Farscape Episode 3.12: “Meltdown”
Jun. 10th, 2016 01:52 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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scifi_rewatchI have vague memories of being out of town or something when first this episode aired. I think I read the synopsis, or a detailed review, first, and I remember being disappointed in how much Sierjna looked like Zhaan. It was like a cop out, saying that this one-off alien guest star (meaning no disrespect to Susan Lyons) could have a significant bearing on Stark’s vanquished relationship with his soulmate—or worse, be a replacement.
I also don’t remember being head over heels for the J/A PDA. :P I mean, I’m a shipper in the way that shipping J/A is like breathing on this show, but I didn’t need to see all the details. That saxophone was relentless, man.
The Scaper Chronicles, of course, like the J/A shippiness, but don’t like what they call the “framing story.” (Great terminology.) On first glance, it does sort of feel like that, in the midst of a lot of heady story arcs in this season alone, the writers decided to take a little break. :P They assumed that the J/A action would carry us along just fine for this hour.
And upon repeat watchings, I really have to give my props to Ben and Claudia, both of whom were certainly having fun. But even moreso to the writers for all of that sexual innuendo…which finally got a payoff. :D Frell, I can’t even type that without sounding dirty, hee.
But perhaps most poignantly, and this is a new development for yours truly, there is an intriguing mythological/fairy tale construct going on here. Maybe not enough to redeem the entire episode to the echelons of other recent ones, but intriguing nonetheless. I look forward to dissecting all of this under the cut.
Episode summary is here, courtesy of the John and Aeryn Fansite.
So the plot is…relatively straightforward. With the immediate threat of a Peacekeeper retrieval squad currently vanquished, the Talyn crew attempts to contact Moya. No such luck, leaving room for an off-the-track episode. Talyn literally goes “off the track,” and can’t stop himself from flying directly into a sun! Not with a lot of speed, it seems, and some occasional pulling back, because everyone doesn’t immediately fry. But some strange mist (Crais offers techno babble about why Talyn might be secreting it now) starts filling the corridors, and people are acting…mighty freaky. Or maybe just themselves, amplified. Rygel can’t stop eating. Crais goes on a paranoid power trip. And John and Aeryn, well…cue the saxophone. :P Stark, meanwhile, encounters Sierjna, the spirit of a woman whom the devil-like (in both make-up and personality) alien, Mu-quillus, has trapped to be his proverbial Rapunzel in a tower. Mu-quillus is also the bad guy who lures Leviathans into the sun for some ship building company that sees them as competition. Have to agree with the Scaper Chronicles a little bit…since Leviathans are biological beings, it’s a sort of strange correlation. And either way, it’s just an excuse for this week’s conundrum. :P Anywho, while the rest of the crew struggles to maintain their wits to get out of this, Stark bonds with Talyn in a suddenly-appearing Pilot’s den as an attempt to cross Sierjna over to the other side. There’s a little bit of dramatic tension, but not too much. Ultimately, Mu-quillus dies, Stark crosses Sierjna over, Crais calms down, Rygel is miraculously still alive after eating the entire galley, and John and Aeryn…well, actually, they stay about the same, mist or no mist. :P The ship has docked.
Lots and lots of fairytale/mythological motifs in here. There’s the nod to Icarus flying too close to the sun, but we will actually see that play out, metaphorically, again later in the season, so *zips lips!* Above, I mentioned Rapunzel; more broadly I’m thinking of the construct about where an evil man traps a young, innocent girl. Mostly so that she can be a damsel in distress for her knight/prince…aka Stark in this story, who can’t rescue her from the tower and take her back to the world of the living, but he can cross her over and give her peace. Bittersweet endings ftw! :P Mu-quillus also calls Sierjna a “siren star,” which refers to Greco-Roman mythology; these beautiful women who lived on the sea where known to sing sailors to their doom. Stark more or less falls into that doomed-sailor role as well, as at one point he forces Talyn back towards the sun so that he can save his siren. So yeah, maybe the writers put more effort into this episode than it first appears. (Also, it’s kinda clever—and humanizing—that Talyn naturally responds to stress with his own form of adrenaline, hee.) I’m not sure it’s enough to carry the whole hour, but if there’s one person who fits well into the world of mythology, it’s Stark. The ScaperChronicles might not like the lack of hard and fast “rules” about just what was going on here and how exactly everyone’s mystical powers worked, but…yeah. Beyond nitpicking the small stuff, the forest through the trees speaks to such themes as entrapment, heroics and redemption.
