Jirl's Night Out
By: Cass
Rating: G, Pure fluff, just for fun
Setting: Season 5, after things have settled down some
Archiving: Just say where!
Disclaimer: You oughta know by now
Summary: Like the title says.
Author's Note: Please forgive the big mistake partway through. Didn't pay enough attention to WSS: Pt 3
*Now where is my comm?* Chiana sauntered down the
tiers of Moya, searching the various rooms for her
errant hardware. *Let's see, I know I haven't frelled
D'Argo in there... Hm, the last time we were together
was in... there!*
She ducked into the Maintenance Bay and came to a
quick halt. Aeryn sat at the very table she was
looking for, working on some of the inner workings of
her pulse rifle.
"Hey, Aer!" She called in greeting as she wandered
about, searching.
"Hello, Chiana." Aeryn cast a quick look up at her.
"Lost something?"
"Uh..." She scanned the surface of the table and her
eyes lit up. "There it is!" She snatched up the comm
and put it on. Rather than leaving then, however, she
paused a microt, watching Aeryn twist at the wires
tangled before her. "What's the matter?"
The older woman looked up, confused. "Nothing. Why?"
"Well, you only go Tech when you've got something on
your mind you don't want to think about. What's
wrong?"
"Can't I just be doing routine maintenance, Chiana?
Not everything's a drama."
Chiana snorted. "On this ship it is!" She pulled a
stool over and straddled it, leaning on the counter by
Aeryn's arm. "Come on, Aeryn, I've known you for four
cycles. If you don't tell me what's up, it's just
gonna drive you into a funk and you'll end up taking
it out on John."
Aeryn just stared at the circuits in her hands.
"Fine. Don't say I didn't warn you." Chiana got up and
headed back to the door, then paused. "You know what,
Sikozu and I are going down to this Commerce Planet to
pick up some supplies. Why don't you come too?"
"I have things to do here," Aeryn answered, not even
looking up.
"That gun will wait. Come on! You're getting married
in a few weekens and you've never even had a night out
with the girls!"
"Actually I have," Aeryn said, finally tearing her
interest from the table. "And as I recall, I wound up
a Scarran prisoner and nearly got all of you killed."
"What, and that's gonna happen twice?"
Aeryn growled and picked up her tools again.
Chiana sighed. "We're nowhere near Scarran space now.
Come on, a few arns away from the guys'll do you a
world of good. What do you say?"
For a long time, Chiana got nothing, so she rolled her
eyes and continued out.
"Alright."
She leaned back in the room, unsure she had heard
correctly. Aeryn had bundled up her rifle and was
washing up. "Give me a few microts and I'll meet you
in the Docking Bay."
Chiana grinned. "Great! And I promise, we're gonna
have fun tonight!"
"I can't believe they charge you to land on this
planet!" Chiana muttered.
"Well, it is the most well-known Commerce Planet in
the sector," Sikozu answered. "People from all over
the galaxy come here."
"Is it wise for us to be here, then?" Aeryn asked,
studying the crowd, her hand clearly itching for the
pistol she had been required to leave on the Pod.
"We should be fine," Sikozu said looking at the
holographic map the docking attendant had given her.
"What do we want to do first?"
"Well, John gave me his list of supplies, so we should
probably get those first," Aeryn said. "There's a
mechanic's booth two stories up from here."
"Aeryn, I promised you fun tonight!" Chiana argued,
guiding her down the walkway. "When Olivia took us to
the 'moll' on Earth, we didn't go straight to the
places we needed to. We wandered and found little
shops along the way to stop in. Come on!"
It was all Aeryn and Sikozu could do to keep up with
Chiana as she skirted through crowds, flirted with
passersby, and got distracted by vibrant signs.
Finally, Sikozu had had enough.
"Chiana, are we just going to look at everything or
are we actually going to go in anywhere?"
"Just getting the feel of the place," the Nebari
laughed, then focused on a small tavern across the way
with a scantily clad male Sebacean in front of it,
calling out the establishment's specials. "There's our
first stop."
Aeryn studied the signs around the windows. "Have fun.
