Farscape Episode 3.10: “Relativity”
Apr. 15th, 2016 12:45 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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scifi_rewatchAs usual, I have to thank the Scaper Chronicles for deepening my thoughts about this episode. And I already felt a pretty deep connection; ever since “Return of the Jedi,” I’ve been drawn to the family drama in science fiction. :P What an hour for all of that!
Speaking of “Star Wars,” Talyn is finally recovering from his last run-in with the retrieval squad on a planet that is like, half Degobah and half fire planet from “The Princess Bride.” :P Maybe Luke and Rey can do their training there, hee. They will certainly fare better than the poor Pina Colladas, or at least I hope so. Actually, my heart went out to them a little bit, and to Rygel! Those guys kinda got the short end of the stick.
We do get a little bit of a reveal about Crais (Crais and John kinda give Rygel and Stark a run for their money in “The Three Stooges” department :P), but man oh man is this really Aeryn’s show. I mean, she’s on a ship of dudes (even the ship itself is a dude!) and she’s the star! :P Claudia Black moved me to tears by the end of the hour. And Linda Cropper…holy frell. She totally sold it that Xhalax is much more than ye one dimensional villain. There is a lot to unpack here.
Episode summary is here, courtesy of the John and Aeryn Fansite.
There are a lot of layers to this title; here are the ones that resonate most with me. Relativity…relationships! :P Who are these people to one another? We see, at the beginning of the episode, that the John/Aeryn/Crais love triangle has disintegrated with the last guy in the outfield. :P Biological family relationships come to a head, of course, with the fated Aeryn/Xhalax meeting. Lots of characters also rely on each other—Xhalax and her henchmen are in an alliance to complete a mission for their different ends, Crais relies on the Moya crew for survival (most specifically with John this episode,) and Rygel certainly relies on Stark for some saving, as does Talyn with Crais. Finally, there’s the deeper, series-wide meaning for this hour. We’ve already teased it out, in episodes like “…Different Destinations,” that each choice might lead us down a myriad of paths. Xhalax chooses to conceive a child out of love and visit that child, which leads to the Peacekeepers forcing a different set of choices on her. Once upon a time, Aeryn faced a similar choice with Crais and her old lover, Veloreck—she goes one direction then, and then a completely different direction once John comes along. Xhalax’s choices have her remaining a Peacekeeper, while Aeryn’s (and Crais’s) have them leaving the fold. It all comes down to Einstein’s theory of relativity, which I’m pretending that I understand well because of this show. :P
Just touching briefly on the sudden romantic shift in J/A, which started two episodes ago. It’s certainly a relief to see Aeryn let her hair down (literally—this was a loose ponytail episode, likely because of her feelings of vulnerability around her mother.) She’s completely contented with John in bed, and later she talks about him “not waiting up for her,” which could mean that this is a standing affair. I assume it’s supposed to make sure we know their love is deeper than just the sex—they’re also relying on each other emotionally. For Aeryn, of course, this is a big thing, given how closed off she was from her Peacekeeper training. Emotionally, she could have turned out more like Xhalax, but instead she embraced some new, healthy relationships, left debilitating Peacekeeper doctrine behind, yadda yadda. Obviously, this episode for her is a lot about loss. She wants to save her mother, as she herself has been saved, but she finds that this isn’t possible. I especially like that this isn’t just a clear shot for Aeryn—it’s not like she’s forgetting her loyalty to her friends in some all-consuming mission to save her mother. That’s just something that she hopes for on the sidelines. Of course she’s also struggling with her mother’s disdain for her, in contrast to the much viewed vid chip of old. (Side note—I do think they used that thing a little too much. I remember I was obsessed with it when I was a teenager, but now it’s a little soapy. Can’t Claudia and Linda handle the gravitas in the moment?) And speaking of Claudia’s gravitas as an actor…even forgetting her wonderful performance throughout the episode, those last few minutes, when she’s losing her mother for good…that just slays me. And most Scapers, I’d think.
I think I need to thank Nicola from the Scaper Chronicles for deepening my understanding of Xhalax. As a teen, all I remember feeling about her, other than AAAAANGST, was, why was her skin so reptilian in the present? (She even slices through her wrist—ick—under captivity, and something doesn’t look quite Sebacean about her skin.) But now, I’m thinking about the choice she made to kill her lover, Talyn. How it basically stunted her, and she’s just filled with rage from that one moment. When she finds out that Aeryn is her daughter, she spends most of her time trying to egg our girl into killing her. It’s like Xhalax blames her (Peackeepers wouldn’t have found out about that love affair if she’d never visited her daughter,) and wants Aeryn to live with the pain of killing her mother. Meanwhile, Xhalax wants to be free of her own pain. There isn’t a scene that goes by where her bitterness isn’t just etched on her face. Elsewhere, with the Colladas, she kills the one whom she let live in “Thanks for Sharing.” It makes me think that in her professional life she doesn’t kill needlessly—she only went through with it now because said Collada would have slowed down the mission. Just my take. Anywho. Xhalax tries to insult Aeryn by attacking her lack of loyalty to the Peacekeepers…certainly learning some parts of her past (like that her mother killed her father) hurt Aeryn, but not so much the ex-Peacekeeper thing by season three. Xhalax herself is far more hurt by Aeryn referring to her birth as “corruption.” Nicola posits that this is because it puts the Xhalax/Talyn relationship into a bad light. I like that…deepens the character. She made her choice to deny her love for this guy, and now she has to live with the consequences.
On a slightly lighter, but also a slightly darker note…we have Rygel and Stark! :P They definitely start out in the comedy circle, with Stark’s manic behavior and Rygel’s grousing about the sex going on next door, especially John’s loud exertions. :P Poor Rygel, really; the guy needs some sleep! “Poor Rygel” is definitely a theme for me this episode, because we almost lose him! :( Damn you, Xhalax! Luckily, Stark is able to revive him by performing surgery with the vines being used to heal Talyn. Still…Stark and Aeryn seem pissed off when the poor dominar starts complaining about needing bedrest, or the fact that his clothes are now stitched to his body. :o These all sound like pretty legit complaints to me! No one respects the feelings of our little Hynerian, alas. Meanwhile, also connected to this, apparently Stark meets up with Zhaan during the whole purgatory of whether Rygel will or won’t cross over to the other side. The Scaper Chronicles found this to be moving and important…I’m not so sure. It’s a bit cheap and over the top to re-introduce her so definitively. Seems like a ploy to tell the audience that Stark is healing. Of course, Zhaan always was a spiritual character. And Stark often sounds kooky when he talks. :P This is likely an issue of me overthinking things. I’m pretty sure, when I watched this episode for the first time as a teen, I was just feklempt. Still missing Zhaan by this point; I’ll take her presence however I can get it! Hee.
