Corsairs: Adiron (Corsair Brothers, #1)

by Ruby Dixon

The moment I start to towel off, the bridge clicks on over the comm. "Uh, hey…Mathiras?" It's Kaspar. Mathiras chimes back from the engine room. "What?" "Did you run into anyone we should know about back on V'tarr Station?" A pause. "No, why?" Kaspar sounds tense. "Because we're being approached by another corsair vessel…and I'm pretty sure this one is from Homeworld." "Homeworld?!" Mathiras sounds puzzled. "What the kef are they doing out here in the Slatra system?" "Great question. You should also be asking why they're hailing us and demanding we surrender." "Surrender? I'm coming to the bridge." Uh oh. I haul the towel around my hips and hit the intercom. "Hey…so uh, you guys will never guess what I heard back on the cantina." "What?" I'm not sure which brother it is, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't matter. I click over again. "I might know who that ship belongs to…" "Get your ass in here, Adiron," Mathiras snaps. "Bridge. Now." "On my way," I say cheerfully. I mean, if we die, I should go out with a smile. I'd make an ugly corpse with my face all snarled up. I tie the towel around my waist even tighter, then run a comb through my hair. Again, an ugly corpse is not how I want to be remembered. Zoey would be totally pissed to see me looking like shit at my own funeral. Zoey. I stare at the fogged mirror, think for a moment, and then soap up the tip of my finger and use it to write a message. Lord Straik sa'Rin. There. Even if we don't make it back to mesakkah-space and ...

See! Not dumb

Anyone that's met Kaspar has wanted to choke him at least once or twice.

IllI volunteer as tribute!

And then we had to race the ship out of V'tarrian airspace, and then there was my shower and then we got hailed by Lord Straik sa'Rin. Since they'd caught us by surprise, there was no time to escape. Or put on pants. It was either go in fighting or try diplomacy. Kaspar wanted to go in fighting, of course, but Mathiras wanted diplomacy. As the tiebreaker, I chose diplomacy. Much as I love a good fight, I remember what the females at the cantina said about the lord and his army of a'ani clones. We can take out a small crew easily. An army of clones is an entirely different matter—and sa'Rin's ship is three times larger than ours. Unfortunately, we didn't even get the chance to try diplomacy. Once the larger ship locked onto the Little Sister, they sent a pulse through our ship, knocking us to the floor and freezing us in place. I don't know what kind of weapon that is—some kind of shock-collar for an entire ship—but I know we've gotta get one for ourselves.

Adiron is literally hilarious

Lord Straik sa'Rin stands with his back to us, gazing at one of the star charts, hands clasped just above his tail. His hair is long, which isn't surprising as most mesakkah society lords prefer that sort of thing. He turns and I'm surprised to see that he's young. Certainly younger than me, and I'm the youngest of my brothers. He looks a bit sulky, this lord, dressed entirely in black clothing with dozens of fasteners and a shoulder cape. His horns are extremely ornate, the metal tooled with intricate patterns, and he's got piercings all up one ear. His collar is high so it's impossible to tell if he has any tattoos or scars, but I suspect not.

Fuckin hot!

It's rumored that there was supposed to be an utter fortune-making cargo on the Buoyant Star, heading right for the Voo Rees cartel headquarters on V'tarr, but it never made it there. What that cargo was, no one knows. But it wouldn't keep making stories circulate if it wasn't something impressive. Even if it's not, the Buoyant Star itself was a sleek, well-made vessel. If we find her, we can scrap her for parts and at least break even. That's the theory, anyhow. Me, I'm holding out for a big payoff. If nothing else, I want an adventure out of things…and right now, it's paying off.

Humans

To my surprise, the a'ani army actually likes the lordling. They speak proudly of serving him, and when I inquire about them being slaves, I'm told that he's purchased all of them and freed them, and they earn a wage serving as his crew. That isn't what I expected to hear from a sulky brat of a lord like Straik, but it makes me like him a bit more. They also say he's brave and isn't afraid of a fight. He does wear black all the time though. "I'd bet my entire pot that even his underclothes are black," the a'ani captain of the guard states. His name is Dopekh and he's become a good friend. Plus, he's a decent partner in Sticks. I'm sitting across from him with nothing but two credit chips left to my name, the rest of the pile on Dopekh's side of the table. The a'ani shakes his head, grinning. "He's a good leader, but he does have a certain look about him." "Your entire pot?" I pretend to consider the credit pile in front of him. I don't need the credits and I suspect that Dopekh does, but I do love a challenge. "You're on. Where's his laundry chute?" Dopekh's brows go up. "You're serious?" I throw my sticks down. I was losing anyhow, and this sounds like more fun. "Of course I'm serious. Let's see if these underclothes of his are as severe and ridiculous as everything else he wears." Dopekh hesitates, then a grin spreads across his face. "You think they'd have a cape?" Underclothes with a cape? I snicker at the thought, because Lord Straik does love himself a cape. "A small...

