The time came for our departure planet side. Everyone was armed except Scorpius and I. He said I could take care of the both of us, putting his life in my hands. Harvey had the two ballistic rifles and I noticed he'd made a belt to contain the projectiles. D'Argo had his qualta blade, Aeryn a pulse rifle and pistol. Crais would be similarly armed. Chiana had two pistols, she'd never got very accurate with the rifle and Sout was wearing a magnificent blade, tucked into the waistband of his black Master's apparel. I looked down and got a shock.

"Sout, you're barefoot!"

"A master can do many things, Sareel. Walking on fire is one of them and besides I make no noise when creeping up on my enemy."

Rygel and Stark were staying on board Moya to co-ordinate any transmissions that might occur while we were away and to inform us of them. Crais was landing in his own transport. Scorpius and I were taking my prowler.

Chiana was visibly scared but trying to put on a brave face. She sidled up to me.

"This is going to work isn't it?"

"If it doesn't, the likelihood of us going back seems remote."

She gave me a hug and went to d'Argo's side.

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

We landed close to the shattered transport and were soon joined by Crais, armed like Aeryn. The only difference was that his weapons still relied on chakan oil. He'd found a supply somewhere. Scorpius brought out a small holopad and displayed the route. The lava field was about seven kliks from our current position, just to the east of the small settlement. Having confirmed the route we set off, breathing apparatus dangling round our necks and small packs with food and water on our backs. It had been agreed that I lead, with Sout behind me and Crais and Scorpius in the rear. The sun had almost sunk below the horizon when we set off taking what appeared to be a track, possibly made by animals, which led towards the settlement. There was starlight and a sort of ground light, just enough to see the forms in front. We'd walked about two kliks when in the gloom appeared a squat form waving its hands. Crais, Harvey and Aeryn immediately raised their rifles. Sout and I spoke in unison.

"Don't shoot, he's friendly."

Scorpius made his way up to the front as the figure reached us. It was a Scarran, dressed in torn brown clothing.

"Please help me."

We all squatted down and Scorpius brought a cool light out of his pack. As we were in a depression that was safe. The Scarran took a look at him and began to shake.

"What's the matter?"

D'Argo was uncomfortable in the Scarrans's presence.

"He's the Aldequan. They said beware the Aldequan."

"Who said that?", asked Sout gently.

"The Time People. The ones in the citadel."

"I think perhaps he'd better start from the beginning", interjected Scorpius mildly.

I touched his arm, he was petrified and shrank from me. His dark eyes seemed to be transfixed by mine.

"You too!"

"I don't understand. What do you mean,' You too'?"

"The Drogon Legend. She who will come. The end of all time."

He looked round at the rest of the crew and his eyes alighted on Harvey. He made a small screaming sound and tried to run away only to be caught and held by Sout, who was speaking softly to him. The terrified Scarran sat down on the ground with us around him,

"Begin at the beginning, yes, but where's the beginning?"

He seemed to be talking to himself and then started his tale.

"My family have worked the land for many generations, my father was elder of our settlement."

He indicated the direction of the first settlement. His voice cracked.

"But now it is all in ruins, all dead but me. I was lucky when they came, I was able to get away."

He was quiet for a microt.

"We were split into two factions, the Technos who wanted to use our limited resources to invent weapons, try to get into space and conquer new worlds for our people and the Trados, people like my father who said that they should use their skills to improve our own planet. There were tensions but on the whole they did try to use their science to develop new strains of plants that yielded better results, survived in our harsh climate. All was well until they found that they could improve our meat animals."

Scorpius made a small cough.

"I think I begin to see what has happened."

"That's more than I do." Aeryn said, bemused.

"Once they had begun to improve our animals they moved onto making embryos of factors taken from the people they felt had the most desirable characteristics. There were about five of these enhanced specimens. Others didn't survive."

"That I can believe!", murmured Scorpius.

"But the worst thing about those who did survive was that they were hermaphrodite, changing their sex to suit the need. They could also interbreed with the base stock and it was believed that the Technos were embarking on a programme of total species enhancement. Those abominations also were bereft of feelings of compassion, love, totally amoral. Well this made them a desirable weapon to the Technos."

He paused.

"Have you got any water, I haven't drunk for about eight ahn."

Sout passed him a water bottle and he drank greedily.

"Thank you. I haven't been able to get near the water supplies. Too many military."

He wiped his mouth.

"Now where was I?" Ah yes The Technos were breeding the genetically engineered stock with the native race. Well my mother was picked as a suitable subject. My father objected, but by this time the Technos had grown so strong they had an army to protect them. What chance had a farmer got against armed personnel?"

Chiana shook her head.

"Why is it the the few want to enslave the majority. Impose their will. It's the same with the Nebari."

The Scarran looked puzzled.

"The Nebari? I haven't heard of the Nebari."

"Inhabitants of another planet farther in the galaxy." Harvey added, quite quietly for him.

"You are star wanderers?"

"You could put it that way. Our ships are in orbit round the planet."

"A dream come true. Anyway my mother bore me and they decided that I wasn't quite the stuff scientists were made of so they returned us home. What they didn't know was that I had a great gift. I'm a bearer of an ability to touch other minds and sense their thoughts. I can heal a troubled mind."

I nearly choked.

"What have you read in our minds?"

"Strangely I cannot touch the minds of yourself, the dark one and the Aldequan. The others tell me you are looking for something and they are afraid. Because of what you are doing now and of finding themselves here."

"I'd say that was a fair assessment." Crais shifted his position.

"I digress. There has alway been a part of the planet, north of the fighting, where people regularly disappeared. The superstitious blamed it on Jenk, demons, but it got the interest of the Technos and they were regularly seen in the area. It was forbidden to enter the area, but being young and impetuous, I sneaked into it one day. I saw a place where the air seemed to ripple, as if the very air were in motion. There was a small building there and a strange whine coming from it. Suddenly a form appeared from the shimmering area. I have never seen anything like it before or since. It had a head similar in shape to ours, with a smaller snout and on a long neck. It had fearsome teeth. The head was on a long neck and the body was like a Luxan turkey only with no feathers and a tail. Its forearms were small, but its legs were strongly muscled. I would wagered that it was very fast. The Techno's sedated the beast and appeared to take samples from it. They then loaded it on a small wheeled truck and the whining started again. They pushed the truck hard and the animal and truck disappeared through the shimmering air."

"Velociraptor!"

Harvey had come to life again.

"John was interested at one time in Earth pre-history." He added by way of explanation. "They or forms similar probably evolved on many planets, not just earth."

"What the frell would they want samples of ancient animals for?"

D'Argo was completely in the dark.

"Oh I think I can answer that, Ka d'Argo."

Scorpius came and sat by me.

"They were collecting genetic material that had survived in different conditions. Their skills in genetic manipulation were becoming advanced even then. Sareel still has some of my Scarran genes, they provide protection against a wide spectrum of planetary diseases. I must admit I have wondered until now how that came about. Now I believe I have the answer."

The Scarran looked at him.

"You are part Scarran?"

Scorpius smiled wryly.

"We come from a time well in advance of this and they had started experimentation on inter-species hybridisation. My survival was not expected!"

"The female though, you said she had some of your genes? You are skilled in manipulation too?"

Aeryn smiled but quickly hid her face in her sleeve.

"Oh he's quite the master of it. Mind you he made a terrible mistake with Sareel."

I gritted my teeth.

"Shut up Harvey. It's not important."

"You thought it was when you were in the throes of Bloodlust."

The Scarran looked shocked.

"But that died out centuries ago."

"It was masked by a stronger gene. It never went away."

Scorpius glared at Harvey who just looked innocently at him. If he'd been on his own I think Scorpius might have throttled him. I tried to calm things down.

"What happened after the animal went back?"

"I managed to get out of the area. I was excited and frightened at the same time."

"I can understand that." Chiana wrapped her arms round herself as if she were cold.

The Scarran scratched the side of his snout.

"Mind you, everything suddenly went quiet and the Technos were very subdued. Went back to terraforming. There was a rumour that the Hermos, that what they got called, had stolen all the data on the genetic experiments and other material as well and disappeared through the rippling air and destroyed the equiment that reinforced it."

"And?"

"And all has been quiet for about eighty cycles. Then about twelve weeken ago, they suddenly appeared with terrible weapons and began rounding people up. My village resisted. Some of us younger ones took to the hills and the area round the lava field. They organised a resistance movement. Managed to steal some weapons from the Techno's fortification. I heard that my mother had been taken and went back to the village to see my father. While I was there it was attacked. My father hid me. I was safe in the labyrinth, but I watched the soldiers massacre the village, my father included. Then some of our people dressed in strange garb and more strongly muscled than us, strode into the main square. That was where I heard them say that the Aldequan posed a threat, was a danger. And they mentioned the Drogon Legend and She Who Will Come, said that it was imperative that she and the Foreigner and the Aldequan were kept away and if they were ever found here they must be killed. They also said they would be recognised but they didn't say by who."

He looked straight at me.

"But I recognised you all immediately. The group of seven, the three with strange energy signatures and the three I cannot probe. Oh I knew. I could feel it."

I looked at Scorpius who was contemplating the ground in front of him. He looked up and at me and spoke.

"So you'd say we are in danger then?"

The Scarran shook his head.

"As far as I know I'm the only one with such powers and I will never give you away. You will save us."

