Ray of Smoke

by Tassos

COMPLETE: Ten cycles in the future, Moya returns to Earth, only John's not aboard. Extra's include political intrigue, family angst and a descision that will tear John apart.

4. 2010: Earth Odyssey

Ray of Smoke
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Part 4: 2010: Earth Odyssey
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Chapter 1: Following a Star
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"I still think it's a bad idea," said D'argo.

"You think everything I do is a bad idea," John answered, smelling the armpit of his shirt before dropping it on the appropriate pile.

"That's not true," D'argo denied. "I liked your idea of locking up the Humans."

"That was your idea," John pointed out, almost smiling.

"Yes, but you agreed with it!" D'argo waved his finger in triumph. He honestly couldn't remember who had decided to do it. Thinking about it now, it had probably been one of Filalla's. "John..."

"D'argo, we're going." John gave him a look of quiet determination. "Aeryn and I talked about it -"

"I still don't believe that *she* is going along with this!" D'argo threw up his arms in frustration.

"I'm going along with it because it was my idea," Aeryn suddenly said behind him. D'argo turned in surprise and watched her drop the clean laundry on the bed before she turned to face him. "I know you don't like it, D'argo," she said with compassion, "but we need to go. Don't try to stop us."

"But they shot you! How can you even consider about it?" D'argo wanted to take her by the shoulders and shake some sense into her, both of them. They were going to get themselves *and* their children killed.

"Like that doesn't happen everyday," John muttered. "Earth is safer than the Uncharted Territories." He looked up. "Here we're hunted by the Peacekeepers, the Scarrans, bounty hunters, people I've never even heard of. There's always someone shooting at us no matter what we do..." John glanced at Aeryn and sighed. "We're tired of fighting, D'argo. I've been talking with Regie and I think we'll be able to make it work on Earth."

"And the children?" D'argo challenged, not liking this argument. "Can you protect them from your own scientists?"

"Better than we can protect them from a frag canon or spending two days starving in the access conduits," said Aeryn. "They shouldn't be growing up in a war zone."

"They'll get killed!"

"There's more of a chance they'll get killed on Moya!" John shouted. "How many close calls have they had already? It's only a matter of time until one of them gets seriously hurt or worse. We've lost too many -" he cut himself off and looked away. "We're going. I don't know if it's the right decision, but it's the one we've made, so just leave it, D'argo, please."

The Luxan looked from one to the other. "So you're just going to abandon us? What about the refugees, Talyn's mission? The Scarrans and Peacekeepers are not going to stop simply because you run away!"

"And what if they come to Earth, huh?" John glared at him. "They're close to unlocking wormholes D'argo, as close as Scorpy was. I can't leave Earth to face them alone."

"So that's it. You're going." D'argo felt a weight in his stomach, his cold words turning his own insides to ice.

"D'argo -" said Aeryn.

"I don't want to hear it," he cut her off. He'd had enough of excuses, he thought angrily as he stormed out of their quarters.

"Let him go," he heard John say quietly. Frell it! They'd made up their minds, and deep down he knew he couldn't stop them. John and Aeryn were capable of looking after themselves and wouldn't let a little thing like a Luxan warrior prevent them. They we're going to go down to Earth, and there was nothing he could frelling do about it.



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She wasn't sure what to make of the first plate. It wasn't anything extraordinary, just a plate of fried tubers. But it was sitting in the conduits that she now called home. Rhia had decided that the best way to avoid going to Earth was to hide in Moya's walls till her parents left without her. She'd counted on sleeping in the room next to Moya's starburst chamber, eating Rygel's food stashes, and avoiding everyone that would hunt her down like a criminal. She'd even thought up several booby traps to catch her enemies, but they didn't quite work the way they were supposed to.

The problem was that no one was hunting her. She'd left the morning before after Mama and Dad had told her they were going to Earth, and so far her army of spies - Speckles and the boys - had reported the all clear. They didn't care that she was gone. And now there was a plate of hot tubers in the access conduit. What did it all mean?

And then she realized. It was poison! A trick! They'd made a sleeping potion and sprinkled it on the tubers for her to eat. She'd fall asleep right there where they could grab her and lock her up before the torture started. Very clever, but Rhia was smarter.

She took the plate and skittered away towards the starburst chamber. It was more difficult than usual since she only had one hand to climb the various ladders and inclines between her and her hideout. She finally decided to put the plate of tubers down her shirt, which was belted at the waist, because the more she thought about it, the less she thought you could poison tubers. Her hands now free, she made short work of crawling through the narrow tunnels, climbing down ladders, and ducking under ribs to her home in exile, The Dark Chamber.

The Dark Chamber was a part of a secondary shaft whose ends had been sealed off to make a small room for the children to hide in when there was danger. If someone got this far in, Moya could start a starburst and keep them safe. Rhia knew the room well since it was also one of their play spots, but she only liked it when the door was open. If it was closed, then it meant the danger was for real.

Rhia settled on the mat that served as her bed, kicking her thin blanket to one end. The tubers were still warm when she pulled them out of her shirt and before she could stop herself, she took a bite. They were much better than Rygel's food cubes. Munching happily, Rhia grabbed her coloring sticks and paper and, inspired by her unexpected meal, drew the center chamber with all her favorite foods on the table.

Four solar days passed by and each day, Rhia found a plate of tubers at each mealtime in the tunnel near the center chamber. She knew who was giving them to her: it was Mama. She'd seen her set the plate out while the others were eating. But they never talked about her, no one did. Well good, Rhia told herself. She didn't *want* them to talk about her. But her words did little to fill the disappointment.

As the arns dragged by, day after day, she felt more alone than ever. There was no one to tuck her in or wake her up in the mornings except Speckles, and as much as she loved her DRD, it wasn't the same. The games she normally played alone or with Seth and Essor felt different now that she couldn't go home afterward. Mama and Dad weren't there to read stories or sing or anything. She even missed grandpa Jack. In the Dark Chamber, Rhia spent countless hours coloring in the silence but she was getting tired of it. Part of her wanted to go home, but another part wouldn't let her lose the fight. They would have to beg and send her gifts and say they were sorry and wrong before she ever went back!

Every day she came up with another victorious return. Mama and Dad would hug her and tell her that she would never have to go to Earth, that she could do whatever she wanted as long as she stayed with them. Everyone would congratulate her bravery through her suffering, and tell her how much they missed her, and they'd have a feast in her honor with all her favorite foods and no food cubes or tubers. Rhia would graciously forgive them, and everything would be all right again. That was the bedtime story that she clung to and that got her through the long days.

And then came the note. It was a clear DRD sheet of plastic paper sitting neatly on her supper with her name on it in script. Slightly frightened by its unusual presence, Rhia looked out through the open panel into the center chamber but she didn't see anyone. Deciding to wait till she was safely back in the Dark Chamber, Rhia quickly returned. Out of breath, she stared at the note, not quite daring to read it yet. This was it. This was what she had been waiting for. They would apologize and tell her they couldn't stand her being away any longer.

Almost joyfully, Rhia opened the note and read: "Rhia, We've run out of plates in the center chamber. Would you return the ones you have? Tomorrow I'll put out a change of clothes for you. Just leave the ones you're wearing in their place, and I'll wash them. Do you need anything else? Extra blankets, toys? Let me know. I love you, Mama."

Rhia stared confusedly at the words that were not at all what she had expected. Mama didn't want her back, but she loved her anyway? She was *helping* her live away from home, but why? All her scenarios of a triumphant return crashed around her. Rhia just wanted to go home, she realized before bursting into tears.

A quarter of an arn later, scrubbing her hands over her eyes so that she could see, she ascended back to quarters where everything was just as it had been before she'd left. She heard voices from her parents' room, which made her stop and almost run away again, but Speckles urged her on.

"They've both been moping about like a couple of lost puppy dogs," she heard Dad say. "Pip says he's too controlling, but I think there's more to it than that."

"She won't admit that she's in love with him. It scares the dren out of her because it's not just about the sex anymore," said Mama.

Rhia cautiously looked around the open doorway. Mama and Dad were sitting next to each other on the bed, Mama cleaning her gun and Dad sewing up a hole in one of Seth's shirts. When Speckles whistled they both looked up.

"Well, look who showed up," Mama smiled. "Everything all right? Do you need anything?" Feeling shy all of a sudden, Rhia shook her head. They didn't want her back. She'd run away, and now they didn't want her back! She could feel the tears sting her eyes. "Come here, baby." Mama held out her hand, and Rhia ran sobbing to her.

"I wanna come home," she mumbled as her mother's strong arms picked her up and held her tight.

"We missed you!" The soft words only made her cry harder.

Rhia, exhausted, finally snuggled down between the two of them. Dad ran his hand over her hair, grinning. Feeling safe, the little girl closed her eyes.

"She needs a bath," Dad said softly over her head. And for once Rhia didn't care.



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"Imbecile," Rygel muttered under his breath, but Regie didn't hear him.

"Commander," the diplomat addressed John, "I realize the government is being a little restrictive about the divulgence of technology -"

"Regie, they're talking monopoly. And there is no way in hell they're walkin' away with Park Place and Boardwalk."

"There are national security concerns at stake," Regie countered. "We can't let the technology you're bringing us fall into the hands of terrorists."

"I'm not working on a military base."

"Ambassador Reginard," Rygel spoke up, "the United states government is only a partner in your international organization. Your own laws must prevent such intervention."

"The US government is not proposing that you work counter to international law."

"What? You want me to work just for you and snub IASA?" John sighed. Typical Black Suit thinking. It's what had kept the contract negotiations stalled for the past two and a half weekens. Waiting for replies or equally unacceptable terms was getting tiresome. "I've told you, I'm going to work for IASA in developing space and defense technology in case of an attack from space. The government's gonna have to go through them if they want a piece of the pie. Now can I talk to someone from IASA? This is going nowhere."

"As a member of the First Contact Team, I represent IASA as well," said Reginard with a sigh.

"Does IASA know that?"

"Crichton, look," Reginard leaned toward the camera. "You don't like it, I don't like it, but this is what gets sent down to me from about fifteen different people who all want a piece of the pie, as you put it. You don't want to know how much bullshit I've already thrown in the wastebasket with reminders of you and your family's citizenship."

John rubbed his eyes. "All right. You're doing your best," he said.

"Now that we've said 'no'," Rygel continued, "will you be able to work out a separate deal between the US government and IASA that will satisfy Crichton and both parties?"

"I'll see what I can do." Reginard glanced at his notes. "How 'bout we call it a day?" he asked, looking back up.

John was more than happy to agree. With a tired see-you-tomorrow, he and Rygel signed off.

"That went rather well," Rygel commented as they left command together. By mutual agreement they headed toward the center chamber for what was now becoming a ritual drink after talking with Earth.

"If you say so, Sparky."

"I do," was the self-assured reply. "We've reached the second stage of the negotiations. Now our demands will be listened to so that when we get to the third stage, we will get what we want."

"There's a third stage to this little opera?"

"You're feeble mind couldn't possibly understand," Rygel snorted dismissively. John rolled his eyes as they reached their destination. Napoleon always had to have the last word. With a twinge, he realized he was going to miss the annoying tyke.

Dad was sitting at the table with a mug of hot tea in his hands when they came in. "Hey there," he greeted them, raising his mug slightly in salute. "How are the negotiations going?"

"Excellent. Are there any dried tubers left?" asked Rygel heading straight for the fridge unit.

John ran a hand through his hair. "Long," he told his father. He grabbed a mug of his own and joined the elder Crichton at the table. "The government basically wants me to sign a separate contract with them to give them exclusive rights to all the military data, but since that includes just about everything, IASA would be left with nothing."

"And you don't trust the government to be in sole control," Jack finished. "I don't blame you."

"Yeah. I'd probably disappear and never see the sunlight again."

"John, it wouldn't be that bad," his Dad disagreed.

John looked at him feeling the rift between them yawn once more. Dad had seemed to forgive John his murderous ways when he and Aeryn had decided to stay on Earth, but he still didn't understand the leap of faith they were taking. They were about to jump off a cliff without knowing if a sonic net was there to catch them.

"What's wrong, son?"

Something of what he was feeling must have shown on his face, he realized, and the concern he saw on his father's reminded him that he used to tell him everything, even after he'd been shot into the Uncharted Territories. "This move scares me, Dad," he said. "What if it's the wrong decision?"

"It is," said Rygel through a mouthful of food.

"Shut up, Buckwheat." John stared into eyes that once he thought he'd never see again. His father's eyes no longer seemed to be judging him but instead trying to understand.

"Why do you think it might be the wrong decision?"

"I'm scared the government will go after Aeryn and the kids. Medical experiments -"

"Dissection," Rygel interrupted.

John glared at the slug while Dad looked at him for an explanation. Here it goes again, he thought. "These aliens called the 'Ancients' took a walk through my brain and recreated Earth so they could see her reaction to an alien presence. We were locked up. Rygel was poisoned and dissected - well not really, but he was pretty pissed when he found out about it. I eventually figured it out but..."

"It wasn't easy going back even if it wasn't real," Dad finished. "I had no idea."

John shrugged. It was still difficult to talk about. The Ancients had really shaken his faith in the universe, Earth, himself even. It wasn't easy to look at what they did with his memories and say, 'See these people? These people are my people.'

"Is that why you brought weapons down when you landed?" Dad asked.

"One reason."

"And the other?"

John smiled, recognizing the old pattern of Q&A Dad always used to get him to talk. The only thing now was that he was afraid the answers would put that hostile glint back in Dad's eye. "We don't go anywhere unarmed if we can help it."

"Oh." Dad took a sip of his tea, but when he looked up again there was only sadness.

Feeling the need to explain, John added, "If I have Winona I have a chance."

"Winona?"

"My gun."

John held his eyes, refusing to back down. Finally, Dad nodded. "I understand," he said. "It's just hard seeing you so...different."

"I'm sorry."

"No, don't be sorry." Dad shook his head. "You have nothing to be sorry about. I've been...I'm an old man. I was just surprised."

John laughed at the understatement of the cycle. Soon, Dad joined him, and it felt good.



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Aeryn read over the final contract. They would work for IASA at the Kennedy Space Center with a team of scientists, made up of IASA and military personnel. Reginard was their liaison with the Government and Seymore the one with IASA. IASA would provide a house in a guarded neighborhood, the government extra security. The media was restricted to IASA press conferences and something called a 'restraining order' would be invoked if they were bothered elsewhere.

Which would most likely be another attack, Aeryn thought cynically but quickly chastised herself. She remembered talking with Jack about it. He'd said the press would increase their internal security since it had been a disaster for their reputation, greatly reducing the risk of an attack from that angle, and that the press was actually a safety net to keep them from being secretly kidnapped. Aeryn would just have to trust that that was true. A frustrating thought.

