Invasion: Chapter 10: Picking Up The Pieces
 
After taking in his newfound respect among the remaining residents of Nome, Mika Kykalisko was finally able to see a doctor about his left elbow. He had injured it in the battle to liberate Nome from Soviet extremists who had overrun the town and nearly destroyed it. The diagnosis revealed that no bones were broken, the joint wasn't dislocated or thrown out of whack in any way, and that the pain would go away after a few days. It hurt when he bent it, so he was given two bags of ice to put on the afflicted area in order to dull the pain. All he suffered was a bruise.
It had been a strange day for the Finn. Earlier, he had saved Nome from certain doom. But in doing so, he lost his Outdoor Outfitters co-worker and battle comrade, David Stoner. David had been stabbed in the chest by a bayonet during the battle. It punctured the left ventricle of his heart, causing massive blood loss. He died later at the hospital. The same fate nearly befell Balto, who had suffered a gunshot wound to his right abdomen. No vital organs were hit, however, and he did survive. But survival didn't come easy. He had two serious complications while he was under. First, a blood clot had originated in a blood vessel that was punctured by the bullet. That caused Balto's blood pressure to drop. Second, when it finally stabilized, it had fallen to a dangerously low level. That resulted in a slow awakening from the anesthesia. Fortunately, he recovered from that scare.
It was nighttime by now, and Mika was now at a practice session with his band, Lapp Attack. His band mates - brother Kaj Kykalisko, Keith Black, Colin Stevenson, and Ryan Andrews - were happy to have their frontman back. Unfortunately, the pain in his elbow made it very difficult for him to play guitar. Mika played right-handed, so strumming wasn't a problem. Moving his left hand across the fret board, however, did involve bending that elbow. Therefore, the pain caused by bending it was, sadly, inevitable.
Their usual practice building was blown out in the attack, so the only place left for them to have a jam session in was an old shed that wasn't really used by any humans. Unfortunately, it was a frequent hangout for the dogs of Nome - especially in the evening hours, as it also happened to be their version of a bar/restaurant.
Lapp Attack were scheduled to perform at same club where they usually performed tomorrow night. However, because of the recent devastation, and with all the memorial and funeral services being planned for the victims, their show got postponed. It was decided, therefore, that this rehearsal would help them memorize the familiar songs as well as perfect the new songs that they were planning on playing. And because the pain in his elbow was too great, Mika did not strap on his Kramer Striker electric guitar at all that night. So the sound wasn't complete. He still used his headset microphone, which he also used for live shows.
"Are you guys sure you wanna keep playing even though the sound isn't right?" Mika asked his band mates.
"We can work on that once your elbow heals," replied Keith. "Which I hope is soon."
"The doctor said it should be fine after a few days," added Mika. "Has a new date for the concert been set?"
"Not yet," put in Colin. "Ryan and I are still working on that part."
"Yeah," added Ryan. "There are a lot of details to work out for the services for the victims of the invasion. It may be a while before we get this show in."
"I just hope we don't have to wait too long," finished Kaj.
They all agreed with that. And then went back to their practice.
 
Meanwhile, in the dog's shed, the remaining dog residents of Nome - most of the town's dog population did survive - were just hanging out, trying their best to put out of their minds the tumultuous events of the day.
The only thing really going on at the time was idol chit-chat among the dogs. Most of which was assorted rants and raves about the battle that had taken place earlier that day. Boris, Stella, Muk and Luk were among the shed's occupants at the time. Balto was still in a considerable amount of pain from the battle. When he got hit by the bullet, it wedged itself between two ribs, moving them apart, leaving tiny cracks in them. It hurt mostly when he laughed, belched, or did anything that moved that section.
"I tell you," said Balto. "I thought all those previous rescue missions I went on were dangerous. But today's rescue made those others look wimpy."
"You don't say," Nikki responded.
"That was the most treacherous, the most dangerous, the most..." put in Kaltag.
"That was scary out there!" interrupted Star.
Kaltag didn't even bother bonking Star on the head. He knew all too well what was meant by that.
"We know, already," he replied.
"Yep," added Balto. "This one definitely tops the list."
The only battle survivors who were completely unharmed were Dusty, Kodi, Ralph and Kirby. They were originally part of the expedition Balto had led to the battlefield after he heard that Mika was in trouble. On the way up, they found David lying mortally wounded on a mountainside. Thinking there might still be a chance to save him, Kodi, Ralph, Kirby and Dusty took David back into town, hoping he could be saved. Alas, their effort to save him proved futile, even though they did make it to the hospital.
"How did you dogs manage to avoid getting hit early on?" asked Boris, sounding confused.
"Sneak attacks," replied Dingo. "That was the strategy. Pick a target, attack from behind, and distract them long enough for Mika to finish them off."
"And yet, most of you did get hit eventually," said Muk.
"They caught on to our plan," put in Attu. "But how most of us escaped with only minor injuries, I swear I'll never know."
"I guess we just got lucky," said Kodi. "Well, most of us did, anyway."
He added that last line when he realized that both his dad and Steele, with their respective injuries - bullet wound and twisted knee, being far more serious - that some got off worse than others. It was then that Boris, Stella, Muk and Luk knew the extent of Balto's injuries. Because they waited outside, they didn't know about any of this until just now. Even Balto himself didn't know how bad he had been hurt. And he was surprised when he did find out.
Around this time, a somewhat familiar sound caught their attention. It was from a familiar sounding band that they had all come to know and like, but it wasn't a familiar song.
"What's that?" asked Dusty.
"Sounds a like a Lapp Attack rehearsal," replied Jenna.
"I don't recognize that song," added Ralph.
"It must be a new one," put in Balto. "Come on, let's go check it out."
They got up, walked out of the shed, and followed the sound to its source.
The sound was traced to the dogs' bar/restaurant. Sure enough, when they arrived, Lapp Attack was working on a new song of theirs.
 
