Chapter 1:
Tam Eldrin sat in the only chair in the center of the command for the living ship. He watched the screen as a pinpoint of light came slowly closer. He listened intently to the being some refered to as TinMan as it spoke to his mind.
"I know my friend. I understand what is troubling you. But if what you sensed in the other place is true, we will need help. Thanks to you, I am in control now. You've giving me the power of self control and there is nothing I can ever do that will repay you for that." Tam stopped speaking and listened to a voice only he could hear.
The gentle background thrumming increased in volume and pace as the being reminded Tam that they had been noticed.
"I promised you I would help keep you safe. There will be no trouble for you. StarFleet will not harm us. And thanks to your help, we've tapped their comm frequencies and I've found where Data is stationed."
The Betazoid listened intently again. "I know you are worried since you cannot feel Data, but even with your help, it will be a long journey and I would not be able to withstand the pressure of too many minds indefinitely. Data and perhaps 4 more at most."
"How much further until we reach standard StarFleet communication range to the Daystrom Institute?" He listened to the reply and smiled. "Yes, I know we've been scanned by probes, but I'd rather speak to Data face to face and not through some mechanical relay. The fewer people who know the reason we returned to this area of the galaxy the better. Especially if we are to go in search of others of your kind." He closed his eyes for a moment in order to clear his thoughts.
"I think I'll take this chance to rest for now. Please, wake me when we reach comm range." With that, the chair he was sitting in reclined and widdened into a bed.
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On Moya, Uncharted Territories
"Crighton, there's no frelling way you can be serious!"
"Come on Dargo! It's just a message. It's not like they can trace where we listen to it." IASA astronaut John Crighton replied.
"No. It's that simple. It's too dangerous and I will not allow you to put this crew in any more danger." The tall imposing figure of the Luxan warrior looked around the table in command seeking support. "It's a trap. Like always."
Crighton stood and started pacing, one hand rubbing his temple. He knew all too well how dangerous it was to listen to any message from the Peacekeepers. "Everything in this frelling galaxy is dangerous, Dargo! There's no such thing as safety out here. Sometimes, you have to take a chance."
"I agree with the luxan." stated Rygel. "Peacekeeps can not be trusted."
Chiana looked up from where she was staring at the table. "What do Pilot and Moya say? They have a say too."
Pilot's image popped up on the clamshell vieewscreen. "Moya is aware of the danger of responding to the signal, but from what we have been able to sense, there is no danger in simply hearing the message. As long as we do not try to trace the origins of the signal."
"That's not good enough." stated Aeryn. "We can't be sure it's safe to pick it up here on the ship. We should find a planet and hack their comm systems. That way we can listen to the message without risking Moya."
"But Moya would still need to be in orbit of the planet for that, Officer Sun." replied Pilot.
Crighton sat down with an eager and thoughtful expression on his face. He had changed immensely in the five cycles since he had arrived. "Not really. We have the transport pods, my module, and Aeryn's prowler. A couple of us could head to a planet in one of them, while Moya stays just outside the system, on the far side of the sun." He tapped his head. "With the knowledge I got from the Ancients, and what I picked up when Scorpy had me, I can rig something up that will hack the system, while someone stands guard. We can listen to and record the message and then bring it back to the ship. If it is a trap, we comm Moya, and she can Starburst out of there."
"That might work." admitted Dargo. "It's still dangerous. What if it's Scorpius again? He's gotten you too many times."
John sighed and covered his eyes. He felt a headache coming on.
"John's right, Dargo. We need to know what's going on." Aeryn said. "We are almost out of supplies and money. We can't afford to keep paying for information that's mostly false." She paused to let the gravity of their situation sink in. "Unless you wish to strike another Shadow Depository?"
Dargo studied his crewmates. While at first glance, they were not a group he would have willingly allied himself, he had learned over the time they have been together that looks can be deceiving. There was no one else in the universe that he could trust like the beings on this ship and no one he held greater loyalty to. They had been through much together, and though they often fought and argued, it was nothing like when they originally forced together by circumstance and former enemy-turned-something like an ally, Bialar Crais.
