Disclaimer: I own no part of Farscape or its characters.

Category: Drama/Action Adventure

Spoilers/Season: Season 2 (Before LATP)

Rating: PG

Summary: While answering a distress signal from a nearby planet Aeryn, John, D’Argo, and Chiana are held by a race of Sebecean Amazon women whose leader, a Sebecean male, Darsus, has decided he wants Aeryn for his Queen.

Scene opens with Aeryn and Crichton sparring in the workout chamber. Aeryn has been teaching him some of the peacekeeper fighting techniques.

Crichton had just landed a nice roundhouse kick which took Aeryn down to the mat. He stood over her.

John: “Are you all right?”
Aeryn: (strained voice) “Never apologize for getting your opponent down because they will use it against you.”

She swung her leg and swept his legs out from under him. When he hit the mat she grabbed his arm and flipped him over and wrapped her free arm around his neck. She smiled.

Aeryn: “Never lose your focus Crichton. I could shift my weight and break your neck.”
John: (face turning a little red) “Got it.”

She released him and stood up.

Aeryn: “Now let me show you the panak jab. You must learn how to defend yourself against it since you seem so susceptible to it.”

He looked up at her as he was rising to his feet rubbing his neck.

John: “So far you have been the only one to use it on me.”

They smiled at each other slightly. Before Aeryn could begin, Pilot chimed in.

Pilot: “Officer Sun, Commander Crichton Moya has picked up on a distress signal coming from a nearby planet. It is urging any ships in the area for help. She is trying to get the visual of the signal. She should have it ready for viewing in 20 microts.”
John: “We are heading to command, Pilot. D’Argo did you get that?”
D’Argo: (voice coming from the com) “I heard it. I will meet you and Aeryn in command.”

John looked back toward where Aeryn was standing. She was all ready heading out of the door.

John: (calling after her) “Aeryn wait up.”

He jogged out of chamber.

*****

The crew assembled in command.

Aeryn: “Okay Pilot. We are here can you put it on screen.”

A beautiful blonde Sebecean female image appeared. “To anyone who might pick this up, I am Nayla. This message has been created to only contact Leviathans. My crew and I were attacked by a Sheyang scavenger sect and our shipped was destroyed. We barely made it to this planet alive. The planet is barely able to sustain life. Half of my crew has been lost to famine or brain fever from the temperature on the surface. There are 20 of us here and we need help to return to our colony. The coordinates to our location are encoding in this message. Please help us!”

The message disappeared. John looked at D’Argo

John: “Notice anything strange about that message?”
D’Argo: “For someone whose crew is dying of hunger and brain fever, she looks awfully healthy.”
Chiana: “So what do we do? What if this is a peacekeeper trap?”
Jool: “What if it isn’t and those people are really in need of help?”
D’Argo: “Pilot, once we are in close enough range without danger of detection have Moya scan the planet and its atmosphere. If they have weaponry or any means of transportation on that planet, we need to know about it before we land.”
Rygel: “You are not seriously considering going to help those people.”
John: “They could be in real trouble Buckwheat.”
Rygel: “And that is our problem because?”
John: “Ever the humanitarian, Rygel.”

John just shook his head and turned away. He turned to speak to Aeryn but she was gone.

John: “Where did Aeryn go?”
D’Argo: “I didn’t see her leave.”
John: “Pilot, where is Officer Sun?”
Pilot: “I show her in maintenance bay 3.”

John tapped his com.

John: “Aeryn? Aeryn?!”

He was about to leave command to go find her.

Pilot: “Commander, Moya is picking up a strange frequency emanating from the planet.”
John: “What kind of frequency?”
Pilot: “Unknown but it seems to be…I don’t know how this is possible.”
D’Argo: “What Pilot?”
Pilot: “It seems to be directed at Sebecean females.”
John: “What like a subliminal message?”
Chiana: “Like a what message?”
John: “Subliminal. A message that is put on a frequency that only certain people or animals can pick up on it.”

He looked at D’Argo.

