Chiana was staring at John as they awaited the transport from Furlow's
ship.
Chiana: I understand the darker skin and the dark hair but what is with the ears and eyebrows.
John was fidgeting with his jacket.
John: I am a Trekkie from way back.
Chiana: Trekkie?
John: Star Trek. You know bad ass James T. Kirk and his annoying yet lovable analytic sidekick, Mr. Spock with the pointy ears?
He looked for recognition in her face.
John: Clearly you didn't watch any quality programs on television.
Chiana touched the tip of one of his ears. John jerked his head away.
John: Easy they are still a little sensitive. You didn't say that the distortion was painful.
Chiana: What did you expect? You are altering your features.
Noranti screamed when Rygel bit into her hand. The others turned to look.
D'Argo: What is it.?
When they caught sight of Rygel, laughter filled the ship.
Rygel: I am a Dominar. A male. I refused to be left in this state.
Stark: It is only temporary Rygel. There was no other disguise that would work for you.
John: It is not the first time you had to dress up like a female.
Rygel: This is different than just dressing like a female.
D'Argo: Not really.
D'Argo was staring at the massive ship. All eyes turned toward the window.
John: That's big, really big.
Chiana: Much bigger than that old Leviathan. Are you sure Lola will be able to disable it?
D'Argo: The schematics are being downloaded now. Lola will find the correct points. We just have to make sure we can get off.
Noranti: The transport is here.
John: All right everyone remember their new names and act accordingly.
Stark was mumbling and rocking back and forth. John stared at him.
John: Stark, we are going to be fine as long as we don't do anything to draw attention to ourselves.
Stark stopped rocking and looked at him.
Stark: Of course. Of course.
John: By the way, you look great with a whole face.
He turned back around. D'Argo allowed the transport to dock to Lola. For a microt John looked like he was far away. D'Argo tapped him.
D'Argo: I am sure she is fine. She should be reaching Jool soon.
John nodded. He took one last look at his face and ran his finger along his now elongated eyebrow.
John: Too bad I didn't have this distorter when I went to my first convention. I would have won best look-a-like hands down.
********
Aeryn never thought she would be alone like this once she returned to Moya and John. She found herself wandering around Moya's corridors with not much direction or purpose. She ended up in her chambers. She realized that with all that had happened since they left Earth she never watched the television she got for Crichton. She picked up the remote and which took a couple of moments to figure it out. When she finally got it turned on the tape in the VCR began to play.
She recognized the man talking as the man who interviewed her. Her image appeared on the screen. She sat there and watched the tape until it reached its end. She popped it out of the VCR. There was sadness inside her when she realized how they reacted to her and the others.
Moya was just about in range to transmit the coded message to Jool from D'Argo. Aeryn slipped into the den. She seemed sullen.
Pilot: It is quiet here without the others.
Aeryn: Yes, too quiet.
Aeryn slipped up onto the console.
Pilot: We are very close to Arnessk.
Aeryn: Good I am looking forward to seeing it. When John described it sounded very much like Earth.
She lowered her eyes.
Pilot: Is there something wrong?
She pushed her hair back behind her ears.
Aeryn: Being born into military service and growing up on a ship, you miss a lot of things but they don't matter because you never really had them so you don't know you are missing anything. You know what I mean?
Pilot lifted his head slightly.
Pilot: I think I am following.
Aeryn: John left behind a great deal when he walked away from Earth and gave up everything when he closed the wormhole leading to Earth.
Pilot: Somehow I do not think the Commander would describe it as a loss.
Aeryn looked down at her stomach.
Pilot: What is distressing you? Can we help?
Aeryn: As far apart as John and I have been, I always believed that one day we would come together and go back to his Earth with our child and make a life for ourselves. A life where our child could be safe and not chased all over the universe because of who his parents are or what we've done. It was a distant hope I have carried since I realized John was the father.
Pilot: He is not that far away and they will return soon.
Aeryn: I don't mean physical distance. I was speaking of emotional distance.
Aeryn was twisting the diamond ring around on her finger.
Aeryn: I watched the videotape about our visit to Earth.
Pilot: And you have changed your mind about returning there?
Aeryn: They didn't trust us. They thought we were setting them up for attack. They feared us.
Pilot: Yes Chiana has spoken of the tape.
