Searching for Armelia
5: Reunion
The Crais they met in the Hangar Bay on Moya did not resemble the Crais they had known for so many Cycles. Given, he had tried to keep up his appearance but now his hair flew like a wild mane over his shoulders and down his back, a stubble had replaced the clean shaven cheeks. His face had thinned and looked sunken, the dark, burning hollow eyes that looked at them were those of a madman.
"You've found my daughter," it was more a growl than spoken words.
Aeryn nodded and Crichton walked towards him. Crais limped up to them, his foot almost dragging the floor. Aeryn knew he had given himself little rest, his limp proved that. The last time they had seen him, his pride or vanity had tried to disguise the limp.
"Father," a girl's voice rang out and a fifteen Cycles old girl appeared at the entrance of the Hangar.
Crais hurried towards her as fast as he could. Crichton tried to stop him, seeing the mad glare on Crais' face. He feared he was dealing with a madman and that he might hurt the girl.
Crais was only dimly aware of restraining hands on his arm. With a flick of his arm he tossed the Human metras away. When Crichton landed rather heavily on his backside, he realised that Crais had always kept his strength in check, if he could do that without even thinking about it. He wondered about his former nemesis.
Armelia ran to her father and flung herself to safety in his arms.
Crais enfolded her into a tight embrace and buried his face in her hair. Soon there were sobs of relief from him. He didn't care who was present to watch this. He had his daughter back and five Cycles of grief and madness were receeding.
Aeryn guided him gently over to a crate to let him sit down. He kept Armelia in a tight embrace while she clung to him for dear life.
Aeryn grew worried when she saw Crais sway and his face loose colour. She was next to him when he toppled and caught Armelia just in time before she could be crushed under her father's weight. Crais slid to the floor in a dead faint.
Armelia wanted to stay with her father and Aeryn asked Crichton to take care of her. She knelt next to Crais and tried to revive him. He remained unconscious.
Moya wanted to know why Talyn was upset and Aeryn explained that Crais was out. She draped Crais' arm over her shoulder, half lifted him off the floor and carried him to Medical. Crichton followed her with Armelia, who insisted on going with her father.
After Aeryn had put Crais on one of the Med-tables, she asked Crichton to take Armelia to the galley while she ran a scan over Crais. Crichton managed to coax Armelia out of the room and took her to the galley.
+++++
Aeryn turned her attention back to Crais. He was very pale and even unconscious had the lines of exhaustion and pain written across his features. She shook her head. She had never seen him in this state before, not even when his brother had been allegedly killed by John. This was worse. She noticed how thin he looked and wondered for how long he had been neglecting his own health. She ran the scanners over him and frowned.
He regained consciousness while she was scanning him and tried feebly to stop her. "I'm just tired," he said, his voice hoarse with disuse, before she could say or ask anything
"The frell you are," said Aeryn angrily, "Is it the Kevolek?"
He laid back, it was no use pretending, he nodded
"You know there is no cure for it? (Crais nodded again) and that it will only get worse over time?"
He nodded again and said, "I've seen Sebaceans over one-hundred-thirty-cycles old with the same affliction."
"Who are not hooked up to a Leviathan and don't have your short temper or your anxiety," her eyes bored into his, "How are you relieving it at the moment?"
"Talyn provides me with extra oxygen and I have found medication on planets with Sebacean colonies."
She placed her hand on his. His hand was cold to the touch. He snatched it away, embarrassed by her concern. He was breathing heavily and he tried not to winch, she noticed that he gripped the sheets hard, "Is there anything you need?"
"My tunic. Sleeve pocket."
She brought his tunic over and presented the sleeve to him. She noticed how his hands trembled when he took a small pill from the pocket and popped it into his mouth. After about five microts his breathing eased and was almost back to normal in ten.
"How frequently do you have to take this?"
"Hardly at all. It only seems to affect me when I am emotionally upset."
"And hunting Scarrans doesn't upset you," said Aeryn sarcastically.
He frowned and looked away.
"Does anyone know, besides you and me?"
Crais looked back and said quietly, "Yes, only one other person whom I consider my friend and I would appreciate it if you wouldn't tell anyone else. I don't want to see pity or glee on their faces when they see me. Armelia is still too young, she wouldn't understand. I will tell her when she's older and "others" too agonistic towards me."
"How much older, Crais? Armelia is already fifteen Cycles old!" Aeryn ignored his latter "observation".
He frowned but did not answer.
She looked at her former Commander and present friend, "Since you are in Medical and my patient, I want to do a full medical while you are here. You need to rest, at least." When she saw the panic in his eyes at the mentioning of a full medical her suspicions were raised, "There is more, isn't it? Will you tell me or do I have to find out by myself?"
"Talyn and I had a couple of arguments lately..." He looked away from her.
"Crais in your condition... Talyn should get another Captain."
"We... I can't."
"What do you mean? Has your obsession with the Scarrans..."
"What do you mean, MY obsession, it is Talyn's! I tried to stop him a couple of times," Crais was getting agitated.
"Then leave..."
"I won't and I can't. I won't, because one day he'll get back to normal again. Back to the Talyn before we hunted down Scarrans. He will need me. He needs me now to balance him mentally as he did once for me. I can't, because... Talyn provides me with the pure oxygen I need. This is our form of symbiosis."
"Crais, there must be other alternatives..."
"Like what, Aeryn Sun? You know as well as I that there aren't any."
She looked down, he was right.
His soft voice penetrated her mind, "I have lived beyond my allotted lifespan many times over Aeryn and so has Talyn. Don't feel depressed about it. We'll manage, we always have done."
She felt sorry for him but tried to keep it from her expression, she knew he hated that. He knew she tried.
"Let me examine you," she said finally, breaking the silence.
He complied and with her help sat up and took his shirt off.
