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.

Reader’s Note: Italics indicate a character’s thoughts

CHAPTER 3– The Assassin’s Story

The ship reminded Aeryn of a Prowler with its sleek lines and a slightly blunt nose. However, the resemblance stopped there. As she slowly walked around the vessel, she found herself admiring the design. Two wings on each side of the fuselage, that is interesting. Cannons under the forward set of wings and a nose cannon, impressive. Is that a cannon turret mounted behind the cockpit? Gives it a complete field of fire, excellent offensive and defensive weapon. The Scorvians could teach the Peacekeepers a few design tricks.

D’Argo interrupted her reverie. “Have you found anything or have you just been studying the design?” He asked as he entered the docking bay.

“This design is like nothing I have ever seen, D’Argo,” she replied. “However, you are correct. We need to examine this ship closely.”

They both turned as John entered. “Hey, guys, found anything yet?” He asked.

“We have just begun looking, John. Please do not touch anything until we finish,” Aeryn replied.

“Yes, John, your curiosity could get us all killed,” D’Argo added.

John began circling the craft with incredulous wonder. “Look at all those cannons. This guy could take on a squadron of Prowlers and have a pretty even chance of kickin their butts.”

As he reached up to climb into the cockpit for a look, he found his arm locked in the grasp of an angry ex-Peacekeeper. “I asked you not to touch anything, John, I even said ‘please.’ If you do not grasp the handhold in exactly the correct way, look what happens.” Aeryn demonstrated by gently touching the handhold with the barrel of her pulse rifle. With an audible click, several needles snapped out of the fuselage exactly where John’s hand would have been if she hadn’t stopped him. “Whoa, I don’t even want to know what’s on those needles,” he said as he wiped his hand on his pants.

“Scorvians use a deadly neurotoxin to discourage uninvited visitors,” D’Argo said. “You would have been dead before your body fell.”

Glaring at John, Aeryn practically growled, “Keep your hands and body away from the vessel or I will gladly break some of your bones, Crichton.”

“Point taken, Aeryn. I may learn slowly, but I do learn. Who knows how many booby traps are on this thing.”

“I understand the traps part, John, but the booby?” D’Argo asked.

“I think it comes from the word ‘boob.’ You know a dummy, a careless simpleton.”

Aeryn and D’Argo laughed. Wiping tears from their eyes, they both agreed the description was fitting.

“I deserved that,” John said, shaking his head.

After an arn of careful study, the three were satisfied the ship was not a danger to Moya or to anyone who left it alone. As they made their way back to the infirmary, John decided that the two main snurchers on Moya needed a warning. Activating his comms, he said, “Rygel, Chiana, do me a favor, will ya? Don’t go snooping around the Mellacat unless you like things like needles, poison, and instant death. I’m sure we didn’t find all the little surprises Ch’rall has planted to discourage unwelcome visitors. So just leave it alone, OK?”

D’Argo turned and started back to the docking bay. “As much as I dislike the little toad, I think I will stay with the vessel in case he decides to ignore your warning.”

John grinned and said, “And I’m sure Chiana never entered your head, did she?”

Aeryn smiled and added, “Of course not. We all know the high regard D’Argo assigns to Rygel.”

D’Argo snorted and continued walking.

As John and Aeryn entered the infirmary, Crais glanced up. “All we can do now is wait for him to regain consciousness. Jool and I have done everything we can.” This earned him a slight smile from Jool, which he returned.

Glancing at Aeryn John thought, Well, well. What have we here? Aeryn grinned slightly, but said nothing.

“Since it’s my head he was planning to remove, I’ll take the first watch. You guys go get some rest. I’ll call you if there’s any change,” John volunteered.

Aeryn was quick to add, “I am not tired. I will stay with you.” Her look told John, I am not leaving you alone with this creature; do not even think about arguing.

“Sounds like a plan. Thanks, Aeryn,” he responded.

After Crais and Jool had gone, they both settled down for the wait. John began to study the alien being carefully. Ch’rall was easily as tall as D’Argo. I’ll bet he does weigh more than three hundred pounds. His body was sleek, well muscled and covered with fine orange-brown fur.

Look at those claws. They’re at least three inches long and they look really sharp. Ch’rall opened his mouth slightly. My, granny, what BIG teeth you have and lots of them. This is one guy you don’t want to meet in a dark alley. Even without weapons, he looks deadly.

After about two arns, John stood and stretched. “I’m going to check his bandages to see if they need changing.” Aeryn nodded and moved to clear her field of fire.

Glancing at her, John said, “He said he would ally himself with us for medical attention.” Aeryn merely grunted without relaxing.

At that moment, Ch’rall opened his eyes and looked around. John noted that he was instantly alert. “I take it that I am not dead.”

