Title: Babel

Author: Isis

Email: Isis

Archive: Feel free to archive my work at your site please let me know where before hand. Isis

Rating: PG

Category:

Summary: The crew must repel invaders while suffering from a unique handicap.

Disclaimer: Farscape is the property of NINE NETWORKS AUSTRALIA, SCIFI.COM, HALLMARK ENTERTAINMENT, AND THE JIM HENSON COMPANY. All Farscape characters etc, belong to them. This story and its content and original characters I create belong to me.

Author’s Note: Thanks as always to Quilt Lady for her great suggestions and criticisms.

Babel

"Look, Aeryn, I said I was sorry. How much longer are you going to harp at me about this?!" John's voice was loud and angry as he and Aeryn entered the centre chamber from the docking area.

"For as long as it takes until I feel better," Aeryn answered peevishly. She stomped into the room and took a seat at the table with her crewmates, deliberately choosing one as far away from her erstwhile Human co-pilot as possible. John recognised the intent behind her actions immediately and sighed exaggeratedly.

D'Argo looked at the two of them in amusement. Then he leaned in to whisper to John conspiratorially. "She's still mad at you for running into her Prowler, isn't she?"

"You betcha!" he said, glaring across the table at Aeryn who pointedly ignored him. "I've said I was sorry. What more does she want?" he said raising his voice so that Aeryn could hear his complaint. She did not react.

D'Argo grinned. "You'll just have to wait it out. Sebacean women have very long memories when it comes to their lovers' mistakes," he said quietly. John looked up sharply as if to protest but D'Argo continued, lost in memories. His voice got louder as he began to reminisce. "I remember Lo'Laan staying mad at me a very long time over a trivial slight. I had only...."

Overhearing his last statement, Aeryn got her hackles up. "Are you calling what John did to my Prowler trivial!? I'll remind you that without that Prowler, you would be dead, D'Argo. Twice!"

D'Argo, seeing that he had been drawn into their argument, quickly backed down. With a shrug that said clearly *You're on your own * to John, he ducked his head back to his meal. He turned his attentions to Chiana. The Nebari smiled promisingly at him and D'Argo thanked his lucky stars that she made far fewer demands on him than Aeryn was making on the hapless Human.

John decided to go on the offensive. "Besides, Aeryn, you have to take part of the blame. You told me that I should go to the first bay. Your Prowler was in the first bay. Can't you even remember where you park that thing?"

Aeryn's eyes blazed dangerously. "I always know where I've left my Prowler. And I always park it in the first bay. Everyone here knows that." She ignored Chiana's whispered *I didn't know.* to Rygel, who agreed that he didn't know either. "You must have known I meant the first EMPTY bay."

"If you meant the first EMPTY bay, why didn't you say that?"

"Because it was obvious! It's a waste of words to say the obvious!"

"Not to me!" John shot back and immediately regretted it, when his shipmates began to smirk. "I mean, what is obvious to one person may not be so obvious to another," he countered weakly.

Aeryn sat back, a smug expression on her face. "You see," she said triumphantly.

Zhaan, ever the pacifist, tried to intervene. "Truly, Aeryn, your instructions did seem to be somewhat vague. You know you need to be very precise with John. He's still got a lot to learn." She smiled encouragingly at Crichton.

"Don't help me, Zhaan," John grumbled, as the others smirked again.

"I would have gone to the first bay," Chiana piped up. "You're right, John. The instructions were unclear. Besides, the student is only as good as the teacher," she added, a challenge in the look she cast at her Sebacean crewmate. John groaned as the argument grew exponentially.

Aeryn glared at the young Nebari. "You would defend John if he killed us all."

Chiana shrugged offhandedly, and then reached out to caress John's arm suggestively. "Probably. He would defend me." She smiled at John then resumed her meal.

Under her breath, Aeryn muttered "He's had to. The trouble you've gotten us into ..."

Chiana immediately bristled," Now what's that supposed to mean?" she began angrily.

John silenced her with a wave of his hand and a pleading look then he caught Aeryn's furious glare and tried to turn the conversation back to the topic at hand. "All I mean, Aeryn, is never assume." He grinned suddenly, unable to resist. "You make an ASS out of U and ME ... " he stopped when he saw that not only did Aeryn not get the joke but the rest of his friends were looking at him strangely -- not an uncommon occurrence.

Chiana was the first to speak, shaking her head in bewilderment, "I'm sorry, Aeryn, you're right. I change sides. " She looked at John in confusion. "You are indeed very odd." Aeryn looked at John in triumph once more as Zhaan hid her smile and D'Argo choked.

"I just mean, all we had was a failure to communicate. It wasn't earth-shattering. The Prowler will be fine. " Aeryn bristled at that. "And I am learning, because I have such a wonderful teacher," he added, trying to mollify Aeryn. He glared at Rygel who was making gagging noises beside Chiana.

Aeryn refused to meet his glance for a microt, then a reluctant smile crept across her features. "You have come a long way, Crichton. Remember your pitiful performance on the transport pod before we were caught in the Flax." Then she blushed as if remembering his later performance.

"See what I told you about Sebacean women and their lovers," D'Argo said, intending to be quiet but speaking into a sudden lull in the conversation.

Thinking to spare Aeryn further embarrassment, John spoke hastily into the stunned silence. "Aeryn is not my lover, D'Argo. We're just shipmates, nothing more ... " John began, then stopped, something in Aeryn's expression telling him not to continue.

"But I thought Aeryn said that you had ... that you and she had ... on the mining asteroid you said ... er ... never mind," D'Argo stammered. Aeryn's face flamed in embarrassment. John looked down and coughed nervously. Chiana and Rygel practically burst with curiosity. D'Argo's stammered speech had only made things worse. Zhaan tried to maintain an aura of unconcern, but she was clearly interested as well.

Suddenly, Aeryn stood and said quietly, "You thought wrong, D'Argo." Then she turned and left the room, hurt and anger emanating from her.

"Aeryn!" John called, but she ignored him. "Frell!" he cursed, jumping up to go after her.

D'Argo caught his arm. "John, I'm sorry if I ..."

"Don't worry, Big Guy. I'll talk to her. She'll come around," John said with more certainty than he was feeling and left the room.

"Don't bet on it," D'Argo said, echoing one of John's Erp expressions.

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

Aeryn pilotted the transport pod skilfully down to the commerce planet, feeling John's eyes drilling into her back the whole way. Since the incident in the dining chamber three solar days earlier she had been avoiding him expertly. And she had been avoiding her own thoughts.

It had hurt to hear him deny that they were lovers. But in retrospect, Aeryn wasn't sure that she considered that an appropriate term for their relationship either. They had been intimate only that one time, under very false and stressful circumstances on the false Earth. The experience had been bittersweet, but not repeated. Granted, their lives following that had not allowed for any further intimacy. But one time did not lovers make. Or did it?

The one person in her life she would have described as a lover was Velorek. She had even said so to John. Much to his surprise and ... jealousy? She cast a quick glance back at the Human and turned her eyes away swiftly when she saw he was watching her. *You've known John a lot longer than Velorek. And you are definitely closer emotionally, if not physically,* her heart told her. She looked back again at John and this time caught his smile. Without returning it, she tried to focus on the approaching space port.

*Be truthful, Aeryn,* she told herself, her mind racing even as her body went through the landing procedures automatically. *John risked his life for you on the Gammak base and you risked your life to save him. You bargained your new-found happiness and sense of belonging away to Crais in order to save John,* her heart said. *And Talyn and the others,* her mind intruded.

The transport pod landed with more of a thud than an experienced pilot would have allowed. The rest of the crew looked at their distracted Sebacean pilot, but wisely said nothing. They gathered their things together for the shopping expedition. John stood watching Aeryn who had yet to move from her seat.

