Alien Soldier's Baby (Scifi Alien Romance) (Zoran Warriors) (7 page)

It couldn’t be…

The biggest, most disgusting insect I’ve ever seen comes around the corner, its body the size of a hover-car, its bulging eyes turning towards me. The only way I can describe it is as a cockroach on steroids.

I gasp.

The two antennas that dangle above its disgusting mouth stop abruptly and turn towards me, fixing onto the sound.

Shit.

The insect scuttles towards me. Its massive, pincer-like jaws snap menacingly, and the metallic sound echoes off the cave walls. I’m neck-deep in the water, completely naked, with nowhere to run to. I look around quickly.
Is there a stick or something I could use to defend myself?

Nothing.

Koryn, where are you?

“
T
he weak spot
is in their bellies,” I tell Frostpaw. “We haven’t had any luck fighting them with conventional weaponry. Their armor is too strong. A sword, axe, halberd or spear is the weapon of choice. Man-to-bug.”

The bear nods as he jots down notes, which he does surprisingly well, considering his species has paws for hands. He dips one of his claws in ink and writes with that, using it as a pen.

I’ve been talking to the Beran warrior for over an hour. He’s got countless questions, and I patiently answer them. Despite their primitive ways, the Berans could be a formidable ally in our war against the Ygg. A well-placed strike with a sword beats a fleet’s worth of laser cannons when it comes to fighting those bugs, and the Berans already come equipped with weapons: their menacing claws.

Nothing builds a solid alliance like a common enemy.

“You mentioned a queen?”

I nod. “There’s always a queen. They have a hive-intelligence. Wherever the Ygg are, there’s a queen somewhere close by, controlling them. How they do this, we don’t know yet. Could be telepathy of some kind.”

Frostpaw looks up, eyebrows raised.

“What do you mean you don’t know?”

“Have you ever tried talking to one?” I growl. “They’re not a very talkative bunch.”

“My apologies,” Frostpaw says. “I didn’t mean to offend.”

The Zoran are advanced, but even we haven’t unraveled every mystery in the galaxy quite yet.

“None taken. We’ve tried to communicate with them in every way possible, but we’ve never received a response… except for invasions. Personally, I don’t think they possess any intelligence to speak of. They’re monsters bred for murder, and they need to be exterminated.”

Frostpaw nods, a grim look on his face. “I think we can both agree on that.”

I wonder where Kelly is. She left with the Beran female a while ago, and truth be told, I miss having her by my side. I couldn’t have imagined that when Vinz assigned me this mission – I’d stormed out of the throne room steaming mad, having to babysit a human – but now, I don’t want her to leave my sight for even a second.

Last night was something mystical. Suddenly, I understood Vinz’s devotion to Jillian. It’s as if a veil has been lifted, and I can see clearly for the first time. I’ve been alone for so long I thought that was how things were supposed to be, but now I see the error of my ways.

I belong with Kelly.

The hide-flap covering the entrance flies to the side, and the female Beran I saw earlier runs in.

Without my mate.

Her eyes are wide with shock, and without her saying a word, I know things are bad.
Real
bad.

She growls something, and Frostpaw’s face loses its color underneath the fur. He shakes his head, but the Beran woman nods aggressively.

“Kelly!” she says, turning towards me. She points down the hall. “She’s still there!”

“What’s going on?” I growl. Outside I hear people running down the hall, panicked shrieks, children crying.

I’ve heard chaos like this only once before. On Cotonia VI, in the town of Bahaan.

The slaughter of Bahaan
is what our historians call that day. If I had known beforehand what a dark, traumatic moment that town would come to represent in our species history…

I never would have bought my mother a house there.

“They’re here, aren’t they?” I say, standing up so fast the chair flies back. “The Ygg.”

Frostpaw is still shaking his head, unwilling to accept the truth. The sounds of sheer terror echoing through the cavern walls tells me everything I need to know.

“Where’s Kelly?”

“Down at the hot springs,” the female says, her paws clutched to her heart.

“Impossible,” Frostpaw mutters. “Impossible.”

I grab him by his silver neck fur, lifting him up in the air. “Snap out of it,” I growl aggressively.

When he sees the fury burning in my eyes, I see the focus returning in him.

“Gather your men. Remember what I told you. Fight for your life. Everyone’s survival depends on it,” I snap.

He nods decisively, and I let him down. I pull a small, obsidian dagger out of my boot, the handle feeling familiar in the palm of my hand. I would have preferred a spear of some kind, but there’s no time to lose.

