-----------------
She felt its formation directly behind her eyes, then the slight irritating tickle as it slowly trickled through her sinuses, down her nasal cavity and then perch on the tip of her nose, only to be released when she nodded an acknowledgement to his question.
You didn't see it, she told herself. You didn't feel it. No weaknesses. Your head is not exploding and this room IS NOT spinning. She'd been hiding it for cycles now, what was twelve more arns? How do you tell your son that his presence is your pain? You don't, even though the more he matures the worse the pain is.
She learned long ago not to delve into the oblivion of her past. To even think of trying to remember those missing years was torture. Being on this ship was torture. That in itself told her countless things she desperately tried not to think about. This was her past. HE was her past. His face was unfamiliar, but his touch was a thousand unremembered memories. The volume of pain let her know; she'd found her way home.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Aeric was lost. He'd denied it for as long as he could, but now he had to face facts. After making sure his mother was comfortable he'd set out to find the center chamber as instructed, promising his mother to return with food. He'd wandered for a while thinking it wouldn't be too hard to locate, but quickly learned of his mistake in not asking for help. In frustration he violently kicked the wall.
"Moya probably doesn't appreciate being mishandled that way."
Aeric spun around to face the woman behind him. "Mom? You should be in bed resting." The woman stepped closer and he realized his mistake. "Who are you?"
"My name is Brennik. I believe I may be your mother's daughter."
"I don't know if anything will surprise me anymore. You look just like her."
The woman smiled and dropped her head in embarrassment. "That's what everyone has told me." Brennik motioned for Aeric to follow her and they began the trip to the Center Chamber. "If your mother is who we think she is, she lived aboard this ship, with these people for about six cycles. That was over twenty cycles ago. One day her prowler exploded and everyone thought she was dead."
"Until today."
"Yes, until today." Brennik paused briefly, searching for the right words. "When we get to this meeting, please be patient with everyone. They all loved her very much. Some more than others, but all very deeply. This group can come across... heavy, sometimes a little fahrbot - but always with the best of intentions."
"How can my mother be their friend, if their friend was in the prowler when it exploded?"
"We're not sure yet. There are some theories being tossed around. Chiana is rambling on about gelatinous crystal and dad keeps mumbling something about 'Scotty of the Uncharted Territories', whoever that is. But it seems the running theory is that she was kidnapped out of her prowler microts before it exploded, which, depending on the technology, could explain the explosion in the first place."
Aeric's mind was spinning and he was sure he was on a ship with half delusional people. But they had reached the end of the passage and Brennik palmed the door open to reveal D'Argo and Chiana sitting at a
table in a heated discussion while John Crichton paced the floor behind them.
Brennik led him to the table and sat him next to Chiana, then placed a tray of green cubes in front of him. He was shy sitting next to the exotic beauty, but tried his best to hide it. And really, really hoped that wasn't his face turning pink. Maybe they'd think it was warm in the room. "What's this?" He asked staring dubiously at the little green boxes.
"Nutrition," the Luxan answered gruffly, but with kindness.
Crichton patted his shoulder from behind, ignoring how the boy flinched at his touch. "Tastes like cardboard, but it fills the void."
He waited quietly for someone to say something, anything, as he munched on the tasteless cubes. Finally, Crichton sat across from him, scooting D'Argo over in the process. Aeric would have found the sight of the Sebacean and Luxan squished on one bench humorous if he wasn't so confused, bewildered. Not scared though. He refused to be scared. "Aeric," Crichton began. "We are going to try and help... Sundance, but we're going to need your cooperation. Can you work with us?"
Aeric had absentmindedly started gnawing on the pad of his thumb. Heck it tasted better than those frelling cubes. "Yes. No. Maybe. I dunno. What do you need from me?"
Chiana gasped, but Crichton ignored her and continued. "You were there when your mother told me that thinking of her past is what triggers her headaches, right? The stronger the memory, the worse the pain." Aeric nodded. "First, we want your mom to stay put. The more she walks around, the longer the trip down memory lane."
"I can understand that."
"This is the part you're not going to like. We want you to stay away from her area."
