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

Part XIV: Game, Set, Match

Interlude, Greelbase present...

"Oh, no!" Sarivil exclaimed.

"Oh, yes. We went back to our room and had one of the meanest, nastiest fights that we'd ever had." Sarigar shook his head ruefully. "Everything came out - all our little quirks that we'd been ignoring for love. Besides the age difference, she was impetuous where I was pragmatic, our command styles differed, and --" He paused and scowled at his sister. "What?"

Engulfed in a spate of giggles, Sarivil could only wave weakly for him to go on.

"Of course, you'd think it was funny now," he continued, "but then it was almost the worst thing that had ever happened to us. I would have moved into another room except the hotel was completely booked. Kira relented just enough to exile me to the couch while she was busy practicing for the tournament."

"I suppose you went into one of your brooding funks?"

"Only for an hour or so," Sarigar admitted. "If there's one thing I've learned, brooding does me no good around Kira. She moves too fast."

"So what did you do?"

"The first thing I did was to do some recon and find out about the opposition. I discovered that Rex Bruna was a semi-pro aquaball player from Ryssa who worked the hotel circuit. Turco had turned up on Ryssa a couple of years before after a scandal involving a team owner's wife." He scowled at the memory. "You have no idea how much that vexed me."

Sarivil bit back a smile at the irritation in her brother's voice. "Oh, I imagine you were very annoyed."

"I was, until I spied on Team Rex's practices. Kira, thank Ayal, had switched to a more functional swimsuit for sports and she was still so angry that she was hitting nothing but kill shots. Turco may have been lecherous but he had sense enough to keep his distance. There was nothing wrong with his sense of survival."

"Good for him."

"That's when I got my first lucky break. I found out that Turco's old team, led by a woman named Ciryn Leaneer, had the best chance of challenging Team Rex for first place."

"You didn't--"

"I volunteered." Sarigar smiled evilly. "It may have been a long time since my university playing days, but if the Legion had taught me anything, it's strategy. If I wanted to win back Kira, I had to do it on her terms."

* * * * *

Flashback, Ryssa past ...

Sarigar looked up from the book he was reading over dinner as Jaikira enter their suite. She looked as exhausted as he felt but there was no way that he was going to let her know that. He'd carefully arranged things so it seemed he had been around all day -- setting the catering unit to serve their meals at the same times and racing home from practice to beat her there.

Jairkira gave him a brief glance before flopping into a round chair across the room. It hurt like hell to know she was deliberately ignoring him whenever they had to be together. She had made herself scarce by giving aquaball practice the near obsessive attention that she always gave a new project. It was frustrating watching her work herself into exhaustion and knowing that she'd rebuff him if he said anything. Still, that didn't stop him from trying.

Swallowing a mouthful of food, Sarigar called out calmly, "Hungry? There's plenty of dinner left."

"Nggh."

It wasn't much but after two days of silence, he'd take anything he could get. He left the table to get a closer look. Jaikira had her eyes shut and her head was lolling back against the chair. Normally his first instinct would have been to chide her gently about working too hard but under the circumstances, she'd only accuse him of being critical. Jaikira solved his dilemma for him when her cheek slowly rolled to her shoulder. He waited a few minutes to make sure she was asleep before lifting her up into his arms and carrying her to bed. She mumbled and turned her face into the pillow, her braids parting to reveal the chevron markings on the back of her neck.

Before he could stop himself, Sarigar curled up in the bed alongside her and held her loosely, inhaling the pheromones emitted from the scent glands normally hidden by her hair. For a few desperate minutes, he closed his eyes and took comfort in just being near her. It was cruel that she had become so much a part of his life in such a short amount of time. He didn't want to think about the possibility of going on without her. The Legion had been his life up until this point but it wasn't as satisfying as it had once been.

He drew a ragged breath against her skin and held it, holding the taste of her pheromones in his mouth for as long as he could. The need was almost unbearable but he forced himself to let go and leave the room before he did something he'd only regret.

Jaikira was strangely subdued when she came out of the bedroom the next morning. Sarigar assumed it was nervousness over the first round of tournament eliminations scheduled for the morning.

