Chiana powered down the engine of the small vessel, turning her head from side to side as she tried not to think about the others. She had left them so far behind, trying to find Crichton after she had found information Scorpious had him. None of the others believed her, D'argo had stepped in on commands, trapsing Moya over the uncharteds to find Jothi.

She just wanted to see him alive. If nothing else...

She eased in her breath as she docked on the PK base and grabbed her coat. It was a secret base, some place she was supposed to meet a captain. Her only real hope was that she would find Crichton at this one.

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

NhFearme
11/3/00
Scorpy's Deal
IC:

Crichton paces, waiting to see Scorpios. Finally he is admitted.

"Yes, how can I help you John?"

"You can stop trying to teach Jake to become a Peacekeeper."

"What else would he be? Don't you want him to know how to defend himself?"

"20,000 kills is not self defense! I won't have him growing up to be a killer!"

"Calm yourself John. Bear in mind; You have been here over two cycles and still the Techs have not learned all that they need." Scorpios paces to his observation port.

"I want you to consider staying with us John. Become a Peacekeeper. You have already been awarded the rank of Lt. Commander. You will receive currency in keeping with your status. Your own Command when the Techs have learned to apply the information,... And your son..."

"Oh, this is gonna' be good! Go ahead, Scorpy. What are your plans for Jake?"

"He will be trained in the Elite Corps."

Crichton begins to laugh madly. "You have got to be kidding!" He says between yucks. "We are both just frail humans!"

"Not true John." Scorpios looks seriously at Crichton. "Jake is half Sebacean."

Suddenly Crichton stops laughing. "No! We stay with the original deal, or no deal!"

"What will you do, Crichton? Where will you go?"

Crichton shakes his head. "We'll go somewhere else. Anywhere else. You have to let us go! That was our bargain!"

The guards seem as though they are closing in on Crichton. His body tenses.

"Is that what you want?"

"You can't do this to us! I have held up my end! I have taught them. We're nearly finished. You can't keep us here!"

"Would you prefer that I put you back in a cell? Your rank stripped? You will teach your class from behind bars." Scorpios eyes him. "Jake will be raised without you, as a Peacekeeper; Never knowing his father."

John's heart sinks. He is numb at what he hears. He clenches his fists.

The guards position themselves to restrain him.

"Think of the options Crichton." Scorpios knows he has won.

"This conversation is not over Scorpy!" Crichton turns, pushes past the guards and leaves.

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

ChianaGray
11/3/00
Scorpy's Deal
IC:

Chiana wandered through the halls of the base, making her way to the PK version of an officers lounge. She gazed the place over somberly, her eyes placidly searching for the captain she was supposed to meet as people passed by her. She moved to the bar, swallowing lightly as she sat and waited for the tender to notice her.

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

NhFearme
11/4/00
Sunlight Flight
IC:

John walks quickly to his quarters. He stops outside the door and composes himself. He enters to face the Nurse and Jake. Jake appears ready for bed. He is dressed in what looks like a black kimono.

Jake runs to him. "Daddy! Daddy!"

"Hi ya' Jake." John sounds exhausted, but calm.

"I wanna' take him for a little walk. We won't be long." He walks with Jake toward the door.

"It's already past his curfew Commander."

John turns around. "Aw! Come on! I just want to show him somethin'. It won't be but a microt, I promise." He tries his disarming smile on her. "Hmm?"

"You have already taken him out once today. Once is enough." Nurse says, put out.

"Please Nurse! I want to see!" Jake begs her.

She looks at Jake, expressionless. "Perhaps I should come with you." She answers him.

"Sure, if that's you want." John reaches and opens the door.

Nurse hesitates. "Only a microt?"

"Well yeah, it's on the ship." John smiles.

"Alright. But this is a dangerous precedent for the child to break his curfew. I won't have it again, understood?"

Jake and John answer together, sing songy, "Yes, nurse."

John closes the door and walks briskly up toward the Prowler bay. There is no guard stationed. John swipes his Ident Chip and the bay hatch opens. He enters carrying Jake. He seals the hatch and walks to the experimental Prowler. John opens the canopy and gets in with Jake.

"Oh! Daddy! Are we going to fly?" Jake asks excitedly.

"Yes, Jeff'ry my man. We are going for a ride."

"In a Prowler? Wow!" He exclaims as John straps him in the Co-pilot seat. "I'm ready now!" Jake says as he looks excitedly around the cokpit.

John straps into the Pilot's seat and signals the outer hatch to open. As the hatch opens, he blasts out at top speed.

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

ChianaGray
11/4/00
Sunlight Flight
IC:

Chiana turned her head, cutting her eyes as a man came and sat next to her with a heavy sigh. He smiled lightly as he looked to her.

"You must be the Nebari, Chiana was it?"

"I don't see anyone else that looks like a Nebari," she muttered sarcasticly as she stirred her drink.

"I'm Captain Shelan," he stated gently as he took off his jacket and sat down. "Special Ops Reconisance. You are my new assistant are you? Do you realize what that could entail?"

"Galatic espionage?" Chiana chuckled to herself as she hunched her shoulders and cut a wry smile to him over her drink.

"Maybe," he eyed her wonderingly as the tender brought his drink. "I'm about to walk into a new assignment, of course, your loyalties will proove an interest to me when we get there."