Don't Look Back
 
I never knew what it meant to me
'Till someone just took the best of me
If it's some kind of conspiracy
Then no-one gets to the rest of me
 
I'm turning over leaves, I'm holding up my head
I'm healing over hurt and learning to forget
 
I said don't look back, let it fade and let it go
Don't look back, let it fade and let it go, oh
 
You make your way in a crazy world
Get all mixed up by a crazy girl
When all you want is some honesty
But then all she gives you is sympathy
 
I'm opening new doors, I'm clearing out the shelf
I'm loosening my act and laughing to myself
 
I said don't look back, let it fade and let it go
Don't look back, let it fade and let it go, oh
 
Don't be afraid of the choices you've made
And try not to give any quarter
There's no more to say
I'm walking away and I'll never look back
 
I said don't look back, let it fade and let it go
Don't look back, let it fade and let it go
(Mika vocal solo for final lines of song)
I said don't look back, let it fade and let it go
Don't look back
(keyboard sound follows vocals)
 
Let it go
Let it go
 
The dogs walked in during the first run through the chorus and were quite surprised to see Mika without his guitar. But they did like what they heard, even though they didn't voice their opinions until the end of the song.
"Boys, that was brilliant," said Doc after they finished.
"Thanks, Doc," Mika replied. He then turned to his band mates and said, "Alright boys, take five."
"And not a minute too soon," said Ryan.
"Now what?" Keith asked.
"The pad where the pedal hits the kick drum has a crack in it," Ryan responded.
"Well, hopefully you have a spare," added Colin. Ryan held one up to show that he did indeed have a spare.
At which point they all exchanged high-fives. Several complementary howls rang out from the other dogs.
"Why no guitar, Mika?" asked Balto.
"Well, I bruised my left elbow during the battle," Mika answered. "It hurts when I bend it. And because grabbing the neck of the guitar and moving my left hand across the fret board involves bending that elbow, it impossible for me to play it without causing any pain."
"I thought you guys had a place to play," said Steele. "What are you doing here?"
"The building where we usually practice in got destroyed by the extremists," Mika responded. "This was the only building that we could find that wasn't really used by anybody. Seriously, none of us knew at first that this was a hangout for you dogs." Noticing the bandage around Steele's left knee, Mika asked what happened. Steele then explained how he had landed askew on it after being thrown off the back of one of the extremists. He had to abandon the battle as a result.
"I don't blame you," said Mika.
"Even I advised him to get clear," added Balto. "He couldn't do any good in his condition."
"You ran right past me to get back to town. Didn't you see me?" asked Steele.
"I saw you on the way down. I just didn't see how it happened," Mika replied. "And at the time, I was busy carrying a near-dead fur-ball."
"HEY!" exclaimed Balto. "Cats are fur-balls! Dogs are fuzz-balls!"
Mika just shrugged it off.
"How long do you have to keep the weight off your knee?" he then asked Steele.
"About a month and a half," Steele replied. "By then, I'm sure your elbow will have heeled."
"Yep," put in Mika.
"At least you two got off better than I did," added Balto. "Neither one of you took a bullet to the midsection."
"And neither one of you almost died from your injuries," said Boris.
A puzzled look came over the faces of most of the dogs. Because most of them had gone outside the animal hospital after being treated and released, they were unaware of what Balto had to endure while he was being operated on.
"What do you mean by 'almost died'?" asked Nikki.
"Aren't we quizzical tonight," said Mika, who by now had turned off his headset mike. He then sighed and shook his head before answering. "Alright, if you must know, Balto almost bit the dust twice while in the operating room and now Boris is making a big deal out of it."
"It is a big deal!" Boris exclaimed. Mika had to cover his ears to drown it out. He then shoved Boris aside with his right elbow.
"Wait a minute," Balto said as if he were protesting. "You all know? How long was I dead?"
"You weren't dead," Jenna replied. "One of the doctors came out and said you were having some trouble waking up from the anesthesia..."
"Was that before or after his pulse dropped due to that blood clot?" Mika interrupted.
"After!" Jenna replied in a rather harsh tone. Mika shied away. Jenna continued with, "Anyway, about two minutes later, you came out and you were okay."
"Alright, so I was okay then," said Balto. "But for two minutes, you all thought I might be dead."
Jenna and their pups, who were also in the hospital with her, all looked at each other confused. Jenna, however, was the only one who wasn't.
"What did everybody do?" Balto asked.
Mika scratched his forehead trying to remember what he did. Then it occurred to him that he woke up from his nap to hear the commotion and then went right back to sleep.
"You weren't dead, it was two minutes!" exclaimed Jenna.
"Hey, two minutes is a long time," Balto responded. "Quick, two minutes, what could have gone through your head?" His next few lines were merely a hypothetical guess of what Jenna might have been thinking. "Oh, oh, I have to plan a funeral, I have to watch Rosy and the pups all by myself. On the other hand, I can start dating again. You know what, I'm gonna need some new...ah, let's skip that. You know who's cute? Kaltag!"
"Jenna!" Stella scoffed. 
Mika, hoping somebody would kill him for hearing that, tried to drown out what he had just heard by hitting himself in the head with a bottle of cranberry juice. Kaj managed to stop him, but got hit in the face when he pulled the bottle out of Mika's right hand. He didn't drop it, though, and he just put it down on the bar.
"Dad," said Saba. "Mom didn't think anything like that. None of us did."
"So, what?" said Balto. "None of you thought of anything?"
"Hey, Hammerhead, wake up!" Mika exclaimed, catching everybody's attention. "I was there and I saw your mate fall apart!" He paused to catch his breath before continuing. "I've never seen her like that before, and I swear to God, I don't ever want to see her like that again!"
The dogs were all stunned by what Mika just said. It was about thirty seconds before anyone of them spoke.
"You did?" Balto asked Jenna. By this point, she was getting choked up again.
"I can't lie to you now, baby," said Jenna. "When I heard your pulse had dropped, I got really scared. But when I heard that you weren't waking up, I was frightened half to death." She then sobbed and nuzzled him, saying, "I thought I'd lost you in there!"
"There, there, honey," said Balto as he dried her tears. "Everything is going to be okay."
"When I heard what was going on in there, I was so worried something bad might happen to you," said Jenna, who by now was feeling a little better.
"What do you mean 'might happen'?" Mika abruptly cut-in. "He's standing here! He's fine! Let's celebrate with some screwdrivers!"
Everyone look at Mika puzzled. Even his band mates had "what the hell?" kind of looks on their faces.
"Tools?" asked Keith. "You want us to celebrate with tools?"
"I meant a drink, Keith," Mika retorted.
Mika then stepped behind the bar. He grabbed a glass, a bottle of orange juice, and ice cube tray, and then pulled his fifth of Drunken Czar Vodka out of an inside pocket on his jacket.
"Your typical screwdriver consists of vodka and orange juice," said Mika, "and is served on the rocks."
"Oh, boy," said Dingo. "Don't get that too close to a fire!"
Mika then started fixing one for himself. Afterward he added, "Hey Kaj. Remember how Ari says when his boss at the shipyards in Helsinki gets angry, his voice sounds like a foghorn?"
"Yeah, I remember that," Kaj answered back.
At that point, Mika took a sip from the glass and said, "Ahhh. It's like liquid earplugs!"
"Oh, sure," scoffed Ryan. "Keep the good drink for yourself and leave the rest of us with the crappy, plain ones!"
"Ah, quit your bellyaching and take it like a drummer!" Mika retorted. "I'd give one to the rest of you, but you're all underage."
The legal drinking age, had national Prohibition not been in effect, was 18 at the time. But with Alaska being a territory at the time, and because of its remote location, enforcing such a law would be virtually impossible.
"Any one else want a drink?" Mika asked.
"OJ for me, hold the booze, Finn," replied Balto.
Other dogs lined up to get drinks of their own. Mika got called back to discuss the new songs with his band mates, leaving the dogs to themselves. Eventually, those who usually worked there helped dish out drinks as well as eats for anyone who was hungry.
"Okay, great session," said Mika.
"Yeah, I think it went well," added Colin.
"It certainly did," put in Kaj. "I think the new songs are gonna sound great."
"Alright," continued Mika. "Our first order of business tomorrow is to set a new date for the show that was originally set for tomorrow night. We're going to have to go around and work something out."
Mika then put his second ice bag on his elbow and taped it up so it would stay there. He then took another sip of his drink.
"Are you sure you can have that after going bazerk earlier because of it?" asked Keith.
"At the time, I was distraught over David's death, okay?!" said Mika.
"Oh. I get it," Keith answered. He immediately understood what Mika meant.
"Alright, enough of this death and destruction talk," said Kaj as he turned on a radio located nearby. "It's depressing!"
"Yeah," added Mika. "Say, Ryan, how's the repair coming?"
"Done," Ryan replied. "Listen, guys. I want to go over 'Don't Look Back' again. I'm still not sure on some of my parts."
"Okay," Mika said, acknowledging Ryan's request. "Let's get it right."
Mika decided he would try to put in his guitar lines for this run through. Despite some pain in his left elbow, he managed to tough it out through the whole song. Mika's pose at the last note saw him put his right fist in the air in triumph. He then switched to the "You Rock!" hand signal, which he also did with is right hand. That hand was down by his right side.
"Oh, that was brilliant!" Keith exclaimed. "I think that one went better than the first one!"
"Me too," added Kaj. "That was awesome"!
"Definitely," put in Mika. He then turned to where he was facing the dogs, grabbed his drink, and said, "Thank you, God bless you, good night!"
Lapp Attack then retreated out through a back door.
"That's it?" asked Attu. "Man, I was hoping to hear more of them."
"I'm sure we will at their next show," Balto replied. "Whenever that may be."
They just kicked back and relaxed for the remainder of the evening, just like the other dogs.
 
