chanceencounters1

Chance Encounters Part 1
by TekKing

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the creations of the
writers and owners of ‘Farscape’.
I am merely a science fiction enthusiast, and I really
like ’Farscape’. This is an amateurish attempt to entertain
fellow enthusiasts for the -fun- of it.
I have no connection with nor expect any contact with
the professional writers of ‘Farscape’ or the owners
thereof. Enjoy!

Chance Encounter (PART ONE)

        Moya felt the presence of the Command Carrier even before she came out of Starburst. Pilot felt her panic and then immediately tried to find anywhere to hide until she could recharge Starburst to escape the trap.
" Ka D'Argo. I have sensed the presence of a Peacekeeper Command Carrier..." Pilot said.
" I see it Pilot, evasive maneuvers.
Aeryn! You are needed on in Command...Now!" D’Argo
said into his com-link as he rolled the manual controls out of the control console.
John had been on his way to Command to serve his watch when the action started so he entered command at that instant.
" Looks like Scorpie has found us," John said as he came up beside D'Argo.
" The Carrier has launched its Prowlers...no wait. These ships are too small to be their manned fighters." Pilot said as he began switching controls over to the manual propulso console.
Aeryn ran into the Command center, instantly assess the situation on the view screen and darted to the manual control console.
" You are right Pilot, those aren't ships... they are clamp mines. Give me top hetch speed now!"
Aeryn leaned into the control stick causing Moya to shutter as she engaged her speed into a hard turning maneuver.

" Now they are launching their Prowlers," John said his eyes staring up at the view screen.
Moya had made the turn and was starting to build speed when the first clamp mine bit into her tail fin and exploded. The shock and concussion wave rippled down the great Leviathan's body.
Pilot cried out in pain.
Moya rocked.
" This is Scorpius.
Escape is impossible.
Already several mines are attached to the Leviathan's body and will detonate at my command.
Surrender now or you will... all perish."
The Peacekeeper commander leaned back into his large red wall chair and looked passionlessly at the gaping hole in the tailfin of the great ship.
" Is that what you want, Scorpie?" John said over the com-link.
" You know what I want Crichton. Now, the question is...
will -you- surrender?" Scorpius stood up, more for effect on the Peacekeeper subordinates around him, than for any better view.
John looked at D'Argo and then Aeryn. Both his friends were shaking their heads -willing- to die right there with him.
John smiled.
Zhaan and Chiana rushed onto the bridge with the whirling noise of Rygel’s sled bringing up the rear.
" Let me John." Rygel said as he stopped before the com-link.
" Scorpius, this is Rygel the Sixteenth..."
" The Hynerian traitor... Yes, I remember you little one.
I was discussing surrender with Crichton. Please leave."
" That is what I am trying to do," Rygel said positioning himself. " Crichton will not surrender unless certain conditions are to be met. "
" This is ridiculous...." Scorpius began to say.
" I remind you Scorpius that Peacekeeper command will want something to show for the loss of your Gammack base, hundreds of lost Peacekeeper lives, the escape of the Leviathan gunship, not to mention the loss of the renegade Captain Crais.
If you kill us, you kill Crichton, and lose the only chance to redeem yourself to High Command.
Now enough of this nonsense, can we come to a ...uh arrangement?" Rigel said.
John shook his head and leaned his palms onto the console.
Aeryn looked at him with her puzzled look and tried not to let the fear and tension welling up in her effect her cool exterior.
The various prowler squads took up positions all about Moya, but held their fire.
[Communication between Moya and Pilot]
(My Pilot. Why is this so? I hurt my Pilot. I want to go... to go from this Peacekeeper place.)
(Moya, my Moya. Our littles will make it so. Fear not. I'm repairing the damage even now.
I fear will we lose the Crichton. The Peacekeepers will take him away.)
(My Pilot. I grieve for this; the Crichton is my friend.
What is to be done?)
(Oh my Moya, it is in the destiny of the littles.)
Rygel made a slight flourish to indicate the crew.
" Now we don't want to die. Further... to the point, of what value -are- we to the Peacekeepers compared to Crichton?
Release the mines off Moya's hull, Grant us Peacekeeper special order release pardons for delivering special service to the council.
Allow us to go without an escort; with a map to Lothorian space.
In return you get Crichton without a struggle," Rigel said.
" Agreed," Scoripus said with the beginning of a smile forming on his face.
