A/N: Surprise! It's a Farscape story. The first in, well, a long time, really. I have recently been watching some Farscape and I got interested in it again. This is actually a story I had written a few years ago, but it was really short (less than a thousand words) and not really thought through. This is really a complete rewrite of that story (technically only two thirds of that story; the other part will follow later). And to my non Farscape fans, don't worry, I haven't forgotten about Test Result Inversion or any of the other ones that I still have going.

Setting: about twenty cycles after Peacekeeper Wars.

Beta: nobody, so all mistakes are completely mine.


Silently Aeryn and John moved through the alien research base, weapons at the ready. Aeryn couldn't help but admire her husband's form for a brief microt. Even after twenty cycles she still wasn't tired of observing him, especially during their stealthy adventures, though they were thankfully few and far between.

John had become a much more formidable combatant, despite his relative advanced age. The only really noticeable sign of his age was his hair, which had started to show patches of grey. But he had kept up his exercises, ensuring peak physical efficiency, which was also very beneficial during some of their more private 'exercises'. Aeryn almost grinned at the memory of their latest exercise, but quickly squashed the thought to focus on the current situation.

Aeryn placed one hand on his shoulder as soon as she heard the soft sound up ahead, knowing her hearing was much better than his. Applying light pressure with her fingers she informed him what she had detected. They had developed the skill over the first few cycles after John had brokered peace through using the wormhole weapon. The skill had been needed, as most races had not been so willing to blindly follow along with the peace treaty, and most of them were too familiar with the general combat hand signal used. Even John had known most signals, claiming they were very similar to those generally used back on Earth.

The added benefit of their secret language was that since it involved minimal movements, it was harder to detect from a distance. They had practiced it to the point they could communicate tactical information while it appeared as if they were just walking around. Obviously it could only be used when they were close enough to touch, but the advantage was that it was possible to maintain a visual on the enemy.

John acknowledged her message by a brief brush against her upper leg and allowed her to go past him. Aeryn had to work to prevent a smile from forming; despite his increased abilities in combat situations, he still preferred to defer to her advanced training to defend them. Then again, she would always take the lead and protect him, as she always had done. Her first instinct was always to ensure he was alright, before she would even think about her own safety.


# # #


One weeken ago

"John!" Aeryn rushed over to his side as soon as she noticed how unsteady he was on his feet. "What's wrong?" Worriedly she did a quick check to make sure he wasn't hit by something, her hands gliding over his shirt upward toward his neck. It was at that moment that she could feel how hot his skin was. Abnormally hot, even for him.

She searched his eyes as he attempted to look at her, though she could tell he had trouble focusing. He only managed to get out her name before he lost consciousness, Aeryn preventing him from collapsing to the ground. Without hesitation she lifted him over her shoulder and nearly ran back toward the transport pod.

"Aeryn!" Pilot sounded panicked, almost as panicked as he used to be during the first couple of cycles.

"What's the matter, Pilot," Aeryn answered as calmly as possible, hoping it would help her friend to find his own calmness.

"Young D'Argo and Zhaan have collapsed," he replied immediately, still anxious, but seemingly calming down.

Aeryn refrained from cursing, knowing it might upset Pilot. "We're on our way back, Pilot," she answered instead, deciding not to mention John had lost consciousness. "How are Xhalax, Leslie and Olivia?"

"All three younger girls appear to be unaffected," Pilot answered, considerably calmer now. "Xhalax is currently on her way to the playroom where your two eldest are."

Aeryn slowed down. While she'd feel better knowing someone would check on her two eldest children, she didn't want to risk any of her other children. "Pilot, tell her to stay away for now. Whatever happened to Dee and Zhaani might be something contagious."

"Moya and I have closed off the playroom," Pilot responded.

Aeryn nodded and hurried up the ramp of the transport pod. "Alright, Pilot. John and I are inside the transport pod. We will be with you shortly." Aeryn gently sat John down and quickly moved to the seat next to him, starting up the transport pod, forgoing even the most minimal checks.


# # #


Present time

Aeryn pulled the trigger and watched another guard fall down in a heap. The new Peacekeeper weapons were an amazing feat in engineering, driven by her husband. It had many different levels, ranging from paralyzing to obliterating nearly any target. In addition the weapon was near silent when used with a power setting below about fifteen percent, which was more than adequate to immobilize most species.

John had insisted the Peacekeepers would use lethal force only as a last resort, which hadn't gone over too well with High Command initially. After a number of heated discussions with John, they had grudgingly agreed. Most Peacekeepers kept their weapon set at maximum incapacitating level. Of course John had been frustrated that they would still insist on using the maximum force John would accept.

