TITLE: "MOVING THE GOAL POSTS"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "Farscape"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: PG-13

STATUS: New.

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed

SERIES/SEQUEL: SEQUEL to "NEIGHBOURS"

The ususal disclaimers apply. No infringement of copyright is intended.

"MOVING THE GOAL POSTS"
A "Farscape" story
Written by Alison M. DOBELL

He woke with a crick in his neck but warmer than he had been in a while. It felt comfortable to wake wrapped in the gorilla's arms and not at all odd. Rygel however did not understand their closeness. To him it seemed to verge on the obscene. His reaction amused Crichton.

"Don't you have affection on Hyneria?"

Rygel made an odd gurgling noise in the back of his throat as if he was gargling with something unpleasant. "There is affection, John, and there is the bizarre. You definitely fall into the latter category."

Crichton laughed lightly and rolled gently on to his back so as not to hurt Guy. The gorilla opened his eyes slowly and moved one great hairy arm so that the human could get up, roll over, or get more comfortable if he wanted to. Crichton did not move so Guy draped the arm gently across his chest. The human yawned. Rygel watched them and shook his head slowly. "You may not be doing Guy any good letting him get used to sleeping with you. He is no longer a baby."

"Uh, I already had that conversation with D'Argo, Sparky. I think we should fast forward passed the part about the birds and the bees because it doesn't apply. Right now he's under enough stress. If this helps him feel safer then that's okay by me. Besides, he makes one hezmana of a blanket."

"Hrrumph! I see you took no notice of any advice given."

"How do you know? Maybe, Big D thought it was a *good* idea."

The Dominar snorted in derision. "That is the last thing the Luxan would
have thought."

Crichton chuckled and silently agreed with him. His natural good nature not letting him take offence where none was intended. He knew Rygel was simply concerned about Guy. It was damn cold and he was really glad he had coaxed the neighbours to give him back his clothes. He noticed Rygel was shivering. "Hey, Sparky, you cold?"

"Of course I'm cold. It's frelling freezing in here."

"Yeah, I noticed." Crichton frowned. "Perhaps they turn the heating off at night to conserve energy?" At Rygel's glower he sat up, Guy releasing him and sitting up as well.

Rygel watched the human take off his leather jacket. "What the yotz are you doing?"

The human held the jacket out to him. "Here. Take it. It'll keep you warm. I can snuggle up with Guy."

He looked horrified. "You're tinked!"

"Yeah and you're cold. This is no time to be a snob, Sparky. Just put on the damn jacket and get some sleep."

The Hynerian took the jacket and muttered quietly to himself. He watched Crichton lay down, close his eyes and sigh as Guy wrapped himself around him again in a big hairy, living, breathing blanket. He had to admit that the two looked comfortable. Rygel looked at the jacket and shook his head. The human never ceased to amaze him. His eyes softened then he lay down next to his friends and pulled the jacket over him, surprised to discover how good the remanant of warmth from Crichton's body felt as he snuggled deeper inside the jacket and smiled. Crichton waited a few microts then cracked open an eye. All he could see from his vantage point was the Dominar's feet sticking out from under his jacket. He grinned and resisted the urge to chuckle out loud. He did not want to enrage or offend his friend. He yawned and closed his eyes. He was so damn tired. Rygel did not close his eyes. Did not think he would be able to sleep.

He was thinking about everything that had happened to them. Worrying about how the hezmana they were going to get out of this. The human had finally stopped talking. Rygel turned his head and watched the gorilla rub Crichton's head in a soothing gesture as if he were the adult and Crichton were the child. It mussed up his hair and seemed to make the human sleepier as if the action had a sophomoric effect. The Dominar watched as he drifted back off to sleep. He was nonplussed. What the yotz could he do? The human was completely tinked. Magra fahrbot. Kinkoid. Bartantic. He thought of rousing Crichton and telling him to get up then mentally shook himself. What was there to get up for? They had all lost too much sleep already through anxiety and nightly visits from their captors. If they could catch up on their lost sleep they should do so. No one knew what would happen next or when they would get the chance again. Rygel looked around and found himself gazing straight into the eyes of the gentle female from the next cell. She was watching them quietly. Her eyes taking everything in. Her own companions sleeping in a sloppy huddle a couple of dench behind her. Whether for warmth or protection he did not know. Perhaps both. He wondered why she did not join them then watched her expression as her eyes flicked over to where Crichton lay in the curve of Guy's arm.

Frell. Unless he was much mistaken the human would have to be careful with the neighbours as well.

