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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 confinements Scorpius had been placed in on the Scarran ship were quite accommodating, despite being a thermal bay. The heat wasn't bothering Scorpius for the time being, but he knew he would have to leave soon if he wanted to remain clear-headed. Somehow, Scorpius' captors hadn't thought of disarraying the communications console or even bother posting a guard at the opened doorway. Perhaps Ka'ru realized an equal opponent when he met one. Scorpius grinned to himself as he finished sending the false transmission to Moya and Talyn. He had received the very transmission on his Gammak Base earlier that solar day. Just moments before the frelling Scarrans raided his base and captured him.
A warning beacon had sounded several microns ago. Red flashing light in the hall and soldiers rushing by told Scorpius his plan had worked. Talyn had probably fired upon the ship, unfortunately with little success. The Scarran ship was twenty times the size of Talyn and equipped with an entire army of soldiers and advanced weaponry.
Scorpius gazed upon the rushing soldiers, relishing in a much-anticipated future confrontation with Ka'ru. Scorpius could almost smell the foul creature approaching. He rested against the far wall of his prison and waited patiently. If there was one thing Scorpius was noted for, it was his incredible patience.
True to Scorpius' predictions, Ka'ru angrily charged into the chamber, literally steaming with anger. Scorpius stood away from the far wall and approached Ka'ru with a widening grin. Ka'ru's eyes burned with intense rage. He raised a scaly arm and pointed to Scorpius. Upon his outstretched finger was a long crescent black claw, much like the others on his fingers. These claws were notorious for ripping prey to shreds. Their hands were known for emitting a heat wave with the ability to detect lies. This heat wave would not affect Scorpius because of his half-Scarran genetics.
Scorpius stepped up to this outstretched nail, allowing it to poke into his chest as he stood before Ka'ru. The challenging sparkle within his eyes was mirrored in Ka'ru's as well.
"You did this!" Ka'ru growled. He lowered his arm slowly as Scorpius tilted his head at him.
"Of course." Scorpius admitted.
"Why?" Ka'ru demanded an answer. Scorpius took a quick breath and responded.
"Don't be foolish, Ka'ru. These aliens are not stupid. They know you're here and that you are a threat. I sent the ships a transmission of you. They reacted how I expected them to. Honestly, I would have thought you would be one to study your opponent before heading into battle with them." Scorpius stretched the truth.
Scorpius always worked alone no matter what he was after. In this case, he wanted to know more of the significance of this new galaxy. As did Ka'ru. The only clever way to strive towards his goal was to form an alliance with Ka'ru. Ka'ru, though one of the more intelligent of his race, would never see Scorpius' deception until it was too late.
"You have questionable ways of satisfying your questions. But perhaps we can use this to our advantage. What is it that you want?" Ka'ru asked, becoming less offensive. The commandeer began to realize the advantages of having a prisoner who was well acquainted with the two ships he was preparing to attack.
"I want what you want, Ka'ru. I want to know what those two ships are protecting us from. Why that galaxy is so important that we cannot advance towards it without resistance." Scorpius replied. The flashing warnings outside the chamber quieted. Ka'ru began to pace before Scorpius. He came to a stop once again before Scorpius.
"What do you want if I allow you to roam free on my ship and assist in finding what we need?" Ka'ru inquired.
"To return to my Gammak Base and resume my research, naturally. But more importantly, I would like any and all data acquired during your testing of the wormholes. If you do this, I will allow you clearance upon my base at any time." Scorpius bargained, baring his rotting teeth in a huge grin.
"Fine. How do you suggest we uncover the significance of this galaxy...what those ships are protecting?" Ka'ru asked with a sneer. Scorpius smiled at this question and looked at Ka'ru with an evil expression.
"John Crichton."
*****
The scoreboard lit up with the latest score. John shouted and jumped into the air. Numerous hands patted his muddy uniform. John was joined by his fellow teammates in the end zone. The first touch down for the home team. Geoffrey Scott had made the fifty-seven yard dash to the first score of the first half. A buzzard sounded. Half time had begun. John and the team began to jog back to the school near the football field, heading for the locker room. Coach Haska wouldn't be too happy with the team's performance in the first two quarters. John hoped he could change that. He was quarterback after all. The team looked up to him and listened to him.
