By Any Means Necessary
Part 2 - Allies
Aeryn stood in the shower for almost an arn, scrubbing her skin
raw under steaming hot water, but she still couldn't get rid of the feeling
of being dirty. In a way, it might have been better if Scorpius had raped
her. She had made everything up, drawing on things that she'd observed
from various sources. The more she exaggerated John's sexual tastes, the
more Scorpius believed her and became aroused. She knew that she'd done
a good job, because she had to change his cooling rods three times during
the night.
The irony was that John had been a gentle, skillful lover who was more excited by pleasuring her than anything else. She had taken that memory and sullied it by recreating with the monster that had tortured him. She wasn't sure who she hated more - Scorpius or herself.
Finally, she turned the water off and stepped out of the shower. She picked up a towel and dried herself off, then wrapped up her wet hair and pulled on clean underwear. As she opened the door, a cloud of steam billowed into the main room. Scorpius was sitting at the console. He looked up as she stepped out of the bathroom.
"Did you take such long showers aboard Moya?" he asked.
Aeryn laughed. "Frell, no! I wouldn't have heard the end of it if I'd used up all of the hot water!" That, at least, was the truth. "I'm sure that the Captain is allowed certain... luxuries. As is the Captain's woman."
"Ah, I see," he nodded. "Just don't make a habit of it."
"Yes, sir." Aeryn struggled to pull the leather catsuit over her still-damp body. She managed to get it over her shoulders and zipped, and noticed that it needed to be taken in across the bust. She combed her hair and began to separate it to pull back into her customary braid.
"Leave it down," Scorpius ordered casually.
Aeryn looked up at him. He was smiling provocatively at her, which made her stomach curdle. "I beg your pardon?"
"I like your hair down. Leave it that way."
"As you wish," she replied sweetly. As she combed her hair, something else very important occurred to her. "I need to go to the infirmary."
"Are you ill?"
You have no idea, she thought. "I haven't had a physical examination in two cycles. I need to have my suppressor renewed." Besides, I want to know exactly what you've done to me, you pervert, she added mentally.
"I'll summon one of the doctors up here," he offered.
"With your permission, I would like to get some exercise." He looked up at her archly. "I'm feeling rather confined here."
"You are a prisoner, my dear. Granted, it's a gilded cage, but you're still a prisoner."
"I'm on a ship full of people who want me dead. Where can I run to?"
"You have a good point. I'll assign a guard to accompany you to the infirmary."
"Thank you," she crossed the room and sidled up to Scorpius. "I really appreciate this."
He ignored her, but pressed a button to summon a guard into the room. "Accompany the prisoner to the infirmary. Make sure that she speaks to no one except the staff."
"Understood, sir!" The guard saluted. Aeryn regarded him coolly. He was a big, brawny enlisted infantryman who looked to be of the "stupid-but-violent" type. Most of the infantry soldiers were. The Peacekeepers carefully weeded out the dimmest bulbs, gave them pulse-rifles, and pointed them at non-Sebaceans. This one was either smarter than most, or just extremely unlucky to be on guard duty for Scorpius.
"Come along," she said to her monitor, then strode quickly out of his quarters to the main hallway. Big-and-stupid had to hurry to catch up with her. They got onto a lift, which Aeryn directed to the infirmary deck. "So, what's your name, soldier?" she asked casually.
The guard looked hesitant. "Corporal Sellen Visio," he replied skeptically.
"Visio, " she made a note of the name. "Do you like working for Scorpius?" He looked down at her with an implied threat. "Just wondering what kind of a commander he is."
That seemed to relax him. "You're not gonna say anything to him, are you? I mean, you're his woman and all."
"I'm his prisoner. It's a little different. I'm trying to make the best of a bad situation."
Visio relaxed. "Good. Because between you and me, that half-breed bothers me. My mates and I wonder if he's on our side, the Scarrans', or just out for himself. He's a warped one, your jailer is."
Aeryn sighed. "You have no idea," she told him. Before she could say any more, the lift stopped and the door opened. Visio became large and in charge once again. The two of them walked down the rest of the hall in silence. Aeryn focused her eyes on the door to the infirmary, rather than endure the hostile stares of her former shipmates. In her peripheral vision, she saw the looks as she walked down the hall with her escort. She simply stiffened her back, kept her eyes forward, and ignored them as she walked into the infirmary.
A technician greeted her professionally, and led her in to an examination room. Apparently Scorpius had sent word that she was coming, because they had cleared the room. She unzipped her suit, and put on the loose fabric gown that was provided.
A tall, dark-haired female doctor nervously entered the examination room. "Hello, Officer, uh... Sun," she started, not knowing what title to give her patient. "I'm Doctor Skada"
Aeryn recognized her voice as the person who had attended her when she first regained consciousness. "'Officer Sun' will do," Aeryn smiled ruefully. "Or, just Aeryn."
Skada relaxed when she realized that Aeryn was just another patient. "Command informed me that you were coming. What can I do for you?"
"Two things. First of all, I need to know status of my hormonal suppressant. Can you tell me if I need a new one? For obvious reasons, I want to make sure that I don't get pregnant."
