"Where is Crichton?" D'argo demanded as Chiana and Mokan unboarded the
stealth fighter after it landed in Moya's docking bay.

Chiana stared at D'argo as if she'd seen a ghost. "He stayed behind, to
insure my safety, among other things."

D'argo's face twisted in disbelief. "But why wouldn't he join us? Is Aeryn
with him?" He stood directly in Chiana's path, demanding her full
attention.

"No, Aeryn is dead D'argo." Her shoulders slumped as she heard
the collective gasps of Pilot, Zhaan and Stark.

D'argo continued questioning her without sensitivity. "Then we must
return for him. He must be in deep mourning. He must be out of his mind.
Why should he want to remain there?"

"Because it's our HOME D'argo! Alright?" She looked anxiously from
D'argo to Zhaan. "He is a man, D'argo. John is a great warrior, not
a deficient human like you all thought!" Her shoulders straightened
and her back stiffened as she spoke proudly of her husband, her man.

"Chiana...D'argo only meant that we shouldn't abandon him." Zhaan
moved closer to Chiana, sensing something more to her being. "We
are all grateful that you never did." As Zhaan stood closer to Chiana,
she knew that the Nebari's fierce protectiveness came from a
source only another mother would recognize.

"How far along are you dear?" Zhaan went straight to the point.

"What?"

"You are with child. It is true, is it not?" Zhaan insisted.

Chiana looked at Mokan, then to D'argo, her mouth hung open. She
wasn't ready to talk about this with anyone yet.

"Look, that is beside the point!" Chiana responded defensively.

D'argo looked near ready to snap her head off. "Yes...it is beside
the point Chiana. Now why did you abandon Crichton?
It is dishonorable to abandon your comrade before, or during a
battle."

"He is not my comrade D'argo. John is my husband. We are
a family now."

The room became noticebly quiet as Chiana made her
announcement.

Mokan dropped her gaze to the floor, ashamed of the callous
way in which she dragged Chiana away from Crichton. She never
even bothered to thank him for his heroism in battling Scorpius and
the Scarrans. Ashamed, she spoke up for Chiana.

"It is my fault, Ka D'argo. I didn't inform him that we were returning
to Moya. Perhaps had he known, he would have accompanied us."

Just then, Chiana remembered something. "Oh no, Jake! We forgot
to bring him with us. I must contact John now. Perhaps he can
send him with Jeriana."

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

Nhfearme
1/22/01
Shelan's Remorse
IC:

Phillip exits the fresher and dries himself. He dries his face. Very soon, it is wet again. His weeping continues from deep in his soul. He swallows and sits on the end of his bed. He sighs deeply. Only now is he beginning to realize what he has done.

He has given up his only chance to secure Chiana. Because of his blind jealousy! He begins to sob with the realization of what he has done. He has put her life in danger. When they count the dead, Chiana may be among their number. The image of her twisted body flashes in his mind. He winces.

"I've really Frelled it now!" He cries with his head in his hands.

He stands and walks again to the fresher. He hits the cycle button and stands with his face in the mist. He turns the adjust button to cold. His tears continue, but he can feel them no more.

The fresher finishes cycling. He hears his Comms beep. His body feels weak. He stumbles to get the Comms. "Captain Shelan here."

He wraps his towel around him and sits on the end of the bed.

"The officers you requested are waiting in the board room Captain." The voice says.

"Yes, of course." Phillip says with a deep sigh. "I'll be there in 1500 Microts.

Phillip quickly dries and dresses. He runs down the dark stone passageways to the prowler bay. He gets inside his stealth prowler and adjusts the frequency to 973.3. He hits Comms.

There is a lump in his throat. "Anyone, I need to know if she is out of danger. Please, I must know."

Phillip waits. In the waiting, he begins to cry. "No one is going to answer." He tells himself. "I have cut myself from everyone who would have been my friend or comrade." Suddenly he hears a voice.

"She is safe. No thanks to you!" It's Mokan.

He tries to calm himself to speak through his tears. "I'm sorry. I couldn't bare the thought of... " He stops himself. "Thank you." He sighs heavily. "Thank you." He says and closes Comms. "Thank you Mokan."

