The Elephant Ep2.20: Sacrificial Tendencies P2: Altered States

The boy was there again. She saw him through the haze and stepped backward. The last time they had met, she had done something terrible. Zhaan tried to force herself from sleep but he wouldn't let her go. "What is going to happen?" Kithara shook his head. As he walked towards her, a frown spread across his face. "That depends on you." The Delvian felt the uneasiness inside her again and slid to the ground. He knelt down beside her and put his hand on her forehead. "You should be more careful with that." Zhaan was not amused. She pushed him away and dragged herself back. "Let me go." Kithara nodded.

"Zhaan, are you ok?" She opened her eyes and saw someone standing over her. The young Nebari's worried expression brought her back to reality. It had only been a dream. She had known that, but the feelings were still strong. Chiana helped her up. "I didn't realize Delvians had bad dreams. You knocked yourself right out of bed." Zhaan looked down at the floor and then back at her companion. She attempted a smile. "Thank you for your concern child. I will be fine." They both got the sense that something had been left unsaid. But neither wanted to press the other. Chiana smiled. "I'll leave you alone then."

She walked into the room and found him sitting there alone. It didn't surprise her. D'Argo seemed to enjoy his moments of solitude as well as the next person. There were things she wanted to say. No one else aboard would understand. "Can I help you with something?" The Luxan stopped cleaning his Qualta blade and looked up at her. Rachel smiled and moved to sit down beside him. "I just didn't feel like being alone right now." He eyed her carefully and nodded. Whatever thoughts had entered his mind were gone. "You're worried." The human shook her head. "I'm sure everything will be alright. It's just, he's all I have left."

D'Argo understood what she was trying to say. This wasn't about the rescue. "You're afraid of losing him to her." She looked him straight in the eyes. The wounded expression on her face said everything. Rachel was amazed at how much this odd-looking creature was like her. "Tom's father has been dead for a while now. We helped each other through that. Now he's moving on." He smiled at her. "That's what children do. They live their own lives." She had told herself the same thing many times. I didn't help as much as you might think.

Rygel hovered into command and made his way to the window. Everyone seemed to be ignoring him lately. "More important things to do." The words sounded strange coming out of his mouth. Back on Hyneria, nothing was more important than entertaining the dominar. But he wasn't on Hyneria. He was on this wretched ship with this wretched crew. All with problems of their own and no time for him. "Rygel, can I ask you something?" The clamshell burst to life and revealed Pilot's timid face. He nodded his head respectfully. "What is it Pilot?" Something passed by the window outside. "Another one?"

<<<<>>>>

Zelaya maneuvered her ship around the leviathan's massive form and made way for the hangar. The pilot had recognized her and allowed for them to land. She was relieved to hear the words. This place had been her home very briefly. Not long enough to forge any bonds. "Are you sure about this?" Ness stared at the living ship with more than a little discomfort. He had made the mistake of letting it go last time. It had caused him much trouble. But the current situation left him powerless to do anything but cooperate. "Just don't shoot them."

The brown ship landed alongside its identical twin with a low roar coming from the engines. Its two passengers looked out the side window and spotted the other one. Ness didn't pay much attention. Something else was bothering him. On the other hand, Zelaya's eyes widened when she saw the vessel. How had Crichton and the others gotten it? The thing in the side of her head started transmitting. The Regulators already knew about this. They were angry but refused to come near the leviathan. At least for the moment.

D'Argo walked into the hangar with his blade held in plain sight. The sudden arrival had startled him. He didn't like being surprised. "Do they have any weapons on board?" Pilot's image appeared on the clamshell above him. "The peacekeeper has a pistol. That's all." That was more than enough. The Luxan tensed as he came closer to the landing ship. It's hatch started to descend towards the ground. They were coming out. "It's good to see you again D'Argo." Zelaya stepped down the stairs and nodded towards him. He narrowed his eyes.

Ness saw the creature and instinctively went for his pulse pistol. It wasn't where he had left it. "I told you. No shooting." The Ferrian walked past him and extended her hand towards the Luxan. She tried to smile and conceal the rows of sharp teeth. "Are you sure about this?" Zelaya didn't turn around. "Shut up." He tried to remain calm. The Luxan was an escaped prisoner. He recognized him from the wanted beacons. Peacekeeper training was not that easy to disregard. D'Argo eyed him carefully. "Hello?"

