Crais knew Stark and Zhaan would not want to leave command until they
arrived at Moya so he didn't ask. He had convinced Talyn it was too
dangerous to carry on long range communications with Moya. He wanted to
know what had happened, but he would have to wait until they arrived.
Madina gently grabbed his arm, "Let's leave them and go get something to
eat. It's time for midday meal." Crais realized he was fairly hungry and
followed Madina to the galley. Once there she began fixing a simple meal.
Crais could tell she wanted to talk to him about something. They ate in
silence until she was ready to talk. "Bialar, I know you and I have shared
much from our pasts with each other. I think each of us has held things
back. There's not necessarily anything wrong with that. Everyone is
entitled to a few secrets, but there's one I must tell you. My first
assignment after graduating from the cadet program was to the Leviathan
Acquisition Program. Since you first mentioned the name Moya I have been
wondering where I had heard it before. Moya is one of the first Leviathans
I captured."
Crais reached across the table and held her hand. He related his own past with Moya and her pilot. "Both Pilot and Moya have a great capacity for compassion and forgiveness. I do not think Moya will hold it against you. Especially not once Talyn tells them what you have done to help us. He has come to trust you. That is not something he does lightly."
She looked up to the ceiling, "Thank you, Talyn. I am proud to have earned your trust." She looked back at Crais, "I'm sure you helped him make that decision."
"Not much. I told him what I knew about you, but he is very intelligent and independent. I do not make decisions for him anymore. Why don't you come assist me with maintenance while we are waiting. It will make the wait seem shorter." They conducted the maintenance on the transport pods that was beyond the capability of the DRDs. Madina was surprised at how good a tech Crais had become. Finally they were close enough to Moya to launch the transport pod. Crais contacted Pilot, "Pilot, we are on our way over."
Very good, Captain. Joolushko will be waiting for you in the maintenance bay.
Zhaan and Stark were excited to be returning to Moya. "I am eager to find out what has happened to the others," said Zhaan. When they landed Madina decided to let the others disembark ahead of her. Crais went first to provide Jool with a familiar face.
She ran up to him and embraced him, "Oh, Crais. I am so glad to see you. We have been through so much. The others all left and we were sucked down a wormhole. We thought you and Talyn were dead. Pilot and Moya have been searching for John for the last two weekens with no luck." Jool stopped for a breath and noticed Zhaan and Stark. "Stark! Zhann! You're both alive. How wonderful. Zhaan how did you survive the wormhole?"
Madina had walked up to Crais and whispered to him, "Is she always this verbose or only on special occasions?" Crais chuckled at this. Madina noticed a form watching them from the shadows and pulled her pulse pistol out. "You, in the corner, out here where I can see you." A very odd looking old woman crept out from the corner. Madina was disgusted by the sight and smell of her. "That's close enough."
"I mean you no harm," said the old woman.
Jool turned to look at the new comer. "Who's the Peacekeeper?" she asked icily.
"Jool, this is Madina Garrix. She is no longer a Peacekeeper. Who is that?" he asked as he pointed to the old woman.
"That's Noranti. We rescued her from the command carrier. She was on Moya when we were sucked through the wormhole. It's a long story." Jool hooked her arm with Crais' and began to relate what happened in the aftermath of the explosion as they walked to the center chamber. Madina did not know if there had been anything between Jool and Crais. She decided it was best not to make an issue of the affection Jool was showing. Walking through Moya's passages, Madina was reminded of her past.
**********************************************
30 cycles ago - Marauder on patrol
Madina was thrilled to be piloting the Marauder. They had spotted a Leviathan and were making the approach in the planet's shadow. She had been on one other successful capture mission, but had not been piloting. This time she would have the honor of firing the immobilizer field. "Standby SubOfficer Garrix, we are about to clear the planet's shadow. I don't want this one getting away." As usual Lt. Darkan was being very calm. She had already captured 3 Leviathans this cycle. Very good numbers. "Ready, fire!" Madina did as she was ordered. Direct hit. The Leviathan was immobilized before it could starburst. Darkan contacted the command carrier to have the tow vessel sent in. The Marauder would land on the Leviathan to take charge of any passengers.