John: “Pilot is Aeryn still in the maintenance bay?”
Pilot: (confused tone) “No Commander. Her prowler has left Moya and it appears she is heading for the planet.”
D’Argo: “Pilot, prepare my ship.”
John: “I am going to get some weapons. We have no idea what we are going to run into down there.”
Chiana: “I am coming with you guys.”
D’Argo: “Jool and Rygel, you stay here with Moya. Stay out of range of the planet. Once we figure out what is going on we will contact you.”
John: (heading toward the door) “Pilot as soon as Moya can decipher what that message told Aeryn to do let us know. We will leave our coms open.”
Pilot: “Yes Commander.”

******

As they approached planet D’Argo was cautious and kept his craft in stealth mode.

Pilot: “Commander, Moya has finished her scan of the planet. She has picked up some signs of weaponry but no crafts.”
John: (gazing at D’Argo) “So we know that they are armed.
D’Argo: “What about the atmosphere?”
Pilot: “The message did not lie regarding the atmosphere. Moya has the temperature at +15.”
Chiana: “Heat delirium will takeover Aeryn in less than an arn at that temperature.”
John: “For those Sebeceans to survive down there they must have some kind of enclosed city or may be underground. Have Moya check it out.”
Chiana: “What about the message? What did it tell Aeryn to do?”
Pilot: “It is unclear but it seems to be summoning all Sebecean women to Darsus.”
John: “Darsus? Is that the name of the planet?”
Pilot: “Unknown.”
Chiana: “Can Moya give us the trajectory of her ship? Then we can land close to where she did.”
John: “Good thinking Pip.”
Pilot: “Transferring the data now.”

D’Argo’s ship followed Aeryn’s prowler path. It took them into a huge underground cavern.

John: “There is Aeryn’s prowler.”

D’Argo set down a few metras from her ship. They got off the ship cautiously with weapons ready. John made his way over to Aeryn’s prowler.

D’Argo: (whispering) “John?”
John: “We have a problem ‘D’.”
D’Argo: “What is it?”

John stepped down from Aeryn’s prowler. He turned around holding her pulse pistol and her com link.

Chiana: “What the frell? Aeryn practically showers with that.”
D’Argo: “What the hezzmana have we gotten ourselves into this time?”
John: “Pilot? (no answer) Pilot? Our coms do not work underground. We are on our own.”
Chiana: “Let’s find Aeryn and get the frell out of here.”

They turned and were greeted by several blonde Sebecean females just like the one on the distress message. They were holding pulse rifles on them.

Sebecean female #1: “Perhaps we can assist you.”
John: (under his breath) “Damn.”

They took their weapons and gestured for them to walk.

*****

The three of them were lead into a large chamber with more than 40 gorgeous Sebecean woman scantily dressed. John and D’Argo looked at each other and smiled slightly.

John: “Now this is my idea of what heaven looks like.”
D’Argo: (smiling slightly) “Yeah.”
Chiana: (whispering) “Keep it in your pants boys. We got trouble…look.”

There was a throne on the other side of the chamber. A huge stone wall opened and a man, much to their surprise, emerged with the Sebecean woman, Nayla, by his side. The women pushed John, D’Argo and Chiana forward towards the throne. The male sat down and Nayla stood beside him with her hand resting on his shoulder. She was obviously the Queen of this tribe of Amazon Barbies.

Darsus: “Welcome, I am Darsus and this is Nayla, whom I am sure you are all ready acquainted with.”
John: “You are Darsus?”

He was struck in the back from behind with the butt of the pulse rifle and dropped to the floor. D’Argo was about to turn when a pulse rifle was pointed at his mid section.

Sebecean #1: (to John) “Do not speak without permission.”
John: (cringing in pain as he rose to his feet) “All you had to do was so say.”

John straightened up slowly.

John: “Permission to speak?”
Darsus: “Granted.”
John: “We are not looking for any trouble. We just came here looking for our shipmate, Aeryn. She left our ship and landed here in response to your (he looked around at all the healthy people) distress call.”
Darsus: “Ah the fiery raven beauty. So Aeryn is her name.”
John: “Yes. Where is she?”
Darsus: “She is being cleaned.”
Chiana: “Cleaned?”

The Sebecean woman was about to strike Chiana but D’Argo grabbed the gun. Darsus raised his hand and they moved away from them.

Nayla: “She can not be presented to Darsus until she has been properly cleaned and dressed.”

John looked at D’Argo.

