TITLE: "NEVER EASY"

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 "GUY"

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

"NEVER EASY"
A "Farscape" story
Written by Alison M. DOBELL


It was odd how quickly the crew adapted to the presence of Guy on board Moya. All except Ka D'Argo. Funnily enough if Crichton had been placing bets on who would be most vehemently against their new addition his money would have been on Rygel. Within the first two weekens everything slipped into a kind of routine. Guy went everywhere Crichton went. Usually riding on his shoulders with his arms around the human's neck or lumbering along beside him like a child with his parent. It amused the life out of Aeryn, touched Chiana and made Rygel even more curious about the origin of the human species. Zhaan smiled but was worried though not for the same reasons Ka D'Argo was. He was in her apothecary pacing while he explained to her for the trizillionth time why they were making a *big mistake*. Fortunately none of the others were present.

"That creature does *not* belong on Moya! Even John says it's habitat is a wilderness." He paused as he had to turn to pace back towards Zhaan, the apothecary not being big enough to contain his restless strides.

Zhaan was carefully filling a glass tube with tinctures made from a press of exotic and rare plants. The mix had to be exact or the medicine would be useless. He glared at her as she carried on working. She spoke without looking up. "I *am* listening, D'Argo, but until John finds a suitable
habitat we cannot just leave him on the first available planet."

"Why not?"

That actually caught her full attention. She looked at him in surprise. "The gorilla is a baby, D'Argo. John says it is comparable with a human infant of three or four cycles. Would you abandon a Luxan child?"

He snorted and his tenkas flew as he shook his head angrily as if she were twisting his words. "It is *not* a Luxan child, Zhaan. It is not even a human child. It is a beast. A creature. An animal to be taken in the hunt or left alone. It is *not* one of us and never will be. Pretending it is will not make it so."

Zhaan put down her glass tube and turned to him, giving him all her attention. Her head tilted to one side as she observed him more closely. "Why does Guy's presence disturb you so much, sweet D'Argo?"

The Luxan took a deep steadying breath, his anger abating in the face of Zhaan's pervasive calm. Her nature the perfect counterbalance to his rage. "The other day Zhaan, we should have been working on Moya's conduits. Do you know what happened?"

She said nothing. D'Argo's nostrils flared and he told her.

"John was two arns late and then he brought that, that *creature* with him. It kept getting in the way and any time I tried to correct what John was doing it blocked me. Then when I got angry, John told me I was being childish and not to upset Guy! Can you believe that? After two cycles working, fighting and living on this ship together and he takes the side of a a a..." He struggled to remember the word Crichton had used. "an *ape* over me. It is the highest insult, Zhaan."

"I am sure John did not mean to offend you, D'Argo." Said Zhaan gently. "He values your friendship too much for that."

"And another thing," He spat out as he warmed up to his theme. "Did you know that creature even *sleeps* with him? It is disgusting!"

"D'Argo, Guy is an infant. He is alone, frightened, without his parents or any of his own kind. Right now John is the closest thing he has to family. It's only natural he wants to be close to him. To feel safe."

"What about when he is full grown?"

Zhaan blinked, not understanding what he meant. "What about it?"

"I was speaking to Chiana as I could not seem to get a word alone with John..." Zhaan hid a smile and let him continue. "Chiana says the ape will grow almost as big as John but much broader. He will be very strong, Zhaan. What do we do when he is full grown and does not want to do as we wish?"

"I am sure John will be able to handle him, D'Argo."

D'Argo shook his head, his voice much quieter, all the heat gone from it. His eyes steady but troubled. "We must find a new home for this creature before it is too late, Zhaan."

* * * * *

Crichton and Aeryn were on the Terrace, sitting companionably side by side. Guy was with Chiana.

"So what do you think, Aeryn?"

"About what?"

"Guy."

She smiled then shook her head slowly. "I have never seen such a creature before."

Crichton smiled at the mix of amusement and awe in her voice. "Yeah, he is one of kind." His smile became sad as he realised what he had said. Aeryn noticed his change in mood.

"We'll find a home for him, John. He got this far."

"That's what bothers me."

"Why?"

Crichton looked at her. "How did he get here? Who brought him and why? If he's here are there other species from Earth dotted about on distant planets out here?"

She had no idea how to answer him or why he was getting distressed about it. "John, we will find a way."

"You just don't get it do you, Aeryn?"

"Get what?"

He sucked in a deep breath and resisted the urge to shudder. "On my home planet we have these tales of alien visitors. UFOs - Unidentified Flying Objects, flying saucers. The modern stuff dates back to 1947 but even in the Bible, one of our oldest holy books, there are stories about visitors coming from the heavens, the sky."

