Rystal

by DOKChairman

After a disastrous fight with Aeryn, John is abandoned on a strange planet. He soon discovers an ancient and mysterious prophecy that leads to open warfare with the Peacekeepers, and maybe a way home.

12. The Frog Who Would Be King

Title: Rystal

Author: DOKChairman

Time/Spoilers: I really have no idea when this takes place, but if I had to say, it takes place before John was twinned, but after Zhaan dies.  Everything before that is fair game.

Summary: After a disastrous fight with Aeryn, John is abandoned on a strange planet.  He soon discovers an ancient and mysterious prophecy that leads to open warfare with the Peacekeepers, and maybe a way home.

Disclaimer: "Farscape", its characters, and its situations don't belong to me - they are the propertyof The Jim Henson Company, Rockne S. O'Bannon, the Sci-Fi Channel, Hallmark Entertainment, and Nine Network Australia.  The only thing that belongs to me is the original story and characters.

Author's Note: Unfortunately, school is starting up again and that means that I will have significantly less time for writing.  So I would like to apologize in advance for posting the next few chapters later than usual.  I will try to post one new chapter a week, but I think that might be too generous a promise.

Second Author's Note: I would like to thank those who have given me feedback; it is much appreciated.  Like before, any and all feedback is encouraged, especially constructive criticism.  A Special thanks to paz, you're review was very much appreciated.  It was one of the nicest compliments anyone has ever given me with regards to my writing.  I'm glad you like my story, and look forward to anymore input you might have.  Thank you!

Third Author's Note: This should be the last chapter of filler information.  I only have four chapters left, and they should move fairly quickly.  They are loaded with action and tie up some of the loose threads created in this story.

"Perhaps you can.  You have every incentive.  The welfare of Earth hangs on your doing so and, as you have told me, your own career."

            "What good is incentive?  If you ordered me to fly by flapping my arms and told me further that if I failed, I would be promptly killed by slow torture and that Earth would be blown up and all its population destroyed, I would have enormous incentive to flap my wings and fly-and yet still be unable to do so."

-Isaac Asimov, The Robots of Dawn

Chapter 12: The Frog Who Would Be King

One solar day after the events in The Family Reunion From Hell-

            Captain Bialar Crais was not a man that was easily impressed.  He had seen so much of the galaxy during his tenure as a Peacekeeper captain that very few things surprised and impressed him.  So it came as no surprise to him that John Crichton was still alive.

            Unlike the others aboard the Leviathan ship Moya, Crais had learned early on not to underestimate John Crichton.  While there was certainly a large amount of animosity, not to mention jealousy, at least on his part, between the two men, Crais did respect John Crichton.  He just didn't show it.  To show that he respected Crichton would be to give Crichton an edge over him, and that was something that Crais could not do.

            Crais hated not having total control over everything in his life.  It was a weakness that a soldier could not afford.  That was why he hated Scorpius so much for replacing him, why he had taken command of Talyn, and why he disliked Crichton so much.  Whenever he was around Crichton, he lost control.  Either it was his emotions or the situation, whichever one it was didn't really matter.

            But deep down, in places of his psyche that he rarely visited, Crais knew that he and Crichton were very much a like.  They were both control freaks, stubborn, strong willed, dangerous, and always believed that they were right.  It was why he was not all that surprised that Crichton had survived three monens on a planet that was fighting a war with the Peacekeepers.  Crichton wouldn't just give up, just like Crais knew that if their roles had been reversed, he wouldn't give up.  It just wasn't in their natures.

            So Crais's respect for Crichton went up a little more.  It was that respect, more than anything else that made Crais stay where he was.  At the moment he was doing the very boring and, in his opinion, very unnecessary task of looking over Moya while she waited for her wayward crewmembers to return. 

Crais knew that there was the chance that the Peacekeepers might discover Moya and Talyn, but that chance was so small that Crais thought it a huge waste of his time to be guarding Moya.  He could be doing much more important things.  Like planning a way to rid the planet they were orbiting of those three Peacekeeper command carriers.  Crais was a soldier, a man trained all his life to fight, and he had been relegated to nothing more than a babysitter.  It angered him to no end.  As much as he disliked Crichton, he would much rather be trying to rescue him than doing what he was doing now.