*Admit it, you love him,* she told herself, unaware of John's scrutiny *Remember the pain you felt at the thought of being separated from him; at the Gammak base, by Crais, by the Empress.* she shook her head, trying to dispel the disturbing thoughts. *You don't need to be physically intimate to be lovers.* She came out of her reverie to see that her shipmates had all but deserted her. Only John lingered uncertainly.

"Are you all right, Aeryn?" he asked in concern. "You seem ... distracted."

Aeryn looked at him, her expression unfathomable. "I'm fine, Crichton."

He looked about to say more when Zhaan appeared in the doorway. "John, I need you to help me track down that herb."

"I was going to help Aeryn find the part she needs for her Prowler. Can't Chiana help you?" John said, somewhat annoyed at Zhaan's interference.

"I need ..."

"No! I can find ...," Zhaan and Aeryn both spoke at once. Aeryn smiled in embarrassment, letting Zhaan continue.

"No, John, please come with me. You have a better eye for these things than Chiana. She is too easily distracted," Zhaan said, meeting Aeryn's eye in understanding.

"Go with Zhaan, Crichton. I can find the part I need by myself."

"But who will stay with Chiana and Rygel?You know they can't be left alone," John objected. "Zhaan usually babysits them ... "

"They are coming with me to look for that biomechanoid part for Pilot, " D'Argo added, poking his head into the transport door. Outside, Chiana and Rygel could both be heard objecting to the way the others treated them as if they were brain deficient.

John caught Aeryn's eye and grinned and for a moment, her heart swelled at the connection between them, then she turned her eyes away and began to gather her own things. "So we will meet back at the transport in three arns?" She accepted the nods of her friends as agreement and moved out of the pod, pausing to look around the lush green tropical paradise of the commerce planet for the first time.

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

Lieutenant Dag'lish of the glorious Gyffan Company, Loyal Army of the Womash, and his sixteen crew members sat dejectedly at the café in the market square, lamenting their unfortunate circumstances. Their simple supply run had left them separated from the rest of their regiment, who had had to return without them to their homeworld at the sudden news of war with the Dengar.

"How are we ever going to win our Glory Badges, stuck on this pitiful excuse for a planet?" Kresh complained, his muzzle twisting in dismay.

"Out there our fellow Womai are fighting and dying for the glory of the Womash. And here we sit, stranded by the untimely failure of our transport," Gurash added. He raked his hands through the thick orange fur covering his head and shoulders in a vain effort to calm himself.

Dag'lish looked at his very young and well-trained though very inexperienced crew and sighed. "There is more to life than winning Glory Badges," he said.

"Yes, females, and monetary rewards. But you only get those by winning Glory Badges," Shadron replied, sighing heavily. The rest of his crewmates agreed dismally, their fur-covered ears twitching at the loss of their dreams.

Dag'lish looked around at the vast array of alien lifeforms circulating around the sunlit market. "All is not lost. This commerce planet is a thriving centre. We will find transport and return to fight for the Womash. And win Glory Badges enough to satisfy even the most finicky female." He grinned optimistically at his crew.

"And what if no one is willing to take us?" Kresh asked. "All here know of our circumstances. They know that we require transport into the heart of a war zone. And they know we cannot pay enough to compensate for the danger involved. We don't even have enough to pay for our own ship's repairs.All it is good for now is an orbital shuttle. We can't even sell it." He looked around at his companions who had brightened at their beloved Lieutenant's words, but whose brown eyes now darkened in despair at the truth of their fellow warrior's comments.

Dag'lish looked again at the saddened faces of his young crew. He made a hasty decision. "Then we will seize a ship," he declared with determination.

"Is there glory in that?" Shadron asked. "It sounds more like dishonourable piracy to me." He looked around at his friends who nodded uncertainly.

"It is indeed a noble undertaking!" Dag'lish objected. "What could be more glorious than to risk life and limb to find a way back to battle, using any means necessary?" He stood up, caught up in the sudden nobility of his idea. "They will sing of us for cycles to come; the lost crew who commandeered a ship against great odds, to sail gloriously into battle for their Womash!" He saw that his enthusiasm was transferring to his crew. He seized a glass from the table and raised it. "A toast! To the Womash!" The rest of the unit shouted out in response, attracting amused glances from those seated around them. "And to the Gyffan company!" His second toast was met with an even greater shout.

"So how do we go about commandeering a ship?" Kresh asked, when they had settled back into their seats.

"First, we need to find a ship with a small crew made up of several different types of aliens." Kresh and the rest of the company looked confused. "Then we will use this." Dag'lish held up a vial containing a teal-coloured liquid, reminiscent of the oceans of their beloved Wom. Not completely understanding their Lieutenant's plan, the young Womai followed his instructions and fanned out throughout the market, watching and listening to those in attendance, looking for the best candidates.

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

Chiana walked distractedly through the market, chafing at the rest of the crew's treatment of her. Aeryn's comments of a few days before were obviously shared by the others, even if they did not say it. She marched sullenly along beside Rygel, who also muttered to himself angrily.

"Do I really get you guys in trouble?" she asked the Hynerian suddenly.

"Yes, you do," he replied shortly. "I don't know why we keep you around."

Hurt at his words, Chiana started to object, "Me? What about you?"

"Be quiet! Both of you!" D'Argo growled, growing impatient with their bickering. He turned and looked a little more contritely at Chiana, who turned her back on him and headed off towards a booth across the square. Rygel caught the turmoil between them and snickered nastily.

"Do you want to say something, your Eminence?" D'Argo asked, dangerously quiet.

Rygel's earbrows rose in dismay and he gulped. "No! No, D'Argo. I ... I think I see a parts vendor over there. Let's go check it out," he said nervously before scooting away. With a wistful glance at Chiana, D'Argo growled and turned to follow him.

At the booth, Chiana gave the goods, a collection of data crystals, a cursory glance, still hurt and angry at Rygel and now D'Argo. The vendor, sensing a customer, smiled ingratiatingly. "And would you be looking for star maps, lovely lady?"

Caught off guard, Chiana turned to look at him startled. "What? Are you talking to me?"

The tall gaunt alien vendor smiled again and indicated his wares. "Yes, lovely lady. I have the best most accurate map fibres of the Uncharted Territories right here." His smile widened as he saw he had caught her interest. "Interested?"

"Yes," Chiana replied and leaned in to look more closely at the data crystals. *If I bring back map fibres, the others will have to admit that I am valuable,* she thought triumphantly. "Tell me more. How much?" She ignored the approach of the Hynerian in his thronechair, sent by D'Argo to check on the Nebari thief.

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

D'Argo cursed his momentary distraction when he heard the alarms going off and looked up to see Chiana racing towards him with Rygel speeding along in his thronechair right behind her. Grabbing the arm of the Nebari as she passed, he dragged her out of the main street and into a convenient alleyway.

Rygel saw his action and joined them, his voice already raised in condemnation."I told you not to try it ,Chiana. The security at that stall was too tight."

Chiana answered his chiding with an ornery glance and a fearful one in D'Argo's direction. The conversation halted suddenly as several of the market's heavily armed security squad pounded down the street in the direction of the transport hangar.

"Try what?" D'Argo demanded when the pursuing guards had passed.

"Our little thief here decided to try to steal a map crystal from the stall of a merchant in the market," Rygel informed the enraged Luxan.

"I only did it for the crew!" Chiana protested. "The greedy propacto was asking far more than we could ever afford for it. It might have meant that you and the others could get home," she added to defend herself.

D'Argo's expression eased somewhat at her words. But his eyes hardened when more guards raced past the alleyway. The trio pressed themselves back into the shadows of the passage and waited with bated breath. When the threat had passed, D'Argo looked sternly at his two charges then signalled to Zhaan and Aeryn. "We've got to get out of here, and fast. Chiana and Rygel have managed to arouse the entire security force on the planet, it seems."

