TITLE: "SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED"

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 "TWO FOR ONE"

SUMMARY: "Crichton becomes part of a living nightmare with Rygel powerless to help him. Crais makes a deal with Darikos."

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

"SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED"
A "Farscape" story
Written by Alison M. DOBELL

Ka D'Argo was concerned. He had Pilot check the readings again. Zhaan wondered why he was so worried.

"I do not undertand, Pilot. Moya should have two signals not one."

Pilot's voice was apologetic. "I am sorry, Ka D'Argo, but the only reading Moya is picking up is Talyn."

The Luxan began to pace. "Something must have happened."

Chiana tilted her head. "Do you think Crais found it?"

"Unlikely."

"But not impossible?" Persisted the Nebari.

D'Argo stopped pacing and looked at her. "No. Not impossible."

Aeryn was frowning. "Pilot, are we close enough to contact Crais?"

Before he could answer D'Argo interrupted. "I do not think that is a good idea, Aeryn."

She frowned. "We need information, D'Argo."

"Yes, I agree. *We* need information, our enemy does not."

"We've already been through this, D'Argo. Crais has changed."

"Tactics perhaps but not what he is."

Her voice dropped. "I was a Peace Keeper once, D'Argo."

"Yes, but you had a reason to change. Crais does not."

"He has Talyn."

"I know, Aeryn, and while you may not want to hear this Talyn has not made Crais more reliable but less. Now he only serves himself. His own interests."

"Exactly. He is no longer with the Peace Keepers."

"Aeryn, I have learned to trust you. To value you as a comrade and a warrior. I do not have that same feeling for Crais."

For a microt no one spoke. Zhaan broke the silence. "We still have contact with the tracker on Talyn. It may be that something is jamming John's signal."

The others nodded but said nothing. The whole mood of the crew had become more sombre. Just then Pilot spoke. "Moya says that Talyn is approaching a small planet." Pilot paused. "It is Trilon."

Suddenly there did not appear to be enough air in the room. Aeryn tried to hide how much her hands were shaking. She linked them together and thought about Crichton. Worried in case something went wrong. Zhaan said a prayer to the Goddess then looked at the little group. It seemed inconceivable to her that as little as a few cycles ago these people would have been at each others' throats. Sworn enemies. One man had changed that. Changed them. His name was John Crichton. A species none of them have ever heard of before. Human.

* * * * *

He awoke in a dimly lit room. Something seemed to be crawling all over him. Only his face was clear of it. Where was he? He tried to raise his head but his movement was sluggish and his head weighed more than a black hole. He found it hard to focus properly and his senses were shot to pieces. What the hezmana was this? A shape disengaged from the shadows and approached him. Looked down on him and filled him with an unreasoning fear. Who was it? What was wrong with him. Odd warped sounds assaulted his ears, slowly coalescing into words. Or was that his imagination? He closed his eyes. So tired. Unaware that he had been drugged. He felt something touch him, scrape across his neck and chest. He shuddered. Not just in pain but with other sensations. He shivered. Was he cold? He could not tell. His feelings were numb. Sensations all jumbled up in his mind. The scraping sensation progressed all over his body then he was rolled over and it continued on his back, down his spine. Why was he so frelling weak? He passed out before Crais had finished cleaning all the slime off him.

He had brought the Hynerian up to watch. Fixed him in a position where he could see the human. Watch the multiple mouths cut and eat the skin off his body, layer by layer. Hour after obscene hour. It revolted and distressed Rygel. His friend unable to comprehend what was happening to him as he drifted semi-conscious between different aspects of hell. Unable to make sense of the feelings shuddering through him in random spasms as he whimpered in pain. Everything was dull to him. Rygel was powerless to do anything but watch. His cheeks glistening with tears while his heart hardened with a deep and dark hatred for Bialar Crais. Whatever else happened, he was determined the former Peace Keeper Captain would pay for what he had done to Crichton and himself. By all the Hynerian Gods he swore it on his honour as a Royal Dominar.

