Despite protests from his stomachs Rygel couldn’t eat much, his meeting with Scorpius had made him doubt his decision, could he make John understand what was at stake, it had to wor.k, he was counting on the fact that John Crichton would never reveal his secrets to his enemy. Still Scorpius was cunning that is what he wanted after all.

There was a small shaft behind one of his many portraits that adorned the south wall. The hidden route had been used by the royal line for hundreds of cycles in times of peril to move about the palace secretly. He crouched down and shuffled into the small tunnel. He sent a small glow orb before him which softly lit his path. He still remembered each and every path from his childhood when he needed to escape his dull lectures and ceremonies. It was no longer a source of adventure however, his body was slower and he cursed his way along.

He peeked out at the hallway behind a heavy curtain to make sure he was alone. When he moved back to the palace he made a few alterations and the chamber ahead was one of these. Before parting with his friends on Moya he had asked them a small favour which they had agreed to, it had helped him keep a level head and eased the loneliness.

His little feet padded over to the chamber and he pressed his stubby fingers against ID pad. The metal door slid open and he entered a room that looked like a scaled down version of the interior of Pilots den on Moya.

He cleared his throat “John Crichton, Aeryn Sun”.

As he did so his friends appeared before him, John perched on Pilots controls and Aeryn standing cross armed before him.

“Yo Sparky, managed to squeeze in social visit in between massages” the unmistakable laughing voice of Crichton rang out.

Rygel tried to look him in the eye and feeling a mixture of shame and dread.

“I need your help, the fate of my people depends upon it or I wouldn’t ask” Rygel struggled to breathe, Hynerians had difficulty when faced with extreme emotions.

“Ryg calm down” John said coming up behind him placing a hand on his back and then thumping it.


“Always here to help, you know that.”

Aeryn was studying Rygel more closely “What have you done”

“I need you to speak to Scorpius”

Aeryn pulled her pulse pistol from her belt.

“You never did listen to reason, end program Aeryn Sun”

John was left in the room with Rygel as Aeryn’s image blinked out.

_____________


The footsteps of the giants finally retreated to outside Grobix’ house, he could finally release his tears. He had caught a glimpse of their wild faces cruel lines surrounded sharp misformed teeth.

They had laughed about killing some Hynerians, they were probably going back to eat them now. He knew he had to warn someone they were here but that meant leaving his house, what if there were any more of them.

He peered through the window, he would cross through the swamps to get to town, it would take longer but there were many hiding places there and he didn’t think the giants would be able to pass through the dense mud. Smoke poured through the trees, he only had time to save a few of their possessions before he left, the fire was still burning through the garden and it would soon take the building.

He scurried through the swamp as fast as he could, swimming where possible. By the time he reached town he resembled a large blob of mud only it was moving fast down the hillside, everyone in the street turned to look at him.

“Murdering giants” he croaked “they are going to kill us all” and with that flopped onto the moss covered bank.

_____________________


On the command carrier Scorpius ran his fingers along the screen that projected images of Charrid vessels. He felt invigorated, he had been patient for over a cycle, at last he had an opening. His experience on board Moya had humbled him, made him re-evaluate things but now he was more certain than ever that there was no future in peace.

It couldn’t last, it wasn’t the nature of things, take the Charrids, all they knew was war even if it was amongst themselves that was who they were and nothing could change that. Under normal circumstances he wouldn’t intervene but for the price offered he would see them all perish.

He couldn’t openly use force against them but that was not necessary. They relied on superior technology, cripple that and they would soon scatter. He knew just the person that could carry it out and leave no blemish on the Peacekeepers, he had been watching Natira’s movements since the destruction of the Shadow Depository. The anticipation he felt made him thirst for death, he hissed at the display “Lieutenant, ready a prowler, we are going to see an old friend.”