"War Angel"
Time: Some time during Season 3, after Self-Inflicted Wounds II: Wait For
The Wheel
Disclaimer: I didn't create Farscape, didn't create the characters and don't make a plug nickel off of it.
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"It's my duty, my breeding since birth, it's what I am." "You can be more."
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Part Three: This Is Who You Are
"Don't need these midnight visions
Don't need to make decisions
Don't need to be uncertain
Don't need this final curtain"
"Mephistopheles' Return"
from Beethoven's Last Night,
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Aeryn stared at the native, still not believing what he had said. "Excuse me? Could you repeat that, please?"
He leaned back and stretched his arms out to his side. "You are our War Angel."
"Yes, I heard that. It's the last part I'm having trouble with."
The native smiled again. "You will kill for us. A death is required. You will take that life."
Aeryn rocked back on the mat and shook her head. "I don't know who or what you think I am, but I'm not a mercenary or an assassin. I don't kill for hire."
"But you are a Peacekeeper, are you not?"
"No, I'm not a Peacekeeper. I was for most of my life, but I left that life behind two and a half cycles ago."
The shopkeeper frowned. "Unexpected that is. Still, War Angel you are. A life must be taken and you will take that life, Shru'terak'va."
Shaking her head, Aeryn stood. "What part of this are you not comprehending? I'm not a mercenary and I'm no longer a Peacekeeper. If you need someone killed, find someone else to do it."
With a sigh, the native stood. "What do you know about our world, Shru'terak'va?"
"Nothing. It's just another commerce planet to me."
"We are the Sheritak people. Into two tribes we are divided. We of the Northern Tribe are lead by the honorable Si'teq'a, a kinsman of mine. The Southern Tribe is lead by Tem'eal, whose lineage I will not mention. Separate we have always been. Now, our two tribal councils have decided to unite under one leader."
Aeryn's eyes narrowed as the situation became clear. "And you want to make sure Si'teq'a is the one chosen to lead."
"Yes, Shru'terak'va. With Tem'eal dead, the councils will have to choose Si'teq'a, and he will lead us to a great future. The name Si'teq'a will be sung in praise and all will know that I, Ti'quet'a, provided the means."
"It'll be a great future, unless the Southern Tribe takes exception to their leader being assassinated. Have you considered that someone in the Southern Tribe is plotting the same thing you are?"
Ti'quet'a waved two arms, dismissing the question. "They do not have the capacity for such planning."
"Yes, of course. I'll need some help from my comrades."
"One helper you may have."
"Then I want to pick the one to help me."
"No, we have already chosen the one to help you." He waved a hand toward the door.
The door swung open and Jool was pushed into the room, followed by two guards. Aeryn felt her heart sink as she turned back to Ti'quet'a.
"You don't want me to succeed, do you?" I suppose it would be too much to ask for John or D'Argo, she thought. Even Stark would have been more help.
Jool looked around at the Sheritak then walked quickly toward Aeryn and Ti'quet'a. "What the frell is going on? I demand."
"Shut up, please." Aeryn closed her eyes, shook her head slowly and wished she were somewhere, anywhere else. "What if I decide not to do what you ask?"
The smile that crossed Ti'quet'a's face was not at all pleasant. "That would be most unfortunate for your comrades. If you do not take the life of Tem'eal, your comrades will pay with their lives. Should it come to it, even the Leviathan you travel on shall pay the price for your failure."
"You'd destroy Moya?" Shock replaced anger on Jool's face. "What's the matter with you people?"
Aeryn turned slowly. "What part of shut up aren't you comprehending?" Looking back at Ti'quet'a, she asked, "How could you bring down a Leviathan?"
"Simple natives you think we are. But we have the means; surface-to-orbit missiles that will easily destroy the Leviathan."
"Well, it appears you've thought of everything." Aeryn ran her tongue over her teeth and turned over possibilities in her mind. "It appears I have no choice. Where can I find this Tem'eal?"
Ti'quet'a nodded in satisfaction. "Two of my aides will accompany you. They will take you to the town where Tem'eal can be found, and remain with you until you have taken his life."
Well, that'll make things difficult, Aeryn thought. "I want to talk to my comrades, then we have to go to Moya."
"Why?"
"I want to make sure they're all right and I need some equipment." Aeryn picked up her pulse pistol. "Did you think I was just going to use this?" Ti'quet'a stared, then reluctantly nodded. "I assume there's a time limit."
"The councils will be gathering in four solar days. Tem'eal must be dead within three solar days. You must work quickly, Shru'terak'va."
Aeryn nodded. At least that gives me some time. "One more question. Why me?"
