“Aeryn! Open the frelling door!” The shouts were accompanied by fists slamming on the door to her cell. She opened her eyes for a moment but said nothing. The ex-peacekeeper had hoped for a moment that it was Crichton. As much as it would hurt to talk to him, what she was feeling now was even worse. “Aeryn, it’s D’Argo! We have to talk.” The Luxan’s voice had softened somewhat. Yelling wasn’t going to get her outside. Enough had happened because of yelling.

“Go away.” Aeryn’s words came out with little conviction.

D’Argo growled like only one of his race could. Avoiding the human was one thing, but Aeryn’s actions were inexcusable. He couldn’t sit back any longer and let them destroy whatever love was left. “Pilot! Override the controls.”

The creature’s voice came through over the comm. “If Aeryn doesn’t want to talk-.” D’Argo cut him off. “I think we’re beyond what Aeryn wants. Don’t you?” He heard a sigh and then the door opened. D’Argo stepped forward.

She looked up at him but refused to make eye contact. Aeryn had felt this before. Knew how it could overpower even a peacekeeper. Shame coursed through her like fire. “I can’t talk to you about this, D’Argo. Just go away.” The Luxan didn’t answer right away. She felt strong arms take hold of hers and lift. Aeryn couldn’t break free. They were face to face now.

“You’re going to talk whether you like it or not, Peacekeeper.” D’Argo got the response he wanted.

“You haven’t called me that in two cycles.” The look in Aeryn’s eyes was weary and hurt. She could see disappointment in her friends eyes.

“For the past two cycles, you haven’t given me a reason. Not until now.” D’Argo took a step back but showed no signs of leaving. Instead he sat down.

“Are you going to lecture me now? Like Crichton?”

D’Argo bared his teeth at her. They both knew he would never psychically hurt her, but the point was made. “Aeryn, you’re giving me reason to.” She lowered her head in what looked like a nod. The Luxan continued. “I know what it’s like to lose someone. Don’t give that dren about not understanding.”

Aeryn glanced upward. “This is different.” She flinched as the man in front of her erupted.

D’Argo stood and threw his chair against the wall. “Do you think that makes it alright? He should just forgive you because you’re mourning!” The ex-peacekeeper tried to speak but no words came to mind. “I see Chiana every day on this frelling ship! But I would never do that to her. Never!” D’Argo shook his head. He knew this wasn’t helping.

“I never said it was the right thing to do!” Aeryn was yelling now too. “But it happened and I can’t change that.” Her face twisted into a frown, she stood and walked past her shipmate. “It’s none of your frelling business. So stay out of it!” D’Argo watched her go sadly. Things were getting worse.

She had barely made it to the first junction when the act fell apart. Aeryn dropped to her knees and started sobbing. The tears were coming without restraint. She couldn’t keep them back. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Aeryn kept repeating the apology in her quiet voice. She hoped that D’Argo was too far away to hear.

<<<<>>>>

The bar was overcrowded and filled with acrid-smelling smoke. Chiana checked her cargo carefully but he didn’t seem to mind.

The human smiled weakly at her and pointed towards a stool. “Just leave me there. I’ll wait.” The Nebari gave a quick nod. They had in fact come to collect supplies. But Crichton wasn’t up to walking around a marketplace.

“Don’t go getting yourself into trouble. Just have a drink and keep your mouth shut.” She patted him on the back and left.

John flinched as her gloved hand touched his back. “Thanks pip.” He managed to pull himself onto the stool and waved to the bartender.

“You look like dren my friend. What can I get you?” The human smiled. Always a friendly ear at the neighborhood pub.

“Take your strongest drink.” The man nodded and pulled out a container of black liquid. “Now make it stronger.” The smile was gone.

Lucien spotted the Nebari and her companion the moment they stepped into the bar. He found it curious that a peacekeeper would be seen with one of their kind. Then again, the man didn’t look like his senses had been used much lately. He walked over to introduce himself. “Holy frell man! You look worse than a dead Scarren.”

Crichton looked up from his drink and caught a blurry sight of the guy in front of him. He was dressed in black and red leather, which probably meant peacekeeper. “Hey! I’ve seen a dead Scarren before and that is not a nice thing to say.”

The stranger laughed and sat down at the stool beside his. “Name’s Lucien. What’s another peacekeeper doing on this hole of a planet?” At any other moment, John would have gotten out of there immediately. Too bad he’d already emptied three glasses of the black stuff.

“One word, my good man. Women.”

The peacekeeper leaned in closer. “Oh, now you’ve got to tell me what happened.”

John grinned in a drunken stupor. “You’re not gonna believe this.”

<<<<>>>>

Aeryn walked slowly into Pilot’s chamber and looked around. She didn’t want to talk to anyone else but him. D’Argo was the only one who knew what had happened but the others suspected.

“Officer Sun?”

She looked up into the creature’s sympathetic eyes. “Have you spoken with D’Argo?”

Pilot shook his head. “No, he hasn’t come up.” That fact made her relax a little. It would only make her feel worse to have him angry too.

“I wanted you to hear it from me.” The words pounded in her ears as she spoke them. Aeryn couldn’t bear the look on Pilot’s face. She considered that he already knew. Even if it wasn’t from D’Argo.

“Hear what? You sound troubled.”

Aeryn nodded her head. “I’ve done something terrible.”

<<<<

John shook his head angrily. So now she was avoiding him too. He was used to her blank stares and cold reports. This was something new. “Pilot, can you find Aeryn for me?” A moment passed before his comm came to life.

The creature seemed eager to help. “Of course. I’m checking now.” John nodded and continued on his way. She wasn’t in her room. Where else would Aeryn be at this hour.

“Never mind Pilot!” He had the answer.

The red punching bag had its work cut out for it today. Aeryn sent her fist flying at it with all the strength she could muster. The face she imagined in its place changed every time. Furlow, John, Scorpius. Aeryn saw her own this time. Still, the barrage of maneuvers did little to ease her pain. “Frell!” Sometimes it felt good to just say the word. She didn’t hear the door open behind her.