"It looks alright," she said glancing up from the hologram to where half of the crew was waiting for her approval.

"Are you sure?" asked John across from her.

Aeryn smiled for him. She was sure. This was their chance, the children's chance, at a better life. Yes, it might be dangerous, but then so was living on a leviathan in the middle of a war. She was willing to take the risk.

"We leave in two days?" she confirmed. John nodded. Aeryn looked back at the contract, but this time her eyes didn't read the words. It had been a little more than a monen since they'd made the decision, not knowing if it would really happen or not. Now it was happening. In two days she would be on John's planet, peopled by billions of him. Well, maybe not *him*, she thought, looking fondly at her mate. A slow grin crept across his face.

"So that's it then?" she asked.

"That's it." A general shuffle rose as Aeryn, John, Rygel, D'argo, Chiana, and Emmerit got to their feet.

"I just hope Rhia doesn't disappear again," Aeryn commented, switching off the chip recorder.

John smiled, "One crisis at a time."



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The move down to the planet was surprisingly hassle-free. IASA was serious about their promises and kept the press to a minimum while the pod landed with them and their meager belongings. John's old friend Giller conducted them to their new house, a statue of a man doing his unhappy duty very reluctantly. He still hadn't forgiven John for getting by his security with weapons and this time made a point of searching their bags. Disguised as toys, he missed them again.

A crowd of family and close friends greeted them at the house to welcome them to Earth. In truth, John remembered it in a blur of faces, more concerned with reassuring Seth than anything else. There had been a lot of backslapping and the same conversation repeated at least fifty times.

"Hey, John, how's it feel to be back?"

"Good."

"What's it like out there? What happened?"

"It's different. I'll tell you about it later." Then he would move on.

Now, two days later, it was hitting him: being back was strange. There was really no other way to describe it. Everything around John was familiar from a lifetime of use yet so completely odd at the same time. The first time he used the coffee machine he had nearly broken the damn thing. Nothing felt comfortable. Instead, he still felt like he was going to walk into the next room and see Pip and D chatting in front of the TV like one of his messed up fantasies. But they were on Moya, a universe away.

John had thought he was ready to come back. After a month and a half of negotiating, convincing the kids, D'argo, and the rest that they weren't insane to do this, he'd thought it time. That the waiting and preparing would make it easier. He'd dreamed of showing Aeryn a thousand things about Earth: pizza, beer, the mall, his T-bird. But, of course, it wasn't that simple. Things had changed since he'd left. Not a lot, but little things like the fact that videotapes were considered dinosaur age. It left him feeling out of touch, which he was in a big way having been gone, and not as eager to find out what else was different. Everything around sparked memories of a past life that seemed like a dream, leaving him depressed by what he'd missed.

And Christmas only made it worse. Overload would be putting it mildly. His whole family had descended on the Cape, but the phone calls and Christmas letters from old friends and strangers alike hadn't helped. This many people knowing where he lived made him decidedly nervous.

When he'd seen the wreath on the door, John at first hadn't recognized it. He hadn't thought about Christmas much in the unending season of space. On Moya they had thrown a party a time or two to celebrate being alive and kicking, but they had been few and far between. Now, Christmas was here, and to John it felt...flat, like he was watching it through someone else's eyes. He should have been jumping for joy to be reunited with his family again, as they were, (well, most of them), but it wasn't that easy when everything just felt weird: doors with doorknobs, square rooms, harsh bright lights, and most disturbingly, the silence at night. It was a sound John associated with being not on Moya or Talyn - hostile territory or captured. Maybe that was why he felt on edge all the time, as if everyone were watching him.

"So how's it feel to be back?" DK suddenly asked, startling John whose hand went immediately to his empty side. His old friend plopped down beside him on the couch and handed him a beer.

"A bit strange," John answered. As casually as possible, he slid his hand back to a more natural position.

DK didn't even notice. "Yeah, I'll bet. You'll be settled in in no time, though. Don't worry about it," DK grinned. "Happy to have Christmas again?"

John shrugged, thoughts spinning. The kids at least were loving it, now that they had gotten used to all the strangers John called family. They had adjusted for the most part, more than he and Aeryn anyway. He had the grocery store to thank for that: Rhia had never seen so many different foods in one place before in her life. Extremely impressed, it was her favorite place to go now, and John had a sneaking suspicion that carrots and spaghetti would find their way into his stocking.

"Oh, come on, you know you missed it," DK egged as he always had when he was trying to get John to admit something.

"Okay," John gave in. "I missed the beer," he said, sending DK into a fit of laughter.

"Good to know you've got your priorities straight," DK teased. "Don't worry," he leaned in to whisper, "I won't tell Aeryn."

"Tell me what?" The two men turned quickly and saw Aeryn come in through the doorway behind the couch followed by Lisa with a bowl of red and green M&M's.

"Nothing," said DK innocently. It was the old pattern of covering in front of the girlfriend, or in this case the wife. Not that Aeryn would care, but DK seemed to be enjoying himself. John just flashed her a half smile that told her he would tell her later.

"So John, how's it feel?" asked Lisa. "Good to be back in the groove?"

"I'm doing okay," he said again. "Bit strange."

"Better, I hope, than when you ended up out wherever you were?" Lisa grabbed a handful of M&M's and sat back, grinning.

"Managed to avoid killing anyone," John joked back, snatching a couple of green ones for himself. Beside him, DK stiffened, and the smile slipped briefly from his sister's face. Oh yeah, he had killed someone. Exchanging another look with Aeryn, John knew he was going to have to wipe that word from his vocabulary.

"You killed someone when you first got out there?" DK demanded, quickly adding, "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

"It was an accident." John looked away, memories of the day that had changed their lives forever flickering through his mind.

"What about you, Aeryn? How do you like Earth?" Lisa quickly steered away from the touchy topic.

"It's..." John could just see 'primitive' on the tip of her tongue, "pleasant."

"Real different from what you're used to, huh?" Lisa smiled.

"It explains a lot," Aeryn returned.

The sound of tires on the driveway saved them from further interrogation. A moment later half a dozen car doors slammed shut and the gaggle of kids came in laden down by grocery bags with Melanie, Ryan, and Mark.

"We better go give them a hand," Lisa stood up, the others following her example. By the time they reached the dining room, three kids - their two, and Melanie's four year old - were already storming out of the kitchen towards them.

"Guess what, guess what!" Rhia shouted as she slammed into John's legs. "We met Santa Clause!" she rushed on before he had a chance to ask. Then in the garbled mix of languages she always fell into when she was excited, Rhia explained all about Santa Clause and his reindeer, Rudolph and the elves who made presents while John and Aeryn listened patiently, though Aeryn did throw a few amused glances his way. When she was done, Rhia took off with Seth and David, with barely a goodbye, to go upstairs and read 'The Night Before Christmas' which Ryan had bought for them.

So Rhia was happy thanks to grocery stores and Santa Clause, John smiled as he grabbed one of the plastic bags to unpack. A light conversation picked up around him about the kids, but John paid it little attention, thinking instead of the change in them over the last couple of days from extremely shy carry-me-everywhere to their normal, half-wild selves. They were happy here, and that was what counted.

John would get used to it here again, after all he had adjusted to the Uncharted Territories, hadn't he? Hopefully, Aeryn would hold up under the pressure too, but it was hard on her. Glancing up to the island where she was unpacking bags without putting anything away, he saw her neutral mask covering the exhaustion underneath. She still wasn't comfortable with the family all around them, often talking about old acquaintances and Earthy things that she didn't understand. Like him, she wasn't sleeping well, which didn't help matters any.

"Excuse me, John." Melanie, startling him back to the present, gently pushed him out of her way to get at the cabinet he was standing in front of.

"You know, you could have just asked me to put it away for you," he told her. Melanie gave him a look that clearly indicated that asking him for anything was out of the question. John sighed. He just wished that he could get her to talk to him and not have one of those double-edged conversations that were all he was getting now. But Melanie refused to crack.

No, coming home was not easy at all. Between adjusting to all the familiar oddities, keeping Aeryn sane, the kids in line, and trying to live up to his family's Christmas wish that everything go back to normal, John just wanted to escape to Moya's hangar where he could lose himself in repairs. But he'd made his choice and Moya would be leaving soon to meet Talyn. There was no going back.



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Chapter 2: Hi Ho, Li Lo, It's Off to Work We Go
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Landers stood as the Joint Chiefs filed into the conference room, shaking their hands before they settled around the table. "Gentlemen," he greeted them. The six military personal nodded in return over a general, low spoken "Mr. President." The mood was somber and deathly silent as Chairman Admiral Anthony Prior began his briefing by handing the President a folder.

"As you know, the Diplomatic Enclave in Islamabad, Pakistan was attacked a second time four days ago. Thirty-four dead, twenty-eight wounded. It was a well-planned, concise attack consisting of two suicide bombers and rooftop covering fire. The information gathered by our intelligence units in the months preceding the attack was inconclusive leaving our forces in the dark as to the where, how, and when. However, recent reports indicate that if we move quickly we should be able to get a hold of at least the remaining cell members if not the network in the area." The former admiral of the Pacific Fleet nodded for his aides to dim the lights and then began the presentation.

Landers listened to the plan his military advisors had cooked up over the last couple of days, asking a clarifying question here and there about their reasoning and tactics. It was complicated, but then most military operations these days had to strike a delicate balance between brute force and espionage to catch terrorists before they went underground. And it didn't help to have deal with a government that shook one hand with the world while it wiped away evidence with the other. Such was the Middle East these days.

"What can we expect from our allies?" Landers asked when the bulk of the presentation was finished.

"Since this was a terrorist attack, we will have at least verbal support form our allies. Whether they will do more than they have in the past is another question given the political climate," Admiral Prior replied.

Landers didn't have to ask for clarification of what that meant. Even before the first Embassy attack last summer, the situation had been going downhill, snowballing in just the last month with another bloody conflict in Kashmir breaking out. Secretary Clermont already had his hands full of that situation and now with this second attack, things were only going to get worse.

That thought led him to his next troubled question. "Why was our intelligence inconclusive?"

"As our technology gets better, so does theirs," said Prior. "Encryption codes, double language codes, new methods of transferring information...Our intelligence people are doing their best."

"Well, you're best just got thirty-four people killed!" Landers snapped, patience breaking. With a sigh, he paused to get a grip on his temper. "Excuse me, Admiral."

"Of course, Mr. President. It's been frustrating for us all," Prior murmured graciously but with a steel in his voice that Landers knew was aimed not at him, but at the terrorists who had murdered thirty-four service men and relief workers in a United States Embassy.

When would it stop, the endless fighting and the hate? They had been waging this war on terror for too long with too few victories. Landers knew there were no easy answers. At this point, drastic measures seemed like the only solution.



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Jack sighed in contentment as he settled before the glowing fire with a mug of coffee. Stomach full, surrounded by his whole family, it was good to say that Christmas had been a success. Smiling, he remembered the look of astonishment on Rhia and Seth's faces when they had seen the tree lit up, full stockings in front of the chimney, and more presents than there had been the night before. Their first Christmas had been filled with candy, clothes, and toys of which a few, like the stuffed animals, had been met with puzzlement since they of course hadn't known what they represented.

John and Aeryn had also enjoyed themselves, receiving clothes from the girls to supplement their few Earth outfits, and a fishing rod and tackle from him. When John had opened DK's gag gift of underwear, he'd grinned and passed the package to Aeryn who'd simply glared at him until he'd added it to the growing pile of clothes, books, and CDs.

All in all, things were going well, he thought. John had joked and horsed around in front of the TV with DK, Mark, and Ryan, fully approving of his little sister's choice in husbands while they made a general nuisance of themselves. Lisa and Melanie had been everywhere: cooking dinner and making sure the festivities kept under control, while Aeryn took the kid watch and kept them from breaking their toys on the first day. She was a natural with them; one look was all it took to calm them down a little while they played - two parts fear from her nephews but utter respect from her own children who kept pulling her into their games like a familiar playmate, which Jack soon saw she was.

"Hey, Dad." Jack glanced up in surprise when Melanie sat down tiredly beside him. He thought everyone else had gone to bed.

"Hey, kiddo. How're you holding up?" he asked.

Mel scrubbed her face. "Tired," she said through a yawn. "But okay, I guess."

"Well, you and Lise sure knocked yourselves out on that dinner. It was wonderful."

"Oh, it was nothing special," Melanie said modestly.

"No really, compared with how you used to cook?" Jack teased.

Grinning, Melanie replied, "Aeryn seemed to think it was pretty strange."

Jack chuckled, glowing from the inside out at this rare conversation with his youngest daughter. They had never been close, and since John had 'died,' it had only gotten worse. But here they were. Talking like they had used to. Amazing. "She did eat it, though," he pointed out.

"Yeah." Melanie looked down at her hands, and Jack took another sip of his coffee, hoping she would tell him what was on her mind. "I don't know if I like her," she finally said. "Aeryn, I mean."

"Really? Why not?"

"Her and John...I hated him for leaving. I think I hate him even more for coming back, especially since he and Aeryn are so..."

"Married?"

"Married. Happy together. Part of me wants him to suffer like we did. But having him home... I don't know."

Jack took another sip of coffee, thinking about his son. On Moya he had been so different, dark. The clothes, the gun - *Winona*, he reminded himself. "*If I have Winona I have a chance - A choice between me or them, I'm gonna make sure it's them.*" Again he wondered what had happened out there. John hadn't said much, the stories he did tell kept them laughing and didn't explain why he felt the need to carry a gun, *name* his gun.

"I know it's hard 'cause he was gone for so long, but he did want to come back to be with us," Jack said. "I think more happened out there than he lets on, and I don't think all of it was nice."

"Yeah. I just wish he would at least talk about it, you know? Not go on as if we grieved for nothing. If anyone even mentions it, all he does is look at Aeryn and change the subject. I feel like I'm missing something he says."

Jack hadn't noticed, but then he'd simply been happy to have John home and hadn't looked any further. "Maybe you should talk to him." Melanie snorted at the idea. "Well, you're talking to me, so we know miracles can happen."

She looked over at him with the same exasperated expression Leslie used to give him when he said something not even worthy of a comment. After a moment, however, it softened, as if Mel had just realized that she was actually having a heart to heart with her old man. "I'll think about it." She stood and headed for the stairs and her waiting bed. "Night." It was more than Jack had hoped for from her. Another Christmas miracle.



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Glancing at the clock on the wall, Reginard cursed. He was going to be late, he just knew it. He hated January! All the paperwork that went on Christmas vacation came back like the Ghost of Christmas Past to haunt him - or maybe it was God's way of punishing the government and the bureaucrats who wrapped everyone else up in paperwork for the rest of the year. Whatever the reason, Reginard had paperwork, and lots of it, that had to be done if he didn't want Clermont breathing down his neck, before the Welcome ceremony at one o'clock.

