Here we go again. Crichton thought ruefully. Trusting Scorpius. When does that ever end well?

He had to admit that the half-breed had saved them on Hyneria though. There had been a few long hours crammed together in a pitch black cargo container, trying not to breath, then there had been a jolt and a sense of vertigo as the container was loaded onto Scorpius' transport pod, which he had borrowed from Moya.

Speaking of Moya, they had made a brief stop on their ship / home / travelling companion to rearm, and for Aeryn and Crichton to check on the baby. D'Argo was still there, still gurgling to himself in pleasure at Pilots company. Pilot was relieved by their return, and immediately pledged that he and Moya would do whatever was needed to help rescue Rygel. He looked disappointed when they told him that his task this time was to sit and wait, to keep their home and their child safe. Pilot was usually wholly satisfied with his lot in life, but his frustration that he could not leave Moya to help them was obvious. They assured him as best they could, then were ready to leave.

Except the stop was made slightly longer by everyone's desperate need to bathe.

They set out again, this time in a marauder Scorpius had bought with him. While certainly not an expert, Crichton had certain suspicions about that ship, which were strengthened by the fact that the freighter seemed completely oblivious to their approach.

Crichton peered out at the vessel as they approached it. He had to admit, it didn't look much like a secret Scarran facility. Which was the point, he guessed. It looked dilapidated, it looked barely space worthy. It looked like someone had gathered up the rusting remains of a bunch of ships and thrown them together at random. If cavemen could build a spaceship, it would look like this.

"Are you sure we've got the right place?"

"Quite sure, John." Scorpius said distractedly.

"Something wrong?" said Aeryn.

"No. Despite its appearance, that vessel has highly advanced sensors. While our ship should appear invisible, I must minimise our power emissions as we approach."

"Should appear invisible? How?" Crichton frowned when Scorpius didn't immediately reply. "Hey, Scorpius, answer me you ugly freak."

"I'm sorry. As I said, I was assigned to a research base. This stealth marauder was one of the few useful projects. I appropriated it shortly before resigning my commission."

Chiana laughed and clapped Scorpius' shoulder. "You stole it? I'm almost impressed."

"However, every time I am forced to fire the engines to adjust our course, we risk detection. Which is why this requires my undivided attention."

"Oh." Chiana removed her hand.

Slowly, silently now, they gilded closer to the freighter. This close, Crichton could see small details that hadn't been apparent to him. While the freighters surface was pitted and scarred, seemingly cobbled together out of random junk like a patchwork metal quilt, that cleverly masked the fact that the ship was unusually well armoured for a simple ore freighter. And while for the most part the ship looked like it was falling apart, it artfully disguised the sizeable engines which were in very good repair.

There was a jolt as they docked with the freighter. Here again the marauder had a slight advantage over a transport pod. They didn't need to find a landing bay or a docking port, it could just land on the hull and burn a way through.

They stormed their way out onto the freighter. They had enough armaments between them for a medium sized army. Crichton was slightly disappointed to find that they faced only an empty corridor. There weren't any alarms blaring, no cries of panic. In the distance, he could hear something dripping, and Some kind of rodent regarded them suspiciously, then scurried unhurriedly away in search of space cheese.

"Alright Scorpius, where are they holding Rygel?" Aeryn said.

"I am uncertain." Scorpius looked around, "However, I would surmise the holding cells to be... this way."

They made their way down the corridor. Crichton had to admit, if he hadn't known this was a Scarran vessel only disguised as an ancient disintegrating freighter, said disguise would have completely fooled him. The walls were dripping with grease and were so rusty he could probably put his fist through them. The lighting flickered fitfully, like it couldn't really be bothered to illuminate the filthy passageway. The Charrid who had just ambled around the corner was – wait, that's not right...

Cricthon opened his mouth to utter a warning. The astonished Charrid stood gaping for an instant which cost him his life. Several pulse blasts rang out and the Charrid slumped lifelessly to the floor.

"Well, if looks like this is the right place." Noranti said.

Scorpius prodded the corpse with his boot. "We must find the hynerian quickly. Out presence will not remain unobserved for long now."

"Lead the way then Scorp, this is your gig." Crichton gestured imperiously.

They continued on for an indeterminate distance, along winding corridors and through several more unfortunate Charrids. In spite of this, there were still no alarms or armed troops rushing to greet them, but on the other hand, there were no holding cells and no Rygel.

