The Uncharted Territories
Part 5 – Conspiracy and Sacrifice
Despite exhaustive efforts, I still don't own Farscape or any of its characters. I own Nykarene and Jonah, nothing more.
He could still remember the day he had been honoured with the implant, the day the world had become so much brighter, sounds so much sweeter, crisp and clear. He could see everything, be anywhere…it had overwhelmed him at first but he had adapted, he had come to enjoy the feelings, appreciate the company.
Then one day the voice had become silent, his head the empty void it had been before…he was alone like before, unless he imagined its presence and remembered words and phrases, conversations they had had about the stars, about the universe, philosophy and history. He had slept, not wishing to leave her, not wishing to walk the halls alone.
When the voice had returned he had believed it to be a dream, until he heard the words…heard that the phrase was a new phrase…felt the pain it carried.
Command wasn't in much better a shape than the rest of the Leviathan, covered in broken circuitry and debris resultant from countless explosions. Surprisingly however, despite the extensive damage, some of the consoles still worked, including the sensors. It was this that Nykarene approached, activating it and running scans of both the exterior and interior of the Leviathan. By that time the worst of the jolts and noise had stopped, reduced to mild shakes and quiet but audible moans.
"Why are the consoles not dead?" Jonah asked out of curiosity.
"Because the Leviathan is not dead". Nykarene answered, seeing no point in keeping it a secret any longer as the last of the jolts shook through the ship. "She must have been comatose when we came aboard…"
"You mean she's still alive…in all this". Jonah felt sick to her stomach, imagining being in so much pain, and not having the ability to end it. "Did you know?"
Nykarene didn't want to answer…didn't like the truth and didn't want to lie. "Moya has had some kind of adverse reaction to a foreign substance". The Follicle stimulant she thought not without a pang of guilt. She had thought the ship brain dead; she had not known that her work would cause anything besides mild discomfort in the early stages. She checked the sensors some more. "It has settled now, but it caused her great pain".
"YOU caused her great pain?" Nykarene stood straight, startled. The voice had not been Jonah's, it was male and deep…coming through the translator microbes as Luxan. Swallowing slightly she turned to find herself facing the wrong end of a pulse blaster, held by what was unmistakably a Luxan warrior…his other arm around the unconscious Jonah's waist, the girl a victim of tonguing. "Who are you…who sent you?"
Nykarene was suddenly extremely grateful of her ability to hide feelings and keep herself calm. "We're explorers, nobody sent us". She raised her hands in a show of surrender. "We're unarmed". She emphasised the point by slowly opening her coat, showing him that she carried no weapons beneath.
"What did you do to Moya? The injection" His fingers tightened threateningly around the trigger, the aim of the gun not wavering.
How could he KNOW about that?
"We haven't harmed her?" She asked, feigning innocence.
The command became filled with a new sound, alien clicks and whistles completely incomprehensible to everyone except the Luxan, who understood every word, close to hyper rage as he pulled Jonah into his frame, the gun now pointed at her head. "Moya can sense your lies".
Another series of clicks and whistles.
"Your ship is injured…sick…hallucinating. I tell the truth".
Incomprehensible clicks and whistles…each syllable followed by the Luxan.
No escape…she couldn't lie…any time for transport? She couldn't just leave Jonah. The gun was still pointed at her head, the Luxan's fingers pressing down on the trigger…
"WAIT". The finger relaxed. "The girl hasn't hurt you or Moya, let her go". Nykarene pleaded. "She is not involved".
The Luxan nodded and lowered Jonah to the floor.
The Superior watched the expanse of space slide by at light speed, cycles turned to arns, arns to microts by the magnificent advancements of the engines. "We should reach Kelsa Yon within the arn sir". A Tech informed him, punctuating her report with a crisp salute.
"Notify me upon our arrival". The Superior smiled. Soon they would have the girl back, and in the chair she would tell them where the Illuminate was hiding…where they would be destroyed.
He returned to his quarters, and the ship continued its course. There would be no incident, no one in this region was stupid enough to approach a Peacekeeper.
Her neck was killing her.
Slowly Jonah opened her eyes, only to shut them tightly again as she was met with a bright light.
"She's coming around". Opened her eyes again…deep voice, a strange pair of eyes facing her…Luxan. Jonah jumped up quickly, trying to find something she could use as a weapon but coming up unsuccessful.
"Where…" She remembered standing on the bridge, realising that the ship was alive…feeling pain for it. Then darkness, had she passed out…she had been knocked out. "Where am I?"
"You're in the medical bay on board Moya". The Luxan spoke with an uncharacteristic softness as he allowed the girl time to calm down, keeping himself relaxed. "I am Ka D'Argo, Captain of this Leviathan".
"D'Argo". Jonah's mind flashed back to the diary…D'Argo, D'Argo…yes he had been on her home world, he had been a companion of her… "Father…you knew my Father. You were his friend".
"Father?" The Luxan Captain queried.
"My name is Jonah Crichton, daughter of the Regent John Crichton and Katralla of the sun". She bowed, and then quickly approached the Luxan, eagerly catching his gaze as excitement overtook her. "You knew my Father, you were there…is he here…where is he?"
