Agent Fox Mulder (i_want_2) wrote in multi_fiction, @ 2009-01-17 15:35:00 |
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Entry tags: | farscape, het, rated: explicit, slash |
Fic: Julon Crion: Memory 1/7 Farscape
Julon Crion: Memory
By: Lopaka Tanu
Fandom: Farscape
Archive: Yes, just tell me where.
Disclaimer: I do not own Farscape.
E-mail: lopaka_tanu @ yahoo.com
Rating: R
Warnings: Violence, Character Death, Trans species, Angst mentions of Mpreg but none in it.
Beta: None so be warned.
Category: After 4:06 AU Slash and Het.
Coupling: John/OMN, John/Chiana, John/Nerri, TJohn/Aeryn, others.
Challenge:
9. Eavesdropping - whether accidentally or otherwise, your character
overhears part of a conversation... Whatever it is that your character
overhears... how will he react?
Author's Note: Spoilers for like a whole lot of the series, set directly after Promises, episode 4:05 and episode 4:06 only some biology facts about Nebari, John being able to predict wormholes, and D'argo as captain, the rest of that frelling episode does not exist. No matter what happens, this is not the last part in the series, there will be more.
Summary: In the wake of the most devestating events since the sacrifice of Talyn with his Captain, Bilar Crais, the remaining crew of Moya grieve for their lost friend and family. Believing the worst has happened, Chiana makes a decision on an offer Nerri has made. After this decision, the crew of Moya proceed with their plans toward Hynerian space. Peace Keeper territory; the Sebacean armies are preparing for war as the armadas of three other species line up on their borders. In the midst of all this chaos, a revelation is made that will rock the foundation of all that they have been lead to believe. On an alien world, a Nebari awakens. All events have a purpose, a meaning for being. All have been leading to a single moment in time, a second that will be remembered for mellinia, the death of John Crichton.
Key Words: Nebari, Slash, Hybrid, Royal Planet
Story Note: Each *** is in a different time. An example of this would be that what is happening with Crichton does not happen at the same time as with Chiana. They will not match up until the next part.
Lyrics: "Banks of Claudy" by Loreena McKennitt.
________________________________________
Part 3 - A
"How far have you to travel
This dark and dreary night?"
"I'm in search of a faithless young man.
Johnny is his name.
And along the Banks of Claudy
I'm told he does remain."
"This is the Banks of Claudy
Fair maid where on you stand.
But don't depend on Johnny
For he's a false young man.
Oh don't depend on Johnny
For he'll not meet you here."
"Banks of Claudy." by Loreena McKennitt.
"On the borders of Kell space, there are four squads of Scarran ships. It appears the intel. on their fleet positions was lacking. To correct this under sightedness, I have dispatched four Command Carriers to search for further movements."
"Very good, Commadant. How do your other projects fare?" The gray haired Sebacean gave an appraising look to her subordinate.
Mele-on Grayza bowed her head in silent acknowledgment of the compliment. "Project Oseridus is showing positive results. We should know in the next few days if the children will survive. Since our unfortunate inability to gain the crown on the royal planets, our technology in this area is extremely limited."
Dolsana nodded once. "Yes, it has been a great defeat that the Royal planet should fall from our hands for yet another generation. What does this make for you?"
"My fifth attempt," was the curt reply.
"Five times in as many hundred cycles, what has gone wrong?"
"Jenavian Chato, she was a weak member of your species. I warned you and the other members of Supreme Council not to place such a delicate mission in her hands, but you over ruled my judgement." Her voice never left the faintly amused tone, but carried an undercurrent of leathal promise.
"It is true, our sights were not as broad as yours." Dolsana waited until Mele-on felt smug about her superiority before continuing. "But unlike you, we have not failed four previous chances. As you can recall, only you were around during the last Supreme Council's rein."
"I recall quite well. I also seem to remember their actions too cost us the victory. We all know what happened to them for crossing the Royals. This was the closest we have come in all my five hundred sixty cycles, and your operative obliterated it."
"Yes, it was our fault this time. Perhaps next time?"
"No!"
"No?" Dolsana's eyebrows raised over the remark.
"There will be no next time. I am through using your pathetic disrupters for tasks they are not qualified for." Mele-on turned to face the three quarter century old Peace Keeper Councilor. "No, this time we do it my way. We can not afford not to."
A sobered woman now replaced the seventy-five cycle old councilor. "What do you mean?"
"I am talking about Scorpius, his mission has failed. I am talking about the Scarrans, they want results. Your bumbling attempts have created lapses in both areas. That ends as of this moment." There was a throat cleared at the entrance to the large private gardens. "Good, bring him in."
Three men ushered in a small purple being with six fingered hands. Closely following them was Scorpius and Aeryn.
"What is this?"
"This, Councilor, is an Avarian." She gestured towards the purple alien. "They rival the Diagnosians in their medical abilities." Slowly she walked towards the trembling figure. "What makes this one most important is not what he does, but who he did it to." One of her hands snaked down to cup his chin and make him look at her face. "Tell us what you know of the one who calls himself John Crichton."
He shook with fear. "I... I don't know any John Crichton."
"Then any variations of the name he might have been using."
He nodded as his eyes seemed to loose focus. "Crion, Julon, other known aliases, John. Species, Nebari. Alies: Ka D'Argo, Male Luxan Warrior. Chiana, Female Nebari Runner. Noranti Pralatog, Female Traskin Herbalist. Sikozu, Female Kalish. Dominar Rygel the Sixteenth, Male Hynerian Deposed Ruler of The Hynerian Empire. Condition: Virulant strain of Recombinant DNA. Treatment: Healing of damage done to immune system by Transpeciel Mutation. Side effects: Subject is now more than ninety-eight percent Nebari, brain tissue mutation causing memory loss that may prove permanent, and host subject now with child."
Silence settled, with the force of a super nova, upon the room. For the first time in recalled history, Mele-on's face was a look of pure shock. Her eyes narrowed soon after as she glared at the trembling healer. "Explain, now." The calm, cold voice made all in the clearing take a step back.
