Ice fire; on the edge of darkness.

Nezrim the swirling core of flame, whose silver brilliance enraptured seven huge planets, drawn like ardent lovers into her powerful embrace.

For eons Nezrim had existed, encircled in the protection of her seven worlds. She in turn had also been the guardian. Her luminous eye had fallen upon the space-faring ships of the Verrin Tahl, who had come to call her largest suitor the planet Tahnlah home.

But they were gone now...
Beyond Tahnlah...
Beyond Nezrim...

Only the foundations they had left behind still existed, empty forlorn ruins of rock and dust, remnants of a forgotten age.

Nezrim's eye still watched. Still shone as brightly as it had in the days of the Verrin. Now in the dark expanse of night her eternal light glowed benevolently upon unexpected visitors.

!!!BOOM!!!

A dazzling torrent of vivid blue light exploded, disturbing centuries of dust. A gold-kissed ship emerged from the bright cloud, which quickly dissipated into darkness.

"Aeryn, are you in one piece", "Or two?".

Though Aeryn Sun was a former peacekeeper she had not neglected her battle talents. Her balled fist struck John Crichton squarely in the ribcage. He doubled over in pain.

Aeryn would not have usually have been violent towards him. But this time was an exception.

She glared at him, her gray eyes burning.

"I have no patience for your human nonsense Crichton! We barely escaped with our lives and you think it is a Joke?".

Her blow had knocked the wind out of his lungs, he sank panting to the floor of Moya's command. "Aeryn", he breathed hoarsely, Zhaan the peacemaker found this the perfect time to intervene. Luckily for John's sake.

"Aeryn", she said in an apologetic tone. "We have all been thoroughly shaken by our encounter with the peacekeepers, John's words were only his way of...", she paused for a moment, unsure of what to say. "...Of expressing his concern for your safety".

None of the fire disappeared from Aeryn's eyes. "Next time Crichton find another way to express your concern" she replied hotly. Aeryn turned her back on both of them.

Chiana, slightly battered but alive fell directly into her line of sight. The young Nebari knew better than to aggravate the situation. Tensions were high. A close encounter with Scorpious didn't exactly give anyone a happy disposition.

She high-tailed it faster than a Fembar, (a really fast alien rabbit). "Ah I need to... check something". Chiana almost made it through Command's entrance to safety. Before Dargo cornered her. She tried desperately work her way past him.

Alas... Dargo's sheer size and his extra baggage completely blocked her path.

Zhaan lent a sympathetic blue hand to Crichton who gratefully accepted.

Dargo pushed Chiana further inside Command, much to her dismay. Aeryn shook her head, looking at Dargo she noticed something quite unusual.

"This Hynerian bandit tried to steal a transport pod to save his own sorry carcass, while the rest of us were being pursued by Scorpious". Dargo held Rygel like a prize kill, by the scruff of his neck.

Rygel screamed, "Unhand me you Luxan barbarian! I am not a Ragdoll that you can treat as wantonly as you please! I am your Dominar!". He wriggled undignified, like a worm in Dargo's great grip. "Unhand me! I command you!".

Dargo shook Rygel mercilessly, "Quiet your Eminence, or you'll find your backside floating in space!".

Even in his selfish conceited little mind Rygel did not doubt the luxan's word, he promptly shut his mouth. His cat-slitted eyes sparkling with silent anger.

Chiana giggled, "Finally your right where you belong Rygel". Her remark earned a dagger-sharp look from Aeryn, that quickly silenced her.

Zhaan had raised John to his feet. He was physically fine, though his masculinity was slightly tarnished.

Aeryn sighed, "I am not surprised, how many times has Rygel tried to betray us?".

"Several times". Dargo eyed Rygel knowingly. More than once he had been tempted to gut him. Hynerian shishkabob.

"Let him go Dargo, it's no use locking Rygel in his cell, he'll just escape..." He stared at her, shocked she would even suggest it. "We have more important things to consider, like where in the frell we are, and Moya's welfare".

"This hynerian windbag has slipped away more than once without punishment Aeryn!, he shall not do so again!, If you won't enforce justice, than I will", Dargo dropped him. Rygel greeted Moya's floor in a crumpled, groaning heap. "This merits punishment Rygel, and I have just the sort in mind". He stormed out of command.

Aeryn rolled her eyes impatiently, "Pilot was Moya damaged in the pursuit?". "Not seriously Officer Sun, but Moya's main thruster drive is currently unoperational, she built up to maximum energy for starburst to quickly, it may take the DRD's several arns to repair".

