Part 3
"Open the doors, Talyn," ordered Crais.
A half-crazed individual came running out chanting, "I found her. I found her." He ran straight for Crais.
"Freeze and step back!" Ordered Garrix.
"Madina, its all right. This is Stark. Stark! Shut up!" Stark did as he was told. Garrix relaxed a little but still kept her pulse pistol pointed at Stark. "Who did you find, Stark?" Crais asked in a calm voice.
"I found Zhaan," Stark was starting to calm down a little. "Where is Crichton? Where is my mask?" He looked around as if searching for Crichton.
"Onboard Moya. We don't know where she is right now."
Stark walked over to Garrix, "Who is this?"
"I am Captain Madina Garrix," She told him sternly while keeping her pistol pointed at him.
"A Peacekeeper?" Stark jumped back.
"No, Stark, she has left the Peacekeepers. Actually, they believe she is dead."
Stark began going through the maintenance bay, "I must find something to replace my mask. I will find you when I have finished."
Crais grabbed Garrix by the arm and led her out of maintenance bay. "Is it safe to leave him alone?" she asked.
"He will be fine. Talyn will keep an eye on him."
"Where did he come from? There was no ship," she sounded very confused.
"From what I understand he has a physical and energy self. He can exist outside his physical body." He then went on to relate what happened last time Stark re-coalesced. By the time he had finished Stark joined them in command. He had managed to fashion a new mask. It was not as good as the original, but it contained Stark's mysterious energy. "Stark, you found Zhaan?"
"I have not seen her, but I found her energy. She survived the wormhole and was thrown clear. She made it to a planet and has taken root to recover. I can take us there and we can rescue her."
Crais and Garrix looked at each other. She shrugged her shoulders. Crais turned back to Stark, "Your sure that she's there?" Stark nodded. Crais turned back to Garrix, "We will have to postpone our trip to the commerce planet."
"I have no problem with that. I find this fascinating."
Stark gave Talyn the coordinates for the planet. It would take two days to get there. Stark had calmed down now that he knew they were going to find Zhaan. Garrix used the transit time to get to know Stark a little better. Once you got past his neuroticism, he wasn't a bad person. After they had been talking for a couple of arns Stark had to ask her about her past, "You were really a Peacekeeper?"
"Yes. Captain of a command carrier before I 'died.' Actually, I had just been relieved of command. Why do you sound so surprised?"
"You are not like the other Peacekeepers I have met. You seem more...compassionate."
"That might have something to do with why I was relieved of command. Actually, I reserved my compassionate side for my friends. Bialar is one of the few who ever saw it. Now, since I am no longer with the Peacekeepers there is no need to hide it."
They continued discussing her past. She told Stark she had been born to service, but she had served as a planetary attaché and learned something about civilian life. Crais watched them through Talyn's eyes. He had forgotten how charming and charismatic she could be. Stark had shown no reservations in telling her about his past. In this way she was Crais' opposite.
The three of them took turns in command. Talyn had no problems working with Stark. He was more accepting of Garrix than he had been of Crichton. Despite Crais' reassurances he did not trust her completely. When she was on watch she continued studying Talyn's systems. She knew he was holding back information from her but she didn't make an issue of it. He would come to trust her in time. She was in command when Talyn picked up the planet. She commed the others, "Bialar, Stark, Talyn has the planet on his sensors." She knew they would join her soon. "Talyn, prep the transport pod."
Crais and Stark entered command together. "All right Stark, we're here. Where on this planet is she?"
Stark went into a trance in front of the display of the planet. He was that way for about 30 microts. Crais and Garrix just looked at each other, neither wanting to say anything. Finally Stark broke out of his trance and pointed, "There."
"Talyn, download those coordinates to the transport pod." He turned to leave command.
Garrix stopped him, "I think you should stay here with Talyn in case something goes wrong. Stark and I can handle this."
Crais could think of no argument, but he felt a tinge of jealousy. When they were gone Talyn chirped at him. "No Talyn, she will be fine. Madina is perfectly capable of taking care of herself. I just wish I were going." Talyn chirped again. "No, I don't know why."
Garrix found a clearing large enough for the pod fairly close to the area Stark had designated. She grabbed a pulse rifle to augment her holstered pulse pistol. "Those weapons are not necessary," admonished Stark.
"I like to be prepared for anything. I don't believe Zhaan will be dangerous, it's other things I'm concerned about." As they began hiking Garrix keeping her senses attuned to their surroundings. Stark seemed to be using his sixth sense to locate Zhaan. "What does a rooted Delvian look like?"
