Title: When Worlds Collide
Author: sassy_lion
Summary: Aeryn and John are having a wonderful weeken to themselves,
when Aeryn goes missing and John finds a Peacekeeper plot that seems too
unbelievable (somehow all my stories, as of late, get the PK treatment), only
to get help from an unlikely source...
Spoilers: A little more than 5 months after season 3. John and Aeryn are
back together, as they should be!
Disclaimer: Rockne owns the world. I just live and play in it, I really
can't ask for more...
Archiving: If you want it, take it. Send me a note.
Beta: Iris Green, Pinky (for what little you did), and of course who can
forget: me! Oh, wait; I can't give myself credit, can I? Hmmm.... Another
question to ponder... I'll have to write this one down.
Feedback: PLEASE! I need it! Compliments will be shined and placed in a
display case. Flames will be used to blow new glass. (Yes, I know how to do it
too!)
Author's Notes: 1) I am person who HATES to do story outlines ahead of
time. It just throws me off and makes me lose my concentration. 2) I am
a nocturnal, soon-to-be 18-year-old, so if you find a mistake (regarding
space-time or just normal time) it just means I had to be up for at least part
of the day. 3) You'll find a couple of anime references in a lot of my
stories. No anime belongs to me, and in a way I want to strangle Lizzy for
giving me excuses to watch more and more TV every week. Most of my references
will be Gundam Wing, Cowboy Bebop, or Outlaw Star, but there others.... **Dogma
references, don't belong to me either. **
Shout-Outs: The biggest thanks go to Lizzy (aka pinky) for
endlessly listening to me bitch and moan about EVERYTHING from my works, your
works, your spelling problems (quit complaining, you know I luv ya!), being
broke, and trying to borrow all your stuff one at a time to try and copy (but
it doesn't work that well I guess). Why do you put up with me anyway? Thank you
for also listening to me mention who I am going to kill...(you know its Holly
:)) **SOS! The Wrath of Happosi** Can you buy that??? *Grins like Edward* Amy
for being a nit-pick and noticing EVERY spelling and grammar error in this
vapid little excuse to get away from my loud and crowding family life. I don't
think I could ever get this story up without the help. Dad for giving me
a whole pound of Twizzlers, Pop Tarts, jelly beans, creme savers and all the
chocolate my little tummy can hold to much on during this chapter's workings. Mom
for spending all of Spring Break watching all the episodes in succession with
me about 20x in a row, and Tucker for listening to the QOTD soundtrack
all this time...
Okay now my babbling is done. (For this chapter at least)
When Worlds Collide
Chapter 2: The Search Continues
© sassy_lion March/April 2002
"Hmm." Tara rolled over and laid next to Zahir, spent from their
love- making. But she quickly changed her mind, rolling over again and laying
her head back on his chest, and wrapping her arms around his neck. "How
long until our shift starts?"
"About 12 arns." Zahir smiled as he began to trace the intricate
marriage tattoo across her upper arm, as he always did when they were alone.
"How long until we can get off Loki?" she sighed as she closed her
eyes and listened to the sounds of the great Leviathan around her for a microt.
"At the next planet." he whispered softly into her ear, "Then we
can get off this Leviathan and spend some time down on the planet. Together and
alone."
"That is a complete oxymoron, but I know what you mean..." she
brought him down to her and captured his lips in hers.
"Captain..." the hesitant hail came at the worst time possible as
Tara groaned as laid her head on the soft pillows next to Zahir.
"Yes, Lieutenant Terga?" He snarled as if he had been woken up from
sleep.
"I am sorry to bother you, but we have just received the signal of a
Leviathan about 6 light- cycles away. Shall I set a course to pursue?" Her
voice had a slight hesitant nature for only a microt before she hid it.
"Have you identified the Leviathan?"
"No. We are not close enough to confirm identity, but if we get within 2
light-cycles, we will have conformation. That is what the Pilot informs me
of."
"Pursue until we find a well-stocked commerce planet. We are running low
on supplies and First Command will not send stock ships into the Uncharted
Territories. It will give away the location of our ship. We do not need to let
others know that we Peacekeepers have discovered a way to control Leviathans
without the use of control collars, thanks to NewTech divisions."
"Understood, Captain."
"And we certainly don't need High Command knowing we work for the
Resistance," Tara commented as soon as she was sure the comms were closed.
She once again brought her head back to his chest. "It would be bad for
our reputation." She began to close her eyes and fall asleep.
"Besides we still have our Command mission to find Moya and my
brother."
Zahir smiled and softly spoke, "We would be executed on sight. We still
have a loyal command crew. Don't forget that. If they learn we are Resistance,
they will not hesitate to kill us." He began to trace the tattoo again as
he felt her grow heavy against his chest. Sleep, my love. We will have a
long day ahead of us once we find Moya.
He felt Loki shift into Starburst as he began to allow his mind to wander to
thoughts about how his life had become so twisted. He remembered the day he
first met the now Risal L'San.
**FLASHBACK**
He had entered the cargo bay to find her climbing out of her Prowler. As soon
as she had seen him, she immediately stood at attention until he had fully
inspected her and called at ease, and asked her name.
"Lieutenant Risal L'San, sir."
"Where were you assigned to before?"
"New Tech, New-Star Division, Ravstar Regiment. Command post."
Zahir stared at her intensely as he dismissed her and had her follow a tech to
her assigned quarters. He actually couldn't take his eyes off her after the
first time he had seen her.
About two weekens later was when she had accidentally slipped up. He had her on
watch on Command when a passing Sheyang ship had attacked Loki, looking to loot
any Peacekeeper Leviathan it came across.