D'Argo was still figuring everything out. "Your Crichton's daughter, from the Royal planet". Had it really been so long?
"Yes…Jonah. My Mother named me for him, I'm their daughter. I came here to find him. Is he here?"
D'Argo's initial amazement was replaced by a look of deep sadness, its intensity mellowed by age, but still present. "You came here seeking him". Jonah nodded, her smile wiped clean by his expression.
"He's here isn't he?" Jonah asked, fear clutching her chest. "He's here on Moya with you?" Tears found their way into her eyes.
"John Crichton…your father…died two cycles after we left your world. He and Aeryn were killed by the aliens of a planet called Qujaga". Jonah heard his words, heard the meaning, and let the tears fall. Of course he's dead she thought what did you expect after 100 cycles still to have come so far only to have it confirmed outright in one sentence. Where will you go now? What will you do?
"Killed". She repeated.
D'Argo shook his head. "I'm sorry to have to bear this news to you…we never thought we would…"
"You forgot about me…he forgot about me". You hadn't even been born, you were a statue "What about the others". The crew she had read about.
"Zhaan died roughly six months after our departure from your world, saving Moya and her crew. After Crichton and Aeryn's death Rygel left to reclaim his throne…again. Guess he succeeded this time". The Luxan smiled. "The others stayed. By one race I was able to receive the implant which enabled me to communicate directly with Moya as her Captain, and we worked as merchants, transport, even got involved in a rebellion. Eventually Noranti passed away… Chiana and Stark".
"Noranti? Stark?" They had not been mentioned in the diaries.
"New additions. Noranti was an aged woman from a species I did not recognise, who passed away ten years after your Father… Stark was a Banik like your friend. He and Chiana died in the same attack that killed Pilot".
Jonah shook as she remembered the terrifying discovery of the symbiosis corpse.
"It was the Pathfinder species. By the time they had left Moya was crippled, and only I was still alive. Unable to function and beyond anybodies ability to heal but her own, Moya made her final journey to Kelsa Yon to live out the rest of her life". He closed his eyes. "She was so injured and so far away without Starburst but Moya was determined that if she was to die her body would rest alongside that of her sons". He sighed. "Her injuries proved not to be fatal, but Leviathan's can live for many thousands of cycles, and their natural healing process is slow especially with so few DRD's. Eventually she entered the coma, and I slept in one of the cold freezing pods we held, waiting for the time when I would be needed again". He opened his eyes and looked at her. "How old are you?"
"Me…almost eighteen".
The Luxan was quiet as he did the maths. "Then I have slept for almost sixty seven cycles".
"Did we wake you up?"
Nykarene sat in the corner of the cell, watching the DRD watching her in case she tried to escape…not that there was much point any way. She had no way of getting to the ship in time, and had already proven her inability to transport through a vacuum.
"Ka D'Argo tells me you have some explaining to do Nyka". Jonah…finally recovered from the effects of the venomous tongue the Luxan carried.
"So that's his name". Nykarene noted the information.
"Why did you hurt Moya?"
"I didn't know I was harming her…it wasn't my plan".
"Then what was?"
For a long moment Nykarene looked at the floor, the walls, anywhere but into Jonah's eyes. She had never been good at freely giving away information about herself and her past, it was a trait of her species as much as a personal attribute.
"I am the member of a resistant cell called the illuminate. Shortly before we met I infiltrated a Peacekeeper research base holding information and application tools for a mutation of the Leviathan race…the Talyn strain".
"Talyn strain?"
"An outlawed breed of Leviathan Gunship". Nykarene explained. "The peacekeepers had abandoned the project because the gunship did not function under any form of contemporary control, but they kept all information for it for when they ever found a…suitable method". She smiled. "At least they did till I stole it the tools and wiped the files clean".
Jonah wasn't amused.
"With the Talyn strain in my possession, I was supposed to find suitable…hosts…to carry the ships to full term. This Leviathan's birth canal is already adapted to carrying a gunship, and her 'apparent' brain dead state made Moya a perfect candidate from which to birth the first ships".
"Ships plural!" Jonah held the conversation. "For what?" She felt she already knew the answer.
"Remember what I told you about my people's enslavement". Nykarene's eye lost focus, as if peering into her own past. "We were a basic species, we didn't have space travel, didn't have weapons. When the Peacekeepers came we were easily conquered and we have had no way to fight back until now…take back our freedom, destroy the oppressors".
"Wipe out the Peacekeeper race?" Jonah was horrified.
"I would wipe out every species between here and the Hynerian Empire if it freed my people". Nykarene spoke through her teeth as she turned to face the opposite wall, her way of signalling the conversation as complete.
Jonah wasn't finished. "We destroyed the vials".
Nykarene was glad to be facing the other way, no longer able to hide her feelings. "Then the cause is lost".
"Not the cause, just one method". Jonah said. "I support your believes, I don't condone slavery of any form".
Nykarene was honestly confused. "Then why?"