Guess I’ve left our homeboy, John, out of the recap for too long! He starts out in a great place…or at least Talyn John does. :P Poor Moya John is still all alone, romantically. And of course that’s the reason that the J/A ship was finally allowed to get off the ground, heh. Aeryn leans on John a lot during the beginning and the end of the episode. But in the middle they are separated—and John is stranded with his absolute favorite person, Crais. :P (Small nitpick—I thought the whole reason they were lost was because they didn’t have the locater device to get back to Talyn? But then suddenly they did? A-whaa? Anywho.) In the midst of running and hiding and covering their private bits in stinky goo so that the trackers can’t find them, John gets a visit from Harvey and finds out Crais’s big secret. From there, we move onto the half lie, half truth of John leaving Crais for the trackers to find. Of course, in the short run, he’s just trying to lure the Pina Colladas, as he calls them, into a trap. :P But he’s still not happy with Crais, and almost leaves him tied up, until the good captain reminds John that he needs him to get Talyn moving again. There’s something in this exchange that reminds me of John and Aeryn during “Crackers Don’t Matter”—he was playing fast and loose with her life there, and she didn’t appreciate it either. Peacekeepers don’t like clowning around, perhaps. If you wanna kill someone, just do it, don’t leave them to die. But John does make some strategic kills this episode, and I’m kinda wondering if I have to chalk them up to the camp that says our human is a force of destruction. Granted, I suppose he had good reason to kill the Pina Colladas; it was us or them. But still, it’s hard to swallow when they’re given the backstory of being mercenaries just trying to buy their freedom. And one of their hearts even bursts…oy. I still flinch during that scene. John’s stinky goo feels like comeuppance now. :P Even he seems to believe that there’s been “too much killing” by the conclusion of the hour. To end with John being a good guy—he was adamant that Aeryn couldn’t kill her own mother. He knew that would destroy her on the inside—exactly what Xhalax wanted. So John’s looking out for the love of his life—there’s a definite plus. Shedding some positive light onto Team Humans, hurrah. :P
So, to end with Crais’s secret…his reasons for being Talyn’s “prom date,” as John put it, had more to do with just his fascination with the ship or desire to get away from Scorpius. Apparently, High Command doesn’t like the idea of an elite rouge captain wandering around the Uncharted Territories. By bonding with Talyn, Crais also bought the unwitting protection of the Moya crew. I can understand John’s anger about this, but I also respect Crais’s desire to stay alive. Plus, you can hardly say that the Crais/Talyn relationship is just about that one dimensional issue anymore. In case you didn’t think they were mind melding enough into each other, now Crais is lending brain matter to Talyn, who has been crippled by Xhalax. Oy. Maybe John is right to be afraid of Crais’s influence on Talyn…I still kind of see Talyn as having the upper hand in this relationship. At the very least, you can’t say that Crais doesn’t suffer for this bond that he has with the ship. He’s still very alone—the first scene of this episode makes sure to emphasize that. It’s like Talyn is his only real connection now. I started the recap talking about relativity binding people together…maybe now it’s time to talk about severing. Xhalax literally severs Talyn’s brain functions, Aeryn and Crais are severed from the Peacekeepers, Xhalax is severed from the own love of her life, the entire Moya crew is severed from one another. And John, of course, is severed from Earth, and sort of, from himself. We can move forward (or in Xhalax’s case, choose not to move forward, at least emotionally,) but there’s always a cost.
Favorite Crichtonism: Okay - welcome to the butthole of the universe.
Favorite Quotes:
*lovers make for bad neighbors*
Stark: Kahmenah kahmenah kahmenah-NEK! Kahmenah kahmenah kahmenah -NEK! Kahmenah kahmenah kahmenah-NEK! RYGEL!
Rygel: HWAH!! Oooh - I may be small, but allow me to remind you - that only serves to put me at castration level!
Stark: What's the matter? Didn't sleep well?
Rygel: How could I? With them on the other side of this -- very thin bulkhead!
Stark: Bit noisy were they?
Rygel: She was bad enough. But Crichton! He was louder than she was! He actually sounded like he was exerting himself! What kind of a male is he anyway? They're between bouts. Give them a few microts.
John: Hang on- *pounds wall, moaning* OOHH!
*big problem of the day*
John: Talk to us. What do we got?
Crais: Talyn has identified it as the Vigilante --the Peacekeeper ship pursuing us.
Stark: We've got to do something! There's nothing we can do! CRICHTON! You always have a plan! Well - sometimes.
John: How close?
Crais: It's just landed.
Rygel: *to Aeryn* It's your mother who's running the frelling retrieval squad. Maybe we can use that.
John: Yo! Not now Rygel.
Rygel: Not now? They're here Crichton! On the planet! They're gonna be knocking down that door at any microt - and our ship is sound asleep!
*when Xhalax decides to kill on the job*
Thek: Xhalax -
Xhalax: Heavy gravity.
Thek: 2 - 2 and a half times what my species is used to.
Xhalax: How is your wound?
Thek: I will - earn my share! *unconvinced, Xhalax kills him*
Xhalax: *to companions* Good news. Your shares have just increased.
*Rygel can’t keep his hands off of Aeryn’s stuff*
Rygel: Ah! I've been watching this - the night your mother came and saw you.
John: Rygel, what the hell are you doin'?
Rygel: *to Aeryn* She sounds like she likes you. Maybe we could use that to - ah-
John: This is Aeryn’s stuff! Keep your hands off! And your nose out of other peoples business.
Rygel: Well, uh - what are we supposed to do when you're out there and dear old mother comes blasting in?
John: Buckwheat - we're gonna keep the retrieval squad away and you're gonna keep your hands - off Aeryn’s stuff. Is that clear?
*backstories for the Pina Colladas*
Xhalax: How many missions have you been on?
Kek: Six.
Vek: Nine.
Xhalax: Nine and out, right? This is your last mission as a mercenary? You complete this one and you can buy your freedom. You have a mate? Offspring?
Vek: Yes.
Xhalax: Nice, it'd be a frelling shame if you and your mate here screwed up and you were to start your mission count back at zero. So frell the gravity! Cinch up your mivonks - and keep moving!
*John on the plan and the planet’s vegetation*
John: Well they're either after us, or not. We've left a trail Stevie Wonder could follow.
Aeryn: Oh - wait-
John: What?
Aeryn: Oarusk fruit. *poisonous acid sizzles out of it*
John: Remind me not to put that on my Cocoa Puffs.
*Rygel and Stark’s first “three stooges” moment*
Stark: Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee....
Rygel: Oooh - stop that -- incessant -- humming!
Stark: When you stop that hiccupping.
Rygel: I -- hiccup when I'm -- nervous!
Stark: Well I hum when I'm nervous!
Rygel: A -- hiccup is involuntary you pellish -- venker! Humming isn't!
*not quite friends yet…*
Crais: Crichton don't you leave me here! The retrieval squad - they're using Colartas!
