001 // Arrival

[astronavigatrix]

Pygar soared over the smoking rubble that once was the labyrinth of the City of Night. His grip was strong and sure around Barbarella and the Black Queen, who stroked the angel's cheek with her knuckles and purred her thanks for the rescue. The wind, suffused with volcanic ash, wailed beneath his wings like the final rallying cry of the rebellion.

Barbarella directed Pygar to touch down by her ship. It appeared to be undamaged by the battle between Dildano's revolutionaries and the Black Guards, and her relief clashed with the sorrow she felt for the lives lost. Pygar descended; the Black Queen wondered aloud where she'd go from here; and Barbarella fantasized about returning to Earth's orbit, where things were quiet and uneventful. She was already silently rehearsing her debriefing with the president when the meeting of her booted foot and the ground suddenly altered her surroundings and vanished her companions.

She now stood in the middle of a long, lighted corridor with uniformed personnel leaping away from her as if she'd just materialized in their path. Barbarella spun in place and rose up on her toes to search above the heads of the crowd for Pygar and the Black Queen, to no avail. Then, she rushed a window, both hands pressed to the glass, and peered out at the inky wall of space, studying the stars. From this, she learned she was in her own galaxy and her panic subsided.

"Excuse me," she said, stopping the first person to come within arm's reach, "can you tell me where I am, and who brought me here? I really can't be delayed any longer than I already have."

The Dominar Arrives

[heliumfart]

There is a dark cloud hanging over Moya. It isn't visible, but it has hung over the Leviathan and her crew for the last several arns. Aeryn and Crichton have been missing for nearly two solar days, with no trace of them to indicate where they might have gone. Something is wrong. Once more something inexplicable has befallen them. And with the birth of Moya's child getting closer and closer, there may be no escaping it this time.

Each crew member has been dealing with this in their own way. Zhaan has retreated to her chambers and buried herself in ritual and meditation. Chiana has become even shiftier and more nervous than usual - her weight always shifting, her head pivoting like a trapped gorlack at every corner of every tier. D'Argo is constantly pacing about the hallways, his eyes narrowed and his qualta blade drawn. Pilot tries to put on a brave face, but his voice - even more clipped and meek than usual - betrays his fear.

Only one person seems unaffected by all of this. That person is now hurtling toward the central chamber at full speed on his thronesled. D'Argo has done a good job of keeping him and Chiana from raiding John and Aeryn's personal effects. But the central chamber and its food stores remain unguarded - and there are now two fewer mouths to feed. That leaves all the more food for him.

At least it would, if he found himself in the center chamber as he expected. Instead, he seems to be in a strange alien cantina, surrounded by a host of Sebaceans in strange uniforms.

"CRICHTON! What the yotz have you done to Moya!?"