TITLE: "BEYOND THE SPEED OF LIGHT"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "Farscape"

PAIRING: John/Aeryn

RATING: PG-13

STATUS: New.

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed

SERIES/SEQUEL: SEQUEL to "SYMBIOSIS"

SUMMARY: "Crichton pledges to help the Squa'lik'na.D'Argo does not like what is happening. Robert wants to help and finds an unlikely ally."

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

"BEYOND THE SPEED OF LIGHT"
A "Farscape" story
Written by Alison M. DOBELL

The observatory was something else. Crichton craned his neck, looked every which way and still could see no end to it. His awe overshadowed his reason. The Dar'ga'nel was concerned at his silence. Never had the human been quiet for this long before. Sensing the Elder's concern he dragged his eyes off the far distance above his head and looked at the nervous Squa'lik'na. "Hey, it's okay. I just haven't been in anything bigger than my planet before."

"Your planet is small?"

He chuckled. "No, not exactly. This place is just HUGE. I mean, Steven Speilberg would be amazed."

"Is he another Earth scientist, John?"

Crichton shook his head and silently berated himself for using terms that confused the Squa'lik'na even more than his companions on Moya. "No, he's a guy with a really big imagination." He paused and looked around him again, feeling more than a little lost as to what they expected him to do. "Um, how does this place work?"

"Work?"

"Yeah, how do you use it?"

"You connect, it projects."

"What?"

The Elder rolled over to what looked like a huge console with tubes that tapered from a central point. Crichton watched him slot his limbs into the tubes and almost immediately holographic images appeared in the air above his head comb. As the Squa'lik'na sought information the holograph morphed into the imagery he sought. Crichton waited for him to extract himself and
cleared his throat gingerly. "Uh, that's very neat but it's not exactly made for my physiology."

"That is why I am with you."

"Oh?"

"Come closer and sit facing me."

He watched the Squa'lik'na Elder slot himself back into the device. Several tentacled limbs left free. He was not sure what the Dar'ga'nel intended. "This isn't gonna hurt, is it?"

"You will not be allowed to come to harm, John Crichton." Said the Elder solemnly.

He nodded, relieved but still a little nervous. The light beings flooded gently through him and calmed him. He did as he was told and squatted at the Dar'ga'nel's feet, or where his feet would be if he had any. The Dar'ga'nel moved him closer until his knees almost touched the Squa'lik'na's forward limbs. Satisfied he was positioned correctly the Dar'ga'nel gently tapped the top of his head with the prehensile tip of one limb. "Are you comfortable, John?"

"Yeah, just peachy. Pass the popcorn and roll the film."

The Elder made no attempt to understand the human's gibberish but settled the fleshy pads on his prehensile tip on the top of Crichton's head, adjusting the pads until he was comfortably fastened on the top of his skull with the most contact. It felt a bit like a heavy cap only this one pulsed.
Another limb rested gently on his shoulder. That was different. Normally the Squa'lik'na did not touch him unless there was a direct reason. The limb on his shoulder felt like it was meant to comfort him or maybe it was just to make sure he stayed still? He was not really sure but it did not alarm him. If these guys had wanted to hurt him he would never have made it passed first base. And they certainly never would have worked so hard to heal the damage Scorpy had done to his brain. All in all he had a lot to thank them for and he was not about to reward them by walking away when they needed his help the most.

"Okay, what happens now?"

"Open yourself up to me, John."

"How do I do that?"

He felt the light from the Elder trickle down from the fleshy pads on his skull. Man, was that ever creepy. His own light beings had acclimatised themselves to him, their movements and energy flowing in a way which was sympathetic to him. The Dar'ga'nel's light beings were not that refined. They were used to the Elder and he found them clumsy in comparrison though he would not have dreamed of saying so. It made him want to shiver in something close to revulsion. The limb on his shoulder tightened slightly and his attention drifted from the strange crawling sensation of the Elder's light beings to something penetrating his shoulder. "What the hezmana is that?"

"Relax John."

"Yeah, but what are you doing with my shoulder?"

"Open yourself up to me."

"I just want some explanation..."

"No time, trust John. Trust."

He hated this. It alarmed him and made him wish to get out of the damn chamber. His own light beings did not flood to his defence this time. He wondered if they had been taken over by an invading army. The thought that the Dar'ga'nel, the head honcho of this joint, might do that even with his whole world at stake sent chills up his spine. The Elder changed colour rapidly, the spirals of light washing down through the top of his head in swift waves that started to make his head spin as the light pulsed through him. Forcing its' way into every cell in his body with a speed that was nauseating. He would have toppled over if the limb had not gripped his shoulder. Well that answered that question. He felt sick. Manipulated. Betrayed. Then all of a sudden the light began to settle and the nausea faded. He still felt ill but at least the contents of his gut were going to stay inside him. For now. One more ride like that and all bets were off.

