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.
_________________________________________________________ D'Argo walked on to the terrace as he heard the sounds of Chiana crying. Both his hearts hurt at the sight of her in pain. Though it had been over a cycle, he still cared for her. He knelt by her huddled form, when she did not respond to his presense, he looked out the terrace to see what had her attention. Nothing but stars and the planet as a back drop.
"Chiana, what's wrong?"
She refused to look at him.
"Please, I can't help unless you tell me what is wrong."
"I've lost him, D'Argo."
Confusion flitted across his face. "Who did you loose?"
"John."
"What did you do?"
Her back went riged. "What makes you think I did anything?"
"You're right, I wasn't thinking. Will you tell me what happened?"
"We had a fight." Chiana paused as she lowered her head to her drawn up knees. "He said it was all my fault, that the baby was mine. I don't want a kid, D'Argo. I would make a bad aunt, and even worse mother. I can't take care of a kid."
"What did you say in return?"
She let out a sob as her back arched. Through her crying and tears, she told him. After she told him she waited a moment then looked up at his stunned face. "Well, aren't you going to call me a tralk and tell me to get off your ship?"
No, he shook his head no. He knew he couldn't speak with-out causing more harm, so he shook his head no. D'Argo took a deep breath to clear his mind and a faint metalic scent filled his nose. Looking around he saw the blue droplets near the view port. "Are you hurt?"
"No, why?"
"That's Nebari blood! Where is John, Chiana?"
"I don't know, he was here. That is why I came here, to warn him about... Nerri!"
D'Argo stood dragging Chiana with him to her feet. "His cell! Before I came here, Pilot told Rygel that John wanted to see him in his cell."
"D'Argo, Nerri was after Crichton, he found me crying after John fled from the room. We've got to help him." She didn't wait for the Luxan, instead she ran full tilt out of the terrace and towards the lower tiers.
D'Argo let out a hissing growl of rage as he drew his qualta blade. Following as fast as he could, his mind circled of all the possibilities that Nerri could be doing to Crichton. When he reached the cell, he found Chiana bouncing on the bed and her brother demanding to know where Crichton was.
"I don't know, the tinked greebhol hit me, when I woke up you were bouncing on me like a howling Merant! Now get off."
Chiana stopped hitting her brother and looked down at his angry face. "You mean to tell me that you did nothing to him? That he just hit you and left?"
"The Hynerian came in, started to choke, John turned to me, called me a pervert, then punched me in the face. I just woke up with you bouncing on me." He was pushed down again as Chiana jumped off his chest and walked over to D'Argo.
"Where would he go? Come on think, D'Argo, where would Crichton go?"
"The reason he wanted to talk to Rygel was because he was leaving. I believe if he is anywhere it is the transport hanger." He turned to go, but Chiana's hand on his arm stopped him.
"He's leaving?"
"Look Chiana, we don't have time for this. If we want to find him, we had better go now."
She stood there for a moment more, then turned to follow as he left. She ignored her brother as he followed behind them asking what was going on. Chiana only hoped they would get there in time.
Noranti watched as the Human turned Nebari put on his flight suit before climbing in his Module. He was a strange creature, in all her cycles she had never come across one such as he. She believed in their cause, and that is why she allowed them to use her. Just before she was about to make her move, the Luxan and other two Nebari came rushing in.
So she sat back and waited. There would be more time, and she would be better prepared with more knowledge. All she had to do was wait a little more, she had lived for over two hundred cycles, what was a few more hundred microts?
As it stood, things were starting to get interesting. The girl, Chiana, was going in to hysterics and trying to get John out of the module. Her brother was pulling her back from the ship, while the Luxan and the Hynerian argued.
"Quite amusing aren't they?"
Noranti looked up at the Kalish as she watched from her hiding space on the ceiling. "What do you seek, Scarran Tralk?"
"I am no one's Tralk, least of all the Scarrans! Take care that you do not push me too far, old woman, lest you encur my wrath."
She smirked at the red headed alien. "You are the one who should be careful."
"And what exactly can you do about it?" A moment later she fell from the ceiling clutching her head until she passed out on deck, curled up into a little ball.
"Along came a spider, and sat down beside her." When Noranti looked again at the fighting crew, the Module was sealed and leaving as Nerri held his grieving sister. "Frell!" She kicked the balled Sikozu, and walked out of the landing bay.
Crichton took one last fly by over Moya as he flew off towards the Leviathan that would one day take him home. Memories of when he first saw Moya in the fire fight with the Peace Keeper commandos. The prowlers doing fly bys. Aeryn had been one of them. He felt a twinge in his chest, no matter what she does now, the woman she pretended to be, will always hold a special place in his heart.
He felt weak as the Module sped her way through space towards the much larger Leviathan. She was not as big as Moya, but Eliss was going to be his new home. That is until he went home. An alert let him know that the docking web had ensnared his ship and was bringing him to land. A few moments more, he was landing in what was supposed to be a docking bay.
