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The Sentinel Part Three by Karl, Toadie & AmyJ Rating: PG-13 Spoilers: Yes, please! This is the second writing relay attempted by some of the staff writers at Karlsweb. Each section's beginning indicates the guilty party. <G> The name of the game is... someone starts with a scene and passes it along to the next writer to add onto.
“Where the frell are
they?” Lucien growled as he scanned the corridors adjacent to lock nine.
He hit his comms again, calling for an answer from Liet or Gruman and got
nothing but silence in return. With a grunt he pulled out his own pistols
and checked them before finally setting foot through the lock and into
Moya herself. Slowly he prowled the
corridors scanning every dench of corridor before continuing, stopping to
scrutinize every sound he heard. Something was wrong, he could almost
taste it. He turned into one of the cross connection corridors, near the
main hanger, just in time to catch a glimpse of motion just disappearing
around the curve of one of the corridors. He was so busy hunting
for whatever had caused the movement that, as he ran, he fell headlong
over something just hidden from sight around the bend. Swiftly he rolled
to his feet with a curse and a blast of his weapon at the offending
object. “Awwww, frell it,” he
shouted aloud, before walking up and delivering a kick to the now charred
and very dead corpse of what was once Gruman. “Stupid frelling
drenhead. Can’t even lie unconscious without being in the way.” He looked
around for Liet as he knew, where Gruman was, Liet wouldn’t be far
behind. “Liet, you cowardly
little dren. Show yourself, I know you’re here somewhere,” he shouted.
There was a rattle behind his and he turned swiftly raising his weapons as
Liet squeezed himself out of one of the service hatches that led into the
internal areas of Moya. “Luc, it was horrible,
they… they just kept coming…. He screamed and…” Liet's stuttering
explanations were swiftly cut short with a resounding blow to the head
that sent him staggering to the opposite wall for
support. “Now stop acting like
the fool you are and tell me what the FRELL is going on
here!” # “Chiana, I need you in
command.” Aeryn called even s she dragged John into the room and settled
his as far from the door as possible. Even with the DRDs to help keep
these spiders out, she didn’t want him bitten again. With a sigh she
looked back at Jool and proceeded to move her to where John was lying but
with considerably less care. With a thump Jool hit the floor beside John
but not even that interrupted her purring. “I can’t leave D’Argo
Aeryn. He’s unconscious and those spider things might come.” Chiana’s
voice wafted across the command deck to Aeryn. She restrained herself with
gritted teeth from telling her exactly what she could do with the spiders
if they returned. “Chiana, Pilot has
sent DRDs down to medical to keep the spiders out. However, since only you
and I are conscious right now I need you in command. NOW!” Aeryn was proud
of how she had managed to keep her temper with the juvenile behavior of
their pet stray, even if she had just begun to lose it at the
end. “Ok, ok. I’m on my
way. No need to shout.” Chiana's pout carried clearly through her
tone. “Pilot, what’s
happening?” Aeryn asked as she went to the flight controls and studied
what they reported to her. “We have been drawn to the Interion
Ship and it is currently docked at the Hammond side port tier nine.”
Pilots image appeared on the clamshell as he reported this
apologetically. “We’re what? Why
didn’t you tell us that before?” Aeryn asked in a tight
voice. “I was attempting to
inform the Commander when the spiders attacked,
bu…”
“I understand pilot,”
Aeryn interrupted. “has anyone from that ship boarded Moya
yet?” “Unknown at this time.
