Talyn-John
04-23-2003, 05:05 PM
Here's one that I submitted to Farscapefantasy.com about a month ago and I didn't get a response. So, I guess they didn't get it. Oh well. So, I'll post it here.
“Fly Safe”
A Farscape short story.
Summary: This story takes place during the final confrontation between John Crichton and Scorpius in the episode “Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing”.
Commander John Crichton took a hesitant step towards the Farscape One module, careful to keep his footing steady as the Command Carrier disintegrated around him. Once, that module had been his pride and joy, his ticket to stardom in the scientific community, but all that had been before the test flight. Before that damned wormhole had stranded him here in the Uncharted Territories.
Now, he was unable to look at Farscape One without a mixture of love and hatred. Love, because he was proud of it. He and DK had created a ship that not even the Peacekeepers or Scarrans, who were hundreds of years ahead of Earth in terms of technology, could create on their own. A ship that could open wormholes and survive the journey through. If John ever found his way home, he would probably be given the Nobel prize. Funny how these things turn out, how time changes your priorities. Three years ago, John probably would have cared about the Nobel prize; would have wanted to see that award on his mantle; would even have enjoyed the attention, but not now. Not after everything he had been through. Now, he understood something that his mind hadn’t understood back then.
It isn’t just science.
The words he had spoken to Cokura moments ago in the ruined lab came rushing back to him. It is not just science. It is never just science. It’s a weapon, and it kills people. And I will not let the Peacekeepers have it.
That was why he hated the module. For three years, it had caused nothing but death. Poor Talvoh Crais, who had collided with John mere seconds after the wormhole had deposited him in the Uncharted Territories, was the first to die. Next was Gelina, the Peacekeeper tech who had fallen in love with John, murdered by Scorpius for the wormhole technology he held. Then Aeryn Sun, the love of his life, killed by the neural chip Scorpius had implanted in his head when it had taken over John’s body. Gentle Zhaan, the Delvian priestess, sacrificed so that Aeryn could live. His twin, the other John Crichton, sacrificed himself to keep the Scarrans from obtaining the wormhole technology. Now Bialar Crais and Talyn, sacrificed to destroy the Peacekeeper Command carrier. So much death in three short years. Somedays, John understood Stark, the Banik holy man who held felt the death of fifteen thousand of his people, better than he wanted to.
Flames shot up around him, and the floor was cracked, separating the launch bay in two. It was an incredible and sobering sight. He had caused this destruction. How many more deaths were on his conscience today? How many Peacekeepers dead?
Strangely, he heard through the sound of explosions the soft sound of a footfall. He turned in place, already knowing who he would find. The universe had a sick sense of humour, and this only proved it.
Scorpius.
The Scarran half-breed stood on the other side of the crevice, silhouetted by the flames, his black armour glinting like molten metal, and the shadows deepened the hollows of his face. John expected to feel something at the sight of this monster who had put him through so much. Who had cost him so much. Anger. Hatred. Satisfaction at his vengeance. Anything but what he actually felt. Sorrow, and exhaustion. Two years ago, he would have had a snappy remark, a sarcastic comeback at this turn of events, but not anymore.
“Looks like our partnership is over.”
“John Crichton.” His name sounded like a curse, spat between Scorpius’ teeth. “Commander John Crichton. Generations will remember that name. Because of you, very soon, the Scarrans will destroy us.”
It was true. Had John now doomed an entire race to destruction?
It’s a weapon...
“One evil at a time. That’s the best I can do.” He would have to deal with the Scarrans sooner or later, just not today. Maybe not even tomorrow. But someday they would come, and he would have to make a choice. Compromise his principles, or let the universe burn. No other choices, not as he saw them now. All he wanted was to go home. Why wouldn’t the universe let him? Home... He had to keep Earth safe. Scorpius knew where Earth was, and John had just destroyed Scorpius’ dreams. “Tell me, Ghandi. You still going after Earth?”
“To what purpose?” Scorpius spat. John saw something in that moment. Scorpius was furious, but not at John. It seemed almost like he was mad at... himself. “Vengeance against you? The only vengeance I cared about is now beyond my grasp!” That was it. Scorpius thought he should have seen this coming. He was a man who prided himself on planning ahead, and John had defeated him. He had underestimated John, and that had cost him everything. Suddenly, Scorpius seemed to shrink, accepting this turn of fate, and he began to toy with the I-Yensch bracelet that linked him to John. “While holding two lights, depress three-one-seven. Then release.”
