FARSCAPE

" Losing Time "

Written by,
Justin Monjo



This transcript provided by: Farscape Ally!
Suggestions for corrections/revisions/expansions are, as always, gratefully accepted.

Thanks, Erik, for the smiles and the glitch correction. Thanks also to 'L' for some additional fixes. See... I really DO love to fix those glitches! :)


Starring:
Ben Browder
Claudia Black
Anthony Simcoe
Gigi Edgley
Paul Goddard
Lani Tupu
Wayne Pygram
Commander John Crichton
Officer Aeryn Sun
Ka D'Argo
Chiana
Stark
Crais
Scorpius
Guest Starring:
Tammy MacIntosh
David Franklin
Ian Bliss
Johanna Kerrigan
Danny Adcock
Tux Akindoyeni
Jool
Lt. Braca
PK Scientist Drillic
Linfer
Co-Kura Strappa
PK Pilot Rinon





Guest Stars Reappearing:

Danny Adcock: Returns to farscape under more or less strange ( you choose ) fx make-up than that of T'raltixx, from Season 2's, "Cracker's Don't Matter". Welcome back, Danny, nice head this time!

Johanna Kerrigan: Jo returns under the make up again, but less hair. Previously appearing as the Vocarian Blood Tracker, Rorg, in "Till The Blood Runs Clear" from Season 1, and "Liars, Guns & Money, Part 2: With Friends Like These", from the 'final four' story arc of Season 2.




Writer: Justin Monjo

Who also wrote:

(1:13) "The Flax", (1:16) "A Human Reaction", (1:20) "The Hidden Memory", (2:04) "Taking The Stone", (2:05) "Crackers Don't Matter", (2:15) "The Locket", (2:20) "Liars, Guns & Money, Part 3: Plan B", (3:02) "Suns & Lovers".




Director: Catherine Millar

Who also directed:

(2:12) "My Three Crichtons", (2:19) "Liars, Guns & Money, Part 2: With Friends Like These".




PRODUCTION CREDITS:
Created by: Rockne S. O'Bannon
Directed by: Catherine Millar
Written by: Justin Monjo
Consulting Producer: Sue Milliken
Co-Producer: Andrew Prowse
Line Producer: Lesley Parker
Supervising Producer: Justin Monjo
Executive Producer: Richard Manning
Produced by: Anthony Winley
Executive Producer: David Kemper
Executive Producers: Juliet Blake
Robert Halmi, Jr.
Brian Henson
Executive Consultant: Rockne S. O'Bannon
Director of Photography: Russell Bacon
Production Designer: Tim Ferrier
Music by: Guy Gross
Editor: Neil Thumpston
Costume Designer: Terry Ryan
Second Unit DOP: Danny Batterham
Makeup/Hair Supervisor: Jen Lamphee
Story Editor: Lily Taylor
Script Editor: Matt Ford
Production Executive: Robert E. Wozniak
Voice of Rygel: Jonathan Hardy
Voice of Pilot: Lani Tupu
Creature Shop Creative Supervisor: Dave Elsey
Supervising Art Director: Scott Bird
Visual Effects: Animal Logic



TRANSCRIPT BEGINS






PREVIOUSLY ON FARSCAPE



Teaser opens with standard voiceover by the "Scifi-Prime Chick": "Previously On Farscape"

More reminders on the 'twinning' ("You can tell I'm the original right?"... "Wrong, I'm the original.") [TFS]. Jool reminding us that both twins are 'perfect' copies of the original Crichton [TFS]. Recap of Aeryn and John's departure on Talyn, and John's anger filled accusation against himself ("He set it up... so that he's on Talyn with Aeryn!") [TFS]. And that lovely kiss between Aeryn and John on Talyn [GEM].

Teaser closes with standard voiceover by the "Scifi-Prime Chick": "And Now... On Farscape."







COLD OPEN





Shots from Moya's Passages show us Scorpius and Crichton, it's a very strange smoke filled 'hunt'. Who is hunting and who is prey is unclear. However, what is clear is that this is a peek inside the mind of a dreamer.

Shaken and breathing hard, Crichton moves about the corridors, weapon very much at the ready. He comes to the entrance of the Maintenance Bay. There is an odd monolithic 'box' inside. Smoke pours off of it and pools around it's base. Crichton holsters his weapon and slowly approaches the box. With outstretched arm Crichton 'touches' the box with his index finger, the side-by-side doors slowly swing open, revealing a wormhole inside the box. Temporarily transfixed by the phenomenon, Crichton slowly closes the doors, shutting out the sight.

As the doors close, we see Scorpius just over his shoulder.



SCORPIUS:

( mildly ) Hello, John.



John wheels awkwardly around, and is summarily smashed to the floor by a wicked backhand to the head from Scorpy. Scorpius steps forward, triumphant, opening the doors to the wormhole. Watching it with great good humor.


SCORPIUS:

Oh, at last. At last!



Cut to close on Scorpy's left eye as it snaps open to the accompanyment of a shrill bleeping sound.




Cut to close on Scorpy's head, lying in repose, a cable connected to the right side cooling rod chamber. Scorpy is not pleased at this interruption, his lip curling in an unpleasant snarl. Sighing at the untimely interruption of what surely must be nirvana to him, he disconnects the cable and reaching up, engages comms on the panel just over his 'bed'.


SCORPIUS:

Yes.

BRACA:

( over comms ) Sorry to wake you, sir, but... I think we've finally done it.

SCORPIUS:

On my way.



Scorpius rolls off the narrow red cot and walks slowly across his cabin on the Command Carrier. Resting his hand on the wall he looks through a portal at the large swirling blue and white mass just outside the ship. Standing quietly, he contemplates the wormhole, something else on his mind.


SCORPIUS:

( softly ) Crichton.



INTERCUT

EXT. Space

Moya sweeps overhead




Cut to INT. Moya -- Command.


CRICHTON:

Pilot, can we keep going?

PILOT:

We can do anything if the 'others' want to. But...

CHIANA:

Well then, can we turn around? I am sick of running to the ends of the fekik just because he's got a ballium up his butt!

CRICHTON:

I have explained this to you!

D'ARGO:

You have explained it to all of us!

JOOL:

Over and over and over.

CRICHTON:

The deep space variances we encountered indicate that we could--

D'ARGO:

We could be somewhere near a wormhole.

JOOL:

The variances 'could' also indicate a 'trillion' other possibilities, none of which have anything to do with... wormholes.

CRICHTON:

Guys, I know... that you have been patient.

CHIANA:

No. No more.



Chiana stalks across Command, heading for the door.


CHIANA:

No more, I have had it up to Krasacs Bow with patience.



John follows her, begging sweetly for agreement.


CRICHTON:

Pip, no, Chia, come on, Chiana, don't-- don't-- don't-- don't.



Chiana stops at the door, turning back briefly.


CHIANA:

Pilot, get us out of here.

CRICHTON:

Don't! Look-- look-- remember the ship, in the wormhole?! I saw the Three Stooges-- the broadcast!



Chiana stalks out just as Jool sweeps past Crichton, turning back, also briefly.


JOOL:

I'm with Miss Monochrome. Let's just get the frell out of here.



Jool flounces out as well, leaving John with just one possible ally, but a two vote for continuing the search.


CRICHTON:

D, come on, man. Look, it's the Stooges! ( imitating Curly's 'bark' ) I gotta-- I gotta-- l-look, it's-it's Earth, it's home! I know, I'm a little-- a little obsessive, but... I gotta.

D'ARGO:

John, we have been searching for ten solar days. I mean, come on, enough is enough. You saw that broadcast through a wormhole, and you know as well as I do... your home could be anywhere.



John has turned away from D'Argo. He knows he isn't going to win this one. Tossing up one hand in a dismissive gesture and a small 'hmm' of anger, he gives up the 'persuasion' tactic. D'Argo stalks out, seeing that talking sense isn't going to talk John out of a snit.




Alone on Command, John isn't ready to just give up.


CRICHTON:

Pilot, you game to continue?

PILOT:

I'm afraid the others would object.



Peeved, John rolls his eyes and sighs heavily, he's rapidly tiring of this 'team player' stuff.


PILOT:

But there is something else now, too.

CRICHTON:

( with a long suffering "what now?" look ) What?

PILOT:

Moya's approaching an electro-magnetic cluster. All of her scans indicate it's benign, but...



The ship lurches abruptly, John staggers slightly on the impact.


CRICHTON:

That was the cluster, right?

PILOT:

We just passed through it.



The ship lurches again, and John staggers, a bit more heavily this time.


CRICHTON:

Pilot, are we okay?

PILOT:

Everything... seems fine.



John's eyes are fixed on something 'interesting' in Command.


CRICHTON:

( softly ) Oh, boy.



Camera cuts to a view from behind Crichton as he stands watching a large translucent green 'critter' hoving in the air to his right. It sweeps quickly from right to left in front of John and over the Strategy Table. The critter appears to be some kind of flying birdlike alien, with large fanlike wings and long thin tendrils for a 'tail'. It's really quite beautiful. As we're appreciating this, the translucent green of it's form surges to blue and it rushes forward, and 'into' Crichton.