"Easily done," Skada replied. "Let me do a quick scan, first." She took an electronic scanner from the counter and ran it over Aeryn's body, stopping when she reached the scar on her patient's right side. "You paraphoral nerve was ruptured? When did that happen?"
"About a cycle ago. I was on the wrong end of a knife fight," she winced at the memory of the possessed Larraq stabbing her, the event that had set this whole sordid mess into motion. "I received a tissue transplant, and it seems to be functioning normally."
"Yes, I see," the doctor agreed, then moved on to Aeryn's pelvic area. She frowned, then looked up from her scanner. "Tell that sadistic half-breed to be a little more careful next time," she snapped. "You have several fresh contusions, abrasions and bite-marks, Aeryn." She looked back down at her scanner. "You're a stronger person that I would be," she muttered.
Aeryn frowned. "I take it that Scorpius isn't exactly popular around here," she observed.
She moved close to Aeryn and whispered, "you're not the first of his assistants to come in here with injuries."
"I see," Aeryn nodded knowingly. Skada then examined a small scar on Aeryn's upper right arm, the insertion point for the hormonal suppressor. It was injected into each female cadet when she reached the age of thirteen cycles, and was updated every five cycles after that, until the woman was ordered by High Command to bear a child. Then, she was artificially inseminated from a compatible donor, and reassigned to non-combat status until eight weekens after the birth. "Is it still active?" she asked the doctor.
"You're lucky. It's just about to run out. Wait a microt, while I get a replacement." The doctor left the room, and Aeryn grabbed her scanner. She'd learned enough basic medicine to be able to read one of these things. Fortunately, her exam didn't go down to the cellular level. She was worried that the recombinant fragments of Pilot's DNA in her body would be discovered. Right now, it was the only thing that was keeping her connected to Moya, her friends, and John.
"What are you looking at?" the doctor asked from the entrance to the room. She had a laser scalpel and the suppressor kit in her hands.
"I want to know exactly what was done to me," Aeryn replied defensively.
Skada nodded sympathetically. She crossed the room and set down the kit on the examination bed next to Aeryn. "Nanobots are still in the experimental stage," she explained as she swabbed Aeryn's upper arm with alcohol, then sprayed on a local anesthetic. "They were initially developed to deal with battle casualties. They can be injected into a severely injured soldier by a medic, and the nanobots will keep the person alive until they can be evacuated." Aeryn watched as the doctor made a small incision into the anesthetized area with the laser scalpel, and withdrew five small blood-stained pipettes.
"So, how did this technology go from being medicinal to a way of controlling prisoners?"
The doctor frowned. "The nanobots were developed by the Military Tech section," she said. Military Tech was the section that was responsible for High Command's pet projects. Aeryn recalled that Velorek had been assigned to that section. "Scorpius is apparently one of their top people," the doctor informed her as she inserted the five new pipettes into Aeryn's arm. "I think you can probably guess the rest." The doctor swabbed the blood off of the incision with alcohol. "Another advantage to nanobots is that they heal minor injuries relatively quickly," she observed as both women watched the incision mend itself in microts without prompting from the doctor.
"How long will these nanobots remain in my body, and what happens to me when they stop functioning?" Aeryn asked her.
"In the initial tests, the nanobots were good for about six weekens," she explained. "By then, all of the affected soldiers were well enough to recover on their own, or had died of complications not related to the experiment. However, the later research is too highly classified for me to study. I was just told to inject you with them and monitor your condition."
"Great. So, I'll find out in about six weekens," Aeryn said as she moved her arm around.
"I'm sorry that I wasn't able to give you better information," Skada said. "You're done here. I'm sure that your escort is waiting to take you back upstairs."
"Thank you," Aeryn said gratefully. "For your help, and the information."
"Good luck, Aeryn," the doctor replied as she gathered up her tools and left the room.
Aeryn removed the gown and got back into the tight leather outfit. She didn't want to go back. All she wanted to do was to escape, to make a run for the hangar, steal a Prowler, and be free of Scorpius once and for all. But that would be cowardly, as well as shirking her promise to Zhaan's Goddess. As she walked out into the waiting area, she regained her focus.
"Aeryn?" A familiar female said from behind her. "Is it really you?"
Aeryn turned around. Coming out of a room marked "Medical Supplies" was none other than Daya Jaad, her closest friend. "Daya?" Aeryn stammered and looked at her friend. Daya was shorter than Aeryn, with flaming, curly red hair that was barely tied back into a leather hair-wrap, wearing a casual black uniform with her jacket open, and carrying an armful of bandages. She was the field medic for the Ikerian Brigade, a member of Aeryn's squadron, and her best friend since their cadet days.
Her friend frowned as she looked up and down at her. "So, the rumors are true. You're back, and you're Scorpius' assistant?" she said with a note of disgust.
"It's a long story. I'm his prisoner. See that big infantryman over there? He's my guard."
Daya looked over at Visio, who was looking very threatening. He strode over to the two women. "Scorpius said that you weren't allowed to talk to anyone," he reminded her.