"Because I DON'T condone the violation of an innocent Leviathan, or the mass genocide of an entire species, most of whom probably have nothing to do with your people's suffering. Yes by all rights Banik should be a free race, but that freedom shouldn't be achieved through bloodshed".
After some time the Banik spoke. "Tell Moya I'm sorry for her pain".
"She already knows…" Jonah looked at the DRD's blinking eye "…and for some farbot reason she and D'Argo have forgiven you. Guess I have to." She looked back at the younger girl. "Do you want me to get you anything to eat?"
Nykarene removed her mask to reveal a dark hollow where her energy usually glowed. "I can get it myself". Without another word she transported through the bars, re-coalesced to replace her mask and smiled.
"You mean you could have done that the whole time". Jonah was surprised and amused in equal measures.
Nykarene simply shrugged and walked past the Sebacean, the DRD following close behind. She took a few steps then turned back. "Thank you".
"For what". Jonah asked.
"Understanding".
"Who said I understood".
Nykarene nodded comprehensibly. She waited a few microts then left the corridor. Jonah did the same.
Through the DRD, Ka D'Argo had been watching the entire incident. He understood the actions of the rogue Banik. When he had learned that his own son was a slave he had been willing to risk everything to free him, and Moya had experienced first hand peacekeeper control under the collar. Despite everything they had already forgiven Nykarene…though it would be a long time before D'Argo would actually trust her.
For trust it was the same with Jonah, Crichton's daughter…a lot like her Father in terms of curiosity and strength, the same eyes the same style of personality. She had an innocence about her though, one that hid a great pain…leaving her family and life behind and entering a world of death, conspiracy and danger she wasn't accustomed to…and yet had adapted to with a skill also attributed to her parentage. In a few ways she was like a carbon copy, and yet she was so different in many others.
"She wants to see Qujaga, where he died". He reminded Moya. "I could take her but…but it would mean leaving you behind".
I am not afraid. Take Jonah…teach her what she yearns to know and more…it is what Crichton would have wished.
"The journey is long".
We have patience
"While I know I have rarely shown it, you have always been my most respected and valued ally".
As have you, my protector…wait
"What is it?" D'Argo saw with Moya's eyes, a ship…two ships moving through the dense nebula, scanning…searching...looking for Moya.
"D'Argo?" Jonah appeared beside the Luxan.
"Peacekeepers". D'Argo confirmed. "What the frell are they doing here?"
"They must be looking for me". Nykarene was stood in the doorway.
"If they are they're not looking any more". D'Argo announced. "We have been detected".
Outside the Peacekeeper ships surrounded Moya, all guns primed and ready to fire at the first sign of resistance, though it would be a futile action of the defenceless Leviathan. Prowlers were released to increase the barrier, pilots ready to board the ship as soon as ordered. "Leviathan vessel, your crew are to abandon their weapons and assemble in your command area".
"I'll go to them". Nykarene volunteered, already making her way to a transport pod.
"Oh no you won't". Jonah grabbed her. "This is no time to suddenly go heroic. There has to be something we can do". She looked at D'Argo. "D'Argo".
D'Argo was simply staring at her with unfocused eyes. "No". He whispered, talking not to the girls but to someone else…to Moya. "Moya is getting ready to starburst".
"Starburst". Jonah exclaimed. "But the engine might still be damaged; in her condition starburst could…"
"Starburst WILL kill her". Nykarene said, but Jonah was not about to let it happen.
"Moya". She called, hoping beyond hope that Moya was listening to her. "Moya don't do this…Moya please there has to be another way".
A final wish, let my pain end, let me die in service as is the wish of my kind
"Goodbye my friend?" D'Argo bowed his head, accepting the fate of his most valued ally…his home…his friend. Under her breathe Nykarene muttered a prayer, one she had heard the Stykera of her race use when people passed to the other side.
"Moya NO!" Jonah screamed as a blue light enveloped the vessel. She was going to die because of their arrival, because of her. She turned to face Nykarene and buried her face in the chanting Banik's shoulder as Moya pulled them through starburst…for the last time. Quickly D'Argo headed for the exit, pulling the girls into step behind him as he left the command…for the last time.
The starburst was instantaneous, Kelsa Yon melting around them, fading into the empty region of space beyond. Moya jolted as she was hit, one of the ships trying to prevent her starburst, but the shots came too late and she fully re-coalesced on the other side. She was still for a few eternal microts, then her entire infrastructure began to shudder violently as it broke down and collapse in on itself, almost enveloping the retreating ship, the last survivor.
Turbulence hit the ship, almost throwing Jonah into the console ahead of her, and sending Nykarene falling to the floor behind. D'Argo steered Lo'La round to face the collapsing Leviathan. He rarely cried, not on his own and definitely not in the presence of others, but he did as he watched his friend die, reduced to dust in the vast…cold vacuum of space.
I am not afraid.
Silence surrounded the crew of theLo'La, no one speaking until a beeping sound indicated that the ship had verified their location. "A final gift my friend". D'Argo said, partially under his breath.
"Why, where are we?" Jonah asked through her subsiding sobs.
"Qujaga". He replied in disbelieve as he stared at the water covered planet below.