Hanging Onto Hope
Part 4
The troops spread out covering each other as they moved down the Leviathan's corridors their orders where to take the crew alive and unharmed. Officer Romus came to a cross intersection of four corridors, raising his weapon higher he glanced down the opposite corridors, finding nothing. With his motion, the commandos spread out in standard infiltrating formation.
Peering into a cell, they found clothing and objects littered about. Nodding his head, he motioned his partner to check the cell across from them. He knew the crew must have been using these cells as quarters. Not expecting to find any of them there, he stopped; ready to report when a child's cry and a soft murmuring voice caught his attention. Stepping back into one of the empty cells he reported to his commander the present of the child.
Receiving his orders, he motioned to his partner to precede him to secure the child and whoever might be with it. Romus could feel the rush of anticipation at the thought of advancement with the fugitives capture. Moving to the opposite side of the doorway, he looked in to see the Nebari girl Chiana picking up the crying child. When two others of his team joined them, Romus stepped through with his pulse rife pointed at the Nebari.
Aeryn had only one thought and that was to get to Nyka. She and Chiana had split up going in a different directions. She knew the Peacekeeper procedure was to board Moya the moment after they had hit her with the immobilizing pulse. Going into full PK mode, Aeryn hesitated at an intersection leading to quarters; reconning the area.
Peering down the corridor, she listened for movement. She heard marching boots going down opposed corridors. Without glancing in either direction, she began to move reply toward her old quarters where she knew Nyka slept. Taking a deep breath, she was about to step out firing when raised voices erupted into mayhem. Nyka's crying spurred Aeryn Sun into action.
One of the Peacekeepers held the child out in front of him by the arms. Nyka was kicking and screaming at the top of his small lungs. Chiana was laying into the other guard that had grabbed her by the arm and twisting it behind her back. Aeryn shot the closest soldier. Two more commandos loomed out of the darkness; weapons raised and shouted for her to drop her weapon.
Officer Romus holding the howling child, pondered over what to do with it. At the sound of a pulse blast, he looked up sharply as one his men took the blast full in the chest repelling the man backward. It was about that time that he locked eyes with the traitor Aeryn Sun. He knew what it was like to look death in the face. For a moment, everything seemed to freeze. With an irate shout, Chiana broke loose from the Peacekeeper holding her causing him to bump into Romus. All hell was braking loose.
Admiral Arnell was one of the first off the marauder once it was docked. He stood for a moment, looking at the assembled soldiers, the Luxan and the old Traskian. As soon as the Admiral cleared the marauder he asked, "Where is Aeryn Sun and the Nebari girl?"
"Yes, Admiral where is Crichton's family?" A voice behind him asked.
Arnell turned back, looking at the marauder, and watched as Councilor Keitha exited. Her eyes were scanning the bay area.
The Admiral spotted the officer of the deck. He waved at the woman. "Lieutenant, report?"
Snapping to attention. "Sir, there has been a fire fight and the prisoner Aeryn Sun has been injured. One of our soldiers has been injured and another killed."
A cold deadly voice cut in before Arnell could react. "How badly injured is Aeryn Sun? Was the child involved?"
"Ma'am, it was reported the child was there but he is uninjured. The traitor..."
"Call her by her rank," Keitha snapped.
The Lieutenant blinked at the reprimand, she glanced fleetingly at the Admiral. Resigned the Admiral said in a sharp voice. "Answer the Councilor, Lieutenant. I promise she won't shoot you for the report."
"Sir," the Lieutenant locked her eyes forward and reported. "Officer Sun was disarmed. She was injured during a hand-to-hand confrontation. Officer Romus is bringing her, the child and the Nebari woman here."
Has she been seen to by a med-tech?" Arnell asked in a tight-infuriated voice.
"No, Sir," the Lieutenant report.
Arnell bent down until he was in the officer's face. "I want medical- personal out her and a baby-tech now. I also, want the ones responsible for this major frell-up." He all but shouted at the end.
"Sir."
Moving away from the Lieutenant, Arnell stood facing the Councilor. He could see she was ready to kill someone, or anyone for this major frell-up. She asked in a tight voice. "Of course John Crichton wasn't aboard."
