With all the things that have happened to and will happen to Dr. John Robert Crichton Jr. I think you will agree that he must turn dark to continue to survive in this or any universe. This is the continued story of that journey. The journey he must take to "The Dark Side".

--nh

***************************************

NhFearme
10/24/00
The Dark Side
IC:

John Crichton sits in the Aurora Chair. Scorpius stands beside. The chair fires. John screams. The chair shows FarScape 1 being buffeted by the wormhole as it is drawn inexorably toward their universe.

John wakes screaming. Sweat drips off his brow. He wipes it. He goes to facility and showers. He wraps himself in a towel and sits on his bed. He opens his trunk and pulls out his recorder.

John flips the record switch. This was the end. He knew it was inevitable. No more batteries. No way to power the succa'.

He had been kidding himself all this time. A wormhole, if he could ever create one, would most likely be random. Infinite numbers of angles and places it may lead.

The original place he landed had no sun no starting place to lead to his origins. It has been over two years stuck in the ass end of space with no hope of ever returning home.

John is angry. Angry at the accident that brought him here. Angry with himself for making his greatest mistake. Angry at the accident that killed Talvo. Everything he thought of brought his anger to the surface. This simple machine he held in his hand was his last connection to the hope of returning.

"It is time for me to stop kidding myself." He slipped the tape recorder into his trunk. "I'll never look back. This is my home." He laughs. "Home. I'm stuck in this place. No hope, no love." He begins to cry. "No! I can't think that. I have to find a way outta' here! I have to use what I know to get home!"

Crichton throws on his clothes. He fastens his vest. "I started wearing this after we decided to keep Moya cooler for Aeryn." He laughs bitterly. "That's a joke. Cooler. She's the Ice Queen of the universe! Of this one anyway."

John hits his Comms. "Pilot. Are we near any sun that may have sunspot activity?"

"No Commander Crichton." Pilot answers. "Moya and I will begin a search."

John wanted to say something further, but all his brain held were thoughts, not very pleasant ones, of his incarceration, exile, beatings, inprisonments. His mind was full of all the things that make his life unbearable here.

As he walks to the center chamber he passes Aeryn. She stops and looks at him when he makes no comment. She follows him.

Entering the center chamber he gets his tray and opens the refrigeration unit for a drink.

"What?" He says looking at her suddenly.

"Nothing, I guess." Aeryn answers and walks out.

"Typical." John says fuming.

"Commander Crichton." Pilot says over Comms. "Moya says she senses sunspot radiation coming from this bearing. We should be in the vacinity of its origins in about 50 arns."

"Good, Pilot." For the first time, light enters his morning. "Tell Moya thank you'. I'll be ready."

"Will you be conducting experiments Commander?" Pilot asks.

"Yes, Pilot." Crichton answers. "An experiment."

***************************

Commander Pzeisor
10/24/00
The Dark Side
IC:

"OH I don't THINK so!" Aeryn raged as she stormed out of command down to the hanger where John was finishing up the last modifications on his bucket of dren. When she entered, he found him getting ready to hop in. "And what exactly do you think you'll accomplish by flying that piec-that module into a collapsing STAR?!"

John just glared at her once and put on his helmet. She contiinued to display her thoughts about his incompetance and the ratios of pilots surviving such a senseless act while he pretended that with his helmet on, he couldn't hear her. When it seemed she had finished, he took it back off again saying, "You about finished there? 'cuz I can't leave without you finishing... That would just be rude." His southern drawl seeping through towards the end.

Aeryn crossed her arms, but prevented herself from rolling her eyes. "I'm not letting you go."

He took a step back. Whoa. Then it suddenly occurred to him who was speaking to him...who was doing the talking- the person whom he had never told to shut up. But then Scorpius came back to him. He remembered how Scorpius had wanted him to shoot Aeryn on more thatn one occasion...how close she had been to DYING because of HIM!! John resolved to never get close to her if it was going to cause her pain or even death. He shook his head.

Aeryn reached for his cheek, but at her touch he flinched, and moved further away. Why was he drawing away from her? This was so unlike the John Crichton she knew. Why wouldn't he just tell her what was going ON in the Human brain of his. There must be something she could do. "Tell me..." she almost begged.

John turned back to catch her eye. "No. This conversation is over!"

**********************

NhFearme
10/25/00
The Dark Side
IC:

Aeryn turned and walked out, fuming.

"Go ahead walk out on me. It's what you're best at." He says. "She wouldn't know what to do with me if she had me."

