"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.
---------------------------------------
Part Five: Unanswered Questions
I looked around Command at the faces that stared back at me. Mattis, Lhatan and Tashina all had confused looks on their faces. I couldn't blame them; I had a hard time understanding it when I was first told about it. For their part, Chiana, Stark and Crais appeared to be waiting patiently for me to finish. After all, this was twenty-five cycle old history for them.
Jack stood behind me. He seemed to be a little tense and anxious.
Mattis took a step forward. I could tell he was turning over everything I had told them. "So, for about half a cycle, there were two John Crichtons, one that stayed here on Moya with Chiana, one that traveled with your mother, Crais and Stark on Talyn. And it was the John Crichton on Talyn that had the wormhole knowledge unlocked in his mind."
"Initially, yes." Jack began to pace, his head lowered. "When that John sacrificed himself to stop the Scarrans, my people thought the threat was over. We should have known the surviving John would have picked up the research."
"But it was my understanding that the Peacekeeper's wormhole research was destroyed along with Scorpius's command carrier." Tashina stared at me, her head tilted to one side. "Someone survived that, perhaps?"
I shrugged. "It's possible. Given the number of people serving on the command carrier, plus the techs and scientists that Scorpius must have transferred in to conduct the research."
"We made sure there was time for most everyone to evacuate the carrier." Chiana shook her head slowly. "Aeryn insisted on that."
"Now, it seems someone has started researching wormhole technology again. It could be a coincidence, I suppose."
Jack shook his head slowly. "Coincidence or not, they have to be stopped, whoever they are."
Lhatan pursed his lips and shifted uneasily from foot to foot. "I've also heard stories of what wormhole technology is capable of achieving. While I agree that whoever is toying with such a catastrophic weapon must be stopped, I feel I have to ask one question: Why us?"
I was waiting for one of them to ask that question. "It's not really any of you, Lhatan. It's me. Dad, actually, but since he's not here, it appears to have fallen to me. The curse of being John Crichton's daughter, I guess." I took a deep breath and glanced at Crais, who nodded slightly, silently urging me to continue. "Lhatan is right. This doesn't really concern any of you. Chiana was there when Dad stopped Scorpius, and Stark can tell you what a wormhole weapon did a Scarran dreadnought. I'll let you discuss it among yourselves. If you decide you don't want to get involved, Jack and I will leave with Crais on Talyn so you and Moya can be kept safe. I'll rendezvous with you when it's over." Assuming, I thought, that we don't get blasted to hezmana and back.
I watched them for another microt then turned and started out of Command. "Crais, can I talk to you, please?" He nodded and followed me out.
"I'm certain they'll decide to join you," Crais said as we walked. "Mattis in particular."
"You're probably right. Crais, where did you find Dad's module?"
Crais thought for a microt. "It was in the vicinity of a number of uncharted systems. Why?"
"I was thinking of taking a little side trip."
Crais nodded, reached behind his neck and touched the transceiver that linked him to Talyn. He closed his eyes and concentrated for a microt. "I've instructed Talyn to transmit the coordinates to Moya. Perhaps she and Pilot will recognize them."
There was a little hint of hope beginning to form at the back of my mind. Maybe the nightmares will finally end.
Maybe.
----------------------------------------
"What do you have for me, Pilot," I asked as I walked across the den. I was trying not to look as nervous as I felt. Mattis and the rest had been in Command for nearly an arn.
"I was studying the coordinates Talyn provided. It would appear Moya was once in that area."
"Really? When? Certainly not while I've been around."
"No. This was twenty-eight cycles ago, not long after Moya became pregnant. Several systems were being adversely affected. Your father did his best to help with the work, but at that time, almost all of Moya's technology was beyond him. Officer Sun and the others were less than understanding and took their frustrations out on him. Your father took out his module in order to have some time alone. Unfortunately, Moya had to starburst in order to decompensate her amnexus system. Your father was stranded."
"He managed to reach a planet called Acquara and lived there for nearly a quarter cycle while we searched for him. I suppose it is within the realm of possibility that the wormhole your parents fell through deposited them in that area."
I weighed what Pilot said. Could Mom and Dad, in a malfunctioning module, have made it to a habitable planet? If so, then how did they get the module back into space? Could they have launched it again? But why would they launch it empty? There were too many questions and not enough answers.
I didn't turn when I heard footsteps coming into the den. "Well, Vanessa, Tashina's starting to work on the Prowler we found. She's going to download the flight recorder, see if she can get a line on where it came from." It was Mattis.