"You'd better eat up," he advised her. "You'll burn a lot of calories today." He had already forced himself to consume a high carb/high protein meal in preparation for his own matches. It was only pure luck that their separate teams were in different groups and wouldn't face each other until the quarter finals in the afternoon. "I've got to get going -- good luck with your game."

"Why didn't you stay with me?" Her voice was heartbreakingly fragile. "Your scent was on the pillow."

Sarigar froze with his hand on the doorway and cursed silently. If he turned, he would never be able to go through with it. "Because I knew you didn't want me any more," he finally said, and he left before he lost control again.

He didn't hear the sound of a strangled sob behind him.

By the end of their second match, Sarigar was starting to enjoy himself. It had been years since he'd played but his skills were still as sharp as ever. His teammates were a multiple-limbed being from the Ophidian system called Otto who served as their defenseman and Ciryn Leaneer from Torqua Dun's home world of Denal, who was as agile as an otter as their forward. They had been on the point of forfeiting when their point guard had vanished. Many a Legionnaire had turned up drunk and penniless in a recruiting station and Sarigar would be following his career with interest.

"Well done!" Ciryn crowed as Sarigar neatly stripped the ball and slapped it across the court with his tail for a goal. "You've got some slick moves, water snake!"

Otto burbled approvingly, its responses being large empathic in nature than an actual verbal language. Sarigar couldn't fault its goalkeeping abilities however; when all of its arms were in motion, it was virtually impossible to get a goal past Otto.

"Check the monitor!" Ciryn pointed to poolside. "Team Rex is burning them up!"

Sarigar glanced up in time to see a close up of Turco slamming a forearm across the chest of an opposing player, breaking a path for Jaikira slip through with the ball. Their defenseman surged out to meet her and caught Jaikira in the face with a tentacle slash. Bloodied, Jaikira grimaced and popped him with a vicious jab/punch combination, following it with a roundhouse tail throw that sent her sailing over his back and into the scoring zone.

Ciryn was looking at him curiously as Sarigar slowly let out the breath he'd been holding. "Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked. "It's gotta be hard, watching your girlfriend go through that and knowing that you've got to go up against her eventually?"

"You have no idea," Sarigar answered, "but this was her idea, not mine. Don't worry about it. I'll be fine. You just concentrate on scoring against Turco and Rex."

"That's the other thing I don't get," she commented. "I know for a fact what kind of self-centered jerk Turco is around women. He says all the right things until he gets what he wants and then he moves on. How can you be so calm with your girlfriend playing on the same team with him?"

Sarigar smiled coldly. "Did you see what Jaikira just did to that player?"

"Yeah?"

"That's nothing compared to what she'd do to Turco if he tried anything." He shrugged. "So I'm not worried."

At the midday break, Sarigar rushed over to check on Jaikira. She was in the first aid area, holding an ice pack to her face. Gently, Sarigar pried it away and winced at her swollen split lip. "Damn." He stroked her cheek out of habit. "Are you all right? I saw the hit on the monitor."

"I've been hurt worse," she said sulkily as she raised angry eyes to his. "Turco was checking the replays of the morning bouts and guess who he saw playing for his old team?" Her facial markings were incandescent, she was so angry. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I seem to recall getting a similar surprise," he answered mildly. His eyes grew flinty. "Just thought I'd play by your rules, dear."

"You never even told me that you knew HOW to play!"

"University team, three sector championships." He cocked one brow ridge. "And I played in the Legion league until I made first lieutenant."

"But you're playing against ME!!"

"Which is how you like it, isn't it?" Sarigar planted his hands on the bench on either side of her. "Hurts being shut out, doesn't it? Well, this is what it's like for me when you go off and do these impulsive things without thinking. Don't you know that the things you do affect my life too? That's how deeply entwined we are, Kira -- haven't you realized that by now?"

Jaikira just stared at him for a few moments. He could tell her complicated mind was working through this conundrum that they had managed to get themselves into. He braced himself for a renewed fit of temper.

Instead, a tear rolled down the side of her face. Jaikira simply leaned forward and buried her face in the crook of his neck. He could feel her body shudder as she cried softly and he couldn't stop himself -- it seemed only natural to let his cheek drop to the top of her head and to encircle her with his arms. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "It was the only way I could think of to make you understand. You weren't exactly willing to listen earlier."

"Did --" her voice was muffled against his chest "--did it feel this bad when you got mad at me a few days ago?"

