Another Bugs Life
By ISIS
Rated G | 105KB | Archived 04.10.00
Spoilers: A Human Reaction
Summary: The crew of Moya runs into an earlier "buggy" situation.
Disclaimers: Farscape is the property of Rockne S O'Bannon, Jim Henson company et al. I borrow them only. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Acknowledgements: Special thank you to Barb *Quilt Lady* for her fine beta-reading.
Archiving: Yes, if you wish. Please let me know where it's at: [email protected]
At the end of a rather peaceful and thankfully uneventful day spent cruising through the Uncharted Territories, John Crichton, very lost Human astronaut, sauntered down the corridor towards the crew quarters and his own waiting bed. A sudden thump and muffled cry from the direction of Aeryn Sun's room had him racing down the passageway. Palming open her door, he tore in to find the ex-Peacekeeper standing transfixed in the middle of her room.
"Aeryn, what's the matter?" he exclaimed, his eyes racing around the room, looking for some sign of danger. He approached her cautiously. "Aeryn?"
She was standing, paralysed with fear. Fear? John felt his blood run cold at the terror on her face, the unnatural stillness of her body. Only her eyes moved towards his. "Please, get it off me," she begged him.
John followed the direction of her panicked stare. "What? Get what off you, Aeryn? I don't see anything!"
She turned slightly, and shrugged her shoulder. At her movement, a small black, leggy creature scurried over her naked shoulder and settled on the front of her vest, just above her commbadge. "Please, Crichton, get it off me," she pleaded again, never taking her eyes from the spider-like creature.
At her very un-Aeryn-like reaction, John felt his stomach turn somersaults. "Is it poisonous? Will it bite?" he asked as he looked around to find something to touch it with.
"No, no, just use your hand. It's not dangerous, it's just... just." Aeryn looked nearly ready to pass out.
John reached out slowly, and lightly brushed the spider from her chest. It fell to the floor and started scurrying around, looking for all the world like one of Moya's DRD's. When it approached her, Aeryn uncharacteristically cried out again and grabbed John in a grip like that of a drowning man. She buried her face in his shoulder. John looked down at her in amazement. "Should I kill it?" he asked, then immediately dismissed the suggestion, remembering their encounter with the Drakh.
Aeryn's muffled voice came from his chest. "Just get it out of here, " she shuddered.
Disengaging himself with some difficulty, John took Aeryn's gun cleaning cloth, coaxed the tiny multilegged beast onto it and carefully took it as far as he could from Aeryn's quarters, releasing it into an unused storage room. The tiny black creature scuttled away into a dark corner and settled down, apparently satisfied with its new home. "There you go, beastie. Now stay out of Aeryn' room," he threatened, "Or I'll have to kill you." The spider ignored him. Grinning and relieved, he returned to Aeryn's quarters.
"All taken care of. The creepy-crawlie is safely dispatched." He replaced the cloth on the counter, and turned back to Aeryn, who still stood, unmoving. "Are you sure it's not dangerous? I didn't kill it. We have a superstition back home that it will rain if you kill a ...." He realised that Aeryn was not listening to him. "Hey, are you alright?" Concerned, he put his hand on her shoulder. She was shaking like a leaf. "Hey, Aeryn, what is it?"
She shrugged off his hand and turned away from him, obviously fighting to control herself. After a moment she took a couple of deep breaths and squared her shoulders. "I'm fine now, Crichton." She gave him a direct, defiant stare.
"Well, you weren't fine a minute ago. That bug really scared you."
"Scared, no...I...no," she stammered. "It just startled me, that's all, falling from the ceiling like that."
He smiled gently at her denial. "I've seen you scared, remember? That thing terrified you." She glared at him. "Hey, there's nothing to be embarrassed about. A lot of people back home suffer from arachnophobia." At her uncomprehending look, he added, "Fear of spiders."
Her voice was harsh. "Well, Peacekeepers don't." She obviously hated herself for her unreasoning fear.
"Have you always been afraid of spiders?" John asked gently, trying to get her to talk out her fear.
She looked at him, fully aware of what he was trying to do. Then she sighed and indicated that he should sit down on the bed. Once he was settled, she came and sat next to him. "I was part of a Peacekeeper raid on a planet in the Raan-tath system. It was supposed to be fairly simple, a primitive planet with no defenses. The local warlord had hired us to quell whatever resistance the natives put up. They didn't even have pulse rifles, or space travel." She sighed again, lost in memories of a past life. Taking a deep breath, she continued, "My unit was moving through very thick jungle, steamy and almost hot enough to bring on Heat Delirium. Three of us got separated from the rest when it happened." She shuddered, and John put his arm lightly around her shoulders. "The natives had dug pits to trap us. Moren, Tarak, and I walked right into one of them. I broke my leg in the fall, but the other two were unhurt. Unfortunately. The pit was very deep, and smooth-sided. We tried everything in our power to get out, but we couldn't. We had just decided to sit back and wait, when, when..." She began shaking again.
John pulled her closer and placed his lips against her hair. "Hey, you don't have to talk about it."
She sagged against him. "Yes, yes I do. I want you to understand." She took control of herself once more and went on. "The planet had a type of spider, deadly. They weren't very large, but hundreds of them poured into that pit and attacked us. They crawled all over us, in our hair, clothes, and they began to...to... inject some venom into us. The venom paralysed us, but did not kill. We were aware of everything." She caught her breath at the remembered horror. "Then they began.. began eating Moren and Tarak." She covered her mouth with her hand, her blue eyes staring straight ahead, seeing the attack once more in her mind's eye. "It took three days. Moren and Tarak were alive the whole time. I could see their eyes through it all. And all I could do was wait for them to begin on me. But they never did." Her composure broke. She turned her head once more into John's shoulder, and gave in to the shudders that wracked her body. John tightened his arms around her and just held her until she calmed down. Finally, she lifted her head and looked at him, grateful for his comforting presence. "I found out later that my broken leg saved me. The adrenaline released by my wound was toxic to them. The rest of my unit found us.... me, and we got out of there. But ever since, I've been terrified of anything that remotely resembles those,...those horrors. And I had to hide it, or be considered weak and unsuitable." She smiled weakly at him. "I've never told anyone about this before. Thank you, John, for listening."
"Well, back home, we consider being able to talk about some traumatic experience the first step towards dealing with it."
She looked up at him, questioning. "Humans have found a way to deal with fears such as these? Maybe you're not as primitive as I thought.²"She grinned at his expression of outrage. "What do you do?"
"Well, the popular belief is that you have to confront the source of your fear."
She shuddered. "You mean, confront spiders." She began to shake again. "No, I don't think I could do that."
"Yeah, just look at them as any other living creature, trying to survive. Look at them and understand them." He looked down at her, disturbed at the sick horror his suggestion had brought to her face. "Hey, don't worry. It's just a theory. And a Human one at that." He tightened his grip on her. "And you know what that's worth in the general scheme of things."
He smiled back down at her and dropped a light kiss on her forehead. "Will you be alright?" He suddenly gave her an exaggerated leer. "Or do you want me to stay here, ... with you, ... tonight?" he proposed, not entirely teasing.
His tone put her at her ease after her uncharacteristic confidance. She pushed him away, and smiled. "No, Crichton, I'll be just fine. Alone." He gave her hand one more squeeze, got up and headed towards the door. "Thank you," she said to his departing back.
"Anytime, Aeryn. My office door is always open." He laughed at his last glimpse of her confused expression.
**************
"Commander Ta'loZz, we are tracking a Leviathan ship. It is approaching our system from deeper in the Uncharted Territories.²
"Report, Sub-commander. Is it close enough for an undetected scan of its memory systems?"
"Only just, Commander. The data is coming in now." The data was duly handed over. The Commander seemed pleased with the results of the scan. "Three females aboard, excellent. And apparently one of them is a Sebacean, a Peacekeeper from the Leviathan"s logs." She turned to receive the salute of her underling. "zZru'ul will be pleased. Begin cloaking procedures and prepare for a retrieval mission, Subcommander. Dismissed."
A short while later, a small ship approached Moya, its presence blocked from the scans of the Leviathan or her Pilot. It drew close to the the hangar doors of the massive ship, undetected. A single elongated figure flew from the outer hatch, suited against the cold vacuum of space. The commando swiftly attached herself to Moya's doors and inched along to find the seam of the door. With movements honed by much practice, the commando injected a substance into the shell of the Leviathan, then detached and returned to her tiny craft. Within microts, under the chemical's influence, the hangar door opened of its own accord, and the retrieval ship immediately fired several canisters of sleep agent into Moya's hold. The anaesthetising mist quickly entered the air system and spread throughout the ship. In their rooms, Moya's already sleeping crew were drugged into an even deeper sleep. Quickly overcome on duty in the command, D'Argo slumped unconscious against the map table. In his chamber, Pilot had only a moment's recognition of peril before he too, was rendered unconscious.
After their scans showed that Moya and all aboard her were unconscious, and unable to defend themselves, the tiny ship flew into Moya's hangar. With a well-practised efficiency that would have impressed the most demanding Peacekeeper captain, the commandos moved swiftly through the ship to the crew quarters. Within microts, they had dragged the limp and unconscious forms of Chiana, Zhaan, and Aeryn from their beds and into their ship. As quietly as they had come, they backed out of the Leviathan's hangar. The doors closed after them, the substance having served its purpose. The ship returned to the ringed fourth planet in the system with its trophies, leaving an unsuspecting Leviathan to continue on. Suddenly, as the sleep agent wore off, its side effects triggered an unscheduled starburst in the pregnant ship. Moya and her sleeping crew disappeared from the system.
Several arns later, John was the first of Moya's remaining crew to awaken. He lifted his head, then groaned when the room spun around him. He fell back on his bed and covered his eyes with his forearm, as waves of nausea struck him. "Oh, God, I haven't felt like this since we won the state championship," he moaned. When the world seemed to finally right itself, he cautiously raised his head once more, then slowly sat up. Still slightly dizzy, and confused, he stumbled out of his quarters to the command.