"Ok," Crichton said. "We've been wandering round in circles for half an hour now. So far, we've visited a maintenance bay, the bilges, two refectories and the little boys room. Scorpy, we really weren't planning to take the scenic route."

"I am aware of that John, I simply -"

"Are we lost?"

Scorpius sounded offended. "Of course not -"

"We've been this way before." Chiana said helpfully, pointing at a familiar pattern of mould growing on the wall.

"I am not lost! I am simply unfamiliar with the exact layout of this particular vessel."

"Also in some circles known as lost." Crichton said flatly.

"Well, yes. If you insist."

"Perfect. Anyone got any ideas?"

Faint footsteps echoed down the corridor as another oblivious Charrid drew nearer.

"We could just ask." Jothee suggested.

"What if he doesn't want to tell us?" said Noranti.

Jothee hefted his qualta blade meaningfully. "Then we ask politely."

The unlucky Charrid was not very helpful, at least initially. He snarled and blustered and threatened to commit certain actions involving bodily functions and their corpses. He became a lot more helpful when Noranti offered to cut off certain parts which would have made said acts anatomically impossible. The Charrid became very co-operative at that point, he even offered to draw them a map. His new-found generosity went unrewarded however, as Scorpius abruptly ended the conversation by coolly shooting him in the head.

They stared at him in speechless horror. He shrugged, ignoring their wordless recriminations. "We have what we need, shall we go?"

The holding cells were darker and bleaker even than the rest of the ship. Cricthon glanced at Aeryn. Her jaw was clenched, she scanned the shadowy cells with an impenetrable expression on her face that showed nothing of what she was thinking. She had been captured by the Scarrans, she'd been held – tortured for days, aboard a vessel very much like this. He remembered when he'd found her. He found it hard to imagine any torture worse than he'd felt from her absence. He'd been wrong. He'd always secretly believed that Aeryn was slightly indestructible. That illusion had been destroyed when he found the ruins of the strongest woman he'd ever met, a hollow shell, broken in a way he had never believed possible. She had quietly, methodically rebuilt herself without any assistance, alone despite his attempts to help. She'd said his presence was help enough, but the haunted look in her eyes was still sometimes visible. He doubted anyone else could tell the difference that was still there, she still to this day refused to speak with him about what had happened to her.

He tried not to visualise the way Rygel would be after the same experience. As strong as he knew the little Hynerian to be – after all he'd endured over a century as a Peacekeeper prisoner, Crichton still dreaded what he would see. Rygel had become a friend, no matter their differences over the years. What the Scarrans would do – probably had already done to him he wouldn't wish on his worst enemy.

"Crichton!"

Something moved in the gloom. A small shape detached itself from the shadows and moved forwards to the bars.

"Rygel?"

"Thank the gods! Get me out of here Crichton!" Rygel whispered frantically.

"Are you ok?" Crichton searched for a way to open the cell door.

"Of course I'm not ok you idiot. I'm in a Scarran prison! Hurry up and open that frelling door."

"Wait." Scorpius stepped forwards. "The Scarrans have not harmed you?"

"What's he doing here?" Rygel growled.

"Answer the question, your eminence." Scorpius said.

"Not yet they haven't. Now open this door!"

"You think he's the biloid?" said Aeryn.

"I find it strange that he has been held by the Scarrans for nine solar days, yet they have not begun to interrogate him."

"Well how can we tell if he's the real Rygel?"

"What are you blathering about you stupid bitch? Let me out of here!" Rygel shouted furiously.

"There may be a way. Hold out your hand, your excellence." Scorpius said.

"What? Frell you!"

"Do as he says, Sparky."

Grumbling, Rygel extended a stubby hand. Scorpius reached out and caught it with his own. Then with his other hand he drew a knife. He cut a small incision in Rygels palm, the Hynerian complained loudly.

He let a few drops of blood drip onto his own hand, then released Rygel. Delicately, he lifted his bloodstained hand to his lips. He spat. "He is not a biloid." he confirmed.

Crichton found the release for the door. It swung open. "You are one sick puppy Scorp, did anyone ever tell you that?"

Rygel floated out of the cell, clutching his injured hand. "Can we please get out of here now?"

