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

XI. Jentunku

He remembered vaguely when Jaikira had come into his room late in the evening long after he'd called it a night. The sound of her voice had been soothing as she brushed her fingers over his forehead and took pity on him in his exhausted state. She had slipped into bed with him without demanding anything more than to nestle back into his arms and strangely enough, that had been fine with him.

Music woke Sarigar long before his chronounit was set to go off. For a few minutes, he thought perhaps that he'd dreamed it but then he picked up her scent on the neighboring pillow. He sat up on one elbow and surveyed the room. The grey fatigue shirt Jaikira had borrowed the day before was draped over the arm of his reading chair. Light rimmed the edges of the door to the sanitation unit and he could hear the shower running.

Silently, Sarigar slithered to the door and opened it. As he leaned into the doorway, a slow smile began to creep over his face. Jaikira was in the shower with her head tilted back; rinsing her hair and making it shimmer like a length of wet black satin against her azure skin. She smiled without opening her eyes and asked, "Well? Are you just going to watch or are you going to come in?"

His pants were around his hips before she finished speaking. It was a snug fit with two Jentekians in the stall but somehow they managed. Sarigar didn't even mind the fact that the water was several degrees colder than he preferred it. Jaikira was more than warm enough in his arms.

Her eyes were laughing at him. "Hope you don't mind," she said, "but I thought I'd bring a change of clothes and shower here. I've got an early morning meeting to debrief a major on an upcoming mission." She kissed the cleft in his chin.

"Really?" His hands sluiced sheets of water from her body as they glided down to her hips. "The debriefing has been successful. What does the mission entail?"

"Oh, deep penetration into a critical hot spot," she commented as he lifted her up and pressed her shoulders into the tiles. "Hit it hard and fast."

Sarigar merely smiled and obliged her, enjoying the way his actions were reflected by the expressions on her face. "Lock and load," he murmured and met her mouth with his. Unlike their earlier encounter, this time there was less emotional tension and they eased into each other in deep flowing movements, rocking on their intertwined tails and enjoying the sensation of their wet bodies sliding together. Her breathing quickened and she stifled her moans in his shoulder. Sarigar couldn't hold back and clenched his teeth to muffle his own guttural cries, uncertain as to how the acoustics of the tiled walls would carry to the rest of the barracks.

When the aftershocks had died down, Jaikira slumped in his arms as he slowly released her. "Well done, soldier -- mission accomplished," she said as she rested her cheek against his chest. "Gotta say it -- there's something to be said for a nice casual ramming."

"I agree," he answered back, nuzzling the top of her head. "There's not always time for a formal mating but this," he tilted her head up and kissed her soundly, "this will take the edge off nicely."

She laughed. "And you don't seem to be as sleepy."

"And a good thing too," Sarigar commented, "as I have a meeting with General Gokk in a couple of hours."

"Yeah, I've got to sit in on a meeting with K'thok later." She stripped the water out of her hair and extricated herself from his coils as she got out of the shower. "Do you have time for breakfast?"

"For you, darling, I'll make time."

* * * * *

"You seem in good spirits," General Gokk commented as Sarigar took his seat in the conference room.

"My day began extremely well," Sarigar admitted. He sorted through his collection of notes on his compupad but couldn't help smiling at certain memories. Breakfast in the officers' mess had been pleasant as well, simply enjoying Jaikira's company and making plans to meet later.

"There! What's that smile for?" Gokk pointed a thick finger at him and grinned. "Rumor has it that you've been seen with a certain shapely captain." When Sarigar cocked a browridge at him, Gokk continued, "I'm merely asking as a friend but if you prefer, I could always look into it as your commanding officer. Breach in security and that sort of thing."

Sarigar was saved from answering by the arrival of General K'thok of Defense Intelligence. He was a tall spindly creature, vaguely humanoid in form with a shock of bristling hair-like quills that cascaded down his back like a war bonnet. His coffee-colored face was dominated by hairy eyebrows over vivid blue eyes. Gokk and Sarigar had risen at his arrival but before they could sit down, General K'thok gestured to the door.

