Looking Back in the Mirror Pt. 5

Author: blueaeryn Rating: R Summary: Sequel to Looking in the Mirror

Notes: Spoilers through Season Four Disclaimer: Not mine.

Aeryn followed the trajectory in the Prowlers data stores and after a few arns she had the command carrier on her scans. In a few microts she would land the Prowler and begin her charade.

There was a lot of information to assimilate and remember. Ariss had a lot of irons in the fire, as Crichton would say. She was playing both ends against the middle and waiting to see who would be the highest bidder, offer the best deal, before she committed to one wholly.

When Aeryn had scanned Ariss' memories she was shocked to discover her deal with the Scarrens. For someone who preached Peacekeeper doctrine, she didn't seem to have much remorse for selling out her own race.

John didn't know about Ariss' dealings with the Scarrens. Aeryn didn't tell him, because he would have known the stakes would have been higher and tried to stop, or worse tried to go with her.

Aeryn didn't want John anywhere near the command carrier, the Scarrens or Scorpius. Losing him again would destroy her. Doing this put her in control and in a strange sense of logic, she felt in her hands everything would work out okay. Of course, she didn't and wouldn't think about what would happen if she got herself killed. Right now all she could think about was the fast approaching command carrier and the task at hand.

Landing the Prowler in the hanger bay, Aeryn hopped down from the ship and pulled off her helmet. She scanned the area trying to see if anyone noticed she wasn't Ariss, but of course they wouldn't. She and Ariss were perfect copies, mirror images, now that Ariss had fixed her deformed leg.

Aeryn walked out of the hanger and made her way down the passageway. She was in search of Bracca. He was the first stop in her plan. She went to the duty station and inquired about him.

"I would like to see Captain Bracca," Aeryn told the young woman sitting behind a massive black desk. "It is urgent."

"I am afraid Captain Bracca is quite busy and can't be bothered," the blonde said as she punched a key on her computer screen.

"Tell him it is Officer Sun who requests an audience with him," Aeryn said forcefully. "I have just come back from a long-range mission and have vital information."

The blonde blew out a puff of air and nodded her head. She tapped a communication device and located Bracca. She told him what Aeryn had said, and after a few microts Bracca informed the duty officer to send Officer Sun to his office.

Aeryn didn't wait for the officer to tell her what Bracca had said, and brushed past the desk and down the hall. Walking past four doors, Aeryn finally reached Bracca's office and opened the door.

Bracca was standing by his desk with his back to her. He looked much different then when she knew him. No, not the run-ins she and John had with him as Scorpius' right hand, but another time. It seemed like a lifetime ago.

She had been a young officer, right out of flight school, and Bracca had just gotten his promotion to lieutenant. Aeryn had met him in the officer's bar. He was drinking alone, and he looked lonely and she felt his loneliness. Most of the pilots she had gone through training with had been transferred to another command carrier, and her closest friend, Henta, was on a transport mission. She was never alone, but on this night she was.

Aeryn moved over to him and stood beside him, and ordered a drink. He said hello to her and she smiled back. It wasn't long before they began talking, and she was surprised at how comical he was. She told him about her new commission and how she struggled with commando training, and when he admitted to suffering the same difficulty a kinship was born. Over the next few solar days that friendship turned to something else, and they enjoyed some harmless recreation.

Bracca was only the second man Aeryn had recreated with. Her first time was with Leros, a recruit in her training group. They were 15 cycles and curious and it had been a messy affair, and Aeryn vowed to never do it again. However, with Bracca, she found a gentle companion who taught her it could be fun and a great release.

Their relationship ended a few moens later. Aeryn was sent on a mission and Bracca was transferred to another command carrier. In the preceding cycles Aeryn had always wondered what happen to that fun-loving lieutenant. She was surprised and saddened to see him again under Crais' command when she was transferred to his command carrier. Bracca didn't even acknowledge her presence. Somewhere along the way he had become the consummate Peacekeeper and the light had gone out of his eyes.

On this day, Aeryn hoped to find a bit of that young lieutenant who now wore captain's bars. In fact her life depended on it.

'What news do you have, Officer Sun," Bracca asked as he turned to face Aeryn. He held a tablet in his hand and was scribbling something on it, only looking up at her in small intervals.

"Well, I have discovered a plot to conspire with the Scarrens." Aeryn's declaration caused Bracca to snap his head up and look at her. He swiftly walked to stand in front of her.

"What are you saying?"

"I am saying that Ariss is a spy," Aeryn told him.

Bracca's face darkened. "Are you admitting to conspiring with the Scarrens?"

"No, I am telling you my sister is selling out the Sebacean race."

Bracca moved closer to Aeryn and stared into her eyes. "Aeryn?"

"Yes, Bracca it is me," Aeryn admitted as she stepped back. "Ariss is back on Moya."

