Chapter 3: Ties

Chiana hurried towards Moya's command. "Pilot, is Crichton in command?" she asked.

"Yes Chiana."

"Tell him to stay there, okay."

"May I ask why?"

"I need to talk to him. It's important."

"Very well Chiana."

Chiana rounded the last few corners, hit the door controls and slipped through the gap that appeared.

"Crichton," she said.

"Hey Chi, Pilot said you wanted to talk to me?"

Crichton was sitting on the floor, trying to fix a conduit on the wall. Chiana sat down beside him and tried to decide where to begin.

"You know...that I've been having those...premonitions."

"Yeah."

"And you know that they're...well, they're getting stronger."

"Are they hurting you or something, Chi?" Crichton asked, looking concerned.

"No...they're not hurting me. It's just that...I haven't told anyone this, but...I've started having dreams as well."

"Dreams? Like...prophetic dreams?"

"I think so."

"Why didn't you tell us before?" Crichton asked.

"At first they were just...it was just little things, you know. I dreamt that you lost your pulse pistol and then you did. And then I dreamt that you found it again and that happened too. It didn't seem to matter, but last night...it was something else."

"What?"

Chiana shifted her position.

"I had a...I had a dream about Crais," she said.

Crichton stared back at her.

"Er, Chi, do I want to know the content of this dream?"

"I don't mean a dream like that," Chiana said, "I mean...a dream where he was alive."

"And you think that it might be a prophecy?" Crichton asked.

"You know that planet we passed three days ago, the one that wouldn't let us come down to trade for supplies?"

"Yeah."

"Well...I didn't say anything then, but I got this...feeling that there was something we should go down for. And after the dream...I think he might be there."

"Chi, Crais has to be dead, Talyn too. There is no way that they could have survived."

"But we didn't find all of Talyn's remains, did we? And Talyn's not a normal leviathan, he's part-Peacekeeper, maybe...."

"You want us to go back to the planet?"

"Look, maybe you're right, maybe it's nothing, but I don't know if you've noticed but the things I see come true. I think we ought to find out."

"Okay Chi, we'll ask the others and if they agree we'll go back to look for Crais."

"Thanks Crichton," Chiana said gratefully.

"I didn't know you cared that much about Crais."

"I don't. I just...care that you trust me."

Crichton put an arm around her. "I've decided that I'd be smart to."

***

"We understand that you don't usually allow visitors or trading parties, but these are special circumstances."

"How so?" Commandant Veldone asked, her less-than-formidable patience already wearing thin. Her rules were simple, no visitors. This stubborn alien had been pestering the communications office for arns and had finally demanded to speak with her. Her fingers were hovering over her control pad, itching to send the 'target and destroy' signal to airborne defence.

"We have reason to believe that you might have one of our...friends...on your planet," Crichton said.

His hesitation was not lost on the Commandant.

"Mr Crichton," she said, somewhat irritably. "When I say that we do not allow visitors, I meant without exception. The only people on this planet are those that were born here."

"Look, one of your people said that you do rescue missions. He and his ship were probably badly injured."

She made a mental note to have that person removed.

"Very well," she said, using every scrap of control she possessed. "I am prepared to consult our records if it will bring a satisfactory end to this matter. What is the name you wish me to search for?"

"The guy's called Bialar Crais and the ship's name is Talyn, he's a hybrid leviathan."

The Commandant paused imperceptibly at that.

"I will consult my chief of records and contact you shortly," she said, calmly.

"Thank you."

The moment the connection was broken she activated her communication channel.

"Raylai Selon, report to my office immediately."

"Yes sir," came the instant reply.

She sat, considering the options as she waited for him to arrive.

"Sir," Selon said, marching swiftly into the office.

"Ah, Selon," Commandant Veldone said, smiling. "I asked you here because an interesting development has occurred. I have received a communication from a leviathan travelling through this sector. They claim that one of their crew and his ship are currently resident on this planet. The person's name...is Bialar Crais, and it seems that the name of the ship is Talyn."

