Taken from the FarScape Epic RPG
Story contributions by: GadgetGirl-Pip (Lady_T), LoneGirl189, Murdough2000, Chant99, & Dagoddda
Edited by: Chant99
"Aw! Come on, Zhaan!" pleaded Chiana.
"I don't believe it would be wise," countered the tall blue woman.
"We'll be fine. What kind of trouble could we possibly get into?" the Nebari said then realized her mistake at Zhaan's crossed look. Changing her tactics she went on.
"It's only a re-supply run... and who else can go? Crichton and D'argo are handling the water shipment, you and Malika have to be here to take care of the new guy, and Aeryn has to stay up in command in case Peacekeepers show up," she stated as a matter of fact, while ticking the points off on gloved fingers. "That leaves me, Ryg, and 'Ret to go planet side for supplies."
"I still don't know," wavered the Delvian. "I do not like the looks of that man that Rygel has been arranging the trade with. Something about him... distresses me."
"Well the longer we wait here, the better the chances are that a Peacekeeper patrol might stumble over us. Besides... I'll have the Hynerian Dominar and a Shrike assassin with me. What can happen?" she added with a disarming smile.
Zhaan snorted and said, "The Hynerian Dominar is only 30 hentas tall and your Shrike sometimes can not remember which boot goes on which foot. However, you made a valid point, the longer we remain here the greater the danger of being discovered." She looked the younger woman in the eye. "I will allow the three of you to go provided you promise me you will not get into trouble... that means... no stealing, no drinking, and no letting Rygel talk you into anything remotely resembling a get rich quickly scheme. You will get the supplies and return to Moya as quickly as possible."
Looking for a microt like she was thinking about arguing about the restrictions, Chiana apparently thought better of the idea. "Okay, you won't regret it Zhaan!" she said over he shoulder as she jogged off down the corridor to find the others going planet side with her.
"I already do, my dear," said Zhaan in a low voice to her receding back.
Berret fastened the last piece of his armor on across his chest. In the weekens he'd been without it, he'd forgotten how much it weighted. He strapped on the pulse-pistol and looked sullenly at the pair of gauntlet braces laying now alone on the storage shelf. Since Zhaan had stirred up the memories of the past death that went with them he had not touch them since the Priestess had returned them, having place them at the back of the shelf, hoping to forget them. He sighed and picked the first one up. It opened immediately at his touch, sensing he intended to put it on. Placing it on his forearm, it closed around the limb. He'd already put the half gloves with the metal plate guarding the tops of his hands on, and with a thought the twin blades snapped out into the open. With growing distaste he inspected the blades and then retracted them. He did the same with its mate and looked at himself in the mirror. He'd taken to wearing a wide neck choker that the Pixie had made for him out of different bits of polished metal. The scars on his neck from the control collar only served to remind him of the beings whose lives' he had ended as a Syndicate Shrike, so he chose to cover them up as much as possible. Now the choker's metallic shine looked too much like a collar, completing the image of a controlled assassin too much for his liking. He picked up his Acquarian silk cloak and slung it in place over his shoulders, then fastened it in place. Electing not to look at himself in the mirror again, he left his quarters and head for the hanger bay to meet the others.
Chiana turned as her friend strode into the hanger bay. She'd forgotten how big and menacing the armor made him look. She'd agreed with Zhaan's assessment that Rygel's contact had looked less then trustworthy, and had asked Berret to wear his armor despite his discomfort at being reminded about what he had been. It didn't hurt having anyone thinking of pulling anything funny to believe they had a Shrike along with them, it would surely give most of them second thoughts. She smiled at him in greeting and he gave her a weak smile back in return. In the short walk to the hanger bay he'd become accustomed to the extra weight of the armor, but it still weighted heavy on him in other unseen ways. Inside the cargo transport Rygel glided to the open hatchway.
"Are you two ready? We don't have all frelling solar day, you know," he complained.
Berret snapped his head around, the metal braid-stop on his newly done ponytail clanking against his back plate of armor, and gave the Hynerian a growl that would have done D'argo proud. Acting more insulted then scared, Rygel snorted, turned his nose up in the air, and floated back into the transport.
Chiana grinned, "Apparently His Froggyness has gotten use to the constant head bowing our host has been shoveling his way over the comm-link." She lowered her voice a few octaves to imitate the voice of the Trader waiting for them on the planet. "Yes, Your Highness... Anything you say, Dominar... Right away, My Lord!" Mocking the man further by bowing low so her hair almost scrapped the floor. Despite himself, Chiana antics had him smiling and feeling better for the moment. Seeing his mood brighten, she grinned back at him. "You see, all you need is a little fun and humor in your life and you feel much better."
