Summary: This is a post-“Fractures” episode addition. An unlikely voice steps up in support of Crichton’s plan.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Farscape or it’s characters.

***

“We choose our own path. This one is mine. I’m going to the command carrier. I’m going to stop Scorpius.”

There was no response from the others as they all contemplated his words.

Finally, it was D’Argo who spoke first, “John, can you give us some time alone to discuss this?”

Pausing for a moment to look at him, “No problem, big guy. I’ll be in command.” He then strode out of Pilot’s den.

No one said anything for several microts. Chiana was the first to break the silence. “Well, I for one won’t go on this insane mission of his. And I don’t think you should either.” She pointed in the direction of Aeryn and Crais. At this point she jumped down off of Pilot’s console and began again with a new intensity. “Frell him and his farbot plans. He’s only going to get himself killed...again.”

She began pacing frantically in front of the others. She stopped in front of Aeryn. Looking at her with a pained expression, “You of all people should be against this idea. Do you want to lose this Crichton as well?”

At this last statement, Aeryn stiffened and turned to leave.

“Wait, Aeryn. We need to discuss this,” D’Argo added hastily, before she could leave.

“What is there to discuss. I’m not going and that’s final,” continued Chiana. “And to be honest I don’t think we should let Crichton go either. Let’s lock him up if we have to. Before he gets himself killed like the other one. Dren, even this Crichton already died once on us...” Chiana trailed off, as Aeryn slowly turned around.

“What do you mean this Crichton already died once on us?” Aeryn asked this quietly and with a slight hint of menace.

“Um...,” Chiana looked hesitantly at D’Argo, who had his head bowed in shame. “Well, when we were separated, we...uh...ran into a little trouble and Crichton died. But, only for a little while.” This last part was added hastily.

This answer did not seem to please Aeryn, even though there was no emotion on her face, except for a tightening around the eyes. It was Jool who ended the tension in the room.

“Well, I’m with Chiana. I’m not going. I want to live. And she’s right, we should lock him up until he becomes reasonable.”

“We are not locking Crichton up,” growled D’Argo.

“Why is he doing this,” Chiana said with tears forming in her eyes. “I don’t want to lose him. He was the first person who ever showed me one bit of kindness and never asked for anything in return. Without Nerri...he’s been like a...,” D’Argo moved to put his arm around her, but she batted him away and screamed at no one and everyone. “Why? Why does he want to do this? WHY?”

“Because, John Crichton is a hero,” Rygel said solemnly, but loud enough for everyone to hear. All eyes in the room turned to look at the small Hynerian who was nestled behind Pilot’s console. The diminutive Dominar had a faraway look in his eyes and he continued to speak as if to no one in particular.

“John Crichton is a hero. He is possibly the first hero the Uncharted Territories has ever known. As a young one, I read many tales of valiant and courageous heroes. They were fabled beings, who could defeat any opponent and protected the weak from the tyranny of villains. They did what they did not for accolades or rewards. But, because that is who they were. They could no more not be a hero, then I could not be a Hynerian.”

While all continued to stare at Rygel in quiet surprise, the small deposed Dominar seemed to grow in stature. He floated his throne sled over Pilot’s console and came to hover in the middle of the gathered crews of Moya and Talyn.

“As I grew older and gained knowledge of the workings of the universe, I realized that heroes didn’t exist. That the heroic figures from the tales of my youth were fools.” At this point, Rygel grew quiet and continued on in a sad tone. “I remember my mother telling me, ‘It is the true hero that walks away and let’s another die for worthless causes.’ She said if I was to be Dominar, I must look out for myself and no one else.” Here he stopped and slowly looked at his friends one by one.

“Ryg, Crichton cannot defeat a command carrier. He will fail and die,” Chiana said this in the most respectful tone any had ever heard the Nebari use when speaking to their Hynerian shipmate.

Rygel was quiet for a moment as he looked at Chiana and then he surprised everyone again by laughing. “My young thief, has there been anything Crichton has not been able to accomplish once he’s set his mind to it.” While his laughter ebbed away, there was still the glint of humor in his eyes. “That deficient human comes from a planet with no interstellar travel, they have barely explored their own solar system, and they are a primitive species in every way. He has poor eyesight, abominable hearing, practically no sense of smell, and is genetically inferior to all of us. And yet, despite all of this, he has become the most wanted criminal in the Uncharted and Charted Territories. He is hunted by the Peacekeepers, Scarrens, Nebari, and a dozen other races. Under his leadership, we have destroyed a Gammack base, a Shadow Depository, and survived death more times than even luck can account for.

“He has been shot, stabbed, tortured, driven insane, survived space without a space suit, kicked, beaten, burned, bombed, twinned, and frozen as a statue. Crichton has a survival instinct like none I’ve ever seen or even heard about. There is no doubt in my mind that he will survive. The only question is whether the universe will survive?”

All were now attentively watching Rygel as he paused for a moment. Even Aeryn, with her new constantly stoic expression, had turned to listen to him and appeared to soften to his words. The crew was impressed with Rygel’s words, but was surprised as his features hardened.

“Crichton has saved each of our lives countless times and has given his friendship to us and asked nothing in return. And despite his generosity, the only two people who have volunteered to help him is the woman he loves, who won’t even look him in the face,” Aeryn noticeably straighten at this, “And the Peacekeeper, who during the first cycle of Crichton’s time here, caused him much misery.” Crais’ expression was difficult to gauge as he stood next to Aeryn. He appeared sad and honored at the same time, if that was possible.

“I have no illusions about what kind of life I’ve led and what type of being I am. I am deceptive, conceited, manipulative, and every act and decision I’ve made in my life has been because it has suited my own self interest.” He paused, expelled a great breath and slowly moved his throne sled to hover next to Aeryn and Crais.

“John Crichton is my friend. I never had a true friend until I came aboard Moya. He is a hero. I will stand with him and fight Scorpius and the Peacekeepers. And maybe one day, I will be called a hero.”

***

“And then what happened,” the young one asked his grandfather.

“Oh, you know what happened,” smiled the old Hynerian. “I’ve told you that story at least a hundred times. John Crichton, our Dominar, and their friends went on to defeat the evil Scorpius and the Peacekeepers. And they had many more adventures after that, that one small band of rebels and outlaws brought freedom to the galaxy. Now it’s time for you to go to bed, little one.”

“Okay, grandfather,” sighed the child. “Wait, before you turn out the lights, who was the next one to stand beside our Dominar, Aeryn Sun, and Captain Crais?”

Smiling patiently at his grandson, “After Dominar Rygel the XVI’s moving speech, it was Chiana who next agreed to help John Crichton and stood next to our Dominar. She looked at him and said, ‘I guess size doesn’t matter’. They say that whenever John Crichton heard what the Nebari had said, he would laugh uncontrollably. Hero that he was, all the stories say he was an odd one.

“Now, to sleep with you and tomorrow I will tell you the romantic tale of John Crichton and Aeryn Sun. The universe’s greatest love story ever.”