Title: Frelling Wormholes

Author: Valoki

Timeline: 'Into the Lion's Den' (Part 2), AU during and after this.

Archiving: Name the place.

Disclaimer: Plot idea is mine but nothing else. (Wish it was, Farscape would still be on air).

Notes: This is the first fanfic I've done so constructive criticism is welcomed. Beta'd by Daisee Chain. General writing advice by 2bones

Chapter 1 – Never enough time.

Looking from Aeryn to Crais, John steps closer to Aeryn. "Tell me… you believe this."

Aeryn looks him in the eye "Do you have a plan to destroy the ship?"

John pauses, he can't tell her the whole truth he thinks, she's just lost the other John. To lose Talyn and Crais as well so soon after, he couldn't do that to her or to Moya. His way, Aeryn will have something to hold on to that doesn't cause her pain and he can do something for them both without Scorpius chasing them all over the galaxy. He doesn't see another way….

"I… yes there is a way, it was something I was keeping in reserve, and I guess it's time for it."

"What do you mean, reserve, why was this not mentioned before?" Crais asks.

"Yes, why now?" Aeryn looks surprised.

"It means I have to mess with their system and disrupt something and I wasn't entirely sure I could do it without their noticing and correcting it. But, I have had time to study the system a bit more and I'm pretty sure I can slip it past them now, while I input some more equations into the system I'll slip in something else as well."

"So how does this affect the others as well as Talyn and Crais? How do they get a chance to escape?" frowns Aeryn.

"I'll come up with a distraction Scorpius won't be able to pass up. When I start, Crais you'll have a short window of time to get past the guards around Talyn, and head out the hanger door. Scorpius will be too busy to know. Aeryn can then head down to the detention section and spring the others in the confusion from what Talyn and I'll be doing and grab a Marauder and make your escape. But make sure whatever you do you don't head in the direction of the wormhole or near it. Hit the burners and get away from it as fast as you can."

"And where will you be during all this?" asked Crais, looking puzzled.

"Out in my module giving Scorpy the kind of show he can't resist close to the wormhole. Just make sure you don't hang around on the carrier. Everyone including the crew is going to need to get clear as soon as possible so make sure that the alarms are going: fire alarm or whatever. It'll be slow enough for people to get out but not so slow so they could stop it, and it should only affect the carrier since this is the repeater that keeps the wormhole stable."

Walking out of the room and into the corridor John sighs and wonders just how it's gotten this bad. He thinks over what he must do next but he doesn't see any choice. Never enough time to do it the easy way only the time to do it the UT way, deadly, why can't the universe just cut him a break? It's not like he hasn't almost died for it often enough.

Wandering into the hanger he looks at a prowler and considers it thoughtfully, then making his decision, he walks into the lab.

He wanders over to Co-Kura. "Yo, Harrison! Get your shoes on. We're goin on a little trip to my module." He pats him on the shoulder and heads back out the door.

"My dear Crichton!" Co-Kura looking confused doesn't follow him.

John wanders back to him taking off his glove. Waving the arm he's been writing on under Co-Kura's nose "You smell this? Wormholes. We are this close. But you gotta get Scorpy to call off the watchdogs."

Co-Kura looks alarmed but hurries after John as he leaves the lab "Crichton? Crichton? Crichton!"

John continues ignoring Co-Kura. John's racing thoughts focus on Moya and Pilot only a few metras away, unaware and vulnerable. They aren't going to get hurt by this mess no matter what and that's a promise, a warning is the least we can do. They need to be ready to run or fall victim to this major league foul-up and that can't happen. No one else is going to pay for my mistakes.

"Crichton! Crichton! We must hurry. Scorpius said we must not stay on Moya long," comms Co-Kura scurrying around the module in Moya's hanger.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm on my way."

John perches carefully on the control console and studies Pilot's features as he talks, feeling this may be the last time they will see each other.

Looking apprehensive Pilot looks up from his console "Moya understands. She will move directly away from the wormhole and be prepared to starburst as soon as the others have been captured in the docking web. Will Talyn be alright, is… is he healed?"

