Part VIII: Old Feelings Won't Die
John had developed a great sixth sense, since living in the uncharted territories. It just didn't make sense to him- why the Norse would risk their presence being discovered by firing on Aeryn without trying to capture her. His instincts told him from the intel he had gained that this was not the way of the Norse. Even Aeryn had voiced some reservations.
Now the question was where were the rest of the Norse and if the Peacekeepers were on their way to collect them. He looked down at his daughter afraid for her. Chinook had promised that if anything happened to them he would protect Aeryanna, and if Moya and his crewmates ever came back he would let them know of her.
Aeryn was inspecting the prowler. If they needed to escape, she wanted all preparations completed. The Premier had sent word - plans for their safety were in motion. Chinook and the councilors let John and Aeryn know that MoNodity took care of their own, and that included them.
John had said he wanted to go back to the scene of the crime. Aeryn puzzled over why. It had been several solar days. "What are you looking for?"
"I don't know. When I find something I'll let you know." Going behind the thicket he asked, "Was this were the shot came from?"
Aeryn looked up. "Yes and no."
John's head came out from behind the thicket. "Excuse me?"
"The first flash came from there the next from over..." she stopped the scene replaying in her mind. Cursing under her breath for not realizing at the time, "There were two different weapons fire."
John stared, letting her work it out. She walked over to the spot where the last shot came from. "Where did they say they picked up the scent of the Norse?" she asked.
"Here where I'm standing."
"The Norse weapons fires are all the same..." Crichton cut her off. "Little blue bolts of light."
"The other was orange looking in color," Aeryn said. "The first didn't come close to us, but the second shot did."
"Question is why didn't the tracker pick up another scent?" John asked never taking his eyes from Aeryn.
As they left, John and Aeryn sat in front of their friend, their determined looks mirroring each other. "We have to leave. The Peacekeepers could be on their way here to collect us, and you don't want them marching in here fully armed, my friend." John said.
"I have just received news from my brother about the Norse. He had much to say. They are not employed by the Peacekeepers but for the Scarrans."
Chinook watched them both. "It would seem the bounty is higher. If they deliver you dead their masters will reward them with death.
John and Aeryn looked at each other. They could feel the fear they shared for each other radiating between them; palpable and almost over powering. They had to leave, but were to and how would they get there?
"Did he know if the Scarrans are coming?" John asked.
"No. It has been reported that a small band of Norse have been found. We will not be able to get anything from them unfortunately. The hunters got to them first."
Chinook observing his friends knew they were holding something back. "What is it you aren't saying?"
John cleared his throat. Chinook had always been good at knowing when to ask and not if anything was wrong. "We know that there was someone else who shot at Aeryn, Naiad and the baby."
"What do you mean another?"
"I remembered something I didn't mention before." Aeryn explained. "The first shot came from the thicket. The pulse blast was blue, which was the Norse. There was another shot. It came from up the path at the turn of the bend. The pulse blast was orange."
Sitting back Chinook stroked his chin. "Interesting. Naiad could not tell me in which direction the shots had come. That could be why she was so confused about the direction."
"Who on this planet, other of the clan, knows we are here and who would want to kill us? We are worth more alive then dead." John observed. "Now you know why we have to leave."
Chinook didn't seem to hear John. He was staring off into the distance lost in thought.
Later that afternoon, John moved about the cottage with regret. He hated the idea of leaving the only thing that felt close to his home back on earth. There were good memories here of their wedding, the birth of their daughter, and not to mention the new friends they had become bonded too. After their visit with Chinook, everything seemed flat. He felt depressed. He could hear Aeryn moving about upstairs putting Aeryanna to bed.
About five hundred microts later Aeryn came back downstairs. She too was regretting having to leave her new home. She watched John moving about in the kitchen area for a moment. Looking around, she found it hard to believe that she felt a sadness to be leaving this all behind. When had it become home to her? She had only known space. Moving toward the couch, she let her fingers glade over the furniture.
John stood in the doorway holding two hot drinks watching Aeryn stare about her sadly. To his dieing day, he would never stop marveling at this woman. He joined her on the couch. Handing her the drink he said, "Aeryanna settled in for a while?"
Smiling she took a sip. "Yes. Why?"
"Oh, I don't know." Setting his drink down, he reached out to pull Aeryn into his arms. Careful not the spill her hot drink Aeryn turned around so she could lean back against him. He wrapped his arms around her pulling her body close to his. Neither spoke for some time but enjoyed being close. Finishing her drink she sit it down, then resettled back into his arms. She started stroking his lower arm with the tips of her fingers staring into the fire. Aeryn wasn't even aware she was caressing him. He was. The gentle, soft butterfly touch was driving him crazy.
John's fingers now stroked the side of her face. Her reaction was to lean into his touch, instinctively wanting to feel more. Her eyes glanced up into his. Leaning into each other they kissed once...twice. The kiss was gentle, undemanding too, until she put her arms around his neck, turning softly and willing towards him. He couldn't control himself. The kiss turned hard, hot, all consuming. Wonderfully arousing. She felt as though she was melting in his arms. Aeryn loved the taste of him, the feel of his tongue rubbing against hers, the way his mouth slanted over hers repeatedly. She loved the gentle way he held her.