Berret laughed out load this time and took her arm. Together they walked up the ramp as Rygel started the Shuttles engines.
"Speaking of humor," he said, "I want to discuss with you what I found filling up my lavatory sink this morning..."
Moya had to stay in the outer sector of the system to meet the Tanker Transport so the trip to the commerce planet took about two arns. Rygel piloted the Cargo shuttle without incident and after they touched down planet side, Tarcus, the trader that Rygel had been negotiating with by comm-link, met them. He was a large fat man with greasy black hair and mustache. His clothes were baggy and made up of many multicolor swirls, which if you looked too long at, eventually gave you a headache. On each of his stubby fingers resided a ring, most with one form or another of gem set into it. He also had a habit of rubbing his hands together as if washing them. He bowed and greeted Rygel like he was a king returning home. Berret found he disliked the man even more in person. His dislike for the man turned even darker after he openly leered when he caught sight of Chiana. He had pulled the hood of his cloak up over to cover his head and features. The man had not paid must attention to the black garbed figure until he tried to place his hand on Chiana's shoulder in guise of a greeting and Berret's armored hand painfully gripped his forearm, stopping the gesture cold. Tarcus's eyes grew dark with anger at the contact, but as they traveled up to the forearm of the restraining hand and read the archaic icons inscribed on the gauntlet, they grew shifty and after a microt they again had the false veneer of friendliness. As he drew back from Chiana, Berret released his hold on the man.
Turning to Rygel he said, "You must be a very important being, my Lord, to have such a 'interesting' bodyguard." Then turning his eyes back to the Nebari girl, "And such an intriguing companion," he continued giving her an oily smile and an open leer of lust.
Rygel waved a small hand in dismissal of the statement. "They serve their purpose," was all he said on the matter. Chiana had to restrain Berret from knocking Rygel on his head, discreetly signaling him to let the Hynerian play the game out. She put on her best smile and went along with the ruse by playing the minx for Tarcus's benefit.
"Now then," said Rygel. "Shall we get down to business?" he asked.
"Certainly, Dominar. But I regret to inform you that we were unable to obtain some of the items you requested," replied the Trader, continuing to wash his hands in the air. He produced a list of what items that were found and what ones had not been located. After almost an arn of re-negotiating a new trade agreement they came to a settlement were the crew got what items that were available plus some monetary funds for the cargo they had brought with them. Tarcus recommended that they take the time to visit the market area while the cargo transport was being unloaded and their goods loaded back aboard afterwards. Rygel and Tarcus spoke for a few microns, as they got ready to depart for the market place. The fat man repeatedly apologized to the Hynerian for failing to totally fill their order so many times that Berret had stopped listening to the conversation. Finally they were ready to leave and Chiana and Berret followed along behind Rygel's thronesled. He lowered his cloak's hood and looked around the market place that was not that much different from the one where he and the Pixie had originally met. Chiana was excited about being able to shop and Berret had to remind her about Zhaan's orders not to steal. To his surprise she actually behaved herself, or at least as far as he could tell.
The market was busy and very noisy as all kinds of beings went about conducting their business. In a tent whose owner dealt in an assortment of odds and ends; Rygel, Chiana, and Berret wandered between the tables and displays, stopping once in a while to pick up an item and examine it. Rygel, being the best barterer among Moya's crew, haggled with the shop's owner over the price of some much-needed added supplies. Chiana had just used almost all her personal credits to purchase some clothe to make a new outfit and a pair of boots, all of which was in a package that she had decided Berret should be responsible for carrying while she continued to shop, despite her low reserve of funds. Berret followed her from table to table as she chatted happily over one item or another, not minding being used as a beast of burden but strangely glad to see his friend enjoying herself. The only thing he had found for himself was some bits of metal that he would eventually make into one type of weapon or another in Moya's workshop. Lately he'd felt the need to augment his personal arsenal.
He was brought out of his thoughts into the present again as Chiana stopped in front of a display case. A beautifully designed brooch had caught her eye. Seeing her interest the shop clerk who had been following them around hurriedly opened the case and product the brooch for Chiana to get a closer look at.
"Look," she said to her friend. "Isn't that beautiful?"
"Yes," Berret responded blandly. "The design is very interesting."
Chiana turned and gave him a look that said, "Men don't know anything" and turned her attention back to the shopkeeper's assistant.
"How much is it?" she asked. The clerk named a price that was definitely more then Chiana had even started out with, so with a sigh she turned it back over to the salesman. Berret chuckled to himself because he knew Chiana was probably racking her brain for a way to flinch the brooch, but the clerk's vigilance prevented the chance of that. As she step over to the next table, Berret surprised himself by withdrawing a Scarren Diamark Crystal from a hidden compartment in his belt. Holding it up to the clerk he asked if he would accept it in trade for the brooch. The clerk replied that it would indeed it would be a fair trade for the trinket. Chiana, with her mouth wide opened, asked why he bought it and what he planned to do with the ornament.
