Storyline 1, "Crichton's Capture 2: The Long Ride to Nowhere"

By Nancy A Hepner

Copyright (c) January 2000

This script is rated "R"

Writer: N. Hepner/N. Bovela/nahcsb/nh

Original posting: Submitted to: FarScape_Fic@onelist.com 3/12/2000.

Re-posting per PEJA:

"Crichton's Capture", Chapter 2:

All thanks to PEJA (Pouty Listma).

DISCLAIMER: Based on Original "Farscape" Created By Rockne S. O'Bannon. Farscape is copyright (c) 1999 The Jim Henson Company, Hallmark, and the Scifi channel. No copyright infringement is intended in any way, shape, or form.

Warning: Het/Gen: This story is graphic. Adult themes, explicit sex, torture, kidnap, rape and strong language. Do not read if you are under 18 or offended by this type of material.

Prologue: This script was inspired by and occurs after "A Bugs Life" #118.

Those of you in Canada will be able to get the full effect. Spoilers: #119-#122.

Summary: After all the Crew of Moya went through together, they would never be ready for the death of John Crichton. In this deep space gothic piece Crichton finds himself in the depths of despair at Crais' hands. Crais owns him now and uses an old flame to find the perfect method to kill him!

Submitted for crit
by N. Hepner

Aeryn: "No! Crichton!" (Aeryn fires twice. Then watches helplessly as the Marauder streaks out of sight. Heart in her throat she swallows. To comm.) "The Marauder has left the planet. They've got Crichton." Chiana: (Rests the transport pod on the planet.)

Zhaan: (Runs to D'Argo's aid.)

D'Argo: (Lies unconscious in the sand. Black blood oozes from under his chest.)

Zhaan: (Reaches D'Argo. She turns him over. Immediately she begins beating his chest.)

Aeryn: (Runs back toward her prowler.)

(Rygel and Chiana remain in the pod):

Rygel: "So, they've captured Crichton." (He says grimly.)

Chiana: (Comms to Aeryn.) "What do we do? We can't land in the landing bay, they'll be waiting!"

Aeryn: "I know Chiana." (Aeryn states flatly. Climbs aboard her prowler. Blasts off toward Moya.) "I'll comm you when it's over."

Chiana: "You don't have to tell me twice."

Aeryn: "Pilot open the cargo bay doors."

Pilot: (Has diminished the output of the comm to just within his hearing range. The peacekeeper is oblivious to Aeryn's request. Pilot opens the cargo bay doors.)

Aeryn: "Pilot. Tell me if that peacekeeper moves." (She lands in the cargo bay.)

Pilot: (Unable to talk, he sends an electronic signal to indicate he's in trouble.) "Beep! Beep!"

Aeryn: (Hears the beeps from pilot.) "There are more peacekeepers?"

Pilot: (Sends the message again.)"Beep! Beep!"

Aeryn: "I understand Pilot." (Runs from the prowler toward the hangar. Then, slows, she stealthily approaches.)

Talmak: (The peacekeeper turns.) "Officer Sun!" (Fires. Comms Raker.) "Intruder!"

Aaron: "Oof!" (She grunts as she tucks-and-rolls below the blast. Firing, she clips the peacekeeper's arm.)

Talmak: "Uh!" (To Comm.) "I'm wounded!" (Fires.)

Aeryn: (Dodges the shot. Returns fire, misses.)

Raker: (Leaves Pilots den to aid his comrade.)

Talmak: (Fires again, this time causing an explosion behind Aeryn.)

Aeryn: (Yells) "Aaaaaa!" (The blast pushes her forward. She lands rifle ready, and fires.) "You asked for it!" (Killing him, with a blast to his chest.)

Talmak: (Falls over backwards. Groans.) "Aaah."

Aeryn: (She rises from the floor. Tousles her hair. Straightens her rifle strap and pivots toward the door, wielding her pulse rifle for more action. Comms to pilot.) "How many more are there, Pilot?"

Pilot: (Comms Aeryn.) "The peacekeeper is advancing on the hangar!"

Aeryn: (Hears Raker's footsteps. She hastily takes a defense position behind a packing crate.)

Raker: (Stops short of hangar door. Fires a volley toward Aeryn's position. Deflects off the crate.)

Aeryn: (Returns fire. Deflects off the doorway, striking Raker.)

Raker: Aaah! (Boldly steps out from cover firing point blank at Aeryn's position.)

Aeryn: (Ducks further behind the crate. Fires simultaneously at Raker.)

(Both weapons discharges find their target):

Raker: (Raker falls.)

Aeryn: (Aeryn is knocked backwards into an empty crate. Her is arm is thrown back, sliding her pulse rifle across the floor.)

(There is an eerie quiet as both lie still. The DRDs approach both to examine. Two DRDs bump up against Aeryn.)

Pilot: Officer Sun! Officer Sun! Please respond! (Over comm to others.) "Chiana! Zhaan! Rygel! Officer Sun is wounded in the hangar!"

