By Any Means Necessary
Part Three - Focal Point
The next solar day:
No one was in the room when Aeryn woke up. Scorpius had left her some breakfast. He had been occupied all night with decrypting his chip. Fortunately, that meant that he had left her alone overnight. She didn't think that she could handle any more of his sadistic recreation. It was bad enough that he had woken her up several times to change his rods and to interrogate her about the time that she and John had formed a wormhole. She couldn't tell him much. John was the one that had done the calculations - she was just flying the module.
Since the room was empty, she allowed herself the momentary luxury of remembrance. She wrapped her arms around herself, remembering John's arms around her, the soft touch of his lips, the heat of his body against hers, his unique scent of perspiration mixed with leather. When she was learning to fly in combat situations, the instructor had taught her to always keep her eyes on one specific focal point in space and she'd never lose her bearings. For the last two cycles, John Crichton had been the equivalent of that focal point in her life, and she had been his. Now, without her point of reference, she felt lost, alone, and spinning out of control. Remember what you're doing this for, she thought to herself. Don't lose your focal point.
Self-indulgence was getting her nowhere. Aeryn stood up, pulled on the hated leather suit, and quickly ate the breakfast that was left. She walked out onto the Command deck and observed the frenetic activity from a good vantage point. Scorpius, Braca, and Lieutenant Thuraya were there, along with several techs that she didn't recognize. All of them seemed to be running about like a bunch of overgrown DRDs. The image brought on a smile, which she quickly suppressed. On the screen, she saw a drone exploding in the middle of a wormhole. Scorpius growled angrily. As he turned, he caught sight of her in the alcove. "So nice of you to join us, my sweet," he smiled and strode over to her. He caressed her cheek and kissed her on the lips. Aeryn didn't respond. He looked disappointed. "As you can see, we're testing the wormhole technology. I have no doubts that it will be successful, but someone," he glared at Thuraya at her position at Ops, "insisted that we run some tests before we do this."
"A wise decision," Aeryn smiled sympathetically at the tall woman. She thought she caught a quick flash of the signal from Thuraya. "Will you have need of me for the next two arns? I would like permission to exercise with Lieutenant Jaad."
Scorpius waved her away. "Go ahead. I will contact her if I need your assistance."
"Thank you, sir," she barely managed to choke out. She ducked back into the room, contacted Daya, and headed out the door. Corporal Visio, her personal escort, was waiting for her. "Good morning, Corporal," she said cheerfully as he accompanied her to the lift. He didn't say a word. As they reached the main decks, Aeryn made sure to keep her right hand in the signal position. Stares still followed her down the hall, but she also saw a lot more hand signals than she had expected. She was beginning to think that this little conspiracy might just work.
They reached the exercise facility, and she found Daya waiting for her in the locker room. "So," her friend remarked tartly as she tossed an extra pair of leggings at her, "I guess your escort isn't under orders to come into the women's showers."
"Too bad. Maybe you could give him an education," Aeryn grinned back.
"You're looking better today," Daya observed. "What's the good news?"
"He was busy with his wormhole experiment all night. It's apparently not going well."
"Good! I've got a bunch of raw recruits and the last few survivors from our brigade. I don't want to take them into battle against the Scarrans. Frell, they're barely off of simulators!"
"There's more news," Aeryn confessed as they walked out to the mat. "I can't explain it, but I've been in contact with my shipmates aboard Moya. Don't ask me how, you won't understand," she said in response to her friend's puzzled look. "They're going to meet us at the Scarran homeworld. Crais is with them."
Daya's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "I'll let the Old Man know," she nodded. She set into position, and Aeryn followed suit. At an unspoken signal, they started sparring with each other. They quickly settled into their old patterns of attack and counter-attack. Aeryn got the better of Daya a few times with moves that she'd learned over the past two cycles. It felt good to be sparring with a fellow Peacekeeper. Lately, her practice sessions with John were ending up with very different results. Granted, there was more than one use for an exercise mat, but it wasn't keeping either of their reflexes sharp. Well, except for one particular male reflex.
Aeryn suddenly found herself hitting the mat hard. She looked up to see Daya smirking at her. "He must be a pretty good frell to distract you like that!" she laughed.
"Always the foul-mouthed tralk," she shot back as she stood back up. "Look, we've got to find a way of getting Crichton and the others on board."
Daya grinned, then aimed a pakthar jab at her. Aeryn ducked it expertly. "Leave that to me. I've got an idea..." the redhead said.