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

John sits at the dining table with Setig. "We can't remain here Setig. I would hate to see your mansion reduced to rubble just because I chose to stay here. We have to evacuate. Captain Shelan may be monitoring Hep's frequency. We have to go somewhere Shelan doesn't know and wait for him to initiate the attack."

John looks at Setig seriously. "Youre a good strategist. If you were Shelan, would you attack me? Or would you go for Scorpius?"

Setig looks with surprise at Crichton. "Shelan has shown to be no match for you. If he has lost confidence in his own military skills, he may call upon Scorpius to defeat you."

"That's what I was afraid of." John says, head in hand. "Call Pagar and warn him to move Scorpius to a secure location." John takes a deep breath. "Then we move. We don't have much time." He gets up from the table.

Setig rises and goes in to Comms.

John walks into his marriage bed and looks on. He sighs. Then goes to his dresser and pulls out his sword. He buckles the scabbard around his waist and adjusts the sword on his hip. He then goes to join Setig at Comms.

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

Captain Shelan walks with a heavy heart down the dark stone passageway toward his meeting. He is terribly late. It can't be helped. He cannot expel the sorrow from his mind. His heart, his love will not let him continue. He walks into the Med Tech facility and faces the doctor.

"Captain Shelan!" The doctor says with surprise to see him.

"I need something, doctor. I can't seem to stop crying. I have an important briefing. I must attend." Phillip sighs through his tears. "Is there something you can do?" He sits on the gurney to be examined.

The doctor studies him for a few moments, somewhat taken aback. "Are you in pain?" He asks.

Phillip gives a heavy sigh. Unable to speak, he thumps on his chest over his heart and begins to sob.

"Your duty is difficult today, soldier." The doctor remarks. "Yes, Captain. I have something for that. I wouldn't suggest taking it more than a few times, though. It is a very powerful narcotic, very addictive."

"Please." Phillip eeks out through his pain. His eyes closed, he reaches for the doctor and grabs his tunic.

The doctor rips Phillip's hand from his tunic and reaches for a container in the cabinet. He loads a syringe with the contents and injects it into Phillip's extended arm.

Phillip cries uncontrollably during the process. After several Microts he stops crying and sniffs. He wipes his face and looks at the doctor, puzzled.

"Are you feeling better now, Captain?" The doctor inquires.

"No." Phillip sighs. "But at least, I've stopped crying." He swallows. "I have a terrible headache."

"I'm sorry, Captain. That is one of the side effects." The doctor explains.

"I'd better go now. Thank you doctor." Phillip says and slips off the gurney. He leaves the Med Tech facility and continues down the dark passageway toward his meeting.

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

John enters the Comm room. Setig is finished speaking to Pagar when they hear Chiana's voice. She is nearly frantic. "John!" she says. "Jake is still at the estate! Jeriana must bring him here immediately!"

"Don't worry, Hon. He'll be ready." He answers.

"John, please join us. Please come with Jake." She begs.

John listens to her plea while Setig goes to get Jake and Jeriana. "I read you. Why do you want me to join you? Shelan already tried to kill me! Hell if Scorpius gets loose he'll come straight after me! You have to be as far away from me as possible!" He tries to reason with her.

"No John. It's alright. There is a place we will be safe, together. I can't tell you over Comms. Just, please trust me." Chiana pleads.

John sighs. "We'll see." He says guardedly, knowing that Shelan is probably listening. "Out." He says and closes Comms.

Setig emerges with Jeriana. Jeriana looks worried. She runs to John and falls at John's feet, hugging his legs. "Please forgive me master! The little master has gone!" She cries.

John is upset, both by the news and Jeriana kneeling to him. "Please Jeriana. I'm sure we'll find him. Just get the other servants to help you look, Ok?" John lifts the young Sebacean girl's face to him and smiles. Then he takes her hand and helps her up.

"Yes master." She says dreamily looking into his eyes. She walks back to servants quarters as if on air.

"Is the prowler ready to rumble Setig?" John asks.

"Yes Lord Crichton." Setig answers. "I refueled it myself upon your return."

"Good. But since I'm going into battle with my wife's stalker, I'd better do a preflight check." John tells him and turns to the courtyard.