Bro sounds hot

"I'm surprised anyone's still on board after three years. What're they saying?" "Nothing. It's just the signal. There's no voices at all, which I thought was weird." Kaspar shrugs. "It might be that there's no one alive to turn off the signal." The small hairs on the back of my neck stand up. "So it's haunted." "It's not haunted."

Sus

"It might be. You said it's in this quadrant, right?" I gesture at one of the windows we pass by as we head for Straik's quarters. "Look around you, brother. This quadrant is utterly abandoned. You said yourself the only thing in this particular system is a couple of Class C planets." Class C means low resources and not eligible for colonization at this time. He nods. "And the only one that supports life is an ice planet with poison air. No one's visiting this system at all. It's totally deserted…which is why it makes sense that the Buoyant Star is out here.

Shit

"It iced over?" I ask. "What's an ice cloud doing out here?"

Omg! Is this it planet abandoned ship???

It could very well be a distress signal. Look at how close it is to the ice belt. Now, compare this map to one that's ten years old."

IPB

I study the ship, trying to compare it to the others we've run into. Most of those ships have been smaller. I don't know much about spaceships, so I always compare things to fishing, since it feels like we're stranded out in the biggest ocean ever. The Buoyant Star is like a whale, floating alone on this edge of the universe and in a class of its own. We've run into a few ships of different shapes and sizes, the biggest being the size of, say, a dolphin in comparison. Impressive on its own, but nothing to the “whale” we're currently in. Most are the size of regular fish, small little cruisers that the pirates like to run. The cruisers are easy to strip and launch back out into space, their control system not nearly as complicated as that of the Star.

This is a great visual

Alice is my can-do girl. Even though she's small in stature, she's up for anything and everything. She jokingly refers to herself as my sidekick, the Robin to my Batman. Her two blonde topknots atop her head make her look younger than she is, but she's got a pretty face and an elfin build that the aliens seem to like. I think they're attracted to her diminutive stature.

Straik

Ruth, on the other hand…Ruth is beautiful, but she's also quick to declare that she hates aliens. And space. And lying. And…whatever else she can think of. With her long black hair and pale skin, she reminds me of an old-school goth. She's the crankiest of our small group, but she's smart and good with her hands. She's also tall, with long legs, and if our aliens are the frog guys, they won't like that she's tall and intimidating. First impressions are so important for our plan to work.

Kasper

And Helen is…well, she's Helen. She came out of her stasis tube fully grown and absolutely new to the world. She's a fully adult woman, but everything is new to her. Literally everything. She's innocent as hell and it terrifies me to put her into any sort of dangerous situation but…she's perfect bait. Helen is some sort of strange species that's utterly, completely breathtakingly beautiful. She's mostly human-looking, but she's got bright red skin and long, silky lavender hair. Her catlike eyes have the longest lashes I've ever seen and they're an equally stunning shade of purple. Her figure is perfect, and her mouth is full and pouty. She's even got pretty iridescent fins on the backs of her arms and legs, and a bit of webbing between her fingers. I don't know what she is, but she's so overwhelmingly beautiful that we started calling her Helen after Helen of Troy.

Mathiras

Mine's kinky and coily, and even though I've been growing it out, it puffs around my head, wild and untamed. My skin is a rich shade of golden brown, which the aliens seem to find exciting, but I'm not as slender and busty as the others. I'm solid. More than solid. Whatever. I'm plus sized, and there's nobody out here in space to impress, so I don't care.

Plus size black queen

I wonder for a moment if I'd be able to lick my finger and stick it in Straik's ear before he notices. Probably not.

I dare you

It's a pale human. I fire up my blaster, the cartridge whining as it comes to life, and instantly, Kaspar is on alert. He turns at my side, his blaster pointing in the same direction as mine. "Don't shoot," the human calls out, raising her hands in the air. For a moment, her voice sounds so much like my sister Zoey's that my skin prickles. This female doesn't look much like Zoey, though. They're about the same age, but this one's got pale yellow hair falling around a small, heart-shaped face and bright green eyes. Her expression is one of pleasure as she takes a few cautious steps forward, and I can't help but notice that she's small. Where Zoey was short but sturdy, this one is slender and delicate. She's also wearing next to nothing. Her clothes are rags, her small feet bare. What once might have been a standard issue jumper (worn by ship crews and maintenance) is shredded. It hangs at her hips in pieces, a skirt that shows far too much pale, peachy-white skin underneath and slender legs. Her top is little more than a few pieces of fabric harnessed together to cover her tits, and the fabric is doing a terrible job. They're practically bulging out of the skimpy little top, and it looks like the fabric itself will give way at a single touch. The female takes another wary step toward us, and as Kaspar lowers his weapon, she lets out a tiny sob and rushes forward, flinging herself into his arms. "We're saved!" she cries, weeping. My brother looks over at me with pure bewild...