Teasingly he said, "I do find the design interesting. Who knows... maybe I will find a use for it sometime later." He dropped the piece into a small pouch at his belt. Knowing Chiana was too proud to ask for it out-right, he had planned to leave it somewhere where he was sure she would try to flinch it. After all, he knew that stealing it would be half the fun for the Nebari; he made a mental not to remember not to make it too easy for her.
Chiana had other ideas. She slid up close next to him and purred, "Well... I know someone who might have a use for it if you ever get tired of it." Putting a hand up to quickly caress his cheek before turning away back to the table she had just left. With a start, Berret realized that the brooch was no longer inside the pouch where he had just placed it mere microts before. Chiana looked over her shoulder slyly at him. Amazed, Berret slightly bowed his head in acknowledgement of her skills and simply said,
"You're welcome."
Chiana rewarded him with a dazzling smile, and then went back to looking over the items on the table. Berret wondered at the feeling he had just by doing something that made Chiana happy. Emotions were still strange to him, but the unspoken agreement they had about the ornament pin pleased him to no end.
He found himself looking forward to seeing her wearing it. Even though technically she stole it, he knew neither of them would mention that fact. Berret mentally sighed to himself, trying to analyze what he was feeling was beginning to give him a headache so he put all the thoughts into the back of his mind and returned his attention back to the colorful item Chiana had found and was asking his opinion on.
"Yes," he agreed, trying to guess what would be the correct answer. "The colors are very pretty."
An arn later they returned to the transport landing area. Rygel had arranged for the badly needed foodstuffs they just purchased to be loaded into the Cargo Transport by local dockworkers. It had not turned out to be as profitable trade as originally thought. With Moya's crew slightly larger now with the new additions the food store would only last them about thirty solar days. The crew of dockworkers departed as they arrived and the shipmates stored the personal items they bought at the market for liftoff. Berret noticed a Tech still working at something in the cockpit.
"What is he doing?" he asked the Hynerian who was floating nearby.
"Oh," said Rygel, "Our gracious host as offered to have his personal Tech-Officer look over the Transport's controls and make any repairs or adjustments that are required to make up for the unforeseen shortage in our cargo order. He knows how to make the proper amends to a Dominar."
Berret screwed up his face and gave a slight growl. Lately he had been picking up many of D'argo's Luxan habits. He didn't trust the being Rygel referred to as their host; he was as John put it... "Shifty," and Berret agreed. The man should not be trusted. The Tech sealed up a panel as Chiana strolled onto the flight deck.
"We ready to go?" she asked. The Tech gave Rygel a nod as he gathered up his tool kit and left the ship. After closing and securing the hatch, Berret dropped into the seat next to Chiana and belted in. Rygel was already seated at the pilot's station with the engines fired up. As he closed the buckles on his seat belt the Transport shot into the air. Berret frowned because he knew the Hynerian did that on purpose, but he refused to say anything and give Rygel the satisfaction of knowing he had succeeded in annoying him. Even still, Rygel chuckled to himself. As much as he didn't like to, Berret had to admit that the small being was a good pilot. Once they broke free of the planet's atmosphere they were able to remove their safety belts and move about the transport.
"Are you sure we are on course?" asked the Shrike some microns later. "The star field does not look correct."
"The instruments say we are exactly on course," barked Rygel. "What's the matter, Shrike?
Don't trust my piloting?" he said while jiggling the control stick around, causing the shuttle to wobble in flight.
"I had thought that was already obvious, cretin," shot back Berret as he stubbornly worked to keep his balance.
"Why don't you go in back with your little tralky friend and leave me alone," said Rygel.
Berret though about twisting the Hynerians ears off but concluded that bit of enjoyment would be better left for a time when he wasn't piloting them somewhere. He returned to the rear cabin section where Chiana was examining her new trinket.
She looked up smiling and asked, "What was that shutter?" He took the seat beside her before replying.
"Oh! I believe that was Rygel having what John calls a 'brain fart'," he answered.
Berret took the brooch from her and looked it over a short time himself and then pinned it to front of her coat. Chiana purred and then leaned herself against him with her head laying on his shoulder, not seeming to mind or notice the armor plates under his cloak.
"I didn't realize how tired I am," she said with a yawn. After a few microt of silence where he thought she'd fallen asleep, she said happily, "We did complete this supply mission without any trouble. I guess Zhaan worried over nothing and we proved we can be trusted to handle important jobs... without frelling it up," she added. Berret nodded in agreement and decided closing his eyes for a brief rest was not such a bad idea.
