looking around.... (conc)

looking around.... (conc)

Raven-Kat -- Rae stares at the image

of a swarm of bugs taking her friends hostage. "Bad, icky space-buggies..." she whispers.

"I beg your pardon?" Pilot says uncertainly.

"No, never mind." Rae shakes her head and turns on her communicator. "Vi, tell me you have the magic crayon!"

"Uh, yes, I think so..."

"Great, we need misquito netting, bug spray, a bee-keeper's suit..."

"BUG spray?" Mouse demands. "Bee-Keeper's suit? Rae, what the Hezmana?"

"Space buggies." Rae mutters.

"Please, guys, just, uh.. DO it? Please?"

"Uh, okay..." Mouse says uncertainly. "We're on it..."

"Great, thanks. Out." Rae climbs onto Pilot's console and stares at the read-outs. "Tell Crais we need him now. Right frelling now! No more excuses, no stalling. Tell him."

"Of course. Would you like to tell him yourself?" Pilot asks.

"No, YOU tell him. Tell him I mean it, that I'm not playing about. Tell him."

"Transmitting now." Pilot says.

"Great. Thanks, big guy." Rae jumps to the ground and turns the ship-wide comm unit on. "Attention, alien invaders. This is Lieutenant Colonel Katlyn, commander of this ship. Be aware that you are dealing with Peacekeepers. There will be no negotiation and no prisoners. However... as we are currently on more important business we offer you a final opportunity to leave without any blood being shed. If you refuse this generous offer, no quarter will be given and you will be slaughtered to the man. My people have orders to hold their current positions at all costs, however, the way to the docking bay will be left free. Release the hostages and you will learn that even Peacekeepers are capable of being reasonable. Otherwise, you will perish in a battle that will be remembered for centuries to come."

Eloise -- Oh No! We lost another one!

"Uh, Rag I don't think you should..." Eloise began. But it was too late, Ragnar and the Fridge disappeared in a whoosh of vacuumed air.

"I hope he knows what he's doing!" says Beebo with a look of consternation on her face. "No one really knows how or how well that contraption works."

"Oh I hope he'll be alright." worries Eloise "We don't want him landing just anywhere in there. And I hope he'll be able to find the rest of the Scapers too."

Just then something drips onto the table next to Eloise. "What's that?" she asks.

"The mural is dripping again." says Beebo looking up at the ceiling. "Too bad the polyurathane spray went in with Vi or we could fix it."

SunAeryn -- How the Frell did they get in?

Sun yelled at Rae. "No one has gotten in through the dock, not on my watch!" She continued as she and those with her ran to rescue Aeryn, KaraS and Rygel. "Rae, is there another docking bay that you failed to mention to me? If so, how the frell was I suppose to watch BOTH?" Sun continued her rant as she and the others(who IS with me? I forgot) snuck up on the icky space buggies that had Aeryn, KaraS and Rygel.

Rygel was trying to convence the icky space buggies to let him go. "I am Dominar Rygel the 16th, ruler of All Hyneria. I demand that you release me."

"Shut up Rygel, you are not helping" Aeryn mumbled.

KaraS was so freaked by the big icky space buggies that she couldn't utter a word.

"Pilot" whispered Sun "I need the DRDs to block the end of this tier, please."

"How SunAeryn?" Pilot answered

"Frell, how should I know." Sun thought

"Oh, tell them to get into defensive posture." Sun added

She had her pulse rifle aimed at the leader of the space buggies, but he convenantly had KaraS and Aeryn in front of him.

"Dren!" Sun thought, "I have a clear shot, sort of. I wonder how freaked KaraS would be with space buggie guts all over her? I think Aeryn would be ok, but knowing Kara, she'd add another bucket of paint to the one she's already got hidden in the Mansion for me."

Sun tried to get KaraS' attention but Kara was to busy watching Rygel. Sun was able to get Aeryn's attention and they devised a plan. Aeryn would distract the leader long enough for Sun to take him out. "Here's hoping this works." Sun thought.

Raven-Kat -- “You know, Pilot....”

Rae begins very slowly, and at her most reasonable. "Sun raises a VERY interesting point. HOW THE FRELLING HEZMANA DID THEY GET ABOARD?"

