Chapter Four
"What do you mean she's missing?" Crais growled, staring at his father in disbelief. "She's only two monens old! She could not have just got up and walked away!" He paced the small path in front of his father, the worried look on the older man's face disturbing him. Crais had walked the entire city for arns, trying to calm down from Terrick's attack. It took everything in his power not to return to the cellblock and kill his son. It had been a long time since he had allowed his anger to take control like that. And it disturbed him that Morgan was witness to it. Crais didn't know who he was angrier at: Terrick or himself.
Crichton had been true to his word, not letting the Captain near his wife or son. As soon as they returned Terrick to the holding cell, Crichton went to Morgan, where she waiting in the infirmary. Every time Crais tried to get to Morgan, he was stopped by the human aiming a pulse pistol at him. Crais simply gave in, knowing that his wife would never allow her cousin to come between them. He could only imagine the grief the human would give him now. He ran his fingers through his hair.
Father stood up, grasping his son by the shoulders, turning Crais to face him. "Morgan is with your mother and Tauvo has already initiated a search within the community. If she is here, Shantar and your brother will find her." He gazed down at Crais, not sure how to tell his volatile son about his mother. "Bialar, your mother was drugged," he whispered, his voice hitching slightly, his big eyes filled with worry.
Crais' eyes narrowed as he broke away from his father, storming across the square towards their home. "Which almost guarantees that my daughter has already been taken off the planet. Whoever did this has gone too far! How dare they?" he snarled vehemently. "Is mother…is mother all right?" The grunt he received in affirmation from his father settled him slightly, but the gnawing in his stomach kept growing and he thought he was going to be sick. Crais burst through the door into his parent's house. "Morgan!" Crichton met him as his came down the hall and Crais pushed the human away.
"Don't you think you've caused enough trouble?" Crichton growled. His blue eyes blazed in blind fury, his own anger at Terrick's attack still fueling his hostility towards Crais. Without even thinking, Crichton grabbed Crais' arm and swung the ex-Peacekeeper around to face him.
Crais lashed out, taking Crichton in the gut with the palm of his hand, sending the human backwards. Crichton lurched forward, swinging back, forcing Crais backwards into the main room, tackling him as he lost his balance.
Aeryn jumped from her seat on the settee, grabbing the first man she came to. She wrestled Crais away from Crichton as Father came in, clasping the human by the upper arms. "Cut it out, both of you! This will solve nothing!" She let go of Crais, the Captain rubbing his jaw. He could taste blood in his mouth and felt around with his tongue as his eyes shot daggers at the man. Aeryn stared at him. "Morgan's right. The two of you are acting like children instead of working together to find out who did this!"
"It's his fault, Aeryn! He's the one that made Morgan go and talk to Terrick! Why can't any of you see that? He is the reason all of this is happening!" Crichton cried, struggling in Father's meaty grip. His eyes were wild, his body ready to spring.
"What the frell is wrong with you?" Aeryn hissed, her hands propped on her hips, her eyes narrowed as she stared at Crichton.
The door to the bedroom opened, silencing everyone as they turned to see Morgan. Her face was bruised, an angry red burn mark across her neck from the restraints and Terrick's arm. "I'll tell you what's wrong with him. He's always tried to protect me. We've gotten into a few scraps ourselves over it because he doesn't know when to back off," she whispered, her voice hoarse. She clutched Allan tightly to her chest, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. Morgan moved straight to Crais, hiding her face in his chest as he enfolded his wife and son in his arms, glaring challengingly at Crichton.
"Morgan, are you alright?" Crichton asked as Father let him go. He ran his fingers through his hair.
Morgan looked up, pushing away from her husband, handing their son to him. Allan watched with wide dark eyes as his mother moved towards her cousin, cold lethal fury in her blue eyes. Crichton backed away at the look on her face. He had never seen Morgan like this before and he found that he was actually scared of her. "No, John, I'm not alright," she whispered vehemently. "I just got the hell beat out of me by my stepson, the two men most important in my life can't seem to quit fighting…" she paused, trying very hard to catch her breath, biting her lower lip. "…and now my daughter is missing." She blinked back the tears that threatened to spill over on her cheeks. Morgan reached out and pushed Crichton, backing him into the wall as she stared up at him.
"Get this straight. Crais asked me to speak with Terrick." She emphasized the word asked. "I agreed to. He would've respected my wishes if I said no. But I wanted to. Me! I! So quit frelling blaming him!" She turned her steely gaze to her husband. "And you," she snarled, pointing at Crais. "Quit egging him on every time he says something you disagree with. He's as protective of me as you are. Deal with it." She looked around the room, her gaze finally settling on Father as Crais and Crichton stood in shocked silence, Aeryn simply folding her arms and waiting. "Mother is resting. She…" She sniffed. "Zhaan is with her," she finished as her face crumbled. Morgan backed up to the wall, her breath ragged in her chest as she stared at the faces around her. Everything blurred as her knees buckled beneath her and she slid to the floor, the last of her control slipping away as she banged her fists against the ground, her head against the wall. "Dammit, Crais, you promised!" she bawled. Crais moved to his wife, handing his small son to Aeryn as he slipped past. Morgan had buried her face in her drawn up knees, her shoulders shaking violently with the force of her crying.
Tauvo and Shantar barged in, grim expressions on their haggard and worn faces. They had searched every dwelling, every out building, every ship. Tauvo shook his head as he sank down next to Morgan, Crais on the other side of her. He laid his hand on her shoulder, the look of anguish on his brother's face clenching Tauvo's heart. "Morgan, Suleah's no where in the city." He swallowed, turning briefly away, his own tears of pain at his niece's disappearance spilling down his face. "Communications claim that a cargo ship requested permission to depart shortly after Terrick's attack. It's the only ship that has left the planet."
