The Scenic Route: A Farscape Fan Fiction (WIP) Rated R for language and violence

The Scenic Route: A Farscape Fan Fiction (WIP) Rated R for language and violence

Published by Killjoy01
10-24-2006

The Scenic Route: A Farscape Fan Fiction (WIP) Rated R for language and violence

The Scenic Route

Aeryn grunted again as the tiny life in her rode the contractions of her birth channel into the world. Her hand was clasped tight in her massive Luxan friends as he gave his rumbling encouragements. Chiana stood on the other side gripping her friends opposite hand.

“FFFRELLL!!” Aeryn’s cry accompanied the expulsion of her daughters shoulders from her body.

Noranti slid the baby free and suctioned her nose and mouth causing and indignant squawk followed by a hearty cry. D’Argo stoked the Sebecean’s sweaty brow and gave a warm chuckle. Noranti cut and clamped the cord before swaddling the child and placing her in her mother’s arms.

Aeryn gazed at the tiny being she had just brought forth.

“My baby, my baby.” Her voice was whisper soft as she looked into perfect blue eyes.

**
Four cycles later

“Shonnra Roberta Sun you get back here!”

Aeryn sighed as she heard the irritated shout of the Nebari Godmother. She set the tools down and slid out from under her prowler. Shonnra skidded around the door and ran for cover beneath the wing of the Farscape module. Aeryn turned in her direction and placed her hands on her hips.

“Shonnra, front!”

The girl froze and stood to face the imposing figure of her mother. Head down she walked across the bay to her parent and scuffed her toe on the golden deck.

“What did you do?”

Shonnra lifted her eyes.

“I didn’t do nuthin momma. I was just giving Yooshie a bath.”

Aeryn groaned and placed a hand over her eyes.

An irritated howl followed by scrabbling claws confirmed it as Yooshie came bounding into the bay followed by a very wet and fuming Chiana. Yooshie was a baby Keedva that they had acquired from a breeder on a commerce planet a few monens ago. He was still relatively small but that would change soon.

And so far all he and her daughter seemed to do was make messes. Shonnra giggled as the beast bowled into her and licked her face. Aeryn noticed a faint sweet smell rising from the animal.

Chiana huffed and stalked to where the two rolled on the ground.

“Aeryn, she used all of my hair soap on that, that…THAT!” she huffed and pointed at the still frolicking animal.

Aeryn turned to her daughter.

“Shonnra! What have you been told about going into other peoples things?”

Shonnra stood and shoved her hands in her leather pockets.

“Not to.”

Aeryn raised a brow.

“Not good enough young lady. You are to remain in your quarters until evening meal and if you cannot find the restraint to behave as you’ve been taught, Yooshie will be left on the next planet we come to.”

Shonnra’s eyes widened.

“Momma you can’t!” her wail was echoed by Yooshie.

Aeryn placed two fingers in her mouth and let out a shrill whistle cutting through the noise.

“I can and I will, is that clear?”

Shonnra lowered her eyes and grumbled.

“What was that young lady?” Aeryn’s tone turned to ice, the one that Shonnra knew not to cross.

“Nuthin, I understand.”

Aeryn nodded.

“Now you march your little eema back to the bathing chamber and clean it from top to bottom before going to your room. I’ll be along in the arn to check on you. I meant it Shonnra, I want it spotless.”

Shonnra sighed and nodded.

“Come on Yooshie.” The animal bounded after his playmate snuffling at her heels.

Aeryn leaned her forehead against the hull of the prowler and tapped it lightly in frustration. Chiana empathized with her friend and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Rough?”

Aeryn glanced at her and smiled ruefully.

“Worse than her father sometimes.” She swallowed and closed her eyes.

“I’m sorry Aeryn.”

Aeryn cried silently as she accepted comfort from her sister of the heart.

“I miss him so much.”

Chiana stroked her head.

“I, I know, me too. We all do.”

Aeryn drew a shuddering breath and wiped her eyes.

“I’ll be in command if you need me.” Her voice was strong but her eyes still radiated loss and sadness.

Chiana nodded and watched the proud shoulders of the ex-Peacekeeper leave the bay.

**

D’Argo watched the readouts with growing concern.

“What’s wrong D’Argo?”

Aeryn stood next to him and glanced at the sensor log.

“Frell!”

D’Argo rumbled his agreement.

It was a full scale battle on the edge of the sense horizon. Scarran Dreadnaughts engaged Peacekeeper Command Carriers in vicious slaughter. Neither side had detected the silent golden form of Moya yet and Aeryn didn’t intend to let them.

“Pilot!”

The gentle guide responded immediately.

“I understand. Prepare for immediate Starburst.”

The azure star fire wrapped around the great living ship and catapulted her away from the battle engulfed system.

From his Command Carrier behind the front, Scorpius watched the telltale blue streak of energy dissipate. He smiled and turned his attention back to the battle at hand. The Scarrans packed a mean punch but they were outnumbered in this particular instance. It would all be over soon enough.

He placed his hands behind his back and left the bridge in Braca’s capable hands.

**

Two monens later

Moya cruised through yet another battle ravaged system. The Scarrans were upping the offensive against their hated enemy. Entire planets were burned out husks that once supported great civilizations. Aeryn shook her head at the senseless devastation and wondered what John would say, what would he do?

She shook the thought from her head and sighed it didn’t really matter now. She smiled a bit as the soft ringing steps of her daughter filled command.

“Hey.” Shonnra’s voice sounded behind her. She had turned five last monen and with that seemed to have switched with an alien presence. Her daughter was still wild sometimes and she could still be a handful on most days but she had a serious streak in her now that if not kept her out of trouble at least made her think a little harder about her actions.

“Hey.” It was their standard greeting, something else she endeared to her child.

Aeryn turned to face the dark haired, bright eyed girl. Her smile faltered as she saw the troubled look on her face.

“Baby, what’s wrong?”

Shonnra held herself and rubbed her arms as the burning planet passed the view screen.

“Why are they fighting so much momma? Why are they killing each other?”

Aeryn’s eyes softened as she held her arms out. The little girl threw herself into them and cried.

“Shhhh, its okay little one.” Aeryn’s eyes filled as she kissed the top of her head. Yooshie came snuffling in and rubbed his head along the girls thigh, a low whine escaped him.

Shonnra continued to sob.

“It’s so stupid momma!”

Aeryn nodded her head in agreement. It was so frelling senseless.

‘Oh John I miss you so much!’

**

Three Monens later

They were a ragtag bunch that had begged for passage aboard Moya. The war was in full swing, burning people from their homes and lives. One night late in the sleep cycle a ragged Marauder had begged passage on the on the golden ship, D’Argo commed Aeryn and met her in the landing bay.

The ship opened to reveal four small children another two adolescents and several adults. All Sebecean but only three were Peacekeepers that she could tell by looking. The two men still wore uniforms and held their hands ready by their weapons. The slightly wild look in their eyes marked them as men that had seen far too much.

Aeryn sighed and straightened even further.

“Drop your weapons, you will be given safe passage as long as you abide by the rules set forth.”

The commanding officer stepped forward.

“Are you the Captain of this ship?”

D’Argo stepped forward.

“I am Captain Ka-D’Argo. This is first officer Aeryn Sun.”

The Commander visibly relaxed.

“Then we have found Moya?”

D’Argo’s eyes narrowed.”

“You have.”

A collective sigh rose from the group and they hugged each other. Aeryn and D’Argo exchanged puzzled looks. The Commander strode forward and stripped off his jacket and threw it on the floor along with his pistol at D’Argo’s feet, his junior officer did the same, the tech had no weapons but she did remove the Peacekeeper patch on her coveralls.

“We humbly request asylum aboard your vessel Captain.”

D’Argo looked to Aeryn who gave a nearly imperceptible nod of her head.

“Granted, we will have quarters designated for you.” D’Argo strode through the door followed by the refugees, Aeryn brought up the rear.

**

One Cycle later

The docking bay was organized chaos as three new prowlers were brought aboard along with another Marauder. Moya had grown over the last cycle both physically and in crew. She was now home to over thirty souls, all different, all unique. Shonnra was growing quickly as new responsibilities became hers. She found herself on ship maintenance more often and worked with the other techs that had come aboard.