"I am still endeavoring to discover that, Rae." Pilot says gently. "Be patient."

Rae grits her teeth and glares at Pilot. "Patience is a foriegn quality to my people." she reminds him.

"MANY qualities are foriegn to your people." Pilot suggests. "Yet you HAVE learned them."

Rae sighs. "Right, then. Let me know as soon as you figure out how they got on board."

"I will. Of course."

"Of course." Rae sighs. "Sorry, man. Is Crais through the barrier yet?"

"He is. And on his way here."

"Right." Rae nods and goes after Sunny, who may need backup. "Pilot, I need 5 DRDs on me, 5 more on Sunny, and two trailing our guests and their hostages at all times. Keep me informed, and, by all that you deem holy, don't let those bugs near any more of my people!"

Mouse2000 -- Viridian gets out her crayon

And breaks it in half. She gives half to Mouse, who is having a hard time thinking how she's going to draw a net, bugspray, or a beekeeper's outfit. Before they only drew ON something, like a wall, or a picture. But how do you draw usable bug spray?

Mouse looks over at Viridian, who is busy drawing a grid on the floor. Mouse expresses her concerns to Vi, who possesses MUCH more artistic creativity than Mouse ever will, and she smiles. "You continue on the net, and I'll take care of the other stuff." Vi says gently.

Mouse continues making the grid on the ground, but not knowing how big the space bugs are, she doesn't know how big to make the grid. She settles on a random pattern of small and bigger holes, figuring that at least most of the bugs would get tangled up in it. She continued to make multiple grids, as Viridian made the outfits and a few dozen of the large bug spray canisters like Mouse had seen the termite people use on Earth. Finally, Viridian came and picked up the edge of the grid, and shook it out. To Mouse's surprise, the grid became a large net. Mouse shook out the others and carefully folded them. Viridian dressed herself and Mouse in the outfits, Viridian drew a couple of big tote bags to hold the canisters, and the pair cautiously started down the passageway toward Command.

Mouse clicked her Com and told Rae that they were done, and what's next?

KaraS -- “ZZZzzzzzzzz”

the aliens chuckled.

"Don't push." Rygel said. "I am a Dominar. Treat me with some respect."

"ZZZZzzzzz. You must be the one to show respect when our Great Captain passes judgement on you." the alien squad leader said.

"No!" Rygel said. "Your Captain must show respect for ME!"

"Do not anger the Great Captain." the alien advised. "That is not wise."

While the aliens were looking at Rygel, Aeryn Sun set about getting out of her bonds. Bending down briefly, she slid the knife out of her boot and set about sawing through her ropes.

KaraS was very freaked out by the whole experience.

"First an ogre wants to turn me into a Kara Pot Pie. Then I'm captured by giant bug aliens. This has NOT been my day."

Raven-Kat -- “Mouse, Vi,”

Rae says, "You are the BEST! Extra doughnuts for you when we get back!"

"That great, Rae. But what's next?" Mouse inquires.

"Ah, Mouse. Always the practical one." Rae smiles. "I've always admired that about you."

"Uh... thanks." Mouse frowns quizzically. "The plan, Rae? You DO have a plan?"

"Sure do. No prisoners, no mercy."

"Oh my god..." Mouse mutters, wondering if Rae isn't even more PeaceKeeper than she's been letting on.

"KIDDING!" Rae assures her with a laugh, though the thought HAD crossed her mind. "Meet me at the junction to tiers three and..." Rae consults a blue-print. "four. Three and four. You know where that is?"

"Near the dining room?"

"It's a mess-hall." Rae mutters. "Uh, yeah. Meet me IN the mess-hall. We'll use it as our staging ground. Pilot!"

"Give them directions to the crew mess that avoid any of the bugs."

"Of course. Are you there, miss Mouse?"

Mouse snickers. "Yes, Pilot."

"From your present location, turn..."

"Left, Pilot." Rae supplies over her shoulder as she leaves the chamber.

"Thankyou. Laughed."

"Sorry. Left and walk until the third junction..."

******************************************************

Smiling, Rae hurries to the mess hall. "Sunny?"

"Uh, trailing them now."

"Do not, repeat, do NOT engage the enemy AT THIS TIME."

