A.U. Fic: Jane Doe Parts 1-8/8

[unohoo]

Title: Jane Doe (an AU fic)
By: unohoo (unohoo@cox.net)
Rated: PG-13 for mild sexual references.
Spoilers: Everything up to and including DWTB.
Time Frame: Sometime after DWTB. Moya and some of the crew have reunited with Crichton.


Disclaimer: Not mine, no profit, I’m keeping my day job.

Acknowledgements: My thanks to Runnik for beta reading my writing attempts and for his steady encouragement, to Nerri1029 for his beta, for finding those little inconsistencies that are so easily overlooked, and for his encouragement too. While _player_ joined the original beta read halfway through this fic, his candor and advice are invaluable, as I stink at grammar, and only spell things correctly because of spell check. But more importantly, he is a wonderful sounding board for my whacko, and not so whacko ideas, and has graciously agreed to review the earlier bits. Further, _player_ beta’d the entire fic for this revision and his contribution has gone beyond that of a beta to one of a consultant. Thank you _player_! And I also want to thank everyone who has ever taken the time to respond to any of my fics, this included, for without the feedback I would indeed be discouraged.

Note: This is an alternate universe fic, and while some of the characterizations have been garnered from Season 4 (Sikozu, for example) I am operating under the assumption that John Crichton was becoming sympathetic to Scorpius based on the end of “Into the Lion’s Den – Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” where it appeared he was offering Scorpius a way off the collapsing Command Carrier.


Jane Doe, Part 1

John was spending more and more time with Harvey, having fallen into the habit while alone on Elack. To stave off loneliness, John drank alone, but in his mind, Harvey was his drinking buddy. He kept up his increasingly frequent tête-à-têtes with Harvey, even after Sikozu’s arrival, and Moya’s return to the burial ground to retrieve Crichton.

He was in the middle of one of the dozens of reveries when Pilot called to him. “Commander Crichton, a Peacekeeper escape pod is close to Moya.”

“What’s it doing, Pilot?” John asked, breaking from his internal conversation long enough to respond.

“Nothing Commander. But someone may be in it, alive.”

John mulled Pilot’s revelation over for a few microts and asked, “Is there anything else close by, Pilot?”

“No Commander, there is nothing else for at least one million metras. The pod is alone.”

“Pull it in, Pilot.” John ordered, then commed Chiana and D’Argo to meet him as he ran to the docking bay.

==================

The pod sat motionless on the docking bay floor. D’Argo peered in through the port and saw someone sitting and staring ahead, not making a move to release the hatch. D’Argo tapped on the port to get the woman’s attention. It had no effect. Chiana and John moved closer. “She might be dead, she’s not moving.” D’Argo said.

“She’s NOT dead.” Chiana cocked her head to add emphasize to her statement.

“Okay Chiana,” John said, moving towards the pod. “We’d better open this fast. Anyone know where the release is?”

It took the three of them several microts to find the external release. The woman did not move as the hatch released. She continued to sit strapped in the seat. A microt after the hatch opened John, Chiana, and D’Argo were hit with a terrible odor.

“Oh god!” John gagged. “We’re too late. It wouldn’t smell like that if she were still alive.”

“If I can stand it, you can.” More keenly aware of the odor, D’Argo chided John. “I do not smell death.” D’Argo said, releasing the harness holding the woman in the seat. He could feel the warmth of her body, and her pulse. “She is breathing.”

John and D’Argo pulled the Sebacean from the pod and discovered the reason for the odor; she had soiled herself.

Chiana commed Jool, “Meet us in the med area. We have an injured Peacekeeper on Moya.”

========================

“ . . . So, in summary, there is nothing physically wrong with her. It’s her mind that is gone. This is the living death.” Jool said as she completed her examination.

“We can’t keep her on Moya, we’re not equipped to take care of her.” John said, stating the obvious, again. “Pilot, is there anyplace we can take her?”

“I will look Commander.”

=========================

‘But Harvey, this may be your only chance.’ John flatly stated, staring out of the large portal of the terrace. He liked being on the terrace alone with Harvey. At least here, no one would bother him while he had these private conversations with the homunculus.

‘It’s a very poor chance at that, John. First, you do not know if her brain is damaged beyond use. Second, you do not know how to get me out of your mind and into another’s. And lastly, I am a male in my mind, I am not sure I could deal with being female assuming we get past the first two hurdles.’ Harvey knew his days in Crichton’s brain were numbered. He was sure this was not the right opportunity, and he was afraid of what Crichton was suggesting.

‘We could find a Diagnosan who could determine if the brain can function correctly, then tell us how to move you from my brain to another. After that, it’ll be up to you. I’ve been spending way too much time with you, Harv, since we were stranded on Elack. It’s about time I rejoined the living. And if you insist on being a man, you could get a sex change, you know.’ The thought of Harvey in a female body nearly sent John into paroxysms of laughter.

==========================

“No Jool, I don’t know if it’ll work. I just want your best guess as to the health of Jane Doe’s brain.” Before asking the crew to go on a fool’s mission, John wanted to reduce the probability that the Sebacean’s brain could not be revived.

“Well, my scans show a normally functioning brain. I don’t understand why she can’t recover.” Jool said, shaking her head.

“So the lights are on, but nobody’s home.” John quipped. He was pleased there was a possibility he could both remove Harvey from his own head, but not condemn him to death. He had grown to like this wraith. “Pilot, we need to find a diagnosan. Is there a replacement at the place we visited over a cycle ago?”

“I don’t know, Commander, Pilot said.

“Any idea how long it’ll take to get there?”

“Approximately one monen”

==========================

It took Moya just under a monen to reach the female Diagnosan. She agreed to examine the Sebacean to determine the feasibility of Crichton’s plan. While her language skills were only marginally better than her predecessor’s, this Diagnosan worked alone. She did not want to risk her fate to a creature like Grundschlk.

The Diagnosan moved around Jane Doe, studying the readouts. “Body good. Brain good. Person gone.”

“Will you be able to put Harvey in her?” John asked. He was nervous. He had lived with Harvey for so long, that he felt the clone was a part of him, of his own personality. “What’s your guarantee?”

“Yes. Easy. Have right equipment. Small chance not work.”

“How small?”

The Diagnosan shrugged. She didn’t know how to answer the question in John’s language. She had John look at a screen where she showed him some numbers. The odds in favor were extremely good.

“When can you change the sex to male. Harvey is definitely a he.”

“Must wait. Need time Harvey unite body. Half cycle. Start procedure.” The Diagnosan said. She was ready to start the process. “Sit.”

“Give me a few microts. I need to discuss this with Harvey.” John said.


‘Well Harvey, are you ready to go through with this? You’ll have to live in a woman’s body for at least a half cycle. On Earth, whenever someone wanted to change their sex they had to take hormones for months before they could have the sex change operation.’

‘I am ready, John. You have convinced me that this may be my only opportunity. It is rare for the brain to be intact as this one is. I can endure being a woman for six months if that is what it takes.’ While still nervous about the procedure, Harvey was now eager to get started.

‘Have you thought about a name?’ John asked. ‘Harvey just doesn’t fit with that body.’

‘Call me Jane Rylani Harvey. I will look like my progenitor’s mother. It is to honor her.’ Harvey’s expression was at once sad and proud.

‘Why the Jane?’ John wondered why if Harvey was going to all the trouble of choosing Scorpius’ mother’s name, he would want to prefix it with the moniker he used.

‘To honor you! We have been intimate in nearly every sense. Jane sounds a little like John, and that is what you have called her.’

John did not tell Harvey what the name Jane Doe meant. ‘Ready?’

‘Yes.’

==========================

The rest of Moya’s crew was all gathered around John, Jane, and the Diagnosan, watching anxiously for, something, they didn’t quite know what to look for.

Jool was the first to speak, “John, is Harvey gone? Are you alright?”

John examined his mind; Harvey was gone. He felt quite alone for the first time in years. “Yeah, Harvey’s gone. I . . . I feel, uh, normal.” John looked at Jane. “Harvey, I mean, Jane... Say something. What do you feel?”

Jane stood up. Her expression was one of wonder. She examined her hands, touched her face. “A mirror, please... Can I have a mirror?”

John was stunned, “Jane you’re speaking English.”

“Yes John. That is your language, that is how you express your thoughts and that is now my language. I require another injection of microbes, I believe they died with this body’s original owner and the only other language I know is Scarran, as that is how Scorpius communicated with me.”

Jane walked awkwardly to a large mirror. She stopped and stared at her own image, no longer a visage in some other host. A very confused look came over Jane’s countenance and her body began to shake.

John reached her side first, not only because he was closest, but also because he signaled the others not to advance. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing!” Jane grabbed John’s arm and stifled the laughter. “I would never have imagined looking like this.” Jane gasped between giggles.

The laughter was infectious. “Me neither.” John said, trying unsuccessfully to suppress his laughter.

As the pair continued laughing, D’Argo paid the Diagnosan and said, “We should return to Moya now.”

==========================

Jane Doe, Part 2

“Take it easy, Jane,” John said, snorting in a vain attempt to stifle his laughter. “There’s plenty of food now, there will be plenty tomorrow, and this isn’t your last meal.” He couldn’t help but laugh as he admonished Jane for being so enthusiastic about the food. It was a new experience for her.

“Don’t pay any attention to him, Jane,” Chiana interrupted. “Eat as much as you want.”

“Everything is so delicious! I never knew how pleasurable something so simple as eating could be.” Jane said before eating the last morsel on her plate. She leaned back and asked, “Why do my clothes feel so tight?”

‘Snerk’ “You’re overfull, you ate too much. You’re going to pay for this by tomorrow.” John said. He enjoyed watching Jane experience life, where each experience was new to her. John wondered how many pediatricians would give their eyeteeth to watch an articulate person experience the wonder of life as an infant would. But this was no infant, body or mind.