Rigel turned and gave the signal to Zhaan who injected John in the back with the needle she had palmed in her hand.
" No!" Aeryn said reaching out to stop the already completed task.
D'Argo's sting tongue struck Aeryn before her hand reached Zhaan's.

                Chapter two

The velvet darkness was like a smothering fog as light and sound fought its way back to Aeryn's consciousness.
Aeryn became aware of the handcuffs, and the back of someone else pressed against her.
" Aeryn? Are you back?" Chiana said trying not to squirm.
" Chiana? What's going on?" Aeryn asked shaking the mild concussion effects from her head.
" Our... pals. They tied us up, to get us out of their way.
Are you...all right?" Chiana said in her half concerned - might not be- fashion that so irritated Aeryn.
" Yes. D'Argo stung me?" Aeryn remembered.
" Oh yeah. He was pretty close to you when he did it too. I bet that frelling hurt!" Chiana said.
" That's an understatement," Aeryn looked around.
" Where are they? Where's Crichton?"
Chiana lowered her head as her eyes began to fill with tears.
Aeryn could fell the change in her companion's posture and her silence only added to pressure of the situation.
" Chiana," Aeryn tried to be sensitive with a softer voice.
With a quick breath and a jerk of her head, Chiana tried to disguise her feelings to the Peacekeeper.
But failed...
" The bastards. They betrayed him over to that Scarren Peacekeeper.
He gave them some map fibers and handful of discs with
pardons for them. You believe that? After all the dren he
suffered for them?" The half hearted attempt to disguise her feelings dropped, the tough kid act fell as well and Chiana began sobbing openly.
For some reason Aeryn was touched by the tears of Chiana.
In her own heart she began to sense a welling up of anxiety over Crichton.
Perhaps she would never see him again.
" No. Stop it. I... we got to remain focused here," Aeryn said as much to herself as to Chiana.
" You want to know the really sad part? I could sense that
Crichton was about to give himself up. You know, sacrifice
himself so his friends could go free. If they had waited one microt, they wouldn't have needed the needle.
That's what you get Crichton.
You trust people... they kill you.
I should of known better, I actually believed we were... you know... like family.
We would all stick together.
Well... I guess they got what they wanted." Chiana took in a deep breath, then slowly let it out.
Aeryn waited until she was finished.
" Frell them," Chiana yelled out.
"I didn't need a damn pardon from frellin Peacekeepers.
You aren't friends of mine.
You, all of you, killed my friend...
I hate them," Chiana yelled out with all the power she
could muster with her head tilted fully back for effect.
" You killed my friend. You murdering, back stabbing, dren. I...hate you..." Chiana relaxed and sagged against the bindings as she began to sob quietly.
Aeryn kept a tight rein on her own emotions, but could well understand, even agree with her unexpected cellmate.
Crichton had become more than a friend... he was that, but also someone she had grown close to, to share thoughts with and a few times they had... (stop it).
Aeryn physically shook her head as if the dislodge the thoughts from her mind.
About an aurn passed before they entered the room.
Aeryn looked at D’Argo and then away, ignoring Rigel and Zhaan as they entered the room.
Rigel confronted Aeryn.
“ Listen Peacekeeper. I didn’t come here to negotiate or ask for forgiveness. I did what was the best and only option we had for survival. I will miss Crichton...”
“ It can’t be undone now. He’s gone,” Aeryn said coldly.
“ Undo me.”
Zhaan moved forward and looked at Aeryn.
“Aeryn I know you won’t forgive us. However I want to
see you or Chiana like this. If you will listen, and promise
you won’t hinder our escapes to our home worlds we would gladly release you both. You’ll be free to go anywhere you want.” Zhaan said with a repressed grief of
her own welling behind her eyes.
“ I promise not to hinder or harm you. I don’t expect you to harm me. I believe you said you wanted to go to Lothorian space. Fine, once there you can all get off Moya
and flee. I’m staying on with Pilot and Moya.” Aeryn said.
Chiana struggle for an instant...
“ Yeah. You know I’m no threat. Just give me a chance to
find my own way.” Chiana said.
***
Aeryn walked down the hall towards her quarters and
stopped before she entered. Continuing down the corridor
She went to Crichton’s room and entered.
The room had been stripped.
All of Crichton’s personal stuff had been gone through and
looted. Aeryn walked over to his bed and opened the secret compartment John had showed her. The board
moved and exposed the small tape recording device from
John’s primitive world.