Large hunks of the hull were laid on the deck being repaired by a fleet of DRDs. As he climbed up out of the cockpit, the DRDs stopped their work and turned to look at him. Choruses of screeches and clicks filled the air.
"Yeah, nice to meet you too, guys."
A few waves of their light stalks and they went back to working on the parts and reattaching them to the hull.
"Weird." Shaking his head slightly, he reached in the Module and pulled out his bags. Along with them came three DRDs, one with a Blue tape, another red colored, and the last red, white, and blue. "Hey guys, nice to see you are here. Go play nice with the locals. Oh, and R2," the red DRD chirped at him. "No zapping them with your weapons because you don't like what they have to say." R2 chirped again then wandered away with Blue and 1812. "Children," he cursed with an exhasperated sigh.
Making his way through the mine field that was the Leviathan's insides, he headed towards where the rooms should be. Cells if she was once a prison transport. Luckily for him, they were rooms with actual doors similar to the hatch doors used for the central chamber and command. He looked around the large room with whistful smile. Once something like this would have been paradise, now it was a luxery he did not want.
He headed towards another room with cell like bars over it but solid cell doors unlike those of Moya's see through ones. He activated the room, and entered. It was a little larger than his old cell, but would serve his needs. This one even had a mirror unlike his old cell.
Slowly he set about putting his things in their proper places, the dentic habitat next to the wash basin, the herbs in a honest to god pantry, and his clothes in a drawer set. His blankets were put in a chest that came from the wall with his pillows. On the wall, a DRD rolled down to him with a comm attached to it.
He picked up the tiny piece of Leviathan tech and looked at it. A familiarly toned voice came over the comm, this pilot was a little younger than his previous, but he could handle that. He was also eager to please him.
"Is there any thing we Eliss or I can do for you, Commander?"
"Not at this time. I will be down to meet with you in person in a few moments. Right now I have to take care of a few more things first, is that all right Pilot?"
"That is fine, Commander Crichton."
"Thanks. See you after a bit."
"Until then." The comm went dead as John sighed. He pulled down the zipper slowly and put his hand son his hips exposing the bulge inside the suit. A slow stroking hand ran over the underside of his sore flesh. "Hey there little girl. Just you and me now. I tried, I really did. Guess she didn't want you after all. That makes two of us." He felt her kick in responce and smiled. "Yeah, I get that too. Just don't you be doin that too often, you here?"
John sighed as he slipped out of his suit and the shirt. He grabbed a pair of overly large shorts and slipped the expansive material over his body. "Time to get down to business." He waddled a little as he walked out of his cell trying to compensate for the increased mass of the baby.
Chiana pushed Nerri away from her in anger. This had been the third time he asked how it was possible for Crichton to be carrying her child. "I told you I don't know!" She turned and walked away towards the food cooler.
"Well then tell me what you do know. I have to make sure nothing else happens to my niece, even if you don't care, I do." Nerri stood next to the table glaring at his sister, daring her to deny him this.
"The Healer said there were three strands of Nebari DNA in the baby."
"Right, yours, M'lan's, and Johns."
"Wrong, John is not a Nebari by birth. He is, was a Human. They are Sebacean like, but much more pleasant to be around, oh they can also tolerate extreme heat and cold unlike the Peace Keepers."
"So who is the third, Chiana?"
"Your operative, that trat, Meelak."
Nerri seemed to think on this a moment before he nodded. "I understand the who, but not the how."
"Oh, care to enlighten the rest of us?" Chiana grabbed her tray of food cubes from the cooler, and started back for the table. "I'm waiting."
"When I sent out my operatives to contact you, I had no idea who would come in contact with you. I only knew that if the Establishment had to, they would infect your friends with the contagion. My people have been given an antibody that is passed the same way as the contagion. If your friend had carnal contact with Meelak it was for one of two reasons; it would serve the greater good, or to immunize him against possible contamination."
"So why did his DNA over ride Crichtons in such an extreme?"
"That I am not sure. The antibody wouldn't activate unless he was exposed to the virus. Then it would return to dormancy the moment it was removed from his system." Nerri looked away from his questioning sister. "Thing is, it was designed based on what we know of other species. The virus and the antigeon were never tested on Hew-man DNA. There is no telling what effect it could have."
"Are you telling me, that what has happened so far is a side effect of what our people have done?"
"Yes, and there may be more than what we know of so far."
Chiana stood tossing her chair behind her. "We have to warn John!"
"Warn him of what? We are not sure of what else might be happening to him."
"There is one way to find out, the healer we visited yesterday. He would know what else to expect."
Nerri sighed as he nodded to his sister. This was turning out to be one lovely family reunion.
"I believe the answer to that question would have to be relative to the person giving said answer. For me, there is no up or down outside of Eliss."
"Relax Pilot, it is just an expression of greeting. It means how are things with you. So what's up?" Crichton smiled as enlightment dawned on the Pilot's face.
"Eliss and I are working on repairs to her main hull and inner tiers."
"What happened?"
