"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 Five: Final Choice
"There comes a time you decide What from your life you will be real What scars you will keep alive What you are willing to heal."
"Mephistopheles' Return" from Beethoven's Last Night Trans-Siberian Orchestra
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Aeryn looked over the printout one more time, still not believing what she had read. "Are you sure about this?"
"I checked it through a couple of sources. It's true." Jool took the printout back and read it again. "Even if you succeed in killing Tem'eal, we'll still be killed." She shook her head and looked disgusted. "I don't understand. Why would they want to do that?"
"Now that is the question." Aeryn glanced at the back of the compartment and the two Sheritak who sat quietly, watching them. "Perhaps you can explain to me why that little detail wasn't mentioned?"
Both natives squirmed for a microt. "We cannot question the logic of Ti'quet'a. The reasons, I'm sure, are correct and beyond question."
"But why wouldn't he mention that fact?" Jool stared at the two natives and shook her head. "These aren't details you should keep from people."
"Would you have worked with us if you knew your deaths were assured?"
"Oh yes, that's flawless logic. 'They won't do what we want if we tell them they're going to die no matter what they do, so we won't mention it.' Your grasp of sentient behavior is incredible." Aeryn stared at the two then stepped away. "I'm changing our agreement. Jool, keep them here. I'm going to try and find Adran. He should know about this."
"Take the printout with you. I don't think he'll believe you without it."
"He may not believe me even with the printout." Aeryn slipped the printout into a pocket then drew her pulse pistol and checked the chakkan oil cartridge. "Keep them here. If they try to leave, stop them."
Jool glanced at the two Sheritak then back at Aeryn. "How do you expect me to do that?"
Aeryn hesitated for a microt then smiled. "Scream."
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John sounded skeptical over the comm. "Aeryn, are you sure about this?"
Aeryn looked around the town square and tried to ignore the angry stares directed at her by the Sheritak natives. "At this point, John, I'm not sure about anything. Based on what Jool's found about the title Shru'terak'va, our options are very limited."
"Maybe we should just pile into the transport pod and get the frell outta Dodge."
"What about the missile lock on Moya? Unless you can find a way to deal with that, I think this is our only course of action."
John was silent for a microt. "Didn't you say we're dead even if you do kill Tem'eal?"
"Hopefully, I'll be able to find a way around that. What's your situation?"
"We're laying low. They don't seem to be looking for us, though."
Aeryn thought quickly. "Maybe we can put that to use. See if you can locate the Northern leader, Ti'quet'a. Keep a watch on him when you find him."
"Just watch him?"
"Yes. If anyone else takes any action against him, we'll all be killed immediately."
"So just bodyguard him. Right."
"Stay safe. I'll contact you again in an arn." Aeryn looked around again, heard footsteps from behind and nodded. "Hello, Adran." She turned and watched the mercenary approach. "I've been looking for you."
Adran stepped in front of Aeryn, his right hand resting on his pulse pistol. "I know. My helpers told me you'd come back into town. Decided it's not worth dying for?"
"Funny you should mention that." Aeryn reached into a pocket and took out the printout. "Read that."
Adran's eyes scanned the printout. "According to this, I'm going to be killed even if I succeed in killing Si'teq'a."
"Jool found that in the archives. Apparently we've both been lied to."
Without taking his eyes from the printout, Adran nodded. "Yeah, this is incredible."
"So there's no need to continue with."
Adran continued to nod. "It's time to change plans."
Aeryn hesitated for a microt, feeling suspicion begin to rise up in the back of her mind. "Yes. Perhaps we could."
"I was planning on staying here for a little while and enjoy myself. Guess I'll have to leave as soon as I kill Si'teq'a."
"Perhaps you're not understanding this. Whether or not we succeed is immaterial. We're dead no matter what we do."
"They'll have to catch me first."
Aeryn frowned. "How did you get here?"
"I have my own ship. It's fast and maneuverable."
"Maneuverable enough to break a missile lock?"
"Missile lock?"
"Didn't know about that, either? It would seem the Sheritak have surface- to-orbit missiles. If they can bring down a Leviathan, they can shoot your little ship down."
Adran laughed. "There's a bit of a difference between my ship and a Leviathan, Aeryn. My ship's not a lumbering hulk; it's made for high speed and maneuverability."
"Yes, and I'm sure you're a superior pilot. Look, I don't have time to stand here and."
Adran raised his hands, stopping her in mid-sentence. "I don't have time to stand here and argue about it, either, Aeryn. Nor do I want you coming after me. So good night and goodbye."
"What the frell are you talking about?" Aeryn took one step toward Adran.
.and felt the world go black.
