Be Careful What you Wish For by: Alara

"Be Careful What You Wish For"
A Farscape Fanfic by Alara (aka Assassin)
	John Crichton stared out the porthole at the endless, unfamiliar stars, and sighed. "Hey, Dad." He 
said into the recorder. "My thoughts this time: ...I miss home; the sights, the scents, the sounds of 
Earth... But mostly, I miss the feel of being on solid Earth, not just any planet, but the feeling that 
yes, this is home."
	He paused, gathering his thoughts. "To be honest, I've kept myself busy enough so far 
that I really haven't had a chance to just sit... and think, y'know? It's always been that I'd start 
thinking, start recording some message to you... And be interrupted before it was finished. Then 
I'd come back and have no idea what I was talking about, and just begin again. Since I've been 
given my token ten seconds of thinking for this time," This slightly sarcastically, "Let me say this 
quick, before I forget it: One of the things I miss most is-- other human beings. You have no idea 
what it's like... I'll want to discuss history, say, or make a reference to something like the 
Constitution, and I'll have no one to say it to. Or if I do say it, everyone else turns and looks at 
me, as if to say, 'Silly human.' 'Stupid alien.' ...Sometimes, I wish there were another human, or 
two, to talk to--"
	"Crichton." Came D'Argo's voice over the comm suddenly.  Crichton pulled the recorder 
away from his mouth. 
	"Yeah, D'Argo?"
	?We need your assistance in Command. Now.? The tentacled alien said without 
preamble.
	?Sheez, OK, D?Argo, be there in a minute,? Crichton sighed. He broke the
 communications link, then spoke again into the recorder. ?Well, Dad, it?s like I told you? My ten 
seconds of quiet are up.  I?ll try to record more later.? He clicked off the recorder then, and sat a 
moment, wishing for? normality.
	Then, with a sigh, he dutifully headed up to Command.
	Aeryn Sun woke, damp with sweat.
	Her heart slowly stopped pounding as she shakily ran a hand through her tangled, dark 
hair. :I really am beginning to hate that dream,: she thought to herself. 
	The dream was always the same, and watching the same thing over and over was 
getting frelling annoying, not to mention disturbing.
	She and Crichton were on the Terrace together, silently looking out at the stars. They 
would become closer and closer, now just grazing, now their shoulders pressed tightly against 
each other, now close enough to feel his arms begin to encircle her, and hers, him?
	Then, suddenly, with a sure swiftness that amazed her each time?something drove 
between them, shoving them violently apart, so far that she could barely see Crichton.
	She reached for him, and her hands burned?
	
At this point, she always woke up, and the dream went no further.
	 Even more upsetting than the dream itself, though, were the accompanying feelings: 
Feelings of closeness, of belonging, of oneness, of just-rightness; feelings she felt while? in 
Crichton?s arms? And even more intense?and puzzling?were the feelings of utter, total loss and 
abandonment when they were ripped asunder?that felt as though her very soul were being 
raked with claws, shredded to lie, hurting, on the floor.
	Most disturbing of all was that she felt these things at all?Peacekeepers didn?t feel! Well, 
they felt, but they were always able to suppress and ignore them; less distractions that way.
	And they certainly didn?t feel for aliens, no matter how Sebacean they looked on the 
outside. She, Aeryn Sun, condemned for that very sin of contamination, ought to know that better 
than anyone.
	Not, of course, that she actually felt anything for Crichton. Oh, no.
	But then what was the dream about? And why was it so infuriatingly emotionally 
disturbing?
	The harsh sound of D?Argo?s voice cut through these disquieting thoughts, for which 
Aeryn was grateful.
	?Aeryn, we need you in Command at once.? He said.
	?I?ll be right there.? She answered, shoving her musings into a mental drawer, and locking it securely. :And Crichton will not distract me,: she added mentally.
	Rising, she headed towards Command, wondering what on Sebacea was up.
 End part 1?
Please, Comments and Criticisms are greatly appreciated! Should I just give up now and not 
bother finishing this, or shall I continue?
--Assassin
Again, comments/criticisms are appreciated? For the record, Part 1 is dedicated to Shrift for being so kind as to allow me to write? This part is dedicated to all those nice people who emailed me about continuing this? namely, Jose Eris, Tanya, and Jessica!
NOTE: phrases enclosed in colons (:) mean a thought, ie, :I can?t believe this!: They?re in the character?s head, not spoken aloud.
Part 2: BCWYWF by Assassin/Alara
Aeryn arrived in command, out of breath. 
Everyone else was there: Zhaan was monitoring something at a station, D?Argo was glaring malevolently at the blank viewscreen, and Rygel was doing nothing (as usual).
?What?s happening?? she asked ?And where?s Crichton??
 Crichton walked in ?What?s up?? he asked, the alien phrase now familiar.
?That is what is ?up,? ? D?Argo said, pointing at the viewscreen, which flickered to life. A ship hung in the blanket of space. Aeryn considered the ship :It doesn?t look like any I?ve seen before?except Crichton?s ship!: 
Indeed the ship, though badly damaged, bore a striking resemblance to the Farscape I. 
?Explain this!? D?Argo demanded in a loud tone. 
Zhaan chimed in ?We only want to know if this really is a ship from your world, John, or if it is an elaborate Peacekeeper trap.? ?A trap?? Aeryn scoffed, ?Why would Peacekeepers set up a trap, when they could simply apprehend us??
Everyone jumped as a communications link suddenly opened up. A buxom blond stared out at them. 
?Please, can you help us? I?m the only human out here?? Everyone looked to Crichton, deciding that since it was his ?kinsman? he should respond. He blinked several times, swallowed, and licked suddenly dry lips. 
