Date originally posted at Kansas: December 3, 2003Replies: 37Views: 2433
Thank God in heaven...it's finally done. I've called it the fic from hell, but now that it's finished I'm a little fonder of it. *g* Much thanks to ac, crystalmoon and shipsister and the hubby for their excellant comments and support. You guys helped me enormously.
Rated: R
Setting: Just after BT
Disclaimer: Not mine
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
REMEMBER ME
I’m so afraid to love you
But more afraid to lose
Clinging to a past that doesn't let me choose
Once there was a darkness
Deep and endless night
You gave me everything you had, oh you gave me light
And I will remember you, will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories
Weep not for the memories
(Sarah McLachlan)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
D’Argo sighed with relief as he watched the pod settle to the floor. And he laughed as the small gray woman suddenly appeared and flung herself through the air straight at him.
"Welcome back." He whirled them around, tenkas flying, as he enveloped the small body in his arms, careful not to hurt her. Planting a kiss on her upturned lips he said. "Did you have any trouble?" His voice was a deep rumble of concern.
The white hair floated around the pixie face as it lifted to look at him. Her black eyes took his breath away as they had always done. Thank Bo’len that she could see at last. The blindness had lasted so long this time that they had almost given up. They had been in search of a diagnosan when her sight began to return. They would have to wait to find out if there was a way to stop the blindness. It had been a weeken since John and Aeryn had died and they were getting closer to their prey.
"Nah. Those frellnicks wouldn't know their eema from a ditch on Earth." She lightly flicked her tongue to his nose. His breath caught and he held her away before he forgot what they came for.
"And...?"
"And what?"
The twinkle was back in her eyes in spite of the sorrow he knew was always there. Always there in both of them. There was only one reason she'd be twinkling... she had found out something. He gave a warning rumble.
"Chiana."
"Oh, you want to know what they said." She gave him another quick kiss and danced away. "Well, at..at first they didn't know anything. And I almost believed 'em. I mean, they sounded as stupid as they looked, and they looked pretty stupid. Really, it was hard to believe they could know anything at all, but I didn't give up. And in the end it was easy. All I had to do was whisper a few words in the techs ear and he told me almost everything he knew." She gave him a big grin.
D'Argo could feel the jealous blood pounding in his veins. He took a deep breath and counted as John had taught him. "And what did you whisper to make him talk to you?"
Chiana must have seen the struggle going on inside him because she moved closer and gave his chest a reassuring pat as she whispered in his ear.
"All I said was that I would give him what he wanted." At his indrawn breath she giggled.
"And he wanted...currency!"
D'Argo shook his head. "Currency? Like...krindars?" Clearly that wasn't what he had been expecting.
"No. It was something called Po’Tunks. Whatever that is. Have you ever heard of Po’Tunks?”
He grimaced, shaking his head. When had he lost control of the conversation? A better question would be had he ever had control in a conversation with Chi?
"Nevermind. Just tell me what he said."
Her lips tightened, but she let it go. She figured she had that coming and they had more important things to worry about.
"Okay, here's the thing. The guys in the ships? They're called the Lothra. Nobody on this planet really knows who they are just that they've always been here. They appear out of nowhere and then they just...just disappear. Sometimes with people. Mostly new people."
"Noranti. That witch! She said she knew this planet! She couldn't tell us this before we sat there floating helpless in the water like a dead baccrat? Frell." He started pacing. "We were sitting birds waiting to be plucked." He stopped in front of her. "What else did they tell you?"
"He said he didn't know anything else, at least he didn't unless I..." She darted a sly look at him and shrugged her shoulders. "…and…and… of course that was out of the question. I told him he could go fr….”
“Chiana.”
She hurried on. "So I hid in a plant and listened to them talking .... what?"
"You hid in a plant?"
"Well, yeah. It was amazing. It was right there next to the table and it had these huge blue blooms with some kind of fellip in the middle that tasted like...like… chicken! That's it. Chicken. It was even bigger than me and they said it had already eaten so I figured I'd be safe enough..."
"Chiana!"
"Okay, okay, I’m getting to it. It seems like these people have been here a long time, but I don't think anyone knows for sure where the ships come from, just that they have always been here. I think they're scared of them. Probably the only smart thought they have. They sure as hezmana aren't going to try and find them, but I did find out that the ships always come from the North and I heard them mention some place. Ith'ra they called it. Seemed like a big thing, maybe a mountain or a city.
