Alien Legion: Arrows of Artemis

By C.S. Hayden

Alien Legion is the trademarked and copyrighted creative property of Carl Potts as published by Epic Comics/Marvel Entertainment 1984-1993. This is a work of fiction loosely based on the characters of Alien Legion and is unauthorized by its creator Carl Potts.

Plot and additional original characters copyrighted 2002 to Christi Smith Hayden

Arrows of Artemis

IV. At the Ambassador's reception:

"Zeerod," Sarigar commented exasperatedly, "I am perfectly capable of getting dressed by myself."

"The ambassador's reception is not just an occasion, Major." Zeerod had appointed himself Sarigar's personal valet for the evening. He had promptly made himself at home in the major's quarters, pressed his formal uniform, and was busily polishing up the insignias that had to go on it. "It's a matter of pride for all of us in Nomad for you to look your best."

"It's never bothered any of you before." He was beginning to regret making that bet in front of both Nomad and Artemis squads. It seemed as if everyone was taking a perverse delight in his attraction to Jaikira. "Besides, isn't wearing all my medals too ostentatious?"

"Diplomats are easily impressed by glitter, sir. Just a moment -- hold still please." With tongue between his teeth, the old soldier carefully pinned the officer's insignia in place and aligned the rows of metals to match it. "Ten centimeters down from the shoulder, four over from the lapel -- perfect! Let's see, are we missing anything?" He began to walk around his commanding officer, clucking under his breath.

"Zeerod..."

"I know... nothing impresses a lady more than a sincere smile." The ears of the kangaroo-like alien perked up. "Let's practice, shall we? You can't have that scowl on your face when you pick up Captain Jaikira."

Sarigar growled and slapped a hel-gun off the desk into his hand with his tail.

"All right, all right!" Zeerod threw up his hands and headed for the door. "My work here is done. Have a good evening, major, and good luck!" He managed a roguish grin just before Sarigar took the safety off his weapon.

"Thank Ayal, my quarters have a separate entrance from the barracks," Sarigar muttered as he checked the fit of his dress uniform in the closet mirror. "I'd hate to think what kind of gauntlet I'd run in there."

He wouldn't have admitted it, but Zeerod had been useful in diverting some of his own nervousness. Sarigar seldom attended these social functions but it had been a suitable excuse to see Jaikira again, away from their squads. He took one last look to make sure everything was in regulation order and headed out the door. The conspicuous absence of Nomad squad in their barracks should have him realize things were going too smoothly.

They chose to waylay him at the corridor junction where he was to meet Jaikira instead. Nearly all the off duty members of Nomad were present, lingering around the hallways with some of their Artemis co-conspirators.

"Hey, hey," Jugger called. "Lookin' sharp, major!"

Sarigar scowled. "The next wiseass that says anything is going on report."

"Pity," a sultry voice from behind him said, "because I rather agree with him."

Pivoting around, Sarigar glanced back and froze. Instead of the formal uniform, Jaikira had chosen a floor-length black gown, cut off-the-shoulder with a bold slash of silver angled from left shoulder to right wrist. Her hair was loose and curled as it was the first time he saw her and Sarigar had to blink a few times before attempting to speak.

"I know what you're going to say," Jaikira said, beating him to it. "However, according to Regulation 576, uniform code beta clearly states that female officers have the option of wearing appropriate civilian attire in regulation colors in non-military social occasions, provided their rank and insignia are prominently displayed." She touched her hand to the silver captain's bars pinned below her left shoulder with two combat stars. "So, how do you like it?"

"It's very striking." Sarigar became painfully aware that everyone was hanging on his every word and sighed inwardly. "You look lovely."

Jaikira smiled and cast her eyes away. Her bodyguard, Jez, took this opportunity to whip out a nasty looking blade and gesture viciously at him in a mix of sign language. Sarigar recognized the Legion battle signals but the others were a matter of interpretation. Jugger cursed under his breath and moved farther back in the crowd.

"I'm assuming that means I'm supposed to bring you back at a decent hour?"

"Or she'll cut off your left testicle," Jaikira translated cheerfully, "and add it to her collection." She laughed and slid her arm through his. "Don't worry -- I'll protect you."

Sarigar cast a wary eye back at the diminutive Thracian. "Is she serious?"

"Oh, yes. Jez has quite a collection, starting with her first husband. She keeps them on a strand of molly wire in her locker."

"No wonder Jugger's afraid of her."

