Pain of Love and Memories
Chapter 12: Home Again
"Sir, the two fugitives, Aeryn Sun and her companion have escaped from the cells. Should I send a unit in response?"
Scorpius growled, the time had come to let Crichton leave. He called back into his comm.
"No, Braca. Let them go, but assemble a few units to force them towards Crichton's cell, order the soldiers there to be defeated by the fugitives, then let them escape to the Docking Area."
Braca sighed ever so slightly, but long experience had taught him to follow Scorpius' orders, as he always came on top, that's why Braca followed him.
++++++++++++
Aeryn and Velorek slipped through the Command Carrier corridors, they saw a few patrols, but went the opposite way to them. It was not long until Aeryn and Velorek found Crichton's cell. Silently communicating with Velorek, the ex-Peacekeepers had a soldier each. Both guards fell down, hard.
Aeryn walked up to the cell door, she peered in. In the darkness was a crouched figure.
"Crichton." She called out. The figure lifted it's head, the tears had dried on his face. His eyes stared into Aeryn's and gradually the fire of life was relit and he stood up and strode over to the bars.
"Get me out of here." He hissed.
Aeryn nodded.
"Stand back."
Crichton moved quickly back from the bars, Aeryn's pulse rifle powered up and shot the control panel. The door hissed and swung open. Crichton rushed out, and held Aeryn tightly, whispering in her ear:
"We have to leave. Now."
The two pulled away from each other, stared in each others eyes briefly, and walked to the end of the corridor.
++++++++++++++
"Braca. Move the patrols away, order everyone out of the way to the Docking Area. Only... only place three expendable soldiers for them to encounter. Make sure they triumph over the guards."
Braca undertook Scorpius' orders with experienced acceleration. He had no trouble in finding three expendable guards.
++++++++++++++
"Where are you going?" D'Argo's gruff voice echoed behind SG-1 and Yenay.
"The Docking Bay, we need to get the Colonel back to Earth, now, I don't know how long he'll last, with this infection attacking his body."
"It's actually that way." D'Argo motioned towards a different corridor.
"Thanks." Daniel expressed gratitude as they walked passed.
"Wait, let me lead you." D'Argo moved in front of the party and walked down the passageway.
Sam walked through the passage, thoughts flitted through her mind. 'Why? Why are my microbes not working anymore?' She thought back to various injections se had had over the past years of working at the SGC. A vague theory started to develop in her mind, if she was right, then all of their microbes would stop working. But what about Teal'c? Why were his not working? Of course, the Goa'uld in his pouch, it was there and would kill any invading foreign body. Sam was sad, the microbes were a great asset, however, there wasn't enough time to obtain any more, they had to get the Colonel back to Earth.
SG-1, Yenay and D'Argo soon arrived at the Docking Bay. D'Argo walked up to a transport pod.
"I better fly you down to the planet." He called down the comm. "Pilot, please may you send a few DRDs down to the Docking Bay, to prepare the transport pod."
"Certainly, Ka D'Argo, however, the transport pod that Dominar Rygel took down to the planet is still fuelled and ready to depart."
"Excellent. Thank you Pilot."
D'Argo, Sam, Daniel, Yenay and Teal'c holding Jack, boarded the transport pod. The unconscious Jack was laid on the floor, his head was burning up as Yenay cradled his head in her lap.
"Teal'c, Daniel, I... I think I know what's causing out microbes to cease functioning. Janet. She's injected so much, stuff, to protect us from various diseases, they must still be in our system, and killing the translator microbes. And Teal'c's Goa'uld must be killing them, protecting him from foreign bodies."
Daniel's eyes widened.
"But, but, why haven't mine been destroyed?"
"I thought about that, well, Jolinar. Some part of her must still be within me. Killing the microbes faster than Janet's drugs. I think, eventually, you too will not be able to understand everyone."
Daniel sighed. He loved his microbes, however, some small part was grateful, he would still be able to use all of the languages he spent so long learning.
++++++++++++
The trio flitted through the Command Carrier's corridors. So far they had only met two guards, who they had taken down easily.
They were almost at the Docking Area when another guard stepped out, surprising them. He managed to get one blow to Velorek's jaw, until Aeryn used all her fury to beat him into unconsciousness.
They viewed the large Docking Area, the Marauder was still in the same place from when Velorek had arrived. Throwing caution to the winds, the trio rushed across the Docking Area to the Marauder, surprised they were not met with any resistance.
