Part II-Destination UT
The afternoon before John was to blast off he found himself in that familiar place where he was several years ago before his first flight. Sitting on the hood of his car staring at the spaceship but this time his dad was sitting beside him. John was soaking in the warmth of the Florida sun and the smell of the wild flowers floating in the warm air. Jack was staring at his only son trying to memorize his face. John looked at him out of the corner of his eye.
John: Something wrong?
Jack: Just wondering what you were thinking about?
John took a deep breath and let it out.
John: Not thinking just absorbing.
Jack: There are very few men who can say that they have had the privilege to soar above the planet and travel with the stars.
John: I am living the dream. Living the dream.
John looked up at the clear blue sky.
Jack: You look at peace with yourself.
He looked back toward the spaceship.
John: Everything about this feels right. I wish I could explain this need I have to go back. With all I went through out there, it should be the last place I would ever want to be. I have this uncontrollable feeling, urge, desire, call it what you want, to be back on Moya with my friends.
He looked at his father.
Jack: Your family.
John shook his head. Jack grinned.
John: What?
Jack: You said the same thing when you were trying to convince me and your mother to let you go away to space camp with DK when you were a little boy. A feeling, urge.
John laughed softly.
John: And look how well that turned out.
They looked at each other and shared a humorous father/son moment. Jack slipped off the hood of the car.
Jack: We better get you back or they are going to have your head.
John: A couple more minutes, okay?
Jack looked into his baby blues. He sat back down.
Jack: Okay.
John wanted to take in this time with his father and savor it because he was not sure when they would see each other again, if ever.
****** Jack and DK were the last goodbyes John had to say and the most difficult. His sisters were furious with him for going back and with his father for supporting his decision.
The night before he was put into quarantine Caroline came to see him.
John: Your not mad at me to are you?
Caroline: Would it do any good?
John: No.
Caroline: Is she worth it Johnny?
John: She?
Caroline: I know you. At least I used to know what motivated you, I can think of no other reason you would risk going up there again.
He looked into her eyes and gently stroked her cheek with a half smile on his face. He softly kissed her lips.
John: Goodbye Caroline. Take care of yourself.
She laid her hand on his chest and looked into his eyes.
Caroline: You do the same.
And with that he walked away from his past and headed toward his future. ****** The next morning John suited up in his suit from Moya. The simplistic plan. He simply asked for it. He was not nervous or scared. He was excited. Excited to see Moya and the gang again but mostly he was anticipating touching the face that haunted his every dream.
As John was about to exit the shuttle, he took one last opportunity to communicate with his dad.
John: (smiling) This is John Robert Crichton, Jr, signing off from somewhere in the universe.
Jack could not help smiling.
DK: Whenever you are ready John.
John: Thanks for everything.
DK: See you in the papers.
John: Goodbye Dad.
Jack: Goodbye Son.
John: Till we see each other again whether on earth or amongst the stars.
John released the hatch and flew out into space. He knew the wormhole was coming. He could feel it. He signaled for the shuttle pilot to move the shuttle away.
John took his last look at earth as the wave of clear blue opened just below him. John turned toward the wormhole.
John: (He started humming the melody to The Beach Boys Surfing Safari.) Now this is a monster wave.
He smiled.
John took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He cleared his mind and focused. His eyes opened slowly.
John: Aeryn.
He allowed the pull of the wormhole to take him in.
****** Pilot: Captain Dargo?
Dargo: Yes Pilot.
Pilot: Moya is picking up some strange readings on her scanners.
Dargo: What kind of readings? A ship?
Pilot: No, the readings are very similar to the ones that accompany a wormhole.
Dargo: Are we at a safe enough distance Pilot?
Pilot: Yes but.
The wormhole began to form.
Sikozu: But what Pilot, is there a problem?
Pilot: Moya detects an object coming through the wormhole.
Chiana rushed into command and stood next to Dargo at the console. Ever since the day John disappeared into the wormhole every time one opens up she looks for him to re-emerge.
Chiana: Is it a ship Pilot or a person?
Pilot: The density of tormented space make it difficult to determine.
The three of them stood staring out the view screen as the wormhole opened further. Sikozu was holding his notebook. She had been going over and over his equations since he disappeared trying to find a way to follow him but the missing ingredient was eluding her.