"That's a big assumption to make."

I moved round, my rump was going to sleep.

"Well at the moment I vote we carry on and make our way to the warehousing. We've already lost too much time and I need that part or we've no chance at all of getting back to our own time."

The Scarran looked at me, a worried look on his face.

"Warehousing, there's no warehousing any where on the planet."

"The big complex north of the battle area?"

His face turned gray.

"You don't want to go there. It's the main research facility."

"Would they have a power coupler anywhere else."

"What's a power coupler?"

"Oh great. Now we are  frelling stuck on this dren of a planet."

Aeryn was not amused by the idea.

I explained what a power coupler did and his face brightened.

"Ah yes we do have similar. We call them integrators. But I'm afraid the Technos took every spare one to the Citadel, that's what we've named the facility."

"We could do with Crichton and one of his hare brained schemes," I murmured under my breath. I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Funny you should say that. I been rumaging round the dear boy's memories and I think I've got a plan."

I groaned. The idea of a Harvey planned foray failed to inspire me with confidence, even if he'd raided Crichton's memories. D'Argo, however was more enthusiastic.

"What do you propose?"

"Well if our friend here can give us some idea of the layout and the guard detail then we may have a chance."

The Scarran nodded his head.

"Incidentally I am named Ak Ba Tath."

He knelt down and started to scratch a diagram on the earth floor.

"This", he pointed to the east side wall, "houses the security post. As it is well out of the fighting zone and the installation is considered to be penetration proof, there is only one guard. The guard house is round the corner on the other wall."

"If it's considered safe how the frell do we get in?"

Aeryn wrinkled her brow as if the thought gave her pain. She was also keeping a wary eye on Harvey.

"Er...mm a diversion should do the trick."

"Oh yeah and just how do we do that? Creep up and shout 'gotcha'?"

Chiana was less than convinced about the whole idea.

Harvey looked pained.

"I hadn't realised how much Crichton's speech patterns had infiltrated the rest of you. Ak Ba, are the guards normal Scarrans?"

"Oh yes. There are only a couple of hundred enhanced types. Mind you they seem to be increasing by the day."

Scorpius whispered in my ear.

"Cloning."

I shivered and he slipped his arm round my shoulder. The action surprised me because he made a principal of never showing that he had feelings for me in public, but I supposed he thought that Moya's crew knew anyway. Harvey continued.

"Are they susceptible to alien females?"

"Oh no. No way Harvey."

Aeryn was quite animated in her refusal.

He looked at her with something akin to disdain on his face.

"I don't think you could tempt an Zalian moquatin. I had Chiana in mind for that job."

Aeryn looked like thunder. Moquatin's are a revolting swamp species with insatiable sexual appetites. He'd insinuated that the Sebbacian was frigid.

"OK what do I do?"

Chiana had decided to give the plan that Harvey was concocting a whirl.

"The two of you go to the security post and say you've crashed on the planet and you're lost. Chiana you play up to him, keep his interest. And you Aeryn Sun slip to his side and inject tranquilliser."

He looked at Scorpius.

"I presume we have something that will work on Scarrans?"

"You'll have to ask Sareel. She looks after our medical supplies."

Harvey made it apparent that he'd rather not talk to me.

"Oh very well if I must."

Scorpius said sotto voce, "I don't think he likes you very much. I do wonder why?"

"I said he was an embarrassment to you."

"Ah that would explain it."

Harvey was tapping his foot on the ground with impatience.

"Well have we?"

"Yes but it's such a waste."

I fixed him squarely in the eye.

"I was thinking of another use for it."

A look of pure loathing flashed over his face. I was definitely not on his list of preferred acquaintances. I always kept some zalax in the kit, just in case I ever needed it for Scorpius. Peacekeeper sedatives had no effect on him. They had little on me either, hence the little vials of blue liquid.

Harvey glared at Aeryn.

"I presume that is within your capabilities Captain Sun?"

I could see the muscles tighten in her face but her training managed to surface and she answered evenly, "Perfectly."

Ak Ba nodded his head.

"Good, good. There is a passage through from the guard post. This leads to the elevators. Take the one marked down...."

"Sorry we can't read ancient Scarran script."

"Ah no, the fact eluded me. Have you a tablet?"

Scorpius retrieved one from his pouch and handed it to the Scarran, who wrote some symbols on it.

"That", he pointed to the set on the left, "Means up. The other is down."

The tablet was passed round the group.

"Now the lower levels of the citadel contain all the technical supplies of the Technos. Somewhere there, I can't tell you exactly where, you'll find the part you're looking for."

A thought suddenly struck me. I was surprised Scorpius hadn't mooted it initially.

"Pardon me Ak Ba, but just how do you know all this?"

D'Argo and Crais nodded their heads in agreement at my question.

"I wondered when you'd ask me that. My group have been planning a raid on the unit for some time now, but have never had the means to carry it out."

I asked him rather tongue in cheek, "So what are you proposing to liberate while I get my part?"

He looked rather embarrassed.

"Er... well I thought I could use the opportunity to get some of the new weapons they've recently begun fabricating. Similar to your own."

Scorpius whispered in my ear.

"I don't think there's any doubt now where all the Scarrans from our time disappeared to."

"What do they hope to achieve?"

"Can't you see Sareel? By introducing superior weaponry at an earlier period in history and improved breeding stock, they would be in an even stronger position than they are in our time. Indeed by our time they may even rule the galaxy."

"It doesn't bear thinking about."

"I'm afraid we'll have to think about it. We must prevent it happening at all costs."

"At all costs?"

"At all costs", he replied grimly.

Harvey interrupted.

"If you two have finished your private conversation, the rest of us are waiting to carry on."

I muttered under my breath, "Just wait till we're out of this. I'll settle you once and for all."

Aeryn heard me.

"You aren't going to hurt him?"

"Would you care if I did?"

I could see a tear in her eye.

"Well John is in there somewhere."

I squeezed her arm.

"Don't worry. I just want to find him another body, then we can retrieve Crichton."

Part of me would have liked to have added, "Goddess knows why!", but I desisted. It seemed unworthy.

Harvey suggested that we get under way. Scorpius said mildly, "Any suggestions how we make our exit?"

There was total silence. It was finally broken by d'Argo.

"Play it by ear, fight our way out if necessary."

"Why is it the more I hear of this so called plan, the more it seems to resemble one of Crichton's?"

Crais was unabashed in his criticism and I had to agree with him. I wondered just how much of JC was stirring beneath the mantle of Harvey's persona. Always could access all of mine, so I had nothing with which I could compare it.

Harvey replied somewhat peevishly, "I was reduced to using some of his ideas, having had little experience in such matters."

"Face it Harvey. You've got absolutely no experience at all in matters like this. You've filched Crichton's memories totally!"

Chiana was positively bristling. Scorpius came to the rescue.

"May I suggest that now is not the proper time for recriminations. We're losing time."

Sanity was restored and we all got under way again. Ahead we could see the glow from the lava field. Aeryn was walking by my side.

"I really don't think I'm going to enjoy this at all!"

"I know I'm not. I have this phobia about fire."

"You never mentioned it."

"What good would it have done? I need the part and I can't expect others to do my dirty work for me. Anyway would you know a power coupler if you saw one?"

"I could fall over one and still wouldn't recognise it. Surely Scorpius does?"

"You forget he deals in scientific theory. He get techs to actually make his inventions. Techs like me!"

Ak Ba came up on my other side.

"I propose taking you a slightly different way. It will shorten the time we're actually on the field."

"Anything that can shorten that gets my approval."

A tremor passed through the ground.

"Three microts, Aeryn and this beauty will throw up lots of lovely hot bombs."

"I really didn't wish to know that."

Her trepidation was well founded for at that moment, we could see the eruption begin. Ak Ba led us round further to the side than I'd planned to go. I touched his arm.

"Isn't there a lava flow here? My instruments said there was?"

"There is but the crust is strong enough to support us."

Aeryn gulped and said, "I hope you're right."

"I think we need to put our breathing apparatus on."

Scorpius was starting to have trouble breathing. Polluted air affected him that way. We made a bizarre sight as we trooped behind our Scarran guide, who seemed untroubled by the fumes. Silhouetted against the black lava flow by the red gold glow of the eruption, we were a snake of grotesque looking forms.

The heat was becoming intense. I was starting to feel hot even with the regulation my bodysuit gave. Aeryn was definitely looking ill.

"Can you manage just a little further?"

She looked at me and her reply was muffled by the respirator.

"I'd be dying if it wasn't for your bodysuit. Yes I will manage for a while longer."

Criais didn't seem to be having quite as much difficulty and his step was still brisk. Ak Ba led us round a tall black pillar and stopped.

"We need to close up our line. We're too spread out and the next bit is tricky."

Chiana leant on me.

"I've never done anything like this before. It's different."

She was putting a brave face on the fact that she was scared. I was extremely unhappy. There was a sick feeling in my stomach which was getting worse microt by microt. There was a distinctly an attack of panic waiting to emerge. I just hoped I could stave it off a bit longer.

Ak Ba was right, the next part was through ground strewn with sharp edged rocks of varying sizes, cooled bombs thrown out by the volcano. Walk carelessly here and you could easily twist your ankle or even worse fall and break a limb. Chiana seemed to be managing the field cast without thinking, it had almost become a part of her, but we only had one other and couldn't afford any more casualties. There was another ground tremor.