"So you've decided," I asked without turning.
Mattis stopped next to me and nodded. "Uh-huh. Chiana's working with your friend Jack, to see if that phase stabilizer is still functioning. Lhatan's continuing his work on the remains. Stark is sitting in his room, chanting something that sounds like 'not again, not again.' I will never get used to his swings from sanity to lunacy."
"Yeah, that's our Stark. A mind like a clock, and like a clock, it regularly goes cuckoo."
I was expecting the questioning look that crossed Mattis's face. "Excuse me? Coo-coo?"
"One of Dad's Earth words. It's the sound a bird makes, or the sound a certain type of clock makes when its alarm goes off, or a way of describing someone who's fahrbot." Mattis nodded and leaned on the console. "What did you decide?"
He glanced at me. "Was the outcome really in question? Did you really think I was going to let you have all the fun by yourself? Besides, how often do you get to save the universe?"
"Is that what Jack told you?"
"Well, he did go into detail as to what wormhole technology can do. No one should have that much power. So, we'll stop them. Now, what were you talking to Pilot about? You may have a guess as to where your parents are?"
"Maybe. The area that Crais found the module is near a system with a habitable planet. I was thinking they may have made it there."
"Another side trip?"
"Perhaps. Let's find out what Tashina gets out of the Prowler first. Pilot, have the DRDs finished their damage assessment yet?"
"Very nearly, Vanessa."
"Good. Come on, Mattis. Let's get into the module."
As we walked from the den, Mattis took my hand and gently squeezed. "How are you holding up?"
"At the moment, I'm all right. I think I'm getting close to an anxiety attack, but aside from that."
"Well, remember we're here for you. You don't have to bear this alone."
I smile and tried to keep the uncertainty I felt off my face. I was beginning to feel like we were on the edge of a steep drop and our collective grip was starting to slip.
----------------------------------------
With more reluctance than I wanted to admit to, I climbed into the module. The control console was dark and dead, of course, but I could easily picture what it looked like when powered. I ran my hands over the screens and gauges, remembering that last flight. I could hear Mom and Dad trying to keep the module from tumbling into the wormhole.
I listened as Mattis worked with the DRDs to connect the module's power systems to Moya. "All right, Vanessa, you're all hooked up. Since we're not sure how long the systems have been down, let's take the power-up slowly. I'd hate to have a burn out before we learn anything."
"Understood." I reached for an isolated series of switched. After a moment, indicators lit up, holding steady at standby levels. "Everything looks good here, Mattis. I'm going to start bringing some of the systems online." I started with the computer. About half the indicators were telling me there were problems. "I wanted to access the flight recorder, but it looks like it's fried."
"I'll ask Pilot to print out a hard copy of the schematics. Moya or the Prowler I can let my instincts guide me. But since this is a combination of two different technologies."
"Yeah, good. I don't know the module any better, really. Switching off systems." As I threw the switches, I shifted my feet and frowned. It felt like there was something on the floor of the cockpit, something loose. I reached down, felt around and picked up what was under my foot.
What I found was a locket on a thin chain. I recognized it immediately. "Oh my."
Mattis climbed from the back of the module and glanced into the cockpit. "What's that?"
"It's.it's Mom's locket." I opened the locket and felt my eyes begin to tear up. On one side was a picture of Dad, on the other was a picture of me as a baby. "She must have dropped it in here." I sat back and massaged my eyes, trying to keep myself from crying.
From across the bay, Tashina said, "I think I have something."
I slipped the locket into a pocket and climbed from the module. "What do you have?"
"Whoever was the pilot of this Prowler must have been high in the research team. He seems to have been keeping a journal. Listen to this: While progress on the project has been acceptable, there is still much work to be done. I have my concerns about the trust the Captain has placed in this informant, this Furlow."
"What?" Jack stepped away from the workbench, a surprised look on his face. For his part, Stark looked shocked. "Furlow's still alive?"
I glanced at him. "You know her, Jack?"
"Furlow was the one who tried to sell the wormhole knowledge to the Scarrans. The death of the John from Talyn was a result of Furlow's actions."
"She disappeared after Crichton used the wormhole weapon against the Scarran dreadnought," Stark said quietly. "Some people have an annoying knack for surviving."
"So it would appear. Does that journal mention a location, Tashina?"
"One microt." She stared at the screen and scrolled through the pages. "Yes, here it is. There's apparently a Gammak base dedicated to wormhole research on the planet Bia'thera."
