Title: Presence of the Being

Author: Ciotach

Email: Ciotach

Archive: Email me first. Ciotach

Rating: Pg-13

Category: Romance Action Adventure

Summary: While trying to come to terms with the events after Mind the Baby, John takes a joyride to a Earthlike planet and attracts the wrong kind of attention.

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: Episode Spoiler: "Nerve", "Hidden Memory", and "Mind the Baby"



,

Presence Of The Being

"Commander Crichton?"

Banging his head sharply on the module flight display, John Crichton swore and hit his com. "Yeah, Pilot, what?" Aeryn tentatively looked up at his outburst, before returning to her work on her Prowler stationed next to the Farscape 1.

"I have received data from a scan of a small uncharted planet that we will be passing within a few arns." Pilot's voice sounded via the communication link.

"Okay, and?"

"Well," Pilot's voice sounded hesitant. "I thought perhaps, you would like to see this planet."

John leaped down from Farscape 1 and walked to the shell shaped viewer, wiping his hands on a rag. "Okay, let's see it." He shrugged at Aeryn's curious look.

The viewer blinked to life, displaying the planet. John gasped, and moved closer barely daring to breathe.

Gauzy white clouds swirled about a deep blue surface dotted with dark landmasses. The feeling it invoked made him cautious. But, closer observation showed the resemblance was just that, a resemblance. The landmasses where too large for Earth and there were no polar ice caps on this likeness.

It was real! A feeling of homesickness hit him.

"For Christ's sake!" He thought. "It looks like earth."

"I would not have informed the crew regarding this planet. We have recently replenished our food sources, so, we haven't any need to trade." Pilot's image replaced the planet's image. "I have made a scan of every planetary object with a breathable oxygen atmosphere, that we have encountered in the last cycle. This planet has a Level 8 atmosphere." Pilot paused. "But, I realized you may be interested in the similarity between this planet and your Earth, as I remember from the false Earth. Also I have informed Zhaan." Pilot swirled, his arms moving it a quiet symphony over Moya's panels. "This planet has a impressive quality of flora."

"Could you show that again, please, Pilot?"

Okay it wasn't Earth, but it was damn close. John crossed his arms over his chest and contemplated the image on the viewer. He could hear Aeryn moving close beside him to the viewer, but didn't respond to her questioning glance.

The last few months had been HELL. From the first time the Peacekeeper, Larraq, and his commandos had boarded Moya, their lives had been dogged with danger at every turn. Aeryn's injury, Gilina's death, Talyn's rebellion, and dealing with Crais were taking their toll on the crew of the Leviathan. Their ordeals had strengthened their relationships and forged a kinship among them. For John Crichton the trials had bared a new existence, one he was unsure of.

The Aurora chair had been his personal nightmare, one he still woke to in the middle of Moya's artificial night, sweating, shaking, and reliving the flashes of intense light, and pain in his mind. He would lay in his quarters and actually experience the bone chilling cold of the cell he had shared with Stark, feel the rough mat he had lain on, fighting the panic, and nausea caused by the sieving process of the Aurora chair.

He knew he had been a little crazy in the weekens immediately following his rescue from the Gammak base. Slowly, it had come down to the good days, and the bad days. And right now he needed a good day.

"What do you say, Aeryn? How about some time Planet side." Aeryn leaned forward to view the script scrolling beneath the image of the planet.

"Have you interpreted this?" She pointed at the script as John frowned at it; Peacekeeper symbols were still hard for him to get. "They have stipulations for landing on this planet. One is Designated Landing, and two is no weapons."

"Right, we play nice and use the Valet Parking. No problem." He laughed sarcastically. "At least, I don't have a problem playing nice" The fact that for the first time in his life, the thought of going unarmed made John feel even slightly uneasy, frankly scared him. At one time the very idea of being armed or carrying any weapons would have been foreign to John. Now he thought nothing of rolling out of bed and strapping on a pulse pistol or hefting a pulse rife. What had he become, a Peacekeeper or merely a paranoid jerk?

"No, John, I will not go down there without a weapon to defend myself"

"Aeryn, everyone down there is going to be unarmed." Leaning against Farscape 1, John watched the former Peacekeeper. He was getting to know that look. "Why don't you give it a rest, okay? For one damn day let's walk down the street of some strange planet like normal people and not be armed to the teeth."

He saw her stiffen and held his breath as Aeryn slowly turned to face him. The gray eyes narrowed slightly as they settled on him.

"Being "armed to the teeth" as you put it, IS normal for my people. Besides, do you really believe everyone is going to be unarmed?"

"All right, I'll give you that. But I am sure there is probably some sort of armed force to enforce the rules."

"And you believe we have nothing to fear from this armed Force?" One dark eyebrow quirked up in question.

"We already know there is no Peacekeeper presence in this territory"

"Then, Crichton." Aeryn moved closer and looked John full in the face "You have just become jeopardous, to yourself and your shipmates. Never assume any planet is safe." She shook her head "I weary of protecting you from yourself or teaching you any concept of defense." The comment had caught him off guard. He had long ago recognized that D'Argo and Aeryn would never consider him a warrior, but John had thought they had come to include him as at least useful in the defense of Moya and her crew.

He could feel his face growing warm with emotion. That had hurt. Man, that hurt. Aeryn stood her ground before him, the formable Peacekeeper. NO emotion. "Fine, Aeryn. Stay on Moya. I'm going down."

"John, we do not need to trade" Aeryn implored. "We do not need to visit this planet."

"I know, but Zhaan will want to check out the plant life and maybe restock her medicine chest." He leaned forward to rest his hand on top of the viewer. "This planet reminds me of Earth."

The note of longing in John's voice frightened her and the expression on his face when he turned to look at her frightened her more. "I have to get away from the weapons and the non-civilian timetable you and D'Argo drill up here. Like you just said, Aeryn, you get tired of teaching me, well I get tired of trying to be the bad ass badboy you are trying to make me into." John scrubbed his hands over his face. " I can't make you understand, Aeryn, I don't think I like what I am becoming. Whatever that is."

These past monens had seen their relationship take many different turns. After their night on the false earth, Aeryn had retreated, angered and hurt at the deception and her own reaction. Larraq had awakened a sense of loss and remembrance of her lost way of life, and she had again retreated from John's affections.

All that changed as she stood before him and Stark over the limp body of the security officer in the containment cell on the Gammak base. She was stunned and angered by the look of death in John's eyes. If it had not been for her, John would not have been in that place waiting to die. John had infiltrated a Peacekeeper base to save her life, and in that microt Aeryn realized the bond between herself and this human.

What had he said? "How ya doing?"

She thought she remembered her reply. "I am better, now."

The rest of the escape was a blur of pain and exhaustion. Her only thought was to get John and herself back on Moya alive and safe. Lately, she was finding herself more, and more attuned to his emotions. She could sense the struggle in him though she was not sure she understood the reason for it. For weekens, she would awaken after the sleep cycle to tag unobserved behind him as John wandered the Leviathan fighting some inner demon.

"No, I don't understand at all, John" Aeryn moved beside him. "To go unarmed into a strange situation goes against everything I have been taught as a Peacekeeper."

"Then, where do we meet Aeryn?" John glanced at the woman by his side. "Do I lose my humanity and become a Peacekeeper, or do you give up the Peacekeeper code and try to do without a pulse rifle over your arm 24/7?" Turning towards her brought him eye to eye with Aeryn. What could he see in those beautiful gray eyes? Fear? He could certainly see hesitation. One step brought her strong lithe body against his. That Aeryn didn't immediately shy away from this contact gave him confidence and John ventured to run his hand slowly up her arm. His breath caught in his throat as he watched tiny bumps appear on the smooth skin beneath his hand.

Stepping behind her John continued to trace up her arm to caress one strong shoulder before sliding his palm against the nape of Aeryn neck and drawing the dark hair to one side. Leaning forward he let his breath skim the sensitive space. "Please, Aeryn, just one day?" He felt her shiver against his chest.

Before her, all Aeryn could see at this moment was the blue planet; all she could feel was JOHN. Part of her wanted to be with this human. As a Peacekeeper, Aeryn had never had a staunch connection with either a lover or a friend. The next assignment would break up any budding relationship. In the last cycle this human had dragged her, pulled her and pushed her into more strange situations than her whole career as a Peacekeeper. He was constantly pushing her to question the Peacekeeper prominence, and to think for herself. He forced her to feel. What? No one before could make her feel these emotions; John immobilized her and left her breathless.

But even in passion a part of her was still a Peacekeeper. With a small moan Aeryn let her head drop to her chest.

"I can't John… I just can't…." her voice broke as John removed his hand and let the curtain of dark hair slide through his fingers. Then he took a step back and left her cold and alone.