"I wish we weren't here."

Aeryn put her hand on my arm.

"Come on Sareel. If I can do it you can."

"This is one of the times I wish my parents had placed me with the military. I need a good dose of courage."

"What I've got right now isn't so much courage as a wish to survive."

"Oh I want to survive right enough. Well my head does. It's just that my body's not too sure it agrees. If it comes to the worst I'll slip into darmirsk, though on this jaunt I can ill afford to expend the energy."

A thought suddenly struck me.

"I wonder if I could tap into the volcano's energy. I might be able to convert it's heat energy into massless energy."

"I wouldn't have thought now was a good time for experimentation."

"No perhaps you're right. It was just a thought."

We picked our way carefully, there was the occasional bomb of hot rock landing but we had good warning of these, by the whistling sound as they fell and could easily avoid them. I thought it was lucky that it wasn't an ash volcano. We'd have been cooked by the cloud of hot gas and ash if we'd have been unlucky enough to have been around when it erupted. The scoria was becoming smaller, the boulders not as frequent and I breathed a sigh of relief. We were coming to the end of the lava field. My stomach was starting to settle. I wouldn't have to face it again until our return and I felt that having successfully negotiated it once the return would prove much less stressful. Ak Ba gathered us into a little group. I noticed that Scorpius moved up to stand behind me.

"There's only one more obstacle for us to cross before we're safely out."

My heart fell at the Scarran's words, right down into my boots.

"There's a crack in the crust which exposes a lava flow beneath. We can't get round it but it isn't very wide and can easily be jumped."

Oh merciful goddess. Not under any circumstances. I slid off to the side and felt Scorpius say in my head, "I'll be behind you. No need to be scared."

I sent back ,"There's every need to be scared!"

Ak Ba led us along a little way and sure enough there was the opening, the golden red glow coming from the molten rock lighting the night. The Scarran jumped across easily.

"If everyone jumps to me, I can steady them as they land."

They others jumped one by one, some confidently, Aeryn and Crais leading that school, the others more akwardly, d'Argo swore as he almost slipped on landing, but he was grabbed by the strong Ak Ba. Finally only Scorpius and I were left on the near side.

"Well go on Sareel. We haven't got all night."

Scorpius spoke sharply. I knew he was trying to alleviate my fear. Slowly I walked up to the edge. The gap across looked enormous, I gulped.

"Go back a bit and take a flying leap and what ever you do don't look down."

Aeryn shouted encouragingly from the other side.

I moved back several paces and started to run, but of course I looked down. I could see the golden river moving sluggishly along beneath the crust. It was hypnotic in its effect and I put the brakes on. Only I stopped off balance and slowly started to teeter on the edge. There was nothing I could do or that I wanted to do to stop the slow fall.

Chiana screamed, "Hit the darmirsk Sareel!", but I was completely incapable of any movement save a slow forward tumble.

I was completely transfixed by the glowing river at my feet. I was fully prepared to let it engulf me, I had no compunction at all about it taking my last breath. The only way I could move was in the slow arc forward toward my nemesis The last prayers were on my breath when I was suddenly grabbed round the waist from behind and thrown bodily across the chasm to fall heavily at the feet of Ak Ba. It knocked the breath out of me completely and my precipitate rescue from certain death left me shocked and tearful. Chiana bent over me.

"Oh Sareel you gave me such a fright."

I managed a watery smile through the tears. She gave my shoulder a friendly punch.

"Hey you don't want to do that too often, you know. Give us all heart failure."

Scorpius bent down and lifted me to my feet. He looked concerned.

"Exactly what happened there Sareel?"

"I froze."

"She's got a phobia about fire."

"Has she indeed? Thank you Captain Sun."

He shook me hard.

"Never, never keep anything like that to yourself again. You could have caused the complete negation of this mission and your own untimely demise."

"Yes Scorpius."

I gulped hard, my sobbing was almost choking me.

Harvey was leaning against a basalt pillar. He waved his hand.

"Don't mind us Scorpius. You've only yourself to blame. I could have told you what would happen if you let a female into you life. Stick to science, so much more rewarding!"

Scorpius was by this time wiping my face clean. I could see his irritation at Harvey's diatribe. I looked up into his clear grey eyes. They were full of concern, the nearest he'd ever let himself get to expressing his true feelings in front of others. He spoke quietly.

"Pull yourself together. We have to go on. By the way what happened to the darmirsk? I was fully expecting you to take that solution to the problem."

"I don't know. Couldn't think, I was too scared. All I could see was that great golden glow just inviting me to join it."

"Then we'll have to assume from here on that in times of stress, you lose control of your ability to select aspects of your personae."

Ak Ba came up to us.

"Would you like me to support your female for a while? I can see that for you to do so would compromise your authority."

I looked at him. Never had I thought I would find thoughtfulness and kindness in a Scarran, the most loathed species in the galaxy.

"I'll be fine."

Nevertheless as we proceeded towards the citadel, for the first klik or two I felt his hand under my elbow and I was glad of his support.

About an ahn later Ak Ba stopped us. He pointed ahead. Silhouetted against the starlight was the brooding mass of the citadel. If ever a building can have an aura of evil, this was the one. Chiana was by my side.

"Are you sure we're doing the right thing."

"No, but we don't have a choice."

"Fear begins in the mind, conquer your mind and fear disappears. Luxan warrior creed."

D'Argo had come up behind us, his qualta blade in his hand.

"Hey d'Argo, that's fine for warriors, but Sareel and I aren't warriors. My fear starts in my belly. My mind doesn't seem to have a great deal to do with that."

Ak Ba and Scorpius were conversing up ahead. Harvey was listening in but being ignored. The rest of us were just glad of a short rest. Finally they joined us. Ak Ba indicated that Scorpius was going to explain. He sat down on a rock exuding total calm. How he does it I'll never know!

"As I see it the next part is one of the hardest. Our friend here", he indicated Ak Ba, "Says that there are security scanners on the walls but that they sweep in an arc about twenty metrons away. The tricky thing is knowing when the beam has just passed so that we can make a dash for the walls. He doesn't know what form the sacans take."

"Absolutely great! Scorpius, you disappoint me. I'd have thought you at least would have known what they were."

"And why should I? Give me one sound reason why in field conditions, I should in the absence of modern sensing equipment, be any the wiser than the rest of you?"

"Echo location! It's obvious. Look at the dishes on the wall."

"Sareel do you know what he's talking about?"

Having heard Harvey's enigmatic pronouncement I was delving round in those memories of Crichton's that I'd deemed worthy of storing.

"Give me a microt. Redskins versus the Giants. No. PK techs are Barbie dolls. I don't think so. Bats. Yes. Echo location. Humans copied the bat's system of echo location to develop......Radir. No that's not right..."

"Radar dear. Do get it right."

I glared at him. How could someone that still looked like Crichton, be this exasperating person? Aeryn looked perplexed.

"What are bats?"

"What we'll all be if we can't shut him up", I muttered in her ear. "And you can thank Crichton for that gem. Bats are small furry flying mammals and 'bats in the belfrey' is another way of saying a person's mad."

"Very apt. So how do we detect this 'radar'."

"I haven't a clue. They send out a microwave pulse and pick up the echo in those dishes. If there's anything in the way the echo is deflected and shows up on a screen inside the building. It's such retro technology that I doubt that our instruments could pick it up without re-calibration and we just haven't got the time."

"Oh dear the PK tech's run out of answers. What a terrible shame! Shall I tell you what to do? Or shall I just let you all get caught? Tempting. I wonder what those Scarrans would make of our little Sareel? Take her mind apart layer by layer I've no doubt."

"That is enough! This is a serious operation. We do not need the half-witted ramblings of a discontented mind worm. I suggest that you tell us what to do and then be silent."

Harvey was not deterred and I was getting worried because time was running on.

"My Scorpius how defensive you are of the Vaud. Really got to you has she? Such a mistake saving her. What has she given you back? "

"Shut up Harvey! Scorpius I know how to do it. I've found some more information. Close to the ground there's backscatter like we get with imaton sweeps. You can't see what is at ground level."

"Crawl on your bellies like serpents. "

Unison this time.

"Shut up!"

"Just making an observation."

D'Argo advanced toward him threateningly and he put his hands up.

"I surrender!"

Sout spoke out. He'd said little the whole of the time up to this point.

"I'm trained in this technique. Just follow me. Hold your weapons in front of you and yes you wriggle your way ahead just like a serpent."

"Told you so."

"Gag him." Crais's voice cut through.

Aeryn was moving towards Harvey with a scarf in her hand.

"It will be a pleasure."

"Ah but Captain Sun, I might have something of importance to say."

"He might have something of importance to say."

"Don't gag him."

"This prevarication is wasting time. Time we can ill spare. We move ahead right now. Sareel, you go behind Sout. Crais you take the rear."

We moved slowly toward's the blackness of the wall, hardly daring to breathe. fearful that at any moment there would be shouts from the citadel. But all was quiet and one by one we reached the welcoming hardness of the ferrocrete.

The opening which held the sentry box was about twenty metrons along the wall, so led by Sout we all felt our way along the wall. Suddenly Sout stopped dead. We all ran into each other. I heard a muffled oath from d'Argo. Scorpius and Harvey moved to join Sout who was signalling that the protuberance just ahead on the wall hid the entrance. He waved for Chiana and Aeryn to move up.

