- Xark'ion -

He heard himself say the words, but he wasn't sure where they came from. Leave the squad? Leave his sword? The absurdity of it wanted to make him laugh. An investigation? Was that any kind of activity for a warrior?

But Ava's presence made him dizzy. He couldn't think straight with those warm, dark eyes on him. That smooth skin, the roundness of her cheeks and chin, the gentle movements of her slender hands and her neck ...

The queen was in the room too, but she paled in comparison to the other woman.

He felt a strong urge to be close to Ava. For a long time. She seemed so fragile and soft to him, so small and defenseless. The idea of her being alone in any situation without the protection of a squad of warriors made him short of breath.

An investigation. With Ava. For Acerex. The possible end to the destructive warfare that had continued for so long and halted the development of their world.

Some said it was proper that a warrior people was constantly at war. But then the Earthlings had arrived, and now many were starting to see what had been taken from them. Acerex could have been as developed and as advanced as Earth if there hadn't always been desperate wars to fight.

He had to consciously remind himself to breathe. Even when he wasn't looking directly at her, Ava filled his whole consciousness. What might she look like under that shapeless utility suit?

His crotch immediately twitched. No, he couldn't think of that. Not now. The embarrassment of going visibly hard in front of the queen would be ... total. It would definitely show through his pants.

And then she started talking, and the sweet sound of her voice almost brought tears to his eyes.

“There is one race of aliens behind all the wars,” she said, and it was like perfect, crystal bells in his ears. “They're called the Kunuru. They have manipulated and forced the other alien species to attack Acerex for their own purposes. I want to know who these aliens really are and what they want. If and when we find out, we think we can talk to them and make them stop.”

It was obviously a test. “Enemies are not for talking to,” Xark'ion said. “They are for killing.”

She gave him an alien frown. “Acerex has tried to kill their enemies for centuries. It hasn't worked too well. I think it's about time for another way. Perhaps it works, perhaps not. If it doesn't, then at least we will know it doesn't. But considering the amount of bloodshed that could be spared if it works, it's absolutely worth trying.”

He could feel her scent, sweet and flowery, with a spicy edge. So very alien. So very enticing. But her words weren't making much sense. “Surely after we find this enemy, we can just kill him and end our troubles once and for all.”

“There is very likely not just one enemy,” Ava said. “The Kunuru is an entire species, not just one individual. You can't kill a whole species.”

He couldn't quite decipher the alien expressions on her face, but her beauty was almost too much to bear. This was another test. She must know he would protect her.

He looked her right in the eyes, and the connection was so strong that he felt his crotch twitch again. “I can try.”

She fixed him with those warm eyes, and he was surprised to see that there was a hardness in them. “No, Captain, that's not the idea. We will do our best to find the Kunuru, and then we will try to talk to them. There is to be no killing or attempted genocide. Shall I take it then that you will not volunteer for this?”

Leave Ava alone among enemy aliens? He wanted to shudder. “I am a warrior. Not an investigator. And being without my sword will ... pain me. Perhaps I can bring my whole squad. Would that not be a better approach?”

She frowned, and it made her face even more beautiful. “I'm not sure if I can put this any simpler. This is a diplomatic mission. There are to be no weapons brought. There will be no squad of warriors. I will do the investigating, and you – or the man who finally agrees – will assist me. And he will represent Acerex. Not as a soldier, but as a diplomat.”

'The man who finally agrees'? Anger welled up in him. He would allow no other man near Ava. And yet ... “A delicate and enticing alien female alone among the enemies except for one unarmed warrior. It seems foolhardy.”

“We're not asking what you think of the plan, warrior,” Queen Harper said coldly. “We are asking if you will volunteer. But now I think perhaps we're wasting our time. If you really see no sense in this, then you are certainly free to go back to your squad and continue your valuable service as before.”

It was the obvious thing to do. The squad needed him. After Groti'ax's death, he'd have to make some changes and select a new member among the many who wanted to join. He would have to get to terms with running it without Groti'ax's support. And he'd have to practice with his new sword to gain even basic skills with it. These alien women wanted him to leave his sword completely behind, and then go seeking out the enemy! To talk to them. It was a head-shakingly insane idea, from start to finish. It was doomed to a catastrophic failure. Any warrior who agreed to go along with it would have to be quite deranged.

Ava lowered her eyes, and that little movement and the disappointment it spoke of broke his heart. If in fact she was going in among enemies, then she had to be quite brave despite her soft exterior. And she'd need the best protector she could get.

He straightened. “My queen, I volunteer.”