Summary: Scorpius goes back to his former cell where someone waits for him. A/U
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Farscape.
Rating: M
Pairing: Sikozu/Scorpius
INFECTION:
SIKOZU/SCORPIUS
TWO SOLAR DAYS LATER:
The arns ticked by until two solar days had gone by with Sikozu's condition getting worse. When Scorpius wasn't with her, then he was on the terrace pacing, wondering; thinking in circles. There was no way out of this that had Sikozu surviving this disease. What was left of his heart clenched in fear and sorrow; it hit him then. No matter how hard he tried, Sikozu was going to die. That thought killed him inside. Looking back to the bed, Scorpius gingerly sat down on the edge watching her like he had done since meeting her. He mapped her face. He memorized the dark green lines that marred her delicate flesh. A ghost of a smile danced upon his lips as he remembered the arns he had spent tasting her skin; kissing her all over, running his tongue along every nook.
Without caring who would see him, Scorpius slide closer to her, resting his head in her lap. Since being with Sikozu, the world he lived in began to take form. It wasn't just about the next move, the next opponent he could out whit. He had a woman who matched him in ingenuity and cleverness. Sikozu continued to surprise him. Now he was faced with the possibility of losing her. That he could not accept if there was a way around it. Behind him the doors opened and he thought it would be the older cook. Of course his luck was not that good.
"Hey, you got a call on the clam shell." Crichton nudged the edge of the Dark Lords booted foot. That action earned him a hiss of displeasure. "Your boy Braca is on his way back with a Diagnosian."
Scorpius sat up then looking at Crichton, "Are you certain?" Against his better judgment hope bloomed inside of him. This was the chance Sikozu needed.
"Oh yeah," John nodded. "He mentioned something about not being allowed to return if he failed." He moved to the door. "Oh yeah, he's about six arns away." And Crichton was gone.
Scorpius waited until he couldn't hear the foot falls that belonged to Crichton before he settled back down, resting his head in Sikozu's lap. He let his mind drift like he hadn't in cycles. As he let his mind settle, Scorpius drifted off to sleep. His guard relaxed for the first time in a long while. Sikozu put him at ease, allowed him to draw more on his Sebacean side. He valued her more than she would ever know, more than he could ever convey.
Six arns later, Braca stepped foot off the Marauder, thankful to once again be on the Leviathan with former convicts rather than cooped up with a Med Tech and a Diagnosian who kept chattering. He bypassed Crichton and the Nebari girl, instead heading straight to report in to Scorpius. For a while he thought he would actually fail, Sikozu would die, and Scorpius would find some way to kill him. Braca didn't want to see Sikozu dead anymore than Scorpius did, but perhaps he was more invested in the healthy living state of the Kalish. The red head made Scorpius a better being; he seemed more Sebacean when Sikozu was near and more diabolical. Sikozu had become more important than even the wormhole knowledge Crichton held inside his mind.
Nearing the crew quarters, Braca waved his hand in front of the door sensor to trigger the mechanism that allowed thee door to open. On the bed Sikozu looked as she had when he had left; unconscious. But Scorpius was with her, curled around her, and he was asleep. Silently, Braca moved to the bed, leery to wake his Commander up. Unfortunately it had to be done. Cautiously he reached out nudging the shoulder armor Scorpius wore. "Sir?"
Scorpius felt himself being roused out of sleep. When had he allowed his body to relax this much? Opening his eyes, he saw Braca standing on the other side of the bed. Sluggishly his body came awake. "Braca, what is it?"
"A Diagnosian, it's here." Braca answered casting his gaze to Sikozu. The green spider web lines had branched out further covering her shoulder, down her left arm, and dipped below the edge of the blanket. She had gotten worse in just two solar days. "The doctor would like to speak to you."
BAY TWO:
Scorpius met with the Diagnosian, listening intently to the proposed treatment it had devised on the voyage back to Moya. "You want to remove part of Scarran DNA to formulate a cure?" He couldn't believe it. "Is this the only way?" Scorpius already knew he would do anything to save Sikozu's life from the moment she knew, she said, she was going to die. Could he part with the violent Scarran side that gave him added strength? The only time Sikozu had seen the warring sides of his personalities had been when the Wolaxian Arachnid had been aboard Moya. That spider had robbed him of his control, of his Sebacean personality. She had seen the side of him he never allowed to see the light of day.