"Slow down!" Chiana payed no attention to the human's request as they made their way towards the hangar. Some people had come aboard and she had no intention of missing it. Rachel held on for dear life as they navigated through Moya's winding passageways. "Move your feet." With all the recent troubles they were having lately, the Nebari needed something to occupy her mind. She wasn't going to let the older woman ruin her fun. "We're almost there." The door in front of them slid open just as they came to it. D'Argo was standing with what appeared to be Zelaya and a peacekeeper. All three of them jumped as they came in.

Rachel took a step back when the two new arrivals looked over at them. The peacekeeper she could deal with. They had seen plenty of those already. It was the other one that made her nervous. Zelaya smiled uncomfortably and nodded. "She doesn't eat, you know, people does she?" Chiana rolled her eyes and continued forward. "Don't worry. She won't hurt us." They joined the group in front of the ship. D'Argo turned to look at them. "Where is Zhaan?"

<<<<>>>>

The transport pod moved steadily through space on its way back to Moya. "Shouldn't we be there already?" John's annoyed voice was the first thing to puncture the parade of silence since their departure. He stood up from his seat and moved over to the control console. Everything seemed to be working normally. Aeryn looked up at him from her place on the floor. "Pilot said we'd be going in the opposite direction. The return trip is going to be a little longer." The human sighed and glanced over at their guest.

Kithara ignored them both and kept his eyes on the space outside. He was trying to concentrate on a different problem when John's words reached his ears. "How long until we arrive?" The other two looked over at him. "A few arns. Won't be too long." Aeryn couldn't quite place it but something bothered her about the boy. Something in his eyes. "Is this the fastest your ship can go?" She nodded. Kithara went back to his previous thoughts. Would they get there in time? With this new delay, it didn't seem likely. "Are you in a hurry?"

John saw the look of worry that crossed the boy's face. "What? Is something wrong?" Kithara's mind raced with possibilities. Would they believe him? "We have to get back as soon as possible. Your friend's life is in danger." Aeryn shot a confused glance at John. Neither of them knew who this boy was or what he knew. "What do you mean in danger?" Kithara nodded slightly. He would have to tell them everything now. "The Delvian. She has been acting strangely recently?" The other two nodded. "Listen closely."

<<<<>>>>

Zhaan felt it the moment they stepped onboard. That familiar feeling of anger and coldness. The feelings of a peacekeeper. "Goddess help me." She stood and walked out of the room. There had to be somewhere she could hide. The intruding presence was already taking its effect. The Delvian knew her own self-control was slipping. "Zhaan, are you alright?" Pilot's voice boomed through the corridor. It hurt her ears. She fell to the ground. "Can you hear me Zhaan?" She didn't answer him. It was too late.

Rygel was still on his way to the hangar when the comm went off. "Rygel, I need your help." He shook his head in annoyance. Twice in one solar day! "What is it Pilot?" Hopefully it was nothing too troublesome. "Something is wrong with Zhaan. She's not answering my calls." The Hynerion groaned. "She's probably meditating. What does it matter?" There was a few moments of silence before the answer came. "Please, just check on her." He was about to refuse when a thought came to mind. Zhaan's cell was quite close to the kitchen.

"I'm sorry to just show up like this. We had no choice." Zelaya watched the Luxan's face closely as she spoke. He had no reason to trust her. "I was captured on a peacekeeper ship. Ness rescued me just before it was destroyed." D'Argo listened to her without saying a word. This one had been a friend of John's. They had thought her dead after the trouble on Nyid. "You're welcome to stay here for a while." He turned to look at Ness. "Just don't outstay your welcome." The peacekeeper swallowed involuntarily.

Something else caught his attention as D'Argo led the others out of the hangar. A familiar feeling that had been gone for some time now. "Not again." He raced forward and grabbed D'Argo's shoulder. The Luxan turned rapidly and raised his sword. "Please don't. I didn't mean to startle you." The weapon was lowered. "What is it?" Ness forced a smile. "Do you have a mirror nearby?" The others looked at him with confused expressions. Chiana stepped forward. "I'll show you."

He floated into the corridor where she had last been and looked around. There was no sign of Zhaan anywhere. "Pilot, she's not here." The creature had no answer for him. Rygel moved cautiously forward. The sound of footsteps ahead made him freeze. "I think I found her." Despite knowing who it was, he was already taking short breaths. "Zhaan?" The attack came from behind him. She slammed her elbow into his back and knocked him off the throne sled. "What the frell are you doing?" Zhaan smiled maliciously and cupped her hand over his mouth. "Quiet Dominar. You're going back where you belong."

