Pain of Love and Memories
Chapter 8: One Step Backwards
"Hey, do you know where the Docking Area is?"
Colonel O'Neill's voice whispered through the corridors. M'Lee nodded her head, ever so slightly.
"You see, I have a good memory, I simply remembered it from when I first arrived."
O'Neill made various "I'm impressed" noises, not knowing what to say, after that they walked along in silence each absorbed in their own thoughts. Without knowing it they were soon at the Docking Area. O'Neill widened his eyes, it had barely taken them an arn to get there.
"Aaarrrgghh!"
O'Neill fell to the ground in pain, clasping his hands over his ears, he cried out. M'Lee spun around, she saw the Colonel writhing on the floor, his legs kicking out violently. Looking around, she could not find the source of what was causing O'Neill so much pain.
Then something caught her eye, at the top of the wall was a red flashing light. Straining her ears, M'Lee could hear a faint klaxon. Snatching up Jack's pulse rifle, she hurled it up at the light. Her aim was true, it smashed, showering transparent material across them.
A few groans escaped from Jack's mouth, then gradually words.
"What the hell just happened? Aaah!"
Jack doubled up, attempting to cover his ears again.
"We must get to the ship!" M'Lee's voice was urgent. She tried to heave the human colonel to his feet, but he was too heavy.
"Help yourself!" she cried.
Jack staggered to his feet and started walking to the Docking Area. Immediately two Peacekeepers spotted them.
"Stay where you are!"
The command rang out, however, they did not listen and continued hurrying for the Prowler. The klaxon intensified, and O'Neill once again fell to the ground, screaming out in pain.
M'Lee stood to face the coming soldiers and let the beast emerge from within her.
+++++++++++
On another area of the Command Carrier, Crichton was writhing around on the floor, clutching his ears. The pain felt like it would kill him, coupled with the pain from what Scorpius had done was intensified.
"What is happening?" Aeryn cried out to Velorek. "It's just a standard alarm. Why?"
"They're on to us. They must have found the guards!"
Aeryn glared at him, annoyed because she could not help Crichton, and Velorek was pointing out the obvious.
Aeryn yanked a hand away from his ear, and bellowed:
"Crichton! Get up. Now!"
Using all her strength she hauled the human to his knees. Velorek took the hint and grabbed his other arm, together they dragged him along the floor. A figure stepped out in front of them, his smirking face angered Aeryn. Her eyes pierced his.
"I suggest you stop there, now."
Braca held out a pulse pistol, aiming at Aeryn.
The lieutenant spoke into his comm.
"You may turn off the alarm now, I have them."
The alarm switched off, instantly Crichton stopped screaming. His eyes flickered open, just to see the lieutenant standing there sneering.
"What did you do?" Velorek inquired.
"Simple really, we just adjusted the frequency of the alarm to cause pain to any humans, or just Crichton really."
"Now, don't I feel special." Crichton gasped.
++++++++++++
"Sir, a Sebacean and the alien, M'Lee, are trying to leave the ship, by a Prowler."
The guard's voice was calm and confident, he knew he could stop the fugitives. Scorpius growled back down the comm.
"Insignificant, Lieutenant. Let them leave. I have no further use of them."
Scorpius hurried down the corridor, determined to get to Crichton as quick as possible.
+++++++++++++
"You sure you know how to drive this tin can?"
"Quite sure, as I said before, I have a good memory, and the Marauder is not much more sophisticated."
"Right."
This did nothing to quell Jack's doubts, he sat behind M'Lee, tapping his knee in agitation.
"What did you do back there?"
Jack's last memories had been lying on the floor screaming, with Peacekeepers ordering them to stop, then suddenly the pain stopped and the two of them were climbing into the Prowler. If Jack had looked behind them, he would have seen a bloody mess, as M'Lee satisfied her hunger.
M'Lee fell completely quiet, she concentrated on the controls and flying the Prowler. 'He doesn't know' she thought, 'Can't tell him, can't tell him. Oh, why isn't Velorek here instead?'
"Nothing," she replied. "They stopped and that was it."
Jack was confused, he could tell M'Lee was hiding something, and instead of bugging her about it he collapsed into thought.
