Xander was alone in the gymnasium, going through his morning katas. He stood in the center of the room holding his sword, shirtless and barefoot, wearing only a pair of warm-up pants and a blindfold. He went through the motions slowly, tracking the sword's movement in his mind's eye. He was trying to keep his mind clear and his thoughts focused, but he was finding that exceedingly difficult lately. It had been a little over a week since he and Chiana had escaped from Grayza's command carrier, since he discovered the truth about the amulet that he wore.
He hadn't told any of the others about it yet. He had already given them so much to try to get used to. On top of everything else, telling them that he had a piece of the life force of his four dead friends swimming around in his brain, it just wasn't a conversation he was ready to have yet. On the upside, it meant that he wasn't going crazy. Ironically, the very things he thought were hallucinations were what saved him from going insane, when the Aurora chair turned his brain into rice pudding. Not to mention helping his body purge Grayza's pheromones, and giving him a chance to escape. They saved his life, and the lives of everyone else in the universe for that matter.
But still, he was unsure how to feel about them. They were his friends, and yet they weren't. His friends were dead, gone. These things in his head were just pieces of them, and yet at the same time, pieces of himself. Willow, the Willow in his head, had been insistent that their being there didn't change who he was. They didn't control him, or even influence him very strongly. If they could, she pointed out, they never would have let him spend those first few months after their deaths wallowing in misery. They never would have let him ruin his relationship with Dawn. Xander was still responsible for those things. They were just there, to make sure that he was never alone, to make certain that he always remembered that his friends loved him, and to help out however they could. But he was still torn. What right did he have to indulge in some fantasy of his friends, when they were dead and gone? It felt…disrespectful somehow. But it was Willow's final gift to him, and rejecting it seemed equally disrespectful.
Xander increased the speed of his motions, concentrating on all of his others senses with his sight blocked. The weight and feel of the weapon in his hand, the sound of his feet on the mat and the sword cutting through the air. He could feel the essence of Buffy inside of him, encouraging him to push his body further.
He had yet another problem to deal with now, thanks to Grayza. Just beneath the surface, a beast lurked within him. Her pheromones had awakened it from it's prison, deep in Xander's psyche. Willow explained it to him, she told him that the hyena possession was very different from the soldier possession. Xander knew that much himself, he had experienced both after all. The soldier was another person, with his own set of memories and instincts, commandeering his body. He had just been along for the ride, watching through his eyes. But there was none of that duality when it came to the hyena, it was all about instinct. He was still Xander, only he was more. He had urges, and instincts that he simply couldn't suppress. Urges to hunt, to kill, to take a mate, to protect his pack. He could no more resist those urges than he could resist the urge to breathe, or blink his eyes. He was an animal, in every way that mattered. And that's what scared him the most. The fact that he was in control, and yet not in control. He wasn't just watching, he was feeling.
The spell that excised the hyena spirit may have ended the possession, but much like the soldier memories, there were still remnants of it. Not memories, but instincts. Deep within the psyche of every man lie the animalistic urges and instincts of his ancestors. The very traits that allowed the species to survive. Evolution may suppress them, but they never completely go away. That's where the hyena hid, attaching itself to those instincts, the same way the essences of his friends attached themselves to other aspects of his mind. Giles, his intellect, Tara, his emotions, Buffy, his body, and Willow, his soul. Grayza awakened those instincts, and the hyena along with them. It had grown powerful over the years, feeding off of Xander's own repressed caveman impulses. And now that it had been released from it's prison, it wasn't going back. Willow and the others managed to cage it, but it could take years to build up the mental blocks that it would take to fully contain it again. And until then, escaping was a very real possibility.
He could feel it inside of him, fighting to get out. Lust may have awakened it, but anger and violence fed it. Which ruled out the two of Xander's favorite ways to solve a problem. Even now, as Xander pushed himself harder through his morning routine, he could feel it, urging him to let out a primal scream. Xander was moving faster now, his sword slicing through the air at deadly speeds. His teeth were clenched, his hair matted to his head with sweat, some of which was dripping under the blindfold. But he didn't care, he pushed himself even harder. The more the hyena prodded him, the angrier he got, and the angrier he got, the more power he gave it. Until finally, Xander couldn't take it anymore.
He let loose with a feral roar, and flung his sword away with all of his strength. Then he collapsed onto the mat, his lungs burning as they struggled to pull in more oxygen. He refused to be baited by the beast. He would sooner die than unleash that animal again. The first time, he nearly killed Willow, not to mention what he had almost done to Buffy. He would not let that happen again. He pulled the blindfold from his face and looked up. In front of him was the practice dummy that he often used, with his sword sticking out of its chest. Sand was pouring from the hole onto the floor.
"Geez, what did that dummy ever do to you?"
Xander looked over at the door and saw Chiana standing there, leaning against the wall. She was smiling at him, so he guessed that she hadn't seen him losing control. "Hey," he said, still catching his breath. "Ah, I guess I…ah, just got carried away. I'll fix it later. What's up?"
If Chiana suspected that anything was wrong, she didn't say anything. "John thinks he's got another lead on Aeryn. He wants us in Command."
"Okay, just let me clean up and I'll be right there."
Xander was pulling on his tee shirt as he walked into Command. Everyone else was already there, looking at the view screen. There was a man on the screen, of a species that Xander didn't recognize. He had a V-shaped pattern of scales on his forehead, and two tiny additional nostrils on the bridge of his nose between his eyes. An angry red scar ran down the left side of his face. John was standing closest to the screen, D'Argo slightly behind him, his arms crossed and a scowl on his face.
"So let me get this straight," John said. "You just happen to be in the neighborhood, and you just happen to know we are. Yet, you're not interested in trying to collect the bounty on our heads. You also to just happen to know that we're looking for a group of ex- Peace Keeper mercenaries, and you happen to know where we might be able to find them. That's an awful lot of happens."
"It's the truth," the man said, his voice gruff. "I'm a simple freighter captain, I have no means by which to capture you. Scan my ship if you don't believe me. As for knowing what, or more preciously who you are looking for, information travels fast in the black. Especially information about you and your cohorts Mr. Crichton. A group of prisoners, able to evade the Peace Keepers for so long. You're a bit of a legend you know."
"Yeah, I'm a regular Johnny Appleseed. You still haven't answered my question."
"A group traveling in a Leviathan, looking for a female ex-Peace Keeper. It isn't exactly hard to put the pieces together."
"So what exactly do you want?" D'Argo asked.
"Only to help."
"For a price of course," D'Argo added.
"Of course. I'm a businessman after all, and information is a much easier cargo to haul than used ship parts."
"How much?" John asked.
"One thousand retri," the freighter captain answered.
John nodded thoughtfully. "Allow me a moment to confer with my… cohorts."
"Of course."
John turned around and lowered his voice as the others moved in closer. "Sparky, how much do we have left in the bank?"
"Six hundred retri," Rygel answered.
"You think you can low-ball this guy?"
"Whoa, whoa, wait a minute," Xander interrupted. "You do know that this is a trap right?"
"I concur," D'Argo said. "We have no reason to believe that this person is telling the truth."
"And what if he is?" John argued. "I think it's a chance we have to take."
"Not if it means getting caught and turned over to the Peace- Keepers," Jool said.
"Look at this guy, will you!" John exclaimed, pointing his thumb over his shoulder at the view screen. "He couldn't catch crabs from a ten dollar hooker. What's the harm in checking out what he has to say?"
"The harm is that we could be flying into an ambush!" Xander insisted.
"John, I want to find Aeryn as much as you do," D'Argo said. "But this isn't the way."
John looked frustrated. "What if we use Lo'La to scout ahead, before Moya even comes near the place? And if there's even a hint of trouble, we cloak and get the hell out of there."
Xander and D'Argo shared a look. "It could work," Xander said after a moment. "Your ship certainly has enough fire power to handle itself in a fight if it comes down to it."
"Not against a Command Carrier it doesn't," D'Argo said.
"Moya can spot a ship that size within plenty of time for us to starburst," John pointed out. D'Argo nodded, considering the plan.
"I say we do it," Chiana said. "We don't know what kind of trouble Aeryn could be in." She looked over to Jool and Noranti.
"I agree," Noranti said.
Jool stayed quiet until Chiana jabbed her with her elbow. "What do you say, Princess?"
"Ow! Fine, I guess I'm in too."
"What about you, Sparky?" John asked.
"I want no part in this fool's errand," the Hynerian replied.
"If it does turn out to be a trap, after we whip their asses I'll let you loot any ships we find."
"On the other hand, Aeryn is a valued friend," Rygel said. "And we should do whatever we can to find her. I'm in."
"Pilot," Xander said. "What do you and Moya think?"
"The risk seems minimal," Pilot said over the comms. "Moya and I are more than willing to help."
"What do you say, D?" John asked his Luxan friend.
D'Argo didn't look happy about it, but he nodded. "Very well," he said. "Assuming that Rygel can talk him down."
Rygel smiled. "Watch and learn, Luxan," he said, turning his throne sled around and moving toward the viewer. "We'll give you three hundred retri," he offered the freighter captain, opening the negotiations.
"Done," the man answered.
Rygel was taken aback, he didn't expect the man to take his first offer, and so quickly. He turned to the others with a worried expression.
Xander leaned in and whispered to John. "That was way too easy."
John ignored him and stepped forward. "Where is she?"
"My currency first," the man answered. "I'll come aboard and…"
"No," John interrupted him. "We'll put your money in a cargo container and eject it into space. You can pick it up, after you tell us where."
The freighter captain looked reluctant, but he nodded. "Very well. The name of the planet is L'lidor. It's a commerce planet, a few sectors from here."
"Pilot, do you have this planet on your star charts?"
"Affirmative, Commander. It's several days travel from our current location."
"My currency, Mr. Crichton?" the freighter captain asked.
"Rygel, Chiana, load the money into a cargo container and eject it into space. Pilot, once the container is away, set a course for L'lidor. We'll stop on the outskirts of the system, and D'Argo and I will take Lo'La in closer to take a look around."
"A pleasure doing business with you Mr. Crichton," the freighter captain said before his image disappeared from the screen.
Chiana and Rygel headed out of Command, Xander close behind them. "Where are you going?" John asked him.
"I'm going to help Chiana and Rygel, and then I'm going to the galley for some breakfast. Relax John, we've got a few days before we get to L'lidor. That's plenty of time to prepare." He turned back and left with Chiana and Rygel before John could respond. Something was wrong, John thought. Xander seemed frustrated, worried, maybe even a little agitated. And John didn't know why.
Xander, Chiana, and Rygel were sitting together in the galley, eating. After they loaded up their payment for the information they were given and ejected it into space, Chiana decided to join Xander for breakfast. And Rygel, not being one to ever turn down food, decided to join them as well. Xander was currently telling Rygel about their escape from Grayza's command carrier. He knew the reverence that the Dominar and his people had for the Oracle, and he couldn't help but feel responsible for what had happened to him.
"So, after we escaped into thin air, and they couldn't pick us up anywhere on their sensors, Grayza probably assumed that we were on the only planet close by," Xander explained.
"Meloni," Rygel said. "But why did Grayza stay in orbit once she had captured you?"
"Maybe on the off chance that it was the rendezvous point with Moya, or maybe they just wanted to know why we were there," Xander said. "They probably searched the planet, and when they didn't find us..."
"They destroyed the temple," Rygel finished solemnly. "Out of spite."
"I'm sorry, Rygel," Xander said. "If it's any consolation, I offered the Oracle a chance to come with us. He said that he knew what was going to happen, but that his place was there. He wasn't afraid."
Rygel actually smiled. "No, he wouldn't be."
"Have you met him before?" Chiana asked.
"Several times. During my reign as Dominar I made quite a few trips to Meloni to seek his counsel. I even offered to let him come back to Hyneria, but he refused. He said...that his place was there. That he had no interest in letting the old ways become complicated with the politics of the empire. I understood, but still...I wish I would have pushed harder now."
"And if he did come back to Hyneria, what would your cousin have done once you were deposed?" Chiana asked.
Rygel nodded, conceding Chiana's point. "He would have had him killed," he answered. "Perhaps the Oracle knew that all along."
"No doubt," Xander agreed. He leaned back in his chair and popped another food cube in his mouth. He looked tense for a moment, staring off into space.
"So, are you going to tell me what's bothering you?" Chiana asked him suddenly.
"What do you mean?"
"Come on, you've had…oh, what's that human expression? You've had an insect in your rectum ever since we left Command."
Xander couldn't help but smile. "I've had a bug up my ass," he corrected.
"Right, that's what I said."
"I'm just worried I guess, about John."
"What, about this plan? I thought you said that you thought it would work."
"I did, and I do. What worries me isn't the plan, it's that John was willing to go forward without one. That he was so gung ho about rushing in with no idea as to what we're walking into. He's letting his emotions cloud his judgment."
Rygel snorted. "That seems to be a common human trait from what I've observed," he said, leveling a gaze at Xander.
"There's a difference," Xander said. "I may be reckless with my own life on occasion, but never with other people's. Don't get me wrong, I understand where he's coming from. And I don't mean to badmouth him, I'd trust him to watch my back any day of the week. He was the one who came up with the idea to use Lo'La to scout ahead, and he has a willingness to see his own flaws and defer to the judgment of others come crunch time, but he's not a leader."
"And you are I suppose?" Rygel asked.
"Hell no," Xander said. "I don't have the knowledge or the experience to be in command, and I'm not suggesting it either. I'm just saying that we need a captain. We can't keep making decisions by committee. Somebody has to have the final say."
"I've been saying that for cycles," a gruff voice from behind Xander spoke. Xander turned to see D'Argo walking into the room. "But no one ever listens to me."