Morgan slowly sat up, her red-rimmed eyes filled with horror. Was Suleah on that ship? Horrific mental images flashed through her mind and she slowly stood up, brushing away Crais' hand as she turned to stare down at him. She took Allan from Aeryn, clutching him tightly to her, daring anyone to wrest him away from her. She scowled at the two brothers, backing away towards Father, letting the big man enfold her protectively, his own disgusted scowl matching Morgan's over his eldest son's immature behavior regarding Crichton. "You better find her," she whispered, her body shaking in maternal rage. "So help me, Bialar, you better find our daughter."
The tension that permeated the atmosphere of Zorosa 3 was thick. News of Suleah's kidnapping spread like wildfire through the close-knit city, the women flocking to Morgan, trying to comfort the human. The only comfort she found was sitting with Mother, caring for the older woman as she recovered from the effects of the drug she had been given. Zhaan alternated with Morgan, her quiet presence soothing, none of them speaking much, the shock of Terrick's attack and Suleah's kidnapping still weighing heavily on everyone's minds.
But Morgan began to get restless.
She stood in their quarters on Talyn, Allan on the planet surface with Zhaan and Chiana. The Nebari woman had become quite taken with the child, allowing Morgan to maintain her work on the Leviathan gunship, as Chiana played with the even-tempered Allan. No one knew why Chiana took on the role of nanny to the little boy and Morgan's worry was that Chiana would teach him how to be a thief. That's the least of my worries, she thought to herself. Morgan's mind raced through options as she paced the room, Zorosa's moons glowing softly through the viewport. Tauvo's people had locked on to the cargo ship's trajectory, giving them a good idea of its heading.
And a good idea of who had taken her daughter.
Morgan began to pace, wringing her hands nervously in growing frustration. She picked up Suleah's soft baby blanket from the bed, rubbing it with her fingers. She dropped it, closing her eyes as she accessed Talyn's system. Crais refused to let her accompany them on the rescue mission, wanting her to stay with Allan. Your place is with our son right now. He needs you. Crais' angry voice still rang through her head. That argument took place took days ago, Tauvo agreeing with his brother and adding to Morgan's annoyance. Even Crichton agreed with Crais. The two men were still discussing the best way to go about retrieving Suleah. Crais had not slept since she had been kidnapped, locking himself in meetings with Shantar and the other resistance officers, avoiding his wife and everyone else. Morgan retrieved the information she wanted, clenching her jaw as she made up her mind.
Talyn chirped anxiously at her. "Nothing. Don't worry about it," she answered as she dropped the blanket. The gunship could feel her anxiety and it bothered him. She retrieved her satchel from under the bed, quickly packing a change of clothing, spare pulse pistol charges and currency. "I said don't worry about it," she snapped as the gunship chattered at her. Morgan growled at Talyn's incessant questions and removed the transponder, effectively silencing the Leviathan as she placed it on the pillow. She flew the transport pod back to the surface and marched across the dark compound with purpose fueled by blind fury and maternal rage.
"Morgan!" Aeryn approached the human woman, her dark hair blowing in the light breeze. "Where are you going? Talyn informed Crais that you removed the transponder."
"So he sent you to find me? How noble of him," Morgan spat, pushing past the ex-Peacekeeper. "Stay out of my way Aeryn!"
Aeryn grabbed her arm, and Morgan lashed out, driving her fist hard into the Sebacean's stomach, bringing her knee up as Aeryn doubled over, connecting with her chin. Aeryn fell backwards banging her head against the concrete as she slipped into unconsciousness.
Morgan never even looked back to see if Aeryn was all right. She had one goal in mind and nothing was going to stop her from accomplishing it. She marched into the dark cellblock, raising her pulse pistol and aiming it at the guard. "Open the cell!" she demanded. The guard fumbled with the keys, and Morgan backhanded him, knocking him aside as she grabbed the ring and opened the cell. She aimed it at the sleeping teens head. "Get up, you piece of frelling dren!" she snarled.
Terrick sat up slowly, his hands up. He noticed the crazed look on Morgan's face and knew he would be in trouble if he didn't comply with her demands. "What are you doing?" he asked quietly as Morgan pushed his jacket in his hands.
"We're going for a ride." She took his arm, shoving the pulse pistol in his back as she shoved him from the cell. "I would not advise pissing me off, Terrick," she hissed as they left the cellblock. She led him past Aeryn's unconscious form towards the landing bays that housed the Prowlers.
"Where are we going?" he asked as she pushed him towards his ship, quickly climbing up into the cockpit. He saw the data chip his contact left, providing the rest of the information on the resistance that he could not get out of Morgan. He smiled slyly at his good fortune. Now he didn't have to worry about breaking out of the cell. Morgan did that for him. He pocketed the chip as he slid into the command chair, his stepmother seated behind him as he initiated the start-up sequence.
"Well, there is only one person I know who would want my daughter." She leaned forward, her breath hot on his neck as she pushed the pulse pistol against the back of his head. "You did know someone kidnapped my daughter, didn't you?"
"The guard briefly mentioned it," Terrick snarled.
"Good. You are going to take me to him."
"You are under the mistaken assumption that someone would think your sniveling half-breed brats are worth something," the teenager commented snidely.
"Oh, they're worth something. A bargaining chip maybe. "Why don't you tell me?"