"Never heard of it," I said. "Pilot, anything in Moya's data stores about Bia'thera?"
"Nothing, Vanessa."
I glanced at Crais, who was using his transceiver again. "It's a small, habitable planet. Aside from the base, there are several small towns and outposts. I've asked Talyn to send Moya the coordinates."
"Then I guess that's where we start."
Crais nodded and started for the hanger. "I'll return to Talyn and prepare for starburst."
I nodded. "Pilot, as soon as Crais is back on Talyn, have Moya starburst for Bia'thera."
"Of course, Vanessa."
----------------------------------------
I looked around the room Mattis and I shared then crossed to the picture covered wall, my DRD following me. We would be arriving at Bia'thera soon and I had to get ready. There was just one thing I had to do first.
After looking over the assorted flat images, I selected one of Mom, took out the locket and knelt down in front of my DRD. I held the picture in front of him. "I need a duplicate of Mom's face, large enough to fit in the locket." He scanned it quickly. A microt later, a panel opened and a small image slid out. I picked it up and smiled. "Thanks. Now go. I'm sure Pilot has things for you to do." He tapped my foot, turned and rolled out.
Mattis came in while I was putting Mom's picture in place of my own. "We'll be coming out of starburst in about ten microts, Vanessa. Almost ready?" He picked up my discarded picture. "You were a cute baby."
"And I'm not cute now?" I leaned close and kissed him. Once Mom's picture was in place, I closed the locket and slipped it over my head. I considered my reflection in the mirror mounted on the closet door then tucked the locket under my shirt.
From the closet, I took out a worn brown and black duster. It had been patched several times over the cycles, and it had been suggested that I replace it with a new one. Maybe one of these days.
I checked my pulse pistol then pulled on the duster I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. I was still feeling nervous, but for some reason, it wasn't as bad now that I had Mom's locket.
I opened my eyes and glanced at Mattis. He had pulled on his own coat. It wasn't as long as my duster, but it did have numerous pockets, which he usually kept filled with a variety of devices that make life easier.
"It's just going to be you, me, Tashina and Jack going down, right?"
"Right. I don't want to put Moya in any more danger than I have to." I looked around again and started for the door. "Let's get up to Command."
----------------------------------------
Moya was coming out of starburst as we entered Command.
Chiana and the others were already there waiting for us. To one side, Tashina was checking her own pistol, as well as a number of blades that she clipped to her belt. Lhatan was watching her, but I could tell by the look on his face that he was still thinking about the pilot's remains.
How did the two of them end up together?
On the viewing screen hung a rather bland looking world. I looked it over and frowned. "Boring looking place, isn't it? Pilot, any clue as to where the Gammak base could be?"
In the clamshell, Pilot's image looked down. "Nothing conclusive. However, there does seem to be quite a bit of aerial traffic around one large town. I would hazard to guess that would be the place to start."
"Has Talyn arrived yet?" On the screen, I saw the flash of a Leviathan coming out of starburst. Talyn immediately took up position off Moya's treblin side. "Never mind. Crais, I would suggest you stay on Talyn just in case things go pear-shaped."
"I concur, Vanessa. I will keep Talyn's weaponry ready to provide cover."
I turned to Chiana. "If anything shows up, a command carrier, a Marauder, anything, don't wait for us. Just starburst out of here. We'll get to Talyn and rendezvous with you later. All right?" Chiana looked like she was about to say something, but simply nodded.
Mattis glanced at Stark. "If you have any prayers that'll help us, I'll take them."
Stark nodded slowly. "I always pray for you."
"Well, then let's move like we've got a purpose." I started out of Command, but stopped when I noticed Chiana watching me with the strangest look on her face. "Chi?"
She stared a microt longer and smiled. "I was just thinking about how you look when you wear that duster."
I looked down and frowned. "Chi, it's Mom's duster. I've been wearing it for cycles."
"I know, but you're looking more like Aeryn every day."
"Well, my hair's too short to tie into that tight braid Mom wore when she went into combat. Still, I did get lucky. I had two good mothers." I hugged her once. "Remember what I said. If anything shows up, get the hezmana out of here."
As I increased my pace to catch up with the others, I noticed Jack staring at me. I stared back at him then continued on. "Come on, Jack. I'm sure Furlow will be happy to see you again."
----------------------------------------
TO BE CONTINUED
Disclaimer: I didn't create Farscape, didn't create the characters and don't make a plug nickel off of it.
