Part 7

The only thing that was certain was my overwhelming desire to take as many people down with me as possible. No need now for seeding panic. A more direct form of disruption was called for. I made a list of politicians within the Gouralt Dominion, the Nebari and the Peacekeepers. Those whose absence I thought would better serve the galaxy as a whole. Finally after much sorting and weeding out I got the list down to five plus one. Two of the Gouralt Dominion, two from the Nebari and one Peacekeeper Grand Admiral, who was so steeped in war that it was said he slept in his uniform. Scorpius had often had dealings with him, all abrasive. And the last on the list was Scorpius. I was torn with misgivings about killing him. Just how do you destroy somebody you love? With great difficulty.

It all really boiled down to the fact that I was furious at his calm assumption that I was so untrustworthy that I'd got to be made unattractive to the majority of males. I snorted as I remembered Crichton's lovemaking. What was it they said? "In the dark everyone looks alike."

Well that was Scorpius's first miscalculation and my undoing. The worst part was that I hadn't been able to shout at him and tell him exactly how I felt. I wanted to scream in fury and hit him. I didn't really want to kill him, just punch him senseless. Everytime I'd tried to make my feelings known on the base, he'd just touched me and stroked me and that always rendered me completely unable to complain. One day I'd bit him hard, (before the time at the Pleasuredrome) and he'd just held me at arms length and said in that infuriatingly mild manner of his, "Don't start something you can't finish Sareel. That arouses me to reciprocate and you're no Natira. I might hurt you badly."

I just couldn't win. Any way I could now access all three of my persona and the Ancients knowledge too Talyn was quite excited that we were gong to war again. I did finally get it into his head that he was only to fire if he or I were in danger and then only to disable. Assasinations took a lot of planning. I knew from the interspace chat that the Grand Admiral was going to be at the Lamit Base for an inspection. That meant almost certainly that Scorpius wouldn't be there. I could imagine him seething at the Admiral's temerity at even daring to inspect one of his precious research bases. I knew he was searching vigorously for a reason to get him in the Aurora Chair because he had a feeling that he was treacherous. But the Admiral had succcessfully eluded all investigations and Scorpius's spies. Which made him all the more suspicious.

So I'd do the job for him. I was close enough now, hidden behind a moon which circled the nearest planet to the base, to sortie out, use the darmirsk and do a bit of mind probing. So much easier when you didn't have to take a load of equipment with you. I chuckled. What Scorpius would have given to have been able to have extracted memories without the encumberance of the chair.

As I was still quite weak and out of practice, I would have to materialise periodically, so I would have to be extremely careful about where I did it. I was taking the prowler. It had all the correct markings for Scorpius's personal guard and I'd obliterated my sigil. It would be expected for there to be some presence of the guard on the base for the Grand Admiral's visit. Talyn had his instructions and I had put together a quite credible Captain's uniform for the brief period that I'd have to be on the viewscreen prior to entering the base. My face I could temporarily mask by causing the viewer to think they'd seen something, somebody different. All my preparations were finalised. I took a deep breath and got in my prowler. Talyn chirped and beeped to me. He was telling me to take care. I thanked him and the bay door opened and I slid the sleek vessel out into the vastness of space.

I found it exhilarating to be flying the little vessel again and made some manoeuvres just for pure joy. The I remembered I learnt them from Scorpius's memories. His skill had become my skill. That thought flattened my mood somewhat and I made the rest of the trip in a rather more subdued manner.

About a thousand kliks from the base I got the usual visual challenge.

"Approaching craft, identify yourself."

Which was really rather superflous as all our vessels carried an identification code which was continually transmitted when near a base, but nobody ever checked that they fit the person on board. Fortunately!

"Captain Eila Poon, Scorpius's Personal Guard."

The face on the other side of the screen brightened.

"Good to have you with us. We were expecting Braca".

"He's coming, but later."

"You're free to dock. Take the VIP level."

Bad news and good news. Braca was always bad news. Small minded, petty arse licker. From what I'd heard Crichton say, he'd have been at home in any large Earth business empire. Braca loathed me. He never liked taking orders from a female and he always thought of me as a technician, even after I'd been elevated by Scorpius. So I sincerely hoped that his arrival would really be a lot later.

The good news was that I'd been cleared for the VIP bay. There were few if any techs on that level and I could position the ship for a swift get away. The bay door opened and I slipped close to the dark mass of the asteroid and slid into the bay. Before I powered down completely, I did a skid slew to face the exit ready for departure.

**************

"I don't believe it!"

"Well it's happened."

"Pilot, just how did Moya manage to get so off course?"

"Mmm. It seems Captain Sun that she forgot to use Sareel's mass modifications."

"And that can cause her to come out of starburst so off course?"

"We've just forgotten how it used to be. Have Moya set course for the Lamit base."

"It's already done Crichton."

Sout had come into command. Aeryn and Crichton found that they liked the unassuming Morgul, which was more than could be said for Urla, who'd managed to get up up everyone's nose.

"If she tells me what to do once more, I swear I'll flatten her."

Aeryn had come back from showing the Sebbacian to her quarters. Fuming. Crichton was waiting for the smoke to rise from the irate ex Peackeeper.

"She's no fairy princess. Miss high and mighty."

"Crais says she comes from one of the main Peacekeeper families, thinks she owns everyone."

"Won't cut any ice here."

"Crichton?", Sout inquired in his soft voice, "Do you think we'll catch Sareel at the base."

"I sure hope so. It's like chasing a will o' the wisp across the galaxy. She's got more tricks up her sleeve than a card sharp!"

Sout glanced at him, he wasn't used to Crichton's earth terms but he got the gist of the answer.

"She hurts so much, I felt her pain."

"Oh I forgot you're like Stark."

The Morgul mused for a microt.

"Oh no I don't think so. He takes away the pain of passing and he can lose himself completely in his energy body. I don't have a discrete energy body, I can share one, and I sense things and sometimes can collect thoughts that have been left behind in the ether."

"Yeah, well that's something to be grateful for. Another Stark would be like a bad trip at Woodstock. Brrr . The thought sends a shiver down my spine."

Aeryn was totally lost by his references, but she thought it a distinct improvement on his Harvey motivated speech. You couldn't understand half of what he said but at least it was pure John!

"Perhaps he's missing Zhaan?"

