"Moya says that the Pod Zhaan and the stranger arrived in, is her Pod, but at the same time it is not her Pod," reported Pilot over the holo-comm to the crewmates.
"Wait a minute Pilot!" interrupted Crichton. "I don't understand. How could the Pod be Moya's and not be Moya's at the same time?" he asked.
"It is difficult to explain," replied Pilot. "Moya claims that the Pod originated from her but is somehow different in some small ways."
"Could the Pod have been subject to some force which has altered it in some way?" asked Aeryn.
"We don't believe so, Officer Sun," Pilot said. "The Pod appears 'healthy', for lack of a better term. It just feels familiar and unfamiliar to Moya, as if something is 'off' about it."
"Well, thank you for the 'accurate' report," said D'argo sarcastically.
"I am sorry Ka'D'Argo," said Pilot slightly annoyed. "But there are just simply some sensations that can not be accurately described to bipedal beings who have never been joined to a Bio-mechanoid."
"It's all right, Pilot," reassured Aeryn. "You've done the best you could. Thank you," she said giving D'argo a look that told him she thought his remark was uncalled for.
"Well, it looks like we got a mystery on our hands, kids," remarked John. "Has anyone gotten anymore information out of Zhaan?"
"Apparently she believes that we all have been aboard Moya for over twelve cycles and that there are now families here also," said Aeryn. "I'm no Med-tech, but according to the Med-scans we took and compared to Zhaan's last scans... she's aged at least ten cycles in only three solar days."
"That's not possible even for a Delvian... is it?" asked Crichton.
"No. It is not," answered D'argo. Chiana nodded her head in agreement at his side.
"There are a few other things that are wrong," continued Aeryn. "Take a look at the pulse pistol we took from Zhaan's new friend."
She placed the gun on the table and Crichton picked it up and began examining it.
"It's a standard Peacekeeper Pulse Pistol... so what?" he said.
"That's just it, John. It's a standard issue pulse pistol and as you know they are massed produced on an automated assembly line. Each one is exactly like the next," Aeryn told him.
"Yeah... so Peacekeepers efficiently produce their weapons. Again, so what?" asked John once more.
"Look at the safety," said Aeryn. John turned the weapon over, his thumb automatically moving to the safety switch. He stopped and did a double take at the weapon in his hands.
"It's in the wrong place!" he said out loud to the group.
"Yes, very strange for a standard massed produced weapon," added Aeryn.
"Maybe it's been altered?" asked D'argo looking at the pistol over John's shoulder.
"No. I've stripped this weapon as soon as I discovered the discrepancy. It has all the Peacekeeper stamps and markings. It has not been altered in anyway. This weapon was made like this in a PK factory but it doesn't follow all PK designs as we know them."
"This is getting to be too weird," muttered John.
"Another discrepancy I found was in the Pod that returned with them. The controls are basically laid out the same but a few of the panels are not in the correct places, which supports Pilot's report," reported the ex-Peacekeeper. "Also the cargo is rather strange, it's all chemicals and materials we have no frelling use for."
"Well, I think it's time to talk some more with Zhaan then," said Crichton.
Zhaan hurried to the cell that the crew had locked Berret into shortly after their arrival.
"Jared!" she whispered.
Berret rushed over to the cell door at her call. "What have you found out?" he asked.
"Not much at all without trying to access Moya's data banks, but that will alert Pilot," she replied. "How are you managing?" she asked him feeling sorry for the imprisoned man.
"Oh, there is nothing like reliving old times," Berret said lightly, looking around the cell. "I think my first cell was much nicer though."
"I'm glad you're able to joke about it," said the Pa'u looking about nervously. "Jared," she said leaning closer to the door's bars. "We must be careful what we tell this crew if we are on a Moya of the past... we mustn't reveal anything about their futures to them that we already haven't."
"Zhaan, I don't believe this is the Moya of our past," said the Shrike. "It's all wrong. This Stark never came aboard our Moya and where is Malika? She and I came aboard almost at the same time. I don't think this crew is living our past history."
"I believe you might be correct, but we shouldn't take the chance. I have noticed that some things are not where they should be here," she said.
"What do you mean?" he asked, not having seen much of the ship other then the landing bay and his cell.
"It's little things really. Switches and buttons moved around, slightly different placement of fixtures," she answered.
Berret nodded, "I'll try and make note of any differences I see, though I don't think I'll see much of anything stuck in here," he said. A small sound coming from further down the corridor told them they were no longer alone.
"Zhaan?" said Chiana's voice.
"Yes, Chiana?" said the Delvian turning away from Berret to face her.
"The others would like to see you in command," the Nebari said.
"Of course, I'll go right away," Zhaan told her then turned back to Berret. "I'll be back soon to see you," she said placing her hand over the top of his and giving it a gentle squeeze. "We will straighten this out," she promised.
"I know we will, Zhaan," said Berret quietly as she turned to go, leaving him alone with Chiana.