"My loyalties are to myself," she smiled as she leaned closer to him and gazed over him. "Where are we going then, is it dangerous?"

"Possibly," he drank, nodding slightly as he settled his eyes on her once again wonderingly. "I need an assistant who could handle dangerous situations. Though, I would have prefered a Sebacean."

"Well then don't let me stop you," Chiana rolled her eyes as she returned to her drink. "What are they going to do exactly, dust the assasins hiding under your bed?"

Shelan let out a sharp breath as he smirked to himself and tilted his glass to his lips.

"We'll see."

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

NhFearme
11/4/00
Sunlight Flight
IC:

John and Jake are only missing for a few microts when John receives a Comm.

"Are you trying to escape, Crichton?" It is Scorpius. "You're shaking my faith in you, John. Return at once."

Crichton maintains top speed as he searches for a sun, any sun.

"You said we were free to go when I finished my job. I have finished. So goodbye." Crichton closes Comms.

Soon a squad of Prowlers is behind him. They begin firing. John avoids the blasts. He still searches for a sun. He maintains top speed, knowing that soon the Prowler's fuel will be exhausted. But he has to try!

"Crap!" Crichton realizes his plan is flawed. "A wormhole creating prowler, but no electromagnetic wave!"

Finally, he sees it. On the scans. It's a sun! John makes a course correction and thunders towards it.

"This is great Daddy! Can we do this every night?" Jake asks, thoroughly enjoying himself.

"Jake. If we can get out of this? Yes!" John says nervously.

John can see the sun on his sent horizon. He watches his fuel. There is enough. The Prowler squad continues firing. John has to continually maneuver to avoid the pulses. He's running on pure adrenaline.

John engages his student's program. The system comes up. The readout is clear. He waits for it to interpret from the sensor array. It is slow to respond. He waits anxiously.

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

Officer Nhyler Shard is already in the 5th level of dreaming when she gets the call to scramble. "Someone has accessed and stolen Military Tech's Top Secret Prowler!"

"Scorpius' pet project." She says to herself as her feet hit the cold deck.

She had learned long ago, the secret to scramble is to have everything ready, pull it on and hope your mind engages when you hit the coekpit. She throws on her gear and double-times it to the Prowler Bay.

Her squad is ready. She jumps in her Prowler hits the power engage and straps in. She leads her squad to blast their way out of the Prowler Bay.

The thief has not gone far. He is in a big hurry though.

The system is devoid of populated planets so she has to ask herself "Where exactly does he think he's going?"

Then the order comes. "Officer Shard. Disable the craft all costs!"

"Dren!" She says under her breath. "It's Scorpius himself giving the orders!"

In attack formation, her squad begins to barrage the craft. Some how the thief slips between the pulse blasts. Only a few shots light the shield. 1000 microts into the chase.

Scorpius is not pleased. "Officer, I said disable the craft!" His voice stings her. Her Elite Squad was unbeaten, until now.

"Kilvant! Spisler! We are firing on an expert pilot! If you know any tricks? Now's the time to use them!" She feels inept. Her confidence melting at the hands of this expert thief. 1500 microts into the chase.

"Top secret." She wonders to herself. "Wonder what its capabilities are? Why the Frell wasn't it held in high security!" 2000 microts into the chase.

"Officer Shard!" Scorpios sounds anxious. She never thought it possible. "This man, this thief is more valuable than the craft he has stolen." Scorpius gives her the information he has withheld.

"Lt. Commander John Crichton is the mind that designed the escaping Prowler. You must disable it now! Before he has a chance to leap!" Scorpius confides.

"Leap? Sir?"

"Yes, Officer! It has the capability to leap beyond our dimension!"

She is suddenly nervous that she and her Squad are unable accomplish his capture. "Leap Frelling dimensions!" She yells to herself. "The fastest craft available still can't catch it!"

For an arn they try to disable him. For an arn he avoids them. Her Squad fires, withholding nothing.

"Veccar! Stoddard!" She orders her pilots. "Withhold your fire and fall back!" In case Crichton is subdued, she needs the continued threat. If they were to bring him back.

At this speed they will soon be out of fuel. Unable to return to the Command Carrier. Soon they would be stranded, waiting for the Command Carrier's Marauder to rescue them.

Was the speed he was maintaining necessary for the jump? Or could he still skip out of their sight on the long trip back to the Command Carrier. Her mind can not conceive of such things.

She knows, though, that her failure, means her death; Perhaps the death of her squad as well. Fuel is running low.
She decides to use another tactic. She opens Comms.

"Lt. Commander Crichton! Decelerate and surrender!" She wants to add, "or we will destroy you!" It is the only card she has left to play.

Crichton nears the sun. The Prowler squad is right on his tail. Finally, the Vortexes Display responds to the sensors.

John scans for an electromagnetic wave. There is nothing!

John checks his fuel again. There is just enough to get him back to the Command Carrier. He knows he must surrender. He Comms the Prowler squad Commander.

Crichton speaks to Officer Shard with authority.

"Hey! What's the big idea? I'm testing a new piece of software in this thing, and you're firing on me?" Crichton yells in mock anger.

Officer Shard jumps at the voice of her superior officer. She doesn't understand the term 'Software.' "It must be a term for Scorpius' Secret Project." She thinks to herself.

"Identify yourself!" Crichton demands.

She finds herself quickly going through, in her mind, every Lt. Commander she has seen in the Officers Lounge. "Who is this guy?" She wonders.

