BLACK OR GREEN... an alternate story

[Kheldrion Dawn]

„Black or Green?“

Crichton was obviously excited. Pilot had just announced that a pod was approaching them and Crais had answered the comm, confirming it was the Talyn crew.

Aeryn…I’ll see Aeryn again…

D’Argo looked back at him. “Black, it suits you better, although it makes you look like a frelling peacekeeper!”
Crichton grinned back at him. “Me, a peacekeeper? Well, peacekeeper chicks are fine with me, so, why not?” He winked.
D’Argo smiled in spite of himself.
“John, why don’t you go down and greet our friends?”
John flashed an excited grin.
“YESSIR!”
And off he ran.

Aeryn…ohmygod...Babe, I missed you so…

The pod had landed and the hatch was open. John was barely able to stand still. His heart was racing.

“We can no more trust you than we can trust that!” Crichton turned around. A black armoured soldier was in the cell with him, obviously exhausted, sitting on a bunk. The alien took its helmet off, a black shining thing that reminded him vaguely of insects. A human girl! God is she beautiful! His heart missed a beat. He smiled and started forward.

First to emerge was Rygel, on his hover chair. They exchanged some banter, but Crichtons mind was off somewhere else, not really listening, not noticing the odd behaviour of the diminutive dominar. Then Crais came. He wore a strange look on his face, at first avoiding looking at John, then sighing, lifted his face up and looked at him. “Hello, Crichton.”
He paused, obviously thinking what to say. Crichton looked over Crais shoulder, some vague fear rumbling in his stomach.
“I need to tell you something, Crichton. It’s about Aeryn and the other you. I don’t know how to prepare you for this…”

Oh, no, no, no. Dear God, they died! This cannot be happening!

John ran up the ramp and into the pod, wild fear in his eyes. He expected to see both of them laid on a table in the cargo hold. Adrenalin was rushing through him now, making his hands shake. Then he saw them.

They kissed. Aeryn wore her hair open, flowing around her like a black water cascade. She had a black and grey dress on, something he had never seen her wear before. The other Johns hands were on her hips. Aeryns hands had slid under Johns shirt. They were both smiling, their eyes closed. They didn’t notice him at first. Then, startled, they turned around, seeing him standing in the doorway, tore away from each other,

Complex emotions were visible on his face, subtle, almost not noticeable, except when you knew John the way they did.
Incomprehension, at first. Then shock. Intense jealousy, sadness, jealousy again. Then resignation, helplessness. Sadness. Anger. Self-hatred.
And then, finally, very slowly and even more terrible because it was clearly visible, something died in his eyes. It was, for Aeryn, the most terrible thing she would ever see in her life. Silently, Crichton turned around, and walked away from the pod. Rygel and Crais didn’t say a word, when he disappeared around a bend in the corridor.

Crichton was standing before the great transparent wall, looking at the stars. In his hand was one of the charts he had drawn, of the stars. It was one of the new ones, since his twin had taken the notebook with him.

That is my one constant. It’s you, Aeryn.

Someone came up behind him. Crichton didn’t need to turn around to know who was there. He would recognize that smell everywhere.

“Why does your hair smell like that?” “Zhaan gave me something.” He smelled her hair again, his eyes closed. “Smells good, I like it”. She smiled, obviously pleased. Then she turned around.” Well, it’s not for you to like.” “What’s it for, then?” “For me to like” “And you don’t like that I like it?” Her eyes were very soft now. His heart was racing, and hers was, too. “Personal indulgences can fracture a small crew.” “Well, I’ll never tell them that you scented your hair.” She smiled, they looked at each other. Then she kissed him, very tenderly, her tongue gently sliding into his mouth.

She spoke first, shattering the silence that hung around him like a blanket.
“Hey!”
Crichton didn’t look at her, still watching the stars.
“Hey.”
Aeryn frowned and came up behind him.
“Hey.”
Crichton turned around. He didn’t look at her directly, at first. Then his face hardened. His normally gentle, compassionate eyes became hard, unfeeling and bitter.
Aeryn took one more step towards him.
“I can’t tell you how sorry I am, Crichton. We didn’t want you to find out like that. That was just meant as a last kiss, before going back to Moya and breaking it to you in a gentle way.”
Crichton didn’t say a word. He just stared at her.
“He almost died, you know. If we hadn’t found that Diagosan, he would have.”
Still, Crichton didn’t respond. But she could see that his hands formed into fists, clenching uncontrolled at his side.
“He’s devastated, Crichton. He told me, not to go to you, to give you some time first. But I know better. I know you’re going to do something stupid.”
Still only silence.
“Crichton, talk to me. I want to talk.”
At that, he looked up, anger in his eyes.
“And I wanna talk less.”
He left the room. Aeryn watched him go, crushed.