The Nebari girl cocked her head to look at Berret. She took a few steps in different directions trying to get a better view but kept well away from the bars.
"Is there something you want to know?" asked Berret.
For a couple microts it seemed the girl was going to ignore his question, then she finally said,
"That was a interesting story you told. Why the frell do you insist you know me?" she asked.
Berret smiled a little and went back to sit on his bed. "Well, not you personally. Someone like you," he told her.
Chiana thought for a micron, then said, "No. You told Zhaan in the landing bay 'that's not our Chiana.' I remember almost word for word. And then Zhaan said you were my bond-mate. What are you trying to pull?" she demanded. "Whatever you've done to Zhaan, we'll find out about it and you'll pay if you've hurt her," she said puffing herself up as she made the threat.
"I would never hurt Blue anymore then I would ever hurt you," answered Berret calmly.
"Just because you know one of John's pet names for Zhaan doesn't mean anything!" she snapped.
"Chiana, believe it of not. I have done nothing to Zhaan and I mean nobody aboard Moya any harm. And yes, I know a lot of intimate things about you all, and that is only because what Zhaan and I have been telling you is true," he attempted to explain.
"Oh yeah?" challenged the Nebari girl, "What kind of things?"
Berret exhaled loudly, obviously beginning to lose his patience.
"I know that you had a friend when you were younger named 'Berret', ask Zhaan how I got that as part of my name. I know that you and your brother Nerri escaped Nebari Prime and that was only because the government wanted you and some others to spread a Contagion through the Territories. I know that one of your favorite foods is Trellian Chocolate, though I never could understand how you could ever eat something that was so sickly sweet," he told her. As he spoke Chiana's eyes grew ever wider in shock.
"I know you sleep with your head buried under the covers when you're alone. You have a bad habit of cocking your head to the left when you punch with your right hand... and you have a small birthmark right on your..."
"Enough!" Chiana shouted cutting him off.
Berret knew he'd gone too far as he saw the girl was shaking. "I'm sorry, Chiana. I was just trying to prove to you..." he started to apologize.
"I don't frelling care what you were doing!" fumed the Nebari. "I don't know how you know all those things about me, but whatever you're up to... you won't get away with it. I've scammed with the best of them and I can tell you your tricks are very weak!"
She turned on her boot heel and stalked away from the cell.
"I wish they were just tricks, Pixie. I really do," muttered Berret to himself. Alone again on the cell tier he went back to examining the lock to his cell.
Berret had learned what he needed to know from the lock on his cell. He sat back on his bed and thought over the situation. He hadn't a clue as to what had caused their move into a reality were everything was changed around and lagging ten cycles behind as well. This crew was much like the crew he knew when he first arrived aboard Moya. It was more like they stuck together out of necessity, more a pact about survival then about loyalty to each other as a family. Strangely, it was exactly as he remembered it being.
A major difference being that he didn't have Chiana as an ally this time around.
The thought of his wife sadden him. He wished he could see her at that moment. There was so much more he wanted to tell her. Things he should have said and done, secrets he should have revealed but didn't. One being that Rygel had called him to his private rooms for a meeting ten weekens ago. The Dominar wanted him to 'unofficially' visit the Nebari Ambassador Lerris. Rygel wanted to make sure the Official didn't get it into his head to double cross the alliance again and Berret carried the message to the man after promising the Hynerian that he would leave the man alive when he left. The cloaked Shrike appeared one night shortly after the meeting in Lerris' bedchamber. After presenting Hyril's necklace with his family crest, which he had taken the night he went to deal with the Nebari man, to the Ambassador... the man fainted. Curious at the reaction, Berret slapped the man back to consciousness. When Lerris came to, he began to jibber and begged the Shrike not to take his head as he'd done to Hyril and Stoma's scouts. As badly as Berret wanted to kill the man before him, he was confused at the plea. He was responsible for the scout's decapitations, but he'd more or less left Hyril alive when he departed the safe house. He covered his confusion and delivered Rygel's warning with a promise to visit the Ambassador one last time should he betray the alliance or Rygel again in anyway. A visit he made the Nebari man realize that he would relish all too well.
After slipping out of the Nebari embassy, he returned to meet Rygel and give him a report.
"So the visit went as planned," said the Hynerian as Berret finished talking.
"Yes, Rygel. Though one strange thing... what was Lerris talking about Hyril's head? When I left him he was dying but still alive and his head was very much still in place," said the Shrike.
The Dominar gave an evil chuckle. "Well, it was... until my agents arrived on the site. Hyril was dead when they got there. Seemed he died trying to crawl his way out to the landing pad by the residence. Didn't do him any good because it appears somebody blew up his personal air schooner where it was parked. However, it was thought that certain missing body parts would help convey a stronger message to the Nebari. So the scene was staged before the Nebari representatives could arrive," smiled Rygel.
"That would explain why Lerris almost drenned his nightshirt when he awoke and seen me," said Berret.
Rygel let of an evil laugh. "Yes, it seems he believes my assassins like to take heads as trophies. He was probably thinking he was going to end up somewhere over your mantle."
