Crossroads--Part XII
Aeryn was in the docking bay holding her son while Velorek and D'Argo got on his ship preparing to fly over to Talyn. John was holding Aeryn's bag. He walked over to her prowler and put it inside. He looked back at her and then over at D'Argo and Velorek. He walked over and stood in front of Velorek. Staring into his eyes, he didn't say a word. D'Argo touched John's shoulder. John looked at him.
John: "If Aeryn doesn't make it back, you make sure he doesn't either. (Gesturing towards Velorek)"
He moved away and walked slowly toward Aeryn. Aeryn's forehead was leaning against Jack's. She was whispering to him. John wiped a single tear from his cheek. He didn't want to upset Jack or Aeryn anymore than they all ready seemed to be.
Aeryn: "You take care of your daddy while I am gone. Be a good boy. Promise?"
Jack: (speaking softly) Promise."
He didn't really understand what was going on but he picked up on the fact that his mother was upset. Aeryn held him close to her and kissed the side of his head. She looked over at Chiana.
Aeryn: "Chiana, would you...?"
Chiana: "Of course."
Chiana walked over. Aeryn handed Jack to her. He started to cry and held on to her arm.
Jack: "No, I want to stay with mommy."
Aeryn stroked his hair with her free hand as she carefully pulled her arm away from him.
Chiana: "Not this time little man. Come on lets go and see Pilot for a little while."
Jack's arms were around Chiana's neck. He was staring at Aeryn as Chiana walked out of the room with him. Aeryn smiled and waved at him. He waved back. She lowered her head once he was out of sight. John walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He kissed the back of her head.
John: "Ouch, huh?"
She turned around and looked at him. He reached up and gently wiped her tears away.
John: "Don't cry baby. He is going to be okay."
Aeryn: "I know."
She swallowed hard.
Aeryn: "John, I want you to hold on to something for me until I get back."
John: "What?"
She took his hand in hers and held it palm up. She slipped her wedding ring into his hand and closed his fingers around it. He looked up in her eyes.
John: "Aeryn?!"
Aeryn: "If anything should happened they would take it from me and I don't want them to have it. I want you to hold on to it until I get back and then when you put it on my finger again, I will never take it off."
He looked in her eyes.
John: "I love you."
Aeryn: "I love you too."
He touched her smooth creamy cheek with the back of his hand.
John: "No goodbyes."
Aeryn: "No."
He held his hand up in front of her. She smiled. She laid her palm against his palm and interlaced her fingers with his. They stared into each other's eyes. Aeryn leaned forward and softly kissed his lips as she pulled her hand away from his. She swiftly moved passed him and went over to her prowler. She could hear Jack crying over the com.
Aeryn: "Go to Jack, John. He needs you."
He gave her one last long stare as she climbed into her prowler. She smiled at him. He smiled back. John walked out of the docking bay.
Aeryn lifted off of Moya and headed over to Talyn. John stood in command holding Jack watching as Talyn starburst away carrying Aeryn, D'Argo, Crais and Velorek. John held Jack close. He had stopped crying but he was still sniffling. John rubbed his back and rocked him in his arms.
John: "It is okay Jack. Mommy will be back soon. We are going to be okay."
Jack had quieted down and laid his head on his dad's shoulder. John remembered what Aeryn had told him to do in the worse of microts. He whispered in Jack's ear.
John: (his voice cracking with emotion) "I love you. I love you. I love you."
A single tear rolled down his cheek. Aeryn could hear their exchange over the com. She wiped her tears away and listened to Jack's soft breathing until Talyn was no longer in range.
*******
It took Talyn four solar days to reach peacekeeper territory. Just before Talyn entered the territory D'Argo left with his ship. They had mapped out a strategic location ahead of time for his ship to hide until Talyn emerged from PK territory. He couldn't risk entering PK territory. Aeryn had to relinquish her com to D'Argo so that encase of capture he could not be tracked and neither could Moya and her crew. Before D'Argo left he told her that he would wait for two solar days and if she hadn't come back, he would come in after her. They hugged for the first time since she had boarded Moya many cycles before. Crais left D'Argo with the coordinates for the facility.
