TITLE: "CAPTIVITY"

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 "PAYMENT IN KIND"

SUMMARY: "While Guy pines away in his cage, Crichton recovers and Crais offers a solution."

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

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

The cage was filthy and the food mostly spoilt. Guy rocked from side to side, grief stricken and distressed. The whole place stank. He wanted to get out. Find Crichton. But in here he was more than simply powerless. He was doomed and he knew it. For three solar days he would not eat. Taking only mouthfuls of the foul tepid water that ran down from a sluice in the wall. The screams of Captain Reinar and his men had died away long ago though occasionally a traumatised whimper told the ape that at least one of the men was still alive enough to provide some kind of sport and entertainment. He did not celebrate what had happened to them but neither did he worry about them. He worried only about Crichton. Reinar and his men had sealed their own fate in bringing him here.

The Commandant watched everything on his view screen. He had taken a vicarious delight in watching the females first subdue, then rape, then rip apart Reinar and his crew. Not killing them all at once but savouring them one by one so that the last to die would also be the most traumatised. He had been vaguely surprised at the violence of the females' actions. Intended rather than casual cruelty. Perhaps the fear and horror evinced by the new captives had sealed their fate? He was a little disappointed that the entertainment would be so short lived. He flicked between screens checking on all their charges and came at last to Guy's cage. He watched the solemn ape rock slowly from side to side. A sadness pervading even the distance of the link. Strange. He increased magnification and looked at those eyes. They were almost intelligent. He brought up the figures and scrolled the information gathered so far. Concern beginning to show on his face when he saw that the creature had taken no nourishment. What was wrong with it? Had they injured it in capture? In transit? Or perhaps it simply did not like being alone? He thought of the female colony and quickly dismissed it. Even he could see that the ape was as far removed from their genetic root as the Sebaceans had been. Something closer to his own antecedence then.

He flicked through still more screens, each one showing the occupants of the various cages. They did have smaller cells also. Some were kept for the more violent and self destructive species. Those who needed to be protected from the other specimens as well as themselves. He would not isolate his prize in one of those. Not unless there was no other way. Not yet. The only other cells were those set aside for mating pairs. These had two compartments, one for open viewing, one kept dark and offering the illusion of privacy to encourage the two to cojoin. It took him a quarter of an arn to find a likely cluster. He paused on the cage in question, watching and observing the small group. They looked similar but were not the same. Guy had a kind of dignity about him even in captivity which already marked him out from the rest. These other creatures were volatile yet had comfort in being with their own kind. He had no cages with males and females sharing the same environment. Only the mating cells. Even so there had been no off-spring. Yet. The mating programme was both selective and carried out under the very strictest conditions. A specific male being chosen to be placed with a specific female. The chosen pair would be kept well isolated from the others and closely monitored. He wondered idly whether any of the female group would fall pregnant. The thought amused him. His smile faded as he turned to Guy. The ape had stopped rocking himself and had turned to stare at a wall. The Commandant did not want this specimen to die. He was the only one of his kind they had.

Commandant Derikos flicked the com switch and ordered that Guy be taken out of the large cage and placed in a smaller one. A clean cage. He was to be given fresh food and clean water. It would be interesting to see if the improvement of his environment would make the beast more co-operative. Would induce their reluctant captive to eat. If not, he might be forced to turn to more drastic measures.

* * * * *

Aeryn frowned. "What are you saying, Chiana?"

"I'm saying Crais is lying."

"Frell!"

Zhaan tried to calm things down. "We don't know that he knows what is going on. It may be a coincidence."

Chiana looked surprised then narrowed her eyes slightly. "You don't believe that any more than I do."

The Delvian P'au sighed. She looked troubled. "You are right. I have learnt to distrust coincidences."

"What do you suggest we do?" Asked Aeryn, concerned. "Moya is injured and needs Talyn's help. We can't just tell Crais to leave."

"For now we will act as normal, as if we do not suspect anything." Zhaan looked at Aeryn thoughtfully. "You know Crais better than any of us..."

Aeryn was already shaking her head. "No, you cannot ask me to do this! He knows me *too* well, Zhaan. If I lie to him he will know."

"What does *too well* mean?" Asked Chiana.

The Sebacean gave her an intense glare that would have made anyone else take a step back. Chiana ignored the implied threat and waited her out. "It means," Aeryn ground out at last. "That we lived and worked aboard the same vessel."

Just then D'Argo came down the corridor. He looked at them with a quzzical expression on his face. "What are you doing outside in the corridor? Has something happened to John?"

Zhaan hurried to reassure him. "No, sweet D'Argo, John is fine - just tired. He has fallen asleep so we were talking in the corridor so as not to disturb him. He is making good progress."

His eyes narrowed. His deep voice dropped another ocatave in the Luxan equivalent of whispering. "What are you talking about?"

Before Aeryn could stop her, Chiana told him. "Crais. We don't trust him. There was no distress call from Moya."

His eyes widened. "Why would he lie? It makes no sense."

"Unless he knows about..."

