Mate I never wanted

First match: Little puppy vs. Ex

Vivian

My heart was beating a bit faster as I sat down in the pilot seat. My fingers lightly glazed all the nobs and handles in front of me. They were all familiar from my flaying practices and training simulators... but this time it felt different.

This felt a lot more serious and real. This was a serious test that everything was set up on and if I failed this time, I wouldn't be the only one that would face the consequences. This time I would be taking four other people down with me... the only one that was somewhat safe was Lucien, because he could not be thrown out of the academy, but he had a different problem ahead of him if we failed. In the first place, if anyone found out that he was here and that he was participating in this team test, there would be a scandal, but if someone got hold of information that he was part of a team that failed... it would be a disaster. His reputation would be tarnished, and he could lose his place in the royal line. There is a great chance that even his family will disown him. So I guess he has the most to lose.

No pressure... none at all.

The more I thought about it, the more nervous I felt about all this.

"This is just a routine operation. All of you have done this a million times by now in all the training sessions at the academy."

The calm tone of Lucien's voice filled the room and only now did I notice how deep in a down spiral I was in. My eyes shot around the room quickly and I saw that everyone around me was in a similar state. Everyone looked nervous and even maybe a bit shaky, but Lucien's calm voice pulled us all out of the dark cloud we were under.

"It's a basic mission to retrieve an object. We will have few enemies today. Time and the academy placed beasts and fake pirates will be the first one and the only one I want you to concentrate on.The other team is the most obvious opponent, but combat between teams is not the objective of this test, it's speed and ability to work together. The other team, if they are smart, will mostly concentrate on retrieving their object. That is what we will also do. If possible, we will avoid going into combat with them, because it would just be a waste of time and energy."

I was not as confident in the idea that they would not do something stupid as trying to attack us.

My eyes drifted to the list of names of the other team on the screen in front of me. Proudly at the top of the list there was James. He was the commander of our first opponent.

It was almost hilarious, that he just had to be the first opponent I would have in the team challenges when I was working with Lucien. When Lucien saw his name, there were no emotions on his face, so I guess he did not have any idea who he was.

"I doubt that they would be smart about it. You and Vivian hurt James' pride too much and he is not really a smart person and very proud. We should prepare for him to try something stupid like attacking us from the beginning."

Rebecca's skeptical voice stopped Lucien as his eyes turned to me in question.

"James?"

I was about to explain to him, when Rebecca jumped in to explain.

"Vivian's first fiance? He cheated on her with her sister, so she dumped him for you. Which was a clear upgrade."

The rest of the team chuckled in agreement as Lucien's face furrowed in confusion and shock. I don't think we talked about my engagement to James... at least not in his current heat state. I am pretty sure that he checked my background information after his. He made that clear when he threatened my orphanage, but I guess my engagement was more of a gossip thing that has not yet been registered in any official files.

"The ape hybrid you beat up at school?"

And then it looked like a light bulb went off in his head as he realized who she was talking about.

"The silly monkey? He is the commander of the other team? I thought that his mane looked familiar. If he is their leader, we have nothing to fear from the other team. That stupid, weak man does not hold any threat to us. Let me deal with him, while you focus on the original objective."

He looked a bit more excited as he settled into his commander's seat, while a mischievous smile settled on his face.

"Okay, everyone, take their seats. Kitty cat set the course, Vivian start the engine. You two strap in. We are getting ready for take off."

We prepared for take off, waiting for the siren to let us know that we could start.

As anticipation was building up and almost toppling over, a loud siren let us know that it was finally time to move.

"Let's go."

After Lucien's command, we took off.

We moved away from the start line instantly as the other team were seconds behind us. It was mere seconds, but it meant a lot in a competition like this. The little head start we got gave us the edge we needed to get our blood pumping.

A few moments later, there was a loud siren signaling that we were under attack.

I guess Rebecca was right.

"Vivian?"

"They are shooting at us. They are aiming at our engines. Do you want me to attack back?"

"No, stay on the plan and increase the speed. Make sure that we are not hit, Kitty cat, is there a way to lose them?"

The tone of his voice, even as he looked like my adorable little fox, sounded like the prince... and it was incredibly attractive.

"We can take the longer route that has a few asteroids in the way, but if Vivian could flay around them, we could make it at a few minutes before they would."

"Okay, let's do that. Change to the new course and guide Vivian through it."

"Yes commander."

Rebecca clicked away on her screen and the map in front of me changed.

"Okay, Vivian, follow the new path. Increase the speed."

"But the asteroids..."

"Don't worry about them now, I will tell you what to do when the time is right."

"I swear to the moon, if you kill us Lucien..."

"I could never put you in danger, my darling."

The softness of his voice as he said that reminded me that this was not prince, but my little silver-harried fox talking and I could not help but blush at his words.

A sound of gagging filled the room, Kevin snorted.

"Come on, we all know you are in love, but can you keep that for later? We have a mission to finish, and I can do that as I am throwing up."

A slight giggle from Rebecca made both mine and Lucien's cheeks go even more red.

I ignored their words and concentrated on flaying.

The route was a lot more difficult than the first one, but at least here we did not have to avoid the other teams' attacks. The only problem now was that at this speed, it was almost impossible for me to control the ship properly.

It was all going well, until we reached the asteroid field.

"Commander?"

I asked in a high-pitched voice.

"Increase the speed."

"WHAT?"

We all said at the same time.

"I said increase the speed by twenty and do not stop unless I say so... trust me."

And I did trust him... in this at least. So I increased the speed and gripped the steering levers higher. My heartbeat picked up as we got closer and closer to the field.

Shit... we will die like this.