Despite himself, Berret found himself grinning. "You're a sick 'man', Rygel," he said
"Don't blame me. You're the one who started cutting people's heads off," he said.
"I have never kept anyone's head," Berret said in his own defense. "But I will keep yours if Chiana finds out about tonight's fun. That is, if she doesn't take mine first."
"She'll never hear it from me," promised Rygel with a look of mock innocence. "I wouldn't have asked if it wasn't absolutely necessary to make sure that Lerris behaved himself," the Hynerian finished suddenly serious again. "I can't afford to have him playing anymore games at this point."
"I know, Rygel. It was for the greater good of the Territories," said Berret. "And I agree, you were absolutely correct in having to make sure Lerris remained in line. The Nebari cannot be trusted. I would not have gone otherwise."
Rygel smiled at Berret's admission. "Thank you, for not killing him and for your help completing this 'mission' for me, Jared."
In a parody of his days as a Syndicate assassin, he bowed low and said,
"Not even death, my Dominar," He then turned to leave as Rygel's deep chuckles followed him to the door. Remembering the sound of the Hynerian's deep laughter, Berret lay back on the cell's bed and closed his eyes to wait and see what happened next.
"Zhaan, think about what you're saying," said Crichton. The Delvian woman was sitting in a chair surrounded by her friends as they asked her questions over and over. The single light on over her head reminded John of the old cop shows where they interrogated suspects under a bright spotlight.
"I am telling you the truth, John," she repeated for what seemed the hundredth time. "This is not how things are suppose to be," she insisted.
"I know, Zhaan," he said putting up his hand. "The ship is loaded with kids... and there's Andar the Cosmic Destroyer and Muffy the Vampire Slayer..."
"Malika," corrected Zhaan. "And Andar was a teacher actually."
"Malika," repeated Crichton, "and Ole Sparky's back on the throne..."
"I rather like that part!" put in Rygel with a huge smile.
John glared at the Hynerian for interrupting and Aeryn slapped him in the back of the head, "Be quiet," she said.
"And we run some sort a space trucking company, and your new friend and Chi are playing house..." Crichton continued. D'argo growled low at the comment and Chiana reached up to hold his hand. The growl and the intimate touch didn't escape Zhaan's observation and she became distracted from the discussion. John had to shake her shoulder to get her attention back.
"I know you believe that you and D'argo have a relationship, but trust me Zhaan, that's never happened."
"I do trust you, John. As I trust all of you," she said looking around, "Now, I'm asking you to trust me as well." She looked back in D'argo's direction. The big Luxan left Chiana's side and knelt in front of the Priestess.
"Zhaan, there had been times in the past when we were or might have become 'close', but they have never come to be more then might-have-beens. I'm with Chiana now and this Jared person has put these false memories in your head. You've admitted that you have shared 'Unity' with him. Isn't it possible that this life you describe never happened?" D'argo asked her.
"I am a 12th level Pa'u! What I've described and told you... has happened. No one is controlling me or has altered my perception of time. From what you told me, similar current events have happened to us... but they happened over ten cycles in our past. This is not Jared's or my place and time," Zhaan insisted.
John stood back up from Zhaan's side. "I give up," he said throwing his hands in the air. "She's not budging from her story." He moved over to stand by Aeryn.
"There are those strange differences in some of the equipment they brought back," Aeryn whispered to him.
"Yeah, but how is knowing that gonna do us any good?" asked Crichton.
Aeryn thought a micron, and then pulled out her pulse pistol. She dropped the power pack out of the grip and tossed it to a surprised Zhaan. "Take it off safe!" the ex-Peacekeeper ordered suddenly.
Zhaan fumbled with the weapon for several microts and looked up at her confused,
"I can't... it doesn't have one," she said.
Aeryn took the weapon back and reloaded it before snapping it back into her thigh holster. She reached over to the table and tossed a second pulse pistol to the Delvian. "Unsafe that one," she said.
Immediately there was a soft click as the weapon's safety disengaged.
"Why did you give me a broken pulse pistol and then a working one?" asked Zhaan as Aeryn took the gun back from her.
"Yeah, why did you?" asked Crichton privately to her.
"John, Zhaan's been around long enough to know her way around a pulse weapon. She should have found the safety without even having to think about where it was located on an issue pistol," explained Aeryn.
"But she didn't know where it was on yours," finished John catching on now.
"Yes, but she had no problem with the weapon we took off of this Jared," Aeryn said. "Do you really think somebody would be thorough enough to alter repetitive muscle memory and training? It would take me weekens of training with this weapon to be able to find the moved safety without having to think about where it was every time."
"So you're saying that her story's true then? That's not our Zhaan sitting there?" asked Crichton.
Aeryn nodded her head looking back over to the seated Delvian; the woman watched the pair waiting for an answer to Aeryn's strange test. John shook his head and rubbed his eyes and face with one hand.
