Baby Soldiers In Space (Purple People Book 2) Read online

  “How dare you take his name in vain? Especially with that filthy mouth.”

  “My mouth is his temple!”

  “Lennard will be the first to die,” Wilma yelled. “Followed by Peenis. Then I shall slaughter the simpering idiots, followed by the purple heathens.”

  “You’ll have to get out of my clutches first,” Pariah said, slapping her again.

  Wilma struggled to pull away, but Pariah had her legs clamped around her.

  “You have the strongest thighs,” she gritted.

  “Because they’ve been exercised by fornication!” Pariah screeched, tightening her hold.

  “You unsavory whore! You devil’s doxy! Satan’s strumpet.”

  “Harlot from hell?” Virginia suggested helpfully.

  “How about the Concubine from Quaker?” Molli giggled.

  “Ooh! I got one. A Freijian’s Floozy,” Joy said.

  Beatrice giggled. “That’s good. But how about Pariah the Prostitute?”

  “Girls,” Marcie admonished. “We explained this. She didn’t get paid for it. She’s more of a hussy than a hooker.”

  “Are you all on drugs? Can I have some silence, please?” Pariah asked. “I’m single-handedly taking down the villain here.”

  She punched Wilma, and the power behind her fist stunned Wilma for a few seconds.

  “Make your choice, girls!” Marcie screamed.

  The Puritans looked at one another and scrambled in tandem to plop their taffeta-encased bodies on top of Wilma.

  “Get off me, you filthy bitches!” Wilma screamed. Her eyes widened as the pastel fabric covered her face, smothering her.

  “Hold down her arms so she can’t cross herself,” Marcie said, hopping off Bajoc’s lap.

  It didn’t matter that her own hands were tied, she went behind her big, strong warrior and began unraveling his knots. When he was freed, she tossed the rope to Pariah while Bajoc untied her hands.

  Pariah went to work tying Wilma, every now and then pushing a Puritan off to flop in a tumble of Easter egg-colored, upturned skirts and petticoats.

  Pariah tied the last of the rope around Wilma, and then the four Puritans flounced up to untie the rest of the men.

  “These gowns don’t even wrinkle,” Virginia said. “I say these should become our daily wear.”

  “My vote is yay,” Joy said.

  Molli giggled and shook her head eagerly.

  “Yay,” Tris said shyly, and they all cheered.

  Kriekjan and Tristan were the first untied. Pariah plopped down, sitting on Wilma’s belly to watch her man.

  “I realize this is your planet, and you’re commander here, so whatever you want to do, I’ll abide with. Perhaps my crew should take this one back to Quakestrarian for trial? Half your crew can go rescue the protected purples, and half can stay here to protect the mates and nutlings?” Kriekjan said.

  Tristan nodded. “Good plan.”

  “You can’t take me back there,” Wilma screamed.

  “Computer, mute her with a shock to her vocal system.” Kriekjan spoke into a small, hand-held device he’d pulled from his pocket.

  Wilma gurgled and quieted immediately. Pariah rose and turned toward the Quaker males.

  “Pariah! You’re coming with me.”

  “Lennard! I will not. I have delicate Puritans to care for—”

  He strode over to her, grabbed her around the neck and swung her backward. “You’ll go where I say you go, woman. It’s about time you started listening to what I have to say.” He swung her into a dip, bent at the waist, and locked his lips to hers.

  Pariah moaned as their lips smacked and smooshed repeatedly.

  “Um, I’ll take care of the Puritans,” Marcie said. Hell, she was willing to say anything to stop the obscene porn movie in front of them. Several of the men looked up at the ceiling, and several others looked like they wanted to vomit. The Quaker men glared.

  “We’ll do it together,” Lara said.

  “Bajoc,” Tristan said, turning so his whole body wasn’t facing Pariah and the Supreme Commander. “You’ll lead the expedition to get our offspring safely returned from Herbasnuttia. I’ll remain here with a smaller crew to protect the mates and nutlings.”

  “Understood.” Bajoc nodded once and turned to Marcie.

  “You have been very brave, my sweet one.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck. “No more than you. My brave, strong warrior, going off to rescue our precious son.”

  “I love that we have opened our lines of communication and worked together to conquer the bad guys.”

