TITLE: "EVOLUTION"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "Farscape"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: PG-13

STATUS: New. SERIES FINALE.

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

SERIES/SEQUEL: SEQUEL to "ENEMIES AND OTHER FRIENDS"

WEBSITE: http://www.carlajane.50megs.com/Ali00.html

SUMMARY: "Crichton, Rygel and Guy make their bid for freedom. But can they trust Crais?"

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

"EVOLUTION"
A "Farscape" story
Written by Alison M. DOBELL

Only Guy bowling him over at the last minute saved the human from being hit by the modified pulse fire and covered in the gel like accelerant that had burnt him so badly before. The scream behind him told him that Guy had not been so lucky. Anger rushed through him like a forest fire. Ignoring everything but his objective, Crichton leapt at Hovar Kan knocking him to the floor of the elevator and kicking the offending rifle out of his hands. Rygel was trying hard to help Guy but the modified chakan oil stuck to his fur like glue and was burning its' way through to his skin. Crichton knew what that felt like, how it peeled off the layers of skin with volcanic heat, all the while clinging and refusing to be wiped or washed off. Blind rage gave him added strength, his fingers gripping Kan around the throat, his words squeezed out through gritted teeth as he tightened his hold and shook him. Rygel had to yell several times before he got any reaction from the crazed human.

"John! Help me. We have to get Guy in the elevator and we don't have much time."

"In a minute Sparky, just putting out the trash."

He slammed Kan against the side of the elevator, his head making contact with the metal. Blood spilled down Kan's face but he was still conscious and anything but bowed. Crichton half pushed and half threw him out of the elevator, stepping out after him as he stooped to picked up the man's rifle. Kan's eyes widened as Crichton hefted the rifle and aimed it at him.

"Don't do that..."

"Sorry, Kan, you used up the sympathy vote the microt you sprayed Guy. It seems only fair to return the favour." Then he depressed the trigger and coated Kan from head to toe in the gungy mess. A microt later it burst into flames and began to eat into the Peace Keeper's skin. Crichton turned and went to help Rygel with Guy, between them managing to get him into the elevator. As the doors slid closed the sounds of Kan's screams were cut off. Crichton was breathing heavily, getting himself calmed down so he could see to Guy. The gorilla's eyes wide with terror despite the Dominar's efforts to try to calm him.

"It's okay Guy, we're gonna get out of here and I'm gonna get that stuff off you if I have to shave every damn hair off your body."

Guy cried back at him, a sound so like a human cry that it brought a lump to Crichton's throat. He tried to pull the stuff off him but Rygel stopped him. "You can't help Guy if you get it on yourself, John."

"It's burning him, Ryge..."

"I know, I know, and we'll get it off him once we get to Talyn. If we stop now they'll catch us and nobody will be going anywhere."

Guy slid down to hunch in a corner of the elevator. Crichton sat next to him, tried to find a bit of his body not covered in the chakan discharge and gently rubbed a shoulder. He longed to hug him but did not dare. Guy seemed to understand, his eyes looking at him through a mist filled pain but
comforted just knowing Crichton was with him. He made the sign for friend. It made Crichton cry.

* * * * *

"What in hezmana is going on?" Yelled D'Argo. "We should have heard something from Crais by now."

"Never mind Crais," Said Aeryn. "Why haven't we heard anything from John?"

"They must have found his tracking device."

"Or they could be hiding?" Said Chiana hopefully.

They looked at her and she fell silent. Who was she kidding?

It was Pilot's voice that brought them all out of their fugue. "Moya is receiving a transmission from Talyn..."

"Yes," Said Zhaan. "What does he say?"

Pilot's head rose slowly, a look of happy surpise on his face. "He says they have been successful. Crais is on his way back with John, Rygel and Guy..."

Everybody was shouting, the joy and relief in their voices and on their faces a blessing to see. Aeryn laughed and hugged Chiana, her happy eyes meeting D'Argo's. Zhaan smiled and thanked the Goddess then noticed how serious Pilot was looking. She hushed the others. "Pilot, what is it?"

"Crais is asking if we can meet them in the transport bay with a hover sled."

Aeryn's heart faltered. "Is someone injured? What happened?"

