SURVIVOR
by ISIS

Disclaimers: Farscape is the property of Rockne S O'Bannon, Jim Henson Company et al. I make no claim on them. I borrow only. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Rating: PG13

Category: Drama

Summary: Just as the title says. The Uncharted Territories version of Survivor

Spoilers: Everything up to and including A Clockwork Nebari

Archiving: You're welcome to it; please tell me where it's at. (louiseboyden@earthlink.net)

Acknowledgements: Thanks as always to Quilt Lady for her great suggestions and criticisms.

Enjoy

PART 1/5 "THE GAME"

"No! Scorpy, leave me alone! No! Ahhh!"

John's anguished cries rang through the corridors of Moya, the living ship that had been his home for nearly two cycles. Zhaan was abruptly wrested from her meditation at the sound. As she pulled on her robes, she heard other booted feet race through the halls to the Human's quarters. Zhaan moved quickly towards John's agonized screams, repeating the same prayer to her Goddess that she had been chanting every day since Aeryn had finally confided in her about John's visions of the sadistic Scarran-Sebacean Scorpius. Grabbing up the sedative injector that she had been keeping at constant readiness, the Delvian moved swiftly towards the room of her tormented Human crewmate.

Zhaan arrived at John's quarters to find both Aeryn and D'Argo fighting to keep the Human from hurting himself. He was thrashing around on his bed, trying desperately to strike himself about his head, screaming at Scorpius to get out of his head. Zhaan could see several self-inflicted dark bruises and bleeding cuts on his neck and face. Chiana stood just inside the open doorway, her dark eyes wide with horror. Rygel hovered just outside in the corridor, a look of concern on his normally haughty face.

"John! John, stop it! " Aeryn leaned over the struggling Crichton, her hands gripping his head, trying to get him to look into her eyes, to recognise her.

D'Argo held the Human's arms. He looked over his shoulder to see the Delvian enter with a sedative in her hand. "Hurry, Zhaan!"

Just as Zhaan came closer, John kicked out at the Luxan with his feet, knocking D'Argo away from him and into Zhaan. They both went down in a tangle of arms and legs and the injector skittered away from them across the floor.

Aeryn ignored them and pulled John's head up, placing her face right in his. "John! John! Calm down! Scorpius is not here! It's me! It's Aeryn!" Her hands held his face gently but firmly.

Some of the wild panic went out of John's eyes. He gazed up into Aeryn's concerned blue eyes, his own filled with fear and desperation. Sitting up, he reached up and covered Aeryn's hands with his. "Aeryn, he was here! Scorpius was here! He's always here! And he's going to get me! He keeps saying he's going to get me!" He slid his arms around her waist and buried his head in her neck, sobbing like a child. Aeryn cradled him to her, her eyes filled with sad compassion.

Zhaan dragged herself up from the floor with Chiana's help and retrieved the injector. Her eyes met Aeryn's as she came up behind the weeping Human and pressed the tip of the injector against his neck. He did not even react, simply clinging to Aeryn, shaking with the force of his sobs. Aeryn held him until she felt him begin to relax in her arms. His arms loosened from around her waist and slid down as he slipped into the unnatural drugged sleep. Finally, Aeryn laid him carefully back down on his bed, her hands gentle as she covered him. Then she sat beside him and softly caressed his damp brow and cheeks. She looked up at the others with a sorrowful smile. "I'll stay with him. The rest of you need to get your sleep."

"We'll take shifts, Aeryn. You need your sleep too," Zhaan stated firmly, her tone brooking no argument. She shepherded the others out into the corridor then looked back at the sight of the former PeaceKeeper soldier taking John's hand in hers and bowing her dark head in obvious despair.

"How long are we going to put up with this, Zhaan?" Rygel demanded.

Zhaan shushed him and pointed down the hall towards her quarters. She ushered them all inside, then closed the door and drew the privacy curtain. She turned back to her fellow crewmates, whose eyes all reflected the same question that Rygel had merely put into words.

"He's becoming dangerous! One night, he could kill us all in our beds!" Rygel accused.

"You know John would never do that, toad!" Chiana protested, but D'Argo cut her off.

"Much as I hate agreeing with his Royal Pain-in-the-Eema, Rygel has a point." Chiana's face tightened. "I don't think John would kill any of us, but he is becoming a danger to himself."

Zhaan sighed, recognising the truth to D'Argo's words. "Yes, D'Argo, I'm afraid you*re right. I'm concerned as well. These constant visions of Scorpius are worrisome. And we can't just keep drugging him. Overuse of the sedatives will become detrimental rather than helpful." Zhaan sighed and gazed over at the leather mask she kept by her bedside. "I wish Stark were here. His experience with the Aurora Chair could help us help John. And he was the only one who seemed to be able to calm him." She picked up the mask and cradled it to her, her fingers tracing lovingly over its contours.

"Aeryn seems to be doing okay in that department," Rygel observed with a smirk. "Ow!"

Chiana smacked him across the back of his head. "It's not funny, slug-face. Did you see the look on her face? She's hurting as badly as Crichton!"

Rygel had the grace to look contrite. Zhaan looked at the others. "Chiana is right. John's illness is taking its toll on all of us, but Aeryn is suffering the most. She feels more helpless than the rest of us."

D'Argo met her eyes, seeing where she was going. "And if Aeryn feels helpless, she may do something desperate. In her own way, she's even more reckless than Crichton," he said, remembering her rescue mission on the Gammack base when she should have been resting and healing. But nothing they had said then could stop her from charging in to rescue her Human companion.

"So what do you propose, Zhaan?" Rygel asked impatiently.

"I will go over John's scans yet again. Perhaps I have missed something. I've checked everything physical. The scans have shown nothing. Perhaps there is a psychological reason why John keeps seeing Scorpius," Zhaan mused.

"In the meantime, we will have to be particularly vigilant," D'Argo added. *Both for Crichton's protection and our own,* he thought but didn't say out loud. He moved over and opened the doors to Zhaan's quarters

"I'll work with Pilot and go through Moya's data base," Chiana volunteered. "I know he's Human, but perhaps there are records of similar trauma suffered by PeaceKeepers. They may have some treatment."

"Not likely. PeaceKeeper treatment usually consists of administering a lethal injection," D'Argo growled, but Chiana would not be dissuaded.

Then they all turned towards Rygel, not really expecting him to help. "I'll keep an eye on Aeryn," he offered, surprising them all. "What? I'll have you know I was considered quite a compassionate Dominar. I'm not completely selfish." He lifted his nose, offended, and glided out of the room. The others shared a tired grin and then moved back to their beds to salvage what sleep they could from the remaining sleep period.

***

"Zhaan! Zhaan, get down here!" Chiana's excited voice carried through the comm. "I think I found something!"

Zhaan was roused from her meditation by the summons. She hastily apologised to her Goddess and rose from her cross-legged position. Carefully replacing her Bru'ar crystals in their hiding place (safe from any pilfering Hynerian or Nebari fingers), Zhaan pulled on her robes and went to see what had gotten the little Nebari so excited.

When she got down to Pilot's chamber, she saw with dismay that Chiana had summoned Aeryn as well. The ex-PeaceKeeper should have been sleeping. She had been spending every possible microt with John. And her health was suffering. There were dark circles under her eyes. She moved with less than her usual military precision, even now leaning tiredly against Pilot's console. Her hair, which she had once more taken to keeping in its tightly controlled braid, was uncharacteristically dishevelled, several tendrils escaping to curl softly around her cheeks and temples.

Chiana was chattering away enthusiastically, growing even more excited when she saw Zhaan. "Zhaan, I really think I might have found something to help Crichton!"

Zhaan looked at the symbiont who nodded his agreement. Then she turned to the weary Sebacean. "And how are you holding up, my dear?"

Aeryn looked at her sharply but saw only concerned caring in the Delvian priestess's eyes. "I'm fine, Zhaan," she replied automatically.

Zhaan sighed, not really expecting anything else from the aloof ex-PeaceKeeper. "So tell me, what has you so excited, Chiana? Pilot?"

Chiana jumped right in. "I was going through Moya's records with Pilot and we found this old reference to a treatment to reverse the affects of cranial interrogation. It seems that about seven cycles ago, Moya was pressed into service to retrieve and transport a seriously injured disrupter. The agent had been captured by the Scarrans and tortured until uncoherent. A team of medtechs was sent along to try to restore the disrupter's mind."

"And why would PeaceKeeper High Command even bother?" Aeryn asked contemptuously. "It is not their policy to heal those captured or tortured. In fact, they are considered irreversibly contaminated and given a death sentence." Aeryn's voice cracked on the words 'irreversibly contaminated' even now, after all these cycles.

"Yeah, your people have quite the reward programme for injury in the line of duty," Chiana shot back.

Zhaan placed a restraining arm on Aeryn. "So why did they try to heal him?"

"Her," Chiana corrected. Under her hand, Zhaan felt Aeryn shudder, knowing what kind of torture a female PeaceKeeper would have had to endure from the Scarrans. "Apparently, the disrupter had uncovered very important information that High Command needed desperately in its war against the Scarrans. They had to restore the disrupter's conscious mind to get it."

"And did it work?" Aeryn asked anxiously.

"According to these records, yes," Chiana declared proudly.

"So what did they use?" Zhaan asked.

Pilot took over, reading the screen in front of him. "Apparently a rare and powerful drug called Othelymon. They modified it somewhat and were able to restore the disrupter's conscious mind. The data is all here."

Aeryn turned to Zhaan hopefully. "Do you think it might work on a Human?"

Zhaan met her anxious gaze with a slight smile. "I will have to check to make sure that it will do no harm to John's system, but I have heard of this drug. It is indeed rare." She looked at the others sadly. "It will cost a great deal of money, I'm afraid."

Aeryn was already on her way out of Pilot's chamber. "I will do whatever it takes to get a hold of this drug," she stated emphatically. Then she paused and came back to the console. She laid her hand over one of Pilot's claws. "Thank you, Pilot. I'm sure that this drug will help John."

Pilot looked at her with kind, compassionate eyes. Then they slid to the Nebari perched on his console. " You're welcome, Aeryn, but Chiana really did all the work."

Aeryn turned to face the white-haired young Nebari. She reached out and took Chiana's hand in hers. "Thank you, Chiana," she said with soft sincerity.

"You're welcome, Aeryn," Chiana replied, her dark eyes wide with surprise. "You're not the only one who loves John," she added, then groaned inwardly to see Aeryn's open face close over, her emotions once more masked. Miserable, she watched the ex-PeaceKeeper leave Pilot's chamber. "Frell!" The Nebari turned in frustration to Zhaan, who had watched the exchange. "I shouldn't have said that, Zhaan. Now she's mad at me."

"No, she's not mad, Chiana. She's just afraid to lose John," Zhaan said sadly.

"As are we all, Zhaan," Pilot replied. The two women bowed their heads in agreement.

***

Aeryn moved purposefully through Moya's corridors to return to her watch over her Human shipmate. Her mind was in turmoil. She vowed to check out Moya's database as soon as she was relieved of her vigil, but for the first time in several monens, she was starting to feel optimistic. * John will get better,* she vowed to herself. *He has to!* she added, but still shied away from the real reason why his health -- his life -- was so important to her.

She entered John's room, relieved to see that he had not awakened in her absence. She went over and sat down on the side of his bed, checking to see that he was sleeping peacefully. He looked relaxed. His breathing was steady and there was none of the tell-tale flickering of his eyelids that she had come to recognise as a sign that he was dreaming or suffering visions of Scorpius. Aeryn leaned down closer to him, her eyes softening at his vulnerable appearance. With a gentle hand, she lightly traced his brow, down over his nose and strong chin, then along his whiskered jawline. Finally, her fingers lovingly caressed his lips, remembering the few time she had felt them against her own. Unable to resist, Aeryn bent to press her mouth softly against John's.

She gasped in surprise as his warm lips moved under hers, responding to her kiss. Before she could pull away, John's arms came up and wrapped around her, pulling her down on top of him. His tongue slid out to trace along the line of her lips before she let him press into her mouth with a sigh. For a microt, Aeryn relaxed into the intimate kiss with John, then she stiffened and pushed herself up and away from him. She stared down into his laughing blue eyes in confusion.

"Hey!" he said gently, enjoying putting her off-balance.

"Hey, yourself!" she said, letting her annoyance cover for her embarrassment at getting caught kissing him. She glared down at him, but was unable to maintain her anger. Her sapphire eyes softened. "How are you feeling?" she asked, placing her cool hand on his brow. Unconsciously, her thumb caressed his cheek.

"Fuzzy," John replied, closing his eyes, letting his pleasure at her touch flow through him.

"Yeah, I guess you could do with a shave," Aeryn teased, deliberately misunderstanding him. She pulled her hand away, but John caught it and threaded his fingers through hers, reminding her of the time when she had been prepared to leave him to protect Talyn. She closed her eyes at the remembered pain.

John brought her hand to his lips and pressed a tender kiss to her long slender fingers. "Thank you, " he whispered.

"For what?" Aeryn asked, her eyes flying open.

"For keeping Scorpy at bay."

Aeryn's eyes darkened in pain. "It ... it wasn't me, John. Zhaan gave you a sedative ...," she explained quickly.

John closed his eyes. "Zhaan's drugs put me to sleep, Aeryn. But it was you -- your presence -- that kept Scorpius away. I could feel you here with me, and I knew he couldn't get me as long as you were here." He opened his eyes and gazed up at her, his love and trust as clear as the blue of his eyes.