"Still does."

"How could you possibly bear this?"

"How could I not? You're the most irritating, impetuous, intoxicating female I've ever known and yet I still love you."

Jaikira lifted her head and laughed through her tears. "'Intoxicating?'"

He shrugged and managed a half-smile. "Whenever I'm with you, I always feel a little drunk. I'm dizzy and out-of-control, but I can never get enough."

"What a hangover I've been giving you this week, eh? We were supposed to be spending time together and all we've done is fight." She wrapped her arms around his torso. "How can we ever straighten this mess out?"

"Which one -- us or the tournament?"

"Both if possible."

"I say we both play out the rest of the tournament," Sarigar said thoughtfully. "If we meet in the finals, don't hold anything back. I won't go easy on you."

"What do I get if I win?" Jaikira asked brashly.

"Who says I'm going to let you win this time?" he countered.

She narrowed her eyes. "You are SO on!"

"You don't know what the stakes are."

"It doesn't matter." Jaikira stuck out her chin stubbornly.

Sarigar smiled and kissed her cheek to spare her swollen lip. "Then, darling, I'll see you in the finals."

The afternoon rounds of eliminations were fast and furious - word had gotten around that there was a grudge match between the two lead contenders. Between bouts, members of Team Rex and Team Cee took to watching each other's games. Sarigar noted with satisfaction that Turco was sullen on the sidelines while Jaikira was cheering him on. Likewise, Sarigar couldn't help but admire Jaikira's form as she sped through the water like a sinuous mermaid.

Ciryn was amused as she watched Jaikira blow kisses at Sarigar from across the pool. "Turco is going to hate it when you lower the boom on him," she observed, "because win or lose, you're taking her home with you."

Sarigar spent his dinner break dozing on a lounge chair in a corner of the players' waiting area with a towel over his face. He wouldn't admit it but he was beginning to sympathize with Zeerod. Since being promoted to major, he'd spent more time in the command center and less time on the training field and he had aches and pains in places he'd forgotten he'd had. When this was all over, he told himself, he was going to insist on being an active part of the field work.

"Sssh," came Rex's voice. "He's having a snooze."

"Big friggin' deal," Turco said curtly. "He's just trying to impress Kira -- just another old snake having a mid-life crisis."

"That's not the way Kira sees it," Rex shot back sternly. "And you'd better hope she doesn't hear you talking about him that way. Wise up, guy!"

It was by sheer force of will that kept Sarigar motionless and not lunging across the room at Turco. There would be time for him to pay for his impulsive words later on the playing field. More voices came closer echoing in the corridor and he decided there wasn't any point to resting further. He made a show of yawning and stretching as he deliberately ignored Turco.

Ciryn and Jaikira were chatting pleasantly as they came in from the females' locker room. Jaikira beamed as she saw him. "There you are!" she said. "Did you get something to eat?"

"Yes, dear." Sarigar watched Turco gag out of the corner of his eye and decided to toy with him. "One lap, no waiting." He patted the bend of his mid-tail region, in lieu of a knee.

Jaikira cocked her head and regarded him with mischief dancing in her eyes but she wasted no time curling up on the lounge chair with him. "How did you know that Naja adores aquaball players?" she murmured. "Or are you torturing Turco?"

"Right on both counts." Sarigar kissed her softly in the course of examining her puffy lip. "I see the medics patched that up neatly," he said. "I'll try not damage you too much when we win."

Ciryn laughed as she stretched against a neighboring wall. "You crack me up, water snake. What kind of sweet talk is that?"

Jaikira tousled Sarigar's hair. "Work hard, play hard, fight hard -- that's the Legion motto." It slipped out before she could catch herself and she winced. "Sorry."

"Luckily, we love hard too," Sarigar replied lightly. "Don't worry about it, darling."

"He's a legionnaire?" Turco asked incredulously.

"That explains it," Rex said to Ciryn. "That's why he's in such great shape. Turco couldn't figure out where Gar got some of his moves from -- it's that combat training you guys do, isn't it?"

Grinning, Ciryn punched Rex playfully in the shoulder. "Well, you're about to find out, Rex. It's nearly game time."