"What did you do to me?"

"For you to control this place you need to merge with me. As your physiology is so much different John I do not wish to risk hurting you or causing damage and distress, therefore my light beings are inside you and will convey our need automatically so that you can respond and activate the
observatory at the speed of thought."

It took a microt for his words to sink in. "Wow!"

The word meant nothing to the Dar'ga'nel. "I am closing down now, John. Just open yourself up to the light beings and they will do the rest. You are in control now."

He opened his mouth to ask another question when all the light in the Dar'ga'nel went out. Poof! Alarm radiated through his mind and body. The Elder's light calmed him with ruthless efficiency, their practical method a shock to his system like a dampening field. He was used to his light beings reflecting the gentleness of his own nature. This then must be what the Elder was like. Hmm. <No offence, but I think I prefer my guys>

Then he felt the impetus of the Elder's light flowing through him. These guys did not hang around, they had an agenda and even though he was the one in control they seemed to be in control of him. Images flashed before his eyes hanging at eye level and mutating as fast as he could think. As soon as he began to form a thought the image was there spinning in front of him, dissecting itself to show him every aspect he wanted to see. He soon forgot how irritated he was with the way the Dar'ga'nel had invaded his senses, too caught up in the flow of information to focus on such trivia now. A planet was at stake and if he did not figure it out soon everybody on it was going to die. And that included Aeryn, Ka D'Argo and his precious son Robert.

He soon realised just what the problem was. The maw Dar'ga'nel had described to him was like some huge Black Hole only unlike the ones he had been taught about this one was not fixed to a specific region in space. It could move around, like some huge planet swallowing predator. A thought occurred to him. He knew the light beings were intelligent. What if the dark maw was intelligent too? Was it directed by some will or was it nothing more personal than gravitational pull? Whatever it was, whatever touched its' horizon vanished.

* * * * *

Aeryn was finally losing patience. She had been shown into the anteroom by one of the Squa'lik'na she had never seen before. Ka D'Argo began to pace almost immediately, recognising delaying tactics when he saw them. He did not speak his mind because of the presence of Robert but the boy seemed to know something was wrong. He looked into his mother's eyes, his bright blue eyes fastening on hers' as if she would know the answer. Such faith. Such trust. Such innocence. His father had been innocent once. She swallowed hard and tried to project a feeling of calm. "It won't be long now Robert."

"I want to see my father now."

"We *all* want to see him." Stated D'Argo flatly.

As Robert turned his head to look at him, D'Argo flushed. Annoyed with himself for speaking out loud. His anger and irritation growing. Aeryn gave him a worried look. The last thing they needed was for D'Argo to go into a Luxan hyper rage. She looked around for someone she recognised. "Where is Yar'keth?"

A Squa'lik'na servitor brought them refreshments and flushed his head comb in an anxious murky blue which was turning a slushy brown. "He is coming."

"Good, then perhaps we can get some answers."

No sooner had the servitor left than Yar'keth hurried in. Aeryn felt a surge of relief. "Yar'keth, what in hezmana is going on? They promised to let us see John this morning and now we cannot get near him."

Yar'keth looked distressed. "There is a problem, Aeryn Sun."

"What problem?" Growled D'Argo.

The Squa'lik'na moved nearer to Aeryn. "A darkness is coming which endangers us all. John is trying to help the Elders to fight it."

Aeryn frowned. "Darkness? What darkness?"

"It is a huge Dark that swallows planets."

D'Argo actually started to pale. "Swallows planets? How is that possible?"

"I do not know Ka D'Argo but the Elders discovered that on John's homeworld he was a scientist."

Aeryn nodded. She remembered him telling her that a lot the first cycle he was on Moya. As if that fact should mean something to her and would explain why he would not carry a weapon. Would not fight. Later she had equated him with a Tech, the lowliest level of servitor among the Peace Keeper ranks. It was only her continued exposure to him that had taught her the value of someone with his gifts. Now she did not look down on him for the knowledge in his head. She marvelled at how quickly the Squa'lik'na had recognised his value. Would that she had done the same. "Perhaps we can help?"

"You can help by letting him do what he does best, Aeryn Sun."

Her head tilted, mystified. "What do you mean, Yar'keth?"

"We want him to think of a way out of this danger."

"How the yotz is he supposed to do that?" Said D'Argo, getting more annoyed by the microt.

"He is able to grasp many things, his mind is very pliable."

"Pitiable." Murmured D'Argo under his breath.