With a sigh, Reginard got down to prioritizing, making a note to find a new secretary who could do this for him. The young lady he had now was too scared to screw up and thus gave him everything, even after he had told her at least a dozen times that he did not want every single security report. There had to be a good ten in the stack - all mixed in, of course, so he couldn't just grab the lot and throw them out the window. Clamping down on his frustration, Reginard took a deep breath and tried to calm down.

Security report, security report, FCC memo, FCC diner invitation, he leafed through the pile. Security report, report status requests from DC - State Department, Defense Department, and the White House - security report, threatening letter, IASA water bill - how the hell did that get into his in basket? Great, now they were trying to give him paperwork that wasn't even his. Security report, investigation report - he stopped, pulling it out. Now that was something he'd willingly read.

With a grim smile, he opened the envelope from the Canaveral FBI Bureau, hoping they'd made progress in tracking down the money used to bribe the National Guardsman when Crichton had come to visit back in October. The report his buddy Stanley sent him wasn't very promising. Talking with Private Chase's comrades had loosened up the fact that he'd been bribed and a few names to check out, but so far nothing new. The only lead they had now was a printed letter with pickup instructions for the other half of the money. The date had come and gone with a no show, but they still had the call sign of the sender, 'Piece of Cod', which they were translating to mean 'Peace of God', (only took them a week to figure that one out, he recalled sarcastically.)

The only problem with that lead was the number of religious groups who were against Crichton and the aliens, the number of factions within them, and the easy likelihood of someone using them to cover his ass. As he read the report, and more importantly, between the lines, Reginard knew they were still working on it. It would be a long haul.

He filed the report in the cabinet by his desk, then stacked up his now prioritized inbox, the security reports on the bottom. If he didn't get to them, well gee-darn, guess his secretary would have to get them sorted out during lunch. The morning passed in a boring rush of his own reports to Washington, IASA, and the FCC, getting everything neat and in order before Crichton and Sun came to work that afternoon.

Sure enough, he didn't have time to start the security reports by the time 12:45 rolled around. With an apologetic smile, he handed them to his secretary on his way to the main building, with instructions that they be summarized and annotated with names and telephone numbers by the time he got back. Which he didn't tell her.

The media was all set up when he arrived. Bypassing them, Reginard headed for the conference room where Jeremy and Michel were probably already waiting for him. His watch told him he had five minutes before he had to go shake hands and listen to another of Oursler's 'Great Step for Humanity' speeches. Mentally he reviewed his checklist for the afternoon: keep Crichton happy and safe, keep him and Giller away from each other, keep him and Oursler away from each other as much as possible, make sure the scientists got to mingle before they exploded from the excitement, keep the press happy, make sure Scott didn't speak at all... that about covered it.

"Hi, Thomas," Jeremy greeted him cheerfully when he entered the conference room. "You spilt coffee on your shirt." Reginard looked down. Just when he thought his day couldn't get any worse. There it was: a nice, light brown stain. Mocking him.



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"Today's ceremony marks the beginning of another stage in Man's quest to discover the stars," Shannon reported. "Commander John Crichton was welcomed back into the fold of IASA where he will lead his former colleagues on a new journey. IASA has created a special project team composed of IASA and military personnel to study, learn, and adapt the alien technology to Earth's needs. IASA spokesman, Peter Feilly said that the possibilities are endless: from faster than light space travel to new medical procedures to new defenses against terrorism. The technology will be shared among the IASA member nations."

"How have Commander Crichton and his alien companion reacted to their second welcome on Earth?" asked Debra from the anchor desk, fifty miles away.

"Since they arrived on Earth three weeks ago, they have been sequestered from the public eye while they spent Christmas with the Crichton family. At their first public appearance today, they appeared calm and unworried about an attack. Ambassador Thomas Reginard said in a statement yesterday that both security and employee screening has been stepped up."

"How great is the threat of a second assassination attempt?"

"Well, Debra, since the first incident there has been an overwhelming condemnation of the attack because of its terrorist tactics and threat to American civilians. There are still voices of protest, but IASA and government security measures have kept overt action to a minimum."

"Thank you, Shannon. This is Debra Wilkins, and we'll be right back."

Shannon expelled a satisfied breath once Debra signed off. Pulling out the earpiece, she accepted the water bottle Henry handed her and took a long drink. "Nothing like a story to make your throat dry."

"Finally," muttered David as he packed up the equipment. They'd all been pretty put out by the security blockade around Crichton. They'd tried getting into the neighborhood but the single gate was unbribable and they didn't want to push their luck while the rumored Secret Service was living in the house across the street.

"Come on," said Shannon briskly. "The next press conference is in an hour and I want to get good seats."



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Dan honestly tried, but he couldn't keep the happy grin off his face. His friend and colleague Kiwi Taylor looked at him as a parent would an excited child. John had arrived with his alien, Oursler's speeches were over, the press's questions answered, and now... now work would begin! And Daniel Henry Bemear was the senior engineer on Crichton's team!

While Dan had never been a close friend of John's, he had known him fairly well from working together on various projects, including the latter stages of the first Farscape Project. They'd gotten along together, and Dan couldn't wait to get down to the nuts and bolts of the alien technology. Not to mention the fact that he was going to be working with a real live alien woman! It was a moment to savor.

"Commander Crichton, Ms. Sun, the research team you'll be working with headed by Dr. Bemear. I think you already know each other," Jeremy introduced them. Dan eagerly shook hands with the two of them.

"Dan, nice to see you again," said John.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Ms. Sun greeted him in slightly accented English.

"The pleasure is mine," Dan replied, managing not to garble the words. "Let me introduce you to the team." Taking over from Jeremy, he eagerly led them into the room where the other eight scientists were waiting. Part of him still couldn't believe this was finally happening. "First from IASA, Dr. Peter Howard and Dr. Maria Pellam whom I believe you met on Moya." The two engineers shook their hands, and Dan went on. "Shuttle Pilot Kiwi Taylor -"

"Kiwi?" John asked, surprised by the odd name.

The pilot chuckled. "From New Zealand. We're called Kiwis because of the native bird. When I moved here it just stuck," she said, her Down Under island accent strong. Dan smiled with vicarious pride; she loved talking about her country.

"And Commander Jason Klee, also from the astronaut corps," he continued. "He was on the Space Station when Moya arrived for the first time."

"Nice to see you made it home in one piece, Commander," said Klee as he heartily shook John's hand.

"Thank you, Commander," John answered with a smile.

Moving on, Dan introduced the military contingent, a good group of people in his opinion. He and Jeremy had worked hard to pick an open, non-threatening group. "Major Dell Fanby, Army Combat Engineers; Captains George O'Reilly and Simon Worthel, Air Force Space Command; Captain Diana Lerner, Naval Intelligence."

"Nice to meet y'all," said John after all the introductions were finished. "I don't have a speech or anything, so why don't we get straight to the punch." The suggestion was met with smiles and the scratch of chairs as the new team settled around the large table. "We brought a bunch of stuff from Moya with us: blueprints, my module, worn out spare parts for us to work with, plus all the notes I've made over the years for some of the stuff I've seen. That should get us started with the basic systems for the hetch and we'll go from there."

"John," Dan spoke up, "can you give us an idea of what specifically we are going to work on?"

"Power and fuel sources for starters," the astronaut told him. "Expanded laws of physics and dimensions you'll need for just about everything. Hetch, planetary warning and defense systems, and some other cool toys," John shrugged and looked at Ms. Sun to see if she had anything to add.

"You're the tech," she said.

"Right. And you're *just* the mechanic," he returned, his tone making it clear they were bantering over a long-standing joke, and Dan smiled with the rest of his team. It looked like they would have a good working atmosphere. This was so exciting! He resisted the urge to start laughing.

"Any questions before we get started?" John asked.

"Yes," Captain Worthel raised a finger. "What can you tell us about how you reached the other galaxy? At Peterson, we recorded the radiation wave that struck your module at the time of the Slingshot Maneuver. It's never been proved, but since your recent return, we've been throwing around the wormhole idea, that you somehow opened a gate, if you will, between our solar system and where you landed. What are your thoughts?"

John stared at him a second before answering, "that's the theory I came up with but never proved either."

"Even with all the advanced technology available?" Worthel asked, surprised.

"Yeah, we kinda had other things on our minds at the time," John answered, shifting slightly in his seat.

"So you think that's what happened?" Captain O'Reilly jumped in excitedly.

"You know," said Maria, "we could probably get wormholes on the agenda as -"

"Could we not talk about wormholes?" John suddenly interrupted, his voice suddenly harsh with a glare to match.

"But -"

"Wormholes bring nothing but destruction," Aeryn said quietly, her gaze sliding over every member of the team. When it landed on him, Dan couldn't help but look away from the sad sincerity that lurked just beneath the surface. "They're not worth the pain they cause."

"Anything else?" asked John, briskly. It was apparently not a subject he wanted to dwell on. Surprised by the change in attitude, Dan wondered what Ms. Sun had meant. Why would wormholes cause pain? They were only for transportation.

"You said you modified the Farscape with hetch technology?" Dan asked to get them back on safer ground. "How did you merge the two technologies? Will we be going into that?"

John nodded. "Yeah. I'll show what I've done. Help you get an idea of what you're getting into. You wanna see her now?" Dan couldn't stop the grin. John stood up, Ms. Sun following his example. Dan and the rest of the team needed no further invitation.

Dan led them out of the building to one of the research hangars nearby where John swiped his card and entered a code that let them into the building. Inside, Dan felt his mouth slide open in awed shock. The Farscape I. It was like coming face to face with a holy relic. The expectation and the actual sight were once again at odds with each other. The sleek vessel was still mostly white with many black burns streaking its sides. Under one such mark, he could just make out the American flag and IASA logo, still there after all this time like an echo to the past. Dan felt a shiver go up his spine. This was it! This was real! This ship had taken John to another galaxy! He barely dared breath.

And then he noticed the unfamiliar: gold fins on each side of the craft that had to be part of the hetch drive. He was looking at a ship that could go faster than the speed of light!

"Wow," breathed Jason. "She's beautiful." From the matching expressions of reverence on the others' faces, Dan knew that for each in his or her own way, this was a religious experience, even for the military personnel. Wormholes utterly forgotten, the team advanced slowly and listened carefully as Crichton and Sun began to explain.



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Chapter 3: Twister
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This was the story of her life, Chiana thought bitterly as she looked sideways down the table. She had something perfect, too perfect by her standards, so she frelled it up, cut and run, biting before she was bit. It had been almost three monens since she had told Medri to never come near her again, one they had spent in orbit around Earth, the other two on the journey back to the familiar parts of the Uncharted Territories. They were talking again, if one called short monosyllabic conversations talking, that is. She had almost tried apologizing and actually got as far as "I'm" before he had cut her off with a terse "forget it."

Sighing, Chiana picked at her food. A new supply, thankfully, but she still didn't know what it was. The conversation she had had with John before he and Aeryn had left floated to her mind like a haunting ghost, words stinging just as freshly if they had just been said. "Well, little girl, you really screwed the pooch this time," he'd told her. She remembered the way she had avoided his eyes as he had sat down beside her. "You can't keep kicking 'em in the balls just because you're scared."

"He deserved it," she'd muttered defiantly.

"Because you provoked him into a rage by flirting. If you want him back, you're going to have to make the first move. No other way to clean up this mess. And I think you want him back."

Damn him for knowing her so well, she cursed silently. At the other end of the table, Medri was stubbornly not looking in her direction. Was she *in* love with him? How did you know when you were in love? True, they'd been frelling each other for over two cycles now, but she'd done that before with friends and enemies alike. But how did she know it was *love*? Something to commit to, like John and Aeryn finally had, as D'argo had wanted to all those cycles ago? What if it didn't work?

That was the question that terrified her, the one she didn't want to look in the face. Now, she'd never find out, she thought bitterly. "When you completely frell up, you're the only one who can fix it," Aeryn's words came back to her suddenly. She should know, Chiana thought. She remembered giving the ex-peacekeeper advice, but it was suddenly so much harder now that she was to one who had to take it.

"Fix it." The Nebari took a deep breath to steady herself. Medri was still engrossed in his conversation with Fil about the best course to take to the rendezvous with Talyn. Standing, Chiana walked over to them.

"Hey," she said, so nervous that she felt her knees tremble. The spotted man looked up carefully, and Filalla muttered something about relieving Emmerit on watch and left.

"What do you want?" Medri asked, turning back to his plate.

"I just...uh...just..." her mind blanked out.

"What? No one else around to frell?" he snapped, impatiently this time. Chiana stepped back, stung, ready to do battle, but she managed to swallow down the angry retort.

"I wanted to, uh...apologize. I'm sorry." There. It was done, but her boots still quaked.

"For what?"

'For what!?' Was he being deliberately stupid? Chiana felt her temper flare. *He* was the one that had started accusing her! Why the frell had she thought she could solve anything by apologizing? "Because you provoked him into a rage by flirting," John's unforgiving voice echoed in the back of her mind.

Unable to stand any longer, Chiana sat down in Filalla's place across from Medri. He glared at her but didn't say anything. It gave her hope that he hadn't walked out on her yet. "I'm sorry for, you know...the Human."

He stared at her. "Yeah," he finally said. Chiana didn't know what else to say. What was she supposed to do now?

After another awkward moment of not looking at each other, she repeated, "yeah," and stood to go. So much for fixing things, she thought crossly.

But when she reached the door, Medri called out. "How's Essor?" A strange question since he'd seen him, of course. The ship was too small for him not to have, and Essor went everywhere he pleased anyway.

"He's good," she told him, feeling suddenly on safer ground. "You can...you can come see him. If you want."

"Okay."

"Okay."

Medri looked back at his plate, pushing the remaining food around with his fork. He didn't look back up, so Chiana left. It wasn't till she was back in her quarters that she started to breath normally again.



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Looking around the cafeteria, Aeryn didn't see anyone that she knew. She normally ate with John or the research team but the former was meeting with Reginard, and the latter was finishing up the notes from the last session. Feeling tired of being left out and mostly ignored, she had decided to go eat, but heading to an empty table with her tray only made her feel worse.

She had been working at IASA with John for over a monen now - it was February 2011 - and things hadn't gotten better. True, they weren't fighting for their lives every other day, they had food, and the kids were happy, but it wasn't anything like she had expected. She was still an outsider, an exposition they came up to so that they could say, "I talked to the alien."

Around the room, she could feel their eyes on her like weights, waiting for any mistake. There were a few whispers here and there from those who resented her presence, a tentative smile from those who didn't. So far, nothing had happened - nothing overt anyway. An anonymous phone call, typed notes, stares and whispers, it wasn't anything she couldn't handle.