Two of the star senior players on the high school football team had been injured in the beginning of the state championship in Orlando. John had thrown both passes that had landed his players in a heap of trouble. The opposing team was not only bigger, but also returning state champions seven years in the running. This was the first year John's team had made it to state. Luckily, he was a junior so if they didn't win this one, there would always be next year.
The sea green tile that constructed most of the large locker room of the school was littered with sweat drenched towels, spare shoulder pads, and smelly socks. The rugged football players filed in, taking a seat on the numerous gray benches situated around the edge of the room. The rows of blue painted metal lockers stood behind the green and white uniformed high school players. The team was generally quiet, muttering a few cusses here and there. Coach Haska slammed the door behind him as the last of the players sat down. He searched each and every exhausted, sweaty face of the team. His gaze settled onto the captain of the team, John. John stared back, daring the coach to push his buttons.
"What is wrong with you ladies? This is the fucking state championship, girls. Play your goddamned hearts out. I want blood. I've seen you play like your lives depended on it. Why haven't you shown me that tonight? That last pass was luck, Crichton. Scott was even luckier to catch it and run with it. Linus, you're benched. I don't want to see another penalty like that again from you." Coach Haska barked at this team. The silence was deafening. A small droplet of water hitting the shower floor echoed into the room. The repetitious dripping carried on a few more moments before anyone dared to speak.
"They've got seven seniors playing, coach. Five were all stars last year and the quarterback got MVP three years in a row at state. How the hell do you propose a little team from Shitsville to outplay them?" Hayer, the kicker for the team asked.
Coach Haska drew close to Hayer, glaring into his face with such intense rage that his own face began to turn red. A small vein in his forehead began to emerge. Hayer leaned backwards and shut up instantly. Coach Haska stepped into the center cluster of his players and turned around to look each and every player straight in the eyes. He came to a stop once again to stare at his star quarterback.
"If you don't pull some magic out of your ass before the end of third quarter, I am going to hunt you down and break your legs and your arm before Sunday mass, Crichton." Coach Haska stated, his eyes burning with hatred.
John stared back with the same hatred. He had a lot to prove out on that field. And even more to prove with his peers...including his father and coach. Everyone always dismissed John as the astronaut's son...wild but predictable. John was more than determined to win this game. The coach began to turn slowly around, looking to each player as he spoke.
"You ladies have precisely...." Coach Haska paused to look at the watch on his left wrist. "Forty-five minutes to prove to the entire fucking world that you are not the losers you have presented yourselves to be in this first half. Go out there and play some goddamned football!"
"Coach!" John exclaimed standing up with such energy he shook the bench he and three other players were seated on.
Sneering, Coach Haska slowly turned to face his quarterback. He charged up to John, standing nose to nose with him. The challenge in the elder's eyes was matched with the quarterback's own. John felt a twinge of familiarity in the man's unsightly looks.
"Permission to speak with the team...alone." John shouted into his coach's face. Adrenalin pumped ferociously into his veins as he defied his coach and risked his entire future of playing football. John's teammates looked to their quarterback in shock. Some smiled, even risked raising a fist in the air behind their coach's back.
"In my office 0600 tomorrow morning, Crichton." Coach Haska growled and slowly began to back out of the locker room. He glared at the team, angered and vengeful. He would make sure that they all knew what consequences took place when all but declaring mutiny.
Coach Haska disappeared out the doorway. Both John and the team waited for the door to come to a complete close before any of them dared to utter a word. John remained standing, and finally glanced around at his teammates, observing the hidden fear in their faces. They all wanted to win just as badly as he did. But he felt none of them had more to prove than he did. In fact, John had felt this way his entire life. Always having to prove himself, never being able to simply be who he was.
"Listen up, guys. This is our lives down to a mere forty minutes of working our asses off to prove to the entire fucking world that we are the best god damned football team in Florida. We have been a team from Tommy's suspension..." John pointed out. The team laughed as Tommy looked down shamefully but with a smile. "To Hunter's last second saves...we...are...a...team. If we pull together and play like a team, we can do anything. That includes beating the seven-year state champions to a pulp. They won't know what hit them."
A few of the players shouted and walloped, throwing their fists into the air. The team was beginning to buzz with adrenalin. They sat on the edge of their seats, hungering for a win.
"Think of your family, your friends. Fight for the honor you deserve in coming out from the worst first half we've ever played to the last half of the best football played in the entire history of high school football." John continued.
"Yeah!" A linebacker shouted excitedly.
