InsaneJournal

Fic: Julon Crion: Memory 6/7 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.

________________________________________________________

Someone was humming, or at least it felt like they were. It didn't make sense, how could she feel humming, it was a sound. It would have to be more than screaming in order for her to feel it. This was a sensation of contentment. Almost as if...

Jool's eyes opened as she sat up. There was no one in the chamber now. Wait, there was movement on the other side of the now solid pillar, the golden light-energy was gone. Deep inside she felt a sadness, as if someone she knew was gone.

"Are you going to lay there all day?"

That warm voice, she knew it from somewhere. It was the one that had been humming a moment ago. "Who are you?"

The woman laughed slow and at ease with herself. "It is not important who I am, but what."

"I asked you a question."

"Then I shall answer. After all, that is why you are here."

Jool walked over to her slowly. The woman had gilded orange hair, her eyes a bright blue. Her skin resembled that of any one of her own race. "Who are you? You look Sebacean, but different."

"We once looked this way, but that was a very long time ago. Then again, we were never this solid. That is until most of my people were bound to this form through a mask." She saw enlightenment dawn in Jool's eyes. "Yes, as you now know, I am a member of the same race as Stark, Banics. We took this shape as a pleasing form of amusement. To interact with other species who rightfully believed us their deities. We learned long ago that not only could we feel new sensations as corporeal beings, we could also reproduce." She laughed long at this, a merriment that made Jool's skin tingle with warmth. "In answer to your question, my name is Kahleen, the last of the Banic race."

"But you still seek answers, to questions you have not asked. Very well, I shall endever to explain to the best of my ability." She held out a hand to Jool, which she accepted and took a seat beside the Banic female. "There were once millions of my people, always in either corporeal or energy form. Until we took corporeal form longer than the time it was necissary to deal with another race, we had no idea what reproducing was. At first we thought we were dying, those who became pregnant were stuck in coporeal form. Then when the first child was born a miracle to us. Can you imagine what it was like for a species where no new beings had been since the dawn of their race?

"When we realized what it was, there was much celebration. Many of us wanted to experience this new life. That was when our enemies came, they took those of us pregnant or with children and bound us to a mask. Very few of us had never had a child, there fore, very few us escaped. Of those that escaped, a mere handful, only I survived the loneliness of isolation from my people. I traveled the stars from planet to planet in this form, searching for people like my own. There was only one race I ever met that was like mine, the Ancients."

Kahleen held up her hands in display of the chamber. "This is the place they built for me. A place where I could summon those that I needed to call my people home. It has been countless ages, and yet only one has returned. That one came because of his love for people who learned of me from old interactions before this chamber was built. He tells me that there are very few of our people left, and of those, almost none, if any, of them, Strykira."

Jool's eyes started to tear up as she felt the emotions of the ancient being. "I am sorry."

Kahleen put a hand on her wrist. "It isn't your fault, dear one. Time and the stress it brings are to blame for most. Others, like my beloved Stark, suffered so badly from the years of slavery they have simply surrendered to the call of death. Here in my chamber, I was seperated from that, for we are all sensitive to the ebb and flow of life. Now he is here and I can finally rest and rejoice."

Jool smiled at the pleasure. "I hate to sound as if your pain doesn't matter, but what does this all mean for me?"

There was a moment of silence as Kahleen sat looking off into nothing. "I explained only what I was, and wanted. But there is more to it than that. You see, with the Ancients, you never get anything for free. They wanted something, something only a Strykira and a Banic could give them. They wanted me to ease a being's suffering, but not allow him to die. To make him something more. For that I needed a physical link beyond this chamber, a corporeal version of my people. Also this link needed to be bound to his soul, and have intimate knowledge of him.

"Stark was all this, and more. In the time he disappeared from your crew, he took with him knowledge from the duplicate Crichton. Following the siren's call of his lost beloved, he was given the task to gain more knowledge of Crichton. He met up with and scanned the memories of other beings, those who held emotional ties to Crichton. Finally, with the help of the Ancients, he was given knowledge of a lover. All was necissary for the plans of the Ancients."

She gripped Jool's hand. "My people weren't the only ones who were dying. There were other great races that had gone beyond the threshold, and were staring death in the face. Three of these came together and decided to create a future. Many steps were necissary to create those that could successfully breed and hopefully repopulate their dying races. If not, to at least be their legacy." Standing, Kahleen let go of Jools hand, and walked over to lean against the pillar.

"Their first attempts were wildly unsuccessful. Creating a race like the Scarrans was almost the exact opposite of what they wanted. But they could no more kill their creations, than themselves. So they started again. This time, they used DNA similar to that of my own. Sebaceans were created on six worlds, each a different labratory if you will. Crichton's people have a saying about chicken's eggs and baskets."

"His people have many sayings. Yet, I know this, it is a wise phylosophy for such a primitive people."

