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Written by: LeatherGirl
Archive: 9 July 2001
Summary: This is way too big to summarize. Read it and be entertained! And if you're familiar with my writing style, the title is more than enough to summarize this fanfic!
Rating: R for mainly strong language, a little sexual content, and some violence
Category: Drama/Action/Adventure
Spoilers: Everything up to Eat Me, S3.
Disclaimer: I wrote this fanfic purely for entertainment with no intentions of making a profit off of Farscape, Jim Henson Productions, Channel 9, and the amazing creators of this show or anybody else involved. When you have fun creating, money is no object. Ka'ru is a fictional character of my own creation. As for the many scientific impossibilities found in this fanfic, frell them because this is science FICTION after all!
Author's Note: This fanfic has to be the largest writing project I have ever challenged myself into producing. I actually felt further away from Farscape than I have been in the past when writing fan fiction, thus making it even more difficult to breathe life into the well-known characters. Real life issues also strayed me away from this fanfic, many of the issues dealing with inner struggle. I bring the final piece to you as my heart and soul. Please read it as a whole and respond with feedback. Even though completion and joy of writing is satisfying by itself, feedback is the ultimate satisfaction in order for me to truly see if my efforts paid off.
Thanks to the following beta-readers for helping me out: pkbarb, jilacosa, and johryn.
Special thanks to the creators of Farscape for a unique look into the world of a universe we may never know.
This story was somewhat inspired by Stephen King's latest novel, Dreamcatcher. If you loved The Stand, this one is even better!
The explosion rocketed John's module. The fiery orange blaze illuminated the human's satisfied expression. The blaze swept across only a portion of the massive ring containing the mysterious mass. John's victory became short lived. The outer ring began to fissure. The mass within the ring grew unstable, swirling out towards John and then backwards in on itself. John frowned. He dropped his jaw and stared for only a microt before realizing he needed to get the frell out of his current situation. He put metal to the pedal but nothing happened.
"Ah crap. Don't stall on me now girl!" John shouted, revving his engine.
Farscape One moaned under the sudden changes in the space surrounding it. Something was pulling on his module. Another explosion suddenly erupted above, near the large fissure. John's eyes widened and he cranked the accelerator down to the panels in front of him. The little module huffed momentarily and finally, after some extreme effort, pulled out of danger's way by denches. The huge orange flames swallowed the area where John had just been, rolling back into themselves towards the ring. John sped up and headed dead on for Moya, praying the battle ship wouldn't explode too quickly before he could get to safety.
Behind him, the fiery blaze suddenly dissipated. John shifted in his module to try to get a sneak peak at what was happening behind him with the Scarran battle ship. Nothing. The fissure had damaged the ring somewhat and the fire had reached interior chambers, but the ship was still looming there. The ship seemed to be taunting him. John glanced down to see his module was low on fuel. Dren. He was closer to Moya than the battle ship by now. There was no turning back this time.
His module entered into the field of fighter ships surrounding Moya and Talyn. He passed by one of the ships and spotted the Scarran piloting within. John gave him a great big smile, a thumbs-up, and suddenly reared his module into the side of the fighter ship, shaking the inhabitant inside senseless. John laughed gleefully and headed forward. Judging from the expression of the Scarran pilot, John knew his gesture hadn't been appreciated on the receiving end. Unfortunately, a few other surrounding ships did not have the same sense of humor either. They hovered in closely, almost blocking John's advance entirely. The area between them was narrow. But John didn't have to worry...he was an excellent pilot. John accelerated his module and shot through the enclosed ships, scratching the bottom of one above him and denting the side of another to the right. John laughed as he passed them by and felt relief as Moya came into full view. Talyn hovered close by but both ships were still. John felt an eerie and unsettling feeling begin to rise in the depth of his stomach. Were the rattlers returning?
John advanced forward, slowing slightly. Something wasn't right. He just couldn't put a finger on it...suddenly, several Scarran fighter ships closed in around him, trapping him to a halt. The Scarran pilots didn't bother to even look at John. They were just carrying out orders. The question was, whose orders? John attempted to push through the ships, but they only drew closer.
