Rating: PG for minor violence and language.

Category: Action/Adventure

Time/Spoilers: Some Season 3 spoilers. Takes place somewhere near the end of Season 3 after John and Aeryn’s resolution of their relationship problems

Summary: After a strange encounter on a Commerce planet, the crew begins to plan their assault on Scorpius, but they need more currency.

Disclaimer: I don’t own them, didn’t create them, and certainly don’t profit from them. Wish I did or had. I promise that I’ll put them back where I found them.

Chapter 11 – Preparation

The meeting John had called was going fairly well until he began to describe how he planned to stop Scorpius. About two sentences into his explanation, all hell broke loose. The chain reaction began with a certain ex-Peacekeeper.

“That’s it? That’s your plan? Surrender yourself to Scorpius? Have you lost your mind?” Aeryn cried angrily. “How is that going to stop him?”

“Calm down, Aeryn. I know it sounds a little crazy.”

“A little crazy? More likely, the clone has taken over all of your thinking processes. He hasn’t, has he?”

John held up his hand and shook his head. “No, he hasn’t, but I can’t think of any other way for me to get aboard that Command Carrier without getting killed. Besides, I’m not surrendering. I’m being turned in by a notorious bounty hunter,” he nodded towards Ch’rall. “Once I’m aboard, I’ll grudgingly pretend to work with him if he agrees to quit chasing my friends. You know, lull him into a false sense of security.”

“More like get yourself killed. John, I will not go through that again.”

“Aeryn, I’m not suicidal, OK? I don’t plan on getting killed or sitting in the comfy chair again. I have to get aboard his carrier and have the freedom to move about. Can you think of another way I can do that with the resources we have?”

“Aeryn, Crichton is correct. I can think of no other way for him to board the carrier with any degree of freedom,” Crais interjected.

“John, we haven’t heard the rest of your plan, but I agree with Aeryn. This part is foolhardy. Entering Scorpius’ carrier without anyone to back you up is a “dumbass move” as you would say,” countered D’Argo.

John held up his hands to stop the argument before it started to heat up. “Guys, who said I wouldn’t have backup? Listen to the rest of it, OK?”

D’Argo and Aeryn crossed their arms almost in unison and leaned back in their seats. They seemed to be daring John to convince them. Everyone else was paying close attention, but John could see worried looks. Damn, I should have left the part about me being the stalking-horse until last.

“Look, Velorek says he’s almost finished with the device. I can’t take it aboard because I’m sure I’ll be strip searched with a full body cavity search thrown in.” At least they’re smiling a little now. It’s not that funny. “The point is that someone else is going to have to bring it aboard and they’ll be my backup.”

Ch’rall looked around the room. “One of us is going to board a Command Carrier unnoticed,” he murmured disbelievingly.

Aeryn’s eyes flashed as she realized what Ch’rall was saying. “Since everyone else would be shot on sight, you’re saying that I’m going to be your backup. How am I going to get aboard secretly?” Her confusion was evident.

“Here’s the deal. Crais, I’ll bet you have a secret code that allows you to enter your old carrier without detection, don’t you?”

Seeing Crais nod, he continued excitedly, “The way I figure it Scorpy might know there’s a code, but there’s no way he could find it in the ship’s database. Even if he put a team of techs on it around the clock, it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. There’s a good chance that he’s so engrossed in wormhole research that he hasn’t even given the order yet.”

Crais gestured impatiently. “Crichton, a number of personnel know Officer Sun on sight. How do you suggest she remain undetected?”

“They might expect Officer Aeryn Sun, Peacekeeper commando, but I doubt they’ll be looking for Gilina, a simple PK tech. We still have her ident chip and I’m sure somewhere in the stores we can rustle up a tech uniform to fit you. Besides techs walk around with equipment all the time, it’ll be the perfect cover. All we have to do is provide a slight disguise.”

“John, as much as I hate agreeing with you about one of your plans, I have to admit that this one has promise,” Aeryn smiled as she relished the idea of watching John’s back. Turning to Crais, she continued, “I don’t think very many people know me on sight. Besides you know the complement on a Command Carrier is in the thousands.”

“True, but how do we get you aboard even using the codes? You certainly cannot travel with Crichton and the longer you remain on board the greater the risk.”

Velorek had watched the exchange quietly. He finally interrupted the conversation, “Exactly, Captain. That’s why Aeryn shouldn’t be the one boarding the carrier. Why use a commando disguised as a tech when you can use a real tech?”

“Don’t tell me you are volunteering?” D’Argo rumbled.

“Mercenaries don’t volunteer.” Rygel snorted. “How much do you want for this, Velorek? You have already overcharged us for designing that implement that you assure us will work.” His tone dripped distrust for all things PK.

“A better question is why do you want aboard that carrier? I thought you wanted to stay as far away from Peacekeepers as possible,” John countered.