"My Sight told me a female Peacekeeper would come and carry out the task that must be done. It was you that I saw."
"Even though I'm not a Peacekeeper anymore?"
"Saw you I did. The past does not matter. You are our War Angel. You will kill for us. After all, isn't that what the Peacekeepers trained you to do? Kill for your leaders?"
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John's voice was full of disbelief. "They want you to do what?"
Aeryn rocked back on her heels and glanced over her shoulder. The guards and the two aides were closer than she would have liked them to be. "You heard me. They want me to kill the chief of the Southern Tribe in order to ensure their own chief is selected as leader of the whole planet. And if I don't do it, they're prepared to kill all of you, including Pilot and Moya."
"So what's the problem," Rygel said. "End the yotz's miserable life and get us out of here!"
John gave Rygel an annoyed look before turning back to Aeryn. "Did they say why they tapped you for this?"
Aeryn sighed. "Apparently, they think all Sebaceans are Peacekeepers."
Jool shifted from foot to foot and tried not to look concerned. "The one that gave her the ultimatum, Ti'quet'a, said he had a vision of Aeryn as the one to do this."
"A vision?" The look on D'Argo's face was enough to tell Aeryn what he thought of the statement. "You were probably the first female Sebacean to walk into the shop."
"Does it matter, D?" John looked at Aeryn then shook his head. "You're not seriously thinking about doing this?"
Aeryn sighed in disgust. "John, if I don't, they'll kill you all."
"Do you think they'll do it?"
"I have no reason to believe they won't." She looked back at the Sheritak then lowered her voice. "Despite what I told Ti'quet'a, I don't plan on killing anyone. I'll." Aeryn glanced at Jool out of the corner of her eye. "We'll come up with something."
"So what're you going to do now," Chiana asked as she raised her hands as far as she could then lowered her head. As Aeryn watched, she began to feel along the collar of her coat.
"What are you doing?"
Chiana felt around a little longer then smiled. "Nothing. Just an itch. Don't do anything we'll regret."
"I regret coming here," Jool muttered. "Can we do something about that?"
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After landing the transport pod in Moya's hanger, as she and Jool made their way to Pilot's den, Aeryn found herself thinking about what Ti'quet'a had said. She could clearly hear his almost mocking words: ".isn't that what the Peacekeepers trained you to do? Kill for your leaders?"
Is that all I am, she wondered, a trained killer who pretended she was just following orders? It took her less than a microt to angrily answer her question. No, I was a soldier following orders. I had a duty to perform. Besides, it's been two and a half cycles since I left the Peacekeepers. I'm not that person anymore.
So why am I doubting myself?
Outside the den, Aeryn stopped and looked at the two Sheritak aides. "We have to talk to Pilot in private. The two of you wait here."
The two exchanged looks. "Ti'quet'a said we were to stay with you at all times, Shru'terak'va."
Before Aeryn could start berating the two, Jool took a step forward. "Pilot is a little.uncertain around newcomers. He doesn't like strangers coming into the den. It was half a cycle before he would allow me to come in. Why don't I show them to the Central Chamber? They can wait there while we talk to Pilot."
Aeryn stared at her then nodded. "Be quick." She glanced at the aides then leaned close to Jool. "Make sure you lock the door," she whispered.
Jool looked grim and lead the Sheritak away. Aeryn watched them round a corner, sighed heavily and entered the den.
Pilot sounded relieved as he watched Aeryn walk toward him. "Officer Sun! What's going on? I've been unable to contact you or any of the others, and Moya's sensors say we're being targeted."
"I know, Pilot. Everyone is all right for now, and as long as I kill someone, you and Moya will be safe, too."
"What?"
"It's a long story. Suffice to say that once again we're in the wrong place at the wrong time. What's the situation with the gravity generators?"
"The DRDs have managed to stabilize the generators for now. A few chambers near Moya's hull are still without gravity, but the DRDs are continuing their work."
"That's something." Aeryn stared into the distance. "Refresh my memory, Pilot. Moya can't go to starburst from a standing orbit. Correct?"
"Correct. There has to be at least some forward momentum. Why? What did you have planned?"
"Nothing yet. Can you isolate and secure one comm channel so that Jool and I can stay in touch without being monitored?"
Pilot looked over his console, thought for a microt then nodded. "I should be able to isolate a frequency."
"Good. If they can block the transmissions, they can monitor them, too." Aeryn massaged her eyes and sighed. "All right. Jool will be here in a microt. Let's see what we can come up with." Even though she sounded confident, Aeryn wasn't sure what she was going to do.
