Chapter 7 - Fever: Solar Day One
Transmogrification of time swirled in blue. Peaceful ripples of space and time continuums were his trusted dream. He could see formulas swirling pass on the back of wormholes. Configurations ran through his mind like clockwork, blocking the filth and shame brought on him. He reached for home, family, friends, and Harvey. None were there. None were neutral like the wormholes. The swirl of sea that vibrated before him, fluctuated in and out, never made demands on who he was, how strong or capable he appeared. For the whirlpool of space trusted him, received him as he was.
She doesn't have my heart.
The tortured soul surrendered himself to that place. He rested. He wasn't there when Grayza took him in and found her peak in pleasure. He escaped in his mind to the place that his wormholes provided. Safety. Protection. Pride. There was no Grayza, Braca, Aeryn, or child.
But the cold and dark remained for him as Commandant Grayza and her guards carried him away to another place. The cold and dark pushed away his dream when they threw him into another cell where arms caught him. And all he could do was fall away and curl into a ball.
***
Aeryn backed away from the door and when she heard clicks of the access code release the locks. Before, she had torn her shirt tail to dress her wounds, ensured they were tight enough to stop the blood flow. She had also noticed John was removed from the lab. Now she was prepared to escape, hearing the locks slowly surrender to the combination. Finally, it slid opened and two dark clad guards, armed and ready, rushed in to restrain her. They held Aeryn while she struggled against them, then she ceased when a third guard slid a disc across the smooth floor. They released her to retrieve it.
"Take the sealant, prisoner," the guard said, sneering. "It's for your wrist. Complements of Commandant Grayza." He and the other guards backed away toward the entrance with their pulse rifles aimed at her.
Aeryn said nothing, having retrieved the sealant. She stood there waiting for them to leave to seize another chance for escape.
Before the cell door half closed, another dark figure pushed aside the third guard. "I also have another gift for you, Officer Sun," Grayza said, smiling easily, shielded by her guards. "Bring him, Captain Braca." Grayza signaled and moved away from the door to leave room for Braca and the guards. The door opened further. Two guards dragged the limp form to Braca, and the Captain personally threw the human into the cell.
Aeryn said nothing while this changing of the guards took place. She knew with disgust this was no gift being given to her. She twiddled the sealant in her hand as she watched the guards change. Immediately she recognized who it was. She ran to Crichton, and caught him in her arms. From sheer impact she fell with him to the floor then got up on her knees. He fell away from her arms and rolled in a ball. She saw John was now clothed in his black T-shirt. She knelt over him and wondered why he was so weak, traumatized. Without Aeryn noticing, Grayza and her men left them alone.
Aeryn felt his head, the beads of sweat perpetuated. Fever? He was hot, but why? Heppel oil did not make anyone feverish. She grabbed him from the back, trying to pick him up, gripping under his arms. She hadn't expected the next freakish incident. John lunged away, screamed, arching his back, reaching from behind.
Now she understood what John meant by heart attacks. His fiendish yell, penetrated her ears down to her soul. John should never be in such pain. She ran to where he had took flight across the stark white room near the wall, on all fours with head lowered like a butchered animal. She came toward him and tried to lift his hung head. From her contact he reeled back and fell on his buttocks. He closed his eyes, curled his lip under, and trembled.
"John? John? What's wrong?" His arms flagged her away. "John, say something!" She had to yell, had to get his attention. "Tell me what happened to you?"
"No, no...go away! Don't touch me, please!" He cried out.
How many times could she count when she had seen him weep? None. Others said he had wept when Crais came aboard Moya for asylum. Friends said he had wept before her funeral when they retrieved her body from the ice lake. Now she witnessed his tears falling. She bit her lip. Her John was so tormented.
She extended her hand, "John," she cooed to him, "I will help you. I won't hurt you. Where does it hurt?" She pointed to her heart. "Here?"
"Aeryn," he was calmer and reached for her hand, "help me."
"Yes?" She squeezed his hand in return. He appeared he was still fighting to get the words out, his mouth twisting, straining. "You can tell me."
"My back...my back."
She took John's cue. "Turn around. Just a little. I'm lifting your shirt now." Why hadn't she noticed before? There were hints of blood on the material...all over the back of it. Well it shouldn't be anything she couldn't take care of. Aeryn began to slowly lift the garment, but it was caked to his wounds. Aeryn tried peeling it up, she saw the brown scabs coming off as John flinched and groaned. His muscles tensed everywhere. This was causing him unbearable pain. What had Grayza done? Then she remembered the sealant!
"John, stay here, I'm getting something that will help the pain."
She retrieved it and spread it prudently over his shirt to make it easier to remove, then went underneath to get as much exposed skin as possible to soften the scabs. It worked with much deliberation and with John grunting, groaning, and growling.
Once the shirt was lifted, Aeryn stopped and turned her face quickly away.
Peacekeepers, never grow soft. For blood is necessary to spill. Death is imminent, to be experienced. Embrace it, my children, for it makes you stronger.
She remembered the coaching in training camps. Like a memento, it echoed to her, be strong. Aeryn trembled, moaned, hoping John wouldn't hear. Her hand covered her mouth to block the bile rising to her lips. Had her training failed her? All she had learned nearly trickled away to being overly compassionate. Gain your strength back. Focus, swallow. Do not fail him again.
He had the basic physical appearance of Sebaceans. She pulled his shirt off to completely expose his back. Her lips trembled and her eyes welled with wetness. John? His beautiful back was marred by evil, swollen, purple and blue. Other areas around the lacerations were black. Five perfect cuts tracked down in three different areas. Oh, John. She traced her fingers to find the rifts in his skin. The cuts streaked across the muscles that moved his shoulder blades: the Teres major, Rhomboideus major. Her hand trembled with sealant lower near the Latissimus dorsi and other muscles. She silently thanked her lessons in Sebacean anatomy.
"Are you any better?" she asked him.
His face contorted again. His eyes opened and he grabbed her arm, nodded. After all the pain, he still smiled.
"You don't have to speak," she shook her head. Her heart swelled, seeing him this way, struggling even to talk. Parents with their children must have felt this closeness, this protective love. She stroked his hair in his silence and lay his head across her lap. She rested her back against the wall and closed her eyes. In her reverie, Aeryn thought of their beginnings. John had survived, but now what was left?
"Rest, sleep. We have time, John," she cooed. His name was sweet to her ears, sweet like Zhaan's oils and soft on her lips like his kiss. But his name didn't protect him from Grayza's cruelty. He was so innocent, so open in the beginning, and she never appreciated it until now that he has learned their ways.
They had chiseled away at his heart until his last sliver of hope seemed to fade away. John had been a light in her darkness, until he, too, receded into their shadows like a hunted prey. His face was now gaunt with sunken cheeks and weary eyes. The bright golden flickers in his hair that once caught her eye were gone. It was ironic that his world's sun provided the gold in his hair only to have her universe's cruelty to snuff it out.
Aeryn realized this was the first time she'd noticed John's change. She recollected these things that squeezed her heart. Then she drew him to her bosom, held him tight to squeeze away his pain, and cradled him in her arms.