Aeryn boarded her prowler. She was going to be flying in beside Talyn as an escort. Once she was ready Velorek made contact with the facility. A Captain Isle Seneco was now in charge of the facility. He was placed in charge after Velorek's escape when the other captain was demoted for his failure. As soon as Velorek made contact a squad of prowlers were dispensed from the facility. The surrounded Talyn and Aeryn's prowler.
Aeryn: (in a hushed voice) "its show time folks."
Smiling at her ease in using one of John's earth phrases.
Crais was trying to control Talyn as best he could. He had explained their plan to him but Talyn's instinct for survival was making it difficult. Crais had to keep him from doing anything until Velorek got on board the facility to make sure the data was localized and not being linked to high command.
Crais: "Talyn, you must be patient. We must help Officer Sun."
Crais felt Talyn ease back.
Crais: "That is good Talyn. I will let you know when it is time."
Velorek was sitting on command. He held up his hands with the peacekeeper cuffs on them.
Velorek: "If you don't mind removing these now."
Crais: "Once we are on the transport pod and off of Talyn, I will gladly free you."
Velorek lowered his hands.
Velorek: "Have you truly changed Captain Crais or are you as manipulating as you have always been?"
Crais: "I could ask you the same question."
Velorek smiled. Crais rested his hand on his pulse pistol.
Crais: "After you."
He gestured for Velorek to leave command. Velorek stood up and walked out. Crais rested his hand on his transponder to give Talyn some last minute instructions before leaving on the pod. Once they were safely away and Talyn had raised his defense shields as ordered by Crais, he reluctantly removed the cuffs from Velorek.
Aeryn landed her prowler and was instantly surrounded by peacekeeper special ops. She was stripped of her pulse rifle and pistol. A PK soldier wearing a dark helmet approached Aeryn slowly.
Soldier: "Officer Aeryn Sun, special ops Ikarian Company under Captain Bilar Crais."
Aeryn had her best PK glare working. She looked at the soldier's rank on his jacket.
Aeryn: "We couldn't have met. I don't know any grunts."
The soldier struck her with the butt of his rifle knocking her to the ground. A trickle of blood dripped from her hairline. She kicked the legs out from underneath the soldier and went on the attack. Two other soldiers grabbed her and she was put in restraints. The soldier took off his helmet. She recognized him from her unit.
Aeryn: "Bilak."
Bilak: "Now you recognize me. I lost my commission because of your traitorous act but it will be reinstated upon your death."
He stood up.
Bilak: "Lock her up on level nine."
Crais and Velorek were coming off the transport pod just as Aeryn was being taken away. Velorek stepped forward.
Velorek: "Which floor is she being put on?"
Bilak: "Nine as you requested."
Velorek: "She is not to be harm in anyway. Is that understood?"
Bilak: "Yes sir."
Velorek: "Have Captain Crais placed on nine also."
Crais grabbed at Velorek.
Crais: "I knew you couldn't be trusted."
Three soldiers pulled him off of Velorek. Velorek straightened his jacket once Crais was pulled off.
Velorek: "Where is Captain Seneco?"
Bilak: "In command awaiting you."
Velorek: "Before the docking web can been dispensed on Talyn, we must first used a neutralizing charge so that he can not attack us. He is small but his power is fierce."
Bilak: "Understood sir."
Crais was dragged away kicking and screaming that he would kill Velorek. Velorek smiled at him.
Velorek: "It was good seeing you again Captain Crais."
Velorek laughed and walked in the opposite direction.
*******
Crais was thrown into the cell beside Aeryn. He was fuming. Aeryn looked at him through the bars.
Aeryn: "Crais."
She was trying to get him to calm down. He was ranting and raving about Velorek's betrayal. The guard looked in at them several times. Aeryn was trying to get his attention.