In the middle of the night, Pilot awoke them. John and Aeryn had chosen to sleep in Aeryns quarters. “People, prepare for immediate starburst.”
And a few seconds later, the familiar surge went through the ship, the lines on Moya hull flaring up, and the great leviathan ship lurching forward, into the realm in between.
D’Argos voice came on over the Comm.
“Pilot, what the Hetzmana made you starburst now? I hope for you we were about to be attacked, otherwise you’re in a lot of Dren. I knocked my head on a pillar.”
Pilots face came visible over the monitors. His voice was sad.
“I’m sorry. He, he asked me that, told me I owed him that one. He’s gone”
Pilot didn’t need to explain who was gone, they all knew.

“Are you sure you want to do this?”
Crichton nodded, serious. The woman before him had changed a lot since their last meeting. For one, both of her hands were the same size. And her misshapen, ugly face had changed into that of a strict and intelligent shape.
“I thought you abhorred genetic reconstruction. Remember what it made Nam-Tar. And now you want to try this on yourself?”
Crichton looked at her. He wore a beard now, neat fully trimmed and kempt. His hair was longer, too, now touching his shoulders.
“Yes, I’m sure. I need to change, to adapt fully and to be accepted by them. I need to be someone different, not only in mind but in body. I need a new life. Besides, the change is subtle. You said yourself this doesn’t feel like complete reconstruction, but like acceleration of natural development.”
The woman shrugged. Then she injected the genetic material into his eyeball. She could see the agent spreading, colouring his blue eye in a black mist.
“Make me a Sebacean.”

[Kheldrion Dawn]

For days Crichton suffered, while the agent changed his entire body chemistry. He remembered Aeryn, adapting to Pilots DNA, and only now could imagine how awful it must have been for her, changing into a life form so radically different from her own.
I must endure this. If I succeed, they have their peace. And they can be happy. Come on, man, step into the chamber and don’t take a fly with you.
He suffered heat delirium in its early stages from his own fever, and again he could only admire how she had handled herself back then.

The self tracking pulse cannons around the royal planet locked themselves on Crichtons module. A comms channel opened.
“Unidentified vessel, you have entered the control zone to the royal planet. If you power up any weapons, you will be shot down. Identify yourself.”
“This is Crichton. Please contact the Empress, she will give you the o.k.”
A laugh could be heard over the comms.
“Sure, why don’t we invite Princess Kattralla and dead Prince Clavor for a family reunion? John Crichton, our future regent, is a government statue, safe and secure in the throne room.”
Secrets within secrets. I gotta find me a new name.
“Hey, buddy, what’s with the wax in the ears? I didn’t say that name. I’m CracTon. Listen, I really need to talk to someone uppity in the echelons. Hmmmm. Hey, is, by any chance, Prince Clavors ex-fiancé still around, that Jenavion chick?”
“Wait a microt, I will check this.”
“Yes, a member of the court by that name is here. Do you wish me to contact her to confirm your identity?”
“Yes, please.”

Half an arn later, the comms opened again. The flight control officer sounded genuinely surprised.
“CracTon, you have landing permission by personal invitation of Lady Jenavion. It seems you really know somebody here.”

Crichton walked down the landing pad. His demeanour was different now, confident, even aggressive. Jenavion couldn’t see his eyes because he wore small round black sunglasses.
She looked at him in a haughty way. She was still very good-looking, sultry and exotic.
“What do you want, CracTon? I thought we agreed not to see each other anymore.”
When Jenavion was sure no one looked, she flashed him a quick grin and winked.
“Well, it seems I can’t live without you, darling. I came back to make up. I’m very sorry about what I did. Please forgive me.”
“Well, okay, come with me. We will talk in my private quarters.”

When they had reached Jenavions quarters in the palace, the door closed and secured, Jenavion embraced him and gave him a kiss.
“I missed you.”
“Obviously” Crichton grinned and kissed her back. “Why don’t we…um…refresh our acquaintance?”
“That’s exactly what I had in mind. Talk later.”
She led him to her bedroom while they began to drop off their clothes on the way.

Quite a while later they were lying together on the bed, exhausted.
“So tell me, John, what brings you here? I thought you would never come back, and don’t tell me you’re here because of me.”
“As a matter of fact, I am, in a way. Maybe you noticed, I’m different now.”
“Yes, your eyes, they are green now. And you smell different. What happened?”
“I’m a Sebacean now. Well, almost. I had my DNA altered.”
“That’s amazing. I did not know something like that was possible.”
“And I need to contact Peacekeeper special directorate. I want to make a deal.”
She frowned.
“What kind of deal? Last thing I heard Scorpius’s command carrier was blown up and Commandant Mele-on Grayza is turning every stone around in search of you.”
Crichton laughed.
“Well, that was another me and my friends. It’s a bit of a strange story, so listen up, it’s gonna take a while.”

