Liberty or Death!
Scorpius didn't understand why high command sent this squad to his carrier.
Scorpius: "To what do I owe this visit Lieutenant?"
Lt. Stiles: "High command has received a disturbing report that you are entering into some agreement with the Scarreans regarding wormhole technology."
Scorpius: "That is ridiculous. The Scarreans are our mutual enemies. I would never supply them with any information."
Tech: "Lieutenant Stiles, the sensors are picking up a Scarrean Dreadnaught approaching."
The lieutenant looked at Scorpius. Scorpius was shocked. He started to deny any knowledge of its appearance when Stiles ordered his men to take Scorpius into custody.
******
The base was put on alert with the approaching Dreadnaught. Aeryn knocked out the guard who was posted outside of Crichton's cell and took his passkey. Commandos and techs were scrambling all around her. Aeryn slipped into the cell. John was slumped in a corner. Aeryn kneeled beside him.
Aeryn: "John. John?"
John: "Here come the hallucinations again. I am not listening to you, Harvey."
Aeryn: "John, I need you to snap out of it. We don't have much time."
John didn't open his eyes. Aeryn slapped his face.
Aeryn: "Crichton snap out of it."
His eyes opened.
John: "Aeryn!"
Aeryn: "Shh, can you walk?"
John: "What the hezzmana are you doing here? Where is Tyren?"
Aeryn: "We can talk later. You have to get up now. The Dreadnaught is here and it is just a matter of time before…"
Before she could finish her sentence, the carrier was rocked by a blast from the dreadnaught. Aeryn fell against Crichton. He caught her in his arms. He looked down at her.
John: "As much as I would like to take you over my knee right now for disobeying me, we don't have time."
They helped each other up. Another blast hit the carrier, the lights dimmed.
John: "Where is Scorpius?"
John asked as they moved toward the corridor.
Aeryn: "My guess is under guard with the PK squad that arrived and on his way back to high command, if they managed to get off the carrier."
John followed Aeryn. She handed him Wynonna out of the second holster on her leg. John smiled.
John: "That's my girl."
They headed to the docking bay.
******
Moya's crew was watching the base being systematically destroyed by the dreadnaught. D'Argo was in command with Rygel. Chiana and Jool were keeping an eye on Tyren.
D'Argo: "Pilot, any word from Aeryn yet?"
Pilot: "No Ka D'Argo. There have been several launches from the base but I haven't heard any word from Aeryn or Crichton."
D'Argo: "She won't be able to contact us until she is clear of the base and the dreadnaught. The Scarreans might pick it up."
Pilot: "Moya is getting worried about the dreadnaught. She wants to starburst."
D'Argo: "Calm her Pilot. We can't leave John and Aeryn behind at the mercy of the dreadnaught. Any word from Crais?"
Pilot: "He is patrolling the perimeter and hasn't gotten a word from them either."
D'Argo was worried.
*****
Aeryn and John sped away from the melee between the carrier and the dreadnaught. Crais and Talyn, picked up Aeryn's communication, and were watching their flank making sure they didn't pick up any tails. They rallied the message to Moya of their imminent arrival. John was looking out of the window.
John: "Think Scorpius is dead?"
Aeryn: "I don't know. I am just glad you are not."
He looked at the back of her head.
John: "What did you think you were doing coming on that base like that?"
Aeryn: "Helping you keep your promise."
John smiled slightly. He kissed the back of her head. She smiled.
John: "Where is Tyren?"
Aeryn: "He is safe on Moya with D'Argo."
They heard a loud explosion. They looked over. The base was destroyed. John and Aeryn docked on Moya. Once they were safely aboard Talyn starburst away and Moya followed suit. They wanted to get as far away as they could from the dreadnaught and the PK squad, if they survived.
******
John was writing in his journal when D'Argo walked in to command.
D'Argo: "Am I disturbing you?"
John: "No, I just feel the need to write this stuff down not that anyone would believe it if they read it."
D'Argo: "Tyren doesn't seem to have any residual effects from his time with Scorpius."
John: "I know. I talked to Jool."
John looked at D'Argo. He looked stressed.
John: "What's up Bro?"
D'Argo: "When Aeryn left to go to the base, she asked me to take care of Tyren, to raise him."
John: "She made a good choice."
D'Argo lowered his eyes.
D'Argo: "Good choice? I don't even know where my son is. I told him to leave."
