When You Least Expect It Part 8
Disclaimer: I don't own them
Thanks to Neuroscpr for reading
Travor saw Darion leave the bar. This worried him. 'This is not a good sign," he thought to himself. He called his assistant from the back of the tent.
"Please take over for now. I will be back shortly."
The assistant nodded, watching Travor depart.
Travor followed Darion out of town. He looked as if he was headed toward the ruins. Travor knew if this was where Darion was headed, then the men must have been sent there to look for John. He hoped Aeryn and D'Argo had gotten there first.
He continued to follow Darion, as his worst fear was coming true. There was no doubt Darion was heading for the ruins.
Guilt was now preying on Travor. He knew in his heart there would be casualties among his people, if they met up with John's friends. He had hoped this would end peacefully. He was tired of all the killing.
'Perhaps Aeryn and D'Argo found John and left the tunnels before the men showed up,'
Travor thought hopefully. Deep inside he was saddened; he knew the chance of this was slim.
xxxxx
Aeryn and D'Argo were positioned outside the tunnels.
"Aeryn? Are you sure?" D'Argo asked searching her eyes.
"Trust me D'Argo. I know what I have to do."
D'Argo nodded, saying, "Be careful. John will have my hide if something happens to you."
"Rest assured, I will be," she said as she entered the tunnel with a small smile on her lips.
D'Argo tapped his comms, "Chiana?"
"I'm here," Chiana replied anxiously. "Have you found Crichton yet?"
"We think so Chiana. Aeryn has just gone after him."
"Aeryn! Have you gone fahrbot D'Argo? She's the reason.."
"Enough Chiana!" D'Argo demanded. "That is the past. She has earned my trust. If anyone can help John now it is Aeryn. Trust me Chiana."
There was nothing but silence over the comms for a few microts. "Whatever you say," Chiana responded quietly. "But if anything happens to him.." She couldn't finish what she wanted to say. "Do you know how John is?"
"Um..we know he has been injured, but not how badly," D'Argo said sadly. "Just ask Jool to prepare the med bay for him. I will contact you again when we are on our way back to Moya."
"I'll be waiting."
D'Argo was trying to decide on the best place to position himself and not be in the open. He had a feeling there could be others around. He found a recess in the opening in the tunnel. In this spot he could not be seen by anyone.
As he was getting in position his thoughts went to John, 'I shouldn't have granted your wish my friend.' He knew what happened was no one's fault. He only hoped they would not be too late.
xxxxx
Aeryn made her way cautiously through the main tunnel, listening to the voices of the men. They were not a quiet group, which made it fairly easy to pin point their location. So far Travor had been right. The men had not penetrated too deeply.
Aeryn proceeded counting the junctions as she passed them. Travor had hidden John in tunnel twenty-five.
As she approached tunnel seventeen a man appeared before her. "Who are you," he said alarmed.
"I am the Peacekeeper." She quickly sent a pantak jab his way and stuffed him back in the junction. 'Frelling idiot,' Aeryn thought proceeding deeper into the tunnels.
Aeryn had not gone far when she heard several voices heading her way. She quietly slipped into one of the junctions, hoping she wouldn't encounter anyone.
She squatted listening, hoping to gain some information.
"Darion is wrong, there is no one here. This place is nothing but a tomb for anyone who enters." The other ones were thinking.
"We have gone as far as twenty junctions and there is no sign of anyone. I for one am not going any deeper. Darion can look himself. I'm not willing to die for this."
"You can leave, but I am going a few more junctions."
"Why? We would need over one hundred men to cover all the junctions. The main junctions branch off into ten to twenty more!"
"I'll do it because Darion asked us to."
" Then you follow with blinders on your eyes. I'll see you back in town. Be careful," he said turning towards the exit.
Aeryn hoped more of the men would think this way, but she knew she had a problem. At least two of them were going deeper, which means they would be in her way. 'Frell', she thought, 'why couldn't you just go along with your friend!'
She could see what looked like others following the other one out of the tunnel. 'Be ready my friend, they are coming your way.' She hoped D'Argo was in position.