“And that’s about it. Again, there’s more, but that about sums it up.”
Jenavion laughed. “John, your life is both the most pathetic and the most interesting one I have ever heard about.”
“Yeah, that’s me. But maybe I can do something about it.”
“Ah, yes the deal, you were talking about.”
“Jenavion, do you know anyone who has the power to protect me from Grayza and Scorpius. I offer myself in service of the Peacekeepers. And whatever knowledge I have concerning Wormholes. The whole package.”
“You, John, you want to join the Peacekeepers?”
“If you will have me.”
“If you really mean that, I can get you in contact with someone very powerful. But be warned, John. If you mess with her, she’s the most vicious enemy you can make. The head of peacekeeper special directorate is one of the most ruthless individuals alive.”
“I always knew the devil wore a skirt. And yes, I’m sure.”

“Run, you pathetic wretches! The last one to arrive at the obstacle course’s end will receive a special treatment by me.”
John was breathing hard, trying to ignore the pain in his muscles all over his body. Peacekeeper training was every bit as hard as Aeryn had described, the drill instructors so vicious, making the one in Full Metal Jacket seem like Mahatma Ghandi in comparison. But to his own surprise, he not only held his ground against the other recruits, he was one of the best. Tireless CracTon, they called him. Somehow he always went on, despite the pain, despite being so tired he would drop down like dead into his bunk every night. And all of them were much younger. Strangely enough, he found that he fit in. Personal relations were frowned upon, but the Peacekeepers had a strong sense of Esprit du corps, their individuality submerged in the team. Peacekeepers were dedicated, brave and very direct about everything, qualities he had come to admire in Aeryn.
As CracTon he had his hair oiled, close to the head as a short ponytail wrapped in leather strings. His beard, well kept and trimmed looked really dashing now.
I always looked good in black. By all that’s holy, I look like Crais now.
When they had finished, John coming in second, Miraya looked questioning at him. He nodded, once. They would recreate together this night.
It’s not like with the girls back home, but it works here, in this place.
A Leftenant came up to him.
“Councillor Bayla wants to see you later, recruit. Come to her office at 1400 arns.”
“Yes, sir!”
I wonder what the great Peacekeeper intelligence bitch wants today.

“Come in.”
The office of the head of peacekeeper intelligence was small and without decorations. Many higher ranked peacekeepers kept lavishly decorated quarters as a small indulgence, privilege of their rank. But not Bayla. She was only interested in entertainment of the mind. She was smiling at him, but that did not reassure him. In fact, it made him even more nervous. Once, while John had been talking to her in her office, she had given an execution order in his presence, wearing that smile. She had not taken her gaze off him the entire time, watching him, waiting for a reaction. With Bayla John always felt like being tested, how far he would go, how well he was adapting to this entirely new way of life. It was good he was prepared, or he would have shown much more reaction to Baylas visitor. In the time he had been with the peacekeepers, Crichton had learned that peacekeepers respected only displays of aggressiveness, but no other strong displays of emotion.
“Hello, John. So good to see you again.”
Scorpius was smiling his best.
With that smile, I would not be surprised if the Mad Hatter would suddenly show up and offer me some tea. The Queen of hearts is already here, anyway.
CracTon turned to Councillor Bayla.
“Why is he here? I thought I had made my terms clear. And, as I recall point 3 was I never had to see Scorpius or Grayza again.”
Bayla looked at him, impressed. She had expected some violent outburst, not this controlled display of power.
“CracTon, it has been a very long time since anyone dared to address me in that tone. He is here because of point 2, the removal of the neural clone. It seems the eradication program is password-coded. At the only one to know the proper password is him.”
Scorpius smiled, smugly. “John, you need not fear me….”
“My name is CracTon now.”
“Well, CracTon, you need not fear me, as we will be working toward the same goal now. Believe me, that was all I ever wanted.”
“Scorpy, I am not afraid of you anymore. I hate your guts and I want to spill them on the floor.”
“Oh, CracTon, you hurt me. It is so hard not to be understood by the ones close to you. All I ever wanted is this power to use it against the Scarrens. You, my soldiers, that ragtag band of fugitives, none of them mattered, only power for my people.”
“You mean power to use against the Scarrens.”
“That is the very same thing.”
“In your mind, maybe.”
Bayla watched both of them intently. She clapped her hands together, laughing.
“Oh, this is just delightful. You two are practically dripping malice. But let us be civil about this. CracTon has agreed to construct a Wormhole navigation system but not any wormhole weapons. But I think wormhole navigation will give us enough of an edge against the Scarrens, so this will suffice.”
“Bayla, I already told you, I cannot create a wormhole weapon, even if I wanted to.”
Bayla nodded. “And I believe you. So, Scorpius, you will remove the neural clone from CracTon, and in return you will be allowed to work as CracTons assistant.”
Scorpius turned around, clearly offended.
“Bayla, do you know my rank? I will not work under a recruit or leftenant.”
“Scorpius, I have big plans for CracTon. By the time the two of you work together, believe me, he will outrank you.”
She looked at CracTon, speculatively.
“If he survives.”