  “We’re superheroes. Me, you, Reese and Lily.”

  Marcie’s world was blissfully silent as he kissed her within an inch of her life.

  * * * * *

  Bajoc:

  The small Helian Six crew wasted no time in setting a course for the mission. They didn’t expect trouble with the backward planet, especially since they had not received all the instructions for the Photon blast.

  “Sir,” Dronan said. “We are within the solar system of Herbasnuttia.”

  “Open hail.”

  He waited a few moments until the image of a Herbasnut popped up on screen. The male’s head was wrapped in a high turban, and in this case, size mattered. It stretched at least two feet high.

  “Greetings.” The male dropped his chin to his chest to bow. The turban balanced precariously.

  “I am Commander Bajoc of Helian Six of the Confederation of Freijian Patrol. We have intercepted a plot to throw your planet and Quakestrarian into war.”

  “Commander Bajoc, I am President Millnek. We have been told.”

  “However, in this plot, our offspring were kidnapped and sent to your planet by a spy. We request the protected species of the planet Hesprii to be returned safe and unharmed.”

  “Commander, we do not lay claim to the one who says she was a spy. We believe she is indeed Quakestrarian and needs a psych evaluation to see why she believes she is from our planet. We have never before heard from this female, including receiving plans for a pretend launcher. In our confusion, those purple creatures, nineteen in total, were not allowed to remain on Herbasnuttia. Also, we were told they were pets, not a separate species. Several of the smaller ones lapped water from bowls on the floor! A particularly chubby one wearing striped leggings meowed and rubbed herself against the furniture. Our apologies for our misunderstandings of your offspring, but they have already been sold to the planet Frakazar.”

  “You don’t know how children play?” Bajoc barked.

  “Our children do not play. They are seen, not heard.”

  “Are my kids safe?” Bajoc barked.

  “Affirmative.”

  “Turn around,” Bajoc instructed Dronan. “Head for Frakazar.”

  It was a few more days’ delay—and entirely his fault they were not recognized as more than pets. The offspring were undoubtedly terrified at being shipped around and had reverted to the games he played with them. The only good news was Frakazar wasn’t completely unfamiliar, as they had visited once before.

  The ship touched down on the surface of the red planet. Bajoc and his team descended, to be met by the familiar shape they’d met once before.

  Cluxcli was a half-bird creature with feathers that grew on top of his head instead of hair. His small beak clicked as he spoke.

  “Greetings, Freijians. You are here for the purple Hespriians?” He actually looked saddened. Their adorable offspring touched hearts wherever they went.

  Or else…Great galaxies. Had the kids met their demise and this silly big bird didn’t want to tell him?

  “Our offspring. Yes!” Bajoc barked. “Where are they? How do they fare? What of the smallest ones? Are they well?”

  “Of course. Let me get my partner, Blearsh.”

  Cluxcli put his beaked lips together and whistled. From a crowd of people, Blearsh looked up and used all four of his arms to quickly usher them away on their tour.

  �
��Hurry,” he muttered. “Last tour. Double the price.” He held out a hand to collect more money.

  Just as Bajoc was about to draw his sword, for something decidedly fishy was going on, Blearsh pocketed the credits.

  “Sorry about that,” Blearsh said, rather distractedly as he approached with all six legs walking, appearing as a steady roll. “I meant to call, but I just haven’t had time. Please come this way to see your adorable little ones.” He smiled uneasily, then walked them back the way he’d originally come from, babbling the entire time. It made no sense since they could have followed the tour crew, but he seemed to be taking them round a longer distance.

  “How have you been, Commander Bajoc? I have always felt an affinity with you,” Blearsh said slyly.

  “Fine. Are we nearly there? Where are the offspring?” He could have sworn he saw the same directional sign post twice.

  “We’re close. They are fine, playing happily.”

  They traveled through some trees…and a tunnel…waded through a river…and finally reached the location where he could see his ship again. They’d walked in a circle.

  “What is going on?” Bajoc snarled. “Where are the purple ones?”

  “See those cages lined up?”

  “You have our offspring caged?” The sound of his roar hurt his own ears.

  Blearsh seemed calm. “We’ve kept them in a cage because…well, frankly it’s safer with that one.”