Aeryn: "Crais!"
He looked at her. The guard watched him go sit down on his bunk. Their backs were to each other.
Crais: "Velorek betrayed us. I will kill him."
Aeryn: "He hasn't."
They were speaking in a hushed whisper.
Crais: "Yes, you didn't see him."
Aeryn: "You must calm yourself or Talyn will feed off of your anger and attack. How is Talyn?"
Crais: "Worried and angry."
Aeryn: "How do you know that?"
The realization hit Crais. Velorek hadn't told them about the transponder. Crais' hair was loose so they didn't see it.
Aeryn: "Now do you understand?"
Crais: "Yes, why didn't you tell me?"
Aeryn: "Your anger had to be real. It had to be convincing. I never thought you were much of an actor."
She smiled slightly and lowered her head.
Crais: "Why this floor?"
Aeryn: "The most secure floor on the facility should house the most dangerous prisoners and ..."
Crais: "And the most important technology."
Aeryn: "Give the man a trophy."
Crais: "You have been around Crichton too long."
She grinned.
Aeryn: "We just have to wait for Velorek's signal before I used this."
Crais: "What?"
Looking over his shoulder slightly. Aeryn's hand was behind her back. She was holding a passkey she took off one of the soldiers who was restraining her.
Crais: "You never cease to amaze me Officer Sun."
Aeryn: "Just try to keep Talyn calm. We can't have him storming this place before we know what we are dealing with or before we can get to our transport."
Crais: "I will try to relax him. What about the neutralizer they plan to use on Talyn?"
Aeryn: "Velorek said that it will stun him for a microt but will not harm him and it will not stop any of his systems. It is basically a light show. Let Talyn know not to retaliate or they will know that it is a fake."
******
Velorek stood in command with Captain Seneco.
Seneco: "You have done will Velorek. High command will reward you highly."
Velorek: "There is only one thing I want, the privilege of seeing the execution of Captain Bilar Crais and Officer Aeryn Sun. My captor and my betrayer."
Aeryn was in the docking bay holding her son while Velorek and D'Argo got on his ship preparing to fly over to Talyn. John was holding Aeryn's bag. He walked over to her prowler and put it inside. He looked back at her and then over at D'Argo and Velorek. He walked over and stood in front of Velorek. Staring into his eyes, he didn't say a word. D'Argo touched John's shoulder. John looked at him.
John: "If Aeryn doesn't make it back, you make sure he doesn't either. (Gesturing towards Velorek)"
He moved away and walked slowly toward Aeryn. Aeryn's forehead was leaning against Jack's. She was whispering to him. John wiped a single tear from his cheek. He didn't want to upset Jack or Aeryn anymore than they all ready seemed to be.
Aeryn: "You take care of your daddy while I am gone. Be a good boy. Promise?"
Jack: (speaking softly) Promise."
He didn't really understand what was going on but he picked up on the fact that his mother was upset. Aeryn held him close to her and kissed the side of his head. She looked over at Chiana.
Aeryn: "Chiana, would you...?"
Chiana: "Of course."
Chiana walked over. Aeryn handed Jack to her. He started to cry and held on to her arm.
Jack: "No, I want to stay with mommy."
Aeryn stroked his hair with her free hand as she carefully pulled her arm away from him.
Chiana: "Not this time little man. Come on lets go and see Pilot for a little while."
Jack's arms were around Chiana's neck. He was staring at Aeryn as Chiana walked out of the room with him. Aeryn smiled and waved at him. He waved back. She lowered her head once he was out of sight. John walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He kissed the back of her head.
John: "Ouch, huh?"
She turned around and looked at him. He reached up and gently wiped her tears away.
John: "Don't cry baby. He is going to be okay."
Aeryn: "I know."
She swallowed hard.
Aeryn: "John, I want you to hold on to something for me until I get back."
John: "What?"
She took his hand in hers and held it palm up. She slipped her wedding ring into his hand and closed his fingers around it. He looked up in her eyes.