"Except staff. She's a medic," Aeryn shot back.
"Relax, corporal," Daya said, taking a very official tone of voice with the enlisted man. "Officer Sun is an old friend of mine."
"Exactly why Scorpius didn't want her to linger around here," Visio countered and grabbed Aeryn's arm - unfortunately, the same one with the incision. Aeryn winced as his beefy hands clamped over the bandaged area. "Who the frell are you, anyway?" he asked.
Her friend raised herself up and appeared to grow about six inches. "Lieutenant Daya Jaad, Pleisar Regiment, commander of the Beltanian Brigade," she snapped back. "If you haven't noticed, soldier, I outrank you. Run along home to your master. I'll take full responsibility for your prisoner," she said, then waved him off like he was an insect.
Aeryn exchanged a look with Visio and nodded. "Go ahead, Corporal. I'll make sure that you're not punished for this." With that, he nodded slightly, turned around, and stalked out.
"What a relief!" Daya smirked. "I thought he'd never leave. Here, take some of these, will you?" she handed Aeryn half of the armful of bandages. "I've got to restock my supplies."
"You shouldn't have been so hard on him. He's just doing his job," Aeryn said as she followed her friend down the hall. She was conscious of more stares than ever from the other people in the hall. People were looking at her, then at Daya, then back at her with shock. "Uh, Daya," she whispered as they waited for a lift to take them to the crew quarters, "do you really think that you should be seen with me?"
Daya cocked a tawny eyebrow and smirked. "Frell 'em!" she exclaimed.
"You haven't changed a bit," Aeryn chuckled as they entered the lift. A technician started to walk into the lift with them. Daya glared at her, and the tech wisely decided to wait for the next one. "I take that back. You have changed. You're a lieutenant now."
"It should have been you," Daya confessed.
"Ancient history," Aeryn replied, a little too quickly. "Besides, it suits you. You now have a reason to boss people around." The two women grinned familiarly at each other. Aeryn was relieved that there was one person aboard her old ship that didn't think of her as a traitor. As she followed Daya out of the lift, she was conscious of more looks from people. Unlike on the upper decks, the stares were more sympathetic than hateful. These people were Pleisars, her old comrades, her equals. She had shed blood with them. By rights, they should be the most angry with her. Instead, they seemed to be the most forgiving.
They stopped at a door with a Beltanian Brigade insignia on it. Aeryn followed her friend in and looked around. The quarters were larger than their old rooms, befitting her higher rank. She followed Daya to the corner, where her friend kept a locker with her medical supplies. "Drop 'em all here. I'll sort everything out later," Daya ordered. It was her friend's typical attitude. Her friend crossed the room to her computer console. She pulled out a bottle of raslak and two glasses. Without asking, she poured two stiff drinks and handed one glass to Aeryn. "To old friends," she toasted, and they clinked their glasses together. Aeryn took a gulp and the raslak burned her still-raw esophagus on the way down. She coughed to clear the irritation in her throat. "So, what the frell is going on?" Daya sat down on the bed and asked her. Aeryn joined her.
"Get to the point, will you?" Aeryn shot back sarcastically and took another drink.
"Look, Scarran-breath is going to start wondering where his pet is. We don't have a whole lot of time. So spill it, girlfriend, before he sends the blood-trackers after you."
Aeryn briefly told her friend everything that had happened over the past two cycles, ending with her waking up in Scorpius' quarters. She carefully omitted any reference to the task given to her by Khalaan, and the spirit-world link she had with Zhaan. "And so, here I am. In order to stay alive, I have to maintain Scorpius' cooling rods, and other duties as assigned."
Daya put the glass to her lips and downed the contents in one gulp. "Cooling rods, eh?" her friend asked. "I always wondered if that mask was just for appearances." She filled both glasses again. "I assume that other duties as assigned means recreation," she began tentatively.
Aeryn didn't blame her for not wanting to bring up the subject. She didn't want to think about it, either. She took another drink. "I'm doing what's necessary for my survival."
"Oh, Aeryn!" Daya exclaimed sympathetically. "Are you all right?"
"If it's a choice between sharing Scorpius' bed and having every nerve in my body set on fire again, I'll take the former," she said flatly. The other woman frowned with concern. "Don't worry. What's he going to do? Kill me?" She chuckled, but it sounded hollow.
Her friend hesitated, then moved closer to her. "There may be a way that we can use this to our advantage," she whispered.
"What are you talking about?" Aeryn asked, not following her.
"You may have sensed an undercurrent of dissatisfaction with our present leadership..."
"Yes, but that's understandable. He is half Scarran."
"It's more than that. Crais was already mentally unstable, and cracked up when his brother died. Many of us weren't happy with that situation, but we followed orders because he was our Captain. Scorpius is.... well, I don't think I need to explain to you what he is."
"I didn't believe in true evil, the way that some cultures do. Then Crichton encountered Scorpius," Aeryn shuddered as Khalaan's words echoed in her mind. "He is evil, Daya. Make no mistake about it."
Daya took another drink, then set down her empty glass. "I know. That's why some of us are trying to get rid of him."
