The Case of the Abducted Aliens : Chapter 2
Several seconds passed before John spoke up,
"Uh. that's kind of a big question. um who am I speaking to?"
Bart gulped,
"I am Bart James, you've been to Earth before?"
John was getting confused,
"What organisation are you?"
The was a mass of static before the boy's voice returned,
"I don't belong to an organisation, we are transmitting from a private small
station in Redington".
"You're a kid?" John's voice was wary.
"I guess you could say that".
There was another long pause, Aeryn turned to John,
"You let kids be in charge of communications?"
"No! I think it's just some kids mucking around but maybe that could be to our advantage".
Aeryn gave him her typical 'are you insane or just brain dead?' look.
"Listen, we have to trust somebody, I don't want to get the army, NASA or IASA involved - remember what happened on false Earth?"
"How could I forget?" Aeryn muttered.
A scowl passed over John before he turned his attention back to Earth,
"Listen, I know this is going to sound strange, but is there somewhere we can land where we won't be found."
There was a long pause, Bart turned to his friends, and Shirley raked in her
rucksack for a map,
"Yeah, three miles from the Redington River, there's several large plains of waste land".
Bart turned back to the screen,
"Did you hear that?"
A ton of static,
"Yeah. Listen, can you meet us there? It'll take us about have an arn-hour to land. it's important that no one finds out. can we trust you?"
"Yes. uh what's your name?"
"John Crich."
The signal suddenly gave out; Bart thumped the machine a couple of times
before turning back to Bo and Shirley,
"Wow. we're going to meet real aliens".
His face was all lit up,
"I told you there was life out there".
Bo's face was unusually pale but Shirley had a triumphant yet perplexed look on her face,
"I don't think so Bart, I think it's more a case of, we're going to meet a
ghost".
"Listen, I can't risk you all going down there, any way someone needs to look after D'Argo - remember false Earth?"
John's expression was adamant; Chiana caught his attention,
"No I don't know what happened on that false Earth, I wasn't here! But
D'Argo needs our help, three pairs of hands are better than two".
"Four" Rygel interrupted.
The three crewmembers looked down at the slug, each wondering exactly why
Rygel was volunteering being such a lazy and self-centred brute. But they were greeted by a serious almost concerned look which made them feel a little gratitude and slightly guilty towards the Hynerian Donimar.
"Fine, four. we'll be very careful, Zhaan's looking after D'Argo anyway, maybe we can find the cure quicker if we all go - for D'Argo's sake".
John sighed and scratched his head,
"Fine, but you must be very careful, if the army."
"Yes" Aeryn's irritated voice broke in, "We know, But D'Argo is running out of time, can we stop arguing and get on with the mission?"
"Pilot, prepare a transport pod".
"As you desire, I wish you safe voyage".
The great doors off the Leviathan opened and the pod zoomed into the vacuum.
"A ghost?"
Shirley nodded, her brow furrowed in concentration as she skimmed over a few pages on her laptop.
"A ghost alien?" even Bart sounded a little sceptical at the idea.
Shirley's head snapped up,
"No, the everyday human ghost, how many aliens do you know who speak perfectly good English and use an Earth name for themselves? John or more commonly known as Dr John Crichton is no more alien than we are, yet."
Bo sensed the snag,
"What is it" he moved closer to the screen.
"I looked up a site about astronauts, through the list of ones I found a headline about a pilot who was lost during a mission two years ago, it says,
Today, IASA unfortunately lost one of their esteemed astronauts during an experiment in which the module disintegrated. Dr John Crichton was testing an experiment of his and his friend DK's devising when the Farscape One module hit a radio wave and the pod was supposedly blown up although no blast or wreckage was discovered. The Organisation is conducting their own investigation into the incident yet no answer as to why the pod disappeared has been established. However, they are certain that the pilot did not survive and plans are being made for a cerm."
"Wow, do they have a picture?"
Shirley nodded; again, clicking on the screen so an enlarged version of an astronaut sitting happily on the module appeared. The excitement in his eyes was evident; he seemed to have no worries about his trip.
"But if that's him then." Bo questioned quietly.
"Well, we'd better find out, let's go".
Skulking in the corner a dark figure smirked to themselves and flipped the
notebook shut.
The pod landed softly behind a small clump of trees, the darkness helping as best as it could, the three teenagers watched in amazement as the large machine parked and the hatch opened. They had seen so many weird things in the past to be too afraid and shocked, at least they thought they had until the ghost jumped out followed by a raven haired woman, a very pale girl and a. a. a thing - Yoda?