Stark clearly still has major issues about how Zhaan died. He couldn’t save her, not by talking her out of her suicidal mission, nor by crossing her over in the traditional sense of his powers. Sierjna is an obvious, and underwhelming in this capacity, substitute. I just don’t think anyone can replace Zhaan.; her relationship with Stark was too complicated to be so easily resolved. You know, I kind of hated how John and Aeryn played into this, too. I get that John was basically trying to do hostage negotiation by this point, but it’s so belittling, this “Aeryn is my Zhaan” dren. I mean first off, like with Sierjna, it kind of diminished Zhaan; she’s not here to be a straw dummy in your argument! :P Her life had worth in its own right. And Aeryn lying and saying that Zhaan was “speaking” to her…hilarious, but also hella cruel. :/ Secondly…I mean come on, John, after an episode of sex talk and physical gymnastics, it’s a little too saccharine to be talking about Aeryn this way. :P But on the other side of things…I’m not too thrilled with Talyn’s sudden Pilot’s den and Stark being able to take on that role. The symbiosis with a real Pilot is a little more intense than all of that, aurgh! I know…I’m taking all of this a bit too seriously. And I do like how this experience apparently gave Stark insight into Crais and Talyn’s relationship, heh. He has one to hold over the good Captain now.
The good Captain has some layers going on in this episode, too. We start out back on the Degobah planet where he supposedly frees Xhalax and sells everyone out except for Aeryn…then he looks into the camera, breaks that fourth wall; it turns out that this was a melodramatic plot construct, borne out of Jon’s continued mistrust for the man. But there’s no denying in the real episode…there’s something still power hungry about Crais. He may not be gunning to be a Peacekeeper again, but he sure hates being out of control. Lani gives a great performance of Crais slowly losing it. He’s also briefly detached from Talyn, which at this point in their dangerously codependent relationship, can’t be healthy to rip off so quickly. Though perhaps we stray into the land of the goofy, when things don’t come to worse blows between him and Rygel over his attack. Crais is obsessed with Stark’s “mutiny,” but he basically just has a temper tantrum when the dominar bites him. :P Poor Ryg, really. Gotta agree with the ScapeCast; he’s just comic relief here. All he does is eat and whine about eating…other than apparently grabbing a bigger puppet, there’s nothing too noteworthy about it. Maybe the fact that the poor guy doesn’t implode after eating the entire galley, hee. And of course he can’t see Sierjna, but that is to be expected. Over all, perhaps a little disappointing on the character level.