She was frowning. "What has this to do with Guy?"

"In more recent years we've had a whole range of sightings of strange things. Among the weirder stuff have been cattle mutilations, people and animals disappearing never to be seen again."

She began to get the picture. "You think these...visitors...came to your planet and took Guy?"

He swallowed hard. Tried to lighten the tone but his eyes were deadly serious and almost afraid. "It would explain how he got *here*."

"But why? Why would anybody, from any planet, want to do such a fahrbot thing?"

"We bought him Aeryn. At an astronomical price. Doesn't that tell you anything?"

"That we're completely bartantic?"

He chuckled. It felt good to laugh. "Supply and demand, Aeryn. That's what bartering, trade, is all about. Somebody finds something someone else will pay for and you have yourself a market. What if some alien travelling species has been going to way out planets like mine, abducting interesting species then bringing them back here to sell?"

She looked at him for a microt, eyes searching his. The next microt she was laughing. "For a microt I thought you were serious."

He did not share in the laughter but began to frown. "I *am* serious, Aeryn."

Aeryn stopped laughing and looked at him. She did not know what to say and neither did he. She watched as he turned his head and looked out at the stars. They were sitting close enough to touch. Aeryn leaned against him and rested her head on his shoulder. Crichton put his arm around her and tried hard not to worry.

* * * * *

Dominar Rygel XVI had gone looking for Crichton and found Chiana. Not that he was complaining. His real reason was the ape. He could not take his eyes off the strange creature. Chiana was playing some kind of game with Guy and the gorilla watched her carefully taking his cue from her. Delighted, Chiana's laughter echoed from Crichton's cell down the corridor to where Rygel hovered. He kept well back but close enough to see through the partly drawn privacy curtain without giving himself away. Yet the gorilla knew he was there. Oh yes. Rygel managed to keep back a smile as the dark head turned and stared unerringly at the spot where the Hynerian Dominar was hiding. Such sharp intelligence in those eyes. What stories could he tell if he could only talk?

Chiana realised that Guy was distracted and stuck her head out of the door. Seeing Rygel she tilted her head at an angel and grinned at him. "Just couldn't stay away, huh?"

Rygel eased his throne sled into the room. "I thought something was obviously being killed with all that noise!"

She laughed. "Come on Ryge, we both know why you're here."

He was about to deny it when Guy ambled over to him and looked up at him. Those wise eyes locking on his with interest. Eyes he could drown in. Such mystery, such knowledge, such a gentle strength. No wonder the human wanted to protect him. And Crichton said he came from stock such as this? He shook his head slightly and smiled. "I noticed John waving his hands at Guy. If I
didn't know better I would think it meant something."

Chiana rubbed the ape's back. Guy leaned back slightly so she could find just the right spot, his eyes never leaving the Dominar's. "Yeah, well it does. John says it's called sign language."

Interest sparked in Rygel's eyes. Trying to make it look nonchalant he offered Guy one of his secret store of foodcubes. The ape took it carefully and ate it slowly, his empty hand touching his mouth and making a forward open handed gesture back at him. Chiana loved watching the Hynerian's fascination.

"He's saying *thank you*."

"What?"

"That gesture," Explained Chiana mimicking the movement in slow motion. "It's sign language for *thank you*."

"Hrrumph, how the frell would you know that or are you related to him too?"

"I know because John taught Guy and Guy taught me."

"You are as fahrbot as that frelling human!"

She grinned back and tilted her head the other way. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Rygel stayed for a couple of arns and Chiana taught him a few more hand gestures. Guy seemed to enjoy the fact that they were interacting with him but Chiana could see he was starting to get restless, his eyes straying more and more to the door. Chiana found herself smiling. "He's missing John."

A look of concern shadowed the Dominar's face. "I think he is too attached to John."

"Hey! That's not fair."

"I was only thinking it will be even harder when it is time for Guy to leave."

Something cracked inside Chiana. Guy seemed to notice her change in mood and glanced at her briefly, then looked back towards the door. "What if we don't want him to leave?"

"Chiana," Said Rygel quietly. "I don't want him to go either but when John finds a suitable planet he will have to go."

There were tears in her eyes. "Yeah, well I think that's cruel."

"Cruel?"

"Yeah. He's an orphan, you know? No parents, no family. Nobody. I don't give a garanta's brax that this isn't where he's from or that we aren't related to him - he's family now Rygel."