Many Peacekeepers had become disillusioned as the Scarran onslaught continued. Aeryn had no idea why these poor people sought out Moya but it seemed that the reputation of a certain Human brought these folk flocking.

Aeryn sat in her quarters going over a duty log along with the new personnel roster when someone knocked at the door. She rose from the bed and pulled the screen back, Ardis Stoval waited out side. He saluted and smiled.

“Commander Sun the new recruits are awaiting your inspection.”

Aeryn nodded and put the data pad down.

“Very well.”

She exited the quarters and headed to the maintenance bay on tier two where the processing was done. The new recruits were younger than she expected but old enough to hold a weapon with competence if not confidence. No child under the age of sixteen cycles was allowed on active combat or guard duty. These boys and girls were seventeen cycles and up.

“Welcome to Moya.”

She received straight shoulders and lifted heads.

“You have requested to be inducted into the service of keeping this vessel and her occupants safe, and I say welcome. You have shown courage just standing here today; you will all be given a duty schedule and a training regiment. We are more than a community, we are a family, I am honored to accept you to that family. Sergeant Stoval will see to your assignments.” She saluted sharply and received a round of sharp salutes in return.

As she turned to leave Stoval walked a little ways back with her. Aeryn arched a brow in question.

“I was wondering Commander, if you wouldn’t mind sharing a drink with me in the galley later after duty?”

Aeryn eyed the man, contemplating the request. She knew he liked her, he had said as much once or twice and he certainly was handsome. Short brown hair, flashing brown eyes and a fair smile along his firm jaw line. He reminded her of Laraqq in a way, as she looked closer though another pair of eyes swam into her vision. Ice blue and sparkling, a smile that wouldn’t quit and a heart that beat only for her.

She shook her head.

“Not tonight Sergeant, I have a hezmana of a schedule to keep.”

Stoval smiled in good humor.

“Yes Ma’am, some other time then.”

Aeryn gave him a small smile and left.

**

The Marauder flights were running a full schedule as they reconned the area and set up as a long range sensor net for any hostile forces. They had ten of the hulking machines and fifteen Prowlers, not a bad compliment but against a Command Carrier or a Dreadnaught they were toast. So it was that Aeryn and D’Argo began searching for a base of operations away from the fighting to allow their little colony a chance to grow.

Chiana was the ships personnel liaison; she funneled requests for resources and the like to Aeryn and D’Argo that allowed them to deal with the situation aboard the vessel in relative ease. As the volume of people increased though so did her work, she hoped they found a place soon.

**

“How about this one? It’s distant enough to be off the sensors of the majority of the hostile forces out here and it supports agriculture. We can replace our stores on our own and begin putting up a permanent base.”

Aeryn eyed the spinning representation of the hologram before them. The planet was large enough that they could maintain a sizable force and still remain hidden. The native population was fairly low tech and resided mostly on one continent, the rest of the planet was green and untamed. It would be a struggle but it could definitely work.

“It looks good.”

D’Argo nodded and lifted from the seat at the table in her quarters. At the door he turned to see her rest her head resting on her hand while the other fingered the grip of the second pulse pistol she wore, Winnona.

D’Argo sighed.

“So have you considered Stoval’s offer?”

Aeryn snapped her gaze to him.

“No. nothing to consider.”

D’Argo strode back across the room.

“Aeryn it’s been a long time.”

Aeryn frowned and looked away.

“I know how long it’s been D’Argo, I was there remember, I saw it happen.”

D’Argo knelt before his friend.

“And I know he wouldn’t want to see you like this, he would want you to be happy Aeryn.”

Aeryn slanted her gaze his way before turning and lowering her head.

“How can I D’Argo, he is what made me happy, and now it’s Shonnra. There are no more relationships of that magnitude for me, not ever.”

“D’Argo nodded and rose.

“There are other relationships Aeryn, other friendships, life continues even if you don’t. He knew that and I doubt he would want you to impose this death on yourself for his sake.”

Aeryn said nothing as she looked out the view port. D’Argo nodded again and left. Aeryn sighed and pulled Winnona from her holster to gaze at the sleek weapon, it was dark and deadly like her, but smelling of him. She stood and walked to the corner where his duster hung, after it had happened she found the only way she could sleep was in his room curled around the coat, so she had simply moved into it and here she stayed. Shonnra’s room was separated from hers by a living area that Moya had grown to accommodate her and her child.

Aeryn pulled the duster to her face and inhaled the scent that was uniquely John and smiled sadly.

“I love you so frelling much.”

She let the coat fall from her hands and placed Winnona on the shelf. She tapped her comms and called for Sergeant Stoval.

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Killjoy01 DON'T OPEN THAT!! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Detroit Age: 32 Posts: 569

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By Killjoy01 on 10-24-2006, 04:28 PM

The Scenic Route Part II

Scorpius walked his bridge and grimly surveyed the reports streaming in from the borders. The Luxans were holding back the onslaught just barely while many other outer rim territories capitulated or were over run and destroyed. The Peacekeeper forces were spread thin too thin and there was no help in sight. John Crichton was gone and Moya had vanished amongst the stars.

His Scarran heritage manifested itself in a growl. Braca looked to his superior with something akin to sympathy, he felt the same way, it seemed hopeless. Still no fight worth fighting was ever won by standing still. Scorpius ordered the armada to move out, a fleet of ships of varying species picked up speed on course for yet another besieged system.

Scorpius still held out hope for wormhole technology in the smallest portions of his heart, his teams still worked the equations hoping for a breakthrough. High Command was nearly in shambles as the first of the Sebecean system worlds began to fall. Sebecea IV the farthest flung colony from the prime planet was obliterated four monens ago. They had repelled the Scarran fleet just barely at Sebecea III but not without sustaining heavy losses themselves.

This war was going to consume every last being in the Uncharted Territories if a drastic solution was not found to quickly end the Scarran threat. Scorpius settled himself into the command chair and reworked the calculations, there was a simple key that he was missing he was sure of it.

Braca maintained command of his ship, the crew respected him and took their work seriously. These last few monens of battle had taught him more than a few things. The Sebecean race and therefore the Peacekeepers were nothing special when weighed against the universe. At the end of the day dead was dead and a Peacekeeper bled like anyone else. He found he envied Aeryn Sun for leaning and embracing the knowledge that he had learned too late. He only hoped he could make something of it now as his fleet raced to save as many people as they could.

**
Two arns later

“Sir Marauder recon reports that they have secured the last of the survivors from the planet and are returning ahead of schedule.”

Brac nodded to the deck officer.

“Very well.”

Scorpius rose from his seat.

“Braca, I want those people to receive the best of treatment.”

Braca again nodded.

“Yes sir.”

Scorpius exited command and headed to the lab area to rework the equations again.

So much time has been lost, so much effort wasted. Had he just…

Scorpius shook the thought and continued on, there were many things he could have done, but would haves and should haves would not save his people. He entered the lab to find his staff working furiously on the data. He pulled up a seat at a terminal and began running the numbers again. If he could at least find the reason for the cellular breakdown of the pilots he could begin using the resonance of the carrier hull stabilize a wormhole enough for travel.

Alas without direction the anomaly was no good and only one being in the universe could navigate them with unerring accuracy.

“John, John we certainly could use your help about now.”

**

Shonrra ran through the flight simulation once more. She was thirteen now and allowed to train on the Prowler modules that had been set up in the base.

The colony thrived and grew beyond either Aeryn or D’Argo’s expectations. They now commanded an army of more than ten thousand, three thousand of them were pilots of outstanding caliber. They maintained a strict watch on neighboring systems for signs of incursion of distress but so far all was quiet. Aeryn was glad for that, she hoped the fight would bypass them entirely but was far from naive to think it would. Eventually the war would catch up to them here and she would have to deal with it.

As Ardis nuzzled her neck she let the bleak thoughts drop and leaned into his arms. She had to admit it was nice to have him around and she felt a little less on the hairy edge. Her mind felt a little more eased, that did not however quell the ache in her heart. She could live with it during the day but in the deep of the night she found herself in the docking bay running her hands over the smooth wings of the Module.

It had been seven cycles since she allowed herself to move beyond John Crichton, move beyond what she had lost and still she could not let him go. She never would it just wasn’t in her to completely forget the man that was more than a hero to her. Ardis never pushed her to be more than what they were.