He nodded emphatically as he swallowed. "It is the side effects of the virus' attack on his DNA. For unknown reasons it mutated his genetic structure on the molecular level, he is now almost completely Nebari. Almost all traces of his own personality will have been either expunged or assimilated. Even if he did survive the child birth, he will be completely brain dead." When the Commandant started towards him, he backed away. "I am sorry, but the damage was already done. I did what I could, but it was too late. By now, his condition will have already degraded to a point where he can not survive with-out machine support."
Mele-on snatched him up by his left hand and held him at face level. "That is not what I meant! My questioning was that a viral agent does not cause pregnancies in a species where there are two clearly defined sexes!"
The doctor flinched again. "Not normally."
"What do you mean, not normally?" She dropped him as if burned, rubbing her hand against a guard's uniform.
"His DNA profile is not normal, from what I gather. Until four cycles ago no one was even aware of his species. There is no set standards for his people, we do not know how he would react to anything much less the side effects of a virus of this nature."
Aeryn stepped forward standing at attention in front of the irate Commandant. "If I may, I have information on his species that might prove invaluable."
"Proceed."
"His people, like any logical race, are based on two different sexes, but there is a third sex inherent in a percentage of their population. This percent is growing with each hundred cycles. The Nebari also have this group in their own species, they call them Androgens. John's people call them Hermaphrodites." All eyes were on her with disbelief.
"What is the purpose of these beings," Dolsana asked Mele-on.
"I have no idea, until now I was not aware of such a being in any species, aside from Nebari."
"They have no purpose as far as John knows. They are believed to be abnormalities created during gestation."
"Fascinating!" The purple doctor was studying Aeryn as she finished speaking. "Do you know if they can reproduce?"
"That is what I wondered. According to him, they have no problem conceiving or siring a child as long as they have the correct genitalia"
"That explains so much." He smiled at his audience. "I mean if his people had the capability to reproduce in such a manner, then it is entirely possible for him to have changed and done just that. What I do not understand is how the child was conceived with completely alien DNA. In this case, Nebari DNA was used to conceive and produce a child.
"The child contained three strands of Nebari DNA, two fathers and a mother. The young female Nebari was the mother, the first father was identified by the Luxan and later verified by Julon. However that still leaves the mystery of who the last and final father is. At first I thought it was Julon himself, as it matched a large part of his new DNA, but I was corrected by his friends. Any ideas on whom it might be?"
All eyes turned to Aeryn expectantly. "I have no idea. Until two hundred microts ago I was unaware how much of a tralk he truly was."
Scorpius, who was all but forgotten at this point, spoke the next question. "How is it possible for him to be a Nebari? We understand how he became this... Hermaphrodite, but not a Nebari."
"Yes, that is the question." The doctor twiddled his fingers for a moment. "The best I can think of is the Virus reacted to an immunity and the Nebari DNA already present in his system which acted as a catalytic agent."
"Then where did he get an immunity to this virus? As far as we know, only the Nebari were the ones with the cure, and of those, only members of the establishment, controlling members." Mele-on's question was met with silence. "Then it appears we have yet another mystery on our hands. In light of recent news, I believe it best that Officer Sun be monitored closely. Scorpius, I assume since there may be a chance that the worm hole knowledge is lost even to John, that you will wish to pursue your other project?"
"You are correct, my research is almost complete."
"Then see that you do not fail." A small throat cleared behind her, causing Mele-on to turn and face the doctor. "What is it?"
"Am I still to be terminated?"
"No, you still have other uses. You know more than any other what the capabilities of this new John Crichton are. For now you will work with our other scientists on this project and make sure that Officer's Sun's child is unharmed by this development."
Nodding, "as you wish."
She stalked out of the garden with the guards on her heels leaving the others to talk among themselves.
****************************************
His eyes opened to the world around him as the voices continued to rise in volume. They were talking about him, saying things he couldn't make out. There was something wrong about them, like he knew most of them, but they were different. Sighing, he decided sleep was better than introspection.
"We can not let it continue," a man called out, angry in his words and actions.
"It is not for us to decide, his fate is his own." A sweet voice, John new her well.
"This matters not. All that is, shall be, all that was, will be again."
"But we have no right!"
The man nodded solemnly. "True that may be, but it is no longer his choice."
"It is always a choice, whether it be his fate, or theirs, there is always a choice. That choice is his; not ours, theirs, or anyone else's. It is his choice, and he must make it alone." Her voice was filled with sadness as she spoke.
"We can not permit him to make the wrong choice."
"There is no wrong choice, his goals may not be the same as yours. So what you may perceive as right may be his wrong. This is his decision, all we can do is present the facts as they are."
"Very well, but no distortion of the truth on your part." The Ancient known as Jack spoke to her.
"Nor yours," said Zhaan.
"Agreed, let it begin!"
At the finish of his statement, the lights in the room dimmed. John laid alone in the bed, his head shaking from side to side as he fought off the feeling of nausea. "Did anyone get the number of that worm hole? Man, I thought after giving birth this shit would stop." A cool hand touched his forehead and trailed down to cup his cheek.
"Dear John, you always were so naive."
"Blue?"
"I'm here, John."
"What's goin on, how come I can't see you?" Suddenly a brilliant blue form glowed in to life. "Whoa, cool! What's with the christmas tree effects, babe? I mean, I know you are a plant and all, but..." Her laughter stopped him flat. "I miss this."
"As do I, my friend. But we have no time for this. I am here for a specific reason." Her friendly face took on a picture of regret.
"I'm dying, aren't I?"
"Yes, your body wasn't meant to suffer the shock of child birth, much less a change so drastic." Tears welled up in her eyes. "There is nothing I can do, John, I'm sorry."
He reached a hand up to touch the tear tracks on her face. "It's okay, blue, we all die."
"It is not okay, John," she admonished. "You have a choice to make."
"Of what, heaven or hell, cause I gotta tell you, I am not to up on eternal damnation part?"
"As a matter of fact, yes."
"Figures. I choose heaven." He took in her pensive look as she turned away. "What? What is it, Zhaan?"
