Shadowed Paths

Part 5

"There's two of you, I'm only human!"

Kyizi

Disclaimer: I've been on the run for a while now and no one seems to have caught up with me yet...

Rating: 12 for sexual innuendo and scary mental images!

Notes: I haven't written a part to this story in about a year...altho I already had most of this part written, it just disappeared (grrrrrr). U'l have to excuse me if I'm not writing the characters that well as I haven't actually watched FS since the season 2 finale...*sniff sniff*. I'm doing this for Laura who has been hassling me for Part 5 for ages and since she can't read my Voyager fic till she sees series 6, I thought I'd do it for her!

Spoilers: "The Flax" and there are mentions of things that are in my fic, "Home For Christmas" but they're not really spoilers for the fic...well one of the characters is.

Timeline: Well, I've seen seasons 1 and 2 but I started this half way through season 1 I think...so I'll try to keep it there...promise I'll warn u if I head into season 2 spoilage tho!

~x~x~x~x~x~

"Oomph." Aeryn landed on the bed with a thud. She quickly looked around and found that, as she had expected, she was still in John's quarters. She grimaced slightly as she tried to sit up. I swear the fall gets larger every time. There was a movement in the corridor and Aeryn failed to sit up as John walked in, clad only in a short towel.

"Woaw." He jumped back a little when he spotted her. "Babe, you gotta stop doin' that!" He walked straight to her and kissed her full on the mouth before she had a chance to protest.

"So, why you here? Not that I m complaining," he smiled, "I thought you had a problem with your prowler?"

"John, I'm not who you think I am."

John laughed a little as he started to dress. Aeryn noticed that he seemed unfazed that she was in the room while he stripped himself of his towel, but she couldn't help but take a small look before she averted her eyes.

"So who are you? Cuz, babe, any time you wanna play Star Wars, just give me a yell and I'll get the gold bikini..."

Aeryn frowned and decided to ignore the confusing sentence, "No, you don't understand. I'm not your..."

"Hey, Johnny," Aeryn whipped her head to look at the door as a petite blond haired girl entered the room. "Airin still doesn't agree. Settle this once and for all will yi? Purple or bl..." The girl stopped talking as she spotted her. "Eh...How the hell d'you get here so fast?"

"I didn't." came the reply from behind. Instantly, before she could so much as blink, she found three weapons trained on her and she sighed.

Not again

~x~x~x~x~x~

"So you're from a parallel dimension?" the girl asked her.

"Well that's what the first Crichton I encountered believed." She had reformed to calling John, Crichton again as whenever she looked at herself...that is the other her, she saw herself giving herself a very dirty look.

She groaned and hit her head off the table...a little harder than she had intended. "Ouch. This is giving me a headache."

"Then I would suggest you don't hit your head off the table again." She heard herself saying.

"I mean this is getting confusing." Aeryn said to herself as she raised her head from it's resting place, rubbing her forehead slightly; she looked around the room at the faces of the crew before finally resting on...herself. "I think it was easier in the worlds where I wasn't there."

"There are worlds without you?" John asked.

"Well think about it, Johnny, for every choice that anyone's ever made, there are consequences...there are different paths."

"I just can't imagine my world without you in it." he said staring at her. Lucy quickly nudged him and he started. He quickly looked at his own Aeryn who was glaring at him. "I mean you...well, she is you...I mean..."

"Johnny. Stop." The small blond girl smirked, "You're diggin' yourself a grave."

"I'm sorry, who are you?" Aeryn asked, finally letting her curiosity get the better of her.

"See? Different choices." the girl smiled, "Lucy-Anne Crichton." she answered as she extended a hand which Aeryn looked at strangely before clasping her own in it.

"I'm Johnny's little cousin."

"Oh." Aeryn frowned, "Then how did you get here?"

"It's a loooong story." the girl grinned. "Basically the same way he did. I travelled half the galaxy to find this nut." Aeryn grinned as Lucy continued, "What can I say, I'm a fool. But I missed the ugly mug's excuse for a face." Lucy said smirking as John started to protest.

