The Return of Velorek
BY: Ariaw2
Feedback: [email protected]
DATE: May 15, 2000
AUTHOR’S DISCLAIMERS: I wrote this piece of fan-fiction solely for my own personal enjoyment, as well as the personal enjoyment of anyone else with an interest in its subject matter. It is not intended for any profit-making or other commercial purpose. The characters and names used in this story (with the exception of the Hunter ship and Delphic Crystals) all belong to the producers/writers of “Farscape”, the sci-fi original television series on The Sci-Fi Channel. I have tried to stay true to the characters and previous storylines, as they have evolved over the course of the series so far. I have also tried to avoid the use of cliche. However, I was unable to resist using some formulaic devices for the sake of writing the kind of story that I wanted. Given all of the foregoing, I hope you will read my little story with a forgiving eye. This story takes place sometime after “The Way We Weren’t”. It’s rating is PG or even G (nothing you couldn’t watch on network television).
Prologue
The small ship had been tailing Moya for some time now, staying close enough to register as a dark mass on the Leviathan ship’s scanners but maintaining enough distance to prevent identification. It had first appeared sometime during the second sleep period (or what John Crichton would have considered very early morning back on Earth).
Former Peacekeeper Officer Aeryn Sun looked up from the navigational console, her dark eyes fixed intently on the large viewscreen that dominated Moya’s Command. “Well, it’s definitely following us. Pilot has changed course and speed twice now and it’s still maintaining exactly the same distance behind Moya. I don’t like it.”
“It is a coward not to identify itself before attacking!” Ka D’Argo, standing at the other control console, punched the panel in frustration. Luxan warriors were not known for their patience.
“Whoa, now, big guy! It hasn’t shown any sign that it means to harm us,” John interjected, peering over Aeryn’s shoulder (in uncomfortable proximity) at the barely registering blip on the panel. “Maybe it’s just cautious – or curious. Why don’t we try hailing it?”
“Now, John, you know we can’t risk identifying ourselves until we know it isn’t a Peacekeeper vessel,” Pa’u Zotoh Zhaan gently cautioned. The blue-skinned Delvian Priest stood serenely in the center of the Command.
“I don’t think we’re dealing with Peacekeepers,” Aeryn said. “A Peacekeeper vessel would have either boarded us or destroyed us by now.”
“That’s comforting,” John muttered. Aeryn gave him a dark look.
“Look, we’re sure that it’s not Talyn?” John turned questioningly to Pilot’s pensive holographic image, which shimmered opaquely within the open clamshell frame above the communications console. Pilot acted as Moya’s control center and, being physically (as well as mentally and emotionally) bonded to the Leviathan, was unable to leave his own cavernous Chamber below the Command Tier.
“Yes, Commander Crichton,” Pilot nodded emphatically. “Moya is quite certain that this vessel is not her child.”
“Well, all this skulking about is very annoying!” Chiana exclaimed. The young Nebari had been lounging cat-like at the entranceway to the Command. “It’s a tiny ship. Just ignore it, maybe it’ll go away.”
“I don’t care who it is or why it’s out there!” The pudgy form of Dominar Rygel XVI quivered indignantly on his floating cushion. “Pilot, I demand that Moya starburst right now and get us the frellin’ out of here!”
“Just ignore him, Pilot,” John ordered. “This ship hasn’t done anything to indicate it’s an Unfriendly.”
“Not yet. Well, since no one cares to listen to me, I’m going to go eat. It’s been more than four arns since our last meal and I hate to die on an empty stomach.” Rygel exited the Command with a flourish.
“Hey, Rygel, I’ll come with you! I think this is all quite boring.” Chiana followed Rygel out.
Crichton glanced at the departing Rygel and Chiana, and said, “Okay, folks, now that the children have left, what are our options?”
“I say I take my Prowler out for a closer look,” Aeryn said.
D’Argo cautioned, “It could be dangerous to approach that ship, without knowing if it is a friend or an enemy.”
“I agree,” John said quickly. “Besides, right now, that ship doesn’t know if we’re Peacekeeper or not, but one look at your Prowler, Aeryn, and it might blast you to pieces before waiting to find out.”
“Thanks for the concern,” Aeryn responded sarcastically. “But I’d rather be out there doing something, than just waiting for whoever it is to make their move.”
“I still don’t think it’s a good idea –“
“Well, Crichton, I think it’s a good idea and I don’t see how you can stop me!”
