False Impressions

Author: Saturn
Feedback: Please let me know what you thought of it. Space_chick50@hotmail.com
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Season 2 in general really. I reckon this is set sometime in the near future.
Disclaimer: Farscape belongs to Jim Henson Co., Nine Network, Hallmark Entertainment and other lucky people, not me. I'm just borrowing the characters for a little fun.

"Hey Aeryn, have a look at this!"

John Crichton stood next to a rickety stall, beckoning the ex-Peacekeeper over to him. Aeryn sighed and turned around, wondering just when the Human was going to stop being quite so amazed by every new thing he saw on a commerce planet.

"What is it this time Crichton?"

"This guy says he can produce photos for us from stuff in out memories. How cool?!"

"Photos?"

"Yeah, you know, images on paper?"

"Oh." Aeryn glanced up and down the stall and dirty, grinning trader. "I don't think so."

"Not here missy, in my workshop." Aeryn grimaced at his choice of words and let her hand drop to the pistol strapped to her thigh.

"Come on Aeryn! It's really cheap. I could show you Earth!"

"I've seen your Earth Crichton. Remember the Ancients?"

"That wasn't the proper Earth though. That was just what the Ancients created. Please?"

Aeryn sighed heavily again, determined to show her deep displeasure at him. "Crichton, this is stupid. We have to buy what we need and then get out of here, not mess around and risk getting caught again."

John stepped heavily away from the stall, evidently angry with her. "You know Aeryn, just for once, it'd be nice if you didn't put down everything I suggest or am interested in. Sometimes, I just think that you do it to get at me."

Aeryn stepped back in surprise at his angry outburst, making sure she kept her features emotionless. She hadn't expected him to be happy with her, but hadn't expected the force of his angry display either. "Shut up, you're drawing attention to us." Aeryn strode off, leaving him standing there, staring daggers at her back.

John and Aeryn had been arguing more and more in the last few weekens. They'd always had their differences but it was just getting worse and worse. They fought over the slightest thing and, frankly, everyone else on Moya was getting extremely tired of it. No one had said anything though, realising how much stress the two of them had been under recently.

Aeryn continued to stride off ahead of him so John began to walk to, no sense in getting left behind because she was being a bitch again. Suddenly, Pilot's voice sounded out of John's comm. badge.

"Commander Crichton, Aeryn, are you there?"

"Yeah Pilot, what is it?" John asked back.

"I'm afraid I have bad news," Pilot told him, fear creeping into his voice. "A Peacekeeper Command Carrier has arrived in orbit around the planet you are on. Moya detected several transports heading down just a few microts ago. She believes they are heading for the city you are in"

"We'll be right back Pilot," Aeryn broke in to the conversation for the first time. "Are the other's aware of this?"

"Yes, I have informed them. They are returning to the transport pod now."

"Very well Pilot, thank you for telling us." Aeryn cut off the communication with Moya and spoke to John instead. "Get a move on Crichton." She began to run back towards the spaceport where they had left the transport pod.

"Aeryn will you wait for me please?!"

"Just hurry and you'll catch up with me," Aeryn retorted, still angry with his behaviour towards her earlier. John began to run too, cursing her - and the Peacekeepers - under his breath. They never seemed to be able to escape the damn PKs, not even for a little while.

All of a sudden, a slight tremor shook the ground under their feet. Aeryn paused, glancing down at the dirt. She was surprised and scared to find it vibrating, the movement increasing even as she watched. The market place fell into complete and eerie silence for a couple of microts and then all Hezmana broke loose. Someone began to scream and this started everyone off. Bodies were rushing everywhere, trying to escape. Then the cry of 'earthquake' went up and the terror filled cries increased in intensity along with the tremors. Buildings were rattling and shaking all around her and Aeryn found that she was truly terrified. Walls that had seemed so stable and well built not microts ago began to crumble to the ground around her and people started to collapse to the ground underneath them. The debris kept raining down on her head as the city was reduced to dust. As the ground quaked so violently that Aeryn couldn't believe it was possible, she was shaken off her feet and collapsed onto her front in the dirt. Aeryn glanced up to find a large chunk of what looked like concrete heading straight for her. *This is it,* her mind told her. She cried out a single word, "John!" before the stone connected with her body and she sank into unconsciousness the excruciating pain fading to nothing.