John spasms forward under the impact with the creature, then spasming backward as the critter bursts out his back. Staggering, almost out on his feet, John wobbles around panting slightly.



CRICHTON:

Pilot... there's something in...



The 'energy' critter speeds across command, entering again through his back, exiting more quickly this time. John staggers heavily under the impact-- wobbling around again, almost completely out of it, sheer stubborness keeping him on his feet.


CRICHTON:

( quietly ) Is anybody having any... problems?



Yes, definately out on his feet, but mind and body giving up simultaneously, he drops to his knees, then falls forward to the deck, arms lax at his sides.




Cut to close on Crichton's face, eyes slightly open, nose and chin 'almost' resting on the deck, and lifting slowly, and continuing to lift, still horizontal to the deck, most unnaturally. He's not 'getting up'-- he's being 'lifted up'.




Cut to Crichton, still stretched as he fell to the deck, but being lifted up until he 'floats', face down, arms outstretched, about 3 or 4 feet above the floor. A narrow stream of dark red blood traces a path down his nose, rich droplets forming at the tip and dropping to the deck.




END COLD OPEN










ROLL OPENING CREDITS



"My name is John Crichton... I'm lost... an astronaut... shot through a wormhole.... In some distant part of the universe.... I'm trying to stay alive... Aboard this ship-- this living ship... of escaped prisoners-- my friends. If you can hear me... beware... if I make it back... will they follow? If I open the door... are you ready? Earth is unprepared, helpless... for the nightmares I've seen. Or should I stay, protect my home, yot show them you exist. But then you'll never know the wonders I've seen."








ACT I







Close on the floor of Command, camera pans right following a puddling stream of blood spreading to a wide pool as it also takes in Crichton's right arm, outstretched on the deck. John remains prone, face down on the deck, his left cheek to the floor on the periphery of the pool of blood.




Cut to close on John's face as his eyes flicker open, it's a 'gorgeous' two-shot, as his face is also reflected in the red pool of blood. His eyes roll, intent on focussing, his voice slurred and body unmoving as he attempts to 'come back on line'.


CRICHTON:

( weakly ) D'Argo? ... Chiana, where are you? ( sighs ) Pilot...!



Cut to Pilot.


PILOT:

What's the matter, Crichton?

CRICHTON:

( over comms ) Light...



Cut to Crichton, still on the floor but rolled onto his side, rolling slowy onto his back, right arm slapping the floor.


CRICHTON:

( disoriented ) ... came in here.

PILOT:

Moya's sensors registered nothing.

CRICHTON:

( slowly recovering ) Oh, look... right after the cluster... there was that-that light, it...



John rolls back onto his side, preparing to stand but his eyes light on the pool of blood on the floor. Lifting his head he stares at it, wide eyed and pale.




Cut to Crichton barrelling through the corridor, shouting for assistance.


CRICHTON:

( yelling ) Abbott!

CHIANA:

Crichton...



Sliding to a stop, he bolts back toward Chiana, grabbing her by both arms, wild eyed and panicky, crouched slightly, the better to see her.


CHIANA:

What's the matter?!

CRICHTON:

( panting ) Chia! you okay?!

CHIANA:

Yeah, yeah, I'm fine.

CRICHTON:

You all right?!



Typically Crichton, he can't stop moving, circling around her, still holding her by the arms, checking for anything she might not have noticed.


CHIANA:

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You look terrible, what's the matter?

CRICHTON:

( making little to NO sense ) I cr-- could-- the light that came into Moya-- went through me-- and, and, and it just, like I, I bled. For-- cr-- ( imitating his fall with wild hand and arm gestures ) Boom-- boom! I bled.

CHIANA:

Okay.

CRICHTON:

Am I cut?

CHIANA:

Let me see.



Chia grabs his head with both hands and pulls him down below her eye level, searching for a wound. He continues to gasp and pant heaviliy, a combination of exertion and terror [ This is a wonderfully warm, funny and sweet scene. A cool combo of great actors and a great writer. Way to go, Monj! ]


CRICHTON:

Am I cut?!

CHIANA:

No, there's nothing there.

CRICHTON:

You sure?!

CHIANA:

( eyes widening, a soft gasp of discovery ) Oh, yeah!



A loud popping thwack, as she 'slaps' his forehead with one hand! [ LOL! ]


CHIANA:

( giggling ) Are you sure you bled?

CRICHTON:

( babbling ) Yes, I-I bled! You don't make som-- Like a-- it was like a lake of blood-- it was biblical!

CHIANA:

Crichton... you've barely eaten or slept in ten solar days, maybe you imagined it.

CRICHTON:

Nobody imagines things like this.



John grabs her and hustles her off to command to prove himself.




Cut to Command -- a DRD rolls across the floor as John and Chiana rush in, he falls to his knees on the floor, dragging her with him, gesturing wildly at the floor-- completely bereft of any sign of biblical lakes of blood.


CHIANA:

Okay.

CRICHTON:

Here. Right here.

CHIANA:

What, what am I supposed to be looking at?

CRICHTON:

There's blood-- blood. It was right... here.

CHIANA:

Pilot, did you, did you register an electric surge down here?

PILOT:

Nothing. I told Crichton that.



Crichton glances at Chiana, noting the slight "See!" smirk on her lips.


CRICHTON:

What? What are you, What are you lookin' at?! You think I'm makin' this up?



Crichton stretches out on the floor, the better to detect any particular sign of blood, tapping his fingers on the floor near the sqwauking DRD. Chiana rests her hand comfortingly on his back, stroking, then patting him lightly.


CHIANA:

( sighs ) All right. Go eat... and then go bathe, because you stink.



[ Farscape Trivia! Gotta love it! ]




Crichton turns his head, tucking his nose under his arm and 'sniffs' loudly.




Cut to Center Chamber -- close on John working on the exposed guts of the DRD, the back panel removed to reveal white semi-transparent conduits, and small flashing red lights. The DRD squeeks in protest.


CRICHTON:

Hold still.



The DRD continues to bicker and whine. John grabs it by both eyestalks, pointing them at his face, while he glares at it.


CRICHTON:

Hold still, and quit your whinin'. You know you got my blood in here. Can't have vaporized it all.



The DRD continues it's electronic chirping as Crichton probes it's guts with a long narrow tool. Extracting the tool he examines the tip closely, going so far as show the tip to the DRD.


CRICHTON:

( muttering ) Nothin.



Putting the tool down on the table, completely non-plussed, he briefly notes a constant drip of water from the chamber ceiling which rhythmically patters to the table beside the DRD. Turning away he wanders to the circular 'food prep station', muttering to himself.


CRICHTON:

Nothing, nothing, nothing.



Flopping down on a handy chair and placing his left elbow on the niche between two of the food dispensers, he rests his forehead on his hand, eyes closed... lips pressed together in frustration. Time stretches out as the only environmental sound is the chirping of the DRD and the constant cadence of the dripping water, Crichton maintains his 'thinker' pose while the camera circles around the station, our view of Crichton obscured by it for a moment, then coming into view a moment later.



Coming back into the camera's view, Crichton remains in the same pose for a moment, but his eyes open. Immediatley seeing something unusual on his arm, he lifts his head, pulling his arm away, focussing on a trail of red down his inner arm. Blood has trailed down his forearm, onto the niche on the station, forming a large puddle of blood. Crichton stands, staring in shock at the blood as it drips onto the floor with the same regularity and cadence as the drip of water from Moya's ceiling.



CRICHTON:

Oh... Oh, god... Oh, god!



Cut to Pilot's chamber. Crichton, standing on top of the console, paces across it in front of Pilot


CRICHTON:

What's happening to me must have to do with that cluster we passed through-- the, the, the light... thing!



Crichton crouches in front of Pilot.


PILOT:

Crichton, I told you. All scans indicate the cluster was harmless!

CRICHTON:

It was not harmless, run the scan again! Look, look-- I, I, I... maybe I imagined the light thing, but I bled! And I have the blood to prove it.



Crichton extends his arm to display the trace of blood down his inner forearm.


CRICHTON:

And I'm not cut anywhere!

PILOT:

There could be another explanation for what's happening. When... Kaarvok duplicated you on the diseased Leviathan, perhaps he...

CRICHTON:

You think maybe Kaarvok did something to me? That, that my body is breakin' down?

PILOT:

I'm sorry, but it is possible.



Cut to Maintenance Bay -- Chia and Jool have arrived. The familiar rhythmic cadence of dripping water counterpoints their 'discussion'.


JOOL:

What, what is going on?! My chamber is boiling hot, this place is leaking.



Jool presses one hand to her large forehead. [ hey, costume change! It's 'Scherezhade of the Uncharted Territories'. Still in black, but no more heavy collar thing ( whew ) bare midriff displaying a very nice belly dancer thing goin' on. Hip hugging wide belt with floor length sectioned drapes of black gauze. Miracle-leather-bra connected to narrow black leather collar by more black gauze. No more cleavage guys, sorry. Lots of belly, back and leg though. Only the above the knee boots and arm and elbow bracers survive from Jool Costume #1. TMI? I can never tell! :) ]


CHIANA:

Well, Pilot says he's having some troubles... with the internals. He says he's working on it.



