INVASION

Chapter 2
Part 8: No Peace Ever!

Goodbye
John watched frozen deep in the alien's hive. To the side of him the image of his father stood there staring at him. This was always they way this nightmare started. But it was different some how. John could not tell what it was but this time it was different his. He looked at the image of his father. If he stared at it long enough he could just make out the alien projecting the image. But there was something else here some one else Johns mind race as he searched the darkened room.

The booming voice of his father paralyzed him for a second. "How disappointing John, we give you a great gift and you don't use it! I now understand how you father felt it is a pity you have let him down Again."

"No this isn't real you are not my father!" John felt his blood turn cold his knees buckled and he fell forward as if grabbing thin air he jerked up from his bed.

"Frell!" He spat in disgust. "Anymore like that" John's voice trailed off.

"Enough with try-in to sleep." John rubbed his eyes as if trying to remove the images from his mind. He rose form his bed slowly as if needing to muster the strength to do so. This surprised John, today was the day he had waited for today John Crichton was going home. He expected it to be like waking Christmas morning and not being able to wait to see what Santa had brought.

But no… No excitement… No longing… Nothing. He physically shivered at the thought. All there was, was a cold need to go home. If he didn't know better it was a drive that he could only equate to salmon returning home to mate then die… the thought disturbed him more. He walked to the recycle area of his room and looked at himself in the mirror. He spoke aloud as if by doing so he would smother that all to familiar feeling that something wasn't right. "I want to go home!" He look at his tattered yellow flight suit it was unbearable but he considered taking it with him more as a reminder to himself who he once was…

Aeryn's words echoed in his head again. Are you sure you want to go home John?

He slammed the storage bin shut as if attempting to extinguse his own doubts. "No! I want to go home!" He walked from his room not looking back. His first stop Bialar Crais.

***

Homecoming
Gorran looked out over the world they now called home. From this orbit it could have been Casival. In there absence a small team had hollowed out one of the small moonlit that orbited this world the burrow would be large enough to house the Castra or as Trenton would argue …to hid the Castra. They had used the mind material as a mass driver to alter the orbit of the moonlit to a geosynchronous

Gorran move to his command chair "Petra are we ready to dock?"

"Yes Captain! Beacon lock confirmed." She smiled at Gorran they were all caught up in the excitement of the homecoming.

Trenton moved up next to the captain to plea his case one last time. He had been on this mission for reason to show the chancellor and the council that Gorran was not meant to command the Castra and to take command if needed.
His appointment in this role was by Gorran's own father. Trenton was of the Helrec Clan the supreme military strategist of Casival. He was the highest-ranking military officer that survived the invasion. It was his birthright if nothing else to receive the Captaincy of the Castra. It was Gorran's own father who had wanted Trenton as Captain but Narra in her blind ignorance chose Gorran.

Trenton bent down and spoke into the captain's ear. "Captain I beg you to reconsider, if we dock in that rock we will be left at a tactical disadvantege. " He straightened and waited for Gorran's reply.

Gorran stood back up and stepped closer to Trenton. "Trenton what part of No did you not understand?" He raised his voice so that all on the command node could hear. "We will hide the Castra and hope that no one will find it or us till we are ready…" He looked back at Trenton who tightened at attention. "We will survive this way. Now return to your station." Gorran turned his attention to Trenton's younger sister, Petra. How is it possible that they were of the same Clan, the same family? When this was all over Gorran would make sure that Petra received command of the Castra. Gorran and she had worked well together he knew what she wanted. "Petra you have Telemetry control." Gorrans serious glances cracked slightly at her reaction. "Don't stand there slack Jawed. By the gods Petra this is your chance Take us in…"

She stood stiffly for a moment glancing over to Trenton. The fire of anger in his eyes said it all. Petra had always been a threat to his position. She looked dismisivly at him as she stepped forward. Trenton had never recovered from the attack they had never been close but this mission drove them to the breaking point not even the bonds of blood could overcome…

"Yes Captain!" Like a death mask s descend into a serious tone as Petra docked the last defender deep in the moonlit that raced around this world of theirs. Petra locked the ship into the holding arms. She took a deep breath for the first time in what seemed like arns to her. She looked cautiously at Gorran.

"Nicely done Commander." Gorran Turned from Petra in the command chair to face his crew. You have all done the impossible. More then repairing this ship you have given our people hope that we will have a future." He turned back to Petra. "I want you to get use to that seat."

Petra looked up at him in astonishment. Her mouth slightly open as if trying to say something but the words failed her. Gorran Straightened the warm smile remained.

Gorran walked to the front of the command core. "There will be a training crew boarding shortly to relieve us for the next twenty six arn rotation. After the celebration I am extending it another day. He stopped briefly to the excited sounds of the crew as they settled down. We will on our next assignment have crew of sixty-four a far more appropriate number for the operation of the Castra

Trenton stepped forward. He did not make eye contact with his sister who now stood next to Gorran. "What is our next operation?"

Gorran did not look at Trenton. "I don't know that is up to Chancellor Kiev Narra Borhon and the council. What I do know there is a celebration waiting for us and I for one am looking forward to seeing our new home."

***

Bialar Crais
Bialar had heard him approach he did not turn to face him. He listened as John Crichton stopped in front of his cell. "When get back Earth Talyn will come back for you Bialar."

Bialars military mind spun, how could he use this moment to his advantage? Bialar slowly rose from his table. "What do you care, Crichton?

John averted his eye from his one time enemy now his uneasy alley. John searched for the words. But failed Empty… Hollow… Dead… Was all he found? The bitter search angered him. "Look all I know is Aeryn will bring him back!" He breathed deeply as if to muster the strength to leave. He turned slowly from the one occupied cell on Moya.

"Crichton! " Bialar knew with Talyn less then cooperative that he need another plan here was his opportunity to act. John stopped and only turned back half way he did not look up at Bialar. "Nine cycles ago I went home to the world I was conscripted from…" Bialar's stare past through Crichton. "To see them" Bialar turned to ice as he remember seeing them those who at one time were my family. "There is a saying in Peacekeeper training. Never look back. Never go back. What lies in front of you is your life." Bialar carefully looked up at him. He saw it for some brief moment sadness fill Crichtons face.