In unison they stepped back, suddenly very terrified, John spotted them and stepped forward,
"Uh, hi! This is Earth?"
The three just stood there opened mouthed.
"Listen, I know this is a shock, I'm - "
Shirley found her voice,
"Yes you're Dr John Crichton, worked for the IASA, you're meant to be dead".
It was John's turn to be shocked,
"How. Never mind, listen we need somewhere to stay, we've got some very important business and we're going to need help".
"Let's go to my place just now, it's the nearest, Dad's at a conference in Britain so he'll be away all week and Gram's out tonight".
The aliens whispered together,
"Are you insane? We don't know anything about these. uh kids! They could be leading us into a trap".
"Aeryn, listen. We've got to trust someone and I don't know about Sabaceans but Earth kids are innocent, I don't think they understand about what's happening".
"The girl said we could go to her house. maybe we could have a base there, you know, commando stuff. You never know these kids could help us, they wouldn't know any better".
"Exactly Chiana" John interrupted, "That's why I think it's the best idea, we'll need somewhere to stay, work from and I'm sure they'll have some books that could help our search".
Aeryn just frowned, pulling at her pulse rifle,
"You'd better be right Crichton otherwise the authorities might end up finding you with a couple of holes in your head" Her hand patted the rifle protectively.
Rygel looked up,
"Do I get a say in this since I am -"
"No!" came the chorus of answers, finally John turned around,
"Okay".
And Shirley led them home. Later on she wondered how on Earth she had been so calm, maybe it was the fact that she thought it was a big hoax and that the slug was a clever little device and that the girl has a good make up set - boy was she wrong!
Hiding in the bushes, the pursuer smiled evilly,
"Gotcha Holmes, maybe this time you'll listen to my warning. Your new friends will soon be hot on the news".
"You're going to what - oh no!" Bo jumped clear away but found himself
caught by the strange raven-haired woman,
"Werana (click) eruta swarne le(click)"
Bo stopped in surprise at the woman's voice, Chiana seized her chance and injected the microbes into the base of his neck".
Bo yelled and started flinging around trying to break free, Aeryn quickly let go, allowing him to stumble to the floor cursing.
Bart had passed out when Rygel had started talking, so he was an easy job to which John obligingly used the injector.
Shirley though, was calm and simply asked what it was and John simply
replied,
"Translator microbes, they colonise at the bottom of your skull so that you can understand other peoples language as they interpret as your own".
Shirley nodded and reluctantly stepped forward so Chiana could do her job.
"Is that better?"
Shirley spun around,
"Wow these things are amazing!"
"They are I suppose" Chiana drawled in a bored voice.
Having been studying Shirley for a good few minutes John finally asked,
"How come you're not scared?" "I." Shirley pondered for a second, "I suppose that if you were going to kill us you would have done already and. to be honest I'm not sure if I believe this".
"Believe what?" Aeryn asked instinctively going to check her pulse rifle but remembering John had made them leave them behind at the pod.
"Believe you're real. I mean you haven't given us any reason to believe that wow these people really aren't from Earth. Your languages could easily be forged, the make up is real good, the ship was fantastic and the robot is fascinating," Indicating to Rygel who was looking extremely insulted.
"How dare you. you. you. human! I am a Dominar of six billion-"
"Shut it Sparky" John closed Rygel's mouth only to get it bitten.
"Ow! Frell."
"Listen, can we just get on with the reason why we're on this frelling backwater planet. D'Argo's time is running out - we don't have time to frell about!"
"Okay -okay!" John stopped Aeryn, "Listen, I know it's hard to believe but
we're in desperate need of some herbs".
"Herbs?"
"Herbs?"
The second 'Herbs?' came from behind them, everyone turned to see Peggy Holmes standing there with her hands on her hips.
"Well is anybody going to tell me what's going on? Shirley?"
John stared open mouthed; it couldn't be, could it?
"Mrs Holmes?"
Surprised Peggy turned to the strange man and looked at him closely,
"By god, John Crichton, is it really you?"
The other's looked at them astonished,
"Gran, you know Dr Crichton?"
"It's been two years, everyone thought you were. dead".
John looked at the ground,
"They did" it was more a statement than a question.
Mrs Holmes shakily held out a hand and traced his cheek,
"You've changed".
With that, the two enveloped themselves in a hug.
Chiana turned to Shirley,
"They know each other?"