Sitting down, she supposed it wasn't all bad. She liked John's family for the most part, and her colleagues did try to start conversations with her. The problem was there wasn't much to talk about really. The "What's your planet like?" line died when she told them she grew up on a ship. She'd talked a little about being a pilot with the military contingent, but that conversation had been cut short by work and hadn't come up again.

"Hey, there you are," Dan came up behind her and sat down. Kiwi Taylor, Captain Worthel, and Major Fanby joined them across the table with a clatter of trays. "You ran out of there in a hurry. Feeling all right?" Dan asked, concerned.

Aeryn nodded, swallowing the last of her resentment. "Fine."

"You sure? You seem a little down," said Kiwi, a small frown marring her forehead.

She shrugged. "I wasn't being much help." No help at all, she added silently. She could do the tech work: fix the prowler, Moya, the pods, even John's module if she had to, but talking about adapting it to Earth's existing technology that she knew next to nothing about, without something concrete to look at, was next to impossible.

"But you're a great help," Kiwi contradicted her. "We wouldn't understand any of this without you." Aeryn gave her a look that asked whether she was out of her mind. "Who else could have taught us your technology?" the New Zealander challenged.

"John," she answered. It had been easier in the beginning when they were simply teaching the basics that didn't involve finding ways to make Earth equipment better. Aeryn simply felt...useless, and she hated it.

"You know what you need?" Fanby told her. "You need to get out an do something fun this weekend. What have you been doing for fun since you've been here?" he asked.

Startled by the question, Aeryn thought back over the last few weeks. She and John had been working pretty hard, spending most of their free time with Rhia and Seth. Once they had gone out to dinner, but the press had shown up and they'd cut the night short. After that, neither of them had had the urge to go out much. The park with the kids, a football game that Aeryn would never understand. Family and friends had come by, wanting to show them everything about the area, but it was hard to sneak out without an audience, despite the contract promising them privacy.

"What do you like to do? What did you do on Moya in your free time?" Fanby pressed when she didn't answer right away.

"Play with my children," Aeryn answered.

"That's right. I keep forgetting you and John are married," Captain Worthel nodded.

Fanby smiled. "And to get away from your kids?"

"Work," Aeryn smiled, knowing he wouldn't be satisfied. "What do I do in my spare time - when I'm not with Rhia and Seth?" She nodded once to him to make sure she had the question right, and he grinned back. She looked over his head, thinking. "Work out, train. On Moya I'd clean my weapons and make sure my ship was functional -"

"Your ship? Moya?" Dan interrupted curiously.

"My Prowler," Aeryn shook her head. "One person fighter craft."

"You said you were a pilot, but you never said you had your own ship. How come you never told us?" Kiwi said, accusingly. From the look on her face, she was both put out and slightly jealous.

Aeryn shrugged. It hadn't seemed important at the time. And technically speaking it wasn't *hers*.

"You flew in your military?" Dan asked, having not been a part of the earlier conversation.

"The Peacekeepers, yes."

"The Peacekeepers? But that's not Moya," Captain Worthel jumped on the new detail.

"No. I was kicked out shortly after I met John. My captain declared me Irreversibly Contaminated by an unknown alien life form. John forced D'argo to take me with them on Moya, and I've been running with them ever since. We used my first Prowler to escape," she explained. She doubted they understood, but at least it was a topic of conversation that she could deal with.

"So you left, just like that," said Fanby. "Your career gone in an instant. You didn't go to trial, or appeal or anything?"

"There was nothing to appeal. My captain declared me Contaminated. I faced execution. The only thing I could do was run."

"And you actually *joined* that kind of military?" Kiwi asked, incredulous. Her forkful of food lowered in surprise.

"I was born into it." The sudden stares made Aeryn uncomfortable. Maybe she shouldn't have said anything after all. The Humans all looked at each other.

"That's -"

"Scary," Dan finished Fanby's sentence. "And dangerous."

"Are they one of the reasons we're learning about defense systems?" asked Worthel to which Aeryn nodded. "Nice."

"Look, there she is!" a voice across the room broke the silence the small group had fallen into. Aeryn turned and saw two of the Farscape project engineers, Jeff Leacore and Conrad Murphy, rushing over to their table. "Ms. Sun," Jeff called out as they approached. "Glad we found you. We've been running over the old data from when John disappeared, trying to fit it with our wormhole theory and we were wondering -"

A jolt like ice stabbed through the ex peacekeeper. "Don't," she interrupted. Wormholes. It always came back to wormholes. Sudden images of torture, death, pain, screams of suffering, the faces of those who'd died because of wormholes, the ones she'd killed to prevent them. The Humans would open a door they wouldn't be able to close, and it would cost them their existence.

"Pardon me?" said Jeff, confused.

"Don't try to find wormholes," said Aeryn, standing suddenly to face him. "It will get you all killed. Excuse me. I have to find John." Find John so they could stop the research. She strode away, cold determination taking over as she left the table of confused and worried scientists.



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Rhia was bouncing in her seat. She was so excited. She was in Grandpa's car with Seth, and they'd snuck out of the neighborhood without anyone seeing them! They were in disguise. Rhia wore a green cape and hat, and Seth had a jacket and glasses with a nose and mustache attached. Then they'd crouched down in the back seat and Grandpa had driven away.

They were going to the zoo! Where they had *animals* that you didn't eat, just watched. She remembered Christmas when she hadn't known any of the stuffed animals, and Grandpa had promised then to take them to the zoo, and they were going. Rhia couldn't wait.

The drive was kinda long, but finally they arrived and pulled into the big parking lot. It was mostly empty; Grandpa said it was because it was a winter school day, but there were still a handful of cars near the entrance. Once they were parked and Grandpa paid, they went in.

Rhia thought she had stepped into yet another world. Right in front was a shallow pool with pink creatures walking around on stick like legs. "Those are flamingoes," said Grandpa. Rhia had never seen anything like them! And that was only the beginning. They saw everything: the seals and fish in the pools, fierce alligators, colorful birds, the big cats, the bears, the snakes...everything. And it was all wonderful!

Her favorite though were the monkeys on their island with ropes and swings that they used to get around. "Look, look at them!" she shouted excitedly while they watched the small primates from the rail. "They're fighting over the food!" Two of the monkeys chattered angrily at each other, each one holding onto the end of a banana. Finally, the banana broke in two and they each leaped away, chattering and throwing angry looks at one another. "Look! Look!" she pointed to make sure Grandpa saw.

"I see," he said.

If Rhia could be any animal, she wanted to be a monkey because they could move by swinging from rope to rope. It looked so much better than walking!

They spent the most time with the monkeys, but eventually moved on to the elephants and giraffes, which were huge and gentle. They even got to feed them! The elephant had a long nose called a trunk that reached out to take the grass she held. She felt the papery skin brush her hand and giggled.

Rhia didn't notice the time go by, though her feet did start to hurt after lunch. She wished Grandpa would carry her and not Seth, but she didn't complain because he was little. Instead, they stopped more often to rest and ended up going back to the monkey island till the zoo closed.

In the car on the way home, Rhia dreamed of swinging with them on the island.



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John read the report calmly, the words registering on an objective level in his brain. Across from him, Regie waited quietly for him to look up. When he did, the diplomat's eyes studied him for a reaction.

"So they think it's these 'In Jesus Name' people, with a little help from Washington, who shot at us on the runway?" he verified. Regie nodded. God, John hated religion! Caused nothing but trouble. He hadn't noticed it much before, but then, he hadn't been the Devil incarnate before either.

"I know a guy up in Washington who's doing a little nosing around on his own," said Regie. "He'll let me know if he finds anything."

"Let you know before or after they cover it up?" John retorted.

"Landers isn't Nixon, John. He wants answers too."

"Who?"

"Landers?" Regie's eyebrows shot up at the question.

"No, the other one. Nixon?" John had never heard the name before, and judging from the way Regie was staring at him, he should have.

"You don't know who he is? President Richard Nixon? Watergate? Early '70's?"

Okay, thanks for making me feel like an idiot, thought John embarrassed. Another thing different and gone from his memory. He remembered the 1970's but no Nixon. "Forget it," he waved a dismissive hand. With the number of people who'd been through his head... "You said you wanted to see me about something else?"

"Yeah." Regie still looked unsure of him - the loony-bin look, John thought annoyed - but nevertheless went on to the next item. "Washington is concerned about the progress you're making with your technology team."

"Concerned about my progress," John repeated, not liking the sound of that.

"They want to know how far you've come on new hybrid communication and defense systems, and want someone from your team to send them biweekly progress and assessment reports."

"Who's 'they'? And what do they expect after a month?"

Regie ignored his questions and went on. "Jeremy also asked me to pass this on to you," he handed John a sheet of paper. "It's from the University of Virginia asking for DNA samples from you and your family."

Scanning over the formal letter, John felt sick. "The answer's 'no'. I gave at the door." Regie nodded with little surprise and handed him another sheet of paper and a pen. It was a formal refusal just waiting for his signature.

Once done, John asked, "And the government? They don't want a piece of me yet?"

"Presidential orders. You're more valuable for the technology than your blood at this point, and Landers prefers to work with positive reinforcement." Regie smiled humorlessly. "Better for his image."

So the docs were all just waiting in line for the word from the top. Great. "As long as I give him better weapons and defenses, me and my family are safe."

"If you don't like it, why did you come back?"

Why? John didn't know anymore. He'd known this would happen, known for cycles what kind of welcome awaited him. But he and Aeryn had still come to get the kids away from the war, to tell his family he was alive, to give Earth a fighting chance against the Peacekeepers and Scarrans. "'Cause what's out there is worse," he sighed. And deep down he wanted it to work on Earth, needed it to. "So what's the big arms race on for anyway?" John asked, getting back on topic.

"Have you turned on the news lately?" Regie asked back, tone bordering on sarcastic.

Right, thought John. Terrorists. Speaking of... "Have you talked to Giller yet about tightening security at the house? More reporters are slipping through the woods like it's the Mexican border."

"He tells me he's on it."

Uh, huh. Sure. "Well, tell him, if he doesn't do something by tomorrow, I'll take care of it myself." John had had about enough of the sleaze balls snooping around. They'd been lucky so far that nothing had happened, but it was only a matter of time.

"John, don't do anything stupid," the Ambassador cautioned him. "You do not want to antagonize him."

"Too late."

"I'm serious! He'll cause trouble for you."

John looked at Regie, not saying anything for a minute. The other man was worried for him. It was no secret that he and Giller had never gotten along. "I don't advise that he mess with me either," John said, standing to go.

"Just be careful." Regie stood as well and shook his hand before he left. John nodded, thankful for his concern. If things kept up in this direction, he'd need a friend on the inside.



********************************************************************************



"Filalla! Run!" D'argo jumped up and started firing over the crates that protected him from the Peacekeepers on the other side. He counted a good dozen scattered throughout the indoor market before dropping back behind his shelter. He could hear the locals screaming amongst the pulse fire. He didn't know where the others were, didn't know if Fil and Chiana had gotten away before the Peacekeepers had spotted them. Emmerit was around somewhere, hopefully tucked behind a wall more solid than D'argo's crate. He could smell it starting to smolder. That left Medri at the other end of the city, on his way to the pod. Hopefully.

With a roar, D'argo jumped up again, aiming for the Peacekeepers he'd seen earlier, dropping two. On his right, a third one fell from what had to be Emmerit's gun. Unless there was a third party lurking around, but the old woman's distinctive yell banished that worrisome possibility. While she continued to fire, the Luxan used the cover to dash toward the building's exit. Alternating fire, he and Emmerit made it out in one piece only to be confronted by another unit closing in.

"This way!" Emm shouted, ducking to the right. The two ran, dodging pedestrians and more rundown market stalls that didn't produce enough to have the right to sell inside. A blast of energy fire told them they had company. Taking refuge behind one of the larger shacks, he and Emmerit caught their breath.

"Filalla," he activated his comm. "Chiana, you there?"

"Bit...busy," Filalla answered. He was panting heavily.

"D'argo, we have to move," said Emmerit, peeking around the corner of their shelter. Grunting he complied and, with a nod, laid down covering fire while she ran to the next shelter.

"Medri! Where are you?!" he called, making his own dash for his life. The Peacekeepers were keeping their distance so far, but they had to get out of this alley and lose them.

"I'm near the pod," came the crackling reply. "Patrol almost got me, but I slipped past them. Where are you?"

"Coming!" The Luxan cut the conversation short. The next quarter arn passed in a blur of getting away from the Peacekeepers. Terrified, the locals kept getting in the way, panicking as the firefight cut through the city from the market to the public landing pads. D'argo only hoped the Peacekeepers hadn't taken them over yet.

But they had. As soon as he and Emmerit tore into the square, they tore right back out down another alley.

"What now?" Emmerit asked, trying to catch her breath.

"I don't know." D'argo looked across the square where another squad of soldiers was waiting. "How did they know we'd be here?" he asked aloud. They hadn't run into any of their regular contacts since they'd entered the area. Their luck could be that bad, he supposed, but normally Pilot and Moya would have spotted them from orbit.

"Pilot," he half whispered. "Pilot!" He turned to Emmerit. "Nothing." Either the comms weren't working or Moya had been captured.

A sudden explosion from the hangar, made D'argo forget about the comms. A microt later, the familiar form of the transport pod launched into the air heading for the square. Both D'argo and Emmerit jumped up to get its attention, shouting into the nonfunctioning comms. Skidding to a stop in front of their hiding place, the stairs unfolded and the two scrambled up into safety.

"What the frell happened?!" D'argo demanded as soon as he was in.

"Where's Chiana?" Medri shouted back from the pilot's seat.

"I don't know. What happened?"

Medri shook his head. "Comms are out. I can't get Pilot. Did you see Chiana? Filalla?"

"They're together. Near the market," D'argo took the copilot seat.

"How did they find us?" asked Emmerit again of no one in particular.

"We'll worry about that once we have Chiana and Fil!" Medri snapped, banking sharply. Another explosion rocked the air around them and suddenly the comms sputtered to life.

"PILOT! D'ARGO! WHERE ARE YOU!?"

"Filalla!" D'argo shouted. "We're coming! Where are *you*?"

"Behind the dome! Hurry, Chi's blind!"

"What!?" Medri's spots dropped another shade of yellow.

It didn't take them long to get to the dome that dominated the city skyline. The Peacekeepers hadn't gotten back into the air yet, and from the lack of response form space, they hopefully didn't have back up. Medri was out of his chair almost before they landed, darting to the steps to help Filalla bring Chiana in.

"She alright?! You okay?!" he heard the spotted man ask Chiana. Crew aboard, D'argo lost no time taking off.

"I'm blind...again," Chiana whispered. "Medri?"

"I'm right here."

"Don't let go."

D'argo powered up the engines to take them out of the atmosphere, where Moya was hopefully waiting for them. Once they were safe, they'd find out what went wrong, how the Peacekeepers had known this planet was on their course to the rendezvous with Crais. Hopefully.

