Chapter 7
"I really can't recommend this course of action, John." Harvey sat down in front of Crichton, who was struggling into some Peacekeeper armour. He was wearing a jailbird's outfit complete with arrows and serial number.
"Not now, Harv, I'm busy. Anyway, the warning is a bit late. I've just landed in the middle of Peacekeeper high command."
"You must be out of your mind, John"
"Out of my mind; in someone else's! Talk about paranoid schizophrenia. I'm not in two minds; I'm in three! Now leave me alone Harvey while I finish putting on this frelling uniform." Crichton had decided that his best bet was to play Braca's commando guard. That way he could wear a helmet to conceal the mind-controlling oculars without arousing suspicion.
They had landed in a vast hanger. Hundreds of ships were lined up; Marauders, Prowlers and others that John didn't recognise, all parked in precise rows. Techs scurried about carrying out maintenance and refuelling. Braca and John left the ship and climbed onto the nearest of the many moving walkways that criss-crossed the hanger. It took them to the entrance to the main complex.
"Lieutenant Braca. I'm expected at a special council meeting." The security officer on duty scanned Braca's ident chip and also took a DNA scan.
"Confirmed Lieutenant. You are to report in 4 arns to room Delta Gamma 12 in quadrant Selca of the main council building." Braca gave the officer a curt nod and moved away. John's plan was to just follow him; he only had his special ops ident chip and that wouldn't pass muster in his current guise. He was hoping that after all the elaborate security checks to actually get to the high command planet, no one would think to check a mere guard.
"Officer" he was obviously wrong. The plan was failing before it had really started.
"Sir" replied John in his best PK accent.
"I need the entrance code of your ship so that the techs can carry out the service checks"
"Of course" John almost sighed with relief as he gave the code quickly and raced after Braca. Maybe his plan wasn't so bad after all!
They marched through endless corridors and interconnecting buildings. Braca's memory only contained vague remembrances of this planet, but fortunately it did allow John to read the sebacean direction signs. After what seemed like miles they came to a vast open atrium covered with a glass roof. It stretched as far as John could see in both directions. He reckoned it could house four or five football pitches inside and the roof was about high enough to cover the Empire State building. The distinctive black and red flags of the Peacekeepers were hung all around. From Braca he learned that this was the Hall of Victory. It would certainly be a suitable setting for military parades and medal ceremonies to celebrate the many conquests of the Peacekeepers; displays of strength to imbue the massed ranks with enthusiasm for the cause. The hall was filled with every type of Peacekeeper he had ever seen and many that he hadn't. They were the politicians, diplomats and military leaders. Vast numbers of soldiers marched to and fro. They had to stop so often to salute senior commanders that Crichton wandered if they ever got where they were supposed to be going or whether their sole purpose was to provide a display and massage the egos of the hierarchy.
"I'm standing at the very heart of the Peacekeeper regime," thought John, almost overawed by the sheer scale of this operation. Nothing on earth came close to this; not the Pentagon or those huge military parades they used to hold in Moscow in the days of the cold war. He knew without doubt that if the Peacekeepers were ever to find Earth they could take it over or destroy the planet without even breaking into a sweat. He also knew that this rescue attempt was foolhardy beyond words. His love for Aeryn had blinded him to the massive danger he had placed himself in; perhaps she was right about emotions and soldiers in battle not mixing. If, by attempting to rescue Aeryn, he put himself in the hands of the Peacekeepers he knew now, more than ever that they must never get wormhole technology. But at least he also now knew that he had not come in vain. His worst fear had been to reach high command and find her not here or, worse, already dead. He now knew that he still had some time to effect her rescue, because all around the Hall of Victory were signs advertising the fact that the traitor Aeryn Sun would be executed by firing squad in this very building in less than 20 arns. He broke out of his reverie and came back to the task at hand. As casually as possible, blending in with the crowd, he carefully made a tour of the atrium, assessing the exits and options for escape; it wasn't encouraging. Hopefully this wouldn't be an issue if everything went according to plan.
They headed for the high security detention wing. At the sophisticated electronic entrance, Braca's DNA was again scanned and this time there was a retinal scan as well. Crichton couldn't believe it when he just followed the Lieutenant through the door and was forever thankful that high command obviously considered him as some sort of extension or accessory to his commander. Two guards sat at the elaborate main console. John was thankful that the high level of surveillance equipment obviated the need for a larger force.
