Warnings: Mpreg, Violence, Character Death, Trans species, m/m sex, Angst.
Beta: None so be warned.
Category: After 4:06 AU Slash and Het.
Coupling: John/OMN John/Chiana John/Nerri
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.
Summary: After a three night stand with a Nebari Man, John's body was forever changed. An accident that resulted in spilt blood now provides the basis for a new life. How will John deal with the memory of what happened, and with this new complication in an already painfilled existance. After the betrayal of Aeryn Sun, his remaining friends are reluctant to trust the newest addition to their group. Careful as they may be, there is still danger lurking behind every corner. When Chiana meets someone from her past, will she be able to say good bye to her friends, and her daughter?
Key Words: Nebari, MPREG, Slash, Hybrid, Royal Planet
Lyrics: "I Will Always Love You" - Whitney Houston.
_________________________________________________________ Part 2
If I should stay, I would only be in your way. So I'll go but I know, I'll think of you every step of the way. And I will always love you. "I Will Always Love You" - Whitney Houston.
Voices around him were speaking, but it all sounded like white noise to him. He lay curled upon the floating bed staring off into space as one hand gently rubbed over the bulge of his stomach. Barely four days pregnant, the baby already started to show. Pregnant, he couldn't believe it. Of all the things to happen to him while in the Uncharted Territories, this was not one of the expected.
His ears peeked when he heard them mention the baby. The doc was explaining that the baby was full Nebari. Not an ounce of human in her. Chiana was looking a little pale white over that. He gave her a hint of a smile before going back to dazed. At least she wasn't the one carrying the child, her health was bad enough before.
What was going to happen to him now? He needed his mother, she would know what to do. She was always coming up with good advice. His rock to stand on when he felt like he was going to float away from all the pain of life. Like now. God he wished she wasn't dead.
Why did this crap happen to him? Was it some sort of cosmic joke? Everybody lets go frell over Circhton day? If this had been a book he would be laughing his ass off. With a snort he continued on wishing the table would swallow him.
He wanted to be held, where was M'lan. Oh yeah, he had been shot by D'Argo. What was up with that sword toting maniac and killing the people he... You know, there is a lesson in all of this. Yep, time to move on Johnny boy. Chi doesn't want a child, so what is there to stick around for? Wait until the next time the Luxan goes in to Hyperrage and kills the baby? Un uh, not letting that happen.
They were on a medical planet, so that means transport away. Now all he had to do was leave. Easier said then done, he had to wait until the others were not watching his every move. This could take a while.
For now however, it was good to just sleep. Later he would get away, later he would deal with this, always later. Sighing, he drew his knees closer to his chest. Rest was good!
In a dark room with cool wet air circulating over the warm pools, blue eyes shot open as the mouth mimiced screams. Suddenly she sat up from the bath, water running down her body forced her to shiver at the lack of heat. Her hand snagged a towl from the edge of the bathing chamber.
A man in a red robe walked in to the room. His white and black face barely recognizible in the dark, showed he knew of her actions.
"It's true, isn't it?" Her accusing tone made him look down.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"You do not see all that there is to."
"Then show me, that is why I am here."
"You must discover it on your own."
This was nothing new to her, she had been hearing it for almost a quarter cycle now. "Can you at least point me in the right direction."
"There is no right or wrong, merely different points of view."
"That doesn't help."
"It is not supposed to, I am not allowed to help, you know this."
"Then what use are you?"
He looked around the chamber and smiled. "I clean the pools, that is what I do."
Her angered screech made him cringe as the towel hit his face.
Chiana watched as John closed his eyes again, only this time they did not open. She watched his chest to make sure he was breathing. Worried barely began to discribe the way she felt about him. His was a male, they didn't do the pregnancy thing, then again, niether did she. The mere thought of taking care of a child made her feel ill.
She didn't want a child, they were more trouble than they were worth. All they did was whine, and demand attention. What if you were having to hide from a Scarran or Peace Keeper and they started to scream? They were nothing but a liability. No, children were nothing but dangerous in the Uncharted Territories.
Absentmindedly she stroked John's hair. They were riding back to the transport pod on the hover bed. The nurse was pushing the lift as D'Argo Sikozu and Noranti walked along side. Noranti was looking like the proud grandmother. She was making a fuss over John as if he were her own offspring.
She smiled at that, picture of Noranti mother henning little John. Crichton probably was more trouble than she and her brother had been. Chiana stopped smiling at the memories of the other Runners. They were gone now, only she and Nerri were left. May be even only her.
In the first days there were large groups. It was safer to travel that way. Everyone was looked after on the ships even the weak and dying were cared for. That was the time of freedom, before they knew any better.
It was these same groups that she wondered if John had encountered. It would not surprise her. She had yet to get the whole story from D'Argo, for some strange reason, at the mention of the Nebari, his lips sealed tighter than a dick's hat band. Chiana smirked, she really need to stop listening to the mindless prattle that flowed from John's lips at all arns of the solar day.
Chiana checked on him one more time as they neared the shuttle. His pulse was strong, and his breathing was regular. Once at the shuttle she slipped off the lift and watched as D'Argo lifted Crichton over his shoulder. As Crichton lifted his head and opened his eyes, a shout rang out behind them.