Probably the two folks who come closest to real character development are John and Aeryn, but even that’s a bit of a stretch. Sure, they aere more amorous than they ever have been, but they’ve been moving in that direction anyway, especially in “Relativity”. The mist enhances things, and they get to share some incredibly sultry moments. *fans self* I’d describe them all here, but really, there’s so much cleverness in the dialogue that I might as well wait for the next section. Meanwhile, even when their sex talk is muted, they are still pretty damn handsy with each other. There’s one scene where they and Crais have their guns pointed at Mu-quillus, but by the time the alien leaves, the couple are all over each other; hands roving each other’s waists rather than their own guns. :P Dammit, it all sounds so dirty! So I’ll quickly move on and point out that John does have a mini-epiphany—he dislikes “god-like aliens” even more than he dislikes critters. :o Quite the large gauntlet to throw! And Aeryn, meanwhile, is apparently getting proficient at tech work. Quite a step sideways from where she was in season one, as John notes. But that about covers in with regards to significant character beats for these two. Maybe it’s worth noting that even once the mist is gone at the end, they’re apparently still cool with getting all-the-way freaky in the command room. :o Take us to black, saxophone! :P
I don’t think I’ve ever done this for a “Farscape” episode, but alas, there isn’t too much meat on this proverbial bone, so I have to scavenge some. Time for some behind the scenes highlights, courtesy of the show’s special wiki! Mu-Quillus’s costume included LED lights in the fingers and more lights in the head “to simulate gas fires and give off a glowing effect.” Kinda sounds like the trickery they used with the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 “Wizard of Oz” movie! But apparently the actor, Mark Mitchell, had a tendency of falling asleep in the makeup chair, so I guess the transformation wasn’t too exciting. :P They shot Talyn’s den on the set of Moya’s Pilot’s den, unsurprisingly, just with a little set decoration (and a missing Pilot) to make it look different. Apparently, the Stark/Talyn “bonding” scene with the tendrils was actually backwards; Paul Goddard had the tendrils pulled off of him, and the film was later reversed. Finally, we all may love our J/A PDA, but according to Claudia, she and Ben practiced making out so much that the crew went for coffee breaks instead of watching it. :P I guess that even the most cherished ships have an “overkill” button, hee.
Favorite Crichtonism: God-like aliens! Man do I hate god-like aliens! I'll trade a critter for a god-like alien any day!
Favorite Quotes:
*our magical realist opening to the episode*
Crais: XHALAX!
Xhalax: Go on - do it!
Crais: Believe me - nothing would give me greater pleasure. But - I kill you - and another retrieval squad will already be on its way.
Xhalax: Unless - I report you terminated, in which case you free me here and now and - you disappear forever.
Crais: You forget who is in charge here. I'll tell you what's going to happen. You go back to High Command. You tell them I can deliver Talyn and Moya. They can have the escaped prisoners. They can even have Crichton - if they want.
Xhalax: And in return?
Crais: Two things - I want Aeryn.
Xhalax: Oh Crais! You're so predictable!
Crais: I want Aeryn! And I want to be a Peacekeeper again! *breaks the fourth wall by chuckling and looking up at us as the audience—and John* Is that what you think? Is that what you think happened Crichton?
*at least he gets a good Crichtonism in there :P*
Crais: You know the truth. You know I'll never again be a Peacekeeper.
John: Never say never again 007. That's all I know.
*this hour’s plot reveals itself*
Rygel: What the frell?
Crais: Talyn has pulled away. Saved us.
Rygel: And we're supposed to be grateful?
Crais: He's now orbiting the sun. His shields are holding but - there are parts of Talyn I can't see or feel.
John: We're gonna have to do a manual survey for damage.
Aeryn: All right. Crais - you should stay up here in this section. The rest of us will divide up the ship amongst us.
*a perfunctory work talk turns into something subtly more sexy…*
John: You know, Talyn has got a hog of a power plant - but he's got a piss-poor electrical system. He sneezes and half of his circuits fry.
Aeryn: He hasn't fully healed from the retrieval squad attack.
John: Yeah I know that. I still say he could use some heavy-duty wiring. *unbeknownst, mist starts seeping in…*
Aeryn: He's still young. He's going to get much stronger as he develops.
John: Not if he flies into any more stars he won't. How big is he gonna get anyway? Is he gonna be Moya’s size?
Aeryn: Well Crais seems to think so.
John: *as circuit shorts in his fingers* Damn!
Aeryn: Here. *takes his hand in hers and administers a rather long-lasting suck to his wound* Be careful.
John: Yeah...
*the flirtation slowly gets more heady*
John: You know for somebody who used to look down their nose at tech work - you're pretty damn good at this.
Aeryn: Well perhaps people can change.