The lights on command dimmed and the air grew steadily colder.

"Looks like the heating and lighting systems are on the blink too Pilot". John joined the discussion. His facial expression was stern, his tussle with Aeryn forgotten...
Just.....

"Moya is experiencing several minor technical difficulties".

"Minor?", Rygel had gathered his rags and tattered dignity. "When ever Moya has a minor technical difficulty, it's usually a Major difficulty for us!". Pilot was in no mood for Rygel's complaints. "Don't you have something of greater importance that's needs your undivided attention Dominar Rygel?" he asked sweetly.

"No".

Aeryn's patience was wearing. "Rygel, aren't you curious to know what devious plan Dargo had concocted to punish you?".

Rygel glowered at her arrogantly, "Him devious!, that dren-brained idiot wouldn't know how to plan strategy, with what minutely few braincells he has in that empty skull of his". "He could be rummaging through your quarters right now...". Rygel's eyes widened, "He would, wouldn't he...". He scampered out of command as fast as his tiny legs could carry him.

John grinned, "That was priceless". "What?", Aeryn stared at him thoroughly puzzled. "It that another one of your human expressions Crichton?". He nodded. "I won't explain".

"Since when can you explain anything that you do?".

Turning her attention to more understandable things. "Pilot...where exactly are we?".

"We are currently in a solar-system with seven planets in orbit around a central star...". Pilot showed them the view of the system on Moya's command monitor. They all watched, awestruck at Nezrim's silver beauty.

"Moya has completed a surface scan of the largest Planet, it is the only one with a breathable atmosphere. She has also found something most interesting Officer Sun". Chiana disengaged her entranced eyes from the monitor, "Interesting?, does that mean it's dangerous?". "What is it Pilot?".

"There are an assortment of structures located on the planet's largest continent". "Wait a micront Pilot... Structures?, that means its inhabited" John added his opinion.

"On the contrary Commander Crichton, the planet is not inhabited by any organisms except Flora and Fauna". "Moya has not detected any life-signatures of higher lifeforms, there are no energy emissions or any sort of evidence of civilized entities currently existing on the planet".

"I believe it has not been inhabited for many cycles, it appears that the original inhabitants abandoned the planet"

Elsewhere in the uncharted territories...

"Was your mission successful Commander Scorpious?".

Scorpious stood alone in his quarters being gently interrogated by his superior officers. Their halo-images flickering, they were clad in the traditional red and black peacekeeper garb. Scorpious contemplated his answer. After a short recess he answered shrewdly, "I was not successful in the recapture of the Leviathan Vessel or her crew, they entered Starburst at a crucial point in our pursuit".

The Senior Officer of the Peacekeeper High Council nodded gravely. Not pleased with the fruitless result of Scorpious's mission, he reminded the Scarran half-breed of his duties.

"Commander Scorpious, you have failed yet again to achieve the objective of your mission, this is unsatisfactory". Scorpious stood by silently. "We have given all of the resources you required yet you still could not recapture the Leviathan ship or her crew, and the gunship offspring".

"We are beginning to doubt your ability as a fit Commander in the Peacekeeper Fleet", Scorpiou's lips tightened. "We have debated whether or not you should be allowed to remain a Commander, you sacrificed a Gamak Research Base in your relentless pursuit of the Human you call John Crichton". "A great many valuable resources were lost thanks to your carelessness".

Scorpious stiffened. The officer continued unperturbed. "We would dismiss any other Officer under the current circumstances, but your loyalty and usefulness is infallible, a commodity we are not willing to sacrifice".

"We therefore may have a solution to your current dilemma Commander Scorpious". "The Council has recently established an agreement with the Nissassa".

"They are a race of merciless beings with an excellent talent for hunting".

Scorpious relaxed, "What exactly do they hunt?".

The Officer's holo-image smiled.

"Everything, Commander Scorpious, they are the most adept hunters in the universe...perhaps that is the reason they are so greatly feared". "I believe they will make a most welcome addition to your crew".

Scorpious nodded in agreement. "When will they arrive?".

"With in two days, they will be solely under your command", the Officer paused... "exploit their abilities to their full potential Scorpious, the Council has great faith in you, do not disappoint us".

The halo-image faded to a blank screen. He was alone.

Scorpious cast his cool eyes over the screen once more.

He would recapture the human, John Crichton and probe his mind. He would tear the information out, thread by thread. If the Nissassa were as good as the council believed them to be..."We shall see...".

"First thing first", he reminded himself.

The new reconstructed, improved model of the Aurora Chair needed further testing.