Title: The Journey Home
Chapter 14: Discussions Over Dinner
Rated: R
***
Chiana sighed in relief. "This was easier than I thought it would be," she remarked.
"It's done then?" Jool asked.
"Yeah, just let me... there! Done!" Chiana began placing various dishes of Earth food
on the table. "Pilot?"
"Yes, Chiana?"
"Please have everyone come for dinner."
"Of course," he replied.
"Can I try some?" Jool asked as Chiana placed another mouth-watering dish down.
"No, we are waiting for everyone," Chiana said firmly.
"But, I'm hungry!"
"Too bad." Chiana began making up a tray of food. She put a great deal of food on
it, so much so that Jool asked her why she was doing it. "It's for Rygel. He is
watching the children during the meal." She turned to Jool when she finished.
"Take this to his quarters, and don't eat any of it."
"Why don't you?"
"I have to guard the food."
"I can do that," Jool protested.
"No, you can eat the food, not guard it. Take this to him and hurry back. Everyone
is on the way."
Jool reluctantly took the tray and left the room. A few microts later, Zhaan and Stark
walked in, followed closely by D'Argo. Jool came back just as Cassandra, John, Aeryn,
and Crais led the Humans in.
There was a great deal of staring on the Humans' part, and a great deal of cautiousness
on the part of Moya's crew. "Please sit," Chiana said unconsciously becoming the hostess
for the meal.
John and Aeryn sat side by side as was their usual want. Jack sat beside his son, and
Cassandra immediately nabbed the place beside her father. Crais sat down beside her, and
Chiana beside him. DK cautiously sat beside Chiana, with Laurie practically attached to
him at the hip in fear.
Beside Aeryn, sat D'Argo and Jool. Zhaan sat beside her with Stark present at her side as
always. Umi sat beside Stark somewhat nervously, and Dr. Smith sat beside her. In-between
Laurie and Dr. Smith sat Drs. Mayfield and Price, completing the circle.
The Humans waited, wondering if there was some ritual the aliens did before a meal. Instead
they saw multiple reactions. Stark and Zhaan both said a blessing before staring to serve
themselves. Everyone else began serving themselves with varying degrees of cautiousness.
Cassandra remarked on D'Argo's study of the chicken dish in front of him, causing the tension
in the aliens to dissipate somewhat. The Humans began to serve themselves after seeing that
no one was dying from eating the food. The conversations between the 'aliens' was restrained
from the normal chatter due to the fact that some of the Humans had microbes and could
understand any comments they made about the children or any other personal matters. It was
also odd to eat the evening meal without Xhalax. Crais however was able to fill in the odd
silences with information about the war.
"The Luxans have managed to force all Peacekeeper presence from their planet and their solar
system, but it was a hard battle, many were killed," Crais informed them.
"They are free though, it was worth it," D'Argo said solemnly. "We should go there first to
pick up warriors."
"I agree," Crais said nodding.
"We should also consider picking up some of the Tavleks," John remarked.
"The gauntlet would be very useful, Aeryn," Zhaan commented when she heard Aeryn's snort of
disgust.
"If we could get the Royal Colonies to enlist some pilots, it would be useful," Cassandra
added. "I mean, we have the ships. We need pilots."
"What is your complement now?" Crais asked.
"We have 16 Prowlers, 4 Marauders, 2 Delvian fighters, 3 Nebari fighters, D'Argo's ship, and
the Farscape," Cassandra replied. "Oh, and that little Hynerian fighter that Rygel likes so
much." This comment brought amused smiles to the faces of Moya's crew. Rygel had discovered
the little fighter, and it was one of the few the group had actually bought. Rygel spent a
lot of time learning how to fly it, though all bets were off on whether or not he would actually
use it in battle.
"We also have 5 Delvian transports, and Moya has 20 transports ready," Chiana added.
"I have 6 Prowlers, 1 Marauder, and Talyn has 20 transports ready as well," Crais replied.
"Why are you all concerned with how many ships and pilots you have?" Umi asked when there was a
slight pause in the conversation.
The crew grew still and glanced at John. "When we leave here, we will be going into battle,"
he said calmly. "We need them."
"Why?" Laurie asked. "I mean, why do you have to go?"
"Is this really your fight?" Dr. Price asked.
"It's everyone's fight," Chiana replied.
