Resolutions
Author: Dalequan
Email : Dalequan@poohka.com
Archives: Anywhere just let me know.
Disclaimer: The Farscape Universe is the property of Nine Networks of Australia, Hallmark Entertainment, The Jim Henson Company, and anyone else who owns legal title to the Farscape (TM)(C). The story below belongs to Dalequan (c).
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance
John smiled and lifted the hair off of the back of Aeryn's neck—blowing lightly against her flushed skin.
"Umm," Aeryn gasped leaning into the warmth of John's bodyarching her neck to allow him access to her pulse points.
"Ahh--Aeryn," John moaned sliding his hands along her arms wrapping them tenderly around her waist pulling her tighter against him, "You know better than to wiggle like that woman."
"Why not? Wiggling is the least of what I want to do right now." Aeryn told him huskily sliding his hands from her waist to her thighs.
Aeryn smiled and turned slowly in Johns arms until her face was inches from his. She trailed a slender finger from the sensitive top of his earlobe down his neck and fingered his collar bone lightly.
Flicking out her tongue she licked small circles along his jugular amazed at the speed at which it throbbed beneath her lips as she placed light kisses on his neck.
"Commander Crichton. Officer Sun. Could you both report to command. It's urgent! Moya's sensors detect a Sheyang vessel trailing us--its weapons are primed to fire." Pilot's fear laced each word he spoke as his movements became more agitated.
"On our way Pilot." John spoke into his COM placing a tender kiss on Aeryn's forehead a promise to finish what he had started.
"You'd better,” she told him, reading the message in his eyes before they both took off at a trot for command.
****
"Pilot what's going on?" John asked breathlessly as they skidded to a halt in front of Moya’s view screen.
"The Sheyang have stopped following us. They seem--reluctant to come further."
"Why? Pilot scan the area for any anomalies, other vessels in the area," ordered Aeryn as she checked several sensors.
John and Aeryn looked up as the others entered command.
"What's going on?" Chiana asked head cocked to the side arms asunder. "Sheyangs are following us." Aeryn told them simply, never taking her eyes off of the console.
****
"Aeryn, perhaps it would be best if you went to help Pilot." Zhaan suggested.
"Moya and he are probably frightened--you know how much they fear fire.
"Okay, if you need me here let me know." Aeryn told them before rushing from the room.
"Frell!" Chiana shouted-- stalking agitatedly around the room. "John, the Sheyang continue to skirt around our perimeter but refuse to come
closer. Highly unusual strategy." D’Argo mused.
"Strategy. Bah! They have us where they want us. They probably have others waiting for us to go deeper into where ever we are going." Rygel squeaked.
"Shut up!" The others told Rygel.
"Did you feel that?" Zhaan asked the others. Looking around the room intently.
"No--not a thing." John replied absently while manipulating several of the controls.
"There it is again." Zhaan rubbed her arms as waves of psychic vibrations washed over her. "I can't believe you didn't feel that!" She told the others. They glanced briefly at her as if she had gone mad--their attention gripped on the movement of the Sheyang vessel as it circled their location. "Well--I'm tired of this. Pilot how soon can we StarBurst." John demanded.
"Immediately Commander." Pilot told him as his and Aeryn's image appeared in the monitor.
"I'm with you John. The sooner we starburst the better." D'Argo chipped in watching the others’ nervous nods of agreement.
"You heard 'em Pilot. Let's get out of here." John ordered.
"Prepare for immediate StarBurst, " Pilot warned them.
Everyone rushed to hold on to something as Moya began to vibrate and glow, building up the energy she would need for StarBurst. "Noooooooooo Zhaan screamed. You're killing meeeeeeeeeeee!" Zhaan screamed falling to the floor in agony.
"What the f…! Pilot, abort StarBurst! Something is wrong with Zhaan." D'Argo yelled over his COM as they rushed to Zhaan's aid.
"Aborting now!" Pilot yelled over the vibrations.
***
"What's going on down there?" Aeryn demanded her forehead wrinkled in concern. "John, D’Argo ?"
"Don't know. Zhaan is freaking out on us, her eyes are open but no one is home." John informed her.
"Frell." Aeryn cursed.
"I'll meet you in the infirmary. Chiana find some extra blankets." Aeryn requested, disappearing from the view screen. "What do I look like, her errand girl..." Chiana muttered.
"Chiana," D’Argo looked pointedly at his young lover willing her to cooperate a little.
John smiled wryly when Chiana shook her head and stalked off command with Rygel in hot pursuit.
"You gonna carry her D-man or you want me to?" John asked.
"I'll carry her," D'Argo's voice softened as he looked at their injured shipmate.
***
Chiana stomped into the infirmary and tossed several blankets at Aeryn before walking over to Zhaan and peering closely at her unconscious form.
"She--uh doesn't look to good." Chiana purred her head moving hypnotically in typical Chiana fashion. "Zhaan. Hey! Let me go." Chiana tried to shrug off Aeryn's grip as she was maneuvered none too gently away from the bedside.