Shirley shrugged,
"They must do, though Gran hardly ever talks about her past".
"So what now?" Bo asked running his fingers over Rygel's hover chair.
"I think an explanation is in order and you'll need some rest, it's too late now to go searching for these Herbs or whatever." Mrs Holmes straightened up, heading over to the kettle. "I think, you'd better start at the beginning, I'll make some tea and biscuits - Shirley, why don't you take our visitors into the living room."
"Sure Gran".
"Haythwarto Nigareta fy nu eenyg"
Peggy looked up at the unfamiliar speech; John nodded at Aeryn,
"I'll do it".
After Mrs Holmes had been injected with the translator microbes, the whole group had sat down in the comfortable chairs and John had told the whole gruesome story about his work in the IASA and the Farscape project. Leading to the wormhole and his new adventures in the Uncharted Territories with the Luxen; D'Argo, the blue Delvian; Zhaan, Pilot, Moya, Chiana, Rygel and the beautiful ex-Peacekeeper; Aeryn. He told all about the evil Scorpious and the madman Crais who were after him for different reasons, the other aliens told them about their lives and the other kinds of species they had met during their travels.
They also explained D'Argo's situation in which Peggy had some very good
ideas.
Shirley had jumped at the chance to ask how her Gran knew John and finally found out some things about her past.
When her father, Robert Holmes, had been young, the family had moved to Southern America where they bought a house in the Royal Darson Park, a large estate with hundreds of acres of wooded ground. Houses were relatively close and it was a friendly neighbourhood where everyone was sociable and knew each other. The Holmes' had moved onto a road with what the Scottish would probably call a 'toun' (a group of houses), and befriended the four families that also occupied the land, the Masons', the Jenkins', the Harrows' and the Crichtons'.
Robert quickly befriended the Crichton's son, John and his friend DK, they spent ages roaming the cliffs and moors, getting into countless mischief. The forth year brought tragedy to the Crichton house, John's mother died after fighting a brave battle against cancer. Peggy heart had gone out to the grieving family offering support and comfort, looking after the kids for the father, Jack, understanding the sense of loss. Jack worked for the IASA, an astronaut by love and passion; he was subjected to countless missions to which he served with pride.
Peggy was also in grief for the mother had become a good friend to her, sharing several firm interests, so they two families became very close.
The fifth year brought a change in with the tide and the Holmes moved back to Britain leaving that life far behind yet Peggy kept in touch with Jack and his son.
Shirley felt John staring into her, finding each detail and drawing it to a point.
"You're Rob's daughter?"
"Yes".
"My god, just think, imagine if DK." John's voice fell away as sad memories of his other best friend flooded through his mind.
Aeryn had been listening with rapture, loving the chance to learn about this bizarre race,
"How old are you all?"
"I'm 14, Bo-" Shirley looked at her best friend who had fallen asleep, kicking his shin she turned back to Aeryn, "He's 15 and Bart is 14".
"You're pretty smart for your age" Chiana drawled softly as she fondled the photographs on the table - having never seen a paper photograph before.
Bo grunted in response, he glared at Shirley evilly as he rubbed his poor shin.
Suddenly Peggy stood up,
"Dear me, it's past midnight, Bo, Bart, you'd better phone your parents, I bet they're worried sick - in fact you'd might as well stay the night; Since it's going to be rather crowded anyway".
Bart and Bo disappeared to the phone, Shirley disappeared upstairs with her Gran, Chiana and Rygel to sort out bedding while John triumphantly turned on the television and endured a long lecture about how strange his culture was from Aeryn.
The moon shone down and the glint it reflected in the intruder's eyes was the only give-away to the person's presence. Clad in dark clothing and camera they snuck to the window, the curtains had been forgotten so the person had a clear view into the house.
Smiling happily they held the camera up and snapped several angled shots before climbing up the roof, so professionally -almost catlike to the upstairs rooms. Luckily, for the stranger, the first room was the one they wanted and holding up the camera, several shots of the white girl and the little Yoda were taken before like a ghost the phantom figure disappeared into the cool night air.
Downstairs, John stirred slightly, silently jolting at the unfamiliar surroundings before relaxing again - too tired to wonder what had woken him up. As he settled and sleep began to claim him, Aeryn awoke too but instantly dropped of again, snuggling closer to John before enveloping deep sleep.
Next morning brought disaster, Chiana came screaming downstairs - awakening the whole household bringing them running to the living room.