D’Argo was the first to leave, followed quickly by Jool, Rygel, and Chiana. Sikozu excused herself, “I am tired, and it is your turn to clean up Crichton.”

“Yeah, Sikozu,” John said. Turning toward Jane, he added, “Harv, it’s a good time to continue your lessons in the mundane. Help me clean up.”

“John, you should get used to calling me Jane, at least for now,” she said. She rose and followed John’s lead clearing the table. “So many sensations. I am overwhelmed! How do you stand it?”

“What do you mean? Are you in pain?” John asked as he put the last of the food trays away and began cleaning the dishes.

“No, no pain. Quite the opposite, in fact. Being able to touch, to smell, to feel, and to taste is... It is all so very exciting. And this body is exquisite. Jool tells me it is... I am in perfect health.” Jane stroked her body while she talked; there was a slight flush visible in her flesh.

John found her provocative. He asked, “Hey, how ‘bout a real game of chess?”

“We have to clean-up, do we not?”

“Yeah, but we don’t have to do it this microt” John said cleaning the dishes. “Unless you’d rather talk, then we can finish cleaning up at the same time.”

“I have so many questions. There are so many things I never conceived. Like what happens to the food one consumes?” Jane asked with a sudden yawn.

“How much time did you spend in the Dumpster, anyway? All processes have waste, living as well as mechanical. Didn’t Jool go over any of this with you? And you look pretty tired. It’s been quite a day for both of us,” John said and sat down feeling every bit as tired as Jane looked.

“I am embarrassed to say that not only did I not connect the dots, but there were many things you did that I thought were boring. I never expected to exist in my own body. And, yes, Jool did her due diligence. She covered much ground, however, there is still much that I do not understand.” Jane said, sitting opposite John resting her head in her hands, her eyes half closed.

“Hmm, I can imagine Jool rushing through this stuff. I’ll have to talk with her. Or maybe it would be better if I spoke to Chiana. She might be more willing to spend time with you.” John said, seeing that Jane could barely keep her eyes open. “Why don’t you go to sleep? I’ll talk to Chiana in the morning.”

“Thank you. Good night John.” Jane said sleepily walking to her quarters.

=======================

John managed to corner Chiana early the next morning to solicit her help. He asked, “So Chiana, will you do this? Spend sometime with Jane and show her the ropes? She’s not stupid, it’s just that everything is really new to her.”

“I thought Jool went over all that with her.” Chiana said, resisting John’s plea. “You say she’s not stupid.”

“Chiana, think about it. We’ve all have had the privilege of growing up more or less normally. We had time to get used to the day-to-day things, like eating and pissing and walking and all those other things we take for granted. This is all new to Jane and she may have trouble getting used to everything in a day or two. Also, as she is a she, won’t there be some things she needs to be aware of as a female?” John asked. He was reaching on the last. He didn’t know if Sebaceans were like humans, if Nebari were even close in reproductive matters, or for that matter about any other species except for Hynerians as Rygel had let on how they reproduced.

“All right, I’ll do it. Ya know, Nebari aren’t like Sebaceans, but I know about Sebaceans. I can tell her what she needs to know.” Chiana said and left to get something to eat.

=======================

John spent the next several days with Sikozu, trying to recapture much of the wormhole data he had lost. He was rather enjoying the experience of working with someone as he once did, knowing Harvey was no longer resident in his mind, no longer second guessing him. Not that Harvey interfered that much, but it was always nagging at the back of John’s thoughts. At the same time, he had to admit he kind of missed the poohka. ‘I must still be losing it.’ he thought. ‘I’m finally myself, so why do I think I miss him?’

“Crichton, are you going work or are you going to be in my way?” Sikozu said, waving her hands in front of John’s blank stare. “There are other things I would rather do than chase wormholes.”

“Huh? No, uh, forget it. Let’s take a break. We’ve been going at it for a few hours and I’m hitting a wall. D’Argo, Chiana, and Jane are due back soon and we’ll have to help them with supplies. This’ll be a good stopping point,” John said, rubbing his temples to emphasize the futility of continuing.

“Jane seems to be assimilating to her body well. Surprisingly, it has not taken her long.” Sikozu’s statement surprised John.

“I didn’t think you noticed.” John said. He didn’t think Sikozu noticed much about anything except herself and science. She gave the impression that the rest of them could go to hell for all she seemed to care.

Pilot interrupted before Sikozu could respond, “Commander, it is D’Argo. They ran into some trouble.”

“Patch him through.” John said, he could feel the rattlers again and he knew it had to be serious. ‘At least they don’t want Jool,’ he thought, ‘I guess no one’s injured yet.’

“John, we need your help. Jane is missing. Chiana thinks she saw some one dragging her off. We have a plan, but we need a third person.” D’Argo said, then deferred to Chiana.

“I know where she is,” the Nebari stated. “I saw where they took her. We have time, but not much.”

“I’m on my way. Pilot, I need a pod,” John said, running to the docking bay.

=====================

“So you think she’s still in the shop where you last saw her?” John asked. He was incredulous. It seemed the Peacekeepers had left their mark on every planet they visited. ‘I guess they just don’t get that not every Sebacean is a Peacekeeper!’ he thought.

“Yeah! I’ll get his attention.” Chiana whispered, nodding toward the shopkeeper. “You get Jane.”


Chiana went into action, first trying on one pair of boots and then another, sending the shopkeeper to the stock room each time. On his third trip back, she tripped him up sending him flying into the accumulating pile of boots. “Oh, I’m so-oo sorry,” Chiana said, getting up and standing over the shop keeper, her feet on either side of his hips. Slowly and seductively, she lowered her body down to his, pinning him to the floor with her hips against his, her arms crossed over his chest. Chiana noted with satisfaction the shopkeeper could not be comfortable as he was lying on top of several pairs of boots.

“No, it’s okay,” he stammered, overwhelmed with her actions.

“Are you sure?” Chiana asked, rubbing harder against him.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he breathlessly let out.

Nuzzling her cheek against his, she whispered in his ear, “So, what’s your name?

John and D’Argo saw their chance and slipped up to the back room doorway, weapons at the ready. D’Argo nodded to John, staying just out of sight by the door while John crept in. Once inside, John saw Jane tied to a pole, a gag in her mouth. She looked frantic. Cautiously, John looked around the room, checking for threats. When he didn’t see anyone, John signaled D’Argo he was going to Jane to untie her. D’Argo maintained his position. An older woman suddenly appeared, wielding a knife and charged John, causing D’Argo to jump through the entry. Hearing D’Argo and sensing the woman behind him, John instinctively moved closer to protect Jane. D’Argo moved like a knight on a chessboard to get a clear shot at her neck with his tongue. She fell unconscious to the floor next to John. Nodding his thanks to D’Argo, John got the knife and removed Jane’s restraints and they silently slipped out of the store. The entire incident took less than 100 microts.

Meanwhile, the shopkeeper was reacting to Chiana’s cues, and started moving his hands up her thighs. When she saw her friends were clear with Jane between them, Chiana grabbed handfuls of his hair and slammed his head against the floor, putting him in a daze. She sprang up off him and kicked him in the crotch hard.

“You fekkin’ tralk!” the immobilized shopkeeper cried, balled up on his side, cradling his crotch in his hands.

“Frell you.” Chiana yelled, walking to the door. “Your boots are ugly too!” she threw them over her shoulder, yanking the door open and left.

=====================

It was fortunate this little incident did not go down in infamy as so many had before. Thankfully, no one was hurt and no one was the wiser that the “Great Crichton and D’Argo were here”. The incident raised the issue as to how was it that Harvey, in the form of Jane, knew nothing, or seemingly little, about defending herself. That would have to change.

The next morning found the crew sitting in the eating area. John used one of the lulls between conversations to broach the subject. “Jane, do you know anything about self defense?”

“I never had to, John. That is, until now.” Jane paused to take a bite of bread. “As you intimately know, I was either gathering data for Scorpius, as the good little automaton I was programmed to be, or banished to the dumpster, or saving your sorry ass!”

“Then why don’t you teach Jane how to fight now that your research has stalled?” Sikozu asked. She arrogantly added, “It is the most obvious solution.”

John agreed; Jane needed to learn. “Okay, Chiana, help Jane find something grungy to wear. Jane, I’ll meet you in the workout area.”

=====================

John began the lesson with some simple falls, showing her how to roll and spring up, go limp and trip the opponent up and protect the face and other vulnerable places on the body. They continued in this fashion for nearly an arn when John suggested they put the few pieces together in a mock attack. “Let’s take a short break to catch our breaths, then I want you to leave the area for sixty microts, then come back. I’ll be hiding somewhere and try to attack you.”


John hid behind a storage unit and waited for Jane to enter. He noted she was cautious. ‘Good’ he thought. ‘She’s learning fast.’ He waited until she was slightly in front of the crate then jumped at her from behind. She sensed his movement before he could touch her and spun to her right, grabbing his right arm, and pulled him forward as she caught his leg with her foot, tripping him. Reflexively, John twisted around to make sure that he landed on his back and not his face. He unintentionally caught Jane’s legs up in his own, causing her to come crashing down on top of him as he hit the deck.

John felt Jane’s hot breath on his neck while she struggled to free herself. Her legs were still caught in his when she pushed against the floor with her hands causing her hips to push into his.

John froze. His expression was unreadable.

“What is wrong? Are you hurt?” Jane said. She stared at him, not moving herself.

“Ah, no. Let’s bag it for today. We’ll pick back up with this tomorrow.” John said, releasing her feet and pushing Jane off of him.

Jane walked towards the door alone. When she turned she could see he was still lying on his back. “Aren’t you going to get up?”