They were unopposed in their landing. They had detected no additional life signs, but if you wanted to survive you always exercised caution. They split into two teams. Madina went with Darkan and one of the others and proceeded to the Pilot's den. The other team headed for command. "Pilot, in the name of the Peacekeepers we are commandeering this Leviathan. It will go better if you cooperate with us. Are there any others on board?"
The Pilot knew there was no escape and that Darkan was correct. If she and Moya put up a fight they would only be destroyed. "No, there are no others. It is only Moya and me."
At that same time the other team reported in, Lt. Darkan, we have reached command and have seen no signs that this Leviathan is inhabited.
"Very well. Remain there and inform me when the tow vessel arrives. We will investigate the rest of the Leviathan." Darkan for some reason always liked to walk around each Leviathan she captured. Madina found herself marveling at the size of the leviathan, Moya. She was impressed by the whole concept of a living ship. It was one thing to read about one, but quite another to experience it for herself. She could understand why Darkan liked to do this.
***************************************************
Present
It didn't take long after they had reached the center chamber for Jool to finish explaining what had happened to the others. Crais was disappointed that Aeryn had gone to join the renegade Peacekeepers. He felt she was too good to join that riff raff. "When you left Crichton you said he was almost out of fuel and oxygen. What makes you believe he is still alive?" Crais voiced the concern the others had.
"The wormhole didn't move us very far. We were able to return to the Leviathan burial space in a couple of days and there was no sign of his module. Pilot and I assumed that some passing ship had picked him up. We have been searching for any trace of him since then."
"Talyn and I can assist in the search," Crais offered.
"Why would you want to help find John? You don't like each other. And what about her? What's her story?" Jool was beginning to sound hostile.
Madina had been sitting off to the side, she wasn't part of their group. "Thanks for noticing me. I'll give you the short version. I was a Peacekeeper command carrier captain. I lost favor and was removed from command. High Command assumes I was killed in a Scarran attack, but Bialar and Talyn rescued me before I died. I'm not going to turn any of you over to the Peacekeepers. For now I'm traveling with Bialar. I'll help out in order to earn my keep."
"Jool, it's not that Crichton and I don't like each other. It's that this Crichton has never accepted my apology. My reasons for helping locate him are my own. I offer my help once. I suggest you accept my offer."
Jool still didn't look like she entirely believed him, "Do you trust her not to turn us in? Perhaps she was sent to find Crichton and bring him back?"
Madina didn't feel like dealing with this. She stood and addressed everyone, "I know that you have no reason to trust me. From what I understand you all started out as a group of escaped prisoners and fugitives from justice. I am the only one here who has not committed any sort of crime. It is I who should not trust any of you. I will let Bialar tell you about me. When you have more information, make your decision about me." She turned and left. Everyone sat dumbfounded for a few microts. Noranti left to follow. Madina began wandering around Moya's passages aimlessly.
It took a while for Noranti to catch up to Madina, "Peacekeeper, I can help you."
Madina tried to keep her distance, "I am not a Peacekeeper and first of all I don't need your help. Second, don't get close to me. You have a horrible odor."
"But you do need my help. I can answer your questions."
"I do not have any questions that I need you to answer."
"You do, you just don't know it yet. I will be here when you need my help."
"I am an adult and am capable of taking care of myself. Now, just leave me alone." Madina continued wandering the passages. She wasn't really paying attention to where she was going, but eventually found herself outside the door to Pilot's chamber. She stood staring at the door for many long microts. She was trying to decide what to do. She didn't think Moya would remember her and the old Pilot was gone. Finally she decided to enter.
Pilot looked up at her, "How may I be of service, Captain?"
"Pilot, I don't know how much you have heard about me from Talyn, but there is something I have done in my past that I think you should know about." She paused for a few microts, Pilot watched and waited for her to continue. "I would like to apologize to Moya for what she has been through in Peacekeeper service."
"Captain, I see no reason for you to feel guilty. You are not the one who decided Peacekeepers would capture leviathans."
"No, but I am the one who fired the immobilizer field that captured Moya. I know I was only following orders, but I want Moya to know I am sorry."
"Moya accepts your apology, but wants you to know that she does not hold you responsible for her imprisonment. She also thanks you for helping Talyn avoid capture by the Peacekeepers."
