Title: Worlds Apart
Notes: About two years ago I wrote this story, which is a cross-over with The Lost World. Like Farscape, The Lost World got canceled with the mother of all cliffhangers, but that very cliffhanger made it oh so tempting to link into the Farscape universe. And I could work in the fact that Gigi Edgley (Chiana) played a guest part in one of the Lost World episodes! Anyway, this story is set a couple of monens after The Peacekeeper Wars in the Farscape universe and immediately following Heart of the Storm in The Lost World universe (try as they might, they were unable to pull of a 'Farscape' and get a mini to finish the story properly. A shame).
Disclaimer: As always, these characters are not now, never have and never will be mine, nor do I make any money with putting this online.

"Anyone got any idea what that is?" John glanced around at his shipmates, pointing his finger in the direction of the forward portal that currently showed them a slowly moving yellow tornado-type funnel floating about in space.

Chiana shook her head. "Never seen anything like it."

"Yotz, I knew I should have found other passage to return to Hyneria." Rygel glared at John. "You're a frelling trouble magnet!"

Aeryn glanced at her son as he lay snuggled up in the sling especially made for him before looking back up at the view screen, ignoring the Hynerian ruler for the moment. "I doubt this is a natural phenomenon. It's moving around too much for that."

John looked down at his son as well. "Well, whatever it is, we better avoid contact with it. Pilot, please plot a course around this thing."

"Very well, Commander."

John stroked his son's hair, the little bit of it that was present, and looked at his wife. "Whadda ya say we go and enjoy some quiet ti—"

"Commander! The phenomenon jumped erratically and is now directly inside of Moya!"

"...me after we've dealt with this dren?" John changed his suggestion mid-sentence and ended it in a sigh. "Alright, Pilot, is this thing hurting or damaging Moya in any way?"

"No, Commander. Sensors indicate a slight change in atmospheric conditions in the areas the phenomenon has visited."

"Areas? As in 'more than one' area?"

"Yes, Commander. It has visited four areas, two on Tier five, one on Tier six and one on Tier eight."

"Where's the phenomenon now, Pilot?"

"It appears to have vanished, Officer Sun." Pilot paused shortly. "One of the DRDs happened to be close to one of the areas. It seems we have visitors."

Aeryn looked at John for a moment and then turned to Rygel. "Can you hide little D'Argo?"

Rygel nodded. "Of course. I will protect him with my life."

"We'll comm you when all's safe." John grabbed hold of Wynona. "Pilot, point us to the areas the phenomenon has been in."

"Any idea where we are?"

"No, but it looks like we're in some kind of structure."

"Oh, that's helpful, Roxton. I was wondering where the air and sun had gone to."

"Sorry to disappoint you, Marguerite, but that's really the best I can do at the moment." John Roxton carefully moved around the hallway he found himself and Marguerite in, his pistols at the ready, prepared for any possible danger. "So, what happened after we got separated?"

Marguerite, weaponless at the moment, stuck close to him. "I was captured by some Druids. They wanted to sacrifice me to avert a storm. Remember the body we found when we were trapped in that cave, the one with that mark on her shoulder? The same one as I have?"

Roxton nodded.

"That probably was me. The Druids led me to that same cave and were preparing to kill me." Marguerite looked at the man in front of her, relieved to be back in his presence. At least they were in this mess together, and that made her feel quite a bit safer.

"I was about to be killed as well before I ended up here with you. The last thing I saw was a yellow beam of light."

"So did I. I wonder why it got us, and why we're the only two to get here? I didn't see the Druids, nor the 17th-century Conquistadors who were chasing you."

"Neither did I, but I can't say I miss them." Roxton felt Marguerite staying close to him, nearly pressing her entire body length against him whenever he stopped to peek around a corner or one of those odd-looking protrusions all along the hallway. He turned around, pressing a finger against his lips. "Somebody's coming this way," he whispered.

"I'd feel a lot safer if you'd lend me one of your pistols," she whispered back.

Roxton gave one to her, knowing she could handle the weapon just fine.