“No, go ahead, it’s okay.”

Jane nodded and turned to leave the area.

“Crap!”

=====================

Jane Doe, Part 3

Jane found Chiana rummaging through the food stores. She thought she knew what had just happened, but never having directly experienced these sensations she needed to talk to someone about it. She hoped Chiana would be able to help her. Before she could say anything Chiana scrunched her nose up, “Phew, Jane! You’re all sweaty. Aren’t you going to shower?”

Caught off guard by Chiana’s reaction, Jane sniffed under her arm and wrinkled her nose. “In a microt.” Not bothering with any preliminaries, Jane launched right into her question, “Something happened just now with John. He pretended to attack me and I threw him to the floor, but our legs became entangled and I was brought me down on top of him. We were both hot and sweaty from exercise, but then he seemed to get hotter. Also, I felt something, right around here.” Jane pointed to her crotch.

“Eh – heh – heh - heh. Was that John or you?” Chiana knew immediately what had happened, but she was really surprised that Jane was asking this question. “Didn’t you experience anything through John?”

“It was me and it was John. I need... confirmation.” Jane said. Edging closer to Chiana she continued, “Much of what I could experience through John was filtered. He was able to keep me from experiencing the intimate and what I did experience was in a male’s body.”

“Ya know it was sex that you felt, dontchya?” Chiana said. “So, dijya like the feeling?” Chiana had stopped looking for whatever it was she was looking for and gave Jane her full attention.

“Yes. I want more now that it is real; now that I am real.” Jane said and sat down. “I want to experience everything!”

“So let me get this straight, you sorta had sex through John, but not really.” Chiana said, shaking her head. “Now you want to see what it is really like.”

“Yes.”

“As a man or as a woman?”

“Ultimately, as a man,” Jane replied. “But it would be interesting for me to experience these sensations now.”

“Are ya interested in John?”

“I don’t know,” Jane said and rested her chin in her hands, a dreamy look came into her eyes.

“I think yer outta luck, he only wants Aeryn.” Chiana said, looking directly into Jane’s light brown eyes. “Go wash up then help me with the midday meal. We’ll see what we should do.”

=========================

John was experiencing his own confusion. How he could react like that to ‘Harvey’? He quickly showered and went to the lab to resume his neglected research. He found Sikozu studying some equations. “Hey.”

“Crichton, there is something wrong with this set of equations, but I don’t see what it is. The flaw eludes me.” Sikozu turned the screen towards the empty stool.

John sat down and stared at the equations, but he was too distracted to really see them. “I dunno... They’re not making a whole lotta sense to me. Nothin’s making sense to me right now.”

“Whatever.” Sikozu turned the screen back and resumed working through the equations.

John watched her for a few microts and then decided he would only waste her time by staying. He left the area and commed Pilot. “Pilot, where’s D’Argo?”

“He is in his ship, Commander.” Pilot said.

‘Of course, where else would he be?’ John thought.

=========================

John peered in through Lo’La’s hatch. “Hey Big D. Can I come in?”

“Sure John. What do you want?” D’Argo asked turning away from the console.

John was embarrassed, and he knew it showed. He plunged right in, feet first. “I was showing Jane some self defense moves, and I pretended to attack her. She managed to throw me to the floor, but our legs got entangled and she landed on top of me. I got aroused and I don’t know what to feel anymore.”

“Gasp! Not Harvey! Hah, hah, hah. I met Harvey through the Hangi. Hah, hah, hah.” D’Argo gasped for breath, when another round of laughter suddenly hit him. D’Argo caught his breath, and laughing said, “John, stop! Tell me you are joking!”

John found the laughter infectious. “Hah – hah – hah. D’Argo, she doesn’t look like Harvey, she looks like a beautiful Sebacean woman; she looks like Jane.”

“What about Aeryn? I thought you were still stuck on her.” D’Argo rested his hand on John’s shoulder.

“Aeryn left.” John said. He studied his hands to avoid direct eye contact. “Uh, ya know what they say, D, if you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with.”

“Hah – hah – hah! I’ll have to remember that one myself.” D’Argo said, punching John’s upper arm. “But HARVEY? And I thought Jane was going to get a sex change five or six monens from now.” D’Argo said.

“Yeah, what was I thinking? It’s almost like I miss having Harvey in here.” John tapped his forehead.

=========================

Chiana ran up to John just as he was about to enter his chamber. “John, I gotta talk to you.”

“Okay, come in.” John said and sat down on the bed. “Shoot.”

“What do you feel about Jane?”

“Jane told you? Oh man! Does the whole galaxy know now, too?” John said, shaking his head.

“Yeah, she told me.” Chiana said. “ Do you like her?”

“This is Harvey we’re talking about Chiana.” He sighed and asked, “What’d she say?”

“Uh, she wants the experience and I know she likes you John.”

“Chiana, whaddya have in mind?”

“Why don’t you show her some things? You might like her, ya know.” Chiana remained standing while she spoke, her hands on her hips, her body slowly pivoting back and forth.

“No way!” With a sigh, he added, “Look, Chiana, this is all just very confusing for me too.”

“Yeah, just how confusing is it for Jane?” Chiana asked. She left allowing the question to hang.

John pondered this last bit. He was so fixated on himself; he never gave a thought to what Jane might be going through. He needed to correct that.

=========================

John found Jane on the terrace. It was as though she read his mind. He found peace here, and he liked it for the privacy it afforded in spite of the large open space. “Jane, I’m glad you’re here. I’d like to talk with you.” John walked up behind Jane and put his hand on her arm. When she spun around and glared at him, he could see anger in her expression, her eyes pierced his. “What’s wrong?”

“I never experienced emotion directly. It suddenly overwhelms. I do not know how to handle it.” The anger dissipated as Jane spoke. “What did you want to talk about?”

“You. What you want,” John said, looking directly at her. “Do ya think you’re Jane or Harvey?”

“I’m not sure,” Jane said. “Chiana thinks I am sexually attracted to you, and I might be. I have never been a woman before. I have always thought of myself as male as I was a male construct inside another male’s head.”

This was more the Harvey John remembered than the one he had witnessed for the past week and a half. “Whaddya see when you look in a mirror? Do you see Jane or do you see Harvey?” John asked.

“At first, when I would look in a mirror, I would shake my head to get this female body to disappear. It never did. To answer your question, I see Jane.” Jane moved closer to John as she spoke.

“And do you want to remain a female?” John asked, backing away slightly.

“Probably not. I still think of myself as Harvey.” Jane said. “But, what is the expression you have used? Ah yes... Strike while the iron is hot. That is good advice. I want to experience much more before I become a male, and I have nearly six months to do so.”

John found this unsettling. But to be fair to Jane/Harvey he had to persist. “Jane, if I didn’t know you’re Harvey, I’d find you attractive. We’ll just have to be friends, okay? So tell me, how can I help you?”

“We’ll be at another commerce planet in about a week. I want to go there and learn about men and women. I want to experience... life.” Jane said. “Until then, you can continue with my lessons in self defense.” Jane left the terrace.

=========================

John stood by the transport pod with Jane, waiting for D’Argo and Chiana. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay with you? Chiana and D’Argo can get what we need.”

“I am sure John. Think of this as ladies night out.” Jane teased John. “After all, it is your turn to do the shopping. Maybe you will get lucky and find some chocolate. I would love to really taste it.”

“Humph.” John grunted. He looked up to see D’Argo and Chiana entering the bay, joking and laughing. It had been a long time since he saw them that easy with each other. “Okay, let’s get going.”

=========================

“Jane, you did very well, I’m proud of you.” Chiana practically gloated. “Did you enjoy yourself?”

“Yes, yes I did, and you are an excellent teacher, Chiana” Jane said. She winked at Chiana as they walked. “Do we have time to get a Fellip Nectar before we have to return to the pod?”

“Yeah, we can go to that bar across the square.” Chiana said, pointing at a building. She grabbed Jane’s hand and hurried he into the bar, unaware of what was about to greet them there.


Scorpius sat alone, in the shadows, contemplating his future. He had been very lucky to escape from Grayza’s prison physically intact. Her particular brand of torture still made him shudder. He was having a hard time differentiating her from the Scarrans he so loathed. But the worst thing she did was to make him doubt his allegiance.

“Is this what the Peacekeepers have become?” Scorpius looked up with this thought in his mind and thought he saw the ghost of his mother. He gasped “Rylani.” He then noticed that she was with the Nebari that was with John Crichton. She was very much alive. His skin, pale by even Peacekeeper standards, went paler still, his heart pounded in his chest. He held his breath.

Chiana and Jane turned towards the cry and simultaneously whispered, “Scorpius”.

==================

Jane Doe, Part 4


Chiana and Jane stood their ground as they stared at Scorpius; he was sitting by himself, not making a move towards them. “Are you alone?” Chiana asked defiantly. “Yer sure look far from yer home turf.”

Scorpius didn’t respond. He continued to stare at Jane.

“Why are you staring at me?” Jane asked.

“Your name... what is your name?” Scorpius demanded.

“What’s it to you?” Chiana interjected. She tried to reconstruct the name he called Jane when he first spotted her. ‘Rylani, yeah that’s what he said.’ Chiana suddenly had a vision of a beautiful Sebacean woman, one who looked like Jane, begging for mercy. A Scarran leered over her.

Scorpius looked away.

Chiana walked around to face Scorpius and sat down. She looked in his eyes and saw pain. Chiana spoke in a much softer voice, “This is NOT Rylani, Scorpius. This is Jane.”

Chiana rose to get another table. Scorpius put his hand on her wrist to prevent her from leaving. “Is Crichton here?” Scorpius whispered. “I would like to speak with him.”