***
Zhaan's neck snapped as Talyn came out of starburst abruptly. Fortunately, she was sitting against the bulkhead with Stark, rather than helping Crais and D'Argo. John was sleeping fitfully, his head in her lap. After the trauma of Aeryn's death and what happened after that, Zhaan couldn't blame him for not wanting to sleep. However, exhaustion finally took him, and he had slept through the entire bone-jarring starburst. As they slowed to sub-light, John stirred briefly. She stroked his hair. Stark placed his hand on John's head to soothe his troubled mind. She felt as if John were a child, and she and Stark were his parents. They were trying to keep the imaginary monsters from getting to him. Only this monster was real, and it had already won.
"Check the navigational readouts," Crais ordered D'Argo.
The Luxan looked at a scope next to him. "The bad news is that we're not in the Scarran system. The good news is that we're within a few parsecs of it. We should be able to reach the system in an arn if we travel at maximum speed."
"Very good, Talyn," Crais encouraged the ship. Lights blinked in response. "I know, it's not perfect. But remember, you've never been here before, and this is the longest that you've ever starburst. You've done very well. Set a course for the following vectors at hetch seven."
Zhaan continued to be impressed with the change in Crais since his link with Talyn. She'd really only seen Crais a few times while she was a prisoner aboard Moya. According to Aeryn, he was considered an obsessive slave-driver even back then. The Goddess truly did work in mysterious ways. "You've done a good job with Talyn," she remarked.
"Thank you, Pa'u Zhaan. It has been quite an experience," Crais replied. "May I speak with you in private?"
She looked down at the sleeping Human in her lap, then at Stark. He nodded, and traded places with her while trying to disturb John as little as possible. Once John was laying in Stark's lap, she stood and followed Crais into the small room that served as his quarters. It was, like everything else, sparse and impeccably tidy in a military fashion. He closed the door behind them. Zhaan turned to face him. "I wanted to tell you something privately before we got to the Scarran homeworld. It's about Aeryn."
Zhaan frowned. "I know that you care for her a great deal."
"Before her death, Talyn wanted her to join us. I know that she would not have left Moya willingly. However, I did want to let her know that I had some information that she might have been interested in." He held up a data chip. "If, for some reason, I can't give her this, please let her know that it's here. It's very important that she learn this information."
"Crais," Zhaan said delicately. The poor man's emotions were raw enough, without having to tell him things that she'd rather not say. "I will do as you ask. However, I think that she should hear it from you personally. Whatever she feels, I am not sure if it is for you, for Talyn, or for both of you."
"I won't stand in Crichton's way, if that's what you're trying to say. I won't lie to you. Yes, I have entertained the thought of a relationship with Aeryn. However, I know now that it is impossible. I will have to be content with a different type of relationship."
"There is something else that I think you should know," she said. "John is not entirely clear of Scorpius' control. There was no time to warn you earlier. He insisted on coming along anyway. Please, be very careful."
"Thank you for your warning. However, it changes nothing. In a way, I feel responsible for what has happened to Crichton. Perhaps this is an opportunity to atone for that mistake."
She reached over and grasped his forearm. "Goddess knows I never thought that I would say this, but you are a good man, Captain. We are lucky to have you on our side."
"Thank you, Pa'u Zhaan. Coming from you, that is the highest complement that I could ever hear." To her surprise, he leaned over and kissed her cheek.
***
The command crew and techs were all smiles when Aeryn returned to the command deck. To her surprise, Commander Tal had joined the group. "Well, my dear, we've done it," Scorpius greeted her, "We've finally modified the wormhole technology."
"I'm so glad," she whispered unexcitedly.
"You don't seem happy about this turn of events."
She looked at Scorpius and the assembled crew. "I've fought a Scarran. The only reason I got away alive was because he was stopped. I wonder how many of you can say the same?"
"Being part of a small crew of malcontents has made you soft, Sun," Braca shot back. "You have to start looking at the big picture."
She laughed in Braca's face. "Soft? I guess that's what you would call thinking before risking lives on a dangerous venture."
Scorpius seized her shoulders, and shoved her into the bulkhead. "Tell me, Aeryn Sun. Do you fear me?" he snarled, his face close enough that she could see the red veins in his eyes.
She looked him right in the eyes. "I fear what you could do to those I care about," she answered as she clouded her thoughts by visualizing flying her Prowler. "But I've survived things that would make even you beg for mercy. I'm not afraid of anything that you could do to me."