Later that night, after they and all the other dogs had gone home, Balto and
Jenna could be found at home relaxing on the living room rug in front of the fireplace. It had been quite a dramatic day for both of them in so many ways. They just passed the time with mere idle talk about what had transpired that day, most of which was Jenna asking Balto what was like being in the middle of that battle.
"I still don't understand why you went up there to help Mika, especially since you knew what you were up against," said Jenna.
"Someone had to help him," Balto responded. "Besides, David had just been cut down, and Mika was left without much help."
Balto was obviously unaware that his daughter Aleu and her wolf pack had come to Mika's aid during the tracking phase and were of immense help during the battle.
"Jenna, remember when Boris, Muk, Luk, and I went after the medicine, and you came and saved me when I was attacked by that bear?" asked Balto. He then asked, "Did you hesitate before jumping in?"
"No, not at all, Balto," replied Jenna. "I didn't have time to worry about what might happen. Besides, by then, I was already in love with you. I couldn't even stand the idea of losing you then."
"Well, I have gotten into tight situations before this one and emerged okay," said Balto. "I figured I could do it again. And just like then, I had no time to think before jumping in. Besides, if I did nothing about it, and I lost you because of it..." He paused as he tried to collect his thoughts. "...that would be far tougher for me to bear."
"Really?" Jenna asked.
"Yes it would, Jenna," Balto responded. "And even if I didn't make it back alive, I at least he hope that you would survive."
"Oh, Balto," said Jenna as she nuzzled under his chin. "You really mean that?" she then asked.
"Yes, Jenna," Balto replied. "I really mean it."
The two then nuzzled each other very lovingly, their forms becoming nothing but mere silhouettes against the background that was the fireplace, which was slowly dying off. By now they were both very tired, and eventually went to bed and hopefully put aside all the drama they had been through that day.
 
The next morning, Balto didn't wake until around 9:00. Jenna was still asleep, facing him. Balto was also facing her. As she slept, he ran his right front paw across her left cheek.
"Sleep well, my beautiful angel," he whispered. "Nothing bad is going to happen to either of us that we can't do anything about."
Balto then put his head back down, but he didn't go back to sleep. A few minutes later, Jenna awakened.
"Morning, baby," said Balto, grimacing from a sharp jolt of pain in his ribs.
"Hi, my love," Jenna replied. "How are you feeling?"
"I've been better," Balto responded. "How about you?"
"Relieved," Jenna answered.
"Yeah, me too," added Balto. "I could certainly do without the pain. However, the vet said it will be a few weeks before my ribs heal. But they will get better."
They put their heads up and nuzzled briefly. Balto grimaced again as another sharp jolt of pain traveled up one of the nerves leading from his cracked ribs. Jenna watched, hurt every bit as much as he was. She wished there was something she could do to help him.
"Here," she said as she put her front paws around Balto. "Maybe this will help you feel better."
Although it didn't help relieve the pain physically, it did emotionally.
"Thank you, Jenna," Balto said, sounding more at ease as he, too, put his front paws around Jenna.
"You're welcome, Balto," Jenna replied. "It's the least I can do after all you went through yesterday."
 