Aeryn's eyes opened wide as she realized the implications of what her friend was saying. "No, Daya. I shouldn't be hearing this. I can't hear this! He'll sense it, and you'll be tortured into giving up your co-conspirators! I've seen," she broke off as an image of John pounding his fist into the mirror in the depths of his insanity came to her mind unbidden. "He's very creative when it comes to interrogation."
"I'm already up to my neck in it! Don't worry about me. I can handle myself. We're well organized. Nobody knows who the leader is, and we each only know a few other people involved. We need you, Aeryn. You're the closest that we can get to him. You told that corporal that you would assume the risk for him when you came with me. Let me do the same for you. It'll be just like old times - I'll be your wingman."
Aeryn's mind was whirling. On one hand, this mutiny that Daya was describing fit in perfectly with her own plans to take down Scorpius. On the other hand, she had already seen what Scorpius could do, and she had no desire to see her childhood friend tortured. But, Daya was already involved, and it would be good to have someone watching her back. "Of course I'll help you! Just let me know what you need me to do."
"I knew that I could count on you!" Daya reached over and pulled her into an embrace. "Right now, hang tight. Keep track of his movements. Try to get as much information as possible. I'll arrange it so that we can spend time together. After all, rank does have its privileges! In the meantime, this is our signal." She made a fist and put her thumb between her index and middle fingers. "Be subtle about using it, but it will get the point across."
"I have one request," Aeryn grasped her friend's shoulders and looked her in the eye. "When the time comes, Scorpius is mine. I can't tell you my reasons why. Just promise me that."
"Frell, if I was forced to share a bed with the being that tortured my lover, I'd want the honor of killing him, too! Don't worry, Aeryn. He's all yours, but that doesn't mean that I won't watch and enjoy it!"
"Thank you. I knew you'd understand," Aeryn replied. Daya pulled her back into an embrace, and Aeryn laid her head on her friend's shoulder and relaxed for the first time since she'd regained consciousness aboard the command carrier. She felt like a heavy burden had been taken off of her shoulders, or at least lessened.
***
Zhaan considered herself lucky. None of her crewmates had snuck off in the night to attempt a foolish attack on Scorpius' command carrier. For now, Chiana seemed to have D'Argo and Jothee on a short leash. John, once he had gotten over his initial shock, was much more likely to listen to reason than the Luxan and his son. She had attempted to contact Aeryn through their spirit-link during the night, but she hadn't answered. This method of communication was unreliable, since it depended on both women being in an altered state of consciousness at the same time. She was concerned, but realized that Aeryn may be on a different schedule.
She found herself wishing more and more that Stark would return. After rescuing John, he'd gone off by himself to pray for the Banniks that Scorpius had killed, to put their spirits at rest. She had offered to help him, but he explained that this was something that he had to do himself. He seemed to be disappointed by her lack of response on his proposal, but he understood. On the night they'd met, when he'd been rescued from the Gammak base, she'd shared with him the fact that the Goddess had charged her to watch over Crichton. Stark, a holy man himself, had felt the same sense of uneasy destiny surrounding Crichton. Of all of them, he empathized with the burden that she carried.
"If you're not going to eat that, may I have your share?" Rygel pointed to her plate with his free hand, while stuffing a food cube into his mouth with the other.
She gave him a dirty look, but shoved the plate toward him. "Go ahead, Rygel. I have no appetite." His face reflected a flicker of concern, then he grumbled and proceeded to shove the food cube into his mouth with his other hand.
"Rygel, Zhaan," Pilot announced as his face came on-screen, "a ship is approaching."
"Is it Stark's transport pod?" she inquired hopefully.
"No, it's Talyn! He's back, and he says that he has found more energy for Moya."
"Thank the Goddess! That's the first good news we've had in a weeken!"
"Uh, Zhaan," Rygel tugged at the sleeve of her robe, "We'd better make sure that Talyn doesn't hear about Aeryn until he's prepared for it. Crais, too. No telling what that madman, or that hyperactive little ship will want to do."
"Good idea, Rygel," she said. The Hynerian smiled smugly at the complement. "Pilot, please tell Moya not to pass along our news about Aeryn to Talyn."
Pilot nodded knowingly. "She understands, Zhaan, although she feels that he should be told at some point."
"I know. I do not want him and Crais to run off on a fool's errand while Moya needs Talyn's help to recover. In the meantime, notify the others of Talyn's arrival."
Once Talyn had docked with Moya, the umbilical between the two Leviathans was engaged. Talyn happily started pumping energy into his mother. Crais then came aboard at Zhaan's request. All of Moya's crew was gathered in Command when Crais arrived. He looked exhausted. His normally impeccable hair and uniform were disheveled. Although he refused to admit it, he was grieving for Aeryn as much as the rest of them were. Or, at least his emotions were amplified by his link to Talyn.
Crais looked at them all looking at him - except for Crichton, who was staring intently at the tabletop. "What did you call me up here?" he demanded.
The group exchanged glances, then Zhaan spoke up. "Captain Crais, you may want to disable your link for a few microts," she suggested.
He looked at her skeptically. "Why? I have no secrets from Talyn."