?Yeah?yeah we can help you.? He answered, his voice thight and hoarse.
 The woman?s impossibly huge and long lashed blue eyes brightened and filled with tears as she realized he had an American accent. 
?A-are you John Crichton?? She hazarded. Crichton could only nod dumbly. Aeryn thought, seeing the look on his face, :How can he look at her like that? Well? she _is_ pretty, but she obviously has no mind.: She thought scornfully. :But if he likes _her_ type as a mate?And I?m her complete opposite?  Do I even stand a chance?:
 ?Oh, you don?t know how much of a relief this is! I?ve been looking and looking all over for you?? She was interrupted by the large, handsome man who came up behind her. 
?Kassandra, you got through and didn?t tell me?? He accused. 
?Um, well? I was going to tell you?? she said uncertainly.
:Aken, I can?t believe it.: Aeryn thought, amazed. :Can I never be rid of him?: Aken had been a man whom John would deem a boyfriend; a man with whom she _had_ ?clicked?. Well, at least at the beginning, until he decided to try to force the relationship to a level she wasn?t ready for yet. Her skin crawled as she realized that he would soon be on Moya. With her. And he?d probably try to get her alone? she shivered involuntarily. 
?This is Aken,? Kassandra introduced. ?He?s a Sebacean. Oh, I see you know one already.? she said, seeing the other woman.  :Whoa, was that a look of _hate_ she just sent Aeryn?s way?: Crichton wondered, protectiveness welling up inside of him. Jealousy, too, seeing the half-suppressed look of surprise on her face, and misinterpreting it as desire. 
?May we be allowed to board your ship?? Aken asked in clipped tones. ?I?m afraid we won?t last long in this one. Oh, and don?t worry, I?m not a _Peacekeeper_.? He spat the last at Aeryn.  John exchanged glances with everyone else. Receiving nods from them, albeit a reluctant one from Aeryn, he told Aken, ?Sure, we?ll meet you down there.?
He couldn?t explain the sense of foreboding.							End Part 2
Part 3 BCWYWF by Assassin/Alara
As they made their way to the docking bay, John and Aeryn lagged a bit behind the others.
?Hey.?  Crichton said.
?What?? Aeryn asked irritably, then felt a pang or remorse as she saw a hurt look flash briefly across John's face. Mentally she cursed herself for saying the wrong thing? again. :I always seem to be able to say just the thing that?s an insult in his native tongue! Or I?ll let something completely belittling out of my mouth? and he always tries to hide the hurt and anger. I hate him sometimes!: She ignored the tiny voice in her head that whispered, No you don?t?you love him. ?Did you have something to ask me?? she said in a nicer, more contrite, apologetic tone.
?Yeah, actually? Do you know what was with that Aken guy?s ?Peacekeeper? comment? He seemed rather?well, hateful.?
Aeryn shook her head. ?Old history. Don?t worry about it.?
Crichton stopped abruptly, as though he had walked face-first into a brick wall. ?Old history? Wait? you can?t mean that you dated this guy?can you??
	?That?s exactly what I mean. Why is that so troubling?? she asked curiously.
?Ah? no real reason. Just? did you and he part as friends??
?No.? She seemed discomforted by the question, giving a short, terse reply. Crichton nearly growled in frustration. :Any time I get the woman to really talk to me, I say something stupid, and we?re back to monosyllables again. Argh!:
?So?? he tried again, ?You had a bad break-up??
Aeryn snorted in reply. ?You don?t know the half of it,? she muttered, and hurried to catch up with D?Argo, who would ask her no probing questions.
Aken smirked to himself as he readied himself to greet their new ?hosts,? as Kassandra insisted on calling them. :Aeryn Sun? how long? Four, five years? Well, maybe the Ice Queen will have thawed by now, and be more? receptive to me. If not,: he mentally shrugged, :Well, I?ll just have to make sure she?s not wearing boots this time.: He had found out in an extremely bad way (for males) how strong Officer Sun?s legs were. All because she couldn?t be a good little PK girl and be friendly with the civilians?namely, him.
Kassasdra watched him out of the corner of her eye, not liking at all the sadistic smirk on his face. She hoped it wasn?t about her; he was a brute of a man, she?d found in the weeks he?d been on board with her.  She was glad she would finally get the chance to get away from him; he gave her the creeps.
?Penny for your thoughts?? she offered.
He looked at her, mentally admiring her figure, then comparing it to Aeryn?s. No competition. ?What for my thoughts??
?Human phrase. What are you thinking about??
?An old? friend.?
?Oh, you mean that dark-haired woman??
?Yes, of course; why would I know any of the rest of them?? he impatiently snapped.  She shrank            back at his tone.  His mouth twisted into a sneer at how easily this female was frightened. He continued, ?We have some unfinished business to attend to. If you?ll just keep that male human out of my way, I guarantee you that I won?t bother you anymore.?
?Oh,? she laughed suddenly, ?You won?t have a problem getting me near that human! He is soooo cute!? She exclaimed.
?What do I care about your mating prospects?? He grimaced at her words. ?Keep it to yourself.?
?Keep your own to yourself then,? she shot back, knowing full well what ?business? Aken had with the woman. 
He lunged at her, gripping her shoulders painfully in his massive hands. ?You keep that chattering mouth shut about my business!?
?I will.? She said, then smiled slyly. ?On one condition.?
His eyes narrowed. Glaring at her, he said, ?I don?t do conditions.?
?You?ll do this one. In exchange for keeping quiet about your plans, and keeping the guy out of your way, you keep the woman very busy, and out of my way. Use whatever means you have to, just keep her away.?