'Time to take care of the two ahead of me,' she slowly slid from the junction, intent on taking them by surprise.
xxxxx
Darion was almost to the ruins. Hopefully his men had already arrived and captured John. He knew Travor had helped the prisoner. Darion trudged along, knowing in his mind Travor would pay for this. He would make him an example for the rest of the men.
'No one will defy me and get away with it!'
Travor had taken a shorter way to the ruins. He learned this shortcut as a young boy. He knew he had to get there before Darion. He wanted to save his people from the bloodshed that was bound to happen if they met up with John's friends. He knew they were wrong, but they were only following a misguided leader. He could only hope they would listen to him.
Travor came upon the ruins, trying to catch his breath. He had been at a dead run trying to get ahead of Darion. There was no sign of anyone. He quickly approached the mouth of the tunnel only to encounter D'Argo.
D'Argo slammed him back against the wall of the tunnel. "What are you doing here?" D'Argo asked in an impatient tone, his arm across Travor's neck.
Travor put his hand on D'Argo's arm trying to pull away. "Ugh, can't breathe."
D'Argo loosened his arm on his neck, and said in a low threatening voice, "Answer me now!"
Travor was trying to catch his breath. Rubbing his neck he said in a frantic voice, "Darion.Darion is on his way here now! He is only microts behind me! I don't want to see any bloodshed. These men are just misguided. It's not their fault."
"These men are hunting my friend. That makes them my enemy!"
"Please let me try to talk to them. Blame Darion, not them," Travor was pleading now.
"Perhaps you'll have your chance soon. I here voices coming our way. But I warn you, if you are lying to me about your intentions I will kill you!"
Travor nodded at the angry Luxan, still rubbing his throat.
xxxxx
Aeryn quietly followed the two men deeper into the tunnel. She had formed a plan in her mind. She would let them proceed into the different branches and get ahead of them so she could reach John. Once she reached him she would have to think of something else. Hopefully the men would retreat on their own and not get that far. Her only thought at the moment was to reach John.
The men stopped ahead and Aeryn froze against the tunnel wall. She flattened herself against the wall as much as she could, and held her breath. They both entered different junctions. Aeryn took a breath and ducked as she passed these junctions.
'So far, so good.' She had four more to go, and as long as there weren't any more men ahead of her she was clear.
"Hold it! Who are you?"
'Frell', Aeryn thought stopping in her tracks. She turned slowly, her pulse pistol behind her back. She slowly walked towards him as the other man came out of the other junction.
"Stop where you are. I demand you answer me!"
Aeryn said with a threatening smile on her face, "I am Officer Aeryn Sun. If you want to continue to live, I suggest you leave now, or I will surely kill you and your friend." She glanced at the other man as she continued.
"Who are you to threaten," he said with a snicker.
Aeryn said in an ominous voice, "I am Peacekeeper Office Aeryn Sun! I am here to rescue my friend. If you choose to get in my way I will kill you! Is that understood?" Aeryn's eyes never left his face.
The look in her eyes and flections in her voice sent chills up both men's spines.
"You can have him, " he said as both men turned and ran.
Aeryn dropped her head relieved as she holstered her pistol. 'John'
She turned and was at a slow trot counting the junctions.
xxxxx
'Man, I've got to be losing it now,' John thought, wrapping the blanket around himself tightly. He couldn't stop shivering and it was getting harder to breathe. 'Thought I heard Aeryn's voice.'
He had been hearing all the men's voices looking for him. It sounded as if they were all around him. "Hell John, they are," he said to himself with a snicker.
John knew he probably wouldn't make it out of this one alive. He just wanted to hear her voice, to hold her one last time. The ache grew. 'Guess I asked for this. If I hadn't left, there would still be a chance.'
He suddenly started laughing, and coughing. "And that folks is the $20,000.00 question."
John bent over grabbing his stomach as the coughing intensified.
John slid down the wall to the floor of the tunnel and brought his knees up. The pain subsided as he closed his eyes.
Suddenly he felt as if he wasn't alone. He snapped his eyes open and he saw what he knew was a hallucination.
"And what is the $20,000.00 question John?" She asked as she stood over him, slowly dropping to her knees.
John knew he must be dying. The hallucinations were getting worse. She looked so real it hurt. "Stop it! Just stop it John! Wishing only hurts more," he said pulling away from what he thought was an apparition.