His first sight was that of D'Argo, lying on the floor next to the command table. "D'Argo!" he called and raced to the side of the Luxan, who groaned and rolled over. Satisfied that he was not dead, John called out immediately to Pilot. After what seemed an arn, Pilot's image appeared on the communications shell.
"Pilot, report. What happened?" John said as he knelt down beside D'Argo. The Luxan was suffering the same dizziness that had struck John. "No, lie back until the nausea passes," he instructed, and D'Argo groaned as he complied. "Pilot, what's going on around here?"
"It seems that someone introduced a sleep mist of some kind into Moya's airsystem last night." Pilot's worried gaze filled the screen. "But my sensors don't show anything other than lingering traces of the drug."
D'Argo sat up and commanded, "Get the others up here right away!" then let his head drop into his hands, fighting the pain the light and movement caused him.
Rygel's thronesled wobbled into the room. The former Hynerian Dominar was greener than usual. "What the yotz is going on? I feel frelling awful." He manoeuvered himself unsteadily over to the command table. "Pilot, what happened?"
"It appears we were drugged during the night." He looked carefully at his instruments, "And Moya experienced a starburst as well." D'Argo, Rygel and John raised their heads as one, then together groaned at the movement.
"Starburst?" John ground out. "Pilot, where the hezmana are we then?"
"About two light cycles from our previous location."
D'Argo growled out, "Pilot, where are Zhaan, Aeryn and Chiana? Are they still unconscious? John, get down to their quarters right away and check on them."
Pilot's eyes widened. "They're gone!" he exclaimed. His four arms flew frantically over his controls.
"Gone!?"
"Yes, a complete scan of Moya shows no sign of either Zhaan, Chiana or Officer Sun. They are no longer aboard Moya."
**************
Aeryn moaned and opened her eyes, then immediately wished she hadn't as white hot needles of pain drove into her head.
"Lie still, Aeryn. The pain will pass if you lie still." A kindly voice came from behind her.
With her eyes still closed, Aeryn groaned, "Zhaan? Is that you?" She became aware that she was lying on a cold hard floor, and her hands were bound behind her back. "Zhaan?"
"Yes, Aeryn, I'm right here." Zhaan's voice was steady. Aeryn rolled slowly over until she faced the sound of her voice, then slowly opened her eyes. "What happened? Where are we?" Her pained gaze moved around the room, taking in the dirty pallet, the damp, dripping walls, and finally Chiana lying slumped against the corner of the cell. Indicating the Nebari, Aeryn asked, "Is she alright?"
"She'll be fine, as will you. The drug will wear off shortly."
"Drug? Zhaan, what's going on? Where are the others?" Aeryn finally sat up, and tossed her unbound hair out of her eyes. She became aware that she was dressed, as were Zhaan and Chiana, in the briefest of sleeping garments. Aeryn's sleeveless grey shirt and Crichton's appropriated shorts provided no protection against the damp coldness that seeped into the cell.. Aeryn shivered uncontrollably.
"It appears that we are no longer on Moya. We were drugged and kidnapped. I don't even know how long we've been out." Zhaan explained, her voice beginning to register panic.
Chiana groaned suddenly and sat up. "I feel sick. Unnh, Zhaan, Aeryn, is that you? Where are we? What's happened?" She let her head drop again in pain.
"You are now the property of the zZrl." A high, light voice rang out from behind them. Zhaan and Aeryn struggled painfully to their feet to face the source of the voice. Chiana tried to sink back into the corner of the cell.
The voice belonged to a tall, slender, insect-like creature. It stood on powerful hind legs, taller than D'Argo, looking at them from multifaceted jewel-like eyes. It's head was small and triangular, mantis-like, and topped by feathery antennae. It's mouth consisted of two powerful mandibles, which clicked together when it was not speaking. Its body was clearly segmented. The thorax was slender and had two pairs of arms attached. Its abdomen was large and draped in a shimmering gold fabric, like a sash.
"Welcome to zZrl'arl. You have been chosen to become members of the Collective. It is a great honour." Though their translator microbes translated the being's words, Zhaan, Aeryn and Chiana perceived a hissing quality to the voice.
"Chosen?" Aeryn cried. "We were kidnapped! What has happened to our ship, to the rest of our crew?"
"They are well, unharmed, and gone from here now. And if you cooperate, they will remain that way." The triangular head tilted slightly. "I am Ta'loZz. And you are...?"
Seeing the dangerous look on Aeryn's face, Zhaan stepped forward and gave her a look of warning. Bowing, she said, "I am Pa'U Zotoh Zhaan. This is Aeryn Sun. And Chiana . We demand that you release us at once."
"Zhaan." The creature looked at her consideringly. "And what is your species?"
"I am a Delvian. Aeryn is a ..."
"Sebacean. Former Peacekeeper. Yes, we know. And your other companion?"
Chiana raised her head. "She is a Nebari," Zhaan replied.
"Nebari." Ta'loZz looked at her appraisingly. "We are not familiar with the Nebari."
"Well, you better hope you stay that way." Chiana said threateningly.
Impatient, Aeryn interrupted, "Why have you brought us here? You said we are now the possessions of the zZrl?"
"Yes, that is correct. You now belong to the Collective."
"So we are slaves?" Zhaan said.
"Slaves? No, not slaves." Ta'loZz looked offended.
"Then we're free to go?" Chiana challenged.
"No."
"Slaves then," Zhaan stated.
"As you wish."
**************
After a frantic search of the Leviathan, John and his male shipmates found that Pilot was correct. There was no sign of the female complement of their crew. Thankfully, there was also no sign of violence. They had simply disappeared. On returning to command with Rygel, John contacted Moya's symbiont.
"Pilot, can Moya reverse her last starburst and take us back to that system?"
"Certainly, Commander Crichton, however she will not be in a position to starburst for several arns yet." Pilot's voice was regretful. "I am sincerely sorry."
"I know you are, Pilot. Tell Moya to do the best she can." John signed off. He ran his hands through his hair in agitation. *Please, God, let them be alright. Let Aeryn be alright. And Chiana and Zhaan.* He looked up as D'Argo came into the command room. "D'Argo," he said wearily. "Any word on the analysis of that drug?"
"Without Zhaan, I can't be certain." For a moment the impact of his words hung between the Human and the Luxan. "Pilot and Moya believe they have matched the drug to certain insect toxins."
"Insects," John repeated. "Well, that's a start."
"It's not much of anything," D'Argo growled impatiently. "We need to get them back, John. Right away."
"Why do you suppose that only Zhaan, Chiana and Aeryn were taken?"
"Think about it." D'Argo ground out.
The look of dawning horror on John's face showed that he had followed the train of D'Argo's thoughts. Fear twisted his insides. "We'll find them, D'Argo. I'm not stopping until they're back here on Moya, safe and sound."
**************
Aeryn fought valiantly against the restraining arms of the guards who helped Ta'loZz drag her from the cell, but in the end she too was subdued and taken along with Chiana and Zhaan through what appeared to be an extensive underground complex. The dark, dank passages opened off into many junctures. zZrl and many other creatures scurried through the passages. As the prisoners were led along, Aeryn caught Zhaan's eye, noting many large chambers along the way. Chiana paid particular attention to the fact that every alien creature they met was female. They passed Illonics, Luxans, even subdued Sebaceans, as well as many other unrecogniseable species, all dressed in short silky white tunics and all busy. Aeryn noticed that there seemed to be a hierarchy amongst the zZrl. Those in the silky golden sashes worn by Ta'loZz and their guards, were deferred to by other zZrl and slaves alike. The smaller, lesser zZrl wore blue sashes and they seemed to make up the majority of the population. There were a small number of shorter, less powerful looking zZrl, who wore green sashes and bowed to the passing contingent. One in particular paid close attention to the newly arrived slaves as they passed. Zhaan caught the zZrl's jeweled eye before the head bowed.
Finally, the prisoners were dragged into a chamber in the very centre of the complex. The entrance was guarded by twelve very tall and heavily armed zZrl, who bowed to Ta'loZz and her prisoners as they passed.
The chamber was beautiful, filled with the sparkling radiance of reds, greens and blues. Zhaan looked up to see sunlight refracted into a rainbow of colours from the many crystals that adorned the ceiling. The three prisoners were pushed forwards gently but firmly, to a place in front of a large dais, covered in rich burgundy cloth and curtained off from the rest of the room. Aeryn glanced around to see that the chamber was filled with other, gold-sashed zZrl and a few green-sashed ones. She had just a moment to exchange glances with Zhaan and Chiana before they were forced to their knees in front of the dais.
"So, Ta'loZz, these are the latest prospects." A voice, shaky with extreme age, but still strong, rang out from behind the curtain. Aeryn tried to raise her head to look, but a guard's hand forced her to bow once more..
"My Queen, please accept these humble offerings. May they be suitable to your needs." Ta'loZz said from beside them and executed an elaborate bow.
"Bring forward that one," the voice commanded, and Zhaan was unceremoniously dragged forward.
"Zhaan!" Aeryn cried, and was struck from behind, knocking her to the floor.
"Be careful," Ta'loZz hissed at the guard. "They must not be damaged."
"This is the Delvian?" the voice asked. Ta'loZz bowed her head in agreement. Zhaan recoiled as a tentacle-like arm suddenly appeared from behind the curtain. Covered in short black hairs and ending in a vicious-looking claw, the arm almost tenderly caressed her face and head.
"Unsuitable," the voice declared with finality. "Her genetic make-up is totally incompatible." Zhaan was dragged roughly back. Chiana's concerned outburst was met with the same rough response as Aeryn's had been. "However, this one seems to have a great deal of knowledge. Medical perhaps? Ma'taZz, could she be of use to you?"
Zhaan watched as the green-sashed zZrl who had caught her eye previously in the passageway stepped forward. "Most certainly, my Queen. Her knowledge will serve to make the Collective stronger." He bowed ingratiatingly..
