Henged

Title: Henged
Author: Dalequan
Genre: Romance/Adventure
Rating: PG
Summary: John stumbles upon ruins similar to many on Earth. Has he found a way home? Will Aeryn let him leave?
Disclaimer: Farscape is the property of the Jim Henson Muppet Company, The Nine Network of Australia, Hallmark Entertainment and Scifi.com. This site is for fans by fans and does not mean to infringe on any rights held by these companies.

"Commander. Moya's sensors--picking up large ruins on the planet's surface. Several of them seem to be gathering energy--channeling it to a central device located on the dark side of the planet. Interference from the volcanic gases in the atmosphere prevent me from determining the exact location." John's brow screwed up in frustration. "Can you get a general idea of where its located. We'll do the rest from the Prowler. Call Aeryn and tell her to meet me in the maintenance bay." Pilot nodded. "Of course Commander." John watched as the shell monitor went blank. He left the terrace, where he had been observing the planet visually, to meet Aeryn. Pilot and he, had been studying the planet for a few arn while the crew took a much needed break. The way several circular areas of energy were being channeled away from their sources, towards another point on the large dying planet had fascinated him. Why was it there? Why was it still working? Who had built it and why? Why? The planet should be inhabitable with the level of tectonic activity they were recording from space. Since they had arrived, one of the nodules had been destroyed by a terriable earthquake. One so strong that Moya could sense the earthquakes's fury from her orbit around the planet. Further observation had confirmed that the atmosphere was barely breathable and that all life forms had died or fled. Ever the curious one, he wanted to see what was still gathering the energy and what was it being used for? "John. Pilot said you wanted me to meet you in the maintenance bay. Well, where are you? I don't have all day to sit around. I have tasks to complete." John's smile at hearing Aeryn's voice grew crooked when he recognized her bored arrogant tone. He laughed softly. When she found out what he wanted, she would be livid--but beautiful. "Are you crazy Crichton? That planet is a mess. Every few minutes there is an earthquake down there. There are volcanoes exploding left and right. I will not risk my prowler going down there so you can appease your curiosity!" "Aeryn, will you stop yelling. Look--it's only for a sec. I just want to get a visual of what's going on down there is all. I don't want to land. I just want to have a look around from the air. Moya's sensors can't penetrate the layers of volcanic gases well enough for us to scan those structures." "How do you even know there are structures down there? You just said that Moya's scans can't penetrate..." John interrupted her. "It's a hunch Aeryn. There is no way what is going on down there is a natural occurrence."> He watched as she continued to stare at him in disbelief. "Fine Aeryn. I'll take my module and go alone. I don't have time to stand here arguing with you. That planet is getting more postal by the minute. If I'm going, I have to go now." John walked away from her disbelieving glare and headed over to his module. Aeryn's prowler was better suited for what he wanted to do. It's advanced shielding would have protected him from the heat and the corrosive layers of gas he would have to fly through to get to the safer air below. "Pilot, how long would it take for the drd's to install more atmosphere scrubbers into my engine filters?" "Approximately three arn Commander. My calculations suggest the planet will reach critical mass in less than eight arn and it's crust is becoming more unstable by the microt. Since you left two more of the structures have ceased functioning." "Damn. Well I'll just have to take my chances in my ship. Okay Pilot--I'll try to keep in contact with you okay?" Pilot's voice was filled with concern. "Isn't Officer Sun going with you? Her prowler is better suited..." "Yes Pilot. I am taking him. We are leaving now." Aeryn glared at John and handed a flight suit and helmet to him. "Hurry up. I have other things to do, remember?" "Just a bunch of old megalithic ruins," Aeryn scoffed. "There are thousands maybe millions of these scattered throughout the Uncharted Territories as well as the known spaces." John's trembled and grew pale as he gazed in awe at the ancient stone structures. Stonehenge only it was complete and the monoliths were four times as large. His mouth worked but nothing came out. He saw Aeryn look over her shoulder at him and frowned. She hadn't counted on him knowing about the portals. Apparently the Others had been to his planet as well. "Crichton? Crichton are you alright? You have become very white-- even for you. Are you sick?" "Henge...henge..uh Aeryn that's Stonehenge down there." Aeryn shrugged and made one more pass over the site and headed towards the next one following the large bolt of white-blue light clearly visible in the smoke and dust caused by the volcanic gases and debris in the air. Aeryn shouted so that she could be heard above the roar of a nearby volcano. "They all seem to be converging on one point!" "Yeah! We weren't able to get a precise location but it should be visible soon if we maintain this heading. It's incredible Aeryn. They are all exactly the same distance from each other and apparently the same distance from whatever these energy beams are heading towards," he shouted back. "What the frell!" Aeryn screamed as the beam of energy wavered for a minute sparking tendrils towards the prowler--wrapping itself around the ship drawing it in. "Frell!" Aeryn screamed as her head began to throb--waves of nauseous pain assailed her. "Oh--God what is happening!" John cried out. His mind felt like it was being squeezed and the pain inside his skull was unbearable. Then as suddenly as the energy had flowed towards the prowler it withdrew. "What the hell was that?" John gasped rubbing his temples briskly. Aeryn shrugged. "I don't know? I'm going to climb a little higher. I don't want it to happen again." "Pilot! Pilot, can you read me? Damn! I promised him I would let him know what was going on?" The pain was quickly forgotten as he stared eagerly into the void of darkness they had suddenly entered. They continued