---------------------------------------
Part Five: Unanswered Questions
I looked around Command at the faces that stared back at me. Mattis, Lhatan and Tashina all had confused looks on their faces. I couldn't blame them; I had a hard time understanding it when I was first told about it. For their part, Chiana, Stark and Crais appeared to be waiting patiently for me to finish. After all, this was twenty-five cycle old history for them.
Jack stood behind me. He seemed to be a little tense and anxious.
Mattis took a step forward. I could tell he was turning over everything I had told them. "So, for about half a cycle, there were two John Crichtons, one that stayed here on Moya with Chiana, one that traveled with your mother, Crais and Stark on Talyn. And it was the John Crichton on Talyn that had the wormhole knowledge unlocked in his mind."
"Initially, yes." Jack began to pace, his head lowered. "When that John sacrificed himself to stop the Scarrans, my people thought the threat was over. We should have known the surviving John would have picked up the research."
"But it was my understanding that the Peacekeeper's wormhole research was destroyed along with Scorpius's command carrier." Tashina stared at me, her head tilted to one side. "Someone survived that, perhaps?"
I shrugged. "It's possible. Given the number of people serving on the command carrier, plus the techs and scientists that Scorpius must have transferred in to conduct the research."
"We made sure there was time for most everyone to evacuate the carrier." Chiana shook her head slowly. "Aeryn insisted on that."
"Now, it seems someone has started researching wormhole technology again. It could be a coincidence, I suppose."
Jack shook his head slowly. "Coincidence or not, they have to be stopped, whoever they are."
Lhatan pursed his lips and shifted uneasily from foot to foot. "I've also heard stories of what wormhole technology is capable of achieving. While I agree that whoever is toying with such a catastrophic weapon must be stopped, I feel I have to ask one question: Why us?"
I was waiting for one of them to ask that question. "It's not really any of you, Lhatan. It's me. Dad, actually, but since he's not here, it appears to have fallen to me. The curse of being John Crichton's daughter, I guess." I took a deep breath and glanced at Crais, who nodded slightly, silently urging me to continue. "Lhatan is right. This doesn't really concern any of you. Chiana was there when Dad stopped Scorpius, and Stark can tell you what a wormhole weapon did a Scarran dreadnought. I'll let you discuss it among yourselves. If you decide you don't want to get involved, Jack and I will leave with Crais on Talyn so you and Moya can be kept safe. I'll rendezvous with you when it's over." Assuming, I thought, that we don't get blasted to hezmana and back.
I watched them for another microt then turned and started out of Command. "Crais, can I talk to you, please?" He nodded and followed me out.
"I'm certain they'll decide to join you," Crais said as we walked. "Mattis in particular."
"You're probably right. Crais, where did you find Dad's module?"
Crais thought for a microt. "It was in the vicinity of a number of uncharted systems. Why?"
"I was thinking of taking a little side trip."
Crais nodded, reached behind his neck and touched the transceiver that linked him to Talyn. He closed his eyes and concentrated for a microt. "I've instructed Talyn to transmit the coordinates to Moya. Perhaps she and Pilot will recognize them."
There was a little hint of hope beginning to form at the back of my mind. Maybe the nightmares will finally end.
Maybe.
----------------------------------------
"What do you have for me, Pilot," I asked as I walked across the den. I was trying not to look as nervous as I felt. Mattis and the rest had been in Command for nearly an arn.
"I was studying the coordinates Talyn provided. It would appear Moya was once in that area."
"Really? When? Certainly not while I've been around."
"No. This was twenty-eight cycles ago, not long after Moya became pregnant. Several systems were being adversely affected. Your father did his best to help with the work, but at that time, almost all of Moya's technology was beyond him. Officer Sun and the others were less than understanding and took their frustrations out on him. Your father took out his module in order to have some time alone. Unfortunately, Moya had to starburst in order to decompensate her amnexus system. Your father was stranded."
"He managed to reach a planet called Acquara and lived there for nearly a quarter cycle while we searched for him. I suppose it is within the realm of possibility that the wormhole your parents fell through deposited them in that area."
I weighed what Pilot said. Could Mom and Dad, in a malfunctioning module, have made it to a habitable planet? If so, then how did they get the module back into space? Could they have launched it again? But why would they launch it empty? There were too many questions and not enough answers.
