TITLE: "THE INCREDIBLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "Farscape"

PAIRING: JOHN/CHIANA

RATING: PG-13

STATUS: New.

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed

SERIES/SEQUEL: SEQUEL to "JUST LIKE JOHN WAYNE"

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

"THE INCREDIBLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING"
A "Farscape" story
Written by Alison M. DOBELL

She felt sick. The Scarran had raped three women and was forcing another to commit unnatural acts with him, in full view of his unwilling audience. Patri was crying softly as far back as she could get in their tiny cell. A fist stuffed in her mouth to stifle the cries. Aeryn glared through the bars wishing there was something, anything she could do. She thought of her com then dismissed it. Sending a message, *any* message from here, would be tantamount to giving the Scarrans even more prisoners. This time her friends. As desperate as she was, she was not going to do that.

Aeryn turned to Patri and shuffled closer, her arms going round the frightened woman in the only form of comfort she could give. She could not promise Patri that they would escape. Could not even tell her she would personally rip the Scarran's head off and feed it back to him though it was a nice fantasy. So having no words she simply held her and considered their plight. The ring was fast becoming despoiled with blood and bits of flesh where some of the victims had fought and discovered to their cost that the chitinous skin of Scarrans was as sharp on the inside as it was on the outside. The only way to avoid serious internal injury was to relax completely and let the Scarran get on with it, but that was almost an impossibility. Even if they could relax initially, simple terror overtook every other instinct the moment the Scarran laid hands on them. Invariably all the victims died the most horrible deaths.

Aeryn felt moisture on her neck. She pulled back slightly and realised it was Patri's tears. Patri was trying to pull herself together, to be brave. But she was no soldier like Aeryn. "He is going to kill us." She whispered.

"Yes." Aeryn agreed, not even considering lying. What was the use? They could all see their fate waiting for them in the ring.

"We are trapped." Said Patri in a helpless voice.

Aeryn made a face, not wanting to give in even now. She looked around the cell then something made her look up. Above their heads were the complex grillworking of a metal walkway. She frowned and turned her head slightly, noticing it went all the way round the outer ring. She was not sure why anyone would want to be able to walk around on the top of the customised cells. Then she looked above that and held her breath. Several metras above the roof of their cell another circle of cells hung waiting. She could not see any sign of movement so did that mean the cells were empty or that the occupants were keeping quiet? As quiet perhaps as the graves they would soon be filling? Fear stabbed her but she fought to push it back, to deny it any foothold in her mind. She had to be strong. If not for herself then for Patri.

The loud metallic clang brought her head snapping back round. To her horror Sarnek was standing directly outside her cell. A malicious sneer on his blood smeared face. The smell of death on his heated breath as he leered at them. The cell door slid open.

* * * * *

Stark assured Crichton it was best to lie down. He did not know how long it would take for the piece of Zhaan he carried to be able to approach Kah'leen on his behalf and Zhaan had already warned Stark that it would be intense for the human. Both mentally and physically. Stark omitted to tell the human that. He did not want Crichton to freek out. Crichton held out a hand just as Stark was about to start. He paused and waited.

"Before we do this, Stark, I want you to tell me what happened." He said softly.

His eyes became misty. "You cannot ask me this."

"I have to know, Stark." He said gently. "I don't want to hurt you but..."

Stark put his fingers over Crichton's mouth. His hand was trembling. He shook his head. "No. Let Zhaan tell you." He answered softly.

Crichton frowned slightly, about to query him when Stark unbuckled his mask. The light was so strong, so intense that all conversation stopped. Captivated by the light, Crichton was unaware of Stark placing his hands to either side of his head to seal their contact. The light invaded him in
golden sweeping pulses that built up energy within him and stole his breath. He gasped, a long exsanguination of air not blood, as if every trace of oxygen in his lungs, his cells, was being evacuated and absorbed by the light. His consciousness drawn from his mind into his body, a strange stirring in his heart as Zhaan opened herself up to him so that he could feel what he had previously only ever sensed in part. He did not need air to breathe, the living energy and light was feeding his lungs with a different kind of fodder.

