A Path to happiness 3: Shimmer and Shine
Summary: Certain questions are asked, some of which Aeryn and John do not have the answers to. Meanwhile, some revelations are made about Travis.
Spoilers: This is the third part in my A Path to Happiness series. Obviously, reading the first and second installments would help, but they're not necessary. There are also references to Scorpius theories from the more recent episodes like Won't Get Fooled Again and A Clockwork Nebari.
Disclaimer: The Farscape concept, theory, characters, and overall universe is not the property of me, but rather of Fox Studios Australia, Jim Henson Co, Sci-Fi Channel, and Nine Network Australia. This story is strictly for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended. All characters (except for that of Travis Calloman of which, I made up myself) are the property of the above companies.
Author's Note: I'd love to hear what you think about it. Please e-mail me with any comments- good or bad- that you may have. Special thanks go to Travis, a friend who gave me the idea for this story. I couldn't have done it without him!
Archiving: If you want it, I only request that you ask me first, then keep my name and e-mail address with it.
Aeryn was busy trying to find a place for them to sleep. Aeryn was the best negotiator, and she knew how to speak to Sebaceans. She might even be able to pull a rank on someone or something. John stood back a ways. He was admiring her, watching her barter for a room. She's so beautiful, so full of life. I took that away from her. I took away her life. He saw her come towards him, and shook his thoughts away. He thrust his hand in his pocket and felt the ring in its box. He sighed, and she told him they had a room.
"We have a room. Unfortunately, it only has one bed," she said, smiling. He smiled at her and grabbed the small of her back instinctively, leading her to the stairwell to the floor where their room was. She palmed open the door and sealed it behind her. She turned around to see him sitting on the bed, lost in thought.
"What's the matter, John?" she asked.
"Nothing. Actually-" he stopped and looked at her. He pulled her by the hand to sit by him. She obliged and sat on the bed by him. "Have you ever felt like something was ripped from you?" he asked. She looked shocked and looked off at the wall. She didn't say anything for several microts. Then, she turned to him.
"Yes, I have. When I was deemed irreversibly contaminated, everything I knew was ripped from me," she started. His face fell and his gaze fell to the floor.
"You blame me," he said, almost inaudibly. She looked almost shocked, then brought his face up to look him in the eye.
"I do not blame you, John. If anything, I thank you. You showed me that there is more to life than killing. You gave me life." She moved to look at him directly by kneeling on the floor.
"You really don't blame me?" he asked, genuinely unconvinced.
"No. John, you once told me that you would never leave me, that you wanted to take me home with you. I would never have done that- I would have rather been able to go home rather than stay with someone. Now I know that home is with you." He looked at her; ecstatic to hear her say that. He moved forward and kissed her. He then broke it, took her hand, got up, and led her to sit down on the bed.
"I have to ask you a question." She was a little worried about what it was. He laughed. "Don't worry- it's nothing bad. I asked D'Argo about the Sebacean way to do it, but I couldn't find what I needed, so I'm doing it the human way." He got down on his knee and fished for his ring. He got it in his hand and was about to bring it out of his pocket when there was shouting outside the door. They both abruptly turned to the door and heard a voice. A very familiar voice.
"I know you're in there, Crichton. And Aeryn Sun as well. Come out while you still have a chance." They both looked at each other and thought the same thing.
"Bracka."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Back on Moya, D'Argo, Zhaan and Chiana were worried. There had been no word from Aeryn or Crichton for over seven arns.
"Where could they be?" Chiana asked, pacing back and forth in Command. They were all worried, and she simply voiced the concerns of all of them.
"There could be a communications problem, or maybe they couldn't find a place to reach communications, or any number of things," Zhaan said, hoping for the best. Of course, they all knew that there was only one reason why John and Aeryn hadn't contacted Moya. Peacekeepers were on the planet. Then, D'Argo spoke.
"I'll go down and find them." He started to head out the door, when Zhaan took his arm to stop him. He stopped and turned around.
"I'll go with you. You might need some help," she said. He looked at her and was going to protest, but he knew it would be futile. So, he nodded and they went to the Docking Bay. They both left on a transport for the planet.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Let us in, Crichton!" Bracka yelled. There was a noise in the room, but no one palmed open the door. Bracka motioned to one of his soldiers to laser an opening in the door, and he did. Twenty microts later, they were in the hotel room. Bracka walked in, and looked around. He didn't see the fugitive and the defector anywhere, so he motioned someone to come in. The man came in and looked around.
"They aren't here, Bracka. Find them!" he yelled, and stormed out.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"They weren't where you said they'd be, Calloman!" Bracka barked at the young soldier. Calloman almost quivered, but held it in better.
"I'm sorry, sir. I could have been mistaking. I figured that they would be there," Travis said calmly. Bracka sat down in a chair opposite him. They had Travis in an interrogation room. He wasn't exactly sure where he was, other than he was in Peacekeeper hands. And that almost scared him.
"They were there, but they got away." At hearing that, Lt. Calloman's anger flared.
"Well, then it wouldn't be my fault, now would it? I said they'd be there; it is your choice whether you surround the place to prevent their escape, no isn't it?" He looked at Bracka with the Devil's eyes, and Bracka raised an eyebrow. Suddenly, he punched Lt. Calloman in the eye.
"You dare to speak that way to a senior officer? That is an offense that carries a rather high sentence, Lieutenant." Lt. Calloman touched his hand to his eye and glared at Bracka.
"Do what you want with me. The truth of the matter is, Scorpius would be very upset if you killed the person that will lead you to the fugitive and the traitor."
"Then you will still help us?" Bracka asked, surprised.
"I'm a soldier and a Peacekeeper- it takes more than a black-eye to stop me from doing my job and duty. Of course I'll help you."
End of Part 3