"Houston... we have a problem," he muttered
Berret had lightly dozed off in his cell and was awaked by a heavy footfall outside the cell's door. He opened his eyes to see D'argo standing outside glaring in at him.
"What is it D'argo?" said Berret disinterestedly.
"We are discussing what to do with you," the Luxan informed him. "When I found out you were a Shrike, I voted to kill you and shove your body out an airlock. However, the others have overruled me."
"That's what I've always like about you, Darg... you're consistent," replied the man behind the bars.
"I imagine Rygel voted right along with you."
"He did... but there's still time for the others to change their minds," answered the Luxan.
"Forget it, D'argo. You're not going to impress me with boisterous talk. You are a warrior... not a murderer. You would no more kill an unarmed man then Rygel would turn his nose up at a food cube," said Berret laying his head on his arms and staring up at the ceiling of his cell.
"You do not know what I will or will not do! You do not know me, Shrike," snarled the warrior.
Berret propped himself up on one elbow to look at him, "D'argo... I've already been through this whole entire chapter with you in real life. I have no wish to repeat the whole sequence a second time. Now if you don't have anything pleasant to say... please, go away and write some more of your Luxan love poetry that you love so much and leave me alone," he finished and laid back down in the bed to stare at the ceiling once more.
D'argo more enraged at the casual dismissal then his knowledge of the poetry, hissed and his long whip like tongue shot out. To his amazement, the Shrike's hand moved in a blur and caught the stinging tip before it could touch his neck and render him unconscious. Just as quickly Berret let go and his tongue coiled back up.
"Nice try..." said the Shrike, "but I'm just as fast as you are."
D'argo cursed at the man. "I don't buy this story you have Zhaan shoveling. The others may agree to let you out of there, but I'm warning you... I'll be watching your every frelling move. Do something I don't like and I will kill you." He was just about to turn away, when he added, "And one of the things that will displease me very much is if you upset Chiana. Stay away from her."
The Luxan stalked away in a swirl of tentacles, the ex-assassin turned his head to watch him go. He looked back at his ceiling after he was gone and mumbled to himself,
"Well, that of course would go without saying, D'argo."
Moving on the next phase of the investigation, Aeryn had Pilot send the DRD's to go over the Pod down to the last molecule for any clues as to what happened. They'd allowed Zhaan to roam free, seeing basically she was still Zhaan. She went back to see Berret in his cell and update him on what was happening. It uplifted the man's spirits to know that the crew was at least beginning to believe their tale and were actively looking for answers. Zhaan returned to plead with the rest of the crew to release Berret from the cell but they weren't ready to trust the stranger just yet until they had more proof that the story was indeed the truth. The Delvian had gone to the center chamber to get Berret a tray of food when Chiana found her there. The Nebari girl seemed nervous, as if she had something to ask but was afraid to hear the answer. Zhaan was getting set to leave the mess when the Nebari girl finally got up the nerve to ask.
"Ummmm... Zhaan? Can I talk to you for a micron?" she asked the Priestess.
"Of course, Chiana dear. What is it?" she replied setting the tray down.
"I know you're upset about me and D'argo, but..." she started but the Pa'u cut her off mid-sentence.
"There is no need to apologize, Chiana. This situation is not your fault and this is not my reality. I sincerely wish you and your D'argo all the Goddess' blessings... but if you don't mind, I would rather not discuss it further," said Zhaan bending to pick the tray back up.
"I just wanted to say I was sorry, but there's also something else I wanted to ask you," continued the Nebari.
Zhaan turned back to her. "What is it?" she asked.
"That man with you... Jared. Is he really my bond-mate where you come from?"
Zhaan smiled at the girl. "Yes, that is the truth. The two of you... or rather he and our Chiana have been bonded for nine cycles. They have two very beautiful children," she said.
"That's hard to believe. How come we've never met here in this reality?" Chiana asked.
"I'm afraid that's a question I don't have an answer for, dear. If you really want to know more about Jared, why don't you go and talk with him," Zhaan suggested.
Chiana shook her head. "There's something about him that makes me feel weird. It's like he knows all my secrets or something. It gives me the frelling creeps."
"Well, there are bound to be similarities between you and our Chiana so of course he'll know some things about you. But if you want real answers you'll have to go ask him. What he is today is what our Chiana helped make him into. I'm sure if you give him a chance, you'll find something familiar about him," said Zhaan.
Chiana thought over the prospect of speaking with the man. "I'm not sure... D'argo will definitely not like it."
Zhaan smiled, "I've found that my D'argo had to be taught that while I'm with him, he does not control my every move." She gave Chiana a meaningful look.
Chiana sprouted a mischievous grin as she realized what she was getting at.
"Yeah, that sounds right. He needs to know I'm independent. I just don't want him to think I'm interested in Jared if I start talking to him. I don't want Jared to get any ideas either," she concluded.
"My dear," said Zhaan placing a hand over one of Chiana's, "Jared may come to care for you because in a way you're like our Chiana, but he is singularly devoted to her. If we can't find a way back home, I fear he will probably spend the rest of his days here alone and pining away for her and the children."