"What the frell? Come on!" John exclaimed as if he were stuck in LA rush hour traffic. He threw up an arm in disgust. So close to home yet so far away.
John took note at that thought. Where was his home, really? There, through the underbellies of the intruding ships in front of him, John could catch a glimpse of the Milky Way. The shimmering galaxy was more glorious than ever. And just to John's immediate right, hovered elegant Moya. She was a faithful, loyal ship. She would never abandon him. So why should he abandon her? He just moved to the penthouse from the studio apartment. John gazed back to his galaxy. He was beginning to realize that home was rapidly slipping out of his grip.
With that in mind, John depressed a button on the control panel in front of him. Depressurization commenced from within an outer chamber on his module. John leaned over to the right, trying to see between the fighter ships. The object he was releasing was too small for any of the Scarrans to worry about. When he saw the small pod he had just emitted from the module shoot forward, he leaned back and let out a deep breath. A breath he had been holding from the day he had arrived in the Uncharted Territories. His eyes trailed the pod as it slowly darted away, headed between Talyn and Moya to its general destination, the Milky Way. Someday...John thought...someday.
His mind slipped into a level of consciousness he had been experiencing for some time now. He searched his newfound surroundings. He was back on Earth. Back to the old swing set and the heavily wooded scenery. John wrinkled his brow. Shards of debris littered the lawn around him, and he could see billows of black smoke rising up from downed crafts, littering the area. The Scarran ships had been demolished. By who or what, John could not fathom. He turned, alarmed for the people of this place. The heavy gray clouds above began to part, spilling sunshine onto the townhouses stretching out before him. John wanted to smile, but he knew this had to be a trick. In real life, John, Moya, and the crew hadn't done much damage yet, and their futures were still bleak. So why was he here, experiencing the happy ending that could never be?
John stepped forward, to look for the people he had witnessed running and screaming away earlier. His foot landed in a small muddy puddle. John glanced down and reared his foot back quickly. Harvey's angry face sneered up at him from the puddle's stilled surface. John backed away and shook his head.
"No, I beat you!" John yelled. Harvey materialized before him. John began to feel fear this time. He had always been able to harness it until now.
Harvey took a few steps closer to John, still snarling and not uttering a single word. This alone made John nervous. He backed closer to the swing set, unsure of what to do next.
John.
John looked at Harvey. No, he hadn't said anything. Then whose voice had he just heard calling his name? Stark? No...but it could be...it was...Zhaan!
Listen to me.
Harvey drew closer, his fists clenched and his lips tightened into a thin line. John was beginning to get tired of all this dren. He stood tall. I'm listening. Whatchya got?
You have the power to send back terrible emotion or experiences. You can reflect the pain.
John paused. Did he really have it in him to give Harvey a little taste of his own medicine? John tilted his head, studied Harvey's face a micron, and smiled mischievously. He knew exactly what to do.
John lowered his eyes, glaring at Harvey with a sly smile. Harvey stopped his advancement both curious and cautious. What was the human up to now?
"If you can't beat 'em join 'em." Harvey stated, pulling the phrase from John's mind. Before he could utter another word, however, he was struck with a powerful wave of images. A cold black void of swirling little galaxies taunted Harvey to try and catch them. Harvey snatched at them, sneering and growling in frustration. A sudden tear of blue light flashed in the center of this vision, forming into a perfect wormhole. Harvey grew quiet, like a little child staring at some new wonder. He brought his extended finger up and tapped the mouth of the wormhole, causing the phenomenon to wobble slightly. Harvey smiled, even chuckled.
John wasn't finished yet. He stole a step towards his nemesis. His smile grew even larger.
An angry surge of pain swelled within Harvey, consuming his soul. The numerous little galaxies merged together to become the one galaxy Harvey knew had significance. The m... The name was just at the tip of his tongue. Not that it would matter. He knew the human and this galaxy were connected. The fact that he may never know how burned his soul. Another sudden emotion began to fill Harvey's existence. Obsession. He had to know the secrets of both wormholes and this galaxy.
John raised his chin, satisfied. Harvey stood still before him, with a look of stupidity on his face. John could easily imagine what kind of torture was racing through his mind at that very micron. Harvey was of no threat any more. He was too consumed with the gold dangling before his eyes. John turned to look back at the lonely swing set, waiting for his mind to return to the present.