John cleared his through. Bialars words seem to echo in his empty soul. "I guess I just have to find out for my self wont I." The sadness evaporated. Replaced by a small vengeful grin. "Goodbye Bialar Crais."

Bialar stood there mired in his own memories of his homecoming so many cycles ago not to notice Crichtons exit. His plan had failed as he fought to keep from drowning in the memories of his family, of his father. He stood and waked to the door. He stared out into the dimly lit tier, it was time to think of another He had to get back Talyn no matter the cost.

***

New Worlds Old Problems
She watched them descend from the grav sled that had brought them in form the southern landing zone. Chancellor Kyev Narra Borhon stood with her advisor Prime Starric Tau Reht at her side. The old man wavered back and forth slightly as if try to hear there approach. Narra looked back at the crew of the Castra as they made there way through the chanting clans. Each clan with its own chant was almost deafening. Narra stood at the edge of a glass walled balcony that overlooked the entire Citadel its glass, stone and biostrucutures that lined the spiraling road down to the central arboretum as a breathtaking site. When the Castra and its crew hand left the citadel was no more then a conical hole in the ground now it was a burgeoning city that could rival the capital city of Casival, Delista or the learning center of Tontull. The pangs for hone seemed to be quelled by the chanting crowds.

Narra stared at Gorran as he approached he seemed older in the cycle of his mission but still she felt that familiar need to be near him. In his absences she had mist his steadying force in her life. This Poisson that was thrust upon her so long ago made her long for his support. There was something more yet in their fight for survival during the four cycles escape from the Peacekeepers there was no time for that. But perhaps no not for you can not afford that kind of distraction!

Gorran was taken back by the reception. When they left it were to the hollows eyes of a dirty, lost and beaten people. His return was to the smiles of faces of hope. On board the Castra as the Clan rule was reinstated each member of a clan was to wear its clans Toll. A small strip of brightly colored fabric with the written history of that clan. This practice had been abolished centuries ago but it gave the survivors a feeling of there lost history. Now that clan in the citadel flags and banners where everywhere denoting the different clans participation. Gorran said smugly under his breath one step to the future two steps to the past.

The small crew made there way through the chanting crowd. He caught Narra's glance once but she quickly broke her stair. Gorran and his crew climbed to the podium they each bowed to one knee as a sign of respect to Narra she touched each of there shoulders her hand seemed to linger on the black uniform of the imperial guard. As if by touching their uniform bought back something familiar.

Gorran stood at attention in front of his crew as the welcoming ceremony continued. They presented the Toll with all the reverence they could muster. Some in the crowd wept as part of the written history of their species was returned to them. Gorran was surprised by the control Narra had over the crowd, she was in her element. They had been through so much. But Narra some how kept them together. Moving, working and hoping for the future. Arns passed and the ceremony concluded the crew was allowed to leave to join friends and family for a meal the few who had no one to return to, were to dine with Narra at her hearth. Gorran made sure that he and his father were invited as well.

Uncomfortably Gorran followed his father through the few remaining on lookers. His father would not stop for those who stopped Gorran to congratulate him. So Gorran would have to apologize and move on quickly to keep up with the old man.

Tau said little as the blind man led his son to their family Hearth. The citadel was designed so no matter the size of your family or you clan each would be given a personal Hearth, a home.

Gorran stopped at the entrance to there home. He looked at the stone and glass building that hung out over the edge of the spiral roadway. The style of the home was familiar to him. It had been designed to resemble the family hearth he had been raised in. He mused here a tenth of a metra underground and deep in the UT they had replicated his family's home. His father waited for him to open the door. Gorran looked at this father closely for the first time since his return. Tau had aged badly in the cycle of his absence. Gorran was unsure if it was due to the stress of office or the loss of the ability the rapture.

Gorran spoke to his father as if he was twelve cycles old again. "You have done an amazing job here father. The city is astounding."

"Yes well it's a bit much if you ask me. We need a fortress and Narra odder a city." He turned way from his son. "We accomplished all this in the cycle you were gone. And you Gorran! You repaired the ship but were unable to span the shunt in the memory core of the Castra. How are we to build more defenders without the bio lattice record?"

Gorrans blood ran cold. He had failed in his primary goal, to reestablish a link to the memory core. He opened his mouth to respond to his father's accusation but he fell silent. Gorran knew the dead end to this argument. Our family had been in political service for more then one volumes of the toll, Over a thousand years! All wiped away by Tau's son, Gorran. A low level Biometric engineer in the space yards of Castra.

Gorran knew better then to go further with this conversation. "Yes father I am sorry". He stepped forward and opened the door to their home. Inside was much the same a smaller replication of his childhood home. "I assume I am in the first room on the right.

"Yes!" The old man sat at the bench near the door he seemed physically exosted by the walk from the rim of the citadel.

Gorran glanced back at the old man for a microt before entering his room. He was amazed that he still worried about this father. He briefly served his room. A small desk with data link storage locker and bed. He placed his bag on the bed he stopped briefly at the balcony that took up on wall of his room. Gorran stepped forward to look out over the city and arboreteum below. There home were three spirals of the main thourghofair above the arborhetum. As far as Gorran could tell the rest of the levels down to the arboretum were filled with small shops and restaurants. "By the gods what a beutiful sight"

He had to get out this, his prison. Gorran had spent more time with his father in the long walk down to their hearth then he had in the four cycles they spent on board the Castra.

He walked back out into the central room. His father sat there. As if know what Gorran was going to say.

"You might want to look around the city before dinner this evening. Narra's hearth is attached to the command bunker Hammond side of the arboretum. She is expecting us at mark twelve." He stared blankly at the far wall of their hearth.