Moya's internal sensors seem to be suffering some sort of
malfunction.” “I
understand, do your best pilot.” # “So
your saying these spiders swarmed over him, bit him, drank some of his
blood then ran away?” Lucien paused long enough for Liet to nod vigorously
in answer. “Not much of a surprise really, his blood is probably toxic
from all the dren he drinks. Probably killed the little
buggers.” With
an affirming nod to himself, he kicked Liet to his feet. “Come on you,
move. I need answers and your not giving them, so lets go find someone who
can.” # “Ok
I’m here satisfied?” Chiana stated as she entered command slowly walking
backwards, looking six ways at once. She had used all her skills at
stealth to get here, she didn’t want a run in with those spiders
again. “Good,
I need you to… what?” Aeryn practically shouted in exasperation as a
highly amused expression appeared on Chiana's face before being covered
with her hands as she began to laugh quietly. “Are
they... umm... supposed to be doing that?” she raised a hand and pointed
to where Aeryn had left Jool and John. She turned to see that they were no
longer sleeping peacefully as she had left them. Somehow they had
gravitated together and were reliving their previous behavior but instead
of Moya's decks as a recipient it was each other. Arms and legs seemed to
be everywhere and now that Aeryn was listening little happy noises were
emanating from both. “That’s
not important Chiana, we have to…” she turned back to Chiana and the door
to command and swiftly pulled her pulse pistol as Lucien and Liet appeared
in the entrance. Chiana seeing this reaction ducked and rolled behind the
nearest console thinking it might be more spiders.
“Hold
it right there.” Aeryn shouted, settling into full PK mode. Feet set
square apart arms straight, pistol pointed directly at her targets heart,
if he had a heart that is. “Relax
little lady, I’m just here to find out what’s happening with my property….
Are they supposed to be doing that here?” Lucien gestured off to the side
where he could plainly see a Sebacean male and an Interion female in a
most compromising position. He turned back to the Sebacean female who’s
face was now read and her jaw firmly clamped shut, but Lucien could still
plainly hear her muttering something about cutting the mivonks off an
erpman, whatever they were. “Never
mind them. What they are doing is your fault anyway!” Aeryn felt her face
flush and had to fight hard to suppress the desire to turn and look at
what they were doing now. Frelling
human. “My
fault? I didn’t tell those two to go frell each other in public.” In a
display of supreme arrogance Lucien put away his pistols and strolled over
to the nearest console and propped himself up against it. He wore a
leering grin as he once more looked at the two on the floor before turning
back to the female with the weapon pointed at
him. “It’s
the spiders.” Aeryn stated plainly. “Well,
if you have a pest problem it’s your concern. I just want to know what
you’re going to do about recompensing me for the loss of one of my men due
to your spiders.” “Not
ours, yours!” she smiled as confusion became evident amongst the many
emotions on Lucien's face. “I
don’t see how I can possibly be blamed for your current problems.” He said
slowly, as if feeling for the trap he knew was
coming. “The
spiders were inside what you claimed as your property or are you denying
that it’s yours now?” Aeryn never let her aim waver, even knowing that
should she fire there was a good chance that the lackey who still stood in
the doorway glancing about nervously, would shoot her in
return “Inside?
These spiders were inside? Interesting, most interesting.” Ix, started
rubbing his chin, seeming to be seriously perturbed by this change in the
course of events from those he predicted. “I
never thought that was possible.” Chiana’s voice piped up. As she finally
seemed to come to the conclusion it was safe to come out from behind the
console she was hiding behind. “What?”