Aeryn's voice came through. "I'm at the hangar now. There are no guards here now but I'm not waiting around. I'll get our transport out of here. Meet me at the secondary landing site we saw from Moya -- the abandoned spaceport on the other side of the city."

Zhaan agreed, "Crichton and I will be there in a half arn. Can you get there, D'Argo?"

"Yes, that is acceptable. We'll meet there in a half arn."D'Argo signed off and then glared at his companions. "Let's move it. We don't want to have anything more to do with the authorities on this planet."

The trio moved cautiously out of the alleyway in which they had been concealed. D'Argo looked around carefully for any sign of pursuit, but his attention was momentarily distracted when Rygel's thronechair misfired. This event the Hynerian promptly blamed on the hapless Nebari as well. Chiana began to argue vehemently with him. D'Argo's temper grew and he silenced the pair with a growl and an order to hurry up. The commotion prevented him from noticing the interested glances of the pair of hidden Womai. Shadron and Kresh exchanged happy smiles and quickly signalled Dag'lish that they had discovered a likely quarry. Then the two young warriors moved to trail the Luxan and his alien friends to their transport and join the rest of the Gyffan Company in glory.

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

Babel Part 2

The flight back to Moya was unpleasant to say the least. D'Argo's fury at Rygel and Chiana had risen to near hyper-rage levels. Aeryn was still avoiding John, and Zhaan was upset that her quest for herbs and medicines had been cut off so abruptly. Not only was their shopping expedition shortened, but they could no longer even return to the planet. Several wanted beacons from the Peacekeepers had turned up and her face and description were now being broadcast all over the market, along with the rest of the escapees, and Chiana too. The botanical wonders of yet another planet were being denied to her and Zhaan was extremely unhappy. In her frustration, she had said some hurtful things to D'Argo about his inability to control Chiana and Rygel. She regretted letting her emotions rule her tongue, but it was too late to unsay them. She looked again at the seething Luxan. Now was not the time to try to make amends. Later, after the evening meal, when everyone had had a chance to calm down, she would speak to him quietly and apologize.

Rygel was not to be quelled. He continued to complain under his breath about the stupidity of Chiana in particular and his shipmates in general. Chiana sat in a small ball of hurt, listening to his diatribe with half an ear. *What are they so mad at me for?* she asked herself. *I was only trying to help them. They want a way home. The map fibres would have helped.* She heard Rygel use a particularly nasty term to describe the Luxan, a little louder than he should have.

"What did you just call me?" D'Argo ground out at the startled Hynerian. "My microbes didn't catch it."

A look of pure terror crossed Rygel's face. "I didn't say anything!" he denied.

"Yes, you did. You called me a Adoc'Tra! What the hezmana is that?"

Rygel moved his thronechair out of D'Argo's reach. "It's a compliment! It means ... er ... a fine warrior." Rygel's eyes raced around the room.

Seeing trouble brewing again, Zhaan spoke up. "I think we all need to be quiet for a while." D'Argo glared at her but decided not to question the obviously lying Dominar further.

Rygel expelled a very audible sigh of relief. He moved his thronechair to settle beside a smirking Chiana. His tone became belligerent once more at her clearly amused expression. "What's so funny, thief?"

Chiana smiled at him. "You are, toad. I know exactly what you called D'Argo. And you won't call me thief again if you know what's good for you." Her eyes slid deliberately over to rest for a moment on the frowning Luxan warrior.

Rygel paled visibly as D'Argo pulled out his Qualta Blade and examined its edge. Then the Dominar looked at Chiana uncertainly. "You're bluffing!" he declared. "D'Argo's translator microbes couldn't translate what I said. So yours couldn't either. Don't you try to blackmail me!" he threatened.

Chiana leaned over and whispered something in Rygel's ear. Rygel's eyes widened in shock and dismay. "How could you translate ... ?" he began.

Chiana settled down again with a superior look on her face. "Let's just say, alien languages are a bit of a hobby with me." She watched in triumph as Rygel backed away from her in horror.

The rest of the trip back to Moya was made in an uncomfortable silence, each of Moya's crew lost in thought. When the transport arrived in the docking bay, each of the crew went his or her separate way. John lingered for a moment, watching Aeryn complete the final docking and securing of the pod, her movements marked by an efficiency of denial. He sighed and then he too moved on to his quarters. *I'll speak to her after tonight's meal.* he thought. *Now is not a good time.*

On his way back to his own quarters, D'Argo became aware that he was being tailed by a contrite Chiana. He stopped with a sigh and waited for her to catch up with him. His eyes warmed slightly as they lighted on the petite grey-clad figure. "Did you want to apologize, Chiana?" he asked, then immediately regretted the words.

Chiana bristled at his suggestion that she was in the wrong and fought back verbally. "I'm not going to apologize for trying to help you. I don't know why I even stay here. I should have stayed on the cemetery planet!" she cried, her heart twisting in pain. She shot off down one of Moya's corridors.

"Chiana! I didn't mean ... " D'Argo began, calling after her departing back. When she did not respond, he turned back to his journey to his rooms. "Frell!"

Chiana charged down the corridors blindly, a mass of hurt and frustration. At last, she found the entrance to her favourite hiding space. Opening the cover, she cast a quick glance around her before ducking swiftly into the passageway and pulling the grill into place behind her. She deactivated her comm and crawled back into her little sensorless haven, finally surrendering to the tears that had been threatening all day.

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

Dag'lish gathered his raw troops around him for their final briefing. They were crowded into their pitiful ship and had launched into orbit, tracking the transport pod back to its orbiting Leviathan. "Is everyone clear?" he looked up at the frightened yet eager faces of the young warriors in his command.

"We understand!" Kresh stated, at attention. He and Shadron were clad in spacesuits and propulsion packs, and heavily armed. Their helmets were tucked under their arms. The rest of Gyffan company was also heavily armed, their rifles and pistols at their sides. Their fur stood out from their skin, indicating their emotional readiness for the coming battle.

Dag'lish smiled reassuringly at his untried soldiers, then stood and saluted the tattered banner on the back wall of the ship. "Then *To the Glory of the Womash*!" he shouted, his salute, echoed by all present. "*To the Glory of Gyffan Company!*" .

He reached around behind him and gently handed a large tank and atomizer to Kresh, who accepted it with a smart salute. "Good luck. We'll see you over there."

The Womai ship flew past the massive Leviathan and seemed to enter a wider orbit amongst other orbiting ships. From its open airlock, two dark-clad figures drifted into space. A bright flare ignited and the two figures flew undetected towards the Leviathan's nearest air vent. Kresh swiftly attached himself to the Leviathan's shell and then pressed the atomizer's nozzle against the open air vent, releasing the colourless and odorless mist of the tank into Moya's airsystem. When the tank registered empty, Kresh and Shadron reactivated their propulsor jets and flew over to the hangar doors.

The two Womai waited the precalculated time for the mist to take effect, then Kresh and Shadron grinned at each other, happy to be finally able to put their military training into practise. A quick push against one of Moya's more sensitive seams caused the hangar door to open enough for the two Womai to slip inside. They quickly overrode the hangar door controls and opened the outer door. Their transport was soon safely docked within the Leviathan's immense hangar. The Womai fell out of the open hatch of their transport and assumed a defensive posture, waiting for the inevitable response from the crew of the Leviathan.

In his chamber, Pilot did not immediately detect the two tiny figures drifting in space. However, as soon as the Womai began interfering with Moya's hangar doors, Pilot realised that something was wrong. He dispatched several DRD's to the docking area at the same time sending out a general alert to the crew.

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

D'Argo was on his way to his quarters, still in a towering rage, when Pilot's signal came through. D'Argo listened in confusion to the rapid staccato language that came across the comm. It sounded like Pilot's voice, but the message was unintelligible.