"I don't know. I didn't see her because I don't have the senses as you know them in my other form. I can feel her spirit. This way." They continued on in silence. There was a small rise ahead. "There she is!" Stark exclaimed excitedly. And he ran over there.
Garrix had little choice but to follow. When they arrived on the rise she circled making sure it was safe. She then looked at Zhaan. "That's her?" she asked quizzically.
Stark had a look of reverence on his face, "Yes. Isn't she beautiful." Zhaan was covered in flowers and leaves. She was completely unrecognizable as a Delvian.
"What do we do now?" When she didn't get an answer she looked over at Stark. He was chanting quietly and had lifted his mask. She saw a glow emanating from his face. The glow began to envelop Zhaan. It intensified, as if there were some other energy joining it. It became so intense Garrix had to look away. When it subsided and she looked back she saw Stark holding a Delvian.
Zhaan looked up, "Stark, is it you?"
"Yes, my love. It is," he smiled at her. "It's good to have you back." He draped the blanket he had brought around her shoulders and helped her up. "Are you strong enough to come to the ship?"
"Moya is here?"
"Not Moya, Talyn and Crais." Garrix cleared her throat. Zhaan and Stark turned toward her. "Zhaan, this is Madina Garrix."
"A Peacekeeper captain?" she inquired.
Garrix smiled, "Not anymore. I lost favor with High Command and have been presumed dead. Shall we go?" she still wasn't entirely comfortable with nature.
Zhaan's rooting seemed to have allowed her to fully recover. They made good time getting back to the transport pod. "Bialar, we found her and are on our way back. We should be there in a quarter arn."
"Very well. I await your arrival," he replied.
"Bialar? You are on a first name basis with Crais?" Zhaan inquired.
"I have known Bialar for twenty cycles, since he was a very young officer. He has become even more handsome with the passage of time."
"You like him?"
"I have since I first saw him. We had four cycles together before I was transferred."
"Has this passion been rekindled?"
"I don't know. He changed quite a bit over the years. I see more of what he used to be, but I don't know if he is ready to completely let go of the Peacekeeper way. I hold out hope that he will rediscover who he was."
"That is something I would like to see. A Crais with compassion."
"It did exist at one point. He has just become accustomed to hiding his true self. Vulnerability and compassion are not traits the Peacekeepers embrace."
"How well I learned that," Zhaan replied. The rest of the trip was quiet. Zhaan and Stark were talking quietly while Garrix focused on flying.
Crais was waiting for them when they landed. Crais froze when he saw Zhaan, she had sprouted a full head of white fluffy hair. "Priestess, it is good to see you again, though I will admit I am quite surprised."
"Always so formal, Crais. Thank you for coming to my rescue."
"After what you did for Aeryn, it was the least Talyn and I could do. Talyn cares deeply for her."
"And how is Aeryn?"
"Much has happened in the last cycle. Why don't we see if we can find you some suitable clothing and then Stark and I can tell you what has happened."
Once Zhaan was dressed in Crais' silk clothes, they went to the galley. Between Stark and Crais they brought Zhaan up to date on what had happened during the last cycle. "So much has happened. I can only imagine how this may have confused Aeryn. To have finally defeated Scorpius must release a great burden."
"I'm not sure that we did defeat him. I have no knowledge of anything that happened after starburst. That is one of the reasons I would like to find Moya. Perhaps they can provide some more details. Talyn is searching for a commerce planet so you two ladies will be able to purchase some suitable clothing."
"That would be nice, this color is a little too dark for me."
"I will notify you when he has located one." Crais got up to leave and found that Garrix had already left.
Garrix was standing in command, lost in thought.
********************************************** 19 cycles ago - onboard Xerrin
Garrix was reviewing the performance evaluations of her officers. She had the best department onboard the ship. Their equipment efficiency rating had been steadily improving over the last cycle. She had been fortunate that her replacement officers have been of high quality. Larraq had recently been picked up for Special Ops. She hadn't want to loose an officer of his caliber, but he would do well with Special Ops. Devin Farkis was being reassigned to Operations Department and she needed to choose a new assistant. If Larraq were not being transferred it would have fell to him. Now Garrix found herself having to make a difficult choice. Fial Furlan had been onboard for almost three cycles and was senior to Bialar Crais, but in Crais she saw incredible potential. She thought he would be the better choice. Captain Tainor would not question how she ran her department. He trusted her to make the best decisions for the ship.
The comms panel on her desk chimed. "Yes, sergeant?"
"Officer Crais is here, sir."
