Part 8

"Aeryn! Aeryn, please where are you?"

Aeryn jerked awake at the sound of her name being called. For a moment she lay still, wondering if the voice was real or if it had been some spectre from a dream. It came again, clearer then the last time.

"Aeryn! Please, Aeryn, I need you!"

Sitting up sharply, she glanced franticly around the darkened quarters. She heard only the gentle background sounds of Moya and Nyka's slightly nasal breathing as he slept beside her. After a few microts, she swung her legs off the bed and placed her bare feet on to the floor. She sat there on the edge of the bed, her head hanging down contemplating the cracks in the flooring. Sleep was becoming harder every arn she was stuck in limbo unable to do anything to rescue John.

Aeryn closed her eyes thinking of him. He had once said that if they were ever apart to think of him and send your love his way. She had laughed and told him, he was still the bizarrest creature she had every known. Now, she put her heart and soul in to her mental call hoping he could hear and feel her sending. John, where are you? Help us to find you. I love you beyond hope.

Shuffling feet drew her attention towards the cell's entrance. Sitting up straighter, she saw her beloved standing just inside the closed door. In an emotionally-felt voice he whispered, "Are you really there, Aeryn? Or do my eyes deceive me and you're nothing but an illusion?"

"John," she murmured, afraid if she spoke too loud he would simply disappear from her sight.

He smiled lovingly at her. "I've missed you, babe."

Silently, quickly he reached her and took her hand into his. His hands were warm and rough, but their touch was gentle and caring. "Gawd, babe, I love you so much."

He was here but how...when? Please, let it be real. Wrapping herself into his waiting arms, she pressed her trembling month upon his. "John," She breathed against his lips.

After the first, the second, and then the third hungry kiss, John pulled back and searched her eyes in the meager glow of Moya's night lighting. "Dream...reality... I don't know any more. You feel so real but how can I be sure? I love you, Aeryn. I need you. If this is a dream please find me."

Shaking her head in denial, Aeryn ran trembling fingers across his sweet lips. "No, you're here with me...with us. This can't be a dream, John. I can feel your touch. I hear your heart beating. I can smell your scent."

Dropping his arms he took a step back from her. Reaching out she tried to hold onto him only to have her hands pass through him. He started to fade and blow away like a puff of smoke. Shaking her head, she moaned, "John, nooooo!"

"Find me, Aeryn. Work with evil spirits, the Peacekeepers, or the demon Scorpius himself, but please find me before it's too late," he cried into the lonely silence that filled their quarters, and then he was gone.

"NO!" She screamed. Aeryn sit up with a jerk and scanned the room. The cell was dark and she was alone with only Nyka beside her. At the realization that it had been nothing but a dream, Aeryn closed her eyes in pain. Nyka started to whimper after being startled awake by his mother's yell. Reaching for him Aeryn tucked her son close to her body trying to comfort him, as she rocked and hummed to him.

Only she wasn't sure if the rocking was for his sake or hers. Her nerves were stretched to the breaking point. The dream had shaken her more then she wanted to admit. In the past she had never had such dreams, at least until she had linked up with John Crichton.

"Officer Sun?" Pilot's voice called to her filtered over the comms.

Startled Aeryn nearly dropped Nyka. Holding, his now sleeping body closer to her, she acknowledged Pilot in a tight stoic voice. "Yes, Pilot."

"The Command Carrier has relayed a message that the Councilor and Admiral are coming aboard. You and the others are to meet them in Command."

"Thank you, Pilot," Aeryn said as she climbed out of the bed holding her son. She hoped it was news that they were going to rescue John.

Earlier on the Command Carrier:

Councilor Keitha entered the Command Bridge. She stood to the side and surreptitiously watched as the crew went about their duties. Scanning the officers she found Lieutenant Shay 'a talking with another officer. A smile of satisfaction settled on her lips as she saw that her plan had started to take shape. Walking toward him she heard snatches of conversation as various units reported in.

"Lieutenant Shay' a?" She called out.

Coming to attention, both officers faced her. Stopping before them, Keitha dismissed the other officer before motioning for the Lieutenant to stand beside her. In a low voice she inquired. "Am I to assume correctly that the Admiral and Captain are not on comms because they are about other duties?"

"Yes, Ma'am. The Admiral is in his quarters and the Captain is in the Officer's Lounge."

