When Lightening Strikes…

After making love, John and Aeryn spent the last half an arn before he left to go to Scorpius' carrier on the terrace staring up at the stars.

John: "Aeryn, I don't want you to take any unnecessary risks. I want you to pick up Tyren and leave."

She turned and looked at him.

Aeryn: "What?"

John: "You and Tyren deserve a chance to be mother and son. That can't happen if you get yourself killed or worse trying to help me."

Aeryn: "I can't believe this."

She moved away from him. She was angry.

John: "Aeryn, you know I am right."

Aeryn: "I am so tired of people telling me what I know and what I deserve and who I am."

She turned to face John. He stared at her. She was obviously very angry.

Aeryn: "All of my life I have been told what to do, what to feel, what to think. Up to and including coming on to Moya. You taught me how to express my feelings and go for what I want. You made it okay for me to let my guard down and let people in. Well you got in John Crichton and now you are telling me to just walk away from you. To leave you at the mercy of Scorpius and not to look back."

He didn't say a word.

Aeryn: "How do I do that twice in a lifetime?"

She looked up trying to force her tears back.

Aeryn: "I watched you risk your life so many times for all of us and I sat there while the other John died, knowing that given a choice he would do it again, and here you are doing it."

She looked at him with tears flowing uncontrollably now.

Aeryn: "Ask me to stop, it would be easier than asking me to let you die again. You made me promise Crichton and I expect you to keep it. You promise you wouldn't leave me behind again."

He walked over to her and took her in his arms. He stroked her hair.

John: "I am going to do my very best to come back to you and Tyren. Okay, I am going to try."

They held each other close.

Pilot: "Commander, we have reached Scorpius' carrier. He is signaling for you to come aboard."

John: "Thanks Pilot. Is Moya picking up any other crafts in the area?"

Pilot: "No but Talyn has picked up transmissions from PK high command. They are sending a squad to intercept Scorpius."

John smiled.

John: "Excellent. Once I leave Moya I want you to move her out of orbit, we don't want the Scarreans or the squad to pick her up on their sensors."

Pilot: "Yes Commander."

John wiped Aeryn's tears.

John: "Would you do me a favor Baby?"

Aeryn: "What?"

John: "Show me that beautiful smile before I leave."

She lowered her eyes. He started tickling her. She was fighting it. He was smiling and tickling her. She laughed out loud and looked up at him with a smile. He took her beautiful face in his hands.

John: "That is my girl. Come on."

He took her hand. They headed for the docking bay. D'Argo, Chiana, Rygel, and Jool were there when they got there. John hugged Chiana and whispered in her ear.

John: "You take care of her Chi."

She smiled at him. He hugged Jool. He went over to Rygel.

John: "Don't touch my stuff Buckwheat. I will be back."

He looked up at Aeryn and winked at her. She smiled. John stared at D'Argo. They tapped their fists on each other's chest.

John: "See you soon 'D'."

D'Argo: "I will be there."

John stuck his hand out to Aeryn. She slipped her hand in his. They walked over to his module. He turned and looked back at her.

John: "Give me a kiss."

She gave him a deep kiss. He touched her cheek. He pressed his forehead against hers.

Aeryn: "I love you. Be careful."

John: "I love you too more than you will ever know."

He kissed her again and climbed into the module. D'Argo walked up behind Aeryn. He put his hand on her shoulder. John got close to Scorpius' base.

John: "Okay Harvey, it is you and me."

Harvey: "As it always has been John."

They watched John from command landing on Scorpius' carrier.

*****

Aeryn and D'Argo were in the maintenance bay preparing to take off in their perspective ships. D'Argo looked over at Aeryn.

D'Argo: "How are you doing?"

Aeryn: "My son and the man that I love are at the mercy of Scorpius, how should I be?"

D'Argo: "You are not going to do what John said, are you?"

She looked at D'Argo.