Raker: (Rises on one elbow. Slowly stands. Walks around the packing crate. Has a clear shot at Aeryn. Raises his weapon, aims.)

(Suddenly several laser bolts hit Raker from multiple positions.)

Raker: "Aaaa! What the frell!" (He shoots two of the DRDs.) "Uh!" (He falls, still getting blasted by the DRDs until they're sure he won't be getting up again.)

Chiana: (Comms to pilot.) "What about the peacekeepers?"

Pilot: "That threat has been eliminated. Come quickly! She needs your help!"

(The transport pod lifts off the planet surface.)

Aeryn: (She wakes. Groans.) "Uh." (Stands up. Holds her shoulder. Picks up her pulse rifle. Looks down at the smoking body of Raker. Walks slowly back to the cargo hold. Goes to Zhaan's apothecary station. Removes her uniform jacket showing her injury. Applies some balm and a bandage. Swallows an herb with water. Closes her eyes and draws a long breath. Moves toward her prowler.) "Pilot, Can you plot the course of their Marauder?"

Pilot: "It will just take a moment. Are you alright Officer Sun?"

Rygel: "You can't be thinking of going after them!" (Panicking.) "It's suicide for all of us!"

Zhaan: "No, Aeryn, you can't. You're wounded."

Aeryn: "Maybe we can't fight a command carrier. But I can stop a Marauder!" (Pulls on her space suit.)

Rygel: "Crais knows where we are! We may only have microts to escape! We have to save ourselves."

Aeryn: (To comm.) "Chiana, the Peacekeepers are dead. Moya is clear. It's safe to come aboard. Zhaan, how's D'Argo? Is he alright?"

Pilot: "I have it. I'm transmitting it to your prowler."

Aeryn: (Looks into prowler at the display. To comm.) "I've got it pilot. Chiana, the marauder is well away from here. " (Her prowler growls as it charges up.) "I'm going after Crichton."

Chiana: "Good luck Aeryn."

D'Argo: "No Aeryn. Stop."

Aeryn: "It's good to hear your voice D'Argo." (She finishes fastening her space suit.) "Zhaan got to you in time. Now let me do the same for Crichton." (She climbs aboard her prowler.)

D'Argo: "My hearts go with you."

Chiana: (Lands in the landing bay. Not too near the dead peacekeepers.)

Rygel: "Pilot! How long until we can starburst?"

Pilot: "Moya won't be ready for at least 40 arns."

D'Argo: (Reaching up from where he rests. Grabs the front of Rygel's Caftan, growling.) "We're not abandoning Aeryn and Crichton!"

Rygel: "Release me you stupid Luxon!" (Tries to bite D'Argo's hand.)

D'Argo: (Lets loose Rygel's caftan, letting Rygel glide away.)

Aeryn: "You'll know soon enough if I'm successful." (She breaks off and blasts out of the cargo bay.) "Or I'm dead."

Rygel: (Hyperventilating, snarling.) "You'll kill us all with this stunt Aeryn!" (Waits for an answer there is none.) "Aeryn!"

(On Crais' Command Carrier):

Crais: (To Lieutenant Orn.) "Send a prowler squad to escort Lieutenant Merric's marauder. Inform him." (Strides away from Orn. Says to himself:) "Finally, Crichton will come to justice for my brother's death."

(On board the Marauder):

Lieutenant: "Yes, Lieutenant Orn, we'll expect your escort."

John: (Calls out to Officer Camda.) "Can I get some help here?"

Camda: (Reclining on the bench against the hull with one boot up on the seat. Gives a somewhat disinterested glance to Crichton, looks away and smirks.)

Sergeant: (Shows her attention to Crichton by standing over him, menacing; her pulse rifle at his neck.)

John: "If you don't help me, I'll bleed to death before you can deliver me to Crais!" (Crichton, half-angry, half pleading, obviously in pain.)

Sergeant: (Looks at him crossly.) "What do you expect me to do about it? I'm not a Med. Tech."

John: "You need to put pressure on my wound," (Tries to demonstrate but the cuffs make it impossible.)

Sergeant: (She responds with a curious look and rests her fist on her hip.)

John: "to stop the bleeding." (He continues.)

Lieutenant: "You'd better do something!" (Turns his head, looks angrily at his Sergeant.) "If he dies, we've failed our mission. Crais needs Crichton alive for interrogation!" (Turns his attention back to command.)

Sergeant: "Alright!" (She responds.) "You!" (She looks at her last remaining officer, makes eye contact.)

Camda: (Who up until now has been getting a laugh out of it. Cowers at his Sergeant's look.)

Sergeant: "Get over here and put pressure on his wound."

Camda: (Officer Camda slides his boot off the seat, slowly rises. Crosses to the Sergeant. Hands her his pulse rifle. Lowers to his knees and presses on Crichton's wound.)

John: (Crichton winces and groans.) "Thank you. Ow! I think."