"What?!" Aeric jumped to his feet, nearly sending Chiana tumbling backwards as his legs pushed their shared bench violently backward with his haste. "No, you just want to keep us apart. I won't let you!"
"Sit down and listen!" The order from D'Argo sounded ominous.
Aeric collected a measure of composure and sat down. "This better be good." He mumbled under his breath.
"You said her headaches have been getting increasingly worse." Aeric nodded. "As you mature you are looking more and more like your father- probably acting like him too."
"Probably? Hmph." Chiana interrupted. Crichton shot her a warning glance and continued. "The more you remind her of your father..."
"The more memories she has to fight." Aeric finished the thought, devastated. "So," he swallowed. "It's been my fault."
"No, none of this is your fault. Blame your father for passing on his genes."
Aeric half chuckled to himself, lost in his own thoughts. "Mother truly thinks I'm a miracle baby. She always was proud that she was blessed with a baby, even though she hadn't been with anyone."
"Dad, that doesn't make sense. Do the math. Her memories start twenty cycles ago. Aeric is only twelve."
"I'll be thirteen next monen."
Brennik rolled her eyes. "Close enough. The point is, she should be able to remember the father and Aeric looking like him should have no effect on her. Unless her memory degrades as she ages."
"No," Aeric said. "She can tell me stories from my early childhood and has told me stories of some of her homes before I was born. It's not getting worse."
Chiana spoke for the first time, interrupting the two. "Aer... uh, Sundance was a peacekeeper born on a command carrier." Brennik flashed her a 'so what' look so Chiana continued. "Female peacekeepers are genetically altered. If they get pregnant the fetus is held in stasis until the fetus is surgically released. Or until seven cycles have passed. Whichever comes first. She wouldn't remember the father because miracle boy here was conceived shortly before she was... well... taken. Seven cycles pass and WHAM! If you don't know you're genetically altered, you're miraculously pregnant. And while we're on the subject, we finally have the REAL reason you guys kept us waiting dinner for an arn that night..." she continued on, but was ignored by everyone in the room.
Brennik was speechless. Aeric was her full brother.
Aeric was staring at John, who was staring at Aeric. "You?", was the silent question.
Crichton's nod was barely perceptible. "We can get a DNA test if you'd like."
Aeric nodded, but knew in his heart they weren't lying to him. His world was falling apart around him and he was helpless to stop it. All his life he'd looked after his mother, tried to take care of her, protect her. They were a team who always managed to pull through and stay together. But in a few short arns this stranger had stepped in and taken over.
Control was slipping through his fingers. He was panicking. He resented it. He hated this man for taking on Aerics' responsibility, but mostly he hated himself for being grateful.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Brennik hovered in the doorway, a tray of food in her hands. Sundance looked so peaceful sleeping, she hated to disturb her. But Aeric said it had been a while since they'd eaten and the poor woman needed the nourishment. Quietly she entered and placed the tray on a counter.
"I'm not asleep. Come. Tell what Mr. Crichton said."
"He said to rest. And to forget him for a little while."
Her mother's eyes flew open in astonishment, then in bewilderment. Raising herself to sit and accepting the plate of food she approached the conundrum logically. "Who are you?"
"For right now? I'm a fellow traveler who happens to look remarkably similar to you. Answers can come later."
They stared at each other for a long moment before Sundance nodded. "For right now."
"How's your head?"
"Much better. I don't know what that witch gave me, but it seems to have worked wonders. It also seems to put me to sleep."
"You've been out four arns already. Only eight more to go. I am here to keep you company."
"I do not need a minder. I am perfectly capable of looking after myself."
"I know. But I was bored, and lonely and thought I'd like to get to know you better."
"Why?"
Brennik shrugged. "Lack of anything better to do. Besides, you're not planning on bugging out the microt you're healed are you? If we're going to be shipmates for a little while..."
"Bugging out?"
"Sorry, it's a term my father uses to say 'leaving abruptly and without notice'."
"That does not make sense."
"A lot of things he says doesn't. Enough about my father. You'll meet him later."
Sundance finished eating and lay back on the bed, closing her eyes in exhaustion. She was softly humming a simply melody but then stopped abruptly. "What are mice?"