Aeryn: Our children, Crichton's and mine, would never be welcomed by the peacekeepers. I knew that but I held out hope that Crichton's people would be accepting of me, of my child.
Pilot: Now you believe they would not be?
Aeryn: They would treat him as an experiment, a danger to the human race. They would study him and lock him away.
Pilot: Commander Crichton would never let that happen.
Aeryn: Humans are no different than other races I have known. They fear what they do not understand.
Pilot: Moya and I hope you know that your child, your children, will always have a home here with us.
She touched her hand to his cheek.
Aeryn: I do know. Thank you.
Pilot: There is always a chance they will change their minds.
Aeryn: I guess it doesn't matter. Crichton has closed the wormhole that leads to his world.
Pilot: I believe the Commander hopes he will be able to find another way back someday.
Aeryn: I know. That is my hope for him and my worry for myself.
There was a quiet between them when a beeping sound came from the console.
Aeryn: What is it? Trouble?
Pilot: It is Jool. She has received D'Argo's message and awaits our arrival.
Aeryn: I never thought I would ever hear myself say this but it will be good to see Jool again.
Pilot: Yes, it will.
Aeryn: I am going to pack a few things to take down to the planet. Com if you need me.
Aeryn hopped down off the console and left the den.
********
Everyone was checked for weapons as they passed through security when they boarded the transport to Furlow's ship. Once the transport was away, D'Argo's ship obeyed his pre-set command and cloaked itself.
When the transport docked the passengers were lead into a hall.
Stark: There must be over 60 different species represented here.
John: And I thought America was a melting pot. (Adjusting his jacket) All right everyone mingle and don't call any attention yourself. The objective is to blend in.
D'Argo noticed some Zenetan pirates over in the corner. As his eyes scan the crowd from his height vantage point, he spotted a very familiar face in the crowd.
D'Argo: Spack, we have a problem.
John looked at him.
John: That is Spock, not Spack. What is so hard about Spock?
D'Argo: Whatever.look.
D'Argo gestured. John craned his neck. Sikozu was making her way through the security checkpoint.
Rygel: (whispering) I say we tell them we have changed our mind and get the frell out of here, where that tralk is Scorpius can't be far behind.
Noranti: She is right.
Rygel grunted at her.
Chiana: It is because she is here, we have to stay.
John: Chiana is right. If Scorpy is interested enough to come or send a bidder, than we have to know what the weapon is.
D'Argo: All right I suggest we separate. Sikozu knows about the genetic transformer as does Scorpius. We can't be seen in a group. Chi and Stark with me. Noranti and queeny go with Spack. See what you can find out by roaming through the bidders and try to avoid Sikozu.
D'Argo began to move away.
John: Spock!
John, Noranti and Rygel headed off. Because D'Argo forced Rygel to leave his throne sled on the Lola, John had to carry him around in a sack on his back. Rygel kept barking orders to John about where to go and who to talk to. John finally got fed up and grabbed one of his ears.
John: Look Yoda, this is not comfortable for either of us so give it a rest.
Noranti touched John's arm.
Noranti: Is this Furlow?
Furlow entered the room with four Charrid armed guards around her.
John: Looking as lovely as ever.
Furlow approached the podium. The crowd quieted down.
Furlow: Welcome paying customers. I know that you are all anxious to see what you are here for so I have arranged for you to see a video demonstration. Because of the power of the weapon, I can not perform a live demonstration now but will for the highest bidder.
The lights dimmed. A 3-D image appeared behind her.
Furlow: Notice the Scarran dreadnaught.
Rygel recognized the image immediately. He whispered in John's ear.
Rygel: Furlow didn't do this. The other John did.
The crowd gasped loudly when they saw how the power of the weapon destroyed the dreadnaught within microts. The image had been altered to remove John's module and the wormhole. She made it seem like the weapon was fired from a ship. John had heard the story from Aeryn and the others but this is the first time he saw the weapon in action. He looked at the faces of the crowd. They were like a pack of hungry dogs that just had a piece of raw meat laid in front of them.
John: (speaking just above a whisper) How could he make this?
Rygel: What?
John didn't respond. The lights came up.
Furlow: Now let me show you what you the actually weapon itself. I warn you there are Charrid guards all around you at every exit. Do not attempt anything or you will be killed immediately.