Bracca listened in shocked silence as Aeryn re-counted her story about Ariss' meeting with the Scarrens and how she betrayed Scorpius and killed the baby she carried.

"I am telling you this, Bracca, because I believe that young lieutenant I met so many cycles ago is still inside you," Aeryn said cocking her head. "I need your help in convincing Scorpius of a plan I have devised. It won't bring you glory or even a promotion, but it may just bring peace to the universe."

"I stopped being that person a long time ago," Bracca admitted as he walked back to his desk.

Aeryn was losing him. "He is still there, I am sure of it,' Aeryn said. "Look, this isn't about power, or me or Crichton or Scorpius or wormholes, it is about preserving who we are. I may not be a Peacekeeper anymore, but I am a Sebacean, just like you. And I don't want to stand by and watch the Scarrens wipe us out."

For endless microts, Bracca just stood by his desk and stared at her. After what seemed like an eternity he shook his head and strode toward Aeryn.

"Alright, tell me your plan as we search out Scorpius," Bracca said placing his hand on Aeryn's arm and leading her out of the room.

Aeryn and Bracca found Scorpius in the technology lab. He was still trying to discover that one missing equation in Crichton's wormhole research. When they entered, Scorpius was punching in some numbers, but the equation wasn't correct and the hologram of the wormhole collapsed instead of swirling outward. Scorpius growled in disgust and slammed his hand on the desk.

Bracca chose that moment to clear his throat and stand taller. "Scorpius."

"What is it, Bracca" Scorpius said in a distracted tone. "Can't you see I am busy?"

"Yes sir, but Officer Sun is here to see you."

"Why did you bring her here?" Scorpius said with a wave of his hand. "I informed you that I never wanted to see Ariss Sun again, she couldn't even complete her end of the bargain. My coveted prize died on her watch."

His comment caused Aeryn's blood to boil. The coveted prize Scorpius spoke so callously about was the dead child she had never known.

"That coveted prize you speak of was my child," Aeryn said without thinking. "But I can forgive your depravity and thievery if you agree to help me."

Aeryn's declaration caused Scorpius to lift his gaze from his research and truly look at her. His eyes flashed recognition and he smiled. "Officer Sun, Aeryn, what brings you here?"

Aeryn re-counted the same story she told Bracca to Scorpius. He listened with controlled rage at being fooled by not only Ariss but Sikozu as well. Yes, Aeryn had that information as well, and she shuddered to think what would happen to the young Kalish woman.

"There is one more thing," Aeryn continued. "Ariss has a scheduled meeting with her Scarren contact, Mallik, one solar day from now. "He knows the coordinates of the research base. I believe if I go to meet him we can devise a plan to scan his mind and find that base.

"Good work, Officer Sun," Scorpius said.

"I will do this, but under one condition," Aeryn told him.

"What is stopping me from just strapping you into the Aurora chair extracting the information I need from you and sending a replicate to meet the Scarren," Scorpius countered.

"John," Aeryn said with a smile. "You know his unpredictable nature and his complete mastery of wormholes. If you harm me in anyway, he will hunt you down until his last breath, and he will kill you. I released him from his promise to not harm you, and he considers you fair game."

"Do you want to chance his wrath," Aeryn asked. "Look what he did to that Scarren Dreadknot and your command carrier."

"No," Scorpius said rubbing his hands together. "John is too unpredictable, a loose cannon, I can never second-guess his next move."

"So, are you ready to deal?"

"You are a formidable opponent," Scorpius conceded. "How have you honed these skills?"

"I'm a mother," Aeryn said flatly.

The details were set. All they had to do was carry it out and hope it worked.

Prior to their departure, Aeryn contacted John on the long-range comms she had helped Pilot perfect. She told him to pack up Ariss and bring her to a planet called Niklos. He didn't question her, just acknowledged her message and told her he was on his way, but before he signed off John told her he loved her. Aeryn smiled and stroked the comms device. He really was a strange species.

On Niklos, Aeryn met John at the transport pod. Moya was on the other side of the planet. Chiana and D'Argo were watching Trevon and though D'Argo wanted to come down to the planet with John, he conceded to stay when John had told him he needed him on Moya to watch over Trevon.

Seeing John standing by the transport pod, Aeryn's heart skipped a beat. He really was beautiful, and he was hers. She did something no respectable Peacekeeper would do, she rushed to him and wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close. Lifting her head she placed a quick kiss on his lips and then broke their contact.

"Hey," she said with a smile.

"Damn, can you go away more often," John asked. He pulled her back into his arms. "I like your welcomes."

Aeryn rewarded him with a large grin. "How is Trevon?"

"He misses his mom." John looked around the area and back at Aeryn. "So, what are we doing here?"

Aeryn told John her plan and he listened intently. "It might work, but you know our plans."

"I know your plans, but this is different."

"How so?"

"Because it's mine."

