Near foreground is Aeryn's prowler. A small figure lurking around the base of the long 'wing' on the left side of the craft. Aeryn stands on the left side as well, muted electronic beeping as she surveys the craft, ducking beneath the body momentarily before standing again, attention focused on the device in her hand and not on the small figure behind her.
Aft of the parked prowler is a mist-filled chasm of undetermined depth with cliffs of stone jutting skyward on the opposite side. Nestled on a plateau in the cliffs, just visible in the distance, is a definable structure of some sort.
Cut to close on Aeryn, her attention still on the read-outs of the device. She idly slaps her arm, ridding herself of a pest. The sound of a child humming increases and Aeryn turns quickly to look at the child beneath the wing, said child's fingers probing 'inside' the mechanics of what is likely the frelling prowler laser cannons.
Shot goes wonky — tilting slightly, fuzzy around the edges.
The child turns to look at her, still fuzzy around the edges, surreal.
Cut back to Aeryn, normal time, no fuzziness, but Aeryn looks a bit disconcerted. She returns her gaze to the read-out of the device, brows furrowed. The child's humming resumes, followed by the probing fingers into the prowler mechanics.
Aeryn turns to look at the child again. Nothing changes this time and she… looks away with a slight shake of her head.
Elsewhere, a semi-angry mob is after Chiana. She stumbles through a forested area ahead of several robed natives who hurl stones and invective at her.
The woman hurls an especially vicious stone as Cap'n D'Argo arrives in the nick, pulling Chi back as she's seriously considering less passive tactics than running away.
D'Argo grabs her arm, propelling her up the slope and away from the angry crowd.
They're intercepted mid-way up the hill by an alien of a different species than those members of the angry crowd. Tall; bi-pedal; large, bald skull; flaring slits like 'combs' on the side of his head. Chi rushes to him, using her 'persuasive skills'.
He runs his fingers through her hair. Chiana angrily shakes him off.
D'Argo grabs her arm again and pushes her past while she shouts back over his shoulder.
Still looking disconcerted, Aeryn looks back at the humming child. Shot goes strange again and fuzzy around the edges. Instead of pressing both hands into the side of the prowler, the child's hands are reaching out to Aeryn. Aeryn viciously slaps the child back.
Shot cuts back to normal, Aeryn's back turned to the child, and she turns again to look at her, still standing by the prowler and humming. She turns back again, clicking off the scanning device, the masked confusion sliding toward vague suspicion that something is not quite right.
D'Argo still edging Chiana away from the people she's managed to piss off so thoroughly.
Chiana storms away, leaving D and the crowd silent behind her. She climbs to the top of the rise where Aeryn waits beside the prowler.
Further down the hill, one of the men attempts to soothe the angry woman.
The woman is seething with bitter anger.
Turning back at her near refuge, Chiana dispenses a bit of bitter anger of her own.
Gaashah stalks off, massively pissed. D'Argo turns on Chi, also pretty mad.
D'Argo turns away, steaming.
Aeryn crooks a finger at Chi, urging her up to the crest of the hill like a recalcitrant child… which, you know, she is behaving very much like.
D trails down hill after Gaashah as Chi begins the rest of the ascent.
Aeryn holds out her hand, hauling Chi to the top of the hill.
They cross under the wing on the right side of the craft, Chiana flopping down on the ladder to the cockpit.
[Sailor in every port theory?]
D'Argo has caught up with a very pissed Gaashah.
He's cut off by the loud roaring of engines, looks up to the hazy sky, pink tinged clouds through bare branches. The prowler speeds away at low altitude, vapor trail adding a temporary white streak.
And it's a brief beauty… the prowler moving away at a high rate of speed, climbing above a layer of mist into a brilliant blue sky. To the left is the structure viewed in the first scene, a circular domed golden castle snuggled against the cliff-side.
Close on John looking out a window, obviously having noted Chi's departure through that access. The sunlight streaming through nicely illuminates John and his companion. John in fg, his companion in bg, turning toward him. A tall, pale male with long silver hair [and quoting MF here: Princess Leia spiral buns over his ears.] His expression is … dour.
