Chapter 2: Déjà vu Relativity
Wondering if she should join the rest on command, Jess paced her makeshift quarters before deciding that, yes, actually it might be a good idea just to check that her arrival hadn't altered the storyline. Nervously she headed to command.
Jess walked in after Aeryn just as Crais was confirming "Talyn has identified it as the Vigilante. The Peacekeeper ship pursuing us."
Stark, thinking out loud "we've got to do something. There's nothing we can do. Crichton, you always have a plan. Or sometimes."
"How close?"
"It has just landed."
"It's your mother who's running the frelling retrieval squad. Maybe we can use that."
"Yo! Not now, Rygel."
"Not now? They're here Crichton. On the planet. They're going to be knocking down that door any microt and our ship is sound asleep."
Keeping at the back of command Jess sighed a gentle sigh of relief and allowed a brief smile to cross her lips. Everything was on track. Her smile quickly disappeared when Stark came scurrying up to her. "What do we do, what do we do? What's our plan?"
The others all turned to look at Jess. "Um, I, Um, I don't know."
Crichton sighed, "what? This isn't in the show?"
Shifting uncomfortably "yes, well this is an episode, but I don't think I can say what's going to happen in case it changes the timeline."
"Essentially, what you are saying is you and your knowledge are of no use to us." Crais glared, pursing his lips. His opinion of 'irritating' humans becoming more evident.
Jess opened her mouth to reply but no words came out. Exhaling as a sigh, biting her lower lip she manged to whisper "sorry." She knew she'd be worthless but the way Crais bluntly highlighted this made her feel crap. She stood there quietly while Crichton, Aeryn and Crais discussed their plan to lure the retrieval squad away from Talyn to allow him to finish recovering, which should be less than a couple of arns. As they marched out of command to prepare and gather more guns Jess whispered "good luck" while she looked helplessly at her feet. No one paid her any attention.
Left alone on command, Jess folded her arms, shrugging and giving herself a reassuring squeeze as she walked up to the view point. The jungle didn't look very inviting and hoped everything would go to plan out there. She walked up to the centre of command and stroked the ceiling as she had seen Aeryn do in many episodes. "Hey Talyn, don't worry it's all going to be ok, you're going to be ok. They're going to come back." Not knowing if Talyn could hear her while he slept but if he could, she hoped it would give him some comfort. Talking to herself as she left command "God this is so strange, I'm talking to a ship." She went looking for Rygel and Stark, at least she could help them cut the vines away, that wouldn't change the course of things to come.
Jess could hear them cutting down the vines down the corridor "How's Talyn supposed to take off with this stuff laced through him?"
"Once Talyn is back to full strength, I'm sure he'll be able to tear himself away. Easily. Come on Pull!"
"Need a hand?" as she turned the corner.
"Hmm, not worried you'll change the timeline?" Rygel sarcastically responded.
"I doubt I'll change anything with this minor plot line." As she started pulling at the vines. There was a lot more than she expected. They carried on down the corridor, after a while Stark headed off for command.
As Stark returned Rygel caught up with him. "Where the hezmana have you been?"
"On the bridge. Listen…"
"Comfortable up there? Cause while you've been frotzing around, I've been trying to keep this dren from taking over." Jess rolled her eyes at the "I've" comment.
"Rygel, shut up! Talyn, he's almost healed"
"What? Completely?
"It's a, yes."
"Can we blast ourselves free of this yotz?
"Soon. If, if we can keep these under control then I think Talyn will be strong enough to break free. But what if the others aren't back by then?"
"They're up against a Peacekeeper retrieval squad out there. Don't delude yourself, fahrbot, they're probably never coming back."
"Don't be silly, Jess, Jess, will know. She said there's at least another cycles worth of adventures on her show. Isn't that right Jess?"
Answering without thinking "they're coming back, yes." Suddenly realising she should just keep quiet. "Look, I think it's time I go make myself scarce."
"You're leaving? We've not finished with the vines yet!"
"Rygel, she's avoiding changing the timeline!"
"Frelling timeline, kiss my mivonks. Yotz, she's just trying to get out of the work."
Jess smiled at Stark and rolled her eyes, thankful he at least understood. Stark smiled and nodded back. As she walked off, she could hear them arguing still and then Aeryn marching in with her mother. "Phew, that was close." Probably best for Xhalax not to see there was someone else on board. Especially as she hadn't used a pulse pistol before and didn't have any martial arts experience so would be like a sitting duck if Xhalax spotted her.