?Why should you care what she does?? Aken asked suspiciously.
Kassasdra blew out an irritated breath, puffing her peroxide-blond hair out of her face. ?Men,? she muttered to herself, ?Even across the universe, they?re still dense.?
?What did you say?? the now-furious Aken asked; he hated it when people didn?t speak loud enough that he could hear them!
?I said that only if you were three-quarters blind, deaf, dumb and mute could you miss the looks they gave each other. It?s obvious that they?re in love. And it?s equally obvious that neither has any idea. So if we make our moves now, there will be no problem of them preferring each other to us. Understand??
He nodded slowly, absentmindedly dropping Kassandra to the floor. ?Yes, them falling in love would pose a problem? she?d have a protector then??
?So, is it a deal?? the blond asked, looking into a mirror and teasing her hair so it fell in a cloud around her face.
?It?s a deal.? He agreed, then turned to exit the ship.
End Part 3. As always, Comments are appreciated! And if anyone has a scene they?d like to see in a fic, or an idea for a fic, I?m always open to input! :D
Part 4: BCWYWF by Alara
	Crichton?s jaw dropped as he saw the two figures coming down the ship?s landing ramp. Well, he thought, they?re certainly a pair? a pair of what is the question.
	The woman?Kassandra?was?well? ?well-endowed? was the best thing he could come up with to describe her. As she neared him, ?obviously sex-starved? occurred to him as well. But? something about her turned him completely off. Stone-cold. Nada feeling for her- other than disgust at her obvoius easiness.
	Aken, the Sebacean man, on the other hand, quickly went to Aeryn and was looming over her, his massive frame topping her by at least a foot.  She supressed a shudder at the intent she saw clearly in his eyes when he looked at her.
	Unconsciously, both Aeryn and John moved a step away from their ?guests?, coming to stand shoulder-to-shoulder.  The two humans and the two Sebaceans stood looking at each other for a few seconds. No one spoke. 
D?Argo, Zhaan, and Rygel watched from a few feet away, curiously wondering whether this was some odd human/Sebacean greeting ritual, or if Aeryn and John were really as uncomfortable as they looked.
	Rygel floated forward briskly then, having been bored long enough, watching the four look at each other. ?I am Rygel XVI, Dominar of the Hymerian Empire.? He announced formally, breaking the tensoin. Everyone exchanged glances as Kassandra and Aken burst out laughing.
	?Sorry, your Eminence, but we?ve met the Dominar,? Aken said, ?And you aren?t him!? 
	?Well, I?m the rightful Dominar.? Rygel muttered, then subsided.
	?Ah, yes, well? Uhm. I?m John Crichton, a human,? John introduced himself to the newcomers, ?And this is Pa?u Zotoh Zhaan, a Delvian; Ka D?Argo, a Luxan warroir, and Officer Aeryn Sun, a Sebacean.? He didn?t think it necessary to state the obvoius: that Aeryn was a Peacekeeper, as well.
	?Former officer.? Aeryn hissed at him.
	?Shh! They don?t know that.? John whispered back. 
	?Fine.?
	?So? shall we all go get something to eat? Or perhaps our guests have brought something?? Rygel asked hopefully then.
	?A fine idea, Rygel,? Zhaan said. ?A meal would be best to learn about each other.?
	?Oh, I bet some of us know something about the others.? Aken said then. D?Argo, puzzled by this apparent non sequiteur, asked him, ?What do you mean??
	?Ah? just that since Aeryn?s a Sebacean woman, I can?guess?some things about her, as a Sebacean man?? Aken said. 
	D?Argo?s eyes narrowed as he considered the man?s words. There was nothing wrong with the statement itself, in fact it was probably quite true. However, D?Argo didn?t quite like the way Aken said it. Posessively, almost.
	?Just make sure you do not create any problems, or you will have to deal with me.? D?argo warned, and strode ahead to talk to Crichton and Kassandra. 
	Aeryn had been watching Crichton talk with Kassandra, and?was it her imagination?- he did not seem to be enjoying himself at all! She couldn?t help but grin, and nearly jumped a foot when Aken?s voice came low next to her ear. ?Smiling about having me back??
	The smile abruptly left her face, and Areyn scowled at him, moving away. He followed, coming around in front of her so she had to stop.  She tried to get around him, but he effectively blocked her path.
	?What, Sun? You?re not happy to see me again? I?m hurt.? He said, a completely unconvincing pout on his face. She sighed, rolled her eyes, and said, ?No. I had hoped I would never have to see your repulsive self again.?
	?Oh, Sun? now I?m really hurt? You mean you don?t want to continue where we left off??
	?We didn?t ?leave off?. We finished. Ended. No more. You never seemed to be able to get that!? she snapped, quickly getting furious with the oaf.
	?Come now, Sun.  You?re just playing hard to get? You always did like to play games, didn?t you? Leading a man on, and then dropping him at the last second.? He growled, the fury in his voice matching hers. Aeryn suddenly realized that he had kept her here long enough that the others were long out of sight? and that in the past five years, he had obviously held a grudge against her. And she, Aeryn Sun, kickass Peacekeeper who could look Bailar Crais in the eyes and spit in them without flinching, became deeply afraid.
	Aken swiftly came toward her, grabbing her arm and twisting it behind her, jerking it up away from her body, up past the shoulderblade before she could react. When he jerked her toward him, however, Peacekeeper training instinctively kicked in; she twisted her arm from the soulder, the bone scraping along the socket, to throw him over her head to land in a heap of the floor in front of her. Before he could move, she knelt over him, knees on his arms, fingers against the pressure points in his throat, those points that would stop the blood flow to and from his small brain, the points that would rid her of him forever?