Aeryn's heart wrenched in her breast at his confidence in her. She knew she would do anything to protect this man. But she was desperately afraid that her efforts would not be enough. She felt tears springing into her eyes at the thought that she was unworthy of his trust. Unconsciously, she moved towards him. Then she caught herself with a sharp hiss. She sat up, all business once more. "Zhaan and Chiana think they have come up with a drug that will heal you."

John gazed up at her, disappointed at her withdrawal. Then he sighed. "Anything, Aeryn. I'm willing to try anything." He closed his eyes in resignation.

Aeryn laid her cool hand on his warm brow once more. "Everything will be all right, John. I promise."

***

"What do you mean, we don't have enough money?" Aeryn screamed, slamming Rygel's thronechair up against the bulkhead of the transport pod where the crew had met after their first foray into the markets of the decidedly seedy commerce planet of Adhafera Minor. "We've bartered everything we have! We even put up my Prowler!"

"I'm sorry, Aeryn, but it's still not enough. Othelymon is very expensive. Apparently, it also serves as a high-end hallucinogenic, prized by the wealthiest nobles in the Uncharted Territories."

"Then we'll steal some," Aeryn shouted, looking over at Chiana.

"Hey, don't look at me! I've seen some of the security for this stuff. It's impenetrable!" the Nebari thief protested.

Aeryn looked skeptical. "Don't tell me you've finally met a security system you couldn't best!"

"Well, you better believe it, PeaceKeeper!" Chiana declared, shaking off D'Argo's restraining arm. "I wouldn't go near the place!"

"Not even for John?" Aeryn asked softly. Chiana's heart broke at the pain in her voice, a pain she was feeling also.

Chiana looked at the rest of her shipmates. Her gaze finally fell on Rygel, her usual partner in crime. "Okay, we'll see what we can do. But I'm not making any promises, Aeryn!" Rygel exclaimed.

"Yes, but I did," Aeryn said cryptically before exiting the transport pod.

The ex-PeaceKeeper marched through the disreputable market place, lost in her pain. She had meant what she said back at the transport pod. She had promised John that she would make things right and that was what she meant to do. But she felt so helpless, unable to fight her way to a solution as she had been trained to do.

Aeryn wandered aimlessly down street after street until she realised she wasn't exactly sure where she was. She cursed herself for letting her emotions distract her. Then she noted several figures moving in the darkened alleys around her. Her hand hovered over her pulse gun. She made several deliberate turns, noting that the figures shadowed her every move. When one of them leaped in front of her, his pulse rifle aimed at her, she rolled out of the way of his shot. She continued to roll towards him, taking him out from below before he could fire again. The highly trained ex-PeaceKeeper easily recovered her opponent's rifle.

Two more of her assailants went down before they had time to think. Aeryn sprang to her feet in time to fire at a fourth figure lurking in the shadows. Her shot missed when the badly maintained rifle jammed. She had only a microt to register that fact before an arm encircled her throat from behind and a knife pressed into her side. The one she had fired at stepped out of the shadows, grinning triumphantly. He was Sebacean, his tattered uniform marking him an ex-PeaceKeeper like herself. He raised his gun to fire at her head. Aeryn suddenly let her weight sag into her captor's arms. He gasped, then screamed as his associate's shot struck him square in the face. Aeryn fell forward, then somersaulted, coming up with her pistol aimed right at the unkempt deserter. Her shot hit him in the chest and he toppled to the ground, a look of disappointment on his face.

Aeryn kept her gun raised, waiting for more attackers. Suddenly a voice rang out. "Cut!" Great! I think we've found our final contestant!"

Aeryn stared in disbelief as several aliens moved out of the shadows towards her. She spun around, trying to determine who best to aim her pulse pistol at. A couple of hovering vidcams flew out from the alleys as well. Aeryn backed up against the wall, preparing to defend herself. One of the aliens moved forward, riding in some sort of an open land vehicle. He was talking incessantly into a comm unit. Aeryn stared at him in shock as his vehicle came to a stop right in front of her. The creature was a short, fat individual with an extended lower jaw graced with two very sharp tusks. His small piggish eyes gleamed with avarice and speculation as they studied the attractive PeaceKeeper female in front of him.Then the alien stepped out, seemingly ignorant of the deadly pistol trained on him, his attention more focussed on the conversation he was having in the comm.

"No! No! Only ten contestants! Right, different races, different skills!" He listened then spoke again. "Yes, only one of them will win. I'm telling you, it will be a success. Viewers will tune in all over the Uncharteds." He glanced at the Sebacean holding her gun aimed at him, finally realising his danger. "Look, I've got to go. Yeah, the PeaceKeeper. She's a real looker. The viewers will eat her up." He snapped the portable comm shut and stood facing the obviously nervous Sebacean female in front of him. "Aeryn? Aeryn Sun, right?" He stepped forward then retreated as Aeryn levelled her gun at him.

"What do you want?" she demanded, her eyes going from him to the rest of his crew.

"It's not what I want, honey. It's what you want." He smiled insincerely at her. "Can we talk?"

***

"No! Absolutely not! Tell Aeryn to get her eema up here so we can starburst away!" D'Argo shouted into the comm. Zhaan winced at his imperious tone, but forgave him, knowing the pressure he felt to get to his son Jothee's auction in time. However, the rest of the crew gathered in the Command was more inclined to agree to Aeryn's plan.

"But, D'Argo, think of the money! One million credits!" Rygel enthused, practically salivating with greed.

Even Chiana was impressed. "It would more than pay for the Othelymon!"

"But ten solar days! What about my son? What about Jothee?" D'Argo cried, slamming his hand down on one of Moya's consoles in frustrated anger.

Zhaan took pity on her Luxan shipmate. "D'Argo, I know how anxious you are to get to Jothee, but what about John? He needs our help right now." She looked up into the Luxan's eyes, shocked at the depth of pain his internal battle was causing him.

"Besides, Luxan, how do you expect to pay for Jothee at the slave auction? If Aeryn wins, we will have the money to save both Crichton and your son!" Rygel added reasonably.

D'Argo looked at his fellow crewmates and then hung his head in defeat. "Okay, tell Aeryn I'm with her," he said.

"With her on what?" a voice asked. The crew turned around, with varying degrees of guilt on their faces to confront their Human shipmate. John grinned at their shocked expressions then looked around for Aeryn. "Where's Aeryn?" he asked innocently.

Suddenly, Aeryn's voice came over the comm. "Okay, Zhaan. I'm in. Wish me luck!" She broke the connection almost immediately.

John stared at his friends with growing suspicion. "Okay, guys, tell me what's going on. Where is Aeryn? Why does she need you to wish her luck? What the hezmana is going on?"

Behind him on the screen the scene shifted. "Tomorrow night, an Adhafera exclusive! Ten desperate contestants! One hostile environment! And one million credits to the ...Survivor!" The screen shifted through nine alien faces until the image froze on Aeryn's. "Survivor. Beginning tomorrow night at sixteen arns. Don't miss it!"

John hit the console in front of him, isolating Aeryn's face on the screen. "What the frell is going on?" he demanded, staring in horror at the image in front of him. "What is this about a survivor?"

Rygel glided forward, "She did it for you, Crichton! The medicine you need is too expensive!"

John groaned in despair. "Desperate contestants! Hostile environment! How could you let her do it?" John turned to D'Argo. "D'Argo?" The Luxan dodged his Human companion's stare guiltily. "Oh, God! D'Argo, how could you?"

"We need the money, John! For you and for Jothee!"

John turned away from his friends, shaking his head from side to side in denial. "No, no, no, no! I won't let her do it! No! It's too dangerous! No, Aeryn, no!" he muttered to himself. Before anyone could stop him, John had raced from the Command.

***

"So, folks, it's really great to have you on board for our first ever Survivor," the annoying alien Aeryn had met in the alley was saying. Named Fulax, he was short and extremely overweight, his tusked countenance reminiscent of the wild boars on Kreplos 9. The ex-PeaceKeeper surreptitiously checked out her competition as the producer of the 'show' (as he called it), droned on about market shares and something called ratings. The group of 'lucky' finalists represented an amazing assortment of races. Looking around the room, Aeryn identified them all.There was a young Tavlek male called Greshak who reminded her of the young warrior that Zhaan had tried to turn from his race's violent ways. A voluptuous Illonic female stood next to him, her fleshy tentacles tattooed and held back in an elaborate clasp. She caught Aeryn's assessing gaze and glared. Aeryn glanced down at her list and saw that her name was Ramala. A young Sheyang, named Bron, sat next to her, seemingly inoffensive, but Aeryn remembered her encounter with his fire-breathing race on board the derelict Zelbinion. The final member on Aeryn's side of the room was a Delvian of indeterminate age named Zenya. Aeryn shuddered as the redness of her eyes proclaimed her descent into madness.

Across the room sat the others. They consisted of an older Scarran named G'Maz who glared at his Sebacean rival; a Scorvian female named Urba, whose mottled external carapace pronounced her to be well past the first blush of youth; and three youngsters: a very nervous Ja-Kench called Nopo, a tattooed Zenetan (female?) named A'Nara and a Nebari female who introduced herself as Hedyona. Aeryn eyed them all suspiciously, judging their abilities, their strengths and especially their weaknesses.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Fulax stopped his largely ignored speech and waddled towards the door impatiently. There was a great deal of angry hissing. Aeryn tried to move closer to hear what was going on, but she found her path blocked by the Scarran, heat radiating off him in dangerous waves. Fulax stepped back from the door and suddenly several planetary guards burst into the room. The Ja-Kench squealed in terror and tried to leap out the window, but was soon overcome and detained by the guards. As the small green creature was led away in handcuffs, Fulax pulled out his comm and contacted someone urgently. "Frell! We've lost the Ja-Kench! Something about an extortion charge and suspicious death!" He listened for a microt then relaxed a bit. "Okay, send him along! Yeah, that's even better. We bill him as a member of the race that invented the game in the first place. Love ya, babe!" Aeryn listened with disgust as the alien dramatically kissed into his comm then snapped it shut. "There's been a slight change of plans," he announced. The other contestants snarled and began to protest. Aeryn remained silent, continuing to size up the competition. "Nothing major, just a replacement for Nopo. He should be here in a few microts."

"He better be," the Scarran threatened in an ugly tone of voice. When the door opened again, the Scarran was in a position to see the replacement contestant. Obviously whatever he saw did not bother him too much as his grotesque mouth stretched into a triumphant smile. Aeryn's expression did not match his as the new competitor entered.

John moved carefully into the room, feeling the hostility of its occupants wash over him in waves -- particularly from a Sebacean female whose glaring blue eyes he studiously avoided. The producer shuffled forward again, smiling as best his tusked mouth allowed. "Everyone, meet John Crichton, Human. It was transmissions from his homeworld that gave us the idea for this contest!" John spun around to stare at the porcine alien in astonishment as the rest of his rivals sized him up.

The Illonic was the first to react. She sidled over to the attractive Sebacean-looking creature and pressed herself against him seductively. John started to back away, then thought better of it. He smiled confidently down into the female's decidedly alluring gaze. "Human, you say. I've never heard of such a race. And I'm sure I would have if they are all as attractive as you." She smiled up into his eyes suggestively. "I'm Ramala," she breathed.

John smirked at her attempts to seduce him. "John Crichton, Human. We're new on the scene," he explained.

"Not Sebacean?" the Scarran G'Maz growled, his hot breath washing over John deliberately. "Too bad!" He looked over at Aeryn, who stood apart from the group, with a look that made John very nervous.

Ramala gasped as she was pushed roughly out of the way by John's fellow contestants. John felt uncomfortable under the lustful gaze of the Zenetan A'Nara, even though he repeatedly told himself that despite his (her?) appearance, she was the female of her species. Of the Nebari, however, he was in no doubt. Hedyona pressed against him, allowing him a full view of her decidedly abundant charms. Remembering the knowledge he had gained from his last encounter with others of her race, John tried not to shudder at her possibly contaminated touch. "Your race invented this game? I'm impressed!" She leaned closer. "You must have valuable information about how to win the contest. I would be ... exceedingly ... grateful if you chose to share that information with me."

John smirked down at her, "Hey, honey, that's for me to know and you to find out, if you catch my drift?" John watched the Nebari pull away from him, a typically confused look on her face. John finally allowed himself to look at Aeryn. His Sebacean shipmate was deliberately avoiding looking at him but he could tell from her stiff posture that she was angry. John closed his eyes and groaned inwardly.*Dren!* He opened his eyes in time to see the Delvian studying him carefully. Her madness-reddened eyes slid from him to Aeryn and back again. Then she smiled archly and turned away. He didn't even notice the Scarran watching him carefully.

Fulax moved into the centre of the room and cleared his throat. "Okay, now that everybody is here, let me just go over the rules again. You will be taken tomorrow to a derelict freighter. It has a breathable atmosphere but little else. Parts of the ship are in danger of decompression, but, hey, that's what makes the game exciting!" He allowed himself a hearty chuckle, ignoring the fact that none of the contestants joined him. "You will each be given one knapsack of food and water, but only enough to last you for two days. After that you will have to beg, borrow or steal to stay alive. You will also be able to take one weapon of your choice. Choose carefully, as that will be your only defense against the predators that are roaming the ship." When the others looked at him in surprise, he smirked. "Oh, did I forget that part? The ship was abandoned because it was infested with some sort of alien predator, small but lethal. The original crew did not escape." He smirked again at the looks of consternation on the faces of his players.