Comrades, partners in sex and battle. She never took up with anyone else beside him nor he but it still did not give any illusion to what they had. She cared for him, she would fight and if necessary die to protect him just as she would for any of her crew but she would never let him see all of her. She would take that to the grave for the man she loved more than life.

Sex, recreation, reduction of fluid levels to alleviate stress. It was a bit more than that with Ardis but nothing like it had been with John. Even in their last strained moments before it happened she knew he loved her, cherished her. They were working their way back to each other when it happened and now the chance was lost. Aeryn smiled sadly this night as she lay with Ardis and kissed him.

It was a given that they frelled in his quarters, and when he woke she was always gone. He took it in stride. He had heard stories of the man that she had loved and lost. A man with the power to control the forces of space and time if it were to be believed. John Crichton was walking devastation to anyone that threatened him or his family, yet he was one of the most compassionate and caring men you could ever hope to know. He war a paradox and Ardis was in his shadow with the woman that had loved him.

He would never equate in her eyes and he could deal with that, because for now in, in this moment he was in her arms. She gasped under his breath, clenched around his thrusts and held him when they finished. He could live with that for as long as the ghost would let them.

**
Aeryn rose from the bed and dressed.

“Leaving again?”

Aeryn looked to see Ardis sitting up to gaze at her. She smiled sadly and brushed a hand across his face.
“You know I always do.”

Ardis returned the smile and shook his head.

“Why, why not stay the night with me?”

Aeryn cocked her head and spoke softly.

“Ardis, you are a dear man and I care for you but my staying with you would propagate a situation that I am not ready for. I may never be.”

Ardis nodded again.

“You fear the repercussions of your actions. You fear that you might actually feel more for me than you do now.”

Aeryn sighed as she fastened her pants before pulling on her shirt.

“I fear a lot of things Ardis, but when I am with you I can lay those aside for a while and just exist. Our staying all night together won’t change that.”

Ardis lifted from the bed to take her hands in his.

“Then stay with me, just for tonight is all I ask. Allow me to once wake up and know what it is to feel you wake up with me.”

Aeryn worried her bottom lip with her teeth.

Would it be so bad to let him hold her through the night? Would it be so bad for once not to make her scheduled appointment with the Module and its ghosts?

“Alright.”

Ardis kissed her deeply and removed her clothes.

**

Aeryn woke in the morning to feel warm arms around her and smiled. As she turned it faltered, no lopsided grin, no blue eyes. A face she recognized yes but not one she should be waking up to and feeling…this.

Aeryn stiffened and began to extricate herself from Ardis’ gentle grasp. The man smiled in his sleep and held her a bit tighter. Aeryn sighed and relaxed a bit. It was done and she had stayed the night as he wished. Now she had to figure out just what that meant.

Why had she broken routine? Why was she here now instead of in her quarters with Shonnra across the way? Did she care for this man more than she was willing to admit? Was she willing to take the risk of loving again, could she dare love another man? It would surely not be as complete and fulfilling as John Crichton but it could be special all the same.

Her stomach chose that moment to roll and she found herself bolting from the bed to the refresher.

**
“Pregnant?” Aeryn’s voice was tight as she spoke the word.

Noranti shuffled around another set of vials and nodded as the results seemed to agree with her.

“Hmm, oh yes quite pregnant dear, I would say you are abount one monen along.”

Aeryn fell back on the bed and groaned. This was just not happening. Ardis appeard at the door and knocked nervously.

“Are you alright?”

Aeryn closed her eyes and nodded.

“We have something to discuss.”

**
Shonnra wove through the asteroid feel in her Prowler. She wasn’t supposed to be here, not in the sleek fighting machine and definitely not dashing amongst the spinning frozen chaos that she navigated now. But her mother had been preoccupied and had just absently nodded at her request for a test flight today. Her mother was a sharp woman with a very quick eye for trouble. Whatever was bothering her was severe indeed, Shonnra was worried but it seemed a million motras away at the moment.

A proximity warning and she’s grinning like a fool as she dances the craft around the rolling mass. She likes to see just how close she can get before disatster stikes and nerves pull her back into a sensible course of flight and action. That last had been as close as she has ever gotten and soon she speeds out of the field toward the graceful curve of the Leviathan.

Another proximity warning had her frowning, there was nothing there except space. A fault in the system perhaps but not likely, she had covered the craft tip to tail before flying free. It’s then that she realized that the proximity alarm is dark and the craft is on course. But the ringing persists and grows louder by the microt, she felt a tug on her body like being yank from the mat of the practice area after a workout with her mother. Her head was swimming and she couldn’t see the Leviathan anymore for the tears in he eyes.
Her head felt as if it were trying to turn itself inside out but there was no pain just the odd sensation of being tugged along a path she could not see. At least not until the blue monster opened before her threatening to swallow her whole.

Shonnra gasped and turned the engines in full reverse stopping the craft and gaining distance in the opposite direction. A wormhole for frells sake.

Shonnra knew of the anomalies, she had learned a great deal about them from pilot and her uncle D’Argo, her mother told her a little but generally avoided the subject. For some reason the mention of them caused her eyes to cloud in pain and sadness to be followed by anger and depression.

Shonnra watched in fascination as the great beast swirled like a giant funnel of compressed liquid lightning. The swirls and eddies were prominent in every rippling wave that flowed back toward the center. In her moment of awe she failed to notice the gravity drawing the Prowler nearer to the rift until her true proximity warning flared to life.

She cursed and hit the thrusters again but the gravity had her, she was spinning toward the monstrosity at an ever increasing rate. Just as the tip if the craft reached the edge of the event horizon the beast snapped its mouth closed and flared out of existence. Shonnra cried out as the prowler bucked and went tumbling end over end from the force of the dissipating gravity. Her last cohearrent thought was how angry her mother was going to be before the universe went dark.

**

Shonnra woke to find her mother beside her staring out at nothing and stroking her hand. She turned her head weakly and Aeryn broke from her thoughts to turn her worried gaze on her daughter.

“What were you thinking?” A far softer voice for the seriouness of the question.

Shonnra licked her lips and studied her mother for a moment. She was fatigued mentally and physically, Shonnra wondered how long she’d been out.

“I wasn’t mother, I’m sorry.”

Aeryn shook her head with a sad smile.

“You saw it didn’t you?”

Shonrra nodded causing Aeryn to close her eyes and take a deep breath. Settle, center, control. It was what her mother was all about. When she opened her eyes again Shonnra wasn’t surprised at the tears.

“Mother I’m ok, please don’t cry.”

Aeryn’s lip trembled as she pulled her daughter close.

“No baby, I don’t think you are.”

Shonrra stiffened and pulled back from her mother.

“What do you mean?”

Aeryn wiped her eyes and smiled through her tears at an attempt to be reassuring and failing.

“I need to talk to you about a few things sweetheart. Things I should have told you long ago but hoped to avoid. For now I want you to sleep and we’ll talk in the morning.”

Shonnra nodded and laid back on the bed again. As her mother left she called out.

“Mom, I’m real sorry about…about today. It won’t happen again, I promise.”

Aeryn nodded sadly, knowing in her heart it would happen again and her daughter would be called to follow a path in her genetic code.

**
Aeryn stood on the Terrace gazing at the stars, searching for one that would giver her answers.

*I’m not out there you know.*

She turned to face a gentle smile and startling blue eyes. He was just as she remembered him. Strong and firm, black leather over his legs and a t shirt that defined every muscle. Aeryn held herself and smiled softly.

“I know.”

John rose from where he leaned in the doorway and walked the short didtance to stand before her.

*then why do you keep looking out there?*

Aeryn turned to face the stars again.

“Because it used to help you find answers and cope. I’m looking for the same thing, answers.”

She shivered as she felt his touch, light and transparent but still sense memory allowed for the feeling to be real. He placed his hands gently on her shoulders and rested his face by hers.

*That one there. What is it?*

Aeryn looked to the stars and saw the brightly twinkling star in the distance.

“It’s…it’s mine, Aeryn.”

She heard him give a soft approving murmur as he nuzzled her neck. she tiled her head to the side and closed her eyes relishing the feel of his mouth grazing her skin.