"Want some motivation? Here, how's this. Picture that ugly bastard Estes kissing your girlfriend. Or envision the entire opposing team celebrating in victory...holding up that beautiful shining trophy that's rightfully ours at the end of the game. Think of those huge shit-faced grins that you'll want to pop a few teeth out of. Half of those idiots on the team probably won't even graduate and the half that do will only because they lucked out with a full ride on some football scholarship. Fuck the scholarships and fuck them! Let's go out there and kick some major ass! Who's with me?" John shouted. The entire team around him jumped up, shouting and jumping around. The testosterone was flowing just as hard as the adrenalin. The men strapped on their helmets, tightened their laces, straightened their jerseys, and chugged down bottles of refreshing Gatorade. They then rushed out the door of the locker room, whooping and shouting with energy.
John was about to join them. He headed over to his bench to pick up his towel when he heard a muffled clapping noise from behind. This younger John with a hint of the present day John in his mind already knew who was there. He needn't turn around. His father was always there to encourage him. John simply had forgotten his father had been there in the original memory.
"Hey." John began to say and turned around. His heart jumped. The younger physical John grew frightened but his older mentality instantly reminded himself who this being was.
"What...who...oh." John stumbled.
"Excellent speech, John. I'm quite impressed." Scorpius stated, coming in to circle around John. The dark, hideous being glanced up and down at John's muddied green and white uniform. John rummaged his soaking spiked hair and circled with Scorpius, watching him in both astonishment and anger.
"I'm not telling you anything. No matter how young and na?ve you get me in my memories, I will not say a fucking word." John stated through clenched teeth.
"Hmm. Interesting. You seem to have taken on a part of your younger, more impressionable self in this memory. You're mind still amazes me, even for its simplicity." Scorpius said, rubbing his chin briefly. He came to a stop before John, towering over the somewhat shorter version of the human. John glanced up at the being, knowing he should hate this vile creature, yet feeling a sense of curiosity.
"Screw you, man. Go find somebody else to fuck with because I'm not taking any of your shit." John challenged, standing on his tiptoes as he spat into Scorpius' face. Scorpius grinned. This peculiar young football player with the number 10 on his jersey was daring and spontaneous. The older John Scorpius was acquainted with was much more reserved and thoughtful before reacting.
"You would have been a much more exciting opponent than you are in the future." Scorpius observed. John's eyes were beginning to glow with hatred. Even his younger self was beginning to realize this was an enemy not to mess with.
"Get out of my locker room now. Or maybe you'd like to be turned into a football that I can use out on the field. That would be fun. Slamming your ugly face into the mud puddles in the end zone." John laughed at the thought. He also realized this creature reminded him of Coach Haska. The similarity was eerie.
Scorpius suddenly grew serious and growled. John leaned back slightly, struggling not to show fear on his face. Instead, he forced a steady look of dominance on his sweat-drenched face. He was in control as long as he didn't give the creature the answer he was looking for.
"What are you protecting? What is so significant about this pathetic little galaxy? Tell me!" Scorpius growled in a devilish bark.
John stood silent in the face of evil, relishing in the torment he was causing this foul being. He studied Scorpius' angered expression for a moment before responding.
"Face me. Not in my memories but in real life. Face me like any decent, well...respectful...ah, intelligent...oh whatever the hell you are just face me. Fight me. If you so desperately want to know what I know, then confront me with all you got. Maybe you might just get what you want." John challenged and stole a step forward to grin at Scorpius. John's voice became deeper as he spoke on. "But I gotta tell ya, Harvey, I don't give up easily. In fact, I rarely give up at all."
Scorpius frowned as the present day John began to shine through his younger self. Scorpius opened his mouth to retaliate when both of them heard someone down the hall, calling.
"John! John, come on!" The voice cried from far away. John turned his head to look towards the doorway. He noticed the room beginning to fade quickly.
"John!" The voice became much louder and everything around John was enveloped in darkness. John opened his eyes as if he had just closed them. He saw the view screen before him, with the silent beauty of the Milky Way spread out before him. His hands were on his hips and his crewmates were standing about Command with him, observing the sight. Someone was still calling his name, calling John back to the present moment. John turned his head to look at his crewmates, each one staring at him as if he had just shouted out a profanity for no apparent reason.
"What?" John asked with bewilderment masking his disorientation.
