Farscape

WHAT WAS LOST, PART 2
RESURRECTION

Episode 10403

Original USA Air Date: June 21, 2002



written by

Justin Monjo

directed by

Rowan Woods

Season #4: Episode 3



© 1998     The Jim Henson Company, Inc.






COLD OPEN

Continuous from end of episode 4:02.

Close on edge of cliff face, the small surf of the ocean bobbing in right of shot. Panning up along the edge of the cliff face to reveal the open ocean, John's body floating face down in the short swells.

Beneath the surface, a sense of deja vu, close on John, eyes closed, no bubbles of oxygen breaking from closed lips.

Close reverse shot of Oo-nii's technicolor face, a slight underwater growl revealing rows of pointed teeth.

Close on John, his solomnent features awakening as his eyes pop open. Cut to close on Oo-nii cruising by just below him, and back to John thrashing in the water, backing away rapidly as best he can.

Long across the surface of the ocean, John's head, shoulders and arms pop above the surface and he rotates in the water, arms thrashing--

Beneath the surface, Oo-nii cruises beneath John's submerged body, wrapping arms around his waist, dragging him down.

Long across the surface, with a grunt, John's dragged under.

Beneath the surface John's grunt turns to bubbles of escaping oxygen and he's dragged down, one arm still trailing up toward the surface.

Close on John as he bursts temporarily above the surface, a desperate lungfull of air and he strokes toward shore, again a sense of deja vu as this has happened before.

But this hasn't. Cut to shore, looking out over the ocean, the backs of six or seven armored and armed PK soldiers bringing pulse rifles to bear. John pulls up short in the water; everything but head and shoulders beneath the surface. One of the soldiers shouts to Grayza just as John is hauled beneath the surface again.

Oo-nii and John thrash about beneath the surface. On the surface, a great submerged prat fall as John's booted foot is the last to disappear- more shouting from the soliders.

With a more secure hold about his shoulder and chest, Oo-nii drags John far beneath the surface. He continues to thrash at the water, trying to pull away. The surf rolls them and we cut to the surface again, the PK's with arms still at the ready, waiting for John to surface again. Of their prey there is no sign.

In the deep, murky green water, John still struggles as the alien drags him easily through the water. The critter now walking through shallower water, John's legs tucked beneath his arm. Still flailing strongly with his arms, his hands attempting to hold onto the various pillars embedded in the water, but they slip out of his fingers as Oo-nii tows him, face down, through the shallow green water.

John's struggles growing weaker as the camera emerges from the water, Oo-nii ducks beneath a barred drop gate and tows his prize into the subterranean chamber.

OO-NII [O.S.]

You're with Grayza. You'll give her the Darnaz Probes!

Fade from long on John, still being towed through the shallow water to close on his dripping face, Oo-nii's hands on his shoulders pressing him against a mostly submerged fabricated rock shelf.

JOHN

Look, Grayza doesn't give a rats ass--

OO-NII

I saw you with her!

Oo-nii drags him off the shelf, forcing him beneath the surface of the water. Close on John as bubbles break from his mouth and nose, struggling beneath the water.

Shortly, fish guy hauls him back up, slamming him against the rock shelf.

JOHN

Ah!

John braces himself with arms splayed across the top, gasping for breath, the water rushing from his hair, nose and mouth.

JOHN

Grayza... doesn't give a damn-- about probes! She just wants what's in my head!

Oo-nii's not buying.

OO-NII

Vella was my friend, I'll not let you take what she discovered! You not give it to them!

Hauling John up he shoves him beneath the water, holding him while he struggles to surface. Close on John for a moment, thrashing in the water, oxygen exploding from his lungs in large looping streams.

After a long moment, a waterfall streaming from his head and shoulders, he's yanked violently from the water, and slammed face first into the nearly submerged stone shelf. Anger takes a greater hold than fear and some slight reasoning... John shouts, his voice choked with water.

JOHN

Get off me you son of a bitch! I'm not gonna tell anybody I saw where the probe is!

OO-NII

You saw it?

JOHN

( nodding )
It's buried-- but I'm not gonna tell anybody.

OO-NII

Tell me where!

John is thrust beneath the surface again.

OO-NII [O.S.]

Where the final probe?!

Close on his continued struggle, one hand still pressed against the surface of the stone shelf, Oo-nii holds him under with ease.

Fade to black and...

ROLL OPENING CREDITS

ACT I

Continuous from end of cold open. Shot is close on John, head thrashing against the hold on his neck, bubbles of oxygen pouring from his mouth and nose. The thrashing slowly tapering off as the last of the bubbles burst away, John's face clenched tightly against the urge to inhale.

D'ARGO [O.S.]

What are you doing?! I told you to find him--

Long on D'Argo standing on the low stone shelf on the verge of the pool of green water, Qualta Blade pointing across the space at Oo-nii's back. Sikozu peers between two pillars, standing beside D'Argo.

D'ARGO

--not drown him-- now get off!!

At the bottom of the shot, Oo-nii's head turns toward D'Argo and Sikozu. Then long across the right side of the chamber, Oo-nii standing between the rock shelf verging the entire pool of green water and the nearly submerged stone shelf at the center. John still thrashing beneath the surface, but bursting upward with a gasp as Oo-nii backs off.

John backs away rapidly, mouth agape, his hand sliding along the top of the stone shelf. He clears the water from his eyes and turning, drags himself wearily through the shallow water toward D'Argo and Jool, reaching up to take D'Argo's offered hand.

D'ARGO

Here.

At that range both D'Argo and Sikozu flinch back, the girl covering her mouth and nose with both hands. D'Argo grunts in disgust

D'ARGO

What?! Oh!

He releases his supporting hold on the human, dropping him back into the water.

D'ARGO

Back in the box for you, my...

John flounders beneath the surface.

D'ARGO

Oh!

A hand slips onto the the stone shelf and John pops back up, flinging water from his hair, wiping dripping water from his face.

D'ARGO

What... is with the stench?

Leaning back against the stone shelf, arms stretched out across the top, John looks around, wiping water from his eyes.

JOHN

I don't smell anything.

SIKOZU

Maybe that is the reason?

JOHN

Maybe that's the reason what?

SIKOZU

It could not be!

D'ARGO

You know her, she starts sentences and then she doesn't finish 'em-- it's very annoying.

JOHN

The reason what?!

D'ARGO

You know, you and Grayza with the...

D'Argo bobs his head helpfully, not really wanting to finish the explanation.

JOHN

You know about that?

D'ARGO

John... everyone knows.

He hangs his head, speaking softly.

JOHN

Oh, no...

SIKOZU

I must be wrong but...
( to D'Argo )
Heppel oil?

D'ARGO

That's a myth.

SIKOZU

It would explain the smell.

John hangs on the shelf, arms stretched across the top.

JOHN

( sighing )
What are you guys talkin' about?

SIKOZU

Dellos concubines have a gland implanted that creates Heppel oil.

John runs his hands through his hair while Sikozu explains, successfully bringing it up in a mass of tangled spikes, arms slapping back onto the stone shelf, his head rolling back on his shoulders, eyes to the ceiling. [ cripes, he's so cute. hehe ]

SIKOZU

Its perfume... targets the erogenous zones, and... it makes you...

JOHN

Yeah, I know... what it does.

SIKOZU

But Grayza would never desire it!

JOHN

Why not?

SIKOZU

Well, its effects are irreversable.

John moves away from the stone shelf, wobbling slightly as he paces through the waist deep water.

SIKOZU

Once the gland has been implanted, the concubines die cycles before their time.

JOHN [O.S.]

Ugh, she touched me...

D'Argo looks disgusted too.

John submerges himself, scrubbing erratically at his face, his arms-- Oo-nii lurks behind a pillar, taking all of this in, ignored by the others in the chamber. John pops up, spraying water again, shuddering a bit.

JOHN

Man! I'm not goin' anywhere near that woman again!

D'ARGO

John, you have to see her one more time.

JOHN

( laughing scornfully )
Screw you.

D'ARGO

Well, to use one of your expressions, you're gonna have to take one for the team.

JOHN

Technically I've taken two.

D'ARGO

And now, it's time for the triple. Listen-- she still has Jool and Chiana, and we have a plan to get 'em out.

D'Argo nods toward Sikozu as she takes the remaining lolli's from her hair. John arches an eyebrow expectantly.

JOHN

Yes?

SIKOZU

We are operating on a need to know basis, and we think it best that you only know your part.

JOHN

Excuse me?

D'ARGO

Well, we feel that if you know the whole plan then...

D'Argo bobs his head again, again uncomfortable with completing the thought.

JOHN

What? You-you two... work it out, and... come up with a plan, now you trust her and you're not gonna tell me the plan!?

John climbs out of the water onto the stone shelf, sitting with legs dangling in the water as he bitches.

JOHN

Well, let me tell you-- I do not get back in the saddle with Mata Hari until I get the whole plan!

SIKOZU

If you go back, can you be sure that Grayza will not make you tell everything you know?!

In reluctant, angry agreement, John wipes water from his face and looks away.

D'ARGO

You know it's the right thing to do, John.

Really reluctantly, that gut twisting trapped look on his face.

JOHN

( softly )
Fine. What do you want me to do?

D'ARGO

Okay. The Marauders are prepping to go. We think they want to take you with them. You have to keep Grayza buzy for about two arns.

Sikozu continues untwisting her lolli's, her voice inappropriately soft with innuendo, considering the method of seduction.

SIKOZU

From what we have seen... that shouldn't be too hard.

JOHN

Trust me, it'll be hard. What am I supposed to do in two arns?

D'ARGO

Just... wait for my signal.

JOHN

Right.

D'ARGO

And, John... when they find you, it's gonna have to be believable-- you know, that you're hurt, that you'd taken a fall; you can do that?

John nods, understanding.

JOHN

I can fake that. I can fake it.

D'ARGO

Now, they have--

JOHN

I said... I can fake it.

D'ARGO

Okay, okay.
( beat )
Are you sure?

John peers up, squicking water from his ear with a finger, eyeballing D'Argo briefly before looking down again.