Rygel flew his throne sled into command.
Rygel: Why the yotz have we stopped? I have some currency to spend.
He looked toward the view screen just as the something emerged from the wormhole.
Rygel: I do not believe it.
They just stood there in awe when a crackling sound came over the coms.
John: Pilot, I could use a little help. How about throwing me a rope?
Chiana: (screaming) John!
John: Hey Chi.
Dargo: Pilot, get him aboard.
Pilot: Deploying the docking web now.
Chiana started to rush out.
Sikozu: I am glad that Crichton is alive as well but are you not forgetting one small detail.
The three of them stopped in their tracks and looked at her.
Sikozu: What are we going to tell him about Aeryn?
Chiana looked at Dargo.
Chiana: She is right. That is probably the first question he will ask. What do we tell him?
Dargo: We tell him the truth.
Dargo walked out and the others followed.
Sikozu stopped by Scorpius cell.
Sikozu: Have you heard? Crichton is back.
Scorpius sat up.
Scorpius: He survived the wormhole without a ship? That is impossible.
Sikozu: Well he is here and he is alive.
Scorpius moved over to the bars. He looked both ways down the corridors.
Scorpius: Let me know his physical condition. Any anomalies.
Sikozu nodded her head and left.
Scorpius: (whispering to himself) He is more valuable than even I imagined.
****** Dargo helped Crichton get to his feet. He was a little lightheaded. Chiana removed the helmet. She stared at his face. He smiled at her.
John: You missed a hell of a ride Pip.
She smiled and threw her arms around his neck. He laughed and lifted her off her feet. Dargo slapped him on his back.
Dargo: It is good to see you, my friend.
John looked over his shoulder.
John: You too big man.
John looked around and saw Rygel and Sikozu enter. He put Chiana down.
Pilot: Commander Crichton, Moya and I are pleased to have you back with us.
John: Thank you Pilot. It is real good to be back.
Chiana: So tell us frellnik where have you been all this time?
John: Long story which I will tell you later. First things first (He looked at Dargo.) Where is Aeryn?
Dargo: A great deal has happened since you disappeared.
The smile faded from his face.
John: Where is she?
The afternoon before John was to blast off he found himself in that familiar place where he was several years ago before his first flight. Sitting on the hood of his car staring at the spaceship but this time his dad was sitting beside him. John was soaking in the warmth of the Florida sun and the smell of the wild flowers floating in the warm air. Jack was staring at his only son trying to memorize his face. John looked at him out of the corner of his eye.
John: Something wrong?
Jack: Just wondering what you were thinking about?
John took a deep breath and let it out.
John: Not thinking just absorbing.
Jack: There are very few men who can say that they have had the privilege to soar above the planet and travel with the stars.
John: I am living the dream. Living the dream.
John looked up at the clear blue sky.
Jack: You look at peace with yourself.
He looked back toward the spaceship.
John: Everything about this feels right. I wish I could explain this need I have to go back. With all I went through out there, it should be the last place I would ever want to be. I have this uncontrollable feeling, urge, desire, call it what you want, to be back on Moya with my friends.
He looked at his father.
Jack: Your family.
John shook his head. Jack grinned.
John: What?
Jack: You said the same thing when you were trying to convince me and your mother to let you go away to space camp with DK when you were a little boy. A feeling, urge.
John laughed softly.
John: And look how well that turned out.
They looked at each other and shared a humorous father/son moment. Jack slipped off the hood of the car.
Jack: We better get you back or they are going to have your head.
John: A couple more minutes, okay?
Jack looked into his baby blues. He sat back down.
Jack: Okay.
John wanted to take in this time with his father and savor it because he was not sure when they would see each other again, if ever.
****** Jack and DK were the last goodbyes John had to say and the most difficult. His sisters were furious with him for going back and with his father for supporting his decision.
The night before he was put into quarantine Caroline came to see him.
John: Your not mad at me to are you?
Caroline: Would it do any good?
John: No.
Caroline: Is she worth it Johnny?
John: She?
Caroline: I know you. At least I used to know what motivated you, I can think of no other reason you would risk going up there again.
He looked into her eyes and gently stroked her cheek with a half smile on his face. He softly kissed her lips.
John: Goodbye Caroline. Take care of yourself.