It seemed no sooner had he closed his eyes then there was a loud bang from the cockpit and a cloud of smoke began to pour forth from the same direction. If the small explosion didn't wake them up, Rygel's scream would have. Chiana and Berret rushed into the cockpit. Rygel was trying to beat out a tiny fire on the control panel and the original smoke cloud had begun to disappear quickly thanks to the Pod's cabin filter system.
"What happened?" shouted Chiana. "What did you do?"
"I didn't do a frelling thing for yotz sakes!" protest Rygel. "The farble control panel just blew up by itself."
All the lights of the control system were out; it was obvious to all three that the shuttle helm was dead. Even so they each tried buttons and switches to no avail.
"Where are we?" asked Berret
"We should be half-way home to Moya," said Rygel.
"There were no planets on this side of the system at the half way point that had any moons," stated Berret.
"What the frell does that have to do with anything!" cried Rygel
Chiana looked confused. Tilting her head she asked, "Yeah! What?"
Pointing out the forward window the ex-assassin asked, "Then what do you call that."
Outside the shuttle had just drifted pass a large planet. Rising up and slowly filling the window was an ice blue moon, and they were heading right toward it.
"We are not where we are suppose to be," said Berret.
Chiana went to the comm-link and attempted to raise Moya. The device refused to even turn on and after pulling an inspection plate open; she discovered several key components missing.
Showing the others the empty spaces inside the comm-link she said, "I think we're in real trouble now."
Zhaan paced nervously back and forth in Command, stopping every couple of tours of the deck to peer at the view screen. "Where can they be?" she asked for the hundredth time.
John lounged with his feet up on a console off to the side while eating a piece of fruit. "Relax, Blue. They probably just lost track of time. They are probably even as we speak," he paused to take another bite and then continued speaking around the mouthful, "... on their way back."
Zhaan held up her hand, "John, that is very irritating when you talk and eat at the same time." Having scolded Crichton she went back to worrying. "I never should have agreed to let those 'children' make that cargo run. We should have waited until I or D'argo could have accompanied them."
D'argo walked onto the Command Tier at that time having just returned from making a minor repair in the chamber under Pilot's Den.
"Is there any word from the Pod yet?" he rumbled.
"None," answered the Delvian.
"They are probably sitting in a tavern somewhere drunk! Rygel and Chiana are irresponsible enough. With that Shrike with them, who knows what kind of trouble they have gotten into?" said the Luxan; already deciding the worst had happened.
"Guys! Relax! It's no big deal. It wouldn't be the first time we hadda bail Chi and Ryg outta the pokey if they got caught with their fingers in the cookie jar," said Crichton throwing the pit from his fruit into a trash bin across from him. The pit sailed into the mouth of the bin and Crichton threw both hands in the air and muttered, "Two Points! ...and the crowd goes wild!..." then started making hissing noises while waving his arms in imagined victory from his seat. D'argo rolled his eyes and Zhaan simply shook her head.
"He never takes anything seriously," she said to herself.
Half an arn later, Pilot appeared on the holo-comm, "Zhaan, we are receiving a message from the commerce planet."
"Is it from Rygel and the others?" Zhaan asked hopefully as John and D'argo joined her.
"No. It is from that Tarcus fellow that Rygel has been communicating with," responded Pilot.
"That guy gives me the creeps," said John under his breath.
"Please put him on the screen, Pilot," asked the Priestess.
The forward screened flickered and changed to reveal the fat man.
"Greetings, John Crichton..." he said. John returned a cool two-fingered wave to his greeting.
"You must be Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan," he continued noticing the Delvian and ignoring D'argo totally.
"Yes, and you are Tarcus. The man Rygel arranged to trade with. I must ask... our shipmates are late returning. Do you know where they are?" she inquired.
The man gave her a smile without any true warmth in it. "As a matter of fact I do. That's why I'm making this call. Your companions are... 'reasonably' safe... for the moment."
At the implied threat D'argo snarled and slammed his fist down on a panel. "What have you done with them!" he demanded.
Zhaan held her hand up to quiet the Luxan. "Yes, please explain what you mean by 'reasonably safe...for the moment'," she asked in a calm voice.
"You see, Pa'u Zhaan. I'm a trader in goods... all sorts of goods. And some items have more value then others. In this situation, I have something you want and you have something I want," Tarcus said, rubbing his hands together once more.
"And what exactly do we have that you want, Big Boy?" asked Crichton.
The smile on the large man's flabby face grew to an immense size. He held up a flat circular object and pressed a button. A holo image of John's face appeared to hover above the object's surface.
"Why... you of course... John Crichton," he sneered.
It was one of Scorpius's holographic wanted posters he held in his pudgy hand.
Zhaan turned to D'argo, "Call the others!" she said urgently.