"Trillium Dust Mights. They came on board with the refugees and infected most of Eliss' systems." The Pilot pushed a few bottons down on his control panel as he spoke. "The problem has been mostly taken care of. A local healer gave us a supply of Berrium to kill them off. Unfortunately it also caused Eliss' Amnexus conduits to over load. Since then we have been repairing."
"How long will repairs take?"
"Another four days, we simply do not have enough DRDs to help maintain the ship and repair damaged sections."
"Well I brought over three of my own, they are pretty handy. Is there anything I can do that can speed up the process?"
The pilot checked over his systems then nodded. "Yes, there is a leak in the primary chamber's Amnexus conduit. The DRDs in that area are already taxed to their limits. Anything you can do to help, would be appreciated."
"All right, I'm on it." He started to leave, then had a second thought. "Uh Pilot?"
"Yes Commander?"
"Is this stuff toxic to Pregnant Nebari or their unborn children?"
"No, amnexus fluids are used to help maintain Eliss' systems. A part of that is to aid in the care of her unborn child."
"Wait a minute, are you telling me Eliss is pregnant?"
"Yes, Commander, is this a problem?"
John smiled as he stroked his belly. "No, just familiar is all. I think Eliss and I have a lot more in common that I originally thought. Tell the DRDs in the primary chamber I am on my way."
Chiana looked around in shock at the destruction wrought in the Healer's practice. There were no signs of life, of any kind. Even the plants that had been growing in the waiting room were gone. There was evendence of several weapon's blasts though. "What the frell happened here? Where is every one?"
Nerri watched his syster with alarm. "What are you talking about? What is this place?"
"This was a Healer's practice yesterday." She felt a little dizzy as the world around her started to spin. "We have to get out of here, now!"
"Why, what's going on?"
"Don't ask, just move!" She dragged him out of the practice and down the block away just in time to miss the entire building collapsing.
"What the frell? How did you know?"
"I'll explain later. Right now we have to warn John."
"I don't deal with Murderers." John glared as D'Argo's image started to growl on the forward view port.
"I am not a murderer."
"Oh yeah, tell that to M'lan." He cut the transmission before D'Argo could respond. After a few moments of calm, the Pilot's face appeared on the clam shell. "Yeah Pilot?"
"There is a transmission coming from the planet, it is coming from one of Moya's transport pods."
"Yeah well tell them I aint here."
"It is Chiana, Commander, she says it is urgent."
"With her, everything is urgent."
"She says it is about Scorpius and Aeryn."
John pressed a few buttons on the command console and Chiana's face appeared on the forward view port. "Make it quick Chi."
"They're coming, John. Don't ask me how I know, I just do. They are coming."
"Well there is nothing I can do about that, pip. I still have at least six more arns of repairs before Eliss can star burst out of here."
"Well Moya can star burst at any time."
"I don't care. Thanks for the warning, any thing else?" He sighed as he tried to speed up their conversation.
"Yeah, I'm coming on board."
"Over my dead body."
"If that's what it takes."
"Look, Chiana, I don't have time to chit chat with you. Eliss needs these repairs done immeadietly. I am not leaving her to the likes of Scorpius and Aeryn. We both know what will happen to her and Pilot if they find out I was here."
Chiana's eyes started to tear up. "There is something else."
"What?"
"The healer's practice, the one we visited yesterday, it was just taken out. Nerri says that whomever it was, was using weapons not even he has seen before. And trust me, John, he has seen a lot of weapons." Her sad face made him feel like dren. "Just becareful, both of you."
"Thanks Chi, I'll let Eliss know not to let anyone on board that I haven't approaved of first."
"Anytime old man."
"May be next time, pip." Then he cut the communications and set about repairing the damaged bridge.
"Our long range maruaders report back that there are two Leviathans in orbit of the planet. One is incapable of starburst, but will soon be. We will be with in range of the planet in two more arns, a quarter arn before the second Leviathan could starburst."
"Very good, Liutenent. Can we tell which one is Moya?"
"Yes Ma'am. Moya is the Leviathan capable of Star burst."
"And how do you know this?" Grayza watched him figit from the corner of her eye.
"The second Leviathan is smaller than the records state moya as being." He watched her start to turn and quickly added his other piece of evidence reluctantly. She was not the captain after all. "She is also pregnant, Ma'am, about six monens along, four before the birthing cycle. For this to be true, Moya would have to become pregnant just before Scorpius lost his command carrier. There were no male Leviathans in that area other than Moya's own offspring."
Mele-on nodded curtly at him then left the bridge. She had other things to worry about besides a slightly insubordinate private, yes he would be one soon. Now there was the most important subject to deal with. Her mind traced over scenarios of what to expect when she arrived at the planet. They all knew how protective his friends were over him.
There was no simple way to get things done now of days. Once you could intimidate them in to handing over your prey, or kill them. Now everything was a negotiation. How she longed for the days early in her career and her centuries old life. A time when the Scarrans were an equal player and not the superior enemy. The days of the Zelbenion.