D'Argo's eyes scanned discretely. There were guards posted at every doorway.
The weapon was wheeled into the room.
Furlow: Now you will each get a chance to take a look at the weapon from a safe distance before we start the bidding in an arn.
Noranti was watching Sikozu. She noticed her talking into a small device.
The Charrid guards moved into position around the weapon as Furlow gestured for the bidders to take a look.
John: I am going to get a look at that.
He took the pack off carrying Rygel. He held it up to Noranti.
John: Your turn Granny.
Noranti took him.
John: You two go find Dee. I will meet you all at the spot in half arn.
Noranti nodded.
Chiana was trying to distract one of the guards while D'Argo sent a message to Lola. When she saw D'Argo touch his forehead she snubbed the guard and walked away. Noranti and Rygel met up with them and Stark.
D'Argo: Where is Crichton?
Rygel: He said he had to get a look at the weapon.
Noranti: We have another problem.
Stark: What?
Noranti: I saw Sikozu speaking into something. She must be in contact with Scorpius.
D'Argo: He is probably close. I am having Lola scan for the command carrier. I don't see any other peacekeepers here so his should be the only vessel.
Stark: What do we do if Scorpius is here? What do we do? What do we do?
D'Argo: (grabbing Stark's wrist so he will stop flaying) When Jo.Spack comes back we will figure out our next move until then keep calm.
Stark: Calm. Yes calm. I can be calm.
Stark took a deep breathe.
When John got close to the weapon he started looking at it from every angle. He didn't know how he knew but he knew exactly the components that were needed to make this a viable weapon. He needed to look at one thing a little closer. He needed a distraction. When a Plokavian brushed passed John, he "inadvertently" pushed him into one of the Charrids. The other three guards swarmed around the fallen Plokavian and it gave John a chance to get a good look at the inner compartment. He grinned and stepped back just in time for the Charrid to return to his post.
Chiana and Noranti were keeping an eye on Sikozu from a distance while D'Argo and Rygel tried to keep Stark calm. He was beginning to feel the effects of the genetic transformation and was finding it difficult controlling his energy.
John: Hey guys, I got good news.
D'Argo: We have bad news.
Rygel: Sikozu is talking to Scorpius and Stark is about to blow.
John: What?
D'Argo: Noranti saw Sikozu talking into a small device, probably in communication with Scorpius. She and Chiana are watching her now but if she is in contact with Scorpius he could be waiting right outside that door.
John: We knew that was a possibility. (gesturing to Stark) What about two- face?
D'Argo: His energy has been confined by the change. It is becoming uncontrollable.
Rygel: So if you have some good news lets hear it.
John: We have to get the ladies back and get the hell off this boat.
D'Argo: What about.?
John: Dee, trust me. We have to go.
D'Argo: You keep an eye on these two I will get Chiana and the old woman.
D'Argo headed off. John saw Sikozu crossing the hall.
John: You two wait here. I have to talk to her.
Rygel: Are you farbot? She will tell Scorpius we are here.
John: I don't think so. Besides she saved my life a couple of times, I owe her at least a warning.
Rygel: Warning about what?
John rushed off after Sikozu. D'Argo rounded up the ladies.
Sikozu had slipped in to the hall. She took the communicator out and was about to contact Scorpius when John grabbed the device.
John: Long time no see Sputnik.
Sikozu looked him up and down.
Sikozu: Crichton?
John: You are not about to call Grasshopper and have him crash the party, are you?
Sikozu: How does that concern you?
John: Look I am doing this because you have helped me on a couple of occasions and although I don't think your choice in men is all that great, you don't deserve to die for it.
Sikozu: You are wrong about Scorpius. I have tried to tell you but..
He held up his hand.
John: As much as I would love to hear you sing the praises of leatherman, I have other things on my mind. The weapon is a fake, bogus, not worth the toilet paper it is printed on.
Sikozu: And why should I believe you.
John: No reason except I got a good look at it and it is a fake.
Sikozu: Why would Furlow call these potential enemies here to bid on something that doesn't work? They will kill her for think she has double crossed them.
John: They will never know. The only one who will know is the winner of the bidding war and trust me they are going to find out the hard way. Now I have warned you.
He took her hand and stuck the device in it.
John: What you do with that warning is up to you?
He turned to leave.