John: Well at least some people are smilin' around here these days.
Aeryn: Yeah I know. It suits your face.
John: I was talkin' about you.
Aeryn: Me? I'm not smiling.
John: Yes you are.
Aeryn: *chuckling, smiling* Pay attention to your work.
John: Right. Focus on the work. *lays a hand on her thigh as he works*
Aeryn: And don't do that.
John: I'm workin' here! Stop distracting me.
Aeryn: I'm distracting you?
John: Yes. You are always distracting me.
Aeryn: Well then you are easily distracted.
John: No I'm not.
Aeryn: Yes you are.
John: I'm not.
Aeryn: Oh really? *rises to work on a higher piece of circuitry, her nearly bare midriff now in John’s face*
John: Okay that's a little distracting.
Aeryn: And it's something I did?
John: Could be.
Aeryn: What? Something like - *classic “drops tool, bends over to retrieve it” gag* - this?
John: *shoving her bum playfully* You said - pay attention to the work.
Aeryn: *grinning and seductive* You're right. I'm sorry. I won't distract you any further.
John: *crosses to her, running fingers over her belly* You - have problem here?
Aeryn: No I don't have a problem.
John: No? *moving closer, hands going around each other* You're not distracted? *give in to a hard kiss for a bit*
Aeryn: Mmwhat are we doing?
John: Better question - Why now?
*Crais explains the mist, John makes a “Crackers Don’t Matter” reference, and Aeryn comes up with a convenient plot complication*
Crais: Drexim. A synaptic fluid naturally occurring in Talyn’s conduits.
John: Uh-huh. Why is it steaming from the walls?
Crais: When it becomes acidic, it can erode the seals joining the conduits.
John: That is a beautiful design Crais. Tell me - i-is this stuff affecting you?
Crais: No. But it seems to have made Rygel permanently hungry. Has it been affecting you? Or Aeryn?
John: What exactly does it do to Talyn?
Crais: When he's in danger, it increases the stimulus. Increasing his response rates.
John: All right - so it's like adrenaline. *Crais is confused* Adrenaline - in humans when we get in a tight spot, makes us fight - *play boxing* - and uh - *boogey-ing movement* - do other things. It's not gonna affect us the same way is it?
Crais: Quite possibly. But the effects should be manageable.
John: Should - be manageable? Look, Crais, before ah - we all go crackers - *slight aside to Aeryn* Hey baby, how you doin'? *back on track* - maybe we should get some space suits, masks or something?
Aeryn: Already thought of that. We're too late. The drexim's reached the suits and it's made all the seals dissolve.
*introduction to Sierjna*
Sierjna: You can see me! I am Sierjna.
Stark: This room... this room - I haven't seen this room before.
Sierjna: But you can see me? And hear me?
Stark: Yes of course I can. You're there in front of me.
Sierjna: I am? Full formed? Visible? *spiritual word of thanks* Savasina! You can help me!
Stark: Wh-What? What do you want? This room, this room, this room...
Sierjna: I seek the Pilot.
Stark: I've never seen this room before.
Sierjna: I may say the same about this ship. In part, it appears Leviathan and yet - not.
Stark: This ship is Talyn. It is a hybrid. It is part Leviathan, part gunship.
Sierjna: Then where is the Pilot? He should be here.
Stark: There is no Pilot. There has never been a Pilot.
Sierjna: There is always a Pilot. But - never one who could see, hear - *demonstrates by putting his hands on her chest* - feel me! Until now.
Stark: How did you get on board this ship?
Sierjna: I-I kanished. You were in my zone.
Stark: In your zone? I don't understand. How did you get on board this ship?
Sierjna: Cycles ago, I came from Delfarion. One microt I was on my ship - and then not! I'm trapped outside my world for so long trying to get back! But I float here unable to free myself! I board a Leviathan, then another, then another. Only to find myself unseen, unheard, by all aboard! Until now - where at last I am given form. Finally I find those who can help me! Please! Only you can save me!
