Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: up to episode 4.11
Notes: The future is still a dangerous time to live in. The Scarrans are up to no good and the people of Earth might end up as their victims. Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Farscape characters. All Farscape characters, names and situations are trademarks of Jim Henson Company, Hallmark Entertainment, Nine Network Australia, and the Scifi channel.
***
Shadon 3, Red Dawn Bar
The door bursted wide open and in a blink of an eye a group of soldiers had appeared inside the room, keeping their weapons trained on one man. A blonde female soldier stepped forward and spoke coldly. " Rix k'Rai?"
A little bald man with black hair nodded slightly as his purple eyes nervously shifted. He obviously hadn't expected something like this would happen to him. He was after all on Shadon, a place where people go when they do not wish to be found and one where few dared to wander. If one wanted their business to go unnoticed, Shadon was one of the best options available to do so. In short, Shadon was the perfect place for wanted criminals, smuglars and mercenaries to hide out at.
"We've found him," the female simply stated into the coms to an unkown party. She turned around and shifted her attention towards the other visitors of the bar. " Leave and nothing will happen to you. We only want him."
Within a couple of microts the bar had been cleared, its visitors glad that it hadn't been them the soldiers were after. On Shadon, one's own life was far more important than that of another. As far as Rix k'Rai was concerned, they couldn't care less about his fate. The man's time was up.
" Wh...who was that you were talking to?" Rix asked, his voice slightly trembling.
" Don't worry, Rix. You will find out soon enough," the female soldier answered with a smile, which almost send him running. Rix watched her slowly walking towards him. It was obvious that she was the leader of the pack or at least she was until the person she had reported to made it's appearance. Somehow he knew he wouldn't have to wait for long.
" Why don't you sit down and make yourself comfortable for as long as it lasts. Xhal will be here shortly," she spoke, gesturing at a chair behind him.
Rix wiped the sweat of off his forehead as he sat down. Xhal. He knew that name from somewhere, but couldn't quite place it yet. Then it suddenly hit him and it was as if something had knocked the wind straight out of him.
"Xhal? As in Xhalar Sun? The son of..." Before he was able to finish his sentence, a voice interrupted.
"Yeah, yeah. I've got my daddy's eyes and my momma's smile. Now, let's cut to the chase. Rix k'Rai, I presume?"
Rix's mouth dropped wide open as he stared at the figure standing in the doorway. He couldn't help but notice the amused smiles appearing on the soldiers' faces as they noticed his reaction. Realizing that Xhalar Sun was waiting for an answer, he quickly nodded and verified his identity. Still looking at the young man, he forced himself to memorize every little detail. It might come in handy at a later point in time. Sun was dressed in a black leather uniform, somewhat simular to those the Peacekeepers normally wear. Rix remembered reading something about the fact that John Crichton and Aeryn Sun had a son, but the age had never been disclosed. About a cycle ago rumours had started floating around that this son, Xhalar Sun, was part of a special covert operation group. Although the young man's name was not nearly as notorious as his parents, he had managed to take out several big names in the so-called "creative" trade. And it was enough to make Rix scared, because he knew exactly why Sun was after him.
" If you give me what I want, this will all be over before you know it. Aint that right, Teris?" Xhal's eyes met those of the blonde female soldier for a moment before he turned his attention back to the smuggler.
"He's been awfully quiet after realizing who he's dealing with. Maybe he's heard some of those nasty rumors about you and us that have been floating around the place, Xhal," Teris stated dryly as she sat down in a chair opposite of Rix, swinging her feet off the ground and letting them rest on a nearby table.
" Hmmm. You should never believe rumors, since they have the ability to be just that...rumors. I swear I have no idea how they've come up with those things about us. We're usually very well-behaved," Xhal spoke as he pulled his pulse pistol from his holster and examined it. " But we've been hearing some rumors about you too, k'Rai. We found them interesting enough to examine things closer."
Rix ran his fingers through his hair and inhaled deeply as he gathered enough courage to face the young man standing in front of him. " I don't know what you're exactly expecting from me. You must have mistaken me for someone else."
Xhal sighed. He should have known this would happen. Why couldn't it ever be easy? He decided he would play along...for now and certainly not for very long. The little smuggler was trying what was left of his patience." So, this is all just a case of mistaken identity then?"
" Yes...yes," Rix stammered, hoping for the very small chance that Sun would buy his excuse.
" I see. The wrong guy then?" Xhal smiled slightly.
Rix nodded. He soon realized he had played the wrong card as he saw the smile vanish from Sun's face and suddenly found himself looking into the barrel of a pulse pistol.
