Part 13: Calvary to the Rescue
While John stood waiting for the guard to return. He rested his weapon across his folded arms. He pondered a few thoughts over what providence ruled his life since going through the wormhole. John recognized Braca was using him as the lure to capture Aeryn and Sky'leen. Only he knew both girls would be recognizing that fact and could use it against Braca. One thought stayed in the forefront of his mind, if this moron hurt Aeryn or Sky'leen, he would kick that tight- leather ass to the sun to burn in a hell of no return.
Braca waited patiently, mentally rubbing his hands together in anticipation of capturing Sun and Orin. He would have the last laugh as he let Crichton watch the pain, he'll inflect on Sun. The very thought of victory over Crichton made him gloat even more.
John had been waiting for that sound. The faint wining of the lock mechanism, and the tumble of the bolt. John Crichton felt his muscles coiling. He was tense, ready. Aware he was holding his breath, he blew it out slowly, and forced himself to breathe.
The heavy door creaked on its ancient hinges as John wedged himself above it on a tight ledge. He remained focus on the shaft of light that penetrated the darkness of his cell as the door swung slowly open. A shadow, elongated, fell across the cold, stone floor. One man entered, his rifle slung under his right arm, the sharp angle of his elbow indicating to John that the guy carried something in his left one. It was all as John had hoped for.
The shadow paused, and before he became aware that the broken, cot was empty, John launched himself. With his fingers gripping the edge of the ledge, he swung and twisted his body around allowing his feet to make contact with the Peacekeeper chest. He grunted in surprised outrage, the Peacekeeper's body flew out of the room, and hit the opposite wall. It came to rest on the corridor floor. The metal tray and utensils clattered to the stone floor.
Too much noise, he thought with regret. His captors, alerted by that initial loud noise, were approaching down the hallway. John could hear their footsteps, coming faster, echoing like thunder down the cavernous passage.
Though John now knew escape was unlikely, the fierce swelling of outrage only rose higher within him. It felt like a fire in his breast, a warrior spirit rising. Fearless, ready, calm, he stepped out of the doorway. He blinked once, hard, as his eyes adjusted from the murky darkness of the cell to the sudden brightness of the passageway. He picked up his guard's weapon and started to make his way in the opposite direction. Only three men were on him almost instantly as they met at the cross junctions of the passageways. John swung the rifle butt around, and he felt the jar as it connected, and a man folded to the ground. In split moment, John had the weapon back around, squeezing the trigger at the second attacker, causing her dodge. Her feet tangling into the fallen Peacekeeper and she tumbled on top of him.
However, the third attacker had ducked under the melee of weapons fire and bodies, and got behind John. A sinewy arm, appallingly strong, wrapped around the human's neck. The second soldier took the opportunity, and rushed forward again. John shifted the weapon in his hand and fire. He heard the other female's grunt, and felt a marginal loosening of the hold on his neck. John reared back, smashing his head into the head of his attacker. Though the force stunned him, John was caught in the flow of adrenaline and felt no pain. His neck was free. He rammed the rifle forward connecting with the belly of the last attacker, and heard the satisfying 'oomph' as the air was forced out of the Peacekeeper's lungs.
John's satisfaction was short-lived. A black wave of Peacekeepers appeared out of a connecting passageway and flowing towards him. One of the attackers behind him had a claw-like grip on his shoulder, and was slamming a hard fist over and over into the soft flesh of John's cheek. John managed to twist, to see his opponent head-on. Braca!
John let loose a punch, and felt the man's nose give under the force of it. Some basic instinct roared within him, demanding that he do as much damage as possible before the inevitable loss. John used the man's own strength against him. He shoved Braca to the floor, leaping on top of him; knees bracketing Braca's chest. His fury unabated, John laid into Braca. Unaware of the fighting going on around him, he took great pleasure in hitting Braca's weasel face into a bloody mess. He was about to swing again, when his arm was caught fast. Growling he glanced behind him to see Aeryn staring down at him.
"Come, John, we have to go now."
He looked back at the unconscious Braca unable to distinguish his features for all the blood. John knew with no small amount of satisfaction that he had broken Braca's nose, if not more. Getting up he noticed the other rebels that had come to his rescue. They could hear more gunfire coming closer. Aeryn pulled him along.
Turning the corner they ran into more Peacekeepers. John felt a sharp searing pain in his side. Aeryn elbowed John back, firing at the same time killing one of the Peacekeepers. Sky'leen seeing what had happened helped John to sit down.
Everything was growing distant as if his conscious felt like it was being sucked down a drain. The fighting became surreal- until it went gray then into total blackness. His last thought was of Aeryn.