* * * * *

Commandant Darikos was cautious about the communique. The confirmation codes were old ones but accurate. Only someone within the Peace Keeper hierachy would know them. He did, of course, know the background of former Captain, Bialar Crais. But after his services had been purloined by the Special Directorate he had heard little of him. Black Ghosts left more of a trail than he did. Now he was asking for a secure channel to discuss his *cargo*. Darikos was thoughtful. Could this have any connection with the Peace Keepers who had brought him the ape? And if so, how? He would get no answers speculating. He went to his private quarters and opened a special channel, using a scrambler and hyperlink recording device to try to back track the origin of the caller. He was mildly surprised when Crais allowed him visual too.

"Commandant Darikos," Said the rich dark tones of the former Peace Keeper Captain. "I have good news for you, sir."

"What news could possibly entice you away from Special Directorate?"

The man cleared his throat as if that fact was not supposed to be well known. "You appear to be well informed."

Darikos narrowed his eyes a little. "I am also no frelnik. Your news."

Crais forced himself not to pace. "I have the human John Crichton."

The Commandant hid his surprise. "Why would I want him?"

"He is human."

"You already said that, Crais. What you did not say was why you thought I would have an interest in him."

"Um for your ah *current programme* sir."

Darikos raised his eyebrows slowly. "We may speak plainly, Crais."

Crais shook his head. "Your pardon sir, but we may not and the matter is delicate enough where this particular *specimen* is concerned that I will only deliver him in person."

He was immediately suspicious as Crais knew he would be, but it would also pique his curiosity. Something that was more likely to gain him access to the gammak base than anything else. "Your impertinence does not impress me, nor does your insistence on accompanying any cargo influence me. I could have you turned to squag in a microt. Why should I let you pass?"

"The programme, sir. My orders have been *very* specific. I have spent over a cycle under cover, out of contact with High Command and creating a new life for myself. The object of my efforts is now in my custody. If you do not want the property in question say so and I will trouble you no further."

Darikos fell silent. Looked at the stern visage of Crais dressed immaculately in his Captain's outfit. He looked, sounded, and acted exactly how he should and that also unsettled the Commandant. He came to a decision. "I am afraid I cannot allow you access, *Captain*, but I will grant you this. Drop off your cargo in a transport pod and I will have it retrieved. If it contains what you promise I will allow you to land."

He watched the heavy black brows descend like storm clouds. Was pleased to see the pulse jump in the side of Crais's neck. He did not like the offer. It put him on edge and that made Darikos feel more comfortable. At last he nodded though he looked unhappy. "Very well, Commandant, I will do as you ask. In return for a small favour."

"I do not grant favours."

"In this case you may wish to reconsider. I have another captive. One I wish to dispose of. He is Hynerian. I will secure both and drop them off in a transport for your collection. Do this and there will be no need for me to come aboard your station. Any business between us will be considered
concluded."

The Commandant frowned. He did not like the sound of that. Why would Crais want to dump a Hynerian on him? What was he not telling him? For all he knew Crais could have the tranport rigged with explosives. No. A change of plan might be the wisest thing after all. The former Captain was far too eager to deposit his *cargo* and run. "I have reconsidered your original request, *Captain*. As a show of good faith I will allow you to land with your cargo after all. A docking bay will be made availabe for you and your leviathan."

Crais nodded slowly as if forced to agree through protocol. "Very well, sir, as you wish."

Darikos nodded back and had the pass codes patched through to Talyn. He then cut the link and summoned his Chief of Security. Clash troops would be on hand in force. If Crais so much as twitched when he came aboard he would be shot dead. The Commandant was in no mood to play games.

* * * * *

"We must wait here. If we get any closer we risk detection."

Aeryn nodded at D'Argo's words but she did not like them. She did not like any of this. She should *not* have let Crichton go but what could she have done? How could she have stopped him? Knowing that he would have found a way no matter what objections or alternatives the rest of them came up with did nothing to reassure her. Quite the contrary. Her feeling of unease simply grew. Amplified by the unnatural distance between them. The empty space at her side. The lonely echo of her heart. This was the worst part for any warrior. The waiting. Compared to this the battle was easy.

* * * * *

Crichton was hovering on the brink of consciousness when Crais returned. Rygel's large eyes widened further, the cloth inside his mouth and the tape wrapped around his head to hold it in place may have rendered him incapable of speaking but his disgust, anger and the promise of retribution shone defiantly in his eyes. A flicker of amusement crossed the Sebacean's face on seeing the Hynerian try to loose his bonds then he dismissed him from his mind and turned to Crichton. The human was a mess but at least he was in one piece and the gnawing mouths had cut and scraped all the blisters from his body. Then the healing secretions from Talyn had sealed and repaired the damage to his broken skin. He looked like he had suffered a rash but at least he was no longer bleeding and no longer in pain. Crais felt a deep sense of pride in Talyn for accomplishing so much in such a short time. He thanked Talyn and had the pleasure of his rippled response through the neural link.