"Yes, sir, this is the only way. The virus is extremely invasive and it needs an extreme cure. Seeing as the virus is Scarran in origin, with you being half…" Chaya started to say but trailed off when Scorpius glared at her.
"What is required of me?" Scorpius looked at Chaya, the med tech giving her leave to answer.
"You would have to step into the chamber," She motioned behind him, "Where the DNA sequencer would filter out enough of your Scarran DNA to formulate an antidote. It will leave you mostly Sebacean sir." Chaya informed. Like everyone else she had heard the whispers, caught glimpses, of Scorpius and Sikozu aboard the Command Carrier before it was destroyed.
"I wouldn't need this cooling suit anymore." Scorpius mused out loud. He looked down at his gloved hand; the hand that had so many times brought great pleasure to his woman, but he had never felt her golden skin. "If it's the only way, then we should begin.
"Sir?" Braca questioned. He wanted to know his Commanding officer was serious.
"It's for Sikozu." Scorpius said. Braca understood. Looking at the Diagnosian He asked, "What must be done?" In a language he didn't quite understand, the Doctor spoke in a flurry of clicks and pops gesturing to the torso section of his cooling suit, the face mask, and even motioned to the gloves he wore. Scorpius would wait until the doctor finished explaining in its language before looking to the medic for a translation.
"It, he, wants to filter out part of you Scarran DNA while cloning section of your Sebacean DNA to fill in the gaps. Tubes would be inserted; one in your chest and one at the base of your spine to feed you vital nutrients while the process completed and you features changed." Chaya informed half believing what would happen. "Sir, it will be extremely painful."
"I understand. How long would it take before the cure could be given to Sikozu?" Scorpius asked. She was his main concern, the most important one to him.
"A few arns to isolate and remove the portions of your Scarran DNA that will help in formulating a cure, then another arn and a half to dilute it into an intravenous solution that can be gradually added to Sikozu's system to combat the virus." Chaya answered. "After your Scarran is DNA you will be in immense pain. To make sure the process works, we can not give you anything to dull the pain."
"Then we should start as soon as possible. Sikozu does not have long left." Time was precious and not in abundance when it came to Sikozu. She was wasting away and it was his fault. He knew that now. He had asked her to risk her life, feed information to the Scarran's, when he didn't understand what that truly meant for her. She had tried to explain, but he hadn't listened. At the time all he thought about had been his survival, ensuring Sikozu's place by his side, and his endgame to position Crichton to build the wormhole weapon. He hadn't wanted to hear what she was trying to tell him.
"Sir, there is one more thing." Chaya muttered. "The chamber is cold even for Sebacean standards; you won't need the cooling suit."
"Is that all?" Scorpius asked discerning the hidden meaning in her words. He would have to remove part of the suit that regulated his warring body temperatures, "If so, would you go and check Sikozu to make sure she will be strong enough for the cure to work." Out of the corner of his eye he could see Crichton standing just inside the entrance. "Come to watch the show John?"
"Sure, it's not everyday you volunteer for some risky weird science experiment to protect a traitor." John answered sarcastically.
Scorpius hissed realizing that this could be the last time he was ever intimidating with just his Scarran features alone. How badly would his personality change during this procedure? It didn't matter. As long as he didn't lose his hunger for Sikozu, this sacrifice would be worth it. "Then, feel free to stay and see the lengths to which I will go for her."
"Wouldn't miss this show," Crichton crossed his arms and leaned against the wall keeping in mind to stay out of the way.
For the first time in cycles Scorpius pulled free the glove on his left hand revealing long fingers tipped with very Scarran looking claws. He repeated the action with his right hand trying to filter out the audience he had. Then, to his left, Braca was there ready to help should he be asked. With the barest of nods, Scorpius signaled Braca to help. There was a catch at the back of the cooling suit to loosen the shoulder armor. Both flexible plates fell away leaving the spine protector easier to remove. It too joined the steadily growing pile on the floor. Braca loosened the catches along his spine where the protector had them hidden so he could remove the top portion of the specifically designed cooling suit.