He waddled over to the table that held refreshments and served himself a cup of ras'laq before continuing. The others continued to size each other up with hostile eyes. After taking a hearty gulp and smacking his lips together in satisfaction, Fulax went on. "Now, to win the game, you must first be alive." He laughed again at his own joke. "The ship has been fitted with vidcams everywhere to record the proceedings. At the end of each solar day, you will gather in the central chamber which has been made free of any threat from the predators. You will be give enough marbles for each remaining player, all white except for one black one. You will then vote on who will be removed, one each day. In the event of a tie, our viewers will be polled and they will choose who remains. This will continue until only two of you are left. At that point the viewers will again vote on the winner, who will receive the million credits. Is that clear?"

The contestants said nothing, merely nodding silently. Fulax rubbed his hands together with delight. "Well then, if you've all signed your waivers, I'll show you to your rooms. Sleep well. You're going to need it." He started to leave, then turned. "Oh, and for tonight, at least, I would request that you refrain from contacting each other. Once on the ship you can form whatever alliances you want, but not tonight."

John looked over at Aeryn again, this time catching her eye. He groaned inwardly as she met his gaze with a look of tightly controlled fury. Then he followed Fulax from the room.

***

*This is insane,* John thought as he stood alone in the sumptuous hotel room later that night. He walked into the bathroom and turned on the water, splashing his face.

"Indeed, John, I must say this is one of your more unusual predicaments." Scorpius's ugly face appeared in the mirror over his shoulder.

John glared at the hallucination and turned to leave the bathroom. "Leave me alone, Scorpy!"

"But why are you putting yourself in danger yet again? For what -- a few measly credits?" Scorpius continued. "I can tell you that the drug will do no good. And why risk your life for the Luxan's pitiful son?" Scorpius's image came over and sat down on the bed beside the Human. "It's not too late to back out!"

"I'm not going to back out!"

"Yes, you are!" A second voice whispered urgently. John turned to where he had last seen Scorpius but his nemesis was gone. There was a rustle and Aeryn climbed in the window.

"Aeryn!" John cried, going over and helping her into the room. "What are you doing here?"

Aeryn glared at him, "What the frell are you doing, Crichton?" She began to pace back and forth angrily. "How did you let yourself get dragged into this?"

"I couldn't let you do it alone!" John said.

"Yes, you could, and you are!"

John tried to grab her arm but she threw his hand off. "Aeryn ...!"

"No, John, don't 'Aeryn' me! You are not well! That's why I'm doing this in the first place -- to get the money for the medicine. What do you think will happen if you start seeing Scorpius up on the ship? Or if the others find out what's going on? You've already had one encounter with a Scarran. If G'Maz realises you're seeing Scorpius, he'll kill you as soon as look at you!" John watched her work herself up into a towering fury. "What if I can't be there to protect you? What will you do then?" She came to stand in front of him, her face right in his. "How could you do this to me, Crichton? Don't you think I'm worried about you enough as it is?"

John saw tears of frustration spring into her eyes and his own gaze softened. He was overwhelmed by a colossal need. Before she could back away from him, John reached out and pulled the beautiful Sebacean to him, covering her mouth in an urgent, demanding kiss. She gasped as he crushed her against him, one arm about her slender waist and his other hand holding the back of her head. She moaned softly as his tongue plunged into her mouth. Then her arms slid up to link behind his head and she surrendered herself to his kiss, returning it with her own desperate passion.

At a sudden knock on the door, they broke apart, staring at each other in shock. When the knock came again, John quickly motioned Aeryn into the bathroom. Then he went and opened the door. Fulax moved into the room, glancing around suspiciously. He turned to face the Human. "I just wanted to wish you luck tomorrow. And I wanted to thank you and your race personally for inventing this game. We've made a few modifications but the basic idea is still yours. If we hadn't intercepted those transmissions, we would never have learned of this amazing contest." Fulax moved forward and clapped John on the back. "I would be very interested in learning more of your culture. We tried to trace the signal back to its origin but with no luck." Inside, John felt the brief flame of hope, ignited by Fulax's words, die just as quickly.

Instead, he played the predatory contestant to the hilt. "And will more information give me an edge over the others?"

Fulax stared at the unknown Human, then his face broke into a grin. "I would really love to give you an advantage, but the game is being monitored by the planetary gaming commission. Any hint of impropriety and they shut us down. Sorry." Fulax moved out of the room, turning back to the Human. "You'll just have to play by the same rules as everyone else. I'm pulling for you though."

John shut the door behind the porcine producer firmly and then turned back to the bathroom where Aeryn hid. But all he found was an open window and an empty room. "Frell!"

Here's Part two

Louise

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

SURVIVOR
by ISIS

Disclaimers: Farscape is the property of Rockne S O'Bannon, Jim Henson Company et al. I make no claim on them. I borrow only. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Rating: PG13
Category: Drama
Summary: Just as the title says. The Uncharted Territories version of Survivor
Spoilers: Everything up to and including A Clockwork Nebari
Archiving: You're welcome to it; please tell me where it's at. (louiseboyden@earthlink.net)
Acknowledgements: Thanks as always to Quilt Lady for her great suggestions and criticisms.

Enjoy

***********

PART 2/5 "THE ARRIVAL"

The contestants moved slowly, cautiously out of the automated transport that had brought them to the derelict freighter where the contest was to take place. Already, hovering vidcams recorded every move. A vidcam had been assigned to film each participant. There were also several others hovering nearby to take in the entire group from various angles. Fulax was set on getting the most footage from his assembled players.

"Crew quarters are down this way," Aeryn said, pointing down a corridor strewn with debris.

"And how do you know that, PeaceKeeper?" the Scarran G'Maz snarled.

Aeryn ignored his hostility, keeping her voice neutral. "This is a standard Bateem class freighter. They're all laid out the same way."

"She's right," A'Nara piped up. The Scarran glared at the Zenetan. "My gang captured many for their cargoes," she boasted, ignoring his hostility

G'Maz merely growled and followed the rest of them out of the wrecked docking bay. John waited until the Scarran had left then grabbed up his own knapsack and followed the others. Ahead of him, he saw Aeryn slip in beside the Tavloid. *Tavlek*, he automatically corrected himself, grinning as he heard his crewmates's exasperated voices in his mind.

"What's so funny, Human?" a voice hissed in his ear. John found himself staring into the glittering black eyes of the Scorvian. He shuddered to think about the genetic process required to turn a vaguely insect-like Scorvian, with its external skeleton and three-eyed face with bone-crushing mandibles on either side of the more human-looking mouth into the Illonic-looking Matala.

"Nothing. It's personal," John replied, trying to project an air of confidence and danger. The Scorvian hissed again and brushed past him roughly. John let the breath he had been holding escape in a sigh of relief.

Aeryn walked cautiously beside the young, seemingly inexperienced Tavlek. He appeared about the same age as the boy they had captured aboard Moya when Rygel had been kidnapped -- perfect for putting her plan into action. Aeryn glanced at his forearms, exposed by the ragged tunic he wore under his rough homespun cape. The Tavlek caught her glance and returned it with a grimace of suspicion on his ugly scarred face. "No Gauntlet, I see," she commented.

Under his metallic helmet, the Tavlek's face darkened. Aeryn could not tell if it was in anger or embarrassment. "What do you know of Gauntlets?" he demanded.

"Well, I've encountered your kind before. And defeated them, I might add. I've even worn a Gauntlet. A formidable weapon, but too unpredictable."

The Tavlek Greshak growled ominously. "So why are you telling me this, PeaceKeeper?"

Aeryn looked suggestively over at the Human. "Because I know that the Tavleks are honourable. They do not believe in cheating. And I want this to be a fair contest."

Greshak followed her eyes and gazed at the frail-looking Human. Then he turned back to her. Aeryn wished she could see his eyes but they were concealed under the metallic helmet he wore like an external skull. "You believe the Human will cheat?"

Aeryn looked at John and then away. "No, not cheat exactly, but Fulax said his race invented this game. Don't you think that gives him an undue advantage?"

The Tavlek looked back at the Human who had now noted their interest in him. The Illonic and the Nebari were also watching the conversation between the PeaceKeeper and the Tavlek with great interest. John tried to keep his face neutral, but his thoughts were racing. *What the hezmana is she up to?* he wondered.

"So what do you propose, PeaceKeeper?" Greshak snarled. "Kill him?"

Aeryn smiled unpleasantly, "With all these cameras recording it? I don't think so. Why don't we use the game against him. Tonight, at the gathering, we vote him off. Then it will leave a more equal contest."

Greshak stared at her, then his mangled mouth spread into a grin. "I didn't think PeaceKeepers could be so devious."

"I'm not your average PeaceKeeper," she hissed before moving off. She walked on, leading the group towards the crew quarters. Glancing back she noted the Nebari move forward and begin to speak to the Tavlek. Soon they were both looking back at John, much to his discomfort. He turned and raised an eyebrow at Aeryn, but she ignored his attempt to communicate. Her plan appeared to be working. John would be voted off and safely returned to Moya before the night was out.

When they reached the relatively undamaged crew quarters, the contestants all chose a room for themselves, each eyeing the others suspiciously, watching to see if there was a reason for the choice made that would give the chooser an advantage. Aeryn tried hard to ignore the fact that John had chosen the room next to hers, attempting to make it look random. Finally they all backed into their quarters and proceeded to hide their belongings. Aeryn saw her assigned vidcam try to follow her into her quarters. She glared at the hovering camera and deliberately slammed the door shut, grinning in satisfaction as she heard the intrusive machine knock against the door in futility.

Once in her quarters, Aeryn looked around the room carefully. The cell was fairly standard, buried deep within the freighter, away from the outer hull. Aeryn went over to examine the bulkhead which showed a great deal of corrosion and decay. The bunk, nothing more than an offshoot of the bulkhead, was bare, without mattress or blanket. Aeryn dug around in her knapsack and pulled out a thermal blanket. She checked the rest of the supplies she had been given, then, like the others, distributed them in hiding places around her quarters, making it harder for anyone to find all of them, though the room did not allow for any particularly inaccessible or perfect hiding places.

Just as she had finished stashing her supplies, Aeryn heard a curious scraping sound coming from the wall that separated her room from the one John had chosen. Aeryn immediately drew her pulse pistol and moved carefully toward the sound. The wall seemed to pulse and throb outward. Aeryn spun away and leaned back against the bulkhead beside it, aiming at whatever was coming through. Suddenly the wall flopped inwards, leaving a gaping hole. A brown-haired head popped through. John saw Aeryn up against the wall, her gun drawn, and grinned. "Hi there, neighbour!"

Aeryn closed her eyes in despair, then reached down and roughly hauled her Human crewmate into the room. "What the frell do you think you're doing?"

John looked at her furious face and smiled sheepishly. "I thought it would be better to keep in touch without the others knowing."

"And what if one of them comes in here and sees that? They will know we're working together!"

"And are we, Aeryn?" John countered. "What was all that earlier with the Tavloid -- er Tavlek?" he corrected quickly, seeing the fire in her eyes. When she refused to answer him, John sighed. "Look, Aeryn, I know you're angry with me for crashing the party, but I couldn't let you do this alone. Some of these guys are scary. Have you seen Zenya's eyes? She's insane! And what about the Scarran? You've told me what they do to Sebaceans." He saw Aeryn raise her head and gaze at him, some of her anger gone, replaced by worry. He smiled gently and touched her cheek. "Hey, don't worry. We're a team -- Butch and Sundance -- together again. We'll win this contest then keep all the money for ourselves and drive Rygel out of his mind." He finally saw Aeryn smile slightly at the image. He traced over her smiling lips with his thumb. "That's better." He gave her a boyish grin. "So, are you still mad at me?"

Aeryn's eyes flashed but before she could answer, there was a blood-curdling scream from out in the corridor. Both Aeryn and Crichton sprang into action, racing out into the passageway with guns drawn. Two doors down from them, Zenya poked her head out of her quarters. She noted the fact that the Human and the Sebacean were coming out of the same room with a smirk, then she too focussed on the commotion at the other end of the hall.

At the far end of the corridor, the Tavlek Greshak was screaming and thrashing around, fighting desperately to throw off the small creatures that were clinging to him. His face and hands were already covered in blood. His legs were buried under the creatures, which were about the size of Aeryn's hand. They were shrieking with a high-pitched squeal as they literally attempted to devour the hapless Tavlek alive, tearing through his leggings to rip off chunks of his flesh. All the contestants stood in shock for a microt then Aeryn raced down the corridor followed by John. She adjusted the setting on her pulse gun to the lowest and began to pick the creatures off Greshak, firing carefully so as not to hit him. John fired at the creatures on the floor. The Illonic and the Zenetan both followed John's lead, firing at the wave after wave of ravenous creatures. But they just seemed to keep coming. When Aeryn had shot the last creature menacing Greshak, she pulled him behind her, where he stumbled and went down in a pool of blood. Then she joined the others firing at the creatures.

"Out of the way!" the young Sheyang ordered, pushing through the others roughly. He stood in the middle of the corridor, breathing deeply several times, then he breathed out, spraying the creatures with fire. They squealed again and finally retreated, flowing back into the hole in the bulkhead through which they had poured into the passageway. The contestants listened in horror as what seemed to be thousands of the creatures scurried through the walls around them. The group was frozen in a tableau, waiting for the next attack, but soon the scurrying stopped and it was silent except for the moans of pain from Greshak and the soft whirring of the hovering vidcams that had recorded the battle. John caught Aeryn's eye in horror then looked at the Tavlek. Aeryn holstered her gun and dropped to her knees beside the Delvian and the Nebari who were already trying to stop his bleeding. John looked around him and saw the Scarran and the Scorvian exchange significant glances, then turn back into their side-by-side quarters.