"I...I..." John started, his voice caught. He looked at her, his face strained, "I'm sorry...so sorry." His voice barely above a whisper didn't deter Aeryn's Sebacean ears to hear.
"Shhh, John." She cooed. "I'm here." She remembered how many times he'd taken her into his strong arms and comforted her tenderly through her hardships. "It'll be all right." She cuddled against him, resting her chin on his head, as her tears willingly flowed. "I'm here."
***
"See them cohabitate, Captain." Commandant Grayza said, peering at the two prisoners through her screen. Yontur's stalactite served well within the ocular perch inside the prisoners' cell. Grayza frowned as she saw the two figures huddle together. She turned to her assistant, taunt with peacekeeper code, rigid and erect. Good. But he was resisting her perfume. Though not as unporous as John Crichton, Braca was not obedient as she desired. He was displaying the symptoms of a jealous lover. That was inexcusable, and she would have to rectify this.
"I can see you do not understand why I have done this. Do you, Captain?"
"I don't understand what you mean, Ma'am," Braca said.
"Them." She gestured toward the screen, one human and the other Sebacean, the male's head rested against the female's chest. "I know you have questions why I put them together and why I tortured him the way I did."
"No, Ma'am. A Peacekeeper does not question his superior."
He was erect as any superior would want their captain. Shoulders back, chest out, stance stiff-backed. Grayza circled him to see his boots a high sheen and hair trimmed impeccably. He was a true Peacekeeper, and she would conquer him as well.
"I will explain. The human is a creature that breeds on pride and independence, which is a powerful combination for such a one that carries a weapon that could destroy galaxies. There is no justice to this mockery, having such a primitive to wield so much power. Pride and independence must be broken first in order to justify this ridicule.
"My method of applying pain, but not to the point of scarring, would strip his independence, enabling dependence upon me. My seduction as a female would break his pride, his ability for control. But, Braca, the most important is my dominance, to annihilate his will to be. Simply his will to be a male for Aeryn or anything else he desires. Aeryn had to witness his loss of control, and he had to see that loss in her eyes. This is something many Sebaceans do not perceive. But I do. Do you understand, Captain?"
Grayza could see questions still stirring in his eyes. She came closer to pierce with her lavender gaze.
"Ma'am, why did you have Officer Sun kidnapped first and allow Crichton to get away? He may have escaped us totally?"
"Would he have without his love? Where would Crichton go? To his ship? I think not. As you already know, we had cut off all communication with his crew, his weapons were destroyed, and he had nowhere to go but to Mon-tan-nish-no.
"And, of course, Palimous wanted to see his Regent suffer, so I allowed him that pleasure." She sneered. "Now that Palimous is to be Regent, it will be short lived.
"And you, Braca. What happened to the prongs? They were not to scar the human."
"I don't know what you mean, Ma'am."
Grayza leisurely wiped her sweat and Braca sniffed. "What did you do, Captain, to the prongs?"
"The...the...prongs, they fell in the chemicals."
"What chemicals?"
"It was a hybrid of hydrochloric acid and a dampening-based solution. It was diluted to slightly burn through tissue and then stop."
"But it caused too much pain, Braca. I might have lost the human. You must not interfere with my designs. Is that clear?"
She caressed his arm and spoke to him in beguiling tones. "Perfection is a swath to my heart. To please me, you must perform your duties as I command and for no one else. Perfection will win my heart." She administered more of her oils for Braca to sniff. "You have discovered this planet, as I desired. This world with potential weaponry comparable to the wormholes will hold the Scarrans at bay for an alliance. We will win, Braca." She smiled stroking his face.
***
Tension, stress, and fear permeated the carapace of Moya. Tension brought on by the disbelief of Adu's innocence to the disappearance of John and Aeryn. Stress springing from each crewmember bickering at each other for failure to locate his friends. D'Argo growled at their deficiencies. Fear. But it was fear that choked him, strangling him to obscurity. Fear that he allowed this Adu to expose John and Aeryn, that he would never see them again. Fear that he allowed Palimous aboard Moya without inspecting him, staying hidden as commanded by John. He shouldn't have listened; he shouldn't have trusted the people of Yontur.
Now, their comms were dysfunctional, and Moya was disabled, floating behind one of Yontur's moons helplessly with no Starburst power.
D'Argo stood at the docking bay door that finally opened to this Captain Adu Kendrell. Before on the planet, Adu confronted him and warned about John and Aeryn's disappearance. D'Argo agreed to rendezvous with Adu on Moya after he had done one more heat scanning for John on the surface. Frelling scanners didn't detect Crichton's heat register.
When Pilot announced the intruder, D'Argo recognized the foreign build of the ship that it wasn't Peacekeeper issued. It was the only ship with a shape of a Delta wing that John had said reminded him of Earth's jets. This ship was Captain Krendell's.
He waited with arms crossed in tier five docking bay. He would interrogate this Adu before killing him.
The rage increased, blood curdling rage that only was appeased with retribution and vengeance. D'Argo saw his target climb from the Delta-winged ship, and he quickly approached him.
The cool pressure and air swirled around D'Argo as he growled and grabbed Adu by the throat and threw him against the Delta.
"You did this!" D'Argo yelled. "And you will die!" he unsheathed his Qualta-blade and struck the ship.
Adu flashed from his vision, dodged the blow, and rolled on the ground behind him. The creature leaped on D'Argo's back like some feline, covering his eyes to blind him. The rage still boiled, but dark pain filled him when he felt his tentacles pulled.
"I can kill, too, Luxan," Adu said, loud, exhaling from exertion. "But your friend needs saving," the creature spoke lies in D'Argo's ears, squeezing his tentacles, harder.
"You will be the first to die!" D'Argo swung around, rammed the creature into the Delta, and the creature released and fell to the floor.
"If you kill me, you may never find your friends." In one lithe move, Adu jumped and readied himself to draw his pistol.
D'Argo struggled to still his weapon and made a rumbling noise in his throat, tilted his head, hands itching to thrust the blade through his opponent's flesh.
"Then explain."
"I had nothing to do with dismantling your comms or ship, Luxan."
"Mmmm, but you had something to do with them being gone, didn't you?"
D'Argo waited for the thick silence to cease with Adu's answer, but to his dismay the hustle and smell of Chiana filled the bay. He saw the gray girl that once had excited him with desire, now infuriated him with her frivolity.
"What took you so long?" Chiana asked. "Where's Crichton?" Her eyes weren't questioning him, but Captain Kendrell.
"How would he know, Chiana?"
"But, but, if you don't know, why can't he? He was with them on Yontur, wasn't he?"
D'Argo growled. She knew frelling too much.
Adu smiled and approached the Nebari, "Ahhhh, so, Chiana, you miss your friends?" he asked.
"Yeah, what've you done with them?"
"The question is, how are we going to find them?"
"Don't listen to him." D'Argo said and returned his Qualta-blade to his sheath.
"But he's right," she said, almost purring. "Pilot can't locate where they are. And you're up here with Lo'La. We can't comm anyone outside of Moya. So they won't hear us. How are we going to find them?" She dipped her head, lowered her voice, and locked eyes with Adu. "Pilot's located a structure or something on Yontur's surface in the mountain range over a thousand metras from the city. We can't make out what it is, but it's big."