"Pilot? Pilot! Is that you?" D'Argo signalled back. He concentrated intently but could only hear the same rapid stream of foreign syllables. The Luxan growled in frustration and started to head towards the Command. Just as he rounded the corner, an army of DRD's came towards him, nearly sweeping him off his feet. He leaped back against Moya's wall, out of their way, then stood for a microt staring after them, undecided about where to head next. A final signal to Pilot brought the same confusing language. D'Argo sighed and headed back towards the docking bay, trailing the DRD's.

When he reached the docking bay, he found himself in the middle of a pitched battle. The DRD's had several orange furred creatures pinned against an unfamiliar ship. The little yellow robots were doing their best against the obviously military squad, but were rapidly losing as the creatures picked them off one by one. D'Argo roared and drew his Qualta Blade, firing into the midst of the invaders. After a microt of surprise the soldiers executed several well-rehearsed moves, alternately firing and shifting their positions. D'Argo realised that they were trying to move between him and the door into the hangar bay. He opened his commline and roared into his communicator, trying to inform the others and get some back-up. But he all heard in reply was a mass of sounds, voices trying to communicate in different languages.

"What the frell is going on!" he cried into his useless comm. Then, choosing retreat as the better part of valour, the Luxan fired rapidly into the squad of intruders and opened a way out for himself and a few DRD's. With a final roar, the huge warrior raced out of the docking bay and towards the Command.

A few of the Womai were preparing to chase after the Luxan when they were stopped by their Lieutenant. Dag'lish ordered them to secure the hangar. The battle was short as the few remaining DRD's were quickly overcome. Dag'lish wisely prevented his soldiers from destroying the little robots, knowing how necessary they were to the smooth running of the massive Leviathan ship. The Womai watched as the last of the little robots limped out of the hangar, then regrouped to plan their next attack.

"Lieutenant, we should have gone after the Luxan!" Kresh cried belligerently, still caught in the emotional high of battle. "If he gets to Command, we will have to fight our way in!"

"Don't worry, Private," Dag'lish replied. "As you can see, the mist worked."

"What did it do? They're obviously still awake. I thought it would knock them out," Shadron asked.

"It didn't knock them out, but it did disable their translator microbes. They can't communicate with each other, or the Leviathan's Pilot." Dag'lish grinned as realization dawned on the faces of his squad. "*Split up and overcome* as that great Womai general Joolyus Seesar once said."

"So where to now?" Gurash asked.

"The Pilot's chamber, I think. The Command is useless without control of the ship's Pilot." Dag'lish headed out into the passageway. He quickly selected four of his youngest trainees to stay behind, emphasizing the importance of their defense of their useless ship in his glorious scheme. They stood at attention proudly and vowed to go to their deaths keeping the disabled craft safe. Then he turned to the remaining troops. "This way," he ordered.

"To glory!" Kresh cried and followed his commanding officer.

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

John was on his way to Aeryn's quarters when all hezmana broke loose on Moya. His commline suddenly activated, but all he heard was a confusing babble of voices and alien sounds. He tapped the link a couple of times, trying to figure out what was wrong. "Pilot? Pilot? There seems to be something wrong with my comm. Are you there?" He listened again, hearing a rapid staccato of sounds. Then a second voice replied, deep and distorted. "D'Argo?" he called, beginning to speed up his progress through the Leviathan's passageways. "D'Argo? Is that you?"

Focussed as he was on his comm, he did not see the running figure until it was too late. With a muffled grunt, he wrapped his arms around the body that had run into him and the two went down in a tangle of arms and legs. John landed on the bottom and the weight of the other knocked the wind out of him temporarily. He lay gasping for air, looking up into two startled and very blue eyes. Aeryn lay on top of him for a microt then pushed her hair out of her face and started to berate him. At least he thought she was berating him. Her expression seemed to suggest it, but all he heard was a strange series of sounds punctuated by clicks. He blinked up at her, annoying her further. "Aeryn? What's going on? I can't understand you!"

Aeryn stopped speaking at his words and lay staring at him in dawning horror. She said something unintelligible again and obviously waited for him to reply.

"It's no good. I can't understand you," he replied, shaking his head. Then he pointed to his commlink. "Do you understand anyone else?"

Aeryn frowned, not understanding what he was asking, then she quickly rolled off him and got to her feet. John accepted the hand she extended and climbed up. Then he stood facing her. He pointed again to his commlink and then to his ear. "Do you understand anyone else?"

Aeryn watched his mime in understanding and then shook her head. She paused for a microt then pointed to the base of her neck. With a broad sweeping gesture and a shake of her head, she indicated that her microbes were not functioning. John returned the gesture and the pair stood staring at each other in shock. Then John's commlink activated again, a riot of alien voices and languages. One voice in particular seemed to be in great distress. John waited until the deep voice he recognised as D'Argo's came through. Pointing to his comm, he mimed D'Argo's tentacles and Qualta Blade.

Aeryn smiled at him, remembering her use of the gestures from the time when Moya had been trapped between dimensions. She nodded her understanding. Then a second voice sounded, one she clearly remembered from her first meeting with the symbiont. "Pilot!" she said. John looked at her in confusion. She paused, thinking, then mimed four arms working controls and a large head.

John watched her, grinning and nodded that he saw who she meant. Then he looked at her questioningly. "D'Argo or Pilot?" he said, miming to Aeryn and then pointing in two different directions. Aeryn frowned until she realised what he was asking. She responded by signing Pilot and pointing in the direction of his chamber. John nodded and she turned to go to the symbiont. "Aeryn!" John called, stopping her. He reached out and took her hand, squeezing it. "Be careful!" he said uselessly.

The Sebacean looked down at his hand holding hers and then smiled up at him, her eyes warming at his obvious concern. "Don't worry. Be careful, John," she replied in Sebacean and with a final squeeze of his hand, raced away to Pilot's chamber.

John watched until she was out of sight then turned in the direction the Command. "Man, oh, man, we're in big trouble," he said to himself. "We weren't communicating in the best of ways when the microbes were working. Now, without them, how will we get along?"

Up in the Command he was pleased to find Zhaan already in attendance. She spun around defensively at his entrance then smiled in relief. Her smile was short-lived as John spoke. "Zhaan, we've got a problem. My translator microbes are not working. Neither are Aeryn's," he said in English.

Zhaan's confused expression clearly told him that the problem was more wide-spread. She answered him in her own alien language, an elegant language that moved tonally through several sounds. John shook his head to indicate he could not understand. She repeated what she had said, at least he thought she did, and this time gestured as well. He concentrated on her face and gestures but still could not make out what she meant. Finally she sighed and stepped right up to him. Grabbing his head in both her hands, she plunged them into Unity.

*I said, we can communicate through Unity, John,* her thoughts rang in his mind.

John's mental self reeled back in surprise. *Whoa!* Zhaan smiled serenely at his reaction. *How can this be? I can understand you now!* John exclaimed.

*We are communicating on a level beyond language,* the Delvian priestess explained. *Now tell me, what has happened?*

*It seems that all our translator microbes are not working. I found Aeryn and she couldn't understand me. We heard what we believed to be D'Argo and Pilot on the commlink, but I couldn't understand what they were saying. They sounded pretty upset, though. I came up here looking for D'Argo and Aeryn went after Pilot.*

Zhaan thought for a microt. *Do you have any idea what caused this?*

*No, I was hoping you might.*

Zhaan's mental image wavered as she considered possibilities. *I have no idea. It may be some sort of virus knocking them out.*

*Can we get them fixed? Or get more?* John asked, his voice full of worry.

