Part X: Escape...

Naiad's attention was distracted as she saw an extravagant hovercraft approach the distant cottage of John and Aeryn. Feeling that such ornamentation was incongruous and ridiculous, she eyed the incoming transport with distaste.

Recognizing the craft as Mora's, Naiad wondered why she seemed to be in such a hurry? By the time Naiad reached the cottage, the hovercraft was parked.

Naiad paused a microt, leaning against the decorously scrolled grill shielding the cottage window. Pressing her face against the interwoven, flora design screen she narrowed her eyes and peered into the shadow of the cottage. She heard soft-spoken voices. Two men were starting to move away... "We're to get the baby and the woman before they had a chance to leave."

The ominous words drifted through the grilling like a poisonous cloud of gas, as the men slipped around the corner.

Oh, dear Kolmo! Where were the guardsmen? Mora... She had to get help. There was only one course of action open for her; she must somehow manage to get the hovercrafts. Creeping around the screen, she surveyed surround area. Seeing no one, she hurried away from the cottage.

Pausing by the side of a tree, Naiad looked back at the cottage, indecision written across her face. She turned away, having come to a reluctant decision. Knowing that she needed help, Naiad turned away from the cottage. With one last anguished gaze, she stole off into the forest.

Naiad saw more hunters and one guardsman's body. Keeping low, she was able to make it to a hunter's craft hidden out of sight. Naiad never traveled so fast in her life, the landscape was an indistinct blur in her eyes. She was streaking in a direct line for the village, when she saw three hovercrafts coming swiftly toward her, one being her husbands.

"Please stop!" She screamed, over the comm system.

Seeing the transports turn toward her she came to a stop. Getting out she ran to her husband and John Crichton.

"What is wrong, Naiad?" Chinook demanded as he tried to sooth his shaking wife.

"Where are Aeryn and the baby?" John asked looking at the craft.

"They're going to capture her and Aeryanna, I didn't know what else to do," she sobbed incoherently.

"Who?" Chinook gently shook her.

"Mora and the Hunters," she sniffed, looking at them with tear filled eyes. "They surrounded the cottage but they didn't see me. I couldn't warn her, so I left to get help."

"What of the guardsmen?" John asked as he headed back to the hovercrafts.

"I don't know. I saw one of them lying on the ground when I escaped," Naiad explained running to keep up with them.

As they hustled back in the transport, John inquired. "Why would the Hunters be with Mora?"

Chinook started the craft after seeing his wife was onboard, "Mora's brother is a Hunter."

All three crafts speeded off.

Naiad had gone with Aeryn to help her pack. At first Aeryn was afraid to be separated from John, but after some persuading she agreed to go back and get everything ready for their departure. They wanted to leave in two arns. Aeryanna slept the whole way there.

Naiad was working downstairs packing up a few items the clan had given the couple. Tears strayed down her cheeks as she sniffled. Aeryn entered the room looking at her with concern.

"Naiad, are you all right?"

"Yes, I just don't want you to leave." She said, wiping her tears away.

"I know."

Looking down at the toy she held, Naiad felt more tears come. "Excuse me I need some fresh air." She said hurrying from the room.

Aeryn could only watch her friend leave. With a heavy heart, Aeryn finished packing. Glancing over at Aeryanna to make sure the baby was still a sleep she heard a different type of sound. Pausing, on full alert she listened intently. It came again. Drawing her weapon just before the front door burst open. She shot one of the intruders as she feigned to the left trying to draw them away from the baby...

Aeryanna awoke fussing from the ruckus. One of the Hunters pointed his weapon toward the baby. When the first Hunter shifted his eyes from her- Aeryn shot them both dead.

Aeryn snatched up Aeryanna, fleeing upstairs. Pulling a basket from under the bed, she wrapped the baby in the specially made cloth, and laid her in it. Aeryn pushed the basket back under the edge of the bed. She went back down to grab a few things after seeing the coast was clear, and was back on the stairs when she heard more Hunters. .

Kneeling down and reaching under the bed, Aeryn carefully pulled out a wrapped bundle. Lifting the dull red material, she took out her most cherished possession—Aeryanna. Aeryn smiled as she re-wrapped the baby, and placed her into a black bag with air holes cut in the top.

Aeryn looked quickly about the room while swinging her heavy cloak over her shoulders. It was dark colored and made of the same special material that would repeal any pulse blast. She had silently thanked Chinook's wives for this gift everyday.

She could hear the voices downstairs, as she opened the window slowly, praying that it wouldn't squeak in protest. She would have to slide over the shingled roof to the edge. The dormer window giving her a platform to sit on as she climbed out.

There was a large sturdy vine that had been growing unrestrained on the side of the cottage. The branches were thick and hard, and should support her and Aeryanna safely to the ground below.