The others had asked him though, to watch out for Moya, and while he hated doing it he did it anyways.  They had pointed out that Moya was their only way off of Rotar and that even though the chance of detection was small, they couldn't risk losing her.  So because Crais was the only one they trusted and the only one able to do the job, he had agreed because there was no other choice.  Crais just hoped they got back as soon as possible.

In order to keep himself occupied during his lull in action, Crais was doing something that he rarely ever did: he was willingly doing the work of a tech.  Or to be more precise, he was currently doing maintenance on Aeryn's Prowler aboard Moya.

Crais knew that he had to be really desperate for activity if he was repairing someone else's ship, but he had seen that Aeryn's Prowler could use some work done.  Aeryn had neglected her Prowler during her three-monen depression. 

Despite the fact that Crais generally disliked tech work and thought it beneath him, some former Peacekeeper ideals were hard to break after all, something could be said for the all encompassing experience of completely concentrating on fixing and creating something with your bare hands.  While no one would ever mistake Crais for a Peacekeeper tech, he had had to become quite proficient in maintenance duties during his stay aboard Talyn.  Talyn had DRDs of course, but they couldn't do everything.  At least Crais knew what he was doing.

He had been working on the Prowler for a little more than two arns, when he heard a whirring noise coming closer to the hangar bay.  He recognized the sound immediately; it was the sound of the Hynerian's thronesled.  Why the Hynerian was coming to the docking bay, Crais did not know nor did he really care.  He stuck his head back inside the Prowler and continued his work on the Prowler's navigation system.

The whirring sound got much louder, signifying that the Hynerian was inside the docking bay.  Crais heard the sound for a few microts more before it stopped.  He just acted like Rygel wasn't even there and continued working on the Prowler.  Crais may have to protect Moya and those aboard her, but that didn't mean that he had to talk to them.

Unfortunately, the Hynerian didn't share the same sentiment.  "What the frell are you doing Crais?"

Crais just sighed and said annoyingly, "What does it look like I'm doing Hynerian?"

Rygel snorted in amusement, "It looks like your trying to get your eema kicked Crais."

What?  Crais removed his head from inside the Prowler and turned to face Rygel with a look of confusion on his face.  "What are you talking about?"

Rygel just waved one of his small hands at Aeryn's Prowler before speaking.  "Not even Crichton is stupid enough to touch Aeryn's Prowler without asking first.  If she finds out you worked on it, she'll probably try to kill you.  Not that that isn't an image I wouldn't enjoy."

Crais just scowled at Rygel.  "Its just a ship.  Surely she doesn't care that much about it?"

Rygel shook his head, "To you and I, it's just a ship, but to Aeryn it means a lot more.  Why, I don't know."

Crais looked like he was thinking about what Rygel said, before speaking again.  "I appreciate your warning, Hynerian, but surely you did not come all the way down here to warn me about not touching Aeryn's Prowler."

Rygel responded, "I came down to ask you about the Peacekeepers surrounding this planet."

Crais again looked confused, "What do you mean?"

"Are we in any danger of being detected?"

Crais smiled to himself.  Of course the Hynerian is only worried about himself being in danger.  "We are in an asteroid field composed of certain substances that make Peacekeeper sensors ineffective.  The only way that we could be detected is if a Peacekeeper vessel physically entered the field, and only then if they were in a few thousand metras of our position.  We are perfectly safe, Dominar."

Of course the Universe, as John Crichton had already learned many times over, has a fabulous sense of humor and decided to play a joke on Bialar Crais.  After all, how could the Universe pass up on a great opportunity like the one Crais just gave it?

As soon as Crais finished his little spiel, Pilot appeared in the clamshell in the docking bay.  He looked apprehensive and worried.  Pilot began talking hurriedly, "Captain Crais, both Moya and Talyn have detected a Peacekeeper Prowler on the edge of our sensor range.  The Prowler is moving on a direct course for Moya.  I am quite confident that it has detected us."

This was what Crais had been waiting for, some action.  He immediately sprung into action.  He spoke to Pilot, "Move Moya further into the field.  Moya may have to leave the field and starburst away if there is more than just one."

