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scifi_rewatchOn repeat viewing, this really is a more complex episode than I first gave it credit for. Particularly concerning the ruling family on the planet; I always just viewed them as watered down versions of the royal family from the Princess trilogy. Sure, their internal political strife is a bit soap operaish. But twist that (literally) into a plot with the Talyn attack and who’s behind it; suddenly these guest stars in the A storyline are a jumping block to setting up something big.
There may be two Johns (and this episode officially takes the task of untangling that clusterfrell) but Aeryn’s journey, not unusually, is sort of the star of the show. We get some major backstory, along with the promise of a complicated future arc. Big change in direction for the entire crew, yup yup. Can’t say much more above the cut, but kudos to the Scaper Chronicles, as always, for encouraging me to look at the season three titles a new way; repeating John voice for John…twins? Remember, they’re not clones. :P Both are equal and original.
Episode summary is here, courtesy of the John and Aeryn Fansite.
Considering where we ended up—with the crew split up on Moya and Talyn who starburst to different destinations (episode throwback!) to wait out the retrieval squad—I figure there’s some merit in discussing who ends up where. Jool starts and stays on Moya, taking up Zhaan’s medical duties to the best of her ability (looking after unconscious Crais, taking a sensitive skin sample from John, the works.) Once Crais is awake, he and Aeryn ultimately move over to Talyn, after having a bit of a narrative together on Moya. Stark is the first person over on Talyn to do the repair work, and then Aeryn sends over a John (Talyn John) to help. The other John (Moya John) remains on the mother ship, literally speaking. :P D’argo, Chiana and Rygel spend most of their time on the planet, until Chi and Ryg bring the chromextin to Talyn. But when Talyn reacts badly, Chiana returns to Moya with a sample, so that they can get this all sorted out in the lab. D’argo ultimately returns to Moya, with Moya John (will get into the Johns on the planet later.) So on Moya, we have Chiana, Jool, D’argo and John, and on Talyn we have Crais, Aeryn, Stark, Rygel…and John. Smart way to separate them, huh? Least Ben Browder won’t have to worry about playing two people in one scene after this. :P And the Moya crew should have a better time together than they did during the last episode, but sheesh, poor Aeryn on Talyn has to wrangle all of those boys. :P But to be fair, we should all recognize the comedic gold of making Rygel and Stark into roommates. I sense a kookier version of “The Odd Couple,” hee.
The planet storyline is even more convoluted. It took me multiple watchings to realize just what exactly happened with each character, and some of the ScapeCast folks actually held that against this episode. There wasn’t enough of a confirmation concerning a shocking twist—when the alien under Xhalax Sun’s command did a body snatcher on Sarova Rinic. Sarova Rinic, along with her father, Pralanoth, and her brother, Tolven, are part of the ruling family that can grant our crew access to the chromextin they need. Tolven, brash and arrogant, would rather go on the offensive against them and their questionable weapons capabilities (remember: our crew now has a big reputation in the Uncharted Territories for being destructive badasses…and indeed they leave this planet’s political structure in ruins, too,) but Sarova decides to help them. In the long run, she wants to convince her ailing father that Tolven is too loose of a canon and that they can’t co-rule; she has to rule alone. So, she’s a bit cunning but not…evil. Not until she’s taken over the red, reptile alien, of course; then she kills her father and tries to kill/detain our heroes, in order to get Talyn. She’s taken over after a bombing that she thought (but was surprised by; important moment) her brother was responsible for, but instead it was Xhalax. This wasn’t the first time Xhalax interfered, either; she also poisoned the chromextin and fired on the ships. Everyone thought it was Tolven, of course, but Tolven was absolved by the lobster of truth. *cackles* Thing acts like a polygraph but kills you if you answer wrong. Tolven ended up dead on a technicality; he wasn’t completely loyal to his father, and he tried to deny it. There wasn’t really much point to it, except that I think “Farscape” wanted to confirm that the lobster worked. :P Kudos to Rebecca Gibney, Robert Bruning and Sandy Winton for playing the Rinics!
But yeah…AERYN’S MOTHER. I’ll certainly have lots more to say about Linda Cropper in upcoming episodes, and sadly I can’t find the name of the actress who played young Aeryn! :/ Yes, she didn’t have any lines, but she sure looked the part; a miniature Claudia Black, wakened one night in her child barracks to be told by her mother that she was actually wanted, that she was “special.” This marks the third person to tell Aeryn this (also John and Velorek) and that could send off Mary Sue bells. (That, and the possibility of a love triangle with Crais and John…maybe technically a quintet if we add in the other John and the Harveys. :P) It’s true that Aeryn is very unusual for a (former) Peacekeeper, but thanks to the strength of the writing and characterization on this show, I think she’s spared from being a “special snowflake”. She’s just a specific, fascinating character. Brings me back to the Rinics, even; if “Farscape” were a show about them, with detailed story arcs about their personal and socio-political concerns, they’d be more than a soap opera, too.
Anywho. Crais, remember, has been holding onto this secret since the end of season two. :O They put a teaser into “Die Me Dichotomy,” post-death, with Crais and Talyn talking about a data chip that would be veeeery interesting to our girl. (There’s a few callbacks this ep—chlorium from “I, E.T.,” Moya straining poison from the chromextin like she did Aeryn’s blood in “Nerve,” etc.) We fast forward a bit through Crais’s shock, now, that Aeryn has returned to life and then he hands over the chip. It’s the first in a couple of cunning moves by him—to paint himself and Aeryn as similar (both had parents who loved them, both decided to “be better” than their PK service.) Then he transitions to the reveal that Xhalax (not by coincidence) is leading the retrieval squad that damaged Talyn and wants to get him back. Crais, and later Aeryn herself, pit “families” against each other—the Talyn family (Aeryn named the ship for her father, after all,) and the Xhalax one, sent to divide her loyalties. Unlike John (though he has understandably biased motivations) I can’t fully fault Crais for any of this. He genuinely cares about Aeryn, and is looking for a deeper connection. They have a lot of shared history and experiences, after all. I just love all of the character complexity on this show.