*******************
The distant explosions were clearly audible. The rebels knew there would be no relief. The men remained alert, weapons at the ready, looking off into the town as if the enemy might appear that very microt.
"It could be several arns at least before the Peacekeepers re-group," Josef said to Lieutenant Orin. She shook her head as Josef approached.
"The command carrier left. Chasing after a shadow." She looked over at the sleeping human. "The ruse worked very well. Wouldn't you say Sergeant? Now it is time we get off this planet."
Josef stood, a disgusted look on his face, watching the human sleep. He could not understand what Aeryn Sun saw in this pathetic species. Why would she want to breed to such a creature?
Orin glanced at Josef. "Officer Tresoc."
Josef snapped to attention. "Ma'am."
"Accept it and move on. She made her choice, and you will accept it. This human will one day save all our lives in ways you may never understand or know. So, you will help protect him until Aeryn Sun comes for him. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Lieutenant."
"See if the marauder is ready for our departure," she ordered.
After he left a voice caused her to turn. "You didn't have to be so hard on him."
"Yes, I did or you wouldn't be speaking to me now."
John winced as the bandage pulled at his wound as he sat up. It took a few microts before the room stopped moving, and for his stomach to settle down.
"You should stay down. Moving about is not advisable," Sky'leen smiled at the look on his face.
Taking a deep breath he asked. "Did I hear right that Aeryn is coming for me? Where did she disappear this time?"
"Yes, she is with the Luxan. We will be out of here as soon they arrive."
John looked up. Did he miss something while he was out? "What do you mean she is with the Luxan.D'Argo? When did Moya come back?" He started to stand but fell back with a grunt. "Where is the frell is, Aeryn?"
Sky'leen watched him from across the room. Not sure on how much to tell him. "Moya is not back. I don't know when or how long this D'Argo has been here. He communicated with Aeryn as we carried you here. He had a problem that needed to be taken care, once they knew you would be all right. Aeryn was reluctant to leave you but she was needed. We just heard back from her."
"What about the other rebels?"
She handed him a flask of water. Settling down across from him she took a deep sip of her own drink.
" They have disbanded. We'll meet up later. The Government Officials want us off their world for now. They don't want the attention we have been drawing lately. "
" I was wondering what your father, the General, would say about your untimely escape."
She gave him a crooked smile. Now he was worried.
While John stood waiting for the guard to return. He rested his weapon across his folded arms. He pondered a few thoughts over what providence ruled his life since going through the wormhole. John recognized Braca was using him as the lure to capture Aeryn and Sky'leen. Only he knew both girls would be recognizing that fact and could use it against Braca. One thought stayed in the forefront of his mind, if this moron hurt Aeryn or Sky'leen, he would kick that tight- leather ass to the sun to burn in a hell of no return.
Braca waited patiently, mentally rubbing his hands together in anticipation of capturing Sun and Orin. He would have the last laugh as he let Crichton watch the pain, he'll inflect on Sun. The very thought of victory over Crichton made him gloat even more.
John had been waiting for that sound. The faint wining of the lock mechanism, and the tumble of the bolt. John Crichton felt his muscles coiling. He was tense, ready. Aware he was holding his breath, he blew it out slowly, and forced himself to breathe.
The heavy door creaked on its ancient hinges as John wedged himself above it on a tight ledge. He remained focus on the shaft of light that penetrated the darkness of his cell as the door swung slowly open. A shadow, elongated, fell across the cold, stone floor. One man entered, his rifle slung under his right arm, the sharp angle of his elbow indicating to John that the guy carried something in his left one. It was all as John had hoped for.
The shadow paused, and before he became aware that the broken, cot was empty, John launched himself. With his fingers gripping the edge of the ledge, he swung and twisted his body around allowing his feet to make contact with the Peacekeeper chest. He grunted in surprised outrage, the Peacekeeper's body flew out of the room, and hit the opposite wall. It came to rest on the corridor floor. The metal tray and utensils clattered to the stone floor.
Too much noise, he thought with regret. His captors, alerted by that initial loud noise, were approaching down the hallway. John could hear their footsteps, coming faster, echoing like thunder down the cavernous passage.
Though John now knew escape was unlikely, the fierce swelling of outrage only rose higher within him. It felt like a fire in his breast, a warrior spirit rising. Fearless, ready, calm, he stepped out of the doorway. He blinked once, hard, as his eyes adjusted from the murky darkness of the cell to the sudden brightness of the passageway. He picked up his guard's weapon and started to make his way in the opposite direction. Only three men were on him almost instantly as they met at the cross junctions of the passageways. John swung the rifle butt around, and he felt the jar as it connected, and a man folded to the ground. In split moment, John had the weapon back around, squeezing the trigger at the second attacker, causing her dodge. Her feet tangling into the fallen Peacekeeper and she tumbled on top of him.