Chiana jumped in to a ready posture as D'Argo tossed Crichton in to the transport pod. He was followed by Sikozu and Noranti. D'Argo threw a bag of currency at the Nurse as he and Chiana climbed in to the transport pod. As the hatch rose, a familiar voice called out.
"Chiana?"
She froze at the use of her name. Turning slowly she pushed the buttons to stop and reopen the pod doors. The sight that greeted her had tears running down her face as she fell to her knees. So shocked was she, D'Argo's angry footsteps did not penetrait her mind.
"What is going on? Chiana are you well?" He looked to where she was staring when there was no responce. A familiar Nebari was walking up the steps to greet them. "Chiana, who is this?"
"D'Argo this..." She grinned as he stepped in to the pod. Running to his arms, she threw herself in to them. Pulling back she let the tears come. "D'Argo meet my brother, Nerri"
Captain Braca was there personally to see the resurrection of a man he truly despised. The Prowler hatch opened to reveal the hated enemy and the traitor Aeryn Sun. He smirked as the guards moved in, weapons at the ready. This was going to be glorious.
"Men, place these two in a holding cell." Braca grinned as Commedant Mele-on Grayza walked in to the hangar bay with her personal contingent of guards. "Ah good, you are just in time to see Scorpius' return to his cell."
Scorpius growled at the guards as they moved in to detain him. Quickly they backed off, as he jumped down from the side of the prowler. Ignoring them, he held a hand aloft for Aeryn. He gently helped her lower to the deck.
"What do you think you are doing? I gave you a direct order." Braca's face started to turn red as Scorpius and Aeryn Sun moved past him to Grayza. "What is going on here?"
Grayza's arogantly bemused face revealed nothing as he came nearer. "I take it your mission has failed?"
"There was some... unexpected developments."
"Such as?"
"Do you know what a Nebari is?"
She smirked. "Short gray and white. A thief."
"That would be Chiana." Aeryn spat in disgust. "No, what he means is do you know of their species?"
"Of course, they are of little consequence. Over half of their people are fleeing the other half accross the Uncharted Territories." She raised an eyebrow. "What do these simple people mean to you?"
Now was turn for Scorpius to smile. "Perhaps it would be better if I explained in private. Officer Sun and I will require our own quarters, as well as few other minor things."
"Name them." Grayza seemed amused at the pair, while on the inside she was dreading to know what threat this relatively new species could purpose.
Before he could respond, Braca bursted out in fits. "I demand to know what is going on. You will tell me now before I have you all thrown off my ship."
Scorpius eyed the armed guards then Braca. "Shoot him."
As they did, Braca's face was one of complete shock.
Aeryn kicked his body as the walked by. "And clean up this mess."
D'Argo stood looking at Chiana stunned as Nerri held her close. This was the famous brother of his Chiana? Formerly his Chiana, he corrected. He was little more than Crichton in stature. From the discription, Nerri should have at least been taller and less emotional.
He cleared his throat after he felt was sufficient time. "Chiana, I hate to interupt but John needs to get back to the ship. The Healer said that he needed lots of rest if he was going to carry the child to term. Don't you want your daughter to remain healthy?" That was low, but D'Argo was not in a caring mood at the moment. He didn't trust any Nebari other than Chiana, and well now John.
Chiana broke apart from Nerri with tears still in her eyes. Irritation at D'Argo made her growl. "What the frell D'Argo? Can't you see I am..."
"You have a daughter?"
"No, I mean yes, but it's a little hard to explain." She cocked her head to the side as she looked at him.
"Then explain it."
"No, I don't have to." She backed out of his embrace as he stared down on her with dark eyes.
"Chiana. I am your big bother, I have the right to know my niece."
"Really, because until a few microts ago I didn't know I still had one." Turning her back to him, she spoke in a whisper. "Do you know what it's like not knowing? The hoping that there is the off chance that you might still be alive. The terror of what if it is true, that you are really dead? Do you know the constant pain, worry that it was my fault, that I should have tried something, I mean I had plenty of chances. All this eats one up inside. I only had one release through it all, one person who stood by me, trusted me!" Her hands were clenching as she screamed the last two words.
"He was the only one that was there for me no matter what. He forgave me for all I did, no matter how much I hurt him. When I thought I lost you forever, he was the only one that was there for me. He tried to make me see reason, even when I wouldn't listen, he waited for me. In the end, every end, he gave me a reason to keep going. No matter how selfish I was, or the stunts I pulled, he still loved me for me. Do you know what that does to a person?" Facing the silent Nebari with tear filled eyes, and a smile. "For the first time in my life, I actually feel like I have a home, a family. And that is eating me up inside because you weren't apart of it. I had a home and you weren't there. You weren't there!"
Nerri pulled her in his arms as she struggled to hit him. "I'm so sorry, Chiana. I thought that I was doing what was best for both of us. Now I see that it was the biggest mistake I have ever made."
"No, it wasn't." D'Argo growled. "Sending her away to meet us was probably the best thing you ever did. We must go now, are you coming with us or staying on the planet?" He stood with an impassible look on his face as the two Nebari stared at him in shock. "Well?"
"I believe I would like to see this home of yours Chiana." Nerri looked down on her smiling face while she stood in his arms. "That is if you are okay with it."