"Yes, well the Ancients learned this from the Scarrans when one of the native plants caused a serious mutation in their DNA spoiling the entire crop. This also made them learn it would take more than one species to achieve their goals. You see when they attempted to combine all these traits necissary for their new mates, it ended rather badly. Mainly the Sebaceans destroyed one another in a war that claimed their original home worlds, and the base DNA strands from which they were created. So all new improvements on their DNA would come from outside the species. In order to allow this hybridization to occure smoothly, blood lines were established and breeding programs began.

"Another species was created, one they sought to make the companions of the Sebaceans. In them they hoped to create what the Sebacens lacked, a mental stability that would provide higher brain functions. That which allows greater copacity to learn. They have to be able to exist in this dimesion and the one your people inhabit. Unfortunately, this proved also an unstable factor and the species which resulted now is attempting to instill order through out the galaxy, the Nebari. It was then decided that yet another race was required to maintain a balance long enough that these races could mature to the point in which a merging would be possible."

"A policing force? Why would such a thing be necessary at that early in their development?"

"It was not so much a policing force that was necessary, but a guiding hand." Kahleen gave her a compasssionate smile. "This task fell to the Priests of Arnesk, the second race of the Ancient's aliance. They alone had the ability to do this. The other two races had kept low profiles since the beginning, one because they could not stay long outside their own dimension, the other because their appearance sparked too much of a fanatical following."

"As you know, there are many races that have been interfered with by older, more powerful ones. The Arnesk Priests had taken this to a level of what might be considered spiritualism. In essence, they believed it was their solomn duty to raise the enlightenment of other races to their standards and beyond. To that effect, it was the Arnesk priests that armed the Aylantian Peace Keepers."

Jool gasped at the name.

"I am not surprised you know the name. Most races would, or a version of it. They have been to almost every known world in the galaxy. An instrument of order, they were deadly in their enforcement. That is what made them so good at it. Other races learned that they were not afraid to use their power and were given to frequent demonstrations of it on races that over stepped their bounds. For five hundred generations they kept the peace through agressive tactics. Then disaster struck, and they were locked in a dimensional loop.

"In the time before this happened, two more races were created from the same genetic stock as the Nebari. These races were created for the same purpose with mildly different results. One was created for the mental stability that which the Nebari lacked. They were monitored by the priests and their enforcers. Your race was that. Because of this, your people lacked one thing which would create would allow the perfect species to be created. The lack of adaptability which inspires creativity. Whether it was your active monitoring or some genetic flaw, it didn't matter, you became only another part in a greater puzzle. Everything your people are is based upon something you have saw or learned from another race. Basically you are the universe's greatest imitators.

"So that is where the Humans come in. So much creativity and adaptability that they seem to be able to survive even death itself. They are litterally the glue for all species. Adaptibility is written in their genetics, any time you mix their DNA with that of another, it creates an almost pure copy of that alien. Allowing only those traits which are wanted to be bred into the next generation.

"This is where I was useful. John's part is not over just yet. He has still one more role to play, and I was to prepare him for it. The role of Julon Crion. Even as we speak, the pieces are being set in place for the grand finali. The merging of all these species into that one perfect race. The strength of the Scarrans, the agility of the Sebaceans, Nebari mental and physical complexity, Interon mental stability and memory, finally the Human adaptability." Kahleen smiled whistfully.

"It is a wonderful plan, pure genius. They had been waiting for a sign, something that had been over a million years in the making. Time has no meaning for those that can control worm holes. This was the sign, one who could create a worm hole, and replicate that success. When John came, it was confirmation of their plans success. They knew it was only a matter of time before it was needed, so they implanted that knowledge which he would know how to access. Then they dangled him like a lour for all those that could get them what they wanted. All they had to do was wait.

"Unfortunately, this was easier said then done. In the time those who enforced the peace were locked away, and three of their more powerful creations had made their own designs on the universe. The Sebaceans had taken the name of the enforcers for the fear it instilled in other races. The Scarrans had started a campaign to stomp out all weaker species and assimilate the stronger into their own to make themselves even more so. And finally the Nebari had begun experiments into technology that would make the Ancients run screaming.

"If the Humans were ever going to have a chance at surviving, they would have to start while they were still relatively unknown. The first step in doing this was to free the priests of Arnesk. So events were manipulated, you were brought into play. You had to act as their guide for the time they had been away. As you were, they sent someone else to Earth, those that could prepare it for what lies ahead. You were to discover the path of enlightenment while the other rose from his own ashes. Now he has."

When she stopped speaking this time, Jool knew she was finished. "I have done my part, and it has led me here. So now what am I supposed to do?"

"Now you have a choice."

"What choice?"

"You have learned everything you have ever sought. Now, the question is, what do you do?" Kahleen walked over to her. "What do you do? Do you grow old and die content in the knowledge that your life once made a difference? Or do you continue on in the service of the greater good?"

Jool looked away from the Banic and blinked. She had never condisdered what she would do if she ever learned it all. In fact, she had never thought of what it would be like. It wasn't what she expected. "I have no idea. Did you give this choice to Crichton?"