"I'm afraid it's not that simple. There are other things to consider, things you may not want to see."
John rolled his eyes as he gave a deep sigh. "Why am I not surprised?"
"You must not be so flippant about it." When he seemed a chastised, she gave him a perplexed look. "Perhaps you can tell me something first?"
"Yeah, you got it, shoot."
"Why Julon Crion?"
"I needed something that sounded phonetically like my name, but with enough difference that no one would spot the obvious lie. Sides, too lazy to come up with something original." He smiled at Zhaan's infectious giggle.
A few feet away, the pilot sat with his arms on the controls. "Hang on, buddy. We will take good care of you. Doc says not to let you die until he had a chance to get a look at you first." He snorted when the alien spoke another incoherent bit of speech. "You and me both, brother, you and me both." Looking at his copilot, he raised an eyebrow.
Jim shrugged. "He is speaking too fast for me to understand. It keeps coming and going. I think it has something to do with that injection that robot gave me."
Red looked back at John. "Speakin of them Robots, where'd they go?"
Jim looked back. "Damn it! Did you tell IASA about 'em?"
"Nope, you?"
"Nope."
"What Robots?"
"That is what I'm thinkin."
****************************************
All was quiet in the central chamber as the crew of Moya ate their food, those that could eat, were. Chiana had refused to touch anything besides the stash of rasilak that was hidden away. Whenever the others approached her, a low string of curses followed by a near violent end to their existence as she fired Wynona at them was her only reaction.
Nerri was the only one allowed with in a metra of her. Even then he was not allowed with in touching range. He knew it must change and soon, they were all going to die if they did not. There was nothing he could do for the others, but he could at least save her. All he had to do was find a way to inform her of his offer. His chance came when she had passed out from her tenth drunken induced coma.
He had removed her weapon's power cartridge, and forced her to eat something while she was still in a daze after waking up. The others had sat there and watched as she lay in his arms, unmoving or seeing.
D'Argo and Rygel had been discussing possible locations with Pilot of where Eliss could have ended up. So far all searches turned up negative. There were hundreds of possibilities for their search, but D'Argo vowed he would not give up until he found their missing crew member. The fact that John had made a conscious decision to leave them did not factor in. It was simply a matter of finding and convincing him that he had been wrong.
Through all their goings on, Sikozu had listened to their mindless searches and questions. She was beginning to wonder the logic at having remained on board this ship. It was hard being here when even the Pilot hated your existence. There was no logic to them, no clear line of command, they were a group of complete chaos. And with-out the Human to act as heart, mind, and soul to these pathetic refugees, their lives had lost all purpose. It truly was a sad day when even she felt a loss over the Human. That meant her assignment was over, and she had a report to make for the Organization.
"Chiana I've been thinking, and I came up with something that can take your mind off the pain." She gave no acknowledgment of his words. "My people have been in contact, and I have told them about you. They are willing to give you a try, that is if you are interested in helping our cause."
He sighed as she continued to accept the broth he was feeding her. There were worse things in your life than to lose those you cared about most. He had learned that the hard way when the resistance forced him to abandon her. Therefore he could grasp a little of what she was going through. It was not an easy thought process, but he needed to get to her or else he may lose her again, only this time forever.
"Chiana, you have to say something, at least tell me to frell off!" Trying to distract himself, he focused his thought on other things. "What in hezmana is that smell?" Following his nose, he came down to the bowl he was feeding Chiana from. "By Grenax, why didn't you tell me this stuff smelled so bad? No wonder you are completely farhbot, smells like shratta dren. What in it could cause such a stench?"
Chiana started laughing as he finished speaking. Her sides shook so hard that Nerri feared she was having a siezzure. When her whispering laugh reached the ears of the others, all were silent in their workings.
"What is so funny, have you finally lost what little mind you had left?" Rygel moved his throne sled in front of them. "Well spit it out." The next instant he was covered in the broth, and Chiana was laughing harder. "What in the name of all the Hynerian gods has gotten in to you?"
"The broth," she wheezed out. "Noranti's broth."
"What about that Traskin witch?" D'Argo was standing at her side in an instant. "Did she do something to you, poison your broth?"
"No... John." Chiana was gasping between laughs. "She made him a broth."
"I saw her making it, did she poison him with something?"
Chiana shook her head as Sikozu spoke. "Something in the broth, she put something in the broth all pregnant Nebari need to carry a healthy baby. It was terrible, the smell could knock down a Scarran at fifty metras." Standing up, her body still shook from laughing.
"Well tell us already."
Chiana's laughs subsided to a small giggle as she rubbed the Dominar's ear. "Keep your pants on, your frogyness. She didn't poison him. She only added a few necessary... Nebari proteins."
"Where did she obtain these proteins?" Nerri was getting a sinking feeling in his chest.
"The only other male Nebari on board, where else, big brother?" She laughed as his mouth flapped in indignation. The others joined in with her as tears of stress ran down their cheeks. "Wrinkles was more than a little tinked in the end, but at times she was all right."
"Don't Chiana..."
"No, D'Argo, I have to. If I don't accept all of her, I can't forgive her. She doesn't deserve my scorn, she isn't worthy of it." Shaking off Nerri's arm, she stood and walked toward the cooler. "I'm hungry, what else we got in here?"
D'Argo and Rygel looked at one another as Chiana raided the cooler. His features asked a question as Rygel shook his head and looked away. "What ever you want, Chi."
"D'Argo, don't," her hand went up, stopping her search, "call me Chiana, no reminders, just don't." Facing him, she plastered on a calm continence. "I can't deal with it, not now or else I will go completely nuts." At the Human's word, she sobbed a little, then lowered her head. "Frell it all to Hezmana, I'll be in my cell!" Grabbing something from the cooler, she ran from the central chamber.
The others stood in silence for a moment before Rygel floated out, followed by D'Argo and Nerri. Sikozu waited a few moments before resuming eating her food cubes, it was that time of cycle again. The silence in the room suited her mood. She had failed in her goal, but succeeded in her mission. There would be a special commendation in the file for her, but she didn't care. As far as she was concerned, this was her last job. Finishing her meal, she walked out of the central chamber, thoughts focused on her final report to the Organization.
