Chapter 5

"So much for stealth!" exclaimed Crichton

"It was a plan" replied Aeryn, testily

They could hear the occupants of the elevator working on the door.

"Pralesh, any other options for escape?"

"Yes, but it is a long way. We will have to climb out. Follow me." They ran back the way that they had come, then took a different corridor. The place seemed like a maze of white corridors that all looked the same, but Pralesh seemed to know where he was going so Crichton and Aeryn followed him. Crichton clutched onto the straps of the backpack containing the weapon to make sure that it was safe. They came to dead-end leading only to a staircase ascending into the darkness. Pralesh started to climb and the others followed. There was a hairy moment when the pack slipped towards the metal stairs, but John managed to grab it in time. Pralesh opened the hatch at the top and they climbed through to more of the same white corridors. Dropping the hatch back down they sealed it shut.

"That should hold them for a little while." More corridors and another staircase. Crichton didn't know about the others but he had just about had it. His lungs were bursting and his legs felt like lead. They could hear their pursuers getting closer. Pralesh lead them up the next corridor to another dead end with a heavy door covered in weird-looking symbols.

"I know they're coming, but I have to rest for a bit," gasped Crichton

"There is no time for rest John Crichton. This is the only escape route but I have to tell you that this staircase is irradiated for protection and security," said Pralesh

"We're gonna get a dose of radiation?"

"Yes, but it is at quite a low level, only enough to cause very mild radiation sickness. I have some treatments. Hurry"

Aeryn hesitated. This was almost what she had been hoping for. She knew enough about sebacean pregnancy to know that even a low dose of radiation would cause her to loose her baby. In this situation she had little choice but to go up that staircase in order to survive. John would understand, if she even chose to tell him. This was their only escape route and there would be a chance for another child when their lives were more stable. She looked at John, breathing heavily and rubbing at a stitch in his side and then at the door and in that instant made a decision.

"No" she said

"No what, Aeryn?"

"No, we're not going that way"

"But Pralesh says it's our only option"

"There is always another option"

"If you're worried about the radiation sickness let me assure you that I have treatments that work on sebaceans."

"It's not that. I'm not going to discuss it further now. The fact is I am not going that way. It's up to you whether you go that way or with me." From experience John knew that it was no use arguing with her and he could hear the soldiers getting closer.

"OK Aeryn, we'll do this your way. Pralesh, don't worry about us, we'll meet you up top. You go this way. At least that way the thugs may split up and try and follow both of us"

"I don't like it John Crichton, but I will do as you say." He too obviously recognised the implacable nature of Aeryn's position. John and Aeryn ran back down the corridor as Pralesh started to open the heavy door.

"What's that?" said Aeryn pointing to a vent in the ceiling

"Air vents? Probably an air conditioning system this deep underground"

"See, I told you there was always an alternative. I'll get this loose while you keep an eye on the hatch from the staircase"

"Um, Aeryn, how are you going to reach it?"

"By sitting on your shoulders of course!" She was up quickly. Crichton attempted to keep her steady whilst maintaining the backpack in its position and aiming Winona at the staircase hatch. Whilst juggling all these things at once he contemplated that whatever had put Aeryn off the irradiated staircase better be damn good, but now was not the best time to worry about it. Suddenly, a hand then a head appeared through the hatch. John got off a couple of good shots and the soldier fell back with a scream.

"I'm through," shouted Aeryn. She jumped up into the void above and pulled John through. They managed to get the vent back in place before the head of the next pursuer appeared. They lay there silently as the troops and the Scarrens all climbed through the hatchway and ran off down the corridor towards the irradiated staircase. It was while this was happening that John began to realise they might have another problem. They were in a very narrow pipe, naturally made of some sort of metal. When the coast was clear he said,

"Hey, Aeryn, we've avoided one radiation hazard but potentially run into another; talk about out of the frying pan and into the fire" she looked at him questioningly. "I'm gonna have to be real careful if Metal Mickey here is not gonna make us both complete toast"

"Well make sure you are"

"Hey, give me some slack here. I could always make you carry it"

"No" she said with conviction, then more calmly "I mean, it would be difficult for you to get the back pack off now".

"Do you know where we're going?"

"The only way is up, John!"

They began to crawl. The incline made it slow going, especially as it became steeper and steeper. They got little help from looking through the vents because all they saw each time was the same white corridors. John was taking things very carefully, crawling along on his belly, trying to keep the weapon as far away from the metal pipe as possible. It didn't help that it was virtually pitch black in between the vents. They almost had a disaster when John crashed into Aeryn's feet in front of him when she stopped suddenly.

"John, do you smell that?"

"Smell what? I can't smell anything except your feet in my face." She chose to ignore this insult.

"Fresh air. Come on, we must be close." Sure enough around the next bend in the pipe a dim light could be seen at the end. They reached it and looked out. It was close to dawn and in the pale light they could see that they were only a few feet above ground, near the entrance to the bunker where they had come in. The only problem was that now there were guards patrolling the area, obviously searching for them. The two Scarrens were standing by the entrance talking into a comm.

"They have eluded us so far, sir, but they can't be far. I believe that they will head for their ship. Yes sir, right away." He snapped off the comm. "Move! To the landing bay area. We are to secure their ship." As they moved off, Aeryn and Crichton jumped down from the vent.

"Now what?"

"Let's find Pralesh then make our way over to the landing area"

"You heard them, Aeryn, they're gonna "secure" our ship"

"Then we'll just have to "secure" someone else's." They moved quietly round the buildings. A sudden footfall had them turning at speed, pulse pistols at the ready

"Pralesh, man, you need to be careful. Creeping up on us like that is gonna get you shot"

"I am glad you made it out safely. I have to thank you for all you have done Aeryn Sun and John Crichton"

"Hey it was nothing! All we need you to do now is help us to get a ship out of here so we can finish the job." Crichton replied, pointing at the backpack still tied safely to him. When they arrived at the landing area they realised that this was not going to be that easy. Their transport pod was surrounded and guards were patrolling the whole area.

"Got any bright ideas, Aeryn?"

"Go away and come back in the morning?"

"It's an idea, not sure I'd call it bright though"

"OK, so what's your plan? I've come up with all the ideas this trip. It's time you contributed a few pearls of wisdom!"

"Well, how about I make like I'm gonna surrender to them. They're not gonna shoot me 'cos they want to interrogate me about wormholes. Whilst I'm distracting them you run to that small fighter ship over there, jump in and then blast the hell out of them before picking me up"

"That's a terrible plan. We'll both be killed"

"Why?"

"Well, your assuming that a) they instantly recognise you before shooting and b) that ship is unlocked with its weapons loaded." Pralesh looked at the bickering pair incredulously. This was obviously going to develop into a significant argument. Fortunately, it was interrupted by a load noise from above. Suddenly, appearing out nowhere was Lo'la. Guns blazing, D'Argo managed to take out the guards around the transport pod. Aeryn and Crichton both sprang into action.

"Way to go D. That's our que. So long Pralesh, it's been a blast"

"My people will be forever thankful John Crichton and Aeryn Sun. I wish you the best of fortune," he yelled out after them. They ran to the transport pod, both pulse pistols firing, and Aeryn had the pod airborne before anyone could recover from Lo'la's assault.