Loud bleep of comms.
The tall gentleman looks annoyed and John… flinches.
Shot cuts to long across the room. John descends a short but broad flight of steps to the main floor. A long table flanked by two chairs at either end sits on a large white furred rug. His companion turns and looks out the broad window onto the blue sky. [And, hm… are those the otec lamps from VM?]
Cut to Aeryn being dragged through an anemic wood by the enthusiastic grip of the young child.
Disastrous sound, like a compression of air followed by a distant explosion. Aeryn jerks back, pulling her hand away. Abruptly the image tilts and Gaashah stands close; fuzzy around the edges.
Cut to Aeryn, a wary look. She looks down at the child. No sign of anyone else. The child giggles, takes her hand again, tugging her forward.
Cut to close on John, an impatient Falaak now turned toward him.
Aeryn allows herself to be towed through the wood.
John sighs, closes his eyes, teeth worrying his lower lip.
[And, geez, shouldn't we all be going, "Ah HAH!" right there?]
The child tows Aeryn into an occupied area. Nothing fancy. A few open stalls display foodstuffs and other, more esoteric, goods.
Allowing herself to be towed to the center of the market, Aeryn crouches down, the child moving a slight distance away. Hearing Gaashah's voice a short distance away. A worried tone.
Aeryn closes her eyes, instantly an image of Gaashah; moving to attack. She opens her eyes, glancing to the side, sees Gaashah standing a short distance away with D'Argo, hand gripping the other man's arm.
D'Argo sighs, moving off. Gaashah turns slowly toward Aeryn, lifting the back of his hand to his mouth. Many people in the market walking between them.
Aeryn blinks, shaking her head. Abruptly the image of Gaashah attacking; a pulse blast strikes his chest and he collapses, all in surreal fuzzy vision.
Aeryn looks away again, but Gaashah continues to eye her warily.
Shot is long on John standing mid-way down a long, reasonably wide flight of steps. Presumably the access to the castle from less lofty heights. He peers over the edge at the third visible landing on the descent, then continues across the landing to the next length of steps.
In the market, Aeryn accepts a cup from the young child, who darts off again.
He rifles through his pockets for something.
Lifts the laka distillate to his nose and inhales deeply. Conscious thought fades to an assault of random images of Aeryn. The images are more faded and speed by more rapidly. All the same as ever, but oh so transitory… almost gone.
Inhales a second time, his head rocking back, eyes closed, then blinking blurrily. Sighing.
Still crouching, she turns her head, and sees again Gaashah attacking, pulse blast ripping through his chest, collapsing to the ground; all eerily silent and fuzzy.
She looks away, closing her eyes briefly.
John's puzzled by the silence… cocks his head slightly.
She looks down, noticing her fingers wrapped tightly around the butt of her holstered pistol. She quickly peels her fingers away. Looks up at a small sound of delight from the child standing near a cart of brightly colored food. Aeryn sighs, stands slowly.
Still standing on the stairs, a confused shake of his head cut off by the muted sound of distant pulse fire. He bolts down the steps.
In the market, Aeryn stands flat footed, her expression marked by confusion as she watches fuzzy, surreal images of the market's patrons being shot down by pulse fire. One after another falls while she watches, head cocked to the side, brow slightly furrowed. Watches as Gaashah is shot down.
Fade to black on tilted axis close-up on Aeryn's clueless and slightly stunned features.
Quick cut to D'Argo propelling Chiana upslope, away from an angry crowd.
Chiana storms off.
D'Argo hurries through anemic wood to catch up with the irate Gaashah.
Snick of metal and Gaashah whirls about, pressing the blade to D'Argo's throat. D only has about five inches on the guy.
D just stands there, passive, waiting.
Thoroughly pissed, Gaashah presses forward. D'Argo leans back, just slightly.
He shoves D away and storms off again. D'Argo waits patiently as the guy paces off a short distance, turning back to eye the Luxan.
