TITLE: "FARSCAPE"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "Farscape"

PAIRING: John/Aeryn

RATING: NC-13

STATUS: New.

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed

SERIES/SEQUEL: SEQUEL to "BY THE RULES"

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

"SET IN STONE"
A "Farscape" story
Written by Alison M. DOBELL

The room was completely round with no doors or windows. The structure was like a very smooth and hard concrete, impervious to his efforts to scratch it or find a weakness he could exploit. He was unsteady on his feet, his head felt blurry and full of cotton wool, but he was not in any pain and as far as he could tell had not been injured. <Well, *that's* a first>. He stopped walking round the the inner wall and looked at the large round flat stone in the middle of the room. The one he had been avoiding. It was just under half a metra in height. Perfect for a park bench only it was much larger, wide enough in diameter to mimick one of those round beds that were all the rage in the sixties. Even D'Argo would be able to lie on it without his feet hanging off the end of it. He looked up. A single round opening the same size as the stone let in an inordinate amount of light and if it were not for the fact that it was obviously a kind of holding cell it would have been almost aesthetically pleasing. Nothing else was in the room but its' single occupant.

Crichton sighed and finally sat on the edge of the round stone slab. What in hezmana was he going to do now? How did he get himself into these situations? What was it with the Uncharted Territories anyway? It was like there was a permanent open season on John Crichton. Damn, he must have missed that warning poster. He rubbed his eyes. So tired. It was weird but the light shining down on him seemed to get warmer, a comfort almost. He yawned and rubbed the stubble forming on his face. Eyes bleary and red. Maybe he would lie back for just a few microts. Rest his eyes. He pulled himself up and lay out on the round stone, the position perfect for soaking up all the delicious heat now flowing down on him, coursing through his aching body and easing the panic and tension from his stressed system. His breathing deepened, the warmth increased until it reached his optimum comfort level. High above him, the Squa'lik'na watched over their latest acquisition with interest. Yar'keth wanted to be present while they examined him. Kar'kinth was disagreeing with him, his colours swirling rapidly through the spectrum as he started to get agitated with him.

"That is not necessary. I am the scientist not you. You are for protocol. Do not overstep your mark!"

Yar'keth flushed, a pulsing blue radiating from his head comb to all his limbs. The blue began to become murky. "I am simply concerned that he is not harmed."

"Why? Since when did you like Peace Keepers?"

"I do not think he is a Peace Keeper."

Kar'kinth bubbled darkly in his thorax, a sound of deep derision. "You are young Yar'keth so I will not punish you for your error." He paused. Remembered that the Dar'ga'nel had insisted he give Yar'keth every courtesy. "Very well, you may remain while he is assessed. But you will *not* interfere, is that clear?"

Yar'keth flushed orange, pulsed for a mircot then turned yellow. "You are wise. I live to serve."

* * * * *

Aeryn was surprised and overjoyed to see Ka D'Argo. The smile on her face was so welcome to see. He could not look at Aeryn without thinking of his beloved Lo'laan. Crichton had chosen well even if the Sebacean was her own worst enemy. Robert practically beamed from head to foot at having found him. He watched the Luxan hug his mother and spin her round.

"Aeryn, it is good to see you again! My eyes have missed you for too long."

She laughed, so happy. "I am glad to see you too, D'Argo. More than you could know." She looked behind him. "Where's John?"

Ka D'Argo laughed. "He went looking for Robert."

She smirked back at him, enjoying the joke. "He's probably looking at every stall in the market place as if he's never seen a stall before." She shook her head and smiled at D'Argo. "What about the others? How are they?"

"Well, Chiana joined the Nebari resistance only to discover that there had been a coup. Something not even Chiana had imagined possible. Those who were in charge are now mining nogelti crystals to rebuild the Nebari economy and the resistance has been disbanded. Jool left for a religious retreat when it became clear we had no way to return her to her home world. Rygel made it back to Hyneria and last I heard had come to an agreement with Bishan."

That last bit surprised Aeryn. "He did? I thought the first thing he was going to do was execute him and stick his head on a jinka pole?"

D'Argo laughed. "He was but John had a word with him."

She nodded. That was Crichton all over. The Peace Maker. Her smile widened just thinking about him. "What about Pilot and Moya?"

"They are both well, missing the others I think but mostly they miss you."

Her eyes misted suspiciously. Robert caught her hand and squeezed, his gentle face angled towards hers with concern. Wanting to comfort her. So like Crichton with his human need to reach out to others that there could be no doubting this was his son. Clone or no clone a Crichton was still a Crichton.