He looked hard at Chiana. "About what?"

She dropped her voice to a whisper. "Guy."

"Why are you whispering?"

"Just in case, you know, John can hear us."

Just then a voice they had not been expecting spoke, drawing three guilty pairs of eyes towards the door to the apothecary. Crichton was leaning on the doorframe, blues eyes wide and curious. "Just in case I hear what?"

He knew guilty looks when he saw them. D'Argo cleared his throat. "We were saying we do not trust Crais."

"I don't trust him either but then you know that. For what it's worth you three were making more noise whispering that most people do when they shout."

"I apologise if we disturbed you, John." Said Zhaan.

Crichton dismissed the apology with a wave of his hand and looked at their faces, finally settling on Aeryn. "Aeryn? You trust Crais don't you? You think he's on the level?"

A tiny frown pinched her brow. "On what level?"

"It means being truthful."

"Talyn is helping Moya, John."

Now he was sure something else was going on. Whenever Aeryn lied to him or did not want to tell him something she would refuse to look at him. She was doing that now. It was beginning to give him rattlers. "Aeryn? Look at me."

She forced herself to meet his eyes. Saw him frown. He straightened and walked over to join them. "I want to know what's going on. Has Crais done something?"

"No," Admitted D'Argo reluctantly. "He has not."

"Yeah, yes he has. They won't tell you so I will. He *lied* that's what he did. Told us he'd answered a distress call from Moya only, guess what? Moya didn't send a distress call."

Crichton nodded to Chiana in silent thanks. He could rely on the Nebari to be first to give him the heads-up. He scanned their faces, realised this was what they had been keeping from him. He was still feeling sore and had not got all his strength back yet but the gel Zhaan had been using had stopped most of the pain and he was almost healed. Just a little tender in places but nothing he couldn't work through. He looked down at the smock like thing he was wearing then looked up again. "Okay, before we go jumping to all kinds of conclusions we need to hear it from the horse's mouth. First." He looked at Zhaan. "Where are my clothes?"

* * * * *

Dominar Rygel XVI did not want to talk to Crais but the Sebacean insisted on standing next to him on command. It irritated the Dominar but for Moya's sake he kept his thoughts to himself. This time. Crais seemed amused which just made Rygel more and more annoyed with him. Now there was a smile forming on his face. His irritation went up another notch. "What are you smiling at?"

"I never thought I would be on Moya again."

"Well don't get used to it. As soon as Moya is healed you and Talyn can go and play with the rocks in the asteroid belt for all I care!"

Crais's eyes darkened but he kept his tone mild. "You don't like me do you, Dominar?"

"And I thought all Peace Keepers were stupid." Rygel marvelled sarcastically. "No, Crais, I don't like you. I don't trust you either. But for Moya's sake I will put up with your presence for as long at it takes her to recover. Not a microt longer. Caw matan?"

He got a nod in return. There was no love lost between the two of them but at least the Hynerian always spoke his mind and Crais could respect that even if he didn't like it. Just then the door opened and Crichton and the others joined them. Crais raised his dark brows in surprise. "Crichton!" He noticed Zhaan and Aeryn were also with him as well as D'Argo and the Nebari. "I wondered where you were." He paused and his eyes met Aeryn's. He gave her a solemn nod. "Aeryn."

She nodded slowly back. "Crais."

Crichton stepped passed the others so that he could stand within a few dench of him. Close enough almost to reach out and touch. Rygel eased his throne sled away from Crais. His expression now one of concern. Crais narrowed his eyes as Crichton spoke. "Now why should you wonder where I was, Crais?" He asked softly.

The Sebacean's frown deepened even more. He had learned not to underestimate John Crichton.

"Unless," Continued Crichton. "You had some ulterior motive."

"What ulterior motive would that be?"

Aeryn chipped in with another question. Her tone cold and clipped. "Moya never sent a distress call, did she?"

His eyes flashed briefly. Crichton caught the startled look. <So. You didn't expect to be caught out. Tut, tut. Shouldn't tell lies, Crais> He closed the distance even more, the two men now close enough to breath each other's air. The room had gone deadly quiet. "What're you doing here, Crais? And don't even *think* of lying."

"I came looking for you."

Chiana gave a little gasp. The others were shocked to hear Crais come right out and say it. Crichton never broke eye contact with him. "Why?"

"To warn you."

The answer was so unexpected that Crichton laughed. The laughter turned bitter and died on his lips leaving a cold hard anger. "What is it with you, Crais? Do you think I am stupid? You are my *enemy*. There is nothing you'd like better than my head on a jinka pole so don't start with all that
*I wanna save you* crap."

Crais shook his head. "I don't want to save you, Crichton."

The human tilted his head slightly. "Then what do you want?"

"There is a special Peace Keeper squad after you. Or rather, something aboard this ship. I don't know what they are looking for but it has something to with High Command."

"And you know this, how?"

A breath hissed between Crais's teeth as he fought to keep his temper. "At times I have the ability to pick up...certain *frequencies*..."