"I hope you don't mind, gentlemen," he said in a deep, mournful voice, "but I've taken the liberty of bringing one of my top field agents along. Our discussions will have bearing on her next assignment." He looked back and nodded. "Come in, Captain Jaikira. This is General Gokk and I believe you've met Major Sarigar."

"Yes, we have," Jaikira nodded her head graciously as she entered the room. "General Gokk -- so good to see you again, sir." She took her seat to the right of General K'thok, according to protocol. When Sarigar raised a questioning brow ridge, she gave a minute shrug and a baffled wide-eyed look. Apparently, she had not expected this situation either. Sarigar nodded succinctly and turned his attention to the meeting but a few minutes later, he felt her tailtip lightly twine itself around his. It was a touch as innocent as holding hands but he had to draw on all his self-control to steady himself.

The generals, of course, knew nothing of this and began the meeting as planned. It was the first time that Sarigar had a clear glimpse into exactly what Jaikira did for Defense Intelligence. He knew that she frequently was called in as a linguist to assist with interrogations and that she had spent part of her medical leave as an analyst sorting through information. The operation that General K'thok was outlining was a risky undercover assignment on a rough outpost near the frontier. Nomad had just been through that region of space and the more he thought of Jaikira being there, the more it worried him.

"Major?" General K'thok inquired. "By the way you keep scowling, I assume you have an opinion?"

Sarigar glanced at Jaikira who mouthed 'you're brooding' at him from behind her hand. "I'm concerned about the safety of Captain Jaikira and her squad in that area. I've seen Artemis in action and I know that they're more than capable of handling themselves but that region is constantly changing hands. It can be Harkilon territory one moment, and a half cycle later, it can belong to some xenon consortium we've never heard of."

"He has a legitimate point, K'thok," General Gokk commented. "I'll be taking the Piecemaker on a tour of the quadrant with the major and his squad on board. Perhaps an active Legion presence in the area would help stabilize it."

"If you'll forgive me for saying so, General Gokk," Jaikira interjected smoothly, "that might be counterproductive. The reason for sending a covert squad to this outpost is gain information that we can't get through pro-Legion channels." She regarded Sarigar across the table thoughtfully. "However, I think it might be possible to keep the lines of communication open when the Piecemaker is nearby if a few officers in civvies decided to drop by to check on our progress."

"I could see how that might work," Gokk replied as if considering it. "We could stow a small civilian shuttle on board and let a select group fly in from the cover of the asteroid field." He glanced at Sarigar with a roguish gleam in his eye. "Why the major here could easily pose as one of the captain's admirers. It would be very believable cover story." He grinned at the hard look Sarigar was giving him.

"I don't know," General K'thok said slowly. "Major Sarigar has been decidedly hostile towards Captain Jaikira in the past. His report of the Orestra VII affair was especially harsh in its assessment of her command abilities."

General Gokk had been carefully watching the subtle behavior between the two Jentekians in question. "Actually, K'thok," he said pleasantly, "you seem to be a bit behind in current events. I think you'll find that our two officers have reconciled their differences since then."

"That is very true," Sarigar continued. "I have only the deepest admiration and respect for Captain Jaikira. She is a highly talented and dynamic officer." He smiled at her amiably while his tail stroked hers underneath the conference table.

"There's no need to worry, General," Jaikira spoke up earnestly. "It would be a pleasure to serve under Major Sarigar." Gokk gave a snort that sounded remarkably like a snigger and Sarigar was forced to study his notes on the datapad before him.

General K'thok shook his shaggy head slowly. "Really, Jaikira," he said sternly. "That's one of your worst habits, this habitual tendency towards inappropriate humor. You must try to choose your words more carefully."

Sarigar glanced over at Gokk and knew by the smug look on his old friend's face that Gokk had already figured it out. "Permission to speak off the record, General K'thok?"

"Permission granted, major."