She studied the button controls and pressed one of them.
It began playing John’s voice.
“... That’s when she entered the cell with the other
Peacekeeper and she took him out. I tell you dad,
just seeing her again... alive, her so beautiful and strong.
What can I say... I fall in love with her every time I see her.” Aeryn switched it off and rewound it and listened again. She sat down on his bed and wiped the tears from
her face and let out a silent sob of her own now.
She then got up and went back to her room. She kept the
recorder, it was all she had left now.
[Ten weekens later]
Rigel stopped his throne sled in front of the tall, angler
humanoid. The long head seemed almost too thin to possess the high intelligence, and regal demeanor that the ambassador displayed to Rigel, D'Argo, Zhann and Chiana.
Aeryn had stayed by the console in Command.
D'Argo eyed the being as he made the final arrangements for
the transport of cargo.
" What's the matter D'Argo? You're acting strangely," Chiana said in a whisper from behind the big Luxan.
D'Argo turned slowly and grunted his disapproval to the situation.
Rigel expressed little concern about the cargo, more on the payment... as usual.
" These fifty thousand credits are based on 'standard' trade equivalents, not planetary...correct?" Rigel said.
" But of course, further you will be granted Lothorian credentials with the map fibers you requested.
I ,of course, have made all the arrangements with the handlers. You and your crew will only need to provide the bare essentials to the handlers and their cargo, no labor on your part will be required.
In fact the less you have to deal with the transported items the better for everyone." The Ambassador folded his long fingers turned slightly as the small com-unit on his sleeve chimed slightly.
" Ah, the Cargo is approaching even now. Now you must excuse me. I have lived amongst the Lothorians for most of my life and I too have become unaccustomed to dealing with the violence, and the behavior of other aggressive life-forms. That is why they assign those tasks to others to do. Such as being an ambassador to other life-forms," the ambassador smiled and spoke into his com-unit.
" Captain Rigel. Here is the 'full' fifty thousand credits in
'standard' trade currency." The ambassador handed Rigel the credit disc made of pure Latium. " The sergeant has the map fibers and the Lothorian licenses you required.
I wish you a safe journey. I'm sure this will be a reasonable three day journey, profitable to us all. Again good health to you all." The Ambassador bowed slightly and walked toward his transport just as the pressure door behind him began to close to allow the cargo transport to land.
The Ambassador was soon aboard his ship and gone.
When the pressure door reopened a Peacekeeper Marauder was parked before them.
A black uniformed soldier with a green armband on his right arm and a heavy duty pulse rifle in the ready position was peering at them. The taunt, expressionless face searched each of Moya's crew quickly establishing the situation.
" Aeryn!" Rigel pleaded to the com-unit as softly as he could.
" We need you down here...hurry."
Aeryn recognized the urgency in Rigel's voice and began to roll her eyes in displeasure.
After a moment, she thought of Pilot and Chiana, and then what Crichton would of done.
" I'm on my way, Rigel"
When Aeryn turned the corner she was confronted by two squads of Peacekeeper Legionnaires all armed, including two rifle carrying techs.
" Well, well. What do we have here?" said a corporal.
" Silence," Barked the large sergeant.
" Was I misinformed Hynerian? I was lead to believe you were the Captain here." The Sergeant continued.
Aeryn walked up beside Rigel her rifle in the ready position.
" The Hynerian is the ship's cargo-master. I am in command here sergeant. If you have any questions direct them to me. Understood?" Aeryn said her face in Peacekeeper commando mode.
" I am Sergeant Arrat. Sixth Legion; Taos regiment; Alpha company. Temporarily assigned to Prisoner transport duty.
And you are?" The sergeant said without expression.
Deciding to flaunt her freedom from the Peacekeepers and her independence on her 'friends'. Aeryn lowered her rifle and leaned against Rigel’s throne sled nonchalantly and smiled.
" Oh, yeah. Excuse me.
My name is Aeryn...Crichton.
I'm the temporary 'Captain' for this little ride."
" Crichton? That's the second time I've ..." The Sergeant began.
Chiana straighten up for a second.
Zhaan looked at D'Argo who glance quickly to her eyes and back to Aeryn. She looked like she was having a good time; while they were all squirming.
Rigel had got them stuck in the middle of something they might soon regret.
" The prisoners are ready for transport," A tech reported to the sergeant, interrupting the sergeant's comment.
