Chapter 8

Visha moved closer to Aeryn. Aeryn dove over the bed and ran out of the cell. She could hear Visha running behind her. Aeryn was reminded of the physical toll pregnancy was taking on her body. She ran in the direction of Moya's inhabited areas. The sound of the footsteps behind her was growing louder. Visha was closing. Her stamina was beginning to fail her. Aeryn rounded a bend and lost her footing. She was forced to place her hands on the deck for balance. Visha had almost caught up to her. Around the next bend Aeryn quite literally ran into Crais, nearly knocking him down. She collapsed in his arms, unable to find the breath to speak.

Visha skidded to a halt as she saw Aeryn in Crais' arms. "No! It's not fair."

Crais saw that Visha was holding something in her hand and was immediately suspicious. "What's going on?"

Visha was completely lost to insanity. She raised her arm to the ready position and began closing. Crais sat Aeryn down on the deck and took up a defensive posture in front of her. "I'm going to solve the problem so we can be together. I saw you yesterday. I touched you. I know you want me. We are meant to be together. I can get rid of the baby so we can be together."

Crais was shocked by her revelation. "Visha, I cannot let you hurt Aeryn or the baby."

"No. You're mine!" She lunged toward Aeryn. Crais grabbed her and wrestled the syringe from her hand. He then wrestled her to the deck. Visha began sobbing, "You were supposed to be mine."

Crais looked over at Aeryn, "Are you all right?"

"I think so." Crais was looking at the syringe. "It is a compound that would abort the baby."

The only thing that kept Crais from killing Visha right there was the fact the woman was clearly insane. "Pilot, have the DRDs prepare a transport pod. Notify Calla to meet me in the maintenance bay. She and Visha will be leaving."

~Yes, Captain.~ Pilot knew better than to argue with that tone of voice.

By now Visha was curled up in the fetal position, sobbing and mumbling to herself. Crais went over and embraced Aeryn tightly. She did not flinch from his embrace but buried her face in his broad chest and began crying. Crais held her, letting her cry as long as she needed. He rocked gently and stroked her hair, doing all he could to comfort her. He was thankful he was walking this passageway when he was. If not, he might have lost his child.

When Aeryn was all cried out, he hauled Visha up off the deck and roughly shoved her down the passageway towards the maintenance bay. Aeryn was following along, afraid to be alone. When the three of them arrived, Calla was waiting with her bags. "What's happened?"

"You've overstayed your welcome. You are being taken back to Talyn. You will board your ship and leave immediately."

Calla looked between the three of them. She saw the look of barely controlled rage on Crais' face, the fact that Aeryn appeared to have only recently stopped crying and the insanity embodied by Visha. She finally deduced what must have happened. "By Cholak! She didn't. I told her to leave you alone."

"Obviously she took your warning differently than you intended." Calla helped Visha board the pod. Crais took Aeryn's arms in his hands. "You don't have to come. Visha is not a danger to me."

Aeryn's eyes were still red and puffy from the crying she had done and her voice was hoarse, "I want to see Talyn. I've been ignoring him since you returned." Crais took the pilot's seat and immediately departed for Talyn. Once they arrived Aeryn went off on her own, while Crais supervised Visha and Calla, ensuring they left immediately. Visha tried to run to him, calling out apologies as Calla led her to their ship explaining that it was too late. Crais watched their ship depart through Talyn's eyes before searching out Aeryn.

She was in command talking to Talyn. Explaining to the youngster what she was going through, trying to help him understand her behavior. Crais decided not to disturb her until she had finished. He looks through Talyn's maintenance logs while waiting. When he perceived Aeryn has finished he joined her in command. He saw her running her hands along Talyn's ceiling and smiled. Talyn had always liked the way her touch felt. Without looking at him she asked, "Tell me about the planet you found."

He walked around in front of her. "It is a world very much like the one on which I was born. It is green and full of life. There are several large settlements that have suitable medical facilities. It is far from both Peacekeeper and Scarren space. Most importantly, it does not have enough resources to be valuable to either. I believe it is the perfect place for us to go."

"What would we do there?"

"I have enough currency that we should be able to live comfortably until the baby is born. If not, I have no doubt I can find employment."

