Title: The Journey Home
Chapter 8: A Little Thing Called Politics
Rated: R
***
{day of Q&A session}
"So?" Chiana asked as she walked down the hall to Command with Cassandra.
"So?" Cassandra mocked.
"So tell me what happened!"
"Are you wanting me to tell you my sex stories?"
"Cassandra!"
"Wait, let me guess, hearing about it is the next best thing to doing it?" Chiana
groaned in frustration, and Cassandra laughed. "Well..."
"Yes?"
"Since I have to confide in *somebody* I guess... I can tell you later."
"Later? How much later?"
Cassandra laughed as they entered Command. "Later."
"What's later?" John asked.
Cassandra blushed. "Uh, nothing."
"Right. Are you ready?" he asked dismissing the previous thought from his mind.
"Yes, reporting for interrogation, sir!" Cassandra said and gave a mock salute.
Chiana whacked her in the arm. "Ow!"
"Pilot, please call 'em up," John said.
"Yes, John. Sending signal... now."
The forward screen was once again filled with the image of the conference room.
This time, around the table sat the five questioners, Thomas Clark: the Secretary
of Defense, and the still unidentified President. (a/n: that means, you know he
is the President, but they don't)
For the Humans, the screen filled with the image of the same room as before. John
and Cassandra were standing behind the same panel. The gray alien, Chiana of the
Nebari, was present as well as the Human-looking Sebacean woman, Aeryn.
"Dad!" John and Cassandra spoke simultaneously, each starting forward slightly.
Jack Crichton smiled, unable to speak, and nodded. John and Cassandra's eyes were
moist with unshed tears of joy when they turned their gaze to Thomas Clark. John
ignored the presence of his ex-girlfriend.
"I will read the questions. If you answer incorrectly, the person who submitted it
will call you on it," he said. He waited until they both nodded in agreement. "Who
set fire to the backyard?"
John and Cassandra grinned sheepishly and glanced at their father. "We did, with
DK's assistance," John admitted.
"And then we blamed it on Laurie since we knew three against one would mean she'd
take the fall for it," Cassandra added.
"See! I told you it wasn't my fault!" Laurie said glaring at her father. Jack
just laughed.
"Who was the first man Cassandra ever slept with?" Thomas Clark asked slightly
embarrassed to be asking.
Cassandra turned pale. "I can't believe you are asking that..." Though she had
recently given herself to Crais, the first thought that popped in her mind was of
the K'lar'in.
"Please answer the question," the President prompted.
"I was a virgin when I left Earth." Chiana placed a hand on her shoulder, and
Cassandra shot her a look of thanks. Chiana had realized instantly what Cassandra
had thought of.
"Correct... whoa wait a minute... say that again," Umi said astonished. Cassandra
remained silent, but her cheeks deepened in remembered shame.
"You had sex with an alien!" Laurie asked.
John, Aeryn, and Chiana all shot angry looks at Laurie. "She was raped, you unfeeling
trelk!" Aeryn sputtered outraged.
The Humans got the definite impression that the crew of Moya was not happy with Laurie's
reaction. "What did she say?" DK asked looking at the murderous expression on Aeryn's face.
Jack, however, was looking at his daughter. "What happened?" he asked softly. The
Humans in the room looked at him in confusion.
John glanced over at Cassandra, since she wasn't going to respond, he replied for
her. "She was captured, tortured, and raped." Cassandra shook slightly and wrapped
her arms around herself. Chiana put an arm around her waist and hugged her friend.
The Humans were silent. They hadn't been expecting that. "I'm sorry, Cass," Laurie
said softly.
John clenched his fists in remembered anger and his jaw tightened. "Ask your next question."
Aeryn placed a hand on his arm, her anger slightly abated. "Calm down, John. They
didn't know what that question would cause."
John covered her hand with his and nodded slightly. He looked back up at the group
still sitting around the table. "Please continue," he said somewhat calmer.
Alex stared at their joined hands as the questions continued. "The night of high school
graduation DK and I went to Old Man Murphy's field, it's when we came up with the idea
of Farscape."