Gorran stepped his father without looking back. As the door closed behind him an ease return as he distanced himself from his father. Nothing could ever change between he and his father. Gorrans only bond to that blind man sitting in his home was the bond of blood. They were to always be strangers. His fathers unaccepting of his decision to train in the technical vocation instead of the political one was a mark on him his father could never forgive.

Gorran followed the wide thorough fair down to the floor of the cavern. He stopped and chatted with people who stopped Him. He would politely excuse himself from their conversation as he made his way to the Arborhetum.

***
The Pilot's den and a happier time
John's knew it was to early in the sleep cycle to say his goodbyes to the other. All but one his next stop was pilots den. As the hatchway rotated open John looked around the pilots den trying to make a mental memory of this place. As with all of Moya he listened the biological murmur and fluid sounds. Here in the den they were stronger. He walked slowly towards pilots console John stepped near the edge of the span the breached the huge chamber. He had been here a million times yet he never stopped and just looked before. He grinned that wasn't true He remember the first few months on board when he was like a kid in a
Candy store. The memory turned his stomach. He looked up from the span way at the huge beast who he realized was asking him a question.

"…right Commander Crichton? Pilot head tilted and his eye raised slightly from its sockets.

Pilot repeated himself. " Is everything all right Commander Crichton?"

"Yes Pilot, sorry just trying to take it all in that's all." John walked slowly from the edge of the bridge span to the pilots console. "I am just stopping by to say bye And thank you for everything."

Pilot's head raised slightly and shifted back. "John Crichton you have done so much for Moya and my self I fear what life will be like here without you. Moya and I will greav your loss."

"Pilot it's not like I'm dyeing or anything." John noticed the numbness returned. No, he did not feel any loss for his friends? The thought of never seeing them again raised no emotion in him. It alarmed him to distraction. He looked past the huge beast to one of his ever present DRD's. He quickly changed the subject. " I don't suppose you could part with one or two of our little friends?"

The smile that crept to John's face was more then enough for pilot to know it was one of his strange human jokes. Pilot tipped his head slightly and looked towards the waiting DRD. "Please Commander Crichton take them all."

John did a double take at Pilots response. As a smile expanded on John's face he laughed slightly. "You are getting good my friend." As is that one joke freed him John thought again of never seeing them again, it kindled a spark of regret.

Pilot expression became more serious. "John are you sure you are ready to return to your world?"

Johns blood turned to ice as the pangs of loosing his friends devolved, he had been through this already he was not going to get into it again. "Pilot how often have you called me by my first name?"

Pilots looked startled at the question. "I don't know…"

"Never!" John's anger grew uncontrollably. " Now for the first time you call me John as if being familiar with me is gonna change my mind. Well I don't think so. Johny-boy is leaving and your gonna have to find some one else to get you out of the frelling mess you people get your selves into!". John headed for the access way. He stopped halfway across the span. He exhaled as if trying to gain control of his thoughts and failed miserably. "I don't get it Moya! What do you want from me." John new better then expect an answer. He breathed deeply as if trying to cleans the anger. "Frell!"

Pilot looked at him calmly. "She and I wish you a safe journey Commander Crichton."

John did not look back at his old friend weather out of anger or shame it did not matter John just left the pilots chamber planning never to return.

***

To be cast
He walked aimlessly through the small park. Gorran stopped and looked straight upward at the protective dome above them He notice the illumination ring on the dome had dimmed slightly.

She approached him quietly. "We replicate everything. Day, night, rain wind, only thing missing are the sunsets." Narra walked slowly towards Gorran.

"Knowing you Narra you'll figure out a way of doing it." Gorran smiled warmly as he stepped toward and touched her cheek. "It is good to see you."

Narra stepped back awkwardly. "How did you like your hearth?"

Gorran was surprised by her reaction. He stared deep into her eyes he could feel her uncomforted. It distracted him from what she was saying. "Fine.. It reminded me. of … home. Narra whats wrong?" He cocked his head slightly his smile remained he was about to ask the question again.

"Things are different Gorran. I…" She stopped she straightened slightly and look away.

Gorran stepped back from her and scanned the area. Across the walkway was a long covered building that project over the edge of a large social pool. "Come!" Without waiting for her response he grabbed her hand and they ran across the with walkway to the darkness of the covered building they walked the length of the building till they came to some children that were playing in the pool they stopped and rested against the railing watching the children in the warm water from the natural spring.

Gorrans smile remained as he looked back at Narra. "Hold out your hand."

"What?" A small smile came to Narra's face she looked at him suspect.

"Hold out your hand!" Narra raised her hand palm upward Gorran removed something from his pocket and placed it in her hand.

He removed his hand so she could see what he had placed there. As her mind finally succumb to the realization that it was real all she could utter was "No!" Gorran watched as her smile expanded she stared at the necklace its deep red jewel look almost fluid in appearance.

"Yes!" Gorran added. "Its real. You can not be the true Chancellor of our people with out a Blood stone." He smiled proudly at her. The red jewel on their uniforms was and polymer repesentaion of the blood stone the most prized jewel in the know galaxy. Found on the shattered vents of one volcano on their home world of Casival. It was a saute after prize.

Still stunned by it beauty she spoke shoftly "How I mean where?"

Gorrans mood darkened. "When we found the traders barge filled with our belongings we discovered a number of imperial guard uniforms." Gorran tugged at his sleeve. Of course they had removed the Blood stone from them. I am sure most are decorating some hynerian palace. He looked way from her a some of his bitterness returned. "We, I found the traitor that owned the transport barges. He was quite willing to give me the last one that he had."

How did you persuade him?

If he didn't return what he stole from us I was going to destroy his ship.

It was that easy?

No. Narra you know by now it is never that easy. As he and I negotiated the return of our belongings on the surface of the commerce planet I had the Castra ready to attack his ship in orbit. He carried his family on board his ship.

Narra studied him for a long time there was an inherent sadness that seems cast in his face. "Gorran would you have?"