	?You know I could kill you right now,? she informed him. ?But I?ve learned restraint from my friends here, and I do not wish to lose them. You, however, are going to decide to leave at the next available place. Got it?? Before he could even nod, Crichton  came jogging down the corridor, calling, ?Hey! Aeryn! Aken!? 
	Quickly, Aeryn got off of Aken and tugged him to his feet. Crichton came around the corner. ?Oh, there you two are. We?re about ready to eat, if you want to join us.? He spoke shortly, quickly; he walked in, saw Aeryn and Aken separating, Aken?s face flushed, Aeryn with that I-didn?t-do-anything look upon her face, added that to the fact that Aeryn had told him that they used to date, and made the obvious assumption. But didn?t she say they had had a bad break-up? He wondered, and figured he must have heard wrong. 
	He turned, saying, ?Well. Are you coming?? to them. Then, not waiting for an answer, he strode off thinking how lousy ther houseguests were: Kassandra was a bore, and interested only in bedding him, and Aeryn liked the Aken guy. That was enough to make Crichton hate him as well.
	Aeryn hurried after him, not knowing why he was suddenly surly, but determined to find out. At least he doesn?t seem to be interested in that Kassdra person, she thought.
	Neither saw the look of hatred Aken sent their way as he came after them.
Part 5: Be Careful What You Wish For by Alara
	When Aken, Crichton, and Aeryn arrived at what Crichton referred to as the mess hall, the others had nearly finished setting out the evening?s meal, such as it was. Kassandra somehow managed to get a place right beside Crichton. Claiming that she missed human company so much, she couldn?t bear to be parted from him, even by a table. Much to Aeryn?s chagrin, Aken sat beside her, thigh-to-thigh, and tired to convince her throughout the meal that she really did want him, and insinuating that no matter what, they would end up in bed together. He made no obvious threats, just veiled comments that only she would know exactly what he was saying and what he meant. The others simply assumed he was wooing or courting her according to Sebacean custom, of which they knew little about.
	Kassandra looked with distaste at the food cubes and seemingly stale, graham cracker-looking foodstuffs. So instead of eating, she instead concentrated on Crichton throughout the meal. His conversations went something like this all night:
	Crichton: ?Hey, Zhaan, pass me those food cubes, willya??
	Kassandra, whispering: ?I can give you a much tastier dessert??
	Crichton, pointedly: ?Gee, these food cubes sure are filling and delicious, not to mention nutritious, Kassandra. Why don?t you try one??
	Kassandra, still murmuring in his ear: ?I can see something better to consume at this table??
	Crichton, to Zhaan, ignoring Kassandra: ?So, tell me more about Delvian custom? To continue our conversation from last night.?
	Zhaan, trying to be diplomatic and inclusive: ?Actually, I would prefer to hear about your world from a different source, rather than speak about my own. Would you oblige, Kassandra??
	Crichton, thinking: Dang!
	Kassandra, rudely, to Zhaan: ?Oh, I think I?d rather find out more about Crichton, here.? Murmuring to him: ?A lot more?intimate?things, hmm??
	Aeryn, on the other hand, had no problem with ignoring Aken. She did it quite successfully the whole meal, only paying attention to him when he asked her to pass such-and-such to him. It was the others in their immediate vicinity who created problems for her, apparently liking Aken from the start:
	Rygel: ?So? are you a Peacekeeper as well??
	Aken: ?No, just a civilian. But I know some Peacekeepers, and usually they are surprisingly?welcoming.? 
	D?Argo: ?Really? My experiences with them have been? less than pleasant. Maybe it is different because you are a Sebacean, if not a Peacekeeper.?
	Aken: ?Perhaps it is different for that reason. But I sense Aeryn Sun here is different from most Peacekeepers you have met. Is that true??
	Rygel, guardedly: ?What makes you say that??
	Aken: ?The fact that none of you have seen fit to kill her for being a Peacekeeper tells me that she, in particular, must have some outstanding attributes. Perhaps she is a very good companion to be on a journey with. Or perhaps she is very accepting of others? differences.?
	D?Argo: ?She had proved herself to be that, yes.?
	Aken: ?Maybe I?ll see that companionable, accepting side of you later, then, Sun??
	Aeryn: ?Maybe.?
	Aken, conversationally: ?I believe my only problem will be finding my way about the ship. Could one of you oblige me with a tour??
	Rygel: ?Aeryn, why don?t you; you should enjoy his company more than the rest of us, being of the same race as him.?
	This suggestion is met with wide approval, at which Aeryn finally answers: ?Fine. A tour then. After dinner??
	Aken, smiling: ?After dinner is fine.?
	In the same way, Crichton got roped into being a tour guide for Kassandra. Neither Crichton nor Aeryn particularly liked these developments, especially when one heard of the other?s ?assignment?. 
	Aeryn seethed, How dare that female try to take him from me! ?But then I didn?t take the opportunity that this time has given me to make him mine, so I may say nothing now! He was never mine to be taken from me. That, I regret now deeply.
	Crichton moaned, Why is this woman stuck on my like Super-Glue? When I said I wanted another human around, I meant an intelligent one! And she never shuts up?I much prefer Aeryn?s quiet, contemplative near-silence?And why am I comparing her to Aeryn all of a sudden? That Aken guy has her, she?s not mine, she won?t ever be mine, and I have to get over her and get on with life. Idly he wondered what his father would advise him to do, an activity he found himself doing more and more with problems. He could hear his father?s Texan accent now: Son, you didn?t make the first move on your girl, and now some other guy?s moving in. He likes her; she likes him. You like her; she doesn?t necessarily do anything more?n tolerate you. Meanwhile, you?ve got this gorgeous creature, another human, pract?cally throwin? herself at you, and you?re undecided? Well, of course you are? you know you like Aeryn, even if you won?t tell her that, but you don?t know about this other woman. Well, give ?er a chance, son. She may be your true love; you?re just lettin? an unfavorable first impression get in the way. And if that Aeryn Sun turns out to not like you, well, you got a girl already, and don?t need to feel bad over that. Y?hear what I?m sayin?, son? 
