Crighton watched the crash site of his module, and sighed. No sign of anyone having come to answer the distress call. At least here the Peacekeepers wouldn't find him, not among the other inhabitants of this planet.
"What are you looking at, Crigh-ton?" A woman came up beside him. She had a heavy accent, reminiscent of eastern Europe, to Crighton's ears. "No one has been there for montes. No one except you. There is no one coming for you. No one! And if Peacekeepers come, they will not find you, and they will not leave this planet alive." She snorted. "They would die in our heat, as they have everytime before."
Crighton shrugged, knowing he'd been surprised by the balmy weather on this planet. "Then no one comes, Shaniri. I won't give up hoping."
"You are crazy, Crigh-ton." She shook her head, then looked up at the rumbling sound of a ship descending through atmosphere. She hissed as the marauder cleared the clouds, and shoved Crighton back towards the village. "Run, Crigh-ton. They will not get past the plains." She stepped out into the open, assuming a familiar stance, one that had heralded the thrashing of Crighton in a practice ring several times.
A prowler followed the marauder, landing beside the module. John watched as Aeryn climbed out of the prowler, striding over towards the module. "Aeryn?" His voice was a whisper, and a moment later, he was running out of the forest towards them, hearing Shaniri yelling behind him, angrily.
Aeryn looked up as he got closer, and smiled, making John's heart skip a beat, as he scooped her up, whirling her around. He set her down, and kissed her firmly. "Aeryn."
"John."
"Crigh-ton! Are you insane?" Shaniri was striding towards them her face a mask of anger. "They're Peacekeepers!"
"Aeryn, let me introduce you to Sharini. Shar, this is Aeryn Sun."
"Great, you know the Peacekeepers." She threw up her hands in frustration. "Why did mother ever think you were in need of help? You brought them here, and now what will happen to us?" She growled, turning away.
"One moment, Aeryn." John grabbed Sharini's upper arm, and recieved her famous death glare in return.
"Let go of my arm, Crigh-ton. Unless you want thrashed without the benifit of the mats in a practice ring."
"What's with the new attitude, Shar."
Sharini answered by picking his hand off her arm, and twisting it expertly, sending him to his knees in pain. "I told you to remove your hand from my arm, Chrigh-ton. And my attitude' is nothing new." She glared at the Peacekeepers. "I don't trust Peacekeepers. They are one of two scourges in this universe. And the other doesn't mind the heat. Not to mention, they're harder to kill."
"We aren't exactly Peacekeepers. We're renegades."
"And? You are still wearing thier uniform." Shaniri watched them warily.
"Trust her, Shar. If she says they aren't PK's, they aren't."
Shaniri looked down at Crighton, shaking her head. "I will trust them as far as I can throw them, Crigh-ton, for your sake. But since I cannot throw them into orbit, this means you are not leaving the planet alone."
John groaned. That meant Shaniri was coming with them. And she wasn't his first choice of companions.
Choice one- try and ditch miss "Humans are crazy"? or let her tag along (well, not really 'tag' along...)?