“Aeryn, we need to talk.” The ex-peacekeeper had certainly heard those words before. That didn’t make it any easier to hear them. Aeryn was angry right now. “At least you’re feeling something.” Were her feelings that obvious? The comment hurt all the same.

“Don’t pretend to know what I feel Crichton. Not now.” John positioned himself on the other side of the punching bag.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

She glared at him. “I feel plenty.

The human nodded his head slowly as if conceding. That only made her angrier.

“I told you to leave.” Aeryn smacked the bag and sent him backwards.

John regained his balance and moved forward again. “Was that a warning?”

She didn’t look up at him. “Think what you want.” That seemed to do the trick. John was angry now too.

“You can’t keep shutting me out of this Aeryn. I’m involved.”

Aeryn continued her exercise. “How’s that?” John sighed. He was getting tired of this argument.

“He’s me, I’m him. There’s no dispute. Jool tested both of us.”

She stopped for a moment and looked up at him. “Is that supposed to make it all better? The two of you can just swap me whenever you feel like it?”

John shook his head in frustration. “You know that’s not what happened. Frankly, I’m getting sick and tired of you making excuses.” He regretted the words as soon as they left his lips.

Aeryn’s face was burning red with rage. “Excuses! Frell you!”

Before John could apologize, something happened. Aeryn’s fist connected with his jaw and he flew backward. Landing hard on the floor, he tasted blood in his mouth. “Aeryn?” She didn’t answer him. Aeryn was breathing hard now. John’s first thought was that she was calming down. But her breathes were growing faster and harder.

Aeryn felt like she was observing an argument between two other people. She saw herself charge forward and let loose. Took in the feel of her fists against his defenseless body. John cried out in pain but she couldn’t hear anything. She only saw his face twist up in agony. All the pain, all the anger was coming out at once. Aeryn’s hands felt warm. She looked down at Crichton. “Oh, I.” That was all she could manage. Her hands were covered with his blood.

“What the frell are you doing?” D’Argo stormed into the room and dropped down beside John. He checked quickly for a pulse before looking up at Aeryn. There was something in his eyes that she had never seen before. Worse than being looked on as a peacekeeper. Much, much worse. “John, can you hear me?” The Luxan picked Crichton up and ran out of the room. Aeryn watched them go without saying another word. She felt numb. She didn’t feel anything.

>>>>

John nodded his head sadly as he finished telling the story. Every part of his body was still in constant pain. Just sitting on the stool was taking its toll.

“She almost killed you?” Lucien stared at his companion in disbelief. He had never heard of soldiers reacting so strongly to a procreation match. Certainly none had ever physically assaulted the others. But that wasn’t what had really caught his attention.

“Aeryn is a hell of a lot stronger than I am.” John had just confirmed his suspicions. Lucien realized they were talking about Aeryn Sun.

“Where is she?” The words came out stronger than he had intended. He had to be careful not to scare off the human. If this was indeed John Crichton.

“Aeryn? She’s probably back on Moya.” The realization must have come to John at that moment. He moved to flee but there was nowhere to go.

Lucien already had his pulse pistol out. “I don’t think so Crichton.”

<<<<<>>>>

Pilot’s mouth hung open despite his best efforts to remain calm. He couldn’t believe the story she had just laid out. It didn’t seem possible. “I saw him earlier today. John looked fine.”

Aeryn nodded her head. “D’Argo took some of Zhaan’s old solvents from the lab. They covered the bruises.” She felt herself being judged silently.

“I don’t know what to think.”

Aeryn stiffened as she heard the footsteps come up from behind.

“So she told you Pilot.” D’Argo’s voice was rough. He did not appear to be in a good mood.

Pilot looked up at the Luxan and nodded. “Just this very moment. I didn’t want to believe it.” The two of them shook their heads as Aeryn looked on. She wanted to run, to get away from there. “Officer Sun, I think it would be best if you went down to the commerce planet.”

Her mouth dropped open in disbelief. Aeryn couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Of all the possible outcomes, this was not one she had considered. “You want me to leave?”

Pilot met her gaze with some difficulty. “Moya and I are confused by this turn of events. Your presence would make it harder for us to-.”

Aeryn raised her hand. “You don’t need to explain. I understand.”

Pilot nodded. “I’ll comm you when its time to go.”

<<<<>>>>

John opened his eyes and looked around. It took a moment for them to get used to the darkness. Strange objects started to take shape. “What the hell?” His hands and feet where strapped to what felt like an operating table. Well, at least it wasn’t the Aurora Chair. “Who am I kidding? Help!” John shouted the word over and over but no one answered. Wherever he was, help was not nearby.

A door directly in front of him opened up and light filled the room. John had to close his eyes to block the glare. Someone was coming in.

“Awake are we? That’s good. Lucien flipped a switch and lamps came on around the room. Computer terminals and what looked like medical supplies lined the walls.

“What do you want? I’ve got money.” It was the only thing that John could think of to say. It didn’t work.

“Do you really think I want currency?” Lucien looked over his prisoner with a smile on his face. Certainly this prize would get him out of the dren-world he was living in. “You are very valuable on your own John Crichton.”

John frowned at the peacekeeper and tugged on his restraints. “Yeah, I’ve heard that one before.”

Lucien smiled. “I believe you.” He backed up and headed towards the door again. “I’ll be right back.”

<<<<>>>>

Aeryn and Chiana stood face to face in the open market. Busy shoppers passed by on either side, occasionally bumping one of them.

The Nebari spoke first. “He won’t admit it, but I know it was you.” There was no playfulness or jest in her words. They were dead serious.

Aeryn tried to look away but Chiana kept moving to catch up. “If you believe I’m capable of that, don’t get in my way.” That did the trick.

She left the younger woman and her Prowler behind and walked deeper into the marketplace. Pilot had been very clear, Aeryn would stay down here for at least the rest of the day. The shame was still there but her encounter with Chiana had been helpful. Being mad at the Nebari helped pass the time. Aeryn stopped in her tracks. Despite all the thoughts in her head, she still recognized a tail.