"That's because you've never said it without having yourself in mind for the job," Rygel said.
D'Argo just shot him a look before turning back to Xander. "You see the problem? There's no one aboard that everyone feels comfortable with as Captain."
"Maybe this is a case where the majority should rule," Xander said.
"What do you mean?" Chiana asked.
"We take a vote. As long as everyone agrees to abide by the result of the vote, no matter what it is, whoever gets the majority vote becomes captain."
"Seems fair," Chiana said.
Rygel just grumbled to himself while he ate. He knew that he would not be happy with anyone beside himself as Captain, and since that wasn't very likely to happen, there was very little he could do.
D'Argo nodded. "Yes," he agreed. "Perhaps after we return from L'lidor. If all goes well, Aeryn will be back aboard and we can have a proper vote."
It took Moya a little over three solar days to make the journey to L'lidor's star system. As planned, the Leviathan held her position on the outskirts of the system. They scanned ahead as far as they could, and had picked up nothing but short-range transports and freighters. Nothing that looked Peace-Keeper. Of course, they would have to get closer to pick up anything as small as a Prowler, but that was a job for Lo'La.
D'Argo and John had set out in the Luxan vessel, leaving Moya a safe distance behind and Xander in Command, keeping a close eye on the sensor readouts. A little over two arns later, he was still there, focused so much on the screen in front of him that he didn't hear Chiana coming up behind him.
"Hey," she said.
Xander whirled around, instinctively falling into a battle stance. Once he saw that it was Chiana, his posture relaxed. "Sorry," he said. "You startled me."
"A little jumpy, aren't you?"
"I guess," Xander said, turning back to the sensor readouts. "I just have reservations about walking into such an obvious trap, no matter how cautious we're being."
"That's understandable," Chiana said. "But I think it's more than that. And it's more than just you worrying about John's attitude. You've been on edge practically since we escaped from Grayza's ship."
Xander looked away. How could he tell her that Grayza had awakened an animal within him? And that at times his control over it seemed to be faltering? Didn't she have enough to worry about? Hadn't he brought her enough trouble? But more than any of that, he was afraid to see that look in her eye. That look of fear. The look that Willow had when he nearly killed her while possessed with the hyena the first time. That image was burned into his memory, and it hurt more than anything to know that he had caused it. He made his Willow afraid of him. He just couldn't bear to see that look in Chiana's eyes.
Chiana saw his hesitation. She put her hand on his arm and moved to face him again. "Xander, it's okay, you can tell me. I can only imagine, the things she did to you, what you went through. But I'm here, if you want to talk about it."
Xander reached out and pulled her into a hug. He just had an urge to hold her, he felt like he drew strength just from touching her sometimes. "Thank you," he said. "I just might take you up on that… someday."
Chiana pulled away a little and looked at him. "I worry about you. You keep so much bottled up, it's not healthy."
Xander nodded. He had been alone for a long time, afraid of his own emotions. So he closed himself off from them. It wasn't an easy thing to turn back from, but he was trying. He reached up and cupped her face, giving her a smile. "I'll be fine Chi, I promise."
Chiana nodded. It was enough…for now. Xander leaned down slowly and their lips met softly. Chiana's hands wound around Xander's neck, while his fell to her waist. The kiss was interrupted as Pilot's image appeared on the clamshell display.
"Xander, we're receiving a message from Lo'La," Pilot said.
The kiss broke and Chiana smirked. "They always interrupt just when it's getting good, I hope this doesn't become a trend."
Xander just smiled as he turned back to front viewer. "Pipe it through, Pilot."
"Moya, do you read?" John's voice came through the comms.
"We're here John," Xander answered. "What's the what?"
"We found Aeryn's prowler in a decaying orbit around L'lidor," John said with urgency in his voice. "We're reading a faint lifesign inside, but we can't raise anybody on the comms. We need Moya here now!"
"We're on our way," Xander said, already moving out of Command with Chiana close behind. "Pilot, lay in a course, best speed. And prepare the docking web."
Xander and the others waited outside of the Hangar bay while Lo'La and Aeryn's prowler were brought in. Once the bay was pressurized again, the doors open and they rushed inside. John was already out of the Luxan ship and running toward the prowler when they got there. D'Argo stood behind him as he jumped up on one side of the prowler. Xander jumped up on the other side.
"There's a manual release for the canopy around here somewhere," John said, scanning the top of the prowler. "There, that lever by you Xander, pull it."
Xander pulled the lever and the canopy opened with a hiss. John pulled it up and Xander looked into the prowler, down at the unconscious form of someone who was definitely not Aeryn Sun.
He saw John tense and draw his pulse pistol, pointing it at the figure in the prowler. Xander looked to John for an explanation, and got only one word in response. One word that answered all of Xander's unasked questions, spoken with such hatred that he practically spat it.
"Scorpius."
The first thing that shook Scorpius from unconsciousness was the gust of fresh air that blew across his face as the Prowler's canopy was lifted, and the stale air from the Prowler's failing environmental controls was replaced. The second thing he felt was being lifted from the cockpit of the fighter, and unceremoniously dropped on the floor. His eyes fluttered open, and he was met with the sight of two pulse pistols and a Qualta blade pointed at his head as Moya's crew, plus one man he didn't recognize, stood over him.
"Hello John," Scorpius said. "It's good to you're well." He made a move to sit up, but John put his foot on his chest and pushed him back down.
"You'll forgive me if I don't return the sentiment," John said. "What the hell are you doing in Aeryn's Prowler? Where is she?
"I don't know."
"What did you do to her?"
"I saved her life!" Scorpius insisted. "She was alone, wounded, adrift in that Prowler. In an advanced state of heat delirium. I gave her one of my coolant suits. Had I not found her…"
"How did you find her?" D'Argo interrupted.
"I was looking…for all of you."
"Get this through your head Scorpy, you will never get the wormhole tech from me."
"I could not use it even if I…" Scorpius was cut off as he tried to sit up again and was knocked back down by D'Argo with a growl. "I merely want to safeguard it, and hope that when the inevitable Scarren bloodbath begins, you make the appropriate choices."
"Oh, so you're here to be John's protector?" D'Argo asked. Scorpius nodded. "How nice. I don't believe it."
John gritted his teeth as he readjusted his grip on Winona. "Kryptonite? Silver bullet? Buffy? What's it going to take to keep you in the grave?"
"Perhaps we should just take your head off," D'Argo said. "It worked for Durka."
"I say we space him," Chiana put in.
John took a step back and made a wave with his pistol for Scorpius to stand. Xander and D'Argo each grabbed an arm and drug the hybrid to his feet. John lowered his pistol but he kept it in his hand.
"Wait!" Scorpius objected. "If you kill me, you'll never find Officer Sun."
"I thought you didn't know where she was?" John asked.
"I don't, but I know how to find her." Scorpius paused. "I know who has her."
"Why don't you start from the beginning," John said. "How did you end up adrift in Aeryn's Prowler?"
"As I said, I found her, in orbit around this very planet, in much the same way you found me. Her former compatriots had stranded her and two others here, all suffering from heat delirium. She said that the other two had enough fuel to land on L'lidor, but she did not. Her systems were failing one by one, and her orbit was decaying. She wouldn't tell me how she contracted the disease, but I believe it might have something to do with the very large ship that came looking for her."
"Who were they?"
"I'm afraid there wasn't a chance to exchange formal introductions, nor were they interested. They simply took Aeryn and left me for dead."
"So how are you going to help us find her if you don't know who took her?" Chiana asked.
"As I said, this ship was quite large. In fact, I couldn't even get an accurate mass reading on the Prowler's instruments. But, I did record the energy signature of its power output. A ship that size must leave an obvious ion trail, we can simply follow it."
"And do what?" D'Argo asked. "If this ship is as large as you say, what chance do we have against it?"
Scorpius glared at the Luxan. "Must everything be a battle with you?"
D'Argo growled and raised his Qualta blade again. "When it comes to you Scorpius, yes."
Scorpius turned back to John. "We'll negotiate for her release," he said. "It's obvious that these beings don't want Aeryn to die. If they did, they would simply have let the heat delirium do the job. No, they want something from her, and they've infected her to gain leverage against her."
"So?" John asked.
"So, if they want something, then perhaps we can provide it for them on the condition of Aeryn's release."
John nodded. "Makes sense." He raised his pistol again and pointed it directly at Scorpius' face. "So what do we need you for?"
To Scorpius' credit, he didn't flinch. The move was not unexpected. "I took the liberty of reprogramming the Prowler's computer before I lost consciousness," he said. "It will only accept commands from myself. You need me to access the information to follow the ship, and you need me to negotiate with these creatures."
"I say thanks, but no thanks!" John said forcefully. "You think we're just going to trust you now because you tell us you're our friend?"
"I've said no such thing, and I expect nothing. The fact is our interests coincide. Neither of us wants a war, certainly neither of us wants the Scarrens to get a hold of the wormhole technology in your brain. As I said, I merely wish to make sure that that doesn't happen."
"And how do we know you're not working for Grayza?" Rygel asked. "And this isn't all just a trap."
"You know as well as I do how the Peace Keepers regard failure," Scorpius said. "With my Command Carrier destroyed, along with any wormhole research we had conducted, there can be no doubt that I have failed. My people may have…abandoned me, but I will not abandon them."
"I don't trust you," John said.
"Nor should you. You may take any precautions that you deem necessary."
"No, I think we'll take our chances on our own."
"Very well," Scorpius said. "But it isn't you who will be taking that chance is it? It's Aeryn. Are you willing to risk that much because you don't trust me?"
John glanced back and forth between D'Argo and Xander. All three of them held questioning looks. John would have loved nothing more than to shoot this man dead on the spot, and spit on his broken corpse as it hit the deck. He felt no guilt regarding this desire. But could he really risk Aeryn? Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, John spoke. "Holding cell?" he asked, looking at D'Argo.
The Luxan eyed Scorpius suspiciously before nodded in agreement. He grabbed onto his arm forcefully, and Xander grabbed the other. John led the way and they all followed him out of the hangar bay.
"Pilot," John called out. "I want a DRD outside his cell at all times. If he does anything even remotely suspicious, shoot him."
"Of course, Commander," Pilot answered.
"You just sit tight and behave yourself Scorpy," John said. "The grown-ups need to talk."
Scorpius was safely tucked away in a holding cell and John was on his way to Command when he suddenly found himself someplace else. In an instant, he was no longer aboard Moya, he was behind the wheel of a car. He looked down at himself and saw that he was wearing a black suit. He looked next to him and saw Scorpius sitting in the passenger seat, dressed in a similar suit over his coolant suit. And over the cowl on his head, there was a giant black afro.
"Do you know what they call a Big Mac in the Uncharted Territories?"
"Damn it, Harvey!" John exclaimed. "Does it look like I have time for this right now?!"
"Scorpius is dangerous, John," Harvey said. "You know what must be done, why do you hesitate? It would be foolish to let him live."
"I need to know what his plan is."
"Same as always, survive. To steal what's in your mind. So why give him the chance?"
"And what would you have me do? Whack him straight away?"
"Without hesitation."
"And what about Aeryn? What if he's telling the truth?"
"Do you honestly believe that to be probable?"
John hesitated. "No," he said. "But there's something going on here. He had Aeryn's Prowler. If he's not telling the truth then he at least knows where she is."
"And if she's already dead? What then?" Harvey asked. "Are you really willing to stake your life and the lives of your friends on such a miniscule possibility?"
"My friends can make their own decisions. As for me…" he drifted off. "I have to know."
"John? John, are you okay?"
John opened his eyes and found himself back on Moya. Xander was standing in front of him with his hand on his arm. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just…zoned out there for a second. Come on."
Xander nodded and the two of them walked into Command.
"This is foolishness!" Rygel insisted. "We should kill him now."
"And what about Aeryn?" Chiana asked.
"We can find her on our own," Rygel continued. "If this ship is as large as Scorpius says, someone must have seen where it went."
"There's always the option of letting Scorpius help us, and then killing him once we have Aeryn back," Jool said.
"That's what worries me," John said.
"What do you mean?" Xander asked.
"Scorpius is smart, he knows that as well as we do. The only thing that will keep him alive is if we need him alive. Which means that after we get Aeryn back, he has to come up with a new reason."
"Unless he already has one," D'Argo said. "He could be playing us like fools."
"All the more reason not to trust him," Rygel added.
"I'm not saying we trust him, Sparky," John said. "But there is a chance that he knows where Aeryn is. We did find him in her Prowler. We can take every precaution. D'Argo and I can take him in Lo'La, leave Moya someplace safe."
"What if that's exactly what he wants," Xander said. "To separate us. He leads you into one ambush, while we get sucker punched with another."
"He doesn't have the resources to organize that anymore."
"The Peace Keepers do."
"And they've kicked him to the curb."
"Says him. Just because Grayza doesn't like him doesn't mean she can't use him to trap us," Xander said.
"Then where is she? Why go through this complicated ruse if they have Aeryn? They could have used her as bait, why give us Scorpius?"
"To separate us. They knew we'd be smart enough to scout ahead before sending Moya in. So the only way to get close is to separate us."
John shook his head. "The Peace Keepers would never trust Scorpius, not after he got his Command Carrier destroyed."
"That's speculation."
"And so is everything you just said! All we can do is speculate!"
"Enough!" D'Argo boomed. "Both of you. We can't keep second guessing ourselves just because we think Scorpius might be manipulating us, that's exactly what he wants. We have to trust our instincts. And if there's one thing we all agree on, it's that our instincts all tell us that we cannot trust Scorpius."
"D…" John started.