Aeryn herself used the weapon mostly at the two percent output level, enough to knock a target out for almost a quarter of an arn, without leaving them waking up with nausea, headaches or any other discomfort beside a slight grogginess. Only when she felt the situation warranted it, would she increase the level to ten percent, just two percent below the level that would leave a physical mark but still a good ten percent below being powerful enough to generate wounds that could be lethal, depending on what part of the body was hit.

Aeryn smiled slightly, looking toward John, immediately a frown forming. John seemed unsteady and she saw the tell tale signs that informed he had just used a dose of the medicine that would prevent him from losing consciousness right there and then. Realizing their time was limited before John would pass out, Aeryn increased her weapon's output slightly and hurried forward, heading for the exit of the compound, shooting at anyone or anything that moved.


# # #


Four solar days ago

"Mommy?"

Aeryn turned around at the sound of her youngest daughter. "What is it, Livvy," she asked, smiling to not scare her daughter, even though she was frustrated and scared beyond anything. For days her mate and two oldest children had at random intervals collapsed, and each incident seemed to last longer than the previous. The last time John had lost consciousness, it had lasted for a little over an arn, and she had felt the same fear and helplessness as she had right after he had closed the wormhole over twenty cycles ago.

"Why doesn't anyone want to play with me?"

Aeryn frowned slightly. "Of course your siblings want to play with you," she said. "Unfortunately sometimes they have other things to do, especially the older ones."

Livvy sighed, her lower lip quivering slightly. "Leslie didn't want to play with me anymore."

Aeryn held out her arms to invite Olivia. "Did she say that," Aeryn asked once her little girl had snuggled up to her.

She shook her head. "No, but we were playing hide and seek, and when she still hadn't found me after half an arn, I went back and she was just napping." She looked up at Aeryn, putting on a glare that Aeryn recognized it as one of hers. "She didn't even tell me she was going to nap!"

Aeryn hugged Olivia a little tighter. "Where did your sister take a nap," she asked, hoping the answer would be in her own bed.

"Just in a corridor," Olivia said, shrugging slightly. "Outside of Central Chamber."

Dren, another family member affected by whatever the frell it was. Aeryn shut her eyes briefly. "Olivia," she said after taking a few microts to gather herself. "I need you to be the brave girl I know you are and stay in your room for a while." Before the girl good protest Aeryn shushed her. "No, you are not being punished, but I need you to be safe while I attend to Leslie."


# # #


Present time

Aeryn hit the small button on her wrist band, deactivating the cloak that hid their vessel from sight, followed by another button to open the hatch. The two actions had taken only a microt, and Aeryn's hand returned to grab John's arm, mostly to ensure herself he was still there with her.

They ran up the ramp, Aeryn punching the emergency close button as soon as they were both inside. Carefully she removed the container she had hid under her Peacekeeper coat, and placed it in the ship's safety storage. She felt the ship lift off as she moved toward the front, taking her seat next to John.

She ensured the shield had been activated before glancing to John. "Would you like me to take the controls?"

He glanced back at her and nodded. "Yeah, I'm about to pass out, I think."

Aeryn responded with a short nod, suppressing the fear she always felt when. Her biggest fear was always that he wouldn't wake up, that she'd be left alone with her children, who in all likelihood would suffer the same fate soon. She transferred controls to her side and accelerated out of the planet's atmosphere, forcing herself to focus on the flight. She was almost glad when the ships scanner beeped to indicate the inhabitants of the planet were in pursuit and locking their weapons on them.

Without much thought she slipped back into her Prowler pilot mode, despite the fact this ship was a far cry from being one. Nonetheless, she knew this ship well enough, knew it's capabilities and limitations as well as she knew those of a Prowler, and she deftly dodged the weapons fire. She registered the fact John didn't make a single comment, and she didn't have to glance in his direction to know he had slipped into unconsciousness once again.


# # #


Three solar days ago

Aeryn walked briskly toward the medical facility. The infliction was affecting her entire family now and, though thankfully not everyone seemed to fall unconscious at the same time, or as frequent, it scared her. It had been a long time since Aeryn had felt fear.

"Ambassador Sun-Crichton!"

Aeryn smiled inwardly at the nervous tone in the voice of the medical officer on duty. Despite the Peacekeepers tremendous change since John had used the wormhole weapon, fear amongst the ranks was still common, especially amongst techs and medical personnel. "At ease, officer," Aeryn said with the authority she reserved for moments when diplomatic meetings were threatening to spiral out of control. It was very effective, especially with the widespread knowledge of who she had been and what she, along with her friends, had accomplished for cycles before the peace treaty had been signed.

She walked slowly around the room, which she knew to be a research area. "I'm curious to hear of your progress regarding the medical situation of my family." Aeryn was very aware her tone of voice and demeanor were adding fear to the officer and the other personnel present in the room. It gave her a weird sense of satisfaction, even though the people present were not responsible for the situation at hand. Nevertheless, fear was a powerful motivator and Aeryn really needed everyone to be very motivated. She paused her circuit of the room and arched an eyebrow in the direction of the medical officer when several microts passed without a reply. "I'm waiting."

