Crossroads---Part IX
John had been back on Moya for nearly a full cycle and all was right with the world. He and Aeryn were together and Jack was a well adjusted, extraordinary growing boy. But as on earth, it was just a matter of time before `Murphy's Law' reared its ugly head.
(Murphy's Law: If something can go wrong, it will!)
John was sitting on the observation deck with Jack working on teaching him how to write his name. He knew he was kind of young for that but Jack has demonstrated some incredible capabilities and John wanted to explore the extent of them. They were joking around when Pilot appeared on the clamshell.
Pilot: "Commander, your presence is requested in command. Moya has picked up a distress signal from Talyn."
John: "Has there been any communication from Crais?"
Pilot: "No. Officer Sun has been trying to raise him but there has been no response."
John: "How far are we from Talyn?"
Pilot: "We should rendezvous with him in less than three arns."
John: "Let Aeryn know I am on my way."
Pilot: "Yes Commander."
John looked at Jack. He got a nervous feeling in the pit of his stomach unlike anything he had felt before. He didn't know what had happened to Talyn and how dangerous it might be and now with Jack being aboard Moya he was very apprehensive. John stood up and held his hand out to Jack.
John: "Come on little man, Daddy and Mommy have to go play Buck Rogers and Xena, Warrior Princess."
Jack smiled up at him. John couldn't help but returning his infectious grin. Jack held his arms up to John.
Jack: "Daddy, horsey."
John kneeled down so that Jack could climb up on his back. They galloped off to command.
*******
Aeryn and D'Argo were standing in command when John galloped in with Jack and Chiana and Rygel on their heels. He brought Jack over to the table and sat him down. Chiana sat beside him. John walked over to Aeryn and D'Argo.
John: "Any word from Crais yet?"
Aeryn: "No. According to Pilot, Talyn's transmissions have ceased as well. Moya is following the trajectory of his last distress signal."
John stood close to Aeryn.
John: "So we don't know what we are flying into?"
He looked over at Jack. She looked at Jack then back at John.
Aeryn: "No."
He could see the worry in her eyes. He laid his hand on her back to reassure her.
John: "Pilot, Aeryn, D'Argo, and I are going to take D'Argo's ship ahead and see what we can find out. Chiana, Jool, and Rygel will stay here with you, Jack and Moya. If you sense any trouble, you get Moya to star burst out of here."
Pilot: "Understood Commander but I don't know if Moya will go without knowing what has happened to Talyn."
Aeryn: "Pilot, tell her she has to go to protect Jack."
Pilot: "She will go, if necessary, to protect Young Crichton."
D'Argo: "Pilot, have the DRDs prepare my ship."
Pilot: "They are all ready on it Ka D'Argo."
Aeryn went over and picked up Jack. She held him close. D'Argo walked by and touched Jack's head. Jack looked at him and smiled. He walked out of command. Aeryn looked down at Chiana. She didn't have to say a word. Her eyes said it all.
Chiana: "Don't worry Aeryn, I will take good care of him till you and Crichton return."
Aeryn kissed Jack's forehead. John walked over and took him from her. She walked toward the door and looked back at him. She took a breath and walked out. John held Jack straight up in the air over his head. Jack was looking down at him laughing. John smiled at him. He brought him down and hugged him.
John: "You be good for Chi, okay?"
Jack shook his head in the affirmative. John looked in Chiana's eyes as he handed Jack to her.
John: "You take good care of my son, Pip."
Chiana: "You guys just hurry back and signal us once you know about Talyn."
John kissed the top of Jack's head and walked out of command. Jack was playing with Chiana's hair. She looked at him.
Chiana: "Everything is going to be fine. Nothing to worry about right kid?"
She found herself phrasing it as a question. She laid her hand on Jack's back.
*******
D'Argo lifted off from Moya's docking bay and headed out in the direction of Talyn's last signal. John kept watching Aeryn. She was sitting behind him fiddling with her pulse rifle. He turned around and laid his hand on hers. She looked up at him.
John: "I am sure that he is fine."
Aeryn: "You think so. May be one of us should have stayed behind."