[scaperfan]

hmmm...interesting.....

...there is more though, right?
Please?

[scaper1000]

its very inventive and i like it apart from crichton recreating with any one except aeryn, but i'm confused which crichton got changed into a peacekeeper, the one on moya or the one kissing with aeryn in the transport? anyway i think its really good and you better right more soon before i explode!

[Kheldrion Dawn]

Miraya and John had finished recreating. Normally she would leave soon after, but not this time. Miraya had caught John’s eye the first day he had arrived on the command carrier. She was a mischievous looking blonde, very small, but with boundless energy.
“CracTon, can I ask you something?”
“Hmmm? Sure, what is it?”
“Its rather personal, so I don’t want to offend you.”
Amazing. We’ve been doing it for almost a month now, but she still has trouble asking me about personal matters. I mean, how personal can you get?
“About that Aeryn you told me about.”
“Yes, what about her?”
“It sounded to me like you really loved her.”
“Yeah, well, but that’s a thing of the past now.”
Just who are you kidding, man?
That seemed to please her, somehow. “Good.”
“Why did you ask?”
“Oh, just curiosity, I guess.” She looked at him impishly. ”Well, tireless CracTon, how are you holding up. I think we have to give you another lesson in close quarter wrestling.
“Oh, give me a break.”
She sat up a bit. The blanket slid down to her hips.
“On the other hand…”
She grinned.

Training continued and CracTon lost track of the days. Every day was spent training weapons, unarmed hand to hand techniques, strategy and battle tactics. CracTon learned how to pilot all kinds of craft, from shuttles to prowlers. In this, he excelled. Despite what Aeryn had said about his piloting shortcomings, he was a natural. The instructors had soon given up on breaking his old flying habits and instructing him in textbook manoeuvres. But with the instruction by Aeryn and his own experiences and now the hours of flight time, he had developed his very own style of combat flying. It was cocky, aggressive and risky and often far too fancy for the likes of the more conservative instructors, but he got results. And if the peacekeepers respected anything, it was getting results.
Because of Baylas request, he was trained in a very intensive manner, with a single instructor for almost every discipline. And so he learned a lot in a very short time.
From time to time, he heard something about Moya and his friends. Apparently Crais had gone into starburst from within Scorpius’ carrier, resulting in mutual annihilation.
Crais, I didn’t think you had it in you. Who would have thought, you, of all people, to sacrifice yourself and your precious project to save others? My salutes, fellow peacekeeper.

Finally graduation day was near. Miraya had grown distant again, which had not stopped her from coming to his quarters almost every night. When he asked, she seemed puzzled by his questions. Aeryn had once explained to him that, within the peacekeepers, you never went for anything long-term.
Who understands Peacekeeper ladies anyway? Or ladies in general, for that matter. I think they do this on purpose, some kind of universal conspiracy against the males. Whenever you think you have them figured out, they turn all of the rules upside down.

The graduation tests were, as was to be expected, harsh and left no margin for errors. As he would graduate to be a operative of the special directorate, he was tested in an urban simulation, where he had to infiltrate a base guarded by peacekeeper soldiers. The test was designed to be impossible, you could simply not reach the central chamber. Brayla explained the purpose was to test the resourcefulness and dedication of the recruit, to see how much he could accomplish when facing impossible odds.
Impossible odds? This is your life, John Crichton! Let’s show those bastards how the Carolina boys do it.

The next day Bayla stood before the ruins of the test area, shaking her head. In all the time she had never witnessed such total destruction. The outer walls of the base were lying around in pieces, rubble and metal parts strewn about. The inner buildings walls had caved in, everywhere were fragments of stones and dust. Tech Crews were still clearing the area, digging out single soldiers who had not had time to escape in time. In the exact point were once the central chamber had been CracTon had raised his flag, the objective of the exercise.
He was standing beside her, obviously trying to suppress a grin. She turned around, cold eyes on him.
“What were you thinking? You were supposed to infiltrate the base, not destroy it! If I had wanted this”, she indicated the field of destruction with her right hand,”I would have ordered the Malkanion to fire her frak cannons on it.”
“I reached the central chamber, didn’t I?”
“Yes, but if there had been anything of value in that, you wouldn’t have gotten that.”
“The instructions didn’t say anything about getting anything out of there, just to go there.”
“That is beside the point, and you know it.”
“Listen to me, Councillor, you did not recruit me because I would do things the same as any other peacekeeper. If we are to survive the war against the Scarren brutes, we need to think in new ways, in ways they don’t know. The peacekeepers have not changed their strategies in a very long time, just because they have been working so well. But the Scarrens know this. And if we don’t make some changes, they will overrun us.”
“You said it for the first time now, CracTon. And that proves to me you passed the test.”
“What did I say?”
“You said ‘We’ “, Councillor Bayla allowed herself a proud smile, one that reminded any who saw it of a master, who just taught his dog a new trick.
“Just one question. We gave you a pulse pistol and a combat knife. How did you get your hands on so much explosives?”
CracTon looked sad for a moment. “A blue girl taught me that.”