“Aeryn, for once –“
“I’m sorry to interrupt – ,” Pilot interrupted. “But the vessel has accelerated toward us. We should be able to make a positive identification in 30 microts. No, wait, it has stopped … it is still too far away.”
“This is ridiculous!” D’Argo exploded.
“Guys, if that ship wanted to attack, it would’ve by now and since Moya has no weapons, we can’t really put up much of a fight. However, I never did like cat-and-mouse games .…”
John’s voice wavered as Aeryn, D’Argo and Zhaan all turned to stare at him.
“Uh, cat-and-mouse is ... oh, forget it! Look, as Aeryn said, it’s not acting like a Peacekeeper ship. For all we know, it could be just another renegade out here in the Uncharted Territories, who just might have information that could be helpful to us, like those cartographic data crystal ‘thingies’ – you know, the starmaps. So, I say, we make contact, but be prepared to starburst if things turn ugly.”
“I agree with Crichton,” D’Argo said.
Zhaan considered briefly, “Agreed.”
John looked questioningly at Aeryn, who hesitated a moment and then gave a quick nod. He took a deep breath, hoping they weren’t making a mistake.
“Okay, Pilot, transmit the standard greeting, but limit the information to ship identification, with no affiliation.”
“Very well, Commander,” Pilot replied dryly.
Act I
As the unknown ship approached closer to Moya, Pilot was able to identify it as a Peacekeeper Hunter ship, which (as Aeryn impatiently explained to John) was like a slightly larger Prowler but with more weaponry and usually manned by two people. However, Moya’s scan revealed that this Hunter had been stripped of its weaponry and contained only one occupant. After receiving permission to board, the Hunter smoothly entered the docking bay and landed. When the inner bay doors opened, John, D’Argo and Aeryn were waiting with weapons at the ready, along with several dozen DRDs on standby.
A Sebacean male wearing a torn and dirty Peacekeeper officer’s uniform walked through the inner doors.
“Stand and identify yourself!” Aeryn demanded loudly.
The man stopped about ten feet from the waiting trio. He was dark-haired and bearded, with a weary, scarred face. The uniform fitted loosely over his thin frame, and he was unarmed. He stared directly at Aeryn, ignoring the others. John resisted the impulse to move closer to her side.
“Aeryn, don’t you know me?” The man asked with quiet assertiveness.
John and D’Argo both glanced at Aeryn, as she peered more closely at the man’s vaguely familiar features behind the heavy beard.
Aeryn’s face suddenly paled and she slowly lowered her weapon. He looked much older than he should, but there was no mistaking his identity.
“Velorek,” she whispered in a stunned voice.
* * *
Several weekens ago, Chiana had found an old Peacekeeper tape recording while rummaging about in Moya’s top Tier. This recording had disclosed Aeryn’s involvement, while still a Peacekeeper, in the death of Moya’s former Pilot and had led to a further disturbing disclosure about the current Pilot’s unnatural forced bonding to Moya. Although painful memories had temporarily caused rifts among the Moya crew, reconciliation and forgiveness had followed. From this recording, the entire Moya crew knew that, approximately three cycles ago, Lieutenant Velorek had been assigned by Peacekeeper Military Tech to take charge of Captain Bialar Crais’ special project to breed a Peacekeeper Leviathan warship and that, in order to save the future lives of Moya and Pilot, he had sabotaged Crais’ project, resulting in Velorek’s conviction for treason and presumed execution. Only John knew that Aeryn had been intimately involved with Velorek and that Aeryn (much to her shame) had betrayed Velorek to Crais in order to obtain a desired Prowler reassignment. Everyone, including Aeryn, had believed that Velorek was dead.
Velorek, very much alive, now sat at the long table in Moya’s dining quarters on Tier 8 (or what John privately referred to as the “mess hall”). Aeryn sat immediately to his right, unconsciously taking up a Peacekeeper defensive posture. Chiana sat a few seats over to the left of him, staring at Velorek with open curiosity. Rygel sat next to her, disdainful and ready to condemn any Peacekeeper. John, D’Argo and Zhaan sat opposite Velorek, facing him across the width of the table.
There was a brief, uncomfortable silence. Then Pilot’s image flickered into view above the side console. “Lieutenant Velorek, I am glad to see you again.” Pilot said with real sincerity.
Velorek smiled for the first time since boarding Moya. “And I you, young one. You look well.”