She gasped, "Moya, lock the door until I'm finished with Crais!"
"That bad, eh?"
"Don't joke about it Crais!"
She looked at the multitude of lesions and bruises on Crais' upper body. One deep gash was running from his shoulder blade down, when she touched it he winced, "Talyn?"
"No, Scarran. About a weeken ago," he looked up, his mouth twitched into a smile, "He won't tell anyone else."
"Crais, you can't go on..."
"Yes, I can, Aeryn. Once Armelia is back on board Talyn will calm down too."
His calm eyes looked into hers. She shrugged her shoulders and set about treating him. She let him lie on his stomach to treat the ones on his back and the gash first. Microns after she started he had drifted off to sleep.
She marvelled at his hair, which by now hung more than two-thirds down his back. He must have worn it in a queue when the Scarran had slashed him, there was not a hair out of place. She worried how thin he had become over the last two cycles since they had last seen him, even though his muscles seemed firm to the touch.
His sleep had been so deep, that he didn't even wake up when she rolled him over on his back. She studied his face. Even in sleep, pain and exhaustion were evident and hadn't smoothed his features.
After she had finished, she covered his body with a blanket and before she stepped out of the room, she asked Pilot to let Moya flood the room with extra, purified oxygen. Then asked him to lock the room behind her until Crais woke up.
+++++
When she came out, Crichton and Armelia were waiting outside.
"I want to see my father," Armelia said determinedly.
"Your father is resting now. He's asleep."
"Can't I wake him for just a short while? He can sleep later," she said petulantly.
"No, you will not wake him. You wouldn't like to be woken up when you want to sleep, do you?"
Armelia looked at her with wide, scared eyes and shook her head, "No. But I wouldn't hurt him."
Aeryn could understand the girl. From what little she had been able to understand, Armelia had been used to work in the Scarran mines. When she had been woken up during her sleep periods it was only to be abused and to the perversions of her captors.
"Aeryn, can't she..." John tried to intercede for Armelia.
Aeryn shot him an angry glance, "No, John, she can't! Crais needs his rest!"
"But she waited so long..."
"I want to see my father," Armelia was crying now.
"Look what you did to..."
+++++
The commotion had woken up Crais. His daughter's crying had penetrated his sleep.
"Armelia," he said hoarsely. He got to his feet and like an automaton stumbled to the door, he hadn't noticed he was only wearing pants and boots, his hair, fortunately, covered most of the damage on his back. Moya opened the door for him. He stumbled into the corridor. His eyes were red rimmed, his exhaustion and wild hair made him resemble a madman. "Armelia?"
At the sound of her father's voice, Armelia wheeled round and flew into his arms, "Father, you are awake!" She scowled at Aeryn.
John scowled at Aeryn too, as if she had deliberately kept Crais away from his daughter. He looked over at Crais and Armelia. Crais had his back half turned to him and John felt a twinge of jealousy when he saw Crais' thick, curly mane of raven black hair fall down his back. "No wonder Aeryn wants to keep him locked up for herself," John thought. He looked at the width of Crais' chest and shoulders, the well-defined muscle tone and his jealousy grew. "Luckily he's not on this ship," Crichton thought.
Crais swayed and Aeryn was beside him like a flash, "You need to rest! (He nodded) Let me take Armelia..."
"No, it's all right," he said and went back to Medical, hugging Armelia to him. He lay down and Armelia curled up next to him, within moments father and daughter were asleep. John and Aeryn left the room.
"Aren't you pampering him too much," John asked in a loud whisper.
"No. I'm not."
"You were an awful long time in there, with him."
"He needed my attention."
"For that long? Come on, Aeryn."
Aeryn had never been able to understand his jealousy, especially against Crais. Aeryn stopped in her tracks and looked at John, "What is it with you? Crais comes on board, you get jealous. He needed medical attention and you're thinking I'm frelling his mind off?"
"The door was locked."
"So, you tested that as well? For your information, John Crichton, Crais had been badly injured earlier in the weeken. I didn't want Armelia to run in on us while I was treating this."
"Why are we always fighting with each other when he comes on board?"
Aeryn looked at him stunned. She turned on her heel and walked away from him, fuming.
John walked back to Medical. He had an urge to watch Crais.
+++++
John took a chair and watched while Crais slept. He could see how Aeryn could be attracted to him. Even in rest he looked magnificent. The evident telltale signs of arguments with Talyn and evidence of recent battles did nothing to take away from the broad hairless chest, no fat and well-defined muscles. Part of his long hair had draped over the side of the bed and John felt disgusted that a man like Crais had such thick, silky hair while he had hair that needed to be told where it had to go, that's why he wore it short. He practically glared at the man on the bed.
He felt better when he noticed the stubble on Crais' jawbones, "Hah, not Mr Perfect after all!"
+++++
Crais woke with a start, aware that he was being watched.
Armelia was still snuggled up and asleep in his arm. He looked to the side and saw Crichton sitting on a chair, looking at him, "Crichton? Where's Aeryn?"
Crichton felt miffed, even after nearly twelve cycles he still called him Crichton. He had finally stopped calling Aeryn "Officer Sun" but he never got used to calling him John. And the first person he asked for was Aeryn!
Crais couldn't understand why Crichton was scowling at him.
"So, Crais, my man, what have you been doing with yourself lately?"
"Nothing different from what I have been doing the last five Cycles."
"Aeryn tells me you were seriously injured recently," there was a twinge of jealousy in his words.
"Yes," Crais answered, "Luckily Sebacean physiology allows me to heal faster."
"Then why did it take Aeryn so long to treat you," John asked suspiciously.
Now Crais could understand his questioning, "It had been a deep cut. I had not been able to treat it myself and it had become infected."
"So, if we hadn't hailed you..." started Crichton smugly.
"I would have found a Commerce planet and looked for a Healer."