He grabbed her hair, pulled her head back and moved in even closer. She could smell his foul breath. "You will be afraid," he whispered. "Oh, but you will."
"Sir," a male voice said from the command deck. Scorpius released her and snarled at the speaker. It was Commander Tal. Her mentor stood his ground. "Now that we have successfully sent an unmanned vehicle through the wormhole, I suggest sending a larger, manned craft."
"An excellent idea, Commander," he agreed. "A manned craft could also send back intelligence on their defensive positions. A Prowler would be the best choice." He looked briefly at Aeryn, then back to Tal. A sneer crept onto his face. "We will need your best pilot to fly it, of course. Perhaps that young Lieutenant Jaad?"
Tal stiffened, and exchanged a warning look with Aeryn. "I will inform her," he said.
"May I make a suggestion?" she jumped in. Scorpius stared daggers at her, but nodded. "There is a huge difference between a Prowler and a Command Carrier. A Prowler is built to handle higher g-forces. It has a lower drag coefficient. You'll want to send a larger ship through to make a better comparison. A Marauder might be more suitable."
"The prisoner does have a point," Thuraya agreed, after making some quick calculations in her head. "Send a Marauder."
"A Marauder requires a two pilots," Tal stated. "I formally request permission to take it through the wormhole. Lieutenant Jaad will be my co-pilot."
Scorpius frowned. "I'll need your experience with the deployable forces, Commander."
"No. I'm your best pilot. You need my experience on that Marauder. I'll turn command over to another senior officer," he replied.
"Do it," Scorpius agreed.
"Sir!" Aeryn spoke up again. "You'll need someone to talk you through the wormhole. I've been closer to one than anyone here. I'll provide command support from here."
It was Braca's turn to laugh. "You? A traitor? Sir, the only place this tralk belongs is on the other end of a leash!"
"Yes, but enough about your sexual fantasies, Braca," Tal shot back. Braca reddened and glared at Tal. "Aeryn Sun is a Pleisar. She's served under my command. I trust her. That's all I need to know." Aeryn smiled at her former commander's declaration of confidence.
"Fine. Commander, you're dismissed," Scorpius nodded. Tal saluted, then walked towards the lift. As he walked past, Aeryn could have sworn that he winked at her.
The bridge crew waited impatiently for Tal to bring the Marauder on-line. The comms officer stood aside and let her take his position. She placed the headset over her hair. "Control, this is Marauder X-37. Are you reading me?" Tal's voice came over the commlink.
"We read you, Marauder," Aeryn confirmed. "Docking bay lists you as cleared for launch. You may launch at your discretion."
"Initiating launch sequence," Daya added as she went through her pre-flight routine.
"Launching," Tal said as the Marauder suddenly appeared on the tracking network screen in front of Aeryn.
The screen monitoring the star's corona suddenly flashed a bright blue. "We have an impending flare event in thirty microts," Thuraya announced.
"Marauder, did you copy that?" Aeryn asked.
"We heard it," Daya confirmed.
"Begin your descent into the planet's gravitational field," Aeryn advised.
The Marauder nudged down into the upper atmosphere. "Fifteen microts to flare."
"Firing booster engines in five... four... three.. two... one... mark," Tal counted off. The Marauder's engines left a bright white plume behind it as it accelerated.
"Impact of flare in five microts.... three microts...two... one..." The solar flare impacted on a perpendicular angle to the Marauder, matching speed and rate of descent perfectly. The telemetry from the Marauder's systems was causing every light to flash on the console in front of Aeryn. The telltale blue tunnel began to form along the flare's trajectory. "Wormhole event sighted, Commander," she said over the audible gasps from the technicians behind her. "I hope you're both strapped in tight."
"Frelling dren!" she heard Daya curse as the Marauder entered the wormhole.
"Maintaining course and attitude," Tal's steady voice provided a counter to her friend's panic. "I'm barely able to control it," he informed them.
"Hold it steady, Commander," Aeryn encouraged. "Telemetry indicates that you're almost through."
"How the hezmana are we supposed to do that?" Daya exclaimed. Their comms were starting to break up. If it had been any other pilots, Aeryn would have been worried.
"Approaching event horizon," Tal called out. "Once clear, we'll go to radio silence. See you on the other side."
"Good luck," Aeryn confirmed. "Event horizon in five microts... four... three...two... one."
Just before they reached the event horizon, the Marauder fired off a burst transmission of encrypted telemetry. Aeryn read through it quickly. "They made it, sir," she looked up at Scorpius. "They're in once piece, and approximately ten parsecs from the Scarran system."