Slowly, she ventured to turn and look at him. John held up his hands, whether in submission or to forestall her from speaking, Aeryn could not tell. She could only look at the rueful expression on his face, the way he had caught his lip between his teeth. Shaking his head, John turned the left the hanger without another word. Aeryn's chest burned with regret, and shame. One day was all he had asked for. And the Peacekeeper in her couldn't give it to him.

John shook his head trying to remove the scene for now, and pushed the control bar away, locking it in place for the pod's auto land to take over. In the end, Chiana had declined a road trip, (no lounges). Rygel had declared the planet primitive (no Hynerian delicacies). The weapon stipulation had also stopped D'Argo.

"Next Stop, Farmer's Market"

They alighted at the designated landing area and the first thing John noticed on exiting the transport pod was fresh air and the smell of dirt.

The "Armed Force" was immediately apparent. Set at regular intervals all along the perimeter of the designated landing area, were uniformed males. They appeared Sebacean in features and height, but unlike the Peacekeepers the crew of Moya had encountered, they lacked the egotistical demeanor, maybe a milder version of a Peacekeeper.

Except for a long silver staff, they seemed to be unarmed. All the arriving visitants were shepherded towards a central area that narrowed so that each was made to pass before a pair of guards before being allowed to venture into a main roadway. John suspected this was a kind of metal detector. This observation was confirmed when one green skinned habitue passed through and the silver staffs held by both guards began to hum like a tuning fork. An older guard wearing what passed for sergeant's bars moved towards the offender. "Weapons are prohibited on this world. Please disarm your person." He stated.

"Failure to disarm will result in repulsion." Mr. Green quickly produced a mean looking weapon of some sort from his long blue coat and surrendered it to the guard. With a quick nodded the weapon was taken away.

The older guard turned towards the crowd behind the offender, who was moving quickly down the roadway. "Your attention please. We are the Enforcers. Weapons are prohibited on this world." He repeated.

"Failure to disarm will result in repulsion. Further, any hostile reaction to being disarmed will result in detention of the offender. If a life is taken by hostile reaction, this will result in the offender being terminated." He added solemnly.

"Ok, so that's it?" John whispered to Zhaan as they passed through the guards. "I mean, no visitors pamphlet of rules? Like don't walk on the grass. What else can result in the offender being terminated?"

"Apparently, we are to conduct ourselves in a peaceful manner, and until a rule is violated we are free to move about as we please." Zhaan smiled. " I have no objection."

"Oh man, oh man, this is it!" John shaded his eyes against the glare of what looked like a noonday sun and took a long breath. " This is just like home." He shot a jaded look at the other travelers exiting their respective transports. "Well, maybe not just like home. You could never see a big orange guy with three arms at home."

Zhaan accompanied him, amused as they journeyed towards a city in the far ground. She was finding his excited mood contagious. John swept his arm out towards the green lush valley in front of them.

"This looks like Missouri. Dad and I used to go up to this lake up in the Ozarks…that's a mountain range on Earth…and fish." Zhaan laughed as John displayed series of sharp wrist movements. "Then, Dad would…."

At his pause, Zhaan turned to look at John frowning. Normally, the human would have continued on with his narrative and she and his other shipmates had grown used to the lengthy tales of John's homeworld, Earth. Lately, Zhaan had noticed John flounder during these recollections.

"John?" she placed a hand on his arm. Catching his lower lip in his teeth, John nodded at her concerned look but said nothing.

Sighing, Zhaan looked around and spotted a shady spot a few metras from the roadway. Turning to John with a smile she stepped off the road onto the green grass and moved towards the spot. Without a word John followed, as she knew he would, and dropped down beside her as she sat beneath the tree.

Zhaan watched silently, as John moved to wrap his arms around his legs and drop his head onto his uplifted knees.

There was an anxiety that rarely left him now where there had been none before. Before Scorpius, and his chair, and Gilina's death had happened to him. After his return from the Gammak base with his friend Stark, John had experienced some neurotic episodes brought about from the forced activity in his neurotransmitters. With Stark's unique assistance the episodes had subsided into a taut nervousness. After Stark's departure, John had seemed to return to his normal human self.

Then the pauses had started.

"John, can you tell me what you remember of your homeworld?" John tensed only a fraction at the sudden question, but he was not really surprised. Since their "unity" Zhaan seemed to be attuned to his emotions. With a sarcastic laugh he answered her. "Not nearly enough."

He rubbed his hands over is his face and smiled sadly at his friend. "And I think I am losing more every day." He stared straight ahead not seeing the valley before them. " I wasn't supposed to be gone for more then a day on my flight. I didn't take any albums or family photos with me. I mean, damn, I was supposed to meet Dad and DK for beer and steak afterwards" he laughed, but swallowed hard and looked down at the grass his eyes blurring and burning. "Their faces are starting to blur now. I don't know if was Scorpius or just time." Anger shined in the eyes he turned towards Zhaan. "I'm beginning to believe Scorpius ripped my memories out, viewed them for his precious information and left me lacking." He stood quickly, leaving Zhaan to look up at him: shading her eyes, waiting, listening. He stood with his back to her for a long while, silent. Zhaan waited. "I don't know who I am anymore, Zhaan." The admission ripped out of him.

John finally turned towards her and Zhaan wondered at the look of determination on the human's face. He dropped down in front of her on his heels and looked into the deep, serene, blue gaze. "I'm not John Crichton, scientist, astronaut. Not anymore." He declared. "But, I am not a warrior, or the Peacekeeper, Aeryn seems to want me to be. I can't seem to find me, not right now."

Shaking her head Zhaan moved forward and cupped his face in her hands. John was still as she slowly leaned towards him and touched her forehead to his. Half-expecting unity right then and there, John tensed slightly, but relaxed when a warm soft peace washed over him. He could almost hear Zhaan in his mind. "Be at peace." But Zhaan was speaking to him, a mere whisper.

"I know you. You ARE John Crichton, your ARE a scientist, an astronaut, a galaxy traveler, a fugitive, your have been hunted and have been the hunter. You have became more."

Breaking their contact, Zhaan smiled serenely at him. "You are still the human that D'Argo and I pulled on to Moya a cycle ago. John, each step we take leads us down another path, which in turn changes with our footsteps. Our experiences, be they good or bad, have shape the way we are at this arn, this microt. But, your soul is still here.

" Zhaan lightly touched his chest. "I cannot help you construct your new persona, I am afraid none of us can. But, I believe I can speak for the others, when I say you will still be a part of this family we have carved out of sheer adversity. " She took his hand into her warm grasp. "Whatever you finally settle into."

Choking on his emotions, John grabbed her to him and held her tight. After a while they broke apart with shared laughter.

"Blue Lady, Prozac's got nothing on you."

She didn't understand a word, and felt loved.

On impulse John dropped to the ground and kissed the green grass. Frowning, Zhaan moved towards him. This was a rite she had never witnessed John do before. Was this a typical Earth ritual?

John lifted his face from the cool ground "Ahhhhh…Land." Standing he brushed some really great dirt off his chest and pant legs. Closing his eyes John lifted his face. "That feels sooo good .I really needed this sunshine. I'm gonna think it's a sun."

Zhaan joined him, smiling " Yes, this planet is very well situated in its orbit and rotation. The planet alignment is also fortunate" She agreed.

"Okay whatever, Zhaan, just go with me on this okay."

"Gladly, John"

Entering they found the city clean and a well-stocked open-air market with a vast variety of fresh produce.

Not one foodcube was in sight.

"Look at this." John hefted a palm size fruit. " This looks like a strawberry. Except strawberries aren't purple and about five of them will fit in your hand." He took a whiff of the fruit. "Smells good though."

"You are welcome to try the taste of it, Stranger" the woman behind the table smiled and offered John a small dagger. Returning her smile John nodded and accepted the dagger.

The natives were friendly. A Sebacean looking type of bipod, they were small and slight with various shades of beige skin and hair. The main fashion for all the natives seemed to be some gauzy type of material, also in shades of beige and brown.

The fruit oozed dark purple juice when he sliced into it and tasted sweeter then a strawberry. " Mmmm, we have got to load up on these." Shifting her market basket Zhaan accepted a slice of purple fruit

"Yes, John it looks lovely, but you and I really shouldn't consume any of this before it has gone into the element analyzer on Moya."

"I know, but I got a good feeling about this place." John sampled another slice and looked around the market. " I don't know. I just feel at home here."

A sharp organized movement caught his eye and John turned to see a group of men in dark gray uniforms of some sort.

"Heads up, Zhaan, looks like the local cops are out" John nodded toward the group. Zhaan gave them a curious glance then continued her "shopping".