"Good. Tell me, Lieutenant, have you been able to carry out my previous orders?" She asked studying his reactions.

"Yes, Ma'am. I have gathered all the information you required," he informed her holding up a chip. "And I have transmitted your new orders to the Marauder Recon near the planet Quevila."

"And?"

Shay' a tilted his head even closer saying in a low voice. "They should be reporting back any microt, Councilor."

Facing forward Keitha watched as Moya moved with the flotilla. She continued her query, asking, "They do understand that they are not to approach or reveal their presence to this female alien on the planet?"

"I ordered them to maintain a stealth profile."

"Good," she said nodding her head. "When they report, you will present the information directly to the Captain along with the rest of the report I gave you earlier."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Keitha took the small gray and red innocuous chip from the Lieutenant. "Know what you are doing is vital to saving our species and preserving our way of life. You will be rewarded for your bravery when we have won this war."

"Ma'am, "the officer acknowledge with reverence.

Now on Moya:

Aeryn joined everyone else already assembled in Command. Peacekeeper guards were stationed at each side of the entrance. Three techs stood in front of two of the consoles. Chiana came over holding out her hands. Glancing at D'Argo, she let Chiana take her son from her.

"Do you know why we were summoned here?" D'Argo asked.

"No," she answered watching the activity. "I have a feeling that..."

Noranti scooted up closer, interrupting them she murmured, "It's a game they are playing. Keith's helper has told her secrets. You watch. They play games with each other. Play their game with your eyes open. Play it out and then we flee."

"What are you rambling about, old woman?" D'Argo grumbled.

She backed up when Councilor Keitha and Admiral Arnell arrived in Command seemingly only microts after the crew had been advised of their arrival. The Admiral waved at the tech and approached the strategy table. Moya's crew followed and gathered around the strategy table as a holograph image appeared.

A single star system hovered. One of the Senior Officers started to report, stating dispassionately, "This star chart was developed from the information we retrieved from the Bancarden Trekker's data spools. It appears that as the Trekker moved through space, and grew confident that no one was following them, they altered their course and their line of flight began to point directly at this system. We then contacted the nearest Marauder to check the star system out."

The Admiral looked at the Officer. "Are you saying this system was not in any of our search grids?"

"Sir, the ship was on the very edge of the search area. The Marauder was short on fuel and needed to turn back."

"Yet in spite of our Marauder's timely discovery of the Trekker's location they managed to make their way to this system without any problems. Where are they now? Why haven't any other of our Marauders been ordered to assist?" the Admiral asked skeptically.

Aeryn studied the system. Typical, G-class yellow star in the center and four planets rotating around it. The holo also indicated a great many satellites, asteroids, and assorted space debris that was an excellent place to hide a spacecraft if you didn't want to be sensed or spotted.

"Have they discovered anything about this Collector being there?" she inquired.

The Councilor said, "They have been ordered to keep a low profile."

"Why? And who gave that order?" The Admiral demanded.

"I did," Keitha faced the Admiral. "I think this would be an assignment for Officer Sun and Ka D'Argo. Their presence will not be as imposing as ours would be. They could move in places our solders cannot. I do believe the populace might not feel imitated by two strangers. Don't you, Admiral?"

Arnell studied the Councilor without saying a word. He grudgingly had to admire her fast move that succeeded in getting him to agree to send two of Moya's crew to the planet's surface. He wondered where she was getting her information. But he had a move of his own to make. He had his own pawn to use in this next crucial move in their game.

"You're right, Councilor, this is definitely an assignment for Officer Sun and D'Argo. "

He glanced at the two shipmates and said. "I do believe this is your moment to gather intelligence on Crichton's location."

D'Argo glanced at Aeryn and then hastily looked down at the hologram spinning quietly on the table. Aeryn, as usual rapidly connected the dots and cleared her throat to give her more time to ponder how to respond; given her and D'Argo's total disbelief that the Peacekeepers were on the level (as John was prone to say). D'Argo smiled slightly and nodded. He looked up and blinked once at Chiana where she stood with her arms tilted at a crazy angle indicating her nervousness and similar distrust of their captor's motives. They silently elected Aeryn to lead since she understood the Machiavellian tendencies of her former bosses the best. Glancing down at Nyka setting at Chi's feet on the floor playing, Aeryn looked back up and said in a dispassionate voice.