The Dominar sighed. He had been afraid of this. Knew it would be even harder for Crichton. Aeryn would be as pragmatic as only a former Peace Keeper could be and their bad tempered Luxan would at last be happy. Zhaan would accept the inevitable with grace and understanding. He did not want to see Guy go either but joining a bunch of escaped prisoners on the run from the worst people in the Uncharted Territories was hardly a suitable life for their new friend. He had also noticed something else. The creature was growing at an alarming rate. He had only been with them a few weekens and already he was heavier and taller. If he carried on growing at this rate he would be up to Crichton's shoulder in another couple of weekens and outweighing even the Luxan in a few monens. Not to mention the animal only ate fresh food. Vegetables and fruit. Needless to say these were in short supply and Guy had quickly learned to suppliment his meals with increasingly large amounts of foodcubes. The rapidly dwindling supplies were another bone
of contention with D'Argo. He was about to mention this when Guy stood up and began to sway from side to side, craning his neck slightly as if looking for a face lost in a crowd. His eyes widening and shining. Rygel knew what it meant even before he heard Crichton's footfall. He had Aeryn with him.

As soon as he stepped into his converted cell Guy wrapped his arms around him and hugged him. Aeryn grinned and rubbed his fur in greeting. Crichton was laughing. "Hey, is this a private party or can anyone join in?"

Chiana gave a mischievous smile. "You'd better ask, Ryge. He's the one with the foodcubes."

Rygel could have knocked her on her eema but she had taken the precaution of moving back as she spoke. Crichton turned his head and looked at the Hynerian. "You been holding out on us Sparky?"

There was a little more banter then Rygel excused himself. Aeryn yawned, "That reminds me it's time I went as well. I have to relieve D'Argo on command next so I'm off to get some sleep first."

"Okay sunshine, see you later."

To Chiana's amusement he gave Aeryn a kiss then Aeryn turned to Guy and kissed the top of the gorilla's head.

"Hey! What about me? Don't I get a kiss?"

She smiled at him and blew him a kiss as she left. Chiana laughed at the look on his face. "If you want to attract women maybe you should stop sleeping with gorillas, John."

He pretended to be offended. "Very funny, Pip. As a matter of fact I'm working on that."

She raised her eyebrows and waited to be convinced. He shooed her out, her laughter echoing in his ears as he pulled the privacy curtain across and looked at his room mate. He was tired but at peace. Guy held his thumb and forefinger on his right hand up in an L shape. John had taught it to him as a makeshift J for John. Guy could call them all by name now just by spelling out the intial of their names. He touched his head then lay his head on the open palm, telling Crichton he was tired too. Crichton chuckled and sat on the bed, Guy scooting next to him. Blue eyes looked into deep brown ones. "This time Guy, how about you go straight to sleep? I don't feel up to telling you bedtime stories tonight, 'kay?"

He must have sounded really weary because Guy made the sign for sleep then tugged at Crichton's jacket telling him to get ready for bed. Crichton stripped down to his boxers and climbed in bed, Guy curling up next to him nearly suffocating the human. He sighed as he lay half flattened up against the wall looking into those calm brown eyes. "You know, Guy, we have *got* to get you a bed of your own."

Guy wrapped an arm around him, sighed with a huff and promptly went to sleep. Crichton yawned and looked up at the ceiling, his voice a sleepy mumble. "I am *so* glad my dad can't see me now."

* * * * *

On the command deck of the leviathan Ka D'Argo was finally calm again. He could not explain his unreasoning fear when it came to the gorilla. It was not a personal thing though he knew it did not look like that to the others. He sensed a presentiment of doom clinging to the creature's thick
black fur. A doom he wanted no part of. A doom he wanted to spare his friends. But he could not explain it to them. Had nothing to show for his growing anxiety but an increasingly bad temper and the inclination to quarrel with Crichton every time he laid eyes on him. He closed his eyes. Knew his reaction was hurting his friend. The more opposition he showed to Guy the more protective the human became. Pushing the man in entirely the wrong direction to the one he wanted. It was driving him bartantic. He wished he could be calm like Zhaan. Clinical like Aeryn. Even light hearted like Chiana or detached like Pilot. But he was Ka D'Argo. A Luxan warrior. He was what he was.

He was so intent on his inner turmoil that he did not at first notice anything untoward. Then Pilot's voice intruded on his thoughts and alarm spread through him like quickfire.

"Ka D'Argo, Moya detects a ship coming out of Star Burst."

D'Argo cursed and as he began to bring up the image on his screen the vessel opened fire on them. Moya rocked violently to one side. The second salvo rocking her in the other direction. D'Argo yelled for Pilot to wake the others. They were under attack!