He's cut off by the loud roaring of engines, looks up to the hazy sky, pink tinged clouds through bare branches. The prowler speeds away at low altitude, vapor trail adding a temporary white streak.
Sitting close on the forest floor, Sikozu and a young native boy make out innocently. Delicate music plays while they touch slowly, exchange a few gentle, nearly chaste, kisses. The young man's fingers skate down from her pale collarbone, gently cupping the curve of her breast.
Elsewhere in the forest, Gaashah and D'Argo continue their earnest conversation. The delicate music continues lightly in the background.
And it's a brief beauty shot(?)… rocket of engines and … at a high rate of speed, the prowler descends toward the layer of mist, brilliant blue sky above. The cliffs and circular domed golden castle snuggled against the cliff-side in the far background.
Close on the exhaust of the prowler's engines. Humming sound of ladder lowering and pan L to a view from beneath the body of the ship. Chiana alights, crouching to peer under the ship. Cautiously looking about, rocking slowly on bent legs before darting away.
Panning shot through bare branches to a river, the water moving slowly. Mist drifts thinly over the surface. Continue panning left to Chiana… perched in a tree.
Close on the young couple, new in their exploration. Breaking a tender kiss. The young man looks into Sikozu's eyes… then eyes cast down… hesitant. She looks down as well, a slight smile curves her lips as she removes her shirt.
Chi climbs down the tree, pacing carefully through the forest, coming on the nearly lovers. Observing silently for a moment while they touch and kiss. The young man's fingers skate down from her pale collarbone, gently cupping the curve of her breast. He leans down, placing a gentle kiss just above where his hand rested. Looking up to meet her eyes again, they both smile.
D'Argo and Gaashah wander into the market place. Two natives maneuver by, carrying a weighted tray of bread and fruit between them.
Gaashah catches the small greenish fruit the man tosses to him.
Gaashah extends the flattened globe, offering, also, an explanation.
D'Argo takes a bite of the fruit while they walk through the market, Gaashah silently greeting the many who greet him.
D'Argo, slight grating noise in his throat as he… chokes. Gaashah laughs, enjoying the reaction.
Looking up from his amusement at D'Argo's nicely covered discomfort. He catches a large, orange, football-shaped object. His expression moving from amused to wary. Cut to another alien, even stockier than Gaashah, as he approaches.
Gaashah tears off a bit with this teeth, chewing slowly while he eyes the newcomer.
The man pulls the 'football' out of Gaashah's and and stalks away, badly veiled hostility recedes with the man. Watching Jabuka’s back, Gaashah leans to the side and spits out the bit of etmek, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
Gaashah just gives D'Argo a 'significant' look.
Aeryn enters the market, towed by the young girl, her gaze drawn to D'Argo and Gaashah in the background.
Aeryn turns a puzzled look toward Gaashah.
D'Argo maneuvers between thin, leafless black trunks.
John affects a very Saturday Night Live skit version of a familiar accent.
Lurking behind some green vegetation, Chi sways out, hailing her shipmate.
She makes a tut'ing sound with her tongue.
Startled, Sikozu whips her head around, red curls flying.
Cut to D'Argo, scowling at overhearing a familiar voice.
He strides forward, growling quietly. Cut to close on Sikozu's not pleased expression, her shirtless paramour behind her.
Sikozu starts badly, Chiana simply looks annoyed; lips pressed together as she sits up, hands on her thighs.
D'Argo grabs her by the arm, ungently, dragging her to her feet. She responds in kind, batting his hands away.
Sikozu turns back to the young man, they crouch together on the ground, covering her… state of undress, although D'Argo's much too angry to note a bit of nudity just yet.
D'Argo's lost his logic in a fit of anger and frustration with the girl not previously seen since the whole Jothee debacle-- perhaps angrier.
He shakes her, shouting even louder.
Calming only slightly, he bends her backward by the pressure of his grip on her arms.
[Oh, and lovely juxtaposition— old fractured lovers fighting bitterly while young, new, and tender lovers, peer at them. Confused and … slightly afraid.]
Chiana stalks away. D'Argo turns, a bit calmer, toward the young couple on the ground. His voice gentle.