Chia adjusts a large container catching the dripping water. Crichton, followed by D'Argo enter the Maintenance Bay. Crichton strides across the room, holding the de-paneled DRD in one hand.


D'ARGO:

Crichton... calm down. You're tired, it could all turn out to be nothing.

CRICHTON:

Nothing?



John places the DRD deliberately on a stack of crap on a workbench.


CRICHTON:

I am bleeding, and I have no wound! So, I'm either 'St. John of the Uncharted Territories', or there's something very, very wrong with me.

D'ARGO:

What, what would you like us to do?

CRICHTON:

I want all of you to watch me in case I have another episode, a bleed, whatever you want to call it.

CHIANA:

I'm sorry, as much fun as that sounds, I don't think so.



Chiana heads for the door, Jool beside her.


CRICHTON:

Pip, stop okay? You know-- look, I thought...



Jool and Chia stop, looking at each other, then slowly turn about, watching John as he unreels his paranoid fears.


CRICHTON:

...that I was the real me, and that that other guy, the, the guy on Talyn-- that he's the clone, but I'm startin' to think maybe I'm the photocopy.

CHIANA:

Crichton-- this has nothing to do with the split. Just sleep. You'll be fine.

CRICHTON:

No. I'm not imagining this. Watch me... please.

D'ARGO:

All right, John. Sit down, and--



Oh, my. In perfect unison, Jool and Chia turn and begin to edge out of the room.


D'ARGO:

Ah, ah, ah!



D'Argo chases the girls down. Heading them off, he turns them around, and herds them back to the table, sitting them down across from John, amidst their moans and groans of sufferance.


D'ARGO:

Girls... we will all sit down.... and watch John.

CHIANA:

What if I have to piss?

D'ARGO:

Well then, we will all urinate together.



Chiana smirks and toys with one of his braids.


CHIANA:

You promise?



Jool groans, D'Argo grunts and moves to his chair while Chiana giggles lightly.




Cut to close on John's drumming fingers. [ Does anyone do it that way? Sequential tapping of the fingers on a surface... pinkie finger to index finger? When "I" drum "my" fingers, it's always index to pinkie... Is this significant? hehe I'm sure SOMEONE thinks it is. ]




Cut to close on water dripping into a shallow pool in the bottom of the large container.




Cut to John, blinking bleary eyes and yawning. Camera pans around the table to D'Argo, leaning forward more subtley fighting weariness, sighing deeply. Jool and Chia are holding up much better, but remain frustrated and hating it.


CHIANA:

You havin' fun yet?

JOOL:

Galaxies of it.



Jool sighs and gestures expansively with her arms, a "well, nothing whatever the frell has happened!" gesture.


CHIANA:

Can we go now?

CRICHTON:

No.

CHIANA:

Sorry, but I'm not gonna sit here...

CRICHTON:

No!



Standing up, Chi tries to stalk away but slips in a large puddle of water streaming from the overflowing container on the table behind her.


CHIANA:

Whoa! There's water everywhere.

D'ARGO:

Where'd that come from?

JOOL:

That bucket's overflowing already?

CRICHTON:

Oh, yeah, see?! See, see, see-- told ya! Strange things are happening!



Crichton stands and moves over to the DRD on the cluttered table, gesturing at it.


CRICHTON:

Now, I had this DRD record us, he's gonna put it on the clamshell!



Striding toward the clamshell, Crichton points up at it. An image of Moya's four crew sitting around the small table appears, replaying the recording. John stands in the bay, looking up at the clamshell image-- Chia, D'Argo and Jool cluster around him in a familiar shot from the ep teaser. [ inky guessed on this image in the teaser, that the director would be Catherine Millar, but bailed on that forecast the night of the viewing and guessed Ian instead, while I went with Andy... ding! Both wrong! LOL! ]


CHIANA:

( on recording ) You havin' fun yet?

JOOL:

( on recording ) Galaxies of it.



Freaky Moment Number 4: Abruptly everyone slumps face down on the table, well, except Jool who flops sideways onto Chiana's back.


JOOL:

What's going on?

D'ARGO:

We're not moving.



Freaky Moment Number 4 continues: A microt or two passes, when just as abruptly, everyone bolts upright, spasming in a decidedly 'inhuman' fashion, as if in 'fast-forward' [ creepy! ] before resuming the 'normal' behavior we observed earlier.


CHIANA:

( on recording ) Can we go now?

CRICHTON:

( on recording ) No.

CHIANA:

( on recording ) Sorry, but I'm not gonna sit here...

CRICHTON:

( on recording ) No!







On the recording, Chiana stands and tries to stalk away but slips in a large puddle of water streaming from the overflowing container on the table behind her.


JOOL:

What happened to us?

CHIANA:

( on recording ) Whoa! There's water everywhere.

D'ARGO:

( on recording ) Where'd that come from?







INTERCUT

EXT. Space

Lovely CGI, Scorpius' Command Carrier hangs in or near an asteroid field, the large swirling wormhole off the starboard ( hammond? ) side. Two prowlers sweep into view from stage left [ hehe ... Prowlers travel in pairs? ]




Cut to INT. Command Carrier -- Let us call this Lab 1 for brevities sake.


VOICE:

( over P.A. ) All the scans indicate normal.

BRACA:

All right, well, let's seek official approval, shall we?



Braca leads two aliens from the lab, whilst a tech, pad in hand, circles around the wing of the prowler.

Two other Sebaceans stand bracketed by the nose and wing of the prowler, obviously 'discussing' something, and-- in an 'unofficial weird moment'-- the Sebacean standing closest to the Prowler [ the Pilot ] 'salutes' the Sebacean standing in front of him, by slapping his right fist over his left breast, the other Sebacean returns the gesture [ which is why I refer to it as 'saluting', however, this is the first time we've seen any kind of 'saluting' going on, in what is otherwise a paramilitary organization. ] The 'superior ranked' Sebacean departs, and the Pilot turns to get a 'briefing' from the Tech before entering his vessel.

As this is going on, the camera pans left to look 'through' the 'window panels' on the wall of the lab, revealing Scorpius standing in the adjacent room, which for brevities sake, we will call the Lab 1 Control Room. Moments later, Braca enters, leading the two aliens. Camera zooms in on the window panels, watching the action 'through' them. Gorgeous!



BRACA:

Sir, the prowler retained it's integrity on the last six reentries.

SCORPIUS:

No gravitational distortions?

BRACA:

No.

LINFER:

Nothing. Electronics, biomass indicators, all within acceptable parameters.

SCORPIUS:

And now you want to send a Peacekeeper?



Drillic enters, sulkily standing behind the two aliens.


STRAPPA:

He has oscillation ratings.

DRILLIC:

With respect Scorpius, biomass reentry will work. Your... indecision is wasting time.

LINFER:

Oh, what he means, sir... the wormhole is degenerating, and stabilization has been unsuccessful so far.

STRAPPA:

If, if we don't complete our trial soon, it will delay us... to find another wormhole.

DRILLIC:

So, can we please get started? You demanded my transfer here so I could master wormholes and create the weapon you desire. You did not transfer me here to wait for your permission as if you were my mother! It is now time to proceed with biological trials.

SCORPIUS:

Right, son. Well. Deploy him.



Drillic nods to Scorpius, then turns to the window panel, nodding again.




Cut to the Prowler Pilot viewed through the windows.


DRILLIC:

( voice over P.A. ) Clear the hangar area. Standby for manual Prowler Launch.



Through the windows and the reflection of Scorpius nodding, the Prowler Pilot makes a slight half-bow and turns to mount the Prowler.




INTERCUT

INT. Moya



Close on the freeze framed recording of Moya's four crew clustered around the small table.


D'ARGO:

Best I can figure, we were out for about half an arn.



Cut to Chi and D'Argo standing, looking up at the recording, John sits at the small table behind them, head resting in his hand, he's 'thinkin' again.


CHIANA:

How can that be?

D'ARGO:

Well, perhaps Moya lost atmospheric pressure and we blacked out and lost time.

CHIANA:

We were doing a lot more... than just losing time.



Standing somewhere to D'Argo's left, Jool circles around the table, to stand behind John.


JOOL:

I think, but I'm not sure... but I think... I may have lost time earlier.



John cocks an eye in her direction.


JOOL:

Before I changed into this I was running a soak and the water was warm. Instantaneously... it was cold.

CRICHTON:

Why didn't you tell us this?

JOOL:

Well, I just thought it was a heating coil malfunction.



Crichton turns his attention to Chi and D'Argo.


CRICHTON:

Anything strange happen to you guys?

D'ARGO:

I live on this ship, something strange always happens.

CHIANA:

Not like spasming.

CRICHTON:

Before... my first episode, I saw some kind of light, Moya passed through an electromagnetic cluster. Now, Pilot says it's harmless, but it's gotta be related.



Crichton turns to the clamshell, hailing Pilot.


CRICHTON:

Pilot, you run the long range re-scan on that cluster yet?



They all await Pilot's response, which is not immediately forthcoming. In the silence, Crichton turns to D'Argo.


D'ARGO:

Pilot!



Cut to Pilot's Den -- Crichton and Jool run in.


CRICHTON:

Pilot! You okay?






JOOL:

Where are the lights?