"Just do it, Crais," D'Argo snapped. "Trust us, for a change. We have a good reason."
"Very well." He reached behind himself and disengaged his neural link. He set it down on the table deliberately. "Now, what did you have to tell me?"
"Thank you. Pilot?" Zhaan asked. "Replay the message."
"As you wish," Pilot answered. Then, Scorpius' last message appeared on the screen. Zhaan watched Crais instead of the replay. His face darkened considerably when he saw Aeryn on screen, then he flashed to barely-controlled rage when she was tortured.
"He goes too far!" he shouted and slammed his fist down on the table. "This is not how Peacekeeper officers treat each other!"
John snarled something unintelligible at Crais, then shook his head and stammered, "not... Peace...keeper." Crais did a double-take at the sound of Crichton's voice.
"What he's trying to say is," Rygel translated, "that you declared her irreversibly contaminated. She's not an officer anymore. Scorpius can do what he wants to her. And he has."
Crais swallowed hard, absorbing what Rygel had said. "I know. It is another deed which I have to answer for." Zhaan saw the guilt and pain cloud his face.
"There are some other facts that you need to know," Zhaan continued, addressing Crais. "I cannot explain it entirely, but suffice it to say that I have a link with Aeryn on what we refer to as the Spirit World. I do not expect you to understand this, but trust me that it is real. Through this link, Aeryn has assured me that she is unharmed."
"I'm assuming that she's been injected with nanobots. It's the only explanation for what I just saw," Crais speculated.
"That's right," D'Argo added. "Now you know why we wanted to keep this from Talyn."
"He will have to be told. He cares very deeply for Officer Sun, as do I." Zhaan heard a snort of derision from John's end of the table. She turned and stared at the Human.
"Let Moya break it to him," Chiana suggested. Crais nodded his agreement, and engaged his neural link.
"Pilot? Please tell Moya that she can tell Talyn about Aeryn now," Zhaan ordered.
Within a few microts, the gunship's shock and anger were reflected in Crais' face. "I know, Talyn," he reassured his young charge. "We will go after her, I promise you. We need a plan first." The others nodded their agreement. "He is, as you can imagine, extremely upset."
"There's more," Rygel added. "The command carrier pulled out about twelve arns ago. We have a good idea what Scorpius is going to do with the wormhole technology that he ripped from Crichton's mind. He's going to the Scarran homeworld to start a war."
Crais thought for a moment. "Of course! The Scarrans are mortal enemies of Sebaceans. There has been tension between our two civilizations for hundreds of cycles. The Scarran home system is extremely well protected. He's using the wormhole technology for a surprise attack. It's a risky, but admirable, strategy."
"Admire his strategic thinking later," D'Argo snapped. "If he starts a war, the Neutral Sebacean colonies are sitting directly in the way."
"Katralla. Daughter." John stammered with fear. Zhaan understood. He was concerned about Princess Katralla, who carried his unborn child and with it, her people's safety.
"Your daughter? I must have missed something!" Crais smirked.
Zhaan deflected Crais' interest. "Either way, if Scorpius attacks the Scarrans, he will drag the Peacekeepers into a war that they cannot sustain."
"Unless that's exactly what he wants," Rygel chimed in. "It would be to his advantage to sit back and have the Scarrans and the Peacekeepers take each other out. After which, he steps into the power vacuum."
"A scheme worthy of a former Dominar," Crais nodded.
"It takes a despot to know one," Rygel replied, and waved Durka's head at Crais, to remind him of the fact that he'd gotten the better of one Peacekeeper.
"So, what do you want from me and Talyn?" Crais asked. He batted Durka's head away.
"We need to beat Scorpius to the Scarran homeworld," D'Argo explained. "Right now, he's got the element of surprise. We've got to warn them that he's coming. We go in, we get Aeryn, and we get out."
"Talyn and I have been conducting a little experiment," Crais informed them. "Talyn now has the capability to starburst to a specific point in space, without losing his navigational data. He wants me to offer his services in the rescue of Aeryn Sun."
"Crais, I take back all of the nasty things I said about you," Rygel said appreciatively. "Well, almost all of them."
John gave D'Argo a thumbs-up sign. Then, he turned and offered Crais his hand. "Thank... you," he croaked. The captain looked perplexed, and mirrored Crichton's action. John reached over, took Crais's hand, and shook it. He released Crais, then sat back down.
"Then it's settled," Crais agreed. "D'Argo, Crichton, Zhaan, and I will take Talyn to the Scarran homeworld."
"The Scarrans won't listen to a Peacekeeper, even a renegade one," D'Argo said.
"That is why you and Zhaan are coming along," Crais replied.
"You'll need an experienced negotiator," Rygel offered.
"No, Sparky," John shook his head and made a chopping motion with his right hand.
Zhaan stepped in. "You, Chiana, and Jothee take Moya and head to the Neutral Colonies. Warn the Empress. Tell her to put their defense forces onto high alert, in case our plan doesn't work. Besides, if it doesn't work, you'll be safer there."
Jothee stood up quickly. "I'm going with you, Father!"