Kahleen looked away as she walked back to the pillar. "Uh, no actually, John Crichton is dead. His death was given meaning for he died for the cause. I crossed him over with the help of a few friends while you were resting."

"What?" Jool shot to her feet. "John Crichton is dead? But you said he still had a part to play."

"And he played it. He was given a choice, and he chose."

"What were his choices," she asked in anger. "Whether he would die slowly or painfully?"

"Close, his choices were to be left to die in peace where every part of him would simply cease to exist, or to continue on in another form for the service of the greater good. Wisely he chose to serve the greater good."

"But you just said he was dead."

"And he is."

"But he is alive."

"In a manner of speaking." Kahleen smiled as Jool watched her in confusion. "We all live in on some form or another. John was given the choice to live on in this form, or to die all together. His death, if he had chosen the latter, would have taken with it the lives of four unborn children, their mothers, and the life of a little baby girl. If he had chosen to stop existing, they would have died, because all were indanger of being killed. But his decision to let them live enabled the Ancients to act, and spare their existance. It was his decision, not ours. After all, he earned the right to make it."

Jool nodded. "Sounds like the Crichton I know. What does this decision mean for him personally?"

"It means he will live on, never to know the rest of true death, ever again." Jool was about to comment, but Kahleen spoke first. "Do not say it, for that is something you do not know. For some, death is the only peace they will ever know. And for John Crichton, death was only the next level of his hell. So choose, little Interon, will you serve, or will you simply wait to die?"

"How would I serve the greater good?"

"There will come a time when the Interon people will need a leader. One who knows what is going on beyond their own sheltered world. Will you be that one? Will you prepare your people for their destiny? Make no mistake, the future is coming, and they will be apart of it. If you take this offer, they will be ready, and when it comes, they can take their place in it."

Tears welled up in her eyes as she watched in confusion. She nodded once, and Kahleen touched her forehead. Jool fell to her knees, and was dead before she hit the ground.

Kahleen turned her hand over, palm up. Above it floated warm golden energy in the shape of a ball. "The builders will distribute your energy amoung your people, as they have done with countless others since the beginning. It was their knowledge of Genetics that allowed all this to be possible, my little Interon. With you to act as their guide, that perfect race can happen." Kahleen closed her eyes and the ball of energy disappeared in a white flash.

When she opened her eyes, the six figures were in their places amoung the benches. Just as Jool had first seen them. "She did not see you, as you wished, she is gone. Now keep your part of our deal, and set me free."

Kahaynu nodded his acsent. As did the Priest and solid white Sebaceanoid Aylantian. Jack stood up, his face flashing in anger at the other three, but kept his opinion private. "Very well, you have kept your part of the bargain. Now on to our part. What is left of your people are on the world of Daltron four. It is a slaver's coloney, there are six Strykira there, but no more. We shall not free them, if you wish that, you must do it on your own. Leave in your corporeal form, your Banic state will not allow travel from this place." He looked from Stark to Zhaan. "I thank you for your services, but I can not let Zhaan leave."

Stark stood, anger flashing in his one visible eye. "Why not? We have done as you asked."

"Please settle yourself, gentle Stark." Zhaan stood and faced him, placing a calming hand to his face. "It is not because they don't want to, but because they can't. My body no longer exists outside this place so I have no way to leave."

"But I need you."

"And you shall have me, but not in the way we both wish, I fear." She traced a path from his free eye to his lips with her fingers. "I will always be here when you have need of me."

"It's not fair!"

Jack laid a hand on Stark's shoulder. "Life isn't fair. I am but a child in my people's standards, but I can no longer leave this place either. Once, I was free to travel from world to world as long as I was in John's mind, but he is no longer, and so I am stuck here. You may come back as much as you wish, for as long as you want. As was our agreement."

Kahleen took Stark's free hand in her own and pulled gently. "Come, young one, I need you to guide me, then you can return to your beloved."

"But I don't want to go. I lost you once and I can't do it again." He held on Zhaan's hand. "Please, don't leave me."

"I shall not. You are needed once more, so go, and I will be here waiting for your return. To me it will be only but an instant til when next we meet." She released his face, and smiled. "Now go, the sooner you release the Goddess from her bonds, the sooner we can be reunited."

"I'll miss you..." Stark closed his eye as the tears stung. When he opened it, he placed back on his mask. "May the Goddess watch over you and guide you to your rest, gentle Joolushka." Gently he stroked Jool's face and eased her body to the floor of the chamber. Standing up, he looked around at the priests.

Dozens of Priests had gathered around as he released Jool's soul. "Look, his madness has abated."

"Then our work is done," said another.

"What has happened? Where is my Zhaan?"

One of the priests came forward, laying a hand on Stark's shoulder. "She is gone, as is the Goddess."

"But how.... I was just there, in the room!"

