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Appearances Aside: Part II by: Travis Anderson
Crichton peered up at the ceiling of the corridor he, Aeryn, and Soren slowly proceeded down. The tier they were upon echoed with the clanging echoes of the grapples of the Swarm ships as they locked onto Moya. The grapples were essentially a barbed "leg" extending down form the boarding craft. Two such craft had attached themselves to the Leviathan. According to Soren, each of the craft would contain six soldier drones. They trusted this assessment since Soren and Katryn had already survived a previous boarding. One craft had attached itself atop Moya, another below. This had dictated that the Leviathan?s passengers divide into two reaction teams. Overriding Soren?s protests, it had been decided that he would accompany Aeryn and John to the Cargo Bay and deal with the boarders there. D?Argo, Zhaan, Chiana and Katryn would protect Pilot and Rygel. Soren had objected to Katryn?s inclusion due to her remaining injuries. Her reminder that he suffered from identical injuries had debunked that argument. The Swarm had forced their way into the Docking Bay and now advanced forward. Aeryn had retrieved her heavy blaster as well as equipping Crichton and Soren with pulse rifles. The scrabbling noises caused by the Swarm soldier?s clawed feet resounded through the corridors. After nearly being killed by a single Swarm drone, the sound was nearly paralysing. The trio reached the Cargo Bay unmolested. They spread out across the room. Aeryn and Soren positioned themselves at two of the room?s corners. They had created an intersecting field of fire. Crichton was placed in the centre position. The door opposite that of their entrance opened. Nothing appeared in the open doorway. Microns ticked by, feeling like arns. Tentatively, two twitching antennas pierced the doorway. The head of a Swarm drone followed the antennas. Like the first drone they?d encountered, this one was unarmed. It entered slowly. Its head and antenna turned side to side, sweeping the entire bay. From behind the cargo container she crouched behind, Aeryn tensed. She could see the drone with one eye. Come on you bastard, signal your friends. She could feel her grip tighten as she grew more apprehensive, waiting for the bloodletting to begin. This was far from Aeryn?s first combat. Nor was it the worst position she?d defended. She?d faced greater odds before with far less unease. Ruefully, she was forced to acknowledge that her dread came from having more to lose personally than she?d had on those previous occasions. Previously, she?d fought for duty and honour. It had never been personal. She?d taken it personally, but it had never been about friends or family. She realised that she had begun considering the others as friends. She glanced towards Crichton?s position. She didn?t know what the frelling hells she considered him. She heard more scraping noises and turned back to see the other drones joining the first. It only took a few moments for all six to assemble. They moved smoothly confidently. They were the most efficient unit Aeryn had ever witnessed. She felt a stab of jealousy as she compared them to her old unit. "Soren, Crichton." She whispered into her comm badge, "On my mark." She mentally counted down four microns as Crichton had first shown D?Argo and then her, "One mippippipi, two mippippipi, three mippippipi, four mippippipi...Now!" Aeryn rose, swinging her blaster into position. She opened fire as soon as her barrel was aimed at the enemy. Action and thought flowed as one. It was fluidity born of a lifetime of training and discipline. The barrage of chakran fire seared into the Swarm. The first four literally exploded as their softer, moister innards overheated under their carapaces and expanded. The sudden release of their internal organs was almost as lethal for Moya?s defenders as it was for the invaders. The flying remnants of the carapace acted like shrapnel as they flew outwards from their original owner. The unexpected grenade effect cost the swarm two more of their number. It also took its toll on the Defenders. If not for the barricades they?d hidden behind, they would have been skewered instead of receiving minor wounds as they dove for cover. Before they could recover their footing, the two surviving drone survivors sped past them into Moya?s corridor. "Frelling dren eaters!" Aeryn snarled as she pushed herself up off the floor. She looked across at Crichton and Soren. They were bloodied from minor wounds received from flying chunks of carapace. "Are you both all right?" she asked with a blend of anger and concern. "Yeah, fine." Crichton replied sourly, brushing pieces of Swarm digestive tract of his shoulder. "I?ve been better," Soren answered, "but I?ll live. Did they get past us?" "Yes." She replied stiffly. "Then I guess we?d better go after them." Crichton sighed. D?Argo?s cry could be heard echoing throughout the entire tier. He was on the right side of the entrance. Katryn was on the other. Chiana and Zhaan took position behind