****************************************
Sitting in the middle of the scrolls, Jool's eyes kept darting back and forth between three of them laid open in front of her. Rubbing her eyes, she tried to believe what she saw. "This can't be right. There is no way this is possible, there's just no way!" Grabbing the scrolls up in her arms, she stood and headed for the exit. As she moved about the tables, she ran into one of the priests. "Excuse me."
"Did you find what you were looking for?"
"I think so, but I can't be sure, can you help me with this?" She took in his appearance, then shook her head, speaking the in unison, the same words as he. "You know I can not do that, I can only inspire, to do other wise would interfere with your development." She nodded at him. "Thanks, a real lot of help you lot have been."
He nodded at her in return with a big smile. "We are happy to serve."
"Yeah, well how about you serve by cleaning up this mess for me?"
"It is what we do."
"Thank you." Taking the three scrolls, she hastily made for the basement of the temple. She glanced from the scrolls to the walls, marking certain symbols on the prayer wheels to that of the scrolls. "I knew their was a pattern, the key is finding the right path."
Behind her in one of the darkened halls stood three priests. "She learns fast."
"As it is so meant."
"Do you think she will solve it today, I grow weary of waiting."
The first two priests smiled at the third. "Patience, we have been waiting a long time. What is another day or cycle in the grand scheme of things?"
"At this late in the developments, it could mean the end of it all, and not for the better."
"Calm yourself. She has time." Sounds of agreement from the other two were all that were heard before they disappeared in the shadows like specters.
****************************************
"What in hezmana is this?" The young Nebari female Runner wrinkled her nose at the sight of John as he was brought in to the transport area with them. "Couldn't they have tossed it out with the rest of the dren?" Several of the other Nebari in the group made noises of agreement.
"You will remain silent, he is in need of our assistance." A well dressed Nebari Guide kneeled beside John's stretcher. He placed a hand along the side of his neck, taking the pulse. "He is alive, barely, but alive. Seeker, please help me to..." In the next instant the Nebari male was shoved aside and the butt of the rifle shoved in his stomach.
"Keep back, you. We don't need your kind catching whatever this one has." The female sebacean glared at him as she took aim with her weapon.
The guide narrowed his eyes at the Sebacean female. "You have already contaminated us, Peace Keeper. Any further measures of quarantine on your part are a sign of further ignorance. Allow me to at least ease his suffering, or prove what we have known all along about your barbaric species."
She hit him again. "That is for speaking that gibberish." When the others of the same group of Nebari started toward her, she turned her weapon on them. "Un uh, I can kill all of you in an instant, just try it, I dare you."
"Medraht venu, Sebacean Tralk!" A younger Nebari from the seekers was silenced as a hand was laid on her shoulder.
Snickers came from the runners as the Human woman glared at them. "Esot westa, Tralk?" Laughter filled the transport bay.
"It will do you no good to continue taunting her. Her ignorance is clear to us all. These Sebaceans are primitive, even more so than your allies the Peace Keepers. I would suggest staying out of the way of this one, her temperament is extremely violent."
"Thanks for stating the obvious, rek licker!" The female runner grabbed herself then spat at John which earned her a butt in the stomach from the Human's rifle.
"Damn aliens keep up with this shit and I will have all your asses spaced!" To prove her point she kneed the female runner in the face.
"That is enough lieutenant! Touch the aliens again, and I will have *your* ass in a sling." A new Sebeceanoid came into the transport bay. He was followed by six armed men and women. "The first aliens we have ever encountered and you are already causing an interplanetary war. How fucking dumb are you?"
"They're just fucking test subjects, sir!" She smirked as the Nebari started to hurl curses at her in their language again. "You know the IASA is going to make sure none of them ever see the light of day again." She nudged John with her boot. "Starting with this one. As it is, the only experiment he is going to be going through is an autopsy."
"We'll see about that. In the mean while, I want you to report to the waste treatment compartment. There you will be given your new assignment, they have been bitching about needing a new flusher."
The Lieutenant's face screamed murder when she saluted and turned to go. As she walked near the stretcher where the fallen alien was laying, she kicked out a foot at him. Instead of her intended goal, she was pushed off balance and fell on her face. The lieutenant came up growling, looking for the culpret. When the guards trained their weapons on her, she stormed out of the transport bay.
The Guide inclined his head towards the human. "Kei geishe."
"You're welcome. What is your name or official designation or whatever your kind call themselves," as an after thought, "mine is Captain Jim Flaningin?"
An amused look adorned the Guide's features. "I am Guide Resoh of the Nebari Empire."
"So you are a Nebari?"
Resoh nodded once as he spoke. "You can understand me?"
"We Humans aren't as dumb as some would have you believe. Sorry about the Lieutenant, she will be properly punished."
"Humen?"
Jim snorted as he shook his head no. "Hu-man, it is pronounced Hu-man. Yep, from good old planet Earth. We will be going there just as soon as they finish getting the shuttles prepped."
"Then you are not Sebacean?" Resoh glanced at his people with a look that silenced all questions they might of had.
"Not that I know of, what is a Sebacean?"
"They are similar to your species, remarkably similar. Most belong to a military power called Peace Keepers. A short tempered race with a penchant for violence and mass destruction. Aside from their physical appearance, which is identical to your own from what is visible, they have a terrible intolerance to heat. Sends them in to a comatose state known as the living death." He inclined his head as he looked at Jim. "Does your species have problems tolerating heat?"
"Are you kidding? Most of my people thrive in temperatures upwards of ninety degrees." Jim smiled as he seemed to be lost in memory. "In fact, this station is chilly compared to what we are used to."
"Then that rules out the possibility of you being Sebacean. They would be having trouble focusing in this temperature, any higher and they would become incoherently mad." He made a clicking sound with his tongue. "Extremely volatile creatures, even more so when the madness of living death starts to set in. Their allies are even more destructive, or else they would not be allies. Never trust a Peace Keeper, they will turn on you in an instant if they see a better position to get what they want."