D'ARGO:

Pilot!



All four jog across the two bridges, meeting at the console. John, in the lead, clambers atop the console, getting a closer look. Pilot is perched in the darkened alcove, slumped slightly forward, his eyes closed.


CHIANA:

Is he breathing?

CRICHTON:

I don't know.

D'ARGO:

Oh, hezmana, he stinks!

JOOL:

What happened to us has happened to Pilot, too.

CRICHTON:

Does anybody know how to check his pulse?

D'ARGO:

It's behind the neck, in between the vertebrae.

CRICHTON:

Right.



Reaching out to do the pulse check thing, Crichton's efforts are abruptly cut off by the waking Pilot. Lights bloom to intense levels, and a gust of wind or pressure sweeps up. Pilot growls in a weirdly distorted, decidedly un-Piloty, voice.


PILOT:

( distorted voice ) Get back! Get back! Get back!



Another gust of pressure, and all four are blown to the deck. Pilot shudders heavily, whilst blowing smoke [ sorry ]. Crichton collects himself on the floor, one hand on holstered pulse pistol. [ geez, even D'Argo doesn't roam the ship with Qualta Blade. "Have Pulse Pistol, Will Travel." ]




Pilot's shuddering and screaming stops, the lights remain intense on his face, as his eyelids droop to a narrow eyed, cold glance at the four in front of him. When he speaks, his voice is still mildly distorted, but quite, quite calm.


PILOT:

Apologies. But you must stay back. For one of you, judgment starts now.



END ACT I










ACT II





INT. Moya -- Pilot's Den




CRICHTON:

Judgement? What the hell are you talkin' about?

PILOT:

Pilot's gone. I am in him now. Apologies. Tried to taste without your knowing.,,

JOOL:

Taste?!

PILOT:

... but you discovered.



Another gust of pressurized vapor, and Pilot's body begins thrashing wildly once more.


PILOT:

( groaning ) Get back! Don't know how to control this body-- this ship, yet. Must slow down. This body cannot contain me.

CRICHTON:

Then get out of it.



The blowing vapor stops and Pilot's body stops flailing, his 'possessed' voice calming once more.


PILOT:

Please... I will not harm your Pilot. I can stay in him a short time to find the diseased Energy Rider. My group probes could not detect who it occupies.

D'ARGO:

What's an Energy Rider?

PILOT:

We live in clusters. When you passed through ours... a diseased Rider escaped on your ship.

JOOL:

Are you saying... there's a diseased alien in one of us?

PILOT:

Yes. I must taste you, alone now, to find it.

CHIANA:

What the fek are you talkin' about?



Chiana turns to John for an explaination.


CHIANA:

What is he talkin' about?!



Another pressure wave as Pilot struggles with the alien 'possessing' him [ okay, it's 'Exorcist'... all right? ;) Justin, you da man!! ] While the alien is distracted with the struggle to remain inside Pilot, Jool turns to D'Argo urging him to action.


JOOL:

Shoot him. Shoot him, you're the warrior, shoot him now!

D'ARGO:

All right, with what? My nose?



Jool turns to John.


JOOL:

Shoot him!

CRICHTON:

No. It's Pilot, we're not gonna shoot him.

JOOL:

Why not?!

CHIANA:

Fek up, Jool.



Oopsie, too late for shooting, the struggle between Pilot and the alien ends, alien wins.


PILOT:

First law in my world: "Don't hurt the body." Rider... I am not here to hurt you. Reveal yourself, I do not wish to hurt these others.



Well, dang, struggle begins again, Pilot's putting up quite a fight.


PILOT:

( groaning ) Must calm this Pilot. Do not try to ambush me. I will know!



Pilot's body slumps again, eyes closed.




Cut to Crichton, Jool, D'Argo and Chiana walking the corridors. They walk from point "A" to point "B" ( point "B" being command ) taking several turns in the passages, trying to figure out--


JOOL:

Does anyone know what's going on here?

CRICHTON:

I don't know, do you feel any different?

JOOL:

What do you mean, "different"? "Different", like I might have a diseased alien in me, "different"? No-- I don't feel like that.

D'ARGO:

Actually, now that you mention it, I've been feeling a little angry.

CRICHTON:

That's normal for you. Jool-- wrong way.

CHIANA:

Why do you believe a word that thing inside Pilot's saying?

CRICHTON:

I don't have to believe it, Chiana. But something made me bleed, and it made all of us shake like a sheep in Arkansas.



[ *shrug* I don't get it either. ]


D'ARGO:

Well I think I should just grab my Qualta Rifle, stick it in it's mouth and say, "Hey, get out of Pilot."

CRICHTON:

And what if it says no?



D'Argo pauses in the corridor pondering the possibility, a slight grunt indicating the likelihood. [ D'Argo's in amazingly funny form in this ep! LOL ]




Crichton strides into Command, trailed by D'Argo, Jool and Chiana.


CRICHTON:

Run a full vessel scan, see if we have control of anything on board.



D'Argo, Chiana and John perform the requisite scans at different consoles while Jool dogs John. He generally ignores her.


JOOL:

I hate to point out the obvious but, if... something is inside us, I think it likely, since you had the first symptoms, that you're the infected.

CRICHTON:

Kiss my butt, if I'm Linda Blair, why am I tellin' you guys anything.

JOOL:

Well, it'd be the smart thing to do if later you need to appear innocent.

CRICHTON:

I'm not that smart.

JOOL:

I thought of that... I still think you're the best candidate.

CRICHTON:

All right, opinion noted. Leave me alone.



Crichton makes that lovely dismissive gesture, lifting his hand with a slight flick of the wrist, then turns to D'Argo.


CRICHTON:

D'Argo, what'chu got?

D'ARGO:

Nothing. I can't get control of anything.

CRICHTON:

Me either. The damn thing in Pilot left us with squat.

CHIANA:

You know, it is possible that we're fine, and, and Pilot's the only infected one.

D'ARGO:

Why? What could it possibly want?

CHIANA:

I dunno. Maybe he's crazy. Sounds feked to me.

JOOL:

I think we should all get a Transport Pod out of here now.

CHIANA:

Weren't you listening? We have no control. If that thing in Pilot doesn't want you to leave... you're not leaving.

JOOL:

Look at the lights! Look at the dripping water! That thing is not controlling everything.



Glancing from D'Argo to John and seeing no agreement, she sighs frustratedly.


JOOL:

Maybe I'll get lucky.



Turning, Jool flounces out of Command.


CHIANA:

( smirking ) Good luck.



D'Argo hisses angrily and reluctantly follows her.


CRICHTON:

Unified plan, as always.



INTERCUT



EXT. Space

PK Command Carrier glides by, menacingly.


LINFER:

[O.V.] Auto-retrieval and bio-fluctuations appear normal.



Cut to INT. Command Carrier, Lab 1 -- Scorpius, Braca the two alien scientists and the PK Scientist, Drillic cluster around the sealed prowler.


SCORPIUS:

Then why is your pilot not responding to our comms?

DRILLIC:

I suspect, um... antenna burn out. Vessel integrity is definately intact.

BRACA:

Well, open it.



Lifting a small controller in one hand, and pointing it at the Prowler [ the 'garage door opener of the Uncharted Territories' ], Drillic activates the prowler hatch by remote control. A slight blip and the prowler's hatch hums open. No movement from inside as a thick white vapor rolls out. Microts later a thick reddish/pink fluid seeps over the edge of the hatch opening, spilling onto the deck. Drillic appears a bit crestfallen as the 'hot soup' dribbles on the floor. Scorpius non-chalantly wanders over to Drillic.


SCORPIUS:

Your Pilot's integrity is, ah, well... it is definately not intact.

DRILLIC:

There must be a malfunction in the negative shield deployment. This will never happen again.

SCORPIUS:

Oh, it'll happen once more. Inspector Drillic will pilot the next trial. Wash out the prowler ( snaps fingers ) for immediate deployment.



Scorpius makes to walk away from the debacle.


DRILLIC:

Scorpius, I'm not flying the next trial.



Scorpius stops and turns toward Drillic, who obviously doesn't know, and hasn't known, exactly who he's talking to.


SCORPIUS:

I'm afraid that, uh... Braca will insist.



Braca places a restraining hand on Drillic's shoulder.


STRAPPA:

Drillic is... Project Leader, he...

SCORPIUS:

And what is your name?

STRAPPA:

Strappa, Co-Kura Strappa.

SCORPIUS:

Strappa. Well, Strappa, you are now Project Leader, and perhaps... now that you know what to expect... you can discover exactly what went wrong here.



Strappa nods rapidly, obviously frightened witless.


SCORPIUS:

Yes.



Scorpius turns to leave again and Drillic tries to follow him, but is restrained by Braca.


DRILLIC:

Scorpius, we had to run Sebacean trials, it was time! Don't, don't send me... Scorpius! Scorpius...



Scorpius departs the lab without a backward glance.




INTERCUT



INT. Pilot's Den

Crichton and D'Argo re-enter the Den, packin' heat.


CRICHTON:

All right, D. We'll try it your way. Be cool.



Stopping in front of Pilot, D'Argo rests his Qualta Rifle on the console. Beside him, John braces his arms on the console, pulse pistol aimed at Pilot.