John’s trajectory this episode is certainly complex enough on its own. :P He (they) start by overwhelming Aeryn with their neediness to be differentiated; she can only handle it by giving Moya John a green shirt. :P With Talyn in mortal danger, she sends Talyn John over there. Moya John stays on Moya, mostly to badger Jool for a DNA sample to prove that he’s the original. Amidst A-plot attacks to the ships, Talyn John gets an idea about how to intimidate the Rinic family (Moya John, of course, catches on and helps out.) Talyn John checks onto the planet to negotiate. Doesn’t work well in public, but later while with Chi and D, someone hands him a phone device (he’s as bemused as we are); it’s Sarova, wanting to meet privately to discuss expediting his request. But they’re attacked in a bombing, not by Tolven but by Xhalax’s people, not that John ever realizes that. Still, he’s badly hurt, so Talyn John returns to Moya for medical treatment…including a blood transfusion from Moya John. (Aaaw.) Moya John gets the 411 so he can pretend to be Talyn John. He returns to the planet unharmed (perfect cover-up to deny being with Sarova.) He passes the lobster of truth test on the technicality that he’s (no longer) Talyn John. (Once again, Ben Browder’s acting is a liiiiiittle too over the top for my tastes. I’m probably the only fan who gets eyerolly with his “I’m your daddy” schtick with Anthony Simcoe. :P Too redonkulous.) Meanwhile, Talyn John gives his DNA sample to Jool but then realizes that Aeryn is going to head over to Talyn, so both of them pack some bags. He’s a sneaky bastard who leaves Moya John both Aeryn-less AND Wynona-less. All Moya John has left is his green shirt…which presumably he changes back into for the benefit of the audience. :P
But the Johns aren’t the only ones negotiating with the guest stars this ep; Rygel does more than his fair share. I agree with the Scaper Chronicles folks that it’s nice to remember that Ryg counts for more than just comic relief (ignoring a little later when Chiana stuffs him, protesting, into one of Talyn’s ducts to coat it with chromextin. :P) But on the planet he’s cool, collected, and probably the least blameworthy for inter-party tensions. Stark (and I guess Jool, but Stark is better) is basically the comic relief of this episode. D’argo is largely support (bad support in the bromance department when he only makes Moya John more jealous of Talyn John. :P) Chiana, again, is worth a second glance. One might say she inadvertently instigates the trouble with the Rinics when she doesn’t respond to Tolven’s advances. The reason, of course, is that since her debacle with Jothee, she’s trying to prove something to D’argo, and probably more to herself, to not use sex as a means of transaction. D, of course, is the one to start the fight with Tolven over Chiana’s honor. Which brings me nicely to the final point I want to make—somewhat removed from the specifics of the show. “Farscape” is science fiction, which means that male alien characters don’t necessarily have to respond to female alien characters the way men and women often interact on Earth. But, many times including this one, they DO choose to do this. I guess I’m putting my foot into the debate over whether or not speculative fiction can be socio-political—it can. By giving us alien characters with human traits, we can examine obtrusive systems of power. Poor Chiana just wanted to get a drink and be left alone. Imagine how differently this episode would have turned out if she could just exist, unbothered, in public. Frell me dead. :P
Favorite Crichtonism: Cross my heart, smack me dead, stick a lobster on my head.
Favorite Quotes:
*Aeryn doesn’t have time for this*
John#1: I know it's not as bad as last time - it's not the Cro-Magnon copy or the Alien Nation reject, but you can tell I'm the original right?
John#2: Wrong! I'm the original.
John#1: Try again pal. Have you been messin' with my stuff?
John#2: That's my stuff. And you - are the clone. Aeryn you can tell-
John#1: You can see the difference.
Aeryn: No - I-I can't.
*Rygel’s negotiations fall through because women can’t just be left alone in public*
Felor: A transaction of that magnitude will need the approval of the Security Director. And he dislikes offworlders. Especially with reputations such as yours.
Rygel: Reputations? Us?
Tolven: *leering at Chiana* New talent. Didn't know Jenet was hiring exotics these days.
Chiana: I don't work here.
Tolven: Well maybe we'll give you a try anyway. *drops food down her corset* Don't move! I'll get it for you. *Chiana tries to leave and he restrains her* Did you hear me?
Chiana: *maybe to him, or to D’argo behind him* I tried-I tried not to start any trouble.
Tolven: Well you're not in any trouble!
D’argo: Well you are. *fights Tolven and his goon* Every frelling planet.
Rygel: *to Felor* Ahem - Where are you going? We still have business.
Felor: Not anymore. Who do you think that was?
Rygel: Oh yotz.
*Leviathan continuity! :P*
Stark: No propulsion. No overrides. No weapons. All bad. Talyn's so still - so near death. Even the DRDs are still.
Talyn John: I didn't know he had DRDs.
Stark: He builds them as he grows.
*Moya John bribes Jool in southern twang*
Moya John: Anything?
Jool: Yes, I'm hungry and there's nothing sweet on this ship.
Moya John: I was talking about your patient.
Jool: Well the laudinal injection I gave him seems to have had no effect whatsoever.
Moya John: I thought you knew something about medicine.
Jool: I do. I'll have you know, I earned T ratings in genetics, neuroscience and xenobiology.
Moya John: Good. That's what I thought.
Jool: What are you doing?
Moya John: Zhaan took some tissue and DNA samples from me a while back. *hands her vial* I want you to compare 'em - to me and the clone - and figure out - that I'm the real thing and he's the wannabe.
Jool: And I why should I do your selfish and unnecessary work?
Moya John: Because I know where Rygel stashes his womilyn cake - and it's sweeter than the sweet thang. Sweet thang.
*after Crais attacks her upon waking up*
Jool: There. I woke him up. Now I hope he drops dead.
*Moya John deftly avoids wasting episode time :P*
Crais: What? Aeryn Sun?
Moya John: Yeah. You missed that bit.
Crais: You're alive. How?
Moya John: Let's skip the back-story right now.
*the reveal of who attacked Talyn*
Moya John: Who did you piss off this time?
Crais: Talyn and I were not the aggressors.
Moya John: Of course not. You never are. So who is it? The Plakavoids? The Skeksis? The Big Bad Wolf?
Crais: Peacekeepers. They - want Talyn back.
*Rygel gets sucked into some family drama*
Rygel: The Luxan will be disciplined. I apologize for his behavior.
Sarova: According to some witnesses, he has nothing to apologize for.
Tolven: You saying I was at fault? Father, these are known criminals. The path of destruction they leave is-
Rygel: Don't believe those myths. You know how rumors get started.
Pralanoth: Then you deny your reputation.
Rygel: I - deny it's relevance. We're here for one reason to buy chromextin.
Sarova: Why do you need such a large amount?
Rygel: Oh - mmm - medical purposes. Hm?
Tolven: Chromextin has no medical function.
Sarova: None that you know of brother.