"Send him in." She leaned back in her chair.
Crais entered her office and sat in the chair, "You wanted to see me, Madina?"
"Yes. As you know Devin is being reassigned and Kieran's transfer to Special Ops was approved. That leaves a vacancy in Assistant Gunnery Officer."
"Yes. I had assumed Fial would take over. He has been here longer."
"Just because someone has been here longer does not necessarily mean they are the best person for the job. I do not believe Fial has the leadership potential that this job requires. I think you are the best candidate to take over. Do you think you are up to it?"
She could see the gleam in his eye, "I don't think I will disappoint you. I look forward to the challenge."
************************************************** Present
Garrix stood staring out the viewport, wondering if that was the beginning of Crais evolving into the perfect, ruthless Peacekeeper. She wondered if she had pushed him too far too fast. Probably not. He had been ambitious the day he reported onboard.
Crais came up and stood behind her left shoulder, "Lost in thought?" he asked quietly.
She didn't turn, "Just reliving a moment from the past."
He gently placed his hands on her shoulders and kissed her gently on the neck, "A good moment?"
"Not particularly," she sounded melancholy.
He kissed her again, "Perhaps I could help you remember something more pleasant."
She looked at him over her shoulder, placing her right hand on his left, "Have you changed your mind?"
"Watching you the last couple of days has made me realize how much I missed you." He kissed her again, this time on the lips.
She pulled away, "Hold on. You've been watching me?"
"When you were with Stark. Sometimes when you were up here. Never when you were in your quarters," he sounded defensive.
"But you were watching me?"
"Yes. I routinely monitor Talyn's systems and keep an eye on the passengers."
"How Peacekeeper," she said resignedly and walked over to one of the consoles.
He was losing his temper, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You are spying on your crew. You have no respect for our privacy. Yes, you have this wonderful neural transponder that allows you access to Talyn's senses, but that doesn't mean you have to use it. If you wanted to know what we were talking about you should have come to the galley. I will be treated with the respect I am due!" she was nearly shouting now.
Crais did not think he had ever seen her lose her temper. It might not have been wise, but he pushed her, "Who's the Peacekeeper now." She glared at him icily and stormed out of command. He smiled to himself. After all these cycles, he finally won. He just didn't know if the victory had been worth it.
"Open the doors, Talyn," ordered Crais.
A half-crazed individual came running out chanting, "I found her. I found her." He ran straight for Crais.
"Freeze and step back!" Ordered Garrix.
"Madina, its all right. This is Stark. Stark! Shut up!" Stark did as he was told. Garrix relaxed a little but still kept her pulse pistol pointed at Stark. "Who did you find, Stark?" Crais asked in a calm voice.
"I found Zhaan," Stark was starting to calm down a little. "Where is Crichton? Where is my mask?" He looked around as if searching for Crichton.
"Onboard Moya. We don't know where she is right now."
Stark walked over to Garrix, "Who is this?"
"I am Captain Madina Garrix," She told him sternly while keeping her pistol pointed at him.
"A Peacekeeper?" Stark jumped back.
"No, Stark, she has left the Peacekeepers. Actually, they believe she is dead."
Stark began going through the maintenance bay, "I must find something to replace my mask. I will find you when I have finished."
Crais grabbed Garrix by the arm and led her out of maintenance bay. "Is it safe to leave him alone?" she asked.
"He will be fine. Talyn will keep an eye on him."
"Where did he come from? There was no ship," she sounded very confused.
"From what I understand he has a physical and energy self. He can exist outside his physical body." He then went on to relate what happened last time Stark re-coalesced. By the time he had finished Stark joined them in command. He had managed to fashion a new mask. It was not as good as the original, but it contained Stark's mysterious energy. "Stark, you found Zhaan?"
"I have not seen her, but I found her energy. She survived the wormhole and was thrown clear. She made it to a planet and has taken root to recover. I can take us there and we can rescue her."
Crais and Garrix looked at each other. She shrugged her shoulders. Crais turned back to Stark, "Your sure that she's there?" Stark nodded. Crais turned back to Garrix, "We will have to postpone our trip to the commerce planet."
"I have no problem with that. I find this fascinating."
Stark gave Talyn the coordinates for the planet. It would take two days to get there. Stark had calmed down now that he knew they were going to find Zhaan. Garrix used the transit time to get to know Stark a little better. Once you got past his neuroticism, he wasn't a bad person. After they had been talking for a couple of arns Stark had to ask her about her past, "You were really a Peacekeeper?"