Aeryn climbed through the window casement, holding the baby in her portable carryall with her rifle swung over her other shoulder. She climbed from the window, and slid across the roof to the edge, making as little noise as possible. She grasped a large vine, seeking a foothold as she leaned over the edge. With one swift movement, she swung out, putting her full weight on the vine. It held. She breathed a sigh of relief as she carefully searched for another secure spot to place her feet as she slowly lowered herself to the ground.

Feeling a sense of exultation as she felt the soft firmness of turf beneath her feet, Aeryn hurried to the back of the house. She paused as a Hunter walked back around the corner. She held her breath as she moved silently away from the cottage. The sun had moved to the west, casting a faint light over the fields and woods as Aeryn slipped across the wide unprotected stretch of ground between the cottage and woodlands.

Aeryn cast one last look over her shoulder as she reached the woods, but kept going at a steady pace until deep within the trees. She traveled as quickly as she could in the defuse light under the canopy of trees, continuing to put as much distance between herself and them. She hoped to reach the edge of the woods before dark, and be across the road and open pastures to the safety of another belt of woodland, before the Hunters started their search again.

Aeryn broke through the last part of the woods, and felt the hard-pack dirt of the lane beneath her feet. Aeryn calculated they should reached the village bounty in less then an arn, she dashed across the lane, her feet barely touching, glancing about as she crawled into the thick hedge running along the far side of the lane.

Edging her way through the thick branches, Aeryn was about to stand up and make a run across the field, when she froze. In the distance, she heard the sound of a hovercraft. Placing her precious cargo behind the hedge. She swung her rifle around and pointed in the direction the noise.

Aeryn raised herself up slightly, and peeked through a leafy branch of shrubbery. A few metras away, a hovercraft was moving down upon her. Through the faint glow light Aeryn saw who the passengers were as the hovercraft started to pass her hiding place. She stood up waving at them.

John, with relief, spotted her. Chinook brought the craft to a stop near her hiding place. Crichton jumped out, rushed to her and Aeryanna.

Chinook had not spoken a word from the moment they had rescued Aeryn and the baby. He had ordered the guardsmen to take them to his home and to send others to help search for the Hunters. John was about to say something when Naiad shook her head. "Now is not the time, John Crichton. Chinook must deal with this his own way. Come I will take you to my home."

Aeryn and the baby were safely sitting in Chinook's large warm kitchen. The moon rays were streaming in. She looked down at the baby as she fed her some soft food. They were safe for the moment, but that seemed to be enough. John questioned her about their escape; finally she gave in and explained what had happen.

Chinook wanted desperately to find the people who would betray their own world by helping their enemies. The Peacekeepers and Scarrans now had eyes and ears on NoNod, thanks to the greed and avariciousness of these traitorous people who dared to call themselves MoNodity. Once these traitors were found, there would be no mercy. His heart was heavy with grief that one of the traitors was one of his wives, and now he had to deal with the shame.

An Alvon bird hooted, and within an instant, it was answered by four hoots from the top of the cliff. The lookout had signaled the all clear, and shortly after dark cloaked figures came out of the forest shadows. Chinook was lying flat, his chest pressed against the rocky ledge, as the men moved slowly up the path.

Chinook watched carefully as the men marched by. His eyes were searching for a lone figure in a concealing cape and hat. But the men were all dressed similarly in Hunter style. He knew most of these men from his wife's brother association; strangers from other parts-vicious and dangerous, with loaded weapons tucked under their cloaks. He could see no other faces.

Captain Braven passed the word along to the anxiously waiting guardsmen stationed in key positions along the trail as the hunters passed by them, heading for the road. They waited-and then he whistled piercingly. The shrill notes activating the waiting men into immediate action.

They formed a circle, making it smaller and smaller, as they closed in upon the astonished hunters. Chaos broke loose as the hunters tempted to flee with a squad of guardsmen in hot pursuit. Shots were fired in all directions as the Hunters saw the hopelessness of their attempt to escape. They surrendered-leaving several fallen and wounded comrades moaning on the ground.

Chinook handed over command to the Captain, whose eyes were shining brightly out of his dirtied face, his once immaculate uniform torn and soiled. Chinook looked over the prisoners. He cared little for the sullen Hunters being herded back to the road under guard.

He hadn't found his traitorous wife or brother-in-law. But he was puzzled- they should have been here. The information they had gotten from a Hunter captured that afternoon had specifically said this was the meeting place. Chinook swore. He spoke in his comms excitedly rushing back toward his hovercraft with more guardsmen following him.

Just on, the outer fringe of the village Chinook's grand home sat overlooking the valley and forest below. John looked over the valley; it was one of his favorite views. It remained him of the mountains in North Carolina. Aeryn was checking the perimeter of the house, having something to do helped to calm her. A noise from the back of the room drew his attention.

John stared at the intruders, knowing now there couldn't be any doubt that the hunter was Mora's brother. They both had the same blue-green eyes.

Grimnik's hand held a wick looking weapon. Mora gloated with audaciousness. "He thinks he is so smart ... so honorable...he is nothing but a criminal. Him and that bitch of his," she said smugly.

"Yes, one that will make us rich," Grimnik drawled out.