He would willingly lay his life down to protect any of the members of this crew and ship. 'Strange,' he thought 'Even when I married Lolan, I would never have believed that I could trust anyone as much as I trust these people. As John says ' the enemy of my enemy, is my friend.' '
He took his time studying each of his friends. First, the young Nebari to his left. His new wife. A wanted criminal among her people, her only crime was wanting to live life on her own terms. They had had some hardships on their way, but had found the strength to build a stronger relationship for it. Beside her, hovering in his ThroneSled, Dominar Rygel XVIII. Once the ruler of a race of over 600 billion, now an annoying bag of slime, with rare moments of true nobility and compassion.
To Rygel's left sat Joolushko. An Iterion they had found on a Hospital world. She, her cousin, and another oftheir race had been brought to that planet and kept in a form of coldsleep with the intent to be used as spare parts for the Hospitals clients. During an incident nearly 2 cycles ago, in which John had been such a patient, they had been forced to flee the planet in order to escape Scorpius. They had taken Joolushko and the other Iterion on board at Crighton's request. It seems that his race and the Iterions shared enough genetic material that they could come from the same stock.
Beside Joolushko sat John Crighton, the only one of his species in this part of the galaxy. During his first meeting with John, he had not been impressed. He had thought the human to be useless and primitive. But the cycles had changed his mind as he watched his friend overcome enemies and problems that would have made him cower in fear. He had proved himself as both a tactician and a warrior of great abilities and cunning. The greatest shock of all had come in a casual conversation Dargo had overheard between John and a Sebecean historian on a market street on the Royal Planet.
FLASHBACK
"So you are not Sebecean?" Hali Reton asked as he sipped from his cool fruit juice.
"Nope, I'm 100% grade A Human." Crighton replied.
"And you say your world is at the start of exploring space?" The historian asked again, making a note on a recording device. "Amazing."
"Can I ask you something?" John asked, taking his own drink.
"Absolutely, Commander."
John leaned forward. "How long have Sebeceans been in space?"
Heli had to think for a moment. "I think our earliest flights outside the Home System were almost 7500 cycles ago. How long has your race been 'in space', as you say?"
"About 50 cycles."
"Ah. That is not a very long time, is it."
"How about flight? How long was it from the first time someone flew a powered vehicle to spaceflight?"
Heli could not recall the info, so he looked it up in his database. "If our records are to be believed, it took nearlly 1000 cycles before we reached space on our own after creating a means of flight."
John had been taking a drink,sputtered. "1000 cycles? Holy shit! What took you so long?"
Heli calmy wiped his face. "Long? I'll have you know that we Sebeceans made one of the fastest recorded progressions in the known worlds! Luxans took nearly 3000 cycles, Nebari just as long, and the Scarrens needed nearly 4500 cycles."
John shook his head. "That's insane."
Heli looked at him, anger started to take shape in his bearing. "And how long was it on your world?"
"A little under 50 cycles before we sent satellites up and about 60 before we had a manned spaceflight." John stated, gulping the remainder of his drink. He noticed movement to his left and glanced over, spotting Dargo staring at him in amazement.
"You lie! No race has ever advanced so much in so little time." Heli was so insensed by this humans lies, that he left the table, vowing never to waste his time with such beings again.
Dargo, startled by the departure historian shook his head and joined his friend at the table. He placed his Qualta blade on the table in front of him and sat.
"John, what you said to him, was it true? Did it only take 60 cycles for your race to learn to leave the planet?"
John shrugged and poured another glass of juice. "Around there, yeah. Was he right? It took 3000 cycles for Luxan's to go from flying to spaceflight?"
"I am no historian. I am a warrior, but I believe it was something like that." Dargo sat, staring into space, trying to wrap his mind around the implications. If Crighton's primitive species was capable of advancing at such a rate, there was no telling how long it would be before they were among the most powerful species in the known galaxy and Uncharted Territories. If they were in this area of space, they would turn the universe on its ears.
