Moya's crew sat in command listening to D'Argo lay out the plan that he and
John came up with.
Rygel: Why do we have to subject ourselves to your small ship again?
D'Argo growled.
John: We have explained that Buckwheat.
Chiana: Moya is not strong enough to withstand any more attacks besides.
Aeryn: She is as well known as we are by now.
John: It would be like strolling down the street with Brad Pitt and expecting no one to notice.
D'Argo: We will be going to the meeting in Lola. She can protect us in ways that Moya can not.
Aeryn: Where will Moya be?
John: Arnessk with Jool. It has an atmosphere conducive to healing. She should be able to recuperate there. Hopefully by the time we get there she will be able to starburst, just encase we have any followers.
Rygel: So we are going to be cooped up in that little ship again!
Stark: Do we know how long?
D'Argo: However long it takes to get this done.
Chiana: From the stories I have heard, Furlow will know you, Aeryn, John and Ryg. So that leaves me, Stark and Noranti.
John: D'Argo and I have thought of that. That works in our favor if Scarrans don't show up at the auction but we can't rely on that.
Chiana: You think Ahkna will be there?
John: Don't know but you can bet that our names and faces have been distributed to ever Scarran large and small.
Aeryn: Not too mention the Charrids and Khalish. We destroyed a delicate balance between all of them when we destroyed Katarazi.
Stark: Aeryn is right.
Chiana: So what do we do?
D'Argo: We thought we would use the genetic transformation device that you and Noranti got from the commerce settlement when Aeryn was taken by the Scarrans. You do still have it, don't you?
Chiana: Of course.
Rygel: That change was only temporary. What happens when it wears off?
Noranti: That device not only changed our appearance but also our DNA for a short time.
She looked in Aeryn's direction.
John: For obvious reasons Aeryn can not be transformed.
Stark: The change is only temporary? How long does it last?
D'Argo: Nearly five solar days.
Pilot: What if that is not enough time?
Chiana: It has to be.
Aeryn: So what is my function?
Chiana: You could hang back in Lola. D'Argo can cloak her and if it looks like we are getting in deep and need rescuing.
John: We don't think Moya and Pilot should be left alone.
Rygel: I will stay with them and go to Arnessk.
John: Sorry Guido, can't go to market without our mouthpiece.
Pilot: Captain, Moya and I understand the need for your plan but she is nervous about returning to Uncharted Territory. We would both feel better if someone was left onboard.
Before Rygel could say anything, D'Argo looked at Aeryn.
Aeryn: No, you are not leaving me behind.
Noranti: You are the likely choice. Because of the child you can not be altered genetically.
Chiana: It would be safer.
John: With the sensor distorter installed Moya can imitate any ship she needs to avoid danger.
Aeryn: So you're on their side?
John went to her.
John: Honey it is the right thing to do for the baby's sake. He has been through enough, don't you think?
Aeryn: How will I know if.?
John took her hand in his. His thumb was rubbing the ring on Aeryn's finger.
John: The genetic thingy only works for five solar days. If we haven't been able to do anything by then, we will leave. We won't risk getting caught.
He leaned into her and whispered.
John: I have too much to look forward to.
She reluctantly agreed to stay with Pilot and Moya. John kissed her forehead.
John: Thank you.
Chiana hopped off the table.
Chiana: When do we leave?
D'Argo: A day.
Stark: When will we change our appearances?
John: How long does the change take?
Chiana: Depends on how much you want changed.
Noranti: It can be up to 3 arns.
John: How long will it take us to get there from the separation point?
D'Argo: Pilot?
Pilot: Moya estimates eight arns at a speed of hatch 11.
John: So at least one of us has to do their transformation while we are still on Moya. The others can be done while in route. I suggest the one who will need the most work.
All heads turned to D'Argo.
D'Argo: What?
Noranti: What are we going to do once we discover this weapon?
John: Buy it, steal it or if all else fails blow the holy hell out of it.
Rygel: What if Furlow is able to rebuild it?
Aeryn: She can't if she is dead.
Everyone looked in Aeryn's direction.
Pilot: Captain, Moya has discovered why it was so difficult to track the coordinates.
Pilot's revelation drew everyone's attention away from Aeryn.
John: I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
D'Argo: What is it Pilot?
Pilot: The message is emanating from a ship. It is never in the same place twice.
Chiana: A ship?!
Rygel: A ship! We can't board a ship. It is suicide.
John: We managed on Scorpy's command carrier.
Rygel: We had Aeryn, Crais and Talyn with us.