"Crichton," Said Crais darkly, his rich voice resonating in the chamber as his hand reached out to touch the human's head. "You must wake up. It is time to go to the gammak base now. I have the codes."

The human struggled to open his eyes. His speech slurred, his movements sluggish. "What the hell did you do to me?"

"As I said, you were in pain. They wanted you whole."

Crichton managed to sit up, took deep breaths then wiped the gloop from his face and neck. "What is this stuff?"

"A healing organic compound."

"It stinks, Crais."

"I suggest you wash it off and get dressed. We have less than an arn."

He started to turn away when Crichton caught sight of Rygel. "Crais! What the hezmana is going on? Why is Rygel trussed up like a sack of potatoes?"

"He will help to make the transaction more believable."

Crichton climbed off the bay, legs unsteady. It took him a microt to find his balance. He was shivering now that he was no longer subject to the lulling warmth thrumming up through the biomechanoid skin. "You untie him this microt or the deal is off!"

Crais gave him a stern look. "Do you forget so quickly why we are here? For whom we risk all on this bartantic adventure? It was not MY idea to go to a gammak base let alone enter it. Not MY idea to bring the Hynerian along. Not MY idea to rescue *Guy*. Make up your mind Crichton. If I untie Rygel it will be so we can turn around and get out of here before the Commandant realises we are not going to land on the base after all. When that happens you can be sure we will be pursued until we have been destroyed."

The human glared at him, knowing Crais was right. He looked at Rygel. "I'm sorry, Sparky, seems I was stepping out of character there. As soon as it's safe to do so I'll have you untied and we'll grab Guy and get out of here. I promise."

Rygel's eyes were wide, he was trying to shake his head. To warn Crichton. But either the human misunderstood and thought he was agreeing with him or he had failed to pick up the urgency of his friend's panic. He felt an overwhelming depression descend on him. Never had the Dominar felt so utterly helpless. Then he remembered something. Something that oaf of a Luxan had said to him as they were parting. He calmed down and tried to steady his breathing enough to fend off an attack of the intons. Let Crais play his little game. He had one of his own.

* * * * *

The Commandant was curious. It had been a long time since he had last felt or savoured that emotion. All along the corridor PK clash troops stood in readiness. It could be seen as an impressive guard of honour or an escort to a death cell. It would be amusing to see which the good Captain identified most with. The leviathan gunship landed without incident. The Commandant's major domo, Hovar Kan, stood next to him. There was a hiss then the door opened and Captain Crais emerged with his two prisoners. Crichton had his hands tied behind his back and tape across his mouth. He had protested the last part of Crais's plan but he had explained it would look better if he and Rygel suffered the same indignity. He had glared at Crais then nodded. Rygel had watched and inwardly seethed. Now they were being shoved and presented to a tall sallow cheeked humanoid. Sebacean undoubtedly but with a paleness of palor that spoke of one who shunned the light. That interested Rygel. Crichton saw only the cold hard glare of a passionless man and felt his heart sink slightly. What had they done to Guy?

Commandant Darikos looked at Crichton. Waved a hand towards Hovar Kan who stepped forward briskly and tore off the strip of tape from Crichton's mouth. Predicatably, he yelled.

"Ow! That hurt!"

A glare from the Commandant. "Silence! You will speak only when spoken to!" A pause. "Your name and species."

"Go to hezmana!"

Hovar Kan struck him in the stomach with some kind of pole. He wondered if it was the same ones they stuck the severed heads of their enemies on. All of a sudden it did not seem like a good idea to antagonise these guys. They made stormtroopers look like wusses.

"Name and species!"

He swallowed down the rising bile in his throat and straightened carefully. "John Crichton. Human."

The Commandant did not smile. "Why are you here?"

There was a brief look of confusion on his face. "You have to be kidding me, right? You think I WANT to be here on the Death Star?"

