TITLE: "THE PRICE OF FAME"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "Farscape"

PAIRING: JOHN/CRAIS

RATING: NC-17. M/M. *SLASH*

STATUS: New.

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed

The usual disclaimers apply. No infringement is intended.

"THE PRICE OF FAME"
A "Farscape" slash story
Written by Alison M. DOBELL
* * * * *

Rygel was magnificent. Even D'Argo was impressed with the decisive thinking of the normally self centered Hynernian Dominar. He knew that the reason Rygel was putting so much effort into their survival was not for their sakes but for his own, but right now that did not matter. They had
the solution and now it was up to D'Argo and Chiana to apply it. His one concern was how to exit the leviathan without alerting the Nebari. That was when he first noticed the DRDs. He had ignored the two that had appeared in the apothecary. When more followed he started to become concerned. Not because they were starting to fill every space in the room but because he fretted
that where a DRD could go, so could a Nebari. He knew how expert Chiana was at finding her way through spaces that would not accommodate a Luxan. Rygel frowned down at the crowding floor. "What the yotz is going on?"

It was the smile on Zhaan's face that annoyed the Hynerian Dominar even more.

"Is this your doing, Zhaan?"

She shook her head slowly. "No, but it appears that Moya is not only aware of our predicament but is trying to help us, Rygel. She knows she cannot communicate with us through Pilot without alerting the Nebari."

"Help?" Snorted D'Argo with distain. "Now you sound like Crichton."

She inclined her beautiful blue head gracefully as if he had just given her a compliment. Chiana tilted her head at the little biomechanoid droids. "Hey, maybe she has a point."

He snorted and refused to say anything. Chiana looked at the DRDs with amusement in her eyes as well as a tinge of confusion. She looked at Zhaan. "Do you know why they are here, Zhaan?"

She shook her head regretfully. "No, Chiana."

"Then what frelling good are they?" Muttered Aeryn. But she still looked at them with an almost expectant look on her face.

D'Argo exploded. Unable to contain his impatience a microt longer. "This is just wasting time! Chiana and I have to go and..."

Suddenly Zhaan's bright soft laughter stopped him in mid-sentence. He scowled darkly at her thinking she was mocking his concern.

"Forgive me, sweet D'Argo. I think I understand what the DRDs are doing here."

Aeryn scowled at her. "And what is that?"

Zhaan crouched down and looked at the little DRDs. All of them now waving their lightstalks gently in her direction. For all the world looking as if they were listening to her. Waiting for instructions. Zhaan looked up at her companions concerned faces. "DRDs can go where we cannot. They have a *direct* link to Moya and they do not need air to breath. I do believe the
DRDs are here to do this task for us."

Everybody looked at her, stunned. Jothee looked confused. "But there are so *many* of them."

D'Argo nodded slowly, his anger dissipated as he tried to work out how many of them there were and lost count after the first fifty. Now thinking more clearly. "Yes, Jothee is right. There are far more DRDs here than we need to help us."

"Maybe the others are here for some other reason." Suggested Chiana.

Aeryn looked at them doubtfully. "What reason?"

Chiana shrugged. "I don't know but hey, everybody ignores DRDs. Just look at us. They're around us every day, quietly working away on Moya and we don't even give them a second thought."

"Except Crichton." Muttered Aeryn. He had actually gone out of his way to have an odd kind of one sided dialogue with them. Even going so far as to mend one of them with some tape. She had thought it a complete waste of time and effort. They were only frelling droids after all. But Crichton always saw more in everything. In everyone. The threat of sudden tears made her
turn her head away from the others.

Jothee looked at Zhaan. "What can they do?"

Rygel frowned at the Luxan half-breed but kept his tone civil, his real thoughts hidden. He did not want D'Argo crushing the life out of him for insulting his son. "For one thing they can save your father risking his life going outside."

"Yes," Said Aeryn, now recovered. "Speaking of which I think I can hear the Nebari coming, they are still down the corridor and will be searching every room meticulously but we don't have much time. If we're going to do this Zhaan, we have to do it now."

Zhaan was already busy explaining gently to the DRDs nearest to her what she wanted them to do. The first twelve opened their access ports and waited. Zhaan smiled at their readiness and carefully filled their little injector tanks with some of the precious fluid, cautioning them about
its' properties so that they would take care. They gently waved their lightstalks at her as if telling her not to worry. Her smile deepened then she stepped back and watched the twelve move through the parting wave of DRDs and disappear through ports that opened at their approach to the sides of the ship. Chiana's eyes widened. "Hey! I never knew Moya could do that."

"She's biomechanoid, Chiana." Said Zhaan.

Aeryn had an idea. "Zhaan, if you can put that mixture in the DRDs that are going outside the ship, can you do anything to arm the ones still here with something we can use against the Nebari?"

Zhaan nodded. "I was thinking the same thing myself."

Jothee was looking alarmed, trying to step back without falling over any DRDs. "They're coming! I can hear them."