He whispered to them extremely quietly, "Ladies it's time for your performance. Just march straight in and mesmerise the guard."

He took Aeryn's gun. She'd got a hypotube loaded with enough sedative to knock out two Scarrans, tucked in her belt. Chiana gave me her pulse pistol and hitched up her cleavage.

"The things I do in tight fixes", she murmured.

She and Aeryn moved talking to the entrance. Sout had indicated that the minute they moved he and Harvey would crawl over to the other side while the Scarran was distracted. Scorpius and I were flat against the edge of the entrance. I could see what was going on. Chiana sidled up to the guard who was completely wrong footed.

"Oh can you help us? Our ship was pulled through this strange anomoly in space and we've crashed."

She flashed him a huge smile and pushed her chest out towards the evidently bemused Scarran. Evidently ancient Scarrans were quite different from the modern variety, because I saw him look down at Chiana's very evident bosom and I swear his eyes lit up.

"You shouldn't be in this area at all. It's restricted."

Aeryn was slowly moving round to the side. I saw her hand was covering the top of the hypotube. Chiana continued vamping her heart out. She even fluttered her eyelashes.

"We didn't know. Honestly we're just a couple of dancers in transit."

She leaned over the counter to him and said confidentially, "You won't give us away will you?"

The Scarran was just about to grab her breast when Aeryn applied the hypotube. The Scarran fell to the floor like a felled auroch and we all moved inside the entrance.

"Whoo. He was just about to paw me."

Harvey had moved up to the front of the group.

"I though you enjoyed that. You've spread your legs often enough in the past by all accounts."

"I have never done anything like that without good reason. Saved my skin some times. The only way out."

"Surprise you repeated your mistakes. Was it so enjoyable?"

D'Argo moved threateningly over to Harvey. The Luxan was still having difficulty in adjusting to the fact that Crichton was no longer the dominant factor in the shared body.

"John that was unworthy of you. Chiana may do things I find shameful but I'll defend her any day."

"Sorry d'Argo John's away, time for me to play. Personally I'd drop her in the dren pit."

Crais and Scorpius looked at one another and Scorpius held out his hand indicating that Crais should speak.

"Is this a military operation or a picnic? Because if it's the first you'd all better move out of here right away. There's no knowing whether the guard had to report in at given times."

Aeryn took her pulse rifle back from Sout and I gave Chiana her pistol.

"We'd better get a move on. Every time I let myself be talked into an operation it turns out to be a frell up!"

D'Argo dumped the recumbant figure of the Scarran behind his counter and took his weapon. A pulse rifle similar to our own. Crais gave it to Ak Ba who appeared to be delighted with the weapon and was stroking the smooth barrel as though it were a lover. The ex-Peacekeeper was noticibly shocked at its appearance.

"You were right Scorpius. Quite visibly modern!"

Cautiously led by Sout we moved along the short corridor and at the end were greeted by a dilemma.

"Now what do we do?"

Aeryn stood looking left and right. I joined her. Scorpius stood behind me.

"I suggest", he said quietly, "That we split into two groups."

"I don't think that's wise. We should all stay together."
Trust Harvey to put his peal in. He really was becoming the one who thought up all the wrong ideas for the right reasons.

"If we split up, we can cover more ground and be somewhat less noticeable. Just do it . We haven't got time for a committee meeting."

Surprisingly there were no objections. Scorpius's authoritative but quiet manner seemd to have polarised them into action. Sout and Aeryn accompanied us and Crais, Harvey, Ak Ba ,Chiana and d'Argo made up the other party. Harvey had been persuaded to relinquish one of his rifles to Aeryn who was given a potted lesson on how to load it and how to shoot it. A shred of Crichton wisdom had filtered up in my brain and I mentioned to her to make sure that she kept the stock firmly against her shoulder when she fired.

"Otherwise you'll have one hezmana of a bruise!"

We moved off to the left and down a dimly lit corridor. After a short while we hit another T junction with a door visible at the end of the left hand one. Scorpius pointed to it.

"We must be methodical and try doors in sequence."

The door opened smoothly. There was no light in the room and I brought out one of our cold light pads. It was a storage area and I led the way eagerly round the boxes and crates. And drew a blank. We went down the right hand corridor and tried every door in turn. All of them opened, some of the rooms were empty, just bits of old packing on the floor.

"I wonder why they're moving stuff out."

"Perhaps storing it elsewhere."

The seventh door yielded a room stacked up to the ceiling with goods. A careful search yielded a Mindarian power coupler, fairly similar to modern ones. I removed it from its box.

"Is it suitable Sareel?"

"A few minor modifications and it will serve quite well."

We closed the door and retraced our steps. I'd given the power coupler to Aeryn who'd gone ahead to scout the corridor. She said she'd make sure she knew what one looked like for future occasions. Sout, Scorpius and I were about a metron and a half behind her wher suddenly part of the floor fell away and the three of us were precipitated down into the dark.

Peacekeeper High Command was in a turmoil. It had been thirty six ahns since they had had contact with Scorpius. They had known there could be no direct communication with Muoth due the the nature of the interference field. But things had got a lot worse in relations with the Gouralt Dominion, combined with the fact that all the known Scarran scientists had effectively disappeared and they had decided that he and Sareel must return immediately.

"Don't know why you're bothering. The hybrid's not the only scientist we have. Be glad if he's gone. Gives me the shivers."

A doughty old general had remarked.

"Which is exactly why he's so effective. He's calculating and focused. Set him a problem and he won't rest until he's found the solution."

The chairman of the High Command, Lotar Admiral Tork, was by no means a lover of Scorpius, after all a hybrid was a hybrid, but if the ends justified the means and Scorpius was a genius. When he thought of it, that little Vaud technician of Scorpius's wasn't far behind. She could create the machinery and improve the working of the inventions of the half Scarran. If all techs were like her then they wouldn't be so reviled. His reverie was interrupted by rumblings further down the table.

"Do you realise how much we've invested in that.. that abomination? Would have built and crewed three command carriers."

"Do you realise how much information he's got for us with the Aurora Chair? Priceless information."

"Didn't stop those runaway prisoners and that pipsqueak Human from destroying the first Gammak base. Cost millions that did."

"Beats me why he doesn't just pick up the Human and put him in the chair again."

"And what's happened to the wormhole technology he promised. I see nothing that works properly."

"And that scoundrel Crais running around in our Leviathan gunship."

"Ladies, gentlemen. Lets's get a sense of perspective on the matter. Scorpius is irreplaceable and he loathes Scarrans. That alone should give you a great deal of confidence. The Human, John Crichton still has, Scorpius believes information which will lead to the formation of a stable wormhole. But having tried several methods of extraction unsuccessfully, he believes, I am told, that the only thing possible now is to form an alliance with him. After all Scorpius says he wants to return home and a stable wormhole would ensure that."

"What's this, what's it called. The planet the Human comes from like? Is it worth considering as a colony."

"Earth! From what I heard Lexit, it's got technology, but primitive. And there are better mineral resources on other planets. The people squabble a lot."

"What've the people got to do with it, eh? Never mattered when we wanted to move in before."

"I think you'd find them resisisting us Daag. Resistance movements can be an expensive nuisance."

"Let's get back to the matter in hand."

All faces looked at the Lothar Admiral.

"We appear to have lost Scorpius and his technician and the two Leviathans. It's as if they've just disappeared from the galaxy. Our patrol to Muoth established that they'd never arrived."

"Just like the Scarrans, eh Tork. Scorpius was worried when they all started disappearing. Good riddance I say. They want to wipe us out so if they disappear it can only be good."

"That's extremely short sighted. If they're disappearing it's for a reason and I hardly think it'll be for the good of our health!"

There was a general rumble of agreement round the table.

"Needless to say it would spell disaster if Scorpius and his technician got into the wrong hands."

"Chaos!"

"Utter ruin!"

"Just think what they know about us!"

"Exactly. So all patrols will be ordered to pay special attention to seeking information on them."

"What if we find them?"

"Well bring them back of course. We've got to have that wormhole as soon as possible. The Gouralt Dominion sabre rattling is just a ploy, I believe, to mask what the Scarrans are doing."

"Uncomfortable bed fellows. The Scarrans would eliminate them in the twinkling of an eye if it suited them."

"Anyone got any information about that Bannik stykera who escaped? What was his name? Stark."

"I thought Scorpius had put a control implant in him."

"He did but it didn't work. The fella's a raving lunatic at times. Totally unpredictible."

"Well then we put out an all points bulletin for information on Scorpius's whereabouts."

"Indeed we do not. It would undermine our power and credibility if it were known that we'd, shall we say mislaid our chief scientist and chief technician. No we use stealth and discretion. Subterfuge if necessary, But this loss must remain in house. The meeting's closed."

Lothar Admiral Tork made his way back to his office slowly. He had the distinct impression that Scorpius somtimes fed false information as to his intended whereabouts. Not that he blamed him. He often did the same, but it could prove unfortunate if something went wrong. The Peacekeeper hierarchy could get very paranoid. He tried to keep a balance but sometimes it was difficult. In his thoughts were the words his parents has said when he told them he wanted to join the elite fighting squad, "Remember boy, keep faith with yourself."