"There was never any doubt," he smiled, then turned to Braca. "Lieutenant, prepare all ship's systems for departure in one arn. I want everything secured that can be. If the Marauder's telemetry is any indication, we're in for a wild ride."
You have no idea, Aeryn smiled secretly. And if you think that's bad, just wait.
***
"And I am telling you," D'Argo growled at the Scarran Defense Minister, who was currently filling Talyn's screen, "that we are not a Peacekeeper vessel!"
"Your vessel has the markings of a Peacekeeper gunship, although our intelligence has failed to inform us of this new class of gunship. You also have a Peacekeeper captain, and another of undetermined rank aboard. And you expect us to believe that you are a privateer?"
"Would a Luxan General and a Delvian Pa'u be aboard a Peacekeeper gunship?" D'Argo attempted to reason with the lizard-like being.
"You're not a gener...OW!" Crais said, then shut up when Crichton kicked him.
"You do have a point, General D'Argo," the Scarran thought about it. "We have spotted several unmanned probes that appeared shortly after some kind of astronomical phenomenon."
"That's your proof, Minister," D'Argo said.
"Worm... hole," Crichton stammered and pointed at the screen.
"Hold on a microt!" Crais interrupted. "The anomaly is happening again." They all watched as a blue flash filled Talyn's screen, and a Marauder suddenly appeared and slowed.
"Frell!" D'Argo cursed.
"It's firing a burst transmission back through the wormhole," Crais said. "The wormhole's closing. Talyn, arm weapons."
"Arming defensive grid," the Scarran minister replied.
"Wait," Crais held up a hand. "Belay that order, Talyn! Do not fire! The Marauder is... hailing us?" He double-checked the comms unit, just to be sure.
"Minister, stand down!" D'Argo ordered. "Let us deal with this."
"As a show of good faith," Zhaan prompted. The Scarran shut down the grid.
"The Marauder is using a high-level encryption code," Crais said as he put it on the screen. "This is Captain Bialar Crais to unknown Marauder. Please state your business here."
The image of two Peacekeeper pilots, a man and woman, appeared on-screen. They were both wearing flight suits and the heavy black helmets that Aeryn usually wore while flying. "Crais? Is that really you?" the man asked.
"Who is this?" Crais queried back. The man removed his helmet. He was older than Crais, with gray hair, blue eyes, and a scar across his right cheek. He grinned, showing a set of un-Peacekeeper-like dimples. In Zhaan's opinion, he was an attractive man. "Braydon Tal?" Crais exclaimed. "What the frell are you doing here?" This was the man that Aeryn had told her about! Zhaan sent up a silent prayer of thanks to the Goddess that they managed to make contact.
"I might ask you the same thing, Bialar," Tal shot back. "Nice looking ship you got there. Care to let us take a closer look?"
Zhaan looked from Crais to the man on the screen. "Well, that all depends on what you want to do once you get aboard," he responded. Zhaan could tell that he didn't entirely trust Tal.
"With all due respect, sir," his female co-pilot snapped as she removed her helmet to reveal a mane of curly red hair, "We're here because of our mutual friend, Aeryn Sun. Now shut up, deploy your frelling docking web and let us come aboard."
"Lieutenant!" the older man, Tal, gasped in shock as he turned to his co-pilot. "Show a little respect for the Captain!"
Crais, on the other hand, burst out in laughter. The others, unaccustomed to hearing Crais laugh, were looking at him like he'd lost his mind. He shook his head with amusement. "If that's Officer Jaad, she's never shown respect for anyone before. Why should she start now?"
"That's Lieutenant to you, sir," the woman corrected him, but with a humorous note.
"Deploy docking web," Crais ordered, grinning like a fool. "Let them come aboard."
Several microts later, the Marauder set down in Talyn's docking hangar. Zhaan, Crais, and the others went to meet them. The two Peacekeepers emerged from the Marauder and looked around in awe. Crais greeted the older man by grasping forearms tentatively. Then, Tal and Crais embraced warmly, like two old friends. Crais then did the same to the woman, only without the embrace. Then, he turned to the others. "These are my friends. Commander Braydon Tal, Lieutenant Daya Jaad, this is Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan, Ka D'Argo, Stark, and Commander John Crichton." The woman did a double-take, then looked at the Human with amused curiosity.
"So, you're the infamous Crichton?" Jaad asked as she walked around him, looking him over in an almost flirtatious manner. "Aeryn's told me a lot about you." Her green eyes flickered to John's crotch, then back up to his face as she suppressed a smirk.
