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 6– Whose plan is this?

Three solar days later Moya and Talyn hovered near a Commerce planet. Moya hid behind the planet’s second moon to avoid detection while Talyn orbited according to plan. The emissary was in route and all the preparations were seemingly ready.

TALYN
Every plan has a point where excessive preparation leads to second-guessing and doubts. Everyone recognized the condition was due to nervousness and jitters. In this case, knowledge was not power. The emotions on Talyn simmered for arns before the bickering began.

“Of course, I’m sure the emissary is coming; I’m just not sure when,” Rygel snapped at Jool. “How many times are you going to ask me if he’s here yet? When he arrives, Crais and Talyn will inform us. So don’t ask me that again.”

“I was just curious,” Jool pouted. “Besides, I’m not sure I even resemble an Arcturion pirate. This outfit is so strange, not stylish at all.”

Jool’s costume consisted of a halter-top, a skirt slit high on both of her thighs, an eye patch complete with facial scars, and a large headdress that she had to keep adjusting. She finished her ensemble with a pulse pistol on her right thigh, a dagger on the other, along with a dagger on her upper arm. The headdress served to cover her enlarged forehead and her hair. Her complexion had been darkened to a deeper bronze to complete her disguise.

She stamped her foot and grumbled to herself as the headdress slipped again, “Are we sure this is Arcturion pirates’ dress? Can’t I at least get rid of this stupid piece of dren on my head?”

Crais nodded wearily, “Yes, for the hundredth time, this is exactly how they dress. And ‘that stupid piece of dren’ as you call it is the one thing disguising your true origin. I suggest you start practicing the Arcturion vow of silence now before the Scorvians arrive.”

“That’s another thing,” she whined. “What if I frell up and say something?”

Chiana whirled and spat, “Then you have Aeryn and me to worry about, Debutante. All you do is stand around and be ornamental with your mouth shut. Ryge and Crais do all the talking. Nod if I am getting through to you!”

Rygel cleared his throat, “Ah, Chiana, please don’t move too quickly. I saw a flash of your unadorned skin. It wouldn’t do for the emissary to notice a Nebari’s blue skin on a Peacekeeper tech.”

“You don’t need to give me advice, Toadie,” she retorted. “I’ve done this before. Only that time I was on a Gammak base surrounded by Peacekeepers. I can fool a Scorvian emissary with no problem at all.”

Crais slammed the console sharply with his open palms. “All of you are causing unnecessary unrest. Talyn is sensing this and expressing concern. I fail to see how you have avoided capture or killing each other for the past three cycles. If everyone follows Crichton’s plan, our task will be simplicity itself. Now, please, calm down and try to relax.”

Rygel nodded. “The good Captain is correct. All of us need to do whatever it is we do to remain focused.”

No one heard Chiana mutter, “Crichton’s plans are never simple and never work like he says they will.”

MOYA
Ch’rall and D’Argo had taken their ships out to patrol and guard Moya from unwelcome visitors. John and Aeryn were in Command waiting for word from Crais when Pilot’s image appeared on the clamshell.

“Commander, Aeryn, Moya’s sensors have detected a Marauder approaching,” he reported excitedly.

“How many lifeforms aboard, Pilot?” Aeryn asked as she and John dashed for the docking bay.

“Moya counts five.”

John glanced at Aeryn. “Looks like Tal got some reinforcements.”

Aeryn nodded grimly. “D’Argo, Ch’rall, let the Marauder board before you return.”

“Acknowledged,” they replied.

As they arrived at the docking bay, Aeryn glanced at John. “I hope your plan for collecting the bounty works.”

“Don’t they always?” he replied, taking position behind a storage bin.

“Actually, no,” she grimaced as she made her way across the bay to another bin.