"How long are you staying?"
It had been nearly twelve Cycles now and still Crichton was jealous of him and Aeryn, "Crichton, about Aeryn and me..."
"Yes," there was a dark scowl on Crichton's face, "What about you two?"
"We are just friends, good friends I hope. She is your mate."
"She is my wife!"
"I stand corrected, she is your bondmate..."
"And?"
Crais frowned at him, "I don't know how it is done in Human society but in Sebacean society, once a couple is bonded there will be no others and this is respected by others too."
Crichton shrugged his shoulders, "So? You were a Peacekeeper once. Wasn't it normal to recreate with different mates too?"
Crais had enough of Crichton's insinuations and was out of bed like a flash. He grasped Crichton by the front of his shirt and with one arm lifted him out of the chair and threw him across the room. Crichton landed in a heap near the wall.
Crichton turned to Crais. Crais was breathing hard, his wild mane of hair flying around his shoulders. Crichton clambered to his feet, "Hey, Crais, I'm sorry if I have..."
Crais took a couple of steps towards Crichton, "If you ever..."
"Sorry, I get the drift," Crichton backed away. He had noticed how Crais clenched and unclenched his hands.
Crais' voice dropped to a menacing whisper, "Don't you ever impose your Human values on me, John Crichton! I do not want them! I do not like them! I do not care for them!" He gave Crichton one last, dark stare and turned around to walk to his bed.
"Crais," called Crichton, who by now had clambered to his feet and was angry to have been thrown by Crais for the second time that day. He had walked up to Crais. When Crais turned to him, Crichton socked his jaw, "I owe you one."
Crais was caught off balance and fell against the bed, before Crichton could follow up on his advantage Crais had spun on his left leg and was well away from Crichton's hands. He crouched into a defensive stance. He was weary, he was tired and he didn't want to fight the Human. Evidently the Human had different plans.
Crichton charged at him and Crais sidestepped, he tapped the Human with the edge of his hand in the hollow between the shoulder blades. It made Crichton reel. "Crichton," Crais started, "I don't want to fight you..."
"It's a bit late for that," growled Crichton, who charged at Crais.
This time Crais could not stop him and slammed hard into the wall. It dazzled briefly in front of his eyes and took the wind out of him. Crichton drove his fist in Crais' midriff and felt great satisfaction when he saw Crais double over.
Before Crichton could hit him again, Crais had grasped hold of Crichton's thigh above the knee and applied pressure with his thumb on the muscle underneath. It was Crichton who sank to the floor, his leg felt numb.
Crichton had expected Crais to follow up on the attack but was surprised when he saw Crais lean against the wall, taking deep breaths and hugging his chest.
At that moment Aeryn entered the room with a bowl of broth, which she placed on a table by the side. She glared at the two men, "What's going on here? (Armelia had woken up too) Crais, you go back to bed! John, you take Armelia to the galley." She hadn't been requesting, those were orders and the two men thought it wiser to obey; even Armelia thought it was better to comply. She and Crichton left the room while Aeryn focused her attention on Crais.
"What were you two thinking of," she glared at him, "and in your condition!"
Crais was back in bed and was feeling the worse for wear but he didn't like being reminded of it, "Aeryn, I would appreciate it if..."
She rambled on and Crais was reminded that she had been with the Human for a long time.
"He could have killed you... ("Aeryn...") and where would Armelia be then? ("Aeryn...!") It would have been better..."
"Aeryn!" He penetrated her reverie more forcefully. When he saw he had her attention, he continued, "I would appreciate some of that broth you have prepared for me. I haven't eaten for a little while and am now feeling quite hungry. As for Crichton, he wouldn't come near killing me. Luckily, I owe him a debt for finding my daughter or I would have killed him."
"Yes, but your condition..."
"Has not stopped me from killing! I am not decrepit."
She handed him the bowl of broth and Crais kept himself from wolfing it down. It was only when he took the first mouthful that he admitted to himself how hungry he was. He had to slow down. He didn't want to suffer the indignity of throwing up.
"Ready for more," asked Aeryn and he nodded. He lay back when she went off for another bowl.
+++++
Crichton sauntered back into the room.
Crais shook his head warily, "If you are here for another fight..."
"What condition, Crais?" He had eavesdropped on Aeryn's tirade.
"It's nothing, Crichton. Just feeling tired, that's all."
"You are lying to me, aren't you Crais?"
"It's none of your business," Crais said darkly.
"Oh, but it is. If Aeryn is worried..."
"Aeryn worries unnecessary," Crais said evasively.
"Yes, of course she does and that is why you are lying in bed. Unnecessary of course," countered Crichton sarcastically.
"If that bothers you..." said Crais getting up from the bed. Crichton made no move to stop him.
For all his bravado Crais was really exhausted. He had swung his legs over the side of the bed away from Crichton and Crichton saw the faint trace of a wound on his back through Crais' hair. That was how far Crais got. The room seemed to spin in front of his eyes. He clutched his chest and toppled forwards. Crichton only just managed to reach over the bed and arrest Crais' fall by holding on to his shoulders. When he eased Crais' body back on the bed he could feel how thin Crais had become with self-neglect.
Crichton had just straightened out Crais on the bed again when Aeryn reappeared, "John what are you doing here? I thought you were with Armelia." She looked over at Crais who was only barely conscious. She looked back at Crichton and glared at him, "What have you done with him?"
"I haven't done anything to him, Aeryn, he did it himself."
"And I have to believe that?"
"Yes Aeryn," Crais' voice sounded weakly from the bed, "It wasn't Crichton's fault. It was my own fault."
Crichton looked in disbelief at Crais, Crais admitting to faults voluntary? He was about to make a scathing remark to that effect when Aeryn's glare stopped him.
Crais looked at Aeryn, "I had not realised that my condition had worsened. I will have to seek help..."