John: They're using what?
Crais: Expert trackers. You leave me here bleeding, they will find me and kill me!
John: And?
*a fated mother/daughter reunion*
Xhalax: You knew who I was. Who are you?
Aeryn: I'm Aeryn. Aeryn Sun. I'm your daughter.
Xhalax: If you are my daughter, you are a Peacekeeper.
Aeryn: I'm not a Peacekeeper anymore.
Xhalax: Then you are with Crais.
*Debbie Downer Rygel*
Rygel: They're up against a Peacekeeper Retrieval Squad out there. Don't delude yourself, fahrbot. They're probably never coming back.
*Xhalax attempts to goad Aeryn to violence*
Xhalax: Where are you taking me?
Aeryn: Back to the gunship. Which I named Talyn, by the way. *Xhalax groans* Yes, I thought you'd find that amusing.
Xhalax: ] it after daddy? It's not amusing - it's sentimental and weak. Is that why you're sparing me? (Because I'm your mummy?
Aeryn: No. Because with that wound, out here, you will die. Alive, you're potential leverage.
Xhalax: Regulation Field-Op procedure insists you terminate all hostile personnel on point of contact. Eliminate the threat. And when I'm dead - you can name your Prowler after me.
Aeryn: Oh yes that's very funny. Well I no longer follow 'Regulation Field-Op Procedures, and I know it's not by chance that you ended up out here on this assignment. High Command knew I was out here with Talyn and Crais. They probably thought - 'send her mother' or perhaps you even volunteered for the pleasure. Did you? Thought - you know - 'if things go wrong, we end up face-to-face, perhaps the daughter will flinch.' I'm not flinching.
*learning a bit too much about Crichton’s sex life and private bits*
Crais: You have no idea where we are going. We could be going around in circles.
John: We're not goin' in circles, nimrod - because we've never been here before. We're completely lost! Ooh God! I hate mazes! My first girlfriend, Julie, she loved 'em. Oh boy, did she! "Hey Johnny, let's go in the mirror maze together, huh?" HEY JULES! IS THIS MAKIN' YOU HORNY?
Crais: Our size and weight will give us a slight advantage over the Colartas. But our sweat and blood will continue to lead them right to us.
John: Shut up.
Crais: You shut up!
John: No - you shut up! I got an idea!
Crais: What are you doing?
John: Here - smell that! *smears smelly slime on Crais’s face*
Crais: GGLAUGH! BAARRRGGHH
John: *gagging as he does the same to himself* Dang - if this doesn't cover our scent - or kill us - I don't know what will. Yeah that's good! *gives more to Crais* There ya go - spread it around! Don't forget to - cover your private bits.
*poor Rygel always gets caught*
Rygel: We're leaving! Soon as Talyn's ready, we're leaving whether they're here or not. You got that?
Aeryn: *arriving with Xhalax* Rygel!
Rygel: Oh what?
Aeryn: The hero.
Rygel: Aeryn! I - always knew you'd make it back. The others aren't as capable as you! Not as strong, as superior-
Aeryn: Shut up.
*John’s subconscious calling out to Harvey*
Harvey: Oh poor baby. Poor, poor Johnny.
John: Now is not a good time Scorpy. Go away.
Harvey: On the contrary - you summoned me.
John: You know what? You are really becoming annoying! Go away!
Harvey: But your subconscious did, and that's where I reside remember? *assesses John’s weapon* This point - it needs to be sharp, but not so spindly that it is weak.
John: As long as you're here - these Pina Colada things chasing us - are they everything Crais has cracked them up to be?
Harvey: Oh yes! In that at least, Crais has been completely forthright.
John: Where has he not been - forthright?
*Stark assessing Rygel’s wounded body*
Stark: Oohh - you really do have 3 stomachs, and the smallest little heart I've ever seen.
*dun dun DUUUN build up about the Talyn/Crais mission*
Xhalax: This is a remarkable vessel. High Command could have never anticipated that their hybrid genetic would evolve so successfully.
Aeryn: What are you doing?
Xhalax: Can't fire the ship up while he still has the capacity for independent thought.
Aeryn: You're severing his higher functions.
Xhalax: After which I can fly him home manually. Techs are standing by to bring him back to life. Once he's got a control collar on.
Aeryn: Talyn is not like other Leviathans. He will die before accepting a control collar.
Xhalax: My mission is to subdue the Leviathan hybrid for easy transport. Then track and deliver the second target.
*John’s got it figured out because of Harvey, and it propels him to take drastic action*
John: *as Crais struggles against the bonds John made for him* Captains - are the elite. The most trusted -- jarheads in all the Peacekeeper ranks. Cu-uz - you make Captain? You're on the A List for all the top parties. All the heavy duty crap that the Peacekeepers sure as hell don't want floatin' free in the universe.
Crais: Crichton listen to me-
John: You know, I always wondered - why a swingin' cat like you would be way out here in the boondocks. Why you wanted so baaad to be Talyn’s prom date - and then suddenly it all came very clear to me. You need us. You knew we wouldn't lift a finger to help you, but we would do anything to protect Talyn. The Peacekeepers - they're not only after Talyn. They're after you. From the moment you set foot on Moya, you knew that this day was coming. And you kept us as allies when they came gunnin'.
Crais: That's not true. That's not the only reason I wanted to help you. *as John walks away* Crichton! You can't leave me here like this.
John: Yes, I can.
Crais: What are you going to do?
John: If you're what the retrieval squad wants -- brother- this is their lucky day! *douses Crais with water* HEY BOYS! CAN YOU SMELL HIM NOW? OH PINA COLAAAAADAAAAS!
*Aeryn learns some hard truths about her parents*
Aeryn: My entire life - on every assignment, every transport ship, I scanned the soldiers looking for a face I'd only ever seen once. And now finally seeing you - I feel nothing but shame!
Xhalax: Officer Sun - do you actually believe I care what you think? Your sentiment disgusts me! I have not wasted a microt of my life thinking about you! You're ashamed of me? You? A traitor? An enemy to everything you were bred for?
Aeryn: The Peacekeepers made me the enemy that I am. Look at what you are doing! You are butchering this magnificent creature in its sleep! When it wakes it will be a slave! And there is no guarantee it will survive the procedure!
Xhalax: You are pathetic. You are not my daughter!
Aeryn: I am. You made me very aware of that the night you came to me when I was a child and you told me what you'd done. Which - may I remind you, was not regulation.
Xhalax: I never came to you! You only dreamt it.
Aeryn: Oh well! For many cycles I believed that. But you see, I now have a vid recording which I would be happy to show you if you'd like to see it. Or are you ashamed of your sentiment?
Xhalax: Yes I am! And I paid for it! My superior officers knew I visited you that night. They interrogated me, and I professed my - attraction - for a certain Peacekeeper Officer.