"Yes! Narra I would." He could not look at up at her he stared at the necklace she now held tightly in her hand. "Enough Talk of this, please allow me to put it on you." Gorran raised from the railing. She leaned back into him slightly as he placed the necklace on her. Gorran moved back next to her leaning against the railing.

Narra, I am resigning as captain of the Castra. He looked back at her expression he couldn't tell that this news alarmed or relieved her.

"I see." She bit her lip as she tried to keep her tone constant. "May I ask why?"

I am done killing Narra I am not suited for command. Besides I failed to retrieve the knowledge from the memory core.

Narra spoke calmly. "Gorran, I can't accept this. Who would you have me assign command? Trenton? He is unstable

Gorran smiled. "No! Not Trenton." Gorran was relived that she could see Trenton for what he was. "But his sister Petra is another matter. She is a born leader she has the blood for command and could easily take over my duties on board the ship.

"And what would you do? Gorran Reht of the clan Starret?" Narra looked at him from the corner of her eye her hand slid next to his on the railing.

"I am uncertain I don't know…One thing I do know is that I wish to be casted and settle down."

"You?" She smiled." Settle down I can't believe that." She laughed warmly at the thought. She had only know Gorran during there run from the Peacekeepers she had only seen him in the role of commander. Back home they were both from two very different worlds. His as an assistant Biomech engineer in the space yards and she a minor count official in the central government. Being of the ruling clan meant that you married for position and never outside ones clan. But that had all changed now… Or did it?"

Gorran warm smile evaporated. "Narra I am done, I can't kill anymore." He thought back to the ease he had kill all the that were on board the patrol ship they had encountered.

Narra turned to face him. She knew what he had been through during there escape. They all owed the lowly Biomech their lives over and over again. No against her better judgment she would accept his decision. "And if I may ask who is it you wish to Cast with?

Gorran stood again and presented his open hand in front of Narra. You Narra Borhon of the clan Kyev.

Narra stood slowly and stared at him. She did not flinch at his request as she raised her open hand to his face they moved closer and in unison bit the palm of each others hand. The toast of each other's blood charged them both. Gorran had known from the moment he met Narra it was like with Loci. For the first time her memory did not cause him pain. Gorran's loss of his wife and infant daughter in the invasion of Casival had always haunted him especially once he met Narra. But now he knew had mourned enough he was given a chance to move on. Gorran reached out for that chance with all his will.

Narra resisted the concept of casting with Gorran. She felt her duty is to the survivors. There was no time for her to have a relationship. But from the microt she laded eyes on him during the link three weakens ago the internal struggle resumed. I could not have this! I am here to serve No! Nothing mattered Narra's internal struggle was over neither of them would be alone again.

They stood in their embrace till Gorran sense a feeling of alarm he couldn't breath he could feel the warm inexus fluid of the fold enter his lungs. He pulled from Narra and look to the sky to the roof of the dome.

"Gorran what is it?" Narra was alarmed by his action.

Gorrans body stiffened as it did in the fold. The hellish experience of drowning each time he entered the fold was a nightmare he hated above all others. Gorran gasped for air. The feeling passed he slowly regained his voice." I am not sure." Gorran closed his eye's a very different sensation came to him as if he was back in the fold his body relaxed slightly. "By the gods! The Castra is calling me?"

"What! That's not possible?" She stared at him. Would there ever be even a microt of peace in their lives?

***

Enra

John smelled the scent of herbs and roots from Zhaan's apothecary as he walked through the hatchway. There on the medical bed lay the still unconscious Vladic. John smiled as images of Bela Lugosi came into his head. He sat on the workbench across from the sleeping vampire. How strange, Dad, a man like you so phobic of blood and yet one of your closest friends would be a blood feeder. John remembered back to his childhood when he came running in the house crying after a nasty fall off his bike. His father turned pasty white and had to sit down as mom cleaned the scrape. John smiled as he spoke out loud. "Aw Dad, I miss you…"

He sat and watched her softly breathing. "Enra, if this works I don't know what to say. There have been so many failed chances of getting home..." His voice trailed off as he squashed the nervous fear that grew in him. He slipped easily into the numb state he had grown so accustomed to. When last he sat here had been keeping watch over Aeryn. Not sure if she would live or die he had been wracked by emotions. Now on the possible day of his final journey home he was numb. "No, you are no longer that John Crichton."

He sat there and stared at her, then he glanced at his kronos. He had been there for over an arn. It was time to say goodbye to the rest of them.

***
It's a Matter of Time!
Barbara passed behind all of them, her worthless cabinet who couldn't get past how the public would judge them - opinion polls and spin-doctors, the lot of them. Truly worthless except for her moral compass, Bob. She kept her eyes glued to the monitor that filled the far wall of conference room. "So, are you trying to tell me that they are from our future? What is this Barry?"

She watched as the three of them seemed to squirm while they floated in the spacious interior of the ISS observation lounge in orbit above the Earth.

"This would explain why they look so much like us, Madam President. In fact this should strengthen my position that they are not invaders but explorers," Barry ventured.

"Bull!" Barb walked back to her chair. She had known too many snakes in her career and the newcomers had all the right reptilian markings She wordlessly smiled at her Vice President, then turned back to the screen. "No, Barry, I will not subscribe to your interpretation of them. So gentlemen, our next course of action is…?

Ray Wilson spoke over Barry, "Madam President, first we've got to get those nukes out of the way. Who knows what could happen if we formed an anomaly near one of them. It could set it off.

Barb looked back to the VP who smiled smugly at her. "Your suggestions gentlemen?"

Ray scratched his head slowly. "Place them in an orbit near the ISS, I guess, in case we need them." Ray looked back to Barry.

Barry face turned red as he broke into the conversation. "We can't use them as a weapon near the anomaly. DK has shown what…"

"Barry!" The President raised her voice, uncommonly loud for her. "If we are going to go down. We are going down swinging!"

DK was still too deep in his own work to follow any of the conference. He looked up from his work and pushed off from his Velcro hold, moving closer to the others. His tone was pensive when he asked, "what if the Peacekeepers didn't know that the wormhole is temporal in nature?"

