Fallen Angels 5

Author: Jaime
Archive: PLEASE ASK FIRST!

Parts 1-4 can be found at www.i.am/scapersden (sign the guestbook!! )

Part 5: Nightmare
Suck it up kid, assume the battle poise.
It’s a lonely time for yours truly, I know
I don’t need to stay awake
In my nightmare I feel so alive
In my dreamscape escapades
I’ll make the grade, I’ll save the day.
-Eve 6; Nightmare

---

DK awoke from a restless slumber early in the morning, or whatever passed for early in the morning here anyway. Realizing that he was not going to fall back asleep any time soon, he decided to take a walk to try and calm himself down.
As he walked past John’s room, he glanced in to check on his friend. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room, he realized that John was not alone in bed. He clearly saw the sleeping figure of Aeryn Sun curled up against him. For some unknown reason, this sight made him extremely angry. What the hell did John think he was doing anyway? This woman was an alien, it didn’t matter how human she looked, she was an alien nonetheless. To be friends with them was one thing, but to be lovers with one was quite another matter. One thing DK knew for certain was that he could not look at the two of them any longer.
Now needing to calm down even more than before, he walked in two complete circuits around the tier. Finally, he made it back to his room and sprawled out on his bed simply lying there for a short while until John came to wake him up.
****
John returned to his room after waking DK up to find Aeryn already gone. Not taking any offense to this because he knew she had to get ready before breakfast, he let his mind wander over the iciness in his friends voice this morning. John was surprised that DK was already awake when he got there, and all of his responses to his inquiries were muttered one-word answers that had a coldness to it that John had not heard in his voice in quite a long time. Passing it off as merely unresolved tension as a result of the match the previous day, John decided to speak to DK after breakfast.
Unfortunately, DK’s foul mood carried over into breakfast. It was easily noticed by the rest of the crew, who were casting nervous glances at one another. As everyone slowly began to depart, John approached DK. “Hey man, can I talk to you for a minute?”
DK bristled in annoyance at the request, “Do I have a choice?”
Startled at his friend’s behavior, John decided that this talk was desperately warranted. “Right about now, no you don’t.”
Aeryn, sensing DK’s mood, decided to forego waiting for John and quietly slipped out of the room.
DK stalked around the room, trying to get some form of control on his emotions. Part of his mind was telling him that he had to hear John out, give him a chance to explain. The other part didn’t want to hear an explanation, John had his chance to explain things already, but he lied. He didn’t tell the whole truth, instead, he confided in her, the alien. For some reason that made him extremely angry.
John was staring at his friend and he could see the anger in his eyes, it was the same thing he had seen in him a few days ago, but this time he had no idea why. “What the hell is with you today? You’ve been in a pissy mood ever since you woke up this morning!”
DK noticed that Aeryn had left the room and decided to confront his friend. “What the hell are you doing, John?!”
This just confused John even more, “What are you talking about?”
“I saw you last night, with her. What the hell are you thinking getting involved with her? She’s an alien, A-L-I-E-N. A Peacekeeper no less, one of the species that has been hunting you for the last year, what makes you think that she’s not going to turn you in the first chance she gets?”
Stunned at the hatred in his friends voice when he spoke of Aeryn, John tried to find a reply. “What does it matter that she’s an alien, or a Peacekeeper for that matter? She’s my best friend out here, and much more. And for your information, she has had the chance to turn us in, and she hasn’t. She is completely loyal to me and the rest of the crew. And while I have no idea where all of this is coming from, I know it is going to stop now. I don’t want to hear any more of this dren because you do not know what you’re talking about as far as Aeryn or anyone else is concerned!”
By the time he had finished speaking, John’s voice had increased in volume so that he was screaming. This caused DK to take an unconscious step back. “Look, I’m sorry, let’s just forget about all this and concentrate on getting us back home so you can leave all this behind.”
Neither one of them noticed the lithe, dark clad person who crept from the shadows of the doorway after that was said.
“You’re right, we are going to concentrate on finding Earth, but I’m not staying there.”
“What? Of course you are! Its your home, its where you belong!”
“It was my home, but now I have a new home and a new family out here. I don’t belong on Earth anymore, I belong out here.”
“It’s because of her isn’t it? You’d rather stay out here, where you risk being recaptured and tortured again, all for her!”
“Wait a minute, who the hell told you I was tortured?”
“I overheard you the other night, after your nightmare. When you felt more comfortable talking to her than me.”
A flash of realization struck John, “Is that where all of this is coming from? Listen, I talked to her about it because she knows what happened, she understands. And I didn’t tell you about it because I wanted to break the more unpleasant aspects of my life out here to you gradually. If I told you everything that has happened out here, you wouldn’t be able to handle it.”
Resentment filled DK’s next words, “It’s not your job to determine what I can and can not handle!”
“Fine! You want to know everything that’s happened to me? You got it! You want to know about having my brain ripped apart simply because I happened to create a wormhole, and its just my luck that wormholes are that particular mad scientist’s pet project? Or how about knowing that you have a child out there that you will never know? Or living with the knowledge that you’re the reason your friends are being chased across the universe? Having to constantly fight your way out of dangerous situations, and then being able to reconcile it with yourself at the end of the day? Yet you still have that demon lurking in your subconscious that reminds you that the minute you slow down you face being recaptured! Is that what you wanted to hear? Because believe me, I could go on and on!”
