Summary: AU Story. Crichton must fight the toughest battle after the war ends, his conscience.
Disclaimer: I do not on Farscape or it's characters.
Category: Drama/Romance
�Sir, another man is dead," med-tech said.
Crichton only could look at her and give her that look of no emotion mixed with pain. He left command and went to his office and just sat and thought about everything that was happening. Everyday he took another life, every choice he made would effects his crew and there were times he wished he'd never left with Moya. Three days later three scarren ships were destroyed, but two peacekeepers had lost their lives. He knew it wouldn't be longer until this war was over and so did the scarrens.
�Captain�in the battle two lives were lost,� Vena said.
�Who,� Crichton asked.
�Officer Benta Tryu and Officer Caba T�vewiq,� Vena said.
�I�ll report to high command about these causalities,� Crichton said.
He knew that more and more scarrens and their allies wanted the great Captain Crichton died and do anything for it. But peacekeepers would allow that and neither would he. That was shown the day the Scorpius was killed by High Command guards while undercover. It seemed that Scorpius was offering a large amount to the scarrens if they cold get Crichton-- alive. They also found his wormhole technology and as far as he knew destroyed it. They also found and removed the chip Crichton had no idea he had and got rid of what he called, Harvey. Expect for the war he was fighting Crichton�s life was getting better.
After three months of fighting the war was almost done, and Moya's crew waited to see who lived and who dies. But the one thing everyone wondered is who was winning the war. They knew that three peacekeeper carriers were destroyed and only one carrier remained. Aeryn and the other�s had no idea if it was Crichton Carried hat made or didn�t.
After three days of traveling they made it to the planet they had last saw Crichton on and new of the war was spreading fast. Aeryn sat next to Zhaan as they waited to hear who had lost their lives in the last battle of the great Sebacean and Scarren War. They both knew that it was very likely that Crichton didn't make it out alive. His life was worth a lot to any scarren or enemy to the peacekeepers. Rygel said if Crichton were not his friend he'd turn him in. He just got dirty looks form everyone.
"Three moens ago we said goodbye to him and know he may be dead," Chiana said.
"Well remember this was suppose to be a long war Crichton was in," Zhaan said.
"They don't know Crichton...he doesn't do anything slow," Aeryn said smiling.
"Remember Aeryn he has changed and if he lives he will not be the Crichton we all know," Zhaan said.
"Zhaan I think John Crichton is John Crichton," Aeryn said and Zhaan smiled as D�argo came to them.
"The last battle is being fought...it�s Crichton's Carrier," D'argo said.
"So he alive,� Rygel said.
�For now," Aeryn said.
"Crichton won't give up," Chiana said.
"He's going to make sure all the scarrens in that system are dead," D'argo said almost proud of him.
The last of the scarrens fleet stood before Crichton carrier. The fleet was badly damaged with three peacekeepers on aboard one of their ships. They wanted to talk to Crichton about another way to deal with this situation. But unknown to the scarrens one peacekeeper was able to send a message that Crichton got.
"Captain this is Officer Conor Vwema and all three of us say one thing�blow this ship up," Conor said.
"Captain so basically that are saying kill us if it kills that Scarrens " Vena said.
"Yes," Crichton yelled.
"But it will kill 3 of our crewmembers," Vena said.
"Along with the whole scarren fleet," Crichton said in peacekeeper mode.
" Sir," Vena said.
�Fire every missile we have at them,� Crichton said.
�Yes Captain,� Vena said.
Vena looked at the soldier and gave her ok and the missiles were fired. Crichton stood there for a moment and seconds before he knew it hit them he sent them one massage making sure it was the last thing they head. It would be a joyful sound to his crewmembers aboard but a sound of death to his enemies.
"This is my Message to all scarrens that think they can defeat Captain John Robert Crichton Jr. of the Peacekeeper Regiment base 543�think again," Crichton said.