Too many times he hadn't done that. Had to make decisions he'd rather not have done. Ordered destruction when he could see no point. So where had Scorpius esconced himself and that little Vaud, Sareel? They deserved some good times but it was proving inconvenient.

Getting back to his office he was immediately accosted by his secretary.

"Sir, there's a call for you. She says's it's important."

"She? Who is it Mogan?"

"The Genyk hybrid, Sir. The one they call Natira."

"Very good I'll take it in my private room."

The private room was a small screened enclosure off his main office. It comprised a secure commmunication system and a large comfy chair.

"Natira. Long time no see. How's the banking business?"

The blue, tentacled female was in no mood for social niceties.

"Scorpius was supposed to be paying me a visit for four weeken. He never turned up."

Tork thought " Very crafty Scorpius."

"And the technician Sareel?"

"I don't know any thing other than she was going on a survey mission in the outer quadrant."

"Well we'd noticed they were missing. You can imagine the paranoia on the Command Council."

"Vividly!"

He paused for a microt.

"So what reason did he give for a visit to you, apart from the obvious."

"Said he was tired of always having to be accountable to the hierarchy."

"I know the feeling well. But why should the Vaud go on a survey mission?"

"Scorpius has feelings for that one that he'd never let High Command know. I told him it was time he settled with a mate. His chemistry has finally broken through. He'll want to keep her safe at any cost."

"But what from?"
Natira pursed her lips.

"Well you have made provision against a disasterous Peacekeeper/Scarran war. Perhaps Sareel has a secret Scorpius wants keeping safe."

"There were rumour's that she had some great power, but they seem to have died down. By the way how are my investments doing?"

They spent an pleasant quarter of an ahn talking about everything and nothing.

When the transmission ended, he leant back in his chair, puzzled. Had the Vaud something Scorpius was unwilling to let the Peacekeepers know about? If so was it for personal or scientific reasons? He knew Scorpius had done some experimentation on her but the lab reports just said findings inconclusive. Her pregnancy had also been reported as had the loss of the child. He knew about her subsequent problems, indeed he'd done a cover up of the whole affair. The deaths of the general and the Litigare were neat.

He suddenly straightened up in his chair. That was it! She'd designed a new weapon and Scorpius was unsure of the wisdom of giving it to the military . He had to admit he'd have had doubts himself. When you looked at the commanders and the bigoted, out of touch generals and fleet admiral's, they didn't exactly inspire great confidence. The rank and file were so indoctrinated they'd have followed a programmed conduit rat. Over a cliff if they were told to. Blind obedience. But a growing number of deserters were joining the civilian resistance on several colonies. He was afraid he was starting to see the beginning of the end for the military regime.

"Ah well perhaps a war will make them gell together."

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

D'Argo, Crais and the others were systematically going through the store rooms. Finally Chiana gave a whoop of joy.

"Got one!"

Harvey came over

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure. Sareel explained exactly what they look like to me."

She waved the part in front of his nose.

"Twenty by twelve ratio. It's on the casing in Mindaran."

"Well if you're sure."

She sighed. She was missing the impetuous behaviour of Crichton. The Scorpified John was a distinct pain in the rear.

They all sat on packing cases and had some food cubes.

"Rygel doesn't know what he's missing."

"Oh I think he does. If we could improve them we'd make a fortune."

D' Argo offered some to Ak Ba who was ferreting round the rest of the cases. The Scarran took some and ate them absent mindedly as he levered open a case.

His eyes lit up as he saw the contents.

"Here everyone!"

They all gathered round the case. Crais picked up one of the weapons.

"Standard Peacekeeper Pulse Rifle. Won't have been invented for another seven hundred and fifty cycles at least."

He put it down and opened the case next to it. Containers full of chakan oil.

D'Argo lifted one out.

"They've got to be growing that root somewhere. Remember that trouble it caused?"

"Oh I can believe it Ka d'Argo. It was used to keep the workforce subservient and happy."

Crais had memories from his earlier days when as a young officer, he'd had to make regular trips to the chakan root estates.

Harvey was eating food cubes with obvious dislike.

"I must say I find it surprising that this place isn't better guarded."

Crais nodded in agreement . Ak Ba sat down beside him.

"My group thought there was a regular patrol down these corridors, I am indeed surprised to find that it isn't do."

Chiana had tucked the power coupling down her cleavage. D'Argo looked at her in surprise.

"Why did you do that?"

"Two pistols need two hands. It's safe enough."

"Are you sure you can fire with the cast on?"

"Makes good body armour."

Crais was fixing his hair. Bits had come loose during their trip across the lava field. Something was troubling him. He spoke in a considered manner.

"Unless we were expected!"

"You mean this is a trap?"

"Well it seems far too easy. Only one guard, no patrols, few of the doors locked. We've never had it this easy before."

Harvey stretched.

"I have the distinct feeling that something is clearly wrong. Better get ready to party boys and girls."

"Hey that was almost vintage Crichton!" Chiana exclaimed cheerfully.

"I'm afraid some of his quaint expressions have taken a hold in my consciousness."

Crais picked up his rifle and checked it.

"We must be prepared for the possibility that this is a trap. Check your weapons."

There was a general inspection and Harvey hitched his bandolier of bullets up to a reachable position. They moved out of the room carefully looking both ways before exiting. Ak Ba had primed one of the new rifles with chakan oil and was carrying it in a ready position.

"Which way do we go? Do we explore further? See what's up ahead or do we go back and meet up with the others?"

"Well remember it was agreed that if anything happened to one group the other took the part and went back to Moya."

Just then they heard the sound of running feet and positioned themselves ready to shoot. Round the bottom corridor came the figure of a distraught Aeryn Sun. She sank to the floor when she saw them.

Crais took command.

"What's happened? Where are the rest of your group?"

"Can't.... speak. No....breath."

"Give her a minute Crais. Girl needs time to get her breath back."

D'Argo sprang to her defence immediately. After a few microts her heaving sides slowed down and she regained some of her composure.

"We'd found the power coupling and were returning. I was ahead. Suddenly I heard a scream and looked round. There was a gaping hole in the floor and I just caught sight of the top of Sout's head disappearing. Then the floor slid back and the opening shut."

She hugged her knees.

"They're gone! All gone and I don't know where. Merciful goddess what are we going to do?"

A stunned silence greeted Aeryn's tale. Chiana looked at d'Argo who just shook his head. Crais was the first to recover.

"We should try for a rescue."

Aeryn nodded but was prevented from speaking from Harvey.

"Oh yes Crais. And just where do we look? In the cellar, in the gallery, just where in this enormous structure do we look? Just tell me!"

"But we can't just leave them."

"Oh and why not Aeryn Sun? Give me one good reason why not."

"Because we can't", she added lamely.

"Scorpius told us if one group was captured or got into difficulties, the other was to make their way back to Moya. Have you all got such short memories?"

"Do you know what to to with the power coupler", muttered d'Argo.

"I'm sure Sareel will have left copious notes. Whatever else she is, she's meticulous in her record keeping."

"I don't think so!"

Chiana laughed. She knew where Sareel stored her notes, but there was no dissuading Harvey. He was convinced Scorpius had left sufficient knowledge in his brain for him to be able to adapt the wormhole machine as Sareel had specified to sense temporal shifts. Chiana also knew that the little Vaud had the vague stirrings of another idea in her head before their departure. Harvey would know nothing about that. But he was adamant and a subdued party made their way back to the entrance.

"Well no need for subterfuge this time! They know we're here."

There was a mad dash across the open space, but nothing happened. No sudden appearance of hordes of troopers, no alarms. Ak Ba was perturbed.

"Most strange. Why should they let us go so easily?

Aeryn furnished what proved to be a most disturbuing answer.

"Because they've frelling got what they wanted! It's obvious."

"Scorpius!."

"Yes Scorpius, d'Argo. Or Sareel or Sout. Take your pick. They were targeted."

"But how would they have known they were here?"

"Exactly, Crais!"

"Unless...."

"Unless we've got an informer aboard."

Chiana was horrified at the suggestion.

"Aeryn it couldn't be..no not one of us. We've all so much to lose."

"Well I know someone who's got a lot to gain if Scorpius goes permanently absent."

She fixed Harvey with an accusing stare.

"Well don't look at me. Oh I admit I've had thoughts of taking over from Scorpius, but not here. I want a science facility and there don't seem to be any here. I've no desire to be castaway in a den of warring Scarrans. I want to return to our time as much as the rest of you."

"Do we believe you?"

"Sounds quite convincing. And he wouldn't get what he wants here."

"But he's sure that he can do the work Sareel was doing."

"That still won't get us home."

"I suppose not."

While the two ex Peacekeepers were having therir interchange Harvey was looking from one to the other.

"Deuce!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Tennis. Something else Crichton seems to have firmly lodged in my mind. A game played on earth with a ball and two stringed bats call racquets, over a net."

"Irrelevant."

"I agree totally, but when equal points have been scored the score is said to be deuce."

By this time they'd reached the outer perimeter of the lava field. Aeryn sighed. Not a place she enjoyed being. Still there was no Sareel to panic this time. Suddenly she had a feeling of utter desolation. No Sareel, no Scorpius. How the frell were they ever to get off this dren of a planet? Where in Zork's  name were they? She'd effictively lost Crichton to the perversion he called Harvey, now no Sareel. She had to admit that Scorpius, though mistrusted, gave one a feeling of security, a stable presence, but there was now no feeling of security!

