by Presley Hall
Now, thanks to the foolhardy but brave actions of one of our own warriors and his mate, there’s new hope for all of us. It’s a good feeling, and it brings a smile to my face.
Not only that, but the first of the children produced by the bonding between our people and the Terrans is due soon, and there’s a hum of excitement about that as well. Tordax, our commander, speaks in a low voice to several council members as they inquire about Rose and her health.
“The queen and I have an announcement to make,” Khrelan says, rising to his feet as everyone finally settles. Emma stands up next to him, her face shining with happiness. “Queen Emma is pregnant. Another child will soon be born on Kalix.”
There’s a murmur among the assembled men, and Tordax and Malav grin broadly, offering their congratulations. They in particular know what that pride and joy feels like, but everyone is excited. More children on Kalix is a good thing. It points to our success in thwarting what the Orkun tried so hard to do—erase our species entirely.
But, as we’ve recently demonstrated, we are not so easy to defeat.
Emma blushes a little as hearty congratulations are given all around, but she keeps her chin up, pride evident on her face. She is a strong woman in her own right, no fragile wilting flower. Her strength, more than anything, convinced me in the beginning that the bonds are beneficial. That these offspring of Terra and Kalix will be a good thing and not something that will weaken our race as others feared.
All the Terran women have shown themselves to be strong, brave, and resilient. Some of them are more reckless than others—Tycran’s mate comes to mind—but then again, we have those types in our ranks as well. Sorsir was always hotheaded before he was mated, and still sometimes is.
I’ve had moments of daring and brashness myself. It’s not always a fault. Sometimes it’s a strength.
After the excitement dies down, Khrelan calls us to order, taking his seat along with Emma.
“We’ve gotten word that the Orkun will be attempting to sell their latest batch of abducted tribute brides,” he says, and I see Emma’s lips press tightly together. Khrelan puts his hands on the table, leaning forward as he speaks. “The losses the Orkun suffered after the destruction of Oryn were great, and they are weakened both in military might and in infrastructure. Their scientists and engineers are gone, and many of their warlords have perished. They will need to recoup some of their losses and bribe or enslave new workers to produce their weaponry.”
He pauses, glancing over at his mate before turning his attention back to us. “The queen and I see this as an opportunity to free these women. They will all be in a set location at a known time for the auction, making the mission far easier than it would be if we tried to do this any other way. And although the auction will remove the women from the Orkun’s hold, those who would buy Terran slaves are sure to be little better than the Orkun themselves.”
There’s a general hum of assent among those gathered, but no one speaks yet.
“This is a chance to help more of the Terrans and save innocents,” Khrelan says. “I’d like to assemble a team comprised of a few different squadrons to go to Nierra, the planet where the auction will be held. But we must keep a solid fighting force on Kalix as well, in case of other threats.” He pauses, sweeping his gaze around the room. “Are there any volunteers?”
“I’ll go,” I say immediately, leaning forward.
The moment the king began to speak, I knew I’d go if given the chance. I’ve piloted my ship in many battles for Kalix in this ongoing war. I’ve fought many an Orkun, and others too.
But this is a special mission. It’s one that isn’t necessary for the safety of our planet, but a risk taken to save others from a fate worse than death. It’s a hero’s mission, an adventure to rescue females in distress, and that’s exactly the sort of romantic, bold risk I love to take.
I catch Sorsir’s gaze across the table and grin at him. This is the type of thing we used to talk about, when he was an unmated man in the barracks with the rest of us. Adventures like this, instead of the drudgery of an ongoing war.
Khrelan looks pleased. “I hoped you would volunteer, Druxik. Your flying prowess will be of great use on this mission. There’s no better pilot in all the squadrons.”
I hold back a proud smile with some effort. I’ve spent a lifetime, ever since I was a small boy, working to be exactly that—the best pilot on Kalix. And to hear the king say it… that’s an affirmation that will remain with me for some time.
Other warriors speak up to volunteer as well, although none of the mated Kalixians do. Everyone understands why. In the case of Tordax and Malav, they’re needed here to continue their command. But for warriors like Sorsir and Tycran and Brele, it’s understood that their mates need them close by. With the prospect of more children on the horizon, they’re more useful here, bedding their mates and keeping Kalix safe on-world than going off on dangerous missions. These days, fighting off-world is for the unmated among us.
“I’m pleased that so many of you are willing to accept this mission.” Khrelan dips his chin, and I can see the pride in his eyes. He selects twelve warriors and puts me in charge of the mission.
Just as he begins to speak again, the door opens unexpectedly.
A nervous looking attendant pokes his head in. “Ah… my king, one of the Terran women is here. She would like to speak to the council, if it’s allowed.”
Khrelan looks surprised but nods. “Of course. Show her in.”
Curiously, I glance toward the door. What could be so important for one of them to show up to a war council meeting in the middle of the day?
As the door opens wider and a petite woman walks into the room, her hands knotted in front of her, I realize with a start that I know her—a little bit, at least.
Her name is Cora.
3
Cora
Every eye in the room is focused on me as I walk in, and I’m suddenly far more nervous than I was a minute ago.