Jess soon realised, she was absently wondering around Talyn's corridors, looking around, "shit, I thought I got the hang of this, every bloody corridor looks the same." Not knowing which way, it was to her quarters, she continued round the corner stopping dead when she saw Xhalax locking the door to Stark and Rygel's quarters. There was nowhere to go.
Maybe if she could pretend to be reinforcements she could come out of this alive. Pulling her shoulders back and lifting her chin, attempting to come across confident and like a Peacekeeper as Xhalax turned towards her "Senior Office Sun, I see you've secured the first target, what is the status of the second?"
"Who the frell are you?"
Before Jess could answer Stark shouted through the door. "You let us out of here, you snarking dellot! Let us out!" Xhalax turned to Stark as he noticed Jess. "No Jess, no. Run, Run!"
"Bugger" Jess whispered. Well that had ruined that plan. As she turned to run for her life, but before she reached the corner, she heard the pulse pistol blast then felt the crippling pain in the back of her leg causing her to fall to the ground and scream out in agony. Before she could even attempt to stand, Xhalax was over her, pulling her up and slamming her against the bulkhead, her fist connecting to her chin causing her to fall to the floor again. Xhalax dragged her towards the door shouting at Stark "get back" as she flung Jess in. Stark attempted to get to the door and Jess heard another blast from the pulse pistol and Stark cry out before the doors closed and Xhalax marched off.
Dragging her leg and clambering over to Stark as he fell to his knees holding his side. "Oh god, no, oh no, Stark! This isn't supposed to happened, god, what have I done?" Stark pulled his hand away to look at his hands which were covered in blood. "Shit, Stark, I'm so sorry, this doesn't happen, you're supposed to be ok. You're gonna be ok!" Looking around for the vines Stark uses on Rygel, "shit, Rygel! Stark listen to me, you've got to help Rygel now, he's dying!" Stark looked up at her nodding. "I'll tend to your wound, but you've got to continue as normal."
Stark cautiously stood to his feet bending over, leaning towards his injured side and staggered to Rygel, sitting beside him "Oh…you really do have three stomachs and the smallest little heart I've ever seen." Stroking his eyebrow.
Rygel gasped, whispering "help…me. Please, Stark. Help…me." Jess handed Stark the vines as she removed his jacket to look at the wound. Thankfully it didn't look very deep. Stark managed to restart Rygel's heart and sew the wound up.
Jess had wrapped Stark's side up with the restorative vines. He looked down at her work, and looked up smiling "thank you." Stark's smile quickly turned to concern when he saw how white Jess was, looking down at the puddle of blood on the floor underneath her foot. Her breathing was shallow as she followed Stark's gaze down to the floor. She groaned as the pain suddenly returned to the back of her leg. The adrenaline and panic of messing the timeline up had masked her own injuries. Now everything appeared to be back on track, her reality was sinking in. Talyn shuddered violently from Xhalax's attack, Jess stumbled back, grasping her leg. She leant against the wall as her eyes rolled back. "Jess?" Jess blinked her eyes open and looked at Stark with a weak smile before falling unconscious from the blood loss.
Stark rushed towards her, laying her on her side. He checked she was still breathing, she was, as he let out a sigh of relief. He looked at her leg, a nasty pulse blast to the back of her thigh. Stark remembered Crichton saying once how serious blood loss for humans was and gathered up some more vines to tend to Jess's wound, hoping she hadn't lost a fatal amount of blood.
Xhalax returned with Aeryn bound. Stark made sure he kept back this time. "Move" as she moved him away from Jess positioning him beside Aeryn and bound his hands together, shoving him to the floor and tying his legs before securing Aeryn's legs. She moved to Jess's unconscious body, looking at her injured leg before tying her hands behind her back and moving to scan the console.
Aeryn whispered to Stark looking down to his side "Are you ok?" Stark nodded "What about Rygel. Is he dead?" "He died for several microts, but I managed to get his little heart beating again. Then I sewed the wound closed with the vines. The restorative vines but, I'm no diagnosan. I don't know what else to do." Aeryn nodded towards Jess, "and Jess?" "I don't know, she's lost a lot of blood. I don't know if these events should be happening. She said I shouldn't have been shot." Motioning towards Xhalax "She doesn't know it yet, but Talyn is almost recovered. All we have to do is wait till he wakes up."
"He's not going to wake up."
Xhalax picked up the data chip and placed it into the system and pressed play.
"The night you so conveniently forgotten. You cared enough then to risk everything, to meet the child you had conceived. You can't have burned that love away completely. I am that child. I am part of you. I am part of Talyn. Peacekeeper way isn't the only way. It's not too late for you."