Aeryn smiled, she liked the girl. She was smart and straight to the point. She looked over at herself and saw and odd expression on her face. Aeryn sighed.

"I know you're not sure if you should trust me, but..."

"How do you know that?" Aeryn watched herself ask stonily.

She smiled, "Because a few days ago if someone that looked exactly like me turned up with a story like mine, I'd want to throw her out of the nearest airlock."

She watched as her counterparts lips twitched slightly as she replied, "Well I was thinking more along the lines of just shooting you, but..." she trailed off and the two looked at each other smiling so slightly that only those with a trained eye could see that they were.

"So, we have to of 'em." Chiana stated, "What do we do now?"

"Well I would suggest that there is nothing we can do." Zhaan replied looking back and forth between the two Aeryn's before resting on the one that had just arrived with them. "Am I right?"

"It would appear that way." Aeryn replied, "This is the fifth alternate reality I've been in." she stated, stifling a yawn, "but I only ever left the same way."

"Through the pink energy?" Lucy asked.

"Yes."

"Hmmm." The girl frowned.

"What is it, Luce?" John asked draping his arm around his Aeryn as he leaned forward. Aeryn felt a tug of jealousy as she watched how easily they interacted as the other Aeryn smiled at him and leaned into him.

"Well, I was studying this theory for extra credit at Uni..."

"I know." John grinned, feigning anger, "You have no idea how embarrassing it was to have a cousin about 10 years younger than you doing her 1st PhD while you were doing your 2nd."

Lucy smiled back as the others watched on in confusion, "What can I say, I'm a certified genius."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah rub it in." John smiled at her, "So what bugs you about this?"

"Well this doesn't sound like any ordinary occurrence."

"What do you mean?" Aeryn asked tearing her eyes away from John and herself.

"I'm not sure...give me a little time to think about it. In the mean time, when was the last time you slept?"

"Feels like days." Aeryn replied grinning at the girl.

"Then we better get you to bed." John said wagging his eyebrows only to be stopped by his Aeryn smacking his arm.

"What?" he exclaimed, "There's two of you, I'm only human!"

Lucy looked at him through narrow eyes. "Actually, Johnny, I think the correct phrase is, you're only male." she looked at Aeryn again, "Come on Airin, lets get you some quarters."

"I'll come with you," the other Aeryn said pulling away from John. "I believe I will require someplace to sleep tonight as well."

"Hey...baby...come on..." John protested as the three women left the room. D'Argo and Zhaan exchanged amused glances as Rygel continued to eat. Chiana, however, was laughing.

"Wha' d'I do?" he asked innocently.

"You know, Crichton." Chiana said, standing behind him and placing an arm around his shoulder. "If I were you, I'd keep my eyes on my own Aeryn...or you'll be sleeping alone for a lot longer than one night."

~x~x~x~x~x~

"So, what is this world like for you?" Aeryn asked herself as the three walked through Moya's tiers towards the living quarters.

"What do you mean?" the other Aeryn asked.

"In each world I have encountered different experiences. In the first John and I had been married, but I was killed by Crais and he was pursuing a relationship with Chiana I believe..."

"Chiana?" Aeryn smiled as both Lucy and the other Aeryn looked at her in disbelief.

"I found it rather...strange as well." Aeryn continued telling them of the worlds she had encountered as they made their way through Moya.

"So I'm guessing things are very different to all this in your universe then?" Lucy asked as they entered a room and sat at the table in the centre.

"In some ways. For a start, you are not on board Moya, in fact I believe John has only mentioned you once."

"Wha' d'he say?" Lucy asked immediately.

Both Aeryn's smiled as Aeryn answered, "Something about a cow but he refused to go any further. What is a cow?" she asked as both Lucy and the other Aeryn dissolved into fits of giggles.

"And I don't giggle in my universe either."

The other Aeryn immediately stopped laughing, "I don't giggle."

~x~x~x~x~x~

The girls were sprawled around the room laughing as Lucy and the other Aeryn detailed the rather embarrassing story of John's meeting with the Clia Kaehr the previous day.