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When Aeryn drifted back into consciousness, all that she was aware of was the pain in her legs, seeming to be caused by the heavy object that was resting on her. The world around her seemed to be silent and when she opened her eyes, all she could see was darkness. Gradually, the surrounding area came into focus and although it was still dark, Aeryn could make out the shapes of bodies and parts of buildings around her. Then, her hearing returned and the sounds of crying and screaming filled her ears. Aeryn lay there, not even attempting to move for nearly two arns, praying to any God that she could remember the name of that John was alright and that the rest of Moya's crew could be rescued. After a time, the crying and screaming eased a bit and Aeryn realised belatedly that the people who had been making the noise hadn't survived. She could feel herself becoming weaker and vowed to herself that she was going to live. Suddenly, a shaft of sunlight fell on her face, blinding her, and Aeryn realised that she had been found. The great relief she was feeling showed on her face as she smiled weakly up at her rescuer.

"Stay calm ma'am," he told her. "We'll have you out of there soon."

"How long have I been here?" Aeryn managed to ask despite her dry throat.

"About 4 arns. You're lucky we found you so soon. Not many people have been so lucky." At her questioning gaze, the man elaborated. "You're only the sixth person we've found out alive."

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When the tremors first began, John stood stock still, taking in the situation and hardly believing this was happening to them. Then the screaming started and buildings began to collapse. John turned sharply, looking for anywhere that he could shelter, not that it was going to do any good. The thunderous noise was deafening him and the land around him began to fracture. Then he saw him - Scorpius standing about 2 metres from him, not even looking concerned by situation around him. *This is it,* John thought to himself, *It's over. You die in the earthquake or Scorpy gets ya.*

"Come with me Crichton or I order my Command Carrier to fire her Frag cannons on your Leviathan."

John had trouble hearing Scorpius over the sounds of the disaster around them, but he definitely caught the part about destroying Moya. Struggling with the dilemma, John realised that no matter what, he could never let Moya be destroyed because of him - not intentionally anyway. There was nothing he could do to stop it either. He let Scorpius capture him or he let Moya be killed, there was no way out. Nodding his head dumbly, only one thought was in Crichton's mind. *I'm deserting Aeryn.*

Back on the Command Carrier, Scorpius stood with Lieutenant Braca outside the cell that John Crichton was being held in. The med techs had taken a new DNA sample from him half an arn ago and were currently altering the DNA signature of one of their recently deceased prisoners. It had been Braca's idea to do so; if the crew of the Leviathan thought that their shipmate had died in the earthquake then they wouldn't try to rescue him, and for them to think he was dead they needed a body with the same DNA as the Human. The surveillance techs had informed him that not many complete bodies were being pulled out of the debris and it would be easy to construct a body with Human DNA if it didn't have to look like Crichton. The earthquake had been a blessing, Scorpius thought. The newly made plan made it a lot easier to escape without pursuit. In fact they had no reason to suspect them at all! Scorpius smiled to himself as a tech approached him.

"Sir, the body is ready. Shall we go down and plant it?"

"Yes, make sure it is quite near the surface so that they find it soon."

"Yes Sir."

The tech left and Scorpius looked directly at Crichton, watching his reaction. "What are you up to Scorpy? What are you doing?" The fear and anger John was feeling came out in his voice and Scorpius laughed out loud at him.

"I'm just ensuring no one tries to rescue you this time Crichton. If they think you're dead, they won't try to take my prize will they?"

"You're going to make them think I'm dead?!"

"Well done Crichton." Scorpius motioned to Braca and the two of them left, leaving John alone in the cell. The guard went off down the corridor, checking on the other prisoners.

*They were going to think he was dead. There was no way that Aeryn and D'Argo were going to try to rescue him if they thought he was dead. What would they do? Oh God Aeryn, I'm so sorry. I said I'd never leave you and what have I done? I never told you how I felt and now there's never going to be the chance.* Deep down inside, John had agreed to go with Scorpius expecting the others to find out and rescue him. He hadn't really thought about this being it - he was never going to see his friends or family from Earth and the Uncharted Territories again. All he could think about was Aeryn; he didn't even know if she had survived the earthquake or not. What had he done? *I'm so, so sorry Aeryn. I never wanted to fail you.*

