SCORPIUS' SMILE was beginning to disconcert many about him, most never having seen the half-breed do so. After a titanic effort, with over half the ship's techs slaving over them and some collapsing from the strain, a Hammonside Frag Cannon was now moving on its track, swinging around to target the Earth below. Braca reported that the Treblinside was position to fire at the pirates and Scorpius nodded that he was to do so.

Fate could be handled, Scorpius told himself, with foresight and diligence. He watched the monitors, saw the pirate fleet break apart due to his counterattack, his ships now charging through their ranks. The Frag Cannon discharged and he watched the charge tear through that so-called fleet. And raw power, of course.

It had been a fool's errand to think such scum could match professional Peacekeepers. Yet, there was one last thing to do and he knew it should have been beneath him but he couldn't resist. He ordered a channel open.

"Crichton," he inquired, "still there?"

"Scorpius," came the cool voice. It muted Scorpius' pleasure to hear not a trace of stress in it. "Nice work."

"You think so?"

"Absolutely. Always prepared, I see."

"Your fleet won't last long against our forces, nor our Frag Cannon."

"Compliments to the techs." Crichton told him, his voice still even. "Helluva job."

"You can surrender now, if you like. Or I continue destroying cities below."

"You're an ambitious sort, I see."

"This game is over and I have won. You - !"

"I looked and beheld the Arusha eli Fadii," Crichton suddenly intoned, interrupting like a serious and stern preacher at a pulpit, "'The One With Two Faces'".

Scorpius started and then just shook his head. Whatever the human was attempting would not work.

"I see you are lost to reason. Braca, stand by on the Hammonside Cannon…"

"The Maiden Darkness at his side, in one hand he held the Destined Fate, in the other the Chaos of Love. I was fearful and averted my eyes." Crichton continued, unheeding. 'Nay,' Arusha eli Fadii said in a voice like a cold thunder. 'Look upon me and remember.'"

"What's he doing?" Braca wondered. Scorpius found the recital inexplicably irritating.

"Without warning, he clapped his hands together and a great roar filled the heavens, the silver light of a million stars exploded in agony." Crichton laughed softly. "Thus I undo the Gods.' He said. 'Thus I align the Universe.'"

"I will destroy your planet!" Scorpius hissed.

"Scorpius… how was your history in school? That was from Amiika 'The Prophet of Irrationalities'; Suvra 19:12-23, The N'sharrasti Ek'sm Book of… well, me. Or so they said." Another short chuckle.

"You're mad." Scorpius ventured. "Can you not grasp…"

"It is the black of the grave and the maw of the endless Night that stretches into Forever above us. He walks deep inside that night. He carries it like a banner - for it is the cloak of his beloved, the Maiden Darkness." Crichton continued as if he'd not heard. "No need to genuflect or offer up prayers. I never listen."

"As I said, I have won your game!" Scorpius tried again. "You are finished."

"What's any man want, I ask you? The basics? A comfy car, a neat house, a shiny wife and shinier kids? A dog that can do his taxes and enough money to subvert the American Dream without getting caught?" A pause. "Playing the game, though…"

"You've lost. You have nothing left but bluster and bluff." Scorpius asserted. "All a Crichton ever has. I have the Earth under siege and can still destroy much of its surface. Between our Cannon and fighters, we can handle your little fleet."

"Yeah, well, I figured they wouldn't intimidate you overmuch," Crichton told him. "Then they weren't meant to do anything but distract you anyway. All those attack craft suddenly so far away. No air support down below." Another chuckle. "The A-10 Warthogs fly over… won't be pretty."

The main screen suddenly changed to a closeup of the pirate's face and one cold blue eye cast a baleful gaze over Command. How he had infiltrated their systems to such an extent no one could say.

"I know exactly what kind of shape you're in."

"Do you now?" Scorpius cocked his head at the image on the screen, his face unreadable. "You seem rather confident." His own confidence was starting to fray at the edges.

A lopsided smile creased Crichton's face.

"If my timing was right – and I see no reason why it wasn't - John's kicked off this mortal coil and you have nothing. Oh, you've got a rig, but it very likely doesn't work."

His one eye seemed to look around the Command. The screen zoomed out to show his Impactor behind him. Scorpius' eyes narrowed as he recognized it. It had two bright lights flashing on it. Everyone on Command gaped. Someone gasped. Second stage to detonation.

"How's this for confidence?"

"It will be no victory." Scorpius stated, calm and collected. A tech out of sight of Crichton signalled that the static charge was eighty microts from full coverage. Seeker drones had found him and were locked on. They would reach the human first. The Impactor then flashed a third light. First tier third stage implementation. There was still time to stop the device. "I can destroy half your planet before you can do anything with that. You have your ideals, Crichton. You won't kill innocents. You're bluffing."

"You still think this is about winning, Scorpius." He shook his head in mock pity.

Scorpius blinked. The pirate was too casual, his manner too sure. What was he missing? It was all a bluff. It had to be. Behind the pirate, Scorpius could see the seeker drones flash, bearing down.

"It's about what we know and what we think we know," Crichton continued, "It's the simple difference between facts and supposition, the hypothetical and the actual. You're so busy trying to make everyone dance to your tune you can no longer hear the music." Crichton reached down and casually hit a switch on the side of the Impactor. The fourth stage light shone. "Peacekeepers think only of victory or defeat. They offer no choices but their way or death. I understand now that it's not important. Defeat, victory – nothing."

A tech signalled. Ten microts.

Scorpius opened his mouth but Crichton wasn't finished. His smile had faded and his voice sounded tired.

"I'm not trying to win."

His finger hit the final key.

The screen went black.

The Carrier shook.