"Shattered Mirror" Part 5
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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Crichton watched as the guards unceremoniously dropped Aeryn's barely conscious body onto the floor of her cell. They came to attention outside the cell, but he dismissed him with a wave. After a moment, he knelt and eased her onto her back. He watched her pain play out across her face, not quite sure what he felt.
He felt a hand that really wasn't there on his shoulder. "Feeling sentimental, John? I thought we had purged those soft emotions from your mind."
Crichton glanced back over his shoulder at the black clad, cadaverous form that existed only in his mind. "Well, well. I was wondering when you'd show up again."
Scorpius knelt next to Crichton and leaned close. "Up until now, I haven't had the need. You've performed marvelously in your take over of the command carrier. And soon, you'll have…"
"Enough with the list. I know what I've accomplished and what I stand to accomplish. But the one thing I haven't thought about in half a cycle is what I've lost."
Scorpius sighed and put an arm around Crichton's shoulder. "No time for regrets, John. You can look back at what used to be after the Scarrans have been defeated."
Crichton inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. "Used to be's don't count anymore."
"Still talking to Scorpius?"
Crichton looked down. Aeryn stared at him. Anger and defiance had replaced the traces of pain on her face. She pushed herself up to a sitting position and regarded him coolly. "I never told you how annoying that was."
"No." Crichton stood and backed out of the cell. "The John Crichton you knew is buried. There's no point in looking back, only looking ahead." He reactivated the cell's containment field and folded his arms across his chest.
"Whatever happened to getting back to Earth? For two cycles, it was all you wanted. What would your father think about what you've become?"
Crichton turned from the door. "I didn't want to go home without you, Aeryn. When you died, that dream died, too."
"When you killed your Aeryn, you mean." With effort, Aeryn pulled herself up to the bench. "Wouldn't your father be proud."
Crichton closed his eyes and started walking. "Yes, wouldn't he."
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Jenavia looked around the lab, quickly picking out the scientist she was looking for. "Linfer."
The Relgarian scientist looked up from the computer console where she worked and brushed white hair away from her eyes. "Jenavia? What can I do for you?"
"I have a question or two for you." Jenavia walked up to the console and leaned forward.
"If it has to do with our lack of results, I told Braca…"
"This has nothing to do with Braca's visit, though I would suggest you produce some results very soon. The captain will be in a foul mood soon." If I have anything to say about it, she thought. "I have a question about the Captain's theories."
Linfer nodded slowly, looking relieved. "Oh. Of course. I'm sorry; we're all a little on edge down here. What do you need?"
"The Captain's theory about a wormhole leading to parallel universes. How sound is it?"
"It's quite possible. Random theory dictates that every decision has a myriad of possible outcomes. Each outcome would be its own reality. A wormhole could easily lead from one reality to another."
"Suppose someone from one of the other realities came to this reality."
"An interesting possibility. Why do you ask?"
"Strictly curious."
"Would this have anything to do with that small craft that was captured?"
Jenavia leaned close and her voice took on a threatening tone. "Don't ask me that question again." She smiled, and her voice softened. "Now, if someone from another reality comes here?"
Linfer stood and began to pace. "An interesting question. It would depend on their quantum state."
"Quantum state? Linfer, pretend I'm not a tech."
"It has to do with their sub-atomic structure. If that structure is radically different from that of the universe they traveled to, it could be dire."
"How bad?"
"Nothing dramatic, like matter and antimatter coming together. It would be like a body rejecting an incompatible replacement organ."
"So the person would die?"
"It might take some time, but the visitor's body would probably start coming apart at a cellular level. It would be painful."
"I see. Thank you, Linfer. Remember, results." Jenavia turned and marched from the lab, plans already starting to form.
The alarm caught her by surprise.
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Crichton looked up from his desk and growled in frustration. "Now, what the hell was that?" He looked up at Braca, who was already slapping the intercom.
"This is Lieutenant Braca. Report."
"This is the armory, sir. We're sorting through the situation, but it appears a pulse pistol exploded."
"A pulse pistol exploded? Who was the idiot…"
"It was the pulse pistol taken from the prisoner, sir."
Crichton leaned back in his chair. "She must have set it to overload."
"Negative, sir. The pistol was completely powered down. However, one of the guards here reported the weapon looked like it was melting before it exploded."
Crichton frowned. "Melting? Bring that guard to my office."
"That won't be possible, sir. The guard was killed."
"I see." Crichton ground his teeth. "Get down there, Braca. Figure out what the frell is going on."
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She wanted to throw up but didn't have the strength to do it.
Aeryn stared at the light panels on the ceiling of the cell, feeling her strength fade. Is this what I felt when I…died, she wondered. I can't remember…
She heard footsteps on the other side of the containment field. "Officer Sun? Aeryn? It's Jenavia Chatto."
"What do you want? I'm busy." Aeryn closed her eyes.
"Busy dying. You don't belong here, Aeryn."
"Your ability to state the incredibly obvious is admirable. Is that how you ended up as Crichton's aide?" Aeryn opened her eyes and managed to turn her head toward the door. Jenavia casually leaned against the doorframe.