"What about Talyn?"

"He has agreed to remain in the system and act as early warning for us should trouble arrive."

"He would do that?"

"He cares very deeply for you. He does not want to see anything happen to our baby."

Aeryn was touched by the amount of compassion Talyn was showing. "How soon could we leave?"

A gentle smile graced his lips, "As soon as you are ready."

She smiled back at him, "I'm ready. I need to get away from Scorpius."

They returned to Moya and each went to their quarters to pack. It didn't take Crais long, he had brought very little with him.

Aeryn was packing her belongings into a couple different bags. "Leaving Officer Sun? I thought you had decided against that unwise action."

"I've changed my mind."

"After all I've done for you, that's all the thanks I get?"

"I'm done being manipulated by you. I know that I'm doing the right thing. We're going somewhere safe."

"Do you really think that Crais has found somewhere safe?"

"Go away, Scorpius."

Scorpius was about to continue his argument when he was interrupted by a deep voice behind him, "I would do as she says."

Scorpius showed his true self, growling angrily, "You are both fools."

Crais watched down the corridor to ensure Scorpius truly left. "Have you finished?" he asked.

"Just about. I'm done with those two," she gestured toward the door. "I'll meet you in the maintenance bay."

He placed his hand on her arm, "Take your time." He realized she saw the members of Moya's crew as her family.

As he was leaving he passed Crichton. "Crais, you'd better take good care of her," he said before proceeding to Aeryn's quarters. Crais stared after the human and cocked an eyebrow. He wondered why Crichton had always been compelled to make such obvious statements.

Crichton stood in the doorway, "You're really leaving?"

"It's for the best. Moya is being hunted and there aren't any doctors on board. It'll be better for me on a planet at a real settlement."

"I guess you're right. Do you think you'll come back to Moya?"

"Someday. Maybe."

"Well, you take care of yourself, Aeryn."

"You too, John." Crichton left without saying another word and without looking back. Aeryn watched him leave and a part of her went with him. Even though he wasn't her John, a part of her still loved him. That was one of the reasons she had to leave.

Her farewells to Chiana, D'Argo and Rygel were not quite as painful. They all understood what Aeryn was doing was best for her and the baby. She had saved the most painful farewell for last. "Hello, Pilot."

"Hello, Aeryn. Talyn tells Moya that you will be leaving soon." Sorrow filled his voice.

"I think it's best for me to go with him. He'll keep me safe." She climbed up on the console and sat next to him.

"Moya and I are sad to see you go, but we are glad that if you must, you are leaving with Talyn. We know he will protect you. Do you think you will be returning someday?"

She placed her hand on his claw. "I hope to. I would like for you and Moya to meet my child someday."

"We would like that. We are very curious about children. We wish you a safe journey and hope that you are well."

"Thank you, Pilot. I hope that you and Moya are one day no longer hunted and will be able to fulfill your wish of exploring the stars."

"Thank you, Aeryn. I will miss talking with you. I am proud to call you my friend."

"As am I." She gently stroked Pilot's face before leaving.

When she arrived in the maintenance bay Crais was waiting for her. He took her bag and went into the pod. She climbed in her prowler and Crais followed her to Talyn. When they landed on Talyn they both went to command for one last look at Moya. They did not know how long it would be before they saw her again. The unpacking could wait for later. Talyn circled his mother one last time before setting course for the chosen planet. As Moya's shape left the viewport Crais heard Aeryn say quietly, "Goodbye, Moya."

It took three weekens for them to arrive at the planet Crais had chosen. It took another weeken to decide where they were going to live. They chose a modest cottage outside one of the larger cities. They were reasonably close to the medical facility and the doctor had given her a clean bill of health. Their child was growing well. There was a small garden in front of the house. Crais was excited at the prospect of growing fruits and vegetables. That first night they stood on the hill behind the house watching the sun set. Aeryn thought about how strange it was for two former Peacekeepers to be living in a country cottage. As they stood there, the final rays of light painting the sky orange, pink and purple she felt a twitch in her belly. She smiled and gently placed Crais' hand on her stomach. He was surprised to feel the small kicks of their baby. He smiled and held her tightly as they watched the fading light.