"John?"
Someone had called his name. The voice was far away and small, but he had heard it. He searched his surroundings; positive the voice had come from this imaginary world. Zhaan?
"John!"
The voice was definitely familiar. John turned back around. Harvey had disappeared and so had the litter of debris and mangled Scarran fighter ships. The row of white townhouses before him looked dauntingly familiar. John took a few steps forward, his heart beginning to beat faster.
"John, time for lunch!"
John's heart leaped for joy. It was his mother's sweet angelic voice. He had not heard her in so long, he had nearly forgotten how she sounded. John remembered the flashback he had experienced earlier of his younger self and DK, playing in the mud in his backyard. He and Harvey had been talking when she was calling to John. And before he could see her face...
"Mom!"
John was now up to the very backyard of his childhood home. His mother was so close he could swear he smelled her sweet perfume in the air. Happiness filled his soul, refreshing him from all the hurt and anger he had been living with. Leslie turned the corner around the house, her blonde long hair whipping about her face in the wind. He didn't see her face at first, only her soothing blue eyes. John smiled brighter than he had ever smiled before. Her hair swept away from her face and John could see every feature. God, she's more beautiful than I had ever imagined...
Like the snap of two fingers, John was instantly transported back to the present. The fighter ships surrounding him had drifted slightly away and were reacting to blasts being directed towards them. John and his module shook in the shockwaves. John tried to see what was going on but failed. Had the battle ship finally exploded? John wondered.
A fighter ship in front of him was instantly obliterated, sending fragments of sharp metal in every direction. John forced all pressure on his accelerator, trying to escape the debris. A large shard jammed into the side of his module, threatening to depressurize the interior. John came clear of the wavering fighter ships to see Talyn fully operational and clearly defending both himself and his mother. John let out a whoop and drove a fist into the air.
*****
Everyone was frozen in place. Chiana, D'Argo, Stark, Rygel, and Pilot all took immediate notice of Scorpius. He was indeed alive and well. Jool, on the other hand could care less who these enemies were. She struggled with her pulse rifle, attempting to fire.
Hissing and growling, Ka'ru began to walk forward, his sights set on D'Argo, who was blocking his advancement. Scorpius stayed back. He took no time to ponder on how the Scarran had realized his lie as to the location of the crew. He had to take control of the situation immediately. The Nebari girl was close, her weapon trained on him but her eyes nervously twitching between D'Argo, the advancing Scarran, and him. Scorpius tuned in to the officers on board the Scarran battle ship.
You must attack now! Do not follow Ka'ru's command. He acts on his mivonks not his brain. If you want a superior being to lead you, listen to me! I will lead you into...
Chiana broke Scorpius' concentration. She had come to stand before him, smiling slyly and lowering her weapon. What did she think she could do, charm her way out of the situation? Scorpius let out a laugh.
Ka'ru approached D'Argo and came to a full stop. The two were nearly the same height, though D'Argo felt quite intimidated just the same. The glaring black eyes of this hideous being seemed to reach into the depths of his soul.
Stark fearfully grasped Pilot's arm, praying to Zhaan that their journey into the afterlife would be quick and painless. Jool was shaking with such intensity that the pulse rifle in her hands began to wobble. Rygel ducked further behind Pilot's arm and glared at her.
"Yotz! You frelling tralk! Be careful or you'll kill us all!" Rygel stated in a muffled voice. They heard a shout and turned their attention back to the fight.
Ka'ru raised his arm, ready to interrogate D'Argo. D'Argo stood his ground, his Qualta Blade resting firmly in his grip. A searing heat wave began to flow from Ka'ru's hand, straight into D'Argo's face. D'Argo began to cry out in pain, his knees lowering towards the ground. Chiana leapt forward, poised to strike the back of Ka'ru when Scorpius snatched her arm and held it behind her back. He drew her close and restrained her, allowing the Scarran to continue his interrogation.
"Where is John Crichton?" Ka'ru demanded to know in a deep slithering voice. D'Argo opened his mouth and attempted to speak.
"Fr...frell you...." He managed to say. Ka'ru increased the heat, causing D'Argo to fall to his knees.