It was her turn to leap the fiery ditch and she never gave it a thought. They were soon all safely across.

"Much better without the Vaud. She's such a nuisance."

Aeryn leapt over to him. It tore at her heart strings to do so, he still looked like Crichton, and punched him hard.

"Just shut up. We don't need your comments."

Crias pulled her off the now prostrate figure. She was still flailing and tried to hit him. Crais slapped her face hard.

"Aeryn Sun I agree totally, but we must show an example."

She stared at him and her mind settled back to normal. She hung her head.

"I'm sorry."

"Hey don't be sorry Aeryn. I've been dying to do that for ages."

"It's taken all my self control not to do it", rumbled d'Argo.

Ak Ba picked up the dishevelled Harvey who was rubbing the tender spot on his chin.

"If I were you I'd keep a low profile, Peacekeeper."

"I'm not a Peacekeeper I'm Human."

He paused a microt.

"I think I am. Now Scorpius is half Scarran and half Sebbacian but I don't have any of his DNA. Well I don't think I do so therefore I'm still Human. No wonder I got the use of such a puny brain!"

The Scarran was waiting patiently for him to finished his one sided discussion.

"No matter what you are, I'd keep well out of the way for a while."

"Perhaps you're right. I've got work to do anyway."

He shook off the hand of the Scarran who appeared not to noticed the movement. They made their way across the lava field in silence. The only sounds were the bubbling and slurping of the white hot rock under their feet. Occasionally there were small holes where the glowing rock could ben seen. The ground suddenly shook. Ak Ba looked up.

"I think this is going to be a large eruption. We'd better make all the speed we can."

Aeryn was uncomfortable in the respirator. "Oh great!" She muttered to herself. They followed the Scarran over the scoria as fast as they could without putting themselves in danger of tripping. There was a glow behind them and a loud noise.

"It's started throwing out bombs. Duck when I tell you!"

They were only too willing to follow his orders and the next fifteen microts were spent in evasive manoeuvres, until they were out of range of the erupting volcano. When they were in the cool and back on normal land they all sat down for a breather.

"Aeryn?"

"Yes Chiana."

"If Harvey isn't our informer then that leaves Rygel, Pilot, Talyn and Stark."

"Correct."

"Oh. So who do you think it is?"

D'Argo worked his way over to them.

"Never did trust the Hynerian. Look how many times he'd have sold Crichton down the line."

"And you never thought of it?"

He made an embarassed little cough.

"Well on the one occasion. But it was for Jothee."

"And that makes it right?"

"Stop squabbbling you two. You're beginning to sound like a mated pair!"

Chiana and d'Argo looked at one another and the Nebari burst out laughing. Aeryn carried on, "Personally I'd say it was Stark."

Crais joined the group.

"Why do you say that?"

"I've never felt completely comfortable when he's around. I always get the feeling he's acting a part."

"Zhaan always got on well with him."

"Well I hate to say it whe she can't defend herself, but there were times when she was too trusting."

There was silence for a short while before Chiana added, "There've been sometimes when I've been a bit scared of him. You know when he seems to lose control. I always was told stykeras were in total control of themselves."

They were about to restart their journey when Pilot's voice came through on their comm unit earpieces.

"I have something to tell Scorpius."

Aeryn responded.

"He's not here Pilot."

"But this is most important. Talyn thinks the time fault is about to be activated again."

Rygel's voice came over the link.

"And I've had a message on Sareel's primitive receiver. Scorpius not there you say? And just where is he when he's needed?"

"I wish we knew Rygel. They disappeared down a hole in the floor."

Pilot was sounding very agitated.

"They, Captain Sun. Who was with him?"

"Sareel and Sout."

They heard him giv an exasperated sigh.

"The two people we were relying on to get us home and you lose them! Moya is most unhappy. Unhappy and frightened. And so am I.  Why I ever thought we could trust  you  at all I shall never know."

The communication was terminated abruptly. Crais got up.

"The sooner we get back to the ships, the better, I think."

They shouldered their weapons and started towards the place where the transports and prowler had landed. It was two ahns later when they finally reached their destination. Ak Ba was fascinated by the transport pods.

"And these go back to your larger vessels?"

"Yes. We'll go back to Moya and Talyn in them."

He then spotted Sareel's prowler.

"This craft is beautiful."

"Beautiful and deadly. It fights in space and in the atmosphere. It has advanced weapons."

"Extremely advanced if Sareel's had anything to do with them."

Crais suddenly realised that the Scarran had been compromised by helping them.

"Ak Ba. Can you get back to your group?"

The Scarran shook his head.

"I know not where they are. At the last attack they scattered."

Crais said to Aeryn, "I think he should come with us."

"I'm not too sure. What if he's a spy?"

"Well if he is he's not a very good one. He could have let us get killed at least three times."

Chiana had split away fom the others and went up the the Ak Ba.

"You don't look quite like the Scarrans I've seen."

He smiled.

"In your day you've only seen the genetically 'improved' race. It looks very much as if my people have no chance of survival."

"And you can accept that?"

He shrugged his shoulders.

"What chance have I alone in stopping them?"

"Not a lot. I think you'd better come with us. You'll be safer."

Aeryn had heard the last part of what Chiana had said.

"Crais and I think that too. As to being safer. What do you think Rygel's going to say when we appear with a full blooded Scarran?"

"Come back Scorpius, all is forgiven?"

"I sincerely doubt it. The offer's there Ak Ba. It's up to you.!"

"I thank you most gratefully. There is little for me here and I may be able to be of use to you."

"Crais, I'll take the prowler back."

"Sensible precaution."

Aeryn went over to the prowler as the others entered the transports. She pressed the button to raise the canopy. Nothing happened. She tried again. Still nothing. Taking her light pad she inspected the unit.

"Very neat Sareel."

The normal access button had been replaced by a small flat pad which Aeryn recognised as a DNA coder. They'd only ever been used on top secret installations, but Aeryn guessed that to anyone of Scorpius's power, getting hold of them would present no problem.

She made her way back to the transports. Moya's had taken off, but she got Crais's attention and he opened the hatch. She climbed in and strapped her self into the co-pilot's seat.

"Isn't it working?"

"Don't know. Sareel's put a high security genetic lock on it."

"And we can guess who are the only ones it will recognise."

They said together.

"Scorpius and Sareel!"

They lifted off and headed towards the Leviathans.

"I shall drop you off on Moya, before returning to Talyn. That is unless you'd like to learn more about Talyn and his systems. It makes a great deal of sense if someone else can handle him, in case I am ever totally indisposed."

It was something Aeryn had been thinking about for a while. Ever since Crais had said that the little ship would like to have her advise him.

"I can go back to Moya later. There's nothing I can usefully do for the time being and Harvey's getting on my nerves."

"Understandable. Tell me when do we get Crichton back?"

She shook her head.

"I don't know. Tomorrow, next cycle, never. It all depends on whether Scorpius and Sareel can separate the two of them. And that depends on whether we ever see them again."

"You have doubts that we will?"

"Yes."

"Never, never write off Scorpius. He has a knack of surviving that I for one envy greatly. And as for Sareel, she's only got to get into that energy form of hers...."

"But will she be allowed to. I heard Scorpius tell her on the lava field that it seemed impossible for her to change personality when she was stressed."

They docked on Talyn and Crais took her aboard and began to show her the work that Scorpius had done with the living gunship.

"What the frell did you want to bring him aboard for? I can just about tolerate Scorpius, well most of the time, but a full blooded Scarran? You need your heads examining!"

Rygel was so worked up that his floating dais was bobbing up and down with his agitated movements. Chiana put her face right up to his.

"And I suppose, Mr Selfish, you'd have just left him there to his fate? A fine way of thanking him for his help that would have been!"

"But he could be working for the what d'you call 'em.... Technos. A spy!"

"Sout didn't think he was a spy, nor did Sareel, and I'd trust their judgement any day. Anyway what could he spy on before we arrived? The tattered remnants of his resistance group? The crops in the fields? "

She threw her arms in the air in exasperation.

"There are times Rygel when I despair of you completely. Go and stuff your face or something."

"I say you look ravishing when you're angry my dear. Your grey seems to glow."

"And I'm not in the mood for any of your improper suggestions!"

"Pity!"

The Hynerian floated off to the food store in the galley. Chiana had got food out of the freezer, but had been shocked to see that the stock of vegetables was shrinking appreciably.

"We should have started off a hydroponics unit like Sareel suggested. Then veg wouldn't have been a problem!"

She followed the Dominar to the galley. He was eating some of the dorkgrubs she'd put out for him, a Hynerian delicacy that the rest of the crew found revolting. Well they wriggled and that got her retching immediately. Lifting a cooking pot out of a store unit, she cut up the protein ration into small cubes and added some of the dwindling vegetables. She got out a smaller pot and put in trasch root. Crichton had said it resembled an earth vegetable called sweet potato. Rygel slid over.

"Ugh, what's the meat?"

"I'm not telling. This is cook's surprise."

"It will be when they taste it. How long's that animal been dead?"

Chiana waved the chopping knife in his direction.

"We can always have fresh Hynerian, though you might be a bit tough!"

She advanced towards him menacingly.

"You don't mean it? He...lp anybody! The Nebari's gone beserk."