"What make's you think I know anything?" he asked softly, his voice filled with menace as he turned his head towards her. Morgan pushed the pulse pistol hard against his temple. Terrick's lips curled into a sneer and he returned his attention to the Prowler's controls, lifting the small fighter into the night sky. "Who exactly do you believe would find your children worth something?" he asked, although he already knew the answer.
"Scorpius."
Crais ran into their quarters on Talyn searching for Morgan, although he knew she wasn't there. "Morgan?" he called, hoping she was just being stubborn and not answering. They had found Aeryn sitting on the landing strip, holding her head a she told them what Morgan had done. Crais closed his eyes, searching the gunship in a panicked rage. He could not imagine the grief she was feeling after believing for so long that she'd never bear children, let alone two healthy ones, only to have one of them taken away. He searched again. No Morgan. His eyes narrowed slightly as they opened. Even with the privacy mode engaged, he could still feel her when she was close by. Now, he could barely feel her, as if she was far away. His gaze went to the bed and he froze, fear and rage gripping him tightly. "No!" he hissed, picking it up the transponder and Suleah's soft blanket. "Talyn! Where is she?" he screamed.
The gunship refused to answer.
"TALYN!"
~ She left. She was going after Suleah. I tried to talk her out of it, but she wouldn't listen. She pulled the transponder and that's when I contacted you, ~ he vocalized, his own musical voice tinged with worry.
Crais cursed colorfully, dropping the transponder and blanket. "I expressly forbade her from doing this!" He headed for the bridge. "Trace her signal."
The gunship did as he was asked, torn between taking off after Morgan and waiting for Crais' instructions. ~ Crais, I believe she has Terrick with her. ~
"She does, Talyn!" Crais slammed his hand on the system console, fighting to keep his temper and his own control. He opened the communications link. "Tauvo! Find Crichton and Ka D'Argo. We have another…problem."
His brother's face appeared on the clamshell, for once serious with no trace of the light-hearted person he was. "What's going on? What did she do?" he simply asked.
Crais closed his eyes, slowing his breathing. "She took Terrick and went after our daughter."
Scorpius looked up as Raseen and Braca came in, the Captain carrying a wiggling bundle. He could tell by the look on Braca's face that the lieutenant was not happy with something as he turned his attention to Raseen.
"The imbecile could only get one of them," she announced as she limped over to Scorpius, handing Suleah to the Peacekeeper scientist.
"Sir, the boy…" Braca started in annoyed explanation.
Scorpius held up his hand, silencing Braca as he removed the wrap from the child. She looked up at him, happy to have the offending blanket off her face, her pudgy hands reaching for Scorpius. Bright blue eyes stared at him in fascination and Scorpius gazed down at her, smiling. "Oh, aren't you the little vixen," he whispered. He settled her in the crook of his arm as he removed the blanket.
"I told the idiot that you would not be happy with the one child, but he refused to go back for the boy," Raseen snarled, clasping her hands at the small of her back, ignoring Braca.
"One of the children is enough," Scorpius answered, directing his remark to Raseen. "It will be better this way, because the boy will still give them a false feeling of hope and security." He looked up at her, his eyes narrowing. "Do you have a problem with that, Captain?"
Raseen slowly pulled herself up straighter. "No sir," she answered sharply. She wanted nothing more than to destroy Crais and his alien wife and knew that the unexplained disappearance of both children would have crippled them.
Scorpius noticed the smug glance Braca threw in her direction. "Good. You are dismissed." He watched as Raseen reached out for Suleah. "No. She will remain with me. I want to see just how bright she is."
Raseen's face grew dark. "Sir, she is barely two monens old," she protested. She wanted the child. Raseen wanted control over Suleah.
Scorpius canted his head at her. "And she would have already been in training had she born into the Peacekeepers. I want to gauge for myself her intelligence so that we can properly place her," he reminded. "You are dismissed." Raseen glared at him angrily and turned on one foot, marching from the room. Scorpius looked at Braca expectantly.
"Permission to speak freely, sir?"
"By all means, Lieutenant," the scientist answered, sitting down behind his console. He sat Suleah before him, studying the half-human, half-Sebacean child as she grabbed his nose and squeezed.
"Sir, I do not trust Captain Raseen and I protest to the kidnapping of an innocent child. It is one thing to be born into Peacekeeper service or even conscripted. But this…" Braca shook his head, thinking back to his own childhood before joining the Peacekeepers. For the first time in his life, Braca saw hope for a better future in the small child before him. Crais had been a good commander and he had been good to Braca. The lieutenant wouldn't have wished the pain of loosing a child on even his worst enemy, let alone a man he once respected. He swallowed, waiting for Scorpius' response. Braca figured he would be facing a firing squad in the morning.
Scorpius looked at him as he gently extricated his nose from Suleah's grip. "I do not trust her either and I am not in total agreement with Captain Raseen's methods. But her plan has merit." He peered at Braca, wondering why he was so concerned with Suleah's safety. "Morgan and Terrick are already on route to the base." He stood up, picking up the baby and handing her to Braca. He lowered his voice, his eyes narrowing. "Raseen has it out for Morgan and I would not put it past her to harm the child." He lifted his chin. "Make sure Suleah Crais is guarded at all times. I do not want her in any danger."
Braca's eyes widened at Scorpius' words. "Sir?" he asked in confusion as he tried to loosen Suleah's grip from his hair.
The scientist returned to his desk. "If anything happens to her," he started, pointing at the baby, "I am holding you responsible."
Crichton stared at Crais and Tauvo, his mouth open in shock as he shook his head. Morning was fast approaching and they still had gotten nowhere. "What the hell was she thinking?"