"Wait a minute Pilot!" interrupted Crichton. "I don't understand. How could the Pod be Moya's and not be Moya's at the same time?" he asked.
"It is difficult to explain," replied Pilot. "Moya claims that the Pod originated from her but is somehow different in some small ways."
"Could the Pod have been subject to some force which has altered it in some way?" asked Aeryn.
"We don't believe so, Officer Sun," Pilot said. "The Pod appears 'healthy', for lack of a better term. It just feels familiar and unfamiliar to Moya, as if something is 'off' about it."
"Well, thank you for the 'accurate' report," said D'argo sarcastically.
"I am sorry Ka'D'Argo," said Pilot slightly annoyed. "But there are just simply some sensations that can not be accurately described to bipedal beings who have never been joined to a Bio-mechanoid."
"It's all right, Pilot," reassured Aeryn. "You've done the best you could. Thank you," she said giving D'argo a look that told him she thought his remark was uncalled for.
"Well, it looks like we got a mystery on our hands, kids," remarked John. "Has anyone gotten anymore information out of Zhaan?"
"Apparently she believes that we all have been aboard Moya for over twelve cycles and that there are now families here also," said Aeryn. "I'm no Med-tech, but according to the Med-scans we took and compared to Zhaan's last scans... she's aged at least ten cycles in only three solar days."
"That's not possible even for a Delvian... is it?" asked Crichton.
"No. It is not," answered D'argo. Chiana nodded her head in agreement at his side.
"There are a few other things that are wrong," continued Aeryn. "Take a look at the pulse pistol we took from Zhaan's new friend."
She placed the gun on the table and Crichton picked it up and began examining it.
"It's a standard Peacekeeper Pulse Pistol... so what?" he said.
"That's just it, John. It's a standard issue pulse pistol and as you know they are massed produced on an automated assembly line. Each one is exactly like the next," Aeryn told him.
"Yeah... so Peacekeepers efficiently produce their weapons. Again, so what?" asked John once more.
"Look at the safety," said Aeryn. John turned the weapon over, his thumb automatically moving to the safety switch. He stopped and did a double take at the weapon in his hands.
"It's in the wrong place!" he said out loud to the group.
"Yes, very strange for a standard massed produced weapon," added Aeryn.
"Maybe it's been altered?" asked D'argo looking at the pistol over John's shoulder.
"No. I've stripped this weapon as soon as I discovered the discrepancy. It has all the Peacekeeper stamps and markings. It has not been altered in anyway. This weapon was made like this in a PK factory but it doesn't follow all PK designs as we know them."
"This is getting to be too weird," muttered John.
"Another discrepancy I found was in the Pod that returned with them. The controls are basically laid out the same but a few of the panels are not in the correct places, which supports Pilot's report," reported the ex-Peacekeeper. "Also the cargo is rather strange, it's all chemicals and materials we have no frelling use for."
"Well, I think it's time to talk some more with Zhaan then," said Crichton.
Zhaan hurried to the cell that the crew had locked Berret into shortly after their arrival.
"Jared!" she whispered.
Berret rushed over to the cell door at her call. "What have you found out?" he asked.
"Not much at all without trying to access Moya's data banks, but that will alert Pilot," she replied. "How are you managing?" she asked him feeling sorry for the imprisoned man.
"Oh, there is nothing like reliving old times," Berret said lightly, looking around the cell. "I think my first cell was much nicer though."
"I'm glad you're able to joke about it," said the Pa'u looking about nervously. "Jared," she said leaning closer to the door's bars. "We must be careful what we tell this crew if we are on a Moya of the past... we mustn't reveal anything about their futures to them that we already haven't."
"Zhaan, I don't believe this is the Moya of our past," said the Shrike. "It's all wrong. This Stark never came aboard our Moya and where is Malika? She and I came aboard almost at the same time. I don't think this crew is living our past history."
"I believe you might be correct, but we shouldn't take the chance. I have noticed that some things are not where they should be here," she said.
"What do you mean?" he asked, not having seen much of the ship other then the landing bay and his cell.
"It's little things really. Switches and buttons moved around, slightly different placement of fixtures," she answered.
Berret nodded, "I'll try and make note of any differences I see, though I don't think I'll see much of anything stuck in here," he said. A small sound coming from further down the corridor told them they were no longer alone.
"Zhaan?" said Chiana's voice.
"Yes, Chiana?" said the Delvian turning away from Berret to face her.
"The others would like to see you in command," the Nebari said.
"Of course, I'll go right away," Zhaan told her then turned back to Berret. "I'll be back soon to see you," she said placing her hand over the top of his and giving it a gentle squeeze. "We will straighten this out," she promised.
"I know we will, Zhaan," said Berret quietly as she turned to go, leaving him alone with Chiana.
The Nebari girl cocked her head to look at Berret. She took a few steps in different directions trying to get a better view but kept well away from the bars.
