After leaving Tarone's bedside the crew gathered in Moya's command.
"I don't believe him." Aeryn said firmly.
"Neither do I." Rygel agreed.
Crichton walked towards them both, incredulous " Is this some kind of sick joke? Because, back on tier 8, I could've sworn. That you said. THAT YOU DID!"
"There was no sense in letting him know that we didn't believe him until we talked about it."
"You too, Chi? Oh, this just gets better! What about you D'Argo? Are you with them too?"
"No, John. I believe he is telling the truth."
Crichton turned to the clamshell. "Pilot, is there any way that we can check the basics of what he told us? Do we have any data on Tean?"
Before Pilot could answer, Rygel snorted. "I expect that he told the truth about the situation on Tean, that's not why I doubt him."
"Stop patting yourself on the back, Sparky, and get to the point!" Crichton said impatiently.
"I don't believe him because a boy of 14, who has been a slave all of his life…" Rygel started.
"Orphaned and taking care of his sickly brother in complete poverty…" Chiana continued.
"And who has, by his own admission, never been to space…" Rygel added.
"Should know nothing about Leviathans." Finished Aeryn.
" He didn't have to know about Leviathan's. Pilot did everything." Crichton pointed out angrily. "All Tarone needed to do is hold a weapon to Pilot's head."
Aeryn shook her head. "Even if he somehow knew enough about Leviathans to know that to seize control you need the pilot rather than a crew member, and was lucky enough to find Pilot undetected on this large vessel teeming with DRDs, he shouldn't have had any in depth knowledge. He told us himself that he knew Leviathans are always scared and would accept guidance from any source. I had been on many Leviathans before I joined you all on Moya, but I didn't know that until Pilot told me. He shouldn't have known. He shouldn't have known to assign DRDs to watch us and withdraw the rest – Pilot didn't tell him that. I asked."
"Yeah, and how did he know that Moya was female? It's kinda hard to tell but that was the first thing he said." Added Chiana.
"Pilot could've told him that." Crichton snapped.
"He also said he could pilot Moya without Pilot." Chiana pulled a face at him. "But I suppose you think he was bluffing, right?" Crichton said nothing.
"And let us not forget that he expects us to believe that before he even decided to seize control, he found his way, undetected, from the hamman side storage to the main cargo hold to check on his brother." Rygel stated solemnly.
Aeryn looked at him. "I'm sorry John, but I'm sure about this. He is not telling us the complete truth."
Rygel floated beside her. "I agree. He has knowledge about Leviathans that he shouldn't have."
Crichton stood a moment, eyes closed, biting his thumb, mind racing. When he finally looked up, he sought D'Argo's face. "I think they could be right." He said slowly. "Pilot, have you been listening in to this?"
"Yes, Commander."
"What do you think?"
"I think that although Tarone's account fits what little we know of Tean, I must agree with Chiana, Rygel and Officer Sun. He seemed to know a lot about bio-mechanisms for one so young and who claims to have been a slave on Tean all his life."
Crichton groaned.
"What should we do now? Do we confront him with our suspicions? Or await his next move?" D'Argo asked
"Ah…y'know, Zhaan's alone down there with him. Shouldn't we tell her to be careful?" Chiana looked at Crichton.
"You're right. D'Argo, why don't you go and collect Zhaan, and make sure that you lock the cell door on the way out." D'Argo nodded and headed for the door. "The rest of us have got to figure out what the frell to do with him now."
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"Zhaan, you are needed in command…" D'Argo looked around the cell he had just entered. It was empty. A beaker lay on the floor in a pool of liquid, but there was nothing else to suggest what had happened to Zhaan and Tarone. "Frell!" He strode out of the cell yelling into his com. "Pilot! Tarone and Zhaan have gone. Can you locate them?"
Aeryn's voice came over the com. "Where are you now D'Argo?"
"I'm still checking the other cells on tier 8."
"I'll head over to Pilot. Tarone may try seizing control of Moya again."
"I've located Zhaan and Tarone." Came Pilot's voice. "They are heading towards the transport hanger."
"He's trying to get off the ship with Zhaan." Crichton said urgently. "Lock the hanger doors, Pilot."
"D'Argo?" Crichton's voice again. "Meet us in the transport hanger."
"I have an audio communication from Tarone." Pilot said.
"Let's hear it, Pilot." D'Argo commanded.
"I have Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan and I will kill her unless you let me leave. Open the hanger doors."
"OK, just let Zhaan go and we'll open the doors." Crichton's voice was conciliatory.
"I'm sorry but the Delvian is coming with me."
"Why take her?" Crichton sounded a little more desperate now.
"That is none of your concern. Now open the hanger doors."
"We need time to discuss this." Rygel's voice came over the com.
"No. Your time is up."
"Pilot." Aeryn's voice sounded resigned. "Open the hanger doors."
D'Argo kicked a passing DRD "Frell!"
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TBC