The Peacekeeper was only a few people behind her in the crowd. He watched her every move and Aeryn thought for a moment that he looked familiar. The man came closer. “Officer Sun, it is you!” Lucien lifted his arm to stop her but she pushed it away.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He smiled at her cold face. “Don’t worry. I’m not here to arrest you.” That got Aeryn’s attention.

“We were in Pleisar Regiment together. I remember you.” He was almost hopeful that she would recall his face. Aeryn didn’t.

“That’s wonderful. Now leave me alone.” She tried to walk away but he wouldn’t have it.

“I know what you’re doing here. I can help you.” Aeryn turned to face him.

Something was wrong. “How could you help me?”

Lucien smiled. “I have John Crichton.”

All the breath left Aeryn’s lungs as she heard the words. John had been captured. Something else she could add to her list of blame. “Where is he?” She reached for her pulse pistol and Lucien responded in kind. They stood there motionless for several microts. Finally, Aeryn spoke up again. “What do you want?”

Those were the words that Lucien wanted to hear. “Come with me. I’ll tell you.”

<<<<>>>>

They stood in front of a large mirror that covered the entire length of a wall. Aeryn stared through it and saw John lying on the table. She ignored her first instinct and waited for the peacekeeper to speak. “I have a proposition for you.” Lucien relished this moment. He still remembered those days on the combat tour. Not sitting around some commerce planet collecting dust.

“Out with it.” Aeryn didn’t feel like reminiscing.

“I know the soldier’s still in there. He told me what you did to him.” Aeryn flinched but didn’t respond. She tried not to let the guilt show. “You were one of the best in our unit. I can get us both back in.” Aeryn felt the hairs on her neck stand up. “If we turn the human in together, High Command will give us whatever we want. You could be reinstated.” Lucien watched her face for signs. There weren’t any.

“Why would you help me?”

He smiled. “I respected you then. I still do.”

Aeryn couldn’t believe what she was hearing. This peacekeeper was more stupid than he looked. After all that had happened with Moya and Talyn, the only way she’d go back was in a body bag. Of course, that information probably wasn’t made public. “You can’t-.” Something stopped her from speaking. Aeryn noticed the medical machinery inside the room with John. State of the art technology that didn’t rely on worker error. Perhaps this Lucien could help her after all.

“One condition.”

Lucien looked over at her and smiled. He was quite pleased with himself. “What’s that?”

Aeryn pointed towards the machinery. “I want you to run a full scan on his DNA.”

The peacekeeper didn’t understand. “Why? What would I compare it with?”

Aeryn reached into her vest and came out with a thin metal container. Inside were a few strands of brown hair. It had helped John when she died. She had tried it as well. “Use this. Then I’ll do whatever you want.”

<<<<>>>>

John heard voices coming from somewhere but he couldn’t make them out. Something bad was going to happen. Hell, something bad always happened. “Hey Lucien! Get your ass in here. I wanna talk.” Much to his surprise, the door opened and the peacekeeper walked in.

“Hello Crichton. I hope you haven’t been waiting long.”

John shook his head. ‘All these guys use the same script, I swear to God.’ As he watched, Lucien walked over to the computer station and started typing. “What are you going to do?”

Lucien turned around and smiled. “I’m going to run a test.”

The human was suddenly very anxious. “What kind of test?” John didn’t like where this was going. He noticed that one of the machine panels had lit up. A small tray slid out of the wall and waited for something.

Lucien moved next to John and pulled out a knife. It had a red and black handle. “I’m going to need a sample.”

John pushed himself forward and bit down on the collar of his vest. This was going to hurt. He was already shaking uncontrollably.

“I’ll just stick this in here.” Lucien lowered the knife and jammed it into John’s leg.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!” Biting down didn’t help.

Lucien smiled. “Then I’ll need a clean sample.” He twisted the knife in place.

Before John even had a chance to scream, a pulse blast came from the doorway. Lucien gasped and dropped down where he stood. It didn’t take a doctor to tell that he was dead. Aeryn stepped forward and lowered her gun. The moment she had seen the knife, everything had changed. But that wasn’t true was it? She had hesitated.

“Aeryn, is that you?” John blinked several times as his eyes met hers. His expression was grim.

“I’m so sorry John. I never should have let him-.”

He waited until she released his straps and then pushed himself off the table. The pain in his leg was excruciating but there was something worse. “What do you mean, let him?”

Aeryn lowered her eyes. She couldn’t even speak the words. “I’m sorry.”

John looked over at the sample machine and put two and two together. “You...you.”He took a step away from her. “You let him do this to me?”

Aeryn finally met his gaze. He could see the look of horror in her eyes. “I’m sorry.” The human slammed his fist down on the table.

“Why should I believe you? After everything you’ve done in the past few days, how can you say you’re sorry?”

She didn’t know how to respond. “It hurt so much. I just needed something concrete.” Aeryn watched his face. It was covered with sweat and twisted in anger.

“What do you want me to say? I understand Aeryn. That makes it ok?” John continued moving towards the door. “I can’t do this right now.” He started to leave.

Aeryn felt like she was going to throw up. She dropped to the ground. “John, I love you.” Crichton stopped. “I just don’t know how to deal with this.”

His face softened for a moment but soon regained its angry look. “I love you too.” John slammed the door on his way out. ***

The lights were turned down low inside the converted cell. She could feel his warm breath against her soft skin every few seconds like clockwork. It was more comforting than any peacekeeper ritual could ever be. Aeryn allowed herself to get lost in the moment. A luxury she was not accustomed to. But this situation was unlike any she had ever experienced. He was lying there next to her. His face ashen and distant.

John opened his eyes weakly and looked at her. He smiled but pain still cut across his face like a dagger. All the anger, all the pain, none if it was in his eyes now. “I love you Aeryn.” Each word of that phrase made her tremble.

Aeryn couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. “I love you too John.” He reached for her and she didn’t back away. They held each other close like that for what seemed like hours. Then Aeryn felt his hands on her neck.

“John, what are you doing?” Before the ex-peacekeeper could react, he had her by the throat. Whatever warmth had been in Crichton’s eyes disappeared at that moment.