Chiana chased Rygel round and round the galley. She was enjoying herself immensely. Rygel was a frelling pain and totally selfish to boot, most of the time. Occasionally, just occasionally he did something good or unselfish, but not often. Mostly he spent his time bemoaning his fate. Since they'd made a large amount on the ore freighting, his latest idea was how soon he could organise a revolution on one of his outer colonies. It had been pointed out that they were nowhere near to the planet in question, had no intention of going in that direction at all. The survey was to be carried out much deeper into the Uncharted Territories.

Finally Rygel managed to slip out of the door and nearly knocked d'Argo for six on the way out.

"Mind where you'e going," the Luxan snapped.

"She's gone mad with the chopper", the Hynerian squeaked, "I'd be careful if I were you."

And he sped off to his chamber. D'Argo entered the galley with quite a bit of trepidation, but all he found was Chiana leaning back on her elbows on the side bench, chopper hanging from her right hand laughing fit to bust. Tears were running down her face.

"Hi d'Argo. I needed that! Did you see Rygel's face? I'm surprised he didn't float up to the roof on a gas cloud."

"He was clearly upset by your behavior."

His nose wrinkled as he sniffed the air.

"What the hezmana's that smell?"

Chiana moved in front of the cooking pot.

"Dinner."

"More like something's died. And quite a while ago!."

He pulled her away from the pot and lifted the lid.

"Jequats toc phat! We're to eat that?"

"Food's getting a bit short. We may be on food cubes by the end of the weeken."

"If that's all we've got they might be preferable!"

He took hold of her arm, took the chopper off her and laid it down on the side.

"Now exactly what is in that pot."

She wrinkled her nose and pouted slightly.

"You don't really want to know?"

"I don't ask questions if I'm unlikely to get answers!"

"Oh d'Argo. Well there's trasch root, and catal and mirc and lettin and...."

"Cut the greegrocery list Chiana. What's the meat?"

She looked at her feet. D'Argo put his hand under her chin and raised her face to look at him.

"Chiana. What's the meat?"

He looked most fierce and she was scared of his reaction.

"Er...trifetidal."

"What!"

The Luxan's roar could be heard all over Moya.

"It's been properly prepared."

"I don't care if all the priests in the Delvian synod have chanted over it, it's carrion!"

"Ka d'Argo. What's wrong? Moya's quite concerned at your anger."

"Pilot, tell Moya it's a crew matter. Nothing to worry her."

He grabbed Chiana by the elbow and half dragged her into his quarters. She stood defiantly in the middle of the room.

"You can shout all you want d'Argo. That's what's for dinner. That's all we've got. If Ak Ba can't tell us where we can catch some thing planet side we're catching those frelling conduit rats tomorrow."

She muttered under her breath, "If you'd have come in later, the smell would have gone. Tastes all right if you can't smell it."

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

Ak Ba had heard the commotion and deemed it wise to stay well away. After all his presence wasn't particularly welcomed on the ship. Totally fascinated by the complexity of the organometal vessel he turned into the galley. His nostrils had smelt the cooking food. Lifting the lid he stirred the bubbling contents with a spoon.

"Delicious. Trifetidal, what a delicacy!"

*******

Harvey was in the laboratory Scorpius and Sareel had set up in Zaahn's old chamber. He'd placed the two power couplers on the side bench and was trying to access Sareel's private computer. Without much success. She'd set her own access code and all he got was a holoflic of a Sebbacian dancing girl and the word 'Naughty!'. He was getting frustrated. He'd left the holflic running the last time, it took his attention.

"Mmm. Very interesting. Now how do they do that? Surprised Scorpius let her put anything like that on her computer."

But interesting as it might be, it didn't solve the problem of where Sareel kept her notes. Possibly in the computer, but he'd got a vague memory, possibly from Crichton, of her writing things down on an inscribe pad.

"Wonder how John likes my dumpster. I locked the lid on mine, he never thought of that."

Finally he found an inscribe pad and activated it. There were a few sketches of where the power coupler was to go and the connections, but little in the way of instructions. He picked up one of the couplers.

"They're different. Wonder if it matters?"

He unfastened the lid to the top coaming on the wormhole machine and peered inside. There was very little to see.

"Yet this can create a wormhole. Impressive!"

Sareel's drawings showed the coupler attached across two thin strips of metal at the bottom of the cylinder. Taking the fusing gun he attached it exactly where the sketch indicated. He was interrupted by Chiana.

"Go away. I'm busy."

"Thought you might be hungry."

He straightened up.

"Yes I am. I hadn't noticed."

"See you've not found Sareel's notes."

"I've found these."

He pointed to the inscribe pab.

"Just her working scribbles."

"Are you going to tell me where they are?"

"Won't do you any good."

He shook her.

She straightened her rumpled top.

"Hey more of that and I won't tell you anything. Sareel keeps her notes and often Scorpius's notes in the database in her neurotube and downloads them periodically to Scorpius's secure central computer."

She poked Harvey in the chest.

"Only this time she told me she'd downloaded the whole Peacekeeper scientific database into her holding buffers. She intended downloading the lot into a temporary database on Moya's neural synapses. Whatever they are."

"And do you know if she did?"

The Nebari shook her head.

"I don't think so. She intended doing it when she returned from getting the power coupler."

Harvey hailed Pilot.

"Do you know If Sareel downloaded anything to Moya before she left?"

"Why yes. I believe she did. Moya says yes."

"Can you put it up on the screen?"

"Just a microt."

Pilot's face disappeared to be replaced by a series of schematics.

"Ah this is better!"

Chiana burst out laughing.

"I don't think so."

"What do you mean?"

"Those won't convert a wormhole machine. They're the detailed workings of the laundry unit!"

She left the room laughing gleefully. Harvey was thoroughly disgruntled. He'd got the capability to do what Scorpius could. He felt certain of that, so why couldn't he work out how to make a temporal shift detector. Why not indeed? But first he'd eat. He made his way to the galley and Chiana was there doling out plates of stew. He sat down in the lounge and began to fork it into his mouth. When he'd finished he took the plate back into the galley. Chiana had left and d'Argo was putting plates in the debris remover.

"Delicious meal! My compliments to the cook. I don't suppose there's any more?"

D'Argo rushed past him and ran towards his chamber.

"Strange! I wonder why he looked as if he was going to be sick?"

He helped himself to the remains of the stew at the bottom of the pot and took it back to the laboratory.

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

On board Talyn Aeryn was learning about the workings of the gunship.

"Does he have control of the armaments?"

"Yes. I'm supposed to be able to over ride him but he's extremely wilful at times and getting stronger ahn by ahn. So you see why it's vital to have you able to support me with him."

She looked at him. In spite of his calm explanation, she sensed that not all was well in the relationship between Talyn and Bialar Crais.

"Your'e frightened of what he might decide to do all on his own?"

"His destructive potential is immense."

"Yes I remember at the depository, it was quite impressive."

Crais shook his head.

"That was nothing. He only used about a seventh of his capacity and at half power."

Aeryn was shocked.

"Just what have the Peacekeepers created."

"The aim was the ultimate in weapons of war. A vessel which could appear almost anywhere and scare enemies into submission."

"I'd say they'd suceeded."

She looked at him. He was looking straight ahead. She recognised that he was communicating with the ship.

"Trouble?"

"No just Talyn says I should tell you everything. It seems that the Peacekeepers decided that Talyn must be returned to their jurisdiction. Scorpius told him to keep well away from regular patrol areas. He doesn't want Talyn in their hands."

"It makes sense with a war imminent that they have all the firepower they can muster."

"Yes, but there's another thing."

"What?"

"Talyn doesn't want them to have him!"

"I'd have thought that it would have fulfilled his purpose. He was designed to kill!"

"Our ship has developed emotions, just like his mother. He's also developed an independent streak."

"And he was supposed to do so?"

"I believe not."

Aeryn leaned on the weapons control console.

"Strange to think that a ship is capable of making decisions on his own."

"He also has developed loyalties."

"And they're not to the Peacekeepers."

"He feels a duty to protect Moya and her crew and myself. He's very drawn to you Aeryn. Please consider being his second advisor."

"I don't know Crais. Things are far from normal at the moment. What with Crichton being run by that clone and Scorpius, Sareel and Sout disappearing, probably captured, everything seems to be in a mess. I can't give you an immediate answer. I'll have to think about it."

"I can't ask for more."

Crais took Aeryn's hand and loking into her eyes, kissed it. She didn't take it away. It was a moment that seemed pregnant with symbolism.

Part 8

Harvey had got the inscribe pad and was busy making sketches.

"If the power coupler goes there, then that should enhance the time signature of the virtual particle ejector and enable the machine to detect a fold in the fabric of time."

He made several drawings and then threw the pad down on the bench in disgust.

"Bah, if the silly female had kept proper notes then I'd at least have some idea what the virtual particle ejector looked like."

He looked once again inside the wormhole machine. Poking a bunch of optical fibres he noticed a small plate that was hidden by them.

"Could be, could be. Now how can I join an optical fibre to a power coupler?"

He tried various combinations for nearly two hours, before he wandered off in disgust to get something to eat. Rygel was in the lounge.

"Got it working yet."

"It's extremely complicated."

"Funny Sareel didn't seem to think so. She said it was simple."

Chiana had been listening by the galley entrance.