"No."
"If anything happens to Aeryn Sun our mission will be..."
"I know, Councilor." Arnell growled.
"Then hope she lives and that we can find John Crichton, or we will not see another day.
He cast a glance at the rest of Moya's crew. The Luxan had tried to move at the announcement of Sun's injury. He marveled over how mortal enemies could become such a formable fighting team. It was said this human was the backbone that held this group together. Arnell pondered on what kind of power or influence could this human have to demand such respect and loyalty. His musings were interrupted as Aeryn Sun was carried into the docking bay.
Two of the commandos lowered Aeryn's body to the deck. Chiana was marched in with her hand cuffed behind her back. Officer Romus still carried the screaming child at arm length in front of him. He came to an immediate halt in front of the Admiral.
The medical team with a baby tech went into action. Romus was more then glad to hand over his noisy prisoner. He stood at attention waiting to report. He took a momentary look in the Admiral and Councilor's way; he froze with fear at the expressions on their faces. He knew at that moment as officer in charge he would be held responsible for what had happened. His career, if not his life, was over.
The tense silence stretched out as they all watched the doctor work on the unconscious Aeryn Sun. Looking up the doctor nodded his head at the Admiral. Relaxing slightly he looked at the Officer standing in front of him and ordered, "You will report with your team back to the Command Carrier in detention and away my return."
Swallowing hard, Romus could only hope it would be quick as he and the others were marched off.
Councilor Keitha approached D'Argo. The Luxan stood chained in between heavily arm guards. He stared at her stonily as she stopped in front of him. "I understand you were elected Captain aboard the Laventhian. Can you tell me what happened to John Crichton?" D'Argo remained unresponsive. She knew the possiblity of Moya's crew coming to trust them would be afair impossablity. Gazing back at Aeryn Sun's prone body. Keitha volunteer information to the crew hoping to gain some trust with them. "We know the Bancardens were paid by someone known as the Collector to capture John Crichton."
Keitha continued to stare directly at D'Argo. "If the Bancardens has been aboard Moya, they would have taken Crichton with them. Scanning your ship we didn't detect him aboard."
Sarcastically D'Argo said. "Then why do you ask?"
"To see what your reaction would be." She turned her gaze on Chiana. "I would say that you had already suspected that but didn't have a chance to react upon it."
D'Argo made a face like he really didn't care what the Peacekeepers said he could have done. It didn't matter, they were still prisoners, and John was still missing.
"Release them," the councilor ordered.
After being released D'Argo demanded. "What do you want of us?"
"To broker an alliance."
"As if that could happen." The absolute refusal in his voice didn't surprise her. D'Argo cast a glance over at Aeryn. "After all of this, do you take us as fools who would believe Peacekeepers?"
"I can only say I regret that Officer Sun was injuried."
Without another word Councilor Keitha approached the doctor. Standing up he spoke in low tones with her.
Nyka, who had been sitting quietly on the tech's lap, called out to his mother. Hearing his voice Moya's crew looked over at him. Instinctively Chiana started to move over toward him when the guard blocked her passage.
"Mama!" Nyka called out louder. Keitha seeing the reaction of the Nebra girl motioned for the guard to unlock her cuffs and let her pass.
Aeryn heard a voice calling her name. It invoked a deep-down burning desire to awaken. She murmured her son's name, her eyelids fluttering. The med-tech leaned closer to hear. Before he realized what was happening, a slender hand shot and caught him under his chin, snapping his head backward. He landed on his back unconscious.
Sitting up quickly, Aeryn was on her knees in one fluid motion. Looking around the bay-area she spotted Nyka, who was trying to pull away from Chiana. Standing, her eyes wandered to D'Argo and then the Peacekeeper Officers. Surprised she recognized the face of Admiral Arnell. Frell, what in Cholak's name? She pondered as another face came into her sights. She muttered under her breath. "Councilor Keitha?"
"I'm glad you have recovered, Officer Sun, we have much to talk about as we seek your husband John Crichton."
Aeryn cast another look over at D'Argo and the others before her eyes settled back on the Councilor and Admirl. Things couldn't get no more frell then this she thought with some sarcasm.