"When I was six, Dad pointed out the North Star to me, and told me it's name was Polaris."
Thomas Clark put aside the list for Cassandra, and looked at John's: only one question
left. "What was the last thing Alex ever said to you, John?"
Aeryn's relaxed position vanished in an instant. Her eyes narrowed and she stared at
the woman she now knew was Alex. Her grip on John's arm tightened for a microt,
then relaxed.
Alex looked at the dark-haired woman beside John. Her possessive manner quickly
answered the doubts she had. John was truly lost to her. John had never looked at her
the way he was now looking at Aeryn. Alex stood. "The answer is no longer important.
I don't need to hear it to know that is John." She smiled faintly at Aeryn, then
glanced around the room. "Good day." She left the small conference room with dry eyes
and a proud stance.
Aeryn watched her go and suddenly felt sorry for the Human woman. They both knew
exactly what she lost. She glanced at her husband. John was looking down, and Aeryn
knew she wasn't the only one who felt pity for Alex.
"Do you believe us now?" Cassandra asked quietly.
"I do," Jack said instantly. DK and Umi immediately seconded that. Laurie reluctantly
agreed.
Thomas Clark glanced at the President. "Sir?"
"I will reserve my opinion for now." When John started to protest, he held up a hand.
"However, I believe that this is all we can do at the moment. Unless you are willing
to come to the surface?" Both shook their heads. "I didn't think so." He was silent
a moment. "How do you want to proceed from here?"
"We'd like to give you some more information about the war and of course upgrade your
technology. However, we'd also like to actually see our friends and family," John began.
"We propose that they fly up to the Space Station, and from there, we'll pick them up,"
Cassandra continued.
"At that time, the first few scientists are welcome to also come aboard, and we'll begin
teaching them about this technology," John finished.
The President was silent a moment. "All right. I can accept that. We will select
three scientists and send them up with whomever you want."
"The people in the room with you will more than suffice," Cassandra replied.
He glanced at the four remaining questioners. "Fine."
Cassandra raised a brow and glanced at John. He had the same bemused expression on his
face. 'Just who was this guy?' She looked back at the man in question. "Who are you?"
It was obvious the man was shocked. Thomas Clark stared at them a moment with an expression
that said, 'You've got to be kidding me.' The man cleared his throat and straightened.
"My name is Adam Walker; I'm the President of the United States."
Cassandra and John immediately snapped to attention, it was too ingrained not to. "Sir,
I apologize," Cassandra began. "We had no idea..."
President Walker laughed and cut her off. "No, it's quite all right. To be honest, this
makes me believe you more than answering a few questions... though I still chose to remain
cautious," he said sobering at the end of his statement.
Aeryn and Chiana stared at John and Cassandra, neither had relaxed; suddenly they both
saluted. President Walker returned their salute and nodded. They dropped their arms,
though they still did not relax. "Pilot, end transmission."
When the screen faded, they both slumped. "Shit," Cassandra gasped and placed a hand over
her rapidly beating heart. "That was unexpected!" Her surprise and relief were so great,
she had slipped back into Earth curse words.
"Wow," John replied, completely understanding.
Aeryn raised a brow. "I have never seen either of you do something like that," she remarked.
"That was the frelling President!" Cassandra replied.
"He some kind of a leader?" Chiana asked.
"Oh yeah. And not just any leader, he's the leader of one of the most powerful countries
on Earth," John replied.
"On top of that, our country: the United States." Cassandra shook her head. "Whoa."
"If he is your leader, why didn't you recognize him?" Aeryn asked confused.
"That's a little thing I like to call politics," John replied. "Come on, this could take awhile."
He put an arm around her waist, and they walked out of Command to Zhaan and Stark's quarters
where there children were.
Chiana turned to Cassandra. "I'm not really interested in that. What I want to know is
what the past two days on Talyn were like."
Cassandra blushed. "Okay, but I don't want everyone and their Mama to hear about it so
let's go somewhere where no one will be able to."
"I know just the place," Chiana said grinning and lead Cassandra to the Starburst chamber.
***
TBC
WELL... what do ya think? Please review or send me an e-mail!