The Squa'lik'na heard him but made no comment. He was wary of the Luxan. Aeryn was getting distressed. "I know you think John can help you, and if he can he will want to do that but I need to see him. To satisfy myself that he really is alright. Do you understand Yar'keth?"

His head comb flushed a gentle orange. "Yes, Aeryn Sun, and I think I can help you but you will only be able to observe. The Elders will not allow you to distract him or to interfere."

She nodded. D'Argo snorted impatiently ready to go with Aeryn and Robert. Robert smiled at the Squa'lik'na and reached for the Luxan's hand. "It's okay Yar'keth. D'Argo huffs a lot but he won't do anything to harm you or to upset my father."

Yar'keth appeared to take the child's reassurance at face value. D'Argo stared down at the boy and Aeryn had to turn away to hide a smile. Yar'keth took them to an observation room. At first they could see nothing. It looked like another anteroom. Then Yar'keth called for the lights to dim and the screen to clear. At once they could see inside the huge Observation Chamber. Aeryn gasped seeing Crichton with the Squa'lik'na's prehensile limb fastened to his head and the rapid swirl of holographic images hanging in the air in front of him. Then she realised he was awake, his eyes fixed on images she could not understand. His hands twitching in his lap as the images opened up, rotated before his eyes then changed into other images. Sometimes the progression was fast, like someone flicking through a file looking for something specific and not finding it. Then they would slow down and each one would be examined in greater detail. Robert sat cross legged on the floor just microdench from the screen one small hand placed flat against the plexiglass. Unconciously adopting the same sitting position as his father, his eyes following the images with total absorption.

"I don't understand what you think John can do?" Aeryn whispered softly.

"Can you not see, Aeryn Sun?" The Squa'lik'na asked quietly.

She shook her head.

"Those images..."

"The holographic ones?"

"Yes, Aeryn Sun, those. John has created them."

Her eyes widened in shock. "How?"

Yar'keth's comb flushed a brilliant electric blue. It was no colour in any rainbow Aeryn could ever have imagined. Maybe Crichton could but she could not. Somehow she just knew it was part of the Squa'lik'na's intellect. "The Dar'ga'nel himself has linked with him, given him control of the
Observatory. His mind alone calls up the images and responses he needs to understand the threat. In his understanding lies our hope for salvation."

She took a deep steadying breath. Awed by the magnitude of their expectations. "You are asking a lot of John."

"We know."

Aeryn tore her gaze away from the Observation Chamber and Crichton and looked into the Squa'lik'na's three eyes. "What if he can't help you?"

"All will die."

"All?"

"The Dark consumes planets *whole*. Nothing has ever emerged that has been swallowed by the Dark. It is how we lost our homeworld Aeryn Sun. It is the reason we came here."

The shock on her face rendered her speechless. D'Argo was frowning, his voice lowered but easily audible to anyone with auditory senses, even the most rudimentary. "Are you saying that this thing - this Dark - has followed you here?"

* * * * *

Crichton was fascinated. As apalled as he was at the danger facing them, the things he was seeing, experiencing and intuiting were firing off things inside his head that made all his Earth knowledge pale into virtual insignificance. All his training though had equipped him with one thing. A tool that helped him to make sense of what he was seeing. To correlate patterns, cause and effect, the power of conflicting forces. That this great maw could actually navigate space was scary on so many levels it actually calmed him. Re-wrote his understanding of physics. After all you could not be terrified forever. Passed that mental block he was free to speculate, to make his calculations and revel in the speed with which the intuitive interface to the Observatory illuminated his thoughts with illustrations taken directly from space. It was so beautiful, so awe-inspiring. Terrifying in the extreme because this was not conjecture. This was not idle thought and speculation. It was real. Happening *now*. The clock was ticking and he did not even know how much time they had.

He adapted quickly to the interface, giving it no more thought now that his own thought processes. His mind spanning the gulf of knowledge - alien and human - into another kind of symbiosis. Necessity forming ties that stretched out along the path of understanding to build new bridges, new connections. Seeking answers that would solve this puzzle and end their predicament. Or not. He viewed the maw again, visible only by the stars it blocked out rather than its' own shape. A Black Hole. Time and again he came back to that description in his head. But were all dark masses in space the same? Did the Black Holes they observed through Hubble have any correlation to this maw? And how the hell was it able to traverse the Uncharted Territories unfettered and seemingly able to direct itself in any damn direction it wanted? It bespoke an intelligence that chilled him. But intelligence meant sentience, sentience meant life, life meant they were sharing building blocks right? Certainly not carbon based, that was a given, but some other structure of the universe that cobbled bodies together out of the interstellar dust and breathed life into them. That it was wild phsycotic life was just his good fortune. Now. How in hezmana was he going to make contact with that and resolve this? What if what it wanted was the one thing they could not afford to give? What if reason and communication could not convey that fundamental imperative of the right for existence? Perhaps it was the interstellar equivalent of a Dictator? Perhaps it had no thought of its' own beyond the impulse to absorb everything in its' path?

