By Darkman
Rating: PG for minor violence and language.
Category: Action/Adventure
Time/Spoilers: Some Season 3 spoilers. Takes place somewhere near the end of Season 3 after John and Aeryn's resolution of their relationship problems
Summary: After a strange encounter on a Commerce planet, the crew begins to plan their assault on Scorpius, but they need more currency.
Disclaimer: I don't own them, didn't create them, and certainly don't profit from them. Wish I did or had. I promise that I'll put them back where I found them.
Credits: I neglected to thank my wonderful betas for their help with BEACON and with Chapter 1. I apologize to Banshae and Janeway and give special thanks to Mayaan for feedback. I hope I used your help well.
CHAPTER 2 – Uninvited Visitor
Sighing, both John and Aeryn turned to the clamshell. "Yes, Pilot," they said in unison.
Chiana and Rygel came through the door talking.
"Hey, old man, Aeryn," greeted Chiana.
"Hey, Pip. Hello, Sparky," John said as he began to study the sensor array.
"Hello, Chiana, Rygel. You are both a little early for your duty, are you not?" Aeryn replied.
"Is there an unwritten rule about being early for an assigned task?" Rygel asked haughtily.
"I guess we are lucky that you appear at all," Aeryn responded. "We all know your first and only love involves food."
"Speaking of food…" Rygel began, but Chiana cut him off. "What did Pilot want you to look at, Crichton?"
"Pilot, I'm looking at the sensor array, but I don't see…" John stopped as Aeryn pointed out a small blip at the very edge of the sensor display. "OK, Pilot, I see it now. What is it?"
"Unknown, Commander. Moya and I are at a loss."
"Pilot, can you maneuver us slightly closer to that object by appearing to drift instead of using propulsion?" Aeryn requested.
"Moya believes so. We will try, Aeryn"
In response to John's confused look, she continued, "Sensor arrays pick up the energy signatures of engines, but I want Moya to look like we have not noticed anything."
"So if it is a ship, he won't be tipped off. Good idea, Aeryn," John replied. "What do you think it is?" he wondered.
"It's probably an asteroid or small moon or something," Chiana offered. "Right?"
"No. It is moving too regularly and the image is too angular," replied Aeryn.
This caused Rygel to groan. "What the yotz did you three do on the Commerce planet to cause this?"
John reached over and pushed Rygel gently. "How do you know this has anything to do with the Commerce planet?" he asked.
"Let's just say that if Peacekeepers were on that planet as you say they were, then they might have followed us," Rygel retorted.
"The Peacekeepers do not have anything that will follow a Leviathan through Starburst," Aeryn answered.
"For all you know. You were infantry, not tech. You have been with us for three cycles. How do you know what the Peacekeepers have developed in that time?" responded Rygel.
Before Rygel and Aeryn could trade anything more than words, Pilot came back on the clamshell saying, "Aeryn, I believe I can raise an image on the hologrid."
"Thank you, Pilot. Please do so," Aeryn said.
As the image came up, all eyes studied it carefully.
"That is not Peacekeeper design," said Aeryn. Looking around, she asked, "Does anyone recognize the vessel?"
Rygel and Chiana shook their heads.
"Don't ask me," John responded. "Military vessel recognition is not one of my strong points."
"A fact which has not escaped any of us, John," said D'Argo as he strode into Command. Before John could respond, he continued, "That is a Scorvian Mellacat, a Prowler equivalent. It holds one or two occupants and like a Prowler is built for maneuverability and speed."
"Well, we've only met one Scorvian lately and odds are that this is the same guy," John said grimly. Turning to the communications console, he continued, "Pilot, open a comms channel, please."
"Channel open, Commander," Pilot responded.
"Hello, Ch'rall. Did you get lonely?" he said.
After several microts of silence and just as John opened his mouth to try again, Ch'rall's voice sounded weakly on Command. "Hello, John Crichton. I congratulate your Pilot and Aeryn Sun for discovering me in such a devious manner. Your survival skills are indeed enviable."
"Nothing like a few cycles in the Uncharteds to improve skills," John said wryly. "Now, how about you tell us why you're here and why you followed us."
"Actually, John Crichton, I was drifting here trying to devise a plan to come aboard your Leviathan, take your head, and collect the bounty from Sh'nam," Ch'rall replied softly.
"Don't pull any punches, do you?" John mused. "Had any luck with your plan?"
"In truth, I can find no way to achieve those goals without enraging your shipmates, especially Ka D'Argo and the proficient Ms. Sun," sighed Ch'rall. "No matter. I would then have to devise a way to keep my cousin from killing me on sight and avoid being killed by the Peacekeepers while I collected. All in all, too much planning and too much left to chance. Terrible odds," he coughed and continued. "I also find that I require something else much more than I require your bounty."