	Crichton shook his head: What was he saying? Did he really want to pass over a chance with Aeryn to take a surety with Kassandra? But he was right about the first impression, and what if she really was his true love? Which one, Aeryn or Kassandra? What if??
	I?ll give her ?til next week, he decided. That should be enough time to see how Aeryn feels about Aken, and how I feel about Kassandra. I?ll make my decision then. Thus comforted, he rose to take Kassandra on her tour, feeling much better about it.
	Aeryn gave her tour to Aken in a monotone, going from Command to Pilot?s chamber, introducing them. From there she went to the cargo bay to the hangar, after which she went to the individual quarters. She started with the room where he was to stay, going next to D?Argo?s, Zhaan?s, Crichton?s, Rygel?s and finally her own quarters. Sauntering in without asking permission first, he seated himself comfortably on her bed. Aeryn frowned and followed him in. He smirked at her. ?Sun, I know why you left your place for last?? he announced smugly.
	?Yes, because it happens to be furthest from your quarters, and I wanted you to know where you will be staying first. They are furthest upon my request.? She added pointedly.
	?Tch. You? are a tease, Sun. You know that? But the real reason you chose your place to be far from mine is so no one will suspect anything between us? And the reason you left your place for last is--?
	 He rose swiftly, crossing the room in only three strides, so quickly that he was beside her before Aeryn even realized that he?d moved.
	??You couldn?t bear to be apart from me another moment.? He finished, bringing his mouth down upon hers with bruising force. His tongue slid obscenely over and between her lips. Aeryn felt her gorge rise, and twisting out of his embrace, stepped back?
	--Against a wall. FrellfrellfrellfrellfrellfrellfrellfrellfrellfrellfrellfrellFRELL! She thought, tensing as he, of course, followed her to the wall. He grabbed her neck, putting pressure on a certain point, and suddenly Aeryn couldn?t feel her legs. She was aware of her sliding down the wall, but she did not feel her legs collapse beneath her.
	?Oh, did I forget to mention that I?ve learned some things in the past five years, Sun?? he asked, and kissed her again, more deeply and demanding this time.
	Suddenly, Rygel?s voice came through the communicator she wore.  ?Aeryn, you are needed in Pilot?s
chamber.  Come at once.?  He demanded in his usual imperial manner. 
	Aken growled in disappointment, releasing her, knowing that the others would suspect something if she
did not answer.  ?Say nothing, or you?ll never feel your legs again.?  He hissed at her, increasing the force he was exerting on her neck.  When she nodded, he let her go. 
	?Yes, Rygel, I?ll be there in a moment.? 
	Oh, and bring your guest with you,? Rygel added.  ?His presence is required also.?   
	Aeryn sighed inwardly at this last addendum.  Silently, she led the way towards Pilot?s chamber, thinking,
He truly frightens me now? before he was just a stupid possessive man? now he?s an intelligent,
educated, vengeful possessive man.  What am I going to do? 
  
End Part 5... 
As always, Please! Email me! If you hate it, tell me why; if you love it, tell me why! (C?mon, who doesn?t want praise?) Heck, if you 
want, you can suggest ideas for future fics so you can read something you like. <shrug> Got a scene you?ve had in your head since 
the show began and would love to see written out? Email me! Wanna see what I think our favorite aliens and human would do in a 
given situation? Email me! (Hey, I can at least try to help you out!)   ;)
Does anyone know what those stretched-hexagon-shaped communicator things are called?? I?ve called them ?communicator beacons? but if anyone knows what they?re actually called, I?d appreciate knowing. 
Part 6 BCWYWF by Alara
	Aeryn walked into Pilot?s chamber, Aken trailing after her.  ?What?s wrong?? she asked immediately.  Crichton looked up in surprise from where he was finishing pinning a communicator beacon to Kassandra?s shirt. ?Wrong? Nothing?s wrong.? He said. ?Why, should there be??
	?No. I was just wondering why we were all called here.?
	?Oh.? He finished fastening the beacon then, and turned toward her. ?No, we just wanted to introduce them to Pilot?and Moya, of course.? He peered at her closely in the dim light of the chamber. ?Are you all right?? he asked, worry furrowing his brow. ?You look a little tense.?
	?Who, me? Tense? Don?t be ridiculous.? Aeryn laughed the comment off, having to consciously relax her posture. She was still very aware of Aken?s close presence. ?Aken?s already met Pilot; I brought him through here on our tour.?
	?Oh. Well,? he leaned forward confidentially; ?We?re going to have a little pow-wow among us after we get rid of Aken and Kassandra.?
	?Pow?wow?? she asked, lifting a dark eyebrow. 
	?Group discussion, between you, me, Rygel, Zhaan, and D?Argo.? Crichton explained with a touch of sarcasm, as though she should have known already. I bet Kassandra would?ve understood that, he thought. He frowned at himself, wondering, Where?d that come from?  He shook the feeling of vague disquiet off and said more gently, ?We want to get each other?s opinions on our houseguests.?
	?I could give you my opinions of them now.? Aeryn said flatly, and moved away, attitude seeping from her. 