Kelly’s life depends on me now.

I run into the hallway, and I’m nearly knocked off my feet by the fleeing Berans. They’re running on their hands and feet, like true bears, and at quite a pace. I wade my way against the current, cursing under my breath.

I can’t lose another second.

“Where are the hot springs?” I bark at one of the Beran guards shepherding his people down the hall when I come at a cross point. He points me towards the left and I run down the tunnel, as fast as my legs can take me.

I pick up the scent of water. I’m on the right track.

The fleeing crowd thins quickly and the sound of panic dies away as I take a few turns, following my nose, until the only thing I hear are my own footsteps and my heavy breathing.

My knuckles have turned white from holding onto the dagger so tightly, every fiber in my body prepared for a giant bug to jump at me from the darkness.

That’s when I see them.

The bodies.

Several Beran lay strewn all over the floor, their limbs severed, their guts hanging out. Ygg have feasted on their insides, and the bodies are crawling with smaller insects that follow the Ygg horde like a pest, feasting on the scraps left behind for them.

I gag when the scent hits me. No matter how many times I’ve smelled it, I never got used to the stink that clings to those insects. Never.

“No, no, NO!” I growl, my voice echoing off the walls.
Not again
.

I run forward, squishing the bugs under my boots as I go. I take a left, a right, another left, another right. Did I go the right way? I lose the scent of water among the stench of the insects and the bodies.

Where is she?!

A high-pitched scream breaks the silence.

“Kelly!” I yell, following the sound.

I turn the corner, and the horrible sight stops me dead in my tracks.

A giant bug stands hovering over Kelly. It’s got her body pinned underneath it, as its pincers snap menacingly. The metallic sound makes me sick to my stomach. Kelly is struggling, but the monster is much too powerful.

“No!” I roar, jumping forward, the knife in my hands.

Before my blade gets a chance to connect I’m knocked backwards, the beast’s hind legs kicking me with the power of a starship. I smack against the wall, the wind knocked out of me.

“Koryn!” Kelly cries, stretching her hand towards me.

A second later the beast strikes.

Its pincers come together in a sickening, gut-wrenching snap as it cuts Kelly’s left leg clean off.

I feel her bloodcurdling scream in my very bones.

Gathering my strength I rise up, sprint towards the beast and slide down onto my back, gliding underneath the monster. I roar as I stab its soft, unprotected belly with my dagger, over and over again, until its foul, green innards spill out on top of me. It lets out a high-pitched howl, and I only just manage to roll away before the beast collapses on the ground.

“Kelly!”

I crawl towards my mate. She’s still breathing, lying on the stone floor, her body unclothed. My hands reach for her neck, feeling her pulse.

“Stay with me!”

Her eyes open, but they are unfocused. My gaze drifts down, towards her leg.

It’s severed above her left knee. The monster swallowed it whole. The pincer injected a venom into her as it struck, instantly cauterizing the wound, keeping her from bleeding out within minutes. The Ygg like to keep their prey alive as they devour them.

“Stay with me, Kell,” I say, my hand resting on her cheek.

She smiles at me, her eyes washed over. She’s going into shock, her system shutting itself down because of the immense pain she’s in.

“You’re here,” she breathes.

“I’m here,” I say, holding her tightly. “I’m here for you.”

I
stare
into Koryn’s honey-colored eyes.

Is this the look Bey was talking about?

I think about her words through a pain-induced haze.

“Stay with me,” my purple mate says. His eyes are filled with fear, horror and sorrow as he tries to get my attention, but despite the immense pain I’m in, all I can do is smile.

“You came,” I say, my voice soft and distant, as if I’m hearing someone else speak.

A second later everything goes dark.

When I wake up again, I’m lying on a wooden stretcher in Frostpaw’s office. Bey is by my side, her paw holding my hand as she dabs my forehead with a wet cloth. I glance down to see that – thankfully – I’m no longer naked. A rug is covering me, and it feels cozy and warm.

Koryn and Frostpaw are standing in the corner, arguing with one another.

“It’s too risky,” Frostpaw says. “We can’t.”

“You must,” Koryn growls, “and you
will!
”

“What if they return?” he says.

“It’s not matter of
if
, but of
when
,” Koryn snaps. “And hiding in your tunnels only means you’ll die slower.”

“She’s awake!” Bey says, drawing everyone’s attention. A moment later all three of them are crowded around me. Koryn grabs my hand instantly, our fingers locking together.

“How do you feel?” he asks.

“What do you remember?” Frostpaw says. “You must tell us what you saw!”

