by Jennifer Lloyd
Rating: PG-13 for language and some violence, but definitely nothing you
wouldn't see or hear on the show.
Summary: Moya's crew runs into another species in the uncharted territories
and Aeryn and John are abducted as 'battleprizes'. UST
Spoilers: All episodes through "Durka Returns" are fair game. Specific
references to "Durka Returns", "The Flax", "PK Tech Girl", "Rhapsody in Blue"
in particular, with a sprinkling of others.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. This is just my bow to the wonderful creators of
"Farscape". The Jim Henson Company, Hallmark Entertainment, Channel Nine
Australia, SciFi Channel and anyone else associated with the show I may have
missed own rights to "Farscape". I simply had a thought for a story, which
led to more thoughts. The characters herein that are not from the show are
my creations.
Archiving: Just let me know if you want it so I can keep track of where this
product of the odd ramblings of my mind winds up.
Comments, including constructive criticism, welcome and appreciated.
Notes: This story is intended to take place between "Durka Returns" and "A
Human Reaction", born from my obsession with the scene in "A Human Reaction"
where John asks Aeryn to go to earth with him and she says she can't. That
look of conflict on her face struck me, so I asked myself what sort of thing
could have happened between DR and AHR to make her so emotional about his
leaving Moya. What had brought them even closer than they had been prior to
AHR? This, for some reason, is what my muse kept bugging me to write. And
it's not quite the story I envisioned at first. So blame it on my muse.
Many thank yous to Jo and James for beta-reading this very long story.
*****
The Narjaain warrior picked the dagger off the ground and snarled at his dead
attacker, kicking the female Peacekeeper female in the side for good measure.
He was not one to let a mere female best him in battle. It had never
happened. It never would. Although, he thought with a twinge of regret, she
would have made a valuable battleprize. Maybe next time.
"Svarstaan!"
The warrior looked up at the one calling his name. He peered towards the end
of the dark alley and recognized the tall, angular form of Adaair, one of his
squad members. Adaair was thin for a Narjaain male; even the finger-length
bone ridges above his nose and in front of his ears were slight compared to
the normal male. His red metal armor and bright blue uniform came into view
in the light being thrown by a single lantern attached to the outer store
wall behind Svarstaan.
Svarstaan puffed out his chest and placed a red-booted foot on the back of
the dead Sebacean. "Yes, what is it, Adaair?" he called back in a deep,
raspy voice. He had taken in too much smoke in the cleansing ceremony prior
to the attack on the Peacekeeper company. He rubbed the outer bones of his
nose ridge and sneezed hard. His black, braided hair swung into Adaair's
face as the impact of the sneeze flung his body forward.
Adaair pushed Svarstaan's hair out of his way and laughed, his large nose and
the skin surrounding his bright green eyes crinkling with amusement. "Too
much smoke, Svarstaan?"
"I did the double cleansing, Adaair. I knew we would be attacking a large
force of commandos. No use in contaminating ourselves too much with Sebacean
blood."
Adaair chuckled. "I can tell. The scent of the floreal mist is fairly
flowing off of you. Maybe you should have put in fewer hops. You really
reek."
Svarstaan furrowed his bony brow. "Yes, well, what is it you came to tell
me? As you can see, I'm done here."
Adaair glanced down at the blonde Sebacean. "That one would have grabbed a
nice battle treasure for you, Svarstaan. Why did you kill her?"
"She was stubborn and strong-willed. A good fighter, for a female. General
Taaravian would not have liked her."
Adaair hid his doubt. From what he had heard, the Narjaain general was quite
fond of feisty battleprizes. But Svarstaan was part of Taaravian's inner
warrior's circle. It would be foolish to reveal his knowledge of the
general's recreational activities. "As you say, Svarstaan. As for what I
came to tell you. A command ship has detected a leviathan..."
*****
"Aahhh!" D'Argo snapped as Aeryn lunged at him from behind. He hissed
slightly. She had been far too aggressive in combat practice this morning.
He whirled around on her as she jumped back. She looked ready for another
strike. "What are you doing, Aeryn? This is practice. Or are you trying to
get yourself killed?"
Aeryn relaxed her body. "What? Can't you take it...big guy?" She rather
liked trying out Crichton's odd expressions at times like this.
D'Argo's brow drew down. "I can take it, Peacekeeper. The question is
whether you can take me fighting back."
Aeryn smiled mischievously. She rolled her eyes. "You do have such an ego,
D'Argo."
"It is not ego. It is the truth. I'd be glad to show you..."
The sound of clapping reached Aeryn's and D'Argo's ears as it reverberated
throughout the large cargo bay. D'Argo relaxed out of his battle-ready
stance and he turned towards the noise. Aeryn turned as well.