John: “We would like to see her.”
Darsus: “She will be joining us for the meal. You are welcome to join us as well.”
D’Argo: “Does that mean we are free to leave?”
Darsus: “Of course. I have no prisoners here. All my guests come of their free will and can leave as they so choose. However they often choose to stay.”

He looked at Chiana.

Darsus: “Would you like something more fitting to wear little one?”

Chiana smiled and looked down.

Chiana: “Something like they are wearing? Sure why not.”

He gestured to a female standing on the side. She walked over to Chiana.

Sebecean female: “Come with me.”
Chiana: “See you boys later. I am going to get cleaned.”

She smiled and walked off. Darsus looked at D’Argo and John.

Darsus: “You two will be taken to a chamber where you can freshen up. Anything you desire will be taken care of by your attendings while you are here.”

Four stunning women walked up and took them by each of the arms. John looked at D’Argo.

John: “Welcome to Babylon.”

They walked off. Nayla looked at Darsus.

Nayla: “Why did you invite them to stay your eminence?”
Darsus: “Because they will not leave without the Sebecean female and the magic takes time to work.”
Nayla: “What if they still do not leave?”
Darsus: “Then they will die as the others did before them.”

Darsus arose from his throne and went back threw the stone wall passage.

*****

Crichton and D’Argo were brought to a chamber where a large meal was set out.

D’Argo: “Feminine?”
John: “Right.”

Chiana walked up to them wearing a sexy outfit. She twirled in front of them.

Chiana: “What do you think? Nice uhn?”
John: “You look lovely Chi. Have you seen Aeryn yet?”
Chiana: “No. They are keeping her under wraps. The women I was with wouldn’t even talk to me about her.” D’Argo: “Neither would our attendants.”
John: “I don’t like this.”

Darsus entered the chamber.

Darsus: “Gentlemen, beautiful Nebari, please have a seat.”

The three of them walked around the large table and sat in the seats that Darsus indicated. Darsus sat at the head of the table. Nayla sat to his immediate left beside John.

John: “Permission to speak.”
Darsus: “Granted.”
John: “We thank you for your hospitality but we would like to see Aeryn.”
Aeryn: “I am here John.”

Their heads turned. Aeryn entered the chamber with two attendings behind her.

John: (whispering) “Wow.”
Chiana: “She looks beautiful.”
D’Argo: “Yes she does.”

Aeryn was wearing a flowing gold dress with a sheer veil draped over her head and wrapped loosely around her neck. Her mane of raven hair was showering down her back in loose curls. Darsus stood up. John and D’Argo stood up as well. Darsus held his hand out to Aeryn. She approached him on the right side of the table. She slipped her hand into his. He was staring into her eyes.

Darsus: “You are angelic Aeryn Sun.”

She smiled slightly and bowed her head. She sat down beside him. John looked at D’Argo.

John: (whispering) “What the hell is wrong with her?”
D’Argo: “Her eyes look funny. Like she has been drugged.”

Aeryn didn’t even acknowledge them until Darsus directed her attention to them.

Darsus: Your friends have come. They were worried about you.”

Aeryn looked at them.

Aeryn: “There is no need to worry. I am perfectly fine.”
John: “The way you just left Moya without a word to anyone we thought something was wrong.”
Aeryn: “No John. Everything is fine.”
D’Argo: “Aeryn, we are going to be leaving here in the morning. Will you be joining us?”

Aeryn looked at Darsus.

Aeryn: “No, I have found a home here. Somewhere I can belong. Darsus has asked me to stay with him.”
John: “What?”
Darsus: “Aeryn has agreed to be my new Queen.”

Nayla was visibly upset but she did not speak against Darsus. John, D’Argo and Chiana looked at each other.

During the meal John kept watching Aeryn. She did not make eye contact with him hardly at all. Her eyes were fixed on Darsus. John was also watching Nayla. She was staring at Aeryn with contempt in her eyes.

After the meal Darsus agreed to allow Aeryn to speak with her crewmates and say a proper goodbye. John, D’Argo and Chiana were discussing the evening events amongst themselves when Aeryn walked in. She was followed by two attendants. Aeryn turned to them.

Aeryn: “Leave us.”
Attendants: “Yes my Queen.”