Sikozu turns an I-can't-believe-you're-telling-me-what-to-do look on D'Argo. The young man gives him a similar look.
Sikozu's expression relents halfway through the explanation— young man still looks stubborn.
Hollow sound of distant pulse fire interrupts and D'Argo bolts, blade unsheathed, running through the woods along the riverbank.
Close on John. A tall figure stands in the far background in front of the wide blue window, quietly observing.
He leaves off leaning on the pillar, dropping his hand to his side… distant rumbling sound as he turns back to Falaak.
Claps gloved hands together.
[Small talk just isn't his skill anymore. Not even handshake familiar with sincerity.]
Pauses thoughtfully, cocking his head slightly.
And departs.
Chiana scrambles through the barren forest, moving slightly uphill. A, hm, familiar sound [Rygel's thronesled] over her panting breaths.
Chiana stops and peers uphill at a dwarvish figure hovering just behind an outcropping of rock.
Paroos grumbles wordlessly, seated in a rough-hewn throne sled, his small body, no larger than Rygel's, nearly the same size as his head.
Paroos scowls at her wicked smile, deliberately scarred forehead crinkling and lips twisting like the horns protruding from his temples. The sled bobs and weaves under steady control of the boney fingers on the controls.
Pan down and right to D'Argo maneuvering between thin, leafless black trunks.
Cut to angle down on John as he descends the castle steps.
Shot cuts merrily between John on the steps and D'Argo in the forest.
Cut to slight angle down as John trots, relaxed, down the steps. The alien Chiana pled with in the forest ascends below. At the landing, still talking, John moves left, closer to the wall, to allow the man to pass.
The man moves right, into the wall as well. John's shoulder pressed almost into the cliffside, distracted, he moves right to pass the man ascending. The man reaches out, grabs John by the throat and presses him out over the abyss on the right edge of the broad flight of stairs.
Gasping, John grabs the guy’s wrist, but can't to anything else without risking an abrupt — really long — fall. Turns his head, peering down into that fall, turning back as the man speaks.
Responding with an only slightly raspy voice… the guy's hold isn't too strong.
The man sighs genially, pulls John back from the edge and releases him. John stumbles only slightly, hand pressed briefly to this throat.
Thunder rumbles in the background. John rolls his shoulders, adjusting his jacket without moving his hands. His response isn't 'quite' a question, but there is lovely irony.
The man chuckles slightly, turns and heads up the stairs. John watches him out of frame and turns, heading down.
In the market, Aeryn accepts a cup from the young child, who darts off again.
He rifles through his pockets for something.
Lifts the laka distillate to his nose and inhales deeply. Cut to Aeryn, casting her worried gaze around the market.
Long silence as Aeryn continues searching for… something. On the steps, John coaxes the silence.
John nods, sanguine at the dismissal.
She looks down, noticing her fingers wrapped tightly around the butt of her holstered pistol. She quickly peels her fingers away. Looks up at a small sound of delight. Aeryn sighs; stands slowly.
John, still standing still on the stairs, a confused shake of his head cut off by the muted sound of distant pulse fire. He bolts down the steps.
Hollow sound of distant pulse fire interrupts and D'Argo bolts, blade unsheathed, running through the woods along the riverbank.
Series of quick cuts between the patrons being gunned down by pulse fire in the market, John racing down the stairs, and D'Argo pelting at manic speed through the forest.
Gaashah is the last to crumple to the ground. Quick cut to Aeryn, double-handed grip on her pulse pistol, aiming down the muzzle as D'Argo races in, qualta rifle cradled in his grip, pointedly not bringing it to bear as he yells.
Aeryn adjusts her aim slightly and fires, the force of the blast to the chest stopping the racing Luxan and toppling him to the ground.
Aeryn turns to camera, close on her bland expression as she moves. Fading slowly to black.
The child crawls across the ground to kneel beside one of the bodies. Cut to John as he runs into the space, much too late. Stopping near the girl, almost touching her before moving on, disjointed gaze taking in the decimated area. Looking back over his shoulder as Sikozu and the young man arrive. They stop, taking in the scene, the young man rushing to his father's side, Sikozu kneeling beside D'Argo. All of this soundless over a dirge of music.