Aeryn: My father.
Xhalax: Yes. Talyn. He was older than I was, no longer as effective in battle. But my superiors didn't want to lose me. So. They gave me a chance to redeem myself.
Aeryn: What did you do to redeem yourself? *after a pause* How did you redeem yourself?
Xhalax: By killing your father.
*John lays a trap and Crais plays his cards right*
Vek: Ah - Captain Bialar Crais! Or should I say - former Captain Crais? Do you have any idea how many Inquisitors want you back in High Command?
Our orders are to take you in alive. But half alive is still-
Kek: Wait! There's - I smell something! Yes- *John attacks, killing—or at least wounding—the Pina Colladas*
John: HEY HEY CRAIS! COULDN'T A DONE IT WITHOUT YA!
Crais: WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME!
John: NEEDED YOUR FEAR HOMEBOY! NEEDED THE SWEAT!
Crais: I've served my purpose as your lure, now untie me!
John: You don't get it do ya? Ain't no way son. You stuck the knife in one time too many.
Crais: You're just going to leave me here like this?
John: Well - you earned it.
Crais: If you're going to execute me - execute me! KILL ME! But don't leave me here to die!
John: YOU LIED TO US! YOU BETRAYED US AND YOU USED US!
Crais: I USED ALL MY ASSETS TO STAY ALIVE! AND THOSE ASSETS WERE YOU! You think of your own survival now - what if Aeryn is dead?
John: She's not.
Crais: WHAT IF SHE IS? How are you going to command Talyn? How are you going to get off this planet without me? And what if Aeryn isn't back at Talyn when you get there? What are you going to do then?
*gotta give Stark credit for trying. Also kudos to the plot for making the vines work for both Talyn and Rygel :P*
Aeryn: What about Rygel? Is he dead?
Stark: He died for several microts, but I managed to get his little heart beating again. Then I sewed the wound closed with the vines - the restorative vines. But I'm no Diagnosan - I don't know what else to do.
*Aeryn attempts to use the vid chip to turn her mother towards the light side*
Past Xhalax: Aeryn. Wake up, Aeryn. Aeryn - my name is Xhalax Sun.
Aeryn: The night you've so conveniently forgotten.
Past Xhalax: I'm your mother. You mustn't reveal to anyone that I was here, do you understand? *past Aeryn nods* I came to tell you something. Aeryn - your life was not an accident.
Aeryn: You cared enough then to risk everything to meet the child that you had conceived. You can't have burned that love away completely.
Past Xhalax: Talyn - that's your fathers name - he and I - chose to have you. You were conceived in love. Our love.
Aeryn: I am that child. I am part of you. I am part of Talyn.
Past Xhalax: I wanted you to know this.
Aeryn: Peacekeeper way isn't the only way. It's not too late for you.
Past Xhalax: It makes you special. We wanted you.
Xhalax: NOOO! *destroys projector* This is dead history! Your father is dead! And you - you will face a Peacekeeper Tribunal - on a charge of high treason!
*I’m still Team Rygel on this one. Though I suppose Aeryn needed to be free to get the upper hand on Xhalax*
Stark: Rygel!
Rygel: I've been - filleted.
Stark: The restorative vines - they're working!
Aeryn: Rygel! Come over here now and untie us!
Rygel: Get over there? I need bed rest, for at least the next 50 arns! Have you seen these so-called stitches? Who did this to me?!
Stark: I did.
Rygel: Oh, great! A one-eyed hingmot with no 3-D vision! How many of my vital organs did you puncture?
Stark: I saved your life!
Rygel: Saved my life? Look! You sewed this to me!
*later, when Rygel is attempting to untie Aeryn*
Aeryn: Oh for frell's sake Rygel! Use two hands! Two hands?
Rygel: I'm going as fast as I can! My robes are stitched inside my chest cavity!
Stark: You are so ungrateful.
Rygel: And - I'm trying to keep my guts from spilling out all over this frelling floor!
*Aeryn’s final stand against Xhalax, John puts his foot down and Crais makes a decision*
Xhalax: I would take you back - attempt to redeem you if it was possible! But your corruption is too advanced!
Aeryn: My corruption began the moment I was conceived!
Xhalax: NO!
…
Aeryn: Don't you see? My independence comes from you anyway! I grew up wanting to be just like a woman I'd only ever seen once!
Xhalax: You are a traitor!
Aeryn: I am the part of you that wanted to be a rebel! The part of you that knew deep down inside what was right-
Xhalax: Shut up!
Aeryn: You've resisted Peacekeeper doctrine before-
Xhalax: Shut up!
Aeryn: -why can't you do it again now?
Xhalax: Yoouu - are an ABERRATION!
Aeryn: I am your child! *John makes it over to them and pulls Xhalax off of Aeryn* Right. John - get out of the way.
Xhalax: Let her do it! Let her shoot me!
John: No Aeryn! Don't kill her!
Aeryn: We have to.
John: You can't! There's been too much killing!
Aeryn: No. We let her live - she comes, she hunts us down again.
John: Aeryn! You should not be the one to do this!
Xhalax: SHE CAN'T DO IT! She's afraid.
John: Aeryn please. Put the gun away.
Crais: You're wrong. Aeryn is right. We must not let Xhalax live. Officer Sun knows Peacekeeper regulations. If we don't kill Xhalax, she will come after us again.
John: Aeryn is not going to be the one to kill her mother. You want her dead? Fine - you do it.
Crais: As you wish. Somebody must do it. *to Aeryn, after aiming his weapon at Xhalax* GO! Go now! You must not witness this!
Xhalax: Coward! She can't kill me.
Aeryn: I am right, aren't I? We let you live - you come and you find us again.
Xhalax: What? Do you expect me to lie? To beg for my life? Crais is right. I will hunt you down and I will kill you.
Aeryn: *heart breaking* Good bye Mother.
*Stark’s Zhaan moment*
Stark: When I joined with you to bring you back - I met with Zhaan.
Rygel: Zhaan?
Stark: Yes.
Rygel: That's why you stitched the frelling tunic to my chest! You were busy hallucinating!
Stark: She looked - contented. She whispered to me - kala kalash atir kalash atir amaz.
Rygel: What?
Stark: It's a prayer of guardianship. It means she's watching over us. *making ritual hand motions like Zhaan’s* Kala kalash atir kalash atir amaz.
*Crais and Talyn are more bonded than ever before, while Aeryn is now completely (well, so she feels at the moment) severed from the Peacekeepers*
Aeryn: Crais is attempting to splice his neural engrams with Talyn’s - and if he can, then Talyn will be able to navigate on his own once again -- and we can get some sleep. Or not. You don't have to wait up for me if you don't want to.
John: Nah - I don't mind.
Aeryn: It is all we can do.
John: Yeah - it's just a large part of Crais' psyche will now reside in Talyn.