Aeryn said in exasperation at the girl. “Frelling
with your clothes on, but it seems like it is.” Aeryn finally and
reluctantly concluded that there wasn’t going to be a fire fight just yet
and lowered her weapon. She stepped back keeping Lucien and Liet in her
sight until she could see the entirety of command, including John and
Jool, who were now nothing more than a seeming mess f arms and legs and
noises. Rage
seemed to boil up inside her. She knew it wasn’t there fault but still her
anger at them grew. Here they were in a potentially life and death
situation, D’Argo unconscious and alone in the medical bay and here were
the two of them, bitten by spiders and down practically frelling each
other unconscious, or would be if they weren’t already
unconscious. Too
make it worse, the first thing anyone seemed to say when they entered
command was… “Are
they supposed to be doing THAT here?” Everyone
in the room jumped at this new voice, pistols flew from their holsters to
point at a startled and now cowering Neesa. Aeryn once more felt rage in
her blood. Frelling
human, can’t
take him anywhere. “What
the frell are you doing here Neesa?” Ix growled at her, putting away his
pistol reluctantly. “I got lonely.” She said quickly regaining her
confidence now that most of the weapons were being lowered. “Besides,
seems like it is MUCH more interesting here.” Blatantly she walked right
up to where John and Jool were thrashing about on the deck and peered
closely at them. “That’s… quite impressive you know. I don’t think I have
ever seen anything quite like it, and I’ve seen everything,” she purred as
she turned to face Ix saucily. “Officer
Sun, I have completed my analysis of the spider. Its biomechinod in origin
but it’s energy signature is so different from Moya's that they seem to
interfere with each other.” “Would that explain the sensor glitches and
other faults pilot?” “Indeed officer Sun,
in fact using these glitches I was able to begin to track the movement of
the swarm but they vanished on Tier nine, Hammond
side.” “Neesa…”
Ix began to drawl slowly and carefully. “When you came aboard… did you
shut the hatch?” “No
why should I shut the hatch? I would just have to open it again when I
left.” “You
frelling stupid bitch. They’re on my ship.” Ix leapt to his feet and was
running for the exit to command when Moya gave a lurch and a jolt.
Everyone was thrown off their feet and Aeryn landed squarely in Ix’s lap,
his arms automatically wrapping around her as once more they were thrown
about. They landed in a mess of arms and legs. Strangely enough the only
two seemingly unaffected by everything that happened was John and Jool.
They seemed to be firmly attached there their part of the
deck. Aeryn
elbowed her way free from Ix’s grasp and pulled herself to her feet.
“Pilot report.” “The Interion ship has
just ripped away from Moya and is currently accelerating away at high
speed.” “Well
follow it then. I’m not losing my ship.” Ix shouted in rage only to
receive a glare from Aeryn. “Can
we follow them Pilot.” “Only for a short
while, soon they will be outside the range of Moya’s sensors. We would
need to starburst to keep up with them and for that we would need to know
where it was going.” “But
we do know pilot. Set course for the co-ordinates Carellen gave us.” Her
thoughts were interrupted by a low moan from Jool and with gritted teeth
she added, “and someone get me a bucket of
water.” ~~Amy~~ With
a disgruntled growl he sat up abruptly and instantly regretted it. The
resulting pain in his skull was exquisite. Fighting waves of vertigo he
forced himself up to a seated position on the bedside. He shut his eyes
once more. Palms thrust against his forehead D’Argo propped his elbows on
his knees. “Chiana?”
He groaned. There
was no answer. He righted his hulking frame and squinted around at the dim
interior of the medical suite. Even through the hazy contents of his
brain, he felt there was something… wrong. The last few moments he
recalled before seething blackness was the attack on the hateful
automaton, Carellen. The rest was a blur of pain and light, punctuated by
Jool’s unmistakable screeching. He
tapped his coms. It emitted a garbled squeak. He looked down at it. The
metal had fused together. Jool’s screaming had done considerable damage to
it. The badge was useless. With numb fingers he plucked it off and tossed
it over his shoulder without ceremony. He
clumped to the floor, heavy boots echoing in the empty room as he
staggered toward the sealed door. The activator did not respond.
Impatience growing, he passed his hand yet again over the sensor. The eye
remained flat red. “Frell….”