"Yes, I see them, John, we are merely visitors." She smiled to reassure her shipmate. "We have broken no rules. Please John, we may be at ease here" His sudden vigilance pained her.

"Yeah, Okay I'll buy that, but why are they coming this way?" The group of ten enforcers marched towards them and halted abruptly in a precise military manner ten paces from the "strawberry" booth. John caught himself reaching for his right thigh, where the pulse pistol Aeryn had given him would normally rest. The unconscious gesture and its unintended meaning annoyed him. He viewed the group cautiously.

There was no questioning the fact that this group of uniformed males, and others like them around the city and market, was the local law enforcement . They were an intimidating presence.

As casually as possible, John moved between Zhaan and the pack of enforcers. John mentally ticked off the potential reasons for the attention they were getting.

Raising his hands, he tried the first obvious one. " I am not a Peacekeeper."

This statement didn't bring any response. Maybe they didn't like the dagger the native had offered him. Maybe this was considered a weapon. Determined not to be the offender, John juggled the small knife and presented the handle to the nearest soldier.

The enforcer glanced sharply to his right. This must have been his superior who returned this silent inquiry with silence. It only took the younger soldier a second to get the hint.

Feeling foolish, John finally turned and returned the dagger to the native girl behind the "strawberry" stall. Glancing around him, John noticed that the natives near him didn't seem very concerned by this show of force. The only ones showing the least bit of interest were the "strangers", as the natives called the visitors to their planet. John turned to Zhaan. She shrugged, helpless to explain.

Abruptly there was movement at the back of the pack and a pathway was formed.

From the back of the group an older native proceeded up the pathway and stopped before John and Zhaan.

The appearance of the older native seemed to cause a stir, as the natives at the stands suddenly drew forward, making a strange soft cooing noise.

Trying to keep an eye on the armed force before him, John glanced warily around at the natives starting to gather about him. This one must be some sort of dignitary.

"I bid you peace and welcome" the older native bowed." I am Ghel, First Reliance of The Second Presence of Trader City." The announcement was met with another series of cooing noises from the crowd around John and Zhaan.

It certainly didn't seem to be a threatening move and John forced himself to relax.

"I am not a Peacekeeper." He felt this bore repeating. "My shipmate and I bid you peace and we wish you no harm." He added the last as he had heard Zhaan announce many times before. This earned him an another bow from First Reliance. Keep it smooth, John, and get the hell out of here.

"No, while we are unsure of what species you are, we are aware you are not a Peacekeeper,." the First Reliance assured him. "I am here to escort you to The Second Presence of The Being."

At this statement, the crowd around John buzzed with excitement. John turned to see Zhaan frowning thoughtfully at the First Reliance.

"Really. Well that's just great." John smiled and took Zhaan by the elbow " Mr. First? Your Reliance, could you give us a minute?"

"Zhaan" he whispered. "I don't think I am the 100th shopper here."

Zhaan glanced around John at the waiting dignitary and escort.

"I am unfamiliar with this situation, but they seem to be honoring you, John." She gently gestured towards the crowd of natives watching them with anticipation.

"The natives see this as a privilege, that is very obvious. I cannot decide if they are chanting, or excited to view this noble, or are excited to view you," Zhaan smiled.

John looked back at the cooing crowd.

"Yeah, well that gives me the creeps. And, I don't like the sound of The Second Presence of the Being thing. It sounds too Zen for me."

"Well, we do not want to insult them, but if you are uncomfortable with this attention we will refrain." She assured him.

"Okay, let's refrain." John stepped back "First, could you please handle this with The First." He grinned at her.

With an incline of her head Zhaan turned towards the awaiting dignitary and performed the ritual P'au greeting.

"I am P'au Zotah Zhaan, This is John Crichton." She indicated John. "We are honored by your offer for visitation. However, we must regretfully decline it." Zhaan finished with an honoring bow and beside her John followed her lead.

The First Reliance was stunned. He glanced around him in question as the crowd began to also mutter in confusion.

"I do not understand. Are you refusing my escort" he stammered.

This was going badly. John could tell by the red flush that was creeping up the older native's face that their turn down had been taken as an insult. The crowd was getting restless.

"Look, we are just visiting." John said. "We are not interested in the guided tour of the Being Presence. Thanks." With that John cupped Zhaan's elbow and turned to go, only to find the way blocked by two enforcers.

"No, John Crichton," Ghel spoke behind them. "I now know it is you who do not understand." At a flick of his fingers, the pack of enforcers moved to either side of John and Zhaan. "The Second Presence of the Being has summoned you to appear before her. This is not an invitation."

"Well, Zhaan, call up D'Argo and Aeryn." John sighed. "Tell them we'll be a little late getting home. Looks like we are off to see the Second Presence of the Being."

The walk to their summons with their "escort" was thankfully short. Ghel walked in the front of the small band, stiff backed and silent. Behind him followed John with Zhaan by his side. Flanking them, and bringing up the rear were the Enforcers. The modest entourage was attracting a lot of attention. Both the Enforcer type and the smaller beige inhabitants of the planet lined the route.

Trying to allay his uneasiness, John forced himself to relax and mark the scenery as the small band passed beyond the markets and into the city proper. The buildings and what John took for residences arose from ground as if the land produced the city itself. Kind of looked like adobe. Vegetation was everywhere, crawling up the sides of the dwellings, giving the city an appearance of a dense forested mountain. In the center of this green city, was a gigantic structure of slim spires of ground, greenery cascading from it. This was their destination.

John's communication badge clicked to life. "Crichton, tell me, what is happening, NOW." Aeryn's aggravated voice boomed in the small antechamber they were shown into.

Ghel whirled about to glare at John. Expelling an explosive breath he made a sharp gesture to one of the guards. "John Crichton! That is the last time your shipmate will interrupt. I can not allow this in the Audience Chamber."

John shrugged and handed the com badge over to the guard. He would be relieved to be rid of Aeryn's irritated tirade himself. Immediately after Zhaan's message, Aeryn had come over John's com with a series of irritating comments about everything from the mess he had gotten Zhaan and himself into, to something about a body part. If the rest of Moya's crew had any comments they were not getting a word in. Yes, Ms. Sun had made it perfectly clear. She was pissed.

Before them a set of double entry ways swung open and the "Visitors" were lead into the Audience Chamber. The room itself was enormous, a vast cavernous chamber with sleek stone walls arching up to end in a circular opening to the sky above. The light fell upon a circle of sand directly in the center of the room.

The room was packed with people, all dressed in elaborate clothes of fine materials and all awaiting the Second Presence's… presence. All eyes in the room turned towards the newcomers and the crowd fell silent.

Ignoring the stares, Ghel lead his guests to the front of the room. He situated them next to the small arena of sand in front of another entryway. Most noticeable to John were the two parties represented in the Audience Chamber. To their right were the Enforcer types, not uniformed, but recognizable as the exemplification of that race. To the left were the Beige brigade. The two groups were not mixing.

John crossed his arms and tried to look nonchalant. Beside him he saw that Zhaan had adopted the serene priestess demeanor. Designs on the wall caught his attention, and John frowned trying to follow the depiction. A intricate design scrolled into a series of waves, the waves continued to include a figure of some sort and proceeded to the other side of the shape to end in another sequence of waves, John leaned closer, in the light it appeared to be a woman. Complex loops embraced the woman motif, spiraling up the thin upraised arms ending in a large globe. Below the woman design were successions of men figures forming a semicircle at her feet.

All attention turned immediately to the entryway as the large door swung open.

A big Enforcer type emerged from the portal. He stopped and gave the crowd a once over before moving to the side of the entryway. John classified this guy as bodyguard.

Whatever John had expected to enter from the entryway, it was not the slim creature that followed. The Presence entered the room. She paused at the far edge of the small arena and surveyed the room with a imperious look

It was just a kid! thought John. She looked to be around Chiana's age, maybe younger. For all her youth, she was impressive, majestic even.

She stood before the gathering, tall and proud, her stately garments falling about her slim form with a tall circular collar that framed her short ivory curls.

When her sight fell on John, the large tawny eyes widened in surprise, and she inclined her head towards Ghel in question. Ghel detached from the crowd and crossed the sand to her side.

"O'Lyne, I have brought the one the Being summoned." He motioned sharply towards John and Zhaan.

Before John or Zhaan move the crowd to the left began to stir in irritation and one older Beige type spoke up.

"O'Lyne, I protest." He shouted above the discord. "Ghel should not have brought these strangers beyond the markets." He glared at Ghel. "It is a disgrace for them to be here."

"Esen," an Enforcer type took up the argument. "Surely, you do not think that these strangers would be present, had not the Being summoned them."

The young girl tilted her head slightly toward the speakers, and her eyes lowered to give them a slanted look.