"I got you," Medri soothed Chiana.

"Don't let go."



********************************************************************************



"We need to talk," was the first thing Aeryn said to him when he came into the kitchen. Looking at the blackened chicken and half frozen peas, John thought the first thing they needed to do was get Aeryn away from the food.

"Yeah," John agreed absently. He poked one of the chicken breasts experimentally, but it was dead and fossilized. He had some things to tell her, too.

"DK has a grant from the Department of Defense to study wormholes." That got his attention. John looked up from the chicken to his wife who couldn't look less like a meek Betty Crocker if she tried. She was in her leather pants, though her shirt was a blue cotton sleeveless. Her hair was braided out of her way, and the knife she was using to chop up tomatoes was held too professionally for comfort.

"Wormholes," John repeated flatly. The word itself was a jinx, calling bad times to bite them in the ass.

"He wants *your* input," Aeryn went on, the emphasis not lost on John. DK and half of IASA didn't think she had two brain cells to rub together. It was always, "John. Oh, and Aeryn, I guess."

"Did he say what about exactly?" Aeryn continued to glare. "Right, stupid question."

"We have to stop their research," she said.

John nodded and looked away. "I know." He grabbed the pot of waiting peas and put them over high heat. Wormholes. John had thought they'd escaped them. At one point, he had spent his time searching for them, calling them, using them despite the danger. Then the war had come, and there had been no time or place safe enough. They'd worked to keep the ultimate weapon from everybody at whatever the cost - and it had cost them in blood.

Now, the Humans wanted wormholes; the same government that wanted superior weapons and defenses against terrorism at whatever the cost, wanted wormholes. And if John didn't give them to them... Reginard's warning echoed in his mind.

"Well, I have never seen a sadder pair of cooks." John jumped at his father's voice. Jack stood in the doorway, smiling apologetically.

"Mama, Dad," Rhia and Seth rushed in. John scooped up the bundle of energy that attacked him with a cry of joy. Rhia giggled, and he forgot for a moment Aeryn's worrisome news. "We snuck to the zoo!" she declared proudly, a stuffed monkey clutched tightly in her little hand. "We wore a disguise and everything to get past the reporters!"

"And you didn't get caught?" asked Aeryn with a hint of a smile.

"No. An' no one rec'nized us," Seth shook his head. "See?" He put on a huge pair of Groucho glasses that practically fell off his face, making them laugh. Seth giggled too, enjoying the attention.

"I'll finish getting dinner ready with John if you want to get them cleaned up," Jack offered to Aeryn, nodding to the wreck of a kitchen. It was no secret that she didn't like cooking that much. So she took the kids upstairs for a quick wash before supper, leaving John and his dad alone. They worked in silence: John pensively stirred the peas while Jack scrapped off the blackened skin of the poor chickens.

After about ten minutes, Dad broke the silence. "You wanna talk about it?" John shook his head. He honestly didn't. "Son," Jack folded his arms, leaned against the counter, and waited until John looked at him. "I remember when my father came back from the War, he never talked about what happened. Never. And there are some periods in my life that I never want to revisit, even in memory. So I understand if you don't want to talk about it. But it might help."

John kept stirring the peas. "Did DK tell you he's got a grant to study wormholes?" he finally asked.

"No."

"He does. He wants my help." John paused. "And I'm going to lie to him and say I know nothing."

There was silence, and John didn't dare look up. Then, "why?" John almost sighed in relief at the absence of judgment in Dad's voice.

"Wormholes," he said, looking at his father this time. Jack's face held no scorn of disapproval. "Wormholes are the Holy Grail. The Ultimate Weapon. Everyone wants them, everyone fights for them. And I'm the one that has them. I can't allow anyone else, no matter how good their intentions, to have that kind of power."

"What can they do?"

"Destroy whole suns, planets. Populations of billions." John took the peas off the burner.

"That's a hell of a responsibility," Dad commented.

"You know when you said I had to be my own kind of hero?" Jack nodded. "I get that." After straining and dumping them into a bowl, the peas were ready. He thought about where he'd been, the people who counted. "Out there... I wish you could see some of the things I've seen."

Dad clapped him on the shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "When you're ready, I will," was all he said. "Now, shall we call in the troops?" he asked, gesturing at the food. Nodding, John smiled at his old man, feeling like another bridge had been rebuilt, stronger even than the first. It was getting easier, like they were sliding back into that groove Lisa had talked about. The funny thing was, now that his dad had given him the okay not to talk, he wanted to, or at least give him the letters so they could explain what was maybe too hard to say. Smiling at the thought, he followed Dad to the dining room with the peas.



*******************************
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Chapter 4: Into the Autoclave
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DK sighed when another person walked through his office door. He was supposed to be getting paperwork done, but instead he was solving everyone else's problems. This time it was Jeff who came begging for his aid.

"I know you said we needed only four more people to help us with the new wormhole project, but since the brass wants another military scientist on it, and IASA wants another two from overseas, and neither of them is willing to swap something, as the budget stands now, we're gonna have to redefine some of our objectives or..."

"Pull up a chair," DK told his stressed friend. It had been two weeks since they'd received the grant, and since then they'd been nailing down the final divisions of manpower and resources. Due to the potential use of wormholes as a link between Earth and the universe, world governments wanted a hand in it, too.

He and Jeff spent a good half hour going over the budget and personnel, pulling something together that would hopefully satisfy both them and the other parties involved without causing apoplectic shock. By the time DK finally got Jeff out the door, Yora was coming in with another cup of coffee for him and a request to get his ass down to the hangar so they could go over the Farscape III's backup thruster systems together.

"DK, I know today's supposed to be an office day, but yesterday they replaced half the coolant system, so we gotta check this today before they put in the primaries," Yora told him reasonably. "They're already a week behind schedule."

The engineer groaned and let his head hit the desk with a satisfying thud. "Give me an hour," he mumbled. "Can't you do it yourself?"

"No, it's not as fun," said Yora. "I'll be back in sixty. And drink your coffee!"

DK had two full minutes of peace before his next visitor, the infamous Aeryn Sun. She walked in without bothering to knock. "Do you have a location for your wormhole research yet?" she demanded without preamble.

DK sighed and nodded. The alien had been cool towards him ever since she had found out he'd gotten the grant. At first she'd tried to get him to stop it all together, but even had he wanted to, it had already been too late. He had tried asking John about it, but had only received a similar reaction. At first he'd been heart broken that John hadn't known anything, and worse, wasn't even excited about the new project as DK had been sure he would be. But there wasn't much he could do about it except make the best of it. It wasn't like he and John had never disagreed before, but so soon after getting him back, it hurt more.

"We got hold of one of the labs in the Braun building," he told her.

"Which one?"

"Two-sixteen. Why? I thought you were against the project."

"I am." Then, just as suddenly as she had arrived, she left, leaving DK confused. If she didn't want the program to go forward, why did she want to know where it was? It didn't make sense. Oh, well, he was just glad she was gone. Over the last couple of weeks, things had been tense between them.

Not one to dwell on what couldn't be helped, DK turned back to his inbox. Only to be interrupted again halfway through the first page of a supply request form by a rap on the doorframe.

"Knock, knock, Sailor," a soft, feminine voice greeted him. He looked up in shock. Laurie Martin. DK couldn't believe it. A grin splitting his face, he jumped up around his desk to give the lady a hug.

"Laurie! What are you doing here?" he demanded happily, thumping her on the back. "Last I heard you were on the USS Whatsit out in the Pacific."

"I was in the neighborhood," she said coyly when he finally let her go. DK gave her a look, and she laughed. "Okay," she conceded, "I was transferred to Andrews just down the coast. So, like it or not, Sailor, I'm here to stay. Until I'm transferred again, of course," she laughed once more, clear and ringing. DK loved that about her, that she loved to laugh.

"So what's a Navy Nurse like you doing in a space place like this?" he asked ushering her into a chair.

"Gotta make sure you flyboys don't drown when you land in the water," Laurie answered, accepting the offer. DK cleared off another one by the side table and sat. "What?" she asked innocently at his look. "A girl can't come to see an old friend?"

"A girl like you always kills two or three birds with one stone," DK grinned. "And I know I don't rate that high on the food chain."

"DK, of course you do," she swatted his arm in mock disapproval. "Besides, it's classified, so it will have to do."

He laughed, knowing better than to push her. "If you say so, DoctorNurse," DK saluted her playfully. Not only was Laurie a Major in the Naval Nursing Corps, but she had a PhD in Biochemistry as well.

"I do," Laurie deadpanned. "Now, I want to know absolutely everything! And don't be shy! I know you were close to Crichton when he died or disappeared or whatever. You certainly cried enough on my shoulder to float a boat. So spill."

DK watched as Laurie settled in with all the eagerness of a teenage girl gossiping about who's going with who. When she was ready with one de-shoed foot tucked up underneath her, he told her everything she'd missed while on the Pacific Ocean. Pent up frustrations with John's resistance to science and the wormhole project. The cheapness he felt with the Farscape project now that John and Aeryn had come back with the new technology, like his work for the last five years had been wasted - the guilt that went with the feeling. The tensions from his team who felt the same way, the difficulties with the press constantly around the building - he poured his heart onto his old friend's shoulder one more time, while she sat and patiently listened.

"It's not that I don't want him back. I do, God knows I do. But he died, and I learned to live without him. Now I have to live with him again, but he's changed so much, I don't know where I stand with him anymore. I though he'd be pleased with the wormhole thing, you know, find out what knocked him to that other galaxy, and he just told me to drop it. Turns out he knows more than he's telling and he doesn't want anything to with them. And now, Aeryn comes in asking what lab we're in...I don't know what her problem is. John and I, we used to be able to talk about anything. Now we talk about stuff and hit a wall. It's been what? Four months? It's just so frustrating."

"But it is getting better, right?" Laurie asked.

DK sighed. "It was till this whole wormhole thing. John says that in the wrong hands, wormholes are weapons of the worst kind. It's like he doesn't trust me. Me! I've known him since we were toddlers, and he doesn't trust me enough to talk to me or do this project!"

That's what hurt the most, that neither John nor Aeryn trusted him. It hurt like the hole in his heart he thought had healed. They were so suspicious of everyone, and he'd thought he was on the good guy list.

"You know," said Laurie. "People keep on living even when they're away from home. You moved on, and he moved on. Things happen. Thing change 'em. I mean, I can remember when I first came home from Basic, my parents didn't get what I'd gone through. And I couldn't explain it to them. But we worked through it. It just takes time."

"Somewhere I know that. Doesn't make it easier," DK sighed.

Another knock on the door interrupted the comfortable silence they had fallen into, but it was only Yora for the backup systems inspection. After quickly introducing them, he and Laurie made their goodbyes.

"I'll come by and see you later," she said, returning his hug.

"Thanks for stopping by. Letting me cry in your ear," DK smiled.

"Anytime, Sailor." With a last wave, Laurie headed to the right towards the elevators.

Grabbing the relevant folder, DK left with Yora for the hangar in the other direction, feeling much better.



********************************************************************************



"Lewis!" the President shouted into the bustle of the anteroom. The crowd working overtime barely glanced up before ducking back into their work. Damn it! His aide's cell phone was off or dead or being finicky just to piss Landers off for the hell of it. "I want to see Lewis as soon as he sets foot in the building," he snapped at a nearby secretary. "And get me Locher on the phone." He stormed back into his office.

Nearly yanking the drawer out of the desk, Landers pulled out his bottle of Excedrin and took two of the pills, willing himself to calm down. He had to be able to think clearly, not an easy feat when you'd just found out another twenty American service men had lost their lives in Pakistan. A new creative bomb launched at the USS Morrison that had been stationed near the port city Ormara. Landers picked up the phone again. "Tell Richard I need a statement," he said. Probably wasn't necessary, but it made him feel like he was doing something.

The phone rang in the same instant that the door opened. Snatching up the apparatus, he waved Lewis to a seat. "Locher? What do you have for me?"

The voice on the other end sounded harried but trying to hide it. "Mr. President, I understand the urgency of the situation, but I simply cannot make Crichton work faster. These things take time. The intellectual gap between -"

"I don't want details," Landers cut him off. "Just give me results. Get them." He hung up and turned to Lewis who was seated in his customary chair. "Talk to me."

"The time table for the new Defense program is still on schedule and at maximum. There is no way to move it up. The reports from IASA and Major Fanby show that getting and making some of the necessary materials for hybrid weapons will possibly slow down production, especially since Crichton has not yet shown much interest in detailing weapons."

"Get him to."

"Yes, sir," Lewis made a quick note on his Palm Pilot. "The USS Greer has reached the Morrison and started the evacuation. The Joint Chiefs will be ready for a meeting at five. The press is waiting for a statement. Richard just sent me a bulletin; it's almost ready. The press conference is at four. Mike should be able to handle it, but it would probably help if you put in an appearance. Oh, and on a side note, Representative Davis will probably get off on lack of intent."

"What?" The sudden shift in direction had Landers unsure that he'd heard that right.

"Davis. Alien assassination attempt. He claims that the 'donation' he made to In Jesus Name was never intended to be used for 'such a heinous act', I believe he put it. Judge will most likely fine him."

"Just make sure Crichton doesn't get a hold of his address," Landers sighed. He had no doubt that the astronaut would go after the Congressman once he learned that the man ultimately responsible for his wounding his wife was getting off with a slap on the wrist. "And he's still resisting giving us weapons technology?"

"With all due respect, sir, he's more concerned with protecting the planet from space. His last report said that even with the equivalent firepower on the ground, superior ships from orbit would either target cities from space or release a biologic agent to wipe out resistance. Then he basically told us to stop asking."


"Do you believe him?"

"Reginard does."

Landers pushed his glasses up to rub his eyes. When had life been simple? he asked himself for the hundredth time that week. Well, he'd asked for the job of keeping the world in line.

"What time is it?" he asked.

"3:44," Lewis told him, glancing at his little device. He punched a few buttons then added, "Richard's on his way."

Landers nodded. "Alright. Let's go. We'll finish this after the press conference."



********************************************************************************



Jack turned the page from one star chart to another, marveling at the number of them in John's notebooks. He smiled, reading again some of the names his son had given the stars, jumping from theme to theme like Mickey Mouse, *Cheers*, and football teams. And they all revolved around Aeryn. John certainly was a hopeless romantic.

His son had only given him the tapes, the letters to him, and a few of the many notebooks sitting on the bookshelf. The rest he'd said should wait until he came home, so Jack hadn't pressed for more; it already meant a lot that John was willing to share this much with him. Listening and reading them made him ache for what John had gone through and created more questions about the missing times. Jack was almost afraid to know what had happened. In his letters he read about despair and joy, hatred and love, loss, insanity. It seemed like there were more bad times than good, and Jack's heart went out to him.

