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Aeryn felt Moya lurch and knew that they had entered starburst.  She couldn't help but feel a little hopeful but also couldn't quite shake the thought that she and Crichton were making a huge and useless mistake.  She had eaten what she could of the food cubes that Crichton had left, which hadn't been much. She then attempted some simple stretching exercises but was left exhausted after only a few movements.  She sat down heavily on her bed and stifled a scream of frustration.

Aeryn noticed several DRDs pooling at her feet.  Simultaneously her communication badge called her name.

"Aeryn Sun."

"Yes, Pilot."

"Commander Crichton informed us of your dilemma.  Moya and I wanted to tell you that we are sorry that you need to leave and wish you good health."

Aeryn smiled to herself.  Who would have thought that she would befriend a Leviathan pilot.  In fact, she and Pilot had much in common.  "Thank you, Pilot.  I will miss you and Moya as well."

"There is a DRD at your feet with a data crystal.  Please take it."

She leaned over and took the crystal from the little DRD.  "What is it?"

"The crystal contains a set of coordinates."

"Coordinates?"

"Yes, Moya is far along in her pregnancy.  The...birth could occur at any time.  She believes that it would be for the best if she rested and gathered her strength in...preparation for that event and for the sake of the child. Barring...unforeseen...circumstances, she believes that she may rest at those coordinates for three or perhaps even....four weekens."

Aeryn stared at the data crystal in her hands.  "You are being optimistic, Pilot."

"Moya and I wanted you to know."

Aeryn rolled the crystal thoughtfully in her fingers.  "Thank you, Pilot."

"Good bye, Officer Sun."

*****

Chiana found Crichton sitting in the cockpit of the Farscape 1.

"Were you going to leave without telling me good-bye?" she asked coquettishly.

"Just squaring things away.  Don't know when I might be back."  He took off his watch and rubbed his thumbs across the smooth watch face.  His watch, his miniature tape recorder, the tapes to his dad and DK and of course the Farscape had to remain on Moya.  His last links with Earth had to be left behind.  He could take nothing with him that wasn't of Sebacean origin.  No sense in having too many questions asked.  He tapped the watch face on the console a few times and then laid it down and reluctantly climbed out, closing the hatch behind him.  "Look after my stuff while I'm gone, Pip," he said on the spur of the moment.

Chiana was startled.  "You trust me to do that? You really are crazy aren't you."

"Crazy like a fox, sweetheart," he said winking at her.

Chiana was confused and not just because she didn't have the faintest idea about what Crichton meant.   She couldn't remember the last time someone had had faith in her.  It made her feel strange inside.  She swallowed and decided to leave her puzzlement for later.  She was here for a reason.  She slinked up to Crichton.  "I've got something that I want to give you before you go," she purred.  "It will make you think of me while you're gone."  She slid a few fingers into the bodice of her cropped top.

John held up a hand to stop her.  "A simple good-bye would be fine."

Chiana traced a line from her slight cleavage back up her chest to the hollow of her throat.  Entwined around one finger was a simple chain and an attached metal identi-file.  "You don't want this, then?" she whispered in what she imagined was a seductive fashion.

John immediately recognized her prize.  He quickly grabbed it from her hands.

"Hey, that was mine," Chiana said, suddenly a little spitfire.

"Is this what I think it is?" John asked excitedly.

Chiana crossed her arms in front of her and pouted.  "How should I know what you think it is?"  She had meant to give it to him but he was going to spoil all of her fun.

"You got this from Larraq, didn't you?"  John let the chain dangle from his fingers as he clutched the metal chit in his hands.

"Maybe," Chiana said, not at all mollified.

"Chiana, this is fantastic!"  He suddenly grabbed her around the waist and swung her around.  "This may make a big difference.  Thanks, thanks a lot." He said as he hurried from the hanger.

Chiana watched him leave, wide eyed and slightly breathless.  She patted the side of the Farscape 1.  She would take very good care of the human's possessions.  If she did and he actually came back, maybe he would swing her around like that again.