John stood watching Aeryn help the Delvian and Nebari bandage Greshak's extensive injuries. He heard the Illonic, the Zenetan and the Sheyang move forward without a word. The Human turned to the Sheyang and smiled. "Thanks, Bron is it? I don't think we would have defeated those things without you." He watched the Sheyang's amphibious eyes blink, the lids closing vertically.

The alien relaxed somewhat. "You're welcome, Human," he replied deeply. Then John turned to the others. "What the hezmana were those things?" He picked up one of the dead ones gingerly and studied it. It was made up primarily of row upon row of razor sharp teeth. There were no eyes, just a jaw, powerful jaw muscles and four short clawed legs attached to a body that seemed to be all stomach and digestive tract, as the gaping wound in the side of the one John held revealed.

The Illonic woman shook her head in confusion but the Zenetan looked at the others, then down at Greshak with a shudder. "I think they're called Phageri. They are mindless, collective raptors. They were originally developed as omnivores by scientists on the planet Ataliff to solve their garbage problem. But they devolved back into the carnivorous creatures from which they had been genetically mutated." The Zenetan A'Nara shuddered again.

"So what happened to Ataliff? I've been all over the Uncharted Territories and I've never heard of it," Bron asked, his voice raspy after his fire-breathing.

A'Nara stared at the Sheyang as if the answer were obvious. "Their creation devoured them. And everything on the planet. It's now known as Deomai, the barren world." The Sheyang's eyes widened in shocked recognition, then he too shuddered.

"Great! Just great!" John said. "So now we have *Alien* and *Piranha* all rolled into one!"

The others looked at him with something akin to hatred. "What are you complaining about, Human! Your race invented this game!" Ramala snarled, then turned and marched off down the corridor, her tentacles flying.

John looked at the others guiltily then crouched down beside Aeryn. "So how is he?"

The Delvian's red eyes met his. For a microt, John thought he saw white-blue lucidity, then the eyes reddened again. "He is badly injured. He needs better medical treatment than we can provide. He needs to get off this derelict!" She looked at the others, her meaning crystal clear. The Zenetan, the Sheyang and the Nebari all nodded in understanding. Zenya turned her red gaze on John, who nodded as well. He saw Aeryn refuse to meet the eyes of the others, standing and helping Hedyona carry Greshak back to his quarters. Zenya looked after them then back at the Human, a look of speculation in her eyes. John avoided her gaze and headed back down to his quarters, to await the first call to the central chamber and the first vote.

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

"So explain this to me again," D'Argo growled. "How does Aeryn win the money?"

Chiana sighed and patiently began to outline the rules again. "Every night, the contestants get together and vote against one member of the group. The one who gets the most votes gets booted off the derelict. That goes on until there are only two of them left. Then the audience votes and chooses the one they want to win the million credits."

"And if there's a tie, who decides?" Pilot asked.

"The viewers," Chiana replied.

"So you're telling me that we're counting on Aeryn to win what is basically a popularity contest?" Rygel exclaimed. "If I'd known that I never would have wagered money on her!" The rest of his crewmates looked at him in horror. "What?" he asked in seeming innocence. "The money she wins will already be spent on Crichton and D'Argo's son. Why shouldn't I profit a bit as well?" Rygel asked, his earbrows rising. "Not that I will win now! If Moya had been this derelict I would have voted Aeryn off the ship the first chance I got!" He looked around at his fellow shipmates accusingly. "Come on, people! You know you would have done the same!" He could tell by the way no one would meet his eye that he was right, even if they would not admit it. He grinned smugly, then floated off to the central chamber."Call me when the first show is broadcast!"

Zhaan watched the Hynerian hover off as she entered the Command in a swish of blue robes. Then she turned to her two companions. "Have either of you seen Crichton?" she asked, her face reflecting her concern.

"No, not since that transmission from Aeryn." D'Argo said. "He went off in a snot!"

"Snit. I believe the word he uses is snit," Zhaan corrected with a gentle smile.

"Whatever," D'Argo dismissed the Delvian. Behind him, Chiana choked back her laughter. "Pilot, can you locate Crichton?"

Pilot's image returned to the clamshell screen. "Commander Crichton went down to the planet surface nearly twenty-four arns ago."

"What!?" Zhaan, Chiana and D'Argo all cried together.

"Yes, he asked me not to tell you, but he went down after Aeryn," the symbiont replied calmly.

"Has he been in touch with you since?" Zhaan asked.

"No. Shall I try his comm now?"

"Yes, Pilot!"

They watched the symbiont's four arms move over his console, then his face tightened with worry. "I'm sorry, Zhaan. He is not responding."

"Frell!" D'Argo cursed.

"I am receiving the transmission that you requested from the planet though. Shall I put it through to the main screen?" Pilot added.

"Yes, and tell Rygel to get his butt up here," Chiana replied, excited despite her fear for her lost friend.

The screen in front of them blazed with dazzling images of aliens of various races locked in battle with each other while music blared. The announcer's voice came through, advertising the show Survivor and listing a number of sponsors. An image appeared. The screen was filled with the rather ugly face of a large tusked alien sitting in a sumptuously decorated studio. Behind him were several blank screens.

"Good evening. My name is Fulax and I am the host and producer of Survivor, a new concept in entertainment. Tonight is the first of what will prove to be ten exciting episodes of our as-it-happens broadcasts. First, we will meet our ten lucky contestants who have all been aboard the derelict freighter since this morning, facing danger from both their environment and each other. Then we will join them live as they decide who will be the first contestant voted off the freighter, the first loser. In the event of a tie, our studio audience and you, the viewers, will decide the outcome by comming one of the two numbers on the bottom of your screen."

The camera shifted to another angle and Fulax turned towards it with a toothy smile. "But first, our contestants." The first screen behind him sprang to life. The ugly countenance of a Scarran appeared. He snarled at the camera, waves of heat clearly radiating from him. "Our first contestant is a Scarran. G'Maz is the veteran of several campaigns and clearly a survivor."

The screen shifted to show the bright blue face of a Delvian. Zhaan gasped as she saw the red of madness in her eyes. "Zenya!"

"You know her?" Rygel demanded from his throne chair.

Chiana moved closer to the screen to study the image. "Why are her eyes red, Zhaan?"

"Yes, I do know her, Rygel. She was with Tahleen and the others down on New Delvia. She obviously succumbed to the same madness as Tahleen and her father. That is why her eyes are red, Chiana," Zhaan explained, clearly upset. She bowed her head in prayer for her misguided fellow priestess.

When the announcer came to the image of the Nebari, it was Chiana's turn to gasp. "Hedyona!"

Rygel groaned and met D'Argo's eye ruefully. "What is this, an Uncharted Territories reunion?"

"Do you know this one, Chiana? Is she dangerous?" D'Argo asked the little Nebari.

"I do know her but I haven't seen her since we all left Nebari Prime. No, she's not dangerous. At least, not unless you sleep with her. She was infected like Neri and I were, but to my knowledge she did not receive the antidote," Chiana said sadly.

"Well, she'll pose no threat to Aeryn then," D'Argo replied, watching the screen with half an eye as it showed Aeryn herself. The Luxan could hear the sound of booing from the studio audience when Fulax introduced the PeaceKeeper.

Then the last screen came on. "In keeping with the unpredictable nature of our show, we had a little drama before our contestants even made it to the derelict. Nopo of the Ja-Kench had failed to disclose the fact that he was wanted on several planets for extortion and murder, but the fine authorities here on Adhafera caught up with him. Lucky for us, we were able to replace him at the last microt."

"Dren!" D'Argo exclaimed, drawing everyone's attention to the screen.

There was John Crichton's smiling face as he was introduced to the rest of his fellow contestants. Chiana groaned as the Nebari and the voluptuous Illonic fawned all over him. Zhaan closed her eyes in despair as she thought she saw a spark of recognition in the mad Delvian's eye when the camera panned around the room. But it was the barely concealed fury on Aeryn's face that caught Rygel's eye. "Crichton's a dead man!" he stated with a satisfied chuckle. The others looked at him in confusion at his reaction. "Well, if Aeryn kills him, we won't have to spend our winnings on his medicine. All the more for the rest of us!" He deftly avoided the smack that Chiana aimed at him, lifting his throne chair out of her reach. "What! I'm only trying to be funny!" he harrumphed indignantly. "We all know Aeryn won't hurt him. She's more likely to get killed herself." He pointed to the way the Scarran was fixed on her, an ugly look of menace in his eye.

The remaining crew all looked at each other in silent concern as the screen shifted to a series of commercials. Then the show returned. "Well, the first day for our contestants has already been fraught with peril." Fulax said. The next microt the screen was filled with the sounds of high-pitched squeals and screams of pain. The crew watched in horror as the contestants' battle with the voracious creatures unfolded. The cameras showed Aeryn picking off the tiny creatures expertly. Then the Sheyang came forward, spitting flames at the attacking beasts, driving them back. Finally, the audience was shown the Tavlek, seriously injured, being treated by the Delvian and Nebari, then helped to his quarters by Aeryn. "It seems that today's heroes are clearly the Sheyang, Bron and the PeaceKeeper, surprisingly. Aeryn is showing a compassionate side for which her race is hardly noted." Fulax tilted his head, listening to a communication from off-screen. Then his smile widened, his tusks catching the studio lights. "Well, now, it seems our contestants are assembled in the central chamber and we're ready to see who will be the first one to be voted off the derelict. Stay tuned."

Chiana turned to the others, her eyes wide. "What the frell were those creatures? They practically ate the Tavlek alive!"

"They are Phageri; genetically designed to eat garbage, but mutated into the carnivorous raptors you saw there. They have been plaguing this area of the Uncharted Territories for over three hundred cycles now. A Delvian science vessel brought them back to Delvia by accident. It took all our planet's resources to destroy them." Zhaan sighed. "They are a testament to the errors of unchecked genetic manipulation."

"We've got to get John and Aeryn out of there!" D'Argo declared. The others looked at him in agreement.

"But how?" Rygel asked. "We have no way of locating the ship. Fulax explained that it was cloaked so the contestants could get no help from the outside."

"Well, we're just going to have to find a way!"

The screen in front of them switched briefly to Fulax then to the scene on board the hidden freighter. "Hello there, everybody. How was your first day?" Fulax asked. The screen plainly showed that the contestants were all shouting and complaining, demanding to be freed, but there was no sound. Fulax tapped his comm spuriously then grinned insincerely. "I'm sorry, folks. It seems we're having sound difficulties. We can't hear what you're saying. It's time for the vote. Does everyone have their marbles?" Fulax grinned at his joke. Then he grew serious. "Then let's begin."

Moya's crew watched tensely as John and Aeryn moved to their places in compartments set up against the walls. Then one by one, each contestant walked around the room, placing a marble in the box in front of each of their rivals. When the last contestant had finished and returned to his place, the boxes fell open to reveal the results. John and the Scorvian female each had one black ball amongst the white. The Scorvian glared at the Illonic woman, who smirked back at her. John looked around at the others in bewilderment. Aeryn's marbles revealed two black balls. The Scarran grinned in triumph as her eyes flew to his. None of the others had any black balls. The Tavlek looked briefly saddened at the six black balls in his box, but his wounds were so serious he was barely conscious. Instead he met the eyes of his fellow contestants with something akin to gratitude.

Fulax's voice returned. "The vote is done. Greshak, the Tavlek, is the first loser. Sorry, Greshak," he smirked and hit a switch. The others watched as Greshak's compartment sealed with an opaque barrier. Their expressions turned to horror as the compartment suddenly filled with Phageri. The Tavlek screamed in agony as the creatures devoured him alive. Soon, nothing could be seen of the unfortunate competitor through the blood spattered panel. The movements in the compartment ceased. One camera showed Aeryn's face drain of colour and her eyes fly to John's in shocked guilt. The remaining participants were petrified into silence then they all turned to the vidcam, angrily. "Sorry, folks, that's all the time we have." The screen behind the host darkened. "Tune in tomorrow for another exciting episode of Survivor!"

D'Argo cut the transmission and looked at the others in horror.

"Frell!"

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

Back on the central chamber, chaos reigned as the contestants came to the horrified realisation of how they had been duped. First they turned on John. "Your race invented this game? What kind of monsters are Humans?" A'Nara demanded, her tattooed face darkened in anger. She stepped forward menacingly, her hand hovering over her weapon. "Maybe we should just get rid of you now!"

Aeryn stepped between the Zenetan and the Human. "What, and increase the odds of getting voted off yourself! Splendid logic! But what would you expect from a Zenetan?" she taunted.

"She's right!" the Sheyang interrupted. "The more of us there are, the longer we stay alive. The longer we stay alive, the better the chances that we figure out a way out of this dren!" He looked back and forth at the rest of the players. "Agreed?"

"And is the PeaceKeeper now in charge?" G'Maz snarled. He stepped forward and let his hot breath wash over Aeryn.

John grabbed her arm and hauled her back behind him. "No one is in charge! But it's going to take all of us, working together, to stay alive!"

"How do you expect me to work together with that ... that trelk!" Urba snapped, her carapace mottled in fury. The Scorvian pointed a clawed hand at the smirking Illonic. "She voted against me!"