Screaming, slamming her fists on the console "No!" breathing heavily. "This is dead history! Your father is dead! And you, you will face a Peacekeeper tribunal, on a charge of high treason." She glared at Aeryn and marched out of the room.
Jess groaned as she opened her eyes, realising her hands were tied behind her. She tried to roll over and moaned from the pain in her leg. She could hear Rygel, "and I'm trying to keep my guts from spilling out all over this frelling floor!" She looked over just as Aeryn was pulling the restraints from her wrists.
"Right. See if you can wake Talyn. If he's up to it when I get back, we're going." As she ran out the door.
Jess sighed with relief, everything looked to be the same. Rygel cut through Stark's restraints releasing him. As soon as he was free, he ran over to Jess. "Jess, Jess, you're alive, you're alive!" Releasing the vines that tied her arms. "Are you ok?"
"Yes, I think so, you?"
"You tralk, you nearly got us killed! That Peacekeeper bitch nearly killed us and you knew!"
"Rygel, it's not Jess's fault."
"Are you completely farbot, of course it is. She knew this was going to happen and she let it."
"This was supposed to happen Rygel, if she stopped it, it could have changed everything."
Shaking her head. "No, he's right. Rygel you were supposed to get stabbed, but Stark, I nearly got you killed!"
"But I'm not dead, I'm ok. We're ok!" Placing his hand on her shoulder before taking her hand and helping her to her feet."
"I nearly frelled everything up!"
"Yes, you crazy bitch!"
"Rygel!" Stark defended. "Is this what happens now though, are we back on track?" Supporting Jess as she couldn't put any weight on her leg.
"Yes, go, go start to wake Talyn up." As Jess gently pushed Stark away supporting herself on the wall. Stark looked at her concerned. "I'm fine, go." Stark turned and hurried out the door to go wake Talyn.
Jess sighed, that was close she thought.
"Listen here, tralk. If you don't tell me what's going to happen to me, I'll…"
"You'll what Rygel! I can't, ok! I'm sorry but I intervened only slightly this time and it nearly got Stark killed!"
"And me"
"No, you always died!" Rygel gasped. "And Stark brought you back, that was always supposed to happen, you'll be fine. If I intervene or tell you about what I know, it could change things, make things worse, you could die and stay dead." Rygel gulped. "It's fine, I've learnt my lesson. From now on I'll stay well away from any events that I know about. You'll be fine." Jess rubbed her forehead and smoothed her hair back. Looking down at the puddle of her own blood from earlier. "Go help Stark wake Talyn. I'll clean up in here." Rygel left muttering some expletives and Jess hobbled over to start cleaning Rygel and Stark's quarters up.
As Jess finished cleaning up the blood, she felt Talyn rumble gently. She steadied herself on the console as Talyn lifted from the planet's surface. Knowing that the others must be safely back on board she headed off to command. She passed Rygel and Stark heading back to their quarters. "Is you're leg ok Jess?"
"I'll be fine Stark, thank you." As she squeezed his shoulder. "Are you both ok?" Rygel and Stark nodded in unison. Jess smiled at them and continued for command, making a quick detour to her quarters to pick something up.
When she reached command, Crais was asleep in a corner in the process of splicing his neural engrams with Talyn so he could navigate on his own again. Crichton was comforting Aeryn, he looked up as Jess limped in. "Hey," nodding towards her. "You ok?" Aeryn turned and smile at her.
Jess smiled back at them both, "hurts, but I'll be fine." Rubbing her leg "I can definitely tell I'm not dreaming now!"
They all laughed.
Crichton smiled, "I hear you nearly frelled everything up Miss time lady."
"Mmm." Jess mumbled, biting her lip. "Yeah, thankfully only briefly. I'll have to be extra careful going forward."
Crichton's tone changed "and you knew he lied to us." Motioning his head towards Crais. Aeryn sighed, she had tried to persuade him Crais had changed, but she doubted John would ever believe it.
"Well technically he never lied."
"What? That bastard said the retrieval squad were after Talyn but they weren't just after Talyn."
Jess interrupted "yes, he said the retrieval squad were after Talyn, that was it. He didn't technically lie and say they weren't after him, he just eluded that bit. He didn't tell the full story but he didn't lie." This time she thought, knowing Xhalax was still alive.
"What are you doing? Why are you sticking up for him?"