D'Argo shook his head. "I'm sorry, son. I need you to look out for Chiana for me."
"Frell you!" Chiana spat. "I can take care of myself! Always have!"
"Chiana," Pilot interrupted from the clamshell, "Moya and I need you and Jothee to protect us until she's healthy again."
"Besides, I will require assistance once we get to the Neutral Colonies," Rygel added.
Zhaan's eyes met D'Argo's over Rygel's head. She knew that he wanted to protect Chiana, but she didn't think that leaving her alone with Jothee would be wise.
"Fine," Chiana assented. "I'll do it for Moya."
"Uh... so will I," Jothee agreed too. "For Moya."
Crais wrapped everything up. "We'll leave in two arns. Pa'u Zhaan, see if you can get in touch with Aeryn again, and tell her..." his voice broke, and tears welled up in his eyes, even though he made an effort to hide them. "Tell her that we're coming for her."
***
"Where have you been?" Scorpius snarled as Aeryn walked through the door to his quarters. He reached out and grabbed the collar of her uniform and pulled her in close. "You've been drinking, too!"
"I was visiting with an old friend," she tried to explain. "Surprisingly enough, not everyone here wants to kill me."
"You were told not to talk to anyone, and to return immediately!"
"Well, maybe if you'd give me a comm badge, I could have asked for permission!"
He snarled again and shoved her across the room. The Scarran side of him was definitely coming out. "You're forgetting your position here! You live solely at my discretion. Now, I require cooling rod maintenance before my briefing to the senior officers."
"As you wish," she replied with thinly-veiled hostility, and crossed the room to the box containing the supply of cooling rods. She wished that she had some of that explosive paste that they'd tried to kill him with. It would make her life, and her mission, so much easier. As it was, he was burning through the rods very quickly. She popped Scorpius' earpiece and exchanged the blue rod for the degraded red one, then sealed him back up.
"Ah, very good, my dear. Now, send in Lieutenant Braca and the other senior officers."
Aeryn nodded, then crossed to the door. Braca was waiting for her. "Come in," she greeted them, and stepped aside. He came in, followed by five other senior officers. She recognized the Chief Engineer, Chief Weapons Officer, Operations, and Medical. As the sixth officer entered the room, Aeryn gasped with recognition. Commander Braydon Tal, former commanding officer of the Pleisar Regiment, was now in charge of all deployed forces. Tal was an older man, approximately sixty cycles, with close-cropped wavy gray hair, a scar across his right cheek from an old battle, and steel-blue eyes that were almost as expressive as Crichton's. He was an old soldier who was devoted to his pilots. Aeryn had been especially close to him when she was under his command. His eyes widened as he recognized her, but his mask of professional detachment was firmly in place. As the officers sat around the table with Scorpius, she crossed the room to stand behind her captor. Tal had managed to take the seat directly opposite of Scorpius, so that he would be able to see her without making an obvious effort. Aeryn very casually made a fist with her left hand and slipped her thumb between the index and middle finger, like Daya had shown her. Tal shot her a warning look, then his eyes focused on Braca, who was seated at Scorpius' right.
"I suppose that you're wondering what this briefing is about," Scorpius began. "I have recently acquired the knowledge to create a wormhole, which, if properly controlled, will be able to carry this ship across a vast distance in a brief period of time. This data has been transmitted to High Command Military Tech via a secure channel. I have received orders to launch a pre-emptive strike on the Scarran home system. We are on our way to a suitable location for creating a wormhole as we speak."
The officers stared around the table at each other in disbelief. "Begging your pardon, sir," Tal began, "Is this even possible? And, even if it is, have the risks been assessed?"
Scorpius shifted in his chair and stared at Tal. "I can assure you that it is. I believe you recognize the former Officer Aeryn Sun behind me. She has apparently witnessed this phenomenon first-hand."
Aeryn shifted uncomfortably as six sets of eyes focused on her. She met her former commander's eyes and said truthfully, "Sir, I have witnessed the deliberate creation of a wormhole, but that is all. The attempt was aborted before we could go through."
"And you're going to undertake this on the word of a traitor, and technology that you forcibly extracted from the mind of a sworn enemy of the Peacekeepers?" the Operations officer, a tall, dark-haired woman, scoffed. Aeryn recalled her name was Thuraya. "Have you finally gone insane, Scorpius?"
Scorpius glared at her, and she broke eye contact. "No, Lieutenant. I can assure you that I am quite sane. This is not a request for opinions, this is a direct order. Lieutenant Thuraya, you will brief your operations staff on the wormhole technology immediately. Commander Tal, you will issue a mission brief to your deployable forces upon departure. Other departments, make preparations to go into battle as soon as we come out of the wormhole. We go in, we hit them hard, and we get out. Any more questions?" Scorpius asked, but Aeryn didn't expect anyone to risk asking. "Very well, then. You are dismissed."
The officers stood as one, and walked out silently. Aeryn looked over at Tal, who seemed to be very disturbed by this turn of events. Part of the reason that he was so popular with the people under his command was that he refused to do anything that would unnecessarily risk their lives. He nodded encouragement to her, then turned to walk out. When he got to the door, he did a double-take in surprise. "Scorpius," he said as he turned, "One of my unit commanders, a Lieutenant Daya Jaad, wishes to speak with you."