"I have special orders to interrogate Aeryn Sun," Crichton forced Braca to say to one of the guards.
"It's down the corridor, termination level, I'll show you" said the guard. As they walked he kept up a running commentary. "We're looking forward to tomorrow. Hasn't been such a good execution to watch since Commandant Nelka was done for that plot against Admiral Benta. We've all been given time off to go and watch. Personally, I think that a firing squad's too good for her. Only high ranking traitors usually get that. She should be made to suffer the living death like the other scum, but I suppose it makes a good show. Did you get to see the trial? Had it live on the internal comms network. Took almost half an arn to read out the list of charges." He laughed maliciously "She just stood there with this defiant look on her face. It's a pity that John Crichton's dead or we could have done them together."
"Crichton's dead?" John was prompted by surprise into asking.
"Yeah, had her in the aurora chair didn't they. Couldn't break her completely but saw memories of Crichton dying. Disgusting trelk was frelling his brains out as well. Can you imagine it? She's a disgrace to everything the Peacekeepers stand for."
They had by this time reached the cell where Aeryn was being held. Crichton was physically shaking with the need to restrain himself from punching the soldier's teeth down his throat. The sight that greeted him when they opened the cell door didn't improve his feelings.
There was a single narrow cot on which a body lay. It was almost unrecognisable from the Aeryn he knew. The usual neat, glossy hair was tangled and dirty. Her face was swollen and bruised. She had two black eyes and her lip was split. Dried blood was caked on her face, neck and hair. Her left arm hung at a strange angle and was obviously broken.
"What has happened to this prisoner?" Crichton had to force himself to keep the anger out of Braca's voice.
"Oh, its nothing to worry about, Lieutenant. Very popular she's been. All her comrades from her old unit wanted to welcome her back." He said with a nasty grin. "We've just let them have a little fun. Besides she was so spaced out from the aurora chair she didn't seem to care."
"I wouldn't give you the pleasure, Shelak" said a quiet voice "What brings you here, Braca? Come to gloat as well?" Aeryn's eyes could barely open but she could clearly see who was in the room.
"No, Sun, I want to get some answers about the whereabouts of the escaped prisoners and the Leviathan, Moya"
"I've already been through this in the chair, Braca"
"Commandant Grayza has some sophisticated new equipment on her ship we'd like to try out on you. After that you'll be begging to be allowed back in the chair like that madman Stark used to."
"So you've switched allegiance, eh Braca? What happened to Scorpius? Or has the commandant offered a better deal?"
"That's enough, now stand to attention soldier." Aeryn painfully rose from the bed. Crichton could tell she was very badly injured and in extreme pain but doing her best not to show it. In addition to her broken arm, she also had an injury to her right leg. She bit her lip, took a deep breath and stood up to her full height, her eyes meeting Braca's gaze with defiance.
"Right, guard, shackle her hands," Braca ordered the soldier
"Where are you taking her, Sir?"
"As I said, the commandant wants to have a further chance to interrogate her personally. She knows vital information. Don't worry, we'll return her here in 6 arns ready for tomorrows 'festivities'"
"This is highly irregular, Sir. There's been no notification from the council"
"Yes, well, the commandant's ship has only just arrived and she hasn't had time to inform the council about all she has learned about the events in the uncharted territories. She sent me ahead to collect officer Sun because she wants the maximum time before the execution to interrogate her. I'll send through the authorisations as soon as I'm back on board"
This was the moment of truth. Crichton's ingenuity in coming up with reasons why Braca should take Aeryn out of the detention wing was beginning to fail him. If the guard didn't go for it, Crichton was going to have to think of some other way to get rid of him as quietly and quickly as possible, at the same time avoiding the detection of the surveillance equipment inside the cell.
"I'll just have to make a few checks first, sir" He wasn't playing ball
"That's perfectly alright officer. I'm sure that you'll find everything is in order. Shall we go outside a moment and discuss it?" Braca led the guard out into the corridor then brought his pulse pistol down on the man's skull. He then put the gun against his back and fired at point blank range, the clothing muffling the sound.