John: Oh and I would really appreciate it if you didn't tell your boyfriend that you saw me here.
He looked over his shoulder.
John: That's if you want to keep him alive because the next time I see him I will probably kill him.
He hurried back to find his friends. Once the bidding began the ship was going to be put on lock down.
Rygel convinced Furlow's people that they were not equipment to handle such a powerful weapon and wanted to pull out of the bidding. The transport returned them back to Lola. D'Argo made her visualize long enough for them to board as soon as the transport left he cloaked again.
D'Argo: Okay, what the hezzamana happened? I thought we were going to steal it, buy it or blow it up.
John: No need Furlow is going to do that for us. Once she robs some poor sucker out of his hard earned currency.
Chiana: What?
Rygel: How about you speak logic for those of us who weren't raised on a backward planet?
John: For the displacement engine to work, you need radioactive material. It powers the engine without it you just have a hunk of metal that looks really good to the untrained eye.
D'Argo: You mean this whole thing is a lie?
John: She made a really good attempt at it but the only thing that engine is good for is destruction of the ship that mounts it and tries to use it. The design is righteous but slightly out of order. It doesn't contain any radioactive material at all. I got a look. The repeater is faulty. When they try to fire it, it is going to build up a lot of energy and implode taking anything within 40 metras of it with it.
Noranti: Do you think Furlow knows it won't work?
John: Of course she does otherwise she wouldn't have used the pretty pictures to convince everyone of its power. She would have used a live demonstration because then she could start the bidding as high as she wanted.
Chiana: I have a question.
John looked back at her.
Chiana: Rygel told us about Sikozu. Why did you warn her? She chose Scorpius over us.
John: I know Sikozu is not your favorite person but she has been an asset to us. If it wasn't for her, Aeryn, hell all of us might have, would have, died on Katratzi. I am not ready to let her die. Are you?
Chiana didn't answer. John turned back.
Stark fell to the floor. He was screaming. A bright white light was coming from his eye. John and D'Argo held him so he didn't break anything.
John: Get his mask.
Chiana got Stark's mask. When his face went back to "normal" John carefully slipped his mask on. Stark was unconscious.
Noranti: Is he going to be all right?
John: He'll be fine. He just needs to rest. Hope it is not that painful for all of us.
Rygel was staring at Furlow's ship.
Rygel: We can't let her do this.
Everyone looked at him.
Rygel: I saw the power of that weapon in person. I saw what it did to Crichton.
He looked at John.
Rygel: It fried him. Furlow doesn't have it right now but may be someday she will. We can't let that happen.
John: This coming from you who didn't want to come in the first place.
Rygel: I think Aeryn was right. Furlow can't do it again if she is dead.
Noranti: We can't just murder someone.
Rygel: Why not? There is no telling how many people she has murdered. I know of two, the ancient and the other Crichton, and you said yourself she is about to kill again.
John and D'Argo stood up.
D'Argo: (gesturing to Noranti) Take care of him.
D'Argo sat in the pilot's seat.
John: What are you thinking Dee?
D'Argo: He is right. Someday she will figure it out. Look at what she has done all ready.
John sat in the seat beside D'Argo. He stared at the ship.
Rygel: I would think you of all people would want her dead simply because of Aeryn.
John: Aeryn has made her peace with what happened. How do we make peace with ourselves if we murder Furlow?
Chiana leaned on the back of D'Argo's chair.
Chiana: How are we going to make peace with ourselves if she really does make this engine and sells it to Scarrans or peacekeepers and it is used to destroy entire populations of people?
John held his hand up in the patented Vulcan finger spread.
John: The needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few.
He took a deep breath and looked at D'Argo.
John: Does Lola still have the schematics of the ship?
D'Argo: Yes.
John: Pick your points and blow the hell out of it but give the people a chance to get off.
Rygel: How is that going to stop Furlow?
John: Furlow will be the target of every species on the ship because they will think she tried to double cross them, especially when we broadcast the fact the weapon is a fake.
Chiana: So we will be killing her without actually killing her. It works I like it.
D'Argo: Are you sure?
John: No but they are right. She managed to copy my module and travel through a wormhole. She was very close with the engine. She can't be allowed to just roam around the territories with even that much knowledge in her head. At least this way she will be too busy trying to save her life to get into any more trouble, if she lives long enough.