His smile twisted into an almost carnal scowl. “How does it feel baby?”

It was then that she realized who it really was. The scar above his eyebrows. The pain on his face wasn’t from what she had done. It was from radiation poisoning. “No, John, you’re dead.”

He nodded as she spoke but didn’t appear to care. Aeryn felt his hands squeeze down with tremendous force. “You killed me Aeryn. You ruined everything!”

Aeryn’s eyes began to water. Both from emotion and intense physical pain. The lack of air in her lungs was causing an excruciating burning sensation. “John, stop!” The words barely made it out of her mouth. Even then they were almost unintelligible.

“You killed me Aeryn.” John’s face was eroding away into some sort of hideous skeleton creature. “And what did I do? I gave you another chance.”

Aeryn tried to look away, to break free. Escape was impossible. “I’m sorry.”

“But you killed him too! You killed the both of us. You b-.”

<<<<>>>>

Aeryn opened her eyes and realized that she was still shaking. This dream wasn’t the first but it was definitely worse than all the others. The lights were off inside the lab and she could barely make out the figures in front of her. An operating table with a silhouette standing beside it. “Should you be here?” The voice was familiar but definitely not friendly. Jool flicked a switch on the wall and lights came on above them. She looked almost dignified in her white lab coat. The troublesome red hair was tucked back in a bundle. “D’Argo said you should stay away.”

“Frell D’Argo.” Aeryn stood up and walked towards the operating table. He was lying on it. John Crichton was lying on it. His leg had been bandaged up with gauze and fresh dressing put on the old wounds. “Has he woken up at all?” Her words came out weakly.

Jool nodded slightly but didn’t look the ex-peacekeeper in the eye. “An arn ago. He was up for a while but I had to give him more medicine.” She pointed towards a half-empty bottle. “The pain was too much for him.” There seemed to something else on the woman’s mind as she spoke. A question she wanted to ask but knew she couldn’t.

Aeryn waited for it. She expected the question. If not from Jool, definitely from D’Argo. “There was a peacekeeper. He did this.” She stopped short of saying anything else. The thought alone stung in her mind. “I’ll be back later.” Aeryn turned and left the room.

Jool shook her head as the Sebacean made her way out the door. There was something definitely going on here that they weren’t telling her. Her patient stirred a bit next to her. “No, Crichton. Go back to sleep.”

John grimaced at something just outside of consciousness. “Aeryn.”

<<<<>>>>

D’Argo was pacing outside the lab with his Qualta blade out and swinging. He was angry, angrier than he’d been in a long time. The sword in his hand helped to ease the burning inside him. But it didn’t help much. Whatever had happened down on the planet was Aeryn’s fault. The Luxan didn’t know how to explain that connection but he felt it somehow. The incident in the training room had driven Crichton down there. This new problem occurred after the ex-peacekeeper went down on her own.

He was still standing there when Chiana came running down the hallway. She had been the one who found Crichton, beaten and stabbed, lying on the ground of the marketplace. The Nebari had dragged her unconscious companion back to the transport pod on her own. A feat that D’Argo was very proud of her for. “How’s he doing?” The fear in her voice was obvious. They’d already lost one Crichton.

“Jool is still in there with him. I haven’t heard anything.” There were no jokes about the new arrival’s competency. The time for belittling had passed. If she could help Crichton, she was part of the crew as far as D’Argo and Chiana were concerned. “Chiana, did you see Aeryn down there?”

The question caught her off guard. Chiana knew that something was going on with the ex-peacekeeper. Things hadn’t been the same since she got back from Talyn. But there was something like suspicion in D’Argo’s words. “No. I didn’t see her till we got back here.” She neglected to mention the little run-in they had gone through earlier.

Both of them turned as the lab doors opened with a soft swishing sound. Jool walked out slowly and looked at them with a grim expression. “His leg will heal. But it’s going to take a while.” Her lower lip was trembling as she spoke. “Will someone please tell me what the frell is going on?”

Chiana shrugged and D’Argo ignored the question. Neither of them felt like sharing their suspicions at the moment. The Luxan was the first to say anything in response. “Can I talk to him?” He didn’t wait for an answer.

<<<<>>>>

John opened his eyes and flinched at what he saw. Another dark room, another operating table. But there was definitely something safer about this place. He was on Moya. “Hey?” The question went without a response. The human was apparently alone. There was still some pain from his leg but it had diminished since the last time. Whatever Jool had given him, it was working now. John heard the swish of a door opening.

“Hello John. How are you feeling?” D’Argo stepped slowly into the room and made for the bed. He reached his arm out and patted Crichton on the back. The look of concern in his eyes was welcoming.

“Like I’ve been stabbed.” John nudged his head towards the carefully bandaged wound. A red stain was starting to show under it. “It’s not as bad as it looks.”

D’Argo ignored the strained humor in his friend’s voice and moved closer. There were thoughts in his head that he would have preferred not to explore. Nevertheless, his answers resided inside the broken down Human in front of him. “Tell me what happened John. The truth.”

Crichton frowned but nodded his head obediently. Somehow, he didn’t think that D’Argo would settle for anything less. “Peacekeeper captured me. Wanted to turn me in for extra credit.”

Once again the Luxan refused to make light of the situation. He moved his hand over the wound. “And this? Where did this come from?” It had already occurred to him that peacekeepers didn’t torture their victims unless they wanted something. In this case, it would have been smarter to take the prisoner intact. “Was it Aeryn?”

Hearing the name certainly had an affect on John. He almost cringed at the sound of it. “You have to promise not to tell anyone. Not Chiana, not Pilot.”

D’Argo growled. He wanted to yell at John at that moment. “After all this, you still want to protect her? What has she done to deserve your forgiveness?”

John sighed and lay back against his pillow. “I didn’t say I’d forgiven her. Plus, it’s not that easy. I can’t just dismiss her.” He had meant to say something else. But those words didn’t seem appropriate at the moment. “I need you to understand that. Please D’Argo.”

Despite his anger and misgivings, D’Argo nodded. He knew what John was talking about. “I will keep the secret John. But not for Aeryn. For her I will do nothing.” D’Argo stood and moved to leave the room. He felt something grab his arm.

