Part ll: Landfall
John awoke in a darken room. He sat up abruptly, his heart pounding. A shaft of moonlight streaked through the window, its pale illumination spreading like fingers across his face. He glanced at the silvery moon, peeking from behind slowly drifting clouds. It wasn't to high in the sky yet, so it couldn't be very late. He was relieved to see that the storm had temporarily abated.
He looked over at Aeryn's sleeping figure as she lay facing the baby's bed. Easing out careful not to wake her, he put on his cloths and went downstairs. He fixed himself a hot drink. The rain resumed. It beat against the glass becoming louder. Crystal rivulets of water ran down the pane, as he drank. Standing by the windows, looking out over the dark woods he let his mind go back over the past cycle.
D'Argo had been against them going to this planet, saying that he had a bad feeling. Their last landfall hadn't worked out so well. John had argued that this was only planet in the sector of the Uncharged Territories with the best medical facilities. Their relationship had been working it's way back slowly with many false starts, but as Crichton had remarked once, if it was meant to be it would survive. It had.
Understanding, D'Argo went with them saying he could get some more supplies. Everyone found some reason why they needed to go as well. John and Aeryn just smiled.
From the advertising Rygel had acquired the Off-world Visitation officials on Vander Prime had spoken of a highly advanced sophisticated civilization that welcomed off-worlders in business, trade and pleasure. The images they had received made John think of the Royal Planet. They were granted visas and parking permits for their stay on Vander Prime. Appointments were made for Aeryn and John at the Infirmary.
Depending on the security of the planet would determine the length of their stay. Upon landing, they were greeted by security and governmental officials. Puzzled by the reception D'Argo, John and the others stood ready to escape if needed. A tall, slender toothpick of a man with bright blue hair greeted them like royalty.
"We welcome you to Vander Prime. I hope your stay will be for business as well as pleasure. We have the best rooms available." He looked over at Aeryn and John. "The teams of general practitioners are at your call. They will help you in anyway you require."
Astonished D'Argo asked, "Why do you greet us so?"
"The Peacekeepers come to us for alliance and the Scarrans for power. We wish to live in neutrality. Your presence represents our independence and defiance of these great powers. Your stay will be safe from these powers as long you wish to stay here."
He bowed his head slightly turning his body as he extended his arm out, pointing to a hovercraft waiting to escort them to wherever they wanted to go. Each one looked at the other. Shrugging their shoulders they got onto the hovercrafts.
D'Argo, Chiana, and Noranti went to retrieve much needed supplies. John and Aeryn went to the Infirmary. The crew had agreed that D'Argo would take the supplies back to Moya to make sure everything was all right with Sikozu, Rygel, and Scorpius. At first, they were reluctant to leave those three alone, but the desire to go planet side was a much welcome relief.
The lead practitioner awaited their arrival. Sitting in the examination room Aeryn looked over at Crichton nervously. Despite what John told her, that it didn't matter if the child was genetically his or not, he still wanted to be its father. How could another man claim a child that wasn't even the same species and love it as if it was his own? Humans were so complicated to understand. Deep in her heart she needed to believe that this was his child.
The practitioner smiled at the couple. She announced her reading with great pride. "It is genetically healthy female child of both species. Its conception period was over two cycles ago. Do you wish to release it from stasis?"
John Crichton could not take his eyes off the beautiful woman in front of him. His most goofiest smile was all over his face, unshed tears gleamed in his eyes. How can one love a person more then you already did?
Aeryn smiled back with tears in her eyes that started to stream down her cheeks. She whispered out. "John?"
"What do you want to do, Aeryn?" He asked back. They had discussed it over the past two weekens whether to start a family now or wait. They would agree yes and then think on it again to agree to wait, but now the reality of the child was raising the question again.
To Aeryn the most important lesson that she had learned was to live for the moment; who knew if the next one would come. There were a thousand reasons not to do it now and a thousand more to do so. She loved and depended on Crichton for so much. The thought of his child alive within her was quite overwhelming. She was leaning toward one answer. "Yes, John. I want this baby now, who is to say we will have tomorrow."
Without a word he nodded to the practitioner. The woman smiled and pressed a few controls. Within microts, she once more announced. "The child now will gestate in its normal period."
Looking concerned Aeryn asked. "How long will that take? The Human's and the Sebacean's period must be different."
John spoke up. "The humans are nine monens."
Practitioner frowned in contemplation. "The child could be born between seven to eight monens."
"I think we can handle that." John smiled once more.
Thanking the Practitioner both left the facility. Their minds and emotions were on each other neither paying attention to anyone or thing around them as they walked slowly back to the hovercraft. A loud voice called out to them. Turning slightly Aeryn managed to pushed John out of the way as she saw a very large ugly alien, pointing an even larger uglier weapon at them. Both fell to the wayside as the creature fired taking out the side of the medical building, and the innocent people who just happen to be in the way.