"Are you out of your frelling mind?"

"Sunny, we now have equipment and backup is on the way. If you have a way of reaching the crew mess, do so immediately."

SunAeryn -- Frell!

Sun mumbles under her breath after Rae mentioned not engaging the icky space buggies. Just as Aeryn bent down to grab the knife in her boot the alien that had her caught on and pulled her up so she couldn't get it. She did not looked pleased, not one bit. KaraS was looking rather unhappy that Aeryn hadn't succeded in getting the knife out. Rygel was still causing trouble. "Rygel, shut up!" Aeryn yelled under her breath at him.

Sun made motions to let Aeryn know that the plan they had, has been changed. 'How do I let them know that we have to meet Rae and the others in the mess hall?' Sun wondered allowed. Then it hit her, charades! Surely Aeryn would be able to figure it out. Sun started pantomiming that she had to go meet Rae in the mess hall and that help was on the way. At first Aeryn looked at her like she was kinkoid. KaraS started to yell, but realized that it would cause the buggies to realize that Sun and others were there. "You're leaving us?" KaraS whispered looking at Sun, not to happy. "I'll be back" Sun whispered back "Rae has a plan." "Where the hezmana do you think you...."Rygel shouted as Sun started to leave.

ZZZZZzzzzz"Halt! Take no more stepzzz!" the head bug yelled at Sun. Sun turned around and "Thanks a lot, you little wart!" she glared at Rygel as she watched the bugs head for her. Aeryn tried to get to Rygel and smack him. KaraS just looked at Rygel like he ate the last doughnut. "This is just frellin' great! Pilot tell Rae...." was all Sun got out before the bugs gagged her. Sun shot daggers at Rygel. 'Wait til I get that little wart alone.' Sun thought as the bugs dragged her over to where Aeryn, KaraS and Rygel were.

KaraS -- “More captives!”

gloated the squad leader. "Tie her up. Let's move out!"

"That was the plan? Get yourself captured?" KaraS asked SunAeryn.

"Not really." Sun sighed. "I was improvising. Rae has a plan."

"Oh dear." KaraS said.

Aeryn and Rygel were arguing with the insectoid aliens.

"ZZZZZzzzzz. Move along now." one of the alien guards said.

"I will NOT!" said Rygel. "I will not do anything you say."

"Neither will I." Aeryn Sun said.

"You must come. We are taking you back to our ship. Our Great Captain wants to see you."

"Then let him come here." Rygel said.

"Go now!" the alien said, threatening Rygel with it's gun.

"This could get ugly." KaraS whispered to SunAeryn.

"Yeah, and soon." SunAeryn said.

Raven-Kat -- “They’ve been CAPTURED?”

Rae demands of Pilot, not even slowing in her rush to get to the mess-hall where Mouse and Vi waited. "How?"

Pilot quickly explained what had happened and why.

"Two words, Pilot." Rae mutters as she enters the mess hall. "FROG LEGS!!!" she shrieks.

"What, is that some kind of Sebacian curse?" Mouse asks.

"No, it's what I PLAN ON HAVING FOR FRELLING DINNER if anyone gets hurt because of that farbotz little pile of drenn! DRENN DRENN DRENN!!!" Rae picks up the first thing that comes to her hands (a plate) and hurls it across the room. It shatters against the bulk-head. "I will kill him myself if Sunny or Kara get hurt."

"Okay..." Mouse says slowly. "Calm down Rae."

"I work better like this." Rae informs her. "Do you have what I need?"

"Yes." Mouse indicates the supplies laid out on the table.

"Great, now all we need is some DDT and we're all set."

"That'll kill us, too!" Vi protests.

"Respirators, then." Rae says. "Mouse, chemistry is your field. Work with me here. PILOT! Where are the others?"

"Others?" Mouse asks.

"The rest of the crew. We can hold this place indefinately." Rae explains. "Now that we've lost most of our fighting men, we'll need to change tactics."

"In what way?" D'argo demands, striding in with Chianna and Zhann.

"Civilians remain here with a contingent of DRDs. You and I go rescue the others."

"And me?" John demands. "Huh?"