Idly, he flipped through the letters one more time, a sentence here and there jumping out at him. "Scorpy's dead. Finally. The bastard had more lives than a demonic cat. -- I cut off his head, just to be sure. -- Dad, guess what?! You're a grandfather! Yep, Rhia Xala Sun. Pilot finally got his memory back and let me in to see them. -- She's so beautiful! -- I hate them so much for what they did to her. Pip is the last person who deserves to be used and manipulated like that." They went on, John's heart and soul poured onto the paper into an ear he never thought would hear.

"Gran'pa! Gran'pa! Dere's a man a' the door!" Seth tore into the room at top speed as usual, managing not to trip over his feet for once. Jack put aside the notebook and followed Seth to the vestibule where Rhia was standing guard with a kitchen knife.

"Rhia, go put that up," he told her. It unnerved him when she did things like that, prepared to defend Seth and the house from intruders.

"But he's banging," she protested.

"Go put the knife away," Jack repeated, steering her toward the kitchen. "Why don't you two stay there till I see what the man wants." The two went, looking over their shoulders nervously.

Flipping the lock, Jack opened the door to find an angry Giller on the doorstep. The security man was dressed impeccably in a suit as usual but carried a waist-high signpost in his left hand.

"Colonel Crichton," he greeted Jack. "Is the Commander in?" The polite tone did little to hide the dislike behind the words.

"No," said Jack flatly. "What do you want?"

Giller turned the signpost so he could see its face. Bright red letters proclaimed across the top "Final Warning." Just below was a blown up picture of Mark lying on the ground, bleeding and theatrically dead. He wore a press pass. Beneath was written "Keep Out."

"Tell Crichton, I'll have a warrant for his arrest if he threatens the media again."

"Over my dead body."

"Tell him." Giller dropped the sign and left, walking briskly to his black government car.

Jack shook his head as he picked up the sign. So that's why things had calmed down around here, he thought. Pretty effective since his son had the reputation to back it up. He took the sign inside, closed, and locked the door.

"Will Dad be executed if he's arrested?"

Jack looked up, startled to see Rhia and Seth staring at him, eyes wide in fear. Surprised, he shook his head. "No, sweetie. You can't sentence someone to death for threats. Besides, there's no way he could even be convicted. Giller's just trying to scare us," he said reassuringly. The kids didn't look convinced.

"Come on, let's go read a story," he suggested. That usually took their minds off things. He'd been amazed that they hadn't taken to the television, though they did like *Sesame Street* from time to time. For the rest, they didn't have the attention span.

So, still apprehensive, the children followed Jack to the living room and settled down to listen to The Little Cargo Hauler That Could.



********************************************************************************



"And this brings us to the fine tradition of embarrassing the birthday girl," Mark explained to Aeryn. "Since Ryan can't do it 'cause he's the husband, it's up to me and the boys to do our sacred duty." He paused theatrically, resting the tips of his fingers on his collarbone like a noble lord. And Aeryn actually laughed. It was the first time Ryan had heard the sound from her. At Christmas she had been, understandably, reserved, and hadn't participated much beyond watching the kids. Now, mid February, she seemed to have adjusted to Earth.

It was Melanie's fortieth birthday party, and the Crichtons could not pass up the opportunity to get together. Ryan sat with Aeryn, Mark, Robert, and Ben in the living room with several of his and Melanie's close friends. Mark had pulled out the pictures specially prepared for the event. Aeryn's induction to family gatherings was his excuse to embarrass his sister in-law.

"Now," Mark looked up at his audience, "we begin our story forty long, dark years ago -"

"Wait!" Lisa rushed in, pulling Melanie by the arm, followed closely by John, Jack, and a few other friends who had been helping them out on the grill. Amid shouts and cheers, Melanie was forced to take the place of honor in the overstuffed armchair. The rest of the guests piled in, pulling up the extra chairs and even sitting on the floor, though with David, Rhia, and Seth running around wild, it was a little dangerous.

"We begin our story," Mark said again, louder this time to get everyone's attention, "forty *long*, *terrible*, *dark* years ago." More cheers rose. "With the birth, that fateful February morning of the last Crichton child, baby Melanie." Mark held up the first photo of a baby in a pink blanket, enlarged for the purpose of being passed around. From there, Mark wove a tale of growing up, from one picture to the next, most of them the most embarrassing ones he could find - and Ryan should know since he had helped pick them out. Ryan let the familiar stories wash over him for the hundredth time, enjoying the laughter and friendship that pulsed through the room.

"And then came that event that all young girls anxiously await: the first training bra!" The picture Mark held up was of a lump: a vaguely girl shaped figure covered by a towel.

"Oh, come on," Melanie protested amid the laughter. "Who was not embarrassed?" she demanded.

"You have to train to have breasts?" Aeryn asked, studying the picture with a smile.

"No, a training bra is just one that's made for girls that's smaller than normal," Lisa explained.

"I can understand why you hid your face then," Aeryn looked at Mel with a wicked grin.

The story continued on to junior high dances, high school boyfriends - and John checking them out, college and beyond, glazing over the painful times of Leslie's death, Steven Whirel, and John's Farscape accident. Melanie made it through these latter years her relatively unscathed in comparison to her youth, until finally, "The crowning achievement, one of the *best* Christmas dinners I have ever eaten," Mark announced with conviction with the picture of the recent Christmas spread. "Thank God, Lisa cooked most of it!"

"Why you -" Melanie screeched, throwing a cushion at him. Sensing an imminent fight, Ryan quickly got to his feet.

"To Melanie Rebecca Crichton Phillipson," he raised his beer. "The most wonderful woman in the world. Happy birthday!"

"To Melanie," the rest echoed. Ryan sidled up to the woman he loved and gave her a chaste kiss. There were more cheers and chinks, then the group settled into smaller groups, dodging kids and forgotten cups. The burger contingent went back out to the grill, and Ryan wormed himself a spot on the couch between Aeryn and Robert who had found a photo album.

"So, ready for your birthday?" he asked his newest sister in-law cheerfully.

Aeryn smiled at him and said, "Good thing I don't know when it is."

"Don't worry, we'll make one up for you. Get John to tell us all your embarrassing stories," he said, reassuringly. Aeryn only smiled serenely at him.

"So what are birthday parties like on your planet?" asked Robert eagerly, though he tried to be casual about it.

However, before she could answer, John called out, "Aeryn, could you give me a hand?"

Smiling an, "excuse me," she got up and left. Ryan watched her go.

"What do you need?" she asked when she reached John in the doorway, still close enough for them to overhear.

"Just your hand," he answered, reaching down and pulling it to his lips.

"Is this another one of your Earth customs?" she asked, pleased.

"Just thought you might want a change in conversation. Come on. Maybe Melanie will talk to me with you around." He pulled her away to the dining room. Deciding he needed another beer, Ryan followed. Okay, so he was curious and a little worried. After the last time Mel had gone one-on-one with her brother... Ryan thought a little nearby damage control wouldn't hurt.

Melanie was talking with Lisa by the china cabinet when they approached somewhat nervously. "Happy birthday, Mel," John said by way of greeting. "Finally joined the rest of us over the hill."

Melanie didn't answer right away, and at first, Ryan was afraid she wasn't going to answer at all. But she did. "Thank you, John, and Aeryn," she said.

"Mel..." John went on but didn't seem to remember how. "I'm sorry I wasn't there."

"Yeah, well." Ryan saw her nod and look away as she always did when she didn't want to say something but was going to anyway. "I don't know whether to hate you or love you," she told him.

"You never could choose between anything," John replied fondly. "Remember the sweaters? And the car? God, I swore off shopping with you forever."

Despite herself, Melanie smiled. "I think I'll go with hating you, mister." But Ryan could tell she didn't mean it, not really. "*So*, Aeryn," Mel pointedly ignored John, linking her sister-in-law's arm with hers. "Let's have a chat about John. Just the juicy bits."

"That sounds like fun," said Lisa, taking Aeryn's other arm. The black haired woman grinned evilly.

"I do have to catch you up for his birthday," she said with a sly glance over her shoulder at her husband.

"Oh, man," said John as Ryan joined him, handing him a fresh beer. "Now I'm in trouble." Watching the three ladies leave, heads together, Ryan could only agree.



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He had just hung up the phone with Washington when his new charges walked in the door: a black suit and two Navy dress uniforms. Reginard was not looking forward to this. "Dr. McPhearson, I presume?" he stood holding out his hand.

The man in the suit shook it. "Ambassador Reginard." He didn't smile. "May I present Colonel Walter Sarratt and Major Laurie Martin, Navy Medicine." Reginard shook both their hands. "I trust you have received our orders?"

"Uh, yes. I was just going over them. Please, sit down." Reginard moved back behind his desk while his visitors made themselves comfortable. "As I understand it, the facilities at Andrews are the best for your research and that's why the Navy is in charge of this project?"

"*I* am in charge of this project," McPhearson clarified.

"I see." Reginard looked back at the orders, which were infinitely more comfortable to look at than the good doctor. "You are aware that our contract with Crichton prohibits any and all medical testing?"

"At this stage we do not require medical testing. We simply need to interview Crichton and the alien. One of his reports specified the threat of biological and chemical warfare. When medical testing becomes necessary, I would think that the greater good that would come from our investigating the aliens' DNA would outweigh a simple contract."

He said it with such calm that Reginard almost shivered. "You haven't met Crichton, have you?"

If anything McPhearson's gaze became colder. "Coming here was just a formality. You will give us your full cooperation, Ambassador." He paused and the silence felt like lead. "Now," the doctor continued. "I need to speak with a Dr. Amelia Hargrove. I want to do the preliminary interviews today."

McPhearson stood, Sarratt and Martin following him out the door. Reginard thought he saw a look of sympathy from the Major, but shook it away. Anyone who worked with that bastard... Reginard didn't know what he was going to do. This was bordering on a direct breach of the contract, and Crichton would never stand for it, that much he was sure of. But it looked like the boys up top were getting desperate, if the operation was even sanctioned at all. Glancing over their papers one more time, Reginard didn't know. He picked up his phone to call his superiors, but before he had dialed two numbers, the PA announced, "Ambassador Reginard, please report to the Control Room. Ambassador Reginard."

Within five minutes, he came running in only to stop short when he saw the screen. Moya had returned.



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Chapter 5: Morose Code
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"No, I want to talk to John alone," D'argo repeated. Why couldn't they get their heads around that?

"I'm afraid that's not possible," the Human Reginard replied. "We have very strict protocols that govern extraplanatary contact. Until you state the nature of your visit, I'm afraid I can't allow Commander Crichton to speak with you."

"I want to talk to Crichton! That is the nature of our visit!" D'argo shouted. "Does he even know we're here?"

Reginard shook his head. "I'm very sorry. If I could change the rules, I would but my hands are tied."

"Ka D'argo," Pilot interrupted.

"Yes, Pilot?" D'argo slammed a frustrated hand on the consul, cutting Earth off.

"I have reached Rhia on the comms."

D'argo sighed in relief. "Thank you." It's what they had tried first, but no answer had come back. Then Earth, recognizing them on their scans had contacted them wanting to talk. Why did Humans always want to talk? he asked himself. "Rhia? Is that you?"

"D'argo?!" the child's voice was filled with excitement. "You're here?"

The Luxan smiled, mirrored by Emmerit and Rygel who were in Command with him. "Yes. Is John there?"

"He's at work. They're always at work, but the men come when they don't go," Rhia informed them sadly. "We had Christmas!"

"That's wonderful, Rhia," D'argo said, though he didn't know what Christmas was. "Is there any way you can contact John for me? It's important."

"I'll ask Grandpa," she said. "Grandpa! Can I call Mama and Dad?" they heard her shout. In the background another voice spoke, but it was too distant to understand. "It's important." The voice spoke again. "D'argo? Can I tell him it's you?"

"Ah..." He might take the comm away from Rhia and then they'd never get John or Aeryn. On the other hand, without Jack, Rhia might not be able to get John at all. He was about to ask what the others thought when Rhia spoke again.

"I'll get Seth to play with him. Then he won't notice."

"Sounds like Rhia has a plan," commented Emmerit with a smile.

"She was always a clever girl," Rygel added smugly as if he were her father. D'argo resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

A few microts later, Rhia came back. "Can I talk to my Mama or Dad?" A pause. "It's her daughter...Mama?...D'argo wants to talk to you...He's on your comm." A scrapping noise followed then, "D'argo?"

"Aeryn." The relief he felt at hearing her voice was palpable.

"D'argo? Rhia, push the speaker button." A sharp sound screeched over the comm making the crew wince.

"Aeryn?"

"D'argo? Where are you?"

"Earth orbit. They wouldn't let us talk to you."

"Those frelling -"

It was definitely Aeryn on the other end of whatever communication device Rhia had hooked them up with. "We need to talk to you."

"But your Humans won't let us," Rygel finished.

"They're paranoid," said Aeryn quietly. "It's like living with a hundred Starks."

"Are you alone?" asked D'argo.

"No. And they think I'm talking to Rhia, but it's all right. Only two of them have microbes and they're too far away to hear."

"Where's John?"

"Meeting. Probably off fighting someone who wants to make useless weapons. They want to use what we have to kill each other. They don't care about improving their space fleet."

"Look Aeryn, we need to talk to both of you."

"As soon as possible," Emmerit added. "Talyn and Crais are missing."

"Among other things," muttered Rygel.

There was silence on the other end. "Rhia," Aeryn finally said. "I want you to tell Grandpa Jack what's happening and get him to take you and Seth to his house, all right? And don't forget the comm. D'argo, I'll contact you as soon as it's safe. I have to go. Good to hear your voice." There was another sound then it cut off.

"D'argo?" asked Rhia. "What's happening?"

"Rhia, go with your grandfather somewhere safe. We'll see you soon," D'argo said. He disconnected and turned to the others. Chiana, Jool, and Medri had joined them, all looking concerned. "She sounded tense," he observed.

"Do you think they're okay?" asked Chiana.

"I hope so," D'argo sighed. They were supposed to be safe down there, and it didn't sound like anything had happened, but the tone of Aeryn's voice made him uneasy.



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"Everything all right at home?" Dan asked when she hung up.

Aeryn shook her head. She had to talk to D'argo and in order to do that, she needed to get to the house. "I need to go," she told them at large, switching back to English.

"What's wrong?" Kiwi asked for the group, the concern showing on her face. The others as well seemed worried for her.

"It's..." What could Aeryn say to get them to let her go without a fuss? Gathering up her things, she said the first thing that came to her mind. "It's nothing serious, but Seth fell and they need me. I'll see you tomorrow."