"You're welcome, Moya. Being onboard Talyn has taught me a lot of respect for Leviathans." Madina turned to leave and saw Crais standing at the door. "Well?"
"Stark and Zhaan have convinced Jool to reserve judgment for the time being. Come, let me escort you to your quarters."
"We are staying over here?"
"For now. It will allow Talyn to divert more of his energy to repairing the starburst system. You will be able to access his systems from here. Unfortunately, since Moya was a prison ship, all the quarters are converted cells." After they had settled into their quarters they went to command. Madina used Talyn's Peacekeeper communications equipment to get into the system and search for information about Crichton. She didn't want to spend too much time in the system and risk being discovered. "I don't see anything here about him. If he had been captured or sighted I would have found proof of it by now. It appears that Grayza is still searching for all of you, well not Zhaan and Stark, but her main focus is on Crichton. If I can have some time to myself, I have a couple of contacts out here that may be of some use."
"You have contacts out here?" Crais was shocked.
"Before I took command of Xerrin the cruiser I commanded was charged with hunting down deserters. We spent a lot of time out here."
"That was several cycles ago. Are you sure they are still around?"
"Yes. I have maintained contact with several of them. Give me a quarter of an arn."
Crais left command and Pilot closed the door to give Madina the privacy she needed. Crais almost ran into Jool, "Pardon me, Jool."
"Crais, I was looking for you. Where is the Peacekeeper?"
" Madina is in command attempting to locate Crichton," Crais said defensively.
"Is there something between you and her?"
"If there is, I don't see that it is any concern of yours. You and I do not have a relationship. Is that the only reason you were looking for me?"
Jool looked flabbergasted, "I have been stuck here for the last two weekens with only Pilot and that crazy old woman for company. Stark and Zhaan are completely enamored of each other. Is it unreasonable that I might want to have conversation with a normal person?"
"I am not a great conversationalist."
"You're better than that crazy woman." Crais realized he could either agree or have Jool mad at him for the next several days. He gave in and they went to the center chamber. He was amazed that someone could use so many words and still not say anything of any value. Some of her stories were amusing and he was intrigued by her society. He could not fathom a society with no violence and no military.
When Madina finished contacting her sources she went to go find Crais. She heard the laughter coming from the center chamber. She snuck up to door and peeked around the corner. She saw Crais laughing along with Jool. She leaned against the wall outside the door. She felt something. She wasn't sure what it was, though it might have been jealousy. That didn't make any sense. Peacekeepers were trained not to form attachments to people. She shouldn't care if Crais was interested in this alien. She needed to find somewhere to think. She made her way to the terrace where she could be alone with her thoughts.
Crais reached across the table and held her hand. He related his own past with Moya and her pilot. "Both Pilot and Moya have a great capacity for compassion and forgiveness. I do not think Moya will hold it against you. Especially not once Talyn tells them what you have done to help us. He has come to trust you. That is not something he does lightly."
She looked up to the ceiling, "Thank you, Talyn. I am proud to have earned your trust." She looked back at Crais, "I'm sure you helped him make that decision."
"Not much. I told him what I knew about you, but he is very intelligent and independent. I do not make decisions for him anymore. Why don't you come assist me with maintenance while we are waiting. It will make the wait seem shorter." They conducted the maintenance on the transport pods that was beyond the capability of the DRDs. Madina was surprised at how good a tech Crais had become. Finally they were close enough to Moya to launch the transport pod. Crais contacted Pilot, "Pilot, we are on our way over."
Very good, Captain. Joolushko will be waiting for you in the maintenance bay.
Zhaan and Stark were excited to be returning to Moya. "I am eager to find out what has happened to the others," said Zhaan. When they landed Madina decided to let the others disembark ahead of her. Crais went first to provide Jool with a familiar face.
She ran up to him and embraced him, "Oh, Crais. I am so glad to see you. We have been through so much. The others all left and we were sucked down a wormhole. We thought you and Talyn were dead. Pilot and Moya have been searching for John for the last two weekens with no luck." Jool stopped for a breath and noticed Zhaan and Stark. "Stark! Zhann! You're both alive. How wonderful. Zhaan how did you survive the wormhole?"