"She is yours then, Ma'taZz," the voice declared dismissively. Two guards stepped forward to drag Zhaan upright to stand beside Ma'taZz.
"The Nebari," Ta'loZz offered. Chiana was dragged forward toward the dais.
"An unknown species," the voice stated. Chiana cried out as the tentacle slid towards her. She fought to avoid its touch, but to no avail. The arm lightly touched her head, and face, gently traced the length of her arm then trailed up her back, along the length of her spine.
"This one has potential," the voice declared. "Ingenious, self-preserving, clever. Yes, a definite possibility." Chiana was hauled back, and pushed back to the floor beside Aeryn.
"And the Peacekeeper?" the voice asked.
One of the zZrl stepped forward. "My Queen, I still recommend the Peacekeeper. Not only is she physically the best choice, but her military training is just what we need to establish and defend the new colony." The gold-sashed zZrl stepped back.
"Your excellent advice is well-received, Ar'raZz." the voice said.. "Bring her forward." Aeryn was grabbed by the two guards. She struggled against them but was dumped at the foot of the dais. "This one has spirit," the voice said, with an amused tone of voice. A ripple of agreement wafted through the bystanders. "Your name, Peacekeeper?"
"Aeryn Sun, and no longer a Peacekeeper," she said defiantly.
"Even better," the voice declared. Aeryn's heart sank. "We get the benefit of Peacekeeper training, without the detriment of having to defend it." The zZrl around her laughed politely along with their queen. Aeryn was frozen in fear as the obviously arachnid claw appeared through the curtain and slid over her face and body. When the Queen had finished her examination, Aeryn was dumped back beside Chiana.
Suddenly there was a bustle of activity at the door. Several gold-sashed zZrl warriors pushed their way into the room.
"zZru'ul, we have come again to register our complaint," a voice rang out. The interlopers stood obstinately before the curtain. "We protest the use of alien hosts. The purity of our Collective is being diminished with each new contact!" The speaker was a very tall and obviously accomplished zZrl warrior. Her eyes swept over Chiana and Aeryn where they lay bound and bowed on the floor. Her mandibles clicked in clear annoyance and contempt.
Behind the curtain, the Queen's voice was placating. "We have discussed this before, Lo'proZz, and my advisors and I are in agreement. Our new colony will need the characteristics that these aliens can provide. The threat of contamination must be chanced."
Lo'proZz stepped forward to protest once more but a now clearly annoyed Queen stopped her as her voice rang out harshly."Enough! The decision is between these two," Lo'proZz stepped back, but was still contemptuous. "I propose a Sztrana'ap contest to determine a winner. The winner will be freed and the loser will remain our slave." The observing members of the court politely cheered the Queen's decision. Aeryn and Chiana watched helplessly as Zhaan was escorted from the room in the company of the green-clad Ma'taZz. "Take these two to be prepared for the contest." The Sebacean and the Nebari were then themselves dragged away.
**************
After their audience with the Queen, Zhaan remained separated from Chiana and Aeryn. She was processed through a number of procedures, involving the extraction of blood and fluid samples, cleansed, and fitted with a simple white tunic, marking her a slave. Finally, she was pushed through a door into one of the larger chambers. At her entrance, the green-clad zZrl from the court, Ma'taZz, walked over to her. Taking her hands in his claws, he said politely, "Welcome to the medical centre." He waved his arms around the chamber at several zZrl, all receiving medical attention for everything from broken limbs to more severe injuries and illnesses.
Zhaan stared at him in astonishment. "You welcome me? I'm a slave. I have no choice but to be here."
Ma'taZz had the grace to look down in sorrow. "I truly regret that you are not here by choice. I will only strive to make your stay here as pleasant as possible."
Zhaan sighed. "Well, thank you." She added to herself, *I don't intend to stay here very long.* She looked around speculatively. *I need to find Aeryn and Chiana and then get us out of here.*
"Chiana, the Nebari? And Aeryn. She is the Peacekeeper?" Ma'taZz asked.
Zhaan looked at him in astonishment."You read my mind?"
"Yes, I have that ability, though it is rare among our kind. The Queen possesses it to a lesser extent. And a few others." Ma'taZz bent his head. "It is better that you forget them."
Zhaan grabbed his claw. "Why? What's happened to Aeryn and Chiana? Tell me!"
"They are about to participate in the Sztrana'ap, an unarmed contest to determine superiority. Only one of them will be chosen."
"Chosen for what?" Zhaan said, a sense of dread filling her. "What are they fighting for?"
"Why for the privilege of being host to the new Queen, of course."
There was rustle behind them, and a blue-sashed worker stepped forward and spoke to Ma'taZz respectfully. He nodded and turned to Zhaan. "Come with me. I must inform the Queen that the Emergence is near."
They left the infirmary and quickly made their way back to the colourful throneroom.This time, the room was nearly empty. Zhaan gasped as she saw for the first time the being on the now uncurtained dais. A massive and aged spider-like creature crouched on the burgundy draped platform, apparently asleep.. Its body rested heavily on the floor, as if the eight black haired legs could no longer support it. The eight eyes in its head were glazed over in sleep, and its mandibles clicked together randomly. Its abdomen moved unsteadily in and out, labouring with each breath.
Ma'taZz signaled to Zhaan to remain by the door, then cautiously approached the sleeping Queen.
"My Queen," he said softly. "zZru'ul? Awaken, my sovereign." He stepped back and waited patiently.
The Queen awoke with a start. Her eight eyes glowed with her return to consciousness. She looked around then fixed her gaze on Ma'taZz. "What is it, Ma'taZz? Why have you awakened me?" she asked in annoyance.
"You wished to be informed when the Emergence was eminent." Ma'taZz answered, bowing respectfully. "The time is near."
"So soon," the Queen said, almost to herself. Then louder, to the few members of her court remaining. "My loyal subjects, the time of the Emergence is at hand. As my last act as your Queen, let us complete the creation of the colonial Queen." She looked down at Ma'taZz, who bowed once more. "I require your assistance, Ma'taZz." Bowing, Ma'taZz stepped up onto the dais. Two gold-sashed attendants swiftly drew the curtains once more around their Queen. The watching court clicked their mandibles together in anticipation. Finally, Zhaan watched Ma'taZz return from behind the curtain, bearing a small white egg in his hands. He walked over to a glass case in front of the dais and gently placed the oval on a burgundy pillow under the glass. The attendant zZrl bowed to the egg, and to Ma'taZz as he collected Zhaan and returned to the infirmary.
As they walked along, Ma'taZz seemed distracted, unaware of the bowing zZrl and slaves around him. Zhaan spent her time paying close attention to the the route they took, and trying to learn something about the Collective hive. But she was careful to mask her thoughts, keeping all trace of escape from her mind. Finally, in curiosity, she turned to Ma'taZz, and asked him about the Queen. "Your Collective is made up of mostly insects," she said. "How is it that your Queen appears to be an arachnid?"
Ma'taZz looked at her carefully, trying to determine the reason behind her question. Then apparently satisfied that it stemmed from scientific inquiry, he replied,"Our planet zZrl'arl evolved many arachnid and insect races.. Through competition over hundred of cycles, our species, the zZrl, and the Grast, an arachnid species, arose to dominance and proceeded to wipe out all others. It was not a civilized time in our history. Once all other species had been exterminated, we started on each other. Through sheer force of numbers, the zZrl finally defeated the Grast. But our Queen at the time, zZta'el, realised that the Grast species possessed characteristics that would be useful to the zZrl, namely ambition, and the ability to judge genetic traits, as well as a sense of self-preservation and individuality that the Collective zZrl lacked. So she laid her royal egg in the last surviving Grast host to meld those traits with hers. Our Queens are now a combination of zZrl and Grast, but the physical appearance of the Grast has strangely bred true, remaining dominant." He paused as they entered the infirmary once more. "And now, we repeat history, by trying to introduce alien traits into the genetic make-up of our Queens."
Zhaan looked at him. "And you do not agree with this?"
"It is not my place to agree or disagree. I am only a drone. I simply serve."
**************
"Chiana, you have to go along with this." Aeryn said, watching the door for the guards.
"Why?" she demanded, "Who says you're better at this than I am?"
"Chiana, you have a better chance of finding Zhaan and getting out of here than I do." Aeryn hissed. "The Queen seems to be more inclined towards me. If I lose, she will be embarrassed. The distraction will give you time to get out and find Zhaan. And I know that John and D'Argo will try to rescue us, if what Ta'loZz told us is true and they are unharmed." Her mind recoiled from contemplating the alternative. "All you have to do is stay hidden until they come and find us. Hiding is your particular talent, remember." Aeryn tried her best to convince the Nebari of the merits of her plan.
"And if it doesn't work? What then?" Chiana demanded. "What if Ta'loZz lied and the others are dead, or captured too?²
"You still win and go free. You can get Zhaan out, and look for John and D'Argo, and Rygel." Aeryn looked at the young Nebari. "Look, Chiana. We haven't had much time to get to know each other. But John trusts you, and believe it or not, I am learning to trust his judgment. Please, do this, if not for me, then for Zhaan and John."
"And what about you?" she asked quietly.
Aeryn sighed, then answered, "I will do everything in my power to escape. And if I can't... I have been trained to die, and I am prepared to. I will end my own life rather than be a slave to these creatures."
Chiana stared at her for a moment. "Okay. What do you need me to do?"
"We have to throw the fight, but so that none of the bystanders figure out we're faking."
**************
Several arns later, Moya exited starburst back in the system where they had been ambushed. As soon as they came out of starburst, Moya signaled that a ship was off their bow, hailing them. John finally convinced D'Argo to respond to the small, and relatively unsophisticated ship.
"This is Leviathan ship Moya to unidentified craft. Respond."
An image finally appeared on the commscreen. "Leviathan Moya, this is the Shanack colony ship Mayala," the hailing ship responded. "We have been attacked by pirates. Any assistance you could give us would be greatly appreciated."
D'Argo spoke into the comm. "Please explain the nature of your attack, Mayala."