“Move suddenly and that could change,” Aeryn replied.

John tapped his comms. “Yo, Crais, Jool, your patient is awake. Maybe you two would like to check your handiwork.”

“On our way,” they said almost in unison.

D’Argo came in with Rygel under one arm and Chiana under the other. “They just could not resist lurking and I was not leaving them there without supervision. I want to hear the Scorvian’s story.”

“Put me down you oafish Luxan,” demanded Rygel.

“We weren’t going to touch anything, honest, D’Argo,” added Chiana.

“Oh, yes, we all know how you two never touch anything,” snapped Aeryn.

“Sure. We would never touch intelligent viruses or metal-eating money, would we, guys?” added John. “All of the things you two have never touched have nearly killed us five times over. Good thinking, heavy D. We should never leave those two on their own.”

“Unless we desire serious injury and the threat of death,” finished D’Argo grimly.

At that moment, Crais and Jool came in and immediately began examining Ch’rall’s bandages for seepage and his wounds for signs of infection. After a quarter of an arn, they nodded and stepped away.

Holding a water bottle for Ch’rall to sip, John asked, “OK, big fella, do you feel up to talking or do we wait a little longer?”

Ch’rall finished the water and nodded. “Now will be fine. Where do you wish me to begin?”

Indicating the wounds John said, “Wellllll, besides the obvious….. How about Matala’s appearance, how you followed us through Starburst, and why you would ally with anyone, let alone us?”

“I will save the occurrences after you left for last and start with Matala. Her mother volunteered her for service while she was in the womb. Scorvian medicals performed genetic manipulation before she was born and used various medications to retard her skin fur growth and retain her outward appearance. She became the crowning achievement of Scorvian medical technology. Of course, her lifespan was shortened considerably,” he began.

John was disgusted. “And you do that without any regard for their future life.”

“Actually, the Scorvian rulers do that. I had been banished by then,” he replied. “The answer to your second question is more simplistic. I put a tracer on each of you on the Commerce planet. The three signals enabled me to locate you at will. A ‘cooperative’ Peacekeeper renegade designed the technology solely for my use. Unfortunately, he suffered a fatal accident before he could replicate his design. No one in the Uncharted Territories can track a leviathan through Starburst, except me,” he continued.

“Unfortunate accident, huh?” Aeryn muttered glancing at John and Crais. Ch’rall feigned innocence.

“As for the ally part, I rarely, if ever, receive currency to keep someone alive. I have wandered the Uncharteds for almost sixty cycles. I have no home. I am alone. On every planet, at least one young creature wants to try his luck against the ‘great’ Ch’rall. Each one comes closer to killing me than the last. I am tired. There is no returning to who I was, but perhaps a chance remains to regain my honor before I encounter that more accomplished adversary. More questions, John Crichton?” Ch’rall paused for some water.

John sensed that the crew was uneasy. Gazing at the Scorvian assassin sharply, he asked everyone’s unspoken question, “Can we trust you, Ch’rall?”

“Before I answer that, let me tell you what happened after you left and you can decide if I am trustworthy. Of course, Chatto did not come to the planet alone. A Marauder with a team of disruptor commandos aboard was nearby. To say she was displeased with my actions would be an understatement. I managed to dispatch four of the team with the results you see here. I almost had the Marauder commander, but Chatto stabbed me from behind and they both fled.”

Both Aeryn and Crais looked at each other in stark disbelief. Shaking her head Aeryn asked, “You killed four of five commandos with no support? That cannot be.”

Crais nodded in agreement. “Not possible. Disruptor commandos are the best-trained, most ruthless Peacekeeper soldiers ever known. I have seen a disruptor team destroy an entire Scarran minicarrier. You want us to believe one being could defeat them?” he demanded.

Ch’rall growled deep in his throat. “I AM CH’RALL,” he roared, causing all of them to move back. He continued in a near whisper, “I have killed beings that make your disruptors look like children. Enough blood has soaked these hands to cover the walls of this medbay and still they come. Still they come.” Panting, he fell back and closed his eyes.

Gratefully, he sipped the water John offered him. “And you, John Crichton. You destroyed a Gammak base, looted a Shadow Depository, escaped a Command Carrier, and survived the Aurora Chair and Scorpius. Reports abound that you destroyed a Scarran dreadnought and its complement of fighters. I observed your decisiveness on the Commerce planet during the fight with the bounty hunters. You are a brave and excellent warrior. I would be your ally.”

“We’ll discuss it and let you know,” John answered.

“One thing to consider,” Ch’rall continued. “Chatto and the remaining disruptor are still out there. I would relish killing that one. He has no honor.”

“Does he have a name?” Crais asked.

“Oh, yes. His name is Tal. Macton Tal.”

End Chapter 3