Barb sat back down heavily. The weight of the question was crushing. "Then, DK, not only are we're fucked, but they fucked themselves as well"

***

Intrusion
Gorran's body stiffened as it did in the fold. The hellish experience of drowning each time he entered the fold was a nightmare he hated above all others. Gorran gasped for air. The feeling passed and he slowly regained his voice. "I am not sure." Gorran closed his eyes and a very different sensation came to him. Almost as if he was back in the fold, his body relaxed slightly. "By the gods! The Castra is calling me?"

"What! That's not possible?" She stared at him. Would there ever be even a microt of peace in their lives?

"No. It isn't. It shouldn't." Gorran pulled her close and hugged her as if to reassure her. "I have to get up there. What the fastest way to the rim?"

"We have a grav loader designed to take supplies directly form the arboretum to the rim." Narra pulled a small transceiver com from the wrist of her jacket. She muttered a few words and they head back to the clearing. She listened to the tech on the other end while she looked at Gorran with a nervous stare. "They have lost comms with the support base on the moon.

Gorran looked to the clearing ahead. "Has this happened before?"

"Yes, all the time. The tight beam transmission between the moon in geostab orbit still varies slightly, so we do get occasional outages. But the bigger question: Has the Castra ever tried to contact you before?"

"Not like this I had a few interactions with the ship outside the fold. But they were merely sensations. First when the seals on the ion backwash chamber gave way and again when there was contamination in the amnexus system.

By the time they reached the clearing the ship had arrived.

Gorran climbed into the large flat bed at the front of the Grav Loader. Narra followed behind him and Gorran looked sternly at her. "What are you doing?"

"I am going to the Castra with you."

"Narra!" Gorran stopped he knew better than to argue with her.

She smiled and signaled to the driver. Gorran was knocked off his feet from the acceleration. Narra laughed as he tried to regain his footing. She yelled over the noise of the Graviton engines. "Besides, you need some one to keep you from falling off this thing." Gorran was amazed by the speed the little craft could muster. They reached the rim and proceeded down one of the narrow boreholes. The tunnel walls whizzed past them as they proceeded to the transport docks. The Grav Loader stopped on the hangar floor of the south-most transport hub, deep under the inland sea. They ran to the nearest supply ship, a squat insect looking craft. They were true work beasts and they had bartered for many of them from the Crasailans during their first year on the run. Narra took center seat in the cramped piloting section. The transport was designed to be flown by one but a second seat had been added for rotation of pilots during long transport runs. The ship was raised by hoist to the water lock pool and lowered into the pool. Its landing struts sat on the outer door to the hangar. Once the large door above them sealed, the door beneath them released and the ship fell like a stone from the hangar. Gorran looked up at the receding hangar above them.

"Amazing, Narra!"

"We use this hangar for fast response. It's deep enough under water and the sodium concentrations are high enough to scatter any sensor waves. Hang on, I don't get to do this very often." Gorran noticed the excitement in her voice.

Narra started the drive and they both sank back into their seats as the transport made its way to the surface. "The hangar you came in from is the closest to the Citadel. It's used mainly to recover the Grazers and Trallets Beasts when we need to harvest them. We use the inland sea hangar for most planet orbital and interstellar transport." We have a much larger site we are working on in the positive polar reign rotation ward of the Citadel. I will show you when we get back…"

Narra's conversation ended as the transport broke the surface of the sea and leaped from the water. With the reduced friction, the ship accelerated faster and they were chasing the sun's setting on the horizon. And quickly caught it as they rose higher into the atmosphere.

Gorran tried contacting the support base on the moonlet but there was still no response. Narra called back to the command bunker and sent for support troops. Something was wrong! Gorran sensed it again and he closed his eyes. Intrusion… He opened his eyes quickly. "Someone is trying to steal the Castra!"

"How do you know?" Narra briefly looked back at Gorran.

"Maybe it has something to do with the fold, I don't know. I do know that the Castra is calling me." He looked at the sensor logs. The moonlet lay just ahead. Gorran rose from his seat and searched through the storage bins that lined the small passage behind the flight deck. He found a pulsar gun, a signaling gun used when in trouble during EVA, and a handful of old Chakan oil cartridges.

They entered the mouth of the moonlet and it took a moment for their eyes to adjust to the dark cave. "Dock us to the Castra directly."

"But if we do that they will know were coming."

"They know already, Narra. The question is who?"

***

Ka D'Argo

As John walked past D'Argo's cell the drapes were open, and sitting at his table was Ka D'Argo looking as if he was waiting for John to pass.

"Hey, what're you doing up?" John said, standing cautiously at the doorway. He looked around carefully because he had walked in on D'Argo and Chi on more occasions than he wished to remember.

"I couldn't sleep," D'Argo said roughly.

"Well, I am gonna say goodbye now 'cause I don't know if I will have time later." He scanned the room again. "Where's Chiana?"

D'Argo chuckled deeply "John, Chi and I are not together." He smiled bitterly. "But that doesn't mean we can't…"

"Ya Ya I know, the sex is great?" John said through an uncommon grin. "I am gonna miss you, big guy."

"Then don't go." D'Argo stood from his chair. "I owe you everything, John. The search for Jothee will be harder with out your help…"

"Stop, D'Argo." John's mood darkened as he turned from his friend's watchful glare. "Please man, I don't need... I can't!"

D'Argo's tone was much lighter, almost a whisper. "I will respect your wishes to return to your home." D'Argo smiled slightly. "John, it has been a real bang!" D'Argo chucked again.

"Frelling Luxan! Blast! And yes, it has been one huge frelling blast!" John turned to leave he stopped at the threshold. "Take care of them, D'Argo."

"If I didn't who would?" D'Argo lowered his head slightly. "Good-bye, my friend!" He said in his even gruffer then normal tone.

John did not look back, he had no words. The numbness grew to the point of him not being certain he was still breathing. "Ya… Bye..."