"So," Said D'Argo, impatient to move on. "When are you coming back to Moya?"

* * * * *

Yar'keth rolled down the wall from the opening high above, following the two scientists and trying not to get in their way. If he blocked their access to the light above he would be made to leave no matter what the elder had promised. Accompanying Kar'kinth was a slightly smaller Squa'lik'na called Eng'eth. Eng'eth was a Polymorph, a subspecies of Squa'lik'na with the ability not only to change colour and merge with her background like her larger cousins but also able to change her form and mimick animate and inanimate structures. Her fluid nature made her emotionally volatile. The three Squa'lik'na looked down at the sleeping human. Kar'kinth asked Eng'eth to take the preliminary readings, using an interior pad placed against the side of the human's neck to deepen his sleep state. They needed him to remain relaxed and supine so as not to hurt him.

They did not use instruments to take their readings. Yar'keth watched with interest as Eng'eth spread the human's arms out to his sides, the underside of his arms facing up towards the light. She followed the pulse to the inside of his right wrist and placed a pad against it, her colour
changing slowly right through the complete range and pulsing from her head comb and through her limbs as if the coloured light was pouring into the human's body. Kar'Kinth placed a tentacled limb on the top of Crichton's head, working his pads through the short hair until he could get a good seal on his scalp. Little tremors of light trickled from the limb into the pads and excited the lower epidermal layers before seeping further down into the fleshy folds of the cerubelum. Yar'keth was fascinated but nervous. Not sure how much intrusion the human could withstand. Only his totally relaxed state made the procedure safe. He had seen some species implode with panic. Others purge themselves with protective secretions only to poison themselves. Practice had taught them to be more careful.

The colour of Kar'kinth's comb began to darken and become a murky sludge. He trembled slightly. Yar'keth looked at him in concern. "What's the matter, Kar'kinth?"

"This male has had much trauma..." His voice trailed off into a bubbling sorrow. His colour darkened almost to black, red streaks pulsing up through the black like waves of pain. He disengaged quickly and looked shocked. "He is damaged."

Yar'keth looked cross. "You promised not to hurt him."

A flush of red lightened the darkness in Kar'kinth's comb but his concern did not abate. "We did not do this to him. I have never seen such a thing before."

Eng'eth ignored the conversation. Totally absorbed in trailing her light through his body as he slept, her senses riding the light waves and looking at him inside out. Creepy little tingles of energy coursed through veins that never slept, arteries that pumped their slow rythmic pace through the ventricles of his heart oxygenating his blood and keeping his brain alive. She saw the swirls of his DNA, rode the strong echo of his heartbeat, touched the fatty residue that kept him warm, the muscles that carried out the motor functions of his body and examined the internal organs to determine their function. She compared all she found with her knowledge of Sebacean physiology then examined him a second and a third time. The other two were silent, sensing that she had found something unusual. Yar'keth hoped the male was not dying. At last she removed her pads and blinked her three eyes one after the other. "I do not know what species this is but he is not Sebacean."

Kar'kinth flushed with confusion. "Are you sure?"

The look she gave him quelled any further query.

"What is he?"

Eng'eth moved a tentacled limb in an undulating motion until the tip rested just underneath Crichton's left ear. "I do not know. He is like yet unlike a Sebacean. Many things are similar but he has organisms in his body that are not native to that species. He also appears to have a tolerance to heat which is remarkable. Our light sensors detected his pleasure in warmth and provided heat for him. There is no attendant stress, only a body relaxed and in the sleep state. The warmth appears to lull him."

Kar'kinth mused, his pads moving slightly on Crichton's head to send more lightwaves deeper inside the brain. Carefully and gently intruding on the parietal lobe. Subtle probing across the voluntary motor area made Crichton's arms and legs twitch. He paused and repeated the manouevre. The same thing happened. Interesting. He flooded the human with more light,
became more structured in his examination. Eng'eth now helping to map his brain and learn where his pleasure centres and other control systems were. Yar'keth watched the human react to the subtle manipulations. Nothing that would hurt him but parts of the brain were very sensitive, traumatised grave yards of the mind. It troubled Kar'kinth. Now he sent his light down the brain stem and along the spinal chord checking for injuries and malfunctions. The nervous system of particular fascination to him. Once he had journeyed through the whole body he withdrew his light and asked Yar'keth to bring them refreshment. When the young Squa'lik'na hesitated, Kar'kinth flushed a bright yellow. A sign of happiness. Of calm. Of pleasure.