Chiana: I understand the darker skin and the dark hair but what is with the ears and eyebrows.
John was fidgeting with his jacket.
John: I am a Trekkie from way back.
Chiana: Trekkie?
John: Star Trek. You know bad ass James T. Kirk and his annoying yet lovable analytic sidekick, Mr. Spock with the pointy ears?
He looked for recognition in her face.
John: Clearly you didn't watch any quality programs on television.
Chiana touched the tip of one of his ears. John jerked his head away.
John: Easy they are still a little sensitive. You didn't say that the distortion was painful.
Chiana: What did you expect? You are altering your features.
Noranti screamed when Rygel bit into her hand. The others turned to look.
D'Argo: What is it.?
When they caught sight of Rygel, laughter filled the ship.
Rygel: I am a Dominar. A male. I refused to be left in this state.
Stark: It is only temporary Rygel. There was no other disguise that would work for you.
John: It is not the first time you had to dress up like a female.
Rygel: This is different than just dressing like a female.
D'Argo: Not really.
D'Argo was staring at the massive ship. All eyes turned toward the window.
John: That's big, really big.
Chiana: Much bigger than that old Leviathan. Are you sure Lola will be able to disable it?
D'Argo: The schematics are being downloaded now. Lola will find the correct points. We just have to make sure we can get off.
Noranti: The transport is here.
John: All right everyone remember their new names and act accordingly.
Stark was mumbling and rocking back and forth. John stared at him.
John: Stark, we are going to be fine as long as we don't do anything to draw attention to ourselves.
Stark stopped rocking and looked at him.
Stark: Of course. Of course.
John: By the way, you look great with a whole face.
He turned back around. D'Argo allowed the transport to dock to Lola. For a microt John looked like he was far away. D'Argo tapped him.
D'Argo: I am sure she is fine. She should be reaching Jool soon.
John nodded. He took one last look at his face and ran his finger along his now elongated eyebrow.
John: Too bad I didn't have this distorter when I went to my first convention. I would have won best look-a-like hands down.
********
Aeryn never thought she would be alone like this once she returned to Moya and John. She found herself wandering around Moya's corridors with not much direction or purpose. She ended up in her chambers. She realized that with all that had happened since they left Earth she never watched the television she got for Crichton. She picked up the remote and which took a couple of moments to figure it out. When she finally got it turned on the tape in the VCR began to play.
She recognized the man talking as the man who interviewed her. Her image appeared on the screen. She sat there and watched the tape until it reached its end. She popped it out of the VCR. There was sadness inside her when she realized how they reacted to her and the others.
Moya was just about in range to transmit the coded message to Jool from D'Argo. Aeryn slipped into the den. She seemed sullen.
Pilot: It is quiet here without the others.
Aeryn: Yes, too quiet.
Aeryn slipped up onto the console.
Pilot: We are very close to Arnessk.
Aeryn: Good I am looking forward to seeing it. When John described it sounded very much like Earth.
She lowered her eyes.
Pilot: Is there something wrong?
She pushed her hair back behind her ears.
Aeryn: Being born into military service and growing up on a ship, you miss a lot of things but they don't matter because you never really had them so you don't know you are missing anything. You know what I mean?
Pilot lifted his head slightly.
Pilot: I think I am following.
Aeryn: John left behind a great deal when he walked away from Earth and gave up everything when he closed the wormhole leading to Earth.
Pilot: Somehow I do not think the Commander would describe it as a loss.
Aeryn looked down at her stomach.
Pilot: What is distressing you? Can we help?
Aeryn: As far apart as John and I have been, I always believed that one day we would come together and go back to his Earth with our child and make a life for ourselves. A life where our child could be safe and not chased all over the universe because of who his parents are or what we've done. It was a distant hope I have carried since I realized John was the father.
Pilot: He is not that far away and they will return soon.
Aeryn: I don't mean physical distance. I was speaking of emotional distance.
Aeryn was twisting the diamond ring around on her finger.
Aeryn: I watched the videotape about our visit to Earth.
Pilot: And you have changed your mind about returning there?
Aeryn: They didn't trust us. They thought we were setting them up for attack. They feared us.
Pilot: Yes Chiana has spoken of the tape.