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When Aeryn had been found by the rescue worker she had thought that she would soon be free and back on Moya. This hadn't been the case as a little over an arn later she was still lying in the same position under the lump of rock, with the same rescue worker sitting by her head. The only thing that had changed was that much of the rubble had been cleared and the survivors rescued if possible. Many of the people who had been trapped had not survived, Aeryn was sure of that. She also knew that she was getting weaker by the microt, and she still didn't know what had happened to John and Zhaan and all her other friends. She had asked the man that had found her several times if he knew of any Delvians or Luxans that had been rescued but he could tell her nothing. Instead, he had kept her talking, asking about her friends and herself. Aeryn knew it was just something to stop her drifting to sleep - perhaps to never wake up - but she told him as much as possible without giving away the fact that they were on the run from the Peacekeepers and not revealing anything that could help the PKs if they were still around. She was very much aware of the fact that the last thing she remembered Pilot saying was that Peacekeepers had landed in the city. So far she hadn't heard anything that might tell her they were still there, but she couldn't be sure. Suddenly, she realised that the man was asking her another question. What was he saying?

"So, do you have a mate?"

Aeryn's eyes filled with tears as she thought of John. "Not really. There is someone I care about very much but I haven't said anything to him."

"Perhaps you should," the man replied, smiling at her. "Where is he?"

The tears that had welled up suddenly spilled over and Aeryn was ashamed to be crying in front of a stranger. "He was down here when I last saw him. We'd been arguing, I was angry with him. I hope he's alright." Aeryn couldn't believe she was doing this; she'd just told someone she had only known for a few arns some of her most personal secrets and she didn't even know his name! "What are you called?" she asked suddenly.

"I am Ishmar," he replied. "Would you like me to try and find out any information about your friend?"

"I don't think you can," Aeryn replied tearfully. "His species has never been heard of out here. He looks like a Sebacean but is actually called a Human. Our DNA is similar but looks slightly different."

"I can have someone check for Sebacean looking DNA if you like?"

Aeryn nodded as the great weight that had been on her legs was slowly lifted off. Someone knelt at her feet and examined the damage. "Hmmm...looks like both legs are shattered," she heard an unfamiliar voice say in the distance. As it spoke the voice faded out, as did her surroundings and Aeryn settled into unconsciousness.

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When she next awoke, Aeryn found that she was in a med centre, with a pair of familiar looking blue eyes staring worriedly at her. Blue eyes? "John?" she croaked out, her dry throat protesting.

"No Aeryn, it's Zhaan. I'm glad you are alright."

Aeryn glanced around the room and noted all the other wounded people around her. She looked to the foot of her bed and was happy to see D'Argo, Chiana and Rygel standing there, watching her. Chiana had one arm in a sling and D'Argo a cut on his face but apart from that they were unharmed.

"You're all okay? How?"

"We were I the transport pod when the earthquake began. I took off to avoid the tremors," D'Argo told her in his gruff voice. "How are you feeling?"

"I'll be alright," Aeryn said with a weak smile. "Is John here? The man who rescued me was going to find out about him."

"We haven't been able to find him," Zhaan said, a little too worried for Aeryn's liking. "Where was he when it began?"

Aeryn turned her head to the side, facing away from her friends.

"Aeryn?" Zhaan asked again.

"I wasn't with him," Aeryn said, almost whispering. "We'd been arguing and I walked off. I wouldn't even know where to look for him." A tear escaped Aeryn's eye and slid slowly down her face. No one said anything, there wasn't anything that could be said. As they all stood contemplating what had happened to Crichton a local man walked up to the bed.

"Aeryn Sun?" Aeryn nodded, her stomach doing flips in anticipation of the news. "I'm a rescue worker and a tech. Ishmar sent me. Would any of you recognise John Crichton's DNA if it was shown to you?"

Zhaan nodded her head at the man. "I could," she told him.

"Would you come and have a look for a microt?"

Zhaan walked a couple of steps away from the bed and they watched as she was shown hand held display screen. She nodded at the man and he bent his head in towards her, talking. After a few more microts, Zhaan thanked him and turned back to Aeryn.

"I'm sorry my dear..." Tears fell in rivers down Zhaan's cheeks and she turned to D'Argo who put an arm around her. It didn't need to be said, everyone knew that Crichton hadn't made it. Suddenly, all the pain, fear and weakness over came her and an unexpected sob escape Aeryn. Then the tears came. He couldn't be gone! No, it wasn't true. Aeryn became aware that someone was hugging her close to them and she opened her eyes slightly, to find that whoever was comforting her was grey and white. Chiana? She'd never got on well with Chiana and now she was comforting her? Aeryn decided that she didn't care anymore and let Chiana continue to hug her. John always said there was more to Chiana then everyone else saw. John. The sobs came harder but Aeryn just couldn't care less. He was dead. Gone forever. What was she going to do? After a while, a strange voice appeared by her side.