Tolven: Oh but it can power weapons. Should we sell them ammunition they can use to attack us? Hm? Their warships - ourammunition.
Rygel: We have no warships.
Tolven: Then why hide your vessels in the densest layer of our bonosphere?
Rygel: To avoid conflict. I understand that as this planets ruler, you must protect it's people. Be assured - we pose you no threat. Allow us this simple transaction and you'll never see us again.
Sarova: I see no reason not to accommodate them.
Tolven: I see no reason to let them live.
Sarova: Force is your answer to everything.
Tolven: Better than weak mindless pacifis-
Pralanoth: Silence!
*D’argo makes sure Rygel can’t run after the Rinics make their threat*
Rygel: Perhaps you don't realize - but we've been given one arn to leave. With or without you - I'm returning to Moya.
D’argo: You aren't going anywhere.
Rygel: What? What have you done with the pod?
D’argo: Well - nothing you can fix.
*Crais finally plays Aeryn’s holochip, which leads to an even bigger reveal*
Xhalax: Aeryn - wake up. Wake up Aeryn. Don't be afraid. My name is Xhalax Sun. I'm your mother. But you mustn't reveal to anyone that I was here. Do you - understand? *young Aeryn nods* I came to tell you something. Aeryn your life was not an accident - and it wasn't an assigned birthing to fill the ranks. Talyn - that's your fathers name - he and I chose to have you. You were conceived in love. Our love. I wanted you to know this. It makes you special. We wanted you - and we love you. Go back to sleep now.
Aeryn: *presently, speaking to Crais* My mother.
Crais: Yes.
Aeryn: I was never sure whether I dreamt that. And that was on my file?
Crais: And hers as well. I thought it might - interest you to learn of your parents.
Aeryn: And my father - Was he-? Did you-?
Crais: I could find no information - whatever about him.
Aeryn: Was my mother court-martialed?
Crais: There are gaps in her service record. However, its last entry notes a promotion into an elite battle group. Aeryn-
Aeryn: Let me guess. The retrieval squad. She is somehow part of it.
Crais: The squad is under the command of Senior Officer Xhalax Sun.
*things get kinky with Moya John and Jool*
Jool: If you want a genetic comparison - I need a specimen.
Moya John: Of what?
Jool: Well - skin. Unless you prefer I test your internal organs.
Moya John: You can stay the hell away from my organs lady.
Jool: Well skin then. Preferably something with the least amount of exposure to solar radiation. *going for the butt*
Moya John: Shoulder. *rolling up sleeve* I use SPF 30.
*Talyn John has his own troubles*
Stark: Ach! It's not working! It's not helping! Talyn's dying! Not waking up!
Talyn John: Astro! Work- now - freak - later. Work - now - freak - later.
Stark: Yes. That's fair.
Talyn John: Good.
Stark: How much later?
*the Johns working together*
Talyn John: Pilot - I want you to take us down.
Pilot: Below the cloud layer?
Moya John: Do it Pilot! I think I know what he's tryin' to do. He's gonna need a comms channel.
Talyn John: And I'm gonna need a comms channel. Crais I want you to find the fattest target you can - government house, missile site, McDonalds- Whatever.
*Talyn John introduces himself to the Rinics*
Talyn John: It's about damn time. Who the hell are you?
Pralanoth: Rinic Pralanoth - Sovereign of Kanvia.
Talyn John: John Crichton - Wizard of Oz. You ready to knock off the macho BS and talk these things out?
*Tolven really needs to learn and look past his own issues*
Tolven: Are you planning to seize power? Hm? Or perhaps one of the subcounselors is getting ambitious again. Have you been hired to sabotage our unification?
Talyn John: We could give a damn about your local politics. We're here to buy the stuff and then get the hell outta Dodge! WHY IS THAT SO DIFFICULT TO GET THROUGH YOUR TINY LITTLE BRAIN?
*cunning Crais gives Aeryn quite the offer*
Crais: Nothing until the chromextin arrives. But after that- Aeryn! You must join us. Your mother is involved now. She'll take him alive if possible. But I know Talyn - he'll fight to the death. His or your mothers.
Aeryn: And you expect me to fight on Talyn’s side?
Crais: I hope your presence will provide another solution. She loved you. And if that part of her still lives - only you can find it.
Aeryn: She's an officer. Part of the elite.
Crais: She is nothing. A thug. A mindless assassin. As you and I once were. But you can give her a chance to be something more than that.
*Chiana suggests something that is more in keeping with her character, and Talyn John finds his first UT phone*
Talyn John: It's the best I could do. The old man says it's going to take him that long to scrape up 6 - whatevers.
Chiana: Lenarts.
Talyn John: Lenarts, right. Says there's not enough at any one single parish. So he's got to send his deputies out to collect it - and who the hell knows if that's true.
D’argo: Well it may be true. I spent the whole day trying to buy some. There wasn't one source out there that had the whole amount that we need.
Chiana: I say we just go get the guns and steal the stuff.
D’argo: We would have to complete 10 robberies to do that.
Chiana: Yeah. So what's your point?
Talyn John: *handed an oblong object by an employee* Is this a proposition? *Chiana helps him open it*
Sarova: John Crichton. This is Rinic Sarova.
Talyn John: Phone! Oh! Hey! Hey! Hey! Um - how ya doin?
*Sarova gets Talyn John caught up on local politics while meanwhile an explosive pile of goo makes its way towards them…*
Talyn John: How can there be a problem? Your father promised us the stuff.
Sarova: My brother objects. He won't defy my father openly, but he will try to block this transaction somehow.
Talyn John: And Daddy can't keep him leashed?
Sarova: You think my father is weak.
Talyn John: You tell me.
Sarova: Pralanoth unified this planet. He ended the wars between nation states and brought peace to this world.
Talyn John: Excepting the occasional missile attack on visiting ships.
Sarova: That was Tolven’s doing.
Talyn John: Yeah. Your brother got a death wish?
Sarova: No. But he wants to rule.
Talyn John: Mm. Meaning he wants Daddy’s job.
Sarova: Yes. However Pralanoth has decreed that after his death, Tolven and I should share power.
Talyn John: Well your brother doesn't strike me as the ah - sensitive power-sharing type.
Sarova: We took an oath that we would co-rule. But I'm sure that Tolven will disregard it and seize control.
Talyn John: Can't you stop him?
Sarova: The conflict would fragment this world once again. I would prefer my father saw reason.
Talyn John: And put you on top.
Sarova: Tolven suspects this. He also knows he lost face when my father overruled his missile attack.