* * * * *

Bialar Crais frowned. A message was coming in. On a Peace Keeper encrypted code. He toyed with not answering it but the need to know was too strong. He could always flee if it were bad news. He activated the sequence that would decipher it and his screen flickered to life. Commandant Darikos smiled disingenuously back at him.

"Ah, Captain Crais. I am glad I was able to reach you before you left the area."

Crais inclined his head warily. "Commandant. What can I do for you?"

The smile widened a little. Became almost predatory. "How soon can you return to Trilon?"

He raised black heavy brows in surprise. Not just at the request to return but the openness with which it had been said. Perhaps he would be just as open about why? "I am expected elsewhere, Commandant. Perhaps if you could tell me what was so urgent...?"

Darikos nodded slowly. "Of course. The captive John Crichton. A most *unusual* specimen."

Crais frowned. "This is about Crichton?"

"Not exactly."

He was starting to get annoyed now. "Explain."

The Commandant did not bristle at what amounted to a command from a subordinate rank. He was far too smooth for that. Especially when he wanted something. "He was on a leviathan."

"Yes. Moya."

A nod. "Moya." The Commandant paused a microt. "This leviathan is the same one that carries the escaped alien prisoners is it not?"

A cold finger of dread slid down Crais's back. While he had no love for Moya's crew, the ship was mother to his own leviathan Talyn and that was a link that could not be severed without repercussions that could destroy his own hopes and fears for the future. "It is."

"Good. If you would, I require one last service from you."

* * * * *

They awoke rested and feeling better than they had in days. Crichton yawned and stretched, rolling his neck to take out the kinks. When he opened his eyes he noticed that the one he had nicknamed Sarah was at her usual spot looking through the bars. Her eyes drifting over their cell but always coming back to look at him. He found himself curious about her. About what was going on here. Rygel's voice broke his reverie. "We have to get out of here, John."

He nodded, still looking at the creature staring back at him. Guy rubbed his head affectionately and said something. Crichton muttered back. "Yeah, good morning Guy."

Still he looked at her. She tilted her head, sat down and never broke eye contact. She looked so sad. Rygel watched Crichton, concerned that the human's gentle heart would get them all into trouble again. He could warn him of course but there always seemed to be a time delay with the human. The warnings never penetrating that thick mass of bone called a brain until *after* the crisis was over. Typical. That was what he got for making friends with lower life forms. But he still watched. Wary and attentive.

Crichton walked over to the bars on the side of their cage and stopped a few dench from them. *Sarah* sitting approximately the same distance away on the other side. She tilted her head, the mix of curiosity and sadness hooking him in as much as the bright intelligence he saw in her eyes. "Hey." He said softly, not wanting the sound of his voice to startle her. "Are you okay?"

He knew she would have no understanding of the words but his tone should tell her he was no threat. It would convey the emotion of his words if not the meaning. He repeated his question this time using the simple hand signs he had been teaching Guy. Interest sparked in her eyes. She rubbed her head with one hand and made almost a crying noise.

"You're hurt? In pain?"

Behind him he could hear the concerned voice of the Dominar grumbling gently at him. "Don't be a yotz, John, she can't understand you. You're wasting your time."

"Perhaps but you can't make a connection if you don't try Sparky. And she did kinda save my life."

"You saved your own life, John."

"Yeah, well she gave me back my clothes."

The Hynerian fell silent. Only the human could consider the two things on the same par. He exchanged a look with Guy. A slow trail of tears fell from Sarah's eyes. It hurt Crichton to see it. His heart lurched. Longing to help her in some way but how? Without thinking he began to reach out as if to dry her tears. She shook her head and his hand froze just a microdench from the bars. He had almost forgot they were electrified. He began to feel an anger growing in him. What the hezmana had they done to her? What was this place? Why were they here? Had she been tortured?

Rygel watched the others in the next cage. They flicked curious eyes towards Sarah and the human but made no move to interfere. It was odd how they no longer seemed threatening. Rygel frowned, determined not to let his guard down for an instant. These were the same creatures who had dragged Crichton into their cell and attacked him. Whether to kill or rape him he had not been able to tell. Was this female simply sad or was she trying to lure Crichton back to their group? He could not tell and not knowing put him on edge. Guy seemed to sense it and put a hand on the Hynerian's shoulder. He grumbled and made a sign for worry. Guy made a sign for trust. Rygel stared at him. Amazed at how quickly he had picked up the human's traits as well as his language. Frell. The human really did irreversibly contaminate everyone he came into contact with but not in a bad way. It was as if the human had the ability to gentle the excesses of other species. He hoped that gentleness would not turn into his downfall.