His muscles twitched and flexed as the light travelled through veins and arteries, lit up the tiny capillaries and inflated the corpuscles. Waves of light warmed the back of his wide staring eyes but did not harm his sight nor make it any keener. He could feel, hear, touch, sense the song that was Zhaan. Her gentleness and strength flowing through him in a languid spiral. He felt his nerve endings buzz lightly as if responding to a mild electric shock. Felt like an electrical circuit was being switched on in his body, the current fluctuating and spinning through him faster and faster, taking his brain waves with it on a roller coaster of feelings and sensations, knowlege that was not his own blending with memories and experiences that had once had their fixed moment in time. He was gasping, a fish out of water, but there was no pain. Rather it was as if he could not get enough of the light, craved more and more of its' siren song.

Stark felt Zhaan's presence. The human was ready. His whirling points of energy all opened wide and receptive. What the sages on his home planet called chakras. Wheels of spinning energies now being entered and excited by other energies. Their power augmented, the fire built from point to point until the heat ran up his spin and set the top of his head on fire. He felt as if he were being consumed and stuck in the fast cycle of the wash spin at the same time. The intensity did not diminish but he became aware of other things now. His mind expanding to explore the internal and external environment of his confining flesh. It was Zhaan's presence that brought him back to the reason this was happening at all. He felt his whole body shudder with emotion at her appearance. He felt her touch, knew it intimately and celebrated her return with tears he was powerless to cry. She soothed him. Her light and energy adding to that which Stark had given him. Somehow he knew what she was thinking, her feelings for him intensifying what was happening yet not leaving him behind. That was when the gift she had given him opened. Like a lotus blossom, petal upon petal upon petal unfolding his mind, his body, his spirit, his consciousness. Everything was Zhaan.

Her scent carried him. Her thoughts an exotic guide. <John>

His heart sighed and his whole body trembled. Stark fought to keep the light stable so that Crichton would not be burned. He was unaware that all gifts of revelation carried some danger. And because he did not know he stayed open and receptive. <Zhaan, is it really you?>

<Yes, John. I am here>

<Oh God Zhaan, I've missed you. I was so sad when I heard what you'd done>

He felt a phantom touch. *Her* touch. Shivers of light echoed throughout his mind and body. <Do not be upset John. It was my decision>

<You shouldn't have done it, Zhaan. Aeryn wouldn't have wanted it, I certainly didn't>

<You would rather see Aeryn die?>

Pain. Fast and furious, so deep it scorched him with agony. Quickly Zhaan put out the flames memory was burning into his already damaged psyche.

<I'm sorry John, I did not mean to upset you. I am here to help>

<How?> His mind cried, spining in the echoes of torment.

Her thoughts soothed him, her energy stablising his. Stark's energy healing the darkness of his thoughts. Producing balance once again. Opening Crichton up to receive Zhaan once again. This time all her energy was positive, her probing light finding the damaged muscles, the fused nerve
endings and pouring into him as her prayers to the Goddess intensified in his flesh giving sound to the cries that broke from heart and mind and soul in entreaty. His cries brought Chiana and D'Argo running. Only D'Argo's hand on her shoulder stopped Chiana from dragging Stark away from Crichton and breaking the link. D'Argo did not understand what was going on but he saw the light enveloping the former Banik slave and his friend and knew that whatever it looked like Stark was trying to help Crichton.

"Come, Chiana." He whispered. More than a little shaken and touched with awe. "We must leave them."

"No, no, no. My place is here."

"Not at this moment, Chiana. Your place is with the children. For now you must trust Stark."

With tears in her eyes she let the Luxan guide her out of the room and quietly shut the door behind them. Stark silently thanked D'Argo. Fortunately the interruption had not reached Crichton and Zhaan. They were too closely intertwined right now. Perspiration formed on Stark's face with keeping the energy field stable. Zhaan prayed reminding Crichton of the last time they had joined in Unity. He calmed and gave himself up to her. With a sudden blaze of light the room was filled to bursting with the incredible lightness of being. Stark's mouth dropped open in wonder and astonishment. Completely humbled as the Goddess appeared in shining raiments of light. He watched her light enter the human, saw the flesh glow, a sizzling sound like energy fizzing along power lines. The body jerking between Stark's hands, the human moaning very softly, lips not moving, eyes staring and turning white.