"And what is it exactly that they want?" Jim swallowed as the Nebari looked him over like a prized stallion.
"That is a matter of debate." He smiled a bit then gracefully nodded towards the glaring runners. "With them, it is to aid in our downfall so that they might prevent the inevitable. The same can be said for many other races of the Uncharted Territories. However it varies from race to race. As a whole, the Peace Keepers want total dominion of the Universe. We know they can't, so they will take what you already have instead."
Snorting, Jim followed Resoh's look to the runners. "Sounds like a few bullies I knew when I was a kid."
"Bullies?"
"Yeah, you know, like them Peace Keepers you mentioned. They take what everybody else has because they can. Usually it is because they are too dumb to figure things out on their own and they misplace their anger on those weaker than themselves. Other times they are just plain old mean and need a good ass kicking to set them strait."
"Ah, yes, then we understand each other on these things."
"Yeah, I guess so. What about your people here, why are they so divided?"
Resoh paused for a moment in his gestures toward the runners, then continued on with using his hands to send visual signals to his people. "We are divided into two groups. Those who work with our governing body in order to maintain stability and cooperation. Then there are those who disagree with our system and methods." He pointed a hand towards the runners in a display fashion. "Hence those that are referred to as Runners. We were attempting to retrieve our wayward siblings when our ships were pulled into a transpatial anomaly."
"A worm hole?"
Silence filled the bay as they stopped all gestures and attempts at communications. All eyes were on John in an instant.
Resoh was the first to brake the shock. "You are aware of such things?"
"More than you know, bud. What is goin on here? Where am I, who are you people?" The Nebari moved to his side to hold him down as he tried to sit up. "What the hell?"
"I am afraid you are still too ill to be up. If you are to live, you must remain in a resting position." He continued to hold John down until he stopped struggling. "There, now stay that way. We can talk all you want as long as you do."
"I wanna know what is goin on here."
"Of course." Resoh pointed to himself. "I am Guide Resoh of the Nebari Empire. This is my acquaintance Captain Jim of the Humans. Do you know who you are?"
"The name's Julon, Julon Crion." A half smirk. "At least that is what the voices tell me."
"Is there more that you can tell us about yourself?"
"Yeah, the voices say I am dying, but I get to choose which I go to." John rolled his eyes as he yawned. "Go figure the dead. Oh well, see you on the flip side." A moment more and he was unconscious again.
"Well, that was certainly informative." Jim held up his hands in submission when Resoh narrowed his eyes. "Hey, just sarcasm."
"We can certainly do with-out any of that."
"Fine, but good luck finding a human that doesn't use it."
Sighing, Resoh stood and returned back to his people. "I fear, then, that this is going to be a rather long and tedious mission." There was a loud grinding sound followed by the shaking of the transportation bay.
Jim turned towards the hanger bay doors as they started to open. After a moment, he bowed to the cursing female Nebari Runner. "I believe your broom has arrived, my lady."
"Get frelled!" She snarled at him, but complied when the guards shoved her towards the hangar doors with the rest of her group.
Two more jump suited guards walked in and picked up John's stretcher then carried him towards the doors. Following after him, the Nebari retrieval squad walked with their heads held high and a pleasant smile on their lips. Jim shook his head and followed them out as his armed escort pushed him forward.
****************************************
The door to her cell opened letting the light filter in. Chiana squinted as she backed against the wall. "Go away!"
The black haired head slowly appeared in the light. "Come on, Chiana, you can't stay in here forever."
"I will stay wherever the frell I want! Now leave me alone!"
Nerri sighed as he moved more into the door way. "Will you at least listen to my offer?"
"It won't matter, it won't bring him back." She shook her head to clear the fog. "Nothing matters anymore. It was all for nothing."
"Chiana, you can't waste away in here, I won't let you! Now get off your ema and do something." There was nothing that would get him in faster than making her angry. This way he might have a chance of her listening to him, at least before she tore him to pieces.
"Won't let me? You can't stop me! I will do what I frelling please, and you have no control over it." She snorted at her own thoughts. "I could starburst out my ema, and the only thing you could do was admire the pretty lights." After another few microts, she went still again.
"You are going to listen to me." When she did not move to hurt him, he decided to be bolder and move in closer, but slowly. "I am not going to hurt you, Chiana, I only want to talk. We have to talk, you need to get this out of you and start to grieve. Then move on with your life." There was no sign that she heard him. "Please, sister, talk to me, I miss you."
"Two monens."
He was shocked at the change in topic. "What about it?"
"She turned two monens today. M'lila, my daughter, is now two monens old." She whispered her words with a flat, emotionless voice.
"I didn't realize..."
"No one does. They are too self involved to care about such trivial things." This time anger filled her voice. "I am sick of them and their self serving dren. It was that way before Crichton left. That is why he left, to get away from them."
"I know this, you have told me this a hundred times. There is something..."
"And I will tell you a hundred more! I will keep telling you until you listen to me! I am not the little Nebari you left to fend for herself, Nerri. I have grown these past six cycles." She stood as if to prove her point. "You can't tell me what to do anymore, Nerri! I won't stay behind this time!"
"That is why I came here. I have a deal to offer you."
"A deal to offer me? I might need to check your ear for a cooling rod, you are starting to sound like Scorpy." She tilted her head to the side as she looked at him.
"Scorpy? Chiana, focus here, on me! I am offering you something..." Nerri grabbed her arms, but let go when she pulled her pystol on him.
"Speaking of Scorpy, did you know he and that treacherous Tralk Aeryn Sun were lovers? Yeah, she was pregnant before she left. All that time John thought she was carrying his kid. We should've known! Now she is off with some kid of hers, and I am stuck here in this dark cell with a bottle of Razlac mourning not only the loss of my best friend, but also my only child.
"At first I didn't want her, too afraid to mess up with her. I thought that I couldn't handle a little girl of my own. After a while I kinda got used to the idea, and started thinking, may be having a kid wouldn't be so bad. Then it came to me that I would have Crichton there to help, and he loves the little mongers." She turned away. "But I never got that chance. I saw her there in my arms, and I knew with-out a doubt I would give my life for her. But I never got the chance." She bit back a sob of grief. "Do you know what it is like to find yourself loving something so much, coming so close to true happiness, and then having it snatched out of your arms," she napped her fingers, "like that?"