"It's Rygel" she panted, "He's gone."
Several seconds passed before John spoke up,
"Uh. that's kind of a big question. um who am I speaking to?"
Bart gulped,
"I am Bart James, you've been to Earth before?"
John was getting confused,
"What organisation are you?"
The was a mass of static before the boy's voice returned,
"I don't belong to an organisation, we are transmitting from a private small
station in Redington".
"You're a kid?" John's voice was wary.
"I guess you could say that".
There was another long pause, Aeryn turned to John,
"You let kids be in charge of communications?"
"No! I think it's just some kids mucking around but maybe that could be to our advantage".
Aeryn gave him her typical 'are you insane or just brain dead?' look.
"Listen, we have to trust somebody, I don't want to get the army, NASA or IASA involved - remember what happened on false Earth?"
"How could I forget?" Aeryn muttered.
A scowl passed over John before he turned his attention back to Earth,
"Listen, I know this is going to sound strange, but is there somewhere we can land where we won't be found."
There was a long pause, Bart turned to his friends, and Shirley raked in her
rucksack for a map,
"Yeah, three miles from the Redington River, there's several large plains of waste land".
Bart turned back to the screen,
"Did you hear that?"
A ton of static,
"Yeah. Listen, can you meet us there? It'll take us about have an arn-hour to land. it's important that no one finds out. can we trust you?"
"Yes. uh what's your name?"
"John Crich."
The signal suddenly gave out; Bart thumped the machine a couple of times
before turning back to Bo and Shirley,
"Wow. we're going to meet real aliens".
His face was all lit up,
"I told you there was life out there".
Bo's face was unusually pale but Shirley had a triumphant yet perplexed look on her face,
"I don't think so Bart, I think it's more a case of, we're going to meet a
ghost".
"Listen, I can't risk you all going down there, any way someone needs to look after D'Argo - remember false Earth?"
John's expression was adamant; Chiana caught his attention,
"No I don't know what happened on that false Earth, I wasn't here! But
D'Argo needs our help, three pairs of hands are better than two".
"Four" Rygel interrupted.
The three crewmembers looked down at the slug, each wondering exactly why
Rygel was volunteering being such a lazy and self-centred brute. But they were greeted by a serious almost concerned look which made them feel a little gratitude and slightly guilty towards the Hynerian Donimar.
"Fine, four. we'll be very careful, Zhaan's looking after D'Argo anyway, maybe we can find the cure quicker if we all go - for D'Argo's sake".
John sighed and scratched his head,
"Fine, but you must be very careful, if the army."
"Yes" Aeryn's irritated voice broke in, "We know, But D'Argo is running out of time, can we stop arguing and get on with the mission?"
"Pilot, prepare a transport pod".
"As you desire, I wish you safe voyage".
The great doors off the Leviathan opened and the pod zoomed into the vacuum.
"A ghost?"
Shirley nodded, her brow furrowed in concentration as she skimmed over a few pages on her laptop.
"A ghost alien?" even Bart sounded a little sceptical at the idea.
Shirley's head snapped up,
"No, the everyday human ghost, how many aliens do you know who speak perfectly good English and use an Earth name for themselves? John or more commonly known as Dr John Crichton is no more alien than we are, yet."
Bo sensed the snag,
"What is it" he moved closer to the screen.
"I looked up a site about astronauts, through the list of ones I found a headline about a pilot who was lost during a mission two years ago, it says,
Today, IASA unfortunately lost one of their esteemed astronauts during an experiment in which the module disintegrated. Dr John Crichton was testing an experiment of his and his friend DK's devising when the Farscape One module hit a radio wave and the pod was supposedly blown up although no blast or wreckage was discovered. The Organisation is conducting their own investigation into the incident yet no answer as to why the pod disappeared has been established. However, they are certain that the pilot did not survive and plans are being made for a cerm."
"Wow, do they have a picture?"
Shirley nodded; again, clicking on the screen so an enlarged version of an astronaut sitting happily on the module appeared. The excitement in his eyes was evident; he seemed to have no worries about his trip.
"But if that's him then." Bo questioned quietly.
"Well, we'd better find out, let's go".
Skulking in the corner a dark figure smirked to themselves and flipped the
notebook shut.
The pod landed softly behind a small clump of trees, the darkness helping as best as it could, the three teenagers watched in amazement as the large machine parked and the hatch opened. They had seen so many weird things in the past to be too afraid and shocked, at least they thought they had until the ghost jumped out followed by a raven haired woman, a very pale girl and a. a. a thing - Yoda?