PILOT:

Luxan, you cannot ambush me.

D'ARGO:

I have my weapon pointed at your face. I don't think I'm doin' too badly. Now-- I would like to see... the 'real' Pilot.

PILOT:

I am trying to save you pain, I wish you would believe that, but since you... ask.



[ Man I can already see me having to count the number of times 'this' happens.... ] Vapor blows up over Pilot's body as he flails, struggling to resume control of his body, just a bit is permitted to peek through as Pilot speaks in his own voice.


PILOT:

D'Argo, Crichton, he's... not lying, there is a creature... in one of you. Please, get it out! Get it out!



The lights cease flickering, becoming unnaturally bright again, as Pilot's eyelids droop to half mast, the alien taking over again.


PILOT:

Please. Help me find the rider. The longer it remains in one of you, the more damage it will do.

CRICHTON:

Why don't you jump into us, like you did Pilot-- find it yourself?

PILOT:

The Rider is a child, it can possess you. If I did, my power would destroy you.

CRICHTON:

And what did it do? Why do you want it so bad?

PILOT:

This Rider stays too long and diseases minds. Gives only desire and despair.

D'ARGO:

How do we know which one of us it's in?

PILOT:

Rider had to burrow in quickly. It will not know details of the heart. Sire, siblings, your private world.



Cut to INT. Passage -- D'Argo and John walk in the corridor, John trailing slightly behind. [ and it's simply staggering how much bigger D'Argo looks from this perspective-- wow. ]


D'ARGO:

Lo'laan was my wife, uh, Jothee was my son, he slept with Chiana, who was my... fiancee.



John takes the lead around a curve in the passage, as D'Argo stops and looks expectantly at him.


CRICHTON:

My dad's name was Jack. My dog's name was Hubble. I lost my virginity to Karen Shaw in the back of a Four-By.

D'ARGO:

How old were you?

CRICHTON:

Sixteen.

D'ARGO:

I was seven.



John shoots a look at D'Argo as they disappear around a bend in the corridor.




Cut to Command -- Crichton and D'Argo enter. Chiana's standing at a console.


CRICHTON:

Chiana, what's your brother's name?

CHIANA:

You know what my brother's name was.

D'ARGO:

Just answer the question.



Chiana moves to another console, D'Argo pursues her, standing by the console, waiting for an answer as Jool enters.


JOOL:

( sighs ) You were right. Couldn't even open a Transport Pod to see if--



Jool silences herself, noting the 'uncomfortable silence' on Command.


JOOL:

What's going on?

CHIANA:

Boys are playing detective. What, that thing in Pilot tell you to do this?

D'ARGO:

You don't know the answer, do you?

CHIANA:

Nerri.

D'ARGO:

Okay, good... good with the "Nerri". Now, question 2: Did you, or did you not... kill Sakis?



Chiana chuckles quietly.


CHIANA:

His name... was Salis. And you don't even know if I killed him.

D'ARGO:

Yeah, well... you stay there.



D'Argo and John turn to Jool.


JOOL:

What are you doing?

CRICHTON:

That creature in Pilot says whichever of us is infected won't know personal details.

JOOL:

None of you know anything personal about me. I could make everything up, I could lie!

D'ARGO:

Well, we know how you got frozen in the Stasis Chamber. Tell us, and the truth.

JOOL:

I ah... I... discovered a Noatian gem mine. The guards caught me, they sold me to Grunschlk, end of pathetic story.

CRICHTON:

And what about your cousins? How'd they get frozen?

JOOL:

They waited in the village for me, they got sick, and...

D'ARGO:

That is not what you told us before.

JOOL:

I was lying before!

CHIANA:

I'm sorry, Princess. I think you just elected yourself most likely.

PILOT:

Have you found the infected?

CHIANA:

Yeah. Take Jool.

CRICHTON:

Shut up, Chi. No, we haven't found that thing yet.

PILOT:

Apologies. Must begin now. Do you suspect this female?

JOOL:

No they don't!

D'ARGO:

No, no, no. We need more time.

PILOT:

I'll try not to take... long.



D'Argo moves to stand beside Jool.


D'ARGO:

John, we cannot let them take Jool.

CRICHTON:

I know, I.... Look, hey, just don't... take anybody yet. We don't...

PILOT:

I'll try not to hurt... much.



Super-freaky moment number 5 initiates with the weird gust of vapor from below Pilot. On command Jool is 'sucked' across the floor and slammed into the wall, screaming the entire way.


D'ARGO:

Stop, no!



D'Argo bolts to Jool's side but is thrown violently backward across Command as Jool spasms in super fast forward against the wall.




Chiana kneels beside D'Argo.


CHIANA:

What are you doing? Stop!



Jool continues her dancing puppet on speed routine, complete with foaming at the mouth. Chiana helps D'Argo drag himself up from the floor.


CRICHTON:

Let her go! Pilot! Whoever you are!

D'ARGO:

Stop now!



Jool continues the rapid spasming for a bit longer, then abruptly collapses to the floor. D'Argo rushes to her side. Oddly, Crichton is still in the same spot, his feet rooted to the floor.


CHIANA:

Did you get it? Did you get that thing out of her?!

PILOT:

No. It is well hidden. I have not found my rider. Apologies.

CHIANA:

Stuff the apologies, fekik. Is it in her or not?

PILOT:

I am not certain. It could still be in this female, or in one of you. I'm afraid I must taste each of you in turn. This is all the Rider's fault.



Chiana crouches beside D'Argo, briefly touching Jool's hand.


CHIANA:

Is she all right?

D'ARGO:

She's breathing.



Boom! John moves-- toward the exit.


CRICHTON:

D'Argo, come on. I got an idea.

CHIANA:

No, I'm comin' with you.

CRICHTON:

Uh-uh. Chiana, somebody has to stay with Jool.

CHIANA:

No, no, no. Not me. Not this time.

D'ARGO:

All right, you two go. I'll stay here.



John nods and turns to leave Command, Chiana following.




Cut to INT. Moya, Passage -- Moya's only got one DRD out and about and it seems to always be seeking Crichton out. John snags the de-paneled DRD from the floor and hands it to Chiana.


CRICHTON:

We're gonna have a little chat.



Chia aims the DRD up slightly, and Crichton looks into the lit antenna bulbs of the DRD.


CRICHTON:

Moya must know that there is something seriously wrong with Pilot. We gotta get that thing out of him. Does she have any idea how we can do that.



The DRD wobbles it's antenna, bleeping, chirping and warbling semi-nonsensically for a few uninterrupted moments. Crichton frowns slightly and glances at Chiana.


CRICHTON:

You understand any of this?

CHIANA:

No.



Crichton turns back to the DRD, speaking just a bit louder [ as if speaking to an idiot cousin-- LOL! ]


CRICHTON:

All right, we don't understand the R2-D2 crap. We're gonna use the Star Trek system. One blink for yes, two blinks for no.



Crichton waves two fingers in front of the DRD in a familiar gesture.


CRICHTON:

You understand?



The DRD's antenna bulbs blink off and on, once.


CRICHTON:

Good. Will you help?



The DRD blinks once.




Cut to INT. Moya, Subpassage -- And from the 'that was so cool, let's do it again, Department', the cool green lazer lights from SIW make a reappearance, adding to the general gloom in the subpassage. Crichton and Chiana slowly follow the DRD.


CHIANA:

Where are we?

CRICHTON:

Below the Neural Cluster. I heard Pilot once say there's a... chamber down here where he has no sense receptors, kind of like the human brain.

CHIANA:

Pilot can't feel anything. Can't find us down here.



The 'dead end' ahead of them rolls aside, revealing a chamber further down the passage. They both step through.




Cut to INT. Moya, Starburst Chamber


CRICHTON:

Starburst Chamber. This must be where the energy of Starburst first coalesces.



The Starburst Chamber, first look at a new chamber on Moya, is a large chamber with silvery walls, and a glossy black floor. In the center of the chamber, three curved 'tusk-like' spars jut from the floor.




Crichton and Chiana stand on either side of the curved spars, looking up through a circular opening in the chamber ceiling.


CHIANA:

From in here, can we get that thing out of Pilot?

CRICHTON:

I don't know.



More green lazer lights shine from out of a small triangular port, popping open with a metallic clang.


CRICHTON:

What the hell is that?



Chiana walks over to the portal and crouches beside it.


CHIANA:

Do you think it wants us to push something?

CRICHTON:

You're asking the wrong cowboy. Where'd DRD Pike go?

CHIANA:

Oh, forget about it.

CRICHTON:

Hey, yo, Chiana. Don't, don't touch anything.

CHIANA:

Don't be a trak. It wouldn't have brought us down here for no reason.



Chiana turns back to the panel on the small triangular portal.


CHIANA:

Hey, Moya. You want us to push this?



Chiana presses a button on the panel. Immediately a loud throbbing hum pulsates through the chamber, the bright white light of Moya's Starburst affect coalesces at the base of the spars, the light traveling up them to their tips. Crichton crouches hurriedly beside Chiana.


CRICHTON:

( urgently ) Turn it off! Turn it off!

CHIANA:

How?

CRICHTON:

Hit the button again!