Talyn John: He uh - could have lost a lot more. You know you really don't wanna see what our gunship can do.
Sarova: But Tolven would risk it. He is sure to interfere with the chromextin delivery, hoping to provoke you into attacking us.
Talyn John: And he counterattacks. Proving to Pop that he was right all along.
Sarova: Yes - I therefore ask - for patience.
*apparently this is a clue, post-bombing*
Sarova: Never - thought my brother - capable of this.
*the Johns helping each other out in dire straits*
Jool: A major artery's been cut. He's lost a lot of blood.
D’argo: Well then replace it! You're similar species!
Jool: Are you klempt? Even within my species the subtypes have to match. My blood - is donor incompatible.
Moya John: Take mine.
Aeryn: Really?
Moya John: Yeah I know - he's an ugly loudmouthed son-of-a-bitch. But I can't stand around and watch him die.
Talyn John: Be better for both of us if you did.
Moya John: Yeah I know. Now shut up.
*Moya John takes over from Talyn John with the Rinics*
Moya John: D'Argo filled me in on your adventures with the Gotti Family - but I need some details from you.
Talyn John: Why?
Moya John: Because the show must go on.
*Moya John goes from movie quotes to southern twang*
Moya John: I want an apology.
Tolven: I want the truth.
Moya John: You can't handle the- *goes for the lobster of truth* Let's cut the crap. Let's cut to the chase - stick this critter on my face. WHOA! HOHOHO! HEY! LOOK AT THE SUCKERS ON THAT BOY! Damn! In some parts of the universe this thing would be considered GOOD EATIN'!
*Rygel is back to his usual role*
Chiana: Rygel - you take the inner hull.
Rygel: Hah! Do I look like a DRD?
Chiana: Yeah - you do actually. *stuffs him into hatch* So make yourself useful-
Rygel: Oh! Nonono! I-I-I don't want-
Chiana: -and make like one.
Rygel: Another dark and smelly place! I hate being useful!
Chiana: Yeah we know.
*Tolven is killed by a technicality*
Moya John: And you didn't want us to get any chromextin.
Tolven: Of course. I never thought you should get any. But when I've been overruled, I've complied with my fathers orders.
Moya John: Yeah - ain't you just the good and loyal son. *lobster of truth gets a bit too excited by that* I'm sorry - I didn't hear that. Are you not - a good and loyal son?
Pralanoth: Tell him.
Tolven: I don't have to answer to him.
Pralanoth: But you do have to answer to me!
Tolven: I don't need to prove myself! GET THIS THING OFF ME! DO YOU HEAR ME?
Pralanoth: Do you hear me? Answer!
Tolven: Father!
Pralanoth: Have you been disloyal? Yes or no? You swore an oath to this family! Have you - dishonored it? Do you intend to?
Tolven: NOOOO! *killed by the lobster of truth*
*Stark finds a nice mix of work and mania*
Crais: Stark - power is returning. Keep splicing those conduits.
Stark: Splicing, splicing, fixing, fixing, splicing, splicing, fixing, fixing, splicing...
*Sarova is a double crosser! Or at least appears to be*
Sarova: Father - we must avenge Tolven.
Pralanoth: There is nothing to avenge. Tolven’s betrayal was what caused his death. *kills her father and his guard*
Sarova: Airborne defense - this is Sarova.
*speaking of family drama, we have Crais and Moya fighting over Talyn*
Crais: Talyn can't take this punishment! Pilot! We must ascend!
Pilot: But is Talyn recovered enough to starburst?
Crais: IRRELEVANT NOW! WE CANNOT STAY HERE AND WE DARE NOT DESCEND! RELEASE THE UMBILICALS!
Pilot: Moya refuses.
Talyn John: She won't leave Talyn behind - naturally.
Crais: IF MOYA WILL NOT DISENGAGE - I WILL! TALYN! LISTEN TO ME! YOU MUST ASCEND!
Aeryn: He's right Talyn. Let Moya get to safety.
Crais: DO NOT RESIST ME!
Pilot: We're out of the bonosphere. And Moya's sensing a Peacekeeper scan! Talyn! Starburst immediately!
Crais: Now Talyn! Yes you can! You must! *starbursts to one destination*
Pilot: Talyn's done it! He's escaped! Prepare for immediate starburst! *starbursts to another destination*
*Sarova’s bodysnatcher talks with Xhalax in present day*
Xhalax: Have both ships starburst away?
Colarta: They must have discovered the chlorium contamination and filtered it out.
Xhalax: How much chromextin did they get?
Colarta: Two lenarts. A third of what they asked for.
Xhalax: Then the gunship will remain debilitated for some time. We need only find it.
Colarta: I failed. Aren't you going to kill me?
Xhalax: Come on.
*D’argo’s bro skills need some work*
Moya John: He took Wynona.
D’argo: Oh well - at least he left you this lovely jacket.
Moya John: I was wearing that!
D’argo: Oh come on - crack a smile will you? At least he's out of your nose.
Moya John: Hair.
D’argo: That's what I meant. At least he's out of your nose hair.
Moya John: My notebook! He-he took my notebook, and my pen! The son-of-a-bitch set me up! He set it up so that he's on Talyn with Aeryn!
D’argo: Now - wouldn't you have done exactly the same thing?
Moya John: No I would not! Yes- Maybe- I don't know! I just hope he's havin' a good time! No - forget that! I hope he's havin' a terrible time! I don't know - what I hope. He just better be taking care of her.
D’argo: Oh - I'm sure he's taking care of her.
*setting up the communication—or lack thereof—between ships for the next little while, plus roommates*
Crais: There will be no contact with Moya until the threat of the retrieval squad is resolved.
Stark: He's right Rygel - so we'll just have to accept it gracefully.
Rygel: Frell "gracefully"! Well if I must be imprisoned here - feed me and show me to my quarters.
Crais: Talyn’s passenger facility isn't fully developed yet. Food will be tightly rationed. And you two will have to share accommodation.
Rygel: Unacceptable!
Stark: There'll be my side and your side! My side! Your side!
Rygel: Don't start.
*Aeryn sets up quite the ultimatum for herself. Think she can handle it?*
Talyn John: Is there something that ah - you're not telling me?
Aeryn: The retrieval squad is commanded by my mother.
Talyn John: Your mother. Right, she's out here - chasing Talyn. Yeah - how do you know that?
Aeryn: Crais told me.
Talyn John: Crais. Look - there are zillions of Peacekeepers - why would your mother be assigned?
Aeryn: You really think it's a coincidence?
Talyn John: No.
