Chapter Twenty: Aftermath



"Goa'ulds?"


"That's right, Crais." John explained to the ex-Peacekeeper captain, on Moya's command area. "They look like Humans or Sebaceans, whatever you choose. Their technology is something else, which includes some very effective if oddly shaped weapons and cloaked ships."


"Cloaking technology?" Crais exclaimed, as he eyed a staff weapon that John had handed to him. "If would be advisable to starburst from this place or risk being ambushed again."


"I'm way ahead of you. How long before Talyn can charge up for a jump with us?"


"Destroying that ship drained him, but he'll be ready to jump in another three-quarters of an arn." Crais answered as he placed the staff weapon on the strategy table.


For the first time, John was truly happy to see Crais. Without him they probably wouldn't had escaped from Apophis. Then again, he probably didn't have a choice. An angry Talyn never would have abandoned Moya to the Goa'uld.


Sheba entered the command area, with D'Argo and Chiana walking right beside her. John noticed that the Luxan warrior had quickly gotten rid of the Goa'uld weapons, and had his familiar and trusted Qualta blade sheathed across his back again. Sheba had recovered her blaster, but Chiana still had one of those strange Jaffa hand pistols holstered at her hip.


"Moya is all secure, John," D'Argo announced. "Pilot is making the last rounds with the DRDs."


"We also still have that Goa'uld shuttle parked on the top of Moya." Sheba added. "We're going to need quite a few DRDs to patch up that hole that was sliced into Moya before we can remove it."


John nodded to D'Argo. "We'd better get to it then."


Crais turned and noticed the newest member of Moya. "And who is this lovely being?" He asked, eyeing what he thought was a pretty Sebacean looking female before introducing himself. "My name is Crais, captain of Talyn."


Chiana shook her head, John rolled his eyes, D'Argo faintly growled, and Sheba wondered what everyone's issue with Crais was…


"The name is Lt. Sheba from the Battlestar Galactica," the Colonial warrior informed the ex-Peacekeeper captain.


"Battlestar? Is that a ship?" Crais inquired. The name sounded impressive. "I don't recognized your uniform, are you from an independent Sebacean colony?"


"Give it up Crais," John said behind him. "She's Human."


"Human?" Crais turned back to face John. "Like you?"


"You are quick." John nodded. "She's from a Human colony, and it looks like my species have been travelling amongst the stars a lot longer than yours has. My Earth just happens to be a lost colony and her people are looking for it."


Crais listened and frowned as he looked to Sheba again. "Human? That's unfortunate." He glanced to John once more, promptly forgetting about her. "I'll be returning to Talyn, and once he recharges his energy reserve, we can proceed with starburst."


With that, Crais spun on his heel abruptly and left the command area, without giving Sheba or anyone else a second glance.


After he left, Sheba looked to John for an answer. "Did I just miss something here?"


"Don't take it personally, I think Crais has a problem with anyone implying that Humans are actually better at something than they are." John said.


"Anyone who's not a Sebacean is commonly looked down upon. Do not take offence with Crais, Sheba," D'Argo added.


"I'm a little bigger than that," Sheba assured him, but truthfully she'd make Crais pay later if she got half the chance.


"Well I'm not," Chiana commented, drawing the Goa'uld pistol. "One more insult from him and zap!"


"No Pip," John warned, half-jokingly. "That path leads to the dark side."


D'Argo looked at Chiana's weapon with disdain. "Is that going to be your weapon of choice from now on?"


"Got a problem with it?" The Nebari asked, not caring what D'Argo had to say. "I like this weapon and besides, it only stuns a target on the first shot."


"Just be careful. We saw what it can to a Sebacean when Aeryn got shot." D'Argo informed.


"And it also kills on the second shot and disintegrates anything on the third." Chiana sighed. "I know D'Argo and I'll be careful using the...What is it called again?"


"Zat'n'ktel." Sheba told her, then noticed the surprised looks that everyone was giving her. "I heard it from Pilot. I do listen you know."


Chiana, looked at her weapon and tried to repeat its name. "Zat-nic-tel..."


John stepped closer, suggesting. "Why don't we call it Zat for short."


"A Zat gun?" Chiana laughed, then tilted her head, looking the pistol over. "Hmmm. The name could work."


Suddenly, Moya shuddered violently, almost knocking them all off their feet. Once the Leviathan settled, John turned to the clam shell.


"Pilot, what was that?! Are we under attack?"


Pilot's image quickly appeared. "There was a sudden decompression in tier 1 but I managed to seal that level off in time."


"The Goa'uld shuttle was still parked up there from when they first boarded Moya." Chiana said hurriedly. "One of them must be getting away."


"Yes, and the shuttle is maneuvring away at top speed," Pilot informed.


"Stop it, Pilot, contact Talyn and get him to blast it if you have to!" D'Argo ordered.


"I'm sorry, but the shuttle has cloaked itself and I can no longer track it," Pilot apologized. "He got away."


"Who got away?" Sheba asked. "I thought we rounded all of them up."


"I may have an answer." Pilot looked uneasy. "I had my DRDs search the bottom of my den for Apophis' body but they couldn't locate it."


"Pilot, he fell straight to the bottom of Moya." John said. "No one could survive that."


"Nothing Human or perhaps Sebacean, John." Sheba stepped around to face him. "But you saw Apophis...and fought him, something was different about him. Glowing eyes for one thing."


"What! You're not saying that he's an actual god or something?" John shook his head, refusing to believe it.


"No, but maybe he had to power to survive it. I've seen beings that had the power to manipulate matter or move vast distances between stars. You must have encountered such beings."


Together, Chiana, D'Argo and Crichton all said in unison. "Maldis."


Sheba gave a puzzled stare. "Who?"


***


Later, John walked into the medical area expecting Aeryn to be there. Jool was supposed to be checking her out to see if there were any permanent damage after being shot by the Zat'n'ktel. Looking about, he found Jool putting away her medical equipment, but no Aeryn.


Jool saw the questioning glance on John's face as he searched the room. "She's fine, John, but I sent Aeryn to her quarters for rest and where she'll be more comfortable."


"Thanks Jool. You're a life saver."


"Don't thank me yet," she sighed.


"What?" John started to get worried. "Please don't tell you found something!"


Jool held up her hand. "She's in perfect health John, but I am concerned that she hasn't been getting any sleep."


"I have seen that she's been looking ragged around the edges, but I thought it had more to do with... You know, everything in general over the last few weekens."


"I tried to offer something to make her sleep, but she refused. She won't listen to me, please talk to her or get someone else she will listen to. Peacekeepers may take pride in the idea of going days without rest, but it will take a severe toll on her health later on."


"I'll try to talk to her."


But John had no idea what to say or if she'd even listen to him.