Braca focused on what he was doing, thinking of it more as of a field exercise than some sort of experiment that could go horribly wrong. Nimbly his fingers removed the black leather to reveal pale skin stretched over a sharply defined spine. Scorpius turned, keeping halting the roving gaze of Braca's eyes only to see his commander shuck the rest of it, letting it fall to the pile beside them. The leather had hinted at what could possibly lie beneath, but he wouldn't have guessed what he would have seen. Braca tried not to stare at the well muscled chest and abdomen that had been revealed.
Lastly was the face mask. Scorpius lifted his hands, placed them behind his head to release the seal on the face mask. A hiss filled the air as the last remaining coldness fled from him. He grit his teeth, steeling himself against the raging war yet to start. Scorpius peeled the leather down off his face feeling, for the first time, a gentle breath of air across his skin. But the worst was to come. The cooling rods would have to be removed as well. If all went well, then he wouldn't need the cooling suit or the cooling rods. That was Braca's cue. He removed the upgraded rod chamber Sikozu had modified when they had been together on Moya, the first time. Against his will, his lungs started to draw in oxygen faster and faster speeding his pulse. One microt the cold was there and then in the next it was gone. Out of habit his hand flew to the gaping hole in the side of his head. Scorpius vaguely heard Braca saying that they should get him into the chamber.
48 SOLAR DAYS AGO:
COMMAND CARRIER
Sikozu was pinned by Scorpius. He held her firmly in his strong grip even though she fought him as much as she could. Still he was molded to her, his hand clasped around her wrists keeping her bent over, bent under him. Sikozu should be furious with him, but all she felt was turned on. Scorpius was in the dominant position over her. It excited her spilling heat through her veins making her feminine entrance wet in anticipation for his entrance into her. Unashamed, Sikozu rocked back against him feeling his hardness. That only spiked her desire higher. She could be angry tomorrow.
Scorpius sensed a change in Sikozu; it came over her quickly. She was aroused. That interested him more than he anger, more than what he had asked of her. Quick as he could, before she had time to react, Scorpius flipped her to her back fitting his hips between her legs so he could pin her hands above her head for the time being. "Do you like this?" He teased rocking his hips foreword drawing a moan from her. She brought her knees up, hooking her ankles together to keep him close.
"What are you going to do to me?" Sikozu asked trying to ignore the frantic/excited way her heart beat waiting for his response. He would make their joining as erotic as he could while gently easing her into this new life style. She had adapted pretty quickly to all that Scorpius had offered her and delighted in what was yet to come her way. It was a delicious anticipation that made her burn all the hotter in his arm.
"I'm going to chain you to the headboard and have my way with you." Scorpius growled close to her lips. Lazily his tongue darted out, barely touching her skin a he drew it up the side of her face. "But first I want you to your clothes off." He released her, pulling back and reigning in his raging desire for her. In his chest his heart thundered demanding he take her. This was all part of their game. Taking to the seat behind him, Scorpius waited for Sikozu.
Sikozu sat up to gape at Scorpius as he lounged languidly in the chair. Before he delighted in undressing her, kissing each inch of flesh that had been covered up by her clothes. This was another layer to the life she now had with him. She could turn the tables on him instantly. Gaining her feet, Sikozu walked to Scorpius taking off the long gloves she wore. She dropped them on the floor; next came the vest, and then she was standing before him. Slipping her hands behind her back, Sikozu straddled his lap keeping her eyes locked with his. With practiced ease, the ties fell loose allowing the tight leather encasing her torso fell free bearing her to his eyes. For a moment his gaze wavered from hers.
Scorpius resisted the urge to lean into Sikozu, to take one of her pale pink nipples between his teeth to pleasurably torment. His hands gripped the arm rests to keep him from touching her. She had to bend to his will tonight even though he knew she was trying to turn the tables. It was all about pushing each other to see which one of them would break first. It was all part of the sensual game they played with each other. Then, she leaned into him; her tongue darted out to graze the sharp line of his cheek bone. He had been distracted he hadn't noticed her tap a command into the console until he heard music chasing away the silence. A loud techno mix would mask any sounds they made while in the pursuit of pleasure.
