"Apparitions" Time: Twenty-five cycles after Fractures

Disclaimer: I didn't create Farscape, didn't create the characters and don't make a plug nickel off of it.

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Part Four: Unquestioned Answers

I didn't stop running until I reached the terrace.

I stopped just inside the door and looked around, trying to hold back the tears that were burning my eyes. Somewhere between the Central Chamber and the terrace, I realized what I had said to Mattis and just how cruel it was. Sometimes my emotions get the better of me and I say things I shouldn't. What did Dad call it? "Sticking your foot in your mouth," I think it was. It was probably one of the cruelest things I could have said to him.

I closed my eyes and walked forward until my head bumped into the clear canopy. I opened my eyes and let the terrace's dim lighting and starlight calm me down. There was still the sense of guilt, though, the thought that I had permanently damaged the best part of my life here on Moya.

"Vanessa Sun," I said, "you are the stupidest, most insensitive tralk who ever lived."

I didn't turn when I heard Chiana's voice. "I wouldn't go that far. Although, given this little performance, it's a close call." She sounded both sympathetic and angry.

I looked back at her, standing just inside the door, her posture saying quite clearly that she wasn't going to take any dren from her surrogate daughter. "Would you believe me if I said I was temporarily out of my mind? How about I have the emotional development of a newborn?"

"Now that I'll believe." She walked up to me, her arms behind her back. "If it'll make you feel any better, I know how you feel. About a cycle after I arrived on Moya, I came to believe my brother Nerri was dead. I went over the edge, too. It wasn't until later that I found out he was still alive." Her head dipped a little and her gray lips twisted into a smile. "Of course, I just went to hang out with a bunch of teenage drug addicts who spent most of their time performing incredibly stupid stunts."

I glanced back at her and wondered if I should even bother asking for clarification. "So, what do you think I should do? Just stay calm, get the module up and running and take it from there?"

"Is insulting Mattis going to help? Look, I don't think Mattis is too upset. A little shocked, maybe. Definitely surprised. So come one. Let's finish eating, then we'll get into the module and.what the frell!"

I stared at the shocked look on Chiana's face then turned. I felt shock cross my own face. "Oh.my."

In the distance, space was twisting onto itself, turning into a funnel-like construct that was beautiful in the most devastating way.

Even though I knew exactly what it was, I still called out, "Pilot! Is that."

Pilot sounded weary as he said, "Yes, Vanessa. It's a wormhole."

"Start taking readings! Get ready to launch the Prowler! I want a closer look at it!" I exchanged a pained look with Chiana and started running. "Mattis! Meet me in the hanger! We have a problem!"

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I swooped in close to the wormhole, praying the dream I'd had earlier didn't come true. I could hear Mattis behind me, adjusting the instruments while talking to Pilot. "It's incredible, Pilot. I've heard about wormholes, but I've never seen one before."

"Yes, it is fascinating, as long as the wormhole is only used as a passageway. Without very few exceptions, all of Moya's encounters with wormholes have been painful."

"Zhaan gave her life to save Moya from a wormhole," Stark whispered. I could see Chiana pat him on the back.

I brought the Prowler around and held position in front of the wormhole. The sensors were telling me that Talyn was coming up behind us. "What do you have, Pilot?" I tightened my grip on the control yokes then turned back to Mattis. "Mattis, I'm sorry. I just."

"Don't worry about it." He glanced at me and smiled. "You can make it up to me later."

I matched his smile, reached back and squeezed his hand. "Are you running a full spectrum roll, Pilot?"

"Yes, Vanessa. The electron diffusion across the electromagnetic range is very low, and I'm not picking up any dimensional bend in the halo effect."

I watched my own instruments closely. "Pilot, there's something not right here. The electron diffusion isn't just low, it's non-existent. And the dimensional bend is flat. This isn't a wormhole. It's all flash but no substance."

Tashina sounded distracted. "Almost as if someone's trying to attract our attention."

"Yeah, it's a signpost. Someone wants us to know they're here."

"Who could that be?"