The two ex-Peacekeepers and the human piled into the Marauder, Aeryn immediately sat down at the controls, initiating start up. John sat at the entrance, willing the door to shut faster, as it was half way, the demonic figure of Scorpius appeared in front of them. The familiar sense of horror crept into him, however, it did not overtake him. They had almost escaped, his confidence building, he called out to Scorpius:
"You lose."
Scorpius watched the door shut, John had one final glimpse of his nemesis, he stood there, shaking his head slowly.
The Marauder flew out of the Docking Area and out of the Command Carrier. They were free.
+++++++++++++
The transport pod landed on the planet, next to the Stargate. All aboard disembarked, Teal'c and Sam, this time, holding Jack. His feverish brow burning against Sam's bare arm. Daniel walked up to the DHD, he punched in the code for Earth. The Stargate activated itself, the whirling disc highlighting the selected symbols, the whirling vortex was expelled from the lumen.
Daniel walked up to D'Argo.
"Wait in orbit for us, tell Crichton, we'll come back. Once Jack is safe."
D'Argo nodded, he watched all, but Yenay, moving up the steps. They slipped through the rippling watery membrane. A few microts after they were through, the membrane dispersed. Yenay walked up to D'Argo.
"I know I won't be able to understand your language, but I have one question, just nod your head if the answer's yes. Moya is a living ship?"
D'Argo nodded his head.
"And her species is spread throughout the galaxy?"
D'Argo was unsure of what to say to that, so he shook his head and nodded it.
"You don't know?"
D'Argo shook his head.
"Thank you. I must return now. The Council will want to know why I was forced to abandon my position on Apophis' ship."
Yenay walked up to the DHD and entered the code for the new Tok'ra hideout. Once again the whirling vortex entered the Commerce planet, Yenay stepped through with only one backward look at D'Argo.
D'Argo looked around at the Commerce planet, only to be greeted with looks of amazement and fear from the surrounding locals. The Stargate being activated three times within a short amount of time was enough to place a feeling of fear inside of them. There were plenty of reasons to be afraid in the Uncharted Territories.
++++++++++++++
John lay on the cold, hard floor of the Marauder, he looked into a dark corner, only to glimpse a flash of yellow. The DRD poked his antenna out, and rolled up to John's face. Crichton grinned, patted the DRD on the back and fell into a deep sleep.
Aeryn watched the sleeping Crichton, and turned to face Velorek. She swallowed and confronted her past.
"You wanted to talk."
Velorek looked into her eyes.
"Yes. I... I don't blame you for what happened on Moya. Last time. You... you were a Peacekeeper, a true Peacekeeper. Although, I still feel for you Aeryn, I cannot bring myself to love you anymore. I don't blame you, but you still betrayed me, I, just cannot handle it. Besides," a slow smile crept on his face, "You love Crichton."
Aeryn took a deep breath and locked eyes with Velorek.
"Yes. I didn't expect you to forgive me, just accept, I am different now." She looked at Crichton.
Velorek placed a hand on her shoulder. He smiled briefly, before turning back to the controls.
"I thought, we would head for the planet where the Command Carrier first dropped me and M'Lee off."
++++++++++++++
"D'Argo! Chiana! There is a Marauder approaching!"
"Pilot, can we Starburst yet?" Chiana's voice called out to the guide.
"No. Wait, the Marauder is sending a transmission. It's, it's Aeryn!"
"Pilot! Initiate the Docking Web!"
Chiana ran down to the Docking Bay, her lithe figure negotiating the passageways with practiced ease.
The steam erupted from the Marauder as it landed in the Docking Bay. Aeryn, Velorek and Crichton stepped down. Chiana burst into a big smile and leaped onto John, wrapping her arms around his body. John broke into a smile and pulled her off.
"Glad you're pleased I'm back."
"Where's M'Lee?"
Chiana glared at Velorek.
"In her cell."
Velorek glared back.
"Show me."
The two walked along the passages in silence, each bristling with hostility. They reached her cell, Velorek opened it and rushed in to see M'Lee laying on the bed. He touched her arm, it was cold. Dead cold. Velorek felt the fear building up in his throat, the tears dripped down his face. Leaning close to her face he planted a kiss on her closed lips.
"She said, she said the artificial calcium would kill her one day. I... I thought she was wrong." His whisper was choked with emotion. Standing up, Velorek scooped his arms underneath her small body and lifted her up and walked back to the Docking Bay.
