The Way We Are

Chapter Two

Rating PG-13

When John reached command he could see the ship in the viewport. It was about half Moya's size. John was not familiar with the design but only an idiot would have missed the two large cannons mounted on each side of the vessel. He hoped they were the talk-first type.

"What are we looking at Pilot?"

"Design unfamiliar but it appears to have substantial firepower. Scans indicate there are about thirty lifeforms on board. Commander a boarding party…"

"I see it, Pilot," John muttered in frustration as he watched a transport exit the ship.

"Transmission coming through," Pilot informed.

"Alright, let's see what they want."

Pilot piped the transmission into the command view screen. A dark skinned Sebaceanoid male with long matted hair and bad teeth filled the screen. Pirates, had to be pirates, John thought. Great, but what were pirates doing in Peacekeeper controlled space? If these pirates were confident or daring enough to work in Peacekeeper space then they were either very dangerous or had very good connections to the upper echelons of Peacekeeper command.

"We can do this the easy way or the fun way," the pirate called.

So much for introductions, John thought. "Okay, but look, whatever it is you're after, I assure you we don't have it. We are not hauling any cargo, this used to be a prison ship, now it's just an RV in space. We don't have anything of value."

"Hmph, we'll be the judge of that," the pirate spat and closed down the transmission.

"They are docking now commander."

John sprinted down Moya's corridors hoping against all hope that he would make it to the docking bay before they got out of their transport. As he rounded the corner of the docking bay the hatch to the oblong vessel opened with a hiss. Two muscular pirates carrying heavy arms came down the ramp first. They reminded John of Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Arnolds were followed by six run of the mill pirate types, unkempt, maimed, and tattooed. He kept his hand close to his pulse pistol but hoped that it wouldn't come to that.

One of the commando-looking pirates called, "clear."

Another pirate descended the ramp but he was different from the others. He was hardly puny but he didn't look like he was souped up on steroids either. He was clean cut and well-kempt, nothing like the pirate who had addressed John in command or the half-dozen buccaneers who stood in the docking bay. It was clear that he was in charge of this little party. John guessed that women would like the looks of him if not for the nasty scar that ran up the left side of his face. It looked more like a burn than a cut and John assumed the scar had been the result of some kind of heat torture directed toward him because he was Sebacean.

"Are you the captain of this Leviathan?" The leader asked John.

"For all intents and purposes but as I told Bob Marley, we aren't carrying any cargo and we have nothing of value, this is a houseboat. So, take your eight friends and get off my ship."

"Then you won't mind us looking around," the pirate coldly looked at John and motioned for his crewmates to move forward and start exploring the ship.

"I do mind, pal," John said but the head pirate motioned for the Arnolds to take hold of Crichton.

"I believe he said this was a prison ship, so let's find him a cell to keep him out of the way while we take a look around," the pirate captain ordered.

"Me and my big mouth!" John ducked between the two hulking pirates as they reached for him. Unfortunately, they were as quick as they were strong. They whipped around almost in unison and trained their rifles on him.

"Uh-huh boys, no need for bloodshed," the pirate captain admonished as he pulled a stun gun from his holster and sent John to dreamland.

Aeryn heard the thud of John's body hit the floor over the comm. She had been making her way toward Noranti's chambers. She knew she had to hurry if her plan was going to work. She was thankful for her husband's resourcefulness. He had found a way in his banter with the pirate to tell her the size of the boarding party, nine including the leader. So far it didn't appear that they were typical pirates. They hadn't killed John outright and it seemed as if the leader wanted to make this as clean as possible. Even though he seemed a relatively peaceful pirate there was something about his voice that irked Aeryn. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had heard it somewhere before. Even though the pirates hadn't really harmed John, Aeryn didn't want to take chances where the baby was concerned. She knew that if they were searching the ship then the docking bay would be empty. This was her best chance to get the baby secured.

Noranti was pouring some type of powdery substance into a pouch when Aeryn found her.

"Come with me, quickly," Aeryn grabbed Noranti by the wrist and pulled her toward the maintenance bay.

"Just. . ." Noranti attempted to protest.

"No time, come on," Aeryn's insistence stopped further protest.

When they reached the docking by, Aeryn popped the prowler open and secured the baby inside.

She helped Noranti into the pilot's seat and began fiddling with the controls. "Noranti, listen, and listen closely. I have just programmed the prowler to take you to Delca 5, you remember it?"

Noranti nodded, "But, don't you want to. . ."