"I told you we could not trust Scorvians," D'Argo began.
"Shh, D'Argo," John interrupted. "What do you need more than the bounty, Ch'rall?"
Coughing and gasping, Ch'rall replied, "Medical attention."
They looked at one another. Aeryn was the first to speak. "How do we know that you will not betray us after you recover?"
"IF you recover," D'Argo added.
"I give you my word that I will ally myself with you in return for my life," Ch'rall whispered. "That is all that I can offer."
"Take the word of a mercenary and assassin. Do you think we have all gone fahrbot?" Rygel snorted.
Stroking his chin, John said, "I'm inclined to believe him. He could have killed us at any time on the Commerce planet."
The others looked at him for what seemed like arns. Finally, Chiana broke the silence. "It's your head, old man."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Pip," John grinned. "What about the rest of you, any objections?"
Seeing headshakes and shrugs, John called, "Pilot, get the docking web on that craft. Prepare to come aboard, Ch'rall. Ch'rall, are you there?" He was met with silence.
John began running towards the docking bay with Aeryn and D'Argo on his heels. "Jool, I hope you have some knowledge of Scorvian physiology because we need you in the docking bay and right now," he called.
"What is a Scorvian, Crichton?" Jool's voice echoed over the comms.
"Just great," groaned John. "Never mind. Just get there, OK?"
Unexpectedly, Crais' voice came over the comms, "Perhaps I can be of assistance, Crichton. At least I know what a Scorvian looks like."
"Crais, how was your recon? No, never mind, I'll ask later. Come aboard and meet us. We can use any help we can get," John called.
"Acknowledged," Crais replied.
When they entered the docking bay, the Mellacat was rolling to a gentle stop. John and D'Argo released the canopy while Aeryn held her pulse rifle at the ready.
"Jeez, look at the blood," John exclaimed. "Let's get him out of here." As John and D'Argo gently lifted the unconscious Scorvian from his ship, Jool and Crais arrived with bandages, medications, and a stretcher.
Struggling with the dead weight. John grunted, "Damn, he must weigh more than 300 pounds." D'Argo nodded and braced himself for better leverage. Crais jumped forward and between the three of them, they managed to wrestle Ch'rall out of his ship, gently lowering him to the floor.
"I count five pulse wounds and several lacerations," Jool said with an intake of breath. "He's still breathing."
Crais took control of the situation by grabbing a compress and ordering, "We need to stop the bleeding and get him to the infirmary at once." As one, they rolled Ch'rall onto the stretcher and set off.
"Aeryn, he doesn't look like he's in any shape to cause a problem. How about you take it easy with that?" John said, indicating her pulse rifle.
"May I remind you, John, that this is a professional assassin? Who knows how many he has terminated. I am not relaxing my guard until we have him restrained."
D'Argo and Crais both nodded agreement. "For once the Peacekeeper and I agree," added Rygel.
They arrived in the infirmary and hastily moved Ch'rall to a treatment table as Jool grabbed fresh compresses and began to apply them. Chiana and D'Argo secured the Scorvian to the table, Crais moved to assist Jool, and John stepped away and stretched his back. "That is one heavy dude," he groaned.
Glancing at Aeryn he said, "Aeryn, why don't you go check out his ship in case he has some hidden surprises? You would know what to look for."
Rygel moved to follow Aeryn, but John grabbed him and asked, "Where do you think you're going?"
"She may need assistance with her inspection."
Chiana snorted, "She's going to inspect not snurch, Froggie."
Rygel haughtily replied, "I do not snurch, I procure."
"Either way you stay here. I will accompany her just in case," D'Argo said as he and Aeryn left for the docking bay.
"Crais, Jool, how's it looking?" John asked
"He has lost a lot of blood, but we have stopped most of the bleeding," said Crais. "This small wound in his lower back worries me, though. His solic gland is in this vicinity and he could die of toxin buildup if that is beyond repair."
Jool ran the scanner over the spot. "There is injury, but no rupture," she noted.
"So your prognosis is?" questioned Crichton.
"He is strong and healthy. He should recover. However, we will not know for several arns," replied Crais.
"I'm going to join Aeryn and D'Argo. Keep me posted," John said over his shoulder as he left the room.
Chiana and Rygel moved away from the table and began to converse. "What are you planning to do now?" she asked.
"Hope that he does not regain consciousness and murder us in our sleep."
"No, Frog boy, I mean are you going to use what we overheard earlier to hurt John or Aeryn?" she asked as she grabbed an earbrow.
"I see no way that the knowledge can be used to my advantage," Rygel squawked. "Besides you do not even like Aeryn."
"But I do like John." Came the reply.
End Chapter 2.