It was still a shock to learn the truth behind one of their brightest shining examples of Peace Keeper Dominance. A single blast from a single ship had crippled her and killed most of the crew. Whatever this technology, she must have it or destroy it so no one else could claim it.
She cursed the originators of the breeding programs. Their mindless pursuit of the unattainable had focused most of their technology on that which was of little use in the comming war. Of what use was a genetic splicer against a Dreadnaut's beam cannons? No, Scorpius' pet human was the only key to stopping the invasion. That is why she suffered the abomination's presence. Scarrans, she shuddered at the thought.
Another turn of the corridor and she came upon the doors to the inner sanctuary. The place where all her work had come in to play. Once the war was over, her people could begin their plans on a much grander scale. Yes, they would be the future of the Peace Keepers and then no one would oppose them. But it all hinged on one being, one man, and he wasn't even a Sebacean, much less a hybrid of their species.
A hybrid.
A dark smile perked her white to black lips litening her pale features. Soon there would be no need for the word amoung the Peace Keepers. That is if all went according to plan.
The doors opened and she walked in like a queen to her subjects. Techs acknowledged her arrival but continued their work. All was needed in order to insure their work. There was no second chance if this failed. Unlike Scorpius' work, hers was not sanctioned by High Command, but by a side group of Special Directorate. That is why the need for secrecy and the strict rules even for a Peace Keeper Command Carrier.
Her violet eyes lighted over the room surveying all that was hers. Finally they settled on one individual. Slowly and with purpose she walked towards Officer Aeryn Sun who was settled on the edge of a fixed gurney. "How goes your mission now?"
"We will know soon if it is a success."
"For all our sakes, I hope it is."
Scorpius' hand snaked out around Aeryn's stomach as he came up behind her. "I assure you, it will be."
"Care to stake your life on it?" Mele-on tilted her head as she narrowed her eyes in amusement. The amusement left her face as he retorted.
"Care to stake your lineage?"
"I know who my parents were, I was a sanctioned production, can you say the same?"
Scorpius gave a Scarran growl. "It matters not! We are both who we are, nothing else on that matters. What matters is the success of our current projects. What is the status on these?"
"Since we are now partners in this, I will tell you, but do not expect me to do more than that." She waited his nod before continuing. "We are just under two arns away from the planet where he is located. Moya is in orbit of another Leviathan. We have almost no more information, but the other Leviathan is unable to starburst at this time, and is four months away from delivery of its offspring."
"Moya will not leave a pregnant Leviathan to fend for itself against our people."
Grayza nodded at Aeryn. "So we have been told. What remains to be seen is if this theory stands true. We all know that misconceptions on our part have led to many failures. I have learned from expierence on Arnesk, to expect the unexpected."
Aeryn went rigid at the saying. "What did you say?"
"It is nothing, just something I learned a few monens back." She smirked at Aeryn's jealous look. 'Yes you tralk, I got him, and you did not.' "Very well, carry on with your expirement. And let nothing bring harm to her." She turned after a nod from Scorpius, and left the lab. She did not see the fearful looks from her people as Scorpius looked at her retreating for with an odd expression on his face, licking his lips. However Aeryn did and glared at the leaving figure.
John bounced around to the beat of the music as the DRDs played the music of Prince with-out the words. He laughed as the last of the Amnexus fluid stopped flowing from the now sealed conduit. "Raspberry Beret, kind ya find in a second hand store!"
"Commander Crichton?"
"Sorry Pilot, it's just the words to the song. Been a while since I heard it."
"Is that the music of your home world?"
"Yeah, only it sounds a whole lot better when it comes out of the mouths of the people who know how to sing."
"I would hope so."
John stopped looking at the conduit and turned to the Pilot's image. "Is that sarcasm from a Pilot?"
"Yes."
"Damn, you people are full of hidden talents."
"Multi tasking is not the only thing my people are known for." The Pilot said with more than a little impatience.
"Whoa, hold on Pilot, I didn't mean any thing by it. It's just unusual for a Pilot to be snarky with people."
"I too must apologize. You have been very gracious to Eliss and me. It has been a long time since either of us have met with kindness. The last people to come on board demanded much of us, more than we could provide."
John nodded solemnly. "I know the feeling. There are times I too felt that way about my former crew. They sought me out only when they needed something, other times I was too stupid, too primitive."
"It has been our expirence the past two days that you are more knowledgeful of Leviathan systems than anyone we have met before. Your knowledge of other things has also proven of great interest to us as well. We feel privilaged to have known you."
"Thanks, that is probably the nicest thing anyone has said to me in a while." He looked down at his now sore hands, for two days he had been doing almost non stop repairs on Eliss. Now thanks to his efforts and that of the DRDs, Eliss was powering up her core, and building the energy necissary for a starburst. A chirping sound from one of the bridge consoles took away his attention from the conduit. "Guys, cut the prince." Silence filled the room as he walked towards the console. "What's going on Pilot?"