In unison they stepped back, suddenly very terrified, John spotted them and stepped forward,
"Uh, hi! This is Earth?"
The three just stood there opened mouthed.
"Listen, I know this is a shock, I'm - "
Shirley found her voice,
"Yes you're Dr John Crichton, worked for the IASA, you're meant to be dead".
It was John's turn to be shocked,
"How. Never mind, listen we need somewhere to stay, we've got some very important business and we're going to need help".
"Let's go to my place just now, it's the nearest, Dad's at a conference in Britain so he'll be away all week and Gram's out tonight".
The aliens whispered together,
"Are you insane? We don't know anything about these. uh kids! They could be leading us into a trap".
"Aeryn, listen. We've got to trust someone and I don't know about Sabaceans but Earth kids are innocent, I don't think they understand about what's happening".
"The girl said we could go to her house. maybe we could have a base there, you know, commando stuff. You never know these kids could help us, they wouldn't know any better".
"Exactly Chiana" John interrupted, "That's why I think it's the best idea, we'll need somewhere to stay, work from and I'm sure they'll have some books that could help our search".
Aeryn just frowned, pulling at her pulse rifle,
"You'd better be right Crichton otherwise the authorities might end up finding you with a couple of holes in your head" Her hand patted the rifle protectively.
Rygel looked up,
"Do I get a say in this since I am -"
"No!" came the chorus of answers, finally John turned around,
"Okay".
And Shirley led them home. Later on she wondered how on Earth she had been so calm, maybe it was the fact that she thought it was a big hoax and that the slug was a clever little device and that the girl has a good make up set - boy was she wrong!
Hiding in the bushes, the pursuer smiled evilly,
"Gotcha Holmes, maybe this time you'll listen to my warning. Your new friends will soon be hot on the news".
"You're going to what - oh no!" Bo jumped clear away but found himself
caught by the strange raven-haired woman,
"Werana (click) eruta swarne le(click)"
Bo stopped in surprise at the woman's voice, Chiana seized her chance and injected the microbes into the base of his neck".
Bo yelled and started flinging around trying to break free, Aeryn quickly let go, allowing him to stumble to the floor cursing.
Bart had passed out when Rygel had started talking, so he was an easy job to which John obligingly used the injector.
Shirley though, was calm and simply asked what it was and John simply
replied,
"Translator microbes, they colonise at the bottom of your skull so that you can understand other peoples language as they interpret as your own".
Shirley nodded and reluctantly stepped forward so Chiana could do her job.
"Is that better?"
Shirley spun around,
"Wow these things are amazing!"
"They are I suppose" Chiana drawled in a bored voice.
Having been studying Shirley for a good few minutes John finally asked,
"How come you're not scared?" "I." Shirley pondered for a second, "I suppose that if you were going to kill us you would have done already and. to be honest I'm not sure if I believe this".
"Believe what?" Aeryn asked instinctively going to check her pulse rifle but remembering John had made them leave them behind at the pod.
"Believe you're real. I mean you haven't given us any reason to believe that wow these people really aren't from Earth. Your languages could easily be forged, the make up is real good, the ship was fantastic and the robot is fascinating," Indicating to Rygel who was looking extremely insulted.
"How dare you. you. you. human! I am a Dominar of six billion-"
"Shut it Sparky" John closed Rygel's mouth only to get it bitten.
"Ow! Frell."
"Listen, can we just get on with the reason why we're on this frelling backwater planet. D'Argo's time is running out - we don't have time to frell about!"
"Okay -okay!" John stopped Aeryn, "Listen, I know it's hard to believe but
we're in desperate need of some herbs".
"Herbs?"
"Herbs?"
The second 'Herbs?' came from behind them, everyone turned to see Peggy Holmes standing there with her hands on her hips.
"Well is anybody going to tell me what's going on? Shirley?"
John stared open mouthed; it couldn't be, could it?
"Mrs Holmes?"
Surprised Peggy turned to the strange man and looked at him closely,
"By god, John Crichton, is it really you?"
The other's looked at them astonished,
"Gran, you know Dr Crichton?"
"It's been two years, everyone thought you were. dead".
John looked at the ground,
"They did" it was more a statement than a question.
Mrs Holmes shakily held out a hand and traced his cheek,
"You've changed".
With that, the two enveloped themselves in a hug.
Chiana turned to Shirley,
"They know each other?"