"Sorry to disappoint you. I have other plans," John stated, watching both of them.

Mora pushed away from Grimnik and came closer to John. "You are coming with us."

"You think?" John asked.

Grimnik roughly shoved Mora behind him. "Stay out of the way, Mora."

"Do you think he can even hurt us?" she snapped. "He is nothing but a weak 'uman, just like the Peacekeepers."

Grimnik didn't answer her.

"Did he try to have sex with you?" Grimnik shouted the question as though it was a blasphemy.

"Yes, he tried to force me." Mora cried out.

John laughed aloud. "Now that is a good one. Me have sex with you?! I wouldn't touch you with a 10-metra flagpole. Why in heavens would I want to, when I have the most beautiful woman in the universe by my side? You were the one who tried to come on to me, lady. I would never betray Chinook the way you did at ever chance you got. You put to much value on yourself."

Mora tried to push Grimnik's back. The action didn't budge him. "Kill him...his body will still worth something from the Peacekeepers."

"Be silent!" Grimnik commanded. "He is worth much more alive then dead." He looked over at Crichton, stating, "The Peacekeepers are going to pay us full bounty for you and Aeryn Sun's capture. Once we have you and the baby, Aeryn Sun will do as we order."

Grimnik started forward. John's eyes went arctic, he held up Wynona. "I wouldn't advice that, Drensucker."

Grimnik and Mora paused, looking at the weapon Crichton held. Grimnik was determined to capture Crichton. He kicked out hitting John's arm causing the weapon to discharge. Mora screamed.

Chinook stood at the base of the cliff just below his home. He caught a furtive movement along the cliff face. Racing toward the cliff, his eyes trained upon the quickly disappearing figures high up on the cliff.

"Search for a concealed path!"

They frantically searched the rocks and scrub for the path by which their quarry was fleeing, disappearing into a cold mist, which was shrouding everything within sight. He would not lose them-not after coming this close, Chinook thought savagely.

"I found it, Sir!" A voice called triumphantly.

The path was cleverly concealed between two boulders set back beneath an overhang of the cliff. It wound up through a hollowed-out portion of rock, only to emerge again on another side of the cliff.

Chinook and his men moved slowly along the narrow path, the mist hiding the sheer drop over the edge obscuring its uneven footing, but if it slowed their progress, it also slowed down the fleeing figures up ahead. They occasionally caught a glimpse of the figures in the swirling mist. Chinook fired a shot at the next sight of them. One of the figures halted, momentarily with indecision, then turned and continued on.

The mist drifted about in eddies, fooling and teasing them with false glimpses ahead of the figures.

"Stop, or we shoot!" Chinook yelled out as the fleeing figures became visible once again-but they continued, heedless of his warning. "Fire!" Chinook ordered, as the mist moved across the figures, shrouding them in whiteness as the pulse blast cut through it blindly. "Frell!" Chinook muttered as they once more went in pursuit of an enemy just out of reach. They moved forward going higher.

Aeryn had checked with the guardsmen around the perimeter of the house. Aeryanna was sleeping while Naiad, and two other of Chinook's wives, watching over her and their own children. She couldn't just sit by doing nothing; she decided to check on John.

She approached the room John was in when she heard raised voices and then a weapon discharged behind the closed doors. Aeryn came through the doorway firing her weapon hitting Grimnik in the shoulder, bringing him down. She fired again when he raised his dagger to throw it. This time the shot pierced his heart. He fell into a heap just in front of them. Mora stood frozen in place watching in horror. As his body grew still she rushed to his side dropping to her knees screaming and shaking him.

As John's weapon discharged it, hit the wall just as the panel opened allowing Chinook and his guardsmen in the room. The blast just missing his head. Chinook stared, mesmerized at the action that played before him. It was Mora's scream that put him into motion.

Chinook looked down at his wife in sadness and anger. He had once cared for her, her betrayal cut deep into his heart. This was far from being over for either of them. He turned to John and Aeryn unable to find the words to express his shame.

John put his hand on Chinook's arm trying to reassure the man that he wasn't to blame. "Chinook..."

Chinook could only shake his head at a loss for words. Emotions overwhelmed him. His eyes went back to Mora. The guardsmen held her by the arms. She had stopped crying and was looking at her husband with pure hatred.

"You are so weak. I am young, strong, smart, and beautiful, but you just couldn't see that. All you have done is genuflect to every wish of your brother's. You allow him to bring these animals into my house...MY HOUSE! You did nothing but..."

"Enough!" Chinook roared.

Mora would have stepped back but for the guardsmen. Chinook moved to stand in front of her. "Before witnesses I nullify our wedding vows. You have broken every law that binds us as a people. I would have spoken in your defense, but not any more. Death shall be yours and yours alone."

He motioned to the guardsmen. "Take her and this body to the Premier. Judgment is his to give out. Tell him she is no longer of my house or of my clan."

Fear and hatred marred Mora face as she walked out with false bravado.