*John suggests Crichtonisms to aid Talyn*
Crais: As I suspected - Talyn is overproducing drexim due to the stress he's under. The radiation pulses are still compelling him to move towards the sun.
Aeryn: He is resisting - barely. We're maintaining orbit and we're not getting any closer.
John: We're not getting any further away either. How do we pry this boy loose? Can we stick cotton in his ears?
Aeryn: Crais is there a way to filter out these pulses?
Crais: His shields are linked to his sensors to inform him of ambient conditions.
John: So cut the link.
Crais: That would blind him.
John: Get him some sunglasses - blue blockers!
*Mu-Quillus introduction, and Crais starts to lose it*
Mu-Quillus: I want to help you
John: They all say that.
Mu-Quillus: This unusual vessel - is it - a Leviathan?
John: Who wants to know?
Mu-Quillus: I am Mu-Quillus. You are in great danger. If this is a Leviathan - you must abandon ship immediately.
Aeryn: Why?
Mu-Quillus: Your ship has been caught by a siren star. Inevitably it will succumb. Like the 83 Leviathans that have already died here.
Aeryn: So this sun has claimed over 80 Leviathans?
Mu-Quillus: Yes. Please - get to your lifepods while you still can. I don't understand how this vessel has lasted this long.
Crais: Talyn is a hybrid Leviathan, built for combat, with much tougher shielding.
Mu-Quillus: And weapons I see. Who built it?
John: How about you tell us first - how did you get here? You just beamed in?
Mu-Quillus: I transmuted. I'm something of a hybrid myself. Able to switch between a matter, and an energy state. That's how I can exist in the stars corona.
Aeryn: So you live here?
Mu-Quillus: I find the unusual spectrum of the siren star quite - pleasing.
John: Or maybe you just like watching Leviathans dive in and burn up.
Crais: Perhaps you cause them to do so.
Mu-Quillus: The siren stars pulse radiation is a perfectly natural phenomenon. It's not my fault that it attracts Leviathans to it. I tried to warn them, as I'm warning you. But until now - they have always perished before I could do so.
Crais: I don't believe you.
Mu-Quillus: How severely damaged are you? How closely did you approach before it pulled away?
Crais: And I don't like all these questions. Leave the ship.
Mu-Quillus: I'm only trying to help.
Crais: GET OFF THE SHIP NOW!
*Sierjna gives another angle on Mu-Quillus and learns the distressing reality of her situation*
Sierjna: We must fly away - quickly! Before he discovers I am here.
Stark: Who?
Sierjna: Mu-Quillus, my savior - my captor!
Stark: A being like yourself?
Sierjna: No not like me - another species. He inhabited this star before I came. When my Leviathan perished, he kept me from dying. He claims that he saw me and had to save me. He says that he's in love with me - but I don't love him and I never will! He murdered my ship and all it's passengers!
Stark: *shocked* He did that?
Sierjna: He's still doing it! That's why he's here! To lure Leviathans to their doom!
Stark: Why?
Sierjna: He was contracted to - by the Prahtikrah - a race of shipbuilders who see Leviathans as competition. The more Leviathans disappear-
Stark: - the more ships they can sell!
Sierjna: Yes!
Stark: That's monstrous! *activates his comms* Crais! Crais - Talyn is being lured into the sun by-
Crais: By a creature named Mu-Quillus. I KNOW THAT STARK! WHAT I NEED TO KNOW IS HOW TO BREAK FREE!
Sierjna: I don't know. I don't know how he's doing it!
Stark: *to Crais* Sorry I can't help you.
Sierjna: We must break away! You don't know what it's like! To-to be trapped forever in the light of the sun! Not to be able to feel! To touch! Your only companion a monster! Take me away from him! I want to walk on a planet again! I want to breathe its air! I want to drink its cool water! Give me back my life!