John: "You were hurt, everybody was hurt by what happened. You needed some time and he needs to find his own way. He knows you're here 'D'. Sometimes that is all you can do as a parent."
D'Argo looked at John.
D'Argo: "You are going to be a good father for Tyren."
John: "I want the chance. Aeryn hasn't decided if she is going to keep him aboard Moya but I know if he leaves, she is going to go with him. She won't leave him alone again."
D'Argo: "I know. If she does leave, will you leave with her?"
John: "Moya is my home but Aeryn is my heart. I would follow her to the end of the universe, if she ask me to."
D'Argo slapped him on the shoulder. They looked at each other and laughed.
*****
John went looking for Aeryn. Pilot told him that she was in Tyren's quarters. John stood outside listening. Aeryn was telling Tyren a story that John had told her once a while ago when they were flying maneuvers. It was the story of Romeo and Juliet. Crichton slid down the wall and listened to her relaying the story.
Aeryn: "So Rom went to find Jul and found out that she had died. She had taken nexrum powder."
John was smiling. She was incorporating things from her universe.
Aeryn: "Rom was so devastated that his true love had killed herself that he decided that he couldn't live without her."
Tyren was dozing off. His head was resting on Aeryn's lap. She was stroking his silky hair.
Tyren: "Is that how you feel about Dad?"
Aeryn: "Dad?"
Tyren: "John?"
She smiled and leaned down and kissed him gently.
Aeryn: "Sleep little one."
John stood up and stuck his head in the door. She looked up at him. He smiled.
John: "Truth comes out of the mouths of babes."
Aeryn slipped out from under Tyren carefully. She pulled the cover over him. She leaned over and kissed him softly. John came in and kissed his fingertips and touched them to Tyren's forehead. He held his hand out to Aeryn. She slipped her hand in his. They left Tyren sound asleep.
John: "We have to talk."
Aeryn: "I know."
John: "Come on."
They went to the observation deck and sat at the table.
John: "I heard you telling Tyren the story about Romeo and Juliet."
She smiled.
Aeryn: "I didn't get it right."
John: "You did fine."
John lowered his eyes to their hands which were touching.
John: "Why were you telling him that story?"
Aeryn: "I remember you saying that when you had bad dreams your mom would sit beside you and tell you a story and it always made you feel better. I wanted to make Tyren feel better after everything he went through with Scorpius and seeing Zoron die."
John: "He is going to be fine. He is like his mother, strong."
Aeryn: "Not always so strong."
She looked up at John.
Aeryn: "If it wasn't for you, I would have lost him, probably forever."
John lifted her hand and kissed the back softly.
Aeryn: "You heard him call you dad…a term he heard from you?"
John: "I told him about my dad when I gave him the necklace with the ring. He knows it is a term of endearment."
Aeryn: "When did you tell him that I was his birth mother?"
John: "He told you. It was supposed to be our little secret."
Aeryn: "He didn't tell me. You did just now."
She smiled at him. He looked in her eyes.
John: "Are you angry with me for telling him?"
Aeryn: "No."
He reached out and touched her silky hair.
John: "Have you decided what you are going to do about Tyren?"
Aeryn: "I won't leave him alone again."
John: "I know that. Are you going to leave Moya with him?"
Aeryn took a breath.
Aeryn: "I cannot desert Moya and I will not leave my son to the mercy of Scorpius or anyone else."
John: "So we are staying?"
She looked at him.
Aeryn: "We?!"
John: "I just got you back. You didn't think I would let you leave me behind, did you? That promise works both ways."
Aeryn: "It is going to be difficult having a child on born."
John: "No different than Chiana, Jool, or Rygel."
They looked at each other and laughed.
Aeryn: "How do you feel about being the prominent male figure for Tyren?"
John looked in her eyes. He reached out and gently stroked her cheek.
John: "I would love to be his dad."
He moved closer to her.
John: "Now that is settled. We started something before I left for the base. I sure would like to continue it."
John stood up. He held his hand out to Aeryn. She slipped her hand in his.
Aeryn: "Your place or mine?"
John laughed at her use of earth phrases.
John: "Both."
He raised his right eyebrow and smiled. She laughed softly. They kissed.
John: "By the way, you never answered the question that Tyren asked you?"
Aeryn: "Question?"
She smiled slyly and walked out the door. John smiled and shook his head. He had his answer.