Mika was in a considerably good mood for the first time in a long time that morning. After breakfast, he went out for a run on his usual eight mile route. Kodi and Dingo came out to join him. Although they both had trouble keeping up with the Finn in the turns, the two huskies were able to stay with him on the straights. After finishing up, it was off to the sauna for a hot sauna bath. Mika was hoping the heat would relax away the pain that still lingered in his left elbow. He wanted to get back to working out so he could pursue his professional hockey ambitions - which he hadn't forgotten about even while hospitalized in Wales - and back to playing guitar with Lapp Attack. A new show date still had to be found to replace the one originally scheduled for tonight. On top of all that, the band's usual practice building had to be rebuilt after being destroyed in the invasion yesterday. All of this weighed heavily on the Finn's mind. Going out running was the only escape he had, although even then those problems still bothered him. But it wasn't nearly as bad as it normally was.
"Ah, it sure is good to be back to running," said Mika.
"It's been far too long since that last run we did," added Kodi. "You know, Mika, I've been using your route for many practice runs trying to get the lead dog position."
"Have they been working for you?" Mika asked.
"They have for me!" Dingo put in.
"Yeah, Dingo really thinks he has a great chance of becoming lead dog with his team," added Kodi. "How's the elbow, Mika?"
"Still hurts when I bend it," replied Mika. "But, the good news, it's not as bad as it was yesterday."
After the sauna bath was complete, the snow massages were next. Dingo had never gotten one, but he enjoyed it. Kodi definitely enjoyed this one, which was his first in a long time.
 
Mika's next order of business was to meet up with his band mates a discuss setting up a new date and time for their postponed show. Eventually, the new date was set at a week from the show's original date. The time was the same. While they were on the subject, an interesting idea emerged.
"You know what would be cool?" said Mika. "If we held a gig to benefit the victims of the invasion."
"You mean like a big music festival?" asked Kaj. "Sounds interesting."
"How are we gonna get extra acts to join us?" asked Keith.
"Well, looks like we're gonna have to take this up with City Hall," replied Mika.
Sure enough, that was their next stop.
The idea seemed interesting to those whom it was brought to the attention of. After much discussion, the okay was given. Lapp Attack were also given permission to construct an outdoor stage in Mika's backyard to use for the show. But wood was already in short supply, with most of what was available being used to rebuild damaged buildings. Fatalities were not very high, so the amount of wood needed for building coffins wasn't nearly as big as that needed for the buildings.
The rebuilding process wasn't gonna be an easy one, but it was still accomplished in a remarkably short time. During that time, Mika's elbow had fully healed, and he was back to playing guitar.
 
Eventually, the day of the big show came around. Lapp Attack were successful at recruiting more acts for the show, managing to draw in performers from all across the Lower 48. The stage was just big enough to hold even the largest bands that would take to it. The show itself would turn out to be an all-day event, even lasting into the night. It was even going to be radio-broadcasted. Anyone with a radio could hear it.
Lapp Attack were scheduled to take to the stage at 7:00 PM. In the run-up to the show, even in the hours before their segment of the show began, they continued working on their new songs to make sure they got them exactly right. Their main focus, however, was the endings. Live endings to songs are generally different than their studio counterparts.
Eventually, show time came for Mika and company. Their set list was as follows:
Any Color
Life In A Dangerous Time
Fear Of Falling
It Shouldn't Take Too Long*
Don't Look Back*
I've Been In Love Before
Sahara
One For The Mockingbird*
The Broadcast*
(I Just) Died In Your Arms
* = new song
 
The crowd broke out into a chorus applause and cheers when Lapp Attack took to the stage. They really enjoyed hearing the familiar songs. Clearly, the fire that drove the quintet to make great music was still there despite being off for two months. Mika charged onto center stage during the intro of Any Color, right before his first guitar lines. When he did start playing them, he managed to throw in some headbanging. He also did that for those same parts at later points in the song.
Before beginning Life In A Dangerous Time, Mika had something to say about how it pertained to the recent events in Nome.
"Thank you all for coming out today!" he said enthusiastically. "So, uh, this next one is practically a good description of the way life has been here on the Seward Peninsula recently. I lost a co-worker in the recent attack on Nome, and it was very hard for me and the band to go through with this whole thing such a short time after the tragedy. With that said, I think the best thing we can do is believe that life just has to go on for the rest of us. Sure, we'll all miss those who lost their lives in this atrocity. But we can't let that stop us from living our lives. So, with that in mind, David Stoner, my former co-worker at Outdoor Outfitters, this next song goes out to you. This is Life In A Dangerous Time."
And a very moving performance of that song it turned out to be. Fear Of Falling was equally impressive.
"How many of you here are form New York?" Mika asked. A few cheers rang out.
"How many of you are form New York City?" he asked again. Everyone who cheered on the first question cheered again.
"This song is about your town. It was written by Kaj over here during our early days in America," Mika continued, pointed at Kaj. "It's called Fear Of Falling."
The New Yorkers definitely loved it.
"Would it be alright if we played you a new song tonight?" Mika asked the audience after Fear Of Falling was finished. His question was met with a rousing round of cheers.
"How about four new songs?!" he asked again. The cheers got even louder.
"Alright!" Mika exclaimed in response as he adjusted his headset mike. "How many here don't like to wait very long for something?" he asked. It got a rouse out of the audience, mostly positive.
"Then this is the song for you," Mika replied. "This is It Shouldn't Take Too Long."
 