TO BE CONTINUED
Disclaimer: I didn't create Farscape, didn't create the characters and don't make a plug nickel off of it.
---------------------------------------
"It's my duty, my breeding since birth, it's what I am." "You can be more."
---------------------------------------
Part Three: This Is Who You Are
"Don't need these midnight visions
Don't need to make decisions
Don't need to be uncertain
Don't need this final curtain"
"Mephistopheles' Return"
from Beethoven's Last Night,
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Aeryn stared at the native, still not believing what he had said. "Excuse me? Could you repeat that, please?"
He leaned back and stretched his arms out to his side. "You are our War Angel."
"Yes, I heard that. It's the last part I'm having trouble with."
The native smiled again. "You will kill for us. A death is required. You will take that life."
Aeryn rocked back on the mat and shook her head. "I don't know who or what you think I am, but I'm not a mercenary or an assassin. I don't kill for hire."
"But you are a Peacekeeper, are you not?"
"No, I'm not a Peacekeeper. I was for most of my life, but I left that life behind two and a half cycles ago."
The shopkeeper frowned. "Unexpected that is. Still, War Angel you are. A life must be taken and you will take that life, Shru'terak'va."
Shaking her head, Aeryn stood. "What part of this are you not comprehending? I'm not a mercenary and I'm no longer a Peacekeeper. If you need someone killed, find someone else to do it."
With a sigh, the native stood. "What do you know about our world, Shru'terak'va?"
"Nothing. It's just another commerce planet to me."
"We are the Sheritak people. Into two tribes we are divided. We of the Northern Tribe are lead by the honorable Si'teq'a, a kinsman of mine. The Southern Tribe is lead by Tem'eal, whose lineage I will not mention. Separate we have always been. Now, our two tribal councils have decided to unite under one leader."
Aeryn's eyes narrowed as the situation became clear. "And you want to make sure Si'teq'a is the one chosen to lead."
"Yes, Shru'terak'va. With Tem'eal dead, the councils will have to choose Si'teq'a, and he will lead us to a great future. The name Si'teq'a will be sung in praise and all will know that I, Ti'quet'a, provided the means."
"It'll be a great future, unless the Southern Tribe takes exception to their leader being assassinated. Have you considered that someone in the Southern Tribe is plotting the same thing you are?"
Ti'quet'a waved two arms, dismissing the question. "They do not have the capacity for such planning."
"Yes, of course. I'll need some help from my comrades."
"One helper you may have."
"Then I want to pick the one to help me."
"No, we have already chosen the one to help you." He waved a hand toward the door.
The door swung open and Jool was pushed into the room, followed by two guards. Aeryn felt her heart sink as she turned back to Ti'quet'a.
"You don't want me to succeed, do you?" I suppose it would be too much to ask for John or D'Argo, she thought. Even Stark would have been more help.
Jool looked around at the Sheritak then walked quickly toward Aeryn and Ti'quet'a. "What the frell is going on? I demand."
"Shut up, please." Aeryn closed her eyes, shook her head slowly and wished she were somewhere, anywhere else. "What if I decide not to do what you ask?"
The smile that crossed Ti'quet'a's face was not at all pleasant. "That would be most unfortunate for your comrades. If you do not take the life of Tem'eal, your comrades will pay with their lives. Should it come to it, even the Leviathan you travel on shall pay the price for your failure."
"You'd destroy Moya?" Shock replaced anger on Jool's face. "What's the matter with you people?"
Aeryn turned slowly. "What part of shut up aren't you comprehending?" Looking back at Ti'quet'a, she asked, "How could you bring down a Leviathan?"
"Simple natives you think we are. But we have the means; surface-to-orbit missiles that will easily destroy the Leviathan."
"Well, it appears you've thought of everything." Aeryn ran her tongue over her teeth and turned over possibilities in her mind. "It appears I have no choice. Where can I find this Tem'eal?"
Ti'quet'a nodded in satisfaction. "Two of my aides will accompany you. They will take you to the town where Tem'eal can be found, and remain with you until you have taken his life."
Well, that'll make things difficult, Aeryn thought. "I want to talk to my comrades, then we have to go to Moya."
"Why?"
"I want to make sure they're all right and I need some equipment." Aeryn picked up her pulse pistol. "Did you think I was just going to use this?" Ti'quet'a stared, then reluctantly nodded. "I assume there's a time limit."
"The councils will be gathering in four solar days. Tem'eal must be dead within three solar days. You must work quickly, Shru'terak'va."
Aeryn nodded. At least that gives me some time. "One more question. Why me?"