Aeryn: Our children, Crichton's and mine, would never be welcomed by the peacekeepers. I knew that but I held out hope that Crichton's people would be accepting of me, of my child.
Pilot: Now you believe they would not be?
Aeryn: They would treat him as an experiment, a danger to the human race. They would study him and lock him away.
Pilot: Commander Crichton would never let that happen.
Aeryn: Humans are no different than other races I have known. They fear what they do not understand.
Pilot: Moya and I hope you know that your child, your children, will always have a home here with us.
She touched her hand to his cheek.
Aeryn: I do know. Thank you.
Pilot: There is always a chance they will change their minds.
Aeryn: I guess it doesn't matter. Crichton has closed the wormhole that leads to his world.
Pilot: I believe the Commander hopes he will be able to find another way back someday.
Aeryn: I know. That is my hope for him and my worry for myself.
There was a quiet between them when a beeping sound came from the console.
Aeryn: What is it? Trouble?
Pilot: It is Jool. She has received D'Argo's message and awaits our arrival.
Aeryn: I never thought I would ever hear myself say this but it will be good to see Jool again.
Pilot: Yes, it will.
Aeryn: I am going to pack a few things to take down to the planet. Com if you need me.
Aeryn hopped down off the console and left the den.
********
Everyone was checked for weapons as they passed through security when they boarded the transport to Furlow's ship. Once the transport was away, D'Argo's ship obeyed his pre-set command and cloaked itself.
When the transport docked the passengers were lead into a hall.
Stark: There must be over 60 different species represented here.
John: And I thought America was a melting pot. (Adjusting his jacket) All right everyone mingle and don't call any attention yourself. The objective is to blend in.
D'Argo noticed some Zenetan pirates over in the corner. As his eyes scan the crowd from his height vantage point, he spotted a very familiar face in the crowd.
D'Argo: Spack, we have a problem.
John looked at him.
John: That is Spock, not Spack. What is so hard about Spock?
D'Argo: Whatever.look.
D'Argo gestured. John craned his neck. Sikozu was making her way through the security checkpoint.
Rygel: (whispering) I say we tell them we have changed our mind and get the frell out of here, where that tralk is Scorpius can't be far behind.
Noranti: She is right.
Rygel grunted at her.
Chiana: It is because she is here, we have to stay.
John: Chiana is right. If Scorpy is interested enough to come or send a bidder, than we have to know what the weapon is.
D'Argo: All right I suggest we separate. Sikozu knows about the genetic transformer as does Scorpius. We can't be seen in a group. Chi and Stark with me. Noranti and queeny go with Spack. See what you can find out by roaming through the bidders and try to avoid Sikozu.
D'Argo began to move away.
John: Spock!
John, Noranti and Rygel headed off. Because D'Argo forced Rygel to leave his throne sled on the Lola, John had to carry him around in a sack on his back. Rygel kept barking orders to John about where to go and who to talk to. John finally got fed up and grabbed one of his ears.
John: Look Yoda, this is not comfortable for either of us so give it a rest.
Noranti touched John's arm.
Noranti: Is this Furlow?
Furlow entered the room with four Charrid armed guards around her.
John: Looking as lovely as ever.
Furlow approached the podium. The crowd quieted down.
Furlow: Welcome paying customers. I know that you are all anxious to see what you are here for so I have arranged for you to see a video demonstration. Because of the power of the weapon, I can not perform a live demonstration now but will for the highest bidder.
The lights dimmed. A 3-D image appeared behind her.
Furlow: Notice the Scarran dreadnaught.
Rygel recognized the image immediately. He whispered in John's ear.
Rygel: Furlow didn't do this. The other John did.
The crowd gasped loudly when they saw how the power of the weapon destroyed the dreadnaught within microts. The image had been altered to remove John's module and the wormhole. She made it seem like the weapon was fired from a ship. John had heard the story from Aeryn and the others but this is the first time he saw the weapon in action. He looked at the faces of the crowd. They were like a pack of hungry dogs that just had a piece of raw meat laid in front of them.
John: (speaking just above a whisper) How could he make this?
Rygel: What?
John didn't respond. The lights came up.
Furlow: Now let me show you what you the actually weapon itself. I warn you there are Charrid guards all around you at every exit. Do not attempt anything or you will be killed immediately.