" Yes tek." The sergeant never took his eyes off Aeryn.
" Let’s get something clear. My squads are soldiers. They aren't
very compatible with civilians. The less interaction between your 'people' and mine the better it will be. Another thing...
I need to know if your Luxan here is loyal to the Empress,
or a freebooter. My squad has been in combat and if the Luxan tries to intervene with the prisoners, they'll kill without hesitation. Do you read me on this?" the sergeant said.
" Don't worry sergeant," Rigel began. " 'Our' Luxan will make no trouble during the next three days.
Now if you follow me
I will show you the 'rooms' we can provide for you," Rigel said as he turned his throne sled around.
Aeryn stepped back and re-shouldered her rifle.
She looked at Chiana who was staring at Aeryn as if they both knew what the other was thinking.
The corporal's squad had turned and gone back up the marauder's gangway and went up into the vessel.
Aeryn turned and followed the sergeant and Rigel to see where they were going. Chiana ran up close to her and whispered:
" Did you hear him say he heard of Crichton? Maybe..."
Aeryn turned quickly to look her in the eye.
" Later."
Chiana felt a ray of hope begin to flame in her heart. She
nearly giggled as she ran up beside D'Argo who was watching three wounded Luxan warriors hobble toward them.
Two of the Luxans wore uniforms like D'Argo only grey in color.
The other wore a sleek, green uniform, he was missing his right arm below the elbow. All three wore gags in their mouths and their eyes were blindfolded. Their arms were chained to a waist chain and their legs were shackled with ankle-cuffs barely permitting a shuffle movement.
The warriors were flanked by the sergeant's squad of four who moved by the crew. The guards eyes were constantly checking if D'Argo moved, and kept the prisoners moving.
Next down the ramp came a Nebari male. He was a little older than Chiana, for his hair was beginning to darken.
The sight made Chiana to gasp.
The young man had been severely beaten.
His white tunic was stained deeply with the Nabari's blue blood. His eyes were both swollen shut and discolored from
a beating. A control collar was flashing about his neck and
the sight of another one of those had made Chiana cringe.
Unable to see, the more vocal and disrespectful corporal and his guard poked and stunned their prisoners down the ramp.
" Come on you stinking dren. Move along." A huge, brawny, female Peacekeeper said, as she guided the Nabari along with a stun stick. The electric shock seared the buttocks and back of the disoriented young man.
Following was a Luxan female.
Her arms had been painfully pulled tight behind her and tied with wire. Black blood dripped from the bindings.
Her eyes had also been covered with a blindfold. Her feet were bare and ankle-cuffed.
She wore a torn open brown work garment, its kimono-like sash hung loosely where she had been humiliated.
Her sinal tubes were discolored and hanging loosely over her face.
D'Argo felt a sense of outrage welling up from his soul.
As the two began to pass the Luxan female caught D'Argo's scent of compassion.
Falling to her knees she began crying out in ancient Luxan.
" Help me brother! Spare my unborn this humiliation. I beg your pity... kill me, I pray - mercy"
" What the frell is she saying?" The Female Peacekeeper said.
The Nabari stopped and turned to face his captors.
The corporal strided up to confront the situation.
" I've had it with you bitch!" The Corporal screamed.
" Excuse me, sir. The Luxan is from a rural planet. She is a peasant, she has no translator microbes. Further, she can not understand the complex Sabacean language," The Nabari said in a quiet voice. He kept his face down trying to appear helpful.
" Tek!" yelled the corporal. " I've had enough of you too, you mouthy, little, brat."
The tek reported and the corporal snapped his fingers and
eyed the Nabari. The tek produced a hand held control circuit with the two intensity buttons Chiana knew too well.
With in seconds the control collar flashed full power and
the young Nabari dropped in agony to the deck. Writhing in pain he jerked against the cuffs behind him at his hands and elbows.
" Hey tek. This things stuck," the corporal said sadistically.
" Sir, brain damage will occur if you don't release," the tek stammered.
" I said its broke!" yelled the corporal flinging the devise
still in full power mode to the floor.
The tek dashed to retrieve it, but was tripped by one of the other guards. Finally he retrieved the device and freed the buttons to release them.
The Nabari lay shaking, blood dripping from his eyes, ears and mouth. In shock and unable to draw in a breath from the pain.
The Female private stepped up and kicked the young man in his groin, causing him to turn into the fetal position and vomit.