"Dakar," she admonished softly, "Esen, do don't attempt to disrupt this gathering. This is not a trade or commerce assembly for your leagues to dispute over. The Being has called this audience and has asked that he be here." O'Lyne gave each speaker a warning glance. You had to hand it to her,. John thought. She whipped both men back in line in a microt, and didn't even raise her voice. She might be young but she was in control.

She moved closer to the edge of the arena before beckoning towards John and Zhaan. "I ask you to come closer." "Here we go." John threw Zhaan a harassed look and both stepped forward.

"No." They froze. "Only you." O'Lyne pointed a slim finger at John. John paused at this command. With a complying nod Zhaan stepped back, but gave John a concerned look.

A cold feeling of dread started in his chest. There was no leaving this place, that much was clear. Sure, the guards only held those silver spears, but something made him think this was not a command to be ignored. But why only himself and not Zhaan also?

The crowd was starting to murmur at his hesitation. John let out his breath, gave Zhaan a reassuring grin, and stepped, defiantly as possible, onto the sand.

Once there, in the direct survey of the young woman, John suddenly felt awkward. Did he bow or just stand there. What? Then, with good old American attitude, John gave her a low slow salute.

To his surprise, a small smile quirked at the edge of O'Lyne's mouth.

Ghel moved quickly to his side. "He is called John Crichton."

"And John Crichton can speak for himself," stated John.

"John Crichton." The tawny eyes smiled at him shyly. "Welcome to Bura, I am called O'Lyne, I am the Second Presence of the Trader City. The Being wishes to speak with you."

"Okay." John peered behind her. "So, where is the Being then?" Any remark from O'Lyne was cut short as the sand around John's feet began to shift and stir.

"What the hell?" John started to move back but was stopped by Ghel's grip on his forearm.

"John Crichton." O'Lyne's stern voice stopped him and she stepped off the edge of the arena onto the sand with him. "Be at ease. It is only the Being."

The sand stirred and rolled towards him as she stepped closer and John threw off Ghel's hold and stepped a few steps back towards the far edge of the arena. "The Being?" At a gesture from O'Lyne, Ghel ignored his inquiry and stepped up into the crowd gathered about the arena

"The Being will not harm you, John Crichton." O'Lyne implored. "Yeah, where have I heard that one before." John felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Rattlers.

Before him, O'Lyne stopped and with one last pitying glance she closed her eyes and crossed her arms before her. Surprised at this posture, John was still.

The sand turned and started towards the motionless girl. John stared in amazement as it began to crawl up O'Lyne's elaborate dress tinting its fabric with a golden sheen. Slowly the sand enveloped the slim figure staining the girl's pale skin in a bronze tone. Metamorphosis complete, The Being's eyes opened.

When the golden glance landed on him, John felt the hairs on the back of his neck raise.

Slowly, the Being approached him, silently scrutinizing him. The young O'Lyne was gone, and before him stood a powerful, superincumbent Being. Her very power blazed from her demeanor.

The Being moved to his side and boldly surveyed John up and down. John followed her movement, keeping the Being in sight as she circled him. This was not good. He felt like a mouse in the claws of a cat.

"John Crichton." The bold velvet voice startled him. It was completely unlike the soft voice of O'Lyne.

A smile traversed her features at his reaction. "I have communicated with the Leviathan, Moya. She emits very strong emotions regarding your existence."

"You what?" John stammered. He wasn't sure if it was her statement or the meaning that shocked him the most. "You talked to Moya?" The Being nodded and continued her examination of the uneasy human before moving to stand eye to eye with John. "This Presence's existence and prosperity are also of importance to me," The Being stated. "Her dedication to my will is notable, and I seek to recompense her." She reached forward to lay her hands palm flat on John's chest.

Move, his mind was screaming. Move. But he couldn't The change in his perception was so slight that at first John wouldn't have noted it, but for a vague impression that something was not right, something he couldn't put his finger on.

On the edge of his vision John could see that Zhaan had not moved from her place beside the arena. By the look on her face, he could tell she was worried, but strangely he didn't feel concern for himself.

The arms that reached for him were a gray, white, brown mottled color and the faint smell of warm sand reached his senses. The hands that fanned out against his chest were warm, and the sensation was exciting. John felt a surge of euphoria envelop him, arousing every nerve.

"John Crichton, I return your kiss." The Being moved her hands boldly up to John's face and pulled his mouth down to meet hers. "I desire you as mate to this Presence." She breathed against his lips. Her declaration was lost on John. Her eager kiss was the answer to his heightened sensitivity and he returned it with an intense fervor.

A burning caress moved over his body, sliding under his shirt, and John groaned at the sensual rush caused by the contact with his bare flesh. He reached for the feeling, running his hands over the slim back, irritated at the feel of clothing, pulling the willing body closer against his. He felt a shuddering response and deepened the kiss, devouring the soft mouth beneath his, losing himself in the erotic elation.

"Crichton!"

This resounding cry was enough to break through the euphoria, and John mentally jerked back to some sort of physical existence. With a quick shake of his head he opened his eyes and tried to focus, but the sensation was still on him.

Resisting, he broke the embrace, and tried to step back from the Being, realizing too late that he was entangled in the long train from her dress. Falling backward, he instinctively grabbed for her and she landed to top of him, temporary knocking the breath out of him. They landed in a cloud of sand as O'Lyne's contact with The Being was broken by their fall.

O'Lyne was the first to recover, and she drew back in shame and outrage. John's eyesight focused enough to see the bodyguard jump forward to snatch up O'Lyne and carry her up and out of the sand arena.

Just then, John himself was hauled roughly up by the front of his shirt and off the sand. Shaking his head, his vision cleared to behold his rescuer. Aeryn Sun.

John barely had time to register the irritated look on Aeryn's face, before she released her hold on his shirt. He fell against her to grab about her waist in confusion. Her smooth leather clad leg felt rough to his still amplified state, and John struggled for control over his breath and emotions. Even in his dazed state he knew he was asking for a pounding outright, if he didn't resist the urge to caress Aeryn.

Vaguely, he became aware that someone speaking and tried to focus on the words. Blood was pounding in his ears. Whether Aeryn liked it or not, he was staying right where he was. Right now, he knew he couldn't function at any intelligent level. But, lying against Aeryn, he could pick up her unique scent and John wondered if this was the place to be if he was going to be decent anytime soon.

"John, are you all right?" Zhaan's concern face appeared before him.

John regarded her with a stunned look and started giggling. Aeryn gripped his shoulder at her hip, and give a rough shake causing his vision to blur.

"Zhaan, I think he is more than all right." She gave John another rough shake. "What exactly is going on here? I am not going to ask why he didn't stop this lewd display of public mating; he is clearly under the influence of some frelling mess. But I am going to ask you." She jabbed an accusing finger at Zhaan.

"Hey, where's your gun?" John murmured through his daze. At his level he could see that her hip holster was empty. Something was good about this. He couldn't remember what.

For a microt she started to give him another shake, tell him what she thought of his stupid question, but stopped. He looked up at her dazed, his eyes glazed over, shinning like Ortinian water crystals, just as they had that night on the false earth. He was visibly fighting the grip of some kind of stimulant and looked pitiful.

"I secured it in my Prowler," she answered him more gently. "At the landing area."

His head was finally feeling more normal, and John ventured to stand up with Aeryn and Zhaan's help. The change in his position was almost too much, and he grabbed his head as it started to spin. What was it that made these aliens want to mess with his mind? Although, it hadn't been all that unpleasant (it made Unity with Zhaan look tame) he didn't think he could take many more brain games.

Damn, had he really groped the Presence in front of the whole damn crowd?

Judging by the murderous look that O'Lyne's bodyguard was throwing him, John would say that about summed it up. He was probably lucky to be alive right now. Guess he had Aeryn to thank for that.

O'Lyne was still in the arms of her bodyguard, hiding her face against his chest, shaking.

John could sympathize. Whatever the Being had done to them, it was more powerful than Spanish fly.

"Where did you come from?" He asked Aeryn. "Or how did you get here so fast?"

She wasn't going to tell him that she had already been on her way to join him, when Pilot had relayed Zhaan's messages to her in the Prowler. Most of her comments on John's comm unit had been made in flight, and on her way to their location, given to her by Pilot. How he had known where to locate John and Zhaan, she had not thought to ask.

"I thought you and Zhaan were having trouble." She smirked at him. "Imagine my surprise."

John cleared his throat; he could feel his face going red. "Yeah, well…. Thanks for the wake up call." Aeryn was silent. She wasn't sure why she had reacted the way she had. She was surprised at the pain she had felt at the scene she had encountered. Never one to react without thinking first, the cry was out of her before she had known it.