"So he had to go naked?" Aeryn asked through her laughter.

"Oh, no, we didn't get to the best part yet." Lucy barely managed to say.

After a few moments of composing themselves, the other Aeryn tried to continue, "He managed to insult the Clia's wife..."

Lucy interrupted, "He basically called her a skanky ho with a face like an elephant's ass."

Aeryn snickered, getting the gist of Lucy's words, as the other Aeryn tried to continue, "So they...they...he had to...he had to do the native dance..."

"Naked."

"...in front of the entire Kingdom!"

"What was the native dance?" Aeryn asked laughing. Both Lucy and the other Aeryn stood and began to flap their arms wildly and thrust their hips before collapsing on the ground as they all laughed.

"You think that's funny," Lucy stated, "you shouda seen the look on his face when he found out me and Airin had asked the Clia to make him do it for a joke."

~x~x~x~x~x~

John looked at the corridor as laughter echoed from wall to wall.

"So what d'ya think they're talking about?" he asked.

D'Argo frowned, "I doubt it's anything you should worry about."

"Okay." John looked once again at the corridor before shrugging and taking another swig from his bottle.

~x~x~x~x~x~

"So what is this universe like?" Aeryn asked.

"Well when you mentioned Chiana earlier..." the other Aeryn began.

"I really don't think we should give her the scary mental images of her and Rygel..."

"Chiana and Rygel?" Aeryn asked astounded. Then suddenly her face scrunched up.

"I think I just gave her the scary mental images...what d'ya think, Airin?"

"I think you did."

"I will never forgive you for this Lucy!" Aeryn insisted as she looked at herself guessing that her own face looked a lot like her counterparts.

"I never have either." the other Aeryn said, "She was the first one to notice...well, John made a few remarks but he was not serious."

"Yeah, but you can't blame me for the other one. That was aaaall Johnny. The image of Rygel in leather will haunt me for the rest of my life!"

The Aeryn's looked at her aghast.

~x~x~x~x~x~

" 'S not fair really. I mean I'm only a guy! What did they expect! I mean if another me had stepped through that light, I can guarantee you that Aeryn would've had some similar thoughts."

"I'm sure she would John. As would I."

John looked at him alarmed as D'Argo's eyes shot open in realisation of what he had said.

"I mean...I meant if Lo'Lann...or..."

"Stop, D'Argo. Please. Stop with the images."

John shuddered as both he and D'Argo edged slightly away from each other.

~x~x~x~x~x~

"D'Argo and John?" Lucy asked in disbelief as the other Aeryn shuddered, "Oh, I'm so rippin' the piss for that! You have no idea the hassle he gave me about me and Zhaan when he found out."

"You and Zhaan?" Aeryn asked, equally shocked.

"What's wrong with that?" Lucy asked defensively, looking at both Aeryn's for an answer.

"Well..."

"...it's just..."

"...I mean..."

"...it's not that we don't..."

"...yes, because..."

The two Aeryn's looked at each other, "...she's just so old!"

"Hey! She's not that old!"

"She's over 300 cycles!" they replied in unison.

"Still good in bed."

"Lucy!"

"I think I'm getting more scary mental images." Aeryn said looking at the other Aeryn who also looked slightly queasy.

"Well at least it got rid of the images of John and D'Argo."

The Aeryn's looked at each other, "Not any more it hasn't." They sat for a moment looking back and forth, till Lucy opened her mouth a few times looking like she was about to speak.

"What is it?" Aeryn asked.

"Well, I was just wondering." she said, her face contorted in a frown, "did John still call him..."

~x~x~x~x~x~

"Big Guy," John said looking cross eyed at D'Argo. "You think the girls'd mind a bit of company?" he asked as he guzzled the last of his fellop nectar.

"Not if you proceed flirting with both Aeryn's." D'Argo answered finishing his own drink.

"So, you don't think they like that?"

"I think Aeryn would rip your head off and feed it to the Tarcasion glanh'd beasts on Tarsac."

"Oh..." John said opening another bottle. He then stopped and looked at D'Argo questioningly, "which Aeryn?"

