Mikko: Stolen Warriors Series

by Maven, Ella

  * * *

  After introducing Trawn to the hilbobs and Meri, we gathered what was left of our supplies and said goodbye to the cargo ship which we thought was going to be our last home. Trawn explained he had escaped Vixlicin with his human female and a Pliken cruiser. Our cargo ship had come up on their radar, and he said the drifting nature of the spacecraft had spurred him to investigate. When he completed the thermal radar, he had found that what lived on board weren’t Plikens.

  He had latched the cruiser onto our cargo ship, left his human mate behind in case of danger, and came looking for the occupants. He said he never expected to find another Drixonian.

  “I almost didn’t board.” He held a bundle of supplies in his arms while we headed toward the loading dock where his cruiser was attached. “But Lea was concerned, just like me. Who would be stuck in an engineless cargo ship?”

  “I’m glad you made the choice.” I gestured toward the minimal supplies we all carried. “This was it. Once we ran out, we would have starved.”

  He glanced back at our little group. Rian wore a fur around her shoulders. York clutched his plant between his massive claws and Crife held Meri. “You said you’ve been here for forty-five rotations?”

  “Just about.”

  He gave me a significant nod. “You did a good job, warrior.”

  We boarded the cruiser, which was smaller than the cargo ship, with only one large room. We would be cramped for a while, but at least we’d be going somewhere. A figure sat in a cockpit chair, wringing her hands. As soon as we stepped inside, the human—Trawn’s Lea—jumped up. Larger than Rian, she had long golden hair and big blue eyes. When she spotted Rian, her eyes went impossibly wide as she let out a squeal. “A human!”

  “A human!” Rian echoed. She threw the fur off her shoulders and sped toward Lea. The two females met in an embrace full of shrieks and tears. They babbled as we unloaded the supplies.

  Rian then called over Meri and the hilbobs to introduce them to Lea. York and Crife preened as the females fawned over them. I stood with my arms crossed over my chest, still wondering if this was a dream.

  Trawn talked at my side, telling me he’d been stolen by the Uldani and sold to the Plikens to work in the mines. That was where he’d been for fifty cycles until he’d found an opportunity to escape. On the docks above the mines, he’d found Lea and boarded the cruiser with her. They’d been chased by Plikens, who breeched their ship. The repairs to the ceiling were still visible. But he’d defeated them, and then he’d found us.

  “I heard about some… altered Drixonians on Vixlicin,” he said.

  “As far as I know, there are four of us. Rexor left with a human female of his own. He was a winged gladiator.”

  Trawn’s jaw clenched. “I heard about him.”

  “Then there is Fenix and Zecri still on Vixlicin.”

  “I wish we could tell the Drixonian fleet. Our brothers need to be brought home.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t think they want to come home. I didn’t… not until I met Rian.” Her hair glistened in the light of the ship. Was she feeling better? Still queasy?

  A hand settled on my shoulder. “Are you all right?”

  I looked into Trawn’s weathered expression. I had never met him, but then I was nothing but an insubordinate young warrior the last time I’d seen the rest of my race. I would never have rubbed shoulders with someone of Trawn’s rank. Still, he exuded a commanding presence that usually would have rankled me. Instead, I felt soothed. Things had changed. I had changed.

  “I’m all right,” I gulped as I realized how close I’d come to losing Rian. “It’s hard to believe this. We lived for the last forty-five rotations knowing we’d die on that cargo ship when the food ran out. When we learned we were being boarded, Rian wanted me to…” I felt my throat grow tight. “She wanted me to end her life.” I looked up into Trawn’s eyes. “We couldn’t let her fall into Pliken hands. She’s carrying my chit.”

  Trawn’s mouth dropped open. His gaze darted between me and Rian. She was unaware, as she was still talking rapidly to Lea, who talked back in her own rapid-fire way, as they regaled each other with their survival stories.

  The hand on my shoulder tightened. “They won’t get her. We’re going home.”

  “Home?”

  He nodded. “Planet Corin. We’ll start over, even if it’s just the four of us.”