"There is a Peace Keeper Command Carrier heading this way. She will be in range of firing her frag cannons in two hundred fifty microts."
"How long until we are ready for starburst?"
"At least another fifty microts after that."
"Damn. Please get me a channel to Moya."
"Channel open."
The faces of Rygel and Chiana came on the screen. "What can we do for you?"
"Grayza's Carrier is here."
"We know." Rygel nodded as he spoke.
"Well then what the hell are you still doing here?"
Chiana moved closer to the screen. "We aren't leaving you here."
"You have no choice, Chiana."
"But..."
"Get the frell out of here."
Eliss' Pilot spoke. "Fifty microts until firing range."
"Go, please." John's desperate voice rang out across Moya's command alerting the others to his presense as they came in.
"John?"
"Get them the hezmana out of there D'Argo."
"What about you?"
"Eliss is powering up her Starburst."
Rygel glared at him. "Pilot says it will be fifty microts too late."
John listened to something off the edge of their view screen. "Pilot says it is already too late. We are sending you encoded corridinates to meet us in five solar days. Good luck my friends." His image winked out as the others started to argue.
Chiana looked around at the others as Silence reined on the bridge. "Hey where is wrinkles?"
Sikozu looked around and cursed.
In Eliss' command, John worked over the controls as he manuvered the ship in position to star burst in a certain direction. "Pilot, how long until you can take care of this yourself, again?"
"That has yet to be determined. As it stands I am lucky to have what little control of Eliss' guidance systems I have. The DRDs are trying to find out the problem."
"Yeah well hold on to your britches, this is going to be a bumpy ride."
"Commander."
John glanced away from the forward viewing portal to the Pilot. "Yes, Pilot?"
"Time is up, and we are recieving a signal from the Command Carrier."
"That's great, it might by us the needed time. Put me through."
On the forward view portal came the image of Mele-on Grayza. "Who are you?"
"I am Seeker Julon Crion, of the Nebari Regieme. Who are you?"
"I am Commedant Mele-on Grayza of Peace Keeper Command."
"What do you want so far from your territory, Peace Keeper?"
She smiled at him. "We have no quarrel with the Nebari, or the Establishment. We simply want what is ours."
"And that would be?" Silently he thanked Meelan and Varla for the lessons on being Nebari.
"The Leviathan Moya, and her crew."
"I was not under the impression they were yours. In fact they have clearly stated their intense dislike of your kind."
Mele-on narrowed her eyes as she moved closer to the recording device. "I have an entire Command Carrier under my control. I order you to leave us be, or suffer the consequences."
"The Peace Keepers have no..."
"I am not ordering you as a Peace Keeper, but as a Guide. The last time I checked, Guide out ranked mere Seekers." Her grin grew as his eyes widened. "Now leave me to my ship."
"Cool, go ahead and take her if you can. Check ya later dudes and dudettes." He gave her the one finger salute as Eliss went in to star burst.
Mele-on watched as the smaller Leviathan dissappeared in the energy burst. From behind her came a loud roar of rage causing her to turn and glare. "Was that necissary? We have Moya in our grasp."
"Yes, but not John."
"What?"
"There is only one being that I know of that speaks like that." Aeryn joined in the glaring match.
"Crichton." It was a whisper, but fell like an anvil. "What has happened to him?"
"Obviously he has costumed himself in order to appear like a Nebari." The leutenint said helpfully.
The three looked at each other with mirroring reactions. "The Nebari!"
"He couldn't..."
"He wouldn't..."
"He did!" Scorpius glared at her as Mele-on confirmed their thoughts.
"We have a bigger problem then we thought." Aeryn said solemnly as the other two nodded their agreement. "What do we do with Moya?"
"Kill her and the crew," Scorpius spat.
"That will be kind of hard." The ignorant Leutinant said.
"Why is that?"
"Because why you three were arguing she launched in to Star burst. This would not have happened if Captain Bracka was here."
"Scorpius." Mele-on spoke with out looking at him.
"Yes Commedant?"
"I here-by appoint you as Captain of this vessel. As captain, the Leutinant here becomes your personal assistant." She turned with an evil smile. "He and Bracka were very... close." She passed by the paling man as she left the command deck. "Enjoy," she whispered in his ear.
Scorpius gave his death's head smile as he signalled the man to follow him off the bridge. "Officer Sun, as my second in command, you now have the bridge. Find out why they were here, and find out where they were going."
John entered the central chamber hoping to just get a nice piece of fresh fruit and some food cubes when the smell of dirty gym socks hit him. 'Oh know, it can't be.' "Grand Ma, you in here old woman?"
"Where else would I be? You need me, remember?" She came out from behind the counter and set down a bowl and spoon in front of him. The smell from the bowl was something he never expected this side of an out house in july heat. "Come, sit, eat." She forced his weary bones to sit down in the chair in front of the vile concocktion.
"It's not gonna bite me is it?"
"No, it is a broth I made. It contains protiens and vietamins essential for expecting Nebari females."
"But I'm not female."
"A minor technicality. Now eat, it is good for you."