~Artemis Luna Diana~
Chapter 8: A Little Thing Called Politics
Rated: R
***
{day of Q&A session}
"So?" Chiana asked as she walked down the hall to Command with Cassandra.
"So?" Cassandra mocked.
"So tell me what happened!"
"Are you wanting me to tell you my sex stories?"
"Cassandra!"
"Wait, let me guess, hearing about it is the next best thing to doing it?" Chiana
groaned in frustration, and Cassandra laughed. "Well..."
"Yes?"
"Since I have to confide in *somebody* I guess... I can tell you later."
"Later? How much later?"
Cassandra laughed as they entered Command. "Later."
"What's later?" John asked.
Cassandra blushed. "Uh, nothing."
"Right. Are you ready?" he asked dismissing the previous thought from his mind.
"Yes, reporting for interrogation, sir!" Cassandra said and gave a mock salute.
Chiana whacked her in the arm. "Ow!"
"Pilot, please call 'em up," John said.
"Yes, John. Sending signal... now."
The forward screen was once again filled with the image of the conference room.
This time, around the table sat the five questioners, Thomas Clark: the Secretary
of Defense, and the still unidentified President. (a/n: that means, you know he
is the President, but they don't)
For the Humans, the screen filled with the image of the same room as before. John
and Cassandra were standing behind the same panel. The gray alien, Chiana of the
Nebari, was present as well as the Human-looking Sebacean woman, Aeryn.
"Dad!" John and Cassandra spoke simultaneously, each starting forward slightly.
Jack Crichton smiled, unable to speak, and nodded. John and Cassandra's eyes were
moist with unshed tears of joy when they turned their gaze to Thomas Clark. John
ignored the presence of his ex-girlfriend.
"I will read the questions. If you answer incorrectly, the person who submitted it
will call you on it," he said. He waited until they both nodded in agreement. "Who
set fire to the backyard?"
John and Cassandra grinned sheepishly and glanced at their father. "We did, with
DK's assistance," John admitted.
"And then we blamed it on Laurie since we knew three against one would mean she'd
take the fall for it," Cassandra added.
"See! I told you it wasn't my fault!" Laurie said glaring at her father. Jack
just laughed.
"Who was the first man Cassandra ever slept with?" Thomas Clark asked slightly
embarrassed to be asking.
Cassandra turned pale. "I can't believe you are asking that..." Though she had
recently given herself to Crais, the first thought that popped in her mind was of
the K'lar'in.
"Please answer the question," the President prompted.
"I was a virgin when I left Earth." Chiana placed a hand on her shoulder, and
Cassandra shot her a look of thanks. Chiana had realized instantly what Cassandra
had thought of.
"Correct... whoa wait a minute... say that again," Umi said astonished. Cassandra
remained silent, but her cheeks deepened in remembered shame.
"You had sex with an alien!" Laurie asked.
John, Aeryn, and Chiana all shot angry looks at Laurie. "She was raped, you unfeeling
trelk!" Aeryn sputtered outraged.
The Humans got the definite impression that the crew of Moya was not happy with Laurie's
reaction. "What did she say?" DK asked looking at the murderous expression on Aeryn's face.
Jack, however, was looking at his daughter. "What happened?" he asked softly. The
Humans in the room looked at him in confusion.
John glanced over at Cassandra, since she wasn't going to respond, he replied for
her. "She was captured, tortured, and raped." Cassandra shook slightly and wrapped
her arms around herself. Chiana put an arm around her waist and hugged her friend.
The Humans were silent. They hadn't been expecting that. "I'm sorry, Cass," Laurie
said softly.
John clenched his fists in remembered anger and his jaw tightened. "Ask your next question."
Aeryn placed a hand on his arm, her anger slightly abated. "Calm down, John. They
didn't know what that question would cause."
John covered her hand with his and nodded slightly. He looked back up at the group
still sitting around the table. "Please continue," he said somewhat calmer.
Alex stared at their joined hands as the questions continued. "The night of high school
graduation DK and I went to Old Man Murphy's field, it's when we came up with the idea
of Farscape."
"When I was six, Dad pointed out the North Star to me, and told me it's name was Polaris."