Quickly Zhaan adjusted the content of the little DRDs reserve tanks and augmented them to take the melor gas. D'Argo realised what she was doing and snorted. "We need something more potent than melor gas, Zhaan."

She shook her head. "It is not necessary to kill the Nebari, D'Argo, just escape from them."

"Very noble sentiments, Zhaan. I wonder if you will think the same when they place a collar around *your* neck!"

It was Rygel who interrupted the Luxan's tirade. "Enough! I don't care whether the Nebari are expelled from Moya in tiny frelling pieces through the waste ducts into space or whether they leave voluntarily I just want them *gone* and us out of here!"

Silence fell. On that they were all agreed.

* * * * *

Crichton followed Crais to command. Talyn was distressed. As they entered command he had to lean on a console, his body still weak. Betraying his attempts to be strong. Something touched his shoe. He looked down and saw Blue. The little DRD rubbed the side of its' shell along his shoe, back and forth gently as if trying to tell him he was glad to see that he was alright. Crichton scowled, wanted to be angry with him, but what good would that do? Could he really blame the little guy? Not only was he massively outgunned, he was also being asked to go up against the equivalent of God. And not even for Moya's sake but his. A mere outlandish human. Stranded
here in the Uncharted Territories without a snowball's chance in hell of making it out of the territories let alone back to his own galaxy and shining blue planet.

He sighed gently. Needed to sit down before he fell down. Might as well sit on the floor as anywhere else. He looked across at Crais. He had his back to him, all his attention on the main console over which he was now bowed in deep intent. His link to Talyn appraising him of everything that was happening. Choosing options Crichton was not willing to ask about. Not
now. Not yet. First he wanted to get his head around a few things. Shake loose the cobwebs and just take a microt or two to steady himself. He slid down to the floor, the DRD rolling back to make room for him. He gazed for a moment at the little fellow. Not able to be angry with him, just a little hurt. "It's okay, Blue." He whispered gently. "I'm not mad at you, I just couldn't believe you'd do that."

The DRD beeped softly, drawing out some of the beeps so that they sounded mournful. Crichton smiled affectionately. Absurdly happy that the little DRD was okay and that they were back on speaking terms. <Or should that be beeping terms?>

He was shaken out of his reverie by a hard judder. The leviathan pitched and rolled, the lights flickering and Crais cursing. Crichton rested a hand on top of the little DRD. So tired he had difficulty following one single train of thought. Too weary to be concerned about a little thing
like being blown out of the sky. Gently he rubbed his fingers over the casing, his mind drifting in a hundred pieces each following a different path, his body aching with the need for rest. He would just lay his head back a microt. He closed his eyes. Blue followed his movements with his lightstalks, edging as close to the human as he could without disturbing him. Not wanting to rock
the hand that cradled him. Quietly, a couple of Talyn's DRDs joined him. Drawn to Blue and curious about the odd creature Crichton that he seemed to have become so attached to. They had never seen a human before. Never met a sentient lifeform that had paid any attention to them. It was as if the human had crossed a line he was not meant to cross. Not bound by the rules of this universe, his casual innocence touched them. They knew Talyn cared for him and wanted to know why. Why the fate of one fragile being was so important. Even the Builder had wanted his DNA. So they watched him sleep. Partly confused and partly awed by his presence among them. Sensing Blue's concern and adding to it their own. They would watch over him. They would help. And if Tahanay let them, they would protect him.

* * * * *

Zarok was irritated. He knew Chiana was on the ship. He also knew how gifted she was at hiding. The leviathan was not helping. Not responding to his demands to give her up. The Pilot had seemingly collapsed and could not be roused. His elation at the capture was being soured more with every microt she remained free. Then his com activated and Barink's voice quelled his rising anger. "We've found them. They are hiding in the apothecary."

A smug smile absorbed his pale features. "Excellent. Keep them contained until I get there."

Outside the ship's hull, the tiny rounded shapes of Moya's DRDs clung to her skin as if moulded to it. Moving carefully but with complete confidence they split up and swarmed over the collar that bound the ship. Quickly they worked to find the connections the collar had burrowed into Moya. Setting their charges they took up station. One droid for each of the spikes from the collar that bound Moya to this obscene device of torture. Of submission. Of slavery. Their cases would absorb the worst of the blasts, their curved tops helping to ensure most of it rushed by them. They clung on and waited.

Inside the apothecary, D'Argo was furious. "*What* is taking so long?"

"D'Argo, you must be patient." Said Zhaan.

"Patient? How can I be patient when our enemies are just outside this door?"

"That is precisely *why* you must be patient, D'Argo." She paused hoping her words would sink it. If D'Argo were allowed to feed his anger it could have catastrophic consequences for all of them.

The DRDs had all gone except one. Zhaan spoke to it as a rumble and shudder ran through the ship, indicating that the charges outside had just gone off. "Now!"