Aeryn: It's the only way to bring Talyn back to life. My - Xhalax - was my last connection to the Peacekeepers. All my ties to them are now completely severed.
John: I know.
___
Speaking of “Star Wars,” Talyn is finally recovering from his last run-in with the retrieval squad on a planet that is like, half Degobah and half fire planet from “The Princess Bride.” :P Maybe Luke and Rey can do their training there, hee. They will certainly fare better than the poor Pina Colladas, or at least I hope so. Actually, my heart went out to them a little bit, and to Rygel! Those guys kinda got the short end of the stick.
We do get a little bit of a reveal about Crais (Crais and John kinda give Rygel and Stark a run for their money in “The Three Stooges” department :P), but man oh man is this really Aeryn’s show. I mean, she’s on a ship of dudes (even the ship itself is a dude!) and she’s the star! :P Claudia Black moved me to tears by the end of the hour. And Linda Cropper…holy frell. She totally sold it that Xhalax is much more than ye one dimensional villain. There is a lot to unpack here.
Episode summary is here, courtesy of the John and Aeryn Fansite.
There are a lot of layers to this title; here are the ones that resonate most with me. Relativity…relationships! :P Who are these people to one another? We see, at the beginning of the episode, that the John/Aeryn/Crais love triangle has disintegrated with the last guy in the outfield. :P Biological family relationships come to a head, of course, with the fated Aeryn/Xhalax meeting. Lots of characters also rely on each other—Xhalax and her henchmen are in an alliance to complete a mission for their different ends, Crais relies on the Moya crew for survival (most specifically with John this episode,) and Rygel certainly relies on Stark for some saving, as does Talyn with Crais. Finally, there’s the deeper, series-wide meaning for this hour. We’ve already teased it out, in episodes like “…Different Destinations,” that each choice might lead us down a myriad of paths. Xhalax chooses to conceive a child out of love and visit that child, which leads to the Peacekeepers forcing a different set of choices on her. Once upon a time, Aeryn faced a similar choice with Crais and her old lover, Veloreck—she goes one direction then, and then a completely different direction once John comes along. Xhalax’s choices have her remaining a Peacekeeper, while Aeryn’s (and Crais’s) have them leaving the fold. It all comes down to Einstein’s theory of relativity, which I’m pretending that I understand well because of this show. :P
Just touching briefly on the sudden romantic shift in J/A, which started two episodes ago. It’s certainly a relief to see Aeryn let her hair down (literally—this was a loose ponytail episode, likely because of her feelings of vulnerability around her mother.) She’s completely contented with John in bed, and later she talks about him “not waiting up for her,” which could mean that this is a standing affair. I assume it’s supposed to make sure we know their love is deeper than just the sex—they’re also relying on each other emotionally. For Aeryn, of course, this is a big thing, given how closed off she was from her Peacekeeper training. Emotionally, she could have turned out more like Xhalax, but instead she embraced some new, healthy relationships, left debilitating Peacekeeper doctrine behind, yadda yadda. Obviously, this episode for her is a lot about loss. She wants to save her mother, as she herself has been saved, but she finds that this isn’t possible. I especially like that this isn’t just a clear shot for Aeryn—it’s not like she’s forgetting her loyalty to her friends in some all-consuming mission to save her mother. That’s just something that she hopes for on the sidelines. Of course she’s also struggling with her mother’s disdain for her, in contrast to the much viewed vid chip of old. (Side note—I do think they used that thing a little too much. I remember I was obsessed with it when I was a teenager, but now it’s a little soapy. Can’t Claudia and Linda handle the gravitas in the moment?) And speaking of Claudia’s gravitas as an actor…even forgetting her wonderful performance throughout the episode, those last few minutes, when she’s losing her mother for good…that just slays me. And most Scapers, I’d think.
I think I need to thank Nicola from the Scaper Chronicles for deepening my understanding of Xhalax. As a teen, all I remember feeling about her, other than AAAAANGST, was, why was her skin so reptilian in the present? (She even slices through her wrist—ick—under captivity, and something doesn’t look quite Sebacean about her skin.) But now, I’m thinking about the choice she made to kill her lover, Talyn. How it basically stunted her, and she’s just filled with rage from that one moment. When she finds out that Aeryn is her daughter, she spends most of her time trying to egg our girl into killing her. It’s like Xhalax blames her (Peackeepers wouldn’t have found out about that love affair if she’d never visited her daughter,) and wants Aeryn to live with the pain of killing her mother. Meanwhile, Xhalax wants to be free of her own pain. There isn’t a scene that goes by where her bitterness isn’t just etched on her face. Elsewhere, with the Colladas, she kills the one whom she let live in “Thanks for Sharing.” It makes me think that in her professional life she doesn’t kill needlessly—she only went through with it now because said Collada would have slowed down the mission. Just my take. Anywho. Xhalax tries to insult Aeryn by attacking her lack of loyalty to the Peacekeepers…certainly learning some parts of her past (like that her mother killed her father) hurt Aeryn, but not so much the ex-Peacekeeper thing by season three. Xhalax herself is far more hurt by Aeryn referring to her birth as “corruption.” Nicola posits that this is because it puts the Xhalax/Talyn relationship into a bad light. I like that…deepens the character. She made her choice to deny her love for this guy, and now she has to live with the consequences.
On a slightly lighter, but also a slightly darker note…we have Rygel and Stark! :P They definitely start out in the comedy circle, with Stark’s manic behavior and Rygel’s grousing about the sex going on next door, especially John’s loud exertions. :P Poor Rygel, really; the guy needs some sleep! “Poor Rygel” is definitely a theme for me this episode, because we almost lose him! :( Damn you, Xhalax! Luckily, Stark is able to revive him by performing surgery with the vines being used to heal Talyn. Still…Stark and Aeryn seem pissed off when the poor dominar starts complaining about needing bedrest, or the fact that his clothes are now stitched to his body. :o These all sound like pretty legit complaints to me! No one respects the feelings of our little Hynerian, alas. Meanwhile, also connected to this, apparently Stark meets up with Zhaan during the whole purgatory of whether Rygel will or won’t cross over to the other side. The Scaper Chronicles found this to be moving and important…I’m not so sure. It’s a bit cheap and over the top to re-introduce her so definitively. Seems like a ploy to tell the audience that Stark is healing. Of course, Zhaan always was a spiritual character. And Stark often sounds kooky when he talks. :P This is likely an issue of me overthinking things. I’m pretty sure, when I watched this episode for the first time as a teen, I was just feklempt. Still missing Zhaan by this point; I’ll take her presence however I can get it! Hee.