They bowed and left the chamber. John approached Aeryn. She raised her hand stopping him from speaking. She moved over to the door and made sure it was shut.

Aeryn: “All right, anybody have any idea how the hell we are going to get out of this one.”
Chiana: (smiling) “You are not drugged?”
Aeryn: “No. They tried to give me something but I managed to dump the majority of it when they weren’t watching. How the hezzmana did I get here? I don’t even remember leaving Moya. Last thing I remember is the distress message.”
John: “Back story later. We have to find a way to get you out of here. Darsus wants you for his Queen and Nayla is ready to kill you to keep that position.”
D’Argo: “Have you been able to get a good idea of the layout of this place? We got so turned around being brought to the central chamber that we don’t know how to get back to my ship.”
Aeryn: “I think so but I am unclear. I am not even sure how I found this place.”
Chiana: “Sub—lia message.”
Aeryn: (confused) “What?”

Crichton smiled at Chiana’s attempt.

John: “Subliminal messages that Darsus is sending out encoded in the distress message. It seems to, I don’t know, hypnotize Sebecean females and orders them to go to Darsus.”
D’Argo: “Some kind of mind control device.”
Aeryn: “That must be what is in his chambers.”
John: “What?”
Aeryn: “Even when Darsus is not in his chambers there are guards posted. If he is emanating a message, it has to be on a constant stream, to keep all these women doing his bidding. So in order to stop him we have to destroy it.”
D’Argo: “But what about the drug he gave you? They must be being controlled by that as well.”
Aeryn: “I don’t think so. From what I can gather from observing him and Nayla, he only uses the drug, which he has a limited supply of, on women who he plans to recreate with to keep them submissive to his every desire.”

John looked at Aeryn.

John: (concerned) “He hasn’t tried to…” Aeryn: “No.” John: “So he uses the messages to get the women down to this planet and continues using the messages to control them and for those women who he deems worthy, he drugs them to get them to submit to his urges. What does he do with the men who venture down here?”
Aeryn: “He murders them if they don’t leave without women peacefully.”

John shook his head.

John: (grinning) “Not a bad racquet.”

Aeryn glared at him.

Chiana: “Okay. So we have to get into his chambers and destroy the mind control to have any chance of getting of this planet with Aeryn. Hopefully the women will be so busy trying to get Darsus for taking them prisoner that they won’t give a frell about us.”
D’Argo: “Right but how do we get into his chambers? You heard what Aeryn said. It is guarded even when he is not in there.”

Aeryn looked at them.

Aeryn: “I can get in his chambers.”

John looked in her eyes. He shook his head.

John: “No.”
Aeryn: “John…”
John: “No, Aeryn! There has to be another way.”
Aeryn: “If you can think of one, I am all head.”
John: (he rolled his eyes) “Ears.”
Aeryn: “What?”
John: “The phrase is ‘all ears’.”

Chiana walked over to Aeryn.

Chiana: “I know you are not used to this sort of thing. So if…”
Aeryn: “No, it is fine Chiana. Darsus has been drooling over me like a scent hound since I got here. I don’t think I will have a problem gaining access to his chambers.”

D’Argo looked at John. John and Aeryn were staring in each other’s eyes.

D’Argo: “Chiana come with me for a moment. Let me show you our wash chamber.”
Chiana: “I don’t want to see any ole wash chamber.”

He gestured toward John and Aeryn.

Chiana: “Okay.”

D’Argo and Chiana went through the curtain. John stepped closer to Aeryn. He reached up and pushed a string of hair back off of her cheek.

John: “I don’t want you to do this.”
Aeryn: “I don’t want to do this but I can’t think of another way.”

He stepped back from her and held her arms out to the side.

John: “You look so radiant.”
Aeryn: “You are changing the subject.”

John lowered her arms slowly.

Aeryn: “John, to peacekeepers recreating means nothing. It is just a function of the body.”

He moved in close to her. He could feel her breath on his face.

John: “You are no longer a peacekeeper, Aeryn. Can you forgive yourself if you allow him to…(voice trailing off)”

She lowered her eyes. He leaned his forehead against hers.

Aeryn: “Will you be able to forgive me?”