"Crichton, if you have your bearings yet, I suggest we leave. And I suggest we are gone before this discussion is over."

"Discussion?" Suddenly, John realized the roaring wasn't all in his head. The room was in chaos.

Just then Ghel came forward, out of the disputing parties. "John Crichton, this is most exciting. To have the Being herself choose a mate for O'Lyne. This is most fortunate for this city." He patted John's arm delighted, failing in his excitement to note John's stunned stare.

"Mate! Whoa!" John brushed off the First Reliance's hand. "Someone better start doing some fast talking here, bud. I don't know how you guys do things around here, but I don't usually go around acting like some drunken prom date."

"It would appear, John, that their goddess wants you for a mate." Zhaan explained.

"Yes, our planet has chosen you." Ghel added nodding.

"Your planet?" His head started pounding and John tried to right his thoughts. He didn't know if it was the after effects or Translator failure. "Okay, This much I get, your Being likes me. A lot. But what is or who is the Being."

"Ghel, what is the meaning of this. The Thelrians protest!" The enforcer Dakar broke from the contingent and moved towards the First Reliance.

"I must, for once, agree with the Thelrians," Esen joined in. " Ghel, please explain this choice. Why has the Being chosen this stranger? Not in recorded times has there been any other than the Buran as mate to a Presence."

"Councilors, please." Ghel raised his voice over the clamor. Only at the gestures from the two leaders did their respective groups begin to quiet. He looked at the two leaders hesitantly. "The Being has selected the next mate for her Presence. We must, for the prosperity of our city, accept him."

"Why has the Being decided now, to chose this creature." Dakar motioned towards John.

"Human." John interrupted. "I'm a human"

"And if the Being has decided to chose any other than the Buran in this matter," Dakar continued, ignoring John, "why not a Thelrian."

"I am astonished at your objection to this preference, Dakar. It was your race that brought the strangers here, with your greed for their goods, to feed your alien need," Esen accused.

Presence Of The Being: Continued

Dakar threw his adversary a repugnant look. "As well, I see you have profited from these strangers. If not for the Thelrians, the Buran would still be living in the caves. We saved your trivial society."

"It is apparent to all, the Being does not favor the alien Thelrian!" Esen challenged. The Enforcer crowd moved, blustering, incensed at this remark.

"Alien!" Dakar roared. "Our fathers settled this city, before yours. Our kindred have guarded the Being for three hundred cycles."

"Yes, guarded the Being against what? Only the strangers your race have invited here!" This comment initiated another surge in the argument.

"Be you born here or not, the Thelrian are not of the Being." This was the last straw according to the heave between the two crowds. At an abrupt movement from O'Lyne's bodyguard, John turned toward him.

He watched the big Enforcer drop deftly to one knee, swing one of the silver spears and sling it across his forearm in a practiced controlled action. Aiming the pike above the fray, he suddenly dropped his free hand flat onto the sand.

The spear spit out a blinding white stream of pure energy into the far wall, effectively ending the brawl.

John started in shock at the reverberation, "What the hell was that?" he turned to Aeryn, finding her in shocked fascination.

"Frell!"

Ghel strolled calmly between the two leaders.

"This is not the time to stir old embers." He glared at the leaders. "Our present concern effects all in this city. The Being has chosen neither Buran nor Thelrian."

"It would seem the only one to answer this will be The Being." Dakar stated.

All eyes turned to O'Lyne.

She had also recovered by now. Her large tawny eyes surveyed the group, weighing their request quietly, then she looked toward the sand arena. John watched her features frown in consideration, feeling sympathetic to her dilemma. After his "talk" with the Being, the last place he would go was onto that sand.

At their insisted looks Ghel walked across the sand to O'Lyne. "O'Lyne you must stop this discord. Speak for the Being." He gently took her by the elbow and urged her towards the sand. In response the sand stirred and shifted moving in waves towards it's interpreter.

"No!" O'Lyne declared throwing off his hold. She threw the shocked group a defiant look.

"O'Lyne, you can not refused to speak for the Being." Ghel rebuked her. "All of our lives and wellbeing depend on your duty to the Being."

"My duty!" O'Lyne exploded, glaring at her First Reliance. "All my life has been in the service of the Being. And this is how she repays my obedience?" she spat. "She would have me defiled in front of the Leagues in her lust!" O'Lyne flushed and dropped her eyes.

"Ghel, how could the Being have me treated so?" she implored him, and the tawny eyes shimmered.

As if sensing her refusal the sands surged violently, turning upon itself to form a small whirlwind in the center of the arena. John steeled himself. The very essence of the its movement screamed. O'Lyne plainly ignored the display. "This assembly is finished"

"Finished!" Dakar moved forward. "How can you dare to defy the Being?" he glared at O'Lyne's closed look, then he turned to Ghel. "Ghel, This will not be tolerated. We have no answer."

"This assembly is finished!" O'Lyne stood her ground. The enforcer scrutinized her silently, and John could tell he was weighing his options.

Resolved, Enforcer and company turned towards the entryway. Esen and his group followed in silent acknowledgement.

"Hey, wait," John broke in and the departing crowd stopped and turned towards him. "I'll solve all your problems right now." He nodded to Dakar, and Esen. "Cause, I'm leaving right now."

"No, John Crichton, I can not allow you to leave," said Ghel. "O'Lyne will not speak for the Being, and until she does, you must be detained."

"You can not ALLOW me to leave?" laughed John. "Buddy, hide and watch." John started through the crowd Aeryn and Zhaan following. Dakar stopped them at the entryway. "Human," he grinned, "there are four of my guards just outside this portal. Ghel is correct, we cannot ALLOW you to leave."

"There were four guards," stated Aeryn. At John's questioning look she shrugged. "Their defense was pathetic!"

"Aeryn, you didn't kill them?" whispered Zhaan.

"No, at least I don't think I did." She added at John's dismayed look. She had been moving so fast, she hadn't stop to determine if they were breathing or not.

Dakar's stunned look was priceless. John almost felt proud of her. Four! She hadn't lost that PK edge.

"Alright." John threw up his hands. This crowd was too riled to reason with. It wouldn't hurt to spend a few more hours here. Being detained. He moved back towards the arena and O'Lyne.

"Aeryn, I need you to go back to Moya and speak to Pilot. The Being said something about talking to her earlier. Find out what that means, okay? Zhaan you better go too, no use all of us being "detained" down here. Until O'Lyne becomes the Being again and gives them some answers, I'm stuck here. Maybe I can talk some sense into her?"

"No, I will not leave you." Aeryn gave him a resolved look.

"Hey, I don't think I'm in any real danger here." He told her. "What? 'Fraid she'll jump me again." He frowned at Aeryn's pained look.

"John, do you really think it is wise to allow yourself to be drawn into the affairs of this planet." Zhaan questioned.

"Blue," he gave a harsh laugh. "This sounds really conceited but, right now, it looks like I am the affair of this planet."

John was relieved to find their idea of detainment was nothing like what he had pictured. Instead of a cold cell in some dank dungeon, John was seen to a comfortable room, then another, then another. At the first two selections, Aeryn had stalked in, then out, declaring both rooms "Not Acceptable."

What exactly was acceptable, John wasn't quite sure, but let her take the lead. Neither the guards accompanying them nor Ghel, seemed bold enough to ask her either.

He had persuaded Zhaan to return to Moya. She had relented and accepted the escort Ghel offered to the landing area.

Finally, they settled in a room deemed acceptable, somewhere deep into the palace's tunnels. The guards departed leaving the crewmates to wait.

John had no doubt the guards had stayed just on the other side of the door. He waited only a moment before reaching over and activating Aeryn's communication badge.

"Pilot."

"Crichton." Pilot's voice immediately emitted from the unit. "I am relieved to finally hear from you. Are you all right? Did Officer Sun locate you? I am having a difficult time restraining D'Argo from going down to the planet with his weapon."

"Yeah, Pilot, we're all accounted for, Aeryn's here with me. Tell D'Argo to cool it, we're fine."

"Good, you are departing then?"

"Well, no…not quite yet." John started. "We kinda got a little problem here. We're…well I'm…being detained."

"Detained by whom? Should I allow D'Argo to join you?"

"No, Pilot. Remember the rules here, no weapons. And I'm just guessing on this one, but no raging Luxan warriors allowed either." John assured him. "No, we don't seem to be in any danger, just being kept on ice for awhile."

"Kept on ice, Commander?" Pilot's voice sounded alarmed.

"We just can't leave right now, Pilot, everything's fine. In fact, Zhaan is on her way up, and Aeryn is free to go."

He looked up at Aeryn. One dark eyebrow quirked up, clearly this subject was closed. "Pilot, I am also staying on the planet." Aeryn added.