John looked at Noranti and Stark.
John: Okay we haven't traded up but we can do this and if we can't, we just pull out of the auction and beat it the hell out of there.
D'Argo: Plan stays the same. We buy, steal or blow it up. Lola destroyed that old Leviathan with no problem. I am sure she can blow up almost anything.
Rygel: Almost!
John: D'Argo is right. The plan will still work. We just have less space to work in that is the only difference.
Aeryn: Once Lola is in range you should get a schematic of the ship so you know which points to direct your firepower for optimal damage.
John looked at her.
John: (smiling) Great minds think alike. I was just thinking that same thing.
Aeryn: That is a scary thought.
D'Argo: I will go over Lola's systems and make sure everything is in working order. Pilot, have some DRDs meet me in the docking bay.
Pilot: Yes Captain.
D'Argo walked out. Chiana called after him.
Chiana: I think the color green will suit you.
She followed him out of command. Noranti went over to Rygel.
Noranti: I will fix a good meal for all before we leave.
Rygel: Chowder?
Noranti: Of course.
He went with her. Stark stared at John and Aeryn for a microt.
Stark: I am going to sit with Pilot encase he needs me.
John shook his head as Stark rushed out.
John: I think that replicator damaged some of the good brain cells he still had left.
Aeryn was standing by the view screen with her back to him. He walked up behind her and gently stroked her silky hair.
John: Aeryn.
Aeryn: Remember that rational thinking we were talking about before?
John: Yes.
Aeryn: Well I am having another irrational moment.
She turned to him.
Aeryn: I want you to make me a promise.
John: Okay.
She lifted her fingers to his lips.
Aeryn: Don't say okay until you hear the promise.
He nodded. She lowered her hand.
Aeryn: I want you to promise me that no matter what happens Furlow, displacement engine, Scorpius, Ahkna, the Emperor, Earth whoever or whatever.you promise me that we will be together when our son is born.
John: Aeryn you are not due for at least another four or five monens. We are going to be gone, worse case scenario, two weeknens.
Aeryn: I said it was irrational.
John stepped close to her. He took her beautiful face in his hands and looked deep into her eyes.
John: Nothing but death could keep me from it.
Aeryn: Say the words Crichton.
John: I promise.
She slipped her arms around his waist. He pulled her into him. They just held each other without another word passing between them.
Rygel: Why do we have to subject ourselves to your small ship again?
D'Argo growled.
John: We have explained that Buckwheat.
Chiana: Moya is not strong enough to withstand any more attacks besides.
Aeryn: She is as well known as we are by now.
John: It would be like strolling down the street with Brad Pitt and expecting no one to notice.
D'Argo: We will be going to the meeting in Lola. She can protect us in ways that Moya can not.
Aeryn: Where will Moya be?
John: Arnessk with Jool. It has an atmosphere conducive to healing. She should be able to recuperate there. Hopefully by the time we get there she will be able to starburst, just encase we have any followers.
Rygel: So we are going to be cooped up in that little ship again!
Stark: Do we know how long?
D'Argo: However long it takes to get this done.
Chiana: From the stories I have heard, Furlow will know you, Aeryn, John and Ryg. So that leaves me, Stark and Noranti.
John: D'Argo and I have thought of that. That works in our favor if Scarrans don't show up at the auction but we can't rely on that.
Chiana: You think Ahkna will be there?
John: Don't know but you can bet that our names and faces have been distributed to ever Scarran large and small.
Aeryn: Not too mention the Charrids and Khalish. We destroyed a delicate balance between all of them when we destroyed Katarazi.
Stark: Aeryn is right.
Chiana: So what do we do?
D'Argo: We thought we would use the genetic transformation device that you and Noranti got from the commerce settlement when Aeryn was taken by the Scarrans. You do still have it, don't you?
Chiana: Of course.
Rygel: That change was only temporary. What happens when it wears off?
Noranti: That device not only changed our appearance but also our DNA for a short time.
She looked in Aeryn's direction.
John: For obvious reasons Aeryn can not be transformed.
Stark: The change is only temporary? How long does it last?
D'Argo: Nearly five solar days.
Pilot: What if that is not enough time?
Chiana: It has to be.
Aeryn: So what is my function?
Chiana: You could hang back in Lola. D'Argo can cloak her and if it looks like we are getting in deep and need rescuing.
John: We don't think Moya and Pilot should be left alone.
Rygel: I will stay with them and go to Arnessk.
John: Sorry Guido, can't go to market without our mouthpiece.