"Sure. I want you to see Moya, and meet Pilot. Even get to see his royal impatience."
"Fine then, strap yourselfs in. I don't want to have to come back down here because one of you is hurt." With another glare at them, he stalked off to the control room.
Nerri looked at Chiana as she giggled. "What is so funny little sister?"
"D'Argo likes you."
This made Nerri freeze his moments as they settled down against the cargo containers. "That is liking me?"
"You aren't in tiny pieces are you?"
"Point taken." His next words got cut off as the transport pod shot off through the atmosphere like a bat out of hell.
John sat up on the bunk of his bed. His heart was racing as air raced in to his lungs. 'Just a bad dream,' he told himself. Looking around the converted cell, he sighed. Just another bad dream in a long line of bad dreams. He wiped the sweat off his chest with a hand wondering what felt off. It wasn't until he reached the swell of his stomach that he looked down.
His scream shook the cell and reverberated through out the entire ship.
"This can not be happening. It was with a guy for christ's sake. What in hell did they do to me? Why am I a fucking Nebari?" He snorted in derision. "Because you fucked a Nebari. What, are these guys like vampires or something? Pale skin, dark hair, sexy as hell, gotta be.
"Where's a damned curcifix when ya need one? Bet Anne Rice never dreamed up one of these creatures when she wrote those books. Ah well, guess it's better she didn't, she would have been severly disappointed to learn they could fuck you in to next century. Then again, may be not."
Sliding his now heavier bulk out of bed, he stood and walked out of the cell. So far so good, no one was around to protest his moving out of bed for some exercise. Walking down the corridor to a room where he kept his personal grooming and other oddities, he was careful to hold on to the walls to support his weight change.
The room was untouched by the others, Rygel knew not to try and snurch from him. For the first time, he got a good look at himself in the mirror. Life was definetly not looking up for him. The gray skin with silver highlights, and black hair were typical Nebari. His usually short hair was now almost as long as Chiana's and spiked. "Nah, more like frizzed."
John ran a hand through the fluffy, soft hair sighing. He looked at his body, most of the shape was his original form, aside from the bulge it was his body. The coloring was not his though, and the lack of body hair was very disconcerting.
This was not what he wanted. Change was to be expected in order to survive, Darwin. But this was no longer his body. The DNA over ran his and like the Borg made it their own. So much for human superiority.
"Doc said there were three DNA patterns in the baby, all Nebari. Since mine isn't one of them, there is only one person's it could be." He shook his head as he laughed hysterically. "Almost two cycles is a long time to carry the sperm of an alien. What the hell am I, some sort of Nebari queen bee? When I see Meelak again, I'm gonna demand rent as well as child support."
"What of Meelak?"
Crichton looked at mirror's reflection of Chiana as she stood in the door way. "Nothing Chiana. What can I do for you?"
Shifting her stance, she gave him a look that said she wasn't comfortable around him. "No, I want to know what Meelak has to do with you?"
"Nothing Chiana. Well not with me anyways."
"Tell me, John. As your friend, I wanna know."
He turned to face her as his hands instinctively to the swell. "It's nothing Chiana. I am just remembering something that happened when he was here. I think it might be partly why this happened to me."
She froze. "What happened?"
"M'lan wasn't my first." He finally admited with reluctance.
"I know that, I mean there was Aeryn." She snickered at him. "You and her..." Chiana stopped as he shook his head no. "You mean, you and her never..."
"Not me, she and the other John, sure. They did it plenty while on Talyn, but she and I never got the chance."
"But she is not who you are talking about."
"Whom, and no. Before I came to Moya, sex was a part of every day life for me."
Enlightenment slowly dawned on her face. "You mean Meelak was your first Nebari?"
"Yeah, kinda embarrassing to talk about."
"When, I mean he wasn't here that long."
He smirked. "He was here long enough. Definetly long enough."
Crichton felt the pit of his stomach clench in fear as the smug Nebari smirked at him. This was the end, they were going to kill him. Getting pissed at sparky was finally going to kill him. He watched as Rygel floated out of the room with Meelak watching.
"Now Circhton, this is not something my people like to hear. You must be punished for your violent outburst. Turn around."
Slowly he complied with the orders from the shorter man. He swallowed as he heard the door to the galley close. This was not going to be pleasant. His back straitened as he felt a hand run up over his shoulders. The hand gripped his shoulder painfully and bent him foreward with almost no effort. In that moment, he realized just how strong Chiana might actually be.
His breathing caught as Meelak started to smack his butt followed by rubbing large circles. "You are a very naughty boy, John Crichton. Your friends have told us so much about you." His hand ran to the underside of John's bottom.
John closed his eyes as he was gripped through his pants. Much to his shame, he was instantly hard. The hand tightened around his arousel making him hiss with pleasure.
"My you are responsive." The gloved hand let him go and started to open his buckle. John tried to stop it, but the second hand came around him and removed his hand gently from that of the Nebari. With the distraction removed, Meelak continued on with his work.
His belt was quickly undone, followed by his button and zipper. The cool air stung his hard on as his pants were lowered to his knees. "Please don't." He whispered as the hand returned to stroking his bottom.