  “Home,” I muttered. As I watched Rian talk, her hand fluttered to her belly often. Home sounded better than it had in a long flecking time.

  * * *

  Rian

  Lea was sweet, funny, and gorgeous with a whole lot of curves and big boobs. I was a little jealous, although I suspected my boobs were about to get big real soon.

  She adored York and Crife, and cooed over Meri. “It’s so good to have friends,” she said as we lounged around at the back of the cruiser while Trawn and Mikko sat in the cockpit. “Trawn said we’re going to their home planet they left after the virus hit, so I thought he was going to be one of the last people I ever saw in my life.”

  “So, there’s really going to be no one there?” I asked. I couldn’t imagine a whole habitable planet just… empty.

  “He said it was vacated when they left for the sister planet to work for the Uldani.” She scratched Meri’s chin who yawned sleepily.

  “Wow,” I murmured. “Well, I guess you should know then—it’s not like I have a way to confirm but I’m ninety-nine percent sure I’m … pregnant.”

  Her eyes went wide before she drew me into a warm hug. My face pressed into her boobs and I had to admit it was kinda nice. Like a pillow. “I’ll be there for you,” she said. “Not that I have any medical experience. Sorry you didn’t luck out with a nurse or anything. But I’ll do whatever I can. Hold your hand. Babysit so you and Mikko can have date nights.”

  When she let me go, I reached out and rubbed at the marks on her wrists. “So, you and Trawn are mates too?”

  She nodded. “Yeah, I saw you have loks too.”

  “Loks?”

  “That’s what they’re called. Did Mikko tell you?”

  “He didn’t really know much about them.”

  “Ah, okay. Trawn’s an old man compared to your Mikko.” She grinned and held my hands. “You can feel Mikko in your head, right?” I nodded. “These loks mean that he’s your cora-eternal. Your forever heart.”

  “So why didn’t they appear when we first met?”

  “Because the bond starts when your blood is drawn by an enemy. When Mikko kills the one responsible for drawing your blood… that’s when the bond is confirmed and the loks appear.”

  I stared at my loks, remembering the drop of blood the Ring-horn Pliken had drawn from my neck. The loks had appeared after he’d taken his last breath on the floor of his ship, succumbing to the injuries Mikko had inflicted on his body. “It makes sense now.”

  Lea patted my hands. “Weird, right?” She told the story of how Trawn rescued her after she’d been delivered to Vixlicin. I recanted my own story, which had her gasping and tearing up at several parts. “You’ve been through hell.” She turned and dug around in an open panel of the ship. Pulling out a leaf-wrapped item, she placed it on my palm. “Here, not that this erases what you went through, but it’s the closest thing to chocolate I’ve found on this ship.”

  I stared at the package in my hand, wondering if I misheard her. “Did you say chocolate?”

  “It’s not chocolate. But it’s close. Sweet and creamy.” She smiled. “Try it.”

  I didn’t waste any more time. I ripped open the package to reveal a brown square. Shoving the entire thing in my mouth, I moaned as it melted on my tongue. She was right, it wasn’t chocolate, but it was damn close. “Oh my God,” I said around a mouthful of the sweet treat. “This is delicious.” Suddenly I realized I hadn’t offered to share. Not to her, or the hilbobs or Mikko. Shame made the chocolate turn bitter on my tongue. “Oh my God, I just selfishly ate all this myself. I’m such
a shithead.”

  She laughed. “No, it’s okay. There is more where that came from. I promise.” We were much more careful with the next piece. Breaking it into two halves, we let York and Crife try it.

  “Tastes like the gricho beans from Filgreth,” York said.

  “No, it does not,” Crife argued. “It reminds me of the uligo drink that my uncle used to brew.”

  “That stuff tasted like pee. You’re out of your mind.”

  Crife’s eyes rounded in offense. “How dare you? He won awards for his brew.”

  “Awards, shmawards. He got a medal at one festival and you act like he’s the king of hilbobs.”

  Lea turned to me with wide eyes as the hilbobs continued to argue. “Should we break this up?”