"What the frell?" Aeryn was clearly confused. John didn't want to reveal himself to her just yet so he decided on the guise that Braca was somehow rescuing her. He deliberately stood out of view of the camera and put his fingers to his lips indicating her silence.
"I'm glad you agree officer," said Braca loudly from the corridor, "Soldier, bring her out." Crichton pushed Aeryn out of the door into the dark corridor.
"Quick Aeryn, put on his uniform," said Braca in a whisper
"Braca, have you gone completely farbot? What are you doing?"
"Attempting to stop you getting killed so stop arguing and put on that uniform."
"I don't pretend to understand why you are doing this Braca, but if this is some elaborate plot of Scorpius' or Grayza's to get at John and wormhole knowledge you're wasting your time. I won't tell you any more than I've told them"
"Just get a move on Aeryn, it won't be long before the other guard comes to check on us."
"Hey, can you come and give us a hand with her?" John shouted down the corridor at the other guard. He lumbered down towards them and was quickly dispatched the way of his colleague. Thank God they didn't think it necessary to have surveillance equipment in the corridors. John and Braca put the undressed dead guard in Aeryn's bed, covering him with a blanket to make it look as much like her as possible. The other guard they propped up in his seat at the console. They hoped that if there were a higher level of surveillance this would at least fool them for a while. They made it out of the detention area without further incident.
"I still don't understand why you're doing this Braca," said Aeryn as she limped along behind him as quickly as she could, "and who's this?" she eyed John warily.
"He's with us. I can't explain now Aeryn, just keep your head down so no one recognises you"
As they walked on it was obvious that Aeryn was struggling. John could hear her gasping for breath and wincing with almost every step. After what seemed like an age they came to the hall of Victory.
"I have to stop for a bit, Braca" Aeryn gasped, leaning heavily against the wall
"We can't stop now Aeryn. You can rest all you like when we get to the ship"
"Alright," with an effort she straightened up and carried on. As they walked across the hall a large important party were coming the other way. Soldiers stopped to salute. The sea of people in front of them parted. Fifty yards away, coming directly towards them and surrounded by various officials and a dozen commando guards were commandant Grayza and Scorpius.
"Oh hell" was John's only comment.
"I really can't recommend this course of action, John." Harvey sat down in front of Crichton, who was struggling into some Peacekeeper armour. He was wearing a jailbird's outfit complete with arrows and serial number.
"Not now, Harv, I'm busy. Anyway, the warning is a bit late. I've just landed in the middle of Peacekeeper high command."
"You must be out of your mind, John"
"Out of my mind; in someone else's! Talk about paranoid schizophrenia. I'm not in two minds; I'm in three! Now leave me alone Harvey while I finish putting on this frelling uniform." Crichton had decided that his best bet was to play Braca's commando guard. That way he could wear a helmet to conceal the mind-controlling oculars without arousing suspicion.
They had landed in a vast hanger. Hundreds of ships were lined up; Marauders, Prowlers and others that John didn't recognise, all parked in precise rows. Techs scurried about carrying out maintenance and refuelling. Braca and John left the ship and climbed onto the nearest of the many moving walkways that criss-crossed the hanger. It took them to the entrance to the main complex.
"Lieutenant Braca. I'm expected at a special council meeting." The security officer on duty scanned Braca's ident chip and also took a DNA scan.
"Confirmed Lieutenant. You are to report in 4 arns to room Delta Gamma 12 in quadrant Selca of the main council building." Braca gave the officer a curt nod and moved away. John's plan was to just follow him; he only had his special ops ident chip and that wouldn't pass muster in his current guise. He was hoping that after all the elaborate security checks to actually get to the high command planet, no one would think to check a mere guard.
"Officer" he was obviously wrong. The plan was failing before it had really started.
"Sir" replied John in his best PK accent.
"I need the entrance code of your ship so that the techs can carry out the service checks"
"Of course" John almost sighed with relief as he gave the code quickly and raced after Braca. Maybe his plan wasn't so bad after all!