John Crichton stopped clapping and grinned as he approached them. "Don't let
me spoil the fun for you two kids. I'm just here to take inventory."
Aeryn shrugged and wiped her brow with the back of her hand. "We were nearly
finished, Crichton. You're not disturbing us."
D'Argo cut his eyes at her and laughed. "You are using his arrival as an
excuse. I knew you wouldn't want to test me."
"Yeah, don't mind me," John said, shrugging. "I'm just-"
"Taking inventory," Aeryn finished for him. "I heard you the first time.
Really, I think we're finished here, D'Argo."
Aeryn bent to pick up her jacket and began to walk to the door. She turned
her head back and said, "I'm going to get some sleep. I'll see you in the
galley in two arns."
John and D'Argo watched Aeryn leave.
"Was it something I said?" John asked, a bemused look drawn on his face.
D'Argo shrugged. "You have a strange effect on her, human."
John met D'Argo's eyes. "Guess so."
*****
Aeryn rolled onto her back and sighed, rubbing her eyes. She hadn't dreamed
of Durka, but she might as well have. The image of the fallen legend rose
unbidden in her mind again. She really hadn't been sleeping well for the
past three days since Durka had boarded Moya with Salis and Chiana. When his
'neural realignment' was 'undone' and he admitted fleeing his ship in the
midst of battle over 100 cycles ago, it forced her to look at a man who she
had been taught was a hero in an entirely different light. She had called
him a disgrace. And then he had asked her why she was no longer a
Peacekeeper. She hadn't answered him. Not that she felt she owed him an
explanation. The guy was full of dren. But, the experience had left her a
bit shaken, Durka's return yet another reminder of the people, the life, she
had left behind.
"Officer Sun?"
Aeryn sat up as she heard Pilot's voice coming over the comm badge. "Here,
Pilot."
"You might want to come to Command and take a look at this."
"On my way, Pilot." Aeryn rose from her bed, wishing she could just go back
to sleep. But duty called. And duty was the first thing a Peacekeeper
thought of, ignoring personal comforts such as sleep when the need arose.
Aeryn grabbed her pulse rifle and left her quarters. She walked quickly down
the corridor, hearing another person's footsteps behind her. She turned
back, expecting to see Zhaan because of the light steps. Instead, she met
Chiana's eyes. She turned her head away and kept walking. She didn't
particularly feel like talking to the newest addition on Moya. She didn't
trust Chiana as far as she could throw her--another odd expression learned
from Crichton, but one that seemed quite useful under these circumstances.
"Aeryn," Chiana called out. "Wait up."
Aeryn rolled her eyes and slowed her pace only slightly. "Can't wait," she
called back. "Pilot has requested my presence in Command."
"Me too," Chiana replied, from directly behind. She had caught up to Aeryn.
"What's up?"
"I don't know. We'll see once we get to Command."
"Do you think it's trouble?"
Aeryn glanced sideways at Chiana. "I said I don't know why he's called us.
Do you always repeat yourself like this?"
"You don't like me very much, do you?"
Aeryn looked away, smiling to herself. "I don't like or dislike you, Chiana.
You are here. I can live with that...as long as you follow the rules."
Chiana opened her mouth to speak but shut it as Crichton rounded the corner
in front of them. Aeryn wondered to herself what Chiana was about to say,
but the look on John's face quickly changed her focus.
"What is it, Crichton?" Aeryn asked.
"Have you heard of the Narjaain before?" John asked, falling into step with
Aeryn. He nodded quickly to acknowledge Chiana, but kept his eyes on Aeryn.
"The Narjaain?" Aeryn drew her brows down in concentration. "Very little.
I know they hold little love for Sebaceans. Why?"
"They've come for a little visit. Pilot received a transmission from them."
"Why didn't Pilot tell me this when he contacted me?"
"I only know because I was on the terrace and sighted the Narjaain ship as
Pilot received the transmission."
"I don't like the look in your eyes, Crichton. What's wrong?"
"Wait till you see the ship. It looks like a...a Star Destroyer. Only
smaller. And not white...sort of dark gray."
"What is a Star Destroyer?"
"Uh, Evil Empire ship. One of Darth's toys." John noticed the look of
confusion on Aeryn's face. "Never mind. Let's just hurry. This can't be
good."
Aeryn watched the back of John's head as he sped up and walked slightly in
front of her. He seemed quite agitated by this ship. Fifty microts later
she knew why as they reached Command and looked at the main view screen.
Aeryn swept her eyes over the large, triangular ship. "Impressive. What do
they want, Pilot?"
"I don't know yet. They have asked about Sebaceans, however. They wish to
board Moya."