"Thought at one time he'd got a soft spot for her. Just why did she stay on Sargos? Did he tell you any more?"

"Seems that every now and then a Delvian's created with a recessive gene that's faulty. The old gene for agression. That's what's happened to Zhaan."

"She always seemed so in control."

"I think she was until all this trouble with Sareel. It stirred up old memories and she found she wasn't as in control as she'd thought."

"You know at the moment everything comes back to genes."

He started humming a tune.

"What's that?"

"An old rock number my Dad used to like, 'With her red blue jeans and a pony tail.' Get it? Genes, jeans? Trouser, pants, things you wear? A play on words. Aeryn speak to me. This is John here."

Aeryn was just standing looking flabbergasted at his strange outburst.

" Frell you John. You get weirder by the day."

She burst out laughing. Really she couldn't help herself. It really was shades of the old pre Harvey John and ridiculous though she found him at times, this was the John Crichton who made her feel comfortable.
He grinned.

"I've got a bottle of Pilachian red in my quarters. It needs opening and sharing with good company. You coming or do I get drunk alone?"

She gave him a friendly punch in the chest.

"Lead on. I feel like letting go for a while."

Sout smiled as he saw them leave. He could feel what was in both their minds. An enjoyable time was ahead for both of them.

*************

"I say Pilot, do you know if there's a pleasure resort on any planet near to the base."

Rygel's urges were getting intrusive again and having had no success with Chiana, he needed to find another way to satisfy his needs.

"I don't know Dominar. I'll see if Moya knows."

Rygel twiddled his small fingers and then scratched his whiskers. Everywhere seemed to itch. It was part of the rutting process. Served to arouse the males.

"It's not so much arousing as frelling annoying", he muttered to himself while he waited for Moya's answer.

Pilot's voice brought him back to reality again.

"There's a small facility on the Sakol asteroid. All pressurised domes, not, I think particularly choice establishment."

"I don't give a snalkit's whisker about choiceness, Pilot, just as long as it's got girls."

"Moya says there are a good selection."

Rygel breathed a sigh of relief. A day and a night there should suffice. Then he would be back to himself again.

"I'll get them to drop me off after they've been to the base."

He was fully expecting that Sareel would be apprehended at the Lamit Gammak base. It was just a matter of time.

Part 8

Talyn starburst and came out close to the outer Nebari Ring, the small group of planets clustered round the small sun of Cygera. I couldn't get to my next victim easily. Much as I disliked the idea, I would have to let the Nebari take me prisoner. That would ensure that I was taken before Litigare Diatia Kor. She was one of the main perpertrators of the Nebari brainwashing regime and an old adversary of mine. She'd attended the same collegiate school that I'd been sent to, Off Worlders were welcome for the currency they brought. My life had been made a misery by her, she was always taller and stronger than me, so permanently removing her would afford me considerable pleasure, as would her undoubted fear.

I explained to Talyn what was going to happen and between us we managed to mask the fact that he had armaments. Otherwise they would have delighted in taking him over for their own use. He kept repeating that he'd never comply with or obey Nebari requests. I had to remind him that there was still the facility in him for the installation of a Pilot and that he could be collared. The little ship was quiet for a while and then asked me to take care.

I was hailed by the captain of one of the two frigates that settled themselves on either side of Talyn.

"Stand by to be boarded. Open your docking bay doors. Non compliance will result in your destruction."

Talyn opened the doors and I waited in command. I soon heard the sound of tramping military feet and a group of the Zetite Elite dashed in and surrounded me.

"There's really no need for all this force. I'm not armed."

I was pushed roughly up against a wall and frisked by one of the sergeants, who touched far more of my person than was necessary.

"Here Commander, doesn't she look familiar, sir?"

A tall thin individual with short spikey hair and a cruel mouth came over.

"No wonder she looks familiar. It's the one that's been posted on all the information beacons. Got a liking for blood."

He grasped my chin hard. I gritted my teeth, he was hurting me. I met his gaze with every shred of calmness that I could summon and slipped into the Scorpius persona.

"I heard that she's the mate of that hybrid scientist the Peacekeepers have."

The sergeant looked at me.

"She's certainly an ugly one. Probably only he could find her attractive."

The commander leeered suggestively in my face. One of his hands clamped round one of my breasts.

"Pity we've not got time to find out why he thinks she's attractive. Got to be more to her than her face."

He released me.

"Have you nothing to say for yourself?"

"Why waste breath when you've alredy formed your own opinion?"

He struck me hard across the face. The Scorpius persona was tougher than my own, I didn't flinch at all.

"You won't be so defiant when Litigare Kor's finished with you. She's got an extremely painful method of interrogation. You're going to die anyway, by the time she's finished with you, you'll long for it."

That information didn't surprise me. She pulled the legs off a live kryll once, just because it pleased her. Suddenly Scorpius and the Aurora Chair seemed extremely humane. I started to question exactly what I was doing, putting myself into the hands of someone as paranoid as Diatia. The end justified the action.

They suddenly sprang into alertness. The screen had come to life. There exactly as I remembered her was Diatia Kor. The sardonic twist to the mouth, the small close set eyes and the broken nose. (That had been my one success against her and she made me pay for it). My doubts fled, I could only feel the thrill of anticipation at the prospect of ridding the galaxy of her once and for all.

"Well. What are you frelling about at up there? Have you got your prisoner?"

"Yes Ma'am."

She moved closer to her screen.

"Let me see him."

They bundled me closer to Talyn's internal viewcam. I heard her hissed inhalation as she saw that I wasn't male.

"You, you're the one who's wanted for murder and assault."

"So nice to have one's efforts recognised!"

I was hit across the face again.

"Show respect for the Litigare."

"Never mind Commander. I'll extract that when I have her here. Bring her back immediately."

"Yes Ma'am."

The screen went dead. The sergeant said with some satisfaction, "Now you've done it. I'll bet she's working out how to make you suffer more."

They decided that they'd take my prowler. As it was twin seated they thought they could restrain me and shove me in the back seat. I was amused when they tried unsuccessfully to start the engine.

"It's personally coded. There're are only two people who can fly it. And I'm one of them."

What I didn't tell them was that there was an isolation switch underneath the front pilot's seat. I was starting to enjoy myself. Grudgingly they accepted that I'd have to fly it. The commander got in the rear seat.

"If you make one false move I'll blast your head off."

