"Tom? You know, I catch him just looking at me sometimes. He never says why." Meryl touched the edges of her lips as she spoke. The memory of those moments flooding back. "He's not like anyone I've ever met." Aeryn smiled from her corner of the cell and nodded. "You mean passive?" The younger woman shook her head. "No. He can get angry. It's just that he never reacts violently." The words made Aeryn shift uncomfortably in her seat. "John used to be like that. We called him innocent." Meryl noticed the frown on her face and decided to change the subject. "So why haven't they come for you yet?"

Even as she spoke the words, her answer made its presence known. One of the Regulator ships glided stealthily towards their command carrier and rubbed against it in passing. The conversation ended as the walls began to shake. "Maybe that has something to do with it." Both of them stood and looked out the door. The inner shield had been left open. They could see right out into the corridor. There was no movement outside at the moment. Finally, the sound of running footsteps could be heard from down to the left. "Hey, what's going on?" Aeryn shouted again and this time the lone soldier stopped. He was one of the guards who had brought them in. "The ship is going down."

<<<<>>>>

The transport pod rocketed over the desolate town with a single passenger waiting for his chance to disembark. As it got close enough to the ground for a jump, D'Argo dove out the open hatch and hit the dirt hard. He spit the dust out of his mouth and looked up at his ride. The marauder appeared out of nowhere and intercepted it. The explosion tore through its weak defenses and blew it to pieces. "Sorry Pilot." D'Argo ran for cover and watched as the peacekeeper ship disappeared from sight. He tried his comm but got nothing. It might have been damaged in the fall. A gunshot from down the street caught his attention.

"Bob's dead." Tom looked out the window before turning back to the three confused people. John stared at him, still in shock from the blast. "You killed him?" The young human shook his head furiously. "No, no. He said it was an accident." Scorpius shook his head and smiled. "I hit him when we were fighting earlier. Too bad." Zelaya smacked him across the face. "Shut up." She looked up at the other two. "So, what do we do now?" The door burst open before anyone could answer. D'Argo stepped into the tip of Crichton's pulse pistol. "Hey! It's only me."

<<<<>>>>

Chiana and Zhaan continued looking out the window as the giant ships below went about their business. "Do you know which ship they're on?" The Nebari looked hopefully at her blue companion but she said nothing. Rygel peeked over after the silence continued for too long. "What does it matter? Those things don't attack ships do they?" At that moment, a large explosion rocked the ship and the window they were using. One of the command carriers beneath them was being attacked. "Do you see it? They are attacking the ships." Pilot's worried voice came on strongly over the comms. "Any word from Aeryn, Pilot?" Zhaan already knew the answer. "No, nothing."

<<<<>>>>

Chernov watched the pod explode satisfactorily and patted his pilot on the back. "Good shooting." He leaned back in his chair and pulled open the portable computer he had brought with him. Scorpius's signal was coming in loud and clear. The marauder shook slightly as it touched ground. The pilot opened the hatch from his console. "Shall I wait for you here sir?" Chernov nodded and stepped out into the sunlight. As he walked away from the ship, something caught against his leg. "What the frell?" It was a dead Nyid. The face was burned away terribly. He kicked it off and continued on his way.

"There are peacekeepers on the surface. A marauder shot down the pod." They listened as D'Argo explained what was going on overhead. "What do you mean they're missing?" Both John and Tom became suddenly paranoid as the new was relayed. Their two Sebacean other halves had disappeared and were most likely captured. John smashed his fist against the wall. "There's always something." Scorpius was almost amused by the whole situation. If only he wasn't in it too.

<<<<>>>>

The guard started to run away again when Aeryn called him back. "I have no time for you now." She shook her head and pointed to his pulse pistol. "Don't let us die in a cell. We're peacekeepers. Give us a soldier's death." He considered it for a moment before nodding slightly. He pulled the gun out and raised it towards her. Aeryn suddenly pounced forward and ripped it from his hands. "Go, I don't want to shoot you." The surprised guard took off running before she even got the words out. "Let's get the frell out of here." She fired a few rounds into the bars and they crashed to the floor. Meryl rose next to her. "After you."

