Ep9: My Enemy's Enemies

The bottle hit the ground and shattered. John stirred and finally awoke from his restless sleep. Rubbing his head, he stood and looked around. "Frell, my head." The room was dirty and cramped. The small bed barely fit him and his legs hung out over the edge. A banging noise caught his attention. The couple next door were going at it again. The walls shook and dust fell from the ceiling. Pulling the curtains away from the window, he looked outside. The sky was grey and what he presumed were rain clouds loomed overhead. "Welcome to my worst frelling nightmare." John stumbled and landed hard on the bed. He wondered what Aeryn and the others were doing right now.

Kezia watched the human with unusual curiosity. The others had been right. It looked like a Sebacean but the behavior was obviously wrong. This creature moved lazily and with little coordination. It seemed stupid and child-like. It would be best to approach the human now. Stepping from his place in the shadows, he lunged forward. Then something completely unexpected happened. John Crichton reached for his pulse pistol and fired at him. Reeling from the surprise attack, Kezia ran for the window and jumped. Hitting the ground hard, he stood and hastily hid. The human was more resourceful than it appeared.

John stared at the broken window in shock. Something had just jumped out. Something big. Pulling his coat on, he ran for the door and headed outside. Taking the stairs two at a time, he wondered how anyone had been able to find him here. As he passed them by, all sorts of strange creatures watched in alarm. Gun wielding peacekeepers didn't venture around these parts very often. Reaching the front door, John burst through it and out into the street. His attacker was gone and the road was empty. "Now what?"

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Aeryn raced through Moya's winding hallways with incredible speed. Talyn had just connected to its mother and she wanted to be there when Crais boarded. Finding the room empty and the doors still closed, she stopped and put on her most apathetic face. "Pilot says he'll be here any second." She turned and found Tom sitting at the far end. He was staring off into space with an awe-filled expression. "Are you anxious to see Crais as well?" She couldn't fathom why but the question had to be asked. He stood and walked over to her. Looking up at the doors, he said "Crais brought me here. I have to at least thank him for that." Aeryn smiled. He was even more innocent than Crichton had once been.

The doors slid open and Bialar Crais stepped inside. Seeing Aeryn and Tom before him, he tried his best to appear friendly. "Officer Sun and 0377. Hello again." The boy seemed to want to say something but his lips didn't move. Aeryn spoke for him. "It's Tom now. He has his name." Crais nodded. The look on her face was priceless. Beneath the uniform stare, he could easily see worry. It was almost endearing. "I suppose you wish to know about Crichton." She nodded eagerly. "Is he alive?" Savoring his moment of domination, the ex-captain smiled. He pulled a chip from his pocket and handed it to her. Without a word, Aeryn Sun ran from the room and to the nearest viewer. That left Crais and Tom standing alone together. "So..."

She jammed the tiny chip into its port and watched. The video started with an indication of its serial number and designated location. Then the scene began. She watched the pathetic attempt in horror. John's technique was dangerous and stupid. Aeryn cursed him for behaving so foolishly but never took her eyes from the screen. The video lacked sound, so she could not hear what had been said between the two adversaries. "Has he done it?" D'Argo came up next to her and restarted the image. "No, but he did almost get himself killed." He laughed slightly but his grim expression did not change. "I should have been there with him." She turned and looked him in the eyes. "Then you'd both be dead right now."

They watched each other with unease. One far superior in strength and cunning yet deficient when it came to simple conversation. Tom worked up the courage and finally spoke. "I wanted to thank you." Crais had no idea how to respond. It took him several moments to comprehend what the human had just said. "For what?" Tom shuffled his feet and started again. "For bringing me here. For saving my life." Seeing the boy's emotional face was definitely unnerving. He had been taught to associate such expression of gratitude with weakness. "You are quite welcome." Aeryn walked into the room with the chip in her hand. "I appreciate this." She handed it back to him. Crais nodded and turned back towards Talyn. He could tolerate no more of this.

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John stumbled across the small plaza and towards the tavern he had left only a few hours earlier. He had no intention of getting drunk this time. Now was the time to gather information. The shady types that frequented this place did not let much get by them. If someone was after him, they would know. He knocked three times on the thick metal door and waited. A small slit opened up and two beady eyes stared back at him. "Ah, the lunatic." John nodded. The door swung open to reveal a smoke-filled room. Just as he was about to enter, something caught his eye. A customer sat at the counter who had not been there the night before. A Scarren.