That irritated D'Argo, Chiana perpetually seeking a male's attention. He pulled her away from Adu. "That's enough! Where the drannit is Rygel, Sikozu?"
"Oh, they're searching the food compartments for anything strange."
"What the Hezmana! He'll eat everything! Sikozu should be the only one looking since she was with that pile of dren, Palimous!"
"Okay, come on. Let's go to Command."
"No! Not until you find whatever it is and have Sikozu find a way to reverse this problem. Now!"
"Hey!" she waved her arms. "Okay, okay, you don't have to yell. You need to learn some manners." She slapped his chest. "I need to pull you up by your mivvoks!" She was very close; he could feel her breath on his face. "Come on, D'Argo, Sikozu wants to show you something." She grabbed his sleeve and pulled him alongside her. Sometimes Chiana does prove herself well, thought the Luxan. Perhaps he was too harsh with her.
Adu followed and laughed, "My Luxan man, I wouldn't want to trouble her."
D'Argo abruptly stopped and peered at Adu with eyes like daggers, "She has troubled me!" D'Argo snorted, and they continued toward the Command Center in tensed silence.
***
The ship was like a golden seashell to Adu, beautiful spinal lacing the walls that had ears. He was familiar with Leviathans, but never had as much contact as he had this past cycle, Elack now Moya both wondrous creatures. It was the massive Command Center that gripped Adu's admiration. It stated boldness, showing the stars through the panorama of space, and stamina, supplying standing stations with no seats or rests for comfort or ease. How could a living structure of this magnificence provide no weapons?
"It's good meeting you again, Captain Kendrell." Sikozu said, extending her hand to shake as Commander Crichton did on Yontur.
"I can only say, lovely lady, the same," Adu took her hand and brushed it against his cheek. There was no telling to Sikozu's reaction, only her eyes that grew more emerald.
***
She quickly evaded Adu to address the contraption on a console nearby. "D'Argo, this is what is causing our problems. This little machine called a molecular disabler tool. A little box that can emit synthesizing rays to combine molecules at a certain grid. By a simple turn of an internal switch--" She picked up the contraption and rubbed an edge. A square projectile pushed forward from the center to expose a green dial. "--like this." She started to turn it toward a yellow inscription.
"Don't!" D'Argo cried and caught Sikozu's hand. "What are you doing?"
"Well, it's nothing really. I'm still working on this. Don't worry, I know some of it's technology, which is part Scarran and Sebacean, mostly. This is why our Chakan oil is spoiled and John and Aeryn's comms don't work. And if we find one of these in the Starburst chamber, it could be what's causing Moya to be off line. This tool is built to hone in on the article in question, it memorizes the signature, and changes the molecules. However, turning this dial releases the signature and the targeted object can return to its previous state."
"How did you know all this?" D'Argo never trusted this new addition to the family, but at least she was useful.
"Education of higher learning, which I can't say the same for you." She tilted her head and walked away.
D'Argo raced toward her and turned her to face him, squeezing her arms. "How do you know it got put in the chamber and who the frell put it there! Tell me!"
"What I'm doing here, Luxan, is deducing. Maybe it's in the neural cluster or Pilot's chamber. How the frelling would I know?"
He grimaced and let her go.
He growled again and turned to Adu. "Too many arns have passed without John and Aeryn. You will go with me to the surface to investigate this."
"I will," Adu said. D'Argo could see Adu knew when to keep silent. The crew was strained and ready to snap. Silence would assuage their beastly mood.
"I only trust you because John and Aeryn have. Maybe I shouldn't."
"I have always been Officer Sun's back wing man. I will ally you, my Luxan, gladly."
D'Argo squinted, growled. He trusted only his family, his friends aboard Moya. Adu was neither family or friend.
"Sikozu!" D'Argo called to her. "You've done well." Her eyes grew more emerald, he believed, with satisfaction.
They started toward the docking bay, and Chiana caught up with them. "You, you, won't leave without me."
"We will go alone," D'Argo kept marching through the tiers until they arrived at the docking bay.
"I'm going." She smoothly pushed herself close to him. "Three heads are better than two."
For the first time he laughed, not a simple chuckle or grunt, but bellowed out. "You...you sound like John."
"Yeah, right, all the more reason why I should come along." Her angular dance, head tilting beguiled the Luxan.
He couldn't say no to her; she knew where the structure was located.
***
Her wrists throbbed and itched from caked blood. At least her wounds were healing from the leftover sealant. She leaned her head against the white wall. Her hand brushed against his forehead. Flushed. Still feverish. That she knew was dangerous for the human. She moved. He stirred and coughed.
His cough didn't disturb her until some microts later when he began hacking, dry horrible coughs.
"John, John." Aeryn kept calling his name not knowing what else to do.
"We gotta get out of here..." John cried out, weakly attempted to get up and stumbled over. Aeryn caught him before he hit the floor.
"No! You're in no condition to move." She positioned him against the wall to sit with her, shoulder to shoulder.
"Then...I'll find a way...for you...get...Moya." His voice faded away and began coughing again.
"No, John, I won't go anywhere." She understood what he meant through his broken speech. He turned to her, eyes rimmed with crimson, face shimmering with sweat. Her heart skipped; she feared for him. "You need help. You're dehydrated."
"Don't worry...about me...I'll be fine. Are you...okay?"
She could see John's query was forced, gasping between breaths, trying to appear normal. "I'm fine."
Then he did something that shocked her. A movement no one had ever done before. He gently put his feverish head and hands on her flat stomach and slightly grazed the small cut with his cheek. She flinched.
"The baby?" he asked with a dry whisper.
No knife could cut as deeply as this man did with gentleness. Stubborn, selfish, yes he was. But to give so much of himself and unselfishly be concerned about her and their child's welfare was baffling. She smoothed his sable strands of hair and kissed the crown of his head.
"The baby is fine and will continue to be as long as you stay alive."
John laughed softly into her belly. It tickled and made Aeryn smile. Then he leaned against the wall and began to cry. Aeryn worried, seeing that he was wasting the last moisture he had.
"Are you all right?" Aeryn leaned against his shoulder.
"Yeah," John wiped his tears and began to cough again; it was worse this time.
"You're dry. I have to get you some water."
"No, no...I'll be--" The loud hacking persisted.
"Right answer." She pushed herself away and got up. "I'm getting you some water and more sealant if it kills me."
She stood and watched him. John kept drifting in and out of consciousness. This concerned Aeryn. She had to find a way to escape before it would be too late. He needed medical attention on Moya and quickly.
She banged against the wall again, then noticed the ocular perch. "Hey! You hear me. If you don't let me out, I'll take your precious table and machine and rip it apart. Do you want that? I hear they are very expensive to replace." She ran to the slab and power kicked the arm of the machine and knocked it sideways. She twisted one small metal extension that once held the knife the attendants had removed. After a couple of more kicks and twists, it popped off.
"You see this?" Aeryn waved the extension in front of the ocular perch. "Well, here!" She threw it straight at the lens. The metal made impact, bounced off and cracked the stalactite.