"Rygel, are you there?" Pilot turned on the comm again and waited for a reply. None came. This didn't make any sense. First Zhaan, and now Rygel. He turned on the scanners and watched as they searched the ship. "What?" Both of their comms were still in the corridor. There was something going on here that he wasn't aware of. A signal from one of the DRDs came to him. It had seen something peculiar. "On screen." Pilot gasped as he watched Zhaan pummel Rygel and drag him away. It didn't seem possible. "D'Argo, we have a problem."

Chiana fought to catch up with the worried peacekeeper. The only reason she hadn't tied him up already was because he didn't have a gun. "Which way?" Ness stopped at the junction and turned to face her. She shook her head. "In here." The kitchen was just off to their right. The Nebari stepped inside and pointed to the mirror on the far wall. He ran to it and put his hands on his face. "Frell me, not again." Ness had known it even before seeing his reflection. The feeling of calm had returned. One minute he saw Chiana as an enemy. Now she was just a girl. "What's happening again?" Her confused expression hurt him. "You're in danger. All of you are."

D'Argo felt a sickening lurch in his stomach. The last time this had happened, he couldn't believe it. Meryl's insistence that Zhaan had hurt her seemed absurd. But it had all been true. "Where is she Pilot?" There was a muffled shout from the den above. Pilot's angry voice came over the comm. "Moya refuses to tell me. She does not wish to see Zhaan hurt." The Luxan growled. "Have you explained the situation to her?" Pilot's image nodded on the clamshell. "It's no use." D'Argo turned to his two companions. "You two stay together. I'm going to go find our new peacekeeper friend."

<<<<>>>>

"How can she sleep at a time like this?" John looked over at Aeryn and sighed. After hearing the understandably strange news, she had gone to the back and lied down. Kithara glanced over at him. "Perhaps she's saving her strength." John shrugged. "Maybe." They both turned back to the front window. If the ship seemed to be going slow before, progress was almost at a stand-still now. The boy smiled. Something about John's comment had triggered the Delvian's memories. He looked up at the human. "You two are together?" Crichton smiled and nodded. Better things to think about. "Oh yeah man, she's got it for me bad." This made Kithara laugh. "I see."

The look on Kithara's face disturbed John. He turned his head to face the boy. "What? Doesn't Zhaan think so?" Kithara closed his eyes and absorbed her feelings. There was a lot to go through. "Her thoughts are complicated." This only made the human angrier. "Frell complicated. What does she think?" There was an awkward silence between the two of them. John suddenly felt very odd about arguing with a small child.

Kithara finally looked up at him and smiled. This was proving to be a pleasant distraction. Even if he knew the Delvian wouldn't want this said out loud. "The Delvian believes-." John raised his hand. "The Delvian has a name you know." The boy nodded. "Forgive me. Zhaan believes you aren't ready yet." John shook his head in what might be called a cocky fashion. "Aeryn's the one who isn't ready. I'm nothing but." He turned to check on her. "What makes you say that?" Kithara was still amused.

"Well, she's a peacekeeper. They aren't brought up to get involved in these types of things. It takes her time to adjust." John smiled at some private thought in his head. "When we first met, she barely talked to me." Kithara looked back at the sleeping Sebacean. "And now?" John's grin spread farther. "Hey, some things are better left unsaid." They nodded at each other and resumed their former positions. Kithara waited a few moments. "Zhaan thinks you are unprepared as well." John frowned. "Yeah? Well Zhaan can shove it."

<<<<>>>>

D'Argo rushed into the kitchen and found his target standing in front of the mirror. What the frell are you doing?" Ness turned to him and groaned. "Don't you see it?" The Luxan moved up towards the wall and saw his reflection. "See what?" But there was something odd about the man. He seemed oddly peaceful. "I'm frelling blue." D'Argo looked harder but still saw nothing. "Forget that. Where's Chiana?" Ness's eyes widened. "She ran off. I thought to look for you." D'Argo growled angrily. "That stupid..." His voice trailed off. "Let's go." He grabbed Ness by the collar and they ran from the room.

"Ok Chi, think like a peacekeeper." She straightened her back and moved officially down the corridor. Her face was twisted into an angry frown. "Zhaan? You out there?" No answer came from the area in front of her. From what she had heard the last time, none of this made sense to her. Somehow Zhaan and the pk guy got their signals crossed. That made him a softie and her a cold soldier. Too bad blue already had enough violence in her. "Pilot, any sign of her yet?" She waited a while for him to reply. Nothing came. "Oh frell."