Guess I’ve left our homeboy, John, out of the recap for too long! He starts out in a great place…or at least Talyn John does. :P Poor Moya John is still all alone, romantically. And of course that’s the reason that the J/A ship was finally allowed to get off the ground, heh. Aeryn leans on John a lot during the beginning and the end of the episode. But in the middle they are separated—and John is stranded with his absolute favorite person, Crais. :P (Small nitpick—I thought the whole reason they were lost was because they didn’t have the locater device to get back to Talyn? But then suddenly they did? A-whaa? Anywho.) In the midst of running and hiding and covering their private bits in stinky goo so that the trackers can’t find them, John gets a visit from Harvey and finds out Crais’s big secret. From there, we move onto the half lie, half truth of John leaving Crais for the trackers to find. Of course, in the short run, he’s just trying to lure the Pina Colladas, as he calls them, into a trap. :P But he’s still not happy with Crais, and almost leaves him tied up, until the good captain reminds John that he needs him to get Talyn moving again. There’s something in this exchange that reminds me of John and Aeryn during “Crackers Don’t Matter”—he was playing fast and loose with her life there, and she didn’t appreciate it either. Peacekeepers don’t like clowning around, perhaps. If you wanna kill someone, just do it, don’t leave them to die. But John does make some strategic kills this episode, and I’m kinda wondering if I have to chalk them up to the camp that says our human is a force of destruction. Granted, I suppose he had good reason to kill the Pina Colladas; it was us or them. But still, it’s hard to swallow when they’re given the backstory of being mercenaries just trying to buy their freedom. And one of their hearts even bursts…oy. I still flinch during that scene. John’s stinky goo feels like comeuppance now. :P Even he seems to believe that there’s been “too much killing” by the conclusion of the hour. To end with John being a good guy—he was adamant that Aeryn couldn’t kill her own mother. He knew that would destroy her on the inside—exactly what Xhalax wanted. So John’s looking out for the love of his life—there’s a definite plus. Shedding some positive light onto Team Humans, hurrah. :P
So, to end with Crais’s secret…his reasons for being Talyn’s “prom date,” as John put it, had more to do with just his fascination with the ship or desire to get away from Scorpius. Apparently, High Command doesn’t like the idea of an elite rouge captain wandering around the Uncharted Territories. By bonding with Talyn, Crais also bought the unwitting protection of the Moya crew. I can understand John’s anger about this, but I also respect Crais’s desire to stay alive. Plus, you can hardly say that the Crais/Talyn relationship is just about that one dimensional issue anymore. In case you didn’t think they were mind melding enough into each other, now Crais is lending brain matter to Talyn, who has been crippled by Xhalax. Oy. Maybe John is right to be afraid of Crais’s influence on Talyn…I still kind of see Talyn as having the upper hand in this relationship. At the very least, you can’t say that Crais doesn’t suffer for this bond that he has with the ship. He’s still very alone—the first scene of this episode makes sure to emphasize that. It’s like Talyn is his only real connection now. I started the recap talking about relativity binding people together…maybe now it’s time to talk about severing. Xhalax literally severs Talyn’s brain functions, Aeryn and Crais are severed from the Peacekeepers, Xhalax is severed from the own love of her life, the entire Moya crew is severed from one another. And John, of course, is severed from Earth, and sort of, from himself. We can move forward (or in Xhalax’s case, choose not to move forward, at least emotionally,) but there’s always a cost.
Favorite Crichtonism: Okay - welcome to the butthole of the universe.
Favorite Quotes:
*lovers make for bad neighbors*
Stark: Kahmenah kahmenah kahmenah-NEK! Kahmenah kahmenah kahmenah -NEK! Kahmenah kahmenah kahmenah-NEK! RYGEL!
Rygel: HWAH!! Oooh - I may be small, but allow me to remind you - that only serves to put me at castration level!
Stark: What's the matter? Didn't sleep well?
Rygel: How could I? With them on the other side of this -- very thin bulkhead!
Stark: Bit noisy were they?
Rygel: She was bad enough. But Crichton! He was louder than she was! He actually sounded like he was exerting himself! What kind of a male is he anyway? They're between bouts. Give them a few microts.
John: Hang on- *pounds wall, moaning* OOHH!
*big problem of the day*
John: Talk to us. What do we got?
Crais: Talyn has identified it as the Vigilante --the Peacekeeper ship pursuing us.
Stark: We've got to do something! There's nothing we can do! CRICHTON! You always have a plan! Well - sometimes.
John: How close?
Crais: It's just landed.
Rygel: *to Aeryn* It's your mother who's running the frelling retrieval squad. Maybe we can use that.
John: Yo! Not now Rygel.
Rygel: Not now? They're here Crichton! On the planet! They're gonna be knocking down that door at any microt - and our ship is sound asleep!
*when Xhalax decides to kill on the job*
Thek: Xhalax -
Xhalax: Heavy gravity.
Thek: 2 - 2 and a half times what my species is used to.
Xhalax: How is your wound?
Thek: I will - earn my share! *unconvinced, Xhalax kills him*
Xhalax: *to companions* Good news. Your shares have just increased.
*Rygel can’t keep his hands off of Aeryn’s stuff*
Rygel: Ah! I've been watching this - the night your mother came and saw you.
John: Rygel, what the hell are you doin'?
Rygel: *to Aeryn* She sounds like she likes you. Maybe we could use that to - ah-
John: This is Aeryn’s stuff! Keep your hands off! And your nose out of other peoples business.
Rygel: Well, uh - what are we supposed to do when you're out there and dear old mother comes blasting in?
John: Buckwheat - we're gonna keep the retrieval squad away and you're gonna keep your hands - off Aeryn’s stuff. Is that clear?
*backstories for the Pina Colladas*
Xhalax: How many missions have you been on?
Kek: Six.
Vek: Nine.
Xhalax: Nine and out, right? This is your last mission as a mercenary? You complete this one and you can buy your freedom. You have a mate? Offspring?
Vek: Yes.
Xhalax: Nice, it'd be a frelling shame if you and your mate here screwed up and you were to start your mission count back at zero. So frell the gravity! Cinch up your mivonks - and keep moving!
*John on the plan and the planet’s vegetation*
John: Well they're either after us, or not. We've left a trail Stevie Wonder could follow.
Aeryn: Oh - wait-
John: What?
Aeryn: Oarusk fruit. *poisonous acid sizzles out of it*
John: Remind me not to put that on my Cocoa Puffs.
*Rygel and Stark’s first “three stooges” moment*
Stark: Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee....
Rygel: Oooh - stop that -- incessant -- humming!
Stark: When you stop that hiccupping.
Rygel: I -- hiccup when I'm -- nervous!
Stark: Well I hum when I'm nervous!
Rygel: A -- hiccup is involuntary you pellish -- venker! Humming isn't!
*not quite friends yet…*
Crais: Crichton don't you leave me here! The retrieval squad - they're using Colartas!
John: They're using what?
Crais: Expert trackers. You leave me here bleeding, they will find me and kill me!
John: And?