" Well, I kinda have a problem with that particular notion. I know you're a smart guy, too smart to play dumb with me. I'm sure you're the kinda man who wants to do the right thing. A man who doesn't want anything bad to happen to him. See where I'm going with this?" Xhal paused for a couple of moments as he intensely gazed into the little man's purple eyes. He saw Rix's eyes shift focus towards the pulse pistol he was now virtually holding against the alien's forehead. " So, might you know what I want from you after all?"
" M...might it have...might what you be seeking have to do with some intel documents the Nebari send to the Scarrans via an unknown third party? Something about wormholes?"
" You're on the right track, Rix. But I'm sure you could tell us more than that," Xhal said as he pulled the pistol away from the smuggler's head and placed it back into its holster.
" The Scarrans want to attack Earth because they fear if the Peacekeepers seek the aid of the Humans, they will eventually be defeated. They are planning to attack Earth through the use of wormholes before the Peacekeepers will be able to protect the Humans. The only problem with their plan is that they haven't quite managed wormholes yet, but that in itself will not be an obstacle for very long. Within three to six weekens they will have mastered wormhole theory and attack your father's home planet," the little man informed.
Xhal signed the members of his group to leave. " Head back to the ship and be on alert for hostile groups. This isn't exactly a place best known for its hospitality. I'll join you as soon as possible."
Teris got out of the chair, but as the rest of the group started to move out, she refused to move. She walked over to Xhal and touched his shoulder." I'm staying here, Xhal. It's like you said...this place is dangerous. Besides, you might need someone to cover your back."
" I wouldn't have it any other way," He smiled and turned his attention back at the alien smuggler, who was still sitting in his chair. " Thank you, Rix. That was exactly what I needed to hear. You can get up now or do you wish to sit there forever?"
Rix got up and took something out of his coat. His hands were shaking and sweaty as he handed a shiny object to Xhal. " This data crystal contains all the information I have. Pl...Please don't kill me."
" Why would we kill you?" Xhal laughed as he shook his head. " Whatever gave you the impression that we would do something like that?
" The stories..."
" You should never believe everything you hear, Rix. People are very creative creatures. They tend to make things up or exaggerate. Don't worry, we're not going to kill you. In fact...you're free to go," Xhal spoke as he turned away from the little man and walked out of the bar with Teris following not too far behind him.
After having left the bar, Teris looked at Xhal and asked the question that had been on her mind ever since she heard what Rix had told them. " What are you going to do now?"
"See my parents and deliver the information to them. We can't let the Scarrans go ahead with their plan to attack Earth."
Spoilers: up to episode 4.11
Notes: The future is still a dangerous time to live in. The Scarrans are up to no good and the people of Earth might end up as their victims. Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Farscape characters. All Farscape characters, names and situations are trademarks of Jim Henson Company, Hallmark Entertainment, Nine Network Australia, and the Scifi channel.
***
Shadon 3, Red Dawn Bar
The door bursted wide open and in a blink of an eye a group of soldiers had appeared inside the room, keeping their weapons trained on one man. A blonde female soldier stepped forward and spoke coldly. " Rix k'Rai?"
A little bald man with black hair nodded slightly as his purple eyes nervously shifted. He obviously hadn't expected something like this would happen to him. He was after all on Shadon, a place where people go when they do not wish to be found and one where few dared to wander. If one wanted their business to go unnoticed, Shadon was one of the best options available to do so. In short, Shadon was the perfect place for wanted criminals, smuglars and mercenaries to hide out at.
"We've found him," the female simply stated into the coms to an unkown party. She turned around and shifted her attention towards the other visitors of the bar. " Leave and nothing will happen to you. We only want him."
Within a couple of microts the bar had been cleared, its visitors glad that it hadn't been them the soldiers were after. On Shadon, one's own life was far more important than that of another. As far as Rix k'Rai was concerned, they couldn't care less about his fate. The man's time was up.
" Wh...who was that you were talking to?" Rix asked, his voice slightly trembling.
" Don't worry, Rix. You will find out soon enough," the female soldier answered with a smile, which almost send him running. Rix watched her slowly walking towards him. It was obvious that she was the leader of the pack or at least she was until the person she had reported to made it's appearance. Somehow he knew he wouldn't have to wait for long.
" Why don't you sit down and make yourself comfortable for as long as it lasts. Xhal will be here shortly," she spoke, gesturing at a chair behind him.
Rix wiped the sweat of off his forehead as he sat down. Xhal. He knew that name from somewhere, but couldn't quite place it yet. Then it suddenly hit him and it was as if something had knocked the wind straight out of him.
"Xhal? As in Xhalar Sun? The son of..." Before he was able to finish his sentence, a voice interrupted.
"Yeah, yeah. I've got my daddy's eyes and my momma's smile. Now, let's cut to the chase. Rix k'Rai, I presume?"
