Part 21

Crichton used the magician's slight indecision to walk through the curtains in the alcove behind him, the amphitheatre having become a Moorish house complete with fountains. The only difference was these fountains gushed blood.

"Why do you expect me to believe you?"

"Ah Sareel he can't read into our minds. He's met his match."

Scorpius was still holding the Vaud's hand.

"A temporary glitch. I will soon master the patterns."

Sareel twitched and Scorpius smiled slightly.

"Nice place you have here Maldis."

"Crichton! Where's Crichton?"

"Getting the tour of the house beautiful Mephistopheles. Some place you have."

The magician showed Crichton the chase with Crais and other bad bits in his life.

"Wow! Nice try Maldie boy but I've faced all those gremlins, they don't scare me no more."

Scorpius sudden released Sareel's hand and grabbed his head.

"They're coming for you Scorpius. Remember the days of your childhood. Relive every last painful moment, before they take you apart piece by tiny piece until they have your knowledge bare then they'll cast you aside. Oh how sweet that will be. You'll be haunted for the rest of your life."

Four heavily armoured Scarrans suddenly appeared. Scorpius gritted his teeth and snarled.

"Clever! But I was trained beyond the feeling of mere pain and fear. They are illusions!"

"Oh dear! Afraid not dear boy. Totally real and extremely annoyed at being taken from their vatchek game."

One of them suddenly caught sigh of the little group and the leader pointed.

"Scorpius!"

"Better run hybrid. That is if you want to survive."

Scorpius got a quick flash from Sareel.

"Pretend!"

Scorpius moved swiftly out the brass studded doors and entered the corridor where Crichton was busily inspecting doors

"Scorpie!"

"We'll have to be quick John. He's got four Scarrans chasing me."

"Real Scarrans."

"Real Scarrans John."

Crichton whistled.

"He's moved up a notch or two. He only summoned shades before."

"Well I suggest we cut the niceties. I'll take this side."

"This place is like a rabbit warren. Expect Bugs Bunny to pop out any time now."

"Well I suggest unless he has a pulse rifle that we move. Fast."

The four Scarrans came lumbering down the corridor.

"Scorpius."

"And Crichton. The reward is ours."

"See what you mean. Door inspection temporarily halted."

They moved ahead and met a blank wall."

Scorpius halted.

"I hate to mention it but there's no other way.

"In Maldis's world there's always another way. He sets riddles and questions and feeds off you when you think you're frelled. Told you!"

Crichton's arm had disappeared through the wall. He grabbed the half Scarran's hand and yanked him through the wall into......

"Pilach!"

"Can't be. How does he know of Pilach?"

"At a guess Stark. At least John there are places where we can hide."

"And plan. We've gotta have a plan in all this Scorpie."

"Oh John I know your plans, they seldom go smoothly."

Crichton grinned.

"Yeah. Well it all adds to life's rich tapestry."

"Must remember exactly where we came through."

"Back wall of the gazebo."

"John this is a temple...."

"Move it Scorps. Here comes the heavy mob."

They both ran and took cover behind a tall hedge as the Scarrans broke through.

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

Sareel stood there impassively. Maldis walked round her.

"You. You are a mystery."

He put his face in hers and leered.

"What are you?"

"You tell me!"

"You have no mind, no soul. You don't exist."

"Now there's an enigma for for you!"

"I''ve never met your kind before."

"Look inside Maldis. What do you see?"

The vampire hissed.

"Fire. You're inside me."

"I can see way through you Maldis. Into your universe."

He danced round her.

"I'll summon help. The others are just waiting to come through."

"Oh I don't think so Maldis Souleater."

She suddenly blazed with light and left her body lying on the marble floor. Maldis cursed and shed his body too.

"There that's better Maldis. Pistol at two paces or in our case minds and wills. Direct combat."

"You will regret this Valkyrie."

"They are but legend."

"You are but real. Now I see you for what you really are."

There was flash of green fire from the disembodied wizard. Sareel absorbed it with out flinching.

"Is that the best you can do? Try this for size!"

Maldis reeled and his incandescence palled.

"I was only testing you Valkyrie. Just tickling you as it were!"

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

Urana, Romde, Saturnus and the two animals were all sitting on the floor round Tycho, who seemed oblivious to the immensity of the situation. Urana grimaced.

"Not good Fey?"

Saturus sounded uncharacteristically perturbed.

"Well Scorpius and Crichton are trolling round Pilach chased by irate Scarrans and Sareel's locked in mortal combat with the fiend."

Romde got the drift immediately.

"They've not found the door then."

"A bit difficult when you're running for your life someplace else!"

"Mmm. Father's up to his old tricks then?"

"Well he's certainly not inviting them for tea."