"NO!" Stark and Chiana yelled in unison. Stark tore of his mask, instantly illuminating the den with golden rays of light. Ka'ru brought his arms up to shield his face from the blinding light. D'Argo fell to the floor. Scorpius released Chiana, sending her to the floor as he stumbled back, trying to shield his eyes as well. Stark hopped over the console and calmly walked towards the two enemies.
Ka'ru stumbled backwards with Scorpius. He began to growl loudly in frustration. His patience had run out. John Crichton was obviously not aboard. Scorpius was to pay for this.
Stark continued his advance towards Scorpius and Ka'ru, unaware of his crewmates on the floor beside him. D'Argo and Chiana supported each other as they stood, staring on in satisfaction. The blinding light did not affect Scorpius and Ka'ru for very long, unfortunately. Chiana's smile began to fade. Ka'ru charged forward, with Scorpius two steps behind. D'Argo stepped in front of Stark, who rushed to replace his mask. D'Argo then swung his Qualta Blade at Ka'ru. Ka'ru caught the blade in midair, thrusting it back towards D'Argo. Stark rushed out of harm's way. With a mighty cry, Chiana leapt onto Scorpius' back, clawing at his face and beating on his chest.
Seeing their fellow shipmates attack motivated both Jool and Rygel. Rygel zoomed his throne sled over the walkway of the den. He spotted Chiana wrapped onto Scorpius' back as the half-breed swirled around, attempting to rid of her. D'Argo was busy fighting with Ka'ru. Rygel picked the easier option and rammed his throne sled straight into Scorpius' chest. Scorpius shouted in anger and pain, bashing a hand into Rygel, sending him flying off his throne sled.
D'Argo slashed at Ka'ru, missing his right shoulder by a mere dench. Ka'ru sneered and batted his hand out at D'Argo. Ducking, D'Argo avoided Ka'ru's attack and rammed his own fist into the Scarran's thick-skinned torso. Ka'ru hollered and grabbed onto D'Argo. D'Argo wrapped his arms around Ka'ru at the same time. They reared back and forth, trying to break free from the other's strong grip.
Jool stood back by Pilot, who was struggling to wake up. Jool held up the pulse rifle in her arms, glancing from Ka'ru to Scorpius, unable to get a clear shot. Pilot sluggishly moved his head to see Jool standing beside him. He heard the shuffling going on down the walkway and diverted his attention. His droopy eyes widened as he saw his friends fighting with Scorpius and a Scarran.
"What's going on?" Pilot asked, his voice rising in concern. Jool hushed him to be quiet and lowered herself down slightly. She kept her eyes trained on the fight.
"Everything's gone to Hezmana, that's what." Jool hissed. "Now be quiet! I'm trying to get a clear shot!"
"What does my talking have to do with...." Pilot began but was shushed by Jool. She glared at him momentarily and then trained her eyes back on the crisis before them.
Stark's energies were being exhausted. He had tried to take his mask off once more to blind their enemies but the light was dim. He shifted his weight, looking from D'Argo and Ka'ru to Scorpius, Chiana, and Rygel. Rygel had locked on to Scorpius' left leg, gnawing on his suit. Chiana had begun to choke Scorpius, her arm wrapped tightly around his neck. D'Argo's Qualta Blade suddenly flew past Stark, missing him by several denches. It clanged to the floor in the distance. Stark glanced over to see D'Argo get struck in the head by the Scarran. The large Luxan fell to the floor, unconscious. Stark madly charged towards Ka'ru, his arms stretched out to choke him. Ka'ru simply swept an arm out and struck Stark, sending him to the ground as well.
Scorpius began to have similar luck. He whipped Rygel off of his leg. Chiana began to lose her grip, sliding off of Scorpius and landing on her butt. Scorpius stretched his neck sorely, gave Chiana a sideways glance, and proceeded to approach Ka'ru. He was going to end this once and for all.
Ka'ru had other plans. The Scarran turned towards Pilot and Jool, laughing. Scorpius stopped in his tracks. He knew the Scarran would not stop until John Crichton was physically standing before him. And that was simply not an option Scorpius could afford to play out.
