A Certain Kind of God (PG-13)

[imloco2]

Date originally posted at Kansas: June 4, 2003
Replies: 36
Views: 1385



 


Boo! (loco comes slinking around the corner) It's been a while. Writer's block had me in it's deadly grip, but like a true FS fan I never gave up. (much) So here is yet another short story, but not too short, to pass the time.

Thanks to the bunnies who looked it over and pronounced it edible. I'm a lucky gal.

Rated...PG-13
Future fic with J&A&Z&P on Moya
Disclaimer....I don't own a thing. Just borrowing.


A Certain Kind of God

~~~~~~~~~~~~


John stared out the window in command and let the feeling spread through him. He’d given up fighting it. In fact, for some reason he now welcomed it. He still wasn’t sure when he had first felt it. A monen? Two?  It had started as a nagging ache that was just out of reach until one day it had taken form. The ache had turned into a definite though nebulous pain.   He had thought for sure he was sick.  Had given serious thought to having some space disease that had finally caught up to him.

But no. He wasn’t sick. In fact, he’d never felt better.  As the feeling had grown, the pain had changed and he had slowly realized that he was growing stronger, not weaker. The pain had become a buzz of electricity flowing just under the skin.

He hadn’t meant to tell Aeryn. He didn’t want her worrying and for some reason it had seemed a private, secret thing. He should have known better.  He couldn’t keep secrets from her no matter how hard he tried. She knew him too well now.  And so, when she’d finally cornered him and threatened to do him bodily harm, he’d given in to the inevitable and afterwards couldn’t remember why he hadn’t wanted to tell her. It felt so much better to have her on his side.

Since then they had been trying to figure out what was going on. He had a few ideas, but only ideas. Nothing concrete.  But it must mean something that the feeling was strongest when he was near a wormhole. It couldn’t be just coincidence.  He’d stopped believing in coincidence a long time ago.

They were on their way to run yet another test, still an arn from the next wormhole and the hair standing up on his neck was making him nervous. What in the frell did it mean? He’d grown used to the sensations he felt when he was in front of the swirling beasts called wormholes.  This was similar, yet so much more. Had the Ancients done something to him they hadn’t told him about? God,  he needed to find out what was going on. There was more at stake than just him and Aeryn  now and he had to have answers.

He felt rather than heard Aeryn’s presence behind him. She could still sneak up on him when she put her mind to it, but his sixth sense where she was concerned just kept getting stronger.  He kept watching the stars as she settled down next to him.

“Anything change?” She reached down to twine her fingers around his.

“Nah.” He sighed. “Maybe a little stronger than before. I feel like...like something’s pulling at me. Or I’m pulling at it. It’s...weird.” He flashed a nervous grin that said, ‘what’s new?’

She cut her eyes to him quickly and looked away. “John.”

“Mmmm?”

It took her a moment to speak. “Before. I mean, when we were on Talyn.”

His heart sped up, but his face remained passive.

“Yeah?”

“He...John, before he died… He felt the Ancients calling him. Described it as something like a beacon. We searched until the Ancients found us.” She closed her eyes against the memories. “Perhaps it’s them calling again.”     

His hand tightened on hers.  “Maybe.”

“I’d ask you to ignore it, but I know the answer to that.”

He heard the strain in her voice and he turned to her then. The pain in her dark eyes hurt and he pulled her closer, wrapping her in his arms. He rested his chin on top of her head, and spoke softly.

“I’m sorry. I wish I could ignore it. But it’s too strong. It’s doing something to me and I have to find out what.”

She nodded and allowed herself a small sigh. “Just do me one favor?”

“Anything.”

She lifted her head to look him in the eye. “If you see Fulow....run.”

His lips twisted in a sardonic grin. “You bet your sweet ass darlin’”

His hands slid down to her backside as he bent to press a lingering kiss on her parted lips and then deftly changed the subject.

‘Is Zhaani down for the count?”

It was her turn to grin. “Yes, finally. I had to tell her the Royal Planet story...again. You’d think she’d be tired of it by now.”

“Kids like repetition. I remember making my mom read me Chicken Little five times in a row one night. He chuckled at the memory. “Zhaani’s just like her old man.”

“Yes. That’s what I’m afraid of.” But it was said with a smile and as they looked at each other the electricity that always simmered between them rocked up a notch.  With lips smirking playfully they turned and headed for the door anxious to relieve some of those pent up fluid levels.

Aeryn’s voice echoed in the corridor as they walked away.