"Grayza, do you want John Crichton to die? I believe you don't. He needs water. Now! Or I will destroy your precious lab."
She backed up to run full speed toward the two-way mirrored wall again to break more glass. Grayza had taken the bait. Aeryn heard the locks open once again. Two armed guards were at the door.
"You will follow us, Officer Sun," one guard said, reminding Aeryn of herself, grunt work.
"Where are you taking me?"
The two dark figures said nothing and gestured her to follow, one guard in front and the other behind Aeryn aiming a pulse rifle at her back.
***
It was any High Command's recluse boasting with the necessary frills: white walls, black trim, and the Peacekeeper insignia with the red intersecting triangle all proudly displayed above the large achromatic desk and huge black chair. Fit for a Commandant, but not for her, Aeryn thought as she was thrust further into the room.
Aeryn grimaced when the guards, flanked on either side of her, slammed her down on the small stool. The Commandant took no chances. Two more guards were flanked at her desk and two outside the door. Six guards total and no Braca.
"Officer Sun," Commandant Grayza said, breaking Aeryn's observations only for a microt. "Would you like some Raslak or Fellip Nectar? I have other drinks of high quality." Grayza headed toward the decanter. Aeryn noticed to her left a tall ebony glass cabinet full of weapons and some clothes articles. She couldn't decipher what type or whose they were, but as any article of value, they were padlocked by reinforced steel.
"I didn't come for liquor. I came for water and sealant. That is what John needs."
"John?" the Commandant took the valuable decanter and poured Raslak into the goblets.
"Yes, John. Remember? He's the one you just frelled with."
"You haven't the slightest idea why you are here, do you?"
"It seems you're taking the long way around to prove why we should be."
"I will make this simple for you. You are here because of Commander Crichton. And he is here because of peace, which makes both of you peacemakers."
"Don't frell with me. You don't know what the word means. What are you? Some freak? Why would you almost kill him and leave him for dead to proclaim of your foolish peace to me?"
"Here, have some Raslak. It will calm your nerves."
Aeryn slapped the drink from her hands and stood up, locking eyes with the Commandant. "I wouldn't drink from filth like you, stealing his dignity. What are you? Nothing but dren for the Palmoniam meat hounds to eat the flesh from your bones. That's all you're good for. You're weak and a coward. You couldn't stand on your own bipeds to fight." Aeryn sneered, reached for Grayza. The guards held her back. One swatted her back with the butt of his rifle. She reeled over and was forced to sit on the stool again.
Grayza smiled coldly. "You cannot conceive who you are threatening. When you threaten someone ensure you have the necessary reinforcement. Three solar days from now all this," she waved around the room. "John's torture, your imprisonment, will be nonexistent for you. In three solar days this part of the universe will cease to exist."
Aeryn said nothing. Peacekeepers had no need to lie to appear powerful. They were the epitome of empowerment and enforcement. Destruction was going to happen in three solar days and she had to find out how to stop this. There wasn't much chance to escape. For now, there were too many guards, John was incapacitated, and she was weaponless, unless somehow she could reach the glass cabinet. She needed to distract Grayza.
"So you were the one to receive the shipment of CL3." Aeryn hoped Grayza would take bait. "We've been wondering who stole those barges."
Grayza sat in the huge chair, swirled the Raslak in her goblet. Aeryn chilled at Grayza's calculating perusal. "At first I learned of Captain Crais then Scorpius' interest in John Crichton, which brings us to him carrying the key to wormholes, a deterrent to war. That is all. But the CL3 and Fribium makes a combination of powerful enforcement, all in the name of peace. This is no chimerical plight, but reality. Do you have anything better to offer, Officer Sun?"
Aeryn sat erect on the stool. No matter how weak she felt or how her wounds burned, Grayza would never know. Her voice came ringing hard, strong, and true. "Dignity, right standing. Your ways have polluted the Peacekeeper's standards. Your filthy manner of torture should never be tolerated."
"I have full support from High Command, which I need not answer to you. However, to appease your discontentment on the human's behalf, I never intended to harm him as you have seen. The prongs were never meant to lacerate his flesh as it did. Unfortunately, I have no means to reverse this travesty. You requested water? Sealant?"
Grayza held a small silver device and called for the requested supplies.
Patience and waiting was an admirable game and Aeryn had to play well. But the waiting paid off when Grayza's hologram receiver flashed on. Braca's image filled the opposite side of Grayza's desk.
"Commandant Grayza we have a problem. There are three unauthorized crafts approaching--" Braca said, appearing agitated.
"Wait, I have a prisoner."
"Ma'am?"
"I will be with you in a microt, Captain."
Grayza turned off the receiver and motioned the guard who had fetched the water and sealant and to stay.
"Your requests, Officer Sun." Grayza gestured the guard to relinquish the items to Aeryn.
Aeryn took the plastic pouch of water and disc of sealant. "At least you want him to live," she said.
"All for peace. Guards, escort her back!"
Aeryn was relieved to receive the replenishments for John. But before she had a chance to leave the room, the floor vibrated, a horrendous groan filled the air, then the percussion split her ears. She fell alongside the other guards for cover when large chunks of wall and mortar fell, smothering her, crushing her. White dust stung her eyes she couldn't see, but she heard the muffled cries of Grayza, "Bring Crichton, leave her! Guards...guards!" Then Grayza and her men were gone.
Aeryn lay still blinded to consciousness.
***
"Fire, brimstone, the hot tub," John said to himself, chuckled then coughed some more. "Tabasco, hot peppers, too hot to handle. I can feel the rumble" His voice was too raw, he had to stop talking. He had just awakened. He could see better; his eyes weren't burning. He examined the room and noticed the two-way mirror broken on their side of the room. To him it looked like some two-by-four had hit it. Then John walked over and picked up a metal object off the floor. Interesting. He played with it, twiddled it around with his fingers. It was about eight inches long, a half an inch thick, a little bigger than a pointer.
He felt a little better, not as feverish but was still dreadfully weak. His back? John moved against the wall and quickly moved away, wishing he hadn't been so foolish. Still hurts like crap. He walked toward the center of the room near the med table.
Aeryn has a way with her hands, he thought as he touched the metal object, sitting Indian style in the middle of the floor. The way she worked his back. He'd always be obliged to her. Always. He scanned the room, expecting her to be lying nearby.
Where's Aeryn?
Suddenly, another rumble quaked beneath him; no, it was over him. It was everywhere. Was that what woke him? The shaking? Rumbling? Bombing? With quicksilver reflex, John dove under the table, hoping it wouldn't crush him when the whole place caved in. The noise racked his senses and white dust plumed around, swirling with debris of rocks, catapulting from the door. He stayed under the slab, covering his head, crouching, hearing the lab surrender to the onslaught with one last groan.
The microts felt like arns, longer than his earth hours. Then the guards came three of them, but more wall fell to crush one. John saw the other two comb the demolished cell with handheld lights since all electrical units were snuffed out. John could hear them walk over the ruins, their boots grind and crumble more of the desolation.
"Over here." John heard the garbled voice in the shadows. They were so close he could smell them.