Pan down to Sikozu and the young man kneeling beside his father's body. Normal sound returns, dirge of music continues, quiet in the background.
Holding the pulse pistol in a two-handed grip, muzzle pointed to the ground, John is knelt near Gaashah's body, his back to D'Argo, who's sitting up, being tended by Chiana.
Busy arguing with D'Argo, even in this guarded attitude, John gets blind-sided— slammed upside the head by one of the natives. He grunts and goes down, pistol flying.
John pulls himself up on his elbow, the back of one hand going to his face.
Chi gets shoved to the ground for her trouble.
And the young man kneeling beside Sikozu looks equally surprised. Eyes round.
A new arrival interrupts.
Falaak towers in the market place, his toady squatting beside him, a goodfoot or so shorter.
Falaak looks transparently concerned as his gaze shifts back and forth.
The young man stands, turning a burning gaze on Falaak.
Without hesitation, the young man pulls a dagger from his belt, looms menacingly over Jabuka.
Jabuka doesn't flinch… much.
Turns toward John, still kneeling in the dirt.
John looks away, and that's only a slightly ironic grin on his face, given he can't do that; even for himself.
Paroos turns toward the child, still kneeling beside one of the fallen bodies.
Long on John and Zerbat stepping over the remains of many fallen slender trees. Upright versions form a delicate lattice in the foreground. John's holster is empty, but Zerbat carries a very large pulse rifle.
Zerbat cocks the rifle, points it at John's head, they both freeze.
Extended silence while John waits for the kid to fire or lower the weapon. A soft voice interrupts the tense moment.
Sikozu circles into shot, in front of Zerbat and John.
Sikozu steps closer and Zerbat edges carefully around John, keeping the weapon up. John shifts slightly, gloved fingers curling against his empty holster.
The obviously disappointed tone in Sikozu's voice makes Zerbat blink, the weapon lowering slowly.
Long on the trio trudging through the sparse wood. John leading, Zerbat with the large rifle just behind… Sikozu trailing behind him.
John watches Zerbat and Sikozu move away. He begins to sing quietly.
He pulls off his gloves, moves to a fallen trunk.
Sits and fishes in his pocket, lifting the laka distillate, eyeing it while he spins it in his fingers.
He turns, looking over his shoulder, and indeed, Aeryn is sitting on a rock a short distance away, elbows on knees. She looks… unhappy.
He looks away, also looking… unhappy.
Jump cut — a bit later, John sitting next to Aeryn, she's doing her best to explain.
John shoots her a look, fleeting disbelief— looks away.
Short beat and Aeryn's fingers twitch. Her hand moves to the pulse pistol, unholstering it and bringing it between her raised knees. A metallic click as she pulls the cartridge, eyes looking down. And she freezes. Without looking, John reaches out and takes the weapon from her unresisting hands.
John springs up, pistol instantly leveled at the drifting priest.
Slight change in location. Aeryn pacing near the edge of a wide stream. John sits on the ground, a knee drawn up to his chest. Paroos hovering beside him.
Aeryn passes a nervous hand over her head, smoothing already smooth hair.
Long silence as she struggles to do that. Abruptly, an image of the child near her prowler.
Another abrupt vision — Aeryn strikes the child.
She sees it happen again, and again.
She circles around, intently focused.
Aeryn turns around, clinging triumphantly to that memory.
Buzzing of an insect and John slaps a gloved hand against his neck.
Losing focus, she drifts away again, dredging up more memories.
Her fingers go to her arm, rubbing slightly.
Cut to close on the death throes of a tiny green winged bug on the forest floor.
She's rubs her arm, fingers up underneath the short black sleeve of her t-shirt.