"Bring also something for the male."

"What shall I bring?"

They exchanged baffled looks then Kar'kinth made a decision. "He is not Sebacean but his species is similar. Bring him the same kind of food they would eat. We will learn by trial and error how to feed and care for him."

Yar'keth looked shocked. "We are not going to keep him?"

Eng'eth stroked a tentacled limb over his head comb to calm him down. Reassure him. "He will stay with us while we study him. Perhaps we can help to heal him."

"Then you will let him go?"

Kar'Kinth looked at him for several microts, his colours swirling slowly in pastal shades denoting thoughtfulness. "Why are you so concerned for this being, Yar'keth?"

He flushed from orange to violet. "I saw him with the Sebacean, Aeryn Sun. The way they made love was very.... intense. Gentle. Loving. That is when I knew he was not Sebacean."

Eng'eth looked pleased and rippled her warm approval through her tentacled limb causing Yar'keth's head comb to flush the same colour. It was not often such a junior protocol servitor was given such a compliment. "We will not harm him." She soothed. "You were right and gifted to spot the difference. Now, go and get some food and something to drink. We must work quickly while he sleeps. He will be hungry and thirsty when he wakes."

* * * * *

"I will not be returning to Moya." Said Aeryn quietly.

Ka D'Argo had been laughing with Robert, now his eyes grew series. Pained. "I do not understand."

She looked at her son and smiled for him. "Robert. I think you should go and find John."

The boy was only too happy to do so but D'Argo was alarmed. "Aeryn, you cannot let him go alone. I will go with him."

Aeryn shook her head. "No, D'Argo. This is his home. There is nothing here that can harm him."

The way she said that stilled the Luxan. His eyes searched hers. He waited until the boy had gone. "Explain."

She took a deep breath. Wished Crichton were here so she would only have to say it once. "When I came here almost nine cycles ago the ruling species were very suspicious of me." A self deprecating smile pained her lips. "They did not trust me. I was an ex-Peace Keeper but they did not know of any of my kind who had ever left the corps. Therefore I was a spy."

"If that is true why didn't they kill you?" Said D'Argo quietly.

"I wondered that as well until they explained that they knew I was with child. Pregnant. About to conceive. The news for some reason changed their attitude towards me. Some of the elders, the ruling Dar'ga'nel, interviewed me. I was *assessed* then they made me an offer."

D'Argo's eyes narrowed. "What kind of offer?"

"In return for a safe place to stay and no molestation, I would agree to do nothing to harm them or this society. I would submit myself four times a cycle for *assessment*. This requirement would *not* be extended to my son."

"Assessment?"

Aeryn nodded but offered up no more information on the term. There were faint tears in her eyes as if she had buried the cost very deep. A cost she wanted him to know as little about as possible. Her quiet acceptance of the *offer* sounded more like the terms of a surrender. "Aeryn, what did they do to you?"

"They gave me sanctuary."

* * * * *

Yar'keth received permission to remain present while the scientists probed deeper. Much slower in their light intrusions that before, for both Kar'kinth and Eng'eth were deep inside Crichton's brain. The porous nature of human skin and flesh enabled their light to enter his physical body like
finely tuned lasers, causing no harm or discomfort to him. It also meant he remained fully clothed and unmolested while he slept. Yet Yar'keth fretted. Was worried that the alien would be irreparably damaged and unable to return to his mate. Yar'keth was young. He loved his bond mate but until he had observed Crichton and Aeryn together it had not occurred to him that emotions such as tenderness could be so important. He had been very impressed with the love they had shown each other and could not wait to return to his partner and try the new approach in the hope of securing a prolonged mating. Now all his hopes hung in the balance. He settled his limbs and waited in quiet anxiety.

At last Kar'kinth withdrew his light and looked at Yar'keth. "We have removed some kind of restraining mesh. His brain has lesions some of which are deep and must be very painful. We have nothing we can apply to heal the damage but we have removed what we think is the cause. If we are right, his body may be able to heal itself."

The young Squa'lik'na flushed a bright vibrant yellow. Joy. "He will live?"

The two scientists gurgled deep in their thoraxes. "Yes. He was not dying but his brain was."

Yar'keth looked troubled. "What would have happened to him if we had not found him?"

Eng'eth tried to tell him gently. "He would have gone hezmoid. So completely bartantic he would not have found his way back to sanity."