Crichton does the preflight check on FarScape 1 like he has any other day. Really, it's been a cycle since he's been serious about leaving. To waste his time waiting for her, for Aeryn.

"She said she wouldn't let me to go." John sighs to himself. "If that were only true."

After what he'd been through on The Royal Planet he had to consider that she would never come around. She left him when he needed her most! It hurts to think of it. His chest tightens. John suddenly has a pain in his left temple. He presses it, hard. He tries to think of something else. He tries to keep his mind on what he has to do to return home.

"I gotta' get home. This isn't home." he says to himself. Just then he hears familiar footsteps.

"What's this about you doin' experiments?" It's Chiana.

"It's about time, don't you think?" He answers.

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Thanks. I'll let you know if I do Chi."

"Alright. You let me know. I'll be here if you need me." She wrings her hands and walks away.

He continues working into the night. He's afraid to go to bed. Afraid of his dreams. Finally he walks the long dark corridor toward quarters. He stops. Zhaan is still awake. He stops by her door.

"Zhaan. I was wondering. Could you give me a little something to help me sleep?"

"I'll do what I can John."

Zhaan slips on her robe and walks with him toward the maintenance bay.

"What I really need, Zhaan, is something that will help stop my nightmares." He looks down, away from her gaze. "The last one was a doozie. I can't keep living like this."

They enter the maintenance bay.

"What seems to be the trouble John?" She says softly.

John is desperate. He gives her such a look. Longing for something she can never give him. Zhaan reaches and touches his face. He feels her warmth and smiles at her.

"I hear that you have plans to do experiments when we reach the next system."

"Yeah."

"Do you really think it will take you home? Another wormhole?"

"No, I don't know, Zhaan. But I have to try." He looks at her, thinking maybe she understands.

She goes to her station and begins work. She assembles the ingredients from her apothecary.

"How long do you want to sleep? And how deeply?"

"I just don't want to dream Zhaan." He looks at her eyes. "I will be here another 30 arns."

"I'll give you something that will help you sleep for 8."

"Sure." John cracks a little smile. "That'd be fine Zhaan."

"I wish I could help you, John." She glances at him, continuing to work.

"What do you mean? You are."

"With Aeryn."

"Please. Don't talk about her. I can't think about her anymore."

"I know John. I've seen it." Zhaan hands him a cup with the sleep preparation. "Here John. When you are ready for bed, just swallow this."

"Thanks." John takes it from her hand.

"I will miss you John." She says and gives him a little bow of her head.

"I'll miss you to Zhaan." He glances at her, gives a little smile and walks out toward quarters.

***********************

In the center chamber, Chiana is having breakfast. Aeryn enters and picks up a tray with food cubes. She goes to the refrigeration to get a drink.

"Well, are you going to tell him before he leaves?"

"Tell him what?" Aeryn is annoyed with Chiana.

"Tell him how you feel."

"He's not leaving."

"Yeah, you think?" Chiana gets up and walks out.

**********************

Chiana goes to Johns room. The door is shut. She opens it and goes in. She sits on the side of his bed.

"I'll miss you."

She strokes his hair. She leans over and whispers to him.

"I love you."

She kisses him and begins to cry. She puts her hand on his face and looks at him, then slowly gets up and walks out, closing the door.

********************

Later, Aeryn walks up the passageway from the center chamber. She stands outside of Johns quarters, opens the door and paces in. "John, we have to talk." She continues to pace, wringing her hands.

John sleeps soundly. Undisturbed by her.

"John! Wake up! We have to talk!" She stands by his bedside.

Zhaan enters and looks at them both. "He can't hear you."

"Oh, yes. And why is that Zhaan?"

"I gave him something to help him sleep."

"Why should he need something to help him sleep?" Aeryn looks at Zhaan. "What is going on Zhaan?"

"You have hurt him enough don't you think?" Zhaan crosses her arms. She looks at Aeryn with a piercing gaze.

"I have done nothing to him Zhaan. I only want to talk to him."

"No, Aeryn. Unless you are going to be there for him, I can't let you."

"You don't know what you are talking about Priest." Aeryn looks at John again and walks into the passageway. "When he wakes, I will talk to him."

***************

Crichton takes the FarScape 1 out on one final flight to shake out any bugs.

Aeryn comes over the Comms. "John, I need to talk to you."

"Yeah? What about?"

"This test." There is a pause. "You are so far from where you originally entered our space. Do you really think you have a chance of returning to Earp?"