"Very well, I will inform the others."

"Wait, Pilot. There's something else. There is this thing or person, or spirit, I not really sure, here in charge of this city…Called the Being. Does that mean anything to you or Moya?" "No."

"This Being, she said she had communicated with Moya about me. Pilot, has Moya had any communication with someone here on this planet."

"Moya has communicated with the planet, yes. But I do not know the subject of their communication."

"With whom was she communicating, Pilot," asked Aeryn. "Not with whom, Officer Sun. Moya was communicating with the planet.

This planet is a living planet."

"What?"

"You mean, Moya was communicating with this planet." Aeryn questioned. "As she would communicated with another Leviathan?"

"This planet is a Leviathan?" asked John.

"No, Commander, she is similar to Moya, in that she is a Biomechanoid. A stationary planetoid buoyed by this star. She lacks propulsion capabilities, but she can independently provide an environment to sustain a populace if she chooses to."

"If the Being chooses to." John looked up at Aeryn. "So, this planet controls everything that goes on here, on its surface? Right?" "Yes, she controls all life support, all growth on her surface. She would also be able to provide life support in one area and not in another."

"She is in complete control of these people's lives." Aeryn concluded.

"Okay, how would she even know to connect Moya with me?"

"When a substance is on a Leviathan for a substantial amount of time, it begins to absorb the emanation unique to that Leviathan. This essence would easily be detected by another Leviathan or a planet such as this one."

He smiled at this thought. "You mean, we smell like Moya." For some reason that wasn't as distasteful as it sounded. "That's cool. And I hear she emits very strong emotions regarding my existence." He quoted the Being, smiling at Aeryn's confused frown.

"Yes, Moya is very fond of each of you." Pilot sounded surprised at their sudden understanding of the Leviathan's attachment. "With the possible exception of the Dominar. It appears there is an airlock readied for your convenience at all times."

"I bet. Pilot, could there be way for us to communicate with the planet?"

"Simply by being in direct contact with the planets surface, you could rely your request, but a conductor of some sort would be need to receive her reply."

"She communicates through The Presence, like Moya communicates through Pilot." determined John. "Thanks, Pilot. Tell the crew we'll be up as soon as we can." He deactivated the unit.

"Okay, we're stuck on this planet and it knows it. Look, I'm just going get my feet off the ground. This is freaky, I'm walking on a living planet."

Aeryn grinned at this comment. "You've lived on Moya for over a cycle and you have never felt this?"

"I don't know…Moya surrounds us, like a blanket. This is a whole planet." He implored. "Man, how did I get her attention? I mean, I don't remember taking my shoes off or anything…Wait. Oh man, something just clicked here." John dropped his head in his hand. "I think I have the answer."

"Crichton! What is it?" urged Aeryn. He looked at her hesitantly. "I just remembered in that glade, the one by the road. After Zhaan and I had a talk, I was messing around, and I kissed the ground."

"You kissed the ground?" Aeryn questioned him. "Why would you do such a bizarre thing?" She stopped giving John an impatient look. Well, he was Crichton.

"Aeryn, it was just a joke." John scrubbed his hand over his face. "It's an Earth joke, okay. Sailors would kiss the ground where they landed, after they had been at sea a long time. Look!" He held up his hands at Aeryn's testy look. "It was just a joke."

"And this planet is alive. The Being can feel everything that happens on her surface." Aeryn ventured.

"Looks that way, in fact She said she was returning my kiss in the Audience chamber."

"Wonderful, Crichton, you are on this planet one microt and you have literally the whole planet infatuated with you. How are you going to explain your joke?"

The door opened to show one of the guards. He gave the shipmates a quick look before standing aside to admit a young Buran woman carrying a tray of food.

At the site of the food, John mouth watered. The only food he could remember eating was the "strawberry" in the market place; there was a plate of them on the food tray.

"I'll just tell them the truth. They have the wrong guy." He smiled at the woman, and moved out of her way as she placed the tray on a low table beside the chairs. She barely had time to remove her hands before John was picking up one of the "strawberries."

"Crichton! NO!" Aeryn rushed forward slapping the "strawberry" out of his hand, and knocking the tray from the table. The young woman retreated back against the wall with a shocked cry.

"Aeryn!" John jumped in a stunned reaction to her sudden violence. He quickly snagged her by the wrist, uncertain of her next move. "What are you doing?" he growled low, pulling her taut body against him. Her eyes were wild, but she allowed his grip. "John, you must not eat any food they offer you," she implored.

"Aeryn, I had some of these in the market today. They are okay." She was shaking.

They both started as the door opened and the same guard entered the room, his silver spear lowered. He stared at them in silence; the young woman sobbed and ran behind him and out of the room. With the woman safely out of harms way, the guard was content and backed slowly out of the room, closing the door.

Aeryn's heart was thumping, and she shook herself mentally. Frell, what was the matter with her. She had faced a dozen battles with better nerves, but had totally lost her composure when she saw the threat to John. And he didn't even see it. She faced him with a controlled stare.

"Think, John. The Thelrians and the Buran are both against this "choice". How best to be rid of you then to poison the food." He paled in understanding, releasing her wrist. She pulled back from him, angry with herself and him. "Think, John." She spat. He threw her a narrowed look. "Sorry, I'm not up on my political backstabbing."

He looked around the room. For the first time he surveyed it as Aeryn had before. No windows, little furniture, no drapes, and only one way in or out. It was acceptable all right, for a defensive stand. He had done it again. This was his fault; his problem and he had dragged Aeryn right into it.

John lay on the small bed, his arm across his eyes, trying to ignore the rumblings in his stomach, his nerves on edge.

It seemed late to him, but he had long since realized that living aboard Moya, with a controlled day and night, he was unable to judge time planetside. The planet's noon could be Moya's midnight. The last few hours' events were catching up with him, and John didn't think he could keep his eyes open much longer.

When he had voiced this conclusion to Aeryn, she took a quick look at the small bed occupying the room and began rearranging. She was finally satisfied with the bed wedged in the far corner of the room. John threw up his hand at this defensive maneuver. Let her be the soldier if it made her feel better, he thought. Hell, she would probably be the one to keep them both alive. She had been born a soldier and tactical stratagem was second nature to her. Aeryn plopped down next to him on the bed, her back to him, facing the door. Guarding. Silent

"Was it like you thought it would be?"

The question caught him by surprise, although he had known she was not asleep. Aeryn would never doze off while on guard. "What?"

"This planet." She rose up on one arm, looking down at John; her forehead held a slight frown. "You had said it reminded you of Earth. When you got down here, did it still?"

"Yeah, it does remind me of parts of Earth. It feels good down here." He signed. "Too bad we've gotten into this mess, I'd show you around."

She was still frowning as she leaned closer, her hair brushing his arm.

John felt a small shiver of cold pleasure at the contact. For a second he was bothered that some of the erotic stimulant from his "talk" with the Being may still have a hold of him, but quickly dismissed the idea. This was pure Aeryn, and it happened every time she got this close.

He had decided his feeling for this woman a long time ago. The distance between them was her own doing, not his, and he made the resolution it was also her stretch to cross. When she was ready to cross it, he would be on the other side. This was one thing that had never changed for John.

He captured one dark lock and held it between his fingers, enjoying the genuine sensation.

"Crichton, would you stay here?" John looked up at this, his eyes locking with Aeryn's. He let himself be pulled into the questioning gray gaze.

Would he stay? The thought had never occurred to him. Why hadn't it?

It would be the perfect solution to all their problems. With him gone, Scorpius would no longer be hunting the Leviathan. They would still be fugitives, but their main threat would be neutralized.

But he knew the answer before the question, why he hadn't jumped ship before now. He couldn't live without his shipmates. At first, it had been a simple matter of survival, and in a way it still was.

"Trying to get rid of me, Aeryn?"

"No, John." Aeryn leaned forward, placing a timid hand against his cheek. "I fear, I will never be rid of you." John held his breath as she leaned closer towards him, her lips above his.

She sincerely was picking one hell of a day to make that jump. Aeryn had not thought to initiate anything with John. The scene she had interrupted before in the Audience room had left her unsettled. She was unsure of her reaction should John decide to stay on this planet with the Being, with O'Lyne. What if he did decide to accept this "Offer", she would lose him. The thought panicked her.

She reached out to him in desperation slanting her lips across his, willing him to feel what she could not put into words. His hesitant hand on the back of her neck was reassuring; she warmed to the feeling of solace, and familiarity.

As suddenly as her mouth was on his, she pulled away, leaving John bewildered and disappointed. He rose up at her movement to stop her from leaving him, but halted immediately on seeing Aeryn's next action.