"Why did they let us go?" M'Lee's soft voice pierced Jack's thoughts about crashing on an alien planet.
"Huh?"
"The Peacekeeper's, they let us go. That is the only way that our escaped was allowed, they could have shot us in the Docking Area and while we were flying out."
"Oh, god," Jack's voice broke as he realised what must have happened. "They have Johnny. We have to turn back. Turn back now!"
"Their escape is not going to be benefited by our deaths, Colonel. If we turn back now, they will kill us."
Jack saw the reasoning behind this, and slammed the side of the Prowler in frustration. The sudden noise made M'Lee jump.
"Where are we going, anyhow? Unless you're flying this X-Wing randomly?"
"We are travelling to the planet where we first encountered Moya. Presumably that is where she would attempt to meet you all."
Jack sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, this was one bad day, and to top it off, he had a headache.
++++++++++
Crichton hung there, only supported by the strong grips of Aeryn and Velorek, he could feel the soldiers behind him, their weapons trained on Aeryn and Velorek. The bile crept up his throat once more, threatening to surface.
'No! Keep it in, John.' He thought, he did not want to appear weak in front of Braca, the bastard had enough satisfaction at capturing them.
Scorpius walked slowly into the corridor, his leering grin was victorious. He was practically rubbing his hands in glee, knowing that the wormhole research was almost his, and he would be able to destroy, murder, slaughter, the ones that gave him his wretched half-breed life.
Walking right up to John, he looked down, the human's head hung there, staring at the floor. A leather-clad hand grabbed Crichton's hair and forced his head back. The hybrid could see the dead eyes of John Crichton, they were filled with nothing, he just stared, not even blinking. Leaning in closer, Scorpius brought his mouth close to John's ear.
"I win." He whispered.
+++++++++++
"They are not there." M'Lee's scared voice awoke Jack. Bored with the flying he had fallen into a deep sleep.
"Wha?" He was still groggy. His vision sharpened, and realised where he was, all the memories came flooding back. He coughed and repeated what he said, except this time it made sense.
"Sorry, erm, what did you say?"
"Moya, the crew, they are not here."
Scrabbling up into a more upright sitting position he looked out of the cockpit, sure enough there was no Leviathan.
"Well, they have to be near! Erm, is there anywhere nearby that they could have... gone really fast to?"
"Yes, there is a planet nearby. However, it will take us half an arn to get there."
O'Neill settled back down.
"Well, you're the driver, miss."
+++++++++++++
Scorpius watched Crichton being dragged off by two Peacekeepers, with Braca and another two in tow. He turned around to face Aeryn Sun, and the other Sebacean.
"Velorek!"
Scorpius' surprise was almost as great as his anger. He commed the lieutenant on guard at the Docking Area.
"Lieutenant, did you scan the leaving Prowler?"
"No, sir. You ordered me to leave them, and I did."
The hatred burned in Scorpius' eyes, he stared at the two Sebaceans.
"Who was the other Sebacean?" he demanded.
"Other Sebacean? There was no other Sebacean, Scorpius."
Aeryn's hatred in her voice was almost as great as her opponent's.
Scorpius strode forward and grabbed Aeryn's neck. He slammed her against the wall, she fought back attempting to break his crushing hold.
"I will only say this once, who was the other Sebacean?" Scorpius' voice erupted into a half growl at the end. Aeryn hung there, determined not to give Jack away, she had heard what Jack had said in his conversation and knew that he was in more danger than John, if Scorpius found out.
Aeryn's life was slowly choked out of her, she could not keep this up much longer. Looking over the hybrid's shoulder, she saw Velorek, she knew he was about to stop this. She attempted to shake her head, however the kind Sebacean ignored her.
"Stop, Scorpius. I... I will tell you."
Scorpius grinned, one last time, at the choking ex-Peacekeeper and dropped her to the floor.
"You bastard." She whispered. Aeryn Sun lay on the floor, her back supported by the wall.
"He was a human, Crichton's friend."
Scorpius' eyes widened.
"How did he get here?"
"A device that creates sta..."