Pilot gasped in horror as the blue hand came down on his console. He had been searching through the surveillance vids and hadn't seen her come in. Now it was too late to call for help. "Zhaan? I think you're making a mistake." He looked up into her eyes. They weren't red but something far colder. "If you don't want me to make another one, you will direct this leviathan to the nearest peacekeeper post." Zhaan jumped up onto the console and leaned forward. "Surrender or I will kill you."

"Who are you?" Zelaya looked her over and noticed the similarities. Rachel had the face of any other Sebacean, but not the posture. "Well isn't that just the question of the hour. Who are you?" The human was regaining her composure little by little. Zelaya nodded slightly. "My name is Zelaya. I lived here for a short while." Rachel nodded. "Why did you leave?" The Ferrian grinned, revealing her pointed teeth. "None of your frelling business." Rachel shrugged and looked down the hall. She was suddenly very anxious to see D'Argo again. "You can call me Mrs. Wells. I'm Tom's mother."

Chiana burst into the den and stumbled onto a very strange sight. Zhaan was in fact there. But not where the young woman had expected. Pilot held her neck in his claws high above the console. The look of anger on his face was more than enough to frighten. "I may be a beast of burden, but I am in no way unable to defend myself. The Zhaan I know would not make that mistake." Chiana couldn't let this happen. "Pilot! Put her down. You'll kill her." The creature looked over at her and nodded. Zhaan fell to the floor in a heap.

"Thank you child." Chiana leaned over her carefully. The look in Zhaan's eyes had changed. She seemed almost pathetically sad. "I'm so sorry." The movement was too fast for either Chiana or Pilot to catch. Zhaan stood with the pulse pistol firmly in her grasp. "I warned you Pilot." She turned and fired a shot into the creatures chest. He shouted in pain and fell silent. Moya shook for a few moments before growing still again. "And now you." Zhaan grabbed Chiana's wrist and dragged her out of the room. "Back to your cell."

"Listen to me. I've got to get off this ship. That's the only way to stop this." Ness fought to keep up but the Luxan moved too quickly. D'Argo looked over at him and shook his head. "By the time that's done, Chiana could be dead." They continued on in silence. Neither knew where to go but Pilot's den seemed like a good start. "She won't do that. Remember, it's really me you're dealing with here. I would capture all of you. Killing would go against regulation." D'Argo stopped and sighed in annoyance. "Chiana would resist. What does your training say about that?"

<<<<>>>>

"Why not?" John tried to hold the question back as long as possible. His resistance hadn't lasted long. The boy smiled but said nothing. He was going to make this as difficult as possible. "Why not what?" John cursed under his breath and took a step towards him. "Alright, alright." Kithara closed his eyes and went through her thoughts again. He could already sense a darkness intruding from far away. The problem had begun. "You are no longer John Crichton." This made the human roll his eyes. "What is that supposed to mean?" Kithara nodded. "It means both of you have changed. You've changed Aeryn and everything here has changed you."

"You're going to have to give me more than that." Kithara shook his head. "How far are we from Moya?" John checked the instruments carefully. The problem they were racing to prevent suddenly came to mind. Talking about Aeryn seemed foolish. But there was still something he wanted to try. "We should be there soon." Kithara nodded and looked back out the window. He had spoken enough about this subject. "Let me ask you something now. Aeryn Sun is a peacekeeper, correct?"

John nodded his head slowly. He didn't like where this was going. "And would you agree that this is a time of crisis?" Same response. Kithara smiled devilishly. "Since when do peacekeepers fall asleep during times of crisis?" John's mouth dropped open. He turned on his heels and walked over to Aeryn. She was completely still. Even her breathing was slow. But there was something. "Is she smiling?"

<<<<>>>>

"Pilot!" The two of them raced into the den and found him. The creature lifted his head up slowly. He seemed to be better off than appearances indicated. "D'Argo, is that you?" The Luxan stepped forward and jumped onto the console. "Did she do this to you?" Pilot looked down at the wound on his chest and forced a smile. "Unfortunately yes." The blood had stopped oozing as they spoke. "Who's that?" Ness was jolted out of his private thoughts. They were talking about him. "He's the one." D'Argo whispered something that the peacekeeper couldn't hear. "I'm very sorry about this Pilot." The creature nodded.