The Marauder sat down in the bay. After a short pause, the exit hatch opened and three commandos dropped to Moya’s deck and fanned out. As the remaining two exited, D’Argo and Ch’rall landed behind their ship effectively blocking any escape route. John and Aeryn opened fire on the lead trio before they could turn, eliminating them easily in the crossfire. The remaining two commandos dashed for cover as D’Argo and Ch’rall exploded from their ships, firing. One commando tried to shift his position, which proved to be a fatal error as Ch’rall cut him down.

John opened his mouth to yell at the remaining commando when a pulse shot ripped into Aeryn’s position. He rolled and found himself looking at a smiling Jenavian Chatto. He snapped off a hurried blast that grazed Chatto’s arm. Despite a stunned look, she crouched and fired back. John felt the heat of the blast over his right ear and a sharp stinging sensation flowed through his head. As Aeryn rose to take aim, Chatto fired a shot in her direction and dashed from the bay. Aeryn’s return shot barely missed as Chatto sought protection around a corner of Moya’s bay. Then they raced after Chatto, dodging pulse fire and returning fire as they ran. Chatto rounded another corner and John stopped Aeryn before she could follow.

“Let me take a look just in case it’s a trap,” he panted.

The corridor around the corner emptied into a smaller docking bay. He saw Chatto jump inside a small one-person ship. He fired a shot as it rocketed out the exit port, but it was moving too fast.

As Aeryn came up beside him, he hit the wall. “She got away, dammit. What kind of ship was that anyway?” he asked as he hunched over, trying to catch his breath.

“A Peacekeeper Intruder; it is designed to infiltrate enemy positions without detection.”

“Looks like we fell for an old trick. Distract us on one front and sneak up behind to catch us in a crossfire.”

“I should have known. After all, it is a recognized battle tactic in all Peacekeeper training.”

“Don’t blame yourself. Even we inferior Humans have used it on Earth.”

Looking at Aeryn, he noticed blood oozing from her shoulder. Grabbing her, he demanded, “Baby, are you OK?”

Raising her hand, Aeryn caressed his face. “I might ask you the same.” Blood was flowing freely from John’s scalp.

“Just a scratch,” he grinned.

She grinned back. “Mine, too. I believe we left one commando back in the docking bay. Shall we get back there in case we are needed?”

John kissed her soundly and replied, “Those two can definitely take care of themselves, but when you’re right, you’re right. Let’s go.”

Back in the docking bay, D’Argo yelled at the remaining commando. “Throw out your rifle, you son of a hezmot. Face me man to man, if you dare.”

Macton Tal stood. Large for a Peacekeeper with a vicious scar across the right side of his face, his conditioning and training had given him slabs of muscle and a superior attitude.

Looking at D’Argo, he recoiled sharply then sneered, “So, Luxan, you are still alive, how disappointing. Did you enjoy your visit to Nikar Seven? The kemlac mines, wasn’t it?”

D’Argo snarled, bringing a smile to Tal’s face. “I am exceedingly sorry you missed the opportunity to enjoy the hospitable climate of Terran Rau,” he said derisively.

“I expected you to rise to a higher rank than Commando Team Leader after stepping over the body of a family member to achieve status.”

“Some unfortunate personal idiosyncrasies hindered my progress. However, after I dispose of you and turn your ugly body over to Peacekeeper Command, I expect to rise a great deal higher.”

Drawing his Qualta blade, D’Argo growled, “I doubt a corpse can be promoted.”

Tal drew his knife and lunged. D'Argo moved to one side and struck Tal with the hilt of his blade. Tal recovered quickly and lunged again, slicing D'Argo's side as he passed. D'Argo roared, wheeled, and struck. Tal's size belied his speed and his quickness. D'Argo's slashing blow merely grazed him as he lunged aside. Tal roared as the pain flooded in.

The two continued to feint and watch for an opening. The sheen of perspiration on both men began to turn to trickles. D'Argo winced as sweat flowed into his eye, but his guard never faltered. The two continued to circle warily, each intently watching the other. It was as if nothing and nobody else existed. Each knew that the slightest slip or miscalculation would be his last.