Officer Shard commands her squad.
"Cease fire!" The Prowlers stop their barrage.

"Officer Nhyler Shard. Icarian company, Plysar regiment, Sir!" Her voice resonates in his cabin.

Crichton decelerates. His recapture is eminent.

"But will he come quietly or will he turn and fire." Nhyler wonders.

"We understood that you were trying to escape Lt. Commander Crichton. If we are mistaken, I apologize."

This is an arrest. She had begun the pursuit in this mindset. She had to maintain her authority or he could slip away! In the most commanding voice she can muster, she orders him to accompany them back to the Command Carrier. Would he? Her life depends on it.

"Now, Lt. Commander. We shall accompany you back to the Command Carrier."

"Yes, of course Officer Shard." Crichton makes the turn. This heading will bring him back to the Command Carrier.

"Are we going back so soon, Daddy?" Jake asks disappointed.

"Afraid so, Buddy." John answers his son, worried at what Scorpius will do.

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

John must reserve his fuel for the long distance back to the Command Carrier. The time spent is hard. His thoughts are filled with terrifying images of Scorpius' tortures. The threat to Jake. Aeryn's death. This escape attempt has thrown himself and Jake into further peril.

Shard's squad surrounds Crichton's Prowler for their return. Nhyler leads. The Officers who have the quickest response time flank him. The two Prowlers held in reserve, bring up the rear.

Crichton has shown them to be inept. Even more incredible is the way he avoided weapons fire! If she had not been there trying to disable him, doing her best, she would not have believed it.

For 2000 microts they maintain Comm silence. The question keeps nagging her though: A Military Tech, who is a pilot? He is the best pilot she has ever seen! No one could evade her Elite Squad! Who is this guy? Finally she has to ask.

"Officer Nhyler Shard here, Lt. Commander."

John is relieved when the Squad Commander addresses him. Her voice cuts through the void of space. It quiets the fears in his mind.

"Yes Officer Shard." He answers.

"I was curious, Sir, where you learned to maneuver like that?"

His voice comes back over Comms. It is like no other Peacekeeper.

"I was taught by the best." He smiles, but there is a lump in his throat. "Officer Aeryn Sun. Icarian Company, Plysar Regiment."

"He sounds civilian!" She thinks. "Impossible! A Prowler pilot has to be a Peacekeeper. His rank!" Her confusion is growing. He is an enigma.

"Odd!" Shard says with some disdain. "That is my company and regiment. I have never heard the name, Sun."

"That was before your time, Officer Shard." John says blissfully.

"I see, Sir. I just wanted to compliment you on your flying, Sir." Nhyler says with some admiration.

"Thank you Officer Shard." John thanks Shard more for Aeryn, than for himself.

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

ChianaGray
11/9/00
Sunlight Flight
IC:

Chiana looked down at the people walking below her from the grated walk way, rolling her eyes to herself as one of the several bags she carried slipped, catching on the holster of her pulse pistol. Shelan watched her as she picked it up and smiled to himself with a slight shake of his head. She wasn't exactly a servant girl. He couldn't imagine what she was doing here, especialy with volunteering her services to him. It was probably the same story as others, trying to escape something else, wanting to find something adventurous with the PeaceKeepers. He came to her and took the bag, walking ahead as she meandered behind, shifting her head from side to side.

"Y'know," she spoak up as they came to a hanger of prowlers. "Thi-this isn't what I had in mind, carrying your bags around?"

"I'm sure it wasn't," he spoak softly as he handed her a dagger when she shifted her arms and let the bags drop. She tilted her head, her lips parting as she stared at the dagger.

"Standard issue," he stated as he began to toss the bags into a prowlers holding compartment. "You'll get used to it. You might need it where we're going."

"Where are we going?"

"Special base," he muttered as he turned to her again. She looked so young in the ensign uniform he felt more like he was taking a trainee on thier first flight. "You ah, know how to handle one of these?"

"A prowler?" She shrugged as she looked up to the c ockpit. "Sure. What, you want me to fly you there too?"

"Sir," he narrowed his eyes. "You're going to be my assistant. That does mean I am your captain. You will not enter my prowler with your little remarks, and you will adress me as sir."

"Yes, sir," she tocked her head to one side and scrambled up into the prowler, taking the co-pilots seat as he followed in and began to check things over.

"We're going to a banquette."

"A banquette, realy?" Chiana spoak cheerfuly as she leaned to him with a bright smile. "Is that anything like a Luxan moon fest?"

"Oh I doubt it dear one," Shelan chuckled to himself as he cut his eyes to catch a glimpse of her smile. "In this one we are looking for a rather clever officer I want to catch collecting high security information. If they are and I succeed with your aid, you just may have a position with me."

"So this is my initiation?"

"Something like that," he sighed as he powered the prowler up. "More like, it's mine."

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

NhFearme
11/9/00
Sunlight Flight
IC:

Chiana watches the readouts as they approach the secret base. "No designation." She thinks looking for some sign of the base. All she sees is the approach vector. "49.7 angle." She reads from the pannel.

The prowler suddenly dips. "What are you looking at back there?" Shelan asks her abrubtly.

"I just wondered where we were going."

"I already told you." He cuts a look back at her. "You're here to assist me. That's all you need to know."