Kezia looked up at the commotion by the door and found himself staring back at his prey. He stood in alarm and raced towards it. Crichton turned and ran as fast as his legs could carry him. Ripping the pulse pistol from its holster, John waited for the giant creature to emerge. He did not have to wait long. The Scarren stormed out into the street and searched angrily. Finding each other, hunter and hunted stared each other down. John aimed and Kezia raised his hand. "Put your hand down and I won't shoot." It was a desperate plea but he had to try.

The air in front of the outstretched hand rippled and steamed. John started to pull the trigger when he noticed something odd. Just as quickly as the effect had begun, it disappeared. The Scarren's eyes bulged and he looked up at John. "I am weak." Kezia advanced on the human but the pulse pistol was too much for him. "I know you've got thick skin. Want to see how deep my pulse fire goes?" John saw fear in the other's eyes. The monster dropped to its knees and lowered its head. "I am a failure. Kill me." John lowered his gun and stepped back. He was surprised at how easily the Scarren had given in. "Who are you?"

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Meryl pushed the door open quietly and stepped inside. The chamber was vast and dark. She could make out the immense creature amid the flashing lights from its console. "Pilot?" He looked up from his work immediately. She noticed that there seemed to be nervousness in his eyes. "You are Meryl?" His voice was low and he didn't meet her gaze. "Yes, I wanted to meet the much venerated Pilot." He smiled and nodded. "Your uniform, you are a captain?" She looked down at the her clothes and frowned. "Not anymore." Pilot tensed up as she came closer. He remembered his first experiences with Aeryn. "Have you ever commanded a leviathan?" Meryl understood what he meant.

Chiana stood outside Pilot's den with her ear up to the door. She heard the sled before it appeared from around the corner. "Shhh." Rygel nodded and positioned himself next to her. "What are we listening to?" She pointed inside. "Meryl's talking to Pilot." He laughed. "He doesn't have her by the throat does he?" She swatted him with her hand. The whispers from inside were getting harder to hear.

"When I was a girl, they experimented on me. Like this ship. I have never been involved with special projects." Pilot looked at her, surprised. "This is my first time stepping foot on a leviathan." Her words seemed sincere and he was sure that she had been warned about what had happened. "I appreciate your concern." Meryl looked back at him. She could think of nothing more to say. "Was there something else?" His question broke her concentration. "Am I bothering you Pilot?" He shook his head. "No more than the others do." She smiled. "Then I will leave you to your work."

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John sat across the table from the Scarren and waited. Kezia downed the stiff drink and placed it in front of him. "My name is Kezia. I am a former covert operative for the Scarren government. Currently in exile." John looked at the creature's size. "A covert operative?" Kezia laughed and nodded. "Your hotel room is only as big as this booth. I've been there all night." They watched each other closely. The other customers in the bar glanced over in confusion. You didn't typically see Sebaceans and Scarrens dining together. "So, why are you after me?" Kezia frowned and looked down at his drink. "Since my exile, I've been searching for a way to return. Word travels fast out here. You are a valuable commodity to my people." It was John's turn to frown.

"So, you bring me in and they give you back your job." Kezia nodded and pulled a small disk from his pocket. "Old friends tell me that you know much about Scorpius. Information that could be very helpful." John took a sip from his drink and smiled. An idea had just occurred to him. "I have a proposition for you." The Scarren furrowed his brow and said nothing. Leaning in close, John whispered. "What would your bosses say if you brought in Scorpy's head on a stick?" Pulling back, Kezia grinned. "Tell me more."

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Bob found the module right where the old woman said it would be. This was very discouraging. If she was right about that, then other things might be true as well. He noticed someone loitering in the plaza ahead. Raising his arm, he called out to the man. "Have you seen this man?" The fellow was obviously drunk but he nodded. "Yep, seen him just a few microts ago. Came out of the bar with a big Scarren." Bob was confused. What was John Crichton doing with a Scarren?

John and Kezia stepped out of the bar and into the grey morning light. "I'm going to go settle the bill." John left his companion and walked over to the old building where he had slept the night before. He climbed the stairs two at a time. His demeanor changed when he saw the door. It stood wide open. Someone was in his room. Pulling out a pulse pistol, John burst into the room. There was a man sitting on his bed. Bob turned calmly. "John Crichton, I don't believe we've met."