She stopped abruptly before the wall a few feet beside the chairs. Recognizing her defensive stance, John quickly moved to her side. A panel appeared with a soft scrape in the wall, and at a nod from Aeryn, John flattened against the wall to the right of its appearance, while Aeryn slid to the left of it.

Slowly, the panel swung open with a whisper. If he hadn't been looking right at her, John would never have seen Aeryn move. Reaching into the opening, Aeryn grabbed the intruder, and the next moment John was staring down at O'Lyne's bodyguard as the big enforcer lay: gasping for wind, Aeryn's boot firmly planted on his throat.

A startled cry came from the tunnel, and John swung towards the sound in time to see O'Lyne's shocked pale face in the shadows of the hidden passage. She flew past John to face Aeryn.

"Please, do not harm him?" she pleaded in a whisper, her eyes taking in the wheezing bodyguard at Aeryn's feet. "We mean you no harm, if you do not release him , the guards will hear him." She reasoned.

Aeryn relented, and the bodyguard rolled to his knees puffing as quietly as he could. With a low growl he glanced up at Aeryn before struggling to his feet.

Aeryn stood her ground, quietly quirking a brow at the big guy. John lifted his hands in question at O'Lyne.

She gestured towards the tunnel and crawled back inside, motioning John to follow. He followed her, looking back to make sure Aeryn and the bodyguard were behind him. He found them both at the entrance in a silent stare down. Sighing he moved back, and gave Aeryn a questioning look. Neither warrior was budging, each unwilling to allow the other take the back.

O'Lyne broke their stalemate with an annoyed look, reaching out to grab her bodyguard and pull him behind her and in front of the strangers.

The tunnel twisted and turned, finally ending in another panel that opened into a large well appointed chamber. It was O'Lyne's private apartment.

For the first time since their "talk" in the Audience Chamber, John and O'Lyne faced each other.

John could remember how his nerves had hummed from the encounter, and by the embarrassed look O'Lyne gave him, she was thinking of it also. John had to admit being this close to her once again was slightly uncomfortable. He didn't even know her from Eve, but he could remember the feel of her soft lips against his. She had changed from her stately robes and now wore what appeared to be the everyday attire of the Buran; her pale hair was loose to curl about her heart shaped face.

Okay, let's get some answers here. John shook himself mentally. Aeryn appeared by his side and John cleared his throat uneasy at the feeling that somehow he had been unfaithful.

"I do not wish you for a mate," O'Lyne blurred out.

"Same here, little girl," responded John. "So let's get you into the Being and tell her."

"No, I will not speak with the Being." O'Lyne shook her head.

"All you have to do is explain…."

"NO!" O'Lyne turned from them. "No, I will not speak with the Being again. I am afraid she can not be pressed in this matter. You do not understand at all John Crichton, it is only because our communication was interrupted that the Leagues are in confusion." O'Lyne explained. "If I allow the Being to speak, she will confirm her choice of you, and the Leagues will force you and me to comply."

"Does the Being always pick your partners for you, don't you have any say at all?" implored John.

"To keep the Presence's content in her service, The Being allows each Presence to marry and produce offspring, if the Presence desires it and as long as the mate is agreeable to The Being. If The Being and the mate of The Presence are in harmony, the region The Presence resides in will be exceptionally fruitful." She turned to John, her eyes shimmering. "I do not wish you as a mate, John Crichton, but as Presence of the Being, I should put this city's prosperity before my own actions. This city will not survive without my service to the Being."

"Damn, this is a nightmare." John rubbed his hands over his face.

"O'Lyne, you're not going to like this, but I know why the Being is so fixed on me." John winced at her questioning look. "First, you got to believe me, I didn't know this planet was living, hell I didn't even know there were things like this planet. Anyway, when I first arrived here I was playing around and I kissed the ground."

He hesitated at her shocked look. "It's a joke where I come from."

"A Joke?"

"Yeah, a joke, a gag. I was messing around."

"Messing around?"

"He was pulling a prank," Aeryn added.

O'Lyne's features grew hard as the meaning hit her and she threw John a blaming look.

"It would seem that your joke has not only taken our destinies out of our control, and disrupted an already volatile political atmosphere," she chastised him. "But you may have well destroyed us all. My servants have informed me that Ghel and The Leagues have sent for Bheregine, the First Presence of the Grand City."

"Look, maybe if I just explained to the Being," John ventured. "Hell, what about my two cents on this? What if I already have a mate and a dozen kids?"

"Do you?" O'Lyne questioned turning towards Aeryn. She had not failed to notice how closely this woman stayed by the human's side.

"No, I don't have a mate." John glanced at the dark haired woman at his side. Aeryn's expression was guarded, avoiding eye contact. "But I'm working on someone," he added smugly.

O'Lyne frowned at this turn of phase but caught the gist of it and nodded "Then we have another thing in common, I too am working on someone."

"Great, then bring him before the Being, maybe she will like him, we all live happily ever after."

O'Lyne flushed and turned a longing glaze on her bodyguard standing rigid beside her. John suddenly understood.

"Great, I am in the middle of freaking Romeo and Juliet. Come on, O'Lyne don't you know any nice Buran boys?" implored John.

"I have loved Teecate, since I was a child." Appealed O'Lyne.

"Fine, this could still work, Dakar, that Enforcer, he seems pretty keen on a Thelrian."

"Yes, but Teecate is one of a growing number of people on Bura, his mother was Buran, but his father was Thelrian." Sighed O'Lyne. "I am afraid such unions are frowned upon. The offspring are not accepted by the Thelrian."

"Yeah." John laughed harshly. "There's a lot of that pure blood crap around. And the Being doesn't favor the Thelrians, so she may not favor your boy."

"Why doesn't the Being favor the Thelrian, why are they considered alien," questioned Aeryn.

"Would you prefer the legend or the truth." O'Lyne smiled sadly. " The legend is that the Being called to the great stars to send a race to guide our people into an enlightened era." O'Lyne lifted her arms in mock theatrics. "And the stars sent the Thelrian. The truth is, the Thelrian were fugitives fleeing their planet after the Peacekeepers had conquered it. They arrived aboard a dying leviathan. At the dying ship's request, the Being allowed the Thelrian haven. But the Thelrian wearied of our primitive ways and demanded that passing ships be allowed to land and trade. They negotiated with The Being and made a covenant. She would allow trade, in return the Buran are to be protected from any harm."

"So, she never has really warmed to them," presumed John. "They are still only a race to tolerate, serving the Being's desire for the Buran to prosper. But, more and more of the Thelrian are mating with the Buran and their offspring follow the Being." She stopped to judge their attention. "I have a proposal. Part of my refusal in my service to the Being is to shield my thoughts from her, if she knows my plan, we are doomed. I propose that you be gone before Bheregine arrives. With you gone and not a option, I will present Teecate as my choice as mate."

"And if she doesn't accept him?" asked John.

"Then, in her rage, The Being could destroy this city and all who inhabit it."

In the darkness of the Buran night John matched his stride with Aeryn's. He pulled the cloak closer to his face.

O'Lyne had managed to get them into a group of servants leaving the palace for the night and with the cloaks of muted colors they successfully fooled the guards. Leaving the city, they were on their way to the landing area and Moya.

The whole situation sickened John. His feelings of shame and guilt ate at his gut. Here he was, sneaking off with his tail between his legs, leaving a young girl to face the consequences of his actions. No one challenged the strangers approaching the landing area; Aeryn's prowler was within sight.

John reached out and grabbed Aeryn arm. "I can't do this, Aeryn, I can't leave O'Lyne."

"John, no, she has made her choice." Aeryn paled at his words. Pulling her close, John caught her chin. "Aeryn, I can't leave her, I can't let her deal with my problems. Stay with me. We will come up with something."

"What John, do I share you with O'Lyne and the Being?" Aeryn spat and pulled away.

John steeled his grip and caught her other hand entwining their fingers. "Quit it, Aeryn. You won't leave me, Aeryn, and I am going back."

His statement of fact enraged her, and Aeryn shoved against him realizing too late that she had unbalanced him.

John hit hard against the bare landing area. He knew what would happen before he felt it.

The ground rumbled and shook, as the Being grasped his awareness, pulling his thoughts.

Behind them the silver lances began their deadly hum, and the enforcers swung into action.

John scrambled to his feet as Aeryn rushed past him, heading for the cache of confiscated weapons held at the guard post. He watched in horror as both the guards and Aeryn swung up their weapons. He made a desperate dash towards her as one of the guards dropped to his knee; the silver lance aimed at the ex-Peacekeeper.

John reached her as the guard's palm hit against the ground. Aeryn gasped as John's back hit against her, and she saw the brilliant white flash over his shoulder.