DK sat speechless afterwards, when he finally found the ability to speak he said, “John, man, I had no idea, I’m sorry.”
When John finally controlled his temper again, he managed to say, “You’re right, you HAD no idea. But I’m willing to speak, if you’re willing to listen.
At DK’s silent nod, John began to explain, really explain, everything that was happening with Scorpius. John knew DK had a right to know, since he could also be in danger, but for some reason he didn’t want to. He didn’t want to strip his friend of his innocence, and expose him to the evils of the universe, evils that could never be imagined.
After about an arn, the stress of speaking of things John would just as soon as forget started to take its toll on him, so they decided to take a break. They both had duties that needed to be taken care of throughout the ship, and the next thing John knew was going to be asked about was Katralla, and he definitely did not have the strength to explain that as well.
And so the rest of the day went by rather silently, both friends deep in thought about what had transpired that morning, and what the future would hold for them.
DK understood a lot more, but he was still a little angry. Angry because his friend was not even considering returning to Earth, his home. In a way, he understood, but in other ways he was just as confused as ever. Didn’t he realize what kind of effect his disappearance had on his friends and family? Until the formation of the Farscape Discovery project, his father had been bitterly unhappy, shutting everyone who cared about him out of his life. He refused to believe that his son was dead, and the bureaucratic mess that was the Farscape project frustrated him further. However, when the Discovery project was announced, it gave him a renewed sense of hope that his son was going to be found. And in an ironic sense of the way, he had been.
Yet he could also understand his reasons for wanting to stay. John knew he had changed, and he was probably wondering if he was still going to be welcomed back on Earth. DK also recognized John’s need to resolve what he had started out here as far as the Peacekeepers were concerned. However, DK could not bring himself to accept John’s reasoning to stay out of necessity to Aeryn. Sure, from what he could tell, they were very close friends and had protected each other all the time. Yet, what it all came down to in the end was that he was human, and she was not.
When John walked him to his quarters, he promptly said goodnight. However, he kept an eye on John as he went to enter his quarters. No sooner had he walked in the door than he left again, unaware of DK’s presence. DK was dismayed when his friend went in the direction of Aeryn Sun’s quarters.
*****
After his exhausting day with DK, all John wanted to do was talk to Aeryn and sleep. Having gotten quite used to her waiting for him at the end of the day, and her staying there the rest of the night, he was somewhat surprised when she wasn’t there when he got back. Deciding to take the initiative, he went in search of her.
It didn’t take him long, because he found her in the first place he looked, sitting on her bed in her quarters. She turned around when he entered so she was facing him.
“Is there something you need, Crichton?” She said with a coldly neutral tone
“I was just looking for you, you weren’t in my room when I got there, so I decided to see what was up.” At her continued silence, he pressed further. “So… what’s up?”
“Nothing Crichton, I didn’t realize my presence was required in your room every night now.” Her tone had gotten even icier, if it was possible.
Crichton was taken aback at her tone, she hadn’t spoken to him like this since he had first arrived, and he had no idea why she was acting like this now. “OK, Aeryn, now I know something’s up, so tell me what.”
She stood up suddenly, looking him in the eyes, almost causing him to fall backwards. “You really want to know what’s bothering me?” At his silent nod, she continued. “I want to know why you all of a sudden decided to become closer with me, the moment your opportunity to go home presented itself! Was it to impress your Earth friend? Because I don’t think it worked!”
John was slightly taken aback when he heard her allegations. “Where did you hear all this?”
“I overheard the two of you talking after breakfast. He said all he wanted to do was get you home and away from here.”
Suddenly understanding where this was coming from, he was still confused. If she had listened, then surely… “Aeryn did you listen to the rest of the conversation?”
“No, after I heard that, I figured there was no point in staying there any longer.”
It all made sense to John now, “Listen, Aeryn, if you had stayed longer, you would have heard me tell DK that I cant go back to Earth with him, that when we found it, I was going to stay here on Moya.”
That sufficiently stopped Aeryn in her tracks, “You, you what?”
“I’m staying here on Moya, with you, and everyone else of course.”
At that, she looked like she was about to either burst into tears, or punch him. “You stupid frelling human, why would you do that? Give up your home world? You would be safe there, you wouldn’t have to be on the run anymore!”
“But would I really fit in there? I mean, first of all, what if my predictions with the Ancients are true? What would happen to me then? Or say I was welcomed with open arms, I have changed too much to function in normal society. I would walk down the street constantly looking over my shoulders, or I would reach for my pulse gun the minute someone crossed me, either that or I would give him a pentak jab. Besides, there’s too much out here that needs to be resolved. I need to make sure this thing with Scorpius is finished, I need to help D’Argo find his son among countless other things. And besides, you wouldn’t be there.” This last statement was said so silently that Aeryn wasn’t sure if she had heard him correctly. However, when he reached over, and ever so gently, wiped away a defiant tear that had escaped, she knew he was speaking the truth.
“I’m sorry I reacted that way, John. You had promised me that you would never leave me, and I guess somewhere along the way I had forgotten that.” Slowly, she wound her arms around his neck and leaned forwards to press the softest of kisses against his lips. The kiss deepened until they both wound up in bed, entangled in one another. Both of them thinking that this was where they were meant to be.

TO BE CONTINUED