She laid her hand on his chest and looked into his eyes.
Caroline: You do the same.
And with that he walked away from his past and headed toward his future. ****** The next morning John suited up in his suit from Moya. The simplistic plan. He simply asked for it. He was not nervous or scared. He was excited. Excited to see Moya and the gang again but mostly he was anticipating touching the face that haunted his every dream.
As John was about to exit the shuttle, he took one last opportunity to communicate with his dad.
John: (smiling) This is John Robert Crichton, Jr, signing off from somewhere in the universe.
Jack could not help smiling.
DK: Whenever you are ready John.
John: Thanks for everything.
DK: See you in the papers.
John: Goodbye Dad.
Jack: Goodbye Son.
John: Till we see each other again whether on earth or amongst the stars.
John released the hatch and flew out into space. He knew the wormhole was coming. He could feel it. He signaled for the shuttle pilot to move the shuttle away.
John took his last look at earth as the wave of clear blue opened just below him. John turned toward the wormhole.
John: (He started humming the melody to The Beach Boys Surfing Safari.) Now this is a monster wave.
He smiled.
John took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He cleared his mind and focused. His eyes opened slowly.
John: Aeryn.
He allowed the pull of the wormhole to take him in.
****** Pilot: Captain Dargo?
Dargo: Yes Pilot.
Pilot: Moya is picking up some strange readings on her scanners.
Dargo: What kind of readings? A ship?
Pilot: No, the readings are very similar to the ones that accompany a wormhole.
Dargo: Are we at a safe enough distance Pilot?
Pilot: Yes but.
The wormhole began to form.
Sikozu: But what Pilot, is there a problem?
Pilot: Moya detects an object coming through the wormhole.
Chiana rushed into command and stood next to Dargo at the console. Ever since the day John disappeared into the wormhole every time one opens up she looks for him to re-emerge.
Chiana: Is it a ship Pilot or a person?
Pilot: The density of tormented space make it difficult to determine.
The three of them stood staring out the view screen as the wormhole opened further. Sikozu was holding his notebook. She had been going over and over his equations since he disappeared trying to find a way to follow him but the missing ingredient was eluding her.
Rygel flew his throne sled into command.
Rygel: Why the yotz have we stopped? I have some currency to spend.
He looked toward the view screen just as the something emerged from the wormhole.
Rygel: I do not believe it.
They just stood there in awe when a crackling sound came over the coms.
John: Pilot, I could use a little help. How about throwing me a rope?
Chiana: (screaming) John!
John: Hey Chi.
Dargo: Pilot, get him aboard.
Pilot: Deploying the docking web now.
Chiana started to rush out.
Sikozu: I am glad that Crichton is alive as well but are you not forgetting one small detail.
The three of them stopped in their tracks and looked at her.
Sikozu: What are we going to tell him about Aeryn?
Chiana looked at Dargo.
Chiana: She is right. That is probably the first question he will ask. What do we tell him?
Dargo: We tell him the truth.
Dargo walked out and the others followed.
Sikozu stopped by Scorpius cell.
Sikozu: Have you heard? Crichton is back.
Scorpius sat up.
Scorpius: He survived the wormhole without a ship? That is impossible.
Sikozu: Well he is here and he is alive.
Scorpius moved over to the bars. He looked both ways down the corridors.
Scorpius: Let me know his physical condition. Any anomalies.
Sikozu nodded her head and left.
Scorpius: (whispering to himself) He is more valuable than even I imagined.
****** Dargo helped Crichton get to his feet. He was a little lightheaded. Chiana removed the helmet. She stared at his face. He smiled at her.
John: You missed a hell of a ride Pip.
She smiled and threw her arms around his neck. He laughed and lifted her off her feet. Dargo slapped him on his back.
Dargo: It is good to see you, my friend.
John looked over his shoulder.
John: You too big man.
John looked around and saw Rygel and Sikozu enter. He put Chiana down.
Pilot: Commander Crichton, Moya and I are pleased to have you back with us.
John: Thank you Pilot. It is real good to be back.
Chiana: So tell us frellnik where have you been all this time?
John: Long story which I will tell you later. First things first (He looked at Dargo.) Where is Aeryn?
Dargo: A great deal has happened since you disappeared.
The smile faded from his face.
John: Where is she?