"If you do that I don't think Diatia would appreciate it."

"How do you know her chosen name?"

"You could say we're old enemies. Strap yourself in."

I flew the prowler out of the bay and escorted by two Kiv fighters went down to the surface. We landed on a pad close to a grim looking building.

"The main correction facility."

I was escorted by the sergeant and the commander. Fortunately they left no guard on the prowler. They weren't anticipating that I'd ever use it again. We entered through a small door let into one of the massive main gates to the facility. It was in this building that Nebari and their prisoners were relieved of their 'politically incorrect ideas' or as Crichton had succinctly put it, 'brainwashed'.

I stored a map of our route in my short term databank. We seemed to be in a maze. Suddenly they stopped at a grey metal door which bore the legend K1. They touched the pad at the side and the door opened. Standing with her back to the door was my next victim. She turned as she heard the hiss of the door opening.

"Ah Commander. At last. Strap her into that chair then you may leave."

They did as she instructed. Nice tight straps. Useless to confine a body in damirsk. As the door closed behind them she moved over and walked round me.

"And what exactly is that!" she demanded prodding the exit to my neurotube. I remained silent. Let her get a bit more wound up.

"You'll have to tell me you know, no one ever withstands the pain for long."

She touched my head with a long thin rod. Pain seared across my temples, but the Scorpius persona was designed to withstand far worse. She looked puzzled.

"Usually works", she muttered to herself, "Usually gives me the first scream."

I still remained silent. She turned some controls on a console and applied the rod again. Much more severe this time but still well within what I could stand. I was getting extremely annoyed by this time, delicious thoughts of her demise were perambulating round my brain. I was really getting in the mood. She turned the control up yet again. Extreme pain but still I didn't flinch or cry out.

"Must be faulty. Better check the resonance circuit."

That gave me my chance as she turned her back to me. I slipped into the darmirsk and out of the chair. I rematerialised behind her and tapped her on the shoulder.

"It's been a long time Diatia and you haven't changed one little bit."

She turned, fear on her face, "Sareel! I'd know your voice anywhere."

"I don't doubt that. I used to beg for mercy enough. But you never gave any."

She pointed to the chair.

"How in Goran's name did you get out of that?"

"I've acquired a skill or two since we last met."

She looked at the console.

"I wouldn't think of summoning your guard."

"Why not?"

I carefully fried all the controls.

"That's why."

There was fear on hear face now although she was making a good effort to disguise it.

"What do you want? An apology, credits, power?"

"Well it's way too late for an apology and Scorpius has made sure I have sufficient credits and the power is my own. I don't think there's anything you could give me that would save your miserable life."

"Scorpius! What has he got to do with you?"

"He decided that I was eminently suitable as his technician. But it grew from there. He found he needed a mate. So you see I have his power and influence behind me too."

"He sent you to kill me?"

"Oh no Diatia. Shall we say I have a problem. You've likely noticed that I'm wanted for draining a large amount of blood out of your citizens. Scorpius would dearly like me back in the fold before I destabilise the galaxy and affect his business ventures. I, on the other hand, am getting a great deal of pleasure from doing just that. Especially when there are old scores to settle."

I walked round her. She was sweating profusely. Beads of liquid were running down her face and I could smell her fear. My heightened senses, courtesy of one of Scorpius's Scarran genes told me a great deal about her state and I had the great pleasure listening to the fear in her mind.

"You won't get out of here alive."

"Oh I think I will."

I slipped momentarily into thedarmirsk.

"Still think I won't make it?"

Her face fell. she got to her knees and clasped me round the legs.

"Please Sareel", she whispered hoarsely.

"I seem to remember saying 'please' to you without much reward."

I looked down at her ashen face, it was almost as pale as my own. Should I have felt compassion? Maybe, but I didn't, only total satisfaction at her pleading. How are the mighty fallen! How easily they turn from despot to slave. Diatia would have done anything asked. Just to save her miserable life. I pulled away from her.

"It's not going to work Diatia. You have nothing that I want, only...." I bent down and hissed softly in her face, "Your death!"

She made a soft whimpering sound. Her face showed that she had given up hope of a reprieve. I stood up and said briskly, "At least you're going to have a quick death, not like the ones your victims endure."

I ran a finger in a line down her body.

"I do love a neat bisection! Stand up."

She did so very slowly, at least she'd had more bodily control than the admiral. There was the now familiar scent of seared flesh and the bubbling of fluids. Her limbs only flailed momentarily, then subsided. I glanced at my work, slipped into the darmirsk and oozed under the bottom of the door. Down the maze of corridors I floated. I could hear screams and moans coming from behind doors in the corridors as I passed by them. I only encountered one person and I hung up above them on the ceiling until they'd passed. Once under the outer door, I rematerialised and sent the prowler my signal. I could hear the engines powering up as I got to it. The canopy opened and I got inside and left the planet. Two down and three to go plus Scorpius. Could I kill him? I was beginning to doubt it. I cared too much for him in spite of the damage he caused to my systems. Only time would tell.

Moya came out of starburst about a thousand kliks from Talyn.

"Crichton, Moya says if we get closer the Nebari inner sensor array will pick us up."

"That's fine Pilot. Is Talyn responding to her yet?"

"Oh yes He's feeling lonely and welcomes his mother's company."

He fiddled with one of his controls and peered down.

"Moya says that he won't tell Sareel that we're here. He says he wants to help her and she won't help herself."

Crichton was checking the weapons that Scorpius, had left them, making sure that the power level was up. Aeryn had sorted out the controls for the dampening net, just in case it was needed.

"Crichton, Captain Sun. Moya says that Talyn will know when Sareel leaves the planet. She suggests that she gets on the far side of the sun so that she can't be seen."

Crais had been adjusting his command circlet. He could now talk to Talyn with Moya's help. The young Leviathan greeted him.

"Talyn why did you not heed Sareel?"

The ship gave out a series of squeals and beeps which the circlet translated into Crais's brain.

"He says he was showing off. She threatened to leave him because of his behaviour."

"He sounds like a spoilt child."

"He is only a juvenile. That's why he needs firm guidance."

Aeryn came back to join the other two.

"We'd better go through the plan again."

"We've been through it three times already."

"There've been too many times when everything's gone wrong just because we missed something."