“Chicken Little?”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


A pleasure so intense it felt almost like pain enveloped her as his mouth moved downward on her skin. His mouth was warm and gentle, finding all the hidden places that gave the most pleasure.  His hands were firm and slightly rough, smoothing over her skin and sinking deeper and deeper into her body. Frell, but she couldn’t get enough of this, of him. Her breath was coming in gasps now, matching his labored breathing,  and she was on the brink of a meltdown when the warning came.

“Commander Crichton!”

Then his mouth and hands were gone as he leaned up on one elbow.

“Pilot?”

“Commander. Moya’s sensors have just picked up a group of ships approximately 100 metras away and closing fast. I estimate we have less than one arn before they overtake us.

“Pilot, have Moya Starburst.” They’d have to pick up the others later.

“I’m sorry Commander. Moya was undergoing some self diagnosis of the central command functions. She won’t be ready for Starburst for over an arn. We offer our apologies, but we thought…”

“All right Pilot. You didn’t know. Hang on, we’ll be right there.”

He grabbed a quick kiss from Aeryn before they both jumped out of bed. Fluid levels would have to wait.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They came to command together at a run.

“Okay, what do we have on the ships?” John looked at Pilot’s image dancing in the clam shell. “Peacekeepers? Scarran? Nebari?” 

“Origin is unknown as of yet. They should be in range for a detailed scan in 30 microts.”

“Damn! I knew it was a bad idea to send D’Argo and the rest of the guys out for a little R&R. I’d feel better with Lo’La as back up. Can you signal them Pilot?”

“No Commander.  Rancor is no longer in range.”

He looked at Aeryn and silently reached out a hand for hers.

“Ships are now in range. Data indicates….Oh my!”
They looked at each other, really scared now. An ‘Oh my’ from Pilot was worth twenty God Dammits from anyone else. This was not good.

“Pilot? What is it? What kind of ships are they?”

“They are Peacekeepers.”

“Peacekeepers?”  Now they gazed at each other, puzzled. They hadn’t been chased by the Peacekeepers for several cycles.  “What class are they? Can we maneuver away or shield ourselves from them?”

“Not an option. They have already taken reading from Moya and are increasing speed. They will now intercept Moya in half an arn”

Aeryn had been thinking rapidly.  “Perhaps if I took a pod and led them away from Moya?”

“Not a chance.” John mouth tightened into an uncompromising line.

“I’m sorry Aeryn, but in this instance I agree with the Commander.”

‘Thank you, Pilot.” He shot Aeryn a triumphant look.

She glared back at him. “We have to try. We can’t just sit here like…like…squatting ducks.”

“Sitting ducks.  Aeryn, you know you can’t go.” She started to protest and he reminded her of their most basic goal.  Keeping Zhaani safe.  “What about Zhaani? You’re just gonna take off without her and maybe leave her to me to raise? I don’t think so.” He took a deep breath. “I’ll go.”

Before she could argue Pilot’s voice cut in.  “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I think there is something you both should know.”

“Well? Spit it out Pilot, we don’t have all day.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think any course of action is going to save us.”

Frell. Why did it always get worse? “And why is that Pilot?”

Because the ships that I told you about are all Command Carriers and appear to be under the control of Commandant Me’lon Grayza.” He paused for dramatic effect. “All ten of them.”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ten? Ten?!  “No, no, there’s got to be some mistake Pilot. An echo, a sensor distortion. Something!”  John started pacing. “There can’t be ten!”
“I didn’t know there were ten Command Carriers in the Fleet” Aeryn sounded a little shell shocked at the thought.

“All systems have been checked and rechecked Commander. That figure is the correct one.”

John came to a stop and glanced out the window. “Grayza.” It was a whispered curse. What the frell was she up to?  He had thought her beaten and he’d give a lot to know how she had managed to get back into power after the long fall. No. On second thought he knew how and it made him slightly nauseous. Grayza. What in the frell were they going to do? He couldn’t let her get her slimy hands on Aeryn. Or Zhaani. Oh, God. Zhaani.  Nothing could happen to her. Whatever else happened she had to remain safe. It was his life’s goal.

Aeryn was standing perfectly still in the middle of the room. He hadn’t guessed her state until her words reached him. “So, this is it.” She met his eye and tears glistened. She smiled. Just barely, but it was a smile nevertheless. One that told him she regretted nothing and would always love him.  God, he loved her. “I’m going to get Zhaani. She should be here. With her parents.” She turned and hurried out leaving John alone to talk to himself.