John goes to his prowler and climbs up the side. He's ready to climb in when he sees the display is up. Jake is in the pilot's seat!

"Jake!" John says to him, surprised. "What are you doing in the prowler?"

"When I heard the alert I knew I better come and monitor the perimeter. Skies are clear Dad! Nary a blip since you gave the order!" Jake smiles.

John reaches in and shakes Jake's tiny hand. "Good work Jake. I feel safer already." John says, very proud of him. "Now climb out of there and go to Jeriana. She's worried sick about you." John pulls Jake out of the prowler and holds him.

John speaks seriously to him. "Be sure to tell us where you are next time, k?"

Jake shakes his head affirmatively. "You've been looking for me? I'm sorry Dad." He says contrite.

"k, get going now." John sets Jake on his feet and watches him as he runs up the stairs.

Jake yells. "Jeriana! Jeriana! I'm here! I'm here!"

John shakes his head and chuckles at his precocious boy. Then climbs into the prowler to do the preflight check.

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

Captain Shelan enters the meeting. The officers are talking loudly with accusations and assumptions of the nature of the briefing. They see Phillip enter and are suddenly silent.

Phillip's head is pounding from the drug. His heart is breaking as he delivers his summation. He doesn't have the strength to give the speech he has prepared.

"Officers, use the data pads and crystals in front of you to accomplish your tasks. They contain all the data I have gathered concerning the mission." Phillip presses on his temple.

"The mission is twofold. To find and recover Scorpius from Pagar the leader of the Planetary Scarran forces. Also we must find and capture Lord Crichton. I trust, as always you will do your duty!" Phillip can't stand the pain any longer he turns from the board table and leaves the boardroom.

Many voices call after him. "Sir! Sir!" He ignores them and continues toward his quarters.

The Command duty officer chases Shelan down the passageway. "Sir! Sir!" He breathlessly gains on him.

Phillip holds his head and braces himself against the wall. "What is it, Lieutenant!" He says irritated at the Officer.

"One of the frequencies you told us to monitor Sir?" The Lt. says, out of breath. "The lady Chiana has left the estate, Sir. But Lord Crichton is still there!"

"Quickly, Lt.!" Phillip starts walking back to boardroom. "We must tell the Command Staff to attack at once!" Phillip smiles through his intense pain. "He cannot be allowed to rejoin her!"

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

Scorpius enters John's cell and stands looking down on him. "Why won't you tell me John?" Scorpius circles him. "I would hate to destroy you just to find out." He says sounding nearly concerned.

"Your clone already knows! Why don't you ask him?" John starts to chuckle madly. Tears stream down his face. "Please shut him up!" He screams.

"Very well John. I will access the clone." Scorpius reaches down and lifts John's chin to see his face. He strokes John's face as one would pet an animal.

"How odd it feels to have such complete command of you and yet... Well, you should have told me everything by now. Somehow you have become stronger." Scorpius sighs.

Scorpius addresses the guards. "Bring him!" he says and leads them down the corridor to yet another torture chamber where the clone can be accessed.

The guards drag John after him.

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

DeSaintPhalle
1/22/01
Plan of Attack

OOC:
Meanwhile, aboard Moya

IC:

"Chiana, has Crichton agreed to join us?" D'argo demanded of her.

"He wouldn't confirm, but I have asked him." She returns to monitoring the comms,
hoping he will respond that he is near.

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

"Master" Setig approaches the Crichton's prowler. "Pagar requests our assistance."
He sweeps his arm in an arch, indicating the other Scarran guards. "We are all
enlisted in the regular army. We must return upon order." He bows to Crichton.
"I am sorry Lord Crichton, we must leave you alone."

"It's alright Setig." He pats him on the shoulder. "Do what you must. I have
appreciated your loyal service and friendship. I will never forget you."

"Please always consider this your home, Lord Crichton. I hope you and your tribe
will return here soon one day." With that, Setig joins his comrades.

Crichton rushes frantically toward the mansion, deciding as he calls to Jeriana
to bring Jake, that he will join Chiana wherever she may be.

He sees Setig and several of the other Scarran guards preparing to get into their
own troop ship.