They all watched as they saw the fleet blow up along with three of their comrades. Crichton had seen many ships blow up in the last six months but none had marked the end of the war. He took a deep breath and faced his crew who had new admiration for him. He looked them over then back at Vena who had a small smile on her face and shook his head.
"Lets got go to High command...we just won the war," Crichton said as they turned around.
�Yes Sir�you head the captain,� Vena said.
After three months of none stop fighting they were finished--they could go home. He went into his office looked around for what was the last time and held the picture of Aeryn. For the fits time in months he just stared at it and let himself smile. She was leaning up against her prowler her arms crossed her hair was down and tucked behind her ears and she was smiling. The picture he noted must have been taken a day or two after they left the Royal Planet. He just stared at the picture and kissed his hand and touched.
"I'm coming home baby," he whispered.
An arn later he was standing in front of the council for what he knew and hoped was the last time. For six months he had called them his commanding officers and but once he left they would be that no more. Venatar just looked at Crichton and gave him his half smile that showed he card but was still in peacekeeper mode. Shevna stood in front of him and in her hands she held something. Her eyes were not as icy as the first day that he had met her but still fought to show emotion, which was hard.
"Captain Crichton we understand what you been through and we offer you this...it the wormhole technology. It does not contain all information since Scorpius was killed before he had a chance to finish it. But thanks to you the Scarrens are now out of Peacekeeper territory so thanks you Captain John Crichton," Shevna said.
He walked out of the Council room for what was the last time he would ever see them. He had walked in and out of here for the last 6 months and called this base home. He had become the second in command of Freedom about 21/2 month ago. Now he could go home to Moya or could he go back to Earth. He knew that the technology he held in his hand would be valid but could he figure out the missing information is. But could he survive on Earth now with all he had been through-- could he live each day knowing what he knows.
Crichton arrived on the planet and walked around for a few moments until he saw her with Zhaan and Chiana. He was still in his Peacekeeper uniform but he didn't care. He rushed over to her and she ran to him he kissed her hard and passionate. First he lifted her up and swung her around then he kissed her again. They seem to forget about everyone around them. He just wanted to feel her respond to him and that is what she did. They finally broke the kiss and he rested his forehead on hers.
"God I've missed you," Crichton said.
"I've missed you too," Aeryn said kissing him again.
"Crichton we have heard what you did...you will be known in history for many generations to come," D'argo said.
"I know big guy...and I'm proud of my crew," Crichton said.
"Well we are proud of you," Zhaan said.
�Thanks...I just want to go home," Crichton said.
"Then let go," Aeryn said.
Chiana had made a great meal fro Crichton�s return and he told them the story of the last battle he found. He also told them how Talyn was doing and what he was doing. He also told them that at times it seemed that Talyn was in charge and not Crais. Then it came time for his bed and by habit Crichton went to command and started to expect the ship.
�Crichton,� Aeryn said.
�Sorry habit,� Crichton said.
�Are you going to miss it,� Aeryn said.
�Sometimes�when I see a peacekeeper I�ll think back to these 6 months and all they did for me,� Crichton said.
�Let go to bed,� Aeryn said softly.
Aeryn took his hand and could see the pain in his eyes had grown but some light began to show. His eyes seem like that of an old man that if you looked into them they would tell you the story of a thousand battles found and won. She leaned forward as they got in front of his cell and kissed her not so gently. His arms went around her waist and pulled her closer while she went to his jacket and started to pull it off. Item after item fell off from their bodies as they made up for months of separation. Climax after climax was like dying and being reborn again to him it was like he starting to live again starting to live his old life the life before he was a peacekeeper.
The night seemed endless and for a week that went on. Then came the night they just went to bed both tired from a hard day of work. Then his nightmare came, it was dark them face after face came of those he killed. Aeryn woke up when she felt her lover start to toss and turn. Aeryn sat up and bit her lips then she touched his forehead then he woke up and flipped her over. He looked her straight in the eye and then it hit him what had happen and he let go.