She had been in his quarters suggesting tactics when she had mentioned a
strange saying from her world and he had asked her about it. After she tried to
explain, he had realized she wasn't really Peacekeeper, wasn't even Sebecean,
and he had let her go without question to allow her to help with the situation.
After the crisis was solved, he had invited her into his quarters and asked her
about earlier. She had bowed her head and admitted that she wasn't really
Peacekeeper or even Sebecean for that matter; she was just trying to get by
without getting herself killed. She explained about her brother, and how she
had gotten permission from both IASA and Centinnal to go looking for him.
He had sympathized with her and agreed to help her keep her secret. A few solar
days later, he announced to the whole crew that he was making Lieutenant Risal
L'San his new second-in-command.
**FLASHBACK ENDED**
He looked down at the woman he was now married to. It was not something he had
planned in his youthful days; in fact it was something he had never planned at
all. Marriage was never heard of in Peacekeeper ranks -- marriage, especially
not to a non-Sebecean merely pretending to be a Peacekeeper. High Command would
have executed Zahir on the spot if they knew that he had married – since she
was non-Sebecean and a being a close family member to one of High Command's
most well-know fugitives.
Zahir felt Tara pull closer to him and fully relax, something she only did when
she was in a deep and peaceful sleep. He sighed and carefully pulled himself
from her embrace. Pulling on a pair of pants and a black shirt, Zahir headed
off to Command.
He entered Command to find Lieutenant Terga looking at the accumulating
information from her console. "Anything yet, Lieutenant?"
"Sir, there is a Command carrier on approach to the same marker we are
headed to. The Leviathan seems to be in their target sight as well. Shall I
contact the carrier and...."
"No," he interrupted, "Leave the carrier alone. We do not need
other complication in our pursuit. Keep our course steady and inform me if the
carrier contacts this Leviathan."
"Yes, sir."
Zahir nodded and stepped out of Command. He paused a moment at the door and
looked back at the stars. He smiled for a microt and headed back for his and
Tara's quarters for some well-deserved sleep with Tara at his side.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"Commander Crichton," Pilot's voice ventured softly into the silent
quarters. "Commander Crichton."
John became immediately aware at Pilot's second call. He turned to make sure
Aeryn was still asleep. Satisfied that she was, he responded, "What is it,
Pilot?"
"Moya's deep range scans have revealed a Peacekeeper Command Carrier one
light-cycle from our current location. It has located us and has turned on an
intercept vector."
"Can we Starburst?" John asked as he climbed from the bed and pulled
on a pair of pants and a shirt, heading off for Command and knowing full well
that Aeryn needed to stay in bed.
"No, Commander. Moya will not be able to replenish her energy reserves in
time. I estimate that the Command Carrier will be in range 600 microts before
Moya will be able to Starburst." he spoke as John entered Command.
"Moya has found a small planet nearby. She has voiced to me her concerns
for yours and Aeryn's impending child. Moya is willing to prepare a transport.
You will be able to take it to the planet and Moya is willing to draw the carrier
away from the planet's position."
"Pilot, we could never abandon Moya..." John began before Pilot
interrupted.
"Moya wishes for you to be safe and she knows that here aboard her right
now, it is not. Please, she wishes for you to do as she asks. As soon as we
draw the carrier away from our position, we will come back and retrieve
you."
John paused for a full minute before looking back up at Pilot, "Please,
Pilot, thank Moya for me, for us." He smiled and raced out of Command
towards his and Aeryn's quarters.
He entered and quickly shook her awake. "Come on, baby, we have a
Peacekeeper carrier tailing our ass. You need to wake up."
"How do you know it is after us?" Oh, dumb question. Everyone is
always after us.
"It changed to an interception vector once it realized we were here. Pilot
is prepping a pod, we have to go."
"No, I will not abandon Moya willingly."
"Neither will I, but..."
"It was Moya's idea." Pilot interrupted as Aeryn climbed slowly out
of the bed and into her clothes. "She feels that you, Commander Crichton
and the baby should be safe from the Peacekeepers. She will not be able to get
away from the carrier in time. The transport pod she requested you be on will
be ready in 90 microts."
Aeryn felt torn. She would never willingly abandon Moya, but Moya wanted her
and John to go and be safe from the Peacekeepers. She moved quickly to the
other side of their room and pulled out her black duffel bag. There would be no
possibility of masquerading as Peacekeepers again now that John's face was universally
known.
"John..." Aeryn sighed.
He turned and looked at her. Seeing the confusion on her face, John quickly
brought her into his embrace, "Moya can come back for us after she lures
the carrier away. We'll be safe because Moya wants us to be. Come on, we should
go."
The transport pod left Moya a few minutes later with Aeryn and Crichton on
board.
"Pilot," John spoke up as they exited the hangar bay.
"Moya has agreed to draw the command carrier away from this position and
come back when she feels it is safe to do so."
"Tell her we will be waiting." Aeryn climbed into the co-pilot's seat
and leaned her head against the side of the chair, closing her eyes.
"Yes, I will. Good luck." Pilot spoke softly.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Oh Nixar (TtS), this was a long chapter! (Although I think it is
about the same length as Ch 1, it just seemed to take longer this time.
Hmmm....maybe it's just Rusty. He's been bugged b/c I haven't been home for a
whole week.)
I'll get to work on Ch. 3 as soon as possible, but I think I am going to take a
few days off from this and work on episode transcripts for my site + I gotta
work on my half of the anime site I am working on with Liz & Holly. I gotta
put up my bishies!!!!
"You survived!"
"Hey, don't I always?"
~ Chiana to John in "MIND THE BABY"