JOHN

I'm sure.

D'ARGO

Okay.

Another slight pause and D'Argo leans his head back, tongue lashing out. John flexing spasmodically at the strike, wobbling on the stone shelf, his head bobbing slightly.

JOHN

( laughing )
You bas...

He tips over, face first, into the water.

Fade to a cloudy sky over the planet surface

EXT PLANET

Shot pans down to rocky overhang of the plateau, several PK's in the distance, running a search. Shot continues panning down to the oceanside. John, draped, face arms and head over a large boulder-- lights out, nobody home. Waves break against the rocky shore behind him, and a PK climbs into the shot to stand beside him. A brief examination and the PK turns to his distant comrades.

PK SOLDIER

He's alive!

ALTAR CHAMBER

Close on John, cheek pressed to a stone shelf, features relaxed, but flexing almost immediately with returning consciousness. His companion alerted by a soft grunt.

GRAYZA [O.S.]

I let you walk unguarded.

John tries to lift his head, eyes rolling, seeking her location.

Long on the large chamber, heavy stone pillars in four corners, illumination provided by tall white candles. Grayza slowly approaches a large stone altar at the center of the room. Place has weird track lighting, large circles of red light on the floor and the head and foot of the altar.

Prostrate on top of the stone altar, broad black leather straps secured at four points in the ceiling secure his wrists and ankles. John turns his head, examining the straps on his wrists, the fingers of his near hand curling into a fist as she reaches the altar, crawling up to kneel beside him.

GRAYZA

And you repay me... by trying to escape.

JOHN

( weary )
I'm not Steve McQueen. I wasn't trying to escape.

Close on Grayza's fingers, stroking through the beads of perspiration on her chest. John continues, his voice muffled by the stone.

JOHN [O.S.]

I thought someone was throwing me off a cliff.
( beat )
I live in a strange universe.

Medium on John arms held out by the black straps, Grayza perched over him like a predator, her hand gliding toward his face.

JOHN

Things like that are fairly normal.

Her hand drifts across his face and he flinches back, inhaling involuntarily, jerking against the straps as his breath catches.

GRAYZA

You tell me... why the Scarrans want you so badly... and I will find your love; Aeryn Sun.

Close on John, his voice almost unintelligibly quiet.

JOHN

Aeryn?

fade to

HOLDING AREA

Close on Scorpius, down on hands and knees, the leash still around his neck and still held by his former Lt., Braca. Braca bashes him on the back of the head, urging him toward a shallow basin of water.

BRACA

Drink.

Scorpius crawls to the basin, lapping at the water. Braca drops the chain lead, struts across the room, creepy smirk on his face. [ geez, wonder if Braca will be with us much longer? ]

Behind the bars in the small alcove, the girls bitch at each other in subdued whispers. Close on Chi and the old woman; with the assistance of a fistful of drab golden blonde hair, Chi yanks the old woman's head back, spitting whispered venom into her ear.

CHIANA

I thought... you were gonna get Crichton to help us?!

WRINKLES

He had to die. No other way.

CHIANA

I didn't think you were gonna kill him, Wrinkles!

JOOL

We're all gonna die soon.

Chiana releases her grip on the old woman, stalking toward Jool, cowering and cuffed against the far wall.

CHIANA

Frekka!

Angry and frustrated, but opting not to bash the redhead, she stalks to the opposite wall of the narrow chamber, leaning against the wall, a frustrated laugh. Her wrists are also manacled by PK cuffs.

JOOL

Psst.

CHIANA

What?

JOOL

The magnetics...

Brief close shot of one of the Interion Magnetics Sensors, but the light still appears to be... well, not red in the current light.

JOOL

...you see how the color is fading from everything?

Chi peers at her beneath her overgrown white bangs.

JOOL

The walls, your clothes!

CHIANA

I never had much color to start with, Princess!

JOOL

But don't you feel it, how you're getting hotter?

Jool crosses to the old woman standing at the bars.

JOOL

If we stay in here any longer, we'll all be dead in ten arns... the flesh cooked off our bones.

Chiana laughs.

CHIANA

Just great. Just great. I am stuck here... with the suicide tralks.

Chiana steps closer as well.

CHIANA

I am not gonna let you get me down. I... I am gonna get us out of this.

Their whispered conversation interrupted by muttering outside the cell, Chi peers out the bars.

Long across the room, Sikozu descending a short flight of stairs, confronting two armed PK soldiers and Braca, standing behind them.

SIKOZU

All right, who is in charge?

No one answers, they all just stand there while Braca gapes. She sways forward seductively, batting a rifle muzzle away with a gentle hand. She steps closer to Braca, eyeing him suggestively. [ 'cause god knows, without Aeryn we can't just kick their asses! *erm, sorry* ]

SIKOZU

Captain... I am your promotion.

ELACK - HANGAR BAY

The Luxan Fighter hovers over the deck.

D'ARGO [O.S.]

( over comms )
Rygel, I've docked. Meet me in the Transport Hanger.

ELACK - TRANSPORT HANGAR

Close on the upright remains of Crichton's Still, panning right to reveal D'Argo and Rygel fleshing out the plan.

D'ARGO

If we can get Elack to crash into the Marauders on the planet, we might be able to escape in the explosion wake, or at least... far enough so the command carrier can't track us.

Rygel hovers on the other side of the rubble strewn crate D'Argo is leaning elbows on. His response is skepticism laced with concern.

RYGEL

Crichton know about this plan?

D'ARGO

He may not want to go along with it, but we have no other option. Can you convince the old pilot to do it?

RYGEL

I think so. No matter what, she knows she's soon to die.

D'Argo nods, and heads back to the ship.

RYGEL

Do you know why this plan is going to fail?

D'ARGO

Rygel--

RYGEL

Sikozu will betray us again. Do you really think you can trust that female to do her part?

D'ARGO

I have no choice.

Rygel grunts as D'Argo resumes course back to the ship.

ALTAR CHAMBER

Long across the chamber, shot panning slowly left. John is stretched out on his back, legs crossed at the ankles; shirt and straps both removed. Grayza sits beside him, removing his tangled shirt from his right hand. His left arm outstretched, open hand off the side of the altar, bare awareness making his words spill out bereft of strength, voice hollow.

JOHN

I know they're always out there... in the sky... waiting.

GRAYZA

If these wormholes are always there... why can't they be seen?

He lifts his head, turning toward her, raising his left arm between them.

JOHN

It's that... they're like this...

He holds is arm, bent at the elbow, palm flat and held laterally, palm faced to the right, thumb toward his face. Grayza eyes his hand with interest.

JOHN

...invisible.

Her gaze slides from his hand to his eyes, she seems genuinely interested, intrigued.

JOHN

And sometimes...

Medium on John and Grayza, his arm bent slightly between them, the arc may seem a bit 'familiar' later on.

JOHN

...under the right conditions... they turn...

He shifts the position of his forearm and wrist, the flat plane of his palm and fingers now facing outward.

JOHN

...and appear.

Grayza leans in slightly, sinking her teeth gently into the pad of his thumb before releasing, John's fingers relax and stroke gently down the side of her face as she pulls away.

JOHN

I just don't know how... to make them appear.

His fingertip traces shakily across her lower lip.

Long on the room as Braca enters, following a shallow spiral walkway in the large, circular chamber, he takes the few broad steps to the raised central dias in long hurried strides.

BRACA

Ma'am.

She ignores him, still leaning over John's half clad body with great interest. [ and gosh, can we 'really' blame her? ]

GRAYZA

And do you think it's worth risking your life...

BRACA

Ma'am...

Braca stops at the top of the stairs, standing amidst white pillar candles nearly as tall as he is. Waiting with slight urgency in his stance. A nice clear view of his boss leaning over John, his head and shoulders off the stone altar, fingertips tracing through her short black hair, leaned in close enough for a kiss should she choose to bestow one.

GRAYZA

...to find out about these wormholes.

BRACA

Ma'am?

GRAYZA

( angry impatience )
Go away.

BRACA

Um... it's important, Ma'am.

Grayza reluctantly pulls away from John's gentle hands. Stepping down from the altar she crosses to Braca. John's hand relucant also to leave her arm, but once out of his grasp he falls back against the stone, arms outstretched, his chest rising and falling will deep breaths.

[ okay, gonna take a moment here. Offered with respect, Francesca- your husband; simply lovely. Thanks. ]

Reverse shot on the chamber, across John's lax form. Sikozu enters with two armed PK's from a doorway in the opposite wall. Braca and Grayza confer quietly. John's head, rolls to the left, away from the group on the opposite side of the room.

BRACA

I'm sorry to, uh... disturb you, but um...

He leans in closer, and we get a close on Sikozu, her gaze sliding from the Commandant and Braca to John as Braca's voice trails off to a whisper.

Close on John, rolling onto his side, his gaze invested in something he's spotted.

Close on Grayza, an angry glance in John's direction, lips pursed tightly.

Close on John's shaking hand, fingers fumbling with a silvery curved object, a small scrape of metal on stone as he draws it into his hand.

Cut back to med on Grayza, still watching him, pulling back to wide as Braca finishes, and moves to the exit. On the altar, John's rolled back onto his back, arms outstretched, chest heaving for breath.

Med on Sikozu and her guards as Braca passes.

BRACA

Bring her.

Close on John, eyes fixed to the ceiling.

JOHN

Bad news from Smithers?

Grayza moves slowly back to the altar, climbing back up beside him.

GRAYZA

Your Luxan has failed.

John exhales slowly, his features tightening.

GRAYZA

My soldiers are hunting him down.

Grayza looms over him, a hand on either side of him, her voice silky and assured.

GRAYZA

He'll be dead within an arn.

An explosion of movement and a gasping grunt, an angry snarl marring his beautiful face. John brings the curved edge of the small silver blade to inches of Grayza's throat before his hand stops abruptly. He presses his opposite hand against the one holding the blade, trying to force it forward. She smiles slightly as his hands shake with the effort, the blade vibrates just below her throat.