" You stinking animal!" Yelled the private.
Zhann turned and walked away holding her hand to her face, tears were running down her cheeks as memories of her own past tortures relived in her mind.
The corporal looked at the bloody and vomit mess on the deck.
" Look at that."
The Nebari youth had struggled to his knees.
Grasping the boys face, the corporal jerked the swollen eye lids apart exposing the eye to the light. Naturally the boy tried to shy away but instead had his face pressed into the vomit and blood on the floor and wiped in it.
" Clean that up you mud slug" the Corporal said laughing.
D'Argo recoiled and reached for his qualta when three red
targeting dots appeared on his face.
" Don't think about it Luxan." one of the privates said.
The Corporal turned to examine D'Argo when his eye caught the clavicle rings on his chest.
" Tek. Check what we have here. Do you have any?" The corporal eyed the tek who sheepishly dug through his kit bag until he produced a package of two rail hooks for suspending surgical covers.
" Eh.. Corporal. I must report to you that Luxan clavicle rings are condoned for condemned murderers.
A Prisoner of war is not to be confused with a criminal..." the Tek said.
" Shut you mouth. This prisoner is uncooperative. It is my duty to see that this prisoner conforms to Peacekeeper orders. Now what do you have? “ The corporal said.
“ Curtain rod fasteners for putting up a surgical curtain,” The tek said flinching from the look of the corporal"
The tek shied away shaking his head.
With a nod from the corporal, one of the privates stepped onto the calves of the Luxan female and grasped her by her sinal tubes. D'Argo face wetted from rage. Chiana turned and ran but couldn't escape the hopeless screams coming from the poor woman in the hands of the Peacekeepers. Running around the corner she ran right into Sergeant Arrat and Aeryn.
Stumbling back with tears flowing from her face.
Aeryn could begin to hear the screams.
" What the frell is going on?" Aeryn said confused.
" Lets find out," Arrat said.
" Are you having problems corporal?" Arrat demanded.
" Lieutenant!" cried out the female private.
" Under control...now" The corporal said.
The Nabari was dragged onto his feet.
The Luxan female was chained and the slightest pull caused a wince and compliance.
" You see. I've got it under control sergeant," the corporal
said.
" Come here Corporal, A word please." the sergeant's tone left no room for debate.
Aeryn walked away and looked at D'Argo as he walked passed her, his eyes reddened and tears flowing. His manner of walk suggested trouble. Aeryn fingered her pulse rifle trigger. She turned so she could barely, but still could hear.
" Look Stikth. I warned you about the differences between prisoners of war and criminals. You will be on report for this as soon as we are aboard the battle fighter. If there was an officer on board right now, you would be up on demerit charges.
Do you understand?" Arrat said.
" Well, yes. They wouldn't obey me. I had to show them who was in control. They are in control now."
" Clavicle rings are not permitted on war prisoners. I hope you get re-assigned to the Luxan front. If captured, I sure the Luxan commander will find something interesting to stick... in you!" Arrat turned. " Confine your prisoners "
The two were each taken to their assigned cells and secured.

                        CHAPTER THREE

Chiana had recovered from the terrible sights the day before and hoped for a chance to talk to Aeryn. She went to the mess hall and poured some of drinking water into a flask.
The room was empty for now and she began to think about the statement the Sergeant Arrat had said,
' That's the second time I've...'
'Has he heard of Crichton? Maybe just the wanted beacons?
Maybe -he- was on Scorpius's ship?' Chiana worked the different scenarios over and over in her mind.
Just then the female Peacekeeper private and Corporal Stikth walked into the room. Chiana had hoped Aeryn would of come, or better yet... the Sergeant. Chiana wouldn't let her ideas be revealed in her smiling face.
" Can I get you two something to eat?" Chiana played.
" Oh? Yes, as a matter of fact. We're hungry," Stikth said
as he found a seat and sat down. The private slid onto the
bench with him.
" I bet you important Peacekeepers have been all over. Seen really unbelievable things. Eaten exotic foods and been to far away places, right?" Chiana began to bait with her disarming smile and ever moving body.
The two Peacekeepers began to take the bait.
" Well, I myself have been in a lot of exotic places. I've
been around a long time in my duty stations." The corporal bragged.