"Did they say anything about why they would kill John and Aeryn with no warning?" For an instant he saw their images, crumbling like dust, and he felt the wild burning anger inside him screaming to be let loose, but he was in control of himself for now. When he found the murdering bastards it would be a different story.
"Nope. Nothing. So, I figure there's only one thing to do."
“Yeah.”
"Go North." They said in unison.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sounds penetrated the comfortable darkness of his mind slowly at first. The low hum of a distant engine, the soft hiss of air flowing nearby, the rustle of clothes as someone walked by, his own breathing, growing more labored as consciousness returned. Feelings came next. The feel of cloth against him, the rough fabric under his cheek, the coolness of the air traveling over his body.
His body!
He couldn't remember why that thought was so scary, but his eyes opened against his will, unable to remain in the warm cocoon of nothingness any longer. Where the hell was he? He lifted his head and the pain pierced his brain. God. What was wrong with him? He stayed still for a moment and the pain passed leaving him panting and weak.
When his head stopped spinning he could see he was in a large room with smooth dark walls and just the minimum amount of furnishings. The bed he was laying on mirrored another on the opposite side of the room and what looked like a basin was repeated as well. Had he ever seen this room before? Surely he would remember if he knew this place?
Thoughts began to bubble to the surface now, pictures flashing through his mind like a kaleidoscope as memories broke through and filled him. Oh, no. Oh, God, what was happening to him? What was he doing here? Wherever it was he knew he had to leave. He moved a leg close to the edge of the bed to get up and then stopped.
“What the hell?” He pulled the covers up and looked down not sure what to expect, but the whole, healthy and purely naked body he saw was not it.
"Shit!" He tried not to panic. Then he remembered.
Aeryn.
Where was she? He still wasn't sure what had happened, but the one thing that came through his muddled brain loud and clear was he had to find Aeryn. What had happened to her? He couldn't live if anything happened to her, that he was sure of. But was he alive? He wasn't supposed to be, he was almost sure of that. He didn't know where he was or what had happened, but he'd figure that out later. Right now he had to find her.
He swung his feet over the side of the bed and the room swam again. "Oh, man!" His hands held his head until the room settled down once more. He remembered then the sound of someone walking near him. Someone else was here. They would know where Aeryn was.
"Hey!" He'd learned his lesson and rose slowly dragging the blanket with him. "Is anybody out there?!" He thought he saw movement outside the doorway, but no one came. He moved closer to the opening. "Hello! Somebody. Come here and face me damn it. What have you done with Aeryn?! I know you're there, you mother..."
"John?"
The soft word brought him up quickly and he looked around the room. Where...? “Aeryn?”
There. He saw her slim body unfold itself from the other side of the far bed, a piece of metal in her hand. The first thing he noticed was that she too was naked. The second was that she hadn't bothered with the sheet. Her long dark hair fanned around her body parting to give him enticing peeks at smooth flesh and dusky nipples as she walked towards him. Even as confused as he was, that fact had his body stirring as he stared at her.
“Aeryn. Are you all right?”
Her voice was steady as she replied. “I’m fine. What about you?”
He thought about it. “Besides the mother of all Excedrin headaches I think I’m okay.”
They met in the middle of the room. He was denches away from touching her, holding her, when he felt the barrier between them. Invisible, it was warm and soft, but it didn't move or allow him to penetrate it. He stretched out a hand and could almost touch her. Almost.
“Don’t bother. There’s some kind of shield separating the room. I’ve already tried to get around it. Nothing seems to work.” Her fingers continued to press at the invisible barrier. “Whoever has us doesn’t want us...together.” They stood there for a moment their eyes roaming over each other.
Suddenly John frowned. “What have you done to your hair?”
“What?” Her puzzled look echoed her words.
“It’s...” It was different. Too different. She couldn’t have grown her hair that long so quickly. Something was definitely wrong with this picture. He’d finally lost it. He felt the first stirrings of panic as he began to remember.
He dropped to the floor cross legged and looked down.
”I'm in hell aren't I?” He shook his head sadly. “I can't believe this. I was so sure I’d end up in heaven or well, maybe just nothing. I never really believed in hell you know.” He looked up at Aeryn. “I tried to be a good person, helped elderly ladies cross the road, rescued damsels in distress, saved billions of lives. I guess that wasn’t good enough…”
She frowned. “John? What the frell are you talking about?”