The Prowler turns suddenly pulling into the landing bay smoothly. Shelan lands. As the canopy opens Chiana can see they are inside of a large bunker.

"Well, come on!" Shelan leads her. He carries one of the packages.

The guards stop them at the checkpoint.

The Lt. in charge of security addresses Shelan. "Security Velca sir! Your clearance?"

Captain Shelan pulls his Ident chip from around his neck and hands it to the Lieutenant. The Lt. swipes the chip. There is a pause for the reader to react to the data.

Shelan places his hands in the console. The console light turns green and gives an agreeable 'Beep!'

"You're cleared, Sir!" The Lt. snaps to attention and presents Shelan's chip.

Shelan takes his chip and leads Chiana down the long corridor to his quarters. They enter. He places the package on the bed.

"I'll leave you now. I have to check in with my superiors. Get yourself ready."

"Ready?" Chiana is puzzled.

"For the banquet!" Shelan takes his dagger and cuts the cord on the package. It pops open showing a beautiful gown with slippers.

Chiana's eyebrows go up. She tilts her head at Shelan and steps to touch the gown.

"I'll be back in a few microts." Shelan places the dagger back into its scabbard with a distinctive 'snap'.

"Yeah, sure." Chiana nearly gasps as she lifts the gown and slippers from the package.

"Oh." He motions to another room. "The refresher is in there."

"Thank you." Chiana says.

"Don't thank me yet." Shelan says with a smile. He turns and exits the room.

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

NhFearme
11/10/00
When Scarren's Attack
IC:

Nhyler hears a 'Beep!" from her console. She sees a blip on her scanner, then two, three!

They are small attack vessels. Not coming from the direction of the Rac'tarajin. She Comms the Command Carrier.

"Command! I request immediate assistance! Five, no, seven unidentified craft are approaching our position fast!"

A voice Comms back from Command. "The Relief Squad should intersect your position in 2100 Microts."

Nhyler can now see from the configuration, they are Scarren. She reports. "They are Scarren, Sir!"

The next voice she hears is chilling. It is Scorpius.

"Returning Crichton to me is of the paramount import Officer Shard!" He gives one final order. "Return Crichton to me at all costs!"

Nhyler knows. This has now become a suicide mission.

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

NhFearme
11/11/00
When Scarren's Attack
IC:

Chiana enters the fresher and hits the cycle. A firm mist vibrates onto her moistening her smooth gray skin. Her hair dampens and clings to her face. Her hair and skin take on a silver luminescence like the precious stones of Miarlan.

The vibration is relaxing. She finds herself thinking of the banquet. It's like a dream. She starts imagining who will be there. Who are they seeking? Will he have the knowledge she seeks? Will they give her word on Crichton? Did they see him, hear of him?

Suddenly she snaps out of it. There is a sound in the room.

"Captain Shelan?" She says nervously. "Are you there?"

Just then the fresher finishes it's cycle and switches off. There is an eerie quiet.

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

NhFearme
11/11/00
When Scarren's Attack
IC:

"Commander Crichton! You must retreat to the Rac'tarajin! We will cover your escape."

"We stand together in this Officer! I am the one with the fire power. You've exhausted yours."

Crichton's answer shocks her. "I am under Scorpius' orders to return you to the Command Carrier!" She reminds him.

Of course he was right. The two Prowlers she had held in reserve would not be enough fire power to repel the attackers. And 6 against 7 was better odds.

"Veccar! Stoddard!" Nhyler orders her reserve Prowlers. "Defend Lt. Commander Crichton!"

Veccar and Stoddard, turn and fire, holding their positions.

John brakes from the group and begins firing at the attacking craft. The Scarren attack craft take after Crichton. He is their target.

Aeryn taught him well. John allows them to follow then turns back toward them, sliding over them. The 'G' forces threaten to black him out.

"Hold on Jake!" He warns his son.

The Scarren's formation breaks apart. In their confusion, still firing, one Scarren attack craft is destroyed by friendly fire. The enemies' numbers are now even.

"Wheee!" Jake cries as his dad carries out the defense maneuvers. "I'm gonna' fly like that when I grow up Daddy!"

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

ChianaGray
11/11/00
When Scarren's Attack
IC:

Chiana wraped a towl around her smooth, milky form. She twisted her head around, gasping lightly when she noticed Shelan standing at the door gazing at her dreamily.

"Something wrong?" She asked as she tilted her head and came to him.

"Nothing," he shook his head as he rushed into the next room and unbelted the straps to a bag. "I - I've forgotten my reports. Did you like the gown?"

Chiana smiled to herself as she came around him to peer curiously at his flushing thin cheek bones and pick the gown off of the bed.

"I don't know yet," she raised an eyebrow. "I haven't put it on."

"Of course," Shelan stated as he fumbled with the bag, taking up several tablets. Without a second glance at her he made for the door and was gone again.

Chiana smirked to herself as she towled her hair and scooped up the gown. It was beautiful, black silk and leather with pleated shoulders. It was like a tunic almost with the leather v shaping into the silk that came to her ankles. She put it on, lacing the front of it to tighten it to her and ran her fingers down the smooth black silk of the sleeves. She hadn't seen any kind of dress quiet so exotic and it felt cool and soft against her flesh. She put on its belt that was more like a net woven sash of silver beaded stones and slipped her small feet into the black slippers.