A sound made him snap his head round and look away from Guy. Rygel's mouth dropped open. Crichton sprang back away from the bars. Sarah did not move. The side of their cage slid back as it had once before. Sarah stood up and stepped into their cage. The group behind her made no move to follow. That was the only thing that reassured Rygel. Guy left Rygel's side and moved to interecept the female. Crichton put out a hand to stop him, his voice soft and quiet. "It's okay, Guy. Sarah's just come to visit, haven't you?"

She angled her face towards him and sat down. He realised that she had halved the distance between them since he had jumped back in alarm. Her actions told him all he needed to know. The next move was his. Approach or walk away. What should he do? He paused then closed the distance between them. Rygel's worried voice floated over to him. "What the yotz do you think you're doing?"

"Relax Sparky. If this was a ploy to lure me into their cooking pot I'd be the main course by now."

His words left Rygel none the wiser and no happier but he fell silent. Crichton noticed that Sarah's face was still wet with tears. He started to make slow hand signs to accompany his words. "Did they hurt you?"

She touched her head.

"Your head hurts?"

A nod.

Slowly Crichton reached out to take a look. Rygel wanted to close his eyes but did not dare. The bartantic human would get them all killed. Sarah dipped her head and Crichton leaned forward, gently tilting her head until he found the site of the wound. She hissed but did not pull back, did not strike out at him. His voice was low, warm, soothing. She trusted him. "That looks a nasty cut Sarah." Crichton pitched his voice back to Rygel. "Hey Sparky, do we have anything we can put on a cut?"

"No, not unless you have some clothing we can rip up."

Crichton smiled as he remembered something. "I think I can do better than that." He leaned away from her and put his hand in his pocket. Her eyes followed the movement, a frown lowering her brows. With a slow flourish he pulled out a square of cloth. Well, it was a rag really. One he had used to wipe his hands after working on his module. He had forgotten he had put it in his pocket until now. He turned it over looking for a part with no oil on then folded it and made a gesture to Sarah to lower her head. When she hesitated he put it into words. "Come on Sarah, let me put this on your head. It'll help stop the bleeding, okay?"

The sound of his voice calmed her. She lowered her head and let him apply the cloth, instinctively knowing he was trying to help her. Then he took her hand and gently put it on the rag so she could hold it in place herself. He took his hands away and looked at her as she slowly raised her head and looked him in the eye. He beamed at her then gently brushed the tears from her hairy face with his hands, his voice telling her it was going to be alright. He had had worst scrapes when he was a kid. He babbled on quietly, she listened transfixed. Rygel was amazed. How the frell did he do that? The others had moved a little closer, curious but wary. Wanting to see what the human was doing. Crichton ignored them. Rygel moved back towards the far side of the cage. Crichton might be trusting but that did not mean he had to be. Guy watched the Dominar, then looked at the creatures slowly crowding into their cage. He made a low sound in the back of his throat which brought Crichton's head up in alarm. Sarah reached out a hand and touched his face. He froze. Eyes fixed on her again. This time she seemed to be soothing him. Telling him it was alright. They meant no harm. Then she clasped one hand on his, the other holding the little rag to her head, and tugged. He looked momentarily confused, then she pulled him towards her cage. Before he could do or say anything the others were behind him and he was hustled back through the bars into the larger cage. Guy howled and ran after them. As the gorilla crossed the threshold the bars slid back in place and the hum resumed telling them the power was back on.

Rygel stared wide eyed and distraught from their old cage. Glad he had take refuge at the far side of the cage but terrified for the safety of his friends. Crichton tried to stuggle but it was six against one. Two if you counted Guy. The gorilla was on the verge of losing it. Crichton tried to calm him down. Only when Guy felt Crichton's hand rub his fur did he begin to calm down, though his lips were still peeled back, every muscle tensed in his body to fight to the death if they tried to harm the human. Sarah stroked Crichton's face, the pads of her hands softer than he would have expected, her eyes looking deep into his, wanting him to understand, to not be afraid. It made him think of those old sci fi movies where the human travellers first words to the aliens are, "We come in peace". As long as it was peace not pieces they might just get out of this alive.

* * * * *

D'Argo was suspicious. Aeryn was relieved but curious. "Don't take this the wrong way Crais, but why the change of heart?"

He scowled as he stepped off the gunship and stopped in front of her. Chiana eyed him warily but hey. Anything which would raise Crichton, Rygel and Guy's survival rate was a good thing. Right? So how come she was yet to be convinced? Only Zhaan seemed genuinely happy to see Crais. He looked serious. "I had no intention of coming back. To my mind this whole thing is a waste of time." Aeryn bristled but said nothing. "But Talyn thinks otherwise." He added reluctantly.