He was stuck in the medical bay. # "Oh… isn't this
special?" Crichton said sarcastically striding toward the figure sitting
on the bus stop bench. "Who let you out?" "No, John." Harvey
corrected, with a slight grin. "I allowed you…in." "I don't get it." He
plopped onto the bench. "What's going on?" "What is the last
thing you recollect?" With a laconic
chuckle, John looked away. Then he frowned. What the hell had he been
doing? It was a stream of disconnected images: the hangar, the Interion
ship glimpsed through Moya's sensors, the
robot… "Frell." His hand went
to the back of his neck, seeking the injuries made by the spiders. Of
course, here… in this place… there were none. "What the hell
happened?" Harvey cocked his
leather clad head, looking sidelong at John. He turned his attention to
the box of Whitman's Assorted Chocolates sitting primly on the lap of his
seersucker suit. Mouth pulling into a disgusted sneer he prodded at the
candy with a gloved hand. "Life… my dear
Crichton… is not unlike a box of chocolates…"
"Oh brother." John
buried his face in his hands. "I don't need
this." "Indeed… like the Ciax
automaton Carellen… the contents of things are often surprising. In
essence, you never know what you're going to
get." John turned a glare
onto Harvey. Something in the wraith's voice seethed with a gloating
intelligence. "Wait a minute. You knew
what was in that thing?" "No. I am as surprised
as you." Harvey rose from the
bench and strolled leisurely to stand before the bus stop sign. In the
distance a rusted out bus trundled down the street toward them.
"Irregardless I have done you a favor by bringing you
here." "That so?" He folded
his arms. "Yes… The neurotoxin
you were exposed to could have very well dissolved your psyche. If there
is no John Crichton…" "There's no you." He
finished the sentence for him. "I've said it once and I'll say it
again…you're all heart." The bus hissed to a
halt at their stop. "Now what?" John
asked.. "Officer Sun is a
very… resourceful woman. She will no doubt come to our
assistance." # There is nothing more
pathetic looking than a wet Interion, unless perhaps it's a crying wet Interion, thought
Aeryn. Jool sat shivering on the deck, her red hair clinging to her face
and scalp like wet matted weeds. Her bottom lip pulled into a quivering
pout. "Why did you do that?!" She
whined. Aeryn bit the inside
of her mouth to keep from snickering. "Come on. That's enough of that. Get
up." She grabbed Jool's arm
and gracelessly pulled her to her feet. Indignant, the Interion wrestled
away from her help. "What the frell are
you laughing at, you monochromatic little bitch?" Jool
glared. Chiana canted her head
at a mocking angle as she giggled. "You look like a drowned
mellet." "Shut
up!" "Sound advice for the
both of you!" Aeryn snapped. She turned her attention back to John. He lay
motionless on the floor. Any sign that he was enjoying whatever stupor had
claimed him had vanished. "John…" He gave no
response as Aeryn leaned over him. His breathing was slow and shallow. His
skin radiated a feverish heat. "Oh Hezmana." Jool
knelt beside her, the childish tirade put on hold. Aeryn suppressed the
impulse to slap the woman's hands away. "His circulatory seems
normal." "Can you revive
him?" "What? How?" Jool
stammered. "I don't know what's doing this to him. Besides that, there's
no diagnostic--" "Pilot has run an
analysis on one of the spiders. You can look at the results…" Aeryn
reached across the prone human and grabbed her upper
arm. "I need to get him to
the medical bay for that." "No one's leaving this
chamber!" Their tense exchange was interrupted by Ix. He moved to stand
before the door and folded his arms. "This man is injured.
Unless we get him to the med-bay, he could die. And I will not allow
that." Aeryn sat back on her haunches. Her hand moved to the pulse gun,
but just as quickly Liet was upon her, rifle lowered at
her. "We're all staying
here." Ix said. He waved his hand dismissively. "This is far too
convenient… I've heard stories about this fugitive crew. This could be an
elaborate deception. You could have very well forged an alliance with
Carellen--" "Ha! He thinks we
planned this." Chiana chirped, incredulous. She bobbed her shaggy head of
hair and regarded Ix. "We've frelled up some pretty good plans… but this
is way way way worse than what we usually manage on our
own." "Fine. If that is what
you believe…" Aeryn spat. She rose, cautious of the obviously nervous
Liet. "Just let us get him to the bay. Send your man with us if you do not
trust us." There was a pensive
silence. Ix grabbed the B'Nai by the upper arm and turned away, engaged in
some hushed conversation with her. He turned back to Aeryn. "Alright. But
not Liet. He's far too stupid. Neesa, will go. You stay here,
Peacekeeper." "Agreed." Aeryn said
flatly. She stooped to help
gather the unconscious human up. Jool slipped his limp arm around her
shoulders. Wordlessly, Chiana slipped in along his other side and did the
same. They paused looking to Aeryn. She felt the burden of their expectant
silence. "Be careful of the
B'Nai." # The Interion ship was
immense. To say that he was lost would suggest that he had an idea of
where he wanted or needed to
be. That was not the case. Stark pressed his back to the wall and slid
sideways, checking and rechecking the shadows for them. "Many… many… many…" he
muttered beneath his breath. ~~Karl~~ He slipped silently
into one of the few shadowed corners of the impossibly white hallways of
the Interion vessel. Slowly he slid to the floor, tucking his knees into
his chest and began to rock back and forth on his haunches. It was only a
matter of time. They would come for him. They were already on their way.