Crichton turned bright red. He said something unintelligible, then shook his head and concentrated. The redhead's scrutiny had clearly rattled him. "Aeryn's... friend?" he asked.
"What's wrong with him? Translator microbes not working?" she asked Crais.
"No, Lieutenant, it's worse," Zhaan replied, and told her. The woman's expression turned from amusement to horror as she heard what Scorpius had done to him.
"I'm so sorry. I'm a medic, if that will help," she said gently to John. "We have at least one doctor in our little mutiny. When this is over with, I'll get her to look at you." Crichton nodded his thanks with tears in his eyes. "You're my best friend's lover. It's the least I can do."
"Captain," Tal said to his former commander, "we don't have a whole lot of time. Scorpius is bound to be following us as soon as they can secure the carrier."
"I agree, Commander." Crais said. "D'Argo, contact the Scarrans one more time. Tell them not to respond until they receive Talyn's signal. We have to make this look as convincing as possible. Everyone else, into the Marauder."
As Crais said the name "Talyn", the older Peacekeeper started, and stared at Crais as if he'd seen a ghost. His surprise was short-lived, however. He followed the female Peacekeeper back up the Marauder's hatch, then extended a hand to Zhaan. "Pa'u," he addressed her formally, "it's hard enough to get in here without a long robe. Let me give you a hand."
"Thank you, Commander," she smiled as he helped her up the hatch into the Marauder. Zhaan frowned as she looked around. "The last time I was on a Marauder, I was in handcuffs."
Tal smiled ruefully. "Hopefully, this time Scorpius will be the one in handcuffs," he said.
"May the Goddess make it so," she muttered, then smiled. Stark was climbing up the hatch. He turned and extended a hand down to Crichton. The female Peacekeeper turned and smiled hopefully at John, who was busy strapping himself in. D'Argo was the next up the hatch, then finally Crais. The captain took a place behind his former subordinate as Tal sealed the hatch.
"Prepare for departure," Jaad said, as Zhaan strapped herself into a seat next to John.
"Talyn, release docking web," Crais ordered. "Once we're clear, make for the upper atmosphere, power down, and wait for my signal." The lights blinked once as Talyn replied.
The engines engaged, and the Marauder lifted off from the deck, then flew out of the docking bay. In the rear porthole, she saw Talyn making a beeline to the Scarran planet. Tal maneuvered the Marauder to hide behind one of the orbiting defense satellites. "Now, we wait for the command carrier," the older Peacekeeper said. "They should be along shortly."
Beside her, John was struggling to say something. "Why... help... us?" he asked.
Tal turned and looked at his passengers. "You mean, why am I violating my blood oath by planning a mutiny against my commander and helping a prisoner escape?" he asked.
"Now that you mention it," D'Argo added, "yes."
Tal sighed wearily. "There's two answers to that. The first is that I believe that Scorpius does not have the best interests of our race in his mind. The first thing I learned in basic training is that Peacekeepers don't start wars, we finish them. I'm an old soldier, Ka D'Argo. I've learned that you can't fight a war when you're far from your home territory, undermanned and low on supplies and morale. Scorpius isn't a military commander. He doesn't realize this."
"Not to mention that he's a frelling psychopath," Jaad remarked.
Crichton vigorously nodded his agreement. "Got... that... right," he stammered.
She continued. "Do you know what that abomination did to Aeryn?" she hissed.
"Jaad, they don't need to hear that," Tal warned his co-pilot, and turned to look out at Talyn, who was barely visible in the thick atmosphere of the Scarran homeworld. "The second is that I made a promise to a dying comrade a long time ago. And that's all I can say about it." He turned back to his controls as an uncomfortable silence settled over the Marauder's passengers.
***
Aboard the command carrier, Aeryn was sitting in a chair at the very back of the command deck, near the entrance to the lift. Once the Marauder successfully made it through the wormhole, she relinquished the comms position to its normal occupant. She changed Scorpius' cooling rod, then prepared his belongings for the rough flight ahead. Once that was done, she found the most convenient place to make a quick exit, then strapped in.
"All hands, this is Scorpius," the half-breed announced over the vidscreen on a shipwide broadcast. "You all have your mission briefings. Once we emerge from the wormhole, we will be in Scarran territory. Remain alert for anything. All hands prepare for departure."
"Solar flare event sighted," Thuraya announced.
"Fire main engines," Braca ordered. Aeryn felt the carrier's massive engines begin to vibrate as the ship rapidly accelerated.