Zhaan looked at him to reassure him. *Yes, they are a common item on most commerce planets. It shouldn't be too hard to replace them. However we must communicate to Pilot that we need to get to the nearest commerce planet as soon as possible.*

*Well, I think Aeryn has the best chance of that. She's already on her way to Pilot's chamber.*

*Have you seen or heard from Rygel or Chiana?*

John shook his mental head,*No, not a sign.* *Well, you go down and try to tell Aeryn our plan. I'll look around for Rygel and Chiana and bring them up to Command. If I find D'Argo, I'll get him up here as well.*

John smiled, feeling better. *Sounds like a plan.* He reeled back into reality as Zhaan let go of his head. He swayed a bit from the vertigo of breaking Unity. "Boy, I don't think I'll ever get used to that," he said out loud. Zhaan smiled at him, understanding the gist of his words from his demeanor. Then he gave her a quick grin and jaunty salute and headed off to Pilot's chamber.

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

Dominar Rygel the Sixteenth awoke from his usual pre-luncheon nap and reached for his commlink, then thought better of the idea. His only plan for the rest of the day was to get some lunch and then return to his quarters for his post-luncheon nap. The plan would unfold much more smoothly if he were not interrupted by one or the other of his fellow shipmates calling on him for some chore or discussion. After their rather nasty treatment of him down on the commerce planet, he was in no mood for conversation. So he climbed into his throne chair and headed to the central chamber, his commlink lying forgotten on his night table.

Dag'lish and his eager band of invaders proceeded swiftly through the passages of the massive Leviathan ship towards the Pilot's chamber. They moved in precise, practiced formation, covering each other and scouting ahead for any sign of the crew. Dag'lish did not expect the confused crew to be able to mount any sort of defense, but it paid to be cautious.

They were making very good progress when Shadron, who was out in front, suddenly signalled for the troops to halt, his fur-covered ears pricking up at the sound of something approaching around the next corner. The rest of the Womai pressed themselves back against the sides of the passageway.

All of the sudden a small figure hovering in a device floated into view. He stopped in shock at the sight in front of him and then tried to manoeuver the craft into reverse. But Shadron and Kresh overpowered him and dragged the Hynerian from the throne chair. The device crashed to the floor without its controlling passenger.

"What shall we do with the Hynerian, Lieutenant?" Kresh asked as Shadron kept the little Dominar under guard. "Do we kill him?"

"No, it would be dishonourable. He is a prisoner of war now. We must secure him in a cell of some kind. We will do the same for all the crew as we capture them. I don't want any of them killed. We need their ship only. I hope to return it to them when it has served our glorious purpose," Dag'lish replied. Looking around at the rest of his unit, he was pleased to see them nodding in agreement and some relief.

Rygel's eyes widened in surprise and dismay as he listened to the unintelligible conversation of the invaders. *Why can't I understand them?* he wondered. *And why was I so stupid to not bring my commlink along. I'll never go anywhere without it again.* he vowed then shivered as he was dragged down towards the crew quarters. *That is, if I survive this.*

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

Aeryn hurried through Moya's halls towards Pilot's chamber. The unknown threat to the Leviathan and her crew had her very nervous. The fact that she could not understand John nor any of her shipmates led her to believe that there was some external threat. Translator microbes did not just stop functioning, at least not in her experience. Her first priority was to get to Pilot.

Suddenly she was overcome by a nagging feeling, a need to stop and re-evaluate the situation. She paused for a microt and leaned against Moya's bulkhead. The feelings became more intense. Curious, she placed her hand flat against the bulkhead of the Leviathan.

Her mind was immediately filled with images. Several furry creatures raced through the passages not too far from Pilot's chamber, heavily armed and moving with military precision. Another figure was being dragged along with them. Aeryn's brow furrowed, *Rygel?* The intruders paused and one of them signalled to the two guards to take Rygel in a separate direction. *Crew quarters, I think,* Then the main body moved on. The images shifted to another passageway where D'Argo was moving cautiously towards Pilot's chamber from the opposite direction, his Qualta Blade raised, ready for a fight. The last images were of a frightened Pilot, trapped in his chamber, defended only by a few damaged DRD's. There was a crash and the furry invaders burst into the chamber, weapons aimed at the hapless symbiont.

Aeryn was overwhelmed again by feelings of fear and uncertainty. She pulled her hand away from the wall abruptly. Before moving on, she laid her hand once more on the Leviathan's wall and tried to communicate calm and reassurance to the massive ship. Then she drew her pistol and raced to save Pilot.

Recognising the passageway from Moya's communication, the ex-Peacekeeper slowed her approach slightly and waited. As she expected, D'Argo burst around the corner and nearly shot her before seeing who it was. In mime, she tried to communicate the problem with the microbes to the impatient Luxan. He nodded curtly that he understood. She then gestured towards Pilot's chamber and raised her fingers with the number of invaders that were inside. Finally she pointed up, indicating that they should enter the chamber from the passages above it. D'Argo considered her plan and nodded his agreement. Silently the two experienced warriors climbed up into the passages running above the ceiling of the Pilot's chamber.

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

Babel Part 3

Rygel endured the ignominy of being dragged to a cell on the detention level. One of his captors pushed him inside roughly while the other fired at the locking mechanism of the closed door, disabling it. He waited until they had gone and then sat up, assessing the situation. After a quick glance around the cell, a sly grin crossed his face. Making sure that the two fur-covered invaders were definitely gone, he moved to the back of the cell. Feeling around carefully, he smirked when his fingers detected the loose panel that he himself had worked at so diligently during his time aboard Moya as a prisoner of the Peacekeepers. He swiftly removed the panel, similar to so many in cells all over the Leviathan, and ducked into the ductwork behind it. Pulling the panel into place behind him, he plodded off in search of assistance.

He moved cautiously through the familiar passages of the Leviathan as quickly as his short legs would allow. When he heard a snuffling sound in an open space ahead of him, he slowed and pressed himself against the wall. Listening intently, he decided what he was hearing was the sound of someone crying. Feeling bolder, he moved out into the junction.

Chiana lay in a small ball of misery, her face darkened by the traces of her tears. Lost in her sorrow, she did not immediately hear the Hynerian enter. When she became aware of his presence, she sat up and turned her face away from him in an effort to hide her crying.

Rygel stepped forward and laid a surprisingly gentle hand on her shoulder. "Chiana, how long have you been here?" he asked in Hynerian.

At the sound of the slow, fluid and definitely foreign language, Chiana spun around in shock. "What did you say?" she asked in Nebari.

Rygel sighed when all he heard were the guttural tones of the Nebari language. He pointed to the back of his head and said in Hynerian, "The translator microbes are not functioning, Chiana, and we're under attack."

The Nebari thief quickly wiped the last traces of her crying jag from her eyes and stared at the Hynerian intently. Rygel repeated his statement and waited for her to understand. Her next words had him staggering back from her in surprise.

"The language germs are broken," she said slowly in heavily accented Hynerian. "And there are ..." She searched for the right word. "There are bad ones?"

Rygel looked at her in amazement. "You speak Hynerian?"

Chiana smiled at him in triumph. "I speak. A little. Luxan. Delvian. John's Earthspeak. It is a fun ... job? ... hobby. When I ... young, no language germs. Neri and I ... we learn. Now, I still can do. Can turn language germs off. Nebari skill." She grinned at him proudly.

Rygel crowed in delight and grabbed her hand. "Well, come with me. We have work to do!"

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

Above Pilot's chamber, D'Argo and Aeryn were silently taking stock of the situation. And finding it not good. Below them the furry creatures had succeeded in overcoming the pitiable resistance of the DRD's and had taken a frightened Pilot captive. His rapid staccato language rang in their ears. Aeryn was ready to leap to his defense but D'Argo wisely restrained her. Together they watched the military unit below and tried to determine their best course of action.

In Pilot's chamber Dag'lish ordered his men to round up the last of the DRD's. Then he approached the massive symbiont. With a swift move he quickly injected the being with the antidote to the microbe paralysing mist. Pilot shook his head a couple of times then realised that he could once again understand his captors.