Aeryn: I have to assume that they are aware of my relationship with Talyn and that they are hoping that my mother's presence will divide my loyalties. But I will not let them get Talyn back. Even if it means I have to kill her.
___
There may be two Johns (and this episode officially takes the task of untangling that clusterfrell) but Aeryn’s journey, not unusually, is sort of the star of the show. We get some major backstory, along with the promise of a complicated future arc. Big change in direction for the entire crew, yup yup. Can’t say much more above the cut, but kudos to the Scaper Chronicles, as always, for encouraging me to look at the season three titles a new way; repeating John voice for John…twins? Remember, they’re not clones. :P Both are equal and original.
Episode summary is here, courtesy of the John and Aeryn Fansite.
Considering where we ended up—with the crew split up on Moya and Talyn who starburst to different destinations (episode throwback!) to wait out the retrieval squad—I figure there’s some merit in discussing who ends up where. Jool starts and stays on Moya, taking up Zhaan’s medical duties to the best of her ability (looking after unconscious Crais, taking a sensitive skin sample from John, the works.) Once Crais is awake, he and Aeryn ultimately move over to Talyn, after having a bit of a narrative together on Moya. Stark is the first person over on Talyn to do the repair work, and then Aeryn sends over a John (Talyn John) to help. The other John (Moya John) remains on the mother ship, literally speaking. :P D’argo, Chiana and Rygel spend most of their time on the planet, until Chi and Ryg bring the chromextin to Talyn. But when Talyn reacts badly, Chiana returns to Moya with a sample, so that they can get this all sorted out in the lab. D’argo ultimately returns to Moya, with Moya John (will get into the Johns on the planet later.) So on Moya, we have Chiana, Jool, D’argo and John, and on Talyn we have Crais, Aeryn, Stark, Rygel…and John. Smart way to separate them, huh? Least Ben Browder won’t have to worry about playing two people in one scene after this. :P And the Moya crew should have a better time together than they did during the last episode, but sheesh, poor Aeryn on Talyn has to wrangle all of those boys. :P But to be fair, we should all recognize the comedic gold of making Rygel and Stark into roommates. I sense a kookier version of “The Odd Couple,” hee.
The planet storyline is even more convoluted. It took me multiple watchings to realize just what exactly happened with each character, and some of the ScapeCast folks actually held that against this episode. There wasn’t enough of a confirmation concerning a shocking twist—when the alien under Xhalax Sun’s command did a body snatcher on Sarova Rinic. Sarova Rinic, along with her father, Pralanoth, and her brother, Tolven, are part of the ruling family that can grant our crew access to the chromextin they need. Tolven, brash and arrogant, would rather go on the offensive against them and their questionable weapons capabilities (remember: our crew now has a big reputation in the Uncharted Territories for being destructive badasses…and indeed they leave this planet’s political structure in ruins, too,) but Sarova decides to help them. In the long run, she wants to convince her ailing father that Tolven is too loose of a canon and that they can’t co-rule; she has to rule alone. So, she’s a bit cunning but not…evil. Not until she’s taken over the red, reptile alien, of course; then she kills her father and tries to kill/detain our heroes, in order to get Talyn. She’s taken over after a bombing that she thought (but was surprised by; important moment) her brother was responsible for, but instead it was Xhalax. This wasn’t the first time Xhalax interfered, either; she also poisoned the chromextin and fired on the ships. Everyone thought it was Tolven, of course, but Tolven was absolved by the lobster of truth. *cackles* Thing acts like a polygraph but kills you if you answer wrong. Tolven ended up dead on a technicality; he wasn’t completely loyal to his father, and he tried to deny it. There wasn’t really much point to it, except that I think “Farscape” wanted to confirm that the lobster worked. :P Kudos to Rebecca Gibney, Robert Bruning and Sandy Winton for playing the Rinics!
But yeah…AERYN’S MOTHER. I’ll certainly have lots more to say about Linda Cropper in upcoming episodes, and sadly I can’t find the name of the actress who played young Aeryn! :/ Yes, she didn’t have any lines, but she sure looked the part; a miniature Claudia Black, wakened one night in her child barracks to be told by her mother that she was actually wanted, that she was “special.” This marks the third person to tell Aeryn this (also John and Velorek) and that could send off Mary Sue bells. (That, and the possibility of a love triangle with Crais and John…maybe technically a quintet if we add in the other John and the Harveys. :P) It’s true that Aeryn is very unusual for a (former) Peacekeeper, but thanks to the strength of the writing and characterization on this show, I think she’s spared from being a “special snowflake”. She’s just a specific, fascinating character. Brings me back to the Rinics, even; if “Farscape” were a show about them, with detailed story arcs about their personal and socio-political concerns, they’d be more than a soap opera, too.
Anywho. Crais, remember, has been holding onto this secret since the end of season two. :O They put a teaser into “Die Me Dichotomy,” post-death, with Crais and Talyn talking about a data chip that would be veeeery interesting to our girl. (There’s a few callbacks this ep—chlorium from “I, E.T.,” Moya straining poison from the chromextin like she did Aeryn’s blood in “Nerve,” etc.) We fast forward a bit through Crais’s shock, now, that Aeryn has returned to life and then he hands over the chip. It’s the first in a couple of cunning moves by him—to paint himself and Aeryn as similar (both had parents who loved them, both decided to “be better” than their PK service.) Then he transitions to the reveal that Xhalax (not by coincidence) is leading the retrieval squad that damaged Talyn and wants to get him back. Crais, and later Aeryn herself, pit “families” against each other—the Talyn family (Aeryn named the ship for her father, after all,) and the Xhalax one, sent to divide her loyalties. Unlike John (though he has understandably biased motivations) I can’t fully fault Crais for any of this. He genuinely cares about Aeryn, and is looking for a deeper connection. They have a lot of shared history and experiences, after all. I just love all of the character complexity on this show.