Once Crais was done giving his orders to Pilot, he focused his attention on what he needed to do.  Through his neural link, he began issuing orders to Talyn.  "Move in front of Moya and power up your cannon.  Fire only when I give the order.  Wait until the Prowler gets closer, we don't want to risk it getting away."  Talyn acknowledged his orders and did what he said.

Talyn sprung to life, moving in front of his mother, protecting her.  He then powered up his main cannon, ready to obliterate the offending Prowler should it come any closer.

The Prowler was almost in range, just a little bit closer and Talyn would have a complete lock on his target.  Crais could feel through Talyn that the Prowler was in range to be fired on.  He was about to issue the order to Talyn to fire on the Prowler, when Pilot excitedly interrupted his concentration.

"Captain Crais!  Captain Crais, do not fire!  Moya is receiving a communication transmission from the Prowler.  The pilot says that she is carrying an important message from Commander Crichton.  She is requesting permission to come aboard."

Crais was frustrated, "What kind of message?"

Pilot did not hesitate in answering; he could see how on edge Crais was, "She will not say.  She says that the message must be delivered in person."

Crais just sighed in frustration and defeat, "Very well Pilot, tell her she can come aboard.  But tell her that she is to come out unarmed.  If she does not, I will shoot her on sight."

Pilot nodded his big head, "Of course Captain Crais.  Your warning is being relayed now."

It only took about thirty microts for the Prowler to come aboard.  Crais and Rygel were still in the docking bay.  Crais armed with his pulse pistol and Rygel armed only with his biting sarcasm.  They were quite the duo.

The Prowler landed and Crais pulled his pistol out of its holster and pointed it at the Prowler.  The hatch lifted, and a woman came out.  At first Crais thought that the woman coming out of the Prowler was Aeryn, which confused him, but then he looked closer at the woman and realized that it was not in fact Aeryn.  The woman looked to have Aeryn's build, have the same kind of hair, and the woman seemed to be the same age as Aeryn, but she was most certainly not Aeryn.  After all, Aeryn did not have gray eyes, nor was she a Captain in the Peacekeeper fleet.

As soon as Crais realized the rank of the woman in front of him, he immediately snapped to attention.  It was an instinctual reaction that he thought he had gotten rid of.  It made him mad at himself that he could still be controlled like that by the Peacekeepers.

Crais had been a high-ranking captain in the fleet, but the woman in front of him was an even higher rank than he was.  It wasn't that she had more seniority, obviously that wasn't possible since Crais was significantly older than she was; it was the branch of the service that she served in.  The woman in front of him was a captain in the Special Directorate, Fleet Command; the elite of the very best captains in all of the Peacekeepers.  To be in her position at such a young age, obviously meant that the woman in front of him was a very powerful and important person.

What the frell could she be doing here?  And why would she have a message from Crichton?  Those thoughts were on the forefront of Crais's mind.  Fortunately for Crais, the woman saw fit to answer his questions.

She began talking, "I presume that you are Bialar Crais?"

Crais just nodded his head dumbly, before realizing how much of a fool he was acting like.  He regained his senses and started to compose himself in the way a proper captain would conduct himself.  He raised his pistol a little higher, making sure the woman saw him doing it, before speaking, "Who are you?  Why are you here, and what message do you carry?"

The woman responded quickly, "I am Captain Lorana Verity, and what I am doing here does not concern you Crais.  I am here to see him."  When she finished talking she pointed one of her slender fingers at Rygel.

To say that Rygel was shocked would have been as much an understatement as saying that Rygel occasionally got hungry.  Rygel sputtered, "Me?  What do you have to say to me?"

Lorana moved closer to Rygel until she was standing right in front of him, completely ignoring Crais.  She drew herself to her full height before speaking.  "I have a message from John Crichton for his Royal Highness, Rygel XVI, the true Dominar of the Hynerian Empire."

Rygel felt a rush of warmth come across his body.  It had been so long since someone had addressed him with such respect and reverence.  It almost made Rygel forget that he was no longer the Dominar of his people.  Rygel drew himself to his full height also.  It was only proper that he treat the captain with the same respect that she gave him, even if she was a Peacekeeper.  "Thank you, captain.  I will accept your message."