Aeryn panicked. What the frell was Daya doing here? "Interesting," Scorpius purred. "Send her in, Commander. And stay yourself." Tal nodded.
Daya stepped into the room. She had changed into her full-dress uniform and looked every bit like a Brigade Commander. "Second Lieutenant Daya Jaad, Commander of the Beltanian Brigade, Pleisar Regiment, sir," she introduced herself and saluted smartly.
Scorpius looked her over skeptically. "Yes, Lieutenant? What do you want?"
"Sir, I wish to apologize for my actions earlier today. I caused Officer Sun to deliberately disobey your order. I also wish to petition a request on behalf of Officer Sun," Daya explained. Aeryn's eyes widened, and she waved to Daya to stop. Her friend ignored her. "I wish to ask that Officer Sun be placed under my guard for two arns daily, to be conducted in the exercise facility on deck nine."
"I see," Scorpius thought to himself. "Lieutenant Jaad, I have heard several positive reports about your performance from Commander Tal. He says that you are an exemplary officer, and may be eligible for higher rank."
Daya looked at Tal with surprise. "Thank you, sir!" she exclaimed.
"However, " Scorpius continued, "command is not always a pleasant duty. Sometimes, it can be difficult. Tell me, Lieutenant. When a prisoner disobeys orders, what must be done with that prisoner?" He turned around and glared at Aeryn. Tal shot a warning look at Daya.
Daya glanced uncomfortably at Aeryn, then looked at the floor. "They must be punished, sir. According to regulations." Aeryn steeled herself for what she knew was coming.
"Then, you see my point," Scorpius smiled, then touched the box on his side. Immediately, Aeryn's nervous system was set on fire. She gasped, then fell to her knees in pain. Daya's eyes got wide, but she stood still. So did Tal. Another movement from Scorpius, and Aeryn felt as if her intestines were exploding. She doubled over, clutching her stomach. Please, do nothing, say nothing, she thought. The pain was increasing dramatically. Through a red-clouded haze, she saw her friend and mentor watching her torture without a sound. Then, another bolt of fire shot up her spine and exploded in her brain. Her consciousness began to fade as she heard screaming in her head. She prayed that it was only herself, and not Daya.
"I am here, daughter," Khalaan's gentle voice cut through the pain-soaked haze in her mind. Aeryn had an image of the Goddess embracing her body, and the agony subsided. She felt like she was floating above the room. She saw her unconscious body lying on the floor in a fetal position, Tal standing stoically, and Daya barely containing her rage.
"Well done, Lieutenant Jaad. You have a bright future ahead of you," Scorpius said with relish. "You are dismissed, both of you." Daya and Tal both turned to leave. "Oh, Lieutenant?" Scorpius added. "Your request has been granted. I don't think that she will disobey me again."
"Thank you, sir," Daya managed to choke out. She left the room quickly, followed by Tal. Aeryn's spirit followed her friend. Daya angrily shoved aside a junior officer who was in her way, and stormed into the lift. Aeryn wanted to reach out to her friend, to let her know that she'd done the right thing. But Khalaan was leading her away, and she left her friend to deal with things as best she could.
Aeryn saw a bright light flash, and she found herself back in the grove. Zhaan was waiting for her. Unlike before, Zhaan reached out and embraced her before she could even make a move. "Aeryn! You are unharmed. Thank the Goddess!" Zhaan exclaimed.
"You're welcome," Khalaan smiled, then faded into the background.
"I was worried when I couldn't contact you during the sleep cycle," the Delvian said.
Aeryn pulled back and looked away. "I was... occupied," she whispered.
Zhaan reached out and touched Aeryn's shoulder. "Oh, no, Aeryn! He hasn't...?"
"I'm doing what I have to do to survive. And yes, it involves recreation." She looked up and met Zhaan's blue-on-blue eyes. "Please, don't tell John anything. He couldn't bear it."
Zhaan sighed painfully. "I will try." She changed the subject. "Talyn and Crais have returned with more fuel for Moya. She's doing much better."
Aeryn smiled. "That's a relief. I know what Scorpius's plans are, and it's not good news."
"Yes, he's using the wormhole technology to attack the Scarran system. John figured it out. I guess there's some advantage to his link to Scorpius," Zhaan said. Aeryn frowned as the memories flashed into her mind. "We're going to try to warn the Scarrans, then come for you. Pilot, Chiana, Jothee, and Rygel are going to the Neutral Colonies to put them on alert."
"That has to be one of John's plans," she snapped. "Nobody else would be that naive. You'll never make it to the Scarran homeworld in time."
"Actually, it was Crais' plan. He says that Talyn can do a navigated starburst."
Aeryn felt a flush of pride for the little gunship. "That's amazing!" She felt a pull back to her physical body. "I don't have much time before I regain consciousness. You need to know that there's a conspiracy aboard the carrier to overthrow Scorpius. I'm now working with them. At least one senior officer is involved, possibly two. Tell Crais that he needs to contact Commander Tal privately. He'll know who I mean."