"This is it, honored galactors and sapiens from around the known universe -- the final round between Team Rex, led by Ryssa's own Rex Bruna versus Team Cee, led by talented Ciryn Leaneer of Denal!"

The team captains waved to the crowd and dove in, followed by their teammates. Ciryn called for a huddle. "Look, water snake, I gotta know -- your girl over there, is she Legion too?"

Sarigar nodded. "She's good -- try and keep your distance from her. Kira is a skilled fighter but if she has a fault, it's that she won't give up. She'll battle until she's exhausted first."

"Damn." Ciryn glanced over her shoulder at Team Rex who was having a similar meeting.

"I know how Rex thinks and he's probably picking her brain on you right now. Turco can match you for strength and skill."

"How's his temper?"

"It varies, but he can be a real hothead at times." Ciryn shrugged but then took a closer look at the sly half-smile on Sarigar's face. "Uh-oh, you've got an idea." Her eyes lit up. "You're gonna use that against him, aren't you?"

"Let's just say he's made that old snake crack one time too many," Sarigar said coolly.

A shrill whistle and the roar of the crowd heralded the start of the game. Ciryn and Jaikira went up for the face off, the more experienced Delanese player managing to bat it away into Sarigar's waiting arms. He tucked the ball into his body and dove beneath, using his more powerful underwater strokes to propel him to the goal. Turco dove down to intercept him, going deep to the bottom and springing up at him like an olive-skinned torpedo. Sarigar saw him coming and swerved away at the last minute, rising to the surface and throwing the ball away to Ciryn who was in the clear.

"Too late, rookie," Sarigar commented. "Better luck next time." He turned his back on Turco to follow the line of play, slipping into a sidestroke to keep parallel to Ciryn. He could feel Turco crowding him as they kept course with their teammates. Rex had come out of the goal line crease to challenge Ciryn and Jaikira was crowding her. Sarigar nodded as Ciryn glanced his way; she feigned left and lobbed a sidearmed pitch at him. A surge of water telegraphed Turco's move and before he could leap over to steal the ball, Sarigar met him with an overhand elbow strike followed by a forearm smash. The resultant dull crunch of his knuckles against Turco's face was most satisfying.

"Sorry," he called back insincerely and recovered the ball leisurely to spike it into the goal.

"Good grief," Rex said to Jaikira. "I thought you said he wasn't going to be serious."

Jaikira made a face at Sarigar, who shrugged and grinned back at her. "Oh, he's being playful now. You don't want to see him serious."

"We're back and the clock is stopped for a timeout in the third and final period of this championship match," enthused the poolside announcer, "and what an action-packed game it has been! Scoring has been tight between these two equally-matched teams with a tie at 2-2 at the end of the second period. There's been a fierce and bloody competition between the Jentekian point guards for both Team Rex and Team Cee that's become more intense as the game has progressed."

"There's an understatement," Rex muttered as he finished taping up Turco's wrist. The olive-skinned Jentekian half-breed had a broken nose, cuts, and numerous contusions thanks to his encounters with Sarigar. "You have got to stop crowding him, Turco. Gar is pounding you into protoplasm."

"No, I can handle him," Turco ground out, spitting blood awkwardly to the side with a split lip. "He's getting tired, I can tell."

"Don't be stupid," Jaikira chimed in. "Gar's got more endurance than that, I should know." She turned to Rex. "You need to set me against him."

"But you're his girlfriend!"

"Exactly." Jaikira grinned viciously. "How's he going to defend against me?"

"No way, Kira!" Turco said loudly, causing heads to turn their way. "I'm just as good as that guy. Let me prove that I'm worthy of you!" He put his arms on her shoulders as if he were pulling her to him to kiss her.

"Move 'em, Turco," Jaikira murmured, her eyes turned to cold flecks of ice. "Do you have a death wish? If Gar saw that, you are in a world of hurt!"

Rex moved to shield them from view. "Look, let's just follow the plan. Turco, you and Gar have the faceoff at center court. Stay out of arms' reach if you can." As Turco moved to his position, Rex stopped Jaikira and whispered urgently. "I think you've got a point. I'm moving Turco back to defense after the face-off. Can you handle Gar?'

"Hey, he's my favorite sparring partner," she said with a grim smile. "Trust me."