***
Ghosts From the Past: Ray Wilson

Ray silently drifted through the connecting nodes of the ISS on his way to the damaged space plane. The station was almost empty. The crew that had been busy setting up the Guardian had been sent back out to retrieve it. The plan was to move the weapons to three locations in geosyncrounous orbit around the Earth. The Crichton Anomaly was a strange beast indeed. For reasons thatnot even DK understood, it stayed between the earth and the sun some 700 miles above the surface. It did not orbit the earth, but more orbited withthe earth around the sun. His musing came to an abrupt end as Ray came to the airlock node. With the grace of a dancer he stopped in front of the airlock hatch.

He pulled is dat pad from his pants pocket and entered the commands to open the hatch. The door cycled and the small padded access way was illuminated. Just beyond rested the damaged space plane.

He made his way effortlessly though the plane's main cabin. The damage that Barry and DK inflicted on the large craft was significant but not irreparable. He stopped briefly and looked back through the main cabin. If he were not weightless, it would have looked like the cabin of any other commercial jetliner. Pride of his accomplishment wilted. He felt his chest tighten. This ship wasn one of the few bright spots in his career. The sadness grew as he thought of John Crichton and Jeffery Cobb. Two men he was responsible for.

"God damn. Stop it!" He stove off the memory of his action back then. The tightness in his chest mutated into a crushing painful weight.

He pushed off up the hatchway to the flight deck. As he placed his hand on the rail to control his drift, Ray felt a sinister tingling radiate from his chest down into his left arm. The blood roared in his ears; his pulse throbbed behind his eyes. A cold, sickly sweat beaded on his face and neck.

The pain was a twisting dull knife in his chest. Movement caught the corner Of his vision. He turned slowly to face the flight controls. Ray stared, his mouth agape, trying to bring air into his traitorous lungs. Sitting at the co- pilot's position was Jack Crichton. He turned to face Ray. His cumbersome space suit moved effortlessly as they made eye contact. Ray was greeted with one of Jack's ear-to-ear smiles. "Jack," Ray gulped greedily for air. "How?" As Ray's mind fought to right itself on its internal axis, he realized that Jack looked different. He was wearing his Apollo 17 flight suite. The Jack Crichton in front of him was young.

Jack stood and walked towards Ray. He moved, almost casually, as if the cabin had gravity, as if they were on earth. Ray tried despirately grasp these details, to put them in some logical order. It was not possible for this man to be in front of him.

Jack stopped a few steps away. His smile remained. "Relax, Ray, everything's going to be all right." The smile quickly melted. A visible shutter passed through Jack Crichton. "He's coming home Ray, and he will need your help."

"My... My help," Ray panted against the doleful pain in his chest. "Who's coming?"

"You must not attack the first one through."

"Who?" Rays chest threatened to crumple under the crushing agony. Every inhalation was a monumental effort. "Jack! What are you talking about?" Ray
tried to reach out and touch his old friend. The pain intensified, branching out into his neck and shoulders. He felt his command on consciousness slip.
The field of his vision began to dim. As blackness settled around him one final word echoed through his head: Peacekeepers.

Barry was sifting through the data once more. He paused, rubbing wearily at his temples. It was impossible to recall the last time he had slept. The soft muffled chirp of the intercom sounded. An unfamiliar voice announced with urgency. "You had better get up to the flight deck of SSTO CSL-7 Ray's injured."

Barry frantically jabbed at the return button, trying to raise the unknown informant. There was no answer, only the phantom hiss of static. He called
the medical emergency and the four who remained on the station rushed to the space plane. They found the unconscious Ray Wilson floating in a fetal position in the middle of the flight deck alone.

***

No Peace… Ever!

"Then we will wait for the support troops from the surface." Narra commanded.

"No time." Gorran dismissed her order.

As they approached the docking clamps, the sleeping Castra came to life. Its navigation lights first illuminated the smooth walls of the bored chamber, then as it became brighter, more could be seen. Gorran could make out at least three more chambers past the Hammond side of the Castra. He looked back at Narra. "I see you have big plans for the future."

She ignored his comment as she docked the transport. They quietly made their way back to the hatchway and waited for the lock to recycle "So how are we going to fill those other bays out there, Narra?"

"In time we will relearn the technology from the Biomechs. That is if we can't retrieve it from the Castra first."

"I see. Make ourselves a bigger threat so the PK have a reason to come looking for us."

"Gorran, you act as if this is my idea. The council has determined our path. This is not a dictatorship. As Chancellor I follow their recommendation. This isn't living on the run anymore, making it up as we go along!" "I know, Narra. We travel a third the width of the galaxy and some things never change." Gorran looked back at the hatch. "That's strange, the cycle should have completed by now?"

"What do you mean?" Narra looked down at the airlock controls. "Frell! I'm reading vacuums on the other side of the hatchway."

"How soon till the support team arrives from the Citadel?"

She looked at her coms. "Two hundred microts!"

"Are there any P suits on board?"

"Yes, forward locker." Narra headed back to show him. The P suits that were there were well worn but would do the job. Gorran donned his. Narra started to changing as well.

"You will stay with the ship, Narra. I need you to wait for your troops before coming on board."

"Gorran, I will not…"

"This time, Narra, you will listen to me. This is too dangerous. I need you to stay with the transport and monitor my position." Gorran's dead stare was enough - Narra would, for one of the few times in her life, listen to him.

Narra watched as Gorran passed through the airlock to the brightly lit hallways of the Castra. She raised her coms and called down to the surface. "Tau, I want the entire crew of the Castra accounted for. Now!"

Tau called back smugly, "I have already started, Narra. Upon your return we will have a discussion about the danger you have placed yourself in. In fact I believe…"

Narra broke the link with Tau and looked back at the monitor. Gorran had made his way to a control node.