"You saw what you needed to see. You have said good bye, and allowed the Goddess to free herself." Said the Priest with his hand on Stark's shoulder. "We summoned you five days ago, your madness had been too severe for even our healers. Only the Goddess could set you free. She has, by letting you see what was left of your Zhaan."

"I don't understand, why do this to me?" Stark stood in anger, his eye flashing violently.

"It was necissary. Come with me and I will explain, they who are here will deal with that which remains." He started for the exit of the chamber, the same chamber Jool had started her jumps through. "Monens ago you went insane from your need of Zhaan. It was that event which allowed the Goddess to reach you. From her position in the other realm, that place where the ancients themselves dwell, the Goddess was able to cross Zhaan over. She would not have been able if she had died outside the worm hole. For a worm hole is an unstable event in space and time, that is how the Ancients and the Banics of before were able to take form in our Universe."

He waved a hand towards the walls of the cooridors. "This place acts as a door way to that dimension, but it is only the beginning, there are several relays, or jumping points, before one can reach the other side. Your madness allowed you to actively reach out with that side of your being that is still Banic. You did not need a gate way, for you were a gate way." When they reached another level, he looked over to make sure Stark was understanding him. "Good, at least I have not confused you yet."

"Now on with why you are here. Kahleen needed to be set free, long ago she had come to the Ancients from her loneliness and desperation. They created a place for her in their dimension, but she could not leave it once there. She had forgotten how to appear in Corporeal form, and only one of her people could show her that. Over the endless time she was there, many have come and gone seeking wisdom on that plain of existance, most noteably, the Delvians.

"When you traversed through the madness, you lit up like a homing beacon, and she loured you with your true heart's desire. Please forgive her for this, but our goddess and we were desperate. Joolushka had come, and her time was short. She had a destiny that she is now fofilling thanks in no small part to you. Five days ago we summoned you to our world so that you may physically complete that which would free both ladies from their prisons. Thanks to your efforts, the Banic race, your race, will once again live free of the masks. You should be proud of yourself, we are." He finished looking quite pleased with himself.

Stark grabbed the Priest and forced him to look him in the eye. "What of my deal with the Ancients? I did as they asked, I gathered the information from Crais, Aeryn, and the dead Nebari. I aided in the freeing of John's mind from his body! Where is my reward, where is my Zhaan," he screamed his question at the Priest.

"I am sorry, but you made no deal with the Ancients. It was all an illusion necissary for your and her benefits, only the exchange of words from the time Jool arrived were real. The Goddess had to be set free, it was our debt to her, but we owe you nothing. Yes, you gathered the information, and you helped free three very important beings, but you made no deal with anyone to do it." In the next instant the Priest screamed in pain, his body disolving in the orange glow from Stark's energy.

"I will not be toyed with. You will not use my heart to achieve your means! We are not illusions to be played in your games!" When he had killed the Priest, he turned on the others that had come from hearing the dead one's death cries. "I want what is owed me!" His energy grew from where he removed the mask. "Return my love to me, or you will all die!"

"Stark."

"Zhaan!" He looked around wildly for the sorce of the voice. "Where are you, Zhaan?"

"Stark," came the soft whisper again.

"I am coming, my love." Not seeing the priests, he put back on his mask and walked out.

They scattered as he dazedly walked out of the temple, back to his ship. One of the Priests spoke as he watched the ship leave. "You were warned not to mettle with forces you could not control. Why do you think they locked Kahleen away from the start? It was only the Delvians that restored her sanity by giving their own in return."

An older priest walked to the younger one's side, the only distinguishing in their features the paler colors that marked advanced age. "I thought he was sane enough for us to control."

"He was never insane, just too focused on his own grief."

"I have learned my lesson."

The first priest turned with a sad look. "Yes, but at the cost of your successor. There are few enough of us as it is, why must you take stupid risks?"

"It was worth it, we could not have completed this step with-out his help. Because Joolushka's knowledge of our plan, the Interons will now be able to take their place as the memories of our new species. Their children will be our future."

"It has been so long since I have seen a child." The first Priest had a whistful smile, when he turned back to the second, the old priest had disappeared.

**************************************************************

"How does Officer Sun fare?" Commandant Mele-on Grayza walked into the room demanding a reply. Her presense sent the already skitish med techs into shivers. She gave them a look, and they rushed to their duties. Grabbing one of the techs, she lifted him up by the scruff of his uniform. "Where is someone who can give me an answer?"

"I...in there, ma'am." He pointed to a large metal door on the opposite side of the room. "We are preparing for the offspring now."

She dropped him with a warm smile. "Excellent. I want to see them immeadietly after the birth. Make sure that I am informed when it happens."

"Yes, ma'am." He scuttled away bowing as he tried to run.

Mele-on ignored the rest of the Med Techs as she walked straight to the door. There were people of actual importance that she had need to talk with. Opening the door, she came face to face with and irate Scorpius. "Commander?"