Alice is with Caspar then

The clones are trying to pry the doors open, and Lord Straik is staring at the pod as if he's seen a ghost of some kind.

Helen with straik then

"I just want you all to know that I bite," Ruth snarls as the aliens glare at us. "I will absolutely tear a chunk off of any appendage that comes into range." "And I have a disease," Alice announces. "If you touch me, you'll catch it." I glance over at my ladies, and they're wearing looks of defiance. Except Helen. She looks depressed. "I want a disease," she whispers. Alice shakes her head at her.

Poor Helen

"Here you go," I pronounce grandly. "We call it sweetjuice back home. I think you'll like it." If she knows what sweetjuice is, she makes no indication of it. Jade sniffs the tumbler and then gives me a shy smile that makes my heart stutter in my chest. "Thank you." And she takes a sip. Smiles. Takes another. I lean back in my chair, grinning at her, waiting for the effects to kick in. I remember when Zoey was a tiny little runt, no more than arms and legs, running around our ship. She tried sweetjuice for the first time after we brought back a carafe from a station cantina and then drunkenly wandered around the Little Sister for hours, talking to her shoe. It made her drunk beyond any alcohol, and after that hilarious incident, we kept sweetjuice off the ship. But Lord Straik has it on his. The alcoholic properties only truly affect humans. To me, it's just juice.

Ha!

Being drunk is kinda…fun. I glance up at him and poke his nose. "You look funny." "You mean sexy," he corrects. "I look sexy. In fact, it blows your mind how sexy I am." I snort. "I'm not that drunk." His chest shakes and I realize he's laughing. I cling to him so I don't fall off of his lap—or the world—and wonder where my friends are. Are they being snuggled? Because being snuggled is pretty nice. I burrow in close to him again, pressing my face against his neck. His neck smells nice. His skin is soft, too. Like a kitten. "A great big kitten," I announce. "Meow for me, kitty." "What?" He sounds confused. I stroke his neck. "Maybe purr instead? Prrrrr." I roll my tongue. "Prrrrrr, kitty." "You're a cuddly drunk, aren't you?" "Mmm, I feel good." I press my nose against his neck. "And you're warm." "It's because you're not wearing more than a few scraps." He tugs his tunic over my breasts, making sure everything is covered. "Is that all you really have to wear or is that just part of your plan?" I sniff him again, trying to figure out what he smells like. Sunshine, maybe. Does sunshine have a smell? He smells happy, I decide. Kinda musky and warm and just a hint of fruit. "Can I lick you?" I ask, reaching up to touch his face. "No licking, Jade," Adiron tells me in a firm, parental voice. "You don't get to do anything you'll regret once this wears off." I whine in my throat and then go back to snuggling against his chest. "Meanie." He pokes my side. I push his hand away. He...

Holy shit!

Ruth is close to Lord Straik—probably so he can choke her if she doesn't shut up—and Alice is next to Kaspar, who she's doing her best to ignore. Between Kaspar and Mathiras is Helen, who has on one of the clone military uniforms, a bright smile of excitement on her face. She looks like she's having a blast. She probably is—this is undoubtedly the most excitement she's had in her short life.

Was I right?

I turn to Helen. "Are you all right?" Her smile is broad and sweet. "I'm wonderful, thank you for asking." "No one tortured you or hurt you? Did they touch you inappropriately?" I have to push it, to make sure Helen grasps what I'm referring to. "Mathiras didn't sex me, no," she says cheerily. "I asked him to tongue kiss me, but he declined. But if I feel a sexual urge, I'll probably ask him to service me." Now Mathiras is the one making strangled noises. He shifts in his seat, looking distinctly uncomfortable. "Uh. I would never touch her without her permission. Let's just set that on the table." "Well shit, I didn't ask for tongue kisses," Adiron chimes in. "I should have asked."