Stark: I can't. You've already passed beyond life. Sierjna - you perished with your shipmates. Mu-Quillus trapped your soul between realms.
Sierjna: I'm - dead? *Stark nods* Oh no - no that's not true! I-you can see me! You can touch me!
Stark: Sierjna - I am a Stykera with certain talents. I can help you cross over to the next level.
Sierjna: To death? No. No I'm alive! I'm here! I'm real again!
Stark: You can never be real again in the way you wish. I can only - release you.
Sierjna: I don't believe it. You, this ship - y-you brought me back. I'm whole again! I won't give that up!
*saxophone mist*
John: Yeah! Right! Focus! Eyes on the task. Remember the mist. The mist is not your friend.
Aeryn: Right. Bad mist.
John: Naughty mist.
Aeryn: OOh.
*Stark proves that a severely overstuffed Rygel can’t see Sierjna, meaning that she’s dead*
Stark: I - we - just wanted to know-
Rygel: "We"? What are you talking about? Have you gone totally fahrbot? Who's "we"?
Stark: *to Sierjna* You see? It is as I said. I am the only one who can see you.
Rygel: Staaaark! I'm too sick to witness one of your hallucinations!
Sierjna: That can't be true! That- *implores Rygel* Sir! Noble sir-!
Stark: Sierjna, don't. He can't hear you! He can't see you!
Rygel: Mm - yes, but I can see you, you crazy nitnik! Who you talking to?
Stark: Only I can see you. Only I can hear you. Only me. I will take care of you. I promise.
Rygel: *watches Stark presumably escort an imaginary friend out* Right. That's done it. He's gone. He's totally -*farting galore* - insaaane...
*finishing quickly :P*
John: The mist, the mist, resist the mist. Resist the mist. *to Aeryn, over his work* Are you done?
Aeryn: I'm almost done. I'm really close.
John: Close?
Aeryn: Nearly there!
John: God, I love you.
Aeryn: I love you too.
John: Tell me when you're done.
Aeryn: I'm - nearly done.
John: Tell me when you're finishing. *Aeryn moans* Yah? Yes?
Aeryn: Almost!
John: Yah?
Aeryn: Last one! Finished! *throws down tools before crashing into John for a makeout session* Frell!
John: *breathless* Yeah.
Aeryn: No! Nono! I mean bad frell!
John: Mr Sun still wants Talyn!
*uh oh, someone has the dreaded PLAN… :P*
Sierjna: I know that sound! He's luring your ship back to the sun!
Stark: No...
Sierjna: You'll be killed! All of you! I've seen it before! Over and over!
Stark: Sierjna!
Sierjna: Every time! Mu-Quillus was right. He's all I have! I'm going to be trapped with him forever!
Stark: Listen to me! I won't let that happen! I have a plan!
Sierjna: A plan?
Stark: Yeah! Come on.
*John catches on to the bad guy*
John: The Pied Piper's found a new tune.
Crais: Explain.
John: 'Natural phenomenon' my ass! Mu-Quillus is generating these pulses!
Crais: How?
John: Aah - orbiting boom box! He's ah - whistling out his butt! How in the hell should I know? The point is - we gotta find the source, and w-we gotta squish it. I'm on scan.
*Stark gets delusions of grandeur after bonding with Talyn*
John: Talyn is turning.
Crais: How?
Stark: *via comms* EVERYONE! WE'RE SAVED! WE'VE DONE IT!
Aeryn: Who has done what?
Stark: TALYN AND I! WE'VE ESCAPED FROM THE SUN! AND WE'VE SAVED SIERJNA FROM MU-QUILLUS! *but she’s gone!* Sierjna? Sie-? Sierjna? Oh no! We must have gone too far! She-she couldn't stay with us!
John: STARK WHAT IN THE LIVING HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
Stark: We must - go back! Must find her!
Aeryn: He's turning again.
Crais: Stark? Are you controlling Talyn?
Stark: Yes, yes. I must, I must, I must...