This seemed like a great idea as I strode up to the palace and managed to talk my way inside, but now that all of these warriors—and the king and queen—are staring at me, I’m wondering what the hell I was thinking.
I feel very small, standing at the end of the table, with everyone turned to face me. I don’t think my heart has ever beat so hard in my life. I’m certain everyone can see my pulse leaping in my throat.
I had a speech all planned out in my head, but now I can’t seem to remember a word of it. I suddenly feel very silly, coming into this room full of experienced, battle-hardened warriors and expecting to have them listen to me. There’s a king at the head of the table, for fuck’s sake. I’m sure there’s a plan for this mission already laid out, and I’m just barging in and expecting to be made a part of it?
What the hell were you thinking? I ask myself again, feeling my fingers start to tremble with nerves.
But then I see Emma’s encouraging smile. She’s curious, like everyone else in the room, but even from all the way across the large space where she sits next to Khrelan, her face is kind and sweet.
“What is it, Cora?” she asks gently. “You can speak, it’s all right.”
I swallow hard as I look at the curious, expectant faces in the room.
Every one of these men is drop-dead gorgeous, and I know now that they’re honorable and good-hearted too. Still, that doesn’t stop them from being incredibly intimidating. But as I look at Emma, her gaze focused on mine as she sits next to Khrelan with her hand laced through his, I remember why I’ve come. Why this is so important.
I gather my courage and force the words out of my mouth.
“I heard about the mission to rescue the women who have been abducted from Earth at the slave auction,” I say boldly, my gaze fixed on Khrelan and Emma. “If that’s true… if that’s really happening, then I would like to go too.”
There’s an audible ripple of surprise through the room, hushed comments and noises of shock. I can tell that w
hatever they expected me to say, it wasn’t that. But no one interrupts me or tells me no, so I plow forward, hanging on to what’s left of my nerve.
“I was stolen from Earth too, as you know. The rest of the women and I were to be given as ‘brides’ to those disgusting, vicious Orkun. The Kalixians rescued us, for which we will always be forever grateful,” I add quickly. “But it took a long time for many of us to truly trust you. One thing that helped to move that forward, that helped gain our trust, was seeing the bond between Rose and Tordax. We saw that she trusted him, and that he was good to her, that he didn’t harm her. That they loved each other.”
When I pause to take a breath, I can see that I have everyone’s attention. They’re all looking at me, not as if waiting for me to be finished so that they can dismiss me, but as if they truly want to hear what else I have to say. I’ve always been good at speaking in front of others—even if others is usually a group of my peers or students much younger than me, and not seven-foot-tall alien warriors—and I cling to that.
I can do this. I know I can. And if I can’t even finish my speech, I definitely don’t have any business going on a rescue mission into space.
“It’s important for a human woman to go on this mission for that very reason,” I argue, looking around the room. “I can be an intermediary between the Kalixians and the women, someone that they’ll recognize as one of their own and hopefully trust. If they don’t have multi-language implants yet, I can translate. If they see that I’m with the warriors of my own free will, it’ll be easier to make them see that the Kalixians are worthy of their trust too.”
I pause to take a breath, doing my best not to let my fingers twine together nervously as the room falls silent for a moment, everyone waiting for me to go on.
“A rescue mission is risky enough,” I continue, “but it’s much less so when the people you’re trying to save are willing to go with you without a fight. If the women are too terrified, if they’re suffering from trauma and abuse, they’re not likely to go with any alien, no matter what. They’ll believe that they’re simply being abducted by some other species—another group that wants to use them or hurt them. Remember, on Earth, most people don’t know that other sentient beings exist in the universe. These women’s time with the Orkun will be the only alien contact they’ve ever had. They’re not going to know that you mean well, even if you do.”
I stop then, pressing my lips together to keep myself from rambling. I’ve made the best argument I can, and anything else I say will likely just become nervous babbling.
As I look across the massive table, I realize that Khrelan looks impressed. Emma does too, and she smiles at me a little ruefully.
“I admit, I should have had the same thought,” she says. “It didn’t occur to me that it might be helpful, if I’m being completely honest. I suppose now that I’m mated to a Kalixian, it’s hard for me to remember what it was like to be awed and scared by them. But you make a good point, Cora. There’s no way to know if the women have translators implanted, and even then, they may not believe they’re being rescued.” She glances over at Khrelan. “I support Cora’s wish to go along on the mission, as a translator and intermediary.”
Khrelan purses his lips, considering.
“Are you certain?” he asks, focusing intently on me. “It’s not that I doubt your capability, Cora. The women of Terra have shown many times over that they’re brave, intelligent and well able to handle themselves. But this will be a very dangerous mission. The Orkun are like wounded animals, angry and ready to lash out, and Nierra is a dangerous planet in its own right. The city where the auction will take place is one of the most nefarious in the universe.”
I glance around the room, taking a deep breath. The gathered warriors are all looking at me, and I notice Druxik among them, gazing at me more intently than all the others. I can’t tell if he’s hoping that I’ll agree or that I’ll back down, and I wonder if the warriors who have been picked for this mission think I’ll be a liability. I wonder if they think I’ll slow them down and do nothing but give them something else to worry about.