John’s trajectory this episode is certainly complex enough on its own. :P He (they) start by overwhelming Aeryn with their neediness to be differentiated; she can only handle it by giving Moya John a green shirt. :P With Talyn in mortal danger, she sends Talyn John over there. Moya John stays on Moya, mostly to badger Jool for a DNA sample to prove that he’s the original. Amidst A-plot attacks to the ships, Talyn John gets an idea about how to intimidate the Rinic family (Moya John, of course, catches on and helps out.) Talyn John checks onto the planet to negotiate. Doesn’t work well in public, but later while with Chi and D, someone hands him a phone device (he’s as bemused as we are); it’s Sarova, wanting to meet privately to discuss expediting his request. But they’re attacked in a bombing, not by Tolven but by Xhalax’s people, not that John ever realizes that. Still, he’s badly hurt, so Talyn John returns to Moya for medical treatment…including a blood transfusion from Moya John. (Aaaw.) Moya John gets the 411 so he can pretend to be Talyn John. He returns to the planet unharmed (perfect cover-up to deny being with Sarova.) He passes the lobster of truth test on the technicality that he’s (no longer) Talyn John. (Once again, Ben Browder’s acting is a liiiiiittle too over the top for my tastes. I’m probably the only fan who gets eyerolly with his “I’m your daddy” schtick with Anthony Simcoe. :P Too redonkulous.) Meanwhile, Talyn John gives his DNA sample to Jool but then realizes that Aeryn is going to head over to Talyn, so both of them pack some bags. He’s a sneaky bastard who leaves Moya John both Aeryn-less AND Wynona-less. All Moya John has left is his green shirt…which presumably he changes back into for the benefit of the audience. :P
But the Johns aren’t the only ones negotiating with the guest stars this ep; Rygel does more than his fair share. I agree with the Scaper Chronicles folks that it’s nice to remember that Ryg counts for more than just comic relief (ignoring a little later when Chiana stuffs him, protesting, into one of Talyn’s ducts to coat it with chromextin. :P) But on the planet he’s cool, collected, and probably the least blameworthy for inter-party tensions. Stark (and I guess Jool, but Stark is better) is basically the comic relief of this episode. D’argo is largely support (bad support in the bromance department when he only makes Moya John more jealous of Talyn John. :P) Chiana, again, is worth a second glance. One might say she inadvertently instigates the trouble with the Rinics when she doesn’t respond to Tolven’s advances. The reason, of course, is that since her debacle with Jothee, she’s trying to prove something to D’argo, and probably more to herself, to not use sex as a means of transaction. D, of course, is the one to start the fight with Tolven over Chiana’s honor. Which brings me nicely to the final point I want to make—somewhat removed from the specifics of the show. “Farscape” is science fiction, which means that male alien characters don’t necessarily have to respond to female alien characters the way men and women often interact on Earth. But, many times including this one, they DO choose to do this. I guess I’m putting my foot into the debate over whether or not speculative fiction can be socio-political—it can. By giving us alien characters with human traits, we can examine obtrusive systems of power. Poor Chiana just wanted to get a drink and be left alone. Imagine how differently this episode would have turned out if she could just exist, unbothered, in public. Frell me dead. :P
Favorite Crichtonism: Cross my heart, smack me dead, stick a lobster on my head.
Favorite Quotes:
*Aeryn doesn’t have time for this*
John#1: I know it's not as bad as last time - it's not the Cro-Magnon copy or the Alien Nation reject, but you can tell I'm the original right?
John#2: Wrong! I'm the original.
John#1: Try again pal. Have you been messin' with my stuff?
John#2: That's my stuff. And you - are the clone. Aeryn you can tell-
John#1: You can see the difference.
Aeryn: No - I-I can't.
*Rygel’s negotiations fall through because women can’t just be left alone in public*
Felor: A transaction of that magnitude will need the approval of the Security Director. And he dislikes offworlders. Especially with reputations such as yours.
Rygel: Reputations? Us?
Tolven: *leering at Chiana* New talent. Didn't know Jenet was hiring exotics these days.
Chiana: I don't work here.
Tolven: Well maybe we'll give you a try anyway. *drops food down her corset* Don't move! I'll get it for you. *Chiana tries to leave and he restrains her* Did you hear me?
Chiana: *maybe to him, or to D’argo behind him* I tried-I tried not to start any trouble.
Tolven: Well you're not in any trouble!
D’argo: Well you are. *fights Tolven and his goon* Every frelling planet.
Rygel: *to Felor* Ahem - Where are you going? We still have business.
Felor: Not anymore. Who do you think that was?
Rygel: Oh yotz.
*Leviathan continuity! :P*
Stark: No propulsion. No overrides. No weapons. All bad. Talyn's so still - so near death. Even the DRDs are still.
Talyn John: I didn't know he had DRDs.
Stark: He builds them as he grows.
*Moya John bribes Jool in southern twang*
Moya John: Anything?
Jool: Yes, I'm hungry and there's nothing sweet on this ship.
Moya John: I was talking about your patient.
Jool: Well the laudinal injection I gave him seems to have had no effect whatsoever.
Moya John: I thought you knew something about medicine.
Jool: I do. I'll have you know, I earned T ratings in genetics, neuroscience and xenobiology.
Moya John: Good. That's what I thought.
Jool: What are you doing?
Moya John: Zhaan took some tissue and DNA samples from me a while back. *hands her vial* I want you to compare 'em - to me and the clone - and figure out - that I'm the real thing and he's the wannabe.
Jool: And I why should I do your selfish and unnecessary work?
Moya John: Because I know where Rygel stashes his womilyn cake - and it's sweeter than the sweet thang. Sweet thang.
*after Crais attacks her upon waking up*
Jool: There. I woke him up. Now I hope he drops dead.
*Moya John deftly avoids wasting episode time :P*
Crais: What? Aeryn Sun?
Moya John: Yeah. You missed that bit.
Crais: You're alive. How?
Moya John: Let's skip the back-story right now.
*the reveal of who attacked Talyn*
Moya John: Who did you piss off this time?
Crais: Talyn and I were not the aggressors.
Moya John: Of course not. You never are. So who is it? The Plakavoids? The Skeksis? The Big Bad Wolf?
Crais: Peacekeepers. They - want Talyn back.
*Rygel gets sucked into some family drama*
Rygel: The Luxan will be disciplined. I apologize for his behavior.
Sarova: According to some witnesses, he has nothing to apologize for.
Tolven: You saying I was at fault? Father, these are known criminals. The path of destruction they leave is-
Rygel: Don't believe those myths. You know how rumors get started.
Pralanoth: Then you deny your reputation.
Rygel: I - deny it's relevance. We're here for one reason to buy chromextin.
Sarova: Why do you need such a large amount?
Rygel: Oh - mmm - medical purposes. Hm?
Tolven: Chromextin has no medical function.
Sarova: None that you know of brother.
Tolven: Oh but it can power weapons. Should we sell them ammunition they can use to attack us? Hm? Their warships - ourammunition.
Rygel: We have no warships.
Tolven: Then why hide your vessels in the densest layer of our bonosphere?