“I am quite well.”
Pilot continued more briskly, “Commander Crichton, Moya has verified that no transmissions were made from Lieutenant Velorek’s transport pod.”
“Thank you, Pilot,” John said.
Velorek looked quickly at John for a moment and then directed his gaze generally at all of the faces around the table. “I understand from Aeryn that you already know something of my history. It is true that I was to be executed upon Captain Crais’ order about three cycles ago. However, that order was countermanded by a special member of Peacekeeper High Command named Scorpius.”
John made an involuntary movement. “We know this Scorpius. Go on.”
“It was my great good fortune that Scorpius had just started developing a device called the Aurora Chair and he needed my unique technical expertise,” Velorek said with barely perceptible sarcasm. “Right before I was assigned to Crais’ Leviathan project, I had just completed another special project involving the stabilization of Delphic Crystals – ”
“Delphic Crystals!” Zhaan exclaimed. “I have heard stories about Delphic Crystals – that they have magical properties that compel the truth – those are just ancient myths, of course.”
“I’ve also heard of Delphic Crystals. They’re extremely rare,” Rygel said covetously. “They’re also extremely volatile, more dangerous than Sevva Crystals. No one has ever succeeded in creating a stable compound and many have died in the attempt.”
“I succeeded,” Velorek said simply. “All I can say is that I discovered a link between Delphic Crystals and Leviathans and that discovery was the key to my success.”
Before his listeners could question this cryptic statement, Velorek quickly continued, “At the time, I was the only one with sufficient knowledge of how to utilize these crystals successfully - and Delphic Crystals are an essential ingredient in the memory extraction technology used in the Aurora Chair. So I was spared the quick death and imprisoned in a special Gammak Base near Peacekeeper High Command Headquarters. During the next two to three cycles, I spent all of my time working on a prototype of the Aurora Chair under Scorpius’ personal supervision. I was also occasionally its test subject. You see, if the Chair was able to extract from me the truth of what I had done to Moya, then Scorpius would know that the device worked and my usefulness would be at an end. On the other hand, delaying progress meant more time spent in the Chair testing its effectiveness. Of course, Scorpius couldn’t put me in the Chair too many times and risk such rapid mental and physical deterioration that I would be unable to finish its development. Either way, I could not survive.”
He paused as if remembering a particularly unpleasant memory.
“What happened then?” Zhaan prodded gently.
“Working on the Aurora Chair required that I have access to a lot of advanced technology. About a quarter of a cycle ago, Scorpius was suddenly called away to another Gammak Base. He took the latest prototype of the Aurora Chair with him. In his absence, work slowed and security became more lax. Although I was still watched constantly, those watching me were either corps soldiers or inferior techs. Under the pretext of working on another enhancement to the Chair, I managed to develop a small device that could manipulate the Base’s security and access controls, as well as immobilize Base ships. I waited patiently for the right opportunity and escaped. Since then, I’ve been tracking Moya, but it’s taken me until now to catch up.”
“How did you find us?” John asked in a carefully neutral tone. Having also experienced the agonies inflicted by the Aurora Chair firsthand, John was sympathetic. However, his sympathies conflicted with a reflexive dislike of Velorek. John did not know if his dislike was the result of suspicion, due to the fact that just about every life form that had been brought on board Moya lately had turned out to be a threat to those he cared about, or plain old jealousy, given Aeryn’s history with Velorek – or maybe a combination of both.
“When I had the contraceptive shield installed on Moya,” said Velorek, “I also personally installed a small tracking device – very sophisticated, impossible to detect with normal scanners, and keyed only to my ident code. I guess I somehow knew that I would have to leave the Peacekeepers one day. During my imprisonment, I had overheard reports of Crais’ pursuit of a fugitive Leviathan and its crew of escaped prisoners, particularly of his obsession with a non-Sebacean called Crichton. I learned that this Leviathan was Moya. And, of course, I always tried to find out whatever information I could about you, Aeryn – to the extent I was able, so I knew what had happened to you. I had double incentive to find Moya, you see.”
Velorek’s voice lifted as he ended his explanation so that his last statement sounded almost like a question.
“How do you know you weren’t allowed to escape so Scorpius could track you to us?” D’Argo asked bluntly.
“I made certain that no one was able to follow me. There are advantages to knowing your pursuer’s technology better than they do themselves.”