"Jaikira and I are guilty of violating regulation 238," Sarigar said mildly, "and any number of the sub-clauses." He shrugged apologetically at Jaikira across the table. "I hope you don't mind, darling. It's better they hear it from us than whatever gossip that's making the rounds in our barracks." She merely smiled back at him, eyes dancing.

"The non-fraternization between officers clause?" K'thok lifted first one hairy eyebrow and then the other. "But you put her on report!"

"That was months ago, general. We kissed and made up." Jaikira smiled. "If Gar puts me on report again, I'll make him sleep on the couch." She was totally unabashed as Sarigar glared at her mildly from across the table.

"Hur-hur-hur!" Gokk chuckled. "I had wondered about you two. You were off base at the time and missed it, K'thok, but they made quite a charming couple at the ambassador's reception."

"Fine intelligence officer I am!" K'thok snorted. "And you, you furry lout, not keeping me up on all the gossip!" He sighed. "This will be a bit of a bother, however."

"Why?"

"Because, and I really hate to break the news to you, Jaikira, but Defense Intelligence is moving its mobile command off of Greelbase and onto Starbase Fourteen." K'thok regarded Jaikira sadly. "When you get back from your mission, Artemis will not be returning here."

"I... see." Jaikira stared at the tabletop. Beneath it, she retracted her tail and wound it tightly around her chair. She seemed to shrink in upon herself, becoming smaller than normal.

The three males stared uncomfortably at each other. Finally General Gokk cleared his throat. "I think that's quite enough for today," he said awkwardly. "General K'thok and I will iron out the details and we will reconvene tomorrow."

Without saying a word to any of them, Jaikira left the room and General K'thok followed a few seconds afterwards. Sarigar started to go after her but Gokk put a hand on his shoulder. "Give her some time to herself," the ursine general advised. "I've seen that look on my wives before."

"What do you recommend?"

"Well, a keg of grogh comes to mind..."

* * * * *

Zeerod was staring at the office door with a worried look when Zora and F'marrl came in to the Nomad barracks. He winced as another sharp crash hit the wall.

"Zee?" Zora said urgently. "Is Sarrrigarrr available?"

"That's a matter of opinion," Zeerod said slowly. "The major went in there about an hour ago with a keg under his arm and he's been throwing the empties across the room ever since. I'd need combat pay to go in there." He caught the concerned look that passed between the two Artemis officers. "Why? What's happened?"

"We're not sure," F'marrl answered. "Jaikira came back from the meeting with K'thok and came out of her quarters in her workout clothes. She's been in the gym doing jentunku shadowboxing ever since." She flinched as something hit the door. "We're worried that she might hurt someone."

"Jentunku?"

"A form of Jentekian martial arts," F'marrl said, "derived from the days when they used to fight in the slave pits. I've tried to learn some of it, but one really must have a tail and the reflexes to go with it."

"What the devil is going on that could have both of them so riled up?" Zeerod wondered. "Captain Montroc took most of the squad out for a zero gravity drill or I'd have him open up the office. I don't have the authorization to break the privacy seal."

Zora twitched her whiskers. "Well, I have medical override prrrivileges," she said fiercely and strode over to the keypad. A few clicks and the door opened.

Sarigar was slumped on the wide couch in his shirt sleeves, studying the last unopened grogh. The empties were scattered all over the room, evidence that all was not well. Zora pulled out her medkit and prepped a hypospray before approaching on silent feet.

Zeerod motioned F'marrl to stay back and deliberately stepped into Sarigar's range of vision. "Major?" he said cautiously. "Are you all right, sir? You've been in here a long time."

Sarigar didn't answer. He continued to stare at the grogh can but Zeerod had the feeling the major wasn't really seeing anything that was in the room.

"We're a little worried, sir," Zeerod continued. "It seems that Captain Jaikira is upset too and we were just won-"

Fast as a striking snake, Sarigar had Zora's wrist in a tight grip just she was about to touch the hypospray to his skin. "No," he told her savagely, "I don't want to sober up."

"You have to," Zora told him. "She's going to hurrrt herrrself if you don't stop herrr."

"What are you talking about?" Sarigar asked wearily.