[ oh man, another bad guy he can't kill. ]

She lifts one hand and gently takes the blade from him. He falls back, sighing, rubbing hands over his face.

GRAYZA

Don't... fight me.

Close on John's profile, Grayza holding the curved edge of the blade against the hollow of his throat and tracing it slowly in a straight path down his chest. He's shaken and panting heavily, his voice barely a whisper.

JOHN

Scorpy... Scorpy brief you on this?

Grayza looks surprised, but smiles. He continues as the blade traces down further, his voice still breathless and soft, eyes closed.

JOHN

You wouldn't do this, not on your own...

Close on John, in left profile, the curve of the blade pressing slightly as it glides across his navel.

JOHN

...not this far away from High Command.

The blade pauses slightly while her hands release the front of his trousers, pulling the right flap back and drawing the blade further down, sliding across the flesh beneath. [ uh, oh ] John lifts his head up slightly, looking at her from beneath lowered lids, his voice still soft.

JOHN

You're just his whore...

Grayza eyes him, her face growing cold and angry. John presses further, his voice quivering slightly.

JOHN

...doing what he tells you to do.

Grayza lifts the blade away abruptly, fingers gripping the stylized hilt, the curved point of the blade aimed downward.

Cut to

EXT PLANET - FOREST

In bright sunlight, the shot is through the smallish trees into an open area. Grayza and her men stand right, away from the large nicely square hole in the ground. Shot pans left to long on John, shovelling dirt out of the hole.

JOHN

Is that enough dirt outta your hole, boss?

GRAYZA

Get out of there.

Braca steps closer to Grayza, dragging the crawling Scorpius closer to the hole, John spares a final glare in their direction before turning to climb out. Med on Sikozu crouched at the verge of the impromptu grave, a PK Soldier behind her. John spares her an especially venemous glance.

JOHN

Congratulations, Peacekeeper whore... perfect plan.

John lifts himself out of the grave, tossing a bit of dirt more or less in her direction. [ and I'm wondering... have we seen John angry 'now'? ]

He steps back slightly, dusting dirt off his hands. Grayza holds up a pulse pistol, muzzle down.

GRAYZA

One charge...

She crosses to him, dangling the weapon in her hand, he eyes her askance, surly but too smart to lash out given the odds and the number of PK troops surrounding them. Jool, Chiana and the old woman are also there, at the opposite side of the clearing, under guard.

GRAYZA

...you think... Scorpius is the brain.

She stops before him and he stares down at her blandly, giving away nothing but clear distaste.

GRAYZA

Go on... kill the half-breed genius and ruin everything.

He looks over her shoulder for a moment, uncertainty evident, glancing back, eyeballing the offered pistol.

JOHN

There's no charge in that weapon.

Grayza steps back, offering the weapon to Braca without looking back to him. Braca takes the weapon from her, returns to Scorpius still on hands and knees at the edge of the grave. Grabs him by the scruff on the neck and hauls him upright. He presses the weapon to his back and fires.

The blast tears through Scorpius's back, the energy erupting from his chest. White streamers of blood spray from his mouth. Close on John flinching badly. Scorpius chokes, wavers slightly, his eyes dead; and pitches face first into the hole, lying still at the bottom.

Close on John, slightly panicked, he decides to leave, bolting to the side, blocked by a PK and heads in the other direction... neither he nor we know where he plans on going- what he plans on doing. An impatient PK drives him to the ground with a rifle butt to the back. He grunts as he falls and med on Sikozu, gape mouthed with shock. The PK behind her shoves her into the hole and she lands next to Scorpius's crumpled body.

GRAYZA

( to Sikozu )
Is he dead?

John's gaze skitters about, again a long moment of uncertainty and fear. Crouching next to the body, Sikozu spares it a quick glance.

SIKOZU

Yes... yes, I think so.

Brief close on John, still looking very unnerved.

GRAYZA

Shoot her.

Brief med on Chiana and Jool. Chiana gives us a angry satisfied grin.

SIKOZU

What?! I helped you! I told you about the Luxan-- about his plan!

Chiana tries to move closer.

CHIANA

Shoot the tralk, Braca. Gimme a gun and I'll do it myself!

Braca crosses in front of John, taking a rifle from one of the guards. John remains kneeling at the head of the grave, eyes down. Grayza strolls a bit away from him in the sudden confusion. One of the armed PK's shoves Chiana backward and Chi glares at him angrily. In the grave, Sikozu hears a softly muttered word.

SCORPIUS [O.S.]

( softly )
Skernac...

Sikozu turns her head slightly in his direction and close on him, white blood pooled beneath his mouth and tracing his lips, his face pressed into the dirt.

SCORPIUS

( softly )
Say, Skernac... it'll save you.

SIKOZU

Braca, wait...

Bringing the weapon to bear on the girl in the hole, Braca doesn't seem inclined to wait.

SIKOZU

"Skernac"

Grayza pauses, turning to the girl. Braca waits.

GRAYZA

What did you say?

In the silence all around, Sikozu enunciates carefully and loudly.

SIKOZU

Skernac!

Braca looks around, slightly unsettled. Brief close on John, his head tipping slightly to the side, gaze still on the grave, frozen unbelief on his face. Brief close on Scorpius, unmoving except to whisper quietly to the girl.

SCORPIUS

Do not... let them bury me.

GRAYZA

Get her out of there.

Sikozu sighs with relief and accepts a hand up from a couple of the soldiers. Sikozu is happily out of it but not happy with the PKs in general, she shakes their hands off angrily.

SIKOZU

Get off me!

GRAYZA

How do you know Special Directorate code?

SIKOZU

Same way you do... and... may I suggest... I would not bury the half-breed. I would leave him out in the sun to rot.

Briefly close on Scorpius, slight movement of bloodstained lips.

SIKOZU

It would... scare the others more.

Shaking her head, her tone only slightly patronizing.

GRAYZA

I don't think so.

She turns to the soldiers.

GRAYZA

Bury him.

A PK Soldier shovels dirt into the grave, half covering Scorpius's face. Close on John, expression tight and angry. Perhaps angry to see this end, but as he said in SOD, 'too fast and it wasn't me', well, more or less.

Fade to black.

END ACT I

ACT II

CORRIDORS

D'Argo creeps around the corner of a corridor, Qualta Blade clutched and at the ready. We hear the stamp of booted feet and muted sound of voices.

PK SOLDIER [O.S.]

Quickly...

D'Argo pulls back around the corner and rapid pan L to a cadre of armored soldiers running past in the corridor.

D'Argo peers around the corner, pulling back again as the last trot by. Peering around again, and finding it safe, creeps into the corridor again.

D'ARGO

Okay, Rygel, I'm back on the planet.

ELACK - PILOT'S DEN

Rygel is perched on the console in front of the nearly motionless Pilot.

D'ARGO [O.S.]

( over comms )
Have you managed to convince the Pilot?

RYGEL

Yes. We'll wait for your signal.

CORRIDORS

Breathing heavily, D'Argo moves rapidly but warily through the corridors.

ELACK - PILOT'S DEN

In the moment, D'Argo doesn't seem concerned that this maneuver, if successful, will result in the death of two beings; but Rygel's reluctance is palpable. John would be proud.

RYGEL

I'd... better get a transport pod ready.

PILOT

Yes... I'll wait half an arn, then initiate de-orbit.

RYGEL

You'll be able to target your fall onto the marauders?

PILOT

Off the Luxan's signal. Farewell, Dominar. Perhaps... if our species share the same afterlife... we will meet again.

Rygel sighs, lowering his head.

ALTAR CHAMBER

Close on John, sitting upright but head rolling slightly on his neck, eyes unfocused, disoriented, a thin layer of sweat over his face, neck and shoulders.

Grayza's hand enters the shot and sweeps under his nose; he inhales reflexively, head rolling back, eyes closed, then slightly following her hand as she withdraws it; a shuddering exhale shaking him.

Pan right to include Grayza to the right and slightly behind his right shoulder, her hand stroking across it, the shirt having gone by the wayside again.

GRAYZA

My interrogations are much more agreeable than Scorpius' methods.

Wide on the pair, John sitting on the floor, his back against the stone altar, arms draped along the edge. Grayza lies on the altar, belly down under a black sheet pulled up to her bare shoulders. In front of them is a lovely shiny pentacle with five silver orbs at each point, each seem to release a trickle of mist, likely contributing to the heat in the room.

JOHN

Yeah... but I don't know anything else... about Scarrans. I've told you everything.

Medium and angle down as Grayza runs her fingers across his chest, his gaze is caught by a tiny critter jacking itself up a nearby pillar.

GRAYZA

We don't only have to talk about Scarrans.

Flashcut to a memory, the old womans fingers crushing a Laka like a bug, her counsel now heeded; "Squeeze the juzemeez out of it. -- you'll get a jolt-- wham! and for five hundred microts, nothing bothers you--"

Quick cut back to close on John, focused on the critter creeping down the wall.

GRAYZA

Are you listening to me?

John's head droops slowly to the side, pulling his gaze away from the wall, turning toward Grayza.

JOHN

Oh, yeah...

Cut to long across the room and Grayza looks even more like a big 'ol black spider underneath that black sheet. In the FG, the Laka jacks itself up the wall with its single leg.

John turns toward her, lifting up to accept an offered kiss.

EXT PLANET - FOREST

D'Argo whales the crap out of a couple of PK's, addressing their crumpled bodies as he passes.

D'ARGO

Always a pleasure.

HOLDING AREA

Close on Chi, peering through the bars as someone approaches. Outside the cell Sikozu moves quickly past a guard.

CHIANA

What the frell does she want?

Sikozu marches blithly past the armed guards, one holds the door to the cell open for her.

JOOL

( quietly )
Let me handle this.

Passing the guard, she runs an appreciative hand over his helmeted jaw, courteously acknowledging his assistance.

SIKOZU

Thank you.

She enters the cell, Jool is immediately not appreciative of the visit, grabbing her by the neck and slamming her against the wall. The Soldier steps inside quickly, aiming his rifle at the offender. Sikozu holds up a delaying hand, ordering him quiet.