Aeryn watched him closely. "Talyn? Are you saying it was Talyn's idea to come back?"

"Yes. Not for Crichton I'll admit but because Moya wants to help Crichton and Talyn wants to please Moya."

Aeryn said nothing. Talyn please Moya? What was wrong with that sentence? Structurally it might be sound but it was not like Talyn. Talyn pleased himself. The rest of the time he pleased Crais. D'Argo was talking now. Blunt and to the point as usual. She could have kissed him. "How do we know that we can trust you?"

Crais sighed. "Alright, don't trust me. Fine. I'll get back on board Talyn and relay to him your decision."

He began to turn away. Aeryn put a hand on his shoulder, made her expression conciliatory. "No. Wait. We don't have time for this, Crais."

A faint thin smile hid behind the curve of Crais's face as he turned back to face them. Only Chiana caught a glimpse of it before it vanished. That did it. He was definitely up to something but what?

"Crais, thank you for coming back to help us." Said Zhaan.

They walked towards Pilot's Den. Crais hesitated, a frown forming on his face. "Shouldn't we be heading for command?"

Zhaan shook her head. "No, we have all our discussions in Pilot's Den."

He nodded but Aeryn could see that he was not pleased. D'Argo appeared not to have noticed, he was just impatient to find out what the plan was and implement it. Chiana was thoughtful, a horrible feeling creeping up her back as if someone was setting his sights on her. She stopped walking. Little flashes, chaotic, jumbled and fragmentary warning her. Her heart speeded up,
she found it hard to breathe. Being at the back she was not immediately missed. The others rounded a bend and were lost to her view. A DRD rolled to a stop a few dench from her, lightstalks waving anxiously up at her. She managed to speak to it, remembering how Crichton had told her that they were Pilot's eyes and ears and an integral part of Moya.

"Pilot, if you can hear me this is Chiana. Do not respond and do not let the others know I am talking to you. It's Crais. I don't trust him. He says he came back to help us rescue John, Rygel and Guy from the Gammak Base. Says he only came back because Moya begged Talyn to help. I need you to find out if Moya ever sent that message and if Talyn responded. Don't contact me except through one of the DRDs. Make sure they don't pass your message back to me unless I'm alone." She paused, trying to get more breath into her flagging lungs. "I'm counting on you Pilot. We *all* are."

Just then D'Argo came striding back down the corridor, a look of annoyance on his face. When he saw Chiana doubled up he forgot his irritation and ran over to help her. "Chiana! What happened? Are you alright?"

Her chalky white face tilted up at him, she could not straighten just yet. A forced smile came to her lips but missed her eyes. "Yeah. Never felt better."

He knew she was lying. Gently he helped her into an upright position, his hands holding her steady. Chiana shut her eyes and trembled. When she opened them again it was to see his anxious face hovering over her. "I will have Zhaan take you to the apothecary and check you over."

She shook her head carefully. "Hey, I'm okay. Just a dizzy spell, you know?"

He looked suspicious. "A dizzy spell?"

"Yeah."

"You have had them before?"

"Look D'Argo it's no big deal. I have them whenever I have one of my flashes. See? It's gone now."

His hands on her shoulders tightened slightly. Enough to stop her moving away. "Flashes? You saw something?"

Frell. She had let her mouth run away with her tongue. Again. Would she never learn? Chiana tried some damage limitation. Give a little here, take a little there. Shouldn't be too hard to fool a Luxan. "Yeah, nothing I could make sense of, you know?"

"What did you see?"

"Glimpses. Parts of things. Nothing whole."

"Describe them."

"D'Argo we don't have time for this." His persistence worried her. Normally he would just take her word. Too impatient to wait out her thought processes.

"We will *make* time."

That was when she knew it. D'Argo did not trust Crais's explanation either. She took a breath and made sure they were still alone. The DRD quietly relaying everything they said back to Pilot and Moya. "I think Crais is lying, D'Argo."

The Luxan snorted. "I *know* he is lying."

That surprised her. He sounded so certain. "You know? How do you know?"

He made a face. "I could smell it."

"You can smell lies?" Oh frell, this was not good.

He shook his head, his tenkas flying. "No. I could smell fear."

Now she was really confused. "Crais is afraid?"

"Yes."

"How could you tell he was lying?"

"The same way I can tell when you lie to me. It is the fear of being found out."

Frell. Frell. And *triple* frell. Seeing her expression D'Argo grinned, then the humour vanished. There was still much to do. "Come. They will be wondering what is keeping us and I do not want to take my eyes off Crais a microt longer than I have to."

Chiana nodded. She could not argue with that.

* * * * *
end