EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

SERIES/SEQUEL: Yes. SEQUEL to "CAPTURE"

.WEBSITE: http://carlajane50megs.com/Ali00

SUMMARY: "Panic sets in with the capture of Moya. Scorpius is determined to take Crichton at any cost."

The usual disclaimers apply. No infringement of copyright is intended. Comments to: AlisonMDobell@aol.com


"DECOY"
Written by Alison M. DOBELL
* * * * *

Jothee had no difficulty slipping away from the others. Everyone was in command except Crichton. Carefully he hurried along the corridors to the apothecary. Crichton was sitting where Zhaan had left him, his head in his hands. For a microt Jothee hesitated, not sure whether he could go through with this but he knew one thing. If Crichton stayed on board Moya they would
all become prisoners of the Peace Keepers. That walking nightmare Scorpius would stop at nothing to get him back. There was no way he would let them take him prisoner again. His decision made he walked over to Crichton, watched his head come up, a puzzled look on his face. "Zhaan? Is that you?"

"No, it's Jothee."

He was surprised but showed no other emotion. "Hi Jothee. D'Argo with you?"

"No."

Something about the way he said that one word made him raise his head a little higher. "What's happening Jothee? I can feel Moya rocking and rolling all over the place."

Jothee hunkered down in front of Crichton, watching the human's face and wondering how his father could have such loyalty to one so weak. It was pathetic. It threatened them all. "A Peace Keeper Command Carrier has followed you and Crais. Scorpius is aboard and has had a collar
fitted to Moya. We are about to be boarded."

All the colour left Crichton's face. He started to get up. Jothee put a hand on his arm. "I think we should talk."

Crichton frowned. He might be blind but he was not stupid. "What do you have in mind?"

"Scorpius wants you."

The human nodded and waited.

"If you are no longer on Moya the rest of us stand a chance of getting away."

<And you get to save your ass> Crichton thought. <Okay, that's a fair comment. Nobody asked you to buy into this nightmare> At least he was being honest about it. "I take it you have a plan?" He asked softly.

Even though Crichton could not see him Jothee nodded. "Yes. Take your module and go."

"I'll be captured."

"Perhaps."

"No perhaps about it or is that what you *really* want?"

Jothee coloured with anger, tried to control his urge to strike the human. He only managed not to because time was running out. "I want to survive."

"Okay, I can appreciate that. But I'd kind of like to survive too. Any other suggestions?"

Just then Crais walked quietly into the room. Jothee started, alarmed and flushed. Suddenly afraid. How much had Crais overheard?

"A good idea. Jothee, isn't it?"

The young Luxan-Sebaccean half-breed nodded. Too nervous to risk speaking. Crichton did not seem surprised to hear Crais join them. "Wondered where you'd gotten to, Crais."

"I was trying to convince the others I should leave Moya. Go back to Talyn. I still think it's a good idea. If you decided to come with me we could draw Scorpius away from Moya and give the others a chance to escape."

Crichton nodded. He liked the idea. Anything was better than sitting around waiting to be boarded. "Did they go for it?"

Crais paused. "They hated the idea."

He laughed. Jothee looked from one to the other, confused. They were completely fahrbot. How could they laugh at a time like this? Crais turned to D'Argo's son. "Jothee, you would like Crichton to leave Moya?"

He said nothing. If Crais had been listening he would know the answer anyway.

"I ask only one thing of you."

Jothee gave him a suspicious look. "What's that?"

"Say nothing until after we have gone. I do not want the others to try to stop us. Can you do that?"

He nodded. Relieved. "Yes."

Crais watched his face a microt. Noting how weak it was. Petulant. So unlike his Luxan father. "One more thing. If anyone decides to come looking for either of us it will be your job to divert them." Crais looked at Crichton, already dismissing Jothee from his mind. "Come, John, we have no time to lose."

The human let Crais lead him. As he watched them go Jothee felt a brief stab of shame. It was not his fault if he was not made of the stuff of heroes.

* * * * *

Back in command Rygel was looking at Chiana, noticing how she was slowly backing out of the door. He closed the distance between them in his thronesled, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "What are you up to?"

"Who? Me?"

"Yes. Where are you going?"

"I don't want to be captured."

"Do you think we do?"

"You don't understand, Rygel. The Nebari made the Peace Keeper collars. They made one for me when they were going to mind clense me."

"What does that have to do with Scorpius boarding us?"

"Don't you see? If the collar has been brought here and fitted to Moya then they're here too."

"Who?"

For a microt Chiana looked like a little girl. Reminding Rygel of his fourth wife's youngest. The fear naked in her eyes. "I won't be taken back and mind clensed."

"Nobody's going to mind clense you."

She was shaking her head. "Not if they don't catch me."

Zhaan heard the conversation. "Chiana, we have no intention of letting that happen."

"Yeah? Well Crichton had no intention of getting caught by Scorpius or having his brain cut open but it still happened."