D'Argo held up his hand to cut him off. "However, the presence of Aeryn's Prowler does indicate that she is involved somehow. So I believe that we should follow John's suggestion. Be extremely cautious, and take Scorpius in Lo'La while we keep Moya hidden somewhere."
"Where?" Xander asked.
"That nebula we passed," John said. "Pilot, bring up a display of this solar system."
"Yes, Commander," Pilot responded. A holographic image promptly appeared over the center console.
"This nebula just outside the system, it should shield Moya from any sensor sweeps."
"What about our sensors," Xander asked. "Would we be able to scan while we're inside?"
"Negative," Pilot answered. "The nebula would cause too much interference to make any scans reliable."
"We'd be sitting ducks," Xander said. "Blind sitting ducks."
"Any other ship will be affected the same way," John said. "Nobody will even know Moya is there."
"I don't know," Xander said. "This still smells like a trap."
"And if it is, we'll be ready for it," John said. Xander nodded slowly. "We're all in agreement then?" A sea of nods followed, some more reluctant than others.
Xander sat at the table in the Magic Box in his head, his friends around him. "What do you guys think?" The hyena cackled from his cage nearby. "I wasn't asking you!" Xander barked. The animal actually seemed to smirk at him.
"From what John has told you about Scorpius, he is not to be trusted," Giles said.
Xander nodded. "The one thing everyone can agree with, and yet here we are, doing exactly what he wants. The question I have, is can John's judgement be trusted?"
"Don't you think you're being a little hard on him, Xan?" Buffy asked. "We've all been through times like these, when the fight becomes a little too personal."
"Exactly my point," Xander said. "And it's almost gotten us killed."
"But we always had each other," Willow put in. "So there was always someone calm enough to be the voice of reason."
"Just like John has all of you," Tara added. "And he knows that, he trusts you all enough to believe you when you tell him that his plan has flaws."
"The people in your group compliment each other very well," Giles said. "Perhaps that's why they've survived so long together."
"So you're saying I should trust him?" Xander asked.
Willow nodded. "And D'Argo, and Chiana, and the others."
"And most importantly, yourself," Tara said.
"You are a part of the group dynamic now," Giles said. "An important part. John chose you to stay behind and protect Moya. He trusts you with that responsibility."
Xander nodded. "You're right. And I do trust John, I just…need to remember that."
"You feel guilty for doubting him," Tara said. "Don't. You've been alone for a long time, it's only natural that it be difficult to trust other people again. Just…follow your instincts."
Xander smiled. "Thanks guys."
"Xander? Xander!"
Xander's head spun around and he saw Chiana looking up at him worriedly. The two of them were standing in Command. "Sorry, I drifted off for a second."
Chiana just nodded, deciding not to push the issue. "John and D'Argo are ready to depart."
Xander nodded. "You guys be careful," he said over the comms.
"Always are," John's voice came back. "You remember the code?" They had created a code that only Xander and John knew. John would transmit it when they returned to Moya. Without sensors, it was the only way they would know that it was safe to leave the nebula. Seeing as how the two humans had a shared history and cultural knowledge that no one else in the Uncharted Territories possessed, it was easy to devise a code that no one else could possibly discover.
"Why did the chicken cross the road?" Xander said.
"I'll transmit the correct answer when it's time to come out," John said. "You be careful too, stay on your toes."
"We will. Good luck."
"Thanks. Crichton out."
A few seconds later, Pilot spoke. "Lo'La has disembarked."
"Set a course for the nebula, Pilot," Xander said. He turned to Chiana. "I want everybody armed, and alert. Just in case. Can you see to it?"
"You got it," Chiana said. She gave him a smile and headed out of Command.
"You too Pilot, station a couple DRDs in your den to keep a lookout, and start running regular internal sensor sweeps."
"While not has hindered by the nebula as the external sensors, internal sensors will still be affected," Pilot said.
"I know, just do your best."
"Understood."
Two arns passed in the nebula without incident, but it did nothing to ease Xander's worry. He paced through the corridors on the ship like he was patrolling for vampires, expecting an attack to jump out at him from anywhere. Part of it was the hyena's influence, he could tell. Xander was starting to feel like he was the one who was caged, waiting in this nebula for who knows what.
He found himself in the gymnasium again, looking at a practice dummy and a pile of sand on the floor in front of it from the hole he had cut through it earlier that morning. Yet another example of how much harder it was getting to control the beast within. Xander leaned down to examine the hole closer, to see what he would need to fix it. Perhaps that's just what he needed, something to take his mind off of things.
Maybe he was just being paranoid. Maybe Scorpius was actually telling the truth. Maybe there was no ambush coming. Maybe he was wrong.
Xander spun around and struck out with his foot with lightening speed, catching the man who had been trying to sneak up on him by complete surprise as he kicked him in the stomach. His weapon was knocked to the ground before he even had a chance to raise his arm, and a powerful punch to the head had him stumbling to the floor. He looked up in time to see a sword being brought down against his neck. One foot came down slowly on one of his hands, breaking a few of his fingers with an audible crunch, and another foot came to rest on his chest. His weapon was too far away to reach, and he dare not move.
Xander looked down at the man who had tried to take him from behind. He was dressed from head to toe in black, including a mask that covered his entire face. He wore a belt that carried some equipment, but his only weapon looked to be the blaster that he had already kicked away. Still, Xander didn't take any chances. He hooked the tip of his blade under the side of the mask, and ripped it away swiftly, exposing his face. The man to yelped in surprise. Xander didn't recognize the man, he had never seen him before. But he did recognize something. The two extra nostrils on the bridge of his nose between his eyes, and the V-shaped pattern of scales on his forehead.
Xander let out a breath. "I hate it when I'm right."
John sat down in the co-pilot's sear next to D'Argo who was flying the ship. He let out a sigh as he rubbed his temples with his thumb and forefinger.
"What's he doing now?" D'Argo asked.
John cast a glance back to where Scorpius was sitting quietly with his eyes closed. "I'm not sure. Meditating or something." He paused. "I don't like it, he's entirely too calm considering his situation. He's got something up his sleeve."
"Agreed," D'Argo said. "We've been following this ion trail for arns, I'm beginning to doubt that we're ever going to find anything." Just then, there was a beeping sound coming from one of D'Argo's control consoles.
"What is it?" John asked.
"I'm picking up a mass on the edge of sensor range. It's big, very big." D'Argo tapped a few more commands into his console. "And the ion trail leads right to it."
"Of course it does," Scorpius said. John and D'Argo turned their heads to see Scorpius opening his eyes and standing up. He walked towards the front of the ship, looking down at the controls. "Those are the exact same mass fluctuations I was reading on the Prowler's instruments. Curious." A sharp glare from D'Argo caused him to take a step back from the controls.
"All right, do or die time," John said. "Let's go. Keep the cloak warmed up in case we have to bolt."
"Of course," D'Argo answered simply as he piloted the ship closer.
John kept his eye on the front window, waiting for the ship to enter visual range. After a few minutes, it did. It didn't seem that big to John, until he looked down at the sensor panel and saw the range. They were still incredibly far away. And as they got closer, the ship got bigger, and bigger, and bigger still.
"Good God," John exclaimed.
"As you see, I was telling the truth," Scorpius said. "Perhaps you will believe me now."
"Don't push your luck," John warned. "One thing at a time, Scorpy."
"I still can't get an accurate mass reading," D'Argo said. "Which is… odd, considering our range." He paused. "They're comming us."
An image appeared on a section of the forward screen, it was a strange looking alien with gray skin and large bug eyes. "Luxan vessel, why do you approach? State your intentions."
Scorpius spoke before either John or D'Argo had the chance. "We have come to negotiate for the release of Aeryn Sun. Perhaps you remember me, I was the one you set adrift in her ship after you captured her."
"I remember," the creature said. "I see that you somehow survived."
"Through luck, and a little help from these gentlemen here."
"Negotiate you say? What makes you think I want anything that you have? Or that I am willing to release her? Perhaps I have already killed her."
"Unlikely," Scorpius said. "If you wanted her dead you could have simply let the heat delirium run its course. I believe that you require something of her, information perhaps. I also believe, knowing her as I do, that she has been less than cooperative with you."
"You 'believe' a great many things. What do you know about the crimes Aeryn Sun and her associates have committed against the Hokothian people?"
"Nothing I'm afraid," Scorpius said. "Perhaps formal introductions are in order. My name is Scorpius, this is Ka D'Argo, and John Crichton."
John reached over and slapped the control to mute the comms, then he turned and grabbed Scorpius by the front of his coolant suit. "What the hell do you think you're doing! We're fugitives, remember!"
"These people obviously have no interest in collecting the bounty on you, assuming they even know about it!" Scorpius shot back. "They knew who you were the moment we said we were here for Aeryn, who else would try and rescue her? I am trying to open negotiations with a good faith gesture, so that perhaps they will return it in kind."
"Yeah, well maybe it's time for us to do the talking now. Just in case any more of your good faith gestures get us or Aeryn killed."
"You are many things John, but a diplomat is not one of them. If you start yelling and making ridiculous threats, it will accomplish nothing. Like it or not, you need me."
John let go of him in disgust. "You just watch yourself, you understand me?" he warned. Scorpius just nodded as he returned to the screen. D'Argo unmated the comms.
"My apologies for the interruption," Scorpius said. "I believe that you were about to introduce yourself."
"I am Ullom, Chief Protector of the Prime Hokothian."
"What are these crimes that Aeryn allegedly committed against your people?" John asked.
"She, and two others invaded our homeworld, shot their way to the governing chambers, and assassinated our most beloved Prime Hokothian," Ullom answered.
"You know for a fact that it was her?" John asked.
"Before the killers escaped, we managed to dose them with a contagion that induces heat delirium. Her illness should be all the proof you need. The contagion has been specially engineered, and genetically encrypted. Making me the only one who can save her from the living death. The deal is simple, Aeryn Sun gets the antidote when she gives me the name of her employers, and her fellow assassins."
"Her compatriots have no doubt already succumbed to the heat delirium," Scorpius said.
"Those who were on the planet, yes. But there were others. Our planetary defense grid detected several ships when the assassins escaped. They were tracked to the commerce planet, L'lidor. But only Aeryn Sun was recovered, as you know. She has been…less then cooperative, as you said."
"If you allow us on board, to speak with her," Scorpius started. "Perhaps we can convince her to give you the information that you wish."
Ullom's alien expressions were hard to read, but John guessed that he looked to be considering it. "Very well. You will bring no weapons, and if you attempt to escape with the assassin, you will be killed."
"Understood," Scorpius said. "We will rendezvous shortly, Scorpius out." The connection severed, leaving the three looking curiously at each other.
"He's lying," John said. "Aeryn wouldn't do that."
"On the contrary," Scorpius said. "It sounds like a job a group of mercenaries would be perfectly suited for. Certainly nothing beyond Aeryn's capabilities."
"Then why wouldn't she just tell Ullom what he wants to know?"
"Believe it or not John, the Peace Keepers have a moral code. And a very significant part of that code is not divulging information to enemies when captured."
"There is no morality in assassination," D'Argo said.
"How short-sighted of you," Scorpius commented. "And yet, unsurprising."
D'Argo growled. "There is another possibility," he said. "Perhaps Aeryn knows that once she gives Ullom what he wants, he will no doubt kill her."
John nodded. "And if that's the case, diplomacy isn't going to do us a whole lot of good."
Pilot looked up when the door to his chamber opened. His eyes widened at the sight that greeted him. Xander had his pulse pistol out and in the back of a man Pilot had never seen before. His hands were bound behind his back, and a makeshift gag covered his mouth. Xander was also carrying what looked like an equipment belt in his other hand. He pushed the intruder forward along the walkway as he closed the door behind him.
"What's going on?" Pilot asked.
"I found him in the Gym, trying to sneak up on me," Xander said. He shoved the intruder to the ground in front of Pilot's station, next to a couple DRDs. "I'm guessing there's more."
"Then this was a trap?"
"It's certainly looking that way."
"I'll alert the others."
"No, don't," Xander warned. "I don't want to tip these guys off that we know they're aboard. They're counting on the element of surprise, I think we should do the same."
"What should we do?" Pilot asked.
"I'll get the others, we'll make our stand here. It's the most heavily shielded place on board, correct?" Pilot nodded. "Earlier you said that the internal sensors would be affected by the nebula, how exactly? What can you detect?"
"Broad life sign readings in general locations, not much more."
"What about him?" Xander asked, motioning toward their prisoner.
Pilot looked at his console. "I'm not reading anything at all from him."
Xander nodded. "I figured as much, they must have some way to mask it." Xander dropped the equipment belt he was holding in his other hand on Pilot's console. "This is everything he had on him. This is a weapon I think," he said, indicating one of the devices. "Try to figure out what the rest of it is." Pilot nodded. "Those broad life sign readings, what are you detecting now?"
Pilot consulted his console again. "Two in the galley, one in the hangar bay, and one in Jool's quarters."
"Okay, I'll start in the galley," Xander said, sliding Naomi back into her holster. "I want you to close off any other access points to this room besides that door. I also want you to start shutting down consoles throughout the rest of Moya, so these guys don't get access to any of her systems. Do it one at a time, nice and slow so we don't alarm them, and start with Command."
"Understood."
"And tell these DRDs to keep an eye on our boy here. If he moves, shoot him someplace painful but not fatal. We need him alive. Tell the rest of the DRDs to keep their eyes peeled, and stay off the comms. I'll be back."
Pilot just nodded again and set to work while Xander jogged out of the room. The prisoner gulped nervously as the DRDs around him all turned to face him, extending their tiny laser weapons.