"It is for Guy."

Aeryn shut her eyes. Oh no, not Guy. Zhaan tried to get more details out of Pilot. D'Argo and Chiana were stunned. "What has happened to him, Pilot? How badly was he injured?"

"It seems the same weapon that was used earlier on John was used on Guy."

They all remembered the state Crichton had been in. Chiana bit back tears. "Hey, he has thick fur, right? The fur will protect him."

"Fur burns." Said Aeryn quietly.

"The chakan oil clings, Chiana," Explained D'Argo.

She interrupted him before he could finish the description. "I know, okay? He's gonna be alright. We got Zhaan and Guy's with John and Rygel. He'll be okay. Right? He'll be fine, he has to be."

No one said anything. A couple of hundred microts later Crais opened a channel and asked for the docking bay to be opened for them. In silence Moya's crew went to meet them. Several DRDs rolling along beside them, their little light stalks waving in concern, their servo motors muted. It was almost as if they sensed the sadness of the crew. D'Argo operated the hover sled, bringing it as close to Talyn's hatch as he could. When it opened Crais stepped out first. He immediately addressed himself to Pilot as Crichton and Rygel called out for help to get Guy on to the sled.

"Pilot?"

"Yes, Crais?"

"As soon as we are out of the transport bay I want you to ask Moya to go to immediate Star Burst."

Aeryn turned her head, suspicious and worried. "You want to do what?"

He held up a hand to stop her launching into a protracted series of twenty questions. "There is no time to debate this, Aeryn. Trust me. We do not want to be here in another half an arn."

She turned back to Crichton and D'Argo and at Crichton's urging got some metallic wrap from his module and wrapped it around the gorilla. Carefully they got him onto the sled. D'Argo whizzed him out of the transport bay with everyone following. Crais took a quick check to make sure they were all out then sealed the bay doors. "Now, Moya!"

Everybody hung on for dear life. D'Argo, Rygel and Aeryn hanging on to Guy's sled as they braced themselves. Just as Moya Star Burst a huge and powerful explosion rocked them all off their feet and threw Rygel twenty metras down the corridor. As they emerged from Star Burst a very battered crew gave Crais sour looks. He got up and started to brush himself off, a very smug look on his face.

"What was that?" Asked Zhaan.

"That," Said Crais as he watched for their reactions. "Was the secret gammak base at Trilon being blasted to hezmana!"

Their mouths dropped open in shock. "You blew up the gammak base?" Said Chiana in a faint voice.

"Yes, I did." Said Crais with satisfaction.

Aeryn looked at Crichton. D'Argo began to smile in appreciation. Those PK bastards would not be able to get hold of Guy again. Crichton looked at Crais in horror. Chiana found herself staring at him. Watched his lips pull back and face twist with anger. He grabbed Crais by the collar and swung him into a wall, his face pushed up against the Sebacean's. "You frelling piece of dren! You just killed THOUSANDS of innocent creatures."

Crais did not apologise. "You do *not* understand, John."

"Oh yeah, I understand Crais. Keep the blood lines pure."

Aeryn was confused. "What's John talking about, Crais?"

"He means," Said Rygel. "That he wanted to erase all records of the Sebacean past."

"What in the name of Cholok are you talking about?"

Crichton calmed enough to push Crais in the direction of the hover sled. "Come on, let's go with D'Argo and Guy to the infirmary. First we have to help Guy, then will be the time to get some answers."

Puzzled, Aeryn fell in behind Crichton and kept a wary eye on Crais. Zhaan walked beside the hover sled, gently talking to Guy to try to keep him calm and soothe him. Chiana and Rygel dropped back so they could talk. Chiana had a suspicion there was a whole lot more that had happened on that gammak base. Rygel gave her a knowing look. "You wouldn't believe what happened to us."

"Talk is cheap, Toad. I want details."

He looked at her, was about to tell her then snapped his wide mouth shut. Some things were not for repeating. The human had been through enough. Guy had been through enough and he was tired. He gave a deep sigh. "We were caged like animals, Chiana. Treated like trat. I thought we were never going to get out of that place alive."

"What was that about thousands of other creatures? What did John mean?" She asked curiously.