“Thanks man.” Every bit of John’s hand cried out in pain at the action. He let go of D’Argo and fell back down. “Thanks.” The human closed his eyes and tried to sleep. It would be a difficult battle.

<<<<>>>>

“Not now Pilot!” John shouted the words into his comm before being thrown against the wall. His leg, or more specifically his wound, hit the side of the passageway hard. Of all the things that had gone terribly wrong in the past few weeks, at least his leg was getting better. There was only a small jolt when it made contact. John didn’t really have much time to think about it. Power conduits were exploding down the hall. “Oh, I love my life.”

“Commander! Moya and I did not agree to this.” Pilot’s voice cut through the noise and made its way to the human’s ears. “We agreed to accompany Talyn to within range of peacekeeper space. This is quite a bit more than that.” There was worry in the creature’s words. He was enduring much more pain than anyone on the ship save Moya.

“Well, I didn’t exactly plan this.” Crichton was finding it hard to run and speak at the same time. He had to get to command as soon as possible. “What about starburst?” It seemed like an obvious solution.

There was a short silence before Pilot returned to the comm. More explosions could be heard outside as the assault continued. Without Talyn’s protection, Moya wouldn’t last much longer. “Moya cannot starburst with that thing still attached.”

Before John could ask the question, a visual came to life on the clamshell closest to him. “What the hell is that?” A black device had been shot into Moya’s side. Whatever it was, it definitely wasn’t friendly.

Pilot’s face replaced the visual. “If Moya attempts to starburst with that attached, she’ll be destroyed. You must remove it.” Another blast shook the hallway and dispersed his image.

<<<<>>>>

At command, the others were still trying to make sense of the situation. The front portal showed what they were up against. Four sets of marauder/prowler combos were flying in the space between Moya and Talyn. Neither leviathan was having much luck fighting them off. One group was devoted to the mother while the others attacked Talyn.

D’Argo stood in front of the manual starburst terminal and fought to keep a firm grip. “Pilot! Why the frell doesn’t he answer?” Chiana and Aeryn were the only other people in the room but the question didn’t seem to be addressed to them.

Aeryn looked up from her own terminal and frowned. “If the comms are down, any system could go next. We need that manual starburst D’Argo!” Her words came out like orders. They were in her element after all. Still, the Luxan did not look pleased.

“Where the frell is Crichton? He should be here by now.” D’Argo tried his comm again but there was no answer. He looked at the starburst terminal again just as it was lighting up. “I have control-.”

Before D’Argo could finish, John came running into the room. “No! Stay away from starburst.” Everyone glanced up to look at him with confused expressions. “Just trust me on this one. Pilot says we can’t go yet.” Sparks shot out from the walls as he spoke.

Aeryn stepped forward with an angry look on her face. “Why not?” She froze before saying anything else. Despite what was going on around her, the ex-peacekeeper had just realized something. Those were the first two words she had spoken to John in weeks. “John!”

Crichton let the same thought pass through his head. But he didn’t allow it to slow him down. Ignoring her, he turned to D’Argo. “Bad guys outside attached something to Moya. We can’t starburst till its gone.”

Both D’Argo and Aeryn moved to join the human. John stared at both of them in a moment of confusion. Door number one or door number two. Loyal buddy or...... “D’Argo, come on!”

The two men started back out the room, leaving Aeryn behind. She felt the seething anger run through her. That was frelling it! Aeryn ran forward and grabbed John’s arm. “Listen to me. It’s a rudimentary control collar. I know how to disable it.” There was pleading in her eyes. This was more than about her being the logical choice.

John stared her down and shook his head. “Let go of me Aeryn.” When she obeyed, he turned and ran after D’Argo. The ex-peacekeeper was left standing there with her mouth hanging open.

Chiana, who had remained silent up until now, walked up beside the ex-peacekeeper. “Aeryn, just let him go. I need your help with this.” The Nebari had gained a pretty good idea what happened on the commerce planet. She still tried to make it easier for Aeryn.

“He doesn’t trust me anymore.” Aeryn pushed Chiana’s extended hand away and moved to leave the room. She would find her own way to help.

<<<<>>>>

D’Argo squirmed into the narrow access shaft and spotted the black object. It was definitely peacekeeper. The familiar designs lined every side of the device. “John, I see it!” He felt the human coming up behind him.

“You got any ideas?” John came up beside his friend and groaned. The thing they were supposed to get rid of was wedged well into the shaft. Adding insult to injury, it seemed to be expanding.

“I have one.” D’Argo pulled his Qualta blade out of its sheath.

<<<<>>>>

Pilot felt another concussion slam against Moya and send her reeling across space. The pain was worse than any he could remember. As if that weren’t enough, Talyn was screaming into his ear for starburst. “Crichton, have you done it?” There was no answer from the comms. The creature heard a low humming sound instead. “Rygel?”

The Hynerion floated up from below the den and nodded. “What the frell is going on Pilot? Why haven’t we left yet?” Rygel didn’t understand the angry look on Pilot’s face.

“Pilot! I’m outside. Where’s the collar extension?” Both of them were surprised to hear Aeryn’s voice over the comm. It sounded grainy and far away. But it was definitely there.

<<<<>>>>

D’Argo gave a final whack at the device with his sword and smiled. “I did it!” He shouted the words triumphantly as John looked on. The black object slid back out the hole it had made and disappeared.

“Ok, let’s get Pilot on the phone.” John crawled back out of the access shaft and tried the comm. All he could hear was a crackling sound that reminded him of days without cable. “Pilot!”

“I hear you commander. What is your status?” Pilot’s voice sounded hopeful for the first time.

“Starburst! We have starburst!” John sank to the floor with a smile on his face. D’Argo dropped down beside him and shrugged. Nothing happened. “Hey, what’s the hold-up?”

Pilot came through again. “Moya refuses to leave officer Sun behind.”

John’s skin went ice cold and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. “Aeryn? Where is she?”