Thomas Clark put aside the list for Cassandra, and looked at John's: only one question
left. "What was the last thing Alex ever said to you, John?"
Aeryn's relaxed position vanished in an instant. Her eyes narrowed and she stared at
the woman she now knew was Alex. Her grip on John's arm tightened for a microt,
then relaxed.
Alex looked at the dark-haired woman beside John. Her possessive manner quickly
answered the doubts she had. John was truly lost to her. John had never looked at her
the way he was now looking at Aeryn. Alex stood. "The answer is no longer important.
I don't need to hear it to know that is John." She smiled faintly at Aeryn, then
glanced around the room. "Good day." She left the small conference room with dry eyes
and a proud stance.
Aeryn watched her go and suddenly felt sorry for the Human woman. They both knew
exactly what she lost. She glanced at her husband. John was looking down, and Aeryn
knew she wasn't the only one who felt pity for Alex.
"Do you believe us now?" Cassandra asked quietly.
"I do," Jack said instantly. DK and Umi immediately seconded that. Laurie reluctantly
agreed.
Thomas Clark glanced at the President. "Sir?"
"I will reserve my opinion for now." When John started to protest, he held up a hand.
"However, I believe that this is all we can do at the moment. Unless you are willing
to come to the surface?" Both shook their heads. "I didn't think so." He was silent
a moment. "How do you want to proceed from here?"
"We'd like to give you some more information about the war and of course upgrade your
technology. However, we'd also like to actually see our friends and family," John began.
"We propose that they fly up to the Space Station, and from there, we'll pick them up,"
Cassandra continued.
"At that time, the first few scientists are welcome to also come aboard, and we'll begin
teaching them about this technology," John finished.
The President was silent a moment. "All right. I can accept that. We will select
three scientists and send them up with whomever you want."
"The people in the room with you will more than suffice," Cassandra replied.
He glanced at the four remaining questioners. "Fine."
Cassandra raised a brow and glanced at John. He had the same bemused expression on his
face. 'Just who was this guy?' She looked back at the man in question. "Who are you?"
It was obvious the man was shocked. Thomas Clark stared at them a moment with an expression
that said, 'You've got to be kidding me.' The man cleared his throat and straightened.
"My name is Adam Walker; I'm the President of the United States."
Cassandra and John immediately snapped to attention, it was too ingrained not to. "Sir,
I apologize," Cassandra began. "We had no idea..."
President Walker laughed and cut her off. "No, it's quite all right. To be honest, this
makes me believe you more than answering a few questions... though I still chose to remain
cautious," he said sobering at the end of his statement.
Aeryn and Chiana stared at John and Cassandra, neither had relaxed; suddenly they both
saluted. President Walker returned their salute and nodded. They dropped their arms,
though they still did not relax. "Pilot, end transmission."
When the screen faded, they both slumped. "Shit," Cassandra gasped and placed a hand over
her rapidly beating heart. "That was unexpected!" Her surprise and relief were so great,
she had slipped back into Earth curse words.
"Wow," John replied, completely understanding.
Aeryn raised a brow. "I have never seen either of you do something like that," she remarked.
"That was the frelling President!" Cassandra replied.
"He some kind of a leader?" Chiana asked.
"Oh yeah. And not just any leader, he's the leader of one of the most powerful countries
on Earth," John replied.
"On top of that, our country: the United States." Cassandra shook her head. "Whoa."
"If he is your leader, why didn't you recognize him?" Aeryn asked confused.
"That's a little thing I like to call politics," John replied. "Come on, this could take awhile."
He put an arm around her waist, and they walked out of Command to Zhaan and Stark's quarters
where there children were.
Chiana turned to Cassandra. "I'm not really interested in that. What I want to know is
what the past two days on Talyn were like."
Cassandra blushed. "Okay, but I don't want everyone and their Mama to hear about it so
let's go somewhere where no one will be able to."
"I know just the place," Chiana said grinning and lead Cassandra to the Starburst chamber.
***
TBC
WELL... what do ya think? Please review or send me an e-mail!
~Artemis Luna Diana~