His muffled COM broke the silence of the transport. "Someone has shut down enviro and vented it to space." Gorran worked quickly. He was able to reactivate the enviro support and lock it down so it couldn't be deliberately shut down again. Gorran knew there were only a few who had the capability to do this. He made his way to the command node. As the atmosphere stabilized he knew better than to remove his helmet as it was still below one hundred standards. Although the vacuum was gone the atmosphere would take a while to be warmed up to a usable level.

Gorran found the first of them asphyxiated just at the entrance to the spiral corridor that encompassed the command node. As he continued towards the core he passed each of them, laying face down where they fell, frozen solid - the training team that had been sent up to replace the Castra's crew during the celebration. He thought back to the young men and women who had so eagerly awaited their arrival just so they could be asphyxiated by this madman. As he approached the command node doors he saw that they were sealed. The amber light at the parting point flashed a warning that beyond there was standard atmosphere.

"Narra, Command still has standard envros. I am going to override the door code. How soon till the troops arrive?" He waited. Nothing! "Narra, did you read me." Silence. Frell! He debated on whether to return to the ship to check on her. No, no time.. If they knew enough to override enviro then he knew enough to take the ship out.

Gorran couldn't waste time. He pulled the pulsar gun from the pouch over his knee and pointed it at the hatchway overriding the hatchway control. As the doors parted the air equalized and bursts of snow fell around him as the humid air of command mixed with the near zero point cold of the hallway. Gorran stood and walked cautiously. He knew who was here.

He checked the temp and opened his visor, then removed it to have a better field of vision. "Trenton, it isn't going to work. You can't take the ship out by yourself." He listened. Silence. "What are you going to do, go after the entire PK armada with one defender?" Gorran held his breath nothing. He quickly darted over to the overseer's consol.

"Stop! Frelling fool," Trenton laughed sarcastically. "Captain Gorran!" Trenton stood with Narra shielding him.

"Well, Trenton, at least you are consistent." Gorran's voice was not as calm as he would have liked.

Narra had waited for this moment and bit down hard on Trenton's hand. The taste of his blood sickened her. His hand dropped from her mouth but his other arm remand like a steel trap around her neck. She was surprised by the slight man's strength. "Gorran, kill him!" Narra spat.

He pulled her struggling form closer. "Go ahead, Gorran. Try." The sly expression on his face expanded as he took a bolder stance, still using Narra as his shield. "You don't have the blood to do it!"

Gorran raised the signal gun. The plasma gun could kill Trenton but would kill Narra as well. "What do you want, Trenton?"

"I have what I want," he said, looking around the command node. "Now lower the gun." Narra struggled in his grip. "I could have killed but I chose not to."

Trenton didn't take his eyes off Gorran. "Lower the gun and you might find yourselves both surviving."

Gorran eyes glossed and he tried to pull the trigger but the selfish need for Narra prevented him. He lowered the gun and dropped it on the floor.

"No Gorran!" Narra struggled hard against Trenton as she screamed. "No… kill him! He can't take the Castra!"

"Very good, Gorran. Now kick it over here." He watched as Gorran obediently kicked the signal gun over to Trenton. "I am sorry, Lady Chancellor. Gorran once again has proven my point - he is weak!" He released Narra and shoved her at Gorran and she fell to the floor in front of him. He drew his pulse gun and aimed it at her. Now, the reason you are here. I need you to open the fold."

"Why do you want to do this, Trenton? How can you leave us defenseless?"

"You don't see it, Narra." He laughed louder. "We are dead already, we have no future. We died as a race back on Casival." He looked with pity at Narra. "We are all just remnants of what once was. But I will make the Peacekeepers remember us. They will learn the cost of their actions."

"That's not true!" Narra said coolly. "We have a future here."

He looked back at Gorran. "Open the fold now!" Trenton stepped closer to Narra. "Once you open the fold you can go."

Gorran circled around Trenton to the fold chamber. He looked back at Narra who now stood defiantly in front of Trenton. He reached the fold hatchway. Next to it was the scanner plate. It was coded only to Gorran's biolattice. He looked back at Trenton needing to stall for time. "So how did you call me, Trenton? I mean how did you get the Castra to call me?"

Trenton laughed again. "I don't know what you are talking about?"

Gorran made eye contact with Narra and smiled slightly at her. Trenton didn't send the message from the Castra. The Castra itself had called to him. There was a chance he could communicate again with it to stop Trenton. He looked back at the scanner plate, leaned forward and touched it. The sounds of the hatch mechanism filled the quiet chamber. Gorran could smell the moist air of the fold.

Narra stood defiantly and stepped toward Trenton. Gorran grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "No, Narra, there is nothing we can do."

Trenton smiled sickly at them. "I am sorry for you, Narra. One day you will realize this hole you have dug for yourselves here on this world is actually the grave of our race." His expression turned cold. "Now go, I will not harm you. I give you ten microts to be off the ship."

Gorran grabbed Narra's wrist and pulled her from the command core. "Why? Gorran, how could you allow him to…"

"I am allowing nothing." They ran quickly through the still frozen corridors of the Castra.

Trenton locked the doors to the command core. In front of the hatchway to the fold, he stood in front of his destiny. As he stripped his P suit and undergarments, he stepped into the fold. The moist air rushed around him. He stepped into the chair and placed his hand on the control plate.

Gorran raced with Narra back towards the transport, passing the air lock to the transport. "What are you doing, Gorran?" Narra questioned.

"I am taking the biggest gamble of my life." They stopped at a service node where Gorran pulled the floor plate back exposing a termination point of the Castra neural interface. He lay on the decking and touched the charged tissue. He struggled against the pain of the electrical charge as with both hands he held the living nerve ganglia. Gorran concentrated on a single word. "Protect…" He uttered it over and over again.

Narra stepped back from Gorran. The air still stung her lungs with every breath. As she realized what he was doing, she quickly contacted the approaching shuttle. "Abort docking. It's too late. Trenton's in the fold. Do not attempt to stop him." Narra slid down the far wall of the corridor she watched Gorran continue his mantra. How could he contact the ship?

