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Summary: Wolesh tries to make amends.
Time: Shortly after Terre Firma.
Spoilers: There’s a tiny hint of Pygram’s brand of spoilers regarding the Scorpius/Wolesh dynamic.
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Not mine, no profit, I’m keeping my day job.
Acknowledgements: To NeuralClone for once again going into the fray and fixing up what I laughingly call writing.
Wolesh sat staring at his drink in disbelief. ‘Scorpius is DEAD!’ he thought. He had spent the last two cycles trying to find his son. Hoping he could make amends for the violence of his son’s conception, for his son’s horrible youth, to finally rid himself of the haunting memory of Rylani screaming, begging for death.
He hadn’t always felt this way, regretting his actions, wanting to make amends to his son. Indeed, at the time of the rape, he was honored he was chosen. He wanted to inflict pain on the Sebacean, wanted to make the experiment a success, relished in the horror on the Sebacean’s face. Of the ninety experimental subjects, his was the only success, and that gave him great satisfaction and recognition.
His rise in Scarran hierarchy was meteoric. He alone was able to produce the Scarran – Sebacean hybrid. For twelve cycles he reaped the rewards of his unique feat. Not that he was undeserved on his own. No, didn’t he single handily win the campaign at Plata’Kol? Didn’t he devise the strategy to defeat the Quatrels? He did these things and many others to promote the Scarran hegemony.
Then, everything changed. It had nothing, nothing to do with him. It had everything to do with that incompetent caretaker, Tauza. She allowed the hybrid, his son, to escape! The repercussions for him were devastating. He lost his commission. He lost everything. He had to scrape by on the generosity of those who knew him before. They were not very generous. He barely survived.
Scorpius was recaptured. By now he had a name and Wolesh learned that he had been put back in Tauza charge. If he could have reached Scorpius then, he surely would have killed him with his bare hands. He despised the thought of him. He was the reason he had to beg, the reason he was so defiled. But, Scorpius escaped again, and killed Tauza in the bargain. Wolesh was glad for that small bit of justice.
By then it was impossible for Wolesh to stay within Scarran society. Because his son, the one he was forced to conceive, had killed a Scarran. Like his son, he was a wanted man.
He fled the Scarran territories and looked for asylum. He discovered there were no places outside of the Scarran domain where he was tolerated. They removed his heat gland, but he remained Scarran. They beat him for being Scarran with impunity. The ‘they’ changed from planet to planet, but it was always the same. However, he had skills that saved him. He was able to prove his usefulness to certain nefarious types and established himself in a society he despised. It afforded him the means to prosper. Through various twists of fate, Wolesh became the proprietor of an establishment on a commerce planet inside Tormented Space that supplied the passing ships with certain necessities. He kept out of sight, letting his employees handle contact with all off-worlders. It was during this time that he learned of what happened to Scorpius, and of Scorpius’ rise within the Peacekeepers.
Wolesh now deeply regretted what he had done to the Sebacean. While he could not pinpoint the exact moment his sentiments switched, he knew the cause. It was this frelling planet he was on. Instead of the customary treatment he found elsewhere, this society treated him fairly and honorably. He could walk among them as an equal. Further, he was able to establish a successful business trading with off-worlders.
Life was good. He relaxed. The demons, which had been held at bay simply by having to fight for every microt to survive, hounded him relentlessly. His thoughts turned to Rylani and the way he treated her. He hated the violence with which he treated her, he hated himself for raping her, and he was haunted. He’d see her frightened, accusing eyes when he closed his. He’d hear her screams when all grew quiet around him. When his exhaustion was so great that he could not stay awake, he saw her. He saw her suffering. He saw her accusing him. He saw her die, slowly and in great pain from bearing Scorpius.
Over the cycles, Wolesh came to the conclusion that if he could come face to face with Scorpius, he might be able to make amends. The worst Scorpius could do is kill him, which, upon relection, didn’t seem a bad thing. It was with this in mind that a little over two cycles ago Wolesh began to put out feelers, searching for Scorpius. He quickly learned that Scorpius was in a powerful position within the Peacekeepers. He calculated how he should finally meet his son and started several plans, not knowing which would come to fruition. Then, two days ago, he learned Scorpius was dead. He had fallen out of favor with Peacekeeper command and was dead and buried.