"Jaikirrra. She's shadowboxing and no one can get nearrr herrr."

"Please, sir," F'marrl asked, giving a small bow as she came closer. "Jez tried to stop her but she got knocked out for her trouble. We've never seen Jaikira like this."

"Shadowboxing?" Sarigar's eyes flicked from F'marrl to Zora. "Jentunku?"

"Yes...," Zora answered carefully. "Majorrr, may I please have my arrrm back?"

In one smooth movement, Sarigar released Zora and started slithering towards the door. He tossed the unopened can to Zeerod. "Put that somewhere," he ordered. "I'm going to want it later."

"Major?" Zeerod put it down on the desk and hurried after Sarigar's rapidly moving form. The Jentekian wasn't showing any signs of being inebriated; if anything, it was the sort of brooding intensity that Sarigar brought to most combat situations. Zeerod, Zora and F'marrl had to run to keep up with him.

Most of Artemis squad and several assorted onlookers were ringing the perimeter of the gymnasium. They'd given up on their own workouts to watch Jaikira turning and twisting in a lethal dance all by herself. She had two wooden battle staves that she was twirling in both hands as she whipped through a series of fighting patterns. There was a high-pitched whistle as her tail zinged through the air like a deadly whip and slashed through a heavy punching bag to seep sand on the floor.

"That's the third one," Yosh murmured as F'marrl and Zora came up to her. "What the hell's going on?"

Sarigar watched Jaikira intently for a moment and then disappeared into the locker room. Zeerod started to follow but before he could get in the doorway, Sarigar pushed past, stripped down to uniform pants and undershirt and carrying a steel-tipped quarterstaff. "Major!" Zeerod called out but realized belatedly that Sarigar had removed his comunit so anything said to him wouldn't be translated.

Roaring a challenge, Sarigar sailed into the ring and slashed his staff down at her. Jaikira turned and deflected his blow with crossed battle staves, following it up by whirling past him nimbly on her tail. Using her momentum, she cartwheeled around him, striking him across the shoulders with her tail and raising a thin red ribbon on his skin.

"First blood to Jaikira," F'marrl murmured in awe, her crest fully extended.

"With what?" Zeerod asked. "Those aren't edged weapons!"

"She's always got one," Zora answered as she clutched his left arm nervously. "Male Jenteks have those rrretractable caudal spines but the females have a blade-thin bony rrridge along the same arrrea of theirrr tail."

"Well, ram me! She'll slice him to ribbons!" Zeerod shook his head and tapped his comunit. "Zeerod to Montroc, urgent! Come in, Torie!!"

"Zeerod?" The signal was faint. "We're just finishing up our drill here in the simulator and waiting for the room to decompress. What's up?"

"I've got a problem," Zeerod said, wincing as Sarigar sent one of Jaikira's battle staves spinning over the crowd. "The major and his lady are trying to kill each other in the gym."

"What? Are you sure?"

"I'm watching it now! All we know is that they both came back from their morning meetings in foul moods."

"Contact General Gokk," Torie ordered. "That's who Major Sarigar was meeting with. Tell him what's going on. I'll be there as soon as this airlock cycles."

"That's a good suggestion," Zeerod said to F'marrl. "You should contact whoever Jaikira was meeting with and ask them the same." He turned back to Zora and gently pried his arm away from her. "I've got to find a quieter spot to call from, Zora. You hold the fort here, all right?"

Zora nodded numbly, her eyes riveted on the spectacle unfolding before them. The back of Sarigar's shirt was becoming a pattern of bloody lines where Jaikira had scored him with her tail slashes. Spinning in, Jaikira rapped Sarigar's knuckles on his staff in an attempt to wrest the weapon from his grip. It didn't work but she did manage to jerk him forward to deliver a slam to his midsection with her tail. Sarigar grimaced in pain as he used his body weight to throw them both to the floor. He slammed her hand holding the remaining battle stave to the ground repeatedly until she let go of it. Jaikira twisted her other arm free and broke his hold with a right cross. She rolled away from him and popped up into a fighting stance before Sarigar could get upright.