Selon returned her smile.

"That is indeed an...interesting development sir," he said.

"I thought you might agree," she said, "and I would like your input on this matter. What do you believe would be the best course of action to take?"

"Well..." he said, "...if we allow him to meet with people he is familiar with, it could speed the recovery of his memory."

"How powerful is the memory blocker he was given?"

"It should block out the last few cycles completely until it is removed, but exposure of this kind could...lessen its effect."

"So your recommendation is that we do not allow this meeting?"

"Well...perhaps, but if we could convince them to take him away without the ship. That would remove him from our way."

"A very interesting thought."

"Thank you sir."

"Dismissed."

Selon saluted and left.

Commandant Veldone reactivated her long-range communications. Crichton's face appeared on the viewscreen.

"Commander Crichton," she said. "I have consulted my chief of records. It seems that we might be able to help you after all...."

***

Crichton and Aeryn approached the house and knocked. The door was opened by a pretty, Sebacean woman.

"Hi," Crichton said, "I'm...John Crichton."

She smiled. "I am Raylai Carma. I was told to expect you, come in."

They followed her into the room and settled on the sofa as she made drinks. Crichton looked around.

"This is where Crais has been staying?" he asked in disbelief.

"It is usual here for a patient to reside with their carer," Carma replied.

"Carer?" Crichton asked. "Man, how bad was Crais banged up?"

Carma smiled.

"All cases requiring extended treatment are assigned to carers. We provide medical care, physiotherapy, counselling and whatever other support the patient requires. In Bialar's case...he was in a coma for two monens, he suffered temporary paralysis ,from which he has now almost fully recovered, and total amnesia...from which he has not."

"Crais has lost his memory?" Crichton asked, stunned.

"When he first woke up he remembered nothing," Carma said. "Since then he has made a good deal of progress. His memories from much of his life have almost fully returned, it is only the last few cycles that still seem to be blocked."

"What is the most recent thing that he remembers?" Aeryn asked.

"The most recent that he has told me about was of his brother arriving to serve under him."

Crichton turned to look at Aeryn.

"Which means that he won't remember me...and he might not remember you either," he said.

"You haven't known him long then?" Carma asked.

"A bit over three cycles," Crichton replied.

"The first cycle of which he spent trying to kill you," Aeryn pointed out.

"Kill you?" Carma said, alarmed. "Why?"

"It's kind of a long story," Crichton said. "Short version, his brother and I were involved in an accident, his brother died and Crais blamed me for it. Where is Crais anyway?"

"He's not here at the moment," Carma replied. "I wanted to speak to you first, to explain his situation to you. If all you say is true, I'm hoping that you can help him regain his memories of the last few cycles, but it will take time."

"When do you expect him?" Aeryn asked.

"He shouldn't be long," Carma said.

As if on cue, Crais chose that moment to walk in the door. He stopped when he saw Crichton and Aeryn on the sofa. "I didn't realise that you would have guests," he said to Carma.

She smiled. "They're not here to see me Bialar, they're here to see you. Do you recognise them?"

Crais regarded them. "I have seen you before," he said, nodding to Aeryn. "But I do not recall ever meeting you," he finished, turning his attention to Crichton.

"My name is John Crichton," Crichton said, feeling strange about introducing himself to Crais again, "we've known each other about three cycles. You've known Aeryn longer, you served with her in the Peacekeepers."

Crais studied her more closely. "Officer...Aeryn Sun."

"That is correct," Aeryn said. "But I am no longer a Peacekeeper and neither are you."

"How is that possible?" Crais asked abruptly. "Deserters are executed."

"We were both deemed irreversibly contaminated," Aeryn replied. "I escaped on Moya, you on Talyn."

"Talyn?" Crais asked. "Is that the name of my ship?"

"Yeah," Crichton said. "He's Moya's son. ...You really don't remember any of this?"

"I have not recovered any memories of the last few cycles," Crais said.