Ulric
He stood at the center of the terrace, his mind open to their songs. Ulric traced the low song of an ancient far out on the rim. It was a Dadilus biomech like Arcanum. It seemed like yesterday that he Enra and Jack were on board that angry old biomech.

He felt the familiar pang of loss for the frelling old human. "Jack, I could really use your guidance now." Ulric was embarrassed once he realized he had said it out loud. He scanned the terrace to make sure he was still alone. He had been alone his entire life. But that was all before… He is a different man from that Peacekeeper. Jack Crichton and Enra had changed him. It had taken long time to get over the loss of Jack. There was a hole in his life that only his own son came to fill. Since Enra's link with John, he had been alone again for the first time in a long time. Indecision haunted him. He feared he would loose Enra. He feared trying to raise their son alone. He had to go back to the world clamed by the Vladics. They must know some way of helping Enra. This was a desperate idea. He knew how they felt about him and understood all too well their hatred of his race.

He did not hear her approach. Aeryn stood at the hatchway of the terrace for a microt, indecisive on whether to enter or not. As she stepped in, she asked the question, "Does it help?"

Ulric was startled by her question. He looked away from her, not wishing to expose his weakness to the other former Peacekeeper on board Moya.

"What do you mean, Officer Sun?" Ulric tensed at the intrusion.

Aeryn walked up next to him. She noticed out of the corner of his eye a glistening. He had been crying? She looked away from Ulric, pretending not to see. "I come up here to clear my mind… to sort things out."

"I see. In that case then, yes it has helped." He turned to face her, exposing his weakness. "You surprise me, Officer Sun, in admitting to having feelings. That is not what I had expected from you."

She studied his eyes. Although he and John looked so very much alike they did not share the same eyes. It was not so much the fact that they varied in color, but more in keeping with the two very different lives their owners had witnessed. "Ulric, you are not alone." Looking away, she fought to maintain her cool exterior. "I know what it is like to feel the way you do." Candid surprise came to Ulric's face. Her self-control began to wane. "I know what it is like to be alone… to learn to play by new rules…" She felt her face grow hot. His image blurred slightly as she fought the tears that were forming. " To willingly make yourself vulnerable to others!" It was difficult for her to talk… What was happening to her? She fought against the growing lump in her throat. Her temper flared at her own apparent weakness. "You are lucky, Ulric!" She tasted the bitter bile from her stomach. "To have Enra and that beautiful boy!"

Ulric was shocked by her admission. Standing in front of him was another just like him. Ulric stepped toward her. With outstretched arms he pulled her in and held her tightly as he had done with his son when he was scared or upset. He felt her rigid back relax within his embrace. "Its okay, Aeryn…It's okay…I know…" She pulled away from him slowly, seeking her former staunch composure. He could see her embarrassment. " We are alike you and I, Aeryn. You and I are not alone." He smiled disarmingly at her.

She turned and walked with a deliberate pace back to the hatchway, hoping the flush had left her face. "Yes, Ulric." Her voice cracked slightly. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it, Officer Sun."

She smiled at Ulric. " Why would I ever mention it." She passed out of view down the passageway.

Ulric looked to the stars once again. Enra, once John is on his way home we will head back to the Citadel. They must help you…
***

Purge
Trenton struggled with the drowning sensation in the fold. Once he had accepted the amnexus fluid into his lungs he relaxed slightly. Frelling Gorran. That's it? That is the ordeal you had to deal with in the fold? You truly are spineless! Then the pain of the neural net began as it made its way into his synapses. The pain was unbearable. He lurched in the chair, fearing his mind was going to explode. As the pain subsided the Castra started to live again and Trenton was able to see through the sensors of the ship. He pushed out with his mind, drinking in the nearly overwhelming rush of sensations. It was an intoxicating feeling, yet invigorating in the same instant. With a thought he plotted a course back to the core of Peacekeeper territory.

Trenton monitored the approach of a large shuttle from the surface. With a blink of his mind eye he scanned the shuttle. Twenty-four troop three-ship support and one med. tech. He charged one of the forward defensive guns. But Trenton was surprised to see that the ship retreated. He considered destroying it anyway but something stopped him.

He scanned his body. What! Narra and Gorran are still here. He scanned through his systems to see where they were. A minor neural terminus point? There was no threat to him, to them from that interface. What are you doing Gorran? No matter! He searched his new mind for the controls for the pressure door. The mere thought of opening them is all Trenton would need to eradicate them. But the doors did not respond. What? Trenton felt a strange sensation through his body. He found it difficult to breathe. The fluid that had been giving him life became a searing cold to his lungs. Trenton clawed at the control pad as the fold tightened around him. It would not release him. One word pounded in his head. Protect! The muffled gurgling screams coming from the fold filled the indifferent silence of the abandoned command deck. The tormented madman's futile thrashing stopped suddenly as the neural net retracted from his synapse without releasing their hold to the linked nerve tissue.
All that Trenton was, was now gone.

Gorran notice the slight change in the Castra first. He slowly stood from the floor, looking to Narra who had the look of a lost little girl. She stood and helped Gorran stand, he was tired. "What's happened?" she asked softly.

Wordlessly, Gorran headed back to the command core.

Narra pursued, asking the question again. Gorran looked back at her. His pained smile bit at her. "It's done, Narra. Add another one to my list." He pulled away from her and continued.

They reached the sealed doors of the command core and Gorran stepped towards the locked controls. "This will take some time, Nar…" The doors opened with those words.

He pulled Narra back, acting out of reflex, expecting some trick. But Gorran knew Trenton was dead! He stepped into the command core. Narra called to the support ship to come in to dock as she followed Gorran onto the command.

Gorran headed to the fold chamber. As he approached, its hatchway opened. The remains of Helrec Trenton poured from the open hatchway riding upon the wave of thick amnexus fluid. They cautiously approached the crushed carcass of the mad man. Gorran looked solemnly back at Narra. "See Narra!" Gorran pointed bitterly at the heap of gray flesh that was once his first officer. "No peace! Ever!"

On To Part 9: Falling Home

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