*a fated mother/daughter reunion*
Xhalax: You knew who I was. Who are you?
Aeryn: I'm Aeryn. Aeryn Sun. I'm your daughter.
Xhalax: If you are my daughter, you are a Peacekeeper.
Aeryn: I'm not a Peacekeeper anymore.
Xhalax: Then you are with Crais.
*Debbie Downer Rygel*
Rygel: They're up against a Peacekeeper Retrieval Squad out there. Don't delude yourself, fahrbot. They're probably never coming back.
*Xhalax attempts to goad Aeryn to violence*
Xhalax: Where are you taking me?
Aeryn: Back to the gunship. Which I named Talyn, by the way. *Xhalax groans* Yes, I thought you'd find that amusing.
Xhalax: ] it after daddy? It's not amusing - it's sentimental and weak. Is that why you're sparing me? (Because I'm your mummy?
Aeryn: No. Because with that wound, out here, you will die. Alive, you're potential leverage.
Xhalax: Regulation Field-Op procedure insists you terminate all hostile personnel on point of contact. Eliminate the threat. And when I'm dead - you can name your Prowler after me.
Aeryn: Oh yes that's very funny. Well I no longer follow 'Regulation Field-Op Procedures, and I know it's not by chance that you ended up out here on this assignment. High Command knew I was out here with Talyn and Crais. They probably thought - 'send her mother' or perhaps you even volunteered for the pleasure. Did you? Thought - you know - 'if things go wrong, we end up face-to-face, perhaps the daughter will flinch.' I'm not flinching.
*learning a bit too much about Crichton’s sex life and private bits*
Crais: You have no idea where we are going. We could be going around in circles.
John: We're not goin' in circles, nimrod - because we've never been here before. We're completely lost! Ooh God! I hate mazes! My first girlfriend, Julie, she loved 'em. Oh boy, did she! "Hey Johnny, let's go in the mirror maze together, huh?" HEY JULES! IS THIS MAKIN' YOU HORNY?
Crais: Our size and weight will give us a slight advantage over the Colartas. But our sweat and blood will continue to lead them right to us.
John: Shut up.
Crais: You shut up!
John: No - you shut up! I got an idea!
Crais: What are you doing?
John: Here - smell that! *smears smelly slime on Crais’s face*
Crais: GGLAUGH! BAARRRGGHH
John: *gagging as he does the same to himself* Dang - if this doesn't cover our scent - or kill us - I don't know what will. Yeah that's good! *gives more to Crais* There ya go - spread it around! Don't forget to - cover your private bits.
*poor Rygel always gets caught*
Rygel: We're leaving! Soon as Talyn's ready, we're leaving whether they're here or not. You got that?
Aeryn: *arriving with Xhalax* Rygel!
Rygel: Oh what?
Aeryn: The hero.
Rygel: Aeryn! I - always knew you'd make it back. The others aren't as capable as you! Not as strong, as superior-
Aeryn: Shut up.
*John’s subconscious calling out to Harvey*
Harvey: Oh poor baby. Poor, poor Johnny.
John: Now is not a good time Scorpy. Go away.
Harvey: On the contrary - you summoned me.
John: You know what? You are really becoming annoying! Go away!
Harvey: But your subconscious did, and that's where I reside remember? *assesses John’s weapon* This point - it needs to be sharp, but not so spindly that it is weak.
John: As long as you're here - these Pina Colada things chasing us - are they everything Crais has cracked them up to be?
Harvey: Oh yes! In that at least, Crais has been completely forthright.
John: Where has he not been - forthright?
*Stark assessing Rygel’s wounded body*
Stark: Oohh - you really do have 3 stomachs, and the smallest little heart I've ever seen.
*dun dun DUUUN build up about the Talyn/Crais mission*
Xhalax: This is a remarkable vessel. High Command could have never anticipated that their hybrid genetic would evolve so successfully.
Aeryn: What are you doing?
Xhalax: Can't fire the ship up while he still has the capacity for independent thought.
Aeryn: You're severing his higher functions.
Xhalax: After which I can fly him home manually. Techs are standing by to bring him back to life. Once he's got a control collar on.
Aeryn: Talyn is not like other Leviathans. He will die before accepting a control collar.
Xhalax: My mission is to subdue the Leviathan hybrid for easy transport. Then track and deliver the second target.
*John’s got it figured out because of Harvey, and it propels him to take drastic action*
John: *as Crais struggles against the bonds John made for him* Captains - are the elite. The most trusted -- jarheads in all the Peacekeeper ranks. Cu-uz - you make Captain? You're on the A List for all the top parties. All the heavy duty crap that the Peacekeepers sure as hell don't want floatin' free in the universe.
Crais: Crichton listen to me-
John: You know, I always wondered - why a swingin' cat like you would be way out here in the boondocks. Why you wanted so baaad to be Talyn’s prom date - and then suddenly it all came very clear to me. You need us. You knew we wouldn't lift a finger to help you, but we would do anything to protect Talyn. The Peacekeepers - they're not only after Talyn. They're after you. From the moment you set foot on Moya, you knew that this day was coming. And you kept us as allies when they came gunnin'.
Crais: That's not true. That's not the only reason I wanted to help you. *as John walks away* Crichton! You can't leave me here like this.
John: Yes, I can.
Crais: What are you going to do?
John: If you're what the retrieval squad wants -- brother- this is their lucky day! *douses Crais with water* HEY BOYS! CAN YOU SMELL HIM NOW? OH PINA COLAAAAADAAAAS!
*Aeryn learns some hard truths about her parents*
Aeryn: My entire life - on every assignment, every transport ship, I scanned the soldiers looking for a face I'd only ever seen once. And now finally seeing you - I feel nothing but shame!
Xhalax: Officer Sun - do you actually believe I care what you think? Your sentiment disgusts me! I have not wasted a microt of my life thinking about you! You're ashamed of me? You? A traitor? An enemy to everything you were bred for?
Aeryn: The Peacekeepers made me the enemy that I am. Look at what you are doing! You are butchering this magnificent creature in its sleep! When it wakes it will be a slave! And there is no guarantee it will survive the procedure!
Xhalax: You are pathetic. You are not my daughter!
Aeryn: I am. You made me very aware of that the night you came to me when I was a child and you told me what you'd done. Which - may I remind you, was not regulation.
Xhalax: I never came to you! You only dreamt it.
Aeryn: Oh well! For many cycles I believed that. But you see, I now have a vid recording which I would be happy to show you if you'd like to see it. Or are you ashamed of your sentiment?
Xhalax: Yes I am! And I paid for it! My superior officers knew I visited you that night. They interrogated me, and I professed my - attraction - for a certain Peacekeeper Officer.
Aeryn: My father.
Xhalax: Yes. Talyn. He was older than I was, no longer as effective in battle. But my superiors didn't want to lose me. So. They gave me a chance to redeem myself.
