Chapter Seven: Another World, Another Race.
Daria lead the group to the base of the ramp and halted a few paces away from her superiors. "Special Agent Daria Noclaf reporting," she said crisply in Goa'uld. "High Commander Halcon, Master Agent Felis, may I present our representatives from Earth, the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen?"
Halcon and Felis nodded. The Commander-in-Chief was an older man, with iron-gray hair, topaz eyes, and strong features that reflected the signature proportions of the Tau'ka race. He had the strong, no-nonsense look that reminded Sawyer of some of the generals he'd met. Felis, on the other hand, was a graceful middle-aged woman with coppery hair and sharp emerald eyes that missed nothing.
"Welcome to Verris," Felis said. "We have heard about you from Agent Noclaf. She gave a good report of you."
"I hope that the reality is comparable to the report," Halcon rumbled.
Daria winced at Halcon's choice of words and proceeded to introduce her teammates. The two senior Tau'ka looked the humans over carefully, but it seemed as if they were going to reserve judgment on what they saw.
"I have arranged for someone to bring your luggage to Guest Quarters," Halcon said. "Agent Noclaf, you know where to take them. You and your companions are dismissed."
She saluted automatically as the Council members left.
"Abrupt, aren't they?" Mina said.
"You got an official greeting," Vader said. "They must think highly of you." He went back to the Tern's ramp. "I'm going to wait for the baggage handlers and take care of this old bird. I'll see you later." The Force Adept went back into the confines of the ship.
Daria beckoned her friends to follow. "This way." She led them out of the hanger and down a long hallway that seemed to be constructed of multi-colored stone. Recessed panels in the ceiling of the tunnels provided a bright light. Other Tau'ka negotiated the corridor, easily distinguished from humans by their eyes, which all had a faceted or iridescent appearance, like gemstones. The passers-by often paused in their errands to watch the League with those strange eyes. A few called out a greeting to Daria in their native tongue, which the translators handled admirably. Daria would hail them back before continuing on with her five teammates in tow.
Many of the Tau'ka wore uniforms of varying colors, the cuts of which where usually variations on tunics and slacks, often combined with boots of some sort. All had a badge on the left side of their chest showing a stylized animal or other image, surrounded by rings in or makings in various hues designating their rank and their field. One stocky male in a red uniform stopped Daria and her group at an intersection and spoke to her quietly. She made sure that the Security guard knew that the League was supposed to be wandering around the base and asked him to pass that news along. He looked a bit surprised at the fact that a group of humans were given that kind of freedom, but promised to pass the word on. There were few ways of spreading information that were faster than a local grapevine. As it so happened, the information on this line was often faster and more accurate than similar grapevines among other cultures, because of the fact that so many Tau'ka were Communications-Telepaths, able to speak instantaneously with anyone within their range. The news wouldn't take long to reach the correct ears.
Several minutes of walking brought them to the Guest Quarters. Daria paused in front of three rooms. "I'm afraid you gents will have to double up," she said apologetically. "We don't get a whole lot of visitors, and most of the rooms are taken up by other representatives."
"I'll share with Skinner," Sawyer volunteered.
"So the two most immature members will be together," Mina commented mildly. Skinner grinned.
"Tha's right!"
"Ah, but piling immaturity upon immaturity leads right to more work for me," a male voice said from behind them. To the League's surprise, it spoke fluent-if accented- English.
The newcomer was a tall man with short, bright red hair and sharp sapphire-blue eyes. He was the first Tau'ka any of them had seen with any sort of physical disability, walking with a distinct limp that forced him to rely on a sturdy cane. Daria brightened at the sight of him.
"Everyone, this is my cousin. Nibor Noclaf. He's a Healer over in our Trauma Center."
Nibor grinned. "Ah, it seems that my dear cousin's fondness for bringing home strays continues. Tell me, Daria, is the Council going to let you keep this lot like they did the last one?"
"I certainly hope so," she replied matter-of-factly.
Her cousin limped over to the group. "A pleasure to meet you all. I hope I won't be patching any of you up while you're here. I get the Freedom Day celebration off, and I so dislike it when I'm called in on my days off."
"Aw, we don't plan on doing anything that would require patching up," Sawyer said. He elbowed Skinner in the ribs. "Right Skinner?"
"Er, right!" Skinner said cheerfully.
Nibor shook his head. "This one is trouble, cousin," he warned in a mock-serious tone. "You'll want to keep an eye on him."
"I'll do that," Daria replied with a smile. "Although seeing as he is invisible, that might be a bit of a problem."
"No, really? I thought he just went around wearing that white cream because he was mortally afraid of getting a sunburn. My mistake." The Healer's tone was dryly ironic. "Now if you'll all excuse me, I cave a few cases to finish up- have to go bounce ideas off my team and all that so I can enjoy my vacation." He limped off.
"That is your cousin?" Mina replied, looking as if she wasn't quite certain what to think.
Daria nodded, sighing melodramatically. "Unfortunately, I have to claim him."
"I heard that!" Nibor called.
"You were supposed to!" she called back.
Nibor was chuckling as he rounded the corner. His cousin turned back to her friends. "I have to go meet a few people, so why don't you make yourselves comfortable? I don't think I'll be too long."
The five humans split off to claim their temporary quarters as Daria left. Skinner had a grand time with the lights in the room that he was to share with Sawyer. Instead of a switch, the overhead lighting was the kind triggered by a sharp noise.
"Look at this!" he exclaimed to the American upon figuring it out. "Clap on!" He did so. "Clap off!" The lights immediately extinguished as he clapped his hands again. "Clap on!"
"Is that really necessary?" Sawyer asked, flopping himself down on one of the two beds in the sleeping room. Their luggage hadn't been delivered yet, he noticed. All he got as an answer was another gleeful 'Clap off!" and the lights going out again. "Skinner!" he yelled. "Please, enough!"
Agent Sawyer of the Tau'ri, please report to Security Station Eleven, located at the northern end of your corridor.
Sawyer jumped, surprised by the contact. If he hadn't already heard Daria speak to him in just that manner, he probably would have thought he was going mad. The message repeated itself, once again asking him to go to the Security Station.
Skinner, who seemed to have gotten bored with the lights, looked up from examining something shiny as Sawyer passed. "Wha' do they want you for, mate?" he asked curiously. Sawyer shrugged and went to go find the station.
At the checkpoint, the American was met by a trio of stern-looking Tau'ka, all dressed in red-and-gray uniforms. The oldest gestured him into the room set just off of the corridor. "I am pleased to see that you found your way here so quickly, Agent Sawyer," the guard said. "We are faced with a certain small dilemma." He indicated a table, where a small pile of weaponry- Sawyer's pistols and rifle- lay. "Why did you pack so many arms?"