From where she sat on his lap, Sikozu reached down to lower the zipper on her boots. With ease she slid them off only to hook the top of her feet over his leather glad knees. As Sikozu stood up she forced Scorpius to spread his legs until she was between them. A playful gleam in her eyes had him adjusting his position marginally. She took two steps back to allow her more room to move. He just continued to watch her. Still staring at him, Sikozu slowly slid the tight fabric of her black leggings. She had them half way down her thighs subtly daring him to move, to chain her up like he said he would. Sikozu knew the manacles would come soon; she just wanted to see how long it took him before he was dominating her again.
MOYA:
PRESENT DAY
Scorpius screamed a full throated roar of pain. His body felt like it was being torn apart molecule by molecule. The chamber he was in muffled most of the evidence that he gave in, giving voice to his torment. "Sikozu…" He breathed her name in between microts of pain. This was for her. Scorpius kept that in mind as the torture began again. Each layer of his DNA had to be examined, dissected, and finally harvested if it was to be used as a vaccine. Deep down to the very core, it felt like he was being drawn and quartered. Scorpius thought he knew what pain to be, knew how to inflict it, knew how to endure it, but this was a new level he never imagined existed. Yet, Scorpius knew the worst was to come. It wasn't just his Scarran DNA that was being taken out. His Scarran features would vanish. The remodeling of bone, of tendons, muscles. It would more than likely make him wish he was dead.
Breathe; he had to remember to breathe through this. One small inhalation at a time until it was over. He could focus long enough for that. More microts ticked by until the torment ceased. Scorpius risked a deep breath, only to be followed by a cough. His lung capacity had been diminished but he would endure it. More time slipped by and just when he thought it was over. Scorpius couldn't have been more wrong in his life. Blinding white heat blazed over his skin. The bones in his back, along his spine, broke only to painfully reshape themselves. His facial bone contorted, stabbing into his muscles, almost piercing his skin. Even his fingers dislocated, the flesh under his nails split manifesting the last bit of Scarran that would be left in him; deadly claws immerged. He could feel them sliding pushing the normal nails out of the cuticle beds. Scorpius tried in vain to resist screaming, but he could not help it. Even as his throat was raw he screamed again only to be muffled with blood. The sharp Scarran teeth he had receded into his gums being remolded into normal teeth. It would be a mercy for him to pass out.
48 SOLAR DAYS AGO:
COMMAND CARRIER
Scorpius locked the manacle in place securing Sikozu's hands above her head and against the headboard. She tugged them playfully, testing the strength. They were strong enough to hold him should he ever been bound. Angling his head, he took her lips in a passionate kiss that left her breathless. Her right calf draped over his waist, but he would not take her as quickly as she was trying to make him do. Scorpius pulled back with some effort slipping down her body. Sikozu lay before him gloriously naked; a feast for the eyes. The lights glinted off her golden red skin drawing him in. Backing off the bed he left her for a minute; he wanted to see her stretched out among the black of the bed. She just glowed, like he had seen only once and had just caught a glimpse of.
Sikozu tested her bonds, struggled against them to give him a show. He loved it when she struggled and so did she. It heightened the moment, made the pleasure all the more explosive when it was released. Still, a little trickle of trepidation entered her as he attached clips to the tips of his fingers. A subtle buzzing could be heard. Scorpius knelt back on the end of her the bed touching her ankle gently. Vibrations against her skin had her jumping, pulling back on instinct. He only angled his head, waiting for her to decide if she wanted him to continue. Temptingly, Sikozu slid her foot along the top of his leather clad thigh giving him the go ahead to continue. She wanted to see where this was going to go and how long it was going to take her to start screaming in pleasure.
Scorpius ran his index finger around her slender ankle bone seeing her shiver. He slipped his hand up her calf hearing the first moan of pleasure from her. Drawing his hand up behind her knee and then to the inside of her thigh. Sikozu gasped sitting up as far as her bonds would allow her. For a moment her thighs tightened on his hand keeping him from moving further up. He let her grow accustomed to the sensations while he enjoyed the look of rapture playing across her face. The hold she had on him loosened a fraction to allow him to slid his hand up more until he could caress her woman's jewel. Teasingly Scorpius drew his index finger through her slick folds wrenching a shout of pleasure from her.