"We were overcome by an anaesthetic agent and all the female members of our crew and passage were taken from the ship."
"Mayala, we recognise the nature of your distress call and will help you. Have you any idea where your crew members were taken?"
"Our tracking systems place them on the fourth planet, some ways underground. May we come aboard?"
"Acknowledged, Mayala.We will allow you to come aboard. Prepare to receive their transport, Pilot."
A short time later, the Shanack captain and his second-in-command landed their transport in Moya's hangar. John and D'Argo were waiting to meet them. The Shanack were bipedal, vaguely human in appearance aside from the gill flaps on their necks, which moved constantly with each breath. They were also completely colourless, except for their piercing golden eyes. The captain approached D'Argo, looking somewhat suspiciously at the Sebacean-looking John.
"Thank you for your response to our hail. I am Kovel. This is my second, Tyren."
"I am Ka D'Argo of the Leviathan ship Moya." D'Argo turned to indicate John. "This is John Crichton, a Human." John felt like he should salute the distinguished Shanack, but refrained, bowing his head slightly. D'Argo turned to usher their guests into the corridor leading to command.. "We too were attacked by pirates, as you call them. We have lost three members of our crew, all female. Have you learned anything about the kidnappers?"
"Quite a bit, as it turns out. It seems they are members of a race known as the zZrl, native to the fourth planet in this system. Other ships we have been in contact with tell us that they avoid this system, as the zZrl covertly attack passing ships, depriving them of their females, for use as slaves in their Collective." Kovel paused and sighed. "I wish now we had taken their advice. My wife and daughter were among those taken from us. We have remained in the system, trying to figure out a way to recover them. I have sent a message to our fleet, but it will be several arns before they will arrive. All our transmissions to the planet have been futile, met only with threats of violence if we persist."
D'Argo growled but said nothing.
"So these zZrl, are they that dangerous?" John asked.
Tyren spoke up. "They are indeed. They are a race of highly evolved insects. Their Collective as they call it, is a hive-like society. Others who have come in contact with them report that they are efficient and aggressive fighters. So much so that the ships that tried to recover their female crewmembers ended up leaving them behind. Other ships that did not flee and attacked were never heard of again." Tyren looked at his Captain as if to suggest that they too should flee.
Kovel turned angrily to his second."I will not leave our crewmembers behind! We will get them back or die trying!" he snapped.
D'Argo joined him, "As will we. I propose that we work together on this." He looked at John who nodded his agreement. "Have you any plan?"
**************
"What exactly does this hosting involve?" Zhaan asked, as Ma'taZz showed her around the medical chamber.
"It is a great privilege among our people. The Queen produces an egg which is then implanted in the host's body. The larvae immediately sends tendrils out throughout the host's body. As the larvae matures, it draws strength and nutrients from the host's body. It also absorbs genetic material, characteristics and memories from the host. Finally, at maturity, the absorption is complete. The host is now completely morphosed into the new young queen. The useless outer shell of the host is discarded and the new queen emerges." Ma'taZz looked at Zhaan, whose face registered horror. "It is a privilege those in our warrior ranks vie for," he assured her. "And now your two friends must fight for it in the traditional Sztrana'ap."
Ma'taZz led her down a corridor running from the main chamber and into a carefully guarded room bustling with slaves. The royal birthing room was noticeably cooler than the rest of the complex. There were three alcoves set into the walls, and each alcove was occupied by a zZrl. The first was normal except that she was apparently unconscious. However, slight jerking motions of her arms and mandibles belied that fact. The zZrl in the second alcove was in severe convulsions. Her abdomen was extended to double its normal size and her skin had taken on a mottled appearance. Her jeweled eyes were glazed over and unresponsive. The third zZrl body was nearly transparent. Her abdomen was huge, and under her skin, something dark moved loathsomely.
Slaves fussed over the three hosts, checking read-outs frequently, and making slight adjustments to the temperature. Ma'taZz left her side to consult with a slave and a blue-sashed worker. At his orders, the third zZrl host was removed from the alcove and placed on a wheeled bed, then draped in a rich burgundy fabric. An honour guard formed around the creature and she was wheeled from the room.
Ma'taZz returned to Zhaan's side. "You are in luck. You will shortly witness the Emergence of the Queen who will replace our own aged zZru'ul." Ma'taZz looked concerned when Zhaan shivered with cold. Ushering her out of the birthing chamber, he said, "The hosts must be kept at a very low temperature. Extreme heat prevents the larvae from maturing. It can even cause a spontaneous rejection. The host who rejects the egg is disgraced and put to death for denying the privilege. Thankfully, it happens rarely."
Zhaan shuddered and silently prayed to her Goddess for the safe deliverance of Aeryn and Chiana. Ma'taZz looked at her seriously but said nothing. Zhaan was about to again start contemplating methods of escape, but quickly masked her thoughts.
However, this time she was not fast enough. Ma'taZz looked at her again, then placed his claw on her arm. "Please, Zhaan, do not try to escape. Uncooperative slaves are dealt with very severely." He sighed, then looked at her, his jeweled eyes glowing. "I find myself drawn to the thoughts and feelings I am sensing from you. I would like you to remain so that we may share our knowledge of medicine and healing."
When Zhaan did not reply to his plea, he sighed again and continued with his tour.
**************
Dressed in the short white tunics of the slave, Chiana and Aeryn allowed themselves to be led from their cell and taken back to the Queen's chamber. Both were tense over the confrontation to come, but they had worked out the details as best they could. Aeryn was to appear to be winning, to distract the Queen and her guards, then at a prearranged signal, Chiana was to seem to get a disabling jab in under Aeryn's guard. With that, Aeryn's feigned injury would make it look like the Nebari was indeed able to defeat the taller and better trained Peacekeeper soldier.
Once freed, Chiana's first priority was to find Zhaan and free her from her servitude, then try to get back to Moya. They knew that John and D'Argo would try to rescue them if they were able. Aeryn secretly hoped that they would be able to free her as well, but in the event that they could not, she was fully prepared to take her own life as she had said to Chiana.
Their little procession wound its way through the tunnels and passageways of the extensive Collective complex. As they passed, every zZrl from the highest warrior to the lowliest worker bowed in tribute to the two potential hosts. Alien slaves that they passed looked at them sadly, but said nothing. Finally, they arrived at the closed doors of the Queen's chamber. With a final exchange of glances, Chiana and Aeryn stepped forward into the crowded chamber.
Chiana was the first to react to the sight before them. The previously curtained area of the room was now open. On a dais before the assembled throng, sat the huge, multi-legged black creature. The Nebari thief shuddered in revulsion as her eyes took in the four pairs of legs, the eight eyes, the mottled black and grey skin covered in black hair, and the greying mandibles of the zZrl Queen.
Aeryn, however, was paralysed as her old fear took hold of her. The creature in front of her brought all her memories of her previous trauma flooding back into her mind. Unreasoning terror filled her. Beside her, she heard Chiana gasp in revulsion. Fighting her phobia, gulping desperate lung fulls of air, Aeryn was propelled forward towards the huge black spider. The guards forced the two combatants down into a bow before the aged zZrl Queen. Aeryn felt waves of blackness pass over her as the Queen reached out and laid a forearm claw on their bowed heads.
*You can't faint now.* Aeryn told herself. *You must fight Chiana.* The darkness tunneled down, narrowing her vision. *What was it John said? Confront what you are afraid of.* Aeryn deliberately raised her head and looked at the Queen. Keeping her thoughts fixed on John and his words, Aeryn felt the darkness recede. Defiantly, she met the gaze of the eight eyes fixed on her. The Queen clicked her mandibles together in pleasure at what she took to be Peacekeeper spirit. Aeryn's skin crawled when the Queen's arm gently patted her head, but she hid her revulsion behind a stoic expression. At the Queen's imperious nod, guards lifted Chiana to her feet and away from the dais. When Aeryn tried to rise as well, the Queen's arm held her in place. "You are my choice, Peacekeeper, but custom demands the combat. Fight well for your freedom." Aeryn let her head bow in a semblance of a nod, then the guards raised her up.
The two combatants moved to opposite sides of the *battleground* prepared for them. Around them were gathered what were obviously the elite of the zZrl Collective. Chiana made note that the zZrl warrior, Lo'proZz, who had protested the use of alien hosts, was present in the far corner of the room, surrounded by her supporters. Finally, she lifted her eyes to Aeryn's, and with an imperceptible nod, attacked.
The two females danced around each other in their elaborately choreographed *combat*. Aeryn, clearly the superior fighter, lunged again and again at her Nebari comrade, but Chiana always managed to skip away from Aeryn's blows at the last minute. The *battle* lasted for several minutes, always tense enough to hold the interest of the surrounding zZrl. Chiana and Aeryn seemed able to avoid each other's more damaging attacks. Finally, when she backed away from one of Chiana's lunges, Aeryn allowed herself the luxury of surveying the crowd. Many of the zZrl were obviously caught up in the combat between the two alien females, but she was detecting a note of impatience at the lack of definitive blows in the growing sound of clicking mandibles.Turning back to Chiana, she caught her eye and let her eyelid droop in an undetectable, prearranged signal.
Chiana nodded back. Aeryn circled around her. Chiana appeared to look for an opening on Aeryn's left, but her lunge was to the right. Aeryn tried to avoid her, but the Nebari managed to climb onto her back and bring her forearm up against Aeryn's neck, seeming to cut off her air supply.
"Are you sure about this?" Chiana hissed in her ear.
"Yes, do it! Do it now!"
Aeryn threw herself backwards as if to throw the Nebari off her back. Chiana looked as if she was losing her grip, then grabbed Aeryn's arm and the two went down in a tangle of arms and legs. When they stood and separated, Aeryn let her arm droop as if dislocated. A murmur of excitement rippled throughout the gathered audience. Chiana made one more lunge. Aeryn feinted to her right, but Chiana's leg swept out and knocked Aeryn's leg out from under her.. She went down and Chiana took the advantage, twisting the *injured* arm cruelly up against her back, immobilising her. Aeryn struggled weakly, then let herself sag to the floor as if unconscious.