"What is the meaning of this piracy?" he demanded immediately. He noted with satisfaction that the furry creature winced at his use of the term 'piracy'.

"We are in need of transport. To the Wom system," Dag'lish explained.

"And you could not have simple asked?" Pilot criticised.

"No. We tried asking back on the commerce planet. We have no ship. No funds. Nothing but our military skill. And our beloved leader, the Womash even now fights for his very existence against our despicable enemy, the Dengar. We had no other choice but to commandeer this Leviathan. Once we have reached the Womash we will release you and your crew, unharmed. It is the honourable thing to do," Dag'lish's voice rang with sincerity.

Pilot wanted to believe him but was afraid of what the rest of the crew would do. "What have you done to our communications?" he demanded.

"A paralysing mist. Administered through your air system. Your microbes do not work and your crew cannot understand each other." Dag'lish lifted the mauve coloured vial from which he had injected Pilot. "This is the antidote. We will give it to your crew once we have reached the Wom system." He turned and communicated with his troops who were spread out throughout Pilot's chamber. "Any sign of the rest of the crew?"

"No, sir. They appear to be in hiding," one young Womai answered, his ears flicking in anticipation.

Dag'lish looked around him carefully, then turned back to look at the massive Pilot. "Be ready. I suspect they are closer than we think."

As if in response to his words two figures suddenly dropped into the chamber from above, coming to land between the Womai and Pilot. The Womai immediately took up defensive positions around the chamber and near its closed door. Dag'lish scrambled for cover as several shots landed near him. He looked up cautiously to see the Luxan and a Sebacean firing at the concealed Womai, trying to force them out of Pilot's chamber.

On his way to Pilot's chamber John increased his speed when he heard the sound of gunfire coming from behind the closed door ahead of him. His first thought was for Aeryn and any danger she might be in. He did not see the two orange furred creatures approaching from the direction of the ship's detention cells.

Swiftly hitting the door mechanism, he slipped into the room to see Aeryn and D'Argo fighting to defend Pilot from several furry aliens. He drew his pistol and entered the battle.

Dag'lish rose unseen from his hiding place and managed to move in behind the distracted defenders. Moving stealthily he climbed undetected up behind the massive creature that pilotted the Leviathan. Drawing his weapon, he placed it against the creature's head. "Surrender. Now!" he ordered.

In front of him. Aeryn suddenly sensed a powerful change in Moya's emotions. Fear and dread overcame her. She spun around to see one of the pirates holding a gun to Pilot's head. A quick gesture at D'Argo had him looking at the same no-win situation.

Just as they were about to lower their weapons in surrender, John burst into the room, pistol raised. His eyes searched for and found Aeryn, standing defeated in front of Pilot's console. Then he spun around becoming aware of another presence behind him.

Aeryn watched in horror as two Womai burst into the chamber behind John, their pistols raised to fire at him. "No!" she cried and raised her rifle. Beside her, one of the Womai, Kresh, hit her with the butt of his rifle, knocking her to the ground. Then, incensed, he raised his weapon and fired down at her prone form.

"Kresh! NO!" Dag'lish cried, but it was too late. The Sebacean was down, severely wounded by Kresh's shot. For a microt the entire group stood still in shock, then Moya's crew dropped their weapons in defeat, the one who had entered coming to kneel beside his wounded crewmate in despair.

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

Surrounded by the invading Womai, who looked like a bizarre cross between Wookiees and Ewoks, John carried a critically wounded Aeryn in his arms to the Command where Zhaan awaited, hoping she would be able to treat the Sebacean's still bleeding rifle shot. The Woma who had shot her had been severely reprimanded for his actions and was trailing along behind them almost solicitously. D'Argo, unhappy at the crew's surrender, followed along behind him, his hands bound in cuffs, his Qualta Blade confiscated by the invaders. Aeryn moaned softly in John's arms and he looked down into her very pale face with concern.

Once they reached the Command, the invaders signalled to Zhaan to treat Aeryn's wounds. John did what he could to help her and the chastised Woma hovered around them, watching guiltily. At one point, John caught Zhaan's eye and glanced at the obviously contrite shooter. She noted his meaning and nodded, then went back to her work. They managed to stop the bleeding but Aeryn was still in a lot of pain and had lost enough blood for Zhaan to be concerned. Believing that their captors could understand her, she stood and faced them defiantly,

"I know I won't understand what you say back to me, but I need medicine and bandages or she will die," she stated bluntly. "I demand that you send some of your troops down to my infirmary and fetch the items I will tell you. From the look on the face of your soldier here," she said, indicating Kresh," You do not want to kill us. If you are bounty hunters, I will tell you now we will resist you every step of the trip back to Scorpius and the Peacekeepers."

Dag'lish looked at her in horror, both at her assumption that they were dishonourable bounty hunters and at the news that they were being sought by the Peacekeepers, a group they feared and hated even more than the Dengar. "No!" he cried, seeking to reassure her helplessly. "We only want your ship! Nothing more! When we have reached Wom, we will release you! You have my vow!"

At his outburst, the two male captives looked up at him, their expressions confused. Dag'lish sighed in frustration, then pointed to himself and his troops, then spread his arms wide to indicate the ship around them, and back to himself, trying to let them know it was the ship they needed. He made a gesture to signify flying through space, then pointed to his troops and the exit. Finally he spread his arms again and pointed back to the crew, trying to communicate his intention to return control of the Leviathan to the fugitives. They watched him, with dawning comprehension, but not a little suspicion that what he was trying to tell them was a lie. Dag'lish sighed again and then selected two of his troops to do as Zhaan requested. He bowed before her and then indicated that they were at her disposal. Still suspicious but slightly mollified, Zhaan quickly listed her needs, telling the two young creatures exactly what she needed and where they might find it.

From her place of concealment above the Command, Chiana smiled suddenly. Rygel stood beside her looking down on the captured D'Argo, John and Zhaan and the wounded Aeryn. He was overcome with despair, not happiness as was Chiana. "Why are you smiling? They have John, D'Argo, Zhaan and Aeryn. What can we do against them?"

Chiana turned to him with assurance. "Much. They are Womai. Well known to Chiana. I speak their tongue. Lived on their world for a time." She struggled to find the right words in her limited Hynerian vocabulary. "Look, they split up. Small numbers. Easy to ... to ..."

"Defeat?" Rygel supplied, noting that she was right. The two that had been ordered away by their leader, were followed by the leader himself and two others. They were apparently on their way back to Pilot, to give him the coordinates of their destination. That left only two others to guard the captives. Rygel saw that John and D'Argo exchanged looks and significant glances at the two guards. *They see the possibilities too,* he thought. "So what do we do next?" he asked out loud.

"We need a ... big noise?" Chiana said.

"A distraction," Rygel supplied. Chiana smiled back at him, nodding, then she moved over the opening directly above John and Aeryn. Below her, she saw, Aeryn's eyes open suddenly and stare directly at her in her hiding place. She held her breath for a microt, hoping the Sebacean was not so wounded that she would forget herself and give away their hiding place. Aeryn looked up at her Nebari shipmate and then suddenly began groaning and moaning in pain. John leaned over her in concern and Zhaan came over to see what she could do. Aeryn carefully pointed up and the pair hovering over her cast subtle glances up and saw Chiana and Rygel hiding above them. With a quick smile, they turned back to their supposedly dying comrade.

Aeryn moaned even louder and played up her 'death scene' to the utmost. John helped her by crying out to Zhaan to help their wounded colleague and Zhaan knelt by her side, wringing her hands in despair.

Then she turned to the two uncomfortable guards."Do something! She's dying!" she cried.

The two guards moved forward to look at the dying female on the floor, their rounded ears twitching in despair, unaware of Chiana dropping to the floor behind them. With two quick smacks from the DRD she had grabbed, the two guards fell to the ground, unconscious.