"John.John, stop! It's me! See I'm touching you," she said softly touching his face. "You can feel me. Don't fight me. I'm here to help you."
His reaction to her made her heart ache, 'Frell, I am so sorry!'
John slowly calmed down. He could not believe his eyes. It had to be a trick, but it wasn't. He felt her sweet touch on his skin. He closed his eyes and savored it; the tears sliding down his cheeks.
Her heart went out to him when she saw the tears. 'I'm so sorry for hurting you. After all I did, you still love me. How can you forgive so easily?' She thought taking his head in her lap and softly wiping his tear streaked face.
"John," she said softly. "We need to get you out of here. It's time you return to your home."
John turned his head so he could see her. He looked into her eyes, touched her face, still not believing that she actually came for him.
"I never expected to see you, Aeryn," he said in a choked voice. He looked away as the tears were starting again.
"Well you know John, you always told me, things happen when you least expect it. Perhaps you were right," she replied softly, stroking his cheek. She wished the moment could last forever, but knew they had to get moving.
"John, we need to get out of here. D'Argo is watching our backs, but I don't know how much time we have."
John struggled to his feet, only to fall. "Aeryn I think I'm gonna need some help here," he said in a raspy voice. "Hell it hurts to breathe!"
Aeryn helped John to his feet. She saw that he couldn't straighten his body, and his breathing was haggard.
"John, just lean on me. We will get through this together, as we always have," she said in the old Aeryn voice.
John paused and their eyes locked. He quickly looked away, as the tears threatened.
"Thank's Aeryn. Don't know what I would do without you," he said dropping his head.
"Don't mention it," Aeryn said in a sincere voice. "Lets get moving John. I want to be back on Moya by dark. This place has been nothing but a nightmare."
"You're telling me," John snickered sounding more like himself. "Hey Aeryn, you got another pulse pistol on you?"
"No, but I have my knife," she said handing it to John. He tucked it in his belt.
She smiled to herself as they started exiting the junction.
xxxxx
Travor asked D'Argo to let him try to reason with the men first.
"What if they don't listen? I will have lost my advantage. I don't think I can take that chance."
"D'Argo, you can stay hidden. Just let me try first. I think I know them better than you do," Travor's eyes were pleading.
D'Argo looked in his eyes and saw the sincerity, and relented. "One chance Travor. Then I will do what I have to do."
"Agreed. I thank you for giving me the chance."
Travor stood at the opening in the tunnel and waited for the men to approach. He counted about five men. "How many of you entered the tunnels?"
"I think there were ten of us Travor, and we are leaving. Darion can fight his own battle. These tunnels are nothing but a death trap."
"Where are the others that came with you?" Travor asked concerned about the others.
"Some decided to proceed deeper. We asked them to come with us but they refused. We left them."
Travor dropped his head concerned for the others who were deep in the tunnels. 'If they went too deep they could look forever for the exit and never find it."
"Why are you here Travor?"
Travor looked at his fellow men and simply said, "I am here to save your lives."
"What do you mean?"
"The man you are looking for is not a Peacekeeper. Darion mislead you," he said with a sigh. "I should have stepped forward sooner and told you the truth."
The men gasped and talked among themselves. "You were going to let us kill someone who was not guilty?"
"I didn't know if you would believe me or Darion," Travor said in a shamed voice.
D'Argo was listening to the conversation and a felt a glimmer of hope. These men were not violent, as Travor had said.
"Travor how could you doubt us? We only want to protect ourselves, not hurt innocents."
"I'm sorry. I should have had more faith in you. But you must know Darion will be here in a matter of microts. He still wants this man killed so you don't find out he made a mistake. We must find the others and tell them before they get hurt by this."
D'Argo are you convinced now?" Travor asked glancing his way.
D'Argo stepped out of the crevice. The men gasped and backed up several steps. "Who is this Travor?"
"John's friend. There is another one inside the tunnel trying to find him. As long as you don't do anything to threaten him, there is no reason to fear him."
D'Argo spoke now, " I am only here to help my friend. I wish no harm to you."
The men nodded. "We can accept that and find it admirable that you are here for your friend. But what of Darion? He will not welcome you."
D'Argo answered in a flat tone, "I will do what I have to to protect my friend."
