Lieutenant Talyn Rac Part Six: New Enemies, Old Friends
by Sorlk Lewis
Aeryn made her way through the maze of access shafts. She was continuously coming to dead ends. Four times she had almost been caught. It felt as though she had been searching for arns. Frell, another end. She thought to herself. “Zhaan, are Chiana and Rygel OK?” What!? Aeryn didn’t believe her ears at first, but it was him. It was Dargo! “We’re all right you dumb Luxan.”, commented Rygels annoying voice. Aeryn cautiously tapped on the wall five times. Silence. “Is someone there?”, she half whispered, half croaked. “Aeryn!?”, yelled out D’argo in shock. “Shhh, yes it’s me. Be quiet though.” “D’argo, what’s going on?”, questioned the young Nebari. D’argo was becoming frustrated, “Be quiet!”, he snapped. “D’argo, are there any surveillance devices in there?” “Yes, there is a camera on the wall you are behind.” Aeryn frantically searched the wall for any faults. She finally found a small wire hanging loose. She shut her eyes tight and yanked it out. “What did you do Aeryn?”, came a surprised Luxans voice. “What do you mean?” “The device, it has stopped functioning.” Aeryn slightly yelled for joy inside of herself. “I’ll be there in a minute D’argo.” She started looking for another panel or tunnel she could go through. After her search, she found one small opening. It was large enough for her to fit through, but a Luxan would never make it. Aeryn crawled through anyway. She dropped through the ceiling of the cell and almost landed on D’argo. “I never thought I would be glad to see a Peace Keeper.”, said D’argo jokingly. “Ex-Peace Keeper.”, she corrected him. After a few microts, D’argo was freed of his chains. “Zhaan, we will free you in a microt.” “Aeryn!? Is that really you?”, came Chianas voice. “Yes it is and be quiet right now.” Aeryn crawled back into the shaft. “You can’t follow me through here D’argo. I will go around and open the cell door.” “You have a key?” “It’s a long story.” Aeryn squeezed through to the next intersection.
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Pilot was becoming greatly distressed. Moya was even more so. The sweeps of Peace Keeper ships were slowly coming closer and closer to discovering them. Pilot hadn’t spoken with Aeryn for about twelve arns and he was worrying over the rest of the crew. Moya still had ten arns to go until she could starburst. Things were not looking up.
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“Sorry Scorpy, I guess I am *deficient*. So much that I can’t remember a damn th…Ahhhhhhhhh!”, finished John as the chair started back up. They had been sticking him there for the past two days as far as he could tell. It could have been more though. Scorpius was again pacing back and forth awaiting more of the memories Crichton possessed. He had once again underestimated this human. The Aurora Chair powered down. John started choking. “Get a med tech in here!”, ordered Scorpius. Lt. Rac walked in and stood next to Scorpius. “He is not giving in. How can he hold out for so long?”, questioned the young Peace Keeper. Scorpius’ voice was now deep and menacing as he spoke, “I do not know! He should have told us everything by now!” Talyn shuddered slightly when he looked at John, choking and slumped over. The med tech finally arrived and gave him an injection. John breathing slowly returned to normal. “Take him back to his cell.”, ordered Scorpius. Two guards unstrapped and carried away the now unconscious human. “Is there any word of Officer Sun?” “No Scorpius, there is none.”
Aeryn finally finished unlocking Zhaan, Chiana, and Rygels cell door. Chiana jumped up and gave Aeryn a hug. She just shoved her away; “You all must leave here immediately.” D’argo would not tolerate this, “Not with out Crichton!” Aeryn pinned the gigantic Luxan against the wall, “Yes, you will. I will get John. If you stay here, they will recapture you. This is a Peace Keeper base.” D’argo didn’t even argue. “Good, now there is a transport pod waiting at these coordinates.” She handed him a parchment. “Contact Pilot and Moya once you reach the outermost atmosphere. Once I have John, we will join you. I have my Prowler hidden nearby.” “Goddess be with you Aeryn.”, said Zhaan as she left. Rygel and Chiana quietly followed. Aeryn backed away from D’argo, “Good luck Aeryn.” “Thank you D’argo. Now go.” As they disappeared around a corner Aeryn sighed and climbed back in the tunnel.
John lay in the middle of his cell halfway unconscious. The injection he received earlier, relaxed him and knocked him out cold for an arn or two. At least he was able to rest slightly. He heard five light taps echo through the room. He knew it was Aeryn, “Hey Sun.”, he groaned as he half crawled half rolled over to the wall. Aeryn could tell he had been in the chair again. “John, I found the others. I sent them back to Moya.” “Good, that’s really good.”, as soon as he finished saying this he started coughing again. “John, I will get you out of there. I have a plan.” He chuckled, “As long as it isn’t like my last one, OK. Scorpius shouldn’t be back for a little while longer.” He coughed some more. His cough was deep and raspy. “All right John. I have to go again. I’ll be back soon.” “OK Aeryn. I need to tell you something…” “Shh John, just rest right now.” Aeryn backed away from the wall once again. All of a sudden the priority level one red alert sounded. They had found the empty cells.
“Aeryn!”, scowled Talyn as he stormed out of the now empty cell. Microns ago the cells had been found void of their prisoners. Captain Rac and Scorpius arrived. “What has happened?”, demanded the Captain. “Sun has freed her shipmates. She is still on the base.” The captain became angrier, “Why the frell didn’t you turn her in or terminate her when you arrived on base!? Do you know what she could do to our research!?” “Sir, I was not ordered to do such.” He turned his stare on Scorpius, “I was ordered to bring her to the base and not to terminate her or turn her in.” Captain Rac glared at Scorpius also, “Did you give these orders? This base is now under my control and I will run it as I see fit! Is that understood!?” “High Command has told me no such thing. As director of a level Red Decca project, I can take control over any Peace Keeper base or craft.”, replied Scorpius calmly.
To Be Continued…