Due to the current situation, none of them saw her slip into the room. Zhaan pushed the door closed and heard the clicking sound. It was locked. She had made sure to set the security measures when last on the console. "Now that I have all of you here." The three of them turned to look at her. Ness was the closest. He reached for his pistol but quickly remembered. "Zelaya!" Zhaan was upon him before he could finish. She smashed her fist into his chin and sent him sprawling towards the edge. "Zhaan!" D'Argo raised his sword high. "My turn."

Pilot watched nervously as the two opponents moved towards each other. His mind searched frantically for an alternate solution but none came. Zhaan pulled the pulse pistol from her belt and fired. Reacting quickly, D'Argo launched himself forward and avoided the shot. His blade managed to knock the gun from her hand. The Luxan pulled it back and gasped. White fluid was dripping from the edge. He had cut her. "You leave me no choice now. I'll send you back to your cell. Broken if necessary." Zhaan rushed him.

D'Argo closed his eyes and lowered the blade. He sent the full force of his weight against her oncoming form and roared. "Ahhh!" Zhaan howled in pain and went flying backwards toward the wall. Regaining his composure, D'Argo ran to her and raised the Qualta blade. "Get up." She looked up at him and practically hissed. "You'll have to kill me." He reached his hand down and lifted her to her feet. Backed up against the wall, Zhaan had nowhere to go. The Qualta blade neared her. D'Argo summoned all the brute instinct inside him. "Zhaan would want me to do this." It wasn't enough.

"D'Argo!" Ness stood up behind him. "Not now." The Luxan focused his attention on Zhaan. It would take more force than he had to kill her. Even like this. "I can't." He lowered his sword. "You animal! I thought a Luxan warrior like you would have more mettle than that." She caught the blade on its downward path and shoved it into her shoulder. The pain was excruciating. "Just a little deeper and I'm finished." D'Argo tried to pull it back but her grip was too strong. "Stop!" Zhaan started to move. A gunshot stopped them both.

<<<<>>>>

The transport pod landed softly inside the hangar with its three passengers safely inside. John opened the hatch and walked down the short flight of stairs. It felt good to be back. There was someone waiting for them by the door. Chiana stood when she spotted him and walked over. The look on her face made him worry. "Zhaan?" She stopped him. "She's ok. D'Argo's with her now." He didn't understand. "How?" Tears spilled down her soft cheeks. "The guy killed himself. Frell, he was a peacekeeper but still." John took her in his arms and let her cry. "There's someone here to see you."

With John and Aeryn off to other duties, Chiana watched the boy step out of the transport pod. He spotted her and smiled. "You are Chiana?" The Nebari nodded her head slowly and waited for him to continue. Kithara noted her sad expression. This might make her feel better. "My name is Kithara. I was a friend of Carle's. I believe you two knew each other." Her thoughts went back to that day on the commerce planet. "Sort of, yeah." The boy smiled again. "Before he died, Carle asked me to give you something. And something else as well."

Chiana wasn't sure what to make of him. This boy was telling her that a mutual friend of theirs was dead. Yet he didn't seem at all sad about it. "What else?" Kithara pulled a small piece of paper from his pocket. He handed it to her. "This is from your brother." She took the note and folded it open. A message was written in Nerri's distinct fashion:

"He was talking about this." Kithara pulled the other article from his pocket. A thin stone tablet with the picture of a leviathan on it. Fighting back more tears, Chiana rolled up the note and put it away. "What's that?" She couldn't think of anything else to say. Kithara understood. "Coordinates." Chiana shook her head. "To where?" The boy nodded. "Help."

John walked into command and spotted her looking out the window. Her face matched the attitude all over the ship. Everyone seemed incredibly depressed. "Pilot says Moya can starburst again." His words made Aeryn jolt slightly. She said nothing. "He says Chiana's coordinates aren't too far. We'll be there in a couple arns." Aeryn turned to face him. A small, metal device was sitting in the palm of her hand. "Moya's sensors found this. One of the prowlers must have attached it to the ship. It's transmitting our position." John sighed. One more thing to worry about.

He leaned forward to grab it and accidently brushed his cheek against Aeryn's. They lifted their heads simultaneously and looked into each others eyes. John wanted very much to kiss her. It would bring a little bit of joy into this bad situation. She smiled as he came closer. Just as their lips were about to touch, Aeryn moved out of range. "Oh yes, you've got it for me bad." She turned and marched silently from the room. John Crichton smacked his head against the glass and groaned.