*The one and only.*

Aeryn sighed and turned to face him.

“I miss you.”

John smiled softly.

*I know babe. I miss you too.*

Aeryn placed a hand on his chest.

“We have a daughter.”

John smiled brightly.

*Got us a girl huh?*

Aeryn laughed softly.

“Yes, she smart and beautiful, just like you.”

John wrapped his arms around her waist.

*So why the long face?*

Aeryn lowered her head before meeting his eyes.

“I’ve…I’ve been seeing someone for a long time now.”

John closed his eyes and nodded.

*I figured you might. I’ve been gone a while.*
Aeryn sighed again and leaned into his arms. She felt him draw a small breath.

*Do you love him?*

Aeryn shook her head.

“Yes, no, maybe I don’t know.”

He chuckled.

*You’ve been hanging around me too long.*

Aeryn smiled ruefully before it was replaced with strain and apprehension.

“I’m pregnant.”

*I know*

She raised her head.

“You’re not angry?”

John loosed her and sighed.

*Nah, you have a life sunshine, you have to live it. Besides there’s not much I can do about it anyway.*

Aeryn shook her head.

“That’s not like you.”

John grinned.

*Because this isn’t me babe. This is you, and what you think of me.*

Aeryn frowned.

“What do you mean?”

John hooked his thumbs in his belt.

*Aeryn, you know I’m not here with you. It’s the same as on Valldon, without the drinking. You’re trying to make a choice and you’re projecting your thoughts onto my image to help you make it. Babe I can’t help you, only you can help you.*

Aeryn sighed and nodded.

“You’re right.”

John nodded.

*That’s my girl.*

Aeryn looked at him steadily but her eyes filled to brimming.

“Then why do I feel like I’m betraying you, us?”

John leaned in and kissed her softly.

*For the same reason you make the rounds of my Module at night. The same reason you came here after Shonrra’s discovery. For the same reason that you gave me so long ago in return for what I had brought to Moya. Hope.*

Aeryn broke away and held herself again.

“How can I after what happened? After what I saw?”

*And what did you see exactly Sunshine?*

Aeryn’s lip trembled.

“I saw you. I saw you torn from me again and cast into the unknown.”

John nodded.

*And it’s that unknown that scares you, because you might have been wrong.*

Aeryn’s tears were angry and raw.

“Yes frell you! I am always afraid I didn’t try hard enough. That I wasn’t fast enough to…to.”

John disappeared as Aeryn doubled over in agony; she slapped at her comms and called for D’Argo.

#2 (permalink)

By Killjoy01 on 10-24-2006, 04:29 PM

The Scenic Route Part III

She was crying in pain and anguish as her body rejected the life inside it. Noranti worked her ministrations as D’Argo and Ardis held her hands. Her insides were on fire as her body divested itself of the delicate life that it had harbored.

Noranti finished her work and cleaned the blood from Aeryn’s body. Ardis held her hand tightly and murmured in her ears. D’Argo just looked away in sadness.

“It’s alright.” Ardis’ voice was soothing and gentle; he stroked her brow and placed a kiss on her forehead.

Aeryn turned her tear streaked face toward him.

“I’m so sorry.”

Ardis shook his head.

“It’s not your fault; it was never your fault.”

Aeryn closed her eyes in pain and sadness.

**

“Sir you should come look at this.”

Scorpius came forward and stopped at the sight.

“Braca how far have we traveled from the core systems?

Braca frowned as he looked at the logs that were handed to him.

“At present sir we are twenty two light cycles from the core systems.”

Scorpius nodded and continued to gaze at the sight before him. Braca nodded toward the view screen.

“Is there a significance sir?”

Scorpius drew a small breath and turned to face his second.

“Perhaps. Continue to monitor the situation.”

Braca snapped a salute.

“Sir!”

Scorpius headed for the lab. While in the void before them spun a series of Wormholes.

**

“Begin an immediate analysis of the situation.”

The lab technicians were already hard at work on the equations and correlating them with the data being fed to them by the Marauder scouts.
Scorpius tapped at his own console and began a rework.

This had to be it; they were out of time and options. Scorpius didn’t believe in signs but he could if this went the way he hoped. The wormholes had opened in the same place as the incident. There had to be a correlation, some common ground, he just needed to find it.

“Report.”

“Sir we have sizable mass readings from the anomalies. They seem to be in a state of flux.”

Scorpius narrowed his eyes.

“Show me.”

The tech punched up the view from the Marauder relay and displayed the incoming video. The wormholes were larger than he had previously seen and they seemed to be straight and focused. As the end widened a planet came into view. Scorpius gripped the edge of the console.

Earth.

“How is that possible?”

The tech looked to him in confusion until the remaining relays came in. Her gasp confirmed what Scorpius already knew.

“They all lead to earth.” Scorpius breathed in awe.

“Sir the planet is the same at the end of each wormhole but the readings from them are different.”

Scorpius turned to see what she was referring to. The planet was the same but each had a distinctively different energy signature coming from them.

“Same planet, different dimensions.”

Scorpius mused over the new information. He knew this had something to do with the Human, but what?

**
Shonnra entered the med bay where her mother still lay recovering.

“Mom?”

Aeryn turned her head and smiled at her daughter.

“Hey.”

Shonnra smirked and then shook her head as she hugged her mother.

“Hey yourself.”

Aeryn leaned back to take in her daughters appearance, committing every feature to memory. From her raven black hair to her ice blue eyes.

“You look just like him.”

Shonnra smiled softly as she brushed a strand of hair from her mothers face.

“Like who mom?”

Aeryn sat up stiffly and turned to face the girl.

“Your father.”

Shonnra went still and looked at her mother. Was this it? Was she finally going to learn about the man that everyone called hero. All she had were stories, memories and a few images of the past. Her mother held all the keys to that portion of her life and she only unlocked the things that were easily discussed. Now it seemed her mother was going to open the all the doors and let her know everything.

“Mom, what was he like?” her voice was quiet for fear of having the doors closed and locked.

“He was…wonderful. He had an innocence about him that infuriated me when we had first met and then he lost it to the cruelty of the universe. I would have given anything to see it restored to him but the greatest thing about your father was his ability to adapt and survive no matter what. He was unique and very special, he was sweet and kind, yet when it came to battle he was fierce and determined. I could have asked for no better companion on the battle field or in my life.”

Shonnra’s eyes narrowed in confusion.

“But Ardis…”

Aeryn closed her eyes and drew breath before answering.

“Ardis is a wonderful man and a good companion. He’s sweet and loyal and he cares about me and you. In many ways he shares a lot of the characteristics that I admired in your father. But your father was something beyond that. He was the one that freed me Shonnra.”

Shonnra frowned.

“From what?”

Aeryn gazed at her with tear filled eyes.

“Myself.”

“I don’t understand.”

Aeryn placed a hand over hers.

“He risked his life for me, refused to leave me to the fate the Peacekeepers had set for me. He told me I could be more, and I am. Because of him. He saved my life on countless occasions, he suffered incredible cruelty and torture for the love of me and Cholak save me I was so stubborn that for a long time I refused to acknowledge it. But he was persistent, he never forced, never pushed, he just guided me to what I already knew and helped me embrace it.”

Shonnra gave her mother a gentle pat on her hand.

“I wish I could have known him.”

Aeryn nodded as the tears fell.

“I wish you could have too. I wish he were still here to see how well you’ve grown.”

Shonnra hugged her close and cried with her. After a few microts they composed and broke apart.

“So what is it that made him so special besides being human and loving you? You said there was something about him that people in the universe were desperate to have.”

Aeryn looked at her steadily.

“He had the same thing you do. The ability to sense and navigate wormholes. Under the correct conditions he could even create them. And now you have been exposed to them as well.”

Shonnra shrugged and smiled again.

“It was only for a few microts mom, I got too close that’s all.”

Aeryn smirked.

“You’re a terrible liar.

Shonnra colored slightly and lowered her eyes.

“That bad huh?”

Aeryn nodded and laughed softly.

“It’s alright. I know you don’t want me to be afraid, you’re trying to protect me, just like he would.”

Shonnra raised her eyes.

“So what do we do now?”

Aeryn cupped her daughter’s cheek.