SIKOZU

Stay back, stay back... it's all right.

JOOL

I always wait. You know, see both sides-- be reasonable.
( beat )
But now... I have nothing to lose.

Sikozu grabs her, turning the tables and slamming her against the wall. Jool moans, the pressure on her manacled hands causing some discomfort.

JOOL

Oh! Fr-ell!

Chi moves up behind her, quietly dropping her manacled wrists over Sikozu's head, applying a bit of pressure.

CHIANA

Let... her go.

Both of the guards are in the cell now, but still obey her last orders to be still and stay back.

SIKOZU

I didn't betray you. I am bluffing for all I am worth, just to get myself in here. Now... D'Argo has a plan.

JOOL

You're lying. We saw them not kill you. Why didn't they?

SIKOZU

They think I know some sort of secret survivor code.

CHIANA

What did you say to them?

SIKOZU

Skernac.

JOOL

What does it mean?

SIKOZU

I have no idea. But it saved my life, and... if you stop fighting me... I will try and save yours too.

JOOL

Why don't you put your fingers in her ears--
( laughs )
Stay... still

Chiana lifts her arms back over Sikozu's head, pressing her gloved fingers to the girls ears. In answer to Sikozu's puzzled expression, Jool kicks back with an ear piercing, metal melting scream.

The PK cuffs on Jool and Chi melt and shatter, the remnants clanking to the floor. They grin at each other, then all three turn toward the two PK's still standing motionless at the end of the small area. They give them their 'most' charming smiles, and it's a Kodak moment... Sikozu steps closer, walking between them, lifting both hands to simultaneously stroke opposing helmeted cheeks. Both PK's turn slightly as she passes out of the cell, turning back in time to meet a booted kick to the jaw as Chi and Jool each take one down.

The PK's hit the dirt and Chi and Jool turn toward each other, Chi holding out her hand, Jool tinkling her fingertips in the offered palm before they move out.

[ and John would be proud again, it's a total 'Bill & Ted' moment. ]

SUBTERRANEAN CHAMBER

A PK Soldier discovers the large tile covering Oo-nii's hidey-hole. The PK lifts the tile, leaning it back against the wall. In the pool of water, Oo-nii makes a brief appearance before submerging, heading toward the PK.

PK SOLDIER

( comming )
Captain Braca, I think I've found something.

Another small splash as Oo-nii leaps out of the water, dragging the unsuspecting PK into the water. He may have more success drowning this guy.

ALTAR CHAMBER

John's face down on the altar again, left cheek pressed into the vacant black blanket, his fingers grip the edges of the altar. Tiny Laka creeps along the edge of the altar just above John's right hand. Behind him, Grayza, fully dressed, stands near a small group of tall pillar candles examining the small golden pyramid.

GRAYZA

You found this tile here?

JOHN

Yeah.

GRAYZA

And this face is Interion?

Close on John, his voice neutral, disinterested. The Laka creeps into range of his vacant stare.

JOHN

I think so.

GRAYZA

And this face from your home planet?

John blinks, focusing on the tiny critter, his response hesitant, broken.

JOHN

I... think so.

GRAYZA

Do you know what this means?

JOHN

Uh-huh.

Prying his hand from the edge of the altar, he reaches up, cupping the Laka in his hand, moving carefully.

GRAYZA

It means our two species may be very closely linked.

John draws his hand back slowly, crushing the critter in his fist.

GRAYZA

Which does not surprise me... at all.

She walks back to the altar. John lifts his head slightly and close on his hands as he tears the bug open revealing the glistening red guts [ew].

Med on John and Grayza as she sits beside him, he stirs at bit, trying to conceal the crushed creepy crawly; easing his shoulders, a muted groan slipping out.

GRAYZA

What's the matter?

Slightly startled by her proximity, he curls his hands in closer, lowering his head; she leans further in, glancing over his shoulder to his hands. Needing to draw her attention to something else, he speaks; his voice a hoarse whisper.

JOHN

My back.

Her eyes travel immediately from his hands to his back, pouting slightly.

GRAYZA

It's all scratched.

She leans down to kiss it and make it better. He gasps slightly, taking the opportunity to 'shove the bug up his nose' [ oh my god! ], screwing his eyes shut and sniffing harshly. Grayza looks up and we get yet another eyeball closeup.

GRAYZA

I can hear your heart...

She leans down again, running her tongue across his back. He shudders heavily, arms flexing, driving him up off the stone, his head curled into the blanket. Grayza sits up, concerned.

GRAYZA

What's that?

She lowers herself on her elbows, trying to see his face as he continues to twist slightly on the blanket, turning his face away when she gets too near. He exhales with a soft grunt.

JOHN

That's you--

He lifts up, turning to face her and she leans in to kiss him, but he pulls her onto the shelf beneath him, his chest to her back, pressing her more dangerous equipment into the blanket.

CHAMBER / PLATEAU

Long out the wide doorway from inside a familiar chamber to the plateau just outside, the tail end of a marauder visible before the rest is clipped off by the doorway. D'Argo stands just to the right, concealed from view.

He moves into the doorway, whispering softly in Luxan. On the plateau, the Luxan Figher appears as the deception shroud disengages.

D'ARGO

( comming )
Rygel, tell the Pilot to commence countdown and start targeting the Marauders.

ELACK - TRANSPORT POD

RYGEL

Will do.

Rygel turns to the DRD, 1812, perched in a pilots chair, working on repairs with one of its deployment arms.

RYGEL

Hurry, we don't have much time DRD.

ELACK - PILOT'S DEN

RYGEL

( over comms )
Pilot, I'm preparing the Transport Pod to leave. Are you ready?

Rygel's voice rouses the dozing Pilot.

PILOT

What? What?
( beat )
Yes, I've... talked with Elack... we are prepared.

TRANSPORT POD

The DRD continues welding or something, sparks flying.

RYGEL

The DRD is almost done fixing this, but we must start our descent in a thousand microts.

PILOT'S DEN

Elack's Pilot seems even more out of it than normal.

PILOT

Must go... must go.

TRANSPORT POD

RYGEL

Good-bye, my friend. You've served us well.

PILOT'S DEN

PILOT

Thank you... Dominar, yes... must go, must go... now.

Her claws skitter over the controls, she seems to be mostly in and out of it.

ALTAR CHAMBER

Long on the chamber, tables turned again, Grayza is strapped to the altar, face down, covered with the black blanket. Standing beside the altar, John runs his hands up and down the length of her, his fingers 'walking' up her spine to the back of her neck. Cut to close on her as she turns her head, smiling.

JOHN

Yeah... you like that. Mm-hmm. You like it like that!

He steps back and whacks her on the ass and she jumps, leather straps vibrating. She looks up, watching him strut a bit, and laughs deep in her throat. Safe to say, she likes it like that.

ELACK - PILOT'S DEN

Pilot's claws waver unsteadily in the air, she's definitely out of it.

EXT SPACE - ELACK

Sound of engines firing up and the ship starts to drop.

RYGEL [O.S.]

Pilot, what's happening?

ELACK - TRANSPORT POD

RYGEL

I said a thousand microts. Oh, no, no, no! Don't go yet!

Quick shot of Pilot, eyes closed and murmuring to self.

RYGEL

The pods not fixed-- I'm still in the transport hangar!

Another quick shot of Pilot, still out of it.

RYGEL

D'Argo!

INT LUXAN FIGHTER - PLANET SURFACE

RYGEL

( over comms )
Elack's left early, he's coming now!

D'ARGO

Chiana-- the Leviathan's on it's way now!

CORRIDORS

The four women hurry down the corridors, Sikozu in the lead; Chiana behind her with a pulse rifle-- the old woman and Jool follow her.

CHIANA

How long we got, D'Argo?

INT LUXAN FIGHTER - PLANET SURFACE

D'ARGO

I'd say four hundred microts-- I'll signal Crichton!

ALTAR CHAMBER

Close on John, pulling his shirt on. He lifts his pulse pistol belt from a shelf and moves toward the altar, strapping it on, a small bleeping sound is heard by both he and Grayza. She braces higher on her elbows, still strapped to the altar.

GRAYZA

What's that?

Electronic complaint as John switches the comms off, glancing up at her.

JOHN

Couldn't do it the old-fashioned way, could ya?

Ah, she looks at him, no answer, swallowing on a tight throat, does she know?

JOHN

Six-pack of beer... night of bowling, a little skinny-dippin'? Uh-uh. I hear you been puttin' some junk on the ball.

He moves back to the shelf and close on her glower.

GRAYZA

Untie me.

JOHN

A little Monkey--

He displays the pulse pistol just before slipping it home in his holster.

JOHN

Little Gaylord Perry... a little Joe...

Close on his fingers stroking across her chest, picking up some droplets of her engineered biochemistry.

JOHN

...Neikro.

He backs away...

GRAYZA

No. You... stay.

He turns away, walking out but stops near one of the tall pillar candles, its flame just below his eye level. He gaze on hers is ... distinctly unfriendly, anger nicely cloaked.

JOHN

You never heard... my heart.

Lifting his fingertips over the candle flame, he squeezes the drops of her sweat in the flame. The candle flares, the flame teasing and burning his fingers before winking out.

Turning away, he walks out.

GRAYZA

Crichton! Stay!

Close on Grayza, pulling futily at the straps.

CORRIDOR

John steps into the corridor, walking cautiously down an incline.

JOHN

( whispering )
D'Argo... I got your signal.

D'ARGO

Crichton! Hurry!

JOHN

( whispering )
Where's your ship? I'm on my way outta here.

Turning a corner, in a fashion only he can, he finds himself face to face with a cadre of armed PK's and the far end of the corridor. He pulls to an abrupt stop.

Stepping into the corridor, Braca stops, flanked by the heavily armed soldiers.

JOHN

( softly )
Whoops.

BRACA

Hello, Crichton.

JOHN

( slight smile )
Hiya, Braca.
( beat )
Lemme ask you a question. You're a man of the world right?

He puts one hand on the wall, bending over just slightly.

JOHN

Does my ass...