D'Argo's eyes scanned discretely. There were guards posted at every doorway.
The weapon was wheeled into the room.
Furlow: Now you will each get a chance to take a look at the weapon from a safe distance before we start the bidding in an arn.
Noranti was watching Sikozu. She noticed her talking into a small device.
The Charrid guards moved into position around the weapon as Furlow gestured for the bidders to take a look.
John: I am going to get a look at that.
He took the pack off carrying Rygel. He held it up to Noranti.
John: Your turn Granny.
Noranti took him.
John: You two go find Dee. I will meet you all at the spot in half arn.
Noranti nodded.
Chiana was trying to distract one of the guards while D'Argo sent a message to Lola. When she saw D'Argo touch his forehead she snubbed the guard and walked away. Noranti and Rygel met up with them and Stark.
D'Argo: Where is Crichton?
Rygel: He said he had to get a look at the weapon.
Noranti: We have another problem.
Stark: What?
Noranti: I saw Sikozu speaking into something. She must be in contact with Scorpius.
D'Argo: He is probably close. I am having Lola scan for the command carrier. I don't see any other peacekeepers here so his should be the only vessel.
Stark: What do we do if Scorpius is here? What do we do? What do we do?
D'Argo: (grabbing Stark's wrist so he will stop flaying) When Jo.Spack comes back we will figure out our next move until then keep calm.
Stark: Calm. Yes calm. I can be calm.
Stark took a deep breathe.
When John got close to the weapon he started looking at it from every angle. He didn't know how he knew but he knew exactly the components that were needed to make this a viable weapon. He needed to look at one thing a little closer. He needed a distraction. When a Plokavian brushed passed John, he "inadvertently" pushed him into one of the Charrids. The other three guards swarmed around the fallen Plokavian and it gave John a chance to get a good look at the inner compartment. He grinned and stepped back just in time for the Charrid to return to his post.
Chiana and Noranti were keeping an eye on Sikozu from a distance while D'Argo and Rygel tried to keep Stark calm. He was beginning to feel the effects of the genetic transformation and was finding it difficult controlling his energy.
John: Hey guys, I got good news.
D'Argo: We have bad news.
Rygel: Sikozu is talking to Scorpius and Stark is about to blow.
John: What?
D'Argo: Noranti saw Sikozu talking into a small device, probably in communication with Scorpius. She and Chiana are watching her now but if she is in contact with Scorpius he could be waiting right outside that door.
John: We knew that was a possibility. (gesturing to Stark) What about two- face?
D'Argo: His energy has been confined by the change. It is becoming uncontrollable.
Rygel: So if you have some good news lets hear it.
John: We have to get the ladies back and get the hell off this boat.
D'Argo: What about.?
John: Dee, trust me. We have to go.
D'Argo: You keep an eye on these two I will get Chiana and the old woman.
D'Argo headed off. John saw Sikozu crossing the hall.
John: You two wait here. I have to talk to her.
Rygel: Are you farbot? She will tell Scorpius we are here.
John: I don't think so. Besides she saved my life a couple of times, I owe her at least a warning.
Rygel: Warning about what?
John rushed off after Sikozu. D'Argo rounded up the ladies.
Sikozu had slipped in to the hall. She took the communicator out and was about to contact Scorpius when John grabbed the device.
John: Long time no see Sputnik.
Sikozu looked him up and down.
Sikozu: Crichton?
John: You are not about to call Grasshopper and have him crash the party, are you?
Sikozu: How does that concern you?
John: Look I am doing this because you have helped me on a couple of occasions and although I don't think your choice in men is all that great, you don't deserve to die for it.
Sikozu: You are wrong about Scorpius. I have tried to tell you but..
He held up his hand.
John: As much as I would love to hear you sing the praises of leatherman, I have other things on my mind. The weapon is a fake, bogus, not worth the toilet paper it is printed on.
Sikozu: And why should I believe you.
John: No reason except I got a good look at it and it is a fake.
Sikozu: Why would Furlow call these potential enemies here to bid on something that doesn't work? They will kill her for think she has double crossed them.
John: They will never know. The only one who will know is the winner of the bidding war and trust me they are going to find out the hard way. Now I have warned you.
He took her hand and stuck the device in it.
John: What you do with that warning is up to you?
He turned to leave.