"I'm sorry to interrupt but they're ready to re-set your legs now."

Chiana let go of her and Aeryn slumped back down onto the bed. The young Nebari turned to D'Argo who enveloped her in his embrace.

Aeryn looked back as she was wheeled away to see all her friends standing in a group, mourning the person who'd changed them all for the better in the past two cycles.

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Another two arns later, Aeryn's legs had been mended and she had returned to Moya with Zhaan, D'Argo, Chiana and Rygel. Her legs were extremely weak, the mend wasn't as good as the time she had broken her leg whilst rock climbing - or rock falling as it had turned out. The break wasn't as clean as it had been the last time and the doctors on the planet had done the best they could, given the extent of the injury. Aeryn just couldn't believe what had happened. After her short sobbing fit when she had first been told about John, Aeryn hadn't cried again. She felt numb and empty inside. Knowing that her last words to John were angry ones hurt Aeryn deeply, the fact that she had stormed off and left him alone hurt even more. She had never had said exactly how she felt about him, but he had know surely? Now all Aeryn could do was wish that she'd had the courage to voice her feelings for him.

She sat in Pilot's 'den' for half an arn after informing him of the news. He had been very upset that the Human was no longer with them and had also been worried that after monitoring the PK transports returning from the surface, the Command Carrier hadn't moved position in orbit. It was just sitting opposite them on the other side of the planet. Aeryn was puzzled by this, and she decided that they didn't have time to wait for the government of the commerce planet to send up John's body, it could take arns and with Peacekeepers around she didn't think this was a very good idea - but she still had to see it. As long as she got down and back up again quickly then the Peacekeepers surely couldn't be a threat. They wouldn't be able to monitor her movements from the other side of the planet. Aeryn asked Pilot to get the DRDs to ready her Prowler. Pilot complied, but was obviously unhappy about doing so. Didn't he understand why she had to do this? Aeryn made her way down to the maintenance bay and climbed in to the craft, flipping a few switches as she did so. Suddenly, as she was about to take off, D'Argo's voice filled her headset.

"Aeryn, where do you think you are going?"

"I just need to see his body D'Argo and we can't wait for it to be sent up with Peacekeepers in orbit. There are things I have to tell him." Though she couldn't see him, Aeryn could feel that D'Argo had relaxed a bit.

"You are injured. You should not be going by yourself. I will accompany you."

"No D'Argo, please. I need to go by myself."

D'Argo sighed but didn't press her any further. *He understands,* Aeryn though to herself. The Prowler rose gracefully from the deck and zoomed out of the hanger, towards the planet.

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"Crichton, I warn you again, if you do not co-operate then we will be forced to use some not so pleasant methods of extracting the information we need," Scorpius told him in a sinister voice, after about two arns of intense questioning.

John Crichton was standing in what was obviously an interrogation room aboard the Command Carrier. His arms were hand cuffed to the wall behind him and his feet were strapped to the floor. "Scorpy my friend, you can't dare to risk your only close by source of wormhole technology! I don't think yer gonna do anything, so I'm not gonna say anything."

The Command Carrier was still in orbit around the disaster struck commerce planet, there was no reason to leave too quickly.

"Sir, if I may offer my opinion?" Lieutenant Braca spoke from his position against the back wall.

"Of course Lieutenant."

"Well Sir, it doesn't seem like we're going to be able to get much information out of him this way and since the new Aurora chair won't be ready for at least another two weekens perhaps if we captured the traitor he seems so attached to then we could use her to persuade him that co-operating is the best option."

"Another excellent idea Braca. You are living up to my expectations. Find out where Aeryn Sun is and how easy it will be to capture her."

During this conversation, John's eyes had been getting wider and wider. Now, he was trembling with fear that Scorpius might actually go through with this. "No, don't get Aeryn. I'll tell you what you want."