Jake sees his dad running toward him, and meets him half way. "Dad! Is it time
to fly?"

John picks up his son, and jerks his head to Jeriana to join them. "You bet buddy.
Let's boogie." He places Jake in Jeriana's lap, then powers up the prowler.

*******

D'argo paces in front of comms, becoming more and more enraged. "Where is he?
Why hasn't he answered us? I'll go and make him join us." D'argo starts for
the door. Chiana stops him.

"No, D'argo we will wait until he contacts us."

"Ka D'argo, Lady Chiana?" Pilot's image appeared in the clamshell. A command carrier
has entered the system.

"Is it Scorpius?" D'argo believed he knew the answer already.

Chiana screams into the comm.

********

The perimeter alert on John's prowler indicates approaching marauders. He takes off,
just as he hears Setig. "Lord Crichton, we will cover your escape."

Then Chiana's voice fills the cockpit, "John, please hurry, there isn't anymore time!
I've sent our location by code. You will be safe here."

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

Nhfearme
1/22/01
Escape from Eden
IC:

Setig hits Comms. "Lord." Setig's message is piped into John's prowler. "Shelan is coming in force."

Just then, a flurry of blips appears on the display.

The Prowler easily outruns the Marauders. The planet obscures their ship from the attack. John quickly sets the prowler down in a wooded area and immediately powers down.

John waits, watching the sky for the Marauders. He sees them, they have passed over, looking for him. He lets out a sigh of relief.

"Never send a Hundai to do a Prowler's job." He smiles then says. "You OK?" John turns to Jeriana and Jake. "Jake? Jeriana?"

"Yeah, Dad! That Rocks!" Jake says excitedly.

The frightened girl's mouth is open in awe. She shakes her head out of her nervous shock.

Chiana enters the landing bay, waiting for her husband and Jake. Pilot Comms her. "Lady Chiana. I have bad news. Lord Crichton was chased by the Peacekeepers from the estate. He is off our scanners. I'm sorry."

Chiana gasps. Her hand goes to her mouth. She jumps aboard Mokan's prowler. "No! John!"

"No, lady Chiana. We must starburst now! It's too late!" Pilot says as he reaches to engage starburst.

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

"Chiana!" D'argo ran to her, grasping her arm before her hatch could close. "I demand you come out of there at once! Act like the lady you are supposed to be!"

Chiana screamed with rage as she slung her arm from him and punched him in the chest with the ball of her fist. He recoiled, shocked as his mouth hung open.

"Get the frell off my prowler!" She raged as she punched the hatch again.

"Chiana!"

"Same frelling dren D'argo and I don't have time for it!" She hoisted herself up, snatching the hatch down forcefully with her weight as she sat and kicked the prowler into life. She shot out of the bay, unhearing as Pilots pleas raced over her comms.

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

Nhfearme
1/22/01
Plan of Attack
IC:

Captain Shelan lies incapacitated in his quarters. The headache the drug has given him has taken him from the battle. Pagar has moved Scorpius to a secure, secret location. Crichton has escaped, unscathed!

Phillip's head feels worse with each piece of battle news he hears. He breathes heavily, holding his head. The pain is like a series of explosions going off next to his head. Sometimes feeling like a hammer hitting his temple. He curls up, moaning with the horror of it.

The doctor enters with his medical bag. Phillip speaks to him out of his pain and anger.

"You must give me something for this headache doctor." He begs. "We have lost the battle on two fronts because of it."

"Would you have been able to fight the way you first came to me?" The doctor asks pointedly.

"Of course not!" Phillip is angry, hurting. "But I would rather suffer with her memory than this damnable pain in my head. Now get rid of it!"

"It means reversing the effects of the drug. You are right. Your emotions will come flooding back." The doctor cautions him. "Just remember what I said. You can only use this a few times for relief before you become addicted. Chose those times carefully, Captain."

"Doctor, now! Reverse it now!" Phillip begs for release.

The doctor produces a vial and fills a syringe with it. He injects Phillip in the hand.

First, the creases in his brow relax. You can physically see the pain on his face disappear. His body straightens and his hands relax. For A Few Microts, he appears to be in near bliss.