"Every day of my life." Nerri pulled her back to his chest. "Every day I mourn the loss of our family, our parents, you." He heaved a great sigh as he bent his head forward to lean on her shoulder. "I know what it is like to loose the most important thing in my life. This is not the first time we have lost those we cherish, nor will it be the last."
"Well I can't do it anymore." She sagged in his arms as grief surged forward again. "I can't, Nerri, I can't. It hurts too much."
"You have to! That is not a request, and before you say anything, as your big brother, I have the right to order you around."
"Some big brother!"
"I deserve that, I know. Just let it out, Chiana." He rocked her gently as she screamed out. "We will get through this."
"No," she shook her head in denial. "I can't."
"Yes!" He gripped her arms tightly. "Let go of it!" After a while, he let her sink to her knees, but did not let go. "Rest Chiana, we can talk later." And she did.
****************************************
"It can't be!" He rubbed his eyes with four of his twelve fingers. It couldn't be possible. The Avarian doctor stared back down at the problem through the eye pieces on the genetic sequencer. It was impossible, but the evidence to the contrary was staring back at him. Sighing with fear, he sat back on his stool and prepared the tests to run again.
"What can't be?" The smooth voice sent a thrill of terror up the Avarian's spine. "Have you come across something that endangers my offspring?"
"Na.... no Scorpius. It is nothing, just an error in the test. I am running a na... new test now."
Scorpius moved closer, laying a hand on the shaking being's shoulder. "Let me see what you have found, I may be able to clarify where your testing went wrong."
A look at the Hybrid, and the Avarian nodded. He jumped down from the stool and moved over to the farthest wall away from Scorpius.
Sighing at the cowering doctor, he bent forward to see what upset him. At first there was nothing remarkable about the DNA sample that he could find. Then he compared it with his memory of his own. The Scarran growl was met with the screams of the Avarian. "What is the meaning of this?"
The doctor shrieked again as Scorpius loomed over him. "I don't know what went wrong. It shouldn't have done that."
"What have you done?"
"Nothing, I did nothing, I swear. Those are samples taken from before I was even brought here."
"What is going on here? Why is my Avarian doing away from his work station?"
Scorpius turned on Grayza. "You did this!"
Her eyes narrowed as she moved closer. "I would be careful of what you accuse me of doing. Perhaps you care to explain to me what I have done before I have you punished for assaulting my crew."
"The Child! She is not mine!"
"Impossible, I checked her DNA myself."
He growled again as he pointed towards the genetic sequencer. "Examine for yourself the evidence of your work, Commandant!"
"Very well, Scorpius." All was quiet as she looked into the sequencer. "You are wrong, the child is very much yours."
"Impossible!"
"I suggest you compare your DNA samples again, Avarian." She turned to Scorpius. "As for you Commander, I have had about all I can tolerate of your primitive ways. If you can not control a simple Scarran urge, then you are not fit to command, much less be a Peace Keeper. Control is what separates us from them, Commander. We have it, they don't. You must remember your training, or else relinquish control of your crew. We are at war, and our leaders must remain strong at all costs."
Scorpius glared at the Avarian once more before nodding at Grayza. "Explain to me why there is no Scarran DNA in the sample."
"It is very simple, Commander." She made a gesture towards the sequencer, motioning him forward. "If you will study this sample, I will show you what no other has seen in over twelve thousand cycles."
As he moved towards the machine, he froze at her words. "What do you mean?"
"It is very simple, Scorpius. Please examine the samples."
He bent forward and did as instructed. As he watched the samples changed before his eyes. "What is this? There are two samples here."
"Yes, Scorpius, two samples, both from Aeryn. What does this usually signify?"
He stood at attention. "Twins!"
"Very good, now examine the twin to the sample you looked at a moment ago." She smiled as he scowled but did as was told. "As you see, there is nothing to be upset about. Both of your offspring are in good health, and shall remain that way."
"How is this possible? Sebaceans can not produce more than a single offspring during pregnancy." He continued to study the DNA samples. "One is Sebacean, the other is Scarran, both pure."
"Yes, that is the mystery to me as well. We have been so far unable to discern how it came about. We believe it to be the work of the third parent, but there is no evidence of his DNA in the mixture."
"John Crichton, the Human enigma." Scropius released an amused growl. "It seems our mutual interest has left yet another mystery for us to solve."
"Indeed, but rest assured, we will solve this one." Her tone turned deadly as she froze the doctor with her stare. "Won't we, my little Avarian."
Nodding, he swallowed. "Yes, Commandant." As he went back to his business, the other two walked from his lab talking.
"Another thought has occurred to me, Commandant. What other effects can we expect from Crichton's DNA?"
"I know not, Scorpius. We have no further samples, as the Carrier they were stored upon came under attack by an unknown alien presence. My lab and equipment not stored here was destroyed, that includes the unborn hybrids incubating in the growth cylinders." Her voice went flat as she spoke. "Now on to the reason I came for you. There is a new assignment for you, and a fleet of fifteen Command Carriers awaiting a leader."
"Ah, that explains the lecture on self control." He smiled at her smirk.
"Partially, yes. I wish to keep him loyal to me, alone. That is very hard to do if you damage him beyond working status." A moment of silent laughter and she sobered again. "Your task is to retrieve Princess Katralla from the Royal Planet with all their biological technology, including any samples of Crichton's DNA stored in their labs. Stop at nothing until you have what I want. You may do with the Empress as you wish, I hear you and she have unresolved issues."
"Yes, Empress Novia has been a hindrance on our work for more cycles than I care to remember. It will be a great pleasure to finally have her at my mercy."
"Take care not to upset the Royal court too much, we need their resources for the war with the Scarrans and their allies." They walked through the red and black corridors until they came out in a large glassed over observation deck. Mele-on gestured to the open expanse in front of them. "There they are, the pride of the fleet."