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

Page 2

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

ChianaGray
11/3/00
Catching up to do
IC:

Chiana powered down the engine of the small vessel, turning her head from side to side as she tried not to think about the others. She had left them so far behind, trying to find Crichton after she had found information Scorpious had him. None of the others believed her, D'argo had stepped in on commands, trapsing Moya over the uncharteds to find Jothi.

She just wanted to see him alive. If nothing else...

She eased in her breath as she docked on the PK base and grabbed her coat. It was a secret base, some place she was supposed to meet a captain. Her only real hope was that she would find Crichton at this one.

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

NhFearme
11/3/00
Scorpy's Deal
IC:

Crichton paces, waiting to see Scorpios. Finally he is admitted.

"Yes, how can I help you John?"

"You can stop trying to teach Jake to become a Peacekeeper."

"What else would he be? Don't you want him to know how to defend himself?"

"20,000 kills is not self defense! I won't have him growing up to be a killer!"

"Calm yourself John. Bear in mind; You have been here over two cycles and still the Techs have not learned all that they need." Scorpios paces to his observation port.

"I want you to consider staying with us John. Become a Peacekeeper. You have already been awarded the rank of Lt. Commander. You will receive currency in keeping with your status. Your own Command when the Techs have learned to apply the information,... And your son..."

"Oh, this is gonna' be good! Go ahead, Scorpy. What are your plans for Jake?"

"He will be trained in the Elite Corps."

Crichton begins to laugh madly. "You have got to be kidding!" He says between yucks. "We are both just frail humans!"

"Not true John." Scorpios looks seriously at Crichton. "Jake is half Sebacean."

Suddenly Crichton stops laughing. "No! We stay with the original deal, or no deal!"

"What will you do, Crichton? Where will you go?"

Crichton shakes his head. "We'll go somewhere else. Anywhere else. You have to let us go! That was our bargain!"

The guards seem as though they are closing in on Crichton. His body tenses.

"Is that what you want?"

"You can't do this to us! I have held up my end! I have taught them. We're nearly finished. You can't keep us here!"

"Would you prefer that I put you back in a cell? Your rank stripped? You will teach your class from behind bars." Scorpios eyes him. "Jake will be raised without you, as a Peacekeeper; Never knowing his father."

John's heart sinks. He is numb at what he hears. He clenches his fists.

The guards position themselves to restrain him.

"Think of the options Crichton." Scorpios knows he has won.

"This conversation is not over Scorpy!" Crichton turns, pushes past the guards and leaves.

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

ChianaGray
11/3/00
Scorpy's Deal
IC:

Chiana wandered through the halls of the base, making her way to the PK version of an officers lounge. She gazed the place over somberly, her eyes placidly searching for the captain she was supposed to meet as people passed by her. She moved to the bar, swallowing lightly as she sat and waited for the tender to notice her.

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

NhFearme
11/4/00
Sunlight Flight
IC:

John walks quickly to his quarters. He stops outside the door and composes himself. He enters to face the Nurse and Jake. Jake appears ready for bed. He is dressed in what looks like a black kimono.

Jake runs to him. "Daddy! Daddy!"

"Hi ya' Jake." John sounds exhausted, but calm.

"I wanna' take him for a little walk. We won't be long." He walks with Jake toward the door.

"It's already past his curfew Commander."

John turns around. "Aw! Come on! I just want to show him somethin'. It won't be but a microt, I promise." He tries his disarming smile on her. "Hmm?"

"You have already taken him out once today. Once is enough." Nurse says, put out.

"Please Nurse! I want to see!" Jake begs her.

She looks at Jake, expressionless. "Perhaps I should come with you." She answers him.

"Sure, if that's you want." John reaches and opens the door.

Nurse hesitates. "Only a microt?"

"Well yeah, it's on the ship." John smiles.

"Alright. But this is a dangerous precedent for the child to break his curfew. I won't have it again, understood?"

Jake and John answer together, sing songy, "Yes, nurse."

John closes the door and walks briskly up toward the Prowler bay. There is no guard stationed. John swipes his Ident Chip and the bay hatch opens. He enters carrying Jake. He seals the hatch and walks to the experimental Prowler. John opens the canopy and gets in with Jake.

"Oh! Daddy! Are we going to fly?" Jake asks excitedly.

"Yes, Jeff'ry my man. We are going for a ride."

"In a Prowler? Wow!" He exclaims as John straps him in the Co-pilot seat. "I'm ready now!" Jake says as he looks excitedly around the cokpit.

John straps into the Pilot's seat and signals the outer hatch to open. As the hatch opens, he blasts out at top speed.

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

ChianaGray
11/4/00
Sunlight Flight
IC:

Chiana turned her head, cutting her eyes as a man came and sat next to her with a heavy sigh. He smiled lightly as he looked to her.

"You must be the Nebari, Chiana was it?"

"I don't see anyone else that looks like a Nebari," she muttered sarcasticly as she stirred her drink.

"I'm Captain Shelan," he stated gently as he took off his jacket and sat down. "Special Ops Reconisance. You are my new assistant are you? Do you realize what that could entail?"

"Galatic espionage?" Chiana chuckled to herself as she hunched her shoulders and cut a wry smile to him over her drink.

"Maybe," he eyed her wonderingly as the tender brought his drink. "I'm about to walk into a new assignment, of course, your loyalties will proove an interest to me when we get there."