"We--don't know what or who has incapacitated Zhaan and until I get some type of force field up around her, don't get to close. Do I make myself clear!" Aeryn informed the young Nebari between clenched teeth.
"Yeah, Yeah perfectly!" Chiana blinked trying to hide the pain from her sudden dismissal. Looking over at the still figure of the Pa'u she shrugged and walked quietly from the room.
The others watched Aeryn silently--censor in their stares.
"What!" Aeryn demanded refusing to look at them as she continued to augment several cables needed for the force field.
"I don't think that was necessary, Aeryn." John said quietly before leaving to find Chiana.
"Why does he always have to baby her!" Aeryn fumed slamming a power conduit into place.
"He cares about her, as do I." D’Argo told her gruffly. "She reminds him of someone from his Erp." D'Argo offered in explanation. "Someone he called his sis whatever that means."
"Who knows what it means? You know Crichton." Rygel chirped in before leaving them to their work to go make sure Chiana wasn't burying her grief in his food rations.
"How is she doing?" John asked Aeryn softly glancing briefly at Zhaan's inert form.
"As well as can be expected." Aeryn muttered tersely stepping around John when he reached out to touch her arm.
"Aeryn..." John began only to be cut off by the anger in Aeryn's eyes.
"Fine. You know what Aeryn....fine just be that way. I don't have to put up with your frelling p.m.s manic depressive mood swings. Just be that way and be alone, I'm tired of dealing with this crap. I love you. Now I don't know what that means to you but where I come from it's a lot for a man to admit it to a woman, especially a woman as independent and stubborn as you! I'm not going to deal with it anymore. You hurt Chiana's feelings earlier and it didn't faze you one bit. She cares about Zhaan just like the rest..."
"Chiana...it's always Chiana! What is it about her that always has you running behind her every time I ---say something to anger or hurt her." Aeryn told him coldly.
"That's what I mean. You just don't get it." John shook his head sadly and walked away leaving Aeryn alone with her thoughts.
****
"Aeryn..." the weak voice called from the bed.
"Zhaan! You're awake." Aeryn smiled, hurrying over to the bed.
"Yes, how long have I been away?" Zhaan smiled weakly.
"What do you mean away...."
"It was beautiful." Zhaan's eyes glazed over dreamily as her thoughts turned inwards.
"Zhaan snap out of it.... Aeryn waved her fingers in front of Zhaan's face several times.
"What...oh yes. The Illusions world is beautiful. Filled with light and peace I didn't want to leave but...they said my shell was dying and I had to come back. They meant us no harm. They were simply curious. They…they used Moya’s fear of fire to push us deeper…into their territory, and …uhhhh," Zhaan closed her eyes briefly and took a deep breath, “my head hurts terribly. Could you get me something for the pain Aeryn.
Aeryn watched the emotions flutter across Zhaan's face worriedly before hurrying away to get her some pain killers..
"I heard you and John arguing. I felt your anger and distrust--it was so intense. Why? Why do you allow this jealousy of Chiana to eat at you so...?"
"Zhaan--it's not that I hate Chiana or that I am jealous..."
Zhaan held up a trembling hand to stop Aeryn as she denied her true feelings.
"Aeryn..." Zhaan fell back weakly against the pillows, unable to fight the weakness her body had endured while her soul was elsewhere.
"Stop denying who you are. You are a woman as well as a Peacekeeper--remember that and you will find yourself happier and less...tense. Chiana's antics will not bother you as much--because you will be secure in the knowledge that John loves you as much as you love--ah don't deny it I have seen the way you look at him and the way you touch each other when you think no one is around."
Zhaan smiled as Aeryn blushed furiously and looked away.
"You need to meditate and look deep inside for the answers that will bring you peace. John is a very forgiving species and he only wants us all to get along to be--family. To him we are all he has, we have become what he lost and that is why Chiana is important to him. She represents something in his past, a sister or younger sibling...it is nothing physical on his part, anyone can see that although--Chiana would like for it to be...that anyone can see as well."
"I have said all that I need to say on the matter. Apologize to Chiana for your behavior and meditate before going to John. Be sincere Aeryn." Zhaan called at the rapidly departing back of the troubled Peacekeeper as she brushed past D'Argo and Rygel.
"Zhaan--I hope you do not mind but I--overheard some of your conversation with Aeryn and told the others you were awake..." Pilot informed her.
"It's okay Pilot. It's good to be back but I am tired and would like rest.
I will see Rygel and D'Argo briefly then I would like to be left alone afterwards for several arn if possible."
"Of course Pau--welcome back." Pilots Pilot’s form disappeared from the clamshell monitor as Rygel hovered closer to the bed--a greedy smile on his face.
"So what's this about Illusions--do they have anything of value..."
"Rygel!" D'Argo and Zhaan shouted in unison at his boldness.
****
Aeryn walked quietly along Moya's corridors deep in thought. From time to time she paused as her thoughts forced her to confront emotions long buried and suppressed by Peacekeeper training.
Her mind whispered to her the facts of her life since the fateful day she met John aboard Moya in the small cell they shared briefly. She smiled wryly at the shock and then curiosity on his face when she removed her helmet and then attacked him before straddling and interrogating him on the floor.
