Retrieval

Talyn's course toward the marauder was steady. He was trying to get close enough to use the docking web without detection. Crais was at the override panel monitoring Talyn's progress. D'Argo and Aeryn were standing by in the docking bay encase they were spotted they would have to give chase with their ships.

D'Argo: "Aeryn?"

She looked over at him.

D'Argo: "I wish there was something I could say. I know how it feels to have a child taken from you, even though it was a little different for me. I sent Jothee away to keep him safe."

Aeryn: "Not so different, I gave Tyren away as a sense of duty."

She lowered her eyes.

D'Argo: "We will get him back."

Aeryn: "I know. Only to have to give him away again."

D'Argo: "What?"

Aeryn: "I have asked Pilot to have Moya scan for colonies where a Sebecean child can live in peace and be raised without military influence."

D'Argo: "Aeryn."

Aeryn: "I will always be hunted D'Argo. I will always have to look over my shoulder for peacekeepers or Scorpius or Sheyangs or Scarrans and any other 'critter' that we have managed to piss off over the last three cycles. I don't want that for Tyren. I want him to have a chance at a life."

D'Argo: "I can see that you have thought this through."

Aeryn: "I knew you would understand."

D'Argo: "Are you going to tell him who you are?"

Aeryn: "I don't know. Would it really help him to know that his mother is considered a PK traitor?"

D'Argo touched her hand.

D'Argo: "It would help him to know his mother."

She looked up at D'Argo.

*****

John was storming around Moya since Aeryn and D'Argo left. He was becoming quite insufferable.

John: "Pilot, have you heard anything yet?"

Pilot: "No Commander. I told you I would let you know when Talyn contacted Moya."

Rygel and Chiana went into command where John was checking the scanners.

Chiana: "John, you have to try to take it easy."

Rygel: "Chiana is right. You are acting like a nitnik."

John: "I sorry guys. I am just worried. I just wish I knew what was happening. It has been nearly 20 arns. They should have intercepted the marauder by now."

Chiana: "I am sure everything is fine."

John moved over to the window and stared at the stars. He thought to himself. "I wish you could talk Huey, Dewey, and Lewey and let me know what was happening."

*****

Crais: "Talyn has gotten the marauder in his docking web. He is pulling them in."

Aeryn and D'Argo looked at each other. Aeryn took out her pulse pistol and D'Argo his qualta blade. The marauder was pulled into the docking bay. They took cover when the door began to open. Two commandos came out firing. Aeryn and D'Argo took cover.

Aeryn: "I thought there was only one."

D'Argo: 'We should have known better."

They returned fire.

D'Argo: "Be careful don't hit the ship."

Aeryn: "Cover me D'Argo. I am going to flank them."

D'Argo started firing.

D'Argo: "Go!"

Aeryn made her move. She was able to get behind them. She took out the one closest to the transport and slipped on board. She saw a woman crouched in a corner. Aeryn pointed her pulse pistol at her for a moment. It took her a microt to recognize her. Aeryn lowered her gun slowly.

Aeryn: "I know you."

The woman didn't move. Aeryn looked around.

Aeryn: "Where is Tyren?"

Aeryn heard a soft voice.

Tyren: "I am here."

He pushed out from behind the woman and stood up. Aeryn lowered her weapon. The sight of this little person who was part of her amazed her. He had short-cropped dark hair and deep dark eyes. He was beautiful. She smiled slightly.

Aeryn: "Hello Tyren, my name is Aeryn."

Tyren: "Hello. Are you going to hurt me?"

Aeryn didn't want to frighten him with her pulse pistol but she dare not put it away. This woman who had cared for son and was there at his birth was also a peacekeeper.

Aeryn: "No, me and my friends are here to help you. Could you come over here to me?"

Tyren looked into Aeryn's face. He was not frightened of her. He instinctively started to walk toward her. Aeryn was holding her free hand out to him. She was staring at him when the woman stood up and took a shot at Aeryn. Aeryn was hit in the shoulder and returned fire. The woman fell back against the console. Aeryn dropped to her knees. Tyren looked at the woman and then back at Aeryn. He walked over to Aeryn and laid his little hand on her shoulder.

Tyren: "Are you all right?"

Aeryn looked into his eyes and smiled.

Aeryn: "I will be."

Just then D'Argo came on board the marauder. Tyren ran and hid.

D'Argo: "Are you okay?"

Aeryn: "I will be fine."

She stood up slowly.

Aeryn: "Tyren, it is all right. This is one of my friends."

Tyren stuck his head out slightly.

Tyren: "He is not Sebecean."

Aeryn: "No, he is Luxan. This is Ka D'Argo."

D'Argo put his blade in its holder. Tyren came out of hiding and went and stood next to Aeryn. D'Argo held out his hand. Tyren slipped his little hand into D'Argo's huge hand.

Tyren: "Your hand is bigger than mine."

D'Argo smiled. Aeryn touched the top of Tyren's head. Crais' voice came over the com.

Crais: "Is everyone all right? Have we retrieved the cargo?"

Aeryn: "Yes. Have Talyn expel the marauder in 40 microts and then we can get out of here."

Aeryn held her hand out to Tyren.

Aeryn: "Come on."

Tyren: "Where are we going?"

Aeryn looked down at him.

Aeryn: "To meet some more friends of mine on a big ship named Moya."

He smiled up at her and slipped his hand into hers. D'Argo saw the look on Aeryn's face. The three of them got off the marauder. D'Argo loaded the dead PK commandos on board and Talyn expelled the ship.

Talyn signaled Moya.