"Like Aeryn's told you before, he's changed." Aeryn smiled, knowing Crichton will hate having someone agree with her, especially with Crais involved. "And you know what, apparently, he voted against D'Argo being imprisoned for his wife's murder, so he's not all that bad!" Crichton didn't argue back. Knowing this Crichton's fate, divulging this information to him wasn't going to change anything. "Anyway, I came up here because I thought you'd both like some of this." Holding up a bar of chocolate.
Aeryn frowned "What's that?"
"Oh, god! You little angel! It's chocolate Aeryn, an Earth delicacy."
"You've had a bad day; chocolate helps make things better." As she broke off a strip and handing it to Aeryn. Breaking off another bit for Crichton and handing it to him. "You like?" Aeryn nodded. "Do you need me to help out up here at all? I don't mind if you guys wanna go get some rest?"
"It's ok thanks, we've got it covered. You go rest that leg."
Jess nodded, "thanks" as she broke some more chocolate off for them both and headed for her quarters.
The next morning Jess sat in her quarters, listening to some music while stretching her leg out as best as she could. It hurt like hell but it did seem to be healing well. The vines really were working their magic. She started singing along "leave all your love and your longing behind you. Can't carry it with you if you want to survive. The dog days are over…" as she turned, she stopped, embarrassed. Crais was stood in the doorway hands clasped behind his back. "Um, hey! How are you and Talyn feeling?"
Smiling "Sorry for interrupting" as he walked in "Talyn is recovering but I'm yet to fully analyse the damage Xhalax caused."
Jess nodded, pausing the music. "And you? How's your shoulder?"
"You're persistent about my welfare" cocking his head.
Jess laughed "Just making conversation, being nice. Hey, fancy some chocolate? It's one of the best things about Earth." Breaking some off and handing it over before eating some herself. Crais looked it over before taking a bite. "Good?"
Crais nodded, surprised, "yes." Looking down at her leg "how is your leg?"
Shrugging "hurts, but it's ok, I'll live" as she carried on stretching.
Crais regarded her for a microt, maybe she wasn't quite as irritating as Crichton. "Thank you."
Stopping and looking up at Crais "for what?"
"Talking to Talyn when we left. Reassuring him. He heard you, he wanted me to pass on his appreciation."
"Oh, well, that's ok. I didn't know if he would hear, I just, didn't want him to worry about you all."
Crais nodded "and thank you also for," Crais cleared his throat, a little embarrassed, "Talyn showed me what you said to Crichton on command. I'm not sure if he'll ever trust me but, I apricate the gesture."
"Oh, you're welcome. Just thought I'd make the point you didn't actually lie that time."
Crais considered her words, pursing his lips together before nodding and turning to walk out. She obviously knew he hadn't killed Xhalax. Unsure on whether he could trust her.
"Crais"
Crais paused bur kept his back towards Jess.
"It's ok… I know why. I won't say anything to the others."
Crais continued out without a word. Leaving Jess stood there. Sighing "Jeez, he really is Captain Cranky" thinking out loud as she pressed play again.
The following days passed without much drama. Aeryn had lent Jess some more clothes seeing as she just had what she arrived in, they planned to get some more once they came across the next commerce planet. Jess was trying to keep herself to herself and not get in the way of the others. She felt a bit useless anyway, not knowing anything about this technology or even space travel. At least Crichton was a scientist and had adapted his knowledge. Somehow even her knowledge as a Physio seemed a bit pointless out here. The technologies and medicines were far more advanced than back at home.
Once her leg had recovered enough, she'd set herself little strength and conditioning circuit in the maintenance bay it was a bit more spacious there, plus she didn't want to spend all her time in her quarters. Aeryn had joined her a couple of times. Jess always prided herself on her high physical fitness back on Earth, but Aeryn made everything look effortless. Sebacean anatomy definitely had an advantage on humans. Aeryn had started to teach Jess some combat skills, telling her "just in case she needed to defend herself in the future." Jess picked up most skills relatively quickly, "you're a better student than Crichton."
Jess laughed "it's probably because he hates the fact you can effortlessly kick his arse."
Aeryn laughed, "how are you finding things here?"
Jess shrugged, "all things considered, ok, I guess. I miss my family and friends." Aeryn nodded. "I miss the simple things, sunsets, walks along the beach, swimming in the sea, coffee!" Looking down at the floor "I'm not supposed to be here and I don't know if I'll ever be able to get back." Her eyes glazing over. "As Crais highlighted, I'm not much use to any of you here. So, I'm not exactly fitting in well." Sighing and blinking away the tears.
"You're fitting in well enough." Aeryn smiled "Come on, let's go get something to eat. See if there's an update on Moya…" Smirking, "although, you probably know that answer already!?"