“The same as we are now. We save people and we live our lives as best as possible. You have an ability that is coveted by the greatest military forces in our known universe Shonnra. But that won’t stop us from doing what we do or being who we are. If you want to pursue the knowledge that you have gained, I won’t stop you. But you must promise that you will be careful in every aspect of this ability. It is dangerous and can be catastrophic. Remember the story of the dreadnaught?”

Shonnra nodded.

“Wormholes did that?”

Aeryn held her self and nodded.

“That was the first time I lost your father. He destroyed the Dreadnaught but was struck with severe radiation from the device that made the Wormhole into a weapon. He died that same night in my arms.”

Shonnra nodded as she remembered the story. It was one of the few buried stories that had ever escaped her mother. The portion of the twinning had confused her for a while until she re-examined it with her uncle D’Argo a few years ago. It had been insightful to hear his direct perspective on the situation. Chiana refused to talk about it and Aeryn was the same in regards to the aftershocks and the situation on Dam-ba da later.

“So you think the Peacekeepers and the Scarrans will come after me for knowing what I know?”

Aeryn nodded.

“Most certainly, if they ever found out that you had the ability, but more so that you are John’s daughter and that is prize enough in itself. He caused them both a lot of grief and they would want vengeance.”

Shonnra shuddered at the grim turn her life had just taken. Aeryn nudged her breaking her reverie.

“I won’t let it happen.”

A cough at the door altered them to a new presence.

“Nor I.”

Shonnra smiled brightly at her uncle. D’Argo embraced her gently.

“You are not alone little Shon Shon.” He grinned at his nickname for her, even as she smirked in mock irritation.

Aeryn turned a questioning gaze on her battle companion.

“How long have you been lurking there?”

D’Argo shrugged as he pulled up another seat.

“Not long. I was coming to inform you that Ardis is on his way back from the planet. The troops are being settled into the new facility and the training is progressing well. Also, the harvest was over abundant this cycle and we have extra revenue. Maybe enough to get some heavier ships into the fleet.”

Aeryn nodded and gave him thanks as he rose to leave. A thought crossed her mind and she called to him.

“Do we have any salvage teams on hand?”

Several, why.”

Aeryn furrowed her brow.

“What is the feasibility for a deep space salvage operation now?”

D’Argo tapped his lips as he thought.

“It could be done with minimal use of resources, what are we salvaging?”
Aeryn looked him in the eye.

“I want the Zelbinion.”

**
Aeryn rolled her shoulders as she pulled into another stretch. Her stomach protested as the muscles were pulled to accommodate the movement. She winced and pushed on through the routine. It had been two days since she lost her baby and she was determined to beat the pain in her body and her heart.

Ardis found her in the gym and leaned against the doorframe. He smiled as he watched her push herself through the movements without complaint. She was amazing, this woman he called lover. She stood to her feet and turned to face him, a ghost of a smile touched her lips.

“How long have you been there?”

Ardis smiled and pulled her close.

“Long enough to see how gorgeous you are.”

She kissed him softly and returned the embrace. A word echoed in her head, in a soft voice.

*Hope.*

Aeryn broke the kiss and rested her head against his chest. Her heart was slamming in her chest but not from the man that held her. It was for the man that she had lost, something about the entire situation was nagging at her thoughts.

“What’s wrong?”

She lifted her eyes to focus on him.

“I…it…it’s nothing. Just something about Shonnra’s close call that scared me.”

Ardis nodded.

“I understand it scared the Hezmana out of me too.”

Aeryn smiled at this man that cared so much for her and would accept her child as his own if she asked him. She never would, she was Shonnra’s parent, and she had only one father. He couldn’t be replaced or even shared in that regard. But it was still comforting to know that she had so many male figures out there to look up to.

“I had Noranti run some tests on the baby and myself.”

She broke away and held herself, her gaze was shadowed. Ardis swallowed.

“And?”

Aeryn closed her eyes and sighed.

“And we can never have children.”

Ardis stood silent before nodding.

“Did she say why?”

Aeryn reached out and held his hand in her own.

“My DNA is different, due to an accident when I was younger. It was spliced and never regained it original coding. I am no longer wholly Sebecean.”

Ardis frowned in confusion.

“But Shonnra…”

“Is not fully Sebecean either.”

Ardis nodded as understanding bloomed.

“John Crichton.”

Aeryn nodded.

“Yes.”

Ardis gave her a small grin.

“I’ll never escape his shadow it seems.”

“I’m so sorry.”

Ardis chuckled and pulled her close.

“I’m not. It doesn’t matter to me whether we have children or not just as long as I have you.”

Aeryn gave a small smile and stroked a finger across his cheek.

“We’ll need to be more careful in the future, you can still get me pregnant but my body will never accept the fetus. It will be rejected and discharged; I have no desire to go through that pain again.”

Ardis nodded thoughtfully.

“Whatever it takes to keep you safe, I’ll do it.”

He kissed her deeply and led her from the room.

#3 (permalink)

By Killjoy01 on 10-24-2006, 04:33 PM

The Scenic Route Part IV

“That’s it sir, they’ve gone.”

Scorpius nodded and gave a small smile of approval. They had successfully catalogued the event of the Wormholes and made a new discovery. A portion of the equation made sense and fell into place unlocking several others. It was possible now to navigate the stream in Peacekeeper vessels without destructive cellular breakdown.

It was shield harmonics all along, hull resonations and energy interference. Once compensated for the trips were smooth and uneventful as far as pilot damage. The Wormholes had stayed open another seventy two arns after their discovery, allowing them to probe into the different Earth systems and monitor the planets.

One had been chaotic and devastated by war. The atmosphere was choked with ash and char. A perpetual winter raged across the surface as Ion storms and radiation blanketed any unprotected surface. Most of the population had been destroyed; the remaining survivors had taken shelter underground.

Oddly enough, the savior of the remaining population was one John Robert Crichton Jr. Scorpius had quelled the urge to visit the planet and see the man in person. It would serve no purpose and waste valuable resources. Not to mention getting trapped should the Wormhole close while he was on the surface.

The next had been primitive and devoid of any sentient life. A fledgling planet that had yet to come into its own. Interesting prospects for genome and DNA experimentation but ultimately too much risk, so the primordial planet had been left alone.

The third had yielded an interesting prospect. A highly advanced civilization with achievements toward interstellar travel and a global peace. The Prowler scout had been lucky in evading detection while gathering intelligence. The planets of the system had been colonized where possible and used for resources to further the human races efforts toward exploration. They were however not defenseless for a seemingly utopian society. Upon investigating the fourth planet they found a large military complex and ship yards.

Massive vessels capable of immense destruction and highly formidable defenses. The scout had been fortunate enough to witness the demonstration of a firing test from the newest vessels off the line, the Crichton. A beam cannon erupted into space and obliterated a command carrier size asteroid. The scout was forced to return due to a patrol squad approaching his position.

If there were any society that could help them win this war it would be that one. They had credited their achievements to the far flung astronaut who upon his return home had convinced the powers that be that it was in Earth’s best interest to come together and share what he had learned. Their new technology was eagerly expanded on and enhanced by Human ingenuity just in time. The Scarrans had tracked him home and attacked to their utter obliteration by the Humans.

No other incursions into that Earth’s space had been heard of and the society had evolved into what they had witnessed that day. Scorpius wanted desperately to make contact but the fourth wormhole held something even greater.

John Crichton.

The scouts confirmed that it was the very same from this dimension, for whatever reason he had survived the event and ended up home on his world. It was a strange realization and an even stranger event that occurred upon their entering that Earth’s space. The Prowler approached the planet on stealth gathering intelligence when the bio reading for Crichton suddenly vanished. The scout reported and incredible energy discharge and then nothing, he was simply gone.

Soon after the wormholes began to lose stability and cohesion, their time was up. The last prowler had exited the anomaly just as it closed. So now they were here watching waiting for something, anything that would give them an advantage on the Scarrans. Something that would give them a clue to the whereabouts of John Crichton.

Scorpius drummed his fingers along the arm of his black chair on command. He had patience, but time was a different matter.

**

Aeryn lay in Ardis’ arms that night on the planet they had chosen for the base of operations. They were in her quarters; here on the planet they could be, because John only haunted her home on Moya. Ardis rose from the bed and went to relieve himself as Aeryn turned to face the window that ran along her side of the room.