* * * * *

Crichton had been dreaming. At least as much as he could dream with a weight heavy enough to crush the air out of his lungs sprawled across his chest. He had gotten used to taking smaller inhalations to inflate his lungs. Gotten used to waking with fur in his face and the heavy rumbling
puffs of air in his ear and down his neck but this was different. This was a full blown smack in the face with all the force of someone weilding a piece of four by two. The only thing missing was the six inch nail in the end of it.

"Ouch!"

He tried to sit up just as Guy finished thrashing about, Pilot's words drowned out by a loud cracking sound then the bed broke beneath their combined weight jarring splinters of wood into Crichton's back. Guy rolled off him and growled then shook his head to wake himself up. Crichton lay on his back, groaned wearily and blinked up at the ceiling. Vaguely he was aware that Pilot was repeating something. Then he heard D'Argo's voice replace that of Pilot. A definite note of alarm in his voice. "John! Get up here now, we are under attack!"

Frell. He rolled to his feet and hunted for his clothes, sparing a baleful look in the direction of the broken bed. "We will discuss this later." He said to Guy.

The gorilla went to drink water from the basin Crichton had put down for him the night before. As soon as he was dressed the human ran down the corridor towards command. Guy loping quickly just a step behind him. He got to command the same time as Rygel. Everybody else was already in there, crammed around D'Argo's console. He looked at Aeryn. Her lips were compressed into a tight line. She had her hair tied back in a severe ponytail, her pulse rifle in hand. He had grabbed his gun as he ran. D'Argo had his qualta rifle but Chiana and Zhaan were not armed though Rygel did have a small gun with him. It wasn't much of a defence but all they had if they got boarded. Crichton craned his neck to look at the view screen and hissed between his teeth. It was a Peace Keeper ship but not a Command Carrier. Not Scopius then. Another salvo rocked the leviathan.

"We have to Star Burst out of here." Said Crichton.

They looked at him. "We've already tried that." Said D'Argo.

"Moya cannot Star Burst, Commander." Explained Pilot. "The Peace Keeper ship has damaged her systems."

Crichton swore under his breath knowing that had been no lucky shot. For some reason the Peace Keepers wanted Moya disabled not destroyed. "Okay Pilot, tell me what you need repaired to Star Burst and I'll get on it."

Pilot described the conduit with the damaged connections. Crichton nodded. D'Argo looked at him. "You will need help."

"You're needed here, D."

Aeryn stepped up to D'Argo's console. "I'll take over here. D'Argo you go with John. The quicker the damage is fixed so we can Star Burst, the more likely we are to make it out of this alive."

D'Argo nodded. Crichton hesitated. "Did they say what they wanted?"

"Yes." Said D'Argo reluctantly, his voice deep and crisp, his eyes fixed on Crichton's. "They say we are carrrying *prohibited cargo* and demand it be handed over."

Crichton gave him a blank look. "Prohibited cargo?" He tried to think of the seven prohibited items a leviathan was not allowed to carry when everyone looked behind him. He turned his head and saw that they were looking at Guy. Crichton's face went pale. "No! You have *got* to be kidding me?"

Ka D'Argo shook his head. He got no pleasure out of being the one to break the bad news. "They want the gorilla, John. They want Guy."

"Guy isn't cargo, and I'm not handing him over to some bunch of psuedo-Nazis."

"John," Said D'Argo gently.

Crichton did not let him finish. Anger seeping into his quietly spoken words. "This is what you wanted isn't it, D'Argo? You never wanted Guy on this ship."

"John, you are not thinking clearly. I do not want anything to happen to Guy. But also, I do not want anything to happen to us."

For a microt no one spoke or moved. Guy sensed something was happening and moved next to Crichton, his eyes fastened on D'Argo. Aeryn felt her heartbeat thunder in her ears.

"What is it you're trying to say, D'Argo? That we should hand him over? Save ourselves while the PK's turn Guy into barbeque?"

"It is not what I want John, but it may be the only solution."

Crichton shook his head, his eyes glittering and hard as granite. His voice so soft it stirred the hairs on the back of Aeryn's neck. Chiana held her breath. D'Argo could not hide his sadness. "No, D'Argo. I am *not* handing him over. I'm gonna fix this boat, we're gonna get outta here, then I'm gonna find somewhere safe for Guy. You do what you have to but if you try to touch him you'll have to go through me to do it."

For a microt the strained silence stretched between them. Even the Peace Keeper ship held off firing as the tension hung between them. Zhaan prayed to Kah'leen. Then Crichton turned and stormed off, Guy lumbering alongside him. D'Argo watched them go with the threat of tears in his eyes. He did not look at the others but took a breath and headed after his friend. "He will need my help whether he wants it or not." He murmured.

No one said anything. They did not have to.

* * * * *
END