“So you are no longer a Peacekeeper?” Aeryn asked slowly.
“No. Like you, I am now an outcast and a fugitive from the Peacekeepers,” Velorek replied. “In fact, I came here to join you – all of you, if you’ll have me.”
Chiana, who had been following the conversation with great interest, brightly piped up, “I guess it could be useful to have two ex-Peacekeepers on our side.”
Zhaan added thoughtfully, “Someone with his level of knowledge of Peacekeeper technology could be very helpful in avoiding Peacekeepers and perhaps finding our way back to our home planets.”
“I don’t remember taking a vote on whether or not to let this Peacekeeper stay on Moya,” Rygel interjected, highly indignant. “I say we throw him off the ship!”
“How do we know this isn’t a trap? One of Scorpius’ tricks?” D’Argo asked suspiciously.
“Wait a minute, people, before we make any decision – and it should be a group decision, let’s say we take some time to think on it and discuss it among ourselves.” John added quickly, “No offense, Velorek.”
“I understand. Aeryn, would you mind showing me to someplace where I can rest. It’s been a long and tiring journey.”
“Of course. I’ll be right back.” Aeryn and Velorek got up and left the hall.
“I say we vote now,” demanded Rygel.
“No one cares what you think, Rygel,” Chiana said, cuffing him lightly on the ear.
“We wait for Aeryn,” John said, looking toward the entranceway where the two had exited.
Act II It was a long walk to the cell on Tier 10 that had been assigned to Velorek. Aeryn’s face masked her turbulent emotions, which ranged from relief that he was alive to guilt over her betrayal to confusion about her feelings.
Velorek finally broke the silence. “Aeryn, I’ve missed you.”
Aeryn looked at him in disbelief. “I betrayed you to Crais! I left you to die! Why aren’t you furious with me? You should want to kill me!”
“I was angry at first. Sometimes I even hated you. But I realized that I was more angry at you for what you gave up – what we could have shared. I know you, Aeryn. I knew you would regret what you did and that it would haunt you. When I heard that you had left the Peacekeepers, regardless of the circumstances, I was glad because I knew that you would now have the opportunity to grow and fulfill all that potential I saw in you.”
“Then you forgive me?” Aeryn asked in a low voice.
“I did so long ago.”
They reached his cell and stopped.
“I’m sorry, Velorek, but I’ll need to lock you in. I’ll come back later.”
“Aeryn, if the others vote against me, I’ll have to leave Moya. If that happens, would you come with me?”
Aeryn paused. “Velorek, a lot has happened. I’m not the same person you knew.”
“No, you’ve changed – for the better. My feelings for you haven’t changed. Just think about it, Aeryn.”
“Alright.”
* * *
Somehow, and no one quite knew for sure how it happened, but the vote was never taken. There was a lot of heated discussion, but no decision could be reached. Then time passed. Velorek was given specific work assignments under strict supervision and indeed proved to be quite useful because of his extensive knowledge of Leviathan technology and of Moya in particular. He removed the small tracking device that he had used to find Moya so that no one else could lock onto its signal, accidentally or otherwise. Eventually, he was moved out of his cell and into regular sleeping quarters.
Velorek lay flat on his back under Pilot’s control center, fine-tuning the temporary connections that D’Argo had crudely installed under Pilot’s guidance some weekens ago to give Pilot rudimentary control of Moya’s systems. Reaching up, he modified one last key connection between Pilot and Moya.
“This should just about do it. How does that feel, Pilot?”
“There is still no pain, and I do seem to be interfacing more quickly with Moya now. Thank you, Lieutenant Velorek.”
“I’m glad that you can now bond naturally with Moya. I’m sorry that you had to suffer for so long under the forced bonding. You understand that I had no choice?”
“Yes. I quite understand.”
Velorek crawled out from under Pilot’s underbelly and stood up. He was now clean-shaven and wearing a clean Peacekeeper uniform (borrowed from the many spare uniforms that had been left on Moya when the Leviathan ship escaped from Peacekeeper custody).
“Pilot, may I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“What is Crichton’s – ?”
“I’m sorry, Lieutenant Velorek,” interrupted Pilot, “but Zhaan is asking me to tell you to come up for the mid-day meal.”
“Thank you, Pilot. Tell her I’ll be right there.”
“Did you wish to ask me something?”
“It can wait.”