"I realize that Aeryn. I have to run these experiments for my research or I'll never make it home."

Aeryn hears his words and knows he's lying. "Because if you use this wormhole. You could end up anywhere."

John closes the Comms. The sound of her voice, her concern. It comes too late. The time has come to run the Gauntlet. He can't hope to outrun Scorpios much longer. This may be his only chance to escape. Anyway, he knew her. She would say anything now. But as soon as he gave in, it would be the same ol', same ol'.

"Just let me go Aeryn. Just let me go."

*********************

John lands FarScape 1 in the docking bay and opens the hatch. Aeryn is there waiting. John tries to ignore her. He climbs out of the craft and puts his helmet on the seat.

Finally he asks her, "What do you want Aeryn?"

"You're planning on using this wormhole."

"It's just an experiment Aeryn."

"I don't believe you. You're going. Aren't you?"

"What do you care?"

"You can't just leave like this."

"I don't know any other way Aeryn. This is not my home."

*********************

It's the night before arriving at the Sun Spot planet. Zhaan, D'Argo and Chiana stand with John in pilot's den. They talk about old times and what they've been together, laughing.

"I don't really know how we'll do without you John. All those scrapes you got us out of. Like the time Moya was stuck in another dimension and you found a way between?" Zhaan pets Johns arm during her story. "What you can do is just amazing."

"Thanks, Zhaan. Thanks, all of you guys."

"I wish I had some good luck object to give you John, like your father's puzzle, to keep you safe." D'Argo says. He is suddenly solumn.

"Don't worry about that D'Argo. I'll be alright."

"Are you sure? I could come with you for luck if you like." Chiana is near tears.

"Moya and I will both miss you, very much Commander Crichton."

"And I'll miss you too Pilot." John holds his hand on one of pilots hands.

The others group around John and give him a huge hug. Then he walks to quarters. Chiana and Zhaan cling to him as D'Argo walks behind.

"Did you need another sleep potion tonight John?"

"Well, I did sleep pretty good last night. Maybe I should."

"I'll bring it to you." Zhaan says smiling. She lets go of him to walk to the maintenance bay.

"I meant what I said about going with you." Chiana says hugging him tightly.

"No. But thanks for the offer." He says smiling.

They reach his quarters. He opens his door. "This is my stop Chiana. Goodnight."

"Can I come in for a little while?" She says.

D'Argo grabs her and pulls her away from Crichton. "That's enough Chiana. Let him get his rest. He has a big day tomarrow."

"Oh, alright D'Argo. Goodnight John." She says as D'Argo drags her away.

John enters his room and goes into the facility to shower. He lays his clothes on the chair and enters the water. As he showers Zhaan enters and places the sleep preparation on his bedstand. She shouts to him.

"I've left the sleep formula for you John."

"Thanks, Zhaan." He shouts back.

John finishes his shower and comes out wrapped in a towel. Aeryn is there.

"John, please don't go."

"Why not?"

"You can't be certain where this wormhole goes."

"Does it matter? It will get me away from Scorpios. The rest of you will be safe."

"And what if you end up in a place where there are no planets nearby and you're stranded?"

"It's time Aeryn."

"What do you mean?"

"I can't stay here. I have to try to go home. This is my chance."

"Stay with us John. You don't have to do this."

"Yes. I do." John sits on the bed with his back to her. "Please Aeryn. Just leave me alone." John picks up the sleep preparation Zhaan left for him and downs it.

Aeryn sees him drink the sleep drug and turns toward the door. She looks back one last time then walks down the passageway.

*********************

Commander Pzeisor
10/25/00
The Dark Side
IC:

Chiana meanders toward her quarters and sees Aeryn walking back toward her own quarters. She hesitats, then stops her. "Aeryn...Could we talk?" She's still choking back her tears at the thought of John leaving, for good.

"Not right now, Chiana," Aeryn keeps walking away from her.

Chiana begs, "Aeryn...please!" She grabs ahold of Aeryn's sleeve.

Aeryn turns back with a fierce look in her eyes, but it falters when she met Chiana's tearful eyes. "What is it?"

"We can't just let him leave..."

"If it's what he wants, there's nothing we can do."

"But it's not safe! You even said so yourself! The gods know where he's going to end up!!"

"What do you want me to do? Drag his drugged body into a cell and lock him up?"

"Well.." Chiana said, with little hope.

"No, absolutly not!" Aeryn straightened and looked back at the younger girl.

"No matter how much you want to fight it Aeryn, you have to TELL him. OK, so we can't force him to stay, but if you don't tell him now, you'll regret it."