Scorpius was furious.
“Why do you not let him work on the wormhole technology right away? He is no ordinary recruit, so why let him do some assignments first? We do not need another pulse pistol wielding moron to send on a suicide mission, we need the wormhole technology. And the sooner, the better! What if he gets killed on some fools mission?”
Bayla stood behind her desk, wearing a simple robe. She had her hands folded in front of her. The pose suggested humility, but Scorpius knew better.
“Scorpius, for all your brilliance, you simply do not understand the minds of people. You understand hate, the thirst for vengeance, the lust for power and the use of fear. But you will never grasp the concept of dedication, comradeship and soldiery. You will never understand loyalty and discipline, the willingness to give your life for a cause greater than yourself. I have watched this one very closely. He will only unfold his true potential when he is convinced that he does this for a worthy cause, for people deserving of his loyalty. He needs to sever his links to his old life, his old friends first. Then we can form him into a weapon that will strike to the hearts of the enemy.”
A message flared up on Baylas command display. She looked at the information intently,then she smiled and turned to Scorpius again.
“Ah, here we have the perfect opportunity. Leave me; I have a lot of preparations to make.”
Scorpius noticed some Scarren symbols on the display, but said nothing and left.

“Enter.”
CracTon came in. He wore the uniform of an elite commando now with some extra gadgets used only by special directorate units. His modified pulse rifle was slung over his shoulder.
If Dad could see me now, he’d kick my ass. I’m like the guys on the posters at the recruitment office. Uncle Sam wants you for the navy! Join the corps! Oh, crap.
“Congratulations, CracTon. The assessment committee has discussed your solution of the testing assignment and verified the validity of your arguments. So you are being awarded full points on the assignment and even a huge bonus for incapacitating three platoons of hostile soldiers. It’s a new record.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“So we decided to give you, as recognition of your accomplishment, the rank of Leftenant and command of a SpecOps unit formed by special directorate agents. Furthermore you are assigned a special duty marauder. Here is your personal ident chip.”
She looked at him intently.
“You made me very proud for coming such a long way. And you look fabulous, CracTon. If I was still a hundred cycles younger….”
CracTon shuddered.
The old spider sat in her web. I don’t wanna be a fly caught in that.
“And I have your first assignment.”
At that, CracTon looked up.
We intercepted a distress call from a leviathan transporter. They are under attack by a small force of Scarren soldiers. Your assignment is to intercept the Leviathan, eliminate the Scarrens and make contact with the crew.
Even though he knew the answer to his next question, CracTon had to ask.
“What is the name of the leviathan in question?”
“Oh, it’s Moya, of course. We want you to rescue your old friends.”

Later Miraya stood in the very same room. She was assigned to CracTons unit, which had surprised her a lot. Normally recruits forming recreation couples were assigned to different assignments, a fact that had bothered her greatly for some reason. She guessed this was another one of Baylas little games.
“Ma’am, you wanted to see me before we go.”
“Yes, thank you. I have a special set of instructions for you. You understand how important CracTon is for the peacekeepers?”
“Yes, councillor. He’s unique.”
“I noticed that you noticed.”
“So what is it you want?”
“I want you to watch him closely. I want you to do everything you can to alienate him from his old friends. And if you believe he is about to betray us, because of some human emotional attachments, you are hereby authorised to capture him and bring him back or utilize any means you deem necessary to prevent him defecting.”
“Does that include killing him?”
“Did I say any means or did I not?”
“I understand.”
“Good. Dismissed.”
So you’re losing your touch, Bayla. If you are the judge of character everyone thinks you are, you would know I won’t kill CracTon.