"My loyalties are to myself," she smiled as she leaned closer to him and gazed over him. "Where are we going then, is it dangerous?"

"Possibly," he drank, nodding slightly as he settled his eyes on her once again wonderingly. "I need an assistant who could handle dangerous situations. Though, I would have prefered a Sebacean."

"Well then don't let me stop you," Chiana rolled her eyes as she returned to her drink. "What are they going to do exactly, dust the assasins hiding under your bed?"

Shelan let out a sharp breath as he smirked to himself and tilted his glass to his lips.

"We'll see."

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

NhFearme
11/4/00
Sunlight Flight
IC:

John and Jake are only missing for a few microts when John receives a Comm.

"Are you trying to escape, Crichton?" It is Scorpius. "You're shaking my faith in you, John. Return at once."

Crichton maintains top speed as he searches for a sun, any sun.

"You said we were free to go when I finished my job. I have finished. So goodbye." Crichton closes Comms.

Soon a squad of Prowlers is behind him. They begin firing. John avoids the blasts. He still searches for a sun. He maintains top speed, knowing that soon the Prowler's fuel will be exhausted. But he has to try!

"Crap!" Crichton realizes his plan is flawed. "A wormhole creating prowler, but no electromagnetic wave!"

Finally, he sees it. On the scans. It's a sun! John makes a course correction and thunders towards it.

"This is great Daddy! Can we do this every night?" Jake asks, thoroughly enjoying himself.

"Jake. If we can get out of this? Yes!" John says nervously.

John can see the sun on his sent horizon. He watches his fuel. There is enough. The Prowler squad continues firing. John has to continually maneuver to avoid the pulses. He's running on pure adrenaline.

John engages his student's program. The system comes up. The readout is clear. He waits for it to interpret from the sensor array. It is slow to respond. He waits anxiously.

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

Officer Nhyler Shard is already in the 5th level of dreaming when she gets the call to scramble. "Someone has accessed and stolen Military Tech's Top Secret Prowler!"

"Scorpius' pet project." She says to herself as her feet hit the cold deck.

She had learned long ago, the secret to scramble is to have everything ready, pull it on and hope your mind engages when you hit the coekpit. She throws on her gear and double-times it to the Prowler Bay.

Her squad is ready. She jumps in her Prowler hits the power engage and straps in. She leads her squad to blast their way out of the Prowler Bay.

The thief has not gone far. He is in a big hurry though.

The system is devoid of populated planets so she has to ask herself "Where exactly does he think he's going?"

Then the order comes. "Officer Shard. Disable the craft all costs!"

"Dren!" She says under her breath. "It's Scorpius himself giving the orders!"

In attack formation, her squad begins to barrage the craft. Some how the thief slips between the pulse blasts. Only a few shots light the shield. 1000 microts into the chase.

Scorpius is not pleased. "Officer, I said disable the craft!" His voice stings her. Her Elite Squad was unbeaten, until now.

"Kilvant! Spisler! We are firing on an expert pilot! If you know any tricks? Now's the time to use them!" She feels inept. Her confidence melting at the hands of this expert thief. 1500 microts into the chase.

"Top secret." She wonders to herself. "Wonder what its capabilities are? Why the Frell wasn't it held in high security!" 2000 microts into the chase.

"Officer Shard!" Scorpios sounds anxious. She never thought it possible. "This man, this thief is more valuable than the craft he has stolen." Scorpius gives her the information he has withheld.

"Lt. Commander John Crichton is the mind that designed the escaping Prowler. You must disable it now! Before he has a chance to leap!" Scorpius confides.

"Leap? Sir?"

"Yes, Officer! It has the capability to leap beyond our dimension!"

She is suddenly nervous that she and her Squad are unable accomplish his capture. "Leap Frelling dimensions!" She yells to herself. "The fastest craft available still can't catch it!"

For an arn they try to disable him. For an arn he avoids them. Her Squad fires, withholding nothing.

"Veccar! Stoddard!" She orders her pilots. "Withhold your fire and fall back!" In case Crichton is subdued, she needs the continued threat. If they were to bring him back.

At this speed they will soon be out of fuel. Unable to return to the Command Carrier. Soon they would be stranded, waiting for the Command Carrier's Marauder to rescue them.

Was the speed he was maintaining necessary for the jump? Or could he still skip out of their sight on the long trip back to the Command Carrier. Her mind can not conceive of such things.

She knows, though, that her failure, means her death; Perhaps the death of her squad as well. Fuel is running low.
She decides to use another tactic. She opens Comms.

"Lt. Commander Crichton! Decelerate and surrender!" She wants to add, "or we will destroy you!" It is the only card she has left to play.

Crichton nears the sun. The Prowler squad is right on his tail. Finally, the Vortexes Display responds to the sensors.

John scans for an electromagnetic wave. There is nothing!

John checks his fuel again. There is just enough to get him back to the Command Carrier. He knows he must surrender. He Comms the Prowler squad Commander.

Crichton speaks to Officer Shard with authority.

"Hey! What's the big idea? I'm testing a new piece of software in this thing, and you're firing on me?" Crichton yells in mock anger.

Officer Shard jumps at the voice of her superior officer. She doesn't understand the term 'Software.' "It must be a term for Scorpius' Secret Project." She thinks to herself.

"Identify yourself!" Crichton demands.