A kaleidoscope of emotions ran through Chiana. She remembered how awful it had been for John when Scorpius was after the wormhole data, and how much he had suffered because of Scorpius. But she sensed Scorpius was being truthful, and she felt, rather than knew that all was not right with him. Chiana erred on the side of caution, not yet trusting her instincts. “I... I can get a message to him.”

“Tell him I have come to partially agree with his assessment and that I am alone. There is no one else here with me.”

Chiana cocked her head.

“He will understand. Give him that message. I will be here for only two more arns.”

==================

John stared at Chiana, pausing before he asked, “Are you sure he is alone and he didn’t follow you, Chiana?” He was both fearful and curious how his nemesis should have ended up in the Unchartered Territories by himself and seemingly alone. He knew Chiana would not be able answer his question, but he asked anyway. “This isn’t a trap, is it?”

“I dunno. John, he kept staring at Jane. He called her Rylani.” Chiana looked down as she spoke. “I felt I read his mind. I saw a woman who looks like Jane who was being tortured by a Scarran... I felt Rylani means a great deal to him.”

Jane and John looked at each other. They knew what Scorpius thought he saw. “I’ll talk to him,” John said.

Jane walked up to John and spoke so no one else could hear her, “John, he thinks I’m his mother. What are you going to do?”

“We both know you look like Rylani. Enough so you’ve picked that for a middle name. The only thing that will prove you are not Rylani is to test your DNA against his. I’m not sure you’d want to do that. I s’pose this body could’ve been Rylani.” John said.

“That is not possible,” Jane said. “He would have known if they were lying to him.”

“Ah, but what if they didn’t know? The Peacekeepers reconstructed the evidence, they could’ve assumed she was dead.” John said

“So, the only way we will really know is if we test the DNA. Will he have to come on Moya?” Jane asked. She was worried. Now that Harvey was flesh and blood, she felt quite vulnerable in the bar, standing next to Scorpius. “I don’t know how well I can mask my persona, John.”

“We’ll see.” John turned toward D’Argo, “C’mon D’Argo, I think I’m gonna need you.”

==================

“Crichton! D’Argo, sit down.” Scorpius seemed pleased to see them, which immediately caused John to feel the warning rattlers.

“Okay Scorpy, I got the message. Just what do you agree with?” John asked, sitting down opposite of Scorpius. D’Argo remained standing in the background.

“I have had to reassess my opinion of Peacekeepers. I no longer think they will save us.” Scorpius said and paused before continuing. “Just the opposite, in fact. They too are a danger, and the Scarrans are still the threat I say they are.” Scorpius placed his hands on the table, palms down. ”Ka D’Argo, sit down. There is no one with me.”

Crichton nodded to D’Argo. He was going on pure gut, no Harvey available to advise him. “And why should I care?”

“Oh, I think you do. Or was that comment, ‘one evil at a time’ supposed to mean me? That is not what your energy was telling me.” Scorpius said.

“You’re right. It’s the Peacekeepers who are the real threat. But what can I do? I don’t have the facilities, and it looks like you don’t either, Scorpy.”

“What you do not know is I was imprisoned. Grayza destroyed all but the data I have here.” Scorpius said, tapping his head. “You hold the key to stopping the Scarrans.” Scorpius put his hands together forming an arrow pointed at John.

“Yeah, and like we can trust each other.” John said. “Hell, after what you’ve put me through, I don’t want to. Why should I?” John leaned forward emphasizing his words.

“I can not answer that, John. You are correct; I do not trust you. Consider that I am alone. I no longer am working under the aegis of the Peacekeepers. I am... an escaped prisoner.

“One more thing, John. It is of a personal nature. There is a woman with you whom the Nebari claims to be Jane. She appears to be someone from my past.” Scorpius said, wincing momentarily as he brought up a painful memory.

“In spite of her appearance, Scorpius, Jane is not Rylani. She has no recollection of having been in Scarran hands, nor having given birth to you. Do ya think she’d forget that? Besides, you told me your mother died giving birth to you.”

“I have always believed so until I saw Jane. The Peacekeepers could have made that assumption based on evidence they found. Less likely, although possible, they could have... lied to me.” Scorpius said. “If Jane is Rylani, I assume her memories were suppressed. I would like to have our DNA compared.”

“Only if Jane agrees. Where can we find you?” John said.

“I will wait here.”

========================

“John, what will the DNA test prove? Even if this body once was Rylani, I am not.” Jane was uncertain as to whether to go through with the test, but she could see the advantage of making sure Scorpius did not think she could possibly be his mother.

“How old did Jool say the body is?” John asked.

“Seventy, maybe eighty cycles” Jane said.

“Well, you’re old enough to be his mother, so it is possible. But it’s up to you, Jane.”

“Let’s do it. I don’t think it is possible for Rylani to have survived the birth. I think the Peacekeepers got it right.” Jane said. “John, as strange as it may sound to you. I also want to know. Although, it will be quite strange for him to be both my father and son.”

========================

“The results are fairly conclusive, Scorpius,” Jool said. She met John, D’Argo, Jane and Scorpius in the med area on Moya after completely the tests. “Jane is not your mother. However, there are slightly more matches than one would find by coincidence alone, so you may be distantly related. There is not quite enough evidence to go on either way.”

Jane reacted first; this was good, if not unexpected news. “Well, Scorpius, I hope you are satisfied that I am not your mother. Joolushko, did you say that we possibly are related?”

Scorpius interjected before Jool could answer, “What does it matter? That may explain why you look like her, but that is all. I am satisfied.”

John was waiting for them when Scorpius left the med area. “John, you were right, she is not my mother,” Scorpius said. “I would like to stay with you on Moya.”

“Why?”

“Is it not obvious? I am a wanted man as are you. We could benefit from each other.”

“Yeah, as if you’re not still interested in wormholes,” John said.

“Certainly that is a future consideration. As things stand now, I know you will not accept my assistance... will you John?”

“Ya got that right.” John said. “Okay, I’ll ask the rest. It’s not my decision alone and everyone has to agree, including Pilot and Moya. It has to be unanimous. I’ll stay out of it so ya might have a tiny chance.

========================

Jane Doe, Part 5


Scorpius presented his case, then left Pilot’s chamber. The door closed behind him and he was steered toward the kitchen by several DRD’s. He acquiesced to them.


“Are you out of your frelling mind John? He is the person you wanted dead by your own hands, is he not? Harvey must have frelled with your mind a lot worse than we thought, which was pretty much already completely frelled!” D’Argo exclaimed on the hairy edge of a hyper rage.

“Hey, I resemble that remark.” Jane smirked. “Seriously John. His presence on Moya can only put us all in great danger. For instance, I don’t know how much he is picking up on me and how much I’m able to mask. The rest of you can’t even do that. He will know when you are lying and he will know exactly what your buttons are. I fully expect him to use that knowledge; it’s just a matter of when. I’m voting NO.”

The rest weighed in with no votes, except for Sikozu who was in favor of Scorpius’ residency.

Scorpius had made a secondary request to John knowing the probability of a unanimous vote in his favor was miniscule. He wanted transport to a rebel planet that was three days away even with Starburst. John put in this request on Scorpius’ behalf.

“Moya and I will tolerate transport. We are willing to do it if everyone else is.” Pilot was the first to respond.

“I... I don’t know John. I got a bad feeling about this.” Chiana said, shaking her head.

“Is this a vision thing again Chiana?” John asked.

“No, I’ll go with everyone else.” Chiana said.

“I’ll agree, but only if the DRD’s watch him for the duration.” D’Argo said.

The vote this time was mixed between abstentions and qualified yeses. The result was they would take Scorpius to the rebel planet.


“Okay Scorpy, here’s the scoop. You probably sense it already, but you didn’t get the vote you needed to join us. But, we will take you to Renlar if you’re willing to let some DRD’s watch you 24/7. Find another ride if that’s objectionable. If not, get your stuff and get back here ASAP.”

“You do have a unique way of expressing yourself, John Crichton.” Scorpius said. Pausing for a microt, he patted the case he brought with him and added, “I accept the DRD’s, and I have what I need with me.”

=======================

The next morning Scorpius walked into the dining chamber last, hesitating at the entrance. “Sit down and help yourself,” John said, motioning to a stool.

A few trays of food were available for everyone. Jool put a plate and utensils down where Scorpius sat. “Help yourself to what ever you want. The cups are near the beverages.” Jool concluded.

Jane stood up and pushed the stool away from the table and said. “Chiana, I’ll be available to continue our project once you are through eating.”

Scorpius tilted his head while Jane spoke and asked, “John, is Jane speaking your language?”

Jane heard Scorpius and hesitated before leaving. John saw her hesitation and decided that the best thing to do would be to tell the unadorned truth. He said yes to Scorpius, but did not elaborate. Scorpius did not press the issue.

Jool fussed at the last few morsels of food on her plate. She took a last drink from her cup, frowned, and brought her plates to the sink. Facing the others she asked, “I’ve been taking inventory and we are low on some common medicines. Are we going to be near a commerce planet soon?”

“Ask Pilot. I think we might be, but I’m not sure.” D’Argo said, speaking for the first time since Scorpius joined them. “Can’t it wait until we drop HIM off at Renlar?” he added, nodding towards Scorpius.

“We are really low on some herbs and things we use daily.” Jool justified her request; “It would be better if we could stop first. Let me ask Pilot, and if there is a place convenient enough we’ll stop. Otherwise, it will have to wait.” She turned around and walked out to talk to Pilot.

“Why don’t all of you just comm Pilot instead of going to him?” Scorpius asked.

“Well now, Scorpy, Pilot doesn’t get out much, and he likes company. We stop by and see him when we can.” John drawled his words.

“Hmmm,” Scorpius grunted, stood, and left the central chamber.