I'll be picking up our supplies."
"Oh, no you don't!" Chiana grabbed her arm. "You're
not getting out of this!"
"Yes, I am," Aeryn told her, jerking her arm free.
"All of their drinks are alcoholic."
Chiana slowly realized the problem. "Right, the kid."
"We'll find another place," Sikozu said, still
regarding the map. "It looks like there's a clothier's
place a few stores down."
"Great!" Chiana exalted. "Now things are going our
way! The boy's are gonna be sorry they missed
tonight!"
Aboard Moya, John laughed raucously. "I had no idea
Lo'La could do that!"
"It's great isn't it?" D'Argo grinned. "I just found
out last night."
"Do it again!"
"Alright, just remember, guys' secret. We don't tell
the girls."
"Yeah, yeah, just show me how you did that!"
"How many outfits do you need?" Aeryn asked, eyeing
the ever-growing stack of clothes in Chiana's arms.
"It's not about need, Aeryn! Tonight's all about
want!"
That seemed to be exactly what the shop owner wanted
to hear, because he hovered around Chiana offering new
ideas every few microts.
"Just watch our funds, Chiana, or we'll have to cut
tonight short!" Sikozu reminded her. To her credit,
Sikozu had only considered three outfits seriously in
their time there.
Aeryn thought she would go out of her mind with
boredom. She had two functional outfits back on Moya
and one frivilous one Olivia had talked her into
buying that had left John speechless when she showed
him, so she figured herself pretty much covered. Sure,
she could use a replacement for the one she had lost
to the Scarrans, but leather did not seem this
establishment's specialty, so she lingered by the
window, glancing out at the weapons dealer next door.
Now that Sheyang Lancer she could use...
"Aeryn, haven't you found anything yet?" Chiana
called.
"I don't need anything here," she answered.
"What, you plan to wear leathers when you start
showing the baby?" the Nebari prodded.
Aeryn grimaced. She hadn't thought that far ahead yet,
but Chiana had a point. "Fine, let me see what there
is."
After rejecting half a dozen outfits she wouldn't have
worn in the best of shape, much less carrying nine
pounds of unborn child, Aeryn finally called off the
search. "I'll just find something when the time
comes," she told her companions when they tried to
help. "Just pay for your clothes and I'll meet you--"
She stopped, her eyes riveted to a subdued corner of
the shop. There hung an overlooked shirt and pants
combo whose dark olive/gray couldn't compete with the
vibrancy of its shop-mates.
"Ah, I should have known," the owner said with a
smile. "You can try that on, if you wish. I think you
will be pleased."
Aeryn fingered the soft material. "Thank you. I
believe I will." She headed to the booths in the back
of the shop.
"I'm glad she's finally participating," Sikozu said as
she purchased a red-orange dress in Kalish style.
"Me too," Chiana agreed. "It's just, we have to do
something about her style. That outfit's just so--"
She cut off as Aeryn stepped out for their opinions,
feeling her jaw slacken. The soft material clung
around Aeryn's hips and widened smoothly as it reached
her ankles. The top accentuated her curves, though
surprisingly tastefully, and left her strong arms and
shoulders bare. The very material seemed to react to
the light around them, shadowing the right places and
glowing softly under direct light.
"Perfect," Sikozu finished for her.
"Shall I add that to the bill, milady?" the owner
asked.
Aeryn arched a brow at her friends. "Yes, please do."
"And don't let the softness fool you," the man
continued. "That is firella fiber. It will withstand a
great deal of punishment, if you have an active
lifestyle."
Aeryn grinned. "Well, that's good. I'll just change
out of it--"
"You can wear it out if you wish," he offered. "Same
for all your purchases."
"Great!" Chiana answered. "Wait'll John gets a look at
that!" she added as she picked an outfit to wear out.
Aeryn just blushed, to the others' surprise.
"Alright, the clothes I can understand, but explain to
me how this is remotely necessary," Aeryn challenged
them as the girls sat in the waiting room of a
stylist's parlor.
"Like I said, Aeryn, nothing tonight is necessary,"
Chiana sighed.