"Commander Tal," Zhaan repeated, committing the name to memory. "I will tell him. And Aeryn," she placed both of her hands on Aeryn's shoulders. "Please be careful."
"You, too, Zhaan. Tell John that I love him. Take care of him for me," she said as she felt her spirit being pulled back into her body.
***
Zhaan watched Aeryn go with a feeling of sadness and concern. She wasn't worried that Aeryn would be killed - she trusted her Goddess enough to know that She would prevent that at all costs. It was that one misstep would cause the Uncharted Territories to be plunged into a war of attrition that had no possible good outcome. She counted backwards from ten, and her consciousness returned to normal. Zhaan was in her quarters again. The incense had burned to a small, glowing ember. She snuffed the candle, and let the incense take care of itself. As she turned, she saw John leaning against the doorway, waiting for news. He was so fragile, so close to the breaking point, that she didn't want to say anything to upset him. Normally, he was the rock that she depended on, the one that made her smile, that gave her strength when she had none. Khalaan had charged her to be his guardian, but the truth was that he was often hers.
"Aeryn sends her love," Zhaan said quietly. John spun around and looked at her hopefully. His eyes expressed what his words could not. Aeryn's request echoed in her mind. "Do not worry. She is a survivor," Zhaan reassured him. She took his arm and guided him towards Command. "John, I need to know something before we leave Moya. Are you still under the control of Scorpius? Do you still hear his voice in your head?"
He hesitated, thinking about it for a moment, then nodded his head. "Back here," he stammered, then pointed at the back of his skull, where the chip had been located, then waved his hand in a gesture that she took to mean "sometimes".
"So, you're not entirely clear? John, if you'd be more comfortable going with Moya to the Colonies, I'm sure that they have excellent physicians there that could help you."
He shook his head violently. "Need... to... go," he forced out.
"I don't think that Crais or D'Argo will want to go into battle with someone who is controlled by their enemy," she observed tactfully.
His eyes grew dark, and he fingered his gun. "Going. Owe Aeryn." That settled it.
The two of them entered the docking bay. Crais and D'Argo were already there, loading practically every weapon aboard into Talyn's small cargo hold. A third person stepped out of the umbilical, and Zhaan gave a cry of delighted surprise. "Stark! When did you get back?"
He rushed over to her and pulled her into a tight embrace. "About half an arn ago. Ka D'Argo told me about your plan. I'm coming with you."
She looked at him with concern. "Are you sure? I'd rather you stay with Moya."
He looked into her eyes with his one. "I have to go with you. While in meditation, something was revealed to me. I'll tell you about it on the way." He looked away from her, and noticed John standing back. "John! I'm very relieved to see you up and about!" Stark released her and embraced John in a massive hug. "D'Argo says that you're able to talk, too."
"Little," John confessed, and gave the same "sometimes" hand motion.
They were interrupted by the sound of Chiana and Jothee entering the docking bay, followed by Rygel. The teenagers were arguing about something, probably about whether they should go along or not. Zhaan beckoned Rygel to the side to speak in private.
"Have you noticed something about the two of them?" she asked in a low voice.
"A blind cave-worm could see that they're attracted to each other," Rygel agreed.
At least he wasn't totally clueless. "I do not want D'Argo to get hurt," she said. "Do what you can to keep those two separated and out of trouble."
"Teenagers," Rygel muttered. "Now I know why I was never involved in the rearing of my offspring." She bent over and kissed Rygel's forehead in gratitude.
"I'm telling you," Chiana shouted loudly, interrupting everyone else, "that I am coming with you. If Mask-boy there can come, why can't I? I've been in more battles than he has!"
"Chiana," D'Argo growled a warning. "You and Jothee are all I have. Besides, Moya needs you to protect her."
"From what? Scorpius is going to be where you are! And what about Jothee?"
"Look," he put his hands on her slim shoulders, "I've got a job to do. And where I'm going, you can't follow. What I've got to do, you can't be any part of. Chiana, I'm not good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little beings don't amount to a hill of nodules in this crazy universe. Some day, you'll understand that." He kissed her on the forehead to say goodbye.
John pulled her into an embrace. "Here's... looking... at... you..., kid," he stammered.
"You, too," she whispered, then released him to hug Zhaan. "Bring her back safe."
"I will," Zhaan promised. "And you, child, stay out of trouble."
Chiana cocked a grin at her. "You're no fun," she smiled. Zhaan released her, then followed John through the umbilical into Talyn's small docking bay. D'Argo turned once to wave goodbye to his son and his lover, then he closed the airlock behind them. They joined Stark, John and Crais in the Command section.
"Umbilical disengaged," Crais reported. "Pilot, we're heading out. We will signal you when we're successful. If not, well, I'm sure you'll figure it out soon enough."
"Moya and I want to wish you all good luck. Tell Aeryn that I look forward to seeing her soon," Pilot answered as Moya's rear docking bay doors closed behind them.
"We will," Zhaan reassured him. "Goddess, protect us all."