Rix's mouth dropped wide open as he stared at the figure standing in the doorway. He couldn't help but notice the amused smiles appearing on the soldiers' faces as they noticed his reaction. Realizing that Xhalar Sun was waiting for an answer, he quickly nodded and verified his identity. Still looking at the young man, he forced himself to memorize every little detail. It might come in handy at a later point in time. Sun was dressed in a black leather uniform, somewhat simular to those the Peacekeepers normally wear. Rix remembered reading something about the fact that John Crichton and Aeryn Sun had a son, but the age had never been disclosed. About a cycle ago rumours had started floating around that this son, Xhalar Sun, was part of a special covert operation group. Although the young man's name was not nearly as notorious as his parents, he had managed to take out several big names in the so-called "creative" trade. And it was enough to make Rix scared, because he knew exactly why Sun was after him.
" If you give me what I want, this will all be over before you know it. Aint that right, Teris?" Xhal's eyes met those of the blonde female soldier for a moment before he turned his attention back to the smuggler.
"He's been awfully quiet after realizing who he's dealing with. Maybe he's heard some of those nasty rumors about you and us that have been floating around the place, Xhal," Teris stated dryly as she sat down in a chair opposite of Rix, swinging her feet off the ground and letting them rest on a nearby table.
" Hmmm. You should never believe rumors, since they have the ability to be just that...rumors. I swear I have no idea how they've come up with those things about us. We're usually very well-behaved," Xhal spoke as he pulled his pulse pistol from his holster and examined it. " But we've been hearing some rumors about you too, k'Rai. We found them interesting enough to examine things closer."
Rix ran his fingers through his hair and inhaled deeply as he gathered enough courage to face the young man standing in front of him. " I don't know what you're exactly expecting from me. You must have mistaken me for someone else."
Xhal sighed. He should have known this would happen. Why couldn't it ever be easy? He decided he would play along...for now and certainly not for very long. The little smuggler was trying what was left of his patience." So, this is all just a case of mistaken identity then?"
" Yes...yes," Rix stammered, hoping for the very small chance that Sun would buy his excuse.
" I see. The wrong guy then?" Xhal smiled slightly.
Rix nodded. He soon realized he had played the wrong card as he saw the smile vanish from Sun's face and suddenly found himself looking into the barrel of a pulse pistol.
" Well, I kinda have a problem with that particular notion. I know you're a smart guy, too smart to play dumb with me. I'm sure you're the kinda man who wants to do the right thing. A man who doesn't want anything bad to happen to him. See where I'm going with this?" Xhal paused for a couple of moments as he intensely gazed into the little man's purple eyes. He saw Rix's eyes shift focus towards the pulse pistol he was now virtually holding against the alien's forehead. " So, might you know what I want from you after all?"
" M...might it have...might what you be seeking have to do with some intel documents the Nebari send to the Scarrans via an unknown third party? Something about wormholes?"
" You're on the right track, Rix. But I'm sure you could tell us more than that," Xhal said as he pulled the pistol away from the smuggler's head and placed it back into its holster.
" The Scarrans want to attack Earth because they fear if the Peacekeepers seek the aid of the Humans, they will eventually be defeated. They are planning to attack Earth through the use of wormholes before the Peacekeepers will be able to protect the Humans. The only problem with their plan is that they haven't quite managed wormholes yet, but that in itself will not be an obstacle for very long. Within three to six weekens they will have mastered wormhole theory and attack your father's home planet," the little man informed.
Xhal signed the members of his group to leave. " Head back to the ship and be on alert for hostile groups. This isn't exactly a place best known for its hospitality. I'll join you as soon as possible."
Teris got out of the chair, but as the rest of the group started to move out, she refused to move. She walked over to Xhal and touched his shoulder." I'm staying here, Xhal. It's like you said...this place is dangerous. Besides, you might need someone to cover your back."
" I wouldn't have it any other way," He smiled and turned his attention back at the alien smuggler, who was still sitting in his chair. " Thank you, Rix. That was exactly what I needed to hear. You can get up now or do you wish to sit there forever?"
Rix got up and took something out of his coat. His hands were shaking and sweaty as he handed a shiny object to Xhal. " This data crystal contains all the information I have. Pl...Please don't kill me."
" Why would we kill you?" Xhal laughed as he shook his head. " Whatever gave you the impression that we would do something like that?
" The stories..."
" You should never believe everything you hear, Rix. People are very creative creatures. They tend to make things up or exaggerate. Don't worry, we're not going to kill you. In fact...you're free to go," Xhal spoke as he turned away from the little man and walked out of the bar with Teris following not too far behind him.
After having left the bar, Teris looked at Xhal and asked the question that had been on her mind ever since she heard what Rix had told them. " What are you going to do now?"
"See my parents and deliver the information to them. We can't let the Scarrans go ahead with their plan to attack Earth."