Scorpius didn't understand why high command sent this squad to his carrier.
Scorpius: "To what do I owe this visit Lieutenant?"
Lt. Stiles: "High command has received a disturbing report that you are entering into some agreement with the Scarreans regarding wormhole technology."
Scorpius: "That is ridiculous. The Scarreans are our mutual enemies. I would never supply them with any information."
Tech: "Lieutenant Stiles, the sensors are picking up a Scarrean Dreadnaught approaching."
The lieutenant looked at Scorpius. Scorpius was shocked. He started to deny any knowledge of its appearance when Stiles ordered his men to take Scorpius into custody.
******
The base was put on alert with the approaching Dreadnaught. Aeryn knocked out the guard who was posted outside of Crichton's cell and took his passkey. Commandos and techs were scrambling all around her. Aeryn slipped into the cell. John was slumped in a corner. Aeryn kneeled beside him.
Aeryn: "John. John?"
John: "Here come the hallucinations again. I am not listening to you, Harvey."
Aeryn: "John, I need you to snap out of it. We don't have much time."
John didn't open his eyes. Aeryn slapped his face.
Aeryn: "Crichton snap out of it."
His eyes opened.
John: "Aeryn!"
Aeryn: "Shh, can you walk?"
John: "What the hezzmana are you doing here? Where is Tyren?"
Aeryn: "We can talk later. You have to get up now. The Dreadnaught is here and it is just a matter of time before…"
Before she could finish her sentence, the carrier was rocked by a blast from the dreadnaught. Aeryn fell against Crichton. He caught her in his arms. He looked down at her.
John: "As much as I would like to take you over my knee right now for disobeying me, we don't have time."
They helped each other up. Another blast hit the carrier, the lights dimmed.
John: "Where is Scorpius?"
John asked as they moved toward the corridor.
Aeryn: "My guess is under guard with the PK squad that arrived and on his way back to high command, if they managed to get off the carrier."
John followed Aeryn. She handed him Wynonna out of the second holster on her leg. John smiled.
John: "That's my girl."
They headed to the docking bay.
******
Moya's crew was watching the base being systematically destroyed by the dreadnaught. D'Argo was in command with Rygel. Chiana and Jool were keeping an eye on Tyren.
D'Argo: "Pilot, any word from Aeryn yet?"
Pilot: "No Ka D'Argo. There have been several launches from the base but I haven't heard any word from Aeryn or Crichton."
D'Argo: "She won't be able to contact us until she is clear of the base and the dreadnaught. The Scarreans might pick it up."
Pilot: "Moya is getting worried about the dreadnaught. She wants to starburst."
D'Argo: "Calm her Pilot. We can't leave John and Aeryn behind at the mercy of the dreadnaught. Any word from Crais?"
Pilot: "He is patrolling the perimeter and hasn't gotten a word from them either."
D'Argo was worried.
*****
Aeryn and John sped away from the melee between the carrier and the dreadnaught. Crais and Talyn, picked up Aeryn's communication, and were watching their flank making sure they didn't pick up any tails. They rallied the message to Moya of their imminent arrival. John was looking out of the window.
John: "Think Scorpius is dead?"
Aeryn: "I don't know. I am just glad you are not."
He looked at the back of her head.
John: "What did you think you were doing coming on that base like that?"
Aeryn: "Helping you keep your promise."
John smiled slightly. He kissed the back of her head. She smiled.
John: "Where is Tyren?"
Aeryn: "He is safe on Moya with D'Argo."
They heard a loud explosion. They looked over. The base was destroyed. John and Aeryn docked on Moya. Once they were safely aboard Talyn starburst away and Moya followed suit. They wanted to get as far away as they could from the dreadnaught and the PK squad, if they survived.
******
John was writing in his journal when D'Argo walked in to command.
D'Argo: "Am I disturbing you?"
John: "No, I just feel the need to write this stuff down not that anyone would believe it if they read it."
D'Argo: "Tyren doesn't seem to have any residual effects from his time with Scorpius."
John: "I know. I talked to Jool."
John looked at D'Argo. He looked stressed.
John: "What's up Bro?"
D'Argo: "When Aeryn left to go to the base, she asked me to take care of Tyren, to raise him."
John: "She made a good choice."
D'Argo lowered his eyes.
D'Argo: "Good choice? I don't even know where my son is. I told him to leave."
