Jan 16, 2006 02:57
[OOC: Disclaimer: Some text is extracted from the Farscape episode 'I shrink therefore I am' which does not belong to me. Incidentally, new text has been added or some existing text altered to reflect the change in Aeryn's canon and her AU status.]
They were in trouble now and no mistake. All of them but Crichton in pain cuffs, no way to escape, no way out. Trapped. And now this. Aeryn gawked at D'Argo. She hadn't meant for anything to happen, just to cause enough trouble for him to get the comms device and somehow it had ended disastrously. He wasn't harmed...merely short. So short as to pose no problem for the head hunter, who merely scooped him up in a jar and turned to Aeryn.
"Tell Crichton what you just witnessed."
Aeryn looked at the comms badge in front of her, trying to decide the best course of action. Crichton wasn't captured yet, having returned with forewarning, if he was going to mount a rescue, he needed to know.
"Crichton, don't talk... just listen. They've somehow reduced D'Argo in size. He's alive, but he's no larger than a hand length. And he's imprisoned inside the head bounty hunter." Aeryn looked at the spot carefully. Right there, was D'Argo, inside a jar. In the bounty hunter's chest. She'd heard rumours of reduction technology, but she had never imagined.
He spoke then, cutting her off, almost jeering at Crichton. "And the rest of your crewmates will follow. So, put away your weaponry. Killing one of us means you'll be killing one or more of your friends. Do you understand? You see how hopeless it is. Face the inevitable. Give yourself up."
Aeryn almost snorted. Crichton would never give up, she didn't even believe it was in his nature. But the bounty hunter had turned his gun on her and she knew what was going to happen then. How she was going to be shrunk, captured and returned to the Peacekeepers. She would never go back to Milliways, never see any of them again. Shut up, Aeryn. Think. You have to get as much information to Crichton as you can. And just before the flash that signalled her end as a normal-sized person, she babbled as much as she could:
"Crichton, the device appears to be activated by a combination of numbers on the handset --"
A blinding pain and there she was, on the floor, barely even able to make out the huge shape of him as he spoke the final words to Crichton.
"I'm told you care for her. So stop fighting and you'll save her life."
* * * * *
"You guys all right?" Crichton spoke into the container, having fled the site of the defeated hunter. It didn't matter, there were still many more. There was no time for him to think about Aeryn now, so he concentrated on Chiana, willing himself to forget. Hell, the Laka helped with that. One whiff and he didn't care about Aeryn, could forget the fact that she wasn't around anymore.
Aeryn ignored their conversation valiantly. Pitiful small talk, they needed to get big, not stand around talking about it. And that was when Crichton came up with the plan. His plans never worked. Which was why Aeryn was so surprised when he returned a quarter of an arn later...with a Coreeshi arm.
"All right... Chiana, start teachin' me those combinations." Crichton sounded smug. Drannit. I just want the frell out of here.
Chiana responded. "Will do."
Several thousand microts later, her and Chiana were free of the Jar, but there was a problem.
"John! John, we're on the move again. I think the Scarran's making a run for it. He may try and steal a transport pod. Actually, if he wants something faster, he may try and steal Aeryn's prowler." D'Argo's voice had a noticeable effect.
Aeryn cursed. "Frell."
"Right. I'll try and cut him off at the pass. 1812, keep an eye on the little people." John broke into a run. Not enough time.
"He'll never beat the Scarran to the prowler." Aeryn jumped off the table, wincing as her legs reacted to the height. Climbing on top of the DRD, she let it lead the way, going through a passageway. Unfortunately, this particular passageway opened into Milliways. Aeryn tripped in her surprise, falling through the door without any obvious grace...and it swung shut behind her.