I didn't turn when I heard footsteps coming into the den. "Well, Vanessa, Tashina's starting to work on the Prowler we found. She's going to download the flight recorder, see if she can get a line on where it came from." It was Mattis.
"So you've decided," I asked without turning.
Mattis stopped next to me and nodded. "Uh-huh. Chiana's working with your friend Jack, to see if that phase stabilizer is still functioning. Lhatan's continuing his work on the remains. Stark is sitting in his room, chanting something that sounds like 'not again, not again.' I will never get used to his swings from sanity to lunacy."
"Yeah, that's our Stark. A mind like a clock, and like a clock, it regularly goes cuckoo."
I was expecting the questioning look that crossed Mattis's face. "Excuse me? Coo-coo?"
"One of Dad's Earth words. It's the sound a bird makes, or the sound a certain type of clock makes when its alarm goes off, or a way of describing someone who's fahrbot." Mattis nodded and leaned on the console. "What did you decide?"
He glanced at me. "Was the outcome really in question? Did you really think I was going to let you have all the fun by yourself? Besides, how often do you get to save the universe?"
"Is that what Jack told you?"
"Well, he did go into detail as to what wormhole technology can do. No one should have that much power. So, we'll stop them. Now, what were you talking to Pilot about? You may have a guess as to where your parents are?"
"Maybe. The area that Crais found the module is near a system with a habitable planet. I was thinking they may have made it there."
"Another side trip?"
"Perhaps. Let's find out what Tashina gets out of the Prowler first. Pilot, have the DRDs finished their damage assessment yet?"
"Very nearly, Vanessa."
"Good. Come on, Mattis. Let's get into the module."
As we walked from the den, Mattis took my hand and gently squeezed. "How are you holding up?"
"At the moment, I'm all right. I think I'm getting close to an anxiety attack, but aside from that."
"Well, remember we're here for you. You don't have to bear this alone."
I smile and tried to keep the uncertainty I felt off my face. I was beginning to feel like we were on the edge of a steep drop and our collective grip was starting to slip.
----------------------------------------
With more reluctance than I wanted to admit to, I climbed into the module. The control console was dark and dead, of course, but I could easily picture what it looked like when powered. I ran my hands over the screens and gauges, remembering that last flight. I could hear Mom and Dad trying to keep the module from tumbling into the wormhole.
I listened as Mattis worked with the DRDs to connect the module's power systems to Moya. "All right, Vanessa, you're all hooked up. Since we're not sure how long the systems have been down, let's take the power-up slowly. I'd hate to have a burn out before we learn anything."
"Understood." I reached for an isolated series of switched. After a moment, indicators lit up, holding steady at standby levels. "Everything looks good here, Mattis. I'm going to start bringing some of the systems online." I started with the computer. About half the indicators were telling me there were problems. "I wanted to access the flight recorder, but it looks like it's fried."
"I'll ask Pilot to print out a hard copy of the schematics. Moya or the Prowler I can let my instincts guide me. But since this is a combination of two different technologies."
"Yeah, good. I don't know the module any better, really. Switching off systems." As I threw the switches, I shifted my feet and frowned. It felt like there was something on the floor of the cockpit, something loose. I reached down, felt around and picked up what was under my foot.
What I found was a locket on a thin chain. I recognized it immediately. "Oh my."
Mattis climbed from the back of the module and glanced into the cockpit. "What's that?"
"It's.it's Mom's locket." I opened the locket and felt my eyes begin to tear up. On one side was a picture of Dad, on the other was a picture of me as a baby. "She must have dropped it in here." I sat back and massaged my eyes, trying to keep myself from crying.
From across the bay, Tashina said, "I think I have something."
I slipped the locket into a pocket and climbed from the module. "What do you have?"
"Whoever was the pilot of this Prowler must have been high in the research team. He seems to have been keeping a journal. Listen to this: While progress on the project has been acceptable, there is still much work to be done. I have my concerns about the trust the Captain has placed in this informant, this Furlow."
"What?" Jack stepped away from the workbench, a surprised look on his face. For his part, Stark looked shocked. "Furlow's still alive?"
I glanced at him. "You know her, Jack?"
"Furlow was the one who tried to sell the wormhole knowledge to the Scarrans. The death of the John from Talyn was a result of Furlow's actions."
"She disappeared after Crichton used the wormhole weapon against the Scarran dreadnought," Stark said quietly. "Some people have an annoying knack for surviving."
"So it would appear. Does that journal mention a location, Tashina?"