"Is there something you want to know?" asked Berret.
For a couple microts it seemed the girl was going to ignore his question, then she finally said,
"That was a interesting story you told. Why the frell do you insist you know me?" she asked.
Berret smiled a little and went back to sit on his bed. "Well, not you personally. Someone like you," he told her.
Chiana thought for a micron, then said, "No. You told Zhaan in the landing bay 'that's not our Chiana.' I remember almost word for word. And then Zhaan said you were my bond-mate. What are you trying to pull?" she demanded. "Whatever you've done to Zhaan, we'll find out about it and you'll pay if you've hurt her," she said puffing herself up as she made the threat.
"I would never hurt Blue anymore then I would ever hurt you," answered Berret calmly.
"Just because you know one of John's pet names for Zhaan doesn't mean anything!" she snapped.
"Chiana, believe it of not. I have done nothing to Zhaan and I mean nobody aboard Moya any harm. And yes, I know a lot of intimate things about you all, and that is only because what Zhaan and I have been telling you is true," he attempted to explain.
"Oh yeah?" challenged the Nebari girl, "What kind of things?"
Berret exhaled loudly, obviously beginning to lose his patience.
"I know that you had a friend when you were younger named 'Berret', ask Zhaan how I got that as part of my name. I know that you and your brother Nerri escaped Nebari Prime and that was only because the government wanted you and some others to spread a Contagion through the Territories. I know that one of your favorite foods is Trellian Chocolate, though I never could understand how you could ever eat something that was so sickly sweet," he told her. As he spoke Chiana's eyes grew ever wider in shock.
"I know you sleep with your head buried under the covers when you're alone. You have a bad habit of cocking your head to the left when you punch with your right hand... and you have a small birthmark right on your..."
"Enough!" Chiana shouted cutting him off.
Berret knew he'd gone too far as he saw the girl was shaking. "I'm sorry, Chiana. I was just trying to prove to you..." he started to apologize.
"I don't frelling care what you were doing!" fumed the Nebari. "I don't know how you know all those things about me, but whatever you're up to... you won't get away with it. I've scammed with the best of them and I can tell you your tricks are very weak!"
She turned on her boot heel and stalked away from the cell.
"I wish they were just tricks, Pixie. I really do," muttered Berret to himself. Alone again on the cell tier he went back to examining the lock to his cell.
Berret had learned what he needed to know from the lock on his cell. He sat back on his bed and thought over the situation. He hadn't a clue as to what had caused their move into a reality were everything was changed around and lagging ten cycles behind as well. This crew was much like the crew he knew when he first arrived aboard Moya. It was more like they stuck together out of necessity, more a pact about survival then about loyalty to each other as a family. Strangely, it was exactly as he remembered it being.
A major difference being that he didn't have Chiana as an ally this time around.
The thought of his wife sadden him. He wished he could see her at that moment. There was so much more he wanted to tell her. Things he should have said and done, secrets he should have revealed but didn't. One being that Rygel had called him to his private rooms for a meeting ten weekens ago. The Dominar wanted him to 'unofficially' visit the Nebari Ambassador Lerris. Rygel wanted to make sure the Official didn't get it into his head to double cross the alliance again and Berret carried the message to the man after promising the Hynerian that he would leave the man alive when he left. The cloaked Shrike appeared one night shortly after the meeting in Lerris' bedchamber. After presenting Hyril's necklace with his family crest, which he had taken the night he went to deal with the Nebari man, to the Ambassador... the man fainted. Curious at the reaction, Berret slapped the man back to consciousness. When Lerris came to, he began to jibber and begged the Shrike not to take his head as he'd done to Hyril and Stoma's scouts. As badly as Berret wanted to kill the man before him, he was confused at the plea. He was responsible for the scout's decapitations, but he'd more or less left Hyril alive when he departed the safe house. He covered his confusion and delivered Rygel's warning with a promise to visit the Ambassador one last time should he betray the alliance or Rygel again in anyway. A visit he made the Nebari man realize that he would relish all too well.
After slipping out of the Nebari embassy, he returned to meet Rygel and give him a report.
"So the visit went as planned," said the Hynerian as Berret finished talking.
"Yes, Rygel. Though one strange thing... what was Lerris talking about Hyril's head? When I left him he was dying but still alive and his head was very much still in place," said the Shrike.
The Dominar gave an evil chuckle. "Well, it was... until my agents arrived on the site. Hyril was dead when they got there. Seemed he died trying to crawl his way out to the landing pad by the residence. Didn't do him any good because it appears somebody blew up his personal air schooner where it was parked. However, it was thought that certain missing body parts would help convey a stronger message to the Nebari. So the scene was staged before the Nebari representatives could arrive," smiled Rygel.
"That would explain why Lerris almost drenned his nightshirt when he awoke and seen me," said Berret.
Rygel let of an evil laugh. "Yes, it seems he believes my assassins like to take heads as trophies. He was probably thinking he was going to end up somewhere over your mantle."