Crichton leaned forward. "Do you remember...how you came to be here?"

"No," Crais said, matter-of-factly. "Perhaps you can enlighten me?"

Crichton and Aeryn exchanged glances.

"It's...er...it's kind of a long story Crais," Crichton said. "There's a lot to explain...and you're not going to like a lot of it."

"I have already recalled much which I do not like," Crais said calmly. "I wish to know my history. Tell me whatever you know."

Crichton cleared his throat. 'Well, here goes nothing,' he thought, and began to speak. He started with the day he came to the uncharted territories and told Crais everything he knew. Crais listened silently until he had finished. He gave no sign of any emotion whatsoever. When Crichton had finished his story the group lapsed into an awkward silence.

Carma was the first to recover her wits. "Perhaps," she said. "It would be better if you left now and returned tomorrow. You have provided a good deal of information, it will take time to process it."

Crichton and Aeryn were both glad of the excuse to leave. Crichton especially felt extremely worried about what Crais' reaction might be. The carer, Carma, seemed to have won Crais' trust, maybe she could prevent the explosion.

Carma closed the door quietly behind them and turned to Crais. He stood by the stairs, looking back at her, silent.

"Do you believe them?" he asked simply.

Carma paused. "It doesn't matter if I believe them. What matters is whether you do."

"I have faith in your judgement."

She studied his face carefully. "I believe them," she answered. "Crichton's story is too...incredible to be fabricated. Do you believe them?"

Crais let his head drop. "I am not sure what to believe," he said. "I do not know whether I should trust them."

Carma approached him slowly. "Crichton...described to you his involvement in the death of your brother and your...pursuit of him. Do you believe that you would take that course of action in that situation?"

Crais studied her. "Yes," he said. "I believe that I might well have done as he said."

Carma hesitated. "Bialar...the rescue centre have...suggested that I discharge you into their care."

Crais didn't reply.

"Your ship...Talyn...is not fully repaired. They advise that you leave it with us and return to claim it at a later date."

Crais moved slowly towards her, until he was standing in front of her. "And what is your opinion?" he asked.

Carma looked up at him. "As your carer it is my duty to treat you until you are fully recovered. I would not advise terminating care at this point. We have had other patients identified by crew members, but we have never allowed any to leave before their treatment was complete. And I do not think that it is wise to leave your ship here."

"You are...suspicious," Crais said, his eyes locked with hers.

"Perhaps," Carma said. "Of what I can't tell you. But I will not discharge you until you have regained enough of your memory to be certain that what we have been told is the truth."

"You are also...concerned," Crais added, his eyes gleaming.

"It's my job to be concerned," she replied, not looking away.

They stood for a moment, their eyes locked.

"Come with me," Crais said suddenly.

"Where?" Carma asked in surprise.

"Wherever I go when I leave here," Crais replied.

Now she broke the gaze. "I can't, Bialar."

"Your career as a carer is very important to you, isn't it?" Crais asked quietly.

"I don't need to be here to heal people," Carma said, equally quietly. "I...could leave this planet. But my father is here and I can't leave him. I'm all he has, he needs me."

"Then perhaps it would be better if I leave now," Crais said.

"Maybe it would," she responded softly. "You can take your ship and explore the whole of the uncharted territories. And maybe, one day, you'll find a place to call home."

"Home is where the heart is," Crais said suddenly.

Carma looked at him in surprise. "Where did that saying come from?" she asked.

"I am not certain," Crais said, "but I think...it might be a human saying."

"Human? You trust Crichton and Aeryn then?"

"The only one I trust at this moment is you," Crais said matter-of-factly. "If you believe that the rescue centre are acting suspiciously then I will investigate before I agree to anything. And I will not leave without my ship."

"I'll help you."

"It will undoubtedly be dangerous," Crais said.

"If I can deal with you, I can deal with anybody," Carma said with a grin.

Crais regarded her silently. 'I hope that you are right," he thought.