"Got him!" A hand grabbed John's arm. With one hard thrust, John drove the metal pointer into the guard's hand. John reached from under the shelter for the other guard's helmeted head and pulled the guard toward him. One loud crack and John succeeded to smash the guard against the edge. Then another vibration hit, both guards fell beneath the ruins. John seeing neither were moving came from beneath the slab and rushed toward the mirrored wall still standing. The adjacent lab's emerald emergency lights left unscathed glowed eerily from the other side of the mirror.
Go figure. After all the structural damage, the other room where he was tortured appeared untouched.
He shrugged his shoulders, then stopped abruptly. He had to be careful, his back was still causing him problems.
Before John started toward the opening where the door once stood, he heard another pair of boots crumbling more remains of the cell. He saw a figure at the opening, dark, strong, and sure.
Aeryn!" He exclaimed.
"You're all right?" Aeryn cried out and came toward him fast. She had all sorts of stuff in her arms, including a pulse rifle strapped on her shoulder.
"Yeah!" He could see her face limed with the emerald glow of lights. She was okay shy a few scratches. "What's this?" He noticed she had a pile of articles.
"I've got your coat, some weapons, water, and sealant."
"Water?" He grabbed the pouch Aeryn offered him and drank till it was dry.
"And here's your pistol, holster."
"Did you see the other one?" He quickly snapped on his belt and holster, slid the weapon in it's cradle, listened for the click, and waited for her to answer.
"No."
"You sure this is Winona?" He patted the pistol.
"Yes? No...I think so. I reloaded it with fresh Chakan oil." Then Aeryn slowly and carefully helped him on with his duster. This task wasn't as easy. He edged into the sleeves wincing without complaining.
"Well, what the heck!" He drew the pistol from his holster, aimed and fired it toward the doorway. "You've seen one Winona, you've seen them all. It works." He smiled, put Winona back in her cradle, and nodded toward the mirrored wall. "This was broken before the bombing started. I wonder who did this?"
"I did."
"What?"
"Grayza should be glad she wasn't standing there."
He laughed, that was his Aeryn. He welcomed her Peacekeeper side. No one could keep her down, and that made John proud. He had become more of a man because of her. He stopped laughing and leaned in to kiss her. It wasn't long as he wanted it to be, but he felt revitalized, giddy because he was with her and she with him. Between tasting her spicy tongue and softly releasing her lower lip, he flicked her nose with his. He adored her misty-eyed look and felt in response that sweet electrical shock penetrating him. His heart pounded against his chest.
"Have I ever told you how much I love you?" He asked, then cupped her face with his hands.
Her reaction was a mystery. She gasped, paled as if she'd seen a ghost.
"What's the long face for?" He gently brushed the back of his hand against her cheek.
"Nothing." Aeryn grabbed his arm. "We have to get you out of here to Moya."
For Aeryn, it was the ill feeling of history repeating itself as he once said to her. She had to help John escape this madness before it was too late. Before three solar days pass, he will Starburst from this region. And he need not know what was about to happen. Aeryn decided not to inform John of Yontur's ill fate to keep him from interfering, trying to be the hero, the sacrifice, even if she had to destroy Mele-On Grayza herself. Perhaps she couldn't deter the other John's death, but she frelling wouldn't allow this one the same fate.
***
Once they left the lab area, John paced behind Aeryn down a small corridor. When they passed lab cells that appeared just like the one they just escaped, he was struck by the confusion, hysteria, and destruction--med techs fumbling from their stations, intermittent alarms drowning their scuffles, small worker droids beeping, burping voice messages to evacuate. The acrid smell of lingering smoke from the explosives and broken pipes spewing gas stung his nose, and the stench of flesh and bone turned his stomach. The emergency lights now reacted like strobe lights, emerald flashes that nearly blinded him. Ignoring to react to the atrocities, he kept going forward, not straying left or right.
It was a fortunate thing that no one recognized them or even cared. He couldn't blame them. The place was just demolished by an attack, and many Peacekeepers, med techs, and Yontur's scientists were trapped or dead under the rubble.
He kept behind her, funneling along with the crowd. If Earth could be this prepared, disasters would be easily handled. They were in a humongous circular hall or station. Alcoves littered the underground walls with pods, round containments for Yontur's sub-mobiles. John and Aeryn claimed one and jumped into a pod.
A Yontur citizen inside the pod pushed against Aeryn. Being caught off balance, she fell outside. John thrust the assailant against the cushioned half of the mobile's wall, drew his pistol, and gestured the man to get off. After the man fled, John noticed Aeryn still on the ground. He ran out to help her up, and four other people pushed them aside to confiscate the pod.
"Aeryn, come on. You're okay?"
"Yes, we've got to get one."
Before more stampede resulted, they ran to another pod. They successfully made it in, panting from exertion.
"Emergency evacuation. Desired destination?" The voice activated message popped on just as they entered. "Door will close in five microts."
Then seven panicked people ran toward their pod, which John noticed could only hold two. They came with a determination, to survive and kick him and Aeryn off. Before the small mob reached the pod, the doors shut. They ran against it, banging, shouting for it to open. It appeared all other pods were taken.
"That was close," John said, exhaled and relaxed, standing against the wall.
"Push the yellow button," Aeryn said, John noticed he was closest.
"Why not the red."
"If you want to return to the surface near the city, push the yellow now."
He slammed on the hand-sized button. "Destination denied. Tunnels have been closed. Please choose another." John cursed.
"Okay, let's do this one." He slammed on the green.
"Destination accepted. Surface four metras above. Location four hundred motras away. Arrival time six-hundred and fifty microts. Engaged."
He felt the centrifugal force take and he saw Aeryn flatten into the soft wall. After a moment, they were able to lift themselves from it and move freely.
John grinned, "Sounds like that receptionist we first encountered."
"I wasn't there."
"Yeah, right." It seemed strange not having her around. Even though she wasn't aboard Moya that time, it still felt as if she were. As a matter of fact, it felt as if he'd known her all his life.
"Aeryn, we've got to get some transportation. No one knows we're here, Palimous frelled with our weapons and comms when they kidnapped you."
"Perhaps we can get a mobile from the surface to the city, then hijack a Prowler. How about that, John."
He laughed, "You speak-ah some good English." He came close to her. "Are you sure you and the baby are okay?"
She nodded, taking his hand to her cheek. "Mmm-hmm."
She never looked sweeter, rubbing her soft cool skin against his hand. He was frelled senseless with this woman. He held her close for the remaining microts, smelling the leather scent of her flight jacket, then her neck, playing in her hair.
Aeryn brushed her hand against his forehead, "You still feel hot. I don't like this."
"Don't you worry 'bout me, I never felt better." He cuddled in the crevice of her neck. She froze, her muscles stiffened. "What's the matter, baby?" John was afraid that she had seen and heard too much back there in the lab cell--him denouncing her and their child, being seduced and raped by Grayza, and above all his uselessness and inability to overtake Grayza. Aeryn had seen him completely weak, helpless, and conquered, and he knew she hated those qualities. It left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"The...the...fever." she swallowed hard and pushed him away.
He hoped she wasn't rejecting him because of what had happened back there, but he would understand it if her heart was turning from him...he was ashamed, too. He saw her eyes sparkle with tears welling.