Chiana pinned Aeryn down for a few more moments, then released her. She straightened, and approached the Queen.
The spider-like ruler quickly masked her disappointment at the outcome and signaled to the Nebari winner to step forward. "Well fought, alien. You have indeed earned your freedom." She signaled to her honour guard. "Prepare the host for the implantation."
Two zZrl warriors stepped forward and took hold of Chiana's arms, drawing her forward to the white oval in the glass case.
The Queen bowed to her. "Prepare to be implanted, honoured host,"
Chiana struggled against the restraining claws of her guards. "What, me!? I'M THE HOST? But I won my freedom! Wait!?"
The Queen laughed. "Of course you won your freedom. The host of the new colonial Queen cannot be a mere slave. You have fought for the honour of hosting the next Queen and you have won. Your superior combat skills and strategies will be a benefit to the new Queen."
On the floor, still pretending to be uncoonscious, Aeryn heard the panic in Chiana's voice. *Oh no,* she thought. *This isn't turning out at all the way we planned.* Turning her head slightly, her gaze hidden by her hair, she surveyed the room. Chiana was being dragged forward towards a table in front of the dais and the case holding the white egg. A green-sashed zZrl was moving towards her, a medical cutting tool in its claws.
Aeryn suddenly exploded up from the floor and flung herself on the unsuspecting guards. The larger zZrl fell away from Chiana as Aeryn kicked up at its arms. Behind her she heard Chiana knock the arms of her other guard away. Aeryn yelled at Chiana, "Go! Get out of here as we planned!" Chiana dove into the surrounding crowd, scurrying and crawling through arms and legs until she reached the open corridor. She took off out the door, and ran until she reached an access panel in the wall of a deserted corridor. Swiftly, she wrenched the panel open, dove inside and pulled the panel into place behind her. After a patrol of guards raced past her, she silently backed away from the access, and waited in the bowels of the Collective complex.
Back in the throneroom, the guards quickly overcame Aeryn's resistance. She was flung unceremoniously down at the foot of the Queen's dais. The queen's voice was dark with outrage. "What is the meaning of this...this charade!? You have disgraced the honour of the Sztrana'ap."
Aeryn raised her head to hold the arachnid Queen's gaze defiantly.
"You tricked us into believing you lost. Why? To facilitate your escape?" The Queen laughed. "Well, it didn't work, Peacekeeper. You are still our prisoner."
Ta'loZz stepped forward from the crowd. "What is to be done with this one, my Queen?" she asked. "Shall she be put to death?" Lo'proZz and her contingent looked on expectantly.
The Queen looked at Aeryn once more then clicked her mandibles together. "No, she shall be the new host." A collective gasp of surprise went up from the assembled court. The sound of many clicking mandibles filled the room. "Wait, my loyal subjects. I will explain my decision." The sound ceased. "This alien managed to fool us into believing that she was the lesser fighter of the two, and she clearly is not. I believe that her superior military training and abilities, coupled with her obvious cunning and strategic thinking, will be the best traits for the new colonial Queen. Do you approve my choice?" The Queen's voice rang out and she looked around at her court, lifting herself up on her eight legs with obvious difficulty. After a moment's silence the gathered throng roared and clicked their approval. Lo'proZz and her supporters glanced around at the cheering courtiers and quietly left the throneroom.
"Enough!" The Queen finally silenced the room. "It is time for the implantation."
Aeryn was dragged forward to the waiting green-sashed zZrl. She fought like a maniac but was quickly subdued by the Queen's honour guard. The zZrl medical officer stepped up to her. At his signal she was bent forward over a table and her tunic was pulled up, exposing her naked back. There was a quick jab and a cold sensation and then she lost all feeling in her lower back. Still struggling but firmly held, she felt panic wash over her again. There was a pulling sensation along her lower back, then a heaviness as if something were being inserted into her. Around her, she heard the honorific clicking of the court members as they watched the procedure. Turning her head, she caught the Queen's glance; her eight eyes registered triumph as the implantation was completed.
Aeryn felt herself released and tried mindlessly to escape, but a sudden agonizing sensation had her doubled up on the floor. From the still numb area of her lower back, she felt pain spread throughout her whole body, as if white hot needles of light were forcing their way through her system; her blood stream, her muscles, her lymphatic system, along her nerves, everywhere, right up to her brain. She doubled over again in agony and lay curled on the floor at the foot of the dais.
"The implantation is complete. All hail the new Queen." The Queen's voice rang out. The court accompanied her announcement with clicking and subdued cheers.
**************
"Ka D'Argo, Commander Crichton, we are being hailed by the planet." Pilot's image appeared on the commscreen.
"Attention, Leviathan ship Moya. You are entering zZrl space without authorization. Please refrain from establishing orbit or we will be forced to retaliate against your hostile presence." The sibilant hiss of the insect creature appeared on the command viewscreen.
"Planet zZrl'arl? You have boarded our ship without permission and removed members of our crew in an act of piracy. We demand that you return our crew members to us, unharmed."
"That is not possible, Leviathan Moya," came the infuriating reply. "Your crew members have been chosen for the honour of joining the Collective." The figure on screen clicked its mandibles together in irritation.
"They have joined nothing," D'Argo cried, "You have taken them as slaves, and we demand their immediate return."
Without any show of emotion, the zZrl commander quietly replied. "We are indeed sorry at your interpretation. Your crew members will NOT be returned. And, if you persist in remaining in zZrl space, we will be forced to destroy you and your ship. We recommend that you leave now. We have no wish to harm anyone." With that, the communication was abruptly cut off.
John turned to the seething D'Argo. "Well, that went well," he commented wryly.
"Obviously negotiation will not work." D'Argo turned to the Shanack captain. "What do you propose now. I for one am not willing to wait for the arrival of your fleet. We are unarmed. What weaponry does your ship have?"
"Limited arms. We are a colonial ship, not a ship of war." Kovel answered, his tone conveying his frustration. "Nothing we have is anywhere near capable of battling the zZrl. Our reports indicate that they are very well equipped."
"Well, if brawn won't work, we'll just have to try brains," John said. "Pilot, can you start scanning the planet surface and find us a place to land without being detected?"
"Right away."
**************
Chiana remained hidden in the access shaft until she was quite sure that the pursuing guards had chased down another tunnel. Just as she was about to slip out, there was a flurry of activity in the passageway beneath her. She peered out to see a curious procession of zZrl moving slowly towards the throneroom. They were pushing a stretcher of some sort, on which lay a seething mass covered by a rich burgundy cloth. The stretcher was accompanied by an honour guard of zZrl warriors. Behind them walked a green-sashed zZrl male. Chiana was startled to see that he was accompanied by Zhaan. The Nebari's mind raced as she tried to think of a way to signal Zhaan. Looking around her, she found some fragments of the wall material that had broken off when she had hauled the cover panel out of place. Carefully, but with deadly aim, she tossed them at Zhaan. Her efforts finally produced a reaction from the Delvian. Slowly raising her head, she glanced quickly around.
Zhaan felt the sharp blow of the fragments that Chiana threw at her and looked cautiously around. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement behind the access panel to her left. A grey hand pressed briefly against the panel then was gone. Beside her, Ma'taZz started to look at her questioningly. In order to mask her thoughts and protect Chiana, Zhaan began chanting softly. She bowed her head, passing her hands over her head and neck. Ma'taZz obviously approved her prayer and the procession moved on to the throneroom.
When the procession reached the throneroom, a hush fell over those present. Zhaan quickly surveyed the room and was struck with horror at what she saw. Her eyes fell first on the Queen. The ugly black monarch was perched on her dais, clicking her mandibles together and watching a figure that lay on the floor in front of her. Zhaan's eyes lowered to see Aeryn, curled on the floor, in obvious agony.
*Oh, Aeryn, what have they done to you?* she thought.
At her side, Ma'taZz answered her unspoken thought. "She has been implanted with the royal egg. The egg is sending its tendrils out throughout her whole being, preparing for the metamorphosis. It is unfortunately a very painful procedure, but it will pass shortly." Ma'taZz placed his claw gently on Zhaan's arm. "Do not mourn for your friend. She will soon be unaware of the presence of the larvae. Its mind will eventually overcome hers, leaving her in peaceful and painless oblivion. Come, our duties to the emerging Queen are about to begin."
On the floor, Aeryn felt the hot pain begin to diminish. She relaxed into a prone position and tried to gather her strength. She heard a bustle of activity behind her and rolled over to see what was happening.
The Queen, zZru'ul, was watching the approach of the procession with an air of finality. Aeryn saw that Zhaan was following a covered stretcher, accompanied by the green-sashed zZrl they had seen on their arrival. When she realised that Aeryn was recovered somewhat, the Queen motioned to two guards. They lifted the still weak Sebacean up and led her forward to the dais to face the Queen. The Queen's arm came out to gently caress Aeryn's face. Aeryn shuddered back from the touch.
"Be still, my dear," the Queen said almost tenderly. Confused, Aeryn's eyes flew to those of the spider-like creature in front of her. "My time grows short. I know you do not accept that the hosting is a great honour to be bestowed on an alien creature, but as the larvae draws strength and knowledge from you, you will come to understand us a bit more." The Queen looked up as the procession came to a halt in the centre of the room. "Be strong, my emerging daughter. Your task will be difficult but necessary for the survival of our race." Deep inside her, Aeryn felt something stir in response to the Queen's words, and she experienced a sense of dread.
On the stretcher in the centre of the room, the new Queen was about to emerge from the body of her now dead host. Aeryn and Zhaan watched in horror as the body on the table was reduced to a mass of transparent flesh, that shuddered and rolled from within. When a split appeared in the back of the host and a dark leg emerged, the watching court bowed their heads. The split widened and more hair-covered legs emerged. There was a final shriek and the new Queen escaped from the confining skin of its host. It was brown and misshapen, its abdomen abnormally enlarged. From its back a tiny transparent pair of wings began to fan the air. It stood somewhat unsteadily on its four pairs of legs, taking careful census of its surroundings. Its abdomen heaved and pulsed as it redistributed its body fluids into its wings, legs and thorax.