Zeerod returned breathlessly. "Got it," he panted. "General Gokk says Artemis is being transferred to another starbase. That's what they're both upset about, I'd wager."

"No!" Startled, Zora gave him a strickened glance.

He set his jaw grimly. "I can't say I'm thrilled either, dear, but it's not like we have a choice about it. Orders are orders."

Torie Montroc and the rest of Nomad came into the gym at a dead run, still clad in their zero gravity gear. He gaped at the sight of Sarigar and Jaikira duking it out, and while he was staring, Zeerod fought his way through the crowd and filled him in, just as F'marrl was doing with the members of Artemis.

"Right," Torie said firmly. "Nomad, I want this room cleared and I want it cleared NOW. This is personal."

"I agree," F'marrl spoke up. "Artemis, clear the far side of the room and secure the doors."

"Damn," Jugger commented as he watched the fight. "I've never seen the old snake drag out a fight like this." He frowned. "And against her too - something just ain't right."

"He's got one can short of a keg in him," Zeerod commented as he shoved a spectator towards the door. "I doubt either one of them is in their right mind at the moment."

Breathing heavily, Sarigar stood there, weaving as Jaikira stared back at him with her fists up in the air. He called out to her in Jentekian, a strange inflected language that rose and fell in sibilant tones. Jaikira hesitated and her hands lowered a fraction as she answered back. He tossed the metal staff aside and it rang harshly as it rolled across the floor. Her hands fell slowly to her sides as her form relaxed.

Torie nodded. "Meico?"

The pink-skinned Polaran had his eyes closed. "Calming they are. Crisis is passing."

"Good." Torie tapped his comunit and said quietly, "All right, Nomad and Artemis, everyone out of the room and hold your positions at the doors. Let's give them some privacy."

"But," Zora protested, "they'rrre badly injurrred!"

Zeerod gently steered her to the doors. "Give them a moment, dear heart. This won't take long."

* * * * *

Holding out his hand, Sarigar slid towards her. "Please, Kira, that's enough."

"But it hurts so much." Jaikira looped her tail forward, cradling her left hand. "I was just so angry and I had to do something-"

"I know."

"I just --" Before she could say anything else, they closed the gap between them and she collapsed against his chest, weeping. Sinking to the floor, they clung to each other and swayed like trees in the wind. "I hate this," she said finally. "Everything was going so well and I was hoping-"

"Me too," Sarigar said quietly. "I downed the best part of a keg this afternoon and it didn't help."

Jaikira lifted her head and wrinkled her nose at him. "I know. I can smell you."

"It's just as well that I did," he said ruefully, "if I wasn't pre-numbed, my back would really hurt now."

Rising up on her tail to peer over his shoulder, she hissed through her teeth as she looked at his back. "Oh, Gar... I'm SO sorry." Her fingers combed through his sweaty hair nervously. "I was totally into the moves, I didn't think-"

"It's all right," he sighed as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his cheek into her chest. "Jentuku is not a kind sport. Neither of us was thinking of the consequences." He noted the way she was favoring her left wrist. "You'd better have Zora look at that. I may have broken it."

"I don't care." She tilted his head up and kissed him. "What are we going to do, Gar?"

"The best we can." Sarigar returned his head to its former position on her chest. "Just no sudden movements, sweetheart," he said softly. "The room is spinning enough as it is." His hands slid from her waist and down her backside.

Jaikira rolled her eyes. "I know you love my ass, Gar, but really!" He mumbled something before becoming a dead weight in her arms. She shifted him to her good right arm and lowered them both to the floor. "Meico!!" she shouted in Battle Galingua. "Zora!! Man down! Medic!"

"Major?" Meico's voice was faint, but insistent. "Major?"

"He just folded up in my arms," Jaikira was saying. "He said the room was spinning."

"I daresay that was the grogh talking," Zeerod said sagely. "Meico, he had nearly an entire keg."

"Ah. That and blood loss the culprits are." There was a sharp prick on his neck and the hiss of a hypospray being administered. "The worst of the symptoms alleviate this should."