"You stay here and hold down the fort." Rae hands him a canister of bug spray and whispers, "Don't mess this up, human." More loudly, she adds. "We need at least one competent warrior-type down here. Pilot's working on respirators as we speak just in case we need to drop a bug-bomb."

Raven-Kat -- “May I ask you a question?”

D'Argo hesitantly asks Rae as they walk down the corridor, weapons at ready.

*Drenn, here we go...* "But you just did."

D'Argo stops in confusion.

"I'm sorry. Go ahead and ask it."

"Yes." Rae resumes walking.

"Fully Sebacian?" D'Argo persists, following.

"Then, uh, why do you have feathers instead of hair?"

*Like no one's ever asked me THAT before!* "It's a long, and somewhat embarrasing story involving a Delvian Pa'U, an Indian Shaman and an unsuccesful spiritual quest." Rae says without looking back at him.

SunAeryn -- The bugs kept moving toward the

docking bay. "Rygel, shut up." Sun finally managed to get the gag out of her mouth. "You are not helping any." "But, I am the Dominar, I can not be treated in this manner." Rygel shot back. "Your lowliness, if you don't shut the frell up, you will wish that the bug eat you!" Sun shot at Rygel. Sun wasn't at all pleased that the litte wart got her captured. "Sun, don't you think your being a little hard on him?" KaraS asked. "Kara, my friend, I know you like Rygel and all, but seriously, he is not helping matters any. Rae has a plan, what I don't know, because SOMEONE got me captured! As much as I like Vi, Mouse and the others, they are not the fighting type. So that leaves, Rae and D'Argo. Knowing Rae she will ask John to stay with Mouse, Vi and the others, to help them fight off the bugs if they make it to the mess hall." Sun told Kara. The ugly space bugs were moving fast, faster than their captives could. It gave Sun and Idea! "Kara, Aeryn, I have an idea." Sun whispered to them, leaving Rygel out on purpose. "Whatever happens, just play along." Kara looked skeptical, Aeryn looked like Sun had lost her mind. "Look, I'm trying to buy Rae sometime, so I'm going to slow down the space bugs a little. You two gonna help or not?" Sun added. Kara nodded in the affrimative. "What do you have planned?" Aeryn asked. "You'll see, just do not engage the bugs, ok? No matter what." Sun told Aeryn

"This doesn't sound good Sun." Kara said, looking a little scared at what Sun might do.

"Trust me Kara, no one will get hurt, if we can keep Rygel quiet. Can you do that? If he starts again, shove something in his wacket hole, ok?" Sun asked Kara

"Um, ok, I don't think he'll like it. But sure." Kara agreed

"He doesn't have to like it. Just don't hurt him. It should all work out." Sun responded

Just then the bugs spoke "No talkingzzzz! Move!". They shoved the captives and Sun fell, twisting her ankle. "Dren! I can't walk. I twisted my ankle." She yelled.

"That's your plan?" Kara whispered

Sun looked up at Kara "Just keep Rygel quiet!"

"Get up....move! Nowzzzz!" the bugs demanded.

"I can't walk you frellin' over grown cockroach!" Sun yelled at the bug trying to pull her up.

While Sun was distracting the bugs, Aeryn snuck out of sight.

"Where the yotmmmmm?" Rygel tried to get out, Kara shove a wad of something in his mouth before the bugs could hear him. "Shhh, your Eminence. Aeryn is going to try to help Rae get rid of the bugs, if you'll shut up, that is. Now, you going to keep quiet or does that wad stay?" Kara asked the Dominar.

Sun managed to get free of the binding on her wrists, she had a squirt gun hidden in her vest. She pulled it out,

"Freeze or I'll fill ya full of bug spray! It's the strongest stuff on Earth. It'll kill ya instantly."

Kara just looked at the squirt gun, amused.

Raven-Kat -- As Rae and D’Argo walked

they heard a scuffling noise behind them. Both turned, weapons at ready.

"Whoa!" Aeryn holds her hands out to indicate she comes in peace. "Now I know how John feels."

"Aeryn!" D'Argo quickly walks over to her. "I am quite pleased to see you."

"As are we all, Liuetenant." Rae agrees. She walks over and grabs Aeryn by the shoulder in a gesture of friendship. "How did you escape?"