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When she opened her eyes again, Aeryn found herself lying on the floor of the transport pod. For a microt, she stared at the ceiling of the compartment, feeling pain pound behind her eyes. She sat up slowly as Jool appeared in the hatchway.
"Aeryn! Are you all right? What happened? Adran."
"How did I get up here? Where's out two helpers?"
"Adran brought you in about an arn ago. He wanted me to tell you that your best move would be to stay out of his way." Jool helped Aeryn to her feet. "Our two Sheritak tried to stop him."
Aeryn massaged her eyes and shook her head to clear it. "Where are they?"
"They're dead, Aeryn. Adran killed them."
For a microt, all Aeryn could do was stare. "Close the hatch. We've got to get back up north." As Jool went to the hatch, Aeryn slapped her comm. "John! D'Argo!"
"Aeryn, I was about to call you," John said after a microt. "We've found the bug. He's still in the building we were held in."
"Good, John." Aeryn began bringing the transport pod's system online. "Keep an eye out for a Sebacean man and two Sheritak. They'll be looking for Si'teq'a also, so they should come to you."
"This Sebacean, he's the other assassin," D'Argo asked.
Aeryn frowned. "The [i]other[/i] assassin, D'Argo?"
D'Argo was silent for a microt. "He's the one recruited by the Southern Tribe?"
"Yes, he is. His name's Adran." Aeryn checked the instruments again and lifted off. She set course for the north and opened the pod's engines wide. "I'm not certain how fast he's moving, but he's got about an arn on me. We'll be up as fast as we can."
"We'll keep an eye out for him. I'll get Chiana over to meet you at the landing field."
"Adran's a mercenary, and probably wouldn't hesitate to open fire on you."
"We'll be careful."
"Pilot, what's the status of Moya's synthetic gravity system?"
"At the moment, the DRDs have managed to get the system stabilized."
"Can Moya starburst?"
"There may be more of a jolt than usual when starburst is initiated, but it shouldn't cause too much of a problem."
Aeryn turned over possibilities in her mind. "All right, Pilot. Have Moya ready to break orbit."
"Understood, Officer Sun. What should I do if we're attacked?"
"If you pick up missile launches, starburst out of here, then come back when Moya's able. Just hope we don't have to." Aeryn looked over console and thought, Where are Crais and Talyn when I really need them? Aeryn glanced at Jool, sitting quietly next to her, and tried to coax more speed from the transport pod's engine.
TO BE CONCLUDED
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 Five: Final Choice
"There comes a time you decide What from your life you will be real What scars you will keep alive What you are willing to heal."
"Mephistopheles' Return" from Beethoven's Last Night Trans-Siberian Orchestra
---------------------------------------
Aeryn looked over the printout one more time, still not believing what she had read. "Are you sure about this?"
"I checked it through a couple of sources. It's true." Jool took the printout back and read it again. "Even if you succeed in killing Tem'eal, we'll still be killed." She shook her head and looked disgusted. "I don't understand. Why would they want to do that?"
"Now that is the question." Aeryn glanced at the back of the compartment and the two Sheritak who sat quietly, watching them. "Perhaps you can explain to me why that little detail wasn't mentioned?"
Both natives squirmed for a microt. "We cannot question the logic of Ti'quet'a. The reasons, I'm sure, are correct and beyond question."
"But why wouldn't he mention that fact?" Jool stared at the two natives and shook her head. "These aren't details you should keep from people."
"Would you have worked with us if you knew your deaths were assured?"
"Oh yes, that's flawless logic. 'They won't do what we want if we tell them they're going to die no matter what they do, so we won't mention it.' Your grasp of sentient behavior is incredible." Aeryn stared at the two then stepped away. "I'm changing our agreement. Jool, keep them here. I'm going to try and find Adran. He should know about this."
"Take the printout with you. I don't think he'll believe you without it."
"He may not believe me even with the printout." Aeryn slipped the printout into a pocket then drew her pulse pistol and checked the chakkan oil cartridge. "Keep them here. If they try to leave, stop them."
Jool glanced at the two Sheritak then back at Aeryn. "How do you expect me to do that?"
Aeryn hesitated for a microt then smiled. "Scream."
---------------------------------------
John sounded skeptical over the comm. "Aeryn, are you sure about this?"
Aeryn looked around the town square and tried to ignore the angry stares directed at her by the Sheritak natives. "At this point, John, I'm not sure about anything. Based on what Jool's found about the title Shru'terak'va, our options are very limited."
"Maybe we should just pile into the transport pod and get the frell outta Dodge."
"What about the missile lock on Moya? Unless you can find a way to deal with that, I think this is our only course of action."
John was silent for a microt. "Didn't you say we're dead even if you do kill Tem'eal?"
"Hopefully, I'll be able to find a way around that. What's your situation?"