Shot pans down to where his hand cups the curvature of his right cheek, stroking it slightly.

JOHN

...look big in these pants?

Cut to Braca, his expression one of revealing virulent anger. He starts to move forward. Cut back to John, hand now handily close to the holstered pulse pistol. He pulls it out quickly and fires down the corridor, missing Braca who ducks to the side. The PKs instantly return fire and he ducks behind the corner. Pulse rifle fire pours down the corridor, keeping him pinned in the shallow space.

JOHN

D'Argo!

In the Luxan Vessel, D'Argo scowls.

John swings his weapon hand into the corridor, firing blind at the PKs. The instant hail of return fire forces him back into cover.

JOHN

Okay, I got a problem here!

END ACT II

ACT III

Close on the Pilot, eyes closed, muttering a chant or prayer or just a muttered mutter; hard to say.

RYGEL [O.S.]

( over comms )
Pilot?

EXT SPACE

Elack drops from high orbit, his nose flaring as he hits the planets atmosphere.

RYGEL [O.S.]

( over comms )
Pilot!

ELACK - TRANSPORT POD

Rygel pounds the console with his tiny fist, frustration and fearful urgency in his demand.

RYGEL

Pilot, stop your dive, stop! You're too soon! I can't escape in the pod yet!

CORRIDOR - FIRE FIGHT

John's still holding the PKs off at the far end of the corridor, stepping out into the open, he takes one out before pulling back to cover.

D'ARGO

( over comms )
John! Elack's crashing down onto the Marauder's now.

A PK creeps through another corridor, managing to flank John from the subterrean chamber, aw... but, not sneaky enough. John takes him out and the PK drops in the shallow water lining the corridor floor.

D'ARGO

( over comms )
The magnetics are playing havoc with my systems!

JOHN

So, that was your plan?

D'ARGO

Elack left early.

JOHN

( muttering )
Great plan.

John steps into the corridor, firing twice before being driven back to cover by a near miss. From cover, he begs assistance.

JOHN [O.S.]

D'Argo, I need a little help here!

Cut to long on another corridor, Chiana and her gang step into the corridor at the far end, moving rapidly; Chi comms John.

CHIANA

Crichton... where are you?

JOHN

I dunno... near Vella's chamber, maybe. Just follow the pulse fire!

JOOL

I know where that is.

CHIANA

All right...

Jool moves ahead to lead the group in the correct direction.

CHIANA

Wrinkles... you go find D'Argo's ship.

Sikozu moves to follow the old woman, but Chi puts a delaying hand on her arm.

CHIANA

Hey, hey, hey. You. You stay with us. Not that I don't trust you, but I don't. Come on.

Granny disappears down the opposite corridor and Chi tows Sikozu behind her, following Jool.

Cut to the industrious Commandant Grayza, fingers fumbling for that same little knife she divested John of. [ damn it ]

Cut to John, again leaping out from cover, firing down the corridor and nailing yet another PK, diving back to cover before their return fire can be profitable.

A few deep breaths and he pops out of cover, aiming down corridor, but this time the pistol does not discharge, rather it beeps its dread empty or malfunctioning chamber alarm. John pulls back to cover, eyeing the weapon. The PKs in the corridor continue nailing the wall near the corner where John has taken limited cover.

JOHN

Damn.

He has a whispered conversation with the weapon while he works the chakkan oil cartridge out of the butt.

JOHN

[ unintelligible ], you are the most powerful hand gun in the uncharted territories, and I don't know whether you've fired 500 shots or 600 but--

[ damn it! I think he named this weapon as well, but whatever he said is unintelligible because of all the pulse fire. arg! ]

He touches the cartridge to his tongue; gravely disappointed on failing the taste test.

JOHN

600-- empty.

He slams the cartridge back into the butt of the weapon.

JOHN

Damn you!

Weapons fire from the PKs continues down the corridor as John lectures the faulty weapon.

JOHN

Winona would never do this, because Winona is very reliable!

Yikes, cut to the girls, finally arriving, wading through the ankle deep water, evading PK corpse. John snaps his head up, relief evident.

CHIANA

Hey, Crichton.

JOHN

Hey, hey.

All done cursing it now, he slams the pistol back into his holster, pointing at a coveted weapon. The weapons fire from the PKs at the far end of the corridor keep them on their respective sides.

JOHN

Jool, can I borrow that pulse pistol?

A brief pause and Jool tosses him the pistol, he catches it handily.

JOHN

Thank you!

Jool turns to fish another weapon out of the water, the PK no longer having need of it, Sikozu points it out to her.

SIKOZU

Here!

CHIANA

What was that... what was that word you used to get out of the grave?

SIKOZU

Skernac.

Jool and Chi nod, leaping out into the corridor, chanting loudly

JOOL & CHIANA

Skernac, skernac, skernac!

They duck back as a hail of pulse rifle fire nearly takes their heads off.

JOHN

Well, it was worth a shot.

Sikozu beckons John across the corridor.

SIKOZU

This way.

The PKs at the end of the corridor wait for another target to show itself, so John's naturally hesitant.

CHIANA

Come on.

Chiana steps into the corridor, providing covering fire. John leaps into the open, also firing down the corridor, ducking into cover, followed shortly by Chiana, after a few more rounds poured down the corridor.

D'ARGO

( over comms )
Chiana.

EXT PLANET - PLATEAU

Long across the plateau with a look at the deployed weapons on the top hull of D'Argo's ship.

D'ARGO [O.S.]

Elack's almost on top of us.

Cut to the interior, D'Argo readying the vessel.

D'ARGO

We have to lift off now!

CHIANA [O.S.]

( over comms )
We're on our way D'Argo.

Cut back to Chi at the corner.

CHIANA

Keep the engines hot.

Cut to Braca and his men, trotting down a corridor, in pursuit. Around a corner and his group runs into the Commandant with her group of soldiers. Hm. Staring out with 20, looks like down to about half that.

GRAYZA

Braca!

BRACA

Uh, it seems they do have a ship, Ma'am.

Grayza grabs him by the front of his jacket, slamming him against the wall.

GRAYZA

A ship!

EXT PLANET

Lovely bit of CGI and the Leviathan drops through the atmosphere toward the planet surface, trailing fire,

RYGEL [O.S.]

Pilot, stop!

ELACK - TRANSPORT POD

Rygel clings to the console, rocked by the ships rapid descent.

LUXAN FIGHTER - PLANET SURFACE

D'Argo continues fiddling with switches.

RYGEL [O.S.]

( over comms )
D'Argo...

ELACK - TRANSPORT POD

RYGEL

We're dropping through the grenosphere. I can't stop Elack!

CORRIDOR

BRACA

Yes, Ma'am. It was off our scans.

GRAYZA

Captain, they must not escape!

She yanks him off the wall and shoves him ahead of her, continuing the pursuit.

ATRIUM

John arrives above ground, on guard as Sikozu and Chiana emerge from the corridor behind him.

SIKOZU

D'Argo, we're here, where are you?

Jool emerges and runs after Sikozu and Chi, John running beside her.

CHIANA

D'Argo! Where's the ship, fek-face!

They enter another short tunnel on the opposite side of the atrium, heading toward the open forest. But before they can run into the open, Sikozu delays them inside the corridor.

SIKOZU

Wait, wait!

JOOL

What!?

A distant roar builds in volume.

CHIANA

What's that sound?

SIKOZU

We're too late. It's the Leviathan.

EXT PLANET - CGI

Long across the plateau and the broad expanse of blue ocean along the verge of the rocky cliff side. The Leviathan, dropping from orbit, speeds along along the coastline and to camera, its speed creating heavy vibrations in the surrounding air which rock the ship.

ATRIUM CORRIDOR

JOHN

Back inside!

He herds the three women ahead of him, and Chi and Jool dash back toward the corridor on the other side of the atrium, John following; but Sikozu balks.

SIKOZU

What's the point in running? It is too close!

JOHN

There is always a point in running!

John returns, propelling her ahead of him.

ELACK

Pilot sits unmoving behind her console, eyes closed, likely asleep.

RYGEL [O.S.]

( over comms )
Pilot...

In the pod, Rygel clings to the console, his voice hoarse from shouting.

RYGEL

Pilot... wake up.

In the Den, Pilot wakes abruptly.

PILOT

Uh...

RYGEL

Pilot!

PILOT

Dominar... why are you still aboard?

RYGEL

You left early, we need more time.

PILOT

It may be too late... we must pull up... we must... try.

PLANET SURFACE

Med on a couple of armored PKs, scattering to run, looking up at a loud roaring overhead.

Cut to CGI of Elack, smashing into the large structure on the edge of the plateau; the one distant from the dig site, before arching out over the ocean, carrying a ton of dirt and debris with him.

CORRIDOR

Long on the corridor, John standing at the far end with Sikozu and Chiana, his hand on the ceiling as the building shakes violently, the archaeologists lighting exploding in a shower of sparks.

ELACK

In the transport pod, Rygel is thrown against the console, grunting loudly.

EXT PLANET - CGI

Elack speeds by our POV, arcing slightly upward, rather than into the ocean.

CORRIDORS

John, Chi, Sikozu and Jool, moving to another exit. They're greeted by an explosion of flame through an opening in the ceiling, the corridor shakes, the fire and shaking quickly dissipating. The exit beckons.

CHIANA

What happened?

JOHN

Who cares? Just go, go, go!

He herds them past him again, getting them moving toward the exit. Another explosion rocks the corridor, and they cower, pausing again.

JOHN

Go!

He urges Sikozu forward, shoving none too gently.

CHIANA

Go-go-go!

And they being climbing up the debris stewn ramp toward the exit to the surface.

In the transport pod.

RYGEL

You did it. Now... open the hangar door.

Inside the Luxan Fighter, D'Argo encourages the others to greater speed as they appear at the top of the plateau.

D'ARGO

Come on!

Long on John and Jool, running across the top of the plateau, ahead of them Sikozu and Chiana also run toward the distant ship.

Inside the ship, D'Argo provides further info

D'ARGO

Hurry! Move! Elack's on his way back!