Aeryn was walking confidently yet cautiously through the corridor. John and Chiana would be dealing with one of the other three locations first, but this location was the one the DRD had detected the visitors in.

A few motra's later she stopped. Her eyes had seen movement up ahead, just behind one of Moya's ribs. Aeryn pondered her next course of action. She couldn't get closer without sacrificing defensive positions. From this position she couldn't do much to them, either. Well, John usually had some luck in talking people out of hiding, perhaps, she could do the same.

"V, wake up!"

Finn prodded Veronica's shoulder repeatedly. Finally the blonde Amazon moaned softly and opened her eyes, one hand still clutching the object that had either saved them or killed them.

"Where are we?" Veronica slowly sat up.

Finn switched to whispering. "I have no idea, but someone's coming this way."

Veronica tilted her head a little and after a brief pause nodded and got up, instantly coming to full alertness. "Whoever it is, I'm sure we can handle it." She hung the Trion around her neck and retrieved one of the knives from her boot.

"Marguerite, you're good at languages. Any idea what she's saying?" Roxton never let his eyes stray away from the woman. Or rather, the location he deemed the woman to be. He couldn't see her at all, not from this distance.

The dark-haired woman beside him shook her head. "No, I don't think I ever heard a language like that. Does it matter?"

"Well, she could be telling us she's unarmed, that it's safe for us to come out."

"Really, Roxton, when has that ever happened?"

"What do you suggest?"

Marguerite looked in the direction of the unknown woman. "Excuse me, but we don't understand your language."

In response they heard the woman talk, though nothing seemed understandable. Nothing except for a very English word.

"Roxton! She said your name! I clearly heard her say 'John'."

Aeryn muttered, "Frell, more people without translator microbes." She tapped her comms. "I'm close to the intruders and asked them to show themselves. John, they don't seem to understand a word I'm saying. What do you want me to do?"
Veronica glanced at Finn. "What language is that?"

Finn shrugged a little. "Don't know, don't care. I'll let my crossbow do the talking."

"I s'pose we can rule out inviting them to dinner, then." John pressed himself against the corridor wall, making sure to stay out of the line of fire while he mulled over this new information. "How many are on your side?"

"Two, from what I can tell."

John nodded. "Pip tells me there are two here as well."

"That's English!" Marguerite whispered excitedly.

Roxton nodded. "Yes, American, I think. And it seems whoever is talking English has no problem understanding that woman."

"And they found two more people, apparently." Marguerite looked in the direction of the woman again. "Whoever you are, we do understand English!"

"Hey, Aer, did I just hear someone yelling they understand English?"

"Yes."

There was just a short pause before Aeryn continued again, this time in English and directed at the newcomers. "Who are you and why are you here?"

Roxton and Marguerite looked at each other upon realizing that the still unseen woman was now speaking English.

Roxton turned back to look in her direction. "I'm Lord John Roxton and the lady with me is called Marguerite. Who are you?"

"Roxton! Marguerite! Finn and I are here as well! Are you alright?"

John sighed, realizing this was going nowhere, fast. "How 'bout we stop hiding from each other and meet in one area? Saves everyone's voice. Aer, if you take a detour to Tier eight and see if more of their friends arrived, Pip and I will go to Tier six. Afterwards we'll meetcha'll in Center Chamber."

Aeryn smiled at the irony of the current situation. Usually it was John who'd be accused of being something he wasn't. "No, I'm not Human. I'm Sebacean. We just look alike."

Marguerite looked at the woman. "But the man we heard talking, he is Human, right?"

Aeryn nodded. "Yes, he's the one who taught me your language."

Roxton cleared his throat. "Excuse me, but how did you know my name?"

Aeryn looked at him, confused. "I didn't know your name before you told me yourself."

Marguerite and Roxton glanced at each other before Roxton addressed Aeryn again. "We heard you say 'John' before I mentioned our names."

Aeryn smiled. "I was talking to Crichton. His name is 'John' as well."

Marguerite looked at Roxton. "I think I'll stick to calling you Roxton."

"Pakim?"

Chiana looked blankly at Veronica.

John shook his head. "No, this is Chiana." He noticed the puzzled look on Veronica's face slowly fade and turn into a smile.