Xander clenched and unclenched his fists as he walked down the corridor toward the galley. There was a barely tolerable rage bubbling under his deceptively calm exterior. His prisoner had been on the quiet side during the trip to Pilot's den, and Xander had had little time to persuade him otherwise. He was too worried about being spotted. The indecency of it, that these…pirates or bounty hunters or whatever the hell they were, had the gall to board Moya, his home, and threaten him and his friends. He wanted nothing more than to find every last one of them and shove them out of an airlock. How dare they invade his territory and threaten his pack…
Xander stopped dead in his tracks as he realized what he had just thought. The hyena was taking advantage of his anger. The animal spirit was feeding it, stoking the fires of his rage until he couldn't even tell what emotions were his own anymore. The more powerful the beast grew, the angrier Xander became, and the angrier he became, the more powerful the beast grew. It was a vicious cycle that Xander was determined to break. He didn't have time to wrestle with his demons, his friends were in danger. He forced himself to calm down and continued on his way.
When Xander got to the galley, he found exactly what he had expected to find. Rygel eating, and Noranti cooking. The old woman spotted him and smiled. Rygel glanced at him, but returned to his meal without acknowledging him.
"Ah, Xander. Sit down, let me fix you something to eat. You look tired, have you been sleeping well? I could give you something to help you sleep."
Xander smiled. Noranti had been like the grandmother that he had never had. Protective, doting, and always trying to feed him. "I'm fine Noranti, and I'm not hungry, but thanks." Xander sat down and tried to look casual. In reality he was scanning the room, looking for places where any intruders could be hiding. "Are you carrying a weapon, like I asked?" The question was directed at Noranti, he knew he didn't have to bother asking the Hynerian.
Noranti waved her hand and returned to her cooking. "I don't need a weapon," she said. "I have ways to defend myself if need be."
Of that Xander had no doubt. You don't get as old as Noranti in a place like the Uncharted Territories without being able to take care of yourself. He knew that she was nowhere near as helpless as she sometimes seemed. "Still, just as a precaution," Xander said. "Please, it would make me feel better."
Noranti seemed to consider it for a moment before nodding. That was enough for Xander, he knew she would keep her word.
"Actually, I came down here because Pilot needs help with something. He asked me to ask you both to see him as soon as you can."
"Why didn't he just use the comms?" Rygel asked.
"I think that's what he needs help with."
"And what are we supposed to do that the DRDs can't?"
"Look, Rygel, trust me, okay? You need to go to Pilot's den."
Rygel just looked at him with confusion. Noranti's smile fell as she watched Xander. He didn't know if it was just the tone of his voice or if she could see something else beyond his calm façade. He watched as she grabbed a few pouches from the counter and stuffed them in her pocket. She walked around the counter and took Rygel's arm.
"Come now Rygel, if Pilot needs us then he needs us. No use in interrogating Xander over it."
"Let go of me old woman, what are you blathering about?!"
"If you could stop by Jool's quarters on your way, I'd appreciate it," Xander said. Noranti just nodded. He didn't know how, but she definitely knew that something was wrong. She dragged Rygel out of the room by his throne sled, the Dominar complaining the whole way.
Xander watched them leave before standing and making his way to the hangar bay.
John, D'Argo, and Scorpius stepped onto the Hokothian vessel and looked around warily. The interior of the ship was tinged in blue, and they passed some kind of fish tank filled with exotic creatures as the stepped into the chamber they were led to. "Knock, knock. Candygram," John called out.
Ullom stood before them, holding a slug-like creature in both hands. "Scans show no weapons on your persons," he said.
"As we agreed," D'Argo said.
"Scans also show that you are not…Sebacean," Ullom added, looking at John.
John and D'Argo glanced at each other. "You could have just asked," John said with an edge to his voice.
"Do you want to see Aeryn Sun suffer the living death? If that's the case…" Ullom didn't get a chance to finish his threat. D'Argo lashed out with his tongue, striking his target. But Ullom simply shimmered and disappeared, reappearing again behind the trio.
John frowned. "Cute, a hologram. And we wanted a face to face."
"I don't care what you want! I want the names of those who hired Sun," Ullom bellowed.
"Which is precisely why we are here," Scorpius cut in. "May we see her?"
Ullom paused. "One of you may see her, the others will wait here."
"I'll go," John said before Scorpius could speak again.
"Very well. Follow me."
John glanced at D'Argo, telling him silently to keep an eye on Scorpius. D'Argo just nodded. John turned and followed Ullom. The Chief Protector led him through a corridor to a door before turning back to John. "You will convince her to tell me what I want to know."
John wasn't sure if it was a question of a demand. "I'll do my best," he answered.
The door slid open and Ullom disappeared. John peered into the room and slowly stepped inside. The walls were bare. The only thing in the room was a bench the jutted out from the wall across from the door. Lying on it was a figure clad in a coolant suit, complete with cowl. John stepped in further and the door slid shut behind him. If she heard the sound, she ignored it.
"Aeryn?"
Her eyes opened immediately and she looked up. She wore a shocked expression as she saw who had spoken her name. "John? How…what are you doing here?"
It was her, it really was. John could hardly believe it. He had almost convinced himself that he was never going to find her, that he'd never see her again. But here she was, dressed like Scorpius and imprisoned on a ship the size of a small moon. It was enough to make him want to laugh, scream, and cry all at the same time. He tried to keep his voice level, but it was still filled with emotion.
"Oh, you know, I was in the neighborhood, thought I'd stop by. You've been busy."
Aeryn sat up slowly, using the wall for support. "You have to leave."
"I intend to, with you."
"He'll kill you."
"And what's he going to do to you, give you a manicure? I'm not going to leave you to die, it isn't going to happen."
"How did you find me?"
"Scorpius."
"He's alive?"
"Unfortunately. We got a tip you were on L'lidor. When we got there we found him in your Prowler. He led us here in exchange for us not killing him. Though now that we've found you that arrangement isn't destined to last long."
"No."
"No, what?"
"You can't kill him."
"What?! Why?"
Aeryn pushed herself to her feet. She was weak from the heat delirium and looked ready to fall over any second. "You have to promise me."
John met her halfway across the room and caught her as she almost fell. "Aeryn, you're weak, you have to rest," he said, trying to guide her back to the bench.
"Promise me you won't harm him, or I won't go with you, even if I do somehow manage to survive this."
"For god's sake Aeryn, why?! After everything he's done to us!"
"John please, you have to promise me."
"Okay, fine! I promise, okay! Now will you please sit down?"
Aeryn did as she was asked and sat back on the bench, resting her head against the wall. John sat down beside her. "You shouldn't have come," she said.
"Yeah, well, I did." John let out a frustrated sigh. "So, how did you catch this cold? Dancing in the rain?" Aeryn just looked at the floor. "Come on Aeryn, you have to talk to me."
"I can't, I gave my word."
"To who?" Aeryn didn't answer. "Okay, then tell me what Scorpius has to do with all of this."
"With Ullom, nothing."
"Come on, you know how he works. He probably set this whole thing up from the beginning."
"He took advantage of a situation that he could not have created."
"Okay fine, forget about Scorpius. What about Mr. Tall, dark and intangible out there? He says you're an assassin, I call him a lying son of a bitch. What do you say?" Aeryn just looked down at the floor again. "Aeryn, you have to give me…something. I don't care about what you did, I don't care about your promises." Aeryn closed her eyes. "He says he has the only cure. Do you believe him?" She nodded slowly. "So tell me, what am I supposed to say to the guy?"
"If you love me…you say nothing."
John just stared at her for a moment, incredulous. Here she was, about to die, and she cared more about keeping her word, more about Scorpius, then she did about her own life. He let his head fall into his hands. "Why can't anything ever go smooth," he mumbled to himself.
He banged his fist on the bench before pushing himself up and crossing the room to the door. He pounded on it with his hand twice. "Hey, I'm done!"
A second later the door slid open to reveal Ullom. He looked into the room to Aeryn. She turned her back on the Hokothian and lay back down on the bench. "Will she give me the names?" he asked.
John walked through the hologram and started down the corridor back the way they came. "Patience, Arnold J. Rimmer," he tossed off over his shoulder. "Things like this take time. I have to consult with one of my…associates. We'll be on our ship."
The Chief Protector shouted after him. "My patience will last only so long."
Xander made it to the Hangar bay without incident. He found Chiana sitting cross-legged on the hood of the DeLorean, staring off into space. She looked to be lost in thought. He walked over to her quickly.
"Chi," he said, breaking her out of her daze. She turned to him and smiled slightly. "You okay?"
"Yeah, just thinking."
"What about?" Xander asked. He knew that he should be getting her to Pilot's den, but something about her expression made him curious.
"Do you remember how we met?"
"Of course."
"I was this strange creature on your world, speaking a strange language. You didn't know if I was friendly or hostile, or a demon or what. But you treated me with kindness. I was confused and scared, and you put me at ease. You risked your life to protect me, and you didn't even know me."
"I knew that you didn't deserve what the army had in store for you."
"You were amazing that night."
Xander cleared his throat and looked at the floor. He was never very good at accepting compliments, especially from someone that he was feeling guilty about keeping secrets from. "Why the sudden trip down memory lane?" he asked.
Chiana slid across the hood closer to Xander, taking both of his hands in hers. "You've been so wonderful to me. From the moment we met, until we were reunited again, and even now, it seems like all you do is help me. I want to help you. I want to show you how much I care about you, the way you show me."
"I don't understand, help me with what?"
"I know that you're dealing with something, something that happened on Grayza's ship. I know that you're used to doing things on your own, but you don't have to anymore. I want you to know that you have me to lean on now."
"Chi, you don't have to…"
"I know I don't have to. That's exactly why I want to."
Xander found himself staring into her eyes. They were filled with such warmth, such concern, such…it had been a long time since he had felt that from another person. Part of him wanted to give into that feeling so much, but the rest of him was scared. Xander considered himself to be a fairly brave man. He'd risk his life, his body, his mind for what he believed in, at the drop of a hat. But when it came to risking his heart, he was a coward.
"I, um…Pilot needs us. He's having problems with the comms, and…"
"I'm sure Pilot can wait a little while."
"No, he really can't, trust me."
"Xander, I know you're scared, but you can't keep hiding from this."
"I'm not, I swear. This really is important, it's…Frell!"
Xander fell backwards and pulled Chiana with him just as an energy bolt sizzled through the air above her head. He pushed Chiana to the side and drew his pulse pistol, peering over the hood of the car across the Hangar bay. He raised the weapon and fired twice before ducking back down again.
"What the frell was that!" Chiana exclaimed.
"Told you it was important. We have company, and not the good kind," Xander answered.
"Peace Keepers?"
"No, pirates or bounty hunters probably. Same species as the freighter captain that told us Aeryn was on L'lidor."
"So this was a trap! How did they get onboard? When? What are we going to do?"
"Yes, don't know, don't know, and kick their asses," Xander answered curtly before popping up and firing again. He ducked down again as the fire was returned. "We have to get back to Pilot's den, make our stand there. The others are already there. I was hoping to make it before they made their move, before they knew that we knew they were aboard."
"Xander, I'm sorry, I didn't know."
Xander shook his head. "Not your fault. Are you carrying a weapon?" Chiana nodded and drew a small energy pistol from behind her back. "Good. There's only one of them now, we have to do this quick before his friends get here. I'll draw his fire, you pick him off when he exposes himself. He's using Aeryn's Prowler for cover. Keep a sharp eye."
"Xander, wait."
He was already making his way toward the back of the DeLorean. "No time," he said before darting out into the open bay. He made his way to John's module, firing his pistol the whole way.
Chiana peeked above the time machine's hood toward the Prowler at the other end of the hangar. She saw a man dressed in black poke up from behind it and aim his weapon at Xander. She didn't think, she just reacted. She raised her own weapon, and fired. She struck the nose of the Prowler, a good metra from her target. The pirate swung around and took aim at her. She didn't have enough time to get down, she was as good as dead.
Until a red energy bolt lanced across the bay and struck the pirate in the side, knocking him down. Xander kept firing as he ran back to Chiana's position. He didn't bother to check whether the man was alive, dead, or injured. There wasn't time, there were others no doubt on their way. "Pilot's den, now! Go, go!" he yelled.
Chiana didn't need to be told twice. She sprang up and followed Xander out of the Hangar bay at a full run.
To John's credit, he managed to make it aboard Lo'La before he lost it. He grabbed Scorpius by the front of his coolant suit and threw him up against the wall. "You knew, you bastard!" he hissed, his face inches from Scorpius. "That's why you were so frelling calm, you knew! What did you do to her? Why is she trying to protect you?"
"John, what are you talking about?" D'Argo asked.
"Aeryn," John started. "She made me promise not to kill him. She won't save her own life, but she'll save his!"
"John, I assure you, I had no idea…" Scorpius began.
John slammed him against the wall again. "Bullshit! You knew there was no reason to keep you around once we had Aeryn. You had to have known. Why? Why!"
"I did save her life, John," Scorpius answered. "Perhaps she feels that she owes me the same."
"I don't buy it."
"Believe what you will, the fact is I had no idea that she would make you promise such a thing."
John glared at the hybrid a moment longer before letting go of him and turning his back. He kicked the back of the pilot's chair with frustration and screamed.
"I take it Aeryn isn't going to give Ullom what he wants," D'Argo said.
"She said she gave her word," John answered. "Apparently she feels that's more important than her life." Scorpius opened his mouth to speak but John interrupted him. "If you say 'I told you so' Scorpy, promise or no, I'll shove you out of an airlock." Scorpius didn't think he'd really do it, but he chose to keep silent.
"I say we kill him anyway," D'Argo said.