He had sensed they were hungry. It was just like the time Before. Although
the mass of his childhood was a dim recollection, there were cruel
memories that time did not fade. As a boy he studied with high
master Kagest on
the planet Becca. It was there he had witnessed a Ciax attack. They had
descended upon the small monastery in their faceless machines. The steel
cylinders ruthlessly captured over fifty pilgrims and clerics. In the
midst of the chaos one Banic had been able to penetrate the body of one of
the metal monsters. Master Kagest was able to get close enough to one of
the small beasts. He was able to see through to their end… Stark shivered. The master's sad expression was forever emblazed in his memory. "Close you eyes Pylorites Stark… You are not yet ready to bear witness to this." Kagest bravely turned to remove his mask as one
of the huge machines scooped him up with its large claws.
Stark, then a small terrified boy, scrambled
fearfully away into the inner sanctum of the monastery, but he could not
stop himself from looking back. He saw his dying master in the now still
claws of the dead machine. Stark's young mind could not handle what was
unleashed on the unsuspecting Ciax. It was only now did he understand with clarity
what Master Kagest had achieved in his sacrifice. He had Unleashed the
images of the extermination of the Ciax. At some point in the future
biologics would be unleashed on the Ciax. They would not go down in
battle, but would die in decaying heap. This race that sought mastery over
all others would succumb to a simple virus.
He hugged his knees
closer to his chest as he heard the first of them scurrying along the
polished floors. Stark bit his lower lip trying to stop himself from his
fearful banter. "Many… many… many… many…many." He could now see the
sickly yellow creatures as they shifted back and forth cautiously. They
moved apart as they advanced but then scurried back together like
frightened children returning to mother's side. They were strung out, each
passing along information to the next like links in a chain.
Stark had respect for
all living things that lived by a code. But these things did not adhere to
it. They were not sentient on their own. Only in communication with one
another did they achieve sentience. Alone they are no smarter the Zephyr
flea or a Mellut. He slowly released the strap around his neck. It was
then that Stark's observation made sense. How could he not
have seen it before! "That's it! That's
it!" He stood from his pitiful hiding place. He stifled a giggle as he
studied the creeping menace. "Come closer my many
many many mindless friends." He sang in a nervous twitter.
The advancing chain
slowed as if they possessed a strange apprehension. They paused, their
tiny antennae intertwined with each other in hideous communion.
The gleeful excitement
evaporated into an icy stare. "Are you trying to figure out why I am not
running from you?" His cold tone echoed down the immense corridor. The
chain moved back slightly. Their antennae quivered nervously as they
conversed. Stark's tone softened.
He could ruin his plan if he did not quell the waves of emotion that
constantly ebbed and flowed though this consciousness. "My many little
friends... don't be afraid. I have something to show you."