Meelak blew a warm breeze against John's ear as he leaned in closer over the taller man. "I am sorry, but this must be done. Relax and it will all be over soon." Then the warm hand was back with a hot liquid spread in side his body by the fingers. At first he fought against the violation, his body simply refused to take them. After a few moments, the muscles adjusted and Meelak began again.
He moaned loudly as the expert fingers made their way to all the right spots. "Please, don't." John tried again, but he lost it when the fingers left him. His whimpers were shushed as Meelak replaced them with a large hot mass. As it pushed in to him, John cried out in pain. Much to his surprise, when it pulled out and started to enter again, he pressed back on to it.
The rhythm was slow and painful as he was pushed through his limits of tolerance. John was screaming for release when the Nebari climaxed inside of him. He pulled out after a few minutes of pumping his seed in to John. Gingerly, he pulled up John's pants and helped him buckle them over his erection.
"Now you have been given your lesson, learn it well. Next time I will not be so nice." He smirked as John rubbed the tent in his pants. "Enough of that, you will have to wait until after we visit Chiana, that will be your punishment. Let us go." Meelak then turned towards the door and gestured for Crichton to lead the way.
He did with an unusual gate to his walk. Each step he took, made him wense and try to sooth the ache. Meelak would stop him with a tut. When they reached the tier Chiana was imprisoned on, he stopped and begged with puppy Crichton eyes. Meelak sighed and pointed to another cell. It took all of ten strokes before he was jerking and twitching against the wall. He walked out with a relieved look that was wiped off by the serious one from the Nebari.
"Shall we continue?"
"Right then, Chiana. Okay let's get this over with, shoot this puppy, poke the pig, kill the cat."
"What are you going on about?"
"I have no idea."
"Then stop."
"That is what they all say."
Meelak snorted. "Why don't you?"
"Because it annoys you."
"Ah. We are here. Play nice, and zip yourself up." The smirk returned as John cursed. A few moments later they were in the cell and John had the Nebari energy weapon given to him by Meelak.
Chiana stared at him with wide eyes. "You and he did that? I was wrong, you are not an old man, you are a cheap Tralk."
"Jealous?" He looked up at her from the wash basin, a slight teasing tint to his eyes.
"Not in the least. I am just surprised that's all." She settled up close to him at the mirror and wash basin. "So what was it like, you know, with M'lan?"
Crichton's eyes darkened at the mention of the Nebari. "How did you know his name?"
"You called his name in your sleep while I watched over you. From what I heard you say, he was a very good lover." A smile crept over her features when Crichton flushed.
"Yes he was. He was a good man too. You would have liked him. I know this is sterotypical, but he reminded me of my dad. Not in that way you little trallop." He swatted her shoulder as she grinned at him. "There was just something about him, I wanted to spend all my time with him. It was like I knew him my entire life."
"Sounds like you were falling for him." She felt a pain in her chest at the awe in which he spoke of him. "I wish somebody felt that way about me."
"I care for you pip, you know that. Give it a little time, and I do mean a little, and a little somebody will." He gave a weak smile at her shocked expression. Taking her hand and placing it over his abdomen. "Yeah she is yours. It won't be much longer at this rate, and then you will be a mommy."
Chiana looked up at him with wide, shocked eyes. "Do you know how long?"
"From what I know of human pregnancies, which is not a lot because I never planned on getting pregnant, it may be a weeken, may be three. I don't know for sure. What I do know is this baby is taking a lot of energy."
"Are you okay?" She was suddenly very aware of how pale he looked, even for a Nebari.
"Yeah sure, no sweat pip. Let's go eat something, I am a little hungry." He ignored her questioning gaze as he turned to face the door way.
"What is going on John, what aren't you telling me?" Chiana watched his hand stroke the small mound of his smooth belly. A constriction formed in her throat as she realized how different his body really was now. "Is it about the baby, the transformation, tell me, please?"
"She is yours, not mine, yours!"
Having seen this behavior before, she backed away from him. "She's not mine, I am not having the kid, you are."
"Doesn't matter Chiana, she is still yours."
"No! I don't want her, I never wanted a baby!"
"Too bad! She is your daughter and you will take care of her. After this baby is born, you will be the only parent she has."
Chiana gave him a look of pure murder. "I will not take care of her, you are her mother."
"I am no one's mother. I am just fucking incubator for your god damned kid! If you hadn't..."
"Don't lay this on me, Crichton. I am not the only one to blame. You were just as lonely as I was."
"Well if you hadn't run off and left me at the first chance you got, I wouldn't have been so fucking lonely. Then I wouldn't have gotten knocked up with your kid. So this is all your fault!" He emphasized his point with a finger to her chest.
Slapping away his finger, Chiana pointed at his potruding belly. "My fault, hardly. If you hadn't frelled the first Nebari tralk you saw, then you wouldn't be in this in the first place. So if you want to blame someone, blame your baby's daddy. Oh, that's right, you can't, because he's dead!" She immeadietly regretted her words as she saw his face fall. "John, I'm sorry..."
He backed away from her reach quickly. Tears ran down his face as he turned and ran from the room. John couldn't think, Chiana's blaming words, M'lan's pleading voice, followed by his cooling body slumping against him were racing each other in his head along with all the doubts that had plagued him for years. Why couldn't have been a better astronaut? Why hadn't he listened to DK and given it some more time before testing, none of this would have happened if he hadn't been so impatient. Before he knew it, he was on the terrace, and sealing the door shut.