Though newly emerged, Zhaan sensed a strong intelligence in its calculating stare. When its eyes fell on Aeryn standing beside the Queen, Aeryn felt waves of hatred and jealousy wash over her. *Hello, sister,* the creature thought at her and Aeryn stumbled slightly at the maliciousness of the mind that touched hers. Then the new Queen turned her attention to her aged mother. Again, Aeryn felt waves of hatred and jealousy, but also a sense of the inevitable and traces of regret. In front of the assembled throng, the new Queen suddenly took flight on her now powerful wings and launched herself at the aged creature on the dais. The guards quickly pulled Aeryn out of the way as the younger spider settled herself on her mother's back. Her powerful mandibles began to inflict bite after bite and her fangs injected poison into the body of the old ruler. zZru'ul began to convulse as the poison tore through her system. Her legs went out from under her and she crumpled to the dais. Aeryn watched as the light slowly went out of her eight eyes, and finally she was still.
There was a moment of silence then the assembled court clicked their mandibles together slowly, a percussive dirge for their former monarch. The new Queen shuddered once and her wings dropped from her back, unnecessary after she established her dominance. Two slaves were pushed forward to nervously retrieve the wings. Finally, her fangs still dripping from her attack, the new Queen lifted her head and surveyed her new throneroom. "I am to be called zZa''alat," she announced in a ringing voice. The zZrl bowed again to their new ruler.
**************
Chiana spent some time exploring the extensive system of passageways that paralleled the tunnels that made up the home of the Collective. There seemed to be less activity around the throneroom after Zhaan's procession had passed, and she took advantage of the respite to consider her next move. The old Queen had said something about Zhaan serving in the medical facility, so Chiana made that her first priority. She deliberately avoided any thought of Aeryn's fate. *Stick to the plan,* she told herself.
Chiana slipped from the safety of the access shafts to try to blend in with other slaves in the tunnels. As a group of unaccompanied slaves approached , she stepped out of her alcove and joined them. Moving forward to fall into step beside a pair of colourless women, she hissed at them, "Where is the medical facility?"
The younger of the two Shanack women glared at her and tried to indicate that she should be silent. The older woman looked at the Nebari and whispered back, "You must be new here. Slaves are forbidden to speak. Be quiet!"
"I am no slave!" Chiana said, defiantly. "I'm getting out of here. I need to find my friend in the medical facility and then I'm gone."
"No one has ever managed to escape. All who try are put to death," the Shanack woman looked at her, sadness filling her golden gaze. "Do not risk it, please." The two fell silent as they passed a group of blue-sashed zZrl workers. Chiana bowed her head and moved behind the Shanack women but her caution was unnecessary. The zZrl were so used to the presence of slaves that they took no notice of them. When they were alone in the tunnel once more, the younger Shanack woman said, "You have already slipped away, haven't you? It's only a matter of time before they find you. There is no way out of the Collective complex, except by spacecraft."
"What about air vents? Don't they go up to the surface?"
"They do, but they are shielded on the surface by deadly radiation fields."
"Well, I don't care, I'll find a way out." Chiana looked at the two slaves. "Where are the spacecraft kept?"
"In the hangar up ahead. We are heading there now. Kalina and I are part of the mechanic corps. We will try to help you." The older woman smiled at Chiana.
Kalina looked at the speaker in horror. "Mother, are you insane? We will be caught and killed."
"It would be better than to be a slave. Your father would expect us to try to escape." She turned to Chiana. "I am Trefla."
"Chiana."
The group of slaves turned and entered a large hangar filled with spacecraft of every size and description. There was a bustle of activity around a large transport ship, being loaded and serviced in the centre of the hangar. "That's the colony ship," Trefla said, her lips twisted in a wry smile. "They're planning to colonize the very planet we were headed to. When the new Queen emerges, they will leave."
Chiana stared at her. "That soon? How long does the hosting take?"
"I'm not sure, but less than three days. Why?"
Chiana looked upset. "Because my other friend is the host."
Trefla put her hand on Chiana's arm in comfort. "I am truly sorry. It is best not to think about her. She is dead to you now. Concentrate on getting your other friend and us out of here."
Chiana agreed with a heavy heart and began to consider the smaller fighter craft. "I think this will work," she told her new allies.
**************
"Commander Crichton, Moya and I have scanned the area around the underground city of the Collective, but we have been unable to find a place that you could land undetected. The zZrl's defenses are very complete." Pilot's voice was full of regret. "I'm sorry."
"That's okay, Pilot. It was just a thought. We'll have to try something else."
"Perhaps this will work," D'Argo said. "If we try to engage the zZrl, draw their attention the to ship and Aeryn's Prowler, perhaps a small ship could land unseen, as if shot down in the skirmish." D'Argo looked at John. "If you used the Farscape module, they might not be able to identify all the components of your ship, or read its energy signal successfully. It could be made to look like it was wrecked." D'Argo couldn't resist a dig. "Like it usually looks."
John looked at D'Argo sharply, but agreed. "You might be right. Farscape's earth components are so primitive that they might not even register on the zZrl sensors." He turned to Captain Kovel, "Are you willing to risk your ship and crew to create a diversion?"
Kovel's expression clearly said yes. "We have a few small craft as well, though their armaments are light. But they would be enough to keep the zZrl's attention from Moya and your module." He signaled his ship. "Prepare the fighters. We will attack the zZrl in one arn."
**************
The Queen zZa'alat led the procession back through the tunnels to the infirmary. Aeryn, escorted between zZol'ta and two other guards, was feeling herself weaken. In the back of her mind, she sensed another presence, unformed as yet, but growing in strength and power. She was starting to feel the same loss of self that she had endured during NamTar's genetic manipulation and the idea terrified her again. Turning her head, she tried to make eye contact with Zhaan, who followed a little farther behind, but she could not see her..
Ahead of them, the new Queen was deep in conversation with Lo'proZz. She and her contingent had quickly formed an alliance with the new Queen, much to the obvious chagrin of Ta'loZz. The Queen's massive bulk barely fit through the corridors of the Collective complex. Every now and then, the two creatures turned and looked at Aeryn. *I'm obviously the topic of their conversation,* she thought.
The procession entered the infirmary. The Queen and Lo'proZz moved through the ranks of bowed zZrl workers and slaves alike to the chill of the birthing chamber. Zhaan and Ma'taZz entered, but zZa'alat stopped Ta'loZz at the entrance. "Remove her slave's garments. Dress her in something more suited to a Queen's host," she instructed. "Then bring her before me here." At her words, Aeryn was led away. The arachnid ruler turned and entered the birthing room. Ta'loZz stood outside, clicking her mandibles in concern, but turned away to obey her new Queen.
Once inside the room, zZa'alat ordered all the host attendants to leave. She moved over to the two other hosts with a calculating look in her eyes. Suddenly she bit each one, injecting her venom into her sisters. The hosts quickly stilled. Zhaan watched as Ma'taZz examined each one, then turned to his Queen. "They are dead."
Lo'proZz spoke up, "As is your prerogative, my Queen. And now the alien host?"
At that moment, Aeryn was escorted back into the chamber, sagging between the claws of the two guards. She had been dressed in a long garment of the same shimmering gold material as the warriors. Zhaan stepped forward to go to her companion, but Ma'taZz restrained her. Ta'loZz entered the room and saw the two dead hosts. "What have you done, my Queen? You have killed the other two hosts? They were your sisters and heirs."
"They were a threat to me and my control of this Collective," zZa'alat snapped. "It is my right to dispense with such a threat."
"A right that has not been exercised in many generations," Ta'loZz said deliberately.
"But still my right." The Queen moved forward menacingly. "Do you challenge me?"
Ta'loZz looked as if she would for a moment, then stepped back and bowed. "No, my Queen."
Lo'proZz stepped forward again. "And the alien host?" she repeated.
The new Queen turned and motioned to the guards to bring the sagging Sebacean forward. Ta'loZz looked about to protest, then fell silent. Lo'proZz clicked her mandibles together in triumph. Zhaan felt her blood run cold.
Aeryn raised her head and stared at the spider in front of her. Despite her weakness, she struggled against the guards' arms. The Queen signaled and the guards let her go so abruptly that she almost fell. But she recovered herself and stood defiantly to face her death. "My mother believed that alien genetics would strengthen our race, but I agree with Lo'proZz that such a blending amounts to a dangerous contamination." zZa'alat looked at Aeryn with hatred and contempt and raised herself up preparing to bite.
Suddenly, Ma'taZz stepped forward, "If I may, my Queen?" He bowed.. "I do not believe it would be in your best interests to destroy the alien host." The Queen turned to look at the audacious male. "The new colonists are set to leave as soon as the colonial Queen emerges. Among their number are groups who caused zZru'ul much difficulty in the past. That is why they were chosen to establish the new colony. If you kill this host, there will be no colonial queen and the colony will have to be canceled." He met the Queen's eyes with a passive look. "There will be more dissension. The death of this one will be more of a threat to your power than her life." He bowed again and then stepped back.
zZa'alat stopped to consider his words. She looked first at Aeryn, then at Lo'proZz. Zhaan held her breath in anticipation. Finally, the young Queen met the eyes of Ta'loZz. She laughed. "Very astute political thinking, for a mere male, Ma'taZz." She looked at Lo'proZz. "I am sorry to go against your counsel, Lo'proZz. My host's memories of you are positive and persuasive. But I believe that Ma'taZz is correct in his analysis of the situation." Lo'proZz cast Ma'taZz a look of hatred which he ignored. The Queen looked down at Aeryn, who stood swaying slightly before her. "You will live to emerge, sister. Then you will be gone." She turned and left the room, followed by Lo'proZz, Ta'loZz and the guards.