Story contributions by: GadgetGirl-Pip (Lady_T), LoneGirl189, Murdough2000, Chant99, & Dagoddda
Edited by: Chant99
"Aw! Come on, Zhaan!" pleaded Chiana.
"I don't believe it would be wise," countered the tall blue woman.
"We'll be fine. What kind of trouble could we possibly get into?" the Nebari said then realized her mistake at Zhaan's crossed look. Changing her tactics she went on.
"It's only a re-supply run... and who else can go? Crichton and D'argo are handling the water shipment, you and Malika have to be here to take care of the new guy, and Aeryn has to stay up in command in case Peacekeepers show up," she stated as a matter of fact, while ticking the points off on gloved fingers. "That leaves me, Ryg, and 'Ret to go planet side for supplies."
"I still don't know," wavered the Delvian. "I do not like the looks of that man that Rygel has been arranging the trade with. Something about him... distresses me."
"Well the longer we wait here, the better the chances are that a Peacekeeper patrol might stumble over us. Besides... I'll have the Hynerian Dominar and a Shrike assassin with me. What can happen?" she added with a disarming smile.
Zhaan snorted and said, "The Hynerian Dominar is only 30 hentas tall and your Shrike sometimes can not remember which boot goes on which foot. However, you made a valid point, the longer we remain here the greater the danger of being discovered." She looked the younger woman in the eye. "I will allow the three of you to go provided you promise me you will not get into trouble... that means... no stealing, no drinking, and no letting Rygel talk you into anything remotely resembling a get rich quickly scheme. You will get the supplies and return to Moya as quickly as possible."
Looking for a microt like she was thinking about arguing about the restrictions, Chiana apparently thought better of the idea. "Okay, you won't regret it Zhaan!" she said over he shoulder as she jogged off down the corridor to find the others going planet side with her.
"I already do, my dear," said Zhaan in a low voice to her receding back.
Berret fastened the last piece of his armor on across his chest. In the weekens he'd been without it, he'd forgotten how much it weighted. He strapped on the pulse-pistol and looked sullenly at the pair of gauntlet braces laying now alone on the storage shelf. Since Zhaan had stirred up the memories of the past death that went with them he had not touch them since the Priestess had returned them, having place them at the back of the shelf, hoping to forget them. He sighed and picked the first one up. It opened immediately at his touch, sensing he intended to put it on. Placing it on his forearm, it closed around the limb. He'd already put the half gloves with the metal plate guarding the tops of his hands on, and with a thought the twin blades snapped out into the open. With growing distaste he inspected the blades and then retracted them. He did the same with its mate and looked at himself in the mirror. He'd taken to wearing a wide neck choker that the Pixie had made for him out of different bits of polished metal. The scars on his neck from the control collar only served to remind him of the beings whose lives' he had ended as a Syndicate Shrike, so he chose to cover them up as much as possible. Now the choker's metallic shine looked too much like a collar, completing the image of a controlled assassin too much for his liking. He picked up his Acquarian silk cloak and slung it in place over his shoulders, then fastened it in place. Electing not to look at himself in the mirror again, he left his quarters and head for the hanger bay to meet the others.
Chiana turned as her friend strode into the hanger bay. She'd forgotten how big and menacing the armor made him look. She'd agreed with Zhaan's assessment that Rygel's contact had looked less then trustworthy, and had asked Berret to wear his armor despite his discomfort at being reminded about what he had been. It didn't hurt having anyone thinking of pulling anything funny to believe they had a Shrike along with them, it would surely give most of them second thoughts. She smiled at him in greeting and he gave her a weak smile back in return. In the short walk to the hanger bay he'd become accustomed to the extra weight of the armor, but it still weighted heavy on him in other unseen ways. Inside the cargo transport Rygel glided to the open hatchway.
"Are you two ready? We don't have all frelling solar day, you know," he complained.
Berret snapped his head around, the metal braid-stop on his newly done ponytail clanking against his back plate of armor, and gave the Hynerian a growl that would have done D'argo proud. Acting more insulted then scared, Rygel snorted, turned his nose up in the air, and floated back into the transport.
Chiana grinned, "Apparently His Froggyness has gotten use to the constant head bowing our host has been shoveling his way over the comm-link." She lowered her voice a few octaves to imitate the voice of the Trader waiting for them on the planet. "Yes, Your Highness... Anything you say, Dominar... Right away, My Lord!" Mocking the man further by bowing low so her hair almost scrapped the floor. Despite himself, Chiana antics had him smiling and feeling better for the moment. Seeing his mood brighten, she grinned back at him. "You see, all you need is a little fun and humor in your life and you feel much better."
Berret laughed out load this time and took her arm. Together they walked up the ramp as Rygel started the Shuttles engines.