John: YO ASTRO! CALM DOWN AND TELL ME WHAT - THE HELL - IS GOIN' - ON?
Stark: It's very, very simple. I AM NOW TALYNS PILOT! AND WE ARE FLYING BACK INTO THE SUN!
*amidst trying to negotiate with Stark*
Aeryn: You okay?
John: Yeah. Yah - I'm - I'm all right. Thanks for watchin' my backside.
Aeryn: Couldn't help myself.
*turning into a repeating porno plot*
John: Right. We have, uh - all the time in the world. No need to rush. *she straddles his lap, face to face* You comfortable? *running hands all over each other* Aeryn - this is the mist talkin'.
Aeryn: I like what it's saying.
John: So do I - but we gotta... We gotta focus.
Aeryn: *flick eyes down corridor* I'm doing my job. Corridor is all clear.
John: So it's just you and me...
Aeryn: *whisper repeats* Just you and me.
*Stark attempts to have his hero’s moment*
Stark: SIERJNA!
Sierjna: But you got away! You were free!
Stark: I came back for you!
Sierjna: No. No you're risking everything!
Stark: Nothing else matters! I told you I would save you, and I will! Even if it takes my own life!
Sierjna: Stark!
Stark: I will take you - I will walk you to the other side. Do you trust me?
Sierjna: Mu-Quillus will kill you!
Stark: DO YOU TRUST ME?
Sierjna: *after a pause* Yes.
Stark: Are you ready?
Sierjna: I'm frightened.
Stark: Don't be frightened. No need. Come closer. *takes her palms*
Sierjna: I'm ready. Thank you.
Stark: Nava hajma, nava heerma, ehkittin raiss...
Sierjna: I will find you in the next life. *lifts his mask, but…*
Stark: You're still here.
Sierjna: I have neither moved - nor changed.
Stark: It's not working. Why is it not working?
*Crais’s stern captain role goes awry*
Crais: Are you still eating?
Rygel: *moaning* Oh, stop me Crais. Make me stop! Shoot me! Do something, please! AAargGHh - Here! Here! Tie my hands! Yes!
Crais: I need your help.
Rygel: No! Nononono! Tie my hands now or I'm going to explode! OoOooHhHh - this is all your fault! This is your gunship! Peacekeepers designed it and you can't control it!
Crais: *puts gun at Rygel’s stomachs* I can control you now!
Rygel: You press that into me and I'm going to vomit all over you!
Crais: Stark is a mutineer!
Rygel: He's also out of his frelling mind. Came in here and had a conversation with that wall!
Crais: Must be the mist making him see things. Rygel, Stark has taken control of Talyn. He must be flushed out so I can take back command.
Rygel: Well go ahead.
Crais: I need your help! Slug!
Rygel: Please let me eat that little piece! Please!
Crais: Now you listen to me! Talyn has sealed all the entrances to his Den. But maybe you - being so small - can slip through a ventilation duct.
Rygel: Look at me! Look at my stomachs! I'm not slipping through any ducts!
Crais: I am your Captain!
Rygel: You're not my captain!
Crais: THIS IS A DIRECT ORDER!
Rygel: Dream on!
Crais: IF YOU DON'T OBEY MY ORDERS-
Rygel: Yes - this mist isn't affecting you huh?
Crais: IF YOU DO NOT OBEY MY ORDERS RIGHT NOW AND GO INTO THE PILOT’S DEN AND FLUSH OUT THE BANIK I WILL SHOOT YOU AS A MUTINEER!
Rygel: As you wish. Crais - come here.
Crais: Why?
Rygel: Closer - this is a secret.
Crais: If you try anything...
Rygel: Closer- *as Crais leans in, Rygel bites his ear*
Crais: RYGEEEELLLLL!
*Mu-Quillus reveals himself as the ultimate bad guy*
Mu-Quillus: Let - her - go!