John: "I was talking about Talyn."
She lowered her eyes.
John: "Aeryn?"
She looked up at him.
John: "If anything happens, Pilot and the others will get Jack out of there. He will be fine."
Aeryn: "Do you really believe that?"
John: "We have to otherwise how can we keep him on Moya knowing all the dren that we keep running into."
Aeryn: "I know your right. I don't know why I am acting this way. I am a soldier."
John: "You are a mother."
John took her hand in his and softly kissed the back of it. She smiled slightly. He touched her cheek. He turned back around in his seat. He didn't want her to see the fear she was feeling reflected in his eyes. D'Argo looked over at him. He nodded in acknowledgment of John's apprehension. John nodded and looked back toward the window.
D'Argo: "Pilot, we have visual of Talyn."
Pilot: "Can you see any damage?"
John: "He appears to be just floating in dead space. D'Argo are your sensors picking up any vessels in the area?"
D'Argo: "No."
Aeryn: "Perhaps whatever or whoever rendered him in this condition, hit and ran."
John looked over his shoulder at her. He loved when she used earth terms.
John: "Perhaps."
He grinned at her. He turned back around.
D'Argo: "Pilot, we are going to board Moya. We are going to leave our coms open. Have you heard anything from Crais?"
Pilot: "No. Moya is worried about Talyn."
John: "Don't let her come any closer Pilot not until we figure out what has happened here."
Pilot: "She understands the situation Commander."
Aeryn: "Pilot, is Jack okay?"
Pilot: "He is fine Officer Sun. At the moment he is riding Rygel's throne sled with Chiana's help."
John: "Rygel gave up his throne sled?"
Pilot: "I don't think Chiana and Young Crichton exactly asked for permission."
John lowered his head trying to stifle his laughter. D'Argo threw his head back and laughed. Aeryn shook her head and smiled slightly. D'Argo moved into position to board Talyn.
*****
Talyn was eerily quiet. There were DRDs moving about and familiar humming from Talyn's inner workings but other than that nothing. The three of them pulled their weapons as they walked off of D'Argo's ship.
Aeryn: "Lets split up and search for Crais. I will take command."
John: "I will take tier 2. D'Argo, tier 3."
D'Argo: "I am on it. We will meet back in command in 40 microts."
Aeryn and John: "Okay."
D'Argo headed off. John looked at Aeryn as they entered the corridor.
John: "Aeryn, be careful."
Aeryn: "You too. Love you..."
She said as she walked in the opposite direction he was going.
John: "Back at you Baby."
*******
Aeryn entered command slowly with her pulse rifle moving from side to side like a good little peacekeeper. The lights in command were dimmed as they were all over the ship. She knew that meant Talyn's back up systems were working but the main systems were offline. When she assessed that she was alone, she lowered her pulse rifle to her side and went over to the override panel to see if she could get Talyn's main systems back up.
John was moving through tier 2. He was just about ready to give up when he heard moaning sounds. He held out his pulse pistol and waved his hand over the door controls. He stepped into the room just as Aeryn got Talyn's systems online. The lights came on and John saw Crais lying bound and gagged in the middle of the cell chamber. John walked in cautiously and kept turning around to make sure no one got the drop on him. He kneeled down beside Crais. He jimmied the gag out of his mouth.
John: "Crais, can you hear me? Crais wake up."
Crais' eyes popped open.
Crais: "Crichton?"
John: "What happened to you? And why were Talyn's systems off-line?"
Crais' eyes got very wide.
Crais: "Where is he?"
John: "Who?"
Crais: "He slipped on board on the last commerce planet when I stopped for supplies. He must have there is no other way. Talyn would have sensed him any other way."
John was cutting Crais loose.
John: "What the hell are talking about Crais?"
Crais: "I don't know how he found us. How did he get free?"
John: "Captain Crunch..."
John grabbed his face to get his attention.
John: "Stop freaking out and tell me who you are talking about."
Crais looked in his face.
Crais: "Velorek."
John was stunned.
John: "What? Who? Aeryn told me he was dead."