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Aeryn let loose on the punching bag with all her strength. It flew back and forth as she pummeled it from all sides with fierce kicks and jabs. Sweat poured into her eyes and stung them. She stopped momentarily to wipe her brow. "Care to try those moves on a real person?" She turned at the words and found Meryl standing in the doorway. She smiled. "If you think you can handle it." Meryl nodded and pulled off her jacket. They advanced towards each other. Although brought up in the same society, both had very different fighting styles. Aeryn licked her lips and attacked. This was going to be fun.

Tom and D'Argo sat in the kitchen with plates of food cubes in front of them. A loud crashing sound caught their attention. "Did you hear something?" The Luxan's refined senses picked up the noises well. Human ears did not work so well. "No, what?" D'Argo stood and moved towards the sound. "There it is again." Tom walked up to him. "I don't hear anything." The older man laughed. "I forgot about human senses. You're all deficient." Tom shook his head and remembered something Crichton had told him. Looking down at a hole in the wall, he said "Don't flush hazardous materials down the waste tunnel." D'Argo blinked and turned to the wall. "Well, maybe not all of your senses."

Meryl felt sharp pain in her back as she was slammed against the wall. Aeryn was not letting up. A punch flew out and the ex-captain was just able to dodge it. Aeryn's fist hit the wall with tremendous force and she fell down. Meryl dropped down next to her. "Ready to quit?" They both smiled and shook their heads. Jumping up, Aeryn grabbed the other woman's leg and threw her against the punching bag.

Tom was the first to enter the room. The sight before him was a strange one. D'Argo came up behind him and peered inside. "What the frell?" Aeryn and Meryl stood in front of each other with fists ready. "What are they doing?" D'Argo put his hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Relaxing."

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"You're Bob?" John was amazed. The man sitting in front of him was the same person who had helped Tom to escape. "How did you find me?" Bob smiled and beckoned for John to sit beside him. "I've been keeping close watch on the situation. I heard that you were around these parts and decided to come see for myself." John shook his head. Looking out the window, he could see Kezia standing down below in the street. "There is another reason that I am here John." The Nyid's voice had turned serious. "What?" Pulling a video disk from his pocket, Bob stood and walked over to the viewer that he had brought with him. "I regularly employ the use of a seer. Her name is Gilda and she is never wrong."

"Psychics in space?" John laughed. He stopped when the other man's expression grew darker. Bob started the file and instructed John to watch. The image seemed to come from some sort of handheld camera. A small date was imprinted in the lower right corner. "When was this?" John's question went unanswered. He soon realized why. Whoever was holding the camera had come upon a crashed ship. A leviathan. Its outer skin was thrashed and oozing some sort of brown substance. The operator stepped inside and found something much worse. A body was lying face down on the ground. Blood was everywhere. It came from a wound in the person's back. A knife wound. John gasped as he realized who the person was. "Aeryn?"

"What the hell is this!" John turned to his visitor and shouted the words again. He grabbed Bob by the neck and threw him against the wall. "Who did this." Bob reached out his arms and cried out. "Let me explain please!" John stopped his attack and stepped away. "I told you. The seer showed me this image. It hasn't happened yet." Turning back to the image, John once again looked at the date. "When does it happen?" Bob lifted himself off the floor. "According to that, we have three days." Before another word could be spoken, John Crichton was out the door and running towards his module. "Where are you going? Kezia stared at the human in confusion. He followed.

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Chiana ran down the hall as fast as she could. D'Argo had said that Aeryn and Meryl were fighting. She didn't wanted to miss anything. Rygel followed close behind in his sled. "Wait for me girl. What's the rush?" She didn't bother to answer. As they passed by John's empty room, a humming sound caused them to stop. "Do you hear something?" Rygel sped past her. "Just your annoying voice." She opened the doors and stepped inside. The container was in full view. "What the frell is that?" Rygel came back and looked. "Aeryn!" The former peacekeeper heard the shrill yell and was distracted. The punch caught her straight in the face and she went down.

"What is it?" They were all standing outside John's cell looking at the creature inside. Aeryn kicked the container with her foot and watched its contents move from side to side. "Crichton brought it back from the facility. I'm not sure." Meryl walked up beside her and studied it. Fresh bruises adorned both their faces. "Aeryn, tell me something." She frowned. "Does that thing look bigger to you?"