Aeryn exhaled deeply. She paused to think on that oh-so-familiar subject, then sniffed it away. "Mind your own business Chiana! You're worse than Rygel!" She turned and stormed down the hall.

"What is it going to be like without John here? There'll be no one to mediate...all our problems... No one feels stupid when he's around, Frell, he doesn't no dren about this side of the universe...all the jokes..." She started to cry again.

*****************

NhFearme
10/26/00
The Vortex
IC:

The next morning. Zhaan, D'Argo and Chiana are there to give John a great sendoff. Aeryn is absent, again.

John looks around for her, then looks down and swallows. "Thanks again you guys. I'll see you on the other side!" He forces a smile and climbs into the FarScape 1 module.

The inner bay doors close and he rockets the module out of the hangar. He immediately dives for the planet.

As he does his long burn around the planet, he suddenly gets a Comm.

"Hello, John."

"Aeryn! What do you want?"

"I'm just here to back you up John."

"It's too late Aeryn."

"I told you, I won't let you go."

"Go back to Moya, Aeryn!"

"No, John. I'm staying with you."

"Commander Crichton! Aeryn! The Command Carrier has entered the system!" Pilot says, upset. "Hurry back to Moya. We must starburst as quickly as possible!"

Just then, a wormhole opens in front of Crichton's ship. It is perfectly symmetrical and stable. John starts to dive down it. Aeryn follows in the Prowler. John sees what she is doing.

"Aeryn! No! Stay with Moya!"

"No, John I'm coming with you!"

Crichton enters the wormhole. It is a rough ride despite the perfection of the hole. John looks to see if Aeryn is in the wormhole with him. All his gauges are spiking wildly. It takes only seconds to arrive at the other end.

John watches behind him looking for Aeryn. She does not emerge. He begins to worry that something happened to her in the wormhole. The Wormhole closes.

"Aeryn! Aeryn can you hear me! Aeryn!" There is no answer.

"Maybe she didn't make it." He thinks.

At the other end is a beautiful blue and green planet.

"Oh, God! Please be Earth." John flicks some switches. He checks Canaveral's frequency for chatter. It is clear. "Canaveral? This is FarScape 1. Do you read me? Canaveral. This is FarScape 1. Over."

He breathes a sigh and looks out of the canopy toward the blue planet. For several minutes he Comms to the Canaveral frequency with no luck. He tries to contact Aeryn again. The Comms are dead.

Looking at the planet, he sees nothing that looks familiar. The landmasses are all wrong. "Aeryn was right. I'm stranded."

Suddenly he sees a column of smoke and flames rising. He guides the module to land near it. Then just as suddenly it is gone. He lands near where he saw it.

"Fire. I hope that means there is sentient life."

He climbs out of his ship and places his helmet on the seat. As he closes the canopy, he hears someone shouting. He looks behind him. It's Aeryn! She is running toward him. He turns and walks toward her.

"Oh John! I thought I lost you! You didn't answer Comms!" She embraces him and kisses him. "I'm so glad I found you."

"You crazy! What are you doing here?"

"I had to come John. I love you."

John has waited so long to hear these words from her. He closes his eyes and swallows. His heart is breaking. "Do you mean it?"

He looks at her. "You're not just saying that because we're stranded on a planet together?" He looks as though he may cry.

"No, John." She looks sterling into his eyes. "I really mean it."

John caresses her hair with his hands. He studys her face looking deeply into her eyes. Then he embraces Aeryn gently and kisses her as though it were the first time.

**********************

"Full charge Lt. Fire fragg cannon." Scorpios orders.

Pilot is frantic. "The wormhole has closed! I can't wait any longer! We must starburst. Hold on people!"

Moya starbursts away as the Command Carrier approaches, firing.

"Disengage Lt. Merrik. What were the readings on the wormhole? Plot a course, Lt. and follow it!"

************************

"Whattya say we take the Prowler up and fly a little recognizance?"

"Sorry, John. I crashed. The Prowler is in a shallow body of water west of here. I had to eject. Something in the wormhole frelled with it."

"We'll take Freddie then. I want to know if we have neighbors or not."

"I saw nothing when I came down."

"Still I'd like to be sure."

John and Aeryn find the planet to be unpopulated except by small furry animals, a primitive sort of bird and dragon size fish.

*******************

That night finds John and Aeryn in the reflection of fire light. Wrapped in eachothers embrace. Locked in loving splendor. Their sighs fill the night sky.