* * * * *

"Major Sarigar and Captain Jaikira!"

As their names were announced, Sarigar led Jaikira down the ramp into the vast reception hall. Quite a number of people looked up; his name had its own notoriety after the Hellscape disaster and the recent investigation into the Orestran/Harkilon alliance. It was clear, however, that Jaikira earned her share of appreciative looks as she slid along besides him. There was a trick of 'walking' side-by-side that all Jentekians learned in childhood that looked impressive to other species; it was simply common courtesy among their own kind. He caught a glimpse of them in a reflective surface and felt a strange sense of possessive pride -- with Jaikira on his arm; they made a striking pair, her beauty balancing his brawn.

"You do look beautiful tonight," he said quietly, as he nodded to an acquaintance in the crowd. "I just found it ... difficult to say so in front of my squad."

Jaikira laughed. "I totally understand. Artemis is like having a bunch of big sisters all trying to be helpful."

"I had to pull a hel-gun on Zeerod to get him out of my quarters."

"I'll have to try that sometime."

"Sarigar, you old snake!" The crowd parted, quite literally, for General Trillian Gokk, an enormous ursine warrior with a cybernetic eye. "You've been keeping secrets and here I thought I was your oldest friend! Trillian Gokk, at your service, milady." He beamed jovially at Jaikira. "Where did you find this lovely creature?"

"Swimming in a sewer on Orestra VII," Sarigar said wryly. "Captain Jaikira, commander of Artemis Squad."

"She cleans up rather well," Gokk shot back. "Hur, hur, hur."

Jaikira shook her head. "Oh, I can tell you two go way back."

"All the way back to officer's school, in fact." Gokk tossed back his honey wine and smacked his lips unabashedly. "However this is the first time that I've ever seen him bring someone to one of these wretched things." He nudged Sarigar and nearly knocked him over. "Finally settling down, eh?"

Before Sarigar could respond, Jaikira laughed. "Hardly -- he lost a bet to me at the training grounds and he was forced to bring me." She winked at him.

He shrugged. "I would have brought you anyway."

A small smile tugged at her lips. "You didn't lose on purpose, did you?"

"Maybe." He smiled back. "But not by much."

"Hmmph!" Jaikira pouted dramatically and poked him in the chest. "I demand a rematch!"

"Hur-hur-hur, you old snake!" Gokk waved a paw over the heads of some smaller guests towards the refreshment table. "I like this female! Come with me and I'll buy the drinks!"

Halfway to the bar, Jaikira was greeted by a fellow D.I. agent and stopped to chat. Sarigar went on with Gokk to collect their drinks. He found himself watching her out of the corner of his eye. Since it was a diplomatic function, there was a wide mix of species and genders present. There were even a few female officers wearing similar outfits to Jaikira's and he sighed in relief; he wouldn't have put it past her to bend the rules. He smiled pleasantly at an officer he barely knew and pretended to be interested in a conversation going on nearby.

Gokk snorted in his ear. "Gods, these things are dull, aren't they?" He managed to wedge his way into a spot at the bar. "You've done well though, bringing along your own entertainment and in a very attractive package at that! Hur!"

"Come off it," Sarigar said dismissively. "You act as though I've never been interested in females before."

"Oh, I've seen you look at them from afar," Gokk said amiably, "I've just never seen you get one within arm's reach in the last few years. You've been too much of a career officer for that."

"I guess that's true." He was silent for a moment. "Damned if I know how this happened."

"Hur-hur --- I know you better than that! I still remember that leave we took on Carras IV and that cabana girl you shacked up with for a week."

"Please -- that was when we were just junior officers."

Raised voices caught their attention. A high-ranking member of the intelligence corps had entered the room, his uniform resplendent with medals and silver epaulets. He was intent on dressing down Jaikira for some reason and her fellow D.I. agents seemed to be agitated and dismayed.

"Uh, oh-- " Gokk started to say but Sarigar was already halfway across the room before he'd finished speaking.

"--Regulation 576 beta? What utter nonsense!" Spittle flew as the words spewed from his mouth. "This is the sort of typical self-serving showboating that I've come to expect from you, Jaikira. When I've reported this, you'll be booted right back to your highborn family on Jentek in disgrace."

The markings on Jaikira's face were ablaze. "It is a legitimate option to the uniform dress codes," she ground out. "Look it up if you don't believe me, Fremmick."