"Commandant! Ah, just the person I wished to see. There is a little matter of the healers. It seems that they believe I prove too much of a distraction in the delivery room. I wish you to set them right." He started to show her where the doctors and med techs were overseeing the birth, but she placed a hand on his.

"I know where they are, Commander. In this I think I will trust the decision of the healers on this. You do not seem quite yourself this day."

Scorpius paused in his tracks. "What is that to mean?"

Mele-on sighed as she faced him. "It means that you are being emotional in a place where they should not be. You gave into my authority to easily, requesting too politely. If I did not know, I would think you the one with child."

"You..."

Holding up a hand, she silenced his protests. "Leave it, or just leave. I have not the time or patience to deal with any distractions at the moment." Ignoring his dumb founded look, she went back to her search for one of the Healers in charge. After a few microts, she found the Avarian spouting orders faster than the techs could handle. "Avarian, how goes her condition."

"Not good, it seems the recent emotional upset has caused her to go into early labor. I have had to sedate her in order to prevent the pregnancy pains from killing her. Keep those samples seperate or I will space you by my own hands," he yelled at a med tech. Turning back to Mele-on, he grimaced. "I had no other choice in the matter. Things were moving too fast for her body to cope, it is a miracle that she has lasted this long. All we can do is ease the pain and hope that she can survive what is going to be a normally fatal birth."

"Very good, Healer. Make sure that she does, and I will see that you are given everything you can think of. Now if you will excuse me, I have another patient I must look in on." She nodded at him to continue on with his work and head off back the way she came.

On her way towards the exit, she met up with a now angry Scorpius. "Do not even attempt it, Scorpius. I have not the time, but I will make room for your execution if you insist." When he said nothing and let her pass unmolested, she smirked. "Thank you, please continue with your work."

On the other side of the door, she heard the metal grunt under the pressure of being hit. Sometimes manipulating him was too easy. Then again seeing your lessers squirm was always a good thing. She continued on her fast paced march through the ship to the other side of Special Projects. Here would be that which she sought.

Just through the bulkheads was the package the old woman had made sure she was sent to retrieve. Why it was not to fall in to Nebari hands was something she had every intent in finding out. Even if it meant killing that same package. With a small suppressed thrill, she pressed the door to open. All of her life's work had culminated to this moment. Now she would find out what in hezmana those blasted Ancients had been doing.

The door slid open.

Mele-on bit down on the small voice of disappointment in the back her head as she noted it was only a girl. Hardly even a threat to anyone but herself. With no one here to help her, and John Crichton dead, there would be no trouble from her. This young Nebari was what the Ancients had been so secretive about?

Grayza walked in to stared down at the unconscious form of the Nebari. "Wake up!" She nudged her in the gut with her foot. "I said get up!"

"No, you said wake up," came the spat out reply.

"So you are alive." Mele-on began a slow circling as the Nebari sat up. "You have courage, I will give you that. But what did you think you would achieve with that stunt?"

"Get frelled!"

"I have neither the wish, or the inclination to do any such thing with you." She made to leave the cell, but stopped just at the door. "I would prepare to answer all my questions, it will make your stay here more pleasant. How you answer them will also determine what I will do with you when I am through. You see, there are none of the others left to come to your rescue. You are quite alone this time, Chiana." Tilting her head to the side, she smiled. "Have a good rest, we shall begin when I get back. Remember one thing child, all is forgiven in the service of the Greater Good." The door shut behind her silencing the screams of denial as she walked away.

**************************************************************

"I do not understand these black bands around the arms of these Terrans in uniforms." Guide Resoh watched as two guards completed their rounds and exited the common room. They were sitting on a couch in the center of the large chamber with a domed ceiling made of glass. "What is the meaning, my friend?"

Jim looked at where the left. "It means they mourning someone, usually one of their own, but I have noticed that also a few politicals have worn the band as well. I think someone important is dead. You should ask the next time we see Jack."

"You mean in what little I can speak of your language?" Resoh spoke with a slight depreciating smile.

"You speak it better than most people I know. You've been here two months already, and you have learned more english than I knew existed." Jim shook his head in mirth. "No, you want to know, you ask. Personally I would just as soon not know, death is not something I like to think about."

Sitting up on the couch, Resoh tossed some bread chunks into the small pool in front of him. "Why, it is a perfectly natural function of life. We all must eventually face it. Some merely sooner than others." He tossed another hand full in the pool as the fish swam the surface lazily eating it.

"That may be, but people don't like dying, no matter how hard their life. I believe that is the reason many people believe in an after life, so that when they have to go, it won't be so bad." Jim shuddered in his seat. "I hate to think that their might not be something after death. I mean what is the point of life then?"

"Religion is for the weak minded. It is good to have a belief, but make it something useful. We Nebari, those of the Establishment, believe that life has a purpose. That once you no longer serve it, you may rest." Not looking at Jim, Resoh settled back with a sigh. When his friend did not comment, he went on. "It is a common occurance amoung my people, they die all the time, I assume it is the same for your race." This time he looked to Jim for a responce. "Then think of it this way. Once you are dead, you no longer exist. You won't care one way or another what happens because you won't be around."