The corridor was empty again except for the two of them. There was no one to block their escape. Aeryn looked to Meryl. "Which way to the hanger?" The former captain knew every inch of her own carrier. They were all the same. "To the left." Meryl led the way with Aeryn close behind keeping watch. Not a sound could be heard in either direction except for the slapping of their own feet. "Central control must have already been taken out." Aeryn didn't argue with her. "Just get me to a ship." Up ahead, two thick metal doors signaled the path to freedom.

<<<<>>>>

Pilot watched in horror as the three command carriers exploded one by one. The previously calm alien ships were apparently very good at demolition. Some smaller crafts could be seen flying out just before the eruption. He commed the others. "I am detecting a prowler headed our way." Down in command, Zhaan breathed a sigh of relief as she felt a familiar presence coming closer. Chiana and Rygel watched her carefully as she opened and closed her eyes. "It's them. They're alright." Zhaan had to sit down after extending her spirit out so many times in such little time. The other two were at her side in an instant. "You don't look so good though." Rygel felt his breath return to normal.

<<<<>>>>

Chernov looked up at the ragged building standing between two empty lots and checked his computer. The signal appeared to be coming from in there. He raised his pulse rifle and stepped forward. The door was flimsy and unlocked. Using his gun to push, Chernov slid gently inside. He couldn't believe his luck. There were five of them in there. Scorpius was the first to turn and notice him. "Crichton!" John turned and stared straight into the barrel of a pulse rifle. His own gun sat in its holster. Too far out of reach now. "Hands up, all of you." Scorpius and the two humans complied but the Ferrian woman just sat there. "You too, Ferrian." She smiled and pounced forward.

The pulse blast shot right through her shoulder and dropped Zelaya to the ground. She cried out in pain but remained on the floor. The amused general looked down at her and shook his head. He pulled a small comm from his pocket. "All I have to do is call my command carrier. Aeryn Sun and Meryl Raynor will die." None of them were aware that said ship had just been blown out of the sky by a Regulator ship. Chernov was in charge now. "Where is the wormhole information?" He was looking at Scorpius. The hybrid shrugged. "I don't have it. The only person who knew the sequence is dead."

<<<<>>>>

The prowler navigated through the scattered bits of carrier waste and flew into Moya's waiting hanger. As the ship touched ground and the engines were shut off, Chiana and Zhaan rushed in to meet it. Aeryn pushed open the hatch and stood up. "Zhaan? Where are the others?" Meryl climbed out from behind and looked questioningly at the Delvian. "Crichton, Tom, and Zelaya remain on the planet's surface. We have not spoken to them." Both women lowered their heads slightly. "I'm going down for them." Aeryn started to climb back inside but Zhaan stopped her. "No, Aeryn. The Regulator ships could come after you." Aeryn shook her head. "Why would they do that?"

<<<<>>>>

Chernov considered his options as the others watched him in silence. His eyes swept over the room searching for some clue to follow. Then he saw the aurora chair. Bob had brought it down here. "Where is Bob?" Tom, the younger human, lifted his head to meet the general's eyes. "He's dead." Chernov shook his head angrily. "I knew he was going to try to steal the wormhole technology on his own, but.." It suddenly occurred to him that the Nyid's body was not there in the room. He pulled out his computer and checked for a signal. Bob's transmitter always used to fail when they parted ways. Perhaps it worked now.

John and the others were led outside single file as Chernov brought up the rear with his computer held out in front of him. The peacekeeper general looked over at where a structure used to stand and realized that the signal was coming from below. He ran forward and kicked some of the debris away. Sure enough, the outline of an elevator could be seen just under the dirt. As he turned back towards his prisoners, the sound of footsteps caught his attention. Scorpius, seeing his chance, jumped out of line and into a nearby alley. Zelaya growled and took off after him. Chernov raised his rifle but didn't fire. "It doesn't matter." He looked over at the other three. "Open it."

