She blinked several times before her eyes allowed themselves to open fully. The smell of the bag
over her head was overpowering and she gagged. Chiana looked straight ahead and saw nothing.
She wiggled her face around but the cover was on too tight. "Can someone please take this
frelling thing off?"

The words echoed off the walls around her but no one answered. She was alone inside of a large
open space. A gentle breeze which must have been the ventilation system passed over her and
incited shivers. Chiana felt her hands start to shake.

"Try to hold still. If I do this wrong, your eye goes with the bag." The voice was loud but
seemed to come from far away. Probably some sort of speaker.

Chiana, not comforted by the words, did her best to stay still. It was then that she realized what
was going on. She was kneeling on what had to be the floor of a peacekeeper ship. Nothing else
felt quite like it. It wasn't something she was fond of remembering. "Whenever you're ready."

There was a sharp yank and then her eyesight was restored. Chiana's eyes went wide at the initial
shock of her surroundings. She was in a box-like room with no windows and only the door she
now faced. "Naw, not big enough. Where am I supposed to keep all my clothes?"

A metallic screech cut through the quiet that followed her remark. It had to be the speaker again.
"But you're not wearing any."

"What the frell!" Chiana looked down frantically and moved to cover herself up. Her hands only
got so far before they were pulled back by the restraints. She'd been bound behind her back. It
took a moment for the Nebari to realize she was still fully clothed. Chiana narrowed her eyes and
looked back to the door. "Bastards." The word came out softer than she'd intended.

Obnoxious laughter could be heard from the speakers. It subsided quickly but was replaced with
something even worse. A much more familiar voice seemed to be whispering quietly on the other
end. Then, without warning, it got louder. "How are you feeling?"

Jezik's voice reached her ears and she growled. Chiana pulled again at her hands but it was no
use. She was stuck for the time being. "This sort of yotz happens to me all the time." She
grinned proudly and shrugged towards the voice. "Just another-."

"This isn't a game, girl." Jezik cut in on her bravado speech. He admired her strength but it was
getting rather annoying. "We gave you a sleep agent before leaving the planet. If it reacts
wrongly to your physiology, you're dead." He smiled into the microphone. "How are you
feeling?"

Chiana hunched down towards the floor and let out a long sigh. "Like dren."

"Good." At the word, the door in front of Chiana began to slide open. Jezik stood their
majestically with a pulse rifle tucked into his belt. He nodded slightly and the soldier standing
behind him turned and marched away down the hall. "Now we can talk."

As he stepped into the room, she took in the sight of him under bright lights. Classic black
peacekeeper hair with just a hint of wildness about it. Chiana wondered how long it took to
perfect the look. And there was something about his face. Quite handsome actually but with
something not quite right.

"What are you looking at?" Jezik's stern exterior broke for a moment as he realized that the
Nebari was staring at him. He looked into her wide eyes and tensed.

Chiana let the corners of her mouth rise ever so slightly in the way that Aeryn hated. "Did your
mother beat you as a child?" She let each word draw itself out slowly.

Jezik was suddenly confused. There was a point to her antagonism beside the obvious but he
couldn't quite get at it. Instead, the peacekeeper smiled. "I never met my mother. But if I had, I
imagine she would have."

Both of them started to laugh. It wasn't a pleasant sound.



"This is madness. You do know that?" Keller watched the woman sitting across him with a
growing sense of panic. Months of planning were suddenly at stake because of a stupid mistake
on his part. But what she was planning to do was even worse.

Aeryn looked up for a moment but continued to stroke the barrel of her new pulse rifle. She
noted the frightened look in the tech's eyes and answered back with her own steely glare. "And?"

He smacked his fist against the wall and instantly regretted it. Behind Keller, the marauder's front
portal showed the matter which they were barely discussing. The Vigilante loomed in the distance
and appeared to live up to every story told about it.

"You got us into this mess. I'd think you'd be a bit more inclined to help." Aeryn stood up and
walked over to the portal. She stared out at the metal monster and an odd smile spread across her
lips. If ever there was a way to push something out of your thoughts.....