John: "Aeryn?!"
Aeryn: "If anything should happened they would take it from me and I don't want them to have it. I want you to hold on to it until I get back and then when you put it on my finger again, I will never take it off."
He looked in her eyes.
John: "I love you."
Aeryn: "I love you too."
He touched her smooth creamy cheek with the back of his hand.
John: "No goodbyes."
Aeryn: "No."
He held his hand up in front of her. She smiled. She laid her palm against his palm and interlaced her fingers with his. They stared into each other's eyes. Aeryn leaned forward and softly kissed his lips as she pulled her hand away from his. She swiftly moved passed him and went over to her prowler. She could hear Jack crying over the com.
Aeryn: "Go to Jack, John. He needs you."
He gave her one last long stare as she climbed into her prowler. She smiled at him. He smiled back. John walked out of the docking bay.
Aeryn lifted off of Moya and headed over to Talyn. John stood in command holding Jack watching as Talyn starburst away carrying Aeryn, D'Argo, Crais and Velorek. John held Jack close. He had stopped crying but he was still sniffling. John rubbed his back and rocked him in his arms.
John: "It is okay Jack. Mommy will be back soon. We are going to be okay."
Jack had quieted down and laid his head on his dad's shoulder. John remembered what Aeryn had told him to do in the worse of microts. He whispered in Jack's ear.
John: (his voice cracking with emotion) "I love you. I love you. I love you."
A single tear rolled down his cheek. Aeryn could hear their exchange over the com. She wiped her tears away and listened to Jack's soft breathing until Talyn was no longer in range.
*******
It took Talyn four solar days to reach peacekeeper territory. Just before Talyn entered the territory D'Argo left with his ship. They had mapped out a strategic location ahead of time for his ship to hide until Talyn emerged from PK territory. He couldn't risk entering PK territory. Aeryn had to relinquish her com to D'Argo so that encase of capture he could not be tracked and neither could Moya and her crew. Before D'Argo left he told her that he would wait for two solar days and if she hadn't come back, he would come in after her. They hugged for the first time since she had boarded Moya many cycles before. Crais left D'Argo with the coordinates for the facility.
Aeryn boarded her prowler. She was going to be flying in beside Talyn as an escort. Once she was ready Velorek made contact with the facility. A Captain Isle Seneco was now in charge of the facility. He was placed in charge after Velorek's escape when the other captain was demoted for his failure. As soon as Velorek made contact a squad of prowlers were dispensed from the facility. The surrounded Talyn and Aeryn's prowler.
Aeryn: (in a hushed voice) "its show time folks."
Smiling at her ease in using one of John's earth phrases.
Crais was trying to control Talyn as best he could. He had explained their plan to him but Talyn's instinct for survival was making it difficult. Crais had to keep him from doing anything until Velorek got on board the facility to make sure the data was localized and not being linked to high command.
Crais: "Talyn, you must be patient. We must help Officer Sun."
Crais felt Talyn ease back.
Crais: "That is good Talyn. I will let you know when it is time."
Velorek was sitting on command. He held up his hands with the peacekeeper cuffs on them.
Velorek: "If you don't mind removing these now."
Crais: "Once we are on the transport pod and off of Talyn, I will gladly free you."
Velorek lowered his hands.
Velorek: "Have you truly changed Captain Crais or are you as manipulating as you have always been?"
Crais: "I could ask you the same question."
Velorek smiled. Crais rested his hand on his pulse pistol.
Crais: "After you."
He gestured for Velorek to leave command. Velorek stood up and walked out. Crais rested his hand on his transponder to give Talyn some last minute instructions before leaving on the pod. Once they were safely away and Talyn had raised his defense shields as ordered by Crais, he reluctantly removed the cuffs from Velorek.
Aeryn landed her prowler and was instantly surrounded by peacekeeper special ops. She was stripped of her pulse rifle and pistol. A PK soldier wearing a dark helmet approached Aeryn slowly.