  I watched them lovingly. “No, this is a good sign they are in a great mood.”

  Lea blinked. “Uh, okay. If you say so.”

  * * *

  I dozed off after a while and woke to find myself tucked into a corner of the ship; a fur pulled up to my chin. I rested on something warm and when it moved under me, I realized I slept on top of Mikko.

  His hand sifted through my hair. “Are you awake?”

  “Mmmm,” I rubbed my eyes, still a little groggy. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

  I glanced around the ship. Meri was cleaning her feathers next to a sleeping York and Crife. Trawn sat at the cockpit, awake, with a dozing Lea tucked against his chest.

  Mikko’s fingers continued to comb through my hair. “Trawn talked to me about what the marks on our wrists mean.”

  “Yeah, Lea told me too. Loks.”

  “Loks. And you’re my cora-eternal. I don’t know why that didn’t occur to me. I’d heard of cora-eternals, but I wasn’t aware of the loks. They were so rare in Drixonian society. It’s baffling to me how Fatas has decided to grace Trawn and I with mates.”

  I propped my chin on my fist. “Maybe she thinks you’ve been through enough. Although I’m not sure getting shackled with me is a great reward. Lea’s pretty great though.” He swatted me on the butt, and I yelped before glaring at him. “Hey!”

  “You’re the best reward.” His hand slid up to cup my waist. “And so is this. Did you mean it that you think you’re pregnant?”

  I nodded. “I can’t know for sure. There isn’t a pregnancy test lying around. But remember when I had my period?”

  He pressed his lips together. “When you bled for seven flecking rotations. Yes.”

  I laughed. “Well, that should have happened again. About ten rotations ago. Feeling nauseated can be a symptom. But most of all…” I tapped my head. “I feel the baby. In here. It’s like a little presence.”

  His eyes widened in awe as he cupped my face. “You feel our chit?”

  I nodded, my eyes blurring with tears. “I do.”

  “The greatest reward,” he whispered. “And I’d go through everything again if it meant I got you in the end.”

  Sixteen

  Mikko

  We stood at the back doors of the cruiser. Trawn and I in front with the women behind us. Crife, York, and Meri brought up the rear. The hilbobs were quiet, as they always were when nervous. They’d explained to us many times that they were happy to be joining us, but I couldn’t imagine how they felt about walking into the unknown with little defenses. They’d helped save my life though, and I’d defend them with all I had.

  Lea and Rian stood arm in arm. They’d grown close over the last leg of our journey as Trawn and I spent most of it directing the cruiser and deciding where to land on Corin. We ultimately decided to land near Granit, our once great city.

  This was surreal to me. I left Corin when I was a chit. I didn’t remember much of it, or my parents. But as the doors opened and I gazed out at the lush greenery, I felt in my bones I was home. Tall trees with blue leaves stretched up to the sky, and waist-high blue grass swayed in the breeze. I heard the cheerful chirps of briggers and in the distance, the trickle of a qua stream. Other than Rian’s words of affection, it was the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard.

  Lea gasped behind us. “It’s so pretty.”

  “Beautiful,” Rian murmured.

  I turned to find her blinking her wide eyes at the horizon.

  Her belly had already begun to round, which she had seemed alarmed by. “Isn’t it too soon?” she’d asked Lea.

  Lea had shrugged. “You’re growing a big alien baby. Who knows?”

  Rian had paled and hadn’t spoken much after that. I hadn’t known what to say to make her feel better. It wasn’t like I was an experienced father. I hoped Trawn knew more.

  He took a step down the landing ramp, and I followed. Our little crew fell into line behind us. I took my first steps on Corin soil since I was born there and inhaled deeply. In the distance, the tall buildings of Granit could be seen.

  We’d already talked about Meri being our lookout. We’d settle for a night on the outskirts of the city, and Meri would check it out overhead to let us know if the planet had visitors.

  The air was just so… fresh. Lush. Moisture hung in the air, a welcome change from the dryness of Vixlicin. Behind us, Lea and Rian were picking bundles of blooms among the grass stalks. The weather was pleasant, with a bright breeze blowing Rian’s curls about her face. Her and Lea smiled with pink flushed cheeks.