Jool saw her shipmates be thrown to the side in defeat. She saw the Scarran turn towards her and Pilot, grinning in victory. Scorpius had also turned, but his attention was focused on the Scarran, and not her. Jool pointed the pulse rifle at them and depressed the trigger. The blast struck the Scarran but to no avail. Dren. How could she have forgotten? Scarrans were immune to the effects of a pulse rifle. Jool then pointed the weapon to Scorpius. Scorpius shook his head and raised a finger.
"Ka'ru does not appreciate the intelligence we both are gifted with, my dear. He may be strong and brute, but you can kill him another way." Scorpius urged, ignoring the glare he received from Ka'ru. Jool didn't bother listening to Scorpius, however. She dropped the pulse rifle and opened her mouth. Pilot already knew what was about to happen and winced. A loud, metal melting screech began to flow from Jool's throat. Ka'ru instantly brought his hands up to his ears, bending over in pain. Scorpius followed suit, gritting his teeth and squeezing his eyes shut.
Jool was about to quiet down when she realized what her screaming was doing. Her eyes twinkled and she stepped forward, screaming even louder. D'Argo awoke to cover his ears as Stark, Chiana, and Rygel came to his side, pulling the injured Luxan out of the den to safety. Ka'ru and Scorpius began to retreat as well. Just before they exited, however, Pilot nudged Jool to stop her screaming. Ka'ru and Scorpius relaxed, standing straight to glare at her.
"John's module is underneath the Scarran battle ship. He's prepared to fire." Pilot toyed with the truth. Ka'ru let out a deep, angry breath and turned to Scorpius. Scorpius looked to him, knowing it was useless to deceive the Scarran now. Soon, Ka'ru would discover his undermining plan to overtake his command of the battle ship and it's unique technology.
"Wasn't he supposed to be back by now?" Jool asked out the side of her mouth. Pilot looked to her and nodded. He was both worried and satisfied. The two menaces before them believed that what had already happened was indeed happening now. Unfortunately for Pilot and the others, John hadn't come back from this venture as of yet.
"What is the human doing? Do you have anything to do with this, Scorpius?" Ka'ru roared, turning to the half-breed in question. Scorpius smiled. No, he didn't. But he couldn't be more proud of the human's actions, even if it meant the destruction of unique technology. Now he only had to hope the officers on the ship would be prepared to take Ka'ru down once they arrived back on the battle ship.
"No. Though I do wish I had thought of it." Scorpius smiled. Ka'ru turned back to Pilot and Jool.
"I hate to inform you that Moya has decided to flush out her atmosphere of unwanted bacterium. If you wish to remain living, I deeply encourage you to retreat to your pod and exit the ship at once. Depressurization will commence in one hundred microts." Pilot informed them. Jool stared at Pilot, her mouth gaping open in shock.
"What about the aliens inhabiting your ship?" Ka'ru challenged.
"They will have to find refuge as well. I cannot stop the Leviathan. She has already begun the stages to depressurization." Pilot informed them. Ka'ru gave him a lasting glare before turning and charging out of the den. Scorpius searched Pilot and Jool's faces, trying to read between the lines. Unsatisfied, he turned and raced to catch up with the Scarran. John was out there in space. There was a chance they could still capture him. Only then would he know the secrets of this mysterious galaxy they had encountered.
Chiana cradled D'Argo in her arms with Rygel struggling to climb back onto his throne sled behind her. Stark stood near D'Argo, checking the oozing wound on his forehead. They watched as Ka'ru and Scorpius charged by, ignoring their presence. The group glanced at one another with worry. They hoped John would not be sighted once the Ka'ru and Scorpius left Moya.
"Pilot, how much longer to depressurization? I don't know if we can move D'Argo." Stark asked into his comms with doom creeping into his voice. A loud hissing noise commenced throughout the ship, as air began to be sucked out of the interiors.
Jool stepped out of Pilot's den and found Stark and the others down a hallway to the right. She knelt down to observe D'Argo's injury and ushered Stark out of the way.
"I can help." She stated simply. Stark stood and awaited Pilot's answer.
"There will be no depressurization. The first stages will go into effect, fooling the Scarran and Scorpius. They're already in the docking bay." Pilot chuckled over the comms.