"No!" Aeryn screwed up all her strength and launched herself at Velorek. She punched him into unconsciousness. The leftover Peacekeeper soldiers ran up and dragged her flailing body off the Sebacean. Scorpius moved in close to her face, holding up one hand, he grabbed hold of her chin.
"What was he going to say?" he roared in her face. Aeryn wrenched her face aside, her mouth clamped shut.
Scorpius stood up, regained his composure, and walked away slowly.
"Put them in the cells." He called over his shoulder.
The two Sebaceans were dragged away, Aeryn fighting all the way.
++++++++++++
John Crichton was once again was laid on the pad in the Med Area, strapped down, Jas fretting around him, attempting to keep him in good health. At the door stood two Peacekeeper soldiers and Braca, the soldiers weren't moving, Braca, however, circled the room, every now and then. His irritating smirk angered Crichton.
"Hey, Braca, if you keep that up, you'll wear a hole in your boots."
Crichton's voice indicated that he was not completely with it, so did his eyes. In his mind he was far away from the Med Area. On Moya. With Aeryn.
Braca responded to Crichton's comment with an icy glare. Which dropped immediately as soon as Scorpius entered.
"Leave. All of you."
"Scorpius, I... I don't even know whether it will work on his species! It could kill him. I've run all the correct simulations, but, there is still room for doubt."
"Leave." Scorpius' voice was low and menacing. Taking the hint, Braca grabbed the doctor and forced him out of the room, the soldiers following.
Picking up the injector, Scorpius circled Crichton.
"Are you ready, John?"
Crichton's face clenched in pain as Scorpius jabbed the injector into his arm. Crichton's vision started swimming, his eyelids flickering as the battle was fought to stay awake. Eventually the drug won, and Crichton was gone. His muscles relaxed and his head fell to one side.
Scorpius placed two sensor pads on Crichton's forehead, and two on his, the wires connected the human and the hybrid. The wires led to a portable machine, passing one hand over it, Scorpius activated the device.
++++++++++++
Aeryn sat in her cell once again, her arm stung, during her fight with the soldiers down to the cells she had been cut. The blood was starting to clot as it healed, but it was still sore.
"We need to talk."
Velorek's voice was serious, doomed even, Aeryn could tell that he did not expect to come out of this alive.
"Later." She murmured. The guards were close and she didn't want them overhearing the conversation. Taking the hint, Velorek nodded, and fell back into his sitting position, leaning against the wall.
One of the meds approached the cells, carrying a batch of food cubes and water.
"Here, Scorpius said you were not to starve."
He placed the metal plates outside both cells. Aeryn's look was pure murder, however, she saw that she must keep up her strength and reluctantly ate the food cubes, the water flowed down her throat and she realised it was desperately needed. Velorek also realised that the food cubes helped him feel better.
++++++++++
"Pilot, this is Colonel O'Neill! Can we dock?" O'Neill's voice rang clear over the comm.
"Certainly, Colonel. I am activating the Docking Web."
Back in Command, Sam's face lit up when she heard the Colonel's voice over the comm.
"Chiana, can you take me to the Docking Bay?" Sam's voice was lighter, more happy, glad her commanding officer was returning, she assured herself that it was because she would finally have to relinquish command back to him.
Chiana's monochrome head nodded, together they left Command. They watched the injured Colonel stagger clumsily out of the Prowler. His right arm clutching the wound, the blood had begun to flow freely. The pain got worse, his clenched face was evidence of that.
"Colonel!" Sam's worried cry carried on as she rushed towards the wounded human.
Helping him out o the small fighter, he leant on her and they slowly limped away, Chiana turned to face M'Lee, she pulled a pulse rifle our on her.
"Oh, I wouldn't move, yet."
+++++++++++
Yay! Chapter 8 written! Enjoy it folks, chapter's 9 and 10 might be that little bit longer, perhaps because my FRELLING TEACHERS decided it would be a GOOD IDEA, that I should received 5 FRELLING ESSAYS!!!!
Excuse me, I'm bitter ;-D
:-D Anywayz, I guess I'm saying, I love my characters and story to bits, so don't worry, it will conclude. Especially Yenay, we love Yenay! :-D or at least I do ;-D
Love ya always,
Lots of hugs 'n' bugs, Jeni :-P (and the mysterious rubber chicken called Scorpius)
Chapter 8: One Step Backwards
"Hey, do you know where the Docking Area is?"