Despite himself, Berret found himself grinning. "You're a sick 'man', Rygel," he said
"Don't blame me. You're the one who started cutting people's heads off," he said.
"I have never kept anyone's head," Berret said in his own defense. "But I will keep yours if Chiana finds out about tonight's fun. That is, if she doesn't take mine first."
"She'll never hear it from me," promised Rygel with a look of mock innocence. "I wouldn't have asked if it wasn't absolutely necessary to make sure that Lerris behaved himself," the Hynerian finished suddenly serious again. "I can't afford to have him playing anymore games at this point."
"I know, Rygel. It was for the greater good of the Territories," said Berret. "And I agree, you were absolutely correct in having to make sure Lerris remained in line. The Nebari cannot be trusted. I would not have gone otherwise."
Rygel smiled at Berret's admission. "Thank you, for not killing him and for your help completing this 'mission' for me, Jared."
In a parody of his days as a Syndicate assassin, he bowed low and said,
"Not even death, my Dominar," He then turned to leave as Rygel's deep chuckles followed him to the door. Remembering the sound of the Hynerian's deep laughter, Berret lay back on the cell's bed and closed his eyes to wait and see what happened next.
"Zhaan, think about what you're saying," said Crichton. The Delvian woman was sitting in a chair surrounded by her friends as they asked her questions over and over. The single light on over her head reminded John of the old cop shows where they interrogated suspects under a bright spotlight.
"I am telling you the truth, John," she repeated for what seemed the hundredth time. "This is not how things are suppose to be," she insisted.
"I know, Zhaan," he said putting up his hand. "The ship is loaded with kids... and there's Andar the Cosmic Destroyer and Muffy the Vampire Slayer..."
"Malika," corrected Zhaan. "And Andar was a teacher actually."
"Malika," repeated Crichton, "and Ole Sparky's back on the throne..."
"I rather like that part!" put in Rygel with a huge smile.
John glared at the Hynerian for interrupting and Aeryn slapped him in the back of the head, "Be quiet," she said.
"And we run some sort a space trucking company, and your new friend and Chi are playing house..." Crichton continued. D'argo growled low at the comment and Chiana reached up to hold his hand. The growl and the intimate touch didn't escape Zhaan's observation and she became distracted from the discussion. John had to shake her shoulder to get her attention back.
"I know you believe that you and D'argo have a relationship, but trust me Zhaan, that's never happened."
"I do trust you, John. As I trust all of you," she said looking around, "Now, I'm asking you to trust me as well." She looked back in D'argo's direction. The big Luxan left Chiana's side and knelt in front of the Priestess.
"Zhaan, there had been times in the past when we were or might have become 'close', but they have never come to be more then might-have-beens. I'm with Chiana now and this Jared person has put these false memories in your head. You've admitted that you have shared 'Unity' with him. Isn't it possible that this life you describe never happened?" D'argo asked her.
"I am a 12th level Pa'u! What I've described and told you... has happened. No one is controlling me or has altered my perception of time. From what you told me, similar current events have happened to us... but they happened over ten cycles in our past. This is not Jared's or my place and time," Zhaan insisted.
John stood back up from Zhaan's side. "I give up," he said throwing his hands in the air. "She's not budging from her story." He moved over to stand by Aeryn.
"There are those strange differences in some of the equipment they brought back," Aeryn whispered to him.
"Yeah, but how is knowing that gonna do us any good?" asked Crichton.
Aeryn thought a micron, and then pulled out her pulse pistol. She dropped the power pack out of the grip and tossed it to a surprised Zhaan. "Take it off safe!" the ex-Peacekeeper ordered suddenly.
Zhaan fumbled with the weapon for several microts and looked up at her confused,
"I can't... it doesn't have one," she said.
Aeryn took the weapon back and reloaded it before snapping it back into her thigh holster. She reached over to the table and tossed a second pulse pistol to the Delvian. "Unsafe that one," she said.
Immediately there was a soft click as the weapon's safety disengaged.
"Why did you give me a broken pulse pistol and then a working one?" asked Zhaan as Aeryn took the gun back from her.
"Yeah, why did you?" asked Crichton privately to her.
"John, Zhaan's been around long enough to know her way around a pulse weapon. She should have found the safety without even having to think about where it was located on an issue pistol," explained Aeryn.
"But she didn't know where it was on yours," finished John catching on now.
"Yes, but she had no problem with the weapon we took off of this Jared," Aeryn said. "Do you really think somebody would be thorough enough to alter repetitive muscle memory and training? It would take me weekens of training with this weapon to be able to find the moved safety without having to think about where it was every time."
"So you're saying that her story's true then? That's not our Zhaan sitting there?" asked Crichton.
Aeryn nodded her head looking back over to the seated Delvian; the woman watched the pair waiting for an answer to Aeryn's strange test. John shook his head and rubbed his eyes and face with one hand.
"Houston... we have a problem," he muttered
Berret had lightly dozed off in his cell and was awaked by a heavy footfall outside the cell's door. He opened his eyes to see D'argo standing outside glaring in at him.