It was raining tonight. She liked the rain; she remembered why she liked the rain. She remembered the night Shonnra was conceived. Scared and not wanting to be alone, yet privately reveling in the chance to live out her fantasy. She had lain with John, it was soft and needful and they reveled in it. She had slept in his arms, the first time she had ever done so with anyone. She was up before him the following day but she remembered the way his arms felt round her holding her close.

It was that way with Ardis now. Not quite the same but nice. She enjoyed the feel of it, of him. Her heart clenched at the ache in her soul and for a moment she was on that edge again ready to bolt back to her room on Moya and claim his jacket, inhale his scent and caress Winnona.

She found her strength and remained in bed; she even smiled when Ardis slipped in beside her to hold her again. She laced her fingers through his and snuggled back against him. She felt a twinge as she remembered this was John’s favorite position with her, so she shifted to have him lay on his back and pillow her head on his shoulder.

She fell asleep to heartbeats and rain.

**

“Where?” D’Argo was frantic

“Tier two near the maintenance bay. It’s spreading!” Pilot’s voice was also frantic.

“Is it harming Moya?” D’Argo had his blade out and a team of commandos with him.

“No she is undamaged.” Pilot’s voice indicated that he was puzzled by that fact.

D’Argo rounded the corner and came to a skidding halt.

A wormhole was swirling in the ceiling. The maw fanned out across the surface and spat chaotic energies in all directions. They dissipated upon entering Moya leaving no sign of damage. The Security detail held back gratefully at his command.

“Oh…”

D’Argo whirled to see Shonnra.

“Shonnra it’s not safe for you to be here!”

Shonnra was entranced by the spinning blue mass and approached closer; D’Argo’s hand on her arm prevented her from going to far.

“Shonnra, you must leave. NOW!”

Shonnra broke from her trance and turned to look at him.

“Where would I go? If this,” she waved her hand to indicate the wormhole, “doesn’t kill us outright, the explosive decompression will.” She turned back to look at the wormhole. “Something is holding it on another dimensional level. See how it dissipates on the edges, if this was here we’d be dead already.”

As she spoke the words a bright flare erupted from the mouth of the wormhole followed by an anguished scream. As they watched a body fell through the wormhole. It seemed to pass through a barrier that splashed blue and dumped the body on the deck naked and shivering. It was a man and he was covered head to toe in a blue tinted gelatinous mass. His hands were clutching his shoulders as he curled into the fetal position.

The wormhole dissipated and left a stunned crew in its wake. Shonnra was on the move before D’Argo could stop her. She rolled the man’s head to face her and gasped. D’Argo approached and dropped to his knees.

Shonnra clutched the shivering man close.

“Daddy.”

**
Aeryn’s comms were beeping nonstop, she frowned in her sleep until she realized what they were. She tapped them as Ardis stirred.

“This is Aeryn.”

D’Argo’s voice was frantic and it chilled her blood.

“AERYN! Get up here NOW!”

Aeryn was on her feet and dressing even as she talked.

“D’Argo what’s wrong? Is Shonnra alright?”

She could hear a commotion in the background.

“…Infirmary, Get some blankets on him!”

Aeryn froze, what the Hezmana was happening?

“D”ARGO! REPORT!”

The emotion in his voice clawed at her heart.

“I…I don’t…Just get here! I’ll be waiting in the docking bay.”

Aeryn heard the comms click off and cursed in fear and frustration as she pulled on her boots. Ardis was dressed and waiting by the door. He led the way to the Prowler and lifted them into the sky.
**
The docking bay opened to allow the Prowler to land. D’Argo stood in the bay pacing back and forth along with Chiana. Her face was streaked with tears and she held her hands clasped in front of her. Aeryn cycled the cockpit and jumped down.

D’Argo ran to her followed by the Nebari.

“You need to follow me and don’t talk just follow.” He cut her off and walked swiftly from the bay. Ardis followed more slowly with a growing apprehension in his gut.

**
The lights in the med bay were low and comfortable. The new med technician had left the room to allow Shonnra some privacy, so she was alone when the others arrived. She looked at her mother with tears in her eyes, Aeryn felt her gut tightening with every step.

“Mom, look.”

Shonnra pointed to the figure draped in thermal blankets and shadow. Aeryn took a step forward and halted unsure of if she wanted to know. She looked at D’Argo and the others, they kept heir gaze on her but it was Ardis that steeled her resolve. He was fearful too but he gave her and encouraging nod.

She stepped up to the bed and looked into the face of her dreams. Her knees wobbled as the impact slammed her. John Crichton lay on Moya once more. She sank to the chair beside the bed and cried at his bedside. Her wracking sobs ripped through the crew, Ardis lowered his head and stood away from the group.

Aeryn clutched John close to her and stroked his face even as her tears fell unabated on his cheeks. He was warm and real, she could touch him again. She cradled his head and cried until her daughter joined her.

“It’s really him?”

Aeryn wiped her face and nodded.

“Yes baby, it’s really him.

They were smiling when John coughed roughly and cracked his eyes.

“Aeryn?” his voice was raspy and harsh.

She clutched his hands.

“I’m here John.”

He opened his eyes further and looked around the room; his face fell in fear and anger.

“No, no no no no!”

Aeryn stood back as he jumped up and skittered to the far side of the med bay.

“John please! It’s me Aeryn. You’re safe on Moya, you’re home.”

John’s eyes were wild as he looked around again.

“Can’t be, not real!” he shuddered as he began to sob. “I failed, screwed the pooch again!” he clutched his head in agony and toppled forward unconscious.

Aeryn was at his side instantly followed by D’Argo and Chiana. Shonnra stood back and noticed Ardis by the door as well. They lifted John to the bead and pulled the cover back over him. Aeryn locked her distraught gaze on D’Argo.

“What’s wrong with him? What happened?”

D’Argo shook his massive head.

“I honestly don’t know, this is the first time he woken up since he appeared.”

Aeryn’s eyes widened.

“What do you mean appeared?”

D’Argo looked at her.

“He fell through Moya’s ceiling out of a wormhole. I have no idea how it happened but suddenly it was there and he burst through onto the deck.”

Aeryn looked at the man on the bed. He was exactly as she remembered him. Strong and beautiful as always. But something had happened to him, something horrible.

Aeryn felt the tears come again, this time in anger and frustration at his continued mistreatment. When would the universe end its toying with him?

**

Scorpius leaned across the console.

“Are you sure?”

The tech nodded.

“Yes sir, his bio signature appeared on our scanners fifty two microts ago.”

Scorpius nodded and signaled the fleet to remain in position, his own Carrier moved out with one other.

**
Aeryn’s plan to bring back the Zelbinion from the floating graveyard was fairly successful. The ship was towed into planetary orbit and being stripped to a frame work of supports and bulkheads. At present it looked like no more than the skeleton of some great beast, there were cycles of work to be done before it was completed but hopefully it would be that long before anyone discovered them.

As for the visionary, she still sat beside John’s bed and stroked his hands. It had been two days since his initial outburst, he had not moved since. His breathing was even and deep as if sleeping. She continued to stroke his hands and whisper to him, her voice was low and even, charged with emotion and hopeful.

“I missed you so much. I did what I thought you would have wanted me to do, I raised our daughter to the best of my ability and I told her about you. I…I kept you in my heart, always in my heart.”

“Any change?”

Aeryn turned to see Ardis at the door, his smile was soft but there was a muted pain in his eyes. She was causing it she knew, as she held the hand of her heart and gazed at her lover. A paradox, a twisted serpent that coiled about itself in the search for completion and finding only its own body to feed upon.

She was going to end up hurting both of them, just as she had hurt this John when she left with his twin. What will he say when he finds that she has given herself to another, again?

“No, he’s still sleeping.”

Ardis nodded.

“Walk with me? Just for a moment.”

Aeryn turned to see John’s even breathing. She nodded and placed a small kiss on his brow before leaving.

Ardis was quiet for a long time while they walked through Moya. The sound of the living ship was different, she was…excited? Aeryn could feel the quickened pulse of the great ship through the soles of her boots and up her spine. She was happy because John was home.