Soldier: "Officer Aeryn Sun, special ops Ikarian Company under Captain Bilar Crais."
Aeryn had her best PK glare working. She looked at the soldier's rank on his jacket.
Aeryn: "We couldn't have met. I don't know any grunts."
The soldier struck her with the butt of his rifle knocking her to the ground. A trickle of blood dripped from her hairline. She kicked the legs out from underneath the soldier and went on the attack. Two other soldiers grabbed her and she was put in restraints. The soldier took off his helmet. She recognized him from her unit.
Aeryn: "Bilak."
Bilak: "Now you recognize me. I lost my commission because of your traitorous act but it will be reinstated upon your death."
He stood up.
Bilak: "Lock her up on level nine."
Crais and Velorek were coming off the transport pod just as Aeryn was being taken away. Velorek stepped forward.
Velorek: "Which floor is she being put on?"
Bilak: "Nine as you requested."
Velorek: "She is not to be harm in anyway. Is that understood?"
Bilak: "Yes sir."
Velorek: "Have Captain Crais placed on nine also."
Crais grabbed at Velorek.
Crais: "I knew you couldn't be trusted."
Three soldiers pulled him off of Velorek. Velorek straightened his jacket once Crais was pulled off.
Velorek: "Where is Captain Seneco?"
Bilak: "In command awaiting you."
Velorek: "Before the docking web can been dispensed on Talyn, we must first used a neutralizing charge so that he can not attack us. He is small but his power is fierce."
Bilak: "Understood sir."
Crais was dragged away kicking and screaming that he would kill Velorek. Velorek smiled at him.
Velorek: "It was good seeing you again Captain Crais."
Velorek laughed and walked in the opposite direction.
*******
Crais was thrown into the cell beside Aeryn. He was fuming. Aeryn looked at him through the bars.
Aeryn: "Crais."
She was trying to get him to calm down. He was ranting and raving about Velorek's betrayal. The guard looked in at them several times. Aeryn was trying to get his attention.
Aeryn: "Crais!"
He looked at her. The guard watched him go sit down on his bunk. Their backs were to each other.
Crais: "Velorek betrayed us. I will kill him."
Aeryn: "He hasn't."
They were speaking in a hushed whisper.
Crais: "Yes, you didn't see him."
Aeryn: "You must calm yourself or Talyn will feed off of your anger and attack. How is Talyn?"
Crais: "Worried and angry."
Aeryn: "How do you know that?"
The realization hit Crais. Velorek hadn't told them about the transponder. Crais' hair was loose so they didn't see it.
Aeryn: "Now do you understand?"
Crais: "Yes, why didn't you tell me?"
Aeryn: "Your anger had to be real. It had to be convincing. I never thought you were much of an actor."
She smiled slightly and lowered her head.
Crais: "Why this floor?"
Aeryn: "The most secure floor on the facility should house the most dangerous prisoners and ..."
Crais: "And the most important technology."
Aeryn: "Give the man a trophy."
Crais: "You have been around Crichton too long."
She grinned.
Aeryn: "We just have to wait for Velorek's signal before I used this."
Crais: "What?"
Looking over his shoulder slightly. Aeryn's hand was behind her back. She was holding a passkey she took off one of the soldiers who was restraining her.
Crais: "You never cease to amaze me Officer Sun."
Aeryn: "Just try to keep Talyn calm. We can't have him storming this place before we know what we are dealing with or before we can get to our transport."
Crais: "I will try to relax him. What about the neutralizer they plan to use on Talyn?"
Aeryn: "Velorek said that it will stun him for a microt but will not harm him and it will not stop any of his systems. It is basically a light show. Let Talyn know not to retaliate or they will know that it is a fake."
******
Velorek stood in command with Captain Seneco.
Seneco: "You have done will Velorek. High command will reward you highly."
Velorek: "There is only one thing I want, the privilege of seeing the execution of Captain Bilar Crais and Officer Aeryn Sun. My captor and my betrayer."