*******************

Commander Pzeisor
10/27/00
Visions
IC:

"Pilot! turn around now!" Zhaan cried as she woke from her meditation.

"I cannot do that Pau'," Pilot responded.

"Can't you follow the trail from Starburst? Take us at least back in the vicinity of the wormhole?"

Pilot grumbled, "Why? They have gone-"

"But they are in trouble! I sense much danger ahead for them. We must turn back NOW!"

Pilot was hesitant, "We all agreed to Starburst."

"No we didn't! You went ahead and did it anyway!"

"I had to. Moya was afraid. The Peacekeepers were too close and they would have spotted us! It is better to be alive and free than imprisoned by the Peacekeepers."

Zhaan sighed, "I know Pilot, but I fear for their lives."

"It was their decision to leave. There is not much we can do for them now."

Zhaan pressed a hand on pilots face, "I know, but we can at least make an effort to save their lives."

Pilot nodded. "I will persuade Moya to go back to that area. It will be difficult."

"I understand. Thank you Pilot."

***********************

NhFearme
10/27/00
Visions
IC:

Working together Crichton and Aeryn build a fine shack of local woods and stones. As John is working Aeryn speaks to him.

"I have something to tell you."

"Is it about having Ivis for dinner again? Because if it is...I'd rather run out and catch a dragon than eat that tough bird meat again."

"No. No tough bird meat, John." She looks at him glowing. "This is something we made together."

John gives her a funny look and looks at her belly. "Is it?" He touches her there.

"Mm Huh." She answers grinning.

"Oh, Aeryn." John smiles. He hugs Aeryn, kisses her neck and caresses her hair with his hand. He looks into her eyes deeply. "I love you Aeryn." He kisses her passionately.

***********************

Moya reaches the closed mouth of the wormhole. Pilot speaks to the others on the clamshell.

"There is no sign of them. However there are signs that the Command Carrier is following the course of the wormhole. Perhaps in persuit of Commander Crichton!"

"You're Farhbot Zhaan! If you think we're going to run and catch a Peacekeeper Command Carrier..." Rygel protests.

"We don't even know if they survived." D'Argo adds.

"If the Peacekeepers catch them they WILL be dead!" Chiana says upset with both of them.

"I know they are alive and in terrible danger. We must help them!" Zhaan says, troubled.

**************************

OOC: We don't see Crichton and Aeryn again until the day of her delivery.

IC:

Aeryn calls to him. "John! It's time! Help me to the bed."

Aeryn lies on the bed. Aeryn breathes then pushes. John delivers his own child from Aeryn. He holds their baby, cradling him for a long while.

At Aeryn's begging John finally hands their son to her. Aeryn smiles and holds him, kissing him. John covers her and lies down next to both of them; Embracing them.

******************************

NhFearme
10/27/00
Baby Talk
IC:

Aeryn sits sunning herself on the porch. John walks up to her and hands her a sea shell. She drinks from it. Their son is in the crib behind them. John looks into the crib.

"How ya' doin Jake?"

"His name is not Jake, John."

"That's right, you haven't named him yet. I don't see what's wrong with Jake."

"He needs a name John like Talyn or Jerren."

"Talyn is a good name. Except you already gave it to a battle ship!" John is thoughtful. "Jarren is OK though."

"What's your name?"

"Oh, you don't want to name him that!"

"Well, what is it?" Aeryn pushes her hair out of her face. "Just...John?"

"John Robert Crichton" John winces "Jr."

"Hmmm." Aeryn ponders. "John Robert. That's a nice name. Though I've never heard it before. I suppose it's common on Earp?"

"Yeah. John is. Not Jr. though."

"I don't know Jake. Do you really want to be John Robert Crichton the III?" John asks him. His son wraps his fist tightly around John's fingers.

"Tell me some of the other Earp names John."

"Hmmm. There's a lot of them Aeryn. Lessee, Uh, Just the J's, Umm, John, Jay, Jake, Jingleheimer..."

"Jingleheimer?"

"No, no, not that one! Umm, Jorrel, Jerrold, Jeffery, George..."

"That's it! That's the one that suits him." Aeryn says excitedly.

"What? George?"

"No. The one before that." Aeryn smiles. "Jeffery!"

"Hmmm. Jeff'ry." John looks at his son, imagining the name on him. "Jeff-er-ry." He smiles at Aeryn and asks. "Can I still call him Jake?"

************************

"Ok, Jake, Buddy. Time for a clean diaper. Here we just pull this down and... Woah!"