Part 4
The troops spread out covering each other as they moved down the Leviathan's corridors their orders where to take the crew alive and unharmed. Officer Romus came to a cross intersection of four corridors, raising his weapon higher he glanced down the opposite corridors, finding nothing. With his motion, the commandos spread out in standard infiltrating formation.
Peering into a cell, they found clothing and objects littered about. Nodding his head, he motioned his partner to check the cell across from them. He knew the crew must have been using these cells as quarters. Not expecting to find any of them there, he stopped; ready to report when a child's cry and a soft murmuring voice caught his attention. Stepping back into one of the empty cells he reported to his commander the present of the child.
Receiving his orders, he motioned to his partner to precede him to secure the child and whoever might be with it. Romus could feel the rush of anticipation at the thought of advancement with the fugitives capture. Moving to the opposite side of the doorway, he looked in to see the Nebari girl Chiana picking up the crying child. When two others of his team joined them, Romus stepped through with his pulse rife pointed at the Nebari.
Aeryn had only one thought and that was to get to Nyka. She and Chiana had split up going in a different directions. She knew the Peacekeeper procedure was to board Moya the moment after they had hit her with the immobilizing pulse. Going into full PK mode, Aeryn hesitated at an intersection leading to quarters; reconning the area.
Peering down the corridor, she listened for movement. She heard marching boots going down opposed corridors. Without glancing in either direction, she began to move reply toward her old quarters where she knew Nyka slept. Taking a deep breath, she was about to step out firing when raised voices erupted into mayhem. Nyka's crying spurred Aeryn Sun into action.
One of the Peacekeepers held the child out in front of him by the arms. Nyka was kicking and screaming at the top of his small lungs. Chiana was laying into the other guard that had grabbed her by the arm and twisting it behind her back. Aeryn shot the closest soldier. Two more commandos loomed out of the darkness; weapons raised and shouted for her to drop her weapon.
Officer Romus holding the howling child, pondered over what to do with it. At the sound of a pulse blast, he looked up sharply as one his men took the blast full in the chest repelling the man backward. It was about that time that he locked eyes with the traitor Aeryn Sun. He knew what it was like to look death in the face. For a moment, everything seemed to freeze. With an irate shout, Chiana broke loose from the Peacekeeper holding her causing him to bump into Romus. All hell was braking loose.
Admiral Arnell was one of the first off the marauder once it was docked. He stood for a moment, looking at the assembled soldiers, the Luxan and the old Traskian. As soon as the Admiral cleared the marauder he asked, "Where is Aeryn Sun and the Nebari girl?"
"Yes, Admiral where is Crichton's family?" A voice behind him asked.
Arnell turned back, looking at the marauder, and watched as Councilor Keitha exited. Her eyes were scanning the bay area.
The Admiral spotted the officer of the deck. He waved at the woman. "Lieutenant, report?"
Snapping to attention. "Sir, there has been a fire fight and the prisoner Aeryn Sun has been injured. One of our soldiers has been injured and another killed."
A cold deadly voice cut in before Arnell could react. "How badly injured is Aeryn Sun? Was the child involved?"
"Ma'am, it was reported the child was there but he is uninjured. The traitor..."
"Call her by her rank," Keitha snapped.
The Lieutenant blinked at the reprimand, she glanced fleetingly at the Admiral. Resigned the Admiral said in a sharp voice. "Answer the Councilor, Lieutenant. I promise she won't shoot you for the report."
"Sir," the Lieutenant locked her eyes forward and reported. "Officer Sun was disarmed. She was injured during a hand-to-hand confrontation. Officer Romus is bringing her, the child and the Nebari woman here."
Has she been seen to by a med-tech?" Arnell asked in a tight-infuriated voice.
"No, Sir," the Lieutenant report.
Arnell bent down until he was in the officer's face. "I want medical- personal out her and a baby-tech now. I also, want the ones responsible for this major frell-up." He all but shouted at the end.
"Sir."
Moving away from the Lieutenant, Arnell stood facing the Councilor. He could see she was ready to kill someone, or anyone for this major frell-up. She asked in a tight voice. "Of course John Crichton wasn't aboard."