Yar'keth was upset. His colour becoming a muddy murky brown. The scientists took time to calm and reassure him. "He is safe now." Kar'kinth paused. "But it is time we re-assessed Aeryn Sun."

"Why? Her next quarter cycle is more than a monen away."

Eng'eth nodded. "Hers but not his."

He thought about that for a microt. "Then you will let him stay?"

"Yes. We will honour him with the same terms we gave his mate."

The young Squa'lik'na was so happy. He flushed yellow and pulsed gold then pastel orange through the yellow. "What should I tell her?"

"Tell her the elder council require her to attend them."

"And if she refuses?"

Kar'kinth placed a pad under Crichton's left ear, monitored his life signs and gently deepened his sleep pattern. The touch so gentle that Yar'keth dared to believe that everything would be alright. "Then you may tell her we have her mate."

The scientist's response alarmed him. "She will think we are threatening her."

Kar'kinth's colour darkened. "You will not criticise systems which are just! Your words will be to inform just as mine are, do you understand? If we wanted to harm this male we would be reducing his mass to pulp not trying to repair trauma to the brain."

The young Squa'lik'na felt ashamed. Flushed and was about to apologise when Kar'kinth stopped him.

"Go now and take another with you. Try not to alarm Aeryn Sun for she is important to us."

A microt later, Yar'keth had gone. Eng'eth watched Kar'kinth continue to monitor the human. "Will you really let him go?"

A long silence drew out between them. It was several hundred microts before Eng'eth realised he was not going to answer.

* * * * *

The market place had thinned out quite a lot since Robert had walked through it with Ka D'Argo. He craned his neck, looking for signs of his father but could not see him. Smiling, he wove his way between the stalls, ignoring the looks from the stall holders. His attention firmly fixed on achieving his objective but nowhere could he find any sign of John Crichton. He stopped at last and turned slowly, scanning all around him for a glimpse of the faded duster. Nothing. Robert frowned. Where could he be?

It was as he hesitated over what to do that he noticed two Squa'lik'na undulating through the market in the rough direction of his home. Robert had a presentiment of doom. Heart thudding anxiously he followed them. Growing more alarmed when he realised they were going to his house. As they reached the door Ka D'Argo flung it open. They paused, not knowing if the Luxan
presented a threat. Robert ran over to them and spoke first, hoping to head off any confrontation. D'Argo frowned but said nothing. He was quickly learning that the boy had a lot of common sense plus he knew this place. "I am Robert Sun Crichton, what can I do for you?"

Yar'keth flushed a gentle orange so as not to alarm the boy. "We came to see your mother."

If anything the words just made the boy more nervous. His mother? "Her next quarter cycle is not due for over a monen."

Yar'keth's companion Az'reth made a gurgling sound. The boy fell silent, nodded, then led them inside. He exchanged a look with Ka D'Argo that made the Luxan even more wary. Aeryn was surprised to see her son show two Squa'lik'na into her house. She frowned slightly and tried not to give away her concern as she spoke. "You honour my house."

"We live to serve."

"How may I help you?"

"The Elder Council wish to see you."

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Now?"

"Yes, they await you as we speak."

Aeryn did not even think of refusing. She asked them to wait outside while she packed a few things. D'Argo grabbed her wrist. "What is going on?"

"Let go, D'Argo. I don't have time for this."

"Then I suggest you make time. What is happening?"

She pulled her arm away, eyes angry. "No one asked you to come here Ka D'Argo and no one is asking you to stay."

"I will not abandon John."

"What if he wants to stay here?"

He snorted and crossed his arms. "Then I will talk him out of it."

Dark eyebrows rose to meet her hairline. Privately Aeryn wished she had been so fortunate. "Look after Robert, I may be gone a few days."

Now he was really worried. "A few days? And what am I to tell John when he returns? That I let you be taken captive?"

She shook her head. "I am not being taken captive. Speaking to the Elder Council is a great privilege."

"Aeryn I do not like this."

She sighed. "Relax D'Argo, I have a contract with them. They will not harm me."

He looked suspiciously at her. "Contract? What sort of contract?"

Aeryn tried to smile but it just looked like she had gas. The painful sort. "The kind that is set in stone."

"Aeryn I..."

She cut him off. No time. "Look after Robert," She said softly. "And tell Moya what is happening. We may have to leave in a hurry."

He nodded, understanding completely. "Be careful, Aeryn."

Aeryn gave him a look which said *you too* then let herself out. D'Argo could not help but blame himself. He should never have let the human out of his sight.

* * * * *
END