"Now taking the face-off at center court," the announcer began, "we have our rival point guards, Turco for Team Rex and Gar for Team Cee. Turco has long been a favorite on the aquaball circuit but newcomer Gar has certainly matched him blow for blow today. And -- there's the whistle! Turco gets the high hand on the ball and feigns a high spike but scoops the ball instead, turning the spike into a brutal piledriver!" He winced. "But that doesn't slow Gar down! He's grabbed Turco's tail and reeling him in like a big eel. This could get ugly!!"

"Give it up, old snake," Turco hissed as they struggled for the ball. "I don't care whether you're Legion or not. She's way out of your league."

"You're not a Hark and you're not an Orrie," Sarigar said grimly, "so don't make yourself my enemy -- just get out of my way!" He punctuated his words by popping Turco in the face with an overhand jab for every syllable. "And as for Kira, you never had a chance, punk."

"No friggin' way!" The halfbreed stubbornly held onto the ball, even though he was bruised and bleeding.

Ciryn and Jaikira surged at them from either side to intercept the ball. Sarigar was willing to back off -- Turco's persistence was admirable but was gaining him nothing but further injuries. He locked eyes with Ciryn and she nodded -- she was prepared to strip the ball at his intervention. Taking a deep breath, Sarigar plunged beneath the water and jerked Turco down with him, punching the ball out of the halfbreed's arms. He pushed Turco towards the side of the pool and went to back up Ciryn.

The two female players were well into Team Rex's side of the pool when Sarigar caught up to them. Ciryn was remarkably agile in the water for a humanoid, twisting and diving to keep Jaikira away from the ball. Rex appeared in Ciryn's path to slap away the ball. Sarigar managed to intercept it and lob it back to Ciryn only to have Jaikira shoot out of the water on her tail to snatch it from the air.

Surging up from below, Sarigar hit Jaikira in midsection, propelling them both up out of the water for a few feet and then sending them crashing back down. She held on stubbornly to the ball as they went under, glaring at him as she dared him to try and take it. He chose a different tactic -- he seized her head in his hands and kissed her. Their lashing tails stirred the water around them, driving them down to the bottom of the pool.

"Well, this is a new twist," the commentator announced. "The point guard for Team Cee has just tackled Team Rex's forward in a most unconventional move." The play-by-play screen showed a close up of Sarigar and Jaikira's embrace. "I don't know what's more startling -- the fact that that there's nothing in the rulebook against it or that these two can hold their breath that long."

Crowing at the disgruntled look on Turco's face as he scowled at the monitor, Ciryn called across the pool. "Payback's a bitch, hey, playboy?"

Bubbles surged around them as the water pressure forced them to expel air and head to the surface but the frustrations of their week spent angry and apart had been too much. Jaikira's grip on the ball began to slip as Sarigar re-focused his attentions on her swan-like neck, nibbling vulnerable places that he knew were ticklish. They bobbed to the surface, gasping, and Jaikira managed to throw the ball clear. Ciryn, Otto, Rex, and Turco all surged towards it as Jaikira pulled Sarigar back under but he managed to whip out his tail and spike the ball down the pool into the goal. The roar of the crowd and blare of the game buzzer went largely unnoticed by the two lovers.

Rex and Ciryn both had to finally dive down to them and make them come back up to the surface. When they all came up, Sarigar and Jaikira were overwhelmed with the response of the crowd. Jaikira grinned and touched foreheads with Sarigar so she could be heard.

"It seems you've created a new aquaball move," she said impishly. "What shall we call it -- the Legion Liplock?"

Sarigar shook his head and caressed the back of her neck. "No, just making sure I would win this time." He kissed her again, tenderly. "And I did."

"A bet's a bet," Jaikira answered back. "And what did you win?"

"Later," he murmured. "I'll tell you later."

Water swept over them before he could kiss her again. Ciryn laughed at the dirty look he and Jaikira shot in her direction. "Hey, water snake," she yelled to be heard over the crowd. "As fun as it is watching you guys heat up the water, we really need to get out of the pool. Awards ceremony and all that, you know?"

"Either that or get a room," Rex commented with an embarrassed grin. "Great move, although I don't think I'll ever have the nerve to try it."

"Oh, I'm sure Turco will, once he stops sulking," Ciryn said coyly. "But you could always kiss me if you like -- congratulations for the win and all that."