***
Aeryn stood before him, the fear mounting in her heart. It was her other John's heroics that got him killed. Massive radiation poisoning took him away. She could not see him dying again. Thus, the same Peacekeeper skills came to surface again to keep this "same" John alive. Strength. Focus. Control of emotions.
She spoke calmly with an assertiveness. "I believe your bio-microbes aren't working because of the chemical from your wounds. They've manufactured a poison to attack your cardiovascular system and deteriorate your muscles. I smelled it when I applied sealant to your back. It's some kind of hydrochloric acid. Your microbes are being killed off too quickly before they can restructure and destroy the poison. I've seen this kill within arns. You need another boost of new bio-microbes to fight it off. We have to hurry to Moya."
He came closer to her even after she pushed him away. He touched her forehead and pushed away a stray hair. Her legs weakened at the touch of his warm human skin. Her heart palpated at the sight of his beautiful face, sumptuous and strong. "I'm...I'm afraid we don't have that much time before the infection spreads further to your heart."
"I feel great." He smiled so playfully. The deep reverberating hum of his voice was setting her pulse on fire. "How can it be so bad, hmm?" He tilted his head and cocked a brow.
"Right now, you're in remission, but you will relapse." She gave into her resolve, how could she resist his azure eyes, so transparent. She snuggled into his arms and felt safe while holding him, tight.
He cuddled against her cooing to her, "Did you know you're sweet like candy?" And he kissed her, harder, then longingly. She probed him with her tongue, starved for him, tasting his delicious human flavor. His hot breath was delectable with the scent of arousal as he his heated lips kissed and trailed her mouth, cheeks, neck, nose...smooth...slippery...wet and wild. He alone gave her heat delirium. Oh, it was madness, this kindred love. She yearned to tear off his coat, be lost in him and smell more of his masculine scent. She yearned to be his mate.
Suddenly, the sub-mobile stopped, causing them to fall. Aeryn leaped up and brushed herself off, then helped John. It wasn't his fever that caused her fear, but what he had said. The same words as her other John, taking his last breath before dying: Don't you worry 'bout me, I never felt better.
But with the fever added, there was no room for laxness. She would not fail him this time.
"Focus, John, we're here."
The sing-song tone of the automated voice filled the mobile. "Destination arrived. Please exit after doors open in five microts." The pod hovered before an automated doorway. They walked through it into the light, like coming forth out of a tomb, and smelled the fresh air.
***
Arizona Highways, minus the desert ground, John thought, squinting against the noon sun once they exited the mobile. Yontur's alien landscape vaunted its majestic mountains, crimson, gold, and orange, like a marbled cake; they spiraled high with craggy rocks, reaching to the stark blue sky. Yet, below in the valley, the ground was a blazing green, like an emerald. Oh, Oz! he was impressed.
A craft was approaching from the north, fast. "Get behind the rocks," Aeryn said, pushing John over. "Keep down."
"I know," John answered back. "Do you recognize it?"
"Yes, it's a Charrid craft going toward...there!"
He looked where she pointed. To his dismay, the Command Carrier sat between two mountains in an open valley being bombarded. He just noticed they were perched high above near a precipice directly before them within the mountain range. Looking to their left, a trail was carved from the sub-mobile exit, extending alongside the flank of the mountain. Below, the valley boasted of green, green grass and the humongous carrier, a monster ready to swallow anything in its path. "We have to get out of here before they spot us." She said and grabbed his arm.
The Charrid craft kept up its attack on the carrier. One should never disturb a hornet's nest unless there is a willingness to be lethally stung. So was the fate of this lone Charrid as John and Aeryn witnessed. Two Prowlers flew from the hive and chased the ship until both pulverized it to nothing but a burning skeletal, spiraling into the cleft of a mountain. After their assault, the Prowlers returned to their hive.
"I thought this planet was protected by armed satellites?" John asked.
"Well, it appears they've been dismantled, probably by Palimous."
"Didn't know a Command Carrier could land anywhere."
"If we don't get you to Moya, you'll soon be landed on your back. Come on."
They began the two-hundred metra climb down the flank of the mountain, staying behind rocks, bushes, and trees. Then the ground quaked, trembled. It sounded like a wind tunnel, a storm, and the sun slipped behind a great shadow over them. He fell to the ground for sheer safety and covered his head, while Aeryn lay beside him.
"What the Hezmana was that!" John yelled.
"The Command Carrier has lifted off?" Aeryn glanced at John, her brow drawn together.
"Aeryn, you've got any idea what's going on?"
"I...I...believe since Grayza unsuccessfully retrieved the wormhole information, she's leaving. Probably thinks we're dead."
"Good, let's keep it that way. Come on." He got up and helped Aeryn. He felt pretty good. His energy level was kicking in, and he was strong enough to make the trek.
They continued near the bottom behind some trees when Aeryn noticed a few Peacekeepers in the clearing. "John, we have to be careful if we're going to make it to the city."
"Yeah, I hear you. Dang, Aeryn, I thought they all left."
"It's more like they're being cautious. There could be a Marauder or two left behind. We may not be able to avoid them, John." He could see the worry in her deep blue eyes.
"Don't worry, I've got you covered."
"Shhh, they're coming over here." They each hid behind parallel trees to see each other, John with his pulse pistol raised close to his face for swift shooting.
John and Aeryn heard a buzzing noise above them and noticed a one-manned aerial platform flying toward them, skirting the thin canopy of the trees. Then it darted toward the clearing and hovered over the guards and darted back in their hidden area, seeking whatever it noticed. John kept an eye on it as he tipped-toed to where Aeryn was standing against the tree trunk.
"I've never seen anything like it. What is it?"
"One of Yontur's inventions, obviously now sold to Grayza."
"What a rip-off. It's a shame we have to shoot it down. Ready?" He grinned. Then he saw a glimpse of her wry smile and glittering orbs answering him. It set his heart on fire. John loved that cocky confidence in her, and he set to prove that he was her man.
"Ready." She said and nodded.
Shoulder to shoulder, they aimed and both fired through the canopy at the Peacekeeper one-manned flyer, John with his pistol and Aeryn with her pulse rifle. It buzzed around them like a weed whacker above the leaves, then sped to the clearing, signaling the others below to enforce his finding.
"Shoot! Shoot! Darn! We're spotted." John kicked the dirt, grabbed Aeryn by the hand, and they took off.
They ran from the cover of trees, firing at the contraption now chasing them into the clearing where the Peacekeepers were approaching. Then it was gone.
John cursed, shouted expletives like water spewing from a spigot. "Where'd they go?" He yelled. He spun around and saw Aeryn some motras away from him. She must've ran to that spot without him noticing. She was standing there, tense and ready to shoot. His perusal followed the direction of her aim. When he recognized who she was aiming her pulse rifle at, he froze.
***
"And I thought you both were deceased until we registered you on our scan." Mele-On Grayza said, walking slowly toward Aeryn. "Since the unfortunate demise of my guards not surviving the attack, I perceive our meeting quite fortunate and your bringing Commander Crichton to me a crowning glory. And, of course, our most innovative technology for the incarcerated has served well. Did you know, we have long since known of your arrival? The cuffs you were wearing had inserted a location chip in your wrists. How do you think the sub-mobile brought you to this destination?"