"Calculating trajectory for impact with flare," the navigator said.
"Flare event impact in thirty microts," Thuraya calculated.
"Increase speed to hetch nine," Scorpius said. He was smiling with anticipation.
"Flare impact in fifteen microts." The stars streaked by on the vidscreen as the carrier skimmed the planet's upper atmosphere. "We are at hetch nine. Impact in ten microts." Aeryn gripped the armrests of the chair so hard that her fingers hurt. "Impact in five... four... three... two... one... mark!" Suddenly, the wormhole's blue corona filled the vidscreen.
"Frell..." one technician whispered in awe.
"Entering wormhole," the navigator said. "Hang on!"
The carrier slipped into the wormhole, and was immediately buffeted side-to-side by the intense forces surrounding them. Several crewmembers, including Thuraya, were thrown across the bridge like toys. Scorpius laughed crazily, making the hairs on the back of Aeryn's neck stand on end. The bone-jarring ride continued for what seemed like forever, but in reality was only a few microts. "Approaching event horizon," the navigator announced over the din.
"Steady on," Braca said.
"Event horizon in five... four... three... two... one!" the navigator said. Aeryn and the rest of the crew were flung forward as the carrier was dumped out of the wormhole.
"Slow to hetch one," Scorpius ordered. "Navigator, position!" He frowned suddenly, as if something was bothering him.
She read out a star chart on her position as the ship slowed. "We are ten parsecs from the Scarran home system," she announced with pride.
"Lieutenant," Thuraya turned to Braca, "all decks reporting minor damage. Several casualties, mostly from unsecured objects. Medical teams are being dispatched to all decks."
"Very good. Weapons, I need the status of the Scarran early warning system."
"Sensors indicate that they're still powered down. Apparently they haven't seen us yet," the comms officer informed them. "Wait a microt. We're being hailed. It's the Marauder, sir."
"Put them on screen," Scorpius ordered.
"The Marauder's visual communications array was damaged in the transit," the comms officer informed them. "We have audio only." Scorpius frowned, then nodded for the audio.
"Tal to Command Carrier, do you copy?" the commander's voice came over the channel.
"We copy, Commander," the comms officer replied. "What is your status?"
"So far, we haven't been spotted. The Scarrans must be hibernating. Request permission to return." Tal said. That was the signal. Aeryn quietly released the straps on her seat and stood up. Braca must have caught her movement in his peripheral vision, because he turned and looked at her. She did a few stretches, just to cover herself.
"Permission granted, Commander." Scorpius confirmed. Aeryn made her way to the lift slowly and quietly.
"Deploying docking web for hangar eight," Thuraya said.
The door to the lift hissed open as Aeryn approached. Scorpius whirled at the sound. "Where do you think you're going, my dear?" he asked as he strode across the deck to the lift.
"I am going to congratulate my friends," she answered matter-of-factly.
"Sir!" the navigator called out suddenly, "the Marauder is reading seven life-signs, only three of which are Sebacean!" Frell! Aeryn thought as Scorpius grabbed her upper arm. Almost made it!
"Ah, my dearest Aeryn. It appears that your rescuers are here," Scorpius sneered.
"I have no frelling idea what you're talking about!"
"You're lying. I can read it in your mind," he hissed as he twisted her arm behind her to pull her in close. She could smell his foul breath in her face. "Shall we go and greet them?"
"No thanks. I'll go myself!" she shot back as she spun around, stepping on his foot, then hitting him with a pakthar jab for good measure. She leapt into the lift and the door closed.
Suddenly, Aeryn felt herself freeze in place as her muscles were overridden by the controller. She fought to overcome it and press the button before they could stop the car. It was too late. The doors opened again. Scorpius stood in front of them, with the controller in his hand. "That wasn't very nice of you, my pet." He stepped into the elevator and caressed her cheek. "You see, I felt John's presence the moment we arrived here. It was only a matter of time before I figured it out. I wonder, however, how they were able to capture the Marauder so quickly?" He stepped into the lift, and pressed the button to take them to the hangar deck. "You know, my pet, this could prove to be very interesting." She glared at Scorpius, but said nothing.
The door opened at the hangar deck. Scorpius pressed the controller, and she walked forward stiffly at his side. She used every ounce of strength she had to make her left hand into the mutiny signal, and keep it hidden from her captor. He forced her to walk to hangar eight, where the Marauder was just landing.