Wolesh did not know what he would do next. His demons, which he barely kept in check, were now raging at him without break. Scorpius was now tearing at him from beyond the grave. He had not slept for more than thirty microts since he got the news.
Wolesh was staring at his drink, hoping, praying for some small relief, when he was interrupted by one of his workers. The girl was standing, shivering at his elbow although the ambient temperature was quite warm. She coughed slightly to get his attention.
“What is it?” Wolesh growled. He used to like such subservient behavior, now it only annoyed him. Only his most senior employee did not quake in his presence.
“There’s a new ship arrived sir. They are looking for some unusual supplies,” she mewed.
Wolesh was about to dismiss her. Instead, he decided that this might afford him respite. “Do you have the request?” he asked.
She mutely handed him the information chip. Wolesh placed the chip in his portable reader and shook his head at some of the line items. “Is the ship a Leviathan?” he asked after seeing Chromextin in the list.
“I... I think so, sir,” she said.
‘Good’ he thought, ‘this will give me an opportunity to see a Leviathan first hand.’ Wolesh had never been near a Leviathan and he needed the diversion. “Thank you for bringing this to my attention. You are dismissed, I will handle it myself,” he said.
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“What the frell is taking so long?” D’Argo asked. He paced back and forth showing his patience to be waning. “Either they have the supplies or they don’t. Why haven’t they gotten back to us?”
“I could go to the planet and see what is going on.” Scorpius suggested. He was tired of being constantly left on Moya while the others went planet side. He felt he had proven himself many times over, but he knew they were still suspicious of him. He would continue to push. Each day he earned more trust.
Pilot interrupted D’Argo as he was about to deny Scorpius, again. “The Juxtoar Supply ship is requesting permission to dock. They say they can only partially fulfill our request and wish to see if they can substitute some items. They also want to verify we have the currency.”
“How many, Pilot?” D’Argo asked.
“Just two, but one is a Scarran. He claims to be the owner.” Pilot commed.
“Put them on the view screen, Pilot.” D’Argo commanded.
The view screen showed two people, one Butokian, a native of the planet they were orbiting, and one Scarran. The Butokian spoke, “We request permission to dock. We are unarmed.”
“You may dock, but the Scarran may NOT leave your module.” D’Argo said.
“I pose no threat to you,” Wolesh said. “I am an exile, my heat gland has been removed. I only wish to see a Leviathan and do what I can to fill your order.”
Keeping away from the view screen, Scopius signaled D’Argo that he believed the Scarran. D’Argo gave them permission to land on Moya.
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Wolesh and Ty descended their module’s gangway and immediately faced Moya’s crew, who were bristling with weaponry. Wolesh and Ty held their hands away from their bodies to show they were unarmed. Ty spoke, “You can search us. I assure you... “
“Scorpius!” Wolesh blurted, interrupting Ty. “I thought you were dead.” Wolesh couldn’t believe his eyes. Here was Scorpius standing in front of him, very much alive. Wolesh was overjoyed and shocked. He would be able to make amends, maybe even slay his demons, or die trying. The irony of the situation was not lost on him.
“The reports of his death have been greatly exaggerated.” Crichton interjected.
Sikozu snorted and moved in protectively close to Scorpius.
“Who are you... that you know who I am?” Scorpius asked, his posture stiff as if preparing for an onslaught.
“I’ve been looking for you,” Wolesh said. I am your father...“
Scorpius roared. In a single movement, he was on top of Wolesh, pinning him to the ground, pulse pistol jammed into Wolesh’s temple. “You will die... slowly... horribly!” Scorpius growled.
“Yes. I am ready.” Wolesh lay on the floor, not resisting.
Scorpius froze.
‘Why doesn’t he kill me now?’ Wolesh thought, ‘His hatred is hitting me like a shock wave.’ Wolesh could feel the pulse pistol still pressed against his temple. “Kill me now. Free me. Why do you hesitate?” Wolesh asked.