It Shouldn't Take Too Long
 
Too many times have I told you, feel your way
If it's a question of answers, the have your say
Don't go giving me reasons, we all have a price
And in that moment of indecision, you'll never understand why
 
It shouldn't take too long, to set the thing moving
It shouldn't take too long, so long as you believe it
It shouldn't take too long
 
Forget the popular notion, lead the way
You've never known what you wanted until today
Through fire and water, you can survive
To make the best of a situation, you have to understand why
 
It shouldn't take too long, to set the thing moving
It shouldn't take too long, so long as you believe it
It shouldn't take too long, take too long, to get what you want
 
When I was a boy, in the summer rain
Every hour seemed like days to me
 
It shouldn't take too long, to set the thing moving
It shouldn't take too long, so long as you believe it
It shouldn't take too long, take too long
It shouldn't take too long, take too long
It didn't take too long

Before playing Don't Look Back, Mika gave this introduction.
"This next song is another new one of ours," said the Finn. "Let's face it, life can be downright crazy. Things happen that you don't see coming, and you don't know what it meant until it gets the best of you. You want something that you badly need, but get something completely different. Crazy, eh? Well, that's what this next song is about. This is Don't Look Back."
The crowd liked Don't Look Back, I've Been In Love Before, and Sahara. The last two songs on the roster were both new ones.
"Alright, audience, how about another new one?!" exclaimed Mika. The crowd again cheered wildly.
"So about, hmm, I guess, two months ago while I was hospitalized in the town of Wales is when I wrote the lyrics to this song," the Finn continued. "At the time, I was going through a rough patch, and this song was very much inspired by that struggle. Now, we all have obstacles that we deal with in life. And this song is about facing those obstacles, and not letting them get the best of you and just drain your spirit. You can't afford to let them do that. And if you believe that things will get better once you beat those obstacles, then that's the first step toward achieving that objective." He paused briefly before continuing. "And the song just says the rest of it. This is One For The Mockingbird."
Kaj started off with a solo intro on his guitar, soon joined by Ryan tapping the cymbals on his drum kit. Eventually, Mika, Keith and Colin joined in. Just like in Any Color, Mika threw in some headbanging for good measure.
 
One For The Mockingbird
 
I have learned through all my past mistakes
Not to let the hurdles sap my energy
Time will tell and time is all it takes
You won't see the bastards knock the running out of me!
 
And the band, they played one more song
One for the mockingbird, they played one more song
All the tears, they fell one by one
All for the mockingbird, they fell one by one
 
Don't be fooled by those who feed you words
They just twist and tighten up the tourniquet
But the sweetest song of all the mockingbirds
Couldn't hope to match one note of any song we played
 
And the band, they played one more song
One for the mockingbird, they played one more song
All the dreams, they broke one by one
All for the mockingbird, they broke one by one
 
Ooh, what are you hiding from?
Ooh, why do you lock the door?
Open up the door!
 
And the band, they played one more song
One for the mockingbird, they played one more song
All the tears, they fell one by one
All for the mockingbird, they fell one by one
 
(Colin's backing vocal lines are shown in parentheses)
I have learned
(Time will tell)
Years will pass
(Tears will fall)
Don't be fooled
(Fed by words)
Their sweet songs, mocking-birds!
 
(Mika makes two simulated mockingbird calls)
 
(Kaj's guitar dominates the end sound, followed by a drum solo by Ryan for the outro)
 
The song got quite a rouse out of the crowd after Lapp Attack had finished playing it, most of it positive. Upon hearing the word "bastards", however, Jenna gasped and covered her mouth with her right front paw. Balto was also caught by surprise, but not as much as Jenna. His eyes widened in surprise, but that was it.
"Well, he got that part right," said Balto.
"What part?" asked Jenna.
"The part about we won't see the running knocked out of him," replied Balto.
"Yep," added Jenna. "That's one thing we won't see anymore."
Mika then spoke about the last number.
"This last song is another new one of ours," he said. "It's called The Broadcast."
 
The Broadcast
 
Believe me when I say to you
That every word is true
Ooh, that a change is gonna come
You can hear it the broadcast in your radio
 
Ooh, why are you running, was it something that something that somebody said?
What are you hiding from, are the voices alone in your head?
I can make it look natural, 'cos the more that you see, is the less that you know, is the more that you give
 
Believe me when they call for you
As you cry out in the night
These four suspicious riders have been circling the borders of your bungalow
But how they ever go to you, I swear I'll never know
Was it just the laws of nature that's been causing all the voices on your telephone?
 
Ooh, why are you running, was it something that something that somebody said?
What are you hiding from, are the voices alone in your head?
I can make it feel natural, 'cos the more that you see, is the less that you know, is the more that you give
 
Believe me and I'll pray for you
(Kaj: we'll give you what you want)
With all my fickle heart
Ooh, I could sell you hallelujahs record on a chrome cassette in stereo
So come and make your home with me
It really isn't far
Ooh, fly down to California and become a christian soldier on my late, late show
(Colin: "Anyone hear tonight from California?)
(some audience members cheer "yeah!")
 
Ooh, why are you running, was it something that something that somebody said?
What are you hiding from, are the voices alone in your head?
I can make it seem natural, 'cos the more that you see, is the less that you know, is the more that you give
 
(Interlude dominated by keyboard, drums and lead guitar)
 
Ooh, why are you running, was it something that something that somebody said?
What are you hiding from, are the voices alone in your head?
I can make it look natural, 'cos the more that you see, is the less that you know, is the more that you give
 
(Outro dominated by keyboard, drums and lead guitar)

The locals in the crowd cheered wildly when Keith began the keyboard intro for (I Just) Died In Your Arms. The dogs in attendance were especially ecstatic when this song started. As this was Balto and Jenna's favorite Lapp Attack song, they couldn't help but sing along with Mika. They were probably even singing louder than he was. In fact, above all the sounds of the instruments and the crowd, Mika actually could hear them. He recognized the voices, but he didn't seem to mind. Toward the end, Kaj added another solo that was completely different from the one that appeared earlier in the song. At the very end, Mika took off his guitar, put it on a stand, then came back to the front of the stage and went, "It's too late!" three times. After the last note, he went "Thank you!"
 
Eventually, Lapp Attack wrapped up the song and came out to the front of the stage to thank everyone for coming out to watch.
"Hey, before I forget," Mika quickly added. "I think we need to make extra noise for our birthday boy on bass, Colin Stevenson!"
Today was Colin's 18th birthday. The audience acknowledged Mika's request and wished Colin a happy birthday. He asked if anyone in the crowd was from California during The Broadcast because he hails from Sonoma. Keith and Ryan were the only residents of Nome in the band.
 