++++++++++++++
D'Argo had just arrived back in the transport pod and was greeting Crichton. When they watched Velorek walk in, the tears still flowing down his face, gripping M'Lee's body to him.
"It was the artificial calcium. I'm going to leave now."
"Where will you go?" Aeryn asked, concern in her voice as she stared at the body of M'Lee.
"To find a peaceful planet. I'll bury her, amongst the plants," a small smile broke out, "It'll annoy her, always hated plants."
Aeryn smiled.
"Maybe, maybe I can find someone who can reverse Scorpius' face alterations. Return to myself."
"Good luck." Crichton whispered.
The ex-Peacekeeper climbed back into the Marauder and laid M'Lee's body on the floor. He then walked back the doorway, holding something.
"You forgot your DRD."
The little DRD scurried out of the Docking Bay, wanting to go tell the other DRDs of his adventure.
Aeryn, Chiana, Crichton and D'Argo watched the Marauder leave the Docking Bay.
"Someone better tell Pilot about what happened and tell him to get us out of here, the Command Carrier better come back. What happened to Jack?" He added as an afterthought.
"They left, the Colonel was ill, Zhaan is in meditation, so they needed to get him back to Erp."
Crichton smiled a sad smile.
"Aeryn, you better tell Pilot about what has just happened, I'm sure he's confused." Aeryn nodded and walked out of the Docking Bay, giving one last concerned look.
Chiana fondled the locket she had stolen after rescuing Rygel. She was going to give it to D'Argo, but gazing at Aeryn's smashed Prowler, she decided to give it to her. Chiana looked up at D'Argo and sidled up to him.
"D'Argo, we need to talk." The Luxan gave her a look. She just pulled his arm, so together they walked out of the Bay.
Crichton sighed. He blocked out the memories from the Command Carrier, he would face them another time. Wandering slowly, he found himself on the Terrace. John sat down and looked out into the vastness of space, he sat there and remembered Aeryn. The visit of Jack brought the words of an Earth poem he remembered, he hadn't liked it much at first, but since developing a friendship with Aeryn he loved it. He sat there singing it quietly:
"You are my sun-shine my only sun-shine, You make me happy, when skies are grey, You'll never know dear, how much I love you, Now please don't take my sun-shine away."
++++++++++++++
Chapter 12: Home Again
"Sir, the two fugitives, Aeryn Sun and her companion have escaped from the cells. Should I send a unit in response?"
Scorpius growled, the time had come to let Crichton leave. He called back into his comm.
"No, Braca. Let them go, but assemble a few units to force them towards Crichton's cell, order the soldiers there to be defeated by the fugitives, then let them escape to the Docking Area."
Braca sighed ever so slightly, but long experience had taught him to follow Scorpius' orders, as he always came on top, that's why Braca followed him.
++++++++++++
Aeryn and Velorek slipped through the Command Carrier corridors, they saw a few patrols, but went the opposite way to them. It was not long until Aeryn and Velorek found Crichton's cell. Silently communicating with Velorek, the ex-Peacekeepers had a soldier each. Both guards fell down, hard.
Aeryn walked up to the cell door, she peered in. In the darkness was a crouched figure.
"Crichton." She called out. The figure lifted it's head, the tears had dried on his face. His eyes stared into Aeryn's and gradually the fire of life was relit and he stood up and strode over to the bars.
"Get me out of here." He hissed.
Aeryn nodded.
"Stand back."
Crichton moved quickly back from the bars, Aeryn's pulse rifle powered up and shot the control panel. The door hissed and swung open. Crichton rushed out, and held Aeryn tightly, whispering in her ear:
"We have to leave. Now."
The two pulled away from each other, stared in each others eyes briefly, and walked to the end of the corridor.
++++++++++++++
"Braca. Move the patrols away, order everyone out of the way to the Docking Area. Only... only place three expendable soldiers for them to encounter. Make sure they triumph over the guards."
Braca undertook Scorpius' orders with experienced acceleration. He had no trouble in finding three expendable guards.
++++++++++++++
"Where are you going?" D'Argo's gruff voice echoed behind SG-1 and Yenay.
"The Docking Bay, we need to get the Colonel back to Earth, now, I don't know how long he'll last, with this infection attacking his body."
"It's actually that way." D'Argo motioned towards a different corridor.
"Thanks." Daniel expressed gratitude as they walked passed.
"Wait, let me lead you." D'Argo moved in front of the party and walked down the passageway.