"And none too soon, my friend," a melodious voice sounded from the doorway.
Crichton and Crais turned their heads towards the newcomer and Aeryn smiled at Crais, "Some friends are here to see you. I couldn't stop them from coming when we told them we had found Armelia."
"Levarthes! Benim!" Crais gasped with joy. He tried to sit up but fell back weakly.
Levarthes had approached the bed and Benim went to the other side.
"I've come to help you keep the promise to yourself nearly five cycles ago," Levarthes took Crais' hand in his own.
Crichton was surprised to see that Crais let him do so and that his eyes had moistened.
Levarthes had not changed much over the cycles, "When Benim came back he told me in what state he had left you. He told me you had seen a Healer who told you that you have Kevolek-syndrome."
Crais flinched at his words, Aeryn looked worried at Crais and Crichton looked confused. "What is going on," he asked Aeryn in a whisper, "What is Kevolek?" Aeryn silenced him with a glance.
Levarthes went on undaunted, "I mentioned the symptoms to my Healer and he, remembering the readings he had taken when we first met, assured me it isn't."
Crais looked up in surprise, "Then what..."
"The readings he had taken were for a healing injury, which you had been neglecting. He had already warned you to seek the help of a healer and get the damage repaired as soon as possible. You had no time for it because of your search."
Levarthes looked worried at Crais, "My Healer was worried when Benim described the symptoms to him and I wanted to bring you to Rhagnor to undergo treatment. Benim stopped me. We waited until your quest was ended and when we heard the news through the relay that Armelia was found, we came. It is your turn to get well Captain... Xercus."
Crais was embarrassed but looked at Benim and nodded. Benim had kept his word. However, Crais had heard the hesitation in Levarthes when he mentioned his name.
"Xercus is not my real name but I gather that you have already guessed that." He saw Levarthes nod.
"Benim and I are here to take you to Rhagnor. Aeryn has already spoken to Moya. We will be there in a Solar Day."
They allowed Crais to rest.
+++++
When Crais opened his eyes again he was surprised to see Crichton sitting next to the bed, his chin propped up on his hands.
"Nothing wrong, eh Crais," Crichton said calmly.
"Nothing that concerned you Crichton," Crais said weakly.
"And when would you admit your lie to everyone, Crais?"
Crais was puzzled, "What lie, Crichton?"
"Kevolek-syndrome, my eema and Aeryn fell for it."
"It was not a lie, Crichton. I had believed it was Kevolek. Talyn has spoken to me since. I had blocked the memory of the injury from my mind."
Crichton sneered at him, "Just like that? Levarthes told me the injury was not something to be sneezed at. You could have been dead! And you forget it?"
Crais frowned, "In this universe it would be considered unhygienic to sneeze at injuries. Some species have a deadly poison in their... (he saw how Crichton tried not to laugh) Ah, Erpism," Crais gave Crichton a weak smile and continued, "I had a daughter to find and no time to loose. Yes, I "forgot". I would not have been so close or be reunited with her had I remembered."
"But WE found her," Crichton said smugly.
"For which you have my eternal gratitude but I was also aware of the continuous stream of information passed between Moya and Talyn. I will not forget what you have done for me."
"Does that mean you will loosen up and relax too," grinned Crichton suddenly.
"I wouldn't go that far," answered Crais with a scowl. Crichton put it down to his own imagination when he thought he could see a softening in Crais' expression briefly.
Crichton saw how Crais' eyes drifted shut again, "I leave you to rest."
Crais nodded and was asleep before Crichton left the room.
+++++
Armelia and Aeryn were waiting outside.
"I want to see my father," Armelia nearly wailed.
To Aeryn's surprise Crichton said, "You will have to wait for a while longer. Your father is very ill. He needs his rest. Come." He took her hand and led her to the galley.
"Had you told me I would have understood," he said over his shoulder to a surprised Aeryn.
+++++
Crais slept for almost the whole duration of the time it took them to get to Rhagnor. In the duration Moya had flooded the room with the purified oxygen Crais needed.
Levarthes' Healer had come on board to look at his patient. He was in the room for almost half an arn. When he came out he found everyone waiting for him outside. His face had a mixture of worry and thunder, "Captain Xercus is an impossible man to deal with!" He was surprised to see smiles appear on everyone's faces.
"Join the club," said Crichton.
The Healer continued, "I am surprised his body held out for so long. He should have been dead by now. I am aware that it is partly due to the oxygen that his ship is providing for him. I would therefore suggest that the Diagnosians who will perform the operation will have to do this on his Leviathan. His ship will be able to assist us. His chances are not good. If he had the operation done several cycles earlier, it would have been nothing more than a minor correction. Now, it will not be a foregone conclusion."
"Tal... his ship will be pleased to assist," answered Aeryn.
"That was what the Captain said. I will make the arrangements." He left quickly while the others were debating what to do.
Finally it was Crichton who looked at Aeryn and said, "You talk to him. He's more likely to listen to you."
Aeryn was surprised but nodded. She entered the room.
"Aeryn," Crais sounded surprised.
Aeryn was shocked that his voice sounded weaker than when he had come on board. There was a look of resignation on his face, the same look she had seen on his face ten cycles ago, "Everything will be all right soon Crais."
Crais smiled wryly at her, "You make a bad liar, Aeryn. The Healer gave me a thirty percent chance. I might have left it too long."
Aeryn bit on her lip, "Everything should be fine Crais."
Crais smiled and said softly, "You have turned into an optimist Aeryn. Unfortunately I do not share your optimism. Take care of Talyn and Armelia for me if the operation doesn't go as planned."
Aeryn took his hand in hers and her voice grew soft when she could feel the lack of strength in his touch, "I will Crais. Promise me you will do your best to stay with us?"
He nodded.