"And I will again! Your people destroyed my family!" Ramala screamed back, lunging forward to attack the Scorvian. The others separated the two females while the Scarran looked on. Then he went over and grabbed the Scorvian's arm, dragging her from the room with him.

The rest of the group looked at each other with a mixture of sadness and suspicion. Then the Nebari's face brightened and she hurried from the room. The Zenetan looked after her in confusion. Then her eyes widened and a greedy look came over her face. She raced out after the Nebari, intent on sharing in the looting of the dead Tavlek's belongings. The Illonic was next, followed by the lumbering Sheyang. Finally, after staring at the Human and the PeaceKeeper with a secret smile, the Delvian left the room. John looked at Aeryn and started towards her, but her eyes went to the watching camera and she shook her head almost imperceptibly. She left the room without a word. John waited a safe interval, then followed her.

"Well, this is another fine mess you've gotten yourself into, John," Scorpius hissed over his shoulder when he got back to his room.

"Leave me alone, Scorpy!" John said, trying to avoid the vidcam that hovered over him.

"You make my job so difficult at times. I only want to keep you alive, John. Alive and well. What is this self-destructive tendency you seem to have? Is this a racial trait or unique to you alone?" The neural clone's grinning face appeared in the mirror in front of John.

The Human turned quickly away, flailing his arms to try to stop the voice in his head. "Stop it, you freak. Get out of my head!"

Interested by the Crichton's behaviour, the vidcam hovered closer. John suddenly drew his pistol and fired at the machine, shattering it. He holstered his weapon, a smug look of satisfaction on his face.

"Good shot, John!" Scorpius applauded, his image clapping its gloved hands together.

"Yeah, thanks," John said dismissively. Then he bent to crawl through the hole in the wall into Aeryn's room.

He found the Sebacean sitting on her bunk, her head in her hands, her shoulders slumped in an uncharacteristic posture of defeat. She did not react when he entered the room. John came over and knelt in front of her, waiting. When she still did not move, he reached up and pulled her hands from her face. Aeryn's blue eyes were dark with horror in her pale face. "John, I'm so sorry," she said brokenly.

"It was you, wasn't it. The black marble was yours."

She closed her eyes in despair and nodded. "I thought I could vote you off. I tried to get the others to vote with me. I thought you would be safe." She drew in a deep breath to try to control her fear. "I had no idea." She stared at him again. "If it had worked ... if the Tavlek hadn't been injured ... you would have been ... been ...," she covered her mouth with her hand, unable to go on.

John reached up and wrapped his arms around her shaking form. "Shhh. It's okay. I understand." He stroked her hair, holding her to him until she stopped shaking.

"I'm sorry, John, for dragging you into this mess," Aeryn murmured against his shoulder.

John cupped her head in his hands and lifted her face to look at him. "YOU got US into this mess? Ha! I should be the one apologising, Aeryn. You wouldn't be here if it weren't for me, as usual." His voice started to rise hysterically. "It's my fault! It's Scorpy's fault! Hell, it's the universe's fault! But not yours!" He leaned his forehead against hers. "Never yours!" He tilted his head, nuzzling her soft cheek. "Never yours, Aeryn," he whispered before capturing her lips with his.

The kiss started off gently. John felt Aeryn respond to him, parting her lips with a sigh. Then her arms went around his shoulders, pulling him up against her. John angled his mouth across hers, deepening the kiss hungrily. Aeryn kissed him back desperately. John's arms wrapped around her and he crushed her to him as he knelt in front of her.

John groaned in disappointment as he felt Aeryn's hands start to gently push him away. She pulled her mouth reluctantly from his and avoided him when he tried to kiss her again. "No, John, not here, not now. We need to rest." Aeryn gazed at him, still in the warm circle of his arms.

John saw his own desire mirrored in her eyes and he smiled sadly. "You're right."

He let her go, turning towards the hole in the wall but she stopped him. "No, stay! I'll take the first watch." She slid down off the hard bunk and patted it. John grinned and lay down. Aeryn sat down on the cold floor, leaning back against the bed. John saw her shiver, her thin top offering no protection against the cold that permeated the ship. He leaped up from the bed and disappeared into his room, returning with his own thermal blanket. He draped it around Aeryn's shoulders before lying back down under her blanket. He scooted over as close to Aeryn as possible and let his hand rest on her shoulder. She smiled and entwined her fingers with his. Soon, his gentle breathing announced that he was asleep. Aeryn rubbed his hand against her cheek and slipped it under the warm blanket. Then she pulled John's blanket around her and settled in for a long, cold night.

***************
Here's Part three

Louise

**************
SURVIVOR
by ISIS

Disclaimers: Farscape is the property of Rockne S O'Bannon, Jim Henson Company et al. I make no claim on them. I borrow only. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Rating: PG13
Category: Drama
Summary: Just as the title says. The Uncharted Territories version of Survivor
Spoilers: Everything up to and including A Clockwork Nebari
Archiving: You're welcome to it; please tell me where it's at. (louiseboyden@earthlink.net)
Acknowledgements: Thanks as always to Quilt Lady for her great suggestions and criticisms.

Enjoy

***********

PART 3/6 "CONSPIRACIES"

Aeryn awakened early the next morning to find herself warm and safe, cocooned in John's arms. When she had awakened him in the night to take over the watch, her teeth had been chattering despite the blanket she had draped over her shoulders. John had remedied the situation by climbing behind her and leaning back against the bed. He had then drawn her back against his chest and wrapped them both in a double layer of blankets. The extra blankets and their combined body heat had kept them warm throughout the night. When John felt Aeryn stir, he bent his head and pressed a quick kiss on her mouth. "Good morning," he whispered cheerfully, smiling down into her eyes.

Aeryn let herself relax back into his arms, loathe to leave his warm embrace. "Good morning, John," she said with a smile. Then she sighed and pulled herself out of his arms, shivering slightly in the chill.

John reached up and took her offered hand, moving stiffly. They stood staring at each other for a microt. Then John groaned."So what's on the agenda for today?"

"I think our first priority has to be to find a way off this deathtrap." She looked at him, her eyes serious. "Before any more of the Phageri attack. And before the next vote."

John nodded his agreement and turned towards the door. But Aeryn stopped him with a hand on his arm. "What?" he asked.

"You had better be seen leaving your own quarters, John. If the others suspect we're working together, they could band against us. Or vote against one of us."

John covered her hand with his and squeezed it, seeing the truth to her words. Then he climbed back through the hole in the wall and left his own room, meeting Aeryn in the corridor. He tried very hard not to look at her any more than at any of the others as they stumbled out of their quarters. Aeryn nodded curtly to him and to the rest of the contestants as they all stood eyeing each other suspiciously. She noted that the Nebari had fashioned a cloak for herself, presumably out of the dead Greshak's blanket. The Zenetan sported a Tavlek knife at her waist.

The last to arrive were the Scorvian and the Scarran. They openly exited the same room, the Scorvian with her clawed arms draped around the Scarran possessively. Urba laughed nastily at the expressions on the faces of the others. "What?" she snarled, her mandibles clicking ominously. "I got cold. Who better to warm you than a Scarran?" G'Maz laughed with her, a harsh barking sound, and leered at the others before heading off down the corridor. Aeryn looked at John then started after them.

"Who indeed?" a voice whispered in John's ear. He looked down to see the Nebari, Hedyona press herself against his side. "I got cold in the night too. I came to see if you wanted company but you weren't in your room. So whose bed did you warm last night, Human?" she asked with a smirk, then looked deliberately at Aeryn's back. "Fraternizing with the enemy, John Crichton?"

"I really think that is none of your business, Hedyona," John said, trying to keep his face neutral.

"Oh, but it is my business. I have no intention of becoming a meal for those disgusting eating machines. Vote with me tonight and I promise you I won't tell the others about your little tryst with Aeryn." The Nebari pressed herself against him once more. John grabbed her arms and pushed her roughly away, heading down the corridor after Aeryn and the Delvian who had moved to walk with her.

Aeryn felt the presence of the Delvian at her side but walked on, ignoring her. When Zenya put her blue hand on Aeryn's arm to slow her, she shook it off, spinning to face the mad priestess. "What do you want?" she demanded.

"Just to talk," the Delvian smirked.

Aeryn turned and headed off again down the corridor towards the relative safety of the central chamber with the others. "So talk!"

"I know who you are, PeaceKeeper. Or rather, ex-PeaceKeeper. How is Pa'u Zhaan?" The Delvian smiled as Aeryn paused in her step then continued on. "I recognise you from when you came to New Delvia. You and the Human." Aeryn slowed a bit. "I know about you and the Human. You're working together, aren't you?"

Aeryn finally stopped and faced the Delvian. "So what if we are, Zenya? G'Maz and Urba aren't hiding their relationship."

Zenya smiled unpleasantly. "Yes, but they didn't know each other before they got here. And they each know that one will turn on the other at the drop of a hat. As do we all." She paused, looking at the Sebacean with a glint of speculation in her red eyes. "But not so with you two. I remember how you were with each other on New Delvia. All of you on board Moya looked out for each other. You've even killed for each other if necessary, I hear. I remember the Human's loyalty to Zhaan, the risk he was willing to take." She smirked again. "Such selflessness has no place here -- unless I can use it to my advantage." Zenya grabbed Aeryn's arm again. "Vote with me. Work with me. I will help you both," she hissed, then released Aeryn's arm as the Sheyang and the Zenetan approached, eyeing the two females suspiciously.

Breakfast in the central chamber was a nervous affair. John and Aeryn kept a safe distance from each other. Hedyona noted it and smirked at John, sitting too close to him for his own comfort. Zenya looked deliberately from John to the seductive Nebari and back at Aeryn until the Sebacean was ready to smack the suggestive smile from the mad Delvian's face. The voluptuous Illonic glared at the Scorvian who sat close beside the Scarran, then she went over and began whispering to the hapless young Sheyang, pressing herself against the alien's rotund body, until John saw his eyes glaze over. Soon the pair were in deep discussion, casting occasional glances over at the Scorvian, who was growing angrier by the microt.

The sound of scurrying in the walls around them had the group on its feet, their petty machinations forgotten in the face of the common threat. They all stood, weapons drawn, waiting breathlessly for the Phageri to attack. When the sound died away, Aeryn slammed her pistol into its holster. "All right! I propose that we work together to find a way off this ship before those things kill us all!" she announced the the rest. Her sapphire gaze went from one to the other defiantly. John held his breath, waiting for a response, not daring to openly support her. Seeing his hesitation, the Nebari smiled triumphantly and slid her arms around him possessively.

The Scarran stalked over and faced her, letting his hot breath wash over her deliberately. "So, PeaceKeeper, you really do think you're in charge here!" he snarled and breathed on her again. Aeryn backed up instinctively to avoid the heat radiating from the creature. She looked away, trying to avoid his mind-controlling gaze. The Scarran smiled and breathed again, seeing her weaken.

John pushed the Nebari away roughly and leapt up to stand between the Scarran and the heat-sensitive Aeryn. He drew his gun and aimed right at the Scarran. "Back off, halitosis!" he cried. The Scorvian started forward but the others merely sat back and watched the drama unfold. The Scarran hesitated then stepped back with a snarl. John turned to face the rest of the group. "What Aeryn says is smart. We've got to get off this ship or we're all going to die. I'm beginning to seriously doubt whether there is a million credit prize to be had. Fulax lied to us about getting voted off. Maybe he lied about the money as well. I say we work together to save ourselves." He looked from one to the other, then turned his back on them to help a gasping Aeryn back to her seat at the table.

The others all sat in shock. It was clear that the possibility that they had been cheated in more ways than one had not occurred to them. John bent over Aeryn solicitously until she sat up, smiling at him weakly. The Scarran grunted at seeing her recover. The Scorvian bent towards him and hissed something into his ear urgently. Finally the Zenetan rose and spoke. "What you say has merit, Human. I agree that we should split up and search this ship to see if we can find a way off. Who is with me?"

The Scorvian stood up abruptly. "I will go with you, A'Nara," she announced. The Zenetan looked suddenly uncomfortable at the thought of being alone with the Scorvian. Zenya saw her hesitation and stated that she would go with the two females. Hedyona glared at John, who was clearly with Aeryn, then turned to Ramala, inviting the Illonic to join her. That left the Sheyang with G'Maz. The groups decided quickly what parts of the ship they would take then broke up, moving out into the bowels of the freighter with the ever present vidcams following.

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

"So how are we going to find this frelling freighter?" Rygel demanded, between bites of his foodcube. The others had gathered in Command after a frustrating day spent running scan after scan of the multitude of ships and debris orbiting Adhafera. All to no avail. Chiana glanced at the chronometer which showed that the next installment of the show was due on in a mere half arn. She caught Zhaan's eye and the two shared a worried glance for their two shipmates, trapped on the freighter.

"Look, there isn't any more time. At least not before the next vote," D'Argo growled. "We'll just have to hope that John and Aeryn have been able to keep their heads down and haven't offended anyone." He caught the skeptical looks on the faces of his shipmates. "All right, I'm worried too."

Pilot's image suddenly appeared. "Excuse me, but I believe Moya and I may have a clue to locating this freighter." The others brightened at his words. Pilot replayed the opening credits of the day before's broadcast. In one of the images, the derelict freighter could be seen clearly. "Do you see that? The planet that the freighter is orbitting is not Adhafera." The others looked closely and saw a gas giant rather than the red continents and purple seas of Adhafera.