  Titi banged a tin cup across the bars of the cage, droning in the distance. Yet, it didn’t seem as if she cried. No, instead her tuneless voice wailed.

  “Is she…singing?” Bajoc asked Cluxcli, who minded the cages. He was dressed in an apron as he swept the grounds.

  “Yes,” Cluxcli said proudly. “We taught them the blues. They were all singing earlier, but only Titi continues without breath.” He released a sigh. “She is exhausting.”

  “Uncle Bajoc!” Eelia screamed, holding up her arm to wave. “I wanna go home.”

  Titi started as if coming out of a trance. She saw Bajoc and held up both arms, dropping the cup on the ground with a rattle. “Uncle Daddy! Up! Kwick!” Her voice was as demanding as ever.

  Blearsh unlocked the cage with the same sly look. “The locks are just to keep that one out of trouble, you know.”

  Bajoc narrowed his eyes. This was a zoo planet, and his beloved purple offspring were caged like…animals. They had been taught to sing. And that idiot creature had delayed getting them here, walking them around the complex. Something fishy was definitely going on.

  “You made money showing off our young,” he accused. “Adding them to your zoo!”

  Cluxcli swallowed, and the sound rattled his beak. “Well, only enough to earn their keep. Nineteen mouths to feed, you know. Plus, we’re out the money we paid for them. To keep them safe. Safe,” he squealed as a hand shot out to wrap around his skinny neck.

  “And that is the only reason why I am allowing you to keep your beak,” Bajoc growled, bringing the creature close enough to view his sharp teeth.

  Cluxcli’s yellow feathers on top of his head ruffled.

  Bajoc sighed. He couldn’t get too upset now with the offspring ready to come home. The door to the cage swung open and all the kids poured out. Several of the warriors picked them up to hug them close. Bajoc scooped up Reese and Titi in each arm, while Eelia held onto his leg. “I’m never letting you go.” She announced, squeezing tight.

  “Never,” Titi echoed.

  His own son curled his small head onto his chest, his hand holding to where he could feel the beat of one of his hearts.

  “I will get you all home,” he announced, coughing to cover the break in his voice.

  Titi turned his head to her with a tiny palm on his chin. “Now?” she asked, sweetly.

  Bajoc felt his heart strings tug. “Of course, little one.”

  She gave a huge smile, and said, “Da. My Da.”

  “Yes, he said gently. “Your mum and dad are home waiting with your brother. As are yours, Eelia.”

  “Uncle Bajoc, Titi’s not using the potty anymore. She’s back in the diapers,” Eelia announced.

  “Noooo.” Titi turned Bajoc’s head away from Eelia with a hand on his jaw, turning his face to peer into hers. She blinked, and then smiled sweetly.

  “I did not think she was telling the truth,” Bajoc whispered to her, and smiled back at the little imp.

  Titi wiggled to be let down. As soon as she cleared his hip, she slid down to reach his other shin, mimicking Eelia. She clung to his right shin and sat down comfortably on the top of his foot.

  Bajoc winced at the weight. Slowly he began to stagger toward the ship. He wasn’t sure which leg was heavier, the one with Titi or the one with the nine-year-old Eelia.

  Slowly, he made his way to the ship with the rest of the warriors and children, counting each head to make sure no dropling was left behind.

  “Up,” Titi said, clutching one leg and motioning with one arm.

  “Make up your mind,” he grumbled good-naturedly. He picked her up with his free arm, and she pointed upward still, wanting to feel his horns.

  She missed Tristan horribly, Bajoc knew. He frequently let the young one ride on his shoulders. Bajoc hoisted her up to his shoulders and felt her grab onto his horns securely. She was well-trained in the ride.

  He boarded the ship last, dragging his left leg where Eelia had firmly wrapped her arms and legs around his knee.

  The ship was set up classroom style as it had been the last trip to this planet. A much happier trip, that time. But hopefully, it would remind the children of contented times. They were subdued now. Reese had fallen asleep in his arms, comfortably secure and safe.

  Eelia joined the older kids in one of the chairs, but Titi refused to climb down from his neck.

  “Come, Titi,” he coaxed. “Don’t you want to eat a snack in one of the chairs like a big girl?”