John narrowed his eyes and looked worriedly at Aeryn.
Aeryn caught the look in John's eyes. She glanced away and stepped closer to
the screen. "What did you tell them, Pilot?"
"I said that there are no Sebaceans aboard, Aeryn Sun...and that Moya is
freed. As you know, the Narjaain don't like Sebaceans. I thought it best to
dissuade them from further interest in Moya and her crew."
"Why would they want Sebaceans?" Chiana asked, peering over John's shoulder.
"I don't know," Aeryn replied, studying the ship against the background of
stars.
Chiana grinned at Aeryn and tilted her head in a catlike manner. "Well, you
know what your people are capable of. Can't blame these Narjaain for wanting
a piece of you now, can we?"
Aeryn wondered fleetingly if Chiana's characteristic head tilt was a tic or
truly meant to annoy. In either case, it was annoying. She turned from the
view screen and met Chiana's eyes with a level gaze. Chiana laughed softly
and stepped away.
John, to Aeryn's left, rested his hand on her shoulder lightly, as if to
steady her. She shrugged him off as Rygel, Zhaan and D'Argo arrived.
"What is going on?" D'Argo asked, even as he saw the view screen.
"Narjaain," John answered, still standing by Aeryn.
'Narjaain," D'Argo repeated, stepping up to examine the ship. "This is not
good."
"Why do you say that, D'Argo?" Zhaan asked, creasing her brow.
"I have met them before. They," he looked at Aeryn, "do not like Sebaceans.
Especially females. I fought with one once."
"What are they like?" John asked.
"They mostly keep to themselves. Unless they are collecting," he looked at
Aeryn again, "battleprizes."
"Battleprizes?" Aeryn queried. "Why do you keep looking at me like that?"
"They take certain opponents defeated in combat and give them to their
generals and some lesser officers. At least, that's what I've heard. Mostly
females." He looked at her meaningfully. "Many of them Sebaceans."
Aeryn did not hide her disbelief. "Right, D'Argo. I think I would have
heard of this before if they have such a nasty, fatally stupid habit."
"Believe what you like. But they are here and they have a reason for it,"
D'Argo replied testily. "You would do well to hide. As would you, John."
John rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I'm human but I look Sebacean. God,
this is getting old."
"That may be so, John," Zhaan put in. "But you should conceal yourself. I
would suggest that we starburst, but Moya won't be capable of it for another
arn."
Pilot interrupted as Aeryn was about to speak. "Zhaan is correct. You
should conceal yourselves. The Narjaain do intend to board."
"They can't do that!" Rygel exclaimed.
"They're threatening to ram Moya if we do not let them board," Pilot replied
tensely. "And we cannot possibly out-maneuver them."
"Bullying yotzes," Rugel grumbled.
"I do not hide in the face of danger," Aeryn said, setting her jaw. "If
these Narjaain feel like meeting me...and my pulse rifle...let them."
John moved from her side and stared at the ship. "I think they're right,
Aeryn. If the Narjaain are looking for Sebaceans, it can't be because they
want to invite you to a tea party."
"I don't hide."
John rolled his eyes. "Just once...could you put that away that stubborn
'I'm a Peacekeeper, always a Peacekeeper' crap. They're probably looking for
battleprizes. And," he lowered his voice, turning so his head was by her
ear, "I think you'd make them a very nice battleprize. So let's scoot."
Aeryn swung away and held up her pulse rifle to emphasize her point. "As I
said before...trying to take me would be a fatally stupid mistake."
"Fine," John said, frustration flashing in his blue eyes. "Then consider
this. If we're forced to fight, all of us will be in danger. If you and I
hide out for a while, the Narjaain might lose interest."
Zhaan nodded and looked Aeryn's way. "John has a point. I suggest that if
you do not wish to remove yourself completely, Aeryn, you might find a place
close to the landing pad. If there is trouble, you will know immediately. But if we can avoid confrontation..." She gazed at Aeryn, her blue eyes
reflecting understanding, "that would be the most desirable outcome of this
encounter."
Aeryn looked from face to face. Though the only one she could stand to
really look at right now was D'Argo. He understood her...at least, she
thought he did. His soulful eyes, always reflecting the determination of a
warrior, were also telling her to stand off from this encounter. Aeryn bit
her lip and slowly lowered the pulse rifle. "Very well. But I will be
nearby." She began to walk out of Command, heading for the docking bay. She
looked back when no one followed her. "Well, are any of you coming?"
"Right here, Aeryn," John answered, jogging after her.
D'Argo and Zhaan followed.
Chiana pulled herself into an access duct.
Rygel muttered to himself, "Alone at last," and closed his eyes, reclining in
his thronesled.
Go on to part two
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