Jim shook his head slightly. "That is hard to imagine."

"Then don't, just accept it."

"What, on faith?"

"As I said, even we have our believes. Not a religion, but a certain truth we all sucomb to. Like dying, it is an inevitible that we accept to be truth. You would learn a lot about the world around you if you stopped worrying about trivial things you can neither control or know about."

Laughing, Jim clapped Resoh on the shoulder. "That is the same thing the old preacher told me when I was a boy. Said leave things that matter to god in his hands, and not to worry but for my own welfare."

"That is not what I meant. I simply stated that you stop worrying if their is a life after your death. It serves no purpose. In that respect this Preacher was correct. However, your welfare is not determined by you alone, so it is in your best interest to worry about the world around you as well. This is another of our beliefs. The greater good of all is the concern of all. Every person in our society is in some small way responcible for every other person. It is the only way to survive the chaos."

"Yeah, but you give up so much of your freedoms in that."

"What are freedoms but means to a selfish end? The self is the whole, you are not if we are not. What you so ignorantly call freedom is just the chaos of the unknown. It is in that unknown that potential destruction breeds. All aspects of a society, if it is to function efficiently and in a way that proves non selfdestructive, must be monitored. Our monitoring is to the barest minimal necissary to maintain that society. It prevents cooruption on all levels that leads to destruction of the whole."

Jim whislted as Resoh finished. "I was right, you are a fancy speaker. And a lot of what you say makes sense, but it is human nature to distrust something that limits our chaos."

"Only because you have not grown into a society such as that which I came from. You see the limiting of your chaos as an attempt to control your people, but yet you wish to maintain the order through laws."

"But you don't understand, those laws are there to protect the people from those who would do harm."

"Yes, and those who can do harm also take advantage of those same laws. Your society is too... loose when it comes to enforcement and laws. The Police force I have seen is a joke of an excuse for control. They must learn to use more strength in their enforcement."

"So you would condone brutality of the inocent..."

"There is no such thing as an inocent, Jim." Resoh stopped him from responding with a hand held high. "In the Establishment, when a crime is commited, all those around are locked down. A Guide and a squad of Seekers are brought into investigate. A judgement is rendered from the evidence, and those responcible delt with according to the laws. Those attempting to flee are considered guilty of a crime and stunned. They are then taken to a holding area where they are interogated. No brutality, our technowlogy is more than enough to get us the answers we seek. Those not guilty will be released on a restricted movement's contract, for fleeing a crime seen is an offense in itself."

"Quite efficient, what do you do if there is no evidence or whitnesses?"

"There are always whitnesses. Purgery, no matter how honorable the cause, is punished by a most painful death. We do not like to inflict pain, but when it concerns the greater good, no price is too high." His expression to Jim brokered no room for arguement. After a moment of silence, he smiled disarmingly. "It is rare the punishment has been given out, but when it is, we make it public. Lead by example, we find it works best."

"I am sure. So let me get this straight, you put liars to death?"

"In its most basic principals, yes."

Jim started to laugh as he slapped Resoh on the shoulder. "Damn, Humans would be extinct because we lie almost on a daily basis."

Resoh seemed alarmed at this. "You have been lying to me?"

"No, I mean not that I know of. It is just that people make small lies all the time for the comfort of others. Like when you tell somebody you like their clothes when the sight of them makes you glad you aren't straight."

"This is most disturbing." He said this in such a grave tone, Jim started to cough from laughing too hard. "We teach our children from the beginning it is better not to lie. Honesty is best when dealing with others. It leaves no room for missunderstandins in the future."

"Have you lied to me?"

"No, but I have not told you everything I know, either. Another thing is that we believe no one can know another completely."

Jim took a long look at Resoh as the Nebari watched him in return. "What else is there that is important that you haven't been telling me?"

"Nothing of important, just a curiosity."

"And what is that?"

"Your people seem to have almost no problem excepting my race, why is that? The history of your species suggests that we would be more likely to be slaughtered." There was something about the way he said it that made the other man feel uncomfortable.

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

"You are lying to me!"

"I... Yes, I lied. It is just so hard to accept that which is different."

"But we are."

"No, you are just.... you. The others are so much like us, it is hard to believe that you are anything but human." Jim shrugged as he looked down at the fish. "I mean, I have seen you naked, all of you. Have you people no sense of modesty? You walk around looking like you do, and expect me to see a difference. There is nothing I haven't seen or been around with you that I haven't experieneced with the military or college."

This made Resoh smiled. "They why is it so hard for you to accept these so called 'Martians'? They are no more different than any of my people. In fact they are more human than mine own. For starters my penus turns dark blue when...."

"Way too much info, Resoh!"

"I would think not, I have noted your curious observations of mine and the other's bodies. Have you noted a difference than your own?" The Nebari's clinical stating of such matters seemed to be subconscious.