"That's Captain Fremmick to you, and the fact remains that you were NOT authorized to be at this function," he continued viciously, thrusting his pointed nose in her face. "You are acting in defiance of a senior officer and acting against orders."

"Excuse me," Sarigar interjected coldly as his tail slashed down only inches from the officer's polished boot tips. "Captain Jaikira is here as MY guest. I will not have her being harassed in such a rude manner."

"See here! This is a matter of internal affairs --"

"That's Major Sarigar to you." He flicked his eyes over Fremmick's regalia. "I don't see any combat stars, soldier. What are you, assigned to barracks?"

"I, uh--" Fremmick's eyes widened. The variety of medals decorating Sarigar's chest, from the combat citations to the medals of valor, greatly outshined his own. He jumped when Sarigar flexed his tail spikes irritably.

"If I hear one word," Sarigar said deliberately as he leaned in towards him, "that Jaikira is on report over this, you will find yourself extremely unpopular." He rattled his tail spines on the floor. "Do you understand?" The unspoken message was that Sarigar was prepared to mop the floor with him and wouldn't think twice about it.

Fremmick nodded dumbly and backed off.

Sarigar held out his arm to Jaikira. "Come along, darling," he said pleasantly. "General Gokk is waiting to have drinks with us."

"Of course, dear," Jaikira replied demurely as she tucked her arm around his and swept grandly away. She managed to keep her composure just long enough for them to nearly reach the bar before bursting into giggles. "'Darling?' Did that word just come out of your mouth?"

He ignored that. "Was he serious? Are you not supposed to be here for some reason?"

"It's true that I wasn't on the authorized list," Jaikira sighed, "but I'm the only officer in my department that wasn't. Guess what son-of-a-bospor made out the list?"

"What'd you do to him?"

"I have no idea -- maybe he has a thing against assertive females, I don't know." Jaikira threw up her hands. "All I do know is that Fremmick has had it in for me since I was recruited to Defense Intelligence. He's a decent analyst but he's not a good field agent. I lucked out with my first few assignments but he thinks I stole them from him. He even protested my promotion to captain, because he said I didn't earn it." She shrugged. "So he finds little irritating things to do to make me miserable, the obsequious little worm."

"Why hasn't Jez added him to her testicle collection then?"

"She can't take what he doesn't have." Jaikira grinned impishly. "But apparently yours drag the ground."

"They do indeed, hur-hur!!" Gokk handed her a goblet of grogh before handing another to Sarigar, who was refusing to look at either one of them. "I heard your tail spikes rattling all the way over here." He chuckled under his breath at his friend's discomfort. "It's not like you to lose your temper like that."

"You know what I think of barracks soldiers pretending to be war heroes." Sarigar scowled and sipped his grogh. "Kira has more guts in her tailtip than he has in his whole body."

Unexpectedly, Jaikira slipped her hand back through the crook of his arm and brushed her cheek against his shoulder.

He raised a browridge. "What?"

She merely smiled and acted pleased with the world.

General Gokk exploded in a belly-shaking guffaw at the bewildered look on his old friend's face. Sarigar didn't understand either one of them at all.

* * * * *

As the evening wore down, a number of Legion officers found their way to more comfortable surroundings than the formal reception halls of headquarters. Jaikira steered him to a music club on the edge of the military zone and in spite of their different tastes in music, Sarigar found himself enjoying the experience. More than once, the owner of the club asked Jaikira to sing, always 'as a favor' for one patron or another. Her voice was just as amazing as he remembered, bringing a curious sense of euphoria that Sarigar decided that he could grow accustomed to.

"I've always meant to ask," Sarigar said as Jaikira sat down and drained her water glass. "Where did you learn to do that? With a voice like yours, wouldn't you be better off as --"

"--a concert soloist?" she finished. "My mother thought so -- her family has a history of producing stellar performers but she herself never had the knack. When I showed an aptitude for music at an early age, I was immersed in lessons -- singing, dancing, and theory. I felt like I was drowning. The harder I worked at it, the less fun it was."

"Sounds a bit like my sister," he commented introspectively. "I drove her away from me when we were younger because I wanted her to go off to university."

Jaikira tilted her head. "Well, you do tend to be overbearing."

"So you told me on Orestra VII."

"My opinion of you has improved since then." Her eyes danced even as she teased. "So what happened with your sister?"

"She fell in love with a bounty hunter but when he went to prison, Sarivil went back to school and now she's an anthropologist. We contact each other now and then but our jobs keep us busy." He signaled to the server to bring fresh drinks. "And what of your singing career?"