"Sorry, she looks like someone I met before. She had gold-colored skin then."

John nodded as if understanding but his features clearly showed his confusion as well. "So, you're Human, right?" Though it beat him how a Human would have seen anyone with gold-colored skin.

"Isn't that obvious from the way we look?" Finn looked John up and down, finding him very attractive. Not to mention the tight leather pants that accentuated his... assets. Veronica's elbow to her ribs yanked her out of her lascivious staring.

John shook his head again in answer to Finn's question. "Not 'round here, it isn't."

"And where is here, exactly?" Veronica looked expectantly at John.

"Somewhere. I think it's better if I'd explain with all of you in one place."

Veronica nodded. "Probably a good idea."

At the same moment Finn made a discovery. "Challenger!"

Up ahead the middle-aged professor lay on the floor, seemingly unconscious. Before Veronica and Finn could reach him, however, he slowly propped himself up.

"Professor, are you alright?" Veronica slipped her arm behind his neck to support his attempt in getting up off the floor.

"Yes, I'm quite alright." He brushed off his clothes and then looked back at Finn and Veronica. "What happened after we got separated?" He then took in his surroundings. "And where in blazes are we?"

Crichton and Chiana had arrived at that moment. Crichton gestured towards Veronica. "As I told Jane here before, I think it's best if I explain that when we meet up with the others."

Challenger only now noticed the two new companions. "Others?" His gaze shifted to the gray-skinned girl before returning to the Human male. "What others?"

"It's alright, Challenger," Finn attempted to reassure him. "Roxton and Marguerite are here somewhere as well. We'll be meeting them a little later."

Challenger slowly nodded, again looking toward the gray-skinned girl.

Chiana cocked her head and turned towards Crichton. "I'm guessing he's confusing me with that other person these two tralks talked about."

"Pip, no name-calling."

Challenger looked once again at the Human. "You can understand what she's saying?"

Crichton nodded. "Yeah, and she can understand English just fine. We'd better get to our meeting place. I'm sure Aeryn and your friends will have found out whether there's someone at the fourth location." He extended his hand. "By the way, I'm John. John Crichton."

"This is quite an extraordinary place, Mr. Crichton." Challenger had been looking at and touching various walls on his way to what was likely their meeting place. The meeting place itself was even more interesting.

Veronica looked around briefly, assessing possible defensive positions just in case something bad should happen, before turning back to Crichton. "How long will it take for the others to arrive here?"

"Not long, I guess. They needed to go two Tiers lower than we were when we found the professor here. I think I can hear them now."

A moment later, Crichton observed the other group enter and noted how the two groups of newcomers seemed very relieved to see each other alive and well, as if none had expected to see each other again or even to have survived. Then he observed 'Jane's' reaction to someone apparently special to her.

"Ned!" Veronica ran towards him and threw herself in his arms. "You're back."

Malone hugged her and smiled. "So are you."

"Yep, outer space, the big void." As he said it, he realized the group didn't seem particularly shocked to hear there were aliens, or that Humans could leave Earth, even if it was only for short trips to the moon and back. They weren't even shocked to find out they were actually in space.

He studied them again, and assessed that except for Jane and Blondie, the others seemed to be dressed in early nineteen-hundreds fashion, including their weaponry. As for Jane, he couldn't tell what era she came from, but Blondie was wearing leather stuff and they were pretty short. The vibe was more around his era.

"Sorry for breaking my own rules here," Crichton began, referring to his earlier comment that the group explaining things couldn't ask questions, "but you're from the early nineteen-hundreds, right?"

Challenger nodded. "Yes, nineteen-hundred twenty-three. But Finn is from two-thousand twenty-three."

Crichton nodded. "Right, that explains why she's not really shocked to hear we can leave Earth's atmosphere, but you should be."

Challenger shook his head. "Oh, no, Mr. Crichton, I assure you we are not shocked to hear that, nor to learn there are other species in outer space. I believe that once I tell our story you'll understand why. But please, continue."