Pilot: Captain, Moya and I understand the need for your plan but she is nervous about returning to Uncharted Territory. We would both feel better if someone was left onboard.
Before Rygel could say anything, D'Argo looked at Aeryn.
Aeryn: No, you are not leaving me behind.
Noranti: You are the likely choice. Because of the child you can not be altered genetically.
Chiana: It would be safer.
John: With the sensor distorter installed Moya can imitate any ship she needs to avoid danger.
Aeryn: So you're on their side?
John went to her.
John: Honey it is the right thing to do for the baby's sake. He has been through enough, don't you think?
Aeryn: How will I know if.?
John took her hand in his. His thumb was rubbing the ring on Aeryn's finger.
John: The genetic thingy only works for five solar days. If we haven't been able to do anything by then, we will leave. We won't risk getting caught.
He leaned into her and whispered.
John: I have too much to look forward to.
She reluctantly agreed to stay with Pilot and Moya. John kissed her forehead.
John: Thank you.
Chiana hopped off the table.
Chiana: When do we leave?
D'Argo: A day.
Stark: When will we change our appearances?
John: How long does the change take?
Chiana: Depends on how much you want changed.
Noranti: It can be up to 3 arns.
John: How long will it take us to get there from the separation point?
D'Argo: Pilot?
Pilot: Moya estimates eight arns at a speed of hatch 11.
John: So at least one of us has to do their transformation while we are still on Moya. The others can be done while in route. I suggest the one who will need the most work.
All heads turned to D'Argo.
D'Argo: What?
Noranti: What are we going to do once we discover this weapon?
John: Buy it, steal it or if all else fails blow the holy hell out of it.
Rygel: What if Furlow is able to rebuild it?
Aeryn: She can't if she is dead.
Everyone looked in Aeryn's direction.
Pilot: Captain, Moya has discovered why it was so difficult to track the coordinates.
Pilot's revelation drew everyone's attention away from Aeryn.
John: I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
D'Argo: What is it Pilot?
Pilot: The message is emanating from a ship. It is never in the same place twice.
Chiana: A ship?!
Rygel: A ship! We can't board a ship. It is suicide.
John: We managed on Scorpy's command carrier.
Rygel: We had Aeryn, Crais and Talyn with us.
John looked at Noranti and Stark.
John: Okay we haven't traded up but we can do this and if we can't, we just pull out of the auction and beat it the hell out of there.
D'Argo: Plan stays the same. We buy, steal or blow it up. Lola destroyed that old Leviathan with no problem. I am sure she can blow up almost anything.
Rygel: Almost!
John: D'Argo is right. The plan will still work. We just have less space to work in that is the only difference.
Aeryn: Once Lola is in range you should get a schematic of the ship so you know which points to direct your firepower for optimal damage.
John looked at her.
John: (smiling) Great minds think alike. I was just thinking that same thing.
Aeryn: That is a scary thought.
D'Argo: I will go over Lola's systems and make sure everything is in working order. Pilot, have some DRDs meet me in the docking bay.
Pilot: Yes Captain.
D'Argo walked out. Chiana called after him.
Chiana: I think the color green will suit you.
She followed him out of command. Noranti went over to Rygel.
Noranti: I will fix a good meal for all before we leave.
Rygel: Chowder?
Noranti: Of course.
He went with her. Stark stared at John and Aeryn for a microt.
Stark: I am going to sit with Pilot encase he needs me.
John shook his head as Stark rushed out.
John: I think that replicator damaged some of the good brain cells he still had left.
Aeryn was standing by the view screen with her back to him. He walked up behind her and gently stroked her silky hair.
John: Aeryn.
Aeryn: Remember that rational thinking we were talking about before?
John: Yes.
Aeryn: Well I am having another irrational moment.
She turned to him.
Aeryn: I want you to make me a promise.
John: Okay.
She lifted her fingers to his lips.
Aeryn: Don't say okay until you hear the promise.
He nodded. She lowered her hand.
Aeryn: I want you to promise me that no matter what happens Furlow, displacement engine, Scorpius, Ahkna, the Emperor, Earth whoever or whatever.you promise me that we will be together when our son is born.
John: Aeryn you are not due for at least another four or five monens. We are going to be gone, worse case scenario, two weeknens.
Aeryn: I said it was irrational.
John stepped close to her. He took her beautiful face in his hands and looked deep into her eyes.
John: Nothing but death could keep me from it.
Aeryn: Say the words Crichton.
John: I promise.
She slipped her arms around his waist. He pulled her into him. They just held each other without another word passing between them.