[Kheldrion Dawn]

When CracTon arrived in the hangar bay of the carrier, the four commados assigned to him were already fully equipped and waiting. Of those, he knew only Miraya, who was trained in sniper specialisation and assassination, and Tarrak, whose expertise was in demolitions. He was one of the few who had approved of the rather unusual way in which CracTon had tackled his final exams. The marauders codename “bebop” had been hastily written on it at their leftenants request. The soldiers stood at attention when he arrived.
“At ease.”
When everybody had taken up a more relaxed stance, CracTon began to address the unit.
“People, I’m not a guy for long speeches. Lets do this together, as a team and send those giant upright lizards packing. If you’re only half as good as all of your files suggest, they won’t even know what hit them.”
“Sir?”
“Yes, Soldier? Officer Garl, is it?”
“I have a question regarding our assignment.”
“Shoot.”
The soldier reached for his gun immediately. “Shoot what, Sir?”
Oh, frell! Mental note: never tell a peacekeeper to shoot unless you want him to.
“I meant, please ask away.”
“Yes, Sir. I was wondering, since the briefing stated this as a rescue operation, how will we arrive in time to rescue anyone? From the best of my calculations, this Leviathan is far into the uncharted territories. Frankly, Sir, I think when we arrive there, even with our hetch drive at maximum, anyone will be dead.”
CracTon smiled.
“Leave that up to me. I will take the helm. Believe me; we will be there in no time at all.”

Once CracTon had told them not to worry, the soldiers did not ask any more questions. They sat strapped in their seats, weapons in hand, in full commando gear. CracTon sat at the piloting console and was rapidly calculating their course. Finally, he seemed content, stopped the marauder, letting it drift in space, waiting.
After a few hundred microts, CracTon looked up.
“Here goes…. Wormhole in ten….nine….”
Outside there was only the stars and the endless night of space.
“ocho….siete….cinco….”
The soldiers exchanged glances. Everybody knew their commander was slightly different, but this was a bit too much.
“cuatro….tres…dos….”
Still nothing.
“uno ……..CERO!”
A small blue wormhole opened up directly before them. It seemed unstable and erratic. Still the soldiers could only stare in awe at their commanding officer. This was something they had never seen in their lives, and the utter precision in which he had predicted this opening made him somehow otherworldly and powerful. Mirayas eyes narrowed. Previously CracTon had maintained that his knowledge about these phenomenons was far from complete, and yet here he was, having predicted the appearance of a wormhole to a microt. She wondered what else this strange man had kept to himself. Bayla had been right.
But her thoughts were interrupted by CracTon going into full thrust into the centre of the galactic maelstrom. CracTon had a savage grin on his face.
“Here we go people, hold on to your breakfast, this is gonna be a hell ride.”
The marauder flew into the blue tunnel in space, with CracTon rapidly adjusting their course in flight. The big assault shuttle lurched and shook.
“Hey, Miri, I ever told ya how I once was in a rodeo in Maine?”
If possible, the ride became even more violent.
CracTon was in full swing now. Miraya was shocked. He was actually enjoying this!
“Yiiiiiiehaaa!”
Officer Garl was retching violently in the back.

Aeryn was running through the corridors of Moya, fighting a relentless hit and run battle against the Scarren troops. Her breath crystallized as mist in the corridors. John had suggested turning the temperature down as far as they could in the hopes of bettering their chances against their unwelcome guests. Scarrens despised the cold and became sluggish, a gift from their reptilian heritage. A scarren soldier appeared in the corridor before her. She fired a few quick shots from her pulse rifle, taking him down. It was really hard to kill a Scarren, their hides so thick that they could take horrible punishment before they were seriously wounded.
Pilots voice suddenly could be heard over the comms.
“Officer Sun, we are being hailed by an incoming peacekeeper marauder. They offer their assistance in this battle and ask for permission to come aboard.”
“Understood, pilot. Acknowledge and tell them I am coming to the landing bay.”
Aeryn shook her head. John commed something about his birthday being is in four solar days. “Why the frell are all the guests arriving early? The punch isn’t ready yet.”
Aeryn wasn’t listening. She was already running frantically running toward the landing bay.