The stars usually helped against this black pit that welled up in his sole every time he thought of Earth. It always made the void in to space, the stars his memories. A reflection inside of what he saw outside. So many stars. Now they all looked ugly and taunting. Why should they care? He was just a single being out of countless billions.
He was just so damned tired, all of it was just too much. There was no coming back this time, no special person out here that was waiting for him. All he cared about was gone, every one was dead, leaving or had betrayed him. With a short look around, he decided it was time.
"Pilot?"
"Yes, Commader?"
John sighed, it was now or never. "Is there another ship in orbit, one that is accepting passangers?"
"I will check." A few moments later Pilot's voice rang out over the comm. "Yes, there is a Leviathan Transport Ship in orbit, her last crew were refugees on their way to meet with one of their ships here. They departed two solar days ago. Since then she has been awaiting a new crew."
"Thank you Pilot, please prep my Module for launch."
"As you wish, is there a reason for this?"
"Yeah, I'm leaving."
"I see," his voice was sad as he spoke, "your module will be ready for launch in five hundred microts."
"Thank you Pilot, thank you for all that you have done." John gave a genuine smile as he looked at the planet just above the horizon line.
"Moya and I are happy to be of service."
"I know, and I am glad. One more thing please?"
"Name it."
"Can you please send his eminence to see me in my cell?"
"Of course, I will tell Rygel immeadietly."
"Bon voyagie, Pilot."
"What was that?"
Crichton laughed as he took one more look around. "Just a cartoon farewell, Bugs Bunny said it to Elmer Fudd."
"Ah yes, I know of these two, you have mentioned them before. Though I do not completely understand, I believe I know what you mean. And a bon voyagie to you too, Commander."
John gripped the wall as a wave of nausea over ran his stability. He felt strained and weak. Closing his eyes helped a little as the nausea started to abate. When he opened them again he was looking at the stars. Absentmindedly he wiped his nose with his hand then wiped it on his pants. The dark blue drops dripped from his unbuttoned pants' leg.
"So you had a small problem with the Nebari?" Mele-on smirked as the former Peace Keeper glared at her.
"No, we are going to have a problem with the Nebari."
"How so?" She raised an eyebrow at the cool, cultured tone of the Scarran hybrid.
"Our sources informed us of an armada of unknown vessels amassing on the border of our space. We out number this fleet ten to one, but that is not the main problem." With a flick of his wrist, Scorpius activated a control on his suit's wrist. "This is a Nebari Standard Host Vessel. The footage is from my former Command Carrier. We retrieved these vid images from the remains of the Zelbenion."
Grayza looked at him with wide eyes.
"Watch!"
She nodded as the image filled the room over shadowing all other lights. A large ship twice the size of the Command Carrier loomed over them. The ship was dark gray, and squid shaped. Three identical towers protrude from the body at positions five, eight, and noon. They curved out, then arced back towards the center meeting at a ring, then extending further strait out. Small twitches appeared around her eyes as the large towers lit up, making her realize they were infact beam cannons. Energy crackled between them as the light poured out to meet in a central point between the cannons, followed by a large pulse from the central ring. The pulse acted like a guiding hand and hit the Zelbenion. The image rocked as the Standard Host Vessel left the horizon line of the viewer, then all went black.
"One hit, it took one blast from the main guns of the Standard Host Vessel and the Nebari had crippled our ship. Imaging thirty of these ships heading towards Peace Keeper Command. How long do you think we would last against these odds?"
Grayza took a moment to collect herself before she faced Scorpius once more. "How many ships are there?"
"So far they estimated fifty, but that was two monnens ago. We believe there may be less, but there are enough to pose a great threat none the same. What we do not know is their motives. I have reported to High Command about the plauge the Nebari Runners are spreading, but they have no samples to make an accurate annalysis of. However that does not explain why such a large fleet is just sitting there." Aeryn assumed her perfect solidier stance as she continued on. "It is taking great resources on their part to maintain that fleet, they must be getting them from somewhere, it is our guess that they have alligned themselves with one of our enemies and are waiting for their allies to be ready before they strike."
"The Scarrans?"
"No, it does not makes sense for the Nebari to ally with a species that wishes to dominate or destroy all other races that are considered weak." A look of revulsion crossed her features. "Besides the only explanation for what they could be waiting for would be the Human, John Crichton. The Scarrans want him as much as we do, but the Nebari would not put off an invaision they knew they could win because of one being. They do all things for the greater good, the whole is more than the individual."
"Then who?" Mele-on's patience was at an end. There was a greater threat than the Scarrans at the moment and she needed information they didn't have.
"That is what we are trying to find out. Before we sent out the distress signal, you so kindly answered, we observed a Nebari Transport take off from the surface and disappear in an explosion of energy similar to that of a Leviathan's starburst." Scorpius' trademark grin appeared. "I believe they are able to locate a Leviathan's trail, and follow. Thank fully a few modifications made by Officer Sun's friends allowed me to attach a tracking device before they left. Their location is two solar days travel from here, a medical Planet known as Kervilosha."
"Very good, Commander Scorpius, we shall leave for this place immeadietly. Before we get there, I will allow you to rest now, and have your breeding partner looked after. I take it she is still expecting?"