Laurie glanced over at Dr. Price for a translation. "She said, it's everyone's fight."
"I don't understand. I mean, I wasn't there for your little war explanation thing," Laurie paused
a moment. "What's going on up here?"
John and Cassandra began explaining once again the state of the Universe at the moment. When the
matter was sufficiently explained, Dr. Smith ended up asking a loaded question. "What about your
families? Don't any of you want to settle down and have a family?"
"Of course we do. But, we also think of Moya as our home, and everyone here as our family,"
Zhaan replied.
"Though John calls it a 'Jury Spinger' kind of family," Chiana said grinning.
Those with translator microbes laughed at Chiana's attempt to say Jerry Springer, though they
understood the seriousness of Zhaan's reply. Those without translator microbes waited somewhat
impatiently for a translation.
After the meal, everyone but Laurie and Dr. Mayfield accepted the translator microbes. The Humans
were then given a tour of Moya. The tour group ended up splitting into two. Cassandra leading one
with all of the doctors, and John leading the one with their family and DK. John's group moved
slower than Cassandra's, spending a great deal of time in Pilot's den. Cassandra's group spent a
large amount of time in Zhaan's apothecary due to the inquisitive Dr. Smith.
After the tour was over, the Humans were locked back into their rooms, and the crew began some of
their usual activities. Chiana, Crais, and Cassandra were in the training room, where Chiana was
once again learning fighting techniques. Zhaan and Stark were meditating. Rygel was stuffing his
face in the central chamber. Aeryn and little Jack were sleeping. D'Argo was playing his shilliquin
for Jool, and John sat in Command with Xhalax. Xhalax was learning Algebra, and John was taking a
shift.
John and Cassandra were both grateful that the topic of conversation had managed to stear clear of
their tales of adventures. It would have to be discussed eventually, but both were glad it
wouldn't be that night.
***
TBC
WELL... what do ya think? Please review or send me an e-mail!
so, has anyone picked up on the hints i've been dropping? i've been doing some major forshadowing
like about a certain relationship that is going to begin popping up soon? anyone want to take a
guess? lol, anyway, thanks to the peps reviewing and the ones sending e-mails, I am enjoying both
enormously
~Artemis Luna Diana~
Chapter 14: Discussions Over Dinner
Rated: R
***
Chiana sighed in relief. "This was easier than I thought it would be," she remarked.
"It's done then?" Jool asked.
"Yeah, just let me... there! Done!" Chiana began placing various dishes of Earth food
on the table. "Pilot?"
"Yes, Chiana?"
"Please have everyone come for dinner."
"Of course," he replied.
"Can I try some?" Jool asked as Chiana placed another mouth-watering dish down.
"No, we are waiting for everyone," Chiana said firmly.
"But, I'm hungry!"
"Too bad." Chiana began making up a tray of food. She put a great deal of food on
it, so much so that Jool asked her why she was doing it. "It's for Rygel. He is
watching the children during the meal." She turned to Jool when she finished.
"Take this to his quarters, and don't eat any of it."
"Why don't you?"
"I have to guard the food."
"I can do that," Jool protested.
"No, you can eat the food, not guard it. Take this to him and hurry back. Everyone
is on the way."
Jool reluctantly took the tray and left the room. A few microts later, Zhaan and Stark
walked in, followed closely by D'Argo. Jool came back just as Cassandra, John, Aeryn,
and Crais led the Humans in.
There was a great deal of staring on the Humans' part, and a great deal of cautiousness
on the part of Moya's crew. "Please sit," Chiana said unconsciously becoming the hostess
for the meal.
John and Aeryn sat side by side as was their usual want. Jack sat beside his son, and
Cassandra immediately nabbed the place beside her father. Crais sat down beside her, and
Chiana beside him. DK cautiously sat beside Chiana, with Laurie practically attached to
him at the hip in fear.
Beside Aeryn, sat D'Argo and Jool. Zhaan sat beside her with Stark present at her side as
always. Umi sat beside Stark somewhat nervously, and Dr. Smith sat beside her. In-between
Laurie and Dr. Smith sat Drs. Mayfield and Price, completing the circle.
The Humans waited, wondering if there was some ritual the aliens did before a meal. Instead
they saw multiple reactions. Stark and Zhaan both said a blessing before staring to serve
themselves. Everyone else began serving themselves with varying degrees of cautiousness.