End Flashback
Dargo shook his head. If this was true, than John's race was truelly remarkable. It was no wonder that John was able to keep up with the huge difference in the level of tech from his world to this area of the universe. He was one of the most feared and respected beings in the Uncharted Terrotories, hunted by several races for the knowledge he contained hidden in his mind, yet he came from a race that was thousands of cycles behind, tech wise.
"Look, I'm still not sure it's a good idea. But as long as you insist on doing this, I will go with you to watch your back." Dargo stated firmly.
Crighton nodded. He had known Dargo would tag along.
"I am going as well." Aeryn said. "John will do the tech work, while Dargo and I make sure nothing goes wrong."
"So we're agreed? We find a safe or mostly safe planet, I hack the systems, and we find and record the message. We come back to Moya, Starburst out."
"If we are going to be doing this insane plan, than we might as well pick a planet where we can get some supplies. We're running low of food and some other things." Jool stated.
Dargo grunted. "I need some parts for my ship as well. Some are getting worn down."
John nodded. "I need some extra parts for my module and I know Aeryn was complaining about some of the older parts in her prowler. We can pick up what we need before I hack in."
"In that case, Chiana can take the supplies back to Moya on the transport. Dargo and I will go down in my Prowler, and John can take the Farscape." Aeryn added. She smiled wryly. "John's right. I need to replace some systems on the prowler. We've had to patch them too many times and some need replacing."
Dargo sighed. "Fine. But we go armed with a few extra weapons. I don't want to take too many chances."
"Okay, let's get some rest. Jool, you, Stark and Rygel are on first watch today. Then Dargo and Chiana, and then me and Aeryn. We meet in command tomorrow around midday to pick our target." John stood and nodded again to the others. Beside him, Aeryn also stood and together they left command to head to their new quarters.
The others bid them goodnight and separated, Dargo to his quarters to get some rest, Chiana to the food bins to make a list of things they needed. Rygel disappeared on his ThroneSled while Jool complained about the watch stormed off to the med bay. Stark stayed in command, rocking slowly in his chair.
"Something's coming. I hear it. I can't tell what but it's something big." He slowed slightly. "I miss you Zhaan."
************************************************************
Tam Eldrin sat in the only chair in the center of the command for the living ship. He watched the screen as a pinpoint of light came slowly closer. He listened intently to the being some refered to as TinMan as it spoke to his mind.
"I know my friend. I understand what is troubling you. But if what you sensed in the other place is true, we will need help. Thanks to you, I am in control now. You've giving me the power of self control and there is nothing I can ever do that will repay you for that." Tam stopped speaking and listened to a voice only he could hear.
The gentle background thrumming increased in volume and pace as the being reminded Tam that they had been noticed.
"I promised you I would help keep you safe. There will be no trouble for you. StarFleet will not harm us. And thanks to your help, we've tapped their comm frequencies and I've found where Data is stationed."
The Betazoid listened intently again. "I know you are worried since you cannot feel Data, but even with your help, it will be a long journey and I would not be able to withstand the pressure of too many minds indefinitely. Data and perhaps 4 more at most."
"How much further until we reach standard StarFleet communication range to the Daystrom Institute?" He listened to the reply and smiled. "Yes, I know we've been scanned by probes, but I'd rather speak to Data face to face and not through some mechanical relay. The fewer people who know the reason we returned to this area of the galaxy the better. Especially if we are to go in search of others of your kind." He closed his eyes for a moment in order to clear his thoughts.
"I think I'll take this chance to rest for now. Please, wake me when we reach comm range." With that, the chair he was sitting in reclined and widdened into a bed.
************************************************************
On Moya, Uncharted Territories
"Crighton, there's no frelling way you can be serious!"
"Come on Dargo! It's just a message. It's not like they can trace where we listen to it." IASA astronaut John Crighton replied.
"No. It's that simple. It's too dangerous and I will not allow you to put this crew in any more danger." The tall imposing figure of the Luxan warrior looked around the table in command seeking support. "It's a trap. Like always."
Crighton stood and started pacing, one hand rubbing his temple. He knew all too well how dangerous it was to listen to any message from the Peacekeepers. "Everything in this frelling galaxy is dangerous, Dargo! There's no such thing as safety out here. Sometimes, you have to take a chance."