Scorpius' eyes went wide as he looked out on them. "I have never seen such."
"They are the prototypes of the new fleet. U-tech has been working on them for over sixteen cycles." The smile of pride was evident in her voice. "Your project was the final piece in their design."
"Singularity cannons?"
"Each ship is equipped with ten such cannons. They take a larger power supply than frag cannons, thus the greater size of the ships. Their speed is twice that of previous Command Carriers, and they have a few other surprises that the Scarrans have yet to know." She turned him to face her, a deadly serious look on her face. "These ships have taken the resources of ten worlds, and two million Peace Keepers. Do not make me regret your appointment to Fleet Commander."
"What does the council have to say on this?"
"They are in total agreement with my decisions." A moment's pause. "Those that had opposed me in the past are now silent. This is a war of more than control of a Galaxy, it is about survival. Who ever wields the power, lives. We both know the consequences of surrender to the Scarrans. I will leave you to it then, I still have a few projects of my own."
As she walked away, his eyes watched her movements, saving every piece of information he could. She was not the only one with other projects. Unlike hers, his could wait, after all, he had time. For now, he had an entire fleet to ready for battle.
****************************************
The dark figures shuffled around in the shadows as he came aware of his surroundings. John sat on a rock by a creek, a piece of long yellow grass sticking out from between his front teeth. The worn overalls and the straw hat his only clothes. As he looked about, the shadows slowly lit up in the morning light. A clearing in the middle of an old growth forest was filled with stumps and rocks others were sitting on around him.
"Okay, when did heaven become a swamp?"
"As I have told you, John, we are not in this heaven, we are in your mind." Zhaan's voice carried a musical tone as she whispered in his ear.
Crichton backed away slowly looking at her. "Kinda close, ain't ya, Miss Matty?"
"I am a part of you, John, always will be." She stood up from the rock and walked around to stand in front of him to offer him her hand. "Come, it is time."
"Time for what?" He stood, the tears in the knees and ankles of his overalls allowing easy movement. As he adjusted himself in the overalls, pulling the wedgie out, he started to laugh as the images came to him. "I'm Tom Sawyer."
"Yes, you are Tom Sawyer, and I am Rebecca of Sunny Brook Farm. Now lets go."
He laughed again as he followed her towards a large stone with a group of people sitting on it. "No, it is Becky, but you were close. So Blue, what's up? Why is it so important that I decide?"
"The fate of more than your life hangs in the balance, John. You must listen to what we have to say, and then you must decide. I can tell you no more than what you already know, but that is enough." She gave him a serene smile. "Fear not, dear John. It will work out in the end, have faith in the Goddess and she will not lead you a stray."
He nodded as she finished, it made since in that weird Zhaan kinda way. "Okay, lets get the show on the road. Who is first in the game, John Crichton, this was your life?"
"We will all have a say in it. But you are right, someone must go first." She sighed to herself. "It is your decision who speaks, and who fades away permanently, always was, always will be."
"Hunh." This was news to him. So this was really his head. Looking around, things were a lot more orderly than he had thought. The light was not early morning but late evening, and the clearing was not so much a clearing, as a clear-cutting.
Trees had been here once, he could tell from the stumps and the tore up ground around him. The creek was not as clear as he thought, most of the water was dark, and there was less of it. The trees that remained, were fading in their former glory as most hung limp, no leaves for their branches. The grass around his feet was turning brown, and the smell of decay was in the air.
"Okay, enough with the metaphors already, I know I am dying."
Zhaan gave him an amused look. "We are doing nothing, John, this is your mind. There is no hope for this place, the serenity here is set for death, all that is left is to let go."
"Then why am I here? If all I have to do is die, then why am I here to listen to all you dead people?"
"That is up to you, we are here to give you advice. You know why you are here."
"Then tell me for fucks sake, why?"
"There is no need to get mad. Look with-in John, you already know this." She reached up a hand to cup his face. "Crichton, you are not foolish, merely stubborn. Open your mind to the possibilities, and it will come, you will see."
"I don't want to."
"Why not."
"Cause I'm afraid to die." Tilting his head, he shook it. "No, not afraid, more like not ready. I'm not through, there is so much to do, so much to experience."
"None of that matters, John, they are simply pleasures that come with a price. That price has come too high, and too often, now you can no longer maintain the strain of living." He looked away as his eyes filled with tears. "You know I am right."
"Then why tell me? If it is too late for me, then why tell me?"
She looked away. "It is not yet time for that. You will know when it is, though. Then you must decide, heaven or hell."
He waited in silence as she continued to look away. "So what, am I to just listen to a bunch of dead guys talk about... stuff, and decide if I would rather spend the rest of eternity in heaven or hell?"
"In it's base essence, that is the truest form of what is going on."
"Fine, lets get this show on the road."
"You must choose, John."
"Okay, I get. Choose John, choose John, choose John. You are starting to sound like a broken record, Zhaan." When she looked like she was going to ask, he held up a hand. "Just, don't, suffice to say it is a device we recorded voices on to play back later for personal use. Got?"
She nodded.
"'Kay, good, now we are getting somewhere." He looked around the clearing at all the many faces, some he recognized, others were a complete mystery. "Who are all these people?"
"All who have touched your life at one time or another. This is what is left of them, most are dead, but few live still in other parts of the universe." Zhaan gestured to the group with an expanding gesture. "Most have been brought to you by others, such as Stark and myself, through joinings of the mind and spirit."
"Okay, got that, now who do I want to listen to?" Turning around in the dry grass, he stopped upon the first recognizable face. "Captain Bilar Craise, I choose you." Suddenly they were back on the rocks in the center, John was on the center rock, higher than the others. Zhaan was on a lower rock to his right, Jack was on his left at the same level, and Craise was in front of him on a rock mid height between the two levels. "Okay, this is weird. So what do we do now, you try and snatch the pebble from my hand grasshopper?"
"I have no intention of attempting anything with you, John Crichton. I will tell you what I came here for, and then leave you in peace. Or rest in peace as the case might be."