Zhaan let her breath out in a rush, then raced to catch Aeryn, who collapsed into her arms and began shivering uncontrollably.
"Zhaan," she pleaded. "Please help me."
"I will, Aeryn. Rest easy. I'll think of something."
Ma'taZz looked at the two aliens pityingly. "Zhaan, there is truly nothing you can do for her except to make the metamorphosis less painful."
Zhaan glared at him, but said nothing. He sighed and left the room. The Delvian laid her friend down on the floor and looked around for something to cover her with, to keep her warm, but there was nothing. She lifted Aeryn up and placed her on one of the couches in the birthing room. Aeryn suddenly grabbed her hand. "Zhaan, I can feel it," she whispered hoarsely. "I can feel the new Queen. She is trying to control me, my mind and body. I can't fight her. She is growing too strong, too fast." Aeryn convulsed suddenly and started to lose consciousness. "Zhaan. please kill me. Don't let me lose myself to this. It is worse than the Living Death."
"Stay with me, Aeryn. Fight it." Zhaan tried to calm her. "Fight it a little while longer. I'll think of something."
Aeryn drifted away into oblivion, still pleading for death. Zhaan looked down on her sadly.
There was a scrabbling sound in the access shaft behind her and suddenly Chiana's urgent whispering was heard. "Zhaan! Zhaan? Can you hear me?"
Zhaan twisted her head around and saw Chiana pressed against the grid of the access panel. "Chiana! It's good to see you. Have you found a way out?"
"Yes. I think we can steal a fighter craft and blast our way out of here. You have to come now through the shaft. We will be missed soon. It will raise the alarm." Chiana's voice dropped. "How is Aeryn?"
"Not good."
"Can she make it through the airshafts?"
As if in answer to Chiana's question, Aeryn groaned and began to convulse once more. Zhaan fought to relieve her pain. "I don't think she will make it. Go on. Get D'Argo and Crichton. Get help."
Chiana objected. "No, Zhaan. I won't leave you."
"Zhaan, go. Don't wait for me. I am lost." Aeryn's voice was hoarse with pain and fear. "Get out of here. You have to." She convulsed once more in agony.
"I won't leave you." Zhaan turned her head to Chiana. "Go! Get out of here. Go get the others. You're the only one who can lead D'Argo and Crichton to us." When Chiana appeared to hesitate, Zhaan cried again.. "Go!"
Chiana unwillingly obeyed Zhaan's demand. Scrambling back through the access passageways, she returned to the junction where she had left Kalina and Trefla.
"Where are your companions?" Trefla asked.
"Aeryn is too ill and Zhaan won't leave her. We'll have to go on alone.." Chiana's expression clearly indicated that she did not want to talk further.
The three slaves slipped unseen from the access shaft and sneaked towards a waiting fighter. Appearing to be part of the craft's maintenance crew, they ducked under the rear of the craft. Chiana climbed the ladder into the cockpit and began trying to learn the controls while Kalina and Trefla boldly fueled the craft. Suddenly, there was a piercing alarm. zZrl pilots flooded into the hangar. Chiana hissed impatiently at her companions who crowded into the cockpit. Sealing the canopy, Chiana lifted the craft off its pad, and before its bewildered pilot could reach her stolen fighter, Chiana had joined ranks with the other fighters and sped out of the hangar's open doors.
**************
In the space surrounding the zZrl planet a pitched battle had begun. Shanack fighters strafed the surface of the Collective's planet. Their attack was met immediately by the release of several quick, heavily armed fighters, who flew out of an underground hangar. According to their orders, the Shanack craft spent time drawing the fire of the fighters away from the Shanack colony ship and the Leviathan Moya.
In Aeryn's Peacekeeper Prowler, D'Argo took out many of the zZrl fighters who were menacing Moya. His communications indicated that the Shanacks were holding their own for the time being against a greater force. He signaled to Moya. "Pilot, tell John to launch in thirty microts."
"Understood."
In the Farscape module, John was preparing to be released into space. A brief impulse of acceleration, and he would shut down his engines, planning to begin entry into the planet's atmosphere. Falling like a meteor, John hoped to maintain enough control to set the Earthcraft down near the only access shaft that Pilot and Moya had been able to identify on the planet's surface.
In the space around the zZrl planet, the fight continued. Ka D'Argo targeted a small fighter that had separated from the rest of its squadron. He locked the Prowler's weapons on the zZrl craft. Suddenly across his commline came a familiar voice.
"Pilot? Moya? D'Argo? Crichton? Anyone? Respond! It's me, Chiana ! Please, respond!"
"Chiana? D'Argo here! I'm in Aeryn's Prowler. Do you read me?"
"Yes, and I see you. It's good to hear your voice." Chiana's relief was complete.
"Where are Aeryn and Zhaan?" D'Argo asked.
"Still in the Collective's custody. Aeryn was too ill to escape and Zhaan wouldn't leave her." Chiana replied. "I have two Shanack women here, a mother and daughter."
"Kalina? Trefla?" a second communication cut in. "Is that you?"
"Kovel? Father?" Chiana's two passengers spoke as one. "Are you there?"
"Yes, thank the Gods you are alright." Captain Kovel's voice was filled with relief. "What about the others?"
"They are still below." Trefla answered, tersely "We have to get them out."
"We will," Kovel promised.
D'Argo quickly communicated to Pilot. "Abort the mission, Pilot. Tell John we have more information. Do not launch!"
"Understood."
The Shanack forces and D'Argo's Prowler quickly retreated. The zZrl, believing their enemy to be vanquished, returned to their planet.
**************
Aeryn Sun drifted in and out of consciousness. At times, she was aware of Zhaan's comforting presence. But most of the time she wrestled with the alien intelligence that seemed intent on taking over her mind and body.
*Release yourself to me, and the pain will end,* the intelligence promised.
Aeryn fought it desperately.*No,* she thought, through a wave of pain. *No! I will not give up myself.*
*It will be easier on you if you surrender,* the intelligence promised. *I can guarantee you no pain. And pain is so draining. It steals your strength.*
*No, I will not give in!* Aeryn's mind and body fought against the larvae's control. *I want to live to see John, and Pilot, D'Argo and even Rygel again. I will not surrender myself to you.*
*As you wish, but I want to live as well, and I am stronger than you. Surrender,* the intelligence communicated, and Aeryn was once more convulsed with pain.
**************
Back on Moya, John gave Chiana a brief hug before leading her up to Command.. Behind him, Captain Kovel greeted his wife and daughter with great emotion.. Once the group had gathered on Moya's command, Chiana reported. "Zhaan and Aeryn are in the medical facility, here." She indicated her crude map, drawn on her tunic from within the Collective's access passageways.
"We'll go with our original plan. Chiana, in the fighter, will appear to engage Farscape and disable the craft. Then we will both land on the planet's surface. Chiana will use the fighter's weapons to disable the radiation field around the access shaft. She and I will go down into the shafts to recover Aeryn and Zhaan. And hopefully, the Shanack fleet will reach us soon after to provide a diversion." John explained the revised strategy to the Shanacks.
Captain Kovel nodded. "The fleet is within one arn now." He hugged his wife to him. "We will recover the remaining prisoners," he vowed.
**************
In the infirmary, Zhaan kept a silent vigil over Aeryn Sun. The former Peacekeeper's condition was rapidly deteriorating. Other than reducing her pain, Zhaan felt helpless. She could only cradle Aeryn in her arms as she watched her convulse once more.
Ma'taZz suddenly appeared at her side."I say again how sorry I am for your friend's pain. And yours," He looked at her. "If it did not mean the end of dissension in our Collective, I would not hesitate to stop the process."
Zhaan looked up at his words. "How can you allow such suffering? Is your species' colonization more important than Aeryn's life?" She fixed her blue gaze on him. "Your species appears very healthy. You don't really need someone like Aeryn to ensure the survival of your race, do you?" Zhaan challenged him.
"No, we don't," Ma'taZz admitted. "Our species is indeed weakening. But not as badly as has been announced. The Queen, zZru'ul, was impatient and greedy, anxious to steal qualities from other races rather than wait for our species to evolve naturally. zZa'alat appears to have inherited her ambition." He turned his gaze on Zhaan. "However, I would never willingly allow the colonial Queen to die."
Zhaan raised her challenging gaze to his. "And why not? She already appears to be exhibiting the same greed and power-mongering tendencies as the new Queen."
His next words cut Zhaan to the quick. "Because she is my daughter."
**************
Chiana communicated once more with Crichton in his primitive Farscape module. "I will go to the left and fire several shots over your bow. At that point, release the fuel blast into space and it will look like we've both been disabled."
John's reply came across the commlink. "I'll see you on the planet's surface then."
"Good luck," she said and quickly launched out of Moya's hold to lose herself in the many small craft flying around Moya's hull.
The Shanack fleet had arrived and immediately attacked the zZrl. The insect species had retaliated with full force. Large battle cruisers and small fighters had poured out of the Collective's underground complex. The space surrounding the fourth planet was filled with ships engaged in a desperate conflict for survival.
Chiana and John flew their crafts through the battle towards the planet. When Chiana's instruments indicated that they were near the airshaft, she fired two shots across the Farscape module's nose. John adjusted his pitch, then shut down his engines. The earthcraft dropped into the planet's atmosphere, closely followed by Chiana's fighter. Chiana had wisely set off a burn in her rear engine, so she too appeared to be in trouble. The loss of the two small craft did not seem to be noticed in the massive war that was being waged around them. Chiana was glad of their deception though when her sensors indicated that she was being scanned. A sibilant communication came across her line, but she ignored it. After two more attempts at hailing, the line went dead. Chiana followed John's small module down and landed roughly on the barren planet's surface.
When she got out of the fighter, she saw that John was already running towards her.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Fine," Chiana assured him. "The entrance to the airshaft is around here somewhere." She cocked her head to the side. "Listen! Do you hear something?" There was a hum and glow coming from the top of what appeared to be an artificial hillock. "Over there," she pointed.
