From the Past Part 7
 

All the normal, sad disclaimers; it's not mine, I wish it was.

Archiving: Sure, just let me know.

Rating: Well, I hate putting this on, I can never decide. I'd say M.

Thank you all for the encouragement. Exams are done, so I got to work ASAP. Glad to know you all like it.

Summary: The Escape Part 1 (a bit of a giveaway, I know)

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As soon as John hit the ground, the first thing he did was look for Aeryn. ‘She better have been put in the same cell as me or else…’ His thoughts were interrupted as he spotted Aeryn’s limp body slumped on the other side of the cell.
“Aeryn?” he quickly asked as he scurried over to her. His face was the epitome of fear as he recognised that same blank stare on her eyes. Fearful that she might be trapped like that, he tried to let her know he was there.
“Come on Aeryn. Come back to me. You’re stronger than they are, you can’t let this beat you.”
Suddenly, Aeryn snapped out of it. Enough to frighten John further.
She looked up at him, and straight away struggled to get as far from him as possible. Because of her lack of strength, all she was capable of doing was wriggling out of John’s hold. She whimpered as she felt the cold dank ground rise up to meet her.
John’s arms were immediately around her trembling frame. He pulled her to him, restraining her arms in front of her.
“It’s okay, Aeryn. You’re okay now. I’m here.” John gently whispered in her ear as he held her close to his own body.
Aeryn struggled for a little while longer before growing still.
“John?” Aeryn broken and croaking voice asked in a whisper.
“Yeah, Aeryn. It’s me.”
Aeryn clenched her eyes closed and felt the tears rolling down her cheeks. Her body shuddered as she cried out her pain.
John just held her closer; unable to stop his own tears falling as he caressed her back and hair, whispering gentle nothings to calm her.
What seemed like arns passed, as they stayed slouched in that position, before John broke the silence when he sensed Aeryn had calmed down.
“Hey.”
With John’s help, Aeryn turned to face him. He appeared to be in good condition, all things considered. He was dirty; smudges all over his face, his hair a tattered mess, his eyes red-rimmed from his own tears. He looked tired, hungry and cold. Her mind reeled with pain as she tried to ignore the disjointed flashes of times long past, and those from more recent playing in her head.
“What are you doing here?” She asked carefully, her throat feeling as if she had been drinking sand for days.
“I’m here to get you out, Sunshine.” He answered with a smile remembering the last time she had asked that, while recovering from the stab wound received by Larraq, the Peacekeeper Commando. All the while, he studied her haggard appearance. She too had red-rimmed eyes, though hers were more puffy from her time in the chair. He guessed her appearance was not too dissimilar from what he must have looked like after his own spin in the chair. She was tired, and in so much pain, that much was evident. It was written all over her face and he could see it in her eyes as they started looking the steely-blue that he loved so much.
She gave him her patented ‘human foolishness’ look again and asked “How?”
“I have a plan.”

********************

“Crichton has a plan.” D'Argo asked a little manically as he remembered Crichton’s last plan. The one that could have gotten them all recaptured or worse, and did almost get Aeryn killed.
“Yes. Moya’s offspring has been monitoring Commander Crichton and Officer Sun’s cell. This is what he has learned.” Pilot answered, though his voice was filled with extra apprehension.
Zhaan noticed the added stress in his tone, and felt there was more to be said.
“Is there something else Pilot?”
Pilot looked down at his control panel, not wishing to discuss what troubled him. Earlier transmissions between Moya and her offspring had enlightened Pilot as to what was actually happening, on board the Carrier, to his two friends.
Not wishing to divulge into the exact details of his discoveries, he chose to tell his crew the basics of his news.
“From the transmissions, I have learned some of the… ways… Scorpius and Crais are using to… get their information.” He looked sadly as each of the remaining crew. “They are… most disturbing.”
“We will get them out of their Pilot.” Zhaan tried to reassure their symbiont friend.
“Well, then,” Chiana jumped in, glaring at D'Argo as she started. “Since John’s the first one with a plan, and since he’s the one on that carrier, let’s do it.” As she looked at everyone, realisation hit her and she added, “Umm, Pilot. What is the plan?”

**********************

If Aeryn had had the strength, she would have been arguing right about now.
“It’s too risky, John. I don’t like it.” She said, looking at John to see his reaction.
He looked back at her, seeing she was waiting for him to react, but he couldn’t this time.
“Neither do I Aeryn. But, I’d rather risk this, than to sit here and wait to see what Scorpy has planned for you next. We’ve run out of time.” He answered solemnly. Giving her a moment to think about there limited options, he asked “Are you with me?”
This earned a slight smile from Aeryn as she recognised her own words from the False Earth. “I’m with you.” She replied without hesitation.
John smiled back as he leaned in and planted a kiss on Aeryn’s lips, gentle but promising.
“Let’s get the ball rolling then.”