Tauvo sighed, rubbing his temple. He gazed at his brother, who leaned his head on his folded arms, his breathing soft and even in exhausted sleep. "I suppose she was thinking of her daughter," he replied tiredly. He leaned back in the chair, rubbing his eyes. "You yourself said you didn't know how she was going to act once her hormones kicked in. I suppose they just kicked in a little later than expected."
"Where is Allan?" Aeryn asked. She held an ice pack to the back of her head, the goose egg there hurting more than her chin.
"Zhaan and Chiana took him to Moya," Tauvo answered.
Crichton leaned his head on his fist. "Do we have any idea where she went? Or are we still in the dark about who kidnapped Suleah?"
Rygel chose that moment to float in, quietly listening to the conversation. He gazed over the three men in the room and his eyes met Aeryn's, the guilt at not saying anything sooner weighing heavily on him. "I saw who took the baby," he simply announced.
Crichton turned slowly in his chair, Crais' head rising as he glared at the Dominar. "Care to enlighten us, Buckwheat?" Crichton asked softly.
Rygel floated closer to the table, keeping Tauvo in between himself and the very unstable Captain. "It was dark and I could be mistaken, but I was on my way to the party…"
Crichton stood up, his chair falling backwards with a loud clang as he grabbed Rygel by the ears, lifting him from the sled throne. The little Dominar kicked at him. "Out with it you frelling muppet! Who took Suleah?"
"Ow! That hurts!" Rygel yelled as he wiggled in his grasp.
"It will hurt more if I get a hold of you," Crais growled.
"It was Braca!"
Crichton dropped him as Crais stood up. The two men looked at each other, their earlier disagreements momentarily forgotten. "Which means…" Crichton fell silent.
"She went after Scorpius," Crais finished.
Morgan popped the canopy of the Prowler, easing herself down the side of the small ship, right into the waiting hands of three Peacekeepers. They quickly restrained her hands as Terrick climbed down, tugging the flight gloves from his hands. "She is to be taken to Scorpius," he announced authoritatively.
The guards marched her through the corridors of the scientist's new base, leaving her in a well-appointed room to wait. Braca entered and approached them, gazing at Morgan in surprise. The small and feisty human woman looked tired, although her eyes smoldered. "Captain Morgan Crais. What a delightful surprise."
"Well, at least you got the name right," she quipped, turning to face the lieutenant. "Can the sweet talk, Braca. I want my daughter back," Morgan snapped.
"I do not believe you are in any position to be demanding anything." Terrick stated, gazing down his nose at her, handing Braca a data chip. "That contains the rest of the information on their base."
Braca nodded. "Good. Scorpius will be pleased with this."
Morgan's eyes narrowed in disgust. "You frelling bastard. You frelling turn-coat bastard, son-of-a-bitch!" she screamed, launching herself at Terrick. "You planned on selling us out all along!"
Terrick simply gazed at Morgan. "You honestly thought those little heart-to- heart chats of ours meant anything to me?" He laughed, stepping away from her as she neared. "You fell right into my trap, making it easier for me to get away from your pathetic little resistance." He scowled at her, turning away. "You're as stupid as my father!"
The two Peacekeepers that had escorted them there grabbed a hold of Morgan, dragging her kicking and fighting away from Terrick as the door opened again and Scorpius walked in. He looked down at Morgan, who had been forced to her knees. "Morgan! What a delight it is to see you," he commented. He knelt down before her, taking her chin in his leather-bound hand. "I understand you came here on your own accord. I don't usually get visitors." He smiled up at Terrick. "And you have met Crais' son. Braca, please see that Officer Crais is made comfortable." He waited until the two men left, leaving Morgan alone with him and guards. He gazed at her, then dismissed the guards as well with a wave of his hand. Scorpius returned his attention to Morgan, his eyes boring into her. "I know what you want," he said softly.
"Where is she?" Morgan asked, her voice cracking in fear.
"Safe. For now." He released Morgan's chin and pulled her into a standing position. He regarded her, turning away, clenching his hand. "Is she worth that much to you?" he asked conversationally, pouring a glass of raslak.
Morgan swallowed. "I would not have come here if she wasn't, Scorpius." She watched the scientist as he drank, licking her lips, her own throat parched and dry. "You owe me."
His eyes widened at her words. "Really? I thought our score card was even."
"Far from it. I didn't kill you on the research base, did I?" she answered, her voice cracking.
Scorpius looked at her, his head tilted. He had to admit, she had guts. He walked back to her, leaning towards her menacingly. "She is a beautiful child, Morgan, with your unique eyes," he commented conversationally, watching the emotions pass across her face. "And bright too," he added, "for one so young." His voice hardened. "Is she worth your life?" he asked softly.
Morgan drew on everything Crais had taught her and looked up at him, their eyes locking. She was beginning to doubt her own sanity in coming here. Scorpius would never willingly give Suleah back. It was all she could do not to back away. "Yes."
Scorpius nodded, slowly walking around her. He stopped, leaning forward, his breath rustling her hair. He reached out, tucking the strands behind her ear, running his gloved finger over the tender flesh of her exposed neck. "I don't want to hurt you, you understand that, right?" he hissed softly. He laid his hands on her shoulders, applying just enough pressure to keep her from moving, asserting his authority.
Morgan swallowed, shivering in fear at his touch as she nodded. The tables had been turned on her, thanks to Terrick and Scorpius was now completely in control.
He nodded, moving closer, his lips almost touching her ear, his grip tightening as she shook. "Is Suleah's life worth sitting in the chair and giving me the worm hole formula?"
A single tear slipped from Morgan's eye as she hung her head. "Yes."