Coloring bright red, Jim coughed to cover up his discomfort. "There are a few. But then again, any normal red blooded American male would look. I mean you are... you're a freakin alien!"

"It is nice that you have noticed the scientific applications. It was beginning to seem like you were only interested in a purely sexual nature."

Jim choaked as he was taking in air. Gasping for breath, he started to turn purple. When Resoh hit him on the back to help him breathe, he flew into the fish pool. As he came up sputtering, he wiped the hair out of his face. "Where in the hell," he took a deep breath, "did that come from?"

Resoh raised an eyebrow cocking his head. "Are you denying this?"

"Well no, but..."

"I have also observed your body. Our physical resemblance is a subject of great interest to my people. It makes us wonder if we are genetically compatible. What do you think?"

"I think... Oh lookie there, its Jack. Jack!" Jim climbed out of the pool and nearly to reach Jack Crichton. When the other man had stopped to wait for him, Jim did run. "Resoh has been curious about the black arm bands, who died?"

Jack sighed as he saw the Nebari guide following closely behind at a leisurly walk. "My son, the president has announced to the public that new evidence has been found that John is dead. He won't say what evidence, but that it was personal enough for me to identify it. The public funeral is later on today."

"How, I mean why? I thought the funeral your family held was a month ago."

"It was, but the boys in the board have been debating over the body of Julon, and only yesterday was it released to be autopsyied. That is bureacrasy for you."

"You mean you have not yet delt with the Hybrid?"

Jack stared in open mouthed shock at the clear English spoken by Resoh. "How did you... You can speak?"

"Since I was two cycles old." Resoh smiled politely as he tried to ease the shock. "I know it is unfamiliar, but please be patient I am still learning your language."

Finally shaking it off, Jack nodded. "I'll do my best. I mean I heard rumors, but nothing concrete."

"Thank you. Now if you will permit me, I have a request."

"It depends on what you want, but I will see what I can do."

"I thank you for this as well. My request is that I be present at this autopsied you have suggested must take place. Nebari Hybrids are rare, and I wish to understand what made it. Since we can not ask him, we may be able to understand by his body."

Thinking on this, he shook his head in affirmation. "I don't see why this would be a problem. You may be able to offer us insight as to what is what in the organs, and how he came about. Answer me something first."

"If I can."

"You said that Nebari Hybrids are rare, that means there have been others in the past. How rare are they?"

"As far as the Establishment knows, there has only been one other. It is something we do not care to discuss." Resoh watched Jack's reaction and added, "we were betrayed by what we thought would be a loyal citizen. At the time of her conception, the Establishment was very much like your military, only a small part of our society. Had we been in control, such an occurance would never have happened. Since then, it has been our policy to keep strictly with-in our own species where breeding is concerned."

"And you are curious as to who's been dipping their toes in someone else's genepool?"

"As always, Jim, crude but accurate."

"All right, consider it a sign of good faith. You answer our biology and social questions, and we will let you have access to the autopsy, and genetic material. Do we have a deal?" Jack held out his hand to Resoh, which the Nebari accepted.

"We do, Colonel Crichton."

"It is Jack, I retired my commision decades ago."

"Retired or not, you still retain the rank which you have earned." Resoh moved walked away leaving Jim and Jack to watch him.

"The ban is still in place, Captain. You even lay a finger on them in anything other than a respectable fashion and you will be seperated. Now that we know they can speak our language, your position as interpreter is no longer secure."

Jim nodded. "Yes, sir, but it is so damn hard."

"I don't give damn about your physical condition."

"That is not what I meant! It is... you have no idea what they are like. They are a bunch of Hedonists. In their own words: The only reason they pair off is to reproduce and raise the offspring. When the child has matured into adulthood, he or she is sent for training at whatever profession would interest them. When all children have matured enough for the training, they are no longer married and may do as they please. It is strictly forbidden for one of a mated couple with unmatured or expecting offspring, to have a sexual relation outside the marriage. It could cause disruption in a family if a child was conceived from that union."

Jim made a cutting motion around his lower regions. "Infedelity is punished by the removal of reproductive organs. These people are really centered for a nuclear family. Other than that, they couldn't give too shits who you sleep with. And nudity! Behind the privacy screens you put up to seperate the common and the living quarters, they have no problem with walking around naked as the day they were born. Hell, the Runners are a bunch of Conservatives compared to the Seekers. And that," He pointed at Resoh as he bent forward to feed the fish again, "is the biggest slut there ever was. They believe if you become bonded to your leader through physical contact, you are more likely to remain loyal, and trust him or her more."

Looking back to Jack, he clenched his fists at his side. "And god help us, I think it actually works. His people trust him implicitly, and there is no favoritism because they all get a piece of him. And because they all do each other, there is no sexual tension or harassment. They keep no secrets from each other, and they don't lie! All you have to do is ask them the right questions, and they will tell you what you wish to know. Just becareful how you word it, Resoh seems hell bent on removing me of all my inhibitions. It doesn't help that all his people are the same way. When I say the same way, I mean all of them have propositioned me. Heaven help me, I am thinking of converting. But only if the U.S. government says it is okay."