"One microt." She stared at the screen and scrolled through the pages. "Yes, here it is. There's apparently a Gammak base dedicated to wormhole research on the planet Bia'thera."
"Never heard of it," I said. "Pilot, anything in Moya's data stores about Bia'thera?"
"Nothing, Vanessa."
I glanced at Crais, who was using his transceiver again. "It's a small, habitable planet. Aside from the base, there are several small towns and outposts. I've asked Talyn to send Moya the coordinates."
"Then I guess that's where we start."
Crais nodded and started for the hanger. "I'll return to Talyn and prepare for starburst."
I nodded. "Pilot, as soon as Crais is back on Talyn, have Moya starburst for Bia'thera."
"Of course, Vanessa."
----------------------------------------
I looked around the room Mattis and I shared then crossed to the picture covered wall, my DRD following me. We would be arriving at Bia'thera soon and I had to get ready. There was just one thing I had to do first.
After looking over the assorted flat images, I selected one of Mom, took out the locket and knelt down in front of my DRD. I held the picture in front of him. "I need a duplicate of Mom's face, large enough to fit in the locket." He scanned it quickly. A microt later, a panel opened and a small image slid out. I picked it up and smiled. "Thanks. Now go. I'm sure Pilot has things for you to do." He tapped my foot, turned and rolled out.
Mattis came in while I was putting Mom's picture in place of my own. "We'll be coming out of starburst in about ten microts, Vanessa. Almost ready?" He picked up my discarded picture. "You were a cute baby."
"And I'm not cute now?" I leaned close and kissed him. Once Mom's picture was in place, I closed the locket and slipped it over my head. I considered my reflection in the mirror mounted on the closet door then tucked the locket under my shirt.
From the closet, I took out a worn brown and black duster. It had been patched several times over the cycles, and it had been suggested that I replace it with a new one. Maybe one of these days.
I checked my pulse pistol then pulled on the duster I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. I was still feeling nervous, but for some reason, it wasn't as bad now that I had Mom's locket.
I opened my eyes and glanced at Mattis. He had pulled on his own coat. It wasn't as long as my duster, but it did have numerous pockets, which he usually kept filled with a variety of devices that make life easier.
"It's just going to be you, me, Tashina and Jack going down, right?"
"Right. I don't want to put Moya in any more danger than I have to." I looked around again and started for the door. "Let's get up to Command."
----------------------------------------
Moya was coming out of starburst as we entered Command.
Chiana and the others were already there waiting for us. To one side, Tashina was checking her own pistol, as well as a number of blades that she clipped to her belt. Lhatan was watching her, but I could tell by the look on his face that he was still thinking about the pilot's remains.
How did the two of them end up together?
On the viewing screen hung a rather bland looking world. I looked it over and frowned. "Boring looking place, isn't it? Pilot, any clue as to where the Gammak base could be?"
In the clamshell, Pilot's image looked down. "Nothing conclusive. However, there does seem to be quite a bit of aerial traffic around one large town. I would hazard to guess that would be the place to start."
"Has Talyn arrived yet?" On the screen, I saw the flash of a Leviathan coming out of starburst. Talyn immediately took up position off Moya's treblin side. "Never mind. Crais, I would suggest you stay on Talyn just in case things go pear-shaped."
"I concur, Vanessa. I will keep Talyn's weaponry ready to provide cover."
I turned to Chiana. "If anything shows up, a command carrier, a Marauder, anything, don't wait for us. Just starburst out of here. We'll get to Talyn and rendezvous with you later. All right?" Chiana looked like she was about to say something, but simply nodded.
Mattis glanced at Stark. "If you have any prayers that'll help us, I'll take them."
Stark nodded slowly. "I always pray for you."
"Well, then let's move like we've got a purpose." I started out of Command, but stopped when I noticed Chiana watching me with the strangest look on her face. "Chi?"
She stared a microt longer and smiled. "I was just thinking about how you look when you wear that duster."
I looked down and frowned. "Chi, it's Mom's duster. I've been wearing it for cycles."
"I know, but you're looking more like Aeryn every day."
"Well, my hair's too short to tie into that tight braid Mom wore when she went into combat. Still, I did get lucky. I had two good mothers." I hugged her once. "Remember what I said. If anything shows up, get the hezmana out of here."
As I increased my pace to catch up with the others, I noticed Jack staring at me. I stared back at him then continued on. "Come on, Jack. I'm sure Furlow will be happy to see you again."
----------------------------------------
TO BE CONTINUED