John sat down in the co-pilot's seat and let his head fall into his hands. He shook his head. "No. Aeryn has her reasons. And until we know what they are, I don't feel comfortable going against her." He looked up and glared at Scorpius again. "But that doesn't mean you get a get out of jail free card. You cross the line and I will take you down. A promise isn't worth risking any of our lives."
"Understood," Scorpius said simply.
"So what do we do now?" D'Argo asked. "We can't fight our way out, and we can't talk our way out."
"Actually, I don't believe that to be entirely true," Scorpius said.
"What are you talking about?" John asked.
"I made an observation aboard Ullom's ship. I believe I understand now the strange mass readings we've been getting from it."
"What sort of observation?" D'Argo asked.
"The fact that Aeryn was being kept in a cell only a short corridor away from the docking port made me wonder. On a ship as large as this, it seemed unusual. I believe that this ship's bulk is an illusion, a projection."
"That makes sense, this guy seems big on holograms," John said. "How big do you think it actually is?"
"Small. A crew of four or five at the most."
"That's certainly better odds," John said, glancing at D'Argo. The Luxan just nodded. "Now all we need is a plan."
Xander and Chiana made it to Pilot's den in a few minutes, luckily having not run into anymore pirates. Xander shut the door behind them and made his way toward the others. A quick head count showed that they were all there. "Is this room sealed?"
"All other access points have been closed," Pilot confirmed.
"Why didn't you just tell us what was going on?!" Rygel demanded angrily.
"I didn't want to tip off our visitors, they could have been listening. Unfortunately, we weren't quite fast enough. One of them opened fire on us in the Hangar bay. They know that we know they're here now. Pilot, shut down any of the consoles that you haven't already."
"Understood."
"Have you figured out why we can't read these guys on sensors?" Xander asked, motioning toward the prisoner who was still bound on the floor in front of Pilot's console.
"He appears to be wearing some kind of stealth suit. The material is reflecting Moya's scans."
"Would Moya be able to detect them without the interference from the nebula?" Xander asked.
"Hard to say," Pilot answered. "But most likely she would be able to get some kind of reading."
"Then we should leave the nebula," Rygel said. "Find out where these invaders are and flush them out into space."
Xander shook his head. "We can't leave, we don't know what's out there."
"We know what's in here!" Rygel insisted. "If we don't they will eventually find a way to get into this room."
"They could have more ships waiting for us," Xander argued. "Hell, Grayza herself could be out there."
"So what do we do?" Jool asked.
Xander looked down at their prisoner. "These guys new exactly when, where, and how to hit us. We need more information." He kneeled down in front of the man and took the gag out of his mouth.
Rygel hovered next to Xander, looking down at the prisoner with a sneer. "On that point we agree," he said. Chiana, Jool, and Noranti stood behind them.
Xander patted one of the DRDs that sat next to the prisoner. "You guys can scoot now," he said. The droids beeped in acquiescence before scuttling away. Xander turned back to the pirate. "Why don't we start with, who the hell are you guys and what are you doing on our ship?" Xander asked.
"I won't tell you anything," the prisoner said with a tremble in his voice. He was clearly scared.
"Give me an hour with him and a tokar knife and I'll learn everything he knows," Rygel said.
Xander glanced sideways at the Hynerian. He had no intention of letting that happen, but there was no reason to let the pirate know that. "We'll save that as a last resort," he said.
"I could whip up some truth potion," Noranti offered, kneeling down next to Xander.
Xander seemed to consider it. "I don't know, the last guy who drank one of your potions ended up vomiting out his internal organs," Xander bluffed.
"That was quite a mess," Noranti said, playing along. "But I'm pretty sure I know what went wrong."
"Zendali!" the pirate blurted out. "We're Zendali."
"I've heard of their species," Noranti said. "Their planet was destroyed forty cycles ago when their star went nova."
Rygel nodded. "Refugees who fancy themselves pirates."
"We are pirates!" the Zendali insisted.
"How did you get aboard?" Xander asked.
"There's an access port on all Leviathans, tier seven, hammond side. It's primarily used for waste disposal. We modified our ship's docking port to dock with it."
Xander glanced up at Pilot. "He is correct, there is such an access port."
"These guys sure did their homework. Can you tell if there's a ship docked there?" Xander asked.
"Negative. The interference is too great."
Xander turned back to the prisoner. "How did you know we'd be here?"
"We happened upon the Sebacean mercenaries on L'lidor, we knew the fugitive Aeryn Sun was among them. Rather then attacking them, or attacking your ship, both battles we would no doubt lose, my Captain had the idea to lure you to L'lidor. We knew that in the process of recovering your comrade, you would be vulnerable."
"You knew we'd split up and hide Moya in the nebula," Xander said.
"We hid our ship in the nebula first, and waited."
"How many of you are aboard?"
"Fifteen."
"What about Scorpius?" Xander asked. "What part did he play in this plan?"
"Who?"
"Scorpius. Scarren/Sebacean hybrid, about so tall, dressed like a dominatrix."
"I don't know this person."
"He's lying," Rygel said. "Scorpius has to be behind this."
Xander considered their prisoner for a moment. It didn't make sense that he would tell them the truth about everything else and then lie about Scorpius. So either he was lying about all of it, or Scorpius really wasn't involved, or he was and this guy just didn't know about it.
Xander stood and turned back to Pilot. "What about the rest of the stuff on his belt, did you figure out what it was?"
"Various weapons and tools, a communications device, nothing out of the ordinary," Pilot answered.
"Anything Moya can track?"
"Not as long as we remain in the nebula."
"What about changes in temperature or air currents? Can she detect anything like that?"
"Again, not while we are still in this nebula."
The others all had their attention turned to Xander and Pilot as they speculated as to what to do next. No one noticed the Zendali pulling his bonds apart behind his back.
"I say we shut down life support everywhere but Pilot's den and let them all suffocate," Rygel said.
"They'd have plenty of time to get back to their ship," Xander pointed out. "And for all we know, they have EVA suits."
"And Moya cannot shutdown life support in every chamber without a complete systems shutdown," Pilot added. "Which would also deactivate it for this chamber."
Chiana was standing closest to the prisoner, but even she didn't notice when he got his hands free. "What about the temperature?" she asked. "Can't we cook them out, like we did with those Peace-Keepers that time?"
"Zendali don't have the same weakness to heat as Sebaceans do," Jool said.
"And again, all they have to do is go back to their ship and wait us out," Xander pointed out.
The Zendali struck fast and hard. He jumped to his feet and snatched his weapon from Pilot's console in one motion. He reached out and grabbed Chiana around the neck, dragging her back with him as he put his weapon against her head. He kept her between him and the others. The whole thing took less than a microt.
"Back up, all of you, or I'll kill her!"
There was a moment of stunned silence where everyone just looked at each other, like they couldn't believe that they had been so stupid. Even Chiana looked more embarrassed than scared.
Rygel broke the silence with his usual tact. "I told you, you should have let me do it my way."
"Shut-up! Drop your weapons! All of you, now!"
Xander's face was cold as ice, and his eyes never left the Zendali's as he slowly unfastened his gun belt and let it drop to the floor. Jool slowly reached behind her back and retrieved an energy pistol, which she dropped to the floor. Rygel did the same. Noranti stood perfectly still, her hands raised, as she had no weapon to drop.
"The sword too!"
Xander slowly pulled Hero from the sheath on his back and laid the sword on the floor. "You're making a big mistake," Xander said, his voice deceptively calm.
"You're the one who's made a mistake! It didn't have to be like this. You could have just come quietly and nobody would have gotten hurt. We would have turned you over to the Peace-Keepers, collected our bounty and been on our way. But now you have to learn, that nobody frells with the Zendali!"
On the outside Xander may have appeared calm, but what no one could see was the rage that was boiling inside of him. It was building, with every passing second this piece of dren held a gun to Chiana's head. First they threaten his home, his pack, and now his mate. He knew it was the hyena talking, but he didn't care. He could feel the beast inside of him, beating against the walls of his cage, screaming to be released. And for the first time since the animal had been reawakened, he allowed himself to admit that he was tempted to give in. Maybe that's all it took. One single moment of weakness for the beast to gain a foothold.
Xander slowly took a step toward the pirate. And then another, and another. "Stay back! I'll kill her, I mean it!" But Xander's slow and deliberate pace continued, his eyes never leaving the other man's. The normally warm brown orbs were filled with cold determination. The others exchanged puzzled looks behind him, even Chiana was starting to look worried. "One more step and I'll kill her, I swear it!" But Xander didn't stop. He could smell his fear, and he knew that the pirate knew that if he killed her, he would be dead before either of their bodies hit the ground, and he was too afraid of death to chance that. But what the pirate didn't know was that it didn't matter, he was as good as dead the second he pressed a weapon against Chiana's head.
That's when he made his mistake. Xander was less than a metra from him when he panicked. He took the weapon from Chiana's head and pointed it at Xander. It was all the opening that Xander needed. He lunged forward, knocking the gun one way and Chiana the other as he tackled the pirate to the floor.
By the time Chiana rolled away and stood up, the room was filled with the screams of the Zendali, along with an inhuman high-pitch cackle that she didn't recognize. She could only see Xander from the back as he was sitting on top of the pirate, beating the hell out of him. The sounds of bones crunching could be heard between screams. Until finally Xander bent down, and one final shriek sounded, ending with a gurgling sound.
The silence that followed was in a way even more frightening than the bawling of the pirate, because it meant that he was dead. That Xander had killed him with his bare hands. Everyone in the room wore near identical horrified expressions as they watched Xander stand up, except for Jool who had dived to the ground when Xander attacked and was still lying there. His posture looked different as he stood, more hunched over, his legs wider apart. Finally, Chiana worked up the nerve to break the silence.
"Xander."
He turned at the sound of his name and snarled. What they saw made everyone take a step back and caused Chiana to gasp. His hands and mouth were covered in blood. His once brown eyes now blazed yellow, and his canine teeth protruded longer than normal. There was no humanity left in his eyes, only bloodlust. His expression softened though as he locked eyes with Chiana. He sniffed the air and made a few grunts as he tentatively stepped toward her. Chiana instinctively took a step back.
"Xander…what…" The question died in her throat as she realized that she didn't even know what to ask. She just could wrap her mind around what she was seeing, what it meant.
That's when Jool finally lifted her head up and saw what was happened. She caught her first look of the hyena possessed Xander and did what came natural to her. She screamed.
The shriek ripped through the room, drilling into everyone's head like a spike. Xander cried out with a growl, even more affected by the high pitch sound than usual. He turned and ran toward the door.
"Xander, wait!" Chiana called out. But it was too late. He hit the control on the side of the door and slipped out into the corridor before anyone could stop him. His animalistic cackle echoed as he left.
They all just stood in stunned silence for a few moments, no one quite sure what to make of what just happened. Finally, Rygel vocalized all of their thoughts with five words.
"What the frell was that?!"
John, D'Argo and Scorpius stepped back onto Ullom's ship and made their way to the main chamber that they were led to before. Ullom stood in the center of the room with his arms folded. Two more Hokothians stood behind him, one of them holding the same slug-like creature that Ullom was holding before.
"I want to talk to her again," John said.
"My patience is wearing thin," Ullom warned.
"I'll get you what you want. But you have to let me see her again."
Ullom nodded and motioned toward the corridor that led to Aeryn's cell. The two other Hokothians stood aside to let John pass. He didn't bother to wait for Ullom to lead the way, he just walked straight to Aeryn's cell and waited for the door to open. After a moment it did, and John stepped inside.
Aeryn turned her head when she heard the door slide open. When she saw that it was John, she pulled herself up into a sitting position. The two of them just stared at each other for a few moments, neither one really sure what to say. She could see the sadness in his eyes at seeing her like this.
"Don't be so upset," she said quietly. "Death is nothing to fear." She paused. "I should know."
"I'll get the antidote. End of story."
Aeryn noticed that John's pulse pistol was sitting in its holster on his thigh. Ullom must be getting sloppy, she thought to herself. Either that, or he knows that it doesn't matter. "Do you remember what I said to you once? Before the living death takes hold you have to be prepared to kill me. Promise."
John snorted. "Not a chance."
"You have no right to try and negotiate with him. It's my life."
"And what if other people…depend on you?"
"Ullom doesn't care about anyone else. He just wants me."
"Not as much as I do," John said.
"I made a promise. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"
"Doesn't *life* mean anything to you?" John asked. "When did you become an assassin?"
"When I found a cause that required it," Aeryn bit back angrily.
"So tell me about it. Tell me the Prime Hokothian was the devil incarnate. Tell me you did the universe a favor. Tell me why the… *saints* you're protecting need anonymity. Tell me…it's worth you dying."
Aeryn locked eyes with John. There was regret there, sadness. Not that she regretted what she had done, just the circumstances that required it. She wanted to tell him she was sorry, that she didn't want to die anymore than he wanted her to. She wanted to tell him so many things. But she kept it all inside, and spoke only two words. "It is."
John paused a moment as he absorbed everything her eyes were telling him. She didn't have to say it. He knew. "Well, then it's a good thing that you have friends that aren't so willing to give up on you," he said. "And it's a good thing we have a plan."
D'Argo and Scorpius waited in the main chamber until they heard John yelling and pounding on Aeryn's cell door. D'Argo took a step forward but was blocked by one of the Hokothians. The Luxan growled, but didn't push the issue.
Ullom stood outside the cell door as it opened. John rushed out, carrying a convulsing Aeryn with him. He brushed past the Chief Protector and took her to the main chamber.
"It's getting worse," John said as he laid her on the floor. "She'll talk, but you have to save her first." Ullom just looked down at Aeryn for a moment. "What are you waiting for? I can get you the names but you have to save her now!"