"What do you mean she's missing?" Crais growled, staring at his father in disbelief. "She's only two monens old! She could not have just got up and walked away!" He paced the small path in front of his father, the worried look on the older man's face disturbing him. Crais had walked the entire city for arns, trying to calm down from Terrick's attack. It took everything in his power not to return to the cellblock and kill his son. It had been a long time since he had allowed his anger to take control like that. And it disturbed him that Morgan was witness to it. Crais didn't know who he was angrier at: Terrick or himself.
Crichton had been true to his word, not letting the Captain near his wife or son. As soon as they returned Terrick to the holding cell, Crichton went to Morgan, where she waiting in the infirmary. Every time Crais tried to get to Morgan, he was stopped by the human aiming a pulse pistol at him. Crais simply gave in, knowing that his wife would never allow her cousin to come between them. He could only imagine the grief the human would give him now. He ran his fingers through his hair.
Father stood up, grasping his son by the shoulders, turning Crais to face him. "Morgan is with your mother and Tauvo has already initiated a search within the community. If she is here, Shantar and your brother will find her." He gazed down at Crais, not sure how to tell his volatile son about his mother. "Bialar, your mother was drugged," he whispered, his voice hitching slightly, his big eyes filled with worry.
Crais' eyes narrowed as he broke away from his father, storming across the square towards their home. "Which almost guarantees that my daughter has already been taken off the planet. Whoever did this has gone too far! How dare they?" he snarled vehemently. "Is mother…is mother all right?" The grunt he received in affirmation from his father settled him slightly, but the gnawing in his stomach kept growing and he thought he was going to be sick. Crais burst through the door into his parent's house. "Morgan!" Crichton met him as his came down the hall and Crais pushed the human away.
"Don't you think you've caused enough trouble?" Crichton growled. His blue eyes blazed in blind fury, his own anger at Terrick's attack still fueling his hostility towards Crais. Without even thinking, Crichton grabbed Crais' arm and swung the ex-Peacekeeper around to face him.
Crais lashed out, taking Crichton in the gut with the palm of his hand, sending the human backwards. Crichton lurched forward, swinging back, forcing Crais backwards into the main room, tackling him as he lost his balance.
Aeryn jumped from her seat on the settee, grabbing the first man she came to. She wrestled Crais away from Crichton as Father came in, clasping the human by the upper arms. "Cut it out, both of you! This will solve nothing!" She let go of Crais, the Captain rubbing his jaw. He could taste blood in his mouth and felt around with his tongue as his eyes shot daggers at the man. Aeryn stared at him. "Morgan's right. The two of you are acting like children instead of working together to find out who did this!"
"It's his fault, Aeryn! He's the one that made Morgan go and talk to Terrick! Why can't any of you see that? He is the reason all of this is happening!" Crichton cried, struggling in Father's meaty grip. His eyes were wild, his body ready to spring.
"What the frell is wrong with you?" Aeryn hissed, her hands propped on her hips, her eyes narrowed as she stared at Crichton.
The door to the bedroom opened, silencing everyone as they turned to see Morgan. Her face was bruised, an angry red burn mark across her neck from the restraints and Terrick's arm. "I'll tell you what's wrong with him. He's always tried to protect me. We've gotten into a few scraps ourselves over it because he doesn't know when to back off," she whispered, her voice hoarse. She clutched Allan tightly to her chest, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. Morgan moved straight to Crais, hiding her face in his chest as he enfolded his wife and son in his arms, glaring challengingly at Crichton.
"Morgan, are you alright?" Crichton asked as Father let him go. He ran his fingers through his hair.
Morgan looked up, pushing away from her husband, handing their son to him. Allan watched with wide dark eyes as his mother moved towards her cousin, cold lethal fury in her blue eyes. Crichton backed away at the look on her face. He had never seen Morgan like this before and he found that he was actually scared of her. "No, John, I'm not alright," she whispered vehemently. "I just got the hell beat out of me by my stepson, the two men most important in my life can't seem to quit fighting…" she paused, trying very hard to catch her breath, biting her lower lip. "…and now my daughter is missing." She blinked back the tears that threatened to spill over on her cheeks. Morgan reached out and pushed Crichton, backing him into the wall as she stared up at him.
"Get this straight. Crais asked me to speak with Terrick." She emphasized the word asked. "I agreed to. He would've respected my wishes if I said no. But I wanted to. Me! I! So quit frelling blaming him!" She turned her steely gaze to her husband. "And you," she snarled, pointing at Crais. "Quit egging him on every time he says something you disagree with. He's as protective of me as you are. Deal with it." She looked around the room, her gaze finally settling on Father as Crais and Crichton stood in shocked silence, Aeryn simply folding her arms and waiting. "Mother is resting. She…" She sniffed. "Zhaan is with her," she finished as her face crumbled. Morgan backed up to the wall, her breath ragged in her chest as she stared at the faces around her. Everything blurred as her knees buckled beneath her and she slid to the floor, the last of her control slipping away as she banged her fists against the ground, her head against the wall. "Dammit, Crais, you promised!" she bawled. Crais moved to his wife, handing his small son to Aeryn as he slipped past. Morgan had buried her face in her drawn up knees, her shoulders shaking violently with the force of her crying.
Tauvo and Shantar barged in, grim expressions on their haggard and worn faces. They had searched every dwelling, every out building, every ship. Tauvo shook his head as he sank down next to Morgan, Crais on the other side of her. He laid his hand on her shoulder, the look of anguish on his brother's face clenching Tauvo's heart. "Morgan, Suleah's no where in the city." He swallowed, turning briefly away, his own tears of pain at his niece's disappearance spilling down his face. "Communications claim that a cargo ship requested permission to depart shortly after Terrick's attack. It's the only ship that has left the planet."