After the show had ended, all the acts came out on stage to thank all in attendance for coming out to watch and get their pictures taken for the newspapers. Backstage, a birthday party was held for Colin. The whole band and their parents were all there. The cake was shaped just like Colin's favorite electric bass. And everyone had a great time. The party lasted well into the night. It was almost 2:00 in the morning before most of the guests even went to bed.
 
Word of the battle to save Nome - and Mika's heroics in that battle - spread quickly throughout the country. The Finn had managed to achieve a heroic status similar to what Balto had achieved after the serum run. In fact, amid all the hoopla, he had received a message from the Detroit Red Wings coach who he had once asked for a spot on the team roster. Apparently, one of his players had retired, and the team was in need of someone to fill in the position of right wing. Mika was rather excited about the offer. But he was soon faced with a difficult decision. He had longed to get out of Nome ever since he first arrived. But now he was riding a newfound wave of popularity with his exploits in the battle to save Nome. Lapp Attack was also riding a similar wave. The live show and radio coverage of it gave them some exposure at the national level for the first time. Prior to that, they were only well known among the residents of Nome. Deciding would not be easy.
After getting the message, he showed it to all who might be interested in hearing about it - namely, his parents, Kaj, his band mates, even his Outdoor Outfitters boss John Robertson. They all had mixed reactions to the news. Mika didn't tell Balto about it because he was worried about upsetting him. Balto was the only one in town who actually understood what Mika was going through. And he wasn't sure how to tell him he might once again leave and actually never return. But as usual, Balto had a way of finding out.
 
As the days passed, Mika had deliberating almost non-stop about what to do. Should he stay in Nome, possibly squandering any hopes of living out his original dream upon coming to America? Or should he go, and risk never seeing those who mattered the most to him ever again? Of course, he already left at three such people behind in Finland - two brothers and a girlfriend - so it wouldn't be like it was a new and scary undertaking. And in Detroit, he left behind the first real friend he had since coming to North America. You might say if letting go was a game, Mika Kykalisko would definitely be one of the greats at it. This time, however, if he did leave, he'd be leaving more people that mattered behind than the previous ones combined.
But eventually it came to him. It wasn't like he might never actually see them again. There was always the possibility that he might be able to come up and pay a visit every now and then. There were teams based on the west coast, or at least the western half of the continent, in places like Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton. He would certainly face them at least once during the season. Besides, he had been feeling bottled-up during his time in Nome. If he stayed, he'd be left wondering what might have been if he had decided to chase his dream. Eventually, he made up his mind and decided to go for it. He had decided he was going to play in the NHL. The problem now was how to break the news. He eventually decided to come out and say it. Which he did.
The reaction was mixed. Those who took the news hardest were Mika's band mates. Even though Nick Jones - the guy who was originally lined-up as Mika's replacement during his stay in Wales - was available to take the position, they enjoyed having Mika in their group. But they still wished him the best of luck, as did his parents, John, Balto, and even David's family did likewise.
 
Although the hockey season wouldn't start for another month, Mika had to leave early to get up to speed with his new team. Preseason practices began in early to mid-September, with the actual season beginning in early October. Mika's oldest brother, Mikko, agreed to fly over across the Arctic from Finland and take Mika to Detroit.
Departure day eventually arrived. Mikko had arrived a few days early to rest and resupply. While there, Mika and Kaj agreed to show Mikko around town during his brief stay.
But eventually, it was time to go. All of Mika's bags were packed, including his gear, and were stowed aboard Mikko's plane. The plane that Mikko used was more of a cargo type. It was similar in to the Spirit of St. Louis plane that Charles Lindbergh had flown on his epic solo flight across the Atlantic from New York. It was painted a deep blue. It was parked on the outskirts of town, where Mikko could get a clear shot at taking off.
Mikko himself was slightly taller than Mika, and his hair was more clean cut than either of his younger brothers.
"You take care, my boy," said Erja as she hugged her son.
"I will, Mom," replied Mika as he hugged her back.
"Good luck son," said Toni.
"Thanks, Dad," Mika responded.
"Go get 'em, bro!" exclaimed Kaj.
"I sure will!" Mika answered back.
John Robertson, the other members of Lapp Attack, and Balto were among those who had come out to say goodbye and wish Mika good luck in his new endeavor. David's son, Michael, who's only 6, had a present for Mika as a kind of parting gift. It was a drawing of the Finn in a Red Wings jersey. He was clutching a hockey stick in both hands and was handling a puck with it.
"This is for you, Mika," Michael said as he handed Mika the picture.
Mika took it, looked at it, and was almost at a loss for words.
"Thanks, Michael," he finally said back as he pat the kid on the back. "Now, where should I put this?"
He then decided to fold it up and put it in an inside pocket in his jacket.
"Good luck, Mika," said John after he made his way through.
"Thank you, John," Mika said back.
"You were one of the best workers I ever had working at my store," John added.
"I knew that already," Mika put in. "Thanks for telling me anyway."
Nick, Keith, Colin and Ryan also told him good luck. Balto was next, but he had it the hardest.
"Well," he said dejectedly, "I guess this is it. You really want to do this, eh?"
"Yep," Mika responded. "My mind's made up."
"Well, good luck, Mika," said Balto. "I'm really gonna miss you."
"Me too, Balto," Mika replied as he hugged the wolf-dog. Balto put his front paws around the Finn's neck and returned the favor.
While that was going on, Jenna snuck into the fray, wanting a piece of it. In doing so, her cold, wet nose grazed the back of Mika's neck, sending a cold shock down his spine.
"GAH!" Mika exclaimed. He then turned around to see who had just given him that cold shock treatment.
"What is the matter with you?" he asked, sounding a little disgruntled.
"I just wanted to be part of the moment," Jenna replied.
Mika rolled his eyes, turned to Balto, and said, "You were right about her. She just can't keep her paws off of you."
"And don't think I plan on taking them off anytime soon," Jenna added, laughing as she and Balto nuzzled.
Mika, as if assuming what might happen next, looked over and thought, "What, you two have magnets in your cheeks?" Rosy then walked over and hugged them both. The fact that her family lived next door to Mika's parents is why they came out to say goodbye to Mika.
"Oh, look, it's a Kodak moment!" Kaj lightly exclaimed as he put his hands forward in the usual "photographer visualizing the shot pose." "Mika?" he asked. "Can I borrow your Leica? The shutter on mine malfunctioned recently."
"Go right ahead," Mika said, giving his approval.
Kaj then grabbed the camera and took a snapshot.
"Oh, get one of me in here, too!" Mika said enthusiastically as he jumped into the shot behind Balto. 
Kaj eventually took the picture. This happened to be the last picture on the film roll, so Kaj took it out so he could take it to the photo lab to be developed. He put a spare roll of film in the camera and put the camera back in its case.
Mika then looked around, uncertain.
"You alright?" Kaj asked his older brother.
"Yeah," Mika responded. "I'm trying to figure out whether I should pee first."
After a few seconds, he said, "Oh, what the hell, I'll make it interesting."
"Uh, bro," put in Mikko, "If you have to pee, you should do it now, 'cause there's not gonna be a lot of places to stop once we get in the air."
"Alright," added Mika. "I'll go now."
He went back to his house to do his business. He returned a few minutes later.
"Okay, I'm all set," he said. "Let's go."
Mika entered his brother's plane through a door on the right side. Mikko followed suite and shut the door behind him. Once they were both seated, Mikko started the engine and carefully taxied to an open stretch where he could get enough speed for a takeoff. Once in the clear, Mikko started to build up speed. The takeoff was a success, and the plane lifted into the sky and gradually disappeared from sight.
Everyone who came out to say goodbye watched the plane disappear from view and stayed until it was completely out of sight.
 