Before Crais could say another word, D'Argo's voice came over the com.
D'Argo: "I am in the lower tiers and some one has really done some damage to some of Talyn's conduits."
John: "D'Argo meet me in command. I found Crais."
D'Argo: "On my way."
John: "Aeryn, are you getting all of this?"
John waited there was no response.
John: "Aeryn?! Aeryn! Answer me baby!"
John pulled Crais to his feet. He pulled out his pulse pistol and ran out of the chamber quickly followed by a bruised and battered Crais.
As they entered command Aeryn was standing there with her pulse pistol in hand staring down into the face of ghost, or so she was trying to convince herself. Crais and D'Argo stood near the door of the command. John walked over to Aeryn.
John: "Baby, lower your weapon. It is all right."
She looked like she had seen a ghost. John touched her arm. She looked at him. It was like it took a microt to recognize who he was.
John: "It is okay Aeryn."
Aeryn: "John."
She looked down at Velorek.
John: "You are not seeing things. It is him. Crais told me."
Aeryn: "Crais?"
She looked up and saw Crais standing by the door. She raised her pulse pistol.
Aeryn: "Peacekeeper lies."
John stood between her and Crais.
John: "Aeryn."
Her eyes met John's. She lowered her pulse pistol and holstered it.
Velorek: "Under other circumstances, I would say it was good to see you again Aeryn."
John looked down at him. He sat up slowly and tried to get to his feet. He leaned on a console for support. Talyn was now fully revived and aimed his internal guns at Velorek.
Crais: "No, Talyn. Everything is under control now."
Crais walked over to Velorek. He took the pulse pistol from him and walked over the console. He laid his hand on his transponder trying to survey Talyn's damage. D'Argo recognized Velorek from the PK vid chip they had seen cycles earlier.
Aeryn: "Why were you trying to destroy Talyn?"
Velorek: "He is an abomination. He is unnatural. He was never meant to be."
Aeryn: "He is a living creature and you were trying to kill him."
Velorek laughed softly.
Velorek: "Funny that didn't stop you from turning me in before. Knowing full well it meant death."
She lowered her eyes. She hadn't felt the pain or shame of that in a long time. John laid his hand on her back. He remembered her strong emotional reaction to those memories of that time and he wasn't about to let her go through that again.
John: "How did you get on this ship?"
Velorek: "I am sorry. Have we met? Are you peacekeeper?"
John: "No, I am a human."
Velorek: "You will pardon me if I don't feel it necessary to answer the questions of an alien or..."
He looked back at D'Argo.
Velorek: "A Luxan fugitive."
D'Argo stuck his qualta blade out.
D'Argo: "It is necessary."
Velorek looked at Aeryn.
Crais: "Lock him up. I will have Talyn contact Moya for a rendezvous point."
D'Argo put Velorek in a cell chamber. He wouldn't talk to either D'Argo or John. Aeryn stayed in command with Crais making sure Talyn's systems were fully operational, encase Velorek brought some company with him.
John was standing at the cell doors staring at Velorek. Here he was the man Aeryn had loved before him. He wasn't overly impressed with him.
Velorek: "You want to ask me something human."
John: "I thought you didn't want to talk."
Velorek: "To you but I will talk to Aeryn Sun."
John: "I don't think she wants to talk to you."
Aeryn: "Yes, I do John."
John turned and was surprised to see Aeryn standing there. He walked over to her. He pulled her aside and whispered close to her ear.
John: "Aeryn, you don't have to do this."
She looked in John's eyes.
Aeryn: "Yes I do."
She took his hand in hers so that their rings were touching.
Aeryn: "Do you remember what you told me once about clearing the air?"
John: "Yes."
John looked back at Velorek then at Aeryn.
John: "I will be a com away in command."
Aeryn: "Okay."
She took her pulse pistol and handed it to John. He was surprised. They kissed. John headed off to command. Aeryn walked over to the cell chamber and opened the door.
Velorek: "You don't have to worry Officer Sun. I remember enough about you to know that you could take me out if you needed to."
She walked in and sat down across from him.