Chiana spoke up first. "Are you sure you want to tell them about how you got here, old man? Bad things happen when you tell people about... you know what." At the last moment Chiana realized she couldn't say 'wormhole', since that was an English term.

Marguerite looked at the gray-skinned girl suspiciously. "We've agreed to tell everything, so he'd better not be holding anything back."

Crichton and Chiana both gave her a shocked look. Chiana was the first to get some words out. "You-you can understand what I'm saying?"

Marguerite smiled and nodded. "Most of it. It's very similar to an ancient Earth language, though there are some differences. Has anyone told you, you look like someone we met before?"

Crichton chuckled. "Yeah, I hope you'll tell me about this gold-skinned Pip at some point." He cleared his throat. "Anyway, it all started six years, that was nineteen ninety-nine, by the way, when my friend and I were testing a theory that would allow us to travel a lot farther than to the moon and back. When I started the experiment, I got hit by a magnetic wave and shot through the resulting wormhole."

Challenger furrowed his brow. "A wormhole?"

Crichton nodded. "Yeah, a blue tunnel that connects distant parts of the galaxy, allowing you to traverse that distance in a few seconds." He decided to leave out the time-traveling part for now. "Anyway, I ended up in a battle, before I got dragged into Moya." He raised his hand to forestall the next question. "That's the name of this ship. She's a Leviathan, a living ship."

Crichton proceeded to give a summary of the nearly six cycles he'd been here, only carefully editing out any references to other wormholes, time-traveling and his son, though he was sure those subjects would need to be addressed sooner or later.

Professor Challenger had been telling the story of him and his companions to the crew of Moya. Crichton had to admit that based on their adventures, they had no reason to be shocked to learn about traveling in space or the existence of aliens. He was also very impressed with the professor, who had apparently come up with various items that weren't officially invented at least half a century later.

The last part of their story made Crichton sigh. "Damn, it's always about time, isn't it?"

Before any of the newcomers had time to respond to Crichton's comment, the comms interrupted. "Could someone please come and take care of this infant! When I volunteered to take care of him, I had expected everything would be safe by now!" During Rygel's tirade, little D'Argo's cries were clearly audible.

John quirked an eyebrow at Aeryn, silently asking if she felt it was safe for their son to be brought out. A small nod of her head was her only answer. "Alright, Sparky. Bring little D to Center Chamber."

Crichton saw the explorers look towards the dark-haired woman.

"Don't look at me! I didn't understand that language any better than you did."

Crichton cleared his throat. "Yeah, that raises another issue, communication. As you've already realized by now, I can understand everyone here. The secret is translator microbes. They colonize your brain and provide you with a direct translation of any spoken language, with just a few exceptions."

"Microbes? How could they possibly work correctly? Different languages have different sentence structures, not to mention words with multiple meanings, depending on context." Marguerite shook her head. "Unless they translate with a delay, they couldn't work."

Crichton sighed. "Well, they work just fine and I've never noticed any delay in translation with regard to spoken word. Now, the thing is, should you take microbes or not? If you have to remain here for a while, Aeryn and I'd go bonkers if you didn't take them, but on the other hand, once you do return to your own time and maybe even find your way home to the civilized world, you'd be able to understand any language, which is a big risk. I doubt you'd have to worry about doctors or scientists finding out, since in your era that's virtually impossible."

Challenger nodded slowly. "Tell me, Mr. Crichton, can you still discern the actual language being spoken underneath the translation."

Crichton nodded. "Yeah, but the longer you rely on the translation, the less you notice. I guess if I'd focus I'd be better able to do so."

Aeryn interrupted. "There are some techniques that allow you to control the microbes. You may be able to disable them when you return."

Challenger nodded again. "In that case, how do I obtain these translator microbes?" He conferred with his friends. "As Mr. Crichton already pointed out, we'd be at a distinct disadvantage if we don't accept these translator microbes. We have no idea how long we will be trapped here."

Crichton noticed that after a little discussion, all reluctantly agreed to take the translator microbes. "Pilot, have the DRDs prepare six batches of translator microbes."

"Already done, Commander. They'll be there shortly."