Damn, who'd thought it? Being killed by lightning was the one thing he never thought of. The approaching light blinded him and he shut his eyes, throwing up his hands against its bright glare.

Slowly he realized that he was alive. He couldn't breathe but he was alive. His legs felt like jelly but he wasn't falling. He caught at the tight band around his chest, and encountered Aeryn's arm wrapped in a death grip across his middle.

Before them stood Teecate. In his grip a silver spear vibrated with the searing energy. John watched in amazement as the bodyguard heaved the spear into the night sky, deflecting the bolt of energy into the atmosphere.

The spear arched into the sky and plunged downward to embed in the ground with a vibrating thud, radiating with spent energy. Teecate stood, wary, as his fellow enforcers encircled him and the strangers.

Suddenly, the dust began to churn around them, and John braced for another fit from the Being.

A lour roar heralded the approach of a landing transportation craft. A set of uniformed enforcers filed in as the portal hissed open. A group of Thelrian and Buran males exited the craft, turning to wait among the remaining passengers.

As soon as she moved out of the portal of the transportation craft John knew who she was, Bheregine, the First Presence of the Grand City. She moved with a stately grace, her splendid gown measured against her slender form, the high collar framing a pale perfection. One male in her entourage spotted the apprehended party, and quickly moved to Bheregine's side to whisper in her ear.

She listened attentively and moved towards the group, the crowd of enforcers quickly parted to reveal John, still in Aeryn's panicked hold.

She took the sight in with imposing regard. "YOU are the choice of the Being?"

The three occupants of the antechamber were silent, listening to the sporadic blasts of angry discussion coming from the Audience chamber beyond the closed double doors.

The words were indistinct, but the tone was obvious. John looked beside him as Teecate tensed at the sound of O'Lyne's voice raising in a provoking high note.

Aeryn sat in guarded silence on his other side, chewing her thumbnail.

"John!" D'Argo's voice broke from Aeryn's communication badge causing her to jump, before she quickly palmed it.

"Yes, D'Argo, it's Aeryn, what?"

"Is John with you, Aeryn?"

"Yeah, I'm here." John leaned over to speak into the com. "O'Lyne is having it out with another Presence and we're waiting our turn. This place is Peyton Place."

"John, Pilot has informed us that there is a Peacekeeper Scout Vessel in the area."

"Crap!" John glanced at the guards beside the entryway to the antechamber. Aeryn shot up, and John grabbed at the back of her vest as she moved towards the guards. "Have they seen you?" he demanded. Teecate regarded them with an inquiring look, puzzled by their sudden agitated motions. He had heard the voice on the badge, but did not find the words alarming. His fellow enforcers took up a defensive stand at the dark woman's unexpected advancement.

"No, The planet is blocking their scan."

"Get out of here, now!" John demanded. "Forget us for now, just move."

"John, We could not leave even had we wanted to. Moya refuses to move from this orbit."

"What? Is she okay?"

"According to Pilot, Moya will not leave without Aeryn or you. Pilot says Moya feels Aeryn is significant to the return of Talyn. I am afraid I can not understand this reasoning. You and Aeryn must return to Moya immediately."

The double doors to the Audience chamber swung open and a red faced Ghel appeared. He motioned to John and Teecate.

"Okay, D'Argo, its show time. Tell Moya if she wants Aeryn, she's going to have to ask for her."

"John…Why?"

The guards moved towards him. "Just tell her!"

The tension in the Audience chamber hummed as they were brought into the room.

Dakar and Esen were present without their gangs, as were Ghel and Bheregine's entourage.

Beside Bheregine, O'Lyne waited, her face blotched and her eyes shimmering.

Bheregine surveyed the approaching group, her expression discreet. Dakar stepped forward to confront the big bodyguard.

"This is how you repay my generosity."

He sneered low, and Teecate flushed. "You disgrace your family and my son's memory." He turned towards the First Presence. "Bheregine, this is the instigator of O'Lyne's foolish ideas." He gripped Teecate's arm and pushed him forward. "Although, he is my son's get, I will have it known, my family has no knowledge of this."

This just keeps getting better and better, thought John.

O'Lyne surged forward at this statement. "Teecate is not to blame. I will not let your family destroy him because you disapprove of his birth. I will have Teecate as mate." She threatened the enforcer.

"Silence!"

"Bheregine, surely you can see that this is even more absurd, than the human."

Bheregine turned a level eye towards the enforcer. "Dakar, you will not lecture me on your race's inhibited slant." She cautioned. "I have no patience for it." She gave Ghel and Esen disapproving look.

"Look at you. O'Lyne is young and can be forgiven, but you are her advisors, and quibble like widows, it is no wonder you can not control this willful child." She motioned John forward. "So, you would not be a mate of O'Lyne, You really don't understand the position you find yourself in, do you? If you accepted this offer of the Beings, you would want for nothing. Your every wish would be fulfilled. You would hold office of the greatest honor."

"I'd make a bad match. I'm not mate material. See I'm a wanted man. I have a maniac after my head. Literally," John tried. "Besides, if you do not let me leave here real soon, you're going to have more problems then me. This maniac that's after me, is a Peacekeeper." He stopped and let this sink in.

Dakar had already got it, his face paled. "Peacekeeper! From the legends?"

"Yeah, these guys are legends all right, and they will come to this planet and destroy it so fast your heads will spin."

"I cannot believe you, John Crichton." Bheregine's eyes narrowed judging this information. "The Peacekeepers have never come this far. I know they exist, but here, they are mere threats for misbehaving children."

"They will be your worse nightmare, Bheregine." Aeryn ventured. "They will control your city and this city and every city and Presence on this planet. And they will control the Being, the Buran, and the Thelrian." She waited as the room buzzed with panic. Bheregine still remained calm, although O'Lyne now stood wide-eyed at her side. "Our ship is a Leviathan." The buzz heightened. "And she has told us that the Peacekeepers are here."

John stepped closer to Bheregine, but she stood her ground. "I'm the one they are hunting for, Bheregine, if I'm gone, they leave. They are probably not even interested in this planet, but they will tear it apart looking for me." He locked eyes with her. Bheregine didn't even blink, and John found a new appreciation for her poise. This was true dignity.

The crowd drew back from the sand arena as the ground heaved, and started its reckless dance in the center of the arena. Bheregine held John's eyes. "The Being is waiting. O'Lyne is too frighten to speak with her, she fears for Teecate's life." They both looked toward the young Presence standing bewildered beside them. "As well she should."

"Then you speak with her, cause pretty soon, it won't matter what she or anyone here wants."

Bheregine gathered her gown about her, and stepped down onto the sand.

John watched the amazing transformation as the Being engulfed Bheregine, not in the slow matter as before, but in a rush of swirling sand, and dust.

John stepped in front of her as the golden eyes opened and regarded him.

"Okay, let's keep our hands to ourselves, right? We have to talk." He implored the Being, trying to put Bheregine's existence out of his mind, and talk to this creature. "The Peacekeepers are here." He gathered his courage and went on, "I am sorry, but I didn't mean to treat you with disrespect when I kissed…well, you. I mean, I didn't understand that you are alive and could feel…"

"Emotions? There is no need, I understand, John Crichton." The velvet voice confirmed. She regarded O'Lyne sadly. "I have caused this Presence distress, and have done so unintentionally." She acknowledged. "Her devotion to my service does not warrant her unhappiness. It is her gracious nature that I value, and I seek to sustain this " The Being turned back to John "The Leviathan, Moya has demanded the return of her crew, and I must comply. Your proximity to my populace is perilous to their existence."

"Great, consider us returning." John hesitated. "First, I'd like to introduce you to someone who is going make your Presence real happy." John jumped from the arena and snagged Teecate by the arm pulling the stunned bodyguard down onto the sand beside him. "Teecate meet the Being, Being meet your future son-in-law."

The sand beneath the Being stirred and shifted moving around the bodyguard, and the Being sighed. "Yes, this existence is acceptable to me, as it is very precious to the Presence I seek to reward."

O'Lyne gave a cry of relief, stepping down to pull Teecate to her, burying her face in his chest.

The Being turned towards John and Aeryn. "I will keep my populace shielded from this menace, this will also allow Moya not to be detected, as they are a threat to her populace also. Return now." The populace of Moya didn't need to be told twice.

John jumped down from the Prowler's cockpit and followed Aeryn as she raced for the hanger wall. She turned as he approached her, and caught him against her, before sliding down the wall to await the backlash of Moya starburst; John grasped tightly against her side.

"Pilot, we are in," she called towards the vision in the viewer. John smiled and leaned into her, sniffing her. He grinned as she threw him a testy look.

"You smell like a Leviathan." He laughed as the undulation of the starburst distorted his vision, feeling Aeryn draw him closer.

"You smell like home."
End