* * * * *

As soon as it was convenient, Sarigar and Jaikira slipped away from the festivities and went back to their suite. Neither of them felt like being around crowds of people and their teammates were too busy enjoying the spotlight to notice their absence. They were strangely shy with each other as they reached their suite -- too much had happened in the course of the last few days and they were both feeling the strain.

Jaikira broached the subject first. "Gar?" she said hesitantly. "Would you mind terribly waiting a bit? I'd like to fix myself up a little."

"Ah, that 'girly' thing again?" Sarigar smiled and kissed her on the forehead. "I don't mind, darling. In fact, you might find something of that nature in your closet."

"That would be the mysterious pink box...," Jaikira drawled coyly. "Somebody missed me and went shopping in spite of himself."

"It's easier to do when I'm not in uniform." He shrugged. "You noticed and it's still unopened?"

"I have more will-power than you give me credit for!" Jaikira sniffed in mock-indignation and flipped her tail at him as she disappeared into the bedroom. Sarigar sighed, pleased that things were starting to get back to normal. It had scared him to think that he might have lost her over something as trivial as their own bruised egos.

He picked up his book where he'd left it on a side table and settled into his reading chair, but his mind kept coming back to his relationship with Jaikira. They'd made a start on mending things between them but it didn't seem enough. There was a traditional solution that he was tempted to try; unfortunately, there was no way to predict how she would respond to it. He shook his head and allowed himself to get lost in his book.

"Well?"

Sarigar read to the end of the sentence and paused his book. "What's kept you?" he said absently as he re-focused his eyes in her direction. The book dropped from his hand onto the floor.

Jaikira posed in the doorway of the bedroom, idly twirling a loose curl around her finger. She had taken out the braids and her hair was alive with springy ringlets. Lowering her eyes demurely, she crossed the room wearing the gift he'd bought for her while they hadn't been speaking. The elegant ivory chemise shimmered softly with the luster of spidersilk as she sank gracefully onto the couch opposite of him.

His mouth had gone quite dry. Her mannerisms were exactly as those described in classic literature; a high caste female, elegant and graceful, as she awaited her master's command. It was such a startling contrast from the tomboyish athlete he'd been competing with earlier that he didn't quite know how to react.

"You dropped your book," she observed and flowed effortlessly to the floor to pick it up. Handing it to him, she flowed back to the couch in the same smooth movement, like a ritual dance. The corners of her mouth quirked up as she looked discreetly through her hair at him and dared him to make the next move.

Tossing his book aside, Sarigar joined her on the couch, drifting his fingertips along the curve of her face. "Mistress of my heart," he murmured, "enslave me with thy love and I will have no other until the end of my days." It was a test of sorts; he was quoting from traditional Jentekian verse that dated back to their days as a slave race.

Jaikira pressed his hand to her cheek for a moment and then kissed his palm. "Touch me not with words but with deeds; for the way to paradise is hidden within me and thou must seek it."

Thrilled not only with her response but also that she knew the text, he countered with, "Grant me the key to paradise and I'll seek it only in thy arms. Grant it not, and I'll battle to win thy favor."

"Passion unlocks the gate to paradise," Jaikira said softly as she leaned towards him. "Master it and thou shall master me." She smiled slowly.

Taking in a deep breath and letting it back out, Sarigar continued. "Mistress, mere words have failed me -- let my actions speak for me." Keeping his hands to himself for the moment, he kissed her and murmured. "Damn, you're good."

"To master a thing, one must be a slave to it. Surrender to thy passion and be a slave to me." She looked at him from beneath half-closed eyelids, her gold-within-gold pupils glowing. "So, do I pass or what?"

"I will concede round one," he said, not disappointed in the least as he lifted her left arm up to his lips and kissed her inner wrist, looking in her eyes as he did. "But I will be proven worthy." Without giving away his inner anxiety, Sarigar waited to see if she knew what his gesture meant.

Jaikira looked away, clearly flustered as she considered his unspoken proposal. By custom, most of Jentekian symbolism had to do with their origins as genetically engineered slaves. Classical literature was riddled with references to it, as well as the rituals governing etiquette and behavior. The slave bracelet of old had been transformed into a symbol to exchange between lovers as part of their nuptial vows and to kiss the left wrist as he had just done was to announce his intent to court her.