She was looking at him like he’d lost his mind. Had he? Was that an option?
She motioned with her hand. “Come on, get up. We’ve got to find a way out of here and you sitting there babbling is not helping.” When he didn’t move she crouched down to kneel in front of him and turned a suddenly uncertain smile on him. “Hey.”
He stared into her eyes and he felt sweat gathering on his face. He felt his body burning even though the room was cool.
“Aeryn?” It was a plea for help though he hadn’t meant to say anything.
She cocked her head to one side, looking at him intently. Then stood up quickly.
“You’re sick. You need a doctor.” She raised her voice. “We need a doctor!”
“No, wait! Aeryn. I’m not sick. Or at least I don’t think I am. Not that way. Just….come here.” He motion her to sit again.
She came back slowly, unsure what to do.
"Sit. Please." Before she could start to bend he pleaded with her. "But get a sheet or something! As much as I enjoy you in your birthday suit, it's..." He couldn't stop the grin. "...distracting."
When she was covered and seated he took a deep breath and looked at her for a moment before asking "Where are we?"
"Now that's a good question. I believe from what I've heard that we are underground. Possibly still on Qujaga. I'm not sure how long we've been here since they took us from the boat. I've been conscious for a few days. They’ve examined us. They said you would be fine, that it was just the effect of the Neutralizer on your alien physiology."
She raised her hand to press it against the barrier between them. "Did they lie? Are you sick? What's wrong?"
"Wrong? What's wrong is I'm not supposed to be here, Aeryn. I should be dead. Am I dead? You would tell me if I was dead wouldn't you?" He was trembling now; he could still feel his body burning, the bile rising in his throat as he tried to swallow. What was happening to him?
"John. You’re not dead. I know you thought we were going to die, we both did, but I assure you they only transported us here." She looked around. "Where ever here is, and we are both very much alive. And the baby. They said the baby is fine too." She smiled at him reassuringly.
Oh, God. Oh, God. The baby? His muscles went weak and the room swam. Suck it up John, you can't pass out now. If this wasn't a dream, if it wasn't hell, he needed to think. And think hard.
"Aeryn?"
She raised a quizzical eyebrow.
His world was reeling, but he had to ask. "What is the last thing you remember? Before we got here, that is."
She smiled then, the wide open smile that always sent his heart tripping.
"Well, you had just asked me to marry you and I told you about the baby and then the ship flew over and the next thing I knew we were here." She must have seen something in his eyes because her smiled faltered then and grew worried again. "What is the last thing you remember?"
Pain flashed across his face and he licked dry lips trying to make the words easier to say. They came in a whisper anyway.
"Aeryn. The last thing I remember is you sitting next to me crying. You pulled a blanket over me and you kissed me. And I said ‘don’t worry about me, I’ve never felt better.’ Just before I died."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“This has to be it. There’s nothing else for a hundred metres in any direction.”
The small brown land mass grew larger and larger till it filled the viewscreen as Lo’La drew closer. D'Argo gave the ship the order to slow down and put them in a holding pattern over the Island. It was a barren wasteland, but it was the only land there was. Something had to be down there.
“Bo’lak! Nah Treek!” He turned to Chiana after giving the order. “There. It will take a while to scan the area and get an idea of what is down there.” He looked down at the harsh land below them.
Chiana's rested her chin on D'Argo's shoulder as she looked too.
"What now?"
"Now, we find out who or what killed John and Aeryn."
"And then what?"
D’Argo heaved a sigh. ”Then we blow them up.”
Chiana gave him a look he’d seen too many times. “What? Uh... don't we want to talk to them first? Find out why they...you know.”
”Killed them?”
”Yeah”
”No.”
”No what?”
”No, we don't need to find out why they killed them. It's enough to know they did. And I’m not going to give them the opportunity to do the same thing to us. Once we're sure it’s them I will destroy them.”
She nuzzled his neck for a microt. ”Don’t get me wrong. I’m as much for destroying things as the next person. But, I still think we should talk to them. There had to be some reason for...you know.”
”Chiana. Stop. You didn't see it, I did. One microt they were so happy. And then they were dust. They deserved more than that. They were our friends. More than friends. They were family. Vengeance is demanded. It is a matter of honor.”
