Lieutenant Talyn Rac Part Five: Past Pain, Past Gain
by Sorlk Lewis
Aeryn jogged down the corridor searching for John. She and Talyn had found out that Scorpius had moved the chair to the base instead of moving Crichton. They had decided to split up to cover more ground in their search. She still didn’t trust him, she probably trusted Rygel more than him. Aeryn didn’t have much choice though. She had to find John, and she had to find him fast. “Noooooooo!” She would recognize that voice anywhere. It was John. They had probably strapped him in that frelling chair again. Aeryn darted off in to a side corridor as footsteps approached her location. “He will give in soon sir. He is just stronger than we estimated.” “I don’t care! I want the information he has and I want it now!” Aeryn saw an odd looking Peace Keeper pass by. He must be Scorpius. She thought to herself. She then heard struggling and an uneven dragging sound. Aeryn peaked around the corner just long enough to see John being dragged down the hall by two guards. She ducked into the access shaft at the intersection and followed him.
Scorpius walked into his chambers at the base. After slumping into his desk chair, he heard a voice, “Good evening sir.” Tayln walked out from the shadows. Scorpius smiled, “Hello Lt. Rac. You have done well. For this you will most definitely receive another promotion.” Talyn grinned, “Thank you sir. I must warn you though, the defector Aeryn Sun is somewhere on this base and will try and rescue Crichton.” “Yes, I know. Crichton couldn’t hold back all of his thoughts and memories. Would you care for a drink Lt.?” Talyn smiled once again, “Very much so.”
Aeryn struggled through a narrow section of the tunnel. She could barely hear John now. He was singing some ridiculous song. Every once in a while she could make out little bits of the song. “What do you do with a crazy human? Crazy human, Crazy human. What do you do with a crazy human, earli in the mornin’?” Then he would trail off into another bizarre song. Aeryn didn’t know if he was actually going crazy or just acting that way.
John was once again being drug down the hall to his cell after a session in the comfy chair. For a second he thought he saw Aeryn peaking around the corner. Aeryn! She’s here! If she really is, I have to let her know where they are taking me. He thought to himself. That is when he decided on his own messed up versions of songs he knew. The one he kept repeating the most was his version of ‘What do you do with a drunken sailor?’. After about eight rounds of that song, he was thrown in his cell.
Aeryn heard the singing stop. He must be in his cell now, or he is unconscious. She thought. She heard him say something, “Boy, do I miss the Sun.” She knew that he knew now. That sentence gave it all away to her. He must have seen her when they took him away. Aeryn came to a dead end. She tapped lightly on the wall five times. On the other side John was grinning, “Howdy there, Sunshine. How ya doing?” When he said this he once again used an exaggerated southern drawl. Aeryn tapped once. “Don’t worry, they can’t hear a damn thing I say. There is a camera of sorts though.” “I’m going to get you out of there John.” “Mighty nice of ya.”, he stopped the southern accent for what he said next, “I’m having trouble keeping everything from them Aeryn. It hurts a hell of a lot more than before.” A tear came to her eye, but stayed there, “I’ll get you out no matter what John.” His voice became stern and angry, “No Aeryn. Keep yourself safe. If they get you…” John was cut off by the opening of the cell door. Scorpius and Talyn stepped in. “You little SON OF A BITCH!”, yelled John as he lunged for Talyn. Lt. Rac just sidestepped the attack and then kicked John in the back. “I don’t think so Commander Crichton.” Scorpius smiled at Talyns words. John lay on the cold floor coughing and choking again. Aeryn hated to stand by and have to listen to this, but she had to rescue John and choose her time wisely. “What have you done with Aeryn?”, he choked out. “Nothing Crichton, she is now facing the consequences of her actions.” He tried to hold back the tears he was faking to make it more believable. Scorpius and Talyn smirked at his faked pain and distress. They turned to leave, “Why Tayln, why did you do it?” Tayln acted as though he had heard nothing and continued out. No one knew it, but those words made him feel something he had never felt before. He couldn’t identify it, but it was remorse. Remorse for his actions towards the Human and traitor.
“OK, Aeryn are you still there?” “Yes John, I am.” “Good. What are we going to do about this?” Aeryn sighed and wiped away the one tear crawling down her face, “I don’t know. We will think of something though.” John chuckled, “Maybe you should do all of the thinking. Look at where my last plan got us.” Aeryn even smiled at this. “You should try to find D’argo and the rest of the gang. You won’t have much luck with me until then.” Aeryn pressed her hand against the wall while John did the same, “I’ll come back soon.” “OK Sunshine.” Aeryn backed up and left the dead end. John started humming a tune to himself.
To Be Continued…