He sounded awkward. Crichton laughed. "My boy Crais! Eavesdroppin' on the boss is *not* a good idea."

Crais looked annoyed. "I was not eavesdropping, as you put it."

"No, you just *happened* to tune into their most top secret, a million times encrypted channel and listen to the kind of stuff that gives the rest the Uncharted Territories nightmares. Crais, I never would have thought of you as a hacker."

"A what?"

"Never mind, the point is what did you hear? And what the hezmana does it have to do with me?"

For a microt Crais did not speak. He looked so serious that Crichton was almost tempted to believe he had simply come to warn him. "Crichton, for some reason High Command is very anxious to get hold of something you have..."

"Yeah, I know Crais. Wormhole technology."

Crais shook his head. "No. I don't know what it is but it is not that."

"Come on Crais, you're gonna have to do better than that if you want me to swallow this dren."

"They were talking about..." He broke off, as if trying to remember something. "Prohibited cargo. I do not think that describes wormwhole technology, do you?"

Crichton had gone very still. Crais looked at him. "What is the matter?"

"Are you saying we were attacked and boarded on the orders of High Command?"

"You were boarded?"

Something in the human snapped. "Stop playing twenty questions, Crais, and tell me! What the hezmana were they looking for if not me?"

"I'm not sure but they mentioned something about a creature. It didn't make sense."

Crichton shoved his face up close to Crais's, his words ground out between his teeth. "Just tell me what they God-damn said. *Exact* words, Crais."

"They instructed the unit to retrieve the prohibited cargo by any means necessary. They said the creature was to be subdued but not harmed."

"And did they say where they were to take this *creature*?"

Crais paused. Appeared uncomfortable. "Direct to High Command's experimental outpost."

Crichton looked at Aeryn. She shrugged. Had no idea what Crais was talking about. He turned back to Crais. "What experimental outpost?"

"I don't know what you are thinking Crichton, but it is a special gammak base. They have things going on in there that go far beyond anything the ghosts have encountered."

His words sent a chill down Crichton's spine. "This place have a name?"

"It is at Trilon but you would never get there alive. And even if by some miracle you got inside, you would *never* get out."

"Never is an over rated word, Crais."

Chiana's voice trembled slightly. "Hey, John, you're not thinking of going to this place? This Trilon? It's a gammak base, you heard Crais."

He turned his head to look at her. His eyes hard and bleak. "They have Guy."

Crais looked confused. "Guy?"

Everybody ignored him. Ka D'Argo growled. "You cannot go there, John."

"No one's asking you to go, D'Argo."

Aeryn stepped up close to Crichton, searched his face for some sign that he was not going to do something really bartantic. What she saw did not reassure her. "John, please. Don't do this."

"Aeryn I can't leave him in some experimental prison."

"Who?" Said Crais, raising his voice in frustration. "Who are you talking about?"

"You wouldn't undertand Crais." He broke off and spoke to Pilot. "Yo, Pilot? You hear me?"

"Yes, Commander."

"How's Moya doing?"

"She is almost recovered. Talyn has been very helpful."

"How long until she doesn't need Talyn's help any more, Pilot?"

A pause. "A few more arns."

"Good, that's good." He turned and looked at Crais then faced his friends. "Okay, this is what we're gonna do. As soon as Talyn has finished with Moya, I'm gonna go with Crais and retrieve Guy."

The others all started talking at once. Alarmed and furious that Crichton was going to calmly knock on the door of a gammak base and ask for his ape back. D'Argo roared to get some silence so that he could speak. "John, there is something else you must consider."

"What's that, D?"

D'Argo's voice softened. Eyes anxious. "Guy may already be dead."

For a microt no one spoke. Quietly Crichton replied, his eyes locking on D'Argo's. "No, he's alive D'Argo. I *know* it."

Aeryn took his hand. "John, this is suicide."

"I can't leave him there, Aeryn. Hezmana knows what they're doing to him."

"Better him than us." Said Rygel.

No one looked at the little Dominar but if they had they would have seen that he looked upset more than angry. He did not want anything to happen to Guy either but in the black and white world of Hynerian pragmatism, the ape was already a lost cause. His sadness was not entirely for that reason though. He knew Crichton. The human would not be put off by something as inconsequential to him as walking into a death trap. Rygel sighed softly. A new sorrow falling on him to add to the legion of sorrows he carried. He raised his eyes and looked at Bialar Crais. It was one of those rare microts when the Sebacean considered himself unobserved. Crichton had his back to him and was arguing with the others. In the rising disagreements Rygel saw a slow smug smile slide across Crais's lips and knew without any shadow of a doubt that Crichton would most certainly be heading into a trap. The smile on the former Peace Keeper Captain's lips vanished when he noticed the Dominar looking at him. Neither spoke. Crichton had at last managed to force his unwelcome will on the others. "That settles it," He said crisply. "I'm going with Crais."

"Yes," Said the Dominar in a tone that carried across the room and made everyone look round in surprise. "And I am coming with you!"

* * * * *
END