Legacy
Prologue 2 – Rebirth
I do not own Farscape or its characters outside of my dreams
At one time she had been a skilled pilot and soldier…honourable and respected.
Now she was a fugitive…persecuted by her own people.
And to top it all…she was bored out of her frelling mind.
Aeryn looked over at D'Argo from where she sat in the shade of the entrance, avoiding the deadly heat of the merciless sun. He didn't seem to be having much fun either. They had only come here for the promise of an ancient and advanced civilisation. Advanced meant powerful to soldiers like them…in possession of great weaponry and tactical knowledge. Yet not even a battle map lined the walls of the temple. No weapons…no evidence to suggest that this 'advanced' civilisation had even invented the wheel.
The Luxan was pacing in agitation. "This excursion is pointless. Nothing here is of any help to us", Ka D'Argo's voice was deep and thick with anger. "We should return to Moya".
"Pilot says that Moya won't be able to starburst for at least another arn. We might as well stay". Aeryn leaned her head back against the wall, eyes closed.
D'Argo made a quick study of the main hall and focused on Zhaan. The Delvian seemed hypnotised. Her eyes caressed the stories upon the walls. She saw beauty, poetry, and in it she found content and joy that had been so terribly absent since Liko's training. D'Argo looked at her, saw this in her captivating eyes, and his features…so slightly it was almost unnoticeable…softened.
"What's one more arn…" The sound of stone against stone cut him off, bringing his attention to the back of the hall. The wall rounded of there, broken by two corridors leading to the small network of rooms and catacombs that made up the bulk of the temple.
Where was Crichton?
"Five microts!" Aeryn rolled her eyes. "We took our eyes off of him five microts". She was trying to sound angry, but an almost empathic feeling deep inside started to swell in panic as they half hurried over to the tunnel entrances.
"Crichton!" D'Argo called…although unsure as to which tunnel the Human had chosen to explore. He tried the communicator…but it produced nothing but static. Another sound…like a distant roaring. Instinctively D'Argo reached for his qualta blade, hand resting on the hilt.
"What is it?" Zhaan was beside them now.
The roaring sounded again…this time louder. The Sebacean and Luxan acted fast, their military training taking front. "See if he is down that corridor…I will follow this one…STAY IN CONTACT". Aeryn and Zhaan both nodded their agreements as they quickly disappeared down the larger of the tunnels, Aeryn holding her torch at eye level.
D'Argo followed his tunnel slowly, his hand still on the hilt of the qualta blade. The roaring had stopped now, silence of the waiting beast.
"Crichton!" He continued to call for a full minute with his voice echoing up and down the catacombs. It was so quiet, even in the main hall the sound of the wind had rested in their ears…but now this silence was so pronounced that when the voice shot through the communicator the Luxan actually adopted a fighting position through shock.
"D'Argo come quick…please". Zhaan, and she sounded anxious…close to tears. He ran at full speed back down his corridor and out into the one the girls had followed.
He found the Delvian stood at the top of a small flight of steps cut into the outer bend of a tunnel meander…almost big enough to be another room in itself. Aeryn stood at the base…and in her light they could see icy water run down the steps in trickles from gaps in the stone wall.
Zhaan was desperatly studying the edge of the door. "He's behind this I know he is". She informed her companions. "There has to be a way to open…"
There was. "Step away". D'Argo ordered…and even before they were at a safe distance he aimed the now qualta rifle and fired. The explosion was immense, a torrent of stone and water…and the form of John Crichton.
He was thrown down the steps…rolling as he landed. Sand formed a second skin over his face, but his muscles made no attempts to dislodge it…he made no movement at all.
"He's not breathing". Zhaan exclaimed as Aeryn knelt down beside the Human, calling his name and feeling his neck…nothing but cold skin.
No…please Goddess I beg of you…spare this child Zhaan felt hot tears against her eyes.
"Aeryn help me". D'Argo…still in military mode…placed a listening ear against the human's chest. Sitting back up he raised his hand and hit the chest with as much strength as he could spare without breaking the human's ribs. He pushed down on the frame, trying to match his own heartbeat as it pummelled in his ears.
Understanding what was happening, Aeryn moved over to John's head and placed her mouth over his. D'Argo ceased compressions and she breathed, allowing her life's air to pass into his body, awaken him. She turned her head to the side, and was greeted with the welcoming breeze of a weak but present exhale on her cheek. She breathed for him again, and D'Argo continued the compressions.
Five…six...seven…eight…
Nioloth…I am the last
My world is dead
The destroyer has come
Fire…fire destroys Nioloth…I am the last
I wait here…hot…cold…dreamless sleep
Wait for the prophecy…Nioloth…I will be the first
The prophecy is NOW
Again Aeryn breathed, but this time she was greeted with the sound of a violent cough. John's eyes opened…closed again…and his whole frame shook. They turned him onto his side and he was sick…emptying the liquid and bile from his system. He began to shiver in the dry chill of the cave. "What…"
"Don't speak". Aeryn said firmly…finally allowing herself to relax. D'Argo stood, pulling John up beside him and placing the Human's arm across his shoulder, his own across John's back.
"Now we should return to Moya". He looked primarily at Zhaan, who nodded in agreement.
"No!" Crichton collapsed against D'Argo. "Can't leave". The Luxan responded by stooping slightly, gently lifting Crichton into his arms and across his broad shoulder. "Have to stay…Nioloth". John mumbled weakly before darkness descended.
"What's Nioloth?" Aeryn enquired.
"Must be a human saying". D'Argo said no more as he carried the unconscious form out of the tunnel, Aeryn by his side checking the Human's faint pulse and breathing.
Zhaan followed always a few steps behind.
'I'm not dead'
No, we are not
'What? Who said that?'
We live…I live through you…the prophecy is now
'Who are you?'
The last of Nioloth…the first of Nioloth…
'Nioloth?'
The prophecy is NOW