<<<<>>>>

Aeryn navigated through the pulse fire that surrounded Moya and tried to get a fix on the collar extension. She had already tried the comms to no avail. It was just her and the stars out there. Not to mention a squadron of attack ships. Something caught her attention by Moya’s rear. “Oh frell.” The black object was loose and flying towards her.

“Aeryn, what are you doing out there?” The voice wasn’t Pilot’s and certainly not John’s.

“Crais, where are you?” Under the circumstances, Aeryn hoped he was somewhere close. Before either of them could respond, she felt D’Argo’s new ship crash to one side. “Frell D’Argo. How do you use this thing?” Her field of vision outside the ship swung wildly. All control was lost.

“Officer Sun, are you hit?” Talyn was right above her now. Crais stood at the controls with a distorted view of the space in front of him. He spotted Aeryn’s ship again. “Talyn, deploy the docking web.”

Aeryn felt a strong tug on the ship coming from somewhere above her. She looked up and spotted Talyn’s beautiful form. “Crais, starburst the frell out of here!” The leviathan hybrid dropped towards her and suddenly she was entering the hangar. Aeryn saw blue and black starburst energy before the doors shut her inside.

<<<<>>>>

Crais shielded his eyes from the blast of starburst energy and held onto a nearby console. Talyn was moving under stress and his systems were showing signs of the emotion. Something peacekeepers weren’t supposed to have. “Talyn, is officer Sun safely aboard?” He knew the answer in less than a microt. The ex-captain could sense her presence. Aeryn Sun was back on Talyn and she was headed for command.

She waved her hand over the door controls and stepped inside. This place had taken on a horrible new meaning for her ever since John had died. Everywhere she looked, Aeryn saw another distant and happy memory. Every one of those brought all the pain and confusion back with it. She didn’t want to be here but it somehow seemed like a better option than returning to Moya. Aeryn saw Crais standing by the front portal.

“Are you alright Aeryn?” Crais seemed genuinely concerned about her. Then again, he knew nothing of what had transpired on Moya and the commerce planet.

She wondered if it would make a difference in his mind. Would Crais question her loyalty? Aeryn ran her hands over the controls and sighed. She was running away again wasn’t she? It seemed like the best thing to do. “I’m fine Crais.”

Bialar looked over at her and shook his head. This was not the Aeryn Sun that he had grown to know and respect. There was something different about her. A slump in her shoulders, the distant look in her eyes. “Is there something wrong? Talyn can sense your discomfort.”

Aeryn smiled at the notion that the ship was concerned about her. After Crichton, it had been her chief concern for almost two cycles now. Maybe she could rearrange that. Maybe it would make the pain harder to bear. “I need to ask you something.”

Crais frowned. He wasn’t sure how to respond. “Go on.”

Aeryn took a deep breath and walked towards him. “Does the offer still stand?” ***

“Moya!” Pilot forced back the pain and focused on what had just happened. One microt he had Aeryn up on the screen. Her ship was spinning wildly out of control and heading towards Talyn. Then nothing. The leviathan hybrid had starburst and Moya wasn’t letting him go alone. “Where is officer sun?” Pilot repeated the question. Moya didn’t have an answer.

“She went out there?” Rygel shook his head angrily and floated closer to the console. “Serves her right for what she did.” The little Hynerion stiffened his lower lip and nodded. He remembered what Chiana had let slip.

“Rygel, this is hardly the time-.” Pilot stopped in mid-sentence. Somehow he didn’t think that Rygel was talking about the incident in the training room. “What did Aeryn do?”

The floating Dominar smiled and leaned in close to Pilot. “I heard she turned Crichton over to the peacekeepers. That she helped torture him before he got away.” That wasn’t actually what he had heard. But it was always fun to exaggerate.

“That’s preposterous! Aeryn Sun would never do that.” Despite his conviction, Pilot’s words lacked strength. A lot of things had happened in the past few weeks that he would never have expected to. “I don’t think.”

Rygel saw that he was gaining ground with the creature. “Well, if she’s alive, you can ask her yourself.” He turned and headed for the door. All this turmoil. It reminded him of play acting back at the Royal Palace. “Splendid.”

Pilot watched him go with a new pain inside him. He couldn’t bring himself to believe what the Hynerion had said. But it was still troubling to hear. “No Moya, I can’t imagine it either.”

<<<<>>>>

“Do you think she did it on purpose?” Chiana looked over at D’Argo with a mischievous grin on her face. “Aeryn was pretty angry when you two left without her.”

D’Argo growled as he turned towards the young Nebari. A similar thought had passed through his head, but it didn’t seem likely. Aeryn had never been that dramatic. “Either way, she got the desired affect.” The Luxan slammed his fist down on the table. “Women!”

“Oh, shut up.” Chiana left her seat and walked over next to him. “You’re just mad cause she took your new toy.” She saw that D’Argo wasn’t responding to her remark. Then again, anger didn’t hide very well on his face.

He ignored Chiana and stood to leave the room. John had run off after hearing what happened. For all his supposed stubbornness, the human was quick to forget what Aeryn Sun had done to him. “Frell, Crichton. You’re hopeless.”

Chiana laughed out loud and patted him on the back. “On that at least, we agree.”

<<<<>>>>

He sat against the Terrace’s smooth surface and watched the blue starburst energy flow by. Every once and a while, John thought he caught a glimpse of a star through the blinding light. That probably had some deeper meaning that he wasn’t considering. “Frell.” The word just reminded him of Aeryn. “Frell that too.” John reached down and pulled his pant leg up. The space around his wound was still purple and sore.

“You shouldn’t be exerting yourself.” Jool walked slowly into the room and sat down across from him. She had been hiding in her quarters during the attack. Her hands were still shaking a little. “John? Did you hear me?”

Crichton raised a hand to show that he had heard. He didn’t really feel like talking but it felt good to have someone there. That someone always used to be-. “Hey Jool. It’s safe to come out now.”

Jool frowned at his joke. “I wasn’t hiding. Don’t change the subject.” There wasn’t exactly a subject but she was hoping to steer the conversation that way. Frell, hardly a cycle on this ship and she nosier than Rygel.

