Ka D'Argo was sitting at a round wooden table in the back corner on which was spread a variety of dishes. The Hynerian royal was busy at work on several of them.

The Luxan looked up, and waved them over. Giving Dominar Rygel the XVI a look half of fond amusement and half of disbelief even after all these cycles, he shouted out at them, "I'd hurry if I were you. I think His Eminence can eat faster than the kitchen can cook."

Rygel harrumphed, but continued to stuff himself.

The newcomers took seats at the table, Crichton and Aeryn each choosing

a place on one side of Crais.

Crichton announced, "We need to eat and then we need to talk."

Aeryn whispered to Crais, "It'll be fine, Bialar, I promise." as the innkeeper brought out the plate of eels. "First things first."

Crais was nervous. He ate meticulously and slowly, postponing the inevitable. The eels were nice but he had trouble trying to appreciate them to the fullest. The covert glances from Aeryn and Crichton at intervals didn't help to make it any easier for him.

Finally the eating was done.

Ka D'Argo looked over at Crichton, "So, what is there to talk about?"

Crais looked up, "I have a confession to make."

"You lost your nerve of doing the contest," interjected Rygel, "Don't tell me, I saw how nervous you were on board Moya."

"No, it is not about the contest..."

"You can't perform," Ka D'Argo tried to help out.

"No, it's just that I...."

"Your clothes will not be ready," Rygel again.

Crais grew annoyed and his brow furrowed, "If you will let me finish! I will tell you."

"Very touchy tonight, Crais, that is not like you. Maybe Rygel was right," Ka D'Argo looked worried, "Or are you ill? You haven't had a relapse, have you?"

Crais balled his fists on the table, his voice was low with suppressed annoyance, "No, I haven't lost my nerve, my clothes will be ready and I am not ill. It is just that there is something you must know about me." Crais looked directly into the eyes of Ka D'Argo as he said this.

"I am Bialar Crais. I was your jailor, I was the man who hunted John Crichton through much of the Uncharted Territories... I am also the Bialar Crais who StarBurst within his own Command Carrier in order to prevent wormhole technology from falling into the hands of those who would have ruined this galaxy with it."

D'Argo began to interrupt, saying, "Yes, Crais, but that was a long..."

Crais continued, "No, listen to me. I don't know how to say this. Crichton and Aeryn... this Crichton and Aeryn... know this, but you must too. I am not the Bialar Crais you have spent the last two cycles with. I think that I wish I had been, but I am not. I will not deceive you about this. I blew up the Command Carrier... in my world, in my time, just a few days ago. Talyn and I suffered some minor wounds, but we escaped largely unharmed. Except... except, we are here, with you, and you have had an entirely different experience of this. I do not know how to explain what has happened. I do know that I will not mislead you about this. Neither will I take advantage, or the rightful place, of the man who has earned your trust and affection. I am Bialar Crais, but I am not 'your' Bialar Crais."

Crais waited for the reaction, for the rejection he expected and held his breath. He looked at the others, saw their quick glances and wished he were somewhere else. He could understand it if...

Ka D'Argo spoke up, "I think I speak for the rest of us too, Crais."

The others nodded and Crais sat straighter in his chair, a look of resignation on his face. Talyn and he would be leaving soon. It was better this way. He couldn't keep a passing look of sadness from drifting past his face.

Ka D'Argo continued. If he had seen the look on Crais' face, he did not let on. "We have come to know 'our' Bialar Crais as a man of compassion, a brave warrior, determined in overcoming his physical weakness, helpful to others, a great teacher, a good and loyal friend."

Crais looked down at the table.

Ka D'Argo went on, "I don't think..."

"That I fit his legacy," said Crais softly.

Ka D'Argo smiled, "I don't think you are that much different... Bialar, if you are given the chance."

Crais' head snapped up when he heard these words.

He had tried so hard to become the man he felt he should be. It had been a long, hard struggle, and there were moments when he had been more disappointed in himself than anyone else could have been.

Still, he had never found more than the faintest tentative signs of acceptance, no matter how hard he had tried, and the slightest shortcoming on his part had always seemed to totally wipe out any advances he had made to gain the trust and respect, the affection, of these people.

He had told Aeryn and Crichton on the Command Carrier that all he had cared about was gone. He had decided that, except for Talyn, he would never have anyone or anything to replace those others in his life.

Now what he heard gave him hope that he had thought dead, that he had tried to convince himself he could survive without.

He looked in the Luxan's face and the faces of the others. What he had expected to see wasn't there. There was no resentment, no sarcasm, and no distrust. The smiles were genuine.

He didn't know what to say, didn't know how to react. For once Bialar Crais was speechless. His heart hammered in his chest. Was this all a dream? Would he just wake up on Talyn and find he was alone?

~What is happening, Crais?~ Talyn's voice broke through.