Colonel O'Neill's voice whispered through the corridors. M'Lee nodded her head, ever so slightly.
"You see, I have a good memory, I simply remembered it from when I first arrived."
O'Neill made various "I'm impressed" noises, not knowing what to say, after that they walked along in silence each absorbed in their own thoughts. Without knowing it they were soon at the Docking Area. O'Neill widened his eyes, it had barely taken them an arn to get there.
"Aaarrrgghh!"
O'Neill fell to the ground in pain, clasping his hands over his ears, he cried out. M'Lee spun around, she saw the Colonel writhing on the floor, his legs kicking out violently. Looking around, she could not find the source of what was causing O'Neill so much pain.
Then something caught her eye, at the top of the wall was a red flashing light. Straining her ears, M'Lee could hear a faint klaxon. Snatching up Jack's pulse rifle, she hurled it up at the light. Her aim was true, it smashed, showering transparent material across them.
A few groans escaped from Jack's mouth, then gradually words.
"What the hell just happened? Aaah!"
Jack doubled up, attempting to cover his ears again.
"We must get to the ship!" M'Lee's voice was urgent. She tried to heave the human colonel to his feet, but he was too heavy.
"Help yourself!" she cried.
Jack staggered to his feet and started walking to the Docking Area. Immediately two Peacekeepers spotted them.
"Stay where you are!"
The command rang out, however, they did not listen and continued hurrying for the Prowler. The klaxon intensified, and O'Neill once again fell to the ground, screaming out in pain.
M'Lee stood to face the coming soldiers and let the beast emerge from within her.
+++++++++++
On another area of the Command Carrier, Crichton was writhing around on the floor, clutching his ears. The pain felt like it would kill him, coupled with the pain from what Scorpius had done was intensified.
"What is happening?" Aeryn cried out to Velorek. "It's just a standard alarm. Why?"
"They're on to us. They must have found the guards!"
Aeryn glared at him, annoyed because she could not help Crichton, and Velorek was pointing out the obvious.
Aeryn yanked a hand away from his ear, and bellowed:
"Crichton! Get up. Now!"
Using all her strength she hauled the human to his knees. Velorek took the hint and grabbed his other arm, together they dragged him along the floor. A figure stepped out in front of them, his smirking face angered Aeryn. Her eyes pierced his.
"I suggest you stop there, now."
Braca held out a pulse pistol, aiming at Aeryn.
The lieutenant spoke into his comm.
"You may turn off the alarm now, I have them."
The alarm switched off, instantly Crichton stopped screaming. His eyes flickered open, just to see the lieutenant standing there sneering.
"What did you do?" Velorek inquired.
"Simple really, we just adjusted the frequency of the alarm to cause pain to any humans, or just Crichton really."
"Now, don't I feel special." Crichton gasped.
++++++++++++
"Sir, a Sebacean and the alien, M'Lee, are trying to leave the ship, by a Prowler."
The guard's voice was calm and confident, he knew he could stop the fugitives. Scorpius growled back down the comm.
"Insignificant, Lieutenant. Let them leave. I have no further use of them."
Scorpius hurried down the corridor, determined to get to Crichton as quick as possible.
+++++++++++++
"You sure you know how to drive this tin can?"
"Quite sure, as I said before, I have a good memory, and the Marauder is not much more sophisticated."
"Right."
This did nothing to quell Jack's doubts, he sat behind M'Lee, tapping his knee in agitation.
"What did you do back there?"
Jack's last memories had been lying on the floor screaming, with Peacekeepers ordering them to stop, then suddenly the pain stopped and the two of them were climbing into the Prowler. If Jack had looked behind them, he would have seen a bloody mess, as M'Lee satisfied her hunger.
M'Lee fell completely quiet, she concentrated on the controls and flying the Prowler. 'He doesn't know' she thought, 'Can't tell him, can't tell him. Oh, why isn't Velorek here instead?'
"Nothing," she replied. "They stopped and that was it."
Jack was confused, he could tell M'Lee was hiding something, and instead of bugging her about it he collapsed into thought.