to follow the only light visible--one of the energy bolts, it seemed to shrink and brightened as they converged on the others.... "Oh hell no!" "What's wrong John." Aeryn looked around quickly shocked by the look of recognition on John's face. She gazed out at the ruins below them. A large pyramid glowed a brilliant hue of white-gold in the darkness. The colors were so soothing. Welcoming. Around it were several other pyramid structures of different designs but all had the same gentle glow. Some had flat plateau like tops, others came to a point like the dominate pyramid in the center. Aeryn's voice was soft and full of concern. "You recognize these buildings don't you?" John blinked rapidly and looked away but not before Aeryn saw a lone tear slide down his face. "The cradle of creation is beneath me," he whispered in awe. "What do you mean? There are ruins like those on every known planet I have ever been on." Aeryn on my world. Each of those pyramids exist. Not that big but the same style's and structures. We thought...we thought our ancestors built them but we couldn't figure out how? How could they have such advanced--precise building technology while other areas of their lives seemed far behind in comparison. His hand trembled as he directed her attention to the dominant pyramid. "One of our most ancient civilizations is a country called Egypt. It has several pyramids like that one. The ones to the right of it...those are located in Central America--they were built by the Aztec Indians and those..." he continued to explain each pyramid's corresponding location on his planet--his voice filled with awe and regret. Aeryn's frown deepened as his excitement grew and he blew it off as her Peacekeeper training. If only they had arrived several days sooner. Maybe he could have landed and explored them. Maybe this was a gateway to his world now as it had apparently been when the people who had lived here escaped. But why did they leave? What made them flee? "We have to go John. The eruptions are becoming more violent and I don't want to be around when this planet self destructs. We have to get back to Moya and get her to safety." "I know...I just wish..." He looked away and closed his eyes against the sight of the history of his home world as it fading from sight. The prowler gained altitude and disappeared among the layers of soot and ash. John climbed out of the prowler and hurried to the Terrace, Aeryn hot on his heels. "We must StarBurst in order to put maximum distance between us and the planet. It could explode at any moment now." John was unable to keep the sadness and regret from his voice. "I understand Pilot. Thank you for giving me a chance to go down there. I'll explain everything to you after I let it sink in a little." Aeryn placed her hand on his arm lightly. He smiled wryly and looked at the planet one more time. He wondered what it's name had been? Had it at one time been called Earth by it's people? It was mind boggling. There were so many options and possibilities. He slid to the floor taking Aeryn with him. He could feel the shudders that occurred when Moya prepared for StarBurst. Aeryn sighed and leaned back against him. "I'm sorry about my attitude earlier. When Pilot told me you wanted to go down there I was afraid. We have never come across a portal that was active before. I don't want to lose you John, even to your Erp. It's selfish of me but it's the truth." John's mind stumbled his fingers tightened painfully around her waist. "Y-you knew what they were and you didn't tell me?" Aeryn gasped in pain. "John please...you're hurting me." She sighed in relief when his hands fell away from her waist. Leaning back she turned her head so she could watch his expressions as she tried to explain her actions. Reaching up to caress his face she gasped--hurt when he flinched slightly before closing his eyes and warming to her touch. "All I know is that a race we call the Others built structures like that throughout the galaxy. This is the first time I have seen one that was working and not in complete ruins. We theorized that they went from habitable planet to habitable planet using these devices. A portal of sorts. Their technology was so advanced that ours paled in comparison. Those monoliths are covered in a network of bio-engineered circuitry. We discovered an intact monolith shaped like a foot frozen on Tarez four. It was covered with a network of living circuitry that our techs couldn't figure out how to keep alive. The stone acts as a capacitor of sorts. We haven't been able to decipher their technology--what little we have found intact. They disappeared--and we don't know why. Most of the portal's were destroyed or left in ruins before they left the planets they were on. But they are so huge that the stone parts of them survive for millenia however the circuitry seems to die. It's some type of bio-mechanoid construct we believe." John nuzzled Aeryn's neck. "So you were afraid I would leave you if that was a way to my home?" "Yes," she whispered sadly. "I'm sorry. I know how important it is to you to find a way home." John smiled and dropped several lingering kisses along her jawline. She relaxed and leaned closer to him lifting her face as his mouth lowered over hers. John kissed her deeply--drinking in her sweetness and warmth. Her revelation had angered him a little. Once he thought of what he would have done if their positions were reversed, he had quickly forgiven her. He would have done the same. How could she doubt his need to have her in his life forever. He could never leave her. She was his life now, his family. He reckoned he would have to teach her a lesson to remind her. John broke the kiss, smiling crookedly when she moaned in protest. "Ummm, why are you stopping?" She whispered against his lips." John chuckled and pushed her away and stood up. Moya had finished her Starburst. Aeryn stood and wrapped her arms around him to bring him back against her. "Earlier you told me you were busy. Hurry up. I have other things to do," he mimicked. John was pleased when she flushed and then glared at him for reminding her. Aeryn smiled coyly at him drawing his head down. "Oh I do have other things to do. Several very important tasks-- only--you have to be on your back--for me to finish them." John chuckled as Aeryn's mouth closed over his and she drew him back down to the floor. End