"I'm not leaving John. Now, stop interrupting. As soon as the ship leaves the docking bay engage the shields—that's the green switch here,"Aeryn informed. "I have set the trajectory to keep you shielded from their ship long enough that they shouldn't be able to see you until you are out of cannon range and reaching hetch five. Once you are clear, start trying to reach Chiana and let her know where you are headed. Got it?"

Noranti nodded causing her earrings to jingle.

"Move away from the prowler, nice and slowly," it was the lead pirate's voice, that familiar voice that Aeryn couldn't quite place. Aeryn slowly held her hands up and backed away from her ship.

"Good, now hold still."

Aeryn heard the approaching footsteps. Her warrior instincts told her to perform a roundhouse kick just microts before he reached her but she remembered that he had chosen not to kill John and thought that a cooler head might be warranted. Frell, if the human hadn't rubbed off on her.

The pirate had reached Aeryn. He was standing so closely she could feel his breath on her neck. He smelled as familiar as he sounded. He reached around with his left hand and unclasped the coat. "Shrug it off," he ordered.

Aeryn did as directed. The pirate unholstered Aeryn's two pulse pistols and tossed them across the docking bay.

He stepped back and allowed himself a moment to admire the feminine beauty before him. Aeryn was still in the corset and it exposed her lovely shoulders and long toned arms. He also delighted in the accentuated curves of her waist.

"You carrying anymore weapons?"

"No,"Aeryn answered honestly.

"Good, now slowly turn around."

The scar marred his handsome face but Aeryn would never forget those dark eyes that had smoldered like fire in the bedroom and that had stared at her in anguish when she had betrayed him.

"Velorek," she whispered, "but you're dead."

A sinister smile spread across the former peacekeeper's face, "Officer Sun."

"No longer an officer," Aeryn told him, "no longer a peacekeeper."

Velorek held up his left, unarmed hand to silence her. He needed a moment to process. The Sebacean male had said this was a houseboat, whatever that meant. He assumed he had meant that this Leviathan was being used as a domicile. So did that mean that that man was Aeryn's lover? Husband? Why had she left the Peacekeepers, did she leave for that man? Velorek was growing increasingly infuriated.

Aeryn saw malice in Velorek's eyes like she had never seen before. It wasn't jealousy, it was far worse. It looked to Aeryn as if he had just decided that the betrayal and his ouster from the Peacekeepers and quite likely his scars had all been for nothing. The irony was not lost on Aeryn. They were aboard the very Leviathan that had been the occasion for her betrayal, her promotion, and his removal and execution order. His coal eyes gleamed with hatred, loss, pain, and suffering.

If she gave him time to regroup his senses it might be too late. He was only holding the one weapon in his right hand. She assumed it was the weapon that he had used on Crichton, she hoped it was set only to stun. She charged Velorek, knocked the gun from his hand and pushed him out of the docking bay. She closed the bay doors and checked to make sure that Noranti had sealed the prowler. Finally, she pressed the controls to open the outer doors to space and cried, "Now, Granny, go! Punch it! Go!"

The last thing she heard before taking a blow to the head was the prowler's engines roaring.

When Aeryn regained consciousness, the first thing she noticed was John in the cell across the hall. The second thing she noticed was Velorek standing in the corridor holding one of D'Argo's baby blankets.

Alarms went off, her heart raced and tears welled up in her eyes. "If you have harmed my son, I will kill you!" Aeryn stated matter-of-factly.

"Amazing, I knew you were capable of great love," Velorek handed Aeryn the blanket though the gaps in the cell door. "Don't worry, I didn't harm your whelp. He was in the prowler with the old woman, I presume? I wondered why you wanted to protect her so fiercely."

"Velorek. . ."

"Shut up, Aeryn, you'll speak when I say you can speak, understand."

"Hey Scarface, leave her the frell alone," John demanded and tried in vain to rip the cell door off.

Velorek turned to John, "Ah, so you admire Captain Crais' handiwork?"

"Crais did that to you? I figured as much," John answered.

"So you've heard of me?" Velorek turned to Aeryn, "Peacekeepers aren't supposed to kiss and tell my dear."

"That's what I've been trying to tell you, I am no longer a Peacekeeper, Velorek. Remember when you said to me that I could be so much more, well you were right," Aeryn tried to reason with him.

"Did he show you that, Aeryn?"

She nodded.

"So who was he? Another tech? Commando? What?" he asked

"He was never a Peacekeeper, he's not even Sebacean," Aeryn answered.

"So the good little Peacekeeper turned into an interspecies tralk?"

"Frell you!"

"I can arrange that," Velorek said and then unlocked and entered her cell.