Heya ScaperDeage - thanks for the words of encouragement. Since I'm going to change the original ending, I'll curious how this ends myself. -) Cheers - Sol.

Zhaan was very curious about the Ayetuh who had returned in Genna's place. Though affable and as gracious as always, Zhaan's vibrant eyes followed the woman's every gesture, reading into each glance or brief comment a world of possibilities. Later in the day, at the time when it was customary for the crew to dine, Zhaan made it a point to sit with Aeryn, who otherwise, sat alone. Since Genna, and now Vendrana, had come onboard, Aeryn had taken to eating by herself. She did not know why, but Aeryn's presence made the Ayetuh uneasy and taciturn.

"What do you know about the Ayetuh?" Zhaan asked her.

Aeryn glanced at Vendrana and shook her head with an affected disinterest, exposed by the quickest of glances at the table where the others sat. Like Zhaan, Aeryn was also, it seemed, very curious about Vendrana, though she made too obvious pains to not seem obvious.

"Nothing. I've never heard of them before. All I know is they don't seem to care much for my company."

"Probably guilt by association, my dear. Peacekeepers do have a way of making enemies wherever they go. I'm sure it's nothing personal."

"Well, she doesn't seem to mind John's company," Aeryn noted.

John had just said something he thought was funny. D'Argo, as was usual when inflicted with what passed for humor in humans, scowled and tried to ignore it. Rygel, through sheer obsequious gall, was trying to outdo John in laughter, seeing that John's every comment seemed to bring a smile to Vendrana's face. Every now and then, her hand would slip forward and pat John's, as if to congratulate him on something particularly well said.

Zhaan studied the scene. "Yes, I see what you mean. She does seem rather fond of John."

Aeryn stabbed something brown and greasy on her plate and shoved it into her mouth. The look on her face showed just what she thought.

"Oh, I love a man with a sense of humor," Vendrana said, patting John's hand once again.

"Well, maybe someday, we'll have one onboard," Chiana added. She had come in from the galley to deposit some food on the table.

Having had her fill, Aeryn got up. "I think I'll go and clean my rifle," Aeryn told Zhaan.

Apparently after having swallowed something she didn't like, Aeryn stomped out of the room.

"What's wrong with Aeryn?" John asked.

"Maybe she overheard your joke," D'Argo suggested.

"Or maybe she tasted the food," John countered, wrinkling his nose at the pasty brown porridge that Chiana had spooned onto his plate.

Not caring to dine alone, Zhaan got up and sat down in between D'Argo and Rygel. Chiana handed her a plate full of food. Zhaan sniffed it, and then offered Chiana a weak half smile.

"What is it?" Zhaan asked her.

"Food cube stew. I thought it might give us some variety."

"Chiana, you amaze me," D'Argo grumbled. "I never thought that food cubes could possibly taste worse - until now."

"Well, if we hadn't run out of regular food, we'd have something better to eat. You don't like it, don't eat it."

"Don't listen to him," Rygel told her. "Wonderful stuff. Best you've ever done." The Hynerian reached over and glopped another helping onto his plate.

Chiana hurried back to the galley before Crichton could dig deeper for yet another anecdote from his unchequered past.

"Vendrana," Zhaan leaned forward, more interested in conversation than in eating. "You are well?"

"Yes, thank you," Vendrana smiled. Her three eyes blinked in unison. "John here was just telling us about his homeworld. They capture moonlight and distill it into a beverage, which has led John into some wonderful adventures."

John laughed and returned the courtesy by patting Vendrana's hand, apparently unaware how easy he had become with her. "Not moonlight, honey. Moonshine." He turned to Zhaan. "Zhaan, did I ever tell you the story?"

"Yes John, several times."

Zhaan leaned again towards Vendrana and even reached out to touch the Ayetuh's hand. The smile immediately left Vendrana's face. Vendrana pulled her hand away from Zhaan and stared at the Delvian with a expression that was almost blank, except for a touch of obvious distaste that showed at the corners of her mouth. Vendrana it seemed, lacked Genna's inscrutable ways, or just did not care what Zhaan might think.

If Zhaan seemed put off by this, she did not show it.

"Tell me Vendrana, Aeryn seems to think that you don't like her. Is there some truth in this? If so, I am curious as to why this might be."

"You are very direct," Vendrana noted, not answering the question. She shifted in her seat, leaning backwards towards the shelter of John's shoulder, and ever so slightly away from Zhaan.

"I find that is often the best way to get answers," Zhaan replied, offering a beautiful smile but showing no sign of letting the matter go.

As John was about to say something, Zhaan held up her hand, cutting him off. "Excuse me a moment." Turning to Rygel, "Rygel, if you kick me one more time, I swear by the Goddess you are going to be tasting that stew from the backwards end!"