"No. High Command felt it prudent to keep an eye on Crichton. They went to Special Ops, and Special Ops came to me." She switched off the field, entered and knelt by the bench. "I'm going to get you out of here."
"Good. I wish I had the strength to help you."
"Can't you stand?"
"I barely have the strength to breath."
Jenavia growled in frustration and looked around. She stood quickly and went to Stark's cell. "You! Banik! You're a Stykera, correct?" Stark nodded, fear obvious on his face. Jenavia switched off the field, reached in and dragged him out of the cell.
She shoved him into Aeryn's cell. "Help her. I need her up and able to walk."
Stark looked down at Aeryn and nodded. He sat and cradled her head on his lap. "Aeryn, I'm going to try and help you." He unbuckled the straps that held his mask in place and lifted it away. Golden light spread out from his face, bathing Aeryn's head.
Almost immediately, Aeryn's breathing became stronger. She blinked several times and stared into the light. "Oh…my…what is that?"
"It's a memory of a beautiful place I once visited. I can use it to ease your pain and restore your strength for a time." Aeryn closed her eyes and felt her strength begin to return.
"What's going on here?"
Aeryn turned to the door and saw the guards, both with pulse rifles raised. Jenavia looked unconcerned. "Just doing a little research," she said. "You're welcome to come in and investigate." The guards looked at each other then stepped into the cell.
What happened next was almost too fast for Aeryn to follow. A long blade popped from Jenavia's right sleeve. She spun, her arm swinging in a wide arc. The blade sliced easily through the guard's throat. Before the second guard could react, Jenavia's arm came back. A moment later, the blade plunged into the guard's skull.
"Brutal," Stark gasped, his eye wide with shock.
"Efficient," Aeryn said. She sat up and inhaled deeply. She felt better. Not in top form, but better than she had. "Won't Crichton be upset that you're helping me?"
Jenavia wiped blood from the blade and retracted it back up her sleeve. "Crichton may think he's untouchable, but Special Ops can touch anyone they want. You have to get back to your universe before your module begins to break down."
"Break down? Is that what's happening to me?"
"I think so. Don't ask me to explain it. I barely understood it." Jenavia helped Aeryn to her feet. "Now, let's go."
"What about Stark?"
Jenavia looked at Stark, who quietly pulled his mask back on. She shook her head. "Get back in your cell. You didn't see anything. Understand?"
"My mind's blank," Stark said as he returned to his cell.
Jenavia switched on the field and started from the cellblock. "Let's go."
Aeryn looked back at Stark. "Thank you." She then turned and followed Jenavia.
TO BE CONTINUED
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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Crichton watched as the guards unceremoniously dropped Aeryn's barely conscious body onto the floor of her cell. They came to attention outside the cell, but he dismissed him with a wave. After a moment, he knelt and eased her onto her back. He watched her pain play out across her face, not quite sure what he felt.
He felt a hand that really wasn't there on his shoulder. "Feeling sentimental, John? I thought we had purged those soft emotions from your mind."
Crichton glanced back over his shoulder at the black clad, cadaverous form that existed only in his mind. "Well, well. I was wondering when you'd show up again."
Scorpius knelt next to Crichton and leaned close. "Up until now, I haven't had the need. You've performed marvelously in your take over of the command carrier. And soon, you'll have…"
"Enough with the list. I know what I've accomplished and what I stand to accomplish. But the one thing I haven't thought about in half a cycle is what I've lost."
Scorpius sighed and put an arm around Crichton's shoulder. "No time for regrets, John. You can look back at what used to be after the Scarrans have been defeated."
Crichton inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. "Used to be's don't count anymore."
"Still talking to Scorpius?"
Crichton looked down. Aeryn stared at him. Anger and defiance had replaced the traces of pain on her face. She pushed herself up to a sitting position and regarded him coolly. "I never told you how annoying that was."
"No." Crichton stood and backed out of the cell. "The John Crichton you knew is buried. There's no point in looking back, only looking ahead." He reactivated the cell's containment field and folded his arms across his chest.
"Whatever happened to getting back to Earth? For two cycles, it was all you wanted. What would your father think about what you've become?"
Crichton turned from the door. "I didn't want to go home without you, Aeryn. When you died, that dream died, too."
"When you killed your Aeryn, you mean." With effort, Aeryn pulled herself up to the bench. "Wouldn't your father be proud."
Crichton closed his eyes and started walking. "Yes, wouldn't he."
----------------------------------------
Jenavia looked around the lab, quickly picking out the scientist she was looking for. "Linfer."
The Relgarian scientist looked up from the computer console where she worked and brushed white hair away from her eyes. "Jenavia? What can I do for you?"
"I have a question or two for you." Jenavia walked up to the console and leaned forward.
"If it has to do with our lack of results, I told Braca…"
"This has nothing to do with Braca's visit, though I would suggest you produce some results very soon. The captain will be in a foul mood soon." If I have anything to say about it, she thought. "I have a question about the Captain's theories."
Linfer nodded slowly, looking relieved. "Oh. Of course. I'm sorry; we're all a little on edge down here. What do you need?"
"The Captain's theory about a wormhole leading to parallel universes. How sound is it?"