Crichton looked at her, and new that it would do no good to deny her. She would only find another way. Holding his nose, he took a tentive taste of it. It wasn't half as bad as it smelled, which did not say much. Slowly he finished the entire bowl. Already he could feel part of his pain easing and the color returning to his pale cheeks. Well what little color can be found in silver and gray.
"I am a little afraid to ask, where did you get the Protien needed for this broth?"
"It's a Nebari semen extract. I harvested it from Chiana's brother while he lay unconsious in his cell on Moya. Is there something wrong, are you ill?"
Crichton couldn't stop the convulsions as he some how kept the broth down. After a few moments he was able to speak again. "You molested Nerri while he was asleep, then fed me his sperm?"
"If that is what you call what I did, yes."
"I am going to kill you!"
"No need to thank me, and when you are ready for more, there is plenty left in the food cooler." She walked away humming to herself as she ignored Crichton's slightly blue parlor.
"Commander."
"Yes," berp,"Pilot?"
"There is some body who wishes to see you."
"Now you ask me to let somebody on board, after you let the wacko in."
"I am sorry, but Noranti was already on board when you ordered me not to."
"That's okay Pilot, who is it?"
"John?"
He turned around at his name to see a face he thought never to see again. "Blue?"
"Commander?"
"What Pilot?" John faced the clam shell with annoyance.
"I need an answer, her transport pod is running out of air. It was damaged when we star bursted."
"Yeah, let her on." He looked back towards the woman, but she was gone. "Damn blue," he whispered. John walked to the transport hangar, arriving in time to see Chiana take the last step off the transport.
"Permission to come aboard, Captain?"
"Granted, and it is Commander. What are you doing here pip?"
"Good to see you to old man. I couldn't wait five days to see you again so I decided to come over and see how you were doing." She slinked over to him looking him up and down. "So how are you doing?"
"I am great Chiana. I would be better if you were safely aboard Moya with the rest of them."
"And with you I'm not safe? What are you planning on taking advantage of little me?"
He tilted his head to the side narrowing his eyes as one hand unzipped the flight suit and the other opened it up to expose his round belly. "Do I look like I could take advantage of anything smaller than a Leviathan?"
"You're not that big, John."
"I am twice as big as my sister when she had her first son. I don't know how big she got the second time because I left while she was pregnant with him."
She moved closer to him in concern. "You weren't kidding with the weeken stuff were you?"
"No, I wasn't" He smiled to put her at ease. "Come on pip, you can take the room next to mine, that is if granny hasn't taken them herself."
"Wrinkles is here?"
"Yeah, borded before you gave me the heads up on the Peace Keepers."
Chiana started to laugh. "So what did she make you eat?"
"You don't wanna know, but stay away from the broth, it's not for you."
"Oh, and what's in it?"
As John told her, she started to choke from laughter.
Five days later, Moya was not at the rendevouz point, and Chiana was panicing. "Calm down, Chiana, this is not good for you, and you are about to give me a heart attack."
"I can't John. What if they got captured, you know like the relnics they are, probably stayed behind to make sure you got away safely."
"I am sure they are safe, now settle down." His frustration grew as she sped up her walk towards command. She had been non stop chattering about how much she thought something bad was happening to them. At first he had been inclined to agree, her sixth sense was not usually wrong. Now after fifteen arns, it was getting on his last nerve.
To add to it he had been having aches for the past day. His abdomen had begun to expand faster, and the baby was not settling down. So he was working on two and three hours of sleep.
Chiana paused and turned when she noticed he was not next to her. She finally caught sight of him leaning against the wall struggling to breathe, his skin a pale wood ash. "Hey old man, you okay?"
"No, I think something is wrong. Go get Noranti."
"Come on, let's get you in the central chamber it is only a tier away." She settled up under his arm and helped him walk slowly down the hall. They stopped when he bent forward letting out a scream as the front of his pants flight suit was soaked. "Pain that bad?"
"Chiana?" His voice was a harsh whisper.
"Yeah?"
"I think my water just broke."
"Your what?"
"I think the baby is coming."
"Oh gods."
"Yeah, we had better hurry." The ship rocked as they entered the central chamber. "Oh what now?" His temper short as another contraction split his insides.
"Commander Crichton, there is an unidentified vessel approaching fast. I have tried to communicate with them, but they have only opened fire on us." The ship rocked again as the clam shell image flashed. "What do you wish me to do?"
"Our first priority is to protect you, Eliss, and her unborn child. Is there any other ships out there?"
"Yes, Moya is on the outer edge of this system and is getting closer."
"Okay good, prep my module for launch. It might be me they are after and I won't have them hurting you."
"As you wish." His image blinked out.
"John, you can't."
"I'm not leaving Eliss, pip. It is only a last resort. Just in case Eliss has to starburst out of here, I don't want you and the little monster getting seperated."
"You knew this was happening?"