However, the third attacker had ducked under the melee of weapons fire and bodies, and got behind John. A sinewy arm, appallingly strong, wrapped around the human's neck. The second soldier took the opportunity, and rushed forward again. John shifted the weapon in his hand and fire. He heard the other female's grunt, and felt a marginal loosening of the hold on his neck. John reared back, smashing his head into the head of his attacker. Though the force stunned him, John was caught in the flow of adrenaline and felt no pain. His neck was free. He rammed the rifle forward connecting with the belly of the last attacker, and heard the satisfying 'oomph' as the air was forced out of the Peacekeeper's lungs.
John's satisfaction was short-lived. A black wave of Peacekeepers appeared out of a connecting passageway and flowing towards him. One of the attackers behind him had a claw-like grip on his shoulder, and was slamming a hard fist over and over into the soft flesh of John's cheek. John managed to twist, to see his opponent head-on. Braca!
John let loose a punch, and felt the man's nose give under the force of it. Some basic instinct roared within him, demanding that he do as much damage as possible before the inevitable loss. John used the man's own strength against him. He shoved Braca to the floor, leaping on top of him; knees bracketing Braca's chest. His fury unabated, John laid into Braca. Unaware of the fighting going on around him, he took great pleasure in hitting Braca's weasel face into a bloody mess. He was about to swing again, when his arm was caught fast. Growling he glanced behind him to see Aeryn staring down at him.
"Come, John, we have to go now."
He looked back at the unconscious Braca unable to distinguish his features for all the blood. John knew with no small amount of satisfaction that he had broken Braca's nose, if not more. Getting up he noticed the other rebels that had come to his rescue. They could hear more gunfire coming closer. Aeryn pulled him along.
Turning the corner they ran into more Peacekeepers. John felt a sharp searing pain in his side. Aeryn elbowed John back, firing at the same time killing one of the Peacekeepers. Sky'leen seeing what had happened helped John to sit down.
Everything was growing distant as if his conscious felt like it was being sucked down a drain. The fighting became surreal- until it went gray then into total blackness. His last thought was of Aeryn.
*******************
The distant explosions were clearly audible. The rebels knew there would be no relief. The men remained alert, weapons at the ready, looking off into the town as if the enemy might appear that very microt.
"It could be several arns at least before the Peacekeepers re-group," Josef said to Lieutenant Orin. She shook her head as Josef approached.
"The command carrier left. Chasing after a shadow." She looked over at the sleeping human. "The ruse worked very well. Wouldn't you say Sergeant? Now it is time we get off this planet."
Josef stood, a disgusted look on his face, watching the human sleep. He could not understand what Aeryn Sun saw in this pathetic species. Why would she want to breed to such a creature?
Orin glanced at Josef. "Officer Tresoc."
Josef snapped to attention. "Ma'am."
"Accept it and move on. She made her choice, and you will accept it. This human will one day save all our lives in ways you may never understand or know. So, you will help protect him until Aeryn Sun comes for him. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Lieutenant."
"See if the marauder is ready for our departure," she ordered.
After he left a voice caused her to turn. "You didn't have to be so hard on him."
"Yes, I did or you wouldn't be speaking to me now."
John winced as the bandage pulled at his wound as he sat up. It took a few microts before the room stopped moving, and for his stomach to settle down.
"You should stay down. Moving about is not advisable," Sky'leen smiled at the look on his face.
Taking a deep breath he asked. "Did I hear right that Aeryn is coming for me? Where did she disappear this time?"
"Yes, she is with the Luxan. We will be out of here as soon they arrive."
John looked up. Did he miss something while he was out? "What do you mean she is with the Luxan.D'Argo? When did Moya come back?" He started to stand but fell back with a grunt. "Where is the frell is, Aeryn?"
Sky'leen watched him from across the room. Not sure on how much to tell him. "Moya is not back. I don't know when or how long this D'Argo has been here. He communicated with Aeryn as we carried you here. He had a problem that needed to be taken care, once they knew you would be all right. Aeryn was reluctant to leave you but she was needed. We just heard back from her."
"What about the other rebels?"
She handed him a flask of water. Settling down across from him she took a deep sip of her own drink.
" They have disbanded. We'll meet up later. The Government Officials want us off their world for now. They don't want the attention we have been drawing lately. "
" I was wondering what your father, the General, would say about your untimely escape."
She gave him a crooked smile. Now he was worried.