“True, I do fear the Peacekeepers, but one cannot hide forever. This would give me a chance to erase the personal data that is stored on that carrier and in the archives of Peacekeeper Command. Without my biological data to check, any Peacekeepers I encounter will think I am a simple shopkeeper, ensuring my safety for the rest of my life. The reward justifies the risk,” he stated, looking from face to face to gauge reactions. Seeing uncertainty and distrust, he decided to play his trump card, “There is also the question of training someone else to use my invention. Who better to utilize the device than its inventor? I can do the job quickly and efficiently without any mistakes.”

John glanced around the room. Ignoring Aeryn’s scowl, he noticed the rest begin to embrace the suggestion. Come on, baby. Think like a soldier and you’ll see this is better. Turning his attention back to the renegade, John continued, “OK, Velorek, say we do let you board the carrier. What are we looking at currency-wise?”

“Since I will be able to destroy all methods of Peacekeeper detection regarding my personal history, I will do this for a minimal sum.”

“How minimal?” Rygel demanded.

After a short pause, Velorek responded, “Let us say, fifty thousand fennicks.”

“Done,” John grinned. “Now we have to figure a way to get you aboard.”

Ch’rall shifted in his seat and said, “I can help there. My ship can block scans for a limited period of time. The design gives it stealth capability by refracting the rays back on themselves.”

“Remember what I said about plans, Crais? This one is going to have some improvisation. I don’t know how long it’ll be before I’m in a position to sabotage the research, but when I am Ch’rall has to have Velorek in place and ready to rock and roll.”

“Which leaves us the question of knowing when to place the good Lieutenant aboard,” Crais responded.

“Exactly! We have to have a way to communicate so that the bad guys can’t listen in.”

“I can alter the frequencies of the Leviathan’s comms,” Velorek offered, with a cunning smile.

“Since your life is at risk also, don’t expect payment,” Rygel snorted.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Especially since you idiots have given me this fantastic opportunity.

Chiana gasped as a vision swept over her. Crichton lying on a deck somewhere bleeding and still! She shook her head as if to chase away the mental horror she had seen. I have to tell him. I have to tell him now.

“John, you’re going to die,” she cried causing everyone to stare at her incredulously.

“What are you talking about, Chiana?” Aeryn gasped.

“I, I saw him lying on a deck, bleeding. He looked dead.”

“Where? When?” D’Argo demanded as he grabbed her roughly.

She pushed him away and said in a defiant tone, “It doesn’t work that way and you know it. I just had a flash of John. I don’t know where or when.”

“What is the point of seeing the ‘future’ if you know nothing about the circumstances?” D’Argo snarled.

“You think I asked for this? I can’t control these flashes. I don’t even know when they’re going to happen.”

“Pip, how many times have your little flashes been true?” John asked, appearing to weigh the odds.

“Every time, Old Man! Why do you think I’m so scared?”

Aeryn bolted from her seat and grabbed John, spinning him around. “That settles it, you’re not going. You’re not going to sacrifice yourself for everyone here. You are not going to leave me again.”

“And you are different how?”

“I’m different because I love you.” It wasn’t enough then. Why do I think it will be now?

“Then you know I have to do this.” He raised his hand to caress her cheek softly. “Besides we aren’t talking about just all of us. We’re talking about the whole galaxy and every world in it.”

“Your twin said the same thing before he left me behind. Why do you have to be the frelling hero? Is there some sort of stupid Earth custom that makes every Human a living sacrifice? Why you, John? Why??” Tears brimmed in her eyes.

“Because it has to be done and no one else can do it,” John replied quietly. “You know that. Besides, if you haven’t noticed, I’m pretty hard to kill thanks to you. I’ll be back, baby. You can count on it.”

John kissed Aeryn lightly on the cheek and turned to the others. “We each have a job to do. Crais, you and Talyn will cover our exit from the carrier and pick us up. Ch’rall, you deliver Velorek and then you, Aeryn and D’Argo have to be ready to cover our asses while we get to Talyn. Timing is going to be extremely critical if what I plan to do works.”

In one voice, Jool, Chiana and Rygel asked, “What about us?”

“Jool, you have the medbay ready just in case. Rygel, you and Chiana put Moya in a position to help Talyn. Move between any pursuit and us and use the defense screen. If things start to go sour, Starburst your tails out of here and we’ll find you later.”

“Crichton, you are leaving much to chance,” Crais said in a worried tone.

“To quote a dead Earth poet, Crais: ‘The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft aglay.’”

Seeing microbe glitches and twitches in everyone, he translated, “No matter how well you plan, something always frells things up. That’s why I’ve left wiggle-room or room for the unexpected. Remember, improvisation is the best way to keep your enemies off-guard.” It also puts the stalking-horse in a damned precarious position.

End Chapter 11