barricades set up on either side of Pilot?s hub. They?d erected a blast shield to protect the symbiotic alien, who had no defence if the Swarm pushed past the other defenders. They?d waited patiently for the Swarm to arrive while the others proceeded to the Cargo Bay. When the Swarm drones had arrived, they?d met stiff resistance. It was also a defence that was slightly too vigorous. Chiana, though an excellent marksman, had become so unnerved that she began firing at any movement she saw. If Zhaan had possessed any hair, it would have been singed. "They are retreating." D?Argo announced happily. "They?ll be back." Zhaan cautioned. "Of course they?ll be back." D?Argo snapped, "The important thing is that we have drawn first blood." "We have also revealed our defences." Zhaan replied coolly, "I doubt they?ll be as unprepared next time." "They have lost half their number." D?Argo replied boisterously, "They shall lose the other half when they present themselves again." "Our perhaps we shall lose half of ours." Zhaan countered. "What are you saying?" D?Argo yelled, "Do you wish to surrender?" "No." Zhaan answered in exasperation, "I am advising that we try a different tactic. They know our current posture. Katryn is injured. Chiana is...impulsive at best. She may prove a greater hazard then the Swarm." "Hey!" "I would agree with you," Katryn said hoarsely, "except they are coming back. We?ll have to finish this discussion later." "Agreed." D?Argo said with finality and swung his Q?alta rifle into position. "Pilot, where are the Swarm drones that got past us?" Aeryn asked into her comm. "They at the tier access and headed up towards their fellows here at Control." "They?re above us?" "Presently, yes." "Is there any way of cutting them off?" "There is another access near your position." She turned to Crichton and Soren, "Let?s go." D?Argo ducked back behind the doorway as venom sprayed the open space. He glanced towards Katryn. Half of her face and body were covered in the thick, yellow substance. Her eyes rolled back in her head before she collapsed to the ground and began convulsing. "D?Argo." Pilot said. Everyone ignored him. "Zhaan!" D?Argo yelled as he prepared to return fire, "Katryn is injured!" "D?Argo." Pilot said. "I know." Zhaan called out form her position. She was laying down suppressive fire. Chiana was firing as well. She fired in near continuos volleys in stark contrasts to D?Argo and Zhaan?s carefully controlled bursts. "This is very important." Pilot tried to inform them. "Well," D?Argo called out impatiently, "can you assist her?" "Two drones got past Aeryn and Crichton. They are headed our way." Pilot announced, although no one listened. "That is extremely difficult since I am currently providing additional fire support for you." "They will be here at any moment." "Send Chiana." "In fact, they have arrived." Chiana cried "No!" "Then have her provide cover fire while you retrieve Katryn." "They are approaching from the opposite direction." "No!" Zhaan cried. "They are clinging to the ceiling. This may allow them to avoid detection." D?Argo rolled his eyes as he fired another shot. Aeryn, Soren, and Crichton were running as fast as they could. They ignored the potential dangers of ambush as they charged through the corridors. Pilot had informed them that the two other drones had joined the two surviving drones attacking Control. He had also informed them that no one was heeding his warnings and hence were unaware of the new threat. "Why won?t you go?" Chiana demanded to know, facing Zhaan. "Because I am uncertain that you will not inadvertently shoot me." "Inadvertent means it accidental." Chiana reminded. "It kills nonetheless, regardless of intent." Zhaan explained in measured tones, "That is why you should go." "I?m not going." Chiana said defiantly. "Will someone go?" D?Argo yelled just before a drone dropped into the doorway from the corridor ceiling. Aeryn rounded the corner and could see one of the drones. She fired her rifle form the hip as she ran towards it. The bursts caught the Swarm soldier in the back. She ignored the stings from the carapace fragments as they pelted her. D?Argo swore savagely as he tried to block the drones? blow with his rifle. A massive discharge of chakran bursts pelted the insectoid. It exploded. D?Argo grunted in pain as he received multiple cutusions from the blast. Aeryn fired another burst. The drone over her running form. It sailed cleanly over her head. It landed behind her. Aeryn gritted her teeth as she swung about to try and counter the drones? counter-strike. Before she had completed half of her turn, the drone exploded. She wiped the remains off of her face to see Crichton and Soren with both their weapons pointed in her direction. They were extremely agitated and Crichton was waving his hands. "Get down!" John yelled. Aeryn felt a stabbing pain in her side. She looked down to see a stinger in her side. She turned to see the final drone looking over its shoulder at her. It withdrew its stinger and leapt for the doorway to Control. Aeryn felt a burning