Crichton sighed and put the weapon he was checking, down on the console. He folded his arms and began intoning, "Crais goes down and takes over control of Talyn and we hide in command behind the weapons consoles. Sareel comes in, sees Crais, is thrown off guard and bingo! We bring her down with Scorpius's little bag if tricks. The transport is in the starboard of Talyn's docking bays. We carry her there, get her safely into suspended animation and return her to Scorpie. Couldn't be simpler."

"How many times have I heard that before", Aeryn muttered under her breath looking at Crais, who merely raised his eyebrows. At least 'Harvey' hadn't been apparent for sometime, she was feeling less unsure of Crichton now. Perhaps he had the renegade sprite under control. Crais moved over to Pilot and said "Ask Moya to tell Talyn we're on our way. When we're clear she can carry out her manoeuvre."

The other four members of the crew had come into command. D'Argo clapped a beefy paw on Crichton's shoulder.

"May the Goddess be with you and I hope this will see the end to Sareel's suffering."

The sentiment was echoed by the rest. Crichton, Aeryn and Crais were just about to move out when Pilot suddenly announced, "There's an incoming message. The coded frequency."

"Scorpius", breathed Stark. The familiar face of the Peacekeeper scientist appeared on the screen.

"I've just got intelligence on what's happened below."

"Oh great Scorpie. What's the bad news?"

"I've regained access to Sareel's databanks and memory store. A little judicious altering of the transmission frequencies. Difficult but it was built into her controller unit in the event of an emergency."

"Come to the point Scorpius."

Crais was showing impatience at his procrastination.

"Well the point is Crais. She's very neatly bisected an old school enemy, the Prime Litigare of the Nebari. Exceptionally tidy work. Expect an extremely large force to be sent out when it's discovered."

"How long do you think we'll have?"

"Oh I think about an ahn, before someone notices the smell of cooked Nebari. They tend to disregard those sort of things usually. You'd better move quickly, Sareel's just taken off in her prowler."

"On our way."

Led by Aeryn the three charged off down the passage to the docking bay. Moya started the charge up for a small starburst to come out near the sun. Its brightness would shield her from sight. Chiana was grinning all over her face as she went up to the screen

"It's true then? Sareel's killed Diatia Kor?"

Scorpius looked at her quizzically.

"It's that important to you?"

"Now my brother and the resistance have a chance. She's always been the prime organiser of the military."

A smile touched the half Scarran's thin black lips.

"That is excellent news."

The screen went blank as Moya starburst. Chiana was happy and d'Argo touched her mop of grey hair.

"Does that mean that the Nebari are less likely to insist on all their citizens being altered into compliance then?"

"Not immediately, but there'll be an interior power struggle now. It's bound to disrupt matters."

Rygel came over.

"Didn't think politics was of interest to you."

"When it affects me and mine, it does. I'd love to be able to go home with my brother. Our parents are among the conforming masses. We got out before it was realised that we'd not absorbed the junior programme."

The Hynerean pondered that there was more to the pert girl than met the eye. She'd got a good brain on her thin grey shoulders.

"I hope it works out for you."

"Hey thanks Rygel. That's one of the nicest things you've said to me for ages."

He puffed himself up, embarrassed.

"Credit where credit's due."

She plonked a kiss on top of his head and went off with d'Argo to his quarters. They were playing a holographic game of 'Hunter' and she was winning. The loser was to do the laundry.

*******************

Crichton slipped the transport into Talyn's starboard docking bay. The bulk of the Leviathan had shielded them from any possibility that they could be seen from Sareel's prowler. They quickly unloaded the suspended animation unit.

"Did you check it?"

"Thought you were doing that."

Aeryn pursed her lips and glared at Crichton.

"You'd better hope it works then. There's not time now."

Crais moved off to Talyn's command to get in position. Aeryn switched on the fusion generator. Nothing happened.

"I said you should have checked it."

"Don't blame me. Let's have a look. Something's probably got disconnected in transit."

He looked carefully over the unit, under the instrument flap, at the fusion generator links.

"Should be working."

"Well it isn't. And we've not got much time."

"Crais could knock her down with his gun."

"Sareel would spot that move a mile off. That's why we've got to get her from behind while she's confused."

He checked the unit again.

"Have to deal with Sareel first and sort this out after."

"Scorpius said the effects of the stun unit were only transitory."

Crichton looked with amusement at Aeryn.

"I seem to remember from personal experience that you've got an efficient right hook. You'll have to slug her."

"Knock her out? I suppose I could."

They were interrupted by Crais on the internal comm.

"Sareel's prowler's on visual's. You need to get up here quickly."

"Hell, we've no time to get behind the consoles."

"I just knew there'd be a problem. We've never had anything go smoothly."

She nearly added 'When you've got anything to do with it', but thought better of it. They ran down the corridor and hid in a service duct. Just in the nick of time as Sareel went past where they were. They slipped out and silently followed her, hugging the wall. She strode through into command.

"Talyn, starburst now, please."

"I'm afraid he's not going anywhere. I'm in control again."

Sareel's eyes widened as she saw Bialar Crais, nonchalantly leaning against Talyn's small control unit.

" Krask . You."

She started to look round. Aeryn fired Scorpius's unit and Sareel crumpled to the floor.

"Going to have to be quick, Crichton."

Crais slung the prostrate form over his shoulder and moved swiftly towards the docking bay.

"Well there's a small problem."

"I might have know you'd frellit up Crichton. You've never got anything right yet."

"Could you do better Crais?"

"Most probably."

They'd reached the unit by this time and Crais slid Sareel to the floor and opened the unit's transparent canopy. He sat the unconscious figure on the side and between them they undressed her. Crichton carefully laid her on the base of the coffin like apparatus.

"You'd better get the pump on then you can flood her lungs before she starts to come to."

"That's where his problem is."

"Ah ... the generator won't start."

Crais put his hand under the rim of the unit, pressed a button and the flipped the start switch for the generator. Crichton looked at him in amazement. The ex-Peacekeeper smiled.

"Was brought up with these at home. When we were living in the country there was no laid on power supply."

Crichton filled up the space left after Sareel was laid in the well with liquid and used the tubes as Scorpius had instructed to fill her lungs with the oxygenating fluid. He breathed a sigh of relief as the instruments showed that all her life signs were within the acceptable limits. Her neuro tube was a sealed unit and wasn't affected by the liquid in which she was immersed. The refrigeration unit cut in and began to take her body temperature down. The Vaud was in hibernation.