Drifting her hand down his left arm, Jaikira raised it up so that she could first rub her cheek along the thin skin of his forearm and then slowly and then deliberately kiss the inside of his wrist. Sarigar didn't trust himself to speak and instead reached out with his other hand to stroke her cheek. Lifting her left hand to his and threading their fingers together, Jaikira gave him a very direct look. "And this is what you wanted?"

"Yes." His voice shook. "I won the right to court you."

"You want the full formal courtship period?"

"Yes."

"Celibacy and all?" Jaikira made a face. "Because frankly, I think we're celibate enough as it is, what with me based at Starbase Fourteen and you cruising around on the Piecemaker."

"Point taken," Sarigar agreed reluctantly. "If we were together on Jentek, I would have insisted on it but under the circumstances, I suppose that's really not necessary." He smiled ruefully and looked at their joined hands. "This week has taught me that without you, I have an empty life. I didn't like thinking that I'd lost you."

"Me neither." She bit her lower lip. "I don't like losing."

"Perhaps we can turn this around so we both win," Sarigar suggested. "It's customary to set a task for one's intended during the courtship. I'm willing to change something about myself if you are."

Jaikira sighed softly. "You want me to be less impulsive, I suppose?"

"Just where we're concerned," he replied. "Your ability to take risks is what makes you a good field operative. All I ask is that you try to be a little more conservative so I don't have to fight off your admirers." He grimaced as a sore muscle in his shoulder twidged as he shifted positions. "I'm getting a little old for that."

"Well, if I have to be more conservative," she said, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes, "then you have to try to be more open with your affection. You can take military decorum a little too far -- sometimes you act so distant that I'd almost think you're ashamed to be with me."

"No, never!"

"I don't expect you to kiss me in a staff meeting or anything like that, but --" she bit her lip, "--it would be nice to have you acknowledge that I'm yours more often." She grinned. "If nothing else, Turco has been useful for that. I've been rather enjoying all the attention."

Sarigar smiled wryly. "What am I getting into?"

"We'll find out, won't we?" She leaned forward and gave him a delicious long kiss which led to more delightful things.

* * * * *

Interlude, Greelbase present...

"Needless to say," Sarigar said wistfully, "the rest of our vacation was idyllic, except for it being entirely too short. It's been an interesting courtship period, considering that until two months ago, we'd been stationed apart." He rolled his eyes. "I suspect our superiors felt sorry for us."

"Why?"

"Hard to say, but General Gokk and I have always spoken freely since officer school. He's been amused by my romance with Kira. I think he finally persuaded General K'thok to rotate Artemis off the frontier and I've been grateful." He smiled ruefully. "We've had a few awkward spots to work through but the courting has gone well -- very well, in fact."

"A-ha!" Sarivil sank back into the couch cushions and regarded her brother thoughtfully. "And this is why you wrote me and wondered if I still had some of the family jewelry, since I took it with me when I left with Cordar?"

Sarigar couldn't meet her direct glance. "It's probably too much to expect that you still have them, but I was hoping that maybe--"

"Of course, I still have them!" She smiled at his startled expression. "Honestly, Gar -- do you think I would ever part with them? They were all I had left of Mother and Father." Getting up and crossing the room, Sarivil took a compact case from a drawer and opened it. "I only have this one piece with me," she said as she took out a small pouch, "but the other two pieces of the set I left in the university vault in safekeeping." She took it back and handed the pouch to Sarigar. "Is this what you had in mind?"

Looking into the pouch, Sarigar grinned and then gave a quick glance at his sister. "Do you mind parting with them?"

Sarivil folded his hand over the pouch. "They were meant to stay in the family, Gar, to go to a bride, not a sister. When I go back to the university, I'll arrange to send the rest of the set to you." She put her hands over his and squeezed gently. "Consider it my way of making up for all those years I wasted."

"Vil..." He swallowed hard to maintain his dignity.

"Honestly, Gar -- how many brothers do you think I have?" Sarivil hugged him tightly. "You just keep in mind that I fully intend to be there when you put that band on her wrist so don't you dare go off and elope!"

"I promise you'll be the first to know," Sarigar said a solemn smile.

To be continued in "Part XV: Wilderness"