"Like Guy but not like Guy."

She tilted her head. "You're not making any sense."

Crichton picked up part of their conversation and as his words floated over to them Chiana had to grin. "Now you know how I feel, Pip."

* * * * *

In the apothecary, Zhaan gave Guy something to make him sleep then everyone except Crais put on gloves and helped Zhaan cut the fur off him. Fortunately, as Chiana had said, the dense black hair did manage to save him from serious injury but the skin beneath was blistered and sore. Not as bad as what had happened to Crichton but enough to make them all wince just looking at him. Zhaan looked pleased. Crichton peered at her, the worry on his face matched by his voice. "Will he be alright, Zhaan? Can you help him?"

She beamed gently at him. "Yes, John. Guy will heal and make a full recovery."

He let out a breath and smiled at her. The news taking a huge weight off his heart. "Thanks, Zhaan."

Chiana prodded him. Aeryn glared at her but the Nebari girl ignored her. "Okay, we've been patient now tell us what happened and why you want to kill Crais?"

"Okay, but not here. Zhaan? You want to come to the mess hall with us? I'm sure Guy will okay for a few hundred microts."

She shook her head. "No, thank you John. I want to get started right away. You can tell me later."

He nodded then pushed Crais down the corridor, the others bubbling with impatience to hear everything. Crichton looked at Rygel and they kept their mouths shut until they reached the mess hall. Chiana pulled a couple of tables together and everybody crowded round, Crichton making sure Crais was furtherest from the door. D'Argo positioned himself opposite Crais just in case he tried to make a break for it. Crichton nodded his approval and began. "Okay, what I'm about to tell you is gonna sound incredible. Fahrbot. Tinked. Bartantic. You name it, the label probably fits."

Aeryn was frowning at Crais. "Why did you blow up the gammak base?" She looked at Crichton. "And why did you want to kill him for it?"

"Woah, woah, Aeryn, you're getting ahead of the story. Do you want to know what happened or do you want me to just cut to chase and kill him?"

Stunned, she could only nod. Then Crichton told his story, only leaving out his rape. The others did not need to know about that. Rygel chimed in from time to time to support what he said or to add details of his own covering the time they were parted. D'Argo snorted, feeling anger surge through his veins. "Why did they want to experiment on you? What did they want with Guy?"

Crichton looked at Crais. "You gonna tell them?"

Crais said nothing. Crichton nodded in disgust. "I thought not."

Something flared in Crais's eyes. Almost a plea. "Consider what you are going to say *very* carefully."

"Why? So you can add a few more lies to the billions your people have already told?"

Aeryn's frown deepened. "What lies?"

He paused, considering. Aeryn was after all a Sebacean. But she deserved to know the truth. He took a deep breath. "Aeryn, do you remember me telling you how I recognised Guy as coming from my home planet?"

She nodded. "Of course." How could she forget his reaction?

"Well, he wasn't the only one. It seems that the Peace Keepers have been visiting my homeworld for centures - hundreds of cycles to you guys."

Shock registered on all their faces.

"They were tinkering with our primates. Primates are bipedal aliens like me and Guy. We come from the same genetic string that branched off to produce humans..." His voice trailed as he paused momentarily. "*And* Sebaceans."

The room erupted in chaos. Crais looked daggers at Crichton. The human was calm, his anger now cold. Aeryn was shaking her head vehemently. "That is not possible! It can't be true."

"Aeryn, look at yourself. Look at Crais now look at me. Even other aliens get us mixed up. Everybody automatically assumes I'm Sebacean."

"Yes, but only because you look like us."

"Exactly!"

"But biologically John, we are not the same."

"Aeryn, don't you want to know WHY the Sebaceans were experimenting on my people, my ancestors?"

She was not sure what to say. How bad was this going to be? Taking her silence for acquiessence he told her. As gently but firmly as he could.

"They were trying to make a Sebacean who had the same tolerance to heat as the original humans. We didn't come from Sebaceans, Aeryn."

Aeryn gave a sigh of relief.

"Sebaceans came from us."