***
The crew on the Marauder watched the carrier come through the wormhole with no visible damage. To Zhaan's right, John sat up in his seat and drew a hiss of breath. His eyes clouded over and he started to twitch. She looked past him to Stark, who was sitting on the other side of the Human. "Scorpy!" John whispered.
"Well, that's it. He knows we're here," Crais groaned.
"He knows John is here. Not the rest of us," Zhaan corrected him.
"We can't abort now. Just run with it," Tal reassured them. "Stick with the plan."
Fortunately, he was able to convince the carrier that their visual link was damaged, so they didn't have to hide. So far, the operations crew gave no hint that they were aware of anything out of the ordinary. As Tal and Jaad landed the Marauder, Zhaan forced herself not to panic. The success of their plan hinged on that.
***
Scorpius forced Aeryn to walk forward as the Marauder's hatch opened. The first person out was Daya. Her arms were above her head, and D'Argo jumped down next, a pulse-rifle pointed at her friend's head. Next came Tal in the same position, with Crais pointing a rifle at him. Aeryn caught her breath as John jumped out of the hatch behind them. Her eyes met his, and the entire hangar melted away. She tried to step forward, to run into his arms, but she was still controlled by Scorpius.
"Well, Crichton," her captor said from behind her. "I must congratulate you on hijacking the Marauder. A bold move, even for you in your present state."
"I think you know what we want, Scorpius," Crais called out. "Let Officer Sun go, and I'll let these two live." Aeryn looked from John to Crais. "Call it an even trade."
"Oh, I don't think so. Right, John?" Scorpius smiled. As he did, Crichton's eyes clouded over. He walked right past Crais towards Aeryn and Scorpius.
"Crichton, stop!" Crais yelled after him, but John kept walking towards her. He stopped directly in front of her, but there was no recognition in his eyes.
"John!" Aeryn called out. "Can you hear me?" She felt a hand caress her hair, and Scorpius sidled up behind her.
"Ah, true love. Ironic, isn't it? I have control of one's body, and the other's mind. Shall I make them do a little dance together, Crais? Or, maybe something a little more entertaining?" He waved a hand, and John shook his head clear.
"Aeryn!" he said with surprise, then looked at Scorpius. "What..." he managed to get out, then his speech became unintelligible.
"You know something, John? You're more like me than I originally thought," Scorpius put his arm around her and caressed her breast intimately. "Your lover here has shown me all of your little secrets. Haven't you, my pet?"
"John, don't listen to him! He's lying!" Aeryn called out. For the first time, she was afraid of what Scorpius could do.
"You... raped... her!" John accused Scorpius, his eyes filled with anger and hatred.
Scorpius laughed. "Oh, hardly. You see, darling Aeryn came to me. Watch," he said, then nodded at the nearest vidscreen. Aeryn's stomach sank to her feet as an overhead shot of Scorpius' quarters came onto the screen.
She rubbed her hands against the leather encasing Scorpius' buttocks. "I'll bet there's at least one thing about John Crichton that I know and you don't."
"What's that?" he asked.
Aeryn's hand reached around to the front of his leather uniform. "His likes, his dislikes, his... reactions," she purred into Scorpius' ear as she gently squeezed his genitals.
"Living around lesser life-forms really has corrupted you, Sun," Braca interrupted.
Aeryn turned to the Lieutenant and arched an eyebrow. "You didn't ask nicely," she smiled sweetly at him. "And besides, you're not the one with the power here."
"You're dismissed, Lieutenant," Scorpius waved him off. Braca stormed out of the room. "Now, tell me more about Crichton's... behavior." Scorpius purred.
She pulled Scorpius down onto the bed and straddled him. "Well, you see...." she began, and unzipped the top of her suit.
As John watched the replay of her seduction, the look on his face turned to horrified shock. His mouth worked, but nothing came out. "You... slut!" he managed to spit out, then reached over and slapped her.
Aeryn put a hand up over her cheek. "John, it's not what you think! I made it all up!"
"She's lying, John," Scorpius hissed. "She enjoyed every microt of it. In fact, she said that you were a bit too tame for her tastes. After what she showed me, I had to agree with her."
"John, no! You have to believe me!" Aeryn started to panic. He didn't need to say anything. The hatred in his eyes condemned her worse than any words could.
"She betrayed your trust," Scorpius whispered in his ear. "Just like she betrayed her old lover, Velorek. She deserves to die." He put the controller in John's hand. "Kill her, John!"