They marched through endless corridors and interconnecting buildings. Braca's memory only contained vague remembrances of this planet, but fortunately it did allow John to read the sebacean direction signs. After what seemed like miles they came to a vast open atrium covered with a glass roof. It stretched as far as John could see in both directions. He reckoned it could house four or five football pitches inside and the roof was about high enough to cover the Empire State building. The distinctive black and red flags of the Peacekeepers were hung all around. From Braca he learned that this was the Hall of Victory. It would certainly be a suitable setting for military parades and medal ceremonies to celebrate the many conquests of the Peacekeepers; displays of strength to imbue the massed ranks with enthusiasm for the cause. The hall was filled with every type of Peacekeeper he had ever seen and many that he hadn't. They were the politicians, diplomats and military leaders. Vast numbers of soldiers marched to and fro. They had to stop so often to salute senior commanders that Crichton wandered if they ever got where they were supposed to be going or whether their sole purpose was to provide a display and massage the egos of the hierarchy.
"I'm standing at the very heart of the Peacekeeper regime," thought John, almost overawed by the sheer scale of this operation. Nothing on earth came close to this; not the Pentagon or those huge military parades they used to hold in Moscow in the days of the cold war. He knew without doubt that if the Peacekeepers were ever to find Earth they could take it over or destroy the planet without even breaking into a sweat. He also knew that this rescue attempt was foolhardy beyond words. His love for Aeryn had blinded him to the massive danger he had placed himself in; perhaps she was right about emotions and soldiers in battle not mixing. If, by attempting to rescue Aeryn, he put himself in the hands of the Peacekeepers he knew now, more than ever that they must never get wormhole technology. But at least he also now knew that he had not come in vain. His worst fear had been to reach high command and find her not here or, worse, already dead. He now knew that he still had some time to effect her rescue, because all around the Hall of Victory were signs advertising the fact that the traitor Aeryn Sun would be executed by firing squad in this very building in less than 20 arns. He broke out of his reverie and came back to the task at hand. As casually as possible, blending in with the crowd, he carefully made a tour of the atrium, assessing the exits and options for escape; it wasn't encouraging. Hopefully this wouldn't be an issue if everything went according to plan.
They headed for the high security detention wing. At the sophisticated electronic entrance, Braca's DNA was again scanned and this time there was a retinal scan as well. Crichton couldn't believe it when he just followed the Lieutenant through the door and was forever thankful that high command obviously considered him as some sort of extension or accessory to his commander. Two guards sat at the elaborate main console. John was thankful that the high level of surveillance equipment obviated the need for a larger force.
"I have special orders to interrogate Aeryn Sun," Crichton forced Braca to say to one of the guards.
"It's down the corridor, termination level, I'll show you" said the guard. As they walked he kept up a running commentary. "We're looking forward to tomorrow. Hasn't been such a good execution to watch since Commandant Nelka was done for that plot against Admiral Benta. We've all been given time off to go and watch. Personally, I think that a firing squad's too good for her. Only high ranking traitors usually get that. She should be made to suffer the living death like the other scum, but I suppose it makes a good show. Did you get to see the trial? Had it live on the internal comms network. Took almost half an arn to read out the list of charges." He laughed maliciously "She just stood there with this defiant look on her face. It's a pity that John Crichton's dead or we could have done them together."
"Crichton's dead?" John was prompted by surprise into asking.
"Yeah, had her in the aurora chair didn't they. Couldn't break her completely but saw memories of Crichton dying. Disgusting trelk was frelling his brains out as well. Can you imagine it? She's a disgrace to everything the Peacekeepers stand for."
They had by this time reached the cell where Aeryn was being held. Crichton was physically shaking with the need to restrain himself from punching the soldier's teeth down his throat. The sight that greeted him when they opened the cell door didn't improve his feelings.
There was a single narrow cot on which a body lay. It was almost unrecognisable from the Aeryn he knew. The usual neat, glossy hair was tangled and dirty. Her face was swollen and bruised. She had two black eyes and her lip was split. Dried blood was caked on her face, neck and hair. Her left arm hung at a strange angle and was obviously broken.
"What has happened to this prisoner?" Crichton had to force himself to keep the anger out of Braca's voice.
"Oh, its nothing to worry about, Lieutenant. Very popular she's been. All her comrades from her old unit wanted to welcome her back." He said with a nasty grin. "We've just let them have a little fun. Besides she was so spaced out from the aurora chair she didn't seem to care."
"I wouldn't give you the pleasure, Shelak" said a quiet voice "What brings you here, Braca? Come to gloat as well?" Aeryn's eyes could barely open but she could clearly see who was in the room.