John ducks as a fountain jets upward toward him. It barely misses. "So that's why you were fussin'. Ok Jake. Here's a new one. This flap up this flap over. There! How's that?"

Jake begins to fuss again.

"Oh, here Buddy. You need your mamma?" John picks him up.

"Bring him to me John." Aeryn reaches from where she sits.

"You got it. Here you go Jake."

"Jeffery." Aeryn corrects him.

"Sure, Jeff'ry." And hands their son to her.

*****************

NhFearme
10/28/00
Return to The Dark Side
IC:

Some time passes. It's about 18 months later. Jake is running chasing birds. He plays while Crichton and Aeryn work in their small vegetable patch next to the cottage.

The sun goes down. They sit inside enjoying time together in their parlor.

Suddenly a ship passes over; Then another.

John runs, grabs their son and turns out the lamp. "Stay with me Jake. You'll be safe."

Suddenly the ships fire upon them. A pulse hits the house.

John yells. "Aeryn! We have to get outta' here!" He takes Jake outside.

The ships continue to fire. The house is hit! It bursts into flame! Aeryn screams as the house collapses in on her.

John screams. "Aeryn!" He puts Jake down and tells him. "Jake, stay here! I have to help Momma!"

John runs inside house, he pulls Aeryn out. By the firelight John can see. She is burned and bleeding.

John is frantic. "No, God! Aeryn!" He cries.

Jake walks to them and looks at her.

"John." Aeryn is in great pain. She grips his hand as she speaks. "Leave this place."

John holds her and cries. She takes Jake's hand and places it on John's. "Please. Take Jeffery and go. Now!" She gasps to get enough air to finish speaking.

"Please, don't speak. Save your strength." John cries.

Aeryn knows that she is dying. "I saw the readings before I crashed. This sun. It has sunspot activity. Maybe you and Jake can escape." She speaks with her last breath. "Leave me...go."

Aeryn closes her eyes and breathes her last.

"I love you Aeryn." John kisses her hand, her lips. He embraces her and cries.

Crichton picks up Jake. He runs to FarScape 1 and fires it up. He climbs to the ionosphere with the Prowlers chasing him.

"What do you think you're doing Crichton?"

John recognizes the voice. It's Scorpius. He ignores the transmission and continues maneuvers to create a wormhole.

"Is this how you did it Crichton?"

John makes some adjustments. He watches his control panel.

"Is this how you made the wormhole."

John increases his speed toward sunrise.

"I'm sorry, Crichton. I cannot allow you to go. The information you have is too important for me to let you escape."

Scorpius gives the order. "Fire. Disable his craft."

The prowlers fire at FarScape 1. Jake begins to cry and scream. John propels the craft trying to make critical apogee.

The Module is hit. Once, twice, three times. His control panel bursts into flame. He grabs the fire extinguisher and gives two short blasts, extinguishing the flames. The coekpit begins to fill with smoke. John flicks the exhaust switch, clearing the smoke.

"Common' Baby! We can make it!"

A wormhole forms ahead of them. John aims for it. The module is hit again. It loses power and turns missing the vortex. The Vortex closes.

Jake screams. John takes him out of the copilot seat. "Com'ear Buddy." He holds him; Comforts him. John kisses and rocks Jake as the Command Carrier comes upon them.

************************

John sits in the Aurora Chair. It turns. Scorpius addresses him.

"I am so very glad to have you back Crichton."

"Where is Jake?"

"He is being well cared for. You'll see him soon."

"Not until I'm sure he's alright."

Scorpius motions. After a few microts Scorpius' nurse comes out holding Jake. Jake reaches out to John. "Daddy!"

"Yes, Jake. I'll be with you in a little while. Go back with the nurse now."

John is crying quietly as Jake is taken away. "You're a monster."

"Not true, Crichton. All I want is the information in your brain and then you and your son?" Scorpius waits for John to confirm or deny. "May go free."

"What about Aeryn? You killed her." There's a lump in his throat.

"Unfortunate." Scorpius sighs. "It was a regrettable accident."

"You fired on us!"

"Against my orders, Crichton. I assure you."

"Let's just get on with it."

John is tired. His tears run down his face as he waits for his inevitable torture. He waits for it, surrenders to it.

Finally, the chair fires. The chair's screen shows the wormhole Crichton created. The FarScape module sails down it. Then kissing Aeryn, making love to her by firelight; Their baby nursing at her breast. He holds Aeryn as she dies.

John cries aloud. He screams.