"Thanks, Pilot." Crichton looked towards the door as he heard Rygel's thronesled approach. "There's Sparky!"

Aeryn immediately went to him to take her son. "I see he quieted again."

Rygel huffed. "I wish I had known sooner that movement would silence him. You might have mentioned it!" He turned to the newcomers. "So, what have we here? They don't look like Peacekeepers, but are you sure they aren't?"

Crichton chuckled as he stood close to Aeryn and looked at his son. "Yeah, Fluffy, we're sure. They're not even Sebacean."

Rygel took a closer look at the explorers. "Oh, frell, don't tell me. More fahrbot Humans."

"John?"

"Yeah?"

"What do you think about this situation?"

John sighed. "I don't know, babe. I think they're pretty much stuck here, maybe even forever, unless they can undo whatever caused them to end up here. You heard their story. They're not even sure themselves on how this is gonna work out, if they can even fix it." He paused. "What's your impression so far?"

Aeryn shrugged. "I think the woman with the brown clothes and blonde hair seemed to be the better warrior of the group."

John chuckled. "I bet she thought the same about you. But the others seem to be able to fend for themselves quite well."

Aeryn nodded. "Yes, and they seem to care a great deal for each other." She paused. "Just like all of us aboard Moya."

"Mm-hmm, but doesn't that make them even more dangerous? I mean, just look at all the stunts we've pulled for each other."

"True, but I sense that as long as we don't harm them, they won't harm us. No, I don't think they pose a real threat at the moment."

John sighed. "Yeah, you're probably right."

"John?"

"What is it, Marguerite?"

Marguerite saw Roxton raise his head from the pillow and glance in the direction of the door of his new accommodations. She palmed the door control and watched it shift into the wall to allow her entrance.

She stepped inside and closed the door behind her. "Can I...?" Marguerite halted, unsure if this was really such a good idea. But who else should she go to? "Is it alright with you if I sleep here? I felt rather alone in my room."

Roxton nodded. "Sure, I'll see if I can get comfortable somewhere..."

Marguerite approached the bed and shook her head. "No, you can stay here as well. The bed is large enough and I really need someone to hold me. That Druid business really got to me." She stepped into the bed, letting the sheet she had taken from her room fall on the floor.

Roxton moved to give her more room. "Are you alright, Marguerite?"

Marguerite settled on the bed, facing Roxton, suddenly realizing the two of them were now lying just inches apart, both barely clothed. Still, she trusted him. He wouldn't expect anything. A smile played on her lips as the realization dawned on her that she wouldn't necessarily say 'no' to him. "Yes, I am now." Marguerite noticed he was not touching her at all. "I still need someone to hold me, help me fall asleep."

Now he did embrace her, though he still tried to avoid full body contact. Marguerite realized there was only one way to let him know that it would be alright. She scooted closer to him, embraced him and pressed herself tightly against him. It took only a few moments before Roxton tightened his embrace.

Chiana stood in the hallway, observing Veronica alternately standing and pacing in front of the quarters occupied by the, in her opinion, attractive Malone. Chiana ruefully shook her head.

When she'd seen Malone for the first time, she'd felt an instant attraction towards him, though she was certain it was just physical. It wasn't love, not the same feeling she had with D'Argo. But he would've been a nice frell. Just to help her get over losing her D'Argo.

But now, observing Veronica's obvious longing for him, Chiana was sure it would be better for her health to stay away from this new male. That just wasn't fair! The dark-haired male, the other John, was also unavailable. That only left the older one and she wasn't so sure if that would be a good idea.

Chiana wondered why Veronica didn't just go in there, like she'd seen the dark-haired woman do earlier. It was obvious Veronica wasn't going to do so anytime soon, so maybe she needed to talk to someone.

Chiana moved closer to Veronica, who was apparently so enthralled by the man inside that she didn't even notice her arrival.

"You gonna stand there all night?" Chiana smiled at the startled Veronica.

"I... I just..." Veronica sighed.

"You love him, don'tcha?"

Veronica's only response was to nod her head.

"Does he love you?"

Veronica sighed again. "I don't know."