=======================

“Scorpius!” Jool exclaimed, closed her eyes and put her hand over her heart. She was concentrating so completely on the inventory prior to arriving at Trumpet that she did not hear Scorpius enter the medical area. “You startled me! Do you need something?”

“I have an injury that is not healing properly. Will you look at it?” Scorpius asked.

“Yes,” Jool said and prepared the examination area. “Do you need the room to be cooler?”

“No, I can tolerate the warmth.” Scorpius said walking toward Jool. “The wound is on my back.” He added, removing the top of his thermal suit to expose his back and allowing Jool to examine the injury.

Jool saw an angry wound, about five denches long. It was infected. She asked, “Why didn’t you see someone about this before?”

“I can not afford it.”Scorpius said. “Will you be able to help?”

“Yes. Is there an anesthetic you can tolerate?” Jool asked, “This can be very painful.” She showed Scorpius the anesthetics she pulled from storage. However, none of them were recommended for Scarrans, let alone a Scarran-Sebacean hybrid.

“I will withstand the pain,” he said and gripped the edge of the table.

Jool immediately started working on the wound. There was a lot of dirt and foreign matter in it, which certainly would have prevented healing. But, the infection was localized and there were no further complications. Scorpius remained perfectly still and silent throughout the entire procedure.

Jool completed dressing the wound. “Make sure you get someone to look at it in a few days.” She said and started to walk away.

“Why did you lie?” Scorpius asked. He grabbed Jool’s hand before she could back away.

There was a quaver in Jool’s voice when she responded, “Lie? What are you talking about? I’m not lying.”

“You lied about... Jane.” Scorpius said.

Jool’s hair turned bright red. In a barely audible voice she said, “No, Jane is not your mother.”

Scorpius stared at Jool, saying nothing. He could see she was hiding something, still her energy signature indicated she was not lying. He released her hand.

=======================

D’Argo stayed with Scorpius while the rest of the crew went to Trumpet for the supplies; John and Jool searching for the needed medicines, Chiana and Jane on their own mission to find the right scent for Jane to wear.

John waived them off and said, “Hey Chiana, Jane, one arn and then we meet back here.”

“We’ll be there!” Chiana exclaimed. “Come on Jane,” she added pulling Jane away from John towards the agora. When Jane seemed reluctant to leave John’s side Chiana asked, “Are you sweet on John?”

Jane laughed. “Sweet on John? How is that possible? I’m going to be Harvey soon.”

“I don’t know,” Chiana said, staring into Jane’s eyes. “I see you more and more as Jane. What will you be after five more monens as a woman? You’re even acting like a woman now, and it’s only been a few weekens.”

Jane looked sideways at Chiana, “Regardless, I want to experience everything this body can before I decide what to do.” She swung around to face Chiana and added, “Just think how well I can pleasure a woman if I know what she wants first hand.”

Chiana thought about this last remark. It was becoming more and more difficult to ‘see’ Harvey and not Jane. “Jane, I think you are becoming a woman. You aren’t Harvey anymore, fer sure!”

They continued to the square, but before they reached the first shop, Chiana stopped walking and Jane bumped into her. Chiana called out, “Stark! Stark where are you?”

Jane grabbed Chiana by the shoulders and asked. “Do you see Stark?” Jane scanned the agora.

“Yeah, I thought I just did, there.” Chiana said, pointing between two buildings. At that moment she saw a hooded figure creeping around the shops and goods that were displayed in the open. She grabbed Jane’s hand, spinning her around and pointed, “That’s him there. I’m sure!”

“It’s very hard to tell from here, but you could be right.” Jane said, following Chiana’s lead by breaking into a slow run.

“Stark, is that you?” Chiana panted, a bit out of breath.

The hooded figure turned and looked at Chiana. It was Stark. He reached over and touched her face as if he needed reassuring that she was really there. He suddenly smiled and hugged Chiana. “Chiana! I thought I’d never see you again. Who is this with you? Where are the others? We must get out of here. The Peacekeepers, they were here, coming back, soon, . . . soon. Where’s Crichton? The torrent ending, Stark pointed at Jane and asked again, “Who is she?”

Focusing on the one important thing Stark said, as far as she was concerned, Jane said, “We didn’t see any Peacekeepers here. Moya didn’t pick any up on the scans. Are you sure?” Then, remembering how John handled meeting new people, Jane tried to shake Stark’s hand “Hello, I am Jane, I joined the others on Moya about a monen ago.”

Stark stared at Jane, not taking her hand. “I’ve been looking for Moya for the past two monens. I must go back with you,” he said.

“We’re meeting John and Jool at the pod in about a half an arn, Jane said. “Why don’t we go there now and wait for them.”

“No! Can’t wait. Peacekeepers... on their way... now!” Stark said.

=======================

Jane greeted John and Jool before they could enter the pod. Her expression was unreadable, but her words were precise, “Stark is in the pod with Chiana. I can hardly wait for him to see Scorpius.”

John expressed a myriad of emotions but the one that remained on his face was one of confusion. He asked, “Can’t Stark wait for us to return?”

“I don’t think so.” Jane said and glanced up at the pod. “He told us he has been seeking Moya for at least two monens, and the Peacekeepers were here and are coming back soon, as far as he can tell.”

“Houston, we have a problem.”

========================

Jane Doe, Part 6.


John managed to comm D’Argo before Stark ran down the steps to greet him. Grabbing Stark as the Bannik jumped off the last step, John exclaimed, “Stark! I’m so glad to see you. How’ve you been?”

“Leave now!“ Stark cried, pulling John towards the pod’s steps. He turned his head towards Chiana and cried, “Hurry, hurry! We have to leave NOW!”

Starks pleading and prodding had the effect of the four of them trying to go through the hatch at once, causing John to dissolve in laughter. It seemed to have the opposite effect on Jool as her hair turned redder and her expression became one of general annoyance. This made Stark even more frantic, defeating his desire to leave immediately. Jane efficiently untangled the mess, pulling one person at a time through the hatch. They were finally able to leave.


They were on their way to Moya having just left the planet’s gravity claim when D’Argo commed them. He said, “Moya picked up a retrieval squad on the outer edge of her senses and they’re headed this way.”

“How long?” John replied.

“Very soon.”

“Um, we’ll be there in a quarter arn...”

“That’s not soon enough, John,” D’Argo interrupted. “We’ll head your way and starburst as soon as Moya has you.”

“I told you! I told you!” Stark anguished, then strained to look out the portal, as if he could will Moya to pick them up sooner.

Moya immediately headed for the pod and pulled them in just as the Vigilante appeared in the solar system. They starburst before Moya was detected.

======================

“Stark, I kept your mask,” John said. “Thank you.”

The others had already left the maintenance bay, leaving John and Stark by themselves. John needed to tell Stark about what had transpired as gently as possible. For one thing, he couldn’t hide Scorpius’ presence until they reached Renlar. He would have to broach it now, hoping Stark would be able to come to some sort of terms with his former tormentor who was currently on Moya with them. Together, they walked to John’s quarters.

When they got about half way to their destination, Stark suddenly froze mid-stride, spun around and said, “I feel a presence! Evil! There’s evil!”

“Calm down, will you?” John exclaimed.. “First, I need to tell you what’s happened since I got your mask, THEN you will understand.” He mentally added, ‘I hope.’ They continued down the corridor and John added in a soft voice, “C’mon, let’s get you that mask.”

======================

“ ...We were successful, thanks to Crais’ and Talyn’s sacrifice, and we were able to destroy Scorpy’s wormhole project.” Having delivered the condensed version to Stark, John became quiet. He didn’t know how he would deliver the next few pieces of information. He especially didn’t know which Stark would react to the most: Aeryn leaving or Scorpius being on Moya now. John also decided not to let Stark know about Jane, not just yet.

“Stark, you’re not going to like what I have to say next.” John heard himself repeating his twin’s words. “Aeryn left. She sought a group of renegades... She didn’t... “

“Nooo!, Stark cried out. “It can’t be! Zhaan! My beautiful Zhaan.” Stark started to flail around wildly, his eye unfocussed.

“She didn’t let me come with her and I don’t know how to find her. You can help me.” John said this, partly hoping that Stark could help him, but also hoping this request might have a calming effect. It appeared to. He decided to drop the next bomb, hardly giving Stark a chance to assimilate the first. “You said you sensed evil. What you sensed is Scorpius. We are taking him to Renlar...“

“Scor... Scor... Scorpius! H – h- h- h- how can... Wh... “ Stark’s eye glazed over. This was more than he could bear.

John comforted Stark. “He won’t be here for long, and he no longer has any real power,” John said. “I don’t think there is much he can do to us now in his present situation and he’ll be leaving within thirty-six arns.”

======================

John left Stark with Jool and went to talk to Scorpius in his quarters. When he entered he saw three DRD’s watching him. John said, “Scorpius, we gotta talk.”

“What is it John?” Scorpius asked. “Does Stark know?”

“Yup, and that’s what I want to talk about.” John said, glaring at Scorpius, his anger rising. “Scorpius, I can almost understand what you did to me. As horrible as it was, I can see the reasoning behind it. I think you were wrong to have done those things, but there was logic behind it. HOWEVER, what you did to Stark was wrong!”

“I can see you are angry,” Scorpius stated. “There was logic behind my actions but I do not believe you can see it in your present state.” He returned the stare.

“You’re right about my anger, but try me. I think I’m capable of seeing ‘logic’ in my present condition. And I’m not pointing Winona at you, you’re not being subjected to your beloved Aurora chair as Stark and I have been, and other than my own instincts, I can’t tell if you’re lying. However, my instincts are usually pretty good.