"I'll kill you for this Scorpius! I'll kill you!"

**********************

NhFearme
10/30/00
Wormhole Theory
IC:

It takes several solar days to get the information from Crichton's mind. Even with his cooperation the knowledge the Ancients, placed behind the neural block is buried deep.

Crichton sits in the Aurora Chair. The chair turns. It charges up. John groans. He gasps for air. It fires through Crichton's brain. He screams.

The screen shows the Ancients speaking to him. The chair fires again. John screams. He convulses. The equations present themselves. This time each one is displayed clearly:

Gravitational flux, conversion rates of waves, effects of speed in conjunction with radiation waves, energy derived from particle waves, ion matrixes, energy derived from ionic charges, electromagnetic wave conversion, theory of localized spatial imbalances, generation of vortexes from localized imbalances, analytical theory of universal imbalances; 19 equations in all.

"We have your secret Crichton! These are equations you tried to keep from us. The answers we've search for." Scorpius says, very pleased with himself.

"But they're all in his science, his language." Neim points out. "They're nothing but riddles!"

"Don't worry. Crichton will translate them for us. Remove him to his cell. He deserves a long rest." Scorpius motions to the guards.

John is thrown in his cell. He breathes, nearly unconscious, from the accelerated sessions in the chair. He calls out to the guard.

"Let me out! Get Scorpius! I'm not supposed to be in here!"

Some time later, Scorpius comes to Crichton's cell. With him, he has a detachment of guards.

Crichton braces himself on one elbow to see then crawls toward the door.

"Not yet, Crichton."

"We had a deal!"

"I'm sure I made myself clear. I need all the information your brain contains."

"You have it! Now let us go."

"I need you to educate the Techs concerning this new science. Your Earp science, John. It is sure to take some time for them to learn. And the pilots will need to be trained as well. "

Crichton gets up and stands facing him. "You have got to be kidding!"

"Do I need to remind you? I have your... son."

"God! Jake, no! No!" Crichton moves toward Scorpius.

The guards restrain him.

"What do you want from me?" Crichton asks.

"Now that you've shown you can cooperate. If you behave yourself, you may see your son." Scorpius watches Crichton for his reaction.

"I get to see him? How many arns?"

"As much as you like! As long as you instruct the Techs. Well, we'll see. First we'll move you to better quarters. Hmmm?"

The guards begin to drag John. He fights them.

"Let me go! Goons! Didn't you just hear Scorpy say I was free?"

Scorpius laughs heartily as Crichton pushes past the guards and walks, stumbling through the doorway.

************************

NhFearme
11/1/00
23,000 Kills
IC:

It's some time later. Crichton instructs the Techs. He wears Peacekeeper clothes, long sleeve black shirt and leather pants. Shirt sleeves rolled up, standing in front of a blank part of the bulkhead with a piece of what looks like chalk, he writes out from memory, the equations of the Ancients.

The Techs refer to data pads and scribble on transparencies with a waxy substance.

"Now." John asks his class. "Who knows, from yesterday's lesson, what this formula is good for?"

One hand goes up. It's Senior Tech Officer Kamina Witer. Blond, not unlike Gelina. She smiles when Crichton calls on her.

"Tech Officer."

"Sir, that is the formula we use to create the table of spatial vortexes."

"Not an entirely accurate description Tech Witer, but I'll give you partial credit." Crichton puts down his 'chalk' and picks up a cloth to wipe his hands.

"Now class." He begins again. "Tonight's assignment is, this half (He indicates the left half.) Of the class is to work out this formula for 15 variables to 5, no, 6 places."

"And this half of the class, (He indicates the right half.) is to program the flight computer on a Prowler to generate the table to 8 places."

"Keep up the good work, class, and you won't have to listen to anymore of my boring lectures." He begins to chuckle and sees the class is stone serious. "Dismissed." He says and walks out.

As Crichton walks toward quarters Tech Witer follows him. "Sir, Commander Crichton, Sir."

John continues walking to quarters. She runs trying to catch up to him.

"Sir. I don't think your lectures are boring at all." She is beginning to get quite out of breath chasing him.

"I think your lectures are the most exciting thing I've ever heard!" She finally stops and has to rest.

Crichton stops and turns. "Uh. You wanna' come in for coffee Tech Officer Witer?"

She looks at him smiles, still breathless and says. "Yes! Sir! Uh, coffee?"

John enters his quarters and yells. "Jake, I'm home!"