~x~x~x~x~x~

"OfficerSun's, CaptainCrichton. There is another energy reading."

"Where is it Pilot?" both Aeryn's asked simultaneously standing.

"On tier 8, in the showering chamber."

"Thank you, Pilot. I'm on my way." they both replied and began to walk to the door.

Lucy looked at their retreating backs with raised eyebrows, "Okay, that's just scary."

~x~x~x~x~x~

"That it?" John asked, sobering up as he and the rest of the crew joined the Aeryn's and Lucy in the shower room.

"Yes." Aeryn said as she turned to say goodbye to Zhaan and D'Argo. She turned to Chiana and Rygel but all she could muster was a shudder as Aeryn and Lucy snickered, then looked at each other before following suit and shuddering themselves.

"Well, have fun." John said embracing her, "I hope you get home safely."

"So do I." Aeryn smiled evilly at him. "And, with all of the information I have about you now, I will definitely have fun."

John's eyes widened as he looked at Lucy and his Aeryn, who were both facing him with fake innocence. "You told her, didn't you?"

"I don't know what you mean, Johnathon." Lucy replied.

"My name is not Johnathon and you know exactly what I'm talking about Lucy-Anne Crichton."

"Okay, he's pissed. He always uses my full name when he's pissed." She grinned and wagged her eyebrows at John before turning to Aeryn and giving her a hug. "Well, Airin, have fun with all the information...and when you get home, ask him about the night of his Senior Prom..." Both Aeryn's looked at her questioningly as John clapped a hand over her mouth and smiled innocently.

Both Aeryn's shook their heads and turned to the other. "It was nice to meet you," they said in unison.

John looked at them with raised eyebrows, his hand still covering Lucy's mouth. "Okay, that's just scary."

"Mamfs wmout myi fhaid."

"Huh?" John removed his hand.

"I said, 'that's what I said'." Lucy replied giving him evil eyes as she tugged at the bottom of her vest top to straighten it.

Again both Aeryn's looked at each other, before embracing. They smiled with closed eyes.

"John, get that grin off your face right now." they both said in unison as they opened their eyes to look at him, both knowing what he'd been thinking. "And don't even think about denying it." They stated as he started to protest his innocence.

He closed his mouth and looked back and forth between the two. "Okay, you really gotta stop doin' that. It's freakin' me out." He leaned towards D'Argo and whispered, none too quietly. "I think I'm kinda glad I only have one."

"I heard that" came two voices.

"Wha..." John closed his mouth and shook his head, "I give up."

"Hell, Johnny, you weren't exactly quiet. I'm surprised Pilot didn't hear you."

"Luce..."

"Actually, CaptainCrichton, I did." Lucy grinned smugly at John as Aeryn and Pilot said goodbye.

Both Aeryn's smiled as they watched Lucy and John banter. They both looked back at each other. The other Aeryn smirked and leaned towards her whispering, "And next time, don't ask him if he's comfortable and wants a pillow. Make him comfortable and give him one."

They exchanged a smile as Aeryn stepped towards the light. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"Oh, one more thing." Aeryn turned to look at Lucy, "Pilot, blue or purple?"

"Purple." both Aeryn's replied. And with Lucy's sigh of exasperation, she once again stepped into the pink light.

~x~x~x~x~x~

END OF PART 5

Okay, I'd just like to point out that I was in a silly mood when I wrote this one. I know it's out of character, but I think if the other Aeryn was this relaxed, then our Aeryn may relax a little as well. I dunno if this is any good. Please bear in mind that I haven't written any farscape in a while...and as for the filthy mind I had when I wrote this...blame Heliona! It's hers and BlueZen's influence, I swear! I'm an innocent!

*big innocent eyes*

Also, for those who are wondering (and haven't read Home For Christmas - shameless plug!) Lucy-Anne is Scottish, and, yes, she may be a little Mary Sue-ish but that was the first fic I ever wrote, cut me some slack! Also, she's not the genius that she appears to be! ;) And, Captain Crichton is Lucy.