~I am not sure, Talyn~ Crais thought, ~They accept me, even if I am not

the Crais of their reality~

Talyn chirped happily ~But that is good news, Crais. You should be

happy. Why are you confused?~

~They...~

Rygel's voice broke through their conversation. "You might not be our Crais, but you still have that irritating habit of talking to Talyn while we are talking to you. What say you, will you join us?"

"What if your Crais returns?", asked Crais.

"Then we will have two Crais'," grinned Crichton, "You wear your hair in a queue, and he doesn't. Don't worry, we'll make sure we can tell you apart. We just dress one of you head to toe in black, and the other in anything else. See, no problemo."

Crais was quietly stunned. After a bit, while the others were still surrounding him, offering him their assurances, he looked at Crichton and blurted out, "But what if the other Crais and Talyn do come back? Can we both exist in the same place?"

They all sobered instantly. Crichton hesitated, then said, "I don't know, Crais. I'm barely done with Wormholes 101. I'm not Einstein. Hell, he wouldn't know the answer to that either."

"I don't even know if the four of you could exist 'here' at the same time. Maybe you're being here -you and Talyn- means that something has happened to them. Maybe you could not have entered into 'here' otherwise. I truly don't know. But until we find out, I don't see that we should make any assumptions. If our 'old' Bialar and Talyn are out there, you could run into them somewhere else in the Uncharteds as easily as you could if you two were with us."

Crais shook his head. His mind was already calculating the odds. Whichever equation he tried, he came up with a negative answer.

Rygel had noticed his slightly absent look, "You working again, Crais?

"Well, that is one thing you and our Crais seemed to have in common and find a difficult habit to shake. Too much work and hardly any time off. Relax, Crais. We'll work it out when we face it."

Crais took a sip of water and nearly choked on it. He coughed and sputtered and nearly turned red. Aeryn looked at him with worry and saw a haunted look on his face. "Bialar, what's wrong?"

He shook his head, unable to reply yet. Finally he had his coughing back under control. He sat back and looked at the others. There was a hint of sadness on his face. "Talyn and I are grateful that you accept us. But..."

"There are no 'buts', Cap'n Crunch. Whether 'our' Crais and Talyn turn up or not, you are most welcome to stay. We might have to iron out some of your grumpiness. It took us a little while to do that with the other one too, but I think we'll manage." Crichton turned to Rygel. "Remember when he saw you go through his stuff..."

Aeryn scowled. She had seen Crais' face fall. He would be competing with someone else, himself. "John! That's enough!" She turned back to Crais. "You might just have to get used to some people's conceptions (she glared at Crichton) but we really want you to stay. You have been alone for too long. I know, we know that you can be something more."

Crais looked up at the words echoed back to him, from almost a lifetime ago now, "I might not live up to..."

Ka D'Argo stood up and whispered loudly, since he didn't want the whole establishment to know. "This is utter dren. When you StarBurst through the Command Carrier, you did that with surety and confidence, knowing that what you did would make a difference. Have you left that behind? We know you are strong and resourceful enough to get through this and even if you don't want us to, we will help you. Yes, you are not our Bialar Crais, you are right, but are you going to prove to us that you haven't changed? That you will not try to change?" He sat down again.

Talyn broke through to Crais ~They are right Crais. At least can we stay for a bit longer? We can always decide later to go away on our own. I want to stay with Moya for a little while longer. I have missed her~

When Crais looked back at the group they could see that he had calmed. Determination rather than resignation was on his face, "I will stay for a little while longer."

Crichton grinned, "That's my boy. (Crais scowled) God, I have missed that scowl. Only you could make that scowl a loaded weapon and a whole sentence as well. Does that also mean that you will stay and help us win the contest?"

Crais smiled grimly, "I believe that would depend in large part on whether anyone here is willing to tell me what the f... what the contest consists of. Gentlemen... Officer Sun... will someone kindly explain to me what this contest is all about?"

Crichton couldn't help it. He started to smirk, and then to outright laugh. The others joined in. Strangely enough, as annoyed as Bialar Crais was, he got the distinct impression that the others were laughing with him, not at him.

"You really don't know, do you?"

Crichton sat back down at the table, and motioned the innkeeper over. He asked for a round of something refreshing, but non-alcoholic, "Ok, people, let's talk about the contest." They waited until the drinks were brought to the table before resuming.

Crais sat back and breathed a sigh of relief. Finally! He hated surprises and hated being left without information.

Crichton smiled, "I could tell you outright, but I'd like to test your logic. (Crais groaned) I'll give you some clues. It is something you are good at, which doesn't involve killing people or using that scowl. As a matter of fact, it might be better if you are not practising your scowl."

This brought a round of laughter around the table. Crichton continued, "Furthermore, Talyn is good at it as well. And..." he paused for effect, "we've known about it since before you blew up the Command Carrier." Crichton sat back, his smile staying on his face.

Crais racked his brain. His headache was getting bigger and the riddles of Crichton didn't help dissipate it. He looked at the others for clues but only saw grinning faces. Aeryn spoke up, "Bialar, think of..."

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