<<<<>>>>

Scorpius breathed heavily as he made his way through the wasteland left after the attack. He touched his head and still felt cool running through it. The new coolant rods were lasting longer. "Thank you nurse." The sound of someone running caught his attention. It was the Ferrian woman. She was close by. Scorpius remembered the computer that Chernov had been using. They must have installed a transmitter in him. Picking up a jagged piece of broke glass, the distraught hybrid tore into his own shoulder. That was where they were usually put. He dug his fingers into the torn flesh and felt around. Something metallic rubbed up against his glove. "There you are."

Zelaya heard a slight whisper and stepped slowly forward down the alley. She turned once to check on the peacekeeper but he had not come after them. Suddenly, something black took off in front of her. Scorpius was running for his life up ahead. She followed close behind but not enough for him to notice her. Zelaya heard him cry out once as he turned a corner. She reached it and took a peek. A marauder sat quietly on the other side. Its pilot had looked out to see who was coming.

<<<<>>>>

D'Argo signaled to John with his eyes. The human shook his head slightly and continued walking towards the destroyed house. It would do no good to run now. Chernov was already watching them more closely. "John, we can make it." Crichton turned and stared angrily at him. "But Tom won't." D'Argo sighed and nodded. The boy would never reach safety in time to be saved from a pulse blast. Chernov reached out and grabbed Tom as he neared. "I said open it." Tom landed hard over the metal section and felt sharp pain in his arm. Before he could say anything, the automated computer voice answered for him. "Signature recognized. Welcome Tom." He cursed under his breath as the panel slid away to reveal the elevator. Chernov smiled.

<<<<>>>>

Aeryn and Meryl had positioned themselves at the window in command. The others sat quietly at the table watching them. "Are you two alright? Did they hurt you?" Zhaan's questions went unanswered. Apparently these two had more important things to think about. "Pilot, any luck yet?" Meryl had finally opened her mouth. "I'm sorry, no." Up above in the den, he tapped hastily at his console but got no response. "I believe the Regulator ships are blocking my frequencies." That did not sound good. "I still think we should risk it and go down there." Aeryn's voice shook slightly as she spoke but her resolve was evident. Outside, a disabled prowler floated within range of the larger ships. It exploded in a bright flash of light.

<<<<>>>>

"Scorpius? Sir, is that you?" The hybrid growled as he stared into the eyes of the confused pilot. "Who else would it be?" The man thought about it for a second. "General Chernov came down with me. Did you see him?" Scorpius smiled devilishly. "He's dead. Get me out of here." The pilot's voice cracked up. "Dead? Where is his body?" That was all that Scorpius could take. He grabbed the soldier by the collar and tossed him to the ground. "You go look for him." He stepped inside and slammed the hatch down. As soon as he disappeared from sight, Zelaya rushed out and stopped the door from closing completely. She slipped inside and shut it quietly.

<<<<>>>>

The four of them stepped out of the elevator and into the dark hall. Chernov raised his pulse rifle and swept the area. "Are there any defense systems?" He nudged Tom with the edge of the gun when no one answered him. "No. If you have access, the system shuts down." The general motioned for him to raise his hand at the door. Tom complied and the two metal shields slid away to reveal the large main room. The Regulator ship sat in the middle but Chernov ignored it. He went for the computer and started typing furiously. "Yes, it's here. All of it." John turned to D'Argo and pointed towards a beam lying on the floor.

Chernov heard the sound of something sliding off the ground and turned with his rifle aimed. The beam D'Argo picked up smashed against the gun and knocked it away. The angry Luxan stepped forward to grab the general. John pulled his pistol but stopped when his companion dropped the beam. Chernov had pulled a small metal sphere from his belt. It fit in the palm of his hand but the look on D'Argo's face was enough to get the message across. "Drop the gun. I'll kill us all if I have to." John dropped his gun to the floor.

