5.01 - The Fearing Mind

Chapter 14 - Even Worse Timing

(16/02/04)

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I've got a bit of spare time, let's see if I can do a decent chapter in half an hour (probably a no).

By the way, all the legal stuff, I don't own Farscape or any of that lot. By the way, rumours persist that Farscape is coming back as a four hour mini-series, head on over to SaveFarscape (I'm not doing the URL 'cos there have been some problems at fanfiction with them, but you can probably guess it) for more info.

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Chapter 14 - Even Worse Timing

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For once, Stark was being quiet, though D'Argo supposed that was because he was anxious. And nervous. And, well, everything else that Stark was.

The Sedum ship carried on through the water, into the depths of the ocean. Light still penetrated through from the surface, making D'Argo think whether the water on the planet was really water or some other liquid closely resembling water. Fish and other aquatic life swam by, but D'Argo would pay little attention.

He was more focussed on what was ahead.

Rising over a cliff was an underwater installation, circular with a central dome, all linked together.

And it was beginning to rise at a good rate, bubbles coming from its underside.

D'Argo pulled the ship into a climb to follow.

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"Vwert, what the hell are you doing?" John shouted at the Sedum. "This was not part of the deal!"

Vwert's head was open, the inner Vwert speaking. "Our arrangement, invader John Crichton, was that you and Aeryn Sun were to be set free. And you will."

"We are not going through the blue twister to Kansas with you!"

"As soon as we get to the surface, you will take your leave on an unarmed transport vessel." Vwert responded. "The co-ordinates of your Leviathan have been programmed in."

John sighed. He hadn't counted on this. His filter plates could go between here and the surface, and he and Aeryn would still be aboard. "We'll be reaching the surface soon."

"Then I had best show you and Aeryn Sun to your craft, and show you how to operate it."

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From the four corners of the colony, blue rays of light emmitted, travelling up into space. They touched the wormhole, then moved slightly to tweak where it was pointing.

In a few moments, a planet with lush vegetation was seen through the wormhole.

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D'Argo continued piloting the craft upwards. It had taken them a minute or two, but he and Stark had caught up with the colony and had located what appeared to be a docking bay. Closed, of course. It would have to be for this sort of thing.

But D'Argo didn't think it'd stand up to weapons fire from the ship.

The colony broke the surface and rose slightly slower, impeded by the full weight of itself.

D'Argo fired.

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John and Aeryn were in the hanger with Vwert, learning how to operate the transport craft the Sedum were providing them when the explosion tore through the airlock doors. Metal scattered everywhere, and the three of them ducked, shielding themselves.

Within moments sirens started, red lights flashed. John wondered for a moment whether it was a universal thing with red lights and sirens.

A moment later the explosion was over, only to be replaced by rushing air and wind as the hanger was exposed to the outside as it was rising.

Outside a ship hung, ominous and black and deadly.

John and Aeryn recognised it from earlier.

"All ships are acounted for, bar the ships used in the attempt to board your Leviathan!" Vwert shouted over the rush of the air. "It can't be..."

"You'd have thought your boys would have learnt to knock first!" John shouted.

"Unless it's not them!" Aeryn surmised. "What if it's someone from Moya?"

"D'Argo?" John decided D'Argo would be the only one reckless enough to try such a thing.

Suddenly there was another explosion, but not from the hanger. This one came from the filter plate at the far side of the colony. It failed suddenly, creating a huge explosion.

A few seconds later a large creaking noise could be heard. The explosion had caused a structural fault, and one corner of the colony was falling into the ocean.

The colony swayed as it tried to stay in the air, unbalanced.

"Oh frell." John muttered under his breath as he, Aeryn and Vwert struggled to keep their footing against guard rails. Outside, the ship backed and swayed nervously, unsure what to do. "Not now, not now..."

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Well, probably the worst chapter. Ho-hum. Still, quite good for twenty minutes/half an hour.