Tal knew that the Qualta blade gave D'Argo a definite advantage and he moved out of reach each time it sliced through the air. He also knew that he might have a chance if he could get D'Argo to go into hyper-rage. All his training had taught him that an angry opponent became careless and took risks. He had been in these types of fights before and was extremely confident of walking away from this one.

As they circled, Tal began to taunt D'Argo with insults about Jothee and Lo'Lann. Emboldened by their effect, he intensified the effort.

"Your pathetic half-breed son never did fit in, did he? I can't believe that my own sister took up with someone as ugly as you. She knew our family would never embrace her after that. She destroyed all of her family ties for a lumbering oaf who couldn't even protect her."

D'Argo could feel the rage begin to flow through his veins as Tal spoke. What Tal didn't know was that his time aboard Moya had changed him. D'Argo may have been a Luxan brute before, but now he had a purpose that drained the rage away and kept him calm and focused. He knew what Tal was attempting and decided to turn it to his advantage.

He roared in rage and rushed in towards Tal with his blade poised over his head. Tal lunged for D'Argo's exposed midsection and was astonished that his enemy avoided the blow with some deft footwork. Before he could recover from his fatal mistake, D'Argo pushed him by with his free hand and delivered a blow with his other. Tal felt his lower body go numb as the blade severed his spine. As he fell, he felt shock that such a clumsy brute had performed such a defensive move. Shock was the last emotion he felt as D'Argo drove the blade through his chest. Before he died, his eyes locked with the Luxan.

D'Argo watched as Tal's eyes slowly went dim. His face bore no expression at all. When he was sure Tal was dead, he threw back his head and roared, "Lo'Laan, you are avenged."

Ch’rall moved to support D’Argo as he staggered. Wincing, D’Argo gasped, “Thank you for not interfering.”

Ch’rall shrugged, “It was your honor at stake and not my place. Either way, Tal was not leaving here alive.”

John and Aeryn had entered just before the final blow and hurried forward to help their friend. John reached him first and began examining the wound.

“Damn, Heavy D, that’s gotta hurt,” he exclaimed.

“We must get you to medbay. You will require stitches after the blood runs clear,” Aeryn agreed.

D’Argo drew himself up to his full height. “There is something I must do first,” he said grimly. Turning and walking to Tal’s corpse, he spit upon it. “Now I am ready.”

Ch’rall turned towards his vessel. “I am needed on patrol for Talyn in case the Scorvians do not honor their agreement.”

John and Aeryn both nodded. “Good hunting,” she said and turned to assist John.

As Ch’rall lifted off, John turned to Aeryn and D’Argo. “Worked like a charm,” he said grinning.

D’Argo and Aeryn looked at each other and shook their heads. Aeryn snorted, “We all need medical attention and Moya has dozens of pulse wounds. Is that what you call working like a charm?”

“Hey, I never said the plan was perfect,” John said with a slightly defensive tone.

“Your plans never are, but this was Rygel’s plan,” Aeryn countered.

D’Argo chuckled, “For once the little frelnik had a good idea. Tal did come to me.”

“I hope the others get more charm and fewer injuries,” Aeryn added.

The trio grinned at each other and began the trip to medbay, bantering the whole way.

TALYN
The emissary’s image smiled over the view screen. “We have tested the blood sample. Our medicals confirm your claim of its being from an unknown species,” he said smugly. “We will take Crichton now.”

“You will take nothing until we have arranged for payment,” Rygel replied coldly.

“I will bring payment to your vessel myself. To show our mutual trust, one of you shall come to our ship. We wish to avoid any ‘misunderstandings’.” The emissary coughed delicately at the final word.

The four exchanged a nervous glance. “Certainly, certainly, we will send one of our crew over immediately. Please bring a medical with you,” Rygel replied as Crais terminated the signal before any questions could be asked.