Disclaimer: I don't own them
Thanks to Neuroscpr for reading
Travor saw Darion leave the bar. This worried him. 'This is not a good sign," he thought to himself. He called his assistant from the back of the tent.
"Please take over for now. I will be back shortly."
The assistant nodded, watching Travor depart.
Travor followed Darion out of town. He looked as if he was headed toward the ruins. Travor knew if this was where Darion was headed, then the men must have been sent there to look for John. He hoped Aeryn and D'Argo had gotten there first.
He continued to follow Darion, as his worst fear was coming true. There was no doubt Darion was heading for the ruins.
Guilt was now preying on Travor. He knew in his heart there would be casualties among his people, if they met up with John's friends. He had hoped this would end peacefully. He was tired of all the killing.
'Perhaps Aeryn and D'Argo found John and left the tunnels before the men showed up,'
Travor thought hopefully. Deep inside he was saddened; he knew the chance of this was slim.
xxxxx
Aeryn and D'Argo were positioned outside the tunnels.
"Aeryn? Are you sure?" D'Argo asked searching her eyes.
"Trust me D'Argo. I know what I have to do."
D'Argo nodded, saying, "Be careful. John will have my hide if something happens to you."
"Rest assured, I will be," she said as she entered the tunnel with a small smile on her lips.
D'Argo tapped his comms, "Chiana?"
"I'm here," Chiana replied anxiously. "Have you found Crichton yet?"
"We think so Chiana. Aeryn has just gone after him."
"Aeryn! Have you gone fahrbot D'Argo? She's the reason.."
"Enough Chiana!" D'Argo demanded. "That is the past. She has earned my trust. If anyone can help John now it is Aeryn. Trust me Chiana."
There was nothing but silence over the comms for a few microts. "Whatever you say," Chiana responded quietly. "But if anything happens to him.." She couldn't finish what she wanted to say. "Do you know how John is?"
"Um..we know he has been injured, but not how badly," D'Argo said sadly. "Just ask Jool to prepare the med bay for him. I will contact you again when we are on our way back to Moya."
"I'll be waiting."
D'Argo was trying to decide on the best place to position himself and not be in the open. He had a feeling there could be others around. He found a recess in the opening in the tunnel. In this spot he could not be seen by anyone.
As he was getting in position his thoughts went to John, 'I shouldn't have granted your wish my friend.' He knew what happened was no one's fault. He only hoped they would not be too late.
xxxxx
Aeryn made her way cautiously through the main tunnel, listening to the voices of the men. They were not a quiet group, which made it fairly easy to pin point their location. So far Travor had been right. The men had not penetrated too deeply.
Aeryn proceeded counting the junctions as she passed them. Travor had hidden John in tunnel twenty-five.
As she approached tunnel seventeen a man appeared before her. "Who are you," he said alarmed.
"I am the Peacekeeper." She quickly sent a pantak jab his way and stuffed him back in the junction. 'Frelling idiot,' Aeryn thought proceeding deeper into the tunnels.
Aeryn had not gone far when she heard several voices heading her way. She quietly slipped into one of the junctions, hoping she wouldn't encounter anyone.
She squatted listening, hoping to gain some information.
"Darion is wrong, there is no one here. This place is nothing but a tomb for anyone who enters." The other ones were thinking.
"We have gone as far as twenty junctions and there is no sign of anyone. I for one am not going any deeper. Darion can look himself. I'm not willing to die for this."
"You can leave, but I am going a few more junctions."
"Why? We would need over one hundred men to cover all the junctions. The main junctions branch off into ten to twenty more!"
"I'll do it because Darion asked us to."
" Then you follow with blinders on your eyes. I'll see you back in town. Be careful," he said turning towards the exit.
Aeryn hoped more of the men would think this way, but she knew she had a problem. At least two of them were going deeper, which means they would be in her way. 'Frell', she thought, 'why couldn't you just go along with your friend!'
She could see what looked like others following the other one out of the tunnel. 'Be ready my friend, they are coming your way.' She hoped D'Argo was in position.
'Time to take care of the two ahead of me,' she slowly slid from the junction, intent on taking them by surprise.
xxxxx
Darion was almost to the ruins. Hopefully his men had already arrived and captured John. He knew Travor had helped the prisoner. Darion trudged along, knowing in his mind Travor would pay for this. He would make him an example for the rest of the men.