They went back to command.

"Talyn let's join your mother."

The young ship signalled his compliance and they jumped to Moya's side. Crais pointed to some small forms which were becoming apparent on the screen.

"Not a moment too soon"

He switched over to ship to ship. Stark appeared on the screen.

"Ask Pilot to lay in a course to Scorpius's Alpha Gammak Base."

"You've got her?"

"We have and she's safely in hibernation."

Stark looked visibly relieved.

"That's good news indeed. Who's going to inform Scorpius?"

Crichton moved over to the screen.

"I will. When we get back to you. I'm just dying to see his face when he realises that we've captured her for him."

"I don't think he'll show any emotion, if that's what you're thinking. He may feel inside, but he'll never show it."

"We'll see."

The screen went blank and there was a brief wait as both ships went into starburst. They re-emerged into normal space about two solar days from the base. Crichton and Aeryn took the transport and Sareel's prowler back to Moya. The rest of the crew were in command when they entered.

"Pilot can you get Scorpius?"

The large navigator keyed in the secure code. The screen came to life. Scorpius was walking across the room toward it.

"Crichton!"

"Mission accomplished, Scorpie. We've got her bottled like plums in a can."

"I do wish you'd use normal terms, John. I gather you have Sareel."

"Uhuu..m, yes. The unit's functioning correctly. She's fine."

"Now we both know that's not completely true, however I can rectify the small fault in the genes. When will you deliver her?"

"In about forty eight ahns."

"That will give me time to make my preparations. I'll expect you here then."

The screen went blank Stark gave Crichton an 'I told you so' look.

"OK. I was wrong. Hell he could have been talking about a delivery of pretzels rather than the light of his life."

"Do you really think he looks at her that way?"

Chiana put the question. She looked round, waiting for an answer. Stark said calmly, which made a pleasant change, "The other day I felt how much he cares for her. I didn't want to admit it. He feels in a different way to you Crichton. She's sort of become an integral part of his being. He needs her to function properly."

Aeryn laid her hand on Crichton's arm.

"Makes him vulnerable."

"The hell it does. I said before it makes him a fighter. He'll do everything possible to make sure that nothing else happens to her. I think before he's always avoided being in the heart of any action."

Aeryn and Crais nodded.

"Since he reached a position of power he's always had others to carry out his dirty work."

"Braca."

"Amongst others."

"So he's going to accord Sareel every advantage he's got for himself."

"Do you think there'll be a war?"

"Don't know d'Argo. But if there is I want to be well out of the way."

"Goes for me too."

"And me."

They all agreed that in the middle of a conflict was a good place to avoid.

"Oh, well back to ore carrying and lots of lovely credits."

They all laughed. It was typical Rygel. Moya and Talyn made their way to the base. Things for once were going well.

Part 9

Scorpius was waiting on the observation platform which surrounded the docking bay on two sides. He breathed a sigh of relief as Moya's transport, slid into its designated spot. As soon as the area was re-pressurised, he rapidly descended the steps from the gantry. He was joined by three techs, towing a hover sled behind them. Aeryn Sun and Crais were the first to appear from the vessel's hatch.

"Captain's Sun and Crais. I expected John Crichton."

"He's doing a last minute check on the containment module."

"My staff can collect it then?"

"She's all ready and waiting for you Scorpie."

"Ah John. Was the meeting with her difficult?"

"Piece of cake."

Aeryn raised her eyes to the ceiling.

"I can see Aeryn, my dear that you don't agree with Crichton's assessment of the operation."

She shook her head.

"It doesn't really matter. She's caught and we've delivered her to you as you wished."

She paused for a moment.

"You really can cure her?"

"Without the shadow of a doubt. She'll be completely free of that unfortunate side effect."

"You gonnafrellwith her genes again?"

"You really do have the most unfortunate way of putting things. I can remove the offending part of the unshielded gene and replace it with one that is totally benign. The theory is simple, but the method took me a little while to perfect."

The techs had retrieved the containment module from the transport. Crichton noticed that their unwanted passenger, Urla scuttled out of the transport giving a sideways glance at Scorpius who didn't appear to notice her among the techs. Scorpius, immediately the capsule was unloaded, walked over and peered inside. Sareel's pallid face was visible through the greenish liquid. Inside a small voice said, 'She's home Ed'th Ra. Just make sure you make her want to stay this time.' His thin face showed not a trace of his inner thoughts as he instructed the techs, "Take her to my main laboratory and hook the unit up to the main power supply."

"Yes Sir! Anything else?"

"I don't wish to be disturbed until I've finished so make sure there's a supply of food in the cabinet. I believe you know what I like."

They left towing the sled carrying the encapsulated Sareel behind them. Scorpius walked round Crichton.

"I rather regret having given you my word not resume the status quo for a weeken. There's still a small piece of my technology inside your head. I'm sure it must be proving inconvenient. It really should be removed."

Crichton backed away and pointed a finger at the scientist.

"Oh no Scorpie. I've had enough of you meddling with my brain. Harvey's under control and I gonna leave things that way."

"Mmm, interesting observation. I wonder how long that state of affairs will last?"

"What d'you mean?"

"'Harvey' as you so quaintly name him, is the remaining vestige of the artificial intelligence I introduced to search for the wormhole technology. I really didn't envisage that it would have created an independent personality for itself. It wasn't in its profile, but I suppose as it was based on my personality I shouldn't be surprised that it should prove to be resourceful."

He looked at Crichton with a slightly amused expression on his face.

"I have a feeling that before long you'll be begging for my help."

"I'd rather burn in hell than do that."

"We'll see won't we, John."

He was suddenly all brisk efficiency.

"I have work to carry out. I believe you have an ore carrying contract. We will meet again soon. Believe me John."

He whispered in his ear, "Your inner voice will drive you to me."

And with that he left the bay. Aeryn watched in disbelief as he strode away.

"I told you. Sareel's nothing more than an experiment gone wrong in his mind. He's made of stone. Not one sign of concern or worry."

"Oh I don't know even stone can be melted if you get it hot enough."

He licked his lips.

"What's the matter Crichton?"

"Crais, I've just remembered the monster burger place. I can just smell the onions and taste the mustard. We'll have to set up a fast food joint. It'd make a mint."