"It's quite possible. Random theory dictates that every decision has a myriad of possible outcomes. Each outcome would be its own reality. A wormhole could easily lead from one reality to another."
"Suppose someone from one of the other realities came to this reality."
"An interesting possibility. Why do you ask?"
"Strictly curious."
"Would this have anything to do with that small craft that was captured?"
Jenavia leaned close and her voice took on a threatening tone. "Don't ask me that question again." She smiled, and her voice softened. "Now, if someone from another reality comes here?"
Linfer stood and began to pace. "An interesting question. It would depend on their quantum state."
"Quantum state? Linfer, pretend I'm not a tech."
"It has to do with their sub-atomic structure. If that structure is radically different from that of the universe they traveled to, it could be dire."
"How bad?"
"Nothing dramatic, like matter and antimatter coming together. It would be like a body rejecting an incompatible replacement organ."
"So the person would die?"
"It might take some time, but the visitor's body would probably start coming apart at a cellular level. It would be painful."
"I see. Thank you, Linfer. Remember, results." Jenavia turned and marched from the lab, plans already starting to form.
The alarm caught her by surprise.
----------------------------------------
Crichton looked up from his desk and growled in frustration. "Now, what the hell was that?" He looked up at Braca, who was already slapping the intercom.
"This is Lieutenant Braca. Report."
"This is the armory, sir. We're sorting through the situation, but it appears a pulse pistol exploded."
"A pulse pistol exploded? Who was the idiot…"
"It was the pulse pistol taken from the prisoner, sir."
Crichton leaned back in his chair. "She must have set it to overload."
"Negative, sir. The pistol was completely powered down. However, one of the guards here reported the weapon looked like it was melting before it exploded."
Crichton frowned. "Melting? Bring that guard to my office."
"That won't be possible, sir. The guard was killed."
"I see." Crichton ground his teeth. "Get down there, Braca. Figure out what the frell is going on."
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She wanted to throw up but didn't have the strength to do it.
Aeryn stared at the light panels on the ceiling of the cell, feeling her strength fade. Is this what I felt when I…died, she wondered. I can't remember…
She heard footsteps on the other side of the containment field. "Officer Sun? Aeryn? It's Jenavia Chatto."
"What do you want? I'm busy." Aeryn closed her eyes.
"Busy dying. You don't belong here, Aeryn."
"Your ability to state the incredibly obvious is admirable. Is that how you ended up as Crichton's aide?" Aeryn opened her eyes and managed to turn her head toward the door. Jenavia casually leaned against the doorframe.
"No. High Command felt it prudent to keep an eye on Crichton. They went to Special Ops, and Special Ops came to me." She switched off the field, entered and knelt by the bench. "I'm going to get you out of here."
"Good. I wish I had the strength to help you."
"Can't you stand?"
"I barely have the strength to breath."
Jenavia growled in frustration and looked around. She stood quickly and went to Stark's cell. "You! Banik! You're a Stykera, correct?" Stark nodded, fear obvious on his face. Jenavia switched off the field, reached in and dragged him out of the cell.
She shoved him into Aeryn's cell. "Help her. I need her up and able to walk."
Stark looked down at Aeryn and nodded. He sat and cradled her head on his lap. "Aeryn, I'm going to try and help you." He unbuckled the straps that held his mask in place and lifted it away. Golden light spread out from his face, bathing Aeryn's head.
Almost immediately, Aeryn's breathing became stronger. She blinked several times and stared into the light. "Oh…my…what is that?"
"It's a memory of a beautiful place I once visited. I can use it to ease your pain and restore your strength for a time." Aeryn closed her eyes and felt her strength begin to return.
"What's going on here?"
Aeryn turned to the door and saw the guards, both with pulse rifles raised. Jenavia looked unconcerned. "Just doing a little research," she said. "You're welcome to come in and investigate." The guards looked at each other then stepped into the cell.
What happened next was almost too fast for Aeryn to follow. A long blade popped from Jenavia's right sleeve. She spun, her arm swinging in a wide arc. The blade sliced easily through the guard's throat. Before the second guard could react, Jenavia's arm came back. A moment later, the blade plunged into the guard's skull.
"Brutal," Stark gasped, his eye wide with shock.
"Efficient," Aeryn said. She sat up and inhaled deeply. She felt better. Not in top form, but better than she had. "Won't Crichton be upset that you're helping me?"
Jenavia wiped blood from the blade and retracted it back up her sleeve. "Crichton may think he's untouchable, but Special Ops can touch anyone they want. You have to get back to your universe before your module begins to break down."
"Break down? Is that what's happening to me?"
"I think so. Don't ask me to explain it. I barely understood it." Jenavia helped Aeryn to her feet. "Now, let's go."
"What about Stark?"
Jenavia looked at Stark, who quietly pulled his mask back on. She shook her head. "Get back in your cell. You didn't see anything. Understand?"
"My mind's blank," Stark said as he returned to his cell.
Jenavia switched on the field and started from the cellblock. "Let's go."
Aeryn looked back at Stark. "Thank you." She then turned and followed Jenavia.
TO BE CONTINUED