Inside, his heart flooded with a million bright sensations. Stardust swarmed through his veins, sound fed his mind with impossible images. Everything tingled almost to a point of exquisite agony. He could make no sound, poised on the knife edge of an unearthly passion as the Goddess and Zhaan met and converged in light. Then suddenly his lungs filled with air and he shuddered hard between Stark's hands. His eyes closed, his body tensed then slumped, the body now at rest. Stark's light now a quiet glow illuminating the glistening face of the human as he regained his breath. The essence of Zhaan touching him deep inside as the Goddess healed him. He opened his eyes with difficulty, the focus coming back slowly. Stark was trembling.

"That." Said Crichton in a masterpiece of understatement. "Was in-cred-i-ble!"

Stark nodded. Had no ability to speak. He slowly clipped his mask back on and stroked Crichton's sweat soaked face. "Sssshhhh."

"Did she..? Did she...? Did Zhaan...?"

He found his voice. "Yes, John. The Goddess came. She answered Zhaan's prayer."

He was so overcome a tear trickled down his face. Such awe. Stark wiped away the tear and smiled gently at him. "Sleep now, my friend..."

Crichton wanted to argue but a great weariness had fallen on him. He sighed and as the sigh ended sleep claimed him. Stark leaned back and watched him, a glow of light clinging round the human like an aura. Golden but with other lights slowly circling within it. Energies that belonged to
Zhaan. The Goddess had given her gift then left. Stroking the sleeping human's face gently Stark watched his friend for a couple of microts then opened his com. "Pilot?" He whispered.

"Yes, Stark? Is everything alright?"

He grinned with absurd pleasure. "Yes, Pilot, it is done. John is sleeping. Chiana can sit with him now."

* * * * *

Scorpius watched the readouts closely. The module appeared to be making for the orbit of a pathetic planet called Rydex. Rydex was a miserable world of swamps and lower lifeforms. What would Crichton be doing going there? It was not even a commerce planet. "Lt. Braca!"

"Yes, sir."

"Check for any transmissions to or from the module. Then I want a comprehensive scan of that planet."

Braca tried to hide the frown. "What are we looking for, sir?"

"Something we are not intended to see."

The lieutenant nodded briskly and got to work. Scorpius watched his screen, the diminutive craft as distinctive to him as his own skin. "What are you up to, John?" He whispered.

On the module Nerri was checking too, but the smiling face he had worn before now looked troubled. He had spotted the Command Carrier on the very periphery of his rear sensors. There was no help for it, he would have to try to put them off. By making steady micro-course adjustments he brought the module on a trajectory for the planet Rydex. He would make it appear
that he was intending to go into geostationary orbit of the planet then skim round to the far side so that he could used the planet's mass to send his encrypted signal to his friends. He did not know for certain who was on board the Command Carrier but given the cautious way it was tracking him he would lay odds it was probably Scropius. Once he made contact with his people he would have to time his exit from Rydex down to the brell marak constant to avoid being picked off by the Command Carrier as it closed in on him. There was no way in hezmana he expected Scorpius to wait patiently until he appeared from the far side of the planet. The Scarran half-breed would be too anxious to know what he was doing. Too keen to get his hideous hands on John Crichton again. Nerri would die before he would let that happen.

* * * * *

Sarnek hissed with pleasure. He had been saving this Sebacean. The others had been mere appetizers. He grabbed Patri and dragged her screaming from the cell. Aeryn tried to pull her away but the superior strength of the Scarran prevented her from doing more than adding to his amusement. He noted the protective way Aeryn tried to block him from Patri, that was why he had dragged her out first knowing it would bring the more fiery Sebacean out to defend her. Pathetic creatures, yet this one's fire tempted him. He dragged them to the stone. The last captor was still hanging in the restraints. He loved the way the weaker female wailed at the broken body, drew a claw through the blood soaked mess and gently trailed the blood down the side of Patri's face. She shrieked and he laughed. Furious Aeryn struck out at him. Sarnek ignored her, knowing it would annoy the Sebacean female even more. Embolden her into coming far too close.

