"Shattered Mirror" Part 6

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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"Captain Crichton."

Crichton looked up from his notes and touched the intercom. "Yes, Braca."

"There's a problem, sir. The prisoner has escaped."

"What?" Crichton closed his eyes and felt anger begin to twist inside his mind. "She barely had the strength to stand, Braca. How could she frelling escape? What happened to the guards?"

"They're both dead, sir. An expert with a blade killed them. I can only assume the same person is helping the prisoner."

"Someone with a little something up her sleeve." Could you be more obvious, Jena, he thought.

"I'll issue an alert and begin a deck by deck…"

"You'll do nothing, Braca. I'll handle this. Have a squad standing by, but they are to do nothing without my order."

The speakers were silent for moment. "I don't understand, sir."

"It's not necessary for you to understand, Braca. One other thing. If her module should launch…let it go."

"Let it go, sir?"

"Is there some problem with the comm, Braca? You heard me. If she takes off, let her go."

The speakers were again silent. "Very good, sir."

Crichton inhaled deeply and stood. He glanced down at his notes and frowned. Four neatly written lines attracted his attention:

"She walks in Beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climbes and starry skies;

And all that's best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes:"

His frown deepened. I don't remember writing those, he thought.

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They reached the hanger quickly and easily, which only filled Aeryn with suspicion.

"They must have found the guards by now," she whispered to Jenavia. "The alarms should be starting any microt."

"You're right, they should. However, if I know Crichton, he's probably ordered Braca not to sound the alarm. He probably wants to deal with us himself. Typical male." Jenavia poked her head out from behind the Marauder they used as cover. She looked around quickly, picked out the guard positions then slipped back. "We have a clear path to your module. Just keep walking until you reach it."

"Guards?"

"Just the regular complement. No more, no less. Let's go."

Aeryn grabbed Jenavia's arm and pulled her back. "Wait. Why are you helping me?"

Jenavia seemed to think for a microt before answering. "Two reasons. First, you're a distraction to Crichton. He's thinking about you and his time on Moya. I need him to focus on his project. The Scarrans are starting to move toward our space. We need whatever weapons he can develop before their threat grows too far."

"And the second reason?"

"The second? Remember that alert that sounded before I got you? Apparently your pulse pistol began to break down. It exploded, killing a guard. Now, picture the kind of damage that would occur if the module explodes in here, in the vicinity of all these fully fueled and armed Prowlers and Marauders."

"Yes, that wouldn't be good." Aeryn squeezed her eyes shut. Her headache was coming back. She leaned against the Marauder and tried to will herself to remain standing.

"What's the matter? Pain coming back? Whatever the Banik did must be wearing off. Let's get you out of here and on your way back home."

Aeryn nodded and followed Jenavia from behind the Marauder.

As they reached the module, Aeryn looked around, half expecting squads of guards to rush them. When none appeared, she began to think she might have a chance.

"How long do you need for the preflight checks?"

"Frell the preflight checks." Aeryn began to climb up to the cockpit, but stopped when she saw a black clad figure step out from behind the module.

"Going somewhere, Aeryn?" Crichton stepped around the module, his pulse pistol never wavering. "Please get down."

As she climbed down, Jenavia put herself between Aeryn and Crichton. "Captain, we can't keep her here. It's a danger to the ship."

"Yes, yes, yes. I know. Her module's starting to break down and may explode like her pulse pistol did. That's not a problem; I'll just order the module dumped."

"And you're going to let Aeryn die? Just like you did the last time?"

Crichton looked pained and turned away, lowering his pulse pistol. Jenavia took a step forward, then tumbled away as he swung out, striking her on the side of the head. He stepped close to her and raised the pulse pistol. "What did I tell you about overstepping yourself, Jena?" His finger began to tighten on the trigger.

Despite the pain in her head and general feeling of weakness, Aeryn rushed Crichton. He tried to bring the pistol around, but Aeryn slapped it aside. She plowed into him, knocking him back. They grappled for many microts, each trying to gain the advantage.

Aeryn managed to land a combination of jabs that staggered Crichton. He growled and rushed forward, coming at Aeryn with a rapid series of punches. She tried to block as many as possible, but her reflexes were not as fast as usual. Crichton backhanded her, and Aeryn felt her legs give out.

As she hit the deck, Aeryn saw Crichton pick up his pulse pistol and take aim for her head. "Goodbye again, Aeryn."

She closed her eyes and waited for the end to come.

When the end didn't come, Aeryn opened her eyes in time to see Crichton crumble to the deck. Behind him stood Jenavia, looking confused.

"It was just a panthak jab," she said.

"He's more susceptible to a panthak jab than a Sebacean." Aeryn climbed to her feet and leaned on the module, waiting for her head to stop spinning. "Will you be all right?"

"Don't worry about me. Go." Jenavia watched Aeryn climb into the module and close the canopy, then turned to a guard, who was approaching cautiously. "You! Help me with the Captain! He's fainted!"

The guard lowered his pulse rifle. "Fainted? I saw…"

The blade popped from her sleeve, and Jenavia held it up for the guard to see. "Excuse me?"

The guard considered the blade. "He fainted. He's been under a lot of stress." He slung the rifle over his shoulder and took one of Crichton's arms.

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When she cleared the hanger bay, Aeryn opened the module's engines wide, wanting to put as much space between herself and the carrier as possible. The wormhole was off the hammond side, and she altered course for it without thinking.

Home, she thought. Going home. Strange that I've come to think of Moya that way. Once, she was just another Leviathan…

There was a click as the comm system picked up a signal. "Officer Sun, this is Lieutenant Braca. Are you receiving?"

For a microt, Aeryn thought about not answering. "Yes, Braca. Going to issue an ultimatum? Turn back or you'll open fire?"

"No, Officer Sun. The Captain's orders are to let you go. I just wanted to say…good luck."

Aeryn stared at the comm, not believing what she'd just heard. "Thank you, Braca. Take care of him." She switched off the comm and returned her attention to the wormhole.

As the module dove into the maelstrom, Aeryn began to experience tunnel vision. She released the control sticks and pressed her hands against her temples, trying to force the pain away. She reached forward again, but the control sticks seemed impossibly far away.

The cockpit went suddenly dark, as if someone turned off the lights.

As she felt herself lose consciousness, Aeryn heard the voice, this time concerned and near panic.

"Aeryn, can you hear me? Aeryn, come it! Aeryn! Pilot, get the docking web out! Aeryn! AERYN!"

TO BE CONCLUDED