"You're right, Pilot!" Rygel declared. "So where is the freighter?"

Pilot showed them the charts of the two nearest systems. "There are no gas giants in the Adhafera system, but there is one in the Tri-Pallas system and two in the Gandalfan system."

"Can we narrow the search even further?" Zhaan asked hopefully.

"I'm afraid not," Pilot replied. "And we cannot scan them from here, not accurately. It will mean leaving orbit and travelling to the planets to search."

Zhaan stared at the charts and the captured image again. "Then we shall do it."

"After the broadcast," Rygel interrupted. The others looked at him in disgust. "Oh, stop looking at me like I'm some sort of Beelian Yard Rat. You want to know what has happened as much as I do. Besides, we may see other clues to narrow down our search."

Any objections the others had were drowned out by the beginning credits of the next episode. Zhaan bent her head and said a silent prayer to her goddess, echoed in the hearts if not the voices of her friends.

"Good evening, friends. Fulax here, with another exciting episode of Survivor." His hateful smile filled Moya's forward viewscreen. "Well, our players did not have a second encounter with the Phageri. However, conspiracies and plots abound, with alliances being formed, broken and reformed."

Moya's crew held their breath as the first segment showed the pairing of the Scorvian with the Scarran and the confrontation between Aeryn and the Scarran. The studio audience cheered when the Human pushed the clinging Nebari aside and leaped up to defend the beautiful PeaceKeeper.

"John is certainly popular with the audience," D'Argo commented.

"Was there ever any doubt he would be?" Chiana replied with a proud smile.

The vidcams followed the various groups as they split up to search the ship, each group frequently pausing in fear at the sounds of the Phageri streaming through the walls. After a commercial break, the show focussed on the fomenting plots. "She already voted against me because her people despise mine," Urba was saying to the Zenetan as they moved through the lower levels of the freighter cautiously, weapons drawn. The Delvian glanced back over her shoulder at them but said nothing.

"So what? It's no secret that Scorvians and Illonics are ancient enemies," A'Nara said dismissively.

"So what if she goes against you next? I believe the Zenetans often targetted Illonic shipping lanes." Urba moved closer to the Zenetan. "Why not get her before she gets you?"

A'Nara looked at the Scorvian blandly, but it was clear to the viewers that Urba's words were going a long way to convince the Zenetan to vote with her.

The screen switched back to Fulax who was nearly drooling with delight. A quick camera pan over the audience showed that they were rivetted. "Let's see what else Urba has up her devious sleeve, shall we?" The audience clapped enthusiastically.

The scene shifted to a shot outside the crew quarters. The Scorvian could be seen sneaking out of one of the rooms and into another, neither of which were the quarters she now openly shared with the Scarran. "What is she up to?" Fulax narrated. "Stay tuned to find out," he added as the screen faded out.

After the commercial, the vidcam showed the same corridor, the chronometer at the bottom of the screen indicating a time much later on the same day. The weary contestants filed slowly into their individual quarters after a futile search. Suddenly, there was a howl of rage and the Sheyang burst out of his room. "Someone has stolen my food supplies!" he shouted. "Who was it? Who was it?" he roared. He pushed his way into each room in turn, tossing through the occupant's belongings, despite their protests. Finally he cried in triumph, then turned and slammed the Illonic female up against the wall of her cell. "You filthy trelk! You stole my supplies! Weren't the ones you looted from Greshak enough?!"

Ramala struggled against the Sheyang frantically, her tentacles flying. "I didn't take them! Believe me, Bron! It wasn't me!" She fell to the floor, bruised and battered as John and Aeryn pulled the enraged Sheyang back. The Scorvian stood back, the camera catching the smug smile on her face. When the bell sounded calling the group to their next vote, Ramala's face paled in fear. "Please believe me! All of you! I didn't take the food!"

The contestants advanced slowly into the central chamber. The slot in the wall opened and their precounted sets of marbles appeared. Each of them took a bag until Aeryn suddenly threw hers down to the ground and faced the camera defiantly, her lips moving soundlessly, her refusal to vote obvious. John's hand hovered over his bag, then he too turned to face the camera mutinously The studio audience howled its disapproval. On board Moya, Zhaan covered her eyes in fear. Chiana moved closer to D'Argo for comfort.

Fulax smiled triumphantly. "I'm sorry, we still can't seem to hear you. However, I should remind you that failure to participate in a vote will result in death for all of you. So I suggest you pick up your marbles, Aeryn Sun, and get to your place." Aeryn glared at the camera for a microt more then picked up the bag from the floor and moved to her compartment. Each of the players dropped their marbles into the boxes with shaking hands, except the Scorvian who made no secret of the black marble she dropped into the Illonic female's box. When the last player moved into place, the boxes flew open. The Scarran had two black marbles, as did Aeryn. The Scorvian had one. The rest appeared in the Illonic's box. Somehow, the sound problem was repaired. Ramala's agonized scream drowned out Fulax's smug announcement. The others closed their eyes, unable to watch as the Illonic's compartment slammed shut and the Phageri flowed in. The studio audience screamed and clapped its approval as Fulax bid the viewers good night, promising more excitement the next night.

On board Moya, Pilot's face replaced the horrific images of the show. "Take us out of here to the Tri-Pallas system, Pilot," Zhaan said urgently.

***************
Here's part four

Louise

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

SURVIVOR
by ISIS

Disclaimers: Farscape is the property of Rockne S O'Bannon, Jim Henson Company et al. I make no claim on them. I borrow only. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Rating: PG13
Category: Drama
Summary: Just as the title says. The Uncharted Territories version of Survivor
Spoilers: Everything up to and including A Clockwork Nebari
Archiving: You're welcome to it; please tell me where it's at. (louiseboyden@earthlink.net)
Acknowledgements: Thanks as always to Quilt Lady for her great suggestions and criticisms.

Enjoy

***********

PART 4/6 "DEADLOCK"

The next morning it was a very subdued group that met for breakfast and planning in the central chamber. John and Aeryn had abandoned their subterfuge, openly sharing quarters as did the Scorvian and the Scarran, though clearly not for the same reasons. Where the Scorvian made no pretext of her sexual attraction to the Scarran, John and Aeryn had spent the night, sharing the watch and huddling together to stay warm. Urba was particularly smug, given her gruesome victory over the Illonic Ramala the night before. John thought he detected a wariness from even the Scarran towards his Scorvian paramour.

After sharing the fruitless results of their search of the day before, the group chose the remaining sectors of the ship to search, looking for anything that might help them survive the increasingly desperate 'game'. John went with Urba, G'Maz and a very nervous Bron, while Aeryn joined with Zenya, A'Nara, and an openly hostile Hedyona. The Nebari made no attempt to hide her jealousy over John's pairing with Aeryn. She trotted along after the rest of the females, taking every opportunity to insult Aeryn. The Sebacean knew what the Nebari was doing and worked hard to hold her temper in check. Zenya glanced back at the furious Hedyona, a secret smile on her face.

The morning passed quickly but without results. Aeryn's group had moved down into the very lowest levels of the ship, hoping to find an unused escape module or cargo transport. But there was nothing but dessication and corrosion. Any possible craft had either been pillaged by looters or removed by Fulax and his crew. Finally, with a weary nod to the others, Aeryn signalled that she was giving up. The others, all very hot and grimy, agreed, even a now silent Hedyona.

The Nebari led the way up the ladder out of the lowest cargo bay, moving carefully to avoid stepping on weakened rungs. Suddenly there was a scream, followed by high-pitched squeals signalling another Phageri attack. Hedyona climbed as fast as she could followed by Zenya. Aeryn turned around to see A'Nara fighting to knock the ravenous Phageri from her while holding on to the ladder with one hand. She lifted desperate pain-filled eyes to Aeryn, begging for help as the creatures swarmed about her legs. Aeryn climbed back down as far as she dared and pulled out her pulse gun, trying to pick the creatures off as she had before with Greshak. But the angle of the ladder prevented her from removing them from the stricken Zenetan. A'Nara's screams grew louder as the Phageri tore at her flesh. Aeryn holstered her pistol and reached down to the Zenetan, trying to pull her farther up the ladder away from the opening infested with Phageri. Several of the creatures tore at Aeryn's hands and arms, as she tried to hold on to the weakening grasp of the Zenetan. Suddenly, the Sebacean was pulled away from above, her blood-slicked hands slipping from the Zenetan's, who shrieked in despairing agony before she was overcome by the voracious monstrosities, falling from the ladder to land with a sickening thud on the floor of the cargo hold two levels down.

"NO!" Aeryn cried.

"Come on! You can't help her! But you can help yourself!" Zenya's voice rasped in her ear. She pointed to the creatures that were climbing the ladder towards them with surprising agility. Above them, Aeryn heard the Nebari struggling to close and seal the hatch. "Come on! She'll lock us in here if we don't get out!"

Aeryn turned and climbed up after the Delvian, fighting to ignore the searing pain of the bleeding wounds on her hands and forearms. She felt Zenya haul her through the hatch opening by the leather of her vest. She rolled free, just avoiding the heavy hatch as Hedyona slammed it shut. The three females lay gasping for breath, listening in horror to the squealing efforts of the Phageri as they tried to tear through the reinforced hatch. There was a whirring sound and one of the vidcams appeared, impersonally recording their pain. Aeryn suddenly grabbed a broken piece of metal and hurled it blindly at the mechanical voyeur with a scream of rage. The hovering machine merely floated out of the way, then moved off down the corridor.

It was a quiet and sad trio that made their way slowly back to the relative haven that the central chamber provided. The others were already there when they arrived. John rose immediately and went to Aeryn, pulling her into his arms, uncaring of who saw. "Aeryn, are you all right? You're hurt!" he exclaimed, lifting her bloodied hands to examine them.

"What happened? Where's A'Nara?" Bron demanded.

"Lost. The Phageri got her," Zenya replied, dropping despondently into a seat at the table.

"We ... we tried, but there were too many of them. It was horrible!" Aeryn whispered, leaning against John as he used some of his precious water supply to clean her wounds.

"How hard did you really try, PeaceKeeper?" the Scorvian taunted her. The others stared at the PeaceKeeper. Zenya sat oblivious, her red eyes closed, chanting unevenly.

"Enough!" John shouted. "Leave her alone, Urba!"

The Scorvian turned away with a triumphant smile, satisfied that the seeds of doubt had been planted in the minds of the others.

John finished bandaging Aeryn's wounds with strips torn from his tee shirt. He desperately wanted to take her back to their quarters, to let her rest as she needed, but he was afraid to leave the others, knowing they would probably scheme against Aeryn, and him. Aeryn saw the indecision in his eyes and smiled wearily, understanding. She sat up, trying to project an air of strength and determination. "So what did you find?" she asked, all business.

"Nothing. We found nothing," Bron answered dejectedly.

"Yes, nothing. But I have an idea," John said. The others looked at him expectantly. "There doesn't seem to be any way off this ship, but what about using the ship itself? What if we could get it to fly?" He looked at the others hopefully.

"That's the most ridiculous idea I've ...," Urba began dismissively, only to be cut off by the Nebari.

"Wait. The Human may have an idea." Hedyona looked pointedly up at the lights and the vent from which fresh air poured. "There must be some power source working on this ship. Something is keeping the lights and life-support systems going." The Nebari gazed at the others, her dark eyes sparkling with hope. "Some sort of drive must be working as well or its orbit would have decayed long before now."

"You're right," Bron exclaimed. "If we can find the power source and reroute it to the propulsion, we may be able to drive this ship to the nearest colony and safety."

"But if we do that, we risk losing the million credits!" G'Maz snarled. His Scorvian lover moved over to stand with him, staring at the others defiantly, her three eyes glistening dangerously.

"What good is a million credits if you're dead?" Bron commented bitterly. "I'm with Crichton. I doubt that any of us will see that money, even if we survive this game!" He looked around at the others, his eyelids closing and opening rapidly, indicating his distress.

John turned to each of the other contestants. Attentive once more, Zenya nodded immediately, as did Bron. After a brief hesitation, Hedyona nodded as well. He turned to Aeryn, even though he already knew she supported him. He met her eyes with a loving smile, failing to notice the jealous gaze of the Nebari. Finally he turned to the Scarran and his Scorvian lover. G'Maz nodded. Urba hissed indignantly at his action. "Bron is right! Even if there is really a million credits to be had, what good is it if we're dead?" John listened in astonishment, surprised at the depth of feeling the Scarran seemed to be expressing for the Scorvian. He turned to Aeryn who shrugged, equally surprised.

"So it's agreed. We try to get this rattletrap moving?" John said. The others all nodded. "Fine. I propose we take a couple of arns to rest and then come at this problem fresh."

"A couple of arns? Why so long?" the Scorvian protested.

"Because some of us need to restore our strength!" John snarled. As if to prove his point, the sudden sound of Phageri streaming through the walls had the entire group growing tense. "I rest my case!" John said, ignoring the confused looks on the other's faces as he helped Aeryn limp from the room.

After too short a rest, the group met again in the central chamber. Aeryn found a piece of metal and scratched a crude map in the surface of the table. She pointed out the various levels of the ship, and the others filled in the gaps based on their explorations of the day before . Soon they had a fairly accurate picture of the freighter, the damage it had sustained and some possible locations for the power source. The contestants broke off into the same two groups as before. John led his party down to what they figured was the engineering section while Aeryn and her group headed up to the command.