"Why did they let us go?" M'Lee's soft voice pierced Jack's thoughts about crashing on an alien planet.
"Huh?"
"The Peacekeeper's, they let us go. That is the only way that our escaped was allowed, they could have shot us in the Docking Area and while we were flying out."
"Oh, god," Jack's voice broke as he realised what must have happened. "They have Johnny. We have to turn back. Turn back now!"
"Their escape is not going to be benefited by our deaths, Colonel. If we turn back now, they will kill us."
Jack saw the reasoning behind this, and slammed the side of the Prowler in frustration. The sudden noise made M'Lee jump.
"Where are we going, anyhow? Unless you're flying this X-Wing randomly?"
"We are travelling to the planet where we first encountered Moya. Presumably that is where she would attempt to meet you all."
Jack sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, this was one bad day, and to top it off, he had a headache.
++++++++++
Crichton hung there, only supported by the strong grips of Aeryn and Velorek, he could feel the soldiers behind him, their weapons trained on Aeryn and Velorek. The bile crept up his throat once more, threatening to surface.
'No! Keep it in, John.' He thought, he did not want to appear weak in front of Braca, the bastard had enough satisfaction at capturing them.
Scorpius walked slowly into the corridor, his leering grin was victorious. He was practically rubbing his hands in glee, knowing that the wormhole research was almost his, and he would be able to destroy, murder, slaughter, the ones that gave him his wretched half-breed life.
Walking right up to John, he looked down, the human's head hung there, staring at the floor. A leather-clad hand grabbed Crichton's hair and forced his head back. The hybrid could see the dead eyes of John Crichton, they were filled with nothing, he just stared, not even blinking. Leaning in closer, Scorpius brought his mouth close to John's ear.
"I win." He whispered.
+++++++++++
"They are not there." M'Lee's scared voice awoke Jack. Bored with the flying he had fallen into a deep sleep.
"Wha?" He was still groggy. His vision sharpened, and realised where he was, all the memories came flooding back. He coughed and repeated what he said, except this time it made sense.
"Sorry, erm, what did you say?"
"Moya, the crew, they are not here."
Scrabbling up into a more upright sitting position he looked out of the cockpit, sure enough there was no Leviathan.
"Well, they have to be near! Erm, is there anywhere nearby that they could have... gone really fast to?"
"Yes, there is a planet nearby. However, it will take us half an arn to get there."
O'Neill settled back down.
"Well, you're the driver, miss."
+++++++++++++
Scorpius watched Crichton being dragged off by two Peacekeepers, with Braca and another two in tow. He turned around to face Aeryn Sun, and the other Sebacean.
"Velorek!"
Scorpius' surprise was almost as great as his anger. He commed the lieutenant on guard at the Docking Area.
"Lieutenant, did you scan the leaving Prowler?"
"No, sir. You ordered me to leave them, and I did."
The hatred burned in Scorpius' eyes, he stared at the two Sebaceans.
"Who was the other Sebacean?" he demanded.
"Other Sebacean? There was no other Sebacean, Scorpius."
Aeryn's hatred in her voice was almost as great as her opponent's.
Scorpius strode forward and grabbed Aeryn's neck. He slammed her against the wall, she fought back attempting to break his crushing hold.
"I will only say this once, who was the other Sebacean?" Scorpius' voice erupted into a half growl at the end. Aeryn hung there, determined not to give Jack away, she had heard what Jack had said in his conversation and knew that he was in more danger than John, if Scorpius found out.
Aeryn's life was slowly choked out of her, she could not keep this up much longer. Looking over the hybrid's shoulder, she saw Velorek, she knew he was about to stop this. She attempted to shake her head, however the kind Sebacean ignored her.
"Stop, Scorpius. I... I will tell you."
Scorpius grinned, one last time, at the choking ex-Peacekeeper and dropped her to the floor.
"You bastard." She whispered. Aeryn Sun lay on the floor, her back supported by the wall.
"He was a human, Crichton's friend."
Scorpius' eyes widened.
"How did he get here?"
"A device that creates sta..."
"No!" Aeryn screwed up all her strength and launched herself at Velorek. She punched him into unconsciousness. The leftover Peacekeeper soldiers ran up and dragged her flailing body off the Sebacean. Scorpius moved in close to her face, holding up one hand, he grabbed hold of her chin.