* * *
When Velorek entered the dining quarters, Zhaan was laying out platters of food cubes and other food stuffs picked up during their last commerce planet stop. Rygel was already stuffing his face with crackers at the table. John and Aeryn were out on a routine patrol. Since picking up Velorek, it had been agreed that no one would venture out alone for the time being.
Zhaan greeted Velorek with a smile, saying, “The modification you made to the liquid purifying system has made a great difference.” Two weekens of living aboard Moya had engendered a certain familiarity with their new crewmate.
“I’m glad I was able to help, Zhaan. You know, you all are not quite what I expected.”
“Well, what did you expect?” Rygel asked belligerently, looking up from his plate.
Velorek replied, “Let’s just say that, from your criminal identifiles in the Peacekeeper fugitive logs, I did not expect to be treated with such kindness. Crichton, in particular, is nothing like the ‘uncivilized barbarian’ description in his identifile.”
D’Argo and Chiana entered just in time to hear Velorek’s last comments.
“We are not Peacekeepers,” D’Argo growled.
Zhaan said placatingly, “What D’Argo means is that we have learned not to judge others too quickly.”
“It’s all right, Zhaan,” Velorek smiled. “You know, D’Argo, I never liked the Peacekeeper interspecies contamination policy. I always thought we could learn a lot from each other.”
“Then we agree on one thing at least,” D’Argo said, somewhat mollified.
“Where are the others?” Velorek asked.
“If you mean Aeryn, she hasn’t returned yet from her patrol,” Chiana responded. “John went with her,” she added helpfully, scanning Velorek’s face for a reaction.
“Did I just hear my name?” John strode in and dropped into a chair. Aeryn followed close behind. Everyone settled into their usual seats and began eating.
“See anything?” D’Argo asked.
“Nothing unusual,” Aeryn replied. “We’ll check out the south quadrant later.”
“Works for me,” John said. “My afternoon’s free. But let’s take my module this time. I want to try out the new enhancement I put in the other day.”
“Actually, Crichton, I meant later this weeken. I told Velorek that I would assist him in modifying Moya’s navigational controls when we got back.”
“I don’t think we should wait, Aeryn.”
“I’m sorry, Crichton,” Velorek interjected, “but I think it is critical that we get the navigational controls in line as soon as possible.”
“It seems a little more critical that we don’t get another surprise visit from a Marauder, don’t you think?”
“Of course – if you don’t mind Moya inadvertently wandering into Peacekeeper Territory ...”
“Stop it, both of you!” Aeryn had had enough. “Crichton, I said I would help Velorek today. You and D’Argo can finish patrolling the south quadrant.”
There was an awkward pause.
“Well, if anyone’s keeping score, I think that’s one for Velorek,” Chiana said cheerily.
* * *
“D’Argo, wait up,” Chiana called, racing to catch up to the large Luxan in the corridor. “So, what do you think?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” D’Argo replied stiffly.
“It’s pretty obvious that Aeryn and Velorek were more than just shipmates in the good old days, though that Velorek seems like a decent guy for a Peacekeeper,” said Chiana. “And now that he’s here, and Crichton ... well, it’s all very interesting – actually rather fun to watch, don’t you think?”
“No, I do not. I’m sure that they will work out whatever it is they need to work out.”
“Oh, loosen up,” Chiana said and punched D’Argo playfully on the shoulder.
* * *
Aeryn sat in companionable silence in Pilot’s Chamber, watching Pilot direct several hundred DRDs toward various parts of Moya in the never-ending struggle to keep the Leviathan ship in smooth operating condition. At the last minute, she had backed out of helping Velorek and he, to her surprise, had then asked John to help him.
Since being branded “irreversibly contaminated” by Crais and ex-communicated from the Peacekeepers, Aeryn had felt homeless and adrift. Even though she now considered the Moya crew her shipmates and allies, and despite her growing and confusing feelings for Crichton, she still felt closest to and most comfortable with Pilot. Maybe it was the remnants of Pilot’s DNA that still floated about in her system. Maybe it was because Pilot did not expect her to do anything or say anything or feel anything.
And, with Velorek’s unexpected reappearance in her life, Aeryn had never needed the refuge of Pilot’s Chamber more. Even though Velorek had been implicitly allowed to stay on Moya, she knew he was having difficulty adjusting to their chaotic lifestyle after the strict regimen of the Peacekeepers. She, more than anyone, could understand that. The other day, he had tentatively broached the subject of perhaps leaving Moya and had again asked her if she would go with him. She had been unable to give him an answer. She thought she understood Velorek and they certainly had a lot in common, more now than before. But Moya had become her home. She would miss Pilot, D’Argo, Zhaan, even Chiana – though probably not Rygel – but most of all, she would miss Crichton.