"No."
"If anything happens to Aeryn Sun our mission will be..."
"I know, Councilor." Arnell growled.
"Then hope she lives and that we can find John Crichton, or we will not see another day.
He cast a glance at the rest of Moya's crew. The Luxan had tried to move at the announcement of Sun's injury. He marveled over how mortal enemies could become such a formable fighting team. It was said this human was the backbone that held this group together. Arnell pondered on what kind of power or influence could this human have to demand such respect and loyalty. His musings were interrupted as Aeryn Sun was carried into the docking bay.
Two of the commandos lowered Aeryn's body to the deck. Chiana was marched in with her hand cuffed behind her back. Officer Romus still carried the screaming child at arm length in front of him. He came to an immediate halt in front of the Admiral.
The medical team with a baby tech went into action. Romus was more then glad to hand over his noisy prisoner. He stood at attention waiting to report. He took a momentary look in the Admiral and Councilor's way; he froze with fear at the expressions on their faces. He knew at that moment as officer in charge he would be held responsible for what had happened. His career, if not his life, was over.
The tense silence stretched out as they all watched the doctor work on the unconscious Aeryn Sun. Looking up the doctor nodded his head at the Admiral. Relaxing slightly he looked at the Officer standing in front of him and ordered, "You will report with your team back to the Command Carrier in detention and away my return."
Swallowing hard, Romus could only hope it would be quick as he and the others were marched off.
Councilor Keitha approached D'Argo. The Luxan stood chained in between heavily arm guards. He stared at her stonily as she stopped in front of him. "I understand you were elected Captain aboard the Laventhian. Can you tell me what happened to John Crichton?" D'Argo remained unresponsive. She knew the possiblity of Moya's crew coming to trust them would be afair impossablity. Gazing back at Aeryn Sun's prone body. Keitha volunteer information to the crew hoping to gain some trust with them. "We know the Bancardens were paid by someone known as the Collector to capture John Crichton."
Keitha continued to stare directly at D'Argo. "If the Bancardens has been aboard Moya, they would have taken Crichton with them. Scanning your ship we didn't detect him aboard."
Sarcastically D'Argo said. "Then why do you ask?"
"To see what your reaction would be." She turned her gaze on Chiana. "I would say that you had already suspected that but didn't have a chance to react upon it."
D'Argo made a face like he really didn't care what the Peacekeepers said he could have done. It didn't matter, they were still prisoners, and John was still missing.
"Release them," the councilor ordered.
After being released D'Argo demanded. "What do you want of us?"
"To broker an alliance."
"As if that could happen." The absolute refusal in his voice didn't surprise her. D'Argo cast a glance over at Aeryn. "After all of this, do you take us as fools who would believe Peacekeepers?"
"I can only say I regret that Officer Sun was injuried."
Without another word Councilor Keitha approached the doctor. Standing up he spoke in low tones with her.
Nyka, who had been sitting quietly on the tech's lap, called out to his mother. Hearing his voice Moya's crew looked over at him. Instinctively Chiana started to move over toward him when the guard blocked her passage.
"Mama!" Nyka called out louder. Keitha seeing the reaction of the Nebra girl motioned for the guard to unlock her cuffs and let her pass.
Aeryn heard a voice calling her name. It invoked a deep-down burning desire to awaken. She murmured her son's name, her eyelids fluttering. The med-tech leaned closer to hear. Before he realized what was happening, a slender hand shot and caught him under his chin, snapping his head backward. He landed on his back unconscious.
Sitting up quickly, Aeryn was on her knees in one fluid motion. Looking around the bay-area she spotted Nyka, who was trying to pull away from Chiana. Standing, her eyes wandered to D'Argo and then the Peacekeeper Officers. Surprised she recognized the face of Admiral Arnell. Frell, what in Cholak's name? She pondered as another face came into her sights. She muttered under her breath. "Councilor Keitha?"
"I'm glad you have recovered, Officer Sun, we have much to talk about as we seek your husband John Crichton."
Aeryn cast another look over at D'Argo and the others before her eyes settled back on the Councilor and Admirl. Things couldn't get no more frell then this she thought with some sarcasm.
