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 4– Rage

A bomb could have detonated in the medbay and caused less chaos. At the mention of Lo’Laan’s murderer, D’Argo erupted from his chair uttering Luxan curses. Rygel’s thronechair shot toward the ceiling. Squealing, Jool jumped behind Crais, who moved his chair back with a stunned expression. John, Aeryn and Chiana hurried toward D’Argo. Chiana took one arm as Aeryn took the other. Aeryn began talking to D’Argo in a low voice. Chiana held his arm and began soothing him. Aeryn’s calming tone and Chiana’s caresses slowly had an effect on the raging Luxan. The curses subsided and he began to relax slightly.

Ch’rall watched quietly from his cot. “I see you are familiar with Tal.”

“I have taken a blood oath to kill the son of a hezmot on sight. He murdered my wife and destroyed my family,” D’Argo said in a low voice.

“I am sorry, Luxan. I know the importance of family,” Ch’rall replied.

D’Argo nodded as Aeryn and Chiana released his arms, “Thank you both for your help. I think I will go to my quarters now.”

“Are you going to be OK, big guy?” John asked in a concerned voice.

“Yes. Thank you all for your concern,” he said as he left the medbay.

Chiana glanced around nervously. “I think I’ll go talk to him,” she said as she followed the Luxan from the room.

“I guess it’s my turn to watch the patient,” Jool said. She turned to John and Aeryn. “You two go ahead. I’ll stay for a while.”

“As will I,” added Crais.

John looked appraisingly at Aeryn as they left the medbay and walked towards their quarters.

“What?” Aeryn asked.

“Oh, nothing. Just that I’m proud of the way you calmed down D’Argo back there. Zhaan couldn’t have done better. That was truly amazing.”

“It just seemed like the right thing to do,” she replied self-consciously.

“It was exactly the right thing to do, Aeryn. That was just what D’Argo needed.”

“I hope that his desire for vengeance does not lead him into foolish decisions, John.”

“Me, too, Aeryn. Me, too.”

They saw Chiana as they rounded the next corner and John called, “Yo, Chi, how’s he doin’?”

“He’s packing to go. You two need to talk some sense into him and quick.”

Aeryn and John looked at each other and broke into a trot. “We’ll see what we can do,” John called.

As they arrived at D’Argo’s door, they heard him talking to someone in a heated voice. Given his temperament, that was not surprising. However, they both paused when they realized he was arguing with none other than Dominar Rygel the XVI.

“Listen to me you foolish Luxan. I know we have had difficulties in the past and I know you think I am self-serving and selfish, but your plan is suicidal at worst and unworkable at best.”

D’Argo answered with a snarl.

“Just listen and think with your inaptly named brain instead of your mivonks and your instincts.”

“Rygel, you cannot talk me out of this.”

“At least do me the courtesy of letting me try. I do not wish to see you throw your life away unnecessarily.”

“You have sixty microts. Make them count.”

“Let us start with the facts. You hate and wish to kill Macton Tal. You think you can take your Luxan warship and hunt him down.”

“That is obvious.”

“What is also obvious is your unclear thinking regarding this foolish pursuit. You have no idea where Tal is or how to find him. Do you think he is sitting alone out in space with a large target painted on his ship just waiting for you to come along and destroy him? What will happen if you find him and are unsuccessful in killing him? If you persist in this, you will place all of us in danger of Peacekeeper discovery.”

“I should have known that you were thinking only of yourself,” D’Argo yelled.

“Of course, I am thinking of myself. However, I am also thinking of the others. Your ship’s trail will lead the Peacekeepers directly back to Moya, effectively destroying any chance we would have of surprising Scorpius,” retorted Rygel. “For once, think strategically. Instead of rushing off in hyper rage, why not let Tal find us? Hmmmm?”

“And what difference would that make?” D’Argo snorted.

“You imbecile,” Rygel yelled. “It would give us the element of surprise. We have two gunships aboard this seemingly defenseless Leviathan. When you add Talyn we could give any Peacekeeper patrol a very nasty surprise.”

D’Argo opened his mouth to retort, but closed it again. He began to look thoughtful.

“Ah, the Luxan DOES have a brain beneath all those browridges,” Rygel smiled. “You see, Luxan, sometimes guile is so much better than brute strength. Tal is with Chatto and they are looking for Crichton who is here, not out there in your warbird. Let them find us. We have the upper hand when that happens.”