Rygel shrank from her glare and flattened his ears. He set about eating quietly.

"I'm sorry," Zhaan smiled at Vendrana, her voice caressing and lovely once more. "You were about to say?"

"Cmon, Zhaan," John interjected, sensing Vendrana's unease. "What's this? An interrogation? Vendrana's our guest."

"She is not our guest, John. She is a business partner." Zhaan's correction was softly spoken, but in a tone that would not be denied. "I just need a few questions answered so I may understand our position better. As it has come about, the transaction has already shifted from the one Rygel first proposed to us. And since Genna did not see fit to inform us of this beforehand, I just want to make sure that there are no more surprises."

Everyone glanced at Rygel; but he just sighed and helped himself to more stew.

John wanted to say something, but he couldn't think of any answer to Zhaan's argument. D'Argo, for his part, welcomed the excuse to stop eating. He glanced at each speaker, interested, but offering no comment. Certainly, he had no objection to Zhaan's questioning the Ayetuh.

Seeing that she had no remaining advocates, Vendrana reluctantly answered.

"It is not common knowledge, but long ago my people, the Ayetuh, were once Sebacean. We were a product of genetic manipulation, purposely bred to enlighten and teach. As warrior factions began to dominate Sebacean society, Sebaceans decided that their race must be pure, free from the taint of mutation. They discarded us at first, walling us into the lower depths of their ships, leaving us to fight over scraps and garbage. Later they purged my people and other undesireables they had produced."

Her voice more cold, her words more bitter, Vendrana continued her story.

"Some of my forebears escaped the pogroms. They fled into exile, into the Uncharted Territories. But we have never forgotten how we came to be in these galactic wastes - or those who drove us here. So you see, your fears that we would cooperate with your Peacekeeper pursuers is unfounded. We, of all peoples, would never have any truck with such filth."

At this revelation, D'Argo leaned forward, growling at Rygel. "And just what else have you been blabbing, your royal idiotness! And to whom?"

Vendrana held up her hand. "The Hynerian told us nothing. We have our own sources of information. We are information brokers as well as smugglers, after all. And certainly you cannot be surprised that we know of this when Captain Crais is broadcasting a reward for you in every system his ship visits."

"Anlir," Zhaan continued. "I've heard of it. But I know nearly nothing of its properties."

Vendrana pulled a pouch out and spilled the tiniest bit of it onto the table. It glittered, even in the dim light.

"It produces clarity of mind. Nothing more. But still, such clarity is highly sought after. With it, you become better at whatever it is you do. It varies with the individual, but the results are always nothing less than spectacular."

"Yes," Rygel chimed in. "I have tasted it, once. It was given to each ruler on coronation day, to guide them on the right path. It's amazing stuff. With only a single tiny taste, I could perceive everything about me clearly. Patterns I couldn't see before became obvious. Suddenly, I knew where I was vulnurable, and who my enemies were, and what they were plotting. It was as if it had been right before me all the time. My reign was glorious."

Rygel sighed, his ears bending, his eyes downcast.

"Yes, but the effect didn't last. Decades later, my young cousin broke into the royal treasury and stole the rest of the anlir. He used it all himself, the selfish dreck. He used it to get into my good graces, and to out plan and depose me. He could never have done so without the drug. He always seemed so clever, so charming, and always with the right answer. I came to trust him, too much."

The weight of lost possibilities and squandered years seemed to press down on Rygel. His body shrank into his chair, making him seem even smaller.

There was a strange quiet for a moment, until D'Argo asked, "What was your ship doing all the way out here? We are near no other habitable systems. I find it odd that a ship would have come all this way out here with such a precious cargo."

Vendrana was ready, and quick with her answers, as if her words had been kept ready.

"Pirates had discovered the planet where we stored our anlir reserves. We had to move them. One Captain and a crew were entrusted to find a safe hiding place. But the ship was lost. So then, was our collective fortune and power. The only clue we had was that a distress buoy was found in this region. Our searching has never produced results - until recently. That is why you are here."

"Would it be permissable to have a sample of this anlir?" Zhaan asked, gazing down at the red specks on the table. "For testing. You may consider it a down payment for our services."

Vendrana was obviously reluctant, but in the circumstances, she felt there was little she could do.

"Yes, of course."

She flicked off the tiniest flake and dropped it into Zhaan's extended hand. Quickly, she plucked the rest up and put it back into her pouch. Wetting her finger, she touched it to the table, and licked it once, lest any precious crumb go unused. Her body shuddered once, and she leaned back and smiled.

Seeing Vendrana's reaction to the anlir, Zhaan's eyes narrowed. But she said nothing.