Chapter 2: Okey-dokey!



It didn't take long for Pilot to trace the signal back to its source. In the Command area, everyone was present as they plotted a course to the transmission source. John paced nervously as they all listened to the transmission as Sheba rebroadcast almost the same message again non stop for over an arn. He wanted to answer her but D'Argo warned against it. That this could be another trap set by Scorpius or any other of the numerous enemies they had made during their time out here.

So they listened but they soon noticed she was getting exhausted.

This is Lt. Sheba... Battlestar Galactica, can you hear me? My patrol was attacked by alien fighters... I lost Bojay...

John waited for her to continue but there was only silence.

Pilot! What happened to the signal?

It just ended. She stopped transmitting.

She had to be in trouble, John thought. Then again, it might be part of the trap.

How close are we now? He asked.

I have her just within sensor range. Pilot answered.

John hurried over the strategy table. Lets see her.

Gathered together, the Moya crew saw a holographic imagine of a small, one man delta wing fighter being projected on the table. It was sleek and dangerous looking, like Aeryn's Prowler fighter. It was of a design that no one had ever seen before.

***

Sheba had given up. She cleared the jamming field for over a centar ago and spend another centar constantly broadcasting her message but had gotten no answer from the Galactica. She hoped and prayed that they had escaped. Leaning back into her cockpit seat, Sheba weighed her options. She had only a half an centar of air left and no place within reach to get to before of fuel limitations.

This is it, Sheba. The Colonial warrior said to no one in particular. Dying is not a problem... It's being alone when it happens I'm always afraid of.

It was as if someone was listening and answered her prayers. A voice suddenly broke through her comm system, speaking in perfect English.

This is Commander John Crichton to Lt. Sheba. Can you read us?

Yes, I read you! Sheba couldn't believe her luck but she remained cautious. This could be the aliens trying to trick her. I'm low on fuel and air. Can you assist me?

We're closing in on your position and we can bring you onboard.

Sheba heard some arguing in the background. It sounded like a heated discussion between Crichton and a few of the crew members on his ship but she couldn't understand what they were saying. This did not feel like a rescue ship from the fleet. She couldn't remember a Commander Crichton but he was using their adopted code.

Her sensor scope beeped an alert as a rather large vessel approached within detection range. Studying the data scrolling across her screen, it was completely alien in design and technology and was the source of Crichton's transmission. According to her sensors, the entire vessel was registering as one big lifeform with several smaller lifesigns inside it.

It was a living ship!

Commander Crichton, I have your ship' within range of my sensors now. I have a question, what species are you and where are you from?

The crew of Moya is made up of several species from many different worlds. Speaking for myself, I'm a Human from a planet called Earth.

Sheba couldn't believe her ears, the chances of just her encountering the long lost thirteenth tribe was slim to none.

Please say again... Did you say Earth?!

Sheba could hear wariness in Crichton's voice, as if he was expecting trouble. Is that a problem?

No, no. I'll gladly explain everything but it's best if we do it face to face.

Okay, my turn now. May I ask what species you are and the address of your home planet?

Sheba was worried that she might spook them, and this Commander Crichton was starting to sound suspicious of her but she had to be up front and honest.

I'm also Human, from the Twelve colonies. My people came a long way searching for the long lost thirteenth colony, it's your planet Earth.

There was a long eerie pause from Moya before Crichton broke the silence saying something completely foreign that even her Viper's translator computer couldn't make heads or tales of it.



***

This is madness! D'Argo protested as they waited outside of the hangar where Sheba's fighter was being brought in. Obviously she has to be lying. The twelve colonies she had mentioned, and your Earth being the thirteenth?

John was struggling to get a word in edgewise ever since he agreed to let Sheba come on board. I know it's crazy but...

Is it even true? Rygel said, moving his hover throne beside John. I heard wild tales in my day but this is more like a fairy tale.

No. I never heard of such a story remotely on Earth, not even in crazy science fiction movie or TV show.

Then why are you agreeing to this? Aeryn said, adding herself to the voices of decent.

I just have a feeling, and she needs help no matter what. John admitted. Besides if this is a trap, it's the most lamest one yet.

And that never stopped you from walking blindly into one before. Aeryn quipped.

That came out harsher than the former Peacekeeper had intended. The look she got from John was more one of hurt than anger. The others watched uncomfortably. The tension between John and Aeryn had been running high ever since she had returned from Talyn after suffering the loss of John's clone. She had been avoiding John Crichton and only dealt with him if she absolutely had to. When she did, it was rarely a pleasant occasion between those two.

Thankfully before an argument could start, the two giant double doors leading the hangar begun to part slowly, revealing the delta wing craft parked on the hangar deck with the female pilot walking cautiously towards them. Sheba was dressed in a tan colored uniform, with black boots and a brown leather jacket dotted with insignia patches and heavy golden latch buttons. There was also a very large pistol strapped to her right hip.

D'Argo and Aeryn were watching closely and noticed the weapon that Sheba was carrying. Their hands tighten about their own weapons and Sheba spotted the toughened stance of the two. The Colonial warrior inched her hand closer to her pistol, ready for trouble.

Everyone, ease up! John said calmly. We're all friends here.

After everyone backed off on their trigger fingers, Sheba watched the lone Human male approaching her, with a hand extended, saying.

My name is John Crichton, and I welcome you to Moya.

With a slight hesitation, the Colonial warrior slipped her hand into his and the two shook while saying. Lt. Sheba, from the Battlestar Galactica.

John smiled warmly and as she returned his smile all John could think of was: My God, she is beautiful!

For Aeryn Sun, she watched John and Sheba with mix emotions that threatened to break through the neutral Peacekeeper mask she was trying to maintain.

After another moment, John remembered his manners and turned to the rest of Moya's crew.

Lt. Sheba, let me introduce you to the rest of the gang, from left to right. The friendly giant with the tentacles is D'Argo, a Luxan warrior, the lady in grey in Chiana, the woman with the red curls is Jool, the guy on the floating throne is Rygel, a former ruler of the Hynerian empire, and Aeryn Sun, a former Peacekeeper.

Is she Human? Sheba asked while looking at Aeryn.

No," Aeryn shook her head, keeping a civil tone in her voice. I'm a Sebacean, I only look Human.

Sheba stared blankly at Aeryn. What did she just say?

She said she's a Sebacean, an alien. She only looks Human on the outside. John answered and went on to explain. We all have translator microbes injected into us which gather around the base of the brain stem. They all can understand you clearly but you must have the microbes injected into yourself in order to understand them.

I don't know. Sheba said cautiously at the very idea of having some alien technology placed inside her.

John tried to assure her. I promise that they are safe. I had them injected into me and it was nothing.

Why not, Sheba thought after a moment. If they wanted to harm me they could had done it the moment I stepped out of my fighter.

Very well. Sheba said before addressing all of them. It's nice to meet you and thank you for coming to my aid. I was in a bad spot.

The crew of Moya either nodded or said something in their native language, which Sheba took as you're welcome. It was very strange and quite exciting for Sheba to encounter so many species all at once. She spend most her life on the colonies and on warships after becoming a warrior, rarely coming in direct contact with other alien species beyond the hated Cylons. Then her eyes met Aeryn's and although she tried to conceal it, Sheba couldn't help but get a sense of obvious hostility from the woman. Like she was either threatening her territory or something that might belong to her.