“I think it might be best if I stayed planet side for a while.” It was delivered quietly, no recrimination or demand, just an offer that she could accept or not regardless of its phrasing.

Aeryn looked into his eyes.

“No, that’s not necessary. You should not have to leave.”

Ardis smiled and shook his head as they continued.

“Aeryn, he has been gone for over thirteen cycles from your side; it is fairly obvious that something traumatic has happened to him and he’ll need you now more than ever.”

Aeryn’s eyes softened at this caring man.

“So we end it?”

Ardis was quiet again and looked away.

“If you want to.”

Aeryn cupped his cheek to face her.

“I don’t think I do. For the last seven cycles you have been there for me and kept me sane when I just wanted to fall apart. John…”

“Had no choice in what happened to him. Aeryn I know you pretty well, and your love for this man was legendary amongst the Peacekeepers, a source of jokes in poor taste for some and an inspiration for others, especially during the dark days of the war. I doubt that he would have left you or his child willingly, he deserves a chance. If I have learned anything it’s that second chances are rare. Someone somewhere has given you another chance.”

He cupped her face and smoothed the tears from her cheeks.

“It’s not fair.” Her voice a broken whisper to his ears.

“It never is, but fair and right are two different things. You two are something that shouldn’t be broken, he has come back and that is sign enough for me. I’m not the one for you.”

His own tears tracked his face as he said it.

Aeryn sniffed and shook her head.

“And if he doesn’t want that chance?”

Ardis smiled again.

“I doubt that’s possible but if not then he is a fool and I’ll be waiting.” He kissed her forehead and strode to the docking bay.

**

The Carrier entered Sanctuary space on slow cruise. It was actively scanning for a particular bio trace when it came up with interesting results.

“Sir, the leviathan Moya is in orbit around the third planet along with a host of other ships. One is undergoing a massive refit operation and looks to be a Zelbinion class Carrier.”

Braca stood and relayed the information to Scorpius.

“Braca, send a hail to Moya, in particular Officer Sun or Ka-D’Argo. Tell them that we approach unarmed without hostile intent. Order all Frag cannons swung rear and locked down.”

Braca issued the orders and hailed Moya.

#4 (permalink)

By Killjoy01 on 10-24-2006, 04:34 PM

“He’s what!?” Aeryn rushed into command and stopped at the sight of Scorpius on the screen.

“Ah Officer Sun, or Commander rather, it is fortunate to see you again.”

Aeryn kept her face schooled and gave the ghost of a smile.

“Scorpius.”

The half breed gave a short nod of his head at her acknowledgment. Shonnra entered Command followed by the full grown Yooshie.

“Ah, so you did give birth, she is the image of her father.”

Shonnra frowned in confusion.

“Mom who is that?”

Aeryn kept her gaze on the screen.

“Scorpius.”

Shonnra turned ice blue diamonds on the creature.

“The one that tortured dad and put the chip in his brain?”

Scorpius grimaced.

“A most unfortunate set of circumstances I assure you.”

Aeryn snorted.

“Why are you here Scorpius?”

Scorpius sighed and brushed a hand across his leather clad brow.

“I have some rather interesting information. It would seem the event that took John Crichton away didn’t kill him after all.” His gaze shifted to something behind Aeryn. “But I gather you know that already.”

Aeryn turned to see John standing at the door to command still wrapped in the thermal blanket, his teeth chattered slightly as he looked around in confusion.

“W-w-what th-the hell i-i-ss going on?” He looked ready to topple over at a moments notice but remained standing by sheer will alone. Aeryn rushed to his side and cupped his face.

“John do you recognize me?”

John grimaced and flinched hard out of her grasp, Aeryn reached for him again and glared at her.

“Don’t touch me.”

Hurt and confusion flashed across her face as she withdrew and nodded slightly.

“John.”

He focused his gaze on her but nothing more. She steeled herself and tried again.

“Do you recognize me, or where you are?”

John frowned again and blinked slowly, his mind was spinning in a hundred different directions. A thousand voices all his own from times past, present and future colliding and shifting against each other and running through the gaps in his mind. He swayed under the cacophony of noise that only he could hear. Tears streamed through his tightly clenched eyes as he placed his arms around his head and clasped his hands behind it.
Aeryn wanted so badly to touch him but she dared not break the attempt at control. So she spoke her voice soft and reassuring as she tried to reach him.

“John, please open your eyes and look around you. This is Moya, you're home.”

John kept his arms clasped around his head but managed to crack a bleary eye to survey the surroundings. His first sight was the woman he loved more than life itself, the one he had run from for fear of having his heart broken again and having Scorpius use her against him. She was so beautiful, no matter how many realities he had passed through this image was always his favorite, strong and firm, a little leaner perhaps but so much like the day he’d met her.

He opened another eye as the voices receded a bit further, he could feel the shift taking place in his mind as the rhythms of this reality settled into place. His skin felt raw and itchy, he needed a bath or a shower he didn’t care which. He would have to leave soon before this reality fully took hold, before the nightmare began but he couldn’t find the hum. It had always been there keeping him going, now there was silence except for the voices and Moya’s own thrumming pulse.

Could he have found it? He cast his gaze about in further confusion, Scorpy on the big screen, D’Argo staring at him like he was a two headed carnival freak. Chiana with her soft eyed stare and her lips parted to say something but having it die in her throat as she cried instead and Aeryn, always Aeryn.

She approached a bit closer, his mind shied from the contact taking his body with it, he knew what would happen, he’d seen it too many times. Aeryn’s eyes flashed in heartache, she stopped where she was and smiled sadly.

“You know me, don’t you.”

“I…I think so.” He groaned and put his head in his hands. “I…I can’t r-r-r-emember much.”

Aeryn sighed softly and rubbed her arms.

“Then you know I would never hurt you.”

John felt a warm heavy breath at his neck and turned to face the snuffling jaws of Yooshie.

“OHH ****!!”

John flailed and toppled backwards as Yooshie yelped and scrambled behind Shonnra though he towered over her.

“Daddy you scared him.” Shonnra turned and patted the Keedva on his head while John lay on his back breathing in heavy gusts, not having heard the young girls remark. Aeryn helped him to sit up and ran a gentle hand across his shoulders. John groaned and placed his head in his hands again.

“Aeryn?”

She smiled in relief at ths recognition in his voice.

“Yes, it’s me John.”

He turned his face to hers and reached out with a shaking hand to touch her face. The contact brought a flash of something barely perceived. memory buried under countless passages through infinite realities.

So you could tell me, if you were pregnant?

I didn’t want to tell you about the baby until I was sure.

I would place my life in your hands, but not my heart.

Just come back when you’ve got your story straight.

“No, no no no, it’s not real Johnny. Come on get it together.

John lurched to his feet away from her. His eyes were shut tight as he pulled inside himself, he could here her calling but he blocked it out, nothing mattered but the hum, the resonating guide. He delved into the darkness of his mind searching.

“Whe-where is it!?”

His eyes snapped open in panic. He caught movement out of the corner of his eye and turned to see his friend approaching only it wasn’t him, he was older, the Tenkas were longer, he had more scars than the friend he remembered. John backed into the hallway with his hands in front of him.

“Not real, not here, wrong reality, sorry for the intrusion folks.” He continued his mumbling into the corridor keeping his eyes on the group in the room. Aeryn was nearly in a panic trying to reach him; he saw her take a step and shouted.

“NO! Don’t come near me! Just stay there Aeryn, please.” She stopped at the pleading look he gave her, he was scared beyond reason. What the frell had happened to him?

John missed the DRD behind him and fell over 1812 with another shout. The tiny robot turned its stalks on him and gave a small whistle before nudging him again. John rolled to his hands and knees and put his face at eye level with the droid.

“1812?” His voice shook marginally. He reached out and patted the robot, it whistled cheerfully and turned in a tight circle. A ghost of a smile played at his lips before standing up and away from the robot.

“Don’t let it get you Johnny, come on dammit, focus. She’s waiting for you.”

Aeryn heard the low spoken one sided conversation, her heart clenched around itself.

“Who John, who’s waiting.”

John smiled at her softly.

“You are.”