Fucking hell

I hate that I don't have the answer Jade needs. I hate that I can see disappointment in her amber eyes. She wants to go back to Earth. There's two problems with that. One—Earth is supposed to be off-limits to everyone, not that slavers pay much attention to that. And two—there's not much Earth left to go back to. A few years ago, the stupid Earth people caused a temporal rift to open up in their planet's atmosphere and everything got all keffed up. There's no “Earth” to return to…at least, not how she thinks it is. The planet's still there…just the people aren't. The cities have fallen, the humans have more or less disappeared, and rumor has it that a few misplaced drakoni just run around burning everything.

Fuck that got dark

"So this is about me?" He blinks. "Of course it is. I thought I made that pretty clear." I purse my lips, studying him. "Is this a trick?" "Is what a trick?" I gesture at him, standing in the middle of my room. "You acting like you're half in love with me after we just met." Adiron beams at me. "Glad you noticed. And I'm not acting."

Get ittttt

Panting, she skids to a stop in front of me, the blanket about to fall off her gorgeous brown body. The look in her eyes is sheer terror, though. "Ruth. She's not in her room. I think she's gone, too." "Where?" "With Straik."

Hehehehehehehe

I'm off noodles. It's finally happened. After years of eating the same shit, day in and day out, my body is finally rejecting our food source. I'd rolled out of bed, dodging Adiron's sprawled limbs, and padded to the kitchen to make breakfast. It's more noodles, of course. Noodles three times a day, in a few different flavors. But the moment I smell the cooking noodles, my stomach churns. I barely make it to the sink before I vomit the contents of my stomach. I puke a few times, then dry heave, and collapse onto the floor. I lean against the cabinet, feeling awful…but not surprised. The scent bothered me yesterday. The texture, too. I sucked it up and ate anyhow, because there are no other options, and when I couldn't stomach any more, I pushed my bowl over to Adiron, who gleefully ate the rest. I was hoping it was a one-time situation, but it looks like not. Thankfully, we've got plenty of hot tea, so I get to my feet, make myself a cup, and hold my breath as I pour my noodles into Adiron's bowl.

Preggo

"Breakfast," I say firmly, pushing his hands away. "The tits are a little sensitive this morning."

Baby

"One and only." He wiggles his fingers at them. "Hand's gotten a real workout, too. Nothing to do here but daydream about cantina girls, if you catch my drift." "Disgusting," mutters the other. The first one lowers his weapon. "We're going to check this ship for others. What's your family name again? We'll let the captain know you're here and she can decide what to do with you."

It’s my biiiiiiitch

"I want all the humans," Shaalyn says softly. "Including the one you're hiding. I don't believe in leaving a credit behind. You know that." I do. Shaalyn is as cheap as she is keffing ruthless.

O god this is nooooot my bitch

"Did you know that you're pregnant?" The male holding the med-scanner glances up from it to look at me. "What?" I'm seated on the table in the med-bay, wearing a plas-film little gown as he scans my mostly naked body. I should feel vulnerable and afraid, but I'm too worried over Adiron in Shaalyn's clutches to give myself much thought. "Pregnant. You." When I continue to stare at him, he talks slower. "There's a baby growing inside your belly."

Yup

feeding you." I'm a little surprised that Shaalyn's got a female crew member. I thought she liked them young, muscled, and male. Guess she's branching out. "Speaking of your captain, where is she? I didn't expect her to let me sit down here, unmolested. I thought for sure she'd show up to start her torture games." The pirate leans down, and I get a glimpse of shaggy hair in front of her face and a big eye patch. And a smell. Kef me, that smell's almost worse than the one two cells down. I discreetly put a hand to my nose and make a mental note not to eat the noodles the pirate's currently hovering over as she stares at me through the meal slot. "Shaalyn's been delayed." "Great. Go away, then." If Shaalyn's delayed, I have a chance to do more rooting around. The female snorts. "You really are dense, aren't you, Adiron?" I frown, getting to my feet. The way the female says my name sounds familiar.

It is my biiiiiiiitch

"She's a person," I growl. "You're not allowed to sell her." I can see right now that I can't trust Bethiah any more than I can trust Shaalyn. The moment Jade's safe, I can't rely on Bethiah's assistance any longer. There are the people in the stasis pods to consider, too, but I'll take things one crisis at a time.

She’s gonna be with the splice guy

"Like I said, though, the human was sick." She shrugs. "Don't know what happened after that, but it's Kaspar. He'll turn up somewhere, probably with the authorities from three different planets chasing his tail." Truer words never spoken. "How do we play this, then?"

All these brothers got these girls pregant

Alyvos lowers his gun a fraction and stares at me in surprise. "Adiron? What the kef are you doing here?" "Surprise," I say, grinning.

Yassssssssss u guyssssssss