“Think dammit! Moya can’t Starburst, we can’t fly fast enough to get away and there are ten, count ‘em, ten Command Carriers run by the evil bitch woman hot on our tail. Piece of cake, no problem.” He paused. “If your name’s Indiana Jones.”

“The command carriers will now reach us in a quarter arn.  Is there anything I can do…John?” Pilot’s voice was weary now. It sounded an awful lot like he’d given up as well.

Give up. Could he? Surrender.  To Grayza?  Never. There had to be a way. Had to.

“Pilot? How far away is that wormhole we were headed for?” Maybe they could reach it in time.

“Still over half an arn away Commander.”

Or maybe not.           

Damn they needed that wormhole. He didn’t want to admit it, but without it he didn’t think they had a chance. There was no time for bomb building. No time to hide. No way to out run them. They needed the God damn wormhole and they needed it now!

He was concentrating on the problem so hard he didn’t feel it at first.  The prickling under the skin, the ever present pull he’d been feeling intensifying. He still didn’t know what it was, but this time he gave in to it and allowed it to sweep over him. He’d been in zero gravity before and this was it’s counterpart. A ton of bricks were pressing against his chest and the weight of it threatened to crush him from the inside out. And still his only focus was the wormhole. He didn’t know why. It was too far away, they would never reach it in time, but his unconscious mind refused to believe. They needed it and he could see it there in his minds eye. The swirling blue that made his head swim and his heart race.  Keeper of time and home and life. He needed it. Now!
And it was here. It couldn’t be here. Logically he knew that. But he saw it and he felt it and he couldn’t deny it. But how?

He moved closer to the view screen. “Pilot. Do you see that?”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Where did the wormhole come from? I didn’t think there was another one in this quadrant.”

“There wasn’t Commander! The wormhole we were headed for just....moved.”

“Moved? What do you mean moved? Wormholes don’t just move. They are always stationary. Check physics 101, Pilot. We find them, they don’t find us.” He heard himself arguing, but deep inside he knew. And he was afraid. Very afraid.

“You are correct. However, Moya’s readings indicate that that is indeed the wormhole we were looking for. And it did move.” There was strain in Pilot’s voice. “Commander. Before it appeared...you...” He stopped.

“I what?”

“You were glowing, John.” Aeryn’s voice sounded behind him. She stood holding their daughter in her arms and two pairs of dark blue eyes gazed at him with wonder.

“Glowing?” He raised an arm and looked at his hand searching for something different. Nope. It was just a hand. “That’s crazy Aeryn. I wasn’t...”

At that moment Zhaani wiggled down out of her mothers arms and ran across the room with her arms lifting for his embrace.  He caught her up and hugged her close, relishing the feel of her soft warm body. The last 4 cycles since her birth had been one miracle of love after another and he loved her so much it threatened to overwhelm him at times.  Like now.

“Hey, sweet pea. How’s my Z girl?”

She giggled softly and wrapped one arm around his neck. “You’re my glow daddy.” Her tiny lips pressed a kiss against his cheek and he thought he would cry. Nothing was more important than keeping her safe. He’d worry about himself later.

“Pilot! Time!”

“Interception in thirty microts!”

He turned to Aeryn. “If we go I’ll have to close it.  And we don’t know where we’ll end up or if we can get back.” It was her choice. Take their chances with Grayza or face the unknown, one more time.

Which was no choice at all, really.
   
“Go!”

“All right.  Pilot, send out an emergency beacon to let the others know not to come back this way. We’ll just have to hope it gets to them.”

“Already done, Commander.”

“Good. Now take us in.”

They moved forward and he felt the familiar tug of the wormhole, but this time it was different. This time he wasn’t be waiting to see what the wormhole did or hold his breath wondering if they would make the trip safely. This time he was in charge and he felt the power bleed into him and flow outward into the wavering blue tunnel. Somehow he knew that he wouldn’t need any fancy maneuvering on the other end to close it.  He didn’t know how it had happened, and he could deny it till he was a blue as that wormhole outside, but he knew deep down it was true. He had the power now.  Not just the knowledge, but actually honest to God power over wormholes. He called and they came. He waved and they disappeared.

The God of Wormholes.

And as they raced from their enemies into the unknown he was aware of something else he was equally sure of.

He was scared to death.



The end.


by
Chris
imloco2