But behind John and Jool the first of the PK soldiers catches up with them, immediately firing at her.

JOHN

Jool!

She takes meager shelter behind a fallen wall and returns fire. Standing beside her, John also returns fire but his pulse pistol almost immediately sounds alarm for empty charge. John eyes the weapon angrily.

JOHN

Damn!

Jool glances toward him and he ducks with her bind the wall.

JOHN

It's out of oil! I can't believe it's out of oil!

While John rants and Jool listens, the PK's continue firing.

Cut to sky shot, Elack maneuvering through atmosphere, a transport pod emerges from the open hangar door and streaks away. Inside the pod Rygel looks up, his right eye still purpled and right earbrow roughly stitched on. He sighs wearily.

And back on the plateau, more PKs run into the fray.

JOHN

Why are they all out of oil!?

John stands out of cover and hurls the useless weapon at the new arrivals. The wind catches it and, it's a hook shot, missing wildly.

INT LUXAN FIGHER

D'ARGO

Come on!

Behind him, Chiana pops inside, followed by Sikozu.

Cut to shot of the cloud laden sky above the planet, a transport pod speeds to camera. And inside the pod...

RYGEL

Pilot, if you can, lock onto the Marauders coordinates again.

In Pilot's Den

PILOT

Elack... if we don't find the strength, it's all been for nothing.

Cut to sky view again as the Leviathan in planet atmosphere descends toward a small group of parked vessels on the ground.

PILOT [O.S.]

We must try... target the Marauders.

Back at the Luxan Ship, John and Jool finally arrive, piling in next to D'Argo.

JOHN

We're in, let's go.

CHIANA

Get us out of here.

ELACK - PILOT'S DEN

PILOT

Elack... now.

Pilot depresses a final control, the sound of engines powering down.

EXT PLANET - LANDING SITE

Too near the planet surface and nose down, Elack cruises to a header, driving into the ground and heeling forward over his nose. In the FG and near distance, two Marauders sit, the Luxan Fighter a small shape between them and nearest the crashing Leviathan. A small crowd of PK's are immediately crushed under the weight of the ship, PK's in the FG make a sensible run for it.

D'Argo's ship finally lifts off as Elack's tail rises and begins dropping over toward the parked vehicles. More PK's on foot flee the crash site.

Cut to interior as D'Argo pulls up on the stick, John falling back at the rough departure.

Cut back to exterior as the Leviathans rolling and collapsing hull devastates everything in its path. Massive explosions as the Leviathan and the crushed Marauders are violently obliterated.

CORRIDOR

Grayza and Braca inside the trembling corridor, watching as a gout of flame bursts across the opening followed by a rain of debris.

INT TRANSPORT POD

A despondent Rygel, closing his eyes, lowering his head, whispering...

RYGEL

Pilot.

INT LUXAN FIGHTER

JOHN

Are we clear?

D'ARGO

Yeah, but we've been hit pretty bad. The deception shroud's been compromised. We're gonna reappear in about a hundred microts.

JOOL

D'Argo, I do apologize--

D'ARGO

Jool, not now!

CORRIDOR

Close on the Interion Magnetics Sensor, happily cheeping away, the indicator light an ominous red. Grayza enters from a side corridor, she's also an ominous sight-- very displeased.

GRAYZA

The magnetics are spiking Braca.

Her loyal flunky stands in the corridor, not happy himself. Behind them, two armed PKs, another small phalanx of PK in the atrium outside the short corridor.

BRACA

Ma'am, two Marauders were destroyed, but the third is still operational. We can make it back to the Command Carrier.

GRAYZA

And give Crichton two arns head start.

She shakes her head, teeth practically grinding with frustration.

GRAYZA

Tell the Carrier to retrieve us in flight. We're going after them now.

EXT SPACE

Above a blue and white planet a single Marauder leaves planetary orbit, moves to camera, passes and quick pan to follow as it heads into outer space.

GRAYZA [O.S.]

Lock onto their coordinates, Braca.

CORRIDOR

Well, geez, left behind on the planet, the old woman wanders a corridor, the intense light of the sun blotting out the opening at the far end.

WRINKLES [V.O.]

The Darnaz Probes... they're still here... don't forget them, Crichton. Don't, they are not safe, I--

She backs into a doorway and behind her Oo-nii lurks, startling her thought out of her head.

OO-NII

Don't be afraid. I know a way.

EXT PLANET - LANDING SITE

Close on the ladder lowering from the underside of the Luxan vessel. John is the first to debark, leaping down the last few steps, squinting into the intensely bright light.

JOHN

Whoa, whoa, what are you talkin' about?! It's a great plan! God I love it!

Behind him, Sikozu, Jool and Chi also debark.

JOHN

We leave the planet, then we come right back!

SIKOZU

We were not planning on coming back.

RYGEL

Ah, I knew it was a lousy plan from the microt you told me. Should have left me in the pod!

D'ARGO

Stop complaining! At least I picked you up. There was nothing I could do. They hit the deception shroud and the turbines were about to fail.

JOHN

How come the Marauder when past us?

D'ARGO

I fired a satellite probe. Hopefully they'll follow that for about a day.

CHIANA

Ah. Great. Then come right back and kill us. That's great. We got a day to live.

D'ARGO

No... because by then I would have fixed the turbines and we'll be long gone.

JOOL

That is not gonna be possible.
( beat )
Look at your skin.

Alarmed, Sikozu examines her outstretched arms [ to which I can detect no discernable difference in tone or quality ]

SIKOZU

This is due to magnetics?

JOOL

Yeah. We stay here one more arn and we're all gonna be dead.

John confers with D'Argo beneath the ship.

JOHN

Can you get this thing fixed in an arn, get us outta here?

D'ARGO

It'll be difficult because they hit both power grids.

Nodding, John moves toward Jool before D'Argo gets half his explanation out.

JOHN

When we first got here, Vella, she said somethin' about the probes. If we... what, what?

JOOL

Get all three probes, reactivate them at 600 motras apart, we can reverse the... magnetics.

JOHN

Did you say motras or metras?

JOOL

Motras.

JOHN

So, like...

He holds his hands, a bit more than shoulder width apart. [ Mum says that's a yard ]

JOHN

... just over half a metra.

JOOL

That's it.

JOHN

Let's go find the third probe.

He bolts, Jool on his heels.

SHORELINE

The old woman cowers against a wall beneath a natural overhang, the ocean in the background. Oo-nii lurks nearby. She's having problems standing, breathing.

WRINKLES

I was wrong... it was you, not Vella. You want the probes as a weapon.

OO-NII

Where did Crichton... see the probe.

WRINKLES

I don't know, I don't know, exactly.

OO-NII

He told me he saw it. He said it was buried.

More disjointed rambling, the old woman points here and there...

WRINKLES

Oil. Crichton was there, and he was there, and he was here, he was-he was everywhere, I--

OO-NII

Stop! Tell me where it is, now!

WRINKLES

I'll never tell. We'll all die here. We'll all die--

John arrives, climbing down and almost stumbling under the natural overhang, breathless from the increasing magnetics. Jool stumbles in behind him.

JOHN

Granny. Gran...

Absolutely no time to waste; his words are gasped out in an unbroken stream as he approaches the old woman, tries to rid himself of the lurking critter and reassure her at the same time.

JOHN

We're going probe-hunting, sorry to interrupt the party, Black Lagoon, but you have to go now...

Oo-nii cowers away, eyeballing John as he turns away meekly, John makes shooing motions to get him moving faster. The old woman backs away slowly as well, shaking her head slightly, this is wrong.

JOHN

Get, get, go on, git, git!
( to old woman )
No, look, come back. Now, I know you, you hurt me, but I don't want to hurt you.

Finally clued in by the askance looks the old woman is shooting toward the critter that has drawn itself to its full height while John has rambled at the old woman. He looks in that direction too, not comforted at all by the approach of the critter eyeballing him.

OO-NII

I have...

JOHN

Uh...

Ah, finally he notes the carver strapped to the critters arm, can't miss it, it's pointed right at him.

OO-NII

I need...

JOHN

Uh, that doesn't sound too good.

OO-NII

I have looked for the Darnaz Triangle for twenty cycles, I will wait no longer!

and wham! John takes a bash to the face, is spun by the impact and goes down in a heap.

OO-NII

You tell me where it is, or you die!

Fade to black.

ACT IV

EXT PLANET SURFACE

Continuous from end of Act III.

Close on John, hunkered on the ground, forehead resting on his arm, still recovering, but having great difficulty breathing.

Cut to close on Oo-nii, making his demand.

OO-NII

Probe. Where is it?!

JOHN

Hey... I wanna find it... as much as you do. It's the only way we're... gonna get out of this situation is if we... reverse what is goin' on.

Oo-nii turns the carver strapped to his arm on the old woman.

OO-NII

We don't need her for that! Where... is it?!

JOHN

Actually we do need... her... If I can't do it... she's the only one who can... can help. We won't get a second chance without her. Probe is...

He points, still gasping for breath. Behind him, pressed against the wall, Jool is having similar difficulties.

JOHN

It's that way.

OO-NII

You... in front with the old woman.

Oo-nii pushes her toward John.

EXT PLANET - HIGH PLATEAU

Long across the plateau as John and Jool climb into the shot, John points across the plateau.

JOHN

Over there... behind those rocks.

Oo-nii urges them forward, holding the carver on the small group as John leads them across the short distance toward the remains of a wall on the other side of the small risen area.

JOHN

So you know where the other probes are.

OO-NII

In the lair. That bitch, Vella had them. Swore I'd get my share of the bounty, but she lied... she tried to hide the other two probes.

JOOL

Bounty?!

OO-NII

Now... they'll pay me.

John points again.

JOHN

There.

and semi-successfully blocks a bash to the head from Oo-nii's massive hand, he goes down on hands and knees, grimacing.

Oo-nii stalks toward the indicated location, and activating the carver, quickly reveals the missing third probe. Oo-nii plucks it out of the remaining niche. A brief cut to long on the critter reveals Chi in semi-concealment against a nearby wall behind it.