She thought about it for a microt. ”Yeah, well, when you put it that way.” She leaned closer and her breath tickled his cheek. “Give ‘em everything you’ve got.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She was looking at him blankly as though she were made of stone, but her hand trembled and gave lie to that idea.
“Aeryn. I know how this sounds.…”
“It’s not possible.”
“I know…”
“Who told you what happened? Was it Rygel? Crais? We were supposed to be alone. No one knew…” She bit her bottom lip.
“No one told me anything. Aeryn…”
“No. Don’t do this. Not now.” Her eyes were shining with unshed tears, but she never blinked and she never stopped looking at him.
“I remember…”
“You are John Crichton.” She stood up then, pulled the sheet tighter, and began to pace. “You were on the boat, you asked me to marry you, and you gave me a ring.” She stopped and faced him. “You know if this is some kind of joke it isn’t funny. And if you don’t want to marry me, that’s fine, you don’t have to make me angry. You don’t have to do this.” A tear escaped, unnoticed. “Please don’t do this.”
It was a painful whisper so low that he barely caught it.
John stood to face her. “Aeryn. I don’t want to hurt you, but I don’t know what’s happening here. I shouldn’t be here. I’m not even sure I really am here. All I know is what I remember and that was…God!” He rubbed his hands over his face. “You know I’ve been once or twice screwed since I got to this place, but this...”
“You’re a bioloid aren’t you?”
“I’m a what?!”
“That’s it! Why didn’t I think of that before?” She began pacing again. “They’ve sent you here to..to..what? What did they send you here for? To take me back?” Her voice rose. “Or maybe they didn’t send you at all. Maybe I never left Katratzi. Maybe I’m still back there and they’re messing with my mind!” She was shaking now.
“Aeryn, calm down. You’re losing me here. What is a bioloid?”
She looked at him sharply. “Okay, you say you’re John Crichton. Prove it.”
“How?”
She considered. “Cut yourself.”
“Cut myself? Aeryn, this is nuts!”
“Ah, ha!”
“Ah, ha what? You think cutting myself is going to prove something?” He looked down at his body remembering that he shouldn’t be here in the first place. “Well, hell. Maybe it will prove something.” Now it was his turn to move around the room.
His half whispered aside “maybe it’ll prove I’m an idiot” made her mouth twitch before she could help herself.
Well, if he was going to do it he should get it over with. He gazed helplessly around him looking for something to use, but nothing was readily apparent. Aeryn, being the ever helpful mate that she was, gave him a clue.
“Try under your bed. At the top, there’s a small metal piece that you can just break off.”
“Gee, thanks.” He dropped down and scooted under the bed looking. “Okay.” The sound of metal snapping broke the silence. Scrambling to his feet he held up his prize. “Got it.”
“All right. So do it.”
John looked at the jagged piece of metal he held in his hands. “You know, this will probably kill me again. It’ll get infected and then gangrene will set in and before you know it they’ll cut off my arm and….”
She raised her eyebrow.
“Right. Just do it.” He looked from the metal to his arm again and winced. “Okay, John, be all that you can be.” He brought the sharp edge to his forearm and pressed lightly. “Oh man, this is really gonna hurt.” His lips drew back in a grimace as the skin broke. “Ah! God! I knew it! Why does everything have to hurt?!” He threw down the metal with a clang and held out his arm. They both watched as blood flowed from the small incision down his arm.
And he watched helplessly as Aeryn slid down into a boneless heap, unconscious.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“There!” D’Argo pointed to the tiny blips on the hologram. “Most of the life forms are centered in this area.”
Chiana moved into the seat beside him and watched the blips with interest. “So, how do we know these are the frellnicks who did it?”
He waved his hand and uttered a sharp command. A schematic appeared and the outline of a plane was clearly visable.
“Hey that looks just like the ship that Pilot...”
“Exactly.” His mouth tightened into a grim line. “It’s them all right. Now I just need to figure out the best way to destroy them.”
“Can’t you just fire on the ground?”
D’Argo sighed. “There is some type of force field surrounding the complex. I am not sure if Lo’la’s weapons can destroy it.”
“But...”
“Shhh....” He studied the scene before him carefully. And then found what he was looking for. “Perhaps if I target that section there....”
“What? You have a plan?” At his nod she gave him a quick grin and a light punch to the arm. “You figured that out quick. See, Crichton’s not the only one who can...” Her smile faded. “I mean...”