Aeryn left before they could say anything more. She barely noticed the halls, her mind occupied by the phone call. Moya was here and no one had told them. Why? Why would the Humans hide it? Was it about power and control again? And more importantly, why had Moya come back? It was a terrible risk; D'argo knew that. They had planned to stay on Earth for at least two cycles maybe more without contact from Moya. Talyn and Crais missing. Four words that chilled her to the bone. Something was seriously wrong if a powerful warship and a knowledgeable ex Peacekeeper captain were missing in action - 'among other things'. She had to find out what.

When she reached the administration building, Aeryn decided to take a detour and get John. He would need to hear this too, and it couldn't wait. The elevator took too long, so Aeryn ran up the stairs to the second floor. In the conference room at the end of the hall, Aeryn found her husband staring stonily at Giller and a man she had never seen before.

"John." She strode into the room like she owned it, customs be damned. "I just got a call from Rhia," she said in Sebacean. "She said her godparents are here for an unexpected visit."

"Ms. Sun, this is a private meeting, and you will speak English!" Giller jumped to his feet, but Aeryn paid him no mind.

"They want to talk to us right away. Talyn and Crais are missing," she continued.

John's face barely twitched as he got to his feet. "Frell."

"We are not finished here," Giller protested but they ignored him, not even bothering with the explanation she'd given Dan.

"We are now," John told him. He moved to go around the security chief, but Giller stepped back into his path. "I do not have time for this Giller," said John coldly.

"I don't think you understand your position here, Crichton," Giller responded nastily. Aeryn had had enough and yanked Giller out of the way from behind. She didn't quite knock him out, not that she cared. The other man looked slightly taken aback but made no move to stop them. Leaving Giller sprawled on the floor, she and John headed for the parking lot.



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"So they're at Dad's?" asked John when Aeryn had finished filling him in on what she knew. She nodded in reply, staring intently at the road before them. The ride didn't take long, especially since Dad's place was closer than theirs. It was a good idea of Aeryn's to get them there, not only for the distance reasons but the reporter ones as well. The sign had helped, but there were always a few die-hards lurking around. Neither of them spoke much, both absorbed in the same thoughts of 'why'. Why were they here? And why hadn't they been told?

The front of the house was dark as if nobody were home. John shut off the engine, and he and Aeryn went to the door where Dad was waiting for them.

"Rhia says Moya's back?" was the first thing he said.

"Yes," said Aeryn as they entered the house. "They contacted her on the comm. We need to talk to them right away."

"Of course. I think Rhia still has it." They went to the living room where the kids were playing with blocks on the floor. Both of them jumped up and ran to their parents as soon as they saw them come in.

"Up!" Seth ordered. John gathered his son into his arms and hugged him close. Meanwhile, Aeryn had accepted the comm from Rhia.

"D'argo, Pilot? It's Aeryn. Are you there?"

"Aeryn!" came the Luxan's voice, loud and relieved. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, we can talk now. John's here."

"Hey, D. Heard you were in the neighborhood. What's up?"

They heard D'argo sigh and in the background, several others talking one on top of the other until the Luxan told them to shut the frell up. It was nice to hear that some things hadn't changed, John thought with a smile.

But the feeling of warmth at hearing his friends' voices gave way to the clenching of his gut when D'argo spoke again. "We told you Talyn and Crais are missing. We were heading to the rendezvous, and when we stopped for supplies on the way, a Peacekeeper squadron ambushed us. They didn't have backup, so we think they'd been lying in wait. We had another close encounter several days later, then when we reached the rendezvous, no Talyn, no Crais. Fil and I went out to check the message drops but nothing."

"So you think they were captured?" asked Aeryn.

"And interrogated," Rygel finished from the other end.

"And that's not all," Medri picked up the narration, his voice a little less clear. "We went to Colony space to see if their spies or the Alliance had any information. Kitall, one of their outlying planets had been taken over by the Peacekeepers."

"We regrouped with Martya and her crew in the nebula beyond the Riders' territory," D'argo resumed. "They'd picked up some of the lucky ones who said it was only the beginning. The Peacekeepers want the whole system."

John heard the words but they hadn't sunk in yet, and he didn't want them to. The Breakaway Colonies were one of the strongest forces against both the Peacekeepers and the Scarrans. "The Royal Planet?" he asked.

"No word."

John looked at Aeryn, sitting beside him on his father's couch, elbows on her knees. When she glanced at him, he saw what he felt: the need to go and help. They couldn't ignore this. It was Talyn, the ship they'd helped raise, and Crais who, while John disliked him on principle, was still a friend and ally. Not to mention the threat to the Royal Planet. They couldn't let it fall. If they did, then any hope of surviving this war intact was virtually nil.

Eyes still locked on Aeryn's, John said, "We'll need a couple of days to get everything in order."

"Don't take too long." The comm went out.

The room was silent. In his armchair, Dad said nothing, his face unreadable. Rhia was staring at them wide-eyed, old enough to get the basics of D'argo's news and scared by it. Aeryn was looking at her hands, thinking. In his lap, Seth shifted so he could look John in the eye. "Are we goin' home?" he asked.

John looked into his son's hopeful face, chubby and innocent. Clear, certain eyes stared back, cutting through the turmoil in John's own mind. Home. Moya and the Uncharted Territories where someone was always trying to kill them. Was that it? Where he had met Aeryn and D'argo and Rygel and Chiana and lived and died and made a difference in however an insignificant way?

Thinking back to that meeting with Giller and the doctor, over the last few months, it was clear. On Earth, he was just as suspected, badgered, and threatened. On Earth, he didn't sleep well at night. He'd felt it everyday in every conversation that fell flat, every look he got from across the room, and every feeling of distrust he'd had for strangers since they'd returned. He hadn't wanted to admit it; he'd told himself that he would adjust. But now that Seth had put it into words, he couldn't ignore it. He no longer belonged on Earth.

He remembered telling Dad that he had figured out what it meant to be his own kind of hero. And it was out there, fighting.

He looked at his father, noticing the wrinkles again as if for the first time. "Dad..."

"You have to leave," his father finished with a sad smile. John thought he saw a glimmer in his eye, but then it was gone.

"It's Talyn," John felt the need to explain. He wanted him to understand that he wasn't just abandoning him.

"Moya's son. And on the Royal Planet, you have an unborn daughter. A princess," Jack finished again. John nodded, feeling the old understanding flow between them, unbarred and strong. He didn't need to explain because Dad already understood. "What do you need me to do?"

"If you could watch the kids while we make plans," Aeryn gestured to the two who were listening with rapt attention. "Thank you, Jack."

"I wanna help!" wailed Rhia.

"Me too!" Seth added, hitting John's arm to get his attention. John's mind, already running over the problems they would face getting off the planet, reigned itself in. How could they help without being in danger or daring to go after it?

"Okay, listen close," he said motioning Rhia to come over. "I want you two to make a list of all your things that you want to take back to Moya and write where they are at the house, so when we go, we can pack quickly." Excited by the assignment, Rhia and Seth both nodded before running off to find paper.

"That should keep them occupied," said Aeryn, watching them go.

"So what do you need to do before you leave?" asked Jack.

John looked at Aeryn. "Talk to Dan and Reginard. Get them plans of the systems they need to build."

"Take care of the wormhole research."

"Steal my module back."

"Get our things out of the house without being stopped," they threw suggestions back and forth.

"I can help at the house," Dad told them. He wasn't going to try and stop them - John almost couldn't believe it.

"All right," he said, standing. "We're gonna need some paper."



********************************************************************************



He knocked on the side of the door hesitantly, wondering what had possessed him to volunteer to tell her. Sure, things were better than they had been but it still wasn't the same.

"Yeah?" Chiana asked from the inside. Willing his spots not to give him away, Medri opened the door.

"Uh, hi." She waited and didn't look away. Taking that as an invitation to continue, he did so. "Aeryn and John just commed back," he said. "We're going to pick them up tomorrow."

Chiana nodded and even made a space for him on the bed. She was sorting through what looked like junk to him but what doubtless had meaning for her. Essor was nowhere to be seen, but that was only normal. Medri sat down somewhat gingerly.

"So what's the plan?" she asked.

"They're going to steal the module and sneak out. Meet John's father with the children."

"They'll need a backup plan," the Nebari smiled wanly.

"Yeah." Medri agreed. She had recovered from her temporary blindness, but still looked a little worse for wear. "Are you, you know, okay?" he asked.

"Sure. No." Chiana smiled at her own correction but didn't elaborate. She turned back to her sorting, and Medri watched her toss the pieces into seemingly random piles.

"Okay," he finally said, at a loss. "It's almost mealtime. I better..." he stood up and watched her sort a few more pieces. Just ask, he told himself. "You wanna come with me?"

She looked up, surprised, but in the end she nodded. Chiana grabbed a box from the floor on the other side of the bed and swept the junk back into it. She would have to resort it, thought Medri. But she didn't seem to mind.



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Aeryn blinked her eyes hard, tired yet too wired to sleep. It was late. Jack had already gone to bed, leaving her and John still working on plans. John was writing furiously, open notebooks guiding and giving him ideas. He looked tired. "Hey, are you all right?" she asked him.

John stopped writing and rubbed his eyes with the hand that held the pen. "I think if I do this," he gestured to the table, "I don't have to think about it." He looked up at her. "It's not working." He sighed. "I'm going to miss them."

Aeryn understood. So would she. "I am glad we came," she said.

"But...?" John said with a teasing smile.

"But I'm also glad Moya came back early."

John waited a beat then said, "Me too."

Aeryn raised her eyebrows in surprise. For as long as she'd known him, coming back to Earth had been his dream, even when he was willing to give it all up for her. She didn't think he would give it up so easily.

He smiled this time for her. "You think I'm crazy, maybe I am. But Seth was right. Moya's home."

"And your family?"

"I'll always love them. And now they know I'm alright." He shrugged and got up to get another cup of coffee. His body said it wasn't as easy as he made it sound.

But Aeryn didn't press. "Good thing we haven't told them how many times you've died." She passed him her mug, and with a snort, he filled it for her.

"If we'd done that then we'd never be leaving," he said, sitting down again. "But that's part of it."

"What?"

"That they'll never understand."

Aeryn nodded. She understood that, too. Coming here for him was like going back to the command carrier for her. Everything the same except them.

John looked at the table spread before him. "I think you need to pull up a chair if we're gonna get this done by eight." Vaguely, he waved his coffee at the mess of papers. Aeryn grabbed a pencil while John took one last sip before setting his mug down. He had just begun to write again when she asked:

"Are you really okay?"

John looked up, surprised by the question, but then he nodded. "Yeah. We have family out there too."

Satisfied, Aeryn took his hand and squeezed it. Then they got to work.



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Chapter 6: Adieu, Adieu, To Yieu, and Yieu, and Yieu
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"Here." John handed him a steaming cup of coffee when he walked into the kitchen. His son's clothes were rumpled, and he looked like he had stayed up all night. If the sea of paper on the table was anything to go by, he'd gotten his diagrams for Earth's defense done.

Jack accepted the cup and sat down at the table careful to avoid spilling. The events of the day before were high in his mind. With luck, John, Aeryn, Rhia, and Seth would be leaving today. He still couldn't believe he was letting them go so easily and so quickly. But they insisted they had to go as soon as possible. Lives were at stake. It was the right thing to do. "I guess we're going to the house first?" he asked.

John looked up from whatever he was drawing. "You and the kids. Aeryn and I have to stop at Ace Hardware for some things. We'll meet at Mel's."

"They know we're coming?"

"Frell! I knew I'd forgotten something!" John leaped to his feet and grabbed the phone, nearly overturning half his papers.

While John called, Jack decided to get some toast. Passing the door that led into the living room, he saw Aeryn asleep on the couch, also in her clothes from the day before. He'd had them what? Four months? Too short a time. Nevertheless, he understood, and that was why he wouldn't stop them, he reminded himself.

Not long after John warned the girls that their presence was required at Melanie's house around seven thirty, the rest of the house woke up. Yawning, Aeryn came in and fixed the kids Fruit Loops, while John pulled his stuff together. By quarter till, he and the children were on their way across town.

As he drove, Jack took particular notice of the land around them. Canaveral. Florida. Earth. He'd spent his entire life on this one planet, save for one exceptional week when he had gone to the moon. John had been on hundreds, lived in space on a ship, and was going back. It boggled the mind. At least this time they had a chance to say goodbye.

No one challenged them when they reached the house. There were no reporters in the bushes, and the security people across the street were probably still asleep. Rhia and Seth were surprisingly helpful in gathering their things, and it didn't take them as long as he thought it would to fill the bags and then some. They took most of the books and toys, but left half of the clothes. John had told him to leave most of theirs as well, since they probably wouldn't wear them out there. As he packed them up, it hit Jack again that they were really leaving.

Rhia and Seth seemed to have no problems saying goodbye to their house, and Jack didn't say anything about it. Seth patted the doorstep and Rhia waved, but that was it. They were little after all, and the house with its constant intrusions had probably not been a real home to them.

Bags in the car, they pulled out of the dozing neighborhood. A few people were out getting their newspapers, any interest in the alien occupants of 451 long gone. As soon would be its occupants.



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As soon as Ryan opened the door, Melanie pounced. "What the hell is going on?!" she shouted at the man standing on their doorstep. Mark, Lisa, DK, who'd also been called, and all the kids crept out of the kitchen, wary of another fight.

Still on the threshold, John stared at Melanie, Aeryn standing unsmiling just behind his shoulder. "We're leaving. Can we come in?"

Ryan felt his jaw drop and, after a second, quickly snapped it closed. Taking his silence as a yes, John entered with Aeryn.

"I know it's abrupt, but Moya's here, and they need us to go with them. We'll be gone by tonight." John led the way into the living room. Everyone, stunned, followed.

"But why?" asked Ryan. He thought they had come here to get away from a war in that other galaxy. Why would they go back?

"The Peacekeepers have attacked a system of planets that cannot be allowed to fall if we are going to survive the war," said Aeryn, looking him in the eye.

"Is that really the reason or are you just running away from all your problems here?" DK demanded, too worked up to sit. Instead he stood, arms crossed belligerently across his chest. Ryan glanced at Melanie who was glaring at her brother. "I didn't hear anything about Moya being back."

"Neither did we," John told him, meeting his gaze. "That's why they contacted us on our comms." He held up a piece of gold. "Hey, Pilot, you still there?"

And to Ryan's utter surprise a voice, that in no way, shape, or form could be Human, answered. DK obviously recognized it because his arms dropped and he sat down.

"They didn't tell you?" he asked.

"So you're just going?" asked Mel, accusation in every part of her body.

John looked away.

"I'm sorry, Melanie, but we have to go," said Aeryn.

"It's a good excuse to run away, isn't it?" Mel retorted bitterly. "I know it's not easy here for you, but you could at least stick it out. What good would you do against this army anyway?!"

