ADDITIONAL A/N:
I wasn't expecting such a huge rush on this! Sorry for the delay, I've been ill, and it's Christmas, but I'm back with Chapter Four! Enjoy!CHAPTER FOUR
"Crichton?"
"yeah?"
"If you know what's going on, just frelling tell me!"
They both kept their gazes fixed to the door, waiting for whoever was approaching to emerge. "It would take far too long. Just trust me. I'll do… something."
Aeryn was just about to yell at him some more when D'Argo, Chiana and Jool separated to let the door open. Instinctively, John positioned himself closer to Aeryn as they both drew their weapons…
Crais appeared in all his glory. John was, at first, utterly shell-shocked, and then, he began to snigger, simply because the present sight of his sworn enemy was so very amusing. Aeryn's jaw dropped as she tried to form a coherent thought and consistently failed to come up with anything. Finally, she managed to say: "What… in hezmana… are you doing??"
"Lookin' good, Crais-y Boy!" said John, unhelpfully.
The former Peacekeeper Captain said nothing, merely eyed them evilly, as Aeryn took in his entire appearance. She prayed to any diety that would listen that it was all some insane dream.
His usually neat braid was nowhere to be seen, and black hair framed his face… his very heavily made up face. He was dressed, on first glance, in his trench coat. If, however, one dared to look further, there was much more to it. Or, in fact, much less.
He was clad in a pair of rather ragged stockings, something that resembled one of Chiana's more daring outfits, a very fetching pearl-like choker, and his combat boots and utility belt.
Aeryn closed her eyes in the hope it would go away; to her horror when she reopened them, Crais was walking towards them. John, thankfully, stopped sniggering, and instead let out a wolf-whistle of approval.
"Woo! Where'd you get the outfit? No, wait, don't tell me. You stole it off Chiana." He cocked his head to the side and regarded him again. "No… Aeryn." That earned him a fully-expected punch on the arm. I love you, too, he thought, and started sniggering again.
Crais raised a highly dubious eyebrow. Eventually, he deigned to speak.
"Greetings, Crichton, Officer Sun. I see you're already acquainted with my manservant, Ka D'Argo." He indicated the Luxan, who scowled. "He's rather disappointed. He thought you might have been Luxans when you approached."
John, still sniggering, had now started humming something to himself, and Aeryn assumed an air of complete disbelief.
"I suppose," Crais continued, "you're wondering about this," indicating himself, "but you can't let outward appearances deceive you. I may look… strange, but I assure you, this is quite practical."
"Skip the chorus, Not-So-Sweet T," interrupted John. "Just tell us what's goin' on."
Crais blatantly ignored him. "Your Prowler is out of fuel, correct? Well, no need to worry, we'll sort that for you."
"Listen, Crais," said Aeryn, attempting to be a voice of logic, and echoing John. "Just tell us what is going on!"
He frowned. "I've been making something. It's in the lab, if you'd care to see."
John smiled idiotically. "Oh, yeah, we're just tingling with the anticipation." The urge to pause on the last word was almost uncontrollable, but he fought it. Aeryn had, by this point, decided everyone was completely mad, and was determined to take her with them.
Apparently satisfied, Crais turned and left. Immediately, the other three swarmed on John and Aeryn. He moved himself out of their way and bodily directed Aeryn ahead of him. "S'okay! We're going. Just lead the way."
The three conferred, then nodded as one being. D'Argo headed the group, and Chiana and Jool brought up the rear, with John and Aeryn in the middle. Jool prodded them into action. "Come on. Crais doesn't like to wait. Shift it!"
For a few microts, they walked in silence. Then, Chiana spoke.
"D'Argo, slow down. It's too nice a view to rush." John got the distinct impression she wasn't talking about Moya's interior, and moved a little closer to Aeryn. "You know," she added, "you're lucky to be invited to Crais' lab. Some people'd give anything for the chance."
John could resist no longer. "People like you, maybe, Chi?"
She giggled. "I've seen it!"
They walked a little further in silence, while Aeryn thought. Somewhat worriedly, she asked: "Chiana, did you… uh… you didn't… frell Crais, did you?"
D'Argo answered for her. "I've never known him to have that desire, and I don't think he ever will… and especially not with Chiana. We're simply the servants."
Aeryn noted that John couldn't stop grinning, and any microt now, she was going to wipe the moronic smilt right off his face. Then, she realised they were heading towards Zhaan's apothecary. The lab… she pondered. So that's what he was on about…
"John," she asked quietly, "what should I be expecting to happen?"
"Oh, so now you wanna listen to me?" he teased. She frowned, his imminent demise implied. "That'd be telling, Sunshine. I think I'll let you just go along for the ride." With that, he draped an arm around her shoulders, grinned even wider, and said no more.
Aeryn resisted the urge to remove the arm (literally, if necessary) and kept walking. She couldn't shift the nagging worry that the strangeness was far from over, as Zhaan's apothecary approached…
Okay… lots more reviews gets you Chapter 5! And a prize (or at least, a mention next time) to the person who guesses who I 'cast' as Rocky!! *evil smile*