Keller watched her silently for a moment and then started to nod slightly. It had indeed been his
fault. The object of his mission was intent on rescuing the Nebari and it was his fault that Chiana
had been captured. There was nothing left to do but go along. "What do you need?"

Aeryn turned towards him with an angry look on her face. "What are you? An Idiot? I want to
know everything."

The tech let his eyes fall on the Vigilante and he nodded again. "The Retrieval Squad will have, at
most, twelve men. All from the tops of their respective branches." Keller now met Aeryn's stare.
"You understand what that means?"

She considered the question for only a moment before answering. "I do."

The next part was actually a bit hopeful. "With so few aboard a vessel of that size, most of its
systems will undoubtedly be under automated control. Anything that might throw it out of
balance will help you get in and out." Keller motioned towards a black bag by the pilot's chair.
"I have some leftover explosives."

Aeryn picked up the bag and pulled out a small cylinder. It felt heavy in her hands. She smiled.
"Then all I have to do is worry about the twelve?" The ex-peacekeeper allowed herself to smile
wryly. "I like my chances."

Keller shook his head and sighed. "I didn't take you for an optimist."



Chiana tasted blood in her mouth and frowned. She spit violently and the liquid sprayed itself
across the clean metal floors. The Nebari had been able to see her reflection there. Now it was
covered with nasty spots. "Shouldn't you be chasing Talyn?"

Behind her, Jezik turned at the mention of the gun ship's name. He lowered his baton and took a
step towards the prisoner. "You don't give up easily do you?"

There was no answer from her. She lifted her head slowly until their eyes met. Then Chiana
started to laugh. It burned like fire and more blood slipped onto her lips but the look on Jezik's
face was worth it. She tensed for another blow.

It didn't come. Jezik stared at her angrily but ultimately left his stick where it was. Beating the
answer out of her wasn't the right tactic. That wasn't a big problem. Just switch over to
something else. Interrogation training brought to life. "We tried that already."

Chiana continued to look at the peacekeeper but now she was compelled to speak. "So what
now? Use Aeryn and me to trade for Talyn? Won't work."

Jezik finally smiled. "You have nothing to do with this, girl. Just an unhappy coincidence." He
circled around her with the baton ever swinging in his hands. Maybe violence wasn't the answer,
but it was still fun.

"Come on! I'm not that annoying am I?" Chiana forced herself to grin at her captor. "I'm right
about Aeryn though." She tensed.

This time it came. Jezik swung rapidly and the stick slammed loudly into Chiana's face. There
was a crunching sound accompanied by a high-pitched scream from the Nebari.

The sound erupting from her lungs echoed over and over off the walls. Chiana sent her tongue
searching through the blood and found the damaged tooth. Probing it, she discovered something.
The bottom half was missing. 'Frell! That's gonna cost a load of dren to fix.'

"I need Aeryn Sun. That much is true." Jezik moved so he was now standing directly in front of
his prisoner. "All that should concern you now is the tiny role you have to play in all of this." He
savored the confused look on Chiana's face. She'd probably been too caught up in her tough act
to think about it. "You're the bait I'm going to use to get her."

Chiana's mouth was already open because of the pain but it probably dropped a little more. It
wasn't the peacekeeper's words that bothered her. Somehow she figured that Aeryn could deal
with these guys and get her out. But would she? Would Aeryn come for her? It had happened
before but that was on Moya. Things were different now. "She won't come for me." The words
hurt coming out.

"Then you'll die." Jezik took a step back and smiled again. The girl now looked defeated, the
look of courage long gone. 'That's enough fun for now,' he thought to himself. Jezik turned and
faced the door.

Behind him, something strange was happening. Chiana's head slid to the side. She shivered
slightly and something indistinguishable passed through her eyes. The Nebari suddenly smiled.
'Maybe not.'



Aeryn watched the Vigilante's hangar doors shut behind her with a stern look on her face. There
was no turning back now. "This is a Crichton plan if I ever heard one."

The tech beside her suddenly stopped working and turned. "What did you say?"