Lorana reached into her uniform and pulled out a small chip.  She pressed a button on the chip and a holographic image of John Crichton's face appeared in the air above the chip.

Rygel could see John's smiling face, and he was again assaulted by a feeling of warmth.  It had been too long since he had seen the crazy human.  John began talking, "Hey, Sparky!  Long time no see!  I know, I know, right now you're probably thinking what does that crazy human want with me?  Well let me tell you.  I need your help Rygel."

The message paused, and Rygel was able to process his surprise.  John Crichton wants my help?  John never asks for my help.  Rygel refocused his attention on the message as Crichton began talking again.  John's voice was much more serious now, "I'm in way over my head down here, Sparky.  I don't know the first thing about leading a planet, but you do.  You're used to ruling over lots of people and I could use someone who has practical experience.  I remember back on Acquarra how you treated those people, and while I've never told you this, I was really impressed by you.  You showed me that somewhere in that green hide of yours, that there is a heart.  I need Dominar Rygel XVI again.  You said back on the Royal Planet that you wanted to be my advisor; well I'm giving you that opportunity again.  Come down to the planet and help me.  I promise you that you will have an unlimited supply of food.  If you agree, Lorana will bring you down to the surface."

With that said, the message ended.  John's face disappeared and Lorana dropped the chip down on the ground.  She then promptly stepped on the chip as hard as she could, crushing it into tiny pieces.  She looked at Rygel's questioning gaze and felt compelled to respond.  "In case I am captured, there will be no evidence that I have had contact with John Crichton.  My loyalties cannot be in question."

Crais had to speak up, "What loyalties would those be, Captain"

Lorana faced Crais with a calm and stoic look on her face, "My loyalties are to my commanding officer and to John Crichton.  No other matter."

She then turned back to face Rygel who was deep in thought.  "I am sorry to rush you, your Highness, but I must have your decision.  The admiral cannot afford to have me gone for long, and we only have a limited time frame for us to go down to the planet."

Rygel really liked the woman standing in front of him.  If only everyone else that he knew gave him the proper respect that he deserved.  He had come to his decision almost right after John's message ended.  There wasn't much of a choice in his opinion.  He could either be stuck on Moya and do nothing for however long it took Crichton to finish his war with the Peacekeepers, or risk being killed down on the planet but at least he would be in a position of power again.  And if there was one thing that Rygel loved almost as much, if not more than food, it was power.

Rygel spoke as graciously as he could, "It is alright captain.  I have made my decision.  I will accompany you down to the planet.  Take me to John Crichton."

The captain nodded her head, "Do you have any belongings you wish to bring with you?  It may be a while before you are able to return to Moya."

Rygel thought about that carefully for a few microts before answering, "No, everything I need I have with me."

"Okay, then we will leave immediately.  Come, I will help you into my Prowler."

Rygel curiosity got the better of him, "Why are you being so nice to me?  Not even my own crewmates treat me like you do."

Lorana responded as she was helping Rygel into the Prowler.  "Crichton said that if I treated you like you were still a Dominar, you would be more willing to agree to what he wanted.  He said that your pride and ego would stop you from realizing how dangerous the situation you were placing yourself into was."

Normally Rygel would have been offended by what the captain had just said.  But what she had said sounded so much like something Crichton would do that all it made him do was smile.  Rygel knew that Crichton understood him better than most people.  He would just have to remember to insult Crichton more harshly than normal when he saw him.

Side Note: This chapter didn't exactly go to plan.  I was unsure on how to end it.  I wanted to make it a lot longer, but for some reason it didn't seem to want to get longer.  Tell me what you think.

            In other news, because of school and because of the length of the next two chapters, it will be a while before I update.  In the next chapter, Rygel meets John and the others, John makes preparations to end the war with the Peacekeepers, John begins to understand wormholes better, more tension springs up between Aeryn and Juli, and the Scarrens are pulled into the conflict.

            Thanks to everyone who has been reviewing.  Spread the word, tell more people about this story.  The more people that review, the more I'll want to continue this story into Part two.  Thanks!