"Yes. Captain of a command carrier before I 'died.' Actually, I had just been relieved of command. Why do you sound so surprised?"
"You are not like the other Peacekeepers I have met. You seem more...compassionate."
"That might have something to do with why I was relieved of command. Actually, I reserved my compassionate side for my friends. Bialar is one of the few who ever saw it. Now, since I am no longer with the Peacekeepers there is no need to hide it."
They continued discussing her past. She told Stark she had been born to service, but she had served as a planetary attaché and learned something about civilian life. Crais watched them through Talyn's eyes. He had forgotten how charming and charismatic she could be. Stark had shown no reservations in telling her about his past. In this way she was Crais' opposite.
The three of them took turns in command. Talyn had no problems working with Stark. He was more accepting of Garrix than he had been of Crichton. Despite Crais' reassurances he did not trust her completely. When she was on watch she continued studying Talyn's systems. She knew he was holding back information from her but she didn't make an issue of it. He would come to trust her in time. She was in command when Talyn picked up the planet. She commed the others, "Bialar, Stark, Talyn has the planet on his sensors." She knew they would join her soon. "Talyn, prep the transport pod."
Crais and Stark entered command together. "All right Stark, we're here. Where on this planet is she?"
Stark went into a trance in front of the display of the planet. He was that way for about 30 microts. Crais and Garrix just looked at each other, neither wanting to say anything. Finally Stark broke out of his trance and pointed, "There."
"Talyn, download those coordinates to the transport pod." He turned to leave command.
Garrix stopped him, "I think you should stay here with Talyn in case something goes wrong. Stark and I can handle this."
Crais could think of no argument, but he felt a tinge of jealousy. When they were gone Talyn chirped at him. "No Talyn, she will be fine. Madina is perfectly capable of taking care of herself. I just wish I were going." Talyn chirped again. "No, I don't know why."
Garrix found a clearing large enough for the pod fairly close to the area Stark had designated. She grabbed a pulse rifle to augment her holstered pulse pistol. "Those weapons are not necessary," admonished Stark.
"I like to be prepared for anything. I don't believe Zhaan will be dangerous, it's other things I'm concerned about." As they began hiking Garrix keeping her senses attuned to their surroundings. Stark seemed to be using his sixth sense to locate Zhaan. "What does a rooted Delvian look like?"
"I don't know. I didn't see her because I don't have the senses as you know them in my other form. I can feel her spirit. This way." They continued on in silence. There was a small rise ahead. "There she is!" Stark exclaimed excitedly. And he ran over there.
Garrix had little choice but to follow. When they arrived on the rise she circled making sure it was safe. She then looked at Zhaan. "That's her?" she asked quizzically.
Stark had a look of reverence on his face, "Yes. Isn't she beautiful." Zhaan was covered in flowers and leaves. She was completely unrecognizable as a Delvian.
"What do we do now?" When she didn't get an answer she looked over at Stark. He was chanting quietly and had lifted his mask. She saw a glow emanating from his face. The glow began to envelop Zhaan. It intensified, as if there were some other energy joining it. It became so intense Garrix had to look away. When it subsided and she looked back she saw Stark holding a Delvian.
Zhaan looked up, "Stark, is it you?"
"Yes, my love. It is," he smiled at her. "It's good to have you back." He draped the blanket he had brought around her shoulders and helped her up. "Are you strong enough to come to the ship?"
"Moya is here?"
"Not Moya, Talyn and Crais." Garrix cleared her throat. Zhaan and Stark turned toward her. "Zhaan, this is Madina Garrix."
"A Peacekeeper captain?" she inquired.
Garrix smiled, "Not anymore. I lost favor with High Command and have been presumed dead. Shall we go?" she still wasn't entirely comfortable with nature.
Zhaan's rooting seemed to have allowed her to fully recover. They made good time getting back to the transport pod. "Bialar, we found her and are on our way back. We should be there in a quarter arn."
"Very well. I await your arrival," he replied.
"Bialar? You are on a first name basis with Crais?" Zhaan inquired.
"I have known Bialar for twenty cycles, since he was a very young officer. He has become even more handsome with the passage of time."
"You like him?"
"I have since I first saw him. We had four cycles together before I was transferred."
"Has this passion been rekindled?"
"I don't know. He changed quite a bit over the years. I see more of what he used to be, but I don't know if he is ready to completely let go of the Peacekeeper way. I hold out hope that he will rediscover who he was."
"That is something I would like to see. A Crais with compassion."
"It did exist at one point. He has just become accustomed to hiding his true self. Vulnerability and compassion are not traits the Peacekeepers embrace."