Screams and dust filled the air as return weapons were fired
John awoke in a darken room. He sat up abruptly, his heart pounding. A shaft of moonlight streaked through the window, its pale illumination spreading like fingers across his face. He glanced at the silvery moon, peeking from behind slowly drifting clouds. It wasn't to high in the sky yet, so it couldn't be very late. He was relieved to see that the storm had temporarily abated.
He looked over at Aeryn's sleeping figure as she lay facing the baby's bed. Easing out careful not to wake her, he put on his cloths and went downstairs. He fixed himself a hot drink. The rain resumed. It beat against the glass becoming louder. Crystal rivulets of water ran down the pane, as he drank. Standing by the windows, looking out over the dark woods he let his mind go back over the past cycle.
D'Argo had been against them going to this planet, saying that he had a bad feeling. Their last landfall hadn't worked out so well. John had argued that this was only planet in the sector of the Uncharged Territories with the best medical facilities. Their relationship had been working it's way back slowly with many false starts, but as Crichton had remarked once, if it was meant to be it would survive. It had.
Understanding, D'Argo went with them saying he could get some more supplies. Everyone found some reason why they needed to go as well. John and Aeryn just smiled.
From the advertising Rygel had acquired the Off-world Visitation officials on Vander Prime had spoken of a highly advanced sophisticated civilization that welcomed off-worlders in business, trade and pleasure. The images they had received made John think of the Royal Planet. They were granted visas and parking permits for their stay on Vander Prime. Appointments were made for Aeryn and John at the Infirmary.
Depending on the security of the planet would determine the length of their stay. Upon landing, they were greeted by security and governmental officials. Puzzled by the reception D'Argo, John and the others stood ready to escape if needed. A tall, slender toothpick of a man with bright blue hair greeted them like royalty.
"We welcome you to Vander Prime. I hope your stay will be for business as well as pleasure. We have the best rooms available." He looked over at Aeryn and John. "The teams of general practitioners are at your call. They will help you in anyway you require."
Astonished D'Argo asked, "Why do you greet us so?"
"The Peacekeepers come to us for alliance and the Scarrans for power. We wish to live in neutrality. Your presence represents our independence and defiance of these great powers. Your stay will be safe from these powers as long you wish to stay here."
He bowed his head slightly turning his body as he extended his arm out, pointing to a hovercraft waiting to escort them to wherever they wanted to go. Each one looked at the other. Shrugging their shoulders they got onto the hovercrafts.
D'Argo, Chiana, and Noranti went to retrieve much needed supplies. John and Aeryn went to the Infirmary. The crew had agreed that D'Argo would take the supplies back to Moya to make sure everything was all right with Sikozu, Rygel, and Scorpius. At first, they were reluctant to leave those three alone, but the desire to go planet side was a much welcome relief.
The lead practitioner awaited their arrival. Sitting in the examination room Aeryn looked over at Crichton nervously. Despite what John told her, that it didn't matter if the child was genetically his or not, he still wanted to be its father. How could another man claim a child that wasn't even the same species and love it as if it was his own? Humans were so complicated to understand. Deep in her heart she needed to believe that this was his child.
The practitioner smiled at the couple. She announced her reading with great pride. "It is genetically healthy female child of both species. Its conception period was over two cycles ago. Do you wish to release it from stasis?"
John Crichton could not take his eyes off the beautiful woman in front of him. His most goofiest smile was all over his face, unshed tears gleamed in his eyes. How can one love a person more then you already did?
Aeryn smiled back with tears in her eyes that started to stream down her cheeks. She whispered out. "John?"
"What do you want to do, Aeryn?" He asked back. They had discussed it over the past two weekens whether to start a family now or wait. They would agree yes and then think on it again to agree to wait, but now the reality of the child was raising the question again.
To Aeryn the most important lesson that she had learned was to live for the moment; who knew if the next one would come. There were a thousand reasons not to do it now and a thousand more to do so. She loved and depended on Crichton for so much. The thought of his child alive within her was quite overwhelming. She was leaning toward one answer. "Yes, John. I want this baby now, who is to say we will have tomorrow."
Without a word he nodded to the practitioner. The woman smiled and pressed a few controls. Within microts, she once more announced. "The child now will gestate in its normal period."
Looking concerned Aeryn asked. "How long will that take? The Human's and the Sebacean's period must be different."
John spoke up. "The humans are nine monens."
Practitioner frowned in contemplation. "The child could be born between seven to eight monens."
"I think we can handle that." John smiled once more.
Thanking the Practitioner both left the facility. Their minds and emotions were on each other neither paying attention to anyone or thing around them as they walked slowly back to the hovercraft. A loud voice called out to them. Turning slightly Aeryn managed to pushed John out of the way as she saw a very large ugly alien, pointing an even larger uglier weapon at them. Both fell to the wayside as the creature fired taking out the side of the medical building, and the innocent people who just happen to be in the way.
Screams and dust filled the air as return weapons were fired