"Why don't I trust you Crichton? It really is an awful trait of mine." Turning to Braca, he spoke again. "I don't care how hard it is, bring me the traitor within the arn." Braca nodded his head sharply in reply and strode out of the room to carry out his orders. Motioning to the guards, Scorpius left. The guards surrounding him unlocked Crichton's feet from the floor and led him back to the cell where he had first been taken.

John sat on the floor, contemplating what had happened. He'd been captured by Scorpius during an earthquake on a planet, his friends thought he was dead and now they were going to capture Aeryn to make him tell them what they wanted as the new Aurora chair they were building wasn't going to be ready for two weeks. *Well at least they haven't actually hurt me yet.*

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As Aeryn dipped the Prowler towards the atmosphere, she realised that flying was probably one of the most dangerous things she could be doing. She wasn't thinking straight, she couldn't have cared less that she wasn't thinking straight and her injured legs were feeling extremely weak. A tear slid down her face and Aeryn decided that she had to continue; she had to get John back. Just as the Prowler was about to enter the atmosphere, a large vessel sailed into her window of vision. Looking more closely, Aeryn realised that it was the Command Carrier and swiftly turned the Prowler around, before finding that the craft was closing in too fast and she would never manage to escape it.

"Pilot, the Peacekeeper carrier is heading for me. StarBurst now!"

"But Aeryn..." Pilot replied in a scared voice.

"Just do it Pilot. Please save yourselves and Moya."

"Goodbye Officer Sun. If we can't get back to help you, Moya and I want you to know that we feel privileged to have known you."

As Aeryn watched, Moya began to glow with the familiar blue of StarBurst. Then, after a few microts, she leaped away, leaving nothing for Aeryn to look at but the approaching ship. Pilot had been keeping her ready to escape, Aeryn thought. *I could be joining you soon John.* What worried Aeryn most about this next thought was that she accepted it. If it even existed, joining John in his Human idea of Heaven was more appealing than suffering alone and living a life without him in it.

As she was brought aboard the carrier with the docking web, Aeryn thought about what was likely to happen. *The living death. You're a traitor.* The Prowler suddenly thumped down onto the deck and the canopy was activated from outside. As it rose, Aeryn did her best to look like she was not afraid.

"Out of the vessel, Sun," a loud voice commanded. Seeing no reason to resist, Aeryn stepped out and onto the once familiar shiny grey deck.

"Ahh, Officer Sun. So good to see you. You know what you are here for?"

"It's no good Scorpius, he's dead. You'll never get what you want now," Aeryn retorted gazing defiantly into the half Scarran's deathly white face. To her surprise, Scorpius engaged in a fit of laughter, the sound of which chilled her to the bone.

"My dear," he said, finally stopping the laughter, "I have something to show you." The armed guards stepped forwards then and bound Aeryn's hands tightly behind her back.

"Lieutenant Braca, would you do the honours?"

"Certainly Sir," Braca replied as he began to lead Aeryn off down one of the corridors. All the way down to the prisoner cells, Aeryn stumbled with the increasing pain in her weakened legs, but was determined that she would not ask for help from the people who she once called comrades. After a long walk through the ship, Braca and Scorpius stopped outside one of the containment cells. Braca passed his chip over the door control and complied with the genetic verification request. All this while, Aeryn stood still, wondering just where this was leading. When the door at last opened, Aeryn was pushed towards it. what she saw shocked and angered her; John was sitting against a wall, his head on his knees. He looked up when the door opened and spoke with a mixture of anger and happiness.

"Aeryn!"

"Stop it now, you won't trick me," Aeryn snarled through clenched teeth at Scorpius.

"Tell her Crichton," Scorpius said into the room in return.

Knowing instinctively what to say, John began quietly. "I'm not dead Aeryn. Scorpius had this plan to capture me. If you all thought I was dead you wouldn't try to rescue me from him. You wouldn't even know that he had me."

"John?" she asked tentatively before suddenly tuning to Scorpius in anger and attempting to kick him hard. Braca anticipated the movement and flung her backwards into the cell. Aeryn landed on her back hard.

"Come now Lieutenant, we have other things to do. Inform the bridge that I wish to leave this system now and head for the Gammak base. I will be in my quarters."

"Yes Sir," Braca responded before turning away himself and leaving the containment corridor.

In the cell, Aeryn had laid still for a microt, and then dragged herself upright. She flung her arms around John's neck and hugged him so hard she thought that both their sets of ribs would crack.

"I'm so glad you're alright. Don't ever do that again!"