D'Argo: "Your just going to take Tyren and get out?"

Aeryn: "No, you are going to take Tyren and get him back to Moya."

D'Argo: "Aeryn…"

Aeryn: "Look D'Argo, if anything happens to me and John, I am entrusting my son to you. I am trusting you to raise him into a man."

D'Argo looked in her eyes.

Aeryn: "Jothee wasn't given a chance to know the amazing father that you would have been. But I have seen your ability for compassion and love, even towards a peacekeeper."

She smiled at him. D'Argo smiled slightly.

D'Argo: "It would be an honor to be part of raising Tyren."

Aeryn: "Thank you my friend."

Aeryn touched his hand. They picked up their weapons and headed to their perspective crafts.

******

John was taken to Scorpius when he landed. He was treated very well. He wasn't put in shackles or anything. Scorpius smiled when he saw him.

Scorpius: "Welcome back Crichton."

John: "Lets cut the pleasantries Scorpy. Where are Tyren and Zoron?"

Scorpius: "The old lady regrettably didn't make it. The excitement was too much for her but as for the boy. He is fine."

John: "Where is he? I want to see him be delivered to his mother who is waiting for him."

Scorpius: "I will keep my part of the bargain."

Scorpius took him to see Tyren. Tyren was lying on a bed in a cell with his back to the door. John looked at Scorpius.

Scorpius: "He is fine John. Feisty little thing, difficult to control much like his mother I hazard to guess."

The cell door opened. John stepped inside. The door closed behind him.

John: "Tyren?"

The boy turned around. He got off the bed and ran to John. John dropped to his knees. Tyren hugged him around his neck. John stood up holding him. He pulled his head back.

John: "Let me look at you."

Tyren looked at him.

John: "Are you okay little partner?"

Tyren: "Yes."

John sat on the bed with Tyren on his lap. Tyren wouldn't let him go.

John: "It is all right to be a scared, you know."

Tyren: "Can we go back to Moya now?"

John: "You are going back to Moya. I am going to stay here for a while."

Tyren: "Why can't you come with me? Where is Aeryn?"

John: "She is waiting for you."



Tyren looked up at John. John saw the necklace he gave him.



John: "I want you to take good care of your mom for me. She loves you very much you know."



He touched Tyren's silky dark hair.



Scorpius: "The pod is ready. It is time for the child to go."



John stood up and took his hand.



John: "Come on little man."



He stood Tyren up and took his hand. They walked to the pod that was going to rendezvous with Aeryn. There was a peacekeeper pilot waiting for Tyren. John kneeled down.

John: "Okay little partner time to go."

Tyren hugged John again. John whispered in his ear.

John: "I love you very much."

Tyren whispered back.

Tyren: "Love you too."

John stood up and watched Tyren board the pod.

Scorpius: "Officer Drenn, deliver the boy and return quickly. I want out of this orbit within 40 microts."

Officer: "Yes sir."

He boarded the pod. John watched him go feeling relieved that he could at least give Aeryn back her son.

John turned to Scorpius.

John: "Time to start the party."

John walked passed Scorpius. Scorpius had John put in the Aurora Chair.

Scorpius: "Don't fight it John. If you let the memories flow, this will be painless as possible."

John: "And if you fry my brain, you won't get anything."

Scorpius started the Aurora Chair. John's screams could be heard echoing throughout the passageways.

******

The pod returned from dropping the child off just as the PK squad arrived at the base. Attention was directed at the arriving Lieutenant from high command. So when the pilot came off the pod, no one noticed that the pilot wasn't the same pilot who left the ship.

Lt. Stiles: "I want to be taken to Scorpius. High command has some questions for him."

Peacekeeper: "Yes, Lieutenant. We have let Scorpius know that you were arriving."

The PK guards with the lieutenant followed him. Aeryn slipped out of the docking bay without being noticed.

Scorpius had John taken to a cell until he could deal with the PK squad.