John: Oh and I would really appreciate it if you didn't tell your boyfriend that you saw me here.
He looked over his shoulder.
John: That's if you want to keep him alive because the next time I see him I will probably kill him.
He hurried back to find his friends. Once the bidding began the ship was going to be put on lock down.
Rygel convinced Furlow's people that they were not equipment to handle such a powerful weapon and wanted to pull out of the bidding. The transport returned them back to Lola. D'Argo made her visualize long enough for them to board as soon as the transport left he cloaked again.
D'Argo: Okay, what the hezzamana happened? I thought we were going to steal it, buy it or blow it up.
John: No need Furlow is going to do that for us. Once she robs some poor sucker out of his hard earned currency.
Chiana: What?
Rygel: How about you speak logic for those of us who weren't raised on a backward planet?
John: For the displacement engine to work, you need radioactive material. It powers the engine without it you just have a hunk of metal that looks really good to the untrained eye.
D'Argo: You mean this whole thing is a lie?
John: She made a really good attempt at it but the only thing that engine is good for is destruction of the ship that mounts it and tries to use it. The design is righteous but slightly out of order. It doesn't contain any radioactive material at all. I got a look. The repeater is faulty. When they try to fire it, it is going to build up a lot of energy and implode taking anything within 40 metras of it with it.
Noranti: Do you think Furlow knows it won't work?
John: Of course she does otherwise she wouldn't have used the pretty pictures to convince everyone of its power. She would have used a live demonstration because then she could start the bidding as high as she wanted.
Chiana: I have a question.
John looked back at her.
Chiana: Rygel told us about Sikozu. Why did you warn her? She chose Scorpius over us.
John: I know Sikozu is not your favorite person but she has been an asset to us. If it wasn't for her, Aeryn, hell all of us might have, would have, died on Katratzi. I am not ready to let her die. Are you?
Chiana didn't answer. John turned back.
Stark fell to the floor. He was screaming. A bright white light was coming from his eye. John and D'Argo held him so he didn't break anything.
John: Get his mask.
Chiana got Stark's mask. When his face went back to "normal" John carefully slipped his mask on. Stark was unconscious.
Noranti: Is he going to be all right?
John: He'll be fine. He just needs to rest. Hope it is not that painful for all of us.
Rygel was staring at Furlow's ship.
Rygel: We can't let her do this.
Everyone looked at him.
Rygel: I saw the power of that weapon in person. I saw what it did to Crichton.
He looked at John.
Rygel: It fried him. Furlow doesn't have it right now but may be someday she will. We can't let that happen.
John: This coming from you who didn't want to come in the first place.
Rygel: I think Aeryn was right. Furlow can't do it again if she is dead.
Noranti: We can't just murder someone.
Rygel: Why not? There is no telling how many people she has murdered. I know of two, the ancient and the other Crichton, and you said yourself she is about to kill again.
John and D'Argo stood up.
D'Argo: (gesturing to Noranti) Take care of him.
D'Argo sat in the pilot's seat.
John: What are you thinking Dee?
D'Argo: He is right. Someday she will figure it out. Look at what she has done all ready.
John sat in the seat beside D'Argo. He stared at the ship.
Rygel: I would think you of all people would want her dead simply because of Aeryn.
John: Aeryn has made her peace with what happened. How do we make peace with ourselves if we murder Furlow?
Chiana leaned on the back of D'Argo's chair.
Chiana: How are we going to make peace with ourselves if she really does make this engine and sells it to Scarrans or peacekeepers and it is used to destroy entire populations of people?
John held his hand up in the patented Vulcan finger spread.
John: The needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few.
He took a deep breath and looked at D'Argo.
John: Does Lola still have the schematics of the ship?
D'Argo: Yes.
John: Pick your points and blow the hell out of it but give the people a chance to get off.
Rygel: How is that going to stop Furlow?
John: Furlow will be the target of every species on the ship because they will think she tried to double cross them, especially when we broadcast the fact the weapon is a fake.
Chiana: So we will be killing her without actually killing her. It works I like it.
D'Argo: Are you sure?
John: No but they are right. She managed to copy my module and travel through a wormhole. She was very close with the engine. She can't be allowed to just roam around the territories with even that much knowledge in her head. At least this way she will be too busy trying to save her life to get into any more trouble, if she lives long enough.