After a moment, Ullom finally turned and nodded to his men. The one who held the slug kneeled down next to Aeryn and placed the creature against her face. The other one stood behind John and watched over his shoulder. A burst of energy discharged from the slug across Aeryn's face. Her head jerked to the side and for a second she froze, but then she started convulsing again.
"That's not enough, hit her again!" John insisted.
"One dose is more than sufficient," Ullom said. "She should soon recover enough to speak."
That was all John needed to hear. In a second, he uncoiled from the floor and struck the Hokothian behind him in the face. He punched him twice more before sending him staggering back with a head-butt. Finally, he drew his pulse pistol and fired. The Hokothian collapsed to the floor, dead.
D'Argo had little trouble with the second one, knocking him out with a few punches. Ullom remained still throughout the whole ordeal. D'Argo took a swing at the Chief Protector, only to have his fist pass harmlessly through the hologram. The hologram shimmer and then disappeared completely. "He's still faking it!" D'Argo called out to John before running down the corridor. Scorpius was right behind him, running down the corridor in the opposite direction.
John checked the bodies on the floor to make sure they were out of commission. The blue tinged light that reflected throughout the room suddenly changed to red, and Ullom's disembodied voice sounded all around them.
"What's the point? This place is sealed. You're trapped and outnumbered!"
D'Argo stopped at the end of the corridor, cut off.
"Yeah, you got any more warm bodies trot 'em out!" John shouted. "Or get your own ass down here if you've got the balls for it!"
Aeryn started to push herself up slowly. D'Argo and Scorpius both came back into the room.
"It's completely sealed off," Scorpius said. "There's no way out."
"That's right," Ullom's disembodied voice agreed. "I control this ship! I can cut off your oxygen, or just let you starve!"
Aeryn climbed to her feet and stepped forward. "Come on, Ullom. Come out," she said, her voice showing a hint of anger. "Stop fighting your battles with contagions and holograms, and face me." She paused. "Or are you a coward?"
There was a hissing sound, and Ullom's hologram reappeared behind Aeryn. She turned to face him. "I faced you once, murderer. Do you not remember? You shot me and left me for dead. You killed so many that day."
Unseen by Ullom, John grabbed Scorpius by the arm and pulled him along with him as he took up a position in the corridor, his pulse pistol at the ready. He motioned for D'Argo to take the other side.
"I remember," Aeryn said with a smirk. "But your leader had more people slaughtered in one day than I could possibly kill in a lifetime. And if asked to do again what I did. I would do it again, and again."
On the far side of the room behind Aeryn, the wall started to shimmer. It dissolved slowly to reveal an alcove, where Ullom hung from some kind of harness.
"And I would do it for free," Aeryn continued. "I wasn't *hired* to kill him…"
Unseen by Aeryn, the real Ullom raised a pulse pistol and took aim. John saw it though. He sprung into action, pushing Scorpius ahead of him. He shoved him in between Ullom and Aeryn just as Ullom fired. The energy blast struck Scorpius, sending him to the floor. Aeryn whirled around just as John fired his own pistol, striking Ullom. The hologram faded out of existence as the alcove Ullom hung in began to spark wildly.
John was at Aeryn's side in a heartbeat, helping her as she staggered slightly. Scorpius turned over from his spot on the floor and groaned.
"My life…support…" Ullom gasped.
"That was your plan?" Aeryn asked John, slightly angry. "Push Scorpius into the blast?"
"My coolant suit is resistant to energy weapon fire," Scorpius said as he tried to climb to his feet. D'Argo stepped over to him and grabbed him by the arm, unceremoniously hoisting him up. Scorpius groaned again but nodded toward the Luxan. "Thank you," he said, only slightly sarcastic.
"I kept my promise," John said, clearly annoyed. "He's alive." Aeryn just glared at him.
"Not to interrupt this touching moment, but we still have to get out of here. We're sealed in, remember?" D'Argo said.
Scorpius pulled himself from D'Argo's grip and staggered closer to Ullom. "This device," he said, pulling blue orb from Ullom's left hand. "I believe it's a control orb. A direct neural interface."
"I'll be sure to add it to my Christmas list," John said. "What does it do?"
"He runs the entire ship with this."
"Correction, you run the entire ship with that," John said.
Scorpius rolled his eyes as he considered the orb. "Very well, I will try."
"There is no try young padawan, only do. Pop the hatch so we can blow this taco stand."
Xander moved through the corridors of Moya at a steady run, tracking the scent of his prey. They outnumbered him fourteen to one, some logical part of his mind still knew that. But he didn't care. He craved the hunt now, almost as much as the kill. He could still taste the blood that stained his mouth and hands, the blood of his prey, and he wanted more. He used his ability to track them to stay one step ahead. He avoided any areas where they were gathered in groups. Instead he sought out ones who were alone. He could pick them all off one by one if he was patient enough.
There was one of them ahead of him now, he could feel it. Xander slowed his pace as the air carried the scent of his prey to his nose. He was completely silent, not even his footsteps made a sound as he readied himself. He could hear him now, his heartbeat, his breathing. He was just around the corner, and he was getting closer. The Zendali carefully peeked into the corridor, searching for members of Moya's crew when Xander struck.
He pounced, knocking his prey to the floor and his gun out of his hand. Blow after blow came raining down on the unsuspecting pirate. He screamed out in pain, but it did no good. Xander didn't stop until the man was dead.
Xander raised his head and howled in victory. He sniffed the air and detected the scent of another coming closer, fast. Attracted by the noise no doubt. Xander growled and gritted his teeth together. He rose to his feet and turned around, watching as another pirate emerged from an adjoining corridor fifty metras away from him. The Zendali raised his weapon and fired.
Xander broke into a run toward the man, darting back and forth along the corridor to evade the blasts from his weapon. He moved with incredible speed and agility, bouncing from wall to wall. He was ten metras from his prey when he made one final leap, covering the space between them in an instant. A blast from the pirate's weapon caught Xander in the shoulder at the last second and sent him off balance as he tackled the other man to the floor. They both rolled down the corridor, one on top of the other, both struggling for dominance. Finally, Xander brought his legs up and kicked the pirate away from him. He flew into the air until he struck the wall with a thud and slid down it. The pirate grimaced in pain before looking back at his opponent.
Xander got to his feet quickly. There was a scorch mark on his left shoulder where the energy blast had struck him, and his left arm hung numbly at his side. His eyes narrowed as he bared his teeth and growled at his prey.
"What…what the hell are you?" the Zendali sputtered. He tried to bring up his weapon again, but Xander closed the distance in a blink and batted it away. He grabbed the pirate by the neck and lifted him up against the wall. The pirate struggled for breath as he looked down at the creature that held him, terror filling his eyes. Xander just growled before snapping his neck with one hand. The body fell to the deck, limp and lifeless.
Xander took a second to look at the wound on his shoulder before his head snapped up. He could hear them coming, more of them. Too many to fight. He turned in the opposite direction and took off at a full run.
"You scared him!" Chiana yelled at Jool
"*I* scared *him*?" Jool exclaimed. "Did you see the same thing that I did? His eyes, his teeth, he ripped that man's throat out with his bare teeth!"
"I had him calmed down until you screamed!"
"Oh, you did, did you? Well do you mind telling the rest of us what the frell you were calming him down from!"
"I don't know! But if you had given me a chance…"
"Enough, both of you!" Rygel yelled. "We still have the Zendali to deal with in case you've forgotten."
"Of course we haven't forgotten!" Chiana exclaimed. "Xander is out there all alone, unarmed. They're going to kill him!"
"Unless he kills them first," Rygel pointed out. "We have more important things to worry about, like how we are going to survive. I think we've seen that Xander can take care of himself."
"How can you say that? You don't even know what's happened to him," Chiana said.
"Well, he is human. Maybe the stress of the situation was too much and he spontaneously devolved," Rygel said. "From what I know of the species, it isn't much of a leap."
Chiana just shot Rygel a dirty look. Jool cautiously approached the body of the dead Zendali. She grimaced as she leaned down to get a closer look at his wounds. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say a wild animal did this."
Chiana looked over at Noranti, who had been suspiciously quiet since Xander's outburst. "What about you, Wrinkles? Do you have any idea what's happening to Xander?"
"There's been something different about him, since the two of you returned from Grayza's ship," Noranti said. "A darkness touching his soul. He's been struggling against it." Noranti paused. "It would seem that he has failed."
Chiana's expression twisted in anger. "You're saying that Grayza did this to him?"
Noranti shook her head. "Xander is the only one who knows the answer to that."
"We're wasting time!" Rygel insisted. "We should be discussing what we're going to do about the Zendali."
Chiana opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, a high-pitched whine filled the room. "It's the ship-wide comms," Pilot said, frantically working at his console. "Someone has accessed it."
The whine faded quickly, and was replaced by a deep gruff voice. "Attention, crew of the Leviathan Moya. This is Captain Mezzom of the Zendali. I have accessed your ship's comms in order to… negotiate terms of surrender."
Chiana sneered. "If this joker thinks we're going to surrender, he's got another thing coming," she said.
"The creature you have released has killed two of my men, and there is another missing. If you call this creature off, and allow us to return to our ship…we will leave, and not pursue this matter any further," Mezzom said, clearly unhappy.
Stunned silence filled Pilot's den. Chiana's mouth literally fell open as she tried to comprehend what the pirate had just said. *He* wanted to surrender to *them*. The creature that he spoke of, it had to be Xander. She found her gaze locked on Xander's gun belt and sword, which still laid on the deck a few metras from where she stood. He was unarmed, the Zendali weren't. And yet he had managed to kill two more of them. Her eyes drifted to the body of the pirate Xander had killed, lying in a pool of his own blood. Had their deaths been as gruesome as his? Nothing made any sense, how could Xander have done that? What was happening to him?
Rygel finally broke the silence, tapping the comms pin on his robe before he spoke. "Our terms are as follows. You and your men will leave all of your weapons and equipment, including your stealth suits, in the galley. You will then proceed to the detention cells and lock yourselves inside. Once we have confirmed that you are there, and that you are not armed, we will recall the creature. We have your missing man, so we know exactly what equipment you are carrying, and we'll know if any of it is missing. We also know that there are fourteen of you aboard."
"I've already told you, two of my men were killed!" Mezzom growled.
"Then you will strip them and take the bodies with you," Rygel said.
"Your terms are unacceptable! Call off this creature and we will leave!"
"It's your decision Captain," Rygel said calmly. "You can either do as I've said, or you can wait until our creature has picked you off, one by one. It really makes no difference to us."
There was a pause on the other end of the comms. The assembled crew of Moya looked around at each other nervously. Finally, the Zendali Captain spoke again.
"What will be done with us?"
"Your lives will be spared," Rygel said. "Beyond that, I haven't decided yet."
Another pause. "Very well. We…accept your terms," Mezzom grumbled.
"Then we'll speak again once you have complied," Rygel said. He tapped the pin on his chest again, ending the transmission.
The stunned silence continued for a few moments. "Unbelievable," Jool muttered.
"It would seem that Xander has saved us, despite whatever has happened to him," Noranti said.
"Nice job, Ryg," Chiana said.
"Someone had to take charge," Rygel said. "The galley isn't far from here, once they remove their stealth suits and we're sure they're in a detention cell we can make sure that all of their weapons are accounted for before we do anything else."
"What are we going to do about them?" Jool asked. "And what about Xander?"
"He won't hurt us," Chiana said. Jool shot her a skeptical look. "And I think I have an idea of how we can contain him."
Xander moved slowly, staying in the shadows as best he could. His prey was regrouping. They knew they were being hunted now, and they knew that their strength was in their numbers. Xander would wait them out. He'd wait forever if he had to, but he'd get his prey in the end. He'd make them pay for threatening his pack.
He sat quietly on his haunches, in an unlit corner of Moya, close to where his enemy gathered, and prepared himself to wait. That's when he heard it. A strange and yet familiar voice that seemed to come from nowhere.
"Xander. Xander, can you hear me?" Xander leapt to his feet and spun around, looking for where the voice had come from. "It's me, Chiana." He looked down at the pin on his shirt, realizing that the voice was coming from it. He pulled it off and looked at it curiously.
"I hope you can hear me. We're safe now, Xander. The pirates are in one of the holding cells, the threat is over." Chiana paused. "I'm okay, I'm safe now. We…I want you to come back to Pilot's den. I need you here."
Xander looked up and sniffed the air, smelling for signs of his prey. They were there, in the same place they had been before. They weren't moving anymore. He closed his hand around the comms pin and started down the corridor towards Pilot's den. Chiana needed him, that was all he needed to hear.
Somewhere, deep in Xander's consciousness, the rational part of his mind was fighting to push its way to the surface. But it was too late, he was trying to close the barn door long after the horse had broken free, the beast was just too powerful now.
It only took Xander a few minutes to get back to Pilot's den. He moved through the door cautiously, scanning the room as he stepped inside. Chiana was standing closest to him, in front of Pilot's console. The others stood behind her, their faces a mixture of concern and fear. If Chiana was afraid, she hid it well. She gave Xander a smile and waved him closer.
"It's okay," Chiana said. "Come on." Xander kept walking until he was right in front of her, giving Chiana her first up close look at him since he changed. She winced a little when she saw the wound on his left shoulder. She was afraid, not of the creature that he had become, but of the possibility that she might never get her Xander back. Never again get to stare into his warm brown eyes, or see that lopsided smile, or hear the affection in his voice when he says her name. A single tear slid down Chiana's cheek as she reached up and touched his face.
Xander nuzzled against her hand and murmured contentedly. "Mate," he grunted softly.
