"Scorpius?" Aeryn asked, sounding disoriented.

"Yes, Officer Sun," the young soldier said, "Please, this way..."

Aeryn looked back at her dragon. He was ravaging the bovine carcasses offered to him, but met her gaze when she looked back at him. She nodded at him. He blinked at her.

She turned and followed the soldier down into the dark gray fortress. Winding hallways branched here, there...every now and then, she heard troops calling cadence, shouting, and the sounds of metal striking metal. When she arrived on the last level, strange sounds and smells greeted her. Every now and then, a moan or a scream was heard from an odd room.

The soldier brought her up to a large black wooden door and gingerly knocked. The door slowly swung open, seemingly by itself.

"Enter," said the measured, calm, sinister voice she knew so well.

Entering, she saw him.

Scorpius.

He was dressed in an outfit similar to what she was familiar with, though it had a thicker look to it, a well-designed suit of black leather armor, with menacing angles. Glowing blue runes shone on the helmet. He sat behind a large wooden desk, reading a scroll.

Aeryn stood in front of the desk and waited. She was nervous, and not sure why. She had been a soldier in the Army of Peace for her entire life. Scorpius was the rightful ruler of her nation, and had been for some years now. Why would appearing before him bother her? It's an honor he would wish to see her.

Wasn't it?

Scorpius looked up at her, scrutinizing. She stayed at attention, her eyes straight ahead.

"Relax, Officer Sun," he said, after a moment. "In fact, have a seat." He gestured, and a chair slid across the room by itself to park next to her. He indicated the chair with a tilt of his head.

Aeryn sat down.

"A drink to refresh you after your mission, Officer Sun? Some coffee...tea? Spirits, even?"

"No thank you...milord," she said.

Scorpius nodded. "Stimulants cloud the system, anyway," he said absently. "They interfere with clarity. Clarity is always desired, especially in these times."

He then turned his full gaze onto her, "Report on your mission, Officer Sun."

Her mission, she had a mission. Fly out. Confront the Darkness. Destroy it if she could, save...probe...her comrades...John...who was John..? What was her mission...she didn't know.

Scorpius looked at her more intently, "Officer Sun? Your probe into the Darkness' perimeter? What did you find out?"

"I..I don't know, milord. Something happened, and I don't...I'm having trouble recalling," she stammered.

Scorpius sat back in his chair, steepling his index fingers in front of his face, his elbows resting on his chair's armrests. He gazed at her, his pale brow furrowed. "Tell me what you do remember, Officer Sun," his voice neutral.

Her memories seemed to twist around. She saw faces, heard voices, felt feelings. But they were blurred. She remembered, she was a soldier...and she knew Scorpius...and he...disturbed her. But why? She was his commanding officer. Yes, he had a reputation; even some scary, sinister things were whispered. And he was known to be utterly ruthless to his enemies.

But isn't that what it took to hold a nation together it troubled times? Especially when confronted by Darkness?

Why did she feel a sense of fear in the pit of her stomach?

But she summoned what she could remember, "Milord, Trachen and I encountered the edge of the Darkness phenomenon. It stretched from horizon to horizon at our eastern border. Dragonflame was ineffective against it. It seems to be advancing, and could reach this location within a month, if not sooner."

Scorpius considered quietly, his dark eyes focused on Aeryn's darker ones.

Finally, he said, "Then our plans must be moved up. We must plan for our offensive against the Army of the Death Monitors. They are somehow linked with the Darkness, and a key will be their destruction. My research has indicated possible approaches to the Darkness itself..." his voice trailed off.

He then returned his gaze to Aeryn, "Begin preparations for force deployment, Officer Sun."

Aeryn stood up, saluted, about faced and left thru the door opening itself.

It took considerable willpower on Aeryn's part not to run. And she was only slightly relieved, when the door to Scorpius' office had shut.

They could see it over the hills, even before they could see the town itself. Flags flying on tall spires. A town feeling festive, and wishing to announce it to all who could see her. There was a party going down, and all were invited. They wanted attendance, accompanying currency, too. Come one! Come all!

Crichton smiled, seeing this. He remembered being taken to the circus as a kid. His Dad had pointed out the various acts to them. John especially had enjoyed the acrobats, and how they flew through the air with the greatest of ease. Flight, so magical, so effortless. He wanted that, he could remember.

Then, there were the animal acts. These and the "freaks" disturbed him. Whips? Chairs? Chains? He hadn't liked that at all. In fact, he demanded to be taken away, it disturbed him so.

Wow, it had been a long time since he thought of that. The circus took on a bit more of a sinister air, when considered in that light.

Chianna looked delighted, pointing, gasping, laughing and exclaiming at the colors, sights and sounds around. Merchants, street performers, fireworks and more vied for their attention. Rygel took in the accolades as the people joyfully greeted the Hynerian Lord, even occasionally allowing his ring to be kissed.

D'argo grumbled, not being too thrilled about pressing throngs.

And then, Cricton saw it, "Come thrill at the terror of the Amazing Frog Boy!"

Crichton pointed at the billboard. The adventurers gaped.

"Pilot..."

At that moment, in a cage, Pilot huddled in the corner, in a straw nest. He looked utterly forlorn. The collar around his neck, and the heavy chain it was attached to, seemed to weigh on his soul.

One of the keepers, who seemed to pity him, whispered, "Lad, you need to show more life come showtime. If you don't give the rubes a performance, they may decide not to feed you. Then where will you be?"

Pilot looked at him with liquid eyes, "Want momma..."