“It’s okay, Chiana. They will not be forgotten.”
“I know.” Her face was a solemn as his as she leaned over and kissed him softly. “So let’s do this.”
“Right. Retak no don Weeer!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She was awake thank God. Someone, he was pretty sure it was Frankenstein, had come in and laid her on the bed running an instrument over her and completely ignoring the deranged human yelling at him from the other side of the room. He had left as quickly as he came and John had died a thousand more times before Aeryn had moved again. It hadn’t taken long for her to recover once they were alone, but John’s could still see her lying there on the floor, he unable to help her.
Aeryn was looking at him intently now from the far side of the room. Her back was to the wall where she sat on the bed.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded. They were silent a long time before she finally broke the quiet.
“What else do you remember? Before you…” Her hands waved, not able to give voice to what had happened to him.
“How far back? When I first got here? You kicked my butt, I remember that.”
“No. Later. After the dead Leviathan.”
“Oh. You mean after I got…you know…him and me?”
She nodded.
“Where is the son of a bitch anyway?” He had a thought. “Did…did Stark give him the message?”
She smiled like her heart was breaking. “Yes. He got the message.”
“So. You went back to him.” He gave a strangled laugh. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist me for long.” He knew better than to ask. He did anyway even though the words were forced out of him. “Umm…how…how long….?”
Somehow she knew what he meant. He read remembered pain in her eyes when she said “You were right. It took time.”
He closed his eyes. He had known it wouldn’t be easy for her.
She moved then and came to middle of the room. She sat down in front of him, searching his face like she had never seen it before, looking for an answer to the impossible. She studied the straight nose, the soft full lips, the smooth forehead. She blinked.
“There’s no scar.”
“Huh?” He remembered then and automatically lifted a hand to his left temple. Smooth. Ah frell. “But..”
She saw the panic in his face. “It’s okay.” She soothed him. “There’s an explanation.” She sighed. “We just have to think of it.”
“Maybe I’m dreaming? Maybe you’re dreaming?”
“I don’t think so.” She shook her head. “No, this is real. Therefore there must be a real explana...” Her eyes narrowed and a thought occurred to her. “Frell!”
“What? What frell?!”
“The mask.”
“The mask?”
“You gave Stark a message, but you gave him more than that. You gave him memories.” Sadness was there in her gaze before it hardened again. “And there was a game.”
“A game?” He was beginning to sound like a parrot.
“Yes. A holo game. Stark was responsible for it. He took the memories you gave him on Talyn and sold them to a gamemaker. John was trapped inside the game for a while and …things happened. Like they so often do.” They smiled at each other. Quick grins that said they knew all about things happening. “Maybe it somehow gave his memories to you. Or your memories to him…” her voice trailed off.
It was hard to take in. Stark had sold his memories? His intimate thoughts and dreams out on public display? There was one thing he was certain of though. “Stark! I’m going to kill the bastard!” He punched the air with his fist. “But if this is his body then why don’t I have his memories?”
“I don’t know. You were fine on Moya. The only thing that changed was…wait a microt! Perhaps it has something to do with how we got here. You were out for two solar days longer than I was. Before you woke up the doctor told me that we had been reconstituted. Whatever the frell that means. Maybe when they brought us back they messed up something.”
“My head! They messed with my head!” He dropped said head in his hands and moaned. “Why do they always have to mess with my head!” He was still for a long time before he looked up again into her eyes. “I’m not really me am I? I’m him.” He laughed softly. “Maybe I really am in hell.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They were still looking at one another when the first sounds came. The rumbling seemed far away, but the fact that the floor shook was not comforting.
"What the f...?"
A shower of sparks erupted near the door and suddenly the faint hum that he had woke up to was gone leaving the room feeling strangely empty. His eyes caught Aeryn's and they both reached out at the same time.
The barrier was gone.
He didn't remember moving, but she was in his arms and he was holding on to her as if his life depended on it. And maybe it did. He felt like it did. The sheets fell away and God, she felt so good, her arms around his waist, her breasts were soft pressed against his chest, her hair tickling his nose. He couldn't have moved if Scorpy had walked in with Bracca yapping at his heels. She was the only sane thing in his universe. Always had been.
"Aeryn." He whispered into her hair. He wouldn't let her go again.
The walls shook once more and he pulled away slightly. "I think we should get out of here."