Sam walked through the passage, thoughts flitted through her mind. 'Why? Why are my microbes not working anymore?' She thought back to various injections se had had over the past years of working at the SGC. A vague theory started to develop in her mind, if she was right, then all of their microbes would stop working. But what about Teal'c? Why were his not working? Of course, the Goa'uld in his pouch, it was there and would kill any invading foreign body. Sam was sad, the microbes were a great asset, however, there wasn't enough time to obtain any more, they had to get the Colonel back to Earth.
SG-1, Yenay and D'Argo soon arrived at the Docking Bay. D'Argo walked up to a transport pod.
"I better fly you down to the planet." He called down the comm. "Pilot, please may you send a few DRDs down to the Docking Bay, to prepare the transport pod."
"Certainly, Ka D'Argo, however, the transport pod that Dominar Rygel took down to the planet is still fuelled and ready to depart."
"Excellent. Thank you Pilot."
D'Argo, Sam, Daniel, Yenay and Teal'c holding Jack, boarded the transport pod. The unconscious Jack was laid on the floor, his head was burning up as Yenay cradled his head in her lap.
"Teal'c, Daniel, I... I think I know what's causing out microbes to cease functioning. Janet. She's injected so much, stuff, to protect us from various diseases, they must still be in our system, and killing the translator microbes. And Teal'c's Goa'uld must be killing them, protecting him from foreign bodies."
Daniel's eyes widened.
"But, but, why haven't mine been destroyed?"
"I thought about that, well, Jolinar. Some part of her must still be within me. Killing the microbes faster than Janet's drugs. I think, eventually, you too will not be able to understand everyone."
Daniel sighed. He loved his microbes, however, some small part was grateful, he would still be able to use all of the languages he spent so long learning.
++++++++++++
The trio flitted through the Command Carrier's corridors. So far they had only met two guards, who they had taken down easily.
They were almost at the Docking Area when another guard stepped out, surprising them. He managed to get one blow to Velorek's jaw, until Aeryn used all her fury to beat him into unconsciousness.
They viewed the large Docking Area, the Marauder was still in the same place from when Velorek had arrived. Throwing caution to the winds, the trio rushed across the Docking Area to the Marauder, surprised they were not met with any resistance.
The two ex-Peacekeepers and the human piled into the Marauder, Aeryn immediately sat down at the controls, initiating start up. John sat at the entrance, willing the door to shut faster, as it was half way, the demonic figure of Scorpius appeared in front of them. The familiar sense of horror crept into him, however, it did not overtake him. They had almost escaped, his confidence building, he called out to Scorpius:
"You lose."
Scorpius watched the door shut, John had one final glimpse of his nemesis, he stood there, shaking his head slowly.
The Marauder flew out of the Docking Area and out of the Command Carrier. They were free.
+++++++++++++
The transport pod landed on the planet, next to the Stargate. All aboard disembarked, Teal'c and Sam, this time, holding Jack. His feverish brow burning against Sam's bare arm. Daniel walked up to the DHD, he punched in the code for Earth. The Stargate activated itself, the whirling disc highlighting the selected symbols, the whirling vortex was expelled from the lumen.
Daniel walked up to D'Argo.
"Wait in orbit for us, tell Crichton, we'll come back. Once Jack is safe."
D'Argo nodded, he watched all, but Yenay, moving up the steps. They slipped through the rippling watery membrane. A few microts after they were through, the membrane dispersed. Yenay walked up to D'Argo.
"I know I won't be able to understand your language, but I have one question, just nod your head if the answer's yes. Moya is a living ship?"
D'Argo nodded his head.
"And her species is spread throughout the galaxy?"
D'Argo was unsure of what to say to that, so he shook his head and nodded it.
"You don't know?"
D'Argo shook his head.
"Thank you. I must return now. The Council will want to know why I was forced to abandon my position on Apophis' ship."
Yenay walked up to the DHD and entered the code for the new Tok'ra hideout. Once again the whirling vortex entered the Commerce planet, Yenay stepped through with only one backward look at D'Argo.
D'Argo looked around at the Commerce planet, only to be greeted with looks of amazement and fear from the surrounding locals. The Stargate being activated three times within a short amount of time was enough to place a feeling of fear inside of them. There were plenty of reasons to be afraid in the Uncharted Territories.
++++++++++++++
John lay on the cold, hard floor of the Marauder, he looked into a dark corner, only to glimpse a flash of yellow. The DRD poked his antenna out, and rolled up to John's face. Crichton grinned, patted the DRD on the back and fell into a deep sleep.