Madina had walked up to Crais and whispered to him, "Is she always this verbose or only on special occasions?" Crais chuckled at this. Madina noticed a form watching them from the shadows and pulled her pulse pistol out. "You, in the corner, out here where I can see you." A very odd looking old woman crept out from the corner. Madina was disgusted by the sight and smell of her. "That's close enough."
"I mean you no harm," said the old woman.
Jool turned to look at the new comer. "Who's the Peacekeeper?" she asked icily.
"Jool, this is Madina Garrix. She is no longer a Peacekeeper. Who is that?" he asked as he pointed to the old woman.
"That's Noranti. We rescued her from the command carrier. She was on Moya when we were sucked through the wormhole. It's a long story." Jool hooked her arm with Crais' and began to relate what happened in the aftermath of the explosion as they walked to the center chamber. Madina did not know if there had been anything between Jool and Crais. She decided it was best not to make an issue of the affection Jool was showing. Walking through Moya's passages, Madina was reminded of her past.
**********************************************
30 cycles ago - Marauder on patrol
Madina was thrilled to be piloting the Marauder. They had spotted a Leviathan and were making the approach in the planet's shadow. She had been on one other successful capture mission, but had not been piloting. This time she would have the honor of firing the immobilizer field. "Standby SubOfficer Garrix, we are about to clear the planet's shadow. I don't want this one getting away." As usual Lt. Darkan was being very calm. She had already captured 3 Leviathans this cycle. Very good numbers. "Ready, fire!" Madina did as she was ordered. Direct hit. The Leviathan was immobilized before it could starburst. Darkan contacted the command carrier to have the tow vessel sent in. The Marauder would land on the Leviathan to take charge of any passengers.
They were unopposed in their landing. They had detected no additional life signs, but if you wanted to survive you always exercised caution. They split into two teams. Madina went with Darkan and one of the others and proceeded to the Pilot's den. The other team headed for command. "Pilot, in the name of the Peacekeepers we are commandeering this Leviathan. It will go better if you cooperate with us. Are there any others on board?"
The Pilot knew there was no escape and that Darkan was correct. If she and Moya put up a fight they would only be destroyed. "No, there are no others. It is only Moya and me."
At that same time the other team reported in, Lt. Darkan, we have reached command and have seen no signs that this Leviathan is inhabited.
"Very well. Remain there and inform me when the tow vessel arrives. We will investigate the rest of the Leviathan." Darkan for some reason always liked to walk around each Leviathan she captured. Madina found herself marveling at the size of the leviathan, Moya. She was impressed by the whole concept of a living ship. It was one thing to read about one, but quite another to experience it for herself. She could understand why Darkan liked to do this.
***************************************************
Present
It didn't take long after they had reached the center chamber for Jool to finish explaining what had happened to the others. Crais was disappointed that Aeryn had gone to join the renegade Peacekeepers. He felt she was too good to join that riff raff. "When you left Crichton you said he was almost out of fuel and oxygen. What makes you believe he is still alive?" Crais voiced the concern the others had.
"The wormhole didn't move us very far. We were able to return to the Leviathan burial space in a couple of days and there was no sign of his module. Pilot and I assumed that some passing ship had picked him up. We have been searching for any trace of him since then."
"Talyn and I can assist in the search," Crais offered.
"Why would you want to help find John? You don't like each other. And what about her? What's her story?" Jool was beginning to sound hostile.
Madina had been sitting off to the side, she wasn't part of their group. "Thanks for noticing me. I'll give you the short version. I was a Peacekeeper command carrier captain. I lost favor and was removed from command. High Command assumes I was killed in a Scarran attack, but Bialar and Talyn rescued me before I died. I'm not going to turn any of you over to the Peacekeepers. For now I'm traveling with Bialar. I'll help out in order to earn my keep."
"Jool, it's not that Crichton and I don't like each other. It's that this Crichton has never accepted my apology. My reasons for helping locate him are my own. I offer my help once. I suggest you accept my offer."
Jool still didn't look like she entirely believed him, "Do you trust her not to turn us in? Perhaps she was sent to find Crichton and bring him back?"
Madina didn't feel like dealing with this. She stood and addressed everyone, "I know that you have no reason to trust me. From what I understand you all started out as a group of escaped prisoners and fugitives from justice. I am the only one here who has not committed any sort of crime. It is I who should not trust any of you. I will let Bialar tell you about me. When you have more information, make your decision about me." She turned and left. Everyone sat dumbfounded for a few microts. Noranti left to follow. Madina began wandering around Moya's passages aimlessly.