“So, what was the logic in repeatedly subjecting Stark to the chair?” John asked. “You had determined the chair’s limitations and capabilities early in its development. So, why did you continue to torture him?” John began to cool down.

“That is not how it worked, John,” Scorpius said. “I was continually refining the chair’s design. I needed it to find secrets the mind held. The more it damaged the subject’s brain, the less useful it was to me. Stark has a resilient mind. I could test the limitations of the chair with him,” he added and folded his arms across his chest.

“No, Scorpy, I don’t buy that. Why the hell did you use it on him daily, or more. Doesn’t each species mind work differently? How could Stark’s results be much use to you? You didn’t seem to care how much you damaged me, so I don’t think that is what you were after. It was just plain cruel after the first couple of times.” Yelling, he added, “He had NOTHING to show you, and you knew it.” Once finished he started pacing to dissipate the anger that reemerged.

Scorpius faced John again and spoke in that quiet controlled voice which contained more menace than if he shouted. “Your anger is clouding your judgment, and you do not understand how the Aurora chair works.”

“No! I DO understand. You tortured me in that chair, too. You couldn’t get the information out of me either, and not because I was consciously hiding anything.” John was shouting again. “Hell, I couldn’t. And you knew right away that I was telling the truth about not being a spy. Why couldn’t you have just backed off and asked for my help? You didn’t try. I think you did want to torture me, and especially Stark. You got even for your childhood, didn’t you?” Having vented, John’s anger left and he sat down.

“This is neither the time nor the place to discuss my childhood. By showing you my history, I hoped to get your cooperation so that WE could defeat a galactic threat. I was wrong to have expected that.” Scorpius said. He remained standing, looking down at John. “And regardless of what YOUR logic is telling you, I did have my reasons, and they were legitimate. How legitimate were your reasons for destroying the command carrier with over fifty thousand people on it?” Scorpius paused and saw John was about to speak. He held out his hand and continued, “No, do not answer that. As for Stark, I will make sure to minimize contact until I leave.

“However, I am curious about Jane. Why is she speaking your language? English is it? Jane, is not a Sebacean name, it sounds more like it came from you, or your people,” Scorpius said.

“It’s not my place to tell you, Scorp. Ask Jane.”

======================

Stark found himself drawn towards Zhaan’s old quarters. He hoped to find peace there. The news about Aeryn was especially troubling. “Why did Zhaan sacrifice her life if Aeryn was going to leave John?” Stark anguished. As he got closer to Zhaan’s old quarters he noticed that Moya was mostly healed. He nearly walked into Jane when he entered the room.

“Stark, what are you doing here?” she asked.

“Zhaan is here,” Stark said. Walking around and touching the walls, he added, “I still feel her presence. Why are you here?”

“No reason.” Watching him, she asked, “Who is Zhaan?”

“My beloved,” Stark said. “She sacrificed herself for Aeryn.” Stark saw Jane look at him questioningly, and added, “Aeryn is John’s love. But he told me she left.”

“I didn’t know. She must have left before I came here.”

Stark replayed the words in his mind. “Jane, you are speaking like Crichton.”

“What do you mean? I do not sound like him, do I?”

“No. Yes. I mean, your language sounds the same as John’s. How can that be?”

Jane told the literal truth, “I learned his language. Practice makes perfect you know.”

======================

“John, Stark and Scorpius know that I speak your language. What should we do?” Jane asked. She had cornered him when he was on his way to the lab. “I’m not sure that Stark believes that I don’t know who Zhaan and Aeryn were, um, are.”

John bit his lower lip before speaking, “I don’t know. I know Scorpius suspects something, but he’ll be gone tomorrow. Stark is another matter. I really don’t know what we should do about him.”

“Okay. Will we tell him as soon as we unload Scorpius?” Jane said. “At least then we can all watch him FREAK out!”

“You can’t be serious?”

“I am. We will be done with it and not have to worry about his finding out.” Jane countered with her own brand of logic. “Well, I am tired. Good night John.”

“’Night Jane.”

======================

“Commander, we are near the Renlar system,” Pilot said, his image in the clamshell in front of Crichton.

“Get the pod ready,” John said. “I’ll get Scorpius,”

“Yes, Commander”


“How well do you know the leader?” John asked, hoping that by delivering Scorpius to Renlar he would get cooperation to help find Aeryn, if it was possible.

“Captain Molayne first interrogated me when I turned myself into the Peacekeepers having escaped from the Scarran Dreadnought. I was disappointed to learn he had defected. He was the one who helped me acquire a position within the Peacekeepers. Then, I thought he had turned traitor, but I now know better,” Scorpius said, walking to the pod.

John’s comm came to life just as they were entering the maintenance bay. Pilot yelled, “Commander! Renlar is surrounded by Peacekeepers.” A display lit up and they could see several Marauders approaching the planet’s atmosphere. There was no larger ship visible nearby.

“Pilot, scan for a Command Carrier, a Vigilante, or anything that’s Peacekeeper and large,” Crichton said.

“I have already done so, Commander. Moya’s senses have not detected any large Peacekeeper vessels.”

“Starburst now!” Crichton yelled. “Get us the hell out of here!”

======================

Pilot picked up a coded transmission to Renlar just as they starburst. He summoned John to his chamber. “There are only two people on Moya who would have made that transmission: Sikuzo or...”

“Scorpius!” John finished Pilot’s statement. “My bet’s on Scorpius. Can you decode that transmission?”

“I do not know Commander. We have just started, but it is a very complex code,” Pilot said. “Scorpius cannot stay on Moya. We must find a place to leave him quickly.”

John commed Jane to meet him in Pilot’s Chamber.


“John, why do you need me here?” Jane asked as soon as she met John in Pilot’s chamber.

“Jane, when you were in me as Harvey, you could sense when people were lying,” John said. “Can you still do that?”

“It depends on who you want me to screen.” Jane said.

“Someone here on Moya sent a coded transmission to Renlar a moment before we starburst,” John said. “It could have been Sikozu, but my money’s on Scorpius. I want to know if they’re lying when I ask them about the transmission and when I ask them what it contained.”

“Pilot, can’t you decode the message?” Jane asked.

“Not quickly,” Pilot said.

“I’m certain that I’ll be able to tell if Sikozu is telling the truth or if she is lying,” Jane said. “But Scorpius is another matter. He knows how to mask his energy signature.”

“Well, Jane, that’s something,” John said, “At least we’ll be able to eliminate Sikozu as the primary suspect.”

==========================

John and Jane spoke with Sikozu privately and were satisfied that she had nothing to do with the coded transmission. In addition, she offered to help decode it and immediately went to Pilot to work with him while John and Jane spoke with Scorpius. They reasoned that it would be best to take a direct approach with him.

They found him sitting in the central chamber, surrounded by DRD’s. If one could judge from his body language, Scorpius appeared a little dejected. Both John and Jane approached the table and John asked, “We’ve gotta talk, Scorpy. I’ve got some questions for ya.”

Scorpius looked at John and asked, “Why is SHE here?”

“Scorpius, let’s just say I’m John’s backup,” Jane said. Sitting down, she added, “Surely you can’t object to one of your cousins several times removed from being present.”

Scorpius made a low growl, but did not try to stop either John or Jane.

“Pilot picked up a coded transmission that was sent from Moya a microt before we starburst from Renlar. Do you know anything about it?” John began questioning Scorpius.

“Yes,” Scorpius said. “I made it,”

“Who did you send it to and what was it about?” John asked.

“I hoped to contact Molayne. It was coded for him,”

“Why did you wait until we starburst to send it and why did you hide it from us?” John asked.

“The message was for Molayne, I will not divulge its contents to you,” Scorpius said, forming a pyramid with his hands and resting his chin on the point. “The message had nothing to do with you.”

“And you expect us to take your word for it?”

“I expect... nothing.”

===================

“ ...and that’s the situation. We don’t know what the message says as yet. We haven’t been able to decode it.” John said to the group gathered in Pilot’s den trying to determine what to do about Scorpius. Once more, Scorpius was waiting outside the chamber, surrounded by a handful of DRD’s. John continued. “I’d ditch him in a heart beat. But can we trust that he won’t turn around and regain power only to wreck havoc on this galaxy?”

“I know he doesn’t have any currency, or not much anyway,” Jool said.

“How’dja know that?” Chiana asked.

“He had a wound that he wanted me to treat. When I asked him why he hadn’t attended to it sooner he said he couldn’t afford it,” Jool said.

“That may not mean he doesn’t have any currency,” Rygel said.

“I have nothing else to go on,” Jool said. “And anyway, why would he lie about that three days ago?”

“This isn’t getting us anywhere,” John said. “What are we gonna do?”

“The last starburst brought us close to the Plezyhn system,” Pilot said. “Why not leave him there? It is quite remote.”

“They are neutral but it is very close to Scarran territory,” Sikozu said.

Chiana shrugged her shoulders, and asked, “That’s a problem?”

“Yes, if you would bother to think for a microt,” Sikozu said as she whirled to face Chiana. “Scorpius might trade the information he does have for safe passage. Do we know anymore what his allegiance is?”

“We can’t... how... can he stay on Moya?” Stark stammered.

“Stark, I do not want him around any more than you do,” Jane said. “But, do we really have any choice? The question is, is it safer for him to be with us or for Scorpy to be loose somewhere in this galaxy? It looks to me like we’re between a rock and a hard place.”

“Humph, so is Scorpius,” Rygel said.

================

Jane Doe, Part 7


Scorpius faced the entire crew of Moya in Pilot’s chamber, and saw the hostility and fear in those who faced him. Further, they presented him with no alternatives. They would not let him leave Moya. “Am I your prisoner?” he asked.

“Yeah,” John drawled, “You could say that. But how about you get our trust.”