  York cradled his plant, his eyes huge as he took in the vegetation of the planet. “Human Rian, I can… I can grow things here!”

  “So many things, York!” She hopped over to him and grabbed his paws, spinning him around as she laughed. “All kinds of things!”

  “And I can hunt!” Crife called out.

  “You can definitely hunt,” I said. “We’ll need game for food.”

  “I still want to knit,” he murmured softly.

  “Knit?” Lea asked. “I know how to crochet. I can teach you.” She eyed his claws and bit her lip before giving herself a firm nod. “Sure, yeah, I can teach you.” Crife looked up at her adoringly.

  A stronger breeze blew through, and Rian shivered.

  Trawn went stiff at my side, his gaze lasered onto the horizon. A split second later, I understood why. I heard the sound too, a distinct buzzing that grew louder and louder with every seek.

  “That sounds like…” A myriad of emotions flickered across his face. “No, it couldn’t be.”

  I listened closer as I gathered the females behind me. “Sounds like…” Suddenly, about a dozen shapes burst through a copse of trees, bearing down on us fast.

  Rian let out a holler and Lea screamed. The hilbobs shrieked and began to frantically dig into the soft dirt. Squawking, Meri took flight, and I caught her out of the air before she could get far. I didn’t want her to get hurt, but I was also pretty sure I knew what was heading toward us.

  The figures drew closer. When blue skin and black horns came into view, I thought I was dreaming.

  “Unbelievable,” Trawn muttered. “Un-flecking-believable.”

  I recognized some of the Drixonians riding toward us at a fast clip on hover bikes, but the one I couldn’t take my eyes off of had long white hair streaming behind him. I didn’t even think. I took off at a dead run toward the brother I never thought I’d see again. He must have noticed me, because he sped ahead of the pack, jumped off his bike mid-air, and slammed into me in a collision of limbs.

  “Rexor,” I grasped his neck so hard my claws dug into his flesh. Our foreheads knocked together. “Brother.”

  “Mikko,” he whispered, his voice quivering. “I never… I didn’t think I’d see you again.”

  “You made it home. I thought of you every day.”

  Bikes zoomed past us, and I heard Trawn say in an awed tone. “Shep.”

  “Holy Fatas, Trawn Warinks. In the flesh.”

  A hand clapped my back, and I turned to find Rexor’s brothers, Dazeem and Saxus, standing behind me. “Mikko, it’s good to see you.”

  “How did you—?” I didn’t even know where to start. “How is this
all possible that we’re on Corin?”

  Daz smiled. “We’ll explain later. Let’s get you to the village. The females will be eager to welcome the crew.”

  “They have a whole welcome committee formed now,” Sax said. “There were arguments over something called introductory refreshments and debates over the length of time before new additions should be put on the babysitter rotation.”

  I stared, overwhelmed, before I glanced sharply at Rexor. “Daisy?” I asked urgently.

  His smile lit up his face. I’d never seen him smile like that. “She is happy and well.”

  “Mikko?” Rian’s voice called. I immediately pushed the Drixonians out of the way to find her standing nearby, York and Crife on either side of her. Dirt coated their claws.

  “This is Rian,” I said, meeting Rexor’s eyes. “My cora-eternal.”

  A cheer went up among the Bakut brothers, just as another cheer echoed from the warriors surrounding Trawn. “Trawn has a cora-eternal too, Lea. And these are York and Crife.” Meri circled our heads, watching us suspiciously. “That’s Meri. She’s protective of us.”

  “Mikko the grump brought a whole crew?” Rexor laughed, a deep rumble that calmed me.

  “Rian’s the one who makes friends,” I said.

  She laughed. “Aw, give yourself some credit.” She beamed at the brothers. “Hello, nice to meet you.”

  They all crossed their wrists in front of their necks and murmured, “She is all.”

  “One more thing,” I said as I wrapped my arms around Rian’s shoulders. “I’m going to be a father.”

  This time, the cheers were deafening.

  * * *