John had been back on Moya for nearly a full cycle and all was right with the world. He and Aeryn were together and Jack was a well adjusted, extraordinary growing boy. But as on earth, it was just a matter of time before `Murphy's Law' reared its ugly head.
(Murphy's Law: If something can go wrong, it will!)
John was sitting on the observation deck with Jack working on teaching him how to write his name. He knew he was kind of young for that but Jack has demonstrated some incredible capabilities and John wanted to explore the extent of them. They were joking around when Pilot appeared on the clamshell.
Pilot: "Commander, your presence is requested in command. Moya has picked up a distress signal from Talyn."
John: "Has there been any communication from Crais?"
Pilot: "No. Officer Sun has been trying to raise him but there has been no response."
John: "How far are we from Talyn?"
Pilot: "We should rendezvous with him in less than three arns."
John: "Let Aeryn know I am on my way."
Pilot: "Yes Commander."
John looked at Jack. He got a nervous feeling in the pit of his stomach unlike anything he had felt before. He didn't know what had happened to Talyn and how dangerous it might be and now with Jack being aboard Moya he was very apprehensive. John stood up and held his hand out to Jack.
John: "Come on little man, Daddy and Mommy have to go play Buck Rogers and Xena, Warrior Princess."
Jack smiled up at him. John couldn't help but returning his infectious grin. Jack held his arms up to John.
Jack: "Daddy, horsey."
John kneeled down so that Jack could climb up on his back. They galloped off to command.
*******
Aeryn and D'Argo were standing in command when John galloped in with Jack and Chiana and Rygel on their heels. He brought Jack over to the table and sat him down. Chiana sat beside him. John walked over to Aeryn and D'Argo.
John: "Any word from Crais yet?"
Aeryn: "No. According to Pilot, Talyn's transmissions have ceased as well. Moya is following the trajectory of his last distress signal."
John stood close to Aeryn.
John: "So we don't know what we are flying into?"
He looked over at Jack. She looked at Jack then back at John.
Aeryn: "No."
He could see the worry in her eyes. He laid his hand on her back to reassure her.
John: "Pilot, Aeryn, D'Argo, and I are going to take D'Argo's ship ahead and see what we can find out. Chiana, Jool, and Rygel will stay here with you, Jack and Moya. If you sense any trouble, you get Moya to star burst out of here."
Pilot: "Understood Commander but I don't know if Moya will go without knowing what has happened to Talyn."
Aeryn: "Pilot, tell her she has to go to protect Jack."
Pilot: "She will go, if necessary, to protect Young Crichton."
D'Argo: "Pilot, have the DRDs prepare my ship."
Pilot: "They are all ready on it Ka D'Argo."
Aeryn went over and picked up Jack. She held him close. D'Argo walked by and touched Jack's head. Jack looked at him and smiled. He walked out of command. Aeryn looked down at Chiana. She didn't have to say a word. Her eyes said it all.
Chiana: "Don't worry Aeryn, I will take good care of him till you and Crichton return."
Aeryn kissed Jack's forehead. John walked over and took him from her. She walked toward the door and looked back at him. She took a breath and walked out. John held Jack straight up in the air over his head. Jack was looking down at him laughing. John smiled at him. He brought him down and hugged him.
John: "You be good for Chi, okay?"
Jack shook his head in the affirmative. John looked in Chiana's eyes as he handed Jack to her.
John: "You take good care of my son, Pip."
Chiana: "You guys just hurry back and signal us once you know about Talyn."
John kissed the top of Jack's head and walked out of command. Jack was playing with Chiana's hair. She looked at him.
Chiana: "Everything is going to be fine. Nothing to worry about right kid?"
She found herself phrasing it as a question. She laid her hand on Jack's back.
*******
D'Argo lifted off from Moya's docking bay and headed out in the direction of Talyn's last signal. John kept watching Aeryn. She was sitting behind him fiddling with her pulse rifle. He turned around and laid his hand on hers. She looked up at him.
John: "I am sure that he is fine."
Aeryn: "You think so. May be one of us should have stayed behind."