"I knew the time would be close, I just expected it to be at least another day." He screamed as the ship rocked again. "Get this thing out of me!" Nearly tearing it, he yanked down the zipper on his flight suit exposing his nude body. His belly convulsed as another contraction hit making him cry out.
Chiana knelt between his legs as he assumed the position. "How could you know some one would attack while you gave birth?"
"It's called Murphy's Law, anything that can go wrong, will." He screamed again as pink fluid shot out of his penis followed by blue. John gripped the nearest thing, a table chair and bent it when the next contraction hit. "It's time," was all he said before his penis started to expand. In the next moments a large blue leathery sack was forced from his contracting body. His screams echoed through out the ship as the last of it left his urethra tore nearly in half.
As the sack started to move, Chiana looked at it. It was like nothing she had ever seen before. Nerri had told her about how Nebari children were born, but she never saw it. The sack started to harden, then crack. Finally forced in to action, she stuck her fingers in the cracks and pried it open. In side she found a tiny white haired Nebari baby.
John started to cough when he heard the first screams of the baby. He felt so weak. The ship rocked again as the lights went out. The pink fluid started to flow out of his body again as well as the blue blood of the Nebari. He coughed again, this time bringing up more of the blue stuff. He hurt, his insides hurt.
"Commander, we are recieving a signal from Moya. They are inquiring about your health and if we are in need of assistance."
"Tell them, yeah we need help. Tell them... Tell them..." He just felt so weak. "Tell them to cover my module, she will be carrying very special cargo."
"As you wish."
"Time to go pip." His painfilled voice whispered to her.
"How, you can barely walk?"
"I know, take M'lila, and go. D'Argo and Moya will make sure you get there safe. When you get safely on board, tell Moya to starburst the hezmana out of here. Eliss will do the same. Go, we don't have much time." As if to emphasize his point, the ship rocked again.
"I'm not leaving you, John. You are hurt. Where the hell is Wrinkles?" She started to panic as he stopped moving.
"Better becareful Chi, you are picking up some of my sayings."
"No! I won't leave you."
"You don't have a choice." He summoned the last of his strength. "Look at her Chiana, tell me she isn't precious."
"But..."
"Look at her damn it!"
Chiana looked down at the tiny baby in her arms, for the first time she noted the baby had blue eyes. When born baby Nebair have solid black eyes, unless... "She's a hybrid John."
"What?"
"She is a hybrid. Baby Nebari born with blue eyes are blind like all Nebari at birth, but are hybrids and will retain the blue eyes. She is a hybrid."
He nodded as another ache started in his body. "She is a combination of three Nebari, but she is still a hundred percent Nebari."
"She's beautiful."
"Yesh, she is."
"M'lila, I like it."
He smiled as his vision started to loose focus. "Is pretty. M'lan liced it."
"Liced?" She refocused on him, and noted his shallow breathing. "John."
"S'okay pip, take her and get out of here."
"No."
"Go!"
"Please John."
"Now!"
"I'm sorry, old man." She cried out as she ran from the chamber with the screaming child, "Noranti!"
She found the Traskin in the docking bay next to the Module. "There, the modifications for the baby are finished. Climb in and I will hand her to you."
"What, no! We have to help John."
"There is no time. Get in."
"I said no." Chiana tried to fight her, but Noranti blew a powder in her face knocking her out as the old woman caught her and the baby.
Quickly Noranti set Chiana in to the Module. "May the divine forgive me." She then sealed it and sent it off. With another look around she wrapped M'lila in her robes and climbed aboard a Transport pod.
"Old woman!"
Noranti ignored him as she sealed the pod and took off.
John could only helplessly watch as his daughter was taken by the Traskin. As quickly as he could, he ran for command, ignoring the screams of pain that seemed to come out of him. All he knew was his need to get his daughter back from the crazy alien. When he arrived at command, he activated the controls. It took three tries as his senses were quickly failing him.
On the forward viewing portal the images of the Module being escourted by D'Argo's ship and the Transport pod heading for the unknown alien vessel could be seen. He tried comming the transport pod, but there was no responce. Instead he got an image of D'Argo, and the audio of both him and Chiana.
"She took her!"
"Took who?"
"Noranti, she took M'lila."
"Who."
"Stop! Listen to me, the old woman took Chiana's daughter, she is on the transport pod..." As he spoke the pod exploded. "Oh god, no." He felt weak, so weak. John slumped against the controls and fell on the floor. His world started to spin. All he could hear were screams as Chiana and D'Argo tried to get his attention. Vaugely he heard as the Pilot announced that Eliss was so distressed she was going in to immeadiet star burst. Then all went black.
Chiana watched through the hatch window as the transport pod exploded. She screamed in anguish as John confirmed it was the baby on board. D'Argo tried to get her attention, he was saying something about John.
John!
She started to speak again in a pained small voice. "John? D'Argo, what happened with John?"
"He's not moving. John collapsed on command and he is not moving. Wake up John! You must wake up, that frelling Leviathan is going in to star burst, you must wake up or you will be taken with her."
Another flash of light and the Leviathan disappeared.