"I think so Pilot. Crais said the gun has been disabled and they had started the process to undo the damage. Given time and peace to heal he should be more stable. With Moya there to monitor and aid him he should be able to complete the process of healing. And without Scorpius or me around you should be able to slip away into the Territories without anyone hunting you."

"Moya and I understand, but Commander is there no way we can help you also, we do not want lose you." Pilot looks sad and places one of his claws on John's shoulder.

"I have to be in the mouth of the wormhole to get the stabilisation control from the carrier. And to draw the wormhole towards the carrier so it'll fall into it. It'll be slow at first but unstoppable once it starts. And unfortunately I'll have to go into the wormhole ahead of the carrier to make it work as the control node. With any luck at all I'll come out the other side and be able to find you guys again, but knowing my plans and our luck…"

"We know Commander but we will hope to see you again."

"Me too Pilot, I love ya both and I'll try to make it back. Now I'd better get going before Scorpy misses his favourite whipping boy."

Co-Kura scurries around the module, completing his checks. "Check the nose cone."

Crichton watches as the last minute checks are done on the module and tries to ignore the presence of Scorpius at his side. "Co-Kura. Make sure those sensors are far away from the hetch drive."

Co-Kura, turns to a tech "Attach one to either side."

"I allowed you to get this … primitive ship. How is it going to get me what I want?"

"Read the middle finger, Scorpy. I have a thought, forming in my head as to why this primitive ship, with no shielding, allows me to survive wormholes. I'm gonna check it out."

"What pilot is ready for deployment?" Scorpius calls out.

"Whoa, no. No, no. Nobody flies it but me. One of your bozos screws up and bye-bye birdie."

"You could die, John."

"Yes I could die. If I don't kick this project in the ass before Commandant Cleavage gets back, she's gonna execute me anyway, right?"

John notices an odd uncertainty in Scorpius. Of course, Scorpy's only ever seen the liquid remains of those he's sent through. It's another thing to do a test flight yourself….

"What? You worried that if I turn to silly putty, so do you?"

"Why don't you come with me?" He studies Scorpius "Come on, Grasshopper. Come with me. You spent your life in search of wormholes, let me introduce you to one… up close and personal."

"Unless of course, you're too scared."

John studied the modules readouts and looked out at the wormhole "Co-Kura? How are the sensors reading?"

"All sensor data flowing at maximum."

"All right, Scorp. You ready to rumble?"

"Oh yes, John."

In the module, Crichton watches the console readouts and thinks of the past three cycles the friends he's made and lost, the enemies and situations they've gotten into and out of. Mostly he tried not to think of Aeryn. He's having trouble concentrating. Too many memories of Aeryn keep intruding - both good and bad. He doesn't want to leave her alone the way his… duplicate did but what choice does he have? She won't let him near her, and he causes her pain when he's close. This is the only way he knows how to help.

"Is there a problem John?" asks Scorpius, placing a hand on his shoulder.

John shrugs free. "Get off me Scorpy, just getting the hum in me head."

"We'll be going in just a microt. All right. Control we are go, entry vector confirmed, entering the tube in ten microts."

Crichton flicks a look at his readouts "We are at optimal attitude."

Co-Kura absently studying a read-out comments "All data still flowing."

Crichton returns his attention to the wormhole gaping in front of him "Entering the wormhole… in ten microts.

"On my mark."

Co-Kura studies his data. "Check your drag co-efficient, Crichton."

Crichton slowly pushes down on the controls and the module noses over and dives into the wormhole.

"Huh, what do you think?" The amazing pale blue translucent walls of the wormhole flow past, their light shimmering into the cockpit.

"This is without description, John."

"Yeah, it's a real Kodak moment."

Co-Kura's concern evident in his voice calls out. "Crichton we're detecting rantath flux."

The vibration increases as the module starts to wobble.

"What is that John?" Scorpius asks.

"I don't know."

Co-Kura calls out now appearing even more concerned "You're approaching the zone of possible instability."

"Alright, buckle up back there. We got a little problem."

"What is causing this, John?" shouts Scorpius over the nose of the straining engine.

-----------------

Officer Brenna blocks Crais' path to Talyn "You may not know it, sir but my orders have been changed by Scorpius himself. He said if you tried to board the hybrid again, I was authorised to shoot to kill."