Then he sighs, thinking of her. Of Chiana. He consoles himself that the attack was a complete failure. No casualties on either side were reported. Chiana is reported to have escaped, separated from Lord Crichton. At least one of his goals has been achieved.

Phillip gets up. He hits his Comms badge. "Command." He says with a heavy sigh. "Have command staff meet again in the board room. In 1500 Microts!" He closes Comms and looks at the doctor.

"Tears or no tears I will do my duty, doctor! Dismissed." He says, grabbing his officer's jacket and entering the passageway to the boardroom.

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

Crichton has landed at the equator of the planet. Jeriana cannot stay in the safety of the prowler due to the heat. She lay under a tree looking up at the stars. Jake lay against her, restless. He finally gets up and goes to the prowler.

John is watching the scanner array for enemy ships. Jake climbs the side of the prowler. "I can't sleep Dad. Please let me do this a while. Maybe it will make me sleepy." Jake sighs. "And Daddy? Jeriana is crying. I think she misses home."

"OK, Jake. I'll talk to her." John says lifting Jake onto his lap. "Let me know the Minute you get the least bit tired, k?"

"Ok, Daddy!" Jake says smiling. He gives his dad an American salute.

John ruffs up his hair and climbs down the side of the prowler. He goes to Jeriana. She is crying.

John puts his hand on her hand and holds it. "What's the matter Jeriana? We got away, we are alive and safe."

Jeriana sits up and embraces John tightly. "I am so lonely." She cries. "Please hold me."

"Yeah, I guess." He says and lies down under the tree with her resting on his chest. "I guess you've lived in a big household all of your life. It must be kinda' hard to be out here with just Jake and me."

Jeriana snuggles into John's chest and strokes his shirt with her delicate hand. Her tears seem to subside and she smiles. "Thank you master." She sighs.

"Please, Jeriana. Call me John."

"John." She grins and her finger goes to her mouth. She looks up at him.

"Anyway, I'm sorry I brought all of you so much trouble." John says, thinking of the events that lead up to their flight.

Jeriana sighs. She swirls her hand over John's shirt and slowly works her hand down to John's leather pants to undo the fastener.

John jumps up suddenly. "Woah!" He shouts. His pants button undone. He quickly fastens it again. "What was that for?"

"I want to please you lord." She says upset.

"I have a wife, Jeriana." John says gasping. He suddenly notices how beautiful she is.

"I had hoped that I would also enjoy pleasure from you Lord." She swallows. "Please don't be angry with me." She looks down and bows to him. "I belong to you. It is my duty now that your Lady Chiana is gone."

"No, no, Jeriana. You are only a child. Who taught you this?" John is visibly upset.

"Not a child Lord!" Jeriana says, offended. "I entered Setig's service 24 cycles ago!" she defends herself. "I have served him faithfully always! As I must serve you."

John wants to make her stop bowing, but is afraid to touch her. "Please Jeriana. You do not displease me. But I want to wait until my wife returns or I find her. I'm not going to take advantage of you!" He says to her. "Now, please, please get up. You don't have to bow to me. I give you your freedom. Now, just please get up."

"I am a free woman?" She says with tears of joy in her eyes. She falls to his feet again. "Then as a free woman I beg to be your second wife."

John shakes his head and gives his 'It-just-keeps-getting-better-&-better' laugh. "No, Jeriana. And in my case, it would be my third wife. Anyway, I'm not in the market for another wife right now. Look around. This is all I own, right here."

"Hep says that your prowler is worth a million." She says.

"Thank you Hep." John says under his breath.

"Please, John." Jeriana begs him. "Have your pleasure with me once and you will see that I will be wonderful to you. You need a second wife for when Lady Chiana is fatigued or gone."

John starts pacing away from her. "Please get up Jeriana. I'm not going to" he begins to say.

Jeriana gets up, runs and embraces him. "Oh, John, please don't throw me out!"

"I'm not going to throw you out!" He pulls her off of him. "When we get back, if we get back you can live at the estate as long as you want."

"As your second wife?" She asks hopefully.

"Uh, I think I need to talk to Setig about the arrangements." He says looking at her. "We'll figure something out. Until then, just behave yourself. Ok?"