The marauder was coming in hard and fast. What madman is piloting that thing, Aeryn wondered. In the very last moment, the thrusters fired forward, letting the assault shuttle land very violently. The hatch opened simultaneously. Aeryn pointed her rifle in the direction of the opening. Almost as if it was an answer, Aeryn cold see a marker light point appear on her torso, from within the shuttle, most probably from a peacekeeper sniper rifle. The very next microt, two commando soldiers ran down the ramp and took up positions left and right of it, their assault rifles pointing toward her. Then the marker light disappeared and a tiny blonde commando came out, holding her sniper rifle primed to fire.
After that a medic came out, a young woman with a pulse pistol in her hand. All of this happened within the space of a few microts.
Aeryns eyes narrowed. I have to admit, these guys are good.
Then the commander emerged. A grim faced commando officer came down the ramp in an easy but alert stride. He had a long peacekeeper pony tail in black leather straps and a well groomed beard. Over the peacekeeper commando uniform he wore a long black and orange leather coat decorated with leftenants markings. He had a combat visor on and held a modified pulse rifle upward in an angle. Then Aeryn saw it.
That face! Impossible!
CracTon came up to her, smiling wryly.
“Hello, Aeryn. Now here’s a familiar face.”
Aeryn was still too shocked to reply much.
“Crichton…”
“It’s CracTon these days. It’s a long story, but I’m a peacekeeper now. We can trade stories later, but first we to go and kill us a few Scarrens.”
He thought for a moment, then he pulled out the pulse pistol from his holster, turned it around in his hand in an easy motion and handed it to her, grip first.
“Here, use this. State-of-the-art. Its high powered, high penetration. Works better against the Scarrens than that old rifle of yours.”
Aeryn took the pistol, looking at him. Then she smiled a little.
“Does she have a name?”
“I don’t give my pulse pistols names anymore.”
“Oh.” She indicated his rifle with a nod of her head. “And that?”
He looked at her sheepishly.
“Her name is Ripley.”
Suddenly his face was serious again. He looked around.
“What’s the situation?”
“My estimate is about 20 Scarren shock troops. They came aboard on a boarding torpedo which drilled itself through Moyas hull. D’Argo and Chiana are in Pilots chamber, holding them off, while John and Stark are in command. I was operating behind the lines in a running battle to confuse them and disrupt their strategies.”
“Excellent.”
He turned toward his troops.
“Officers Tarrak, Garl and Veyl, you go and secure the pilots chamber. Officer Khartu, you’re coming with me and Officer Sun.”
“YESSIR!”
“Move out. Tha’faan horth!”

[Kheldrion Dawn]

They took the Scarrens completely by surprise. CracTon walked through the battle almost dream-like, running, shooting and taking cover with a fluid grace Aeryn had never seen before. Aeryn and CracTon took the point, with Miraya giving them covering fire in precise, deadly shots.
Aeryn felt very guilty. After the first shock from seeing him again and rushing with him into battle had subsided, she couldn’t help but look at him again and again in the short pauses between the fire fights.
I love John. Why am I feeling so attracted to him all of a sudden? He’s completely different now, but still he has the face of the man I love. Heat of the moment, I guess.
“Aeryn, su’tha!”
Without thinking she jumped forward into a flying roll, standing on her feet immediately afterwards. Without CracTons warning, the Scarren sneaking up on her from her right would have killed her.
Frell! I should know better than getting distracted in a combat. Seems my training is failing me.
She saw CracTon take a step on a cargo crate in the corridor. He jumped and kicked himself away from the wall with his right leg. Then his left leg shot out and cought the Scarren in a vicious kick to the head. Despite the Scarrens great physical strength, the brutish creature fell over from the force of this attack. CracTon was over him in a microt, firing 3 rapid shots from his pulse rifle in the head. The scarren soldier was dead.
CracTon came up to her.
“Are you all right?”
“I just took a blow to my pride.” She looked at him intently. “You’re good.”
CracTon shrugged. “I’m a peacekeeper.” He said, matter-of-factly.
Aeryn shook her head and then they rushed back into the battle.

At the command room, several Scarren soldiers lay on the ground, but more were firing relentlessly into the room. John and Stark were returning fire as best as they could, but it was clear they would be overwhelmed eventually.
Then a series of shots from behind hit the Scarrens. It was over in a few microts.

Aeryn and CracTon were sitting at the table in the mess hall, drinking fellip nectar CracTon had brought with him. CracTon had just finished telling his tale and was handing Aeryn a chip containing data.
“This is your official amnesty. You are banished from peacekeeper territories for life, but they will no longer hunt you. You can live in peace now, at least from that direction. That was my first of three wishes I was granted. The war against the Scarrens is coming, so I suggest you get yourselves as far away as possible. It’s not going to be pretty.”
“Thank you.” Aeryn did not really know what else to say. “I’m sorry about D’Argo, but you know how he thinks about peacekeepers.”
“That’s all right. He didn’t shoot me, and I should take that and be thankful.”
“So, what are you going to do now?”
CracTon looked at her a little sad.
“I will be leaving soon. I have to get back to my people, do some important work.”
“Crichton, I….I’m so sorry.”
At times like these, when her serious face changes and her eyes become so vulnerable, she is so beautiful it makes my heart ache. I thought I was over her, but I guess I will never be.
“I have to tell you something, but I don’t know how…”
“Aeryn, you know you can tell me anything. What is it?”
“I’m…we’re…John and I, we are going to have a baby.”
She looks so afraid now. Control yourself, make it easy for her. This is exactly what you were doing this all for.
After the shock, CracTon rushed over to her and embraced her tightly. She could see tears in his eyes.
“Aeryn, this is wonderful! I can’t tell you how happy I am for you!”
“Really?” Aeryn was in tears now, too.
“Yes, I know you two will be very happy together. You will make wonderful parents.”
They both cried for a while, hugging each other tightly. They couldn’t get anything out for quite a while. Then they kissed each other tenderly and he left.
Both had not noticed the small figure standing in the doorway, leaving silently before.