Tom stood away from the other three with his hands raised. He shifted nervously in his stance as the metal object slid around in Chernov's palm. Bob's body lay next to the computer. The eyes were shut but somehow Tom still felt like someone was looking at him. The Nyid's words came floating back to him. Bob had fought to keep the technology away from peacekeepers. The reason had to be very important. Finding courage he didn't know he had, Tom lunged forward and pulled the sphere out of Chernov's hands. "What the frell are you doing?" The look on the general's face took all his bravery away. There was a slight clicking sound.

John and D'Argo watched in horror as the sphere exploded. Shards of jagged metal shot out in all directions but were blocked by the intertwined bodies of Tom and Chernov. Both men fell to the ground in a heap. "Tom!" John ran forward and checked his friend. "What the hell did you do that for?" D'Argo checked over the other man. "Chernov is dead John." The general's forehead was riddled with tiny entrance points. John felt for a heartbeat. "He's alive." Most of the shards had hit Tom in the lower part of the body. Tom coughed and opened his eyes. "Did it work?" John smiled. "Yeah, it did." He felt something warm against his skin. Blood was seeping out of the thin wounds.

"John, we have to get him out of here." Crichton nodded and lifted Tom up onto the computer table. "Where'd you leave the shuttle?" D'Argo shook his head. "It was destroyed by the marauder." John searched around the room for something. Anything that could get them back to Moya. The brown ship in the middle of the room caught his eye. "D'Argo, check it." The Luxan stood and ran over to it. The hatch was unlocked and he stepped inside. The technology was unlike anything he had ever seen. "I think it works John. But I can't be sure." He went back outside and helped Crichton carry Tom in. The young human opened his eyes as they set him down. "Signature acknowledged. Welcome Tom." He tried to get up but the pain was too great. "John! No, no." The words barely made it out. John ignored him.

<<<<>>>>

"I'm not waiting any longer." Aeryn turned angrily from the window and started for the door. She was just about to pass into the hallway when Pilot appeared on the screen. "There's something coming off the planet's surface. Moya does not recognize it." Meryl motioned for her to return to the window. Aeryn ran back and looked out into space. Something was indeed rising towards them. A thin blue line extending upwards into the darkness. Pilot watched it with growing alarm. "It's headed straight for us. Moya is very scared."

The open mouth of the wormhole cut a direct course through space towards the leviathan. Before Pilot could say a word of warning, Moya was engulfed by the shimmering blue creation and blasted across the universe. Back in command, Aeryn and the others watched as their view was suddenly obstructed by a wall of light. Traveling just behind them, the Regulator ship edged closer and pulled into the open hanger doors.

John stepped out of the brown ship and onto Moya's familiar floor. He looked back out the way they had come in and gasped in amazement. Footsteps were coming down the hallway. He turned to see Aeryn running into the room with one of her special smiles in full view. "Did you see it? The ship guides the wormhole. It's amazing." They embraced as he continued on with the babble she could not understand. "Where's Tom?" He stopped as Meryl walked into the room. His expression of wonder turned solemn. D'Argo jumped out the hatch with Tom in his arms. "What happened?" The Luxan ran past her and towards the lab.

Zhaan bent over his still body with a pair of shiny metal tweezers. "Is he going to be alright?" Aeryn hovered close behind her as she worked. "His wounds are severe. There is only so much I can do." The Delvian stuck the utensil into a slit and pulled gingerly on a thin strip of metal. "We need to get him to a real doctor." Aeryn nodded and looked up towards the doorway. Meryl stood quietly against the wall with a vacant stare on her face. "I'm going to go check on her." Zhaan smiled slightly and went back to work. Aeryn walked over to the other woman and placed a hand on her shoulder. Meryl met her gaze and finally spoke. "As soldiers, we were trained to deal with tragic situations." Aeryn frowned but did not say anything. "So, why is it that at this moment I feel like my legs are falling out from under me?"