John: "You were hurt, everybody was hurt by what happened. You needed some time and he needs to find his own way. He knows you're here 'D'. Sometimes that is all you can do as a parent."
D'Argo looked at John.
D'Argo: "You are going to be a good father for Tyren."
John: "I want the chance. Aeryn hasn't decided if she is going to keep him aboard Moya but I know if he leaves, she is going to go with him. She won't leave him alone again."
D'Argo: "I know. If she does leave, will you leave with her?"
John: "Moya is my home but Aeryn is my heart. I would follow her to the end of the universe, if she ask me to."
D'Argo slapped him on the shoulder. They looked at each other and laughed.
*****
John went looking for Aeryn. Pilot told him that she was in Tyren's quarters. John stood outside listening. Aeryn was telling Tyren a story that John had told her once a while ago when they were flying maneuvers. It was the story of Romeo and Juliet. Crichton slid down the wall and listened to her relaying the story.
Aeryn: "So Rom went to find Jul and found out that she had died. She had taken nexrum powder."
John was smiling. She was incorporating things from her universe.
Aeryn: "Rom was so devastated that his true love had killed herself that he decided that he couldn't live without her."
Tyren was dozing off. His head was resting on Aeryn's lap. She was stroking his silky hair.
Tyren: "Is that how you feel about Dad?"
Aeryn: "Dad?"
Tyren: "John?"
She smiled and leaned down and kissed him gently.
Aeryn: "Sleep little one."
John stood up and stuck his head in the door. She looked up at him. He smiled.
John: "Truth comes out of the mouths of babes."
Aeryn slipped out from under Tyren carefully. She pulled the cover over him. She leaned over and kissed him softly. John came in and kissed his fingertips and touched them to Tyren's forehead. He held his hand out to Aeryn. She slipped her hand in his. They left Tyren sound asleep.
John: "We have to talk."
Aeryn: "I know."
John: "Come on."
They went to the observation deck and sat at the table.
John: "I heard you telling Tyren the story about Romeo and Juliet."
She smiled.
Aeryn: "I didn't get it right."
John: "You did fine."
John lowered his eyes to their hands which were touching.
John: "Why were you telling him that story?"
Aeryn: "I remember you saying that when you had bad dreams your mom would sit beside you and tell you a story and it always made you feel better. I wanted to make Tyren feel better after everything he went through with Scorpius and seeing Zoron die."
John: "He is going to be fine. He is like his mother, strong."
Aeryn: "Not always so strong."
She looked up at John.
Aeryn: "If it wasn't for you, I would have lost him, probably forever."
John lifted her hand and kissed the back softly.
Aeryn: "You heard him call you dad…a term he heard from you?"
John: "I told him about my dad when I gave him the necklace with the ring. He knows it is a term of endearment."
Aeryn: "When did you tell him that I was his birth mother?"
John: "He told you. It was supposed to be our little secret."
Aeryn: "He didn't tell me. You did just now."
She smiled at him. He looked in her eyes.
John: "Are you angry with me for telling him?"
Aeryn: "No."
He reached out and touched her silky hair.
John: "Have you decided what you are going to do about Tyren?"
Aeryn: "I won't leave him alone again."
John: "I know that. Are you going to leave Moya with him?"
Aeryn took a breath.
Aeryn: "I cannot desert Moya and I will not leave my son to the mercy of Scorpius or anyone else."
John: "So we are staying?"
She looked at him.
Aeryn: "We?!"
John: "I just got you back. You didn't think I would let you leave me behind, did you? That promise works both ways."
Aeryn: "It is going to be difficult having a child on born."
John: "No different than Chiana, Jool, or Rygel."
They looked at each other and laughed.
Aeryn: "How do you feel about being the prominent male figure for Tyren?"
John looked in her eyes. He reached out and gently stroked her cheek.
John: "I would love to be his dad."
He moved closer to her.
John: "Now that is settled. We started something before I left for the base. I sure would like to continue it."
John stood up. He held his hand out to Aeryn. She slipped her hand in his.
Aeryn: "Your place or mine?"
John laughed at her use of earth phrases.
John: "Both."
He raised his right eyebrow and smiled. She laughed softly. They kissed.
John: "By the way, you never answered the question that Tyren asked you?"
Aeryn: "Question?"
She smiled slyly and walked out the door. John smiled and shook his head. He had his answer.