'No one will defy me and get away with it!'
Travor had taken a shorter way to the ruins. He learned this shortcut as a young boy. He knew he had to get there before Darion. He wanted to save his people from the bloodshed that was bound to happen if they met up with John's friends. He knew they were wrong, but they were only following a misguided leader. He could only hope they would listen to him.
Travor came upon the ruins, trying to catch his breath. He had been at a dead run trying to get ahead of Darion. There was no sign of anyone. He quickly approached the mouth of the tunnel only to encounter D'Argo.
D'Argo slammed him back against the wall of the tunnel. "What are you doing here?" D'Argo asked in an impatient tone, his arm across Travor's neck.
Travor put his hand on D'Argo's arm trying to pull away. "Ugh, can't breathe."
D'Argo loosened his arm on his neck, and said in a low threatening voice, "Answer me now!"
Travor was trying to catch his breath. Rubbing his neck he said in a frantic voice, "Darion.Darion is on his way here now! He is only microts behind me! I don't want to see any bloodshed. These men are just misguided. It's not their fault."
"These men are hunting my friend. That makes them my enemy!"
"Please let me try to talk to them. Blame Darion, not them," Travor was pleading now.
"Perhaps you'll have your chance soon. I here voices coming our way. But I warn you, if you are lying to me about your intentions I will kill you!"
Travor nodded at the angry Luxan, still rubbing his throat.
xxxxx
Aeryn quietly followed the two men deeper into the tunnel. She had formed a plan in her mind. She would let them proceed into the different branches and get ahead of them so she could reach John. Once she reached him she would have to think of something else. Hopefully the men would retreat on their own and not get that far. Her only thought at the moment was to reach John.
The men stopped ahead and Aeryn froze against the tunnel wall. She flattened herself against the wall as much as she could, and held her breath. They both entered different junctions. Aeryn took a breath and ducked as she passed these junctions.
'So far, so good.' She had four more to go, and as long as there weren't any more men ahead of her she was clear.
"Hold it! Who are you?"
'Frell', Aeryn thought stopping in her tracks. She turned slowly, her pulse pistol behind her back. She slowly walked towards him as the other man came out of the other junction.
"Stop where you are. I demand you answer me!"
Aeryn said with a threatening smile on her face, "I am Officer Aeryn Sun. If you want to continue to live, I suggest you leave now, or I will surely kill you and your friend." She glanced at the other man as she continued.
"Who are you to threaten," he said with a snicker.
Aeryn said in an ominous voice, "I am Peacekeeper Office Aeryn Sun! I am here to rescue my friend. If you choose to get in my way I will kill you! Is that understood?" Aeryn's eyes never left his face.
The look in her eyes and flections in her voice sent chills up both men's spines.
"You can have him, " he said as both men turned and ran.
Aeryn dropped her head relieved as she holstered her pistol. 'John'
She turned and was at a slow trot counting the junctions.
xxxxx
'Man, I've got to be losing it now,' John thought, wrapping the blanket around himself tightly. He couldn't stop shivering and it was getting harder to breathe. 'Thought I heard Aeryn's voice.'
He had been hearing all the men's voices looking for him. It sounded as if they were all around him. "Hell John, they are," he said to himself with a snicker.
John knew he probably wouldn't make it out of this one alive. He just wanted to hear her voice, to hold her one last time. The ache grew. 'Guess I asked for this. If I hadn't left, there would still be a chance.'
He suddenly started laughing, and coughing. "And that folks is the $20,000.00 question."
John bent over grabbing his stomach as the coughing intensified.
John slid down the wall to the floor of the tunnel and brought his knees up. The pain subsided as he closed his eyes.
Suddenly he felt as if he wasn't alone. He snapped his eyes open and he saw what he knew was a hallucination.
"And what is the $20,000.00 question John?" She asked as she stood over him, slowly dropping to her knees.
John knew he must be dying. The hallucinations were getting worse. She looked so real it hurt. "Stop it! Just stop it John! Wishing only hurts more," he said pulling away from what he thought was an apparition.