Chiana presses the button again, it flashes briefly, but the light in the chamber continues to build, light and sound intensifying to uncomfortable levels before abruptly ceasing, more subdued light continues to throb in the chamber, lighting the silvery walls brilliantly.


CHIANA:

Was that a Starburst blast?



Chiana stands and walks toward the three curved spars.


CRICHTON:

No, if it was Starburst, we'd be dead. Moya must have shut it down.

CHIANA:

Why would Moya want us here for this?

CRICHTON:

I have no idea... unless--



Okay, eyes bulging just slightly, John spies something.




Cut to Chiana standing at the center of the three spars. Above her head, in the flashing light, is another of the winged translucent aliens. This 'un looks pale blue with a much pinker body and cute lil antenna. Chi half turns toward him.


CHIANA:

Unless what?



Crichton shifts uncomfortably, fight or flight making way for brain freeze.


CRICHTON:

Uh, um... nu... mm.



Crichton must suck at poker. Chia knows 'somethings up' as soon as she gets an eyeful of his frozen features, and an earful of that delightful stammer.


CRICHTON:

Unless, ah... I get some more schematics. I don't know.



Chiana steps a bit closer to him, placing her hands on two of the curved spars. Crichton backs away slowly, but constantly.




Freaky weird moment number 6: The possessor of Chi speaks in it's own voice, oddly distorted with a downright bizarre cadence. [ It's gotta be heard to be believed, and bring a tape, cause you'll never get it on 'first hearing'. ]


CHIANA:

You... know.

CRICHTON:

( still backing away ) Know? Know what?

CHIANA:

You... saw... saw...



Chi looks up, arching her back, probably getting a look herself, at herself floating above her head. [ no, not confusing at ALL! :) ]


CHIANA:

Saw me.



END ACT II










ACT III





INT. Moya -- Starburst Chamber

Crichton & the alien in Chiana face each other, and lthough the weird voice and cadence be a dead giveaway [ every syllable exquisitely long and drawn out... softly spoken ], Crichton's still trying to get away with the "I don't know nuthin'" routine.


CHIANA:

Show... gla, glad to ... show.... Mmm, so good. Feels... good.

CRICHTON:

Chi, what the hell are you doin'?

CHIANA:

Taste... taste!



Crichton slowly circles around the Starburst core, circling around the possessed Chiana... edging toward the exit. Chi turns with him, suddenly leaping on him, straddling his hips and sending them both to the floor in a pile of John and possessed Chi. She eyes him, stroking his chest.


CHIANA:

Love to try this body.

CRICHTON:

Okay, whatever you are, you can get the hell off me.

CHIANA:

This body ... want you.



Fending the possessed Chiana off with upraised hands, but not wanting to hurt her, Crichton is close to petrified. She finally notes his fear and gently strokes his face.


CHIANA:

Fear... no fear of me. Tallip, he lies, lies.

CRICHTON:

Tallip's that thing in Pilot.

CHIANA:

Heard him say I hurt this body... not true. Love this tight body!



Chiana rises her her knees, arching her back and sliding Crichton's hands over her abdomen. Crichton finally reacts with the bit of force necessary to lift Chi off his hips and place her on the floor, scrambling to his feet.


CRICHTON:

( frantically ) Whoa, oh yeah, yeah, we all love this body. Okay. You ah, sit...



Crichton maneuvers toward the exit while Chi crouches on the floor.


CRICHTON:

...we'll sip later. I'll call you. You're in the book, right?

CHIANA:

Tallip wants to kill me. That's why I hide. I hide when your ship pass. Mistake. Only four here, only four, not take long to find me. Not-not long.

CRICHTON:

Tallip?

CHIANA:

Tallip likes pain. After me, he kill... you.

CRICHTON:

Tallip said... that if you stay in Chiana you're kill her.



Chiana rises from her crouch, the plea for help still very strong on her face, she paces slowly toward Crichton who doesn't move.


CHIANA:

Tallip... lies. I not lie. Mm-mm.



With an elaborate hand motion, Chiana touches John's chest lightly, his reaction is immediate and 'intense', his head snaps back, eyes closed and back arching, rising up on his toes, every muscle reacting to the pleasure principle.


CRICHTON:

( groaning ) Oh!



Gasping and wobbling slightly, he sinks slowly to the floor. One hand reaching out to steady himself on Chi's shoulder, he drags them both to the floor.


CRICHTON:

Oh! Good god. Oh, whoa... what did you just do to me?

CHIANA:

Sip... ( makes lovely little sipping sounds ) sip. Inspire. Tallip is pain.



Still blanketed in a fog of ecstasy, John is drawn toward her, his lips very close to 'tasting' her.


CHIANA:

Not me.



With a gasping moan, Crichton spasms again before collapsing to one hand, arm wrapped around her waist, an enraptured smile on his face.


CRICHTON:

Oh! okay. That... that, tha's good. But it doesn't prove anything.



Chi leans over as well, stroking his back gently, finally resting her cheek on his back.


CHIANA:

Won't hurt your friend. Just... must hide. Get me 'way, to where there are many. Tallip not find, if there are many. Please?



Hands shaking, Crichton uses Chi to push himself upright, she assists him with gentle hands on both his shoulders.


CRICHTON:

Fine, I'll, ah... I'll talk to my friends. You, you're gonna, you're gonna stay here. You're, you're safe here.

CHIANA:

How I know? Trust you?

CRICHTON:

You don't. But I'm a guy, I'll probably be back in fifteen minutes.



With considerable effort, Crichton rises and exits the chamber, muttering quietly to himself.


CRICHTON:

That's not natural.



Final comment is a shouted exclaimation, muted by his distance in the passage. [ Hey, it's been a long time! ]


CRICHTON:

Good god!



INTERCUT



INT. Command Carrier

In Scorpius's quarters, he sits in the big chair contemplating his many problems. Shaking a small container, he removes the top and begins attaching it to an elaborate 'injector'. Braca enters.


BRACA:

Ah...

SCORPIUS:

Braca.

BRACA:

You're busy, I'll come back later, sir.

SCORPIUS:

No, no, no. Come in, come in.



Braca reluctantly crosses the distance to Scorpius, as the Scarran half-breed places the injector against his throat and 'injects' himself. [ Gene therapy? A new method for controlling heat build up? PK Caffiene? Who knows. ]


SCORPIUS:

( sighs ) Braca. Why is that Crichton, a human, can survive wormhole reentry... and a Sebacean cannot?

BRACA:

Well, perhaps there's some information still hidden in the chip we took from Crichton's brain.

SCORPIUS:

Perhaps. ( pause ) Do you know why you're my Second-in-Command, Braca?

BRACA:

No, sir.

SCORPIUS:

Because you don't ask questions. But have you ever asked yourself, Braca, why do they give us so much rein? Hmm? Chasing Crichton. Researching wormholes.

BRACA:

Well, like you said, sir, I don't question High Command.

SCORPIUS:

Would it surprise you to learn, that the Scarrans... are planning a massive assault against us, but they haven't, because.... Because they fear our hidden wormhole weapons.

BRACA:

We have no hidden weapons.

SCORPIUS:

We lied... and I think the Scarrans are beginning to suspect that.



Scorpius prepares another injection.


SCORPIUS:

High Command reports that they've been massing armies. By latest estimates, Scarran Warriors outnumber Peacekeeper Soldiers... ten to one. But, if and when they attack, we will lose, Braca.

BRACA:

Unless we harness a superior weapon.

SCORPIUS:

Yes, wormhole technology, without it, the Sebacean race will be overrun. Thousands of cycles of history, gone. There's so little time. Sometimes I feel... it is already inevitable.



Scorpius snorts unhappily, injecting himself again.




INTERCUT



INT. Moya

John tracks down DRD Pike again, needing to have another conversation. He stretches out on the floor to better come eye to eye with the small machine.


CRICHTON:

All right, we gotta talk. You let me in the Starburst Chamber to find that thing in Chiana, didn't you?



Pike blinks once.


CRICHTON:

Yes. Does Moya want me to reveal it to Tallip?



Pike blinks once.


CRICHTON:

And what if Tallip... is lying?



Pike 'freaks out' bleeping and squealing rapidly, Crichton grabs it by the antennas, to prevent it from scooting away.


CRICHTON:

Whoa, whoa, hey, whoa, whoa, calm do-- calm down! I know you're freakin' out about Pilot, but if that thing in Chiana's not diseased... does Moya still want me to betray it?



Pike blinks once.


CRICHTON:

Okay.



John climbs back to his feet, giving Pike a reassuring pat before moving on.




Cut to Command -- Jool is awake again, but she's completely freaked out about the tasting thing.


JOOL:

If it touches me again, D'Argo... I will die!



Crichton enters.


CRICHTON:

I found the Energy Rider, it's in Chiana, she's hiding in the Starburst Chamber.

JOOL:

Tell Pilot, and get that thing off Moya now!

CRICHTON:

It might be... a little more complicated than that.



Cut to Pilot's Den. D'Argo and John enter, they look peeved.


PILOT:

I sense your anger. I did warn you, tasting would be... painful.

D'ARGO:

We've hidden the Rider, and you will never find him.