"I agree with the luxan." stated Rygel. "Peacekeeps can not be trusted."
Chiana looked up from where she was staring at the table. "What do Pilot and Moya say? They have a say too."
Pilot's image popped up on the clamshell vieewscreen. "Moya is aware of the danger of responding to the signal, but from what we have been able to sense, there is no danger in simply hearing the message. As long as we do not try to trace the origins of the signal."
"That's not good enough." stated Aeryn. "We can't be sure it's safe to pick it up here on the ship. We should find a planet and hack their comm systems. That way we can listen to the message without risking Moya."
"But Moya would still need to be in orbit of the planet for that, Officer Sun." replied Pilot.
Crighton sat down with an eager and thoughtful expression on his face. He had changed immensely in the five cycles since he had arrived. "Not really. We have the transport pods, my module, and Aeryn's prowler. A couple of us could head to a planet in one of them, while Moya stays just outside the system, on the far side of the sun." He tapped his head. "With the knowledge I got from the Ancients, and what I picked up when Scorpy had me, I can rig something up that will hack the system, while someone stands guard. We can listen to and record the message and then bring it back to the ship. If it is a trap, we comm Moya, and she can Starburst out of there."
"That might work." admitted Dargo. "It's still dangerous. What if it's Scorpius again? He's gotten you too many times."
John sighed and covered his eyes. He felt a headache coming on.
"John's right, Dargo. We need to know what's going on." Aeryn said. "We are almost out of supplies and money. We can't afford to keep paying for information that's mostly false." She paused to let the gravity of their situation sink in. "Unless you wish to strike another Shadow Depository?"
Dargo studied his crewmates. While at first glance, they were not a group he would have willingly allied himself, he had learned over the time they have been together that looks can be deceiving. There was no one else in the universe that he could trust like the beings on this ship and no one he held greater loyalty to. They had been through much together, and though they often fought and argued, it was nothing like when they originally forced together by circumstance and former enemy-turned-something like an ally, Bialar Crais.
He would willingly lay his life down to protect any of the members of this crew and ship. 'Strange,' he thought 'Even when I married Lolan, I would never have believed that I could trust anyone as much as I trust these people. As John says ' the enemy of my enemy, is my friend.' '
He took his time studying each of his friends. First, the young Nebari to his left. His new wife. A wanted criminal among her people, her only crime was wanting to live life on her own terms. They had had some hardships on their way, but had found the strength to build a stronger relationship for it. Beside her, hovering in his ThroneSled, Dominar Rygel XVIII. Once the ruler of a race of over 600 billion, now an annoying bag of slime, with rare moments of true nobility and compassion.
To Rygel's left sat Joolushko. An Iterion they had found on a Hospital world. She, her cousin, and another oftheir race had been brought to that planet and kept in a form of coldsleep with the intent to be used as spare parts for the Hospitals clients. During an incident nearly 2 cycles ago, in which John had been such a patient, they had been forced to flee the planet in order to escape Scorpius. They had taken Joolushko and the other Iterion on board at Crighton's request. It seems that his race and the Iterions shared enough genetic material that they could come from the same stock.
Beside Joolushko sat John Crighton, the only one of his species in this part of the galaxy. During his first meeting with John, he had not been impressed. He had thought the human to be useless and primitive. But the cycles had changed his mind as he watched his friend overcome enemies and problems that would have made him cower in fear. He had proved himself as both a tactician and a warrior of great abilities and cunning. The greatest shock of all had come in a casual conversation Dargo had overheard between John and a Sebecean historian on a market street on the Royal Planet.
FLASHBACK
"So you are not Sebecean?" Hali Reton asked as he sipped from his cool fruit juice.
"Nope, I'm 100% grade A Human." Crighton replied.
"And you say your world is at the start of exploring space?" The historian asked again, making a note on a recording device. "Amazing."
"Can I ask you something?" John asked, taking his own drink.
"Absolutely, Commander."
John leaned forward. "How long have Sebeceans been in space?"