Aeryn quickly outlines Sunny's plan and it's results.

"Great." Rae hefts a canister of bug spray. "Which way are they headed?"

"Right. Think we can get this to our people?"

"Possibly. What is it?"

"Bug-spray." Rae grins.

"If we can mark the canister to indicate that..." Aeryn says. "But in a way the bugs can't understand."

"English." Rae says. "No one out here can understand English. In fact, it's the most complicated language on Earth. WIERD rules..."

"Take you long to learn, then?" Aeryn inquires as Rae produces a marker and begins writing a message on the side of the canister.

"Well, once Command killed my translator microbes, I didn't have much of a choice."

"They KILLED your microbes?" Aeryn asks. "WHY?"

"Can't learn a new language with the things." Rae explains, hefting tht canister. "Impossible. Now, let's move. We need to get this in front of them."

"This way." Aeryn says, leading on. "So, how many languages DO you know?"

"Uh, Sebacian, obviously. Luxan; Delvian; American, Australian, and British English; Spanish; conversational Scarran; enough Nebari to ask directions to the 7-11; I even understand bits and pieces of Pilot's native tounge. Now THAT took years..."

"Through here." Aeryn says, pointing to an access hatch.

Rae puts down the canister, crawls throught the hatch, and takes it from Aeryn on the other side. When the others make it through, Rae speaks. "Listen, I know you guys don't much like Crais, but he's on his way here, and he IS going to help us."

"Crais is a liar and a traitor." Aeryn protests.

"So are you. So am I." Rae reminds her. "Look, we NEED armed backup if this gets out of hand."

"GETS out of hand?" Aeryn demands.

Rae sighs. "Can we just deal with this for the time being? You're sure they'll pass this area?"

"If they continue the way they were heading they MUST." Aeryn assures her.

"Great." Rae places the canister against a wall. It doesn't particullarly stand out, except for the block-letter scrawled across the front proclaiming: ROACHES CHECK IN... THEY DON'T CHECK OUT

"What does it say?" Aeryn asks.

"It says, 'fight-fight-fight for the red-blue-and-white.'"

Rae shakes her head. "It tells my people that it's bug-spray. Let's move out."

The three hurry down the corridor to come back out behind the bugs and their hostages.

"Rae?" Pilot's voice comes over her comm, startling her so badly that she nearly discharges her weapon.

"Go ahead." Rae says shakily.

"Crais is requesting permission to come aboard."

"Tell him to bring weapons." Rae says and keeps walking.

Chryse74 -- Did Rae just say what I think she said?

"Pilot, can you confirm that Crais is coming aboard?" asked John.

"Yes, Commander, the Colonel has instructed me to let Crais on board, with weapons." replied Pilot.

"oh Gawd! I really hope Rae knows what the hezmana she thinks she's doing!" says chryse.

"We'll just have to watch out for him and the bugs." said John

"I wonder what Moya and Talyn are saying to each other, " asks chryse.

"I think it's kinda personal. We probably don't want to know," said Mouse.

"Uh, I just thought of something. I know that Rae put us here for our own protection, but what exactly can we do to help? I really don't like just waiting around here, wondering what Rae's planning. maybe we could do something. What weapons and skills do we have that could help out?" asked chryse.

Eloise -- Pacing the floorboards....

Beebo walked in one direction and Eloise in the other.

*THUMP, THUMP, THUMP, turn*

"I wish we knew what was going on in there," says Eloise. "I hate being stuck out here waiting while they get to have an adventure!"

Just then Beebo touches Eloise's arm. Eloise stops and turns to see Beebo pointing at the painted Moya.

"Look! A message!" she yells. "6th's Black Box."

"What does it mean?" asks Eloise confused.

"Let's go find 6th!" Beebo replies hurriedly, dragging Eloise out thee door. "She can explain!"

KaraS -- “We have to help them!”

Chryse said. "We can't just sit around!"

"Rae told us to wait here." Mouse pointed out.

"But that doesn't mean we have to." Viridian said.

"We should try to help out." IQ said, breaking his long silence.

"Perhaps we could think of something." Crichton said. "Zhaan, do you have any ideas?"

"Yes I do." said Zhaan. "Everybody follow me."