Scorpius was setting John free. Severing the connection between them. Letting John live his own life, free of this man who had hunted him for two years. “Hold two. Press nine-one-one. Then release.”
Scorpius removed his bracelet as John removed his. The ties that bound them together were severed. John held the I-Yensch bracelet in his hand over the burning crevice, trying to crush it.
“We were close.”
With those words, John threw the bracelet into the flames and watched as Scorpius did the same. He felt a weight lift from his shoulders as he watched them burn. A massive groan sounded through the launch bay as the carrier collapsed even further.
“If we’re gonna get off this boat, now would be a good time.” John turned from Scorpius and headed toward that hated module.
“I may not be getting off this ship, John.” The words were said to his back, whispered and barely audible over the flames. John paused, and looked toward his nemesis. The half-breed seemed as exhausted as John himself felt. “Goodbye Crichton.”
Scorpius turned and walked into the flames. Lucifer walking straight into hell. At that moment, John felt for the man. Pity, and understanding.
“Scorpius!” The shouted name held an undertone to it which carried a million emotions, thoughts and concepts. Scorpius paused for a moment, acknowledging John’s call, and then vanished into the fire.
John sagged against the ladder into Farscape One. Scorpius was gone, and it felt strange. It was like being in pain your entire life, and then, suddenly, the pain disappeared. Oddly enough, though, part of him wanted the pain back. If Scorpius died here, it would be more blood on his hands.
“Crichton!” Aeryn’s voice over his comm snapped him back to reality. There was still the danger of the collapsing ship, but it wasn’t as if he hadn’t survived worse. Survival. That was what it always seemed to boil down to. “The others are on D’argo’s ship. I’ve taken a Prowler and I’m leaving now.”
“On my way.” He hoisted himself up and froze at the top of the ladder. He didn’t want to kill anyone. He was just a scientist, not a warrior. Why did people keep dying around him? “Aeryn...”
“What?”
And then he spoke the words as much to his enemy as to the woman he loved.
“Fly safe.”
So, what does everyone think?
“Fly Safe”
A Farscape short story.
Summary: This story takes place during the final confrontation between John Crichton and Scorpius in the episode “Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing”.
Commander John Crichton took a hesitant step towards the Farscape One module, careful to keep his footing steady as the Command Carrier disintegrated around him. Once, that module had been his pride and joy, his ticket to stardom in the scientific community, but all that had been before the test flight. Before that damned wormhole had stranded him here in the Uncharted Territories.
Now, he was unable to look at Farscape One without a mixture of love and hatred. Love, because he was proud of it. He and DK had created a ship that not even the Peacekeepers or Scarrans, who were hundreds of years ahead of Earth in terms of technology, could create on their own. A ship that could open wormholes and survive the journey through. If John ever found his way home, he would probably be given the Nobel prize. Funny how these things turn out, how time changes your priorities. Three years ago, John probably would have cared about the Nobel prize; would have wanted to see that award on his mantle; would even have enjoyed the attention, but not now. Not after everything he had been through. Now, he understood something that his mind hadn’t understood back then.
It isn’t just science.
The words he had spoken to Cokura moments ago in the ruined lab came rushing back to him. It is not just science. It is never just science. It’s a weapon, and it kills people. And I will not let the Peacekeepers have it.
That was why he hated the module. For three years, it had caused nothing but death. Poor Talvoh Crais, who had collided with John mere seconds after the wormhole had deposited him in the Uncharted Territories, was the first to die. Next was Gelina, the Peacekeeper tech who had fallen in love with John, murdered by Scorpius for the wormhole technology he held. Then Aeryn Sun, the love of his life, killed by the neural chip Scorpius had implanted in his head when it had taken over John’s body. Gentle Zhaan, the Delvian priestess, sacrificed so that Aeryn could live. His twin, the other John Crichton, sacrificed himself to keep the Scarrans from obtaining the wormhole technology. Now Bialar Crais and Talyn, sacrificed to destroy the Peacekeeper Command carrier. So much death in three short years. Somedays, John understood Stark, the Banik holy man who held felt the death of fifteen thousand of his people, better than he wanted to.