"Just so long as we get to the mechanic's before he
closes," she reminded them, frowning at the list of
treatments offered by Lady Serjica. "How would I
possibly use a pistol with nails a dench longer than
my fingers?!"
"So don't get that done," Sikozu shrugged.
"'Hot resin'? What the frell?! Why would anyone go
through all this?"
Chiana laughed. "For males, Aeryn, always for males!"
"Well I have a male, thank you, and he loved me even
without whatever that sparkly stuff is."
"Then just have some fun! Here look at the spa they
have available."
Aeryn waved the list away. "Just sign me up for
something basic."
"Fine." Chiana got up and approached the woman at the
desk. "Hi. I'll have the full massage and the oils
treatment, Red'll take the hair highlights and
manicure, and--"
She glanced back at Aeryn, who, from the look on her
face, had discovered the enhancement page of the
catalogue. A mischievious grin took over her features.
"And Black'll have the ultimate massage and hair
treatment."
The woman behind the desk smiled. "Special day?"
"Oh yeah. She's getting married."
The woman nodded knowingly. "Well, we'll do our best
to show her a good time."
"Thanks."
Chiana returned to her seat. Aeryn caught her
expression and tensed. "What are you smiling about?"
"Nothing," she returned and picked up a catalogue.
Microts later, the door to the back rooms opened and a
huge bare-chested Luxan came out. "Miss Black, your
massage awaits," he said with a smile to match his
stature.
As soon as Aeryn realized he meant her, she tried to
bolt, but Chiana caught her. "Don't be rude, Aer."
It was all she could do not to crack up as the
ex-PeaceKeeper glared at her, and muttered a few old
curses in Sebacean as she followed the Luxan to the
rear. As soon as the door closed, she surrendered,
laughing as Sikozu demanded what she had ordered and
asked if she could get that.
Her mirth froze suddenly as she saw a tall, familiar
shape looming above the crowed outside. "Uh, Sikozu?
How far are we from Scarran space again?"
"Well out of their range, I believe. It's hard to be
sure with StarBurst. Why?"
Chiana turned her and the color fell from the Kalish's
features. "Impossible. He should be long dead!"
"Well, he's not, so shut up and don't make a scene!"
Chiana and Sikozu settled into their chairs and tried
to look as unassuming as possible as the Scarran
lingered outside.
A loud crash from behind the door caught the attention
of everyone in the waiting room. The door burst open
and Aeryn backed out, looking disheveled and shaking
some kind of pleasure instrument threateningly at the
perplexed Luxan inside. "I don't know what I was
signed up for, but I am a married woman and that--"
Beyond words, she pitched the tool inside and stalked
over to her shipmates. "We're going to get the
supplies and then we're returning to Moya and if I
hear one word out of you, Chiana--"
"Aeryn Sun," a voice hissed behind her.
Aeryn whirled around, pushing Chiana and Sikozu behind
her.
"So pleased to see you again," the Scarran growled.
"Jenek," Aeryn whispered, then stronger, "You're dead.
You cannot have survived Crichton's nuclear device."
"Do not overestimate your mate, Sun. I am not finished
with him." His hot breath seeped over them, and Chiana
realized Aeryn was shaking. Galvanized, she stepped up
in front of her friend.
"Hey, frellnik, you were beaten, okay? Back off and
deal with it."
"Chiana..." Aeryn murmured.
The Scarran laughed. "Little girl, there is no defeat
until death, and as you've seen I have not succumbed
yet."
"Go away, Jenek," Aeryn snarled. "You will not find
John here."
"It does not matter. I have you, and that has proven
sufficient to draw him out."
Sikozu and Chiana placed themselves between him and
Aeryn. The rest of the waiting room had emptied at
some point and a blastshield had closed over the front
desk.
Jenek stared at the women incredulously. "Do you think
I do not know this planet forbids carrying of weapons?
Fortunately, Scarrans are never completely unarmed."
With a roar, he sent out a blast of heat from his
right hand. Chiana glanced about as the energy simply
slid around her UV proof skin, then looked up at him
with an innocent look. "Was that supposed to hurt?"