Aeryn nodded as she rubbed her hand over her still flat abdomen. "Unfortunately I was unable to complete my mission."
"Do not worry over this, we have samples. Follow me." Mele-on smiled as she lead Aeryn and Scorpius from the chamber towards a section of the ship neither knew existed on a Command Carrier. "As you are well aware, I represent a faction of Special Directoret dedicated to peaceful cohabitation with the Scarrans. What you have been attempting to do, I have already done." She threw open the doors to the central chamber. "Welcome to the Future!"
A figure in a dark cloak stood in the middle of the healer's clinic staring at the destruction around him. He had completed his job as commanded and was ready to report both his success and failure. With a heavy sigh, he pulled out the communicator from under his cloak.
"Seeker one, come in, over."
"This is seeker one, report."
"Target aquired and lost, containment of healer's is confirmed."
"Reaquire target, time is of the essence. Code Sherlon Mervox."
His eyes widened. "Confirm Code Sherlon Mervox."
"Code Sherlon Mervox confirmed."
"Blast it all to Hezmana." He clicked his communicator again. "ETA on Code SM?"
"Forty-six arns and counting."
"Confirmed. Over." After staring at the room for a moment, he pulled a jell from his cloak and threw it at the wall. He walked from the room as the jell coelesced in to a solid material. Moments after he disappeared from the room the entire room was engulfed in light. When the light disappated, no biological material remained.
Chiana stood stunned watching the cell door with confusion. How had she frelled up so badly in such a short time? John was never going to forgive her this time. She was just so afraid of having a child that she let her fear over ride her judgement. As it dawned on her, she realized it was all her fault; the pain in his eyes, the look of sadness, hurt, and betrayal all in just a few microts.
Panic gripped her through the pain. She had to tell the others! There was D'Argo and Rygel and, and, and that was it. All the others were gone, dead or left on their own. For the first time in her life, she felt truly alone. Sliding down the wall she brought her legs up to her chest and sat there trying to think.
They were all gone.
That one statement alone refused to register. Her family was gone, the last one that had loved her unconditionally had been driven off by her hurtful remarks and fears. Her protector, friend, comforter, shield, and lover, all in one, was gone.
Nerri found her by the sounds of her crys. As he entered the cell, he was expecting her to be beaten and battered by the noise she was making. The sight of her pain was almost as bad. Whomever had done this to his little sister was going to pay dearly.
Gently he gathered her in his arms. With one hand he stroked her hair as the other held her close. "Sh Chiana, tell me what happened, who did this to you?"
"No one, s'my fault." She rubbed tears from her eyes. "Should have kept my wacket hole shut."
"Don't beat yourself up over this Chiana, tell me who hurt you. Let your big brother handle this."
"No Nerri, leave Crichton alone. He did nothing to me, it was all my fault."
He stood abruptly. "Crichton was it? What did he say, you aint good enough for him? That he prefered the Peace Keeper tralk to you?"
"No! I just..."
"Save it Chiana. I will deal with, no body hurts my kid sister!" He stormed out of the room as Chiana tried to stand and follow.
"No Nerri! Nerri! I've gotta warn Crichton!" Finally standing, she taped her comm. "Pilot! Pilot!"
"What is it Chiana?"
"Where is John?"
"John is on the terrace, why?"
Chiana sighed with relief, it wasn't far from where she was at and Nerri had taken off in the wrong direction. "Tell him to be on the look out for my brother. Nerri jumped in the deep end with-out a sonic net."
Rygel floated into command as he and D'Argo argued over what there next move was. "I say we find my people and deal with that traitor I call a cousin once and for all."
Ka D'Argo snorted at the Hynerian. "Think again, your emenince. I am the captain and I will decide what we do."
"Fine! Decide already so we can get leave; there is a Command Carrier of crazed Sebaceans after Crichton, and we are sitting here like frelling Trelkez." Silence filled the command deck as they looked at each other. "So where in the yotz are we going?"
More silence.
For a moment longer, D'Argo looked at the tiny dominar, then looked away. "I have no idea. It has been so long since we were truly free to do as we wanted."
Rygel lowered his head in agreement. "I know the feeling. The only one of us still who still has to run is the retched Human."
"Nebari." D'Argo corrected.
"Yes, mustn't forget his recent change." He looked up with a smirk. "If I live to be a thousand more cycles older, I shall never see a more frelled creature. He has been through so much already, only to end up carrying the bastard child of a Nebari Runner. I some times wonder what he did to anger the gods so."
"Nothing, he is quite a remarkable being, and uniqueness is its own punishment." With a hard sigh he glanced back at the dominar. "Tell me more about your cousin."
"Bishan..."
"I am sorry to interupt, but your emenince's presense has been requested in Commander Crichton's quarters." Pilot's face appeared on the clam shell as he spoke.
"What is wrong?"
"Nothing, Ka D'Argo. Commander Crichton has simply requested that Dominar Rygel join him in his quarters before he leaves."
Both aliens were silent as they looked at each other with shock.
"What should I tell him, your emenince?" Pilot's face shifted from Rygel to D'Argo awaiting an answer.
D'Argo's mouth tried to speak, but he couldn't speak. His wide eyes emplored Rygel to speak.