John went to investigate. "It's here!" he called back to her.
Chiana climbed back up into the cockpit of the alien fighter and twisted it so that its weapons were aimed at the hilltop. When she was sure that John was clear, she fired. The top of the hill blew away to reveal an opening. She quickly exited the craft while John retrieved the ropes and climbing equipment they had brought from Moya. The Human and the Nebari dropped down into the shaft and began their descent into the complex.
It took them nearly half an arn to reach the level that Chiana's crude map showed housed the infirmary. Shortly after they had begun to climb down, they heard the pounding of explosions on the surface.
"The Shanacks must have broken through the zZrl defenses," John said to Chiana. There was a heavier sound and debris rained down on them from the ceiling of the passageway.
"I hope they don't destroy the complex before we get Aeryn and Zhaan out." Chiana looked once more at her map. "This way. It's around this corner."
John noticed a definite drop in temperature as they neared the birthing chamber. Ahead of him, Chiana had reached the panel into the chamber. She looked cautiously around then hissed, "Zhaan? Zhaan! Are you alone?" John could not hear Zhaan's reply but it must have been in the affirmative, because Chiana swiftly removed the cover and slipped into the room. John followed her, looking around.
The scene that met his eyes wrenched his heart. On a couch in the far corner of the room, lay Aeryn. She was pale and shivering, with her hair spread out limply on the pillow. Her face twisted in agony and she curled around into a fetal position. "Aeryn!" John raced over to her and grabbed the hand that reached out blindly for him. Bringing her hand to his lips, he gently smoothed her hair away from her face with his other hand. Her eyes opened at his touch and focussed on his face. "John," she whispered through her pain.
He smiled reassuringly at her,"Yeah, Aeryn, it's me. We're going to get you out of here." He looked in fear at Zhaan when she convulsed once more. "What's wrong? What's happening to her?" he demanded.
Zhaan lifted her up and began to wrap a sling around her. "It's the larvae. It's trying to metamorphose, using Aeryn's body. I'll explain later. We've got to get out of here." There was another muffled thud and a piece of the ceiling fell on them. Zhaan hunched over Aeryn to protect her. Then she backed up to allow John to lift the Sebacean up and carry her to the access shaft. Chiana climbed up inside and turned to help John and Zhaan lift Aeryn up into the confined passageway.
Aeryn felt herself being carried and a spark of hope filled her. But the alien intelligence screamed through her mind. Taking control of her body, it forced her arms and legs to thrash out against her rescuers. Aeryn struggled within herself for dominance but was weakening. She felt the strong need to survive that drove the creature and matched it with a need of her own. The fledgling mind screamed once more, and this time the sound tore from Aeryn's throat. "Father!"
Ma'taZz raced into the room and saw Aeryn cradled in John's arms and the open airshaft. Zhaan stepped in front of John and looked at the zZrl male. "We're getting out of here, Ma'taZz. Are you going to try to stop us?" she challenged.
The insect clicked its mandibles together in indecision. Within Aeryn, the alien mind reached out towards him. It sensed his indecision, his dismay at the pain that the host was suffering, and anger washed over it. *Weakling! Traitor!* it communicated and sent waves of white hot pain against its sire.
Ma'taZz endured its attack sadly. He lightly touched the mind of his daughter and saw its maniacal hatred and need for control. With a sigh, he responded to Zhaan's question. "No, I won't. The larvae is already insane. It cannot be allowed to mature." He walked over to the counter and picked up an injection, then turned towards the convulsing host. John tightened his hold on Aeryn protectively. Ma'taZz looked questioningly at Zhaan who nodded to John that he was an ally. Ma'taZz injected the drug into Aeryn and stood watching her sadly. When she relaxed into unconsciousness, he said, "Get her out of here as fast as you can. Submit her to extreme heat. The larvae will withdraw and die." He walked over to Zhaan and lightly touched her hand. ³Be well, Zhaan. I wish things had been different. We could have been friends, I think.²
Zhaan watched John lift Aeryn up into the shaft, then turned and returned Ma'taZz's touch. "Yes, I think we could. Be well, Ma'taZz. And thank you.." She climbed up into the shaft and was gone.
Their escape to the surface was a nightmare. John's progress was hampered by the unconscious Aeryn, who Zhaan had tied to his back. The battle in space had obviously moved to the surface. Thumping explosions came more frequently, and debris fell on them. Chiana led the way and Zhaan crawled behind him. They were near the surface, when they heard scrabbling sounds ahead of them.. Chiana crouched down and John held Aeryn to him protectively. Just as they were about to retreat into a junction tunnel, they heard Kovel's voice. "Commander Crichton, are you there?"
John turned to smile reassuringly at Zhaan. "It's the cavalry." He called into the tunnel ahead. "Captain Kovel, yeah, we're here. Help us."
**************
Their return to Moya was made easier by the Shanack forces. The zZrl had retreated in the face of the fleet's assault on and inevitable destruction of the Collective compound. Captain negotiated the release of all the slaves into his custody. Finally satisfied, the Shanacks placed a warning beacon in space around the zZrl planet, not entirely trusting the Queen's promise to cease their slave gathering activities.
Back in Zhaan's infirmary, Aeryn lay on the bed as if dead, no longer in pain, but still at the mercy of the zZrl larvae within her. Zhaan had a look of indecision on her face.
"What's the matter, Zhaan? You can get that thing out of her, can't you?" John asked anxiously. He had not left Aeryn's side since their return from the planet surface. "Ma'taZz said to use heat."
"Extreme heat." Zhaan looked at John. "I don't want to risk leaving her in the Living Death. I don't know what to do."
"Use the heat," Aeryn's weak voice whispered. "Please stop this...this creature." She started to sob uncontrollably.
John turned back to her and clasped her hands. "Hush, we'll help you, Aeryn. We just don't want to hurt you, leave you worse."
"No, John, do it! Do it now! " she gasped. "The drug is wearing off. It's waking up." She started to convulse. "I can't fight it anymore." She turned pleading eyes to Zhaan. "You have to kill it with heat. Even if I am dead, it will continue to grow and emerge." She groaned again as she felt the alien intelligence begin to arouse. Then she turned back to John. "And if I fall into the Living Death, remember your promise."
John looked at her with eyes filled with sadness. "I will, Aeryn. But fight." He looked up at Zhaan. "Let's do it."
He lifted Aeryn into his arms and followed Zhaan to a small closet that could be sealed. Once they had entered, Zhaan waited for John to leave, but his expression clearly showed that he was staying. Zhaan sealed the door as John sat down, still cradling Aeryn. Zhaan signaled to Pilot to increase the temperature in the tiny room and blistering heat stifled them.
Aeryn began to react immediately, convulsing as much from her Sebacean weakness as from the throes of the larvae within her. Her mind screamed out in instinctive fear of the heat, joined this time by the desperation and fear radiating from the larvae's insect mind. She felt the blackness of the Heat Delirium begin to overcome her, but still the larvae battled to maintain its control of her mind and body.
Zhaan maintained a careful vigil over her sensors, looking for any sign that the larvae was dead. At John's questioning glance, she shook her head. "Increase the temperature to maximum, Pilot," she instructed.
John held Aeryn to him, talking to her, trying to keep her mind awake and alert. "Fight it, fight it, Aeryn," he repeated over and over. "Come back to us, to me. I need you."
Aeryn felt the heat increase more. She heard John's words and struggled to stay awake. Finally, she sensed the larvae's mind weakening, withdrawing from hers. She felt its death throes as it withdrew its tendrils back from her tissues, back into the egg-like source in her back. The pain of its exit was as excruciating as its implantation had been, but Aeryn was left with a calming sense of freedom. She began to relax into John's embrace.
Alarmed, John hugged her closer and looked again at Zhaan. After checking her instruments, Zhaan smiled at him. "It is withdrawing. Quick, flip her over so I can remove the egg." John watched as Zhaan swiftly reopened the original insertion wound in Aeryn's back and removed the now whole alien egg, tossing it into the corner. "Now get her out of here!" she cried.
The Human and the Delvian carried their precious burden out of the heated closet and laid her again on the bed in the infirmary. Zhaan worked quickly to bring Aeryn's temperature back down. After several anxious minutes, she turned to John and smiled.
"Zhaan, how is Aeryn?" D'Argo's concerned voice came across the comm.
"She will be fine. The larvae has been removed. We'll have to watch her carefully for any ill-effects from the Heat Delirium, but I find no trace of the queen's presence in her system."
John sat by her bedside and gently brushed Aeryn's damp hair back from her face. Zhaan stepped up to his side and said, "She'll be alright now, with some rest. Why don't you do the same. It's been a tiring few days."
John looked up at her and smiled in relief. "No, Zhaan, I'll stay with her. You go get some rest. You're the one who was kidnapped."
"I have one more thing to do first, then I think I will take your advise." Zhaan slumped in uncharacteristic weariness. Turning, she went to the closet and retrieved the egg. It lay in her hand, darkened and lifeless. Placing it in a metal container, Zhaan scorched it into flames with Aeryn's gun. She stood and watched as it burned then turned and left the room.
**************
Several evenings later, John walked down the corridor to Aeryn's room, to look in on her. She had recovered quickly, but the rest of the crew had insisted that she not begin her regular routine. They had been so solicitous of her that she felt she would scream if one of them asked her again if she was okay. John had seen her look of frustration and marveled at the restraint she was showing in enduring the crew's concern. The old Aeryn would have told them all to frell themselves, but this experience had changed her in many ways.
When he reached her room, he panicked when he saw her again frozen in the centre of her room, staring at something on the back of her hand. Palming the door open, he charged in and over to her side. "Aeryn!" he cried when he saw a tiny black insect crawling over her hand.
She turned to him and smiled, then relaxed as she turned her hand. The spider reacted by crawling up into her palm. It sat there for a moment, looking at her, then suddenly leaped out of her hand and scurried away under her bed..
"Did you want something, Crichton?" she asked him smugly.
John smiled at her, turned and left the room.
FIN