"Damnit! What good am I doing here?!" John snapped. "The government doesn't want special defenses; they're about ready to lock us up and throw away the key! As to what good I could do out there, a lot more than I can do from here!"

"We're not asking your permission to go," Aeryn added quietly.

Silence reigned as they all looked at each other.

"We don't belong here," John finally said, taking his own turn in studying the carpet. "I don't belong here. I've changed so much that I don't know how... how to live here anymore. Maybe I needed to come back to see that."

No one knew what to say. But in the end, it wasn't words that were needed when Lisa got up and pulled John into a hug. There were tears on her cheeks, Ryan noticed, and seeing them, he felt his own chest clench.

"Don't go," she whispered over his shoulder.

"We have to."

"Then you'll come back, won't you?"

"Promise."

Lisa held him tight for a long while. Ryan couldn't believe it was happening so fast. Like a lightening strike, the world, or should he say universe, was changing again. When Lisa finally let him go, John laid it out: the missing friends, the occupied planet, the threat to the system, his unborn daughter. It was more than Ryan had ever heard him say about his previous life. Maybe it was because they were going that he felt he had to tell. It was almost eight thirty, time to head to work, when he and Aeryn finished. One more time, they were passed around for hugs.

Melanie was the last to give her blessing. She held back, staring at the carpet. Ryan was concerned. She had just gotten over having him back, and now he was going again. He didn't know if the explanation had helped or made it worse. Finally she stood and faced John. "You know I love you, right?" she asked, her voice cracking.

John hugged her and she clung to him crying in earnest now. "Yes." When they pulled apart, she turned to Aeryn.

"Take care of him," she said, giving her sister-in-law a hug as well.

"Always."

With one final goodbye, they left.



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Dan knew something was going on from the second, John handed him the papers. "Here," the former astronaut told him.

"What's this?" he asked, looking at the top sketch.

"Plans for the defense systems. It's probably not complete, but you should be able to figure out the rest."

"Where will you be?" asked Major Fanby. Dell looked critically at the pair.

Aeryn and John swapped a look, then John said. "We're running off to Vegas. You know, Aeryn's never been. It'll be fun."

Their clothes were the same ones they had been wearing the day before, Dan noticed. "John, what's going on?" he demanded, setting the designs on the table behind him. Half of them slid to the floor, but he didn't care. John looked like he was about to lie again, his eyes distant and unwelcoming.

"It's better if you don't know," he said.

"Why? What's going on?" Dan took a step forward, getting angry now. What was with all the secrecy?

But he didn't have time to find out. The door opened just then, and Giller with three of his security guards strode in. "Aeryn Sun," said Giller coldly, turning to the alien woman. "You are under arrest for assault and battery of a federal officer."

"What?!" John shouted, rounding on Giller, but his goons drew their weapons, forcing John to pull up short.

Giller smiled again in such a way that chills skittered through Dan's chest. What was going on? One minute John was handing him plans, the next Giller was arresting Aeryn. Everything was so out of control he could feel his heart beating.

"She is after all an American citizen and subject to our laws," said Giller smugly. He turned to Aeryn. "You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law..." Giller went on, enjoying every second of it.

John, however, suddenly started babbling in a language that had to be alien while one of the guards cuffed his wife. She didn't resist, and instead allowed them to take her away. As soon as they were gone, John swore. Dan was too stunned to take in more than that for the moment. He felt like he was spinning like a top. Shakily, he reached for the closest chair and lowered himself into it. Guns, an arrest, what was next?

"What are you doing?" Dan looked up. Jason was staring intently at John, blocking him from the door.

"Get out of my way." John stared him down. "I need to find out where they're taking her."

"She's under arrest -"

"For shoving Giller out of our way when he tried to stop us from leaving yesterday!" John snapped. "If I'm going to get her out of here before that Doc McPhearson gets his hands on her, I need to know where she'd being held!" He tried to push past Jason but the Commander stood his ground. John fought but they were too close to each other for anything to be effective. O'Reilly and Worthel jumped in to help Jason.

"Calm down!" shouted the Commander. It took almost ten minutes for the three of them to wrestle John to the ground, and none of them came out of it unscathed. "Just calm down will you? You can get Aeryn out on bail."

"No, she'll be locked up by then, and they'll never let her out. I promised I wouldn't let that happen to her!" John continued to struggle.

"Could one of us go find out?" Dan suddenly said. "Would that make you feel better?"

"I'll go," Kiwi volunteered, eyes too bright as she watched the scene before her.

"Me too," added Maria hastily, unnerved by the scene. "We'll find out where she is and go tell Reginard."

"Can we compromise without breaking any more bones?" asked Jason from his position on top of John's legs.

"Fine. Call me as soon as you know where she is." John sighed and let his head fall back against the floor with a thud. "Okay, I won't fight." Cautiously, the three men let him up. He stood and, true to his word, went for a chair instead of the door. Kiwi and Maria were already gone. They all looked at each other in silence, nervous and confused.

"What's going on, John?" asked Diana, the Navy officer. "You can trust us. We want to help." The former astronaut glanced at her but remained silent, turning instead to stare pensively at the door.

Dan wished someone would say something soon to break the oppressive silence, but no one budged, waiting for John to explain. After what seemed like forever, but what couldn't have been more than a minute, John lifted his head and met their stares.

"Will you help me get out of here?" he asked. "Help me get Aeryn out and steal my module back?"

"What are you talking about?" asked Jason. "Leave to where? You'll be hunted down."

"Moya."

Oh. Dan couldn't think farther than that. He was a scientist and didn't know much about this action movie stuff. "Moya's not talking to us," he said blankly. "And the Farscape is in pieces." John had to know that, he's the one who had helped take it apart.

"That's why I need your help," said John. "I have to rescue Aeryn and I won't have time to put the module back together once I break her loose."

"And you want us to do that for you," Dan nodded, catching on.

"Wait a minute. You're talking about leaving Earth on *Moya*?" asked Worthel. He shook his head in disbelief. "You can't leave Earth."

"Look, I know you don't like it, but I have to go. My friends up there need our help. Down here, Aeryn is going to be given to that psycho doctor and I will not allow that to happen! Now either you help me, or I go on to plan C which will probably get people killed, and that is something none of us want." John was on his feet, now, glaring at them.

"What doctor?" Peter dared to ask.

"Doctor George McPhearson, head of the new xenobiology unit at Andrews Naval Base." Everyone turned to the door where a slim, black haired woman stood in a Navy dress uniform, with DK by her side. Dan felt his grasp on cohesive thought slip again. What was going on? "Major Laurie Martin, Navy Medicine," the woman introduced herself. "I'm also an old friend of DK's." She entered and handed a slip of paper to John. "My latest orders. It means someone is going to be brought in today."

Dan watched John read the orders, his face closing off the farther he got. When he looked up, he asked, "When?"

"Fourteen hundred hours," Major Martin informed him.

"Then we don't have much time." John handed the paper to Jason who read it aloud. The contents were enough to make Dan wish he hadn't eaten breakfast, and by the end, every person in the room was willing to help.

"So what's the plan?" he asked, turning back to Crichton.

John closed his eyes a second then reopened them. "First we have to get my module space worthy. Dan, can you and DK do that. Grab whomever you need. The rest of us will get Aeryn out. That'll take two steps: springing her and hiding us until the module's ready."

They didn't waste much time with fancy stuff, and within ten minutes, Dan was out the door with DK, Peter, and Major Fanby. Maria would join them as soon as soon as she and Kiwi got back. When they arrived at the hangar that housed the Farscape I, and saw the condition the poor ship was in, Dan realized that the plan was absolutely insane.



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"Thank you, sir...No, still nothing from them...Yes, sir. Goodbye." Reginard hung up the phone. He was going to kill Giller. The pain in the ass was out for blood and causing a whole lot of trouble. If Ms. Taylor and Ms. Pellam hadn't come in asking questions, Giller probably wouldn't have bothered to tell him he had arrested Aeryn Sun. As it was, he had only managed to force Giller to keep her on IASA grounds - she was under guard in a third floor conference room - until he could sort this mess out with the higher ups. Reginard had a headache.

The good news was that it was almost lunchtime, and he could take a five-minute break. He would have to remind Giller to feed Aeryn. Maybe he'd send his secretary with something. He was making the note, when the door to his office was almost knocked in.

It was Crichton. Reginard was surprised the man hadn't shown up earlier. There was a bruise forming on his chin, and in general, he looked a little worse for wear. And definitely not happy.

"I know she's in the building, but no one can go upstairs. Where is she?" John got straight to the point.

"If you're planning on breaking her out, don't bother. Giller is guarding her well with his own men. I'm working on getting him to let her go. She'll be out of here by five." Reginard looked earnestly into John's worried eyes, hoping he still had his trust. He was doing his best, and he would get her away from Giller legally, John just had to trust him.

Finally, Crichton nodded. "At least tell me she'd not locked in some broom closet," he asked, glancing out the window then back.

Reginard smiled, glad he could reassure him of that. "She's fine, in a conference room."

"Okay. Thanks." John turned to go, but before he reached the door, he stopped and turned back. "It was nice working with you, Ambassador Reginard. Good luck." He left.

He had used his name. His title and his name. Taken aback and not sure what to make of it, Reginard went to the vending machine for lunch. Hitting the button for a ham and cheese sandwich, he decided not to worry about it until Giller had been taken care of. Now that was something to worry about that wouldn't just go away.

But all thought of Giller did fly out of his mind when the janitor's closet exploded just thirty feet in front of him. And then another and another. Flames leapt from the blown open doors like whips, spreading across the floor. Reginard ran to the fire alarm and pulled down the handle just as the sprinklers turned on. Smoke everywhere, he ran for the doors with a hundred other people who came pouring out of offices, shrieking in fear.

The chaos outside was absolute. Through the panicked crowd and the din, he heard someone shout, "The prisoner!" but he couldn't make out any more. Everything was too confused, too wild, and out of control. What the hell had happened?! Fifteen more feet and it would have been him in front of the explosion from the janitor's closet. The broom closet, he realized. John had done this. To get Aeryn.

Reginard looked around wildly, but saw nothing except scared people. The fire sirens from the approaching trucks contrasted with the astonished silence of the onlookers and escapees. The building didn't burn so much as smoke, thick and dark clouds swelling upward like storm clouds rising.



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The whole complex was in an uproar by the time DK got back to his office in the Shepherd building. The fire in the administration building had upset the day, and now security and police were everywhere looking for John and Aeryn. The word was Aeryn had been arrested for murder, and John had started the fire. Some even said John had also killed Giller because he had arrested Aeryn. DK knew that was an exaggeration. Even the John he had come to know over the last four months wouldn't kill the man if he could help it.

Nodding to Yora and Kiwi who were keeping watch, DK entered his office where John and Aeryn were avoiding security. So far they hadn't come here, but it was only a matter of time. The security cameras in the hall were intact but looped, keeping goings and comings a secret. "She's ready," he said. "Just the way you brought her back."

"Thank you," said John.

It was time for them to leave before the authorities thought to look here. "You're still going?" DK asked before he could stop himself.

"DK -"

"I know, I know. Yes. Of course, you can't stay now. I still wish you would."

"Look, I know we never really talked about what happened to me, and I'm sorry about the wormhole thing..."

"John," DK interrupted. His old friend looked at him, his eyes once again expressing the love and fear that seemed to get lost in words. "I'll take care of the wormhole research. At least with me at the helm, I can falsify it. But that doesn't matter, now. State function right?" he tried to smile past the lump in his throat. This was not the time. He knew it, but if not now, when? "What matters it that I love you, and I've had you for four months, and I know you're alive. When you're out there, just take care of your family, or I'll run off with Aeryn myself." This time the smile, and the matching ones on John and Aeryn's faces, came more easily.

"Thanks. I'm gonna miss you, too."

"Likewise, bro." They regarded each other a moment, then John grabbed him into a fierce hug that said everything else that needed saying. He was leaving, thought DK.

"Are you two ready?" asked Aeryn quietly when they broke apart. They nodded as one. DK felt calm as one did before the storm. The plan was simple, and if all went well there would be no more explosions. That was plan C, John had explained to them when they were setting it up. The small army of engineers, astronauts, and the five military officers on the technology team helping John and Aeryn escape would distract security by shouting John or Aeryn's names at various places away from the hangar that held the Farscape I. DK only hoped that it worked.

"Good luck," he said. "And take care of yourselves." He pulled Aeryn close in a brief hug that she returned.

"You too," she whispered fiercely.

DK left the office alone and said to the waiting ladies, "It's time." Each taking their own steadying breath, they split up, to start the diversion. DK went to the north end of the building and rode the elevator down. The numbers passed slowly like his own personal countdown. When the doors opened he took a deep breath. This was it.

On the ground floor, two security officers were knocking on doors. DK casually went out the double doors, and once he was far enough away but still close enough to be heard inside, he yelled, "John!"

It worked like a charm. Out came security, demanding where their prey was and what direction he had taken. DK pointed directly opposite the hangars. The guards took off, calling for backup. Soon, the chaos that had been present since the fire, transformed into pandemonium with mixed messages coming over the wires, confusing the hell out of security and the police. If it hadn't been so nerve wracking, it would have been fun. At one point, DK crossed paths with Captain O'Reilly, and with conspiratory grins, they took off in different directions. The game lasted about ten minutes before the guards figured out that something was fishy. DK prayed it was enough.

He was dodging around the back of the Braun building when two of Giller's security people cornered him. "Seen Crichton, have you?" one of the big, beefy men sneered.

At that moment, the sound of engines roaring to life nearby echoed through the complex. DK smiled in relief. They'd done it. "Nope. Just heard him," he said cheerfully. The two guards stared at him for a second, then looked at each other, then, forgetting about DK, followed the engine noise toward the field that neighbored the runway, where the rest of IASA had turned out to look.

John and Aeryn were air born. They did a flyby at the control tower then left for the lake where Jack was waiting with Rhia and Seth. By the time the military scrambled to catch them, it would be too late.

Within thirty seconds, they were gone, hidden by the distant tree line. DK turned back to the IASA complex, alone among the crowd of hundreds of shocked personnel. Around them he heard gasps of surprise and speculation if it was all related. The press would do a story on today's event, maybe even a serial on Earth's first encounter with aliens from start to finish, he thought flippantly. They were already lining up to grab anyone who would interview. Yep, it would be in the history books, thought DK brightly, for some reason in a good mood, and the details would fade into legend.

But that didn't matter because he knew the truth. He paused and pulled out his wallet and the picture he'd added to it after Christmas. It was of John and Aeryn sitting on their couch, grinning at the camera, arms wrapped around Rhia and Seth who giggled in delight in their laps. In the foreground there were wisps of wrapping paper and opened presents. Just his best friend and his family, relaxed and happy for a moment in time. That was the truth that DK would always remember.



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End Part 4