“Give her some time,” Bey responds. “She just went through a traumatic event!”

I try to wiggle my toes, but only one foot responds. I glance down to see the left side of the sheet covering me is empty below my thighs.

Right.

The beast got to me.

“It’s okay,” I say. “I can talk. Can I have some water, please?”

Bey hands me a glass before I even finish my sentence. I gulp it down quickly, and my memories slowly come back to me.

The beast was on top of me before I’d known what was happening. Despite its lumbering appearance, it was as quick as a fox. The thought of its many feet scampering across the floor sends chills down my spine. There’d been nowhere for me to run.

I’d called for Koryn. I never lost hope that he’d come to save me, not even when I was staring into its disgusting mouth, all dripping acid and snapping pincers, while its legs held me down.

In the end I was right. Koryn saved me, risking his life for me. He’s a hero.

“Where did it come from?” Frostpaw asks. “Were there more? Information is
vital
,” he says, stressing the last word.

I shake my head. “I don’t know. It was suddenly just
there
. It came around the corner. I don’t know how…”

“There’s got to be more,” Frostpaw says. “You’re the only survivor!”

“She doesn’t
know
, Frostpaw,” Koryn growls. “Leave her
alone
. She needs to rest.”

The only survivor?

That means others…

“I want to help,” I say, trying to sit upright. “I’ll try to remember…”

Bey pushes me down again, gently, but firmly. “Rest, sweetheart. You’ve been through too much already. I will make you a soothing
chau-chau
.”

I glance down at my leg. Singular. I’m surprised I’m not in agonizing, gut-wrenching pain. Despite my no doubt horrifying injury, I feel calm, and dare I say, relaxed? Is this the shock talking?

Koryn leans over me and kisses my forehead. I close my eyes and hum softly to myself. As long as he stays by my side, I know I will be alright.

“What’s going to happen now?” I ask Koryn.

“Don’t worry about that,” he says. “You need to rest.”

This whole
you-need-to-rest-and-let-the-big-aliens-handle-things
schtick is starting to get on my nerves. Yes, losing a leg is a minor setback at the very least, but my mind is still as sharp as a tack.

Or it would be, without all the adrenaline and toxins coursing through my veins. I sit upright again, but the room spins around me, and I see stars.

“
Rest
,” Koryn growls as he pushes me down firmly, his fingers wrapping around my wrists. “You’re running on pure adrenaline right now. Your body needs to rest. Okay?”

“Okay,” I sigh.

He shakes his head, a warm smile on his face. “You’re as stubborn as a Zoran.”

“You love it,” I whisper.

Bey walks back into the room, a cup of hot tea in her hands. “Here you are,” she says as she hands me the cup. She tilts my head up softly so I can sip on the warm drink.

Instantly I feel a warmth spread through my body, from the tip of my head down to my toes.

“What is this?” I ask.

“My special mix,” Bey says with a gentle smile. “It’ll help you rest.”

My body feels heavy, and my eyelids are struggling to keep open. I close my eyes and sleep takes me once more.

“
J
ust follow the rope
,” I say. “It’ll take us straight to the surface.”

I can see the fear in Bey’s eyes even as she nods decisively. Even though the female is terrified, she doesn’t want to show it. For the Berans, the surface means danger. Ygg could be lurking behind every tree. They found comfort and safety in their tunnels… but not anymore. One monster has found them, and more will follow.

Getting used to life topside will be quite a challenge for them, I can imagine.

“How’s your grip?” I ask the Beran behind me. His name is Timber, and he’s the only one who volunteered, alongside Bey, to help me carry Kelly back to my ship, the
Thundercat
.

The medi-computer on board is the only thing that can save her life now. The Ygg’s toxins have infiltrated her bloodstream, making her weak and vulnerable. If she doesn’t receive treatment in time, her heart will stop beating.

I just hope the ship hasn’t been destroyed by those insects.

Honestly, I’m surprised her condition is as good as it is. Her body took an awful big hit, and I’ve seen men bigger than her felled by less. Her small, human body is more resilient than it looks.

She’s a fighter.

“I’m good,” Timber says behind me, his voice a low grumble.

Kelly is in a deep sleep, Bey’s special
chau-chau
mix made sure of that. I’m thankful. Kelly’s body will need all its energy to keep her blood flowing. She’s so bullheaded that she’d definitely overexert herself if given the chance.

I thought humans were weak and frail, but Kelly has changed my mind completely.