Saturnus yawned.

"Sorry Fey. I was up all night. The youngster had bad dreams. Can't we send the Scarrans home. I mean you make things appear from all over the universe."

"Now when I come to think of it, that's a definate possibility. I'll get onto my contacts. Rool we may need your help."

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

"Anyone ever told you that your trees need a haircut Scorpie."

"That is quadrilla moss."

"Well it sure puzzles the hell outa me how somthing that looks so fragile can cling onto you so well."

Crichton picked strands of the blue moss out of his hair. Scorpius was still well adorned. The stiff spines on the back of his surcoat having pulled a great deal of the stuff free as they charged down the woodland path.

"John they will be held up for a while."

"Yeah that swamp place. I say let's make for the temple while to going's good."

The sound of distant swearing in Scarran make Scorpius lift his head.

"Sorry John. They aren't quite as stupid as I thought. "

"Do you often make mistakes?"

"I do not like losing John. You of all people should realise that. If I make a mistake I strive all the harder after to make up for it. The algora I think."

"Look grasshopper, we haven't all got your super Scarran stamina."

The scientist bent close to the Human.

"Crichton any strength I may appear to have was gained through long and painful training."

He jerked Crichton to his feet.

"Now are you coming or do I have to carry you?"

"Now there's incentive to carry on."

"In case you had forgotten, Sareel's counting on us."

"Thought the whole frelling universe was counting on us."

"Sorry John? You will mutter so."

"You heard me Scorpie pie. Stop pretending."

They'd made it virtually to the edge of the massive drainage and reclamation area that served the main city on Pilach when the Scarrans appeared again. The leader raised his hand towards Crichton.

"Don't look now but it's the living microwave."

"Down the gulley."

Crichton was just about to follow him down the steep sided channel when all four Scarrans faded away before their eyes.

"Looks like someone's still batting on our side. Here let me help you up."

John extended a hand towards Scorpius who leapt quite gracefully onto the bank.

"That must have cost Crichton. Now let's get back and find that door. The Fey's just sent a message that Sareel's strength is fading a bit while Maldis seems to be gaining greatly."

"He's got a connection through that frelling portal thing."

"Undoubtably. That's why we must hurry."

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

"You can't win you know. I have reserves to draw on. You haven't."

"Want to make a bet on that?"

"Like taking candy from child. Now that's a rewarding occupation. There's so much distress when you do that."

"You've got such a sweet personality Maldis."

He grinned evilly.

"Haven't I just. You know together we could make a partnership that could conquer this universe and countless others."

"Why would I want to do that? I have enough trouble just living in this one."

She ducked as another shaft of power emenated from the magician.

"You don't think Crichton and Scorpius might just be able to save the day."

"Not a chance. I'd wager they're still trying to dodge four irate Scarrans. Bitch!"

Sareel had just dimmed his light quite considerably.

"You say the nicest things!"

His face contorted.

"You will pay. I have never before found anyone who could singlehandedly cause me discomfort."

Sareel had just got a flash from Urana that Scorpius and Crichton were back on the job. She felt a great deal more confident of success.

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

"That's the last one!"

"There's no door that even shows any sign of opening so how do we find a locked one John?"

"Search me!"

Crichton slumped to the ground and clasped his arms round his knees.

"Perhaps we're all meant to die here Scorpie."

"You disappoint me greatly sometimes Crichton. Where's the spirit you always showed against me?"

"All used up."

Scopius walked a little way down the corridor and inspected the walls.

"You said that in Maldis's world nothing was ever quite what it seemed to be?"

John lifted his head.

"Yeah that's right."

"Then when is a door not a door...."

"And a wall not a wall!"

He lept to his feet and began pushing the walls. Scorpius followed suit.

"John I think we might have something here."

Crichton ran to where Scorpius was standing.

"That's a bit different!"

The putti that decorated the ornate walls were all uniform, except for this one which seemed to leer rather than smile. They looked at one another.

"You got the key?"

"I thought Romde gave it to you John."

"Frell! Yes she did."

"You haven't lost it?"

"It's round here somewhere."

John was rummaging wildly through all the pockets of his trousers and finally brought out a small blue crystal.

"Eureka!"

"Just get on with it! Time for celebration when we finish what we came to do."

Crichton ran the crystal over the putti and a door slid open.

"Well done Romde!"

"This must be it!"

Scorpius stood facing a semicircular stone arch which was filled with a garish green fog and through which a lurid red cord was emenating. John pointed to it.

"That must be the energy he's drawing on!"

"Then we must break the connection."

John took out Winona and fired. The pulse bounced off a force field which was protecting the connection.

"Frell!"

Scorpius was already inspecting the stonework.