**********************

“Guard! Guard! Get in here. She’s not breathing!”
Two of the grunts guarding their cell appeared at the door. They peered in and then looked back at each other as if asking ‘What should we do now?’
“I don’t think Scorpy would like it if his favourite prisoner died, do you?” John asked when he saw them hesitating.
The door quickly unlocked and the guards came in. As they neared Aeryn’s unmoving form on the floor, John carefully shuffled behind them. When they both leaned down to check on Aeryn, John made his move. He axe-handed one guard on the back, while kicking out his feet, to make sure he went down.
When the other guard turned to see what was happening, Aeryn reached up and ranked at his collar, pulling him to the ground.
As soon as John was finished with his guard, he moved over and proceeded to pummel the other, until he was a bloody heap on the floor. John was so concentrated on taking out all his frustrations on this grunt, it took Aeryn pulling at his arm before he relented and turned to her. She was leaning heavily against the wall, looking worried at his aggression.
“Sorry. Guess I should save that for when we find some real trouble, huh?” He joked, a small grin hiding his own concern at his actions.
Much to John’s surprise, Aeryn didn’t argue when he helped support her as they moved to the door.
Once out, they headed in the opposite direction that the room with the Aurora Chair was in.
“Any idea which way we should head?” John asked when he recalled that Aeryn had been posted to Crais’ Carrier before he met her.
Aeryn looked around wearily, her mind aching as she tried to remember.
“This way. I think.” She replied, pointing down a corridor that lead to their right.
“As good a way as any.” John countered.
They moved as stealthily as possible, with Aeryn leaning on John increasingly as they went on.
After turning left at an intersection that Aeryn was sure lead straight to the transport hangar, John felt the body leaning on him go limp.
“Oh no. Come on Aeryn, just a little bit further.” He pleaded as he heard footsteps approaching their position.
Subsequent to confirming she was unconscious, John lifted her lifeless frame into his arms and proceeded to check the doors until he found one unlocked. He just made it inside as a squadron of Commando soldiers walked past. Just when John thought they were going to go straight on by, he heard them halt, right outside the doorway.

***********************

“What do you mean they aren’t in the cell?”
“I’m sorry sir. When my team and I went to get the prisoners, we found the two guards assigned to watch them unconscious in the cell. We searched the immediate area, but so far…”
“Enough! I do not like how things are progressing, Lieutenant.” Scorpius snapped at Lt Bracca as he was updated on the situation. He didn’t like the changes that had to be made to his plan. They had deviated too far from it already, and it was most displeasing to hear that somehow, Crichton had managed to get out of his cell. Moreover, he was taking Officer Sun out of his grasp. ‘Not too far from my grasp’ he thought as he deliberated out the new steps that he was going to have to take.
“Crichton will head to the transport hangar. He’ll try to save Officer Sun from my plans. Have every troop on this ship meet in the transport hangar. Split into teams and search every part of this ship.” He ordered as he stared out at the expanse of stars before him. As he turned, he added his own personal threat to Bracca. “If they aren’t found, I am holding you personally responsible. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, sir. They will be found.” Bracca answered nervously.
As the door slide open and Bracca moved towards freedom, Scorpius caught him off guard. “Where was Captain Crais during Crichton’s escape?”
Bracca turned around immediately to face the Scarren half-breed. “Captain Crais was in the Officers’ Lounge. I have him under tight watch.” Well aware of Scorpius’ distrust of his ‘former’ Captain, he added, “Would you like confined to quarters during the search?”
“Have him join in the search. I want everyone looking for Crichton, including Crais. Make sure they are all aware that I want them both alive. Any deviation and I will see punishment passed myself.”
“Of course, sir.” With that, Bracca left the Captains’ Quarters to continue out his task.

*******************

“Any sign of them, Lieutenant Shiq?”
“No Captain. We have searched Bravo sector, all tiers. No sign that they have been there.” Shiq answered, being sure to include ‘Captain’ in his reply so as to keep Crais happy. He had been informed of the change in leadership of board, but was also well aware of his former Captain’s aggressive outbursts, where this fugitive was concerned.
“Head to Alpha sector. Centralise your search there.” Crais ordered as he turned on his heel and headed back to the hangar.
Shiq heard the muffled insults as he lead his team on the pointless search of Alpha sector.

***************************

Crichton let out the breath he had been holding since the door closed. The guards had moved on and Crais had gone in the same direction he was headed.
Before checking the corridor for any more problems, he focused his concentration back to the still unconscious form beside him.
Rubbing her cheeks slightly, he called her name, trying desperately to rouse her, without drawing any attention to there currently hidden hideout.
“Come on Aeryn, don’t do this. Wake up.” John offered as he tenderly rocked her shoulders.
Suddenly, Aeryn’s eyelids fluttered, then opened fully, darting around the room until they fixed themselves upon John’s concerned face.
“John?”
“Yeah, we’re okay Aeryn. Kinda lost ya there for a microt, huh?” He teased as he helped her to a standing position.
“I guess.” Aeryn offered.
“Come on. Crais just headed towards the transport hangar, so we might be able to follow him. I still don’t know how many Peacekeepers will be out there, or in the hangar.” He informed her, ashamedly.
“We’ll find out soon enough.”
They opened the door a fraction, and once satisfied there was no-one to catch them, John half dragged, half carried Aeryn down the corridor.

**********
TBC

Not my usual cliff-hanger I know, but I promise there won't be that long to wait again.

AS