rush through her body. She looked down at her hands to see them shaking uncontrollably. She dropped her rifle only to follow it to the ground. She thrashed about helplessly. Soren vaulted over her as John rushed to her side. He swept her rifle away and pulled her pistol from her leg and tossed it away. He propped her head up on his knees and tried to protect it. He monitored her tongue carefully, making sure her airway was clear. "Hang on." He urged through teeth gritted in desperate fear, "Just hang on." The drone landed in the middle of the clear space in Control. Chiana loosed another volley at the alien. Her rifle expended the last of its chakran oil as she severed the third segment off the drone. Zhaan completed the exercise by lobbing off the lower most limbs. Soren burst into the room. He saw the drone on its remaining four limbs crawling towards the barricade that Chiana and Zhaan stood behind. He turned to his right and saw Katryn lying on the floor. He couldn?t see her breathing. He dropped to one knee and checked her respiration and pulse. There was nothing. Soren stood, consumed by a hollowness he?d never imagined. He calmly walked around the quivering drone to stand before it. He stared into its multi-faceted eyes. He expected to feel loathing or hatred. He was surprised to find he felt nothing. Soren aimed his rifle at its head and fired. It exploded. He continued to stare at it pitilessly as the quivering ceased. He thought that he should feel better somehow, but he was consumed by an emptiness that seemed to be an endless chasm within his soul. D?Argo grunted as he rose form the floor. He glanced about, "I take it we won?" "If you can call it victory." Soren replied tonelessly. "Will somebody help us?" Crichton?s voice called out desperately. Zhaan rushed out into the corridor. Chiana stared at Soren as his eyes remained affixed to the drone?s corpse. D?Argo placed his hand on his shoulder. "She died a warrior?s death." He said with respect, "You should be proud." Soren?s eyes rose to meet his. D?Argo was frightened by what he saw there, "I am proud of her, friend D?Argo. Hers is but the first death of thousands to come." "I hate to interrupt." Pilot interjected, "The two Swarm ships have disengaged from the hull. They appear to be charging weapons." "What?s happening to her?" John asked frantically as Zhaan examined Aeryn. Her convulsions had mellowed considerably. She merely lay twitching now. It still nearly ripped John?s heart out to see her like this. It?s the neurotoxin." Zhaan answered, "It has flooded her system." "Her convulsions are milder." He said hopefully. "That is merely the sign of her body?s weakening." Zhaan replied clinically, "We must prepare an anti-venom immediately." She glanced up towards Crichton, "Can you stay with her?" "Yeah." He agreed, "For as long as it takes." Zhaan nodded and hurried off to the lab. "Somehow, I thought that would be your answer." "Do you have an defences against energy weapons?" Soren asked calmly. "None worth mentioning." D?Argo answered ruefully. "That implies the existence of something." Soren replied with a raised eyebrow. "We have an untested shield generator stripped of a Peacekeeper derelict and installed by a captured Peacekeeper tech." "Ah, I see your hesitation to try it now." "I thought you might." D?Argo replied wryly, "It appears our deaths will be next amongst those thousands you mentioned." "Perhaps." Soren commented, devoid of emotion or concern. One of the Swarm ships exploded as an object impacted it. "What is happening?" D?Argo asked. Another object streaked into the other ship, destroying it as well. Flashes filled space as dozens of Swarm ships disappeared in explosions. "What?s going on?" Chiana asked. "A dozen ships have entered this system and are firing at the Swarm." Pilot reported. "The Warden ships have arrived." Soren replied joylessly. "Will she live?" John asked for the hundredth time. "It is too early to tell." Zhaan answered with forced patience. "How soon until we can tell?" "John!" Zhaan snapped, "There is no way of telling. Your incessant questions are serving no purpose except to annoy everyone." "Sorry." He said sheepishly. "It?s all right." Zhaan sighed, placing a hand on his shoulder, "It is good to see that you care so deeply for her. It will aid her recovery." "Really?" "It will provide her with a spiritual lifeline upon which to anchor herself." "Aeryn doesn?t believe in the spiritual." "Perhaps she shall after this, she shall." John was still maintaining his vigil by Aeryn?s bedside when Soren appeared in the doorway, "Do you have a moment?" "Yeah, sure." Crichton said and moved out into the corridor with him. "I?m sorry about what happened to Katryn." John said with regret. "Zhaan discovered that her previous exposure and injuries made her more susceptible to the venom. She stood no chance against a second exposure." "I don?t know what to say." "Don?t say anything." Soren replied, "Just do something for me." "Anything." "Look after her." Soren said, nodding in Aeryn?s direction, "Let her know how much