Moya began to shake at that moment. The crew swayed back and forth, glancing around curiously.
"Now what?" Chiana asked in bewilderment.
"It's Talyn! He's firing upon the fighter ships!" Pilot responded excitedly. Stark looked to the others. They were all thinking the same thing. John was trapped in the midst of the chaos. Hopefully, with Aeryn to aid Crais on Talyn, the gunship could help save them all.
*****
Aeryn stood tall in the center of Command. She smiled with satisfaction as Talyn fired upon a small group of fighter ships surrounding John's module. A ship was instantly obliterated. Just as she predicted, John's module began to race out of the entrapment it had been place within. Crais moaned, still seated upright against the communications console. He flickered his eyes and opened them fully. He focused on Aeryn.
Aeryn looked down at him and smiled. She held out an arm, offering to lift him up. Crais grasped it and stood up, wavering slightly in her grip. He studied her dark eyes for a moment. Talyn shook in a shockwave from the ship he had fired upon. Crais turned to look out the view screen and instantly noticed a pod moving rapidly away from Moya. He stepped forward with Aeryn, who noticed it as well.
"They're leaving. You don' think they..." Aeryn began to say, fearing the worst for her shipmates. Crais shook his head and stood away from Aeryn to look fully out the view screen. Talyn bleeped happily, welcoming Crais back to full consciousness.
"John was not aboard. We should be lucky they have not spotted him." Crais reassured her.
"So far." Aeryn added. Crais gave her a lasting look and turned to address his ship.
"Talyn you have a responsibility and you must use all your energy and power to help your mother. I know you can do this." Crais stated, stepping forward, relishing in the moment of power. He glared at the battle ship looming off to the far right.
"The fighter ships are retreating." Aeryn stated. True to her words, the fighter ships began to speed away, back towards the battle ship. Either they had had enough of Talyn, or somebody had ordered them back.
"Crais!" John's voice called over the comms. Aeryn's heart beat faster. John was all right. Aeryn longed to be with him once more. Crais was a tempting offer, as well as the fact she could stay on Talyn. But in her mind, in her heart, she knew what was best.
"Fire on that mother frelling dren of a Scarran battle ship NOW!" John ordered, as he flew his module straight for the docking area of Moya.
John's transmission was intercepted. The comms on Talyn, Moya, and his module all echoed with the snaring voice of Ka'ru.
"Human. Surrender to me. I will not allow Scorpius near you if you do so." Ka'ru bargained. John tilted his head, pondering the origin of this new creature's voice. He knew it was a Scarran.
Aeryn glanced at Crais with fear in her eyes. She observed a similar twinge of fear in his. Aeryn thought of Pilot, Moya, and the rest of her shipmates. She could only imagine the doom they felt. The feeling was mutual. John had been more than willing to surrender himself to save the crew on more than one occasion. Would he do so now?
The crew on Moya was shocked and still, listening to Ka'ru as they settled in the Apothecary where Jool tended to D'Argo's injury. Pilot glanced up, awaiting the response he feared would be next. The silence on the open comms remained so for a microt longer. Was the human actually considering this? The thought ran through everyone's minds.
Ka'ru stood in the pod, facing the small view screen before him. His pod hovered beside his battle ship, awaiting the final convoy of fighter ships to pass him by and enter back to safety. Scorpius stood behind him, watching in disgust for the being before him. Rare impatience began to flow within. The mutiny he had so delicately planned and staged for Ka'ru's officers still had not taken into effect.
John sat in his module, staring at the teasing Milky Way before him and the two faithful ships to his left and right. He took little surprise in the notion that Scorpius was still alive...if indeed the Scarran was telling the truth. It had all come down to this. The field of mysterious black holes in the beginning of this whole mess, all the flashbacks, the spontaneous wormhole, the unstoppable radio waves from Earth, the dauntingly plausible ring beneath the Scarran battle ship. He connected them all to establish what he needed to do.
"Aeryn, are you ready?" John asked over the open comms.
"Yes, John, we are." Aeryn responded, smiling gracefully as she intuitively understood what John was about to do. Crais only glanced at her, pondering their plan.