But I know I won’t. And I need to do this. I feel it deep in my soul, all the way down to my bones.
I’ve been looking for a reason why I’m here, for a purpose that I can latch on to, and I feel certain that this is it.
“Yes,” I tell Khrelan firmly, lifting my chin. “I know it will be dangerous. But my mind is made up. If you and the queen will allow it, my king, I wish to go.”
4
Druxik
Nothing in recent memory has startled me quite as much as the petite woman who just walked into the war council and made an impromptu speech in front of all of us, asking to go along on our mission.
I know the Terran women are strong-spirited, but this is still far more than I would have expected from one of them. I study Cora’s face curiously as she tells Khrelan that she wishes to go despite the danger, wanting to know more about this outspoken woman who has just become a part of our team.
I know her a little already from our time on the stolen Orkun ship and on Monri, the planet where we were briefly stranded. The other Alpha Force members and I were often tasked with guarding the women or accompanying them to the market on the nights when we weren’t fighting in the arena there.
Since we returned to Kalix, I haven’t seen much of her outside of official celebrations—or any of the women, really. There have been other things to think about for the unmated warriors, military strategy to focus on, and the ongoing Orkun threat.
But now, as I look at her, some of what I knew about her comes back to me.
I can see some fear in her eyes as she lifts her chin and speaks, which is a good thing in my opinion. A healthy amount of fear under the circumstances speaks to her intelligence. Only fools are never afraid. A lack of fear doesn’t mean bravery. It just means you’ve never encountered something worth being afraid of. Courage comes from overcoming your fear, from pushing forward in spite of it, not from the absence of it.
And as I watch her face, I see determination there too. That, more than anything, impresses me. To stick to one’s convictions and fight on despite danger and fear is the mark of a true warrior.
Khrelan glances at the queen as Cora tells him firmly that she still wishes to go, and when Emma nods to him, he turns back to face the petite woman at the end of the table.
“Very well. I will permit you to accompany the other warriors on their mission. Druxik has been chosen as the leader, so if you have questions or concerns about anything or need instruction, he is the one you should speak to.”
Cora nods, swallowing hard. Her blue-green eyes make me think of water, and they seem to shine with an inner light.
“Thank you, my king,” she says, bowing her head respectfully. “I appreciate you giving me this chance to help my people.”
“You may sit.” The king gestures to an empty seat near Cora. “The rest of what we speak about will be necessary for you to hear, since you’re going on the mission as well.”
She sits as instructed, her expression turning focused and intent as she listens quietly while the rest of the business is discussed.
It bodes well for her part in the mission, I think to myself. She’s strong and determined, smart and outspoken, but also able to take direction and listen to others. Those are all vital qualities on any military exercise or mission, but especially one like this.
“According to our intel,” Khrelan continues, “the auction where the women are being placed for sale will occur in a little over twenty-five days. You’ll need nearly that amount of time to get to Nierra, so you’ll have to move fast. Druxik, can the team be ready to leave tomorrow?”
I nod firmly, forcing myself not to keep looking over at Cora. For some reason, it’s difficult to keep my eyes off her ever since she walked in. She’s very pretty, with light brown hair that curls around her face, pale skin, and delicate features. But it’s more than just her physical appearance
that seems to draw me.
“The team will be ready to leave by midday tomorrow, my king,” I tell Khrelan. “We’ll prepare tonight.”
“Good.” He sits back, looking satisfied. “If there’s anything else that needs to be discussed before you leave, you may find me privately and speak with me. Until then, the council is adjourned.”
As the meeting begins to break up, I see Emma get up from her seat and walk over to Cora, embracing her friend as she says something quietly to her. I find my gaze lingering on Cora again as I hang back, watching the petite woman with the light brown, wavy hair as she leans against the table and speaks in low tones to the queen.
Even what I know of her from our time on Monri isn’t much. I know that she was quiet and kept to herself often, much like Emma, and that she wanted to be a teacher back on Terra before her abduction.
I’ll get to know her better on the ship, I think to myself, and I’m surprised by how much I like the idea.
I didn’t expect this to happen, and I certainly didn’t expect to be looking forward to having her around, and to learning more about who she is. But I am, and as I leave the council room to head back to the barracks, I can’t quite seem to shake the thought of her.
The next day, the team assembles right around midday as promised, with the sun high in the sky above us. The air is fresh and crisp, and I have a momentary flash of regret that we have to leave so quickly. This time of year on Kalix has always been my favorite, but it’s a brief season. By the time we return, it’ll be nearly over.
But, as always, the mission comes first. And this is a particularly important one, well worth missing a season at home for.
The warriors fall in line, ready to board the ship at my command, and I feel a wash of pride as I survey them. It means a great deal to me that Khrelan has chosen me to lead this mission. It’s a validation of my skill and leadership, of all the things that I’ve worked so hard for all of my life to cultivate. I’m no stern warrior like Malav or Tycran, but I’ve devoted myself to being the best pilot and warrior I can possibly be.
