damage to the Lady Lex when you fire?"
"The two minute mark, Captain."
"Two minutes, twenty seconds until impact," said Ely.
"Mark, why did you have to be on there?" Hatcher mumbled to himself.
"Two minutes, ten seconds to impact," said Ely who was very concerned.
"May God forgive me." Steve said to himself. "Major Zjan-Ren,"
"Yes Sir?"
"Fire!"
To Be Continued...