Crichton! How had she become so involved with someone who wasn’t a Peacekeeper or even a Sebacean? Could she trust him? Or herself? Even if she managed to get past all those years of repressive Peacekeeper conditioning, why let herself get attached to someone who would eventually leave? And Aeryn was positive that, one day, John would find his way back to his home planet – just as D’Argo, Zhaan and the others would also eventually find their way back to their home planets. What would she do then? Wander aimlessly about the Uncharted Territories with Pilot as her only companion?
She had spent a lot of time with Velorek since he came aboard Moya. After three long cycles, she had not expected to feel anything for him. But the old attraction was still there. His self-assurance and intelligence, tempered by an innate kindness, and the way he tried to get her (as he once said) to “think beyond the box the Peacekeepers put your mind in” and question beliefs that had been drilled into her since birth. Everything that had made her care for him in the first place was still there. But even as her old feelings for him crept slowly back, they were met by residual feelings of guilt and more so by her new feelings for John.
Life as a Peacekeeper had been harsh, but simple. Now everything was confusing and uncertain.
* * *
John and Velorek were working on enhancing Moya’s navigational controls. They treated each other with the amicable civility of two strangers who are forced to work together by circumstance, rather than by choice.
“I think I finally understand why you don’t like me, Crichton,” Velorek said conversationally.
John resisted voicing an automatic denial and cautiously said, “Let’s just say I don’t want to see a good friend get hurt.”
“An interesting choice of words,” Velorek responded. “Did you know, Crichton, that friendship is not something that’s encouraged among Peacekeepers? Loyalty, yes, and duty, but not friendship.”
“No kidding.”
Velorek glanced up from the panel he was working on, caught John’s irony, and continued.
“I suppose Aeryn has already told you what it was like in the Peacekeeper corps.”
“Some.”
“Well, it was no better in the Military Tech hierarchy. I managed to form a few friendships and then, of course, I met Aeryn.”
“What happened to those friends?”
Velorek paused. “They helped me sabotage Crais’ special project and were executed as a result.”
“I’m sorry.”
Velorek looked levelly at John.
“I won’t hurt her, Crichton. But I won’t lose her again either.”
John met his look squarely. “I think we understand each other.”
* * *
“Am I the only sane person on Moya?” Rygel fumed to Zhaan, floating furiously into her quarters.
“First, we let another Peacekeeper come on board. Then, we treat him like a guest, rather than a prisoner. We give him free access to the ship. And we even let him make hezmana-knows-what modifications to Moya! He could be sabotaging Moya as we speak!”
“I admit I do have some reservations, but Velorek did risk his life to protect Moya and Pilot,” Zhaan said soothingly.
“That was three cycles ago, Zhaan! Who knows what he’s like now? According to what he’s told us, he’s spent more time in the Aurora Chair than Crichton! Remember how crazy Crichton was afterwards? This Velorek could be out of his frellin’ mind.”
“Velorek is no longer a Peacekeeper. We should give him the same chance we gave Aeryn.”
“What dren! It’s suicide not to lock him up!”
“Pilot and Aeryn both trust him. That means something, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, Zhaan, it means that we’re on a ship with two imbeciles!”
“Oh, Rygel!”
“On the bright side, Crichton will probably kill Velorek, which will solve the problem quite nicely.”
Zhaan was startled. “Why would you say that?”
“Oh, please. I thought all that Seek chanting and meditating were supposed to enhance your senses, not dull them!”
“Go away, Rygel. I think I need to be alone now to chant and meditate.”
* * *
Velorek was alone in his quarters, lying on his back on his bed. He stared upwards, deep in thought. He was running out of time. He just needed to complete one unpleasant task and then he could leave Moya. But there was just one thing he hadn’t counted on ... Aeryn didn’t want to leave Moya.
Well, no point in putting it off. He sat up, pulled out a small blade and swiftly made a slight incision in his left forearm. He extracted a tiny tube and then sealed the wound with a coagulant. He broke the tube and the miniscule beacon that had been insulated within the tube immediately began blinking and transmitting to a far distant receiver.