Cassandra remarked on D'Argo's study of the chicken dish in front of him, causing the tension
in the aliens to dissipate somewhat. The Humans began to serve themselves after seeing that
no one was dying from eating the food. The conversations between the 'aliens' was restrained
from the normal chatter due to the fact that some of the Humans had microbes and could
understand any comments they made about the children or any other personal matters. It was
also odd to eat the evening meal without Xhalax. Crais however was able to fill in the odd
silences with information about the war.
"The Luxans have managed to force all Peacekeeper presence from their planet and their solar
system, but it was a hard battle, many were killed," Crais informed them.
"They are free though, it was worth it," D'Argo said solemnly. "We should go there first to
pick up warriors."
"I agree," Crais said nodding.
"We should also consider picking up some of the Tavleks," John remarked.
"The gauntlet would be very useful, Aeryn," Zhaan commented when she heard Aeryn's snort of
disgust.
"If we could get the Royal Colonies to enlist some pilots, it would be useful," Cassandra
added. "I mean, we have the ships. We need pilots."
"What is your complement now?" Crais asked.
"We have 16 Prowlers, 4 Marauders, 2 Delvian fighters, 3 Nebari fighters, D'Argo's ship, and
the Farscape," Cassandra replied. "Oh, and that little Hynerian fighter that Rygel likes so
much." This comment brought amused smiles to the faces of Moya's crew. Rygel had discovered
the little fighter, and it was one of the few the group had actually bought. Rygel spent a
lot of time learning how to fly it, though all bets were off on whether or not he would actually
use it in battle.
"We also have 5 Delvian transports, and Moya has 20 transports ready," Chiana added.
"I have 6 Prowlers, 1 Marauder, and Talyn has 20 transports ready as well," Crais replied.
"Why are you all concerned with how many ships and pilots you have?" Umi asked when there was a
slight pause in the conversation.
The crew grew still and glanced at John. "When we leave here, we will be going into battle,"
he said calmly. "We need them."
"Why?" Laurie asked. "I mean, why do you have to go?"
"Is this really your fight?" Dr. Price asked.
"It's everyone's fight," Chiana replied.
Laurie glanced over at Dr. Price for a translation. "She said, it's everyone's fight."
"I don't understand. I mean, I wasn't there for your little war explanation thing," Laurie paused
a moment. "What's going on up here?"
John and Cassandra began explaining once again the state of the Universe at the moment. When the
matter was sufficiently explained, Dr. Smith ended up asking a loaded question. "What about your
families? Don't any of you want to settle down and have a family?"
"Of course we do. But, we also think of Moya as our home, and everyone here as our family,"
Zhaan replied.
"Though John calls it a 'Jury Spinger' kind of family," Chiana said grinning.
Those with translator microbes laughed at Chiana's attempt to say Jerry Springer, though they
understood the seriousness of Zhaan's reply. Those without translator microbes waited somewhat
impatiently for a translation.
After the meal, everyone but Laurie and Dr. Mayfield accepted the translator microbes. The Humans
were then given a tour of Moya. The tour group ended up splitting into two. Cassandra leading one
with all of the doctors, and John leading the one with their family and DK. John's group moved
slower than Cassandra's, spending a great deal of time in Pilot's den. Cassandra's group spent a
large amount of time in Zhaan's apothecary due to the inquisitive Dr. Smith.
After the tour was over, the Humans were locked back into their rooms, and the crew began some of
their usual activities. Chiana, Crais, and Cassandra were in the training room, where Chiana was
once again learning fighting techniques. Zhaan and Stark were meditating. Rygel was stuffing his
face in the central chamber. Aeryn and little Jack were sleeping. D'Argo was playing his shilliquin
for Jool, and John sat in Command with Xhalax. Xhalax was learning Algebra, and John was taking a
shift.
John and Cassandra were both grateful that the topic of conversation had managed to stear clear of
their tales of adventures. It would have to be discussed eventually, but both were glad it
wouldn't be that night.
***
TBC
WELL... what do ya think? Please review or send me an e-mail!
so, has anyone picked up on the hints i've been dropping? i've been doing some major forshadowing
like about a certain relationship that is going to begin popping up soon? anyone want to take a
guess? lol, anyway, thanks to the peps reviewing and the ones sending e-mails, I am enjoying both
enormously
~Artemis Luna Diana~