He unlocked the rings and let the remains of his last victim slide to the ground then kicked the body away to make room for Patri. She was screaming and crying, trying to struggle but unable to do anything except panic. If Aeryn had been armed she would have put Patri out of her misery then shot herself but that option was not open to her. She had to think of another way. A plan. But what? She had nothing to attack the Scarran with, nothing to defend herself or Patri with. What did that leave. *You have to outsmart him, Aeryn* Crichton's voice in her head made her pause. The Scarran noticed her momentary distraction and mistook it for fear. He wanted her to see him take her friend before he raped her so that Aeryn would know just what to expect. Anticipation really was the best part of any meal.

* * * * *

Chiana slipped into the room quietly. Somewhat reassured by Stark's quiet smile. He stepped away from the bed and motioned her closer. She looked down at Crichton's face. He looked so relaxed, so peaceful. Her heart leapt with hope. "Is he...?"

"He is sleeping, Chiana. The Goddess came."

Her eyes widened. "How..?"

She had rarely seen Stark look so happy. So proud. "Zhaan brought the Goddess to heal him."

Her mouth dropped open. She sat next to Crichton and brushed back his hair. It was damp with perspiration. She loved him so much, had feared for him so long. She looked at Stark. "I don't understand. Zhaan is dead."

Stark's eye misted but he looked calm. His voice was quiet but confident. "Not to me and not to John."

"To John?"

"Yes. When Zhaan shared Unity with John all those cycles ago a part of her remained in him."

Her eyes widened. Stark took her hand in his, his eye shining with joy. "It is a rare gift, Chiana, but because of that gift she was able to help him one last time."

Chiana was unable to speak. Too moved to say anything. Zhaan had done that for Crichton? To heal her John? If that wasn't the dradest thing. At last she found her voice. "I.. I didn't know she could do that."

He smiled and brought Chiana's hand to his lips and kissed her hand very lightly. Like a benediction, a blessing. He put her hand over Crichton's heart and gently rested it there. "Zhaan was not sure if it would work, only the intercession of the Goddess could do this for him."

"The Goddess? You mean Zhaan's Goddess, Kah'leen?"

He nodded. Then started to leave. Chiana touched his arm and he paused. "Stark, I don't know how to thank you. I haven't always been kind to you and... you know... I feel kind of bad about that."

"I understand."

She tilted her head trying to hide the fact that she was on the verge of tears. "Yeah, well, thanks Stark. For everything." She leant towards him and kissed his cheek.

Amazed, Stark raised his hand to his cheek. "You're welcome." He said slowly, in a slightly stunned voice. He looked pleased.

Chiana realised people very rarely thanked Stark for anything. He was usually treated as a hinderance, a mad fool who simply got in the way. She saw now that he was no different than the rest of them. She saw him as Crichton did and the realisation made her feel kind of humble. He dipped his head quickly and was gone. Chiana turned her attention back to Crichton, cradled his cheek in her hand and leaned down to gently kiss him. As she lifted her head she smiled very gently and blessed him with a tear. Her heart full, thanking Zhaan, offering a prayer to Kah'leen. Crichton woke a couple of arns later to see Chiana sleeping in the chair next to him, her hand on his chest. He smiled and raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. Seeing her stir was like watching the sun come up. Her eyes opened slowly and met his. He sat up and looked at her for a microt. His smile breaking into a huge grin. "Have I told you lately that I love you, Pip?"

She shook her head and gave a deep chuckle. "No."

He kissed her long and deep, pulling back enough so he could speak. "Well, I do."

"How do you feel?"

"Terrific!"

She laughed and urged him to stand up. She wanted to see him move around, check his leg and hip, his shoulder and left hand. She wanted to examine every square microdench. He laughed and caught her up in his arms spinning her round and round and round. Their peals of laughter rang in
happy concord and echoed down the corridors of the living ship. Pilot's voice cut through their laughter.

"Commander Crichton?"

"Yeah Pilot, what ya got?"

"The Scarran vessel appears to be heading for a planet on the rim of Scarran space."

"Planet? What planet? A Scarran colony?"

"Moya does not know. She thinks it is a commerce planet of some kind."

"Moya still getting Aeryn's signal?"

"Yes."

Crichton looked at Chiana and gave her another kiss. "Guess this is it, Princess."

"What are we going to do?"

She had to run to keep up with him. "First we're gonna come up with a plan then we're gonna hit that crate and get Aeryn out of there."

Her eyes widened. They were going to take on a Scarran ship? Ask a trat question, get a trat answer...

* * * * *
END