To be continued
1
5: Reunion
The Crais they met in the Hangar Bay on Moya did not resemble the Crais they had known for so many Cycles. Given, he had tried to keep up his appearance but now his hair flew like a wild mane over his shoulders and down his back, a stubble had replaced the clean shaven cheeks. His face had thinned and looked sunken, the dark, burning hollow eyes that looked at them were those of a madman.
"You've found my daughter," it was more a growl than spoken words.
Aeryn nodded and Crichton walked towards him. Crais limped up to them, his foot almost dragging the floor. Aeryn knew he had given himself little rest, his limp proved that. The last time they had seen him, his pride or vanity had tried to disguise the limp.
"Father," a girl's voice rang out and a fifteen Cycles old girl appeared at the entrance of the Hangar.
Crais hurried towards her as fast as he could. Crichton tried to stop him, seeing the mad glare on Crais' face. He feared he was dealing with a madman and that he might hurt the girl.
Crais was only dimly aware of restraining hands on his arm. With a flick of his arm he tossed the Human metras away. When Crichton landed rather heavily on his backside, he realised that Crais had always kept his strength in check, if he could do that without even thinking about it. He wondered about his former nemesis.
Armelia ran to her father and flung herself to safety in his arms.
Crais enfolded her into a tight embrace and buried his face in her hair. Soon there were sobs of relief from him. He didn't care who was present to watch this. He had his daughter back and five Cycles of grief and madness were receeding.
Aeryn guided him gently over to a crate to let him sit down. He kept Armelia in a tight embrace while she clung to him for dear life.
Aeryn grew worried when she saw Crais sway and his face loose colour. She was next to him when he toppled and caught Armelia just in time before she could be crushed under her father's weight. Crais slid to the floor in a dead faint.
Armelia wanted to stay with her father and Aeryn asked Crichton to take care of her. She knelt next to Crais and tried to revive him. He remained unconscious.
Moya wanted to know why Talyn was upset and Aeryn explained that Crais was out. She draped Crais' arm over her shoulder, half lifted him off the floor and carried him to Medical. Crichton followed her with Armelia, who insisted on going with her father.
After Aeryn had put Crais on one of the Med-tables, she asked Crichton to take Armelia to the galley while she ran a scan over Crais. Crichton managed to coax Armelia out of the room and took her to the galley.
+++++
Aeryn turned her attention back to Crais. He was very pale and even unconscious had the lines of exhaustion and pain written across his features. She shook her head. She had never seen him in this state before, not even when his brother had been allegedly killed by John. This was worse. She noticed how thin he looked and wondered for how long he had been neglecting his own health. She ran the scanners over him and frowned.
He regained consciousness while she was scanning him and tried feebly to stop her. "I'm just tired," he said, his voice hoarse with disuse, before she could say or ask anything
"The frell you are," said Aeryn angrily, "Is it the Kevolek?"
He laid back, it was no use pretending, he nodded
"You know there is no cure for it? (Crais nodded again) and that it will only get worse over time?"
He nodded again and said, "I've seen Sebaceans over one-hundred-thirty-cycles old with the same affliction."
"Who are not hooked up to a Leviathan and don't have your short temper or your anxiety," her eyes bored into his, "How are you relieving it at the moment?"
"Talyn provides me with extra oxygen and I have found medication on planets with Sebacean colonies."
She placed her hand on his. His hand was cold to the touch. He snatched it away, embarrassed by her concern. He was breathing heavily and he tried not to winch, she noticed that he gripped the sheets hard, "Is there anything you need?"
"My tunic. Sleeve pocket."
She brought his tunic over and presented the sleeve to him. She noticed how his hands trembled when he took a small pill from the pocket and popped it into his mouth. After about five microts his breathing eased and was almost back to normal in ten.
"How frequently do you have to take this?"
"Hardly at all. It only seems to affect me when I am emotionally upset."
"And hunting Scarrans doesn't upset you," said Aeryn sarcastically.
He frowned and looked away.
"Does anyone know, besides you and me?"
Crais looked back and said quietly, "Yes, only one other person whom I consider my friend and I would appreciate it if you wouldn't tell anyone else. I don't want to see pity or glee on their faces when they see me. Armelia is still too young, she wouldn't understand. I will tell her when she's older and "others" too agonistic towards me."
"How much older, Crais? Armelia is already fifteen Cycles old!" Aeryn ignored his latter "observation".
He frowned but did not answer.
She looked at her former Commander and present friend, "Since you are in Medical and my patient, I want to do a full medical while you are here. You need to rest, at least." When she saw the panic in his eyes at the mentioning of a full medical her suspicions were raised, "There is more, isn't it? Will you tell me or do I have to find out by myself?"
"Talyn and I had a couple of arguments lately..." He looked away from her.
"Crais in your condition... Talyn should get another Captain."
"We... I can't."
"What do you mean? Has your obsession with the Scarrans..."
"What do you mean, MY obsession, it is Talyn's! I tried to stop him a couple of times," Crais was getting agitated.
"Then leave..."
"I won't and I can't. I won't, because one day he'll get back to normal again. Back to the Talyn before we hunted down Scarrans. He will need me. He needs me now to balance him mentally as he did once for me. I can't, because... Talyn provides me with the pure oxygen I need. This is our form of symbiosis."
"Crais, there must be other alternatives..."
"Like what, Aeryn Sun? You know as well as I that there aren't any."
She looked down, he was right.
His soft voice penetrated her mind, "I have lived beyond my allotted lifespan many times over Aeryn and so has Talyn. Don't feel depressed about it. We'll manage, we always have done."
She felt sorry for him but tried to keep it from her expression, she knew he hated that. He knew she tried.
"Let me examine you," she said finally, breaking the silence.
He complied and with her help sat up and took his shirt off.