Cool effect, shots of Aeryn turning in a circle on the forest floor, panicky whimpers as she spins, inserted with earlier images; standing at the prowler, scanner in hand, slapping her arm, ridding herself of a pest. Fuzzy and out of focus, as in real time she rubs frantically at her arm, from elbow to shoulder. Cut to out of focus shot of John, slapping a gloved hand against his neck, the sound loud and harsh— cut to out of focus shot of Aeryn turning toward him, snapping into focus as she speaks.
Aeryn again sees a vision of Gaashah's death. Panicky breaths again as she rubs at her arm, memories coming back. Seeing images of the people in the market being gunned down by pulse fire. Aeryn lifts her hands, covering her mouth in horror.
John just… sits, eyes slightly narrowed while she remembers again, Gaashah's death, and she turns, close on her bland expression in the market.
Cut to John, still sitting, looking like, maybe, he wants to get up. Abruptly he experiences a hallucinatory vision. Standing next to Aeryn, pulse pistol unholstered, taking deadly aim. Aeryn still looking stricken beside him.
He fires, killing Paroos.
Cut to John, sitting on the ground, brow furrowed, eyes narrowed. Finally stands, hopping down the slope, kicking up a bit of dirt to stand beside Aeryn [and we get some really gorgeous two-shots here. *sigh*].
John looks around.
Looks up slope toward Paroos.
He unholsters Aeryn's pulse pistol from his holster.
Hands the weapon to her, butt first.
And he walks away. Aeryn holds the weapon like a trout, completely confused.
Fade to black.
Aeryn, John and Paroos sit huddled around a large smoking pit, maybe a fire, but without flames just… a lot of smoke streaming over him. Aeryn mostly out of it sitting beside him. John fans his gloves through the air, coughing, voice choked.
The priest hits a lever on his chair and John's pulse pistol spits out, clunks on the ground beside John's knee.
Plucks it up, inspecting it as he stands, wiping it down with his gloves, blowing dirt from the surface.
Serious moment of compulsion: John touches a finger to his tongue and wipes a spot of dirt from the muzzle.
Roads conjoin; Zerbat and Sikozu get the drop on everyone.
Aeryn stands while John goes for the newly reholstered Winona. Zerbat points the rifle for emphasis.
He points at a large ugly welt on his neck. [Ow. There's gotta be a cream for that.]
He points at a number of smaller welts on Aeryn's arm. Zerbat eyes them closely, reluctantly conceding the possibility.
Floundering, Zerbat turns to Sikozu, perhaps seeking agreement.
He looks confused for a moment. [And man, this kid is good. 'scape has some great casting people.]
She reaches out, touching his arm, moves to stand beside him.
Looks to John who nods in agreement, finishing her thought.
Falaak and his toady, E'Alet conspiring on cue. Falaak slams Chiana's head onto the table. His hand holds her there, sitting on a chair, the side of her face pressed into the table.
Groggy, Chiana raises her head slightly.
Falaak slams her head back onto the table.
Falaak retreats from the table, Chiana has enough sense to keep her head down.
Falaak exits and E'Alet moves across the room, his back to Chiana who remains head down on the table, watching his back.
Long silence while E'Alet concentrates on whatever he's doing and Chiana engages her slo-mo vision, watching from the back as he raises his hands, clenching his fists, and a small group of tiny green bugs crawl out of the narrow comb-like structure on the side of his face and neck. Chi watching as the bugs fly away from his head just before her sight shuts down, clouding her black iris to white.
Blinking and gasping, she sits up, looking around sightlessly. E'Alet turns. Grunting quietly he moves to the table, leaning down to look closely into her eyes, a small smirk on his face, then backhanding the helpless girl across the room. [And Jen squeaks again… “stop hitting Chiana!” *g*] Stands and watches her sprawled unconscious on the floor before walking away.
John and Aeryn walking through the anemic wood in the dark. Hissing buzzing accompanies and they slap randomly at exposed skin. John muttering a curse before waving his arms wildly in the air, a motion scarily reminiscent.
More buzzing and Aeryn flinches, slapping a hand against her arm.
Pushes against her arm to get them moving again. They're just bug bait standing around like that.
