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They turned in unison to sneak out of the building.

"Halt!"

"Let's just keep moving, Aeryn.  Pretend that we didn't hear him."  He pushed her ahead of him.   They would have made it outside except for a fundamental law of physics: two masses can not occupy the same space at the same time. The space that was the doorway was already being taken up by a rather large man who was attempting to enter the building.  A large man dressed in black. A large Sebacean man, dressed in black.  A Peacekeeper, just like the score or so Peacekeepers that were already in the building eating their evening meal.  The score or so of Peacekeepers that were now watching them.

"Let me handle this!" Aeryn whispered urgently to John.  They turned back to the voice that belonged to a man in a black suit that had walked up behind them.

"You are out of uniform and in violation of dress code 18.6."  He looked more closely at them in the dim light.  "You aren't from the transport.  What is your name, rank, and unit?" he demanded.

Aeryn scanned his insignia.  "Lieutenant, we're not enlisted, we're free-traders.  We just arrived planet-side and thought we'd get a bite to eat."

"If that were true then why do you carry military-issued sidearms?  They're illegal for civilians to possess.  Are you deserters or just black-marketers?"  His eyes narrowed and he motioned for the large man that stood behind them to come forward. "In either case, I think you should be detained until the Commander returns.  Sergeant, disarm them and take them into custody."

The large man frowned unpleasantly, apparently angry that his dinner plans were to be interrupted.  He moved forward and simultaneously Aeryn's hand went to her weapon.

John was only a fraction of a second faster and placed his hand on top to hers to stop her suicidal assault.  "Stand down, Lieutenant.  Now!" he said, affecting the accent that always reminded him of the time he spent in Australia.

"What the frell are you doing, Crichton?" Aeryn said tightly under her breath so that only John could hear.

"Play along unless you have a plan that doesn't involve a scaled down version of Custer's Last Stand," John replied urgently but in a volume designed for her ears alone.  He saw Aeryn release her grip on her weapon, sighed and straightened himself.  "Very good, Lieutenant, you've found us out.  I'm Captain Mulder and this is Lieutenant Scully.  We're with Military Intelligence, Internal Investigations Division.  We were planning to formally contact your commanding officer tomorrow.  Tonight we were hoping to just have a nice meal that didn't include brown food cubes."

"Let me see your identification and what is your assignment ?" the Peacekeeper said, still very suspicious.

"As I said, Lieutenant," John replied, adding a certain measure of haughtiness to the tone, "we were planning on an...intimate...dinner.  We left our papers on the ship and our assignment is need to know only and, quite bluntly, you don't need to know."  John walked forward a few steps. "What is your name, Lieutenant!" he barked authoritatively.

The Peacekeeper involuntarily stood at attention and answered sharply, "Lieutenant Kreel, Sir."

"Lieutenant Kreel, if I may speak to you privately," John asked.

Kreel nodded and motioned for them to step off to the side, leaving the hulking Sergeant to stand watch over Aeryn.

"Lieutenant, if I could be frank with you," John said in a low tone.  "I have been stuck for several weekens on a small transport with the no-nonsense, but extremely fine looking Lieutenant Scully.  Now, the Ice Queen is finally beginning to thaw a bit, if you know what I mean.  So, if you don't mind, since this establishment is so crowded, I'll just take her somewhere else before my evening plans are totally ruined."

Kreel frowned disapprovingly at what Captain Mulder was suggesting. "Fraternization is against the rules of military conduct, Sir."

John smiled conspiratorially.  "Lieutenant Kreel, if that were totally true then where would little Peacekeepers come from?"

Kreel stepped back and cleared his throat, "Well, yes, I suppose, Sir."

"Then we'll just be going."  John started to turn but then a sudden thought occurred to him. "Lieutenant, as I said, we were planning on formally contacting your commander tomorrow.  However, I believe that you indicated that he is not currently  present?  When would it be best to present ourselves to him?"

"Captain Holten is currently off site, Sir.  He has taken the transport to meet with Captain Crais.  He is expected back at anytime."

"Captain Bialar Crais?" John said frowning.

"You know Captain Crais?" Kreel asked.

"Only by reputation.  Please alert your commander that we will be in touch. Now, if you'll excuse us," John turned and walked back to Aeryn.  "Lieutenant Scully, if you will come with me, please."  He returned his hand to the small of her back and attempted to lead her out the door.  Unfortunately, the doorway was still blocked.  With his haughtiest glance and most condescending voice, John commanded, "Now, Sergeant."

The Sergeant glanced over at the Lieutenant who reluctantly nodded.  The Sergeant stepped out of the way.  John and Aeryn proceeded out.

"Don't look back!" John whispered to her.

"Of course not.  What did you say to him?  Why is he just letting us go?"

"Just a little guy talk, what's more important is that I found out that Crais is nearby.  We gotta get out of here and the sooner the better.  We have to contact Moya."

"Not while they could still be watching us."  Aeryn suddenly stopped and knelt down to adjust her boot.  She glanced surreptitiously behind her.  "I don't see anyone.  It should be safe."

John nodded and spoke into the communicator, "D'argo, Zhaan!"

"John," Zhaan answered, "how is the date going?"

"The restaurant was a little crowded so we were forced to cut things short but we can talk about my social life later.  This is important, Crais is in the area!  We're headed back to the Prowler now."

"We need to leave orbit immediately," D'argo cut in.

"We'll be there as soon as we can but maybe you should go ahead and leave orbit, prepare Moya for starburst.  Until we get there hide somewhere."

"Hide a Leviathan?  How do you suggest that we do that?" D'argo said derisively.

"I don't know, think of something!  The only advantage we have is that we know that he's out there and he doesn't know that we're here.  We'll stay in contact and be there as soon as we can."

*****

D'argo grumbled, ''We should leave them on the planet and come back for them later.  How the yotz do they expect us to hide something as large as Moya?"

Zhaan tilted her head thoughtfully.  "Perhaps we should ask someone who may have some experience in the area of deception."  She activated her communicator, "Chiana, I would like to speak to you.  Would you please come to the....."

*****

Aeryn lead the way back toward her Prowler as she and Crichton resisted the urge to run, and perhaps attract unwanted attention.  John scanned the area around them as they hurried through the streets.  "Hey, Aeryn, wait up a sec, I think I saw something."  A flash of black glimpsed down a sidestreet raised alarm bells.  He took another look and decided that he must have been wrong. He turned back to his fellow fugitive only to find her gone.  "Aeryn! Aeryn!"  He started running.

When the discharge from the stasis gun hit him, he didn't even see it coming.


Onward ho!
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