She shakes her head affirmatively, her face still wet from crying. She sniffs, looking miserable. She lowers her head. "John?" she says looking askance at him. "If I promise to 'behave myself' will you hold me?" She keeps her face lowered waiting.

"I don't know." He says. "I am a married man." He looks at her demeanor. "24 cycles, eh?" He scrunches his face with his hands on his hips. "No funny stuff."

Jeriana shakes her head to affirm what he is saying.

"Ok." He says.

She starts to lunge at him again.

"But!" He raises his index finger to her. "Only for a little while."

He sits down under the tree and she sits next to him. He lies down and puts his arm around her as before, she rests her head on his chest. This time keeping her hand near her face.

John looks up at the stars. He counts the minutes that he should stop. She feels too good.

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

John doesn't mean to. But he is so comfortable embracing Jeriana that he falls asleep under the stars. He dreams of Chiana. Her soft skin her, the way she touches him. In his dream, she gently pulls off his clothes as he dreams.

He feels a tingle through his entire being as she licks him and mounts him in his dream. He feels himself getting so hot for her that he prays for a cool breeze. He sighs with delight and satisfaction feeling as though it is his first time.

Excitement courses through his veins. He reaches out to touch her and feels her long tresses hanging over her breasts. Suddenly he opens his eyes. Jeriana is on top of him. He can't move from the depth of his pleasure from this young girl. He tries to push her off.

He's gone too far, he can't hold it. He explodes into her, gasping for air in this heat. The heat he holds for her and her smooth body in the starlight.

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

DeSaintPhalle
1/22/01
Escape from Eden
IC:

Gasping from the heat, John wakes from the dream within his dream.
Relieved that his indiscretion was only part of a heat induced dream,
he notices Jeriana's soft hand resting on his thigh, and her golden
hair tickling his arms. He moves away from her carefully.

It has only been hours since he was separated from Chiana, and he
already misses her desparately. He admired Jeriana's youthful beauty,
but she was only a girl/woman. She could never compare
to the luminous beauty of Chiana. Strong, and fearless, Chiana had no peer.
Afterall, he was stupid in-love with his wife. No one could tempt him to
stray.

John walked over to the prowler to check on Jake's progress. Before climbing
in, he looked back to where he left Jeriana asleep. He prayed that they
were rescued soon, he didn't want to test his willpower for more than
several solar days.

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

Nhfearme
1/23/01
Escape from Eden
IC:

John keeps vigil while Jeriana and Jake sleep. Suddenly he sees a beep, then another. A squad is approaching. He gets out of the prowler and wakes Jeriana.

"We may have to move. Get in the prowler." He says to her.

She slowly wakes. He lifts her lightly into the prowler. She sits on his lap waiting for the patrol to pass. She is still asleep. She puts her arms around his neck and rests her head on his chest.

John carefully watches the patrol to see if they change directions or one breaks off. He holds his breath. They pass over and continue. John gives a sigh of relief. Then realizes he is holding her, embracing her. He notices her sweet fragrance.

John lifts her back out and places her where she slept. He gets back into the prowler to watch again.

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

Phillip glides his stealth prowler to the commerce district. He skims over the town to the outskirts, to the cliff and lands. He disembarks and enters the small house there.

"Leah." He calls out. "Leah!" he yells. The last time he visited here he held her and made angry love to her. Now he needed information. She was the only one who could give it to him.

"Leah!" He shouts again getting angry at her silence. He pulls his pulse pistol and fires at the wall where she first emerged.

She walks out of the wall next to the blast mark. She is in her young form. "No need to be rude Phillip." She says correcting him as she walks to him. "Is this really the way they teach you to treat us?" She scowls at him. "Or is this your own style of decorum?"

"I need to know where Scorpius is." Phillip tells her.

"Are you asking me?" She says turning from him. "Or telling me."

"Tell me where he is!" Phillip demands.

"Will you pay my price Phillip?" She asks him beguilingly. "Will you spend a day with me?"

Phillip raises his pulse pistol to the back of Leah's head. "Tell me now!" He orders.

"Or what?" She asks. "You will kill me with that?" She raises her hand and the pistol flies out of his hand.

Phillip goes to where it has fallen and picks it up. It suddenly turns into a writing scaly animal. It turns and looks at him then bites him on his wrist.