Morgan slowly sat up, her red-rimmed eyes filled with horror. Was Suleah on that ship? Horrific mental images flashed through her mind and she slowly stood up, brushing away Crais' hand as she turned to stare down at him. She took Allan from Aeryn, clutching him tightly to her, daring anyone to wrest him away from her. She scowled at the two brothers, backing away towards Father, letting the big man enfold her protectively, his own disgusted scowl matching Morgan's over his eldest son's immature behavior regarding Crichton. "You better find her," she whispered, her body shaking in maternal rage. "So help me, Bialar, you better find our daughter."
The tension that permeated the atmosphere of Zorosa 3 was thick. News of Suleah's kidnapping spread like wildfire through the close-knit city, the women flocking to Morgan, trying to comfort the human. The only comfort she found was sitting with Mother, caring for the older woman as she recovered from the effects of the drug she had been given. Zhaan alternated with Morgan, her quiet presence soothing, none of them speaking much, the shock of Terrick's attack and Suleah's kidnapping still weighing heavily on everyone's minds.
But Morgan began to get restless.
She stood in their quarters on Talyn, Allan on the planet surface with Zhaan and Chiana. The Nebari woman had become quite taken with the child, allowing Morgan to maintain her work on the Leviathan gunship, as Chiana played with the even-tempered Allan. No one knew why Chiana took on the role of nanny to the little boy and Morgan's worry was that Chiana would teach him how to be a thief. That's the least of my worries, she thought to herself. Morgan's mind raced through options as she paced the room, Zorosa's moons glowing softly through the viewport. Tauvo's people had locked on to the cargo ship's trajectory, giving them a good idea of its heading.
And a good idea of who had taken her daughter.
Morgan began to pace, wringing her hands nervously in growing frustration. She picked up Suleah's soft baby blanket from the bed, rubbing it with her fingers. She dropped it, closing her eyes as she accessed Talyn's system. Crais refused to let her accompany them on the rescue mission, wanting her to stay with Allan. Your place is with our son right now. He needs you. Crais' angry voice still rang through her head. That argument took place took days ago, Tauvo agreeing with his brother and adding to Morgan's annoyance. Even Crichton agreed with Crais. The two men were still discussing the best way to go about retrieving Suleah. Crais had not slept since she had been kidnapped, locking himself in meetings with Shantar and the other resistance officers, avoiding his wife and everyone else. Morgan retrieved the information she wanted, clenching her jaw as she made up her mind.
Talyn chirped anxiously at her. "Nothing. Don't worry about it," she answered as she dropped the blanket. The gunship could feel her anxiety and it bothered him. She retrieved her satchel from under the bed, quickly packing a change of clothing, spare pulse pistol charges and currency. "I said don't worry about it," she snapped as the gunship chattered at her. Morgan growled at Talyn's incessant questions and removed the transponder, effectively silencing the Leviathan as she placed it on the pillow. She flew the transport pod back to the surface and marched across the dark compound with purpose fueled by blind fury and maternal rage.
"Morgan!" Aeryn approached the human woman, her dark hair blowing in the light breeze. "Where are you going? Talyn informed Crais that you removed the transponder."
"So he sent you to find me? How noble of him," Morgan spat, pushing past the ex-Peacekeeper. "Stay out of my way Aeryn!"
Aeryn grabbed her arm, and Morgan lashed out, driving her fist hard into the Sebacean's stomach, bringing her knee up as Aeryn doubled over, connecting with her chin. Aeryn fell backwards banging her head against the concrete as she slipped into unconsciousness.
Morgan never even looked back to see if Aeryn was all right. She had one goal in mind and nothing was going to stop her from accomplishing it. She marched into the dark cellblock, raising her pulse pistol and aiming it at the guard. "Open the cell!" she demanded. The guard fumbled with the keys, and Morgan backhanded him, knocking him aside as she grabbed the ring and opened the cell. She aimed it at the sleeping teens head. "Get up, you piece of frelling dren!" she snarled.
Terrick sat up slowly, his hands up. He noticed the crazed look on Morgan's face and knew he would be in trouble if he didn't comply with her demands. "What are you doing?" he asked quietly as Morgan pushed his jacket in his hands.
"We're going for a ride." She took his arm, shoving the pulse pistol in his back as she shoved him from the cell. "I would not advise pissing me off, Terrick," she hissed as they left the cellblock. She led him past Aeryn's unconscious form towards the landing bays that housed the Prowlers.
"Where are we going?" he asked as she pushed him towards his ship, quickly climbing up into the cockpit. He saw the data chip his contact left, providing the rest of the information on the resistance that he could not get out of Morgan. He smiled slyly at his good fortune. Now he didn't have to worry about breaking out of the cell. Morgan did that for him. He pocketed the chip as he slid into the command chair, his stepmother seated behind him as he initiated the start-up sequence.
"Well, there is only one person I know who would want my daughter." She leaned forward, her breath hot on his neck as she pushed the pulse pistol against the back of his head. "You did know someone kidnapped my daughter, didn't you?"
"The guard briefly mentioned it," Terrick snarled.
"Good. You are going to take me to him."
"You are under the mistaken assumption that someone would think your sniveling half-breed brats are worth something," the teenager commented snidely.
"Oh, they're worth something. A bargaining chip maybe. "Why don't you tell me?"