"If we go down we need a complete intelligence report on what we will find. Who are the players, a description of the terrain, who we should seek out (since you obviously have multiple informants on the planet or you would not readily send us down without a way to control who we speak to and what trouble we make). I want you to lay out your intel without holding anything back or we will not play."

Arnell smiled at Aeryn Sun with his mouth but his eyes told a different story. She had called his bluff and he now had to figure out how much to reveal about his plans. He looked over at Keitha where she stood staring out the front view port seemingly totally relaxed, but he knew she was thinking the same thoughts. He wished he knew her game plan. Arnell sighed and signaled one of the techs to print out a data disk with a full tactical report on the planet.

Aeryn reached out her hand and Arnell dropped the disk into her palm. Aeryn was still trying to figure out their roles in this drama. D'Argo and her would just have to work with what they had.

"My informant on the planet is an alien named is Kula'ora, she is acting as a mediator for a female known as Marcella Jolly, who works for the Collector. When the Bencarden intel was decoded and this star system identified, I realized that I had an operative there and contacted her. She will provide you with the information you seek, for a price (since she must maintain her cover as a Collector loyalist). This should be very easy. You can maneuver where we cannot. Collect the information on John Crichton's situation and return to Moya. Do not attempt a rescue on your own."

D'Argo could not believe that it would be that easy. He sighed in disgust at the numerous compartments of duplicity, as the old woman was prone to exclaiming, they had to wade through. He was not one to wade; he squeezed his fists in frustration, but simply grunted his acknowledgement of his role as "body guard." They would be free to work their own plans once on the surface and away from prying PK eyes and ears.

Aeryn looked at Noranti, Chiana, and Rygel where they stood around Command. They nodded their acceptance of the "plan". Such was the connectedness of Moya's crew that they all communicated their total disbelief that the Peacekeepers were divulging all that they knew. Moya's crew had been screwed before and knew a con when they felt it. They would roll with the punches and get John back in their own way. Aeryn and D'Argo would go down there, run the errand and know that the rest of the crew where hostages for their good behavior.

Aeryn and D'Argo both simultaneously gave a mock solute to the Peacekeeper officers and marched quickly out of Command. There were tasks to take care of before they left on this farbout meeting.

Chiana picked up Nyka and followed Rygel and the old woman out. Snickering she glanced back at the Councilor. The woman had the sourest look on her face. She continued to chortle, wishing she could remain behind to hear the Councilor demanding answers from the Admiral.

After Moya's crew had left, Keitha ferociously turned on the Admiral and demanded, "What in the hezmana do you think you are doing, Admiral Arnell? "

Standing at attention, a satisfactory smile spread on Arnell's face. "My duty."

Snarling she walked around him, like an interrogator. "You are to follow my orders, Admiral, or have you forgotten I have the Supreme Council's sanction on this retrieval?"

"No, Ma'am I haven't," he calmly said.

"Then explain your actions," she retorted, coming to a stop in front of him.

He looked down at the Councilor with amusement. He loved playing a game of wits with the Councilor, especially when he held the upper hand at the moment. It was time to play this hand fully; with a chance that the Councilor would reveal more of her plan to him.

"Shortly after we intercepted the Leviathan's crew, I received a massage from High Command about a certain communication from a creature offering a bid on one John Crichton."

Keitha's eyes narrowed, her voice dropped in her barely controlled fury, "And when, Admiral, were you going to inform me of this?"

"When it became necessary," he said taking great pleasure in her discomfort. "I had my orders too, Councilor, from the Supreme Council. We were to move cautiously until we knew more about this creature and the circumstances of her claim."

"Is that why you really sent the other Command Carrier away...they're to do a fellow-up surveillance?"

Sighing, the Admiral moved away from her. He wasn't going to give her any more information than necessary. Stopping at the Bridge's entranceway, he said. "No, as I told you before; they are searching out Scarrans that were reported in the neighboring sector."

"How is it, Admiral, you received these orders, yet I haven't heard anything from the Supreme Council?"

"I wouldn't know, Councilor Keitha. I am nothing but a solder doing his duty," he said mockingly. "Maybe you should check with the Council directly yourself. Now if you will excuse me, I need to make sure everything goes well for this mission."