	Crichton, of course, followed her. ?Hey, calm down?? hen began, laying a hand on her shoulder. He blinked in shock as she twitched a foot away like a nervous, high-strung horse. ??Aeryn Um?what?s wrong?? You haven?t done that in a while?
	As she answered sharply, ?Nothing?s wrong!? Aeryn wouldn?t meet his eyes. Instead she glanced around the room, to where the others were standing talking with Pilot. Her eyes slid over Zhaan, D?Argo, Aken, and Rygel, then back at Aken, to Kassandra, Aken, Pilot, Aken, Aken, Aken?
	Crichton noticed all of this, and especially picked up on how she kept glancing sideways at Aken. His heart sank to about his knees. She likes him! He thought dispiritedly. I thought she?d hate him, and that I?d have more time to?get to know her, all that stuff. More time to get her to love me? His mouth firmed as he watched her avidly watch Aken. I don?t think she?s taken her eyes off of him since he and Kassandra arrived! And I did see them embracing?sort of. Well, two can play at this game! He decided. Yep, tomorrow, I?ll begin to go after Kassandra. We?ll see what the tough Peacekeeper has to say about that. Heh. Too caught up in his smugness at ?beating? Aeryn, he didn?t hear the tiny voice inside him screaming, No! That?s wrong! You?re going after the wrong girl? 
Two weeks later?
	Aeryn awoke sweat soaked for the twelfth night in a row. The dream had gotten successively worse each night. This night, after she and John had been separated in the dream, Aken had appeared. As she watched in horrified fascination, he reached to her and pulled out her beating heart. Then, as she watched, he would crush it under his foot. It was obvious where that was coming from; it was how he always made her feel, with his comments on John and Kassandra?s growing relationship. This night had been made worse, however, because then Kassandra and John had appeared out of nowhere and helped Aken crush her.
	Oh, how I despise her, Aeryn thought. If she were Sebacean, I?d stick her in an oven in revenge? Unfortunately, Kassandra was not Sebacean, and sticking her in an oven would do no more than singe her, as far as Aeryn knew. -Although singeing her might not be such bad revenge, either?- Aeryn thought, then dismissed it. Besides, where would she get an oven in the Uncharted Territories anyway? She decided to go talk to Pilot.
	Pilot?s had been a surprisingly sympathetic ear, Aeryn had found. He seemed to understand instinctively what was wrong, and to know just what to say. She wondered where he?d learned such empathy? or was it just a part of his genetic makeup? At any rate, he was the only one who would believe her about Aken. John said she was holding their past relationship against him; Zhaan said that he was really quite a deep thinker, that she should give him a chance. D?Argo approved of him because he stood his ground, and knew how to defend himself, and Rygel liked him because Aken supposedly knew the locations of several ?lost? treasures. Rygel didn?t seem to trouble himself with the rather obvious fact that Aken hadn?t actually gone and gotten any of these treasures; he knew their locations, and that was enough for the greedy ex-Dominar.
	No one, of course, seemed to notice that it was she who spent the most time with him. 
	She?d told Pilot, under the strictest of confidences, about her jealousy over John and Kassandra?s relationship. He?d comforted her with his opinion that Crichton didn?t really like her, he more accurately tolerated her. Aeryn would love to believe that, but? still. He spent all that time with Kassandra, and barely spoke one word to her, Aeryn, a day.
	The one thing she hadn?t told anyone about, not even Pilot, were Aken?s increasing tendencies to violence (always bruising where it couldn?t be seen) and his increasing number of dire threats if she told anyone about his abuse. She didn?t say anything, as these threats were usually against someone other than her, most often John. Unless of course she was angry with John, then the threats were against Rygel; instead of threatening Crichton, Aken rubbed in the fact that he?d chosen someone else over her, Aeryn. Aeryn that only Aken wanted, and she didn?t want him, at all, in any way, shape, or form.
	As she made her way to Pilot?s chamber, Aken suddenly appeared in front of her in the corridor as though her thoughts had conjured him up. She stopped short with a stifled gasp of surprise. 
	?Heeeeeeyyyyyyy, Sun.? he said with his most repulsive leer on his face. ?Can?t sleep? Why not??
	None of your business,? Aeryn told him, and moved around him. 
	?It?s me, isn?t it, Sun?? he asked. 
	Yeah, but not like you?re thinking, you frelling idiot, Aeryn thought, saying, ?No. It doesn?t concern you, so let me by.?
	?I think it does concern me, Sun?I think you?re lying to me. You know I don?t like liars.?
	?And I don?t like people getting in my way, so leave me alone!? Aeryn replied.
	?Oh, you don?t, do you? You don?t like people getting in your way like this? Huh?? he smirked, coming close to her and blocking her way forward with his body.
	A cold rage enveloped Aeryn suddenly. How dare he--! She exploded into sudden motion, slamming her knee deep into his groin. She felt more than heard a sickening crunch. She didn?t stay to see the damage she?d caused, only ran down the corridor away from him. 
	He yelled at her back, ?You?ll pay for this! I swear you will!? 
	She smirked to herself as she heard his voice, strained with pain. 
	Letting out your anger really can be therapeutic, she thought with considerable satisfaction.
End Part 6
Be Careful What You Wish For Part 7 by Alara
	The next day, Aeryn and John were walking to the Terrace. Thankfully, neither Kassandra nor Aken were with them. They walked in silence, having just met up. 
	Strange, Aeryn thought. This is the first time I've been alone with him since... since he and Kassandra came aboard. And I'm actually relaxed? Hmm... She wondered briefly what that could mean, and then decided, I'll find out how he feels first. If he likes...her... I'll just have to live with it. If he doesn't, I still have a chance! Inevitably, the next thought followed: But does he like me?