"John.John, stop! It's me! See I'm touching you," she said softly touching his face. "You can feel me. Don't fight me. I'm here to help you."
His reaction to her made her heart ache, 'Frell, I am so sorry!'
John slowly calmed down. He could not believe his eyes. It had to be a trick, but it wasn't. He felt her sweet touch on his skin. He closed his eyes and savored it; the tears sliding down his cheeks.
Her heart went out to him when she saw the tears. 'I'm so sorry for hurting you. After all I did, you still love me. How can you forgive so easily?' She thought taking his head in her lap and softly wiping his tear streaked face.
"John," she said softly. "We need to get you out of here. It's time you return to your home."
John turned his head so he could see her. He looked into her eyes, touched her face, still not believing that she actually came for him.
"I never expected to see you, Aeryn," he said in a choked voice. He looked away as the tears were starting again.
"Well you know John, you always told me, things happen when you least expect it. Perhaps you were right," she replied softly, stroking his cheek. She wished the moment could last forever, but knew they had to get moving.
"John, we need to get out of here. D'Argo is watching our backs, but I don't know how much time we have."
John struggled to his feet, only to fall. "Aeryn I think I'm gonna need some help here," he said in a raspy voice. "Hell it hurts to breathe!"
Aeryn helped John to his feet. She saw that he couldn't straighten his body, and his breathing was haggard.
"John, just lean on me. We will get through this together, as we always have," she said in the old Aeryn voice.
John paused and their eyes locked. He quickly looked away, as the tears threatened.
"Thank's Aeryn. Don't know what I would do without you," he said dropping his head.
"Don't mention it," Aeryn said in a sincere voice. "Lets get moving John. I want to be back on Moya by dark. This place has been nothing but a nightmare."
"You're telling me," John snickered sounding more like himself. "Hey Aeryn, you got another pulse pistol on you?"
"No, but I have my knife," she said handing it to John. He tucked it in his belt.
She smiled to herself as they started exiting the junction.
xxxxx
Travor asked D'Argo to let him try to reason with the men first.
"What if they don't listen? I will have lost my advantage. I don't think I can take that chance."
"D'Argo, you can stay hidden. Just let me try first. I think I know them better than you do," Travor's eyes were pleading.
D'Argo looked in his eyes and saw the sincerity, and relented. "One chance Travor. Then I will do what I have to do."
"Agreed. I thank you for giving me the chance."
Travor stood at the opening in the tunnel and waited for the men to approach. He counted about five men. "How many of you entered the tunnels?"
"I think there were ten of us Travor, and we are leaving. Darion can fight his own battle. These tunnels are nothing but a death trap."
"Where are the others that came with you?" Travor asked concerned about the others.
"Some decided to proceed deeper. We asked them to come with us but they refused. We left them."
Travor dropped his head concerned for the others who were deep in the tunnels. 'If they went too deep they could look forever for the exit and never find it."
"Why are you here Travor?"
Travor looked at his fellow men and simply said, "I am here to save your lives."
"What do you mean?"
"The man you are looking for is not a Peacekeeper. Darion mislead you," he said with a sigh. "I should have stepped forward sooner and told you the truth."
The men gasped and talked among themselves. "You were going to let us kill someone who was not guilty?"
"I didn't know if you would believe me or Darion," Travor said in a shamed voice.
D'Argo was listening to the conversation and a felt a glimmer of hope. These men were not violent, as Travor had said.
"Travor how could you doubt us? We only want to protect ourselves, not hurt innocents."
"I'm sorry. I should have had more faith in you. But you must know Darion will be here in a matter of microts. He still wants this man killed so you don't find out he made a mistake. We must find the others and tell them before they get hurt by this."
D'Argo are you convinced now?" Travor asked glancing his way.
D'Argo stepped out of the crevice. The men gasped and backed up several steps. "Who is this Travor?"
"John's friend. There is another one inside the tunnel trying to find him. As long as you don't do anything to threaten him, there is no reason to fear him."
D'Argo spoke now, " I am only here to help my friend. I wish no harm to you."
The men nodded. "We can accept that and find it admirable that you are here for your friend. But what of Darion? He will not welcome you."
D'Argo answered in a flat tone, "I will do what I have to to protect my friend."
