PROLOGUE:
The Crew of Moya was searching the Uncharted Territories to re supply their food storage area. The entire crew had been on edge lately because the food was low and had not found any suitable planet for several days and they had recently lost Zhaan, their close friend. Chiana more than anyone had recently been on edge a lot lately. She felt like she was being treated like a child and mostly by Aeryn. John sympathized with her and told her to give the crew some time. They had just lost Zhaan and they all needed some time alone to mourn. Zhaan was like a mother to her and she couldn't understand why Aeryn was more distant than the others.
"She did what? Shouted Aeryn.
"Now Aeryn, I'm sure there is a perfectly good reason for taking your Prowler down to that planet." Said John. She might have needed some space or something, just calm down will ya."
"That bat took my Prowler, my Prowler, not your ship, but mine and you want me to take it easy. This is not the first time and she was warned before, now, I'm going to kill her."
"That's brat, Aeryn and no your not. We know she just went down to the planet that's all. We can take the transporter and find her when we land. Look we can all go. Pilot said he scanned for peacekeepers and the planet is not well known in this territory, so we can all go.
Dargo interrupted. "Yes Aeryn, we all know that Chiana has been upset over Zhaan passing away. We all have been affected by her loss."
Aeryn couldn't help think about Zhaan sacrificing her life for her. She believed she was not worth the ultimate sacrifice Zhaan had died for. Zhaan had told Aeryn that her life was a gift and that John loved her that is why she was making the sacrifice. She had told no one this, not even John about Zhaan's declaration. She was an ex peacekeeper, her people enslaved her and countless others; she couldn't understand why would someone care about her so much. She knew she loved John, but for Zhaan to know about such a hidden emotion that she still could not completely fathom was terrifying to her. She had said nothing when Zhaan died and John was the only who even tried to talk to her. John, Chiana, Rygel, Dargo, and their new crew mate Jewell, which she knew nothing about, had invaded her sanctuary. She didn't know what to feel anymore, but right now she felt anger toward Chiana for taking her Prowler. The only thing that meant anything to her was that Prowler and now Chiana had invaded the one true thing she felt something about.
"Look Aeryn, said John; we'll all go down to this planet and find Chiana, I mean how hard can it be to find your Prowler. She probably wanted some time to herself and I think maybe this a good time for us all to just mellow out"
"I make no promises John, when we find Chiana, you make sure we stay well apart or I will hurt her and anyone that get's in my way, Clear?"
"Yeah, yeah, come on everyone, we're going down to the planet, maybe we can re supply our food storage areas and explore the planet. Pilot said that this planet is not on any charted star charts, so maybe we can discover something new and exciting other than Aeryn trying to kill Chiana." Said John.
They all agreed and used the transporter to land on the planet. The planet seemed peaceful enough; the planet was lush with green and blue floral growth and beautiful orange lakes. There was a very large city that the crew assumed was the capitol.
"Ok, said Dargo, we can spread out and look for Chiana. The first one's to find her; just say so and then we can leave. Hopefully they will trade with us; it looks like that they may have plenty of food to purchase. Rygel, you and Jewell are with me. John you and Aeryn can see if you can find Aeryn's Prowler and Chiana. Comm us when you find out anything."
Dargo wouldn't say it, but he was worried about Chiana too. She had taken Zhaan's death really hard. To take Aeryn's Prowler was suicide and he knew that Chiana knew it. For some reason she was constantly antagonizing Aeryn. Almost like she wanted Aeryn to shoot her. He would have to ask her why when he found her.
As the crew spread out and entered the city, they were met with curious looks and silence. The instant they entered the center of the city they were met with armed guards and a representative of the city.
"Strangers, I am Morland, high councilor and representative for our city Baseme, on the planet Patme. You have come to our planet and we must insist that you hand over your weapons. We are not accustomed to strangers visiting; how is it that you have come to this planet?"
Dargo spoke first. "We are here looking for a crew mate. Perhaps you have seen her. She's sort of grey face, white hair, kind of a free spirit. She flew down in one of our smaller ships and wanted to see that she was safe. We mean you no harm; we would like to trade or pay for food. Our crew is short on supplies and we will leave as soon as we find her and if any transactions are finished."
"That remains to be seen. Your friend, as you say is here. She said that there were no others and she was alone." Said Morland. "We see that she has not been honest with us and we think highly of honesty on our planet; Lock them all up, we will see who is honest or not and see if you have come to attack us."
Before Dargo and the rest could protest they were stunned unconscious. In the crowd there was another who was curious why the strangers were here. No one knew of this planet for Monons. He knew they were about to go through the same fate he was judged for so long ago. He knew there was a peacekeeper among the strangers. No mistake, he would have to watch or ignore what was about to happen to the strangers. He hoped this time they would survive.
The crew of Moya finally awoke in a heavy glassed room. There were only a small amount of chairs and a freshener in the far corner. The room was huge and there was food and refreshments of some kind. What they didn't see right away was a figure in the dark corner, quietly starring at them. It was Chiana.
"So, said Rygel, We find you here locked up with us and no way out and you sit there saying nothing. What's got into Chiana, stealing Aeryn's prowler. Surely you know she would kill you for that."
"Alright, I want out of here. Who do we need to talk to, Dargo get me out of here."
"Shut up Jewell.
"Chiana what did you do? Stated Dargo. "These people locked us up for no reason. Why did you lie to them and tell them that you were alone?"
John immediately grabbed Aeryn. She was headed to confront the girl and she was in no mood to talk.
"Let me go John, I want to know where is my Prowler and why did she take off in it. If she wanted to die then I will oblige her."
"Aeryn, Aeryn, come on, calm down, we want to talk first. I know Chiana has a perfectly good reason for taking your prowler, don't you Pip?"
"No.
"Ok, Pip you're not helping us stop Aeryn from hurting you here."
"I don't care, let her go. Said Pip.
Before Aeryn and the others could say anything, several armed guards and the high representative Morland entered.
"You have lied to us about why you have arrived on this planet. One of you will suffer for the others; the rest shall leave this planet, never to return. If the one who suffers does not tell us the truth, then all of you will die."