Just Burgers And Beers by laceym

Chapter 1

"Frell!" Chiana screamed as she shook the bars of the cage.

"Chiana!" John yelled. "Don't do that!"

She turned and faced him. Her dark eyes shone brightly against the grey tint of her skin. John rubbed the bridge of his nose as he rested his head against the back of the cage.

"We have to get out of here!" she snapped.

"I know that Chi," John agreed. "But right now you have to be quiet so that I can think."

"Who are those fahrbots who look like Zhaan?" Chiana demanded.

"I said quiet," John shushed her.

Chiana folded her legs under her and glared at him.

"I will get us out of here," he assured her.

"Who are they?" she narrowed her eyes.

"They're Delvian Security Forces," John sighed. "They want to recapture Zhaan."

"So we've got these people chasing us in addition to Crais?" Chiana's voice went up in pitch.

"Yes," John told her. "And thanks to you, we also have Nebari after us."

Chiana growled at him.

"Quiet Pip," John pressed again.

"How are we going to get out?" Chiana began again after a few seconds.

"If you won't let me think, then I can't figure it out," John attempted to tune her out.

"How long before the others realize that we're missing?" Chiana questioned.

"Pip!" John said sharply. "Quiet!"

Chiana sat back against the door of the cage and glared at him.

John closed his eyes for a moment. He had no idea how they were overpowered. All he could recall was the flash of light and then waking up in the cage. He still had a splitting headache from whatever it was that knocked them out. Chiana was frightened and upset but he didn't blame her because he was fighting those sensations as well. He opened his eyes and looked below the cage. They were suspended in mid – air and he reasoned that they must be aboard a ship. He hoped that they weren't too far away from the planet. He had been stuck on another planet once for months and while he had managed to adjust, he wasn't pleased at the concept of never returning home. He knew that wormholes were the key to that and he had vowed to figure them out.

"This is ridiculous," Chiana muttered.

"You're still talking Pip," John murmured.

"You're not coming up with a plan," she accused.

"Well," John looked directly at her. "What do you remember about how we got here?"

Chiana took a moment to think. "After we landed we entered the marketplace and there was a flash of light and that was it. I woke up here with you."

"That's all I can remember too," John nodded. "I wonder how long we were out."

"Does it matter?" Chiana demanded.

"It just might," John glanced around. "They've made sure that we have no way of communicating with Moya."

"So we just sit here?" Chiana sighed.

"Looks like it," John lowered his head.

The sound of footsteps echoed as they neared the cage. John whistled for Chiana to move closer to him. She scurried over to where he was and braced herself against the back of the cage. The Delvian studied them in silence and Chiana chafed under the scrutiny.

"She's a bit jumpy for a Nebari," the Delvian spoke.

"I wouldn't know," John answered.

There was a brief smile. "I am Pau Zota Khaar," he identified himself.

"Khaar," John nodded.

"You are John Crichton," Khaar said.

"That I am," John agreed. "I don't suppose you'd consider letting us out of this cage?"

Khaar smiled cruelly.

"I thought that Delvians were peaceful," Chiana stated.

"What do you know of our species, young one?" Khaar asked.

"I know that Zhaan is peaceful and priest of some kind," Chiana shrugged. "She spends a lot of time in meditation, doing some seek thing."

Khaar's expression reflected nothing.

"Doesn't surprise you," John observed.

"Engaging in such is not unusual for many Delvians," Khaar shrugged. "It means nothing."

"The seek?" John asked sharply.

"No," Khaar corrected. "For someone like her it means nothing."

"I'd disagree with you there pal," John exhaled.

"Pal?" Khaar frowned.

"Don't worry about it," John dismissed.

"I see," Khaar nodded. "You don't know her history or her crime."

John studied the Delvian before him. He had recognized that the conversation was a tactic being used to interrogate rather than resorting to torture.

"What do you want?" John asked.

"We want Zhaan," Khaar replied.

"Not going to happen," John looked away.

"You are on the run from Crais and others," Khaar pointed out.

"You'd hand us over to them?" John demanded.

"It is an option," Khaar said.

"Do what you must," John said.

Chiana bristled but remained silent.

Khaar stared at him for a moment. "Perhaps some more time in this cage will change your mind."

"Don't count on it," John snapped.

"We shall see," Khaar fixed him with a direct stare, then, he turned and walked away from them. Once she was certain that they were alone, Chiana backed away from John until she was opposite him.

"Why did you do that?" she demanded.

"I'm not handing Zhaan over to them," John shook his head.

Chiana stared at him and folded her arms. "You know what she did," she stated.

"I know what she did," John confirmed.

"That's just frelling great," she whispered.

"It'll be okay, Chi," John reassured her. "They have no intention of turning us over to Crais or anyone else."

"I don't like this," Chiana hissed.

"I don't like this either," John agreed. "But there aren't a lot of options here."

Chiana lapsed into silence.

John awoke with a start and wondered how he fell asleep. He pulled his arms and found that he was restrained. He had to be dreaming but he caught sight of Khaar standing over him.

"Awake finally," Khaar said.

"What?" John struggled to pull his arms free.

"It's no use," Khaar advised. "Those restraints would keep a Luxan immobilized."

John stopped struggling. "I take it this is the point where you torture me."

"No," Khaar smiled. "We don't need to do those things."

"What do you mean?" John stilled.

"You've been through a mind merging before," Khaar said.

"You were probing my mind?" John protested.

"Not completely," Khaar assured him. "It is usually preferable for one to be awake."

"So," John sighed.

"Nothing," Khaar stared at him. "We simply saw evidence that you've done this before. Which means that you know what exists within Zhaan."

"Yes," John confirmed.

"You have no intention of surrendering her," Khaar noted.

"No," John replied.

"What of the Nebari?" Khaar asked.

"You know," John's gaze met Khaar's. "For a supposedly peaceful set of people, you are the ones giving Delvians a bad name, not Zhaan."

"We do what we must," Khaar tapped his fingers against John's forehead.

"I won't help you get her," John gritted.

"I know," Khaar assured him.

John's breath deserted him.