" Well, this is what we have here, some Nestorian nectar,
probably too sweet for Peacekeepers. I know you will
enjoy bread cakes and fruit syrup to start your day," Chiana sat the cheap foodstuffs down as if it were for a king.
The private gulped down the nectar as if she had never taste anything that good before.
" It is sweet...but o- k... Got more?" She said.
" Yes, let me get you some," Chiana said sweetly.
The corporal wolfed down his plate of cakes and began to sip the nectar.
Just then Aeryn and Zhaan entered the room.
Zhaan immediately turned and left, however Aeryn eyed Chiana and understood what she was doing.
Aeryn turned her back and sat down.
Chiana brought a plate for Aeryn and turned back to work her charms on the corporal.
" You guys are so great. I bet you've met some really strange looking creatures in your career, haven't you Corporal? More cakes? Nectar?" Chiana kept it up.
The corporal started to swagger a little in his manner as he eyed the back of Aeryn and glanced at the eager eyed Chiana.
" Enough food, Some more drink though. Yeah, I can tell you ... I have seen some pretty weird stuff, people and some unbelievable creatures during my duty."
" Did you ever meet a creature that was a total alien but looked like a Peacekeeper?" Chiana dropped the hook as she placed the drink down by stretching across the table giving the corporal an eye full.
" Funny you should say. In fact that's how I made my Corporals bar. It was due to actions caused by a creature that... if he was standing here right now, you would swear he was a true, Peacekeeper, no lie!"
" Tell her Corp. Yeah, yeah. Tell her how you made corporal."
The female private said feeling the nectar's effects.
Aeryn had been playing with the cakes with her fork, but now she took a bite and watch D'Argo enter and serve himself.
He sat in front of Aeryn and ignored the Peacekeepers.
" Well about ten weekens ago my squad was on a supply satellite station for Admiral Sun's Fleet," Stikth began.
Aeryn's eyes widened to D'Argo's notice.
" When out of nowhere a full Command Carrier docked. The really strange thing was it was under command by a science officer named....What was his name Horpius?" Stikth wondered.
" Scur-pee-us, I think," The private said.
" Yeah, Scrupus. Anyway, he drags on station this guy. We all thought him to be a deserter or like. Comes out, our squad is assigned confinement duty for this guy. Everyday, sometimes three times a day, sometimes all day..."
" All day and night, one time," The private interrupted.
" Right, the last day" Stikth said," This guy goes in 'The
Chair' A real brain burner of a torture device. Everyday
our squad had to drag him down seven flights to the chair.
Stand guard while this guy is burned, screaming, foaming at the mouth, blood, sweat, and tears... hey, it was great." Stikth said in between slurps.
" For two weekens," the private said before swilling down the last of her nectar.
" Corporal Lynk, a real nurfer, was squad leader then.
He could see how angry Scrupus was after all this time and nothing." Stikth said.
" Yeah, the creature was called a 'eewwmon', I think. He was real funny. He almost made me pee once. He said stuff like..
You got a face only a mother could love...did you have a mother?
Or, or, I bet when you was a kid, they tied meat around your neck so the hounds would be your friend."
The private was laughing at the repeated jokes.
" You had to be there to 'get it'" Stikth said.
D'Argo understood, only Crichton would do that.
" Anyway. Corporal Lynk decided to teach the 'U-man' a lesson and beat him to a pulp. We had been on duty the whole time missing breaks or relief for the whole day. After the ‘lesson’ we dragged 'Cry-ton', the U-man, out of the interrogation room to take back to his cell. Lynk said, 'This dren won't live through the night. He can die in one of these brig cells just as easy as in level seven security.'
That was a big mistake.
You see. U-mans might look and act weak and stupid...but its a act... fake. No elite commando could take two weekens in a Aurora chair and beatings and whippings every day and...
Well you see. We locked Cry-ton in the cell and went to relieve ourselves. We weren't gone five microts, you hear? When we get back. Poof. The U-man had picked his cuffs, unscrewed a vent cover and headed down a air duct that your sweet little frame would of had trouble getting through." Stikth rolled his eyes. " Oh, was Scurpus pissed. The entire station was called on alert. But you see I was thinking. Where would I go? Right, I headed for the docking port and...you'll never guess what gave him away... You see," Stikth tried to sound knowledgeable.
" U-man blood is a shade or two brighter than Sabacean blood.