Sarigar took a deep breath and immediately wished he hadn't. The effort had re-opened some of the cuts on his back and they stung in the places where blood had stuck his shirt to them. "That smarts," he commented and opened his eyes. He was lying prone on the floor but Jaikira was only a few feet away, watching him as Zora worked on her broken wrist. There were several feet visible from his viewpoint but only Meico and Zeerod were kneeling besides him.

"Here you go, major," Zeerod said briskly as he slipped a comunit around Sarigar's neck. "I took the liberty of retrieving your things from your locker."

"Still you must stay," Meico admonished him. "A temporary dermal bonding here I can do. For more complete treatment, to the infirmary you must go." He clicked his tongue as his fingers lightly passed over Sarigar's throbbing back. "Rough games you play."

"Indeed," Zora commented with extreme displeasure in her voice. "I've got to get herrr to a bone knitterrr."

"It's okay, Zora," Jaikira said firmly. "We just let our tempers get the better of us. It's not going to happen again." She sighed. "It'll most likely never happen again."

"No," Sarigar said as he propped up on his elbows, "next time, I'll be sober and we'll be wearing full gear." He narrowed his eyes. "You play dirty for a female, all that tail slashing."

She almost laughed, but gave a sad smile and shrugged instead. "A girl's got to have an edge over a brute like you, major."

Meico patted his shoulder and held out one of his hands. "Patches in place, sir. Up now you may get."

In spite of the milling crowd of curiosity-seekers wondering what was going on, it was a subdued group that made its way to the infirmary. They parted ways there, Zora taking Jaikira off to have the bones set in her broken wrist and Meico leading Sarigar to have his back mended. The pink-skinned medic had the empathy to realize that Sarigar was not in the mood for conversation and wisely left his commander to his own thoughts. The hours spent under the dermal regenerator gave him time to plan a suitable strategy to deal with his current problem. After finding a loose tunic to cover the tender skin on his back, Sarigar knew where he needed to go.

The privacy seals were up on Jaikira's quarters but his rank allowed him a certain amount of override privileges. She was wearing a soft sleeveless gown that was by far the most shapeless thing he'd ever seen her wear and a light brace wrapped around her injured wrist. It was clear by the scowl on her face that she was not happy to seen by him.

"Major, hacking into my lock is a violation of my privacy rights," she said sourly. I'll have to put you on report."

"I've been on report before," Sarigar answered. He watched as she continued to empty drawers and stow personal items into the foot locker that was in the middle of the floor. "I thought you weren't slated to leave until the end of the week."

"I was in the mood to pack."

He leaned against the wall and let her continue to sling things around. Some of lacier items in her wardrobe were certainly intriguing but he was smart enough to know that commenting on them now would not be wise. When she finally seemed to be losing momentum, Sarigar spoke up. "We need to talk."

"And those are four of my least favorite words." Jaikira sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. "There's isn't much to say, Gar. I'm going on assignment and when it's over, I'll be on the other side of the quadrant."

"I go wherever the Legion sends me," he commented. "I used to think that home is where your foot locker is." He slid over and turned her face to his. "Now I know it's where my heart is and that's wherever you are."

"And what sappy holo-vid did you get that one off of?"

He let the sarcasm pass and continued with another line of attack. "You do know what Jentuku was originally used for, don't you?"

Jaikira had switch gears and think on it for a minute. "For determining dominance in the slave pits," she answered. "The overseers used it to winnow out the weak from the strong."

"And for breeding rights." Sarigar lifted her bandaged wrist and kissed her fingers. "Not just males versus males or females versus females - sometimes males and females would battle to see if they were worthy of each other, to see if they were equals."

Her eyes grew round at the implications of this. "But neither of us won."

"True." He pulled her closer. "That was the exciting thing. We fought to a standstill because you are my equal." He looked intently into her eyes. "Before I joined the Legion, all the females I dated were the same - intelligent, graceful, and traditional. I was even engaged for a time when I was a junior officer but when the courtship phase was through, she broke it off because she said I'd changed too much. I'd left Jentek and all its highly rigid traditions behind me; my experiences in the Legion had jaded me. I accepted being lonely because I would never find anyone who could be my match."