Jenek frowned, then noticed motion over Chiana's head.
His eyes locked on Sikozu, who was trying to get Aeryn
out the back door. Not even looking down, he cuffed
Chiana solidly out of his way and stalked towards
Sikozu. "Very clever, Kalish, but you are out of
line."
"If you've hurt Chiana--" she threatened.
The Scarran rolled his eyes. "Has Crichton made all of
his shipmates this arrogant?"
As he approached, Sikozu whispered to Aeryn, "If
necessary, I can destroy him."
"I know," she answered. "But not in public. Don't
drain yourself."
"Call D'Argo."
"Then he'll know Moya's here."
"Not--"
The Scarran's heat blast cut off Sikozu's thought and
drove her to the floor.
"Do you know if Crichton is here?" he asked.
Sikozu sputtered as he invaded her mind. "I-I don't
know."
"You are lying to me!"
"Jenek!"
He turned to see Aeryn in fighting stance in the
corner. "Leave them alone."
Jenek growled, exasperated. "I think we know how this
will end."
Her hand shot down to her boot and drew a wicked
curved blade. In the same motion, she lunged at him,
drawing the blade across his throat. It barely
scratched the skin.
With one sweep of his arm, Jenek threw her off. She
hit the ground hard, the knife flying from her hand.
All she could do was lie on her back and try to shake
off the blow.
Jenek walked forward. "I tire of this, Sun. And this
time, I know I need not keep you alive to have your
child. Thank you for bringing the new host with you."
Across the room, Chiana had awaken just in time to
hear that. Looking over, she saw his powerful claws
slash across Aeryn's chest. "NO!!!" She and Sikozu
screamed in unison.
Jenek drew up his arm as if to lick the blood from his
fingers, and stared in surprise at the filed down tips
of his claws. "What the--"
Aeryn grinned up at him. "I knew I liked this outfit."
Her hand drew a second blade from her other boot and
lunged up. Caught off-guard, Jenek could not respond
quickly enough to her attack and stood no chance as
she drove the second blade deep into his eye. He
shrieked in pain, throwing Aeryn off a second time and
fell back, spasming horribly.
"Left boot," Aeryn muttered as she dusted herself off.
"Toxin's in the LEFT boot." She looked down at Jenek's
barely-conscious body, pondering, then turned back to
the door at the rear of the waiting room. "T'Andor!"
she called. "Yes, the situation's over. Look, that
Scarran's had a bad day, and there's no reason my
massage should go to waste, hm? Thank you."
She stepped back to turn Jenek over to the ultimate
massage and helped Chiana and Sikozu up. "Well, thank
you both. This has actually been a fun night after
all."
They stared at her in silence, then said, "Let's go
home."
The boys met them in the Docking Bay, all smiles.
Aeryn deboarded first and practically leapt into her
fiance's arms.
He laughed. "Wow, guess you're over our fight, huh?"
"Let's just say it put everything in perspective," she
answered, kissing him. "Sorry to leave you here with
nothing to do."
"We entertained ourselves," he said with a wink at
D'Argo.
"Well, I'm back. Shall we make up?" she asked slyly.
"Don't have to ask me twice!" he grinned, leading her
out. "Did you hit a spa down there? You look relaxed."
"I'll tell you all about it. By the way, your
Christmas gift for me is worth every ingot..."
Chiana and Sikozu came out next. D'Argo and Scorpius
greeted them warmly.
"Did you have fun?" D'Argo asked.
"StarBurst. Now!" Chiana answered.
"What? We were thinking about going down, just John
and me."
"Trust me, get us the frell out of here, now!"
"Alright!" he said, putting his arms up. "I thought
you were going to take it easy down there!"
"Just remind me never to take Aeryn for a girl's night
out again. Ever."
"Agreed," Sikozu told Scorpius.
"Tell you what," D'Argo said, "let's go back to my
quarters and I'll try and help you relax."
"I'd like that," Chiana smiled.
As they left, Sikozu turned to Scorpius. "I have big
news about the Scarrans."
His eyes lit up. "Come tell me all about it."
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