"You all right, Crais?" asked Crichton with concern, "You look a bit pale around the gills."

Crais shook his head, "It's nothing."

"You're not coming down with something, are you Crais?"

"I am down, Crichton, that is if you mean planet-side," Crais was confused.

"No, I mean you're not falling ill, are you? We can't have out chief asset wither away. Or has something happened since you left? You seem so strained since your return. Is Talyn all right?"

"Yes, Talyn is all right and nothing has happened," replied Crais, "I am just tired. We... made haste to get here in time for the contest."

Talyn communicated to him through the transponder ~Why not tell them the truth, Crais? Why do you always have to resort to subterfuge? And now you're dragging me into it as well?~

~They would not understand, Talyn. I don't even know what is happening. We must have been drawn into a parallel universe but I don't know how, or if we will ever get back to our own~ Crais thought back.

Talyn sensed Crais' underlying anxiety that Moya would be listening in ~Don't worry, I have engaged privacy mode. But you will have to find a way to find out what the contest is about. Suppose there is danger involved? I don't want to lose you, Crais~

~I will soon, Talyn~ Crais thought, ~I don't want you to be alone either~

"Hey, Cap'n Crunch, talking to Talyn again?" Crichton had noticed that Crais' eyes had become unfocused again as they tended to do while he was speaking to his Leviathan, "Care to let us in on the secret?"

Crais turned back to Crichton, anger momentarily flashing in his eyes despite his best effort to control it. Emotional multitasking was not one of his strengths.

Crichton realized belatedly what he had just said. "Sorry, Crais, Yeah, I guess it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks. Look, we don't know where you've been or what happened to you and Talyn while you were gone, but it's alright now, isn't it? There's no one on your tail, is there? Let's just chill out and focus on the contest for now. After it's over, we can all sit down and catch up on what's happened the last several months. You're sure there's nothing we need to know now?"

Crais brought himself under control, "No, Crichton, there is nothing you need to know right now and no one is on our... tails."

Talyn piped up ~Why don't you tell them now?~

~Not right now, Talyn~ Crais wiped a hand over his face. His headache was growing again. He focused back on Crichton and tried a different tactic, "How long before the contest? I just want to make sure that my outfit is ready."

"We have the better part of the day. It's not much past noon now, and solar days here are a little longer than we're used to, but not that much. This round is slated to start pretty much like the last one did. Shortly after dusk, the lights at the stadium will be turned on. Then the announcements will be made throughout the city... not that there's anyone here who hasn't been waiting anxiously for days for it to begin. You remember..." Crichton's tone of voice ended on a rising note, and a look of real concern started to appear on his face. "Crais, you do remember, don't you?"

~Here is your chance~ Talyn nearly screamed in Crais' mind ~Tell him you don't remember. Please, Crais?~

His headache was peaking and Talyn shouting in his mind didn't help. Crais brought a hand to his temple and tried to ease the pain. Talyn was right. He looked at Crichton, embarrassment written all over his face, "No, Crichton, I don't remember. I have... tried to, but I can't."

There was relief on Crichton's face, "That explains a lot. Hey, Aeryn..."

Crais stopped the Jhumon. "I don't want all of them to know," he hissed, "It is embarrassing enough as it is that you know."

Crichton grinned, "Still trying to be the mystery man, aren't you, Crais. So full of control."

Crais' face grew darker, "Just tell me!"

"All right. The contest is about..."

Just then Aeryn came back, "Shall we go and eat? The clothes will be ready in an arn." She looked at their faces curiously, "Did I miss something?"

Crichton looked searchingly into Crais' eyes. There he saw the silent plea not to humiliate him any further.

Despite his concern, Crichton decided to let the issue of Crais' amnesia lie for now. This might have been the most peaceful and safest planet they had found since Moya's escape from the Peacekeeper Armada cycles ago, and waiting a bit to continue their conversation should not put them in any more danger than they were ever in.