She gasped, "Moya, lock the door until I'm finished with Crais!"
"That bad, eh?"
"Don't joke about it Crais!"
She looked at the multitude of lesions and bruises on Crais' upper body. One deep gash was running from his shoulder blade down, when she touched it he winced, "Talyn?"
"No, Scarran. About a weeken ago," he looked up, his mouth twitched into a smile, "He won't tell anyone else."
"Crais, you can't go on..."
"Yes, I can, Aeryn. Once Armelia is back on board Talyn will calm down too."
His calm eyes looked into hers. She shrugged her shoulders and set about treating him. She let him lie on his stomach to treat the ones on his back and the gash first. Microns after she started he had drifted off to sleep.
She marvelled at his hair, which by now hung more than two-thirds down his back. He must have worn it in a queue when the Scarran had slashed him, there was not a hair out of place. She worried how thin he had become over the last two cycles since they had last seen him, even though his muscles seemed firm to the touch.
His sleep had been so deep, that he didn't even wake up when she rolled him over on his back. She studied his face. Even in sleep, pain and exhaustion were evident and hadn't smoothed his features.
After she had finished, she covered his body with a blanket and before she stepped out of the room, she asked Pilot to let Moya flood the room with extra, purified oxygen. Then asked him to lock the room behind her until Crais woke up.
+++++
When she came out, Crichton and Armelia were waiting outside.
"I want to see my father," Armelia said determinedly.
"Your father is resting now. He's asleep."
"Can't I wake him for just a short while? He can sleep later," she said petulantly.
"No, you will not wake him. You wouldn't like to be woken up when you want to sleep, do you?"
Armelia looked at her with wide, scared eyes and shook her head, "No. But I wouldn't hurt him."
Aeryn could understand the girl. From what little she had been able to understand, Armelia had been used to work in the Scarran mines. When she had been woken up during her sleep periods it was only to be abused and to the perversions of her captors.
"Aeryn, can't she..." John tried to intercede for Armelia.
Aeryn shot him an angry glance, "No, John, she can't! Crais needs his rest!"
"But she waited so long..."
"I want to see my father," Armelia was crying now.
"Look what you did to..."
+++++
The commotion had woken up Crais. His daughter's crying had penetrated his sleep.
"Armelia," he said hoarsely. He got to his feet and like an automaton stumbled to the door, he hadn't noticed he was only wearing pants and boots, his hair, fortunately, covered most of the damage on his back. Moya opened the door for him. He stumbled into the corridor. His eyes were red rimmed, his exhaustion and wild hair made him resemble a madman. "Armelia?"
At the sound of her father's voice, Armelia wheeled round and flew into his arms, "Father, you are awake!" She scowled at Aeryn.
John scowled at Aeryn too, as if she had deliberately kept Crais away from his daughter. He looked over at Crais and Armelia. Crais had his back half turned to him and John felt a twinge of jealousy when he saw Crais' thick, curly mane of raven black hair fall down his back. "No wonder Aeryn wants to keep him locked up for herself," John thought. He looked at the width of Crais' chest and shoulders, the well-defined muscle tone and his jealousy grew. "Luckily he's not on this ship," Crichton thought.
Crais swayed and Aeryn was beside him like a flash, "You need to rest! (He nodded) Let me take Armelia..."
"No, it's all right," he said and went back to Medical, hugging Armelia to him. He lay down and Armelia curled up next to him, within moments father and daughter were asleep. John and Aeryn left the room.
"Aren't you pampering him too much," John asked in a loud whisper.
"No. I'm not."
"You were an awful long time in there, with him."
"He needed my attention."
"For that long? Come on, Aeryn."
Aeryn had never been able to understand his jealousy, especially against Crais. Aeryn stopped in her tracks and looked at John, "What is it with you? Crais comes on board, you get jealous. He needed medical attention and you're thinking I'm frelling his mind off?"
"The door was locked."
"So, you tested that as well? For your information, John Crichton, Crais had been badly injured earlier in the weeken. I didn't want Armelia to run in on us while I was treating this."
"Why are we always fighting with each other when he comes on board?"
Aeryn looked at him stunned. She turned on her heel and walked away from him, fuming.
John walked back to Medical. He had an urge to watch Crais.
+++++
John took a chair and watched while Crais slept. He could see how Aeryn could be attracted to him. Even in rest he looked magnificent. The evident telltale signs of arguments with Talyn and evidence of recent battles did nothing to take away from the broad hairless chest, no fat and well-defined muscles. Part of his long hair had draped over the side of the bed and John felt disgusted that a man like Crais had such thick, silky hair while he had hair that needed to be told where it had to go, that's why he wore it short. He practically glared at the man on the bed.
He felt better when he noticed the stubble on Crais' jawbones, "Hah, not Mr Perfect after all!"
+++++
Crais woke with a start, aware that he was being watched.
Armelia was still snuggled up and asleep in his arm. He looked to the side and saw Crichton sitting on a chair, looking at him, "Crichton? Where's Aeryn?"
Crichton felt miffed, even after nearly twelve cycles he still called him Crichton. He had finally stopped calling Aeryn "Officer Sun" but he never got used to calling him John. And the first person he asked for was Aeryn!
Crais couldn't understand why Crichton was scowling at him.
"So, Crais, my man, what have you been doing with yourself lately?"
"Nothing different from what I have been doing the last five Cycles."
"Aeryn tells me you were seriously injured recently," there was a twinge of jealousy in his words.
"Yes," Crais answered, "Luckily Sebacean physiology allows me to heal faster."
"Then why did it take Aeryn so long to treat you," John asked suspiciously.
Now Crais could understand his questioning, "It had been a deep cut. I had not been able to treat it myself and it had become infected."
"So, if we hadn't hailed you..." started Crichton smugly.
"I would have found a Commerce planet and looked for a Healer."