Crais looked at him as if he was not quite complete in the brain department.

"Just what're he talking about? Aren't the translator microbes working correctly?"

"Oh they're working fine. You get used to it after a while. He keeps referring to Earth culture. I thought after this time he'd have got out of it. You're lucky, you've got Talyn back again."

"You could always join me Aeryn. There's such a lot I could explain to you. About your parents."

"I've come to terms with that Crais. And in a strange way, I feel John needs me." She looked at the floor. "And I find I have some regard for him."

"You have feelings for him?"

"I sometimes wonder if I do especially when that piece of dren Scorpius left in his brain surfaces."

He walked back to the transport with her. Crichton had gone on ahead. He stopped and touched her arm.

"I could make you happy Aeryn, if only you'd give me the chance."

"And end up like Teeg when I became inconvenient? No thank you."

"I've changed. My whole life's turned inside out. I'm a different person."

She looked at him scathingly.

"I'm not willing to take the chance. I'll chance my luck with 'Harvey'."

And she strode on ahead of him into the waiting ship.

"Well Bialar Crais you certainly know how to make a mess of things. Now she'll never come round."

With that sombre thought winging through his brain he entered the transport and closed the hatch.

**************

Scorpius placed the culture back in its rack. This time he'd checked and double checked that the splicing nanomoles would perish once their work was done. He'd made an intensive study of Sareel's physiology and that of her parents. It had been relatively easy to request the samples from the Vaud registry. Samples were always on record as the means of settling legal wrangles about paternity, and there were many among the easy going Vaud. There was no room for any latitude, he wasn't in the habit of repeating his mistakes.

He drained the unit and cleared Sareel's lungs of the fluid. She was breathing air quite normally. Attaching a drip, to make up for any dehydration, he added a unit dispensing regulated amounts of a sedative drug. He didn't want her conscious until the treatment was complete. There was some uncertainty in his mind about the amount of pain, speeding up the reinsertion would cause. He'd caused her enough suffering. A vestigial smile crossed his lips. Would she be pleased when she regained consciousness?

"I think you will my dear. I want to see you smile again."

He hesitated for a microt, visions of moonlight in the desert, touching the Queen of the Night. It's heady cloying perfume. The blinding light in the sky, the all encompassing feeling of destiny, the figure in the shadows holding out her arms to him. He'd never seen it's face before. Suddenly it became blindingly clear to him. The face was lit up in the radiance of pure energy.

"Sareel!"

He breathed her name.

"All this time and you've been here and I never knew. My quest wasn't just for the wormhole. And I never realised."

He lowered the hypotube and pressed it to her jugular vein. There was the usually familiar hiss. Putting down the empty unit he made his way over to a chair. He felt unusually weak and a little light headed. Of course she must never know her true purpose and she must be protected to the best of his ability.

He sighed. Indubitably it was the work of the Ancients. Looking for a world to share, they'd ensured that temporal stability couldn't be violated. They'd left a guardian in place and they'd sent dreams and visions to species throughout the galaxy and probably far beyond. He'd heard of many, but he'd never divulged his own. And it seemed clear now in his mind, that that was also what the Scarrans were so diligently seeking. It was so patently obvious. And he'd heard about Maldis wanting her destructive powers. How much more interested he'd be if he realised her true potential. And that was something Ed'th Ra Scorpius swore to himself at that moment, no one would ever discover.

His sweet girl was the Legend, the Dream Maker, the Dark Abyss and a thousand and one other names that were bestowed on the shadow figure handed down from generation to generation. She Who Will Come had arrived unbeknown to herself and the vast majority of the universe. He felt a tinge of privilege that it should be himself who held her well being in his hands.

"You fool, Scorpius. You've nearly killed her twice. Don't make any more mistakes. What would have happened if she'd died?"

He had to confess that the idea of a cosmic holocaust and the eventual cessation of the time/space continuum in that particular universe defied imagination. She would lead the life she wanted, do the things that she wanted to do. He would be there for support and comfort, but never again would he blatantly interfere with her. A small discreet push now and then perhaps, but nothing more. As well as the revelation he'd just had, his own personal well-being seemed to hinge on the Vaud. She gave him a feeling of completeness that had hitherto been absent from his tormented life.

"I never thought I be personally responsible for another being's welfare."

It never seemed a priority until he'd selected the mature and experienced technician from the carrier's personnel list.

"Perhaps some things are written into our lives. Destinies that we can't avoid."

The scientist in him wanted to refute that idea. He liked everything to be neat, tidy and conveniently pigeon-holed. A rational explanation for everything and it was disturbing that more and more those rational explanations just weren't there. An element of chaos was becoming apparent. Wars and talk of wars. Territorial disputes were like fine wine to the Peacekeepers. They thrived on them, but recently they'd been getting more and more power hungry.

He did what was required of him. They provided him with a base and prestige, but more and more he found himself at odds with their objectives. He never showed it openly of course, even in his position that would have been tantamount to suicide. He had only started philosophising after Sareel's advent. Previously he'd gone about his business without further thought.

"I do believe The Old Serpent's on the rampage again."

With this observation he went over to check Sareel. The instruments showed that all was progressing as planned . Just an ahn or two more and he would be able to give her an extremely pleasant surprise. He had to admit that deep down it would also please him.

He lay down on the couch that he had installed in the laboratory and closed his eyes. Still blazoned on his inner eye was the panorama of the starlit desert and Sareel, but now they were enfolded in each other's arms. Wrapped like clinging vines. The wraith just whispered three words in his ear.

"Our destiny awaits."

Over three ahns later, he awoke. His first act was to check Sareel. He could see that the treatment had worked and he removed the instrument administering the sedative. She would now go into a natural sleep and eventually wake up, none the worse for her ordeal.

Satisfied he went and removed a plate of food from the cabinet. A chuckle ran throught his mind. He wondered just how long it would be before Sareel asked for something to eat. She enjoyed her food. He sat down and ate his meal with his usual fastidiousness. Soon he hoped he'd have the pleasure of seeing her face light up with joy.

****************

I awoke and my eyelids felt heavy, it was difficult to persuade them to open. First one eye and then the other. The light was bright and ! felt disorientated. Where the frell was I? There were side benches covered with scientific equipment. I glanced down. I appeared to be lying on an examination couch, naked but covered with a soft quilt. My mouth opened but to start with no sound emerged, the back of my throat was sore and my mouth was dry. Finally I managed to make some saliva and a sort of croak emerged. A figure in black rushed over and bent over me.