"Speaking of humor," he said, "I want to discuss with you what I found filling up my lavatory sink this morning..."
Moya had to stay in the outer sector of the system to meet the Tanker Transport so the trip to the commerce planet took about two arns. Rygel piloted the Cargo shuttle without incident and after they touched down planet side, Tarcus, the trader that Rygel had been negotiating with by comm-link, met them. He was a large fat man with greasy black hair and mustache. His clothes were baggy and made up of many multicolor swirls, which if you looked too long at, eventually gave you a headache. On each of his stubby fingers resided a ring, most with one form or another of gem set into it. He also had a habit of rubbing his hands together as if washing them. He bowed and greeted Rygel like he was a king returning home. Berret found he disliked the man even more in person. His dislike for the man turned even darker after he openly leered when he caught sight of Chiana. He had pulled the hood of his cloak up over to cover his head and features. The man had not paid must attention to the black garbed figure until he tried to place his hand on Chiana's shoulder in guise of a greeting and Berret's armored hand painfully gripped his forearm, stopping the gesture cold. Tarcus's eyes grew dark with anger at the contact, but as they traveled up to the forearm of the restraining hand and read the archaic icons inscribed on the gauntlet, they grew shifty and after a microt they again had the false veneer of friendliness. As he drew back from Chiana, Berret released his hold on the man.
Turning to Rygel he said, "You must be a very important being, my Lord, to have such a 'interesting' bodyguard." Then turning his eyes back to the Nebari girl, "And such an intriguing companion," he continued giving her an oily smile and an open leer of lust.
Rygel waved a small hand in dismissal of the statement. "They serve their purpose," was all he said on the matter. Chiana had to restrain Berret from knocking Rygel on his head, discreetly signaling him to let the Hynerian play the game out. She put on her best smile and went along with the ruse by playing the minx for Tarcus's benefit.
"Now then," said Rygel. "Shall we get down to business?" he asked.
"Certainly, Dominar. But I regret to inform you that we were unable to obtain some of the items you requested," replied the Trader, continuing to wash his hands in the air. He produced a list of what items that were found and what ones had not been located. After almost an arn of re-negotiating a new trade agreement they came to a settlement were the crew got what items that were available plus some monetary funds for the cargo they had brought with them. Tarcus recommended that they take the time to visit the market area while the cargo transport was being unloaded and their goods loaded back aboard afterwards. Rygel and Tarcus spoke for a few microns, as they got ready to depart for the market place. The fat man repeatedly apologized to the Hynerian for failing to totally fill their order so many times that Berret had stopped listening to the conversation. Finally they were ready to leave and Chiana and Berret followed along behind Rygel's thronesled. He lowered his cloak's hood and looked around the market place that was not that much different from the one where he and the Pixie had originally met. Chiana was excited about being able to shop and Berret had to remind her about Zhaan's orders not to steal. To his surprise she actually behaved herself, or at least as far as he could tell.
The market was busy and very noisy as all kinds of beings went about conducting their business. In a tent whose owner dealt in an assortment of odds and ends; Rygel, Chiana, and Berret wandered between the tables and displays, stopping once in a while to pick up an item and examine it. Rygel, being the best barterer among Moya's crew, haggled with the shop's owner over the price of some much-needed added supplies. Chiana had just used almost all her personal credits to purchase some clothe to make a new outfit and a pair of boots, all of which was in a package that she had decided Berret should be responsible for carrying while she continued to shop, despite her low reserve of funds. Berret followed her from table to table as she chatted happily over one item or another, not minding being used as a beast of burden but strangely glad to see his friend enjoying herself. The only thing he had found for himself was some bits of metal that he would eventually make into one type of weapon or another in Moya's workshop. Lately he'd felt the need to augment his personal arsenal.
He was brought out of his thoughts into the present again as Chiana stopped in front of a display case. A beautifully designed brooch had caught her eye. Seeing her interest the shop clerk who had been following them around hurriedly opened the case and product the brooch for Chiana to get a closer look at.
"Look," she said to her friend. "Isn't that beautiful?"
"Yes," Berret responded blandly. "The design is very interesting."
Chiana turned and gave him a look that said, "Men don't know anything" and turned her attention back to the shopkeeper's assistant.
"How much is it?" she asked. The clerk named a price that was definitely more then Chiana had even started out with, so with a sigh she turned it back over to the salesman. Berret chuckled to himself because he knew Chiana was probably racking her brain for a way to flinch the brooch, but the clerk's vigilance prevented the chance of that. As she step over to the next table, Berret surprised himself by withdrawing a Scarren Diamark Crystal from a hidden compartment in his belt. Holding it up to the clerk he asked if he would accept it in trade for the brooch. The clerk replied that it would indeed it would be a fair trade for the trinket. Chiana, with her mouth wide opened, asked why he bought it and what he planned to do with the ornament.