Rygel: To avoid conflict. I understand that as this planets ruler, you must protect it's people. Be assured - we pose you no threat. Allow us this simple transaction and you'll never see us again.
Sarova: I see no reason not to accommodate them.
Tolven: I see no reason to let them live.
Sarova: Force is your answer to everything.
Tolven: Better than weak mindless pacifis-
Pralanoth: Silence!
*D’argo makes sure Rygel can’t run after the Rinics make their threat*
Rygel: Perhaps you don't realize - but we've been given one arn to leave. With or without you - I'm returning to Moya.
D’argo: You aren't going anywhere.
Rygel: What? What have you done with the pod?
D’argo: Well - nothing you can fix.
*Crais finally plays Aeryn’s holochip, which leads to an even bigger reveal*
Xhalax: Aeryn - wake up. Wake up Aeryn. Don't be afraid. My name is Xhalax Sun. I'm your mother. But you mustn't reveal to anyone that I was here. Do you - understand? *young Aeryn nods* I came to tell you something. Aeryn your life was not an accident - and it wasn't an assigned birthing to fill the ranks. Talyn - that's your fathers name - he and I chose to have you. You were conceived in love. Our love. I wanted you to know this. It makes you special. We wanted you - and we love you. Go back to sleep now.
Aeryn: *presently, speaking to Crais* My mother.
Crais: Yes.
Aeryn: I was never sure whether I dreamt that. And that was on my file?
Crais: And hers as well. I thought it might - interest you to learn of your parents.
Aeryn: And my father - Was he-? Did you-?
Crais: I could find no information - whatever about him.
Aeryn: Was my mother court-martialed?
Crais: There are gaps in her service record. However, its last entry notes a promotion into an elite battle group. Aeryn-
Aeryn: Let me guess. The retrieval squad. She is somehow part of it.
Crais: The squad is under the command of Senior Officer Xhalax Sun.
*things get kinky with Moya John and Jool*
Jool: If you want a genetic comparison - I need a specimen.
Moya John: Of what?
Jool: Well - skin. Unless you prefer I test your internal organs.
Moya John: You can stay the hell away from my organs lady.
Jool: Well skin then. Preferably something with the least amount of exposure to solar radiation. *going for the butt*
Moya John: Shoulder. *rolling up sleeve* I use SPF 30.
*Talyn John has his own troubles*
Stark: Ach! It's not working! It's not helping! Talyn's dying! Not waking up!
Talyn John: Astro! Work- now - freak - later. Work - now - freak - later.
Stark: Yes. That's fair.
Talyn John: Good.
Stark: How much later?
*the Johns working together*
Talyn John: Pilot - I want you to take us down.
Pilot: Below the cloud layer?
Moya John: Do it Pilot! I think I know what he's tryin' to do. He's gonna need a comms channel.
Talyn John: And I'm gonna need a comms channel. Crais I want you to find the fattest target you can - government house, missile site, McDonalds- Whatever.
*Talyn John introduces himself to the Rinics*
Talyn John: It's about damn time. Who the hell are you?
Pralanoth: Rinic Pralanoth - Sovereign of Kanvia.
Talyn John: John Crichton - Wizard of Oz. You ready to knock off the macho BS and talk these things out?
*Tolven really needs to learn and look past his own issues*
Tolven: Are you planning to seize power? Hm? Or perhaps one of the subcounselors is getting ambitious again. Have you been hired to sabotage our unification?
Talyn John: We could give a damn about your local politics. We're here to buy the stuff and then get the hell outta Dodge! WHY IS THAT SO DIFFICULT TO GET THROUGH YOUR TINY LITTLE BRAIN?
*cunning Crais gives Aeryn quite the offer*
Crais: Nothing until the chromextin arrives. But after that- Aeryn! You must join us. Your mother is involved now. She'll take him alive if possible. But I know Talyn - he'll fight to the death. His or your mothers.
Aeryn: And you expect me to fight on Talyn’s side?
Crais: I hope your presence will provide another solution. She loved you. And if that part of her still lives - only you can find it.
Aeryn: She's an officer. Part of the elite.
Crais: She is nothing. A thug. A mindless assassin. As you and I once were. But you can give her a chance to be something more than that.
*Chiana suggests something that is more in keeping with her character, and Talyn John finds his first UT phone*
Talyn John: It's the best I could do. The old man says it's going to take him that long to scrape up 6 - whatevers.
Chiana: Lenarts.
Talyn John: Lenarts, right. Says there's not enough at any one single parish. So he's got to send his deputies out to collect it - and who the hell knows if that's true.
D’argo: Well it may be true. I spent the whole day trying to buy some. There wasn't one source out there that had the whole amount that we need.
Chiana: I say we just go get the guns and steal the stuff.
D’argo: We would have to complete 10 robberies to do that.
Chiana: Yeah. So what's your point?
Talyn John: *handed an oblong object by an employee* Is this a proposition? *Chiana helps him open it*
Sarova: John Crichton. This is Rinic Sarova.
Talyn John: Phone! Oh! Hey! Hey! Hey! Um - how ya doin?
*Sarova gets Talyn John caught up on local politics while meanwhile an explosive pile of goo makes its way towards them…*
Talyn John: How can there be a problem? Your father promised us the stuff.
Sarova: My brother objects. He won't defy my father openly, but he will try to block this transaction somehow.
Talyn John: And Daddy can't keep him leashed?
Sarova: You think my father is weak.
Talyn John: You tell me.
Sarova: Pralanoth unified this planet. He ended the wars between nation states and brought peace to this world.
Talyn John: Excepting the occasional missile attack on visiting ships.
Sarova: That was Tolven’s doing.
Talyn John: Yeah. Your brother got a death wish?
Sarova: No. But he wants to rule.
Talyn John: Mm. Meaning he wants Daddy’s job.
Sarova: Yes. However Pralanoth has decreed that after his death, Tolven and I should share power.
Talyn John: Well your brother doesn't strike me as the ah - sensitive power-sharing type.
Sarova: We took an oath that we would co-rule. But I'm sure that Tolven will disregard it and seize control.
Talyn John: Can't you stop him?
Sarova: The conflict would fragment this world once again. I would prefer my father saw reason.
Talyn John: And put you on top.
Sarova: Tolven suspects this. He also knows he lost face when my father overruled his missile attack.
Talyn John: He uh - could have lost a lot more. You know you really don't wanna see what our gunship can do.
Sarova: But Tolven would risk it. He is sure to interfere with the chromextin delivery, hoping to provoke you into attacking us.