She finds herself quickly going through, in her mind, every Lt. Commander she has seen in the Officers Lounge. "Who is this guy?" She wonders.

Officer Shard commands her squad.
"Cease fire!" The Prowlers stop their barrage.

"Officer Nhyler Shard. Icarian company, Plysar regiment, Sir!" Her voice resonates in his cabin.

Crichton decelerates. His recapture is eminent.

"But will he come quietly or will he turn and fire." Nhyler wonders.

"We understood that you were trying to escape Lt. Commander Crichton. If we are mistaken, I apologize."

This is an arrest. She had begun the pursuit in this mindset. She had to maintain her authority or he could slip away! In the most commanding voice she can muster, she orders him to accompany them back to the Command Carrier. Would he? Her life depends on it.

"Now, Lt. Commander. We shall accompany you back to the Command Carrier."

"Yes, of course Officer Shard." Crichton makes the turn. This heading will bring him back to the Command Carrier.

"Are we going back so soon, Daddy?" Jake asks disappointed.

"Afraid so, Buddy." John answers his son, worried at what Scorpius will do.

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

John must reserve his fuel for the long distance back to the Command Carrier. The time spent is hard. His thoughts are filled with terrifying images of Scorpius' tortures. The threat to Jake. Aeryn's death. This escape attempt has thrown himself and Jake into further peril.

Shard's squad surrounds Crichton's Prowler for their return. Nhyler leads. The Officers who have the quickest response time flank him. The two Prowlers held in reserve, bring up the rear.

Crichton has shown them to be inept. Even more incredible is the way he avoided weapons fire! If she had not been there trying to disable him, doing her best, she would not have believed it.

For 2000 microts they maintain Comm silence. The question keeps nagging her though: A Military Tech, who is a pilot? He is the best pilot she has ever seen! No one could evade her Elite Squad! Who is this guy? Finally she has to ask.

"Officer Nhyler Shard here, Lt. Commander."

John is relieved when the Squad Commander addresses him. Her voice cuts through the void of space. It quiets the fears in his mind.

"Yes Officer Shard." He answers.

"I was curious, Sir, where you learned to maneuver like that?"

His voice comes back over Comms. It is like no other Peacekeeper.

"I was taught by the best." He smiles, but there is a lump in his throat. "Officer Aeryn Sun. Icarian Company, Plysar Regiment."

"He sounds civilian!" She thinks. "Impossible! A Prowler pilot has to be a Peacekeeper. His rank!" Her confusion is growing. He is an enigma.

"Odd!" Shard says with some disdain. "That is my company and regiment. I have never heard the name, Sun."

"That was before your time, Officer Shard." John says blissfully.

"I see, Sir. I just wanted to compliment you on your flying, Sir." Nhyler says with some admiration.

"Thank you Officer Shard." John thanks Shard more for Aeryn, than for himself.

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

ChianaGray
11/9/00
Sunlight Flight
IC:

Chiana looked down at the people walking below her from the grated walk way, rolling her eyes to herself as one of the several bags she carried slipped, catching on the holster of her pulse pistol. Shelan watched her as she picked it up and smiled to himself with a slight shake of his head. She wasn't exactly a servant girl. He couldn't imagine what she was doing here, especialy with volunteering her services to him. It was probably the same story as others, trying to escape something else, wanting to find something adventurous with the PeaceKeepers. He came to her and took the bag, walking ahead as she meandered behind, shifting her head from side to side.

"Y'know," she spoak up as they came to a hanger of prowlers. "Thi-this isn't what I had in mind, carrying your bags around?"

"I'm sure it wasn't," he spoak softly as he handed her a dagger when she shifted her arms and let the bags drop. She tilted her head, her lips parting as she stared at the dagger.

"Standard issue," he stated as he began to toss the bags into a prowlers holding compartment. "You'll get used to it. You might need it where we're going."

"Where are we going?"

"Special base," he muttered as he turned to her again. She looked so young in the ensign uniform he felt more like he was taking a trainee on thier first flight. "You ah, know how to handle one of these?"

"A prowler?" She shrugged as she looked up to the c ockpit. "Sure. What, you want me to fly you there too?"

"Sir," he narrowed his eyes. "You're going to be my assistant. That does mean I am your captain. You will not enter my prowler with your little remarks, and you will adress me as sir."

"Yes, sir," she tocked her head to one side and scrambled up into the prowler, taking the co-pilots seat as he followed in and began to check things over.

"We're going to a banquette."

"A banquette, realy?" Chiana spoak cheerfuly as she leaned to him with a bright smile. "Is that anything like a Luxan moon fest?"

"Oh I doubt it dear one," Shelan chuckled to himself as he cut his eyes to catch a glimpse of her smile. "In this one we are looking for a rather clever officer I want to catch collecting high security information. If they are and I succeed with your aid, you just may have a position with me."

"So this is my initiation?"

"Something like that," he sighed as he powered the prowler up. "More like, it's mine."

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

NhFearme
11/9/00
Sunlight Flight
IC:

Chiana watches the readouts as they approach the secret base. "No designation." She thinks looking for some sign of the base. All she sees is the approach vector. "49.7 angle." She reads from the pannel.

The prowler suddenly dips. "What are you looking at back there?" Shelan asks her abrubtly.

"I just wondered where we were going."

"I already told you." He cuts a look back at her. "You're here to assist me. That's all you need to know."