"Everything is going to be okay, Xander," Chiana said. "I promise."
Xander was too engrossed with Chiana to notice Noranti sneaking up next to him. It wasn't until she blew a handful of powder in his face that he realized she was there. He turned and growled at her, but he didn't get the chance to do much more before he collapsed unconscious on the floor.
Chiana kneeled down next to him and brushed a lock of hair away from his eyes before wiping her own face. "I promise," she mumbled again.
When Xander opened his eyes again, he found himself sprawled out on the floor of one of Moya's holding cells. His head hurt, his shoulder hurt, his stomach hurt. He could still taste blood in his mouth. He ran his tongue across his teeth, they were back to normal again. He pushed himself up to a sitting position and looked down at himself. There was still blood on his clothes, but his hands were clean. His left shoulder was wrapped in a bandage. He flexed the fingers of his left hand. His entire arm was tingling, but his dexterity didn't seem worse for wear.
His hands went to his head as he started processing his memories of the last few arns. He remembered everything of course. Every action, every emotion, every instinct, every kill. Xander slowly climbed to his feet and stumbled to the waste receptacle in the corner of the room, where he promptly threw up the contents of his stomach.
"He's awake."
Xander turned his head and saw Rygel hovering just outside of the cell door. A moment later, Chiana, Jool, and Noranti stepped into view as well. "Xander, are you okay?" Chiana asked. Xander opened his mouth to answer, but stopped as he turned his head and threw up again.
"I guess that answers that question," Rygel commented.
"Jool patched up your shoulder while you were out," Chiana continued. "She said there might be some nerve damage still, but you should be fine. I…I cleaned off as much of the blood as I could."
Xander sat back on his heels and pulled his tee shirt off. He used it to wipe the vomit from his mouth before dropping it on the floor and standing up. He took a closer look at his left shoulder and tested his range of motion.
"Xander…do you know what happened? Do you remember…"
"I remember," Xander interrupted with a gravelly voice. "All of it."
After a moment of silence Rygel spoke up again. "Well are you going to tell us what the frell happened or not?"
"I lost control," Xander said simply.
"Is that what happens when humans lose control?" Jool asked sheepishly.
Xander shook his head. "No, just me," he said. "At least now anyway."
"Xander, I don't understand," Chiana said.
"I guess I have a lot of explaining to do." Xander stepped closer to the door of the cell, keeping his eyes on Chiana as he spoke. "Around nine years ago, my time, I was possessed by an animal spirit. A hyena to be exact. It's a pack animal, kind of like a wild dog. It's…hard to explain. It wasn't like being possessed by another mind, I was still me, only…different. I had all these instincts, these…urges that I couldn't control. To hunt and kill, to protect my pack. My senses were enhanced, along with my reflexes and my strength. It wasn't nearly as…drastic as the change that you witnessed. I still looked completely human, and I could still speak and interact with people normally. It was…a very scary experience. I hurt people that I cared about, and I very nearly killed one of them. My friends cast a spell to get rid of the hyena spirit, which it did. At least, that's what we thought."
"This is ridiculous," Rygel muttered.
"Shut-up, Rygel," Chiana said, not taking her eyes away from Xander. "Let him talk."
"I know it sounds farfetched, but I swear it's true," Xander said.
"So, whenever you lose control this…hyena creature resurfaces?" Noranti asked.
"Not exactly. At least, that isn't how it used to be. I didn't know it at the time, but the spell didn't completely remove the hyena. A piece of it stayed behind, locked away deep inside of my mind. And that's where it stayed hidden, all this time…until Grayza woke it up."
Chiana's eyes widened. "The Aurora chair."
"No," Xander said. "The chair only looks at memories. It was her pheromones, when she tried to…seduce me. The reaction tickled that part of my brain where the hyena was caged, among my own base desires and instincts. It very nearly got out right then and there, but I reined it in. The problem is the hyena is no longer trapped in the back of my mind. It's much more powerful now, much harder to control. It's been getting stronger all these years, I think that's why the change was so different. It's an animal, it feeds on anger and violence. The Zendali coming aboard only made it stronger. And when that pirate grabbed you Chiana, I lost it."
"The darkness I sensed in you when you came back aboard, it was this creature," Noranti observed.
"We could have been killed," Jool said, remembering the gruesome death of the Zendali who dared to touch Chiana.
"No," Xander insisted. "The hyena wouldn't have intentionally hurt you. It considers you part of its pack. It was trying to protect you all from the Zendali."
"How did you change back?" Chiana asked.
"While the hyena was loose, it must have given my mind the chance to build a better cage for it. Once I was unconscious, they put it back. I can still feel it, but it isn't as strong anymore. I don't think I'll change again. At least not any time soon."
"Who is 'they'?" Jool asked.
"What?"
"You said once you were unconscious, 'they' put it back. Who's they?"
Xander closed his eyes and sighed. "I've asked you all to believe so much, to trust me even though you hardly know me. Maybe that's why I've been so reluctant to tell you all of this.
"After my first session in the Aurora chair, my mind was mush. Grayza had unlocked the solider memories, and everything was just… chaotic. I was losing my mind, and it scared the hell out of me. I started seeing things, my friends from Earth, the ones who were killed. They told me what I needed to do. They kept me focused when it felt like everything was falling apart around me. I thought they were just hallucinations…but they weren't."
Xander looked down at the amulet that hung around his neck. "I've told you about this amulet that my friends gave me, that it was infused with magic to protect me. What you don't know is that before Willow…before she died, she did something to it. I didn't know what until just recently. She infused it with a piece of her life force, and a piece of the life forces of the rest of my friends. They've latched on to different parts of my psyche, kind of like the hyena did with my primitive instincts. They are what kept me sane while Grayza tortured me. They're why I was able to resist her pheromones. And they are what have been keeping the hyena in check since Grayza released it."
"This is frelling insane!" Rygel complained.
"Rygel…"
"I can't believe you're even entertaining this! He's clearly lost his mind, he…"
"Rygel, shut-up!" Chiana yelled.
"I asked you to trust me, and you did," Xander said. He was speaking to all of them, but his eyes never left Chiana's. "I betrayed that trust, and I put your lives in danger by not telling you the truth. I made a mistake, and I'm sorry. I wish I had a better explanation for what I did…but I don't."
For a moment, nobody said anything. Chiana just stared at Xander, like she was trying to decide how to feel about it all. After a few seconds, she moved to open the cell door.
"What are you doing?!" Rygel asked.
"I'm letting him out."
"Are you crazy?! You can't tell me you actually believe all of that!"
"If he was going to make up a lie, don't you think it would be a more convincing one than that?" Chiana countered. "He's telling the truth." She paused. "I can tell."
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to side with Rygel on this one," Jool said. "All we have is his word that what happened won't happen again. I don't think we can risk it."
"What about you, Wrinkles?" Chiana asked.
Noranti looked a Xander for a moment before responding. "I can still see the darkness inside him, but it's been pushed back. I think he's telling the truth."
"So that's two against two," Chiana said, looking at Xander. He didn't say anything further in his own defense. He told them the truth, and now it was up to them to decide what to do with him. There was nothing more for him to say. "Pilot," Chiana said after a moment. "Have you been monitoring our comms?"
"I have," Pilot's voice came back.
"What do you and Moya think?"
"It would appear that Xander has saved us from the Zendali. Moya and I agree, we should give him the benefit of the doubt."
Chiana nodded and moved to open the door again. "Four to two," she said. The cell door slid open and Xander stepped out. Rygel and Jool tensed for a moment, but nothing happened.
"What happened to the Zendali?" Xander asked after a moment.
"They surrendered to us," Noranti said. "In exchange for us retrieving you. Their captain said you killed two more of his men."
Xander nodded. "It's true."
"So what are we going to do with them now?" Jool asked.
"I've given them my word that their lives will be spared," Rygel said.
"Well we can't just let them go," Jool said. "We have no guarantee that they won't come back."
Xander thought for a moment. "John made you a promise Rygel, I say we honor it."
"What are you talking about?"
"He told you that if this ended up being a trap, he'd let you loot any ships we found," Xander said. Rygel smiled. "I say we do exactly that. Take anything of value we can find from their ship, including the weapons they were carrying and those stealth suits of theirs. Disable their engines, leave them enough power and provisions to survive adrift, and let them pray that whoever happens upon them is more charitable than they have been."
"Perhaps I was a little hasty before when I called you insane," Rygel said with a smile.
Jool just rolled her eyes and grabbed Rygel by the back of his throne sled. "Come on, let's go give Captain Mezzom the good news." Noranti followed after them, leaving Xander and Chiana alone.
Chiana turned to go too before Xander stopped her. "Chiana, I…" She turned. "I'm sorry." It just didn't seem like enough. Probably because it wasn't.
"We have a lot of work to do before John and D'Argo get back. We'll talk about it later," she said curtly. She turned and walked out of the room, leaving Xander alone.
She was clearly hurt, and Xander couldn't blame her. The exact thing he had been so determined to prevent had happened, he hurt Chiana. But it wasn't the hyena that did it, it was all him this time, which is what made it all the more worse. Xander just shook his head, silently cursing himself as he stepped out into the corridor.
Lo'La hovered outside of the nebula where Moya was supposed to be waiting for them. John looked nervously at D'Argo. "Moya, please respond," John repeated. "To get to the other side."
"I don't understand," D'Argo said.
"Neither do I, they should be here," John said.
"No, I mean the code. Why did the chicken cross the road, to get to the other side. What does it mean?"
"It's a joke."
"A joke? But it isn't funny."
"Sure it is. Moya, please respond. To get to the other side."
"But, isn't it implied that he wanted to get to the other side? Otherwise why would he cross the road?"
"Exactly, that's why it's funny. The fact that you're asking the question implies that there is some great reason why chickens cross roads. But there isn't, they just want to get to the other side."
"So, asking a question with an obvious answer is funny?" D'Argo asked.
"Yes."
"Why?"
John sighed. "I don't know, it just is, okay. It's just a stupid joke, it's not important right now. What's important is that Moya isn't answering."
"I wouldn't think about it too much, D'Argo," Aeryn said. "Humans have a strange sense of humor." John turned to Aeryn and opened his mouth but he was interrupted by the comms.
"We read you, Lo'La. Sorry we took so long to respond, we're a little busy over here," Xander's voice came over the comms. "It's good to have you back."
All four occupants of the small Luxan ship looked through the front window as Moya appeared out of the swirling clouds of gas. John smiled. "It's good to be back," he said.
"Was your mission a success?"
"Most definitely," John answered. "I hope you guys weren't too bored waiting for us."
Xander chuckled sadly. "No, we managed to entertain ourselves. I'll fill you in when you get aboard. The hangar bay doors are open. Welcome home, Aeryn. Moya out."
John turned and smiled at Aeryn as the connection was severed. "Was that who I think it was?" she asked.
John nodded. "It's kind of a long story."
Xander stepped into the hangar bay after Lo'La was aboard and the bay pressurized again. He met the others about halfway across the bay.
"You had us scared there for a minute," John said with a smile, as they got closer. He reached out and shook Xander's hand.
"Sorry about that," Xander said.
"Where are the others?" D'Argo asked.
"Seeing to our uninvited guests and looting their ship."
"What?!" D'Argo exclaimed.
"Zendali pirates, they were waiting for us in the nebula."
"So this was a trap," John said, turning to glare at Scorpius. D'Argo clamped a firm hand down on the hybrid's shoulder.
"It was a trap all right, but according to the pirates Scorpius had nothing to do with it," Xander said. "They say they spotted Aeryn and the other mercs on the planet and decided to lure us here because they knew we would be vulnerable while we tried to recover her."
"I assure you, I had nothing to do with this," Scorpius said calmly.
"Right, it's just a big coincidence," John sneered.
"I think it just might be," Xander said. John and D'Argo looked at him with surprise. "The Zendali have no reason to lie to us. If they had information that we wanted, they'd use it to barter for leniency."
"Unless they're afraid of what might happen to them if they talk," John suggested.
Again Xander shook his head. "Their balls are bigger than their brains, I don't think they're afraid of much. The only reason they surrendered is because they lost three of their fifteen-person crew. Captain Mezzom said he couldn't afford to lose anymore, the bounty wasn't worth it."
John turned back to Xander. "Wait a minute, let me get this straight. Fifteen armed pirates boarded Moya, and you guys managed to kill three of them and get the rest to surrender?"
Xander nodded. "This is where things start getting complicated," he said. He cast a glance at Aeryn and then back to John. "How much does she know about why I'm here?"
"None, we didn't have time to fill her in," John answered.
"Then I suggest we stick tall, pale, and ugly here in a holding cell and finish this conversation someplace a little more comfortable. This could take a while."
All in all, John, Aeryn and D'Argo took the news well. Aeryn was quiet mostly during the explanation of Xander's destiny to prevent the war between the Peace Keepers and the Scarrens. She looked skeptical, wondering how Xander was supposed to accomplish this considering he had no idea himself, but she seemed to give him, along with John and D'Argo who vouched for him, the benefit of the doubt. The rest of Xander's explanation regarding the hyena and the amulet went down a little harder. There was reluctance to believe yet another farfetched tale of magic, but not as much anger as he had expected. John understood Xander's reasons for not wanting to tell everyone about it all at first, and his instincts to try and solve his own problems by himself, even if they did affect his friends. D'Argo seemed to agree with the hyena's tactics once Xander told him that the beast wouldn't have hurt any of Moya's crew, seeing them as his pack. There even seemed to be a twinge of sadness in the Luxan's voice at having missed all the action, though from what they told him of Aeryn's rescue, they had had their own share of action. Again, Aeryn remained mostly silent. Being back aboard Moya again was going to be an adjustment for her, and from what Xander observed she seemed to be trying to just absorb as much as she could about their current situation.