Chiana looked her in the eyes, tilting her head a little sideways. "Don'tcha?"

Veronica shrugged. "Not for certain."

Chiana tilted her head the other way. "Does he know you love him?"

"I... I... We never really said it to each other."

Chiana gave a small laugh. "Well, maybe not in words, but I've seen the way you two behave toward each other, and I've just witnessed you have great feelings for him." She paused, then said shrewdly, "Not knowing whether he loves you or not, that's not the reason you don't seem to want to follow through with your feelings."

Veronica sighed again. "Ned and I, we're from different parts of the world. What if they find a way back to London and Ned wants to go? Sure, I'd like to see it, but I don't think I'd be able to stay there. What if he wants to stay in London or go back to New York?"

Chiana thought about it and remembered something from their adventures as they had told them. "When you disappeared, wasn't he the one to keep on looking for you? Wasn't that the reason you hadn't seen him for a long time? Because you came back and he was still looking for you?"

Veronica shook her head. "No, he went away and made his own story."

"That's what I told the others. I never stopped looking for you. I want to be with you."

Both women turned to see Malone standing near the door, palming the control to open it.

Veronica stepped closer to Ned. "You do?"

Ned nodded.

Neither said another word, just stood there, gazing at each other. Chiana decided to leave well-enough alone. They'd work it out now, she was sure of it. She turned away and headed for Center Chamber to grab a drink, something she had intended to do before witnessing the two women longing to be with the men they loved. At least the dark-haired one had gone in on her own.

"Exactly, Professor, it must have been caused by the same phenomenon that brought you all here."

"Whoa, hold it, Pilot." Crichton jumped off the console he was sitting on. "We're quite a ways away from where we were when these guys showed up. Are you sure it's the same phenomenon?"

"No, Commander, I am not sure. However, the energy signatures are identical to the ones Moya detected as a result of the phenomenon that brought the Professor and his friends here."

Circhton sighed. "Well, put like that, I have to admit it's only a logical conclusion." He turned towards Challenger and the others. "You wanna go explore this area?"

Challenger nodded. "Yes. It's likely we will learn more about our current situation by checking this area. Perhaps we will be able to detect a similarity that will allow us to determine a way to reverse this latest change."

Rygel flew in on his thronesled. "I hope you will allow me to return to Hyneria first, before you all jump into this new adventure."

Crichton looked at Challenger. "It'd only take an hour or two longer before we can go explore the area."

Challenger glanced at his companions. "Well, I suppose we can postpone the exploration for that long."

"Are you sure, Chiana?" Rygel steered his thronesled to be at eyelevel with the Nebari. "You are most welcome on Hyneria, fully provided for."

Chiana smiled at him sadly. "Yeah, I'm sure. I know D'Argo wanted this, and if he was still here, I'm sure we both would've come with you. But I'd just feel lonely and bored, with only you as my friend and nothing to do."

Rygel chuckled. "Oh, I'm sure you could get yourself in trouble within a solar day." He grew serious again. "But I understand. This is not the way you go through life. To be honest, I wondered if you would have been able to enjoy your life if you and D'Argo would have settled on Hyneria."

"I would have. With him, I would have." She sniffed softly. "I'm gonna miss ya." She paused and a smile appeared on her lips. "Frog-face."

Rygel chuckled again. "I'll miss you, too, you snurching little tralk." He turned his thronesled to glance at his friends one last time and then moved toward the Hynerian Royal vessel without saying another word.

"You're good." Aeryn smiled down at Veronica who was lying on the sparring mat. "Much better than Crichton was when he arrived here and only marginally less than he is now."

Veronica used Aeryn's hand to get up. "Well, I guess I should take that as a compliment."

Ned, standing near one of the walls, slowly shook his head before turning to the companion beside him. "I don't think I'm looking forward to your wife's combat training."

Crichton grinned. "Can't say I blame ya."

Aeryn and Veronica had made their way to the two men and Aeryn smiled at Crichton. "Blame him for what?"

"Not looking forward to your combat training."

Ned turned his gaze from Veronica to Aeryn. "You were pretty tough on Veronica."