She shook her head. "Nothing." Aeryn looked over at the platform ahead and something
occurred to her. "Where are you going to be?"

Keller nodded. He was proud of himself in this area. Apparently the old skills hadn't dulled with
time. "I've rigged the ship's computers to read only one life-sign. Namely yours." He pointed
towards the platform. "See, no guards. I imagine they want you aboard."

Aeryn followed his gaze but did not share the confidence. "What if they decide to search the
ship?"

"If they had more people, then I'd be worried. With only twelve men, they won't waste time on
the marauder. Trust me, all eyes will be on you."

They remained silent until the engines cut out and the marauder came to a stop. Aeryn moved
towards the door and began to pull the latch open.


"Aeryn?" Keller's voice broke the silence one final time before her departure. She turned
without speaking. "Good luck."

The ex-peacekeeper threw the hatch open and dropped down to the ground below. She lifted her
pulse rifle and took in the perimeter. Aeryn wondered how many pairs of eyes were watching her
now. How many weapons were trained on her position?

She didn't know it then but Jezik and his captive had learned of her arrival only moments before.
They waited now for her arrival and the next phase of the plan.



There were two sentries posted outside the Vigilante's hangar. Both men wore dull black
uniforms with no special design or insignia. They were bred to be nameless and merciless. That,
more than anything else, was a description of a Retrieval squad underling.

Aeryn pushed open the door in front of her and stepped into a long hallway. Up ahead she
spotted one of the soldiers standing rigidly against the wall. His presence seemed to mark the first
break off in direction. "Drop your weapon!"

The soldier made no attempt to aim his weapon or to drop it. He simply stood there like a statue
and waited.

Less than comforted, Aeryn raised her own rifle and began walking down the hall. Each step she
took echoed off the walls and brought her one step closer to the junction.

Her speed was quick and very soon the two of them were standing no more than four feet apart.
Aeryn had reached the junction but still got no response from the soldier. Then she heard the
sound.

"That's far enough Officer Sun." There was another man standing a few feet down the left
passageway with a pulse rifle in his hands. This was now aimed directly at Aeryn's head.

She nodded slowly and let her own weapon slide downwards. As Aeryn did this, the soldier
standing in front of her came to life.

"You want the girl?" The Soldier was slightly taller than Aeryn and stared down at her with eyes
that betrayed no emotion. Even his teeth were a bit too white for her liking. He looked more like
a doll than a person.

"Where is she?" Aeryn spoke the words and waited patiently for a reply. She considered what
might happen here. They would probably let her go after Chiana but that would still leave twelve
men to deal with.

The man, his pulse rifle still raised, began to speak. "Go past me and continue on down the hall.
At the end you'll find the detention area. You'll have to wait there for instructions.

Aeryn was a bit surprised that her prediction had come true. Nonetheless, she recouped quickly
and began walking past the man with the gun.



Maybe these things were connected to stress somehow. Chiana lifted her head up a little more
and felt that familiar feeling again. Her head cocked to the side and her eyes glazed over.

Jezik noticed her strange behavior and walked over to her. "What are you doing?" He raised his
baton but it had no affect.

Chiana snapped back from wherever she had been and a blood-curdling scream burst from her
lips. Surprised, to say the least, Jezik jumped back and slammed against the door.



The scream came echoing down the hall and reached Aeryn. She flinched slightly as recognition
came. That was Chiana's voice. But something else happened as well. Both of the gun-toting
men beside her turned their heads in surprise. That was all she needed.

Aeryn threw herself behind the man and ripped the gun from his hand. "Drop your gun or I'll kill
him!" The Soldier responded to this demand by firing at her through his partner.

She thrust the dead body forward and it went crashing into the soldier. He staggered backward
for a moment and lost his aim. Aeryn lifted her own pulse rifle and fired repeatedly. Both bodies
dropped to the ground in a heap.

"Thank you Chiana." Aeryn turned on her heels and continued on down the hall.