Darikos looked at Crais. Crais shrugged. "He always talks like that, sir. In fact. He always talks. You cannot shut him up. It appears to be a defect of the species."

"Hey! I heard that scum breath. When I get out of this you are going to be sorry you ever laid eyes on me!"

He never got another word out. Hovar Kan struck him again bringing him to his knees. He promptly threw up over Kan's shoes and earned a kick in the face. The Commandant stopped his major domo from disembowling him with his ceremonial spear. They needed John Crichton alive. Darikos looked down at the heaving human. Waited until he appeared to have his bodily functions back under control, however shaky.

"Bring him!"

"What about the other prisoner, sir?" Asked Hovar Kan.

"Bring him as well. Anyone foolish enough to accompany a human into space deserves to share his fate, do you not think?"

Half dragging and half pushing him, Crichton was taken down level after level in the huge base. Crais's expression was stony. Unreadable. He remained cold and silent. When they reached their intended floor the first thing Crichton noticed was the noise. The second was the smell. "What died down here?"

Hovar Kan was about to hit him again but Darikos stopped him. Judging by the look that passed between them he was not sure if that was a good thing. Then they were walking down corridor after interminable corridor. Darikos now walking alongside Crichton so he could observe the human closely. He knew their every move was being recorded and would take his time reviewing
those recordings later. Picking up any clues he might miss from the human now. Crichton had his mouth open, a look of stupified horror and recognition in his blue eyes. He stopped at every cage annoying Hovar Kan immensely but Darikos motioned for his major domo to drop back. This was what Darikos wanted. He wanted Crichton's reaction. Unmoulded, unfiltered. A truth honestly glimpsed on a face too open to be able to lie convincingly. There were many things he wanted him to see. Every species he saw produced a reaction in that expressive face. Some looked like chimpanzees, others had the arrogance of baboons, one species he was sure was an Orang Utan. Others bore little resemblance to any species he had ever seen until he looked into their eyes. The dull spark of emerging intellegence trapped a deepening sorrow in his gentle heart. Every creature touched him. Every captive hurt him. It was like looking at human history being paraded through the centuries before him. Only these were living breathing specimens. No mouldy pages from history. No archaeologist's guess work made flesh. Darikos watched the slow formation of tears blur the bright blue eyes. Watched the light of hope grow dull with sorrow in his alien eyes. Crichton turned his head to look at Darikos. The look in his eyes worth a Dominar's ransom.

"Why are you doing this?" He whispered.

Rygel heard the pain in his friend's voice but could do nothing. They still had not removed the tape from his mouth but his ears worked fine. As did his sense of smell.

"Did the good Captain not explain, John Crichton?" Said Darikos mildly.

Crichton turned his head enough to make eye contact briefly with Crais. He spat on the floor at the Sebacean's feet. His eyes dark with hatred. "No, the *good* Captain, didn't."

They were about three quarters of the way through viewing all the specimens on this level when Crichton's head came up. A long low mournful cry rent the cacophony of the captives. Crichton would have recognized that cry anywhere. "Guy!"

At the sound of his voice the other captives paused to listen and Guy's cries became more animated. Ignoring the clash troops Crichton broke into a run. Darikos and his men pacing him easily. The Commandant prevented any of his men stopping the flight of the human. They all knew there was no way out. He wanted to see where the human was going and what he would do when he got there. They skidded to a halt at a smaller cage. To the Commandant's surprise it was the cage which housed their latest acquisition. The black haired specimen was no longer sitting immobile. No longer slowly rocking itself in soundless grief. Crichton dropped to his knees and began to shuffle up to the bars. Darikos made a swift gesture and Hovar Kan hurried to shut off the power. Oblivious, John Crichton rested his body against the bars, his face pressed between two of the uprights, his tearstained face looking at the solemn expression of the gorilla. Guy ambled quickly over to him and sat just as close on the other side of the bars, leaned his head in
towards Crichton so that their foreheads could touch.

In the corridor there was not a sound. Darikos looked completely stunned by the unexpected development. Crais tried to hide how much Crichton's actions moved him. Rygel felt sad, his heart going out not only to his friend Crichton but also to Guy. Guy put his hands through the bars and tried to hug the human to him. Rygel could hear Crichton crying softly, the ape trying to comfort him. It was bizarre but then so was Crichton.

* * * * *
END