John: "I was talking about Talyn."
She lowered her eyes.
John: "Aeryn?"
She looked up at him.
John: "If anything happens, Pilot and the others will get Jack out of there. He will be fine."
Aeryn: "Do you really believe that?"
John: "We have to otherwise how can we keep him on Moya knowing all the dren that we keep running into."
Aeryn: "I know your right. I don't know why I am acting this way. I am a soldier."
John: "You are a mother."
John took her hand in his and softly kissed the back of it. She smiled slightly. He touched her cheek. He turned back around in his seat. He didn't want her to see the fear she was feeling reflected in his eyes. D'Argo looked over at him. He nodded in acknowledgment of John's apprehension. John nodded and looked back toward the window.
D'Argo: "Pilot, we have visual of Talyn."
Pilot: "Can you see any damage?"
John: "He appears to be just floating in dead space. D'Argo are your sensors picking up any vessels in the area?"
D'Argo: "No."
Aeryn: "Perhaps whatever or whoever rendered him in this condition, hit and ran."
John looked over his shoulder at her. He loved when she used earth terms.
John: "Perhaps."
He grinned at her. He turned back around.
D'Argo: "Pilot, we are going to board Moya. We are going to leave our coms open. Have you heard anything from Crais?"
Pilot: "No. Moya is worried about Talyn."
John: "Don't let her come any closer Pilot not until we figure out what has happened here."
Pilot: "She understands the situation Commander."
Aeryn: "Pilot, is Jack okay?"
Pilot: "He is fine Officer Sun. At the moment he is riding Rygel's throne sled with Chiana's help."
John: "Rygel gave up his throne sled?"
Pilot: "I don't think Chiana and Young Crichton exactly asked for permission."
John lowered his head trying to stifle his laughter. D'Argo threw his head back and laughed. Aeryn shook her head and smiled slightly. D'Argo moved into position to board Talyn.
*****
Talyn was eerily quiet. There were DRDs moving about and familiar humming from Talyn's inner workings but other than that nothing. The three of them pulled their weapons as they walked off of D'Argo's ship.
Aeryn: "Lets split up and search for Crais. I will take command."
John: "I will take tier 2. D'Argo, tier 3."
D'Argo: "I am on it. We will meet back in command in 40 microts."
Aeryn and John: "Okay."
D'Argo headed off. John looked at Aeryn as they entered the corridor.
John: "Aeryn, be careful."
Aeryn: "You too. Love you..."
She said as she walked in the opposite direction he was going.
John: "Back at you Baby."
*******
Aeryn entered command slowly with her pulse rifle moving from side to side like a good little peacekeeper. The lights in command were dimmed as they were all over the ship. She knew that meant Talyn's back up systems were working but the main systems were offline. When she assessed that she was alone, she lowered her pulse rifle to her side and went over to the override panel to see if she could get Talyn's main systems back up.
John was moving through tier 2. He was just about ready to give up when he heard moaning sounds. He held out his pulse pistol and waved his hand over the door controls. He stepped into the room just as Aeryn got Talyn's systems online. The lights came on and John saw Crais lying bound and gagged in the middle of the cell chamber. John walked in cautiously and kept turning around to make sure no one got the drop on him. He kneeled down beside Crais. He jimmied the gag out of his mouth.
John: "Crais, can you hear me? Crais wake up."
Crais' eyes popped open.
Crais: "Crichton?"
John: "What happened to you? And why were Talyn's systems off-line?"
Crais' eyes got very wide.
Crais: "Where is he?"
John: "Who?"
Crais: "He slipped on board on the last commerce planet when I stopped for supplies. He must have there is no other way. Talyn would have sensed him any other way."
John was cutting Crais loose.
John: "What the hell are talking about Crais?"
Crais: "I don't know how he found us. How did he get free?"
John: "Captain Crunch..."
John grabbed his face to get his attention.
John: "Stop freaking out and tell me who you are talking about."
Crais looked in his face.
Crais: "Velorek."
John was stunned.
John: "What? Who? Aeryn told me he was dead."