CRICHTON:

So let's make a deal. You turn the ship around, head back to your cluster, we'll tell you where the Rider is, and you two can play, "Pick the friendly alien in your neighborhood."

PILOT:

How do I know one of you is not infected, that this is not the Rider's plan?

D'ARGO:

( snorts in disgust ) It's not. This plan is so bad... it has to be ours.

PILOT:

Okay... I choose.



The chamber lights begin flickering and the pressure driven vapor fills Pilot's alcove. D'Argo roars in pain as his body begins to jitter and dance. Crichton reaches out to pull him away from Pilot, but he is tossed across the chamber to the door, landing hard on his back. The 'tasting' continues as D'Argo roars Crichton's name.




Cut to Starburst Chamber -- The possessed Chiana crouches down between two of the silver rib structures on the wall of the chamber. She looks about fearfully as the lights pulse rhythmically.


CHIANA:

I not... not leaving. No... no.



Jool enters, pulse pistol at the ready, spotting Chiana cowering against the wall almost immediately.


JOOL:

Crichton thought you were safe here... but he was wrong.



Chiana eyes an entirely freaked out Jool, and speaks to her in her 'normal' voice, the Rider well hidden again.


CHIANA:

What's going on?

JOOL:

"What's going on?" ... ( yelling ) Get up!

CHIANA:

Why the pulse pistol... Princess?

JOOL:

Crichton told us... you're the one. Now, get up!

CHIANA:

( with resigned good humor ) Okay... I'm the one...

JOOL:

Get up!

CHIANA:

I'm the one...

JOOL:

Get up!



Chiana raises her hands, and precedes Jool out of the chamber.




Cut to Moya Passageway -- Jool urges Chiana forward, the lights in the passageway are also pulsing.


JOOL:

Move!



Abruptly, Chi turns about in the passage, Jool holds the pistol on her. The Rider in Chi has decided to try a bit of pursuasion on Jool, the freaky sing-song voice of the Rider replacing Chiana's own.


CHIANA:

Okay... okay... you, you right... no, no Chi.... poof! They can't fool Jool... too, too smart. Your human must say... I not bad... not, not bad.



Good timing, John arrives, jogging around a turn in the passage, coming upon Jool holding the pistol on Chiana.


CRICHTON:

Jool! What are you doing?

JOOL:

I'm taking her... to Pilot.

CRICHTON:

Look that Demon's got D'Argo...

JOOL:

( shrieking ) Get out of my way!



In the heat of the moment, Jool moves the aim of the weapon from Chiana to John, who throws both his hands into the air.


CRICHTON:

Hey, hey!



The Energy Rider takes advantage of Jools distraction by smashing the weapon from Jool's hand. Grabbing Jool by the throat, she rams her up against the wall. John steps forward to help.


CRICHTON:

Hey, hey. There's no need to...



Crichton finds his throat firmly in Chi's grip. The Rider easily holds John off the deck with one hand, while holding Jool against the wall with the other. Both of Crichton's hands become occupied with taking some of his own weight off his throat... his voice is choked.


CHIANA:

No more talk!

CRICHTON:

Let me go.

CHIANA:

Tiny brains... no more talk!

CRICHTON:

Let... me... go.



Okay, the Energy Rider continues ranting, but it's impossible to tell what she's saying under Crichton's pleas.


CRICHTON:

Please... pretty please.

CHIANA:

I give them.

CRICHTON:

Please let go.



Chiana tosses both Crichton and Jool to the floor.


CRICHTON:

( hoarsely ) Okay, so, everything Tallip said about you was true.

CHIANA:

Yes.... Mm... desire... they stay....

CRICHTON:

Hey cupcake, have you noticed the lights? They're not pulsing anymore. Your friend must be done with D'Argo.



Hey, Crichton's right... lights are no longer pulsing, but Chi already looks out of it, the tasting process begins-- lights flash again and Chi is drawn across the floor and slammed against the wall, her body jerking in 'incredible fast motion'. Jool looks just as terrorized by this, as she was by her own experience.


CRICHTON:

Tallip, take the Rider, but don't hurt Chiana!



Chiana's body drops to the floor. She lies still for a moment, her quiet choked breaths building to screams of pain as her body is lifted from the floor.


CRICHTON:

Tallip?! Tallip-- you're killing her! Tallip!!



Accompanied by Chiana's screams the Energy Rider 'rips' out of her back and sails rapidly down the passage. Crichton racing after it.




The Rider soars into the Den and is rapidly drawn into Pilot's body. John enters the Den a moment afterward. The lights continue to pulsate. On the floor D'Argo's arms move randomly as he slowly recovers... thinking about getting up.




Cut to the passage -- Jool pulls Chiana into her arms, soothing her gently.


JOOL:

Crichton, she's alive.



Cut to the Den -- Crichton crouches beside D'Argo, who remains sprawled on the floor.


JOOL:

( over comms ) The thing's out of her, she's alive.



An entirely pissed Crichton looks up at Pilot... he slowly stands, eyeing the alien coldly.


CRICHTON:

Is that it? You finished?

PILOT:

Yes. I have killed the Rider.

CRICHTON:

That's what it said you wanted to do. Turn Moya around, head back to your cluster and leave us the hell alone.

PILOT:

No, human. I love this now. I have mastered this body and your ship. And now... I am going to stay.



END ACT III










ACT IV





Pilot's Den

The Rider in Pilot is 'blissing' a bit.


CRICHTON:

I thought you couldn't stay in Pilot.

PILOT:

Never knew it could be like this. So good! The Rider was right... it is perfect to stay too long, perfect.

CRICHTON:

Moya will never accept you.

PILOT:

( angrily ) Moya will do what I command! Now go! Take the Luxan with you... ah, so I can... enjoy this.



Crichton pulls D'Argo from the floor and throwing one of the Luxan's arms over his shoulder, leads him from the den.




Cut to Starburst Chamber -- Crichton tracks down his new ally, DRD Pike, for another conversation.


CRICHTON:

Thought I might find you here.



Pike squeeks at him as he crouches beside the DRD.


CRICHTON:

Moya... you were right, I should have given the Rider to Pilot when you said, but I still think he would have screwed us. Don't you?



Pike blinks once, indicating Moya's agreement.


CRICHTON:

Okay, I got a new plan, it's a better plan... but I need your help, okay?



Pike blinks once.




Cut to Passage -- Jool rocks Chi in her arms, stroking her white hair gently. Crichton arrives and crouches beside them.


CRICHTON:

Is she okay?

JOOL:

Yeah.

CRICHTON:

All right, I need you to go to the Neural Cluster, Tier 7. D'Argo's waiting there for you.



Crichton collects Chi from Jool's arms, and she easily passes the Nebari to him.


JOOL:

What's happening?

CRICHTON:

Just go! The less said the better. D'Argo will tell you what to do.



Jool hustles off, and John turns his attention to Chi.


CRICHTON:

Pip, I need your help. Can you walk?

CHIANA:

( faintly ) No.

CRICHTON:

No? Oh, God.



[ Just as if she doesn't weigh, what... 98 pounds? ] Crichton drags her out of the shot.




Cut to Neural Cluster -- Jool enters, looking about for someone. Before she can call out, D'Argo POUNCES on her from the shadows. Grabbing her by one arm, he spins her about, pressing his finger to her lips to keep her silent, then pressing his finger to his own lips, he indicates their 'mutual' silence. Jool quietly nods her understanding. D'Argo shows her a schematic of Moya, silently tracing a path on it with his finger.




Cut to Starburst Chamber -- Crichton runs in, Chiana cradled in his arms.


CRICHTON:

Moya's going to try to direct some Starburst energy into the Den.

CHIANA:

Won't that kill Pilot?



John sets Chi down on the floor next to an open access panel, her head resting on his shoulder. [ Camera POV is shooting 'out' through the access portal... beautiful! ]


CRICHTON:

Not if we time it right. We get the Demon out, we kill it, and Pilot lives.

CHIANA:

( giggling ) So, that the only plan we got?

CRICHTON:

That's it.

CHIANA:

Okay. What do you want me to do?



Crichton lays out the plan, speaking rapidly... just 'this' side of frantic.


CRICHTON:

All right. D'Argo and Jool are gonna spook the thing. I'm gonna press an override panel in Pilot's Den. I'm gonna comm you.



John shows her two thick cables.


CRICHTON:

You join these two circuits together, DRD Pike's gonna do the same thing over there.



Concerned, John turns to look at her closely, trying to judge her capability to complete the assigned task.


CRICHTON:

You remember what happened here last time, don't you? I'm not talkin' about the sex thing. That was great, but I'm not talkin' about it.

CHIANA:

Starburst blast.

CRICHTON:

Right. Well, this one's gonna be a gazillion times stronger, Chiana, so you got ten microts to get your ass outta here.

CHIANA:

( nodding ) Plenty of time.

CRICHTON:

Chiana?

CHIANA:

Hm?

CRICHTON:

Do you understand what you have to do?

CHIANA:

Yeah, easy. You comm...

CRICHTON:

( nods ) Yes.

CHIANA:

I join...

CRICHTON:

( nods ) Yes.

CHIANA:

Leave.

CRICHTON:

Very good.

CHIANA:

Plenty of time.