The beating we laid into that tough little nut, put u-man
blood on my sleeve, just like that I saw on the deck grid. I followed the drip, drip, there. Up the drip, drip trail all the way to a deep space marauder. Inside this tek was rewiring the security control board and I notice out of his ear. Drip, drip onto the deck. Now if you ever cross up with a U-man, my sweet," Stikth tried, but failed to appear superior.
"Don't waste your time with body blows, or such. A u-man is able to sluff that off like a Peacekeeper. Where he is weak is the head. I walked up and 'Bamn', a Pan-tack Jab to the head and flop, he was out like a dark room. I cuffed him and flung him over my shoulder and took him right to Scurpus." Stikth leaned back for the effect of his great triumph.
The private looked impressed.
Chiana smiled a pretended to be in awe.
Aeryn's face was a stretched mask, revealing none of the anger she felt inside.
D'Argo couldn't bring himself to look into Aeryn's eyes, but was so deeply ashamed of himself all appetite was long since disappeared.
" Yeah, Lynk was busted to private and put into the brig. I
was promoted to corporal and placed in charge of the squad. I made sure of the U-man. He never escaped me."
" Tell her, Corp. Tell her how you fixed the U-man"
" Well. You got to know how to put prisoners in their place. Especially types like Cry-tan. When he was aware again from the, 'Bamn' pan-tack I gave him, we dragged him to the heavy security door and with two of 'my squad' holding him and two of us on the door we 'snap-snap' -broke- both his legs. Right above the knees." Stikth rared back and began laughing with the private.
" He never ran from me, ha,ha,ha. Never again."
" Never again? Why did you kill him?" Chiana said.
D'Argo had stood up at the laughing and had left the room.
Aeryn was still as a statue, her eyes glazed, her face tight.
" Oh no, we didn't ever finish the poor dren, off. Admiral Sun returned from a raid on the Luxan fleet and found Scurpus's Command Carrier. With no less than the elite Pliesar regiment with battle compliment. Sitting at his supply station.
Sun took command in a Microt and ordered a new blood oath to himself. Well you could imagine how fast the Peacekeeper commandos wanted to be under a true warrior commander rather than a science officer!" Stikth rolled his eyes. " I remember it well. We all stood on the main deck and watched all the ship's crew raise a blood oath to 'Obey, fight, and enforce the orders of Admiral Tayln Sun to the death'; what a sight. We even got
rid of our legion commander Lieutenant Mackton Thow. We partied an entire shift after that. He was a real back burner. However we were traded to the Lothorains for Peacekeeper duty. Now we protect Lothorian interests." Stikth looked a little glum that Aeryn never even looked his way though his brave action story.
" Is it in Lothorian interests to transport Luxan war prisoners?" Chiana said her question not fully answered.
" Oh yeah. They don't want anyone to know. You see, that Nabari student was trapped on a rural planet studing culture, or whatever, and when the planet was raided he tried to help that Luxan bitch and her friends escape.
We caught them and since the Nabari is a non-combatant...that makes him a spy...Auto-death upon reaching a officer with trial powers."
" Is that what they did to... what you call him a U-man?
He wasn't a soldier was he? Did he get auto-death?" Chiana played her last trick.
" Oh him? No,no, he was a research project. When Sun found out about Cry-tan he had Scurpus dismissed to the science branch command.
Cry-tan was put in wet freeze for bio-research, or
some tek stuff like that."
" Tell him how funny he looked." The private said.
" Oh, yeah. You see on the station is a deck room with hundreds of research tubes with all kinds of standing naked creatures.
All of them froze in liquid, blue like a Delvian.
All of them, except Cry-tan. With his broke legs he couldn't stand up, so we dropped him in this tube, filled it with the liquid and... we were all there to watch, the fluid covered him up and he yelled... I guess he was religious," Stikth said as
his train of thoughts began to re-adjust from the nectar.
" Yeah, yeah he called out his love for his gods or something," the private said becoming serious.
" How do you mean?" Chiana said really interested.
" Well, he didn't pray, he yelled out with all the breath he
had. I mean it was like ' AIR AND SUN ' like real
loud in the tube you see.
Then when his face went under..."
" The tek pulled the switch and,(whistle), he was froze.
I guess he's still there" Stikth said as he watched Aeryn
get up and walk slowly away.
Aeryn was hurting. She walked down several tiers and came around one of the further tail sections of Moya. She thought about Crichton, but she realized she could not remember his face.