Rygel lowered his head, took a calming breath, then nodded. "Tell him I will be right there Pilot."
"Very well, I will make sure he knows." With a nod of his head, Pilot's image winked out.
More empty space as they collected their scattered thoughts. D'Argo couldn't think of anything to say. His mind simply repeated Pilot's words over again and again. Finally he said the only thing that he could. "Tell him, I wish him well. Tell him, I will be there for him. Tell him... Tell him..." He lowered his head in self disgust. "Tell him I am sorry." A final whisper that barely made it past his lips before he turned to leave the command deck.
Rygel numbly acknowledged the Luxan before he too followed suit and left command. As he floated down the tiers towards the former cells, he remembered all the things they had been through. He wondered if they would ever go through any more. At last he reached the door to the cell and froze his throan sled in mid air. The sight inside the cell sent him in to a case of intons. One word squeezed out as he gasped for air. "Crichton!"
Lowering the top half of her body towards the floor, the red haired Kalish narrowed her eyes at the Traskin. "I know what you are after, and I won't let you get it."
"As if you are any different."
"My intentions are completely honorable."
Noranti stopped mixing the broth and turned to face Sikozu. "Do not spout your lies of honor to me, demon. You will not succeed, it has already gone too far to stop."
"I care nothing of that. Besides, that is not why I am here."
Narrowed eyes and pinched lips were all the old woman showed of her disbelief. She continued to stir the broth once more, adding spices here and there as she tasted it. "Needs more Raskin Root."
"What are you making, poison?"
"Raskin Root, for your uninformed mind, is used by Nebari to aid in the later trymesters of the pregnancy. John is in need of this or he might suffer a miscarriage."
"And that would be bad, how? Last time I checked he was a male and they were not supposed to bare the offspring."
The Traskin grabbed the spoon and smacked the Kalish upside the head. "Life is precious, no matter how it comes in to being. John knows this and would not dare harm the child."
"She has yet to be born."
"And won't be if you do not leave me to my broth."
"Very well old woman. Just remember that I am watching you. Don't get in my way when the time comes." She started to turn and fold back up to the ceiling.
"You do not have to worry about the little one when the time comes, she is not even of his line."
Sikozu turned back wide eyed. "What?"
"The child, she is not his. If you had paid any attention to what the healer had said, you would know this."
A smirk graced her red tinged features. "Good, that means I won't have to do anything about her then."
"As I stated before."
"Perhaps. Until next time..."
"I know, you will be watching me." She started to hum as she went back to her broth and Sikozu slinked away over the ceiling like a spider.
She waited until the priests were all asleep before she started to search once more for the answer amoung their archives. Many of the things that were written in them were ancient maps of DNA, star charts, and lines of lineage. So far nothing of great importance in modern times. All this she could find on her own home world. What she lacked is why this was so important.
She knew there were things that linked all these species, their DNA was similar. Had the priests been mapping this and marking the corelations? Were they looking for something greater than themselves? Was there really a diety that created all their races?
So many questions with so few answers. All the mounting frustration almost made her want to cry. What the frell was the point to it all? Three Monens in this place and she had only been answering their questions, not hers. Sure it was a prize position and one of great honor, but she wanted to know.
How had they done it? How did they maintain the peace that so few have ever dreamed? It all seemed to pointless in the face of what she knew. These priests did not know how to create peace, let alone maintain it. They simply existed, living like simple people with no cares but their own.
Jool lifted up another scroll and stared at the star chart with the symbols. The start chart showed the location of her home world, that of several other species, and one world inparticular. It was marked by the symbol of an eye with exagerated features. She sighed with digust as she tossed the map aside. That same symbol had appeared on several other scrolls and star charts like a stain. With a shrug, she started to look at another chart.
From the walls, they watched. An amused smile adorned their features. Two of them shared a knowing glance. What she was searching for was in front of her all this time, she simply had to open her eyes. But they would not tell her this, she had to discover it on her own. If one is smart enough to discover the knowledge, then one is smart enough to use it properly. Jool had the brains, but was she smart enough to use them to open her eyes? All they could do was wait and see.
"Commander Crichton, Chiana tells me that you are to be careful, Nerri is coming after you. For some reason he believes you are responcible for her pain."
"All right, Pilot, I will be on the look out for crazed Nebari. Thanks for the heads up."
"You are most welcome."
John quickened his pace as he rounded the last corner to his cell. A short look around and he darted inside. He grabbed a sack off the wall and started to throw his belongings in. A few maps, his journal, some herbs Zhaan had given him, a few nicknacks, and the last pieces of his clothes that fit his growing form. Trying on his clothes, only his old tee shirt and PK vest fit his form.
He was debating on wearing his old flight suit when the cell doors opened once more. "Oh Rygel, glad you could make it so quickly man..." A growl erupted from the being behind him, making him turn to face it. "And you aren't Guido. Nerri I presume?"
Nerri glared at the male Nebari in front of him. He had caught glances of him in the transport pod and when they took him to this very cell after they landed on the Leviathan. His breath caught in his throat at the sight of the pale blue eyes under dark Nebari brows.
"Can I help you?"
The question caught him off guard. A shake of his head and he was focused once more on the task of showing the man in front of him why messing with his sister was a bad idea. His menacing stance caused the strange eyed Crichton to smirk at him. "What is so funny?"