“What was the subject?” John wasn’t going to do her job for her. He managed a weak smile but kept his eyes on the space outside. Direct eye contact was too much to ask right now.

“Which one are you hoping for?”

That comment caused John to turn around. He stared at Jool’s feet like a wounded dog. “Which what?

Jool nodded. “Whether Aeryn’s alive or if she’s gone.” She saw the immediate change in the human’s face. He looked conflicted. She was happy to see that. Revenge was such a barbaric notion. Even if she herself had indulged in it from time to time.

“You’re very annoying. Do you know that?” John tried to keep a straight face but it quickly slipped into a smile.

“That’s because I don’t waste time with dren.” Jool wasn’t joking.

“Then what are you doing here?” Neither was John.

<<<<>>>>

“Aeryn, are you sure about this?” Crais had understood what she had meant immediately. Though the ex-captain hadn’t been made aware of the circumstances, he knew enough to see that Aeryn was willing to commit. Even if it wasn’t in her best interests.

“No, so don’t waste time.” Aeryn kept her responses short and without emotion. She stared at Crais and realized that she liked him even less than before. John had never liked him. “What does Talyn say?”

The leviathan hybrid came to life at her words. Apparently Talyn was eager to have her plugged in again. Truthfully, he could sense something was wrong with Aeryn. Talyn remembered everything that had happened in the past half-cycle. The human, Crichton, he had come and gone. Crichton had taken something from Aeryn. Something that Talyn didn’t understand. The gun ship didn’t care. He wanted Aeryn.

“Talyn is eager to have you.” Crais waited for the nod that did eventually come. The uncertainty in Aeryn’s voice still worried him though. The last thing that Talyn needed was an emotional breakdown. For the moment, Bialar allowed himself to forget what was best. He agreed with Talyn. He wanted Aeryn.

One of the control consoles lit up and extended a small cannister. Inside sat the black transponder that Aeryn had rejected after the Budong. That memory was still stuck firmly in Talyn’s mind. It made this moment even more triumphant. “Talyn has offered you this. Take it Aeryn.”

Aeryn stepped forward and looked down at the small device. She remembered how it had felt to be part of such a beautiful creation. “I will take it.” The ex-peacekeeper reached out with an unsteady hand and took the transponder. Talyn began to tremble slightly. That along with the turbulence of starburst made Aeryn stumble. She did not fall.

Crais saw her hesitation and shook his head. His frelling conscience was actually nagging at him. “Are you sure this is the right decision?”

She looked up at Crais. The look in her eyes seemed to shout no but Aeryn ignored it. “Not the right decision. My only choice.” She pulled her hair up and jammed the transponder into place. Every light on Talyn went out. Aeryn screamed.

<<<<>>>>

“Crichton!” Pilot shouted the human’s name with all his strength. Pain erupted from every orifice of his body. DRD’s all around the ship stopped dead in their tracks. Moya rolled to the side and exploded out of starburst. Pilot’s head sunk down against the console and he tasted blood in his mouth. “Talyn is-.”

John ran into the den and jumped onto the console. He had heard Pilot’s cries and come running immediately. Whatever had just happened, it didn’t look good. “Pilot? What the hell happened?” Another blast rocked the console and sent him flying back to the ground.

“Talyn is firing on us!” Pilot spit the words out along with some nasty green stuff. He could hear Moya screaming from all directions. She didn’t know what had happened but her offspring kept repeating one name. “Crichton!”

“Crais! What the frell is going on?” John wasn’t sure if the comms would work but he couldn’t think of anything else. Static noise came out of the device but nothing else. Things were probably going bad there too. “Crais, answer me you-!” John stopped himself and turned back to Pilot. Chewing out the good captain wasn’t going to do any good.

Pilot managed to reach one of the controls in front of him. An image came up between him and the waiting human. Talyn was shaking wildly and firing his cannon in all directions. Unfortunately, Moya was the only target within range. “Crichton, he’s calling your name.”

John didn’t understand what that meant. “What did I do to Talyn?”

Before either of them could say anything else, the assault ceased. Talyn stopped firing and returned to a stationary orbit. Pilot spit out some more gunk and then looked up at John. “I believe Aeryn is on Talyn.”

Crichton’s shoulders slumped a little. “Well, that explains it.”

<<<<>>>>

Talyn’s command room was still bathed in darkness. Consoles began to turn on one by one. The dim light cast a strange orange glow. Aeryn tasted blood in her mouth and spit it out. She must not have been lying on the floor because the warm liquid didn’t go anywhere. “What the frell just happened?” Aeryn wasn’t addressing the question to anyone in particular. No one answered her.

“Talyn, are you alright?” Crais lifted himself off the ground and steadied himself against a console. He closed his eyes and saw everything again. That was because the leviathan was running it over and over. Neither ship nor captain could explain what they had seen. A burst of images had appeared in their mind’s eye. Aeryn and Crichton.

Both Aeryn and Crais looked up as Talyn began to turn all the lights on again. The strange pulses that signified his voice began to sound. Aeryn didn’t get anything from her transponder. The ex-captain was hearing just fine.

“Officer Sun, what was that?” Bialar asked the question sternly. There was no hint of concern in his voice. It was an exchange between captain and soldier.

Aeryn stared in disbelief at the man who had, just moments ago, welcomed her on board. The look in his eyes was one she recognized well. He had worn the same look when Velorek was taken away, kicking and screaming. But there was no hint of approval this time. Only disgust. “It’s none of your concern.”

Crais sneered at her. “When you took that transponder Aeryn, you gave up your right to privacy. Talyn doesn’t understand the meaning of the word.” That got a response out of the gun ship before he could continue. “Forgive me Talyn. I was simply making a point.”

“Talyn, you needn’t worry about this. Crichton isn’t an issue any longer.” The words stung coming out of her mouth. It was what Aeryn had been trying to accomplish in the first place. Clearly, running away wasn’t that easy.

Shaking his head, Crais stepped forward and faced Aeryn. They were no more than a few inches apart. Interestingly enough, there was no discomfort. Whatever awkwardness might have been there before had disappeared. “Betrayal is a concept that Talyn is quite familiar with. He did not expect it from you.”