Scorpius studied the group before he answered. He was sensing more that he first noticed. The fear and hostility were still there, but it was mixed with something else, something he did not understand. “How do you suggest I do that?”

“Scorpius, you have dealt honestly with us in the past.” Rygel emphasized his next statement by rising to Scorpius’ eye level and pitching slightly forward. “Give us the key to your message so we might decode it. Prove it has nothing to do with us. Prove you weren’t sending the Peacekeepers a way to find us.”

“Then I am your prisoner,” Scorpius paused before stating his objection. “I do not trust YOU with my private affairs. You will not have the key.”

“Uh, uh, Scorpy, you don’t trust us, period.” John said, waggling his finger to punctuate his statement. “Is it all of us you don’t trust, or just some of us?”

Scorpius stared at John, and asked, “Explain yourself.”

“Well, Scorpy, you jus’ jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. If you want to stay out of the fire, why don’t you give one of us the key? I can think of someone on Moya who can be trusted.” John looked at Pilot while he spoke, not at Scorpius. “I’ll give you three guesses who, and the first two don’t count.”

Scorpius smiled, then said, “It will not do you any good John. The message is private and it will remain private.”

=====================

Since the room Scorpius was using was a converted cell, he remained there with the cell door locked, the DRDs still maintaining their vigilance.

Jane assisted Pilot and Sikozu to break the code. They now assumed the message was a danger to them and, more than ever, they needed to know what it contained. John suggested they try some variant of his mother’s name for the key, which to no one’s surprise, didn’t work.

On the second day of trying to crack the code, Jane wandered into the central chamber to grab something to eat. John was sitting there staring at a drink and looked up when she entered. “Hey, Jane, how’s it goin’?”

Jane was picking through the food, her back facing John when she answered him, “It is both slow and frustrating. His code is very elusive.” Having selected what she wanted, she turned around and sat down to eat.

“I just don’t get it. It’s almost as though he wanted us to lock him up,” John said while swirling the water in his cup. “Are you gettin’ anywhere?”

“Sikozu thinks we are close, and so do I. I just hope that it is not wishful thinking,” Jane said between bites. “Do you think he does not want to leave?”

“Dunno. I s’pose it’s possible. It ain’t likely he’ll tell us though.”

“Well, I guess I had better get back to work on that code. As Scorpius is not forthcoming with any information, being able to read the message is the only thing that will indicate what he is about,” Jane said, finishing the last of the food on her plate.

John put his hand on Jane’s before she could rise from the table. “Why don’t you get some rest? You look really tired. I’ll clean up.”

“Thanks, but I have an idea I want to pursue first. I needed this break, but I am ready to start again,” Jane said as she rose from the table. She added before leaving, “And, John, I should be able to break Scorpius’ code, I believe I know how he thinks. It is only a matter of time.”

========================

Stark hadn’t slept since he arrived on Moya three days ago. Actually, he hadn’t really slept since he lost Zhaan. Each time he’d succumb to his fatigue, he would have visions of all those dead people; besides the individuals he helped to cross he also kept the tortured souls of the ten thousand Bannik Slaves. Zhaan was always present, but she was at peace. But the ten thousand Banniks were the most troublesome. He blamed Scorpius for their deaths. He blamed himself more. Creeping through the hallways, Stark found himself drawn to Scorpius’ cell. The one thought, ‘I must know,’ echoed in his head. When he got to the cell he could see Scorpius lying on his back, eyes closed, perfectly still. Stark knew Scorpius was awake. He opened the cell door and silently entered.

Stark was standing over Scorpius when he opened his eyes. He removed his mask letting it fall to the floor. Stark stared at Scorpius, his energy was radiating from half his face.

“I must know,” Stark half shouted, half bleated his mantra.

“Know what?” Scorpius asked. He tried to sit up, but Stark prevented him from moving, his face was only denches away.

“You killed them, killed them all!” Starks voice suddenly dropped.

“Killed who?” Scorpius asked, while trying to sit up. “You must be more explicit. I do not know whom you are referring to.”


Jane and Sikozu continued to work on cracking Scorpius’ code. They felt they were very close to breaking it, and dogged it for over two arns past Jane’s already late meal. Finally, Jane couldn’t keep her eyes open and excused herself, promising to return after a few arns sleep. Sikozu continued to work.

Jane was walking towards her quarters, which took her past the hallway to Scorpius’ cell when she heard Stark shouting. She ran to Scorpius’ cell and found Stark leaning over Scorpius, pinning him to the pallet.

“Stark! What are you doing?” Jane asked, moving up behind him.

Jane’s sudden appearance startled Stark and he stood up quickly, releasing Scorpius. Scorpius stood up so that both he and Jane were facing Stark who looked back and forth between them for several microts while crying, “Scorpius... Scorpy... Scorpy... Scorpius... “ He collapsed to the floor.

“John, I am with Scorpius in his cell. Stark has gone mad, he is in here without his mask!” Jane commed John as soon as she was able.

“On my way.”


“He is unconscious, Jane. His mask fell to the floor earlier, it should be easy to find.” Scorpius said while pulling Stark away from the pallet.

Jane found the mask wedged in a corner between the pallet and the wall. She retrieved it and with Scorpius’ help put it on Stark. John entered the cell as they finished strapping the mask on.

“What happened? Who opened the cell door?” John asked.

“I was lying on the pallet when I was suddenly aware of Stark looming over me. I was unable to sit up,” Scorpius said.

John looked at Scorpius askance, not wanting to believe him. “You mean to tell me you weren’t asleep and you didn’t see or hear him? How’m I gunna believe that?”

“I was... meditating. I had blocked out all external influences,” Scorpius said. He sat down on the pallet, making no move to leave the cell.

“John, when I found them, Stark was over Scorpius, preventing him from moving. I do not know how he got in that position, but I am inclined to believe what Scorpius said is true,” Jane added.

Stark groaned and then tried to sit up. He opened his eye and saw John holding him. “Scor... Scorpius!” Stark cried out and struggled to sit up.

“Stark, whaddaya doin’? Why’d you come in Scorpy’s cell?” John asked while helping Stark get to his feet.

“He killed them! He killed them all. They won’t leave me alone. Ten thousand souls... ten thousand souls dead because of him,” Stark cried, becoming marginally coherent.

“Scorpius, why did you kill the Banniks once you had Jothee? They couldn’t do anything to you,” John asked, still holding Stark.

“I did not kill them. I gave them to Natira... for payment... “ Scorpius said.

“No – sh... you... “ Stark interrupted.

“Stark, Natira had them killed and now she is dead,” Scorpius said and then added, “You have already avenged their deaths.”

John saw Stark looking at him for confirmation. “I wasn’t there when that went down. I don’t know,” John said.

“C’mon, Jane, let’s get Stark back to his quarters,” John said while steering Stark out of the cell.

Jane walked into the hallway followed by John and Stark when Stark blurted, “No... no... not Scorpius.” Stark was staring at Jane.

“Uh, I think I will just go to my quarters, John. You can handle Stark by yourself,” Jane said.

Nodding, John locked the cell door and gently pulled Stark away.

As Jane turned to walk away Scorpius called out to her, “Jane, wait.”

Jane stopped, turned half way showing her profile to Scorpius. “Scorpius, I am extremely tired. Can this wait a few arns?” Jane asked, slumping against the wall emphasizing her fatigue.

“Who are you?” Scorpius asked, ignoring her plea.

“Later,” Jane said and walked away.

==================

Jane slept later than she had intended, but she still needed to talk to John prior to working on the code. They met in John’s quarters. “Stark knows who I am and Scorpius suspects... something. Plus, he has already asked me who I am. What do I tell him?” Jane asked.

“Have you cracked the code?” John asked. He added, “If that message that Scorpius sent does betray us, then he can’t be told anything. In fact, he should be shot!”

“And if it is innocent, as he claims, then what?” Jane asked.

“I dunno. I think it’s time Scorpy and I had a little talk,” John said. “How close doya think you are?”

“Very close. We have been able to tease some data out already, but it is not making a lot of sense. We are coming up with Sebacean words, but they aren’t saying anything, basically gibberish,” Jane said, shrugging her shoulders. She then added, “It is interesting, the code’s key appears to be Scarran.”

“Very interesting. Can I see it?” John asked.

“Absolutely!” Jane said.


“Look, I think we had the key yesterday, only we did not know it,” Sikozu said while laying out the message. “I have run hundreds of variations on this code, none of which work at all. I believe this is the key.”

John stared at the message, all twelve words. It was a declension of the Sebacean ‘to be’ in the present tense. Laughing, John said, “That sommabitch! He set us up, he never wanted to leave Moya!”

“I believe you are right,” Sikozu said. “I also tried to run this key and several variations through the results multiple times to determine if there would be secondary, tertiary, or n-level results, but there were none. Unless the code is so well hidden that our extensive runs cannot find it. I do not believe for a microt that this is the case.”

====================

Jane Doe, Part 8

John mused over the latest bit of knowledge as he walked to Scorpius’ cell. He decided to string Scorpius along on a half lie. He rounded one of Moya’s soft corners leading to the cell, but the Hybrid was not there. In panic he swung around, pulling Winona out and came cheek to jowl with Scorpius, his arm pinned to the wall. “Ho... how did you...” John started to say, but Scorpius put his gloved hand over his mouth.

“Quiet,” Scorpius whispered. “Stark is here. He is trying to... harm me.” He released John.

“As if he could,” John mouthed back.

Scorpius signaled John that he heard Stark. John nodded and went in the direction Scorpius indicated, Winona still drawn. Stark was suddenly in front of John. He started to babble, then staggered back as his eye glazed over and he slid to the floor. John commed Jool, “We have incoming. It’s Stark, again.”