"Uhm, Ambassador, Ma'am... We have determined the symptoms are caused by the Firily bug."

Aeryn felt relief wash over her, but managed to hide it. "I see. So you can provide me with the usual medicine which I can then administer to my family."

"No Ma'am," the officer answered immediately, looking nervously towards the others. "The regular medicine will only make things worse for your family."


# # #


Present time

Aeryn glanced to her left and sighed. John was unconscious and incapable of navigating the wormhole that separated them from their home. She knew it would flare into existence in less than a quarter arn, and after that it would take over a solar day to reappear. They didn't have the luxury to wait that long, not without being found.

Glancing at the control panel she ensured the cloaking device was engaged. The Nebari vessel had been substantially modified by John, ever since they found it abandoned a little over ten cycles ago. John had used technologies from various species, combining them to improve both its defensive and offensive abilities. Aeryn really liked the vessel, though she wished John had put as much effort into offense as he had in defense. And honestly, nothing could ever beat a Prowler as far as she was concerned.

Of course the combining of various technologies meant there were a few issues. The cloaking device, a gift from the Luxans, while powerful, could not be used in conjunction with the shielding device. In addition, it was unable to completely mask the Nebari propulsion output, which meant that they had to be unprotected and stationary to be virtually undetectable. Nonetheless, it was sufficient at hiding them from the aliens currently attempting to find them.

Satisfied they would not be found easily, she turned toward John, a soft smile forming. He looked peaceful, blissfully unaware of what was currently going on. Aeryn was anything but peaceful; besides the immediate worry for John, her mind couldn't help but drift to the other side of the wormhole, where her children were suffering from the same disease that had affected John.


# # #


One solar day ago

"Aeryn, we have to," John said, his eyes boring into hers. "It's the only place known to have this compound needed to make the medicine that would cure the kids and I."

Aeryn folded her arms across her chest, glaring at John. "I am well aware how critical it is to obtain," she stated, firmly pushing her fear and worry for him down deeply. "But using wormholes now, in your condition, is nearly as bad as not getting the one thing needed to cure you and our children."

"Well, it's over a dozen cycles travel at full Hetch speed, and Moya still can't properly predict where her Starburst will lead her!"

Aeryn could see him struggle to get a grip on his frustration, something she was struggling with as well. "And what if you fall unconscious before you're able to return to Moya," she asked, her tone challenging. "We should find another way," she stated firmly when he didn't respond. "If this substance we require is known by the Diagnosian, that means someone from this region has been close to it. They may still have some in their possession."

"And how long is that going to take, huh? Monens? Cycles?"

Aeryn suppressed the fear threatening to surface, realizing that neither her mate nor her children had that amount of time. A monen, maybe if they were lucky. "Fine, use your frelling wormholes again," she spat out, using her anger and frustration to hide her fear. Not wanting this to turn into a fight, Aeryn turned around and marched toward the workout bay. Hitting a workout dummy would most definitely help her now.


# # #


Present time

Aeryn glanced again to her left, smiling slightly, despite the seriousness of the situation. She stroked John's face. "I know you'll be royally pissed later, but right now, I really don't care." She turned back toward the controls of the Nebari vessel and set course for the wormhole she knew was going to open within a few microts.

She silenced the alert immediately, having already anticipated their enemy would detect them as soon as she would bring propulsion online. Aeryn punched the control to disable the cloak and followed the action by activating the shield. She glanced toward John one more time just before the wormhole flared into existence. He was still unconscious, and Aeryn entered the wormhole, unerringly selecting the branch inside the nexus that would lead back toward Moya and her children.

It took a little over thirty microts to find her way back to normal space-time, letting out a curse when she almost collided with the Farscape module as it vectored toward the wormhole they had just exited. Momentarily Aeryn feared she had made a mistake, but her senses confirmed she had exited at the correct space-time coordinates. The Farscape module had aborted its entry.

"Dad!"

Aeryn frowned slightly as she heard her third child's relieved voice over the comms. "Xhalax? Where are you?" There was a distinct pause before her daughter replied.

"I'm in dad's module." The voice had lost it's initial relieved tone and sounded much more worried. "Are you guys alright?"

Aeryn bit her lip and glanced to her left. "Yes, but your father has lost consciousness."

"Oh."

Aeryn knew exactly what her daughter was thinking, but this was not a discussion she wanted to continue over comms. "Let's get back to Moya."

TBC


A/N2: There is another story I wrote that was betad (eventually), but I plan on doing a full rewrite on that as well. Plus, I have some unfinished business in the Duped 'verse.