Chiana felt like she had been stabbed in the gut. He was gone, they were both gone. She had only known her daughter for a short time and yet she already thought of her as hers. Those bastards killed her daughter. Focusing her anger on a target, she looked for the alien ship, only to find it wasn't there any more. The alien ship was gone, the baby was gone, Crichton was gone. All gone.
As the Module cruised on to Moya on auto pilot, she let her tears fall. In space, no on heard her screams of eternal loss.
It had come out of a blast of energy, one of three that had come this day. The previous two had been seriously damaged and drifted close enough to be brought in by the shuttle. Their crews incapacitated in a matter of moments and removed in less than that.
It had been pure luck they were testing the new transports today. The internation space station had been online completely for ten years now. A crew of fifty now manned the orbital relay complex and the gardens that grew here. New chemicals and elements had come of this, and along with them, new technologies. A larger shuttle had been built and was now being used.
The arrival of the two identical alien ships was a miracle in itself. There appeared to be two factions on them. One was chasing the other, both had been subdued with the orbital defense network. Now both crews were on the orbital space station awaiting transport to the blue planety below.
That was when the third ship had appeared. It was unlike even the wildest dreams, for it was living. The old transport shuttle had been used to land on it, and now they stood on command.
"Well look what we have here."
"Who do you think it is, looks like one of our old guys."
Slowly the two armed figures turned the body over and noted that he was still alive, barely. "May look like one of us, but it sure in hell aint. Looks exactly like one of the others we found earlier today. You know, from the first ship."
"But why is he wearing one of our old uniforms?"
"I don't know... Hey, he's waken up. Do you know who you are?" The red head knelt down in front of the male alien with blue eyes. "Answer me, who are you?"
"Edun-it ta?" He coughed out.
"Eden?"
"Rel, noss sopa we-hen edun-it ta?"
"Looks like we got ourselves another one. Tell the boys to brace themselves, this one is injurd, even worse that the ones from the first ship." Red stood up and looked around the ship. The command was dark aside from the three little lighted creatures that hovered around the fallen alien. "What about these three? They look pretty protective of him."
"How do you know it's a male?"
"He's got the plumbing."
"Don't mean nothin. He's an alien."
"Right, forgot. Okay, do we bring them along with?"
"Why not?" Just as the second guy was about to pick up the alien, one of them stung him with something. "What the hell?" He felt a mild dissorientation before he righted himself. "Becareful, these are nasty little boogers."
"What did it do?"
"It stung me."
"Better have the doc check you out when we get back."
"Edun-it ta?"
"Look pal, I can't understand you."
"He is asking for water."
Red looked at the second guy. "How do you know?"
"I dunno, I just do. He sounds like he is speaking plain english. Give him your water."
Red did as told, but pulled back when the alien started to choke. "There, is that better."
"Weigo."
"What did he say?"
"Thanks."
"You are welcome pal. Hang on, we will get you out of here." Slowly they lifted the alien and carried him on their shoulders to help him walk. The little robotic aliens followed as they walked. "Hey Jim, looks like they really are his friends. Hey doesn't that look like an American flag, and doesn't that say 1812?"
"What in hell?"
"1812, it does say 1812." Every time the mentioned the number, the machine baring the markings chirped at them. "I think he knows his name, hey do you know the 1812 overture?"
Jim laughed as red teased the robot. He stopped when the machine started to sing it happily and was joined by the other two. "Well I'll be damned."
Red stopped laughing and shuddered. "This dark ship feels like a tomb, wonder what the hell happened here."
"E su no vommie aht."
"An unknown enemy attacked, the Leviathan tried to starburst but he thinks she didn't survive the attempt." Jim translated for the confused red. "So this ship is a Leviathan and a starburst is what?"
"Kello-wei."
"A sudden jump in space from one point to another."
"Wan ta-wei aht."
"It is the only defensive manuever of the Leviathan."
Red looked around the massive ship one more time as they came out in to the dimmly lit landing bay. Their shuttle was the only craft, but not the only machine. Inside were a half dozen other robots like the three that followed them. They clung to the side of the shuttle and signaled for them to follow them inside.
"What the hell are they doing here?"
"Ke-vesh," the alien grunted before he passed out in their arms.
Red looked up at Jim for explanation.
"He says they are his friends."
"This is just too weird, let's get the hell out of here."
"Agreed."
They climbed on board the shuttle and started to fly away when the ship lit up again. For the first time they caught a glimpse of the alien ship, as if she wanted them to see her. Her massive tendrils drew apart as energy sparked between them. Suddenly it disappeared in a blast of energy.
"So that is what a star burst looks like. Hey pal, you were wrong, she was only playing opossium." Jim turned back to see the alien laying in the middle of the small circle of robots beings as they watched over him like silent warriors over a fallen king. He could almost believe they actually cared, but that would be impossible, they were only robots, right? Another sigh escaped him as they headed on towards the station to join the others before they headed home, for Earth.
The End of Chapter 2. ________________________________________________________