Muttering she continued along her mental journey thinking back to the day Chiana came on board. Aeryn took a deep breath and steadied herself realizing that Chiana's blatant sexuality and her comfort with her femininity was what had always seemed to cause a raw point with her.
If only....Aeryn stopped stunned. She wanted to be more like Chiana. She shook her head amazed at the revelation. That was why Chiana got under her skin so much. Zhaan was right, she was jealous of Chiana.
Aeryn realized she wanted to be as free, well not that free but more comfortable, more feminine, more desirable to--no for John as well as herself.
She squared her shoulders and set off to find Chiana. If anyone could help her get over the repressive training embedded into her very being, a rebel like Chiana could. First she needed to find her and apologize then ask for her help. She smiled. For the first time in a very long time--some of her inner demons quieted and Aeryn knew tranquility and self assurance.
Aeryn continued along the corridors unaware of how much younger, desirable, and feminine that the simple act of smiling had brought to her countenance.
Chiana muttered as she paced the length of her quarters. Her body's movements more erratic than usual.
"Arghhhhhhh! What gives her the right! She is always trying to boss me around like I'm some...ahh some kid." Chi screamed at the small statuette she had stolen from one of the nondescript commerce planets they had stopped at for supplies.
She paused briefly in her tirade...at a loss for words she flung herself onto her bed.
"Where's D'Argo when I need him," she muttered. Breathing deeply--trying to capture his essence from the last time they had shared her bed.
A soft knocking caused her animosity to rise once more. Rolling over she cursed as she recognized Aeryn's silhouette standing patiently outside her quarters.
"What the frell does she want? Well I'm going to give her a piece of my mind! She can't keep treating me like this. I-I won't stand for it...yeah that's right. She is going to listen to me for once." Chiana hissed. She stalked to her entryway slammed her hand against the entry pad and let Aeryn in.
"Chiana we--," Aeryn began.
"We what Aeryn. No I'm tired of the way you treat me. We nothing. It's you. You don't like me because you are too uptight to freaking let yourself. I'm no threat to you or John or your feelings for him." Chiana continued her tirade circling Aeryn as she did.
"Chi--," Aeryn tried again.
"No I am going to have my say for once!" Chiana told Aeryn about her feelings. How bad it made her feel when Aeryn would look down her nose at her as if she was insignificant. Of how she felt alone sometimes and needed someone to talk to and how John tried to listen to her problems but it wasn't the same thing as confiding in another woman.
"...and last but not least I don't want John. When I first got here I umm I was curious about him and his species...but his friendship means more to me than a quick pleasure trip...and besides, he's in love with you." Chiana finished.
Aeryn's eyes darkened at this revelation and the joy inside of her threatened to bubble out. She damped it down, remembering why she had come to speak to Chiana.
Capturing one of Chiana's hands in hers Aeryn pulled her to her in a warm hug, as cleansing tears began to fall down her face.
Chiana accepted the hug awkwardly. Quickly pushing away from Aeryn to stare at her in confusion.
"Chiana--I'm sorry, for everything. I ummm, this is very hard for me to tell you. I love John--but..." Aeryn faltered unsure how much to reveal to the young Nebari.
"You're afraid, aren't you?" Chiana asked her softly.
Aeryn nodded. Her throat working hard to swallow the fear and doubt.
"I've never...felt like this before. John is so...so John." Aeryn laughed nervously and looked away. "I've been jealous of your rapport with him. You aren't afraid to say what you want...or go after it. You aren't afraid to be female." Aeryn told her.
Chiana nodded in understanding. "Aeryn I'm not a threat to you and John. I wish you could believe that."
"I believe you--Zhaan and I had a long talk and everything fell into place. I still have a lot to learn about being a woman and not just a Peacekeeper soldier. I have to remind myself all the time I'm not a Peacekeeper anymore but...it's hard. I hope you can forgive me. I will try harder...in the future. Truce?" Aeryn reached her hand out tentatively unsure if Chiana was willing to forgive her.
"Truce." Chiana told her grabbing her hand and pumping it up and down in a hand shake John had taught her.
"Let me guess...Crichton." Aeryn told her dryly before they both burst out laughing.
****
"So, you are telling me these Illusions were making the Sheyang ship, and they are the ones that made Zhaan sick." D'Argo asked John.
"Yeah big guy. Apparently they were curious. They have never come across a ship with so many different species that wasn't some type of zoo or prison ship. They scanned all of us but Zhaan was the only one advanced enough to communicate with them." John told Rygel for the second time.
Rygel scratched his head. Confusion written over ever pore of his body. He looked at John ready to ask him to explain it again when Aeryn motioned from the hallway for John to join her.
Smiling radiantly she winked at John and waggled her eyebrows. John's face lit up and he hurried into the hallway and when he neared her she took off running yelling for him to catch her if he could.
Their laughter could be heard down many of the corridors and eventually faded away.
Rygel muttered. Humans and Sebeceans deserved each other. Their mating rituals were so strange he took comfort that at least he had his food to keep him company on cold nights in the Uncharted Territories.
Fin