Chiana motioned quickly to Rygel and the tiny Dominar dropped to the floor of the Command from above, complaining loudly in Hynerian at the loss of his precious thronechair. For a microt, the fugitives all stood looking at each other, unsure what to do next. Then they all began talking at once. The confusing babble of voices ended abruptly as they realised they could not be understood.

"What the yotz are we going to do now?" Rygel complained.

"I have brain thing ... er idea," Chiana replied.

"You have an idea? Well, I feel much better now," Rygel shot back sarcastically. The rest of the crew were intrigued at the exchange between the Hynerian and the Nebari.

"You can understand each other?" John asked in amazement, in English.

"I can speak Earth-speak, ... a little," Chiana said to John, smiling wickedly at his shocked expression. "And Luxan," she added in Luxan to D'Argo. D'Argo's surprise quickly turned to pleasure. "And Delvian," she said for Zhaan's benefit. She looked ruefully at Aeryn, who waited hopefully. Then Chiana shook her head. She was somewhat surprised to see a hurt expression come over the Sebacean's face, before a groan of pain escaped her lips.

John leaned over their downed comrade and then turned to Chiana with a look of concern. "Aeryn is bleeding again. We need to get her to the infirmary."

Chiana looked back at the Human, not understanding all that he said, but getting the gist of his words from his look of concern and Aeryn's obviously dangerous condition. "We have to get ... free." She turned and looked at the two unconscious Womai. D'Argo followed her gaze and moved over to search the creatures, his expression triumphant as he discovered a key to his shackles. Removing them, he quickly transferred the cuffs to the Womai, latching them to one of the light fixtures on Moya's wall. The two invaders groaned but did not awaken. D'Argo removed their comms then turned back to his shipmates.

John lifted Aeryn carefully into his arms and looked at Zhaan significantly then at the door. "We've got to get her to the infirmary, Zhaan," he said unnecessarily. As if she understood him, Zhaan was already on her way out the door. But she stopped suddenly and gestured back with her hands when she heard the two Womai returning from the infirmary. The crew swiftly took up positions behind the doors to ambush the unsuspecting soldiers. John moved to a covered position with Aeryn and watched as D'Argo, with the help of Chiana and Zhaan, quickly overcame the two Womai before they could signal the rest of the company.

When the Womai had been bound hand and foot, and gagged, Chiana gave a squeaky laugh and said to D'Argo in Luxan, "Four down, eight to go!" matching her words with gestures so the others could understand. D'Argo grinned at her enthusiasm. It warmed his heart to hear his language on the intriguing Nebari's lips.

John and Zhaan started out the door once more on their way to the infirmary. D'Argo was clearly ready to head down to rescue Pilot. Chiana stopped him with a restraining hand and called to John in English. "No!"

The Human and the Delvian stopped in confusion. "What?" each replied, a confusing mixture of languages.

Chiana struggled for the words. "Not ... part. Together!" she said in English. Then she mimed the group as one. "Together!" she repeated in Delvian.

D'Argo looked confused but understanding dawned on John's face. "You want us all to stay together. You're right. If we separate, we'll never be able to communicate with each other, or rescue Pilot. Good thinking, Chiana," he said with a grin. Looking across at Zhaan he saw that she clearly agreed with Chiana as well. The Nebari haltingly explained what she meant to Rygel and D'Argo. They were not as convinced of the wisdom of Chiana's plan but agreed. Then Chiana indicated Aeryn and pointed out the door. D'Argo checked the bonds on the captured Womai then led the way cautiously out of the Command. A complaining squeak from Rygel at their speed had Chiana bending and lifting the little Hynerian onto her back, piggybacking him along behind the ragtag procession.

John was frustrated at the slow pace the group had to make towards the infirmary. Though her wound was no longer bleeding heavily, Aeryn was drifting in and out of consciousness. John whispered to her to hang on, knowing that she could not understand but needing desperately to say something. Coming awake, she opened her eyes and smiled up at him, then her head tilted against his shoulder with a sigh. Scared, John stopped and called out to Zhaan, who quickly came back to check the Sebacean. Though she smiled to reassure him, he could see the worry in her eyes. The Delvian turned and said something to Chiana who obviously repeated it to D'Argo. John was upset to see the Luxan turn back in concern then increase his pace.

Once at the infirmary, Zhaan quickly directed John to lay Aeryn down on a bed and went to work with her bandages and herbs. John ignored the strange conversation going on between Chiana, Rygel and D'Argo, his whole attention focussed on Zhaan's efforts. When Chiana came over to place a hand on his arm, he looked down into her sympathetic face. "We go? Save Pilot." John wanted to protest, knowing he had to go stop the Womai but wanting to stay at Aeryn's side. With a sigh he nodded. Then he stopped. "Who will defend Zhaan and Aeryn if the Womai come down here?" Chiana looked at him, trying to understand his words. John mimed standing guard and pointed to himself. D'Argo began to protest but it was Zhaan who settled the multilingual argument.

Grabbing his head quickly she plunged them once more into Unity."John, we will be all right. If the Womai come, I will surrender. I don't think they will hurt us. They obviously just want Moya." John was not happy about her plan but recognised that resistance would result in more injuries.

"I trust you to take care of Aeryn. And yourself, Zhaan. Good luck!" he replied. The Delvian smiled at him once more then released him from Unity. With a last squeeze of Aeryn's limp hand, the Human turned and followed his friends out the door.

At Rygel's insistence the group made a brief detour to retrieve the Hynerian's thronechair from the passageway where he had been captured. The little Dominar was overjoyed to be mobile again. The fugitives then made their way silently through Moya's halls back to the passageway from which D'Argo and Aeryn had entered Pilot's chambers in their first ill-fated rescue attempt. Below them, the remainder of the Womai were gathered, menacing Pilot. The leader was talking to the symbiont, his tone one of exasperation as he obviously tried to convince Pilot to take them where they wanted to go. Pilot's rapid staccato language rang back as he clearly resisted. D'Argo started to speak but was silenced by an imperious hand from Chiana. The Nebari moved closer to the opening, cocking her head as she listened to one side of the conversation.

"Officer Sun is being treated as we speak. The rest of your crew are with her up in the Command," the Woma commander was saying." They are safe and well."

Pilot said something back to which the young leader replied, "They will remain safe as long as you agree to our demands!"

Pilot's eyes rolled in disbelief and his voice rose in accusation.

"For the last time, we are not pirates! We are honourable soldiers of the Womash. We have been forced into this position by circumstances. We require that you take us to the coordinates I have already given you as soon as possible. If you fail to comply, I will be forced to execute your crew members one by one until you agree!" Pilot's eyes bugged at his threats. " I would not have their deaths, but this is a state of war. I will do what is necessary for my Womash. I give you my vow on this as Lieutenant Dag'lish of the glorious Gyffan company!" The angry and desperate soldiers waited. When the symbiont did not move, Dag'lish said again, "Do I order my men to fetch one of the prisoners?" Chiana tensed, fearing their escape would be discovered. "Perhaps the wounded one that you seem so concerned about?" The young soldier moved to activate his comm.

Before he could speak into it, Pilot began to speak, his face and voice subdued. His four arms moved confidently over the controls as he entered the coordinates. The hidden fugitives could feel the Leviathan accelerate. Dag'lish and his men relaxed visibly.

"Chiana, what's happening?" John hissed in her ear. The Nebari backed away from the opening before answering.

"The Woma ... says bad things against us to Pilot. Pilot must take them to Wom or they kill us. Aeryn first," she said, struggling to express herself with limited vocabulary.

"Bad things? He's threatening Pilot?" John shook with anger. "And Aeryn?"

D'Argo waited impatiently for Chiana to explain what was happening first to Rygel then to him. "Do they realise we have escaped?"