He pressed the button, and a bolt of fire shot up Aeryn's spine. Her eyes rolled back and she gasped in pain. "Please, John! Stop! You don't want to do this!" In response, he turned the controller up, and pain exploded in her brain. She collapsed to the deck, writhing in agony as John mindlessly tortured her.
***
Zhaan and Stark, still concealed in the Marauder, watched the scene outside with horror. As Scorpius called Crichton to him, she faced Stark. "I hope your idea works," she said. "It's our only hope." She took his hands, and they put their foreheads together. The two of them began to chant, raising their power. Zhaan realized quickly that it wouldn't be enough. They needed more. She had a sudden flash of remembrance of their encounter an ancient and powerful priestess nearly a cycle ago. "D'Argo! We need you here!" she called out. The Luxan tossed his rifle to Commander Tal and climbed back into the Marauder.
"What can I do?" he asked.
"Join us. We need the power that the Orican left in you, and we need it now!"
D'Argo put his hands over Stark and Zhaan's, then touched his forehead to theirs, forming a triangle. Immediately, Zhaan felt a surge of an ancient, formidable power from the Luxan Orican. It was buried so deep within D'Argo's psyche that he was unaware of it. She interwove it with her and Stark's working. The crackle of power on her aura was almost unbearable. Outside the Marauder, she heard Aeryn scream John's name, and heard a thump as she collapsed onto the deck. It would have to be done now. Zhaan released the bolt of power upward, across the link, and into Aeryn's body.
***
Aeryn writhed on the deck as John kept turning up the intensity on the controller. She screamed wordlessly as, without warning, a blinding white bolt of power shot down her spine from her brain to her fingers and toes. The power overrode the pain. She was now able to move of her own accord. She stood in one smooth movement. She looked at John, who was staring at her with absolute hatred. A weapon in my hand. Sword of the Goddess, she heard Khalaan's voice in the back of her head. "I'm sorry, my love," she said in a voice that was hers, but yet wasn't. She held up her right hand, and a bolt of power shot out of it. It connected with John's hand and sent the controller spinning out of it. He looked down in astonishment. Another wave of her hand, and he flew backwards and landed with a sickening thud on the deck.
"Frelling dren!" she heard Daya exclaim from behind the Marauder's landing struts. She ignored Daya and turned toward Scorpius.
His face was paler than usual. She stepped forward, and he backed up against the bulkhead, holding his arms out in front of him. She pinned him against the bulkhead. "Tell me, something. Do you fear me, Scorpius?" she asked.
"Who are you? What are you?" he stammered. His eyes were wide with terror at seeing someone more powerful than himself.
"I have many names," she replied in the voice not her own. "Zhaan's race calls me Rha'nallan, the Destroyer. Crichton's ancestors called me Morrigan, the battle goddess, the protector. I do not take lightly to those that challenge the order of the Universe, foolish mortal. You have taken for yourself the knowledge that only the Ancients can possess, and have used it for destructive purposes. For that, and for other unspeakable evil, you must be punished." Aeryn reached forward and put her hands around Scorpius' throat. She squeezed tighter and tighter, choking the life out of this malevolent creature.
"Aeryn!" she heard a woman scream to her right. "Stop it! You're killing Crichton!" She looked toward the voice. Daya and Crais were kneeling beside John, who was having a violent seizure. Scorpius took advantage of the lapse, and punched her in the jaw. She staggered backwards, and aimed a vicious kick at his midsection. She didn't want to get into hand-to-hand combat with him. Suddenly, a bolt exploded on the wall behind Scorpius. She spun around to see Braca aiming a pulse-pistol at her, then doubling over as a bolt from another pistol hit him in the stomach. She looked over to see Commander Tal standing in front of Crais, with his rifle up. He fired another shot into Braca's head, and the Lieutenant fell dead to the deck.
Scorpius grabbed her neck and pulled her in tight, his hand against pressing hard against her throat. "Now who's afraid of who?" he hissed.
Aeryn jabbed her elbow into his stomach, then flipped him over and popped his cooling rods out of his skull. Scorpius sprawled face-forward on the floor. She looked over at Tal. "Commander, take this piece of dren into custody," Aeryn said. "Make sure he stays alive, at least for now." She started to walk toward Daya and Crais, who were attempting to stop John's seizure. As she walked, the unnatural power left her abruptly. Her vision grayed out, and she swayed back and forth. Then, her knees suddenly gave way. Aeryn felt herself being caught by a pair of strong arms. For a microt, her confused mind thought it was Crichton.
"I've got her," she heard Crais say before she finally lost consciousness.