"What is it D'argo?" said Berret disinterestedly.
"We are discussing what to do with you," the Luxan informed him. "When I found out you were a Shrike, I voted to kill you and shove your body out an airlock. However, the others have overruled me."
"That's what I've always like about you, Darg... you're consistent," replied the man behind the bars.
"I imagine Rygel voted right along with you."
"He did... but there's still time for the others to change their minds," answered the Luxan.
"Forget it, D'argo. You're not going to impress me with boisterous talk. You are a warrior... not a murderer. You would no more kill an unarmed man then Rygel would turn his nose up at a food cube," said Berret laying his head on his arms and staring up at the ceiling of his cell.
"You do not know what I will or will not do! You do not know me, Shrike," snarled the warrior.
Berret propped himself up on one elbow to look at him, "D'argo... I've already been through this whole entire chapter with you in real life. I have no wish to repeat the whole sequence a second time. Now if you don't have anything pleasant to say... please, go away and write some more of your Luxan love poetry that you love so much and leave me alone," he finished and laid back down in the bed to stare at the ceiling once more.
D'argo more enraged at the casual dismissal then his knowledge of the poetry, hissed and his long whip like tongue shot out. To his amazement, the Shrike's hand moved in a blur and caught the stinging tip before it could touch his neck and render him unconscious. Just as quickly Berret let go and his tongue coiled back up.
"Nice try..." said the Shrike, "but I'm just as fast as you are."
D'argo cursed at the man. "I don't buy this story you have Zhaan shoveling. The others may agree to let you out of there, but I'm warning you... I'll be watching your every frelling move. Do something I don't like and I will kill you." He was just about to turn away, when he added, "And one of the things that will displease me very much is if you upset Chiana. Stay away from her."
The Luxan stalked away in a swirl of tentacles, the ex-assassin turned his head to watch him go. He looked back at his ceiling after he was gone and mumbled to himself,
"Well, that of course would go without saying, D'argo."
Moving on the next phase of the investigation, Aeryn had Pilot send the DRD's to go over the Pod down to the last molecule for any clues as to what happened. They'd allowed Zhaan to roam free, seeing basically she was still Zhaan. She went back to see Berret in his cell and update him on what was happening. It uplifted the man's spirits to know that the crew was at least beginning to believe their tale and were actively looking for answers. Zhaan returned to plead with the rest of the crew to release Berret from the cell but they weren't ready to trust the stranger just yet until they had more proof that the story was indeed the truth. The Delvian had gone to the center chamber to get Berret a tray of food when Chiana found her there. The Nebari girl seemed nervous, as if she had something to ask but was afraid to hear the answer. Zhaan was getting set to leave the mess when the Nebari girl finally got up the nerve to ask.
"Ummmm... Zhaan? Can I talk to you for a micron?" she asked the Priestess.
"Of course, Chiana dear. What is it?" she replied setting the tray down.
"I know you're upset about me and D'argo, but..." she started but the Pa'u cut her off mid-sentence.
"There is no need to apologize, Chiana. This situation is not your fault and this is not my reality. I sincerely wish you and your D'argo all the Goddess' blessings... but if you don't mind, I would rather not discuss it further," said Zhaan bending to pick the tray back up.
"I just wanted to say I was sorry, but there's also something else I wanted to ask you," continued the Nebari.
Zhaan turned back to her. "What is it?" she asked.
"That man with you... Jared. Is he really my bond-mate where you come from?"
Zhaan smiled at the girl. "Yes, that is the truth. The two of you... or rather he and our Chiana have been bonded for nine cycles. They have two very beautiful children," she said.
"That's hard to believe. How come we've never met here in this reality?" Chiana asked.
"I'm afraid that's a question I don't have an answer for, dear. If you really want to know more about Jared, why don't you go and talk with him," Zhaan suggested.
Chiana shook her head. "There's something about him that makes me feel weird. It's like he knows all my secrets or something. It gives me the frelling creeps."
"Well, there are bound to be similarities between you and our Chiana so of course he'll know some things about you. But if you want real answers you'll have to go ask him. What he is today is what our Chiana helped make him into. I'm sure if you give him a chance, you'll find something familiar about him," said Zhaan.
Chiana thought over the prospect of speaking with the man. "I'm not sure... D'argo will definitely not like it."
Zhaan smiled, "I've found that my D'argo had to be taught that while I'm with him, he does not control my every move." She gave Chiana a meaningful look.
Chiana sprouted a mischievous grin as she realized what she was getting at.
"Yeah, that sounds right. He needs to know I'm independent. I just don't want him to think I'm interested in Jared if I start talking to him. I don't want Jared to get any ideas either," she concluded.
"My dear," said Zhaan placing a hand over one of Chiana's, "Jared may come to care for you because in a way you're like our Chiana, but he is singularly devoted to her. If we can't find a way back home, I fear he will probably spend the rest of his days here alone and pining away for her and the children."