	John, too, thought about the past month or so, and again cursed Kassandra and Aken for ever finding Moya. That annoying Kassandra, he agonized. I've never met anyone so... self-centered, and weak, and selfish, and boring and uninteresting and infuriating in all my life! How I ever imagined a future is beyond me! He glanced sideways at Aeryn, who was apparently thinking deeply as well. But have I completely screwed things up between Aeryn and me? I hope not. And...well, if she likes him, I'll just have to convince her otherwise. I don't think he treats her very nicely, not the way she deserves at all...maybe she's infatuated with him and can't see that... maybe.
	They both started to speak at the same time, very suddenly: "Soooo, where's Ak-" "Where is Kass-"
	Both laughed, nervously, and motioned for the other to go first. "Ladies first." John said. So Aeryn repeated: "Where id Kassandra today?" She couldn't quite keep the sarcasm from her voice.
	John flushed a deep red. "I know, I've been with her a lot lately, and I'm sor-"
	"Where is she?"
	"I...um...sort of told her off last night." He muttered.
	"'Told her off'? What's that?" Aeryn asked. Quite suddenly, it was important she know whether he liked Kassandra or not.
	"It means I told her to back off...for good." 
	"And? why is that? I had thought you two had had a good relationship." Aeryn  asked, studiously casual in tone. 
	I'll tell her, John decided suddenly, and turned to her. They were on the Terrace now, the galaxy swirling around them like a cosmic panoramic painting. He wet his lips. "Because? Because I love you!" He blurted.
	Aeryn stood as still as stone, completely in shock. What had she just heard? ?W?What?? 
	?I?love you.? John said, surprised himself by saying it. As she still said nothing, and didn?t move, he asked worriedly, ?Aeryn? You OK? Look, I?m sorry if I?ve upset you?you can forget I ever said anything?I mean, if you mind it?? He started to back away, trying not to show how rejected he felt deep inside.
	She grabbed him by the front of the shirt and hauled him close, to kiss him fully on the lips. ?Mind!?!? she practiucally shouted at him. ?That?s the most wonderful, sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me!? 
	?R?Really?? he asked in disbelief. He kissed her then and gave a whoop of delight, and started dancing around ecstatically. Aeryn had to laugh; he looked the perfect picture of joy and foolishness evenly mixed. 
	He stopped suddenly, and his smile dropped.
	?What?? Aeryn asked, alarmed. Now what?
	?What about Aken??
	?What about him?? she asked evenly. A little tooevenly, John thought.
	?Don?t you?like?him??
	Aeryn burst out laughing. ?Like him?? She howled. ?I despise the slimebucket!?
	Interesting translation, translator microbes, John thought to the base of his skull. ?If you despise him, why?d you spend so much time with him??
	?He?he wouldn?t leave me alone.? Aeryn said. She wouldn?t meet his eyes, and her voice was very small. 
	?What do you mean.? John said in a hard tone. Then, more pleadingly, ?Please tell me.?
	Then Aeryn did something she had not done since she was 5 years old. She cried, collapsing, sobbing out the story of weeks of torment, of innuendo, of mistreatment to John. He cradled her close, and whispered soothing nothings in her ear. When she quieted, he asked, ?You OK now??
	?Yes.?
	?Good. I?ll be back in a minute.?
	?But?where are you going??
	?To kill Aken.? He had never sounded more serious, not when he promised he?d dispatch her if she entered the Living Death, not when he swore he would protect them on the psuedo-Earth. She was deathly afraid he would carry out this threat.
	?No?John, no, please.? 
	?Why not? He hurt you, and I?m out for some revenge.?
	?I?ve already got my revenge.?
	?Yeah? And what?s that??
	?I love you instead of him.? She said simply, and sat back on her heels. It was the first time she?d said that to him, and it gave him pause. Can I forego avenging her just because she asks me to? It was a rhetorical question. Yes. And in that instant, he gave his heart and soul completely to her.
	?All right, I won?t kill him. But just ?cause you asked nicely.? He paused, and then asked hopefully, ?Can I maim him instead??
	?No!?
	?Aaaawww, c?mon, Aeryn??
	?I said no.?
	?Oh. OK. But only if I get another kiss.?
	?Well, you didn?t have to make a deal, you could?ve just done it!?
	?Oh, you mean like this?? Kiss.
	?No, more like this.? KISS!
	?Oh, like thi??
	?Well, now, isn?t this sweet? the two little lovebirds cuddling up? Aaaawwwwww?? 
	?AKEN, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE???? John stood, utterly furious. 
	?Checking on my whore, what?s it look like?? Aken retorted and laughed coarsely. John studiously looked around the room. ?Sorry, man, Kassandra?s not here.?
	?WHAT?? A female voice screeched. All heads turned. Kassandra had found them, as well. ?Why?d you tell them?? She hissed to Aken. Aeryn and John?s eyebrows shot up. What the hell--?
	?I didn?t tell them anything! You just told ?em!?
	?I?what? Oh, I?m sorry, Aken, I didn?t mean to!? she whined. ?I?m sorry!? She burst into tears. 
	John and Aeryn exchanged looks. Was there something funny in their water, or what?
	They were even more shocked when Aken assumed a contrite expression and moved to comfort Kassandra. ?Hey, babe, I?m sorry, didn?t mean to upset you??
	Aeryn?s jaw dropped in utter amazement. Aken?being comforting? Entropy must- be occurring. 
	?Oh, I know you didn?t, but you do upset me so easily! And that upsets you, and I hate seeing you upset.?
	?Y-you do??
	?Of course you great idiot, I have the hugest crush on you! I really care about you.? She added shyly.
	?You do?? Before she could say anything, he continued, ?Well? actually, I feel the same way!?