you care." John looked rather shocked, "How...where?" "I think ?why? is traditionally the next one." Soren commented dryly, "It?s frelling obvious to everyone with visual sensing organs Crichton." "I?ll take your word for that." "Promise me you?ll find some place you both cane settle. Do not leave her alone in this universe." "I promise." John replied solemnly. He paused then told Soren, "I wish we could help you with this war." "I know." Soren assured him, "But you cannot. It is better that you survive to remember us." John didn?t know what to say. Soren shook his hand, then took his leave without any further word. John watched him go with dread creeping into his heart. He knew it would be the last time he would ever see the Warden again. Two days later, Aeryn?s eyes fluttered open. She groggily looked about. She was in her quarters. How had she arrived here? She looked to her left to find Crichton dozing in a chair. His beard had several days growth and he appeared completely dishevelled. If she hadn?t felt like death warmed over, she would have laughed. As it was, she barely mustered the strength to reach out and grab Crichton?s leg. He stirred, but did not awaken as she tugged at his pants. "Crichton!" she croaked as she jerked at his pants again. He awoke with a start, "What? Aeryn! You?re alive!" The undisguised joy in Crichton?s voice worried Aeryn. Had she been so close to death that no one expected her to live? Why was he so happy? What did that mean? Was this going to turn into another incomprehensible story about his homeworld? "The drones?" she managed to ask. "Dead." John replied happily, "We swatted everyone of ?em." "Good." Aeryn said with satisfaction, "What about Soren and Qek?" John?s joy disappeared, "Katryn died while we were defending Moya. Soren returned to Perit." "Are they under attack?" "Yes." He said sadly, "We?ve received some broadcasts. The Swarm has attacked the system." "How is it going?" John managed to keep his face from falling, "They?re holding their own." He lied. He would tell her the truth later when she was stronger. ""Even better." She gave him a quizzical glance, "Do you remember when we discussed human beliefs?" "Yeah, why?? "I...I think I saw something." She answered hesitantly. "What?" he asked with mounting enthusiasm. She gave him an irritated glance, "I how would I know? I have no training in such things. My people don?t believe in any supernatural realms." "Sorry." John said quickly to head off her anger. She was tiring swiftly. "Aeryn, I need to talk to you." "Really?" she asked groggily. She was fading fast. "Actually, it?s more like I need to tell you some things." "Then tell me." She said impatiently between yawns. "Well...I?m...I?m..." "Crichton, just say it." She murmured. "I?m really glad you?re okay." He said, avoiding his true thoughts. "S? I?m I." She lisped as he faded into unconsciousness. He watched her sleep for a few more minutes. He tried to imagine how life would have been if she hadn?t lived. It wasn?t a subject he could bear to dwell on for long. He sighed as he sank back into his chair. "Someday," he said to Aeryn?s peaceful form, "we need to have a loooong talk." Soren stood facing the imager. The tourniquet around the stump of his left arm was all that kept him form bleeding to death. The bridge around him was smashed into ruin, littered with dead bodies. The space around them was filled with dead Warden ships and living Swarm ships. The 1st Citizen of Peritan?s image gazed back at him. The image was as forlorn and weary as Soren?s own. "So you feel the battle is lost?" "Yes, 1st Citizen. It was lost before we engaged them." "But we have superior weapons." Soren nodded, "Yes, we do. They have superior numbers." "They?ve landed on the planet and our advancing on the cities." "We have to end this now." Soren said grimly. "I don?t know." The 1st Citizen said doubtfully, "I?m not sure there isn?t another way." "I am sure." Soren replied savagely, "They eat their prisoners. We should leave them nothing to feed on." Th 1st Citizen nodded with finality, "I agree." He looked up and stared at Soren, "Thank you. You make me proud to be a Peritan." "What you?re about to do justifies that pride." The 1st Citizen reached down to the console before him and unlocked a panel with his thumbprint. Within the panel lay a keypad and a single thumbpad. He keyed in a numerical sequence, then pressed his thumb against the pad. He prayed that whatever gods may exist would be merciful toward his people. The console transmitted a signal to every fusion and fission plant on and around the planet. The cooling cycles of every reactor deactivated while the reactors were run harder and hotter. Nuclear bombs began detonating aboard the ships and launchers they were carried in. Bombs hidden under the cities detonated as every powerplant exploded. Peritan and its surrounding space were consumed in nuclear fire. No living thing was to be found in the entire binary system ten minutes after the final thumbprint was scanned.
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