"I was really worried about you and the others," John told her. "What happened to you during the earthquake?"

"Everyone else was fine," Aeryn replied. "I was trapped for a few arns, and my legs got broken. It was awful when we thought you were dead. I'm really sorry I was angry with you." Aeryn's last sentence was nearly lost, muffled by the way she was burying her face in John's neck, trying to hide the tears on her face.

"It's alright Sunshine, I'm okay. Your legs are better right?"

Aeryn nodded, suddenly not caring that she was crying - she had cause to! "How did they get you?" she sniffled.

"Scorpius found me during the earthquake. Told me that if I didn't go with him he'd get his ship to fire the frag cannons at Moya. I couldn't let that happen. I've been really surprised, they haven't even tried to hurt me yet, and I didn't get touched in the earthquake either."

Aeryn nodded again. Now that she knew John was safe and well, she found that the emotions she had been running on for the past few arns were relaxing and she was becoming sleepy. Aeryn settled her head against John's chest and gripped her arms around his neck even tighter. She suddenly became aware that he was talking.

"I hope Moya and the rest of them got away?"

Aeryn nodded again and then drifted off into sleep, telling herself that she'd just rest for a couple of arns.

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"Scorpius, report in person to duty station 28411 within 5 solar days. Message code 2903279."

That was all the chip said; no other explanation at all. What could First Command want now? *A minor set back,* Scorpius thought to himself. *I can reach that station in a solar day from here so I will be back to deal with Crichton in two.* Satisfied that it wouldn't interfere too much, Scorpius called Braca to have him ready their fastest transport.

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When Aeryn awoke she found herself laid out on the floor, a blanket covering her. As she looked around, she could see John pacing near the doorway.

"Hey Sunshine! Wondered when you were gonna wake up."

"How long have I been asleep?" Aeryn asked, puzzled by his words.

"Coming up for two days. Look, Scorpy's left and before I shoot my mouth off, this cell doesn't have audio surveillance right? Aeryn nodded so John continued. "I reckon that now would be about the best time to try and escape. I've got a plan but it's kinda risky and relies on something I'm not sure we can rely on."

"What?" Aeryn asked, wondering just how risky this plan was going to be.

"Well, if we can get out of here and to the transport hanger perhaps we could get a ship. Then we can find out if Moya is anywhere around here. If she is we're saved, if she isn't we get recaptured or shot down."

"I told Pilot to StarBurst away."

"Look what happened last time they StarBurst away without us, they came back didn't they?"

Thinking back, Aeryn spoke again, suddenly hopeful. "Pilot said 'if we can't get back to help you'. That means that they're going to try doesn't it?!"

John began to look a little like he actually had faith in his idea and smiled. "So all we've got to do now is get out of this cell. How're we gonna pull that one off?"

"I have an idea."

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The Peacekeeper guard outside the containment area yawned loudly to himself. He hated prisoner duty, it was so boring! His shift would be over in another couple of arns and then he could go and meet his recreation partner. Suddenly, a shout sounded from one of the cells.

"Guard!"

Sighing to himself the supposed soldier made his way down the corridor, following the noise to it's point of origin. When he appeared at the doorway to Crichton's cell, he spoke again.

"Guard, she won't wake up. I think there's something wrong. Will you get a doctor or something?"

The guard sighed again, this time out loud. The med techs hated being woken in the middle of their sleep cycle. Suddenly deciding on what he thought was the best course of action, the guard unlocked and opened the door. What could a primitive and unconscious traitor do to him? He strode confidently into the cell, walked up to Aeryn's body and kicked her sharply, holding his pulse rifle ready all the time. She didn't move at all so he bent down and looked closely at her face for any signs of life.

"Don't hurt her even more!" Crichton practically yelled at him, causing the guard to turn and face the prisoner who was being disrespectful. It was a shame his orders forbade him to harm the Human. As he turned, a hard but warm object struck his face. He stumbled slightly at the unexpected blow and his attacker took advantage of the weakness and punched him again, harder than the first time. Someone grabbed his pulse rifle off him in one swift movement and used it to strike the back of hi head hard. As his surroundings faded, the guard only held one thought. *I hate prisoners.*

Aeryn and John quickly dragged the guard to the far corner of their cell and began to remove his armour, putting it on Aeryn instead. John glanced up at the surveillance device they had covered with the blanket. Catching his line of thought, Aeryn spoke.