"What make's you think I know anything?" he asked softly, his voice filled with menace as he turned his head towards her. Morgan pushed the pulse pistol hard against his temple. Terrick's lips curled into a sneer and he returned his attention to the Prowler's controls, lifting the small fighter into the night sky. "Who exactly do you believe would find your children worth something?" he asked, although he already knew the answer.
"Scorpius."
Crais ran into their quarters on Talyn searching for Morgan, although he knew she wasn't there. "Morgan?" he called, hoping she was just being stubborn and not answering. They had found Aeryn sitting on the landing strip, holding her head a she told them what Morgan had done. Crais closed his eyes, searching the gunship in a panicked rage. He could not imagine the grief she was feeling after believing for so long that she'd never bear children, let alone two healthy ones, only to have one of them taken away. He searched again. No Morgan. His eyes narrowed slightly as they opened. Even with the privacy mode engaged, he could still feel her when she was close by. Now, he could barely feel her, as if she was far away. His gaze went to the bed and he froze, fear and rage gripping him tightly. "No!" he hissed, picking it up the transponder and Suleah's soft blanket. "Talyn! Where is she?" he screamed.
The gunship refused to answer.
"TALYN!"
~ She left. She was going after Suleah. I tried to talk her out of it, but she wouldn't listen. She pulled the transponder and that's when I contacted you, ~ he vocalized, his own musical voice tinged with worry.
Crais cursed colorfully, dropping the transponder and blanket. "I expressly forbade her from doing this!" He headed for the bridge. "Trace her signal."
The gunship did as he was asked, torn between taking off after Morgan and waiting for Crais' instructions. ~ Crais, I believe she has Terrick with her. ~
"She does, Talyn!" Crais slammed his hand on the system console, fighting to keep his temper and his own control. He opened the communications link. "Tauvo! Find Crichton and Ka D'Argo. We have another…problem."
His brother's face appeared on the clamshell, for once serious with no trace of the light-hearted person he was. "What's going on? What did she do?" he simply asked.
Crais closed his eyes, slowing his breathing. "She took Terrick and went after our daughter."
Scorpius looked up as Raseen and Braca came in, the Captain carrying a wiggling bundle. He could tell by the look on Braca's face that the lieutenant was not happy with something as he turned his attention to Raseen.
"The imbecile could only get one of them," she announced as she limped over to Scorpius, handing Suleah to the Peacekeeper scientist.
"Sir, the boy…" Braca started in annoyed explanation.
Scorpius held up his hand, silencing Braca as he removed the wrap from the child. She looked up at him, happy to have the offending blanket off her face, her pudgy hands reaching for Scorpius. Bright blue eyes stared at him in fascination and Scorpius gazed down at her, smiling. "Oh, aren't you the little vixen," he whispered. He settled her in the crook of his arm as he removed the blanket.
"I told the idiot that you would not be happy with the one child, but he refused to go back for the boy," Raseen snarled, clasping her hands at the small of her back, ignoring Braca.
"One of the children is enough," Scorpius answered, directing his remark to Raseen. "It will be better this way, because the boy will still give them a false feeling of hope and security." He looked up at her, his eyes narrowing. "Do you have a problem with that, Captain?"
Raseen slowly pulled herself up straighter. "No sir," she answered sharply. She wanted nothing more than to destroy Crais and his alien wife and knew that the unexplained disappearance of both children would have crippled them.
Scorpius noticed the smug glance Braca threw in her direction. "Good. You are dismissed." He watched as Raseen reached out for Suleah. "No. She will remain with me. I want to see just how bright she is."
Raseen's face grew dark. "Sir, she is barely two monens old," she protested. She wanted the child. Raseen wanted control over Suleah.
Scorpius canted his head at her. "And she would have already been in training had she born into the Peacekeepers. I want to gauge for myself her intelligence so that we can properly place her," he reminded. "You are dismissed." Raseen glared at him angrily and turned on one foot, marching from the room. Scorpius looked at Braca expectantly.
"Permission to speak freely, sir?"
"By all means, Lieutenant," the scientist answered, sitting down behind his console. He sat Suleah before him, studying the half-human, half-Sebacean child as she grabbed his nose and squeezed.
"Sir, I do not trust Captain Raseen and I protest to the kidnapping of an innocent child. It is one thing to be born into Peacekeeper service or even conscripted. But this…" Braca shook his head, thinking back to his own childhood before joining the Peacekeepers. For the first time in his life, Braca saw hope for a better future in the small child before him. Crais had been a good commander and he had been good to Braca. The lieutenant wouldn't have wished the pain of loosing a child on even his worst enemy, let alone a man he once respected. He swallowed, waiting for Scorpius' response. Braca figured he would be facing a firing squad in the morning.
Scorpius looked at him as he gently extricated his nose from Suleah's grip. "I do not trust her either and I am not in total agreement with Captain Raseen's methods. But her plan has merit." He peered at Braca, wondering why he was so concerned with Suleah's safety. "Morgan and Terrick are already on route to the base." He stood up, picking up the baby and handing her to Braca. He lowered his voice, his eyes narrowing. "Raseen has it out for Morgan and I would not put it past her to harm the child." He lifted his chin. "Make sure Suleah Crais is guarded at all times. I do not want her in any danger."
Braca's eyes widened at Scorpius' words. "Sir?" he asked in confusion as he tried to loosen Suleah's grip from his hair.
The scientist returned to his desk. "If anything happens to her," he started, pointing at the baby, "I am holding you responsible."
Crichton stared at Crais and Tauvo, his mouth open in shock as he shook his head. Morning was fast approaching and they still had gotten nowhere. "What the hell was she thinking?"