He pulled back. Each was lost in the others eyes. His mouth came down on hers again. John's mouth was hot, hungry, and his tongue thrust inside with gentle insistence. She was weak in her knees. She sagged against him; he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her up against him. Goddess help him, he couldn't seem to get enough of her. She returned his kiss with equal passion, perhaps even more, and the last coherent thought she had before his kiss completely robbed her of the ability to think was that John certainly knew how to rid her of all her training.
He finally pulled back, and looked down with arrogant pleasure at the beautiful woman in his arms. Her lips were swollen, rosy and her eyes were still misty with passion. As he bowed his head to reclaim her lips again....
Voices called out for them. One deeper voice beckoned them louder then the others. Aeryn looked thoroughly disgruntled. To keep from laughing John just moaned with need. "Frell." Taking an uneven breath trying to get his breathing back under control, he called out.
"Yeah I am coming," as he stood up.
Aeryn laid a hand on his thigh. Looking down at her, he could see why she had stopped him. He sat back down. "You see who it is. I'll back you from here."
Laughing softly, she went to the window, with her gun drawn, as she peeked out. A surprise expression settling on her face. Glancing back at John, Aeryn unlocked the door.
A lease twelve people crowded into their cottage. John and Aeryn recognized the man standing beside Chinook. A grin split Chinook's face with excitement. "John. Aeryn. I think you have met my brother Karo, Premier of MoNod and Group Elder of the Confederacy."
John and Aeryn stood together. John held out his hand. "Premier, it is an honor to meet you again."
The Premier stepped forward awkwardly accepted John's hand and shook it. "It is good meeting you both again. Please address me as Karo, we are after all part of the same clan."
Aeryn stepped aside and said, "Welcome to our home. Please have a seat."
Karo smiled and took a seat. "I am sorry we meet again under these circumstances. My presence here is because Chinook has explained that you wish to leave. I understand your fear...I am saddened because of what has happened."
He motioned to one of his aids. The woman handed him a small devise. He in turn handed it to John. "I think this will help you."
Taking the devise, John looked down at it in bewilderment. Aeryn reached around him touching the side of it, a holograph picture appeared.
"This is Haven," Chinook said. "You can seek refuge there."
Aeryn and John looked up at both men, who grinned nodding their heads.
"Haven..." John whispered looking at Aeryn.
It would seem they had a place of safety to go to after all.
John had developed a great sixth sense, since living in the uncharted territories. It just didn't make sense to him- why the Norse would risk their presence being discovered by firing on Aeryn without trying to capture her. His instincts told him from the intel he had gained that this was not the way of the Norse. Even Aeryn had voiced some reservations.
Now the question was where were the rest of the Norse and if the Peacekeepers were on their way to collect them. He looked down at his daughter afraid for her. Chinook had promised that if anything happened to them he would protect Aeryanna, and if Moya and his crewmates ever came back he would let them know of her.
Aeryn was inspecting the prowler. If they needed to escape, she wanted all preparations completed. The Premier had sent word - plans for their safety were in motion. Chinook and the councilors let John and Aeryn know that MoNodity took care of their own, and that included them.
John had said he wanted to go back to the scene of the crime. Aeryn puzzled over why. It had been several solar days. "What are you looking for?"
"I don't know. When I find something I'll let you know." Going behind the thicket he asked, "Was this were the shot came from?"
Aeryn looked up. "Yes and no."
John's head came out from behind the thicket. "Excuse me?"
"The first flash came from there the next from over..." she stopped the scene replaying in her mind. Cursing under her breath for not realizing at the time, "There were two different weapons fire."
John stared, letting her work it out. She walked over to the spot where the last shot came from. "Where did they say they picked up the scent of the Norse?" she asked.
"Here where I'm standing."
"The Norse weapons fires are all the same..." Crichton cut her off. "Little blue bolts of light."
"The other was orange looking in color," Aeryn said. "The first didn't come close to us, but the second shot did."
"Question is why didn't the tracker pick up another scent?" John asked never taking his eyes from Aeryn.
As they left, John and Aeryn sat in front of their friend, their determined looks mirroring each other. "We have to leave. The Peacekeepers could be on their way here to collect us, and you don't want them marching in here fully armed, my friend." John said.
"I have just received news from my brother about the Norse. He had much to say. They are not employed by the Peacekeepers but for the Scarrans."
Chinook watched them both. "It would seem the bounty is higher. If they deliver you dead their masters will reward them with death.
John and Aeryn looked at each other. They could feel the fear they shared for each other radiating between them; palpable and almost over powering. They had to leave, but were to and how would they get there?
"Did he know if the Scarrans are coming?" John asked.
"No. It has been reported that a small band of Norse have been found. We will not be able to get anything from them unfortunately. The hunters got to them first."
Chinook observing his friends knew they were holding something back. "What is it you aren't saying?"