"Gar...," she drawled, raising a skeptical browridge, "we are nothing alike."

"And I love that." He shook his head. "As strange as it seems, I like the way you push back and tell me what you think instead of acquiescing graciously. A traditional female would have been offended as hell to find erotic poems written about her but not you -- lucky for me. You proved you are my equal, you magnificent throwback, and if you think for a secton that being posted on the other side of the quadrant is going to keep us apart, think again."

Jaikira gave him the first genuine smile he'd seen on her since they'd heard the bad news. "Why is it when you talk like that, things don't seem impossible anymore?" She came into the circle of his arms.

Sighing in relief, Sarigar drew her in and held on tightly. "They aren't impossible, just difficult." He stroked her hair. "Difficult, we can handle."

"Can your back handle a little light abrasion?"

"I think so -- are you sure you want me to stay?"

"That's a silly question." She tugged him over to the bed. "Let's make the best of what time we have, Gar, shall we?"

* * * * *

Shining like shooting star in the pre-dawn light, the Legion shuttle soared into the deep blue of the upper atmosphere on its way to rendezvous with a transport ship. Sarigar stood there watching it long after it had disappeared, trying to get a grip on the tumultuous emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. It had been so easy to say 'no regrets' in the beginning but his heart was mourning her absence even now.

Only hours before, he and Jaikira had been in his bed, basking in the afterglow of another formal mating. They'd been careful not to neglect their responsibilities or their squads but all of their off-duty hours had been spent in desperate, insatiable passion. He had no doubts that quite of lot of it was just needful sex but underneath, neither of them had wanted it to end. He'd walked her to the departure gate and could not force himself to say goodbye; that had too much finality to it. Jaikira seemed to have had a similar internal struggle; just before the doors had closed on her, she'd turned and mouthed "Love you!" with tears in her eyes. He'd only nodded, too painfully aware that anything he might say would betray his inner turmoil.

An aromatic scent brought Sarigar out of his fugue. He glanced around.

"Coffee, sir?" Zeerod held out one of the mugs in his hands. He was wearing a jacket over his skinsuit and his fur seemed ruffled and not as well-groomed as usual.

"Thanks," Sarigar said, grateful for the distraction. "You're up early."

"More like I'm up late," Zeerod replied. "I was seeing Zora off."

There was a certain wistfulness in Zeerod's voice and the way he too was staring out the window that struck a familiar chord with Sarigar. "You too, eh?"

"Zora was kind enough to prove my physicians wrong," Zeerod said with a rueful smile. "It was rather gratifying to know I'm still functional that way. I'd thought that part of romance was over for me."

Sarigar sipped his coffee. "Do you regret it?"

"Physically, no." Zeerod grinned. "But emotionally, yes. Zora and I have an understanding. Her species mates for life and she still has deep ties to her late husband. I can respect that." He took a serious tone. "In some ways, I'm envious."

"How so?"

"I was a career officer in my younger days in the regulars. It was all about the glory of it, the adrenaline, and the thrill of the moment. I had my share of romantic dalliances but that's all that they were to me -- I never allowed myself the luxury of sharing my life with someone. Then I meet someone like Zora who speaks of her husband with such devotion that it's like they've never parted. I can't help wondering what that must be like."

"Painful," Sarigar commented.

"I beg your pardon, sir?"

"'Where there is love, there is pain,'" Sarigar quoted. "It's all very rational and reasonable when we're together but I never know how much I love her until one of us has to leave." He sighed. "I thought once we were intimate, that would take away some of this longing but it hasn't. Is it a weakness to miss her this much?"

"Perhaps you should look at it as a strength," Zeerod suggested. "Isn't a life with Jaikira in it better than one without her?"

"I suppose we'll see," Sarigar replied slowly.

To be continued in "Part XII: Roughnecks and Snakegirls"