Tauvo sighed, rubbing his temple. He gazed at his brother, who leaned his head on his folded arms, his breathing soft and even in exhausted sleep. "I suppose she was thinking of her daughter," he replied tiredly. He leaned back in the chair, rubbing his eyes. "You yourself said you didn't know how she was going to act once her hormones kicked in. I suppose they just kicked in a little later than expected."
"Where is Allan?" Aeryn asked. She held an ice pack to the back of her head, the goose egg there hurting more than her chin.
"Zhaan and Chiana took him to Moya," Tauvo answered.
Crichton leaned his head on his fist. "Do we have any idea where she went? Or are we still in the dark about who kidnapped Suleah?"
Rygel chose that moment to float in, quietly listening to the conversation. He gazed over the three men in the room and his eyes met Aeryn's, the guilt at not saying anything sooner weighing heavily on him. "I saw who took the baby," he simply announced.
Crichton turned slowly in his chair, Crais' head rising as he glared at the Dominar. "Care to enlighten us, Buckwheat?" Crichton asked softly.
Rygel floated closer to the table, keeping Tauvo in between himself and the very unstable Captain. "It was dark and I could be mistaken, but I was on my way to the party…"
Crichton stood up, his chair falling backwards with a loud clang as he grabbed Rygel by the ears, lifting him from the sled throne. The little Dominar kicked at him. "Out with it you frelling muppet! Who took Suleah?"
"Ow! That hurts!" Rygel yelled as he wiggled in his grasp.
"It will hurt more if I get a hold of you," Crais growled.
"It was Braca!"
Crichton dropped him as Crais stood up. The two men looked at each other, their earlier disagreements momentarily forgotten. "Which means…" Crichton fell silent.
"She went after Scorpius," Crais finished.
Morgan popped the canopy of the Prowler, easing herself down the side of the small ship, right into the waiting hands of three Peacekeepers. They quickly restrained her hands as Terrick climbed down, tugging the flight gloves from his hands. "She is to be taken to Scorpius," he announced authoritatively.
The guards marched her through the corridors of the scientist's new base, leaving her in a well-appointed room to wait. Braca entered and approached them, gazing at Morgan in surprise. The small and feisty human woman looked tired, although her eyes smoldered. "Captain Morgan Crais. What a delightful surprise."
"Well, at least you got the name right," she quipped, turning to face the lieutenant. "Can the sweet talk, Braca. I want my daughter back," Morgan snapped.
"I do not believe you are in any position to be demanding anything." Terrick stated, gazing down his nose at her, handing Braca a data chip. "That contains the rest of the information on their base."
Braca nodded. "Good. Scorpius will be pleased with this."
Morgan's eyes narrowed in disgust. "You frelling bastard. You frelling turn-coat bastard, son-of-a-bitch!" she screamed, launching herself at Terrick. "You planned on selling us out all along!"
Terrick simply gazed at Morgan. "You honestly thought those little heart-to- heart chats of ours meant anything to me?" He laughed, stepping away from her as she neared. "You fell right into my trap, making it easier for me to get away from your pathetic little resistance." He scowled at her, turning away. "You're as stupid as my father!"
The two Peacekeepers that had escorted them there grabbed a hold of Morgan, dragging her kicking and fighting away from Terrick as the door opened again and Scorpius walked in. He looked down at Morgan, who had been forced to her knees. "Morgan! What a delight it is to see you," he commented. He knelt down before her, taking her chin in his leather-bound hand. "I understand you came here on your own accord. I don't usually get visitors." He smiled up at Terrick. "And you have met Crais' son. Braca, please see that Officer Crais is made comfortable." He waited until the two men left, leaving Morgan alone with him and guards. He gazed at her, then dismissed the guards as well with a wave of his hand. Scorpius returned his attention to Morgan, his eyes boring into her. "I know what you want," he said softly.
"Where is she?" Morgan asked, her voice cracking in fear.
"Safe. For now." He released Morgan's chin and pulled her into a standing position. He regarded her, turning away, clenching his hand. "Is she worth that much to you?" he asked conversationally, pouring a glass of raslak.
Morgan swallowed. "I would not have come here if she wasn't, Scorpius." She watched the scientist as he drank, licking her lips, her own throat parched and dry. "You owe me."
His eyes widened at her words. "Really? I thought our score card was even."
"Far from it. I didn't kill you on the research base, did I?" she answered, her voice cracking.
Scorpius looked at her, his head tilted. He had to admit, she had guts. He walked back to her, leaning towards her menacingly. "She is a beautiful child, Morgan, with your unique eyes," he commented conversationally, watching the emotions pass across her face. "And bright too," he added, "for one so young." His voice hardened. "Is she worth your life?" he asked softly.
Morgan drew on everything Crais had taught her and looked up at him, their eyes locking. She was beginning to doubt her own sanity in coming here. Scorpius would never willingly give Suleah back. It was all she could do not to back away. "Yes."
Scorpius nodded, slowly walking around her. He stopped, leaning forward, his breath rustling her hair. He reached out, tucking the strands behind her ear, running his gloved finger over the tender flesh of her exposed neck. "I don't want to hurt you, you understand that, right?" he hissed softly. He laid his hands on her shoulders, applying just enough pressure to keep her from moving, asserting his authority.
Morgan swallowed, shivering in fear at his touch as she nodded. The tables had been turned on her, thanks to Terrick and Scorpius was now completely in control.
He nodded, moving closer, his lips almost touching her ear, his grip tightening as she shook. "Is Suleah's life worth sitting in the chair and giving me the worm hole formula?"
A single tear slipped from Morgan's eye as she hung her head. "Yes."