Crais cut into the line. "Vanessa, I would advise caution. Talyn and I have seen this effect before."

I nodded. "I know, Crais. Mom told me about it. When I was a kid, I always wondered what it would have been like to have two fathers."

"Excuse me," Mattis said. "Two fathers?"

"I'll explain later."

I could picture the concerned look on Stark's face as he said, "He's back.he's back.he's back.oh no no no no.that's not good.not good."

"Who's back," Tashina asked.

I knew exactly who Stark was talking about. Mom and Dad had told me about his people. I brought the Prowler around and started back to Moya. "I always wondered if they'd annoy my life."

Mattis checked the sensors again. "Vanessa, who are you talking about? Someone your parents encountered?"

There was a new voice, a man's voice sounding a little tired. "That would be me."

I heard Tashina draw her pulse pistol. "Who are you? Where did you come from?"

"Tashina," I said, "don't do anything. It's all right. He's not a threat." At least, I hope not, I thought. "Mattis and I will be onboard in a few microts. Then we'll get to the bottom of this. Crais, get over to Moya."

As I angled for the bay doors, I heard myself mutter, "Get ready for pear- shaped."

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In the center of the den, between the door and Pilot's console, stood a tall, older man. He was casually dressed and looked perfectly at ease. Despite his apparent age, I knew he was in top physical condition.

If he were human or Sebacean, that is.

He didn't seem bothered by the fact that Tashina still had her pulse pistol trained on him. He watched her for a microt then turned and watched me walk up. "You look like your mother, Vanessa."

"Good genes," I said. "Are you who I think you are?"

"What do you think? Your father knew me well."

"My father? Because of you and your people, my father's life was a living, breathing, swirling, sucking hell-pit. It was cycles before he attained some measure of peace." I nodded to Tashina. "It's all right. So, are you still going by the name Jack, or should I call you Grand-dad?"

"Whatever you feel most comfortable with. Where are your parents? There's a lot I have to discuss with them."

"Sorry, that's going to be a little difficult. Mom and Dad disappeared down a wormhole ten cycles ago. Crais just recently found the module, but there's no sign of them." I was surprised by how calmly I was about to say that.

Jack seemed taken by surprised. "Then who's experimenting with wormhole technology? Have you been working on it?"

I glanced back to see Crais step into the den. "Dad never had the chance to start training me on wormhole tech. I've been having nightmares about wormholes for ten cycles now, but I haven't been working on it. You're saying someone's started it up again?"

"Who could have done that," Chiana asked. "I thought Scorpius's research went up with the command carrier."

"Apparently not," Jack said. He frowned and seemed to be lost in thought.

I chewed my lower lip then tapped my comm. "Lhatan?"

Surprisingly, he answered immediately. (When he's working, it can sometimes take an arn to get through to him.) "Yes, Vanessa."

"How are you coming with the remains we found?"

"Almost complete. From what I can tell, this is an organic compound. It could have been a Sebacean once, but to cause this kind of tissue liquification."

"It was induced by exposure to rantath flux in a wormhole," Jack said.

Lhatan was quiet for a microt. "And who's that?"

"An old.friend of my family. Look, leave that for now and head over to Command. We're going to put our heads together for some strategy." I looked back at Jack. "We're about to head off on an insane quest, aren't we?"

Jack considered. "Someone has begun working on wormhole technology again. They have to be stopped, just as Scorpius was stopped."

"Great." Chiana sounded disgusted. "Just when I was getting used to peace and quiet."

"That's boring, Chi. Well, Jack, where do we start?"

"You said you have your father's module?"

"It's in the maintenance bay, but the DRDs are still working on it. We did find the remains in a Prowler, but it's gonna take another arn or two of work before we can figure out where it came from."

"Then there's nothing to do but wait." Jack nodded slowly. He turned to me and smiled. I'm sure he meant it to be reassuring, but I found it unsettling.

I knew things were going to start getting wild, which was too bad. Like Chiana, I was getting used to the quiet.

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TO BE CONTINUED