"You don't deserve to breathe." Aeryn disregarded all that Grayza had said and held the dark, bazooka-like weapon to fire. Grayza never stopped, but kept walking toward Aeryn unafraid with guards flanking either side of her. She was nearly four motras away when John identified what Grayza was wearing, the shield belt that protected its wearer from gunfire or any other projectile.
"Aaaaeeeryn, don't shoot!" John sprinted toward her, but it was too late. Aeryn fired. The pulse fire impacted Grayza only to disperse into useless energy.
He saw the action and reaction, not able to move fast enough. Grayza raised her pocket pistol, small and dainty. A shot exploded from the weapon.
John ran with fire in his lungs. He ran till he felt no ground beneath him and leaped to thrust Aeryn out of harms way; her weapon flew upwards. Then he smelled the acrid trail of fire and felt the heat split air and flesh.
He fell over her from the percussion. For a moment, he couldn't move.
"Aeryn, are you okay?"
He touched her face, she was grimacing. He could see the pain flood her eyes and blood ooze from her side. He put pressure on the wound.
"No. Aeryn, no. Please say you're okay. Say you're okay. Don't leave me." He cried, touching her face, trembling, still applying pressure to her side with his other hand.
"I'm...okay. You...have to get to...to...Moya."
He bent over and pressed his cheek against her face. "I can't leave you. Ever. I love you."
"John? John?" Fear gripped his heart again at her plea. He was helpless. His movements became erratic, short, clumsy. She was loosing too much blood, too fast.
"Aeryn, stay with me. Come on, you're a big girl. You've got to think about me and the baby, huh?" He chuckled, wiped her tears.
"Mmmm." She nodded her head, writhed beneath him. Her legs bending, trying to find ground. "John?"
"Hang in there, Aeryn. Stay with me. Oh, God, let her live. Aeryn, don't leave me. Not now!" He felt her pulse weaken, her complexion pale within seconds. The blood, there was so much blood, "Please, God, just this once...hear me? I know you're out there!" He cried, looked toward the sky, and cradled his love.
His lament reached the wind and carried through the mountains. "I'm so sorry...I'm so sorry." He hated himself, hated that he had caused her this pain and jeopardized their child. He hated what he turned out to be, a sex slave to Grayza. He loved only Aeryn. Then he kissed her full sweet lips. "No, no, no. Hang on," he said, softly.
He wept sore.
He heard the breeze swirl and carry the tragedy on its wings while the trees swayed to his mourning heart, to a hope deferred. The warmth of the sun enveloped him, and it shined on the clearing where the he and his love suffered from wounds of the heart.
***
Grayza saw him cradle the ex-Peacekeeper in his arms, her body limp and raven hair falling loosely. Then he kissed his Aeryn. "No, no, no. Hang on." His whimpers were heard by her stony heart.
"Captain Braca, bring Crichton." Grayza turned from the unsightly display of grief and walked away, her heart bitter and hard, unwilling to break. Her lavender eyes welled with unwanted tears. It was easy to be contaminated by aliens; their emotions were infectious. She waited for Braca before continuing to the Marauder.
***
John suddenly felt the cold metal against his neck. They could shoot him for all he cared. It was too late for Aeryn, unless she was taken care of right away. He closed his eyes, felt the whirring, the pain of his back return, and the cold weapon.
"Crichton come with us," Braca said, leaning in John's ear, rubbing the barrel against his neck.
"No." John looked down at the unconscious Aeryn and saw a flight pin on her jacket. He tore the pin off and stuffed it safely in his pocket. Braca grabbed him from behind with a chokehold and dragged him away from Aeryn.
"Captain, do not harm him!" He heard Grayza yell.
John was suffocating from Braca's stronghold, dragging him toward the Marauder. John dug his feet into the ground to bring Braca at a standstill, unsuccessfully by only leaving two mud trails in the grass. Since that didn't stop him, John grabbed Braca's arms and slammed his head back into Braca's face. But before John could spring from him, his opponent counteracted with two strong blows to his back. Excruciating pain exploded everywhere. John fell prostrate in the mud. He got up on his hands and knees. Imbalance overwhelmed him and he fell head first into the mud.
For a moment, the shock numbed him. It felt as if blood was seeping from his ears, nose, face, veins, only to discover it being sweat breaking in runnels down his nose. He couldn't feel his hands, feet. What happened?
Braca suddenly kicked John over. No more wind was left in him as he lay prone on his back, and the pain returned with a vengeance, causing his back to arch. He was on fire and his ribs felt broken. He rolled over and held his stomach to keep from heaving. To escape his tormenter, John blindly crawled toward the woods to no avail.
"Crichton, it's been a long time," Braca said, smiling, crouching low, following close enough for John to hear him. "You still haven't changed. Unique you may be, but a man you are not. Not even for your soon deceased hybrid and traitor, Aeryn Sun."
"Braca," Grayza yelled in the distance, "Do not instigate him. Keep him immobilized."
Heat, carnage obscured John's lucidness. He yelled away the pain and thrust his fist into Braca's stomach. He wheeled around and plummeted Braca's temple with his balled fists and hammered until his assailant fell over unconscious.
Grayza was left standing five motras away. He saw her gesture to the guards not to interfere. Demons can't compete with this pile of crap, John thought and cocked his head, panting, spent from exhaustion.
"You promised to keep her and my kid from harm. Look at her!" John cried out. Suddenly, in one swift action, he drew his pistol and aimed it at her head. His mouth contorted. "You better get help. Quick! Or else no wormholes."
"It does not matter. After three solar days, this region of the galaxy will be gone, all three planets and moons, along with your love. The process has already begun and cannot be stopped."
"No!" John strode quickly toward her with the barrel of Winona a few inches away. Grayza didn't flinch. "Not if I can help it."
"How can you not, Commander?" She tilted her head, smirking. "I have my guards, the shield belt, and our carrier has already lifted off to release the Spherical."
"Yeah?" With a hard push, he threw her down and straddled her on his knees that blocked her upper arms. Then before a blink, he jammed the barrel of Winona into her mouth and laughed a harsh, wicked laugh.
"Connect! Kinectus! Kinetic!"
Grayza struggled like a beetle on its back, with arms and legs flailing, beneath John's massive body. She was unable to cry out and her guards unable to protect.
"That's right," he said gleefully, "this belt works on kinetic energy. One shot, inside your vampish mouth, then...Boom!" Grayza startled from his loudness. "It'll start from inside, tearing against your esophagus, then the back of your skull where the belt isn't. Oh yeah! By the time energy reaches the belt, your head will be hamburger! Get the connection?" John paused, laughed hysterically while tears streamed down his cheeks. "You know, after all the trouble you've caused me and Aeryn, I'd love to kill you. Right here, right now. Just one shot!" He dug his feet deeper into the dirt, while he loomed over her.