"Perhaps you're not as clever as you think!"

"Could you do it?"

"Could you fix the laundry? I can now."

"What's the laundry got to do with a piece of advanced astrophysical equipment?"

"She was making a point. Sareel taught her how and she's intelligent enough to remember. Which seems to be more than I can say for you. What's the matter? Scorpius not given you as many of his skills as you claim?"

"I'll always be superior to a Hynerean."

"Have you got the experience of ruling billions of subjects? No, I didn't think so. You've got nofrellingexperience of anything. Only the memories you've filched from Crichton. I can tell you this. You're a poor substitute."

Chiana clapped her hands. Harvey glared at her and went into the galley. The cupboards were bare. He came out again in a huff.

"Where's the food?"

"Said we were getting low yesterday. Ak Ba's taken d'Argo planet side to do some hunting and browsing. Hopefully there are some crops left round his village and Ak Ba says there are some velolope in the foot hills."

"So what do we do in the meantime?"

"Stay hungry."

There was a rumble from Rygel's belly.

"I can tell you it's not doing my digestive system any good!"

Aeryn walked in.

"Is this a special disagreement or can anyone join in?"

"Are you hungry Aeryn?"

She looked at Chiana in surprise.

"No, Crais and I had something before he brought me back."

"Well you're the onlyfrellingone who has!"

"We're out of food till d'Argo and Ak Ba come back."

Aeryn patted Rygel on the head

"Never mind. You've been gaining weight this last few weeken. Good chance to lose a bit !"

"That's not funny."

His ears flicked.

"Say d'you think Crais would let me have something to eat if I go over to Talyn?"

Chiana burst out laughing.

"Well full marks for cheek your greenness."

"He's more likely to shoot you and stick you in the pot!"

He looked from one to the other and then at Harvey, who merely waved his hand and said, "Don't involve me. I appear to be a mere bystander in these proceedings."

Beaten, Rygel slipped off, grumping all the way to his chamber.

"Bet you he's got something stowed away in there."

"I wouldn't take you up on that bet. Knowing Rygel he's probably got a store of food cubes."

"But he hates food cubes."

"Don't we all! But they're better than nothing."

Harvey toyed with the idea of following Rygel and making him part with some, that was if he really did have a cache, but decided to go back to the lab and reapply him self to the task in hand.

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

Pilot was organising the DRD's to make a thorough overhaul of Moya's systems. The Leviathan had suggested that her starburst capabilities would be better for it and he was receptive to her request.

"No we don't want to stay here one microt longer than necessary."

The neural fibres hummed again.

"Oh I agree, Unless they find Scorpius and Sareel we're marooned. Harvey's just a shadow of the real thing. Yes I'd like Crichton back too, even with all his faults he better than Harvey."

Pilot didn't have nutrition problems, Moyas was sustaining him as a part of herself. She took energy from the vast reaches of space and then she momentarily dematerialised, everything on her included and then rematerialised possibly light years away from her original position. It was part of her ability to starburst and was why there were times she couldn't starburst at all. She could also convert small amounts to matter and regenerate parts of herself. The distribution of energy particles was, to say the least haphazard. Some areas were energy rich, some almost devoid of anything useful. Fortunately, the area around Pharas was rich in particles.

"Talyn confirmed the time distortion. Yes, yes that must mean there's another traveller on the way. Oh I do wish they'd go and get Scorpius and Sareel back. I just don't know what will happen to us all if they don't!"

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

Ak Ba and d'Argo had had a successful hunt. They'd killed a velolope and a tarlid, so meat was assured for a while. A careful search of Ak Ba's village had also yielded grain and there were vegetables in the small gardens.

"I think there'll be some relieved faces when we get back."

Ak Ba nodded in agreement. They were carrying baskets of vegetables back to the transport. Reaching it they loaded the produce and went back to the village. A movement from one of the buildings caught their eye. D'Argo looked at AK Ba.

"Animal?"

"It had the look of a biped and there are no wild biped animals on Pharas."

"It seemed somehow...familiar."

They carefully moved towards the building. They were some distance away when suddenly a brown clad figure dived out of the doorway and fled into the surrounding countryside. D'Argo was visibly shocked.

"What is it my friend?"

"It couldn't be! How could he have got here and why?"

Ak Ba indicated a stone slab by the now dry fountain in the plaza.

"Sit awhile and tell me what worries you."

D'Argo slumped heavily on the slab. His shoulders sagged.

"I thought it was a member of our crew, but the only transport's there in the valley. And if it was why? What business would he have on the planet?"

Ak Ba cleared his throat.

"Do you trust this individual?"

"Well he's been useful from time to time, but not really. There's something strange and unpredictable about him."

A small smile touched the lips of the Scarran.

"From my observations, that description could be applied to all your crew, yourself included."

D'Argo was about to reply angrily, when he saw that from an outsider's point of view that would apply.

"I suppose you could be right. But I'm sure it was him!"

Between them they collected the rest of the mature vegetables and watered the gardens.

"We'll have more later if we do this now", Ak Ba had said. They were laden down as they made their way to the transport.

"I'mfrellingsure it was him. I'll check as soon as we get back to Moya!"

"It may be entirely innocent, you know. Some whim of his."

Produce safely stowed aboard, he piloted the small craft back to Moya. Docking, he leapt out as soon as life support was established and ran to the living quarters nearly knocking Aeryn over in to process. She looked after his running figure, her eyes wide open in surprise.

"What's fired his engine?"

Chiana joined her, cocking her head to the side.

"Well you know d'Argo. Jumps to conclusions and then regrets it."

They were surprised to see him return.

"Where's Stark?"

"In his chamber as far as I know."

"Haven't seen much of him at all recently. He's having one of his quiet periods."

"For which we can all be thankful!"

"I looked in his chamber. He's not there."

Aeryn touched her communicator.

"Pilot, can you tell us where Stark is?"

"In the forward hold."

D'Argo butted in.

"How long's he been there Pilot?"

"I couldn't say Ka d'Argo. I only know he's there now."

"Thank you Pilot."

D'Argo sat down on the sofa. Chiana and Aeryn sat opposite him. Aeryn looked at him inquiringly.

"I don't suppose you'd like to tell us just what thefrell'sgoing on. You charge in here as if you've got the Elite Squad on your tail. Why the concern about Stark?"

Ak Ba came in.

"Have you located your man?"

"Yes but it answers nothing."

"D'Argo I don't suppose you'd like to tell me what's going on?" "It may be something or it may be nothing."

He paused and scratched his tanka.

"Well? Oh just get on with it!"

"We were entering the village when Ak Ba and I saw a movement in one of the dwellings. At first we thought it might be an animal."

"And I gather it wasn't."

"No. A figure shot out of the door and fled into the fields. I'll swear it was Stark."

Aeryn looked puzzled.

"Stark planetside?"

"Yes, but how did he get there? And more to the point why?"

"Stark's a law to himself. I've given up wondering why he does what he does a long time ago."

D'Argo scratched his ear.

"Frell!I seem to have been bitten by something down there."

"Nogies!"

"What?"

Ak Ba patiently repeated the explanation.

"Nogies. Small biting insects, rather prevalent at this time of the year. Never bother me though. I think my skin must be thicker than yours."

"Come on you two. Never mind the livestock. What about Stark. Could he have gone into his energy body to get down there?"

D'Argo looked at her, worry clouded his face. "Aeryn I don't know. He always insists he can't voluntarily do that, but I've never felt comfortable with him around. Perhaps he just says that to cover up."

"But why should he?"

"Face it Aeryn we've got a spy on board Moya. I think we can rule out Harvey and Rygel. Pilot and Moya, well sometimes they seem to be leading a completely independant existance to the rest of us, but I don't think they'd do that. It would put them in danger too. So that leaves Stark. Dear, kind, caring, out of control Stark!"

"Zhaan thought the world of him."

"There were times when Zhaan saw life through blinkers."

Aeryn was quiet for a microt or two.

"I really never thought about it but I think you're probably right. So if all that Stark appears to have done and appears to feel is a cover up, then just what thefrellis he?"

"I wish I knew the answer to that. Definitely not a stykera. Even Scorpius seems to have failed with him. He seems to have been his prime interest until Crichton came along."

"Then just what do we do d'Argo?"

Ak Ba came in with a suggestion.

"Never tell him the truth. Get the rest of your crew together and tell them exactly what you think and then make sure he's fed a pre-arranged version of everything you plan to do, but not the real one!"

"Makes sense Aeryn. But I wish I knew just what he's gaining by betraying us all!"

Aeryn threw back her plait.

"There's a possibility we'll never know."

They sat glumly each wrapped up in their own thoughts. Aeryn broke the silence.

"The Scarrans knew we were coming."

"Stark?"

"Looks likely. But he hates Scarrans!"

"Aeryn, have you ever actually heard him say that?"

"Now you come to mention it, no."

"We're all so adamant in our dislike and distrust that we assumed he felt the same way." Aeryn looked at Ak Ba who was sitting silently opposite them.

"I'm sorry Ak Ba. But you have to understand that in our time there's very little good to be said for Scarrans."

He looked at her, there was no malice in his face, just the hint of a tear in the corner of his eye.

"Aeryn Sun, from what has happened to me and my family, I can quite believe that. Now please could I go to my quarters. I should like to be alone for a while."

Part 8a