CracTon walked up to Miraya, sitting on the ramp of the marauder. To his shock, he could see she had been crying. She looked up, very angry.
“You lied to me. You told me you were no longer in love with her.”
“What? Have you been watching us?”
“Yes” She said this in a very small voice.
“So, tell me, CracTon. What was I for you, some distraction, a better way to get over her?”
“Miraya, what are you telling me?”
“I only just realized it, but I have fallen in love with you, you lying bastard.”
CracTon came up to her, very gently. He took her face in his hands.
“Miraya, I didn’t know you cared. You never told me.”
“Well, I do now.” The diminutive soldier looked sadly at him.
Instead of saying anything, CracTon took her in his arms and kissed her. After a few seconds, she kissed him back, with a ferocity he had not suspected of her.
“Of course I love you too, Miri. Women can be so stupid. Aeryn and I…well, I will sort this out eventually, but I did not lie to you when I said it was a thing of the past. I had to come here to realize that. I am beginning to suspect Bayla had been planning this all along.”
“She’s very wise.”
“Come on, gather the troops and let’s get cracking.”
CracTon looked at the marauder shuttle and smiled.
“I’m going home.”

On their flight back to the Malkanion, something happened. A surge went through the ship. CracTon lost control of the shuttles flight and they began to spin faster and faster. Everyone was screaming, then there was a gigantic flash of light and he lost consciousness.

CracTon awoke on a barren plain. It was cold and it was snowing heavily. He looked around, but could not see any of his soldiers. Instead, a single figure was standing there, his face and unreadable mask. His hair was white and he was dressed all in black.
“Hello, there. Nice suit.” John stood up and approached the lone figure. “Who are you?”
“You can call me Einstein, if you will. The other you does.”
“Why have you brought me here?”
“To show you what you have done.”
The man touched CracTons forehead. A horrible image formed in his mind. A gigantic black hole was growing. Billions of people were screaming in fear and dying. The black hole grew ever larger, swallowing stars and planets.
CracTon sat down, too overwhelmed by the magnitude of what he had seen.
Einstein looked at him.
“You were betrayed, CracTon. Scorpius did not remove the neural clone, instead he has been spying on your mind all of the time. Already he is beginning to construct this horrible weapon you have seen, a wormhole weapon. He is very clever, that one. But without the knowledge only I can give you, he will lose control and it will destroy everything.”

It did not happen every day that someone told you you were responsible for the destruction of the entire galaxy. CracTon took it really well.
After vomiting his guts out he stood up again.
“I did not know, I swear it. I didn’t mean it, all I wanted was…”
“I know what your motivations were. But this is what’s going to happen anyway.”
“What can I do? I’ll do anything!”
Again the figure touched his head. Strange knowledge unlocked in his mind, the endlessness of space, time and thought.
Dumbfounded, CracTon could only stare at Einstein.
“TIME…”
CracTon shook his head.
“Time bends….”

CracTon was lying on a hill, his rifle primed to fire.
He almost died, you know. If we hadn’t found that Diagosan, he would have.
Hot tears blurred CracTons vision.
Aeryn, I’m so sorry, oh god, please help me.
He took the rifle away, the sadness overwhelming him. Sobs racked his body.
I can’t do this, I simply can’t. How can I…
Suddenly, in his mind, he felt a presence. A beautiful blue-skinned woman was smiling at him sadly.
“John, we shared unity once. I will always be with you. You were so innocent, but now you have to do such a terrible thing. I will give you the strength you need. This is my last gift to you. Goodbye, John, I will always love you.”
CracTon was filled with peace. He aimed carefully holding his breath and fired.
The Diagosan was dead at once.

In the snowstorm, Einstein stood impassive.
“Time flows.”
....
The talyn crew had finally returned. After Crais Aeryn came down the ramp. She once again had her hair in a tight ponytail behind her head.
Crichtons face lighted up visibly.
“Now there’s a familiar face.”
Aeryn looked at him, her face emotionless.
“Hello, John.”
Without saying anything, she walked by him.

[cat]

sob sob sob sobbing uncontrollably

[Kheldrion Dawn]

So,

I've gone over the entire thing editing myself (mostly errors but a few additions too).
My sicerest thanks to scaperfan and scaper1000 for their encouragement, you wouldn't know how much I needed that little nudge to finish it, and of course to cat, who understands...

[Rav Winston]

Excellent story arc. :praise:

[cat]

thanks for the mention kd you did great, still having trouble rereading it though. damn that last bit sob all over agian