Jess chuckled gently and followed Aeryn to the gallery.
The next morning Jess started some yoga in the maintenance bay. She was nearly done with her routine when Crais walked in carrying a DRD. He placed it down on a bench and started some repairs. He glanced over at Jess occasionally, wondering what she was doing. She noticed, smiling to herself at the confusion on his face.
As she finished up, "it's called yoga."
"Sorry?" He questioned, releasing she had caught him looking.
"Yoga. It's an ancient form of exercise on Earth that focuses on strength, flexibility and breathing to boost physical and mental wellbeing."
"Hmm, doesn't appear to be very challenging." Setting the restored DRD on the floor for it to carry on with its work.
"Prepared to put your money where your mouth is?" Raising her hands up gesturing to the open space in front of her. Crais cocked his head. "Put your money where your mouth is, means to take action to support one's claim!" Smiling and raising her eyebrows, cocking her head towards him.
"Fair enough" as he started walking around the workbench, unfastening his jacket. "Challenge, accepted." Placing his jacket on the bench and walking up to her in his sleeveless shirt.
Jess swallowed and cleared her throat, shaking the thoughts from her head when she realised, she was admiring his physique. Scratching her head, "right, take your boots off."
"My boots?"
"Yes, you're boots, it helps with the balance."
Frowning and pulling his chest up standing taller "my balance is fine."
"Just…Stop arguing back and do it."
Crais raised his eyebrows at her directness before bending down and removing his boots.
"Right put your feet here, bend at hips and hands here." As she manoeuvred him into position. "Right, remember to keep breathing normally…Great there you go, that's downward facing dog."
Jess took Crais through his paces and chuckled at his frustration when he couldn't get some of the positions. As he sat defeated on the floor after failing to get the 'Crane' position. "Yes, well, it appears I was wrong. You make it look simple." Giving her a half smile.
Licking her lips and biting her lower lip and smiling back, "just practice" she said smirking.
Crais regarded her for a microt. "I understand Aeryn has been teaching you some combat skills?" Jess nodded. "Care for some further instruction?"
"Want the chance to redeem yourself?"
"Possibly!" Smiling.
Crais guided Jess through some further techniques. Like she did with Aeryn, she picked them up relatively quickly. "Ready for some sparring?"
Smiling "yeah ok." She joked, "I'll go easy on you!"
Crais laughed, "we'll see!"
Jess took a swing, Crais effortlessly dodged, then another which he blocked, gently pushing her back. Frustrated she took a swing again. Crais grabbed her wrist, twisting her round to face away from him and grabbed the other wrist holding them behind her back, leaning in and softly whispering "remember, calm." As he loosened his grip to release her, she twisted an arm free and grabbed him, swiftly leaning forward, throwing him over her shoulder. Crais landed on his back, shocked that he had let his guard down. Jess was just as shocked, "Ha, yes!" Crais quickly recovered, kicking her legs out from underneath her as she landed on her back with a thud. Before she realised what had happened, Crais was over her pinning her wrists to the floor causing her to cry out in pain through gritted teeth. Rolling herself off towards the left to ease the pressure on her shoulder. "Ah Crais please" through gritted teeth.
Realising she was in quite some discomfort from little pressure, Crais released her left wrist, keeping his hand close in case she tried something again. Jess pulled her arm down to a more comfortable position.
"Sorry, an old injury. I came off my bike and dislocated my shoulder a few yea… cycles, back. The surgeons tightened everything up around there to support it. My arm doesn't go that far back on that side now."
Crais looked down at the scar on her shoulder. Still pinning her underneath him, holding her right wrist firmly. As he turned to look at her, their eyes locking. He paused for a microt, "be sure to conceal your weaknesses from your enemies." Jess opened her mouth catching her breath. Suddenly realizing their intimate proximity, he released her and pushed up to stand. Clearing his throat, "Talyn needs me on command." Jess slowly exhaled and propped herself up on her elbows as Crais turned and quickly put his boots on, grabbing his jacket, as he marched out. Leaving Jess on the floor watching as he left.
Jess laid back down flat on her back covering her face with her palms, there was a 'moment' between them, that had just been a 'moment.' Muttering into her hands "ahhhh, you dam idiot." Rolling over and sitting up onto her knees, she shook her head. No, Crais wanted Aeryn, everyone knew that. Plus, she was a human. She was being ridiculous, there definitely had not been a 'moment' between them. But if there had been, she made a mental note that there would absolutely not be another one.
Jess headed off for her quarters, wondering how long it was until Talyn tries to go all Kamikaze into a sun.