That actually had Jack laughing. "I know what you mean, we have been monitoring them, but I have also been in a similar situation. Just don't let your hormones get the better of you. We don't know anything about their biology, for all we know, they could be hosting enough STD's to wipe out our entire population."

"I'll keep my pants on, you can trust me. I won't be a Typhoid Mary for any new Israel Bacteria." Jim's cheeks colored as he looked away. "I'm sorry, sir, didn't mean you or any other Martian was bad. I just don't want to be responcible for the deaths of what is left of the Omega Gens."

"Don't worry about it, son. I'll tell your mother, she has been worried about you."

Jim looked away from Jack. "Please, don't call me that. It is still a sore subject."

"Ignoring who you are, won't change it."

"Yeah, but it sure in hell won't cause me as much grief as acknowledging it." Jim glared at him, his stance defiant. "What, would you have me tell them the truth? That even after you found out my mother was pregnant with your child, you still refused to marry her."

"It had nothing to do with who you were. It had everything to do with politics. She had a career ahead of her, and being associated with me at that time would have been career sucide."

Getting in the older man's face, he narrowed his eyes. "She would have gladly have paid the price."

"But I wouldn't! Damn it, Jim, you are still too young to understand why it had to be the way it was." When Jim tried to turn away, he grabbed his arm. "No matter what, I still care for her."

"Not enough to acknowledge your own!" He took a heaving breath as he fought to control his anger. "I earned my name, dad! I deserve the right to be called a Crichton! Is that why John went away? Because he had to earn the name as well?"

"Now you listen to me, you know nothing of that! He didn't leave because of me, I made peace with his decision to prove his name a long time ago. It was the only way he saw to out run what he thought was my shadow, to prove himself worthy. That was not my fault, I tried, god damn it, I tried! Now if you feel the name is worth the pain, then by all means, have it changed, I will acknoledge you as my youngest. But it won't change anything for you, in fact it will only look better for me, that I have lost my first son, but have another who may yet be. That will gain me plenty of public sympathy."

"Is that what I am to you, a means to gain public support?"

"No! You are a stubborn as John, and twice as hard of hearing. I am saying that it will only be used as a public and media specticle. Especially now that John is dead. Think of all the ways your being named would look, especially seems how I will be the one in office when the president dies. They will think I was forming my own monarchy, lining up the heirs.Especially if I anounce that my only remaining son is an Omega Gen. Talk about currying favor from all involved."

"Oh, nice, I love how you have managed to turn this all around to be about you, again." Glaring at the older man, he started to leave. "Just go, sir, before you say something that actually might resemble caring." As he walked, Jim ignored his father's plea to be heard.

After a few tries, Jack slumped his shoulders in defeat and left.

Jim threw himself on the couch, beside Resoh. "So now you know."

"What is that?"

"Don't pretend you didn't hear, I know how good your ears are."

"What he did to you and your mother is shameful. He would have been given the clamotte on my world."

"I know, but this aint your world, and I have to live with the shame that I will never have a father."

Resoh slid closer to Jim as the Human's hand sought out his own. "You have one, just not one that you are proud of."

"Where does he get off saying that it was about me, when he keeps on spouting how it would look for him? From the very beginning it was about his image, and how it would look if they knew he had gotten a girl knocked up at his age. I mean it wasn't like people didn't do it all the time." Jim leaned back against Resoh when the Nebari offered his shoulder.

"Do you not love your father?"

"That isn't the point, it is that I don't think he loves me. I could never be the son he wanted, never John. Always the replacement son, I had to do everything perfect. In the end, none of it mattered. It took me becoming an astronaut before he would even look at me, then it was to tell me he didn't want me to be one. I told him to go to hell. My mother was one, her father was one, my father was one, my brother was too, it only seemed natural I would be one. It was a family legacy, something I wanted more than anything. He told me no. Since then I have stopped trying to get his attention, and only talked when necissary."

"That is something that would never happen in our society."

Jim sat forward, taking Resoh's hand with him. "Tell me more about your society." He stood up, and looked down at the Nebari with a light hearted smile. "Where would I fit in your society?" With a gentle tug, he pulled the Guide to his feet.

"You would probably be in my squad. You seem to have skills that are necissary for a retrival team."

"Seem to?"

"I would have to test your loyalty first. Then we would test your skills to see where you would best serve the greater good."

Giving the guide a sly smile, Jim lead him back towards the living area. "I have away we can do both."

"I do not believe that wise."

"Who cares about being wise? As far as this planet cares, I am on borrowed time. There isn't a thing they can do that isn't already being done now."

"If you were under my command, you would have to be disiplined for these thoughts and actions." They continued walking as the door to the living area opened and closed behind them.

Jim pulled him close and whispered in his ear. "Then what is stopping you?"