"I think we've got about 300 microts before they send a squad down here." Seeing his surprised look she explained. "There aren't many places you can hide on a ship, they think that they'll have plenty of time to catch us."

"We'd better get going and make the most of their arrogance then hadn't we?"

Aeryn nodded as she place the guard's helmet on her head. Assuming the stance of a soldier she led John out of the cell and started towards the transport bay. Luckily, not many people were around during the night hours and hardly anyone gave them a second glance. Aeryn found that she was having trouble walking, the pain in her legs became excruciating at times. She carried on, using her training to ignore it. As they neared the hanger the corridors began to get a little more crowded and several soldiers stared at them. They carried on, walking boldly into the hanger. When they were inside, John looked around stunned.

"Uh...where is everyone?"

"I don't know," Aeryn replied quietly, obviously just as stunned. She made her way over to a nearby Prowler and began to climb in.

"Hey!" an unfamiliar voice shouted behind them. "What do you think you're doing? No craft are to leave this vessel as per Scorpius' orders, you know that."

"Aeryn ignored the Sebacean but jumped back down to the deck. "Get in John," she hissed as she hefted the pulse rifle into position and fired. The tech ducked out of the way and shouted out the door. Soon, soldiers were swiftly entering the bays, weapons primed to fire.

"Aeryn! Get in here now!" Crichton yelled out of the open cockpit. Aeryn leaped up and settled into the pilot's seat. She closed the canopy and the steady whine of engines filled the air. The Prowler rose from the deck and flew out of the rapidly closing outer doors. As he looked back, John could see a squad of soldiers scrambling to their craft, ready to pursue them.

"Aeryn, this might be a good time to scan for a Leviathan."

"I'm picking up a Leviathan's bio signature, but I don't think it is Moya. It...its Talyn!"

Aeryn opened fire on the Prowlers who were sending a barrage of energy bolts at them from behind.

"Talyn? Talyn please respond," Aeryn called into the comm.

"Officer Sun, it is good to hear from you again. Is there anything Talyn and I could assist with?"

"Cut the crap Crais," John broke in whilst being thrown around as Aeryn attempted evasive manoeuvres, "Fire on the Command Carrier will you?"

"With pleasure," they heard Crais say softly. "Talyn, fire at the Peacekeeper ship."

Talyn opened fire on the carrier, getting a direct shot at their bridge. He was a lot larger than when Zhaan had seen the images of him on the Hallosian ship, and his weaponry had improved greatly. The shot's he fired crippled the command carrier in a relatively short time and after about a quarter of an arn of continuous firing, the Peacekeeper ship was nothing but a shell. Early on in the battle Aeryn had docked the Prowler with Talyn and she and Crichton had made their way up to his command centre. From there they had viewed the fight alongside Crais, who had obviously been pleased with his ship's performance. The enemy Prowlers had been picked off first by Talyn's smaller guns, whilst the command carrier had the pleasure of being bombarded by the young Leviathan's main guns. Now, all that was left was worthless chunks of metal, floating through space.

"I hate to say this Crais but thanks," Crichton said after they had stood in silence for a few uneasy microts.

"Yes, thank you," Aeryn added uncomfortably.

"I have been looking for a chance to test out Talyn's stamina and firepower for a while now. Your dilemma provided the perfect opportunity for us."

After a couple of microts thinking about this, John spoke again. "Can you scan for Moya for us? We'd kinda like to go home now and I'm sure that Talyn would like to see his mom."

"When you docked I contacted Moya. She should be here soon."

"Right then," Crichton responded. Geez, Crais certainly wasn't making conversation easy.

"Can I have a look at his lower tiers?" Aeryn asked suddenly.

"Of course," Crais replied. Allow me to show you. He left the chamber with Aeryn in tow and John heaved an inward sigh of relief, talking to Crais certainly wasn't easy today.

John was just beginning to get used to the quietness of Talyn's command when an unexpected chirp sounded from him. Zhaan's worried face appeared on the view screen. When she saw John, the shock on her face made John want to laugh. Instead, he made sure he kept his serious expression, remembering that to the rest of his friends he was dead.

"John?" she whispered. "Is it you?"

"Yeah Blue, I'm alive. Scorpius was playing a trick on you so you didn't follow when he captured me.

"You're alive. thank the Goddess, you're alive!"