Chiana grabbed Rygel. “And just who did you have in mind for this little unplanned mission, your Eminence,” she demanded intensely.

“Actually the only logical choice to go is me,” he replied uncharacteristically.

His statement stunned everyone and he knew it. “Oh, please. Look at yourselves. You act as if I had claimed to be the father of a Scarran. We cannot send Crais because of Talyn. We cannot send Jool for obvious reasons. And we certainly cannot send you, Chiana. You must stay here and explain away the ashes. Since I am in charge of the negotiations, I must go.”

As the truth of his statements sank in, he continued, “Don’t place any noble purpose on this act. I fully expect all of you to come to my aid if I require it, understood?”

“Gee, Ryge, you’re just full of surprises,” Chiana exclaimed. Jool just shook her head.

As Rygel turned his thronesled around to head for a transport pod, Crais cleared his throat, “Good fortune, Dominar. You will be back safely I assure you,” he said with a note of respect in his voice.

With a confidence, he didn’t feel at the moment, Rygel replied, “Of that I have no doubt.”

Less than a quarter arn later, the emissary and a medical entered Talyn’s command. They both looked around in wonder.

“A most unique vessel, Captain. I am N’reel and this is M’nat, the medical you requested,” the emissary began. “I have your currency in this container.”

As he began to open the container, Jool stepped forward and pressed a pulse rifle gently into his back while Chiana lightly fingered her pistol. “We have an aversion to sudden moves and surprises,” Crais explained. “You may continue, but slowly.”

N’reel nodded and opened the container. “I believe you will find the amount as we agreed. Now, where is Crichton?”

“I believe our tech has the answer to your question,” Crais replied. Chiana lifted the container of Crichton’s ashes and handed them to M’nat. M’nat hesitated; looking confused, and then took them.

“You probably wondered why we asked for a medical,” Chiana said. “You’ll understand when you finish analyzing the contents.”

Looking into the container, M’nat stammered, “But these are ashes.”

“The Human tried to escape from a cell with a containment field. He met with an unfortunate ‘accident,’” Crais said with an evil smile.

Continuing in a supercilious tone, Crais added, “The fool thought we wanted to keep him alive. Your beacon explained your intent clearly, so our tech wired the cell for just such a contingency. I am sure Crichton was surprised as he was being incinerated. He was certainly noisy, for a short while anyway.” All three crewmembers smiled wickedly, causing both the Scorvians to shudder slightly.

Turning to M’nat, Chiana continued, “These ashes should be a perfect match for the blood sample you have. The mass is consistent with a being of Crichton’s size, minus the water of course.”

M’nat opened his medical case and began testing the ashes. After a short time, he turned to N’reel and nodded. “The ashes have an identical signature to the blood and their mass matches those of a being weighing roughly eighty solems. The blood and the ashes definitely came from the same unknown being.”

Crais gestured vaguely toward the rear hatch. “We tried to recover as much dust from the cell as we could. However, we are not known for our housekeeping skills,” he chuckled. “You are welcome to collect more if you wish.”

N’reel swallowed visibly and shook his head. He emptied the currency from the container on Talyn’s deck “I am sure you will find this satisfactory,” he murmured. “Signal our ship to release the Hynerian,” he ordered M’nat. “Our business is concluded. Sh’nam will be pleased.”

Bowing slightly, he continued. “Captain. Ladies. With your permission, we will take our leave.”

Crais nodded. As the Scorvians were about to leave, he called to them. “Gentlemen, if any on your ship are entertaining hostile thoughts, I suggest they check their sensors. They may find something quite interesting. This ship is not our only asset.”

The Scorvians glanced at each other and exited Command. Rygel passed them on his way in. Several microts passed before Chiana started giggling. Crais and Rygel smiled widely. Jool looked around and asked, “May I talk now?”

The resounding “NO” from the others made her squeak and jump back a little before she began to pout.

End Chapter 6