"May I remind you, we still need to locate and capture the biloid replicant." Scorpius said.

"No we don't! We've got Ryg, lets get out of here while we still can." said Chiana.

Scorpius smiled. "My vessel is encrypted to activate only by my voice command. Unless you have arranged alternative transport, we will leave when I am ready."

"Rygel, do you have any idea where this biloid is?" Aeryn said.

"They took me to a room. There was some kind of machine, and then... another me. Handsome devil, although they got the nose wrong." Rygel mused.

"Do you know the way?"

"I think so."

Rygel led them down several corridors. They continued to wind round purposelessly, each hall looking much like the last. As far as Cricthon could tell, they might have been walking in circles. His leg took this time to loudly remind him about the sizeable hole that had been put in it just a few days ago. He limped on stoically.

Aeryn moved closer to him. "Somethings wrong." she murmured.

"What do you mean?"Crichton felt a tingle of electricity as their shoulders touched.

"Doesn't this all seem a little too easy, to you?"

"What?"

"We've just walked onto a Scarran vessel, encountered minimal resistance, rescued Rygel, and now he just happens to know the route directly to our next objective. Doesn't that strike you as slightly unlikely?"

"Maybe we've just been lucky. We're due some good luck." Cricthon muttered doubtfully.

"Do you really believe that?"

"No."

"Me neither. Keep your eyes open."

Aeryn moved away again. Crichtons eyes followed her. His foot caught on something and he stumbled. He caught her amused expression. "Right," he mumbled, "Eyes open. Got it."

Rygel stopped at a doorway. "It's in here." he declared.

Crichton peered doubtfully into the room. It was gloomy, verging on dark. In his minds eye, Charrid soldiers lurked in every shadow. "You sure, Ryg?"

"Yes I'm sure Crichton. What are you waiting for. Come on!" Rygel hovered eagerly in the doorway.

Crichton started forwards, but something made him pause. Since when did Rygel take the lead?

"What's going on here, Rygel?" he said softly.

"Nothings going on. We need to hurry."

"Where are the guards? Why haven't we been fighting through a battalion of Charrids to get here?" Anthor thought occurred to him. Chiana had found Rygels throne sled abandoned in the throne room on Hyneria. Why would the Scarrans have given him another one? He pointed his gun at the head of the startled Hynerian.

"Who are you, Rygel?"

Rygel looked calmly at the weapon pointed at him. "Surrender now and you have my word you won't be harmed." he said.

Chiana screamed angrily "He's a frelling biloid!".

Scorpius looked puzzled. "I don't think he is... I - " he turned an urgent look towards Crichton. "We must leave here. Immediately!"

There was a look in the half Scarrans eyes that he'd never seen before. It was an expression that didn't seem to fit there. He saw fear there, a look that was bordering on panic.

"We must go now!" Scorpius snarled.

"Yeah. Ok, alright boys and girls, its time to go!" Crichton said.

"Too late." Rygel said softly.

Charrid soldiers appeared from both ends of the corridor, guns trained on the fugitives. Several shadowy figures appeared in the darkened room.

"I'm afraid you will not be going anywhere." said a voice. Chiana gasped.

Crichton tried to keep his gun aimed at a dozen different targets at once. "Where's Rygel?" he addressed the shadows.

"The dominar is right there." the voice informed him calmly.

"No," Crichton said slowly. "That's a biloid."

The voice laughed softly. "I am afraid you are mistaken. About a lot of things. We do not need to resort to such... crude methods. Dominar Rygel simply sees things our way now. As you too will soon enough."

The figure stepped forwards. He was flanked by Scarran warriors, but he was not a Scarran. Crichton was dimly aware of a whimper and a clatter as Chiana's pistol fell to the floor. He lowered his own gun helplessly.

The Nebari smiled coldly at them as he waved the Scarrans forwards. Crichton felt almost drunk, he felt like laughing. All along they had been assuming that the Scarrans were the threat, and typically they had stumbled into something ten times worse. He tried to concentrate as he sightlessly felt Charrids seize him. Something else was strange, something about Chianas reaction, before she could have seen the other Nebari.

It took a few moments for the recognition to filter through Crichtons stunned mind. It wasn't just any Nebari they faced, it was someone he had seen before, although they'd never met in person. The Nebari was Chianas brother, Nerri.