They looked up into each other’s eyes. John took her face in his hands. He lowered his mouth to hers slowly. They shared a gentle kiss. A single tear ran from the corner of her eye. John wiped it away. She stepped back from him.

Aeryn: “D’Argo, Chiana.”

They came back into the chamber. Aeryn looked at the three of them.

Aeryn: “Once I have been able to destroy the mind control device, I will set off a diversion.”
Chiana: “What kind of diversion?”
Aeryn: “I don’t know yet but it will create a lot of confusion. You guys make your way to the center chamber and retrieve your weapons from behind the throne. (She closed her eyes trying to remember the path.) The transport area is right, left, right, right out of the center chamber. That should bring you to the transport. Get in D’Argo’s ship and get back to Moya.”
D’Argo: “What about you?”
Aeryn: “I will follow as soon as I can. I have my prowler.”
John: “Aeryn?”

She laid her hand on his arm and looked in his eyes.

Aeryn: “Trust me.”
John: “With my life.”

She smiled. She walked over to the door and went back into her act.

John: “Watch your back with Nayla. She is not ready to give up her throne.”

She nodded her head with a slight smile. She opened the door. Her attendings approached.

Aeryn: “Make sure my friends have everything they desire to make them comfortable until they leave.”
Attending: “Yes Queen.”

Aeryn walked out of the chamber. John started to go toward the door. D’Argo stopped him.

D’Argo: “No John.”

He looked at D’Argo with anger in his eyes.

John: “Do you know what she is planning to do to gain access to Darsus’ chamber?”

D’Argo lowered his eyes.

D’Argo: “Yes.” Chiana: “Come on guys. It is not a big thing. Once it is over you get what you want.”

John looked at her. He reached out and touched her cheek.

John: “It is a big thing Chi.”

He walked away and sat off by himself. D’Argo looked at Chiana. She lowered her eyes and walked to a different side of the room.

******

Darsus was relaxing in his bedchamber when Aeryn appeared in the door with the guards. She was draped in a silk robe. Darsus stood up and approached her.

Darsus: “Aeryn, I was surprised when I got your message.”

He took her hand.

Darsus: “Come in. (Gesturing to the guards) Leave us.”

They walked out and closed the door.

Darsus: “Normally I do not have women in my chamber. I go to them when I want them.”
Aeryn: “I am not a normal women.”

He looked her up and down.

Darsus: “No, you’re not.”

He reached out and touched her soft silky hair.

Aeryn: “This is quite a world you have created for yourself down here.”
Darsus: “I am glad you like it. I am glad you are going to stay down here with me to help me rule it.”

He walked her over to the bed and stood in front of her. He took hold of her robe belt. He slowly pulled it allowing her robe to fall open exposing her exquisite naked body. Darsus looked down at her studying every inch of her. Aeryn was fighting to keep the bile in her stomach from exploding out of her mouth. When his hands touched her bare skin, she thought she would purge. He pushed the robe to the floor and took her hands.

Darsus: “You are the most amazing specimen I have ever seen.”
Aeryn: “I am only for your pleasure.”

He laid her on the bed. As he began to disrobe all Aeryn could think of was Crichton. Her heart was pounding and her mind was racing. Aeryn: ‘If I let him do this, how can I ever face John again. Will he ever look at me the same again? How can I face myself?’

Just as Darsus was kissing Aeryn down her neck there was a loud voice from the entryway.

Nayla: “Darsus!”

Darsus lifted off of Aeryn. Aeryn grabbed the sheet off of the bed and wrapped it around herself. She slid off the opposite side of the bed.

Darsus: “Nayla, how dare you enter my chambers without my permission?”
Nayla: “How dare you betray your Queen with this grunt?”

Aeryn saw the pulse pistol in her hand. She also saw the mind control apparatus behind a sheer curtain. She had a plan.

Aeryn: “It is obvious that Darsus does not want you any further. He has chosen me now and you will have to get use to it.”

Nayla raised the pulse pistol at Aeryn.

Nayla: “You bitch.”

She started firing wildly. Darsus was diving for cover. Aeryn found it hard to maneuver with the sheet so the first shot at her caught her on the shoulder. She had to get her to fire at the mind control.

******

D’Argo, John, and Chiana heard a loud explosion. Their attendings dropped their weapons and fell to their knees grabbing their heads. They were dazed and confused.