OO-NII

The third probe... it's mine!

He turns toward the trio kneeling on the ground.

OO-NII

Now, I have no further use for you.

From her hidey-hole, Chi flings a chunk at Oo-nii. It bounces off him and he turns and fires at her, missing badly. John takes his opp, and flings himself at the critter, overbalancing him and they both go down. The carver pops off Oo-nii's arm as he hits the ground. Jool makes a grab for it, John providing another delaying tactic, but Oo-nii flings him backward over a large boulder with a shake of his arm. Jool snatches the carver up and Oo-nii grabs the fallen probe.

JOHN [O.S.]

No, Jool, don't shoot him. He's got the probe.

Oo-nii makes a break for it, running across the small plateau, probe in hand.

JOOL

Stop him!

Everyone gives chase, but Oo-nii hits the edge of the plateau and leaps off, taking the long drop to the ocean. John skids to a stop at the edge, nearly overbalancing, watching as Oo-nii hits the surface and disappears.

John spins around, facing Jool and the old woman.

JOHN

What the hell is he doin'?! He's gonna get us all killed!

WRINKLES

Crichton... we're all gonna die...

Jool moans, she's heard this song before.

WRINKLES

... but he can live down there... until the magnetic summer ends.

JOHN

( annoyed )
And?

WRINKLES

And...

She produces a pulse pistol, tossing it toward the edge. He reaches up spasmodically, trying to grab it as it flies over his head and falls, splashing down into the ocean.

JOHN

Was that Winona?

WRINKLES

( shrugging )
Yes.

He walks toward her, turning to stand at her side.

JOHN

( sighs )
I don't really wanna know... where you hid her.

He takes a deep breath, and bolts to the edge, a loud shout of frustration accompanying this insane action.

Cut to extreme long and angle up as black clad body drops from the top of the cliff to the ocean. [ and we're hopin' that was the same one, from a different angle, than the one from part 1; once is enough- more than enough- for me, thanks ]

Cut back to the top of the cliff, Jool runs to Chiana, handing her the carver.

JOOL

You help Crichton. I'll get the other probes from Oo-nii's lair! Go!

Chi bolts, carver in hand.

SHORELINE - OCEANSIDE

Close on Winona lying snug in a small crevass on the ocean floor, John's hand enters shot and there's a bit of fumbling as he wrangles the weapon from the small space. Shot widens to include John's head and shoulders as he pulls himself along the bottom, at last looking up toward the surface as he gets the weapon firmly in hand. Not waiting to surface before checking it for damage

Cut to close on Oo-nii and what looks like a mouthful of very sharp teeth.

Cut back to John, spotting Oo-nii in the water. His arms thrash through the water, backing slightly before pushing off the bottom to make for the surface.

Cut to the surface as John's head and shoulders break into open air. He's tossed a bit in the surf, looking around vainly for the alien, still somewhere beneath.

Cut to below the surface, Winona aiming blindly through the water.

Cut back to the surface, the water a bit calmer but still opaque to what might lie beneath. John keeps a wild but futile lookout.

Cut to below the surface, Oo-nii appears behind John, grabbing his gun arm and pulling him backward.

At the surface John 'whelp's! and is dragged beneath the surface, doing an interesting waterlogged pratfall, his right boot the last to submerge.

Under the water they struggle and roll, John losing his grip on Winona and she drifts away from his flailing hand.

John breaks away, again heading for the surface. Lovely looping moment as he emerges and makes briefly for shore-- we saw this shot already in Part 1. Gotta love it.

This time, before John can make it out of the water, Oo-nii grabs him from behind, pulling him back under the surface.

They are rolled and tossed again; hard to keep hold of a slippery struggling human, especially when the surf conspires against you. They're rolled by the surf and John breaks away again. Coming up in the shallow water close to shore. He spins about wildly, staggering, gasping and wiping water from his eyes. There appears to be no sign of the critter.

In the brief silence, John looks upward, and shot is angle down on John standing in a still expanse of water.

Abruptly Oo-nii is there, springing from the shallow water and swinging his arm up and around, catching John directly in the face. John is thrown violently backward, arms out flung and lies still, floating on his back in the water. [ and it looks like a fair hit to me, proving yet again, how hard it is to actually 'see' what one is doing inside one of those suits ].

Oo-ni submerges again, moving beneath the floating body, standing behind him, hands resting on his shoulders.

Cut to extreme long on John and Oo-ni in the water, in the FG on the shoreline, Chiana raises the carver and fires.

Cut to long on John, still floating quiet in the water and Oo-nii as he is struck by the energy of the weapon. A bright flare of white as the energy races through his body, into the hands resting on John's shoulders. Oo-nii slumps forward, the weight of his body pushing John's beneath the surface.

Cut to extreme long on where they 'were', Chiana in FG still, clear view of that empty space in the water.

Close on John and Oo-nii beneath the surface, John still being pressed down by the weight of the alien, the last of his oxygen escaping in large bubbles that break against Oo-nii's face. Swear to god I don't know what FX they were going for here, but it looks like Oo-nii's molecular structure converts to oxygen; there's a bright flare of white light and he 'disappears', a mass of bubbles rising rapidly, leaving John floating free beneath the surface-- still out.

Cut back to the surface, same shot, can only see Chi's back.

CHIANA

Crichton...

Cut back to beneath the surface, John floating, eyes closed, the bright light of the surface creating an incandescent glow all around him. Chiana's voice cuts through the silence, sounding-- oddly like someone speaking underwater but with a great more clarity... [ and now I get why J asked, "how can he hear her?" My guess: There's still more to Chi than we know, and may ever. ]

CHIANA [O.S.]

Crichton!

John's eyes pop open immediately, and he looks around as if expecting to see someone nearby. [ Oh, and how cool, that lovely irish pennant off his left shoulder is just floating about. Is this his lucky shirt or something? ] Abruptly realizing that not only is no one there, but he's frelling underwater! He thrashes about, effectively moving to the surface. The guy can thrash with the best of them.

Cut to the surface as John's head breaks through into the open, mouth gaping as he drags in the useful air.

Cut to Chiana at the shore.

CHIANA

Come on.

Cut back to John and he does an Oo-nii, submerging again.

On shore Chiana pants heavily. Shortly Crichton surfaces, holding the probe high. He looks around once more, water streaming from his face, and dips beneath the surface again.

Cut to that damn cranny in the ocean floor, Winona made her way back there. John fumbles her out of the small space, looking up to camera - I love it when they reuse footage. Especially when it's this nice.

Cut to the rocky plateau. Jool staggers around a large boulder and falls to her knees on the rock strewn ground.

JOOL

( panting )
John! I have both probes!

JOHN

( on comms )
Yeah, Jool, I got the third probe. How far did you say they had to be apart?

JOOL

Six hundred motras.

Back to John and Chi.

JOHN

Okay.
( to Chiana )
Did you just save my life?

CHIANA

Again.

JOHN

Thanks.

Chi laughs weakly, still gasping for breath.

JOHN

Hey, Pip... go with Jools, see if you can get those probes reactivated.

CHIANA

Right.

She hops down and heads out, stopping almost immediatly, turning back for additional guidance while John clambers up on top of the wall.

CHIANA

Hey... how do I do that?

JOHN

Slam 'em into the ground and kick 'em!

Satisfied, she moves off again, muttering quietly...

CHIANA

Kick 'em... right.

John takes the third probe with him as he also heads out.

[ I get a giggle everytime. I love that technobabble. 'slam it into the ground and kick it.' hehe ]

Okay, remainder of act cuts back and forth between the four groups; John near the shore with his probe, Chiana in the forested area with another, Jool maneuvering through the rocky plateau area with the third, and D'Argo, Sikozu, the old woman and Rygel sheltering just inside a doorway at the dig site.

Chiana staggers down a path.

CHIANA

Crichton... I got the other probe.

JOHN

( over comms )
Good, Pip, just keep movin'

She's having some difficulty doing that, the magnetics starting to have serious effects on more than breathing.

Jool, probe in hand, has similar difficulties while moving through a rock strewn area.

John, making fair headway along the rocky shoreline, the third probe in hand.

Close on the old woman, looking a bit down trodden.

Back to Chiana, still staggering through the woods. The light is taking on an intense quality, making colors more sepia tone, washing contrast away.

At the shoreline, John makes a decision.

JOHN

Ah... this is far enough.

Cut to Jool, now crawling through the rocky expanse.

Cut to Chi, falling to her knees in the forest.

CHIANA

( gasping )
Frell!

Long on John, the ocean at his back. He lifts the probe and kisses it for luck.

Cut to Chi, also readying her probe.

CHIANA

( whispering )
Here goes nothin'.

Cut to Jool, similarly ready to give nothin' a chance.

Quick cuts to Chiana, Jool and John and they bury each of their probes into the ground. A loud clanking sound; one, two, three; and then silence.

Long on John observing the nothing happening. He staggers back a bit, hands almost on hips before lifting one arm to rub the back of his hand under his nose.

Cut to D'Argo and Sikozu, still standing but obviously in distress.

Cut to Chi, still kneeling, also observing a whole lot of nothing at all from the probe.

Med on John, hair in marvelous disarray from too much time in the ocean.

JOHN

Come on, work, damn you!

Cut to Jool, almost falling onto her side, eyes on the probe doing nothing whatever.

JOHN

( over comms )
Is yours workin'?!

Cut to Chi

CHIANA

Nothin's happenin'!

Cut back to Sikozu and D'Argo; more debilitated; nothing's workin'.

Cut to John, Winona out and pointed at the offending device.

JOHN

You son of a bitch!

Cut to Chiana, almost on her back, eyes wide

CHIANA

Wait... wait.

Cut to long, Chi up on her elbows, watching the probe slowly rotate and rise into the air, a quiet hum rising slowly in pitch.

CHIANA

It's... it's workin'.

Cut back to long on John, watching the probe rise into the air, Winona held down and away.

JOHN

You guys... seein' this?

Cut to Jool, also watching her probe rise into the air. The hum converts to a high pitched, ear splitting whine as it shoots into the air.