Shirley shrugged,
"They must do, though Gran hardly ever talks about her past".
"So what now?" Bo asked running his fingers over Rygel's hover chair.
"I think an explanation is in order and you'll need some rest, it's too late now to go searching for these Herbs or whatever." Mrs Holmes straightened up, heading over to the kettle. "I think, you'd better start at the beginning, I'll make some tea and biscuits - Shirley, why don't you take our visitors into the living room."
"Sure Gran".
"Haythwarto Nigareta fy nu eenyg"
Peggy looked up at the unfamiliar speech; John nodded at Aeryn,
"I'll do it".
After Mrs Holmes had been injected with the translator microbes, the whole group had sat down in the comfortable chairs and John had told the whole gruesome story about his work in the IASA and the Farscape project. Leading to the wormhole and his new adventures in the Uncharted Territories with the Luxen; D'Argo, the blue Delvian; Zhaan, Pilot, Moya, Chiana, Rygel and the beautiful ex-Peacekeeper; Aeryn. He told all about the evil Scorpious and the madman Crais who were after him for different reasons, the other aliens told them about their lives and the other kinds of species they had met during their travels.
They also explained D'Argo's situation in which Peggy had some very good
ideas.
Shirley had jumped at the chance to ask how her Gran knew John and finally found out some things about her past.
When her father, Robert Holmes, had been young, the family had moved to Southern America where they bought a house in the Royal Darson Park, a large estate with hundreds of acres of wooded ground. Houses were relatively close and it was a friendly neighbourhood where everyone was sociable and knew each other. The Holmes' had moved onto a road with what the Scottish would probably call a 'toun' (a group of houses), and befriended the four families that also occupied the land, the Masons', the Jenkins', the Harrows' and the Crichtons'.
Robert quickly befriended the Crichton's son, John and his friend DK, they spent ages roaming the cliffs and moors, getting into countless mischief. The forth year brought tragedy to the Crichton house, John's mother died after fighting a brave battle against cancer. Peggy heart had gone out to the grieving family offering support and comfort, looking after the kids for the father, Jack, understanding the sense of loss. Jack worked for the IASA, an astronaut by love and passion; he was subjected to countless missions to which he served with pride.
Peggy was also in grief for the mother had become a good friend to her, sharing several firm interests, so they two families became very close.
The fifth year brought a change in with the tide and the Holmes moved back to Britain leaving that life far behind yet Peggy kept in touch with Jack and his son.
Shirley felt John staring into her, finding each detail and drawing it to a point.
"You're Rob's daughter?"
"Yes".
"My god, just think, imagine if DK." John's voice fell away as sad memories of his other best friend flooded through his mind.
Aeryn had been listening with rapture, loving the chance to learn about this bizarre race,
"How old are you all?"
"I'm 14, Bo-" Shirley looked at her best friend who had fallen asleep, kicking his shin she turned back to Aeryn, "He's 15 and Bart is 14".
"You're pretty smart for your age" Chiana drawled softly as she fondled the photographs on the table - having never seen a paper photograph before.
Bo grunted in response, he glared at Shirley evilly as he rubbed his poor shin.
Suddenly Peggy stood up,
"Dear me, it's past midnight, Bo, Bart, you'd better phone your parents, I bet they're worried sick - in fact you'd might as well stay the night; Since it's going to be rather crowded anyway".
Bart and Bo disappeared to the phone, Shirley disappeared upstairs with her Gran, Chiana and Rygel to sort out bedding while John triumphantly turned on the television and endured a long lecture about how strange his culture was from Aeryn.
The moon shone down and the glint it reflected in the intruder's eyes was the only give-away to the person's presence. Clad in dark clothing and camera they snuck to the window, the curtains had been forgotten so the person had a clear view into the house.
Smiling happily they held the camera up and snapped several angled shots before climbing up the roof, so professionally -almost catlike to the upstairs rooms. Luckily, for the stranger, the first room was the one they wanted and holding up the camera, several shots of the white girl and the little Yoda were taken before like a ghost the phantom figure disappeared into the cool night air.
Downstairs, John stirred slightly, silently jolting at the unfamiliar surroundings before relaxing again - too tired to wonder what had woken him up. As he settled and sleep began to claim him, Aeryn awoke too but instantly dropped of again, snuggling closer to John before enveloping deep sleep.
Next morning brought disaster, Chiana came screaming downstairs - awakening the whole household bringing them running to the living room.
"It's Rygel" she panted, "He's gone."