  “Nope.”

  “Do you want to sit in my lap, like Reese?”

  “Nope.”

  “You can help me fly the ship.”

  “Nuh-uh.”

  He shrugged at Dronan, and his neck and shoulder muscles felt cramped from the extra weight sitting upon them. “Perhaps she’ll come down in a few minutes when she realizes she’s safe.”

  Three hours later, she hadn’t come down. Most of the children had reclined their chairs, and were napping for the ride home. Reese had woken briefly and sat with the others, but came back to Bajoc’s arms for another nap.

  All this time, Titi refused to come down. He tried to have Dronan take her off, but she had shrieked unholy hell, and they left her where she was. She patted the top of his head, like he was a pet.

  “Good. Good uncle-daddy.”

  He had no other options but to open the hail to the Supreme Commander’s vessel anyway. Everyone would be beside themselves, waiting for word on the droplings. He sighed. Reese was so much more well-mannered than the smaller Titi. He hardly ever bit anymore.

  He wasn’t sure how Tristan still had his full head of hair.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Bajoc sat in the captain’s shuttle with an exhausted Reese fast asleep in his arms. Wrapped around his neck were the chubby, striped legs of Titi.

  He punched the direct line for communication.

  A pre-recorded computer voice came on overhead. “Check in log dot report. Enter identity and password.”

  “Helian Six, shuttle station to Helian Six, main command. Fallotrist-nine-one.”

  “Go ahead.”

  The image of their leader came across the screen. To his right sat his mate, and to his left sat the beautiful image of his Marcie.

  But the image swayed and darkened as his vision blurred.

  Bajoc tapped on Titi’s knees, and she released the choking hold she had around his throat. Her fists were wrapped around the base of his horns in a strangle-hold.

  “Say hello to your poppa,” Bajoc choked out when he could speak.

&
nbsp; “Da! Da!” Titi waved excitedly, and her opposite hand fell over Bajoc’s eye. He sighed, and brought it back up to wrap around his horn instead.

  “She refuses to come down from my shoulders,” Bajoc explained. “She needs therapy.”

  “She’s been up there the entire trip?” Lara asked, appalled. “She’s heavy.”

  Bajoc grunted and glared accusingly at Tristan. “Your dropling is rather spoiled.”

  Tristan snarled. “I will forgive that indiscretion because you have just saved our baby kids.”

  He was hushed by Lara with a nudge.

  “Honey, has Reese been in your arms the entire time?” Marcie asked.

  He went to nod, and then checked himself as Titi whacked the top of his head with her open palm. “Yes, Marcie, my love. How are you? How is my Lily?”

  “I’m fine. We’re both fine. Are you safe?”

  “I am. I’m quickly on my way to you.”

  “Da! La! Bread ‘n wetsli.”

  “Yes, honey,” Lara sobbed. “We’ll bake you as much bread as you want. And here is your little retsli.” She held up the scruffy cat-thing. It looked worse than usual, as its hair was beginning to grow in uneven patches.

  “Aww. Aww. Sweet wetsli.”

  “And here’s Hagan.”

  Lara lifted the baby sling enough that Hagan—awake for once—peeked through.

  “Aww. Sweet Hegghead.”

  Suddenly Titi jerked, her eyes growing wide and her arms and legs tightening. “Oh, oh!”

  Tristan sat up. “Titi? What’s wrong, little one?”

  “Oh, oh. Oh, oh,” she repeated, eyes darting around the room.

  Bajoc straightened his spine, sitting up ramrod straight suddenly. He groaned, and a trickle of wet darkened the collar of his uniform.

  “Potty,” he sighed. “Someone come get Reese.”

  His mate looked like she wanted to giggle, but poor Lara seemed so appalled. Marcie covered Lara’s hand with hers. “I’m sure her training will go back to where it was once she settles in and isn’t so scared. Don’t worry.”

  A snickering Dronan stepped in and took Reese from his arms. Reese woke slightly. “Shh, Reese,” Dronan said. “Do you want to see your momma?”

  “Mum?” His adorable offspring rubbed his eyes. Bajoc smoothed his fuzzy purple hair off his forehead, and motioned for Dronan to sit with him in the chair as he vacated it.