"Hey, you kicked the bucket first, pal, so enough with the lame ass dead jokes."
"This is not the time nor the place to hurl insults. Make your peace or pick a new speaker." Jack's controlled tone made John take note of the angry alien for the first time.
"What in hell are you doing here?"
"I am the mediator. Whatever happens, I am to keep the order. If something goes against the rules set, I am to remove it. Zhaan is here to keep you balanced, and grounded on the subject. Do not interfere with either of our tasks or this will be over, and you will be forced to choose regardless of the outcome."
"Great, what are the rules?"
"You are not to argue with the speaker. You are to let it happen, do not fight the sequence. There is to be only one speaker at a time, if you have a question of them, direct it to Zhaan. If you have a fault with the speaker, direct it to myself. You are not to speak to the speaker directly or the session is over. Three times you do this and you will be forced to make the decision. Are these understood?"
"Not entirely, but I will make do as we go along. Get to it."
Jack nodded, then faced Craise. "Captain Bilar Craise, former Peace Keeper, and a member of the Sebacean species. What have you to tell us?"
Craise looked at each one for a moment then let his gaze settle on John. "I wish to begin with the truth. John Crichton killed my brother, and for that, I will never forgive him."
John felt the same old anger rise up in himself, but a cooling hand from Zhaan let him know to keep it to himself until it was over. This was going to be harder than he thought. What in hell could be so important that they put him through this? Never being one to runaway from the strange, he decided to give the trial, hearing... whatever the hell it was, a chance.
****************************************
Rygel floated into command, his throne sled the only sound heard above the whisper of Moya's systems. There was something different to him, almost as if it was wrong. He couldn't put his royal finger on it, and that bothered him. For the next five hundred microts he tried to figure it out. Nothing had come to him by the time D'Argo entered command an arn later.
"What in Hezmana are you doing up at this hour, Rygel? Pilot said he would alert us the moment something entered his sense horizons."
"You may be Captain, but that does not mean you are my father. I still decide when I retire for an evening." Rygel turned his throne sled to face the Luxan.
"You're right, I am just a little preoccupied, I shouldn't have..."
"That is enough, what the yotz has gotten your mivonks in a bind?" His anger made D'Argo look at him for the first time since entering command.
"It is nothing."
"Fine, save your rot for yourself, just don't take it out on me."
"That is not what I meant. I mean I can't explain it. Every time I try to come up what is bothering me, I come up blank. It is like... something is off. There is a balance, and we are out of that."
Nodding, Rygel floated closer to the command console, examing the readings. "I too have felt this. It is what brought me here. Perhaps Pilot knows?"
"Good thinking, Pilot?"
The image of Pilot appeared on the clam shell. "Yes, Ka D'Argo?"
"Are you picking up any anomolous readings? Any space or time distortions?"
"I am checking now." A pause. "There is nothing on any of Moya's senses. However that does not mean there is not. I suggest using the scanning devices Commander Crighton created to scan for worm holes. They have proven to be more effective than anything Moya has."
"Thank you, Pilot, we'll try that." D'Argo's tone spoke the exact opposite.
"It is nothing, we are happy to be of service." His image winked out as Rygel and D'Argo shared a look.
"I think I figured out what is wrong, it is too frelling quiet."
"Agreed." D'Argo watched as Rygel floated towards the exit. "You don't think we will find him, do you?"
"It is not a matter of thinking, it is what we all know. The sooner we stop lying to ourselves, the sooner we can begin to grieve."
"I will never believe him dead."
"Beliving a lie won't bring him back, and it serves only to harm those that are left."
Slamming his hand into the central console, D'Argo began shouting. "Who is left for it to upset? First Zhaan, then my son, followed by Crais and Talyn. As if it wasn't enough we had Scorpius, Aeryn, and Noranti's betrayals all in time to watch the birth and death of John and Chiana's child. Now there is John's death, there is no one left!" Rygel's gasp made him growl in anger. "What is it now?"
"You finally admit it."
"What... I do not!"
"You did, and there is someone else left, one you had not considered in all this. Chi-an-a! Does she mean nothing to you, you heartless son of Hezmot?"
"What about her?"
By now, Rygel was glaring at the stubborn Luxan. "What about her? Have you even stopped to consider what your actions have meant to her this whole time? Giving her false hope for something that you have admited will never happen. You are doing nothing that a good captain should, you are letting your own selfish desires bias your judgement."
"We are heading to your world, if any one is selfish..."
"But you have not stopped your search, have you?"
"No, because there still may be a chance that he had survived!"
Rygel shook his head. "No, not this time. His luck has run out. Even we, the more evolved species never had as much, good or bad. But like all good things, this has come too an end, and so must your futile search."
"Why are you set against the belief that he might be alive?"
"As a Dominar, you learn when it is a hopeless situation and when to give in to the truth. This is both, you are either too ignorant, or too stubborn to acknowledge it, and it is going to get us killed. Those of us that are left, that is."
"You are only interested in getting your throne back!"
"Oh, very nice come back, superior Luxan warrior, perhaps you can state something else we all know? Like Moya is a Leviathan, or we all live in a former Peace Keeper Prison vessel? Hmmm?"
D'Argo started towards him. "You had better watch what you say!"
"Or what? You are going to take even longer to reach my home? It is not as if you have better things to do!"
"I might!"
"Oh, yes, pine after a dead alien and search for that ungrateful tuwatte of a son. Why don't you settle down with a nice female and start a new family. You are of age, are you not?"
"That is of none of your concern! We will continue on this course till we reach your people and then you are on your own, your eminance!" He clutched his hands tight to slow the spread of the Hyper Rage. "If I see you other than when is necissary, I will not be held responcible for my actions!" After a final growl at his pint sized nemisses, he stormed out of command.
Rygel watched him go with a dispassionate air, but when the door closed, he shrunk back in his chair, visiblly wilting from his emotions. "I will miss you too, my friend." Moving the throne closer to the forward view port, he raised his hand in a regal fashion. "May whatever gods that watch over us all, guide you to your deserved rest, John Crichton wherever you may be, alive or dead."