John moved slowly behind the Scorvian and her Scarran lover. Beside him, Bron huffed as he waddled along. Despite his youth, he was not built for prolonged walking and the effort was beginning to take its toll. John had tried calling for a rest period, but the Scorvian had glared at the Sheyang so venomously, that he in turn growled at the Human that he didn't need to rest. John had shrugged and wisely decided to refrain from offering help in the future. It only made the aliens' already short fuses flare.

John was feeling uncomfortable with the conspiratorial whispering going on between the Scorvian and the Scarran. The night before he had tried to ask Aeryn whether the two races had any previous connection. She had merely shaken her head, as puzzled by the hold the Scorvian female had over G'Maz as he was. Given his other encounters with the ugly Scarran race, he would have thought that the control would have been the other way around. He had seen the Scarrans's ability to control their victims's minds first hand. He had asked Aeryn for more details but she had shuddered in horror. John had not pressed her. Instead he had held her tightly, sensing more than mere enmity behind her dread of the heat-radiating alien.

"You're right, John. Your little Sebacean friend has every reason to fear the Scarran." Scorpy's image appeared behind him, walking on the side opposite the puffing Sheyang. John tried hard not to react to the unwelcome hallucination. "Shall I tell you what Scarrans do to Sebacean females, John? To PeaceKeeper females especially? Hmmm?"

"Shut up," John hissed. The Sheyang turned to him, his slitted eyes questioningly wide.

"Haven't you ever wondered how I came to be?" Scorpius persisted.

"Not really," John replied. Bron turned again to him sharply, looking around to see who he was speaking to. John moved forward away from the curious Sheyang.

"Why don't you just draw your pistol and rid the universe of yet another vile Scarran?" John felt an intense compulsion flowing through him. Ahead of him, G'Maz had pulled open a hatchway and was leaning into it, looking down the corridor. He turned and signalled to the rest and they climbed through into a dark narrow passageway. John stared at the massive back of the Scarran, his eyes burning with hatred. His hand hovered over his pistol. "Do it, Crichton! Do it!" Scorpius insisted.

"No!" John growled. The rest of his party spun around at the sound of his voice. The Scorvian moved over to John, running her clawed hands over him suspiciously. "No what, Human?" she demanded.

John took several deep breaths, fighting to maintain control. "Nothing. Just talking to myself." He breathed deeply and smiled. "It's a Human thing."

Ahead of them, Bron was unlocking the next hatchway. "I think this is it," he began excitedly.

Just as he released the locking mechanism, John heard the scurrying sound. "No, don't open ...!" he cried, but was too late. Phageri poured through the open hatchway, climbing all over the hapless Sheyang. Behind him, Urba sprang into action. She grabbed G'Maz and hauled him back through the passageway towards the other hatch. John watched in horror as the carnivores quickly overcame Bron. The Human had just enough time to register the slamming shut of the hatch leading into the passageway. In front of him, the Sheyang was nothing but a writhing mass of Phageri. Through the squealing of the mindless flesh-eaters, John heard Bron's pleas. "Human! Shoot me! Don't let me die this way! Shoot me!"

John hesitated then drew his pistol. He fired once into the Sheyang's body, then dove for cover as the fire-breather exploded, incinerating his attackers. John felt the hot flames sear his back and forearms as he tried to protect his head from the conflagration. When the heat dissipated, he found himself alone in the passageway, the smell of burnt flesh assaulting his nostrils. He raised his head slowly, fully expecting to be the Phageri's next meal, but found them all dead, burned by the Sheyang's fire. The Human crawled painfully to his feet and moved towards the other hatch, but found it locked against him. He turned and made his way gingerly towards the other hatch, his gun drawn. Though it had once been full of Phageri, the heat of the explosion had obviously driven them away. John stepped through the hatchway and began the long trek back to the central chamber.

As he approached the central chamber, he heard the sounds of voices raised in anger. "Listen, Urba, you trelk, where is Crichton?" Aeryn cried.

"In the bellies of at least a thousand Phageri by now, I suspect," the Scorvian female taunted.

John heard a commotion and stepped unseen into the room. G'Maz had Aeryn pinned up against the wall, his hot breath pouring over her.The Human quickly drew his pistol and aimed it at the Scarran. "Let her go!" he demanded.

G'Maz looked at the weapon in John's hand with a sneer then pressed his face closer to Aeryn, who recoiled in disgust. "Your puny weapon is no threat to me, Human," he snarled.

John quickly shifted his aim to Urba, who gasped in fear. Behind him, he heard Hedyona snicker. " Maybe not, but it will sure make a mess of her. Your choice."

G'Maz met the hard look in John's eyes, then turned to see his lover's eyes pleading with him. He breathed once more over Aeryn who groaned, then he let her drop to the floor. John motioned the Scarran away from her before daring to holster his weapon. He lifted the stricken Sebacean from the floor and led her to a seat at the table.

"Where's Bron?" she asked, still gasping for breath.

"Dead," he replied. "The Phageri got him, but he got the Phageri in the end. He died well." Aeryn met his eyes sadly and nodded. John pulled her into his arms. She leaned into him and then noticed the burn of his forearms. "You're hurt," she exclaimed.

"I'll survive," he said without emotion. "Someone tried to lock me in with the Phageri!" he said louder, for the benefit of the others.

Urba raised her head and glared at him from where she sat with the Scarran. "What would you have had me do, Human? Let the Phageri overrun the ship?"

"Yeah, right, Urba, that's you. Always thinking of others," John taunted. The Scorvian gave him a tight smile, her mandibles clicking, then she rose and left the room, the Scarran trailing after her.

"So you didn't find the power source?" Hedyona said, more of a statement than a question.

John sighed, "No, we didn't. But that's not to say it's not there. We can try again tomorrow." He met the fearful eyes of the others.

"Whoever of us is alive tomorrow, you mean," Hedyona said quietly. She turned and moved silently out of the room. The Delvian gazed at John and Aeryn, her red eyes glowing then she too left.

John watched them go, then tightened his arms around Aeryn, leaning his forehead against hers in despair.

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

Fulax excused himself from the meeting when his assistant motioned to him furiously through the open door of the meeting room. The tusked producer smiled ingratiatingly to his guests and moved to the anteroom where his assistant waited, sweating nervously. He bent his head to give his boss the bad news. "What?" Fulax exclaimed. Seeing the interested gazes of the potential investors he had left in the meeting room, he smiled again and shut the door on them. Then he turned back to his assistant furiously. "Two more? Who? How?"

"The Zenetan and the Sheyang. Both killed by the Phageri," the assistant explained, his snout twitching apprehensively.

"Frell! I knew we should have contained those creatures better!" Fulax cursed.

"We thought we had, but it appears that the ship is more corroded than we thought. There are too many holes in the bulkheads and the Phageri literally have free run of the ship. Only the reinforced central chamber is safe."

"Six left. That means only five potential episodes," Fulax mused. "If no more of them get killed," he added. "Frell!"

He looked at his assistant, his mind already working to save his investment. "Okay, let's play it this way. Prepare several commercials, in the form of news flashes. We interrupt regular programming as things develop, beginning with the footage of the deaths of the Zenetan and the Sheyang. Then we put together our regular programmes for as long as we can. Keep close tabs on the ratings. We make our mistakes with this one, then we sell four more potential Survivor situations -- with more contestants, say sixteen. And no more Phageri!"

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

It was a despondent group that assembled on the Moya's Command as the Leviathan re-established orbit around Adhafera. The ship and her crew had spent the day scanning the gas giant Tri-Pallas 4, looking for the derelict freighter where their friends fought to survive. But their search had been fruitless. Even taking into consideration the fact that the freighter was cloaked, Zhaan and the others had concluded that it was not orbiting Tri-Pallas's gas giant. Checking the chronometer, the crew had decided with Pilot to return to Adhafera. Each of them was apprehensive about what the next perverse episode of Survivor would reveal about the fate of John and Aeryn. The only bright hope was the chance that further examination of the images shown would give them more clues as to the freighter's location.

When the by now too familiar theme song began, Chiana shuddered. D'Argo saw her and quietly drew her closer to him. Despite the distance that had grown up between them, she welcomed his comforting embrace. Rygel saw them and for once refrained from commenting. Instead he stared at Fulax's smiling face with a grimace. "Fapootah!"

"Well, it has certainly been an exciting day for our contestants. As you well know by now, two of our participants have met an unfortunate end. Stay tuned!"

Zhaan met the eyes of her friends in panic. D'Argo roared in frustration as the screen shifted to an insipid commercial for some sort of air freshener. Finally, the show returned. Fulax appeared, an insincere look of sadness on his face. "Please, join me in mourning the loss of two of our contestants." One of the screens behind him lit up. Moya's crew gasped as the scene showed Aeryn, her hands bloody, reaching down a ladder. "Despite PeaceKeeper Aeryn Sun's best efforts, the Zenetan A'Nara was lost in an unexpected attack from the Phageri." The camera tilted to show the doomed Zenetan, covered in ravenous Phageri. She screamed once and dropped from the ladder. The last sound was Aeryn's agonized "No!". Zhaan let her breath out in relief, whispering a prayer of thanks to the Goddess.

"The second casualty was the Sheyang Bron. He died a true hero, sacrificing himself for the good of his fellow searchers." Another screen showed the Sheyang, overcome by the shrieking Phageri. Then the camera slid to John, his gun drawn, a look of despair on his face. Finally, there was a shot and the screen lit up in flames and went blank. The studio cameras showed the audience, their heads bowed in appropriate attitudes of mourning. After the requisite microt of silence, Fulax brightened as if nothing had happened. "Our remaining contestant have gathered. Stay tuned for tonight's vote."

While the commercials showed, Chiana lifted her head out of D'Argo's chest where she had buried it in horror. "John's all right, isn't he? That last shot. The flames. They would have said if he was injured, wouldn't they?" The Nebari looked from one of her friends to the other, begging for reassurance.

Rygel flew forward and patted her shoulder. "Yes, Chiana, I'm sure both John and Aeryn are all right." Then the Dominar slammed his thronechair so hard it nearly tipped him out. "Has anyone seen anything that will give us a clue to where this frelling freighter is? Pilot?"

Pilot's image appeared on the clamshell terminal next to the viewscreen. "No, I'm sorry, Rygel."

Zhaan spoke suddenly, her brow furrowed as a thought occurred to her. "Pilot, the broadcast of the vote is live, is it not?"

"Yes, Zhaan."

She brightened, warming to her idea. "Pilot, have Moya isolate the frequency of the broadcast. Then try to isolate any incoming transmissions."

The symbiont's eyes widened in recognition of her plan. His four arms moved rapidly over his console. "On it, Zhaan."

Zhaan smiled at her friends, encouraged. Behind her, the viewscreen shifted to the scene of the central chamber, the unfortunate participants assembled for yet another deadly vote. Moya's crew saw the bloodied bandages on Aeryn's hands and arms as John helped her into the chamber. His own arms were wrapped in strips of cloth, torn from the knapsacks the contestants had been issued. He shared a meaningful look with Aeryn then grabbed his bag of marbles and moved to his place.

The studio camera showed Fulax, his eyes fixed on the screen behind him, an eager gleam in his eye as he watched the slow movements of the reluctant voters trapped on the freighter as they cast their votes. When the last player was returned to his compartment, the boxes dropped open. Fulax's eyes brightened and he exclaimed the results. "Tie! We have a tie!"

Restraints suddenly appeared, locking around their waists, imprisoning the Scorvian and the Nebari in their compartments as the two females stared in horror at the three black marbles in each of their boxes. "In the event of a tie, the loser will be chosen by our studio audience and by you, the viewers. Now is your chance to take an active part in our game. Comm the number at the bottom of your screen to select the player who will survive tonight's vote." The studio cameras showed the audience moving forward to make their choice. On the screen, both the Scorvian and the Nebari struggled against their restraints. Then the Nebari grew still. Instead, she gazed steadily at the vidcam, licking her lips and pouting prettily. One of her hands came up and traced enticingly along the low edge of her bodice. Urba saw what she was doing and tried to compete, but her physiology was not built for seduction. Her mandibles clicked nervously and she returned to futilely fighting the restraints. Fulax grinned in triumph as the results were tabulated, the numbers indicating a higher number of viewers than he had dreamed of. Finally, the counters in the studio stopped rolling. "Sorry, Urba!" he smirked and hit the release. Hedyona fell forward out of her compartment as the panel slammed down on Urba. The Phageri flooded into the compartment with the screaming Scorvian. For a time, it seemed that they could not eat through the hard outer carapace of the insectoid Scorvian. But soon their powerful jaws pierced the shell and yellowish green blood splattered on the opaque covering. The last scene broadcast was the despairing wail of the Scarran as he threw back his head and roared.

Fulax turned back to face the camera and licked his porcine lips in satisfaction. The audience cheered and clapped. "A truly memorable episode. Tune in tomorrow for more Survivor!" he exclaimed and the screen darkened.

Zhaan turned to face Pilot's image with bated breath. "Did you get it? Pilot? Pilot!"

The symbiont's face appeared, as close to a smile on his face as he would ever produce. "Yes, Zhaan. Moya's analysing it now." He paused and checked the console in front of him. "We have it! We have the location of the freighter!"

"Kahallen be praised!" Zhaan cried.

***************
Here's the last part. Enjoy

Louise

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

SURVIVOR
by ISIS

Disclaimers: Farscape is the property of Rockne S O'Bannon, Jim Henson Company et al. I make no claim on them. I borrow only. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Rating: PG13
Category: Drama
Summary: Just as the title says. The Uncharted Territories version of Survivor
Spoilers: Everything up to and including A Clockwork Nebari
Archiving: You're welcome to it; please tell me where it's at. (louiseboyden@earthlink.net)
Acknowledgements: Thanks as always to Quilt Lady for her great suggestions and criticisms.