Aeryn watched the sleeping Crichton, and turned to face Velorek. She swallowed and confronted her past.
"You wanted to talk."
Velorek looked into her eyes.
"Yes. I... I don't blame you for what happened on Moya. Last time. You... you were a Peacekeeper, a true Peacekeeper. Although, I still feel for you Aeryn, I cannot bring myself to love you anymore. I don't blame you, but you still betrayed me, I, just cannot handle it. Besides," a slow smile crept on his face, "You love Crichton."
Aeryn took a deep breath and locked eyes with Velorek.
"Yes. I didn't expect you to forgive me, just accept, I am different now." She looked at Crichton.
Velorek placed a hand on her shoulder. He smiled briefly, before turning back to the controls.
"I thought, we would head for the planet where the Command Carrier first dropped me and M'Lee off."
++++++++++++++
"D'Argo! Chiana! There is a Marauder approaching!"
"Pilot, can we Starburst yet?" Chiana's voice called out to the guide.
"No. Wait, the Marauder is sending a transmission. It's, it's Aeryn!"
"Pilot! Initiate the Docking Web!"
Chiana ran down to the Docking Bay, her lithe figure negotiating the passageways with practiced ease.
The steam erupted from the Marauder as it landed in the Docking Bay. Aeryn, Velorek and Crichton stepped down. Chiana burst into a big smile and leaped onto John, wrapping her arms around his body. John broke into a smile and pulled her off.
"Glad you're pleased I'm back."
"Where's M'Lee?"
Chiana glared at Velorek.
"In her cell."
Velorek glared back.
"Show me."
The two walked along the passages in silence, each bristling with hostility. They reached her cell, Velorek opened it and rushed in to see M'Lee laying on the bed. He touched her arm, it was cold. Dead cold. Velorek felt the fear building up in his throat, the tears dripped down his face. Leaning close to her face he planted a kiss on her closed lips.
"She said, she said the artificial calcium would kill her one day. I... I thought she was wrong." His whisper was choked with emotion. Standing up, Velorek scooped his arms underneath her small body and lifted her up and walked back to the Docking Bay.
++++++++++++++
D'Argo had just arrived back in the transport pod and was greeting Crichton. When they watched Velorek walk in, the tears still flowing down his face, gripping M'Lee's body to him.
"It was the artificial calcium. I'm going to leave now."
"Where will you go?" Aeryn asked, concern in her voice as she stared at the body of M'Lee.
"To find a peaceful planet. I'll bury her, amongst the plants," a small smile broke out, "It'll annoy her, always hated plants."
Aeryn smiled.
"Maybe, maybe I can find someone who can reverse Scorpius' face alterations. Return to myself."
"Good luck." Crichton whispered.
The ex-Peacekeeper climbed back into the Marauder and laid M'Lee's body on the floor. He then walked back the doorway, holding something.
"You forgot your DRD."
The little DRD scurried out of the Docking Bay, wanting to go tell the other DRDs of his adventure.
Aeryn, Chiana, Crichton and D'Argo watched the Marauder leave the Docking Bay.
"Someone better tell Pilot about what happened and tell him to get us out of here, the Command Carrier better come back. What happened to Jack?" He added as an afterthought.
"They left, the Colonel was ill, Zhaan is in meditation, so they needed to get him back to Erp."
Crichton smiled a sad smile.
"Aeryn, you better tell Pilot about what has just happened, I'm sure he's confused." Aeryn nodded and walked out of the Docking Bay, giving one last concerned look.
Chiana fondled the locket she had stolen after rescuing Rygel. She was going to give it to D'Argo, but gazing at Aeryn's smashed Prowler, she decided to give it to her. Chiana looked up at D'Argo and sidled up to him.
"D'Argo, we need to talk." The Luxan gave her a look. She just pulled his arm, so together they walked out of the Bay.
Crichton sighed. He blocked out the memories from the Command Carrier, he would face them another time. Wandering slowly, he found himself on the Terrace. John sat down and looked out into the vastness of space, he sat there and remembered Aeryn. The visit of Jack brought the words of an Earth poem he remembered, he hadn't liked it much at first, but since developing a friendship with Aeryn he loved it. He sat there singing it quietly:
"You are my sun-shine my only sun-shine, You make me happy, when skies are grey, You'll never know dear, how much I love you, Now please don't take my sun-shine away."
++++++++++++++