John cleared his throat. Chinook had always been good at knowing when to ask and not if anything was wrong. "We know that there was someone else who shot at Aeryn, Naiad and the baby."
"What do you mean another?"
"I remembered something I didn't mention before." Aeryn explained. "The first shot came from the thicket. The pulse blast was blue, which was the Norse. There was another shot. It came from up the path at the turn of the bend. The pulse blast was orange."
Sitting back Chinook stroked his chin. "Interesting. Naiad could not tell me in which direction the shots had come. That could be why she was so confused about the direction."
"Who on this planet, other of the clan, knows we are here and who would want to kill us? We are worth more alive then dead." John observed. "Now you know why we have to leave."
Chinook didn't seem to hear John. He was staring off into the distance lost in thought.
Later that afternoon, John moved about the cottage with regret. He hated the idea of leaving the only thing that felt close to his home back on earth. There were good memories here of their wedding, the birth of their daughter, and not to mention the new friends they had become bonded too. After their visit with Chinook, everything seemed flat. He felt depressed. He could hear Aeryn moving about upstairs putting Aeryanna to bed.
About five hundred microts later Aeryn came back downstairs. She too was regretting having to leave her new home. She watched John moving about in the kitchen area for a moment. Looking around, she found it hard to believe that she felt a sadness to be leaving this all behind. When had it become home to her? She had only known space. Moving toward the couch, she let her fingers glade over the furniture.
John stood in the doorway holding two hot drinks watching Aeryn stare about her sadly. To his dieing day, he would never stop marveling at this woman. He joined her on the couch. Handing her the drink he said, "Aeryanna settled in for a while?"
Smiling she took a sip. "Yes. Why?"
"Oh, I don't know." Setting his drink down, he reached out to pull Aeryn into his arms. Careful not the spill her hot drink Aeryn turned around so she could lean back against him. He wrapped his arms around her pulling her body close to his. Neither spoke for some time but enjoyed being close. Finishing her drink she sit it down, then resettled back into his arms. She started stroking his lower arm with the tips of her fingers staring into the fire. Aeryn wasn't even aware she was caressing him. He was. The gentle, soft butterfly touch was driving him crazy.
John's fingers now stroked the side of her face. Her reaction was to lean into his touch, instinctively wanting to feel more. Her eyes glanced up into his. Leaning into each other they kissed once...twice. The kiss was gentle, undemanding too, until she put her arms around his neck, turning softly and willing towards him. He couldn't control himself. The kiss turned hard, hot, all consuming. Wonderfully arousing. She felt as though she was melting in his arms. Aeryn loved the taste of him, the feel of his tongue rubbing against hers, the way his mouth slanted over hers repeatedly. She loved the gentle way he held her.
He pulled back. Each was lost in the others eyes. His mouth came down on hers again. John's mouth was hot, hungry, and his tongue thrust inside with gentle insistence. She was weak in her knees. She sagged against him; he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her up against him. Goddess help him, he couldn't seem to get enough of her. She returned his kiss with equal passion, perhaps even more, and the last coherent thought she had before his kiss completely robbed her of the ability to think was that John certainly knew how to rid her of all her training.
He finally pulled back, and looked down with arrogant pleasure at the beautiful woman in his arms. Her lips were swollen, rosy and her eyes were still misty with passion. As he bowed his head to reclaim her lips again....
Voices called out for them. One deeper voice beckoned them louder then the others. Aeryn looked thoroughly disgruntled. To keep from laughing John just moaned with need. "Frell." Taking an uneven breath trying to get his breathing back under control, he called out.
"Yeah I am coming," as he stood up.
Aeryn laid a hand on his thigh. Looking down at her, he could see why she had stopped him. He sat back down. "You see who it is. I'll back you from here."
Laughing softly, she went to the window, with her gun drawn, as she peeked out. A surprise expression settling on her face. Glancing back at John, Aeryn unlocked the door.
A lease twelve people crowded into their cottage. John and Aeryn recognized the man standing beside Chinook. A grin split Chinook's face with excitement. "John. Aeryn. I think you have met my brother Karo, Premier of MoNod and Group Elder of the Confederacy."
John and Aeryn stood together. John held out his hand. "Premier, it is an honor to meet you again."
The Premier stepped forward awkwardly accepted John's hand and shook it. "It is good meeting you both again. Please address me as Karo, we are after all part of the same clan."
Aeryn stepped aside and said, "Welcome to our home. Please have a seat."
Karo smiled and took a seat. "I am sorry we meet again under these circumstances. My presence here is because Chinook has explained that you wish to leave. I understand your fear...I am saddened because of what has happened."
He motioned to one of his aids. The woman handed him a small devise. He in turn handed it to John. "I think this will help you."
Taking the devise, John looked down at it in bewilderment. Aeryn reached around him touching the side of it, a holograph picture appeared.
"This is Haven," Chinook said. "You can seek refuge there."
Aeryn and John looked up at both men, who grinned nodding their heads.
"Haven..." John whispered looking at Aeryn.
It would seem they had a place of safety to go to after all.