* * * * *

It was many arns later before Crichton could get away from the others. He needed space. Time to think. To absorb all that had happened and put it all in perpective. After much debate, Crichton had reluctantly agreed to let Crais go. He had after all come back for them. Was instrumental in getting them off that damn gammak base. And nothing he could do or say would bring back the creatures who had died when the base was detonated. Maybe the ever practical Rygel was right and they had been blessed with oblivion to save them from an even worse fate. But it still hurt. Aeryn found him on the Terrace. Her mood was subdued. His was sad. She sat facing him, needing to watch the swirl of emotions in his eyes, wanting to be close enough to touch, to comfort him. To reassure herself he really was alright. "I can hardly believe it."

He sighed softly and brushed his fingers across her lips. "I'm sorry, baby. I never wanted to hurt you."

"I know, John, but to think that WE came from HUMANS?"

He chuckled and drew her near enough for their foreheads to touch. "Yeah, it is pretty scary, isn't it?"

She smiled back at him, lightening the shadow across his heart. He stroked his fingers through her long luxurious hair. "Did I ever tell you how much I love your hair?"

Her smile got wider.

He closed his eyes, inhaled her beautiful scent, then opened them to find her eyes mocking him. He ran his fingers over and over again through the long shining strands. His voice a murmur in her ears. "Do you know where the word Sebacean comes from, Aeryn?"

The question surprised her. "It's the name of my species."

"I know, but what does it mean?"

She shrugged. "It doesn't mean anything."

"What, it has no meaning in Sebacean?"

"No."

"Aeryn, I'm a scientist. I know everybody forgets that around here but it's what I am. Would it surprise you to know we have a similar word in my human tongue? The word is Sebaceous. It means tallowy, of a like nature to something that secrets sebum." He could see that he had lost her, placed his fingers to her lips to ask her silently to indulge him. When she nodded he went back to playing with her hair. "Sebum is a fatty secretion that lubricates..." He paused just a fraction of a microt to judge her reaction. "...the hair."

She almost jumped on him. "John, that is the most..."

He laughed and kissed her. A playfulness in his eyes that caught at her heart and made it flip.

"I wasn't saying you come from a fatty residue Aeryn, just... isn't it interesting to have two words so similar in both our languages?" He kissed her hair, his laughter blowing through the exotic strands, lifted a face full of joy to meet hers. "I love you, Aeryn Sun." He said gently, "And just
want to thank you."

Her eyes narrowed suspicously. "Thank me for what?"

"For contaminating a lesser species like me..."

That was it she was really going to kill him now. Aeryn pounced, rolling him over and over on the floor. Her plans to pummel him into a dark crimson pulp disappeared as she became painfully conscious of his scent, the touch of his hands, the feel of his arms around her, the heat from his body moulding to her in a wonderful tangle of arms and legs... and lips... and tongues... and...

The two little DRDs who had followed her unobserved rolled back into the shadows and dimmed their lights. Pilot and Moya shared a deep joy and decided they could stop worrying about them.

* * * * *

Crais breathed a sigh of relief once Talyn went to Star Burst. It did not take more than six arns to reach the rendezvous point. The huge ship was already waiting. Patient and confident in the vast dark reaches of space. He sent a coded message and waited for the response. The transport from the ship docked shortly afterwards its' sole occupant having to dip his head to step out onto the small leviathan gunship.

"You have the materialsss?" He hissed.

Crais nodded and handed him a wooden box approxmiately eight microdench squared. His visitor opened the box carefully and examined the phials inside.

"You are sure this comes from the correct specimensss?"

"Yes, quite sure. Each phial is labelled." Crais paused and took a step closer, ignoring the foul malodorous stench of the other's rotting breath. "You left no traces?"

"We have done our job, you have done yourssss. Yessss. Base destroyed. Specimensss gone."

Crais nodded slowly. "Then we both have what we want."

The other's eyes glittered, it dipped it's massive head turned around and left. Crais did not take another clean breath until he had Talyn purge the air and recycle it until he could no longer smell the creature. On his Dreadnought, the Scarran handed the box over. His chitinous scales glittered
almost as much as the look of triumph in his eyes. Sebaceans and Humans did have one thing in common that went beyond mere genetics. They were both fools which was why neither species would surive the War to come...

* * * * *
end