"My Sight told me a female Peacekeeper would come and carry out the task that must be done. It was you that I saw."
"Even though I'm not a Peacekeeper anymore?"
"Saw you I did. The past does not matter. You are our War Angel. You will kill for us. After all, isn't that what the Peacekeepers trained you to do? Kill for your leaders?"
---------------------------------------
John's voice was full of disbelief. "They want you to do what?"
Aeryn rocked back on her heels and glanced over her shoulder. The guards and the two aides were closer than she would have liked them to be. "You heard me. They want me to kill the chief of the Southern Tribe in order to ensure their own chief is selected as leader of the whole planet. And if I don't do it, they're prepared to kill all of you, including Pilot and Moya."
"So what's the problem," Rygel said. "End the yotz's miserable life and get us out of here!"
John gave Rygel an annoyed look before turning back to Aeryn. "Did they say why they tapped you for this?"
Aeryn sighed. "Apparently, they think all Sebaceans are Peacekeepers."
Jool shifted from foot to foot and tried not to look concerned. "The one that gave her the ultimatum, Ti'quet'a, said he had a vision of Aeryn as the one to do this."
"A vision?" The look on D'Argo's face was enough to tell Aeryn what he thought of the statement. "You were probably the first female Sebacean to walk into the shop."
"Does it matter, D?" John looked at Aeryn then shook his head. "You're not seriously thinking about doing this?"
Aeryn sighed in disgust. "John, if I don't, they'll kill you all."
"Do you think they'll do it?"
"I have no reason to believe they won't." She looked back at the Sheritak then lowered her voice. "Despite what I told Ti'quet'a, I don't plan on killing anyone. I'll." Aeryn glanced at Jool out of the corner of her eye. "We'll come up with something."
"So what're you going to do now," Chiana asked as she raised her hands as far as she could then lowered her head. As Aeryn watched, she began to feel along the collar of her coat.
"What are you doing?"
Chiana felt around a little longer then smiled. "Nothing. Just an itch. Don't do anything we'll regret."
"I regret coming here," Jool muttered. "Can we do something about that?"
---------------------------------------
After landing the transport pod in Moya's hanger, as she and Jool made their way to Pilot's den, Aeryn found herself thinking about what Ti'quet'a had said. She could clearly hear his almost mocking words: ".isn't that what the Peacekeepers trained you to do? Kill for your leaders?"
Is that all I am, she wondered, a trained killer who pretended she was just following orders? It took her less than a microt to angrily answer her question. No, I was a soldier following orders. I had a duty to perform. Besides, it's been two and a half cycles since I left the Peacekeepers. I'm not that person anymore.
So why am I doubting myself?
Outside the den, Aeryn stopped and looked at the two Sheritak aides. "We have to talk to Pilot in private. The two of you wait here."
The two exchanged looks. "Ti'quet'a said we were to stay with you at all times, Shru'terak'va."
Before Aeryn could start berating the two, Jool took a step forward. "Pilot is a little.uncertain around newcomers. He doesn't like strangers coming into the den. It was half a cycle before he would allow me to come in. Why don't I show them to the Central Chamber? They can wait there while we talk to Pilot."
Aeryn stared at her then nodded. "Be quick." She glanced at the aides then leaned close to Jool. "Make sure you lock the door," she whispered.
Jool looked grim and lead the Sheritak away. Aeryn watched them round a corner, sighed heavily and entered the den.
Pilot sounded relieved as he watched Aeryn walk toward him. "Officer Sun! What's going on? I've been unable to contact you or any of the others, and Moya's sensors say we're being targeted."
"I know, Pilot. Everyone is all right for now, and as long as I kill someone, you and Moya will be safe, too."
"What?"
"It's a long story. Suffice to say that once again we're in the wrong place at the wrong time. What's the situation with the gravity generators?"
"The DRDs have managed to stabilize the generators for now. A few chambers near Moya's hull are still without gravity, but the DRDs are continuing their work."
"That's something." Aeryn stared into the distance. "Refresh my memory, Pilot. Moya can't go to starburst from a standing orbit. Correct?"
"Correct. There has to be at least some forward momentum. Why? What did you have planned?"
"Nothing yet. Can you isolate and secure one comm channel so that Jool and I can stay in touch without being monitored?"
Pilot looked over his console, thought for a microt then nodded. "I should be able to isolate a frequency."
"Good. If they can block the transmissions, they can monitor them, too." Aeryn massaged her eyes and sighed. "All right. Jool will be here in a microt. Let's see what we can come up with." Even though she sounded confident, Aeryn wasn't sure what she was going to do.
TO BE CONTINUED