Aeryn: What did you do to redeem yourself? *after a pause* How did you redeem yourself?
Xhalax: By killing your father.
*John lays a trap and Crais plays his cards right*
Vek: Ah - Captain Bialar Crais! Or should I say - former Captain Crais? Do you have any idea how many Inquisitors want you back in High Command?
Our orders are to take you in alive. But half alive is still-
Kek: Wait! There's - I smell something! Yes- *John attacks, killing—or at least wounding—the Pina Colladas*
John: HEY HEY CRAIS! COULDN'T A DONE IT WITHOUT YA!
Crais: WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME!
John: NEEDED YOUR FEAR HOMEBOY! NEEDED THE SWEAT!
Crais: I've served my purpose as your lure, now untie me!
John: You don't get it do ya? Ain't no way son. You stuck the knife in one time too many.
Crais: You're just going to leave me here like this?
John: Well - you earned it.
Crais: If you're going to execute me - execute me! KILL ME! But don't leave me here to die!
John: YOU LIED TO US! YOU BETRAYED US AND YOU USED US!
Crais: I USED ALL MY ASSETS TO STAY ALIVE! AND THOSE ASSETS WERE YOU! You think of your own survival now - what if Aeryn is dead?
John: She's not.
Crais: WHAT IF SHE IS? How are you going to command Talyn? How are you going to get off this planet without me? And what if Aeryn isn't back at Talyn when you get there? What are you going to do then?
*gotta give Stark credit for trying. Also kudos to the plot for making the vines work for both Talyn and Rygel :P*
Aeryn: What about Rygel? Is he dead?
Stark: He died for several microts, but I managed to get his little heart beating again. Then I sewed the wound closed with the vines - the restorative vines. But I'm no Diagnosan - I don't know what else to do.
*Aeryn attempts to use the vid chip to turn her mother towards the light side*
Past Xhalax: Aeryn. Wake up, Aeryn. Aeryn - my name is Xhalax Sun.
Aeryn: The night you've so conveniently forgotten.
Past Xhalax: I'm your mother. You mustn't reveal to anyone that I was here, do you understand? *past Aeryn nods* I came to tell you something. Aeryn - your life was not an accident.
Aeryn: You cared enough then to risk everything to meet the child that you had conceived. You can't have burned that love away completely.
Past Xhalax: Talyn - that's your fathers name - he and I - chose to have you. You were conceived in love. Our love.
Aeryn: I am that child. I am part of you. I am part of Talyn.
Past Xhalax: I wanted you to know this.
Aeryn: Peacekeeper way isn't the only way. It's not too late for you.
Past Xhalax: It makes you special. We wanted you.
Xhalax: NOOO! *destroys projector* This is dead history! Your father is dead! And you - you will face a Peacekeeper Tribunal - on a charge of high treason!
*I’m still Team Rygel on this one. Though I suppose Aeryn needed to be free to get the upper hand on Xhalax*
Stark: Rygel!
Rygel: I've been - filleted.
Stark: The restorative vines - they're working!
Aeryn: Rygel! Come over here now and untie us!
Rygel: Get over there? I need bed rest, for at least the next 50 arns! Have you seen these so-called stitches? Who did this to me?!
Stark: I did.
Rygel: Oh, great! A one-eyed hingmot with no 3-D vision! How many of my vital organs did you puncture?
Stark: I saved your life!
Rygel: Saved my life? Look! You sewed this to me!
*later, when Rygel is attempting to untie Aeryn*
Aeryn: Oh for frell's sake Rygel! Use two hands! Two hands?
Rygel: I'm going as fast as I can! My robes are stitched inside my chest cavity!
Stark: You are so ungrateful.
Rygel: And - I'm trying to keep my guts from spilling out all over this frelling floor!
*Aeryn’s final stand against Xhalax, John puts his foot down and Crais makes a decision*
Xhalax: I would take you back - attempt to redeem you if it was possible! But your corruption is too advanced!
Aeryn: My corruption began the moment I was conceived!
Xhalax: NO!
…
Aeryn: Don't you see? My independence comes from you anyway! I grew up wanting to be just like a woman I'd only ever seen once!
Xhalax: You are a traitor!
Aeryn: I am the part of you that wanted to be a rebel! The part of you that knew deep down inside what was right-
Xhalax: Shut up!
Aeryn: You've resisted Peacekeeper doctrine before-
Xhalax: Shut up!
Aeryn: -why can't you do it again now?
Xhalax: Yoouu - are an ABERRATION!
Aeryn: I am your child! *John makes it over to them and pulls Xhalax off of Aeryn* Right. John - get out of the way.
Xhalax: Let her do it! Let her shoot me!
John: No Aeryn! Don't kill her!
Aeryn: We have to.
John: You can't! There's been too much killing!
Aeryn: No. We let her live - she comes, she hunts us down again.
John: Aeryn! You should not be the one to do this!
Xhalax: SHE CAN'T DO IT! She's afraid.
John: Aeryn please. Put the gun away.
Crais: You're wrong. Aeryn is right. We must not let Xhalax live. Officer Sun knows Peacekeeper regulations. If we don't kill Xhalax, she will come after us again.
John: Aeryn is not going to be the one to kill her mother. You want her dead? Fine - you do it.
Crais: As you wish. Somebody must do it. *to Aeryn, after aiming his weapon at Xhalax* GO! Go now! You must not witness this!
Xhalax: Coward! She can't kill me.
Aeryn: I am right, aren't I? We let you live - you come and you find us again.
Xhalax: What? Do you expect me to lie? To beg for my life? Crais is right. I will hunt you down and I will kill you.
Aeryn: *heart breaking* Good bye Mother.
*Stark’s Zhaan moment*
Stark: When I joined with you to bring you back - I met with Zhaan.
Rygel: Zhaan?
Stark: Yes.
Rygel: That's why you stitched the frelling tunic to my chest! You were busy hallucinating!
Stark: She looked - contented. She whispered to me - kala kalash atir kalash atir amaz.
Rygel: What?
Stark: It's a prayer of guardianship. It means she's watching over us. *making ritual hand motions like Zhaan’s* Kala kalash atir kalash atir amaz.
*Crais and Talyn are more bonded than ever before, while Aeryn is now completely (well, so she feels at the moment) severed from the Peacekeepers*
Aeryn: Crais is attempting to splice his neural engrams with Talyn’s - and if he can, then Talyn will be able to navigate on his own once again -- and we can get some sleep. Or not. You don't have to wait up for me if you don't want to.
John: Nah - I don't mind.
Aeryn: It is all we can do.
John: Yeah - it's just a large part of Crais' psyche will now reside in Talyn.
Aeryn: It's the only way to bring Talyn back to life. My - Xhalax - was my last connection to the Peacekeepers. All my ties to them are now completely severed.
John: I know.
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