"No, not know. But soon," Chiana replied.

D'Argo leaned down to assess the situation. He pulled John forward and pointed out that the group was breaking up into smaller groupings of two or three, ranging foolishly around Pilot's chamber. He was preparing to leap once more into the room, when John pointed out that Pilot seemed to have noticed them in the chamber above them. Being careful not to alert the Womai, the symbiont watched as John and D'Argo signalled their intentions to move against the invaders. Pilot carefully commanded the DRD's to move into positions to help the attack. When the little robots were in place, he nodded to John and the others. D'Argo turned to Chiana and tried to instruct her to wait in safety but the Nebari would not agree.

The attack, when it came was swift. John and D'Argo leaped into the chamber at opposite ends and quickly overpowered five of the Womai. Rygel managed to knock a sixth down with his thronechair and the DRD's pinned a seventh against the chamber door. Chiana managed to land right on the back of the Lieutenant but he threw her off and drew his weapon, holding it against Pilot's head.

"Drop your weapons and surrender or I will kill the Pilot!" he yelled, then groaned as the crew froze in place but did not surrender. The group all stood staring at each other in a tense stand-off.

"It looks like we have a problem," the grey-skinned little alien spoke in fluent Womari. Dag'lish's face registered his astonishment.

"How is it that you speak *The Perfect Tongue*?"

The alien smiled and cocked her head, "I spent some time on Wom."

"Tell them to surrender or I'll ..." the Lieutenant's voice was desperate.

"What? Kill Pilot?" She moved closer to the armed Woma. The tall tentacled crewmember called out to her, but she ignored him. "I don't think you will. I know a lot about the honour of the Womai. Even though you claim to be committing this piracy in the name of honour and glory, it is still an act of piracy. If you kill any of Moya's crew, your people would label you a murderer." She stepped forward even more, ignoring the growl from the Luxan. "Give me the gun. Give up. And I will see what I can do about convincing them to help you." She reached out her gloved hand and cocked her head a bit more. "Come on, Dag'lish. You know what I'm saying is true. You can't win. And you're not a murderer." She looked around at the other Womai, the ones who were still conscious. Their eyes were fixed on their leader. "None of you are murderers," she said, raising her voice.

"Lieutenant, she's right," Shadron said quietly from his place against the wall. The DRD's moved forward menacingly at the sound of his voice. "There is no glory in murder."

Dag'lish looked at the others, who nodded their assent. Then with a sigh, he passed the gun to the Nebari. She smiled radiantly at him. "There, that wasn't so bad. I'm Chiana by the way."

"Will you really try to get them to help us?" Dag'lish said quietly, as D'Argo roughly bound his hands.

"Yes. The Womai aren't the only creatures in the universe with honour." Chiana watched as the Lieutenant was led away. Then she stopped D'Argo. "Wait! We need the antidote to the paralysing mist!"

Dag'lish quickly indicated the vial in his pocket. Chiana retrieved it as John and D'Argo rounded up the Womai and placed them in holding cells.

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

Zhaan, ever cautious, wanted to test the antidote for safe use on the crew's differing alien physiologies before injecting it. The others realised the wisdom of her decision and waited impatiently for the test results to come back. All the while, Chiana relished her role as chief translator and negotiator, ordering the others around imperiously.

After some pretty fast talking, Chiana had swayed the freed and restored members of Moya's crew to take the Womai home. It had taken all her powers of persuasion to convince the angry fugitives that the Womai could be useful allies in the future. Pointing out that they really couldn't afford to feed the prisoners anyway, and that there were no planets nearby on which to drop them had tipped the scales in their favour.The contrite Womai had been safely dropped at their home planet, happy to learn that their skills in defense of their Womash were still needed. After profuse apologies and thanks to Moya and her crew, the Gyffan company had boarded their small vessel and sailed off to earn Glory Badges in battle against the dreaded Dengar, promising to include the names of Moya's crew in the songs of glory that were going to be written about them.

"I can't wait to hear them," D'Argo had said sarcastically as the tiny craft left Moya, causing Rygel and Zhaan, to snort with amusement.

Two solar days later, a subdued crew assembled in the central chamber. After a brief microt of uncomfortable silence, Zhaan had been the first to apologise to the others for her anger at being forced off the commerce planet. After that the flood gates had opened. Soon, Chiana was holding court in the centre chamber, still enjoying her role as ship's saviour. Zhaan had been quick to apologise for underestimating the abilities of the little Nebari and those of Rygel. Chiana had given her a warm hug, glowing at the Delvian's praise. John had praised her quick thinking, giving her a kiss and hug. His grin had been wide when D'Argo began to growl at the length of the Human's embrace. He had stepped away from her and winked wickedly, before exaggeratedly cowering before the jealous Luxan. Then, typically he had excused himself to go and see the recuperating Aeryn. D'Argo's expression promised many pleasures, but before he could lead her away, Rygel had hovered over to her. Chiana waited smugly for his apology.

"Uh, Chiana. I just wanted to ... to say ... to say ..."

"Yes, your Eminence?" Chiana said, smirking at his obvious difficulty.

"Yes, well," Rygel harrumphed imperiously. Then he straightened regally in his thronechair. "Your tactical skills and negotiating acumen would be worthy of any Hynerian. High praise for a mere alien." He tried to maintain his regal pose, then his earbrows lowered humbly. "Thank you for *saving our butts* as Crichton would say." With a gentle smile, the little Dominar floated away.

Chiana smiled happily, feeling a part of the crew for perhaps the first time. Then she caught D'Argo's eye and let him lead her away to his quarters.

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

Aeryn lay on her bed recovering from her wound. Pilot had graciously sent down one of the DRD's with the antidote injection, having been just cleared by Zhaan. Aeryn endured the rather painful injection and smiled at the little yellow robot. When it was almost out the door of her quarters, John came by. He smiled at her, seeing that she was awake. The DRD slipped out the door unseen by the Human. He gestured his wish to come in. Aeryn smiled her acceptance of his presence and John slipped into the room, making a point of closing the door behind him. Aeryn frowned at his unusual behaviour but said nothing.

John came and sat by her side on the bed. Aeryn was about to speak when the Human took her hands in his, his expression serious.

"I know you can't understand me, Aeryn. But there are some things I have to say to you, even if you don't know what I'm saying. The fact that you can't understand makes it easier for me to say."

Aeryn started to protest that she could understand, but John placed a gentle finger across her lips. "No, please, just listen. I have to say this. I've wanted to say this to you for a long time."

She sat back, waiting.

"I know I denied that we were lovers in front of the whole crew and I'm sorry. The fact is I want us to be lovers more than anything. And I want more. I love you, Aeryn. I think I've loved you for a very long time. I know you don't feel the same way about me, but I had to say this to you, if only to keep my sanity." John smiled into her eyes and lifted her hands to his lips, pressing gentle kisses on their backs, then he lowered his head and sighed.

Aeryn sat in her bed stark still, shocked at the depth of the feelings John had just revealed to her. She was about to tell him she understood him but then remembered that Zhaan had told her he had not yet had been cleared for his antidote injection. So instead she ran her fingers through his hair and caressed his cheek when he lifted his head. Smiling into his eyes as he had done to her, she said softly, "I love you, John Crichton," so relieved to be able to finally put her feelings into words, even if he could not understand her.

He started for a moment and returned her smile, then, seeing her eyes droop wearily, rose and helped her get comfortable once more. With a gentle kiss to her forehead, he turned and left the room. Aeryn settled down and was soon in a healing sleep. John stood silently outside her door until she drifted off and then headed towards his own quarters.

Once out of earshot, he suddenly leaped into the air and kicked his heels to the side in glee, a massive smile coming over his face. "Yessss!" Then he walked jauntily on, absently rubbing the mildly itchy injection spot on his left arm.

FIN