"Do not listen to Ka'ru, John. Listen to me. Do not fire on the battle ship!" Scorpius hissed over the comms. The officers on board had indeed started a mutiny against Ka'ru; Scorpius could feel it. They were already marching to the bay where Ka'ru would land his pod. They were fully armed and prepared to accept Scorpius as their new leader.
"I've had a lot of time to think about all this. I know what I need to do." John stated and boosted his module into the docking bay of Moya. "I will not surrender to you Ka'ru, or to you Scorpius. I speak for the people of Earth when I say get the frell away from my galaxy!"
At that moment, Talyn released a fiery mass of energy from his frag canon. Ka'ru and Scorpius yelled in anger and defeat. The energy blasted into the already faltering battle ship, instantly setting it ablaze in a massive explosion. John landed his module in the docking bay and held on as both Talyn and Moya shook fiercely from the shockwaves.
Joyful shouting could be heard over the comms from both Aeryn and Crais and on the rest of the crew on Moya. The battle ship continued to explode. John hopped out of his module and raced to Command so he could witness the event. Aeryn and Crais stood side by side on Talyn, relishing in their moment of victory.
As John entered into Command, he slid across the floor, ending up in the center.
"Gotta love fireworks." John muttered. He clenched his muscles in satisfaction momentarily as another explosion set off before him. A blinding flash ripped throughout the destruction, causing John to shield his eyes. A rippling effect began to shake Moya and Talyn, frightening both ships. John lowered his hand and stepped forward in both awe and a sickening doom. Another wormhole had formed before them, more massive than one he had ever witnessed. It had already swallowed the burning ship, Scorpius, Ka'ru, fighter ships and all. Talyn and Moya both began to struggle in the increasing pull of the wormhole.
"We're being pulled in! There's nothing we can do!" Pilot exclaimed in fear over the comms. John shook his head.
"No...no...no...NO! Pilot, stop her. Do something. Talyn, Crais, you've gotta help pull us back, please!" John begged. John looked to the Milky Way, fast fading from view. He feared this would be the last time he would ever see it. And the last chance he would ever know to be this close to home.
Moya and Talyn drew closer to the wormhole with little success of pulling away. The wormhole was strong and brilliant. There was little hope for them now.
"John, you have to let it go." Aeryn stated over the comms. John shook his head.
"No. I can try. I can try to get away. My module is small. I can beat it." John stated with determination. He headed out of Command towards his module, in a mad dash for his dream to come true. He only wished Aeryn could be with him.
"John, listen to yourself. It's not possible. It wasn't meant to be." Crais urged John.
"Quiet, Crais! You don't know what you're talking about. If you were this close to the one thing that you've been searching for...." John shouted, reaching the docking bay. He came to a full stop, nearly bumping into Chiana, Rygel, and Stark. They stood before him, blocking his way to his module. John stared at them sternly shaking his head.
"Don't do this, guys. I have to...I need to go." John warned them. Sadness was already choking him but he wouldn't allow himself to admit defeat. Stark stepped forward solemnly.
"No. There is no home left for you to return to. You are one of us now." Stark stated. John glared into his face, their noses dench to dench. Chiana stepped forward and grabbed John's arm. He almost wanted to brush her off. He respected Chiana and knew he was breaking her heart. He could see the tears already streaming down her face. Moya shook even more violently now, pulling faster towards the stable wormhole before them. Talyn was inching further away from her, closer to the mouth of the wormhole.
"Don't go." Chiana said. She stared at him longingly and John felt his heart crush. Rygel moved forward and inched his fingers into John's right hand, giving him comfort. Stark stepped back from John and out of his way. John stared at his module and time seemed to cease. His heart was heavier with sorrow than he had ever known. Chiana wrapped her arms around his shoulders to hug him and Stark lowered his head in prayer, hoping to reach Zhaan. John only stared on and waited for the inevitable.
Talyn entered into the wormhole, disappearing from view. A massive tug shook Moya as she came to the mouth of the wormhole. John let out a breath in the eerie silence. His eyes sparkled in tears of pain.
"Goodbye Dad." John whispered.
Moya then entered into the wormhole, unable to control her destiny any longer.
*****