Sikozu and Zerbat arrive. Zerbat getting the drop on D'Argo's guard while Sikozu maneuvers behind them, kneeling beside D'Argo. The guard keeps his weapon up in Zerbat's face. [Hm. Standoff. Never see those in 'scape. *g*]
Taking it as promising that the guard doesn't kill him, Zerbat takes his weapon.
The guard splits while Sikozu releases D'Argo.
She helps him to his feet.
D'Argo accepts the guard’s pulse rifle from Zerbat and, taking Sikozu's advice, bolts.
Chiana, sprawled on her back, eyes still white, slowly coming around.
John trails Aeryn's rapid pace up the castle steps.
Up on her knees now, her face pressed against a pillar, white eyes turned upward.
Running full-out up the steps, they come to a simultaneous and complete stop, Aeryn a few steps ahead, turning to face John.
Cut back to Chiana, head rolling back and forth in the silence.
Cut back to close on two pulse pistols, one aimed slightly up, one slightly down. Pulling out to close on John and Aeryn, a deadly, and close aim on each other. Silence stretches before —
White flash — John flinches backward a pulse blast striking him in the chest, firing convulsively. Aeryn falling backward, a similar pulse blast striking her.
White flash — John and Aeryn lying sprawled on the white rug in Falaak's palace, a fallen chair between them, pulse pistols still gripped in their fingers as John slowly rolls onto his back.
On the stairs John slowly lowers his pistol, Aeryn follows. They look at each other silently for a moment.
Fade to Black.
Chi struggles to her feet as John and Aeryn jog into the room.
John prowls the room while Aeryn helps Chiana up, pulling her arm across her shoulders.
For no particular discernible reason, Aeryn leads Chiana up the steps to the windows. Chiana slides to the floor, her back resting against a solid black table, Aeryn crouching beside her.
Buzzing sound, and John claps a gloved hand to the back of his neck. [And I *so* want to be a bug right now.]
The buzzing sound continues and Aeryn starts slapping at her bare arms. John continues to brush at the only exposed flesh he's got.
She moves to stand.
Continues to struggle to rise.
Puts a hand against her shoulder, holding her down. Aeryn stands beside him, twitching and scratching. He slaps his hand against his neck again.
He moves away, continues to search the room.
On cue, E'Alet charges into the room, gloating madly. John halts.
Aeryn ducks behind the solid black table, taking cover with Chiana. John scrambles back to cover, E'Alet's fire chasing him across the open space. He dives over the solid black table. E'Alet keeps running across the open floor, past the cover of the table for a clear shot at John.
Aeryn unholsters her pistol, whispering a warning to Chiana before she stands, taking aim down the steps.
And puts a pulse blast into E'Alet's chest. John's own shot driving him back further, flying backward to land sprawled on the table.
Cut to close on E'Alet's face, numerous bugs abandoning the hive and flying away.
John approaches, weapon still extended, to get a closer look.
Behind and above him, Aeryn flicks a hand through the air.
On the table, E'Alet's hand convulses on the butt of his weapon.
Slowly realigning his weapon to aim up the steps at Aeryn.
She moves closer, stepping past Chiana.
White flash — John is shot and fires convulsively before he falls. Aeryn is shot and falls.
Aeryn gasps, turning away, eyes blinking deliberately. Cut to John, eyes closed, shaking his head slightly before turning back to Aeryn. The aim of their weapons never wavers.
Aeryn fires and it's so close the heat must warm his face as the blast strikes the pillar behind him. He flinches and fires convulsively, missing by a wider margin. Chiana cries out fearfully.
Long silence while Aeryn's dread grows and John just tightens, head rolling on his neck slightly, testing limits.
His frozen face contorts, bites the inside of his lower lip, struggling hard without moving.
Long silence stretches to the breaking point, voices break the silence before anything more fatal can.
Chiana dives on Aeryn and they fall down the steps, landing on the white rug. Sikozu drops on top of Aeryn, grabbing her arms, pulling up and away. D'Argo takes John out, diving on top of him and driving him to the floor, grabs his arms and yanks upward, aiming the pistol at the ceiling. Sikozu has less success is realigning Aeryn's weapon, but is effective enough.