Teasingly he said, "I do find the design interesting. Who knows... maybe I will find a use for it sometime later." He dropped the piece into a small pouch at his belt. Knowing Chiana was too proud to ask for it out-right, he had planned to leave it somewhere where he was sure she would try to flinch it. After all, he knew that stealing it would be half the fun for the Nebari; he made a mental not to remember not to make it too easy for her.
Chiana had other ideas. She slid up close next to him and purred, "Well... I know someone who might have a use for it if you ever get tired of it." Putting a hand up to quickly caress his cheek before turning away back to the table she had just left. With a start, Berret realized that the brooch was no longer inside the pouch where he had just placed it mere microts before. Chiana looked over her shoulder slyly at him. Amazed, Berret slightly bowed his head in acknowledgement of her skills and simply said,
"You're welcome."
Chiana rewarded him with a dazzling smile, and then went back to looking over the items on the table. Berret wondered at the feeling he had just by doing something that made Chiana happy. Emotions were still strange to him, but the unspoken agreement they had about the ornament pin pleased him to no end.
He found himself looking forward to seeing her wearing it. Even though technically she stole it, he knew neither of them would mention that fact. Berret mentally sighed to himself, trying to analyze what he was feeling was beginning to give him a headache so he put all the thoughts into the back of his mind and returned his attention back to the colorful item Chiana had found and was asking his opinion on.
"Yes," he agreed, trying to guess what would be the correct answer. "The colors are very pretty."
An arn later they returned to the transport landing area. Rygel had arranged for the badly needed foodstuffs they just purchased to be loaded into the Cargo Transport by local dockworkers. It had not turned out to be as profitable trade as originally thought. With Moya's crew slightly larger now with the new additions the food store would only last them about thirty solar days. The crew of dockworkers departed as they arrived and the shipmates stored the personal items they bought at the market for liftoff. Berret noticed a Tech still working at something in the cockpit.
"What is he doing?" he asked the Hynerian who was floating nearby.
"Oh," said Rygel, "Our gracious host as offered to have his personal Tech-Officer look over the Transport's controls and make any repairs or adjustments that are required to make up for the unforeseen shortage in our cargo order. He knows how to make the proper amends to a Dominar."
Berret screwed up his face and gave a slight growl. Lately he had been picking up many of D'argo's Luxan habits. He didn't trust the being Rygel referred to as their host; he was as John put it... "Shifty," and Berret agreed. The man should not be trusted. The Tech sealed up a panel as Chiana strolled onto the flight deck.
"We ready to go?" she asked. The Tech gave Rygel a nod as he gathered up his tool kit and left the ship. After closing and securing the hatch, Berret dropped into the seat next to Chiana and belted in. Rygel was already seated at the pilot's station with the engines fired up. As he closed the buckles on his seat belt the Transport shot into the air. Berret frowned because he knew the Hynerian did that on purpose, but he refused to say anything and give Rygel the satisfaction of knowing he had succeeded in annoying him. Even still, Rygel chuckled to himself. As much as he didn't like to, Berret had to admit that the small being was a good pilot. Once they broke free of the planet's atmosphere they were able to remove their safety belts and move about the transport.
"Are you sure we are on course?" asked the Shrike some microns later. "The star field does not look correct."
"The instruments say we are exactly on course," barked Rygel. "What's the matter, Shrike?
Don't trust my piloting?" he said while jiggling the control stick around, causing the shuttle to wobble in flight.
"I had thought that was already obvious, cretin," shot back Berret as he stubbornly worked to keep his balance.
"Why don't you go in back with your little tralky friend and leave me alone," said Rygel.
Berret though about twisting the Hynerians ears off but concluded that bit of enjoyment would be better left for a time when he wasn't piloting them somewhere. He returned to the rear cabin section where Chiana was examining her new trinket.
She looked up smiling and asked, "What was that shutter?" He took the seat beside her before replying.
"Oh! I believe that was Rygel having what John calls a 'brain fart'," he answered.
Berret took the brooch from her and looked it over a short time himself and then pinned it to front of her coat. Chiana purred and then leaned herself against him with her head laying on his shoulder, not seeming to mind or notice the armor plates under his cloak.
"I didn't realize how tired I am," she said with a yawn. After a few microt of silence where he thought she'd fallen asleep, she said happily, "We did complete this supply mission without any trouble. I guess Zhaan worried over nothing and we proved we can be trusted to handle important jobs... without frelling it up," she added. Berret nodded in agreement and decided closing his eyes for a brief rest was not such a bad idea.