"What was he going to say?" he roared in her face. Aeryn wrenched her face aside, her mouth clamped shut.
Scorpius stood up, regained his composure, and walked away slowly.
"Put them in the cells." He called over his shoulder.
The two Sebaceans were dragged away, Aeryn fighting all the way.
++++++++++++
John Crichton was once again was laid on the pad in the Med Area, strapped down, Jas fretting around him, attempting to keep him in good health. At the door stood two Peacekeeper soldiers and Braca, the soldiers weren't moving, Braca, however, circled the room, every now and then. His irritating smirk angered Crichton.
"Hey, Braca, if you keep that up, you'll wear a hole in your boots."
Crichton's voice indicated that he was not completely with it, so did his eyes. In his mind he was far away from the Med Area. On Moya. With Aeryn.
Braca responded to Crichton's comment with an icy glare. Which dropped immediately as soon as Scorpius entered.
"Leave. All of you."
"Scorpius, I... I don't even know whether it will work on his species! It could kill him. I've run all the correct simulations, but, there is still room for doubt."
"Leave." Scorpius' voice was low and menacing. Taking the hint, Braca grabbed the doctor and forced him out of the room, the soldiers following.
Picking up the injector, Scorpius circled Crichton.
"Are you ready, John?"
Crichton's face clenched in pain as Scorpius jabbed the injector into his arm. Crichton's vision started swimming, his eyelids flickering as the battle was fought to stay awake. Eventually the drug won, and Crichton was gone. His muscles relaxed and his head fell to one side.
Scorpius placed two sensor pads on Crichton's forehead, and two on his, the wires connected the human and the hybrid. The wires led to a portable machine, passing one hand over it, Scorpius activated the device.
++++++++++++
Aeryn sat in her cell once again, her arm stung, during her fight with the soldiers down to the cells she had been cut. The blood was starting to clot as it healed, but it was still sore.
"We need to talk."
Velorek's voice was serious, doomed even, Aeryn could tell that he did not expect to come out of this alive.
"Later." She murmured. The guards were close and she didn't want them overhearing the conversation. Taking the hint, Velorek nodded, and fell back into his sitting position, leaning against the wall.
One of the meds approached the cells, carrying a batch of food cubes and water.
"Here, Scorpius said you were not to starve."
He placed the metal plates outside both cells. Aeryn's look was pure murder, however, she saw that she must keep up her strength and reluctantly ate the food cubes, the water flowed down her throat and she realised it was desperately needed. Velorek also realised that the food cubes helped him feel better.
++++++++++
"Pilot, this is Colonel O'Neill! Can we dock?" O'Neill's voice rang clear over the comm.
"Certainly, Colonel. I am activating the Docking Web."
Back in Command, Sam's face lit up when she heard the Colonel's voice over the comm.
"Chiana, can you take me to the Docking Bay?" Sam's voice was lighter, more happy, glad her commanding officer was returning, she assured herself that it was because she would finally have to relinquish command back to him.
Chiana's monochrome head nodded, together they left Command. They watched the injured Colonel stagger clumsily out of the Prowler. His right arm clutching the wound, the blood had begun to flow freely. The pain got worse, his clenched face was evidence of that.
"Colonel!" Sam's worried cry carried on as she rushed towards the wounded human.
Helping him out o the small fighter, he leant on her and they slowly limped away, Chiana turned to face M'Lee, she pulled a pulse rifle our on her.
"Oh, I wouldn't move, yet."
+++++++++++
Yay! Chapter 8 written! Enjoy it folks, chapter's 9 and 10 might be that little bit longer, perhaps because my FRELLING TEACHERS decided it would be a GOOD IDEA, that I should received 5 FRELLING ESSAYS!!!!
Excuse me, I'm bitter ;-D
:-D Anywayz, I guess I'm saying, I love my characters and story to bits, so don't worry, it will conclude. Especially Yenay, we love Yenay! :-D or at least I do ;-D
Love ya always,
Lots of hugs 'n' bugs, Jeni :-P (and the mysterious rubber chicken called Scorpius)