Aeryn looked at Veronica, then at Ned and gave a little shrug. "When you're in a real combat, you can't expect your opponents to go easy on you, so why should we during training sessions?"

Crichton nodded. "She's right, y'know. Besides, she was holding back now. I think having a baby softened her up."

That earned him a smack from Aeryn. "This was just to gauge her abilities. I held back on your first training, too."

Crichton grinned. "Yeah, I still remember that training session. I ended up with three bruises, a broken bone, and unconscious."

Aeryn grinned back. "Yes, but you were particularly dense and deficient back then."

Ned chuckled. "Well, I can tell you right now that I'm not as good as Veronica, but I can hold my own."

Crichton looked at him and shook his head. "You shouldn't have said that, man." He jerked his head in the direction of his wife. "She's gonna take a lot of pleasure in showing you just how much you lack."

Veronica smiled. "I think I'll stay around for a little while longer. This could be fun."

Ned felt less confident by the second. He eyed Aeryn as she made her way to sparring mat. Maybe Crichton had been right in his assessment of his wife's plan for him. He felt Veronica give him a small push in the direction of the sparring area and slowly made his way to a waiting Aeryn. "This is going to hurt, isn't it?"

Aeryn just grinned at him and assumed a fighting stance. "Attack me."

Ned looked to the side where Veronica and Crichton were standing. Before he could turn back Aeryn's fist hit him on his chest and he staggered back from the force of the punch.

Aeryn tilted her head a little. "Are you going to look to the others during a real fight, too?"

"No."

"Right, attack me."

This time Ned didn't hesitate and took a swing at her, only finding empty space in his path. A second later he was flung over Aeryn and he landed on the mat, face down. Before he had time to turn around Aeryn was sitting on top of him.

"Right, you're on the ground, face down and your enemy is sitting on your back. What was your first mistake?"

Ned sighed as he heard Veronica and Crichton laugh. "I don't know. Gave you too much time to avoid the punch?"

"Yes, but that's not the first mistake."

"Attack you without thinking things through?"

"That, too, but still not your first mistake."

Ned sighed again. "Telling you I could hold my own in a fight?"

Aeryn turned her head towards Crichton. "At least he's smarter than you were during your first training session." She got off of Ned and helped him up. Once he was up she assumed the stance again. "Alright, as you said, you gave me too much time to defend against your attack. What you..."

Pilot's voice interrupted the session. "Everyone, we've arrived at our destination. I think you will be interested in what we found."

"Pilot, can you explain that?" Crichton looked through the forward portal at the strangest sight he'd ever seen.

"No, Commander. This should not be possible, but Moya's sensor readings confirm what you see."

"My God. How could this have happened?" Challenger stepped closer to the portal.

Roxton and Marguerite entered Command at that moment, preceded by a DRD.

Marguerite looked towards Challenger, not really noticing what was outside. "What is it, Challenger? Oh, my. Is that... Is that the Plateau?"

Roxton went to the portal to stand next to Challenger. "It does have the same shape."

Crichton looked at the explorers. "So, you all agree this is the place you came from?"

Challenger looked at Crichton. "Well, it certainly looks like it. Just how it ended up here and why it is nothing more than a flat section floating in space, I don't know."

"Moya's sensor indicate there is an atmosphere. The partition is approximately a metra thick. She has detected several different life-forms."

"We couldn't make this home, could we?" Marguerite moved to stand next to Roxton. "We would have to abandon all hope of leaving the Plateau and return to London."

Veronica shook her head. "Not necessarily." She grabbed the Trion. "This is what caused us to end up here. It must be the key to return us back to Earth. I can only use this at the tree house."

Crichton cleared his throat. "You shouldn't forget this might not be the right version of the Plateau. As you pointed out in your stories, it was divided into several times and realities. It is possible this is not the one from the time you'd need to get back. Pilot did say that Moya has detected at least another location where the phenomenon that brought you here has been. There may be more."

Challenger nodded. "Yes, you may be right. If we use this in the wrong time, we may end up in the past or in the future. We should explore this Plateau and determine if it's the right one. We may be in for a long journey."