-----------------

"Sensor readings." yells Co-Kura at the lab staff.

"They're all in the danger zone."

Co-Kura stabs the comms control "Do you read me? Crichton? Commander Crichton?"

"Do you read me? Do you read me?" Co-Kura cries out hoping for an answer.

"Can you read me?"

"Crichton!" He turns to the techs standing nearby. "Get me readings!"

"Are either of them still alive?"

-----------------

"I'm going to enjoy this command," says Brenna. He ignores everything else happening, focuses only on Crais.

Crais isn't impressed "Not as much as me."

John shouts into the comm. "Co-Kura. We are experiencing… heavy instabilities. Attempting to recover."

"What is causing this, John?"

"Flying through wormholes ain't like dusting crops farm boy. It takes a little finesse."

Even as he makes the comment the module begins to vibrate less and move more easily through the wormhole.

"Okay Co-Kura. We are stabilising."

"Sensor readings confirm that." Co-Kura sounds relieved.

-----------------

Crais tosses a shock grenade into the guards as Aeryn commando drops from the ceiling, smashing several guards like rag dolls into the floor. Making sure they are unconscious and incapable of interfering, they pause briefly to study one another.

"Don't wait for us Crais. As soon as I get the hanger doors open, get out and starburst Talyn should get as far away as he can. In fact if you can do it just as you've exited the hanger it should cause plenty of additional confusion and some damage."

He nods. "We will meet again Officer Sun. Somewhere in the Uncharted Territories."

-----------------

"I've never felt this… connected, John."

"You're not goin all mushy on me back there, are ya?"

Co-Kura looks up from his readings and comms Crichton "The wormhole appears to be experiencing wave fluctuations. I… I… I strongly recommend that you fly clear and return to the carrier.

"Right." Replies John, snaps a look back at Scorpius, as he agrees to end the flight.

As John exits the wormhole, he kicks in the extra signal to the main computer and activates a switch on the side of the cockpit. Well that's it. We saved the universe's eema again from Wormhole Lunatics Inc. Now if his plan will actually go the way it's supposed to, they all might survive this. He wonders if Scorpius will be grateful for not leaving him to go down with the ship.

-----------------

Crais looks over Talyn's bridge and pauses slightly.

"You know what we have to do Talyn. As soon as the doors are sufficiently open, starburst once we are in the entrance. We must create sufficient confusion that the others and Moya can use it to make their escape while Crichton activates his plan."

He calls the module. "Scorpius? I am just making my final… good-byes."

"Where are you Crais?"

"I am standing on the bridge of my ship, my true ship. Did you honestly think I would let you take it away from me, or that I would trust you?"

"Braca," growls Scorpius over the comms. "have this fool arrested."

Braca looks down at the console on the Command Deck. "Yes Sir. Confirmed he is in the hybrid, in the… gamma hanger on level twelve. The hybrid is powering up."

Crais ignores them. "You are the most repellent of creatures, Scorpius. You weren't born into Peacekeepers. You weren't… conscripted against your will."

"You chose to be one."

Scorpius becomes increasingly furious. "I want the bay doors sealed. All prowlers scrambled. That hybrid must not get away!"

Braca continues to track the activity on his command monitors. "The hybrid is building to maximum power inside the hanger. We can't control the hanger doors, they won't respond to command, they're on local control only!"

"The last time I left… this ship…, My ship… I did so under a veil of secrecy. You forced that situation. You took away my command. You stole my life from me. Well, this time Scorpius…" Crais continues calmly as Talyn glides slowly forward "I am not leaving quietly."

"Somebody find that fool… and get him out of that ship!" Yells Scorpius furiously.

Braca, still monitoring conditions on the carrier Command Deck, is shaken as the entire carrier shudders and the General Quarters alarms sounds throughout the ship. He starts to get reports throughout the ship of stress on the hull and some structural damage and still no one has managed to get the traitor off the hybrid.

In the detention section where the others are held, everyone is listening to the speakers and the increasingly chaotic situation. Aeryn steps quickly into view sweeping her pulse rifle into the head of the guard. Grabbing the key, she quickly lets them out.