Arnell walked out of Command leaving an extremely angry Councilor. He reveled in moments like this.

It was only shortly after the meeting in Command and Aeryn stood in her quarters gazing intently at her sleeping son. How could she even consider leaving her child behind in Peacekeeper custody? John and she had made a promise to each other that if one were taken the other would stay with their child and protect him at any cost. How could she break that promise? She knew this mission was possibly the only chance they had to get John back alive, so the promise was going to have to be put aside for now. Resolved, Aeryn knelt down beside the crib and watched him sleep. She let her fingers trace the outline of his face from his jaw to his hairline. She marveled at how much he favored his father. John always claimed he could see her in their son. She couldn't. No, Nyka was his father's son in appearance and spirit. He was their ray of light and hope. Leaning over, she tenderly kissed his brow and whispered the promise that she would return with his father in no time. Standing up her PK mask dropped into place as she turned away.

Chiana stood by the door watching silently. Just outside in the corridor Rygel's thronesled hovered. Stopping, Aryan looked into Chiana's eyes. After a microt Chiana swore, "I will watch over him until you and John return."

"We both will," Rygel vowed.

Nodding her head sharply Aeryn smiled briefly, picked up her weapon, and shoulder pouch, and left.

Admiral Arnell found Senior Officer Cafin standing in formation with his Marauder crew outside their ship. Cafin was another of Arnell's handpicked officers. The Admiral smiled at his commando crew's crisp uniforms, clean arms, and readiness for battle. Their appearance confirmed how wise it was to align himself with trusted officers. The tall, slender man wore the branded mark of his regiment, three-tier wavy lines above his left eye, as did his crew.

"You are to keep in stealth mode at all times," Arnell ordered.

Cafin looked at the Admiral. "Sir, how much freedom do you wish to give the prisoners?"

"They're not our prisoners. They are, at the moment, our allies in retrieving the intel we need to liberate John Crichton," Arnell explained. "If anyone or thing threatens the Luxan or Officer Sun you are to assist in protecting them."

The Admiral turned his back on the crew and motioned Cafin to stand next to him. In a low voice he gave the Senior Officer a special order. Stepping back Cafin snapped to attention and nodded his head in acknowledgement before ordering his commandos on board.

Arnell stayed in the command control room long enough to watch the Marauder launch microts after the signal that the Leviathan pod had left Moya. Through the glass he watched another Marauder crew make ready to deploy a few microts after the first. The techs ran from point to point, checking on the progress of all ships ensuring that they were battle-ready.

Everything was falling into place, everyone was getting in procession and soon the stage would be set. Then he would be able to make his move before the Councilor even knew what was happening.

As Arnell was moving out of the command control room, he said, "I'm going to my quarters. Please report the moment they have reached planet side."

"Sir," the Officer acknowledged.

Arnell moved about his quarters with a long slender instrument on his hands. After waving about the room for several microts, he dropped it on his desk satisfied that no surveillance devices had been activated. He moved up two steps and sat on a high back black-lacquered chair. Leaning back with a smile, he took out a small communication device and spoke into it.

"This is Arnell on a secure channel. Do you have any new information for me on the movements of the Scarrans?"

"Have you any information on the location of John Crichton?" The voice questioned back."

"Yes and no. We are working on it at this moment. Now you promised me an intelligence report on the Scarran movement in this quadrant."

"And must I remind you that you promised to bring Moya's crew to me," the voice grew deeper in anger.

"I intend to keep my end of the agreement, Scorpius. I am a cautious man when dealing with powerful people such as Councilor Keitha, so I move very carefully."

"Keitha is nothing but another Grayza trying to position herself to become the next Supreme Council leader. We cannot let her take John Crichton back as a trophy."

The Admiral broke in. "And what do you call him when I deliver him to you?"

"An asset," Scorpious said pleasantly. "Bring them to me, Admiral, and victory over the Scarrans will be assured."

Breaking contact, Arnell squeezed the comm in his fist. He questioned himself for the thousanth time, as to why he agreed to this witch-hunt for Scorpious. He musings were interrupted.

"Admiral, Officer Cafin has reported that the Leviathan pod has landed in the market place," the voice filtered from his comms.

Pushing himself from his seat and walked out of his quarters. "Inform the Councilor. I will join you on Command."

"Sir."