"We're laying low. They don't seem to be looking for us, though."
Aeryn thought quickly. "Maybe we can put that to use. See if you can locate the Northern leader, Ti'quet'a. Keep a watch on him when you find him."
"Just watch him?"
"Yes. If anyone else takes any action against him, we'll all be killed immediately."
"So just bodyguard him. Right."
"Stay safe. I'll contact you again in an arn." Aeryn looked around again, heard footsteps from behind and nodded. "Hello, Adran." She turned and watched the mercenary approach. "I've been looking for you."
Adran stepped in front of Aeryn, his right hand resting on his pulse pistol. "I know. My helpers told me you'd come back into town. Decided it's not worth dying for?"
"Funny you should mention that." Aeryn reached into a pocket and took out the printout. "Read that."
Adran's eyes scanned the printout. "According to this, I'm going to be killed even if I succeed in killing Si'teq'a."
"Jool found that in the archives. Apparently we've both been lied to."
Without taking his eyes from the printout, Adran nodded. "Yeah, this is incredible."
"So there's no need to continue with."
Adran continued to nod. "It's time to change plans."
Aeryn hesitated for a microt, feeling suspicion begin to rise up in the back of her mind. "Yes. Perhaps we could."
"I was planning on staying here for a little while and enjoy myself. Guess I'll have to leave as soon as I kill Si'teq'a."
"Perhaps you're not understanding this. Whether or not we succeed is immaterial. We're dead no matter what we do."
"They'll have to catch me first."
Aeryn frowned. "How did you get here?"
"I have my own ship. It's fast and maneuverable."
"Maneuverable enough to break a missile lock?"
"Missile lock?"
"Didn't know about that, either? It would seem the Sheritak have surface- to-orbit missiles. If they can bring down a Leviathan, they can shoot your little ship down."
Adran laughed. "There's a bit of a difference between my ship and a Leviathan, Aeryn. My ship's not a lumbering hulk; it's made for high speed and maneuverability."
"Yes, and I'm sure you're a superior pilot. Look, I don't have time to stand here and."
Adran raised his hands, stopping her in mid-sentence. "I don't have time to stand here and argue about it, either, Aeryn. Nor do I want you coming after me. So good night and goodbye."
"What the frell are you talking about?" Aeryn took one step toward Adran.
.and felt the world go black.
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When she opened her eyes again, Aeryn found herself lying on the floor of the transport pod. For a microt, she stared at the ceiling of the compartment, feeling pain pound behind her eyes. She sat up slowly as Jool appeared in the hatchway.
"Aeryn! Are you all right? What happened? Adran."
"How did I get up here? Where's out two helpers?"
"Adran brought you in about an arn ago. He wanted me to tell you that your best move would be to stay out of his way." Jool helped Aeryn to her feet. "Our two Sheritak tried to stop him."
Aeryn massaged her eyes and shook her head to clear it. "Where are they?"
"They're dead, Aeryn. Adran killed them."
For a microt, all Aeryn could do was stare. "Close the hatch. We've got to get back up north." As Jool went to the hatch, Aeryn slapped her comm. "John! D'Argo!"
"Aeryn, I was about to call you," John said after a microt. "We've found the bug. He's still in the building we were held in."
"Good, John." Aeryn began bringing the transport pod's system online. "Keep an eye out for a Sebacean man and two Sheritak. They'll be looking for Si'teq'a also, so they should come to you."
"This Sebacean, he's the other assassin," D'Argo asked.
Aeryn frowned. "The [i]other[/i] assassin, D'Argo?"
D'Argo was silent for a microt. "He's the one recruited by the Southern Tribe?"
"Yes, he is. His name's Adran." Aeryn checked the instruments again and lifted off. She set course for the north and opened the pod's engines wide. "I'm not certain how fast he's moving, but he's got about an arn on me. We'll be up as fast as we can."
"We'll keep an eye out for him. I'll get Chiana over to meet you at the landing field."
"Adran's a mercenary, and probably wouldn't hesitate to open fire on you."
"We'll be careful."
"Pilot, what's the status of Moya's synthetic gravity system?"
"At the moment, the DRDs have managed to get the system stabilized."
"Can Moya starburst?"
"There may be more of a jolt than usual when starburst is initiated, but it shouldn't cause too much of a problem."
Aeryn turned over possibilities in her mind. "All right, Pilot. Have Moya ready to break orbit."
"Understood, Officer Sun. What should I do if we're attacked?"
"If you pick up missile launches, starburst out of here, then come back when Moya's able. Just hope we don't have to." Aeryn looked over console and thought, Where are Crais and Talyn when I really need them? Aeryn glanced at Jool, sitting quietly next to her, and tried to coax more speed from the transport pod's engine.
TO BE CONCLUDED