"Questions later. Right now we're thinking about the present and the future. Tell me about yourself. I mean, other than the whole slave thing. Unless you want to talk about the whole slave thing. Then feel free." Realizing she was babbling, she closed her mouth hoping to keep from saying anything else idiotic.
"What do you want to know?"
"Well, for starters, what do you like to do for fun?"
"Fun?"
"You know, what brings you joy?"
Sundance thought for a moment and a slow smile spread over her face, lighting it with radiance. No wonder her father was so captivated. "First, Aeric. Second, my tapestry. When Aeric was little I worked for a weaver who taught me how to make beautiful tapestry and for hours I would sing to Aeric and weave. I loved how it felt to create with my own hands. I had joy in watching the beauty form beneath my fingers. And when it was finished it was if I was looking at a piece of myself re-created. But then, that master died and I was sold to pay some debts. The looms were his, so I had to leave them behind."
"We'll have to get you a new one, all yours, so that you could weave whenever you want to."
Sundance sighed wistfully. "That part of my life is over now. What about you? What brings you joy?"
Brennik paused, unsure how much to say. "Flying. I love the adrenaline rush as I glide through the air, the feeling of power as I control the lives of everyone on board. But mostly, I love the communion I feel between myself and the machine. Especially the bio-mechanoids. It's as if they are talking to me alone and I can translate their wishes into flight patterns and maneuvers." Brennik paused. "Probably silly, I know."
"I don't think so." Sundance groggily replied. "I think it sounds exciting, especially for someone your age." Her last words were a whisper as her body relaxed into slumber.
Brennik watched her mother sleep with a thousand thoughts chasing each other through her mind. Aeryn had always been described as a warrior. If you give her a pulse pistol she could field strip it in eight microts flat. She was a sure shot and a lethal hand-to-hand combatant, with little or no patience for things such as weaving.
Her mother had changed since she was last aboard Moya. Brennik was aching to know her mother as she currently was, but worried about her father. Could he overcome whatever differences there were?
She felt its formation directly behind her eyes, then the slight irritating tickle as it slowly trickled through her sinuses, down her nasal cavity and then perch on the tip of her nose, only to be released when she nodded an acknowledgement to his question.
You didn't see it, she told herself. You didn't feel it. No weaknesses. Your head is not exploding and this room IS NOT spinning. She'd been hiding it for cycles now, what was twelve more arns? How do you tell your son that his presence is your pain? You don't, even though the more he matures the worse the pain is.
She learned long ago not to delve into the oblivion of her past. To even think of trying to remember those missing years was torture. Being on this ship was torture. That in itself told her countless things she desperately tried not to think about. This was her past. HE was her past. His face was unfamiliar, but his touch was a thousand unremembered memories. The volume of pain let her know; she'd found her way home.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Aeric was lost. He'd denied it for as long as he could, but now he had to face facts. After making sure his mother was comfortable he'd set out to find the center chamber as instructed, promising his mother to return with food. He'd wandered for a while thinking it wouldn't be too hard to locate, but quickly learned of his mistake in not asking for help. In frustration he violently kicked the wall.
"Moya probably doesn't appreciate being mishandled that way."
Aeric spun around to face the woman behind him. "Mom? You should be in bed resting." The woman stepped closer and he realized his mistake. "Who are you?"
"My name is Brennik. I believe I may be your mother's daughter."
"I don't know if anything will surprise me anymore. You look just like her."
The woman smiled and dropped her head in embarrassment. "That's what everyone has told me." Brennik motioned for Aeric to follow her and they began the trip to the Center Chamber. "If your mother is who we think she is, she lived aboard this ship, with these people for about six cycles. That was over twenty cycles ago. One day her prowler exploded and everyone thought she was dead."
"Until today."
"Yes, until today." Brennik paused briefly, searching for the right words. "When we get to this meeting, please be patient with everyone. They all loved her very much. Some more than others, but all very deeply. This group can come across... heavy, sometimes a little fahrbot - but always with the best of intentions."