Crichton was tired. His eyes were sore, his back ached but he could not look away. Would never forgive himself if he closed his eyes and in that blink of an eye the world ended. The Dar'ga'nel's light beings excited his senses, tromped around inside his cells like stormtroopers urging him to keep going. Firing off adrenalin like rocket launchers. A massive hit to keep him awake. But their caress was rough, exaggerated in the trade off for effectiveness. No appreciation of the subtle. He missed his guys. As if his emotion awoke them, he felt a trickle of concern soothe his consciousness and smiled. <Hey, are you guys alright or did the playground bullies rough
you up too?>

He felt their gentle caring flow through him and began to calm down. As if realising the two sets of light beings would have to work together for the common goal, the stormtroopers eased back on their Darth Vader impression and let him settle into a less aggressive consciousness. He applied himself back to the problem. Weary but being buoyed up by the gentle excitation of endomorphins in his body. A real smile touched his lips, a sigh passed muster and he tried to view the problem from other angles. To imagine himself inside that great mass of darkness. <Uh oh. Lights out> A microt of panic siezed him then both sets of light beings joined forces to calm him
down, to reassure him that he had mentally projected through the offices of the Observation Chamber directly into the heart of the maw. <Oh God dad, we are so screwed. This thing is massive. If it has a consciousness it is NOTHING like ET. More like Frankenstein on steroids>

* * * * *

His hand pressed flat up against the plexiglass Robert never took his eyes off Crichton. Forgotten by Aeryn, D'Argo and Yar'keth he was free to concentrate on what his father was doing. Even though he did not fully understand on some instinctive level he was able to keep pace with what
Crichton was doing. Dormant traces of Pilot's alien DNA were activated by the complexity of the problem. Multi-tasking mentally enabled him to merge several viewpoints and juxtapose them in new and intriguing positions. He wanted desperately to be inside the Observation Chamber with Crichton. Knew his mother would flip if he asked her. No way in hezmana would Ka D'Argo understand and Yar'keth would probably blow a whole battery of fuses. Only his father would understand and right now this was as close as he could get to him.

* * * * *

"So what do we do?" Huffed Ka D'Argo. The inactivity was driving him bartantic.

Aeryn's expression was solemn. "We evacuate as many beings as we can off-planet."

Yar'keth flushed a murky blue. "That will not help, Aeryn Sun."

"Why not? At least some could survive if all else fails."

She meant *If John fails* but did not want to say that. Yar'keth understood but knew that she still did not. "The Dark is able to swallow this world whole."

"Yes, I know, you told us."

"Even if all the beings who could leave had the means they could not get far enough from the mass of this planet to find safety before the Dark consumes us."

Her face paled. Going completely white. "Are you saying that we could not return to Moya and leave if things went wrong?"

"You have a contract." Said Yar'keth softly.

All of a sudden Aeryn could feel its' ties tightening around her. In the name of Cholok, she had forgotten about that. "But my son..."

"Your son was born here, Aeryn Sun."

With a snap of her mind she grasped it all. They would never be able to leave. Not unless the Squa'lik'na released her from the contract. "D'Argo could leave."

"Yes, Ka D'Argo can leave any time he wants to."

D'Argo tossed his tenkas and snorted with rage, his eyes burning with fire. "I will *not* desert my friends and what is this contract that binds Aeryn and Robert to you? Why would you keep them prisoners?"

"They are not prisoners, Ka D'Argo."

"Then let them GO!"

Aeryn tried to calm him. "D'Argo you do not understand. We are not here against our will."

"Then why can't you leave?"

"We will not leave John."

He knew she was not answering his question but the plea in her eyes was hard to ignore. "I will not leave John either but I still do not like this *contract*."

"We have to concentrate on what we can do to help."

He nodded, his look still fierce but knowing this was one time he could not count on his anger to help him. He was about to ask Yar'keth if there was any way they could speak to Crichton when the ground beneath his feet lurched under him. A look of alarm passed between him and Aeryn. A crack appeared in the plexiglass as the maw drew closer. Forces more ancient than the planetary debris of worlds drawing them irresistably closer to their doom. The scream that rent the air and fractured his senses meant nothing to D'Argo until he turned his head towards the sound and saw Aeryn's grief stricken face as the crack in the plexiglass widened into a gash sucking her son into the Observation Chamber as the anteroom shook and the air rattled all around them. D'Argo threw back his head even as he lost his balance and added his roar of sorrow and anger to hers. The end of the world had finally caught up with them.

* * * * *
END