Talyn John: And he counterattacks. Proving to Pop that he was right all along.
Sarova: Yes - I therefore ask - for patience.
*apparently this is a clue, post-bombing*
Sarova: Never - thought my brother - capable of this.
*the Johns helping each other out in dire straits*
Jool: A major artery's been cut. He's lost a lot of blood.
D’argo: Well then replace it! You're similar species!
Jool: Are you klempt? Even within my species the subtypes have to match. My blood - is donor incompatible.
Moya John: Take mine.
Aeryn: Really?
Moya John: Yeah I know - he's an ugly loudmouthed son-of-a-bitch. But I can't stand around and watch him die.
Talyn John: Be better for both of us if you did.
Moya John: Yeah I know. Now shut up.
*Moya John takes over from Talyn John with the Rinics*
Moya John: D'Argo filled me in on your adventures with the Gotti Family - but I need some details from you.
Talyn John: Why?
Moya John: Because the show must go on.
*Moya John goes from movie quotes to southern twang*
Moya John: I want an apology.
Tolven: I want the truth.
Moya John: You can't handle the- *goes for the lobster of truth* Let's cut the crap. Let's cut to the chase - stick this critter on my face. WHOA! HOHOHO! HEY! LOOK AT THE SUCKERS ON THAT BOY! Damn! In some parts of the universe this thing would be considered GOOD EATIN'!
*Rygel is back to his usual role*
Chiana: Rygel - you take the inner hull.
Rygel: Hah! Do I look like a DRD?
Chiana: Yeah - you do actually. *stuffs him into hatch* So make yourself useful-
Rygel: Oh! Nonono! I-I-I don't want-
Chiana: -and make like one.
Rygel: Another dark and smelly place! I hate being useful!
Chiana: Yeah we know.
*Tolven is killed by a technicality*
Moya John: And you didn't want us to get any chromextin.
Tolven: Of course. I never thought you should get any. But when I've been overruled, I've complied with my fathers orders.
Moya John: Yeah - ain't you just the good and loyal son. *lobster of truth gets a bit too excited by that* I'm sorry - I didn't hear that. Are you not - a good and loyal son?
Pralanoth: Tell him.
Tolven: I don't have to answer to him.
Pralanoth: But you do have to answer to me!
Tolven: I don't need to prove myself! GET THIS THING OFF ME! DO YOU HEAR ME?
Pralanoth: Do you hear me? Answer!
Tolven: Father!
Pralanoth: Have you been disloyal? Yes or no? You swore an oath to this family! Have you - dishonored it? Do you intend to?
Tolven: NOOOO! *killed by the lobster of truth*
*Stark finds a nice mix of work and mania*
Crais: Stark - power is returning. Keep splicing those conduits.
Stark: Splicing, splicing, fixing, fixing, splicing, splicing, fixing, fixing, splicing...
*Sarova is a double crosser! Or at least appears to be*
Sarova: Father - we must avenge Tolven.
Pralanoth: There is nothing to avenge. Tolven’s betrayal was what caused his death. *kills her father and his guard*
Sarova: Airborne defense - this is Sarova.
*speaking of family drama, we have Crais and Moya fighting over Talyn*
Crais: Talyn can't take this punishment! Pilot! We must ascend!
Pilot: But is Talyn recovered enough to starburst?
Crais: IRRELEVANT NOW! WE CANNOT STAY HERE AND WE DARE NOT DESCEND! RELEASE THE UMBILICALS!
Pilot: Moya refuses.
Talyn John: She won't leave Talyn behind - naturally.
Crais: IF MOYA WILL NOT DISENGAGE - I WILL! TALYN! LISTEN TO ME! YOU MUST ASCEND!
Aeryn: He's right Talyn. Let Moya get to safety.
Crais: DO NOT RESIST ME!
Pilot: We're out of the bonosphere. And Moya's sensing a Peacekeeper scan! Talyn! Starburst immediately!
Crais: Now Talyn! Yes you can! You must! *starbursts to one destination*
Pilot: Talyn's done it! He's escaped! Prepare for immediate starburst! *starbursts to another destination*
*Sarova’s bodysnatcher talks with Xhalax in present day*
Xhalax: Have both ships starburst away?
Colarta: They must have discovered the chlorium contamination and filtered it out.
Xhalax: How much chromextin did they get?
Colarta: Two lenarts. A third of what they asked for.
Xhalax: Then the gunship will remain debilitated for some time. We need only find it.
Colarta: I failed. Aren't you going to kill me?
Xhalax: Come on.
*D’argo’s bro skills need some work*
Moya John: He took Wynona.
D’argo: Oh well - at least he left you this lovely jacket.
Moya John: I was wearing that!
D’argo: Oh come on - crack a smile will you? At least he's out of your nose.
Moya John: Hair.
D’argo: That's what I meant. At least he's out of your nose hair.
Moya John: My notebook! He-he took my notebook, and my pen! The son-of-a-bitch set me up! He set it up so that he's on Talyn with Aeryn!
D’argo: Now - wouldn't you have done exactly the same thing?
Moya John: No I would not! Yes- Maybe- I don't know! I just hope he's havin' a good time! No - forget that! I hope he's havin' a terrible time! I don't know - what I hope. He just better be taking care of her.
D’argo: Oh - I'm sure he's taking care of her.
*setting up the communication—or lack thereof—between ships for the next little while, plus roommates*
Crais: There will be no contact with Moya until the threat of the retrieval squad is resolved.
Stark: He's right Rygel - so we'll just have to accept it gracefully.
Rygel: Frell "gracefully"! Well if I must be imprisoned here - feed me and show me to my quarters.
Crais: Talyn’s passenger facility isn't fully developed yet. Food will be tightly rationed. And you two will have to share accommodation.
Rygel: Unacceptable!
Stark: There'll be my side and your side! My side! Your side!
Rygel: Don't start.
*Aeryn sets up quite the ultimatum for herself. Think she can handle it?*
Talyn John: Is there something that ah - you're not telling me?
Aeryn: The retrieval squad is commanded by my mother.
Talyn John: Your mother. Right, she's out here - chasing Talyn. Yeah - how do you know that?
Aeryn: Crais told me.
Talyn John: Crais. Look - there are zillions of Peacekeepers - why would your mother be assigned?
Aeryn: You really think it's a coincidence?
Talyn John: No.
Aeryn: I have to assume that they are aware of my relationship with Talyn and that they are hoping that my mother's presence will divide my loyalties. But I will not let them get Talyn back. Even if it means I have to kill her.
___
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