A look of alarm flickered on Zhaan's face. "Crichton! I left him alone in the apothecary, he must be wondering what is going on. I must go to him."

D'Argo looked at Aeryn. "Is there any way we can prevent the Peace Keepers from boarding?"

She shook her head. "No, the best we can hope for is to somehow delay them."

"How do you propose we do that?"

Aeryn looked at Pilot then smiled slowly at D'Argo. "We bargain with Scorpius."

"Aeryn, that will not work."

"It might if he thinks we are going to agree to hand over Crichton."

He shook his head. "He will not believe it."

"He will if Chiana does the negotiating."

Chiana was shaking her head. "You're all tinked if you think he'll go for that."

"Look, Scorpius knows how terrified you are of the thought of being taken back to your home planet and mind clensed. What would make more sense than you trying to cut a deal to save yourself?"

She tilted her head abruptly and looked at Aeryn. "You mean give him Crichton? Well I won't do it."

"I'm not saying you should do it, Chiana."

D'Argo realised what Aeryn was getting at. "Listen to Aeryn, Chiana. We need to delay them boarding Moya. For John's sake as well as ours."

She looked at all their faces. "We're not going to hand him over?"

Aeryn shook her head firmly. "Not if we have to take them on with our bare hands."

Chiana brightened up but she was still afraid. "What do you want me to do?"

* * * * *

Scorpius was ready. Zarok and Orla waited patiently to accompany him, Orla carrying what looked like a small metal attache case. Scorpius did not ask what was in it. He already knew. He smiled to himself. Everyone had their price. They left command, picking up some of his Peace Keeper soldiers as they headed for the landing bay. Just then the Captain's voice floated over the coms.

"Sir! The leviathan gunship is starting to detach from Moya."

Scorpius cursed. "Talyn must not be allowed to manouevre." He looked at the two Nebari technicians. "Do you have another leviathan collar?"

Zarok shook his head. "No. You asked for one, we brought one."

He cursed again in Scarran. He retraced his steps to command, the others following him. "Captain, do not open fire. Scan the gunship, I want to know who is on board."

* * * * *

Crichton let out a whoop as they boarded Talyn and the gunship detached from Moya, his sleek living hull turning with grace and speed as he shot away from Moya drawing a gap of space around him as he increased speed. Obviously Scorpius was taking no chances on blowing up the gunship if Crichton was aboard. Crais felt himself relax the moment he was back on Talyn. Home. The leviathan felt the same, panicked when he was parted from Crais for any length of time. Talyn trembled slightly, Crais picking up the transmission from Moya and sensing her thoughts crying out for her son to return. He refused. Tried to make her understand that this was something he had to do. Crais felt the mother's wail of pain as they sped away, the Peace Keeper
Command Carrier turning to follow them. Before the Carrier completed the turn Crais had Talyn go to immediate starburst.

A smug satisfied look blossomed on Crais' face. He was pleased. Proud of Talyn and happy to be able to frustrate Scorpius's plan. He looked at Crichton and noticed how weary he looked. He frowned and went to him. "You need to rest." His voice rumbled softly.

Crichton did not try to pretend otherwise. Crais was getting to know him too well. "I guess it is passed my bedtime." He paused. "Did it work? Did we draw Scorpius away from Moya?"

Crais put a hand on his shoulder, wanting the contact. "Yes, but we should go to starburst again as soon as Talyn is able. We need to make it as hard as possible for Scorpius to follow us."

He frowned. "But Moya..."

"Will have to look after herself." Said Crais. His voice firm but gentle. Not wanting to hurt Crichton but also not willing to take him back into the fray and risk capture. If that happened Scorpius would kill him, torture Crichton, and sieze Talyn. Even one of those options was
unacceptable.

"But that means Moya is trapped. The collar..."

"This time, John, they will have to figure it out."

He felt Crais touch his cheek with his hand, an oddly intimate gesture that comforted him. Odd how he was becoming so attached to Crais but it felt good. A bond of mutual trust growing up between them that needed no explaining. It just was. "What do you mean they'll have to figure it out?"

He felt the hand stroke his cheek gently. Angled his head slightly as the fingers travelled down his neck. It felt good. Soothing. Took his mind off so many painful memories. He guessed that was why Crais did it. Who would have thought the former Peace Keeper Captain could be so damn sensitive?

"I have shared your memories John, remember?"

Crichton nodded. How could he forget? Merging with Crais and Talyn had been so strange, surreal, yet it had given him a lifeline. Preserved him from harm and allowed him to understand Crais. Know things no one else knew but him. Things that made him open his heart to receive his former enemy.

Crais continued talking softly, his touch so pleasurable. Crichton did not want it to stop. He listened, enjoyed the rich timbre of Crais' voice as he explained. "You were always the one with the ideas. The plans." He broke off, amused. Crichton could almost reach out and touch his
humour. Rich. Dark. Deliciously sensuous. "Not that they always worked."