*****

A few necessary articles had been packed and stowed in the Prowler, including the pulse rifle.  Aeryn had argued that as a Peacekeeper, her pulse rifle was essential.  Good-byes had been said and the Prowler had been launched, the coordinates to the Peacekeeper base having been downloaded into its navigation computer.  John had become very familiar with the feeling of loss, so he knew that was what he was feeling as he watched Moya become smaller and smaller before finally disappearing.  It was just Aeryn and him now.  Under other circumstances....

"You remember the story we agreed on?" Crichton questioned.

"Of course I do, we've only gone over it ten times," Aeryn said in an annoyed tone.

"How are you doing," he asked.  He was sitting behind her as she manned the piloting console.

"Stop asking me that," Aeryn demanded as she made a slight adjustment to the latitudinal thrusters.  "I'm doing the same that I was an arn ago."

"I just want to make sure that you're up to the flight to the Peacekeeper base.  You've been teaching me how to fly a transport pod but you've not let me touch your Prowler."

"Your skill is still insufficient to attempt to fly the Prowler."

"That's going to be a cold comfort if you pass out and it's either me or the auto-pilot."

"There is no auto-pilot on a Prowler," Aeryn explained.

"My point exactly," he countered.  "How long do you suppose it will take us to get there?"

"It doesn't matter how long it takes, if you keep talking I'm certain it will feel like it takes twice as long."

"Ha-ha.  The reason I'm asking is that I don't see any solar system in the area, just space."

"If it is a secret base on which biological experimentation is taking place then it probably isn't on a planet but on a SSHU."

"A shoe?  I'm sure that didn't get translated right," John said as he tapped the side of the helmet to his flight suit.

"Not shoe, SSHU...Stationary Space Habitat Unit."

"A space station?"

"A space station?  Yes, I suppose it could be called that."  She went on, "When dealing with possible biological contaminates, it is standard procedure to not place bases on planets.  There is less a likelihood of a security breach in space and it is easier to contain any potential problems while not endangering the indigenous populations."

"You mean if a bad bug gets loose, BOOM," John clarified.

"Big boom," Aeryn nodded.   She studied her boards.  "Long range scanners are picking up something, it could be the base."  A sudden wave of dizziness washed over her.

"That means we'll be there soon, for better or worse."  He looked at the helmeted head in front of him and muttered, "In sickness and in health." John reflected that he had thought it took courage to fly the Farscape and prove his theory.  Now he knew that what he was going to say next took real courage.  "Aeryn, I don't know what might happen once we make it to the base, so if I'm going to say this, I had better do it now."  He cleared his throat. "When the virus-Larraq stabbed you, I discovered just how much you mean to me and I was afraid that if I lost you I would be losing something very precious; the chance at a relationship with someone who is very, very special."

Aeryn didn't say anything.

That she seemed to be willing to hear him out seemed a very good sign, so John continued.  "My dad told me that he and my mom knew each other for years and then one day it just hit him out of the blue and he knew that she was the woman that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.  He said that Mom took quite a bit of convincing.  She didn't think that they had enough in common to keep them together but he eventually won her over and they were very happily married until the day Mom died."  Still no response from Aeryn. "Granted, they were at least the same species but other than that they were about as different as night and day.  On Earth there's a saying that opposites attract."  He paused, "I'm not doing this very well am I?  What I'm trying to say Aeryn is that I really care about you and if we make it through this....Aeryn?  Aeryn, are you listening to me?"  He reached forward and touched her shoulder.  Aeryn slumped forward over the console.  "Aeryn! Aeryn!"

"Unidentified Prowler, you are in restricted space.  Veer off or we will open fire.  Repeat, you are in a restricted area."

Great, just great, John thought.  "Base, I have a medical emergency.  My pilot is in need of immediate medical treatment!"

"We repeat, veer off!  This is your last warning."

"Wait, um, authorization Decca something or other.  I have information about an intellent-virus and a Captain Larraq.  If you shoot me down you'll never know!"

There was silence as the Prowler swooped closer to the base.

The communicator crackled.  "You have authorization to land."

"Weren't you listening!  My pilot is hurt.  She's unconscious and I don't know how to land this thing!"

Another pause.  "Proceed on your present course.  A docking web is being deployed."

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