Her head came up and she nodded. She was so close he could already taste her, but there was no time, no time. They grabbed the sheets and headed for the door. He started to go left as she went right. One look and he changed directions heading down the right corridor with her. He'd learned a long time ago that in battle he should follow her lead. She was annoyingly right.
Whoever their captors were they were in a state of confusion now. John saw several of their captors scurrying down the hallway before cornering an unfortunate couple that came around the corner at just the right time. Or wrong time depending on your point of view. The two aliens shrieked in alarm when they saw the former captives and cowered back against the wall as John and Aeryn neared.
The odd thing was they didn't even have to fight to achieve their objective and microts later they were striding down the halls clothed in the aliens’ uniforms. The stiff material wasn't as comfortable as their own clothes and the fit was tight, but it beat the hell out of flapping in the breeze.
They hadn’t gone far before Aeryn pulled him back and peered around a corner. The corridor dead ended, but it looked like they had reached what might pass for a command center of some kind. Machinery lined the walls and a large glowing sphere held court in the center of the room. The slow deliberate speech of their jailors was slowly gaining speed as their hands flew over the control panels.
"We cannot stop them. Contamination is imminent. This is your fault Meethon. There is now only one thing to do. We need the two new specimens."
“It is too late. Power to the containment systems has been severed Sorak. Interior shields are down and they are no longer in their quarters.”
The Lothran’s looked at each other helplessly as sounds from the explosions seemed to get closer.
John pulled back and looked at Aeryn.
"Aeryn? Have you noticed something funny?” He whispered.
“Funny?”
“Not funny, ha ha, but just...funny.” His sharp gaze went from alien to alien. “None of these bad guys seem to have any weapons. The guy that came in to take care of you. The two in the hall. These guys. Did you see any while I was out earlier?"
She shook her head. "No, nothing. But surely..."
"You know, I’m gonna make a bet that says they don't have any weapons." His brow crinkled in thought. "Obviously they can transport and they can contain...like the force field in the room, but I’ll bet they can't fight." He moved to go around her and she put a hand out to stop him.
"And if you're wrong?"
"Well, there only one way to find out." He lifted a hand to stroke her cheek. "You stay here, just in case."
And he stepped around her and entered the room.
"Hello gentlemen! I'm assuming there aren't any ladies present? It's so hard to tell these days." High pitched squeals splintered the air as most of the occupants moved as far away from him as possible. John watched as their heads split open and valves started to wave.
“Whoa!” He jumped back. “All right. I’m sorry, but that’s just gross.”
The alien named Sorak moved slowly to stand in front of him and his head snapped shut before he spoke. “You are responsible for this.” He said as the floor shook beneath them. “You must make them stop.”
“Me?! I’m responsible?!” He watched as the others talked amongst themselves. “What is wrong with you people?” He raised his hand, palm out. “You know, never mind. I just want you to get us the hell out of here.”
“Why did you bring us here in the first place?” Aeryn’s voice came from behind them. She held the metal rod she had pulled from her bed earlier.
“Aeryn! I told you to…” All it took was her raised eyebrow. “Right. I’m glad you could make it darlin’.” He turned his attention to the alien in front of him. “Now where were we?”
She stepped further into the room. “They were about to tell us why they ruined the best day of my life.”
Now she was beside John and watching the aliens intently. “Go on. We’re waiting.”
“We are the Lothra. We are here to protect our home world from invaders that would contaminate our world. You were intruders. We had no choice but to neutralize and bring you here. You have not been harmed.”
“The best?” The whispered question came from beside her.
“What?”
“You said it was the best day of your life.”
Aeryn went still and cut her eyes to him. “This is not the best time.”
“Right. You’re right. Later.”
John looked at the alien in front of him. “So you don’t think we’ve been harmed huh? Well I have a head full of someone else’s memories that says you did something you shouldn’t have.” He poked a finger into a skeletal chest.
A loud explosion followed by florescent sparks followed. The bright lights of the room died suddenly and then there was only the soft red glow of the emergency lights to see by.
Sorak spoke. "We apologize for any inconvenience that we have caused. But I think the matter is now moot. The complex has been contaminated and the shields mostly destroyed. It is only a matter of time before the pressure from the outside world crushes the remaining barriers.”
“Um…crushes?” John swallowed hard. “And then what?”
“And then we die."
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