Sergeant: (The Sergeant smiles; satisfied that Crichton is in pain and Officer Camda is servile. Places the pulse rifle on the seat behind her. Takes her position as copilot, turns back to command.)

John: "This isn't working." (Turns his head away from Officer Camda's breath.) "Here, take off my belt." (Raises his cuffed hands.)

Camda : "Now, why would I want to do that?"

John: (Lowers his arms. Looks Officer Camda straight in the eye.) "So you can go back to your comfy chair. And I can STOP BLEEDING TO DEATH!" (Yells, getting testy.)

Camda : (Shrugs. Removes his hand from pressing on the wound.)

John : (Raises his cuffed hands.)

Camda : (Struggles uncomfortably with the belt. Finally pulls it free.) "Are you sure this is necessary?"

John: "Yes. It is. Now put it around my leg." (Points above the wound.)

Camda : (Pulls it around Crichton's leg.)

John : "Uh!" (Winces.) "Now, pull it tight and buckle it."

Camda: (Cinches the belt tightly with a quick jerk.)

John: "Aaag!" (His body flinches with intense pain.)

Camda: (Finishes. Smiles at Crichton. Shakes his head affirmatively. A job well done.)

John: "Thanks." (Crichton says flatly. Ungrateful, just wishing this guy would get out of his face.)

Camda: (Throws himself back into his seat, dejected.)

Sergeant: (She reports.) "There's a Prowler on approach Lieutenant."

(She checks the readout.) "It has Crais' Command Carrier ident signal."

Lieutenant: "Crais must be in a hurry to start Crichton's torture."

(He checks the ident signal himself.) "Confirmed, prepare the prisoner for transfer, Sergeant."

Sergeant: "Yes Sir." (Walks to Crichton, kneels and checks his wound.) "It's stopped bleeding. You'll make it all right." (She stands over and looks down at the beaten Crichton.)"To your execution!" (Presses her pulse rifle into his jaw.) "To think I nearly killed you."

John: (Turns his face away from the rifle barrel.)

Sergeant: "You're not dangerous." (With disdain.) "You don't even carry a weapon. I can't believe the reports about you, Crichton. (Looks at her Officer. Then back at Crichton.) The reports say you appeared from nowhere, killed Captain Crais' brother then escaped our entire fleet! Later you were arrested, thrown in the stockade. Handcuffed, you overpowered two armed peacekeepers and escaped less than an arn after capture. Officer Sun spoke directly to Crais in your defense. Then left with you when you broke out. That was her firing on our marauder." (She turns and looks at her officer.) "Did she kill Officer Slater?"

Camda: "There was another. The Luxon killed Slater. I shot him in retreat."

John: (Looks at Camda.)

Sergeant: "One of the escaped prisoners?" (In disbelief.) "General Ka D'Argo gave his life for you?" (Sneers.) "Why are they so loyal, Crichton? What causes such devotion?" (Eyes narrow.) "One of our long-range patrols returned in pretty bad shape. They reported they'd been aboard the escaped leviathan transport. They found Officer Sun dead in the landing bay. The temperature was so hot that by the time they advanced on command they'd fallen to you. They saw you, 8 of you! Just walking around in the heat. They fought, killing one before they collapsed. You bled blue blood." (Pokes Johns bloodied leg with her pulse rifle.)

John: "Uh!" (Winces.)

Sergeant: "It looks red to me."

Camda: (Chuckles.)

Sergeant: "It must have been their heat delirium talking. Anyway, if it were true, how could Officer Sun be alive?" (Gets down on one knee and holds Crichton's jaw forcing him to face her.) "Have you found some way to bring us back from the living death, Crichton? She should be dead!" (Lets go of his jaw, stands and paces. Agitated.) "They should all be dead! How did they escape you Crichton?"

John: (Resting against the bulkhead. Exhausted, breathing ragged, looks up at the Sergeant.) "Maybe I'm not the killer Crais thinks I am."

Sergeant: "Crais was overheard dictating his personal log. He was in fear of you saying that you had pulled him from the ship and overpowered him. The Captain thought he would die that day." (Stops pacing. Leans over Crichton.) "When we came after you we thought you were invincible!" (Slaps Crichton hard.)

John: Uh! (The slap knocks him over. He catches himself on his forearms.)

Camda: (Smirks.)

Lieutenant: "Secure for landing."

Sergeant: (Steadies herself on the bulkhead near Crichton.)

(There's a slight jostle as Marauder lands in the Command Carrier's docking bay.)

Sergeant: "Not so invincible now! Are you Crichton?"

Camda : (Stands to open the hatch. The hatchway handle turns.)

John : (Looks at the officer then says to himself.) "Not good."

End of "Crichton's Capture 2: The Long Ride to Nowhere."

Farscape characters belong to Jim Henson, The Sci-Fi channel and no infringement is intended.

Author: N. Hepner

Original story line Copyright Jan 2000