Chiana: “Aeryn did it. Lets get the frell out of here.”

The three of them ran out. They made their way to the center chamber and retrieved their weapons just where Aeryn said they would be. They followed her directions and found the prowler and D’Argo’s ship.

D’Argo: “We have got to get out of here.”
John: “I am not leaving her D’Argo.”
Chiana: “She said she would meet us back up at the ship.”
John: “You two go. I will come back up in Aeryn’s prowler.”
D’Argo: “John!”

John ran back towards the tunnels. D’Argo looked at Chiana.

Chiana: “You know how much trouble those two tend to get into.”

They walked back off the ship and headed towards the tunnels.

******

In her blind rage Nayla destroyed the mind control machine which set off an explosion in Darsus’ chamber. There was nothing but wreckage when John reached the chamber.

John: “Oh my god. Aeryn! Aeryn!”

He found Nayla’s body by the door. The explosion threw her back against the wall and she was impaled by a jagged rock. John moved through the rubble. Darsus was draped across the bed naked. There was a pool of blood around his head. John checked him. He was alive but barely. John leaned down and whispered in his ear.

John: “You have my permission to die.”

John turned and saw Aeryn’s hand sticking out from behind a pile of rocks that had fallen from the cavern ceiling after the explosion. He ran to her.

John: “Aeryn!”

She was wrapped partially in the sheet. She wasn’t moving. He holstered his gun. John went over to the bed and ripped the other cover from under Darsus. He wrapped it around Aeryn and lifted her limp body up into his arms slowly. D’Argo and Chiana appeared in the doorway.

D’Argo: “Is she?”
John: “We have to get her up to Moya.”
Chiana: “What about Darsus and the drug?”

John looked over his shoulder at Darsus.

John: “Don’t worry Chi. He is dead. Drug won’t do him any good now.”

*****

John was sitting on the terrace staring at the sea of stars. His back was leaning up against the bulkhead. He had his notebook on his lap and his pencil in his hand.

Aeryn: “Blocked?”

He looked up and smiled slightly.

John: “Aeryn, what are you doing up? Jool said bedrest for at least three days.”
Aeryn: “I am feeling better. I still have this frelling head pain though.”
John: “Concussion will do that.”
Aeryn: “Can I join you?”
John: “Of course.”

She slid down the wall slowly. She was still quite sore. Her arm had a bandage on it where she got clipped with the pulse pistol. She had a small bandage over her right eyebrow. She had bruises just about everywhere imaginable. John looked at her as she sat down gingerly.

John: “Still pretty sore?”
Aeryn: “Pain reminds you that you are alive.”

John laughed softly.

Aeryn: “What?”
John: “Sounds like something I would say.”
Aeryn: “I think I heard it from you.”

They looked at each other and smiled. John leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. Aeryn took a deep breath and answered the question that was unspoken between them since they returned from the planet.

Aeryn: “Nothing happened.”

He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. He had wanted to ask her but he didn’t want to cause her anymore pain.

John: “What?”
Aeryn: “Darsus…nothing happened. Nayla came in shooting before he could do anything.”
John: “I guess it was lucky for you that she came when she did.”
Aeryn: “Luck had nothing to do with it.”

He lowered his head and looked at her.

John: “What?”
Aeryn: “As the Queen, or soon to be Queen, my attendings would do anything I said. So I instructed one of them to tell Nayla of my whereabouts 40 microts after I walked out of my chambers.”
John: “So you planned…”

Aeryn looked in his eyes.

Aeryn: “I must admit I was getting a little worried. What if she didn’t come? What if Darsus’ control over her was too great? I would have just had to kill him.”

John smiled slightly and bit his bottom lip.

John: “When I found you like that and saw him like that, I thought.”
Aeryn: “I knew I couldn’t go through with it. You were right I am not a peacekeeper anymore. It does matter.”

He reached out and took her hand in his. Their fingers intertwined. He kissed the back of her hand softly and laid it against his chest. She could feel his heart beating.

Aeryn: (Gesturing to his notebook) “So were you writing about our adventure?”
John: “What? Oh, no, I was making a star chart. I was naming some stars.”
Aeryn: (raising her right eyebrow) “They have all ready got names.”