Scorpius shrugged. John watched him walk back into the cell and pull the door, closing it behind him. “Wha... whaddaya doin’?” Staring at Scorpius, his mouth agape, he asked, “It made no difference, did it?”

“No, it did not, John.”

“In that case, help me get Stark to the med area,” John said lifting Stark’s upper body. He added, “Please.”

“Very well,” Scorpius said. “You can tell me what you wanted to say on the way.”

Together they pulled Stark up from the floor and supported him under their arms. The Bannik was suddenly very heavy, as though he drew substance from the mask.

John opened his mouth to speak the lie and then thought better of it. ‘What the frell,’ he thought. “Scorpius, what was in your message?”

Scorpius did not respond immediately. “You cracked the key?” Scorpius asked, then nodded. Not waiting for John’s reply, he said, “To be.”

They reached the med area and as they lifted Stark onto the pallet Jool indicated, John said, “Or not to be, that is the question.”

“What?” Scorpius asked, looking at John incredulously.

“Nothing. Look, Scorp, why is it so important for you to stay on Moya that you risked your life? We could’ve shot you for betraying us to the Peacekeepers, ya know.”

“John, you must understand that the knowledge you have is the only thing that will stop the Scarrans when war finally arrives. I mean to protect that knowledge, which requires that I protect you,” Scorpius said while he and John strapped Stark to the pallet. “If I had not stumbled upon you as I did, I would have searched for you.”

“I hate to interrupt you two,” Jool said wheeling a monitor up to Stark. “But what are we going to do with him once he gains consciousness?”

“Dun’no,” was John’s cryptic reply. Jane entered the med area before he could add anything. “Jane, what’re you doing here?”

“I heard a commotion, so I thought I would see what was going on,” Jane said. She looked at the improbable cluster of people with Stark strapped down to the pallet. Scorpius and John were on either side of Stark and Jool, standing to the right of John, by the Bannik’s head. She fussed at his mask to attach the monitor’s sensors.

Jane moved to stand by Scorpius’ side facing Jool. Suddenly, Stark shook his head from side to side causing the mask to fall off and roll to the side of the pallet. They converged on Stark, touching him and each other at the same time. The energy within Stark flashed each ones thoughts for all to see. They became one. ‘Monsters! Monsters! Nononononononoooooo! Scorpyscorpy... Scorpyscorpy...’ ‘I am looking at myself!’ Scorpius saw Scorpius. ‘Where is Jane?’ John saw Scorpius squared. He grabbed his head. ‘She is Rylani.’ Jool gave up her secret. ‘Killerkillerkillerkillerkillerkiller’ ‘Aeryn! Oh my god! What have I done?’ ‘Rylani...’ ‘Harvey...’ ‘Rylani...’ ‘Harvey...’ ‘Rylani...’

Stark’s mental storm passed as suddenly as it had started, leaving Jane and Scorpius devastated. They stood close, bare hand touching gloved hand, watching John hold Stark, soothing him. Carefully, John covered Stark’s face with his mask. Stark was moaning, suddenly crying out for revenge. John spoke in a quiet soothing voice, “Stark, do you remember the advice you gave the nurse?” John inwardly winced at that, but he steeled himself to go on. “You said to travel light, do you remember?” Stark nodded and gulped a breath of air. “Then you said to keep the fear but to lose the hate, remember?” Again Stark nodded, looking decidedly calmer. “Stark, lose the hate, what’s done is done. It can’t be taken back.” Again Stark nodded at John’s words. “Forgive him. Forgive yourself.”

“Scorpius,” Stark whispered, his voice raspy from the psychic storm. “Did you know Natira would kill my people?”

“No,” Scorpius said, moving closer to Stark. “However, it would be a lie to tell you that I did not think it was a possibility. I believed her to be too greedy for what she would have gained by selling them.”

“I forgive,” Stark said, tears running down his cheek.

“Thank you, Stark,” Scorpius said, his own agitation showing in his posture and his face.

“Lose the hate,” Stark said in a whisper so low that even Scorpius’ keen hearing could barely pick it up.

Scorpius winced. “I cannot,” he said. “It is part of me.”

“My mask, take it off,” Stark demanded of Scorpius. “I will show you what the chair could not. I do it willingly.”

His hands shaking slightly, Scorpius complied with Stark’s request; he removed the mask. For the second time inside an arn, he looked into Stark, but this time the anger, the insanity, and the rage were replaced by a vision of incredible beauty and peace. “Thank you. It... it is beautiful.” All the tension drained from Scorpius as he replaced Stark’s mask and released the straps holding him down.

Stark sat up, his mask fell onto the pallet. “You must forgive yourself.”

Scorpius averted looking into Stark for a third time and said only. “I am sorry.” He turned to go but Stark grabbed his hand. “Forgive,” Stark rasped. ‘Forgive,’ echoed in Scorpius’ mind as he left. Jane followed.


Scorpius headed for his cell, aware that Jane was nearby. He stopped and turned toward Jane, allowing her to catch up to him.

“Scorpius, please, can we talk?” Jane asked, a little breathless for trying to keep up with Scorpius’ long stride.

“Yes, we must,” Scorpius said as he continued to walk to his cell. “But, first I am curious, how did this happen?” They arrived at his cell and sat down.

Jane proceeded to tell Scorpius how she was left behind as Harvey. How, as Harvey inside John’s mind, they developed a working partnership, how the body she now occupied came to Moya, how she was implanted into the body, and how she was unaware the body was that of Rylani, in spite of the exact resemblance. “And the rest you know. I did not know Jool was keeping this secret. It is ironic that it took Stark to reveal it.”

Scorpius used this time to collect his thoughts. The revelation was beneficial in one other important way. He did not kill his mother. She was at least flesh and blood if not mind, in his presence. ‘She must have survived well past my birth to escape from the Scarrans. That must have been how the Peacekeepers were able to give me such a detailed data spool of the circumstances of my birth!’ Scorpius thought.

“You are not angry with me?” Jane asked.

“No. I am... relieved,” Scorpius said, his expression both thoughtful and at peace. “Is there nothing left of Rylani?” Scorpius was surprised at his own question. ‘How could there be anything left? Surely, both he and Jane would have sensed it?’

Jane’s response caught him totally off guard. “I... I am not sure. I am very different from what I was as Harvey inside John’s head. I have some of John’s personality, and of course, a dominant part of me is still Harvey, which is very different from the clone you engendered. But there is an emotional part that is not like anything I knew prior to being Jane.”

==================

“Commander,” Pilot commed. “A small vessel is approaching.”

“I’m on it,” John responded. “Can you contact the pilot?”

“No. We are receiving a distress signal only,” Pilot said. “The vessel is approximately the size of a Prowler and is of Scarran design.”

John reeled with the news. “So there’re one, maybe two people on board? Okay, snag it with the docking web and get the welcoming committee together. Starburst as soon as we’ve got’im.” John said. Almost as an afterthought, he added, “Send Scorpius too.”


D’Argo, John, Jane, Chiana, Jool, and Scorpius circled the Scout waiting for the pilot to emerge. All, but Scorpius, were armed, their weapons drawn. The Scarran climbed out of the cockpit of the scout and raised his hands. “I have just escaped from the Dreadnought Kaztow. You must starburst immediately,” he said. “I wish asylum on this Leviathan.”

“Why should we give it to you?” D’Argo asked.

The Scarran was about to answer D’Argo when he saw Scorpius. He addressed him instead. “Scorpius, I was hoping to find you. I did not expect to see you to be here, though. I had wanted to find a Peacekeeper Command Carrier but, unfortunately, I was forced to escape when I did and was unable to contact the Peacekeepers. I am Ben Ard of the See’tig. Have you heard of it?” Ben Ard added urgently, “Have you starburst? You must starburst!”

“Yes, we have starburst,” Scorpius said. “I thought the See’tig were a myth - did not exist. I was led to believe... I was told they existed just to trap me.”

“What’s the See’tig?” John asked.

“We are an underground organization opposed to the current government.” Ben Ard quickly described the See’tig, “We are especially opposed to taking over other planetary systems when we can’t deal with some extremely serious issues in our own home system. It is comprised of Scarrans, like myself, who come from an elite core and, mostly, the common Scarrans who are oppressed by the elite. I was sent on a mission to find Scorpius, but I was captured and was to be executed unless I could escape.”

“He is...” Scorpius said, “Telling the truth. I have heard of this organization, but I did not trust my source. Ben Ard, how large is the See’tig?”

“My knowledge of the details is limited to protect the organization,” Ben Ard said., “However, I do know there are entire planets who are devoted to the See’tig.”

One by one they put their weapons away and walked to the central chamber to discuss their next course of action. They decided to have Ben Ard find the rebel planet to supply a base of operation. They also decided to jettison the scout vessel and starburst a second time once Moya was able. Ben Ard agreed to a physical examination to ensure he wasn’t ‘bugged’. Scorpius assisted Jool.

==========================

“So Jane, things cool now between you and Scorpius?” John asked. Everyone had gone his or her separate, and not so separate ways and John found himself alone in the central chamber with Jane. He was reflecting on another bizarre day in his bizarre life since he fell through the wormhole over three years ago. He looked up to see Jane studying him.

“Cool?” Jane said, cocking her head to one side. “I am not sure. It is definitely odd. Scorpius and I had a long talk, and I think we have developed an understanding of one another. In a very real way, I am both mother and child to him. I do not know how to deal with that. I am not sure that Scorpius does either. I think we will work through it though. Now that Ben Ard is here, as well, I think it is very fortunate that Scorpius is still on Moya.”

“Hmm, yeah. Whodda thunk,” John said, getting up and winking at Jane. “Looks like you’ll have to put your plans on hold, too, kiddo. Well g’night and sleep tight. Tomorrow’s another day.”

=========================

The End