"Sareel, you're awake?"

My muzzy head strugled to put a name to the form. It was hovering there but it took me a little while to pull it out of my brain.

"Scorpius." I whispered.

"Do you remember what happened to you?"

Images chasing round my head, screaming people, blood running down my chin and the pain always the pain.

"I...I have Blood Lust."

"No my dear . Had it . It's all gone now. I promise."

He stroked my forehead.

"You really mean it? I'm cured?"

"Totally. You could have been much sooner but you resisted asking for my help."

"Did I?"

"It was part of the condition. Denial of help, desperation, hate."

"Oh."

"Do you feel strong enough to sit up?"

I tried to push myself into a sitting position and failed miserably.

"So..rry."

I began to cry. I just couldn't help it. He picked me up from the couch, cover and all and carried me through to his quarters, which adjoined the main laboratory. Sitting down in his comfortable chair he cradled me in his arms holding me tightly to his body, my face buried in his shoulder. I cried until there were no more tears. Strangely I felt renewed.

"You needed to cry. So much held inside. I fear did did you a grave mis-service."

"I don't understand."

"Do you remember I altered your facial structure?"

"Yes but I've got used to it."

"Your pregnancy combined with Crichton's DNA threw some of your nanomoles into confusion. They damaged a a masked gene I'd introduced. It was part of the package to alter your face. That's what caused your problem. I confess, I made a mistake, something I don't tolerate in others. It's chastening to find that I can be fallible too. Simply my dear girl, I'm sorry."

I blinked. I remembered that Scorpius just didn't apologise to anyone.

"Am I hearing correctly? I'm still asleep, I'm dreaming."

"You heard me correctly. I wish to start our relationship anew. I realise that you may find difficulty with the concept."

He gently licked both cheeks, taking away the salty remains and then gently kissed me on the lips. So gently, like a breeze touching a flower petal. I looked at him. His eyes were shining brightly, as I looked into their grey depths usually unfathomable, I saw happiness in them. Moving me so that I was sitting with my back against his chest, he reached over an picked up a mirror off the table.

"Shut your eyes and be prepared for a surprise."

He rested his chin on my shoulder.

"You may look now."

I opened my eyes and gasped. The face that looked back at me from the mirror was no longer the pallid seamed face I'd grown used to.

"I've got my own face back. I'm me again."

He touched my head which was covered in a fine golden brown down.

"It shouldn't take long to grow back."

"I'm going to have eyebrows again."

I touched the sides of my head.

"My ears are back."

"Well they were always there, just without the external manifestation. Of course you've still got the neurotube, but a flap of skin and hair masks it."

"Oh, Scorpie."

"Well that's new!"

"What?"

"You've never called me that before."

I grinned, I really felt like it.

"John Crichton calls you that."

"Crichton does many things my dear Sareel. It really isn't necessary to emulate him."

"So I can't call you Scorpie?"

"I never said that."

He tapped me on the nose playfully.

"When we're in private you can call me anything you wish. Just don't do it in public."

"That gives me a lot of scope."

"Do one thing for me Sareel."

He was suddenly serious.

"What?"

"If ever you feel I'm being, shall we say unfair to you, or if you're unhappy about anything, anything at all, please tell me. For you everything can be discussed."

He kissed me gently again.

"I just want your happiness."

My old love for him welled up inside. Gone was the hate. I no longer felt abused by him. I put my arms round his neck and nibbled his nose.

"You'd better stop that now, my girl or I won't be responsible for the consequences. And I really don't think you're up to it yet. In a few days when your nanomoles have recycled. It's fortunate that I'm a patient man."

He hugged me.

"I've missed you Sareel. It's like been in a desert with no water, when you're not here."

"I haven't felt that way about you."

"I shouldn't imagine you have. Did you resent me greatly?"

"I can't begin to describe how much but I wanted you at the same time."

I sat upright on his knee, his arms were round my waist supporting me.

"I've still got some of your Scarran genes. I can smell what's in the cabinet and it's reminding me that I'm ravenous."

He burst out laughing. I'd never heard him do that before.

"I made a wager with myself about how long it would be before you were hungry."

"And?"

"I'm out by five microts"

He got up still supporting me and then sat me down on his vacated seat. I contemplated the new face of Scorpius. My darmirsk told me he was sincere and the Scorpius persona chipped in with 'It's always been there, well hidden and oft denied'. He came back with a platter of Plenon shrimps, wild rice and kalpeas.

"My favourite."

"Since when?"

"Since now", and I tucked in to it with relish. He just sat on the other chair and watched me like a snalkit with a cub. There was pride and something else on his face.

"You really are my girl!"

**************

The next weeken saw me getting used to my old life. The labs and the computers.

"Who serviced these while I was away?"

"They sent a tech from Information and Intelligence."

"I'd send them back to Academy class one."

I emerged from under the main housing for the network. A couple of cables in my hand. Scorpius gave me a hand as I straightened up.

"I gather from your expression that the work was less than satisfactory?"

"Oh from their point of view I'd say it was totally satisfactory. You're going to have to change the access codes."

"I am?"

I waved the cables under his nose.

"You've been infiltrated. A bypass made to the main system."

There was an audible hiss as he drew the breath between his teeth. I could see from his expression that there were suddenly new candidates for the chair.

"They took advantage of me not being at quite my usual state of alertness."

"You mean you were worried about me!"

"Erm.mm well, yes."

I threw both arms round his neck and kissed his dear ravaged face.

"Oh Scorpie. I love you."

He delicately disentangled my arms from round his neck and held me firmly by both shoulders.

"Not here Sareel. Anyone could walk in."

My face must have shown how crestfallen I felt. There was a quick affectionate flick of his tongue across my forehead and he whispered in my ear.

"I suggest we take a break. Tisane in our quarters, perhaps."

I felt my face light up.

"Oh yes I'd like that."

We'd made a code since my return. He'd not done more than kiss and stroke me. He was being extemely gentle, even tender. I was surprised. I really didn't think that he was capable of those sort of feelings, but it shows how wrong you can be. If either of us wanted more the agreed words were 'Tisane in our quarters'. Innocuous enough but laced with hidden meaning for both of us.