"How long are you staying?"
It had been nearly twelve Cycles now and still Crichton was jealous of him and Aeryn, "Crichton, about Aeryn and me..."
"Yes," there was a dark scowl on Crichton's face, "What about you two?"
"We are just friends, good friends I hope. She is your mate."
"She is my wife!"
"I stand corrected, she is your bondmate..."
"And?"
Crais frowned at him, "I don't know how it is done in Human society but in Sebacean society, once a couple is bonded there will be no others and this is respected by others too."
Crichton shrugged his shoulders, "So? You were a Peacekeeper once. Wasn't it normal to recreate with different mates too?"
Crais had enough of Crichton's insinuations and was out of bed like a flash. He grasped Crichton by the front of his shirt and with one arm lifted him out of the chair and threw him across the room. Crichton landed in a heap near the wall.
Crichton turned to Crais. Crais was breathing hard, his wild mane of hair flying around his shoulders. Crichton clambered to his feet, "Hey, Crais, I'm sorry if I have..."
Crais took a couple of steps towards Crichton, "If you ever..."
"Sorry, I get the drift," Crichton backed away. He had noticed how Crais clenched and unclenched his hands.
Crais' voice dropped to a menacing whisper, "Don't you ever impose your Human values on me, John Crichton! I do not want them! I do not like them! I do not care for them!" He gave Crichton one last, dark stare and turned around to walk to his bed.
"Crais," called Crichton, who by now had clambered to his feet and was angry to have been thrown by Crais for the second time that day. He had walked up to Crais. When Crais turned to him, Crichton socked his jaw, "I owe you one."
Crais was caught off balance and fell against the bed, before Crichton could follow up on his advantage Crais had spun on his left leg and was well away from Crichton's hands. He crouched into a defensive stance. He was weary, he was tired and he didn't want to fight the Human. Evidently the Human had different plans.
Crichton charged at him and Crais sidestepped, he tapped the Human with the edge of his hand in the hollow between the shoulder blades. It made Crichton reel. "Crichton," Crais started, "I don't want to fight you..."
"It's a bit late for that," growled Crichton, who charged at Crais.
This time Crais could not stop him and slammed hard into the wall. It dazzled briefly in front of his eyes and took the wind out of him. Crichton drove his fist in Crais' midriff and felt great satisfaction when he saw Crais double over.
Before Crichton could hit him again, Crais had grasped hold of Crichton's thigh above the knee and applied pressure with his thumb on the muscle underneath. It was Crichton who sank to the floor, his leg felt numb.
Crichton had expected Crais to follow up on the attack but was surprised when he saw Crais lean against the wall, taking deep breaths and hugging his chest.
At that moment Aeryn entered the room with a bowl of broth, which she placed on a table by the side. She glared at the two men, "What's going on here? (Armelia had woken up too) Crais, you go back to bed! John, you take Armelia to the galley." She hadn't been requesting, those were orders and the two men thought it wiser to obey; even Armelia thought it was better to comply. She and Crichton left the room while Aeryn focused her attention on Crais.
"What were you two thinking of," she glared at him, "and in your condition!"
Crais was back in bed and was feeling the worse for wear but he didn't like being reminded of it, "Aeryn, I would appreciate it if..."
She rambled on and Crais was reminded that she had been with the Human for a long time.
"He could have killed you... ("Aeryn...") and where would Armelia be then? ("Aeryn...!") It would have been better..."
"Aeryn!" He penetrated her reverie more forcefully. When he saw he had her attention, he continued, "I would appreciate some of that broth you have prepared for me. I haven't eaten for a little while and am now feeling quite hungry. As for Crichton, he wouldn't come near killing me. Luckily, I owe him a debt for finding my daughter or I would have killed him."
"Yes, but your condition..."
"Has not stopped me from killing! I am not decrepit."
She handed him the bowl of broth and Crais kept himself from wolfing it down. It was only when he took the first mouthful that he admitted to himself how hungry he was. He had to slow down. He didn't want to suffer the indignity of throwing up.
"Ready for more," asked Aeryn and he nodded. He lay back when she went off for another bowl.
+++++
Crichton sauntered back into the room.
Crais shook his head warily, "If you are here for another fight..."
"What condition, Crais?" He had eavesdropped on Aeryn's tirade.
"It's nothing, Crichton. Just feeling tired, that's all."
"You are lying to me, aren't you Crais?"
"It's none of your business," Crais said darkly.
"Oh, but it is. If Aeryn is worried..."
"Aeryn worries unnecessary," Crais said evasively.
"Yes, of course she does and that is why you are lying in bed. Unnecessary of course," countered Crichton sarcastically.
"If that bothers you..." said Crais getting up from the bed. Crichton made no move to stop him.
For all his bravado Crais was really exhausted. He had swung his legs over the side of the bed away from Crichton and Crichton saw the faint trace of a wound on his back through Crais' hair. That was how far Crais got. The room seemed to spin in front of his eyes. He clutched his chest and toppled forwards. Crichton only just managed to reach over the bed and arrest Crais' fall by holding on to his shoulders. When he eased Crais' body back on the bed he could feel how thin Crais had become with self-neglect.
Crichton had just straightened out Crais on the bed again when Aeryn reappeared, "John what are you doing here? I thought you were with Armelia." She looked over at Crais who was only barely conscious. She looked back at Crichton and glared at him, "What have you done with him?"
"I haven't done anything to him, Aeryn, he did it himself."
"And I have to believe that?"
"Yes Aeryn," Crais' voice sounded weakly from the bed, "It wasn't Crichton's fault. It was my own fault."
Crichton looked in disbelief at Crais, Crais admitting to faults voluntary? He was about to make a scathing remark to that effect when Aeryn's glare stopped him.
Crais looked at Aeryn, "I had not realised that my condition had worsened. I will have to seek help..."