He began to turn inwards, hum be damned he was gonn find his way out of this nightmare. He could feel the equations pulling together and the vortex coming. A scrabbling sound broke his concentration and he opened his eyes. The girl that the Keedva had run behind had fallen, the beast was over her licking her face and whining, he heard a shout and turned to see Aeryn dash across the room to her side.

“Shonnra! Come on sweetheart wake up.”

John frowned at something out of place and was startled at the tears in Aeryn’s eyes as she tried to rouse the girl. Aeryn looked at him then back at the girl her eyes willing him to make a connection. John ground his teeth in frustration, he had to get out of here before it was too late but he couldn’t just leave the obviously stricken girl.

“What?” was all he finally managed to say.

Aeryn shifted to cradled her daughters head.

“Look at her, what do you see?”

John took a hesitant step and stared into the face of the pretty young girl. His heart slammed in his chest. Raven hair, angled features at once soft yet sharp. The girl moaned and opened her eyes, John reeled and fell to his knees as he looked into his own blue eyes. The world spun and the voices swelled and receded like waves on a beach before growing and crashing down on him driving him to the darkness beneath.

**
John woke in the low light of the Med bay again and placed his hand on his head. The voices were quiet for the time being and Harvey, well he hadn’t heard from Harvey in quite some time. Not since they locked him in that…no don’t wanna remember that.

He realized there was a weight on the left side of his chest. He looked down to see Aeryn asleep, her head rising and falling with his breaths. He examined the lay of her face, the lines of worry and stress were smoothed in sleep. She was just as he remembered her…except for the two silvery strands of gray at her brow. His hand moved of its own volition to stroke the out of place hairs. Aeryn stirred and opened her eyes to look at him.

“Hey.” The greeting so familiar it sent a small tremor through his body.

“H-hey.” Her gaze held him trapped as she smiled, a million watts and he was floating on the high that was Aeryn Sun.

She lifted her head and shifted to touch his hand.

“Feeling better?”

John frowned and closed his eyes.

“Define better. If you mean do I feel like I’ve had a truck rammed through my skull and my body put in a blender on frappe then sure.”

Aeryn smirked.

“I’ll take that as a yes seeing as I didn’t understand a word of it.”

John opened his eyes again and gave her a small grin.

“You bring out the best in me darlin.”

Aeryn gripped his hand a little tighter ad stoked her thumb across the back. They were firm and strong just as she remembered, in fact nothing about him had changed since that day. He was still the same young vibrant man that had disappeared into the wormhole thirteen years ago.

John coughed breaking her from her observations. She rose and grabbed the water off the table.

“Here drink this, not too much.”

John swallowed and laid his head back on the pillow. Aeryn resumed her seat beside him and continued stroking his hand, silence reigned in the room. John shifted to look at her again, she could see the questions forming in his eyes, the way they narrowed ever so slightly and the way his mouth twitched.

“What is it?”

John looked back at the ceiling.

“I-I can’t hear the hum anymore Aeryn, but I can still feel all the ability that I unlocked.”

Aeryn stroked his hand again.

“The hum?”

John focused his gaze on her.

“It’s my guide through the wormholes, tells me when I’m close to my destination. Only when I arrive at the correct spot does it stop, so that means…God Aeryn, please tell me this is real.”

His voice pulled at her heart, she gripped his hand ever more tightly, strength flowing from her to him.

“It’s real John. Oh I have missed you so much.”

She rose and kissed him softly, her hair cascading to cover them in an ebony veil.

“I missed you too sunshine, of course it’s only been about thirteen minutes tops.”

Aeryn pulled back her eyes wide with astonishment and apprehension.

“What do you mean thirteen microts?”

John sat up and gave her a confused look.

“Thirteen minutes in the nexus babe. Einstein said…,” John’s eyes narrowed as he remembered apportion of the conversation with the ancient, “time dilation.”

Aeryn shook her head in confusion.

“What?”

John refocused his gaze on her.

“Time dilation, it can happen sometimes, it causes time on the outside of the wormhole to speed up while inside in remains unaffected, basically you can travel into the future.”

Aeryn sat so still he thought for a moment she was sleeping again but when he looked there were tears in her eyes. John leaned over and pulled her close.

“Hey it’s alright baby, I’m home now. I’m sorry if I scared you.” He kissed the top of her head as she cried. “I Love you Aeryn, I should have said it a long time ago but I couldn’t get past the fear of being hurt again, I-I needed time to cope but it was all wrong, I did it all wrong. I’m so sorry baby.”

Aeryn gripped him tighter and kissed his cheek even as her tears continued to wet them.

“I’m so sorry John, we…I…Cholak, if I had known…I …”

He sobs continued unabated as he crooned to her so9ftly and rocked back and forth.

“Shhhh, it’s alright baby, it’s alright.”

Aeryn drew a shuddering breath and wiped her tears away. Her nose was red and her eyes slightly puffy but she was so gorgeous to him in any state it didn’t matter.

“John there are some things you need to see, things I need to tell you.”

John looked into her haunted eyes and felt his heart quail at the sight, something was definitely not right.

“Um sure babe. But just one request?”

Aeryn nodded.

“Anything.”

John grinned at her.

“Sorry bad thought. Let’s get out of here, I wanna go to my room and shower before my skin decided to peel off and go without me.”

Aeryn stiffened slightly before nodding and pulling him up. She placed her shoulder under his arm and they walked down the hall to the crew quarters. John’s brow furrowed at the sight of so many people aboard Moya but he remained quiet.

Finally they reached the room and he stopped.

“What the hell happened in here!?” He entered the room that held the bed and saw the door that separated the sitting area from the bedchamber and the room on the far side.

Aeryn put gentle pressure on his shoulders, sitting him on the bed. She grabbed a chair and sat across from him.

“John, what is the last thing you remember?”

John tore his eyes from the room to look into her eyes.

“I…I remember going EVA to check out a wormhole. You were reading my journal, learning English. The wormhole opened and sucked….me in.”

Aeryn nodded and smiled.

“This is going to be hard to hear John.”

He groaned and put his head in his hands.

“Lay it on me.” The reply was muffled by his face in his hands.

Aeryn smiled at the human nuance. She lifted his face to look into his eyes.

“John, that event happened thirteen cycles ago.”

For a moment he was completely still, the only sound to be heard was his sharp intake of breath and Moya’s hum.

“No. Oh God I…I, EINSTEIN YOU BASTARD!!!”

John slammed his fist into the bed and the metal groaned from the impact, there was a muffled crack somewhere along its length. Aeryn’s eyes widened a bit.

“John, how did you do that?”

John had his eyes closed.

“Do what?” his voice sounded tired and irritable.

Aeryn moved the bed cover and shifted the mattress to look at the metal frame. His initial impact cratered the end of the bed and sent a sizable crack running along the spine of the bed frame.

“That.” Aeryn pointed to the crack.

John stared in confusion, a flash of memory spilled to the surface before being whisked into the fog of his mind, prolonged travel through wormhole systems, dilation of time and compression of matter.

“I…I don’t know.”

Aeryn replaced the mattress and knelt before him shunting the event to the back of her mind for later. She reached up and stroked his brow causing him to close his eyes and heave a shuddering breath.

“Aeryn, I ****ed up, again.”

Aeryn shook her head.

“No you didn’t, you couldn’t have known.”

John looked at her.

“I should have known. I should have been more careful. If I had been in here instead of out there avoiding you and being obsessed this….”

John put his hands in his head again and sobbed.

“My fault, my fault. Oh god it’s all my fault.”

Aeryn cradled his head close and shushed him with her lips on his brow.

“It’s not your fault.”

John continued to cry and clutch at her while she held him. A sound from the other room had her turning to see Yooshie and Shonnra at the door. Aeryn wiped his tears from his face and smiled.

“There’s someone that has wanted to meet you.”

John nodded and swallowed. Aeryn motioned her daughter forward.

“John, this is Shonnra Roberta Sun, or Crichton depending on who you ask.” John could hear the smile in her voice but his eyes were riveted on the girl before him. Thirteen and looking for the entire world like a perfect blend of her parents. John’s fingers moved of their own accord and she came forward to let him stroke her hair.

“Just like your mom’s.” his voice was a whisper. He pulled her close and sobbed into her hair. Shonnra clutched him back and whispered.

“Welcome home daddy.”