�Sorry�I�ll go,� Crichton said.
�No stay,� Aeryn said.
He fell into her body as she leaned forward to give him a hug. He didn�t move no did he cry like she thought he would. He just held on to her tightly like if he let go so would she. She kissed his head and hugged him just as tight while a pain in heart started and she noticed that he hadn�t smiled a real smile. He smiled but none of them were the smile that Crichton was so famous for the smile that made her mad he could have.
�It ok John�I�m here no matter what,� Aeryn said as he lifted his.
�Why�I�ve done so many bad things�things I could of talk my way out of,� Crichton said.
�Crichton I don�t care�I love you and that all that matters to me,� Aeryn said.
This time as she hugged him tears did come to his eyes and start to fall on to her tang top. She just comforted him while he needed it. This is when she knew what D�argo and Zhaan said was true it was going to take him some time to be back to his old self.
Day and nights went on and each was filled with hard dreams that left him clinging onto Aeryn and falling asleep after crying. Then came nights that he just woke up and she was there but he didn�t cry anymore. Then slowly after 2 months the dreams stopped and he started to feel safe with her. But he still felt like he was a bad person who didn�t deserve her and his smile had not returned. Instead of their time together getting easier it was getting harder and Aeryn was getting sicken tired of it.
�Where are you taking him,� Zhaan asked.
�I�ll tell you later,� Aeryn said.
The planet had green grass, trees, different color flowers, a blue sky a little darker then earth but not much and a blue water. Crichton looked around and almost was speechless at what he aw this planet looked so much like earth that it could have been earth twin planet.
�This planet was saved by you�it was the next planet the scarrens wanted to take,� Aeryn said.
�Why�d you bring me here,� Crichton said emotionless.
�2 moen you�ve been back and it�s been like hell. Crichton you don�t smile, you don�t laugh or joke it�s like you�re John�s twin that trying to be him,� Aeryn said.
�Aeryn I�ve changed,� Crichton said.
�No I think you can�t let your self go back because if you do that means letting go again�feeling again,� Aeryn said.
�Aeryn please,� Crichton said.
�NO�the most emotion that comes out of you is when you cry and you haven�t done that for a moen. Crichton you have to move on you have accept the fate they took and start to feel again or I can�t help you,� Aeryn said.
�Do you love me,� Crichton said.
�I love you John�but I can�t stand to see you kill your self and I won�t,� Aeryn said.
John chose to sleep alone that night and as much as Aeryn didn�t want him to he had to. Aeryn told everyone to give him some space and that what they did. He left the next day but didn�t tell anyone but Pilot where he was going. And Pilot said he gave his word so he could tell them where he went.
He walked out of his prowler that the peacekeepers gave him in his outfit he wore the day he was taken. His eyes were bright and showed his soul like it did before. His smile was wide and everyone couldn�t believe this was the man they saw only a day before. They all left seeing that Aeryn wanted to talk to him first and they feared they might be killed also.
�Aeryn you were right�I couldn�t let my self move on. If I did I would have to face that I�m human and that feel,� Crichton said.
�What changed you mind,� Aeryn said.
�I though and thought and thought and�well you get the idea. But it hit me that my pain was causing you pain and I don�t want to be a pain,� Crichton said.
�Well you seem back to normal,� Aeryn said with a smile.
�Aeryn I love you and it going to take me time but I destroyed the wormhole technology I�m not going anywhere,� Crichton said.
�I love you too�I was never afraid you leave�I was afraid of losing you to�� Aeryn said.
�My dark side�Like Darth Vader,� Crichton said with a smile.
�Darth Vader,� Aeryn question.
He then started to explain the Star Wars sage to Aeryn and she acted like she understood every human phrase he put in. She was glad that Crichton had turned somewhat normal again, but she knew it was only the beginning of his hard journey.
The End