She laughed. "I deliberately messed up my audition to the Conservatory of Music and went off to university instead, earning certifications in linguistics and criminal psychology." She leaned in conspiratorially. "The singing is for when I feel like it."

"So it would seem." Sarigar stretched his arms out along the back of the booth and stifled a yawn. It didn't occur to him that his actions might be taken as an invitation.

"Okay, my turn to ask a question." Jaikira slid over and draped his arm over her shoulders, making an intensive study of his hand. "What's the deal with the gloves?"

"Standard Legion issue," he answered blandly, but he was intrigued by the casual way her shoulder and hip was touching him as she leaned against him and provided him with an interesting view. If he wasn't so mellow on grogh, he might have been shocked at her behavior.

"Not what I meant," she shot back. "I've never seen you without them, not even when you were eating." She looked up at him slyly. "Do you shower in them too?"

"No." Sarigar rolled his eyes. "It's just part of the uniform."

"If I were psychoanalyzing you, I'd think that these gloves are your way of putting a barrier between you and the world."

"Maybe I just have really ugly hands. Most soldiers do."

Jaikira made a face. "Or secretly you paint your fingernails red." She unfastened the cuff of his glove and acted like she was peeping inside. "Let's find out!"

"That's it," Sarigar said with a tired chuckle. "Time to take you home. If it wasn't for the fact that I've had more to drink than you, I'd say you were drunk."

"You wish." She gave him a piercing sidelong look that almost made him want to find out.

* * * * *

"Well, then," Sarigar said awkwardly as they came to the barracks corridors that would lead them in different directions. "I guess this is where we say good night."

"I expect it is," Jaikira replied. She leaned against the wall and studied him. "So am I going to have to pull rank or are you going to give me a kiss?"

Raising both brow ridges, he returned her look with amusement. "This is news. When did you get promoted?"

"This afternoon when you asked me out."

"Regulations state that there should be no public displays of affection between officers."

"That's only on duty." Jaikira slithered a few feet towards him. "Besides, depending on the kiss, I might not be affected at all, and therefore it would not qualify as affection." There was a distinct challenge in her eyes.

Taking a careful look around, Sarigar decided to take a chance. He leaned down and met her lips, nervously at first and then deepening as he felt her respond. It had been a long, long time since he'd had a female in his arms and the feel of her mouth on his made him thirsty for more. Her hands touched lightly on his forearms and glided up to rest on his biceps. He was careful to let his hands go no farther than cupping her elbows but he was tempted to defy regulations anyway.

"Well, put me on report," she murmured as they paused for breath. "I'm a PDA violator."

"Good," he answered back. "That makes two of us."

"Does it now?" Jaikira reached up and ran her fingers along his jawline. He turned his face and nuzzled her palm. She smelled intoxicating and he shuddered, making his tail spikes rattle on the floor. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Oh, Gar... has it been that long?"

Sarigar released her and turned away. "Yes." He fought to control emotions thought long buried - he didn't know his response to her pheromones would be this overpowering. Her arms encircled him from behind and he felt her cheek pressed between his shoulder blades.

"Then it's been too long."

He studied her two-fingered hands, so much more slender and graceful than his -- and then realized the main difference between them. He still had his gloves on. It hadn't really occurred to him before but maybe she was right; maybe they were a barrier that he habitually put up between himself and the world. Jaikira's hands were free to touch and feel and her freedom of emotion unnerved him. Slowly, he pulled himself from her grip and put a respectable distance between them. He could feel her eyes on him but he didn't trust himself to look.

"It's late," he finally said. "We should probably be checking on our squads."

"Torie and F'marrl can do that."

"Force of habit."

All that could be heard was the faint hiss of her dress as she moved away from him, heading for her corridor. "Still," she said lightly, clearly trying to put a positive spin on things, "I did have a good time tonight. See you around, major."

Sarigar waited until the sounds of her passing faded away before heading to his own quarters. He hung up his dress uniform jacket before collapsing in a chair. Her scent still lingered on his clothes and his head swam from all the grogh he'd consumed that evening.

"Stupid, stupid me!" Savagely peeling off the gloves, he threw them on the desk. "Why did I do that?" He sighed bitterly, berating himself for holding back. She had been more than willing - he could have been holding her still if he'd only had the nerve. Instead, the loneliness that was Sarigar's private hell bore down on him harder than ever.

To be continued in "Part V: Friendly Fire"