The Prowler turns suddenly pulling into the landing bay smoothly. Shelan lands. As the canopy opens Chiana can see they are inside of a large bunker.

"Well, come on!" Shelan leads her. He carries one of the packages.

The guards stop them at the checkpoint.

The Lt. in charge of security addresses Shelan. "Security Velca sir! Your clearance?"

Captain Shelan pulls his Ident chip from around his neck and hands it to the Lieutenant. The Lt. swipes the chip. There is a pause for the reader to react to the data.

Shelan places his hands in the console. The console light turns green and gives an agreeable 'Beep!'

"You're cleared, Sir!" The Lt. snaps to attention and presents Shelan's chip.

Shelan takes his chip and leads Chiana down the long corridor to his quarters. They enter. He places the package on the bed.

"I'll leave you now. I have to check in with my superiors. Get yourself ready."

"Ready?" Chiana is puzzled.

"For the banquet!" Shelan takes his dagger and cuts the cord on the package. It pops open showing a beautiful gown with slippers.

Chiana's eyebrows go up. She tilts her head at Shelan and steps to touch the gown.

"I'll be back in a few microts." Shelan places the dagger back into its scabbard with a distinctive 'snap'.

"Yeah, sure." Chiana nearly gasps as she lifts the gown and slippers from the package.

"Oh." He motions to another room. "The refresher is in there."

"Thank you." Chiana says.

"Don't thank me yet." Shelan says with a smile. He turns and exits the room.

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

NhFearme
11/10/00
When Scarren's Attack
IC:

Nhyler hears a 'Beep!" from her console. She sees a blip on her scanner, then two, three!

They are small attack vessels. Not coming from the direction of the Rac'tarajin. She Comms the Command Carrier.

"Command! I request immediate assistance! Five, no, seven unidentified craft are approaching our position fast!"

A voice Comms back from Command. "The Relief Squad should intersect your position in 2100 Microts."

Nhyler can now see from the configuration, they are Scarren. She reports. "They are Scarren, Sir!"

The next voice she hears is chilling. It is Scorpius.

"Returning Crichton to me is of the paramount import Officer Shard!" He gives one final order. "Return Crichton to me at all costs!"

Nhyler knows. This has now become a suicide mission.

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

NhFearme
11/11/00
When Scarren's Attack
IC:

Chiana enters the fresher and hits the cycle. A firm mist vibrates onto her moistening her smooth gray skin. Her hair dampens and clings to her face. Her hair and skin take on a silver luminescence like the precious stones of Miarlan.

The vibration is relaxing. She finds herself thinking of the banquet. It's like a dream. She starts imagining who will be there. Who are they seeking? Will he have the knowledge she seeks? Will they give her word on Crichton? Did they see him, hear of him?

Suddenly she snaps out of it. There is a sound in the room.

"Captain Shelan?" She says nervously. "Are you there?"

Just then the fresher finishes it's cycle and switches off. There is an eerie quiet.

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

NhFearme
11/11/00
When Scarren's Attack
IC:

"Commander Crichton! You must retreat to the Rac'tarajin! We will cover your escape."

"We stand together in this Officer! I am the one with the fire power. You've exhausted yours."

Crichton's answer shocks her. "I am under Scorpius' orders to return you to the Command Carrier!" She reminds him.

Of course he was right. The two Prowlers she had held in reserve would not be enough fire power to repel the attackers. And 6 against 7 was better odds.

"Veccar! Stoddard!" Nhyler orders her reserve Prowlers. "Defend Lt. Commander Crichton!"

Veccar and Stoddard, turn and fire, holding their positions.

John brakes from the group and begins firing at the attacking craft. The Scarren attack craft take after Crichton. He is their target.

Aeryn taught him well. John allows them to follow then turns back toward them, sliding over them. The 'G' forces threaten to black him out.

"Hold on Jake!" He warns his son.

The Scarren's formation breaks apart. In their confusion, still firing, one Scarren attack craft is destroyed by friendly fire. The enemies' numbers are now even.

"Wheee!" Jake cries as his dad carries out the defense maneuvers. "I'm gonna' fly like that when I grow up Daddy!"

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

ChianaGray
11/11/00
When Scarren's Attack
IC:

Chiana wraped a towl around her smooth, milky form. She twisted her head around, gasping lightly when she noticed Shelan standing at the door gazing at her dreamily.

"Something wrong?" She asked as she tilted her head and came to him.

"Nothing," he shook his head as he rushed into the next room and unbelted the straps to a bag. "I - I've forgotten my reports. Did you like the gown?"

Chiana smiled to herself as she came around him to peer curiously at his flushing thin cheek bones and pick the gown off of the bed.

"I don't know yet," she raised an eyebrow. "I haven't put it on."

"Of course," Shelan stated as he fumbled with the bag, taking up several tablets. Without a second glance at her he made for the door and was gone again.

Chiana smirked to herself as she towled her hair and scooped up the gown. It was beautiful, black silk and leather with pleated shoulders. It was like a tunic almost with the leather v shaping into the silk that came to her ankles. She put it on, lacing the front of it to tighten it to her and ran her fingers down the smooth black silk of the sleeves. She hadn't seen any kind of dress quiet so exotic and it felt cool and soft against her flesh. She put on its belt that was more like a net woven sash of silver beaded stones and slipped her small feet into the black slippers.