Later that day, Balto was relaxing out on his boat. He was still downbeat following Mika's departure for the second time in less then three months. Boris was nearby doing some cleanup work with a mop and pail. Balto didn't really want to be disturbed right now, and Boris was making sure nobody did. Muk and Luk were playing on the beach at this time, knowing full well that Balto wanted to be alone for a while.
Eventually, Jenna approached the ship, wondering where Balto was. She looked everywhere else he was known to frequent without finding him anywhere. She quickly concluded that he must be on his boat.
"Muk? Luk?" Jenna asked. "Have you seen Balto?"
"He's up there," Muk answered, pointing up the ramp that lead onto the boat. "He said he wanted some time alone."
"Alright, I'll wait for him," said Jenna.
Balto had already been up there for about half an hour. A few minutes later, he came down. Seeing Jenna waiting for him did make him feel better, but only a little bit.
"Hi, Jenna," said Balto as he nuzzled her.
"Hello, Balto," said Jenna as she nuzzled her back. "You alright?"
"I could be better," Balto replied, sounding depressed.
"You miss Mika, right?" Jenna asked.
"Yeah," Balto answered back. "It just doesn't seem fair that he had to leave now, just when he was finally starting to fit in."
"Look, Balto," said Jenna in a comforting manner, "Mika's main dream was just too big for this town. If he stayed, he'd never get the chance to chase it."
"I know, Jenna," Balto added. "I just wish Detroit was closer to here. Then at least I'd know for sure he'd be able to visit."
"Don't worry about it, Balto," Jenna put in. "Mika is starting a new life now, but he'll still be a part of yours."
"Where?" Balto asked.
Jenna lifted her right front paw and placed it over Balto's heart.
"Right here," replied Jenna. "Mika will still be with you in your heart. And I'm sure you'll still be in his. After all, you knew what he was going through ever since he first came to Nome. You were his first real friend here in Alaska."
"Yes I was," Balto add. 
They began nuzzling each other.
"I love you, Jenna," said Balto.
"I love you too, Balto," said Jenna in response.
For the next few minutes, they just looked out at the Norton Sound with their heads together. Afterwards, they headed back into town.
 
Two days after taking off, Mikko's plane touched down at an airport near Detroit. Kevin Taylor, Mika's old hockey buddy, was there to greet them.
"Welcome back, Wild Child!" he exclaimed.
"Great to be back, Kevin," Mika responded as the two did a forearm bash. "Oh, Kevin, this is my older brother Mikko."
"Hi," they both said simultaneously as they shook hands.
Kevin had gotten his own apartment earlier this year and had been looking for a roommate. Before coming down to Detroit, Mika had spoken to Kevin about rooming arrangements and agreed on the whole thing.
With all the introductions out of the way, Kevin help Mika take his bags to Kevin's car. It was a Ford Model T. Mikko had to leave soon afterwards.
"Take care, little bro," Mikko said to his younger brother.
"I will, Mikko," Mika replied.
Mikko turned around, hopped in his plane, and took off. Mika followed Kevin to his car and got in. Their next stop was Kevin's new apartment.
 
Kevin's apartment building was located in downtown Detroit. It was a brick building that look like it was very well maintained, both outside and inside. Kevin's exact room in the apartment was on the third floor. Both were exhausted by the time they got there, having to carry all of Mika's stuff in two trips.
"Whoa," said Mika as he got his first look at the apartment. "Nice digs, man."
"Ah, you like it, eh?" Kevin asked in response to Mika's comment.
"I sure do," Mika replied.
"So, when's your first practice session with the Red Wings?" Kevin asked.
"Wednesday," Mika responded as he grabbed a glass out of cabinet to get himself some water.
"You looking forward to it?" Kevin asked.
"Oh, yes, definitely!" Mika answered back.
He then just kicked back and sat down on the couch, thinking about what lie in store in his new life.
 