Chi, hand going over an ear, the sound intense.

Jool flinches from the noise.

The old woman, barely taking notice, yet also putting a hand over her ear.

In the doorway, D'Argo grimaces and Sikozu has hands over both her ears.

Chiana stands, watching the probe as it ascends.

John steps onto a higher rock, eyes focused upward.

Cut to long on the sky over Arnessk. The three probes ascending this time, rather than falling; the same blue halo of energy connecting them. They slow and stop, the bright streaks of light marking the position of the probes shrink to pinpoints.

Sikozo watches, mouth agape.

Jool smiles with pure pleasure.

In the sky a huge explosion and flare of white which spreads outward, fading to an odd aurora borealis effect, but with vertical lines of color and light.

Pan down and cut to tree tops, nice tilseyvision effect as shot pans down fading to Chiana still looking up and circling slightly

WRINKLES

[V.O] What was lost... is now gained.

Chiana smiles and laughs, a lovely genuine Chi laugh.

Shot of the three-some at the ruins, also looking around in amazement. The old woman climbs to her feet, with some assistance from Sikozu [ ah, girlscout! What better match for a boyscout? ].

Cut to John, the ocean behind him a gorgeously intense blue. He lifts his hand, carefully checking the color of his skin. The light is back to 'normal' if not intensely moreso. He drops his hand, smiling, shaking his head.

JOHN

( softly )
Son of a gun.

[ yeah, uh-huh, that was redone in ADR- lipsynch says, 'son of a bitch' but I think we already hit our allotment this ep. ]

Shot of Jool, also enjoying the return to normal, a big smile as she examines unblemished skin.

Shot of the old woman, also examining her hand.

Cut back to Chi, in the green-green forest.

Cut back to the old woman.

WRINKLES

I can breathe again. I can!

SIKOZU

The probes... they must've reversed the magnetics!

D'ARGO

John... it worked.
( beat )
John...

Cut to shoreline, and medium on John, looking all around, a gorgeous smile on that face.

D'ARGO

( over comms )
John?

Cut back to medlong on Jool, big smile on her face as well, dropping her arms, pleased but slightly amazed.

JOOL

I'm okay!

Cut to close on Chi

CHIANA

Me too.

She laughs, looking up again.

Cut to John, climbing the brief incline to the plateau, his shirt hanging loose and sodden from his waistband, he crosses a short distance, helping himself along with a hand on an outcropping. He sits on a ledge on the ocean side of the plateau.

JOHN

You guys probably wanna come...

Cut to long on an massive cylindrical structure rising from the lower plateau abutting the ocean. Three supporting structures surround the main cylinder. The glow of the sun peeks between one of the support structures and the central tower.

JOHN [O.S.]

...check this out.

Cut to long on John, sitting on an outcropping at the edge of the plateau. Shortly Chi enters the frame, crouching beside him. John points into the distance, and they all look as they follow Chi into frame-- Jool, the old woman, D'Argo and Sikozu.

JOOL

( whispering )
The lost temple.

Cut to long and angle slightly down on the group on the edge of the plateau. Down below them the exotic structure rises to touch the sky. Between the structure and the group on the outcropping, another group is gathered, this one in red robes.

WRINKLES

The Darnaz Triangle.

Cut to close on the old woman

WRINKLES

When it created the magnetic summers, it... it must have trapped part of the past.

JOOL

They're the same priests that were here twelve thousand cycles ago.

RYGEL

Do they know time has passed?

Cut to wide and long on John et al.

JOHN

I don't think so.

CHIANA

So you're saying they've been- they've been frozen like valla and now they're awake. They don't know anything that's happened?

JOHN

I don't think they know we're here. So the question is, do we stay or do we go?

D'ARGO

I think that decision should rest with Jool.

Jool looks toward D'Argo, surprised but pleased.

D'ARGO

She's the instructor here now.

John turns toward Jool, waiting.

JOOL

I'm going to say hello.

Jool moves down toward the temple, moving out of shot. Chiana and Sikozu following.

Fade to black.

TAG

EXT PLANET

Jool and Chiana are standing face to face at the top of the plateau. Behind and to the left is the large stone statue. The wind continues quite brisk as Jool gives Chi a gentle smile.

CHIANA

( softly )
Okay.

Jool steps back, their joined fingers disentangling as she moves away slowly. She steps down a rocky slope. D'Argo stands at the bottom of the short drop, offering his hand to help steady her. John stands off to the right, leaning back against the vertical wall which describes the height of the plateau, his hands stretched out beside him, gazing off into the distance.

Jool hops down the last short distance and walks toward John. He pushes away from the wall, offering her his hand and they walk a short distance away. Above them, Chiana kneels down and watches. Rygel hunkers on an outcropping above and to her left; the old woman and Sikozu look on as well from a comfortable distance at the top of the plateau. D'Argo leans against the plateau wall and waits while John and Jool say their goodbyes.

JOOL

Well... everything we've found proves our races are linked.

John remains focused outward as they stop beside the remains of a wall.

JOOL

Maybe you should stay... study what we discover.

He turns toward her, smiling, relaxed.

JOHN

Wish I could. You know I can't.

JOOL

( laughing )
That Aeryn links, right?

JOHN

( smiling )
Yeah.
( beat )
Take care.

JOOL

I will.

He leans in and plants a small kiss on her forehead.

JOOL

You too.

A final warm look and a last smile, and he moves away, waving D'Argo forward as he passes. D'Argo heads toward Jool stopping at her shoulder.

D'ARGO

Is, uh... is he the last?

Behind them John climbs the short distance to the plateau. He takes Chiana's hand and they continue moving away, gaining a greater distance and giving greater privacy to this final farewell.

JOOL

( sadly )
Yeah. I've said good-bye to everyone. I can't make any of you stay.

In the far BG, just before disappearing around the edges of the wall, Chi throws a final glance toward Jool and D'Argo. Sikozu, the old woman and Rygel follow John and Chi.

D'ARGO

Well, uh... you're the only one who can stay. You're the only one not being hunted by the Peacekeepers.

He circles around behind her and there's that clanking noise again, like chain link clashing.

JOOL

The priests will need help. They've twelve thousand cycles of catching up.

She turns toward him and steps close, looking up.

JOOL

D'Argo... I am so sorry... for not defending you. Maybe you weren't Vella's intellectual equal, but-

D'ARGO

( grinning )
I am now. She's a rock.

He laughs and it works; she smiles and laughs as well, but moves him back on track.

JOOL

I'm trying to apologize.

D'ARGO

Go on.

JOOL

You... you have more courage... integrity... and honesty... than a dozen Vellas. And I should have said that to her.

And that works too; he leans in and captures a kiss, long, and lingering and sweet. They move apart and he strokes her cheek tenderly with gauntleted fingers, then without another word, he leaves her.

Standing alone at the site of the ruins, shot stays close on her as she struggles with her emotions, bereft and near tears, but not a childish tantrum to be seen. But I swear, I thought I saw a single tear fall.

A final sigh and cut to...

COMMAND CARRIER - CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS

Grayza stands, leaning back against a glossy black desk set against the wall of the lower section. The upper section, holding the thronelike chair of the ship's commander at the top of a short flight of steps, is at the back of shot. Braca enters, assuming an attitude of crisp parade rest at a safe distance, reporting progress.

BRACA

We retrieved their satellite probe. They must have shot it ahead as a lure.

GRAYZA

I will find them again, and when I do... they will pay for this humiliation.

She steps away from the desk and moves to the steps to the upper level, turning back toward Braca.

GRAYZA

But if I hear any gossip... a joke in the officer's club, anything at all... about what happened at Arnessk-

BRACA

You won't.

GRAYZA

If I do... you shall answer for it.

Cut to close on Braca's sweaty, uneasy expression.

EXT SPACE - LUXAN FIGHTER

D'Argo's ship in transit, passes overhead, moving forward.

D'ARGO [O.S.]

Oh, come on...

INT LUXAN FIGHTER

D'Argo sits in the pilot's seat, behind him Rygel and Sikozu. Before him, on the forward console, the DRD 1812 wiggles its antennae.

D'ARGO

Look on the positive side... at least Jool won't be hunted anymore.

Chi's laid back on the bench behind D'Argo- back to a bit of brooding.

CHIANA

Unlike us.

D'ARGO

She can stay on Arnessk, have a goal... something to fight for.

Close on Chi's sour expression.

CHIANA

Unlike... us.

Cut to forward view, panning slightly right, the old woman sits in the co-pilot's chair, behind her Sikozu is perched on the bench on the opposite wall. No sign of John in the confines of the small vessel.

SIKOZU

So... any... response from Moya?

D'ARGO

Not yet. I've sent out a secure comm, but I'm not even sure if this transmitter's working properly.

RYGEL

( with sarcasm )
Great... we're hunted by Peacekeepers, towing a dead module, lost in the Uncharted Territories with no purpose in life. How good does it get?

WRINKLES

Oh, no. One of us has a purpose. Don't you, Crichton?

EXT SPACE

The Luxan Fighter passes overhead again, shot continues long enough to view the module being towed behind from a long umbilical extending from beneath the Luxan ship and attached to the rear of the module. As the ships move on the module's nose droops like a crippled kite, not quite catching the air and flying free.

JOHN [O.S.]

Hey, Grandma...

INT MODULE

Close on John inside the dark ship, he plucks a pen from his mouth as he speaks.

JOHN

Why'd you tried to kill me?

WRINKLES [O.S.]

If Grayza asked...

INT LUXAN FIGHTER

WRINKLES

...couldn't have you giving her the Darnaz Probes. Better you dead than millions, if she misused them.

INT MODULE

JOHN

What's your name, old woman?

INT LUXAN FIGHTER

WRINKLES

Uta-Noranti-Pralatong.

[ gah! Thank-You! At the end of the frelling episode, even! ]

INT MODULE

Still close on John, his face half cloaked in shadow.

JOHN

Well, Noranti... you're right. I do have a purpose.

He turns his head slightly, looking up and outward.

Fade to black

ROLL CLOSING CREDITS






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