Enjoy

***********

PART 5/5 "ENDGAME"

At the Scarran's agonized wail, the others quickly fled the central chamber. John helped Aeryn down the corridor to their quarters. Once inside, he immediately locked the door, then moved into his old quarters and locked the door there as well. When he returned to Aeryn's room, he found her slumped over the bed, exhausted. Her encounters with both the Scarran and the Phageri had left her weaker than she had admitted. John laid her down on the hard bed, concerned when she didn't resist. He covered her with one of the thermal blankets, then seeing that she was still shivering uncontrollably, he slid into the bed beside her and drew her into his arms, covering them both with the second blanket. He held her in his arms until he felt her relax into sleep. John fought to stay awake, desperate to keep alert, but soon sleep overcame him as well.

John awoke with a start the next morning to the sound of screaming coming from the corridor outside. Aeryn was already awake and tense in his arms. They slipped from under the warm covers and drew their pistols. John covered Aeryn as she nodded silently to him and cautiously opened the door to their quarters.

The screams outside had dwindled into strangled sobs. Aeryn leaped out into the corridor, gun drawn. She gasped at the scene that met her eyes. Hedyona hung limply in G'Maz's grasp as he wrung the last of her life from her. His eyes were filled with insane hate and despair. He threw his head back again and howled in misery, then he flung the Nebari's lifeless body from him as if she were just a rag doll. John joined Aeryn, covering her as she knelt beside the broken body of the Nebari. He saw her shake her head, then raised his pistol again as the Scarran charged at them with a roar. He fired, but his shot had no effect on the enraged G'Maz. John hauled Aeryn to her feet and they fled down the corridor.

John felt the heat radiating from the Scarran as he pushed Aeryn roughly ahead of him. They ran blindly down one corridor after another, paying very little attention to where they were going. John turned occasionally to fire back at the Scarran, hoping to at least slow him down. Then all of a sudden, Aeryn disappeared. John paused in fear. He felt a hand grab his arm and then he too was pulled out of sight. "What the ...?" he began.

"Shhh!" a voice hissed urgently.

Outside in the corridor, the Scarran thundered past them, roaring insanely. When his roars faded, John twisted around to see where he was. He met the red eyes of the Delvian. She had pulled them into a storage compartment through a shadowed flap in the wall created by corrosion. Once they were through, the section of wall had dropped back into position like a bizarre doggy door. John looked around and met Aeryn's troubled gaze as she crouched on the floor, ready to fight the Scarran if he found them. He watched as she straightened and then turned back to face Zenya. "Thanks," he said.

"Where's Hedyona?" Zenya asked.

"G'Maz killed her," Aeryn replied, reholstering her pistol. She watched as the Delvian bowed her head in a brief prayer.

"So what do we do now?" John asked. "Do we just stay in hiding until tonight's gathering?"

"What makes you think G'Maz is going to show up at the central chamber?" Aeryn asked.

"Fulax said that if we don't vote then we all die," John replied. He met the eyes of the others and saw the direction their thoughts were taking.

"I don't think G'Max really cares any more. And if Fulax kills us all, that just makes his job easier," Aeryn said with a sigh.

"So what do we do?"

Zenya answered John's question. "We have to kill him."

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

"Because the freighter is cloaked against regular scans, we will have to search for it visually. Moya and I have set up a search pattern, but we will need everyone's eyes," Pilot explained.

"Very well, Pilot. Show us the pattern and we will begin. We don't have much time. There are only eight arns until the next vote," Zhaan replied. The others leaned over her shoulder to check the search pattern and reacquaint themselves with the image of the freighter, then they moved to various stations to begin the tedious visual search.

After an arn, Chiana rubbed her tired eyes and turned to D'Argo. "Even if we locate the freighter, what do we do then?"

D'Argo looked over at the young Nebari. "I will take Aeryn's Prowler over to the ship and dock somehow, either in the docking bay or in through one of the hull breaches. Then I will begin searching for them."

"Won't that take too long?" Chiana asked anxiously. D'Argo turned to her sharply, annoyed at her question. She saw his anger and hastily added. "If you take the transport pod instead, more of us can help in the search."

"And what about the Phageri?"

"We'll all be safer if we search in pairs."

D'Argo sighed, then glanced over at the hovering Hynerian, who munched as he scanned for the freighter. "You're right, Chiana. It will be safer in two's. And faster with all of us looking. Who's going to tell Rygel?" His tired eyes crinkled into a sad smile, despite the desperation of their quest. Chiana reached over and grasped his hand before turning back to her screen.

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

Aeryn moved carefully through the darkened corridor outside the ruined command, her pistol drawn. Figuring that G'Maz hated her more than the others, she had volunteered to lure the enraged Scarran to the trap they had set for him. John had objected, as usual, but she had explained to him that she had fought Scarrans before. She just hadn't told him that she had lost. Her encounter with the Scarran Ambassador Cargn on the Royal Planet would have ended badly for her if the Empress had not intervened. So, despite her bravado in front of John, Aeryn was very afraid.

The ex-PeaceKeeper moved stealthily through the debris-strewn passageways. First, she had to locate the Scarran, a job made easier by his continuing howls of loss and mourning. Aeryn's brow furrowed as she heard the distant echoes of his cries. In all her time as a PeaceKeeper, she had never heard of a Scarran mourning the loss of even one of his own, let alone an alien such as Urba. She had been taught only that the Scarrans were a brutal, sadistic race of unfeeling monsters. But that was proving to be wrong, as was so much else she had been trained to believe. G'Maz's moans grew louder, coming from down a corridor perpendicular to the one Aeryn found herself in. She moved silently to the junction and turned towards the sound. Her heart started to beat faster. G'Maz's cries bordered on insanity. The Scarran clearly felt he had nothing to lose and that made him even more dangerous.

Aeryn stepped out onto the catwalk above the two story command. Below her on the main deck was G'Maz. The Scarran was kneeling before some sort of shrine he had created out of Urba's few personal effects. He bowed his massive head and rocked back and forth as he wailed. Aeryn stood watching him for a microt, amazed and saddened by the depth of feeling the Scarran had for the dead Scorvian. Then she shook herself and called out. "G'Maz! I'm sorry that she died, but the choice was made. There was nothing you could have done to save her!"

The Scarran snarled and stood up, glaring up at her. "Yes, there was! I could have killed you all first."

"Then it would have come down to you or her! Who do you think Urba would have chosen? Or the viewers for that matter?" Aeryn stared down at the Scarran. "G'Maz, come with me. We still have time to figure out a way off this ship. But we have to work together to save ourselves."

"I will do nothing to help you!" the Scarran cried. "I will see you all dead!" With a roar, he lurched towards the stairs, intent on destroying the Sebacean. Aeryn waited until he was almost at the top of the stairs, then turned and fled. She raced through the corridors back to the crew quarters where Zenya and John waited, trying to keep a safe distance from the Scarran, but slowing enough to let him see her. He pounded after her, bellowing insanely.

Aeryn moved swiftly through the passageways of the derelict ship. She had almost reached the corridor where John and Zenya waited when she realised that G'Maz was no longer behind her. She stopped and looked back cautiously, but the Scarran was nowhere to be seen.

"Frell!" she cursed and headed back, intending to pick up his trail. Suddenly the wall of the corridor beside her erupted and the Scarran burst through the corroded metal. He deftly caught the Sebacean, pinning her up against the far wall.

"I have you now, PeaceKeeper trelk!" he snarled triumphantly. His huge hand gripped her throat as he lifted her off the floor and pressed her against the bulkhead. Aeryn gasped, fighting for breath, trying to avoid his mind-controlling gaze. G'Maz laughed insanely, enjoying his power over the ex-PeaceKeeper. He relished her struggles, letting his body's heat wash over her. Aeryn tried several times to break his hold on her, but the heat weakened her more and more until she hung helplessly in his grip. "That's it, PeaceKeeper. Feel my heat! Feel the Living Death come over you! Be thankful that when I feed your senseless body to the Phageri, you will not experience the pain my Urba suffered!" He pressed himself fully against her.

Aeryn cried out in despair as the Scarran's heat burned into her. "No! Crichton! Help me! Crichton!"

G'Maz watched in demented pleasure as the Sebacean's struggles diminished. He tightened his grip on her throat, cutting off her air. He was so intent on his prey that he didn't see the blue creature that hurled itself at him. The force of Zenya's attack drove the Scarran and the Delvian through the weakened bulkhead. G'Maz dropped Aeryn, who slid senseless to the floor. Then he turned to battle the Delvian as the two of them crashed through the wall into the dark emptiness between the walls.

John raced over to Aeryn and pulled her back from the hole in the wall. His eyes widened in horror as he heard the familiar shriek and scuttling of the Phageri as they poured into the space where Zenya and the Scarran fought. John lifted Aeryn into his arms and cradled her protectively as he listened to G'Maz's demented cries. He laid his precious bundle down at a safe distance from the Phageri then crawled over to the hole. Peering inside, he saw G'Maz and Zenya locked in a death struggle, oblivious to the Phageri that swarmed over them. The Scarran finally seemed to become aware of the creatures that were bent on devouring him. He released the Delvian and sought to escape the flesh-eaters. But he was soon overcome. The last John saw of him, his body was completely covered in the mindless carnivores who chittered in satiation as they tore the flesh from his bones.

"Zenya! Take my hand!" John cried, reaching into the opening towards the Delvian.

"No! It's too late! Save yourself, Human!" the Delvian cried in despair. John watched in horror as the blue priestess was covered in shrieking Phageri. When a few of the predators leaped out of the gap in the bulkhead and homed in on his scent, John quickly turned and lifted Aeryn into his arms, then fled down the corridor to their quarters.Once inside, he stood panting for breath, listening as the scurrying Phageri passed them by.

Satisfied that there was no immediate threat from the Phageri, John laid the unconscious Aeryn down on the hard bunk and examined her wounds. Apart from severe bruising, she appeared to be all right. John pressed his hand to her forehead, checking her temperature. It was a bit elevated, but not life-threatening. The Human gazed down into her face, letting his hand brush lightly along her cheek.

"So beautiful," Scorpius commented from over his shoulder. "It's a shame she has to die."

"Shut up, Scorpy!" John snarled. "I'm in no mood for you now. Aeryn almost died. Zenya and G'Maz are gone. It's just the two of us now."

"Yes, John, I know," the hallucination said. "By the way, congratulations on killing G'Maz. The fewer Scarrans there are in the universe the better. Though I must say, he was an unusual specimen. I would have liked to study him further." The Scarran-Sebacean halfbreed heaved an exaggerated sigh. Then his voice lowered persuasively. "There is only one thing left to do, John." The stricken Human imagined he could feel Scorpius's hot breath at his ear. "You must kill Aeryn!"

"No!" John cried, even as he felt his hands clench uncontrollably.

"Yes, John! There are only two of you left. There can be only one winner. You do the math!"

"No, I won't do it! I'll find a way ... I'll get us off this ...," John stuttered. He stared in disbelief as his own two hands slid down over Aeryn's face to encircle her bruised throat. "No! Scorpy! Stop it!"

"That's it, John. So easy. Just squeeze. Then you will survive. Only one can live and it's my job to make sure it's you!"

John's face contorted with the effort he made to regain control of his own body. Imprisoned, he watched in horror as his hands tightened around Aeryn's throat, his thumbs pressing into her windpipe. "No!" he cried and his hands relaxed somewhat.

"Yes!" Scorpius' image screamed.

John's hands tightened again. His body shook as he fought the hideous compulsion. In his mind he called out to the unconscious Sebacean. *Aeryn! Aeryn! Dear God, wake up! Stop me! Please stop me!* But she lay senseless, unaware of her danger.

"That's it, John. So simple. So humane. She will not feel a thing," Scorpius prompted.

Under his strangling grip, Aeryn started to fight to breathe. John's hands tightened even further, controlled by the Scorpius clone. Tears sprang to his eyes as he fought his body and the chip in his head. "No! No! No! No!" he screamed. Sweat broke out on his brow and he cried out in agony. With a protean effort, John broke away. He flung himself to the floor away from the bunk. He looked back at the unconscious Aeryn. She stirred and moaned softly, then lay still. "Aeryn!" he called, but she did not awaken. Feeling the compulsion grow again, he crawled from the room then stumbled away into the depths of the ship, desperate to put as much distance between himself and Aeryn as possible.

"John! Go back! You must finish it!" Scorpius urged.

John staggered on, swinging his arms about his head to drive the vision away. "No! Leave me alone!" He finally found a small cubbyhole and crawled into it, curling into a fetal position, shaking uncontrollably.

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

Aeryn regained consciousness slowly. She opened her eyes and turned her head, groaning at the agonizing pain in her neck. "John?" she called but her voice came out in a raspy croak. She forced herself to sit up, groaning again at the aches and pains. She rubbed her abused throat and looked around. She was back in her quarters. Since the last thing she remembered was G'Maz's attack, she knew that someone had brought her here. John. She swung her legs over the edge of the bunk and stood up slowly, holding onto the bulkhead for support until the waves of nausea passed. "John?" she called hoarsely again, then drew her pistol and headed out in search of her Human companion.

Aeryn made her way cautiously back to where G'Maz had ambushed her. She found the hole i