Aeryn stood less then a block from the appointed spot where Ariss was to meet with the Scarren. Beside her stood John, and behind them in a safe distance were Bracca and Ariss. John had placed a sound proof device over Ariss' head and she had no clue where she was or what was going on. Down the street was Scorpius waited for the Scarren to pass.

When he did, Scorpius came up from behind him and injected Mallik with a syringe full of a drug that would knock him out. There was only one weak point to a Scarren, thanks to their tough skin, at the base of the neck. And that is where Scorpius injected the Scarren.

Mallik stumbled and passed out, and John rushed over to drag the Scarren into the alley. Aeryn produced the scanning device she had used on Ariss and placed it on Mallik's forehead. In lest then three microts the device beeped, letting them know the scan was complete. Now Scorpy had the coordinates to the base, so all that was left was to take care of Ariss.

Taking the Scarren back to where they had ambushed him, John posed the syringe to wake him up where Scorpius showed him. Scorpius and Aeryn positioned themselves to make it appear that Ariss was meeting with Scorpius.

John plunged the syringe into Mallik's neck and then John backed away. The scarren stumbled and opened his eyes, and then looked down the street toward Aeryn and Scorpius.

"They know nothing," Aeryn said looking over Scorpius' shoulder. "The Scarren's have no clue I am betraying them and feeding them false knowledge. Aeryn made sure she said it loud enough to draw Mallik's attention. She watched his eyes raised in rage when he saw her.

"Now," Aeryn whispered to Scorpius who pushed her in the alleyway. Out of the sight of the Scarren, Aeryn assisted Bracca in stripping the hood off Ariss and shoving her back onto the street. Mallik was rushing by when Ariss was shoved into his path.

"So, you are double crossing us," Mallik asked grabbing her by the arms. "I will show you what we do to traitors like you."

"What are you talking about," Ariss asked as she struggled to break Mallik's grasp. "I haven't betrayed you. I don't even know how I got her."

Then it hit her. "Aeryn," Ariss screamed as she turned her back toward the alleyway. Mallik was dragging her down the street and she stumbled twice as she tried to pull away. "You will pay for this," Ariss screamed. "I will get out of this and I will kill you. Do you hear me?"

In the darkness of the alleyway, Aeryn could hear Ariss' threats. They were empty, for Ariss would never escape the torture of the Scarrens. Aeryn should know, she almost didn't make it out, if not for her persistent lover. Her John.

Not long after Ariss was taken by Mallik Scorpius got word that the Scarren base had been destroyed. All the Scarren's wormhole research was gone, and they were back to square one.

"We are good allies," Scorpius told John and Aeryn. "Would you consider a partnership?"

"That is a big no, Grasshopper," John said as he took Aeryn's hand. "I understand you and Aeryn made a deal. Why don't you honor it this time?"

"You still owe me," Scorpius said.

John released Aeryn's hand and rushed toward Scorpius. He pushed him against the wall and John stared at him through wild eyes. Aeryn stood behind him with her pulse pistol drawn on Scorpius.

"You forced my hand and I gave up a part of myself and Aeryn," he said in a heated tone. "I didn't have a choice, and I lived with that for half a cycle. I thank God every day that child died. That my sacrifice didn't put it in your hands."

John tightened his hold on Scorpius' shoulders. "You have chased me across the universe for this damn wormhole knowledge, and it ends now. We helped you with the Scarrens, and you have most of the wormhole tech to finish your research. Now leave us the frell alone."

Releasing him, John turned and snagged Aeryn's arm and strode away. Scorpius moved from the wall, where John had him pinned, and shrugged his shoulders. "I will be seeing you again, John Crichton. That I promise you."

Back on Moya, John and Aeryn were in their quarters with Trevon. They were lying on the bed with Trevon between them. He was sleeping peacefully and they each had a hand on his small back.

Peace enveloped them. Aeryn looked into John's bright blue eyes and she noticed they had softened some. There was her John, the kind and considerate man who showed her what love truly was. Showed her how to be more.

"I love you,' Aeryn said as she lifted her hand from Trevon's back and stroked John's cheek.

"Ah, baby, I love you too," John said, leaning into her touch.

They were safe and happy and it seemed the future stretched out before them. It was a strange and exciting feeling.

Ariss struggled for a while when Mallik was dragging her, but then she stopped. She might be tortured as a spy but she could live through it. They wouldn't kill her because they needed her. Aeryn may have thought she had won, but Ariss knew something Aeryn didn't know. Something Ariss had been able to hid from the scan. A specimen she had procured in the small silver vile would be her savior, and afford her a chance to plot her revenge. It was only a matter of time.

John and Aeryn's bliss may have been darkened if they knew what was happening a half a universe away. After suffering the torture of the Scarrens, Ariss had used her bargaining tool, and found her self again carrying the progeny of Aeryn Sun and John Crichton.