The thought of him in a cryo-tube, broken and forgotten touched her inner soul. She hadn't felt this way since the problem she had explaining her actions involving Moya's first pilot.
John was there then. Holding her, soothing her grief. Standing with her to face Pilot. Being there for her. A knot seemed to bind itself in her throat. Aeryn leaned her arms against Moya's bulkhead and let a few tears sneak past her eyelids.
Then she heard deep sobbing of a deeper sort down the hall.
Aeryn wiped her face and followed the soft noise to its source.
" Aeryn," D'Argo said. " I could smell it was you. Please answer me."
" D'Argo. What are you doing down here?" Aeryn said.
" The same as you. I am worthy of death for my shameful behavior. It would of been better if we had all died together instead of becoming what we are...frauds. I have betrayed a friend into the hands of these...monsters.
I had never thought I would see the day that I would envy Crichton. To tell the truth...Crichton had more honor, strength, and courage in his little finger than I in total. I am ashamed, and honor-less.
My son I hope will never know his father is such a weak, coward. I should right now avenge those poor prisoners
and slaughter those Peacekeeper..." D'Argo said.
" Legionnaires, not Peacekeepers.” Aeryn said sternly.
“ What difference does that make?” D’Argo said.
“If a soldier is a weak link, or aberrant, or has committed a non-lethal crime against the peacekeeper high commands standards. That is when you are removed from active duty and sentenced to a Legion. You never retire or stay long at any duty station... can't be trusted, see?
They aren't trained as well and are usually cheaply equipped.
Each legion is sold to the highest bidder for 'protection' of usually high risk border, or duty protecting civilian shipping, or keeping a neighboring war from coming into your home ground.
Of course, they serve the renting empire, but they also assist Peacekeeper command, when needed. I never have had any respect for legion troops and my opinion hasn't been altered by this group."
" Whatever, they deserve death." D'Argo said.
" I've been meaning to ask you a question." Aeryn said.
D'Argo was composed now and he turned to face her.
" When John was betrayed. That time just before Rigel and Zhaan came onto command. John looked at us when Scorpius demanded our surrender, do you remember?" Aeryn said.
" Yes. I was ready to go down swinging." D'Argo said.
" Then when was it you switched sides? Why did you help
Rigel and Zhaan betray John?"
" John was dead, and he knew it. When I realized their was a plan for us to escape I accepted it. I was protecting Zhaan from your attack. John was already drugged and falling before you made it to the console...
I should of stung Rigel; not you.
Zhaan would accepted her fate. She has suffered much from the action. I believe she has lost her center, and is in self disgrace even now. She has no joy, and for her that is a kind of death. She told me Rigel had convinced her that it was a greater good to sacrifice one for all the others. However she gains no peace about the action and would undo it if possible." D’Argo said.
Aeryn took a breath and let it her mind clear.
Then looking D’Argo straight in the eye.
“ If you really mean to set things right... Then help Chiana and me.” Aeryn said with her old fire and force.
D’Argo stood full up and wiped his face with his hand.
“ I am ready.” D’Argo said.
“ Help me free the prisoners and pitch these scum, then go and find and free Crichton.” Aeryn said with conviction.
Without a second hesitation.
“ I’m with you.” D’Argo said with a huge smile, he was feeling better already.
“ Let me talk to Zhaan, I know she will help.” D’Argo said,
Aeryn nodded.
‘ All of us,’ Aeryn thought.
* * *
Zhaan sat in position praying.
‘ Creator... merciful and forgiver of lost souls.
I implore you to give me a sign to know which path to
take. I see that the good I would do has been turned to evil. I failed... I failed you, my friends... and myself.
Teach me in this failure.
Help me to learn your will in this scheme of events that
swell to overcome me. I pray for a new message, a new way. I am willing to pay the price of my failures.
Oh, please, give me a sign...’ Zhaan moved the crystal and rung the chime in orderly progression.
“ Zhaan? I need to give you a message.” D’Argo said from
the Corridor.
“ Sweet D’Argo. Come and tell me.” Zhaan said compartmentalizing her prayer instantly.
“ Aeryn and I, and Chiana... Are going to free the prisoners, take back Moya from ‘Rigel’ and go find
and free Crichton! Please help us.” D’Argo said almost enthusiastically.
Zhaan’s mouth went to protest when her chime sounded.
Zhaan turned to see and then turned to face D’Argo.
“When do we start?” Zhaan said standing and dressing herself in her robes