"And none too soon, my friend," a melodious voice sounded from the doorway.
Crichton and Crais turned their heads towards the newcomer and Aeryn smiled at Crais, "Some friends are here to see you. I couldn't stop them from coming when we told them we had found Armelia."
"Levarthes! Benim!" Crais gasped with joy. He tried to sit up but fell back weakly.
Levarthes had approached the bed and Benim went to the other side.
"I've come to help you keep the promise to yourself nearly five cycles ago," Levarthes took Crais' hand in his own.
Crichton was surprised to see that Crais let him do so and that his eyes had moistened.
Levarthes had not changed much over the cycles, "When Benim came back he told me in what state he had left you. He told me you had seen a Healer who told you that you have Kevolek-syndrome."
Crais flinched at his words, Aeryn looked worried at Crais and Crichton looked confused. "What is going on," he asked Aeryn in a whisper, "What is Kevolek?" Aeryn silenced him with a glance.
Levarthes went on undaunted, "I mentioned the symptoms to my Healer and he, remembering the readings he had taken when we first met, assured me it isn't."
Crais looked up in surprise, "Then what..."
"The readings he had taken were for a healing injury, which you had been neglecting. He had already warned you to seek the help of a healer and get the damage repaired as soon as possible. You had no time for it because of your search."
Levarthes looked worried at Crais, "My Healer was worried when Benim described the symptoms to him and I wanted to bring you to Rhagnor to undergo treatment. Benim stopped me. We waited until your quest was ended and when we heard the news through the relay that Armelia was found, we came. It is your turn to get well Captain... Xercus."
Crais was embarrassed but looked at Benim and nodded. Benim had kept his word. However, Crais had heard the hesitation in Levarthes when he mentioned his name.
"Xercus is not my real name but I gather that you have already guessed that." He saw Levarthes nod.
"Benim and I are here to take you to Rhagnor. Aeryn has already spoken to Moya. We will be there in a Solar Day."
They allowed Crais to rest.
+++++
When Crais opened his eyes again he was surprised to see Crichton sitting next to the bed, his chin propped up on his hands.
"Nothing wrong, eh Crais," Crichton said calmly.
"Nothing that concerned you Crichton," Crais said weakly.
"And when would you admit your lie to everyone, Crais?"
Crais was puzzled, "What lie, Crichton?"
"Kevolek-syndrome, my eema and Aeryn fell for it."
"It was not a lie, Crichton. I had believed it was Kevolek. Talyn has spoken to me since. I had blocked the memory of the injury from my mind."
Crichton sneered at him, "Just like that? Levarthes told me the injury was not something to be sneezed at. You could have been dead! And you forget it?"
Crais frowned, "In this universe it would be considered unhygienic to sneeze at injuries. Some species have a deadly poison in their... (he saw how Crichton tried not to laugh) Ah, Erpism," Crais gave Crichton a weak smile and continued, "I had a daughter to find and no time to loose. Yes, I "forgot". I would not have been so close or be reunited with her had I remembered."
"But WE found her," Crichton said smugly.
"For which you have my eternal gratitude but I was also aware of the continuous stream of information passed between Moya and Talyn. I will not forget what you have done for me."
"Does that mean you will loosen up and relax too," grinned Crichton suddenly.
"I wouldn't go that far," answered Crais with a scowl. Crichton put it down to his own imagination when he thought he could see a softening in Crais' expression briefly.
Crichton saw how Crais' eyes drifted shut again, "I leave you to rest."
Crais nodded and was asleep before Crichton left the room.
+++++
Armelia and Aeryn were waiting outside.
"I want to see my father," Armelia nearly wailed.
To Aeryn's surprise Crichton said, "You will have to wait for a while longer. Your father is very ill. He needs his rest. Come." He took her hand and led her to the galley.
"Had you told me I would have understood," he said over his shoulder to a surprised Aeryn.
+++++
Crais slept for almost the whole duration of the time it took them to get to Rhagnor. In the duration Moya had flooded the room with the purified oxygen Crais needed.
Levarthes' Healer had come on board to look at his patient. He was in the room for almost half an arn. When he came out he found everyone waiting for him outside. His face had a mixture of worry and thunder, "Captain Xercus is an impossible man to deal with!" He was surprised to see smiles appear on everyone's faces.
"Join the club," said Crichton.
The Healer continued, "I am surprised his body held out for so long. He should have been dead by now. I am aware that it is partly due to the oxygen that his ship is providing for him. I would therefore suggest that the Diagnosians who will perform the operation will have to do this on his Leviathan. His ship will be able to assist us. His chances are not good. If he had the operation done several cycles earlier, it would have been nothing more than a minor correction. Now, it will not be a foregone conclusion."
"Tal... his ship will be pleased to assist," answered Aeryn.
"That was what the Captain said. I will make the arrangements." He left quickly while the others were debating what to do.
Finally it was Crichton who looked at Aeryn and said, "You talk to him. He's more likely to listen to you."
Aeryn was surprised but nodded. She entered the room.
"Aeryn," Crais sounded surprised.
Aeryn was shocked that his voice sounded weaker than when he had come on board. There was a look of resignation on his face, the same look she had seen on his face ten cycles ago, "Everything will be all right soon Crais."
Crais smiled wryly at her, "You make a bad liar, Aeryn. The Healer gave me a thirty percent chance. I might have left it too long."
Aeryn bit on her lip, "Everything should be fine Crais."
Crais smiled and said softly, "You have turned into an optimist Aeryn. Unfortunately I do not share your optimism. Take care of Talyn and Armelia for me if the operation doesn't go as planned."
Aeryn took his hand in hers and her voice grew soft when she could feel the lack of strength in his touch, "I will Crais. Promise me you will do your best to stay with us?"
He nodded.
To be continued
1