John allowed himself to laugh then, aloud wit his priestess friend.

"What are you doing on Talyn?"

"Do you mind if I explain when we get back to Moya? It's kind of a long story."

"Certainly John, I will inform the others of the wonderful news. Will you be coming back soon?"

"Yep, Aeryn's just having a look at Talyn. Shouldn't be more than half an arn."

"I look forward to seeing you in person."

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

An arn later, John, Aeryn, Zhaan, D'Argo, Chiana, Rygel and Crais sat talking around one of the tables in Moya's command chamber.

"So we got into the Prowler, and left." Aeryn was saying. "When we got outside the command carrier I scanned for a Leviathan and found that Talyn was nearby. Crais let us dock and then Talyn fired on the carrier and destroyed it after about a quarter of and arn."

They all sat in silence for a few microts, just looking at each other. Than, Chiana jumped up from her position between D'argo and Rygel and walked over to stand between John and Aeryn. Leaning down, she placed a slim grey arm around their necks and squeezed.

"I'm glad we got you back."

"I'm glad you got us back too Pip," John told her. Aeryn said nothing for a few seconds but smiled at her gratefully.

"Thank you for comforting me when we were on the planet Chiana. It was very nice of you."

Chiana smiled shyly at Aeryn. "Aww, that was nothing. You'd do the same for me right?" Aeryn nodded in reply, not entirely sure that she would have before now.

"I would like to return to Talyn now," Crais said suddenly. "He wants to get going."

"That's fine Crais. Thanks again for helping us. Is there anything you want in return?"

"I'd like the Prowler you escaped in," Crais said simply. "It would be useful and since you already have one..." Crais's voice trained off as Moya's crew looked at each other and then nodded at him.

"Thank you."

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Another arn after Crais had departed in Talyn, Aeryn and John stood together in silence on the terrace. When Crais had left, both had discovered that Moya's crew had been dragged form their beds to come and pick them up. All but D'Argo had returned to their quarters, having once again expressed their happiness that Aeryn and John had returned safely once again. D'Argo lingered a moment before pulling both Crichton and Aeryn to him in a crushing bear hug. Letting their stunned bodies go, he grinned at them.

"For several days I thought I had lost two valued allies. I am extremely glad I haven't."

"Thanks big guy," John had responded, grinning back at him. Aeryn smiled too as D'Argo departed, heading for his quarters. Without saying a word to each other, John and Aeryn had headed for the terrace. Now they stood gazing out at the stars, close but not touching. After a while Aeryn spoke.

"You know John, when I thought you were dead, my...my world ended. I couldn't imagine living my life without you in it. I know we argue a lot but I...I really care about you."

"I know you do Aeryn and I...I love you," John replied softly, placing an arm around her waist and pulling her towards him. They shared a soft kiss full of genuine emotion and promise for the future. After a while, Aeryn drew back with a contented sigh, tucking her head under his chin. John continued to speak softly into her hair. "I wish we could just be safe and get on with our lives," he sighed. But that's never going to happen is it? I can't promise that we'll never get separated but I'll never leave you Aeryn. I've said that before but I really mean it."

Aeryn frowned, puzzled by what John had said. Deciding it didn't matter, she pulled away from him and just stared at his handsome features for a few microts.

"What?" he asked in amusement.

"I just wanted to make sure you were really okay." Aeryn blushed slightly as she realised how silly her sentence sounded. "Obviously, you wouldn't be standing here if you weren't but.... I thought I'd lost you John."

John smiled faintly and wiped a tear from Aeryn's face. "It's not the same, but I didn't think I was ever going to see you again either. Scorpius told me you'd all leave thinking I was dead. That hurt me Aeryn; I didn't even know if you'd survived the earthquake. I said I'd never leave you and all I could think when Scorpy got me was that I was deserting you, and there was nothing I could do about it."

After a while, John spoke again. "I wish that Scorpius had been on the ship when Talyn destroyed it. Woulda stopped me worrying so much."

Aeryn said nothing in reply but brought an arm up to circle his waist, squeezing gently. She leaned in planted a kiss on his cheek. John turned to her and captured her soft lips with his own. They stood together surrounded by the beauty of the terrace and for a few short microts, nothing else existed in the universe except each other. The stars shimmered and glowed outside Moya's protective barrier as they sped away from the useless command carrier, towards a future that held danger as well as warmth and happiness.

The End