Standing, John pats her on the shoulder, turning to leave.


CRICHTON:

DRD Pike! Keep an eye on her!



Chiana collapses to the floor as John bolts from the chamber.




Cut to Neural Cluster -- Jool climbs the ladder to the designated level, sweating and panting, but no whimpering! [ You GO Jool! ]




Cut to Starburst Chamber -- Chi's passed out on the floor. Pike humms over to her, bumping her hard on the arm, jolting her awake.


CHIANA:

I'm awake! I'm awake!



Pike's not sure it's safe to leave her alone yet, so she 'shoo's' him with a very funny 'bzzz'ing' noise. [ ala Rod, in Fifth Element ].




Cut to Pilot's Den -- The alien possessing Pilot continues to bliss out [ apparently it IS a lovely experience to be a physical being. We should all take a lesson ], John enters casually, his presence jolting him out of his blissful state.


PILOT:

What are you doing here?

CRICHTON:

Oh, relax, Casper. I'm not here to interrupt your blissing. Too much makes you go blind though, you know.

PILOT:

What do you want... human?

CRICHTON:

I want you to take us to the shipping lanes. Then we can all get off this boat, and you can continue what you're doing uninterrupted. Okay?



Pilot curls his lip in an unnatural snarl.




Cut to Neural Cluster -- D'Argo transits 'down' the ladder to his designated location. He stops and taps his comms twice.




Cut to Neural Cluster -- Also stopped at her designated level, Jool hears the two blips of the comms and returns the signal with two blips from her own comms pin.




D'Argo pulls a connection at his location, the action accompanied by a flare of smoke and surge of electric sparking.




At her location, Jool pulls up two loose connections, and turning away slightly with eyes squeezed shut, completes a circuit.




Cut to Pilot's Den -- Pilot screams in pain, the lights pulsating rapidly.


CRICHTON:

What's the matter?

PILOT:

Stay away! It's your Pilot, I think this body is...

CRICHTON:

Monitor his internal circulation rate.

PILOT:

Circulation rate. I-I can't find the circulation rate!

CRICHTON:

What? Oh, perfect!

PILOT:

What?

CRICHTON:

No circulation rate means he's dying, numbnuts. You're killing Pilot!

PILOT:

I couldn't be! I gauged that this body could sustain me.

CRICHTON:

You must've gauged wrong!

PILOT:

Stay back!

CRICHTON:

I'm stayin' back. I'm stayin' way back, and watching you die.

PILOT:

If I die, you'll all die! I'll vent every chamber on this ship!

CRICHTON:

Whoa, there's no reason to be vindictive! We can figure something else out... Moya-- Moya's a living ship!

PILOT:

Yes.

CRICHTON:

Well, if she's alive, then...

PILOT:

It will have neural capacity. More than enough to hold me till we could get back to my cluster.

CRICHTON:

There you go!

PILOT:

Yes! I will go into Moya!



Pilot begins roaring in pain as the alien being struggles to extract itself. Crichton bolts forward and depresses a panel on Pilot's console, comming Chiana immediately.


CRICHTON:

Now, Chiana!



Cut to Starburst Chamber -- Chiana's out on the floor, Pike ramming gently into her arm.


CRICHTON:

( over comms ) Chiana, now!



Cut to Pilot's Den -- Pilot's body begins to glow as the alien extracts itself.


CRICHTON:

Chiana, it's leaving Pilot. Do it!



The alien bursts free of Pilot's body, a huge red winged energy being.


CRICHTON:

Chiana! If it get's into Moya, we're screwed!



Cut to Starburst Chamber -- Chiana's still out of it on the floor, Pike rams her arm ungently, her body gently rocking. She wakes abruptly.


CHIANA:

What?!

CRICHTON:

( over comms ) Chiana!

CHIANA:

All right, I'm up,

CRICHTON:

( over comms ) Hey, Pip! Get on it!

CHIANA:

Okay, I'm up, okay, here, here we go. Here we go.



With cables in hand, Chiana completes the circuit. DRD Pike doing the same at his position. The loud hum of Starburst initiating and energy building fills the chamber.


CHIANA:

I've done it.



Cut to Pilot's Den -- Flapping it's huge wings, it's body bobbing up and down with every stroke, the alien flies free of Pilot's Alcove.


CRICHTON:

Great, Chi. Now get out of the Starburst Chamber!



Crichton watches the alien making slow progress away from Pilot's body, very 'batlike' in it's movements.


CRICHTON:

Now, Moya!



Cut to Starburst Chamber -- The Starburst Effect begins to coalesce at the base of the three sparred 'starburst core'. With the impetus of fear behind her, Chi drags herself to her feet and charges across the chamber, diving through the open panel just as it slides closed, cutting off Pike's escape from certain destruction.




Cut to Pilot's Den -- A final command and Crichton bolts from the Den.


CRICHTON:

Now!



Cut to Starburst Chamber -- The energy of Starburst is unleashed, travelling rapidly upward through the core of the vessel, the abyss below Pilot's den filling with the wild white light of Starburst.

Tendrils of light barely reaching into Pilot's Den, contact the alien like bolts of lightening, rolling it through the air, briefly tossing it about in front of Pilot before consuming it.





END ACT IV










EPILOGUE





INT. Moya -- Center Chamber

Chi's head rests on the table, the incessant drip continues just inches from her face. Crichton strolls by, pouring something into a cup by her head. Jool is collapsed onto the table just beside her.


CRICHTON:

Pilot, put the claws away, we can function without Moya being perfect for a while.

PILOT:

I can't stop. There are... hundreds of little things not working right in her.

JOOL:

( moaning ) I feel like I had a spiritual enema.

CRICHTON:

Well, take a break, dude. Unless... anybody wants to go look for the Three Stooges broadcast again?



Jool hisses her displeasure at the idea.


CRICHTON:

That's a no. Take the rest.



Jool stands and wearily moves toward the door, stopping at Crichton's question.


CRICHTON:

Hey, Doc. How come I bled and you guys didn't?

JOOL:

Well, that's obvious. You bled because you are an irritating and inferior species. Good night.



Giving him an insincerely warm smile, she walks out, one hand pressed to her forehead.


CRICHTON:

Good night.



Crichton leans on the table next to Chiana, now sitting up, resting her head in one hand.


CRICHTON:

Chiana, you had that thing in you longer than any of the rest of us. You feel any different?

CHIANA:

No. I just feel like fek.



John nods slightly in understanding.


CRICHTON:

D'Argo-- you still down in the cluster?

CHIANA:

No, he's not down there. He's here.

CRICHTON:

No... he's down in the cluster.



On cue, D'Argo walks in. Crichton takes this in with a small amount of surprise, and turns back to Chiana.


CRICHTON:

How did you know that?

D'ARGO:

What? How did she know what?

CRICHTON:

No, no... don't, don't tell me. I don't really wanna... I just wanna sleep... I'm gonna go get some sleep.



Crichton departs leaving D'Argo looking from the door to Chiana and back again.




INTERCUT



INT. Command Carrier -- Scorpius's Quarters

Stretched out on the long narrow cot again, we note that Scarran/Sebaceans also have REM sleep. Back in the dreamscape, Scorpius pursues John through the corridors, or through a wormhole, the image is a juxtaposition of both. John closes out the sight of the wormhole in the monolithic box, Scorpius appearing over his shoulder.


SCORPIUS:

( mildly ) Hello, John.



John wheels about, facing Scorpius. Scorpy approaches him slowly this time, grappling John's throat in one black gloved hand, walking him around as he turns, then walking him backward before lifting him off his feet.


SCORPIUS:

Now, you tell me... everything you know about wormholes.



John can't possibly respond as his words as well as his breath are being choked off. Abruptly releasing one hand from Scorpy's arm, John points over his shoulder to the box behind them.


CRICHTON:

( choked gasp ) Look!

SCORPIUS:

Everything!



The doors to the box spring open, revealing the wormhole inside. Scorpius turns to look at the phenomenon, his face exhultant.


SCORPIUS:

I found it! I...



Taking the opportunity of the distraction, John pulls Scorpy's hand off his throat, twisting his black clad arm behind his back.


CRICHTON:

You found nothing, Scorpy! You missed it!



Crichton walks Scorpius toward the wormhole.


CRICHTON:

You missed the whole thing! Game over!!



Crichton thrusts Scorpy into the box, into the wormhole. Scorpius wakes, lunging from his nightmare to a sitting position, gasping for breath.

Fully awake, and perhaps realizing the prophetic nature of his nightmare, Scorpius curls his lip in an unpleasant snarl.







FADE TO BLACK












ROLL ENDING CREDITS













For your amusement & total body immersion:
Check Out the Following Reviews/Episode Synopsis & "CIL" for:
" Losing Time "
at the scifi.com "Farscape" Bulletin Board

John Crichton as Jesus Christ???? : Losing Time : FarDareisMy : 06/30/01
[ heh. Sorry, couldn't resist! :) No offense intended. :) ]
News from SACC : Losing Time : OboeCrazy : 06/30/01
Incoherent Brit Ramblings : Losing Time : RydraWong : 07/04/01
Farscape Fantasy, Click on "Photo Gallery" for pics





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