"We've received some sort of transmission from your galaxy." Aeryn responded in a harsh tone. She was staring at him with a hint of disappointment in her eyes. John made a mental note to have a good long talk with her as soon as time would allow. After their last unproductive discussion, however, he hoped they would get something accomplished next time.
"The signal was weak at first. Moya is translating the transmission now." Pilot informed from the clamshell.
"What kind of transmission?" John asked in alert. He began to sense a strong feeling in his stomach that had been churning since they had first approached the field of failing black holes. Fear. The infamous rattlers had returned.
"It appears to be visual." Pilot answered, his eyebrows raised with surprise.
"Can you play this transmission for us, Pilot?" D'Argo pondered. He glanced at John to see if the human agreed. John only stood still, staring out the view screen. D'Argo felt for the human, realizing the dream that he had hungered for so long now just out of reach.
"I will try." Pilot stated. A few microns passed. The crew grew silent, waiting and wondering. What kind of signal was it? What if the Scarran ship detected it as well?
"Pilot, have you deciphered the transmission yet? Talyn is getting anxious." Crais' voice broke the silence over the comms. Chiana and Rygel glanced nervously at each other. They knew as well as everyone that if Talyn had detected it, then so did the Scarran battle ship and the thousand little ships that now stationed themselves beside the ship.
John slammed his fist down on a nearby console, causing Jool to jump. She backed away from the human slightly.
"This is not going to happen. We are going to fight those bastards and protect that galaxy. Do you even realize the dren we are in right now? If those Scarrans attempt to enter into this galaxy and find my home planet, I will have nothing to return to. Everyone and everything I've ever known will be gone in an instant." John stated in a strong voice. His face was growing red with anger. "I won't let that happen."
"The transmission has been translated. It's...quite peculiar." Pilot interrupted John's speech.
"Get on with it Pilot." Stark ordered, leaning forward on the console in front of him. The curiosity of the entire crew was peaked.
Pilot played the transmission onto the view screen for the crew. A brief, visual image flashed onto the view screen. A peculiar looking human dressed in an even more peculiar outfit appeared in a square window of a brick building. The famous golden arches flashed underneath this smiling being with a few English words beside it. The entire image had an old, faded look to it, reminding John of the late nineteen eighties. Crackling static began to play from these images into the silence of Command. Then, something clearer came through. A few sounds, then they grew stronger until the crew could make out words.
"...Welcome to McDon...."
John's jaw dropped. He would have laughed at the absurdity of it all but instead, his stomach flipped and his heart began to race. Not only were the words in English, but clearly American. Of all things, good old McDonald's had come through to become the universal greeting card. John released a chuckle after that thought.
"What is it?" Chiana asked of the origin of the transmission. John looked to her in pure shock. He had almost forgotten that his crewmates had never experienced television.
"What does it mean? What is McDon?" Jool asked.
"This is not good, John." Aeryn replied in an alarmed voice.
John looked back to Aeryn, reading the seriousness in her eyes. He already knew what she was implying. The Scarrans would have a direct link to his planet. If Earth wasn't already in a delicate balance to exist in this unforgiving universe, she was tipping the scales.
"I can't believe this! This is the biggest joke of my entire life. We're going to get killed over a McDonald's commercial." John brought his hands to his face and shook his head.
"I didn't understand a single thing he just said." Jool crinkled her face at the human. Rygel snorted.
"Get used to it." Aeryn responded. She placed a hand on her hip and impatiently shook her head. "Does this transmission come directly from your planet?"
"Aeryn, unless I'm out of the loop, Earth is the only place you'll find McDonald's. You'd love their fries." John sent Aeryn a look. Aeryn nodded her head and turned to Pilot.
"Please tell me the defense shield is up to ninety percent, Pilot." Aeryn droned.
"Fifty-five percent and steady." Pilot reported.
"This is getting worse by the microt." Chiana muttered.
"Pilot, fellow crewmembers of Moya, I am saddened to inform you that the Scarran fighter ships are on the move. They've locked onto this strange signal and are heading for the source. Talyn can only fight off so many of them. There isn't much we can do." Crais informed over the comms.
The crew immediately looked to John. John stared out the view screen, his face drawn of color. Like in the latest flashback from his past, he felt he had to be the confident leader with a plan already in the works. His words had lead to victory then but John was speechless now. He had no idea how to stop the Scarrans from destroying his home. Time was running out for Earth.
*****