It took a while for Noranti to catch up to Madina, "Peacekeeper, I can help you."
Madina tried to keep her distance, "I am not a Peacekeeper and first of all I don't need your help. Second, don't get close to me. You have a horrible odor."
"But you do need my help. I can answer your questions."
"I do not have any questions that I need you to answer."
"You do, you just don't know it yet. I will be here when you need my help."
"I am an adult and am capable of taking care of myself. Now, just leave me alone." Madina continued wandering the passages. She wasn't really paying attention to where she was going, but eventually found herself outside the door to Pilot's chamber. She stood staring at the door for many long microts. She was trying to decide what to do. She didn't think Moya would remember her and the old Pilot was gone. Finally she decided to enter.
Pilot looked up at her, "How may I be of service, Captain?"
"Pilot, I don't know how much you have heard about me from Talyn, but there is something I have done in my past that I think you should know about." She paused for a few microts, Pilot watched and waited for her to continue. "I would like to apologize to Moya for what she has been through in Peacekeeper service."
"Captain, I see no reason for you to feel guilty. You are not the one who decided Peacekeepers would capture leviathans."
"No, but I am the one who fired the immobilizer field that captured Moya. I know I was only following orders, but I want Moya to know I am sorry."
"Moya accepts your apology, but wants you to know that she does not hold you responsible for her imprisonment. She also thanks you for helping Talyn avoid capture by the Peacekeepers."
"You're welcome, Moya. Being onboard Talyn has taught me a lot of respect for Leviathans." Madina turned to leave and saw Crais standing at the door. "Well?"
"Stark and Zhaan have convinced Jool to reserve judgment for the time being. Come, let me escort you to your quarters."
"We are staying over here?"
"For now. It will allow Talyn to divert more of his energy to repairing the starburst system. You will be able to access his systems from here. Unfortunately, since Moya was a prison ship, all the quarters are converted cells." After they had settled into their quarters they went to command. Madina used Talyn's Peacekeeper communications equipment to get into the system and search for information about Crichton. She didn't want to spend too much time in the system and risk being discovered. "I don't see anything here about him. If he had been captured or sighted I would have found proof of it by now. It appears that Grayza is still searching for all of you, well not Zhaan and Stark, but her main focus is on Crichton. If I can have some time to myself, I have a couple of contacts out here that may be of some use."
"You have contacts out here?" Crais was shocked.
"Before I took command of Xerrin the cruiser I commanded was charged with hunting down deserters. We spent a lot of time out here."
"That was several cycles ago. Are you sure they are still around?"
"Yes. I have maintained contact with several of them. Give me a quarter of an arn."
Crais left command and Pilot closed the door to give Madina the privacy she needed. Crais almost ran into Jool, "Pardon me, Jool."
"Crais, I was looking for you. Where is the Peacekeeper?"
" Madina is in command attempting to locate Crichton," Crais said defensively.
"Is there something between you and her?"
"If there is, I don't see that it is any concern of yours. You and I do not have a relationship. Is that the only reason you were looking for me?"
Jool looked flabbergasted, "I have been stuck here for the last two weekens with only Pilot and that crazy old woman for company. Stark and Zhaan are completely enamored of each other. Is it unreasonable that I might want to have conversation with a normal person?"
"I am not a great conversationalist."
"You're better than that crazy woman." Crais realized he could either agree or have Jool mad at him for the next several days. He gave in and they went to the center chamber. He was amazed that someone could use so many words and still not say anything of any value. Some of her stories were amusing and he was intrigued by her society. He could not fathom a society with no violence and no military.
When Madina finished contacting her sources she went to go find Crais. She heard the laughter coming from the center chamber. She snuck up to door and peeked around the corner. She saw Crais laughing along with Jool. She leaned against the wall outside the door. She felt something. She wasn't sure what it was, though it might have been jealousy. That didn't make any sense. Peacekeepers were trained not to form attachments to people. She shouldn't care if Crais was interested in this alien. She needed to find somewhere to think. She made her way to the terrace where she could be alone with her thoughts.