The preseason practices and training went well for Mika. His performances were so impressive, they won him a spot in the starting lineup at the position of right wing. When he played hockey back home in Finland, and in Michigan, that was the position he usually played. That's an offense position. The other offense positions are center and left wing. The defense positions are left and right defensemen. And of course, there's the most important defense position of them all: The goaltender.
Eventually, game day for the first game of the season came. It was at home, so it was to be played in Detroit. Their opponent today would be the New York Rangers.
Before heading to the rink for the game, Mika and Kevin went to the same airport where Mikko had dropped Mika about a month ago. Mika didn't know what the deal was until he saw a familiar sight parked near the hanger. Mikko's plane was there. Mika's other older brother, Ari, was also there. Apparently, they heard about what their lounger brother had accomplished up in Nome and about his decision to play professional hockey in America. They had come over to see him play his first game.
"Hey, guys," said Mika. "Didn't expect to see you here."
"I wasn't sure if you guys got the letter I sent you two," added Kevin.
"We sure did," responded Mikko.
"You sent them a letter and never told me?" Mika asked Kevin, sounding surprised. "Why did you do that?"
"Well, you were very busy with training and getting familiarized with the team, so I took the liberty of sending one myself," Kevin replied.
"And that's not all," added Ari. "Guess who else back home found out?"
"Don't tell me you brought the entire 1923-24 Kokkola Rangers team with you," Mika said.
"Nope," put in Ari. "Even better."
Mikko reentered the plane and came out a few seconds later. Behind him, a face Mika knew very well - but hadn't seen in nearly four years - came out. Unbeknownst to him, Mikko had gotten in touch with Mika's former girlfriend, Rikko, and informed her about what had happened to Mika up in Alaska. And he even asked her about going to see Mika's first NHL game. She didn't hesitate to accept.
They ran towards each other and hugged. Both of them were very happy to see each other. After all the "hellos" and such were out of the way, they finally spoke.
"I heard what you did up in Nome, Mika," said Rikko. "You're famous, now."
"I hadn't counted on that happening," said Mika. "I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. So, how's life treating you lately?"
"It's been okay," Rikko replied. "I'm still into photography, even landed a job at a local newspaper in Helsinki. I managed to move on after you left, but it wasn't easy. Every time I went out with some other guy I kept thinking of you."
"Yeah, me too," Mika put in. "I haven't had it so easy in that area, either. One of them ended because my hockey playing got in the way. I haven't dated anyone since."
Mikko, Ari, and Kevin decided to leave them alone for a while.
"So, how did Mikko get the word to you?" Mika asked.
"Well, Ari had a hand in it," Rikko replied. "He actually told Mikko and the Mikko told me."
"Ari never really could keep his mouth shut," Mika added, laughing slightly. Rikko couldn't help but grin at that remark.
"Look, Mika," Rikko added. "It hasn't been all good for me lately. The paper I work for has been on hard times lately. There have been some layoffs, and I'm worried I might be among those that gets cut. I've been thinking that since I was coming here, I might look for work here, too."
Mika was caught by surprise.
"What? Are you serious?" he asked. "What about your life back home in Finland?"
"I'm just thinking about it," Rikko replied. "Besides, if I can find a job like that there, I'm sure I can here. And if I did wind up here, at least we won't be too far apart."
"Yeah," put in Mika as he put his right hand on Rikko's left cheek. "We wouldn't."
As Mika kept his right hand on Rikko's left cheek, she did likewise as they started moving towards each other, culminating in a kiss. The last time they had shared one was the night that Mika left for America, but considering the circumstances, it was less than enjoyable for both of them. This one, however, was enjoyable. After about a minute, their lips separated and both were breathing hard from the exhilaration.
"I missed you so much," said Rikko as she hugged Mika.
"Me too," Mika replied as he hugged her in return. "Me too."
Still hugging each other, they leaned in and kissed again, letting last somewhat longer than the first one. Unbeknownst to them, Kevin entered the hanger.
"Oh, good," said Kevin sounded a little relieved. "For a minute, I thought something bad happened to you two."
"Why did you think that?" Mika asked.
Kevin shrugged his shoulders before speaking again. "Say, uh, I don't want to be called 'Mr. Party Wrecker' or anything, but Mika, you have to be at the rink in an hour."
Mika looked down at his watch and noticed that Kevin was right.
"Oh, crap!" he exclaimed lightly. Come on, let's go!"
Eventually, Kevin, Mika and Rikko emerged from the hanger carrying Rikko's own bags. Mikko and Ari already had theirs in the trunk of Kevin's car. Eventually, they all piled in to the Model T and headed for the rink.
 
The pregame shoot-around went as planned and lasted until ten minutes before game time. In the final minutes before the game was to begin, Mika had a moment alone in the locker room's bathroom stall. He spent it doing his personal business, followed by some thinking. Mainly it was wondering what might lie ahead for him.
"Well," he thought, "Here goes everything."
He came out and joined his teammates in the hallway leading out of the locker room to the rink. Kevin, Mikko, Ari, and Rikko had already taken their seats in the stands.
Eventually, the teams were called out to the ice and the starting lineups for both teams were read off by the announcer. When Mika heard his name called, he skated out onto the ice and joined his fellow starters.
After all the opening ceremonies were completed, it was time to start the game. Mika took up his position to the right of center ice from the direction he was facing. Before the game started, he looked up into the crowd to see where Kevin, Mikko, Ari, and Rikko were seated. The only one of them he could spot was Ari.
"Go get 'em, little bro," Ari said, hoping that Mika would somehow hear him.
Mika nodded in response before turning his attention back to center ice. The referee had the puck in hand and was to do the opening face-off. The Finn's ice blue eyes were squarely focused on the ref and the two centers. The puck dropped, and the game was underway - as was Mika's career in the National Hockey League.
 
THE END
 
All Balto characters are copyright Universal Studios and Amblimation.
All other real world names - IBC Root Beer, TAG Heuer, National Hockey League, Detroit Red Wings, etc. - are copyright their respective owners.
The following characters and names are copyright me:
Mika, Kaj, Mikko, and Ari Kykalisko (all brothers)
Toni and Erja Kykalisko (parents of the aforementioned brothers)
Jari and Rikko Jehkinen (brother and sister)
John Robertson
David Stoner
Keith Black
Colin Stevenson
Ryan Andrews
Attu and Kiska (these are my names for Balto and Jenna's unnamed pups)
Drunken Czar Vodka
Vaasa Express
All original characters and names of mine are not to be used by anyone else without my permission. You may use them in your own fanfics only if you ask me first.
Any Color, One For The Mockingbird, I've Been In Love Before, Life In A Dangerous Time, Fear Of Falling, (I Just) Died In Your Arms, Don't Look Back, Sahara, It Shouldn't Take Too Long, and The Broadcast originally performed by Cutting Crew. For the lyrics to Any Color, I've Been In Love Before, Life In A Dangerous Time, Fear Of Falling, (I Just) Died In Your Arms and Sahara, see Invasion: Chapter 3: Highs and Lows.