John grinded his teeth and the fever made his coat thick, heavy. His face sticky with moisture. Heat. My baby, my Aeryn, hurt, dying because of me. Cold. He shivered. Anger exploded within him, a barbaric reasoning took place. They're dying because of you, Grayza. And he jammed the barrel harder between her teeth. He was amazed to see such a wide instrument fit into a small opening. Freakish, she must've had practice. She whimpered and tried to push him off, but he resisted her. He was too strong.
"You like force? Huh? Want to feel it?" His eyes watered more. Maybe, just maybe he could put her out of her misery. He played with the trigger. "Want to die?"
The whirring grew louder, kill or be killed. He twisted Winona again, making a loud clacking noise between her teeth. Then another voice interrupted. Just shoot her. It would be a hailed feat! Don't be so uncivilized; just get rid of the refuse. Harvey spoke softly to John's thoughts.
"Shut up!" John spat out the command, spraying on the wide-eyed Grayza with vehemence, wet and wild. He had to gain control, to rid himself of this dark troglodytic temper, this vile evil within. Get a grip on yourself.
"Commander!" Braca yelled. "Do you wish for more lives on your record. You will be hunted by all Peacekeepers, starting from High Command to the lowest rank."
"Don't mess with me!" He shouted at Braca, then yanked the pistol's barrel from Grayza's bleeding mouth. She had no time to deliver sweat, seeing her strangle, and choke from shock. "One move, Elvira, and I'll ram this back down your throat."
John got up and pulled up Grayza with him. He roughly began to unbuckle the shield belt, tugging her, jerking her. First, he'd knock out Grayza once he got the belt off. Then wound and disarm Braca. Afterwards, he'd put the belt on Aeryn and escape. He was satisfied with that plan. She would be protected with him carrying her to safety, and Grayza and Braca would be out of commission. Suddenly, he felt wind behind him and a crack over his head. He slumped to the ground, pulling Grayza down with him. Stars, bright blobs pierced his blackness, then nothing.
***
"Regent Palimous it is so good to see you," Captain Braca said. "You are quite the warrior."
"I saw you needed help even upon the evacuation of my scientists," Palimous said, holding the butt end of a pulse rifle. "How is the Commandant?"
Braca helped his Commandant to her feet. "Captain, Regent." Grayza said, voice muffled, but surprisingly audible after all the damage done. She nodded to Palimous and received a piece of cloth from a guard to wipe her bloody lip and gums. "I am doing quite well. And what brings you here?"
"There persists a rumor. My people are at unrest."
"Really?" She turned toward Braca, "Captain, bring Crichton." then to Palimous. "And what manner of rumor may this be?"
"That our planet and moons are under attack by the Peacekeepers and will be destroyed in the matter of solar days. Commandant Grayza, surely they speak of riddles?"
"Why riddles? Why not the truth? It was pleasurable to work with you. And because of your impeccable cooperation, I invite you to come with us out of harms way."
"I feel ambiguity lies here, Commandant." He bowed slightly to show Yontur's respect. "I beg of your diplomacy to understand that there are billion of lives to consider here. Not only because we have begun such beautification in this humble place, but also because we must consider our happy and most trustworthy relationship, Commandant."
"You are a brave and worthy man, Palimous. Do you wish to remain with your people?"
"Why, only by your consent." He bowed again.
"How convenient. You have made negotiations so remarkably convenient. I give acquiesce." She nodded to Palimous. "Captain Braca, have a guard escort our guest and give him our seal of approval."
Braca nodded a signal to the guard and Palimous followed behind Braca picking up Crichton, slinging the human over his shoulder. The guard followed after Palimous, quietly retrieving his pulse pistol. Grayza sauntered ahead. Then there was a single pulse fire.
Grayza turned around and peered at the prostrate form of Palimous, drowned in his pool of blood. "It appears our negotiations have been terminated."
They trekked toward the Marauder. Suddenly, they saw a trail of fire hit the Marauder and explode directly in front of them. They fell on the ground from impact not knowing where the blast originated.
"Captain, guards! Get the aerial, quickly!" The guards headed to where the platform was positioned near the Marauder, unscathed. "Braca," she grabbed his arm. "There is only enough room for you, me, and barely for Crichton. Ensure the guards understand this."
"Ma'am?" Braca appeared incredulous.
"We have valuable information that needs to be disclosed to High Command. We are the only ones able to do this. Understand? Hurry!"
"Yes Ma'am." Braca dashed to the aerial platform and took it from the guard.
Grayza lay there in the grass thinking of her escape. The platform could get them to the Command Carrier. It was still in the stratosphere and there were helmets supplied on the platform for higher altitudes.
***
Adu couldn't see D'Argo's ship for Lo'La was cloaked. But he could see the result of D'Argo's shot at the Marauder, he pulverized it. Then Lo'La uncloaked and banked toward the figures on the ground and flew over them to observe.
Captain Kendrell's Delta landed in the clearing away from the Marauder and saw a lone familiar figure in the grass.
"Officer Sun?" He knelt where she was. He felt her forehead, cold and she was unconscious. She had bled profusely and needed help immediately. He hit the comm, "D'Argo, I have located Aeryn Sun. She's down and needs medical attention."
"Do it! Do not wait for us. Take her to Moya now!"
Adu carried her to his ship and proceeded toward Moya.
***
D'Argo turned toward his shipmate. "Chiana, are you ready."
"Ready as I can be."
"Okay, let's do it!"
They saw Grayza, Braca, and John at their feet on the strange contraption.
D'Argo opened Lo'La's hatch door.
"Ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya!" Chiana yelled her battle cry.
They crept up on the side of the flying machine and Braca navigating, tried to avoid colliding into Lo'La.
"Easy now, easy, we've got to get John."
"But how?" Chiana asked, "Sikozu should've been here. She could've stood on the side of your ship, D'Argo. Why didn't you think of that?"
"Just shoot them!"
The platform came dangerously close to D'Argo's ship. Grayza pulled out her small red pistol, while Braca tried everything possible to maneuver it. They couldn't allow John to be harmed.
"Shoot now!" D'Argo yelled.
Chiana fired before Grayza pulled her trigger, and the Commandant fell backwards against the railing. "Got her!" But Grayza quickly recovered. "D'Argo, she's...she's got the shield belt on! I can't stop her."
"She's got the shield belt on? Why does John always get us into trouble? Chiana, grab the wheel and fly. I'm going to land that thing."
"Are you fahrbot? You'll get yourself killed, and I don't have any of your DNA."
"Hurry up and take the wheel! Okay? Here." D'Argo spat on her hands while the ship flew on auto-pilot.
"Okay?" He asked again.
She rubbed her hands together. "Yeah."
D'Argo waited until Chiana maneuvered beside the contraption. He felt resistance from the turbulence of wind and compensated for it, then jumped. D'Argo landed hard near Grayza. The platform descended from his added weight. Grayza fired her pistol to miss, just as he tongued her. He grabbed Braca from behind and caught him in a chokehold. "Now you will land this thing, carefully. Or I will tongue you, too." D'Argo growled into Braca's ear, "Well, not until we land."
They had successfully gotten John back on Moya. D'Argo had conveniently tongued Braca and left Braca and Grayza unconscious far away from the destroyed Marauder without the shield belt, which D'Argo had taken back with him.