	?Well, what about her?? Kassandra asked poutingly, pointing at Aeryn. John put a protective arm around her.
	?What about her? ?No offense, Aeryn? don?t hold a grudge, please??
	?Ah, no of course not.? Aeryn quickly replied, not wanting to get involved at all.
	?Good? then, uh, Kassandra, will you? oh what?s the human phrase? ?Go out?! That?s it. Will you ?go out? with me??
	She was all smiles and ditziness now. ? Of course!? she squealed, linking her arm through him and propelling him from the Terrace. ?Ta-ta, now!? she called gaily over her shoulder to Aeryn and John(who still had his arm wrapped around Aeryn).
	?Bye?? They called softly. The moment they were gone, Aeryn and John collapsed into laughter. 
	?Ah, that?s priceless!? John gasped.
	?I think they definitely deserve each other,? laughed Aeryn, which set both off again. 
	Eventually, when they had calmed down, Aeryn asked John, ?So? where do we go from here??
	?I dunno. How do your people go about this sort of thing??
	?We don?t. Have relationships with aliens, I mean. ?Keeping the bloodlines pure? and all that.?
	?Oh. Well, we just plain haven?t made First Contact yet, except for me, and I don?t think Emily Post covers this.?
	?Emily Post??
	?Mother of modern etuiquette.?
	?Ah. So that brings us full circle. Where do we go??
	He shrugged in response. ?Guess we?ll have to wing it. But I?m glad that  it?s with you.?
	?Me too.?
	That settled, they stayed there the rest of the night, watching the universe live around them. Each wondered how, with such love in it, could they ever think the universe cruel or unfair? That argument didn?t make as much sense now as it did before they found each other. Before they each found their point in the universe, their reason for being, in the other. 
End Part 7
I REALLY WANT COMMENTS ON THIS!!! (this isn?t yelling, it?s begging.) email me at: 
***NEW ADDRESS!!!***    Alara7777@hotmail.com  ***NEW ADDRESS!!!***
There will be an epilogue later, FYI. And I want to know if it?ll be worth it to continue writing, so pleeze email me with comments/criticisms/etc. 
--Alara
Epilogue
	A few days later, everyone was thoroughly sick of Aken and Kassandra. Crichton kept referring to them as ?the old married couple,? as they were certainly acting like it: fighting loudly and long and then making up quickly. Then arguing, making up, screaming, making up, pointless bickering, making up? it went on like this for some time, until Aeryn finally got annoyed to the breaking point. In the middle of the ?evening? meal, during yet another Aken/Kassandra argument, she stood up and yelled at them, ?WILL YOU SHUT THE FRELL UP!!!? 
	Something extremely odd and extraordinary happened. 
	They shut up. 
	As the others breathed silent sighs of relief at the sudden quiet, Aeryn continued, ?If one or the other of you raises your voices again until this time tomorrow, I swear to all I hold dear, I will cut your tongues out. Got it??
	?Got it,? they responded, much subdued.
	As Aeryn seated herself again, John leaned over and whispered a fervent, ?Thank you,? to her. ?I think my ears were about to fall off.?
	?Oh, now, we couldn?t have that, now could we?? she asked playfully. ?Besides, I like them just where they are.? She finished, running a fingertip along the edge of the nearest of the ears in question.
	John, much to his delight, had found in Aeryn someone who seemed to instinctively know where he was coming from. She was a surprisingly experienced partner, and, man, could she give backrubs! He found her every quirk something new to revel in, and enjoyed doing just about everything with her, from cleaning deckplates to just talking. 
	Aeryn, for her part, had found in John just about everything she could ask for: a loving, caring partner, who knew just what to say to make her feel like the most precious thing in the universe; who knew just how she felt, and accepted it whether he himself liked it or not; and someone who seemed to complete her, to complement her, bringing strengths to her weaknesses, and having weaknesses to her strengths. She was head over heels in love, and cherishing every arn of it. 
	Because each knew how very close they had come to missing this, they guarded it all the more carefully. They knew of course that the road ahead of them might very well be rocky, and be very hard to walk. But they both also knew that with each other, walking the road would be no problem. 
	For with each other, they could fly!
THE END
P.S. To anyone who wants to know what happened to Aken and Kassandra:
	Well, they spoke before their 24 arns were up, so Aeryn chased them about Moya trying to cut their tongues out, as promised. She kicked Aken?s ass, but Kassandra avoided her and helped him get away long enough to manage to lock her in her quarters. Then they demanded to be put down on the next inhabitable world. John, D?Argo, Rygel, and Zhaan, thoroughly sick of the two galaxial freeloaders, agreed quickly and let Aeryn out with her promise to John that she would behave.
	As agreed, the next inhabitable planet was quickly found (All right, they looked for the closest one, but can you really blame them for wanting to get those two off of Moya as soon as possible?) and accordingly Aken and Kassandra were left on the planet with a reasonable amount of supplies. 
	What Aken and Kassandra found out that the others didn?t know was that the inhabitants of the planet were xenophobic, and prone to use outsiders as food? They didn?t last too long. Kassandra went first, as the heroic Aken tripped her while the natives were chasing them. Consequently, his own death was viciously long and painful; they took their fine time about killing him. 
	And as for Aeryn and John?? Well, if enough people want to hear, I?ll let you know what happened next, on that planet they visited...  But then, that?s another story.
THE (final) END
Thanks to all those who hung on throughout the ride! I appreciated it, and especially all of those who emailed me about the fic. My offer still stands: if you want to see something in a fic, email me at Alara7777@hotmail.com and I?ll see what I can do!
Happy Turkey Day to all!
--Alara

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