It seemed no sooner had he closed his eyes then there was a loud bang from the cockpit and a cloud of smoke began to pour forth from the same direction. If the small explosion didn't wake them up, Rygel's scream would have. Chiana and Berret rushed into the cockpit. Rygel was trying to beat out a tiny fire on the control panel and the original smoke cloud had begun to disappear quickly thanks to the Pod's cabin filter system.
"What happened?" shouted Chiana. "What did you do?"
"I didn't do a frelling thing for yotz sakes!" protest Rygel. "The farble control panel just blew up by itself."
All the lights of the control system were out; it was obvious to all three that the shuttle helm was dead. Even so they each tried buttons and switches to no avail.
"Where are we?" asked Berret
"We should be half-way home to Moya," said Rygel.
"There were no planets on this side of the system at the half way point that had any moons," stated Berret.
"What the frell does that have to do with anything!" cried Rygel
Chiana looked confused. Tilting her head she asked, "Yeah! What?"
Pointing out the forward window the ex-assassin asked, "Then what do you call that."
Outside the shuttle had just drifted pass a large planet. Rising up and slowly filling the window was an ice blue moon, and they were heading right toward it.
"We are not where we are suppose to be," said Berret.
Chiana went to the comm-link and attempted to raise Moya. The device refused to even turn on and after pulling an inspection plate open; she discovered several key components missing.
Showing the others the empty spaces inside the comm-link she said, "I think we're in real trouble now."
Zhaan paced nervously back and forth in Command, stopping every couple of tours of the deck to peer at the view screen. "Where can they be?" she asked for the hundredth time.
John lounged with his feet up on a console off to the side while eating a piece of fruit. "Relax, Blue. They probably just lost track of time. They are probably even as we speak," he paused to take another bite and then continued speaking around the mouthful, "... on their way back."
Zhaan held up her hand, "John, that is very irritating when you talk and eat at the same time." Having scolded Crichton she went back to worrying. "I never should have agreed to let those 'children' make that cargo run. We should have waited until I or D'argo could have accompanied them."
D'argo walked onto the Command Tier at that time having just returned from making a minor repair in the chamber under Pilot's Den.
"Is there any word from the Pod yet?" he rumbled.
"None," answered the Delvian.
"They are probably sitting in a tavern somewhere drunk! Rygel and Chiana are irresponsible enough. With that Shrike with them, who knows what kind of trouble they have gotten into?" said the Luxan; already deciding the worst had happened.
"Guys! Relax! It's no big deal. It wouldn't be the first time we hadda bail Chi and Ryg outta the pokey if they got caught with their fingers in the cookie jar," said Crichton throwing the pit from his fruit into a trash bin across from him. The pit sailed into the mouth of the bin and Crichton threw both hands in the air and muttered, "Two Points! ...and the crowd goes wild!..." then started making hissing noises while waving his arms in imagined victory from his seat. D'argo rolled his eyes and Zhaan simply shook her head.
"He never takes anything seriously," she said to herself.
Half an arn later, Pilot appeared on the holo-comm, "Zhaan, we are receiving a message from the commerce planet."
"Is it from Rygel and the others?" Zhaan asked hopefully as John and D'argo joined her.
"No. It is from that Tarcus fellow that Rygel has been communicating with," responded Pilot.
"That guy gives me the creeps," said John under his breath.
"Please put him on the screen, Pilot," asked the Priestess.
The forward screened flickered and changed to reveal the fat man.
"Greetings, John Crichton..." he said. John returned a cool two-fingered wave to his greeting.
"You must be Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan," he continued noticing the Delvian and ignoring D'argo totally.
"Yes, and you are Tarcus. The man Rygel arranged to trade with. I must ask... our shipmates are late returning. Do you know where they are?" she inquired.
The man gave her a smile without any true warmth in it. "As a matter of fact I do. That's why I'm making this call. Your companions are... 'reasonably' safe... for the moment."
At the implied threat D'argo snarled and slammed his fist down on a panel. "What have you done with them!" he demanded.
Zhaan held her hand up to quiet the Luxan. "Yes, please explain what you mean by 'reasonably safe...for the moment'," she asked in a calm voice.
"You see, Pa'u Zhaan. I'm a trader in goods... all sorts of goods. And some items have more value then others. In this situation, I have something you want and you have something I want," Tarcus said, rubbing his hands together once more.
"And what exactly do we have that you want, Big Boy?" asked Crichton.
The smile on the large man's flabby face grew to an immense size. He held up a flat circular object and pressed a button. A holo image of John's face appeared to hover above the object's surface.
"Why... you of course... John Crichton," he sneered.
It was one of Scorpius's holographic wanted posters he held in his pudgy hand.
Zhaan turned to D'argo, "Call the others!" she said urgently.