"No, Sun, I want to get some answers about the whereabouts of the escaped prisoners and the Leviathan, Moya"
"I've already been through this in the chair, Braca"
"Commandant Grayza has some sophisticated new equipment on her ship we'd like to try out on you. After that you'll be begging to be allowed back in the chair like that madman Stark used to."
"So you've switched allegiance, eh Braca? What happened to Scorpius? Or has the commandant offered a better deal?"
"That's enough, now stand to attention soldier." Aeryn painfully rose from the bed. Crichton could tell she was very badly injured and in extreme pain but doing her best not to show it. In addition to her broken arm, she also had an injury to her right leg. She bit her lip, took a deep breath and stood up to her full height, her eyes meeting Braca's gaze with defiance.
"Right, guard, shackle her hands," Braca ordered the soldier
"Where are you taking her, Sir?"
"As I said, the commandant wants to have a further chance to interrogate her personally. She knows vital information. Don't worry, we'll return her here in 6 arns ready for tomorrows 'festivities'"
"This is highly irregular, Sir. There's been no notification from the council"
"Yes, well, the commandant's ship has only just arrived and she hasn't had time to inform the council about all she has learned about the events in the uncharted territories. She sent me ahead to collect officer Sun because she wants the maximum time before the execution to interrogate her. I'll send through the authorisations as soon as I'm back on board"
This was the moment of truth. Crichton's ingenuity in coming up with reasons why Braca should take Aeryn out of the detention wing was beginning to fail him. If the guard didn't go for it, Crichton was going to have to think of some other way to get rid of him as quietly and quickly as possible, at the same time avoiding the detection of the surveillance equipment inside the cell.
"I'll just have to make a few checks first, sir" He wasn't playing ball
"That's perfectly alright officer. I'm sure that you'll find everything is in order. Shall we go outside a moment and discuss it?" Braca led the guard out into the corridor then brought his pulse pistol down on the man's skull. He then put the gun against his back and fired at point blank range, the clothing muffling the sound.
"What the frell?" Aeryn was clearly confused. John didn't want to reveal himself to her just yet so he decided on the guise that Braca was somehow rescuing her. He deliberately stood out of view of the camera and put his fingers to his lips indicating her silence.
"I'm glad you agree officer," said Braca loudly from the corridor, "Soldier, bring her out." Crichton pushed Aeryn out of the door into the dark corridor.
"Quick Aeryn, put on his uniform," said Braca in a whisper
"Braca, have you gone completely farbot? What are you doing?"
"Attempting to stop you getting killed so stop arguing and put on that uniform."
"I don't pretend to understand why you are doing this Braca, but if this is some elaborate plot of Scorpius' or Grayza's to get at John and wormhole knowledge you're wasting your time. I won't tell you any more than I've told them"
"Just get a move on Aeryn, it won't be long before the other guard comes to check on us."
"Hey, can you come and give us a hand with her?" John shouted down the corridor at the other guard. He lumbered down towards them and was quickly dispatched the way of his colleague. Thank God they didn't think it necessary to have surveillance equipment in the corridors. John and Braca put the undressed dead guard in Aeryn's bed, covering him with a blanket to make it look as much like her as possible. The other guard they propped up in his seat at the console. They hoped that if there were a higher level of surveillance this would at least fool them for a while. They made it out of the detention area without further incident.
"I still don't understand why you're doing this Braca," said Aeryn as she limped along behind him as quickly as she could, "and who's this?" she eyed John warily.
"He's with us. I can't explain now Aeryn, just keep your head down so no one recognises you"
As they walked on it was obvious that Aeryn was struggling. John could hear her gasping for breath and wincing with almost every step. After what seemed like an age they came to the hall of Victory.
"I have to stop for a bit, Braca" Aeryn gasped, leaning heavily against the wall
"We can't stop now Aeryn. You can rest all you like when we get to the ship"
"Alright," with an effort she straightened up and carried on. As they walked across the hall a large important party were coming the other way. Soldiers stopped to salute. The sea of people in front of them parted. Fifty yards away, coming directly towards them and surrounded by various officials and a dozen commando guards were commandant Grayza and Scorpius.
"Oh hell" was John's only comment.