John Crichton and Ka D'argo walked along, watching the haughtily floating Rygel adroitly attempting to ignore the capering, prancing and chattering Chianna. They could here glimpses of "Wow!" "Check this out" and "Rygel, these flowers are so you!"

Even mentions of treasure and riches didn't get Rygel's attention.

"Rygel seems focused," Crichton murmured, a sideways glance at the big Luxan warrior next to him.

"He's dwelling on being a king without a kingdom," D'argo speculated. "This place somehow brings it home to him, more than usual."

"Fluffy? Think he sees a second chance here?" Crichton speculated. "Even if we can figure out where 'here' is?"

"Hm," D'argo muttered noncommittally, his eyes on the prancing Chianna.

"Say, D'argo. Confession time," Crichton said, a hand on D'argo's shoulder.

D'argo looked at Crichton, taking in the Earthman striding next to him. Cricton gazed at him intently.

"What was all that about failing Jothee? Failing Chianna? You just about took my head off there, bro. Hope you aren't holding some kind of grudge you haven't told me about yet."

Crichton hoped D'argo wasn't going to go all warrior-stoic on him. He was genuinely concerned about his friend, and he was deeply hoping they wouldn't get a relapse to feral D'argo. That Luxan hyper rage was bad enough as it was.

And, he hoped, there would be clues as to what had happened to them.

D'argo drew in a breath, paused, then said, "I know Jothee is alive, John. I know Chianna is safe, right there in front of us. And I know what happened when I lost my mate. I don't know what happened, but I was in my room...and I felt..."

This was tough on D'argo. Crichton didn't even look at D'argo. He gazed ahead as he walked. But his ears were fully on D'argo.

"I felt like what I remembered was no longer true. I HAD failed. Failed miserably. And Chianna was next. I couldn't control what was happening. If you hadn't stopped what was affecting me, John, I might have killed you."

"Well, glad of that. Knowing you're here makes me feel alot more positive about our chances here, pal," Crichton said. "But what was it, affecting you?"

"I don't know, John. Something was almost rewriting my memories, toying with my..."

"Yeah, I think I know. Mind games seem pretty common here in these parts. But why wasn't I affected? Rygel and Chianna weren't either, as far as I can tell."

D'argo didn't answer. He had none.

John didn't bother asking about their missing comrades. No one had any answers.

But he would find them. He would find their missing friends. He would find Aeryn.

Ahead, Chianna and Rygel were arguing about which way to go on the road.

"YO! THAT WAY!", Cricton roared at them, pointing. Rygel huffed, Chianna stuck her tongue out, and they both headed in the indicated direction.

"Follow the yellow brick road," Crichton quipped, as they followed. "You would be the lion, tho definitely not cowardly. Rygel, hm, Toto, Chianna, hm, the Scarecrow, 'cept craftier. And me, I'm somewhere over the rainbow, baby..."

D'argo rumbled, totally missing what Crichton was talking about.

Again.

Wagons headed for the city none to far. Chianna cheerfully greeted them all.

And something watched them.