Heli had to think for a moment. "I think our earliest flights outside the Home System were almost 7500 cycles ago. How long has your race been 'in space', as you say?"
"About 50 cycles."
"Ah. That is not a very long time, is it."
"How about flight? How long was it from the first time someone flew a powered vehicle to spaceflight?"
Heli could not recall the info, so he looked it up in his database. "If our records are to be believed, it took nearlly 1000 cycles before we reached space on our own after creating a means of flight."
John had been taking a drink,sputtered. "1000 cycles? Holy shit! What took you so long?"
Heli calmy wiped his face. "Long? I'll have you know that we Sebeceans made one of the fastest recorded progressions in the known worlds! Luxans took nearly 3000 cycles, Nebari just as long, and the Scarrens needed nearly 4500 cycles."
John shook his head. "That's insane."
Heli looked at him, anger started to take shape in his bearing. "And how long was it on your world?"
"A little under 50 cycles before we sent satellites up and about 60 before we had a manned spaceflight." John stated, gulping the remainder of his drink. He noticed movement to his left and glanced over, spotting Dargo staring at him in amazement.
"You lie! No race has ever advanced so much in so little time." Heli was so insensed by this humans lies, that he left the table, vowing never to waste his time with such beings again.
Dargo, startled by the departure historian shook his head and joined his friend at the table. He placed his Qualta blade on the table in front of him and sat.
"John, what you said to him, was it true? Did it only take 60 cycles for your race to learn to leave the planet?"
John shrugged and poured another glass of juice. "Around there, yeah. Was he right? It took 3000 cycles for Luxan's to go from flying to spaceflight?"
"I am no historian. I am a warrior, but I believe it was something like that." Dargo sat, staring into space, trying to wrap his mind around the implications. If Crighton's primitive species was capable of advancing at such a rate, there was no telling how long it would be before they were among the most powerful species in the known galaxy and Uncharted Territories. If they were in this area of space, they would turn the universe on its ears.
End Flashback
Dargo shook his head. If this was true, than John's race was truelly remarkable. It was no wonder that John was able to keep up with the huge difference in the level of tech from his world to this area of the universe. He was one of the most feared and respected beings in the Uncharted Terrotories, hunted by several races for the knowledge he contained hidden in his mind, yet he came from a race that was thousands of cycles behind, tech wise.
"Look, I'm still not sure it's a good idea. But as long as you insist on doing this, I will go with you to watch your back." Dargo stated firmly.
Crighton nodded. He had known Dargo would tag along.
"I am going as well." Aeryn said. "John will do the tech work, while Dargo and I make sure nothing goes wrong."
"So we're agreed? We find a safe or mostly safe planet, I hack the systems, and we find and record the message. We come back to Moya, Starburst out."
"If we are going to be doing this insane plan, than we might as well pick a planet where we can get some supplies. We're running low of food and some other things." Jool stated.
Dargo grunted. "I need some parts for my ship as well. Some are getting worn down."
John nodded. "I need some extra parts for my module and I know Aeryn was complaining about some of the older parts in her prowler. We can pick up what we need before I hack in."
"In that case, Chiana can take the supplies back to Moya on the transport. Dargo and I will go down in my Prowler, and John can take the Farscape." Aeryn added. She smiled wryly. "John's right. I need to replace some systems on the prowler. We've had to patch them too many times and some need replacing."
Dargo sighed. "Fine. But we go armed with a few extra weapons. I don't want to take too many chances."
"Okay, let's get some rest. Jool, you, Stark and Rygel are on first watch today. Then Dargo and Chiana, and then me and Aeryn. We meet in command tomorrow around midday to pick our target." John stood and nodded again to the others. Beside him, Aeryn also stood and together they left command to head to their new quarters.
The others bid them goodnight and separated, Dargo to his quarters to get some rest, Chiana to the food bins to make a list of things they needed. Rygel disappeared on his ThroneSled while Jool complained about the watch stormed off to the med bay. Stark stayed in command, rocking slowly in his chair.
"Something's coming. I hear it. I can't tell what but it's something big." He slowed slightly. "I miss you Zhaan."
************************************************************