"Shattered Mirror" Part 4

Time: Between Different Destinations and Eat Me

Disclaimer: I didn't create Farscape, didn't create the characters, and don't make a plug nickel off of it.

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"She did what?"

John Crichton stared at Pilot, not believing what he had just heard. As usual, John was unable to read Pilot's face. "Aeryn took out my module to get some readings on that wormhole. Somewhere along the line, she lost control and fell into the wormhole. Explain to me, please, why the hell she'd do something like that?"

"She did it for you, Commander," Pilot said calmly. "Considering your growing obsession with wormholes, Officer Sun and I felt you would be upset and disappointed if the wormhole collapsed before you returned. Moya was afraid to get too close, so Officer Sun decided that using your module would allow her to take readings and keep Moya at a safe distance."

"Yeah, just what I would have done. Damn it, Aeryn…" John leaned heavily on Pilot's console, his head resting on his arm. His initial burst of anger faded quickly, to be replaced by concern and despair.

Heavy footsteps came up behind him, followed by an unexpectedly gentle hand on his shoulder. "John…?"

"She took my module out, D'Argo. She wanted to get some readings on the wormhole in case it collapsed before I got back."

"I know. Chiana told me. Pilot, how long to recharge the transport pod?"

"Two arns, Ka D'Argo, possibly less. I already have the DRDs working on it. The second transport pod is ready for launch."

"I'm there." John straightened and wiped his eyes. "Hold position by the mouth of the wormhole, Pilot, and keep the docking web ready. I'm going to take out the transport pod and start searching." She could have come out anywhere, he thought. Damn it, Aeryn…

"When the other transport pod is ready, I'll join you." D'Argo again placed a hand on John's shoulder. "We'll find her."

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She really wished that whoever was screaming would just stop.

Then she realized that she was the one screaming.

Well, that's all right, then, she thought.

Aeryn was barely aware of the Aurora Chair's rotation, even less aware of the room beyond the Chair. Even Crichton's relentless questioning existed only at the fringe of her awareness. The only thing that was clear to her was a point of white-hot pain in the center of her mind.

"Aeryn, Aeryn, Aeryn," Crichton said, his tone of voice full of faked concern. "If you resist the chair, it will only get worse."

"I'm…not…resisting…" Aeryn could barely recognize her own voice. "How…many… times…" Her voice caught in her throat, and she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to hold back the pain. Sweat ran freely down her face. "How…many…times…must…I…tell… you?"

"All you have to do is tell me the truth. Assuming that you really are Aeryn Sun, where did you come from and how did you get here?" Crichton stared at Aeryn's tortured face, then turned to the Chair's screen. He watched the memory of Aeryn leaving Moya in the module, watched the module buzz the mouth of the wormhole then begin to tumble out of control into the maw. "Staying with that, are you? Jenavia, deeper."

Aeryn tasted blood as her jaw clamped down; her teeth had sunk deep into her lower lip. She could feel the Chair reach into her mind, ripping through layers of memory. The same sequence of images crossed the screen. She barely heard Crichton growl, "This is not helping you, Aeryn!"

"Frell…frell you…"

"Defiance. Always good to see."

From the Chair's control panel, Jenavia cleared her throat. "Captain…John…I have to question the logic of continuing. Everything here says she's telling the truth."

Crichton spun and crossed to the console. "She can't be telling the truth."

"Why? Because you say so? Your own theories address the possible existence of parallel universes. Why is it now implausible for someone from another universe to have actually crossed over from their universe to this one?"

Jenavia waited for an answer, but Crichton's only response was angry silence. "In my opinion, you are letting your hatred for your former shipmates blind you. Quite honestly, you're acting like you enjoy this."

"Maybe I am. Are you questioning my actions, Jena?"

A faint sound from the Chair cut off Jena's answer. Crichton turned back to the Aurora Chair and stepped closer. He leaned close to Aeryn and watched tears run down her face.

"Crying? You're crying? The great Aeryn Sun, Special Commando, Icarion Company, Pleisar Regiment, is crying? What could possibly bring this on?" Crichton turned back to the screen.

"I meant it," Aeryn whispered, barely conscious. "I meant it."

Crichton turned back to her. "Meant what?"

"I meant it…"

From the Chair's speakers came Aeryn's voice: "I hope you meant what you said in the neuro-cluster, because I did."

Crichton straightened, his face softening slightly. "Maybe I did, once. One last question, Aeryn. If you'd had the opportunity, would you have shot down my module? Killed me?"

"If it…if it would have saved you…from this, yes, I would have."

Crichton stepped back. "Turn it off, Jena." His eyes lowered to the deck. "Guards, take her back to her cell."

As she switched off the console, Jena said, "Well, a rare moment of acting like the John Crichton I met on the Royal Planet."

Crichton turned to face her, his face again hard and cold. "Don't overstep yourself, Jenavia Chatto. I know that you're still a Disruptor, still with Special Ops, and that you're here to watch over me. I also know that, should you feel it necessary, you will not hesitate to put a pulse pistol against my forehead and squeeze the trigger. You might want to keep that in mind."

As she watched Crichton leave, Jena chewed on her lower lip. "Well," she muttered, "maybe it's time to do a little research of my own."

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"John?"

John Crichton turned from the transport pod's flight console, almost afraid to take his eyes from the sensors. "Yeah, Pip?"

Chiana sat next to him and offered the silver flask she held. "You look like you need a drink."

"Yeah, thanks." John raised the flask to his mouth, and was surprised by the warm, sweet liquid that poured out. "Rasklak? I didn't think we had any on Moya."

"I asked Jool and Stark to pick some up for me. And, against all odds, she actually did it." Chiana leaned close to him. "After all this, Aeryn will probably find us."

"She probably will." John took another sip of the rasklak and handed the flask back to Chiana. "Thanks for coming with me."

"I was here when she left for the wormhole. I should be out looking for her."

John looked over the console and stood. "Can you take this for a little bit, Chi? I gotta hit the head."

Chiana was about to ask what he was talking about (hit whose head?), but simply smiled and nodded. "Sure."

As he started for the rear of the compartment, a voice whispered in the back of John's mind. "This is a waste of time, John. For all you know, the wormhole has thrown Aeryn all the way to Earth."

John squeezed his eyes shut. "This is not a waste of time, Harvey. We will find Aeryn. Now, go away."

"I am, as always, just trying to be of assistance, John. It would be best to move on."

"Not. Without. Aeryn. Go. The frell. Away. Now." When he was sure Harvey had sunk back into the depths of his subconscious, John continued to the back of the compartment.

TO BE CONTINUED