Epilogue

          Kira sat on the bench, staring at the freshly erected gravestone, a single yellow rose in her hand.  She stared at Morgan's name carved into the granite and had to smile at the irony of it.  She wondered where Morgan was, what adventure she had embarked on with her mysterious lover and their unique ship.  Kira wondered if they had even made it back to the Uncharted Territories.

          "Well, at least this will keep you and John safe if you ever return," she whispered.  She looked at the other marker, a few feet away with Crichton's name on it, the other rose she had bought already laying next to it.  "It was the best we could come up with, considering everyone now thinks you're dead."  Kira pulled her leg up, leaning her chin on her knee.  They had been gone three months. It seemed like only yesterday they had been laughing together as they drove into Roswell.

          A car horn beeped behind her and Kira stood up, laying the rose on the gravestone.  "Just be careful Morgan."  She smiled as she turned and met up with DK.

          Scorpius watched the two Prowlers as they flew from the carriers bay.  He smiled to himself.  "Are the tracking beacons in place?" he asked, not even bothering to turn and look at Braca.

          "Yes sir."  The Lieutenant stepped up next to the scientist.  "I still don't understand why you let them go so easily, especially after Langtree almost killed you."

          Scorpius turned and glanced at him.  "Simple.  I let them go and they'll lead me right to Crichton."

          Braca tilted his head, staring at his superior.  "They are not that stupid."

          The scientist shrugged, turning away from the view port and slowly walking up the corridor.  "They are stupid enough to think that I wouldn't figure out that they sabotaged my Leviathan."  He gazed at Braca.  "Oh, come now.  Do you honestly think that after what I did to Crais he would just breed me a gunship?"

          Braca stopped.  "Well, no."  He looked at Scorpius.  "What exactly are you playing at?"

          Scorpius sighed.  "Langtree has the formula in her head.  And if she doesn't, then Talyn has it."

          "You can't count on…"

          Scorpius silenced the lieutenant with a sharp chopping of his hand.  "I could not lay a hand on her with Crais here.  I have to get her out in the open.  Alone."  He shrugged and started walking again.  "Or find Crichton.  Either way, with them separated, it should be easy."  He smiled slightly.  "The affection those two humans have for each other will be enough to convince one of them to give me what I want.  Especially if the other is threatened."

          Braca watched as Scorpius made his way down the corridor.  "You've been saying that it will be easy to get the frelling formula for the better part of five cycles," he mumbled.

          "I will get that formula Braca!  One way or another," Scorpius called over his shoulder.  He turned and stared at the Peacekeeper.  "And I can't do that with High Command investigating me."

          Morgan ran her finger around the collar of the flight suit, trying to get comfortable.  She couldn't see Crais through the canopy, but she knew something was bothering him.  "You know, he let us go too easy," she commented, trying to get him to talk.

          "I concur."

          She looked through the canopy at the Prowler flying just off her left wing.  They had spent three months preparing the Leviathan egg for Scorpius and the pressure had worn both of them thin.  "That's it?  I concur?"  She snorted to herself.  "Crais, what is going on in that head of yours?  You've been sullen since we left."

          Crais looked over the control board in front of him, the coordinates he had set waiting to be transmitted to his lover.  There was no way they would make it back to the Uncharted Territories without a fight.  He'd be foolish to trust Scorpius' clearances and codes.  "Morgan, I think it would be best…if we did not meet up with Crichton and Officer Sun right away."

          Morgan nodded to herself.  "Okay.  That's probably wise."  She scratched her chin.  "What did you have in mind?"  She did not like the strain in his voice.

          Crais reached out and triggered the send sequence.  "I am transmitting our course.  When we land on our final destination, we will destroy the Prowlers."

          She bit her tongue, swallowing the retort she had on the tip of her tongue.  They both knew the Prowlers were being tracked.  "I am going out on a limb here, Bialar, but I take it you have a plan."

          Crais smiled to himself.  "Yes."

          "Mind sharing it with me?"

          "Not yet.  When we land, and we are alone, I will…tell you.  You must trust me, Morgan."  He guided the small fighter onto the new flight plan.

          "I do.  What is this last planet, Crais?"

          Crais steadied his hands.  He had not made this decision lightly.  "Someplace I have not seen in thirty cycles, Morgan."  He took a deep breath, hoping, for her safety and his own, he made the right choice.  "That planet…is my home."

(to be continued…..)

Copyright 2002, Beth A. Carpenter