"How can my mother be their friend, if their friend was in the prowler when it exploded?"
"We're not sure yet. There are some theories being tossed around. Chiana is rambling on about gelatinous crystal and dad keeps mumbling something about 'Scotty of the Uncharted Territories', whoever that is. But it seems the running theory is that she was kidnapped out of her prowler microts before it exploded, which, depending on the technology, could explain the explosion in the first place."
Aeric's mind was spinning and he was sure he was on a ship with half delusional people. But they had reached the end of the passage and Brennik palmed the door open to reveal D'Argo and Chiana sitting at a
table in a heated discussion while John Crichton paced the floor behind them.
Brennik led him to the table and sat him next to Chiana, then placed a tray of green cubes in front of him. He was shy sitting next to the exotic beauty, but tried his best to hide it. And really, really hoped that wasn't his face turning pink. Maybe they'd think it was warm in the room. "What's this?" He asked staring dubiously at the little green boxes.
"Nutrition," the Luxan answered gruffly, but with kindness.
Crichton patted his shoulder from behind, ignoring how the boy flinched at his touch. "Tastes like cardboard, but it fills the void."
He waited quietly for someone to say something, anything, as he munched on the tasteless cubes. Finally, Crichton sat across from him, scooting D'Argo over in the process. Aeric would have found the sight of the Sebacean and Luxan squished on one bench humorous if he wasn't so confused, bewildered. Not scared though. He refused to be scared. "Aeric," Crichton began. "We are going to try and help... Sundance, but we're going to need your cooperation. Can you work with us?"
Aeric had absentmindedly started gnawing on the pad of his thumb. Heck it tasted better than those frelling cubes. "Yes. No. Maybe. I dunno. What do you need from me?"
Chiana gasped, but Crichton ignored her and continued. "You were there when your mother told me that thinking of her past is what triggers her headaches, right? The stronger the memory, the worse the pain." Aeric nodded. "First, we want your mom to stay put. The more she walks around, the longer the trip down memory lane."
"I can understand that."
"This is the part you're not going to like. We want you to stay away from her area."
"What?!" Aeric jumped to his feet, nearly sending Chiana tumbling backwards as his legs pushed their shared bench violently backward with his haste. "No, you just want to keep us apart. I won't let you!"
"Sit down and listen!" The order from D'Argo sounded ominous.
Aeric collected a measure of composure and sat down. "This better be good." He mumbled under his breath.
"You said her headaches have been getting increasingly worse." Aeric nodded. "As you mature you are looking more and more like your father- probably acting like him too."
"Probably? Hmph." Chiana interrupted. Crichton shot her a warning glance and continued. "The more you remind her of your father..."
"The more memories she has to fight." Aeric finished the thought, devastated. "So," he swallowed. "It's been my fault."
"No, none of this is your fault. Blame your father for passing on his genes."
Aeric half chuckled to himself, lost in his own thoughts. "Mother truly thinks I'm a miracle baby. She always was proud that she was blessed with a baby, even though she hadn't been with anyone."
"Dad, that doesn't make sense. Do the math. Her memories start twenty cycles ago. Aeric is only twelve."
"I'll be thirteen next monen."
Brennik rolled her eyes. "Close enough. The point is, she should be able to remember the father and Aeric looking like him should have no effect on her. Unless her memory degrades as she ages."
"No," Aeric said. "She can tell me stories from my early childhood and has told me stories of some of her homes before I was born. It's not getting worse."
Chiana spoke for the first time, interrupting the two. "Aer... uh, Sundance was a peacekeeper born on a command carrier." Brennik flashed her a 'so what' look so Chiana continued. "Female peacekeepers are genetically altered. If they get pregnant the fetus is held in stasis until the fetus is surgically released. Or until seven cycles have passed. Whichever comes first. She wouldn't remember the father because miracle boy here was conceived shortly before she was... well... taken. Seven cycles pass and WHAM! If you don't know you're genetically altered, you're miraculously pregnant. And while we're on the subject, we finally have the REAL reason you guys kept us waiting dinner for an arn that night..." she continued on, but was ignored by everyone in the room.
Brennik was speechless. Aeric was her full brother.