I glance back at her. My mate. She’s lying on the makeshift stretcher Bey quickly threw together, her eyes closed, a relaxed smile on her face. I wonder what she’s dreaming about.

Timber and I are both holding one end of the stretcher while Bey leads us out of the cave complex. The tunnels are sloping upward, into the welcoming glare of daylight.

Bey volunteered to come with me without a second thought, unlike her mate, Frostpaw. She ignored his protests, calling him out on his cowardice. I’m disappointed in the Beran. They continue to hide in their caves, rather than take the fight to the Ygg and reclaim their planet. Perhaps the generations they’ve spent in total darkness have made them weak. I sense there’s still a semblance of a strength and courage underneath all of that fur, but so far, I’ve only seen Bey exhibit those traits.

The female Beran gasps when we step into the light, clutching her paws to her chest.

“First time on the surface?”

She nods breathlessly.

“It’s… gorgeous,” she says. “The ground is so
soft.
”

Trees stand dozens of feet tall around us. High grass waves in the cool breeze, while multicolored flowers provide a spectacular view.

Bey drops down to her feet and paws and sniffs the flower, rummaging through the shrubbery.

“So many scents! So many herbs!” she says excitedly.

Timber huffs. “What, so you can make more
chau-chau
?”

“Don’t give me that tone, or you’re never getting one of my cups again, Timber,” Bey smirks.

The brown bear nods his head. “Point taken.”

The forest is still silent, except for the rustling of the trees. It’s discomforting, as the planet is perfectly suited for life – even in the dark caverns there’s a multitude of fish and plants. Did the Ygg destroy all topside life?

I let Bey have her fun for a moment, before we begin the arduous task of carrying Kelly a day’s march to our vessel. Seeing her frolic puts a smile on my face, despite the gravity of our situation.

“Come,” I say. “Let us go.”

Bey gathers several flowers and puts them in her pouch. “Sorry,” she says. “We have a job to do.”

I nod. Now that we’re back on the surface, my wrist-com has reception once more. I point us in the right direction, and we continue our march. The freshness of the surface wears off after half an hour and, inadvertently, the tension creeps back up.

The silence is like a suffocating blanket, completely enveloping us. For the first time since the Ygg attack, I have a moment to think. I’ve been operating on crisis mode, putting out fires as they pop up, and now I can reflect on what happened.

On my failure.

Once again, I failed to protect the ones I love from the Ygg. First my mother, and now Kelly.

I still remember the day I lost my mother perfectly. It’s burned into my retinas. Permanently.

Cotonia VI seemed like a perfect place for my mother to live out the remainder of her days. My father had died in battle years before, like a true Zoran warrior, and she was a distinguished healer, known throughout Exon Prime for her ointments and potions. The High Command always knew someone that needed or ‘deserved’ only the best healer on the planet, and so there was many a night when she was roused from the bed by some Senator with a sore throat or some other non-emergency.

After a while, she’d had enough. I was the one who saw the ad on the holo-feed. Cotonia VI was a newly settled planet, with perfect weather, all year round. It sounded like paradise. I told her, and she moved there a few weeks later.

Found herself a quiet town, Bahaan, where she could be the local healer. No longer part of the Exon Prime political elite, and she was happier that way. She even took on a different name, to escape the fame. I could rest easy knowing she found her peace.

And that’s when the Ygg invaded. Without so much as a warning those monsters dropped from the sky and set the entire planet ablaze.

Our squad dropped in – I was still a rookie, it was our very first battle – and headed straight towards Bahaan. What we encountered was chaos. Pure chaos.

The entire town had been slaughtered. Buildings were on fire, the strong winds whipping it into an inferno that swallowed everything in its path. We were too late, there was nothing we could do.

I broke rank and charged forwards, sprinting through the flames towards my mother’s house.

There was nothing left. Her hut was completely demolished. A large, winged insect sat in the midst of the rubble. Enraged, I fired my rifle at it, and it spread its wings and flew off, robbing me of the chance to revenge my kin.

When the fire died out a day later we our squad salvaged what we could. So many bodies…

I never found my mother.

I trained all my life to be a warrior, a protector, and I couldn’t even save the woman who mattered most to me. I’d already failed as a warrior before I even began.

From that point on, my life had a single focus. To become the ultimate warrior. To defeat the Ygg, once and for all. It was the only way I could redeem myself.

I failed on both accounts.

Kelly is mine to protect, and I let her, and Zorans everywhere, down.

I don’t deserve her.

I don’t deserve to wear this uniform.

She’d be better off without me.