Turning toward the door, Rygel added, “Don’t you agree, Crichton and Aeryn?”

They both stepped into D’Argo’s cell. “Surprisingly, Rygel makes a lot of sense,” commented Aeryn.

“Yeah, Guido. I didn’t know you had it in you,” added John.

“Pah. Don’t you think I learned something about guile and trickery during my reign? This little exercise is nothing compared to the dren I had to endure as Dominar. Plans of coups and betrayals are a way of life for royalty; especially Hynerian royalty,” Rygel smirked. “Besides I have grown somewhat accustomed to the Luxan brute and wouldn’t want to see him sacrifice himself needlessly.”

“By ‘needlessly’ you mean in a way that endangers you,” D’Argo growled.

“Your contempt for my practice of self-preservation is obvious, Luxan. However, don’t underestimate it. We are stronger together than apart and many eyes are better than two when it comes to perceiving threats and danger. As ridiculous as it sounds, our particular group of misfits has been quite successful over the last three cycles and I, for one, wish to continue that success,” Rygel answered. “We each have different skills, Luxan. Please allow me to use mine this time.”

After a moment of silence, D’Argo nodded. “For once, Rygel, you make a valid point. We will do this together. However, when the time comes, Macton Tal is mine.”

Guiding his thronesled out of the room, Rygel smiled smugly, “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

As John and Aeryn left D’Argo’s cell, they breathed a sigh of relief. Chiana was hovering anxiously in the corridor. “Well, did you talk him out of it? Did you?” she asked.

John smiled and said, “Actually you have Sparky here to thank. We were just along for the ride.”

For once Chiana was speechless. She looked at Aeryn, who nodded. Then she grabbed Rygel and gave him a big hug and a kiss causing the Hynerian to protest loudly. “Unhand me, body breeder. A simple ‘thank you’ will suffice,” he complained.

Ignoring him, she hugged harder and giggled, “Wow, Ryge. I didn’t know you had it in you.”

Struggling to break away, Rygel said, “There are numerous things you don’t know about me. Don’t ever expect to, either.”

John and Aeryn laughed heartily at this spectacle. D’Argo found it very amusing also. As they were to discover, laughter would be in short supply for the next few weekens.

Crichton had been working on his module for several arns when Aeryn commed him, “John, can you meet me in Chiana’s quarters, please?”

Frowning at her tone, John replied, “Sure, Aeryn. Anything wrong?”

“No. Chiana and I would just like to talk to you.”

“On my way.”

“I wonder what they want to talk to me about. She didn’t sound angry, but she sure didn’t sound happy either. As a matter of fact, I don’t think I’ve heard that particular tone of voice from her ever,” John thought as he made his way down the corridor to Chiana’s cell. “And why would they both want to talk to me? That’s never happened before, either.”

John tapped on Chiana’s door and entered. “Well, here I am, ladies. What can I do for you?”

“Chiana has told me that she and Rygel overheard our conversation in Command earlier,” Aeryn began.

Looking confused, John began, “Which conversation was …” He blushed as he realized that she was talking about their confrontation regarding Jenavian. “Chiana, it’s not polite to eavesdrop, especially on your friends,” he said in a stern tone.

“Yeah, well, you know me, Crichton. Easily tempted and always curious,” she shot back.

“I could think of some stronger ways to say it,” he retorted.

“John, before you begin to draw blood from each other, we need to focus on the problem at hand,” Aeryn interrupted.

Tearing his attention away from Chiana, John asked, “And what would that be, Aeryn?”

“Chiana has brought up a point which I had not considered,” Aeryn continued. “Can we agree that she knows more about males and their behavior than I do?”

“For her age, she probably knows more about that subject than anyone I have ever met,” John snorted.

“Thank you,” Chiana grinned.

“Anyway, she told me something about males which concerned me greatly and I thought I would ask you about it,” Aeryn continued.

“Go ahead. I’m all ears.” Being used to his ‘Erpisms’ by now, Chiana and Aeryn ignored the translator microbe hiccup his statement caused.

“Chiana tells me that males feel a great deal of residual affection for female recreation partners. She says that sometimes the affection can last forever and clouds a male’s judgment when he encounters her again,” she began.

John leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. “Is there a point to this?”

Chiana motioned for Aeryn to continue.

“If Chiana is correct, then we both have a question of you. Will you be able to kill Chatto when you see her again in threatening circumstances?” Aeryn and Chiana looked at John expectantly.

End Chapter 4