Zerbat falls beside her and helps Sikozu pull the aim of Aeryn's weapon away.
Their wide eyes lock across the short distance between them. John shakes, voice harsh with the effort.
D'Argo obliges, or tries. Slams a hard fist down, John's head rocks back with the impact.
Another hard fist slams into him, head rocking back and he cries out but refuses unconsciousness.
Cut to close on E'Alet's hand rising abruptly, clutching his pulse weapon. [Okay, weird Thunderdome vibe here, Iron-bar rising from pig shit].
Sikozu squeals in frustration as she and Zerbat struggle with Aeryn.
On the table, E'Alet rises. D'Argo notices but is a little bit busy with a friend hard-wired for murder to do anything about it other than call for assistance.
Paroos, having entered unobserved at some point, hovers closer, a heavy-toothed circular saw blade springing up from the front of his throne sled. An angry whir of machinery as he pulls in close behind the still groggy E'Alet. The whir downshifting as the blade cuts into him.
Close on E'Alet, green blood pouring from his mouth while he shudders under the blade sawing through his neck. [Ew. Gross-out moment of the week.]
The grinding stops and E'Alet drops out of shot. Everyone on the floor relaxes. John and Aeryn's arms lowering slowly to the floor. Much panting from everyone concerned.
Even the blind Chiana turns at this triumphant sounding intrusion.
Cut to Falaak standing at the top of the steps, ready to take all due credit.
Everyone's attention is on Falaak as he rants on, everyone except John and Aeryn who still look only at each other. Still sprawled on the white rug, John rolled onto his back, Aeryn on her side. John's gloved hand drifts slowly toward Aeryn's, still clasped around the butt of her pulse pistol, an extended finger just touching the side of her hand.
Aeryn's fingers curve over John's.
He chuckles odiously. But by the look, Zerbat believes her without a problem.
Taking a page from the Handbook for Evil Masterminds, Falaak chuckles some more. Zerbat yells in outrage and lunges for a weapon on the table.
Taking the counsel for what he can, Zerbat takes a breath, lifting the weapon from the table and turns, points it up the steps at Falaak, who finally has the sense to look… dismayed.
Zerbat slowly ascends the steps, Falaak backing away toward the window.
Both are at the top of the steps now, Falaak's back almost against the glass wall.
Behind him the window lifts.
Drawing his skirts around him; and one final lesson from the evil mastermind thing: Have the last word.
Screaming as he falls backward into the abyss.
D'Argo lowers his pulse rifle, and walks across the room to stand behind Zerbat. Both he and Chiana put a hand on his shoulder.
Fade to Black
CGI shot from the Cold Open— this time the domed structure across the mist-filled chasm is bright with flame, a large plume of smoke reaching to the sky. Shot slowly pulls back and pans down slightly to show Sikozu and Zerbat standing on the opposite side of the mist-laden chasm.
He turns toward her and smiles, looking down to take her hand.
And she walks away. [Gosh, and there's just so much of that going around.]
She tickles his chin and he chuckles with pleasure. Chi has a thing for older men. *g* Sikozu arrives in time to witness the friendly bonding moment.
Sikozu crouches slightly, hands on knees, giving Chi a teasingly disappointed look.
Pressing her forehead into Sikozu's. The redhead grins and helps Chi to stand, wrapping an arm around her waist.
And they walk slowly away, Chi's arm over her shoulder.
In the misty darkness, slim black tree trunks in the foreground, Aeryn stands at the head of a grave in the background. She watches the young child kneeling at the far end.
Shot pans right and out of focus on the background to close on John's profile. He turns away from the sight, leaving the trees and the graves and everything else between them. Shot continues panning right, bringing the background back into focus as Aeryn crouches back on her heels, arms wrapped around her knees.
Cut slightly closer as John approaches to stand close behind, gloves clasped in his left hand.
Looking down he reaches out, gently stroking her hair with the back of his fingers. His hand curves around her head and she leans back into his knees, and the silence continues.
Fade To Black