Aeryn pushed him back angrily. “Who are you to judge me? You’re no one to speak high mindedly about betrayal.” She stopped short of saying anything else. The auto-defenses had been triggered when she pushed Crais. They were aimed at her.

“As interesting as that debate could be, Aeryn, it makes no difference to Talyn.” Crais reached out with his hand and ripped the transponder off her neck. Aeryn never moved. “We are not a refuge for the emotionally disturbed. Perhaps you are mistaking us for Moya.”

Aeryn didn’t speak a word throughout his speech. Whatever resolve she had held onto was quickly draining away. She couldn’t hide from John here. “I’m sorry Talyn.” Aeryn had said that a lot lately.

“As soon as it is safe to do so, you should leave.” Crais backed away from her and moved to leave the room. He wondered if this anger came more from him than Talyn. Either way, Aeryn Sun couldn’t stay on board. He left her standing there. With Talyn.

Aeryn had only been standing there a microt when the voice filled her thoughts. The transponder was gone but it didn’t make a difference. Talyn was still there with her. “Yes, I said you couldn’t understand.” She felt foolish about that now. The leviathan hybrid knew more than he let on. One of the control consoles lit up in front of her.

“What are you showing me?” Aeryn stepped forward to get a better look. The screen showed her and John lying together in their room. He had been teaching her to speak English. Another screen lit up. It showed a short-range scan photo of the Crichton on Moya. He was standing next to Pilot. His eyes looked sad. “You’re confused?”

Talyn didn’t answer her right away. Both images moved until they were side by side on the monitor. A series of words and figures appeared underneath them. Aeryn understood what he was showing her. “Biological match.”

<<<<>>>>

John watched quietly as Pilot went about fixing what had happened. Dozens of DRD’s scurried by his feet in a frenzy of cleanup duties. The human had a question on the tip of his tongue. The same one that had come up after the sudden attack. Somehow, John couldn’t bring himself to ask then. It wasn’t getting any easier. “Hey Pilot.”

The creature looked up and attempted a smile. His face still showed signs of the pain that had gone through Moya. “Yes Crichton?” After all this time, he still referred to John by his last name. It just seemed more appropriate.

“Moya have any idea what happened to Talyn?” It was an indirect way of getting to what he really wanted to know. Surely Pilot could see right through it. John hoped that he would.

Pilot nodded and pushed some buttons on his console. “Apparently, there was some sort of power surge. Moya cannot discern from what.” The creature knew how this game was played. “Actually, I-.” Something stopped him. “There’s a message coming in from Talyn.”

John felt the air in his lungs dissipate. But he couldn’t let himself hope that it was Aeryn. The human reminded himself of all that had happened. The beating, the stabbing. It was awful and horribly inexcusable. It made sense. “You’ll let me know what it says?” John headed for the door.

“Commander, It’s for you.”

<<<<>>>>

The farscape module still flew like a dream after all this time. It felt good to be riding the ole hunk of junk again. Something that John had helped built. Something from home. He replayed the message in his head on the way to Talyn. John had been more than a little surprised to see Crais. Yet it was somehow preferable to getting a goodbye note from Aeryn.

“John, this is foolish.”

He hadn’t said that. “Not now Harv.” The voice was quieted.

The message had been short and sweet. Crais had appeared on the screen and asked John to come over. There was no mention of why. What else could it be? John wasn’t sure why, but he felt uneasy about boarding Talyn. It wasn’t just the obvious reason either. Visiting the other John’s and Aeryn’s playground was bad enough. He didn’t feel safe there.

Talyn’s hangar doors slid open and allowed the module to enter without incident. In side by side comparison, John suddenly felt very small. He parked beside D’Argo’s ship and jumped onto the hard ground. A red and black DRD scurried up to him and blinked its lights.

“I’m watching you.” John shook the willies off himself and passed by the little creature. He refused to turn around. It was probably still sitting there.

“Crichton, please come to command.” Crais’s voice boomed over Talyn’s speaker system. The sound was grainy and distorted but John didn’t seem to mind. That voice was unmistakable.

“Fine. Now where the hell is command?” Baby Talyn had gotten bigger in the last half-cycle.

<<<<>>>>

John passed his hand over the door control and watched it light up. “Definitely art nouveau.” He waited for the door to swish open and then entered the room. It was empty save for Talyn’s familiar humming neural core. The red and white ceiling above John’s head flashed and whirred as he passed under it. “Hello? Anybody home?”

Something by the forward portal caught his eye. A little black object was sitting on the floor. John didn’t know what it was but there was something familiar about it. “What do we have here?” He reached for it but was immediately cut off.

“Don’t touch that.” Crais’s image appeared on the screen in front of him. The warning repeated over and over without change. The ex-captain’s face rippled as the picture succumbed to distortion.

“What the hell?” John suddenly realized what was going on. Talyn had sent the message, not Crais. He pulled out his pulse pistol and looked around. Still nothing. The auto-guns weren’t even out. They were tucked safely into the wall. John looked down at the black object again. As he watched, a long black arm came out of the floor and grabbed the object.

“The hand of friendship?” He remembered what Aeryn had described all that time ago. Somehow, John didn’t think that Talyn wanted to be best friends. He aimed his gun at it.

“John, don’t.”

He turned around and spotted Aeryn. She had been hiding in the shadows, watching him. “Aeryn? What the hell is going on?” John knew what was going on. He had expected it. Wanted it even.

There was no gun in her holster. Aeryn was dressed simply in her leather pants and vest. Nowhere to hide a weapon. Nothing that posed a threat. She took a step towards him. Her hands were shaking. “I asked Talyn to bring you here. I was hoping you’d stay. We could talk.”

No sound penetrated the room’s silence for several microts. Not even Talyn was making noises at this point. John and Aeryn stood facing each other.

John’s hands felt ice cold to the touch. “There are a lot of reasons why I shouldn’t.”

Aeryn nodded. Her lower lip was trembling. “There are a lot of reasons.

Neither of them moved.

***