Outside the apothecary door, Barink greeting the arrival of Zarok. Zarok was about to commend him when some DRDs rolled down the corridor towards them. He ignored them, cautioned his men not to harm Chiana. They wanted her alive. The others though were expendable. He opened his mouth to give the order to melt down the door when something sharp hit the side of his leg. He looked down. A DRD. He frowned. Was about to lash out and kick it when he fell. The melor gas stunning him and dropping him like a rock. If he could have looked round he would have seen that no one had been left standing.

Zhaan was smiling, her hand gently touching the top of the DRD as she gave thanks to Kah'leen. "You have saved our lives and we are grateful."

The little DRD had not finished. It made a series of beeps and whirs which meant nothing at all to Zhaan. She looked up but the others were equally blank. Just then Pilot's voice came over the com. "Moya suggests that you round up the Nebari infiltrators and get them off the ship so she
can starburst."

D'Argo looked alarmed. "Starburst? What is happening, Pilot?"

"I am trying to tell you. You *must* get the Nebari off the ship!"

Aeryn nodded to D'Argo. "Come on, you heard Pilot."

"I want to know what is going on."

"So do I but we don't have time right now. Let's do as he says then we'll find out."

Grumbling, D'Argo turned to the door. Zhaan released it for them and watched everybody troop out except Rygel. She tilted her head at him. "I am impressed Rygel, with your quick thinking."

He made a grumpy sound but Zhaan knew he was pleased with the compliment. She took a quick step forward and kissed the top of his head. He slid his thronesled back in alarm. "What was that for?"

"Nothing." She said, her eyes bright and merry, amused at his reaction.

He pretended to be angry, offended. "Just keep your *blueness* away from me!"

She nodded, smiling. "As you wish, Rygel."

She watched him puff himself up and recover his sense of dignity then leave to see how the others were doing. Zhaan took the opportunity to speak to Pilot. "Pilot, why does Moya want to starburst?"

"I do not know, Zhaan. All I can gather is that it has something to do with Crichton."

Her heart leapt. "John? Does Moya know where he is?"

"Yes. I believe so but......she won't tell me."

He sounded baffled. Zhaan did not care. They were going to find Crichton. Bring him back. Her joy blocked out the uneasy sentiment building in Pilot. Closing her eyes she prayed to the Goddess to give them strength. To watch over Crichton and keep him safe. At least until they could get to him.

* * * * *

Crais tried everything but nothing would shake them free. It felt like some kind of dampening net but he could not see who had fired it. Where the enemy lay. That the vessel was cloaked was another worry. Unable to move forward or back, and with Talyn unable to fire his weapons because of the effects of the net, he turned to speak to Crichton and saw that he was slumped half-sitting on the floor. Immediately he forgot everything else and sank to his knees, all the droids moving back out of his way except for Blue. He remained next to Crichton and waved one light stalk at Crais while the other remained fixed on Crichton as he slept.

He reached out a hand to touch him, needing to reassure himself that he was just sleeping. His heart aching at the thought of what he would do if anything happened to him. The thought worse than any physical pain. Crichton stirred slightly beneath his touch and Crais breathed out with quiet relief but kept his hand cupped against his cheek, drinking in every microdench of the man who had come to mean so much to him. He leaned in and gently kissed him then with a sigh he settled beside him on the floor. It was obvious they were going nowhere and Crichton was not strong enough to fight beside him. He could blast whoever tried to board them to hezmana but
what about Crichton? Crais checked his small pulse gun and put it back in his pocket. Small enough to hide easily yet powerful enough to kill. He sat there for several microts then Crichton began to stir, something disturbing his sleep. Crais angled his body so that he could give him what comfort he could. His eyes fluttered then opened, hazy blue depths slowly coalescing into focus. Crais smiled at him, little open kisses greeting him with love.

"How do you feel?"

"Like someone threw a war and I lost."

Crichton watched him closely, enjoying the luxury of being able to study his face. Crais frowned slightly at the intensity of his scrutiny. "What?"

He shook his head gently, raised his hand from where it rested on Blue and gently brushed the dark strands of hair from Crais's face. "Nothing," He murmured softly, his lips following the movements of his hand and gently kissing his partner's face.

Crais closed his eyes and felt the lips caress his cheek, his jaw, then brush his lips so gently that he thought he would die if he did not kiss him. Swallowing a groan of growing arousal, he pulled Crichton into his arms and kissed him. His lips urgent and fierce, his body aching with need for this human. Crichton kissed him back, tongue delving into that dark most private of caverns. As he deepened the kiss, Crais slowed down a little, his right hand sliding down Crichton's chest. They were so lost in each other than it was only the agitated warning of the little DRD that roused them from their awakening passions. As Crais and Crichton pulled apart a voice broke in with a dark humour that froze the blood in their veins."Don't let me interrupt."

Crais spun round, his small palm pulse gun in his hand. Before he could take aim, it was kicked out of his hand and he was struck in the face. Crichton's mouth dropped open. His pain and sorrow now falling into a well of the deepest dispair imaginable. "Scorpius..."

* * * * *
end