Scorpius didn’t move.
Scorpius’ inaction gave D’Argo and Crichton the opportunity to separate him from Wolesh. Crichton steered Scorpius to a corner of the maintenance bay away from Wolesh; Sikozu in tow.
“What... is going on?” Sikozu demanded.
“Sikozu, go for a walk.” John said, “I need to talk to Scopius privately.”
“B...but...” Sikozu started to speak.
“Go.” John waved Sikozu away and turned to Scorpius. “Sikozu is right ya know. You are putting us in danger just to get revenge against Daddy Dearest,” he said.
“You’re a fine one to talk, John,” Scorpius said. “I have waited for this moment ever since I learned of my true parentage. And now I sense that is what Wolesh wants me to do. That would be... too easy. I will not do anything now... but later... Wolesh cannot get away with what he has done.”
“Nor should he, Scorpy.” John agreed. “We’ll find out what the laws are here regarding rape, and prosecute if appropriate. That might be worse punishment than killing him. He seemed too eager to die. Or is he bluffing?”
“He is not.” Scorpius said.
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The room was packed with reporters, the idly curious, involved parties. Wolesh was about to be sentenced for the brutal rape of Rylani Jeema. Scorpius was surprised by the attention this trial had received, astonished that the judges believed him and found Wolesh guilty, even though Wolesh offered no defense. The lawyer defending Wolesh had a very hard job if he was conscientious, or very easy if he did not want to defend, because Wolesh refused to participate in his own defense. If he had been on Earth, he would have been allowed to plead guilty, but there was no such thing as a guilty plea on Butok. The only compromise was to not present a defense.
Reluctantly, Scorpius presented the evidence to the Judges behind closed doors. They were appalled by what they saw, and when they asked Wolesh if he had anything to say in his defense, Wolesh remained silent. It took less than half a day for the guilty verdict to be handed down.
“Before we sentence you, Wolesh, do you have anything you want to say to us or to Scorpius?” One of the Judges asked.
“Yes,” Wolesh barely whispered. He turned to Scorpius and recovered his voice somewhat. “I am now terribly sorry for the hurt that I inflicted on your mother. At the time, I reveled in being able to demean and subjugate a Sebacean for the Scarran cause. I no longer feel that way. What I did, what the Scarran high command did, is doing, is wrong. If it is any consolation to you, know that I am suffering every microt of every day. I offer you my life. Take it, please!”
Before Scorpius could say anything, a Judge spoke, “Wolesh, for the crime you have committed you will be confined to a cell for the rest of your life. You will not be eligible for early release. You will have ample time to contemplate your actions and face your demons.”
All the Judges nodded in agreement. Wolesh was taken away to begin his sentence.
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“Hey Scorp! You don’t look too happy.” John said as they exited the pod to the maintenance bay deck. “By my reckoning, Wolesh got a fitting punishment. He has to live with what he has done, and he looked tormented. Is he?”
“Yes, he is.” Scorpius answered. “I do not feel revenged! I wanted to punish him... to kill him with my own hands! You... you cannot know how I feel,” Scorpius growled and then roared as he smashed his fist against the pod’s gangway.
“Well now, that’s where you have it all wrong.” John drawled. “I wanted to kill you with my bare hands for the longest time, for what you did to me, for forcing me to kill Aeryn, for making my life hell. And now I gotta work with you? Gimme some credit! At least Wolesh is repentant.”
Scorpius snarled at John and stalked out of the maintenance bay.
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Wolesh sat in his cell, his new home for the rest of his life. He dreaded the dreams, the voices, being haunted by Rylani’s accusing eyes. He fought sleep, but succumbed with nothing to distract him but the walls of his cell.
He dreamed.
“I forgive.”
Rylani stood before his eyes, beautiful and at peace. She walked up to him and stroked his head.
She whispered, “Without Scorpius, our son, we are all doomed. I am very proud of him. He will save us.”
That was the last vision Wolesh ever had of Rylani. He was finally at peace. He died before the sun rose.