Things looked a little strained between John and Aeryn, but Xander didn't say anything about it. He wondered if it had anything to do with the fact that Scorpius was still alive, but decided not to push the issue, figuring that John would tell him when he was ready. The others took a break from their work on the Zendali ship and met them in the galley where an impromptu reunion took place. Noranti cooked, Rygel ate, everyone else just talked. John seemed to notice that things looked strained between Xander and Chiana, but he didn't say anything either.
The idea for holding a vote to elect a captain was brought up again. Everyone agreed that they needed a leader, and an election seemed like the reasonable way to do it. A few people were surprised by who was chosen, but not Xander. He had the leadership ability, the tactical thinking, the determination. D'Argo was the most logical choice as far as he was concerned.
Afterwards Xander found himself wandering through the ship, thinking about everything and nothing at the same time. He really blew things with Chiana, and he didn't know how to fix it, or even if he could fix it. He couldn't help but think that maybe things were better this way. Chiana would be happier without him, he'd only end up hurting her again. This whole situation just reinforced the belief that he had no business being in a romantic relationship, he wasn't emotionally equipped for it.
Xander walked around the next corner and came face to face with Willow. "That's bullshit!" she exclaimed, her hands on her hips. Xander stopped short so quickly he almost fell over backwards. "That's just your insecurities talking and you know it."
"It doesn't make it any less true," he defended. "I've been alone, wallowing in my own pain so long I can't even hold a normal conversation with someone. I'm more comfortable facing off against a room full of demons or pirates than talking to Chiana about how I feel. She deserves better than that."
"That's her decision to make."
"She's already made it."
"Bullshit," Willow repeated.
"When did you get such a potty-mouth?"
"I've been hanging around in your head too long," she said. Xander rolled his eyes. "Don't assume just because she's mad at you that she's ready to end it all. You think she deserves better? Fine, be better. Don't give up on this, Xander. Anything worth having is worth fighting for, and you're not a quitter."
"Will you do me a favor and get back in my head. Everyone here things I'm crazy enough as it is, I don't need any of them catching me talking to myself in the corridor."
"Fine, answer me one question and I'll leave you alone."
"What?"
"Do you love her?" Xander closed his eyes and rubbed his hands down his face, letting out a sigh. "Well?"
"I don't know!" he bit back. But when he opened his eyes, she was gone. He let out another sigh and started back down the corridor. Unconsciously, he found himself wandering toward the detention level.
Xander stood outside of Scorpius' cell, staring at the hybrid with interest as he sat on the floor in the middle of the room with his eyes closed. He didn't really know why he felt the need to come here, to look at this man. His mere presence here seemed to unnerve the others a great deal. He had heard the stories, he knew all about the former Peace Keeper. But he didn't understand, what was it about this creature that projected so much power, when all he was doing was sitting on the floor in a holding cell meditating?
"Is there something I can help you with?" Scorpius finally spoke, without opening his eyes.
Xander wasn't sure what to say to the man. "I thought you'd be taller."
He smirked at that. "Sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Harris."
"So you do know who I am."
Scorpius finally opened his eyes. "Your reputation precedes you. There aren't very many people who can say they escaped from a Peace Keeper command carrier."
Xander didn't think any of the others would have told him about that. "And how is it that you know that?"
"I have a spy aboard Grayza's ship."
"Is that so? And how do we know that you're not working for Grayza? Why should we believe you?"
"You may believe what you wish."
Xander paused, considering the man in front of him. "You know, D'Argo says that you could probably get out of that cell any time you want."
"And yet here I sit," Scorpius replied, not denying it.
"Is that supposed to make us trust you? You're using Aeryn to manipulate John to keep yourself alive."
"I cannot accomplish my mission if I am dead."
"Right, your mission to protect John," Xander said skeptically.
"My mission to keep the wormhole technology in his brain from falling into Scarren hands." Scorpius stood up and walked toward the cell door. "Like it or not Mr. Harris, we both want the same things. We're more alike than you realize."
"How do you figure that?"
"We're survivors, you and I. Prevailing in the face of overwhelming odds, we push ahead and fight on no matter what. We're both here to stop a war. Neither of us much cares for Mele-on Grayza." Scorpius paused, as though he were considering what he was about to say next. He lowered his voice when he spoke. "I have a dark side, my Scarren half. It is like…an animal that must be tamed. It is a constant struggle for control. I know what it is like, to be your own worst enemy."
Xander was shocked. Scorpius couldn't be talking about what it seemed like he was talking about. He couldn't know about the hyena. He had only just told the others, and the hybrid hadn't been present for any of it. Certainly no one would have told him. Xander struggled to keep his expression neutral and his voice even.
"We are nothing alike," he said.
Scorpius smiled. "I suppose we're each entitled to our own opinions."
"I came down here to tell you something," Xander said, deciding to change the subject. "John may have promised not to kill you, but I didn't. And if I get even an inkling that you're going to turn on us, I'll put you down like a rabid dog. I'm not scared by this mysterious villain routine, it doesn't impress me. You may be able to use Aeryn to get to John, but I'm a little harder to manipulate than that."
"I don't know, from what I've seen love seems to be a common weakness among humans," Scorpius said with a smirk.
Xander reacted without thought. His teeth gritted and his hand came up, slamming into the cell door inches from Scorpius' face. He knew that part of the reaction was the hyena's influence, but at the moment he didn't care. If there was one thing that the man and the beast agreed on, it was distaste for anyone threatening Chiana.
"I sincerely hope for your sake that you're not suggesting what I think you're suggesting," Xander spoke through clenched teeth. "Let me give you one more piece of advice Scorpius. Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry."
Xander then calmly took his hand from the cell door, turned and walked away, not sparing the former Peace Keeper a second glance. Scorpius raised an eyebrow as he considered whether perhaps he had underestimated this young human. "I'll be sure to remember that," he said to himself.
John walked into Command and found Aeryn standing there, looking out the front view port at the stars. He contemplated leaving her alone for a moment before deciding to approach her. He walked up next to her slowly and joined her looking at the stars.
"Hey," he said noncommittally after a few seconds.
"Hey," she returned.
"We finished with the Zendali ship, set it adrift. Not a bad haul, the currency alone should keep us going for a while. I don't think I've ever seen Rygel this happy. Moya's getting ready to starburst, should be any microt now."
"Good."
The silence stretched on. "You've been awfully quiet."
Aeryn sighed. "It's a lot to get used to. I had resigned myself to the fact that I was never going to see any of you again, and now here I am. Back aboard Moya, back on the run from the Peace Keepers."
"The more things change, the more they stay the same," John said. Aeryn looked at him. "It's a human expression."
"That could possibly be the only human idiom you've told me that actually makes sense," Aeryn said. "Though it might be more accurate to say the more things stay the same, the more they change."
"Xander," John said, understanding where she was going.
"I have to admit, I've seen a lot of strange things in my life, most of them aboard this ship. But none of it compares to that story."
"Well, I was there for a lot of it, so I can tell you first hand that it's true."
"He's really supposed to single handedly stop a war and save 110 billion lives?" John nodded. "Amazing. What do you say to something like that?"
"I believe his exact works were, 'You've got to be fucking kidding me.'"
The pair fell silent again, just looking at the stars. The familiar sounds of Moya powering up for a starburst filled the room, and after a second the stars streaked by and disappeared.
"And away we go," John commented.
The silence stretched on for another minute before Aeryn spoke again. "Why did you come back?"
"What do you mean?"
"From Earth. You were there, you were home. Why did you come back?"
John thought for a moment. "Everything that made it home was gone. Everyone I care about is here. I had no reason to stay anymore. Moya is my home now."
"Home is where people love you," Aeryn mumbled.
"What?"
"You told me that once, after the first time we met Xander oddly enough."
John smiled. "I guess that makes two human idioms you understood."
Aeryn smiled slightly too. "Part of me is glad to be back, but part of me can't help but feel…tired of running. From the Peace Keepers, from Ullom, from…everything."
"There's something to be said for living to fight another day," John said. "But, there's something to be said for standing your ground and facing your fears too. Is that what else you're running from, your fears."
Aeryn turned and looked at John. "My fear of what?"
"Of your own feelings, of being hurt again." He paused. "Of me maybe. Moya is your home too, Aeryn. It's where people…"
Aeryn looked away. "I can't do this now."
John tried not to get angry, but he couldn't help it. At Aeryn, for being so frelling stubborn. At his double, for finally winning her heart only to die on her and shatter it into a million pieces. And at himself, for not being able to be as patient and understanding as Aeryn needed him to be.
"Fine," John said curtly. He turned on his heel and started to walk out of Command. He stopped short of the door and turned. "Just answer me one question, Aeryn."
"What?" she asked after a second.
"Why didn't you tell me you're pregnant?"
Xander tentatively knocked on Chiana's door, unsure of what exactly he was going to say. That is if she even wanted to listen. After a moment the door opened and there she was. She didn't look surprised to see him, in fact her expression hadn't changed much at all since Xander had explained everything. She just looked…sad. She didn't say anything. Finally after a moment, Xander spoke.
"Can I come in?" Chiana nodded and stepped aside. Xander stepped in as Chiana closed the door behind him. He had been in her quarters before, what felt like a thousand times. This time it felt different for some reason, awkward, like he didn't deserve to be there.
"I'm sorry," he said, turning to face her.
"You said that already."
"I know, I just…I don't know what else to say."
"Just tell me why. Why won't you let me in? Why don't you trust me?" Chiana asked, sitting down on the edge of her bed.
"I do, I do trust you," Xander insisted, sitting down next to her. "With my life."
"But not with your heart."
Xander closed his eyes and thought. It was true, Xander was cautious with his heart. He had spent so long not letting anyone near it. But Chiana was different, he wanted to let her in. He wanted to give her everything he had. Sometimes it just felt like…he forgot how.
"The first time this happened, with the hyena," Xander started. "I almost raped Buffy, and I almost killed Willow. I lied to them after, told them that I didn't remember any of it. I just couldn't face up to what I had done. It still haunts me to this day, the look of terror on Willow's face, knowing that I was the one who had caused it, whether it was really me or not. The hyena hurt the people I most cared about, and I just…I couldn't let that happen again. I couldn't bear to see that look of fear in your eyes when you found out that I have a monster inside of me. I thought I could protect you from it." Xander paused. "I was just…so scared."
"You? Scared?"
"I know I don't show it very often, but I get scared too. I'd be crazy not to, some of the shit I've gone up against."
"You don't have to hide it from me," Chiana said. "You don't have to hide anything from me. I want it all, the whole Xander Harris package, not just the good bits. Everything that makes you you, the good and the bad."
"Even if there's more bad than good?"
"Even if," Chiana said. "I understand you better than you think, you know. We're a lot alike. I spent a good deal of my past with one lowlife or another who thought of me as nothing more than an object for their pleasure. I never trusted anyone, never let anyone in. But then one day I met some people that did something no one else had ever done before, they earned my trust. And my friendship, my affection, even my love. I tried to sabotage it, to test it to see if it was real. Sometimes I succeeded, but most of the time they stuck by me. And then I met someone who not only earned all those things, he made me want to believe that it was all for real. He made me believe that there are people in this universe who don't just care about themselves.
"I understand why you did what you did Xander, but it still hurts. It hurts that I opened myself up to you, but you can't do the same to me," she said, looking down at the floor.
It was at that moment that Xander realized a few things. As he watched this beautiful and vibrant woman looking down at the floor dejectedly, he realized that he never wanted to see her look like that again. He realized that Willow was right, that she was worth fighting for. Even if the only thing he really had to fight were his own fears and insecurities. He realized that she made him want to be a better man. And he realized one more thing.
Xander slowly reached over and touched Chiana's chin, lifting her head up. She turned to look at him. "I love you," he said, his voice as sure and determined as it had ever been. "I love everything about you. Your strength, your bravery, the way you make me feel like I can take on whatever the universe throws at me. I couldn't do this without you, that's a fact. In the hangar bay you told me that you wanted to be there for me the way I was for you. Don't you see, you have been. Every moment we spend together you give me the strength to go on. You're right, I haven't opened myself up to you the way you have to me, but I intend to fix that starting right now. Maybe I didn't offer you my heart, but you snuck in and took it anyway, and I pray to god that you never let go of it. Because I don't intend to let go of you without a fight. Please, give me a chance to do it right this time."
Chiana had tears running down her face. She had been spellbound ever since Xander said those three words. She nodded her head quickly and practically threw herself into Xander's arms. "I love you, too," she said through tears as she squeezed him as hard as she could. Xander smiled as he hugged her back. It didn't fix everything, no three words ever could make everything perfect. But what it meant was that they were both willing to try.
Chiana pulled back a little to look Xander in the eye. "No more secrets," she said.
"No more secrets," Xander agreed.
"Is there anyone else living up here that I should know about?" she asked, tapping her finger against his temple.
"Nope," he said. "But there is something else you should know."
"What?"
Xander paused. "I'm scared," he admitted. "Possibly more scared than I've been in a very long time."
Chiana smiled. "That's okay, so am I. We can get through it together. If you think you can handle that."
Xander nodded his head. "Yeah, I can handle it." He pulled her against him closer and held her tight, dropping a kiss on the top of her head. "You're definitely worth it."
Here's a teaser for the next story in the series, "Nebari Heat"
Xander and Chiana's relationship reaches an important stage, just as Chiana receives her first full-fledged vision from the Powers. Commandant Grayza has far from given up her quest to capture our intrepid heroes. How far will she go to obtain what's in Xander's head? What will she do with the information she already has?