Lieutenant Talyn Rac Part Two: New and Old Family
by Sorlk Lewis
John froze, “What the frell…. you mean to tell us that your name is Talyn?” Lt. Rac glared at him, “Lt. Rac to you Human! And to the traitor!” Aeryn once again applied pressure to his neck to shut him up. “Aeryn, tell me what’s going on here?” Aeryn was impassive, “Many Peace Keepers are named after each other, it is very common.” “Yeah, but Talyn isn’t that common. There is some sort of sick joke that is going to surface soon.”, John paused for a microt to ponder something, “Shit! It has to be Scorpius. Sending him was just his type of a sick joke. He’s trying to mess with us. Pilot, do an immediate scan for any Peace Keeper vessels, also alert Zhaan and the gang to high tail it back here pronto.” “Already done Commander. There is a problem….” “Oh god, what is it now?” “Moya will be unable to starburst for seventy two arns due to systems failure.” “Frell, I’m not good at nice Lt. Rac, but I’m going to try. Who sent you?”, demanded Aeryn. She released his neck slightly, “You’re inferior human boy-friend was correct…” Aeryn didn’t even let him finish, before closing off his airway once more. “Why do I have to be right about these things? Pilot, have you contacted Zhaan yet?” “No, I have not Crichton. D’argo, Chiana, and Rygel will not respond either.” Aeryn wasn’t giving Talyn much of a chance to say anything. John pulled out his weapon, “Aeryn, let him go. I’m going to shoot the son of a bitch!” Aeryn pulled away, but only to block John’s shot, “No John. He is our best chance to save them and ourselves.” John rubbed his temples in frustration. She took the pulse pistol from him and pointed it at their barely breathing prisoner, “Talk, I’m finished with being nice.”
*************************
“Why hasn’t he reported back!?”, yelled the enraged Scaren half-breed. “That is unknown Sir. The marauder you dispatched is currently twenty arns from Crichtons’ position. They have received no transmissions either, Sir.” Once again in his calm demeanor, “Very well, continue scans for transmission. Dismissed.” “Aye Sir.”, the Lt. proceeded out of Scorpius’ chamber. “You will not escape again Crichton.”, he muttered under his breath.
*************************
D’argo awoke to find himself in a dark and cold cell. He was once again chained to the walls by his chest rings. Peace Keepers! Was all he thought of. But how, this planet is not Sebacean friendly. They would have been executed. Just then, he heard a whimpering from the cell next to his. “Zhaan, Chiana, Rygel? Are you there?” “Yes, we are all here D’argo.”, replied Zhaans’ soothing voice. “How did we arrive here Zhaan?” He heard her first mutter a prayer, then, “None of us can remember. It appears that they drugged us somehow.” “Have you heard anything from Crichton or Aeryn?” Zhaan sighed, “I am afraid not D’argo.”
*************************
“Let me get this straight. You, Lt. Talyn Rac, were assigned to aid in the capture of Aeryn and I, but mainly me, right?” “Yes.” “OK, now my good ‘ol friend Scorpy sent you after us to infiltrate our ship and befriend us?” “Yes.” “Did you sabotage Moya?” “Not exactly. I rerouted her food source so that it takes longer to prepare for starburst. She will not starve though.” “Sure, right, whatever. Next, what the hell has happened to our shipmates?” “They have been detained.” Finally, Aeryn took her turn at questioning Talyn, “What do you mean by detained? This is a strictly non-Sebacean planet, Peace Keepers would be executed immediately.” “We have covert officers. They are not Sebacean.” Johns’ curiosity was getting the better of him, “How the frell did you get named Talyn?” Lt. Rac didn’t answer. “Well at least you’re not related to Aeryn.” Rac’s eyes went to the floor when John said this. “What the hell! You’re saying you are?” He just continued to look at the floor. Aeryn grabbed him by the collar of his black shirt and shoved the pulse pistol in his neck, “You will answer him!” She wanted the answer more than John did, but she would never admit to it. “Yes! Yes! Yes! Are you happy now Human!?” Aeryn turned pale and just about fell down. John quickly steadied her. “I’m fine Crichton!” “God Aeryn, you’re not fine! Give me that!”, he quickly grabbed the weapon in her hand. “All right, now what the frelling hezmana do you mean that you two are related? Are you cousins, aunt and nephew, or brother and sister?” “I am Tayln Suns’ child. His only son, the only Sun left in the family.”, he looked at Aeryn with a renewed hatred. “OK, we need time to talk about this. Come on Aeryn.” She didn’t move. “Aeryn, *we* need to talk, OK?” “Fine.” John led Aeryn out of the room and then locked the cell door behind him. “Pilot, post some DRD’s out here to guard Lt. Rac.” “They are already on their way Crichton.”
John walked Aeryn to command. “All right, now we know what the frell is going on. Are you really OK Aeryn? And don’t pull that 'I’m fine' PK crap on me. I know when you aren’t.” “You’re right, I’m not OK. Oh, and I suppose we should talk about it now.” “Well it helped with Veloreck and the tape. So, ya, we should talk about it.” “What is there to even talk about Crichton?” “Ugh, Aeryn just drop it right now. You just found out you have a brother in this frelling messed up Universe. And let’s not forget that Scorpy has probably already sent someone after us.” “Then we should concentrate on finding D’argo and Zhaan.” John sighed, “Don’t forget Spanky and Pip. All right, how are we going to go about this? We can’t exactly run down there and grab them.” Aeryn started to leave for the weapons locker, “Let’s go.” “You have a plan?” “No.” “Just what I wanted to hear.”, he smiled and took off after her once again.
To Be Continued…