Sikozu's back arched sharply when the vibrations teased over her feminine center, zinging straight to her already straining nipples. As much as she would have liked, his hand did not linger between her legs. He traveled up further tracing small circles on her left hip bone. Her body grew hotter and hotter for him the more he toyed with her. Scorpius rubbed along the line of her ribs; one at a time. Then it stopped, he took his hand from her. Sikozu whimpered in protest looking at him. Scorpius removed the clips making sure she saw each one fall from his fingers. Again he set his hands to her, caressing the outside of her thighs, gripping them to reposition her. He lifted her with ease, putting her back to headboard. The metal bars were cold, stinging her heated skin.
Scorpius brought Sikozu astride his thighs while making sure her back pressed against the bars. Bearing his sharp Scarran teeth, he raked them over her collar bone. She arched into him. Scraping his teeth down farther, he grazed them over her right nipple drawing a full throated moan from her, half pleasure half pain. Scorpius swirled his tongue around and around. Knowing her penchant for enjoying his brand of pain, he sank his teeth into her sensitive flesh framing her tight bud with his teeth impression. Sikozu jerked, her back arched, and she strained against her bonds again. A scream of ecstasy reverberated on the walls around them mixing with the music that still played.
MOYA:
PRESENT DAY
"How long has he been in there?" Aeryn asked as she stood by her husband's side. She could hear the screams all the way up in command. It made her skin crawl.
"A couple of arns," John answered. He kept his gaze riveted to the chamber that slightly muffled the screams belonging to Scorpius. For years he had hated the man that chased him all over the galaxy for wormhole technology. But hearing this, the screams, even John couldn't wish this on Scorpius who had gone into the chamber willingly to save Sikozu.
"How much longer do you think?" Aeryn tore her gaze away turning to face the open hatch where Chiana stood. Everyone on this ship hated Scorpius but no one could stand to listen to anyone in pain.
"There is no way to tell." Braca answered keeping his gaze locked on the genetic chamber. "By now all of his bones, his muscles, his tendons, have been broken, snapped, contorted and twisted into a new form." He could feel his stomach wanting to revolt at the words he had just spoken. The screams he could sand, he had heard them before, but voicing what was happening. It had the soldier in him quaking in sickness.
"What are they doing?" Aeryn motioned to the med tech and the Diagnosian.
"Making the Scarran DNA they siphoned out of Scorpius into a cure to administer to Sikozu." Braca informed.
"100 krindars says he passes out in the next 30 microts." Rygel floated into the room.
"Not cool Sparky." John scolded lightly flicking Rygel in the side of the neck.
"Maybe he'll die in there and let the rest of us get on with our lives." Rygel mused.
John had a split second to react. He and Aeryn restrained Braca before the Peacekeeper could strangle Rygel. "He talks and talks. Just ignore him. We do." John warned. Braca wrenched free to turn back to the chamber where the screams had died down. A hiss echoed around them with front popping open.
Braca went to the chamber as the lid slid free. What had been Scorpius was now a Sebacean male. The sharply defined cheekbones had been reformed with perfect pale skin resting over it. His lips were no longer rimmed with black, but red and full. Honey brown hair fall around his face, over his shoulders. The new Scorpius reached out with a clawed hand needing help. Being the loyal soldier, Braca obeyed the silent command. "Sir…"
"Braca…"Scorpius relied on the strength Braca had to help him step out of the chamber. Everything ached, screamed at him to lie down as soon as possible. But he couldn't Sikozu needed him. He took that first step, collapsing to his knees instantly taking Braca to the floor with him.
Braca looked to Crichton, "Help me." John didn't move, but Aeryn did. The former officer moved to the right and helped Scorpius stand again. Bringing his right arm around the other mans waist, Braca started to move again. He knew where his commander wanted to be. Sikozu.
One arn later had the Diagnosian putting a tube in Sikozu's right arm and another just under her left collar bone. On the bed the Kalish stirred as the cure flowed freely into her veins. Her lungs burned with oxygen and her eyes were so heavy. Still she had to try and wake up. Forcing her eyes open Sikozu had thought the light would burn, but it didn't. Filling her tired vision stood a Diagnosian and Captain Braca. All she could mutter, "Scorpius…" but she slipped back into sleep without noticing the body that lay beside her.