"Strange that isn't protected too."

"Mmm. I feel that he thinks that he's the only one who can make the gate work!"

The scientist placed his hand over an indentation.

"The crystal please John."

"What good's that gonna do?"

"Just an idea. It resembles a device which appeared in an obscure manuscript I once read."

John passed him the crystal and Scorpius began touching various parts round the indentation with it.

"Didn't think old books were in your line grasshopper!"

" I have researched much looking for wormholes. I may re-read them. This device might prove to be a better answer. There!"

The fog dissipated and the red cord disappeared.

"You shut it down. You really did it Scopie!"

"Now to get back to Sareel."

"Jut think us there."

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

Sareel suddenly noticed the fury on the psychic vampire's face and felt his loss of power. She was now very tired and recharging with energy from her surroundings was proving more and more difficult. Gritting her teeth she prepared for another pulse.

"This one's the last", she though, "I can't do more."

Secretly she felt defeated. Maldis whirled round, he was still powerful even without outside aid.

"Prepare to join me Valkyrie."

He threw a blinding pulse of energy out towards Sareel who was too tired even to try and avoid it. She started to crumple when from her head a brilliant orb of energy flew at Maldis. there was surprised on his face just before he disintigrated into millions of individual atoms. Sareel fell to the ground.

"Holy Moses what was that?"

Scorpius and Crichton had been standing at the back of the room and had observed the last action. Scorpius rushed over to the Vaud.

"I' don't know John, but thankfully she's still breathing."

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

Back in Urana's chambers the little group had been monitoring the action.

"She's not going to make it you know, Saturnus."

"But she must. She's all that's between us and a painful future."

"I though she could do it with our help. There must be something we can do."

"Well there's hope Romde. John and Scorpius have shut down the gate."

Romde's face clouded.

"They haven't destroyed it. They should have while they had the opportunity."

"Can't do everything. Now she's got a chance."

The Fey suddenly banged her fist down hard on the small table which was in front of her. The others jumped. It was most unlike the gentle creature to use so much force.

"Murth!"

Saturnus's brows raised.

"You swore!"

"She's too tired to mount an attack. He's going to teminally damage her."

"You make her sound like a robot."

"Sorry."

"What in heaven's name?"

They crowded round the orb which Romde had lent the Fey. The huge ball of light was visible and Maldis's disappearance made Romde cheer. None of them noticed the smile of satisfaction on the face of Tycho who was curled up on the rug with Bobby and Rool.

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

"I really don't know what happened John. I just felt this huge surge pass through me. I swear I had little to do with it other than direct it."

"Seems like we've got friends still. Somewhere."

Scorpius was checking over the Vaud with a medical scanner.

"No organic damage. I can't vouch for you mental abilities though."

"Believe me Scorpius, I'm fine."

John looked out of the window of the base library which was framing a beautiful sunset.

"So what now? The androids gave the Scarrans a shock they won't forget and Aeryn has made them virtually deaf and blind in a large sector. We can get our team together and we're on more equal terms."

Scorpius joined him looking out of the window.

"I think you know what we must do now John."

"The Eye of Infinity again!"

Sareel took Scorpius's and John's hands in hers.

"Where are we going to end up?"

"Well sure as hell not in this universe, princess!"

"Ugh. I do hate change!"

"You and me both. But what have we had the last cycle or two?"

"Change in plenty."

"What about officer Sun John?"

"Aeryn? I've got to face it Scorpie, that was just a beautiful dream."

"It was a dream that took you through a lot of adversity though."

John just looked at the sunset before replying, "Yeah!"

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

A month later Aeryn and Chiana were sitting round a table in the back garden to the new building that had been raised to replace the shattered remains of Bill's old saloon.

"You miss him?"

Aeryn nodded.

"He left a bit of himself inside me."

Chiana looked at her like an inquisitve parrot.

"You pregnant?"

The Sebbacian shook her head and smiled.

"No! No nothing like that. Just that I'll always remember him. He altered the way I think and feel."

"Yeah!"

"You?"

"Bill and I'll have a daughter in the fall."

Aeryn beamed.

"You will?"

"Yep. Never thought I'd want to settle down."

"There are far worse places than Earth."

"You've got that right. Rygel's got himself a mate too. A little Hynearean they found on a Scarran freighter. "

"Do you think it'll keep his mind off food."

"Shouldn't think so. She's as bad as him where that's concerned."

"And d'Argo?"

"He took the loss of Crais and Talyn badly. Said it was his fault they went into battle just then. I think he's learning about horses with Jimmy and his dad."

"So that's it then?"

"Yep."

Aeryn watched a bee lazily flying from flower to flower.

"I wonder where they are now!"