"Aaaa!" He screams. "What was that? What is that?" Phillip says as the creature slithers away under a rock.

"You would kill me?" She says, hurt. "Then I will kill you!" She says eyeing him.

It isn't more than a few Microts when Phillip begins to feel the effects of the bite. He begins to sweat. His wrist swells and turns red. He is dizzy. His legs give out and he falls to the floor. He lies looking up at the ceiling, unable to move. He can only move his eyes.

"You will die if I don't help you." She circles him.

Phillip follows her with his eyes. She lifts his wrist and shows it to him.

"If I wait too long to save you, you will lose this." She tells him and drops his hand back to his side. "You are a stubborn man, Phillip." She huffs at him. "You could have had love. You chose instead to make war against those who would have been your friends!"

Phillip's breathing has begun to be labored. Soon his diaphragm will cease and he will suffocate. He begins to cry, knowing his death in near.

"Tears from a Peacekeeper!" She says angrily. "You have no love for life! Why don't you let it go?" She shouts.

His eyes plead to her for mercy. He feels the heat of delirium yet it is as though someone has poured ice water into his lungs. His breath is choked with liquid. He is unable to cough it up. He feels he is drowning.

Leah hears Phillip's death rattle. She looks directly into his eyes. She begins to question her own wisdom in wasting any time with him.

"If I save you, will you stay here with me?" She asks him.

Phillip is near to losing consciousness. He can feel he is floating, no longer attached to this world. He cannot hear his breath and Leah's voice sounds so far away.

"Blink your eyes if you will stay with me." She tells him. She stands waiting over him knowing that his time is already over. She looks deeply into his dark eyes. Eyes she loves even in his evil state and begins to cry.

Phillip blinks twice and looks up at her, pleading with his last ounce of life, for life.

Phillip feels something pulling him. A force pulls him down through the floor. He feels a darkness take over his soul. He is traveling in a dark passageway falling down, down.

He remembers nothing, not Leah, not his hate for Lord Crichton, nor his longing for Chiana. As he falls, he feels a cool air blowing on him and though the fall seems to take forever, he is immediately at the bottom.

He stands in a cavern on sandy soil. The cavern is connected to another cavern where a bright orange glow emanates. He feels compelled not to look into there. He feels a great evil is there.

He walks around the cavern and notes there are stone statues. Not of fine stone but carved from the cheapest of stone, hastily carved but true to their images. Each one wears a loincloth and crossed arms over their breasts.

The statues wear the grimace of one who has died horribly. Teeth clenched. As Phillip walks to the wall, he suddenly realizes they are not stone, but real. Real people turned to stone! He reaches to touch one who looks familiar when he hears a voice.

"I've been waiting for you. It's about time."

Phillip turns around. He sees a man about his height, a little shorter with sandy hair and an odd cheep looking cloth suit nearly the same color of his hair.

Phillip takes a few steps toward him to see him better.

"I have another one for ya'." The strange man yelled into the cavern with the orange glow.

"Good!" A voice came back. Only Phillip did not 'hear' the voice. It was in his mind. "We could use another one!"

Phillip has a sudden profound fear of where he is. He remembers reading of John Crichton's culture. Heaven and Hell. There was a god in the hell called Satan that would trap your soul for all eternity.

Phillip tries to think of how humans escape. "God, there is a god of heaven." Phillip hears himself saying. "And the one who overcame you?" Phillip tries to remember as the strange man starts walking toward him. "Name is Jesus."

The strange man screams and reaches out trying to catch Phillip as he is pulled immediately up out of the cavern on a shaft of light. He gasps as he wakes in his own body.

Leah kneels over him, crying, as he lay on the floor.

He moves. His body is lying in a pool of his own sweat. He looks at his wrist. It is completely healed except for the original bite marks.

Leah sees him move. She stands up and stands back. She just looks at him. She finally says. "It was an evil dream. A dream of death." She walks from the room.

Phillip can hear her start the fresher. He lies there on the floor looking up. He breathes clear, no pain, even of Chiana. He is suddenly glad to be alive. He says a prayer to his new god. "Thank you god for my life. Thank you."