"You. You think that after all the shit I have seen and been through that an ordinary thug is going to scare me?"
"What are you talking about?"
John laughed at the confused and pissed Nebari in front of him. "I have faced Scarrans who want to rip my brain open for the knowledge stored in there. Peace Keepers who want the same thing and more are a lot more scary than you. Hell D'Argo in his Luxan hyper rage during that delightful time of the month is more menacing than you." He point towards the death glaring man. "You and your puffy bed hair look more like a petulant child than dangerous."
"I have had just about enough of your weird words and confusing sayings. It's time I taught you a lesson about other people's feelings. No one hurts my sister and gets away with it."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, you say this is about Chi's feelings? What about mine? I mean she is the one who said, never mind you wouldn't care. So why don't you just take your macho big brother routine and leave me alone?" Crichton started to turn back to his clothes again when he felt a heavy hand grab his shoulder. Before he knew what he was doing, he had grabbed the offending appendage, twisted it around, and forced Nerri to his knees. "What part of leave me alone don't you understand?"
Nerri glared up at him with hatred and tried to use his free hand to grab his knife. John too twisted that hand until he cried out and dropped the weapon. "What are you?"
"Hybrid Crichton, version 2.0, better than the original."
Nerri was about to head but his belly when both his wrists were twisted harder. He screamed out his pain.
"Now that wasn't nice. You almost ended up hurting your niece."
At that the kneeling Nebari froze. This was John? Wide fearful eyes stared at the bulge in front of him at eye level. He didn't even realize Crichton had released his hands when one of them reached out to caress the bulge. Before he touched it, though, he looked up questioningly at Crichton. When John nodded he lightly touched the mound.
John frowned at Nerri as he rubbed his lower abdomen. "Here, let me show you." He grabbed the Nebari's hand and removed the glove. Lifting up his shirt with his free hand, he placed Nerri's under and against his exposed skin. The warm touch was soothing against his frazzled nerves.
A laugh escaped Nerri's throat as he felt the baby kick his hand. Gone were all the thoughts of hurting John. He was going to be an uncle, that is all that mattered. He moved his hand around to get a better position to feel the baby.
This went on for a few more minutes as John finally learned sympathy for pregnant women and the feelers. He cleared his throat to get the attention of Nerri as he wanted to get back to leaving.
Nerri looked up at him with joy on his face. "I had no idea. How is this even possible? I mean you are a boy aren't you?" He didn't wait for John to respond as he pulled open the loose fitting pants. "Guess that prooves that. So who else beside my dear sis knocked you up?"
Crichton yanked down his shirt and abruptly turned away from him. "That is none of your business."
The Nebari took this as a challenge as he came up behind John. "Who was it, another runner? I hear from Meelak you are a good frell, is that true?"
"That is something you will never learn." He tried to bump Nerri away from him with his bottom, only succeeding in getting his hips brought up flush with that of the Nebari. "Let go." He tried to sound cold, only coming out like he was teasing.
"May be I ought to find out myself."
John pushed the Nebari on to his bed and turned away taking his flight suit with him. He stripped out of the vest, leaving the shirt. Pulling off his pants, he gasped when the ungloved hand copped a feel. "Hands off the merchandise pal."
"Nice smooth bottom, I can see why they liked you. Bet you gave a great..."
"I am no one's whore! M'lan wasn't like that. He wouldn't treat me like that, nor would he tolerate you. Now get your hands off me!" He turned around to hit the offending Nebari, but was pulled in to Nerri's arms. In anger and rage he started to hit him.
All the while Nerri soothed John by rubbing his back and holding him tight. "Let it out."
John let himself be pulled in to the comforting embrace, wrapping himself around Nerri, and straddled his thighs. Sobs wracked his body until he thought the spasms would rip him apart. After a bit, John let his head lay on Nerri's shoulder as tears ran down his face and the Nebari rocked him.
The whirring of a the thrown sled made him turn to face Rygel. The dimintive Hynerian was in a state of shock as he tried to breathe. "Crichton."
John's head shot up. In the next moment he felt the erection that had grown between them in Nerri's pants. "Pervert!" He slugged the offending man, jumped up, and ran to Rygel. A squeeze and a deep breath later he was listening to the Dominar's rant.
"Crichton, what in Hezmana do you think you were doing? Must you frell every Nebari that comes on board? Is this what you brought me here to see, this breeding technique?"
"No, sparky, I did not. I wanted to tell you that you can have all my things I leave behind. Sale them, burn them, do whatever you want with them, I don't care." He put his hands on his hips as Rygel stared at him. "What?"
"Where are your pants?"
"They don't fit!" Anger welled up in him in a flash and he was storming out of the cell after grabbing his flight suit and bags.
Rygel took one last look around the disheveled cell and the unconcious Nebari with a sad expression before following John. "Why are you leaving? You can't support a child by yourself. You have no other place to go."
"I can to, and I do. There is another Leviathan in orbit, and I will be riding her the hezmana out of here."
"And where exactly are you planning on going?"
"Home! I know how to get there, I just got to catch a worm hole. See ya sparky. It's been real!" He was out of sight before Rygel could speed up his thrown sled.