Before Crais could say another word, D'Argo's voice came over the com.
D'Argo: "I am in the lower tiers and some one has really done some damage to some of Talyn's conduits."
John: "D'Argo meet me in command. I found Crais."
D'Argo: "On my way."
John: "Aeryn, are you getting all of this?"
John waited there was no response.
John: "Aeryn?! Aeryn! Answer me baby!"
John pulled Crais to his feet. He pulled out his pulse pistol and ran out of the chamber quickly followed by a bruised and battered Crais.
As they entered command Aeryn was standing there with her pulse pistol in hand staring down into the face of ghost, or so she was trying to convince herself. Crais and D'Argo stood near the door of the command. John walked over to Aeryn.
John: "Baby, lower your weapon. It is all right."
She looked like she had seen a ghost. John touched her arm. She looked at him. It was like it took a microt to recognize who he was.
John: "It is okay Aeryn."
Aeryn: "John."
She looked down at Velorek.
John: "You are not seeing things. It is him. Crais told me."
Aeryn: "Crais?"
She looked up and saw Crais standing by the door. She raised her pulse pistol.
Aeryn: "Peacekeeper lies."
John stood between her and Crais.
John: "Aeryn."
Her eyes met John's. She lowered her pulse pistol and holstered it.
Velorek: "Under other circumstances, I would say it was good to see you again Aeryn."
John looked down at him. He sat up slowly and tried to get to his feet. He leaned on a console for support. Talyn was now fully revived and aimed his internal guns at Velorek.
Crais: "No, Talyn. Everything is under control now."
Crais walked over to Velorek. He took the pulse pistol from him and walked over the console. He laid his hand on his transponder trying to survey Talyn's damage. D'Argo recognized Velorek from the PK vid chip they had seen cycles earlier.
Aeryn: "Why were you trying to destroy Talyn?"
Velorek: "He is an abomination. He is unnatural. He was never meant to be."
Aeryn: "He is a living creature and you were trying to kill him."
Velorek laughed softly.
Velorek: "Funny that didn't stop you from turning me in before. Knowing full well it meant death."
She lowered her eyes. She hadn't felt the pain or shame of that in a long time. John laid his hand on her back. He remembered her strong emotional reaction to those memories of that time and he wasn't about to let her go through that again.
John: "How did you get on this ship?"
Velorek: "I am sorry. Have we met? Are you peacekeeper?"
John: "No, I am a human."
Velorek: "You will pardon me if I don't feel it necessary to answer the questions of an alien or..."
He looked back at D'Argo.
Velorek: "A Luxan fugitive."
D'Argo stuck his qualta blade out.
D'Argo: "It is necessary."
Velorek looked at Aeryn.
Crais: "Lock him up. I will have Talyn contact Moya for a rendezvous point."
D'Argo put Velorek in a cell chamber. He wouldn't talk to either D'Argo or John. Aeryn stayed in command with Crais making sure Talyn's systems were fully operational, encase Velorek brought some company with him.
John was standing at the cell doors staring at Velorek. Here he was the man Aeryn had loved before him. He wasn't overly impressed with him.
Velorek: "You want to ask me something human."
John: "I thought you didn't want to talk."
Velorek: "To you but I will talk to Aeryn Sun."
John: "I don't think she wants to talk to you."
Aeryn: "Yes, I do John."
John turned and was surprised to see Aeryn standing there. He walked over to her. He pulled her aside and whispered close to her ear.
John: "Aeryn, you don't have to do this."
She looked in John's eyes.
Aeryn: "Yes I do."
She took his hand in hers so that their rings were touching.
Aeryn: "Do you remember what you told me once about clearing the air?"
John: "Yes."
John looked back at Velorek then at Aeryn.
John: "I will be a com away in command."
Aeryn: "Okay."
She took her pulse pistol and handed it to John. He was surprised. They kissed. John headed off to command. Aeryn walked over to the cell chamber and opened the door.
Velorek: "You don't have to worry Officer Sun. I remember enough about you to know that you could take me out if you needed to."
She walked in and sat down across from him.