For now, Crichton was most worried about the regression in Bialar's behaviour. He had come to be genuinely fond of the Ex-Peacekeeper. They all had. Their expressions of happiness to see him again had been sincere, although D'Argo still insisted upon the occasional very forceful backslap... it had become part of a routine, a joke between the two. Funny, before Bialar had left, he had become pretty deft at recognizing when D'Argo was going to pull this little stunt, and he usually sidestepped in time.

Crichton turned to Aeryn, "No, you haven't missed anything. Crais and I were just discussing the contest and our man is having butterflies at the moment. Just trying to assure him that it is not necessary. I'm just trying to tell him that his natural gift doesn't need worrying about."

When he looked at Crais, he saw something close to gratitude. Crichton couldn't understand it. What had happened to Crais?

"Well, shall we have something to eat first then? There will be enough time to do so before we have to start getting ready for tonight. Aasshrecht may be the fastest needle on the continent, but it'll still take him a while to get Bialar's outfit ready. Meanwhile, there's a big bowl of Tharkelian stew waiting for me, and I took the liberty of ordering some of those savoury eel things for you two."

He could be heard muttering playfully half under his breath "no accounting for Sebacean taste!" as he put one arm around each set of Sebacean shoulders. For a moment Crais was inclined to draw away from the Jhumon but he had a feeling that the 'other Crais' would not have done so. It still felt strange.

"It is Savorian eels," said Crais under his breath, "and they are nice. Thank you for ordering them. It has been a long time since I last ate them."

Aeryn looked around Crichton at Crais. "But Crais, the last time you ate them was just before you left, when we threw that big going away party for you. You swore you'd never had the likes of that meal, even in your days as Captain of the Command Carrier. The Grolak soup, the roasted eels, that iced confection this tavern specializes in, the best fellip nectar we've ever had. I didn't think the memory of that night would ever fade, after that little scene Chiana put on. She kept explaining later that she was determined to give you a send-off you'd never forget. Looks like she was wrong. Either that, or she's all you remember of that little celebration."

Crais looked uncomfortable. He felt Crichton tense up next to him. He had noticed the trap Crais had fallen into as well, but left it to Crais to talk himself out of it.

"Of course I have not forgotten, Aeryn," Crais said with a wan smile, "It just seemed so long ago since I have eaten that well... had food that good. How could one forget such a... send off. It stayed with me for... a long time. Talyn and I still speak about it on lonely nights." He massaged his temple with his fingers.

Aeryn stepped away from Crichton and planted her hands on her hips, "Why are you lying to me, Crais? Don't you think I recognise that gesture? You do that every time you lie or when you want to say something we really don't want to hear. So why are you being so evasive? What are you trying to hide from us? What is wrong with you? Bialar, do you think we haven't noticed from the start that there is something terribly wrong? Ever since you set foot back on Moya, you've been acting oddly, almost as though the last two cycles hadn't happened. We've all been through so much..."

Aeryn hesitated for a moment, and then continued: "Bialar, whatever's happened to you, we'll face it together. All of us will. But you have to talk to us"

Crais felt faint. He murmured, "Two cycles? Two cycles have passed?"

All colour drained from his face and Crichton was afraid that Crais would faint, but with the control they knew so well, they saw him regain his composure.

Aeryn stepped forwards and laid a hand on Crais' arm, "What is wrong, Bialar? Why are you surprised about the time? Are you ill?"

Crais closed his eyes and shook his head, "No, Aeryn, I am not ill. Misplaced maybe." He sat down on the chair in the shop, suddenly feeling quite weak in the legs, "I think Talyn and I are in serious trouble... I believe that we are not where... when... we should be." Crais looked as though he were in shock.

Aeryn stooped down next to him. She said gently, "Bialar, you and Talyn have been gone from Moya for nearly 3 monens now. Two cycles ago, you and Talyn StarBurst within the Command Carrier, utterly destroying it. Your plan worked, but both you and Talyn were very seriously injured. Since then, you and Talyn have spent most of your time with us."