Jezik heard gunfire in the distance and scowled. He had hoped that this would go down without
any casualties on either side. He needed a strong crew almost as much as he needed Aeryn Sun
alive. It had never occurred to him that she might not play along. 'Arrogant bastard!'

He knelt down in front of his prisoner and began shaking her violently. "You knew she was there
didn't you? How?!" Jezik's rage appeared not to frighten the girl anymore.

Chiana looked up at the peacekeeper and smiled. It was all she could do to keep from laughing.
Aeryn had come for her after all. "Intuition, I guess." She suddenly realized that he might kill her
before help came.

Killing the Nebari was the last thing on Jezik's mind. He had instructed the rest of his men to stay
away from the area. It had all seemed to fit perfectly in his plan before. Now he felt like an idiot.
"Frell."

She watched him stand up again and turn towards the door. He dropped his baton back into its
slip and pulled out a pulse pistol. Chiana considered that he might actually kill Aeryn. 'Can't
have that.'

Jezik started to open the door when the girl's voice sounded from behind him. He stopped but
did not move.

"Wait." It was all Chiana could think of.



Aeryn reached the end of the hall and looked around. The soldier had told her that someone
would now provide further instructions. There didn't seem to be anyone around though.
"Another scream would be good." No such luck.

There were two doors on either side of her and they were all shut. Aeryn moved towards the first
one on her right. Nothing happened. She lifted her leg and gave the door a strong kick. It slid
open to reveal an empty room. "Next."

The first door on her left stood waiting. Aeryn gave another kick and this time the door didn't
budge. 'What would be an appropriate word about now?' "Bingo." She tried not to remember
where she had heard that.

Aeryn pulled the pack she was carrying off her back and placed it on the floor. She gave a quick
glance down the hallway to make sure no one was coming and then continued. The ex-
peacekeeper reached into the bag and pulled out one of the small black cylinders. Aeryn stood
and walked over to the door. She put the cylinder forward and it stuck.

"Now just don't be by the door."



"Wait for what?"

Chiana looked at the door and then Jezik. She tried to smile but didn't quite have the energy for
it. The Nebari could feel heat hitting her face. 'Now that's frelled.'

Jezik stared at her for a moment and tried to ascertain what she was up to. Nothing came to
mind. At least nothing that could hurt him. He turned back towards the door.

Using all the strength she had left, Chiana pushed herself backwards and landed flat on her back.
The pain was incredible but she didn't much care at this point.

Jezik heard her and began to turn around. Then something else caught his attention. "Did you
hear-."

"Watch out!" Chiana didn't know why she said it but it was too late to worry about it now. A
loud boom came from beyond the wall and suddenly the door was airborne. It blasted inward and
went flying over the Nebari's head in a shower of flames. Now the heat was real.

Aeryn stepped into the room with her pulse rifle aimed and looked around. She spotted Chiana
on the floor and nodded. "Where's Jezik?"

Chiana motioned back towards where the remains of the door had landed in a heap of burning
debris. "I think you got him."

The ex-peacekeeper grinned and knelt down. Aeryn turned the younger woman over on her side
and spotted the restraints. Pulling her pk knife from its sheath, she cut them and took a step back.
"Are you alright."

Without knowing where the strength came from, Chiana pushed herself onto her feet and smiled.
She looked at Aeryn, hard-faced as always, and lunged forward. "Aeryn!"

The two of them stood there in an awkward embrace for what seemed to be a very long time.
Aeryn was the first to pull away. "What was that?"

Chiana shook her head, slightly annoyed. "You came to rescue me. I wasn't sure if you would."
She let go and took a step back.

"Just don't make me regret it." Aeryn lifted her pulse rifle off the floor and swung it over her
shoulder. She was still all business but there was a softness to her face that hadn't been there a
moment ago.

They started for the door with Chiana following her rescuer. She rubbed the dried blood from her
mouth and continued on. "I guess this is some sort of breakthrough for us, huh?"

Just then an alarm came over the speaker system and the hallway was filled with flashing red
lights.

"Frell!" Aeryn repeated the word several times. It wasn't clear which situation she was
responding to.