"Move it, no time for questions, we need to get going while everything is confused. Follow me. We'll secure a Marauder and head to Moya."

Making for the nearest hanger bay they are passed by many of the crew running for stations trying to obey the GQ alarm, others still obviously confused moving more slowly, and over all the creaking and shuddering felt as much as heard throughout the great ship. Running into the bay they found some craft still uncrewed, some crewed and waiting, and others sweeping out of the hanger like a cloud of bats disturbed in their cave.

Scorpius still stuck on the module, and furious as no action seems to have been taken, comms. "Somebody get that traitor off that ship!"

The module lurches as the wormhole fluctuates and John flicks it over on its side and begins circling up and around the open mouth of the wormhole.

His passenger growls. "What are you doing John?"

John opens his mouth to answer, but Braca interrupts. The tremor in his voice is obvious. "Sir we've lost control of the ship! The wormhole - it's exerting a gradual pull on us. The systems are malfunctioning! We can't stop it…."

John smirks. "Just checking what's going on from out here first." He says, answering Scorpy. He surveys the massive Command Carrier as it suddenly sways visibly in the view screen and ever so slightly edges towards the wormhole and the module.

"Crichton," grates Scorpius, "what have you done?"

"Nothing, Scorpy. It looks like the wormhole has overcome your stabiliser and is affecting the carrier…"

"That is not possible. The carrier itself is the stabiliser, it should have no effect other than to… You have sabotaged the control system made it a drawing effect."

A click sounds and a foam like substance billows up around Scorpius, cocooning him, John looks over his shoulder with a grim smile. "Well, Scorpy, now you're going to have a front row seat for the finale, the Superbowl of cluster frells, because we are just going to sit here nice and quiet and watch. That substance is a grenade of riot foam we got on a commerce planet. It's strong as hell and it'll keep you from doing anything other than watching."

"Crichton!" Scorpius hisses suddenly very much Scarran.

"And of course no more comms with the carrier. That would just be annoying. We'll sit here in peace and quiet, and watch the universe go to hell in a hand basket."

Braca scrambles to control the carrier, to find some way to stop its inexorable fall into the wormhole. Finally not willing to go down with the ship he gives the order.

"All hands this is a class one emergency. Evacuate the ship immediately. Head away from the wormhole. All Vindicator class vessels are to move away from the wormhole and then conduct rescue operations."

From another hanger D'Argo pulls away from the doomed carrier in the stolen Marauder and, heads toward Moya who is turning, preparing to starburst. Aeryn follows in a Prowler covering their escape, watching as her home for so many cycles begins slowly to drift side on towards the wormhole. The last of her links with the Peacekeepers slides towards its destruction. Now, she had no ties to them. Nothing but memories, the good and the bad.

Flying toward Moya's hanger Aeryn notices Crichton's module, tiny at this distance, still at the wormhole glowing a pale blue from the reflected light, circling in front of the Command Carrier.

"Crichton, what are you doing? We're ready to go. Get over here now."

"I'd like to Aeryn but I'm afraid that wouldn't work."

"What do you mean it won't work?"

"It's simple, Aeryn. For this to work I need to be right here as a focus for the ship's system letting the carrier drift into the wormhole. It's using my position as the focal point, or at least what it thinks is the correct focal point."

The prowler lurches as it responds to Aeryn's hands suddenly clenching the controls - not again.

"Crichton, you can still get out. You can wait till the last minute and still get out…"

"Sorry, Aeryn. I hope you find whatever it is that'll make you happy again. You've been more don't give that up."

"Crichton, no! You can't do this, not again!"

"Actually, Aeryn, I didn't want to do this at all, but between Scorpy here and Commandant Cleavage, I didn't get left with much choice. It had to be all or nothing. Without me they'll be pissed as hell but should leave all of you alone. Goodbye, Aeryn."

"Crichton, no you can't, please…"

As the rapidly emptying carrier descends into the wormhole, drawn in by the tiny white craft, all Aeryn can do is watch.

Sighing, Pilot notes Moya is ready, and initiates starburst. "Prepare for starburst people, in five microts."