Aeric was staring at John, who was staring at Aeric. "You?", was the silent question.
Crichton's nod was barely perceptible. "We can get a DNA test if you'd like."
Aeric nodded, but knew in his heart they weren't lying to him. His world was falling apart around him and he was helpless to stop it. All his life he'd looked after his mother, tried to take care of her, protect her. They were a team who always managed to pull through and stay together. But in a few short arns this stranger had stepped in and taken over.
Control was slipping through his fingers. He was panicking. He resented it. He hated this man for taking on Aerics' responsibility, but mostly he hated himself for being grateful.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Brennik hovered in the doorway, a tray of food in her hands. Sundance looked so peaceful sleeping, she hated to disturb her. But Aeric said it had been a while since they'd eaten and the poor woman needed the nourishment. Quietly she entered and placed the tray on a counter.
"I'm not asleep. Come. Tell what Mr. Crichton said."
"He said to rest. And to forget him for a little while."
Her mother's eyes flew open in astonishment, then in bewilderment. Raising herself to sit and accepting the plate of food she approached the conundrum logically. "Who are you?"
"For right now? I'm a fellow traveler who happens to look remarkably similar to you. Answers can come later."
They stared at each other for a long moment before Sundance nodded. "For right now."
"How's your head?"
"Much better. I don't know what that witch gave me, but it seems to have worked wonders. It also seems to put me to sleep."
"You've been out four arns already. Only eight more to go. I am here to keep you company."
"I do not need a minder. I am perfectly capable of looking after myself."
"I know. But I was bored, and lonely and thought I'd like to get to know you better."
"Why?"
Brennik shrugged. "Lack of anything better to do. Besides, you're not planning on bugging out the microt you're healed are you? If we're going to be shipmates for a little while..."
"Bugging out?"
"Sorry, it's a term my father uses to say 'leaving abruptly and without notice'."
"That does not make sense."
"A lot of things he says doesn't. Enough about my father. You'll meet him later."
Sundance finished eating and lay back on the bed, closing her eyes in exhaustion. She was softly humming a simply melody but then stopped abruptly. "What are mice?"
"Questions later. Right now we're thinking about the present and the future. Tell me about yourself. I mean, other than the whole slave thing. Unless you want to talk about the whole slave thing. Then feel free." Realizing she was babbling, she closed her mouth hoping to keep from saying anything else idiotic.
"What do you want to know?"
"Well, for starters, what do you like to do for fun?"
"Fun?"
"You know, what brings you joy?"
Sundance thought for a moment and a slow smile spread over her face, lighting it with radiance. No wonder her father was so captivated. "First, Aeric. Second, my tapestry. When Aeric was little I worked for a weaver who taught me how to make beautiful tapestry and for hours I would sing to Aeric and weave. I loved how it felt to create with my own hands. I had joy in watching the beauty form beneath my fingers. And when it was finished it was if I was looking at a piece of myself re-created. But then, that master died and I was sold to pay some debts. The looms were his, so I had to leave them behind."
"We'll have to get you a new one, all yours, so that you could weave whenever you want to."
Sundance sighed wistfully. "That part of my life is over now. What about you? What brings you joy?"
Brennik paused, unsure how much to say. "Flying. I love the adrenaline rush as I glide through the air, the feeling of power as I control the lives of everyone on board. But mostly, I love the communion I feel between myself and the machine. Especially the bio-mechanoids. It's as if they are talking to me alone and I can translate their wishes into flight patterns and maneuvers." Brennik paused. "Probably silly, I know."
"I don't think so." Sundance groggily replied. "I think it sounds exciting, especially for someone your age." Her last words were a whisper as her body relaxed into slumber.
Brennik watched her mother sleep with a thousand thoughts chasing each other through her mind. Aeryn had always been described as a warrior. If you give her a pulse pistol she could field strip it in eight microts flat. She was a sure shot and a lethal hand-to-hand combatant, with little or no patience for things such as weaving.
Her mother had changed since she was last aboard Moya. Brennik was aching to know her mother as she currently was, but worried about her father. Could he overcome whatever differences there were?