The nurse comes from one of the rooms behind a spunky, Peacekeeper-dressed 4 year old.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Jake says joyously. "Look at the game Nurse gave me today! I already have 23,000 kills! Nurse says no Sebacean child every got that many kills!"

John takes Jake in his arms and sits down with him to look at the game.

"Nurse says the most kills anyone ever got was only 8,000! Isn't that great Daddy?"

John kisses Jake and gives the nurse a dirty look.

"You did good Jake. But just remember it's a game. In real life, those would be real people. And we don't kill real people."

Both Nurse and Tech Officer Witer look at Crichton in shock and awe.

********************

NhFearme
11/2/00
Getting into Oz
IC:

"Nurse. I'm taking Jake for a walk. We'll be back in about an arn."

"Half an arn Crichton." The nurse says sternly.

"Sure. Whatever." John answers and turns to Tech Officer Witer. "What side of the class are you in?"

"I will be working on the 15 variables Sir."

"How would you like to go with me and see how the programming is coming along?"

"Yes, Sir, Commander!" She says exuberantly.

"Le'sgo then." John stands still holding Jake and walks to the door. He opens it. "Say, 'Bye Nurse'."

Jake puts his hand to his mouth and says, "Bye Nurse!"

They walk out together and John closes the door.

Arriving at the Prowler bay the guard asks him. "What is your clearance?"

"Oh, right." John says. "I forgot my uniform jacket. I'm their instructor for this project."

"I'm sorry sir. I can't let you pass."

"Here, let me get..." John hands Jake to Tech officer Witer. "My chip." John pulls his Ident Chip from his neck. He hands it to the guard.

The guard takes the Ident Chip and runs it through the security scanner.

"You have limited access Sir." The guard says reading the scanner.

"Well, I can at least go in and see their progress, right?" John says indignant.

"Yes, Sir." The guard responds returning Crichton's Ident Chip.

"Harder than getting into Oz." John says under his breath and walks toward his students who are already busy working.

**********************

NhFearme
11/3/00
Test Flight for Jake
IC:

Tech Officer Witer is still holding Jake. Jake turns to her and says proudly. "This is a Prowler."

"Yes, it is." She answers him.

"I'm going to fly one of these when I grow up!" Jake says with glee.

"Um, Humm." Witer says trying to see what the class is doing.

Crichton climbs into the prowler and inserts some variables into the new Spatial Vortexes Program. The display pops up instantly.

John runs his hands over the controls remembering. He remembers too much. Aeryn teaching him to fly. Her embrace. Her kiss. His eyes close. He swallows. Tears stream down his face.

His pain is interrupted by his anxious students.

"Is it to your satisfaction, Sir?"

John wipes his tears and sighs deeply.

"Manual variable input will slow down the pilot's reaction time considerably, Tech. It needs to be based on the sensor array. Also, this display is hard to read. Could you see about increasing the size and clarity?"

"Yes, Sir. Right away, Sir." The Tech answers, somewhat upset.

Then John hears something that makes him smile. "Look at me Daddy! I'm flying a Prowler! Look at me!" Jake yells jubilantly running with his arms held out to his sides, making a roaring noise. "Rrrrrrrrrrr!..Rrrrrrrrrr!"

John climbs out of the prowler and grabs Jake, picking him up over his head. "There you go Jake!" John moves so that Jake can fly.

The Techs watch in awe of Crichton playing with his child. Never could they have imagined this. A grown man playing with a child. His own son.

Some are uncomfortable, but they would never tell Command of decorum. Some watch with joy on their faces. Tech Officer Witer begins to cry at the sight.

After several minutes, John begins to tire. "Ok!" John says breathing somewhat rapidly. He sets Jake down and wipes his brow.

"More Daddy! Rrrrrrrr!" Jake starts to run around again.

The Techs now realize that they have stopped working and hurry to busy themselves, not to look sloven.

"Woah! Buddy! You'll make a great Prowler Pilot someday." John says taking hold of Jake's hand. "Let's go and see what they have to drink in the Officer's Lounge."

"More, please Daddy!"

"Maybe later, Jake, after I've had a chance to rest a bit. OK?"

"Ok." Jake says disappointed.

"Tech Witer. You still up for coffee?"

"Yes, Sir. If you just will tell me please. What is coffee?"

"Don't worry about it Witer. It's just an expression." John turns to the project students, gives a 'thumbs up' and says. "Keep up the good work. I'll check on you later."

The three exit the Prowler Bay, walking toward the Officer's Lounge. John holds on to Jake's hand.