Flames shot up around him, and the floor was cracked, separating the launch bay in two. It was an incredible and sobering sight. He had caused this destruction. How many more deaths were on his conscience today? How many Peacekeepers dead?
Strangely, he heard through the sound of explosions the soft sound of a footfall. He turned in place, already knowing who he would find. The universe had a sick sense of humour, and this only proved it.
Scorpius.
The Scarran half-breed stood on the other side of the crevice, silhouetted by the flames, his black armour glinting like molten metal, and the shadows deepened the hollows of his face. John expected to feel something at the sight of this monster who had put him through so much. Who had cost him so much. Anger. Hatred. Satisfaction at his vengeance. Anything but what he actually felt. Sorrow, and exhaustion. Two years ago, he would have had a snappy remark, a sarcastic comeback at this turn of events, but not anymore.
“Looks like our partnership is over.”
“John Crichton.” His name sounded like a curse, spat between Scorpius’ teeth. “Commander John Crichton. Generations will remember that name. Because of you, very soon, the Scarrans will destroy us.”
It was true. Had John now doomed an entire race to destruction?
It’s a weapon...
“One evil at a time. That’s the best I can do.” He would have to deal with the Scarrans sooner or later, just not today. Maybe not even tomorrow. But someday they would come, and he would have to make a choice. Compromise his principles, or let the universe burn. No other choices, not as he saw them now. All he wanted was to go home. Why wouldn’t the universe let him? Home... He had to keep Earth safe. Scorpius knew where Earth was, and John had just destroyed Scorpius’ dreams. “Tell me, Ghandi. You still going after Earth?”
“To what purpose?” Scorpius spat. John saw something in that moment. Scorpius was furious, but not at John. It seemed almost like he was mad at... himself. “Vengeance against you? The only vengeance I cared about is now beyond my grasp!” That was it. Scorpius thought he should have seen this coming. He was a man who prided himself on planning ahead, and John had defeated him. He had underestimated John, and that had cost him everything. Suddenly, Scorpius seemed to shrink, accepting this turn of fate, and he began to toy with the I-Yensch bracelet that linked him to John. “While holding two lights, depress three-one-seven. Then release.”
Scorpius was setting John free. Severing the connection between them. Letting John live his own life, free of this man who had hunted him for two years. “Hold two. Press nine-one-one. Then release.”
Scorpius removed his bracelet as John removed his. The ties that bound them together were severed. John held the I-Yensch bracelet in his hand over the burning crevice, trying to crush it.
“We were close.”
With those words, John threw the bracelet into the flames and watched as Scorpius did the same. He felt a weight lift from his shoulders as he watched them burn. A massive groan sounded through the launch bay as the carrier collapsed even further.
“If we’re gonna get off this boat, now would be a good time.” John turned from Scorpius and headed toward that hated module.
“I may not be getting off this ship, John.” The words were said to his back, whispered and barely audible over the flames. John paused, and looked toward his nemesis. The half-breed seemed as exhausted as John himself felt. “Goodbye Crichton.”
Scorpius turned and walked into the flames. Lucifer walking straight into hell. At that moment, John felt for the man. Pity, and understanding.
“Scorpius!” The shouted name held an undertone to it which carried a million emotions, thoughts and concepts. Scorpius paused for a moment, acknowledging John’s call, and then vanished into the fire.
John sagged against the ladder into Farscape One. Scorpius was gone, and it felt strange. It was like being in pain your entire life, and then, suddenly, the pain disappeared. Oddly enough, though, part of him wanted the pain back. If Scorpius died here, it would be more blood on his hands.
“Crichton!” Aeryn’s voice over his comm snapped him back to reality. There was still the danger of the collapsing ship, but it wasn’t as if he hadn’t survived worse. Survival. That was what it always seemed to boil down to. “The others are on D’argo’s ship. I’ve taken a Prowler and I’m leaving now.”
“On my way.” He hoisted himself up and froze at the top of the ladder. He didn’t want to kill anyone. He was just a scientist, not a warrior. Why did people keep dying around him? “Aeryn...”
“What?”
And then he spoke the words as much to his enemy as to the woman he loved.
“Fly safe.”
So, what does everyone think?