Chapter 8
John thought through their options quickly. He knew the game with Braca was up but he needed a little time to get away from Scorpius and Grayza.
"Harvey, if you love me and you want to stay alive, I suggest that you mask my energy signature from Scorpius now!" Harvey appeared beside John, still wearing his Jailbird's outfit.
"Having ignored my warning, you now want my help, John?" he sighed
"Do you want to live or not?"
"Point taken. I will endeavour to shield you from Scorpius but I cannot guarantee success."
John pulled Aeryn back into the crowd and headed as quickly as possible towards the side of the hall. Their way was hampered by the crowds of Peacekeepers stopping to gaze at the large, important party, and the fact that Aeryn could now hardly walk. She leaned heavily on John.
Scorpius and Grayza had reached Braca. The lieutenant was standing motionless in the middle of the hall, but Critchon could still hear the conversation.
"Lieutenant Braca, I'm so glad that we've met you on your way to report to the council, now we can all appear together," said Scorpius with a slightly malicious curl of his lips that could be mistaken by those who did not know him as a smile. The Lieutenant was very familiar with this 'smile' and knew that he would have to answer to his erstwhile commander when Scorpius found out what had happened.
"Before that, however, I would like to know how you escaped custody on Mikar 7 and who was the mysterious officer who helped you," interposed Grayza. She went right up to him and stared into his face. "Braca, why won't you answer me?" she barked. Braca just stared wide-eyed. Meanwhile Scorpius walked around him, observing them closely. He suddenly reached up a hand to the back of Braca's neck and pulled out the sensor from where it was partly concealed by his uniform. "Interesting," he said as he examined it.
John felt the loss of Braca's mind immediately and knew that he had to get out of the hall quickly. It was only a short matter of time before Scorpy would put two and two together and make about twelve. He started to make his way more forcibly towards the exit, practically dragging Aeryn with him. At that moment klaxons sounded and a loud voice resonated across the hall "Attention. Prisoner escape. All exits being sealed." People started to look around and some started to run towards the doors. Crichton picked up the flagging Aeryn and ran towards the nearest exit; they didn't quite make it before a solid metal sealing door came down, blocking their way.
"Time for plan D," muttered John. He brought out a small device from his pocket and pressed the button in the middle of it. A loud explosion was heard from the far side of the hall. It set off a chain of events that seemed to happen in slow motion. The explosion buckled one of the huge metal columns holding the glass roof. As it buckled the glass panels began to crack and splinter. One suddenly shattered, beginning a domino effect across the roof. Glass began to rain down on the people as everyone dived for cover. Under the cover of the commotion, John shot the controls of the nearest exit and carried Aeryn through as the door rose.
Two thirds of the roof had come down before the glass shower stopped. Scorpius stood up, miraculously unscathed. Grayza was slowly rising next to him. She had a nasty slash across her cheek but was otherwise unharmed. Others were not so lucky. The victory hall of the Peacekeepers had been shattered. People lay trapped beneath sheets of glass as others crawled, bleeding, from their crouched positions. The proud black and red flags dangled from the remains of the ceiling, shredded and damaged.
"Crichton!" said Scorpius through gritted teeth.
"Oh no, it couldn't John Crichton," said one of the incredulous officials "He's dead."
"He's not dead," replied Scorpius dismissively "He's here, for Aeryn Sun, if I'm not mistaken. I want him found and I want him alive."
John thought through their options quickly. He knew the game with Braca was up but he needed a little time to get away from Scorpius and Grayza.
"Harvey, if you love me and you want to stay alive, I suggest that you mask my energy signature from Scorpius now!" Harvey appeared beside John, still wearing his Jailbird's outfit.
"Having ignored my warning, you now want my help, John?" he sighed
"Do you want to live or not?"
"Point taken. I will endeavour to shield you from Scorpius but I cannot guarantee success."
John pulled Aeryn back into the crowd and headed as quickly as possible towards the side of the hall. Their way was hampered by the crowds of Peacekeepers stopping to gaze at the large, important party, and the fact that Aeryn could now hardly walk. She leaned heavily on John.
Scorpius and Grayza had reached Braca. The lieutenant was standing motionless in the middle of the hall, but Critchon could still hear the conversation.
"Lieutenant Braca, I'm so glad that we've met you on your way to report to the council, now we can all appear together," said Scorpius with a slightly malicious curl of his lips that could be mistaken by those who did not know him as a smile. The Lieutenant was very familiar with this 'smile' and knew that he would have to answer to his erstwhile commander when Scorpius found out what had happened.
"Before that, however, I would like to know how you escaped custody on Mikar 7 and who was the mysterious officer who helped you," interposed Grayza. She went right up to him and stared into his face. "Braca, why won't you answer me?" she barked. Braca just stared wide-eyed. Meanwhile Scorpius walked around him, observing them closely. He suddenly reached up a hand to the back of Braca's neck and pulled out the sensor from where it was partly concealed by his uniform. "Interesting," he said as he examined it.
John felt the loss of Braca's mind immediately and knew that he had to get out of the hall quickly. It was only a short matter of time before Scorpy would put two and two together and make about twelve. He started to make his way more forcibly towards the exit, practically dragging Aeryn with him. At that moment klaxons sounded and a loud voice resonated across the hall "Attention. Prisoner escape. All exits being sealed." People started to look around and some started to run towards the doors. Crichton picked up the flagging Aeryn and ran towards the nearest exit; they didn't quite make it before a solid metal sealing door came down, blocking their way.
"Time for plan D," muttered John. He brought out a small device from his pocket and pressed the button in the middle of it. A loud explosion was heard from the far side of the hall. It set off a chain of events that seemed to happen in slow motion. The explosion buckled one of the huge metal columns holding the glass roof. As it buckled the glass panels began to crack and splinter. One suddenly shattered, beginning a domino effect across the roof. Glass began to rain down on the people as everyone dived for cover. Under the cover of the commotion, John shot the controls of the nearest exit and carried Aeryn through as the door rose.
Two thirds of the roof had come down before the glass shower stopped. Scorpius stood up, miraculously unscathed. Grayza was slowly rising next to him. She had a nasty slash across her cheek but was otherwise unharmed. Others were not so lucky. The victory hall of the Peacekeepers had been shattered. People lay trapped beneath sheets of glass as others crawled, bleeding, from their crouched positions. The proud black and red flags dangled from the remains of the ceiling, shredded and damaged.
"Crichton!" said Scorpius through gritted teeth.
"Oh no, it couldn't John Crichton," said one of the incredulous officials "He's dead."
"He's not dead," replied Scorpius dismissively "He's here, for Aeryn Sun, if I'm not mistaken. I want him found and I want him alive."