Stark closed his eyes
and concentrated. It was more difficult to focus on the images master
Kagest had shown them, but Stark knew he still contained that memory. He
smiled slightly as the horrific images come forward. He had to steady
himself to keep from being immersed in the horror he was about to unleash
on these unsuspecting creatures. He pulled the shell away from his face
and let them witness their greatest fear incarnate: their own
death. He watched in awe as
they first shuddered, scrambled away blindly in all directions. They tried
to scurry up the polished white walls only to fall back down, spindly legs
convulsing. There were the sickly sounds of some trampling others that
remained at the back of the cluster, yet unaware of the horrific visions
surging through their kindred. Like a violent flame the images spread
among them, causing them to retreat, repeatedly slamming into walls and
hatchways. Stark slowly placed
his shell back in place and walked though the remaining ones that had be
injured or killed in the witnessing. Stark kicked one out
of his way. He screamed at it. "You deserve it!
He looked down the
long corridor at the mindless creatures scurrying blindly in all
directions. "All of you!" He shouted in a now husky tone. " Just wait...
What I have shown will come true!" "And It Your fault!…
Not my fault!… Your fault!" He kicked the dead spider out of his way.
Stark continued to
mumble the same phrase. With each step he punched his sides. "My fault!
Your fault! My fault! Your fault! My fault! Your
fault..." He walked indignantly
towards what he believed to be the control center of the immaculate
ship. # Aeryn stood at the
center of the command tier only D'Argo and Chiana remained with her. On
the screen in front of them were Lucien Ix and
Neesa. He sat at his throne
on the Interion ship. At the front of his display of wealth next to his
throne the shell of Carellen. Two large cylinders with dead Ciax Spiders
floating in them flanked either side. "Thank you officer
Sun." Lucien patted one of the cylinders. "It has been interesting." He
shifted forward and smiled warmly to the Peacekeeper. "Remember my offer
it still stands." He slyly looked at Neesa then back to
her. Aeryn smirked slightly
but thought better to respond. "You have made
yourself a powerful ally today. Good luck to you." His image dissolved
replaced by the white ship turning away form Moya and quickly
disappearing. Aeryn turned to leave
them. Chiana stepped in her path. "What did Sir Wind Bag offer
you?" Aeryn stopped. The
slightest color came to her cheeks. D'Argo leaned forward, interested. She
turned back to the empty screen. "He offered me that
ship…" "What!" Chiana
giggled. "Now that’s an offer
not even you could refuse… What's the catch?" Her head dipped in the
direction of the screen. D'Argo laughed. Even as Aeryn started to speak he realized what Lucent wanted in trade.
"Let just say what he
wanted was not for sale." She shifted past Chiana and left the command
tier. Chiana joined D'Argo
in his laugh. "Frell I wish he had made me that
offer…" D'Argo continued to
laugh as he slowly lumbered out of the command tier. "Chi you would have
done it for nothing!" Her giggles ended
abruptly. "That’s not true!" She followed after him. "Well maybe… but only
once! But I wasn't even asked! I mean look at me way wouldn't he ask
me?" "Chiana I don’t know
maybe we will met up with him again and you can ask him yourself. Now leave me alone. I've got to go
get some rest." # John had needed
Pilot's help to track down Stark. He found him curled up just inside the
terrace next to the pressure hatchway. John walked into the
room stiffly. "Well there's the man of the hour… how ya
doing!" Stark just sat his
knees pulled up to his chin. He did not react to
John. He squatted down in
front of Stark, his legs screaming in agony from the effort. John had felt
as if he had been riding a horse for three days when he awoke from his
strange stupor. He remained embarrassed over what they had told him about
the spider bites. Thankfully Chi did not have a holo-recorder or he would
have never lived it down. Things had returned to their relative states of
normalcy. But that was a term.... relative. Stark had not spoken
since his return from the Interion ship. "Look, Stark, I just
want you to know that I am here if you wanna talk or
anything?” Stark broke his stare
of the stars and focused on his friend. "Thank you." He slowly looked away
once more. "OK, my friend. I will
leave you to the heavens. " John stood with a painful groan and left the
Terrace. Stark whispered out to
all that is yet to come. "If you only knew John, if you only
knew."
The End
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