Crichton squeezed his shoulder. "Crais, you came through for us. You and Talyn were willing to sacrifice yourselves for us and for untold worlds, which faced complete and total obliteration. It was Aeryn who insisted that we go back for you, on the slim chance that you two had somehow survived. We searched and found both Talyn and you very badly hurt, but clinging to life. Moya was able to draw Talyn to her, and StarBurst both ships away from the scene. He was horribly injured; his fins will always show the damage.

"You were also very badly hurt. We nursed you for monens before you recovered. Fortunately, you did finally heal on your own; we never were able to find a Diagnosan to help you, although we searched planet after planet for one.

"Since then, we've stayed deep within the Uncharteds. We've moved around and tried to stay out of trouble. We haven't had any direct encounters with Peacekeepers since then, although we know that we're all still wanted. Scorpius died in the Carrier explosion. That Commandante Grayza did too."

Aeryn took up the narrative. "Bialar, you and Talyn have stayed with us most of the last two cycles. You long ago made yourselves essential and treasured members of Moya's family. There have been several times that you and Talyn left for short periods, but you always returned within a few weekens.

About three monens ago, right after the quarterfinals ended, you suddenly announced that you and Talyn had to leave to settle some unfinished business. You promised that you would meet us back here in time for the semi-final round."

Crais looked at them in utter confusion. His face had grown terribly pale. "For Talyn and myself, it has only been days since we StarBurst in the Command Carrier, not cycles." His eyes grew wide, "We are not the Crais and Talyn you have known for the last two cycles. We don't belong here."

He got to his feet unsteadily, "We will leave and maybe your Crais and Talyn will return. We will not be a burden to you."

"You will not be a burden to us, Crais, please stay," said Aeryn softly.

Crichton walked up to him and laid his hand on his shoulder. He looked in the confused eyes of Crais, "Crais, you might be another Crais than the one we have known these past two cycles, but we have come to care for our Crais. He is a good man and we love him dearly, all of us. You, he and both Talyns were willing to sacrifice yourselves. We have seen what you can grow into. Please stay. Even if it is only for a short period, rest, see what your options are."

Crais dropped his head on his chest, "I don't know Crichton, I..."

"At least stay for the contest. If our Crais doesn't turn up in time, will you take his place? You have the same skills; you can win it for him... us. Will you help us?"

"Aeryn," Crais looked sadly at her, "I don't even know what the contest is all about. I don't even know if I am as good as he is. I am a different person." For once they saw the loneliness he always tried to hide so perfectly.

"No, Crais, you might be from a different time but you are not a different person," she smiled at him, "I know that deep down you and he are very much alike. As for the contest, you find yourself transported to a parallel universe, or to an alternate timeline, or Hezmana only knows what, and you're worried about the contest?" She patted his knee and met his disbelieving look with a grin.

Crichton put his arm around Bialar's shoulder again. "Come on, bud, D'Argo's going to be wondering what fool trouble we've managed to get ourselves into now. We don't want those savoury eels to get cold, do we? Let's go sit down and have a talk over an early dinner."

Crais got back to his feet again and said softly, "I don't know what to say. I had not expected this. I knew something wasn't right but I had no idea what. When everyone tried to be nice to me, I was suspicious. You have to understand that for me not that much time has passed." He didn't add that before StarBurst, nobody had trusted him yet; he didn't want to spoil the mood.

Talyn spoke to him over the link ~See, Crais, it wasn't that bad, speaking the truth. Too bad they still don't want to reveal what the contest is all about. Now we still don't know what you are expected to do~

Crais focused back on Crichton and Aeryn. "Let us not keep the others waiting. They might want to know why I was behaving oddly. I think they have a right to know too. And maybe it will stop Ka D'Argo slapping my back."

Crais followed the others out of the shop and into the tavern next door.