"How well I learned that," Zhaan replied. The rest of the trip was quiet. Zhaan and Stark were talking quietly while Garrix focused on flying.
Crais was waiting for them when they landed. Crais froze when he saw Zhaan, she had sprouted a full head of white fluffy hair. "Priestess, it is good to see you again, though I will admit I am quite surprised."
"Always so formal, Crais. Thank you for coming to my rescue."
"After what you did for Aeryn, it was the least Talyn and I could do. Talyn cares deeply for her."
"And how is Aeryn?"
"Much has happened in the last cycle. Why don't we see if we can find you some suitable clothing and then Stark and I can tell you what has happened."
Once Zhaan was dressed in Crais' silk clothes, they went to the galley. Between Stark and Crais they brought Zhaan up to date on what had happened during the last cycle. "So much has happened. I can only imagine how this may have confused Aeryn. To have finally defeated Scorpius must release a great burden."
"I'm not sure that we did defeat him. I have no knowledge of anything that happened after starburst. That is one of the reasons I would like to find Moya. Perhaps they can provide some more details. Talyn is searching for a commerce planet so you two ladies will be able to purchase some suitable clothing."
"That would be nice, this color is a little too dark for me."
"I will notify you when he has located one." Crais got up to leave and found that Garrix had already left.
Garrix was standing in command, lost in thought.
********************************************** 19 cycles ago - onboard Xerrin
Garrix was reviewing the performance evaluations of her officers. She had the best department onboard the ship. Their equipment efficiency rating had been steadily improving over the last cycle. She had been fortunate that her replacement officers have been of high quality. Larraq had recently been picked up for Special Ops. She hadn't want to loose an officer of his caliber, but he would do well with Special Ops. Devin Farkis was being reassigned to Operations Department and she needed to choose a new assistant. If Larraq were not being transferred it would have fell to him. Now Garrix found herself having to make a difficult choice. Fial Furlan had been onboard for almost three cycles and was senior to Bialar Crais, but in Crais she saw incredible potential. She thought he would be the better choice. Captain Tainor would not question how she ran her department. He trusted her to make the best decisions for the ship.
The comms panel on her desk chimed. "Yes, sergeant?"
"Officer Crais is here, sir."
"Send him in." She leaned back in her chair.
Crais entered her office and sat in the chair, "You wanted to see me, Madina?"
"Yes. As you know Devin is being reassigned and Kieran's transfer to Special Ops was approved. That leaves a vacancy in Assistant Gunnery Officer."
"Yes. I had assumed Fial would take over. He has been here longer."
"Just because someone has been here longer does not necessarily mean they are the best person for the job. I do not believe Fial has the leadership potential that this job requires. I think you are the best candidate to take over. Do you think you are up to it?"
She could see the gleam in his eye, "I don't think I will disappoint you. I look forward to the challenge."
************************************************** Present
Garrix stood staring out the viewport, wondering if that was the beginning of Crais evolving into the perfect, ruthless Peacekeeper. She wondered if she had pushed him too far too fast. Probably not. He had been ambitious the day he reported onboard.
Crais came up and stood behind her left shoulder, "Lost in thought?" he asked quietly.
She didn't turn, "Just reliving a moment from the past."
He gently placed his hands on her shoulders and kissed her gently on the neck, "A good moment?"
"Not particularly," she sounded melancholy.
He kissed her again, "Perhaps I could help you remember something more pleasant."
She looked at him over her shoulder, placing her right hand on his left, "Have you changed your mind?"
"Watching you the last couple of days has made me realize how much I missed you." He kissed her again, this time on the lips.
She pulled away, "Hold on. You've been watching me?"
"When you were with Stark. Sometimes when you were up here. Never when you were in your quarters," he sounded defensive.
"But you were watching me?"
"Yes. I routinely monitor Talyn's systems and keep an eye on the passengers."
"How Peacekeeper," she said resignedly and walked over to one of the consoles.
He was losing his temper, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You are spying on your crew. You have no respect for our privacy. Yes, you have this wonderful neural transponder that allows you access to Talyn's senses, but that doesn't mean you have to use it. If you wanted to know what we were talking about you should have come to the galley. I will be treated with the respect I am due!" she was nearly shouting now.
Crais did not think he had ever seen her lose her temper. It might not have been wise, but he pushed her, "Who's the Peacekeeper now." She glared at him icily and stormed out of command. He smiled to himself. After all these cycles, he finally won. He just didn't know if the victory had been worth it.