Once back in the security of our home on the base, he double locked the doors and made sure the security cameras were off. They were activated every time we left the area. I touched him and started remove his surcoat. He laid it on a chair and then stopped me doing more.

"No. My dearest girl just relax."

He peered at me like a short sighted vulture.

"You're sure that you want to? You feel fully recovered?"

"Scorpius. I want you. I can't be plainer than that."

I felt his sigh of relief. He really was bending over backwards to make sure that I did things because I wanted too, not because I felt forced to. He even insisted that I selected my own clothing for the base. I'd said that I'd been quite happy about his previous choice, but we'd finally come to a joint decision. I wore my bodysuit of course, but over that I now wore a long sleeved tunic which was shaped and the piece that fit between my legs fastened at the back onto the belt. To be quite honest we were playing games with the Peacekeepers and their dress code.

"They'll know exactly why that's made so, Scorpius!"

"Oh I do hope so my dear."

And we'd both laughed. They could be extremely tight laced and I knew he enjoyed immensely their discomfort at having to be under the command of a halfbreed and a technician. I'd acquired quite a bit of power with my knowledge and his aegis. Anyone up to the rank of Major General was required to defer to me. They needed my skill. Scorpius had not told them that I'd got the wormhole technology. I wasn't sure that he ever intended to.

Anyway I was dying for him to love me once again and he was kissing me, his tongue giving off the tiny shocks that signified his arousal.

"Love me Scorpie."

"I fully intend to my dearest. I fully intend to."

There was no more work done that day. We both surrendered to the sybaritic delights of our own bodies.

Epilogue

Sareel was asleep. Scorpius glanced over to where she lay. He needed far less sleep to recharge his batteries and was sitting on a chair, personal computer on his lap, making notes for the next day's experiments. He closed it and placed it on the table.

The images were once again forming in his head. Try as he might he could never send them away. Always now, since she had been restored to him, the figure of Sareel was no longer solely an energy source. It had been embodied within her corporeal form which still held him close to her. The other shadowy figure had moved closer. Unlike the vision of Sareel, this one had always had a face.

He remembered vividly the first time he'd actually seen the face for real. His shock at realising that what he'd experienced since his youth had been no dream. Knowing immediately that the man in Peacekeeper officer's clothing was no Sebbacian. Even if he hadn't have smelt different to them and his aura glowed in a different fashion, he would have known this man's difference.

In the time that had passed since, he'd been forced to take steps regarding him, that in retrospect had proved unnecessary. The Peacekeeper scientist was coming to realise, more and more that his future wasn't the planned out route he'd so long imagined.

It went against his training to admit it. There was in the universe an element of chaos, uncertainty. Oh mathematically it had been known for aeons. It was just that it had never before infringed his integrity. It seemed that the three of them were in some way bound together in maintaining temporal stability. A trinity. So many times in folk law on many planets, the figures three and seven recurred. He didn't know if seven would prove significant, but the three certainly was.

"You and I, John Crichton are irrevocably bound to Sareel for eternity. I wish I knew why it had to be you."

He'd been fascinated by the Human. His inconsistencies, his compassion, which inevitably led him into even more difficulties than he'd had at the outset, his clever and inquiring mind, his absorption with the trivialities of his culture. The way he reacted to Aeryn Sun and her reluctance to commit herself. His acceptance of the other species.

Scorpius had never seen the sense in compassion, admirable as it might be, until he'd encountered Crichton. When he should have had him destroyed as experimentally damaged, he couldn't bring himself to issue the order. Would he come to regret his action or lack of it just as Crichton often did?

A being of total rationality, who usually planned and replanned every move, Ed'th Ra Scorpius was now feeling the unpleasant edge of uncertainty creep into his realm.

"It all started when Niem was injured."

But in retrospect he wondered if it hadn't started with his birth. Why he should have survived when so many other Scarran/Sebbacian embryos had failed to survive or had been born monstrous? A voice whispered in his head, "It's destiny Scorpius. You can't avoid it. It's written into the stars."

He shook his head vigorously as if trying to dislodge this unwelcome intruder. But it remained, invidious in its persistence. Collecting him self, he began to plan.

The main thing now was how to best protect Sareel. There had been in recent days, talk of war and signs of war, between the Gouralt Dominion and the Peackeepers. Territorial claims on both sides, hotly refuted by the other. Peacekeeper High Command had been mooting the possibility of capturing Talyn the hybrid gun ship and Bialar Crais who knew how to achieve the union. There was no way he could allow this to happen.

His spies also told him that the Nebari, who inevitably would side with the party they thought would win, had similar aspirations. Even more disquieting were the rumours he'd been hearing that Sareel's darmirsk ability was known to leaders on both sides. She could be used as a weapon which could tip the scales for whoever possessed her.

He shuddered to think of the means which would be used to gain her compliance. Crais and Talyn must be warned to stay away from the area until he deemed it was safe and as for Sareel. Well once again, it was getting to be more than a coincidence, he'd have to ask for the help of Moya's crew.

Not blatantly of course. Perhaps a cartographic expedition to the other side of the galaxy. Why not? A well paid trip of exploration which should give them something interesting to do.

"And why not take Sareel with you and the wormhole machine. Her skills will probably prove useful and I know she wants to see more of the galaxy."

Yes the wormhole machine definitely must be kept out of warring hands, He chuckled as he thought how Sareel had disguised it in the past weeken. She'd seen the sense in his suggestion that she hide it.

Sareel moaned softly in her sleep and turned over. He felt something touch his mind, a feather light touch. Stretching, he relaxed and let her talk to him in his mind. That was one thing which he had ensured to the best of his ability, they would always be able to do. If she wished to. There was no longer compulsion in their relationship and the little Vaud was bright and sparkling, her own repressed personality coming to the fore. Strange how much better he felt than when he'd dictated her every move.

She still moved into her different personalities when the need occurred, but she lived mainly in her own. He got up and gently stroked her head. She didn't stir. He was getting to love the feel of the soft growing hair. She told him they should get a kryll as a pet. She'd said they had soft velvety fur.

He'd never had a pet. Had never been in a situation to have one, but if that was what she really wanted, next visit to Pilach they'd buy one. He suddenly felt tired again and lay down beside her. So much to do in the morning, so much. His eyelids flickered and he was asleep.

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