Stark: If we try again-
Mu-Quillus: Nothing will happen! Why do you think she never crossed over in the first place? What do you think is keeping her between the realms? Me! My power! You had your chance to escape! You might have saved your ship, your crew, your own life! But you returned!
Sierjna: You have me back Mu-Quillus. You can let them go!
Mu-Quillus: No. It is not for me to make that decision. My task is set. This ship will continue to the sun. Sierjna - come with me.
Stark: NO! NO!
Mu-Quillus: Sierjna...
Stark: DON'T DO IT!
Mu-Quillus: Oh you must... *they disappear together*
*Stark’s swan song*
Stark: Everyone - I'm sorry. Talyn is once more being drawn into the sun. The lure is stronger than ever and Talyn can't fight it and I can't stop him. So I suggest -- you prepare yourselves for peace. Because I have failed you. And we're all going to die.
*Aeryn confronts a deranged Crais…*
Aeryn: Crais! What are you-?
Crais: I CAN'T GET IN! TALYN WILL NOT COMPLY WITH MY ORDERS! And the drexim has obviously driven him INSANE!
Aeryn: Blast your way in.
Crais: *wide-eyed look to her* Yes! Give me your gun!
Aeryn: Perhaps - not.
Crais: DO NOT QUESTION MY DECISIONS! I AM YOUR CAPTAIN! AND I ORDER YOU!
*…and John confronts a deranged Stark*
John: ALL RIGHT PHANTOM! NEW TUNE FOR THE OPERA!
Stark: Sierjna's gone. I failed her. Failed Talyn. Failed Aeryn. Failed you Crichton.
John: YES - AND YOU HAVE FAILED GLORIOUSLY STARK! AND I WANT YOU - TO FAIL AGAIN! I WANT YOU TO GIVE ME CONTROL OF THE CONSOLES! I WANT YOU TO GIVE ME SOME CONTROL!
Stark: She came to me for help. Many do. But - I could have done more.
John: STARK! I - am coming to you for help! You are gonna give me control, OR I AM GONNA RIP OFF THE OTHER SIDE OF YOUR DAMN FACE!
Stark: There's nothing you can do Crichton. We are gonna be lured into that sun and we are all going to die inside there.
John: That's because the bastard - IS LURINING US IN STARK! OKAY? HE'S GOT BAIT - AND WE CAN CUT BAIT! WE GOT A MOTHER OF A CANNON! SO I WANT YOU TO GIVE ME BACK CONTROL! I WAS ZEROING IN ON THE DAMN POWER SOURCE WHEN YOU TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS!
Stark: You remember when we met?
John: You wanna take a trip down memory laaane? STA-ARK! MY SIDE! YOUR SIDE! MY SIDE! YOUR SIDE! MY SIDE! YOUR SIDE!
Stark: I tried to help you then, but I failed. Scorpius put a chip in your brain - I failed.
John: Stark - BLOW THE DAMN AURORA CHAIR! Let's talk about the good times, huuuuh? Do you remember Zhaan, Stark? *makes Zhaan’s ritual greeting motion with his hands* Let's talk about Zhaan.
Stark: I tried to help her - but I couldn't.
John: Well she would piss on your grave right now! YOU WANNA KNOW WHY?
Stark: My soulmate.
John: Because - Aeryn - is my Zhaan! She's my Zhaan in every way. I love her and I would die for her and you know what? Stark? You're killing her!
Stark: What? Me?
John: You're killing her you freakazoid psycho bastard! You are killing my Zhaan!
*no way the plot can’t sound dirty with these two :P*
John: Hi. I - got some control back - lemme show you.
Aeryn: I love it when you take control.
John: That's the drexim talking.
Aeryn: No it isn't. I can manually prime the cannon.
John: I'd love to see that.
Aeryn: Talyn’s cannon.
John: I'm stoked, not stupid. Do it.
*Aeryn blasts right through Stark’s confusion and pacifism*
Aeryn: Stark - are you still there?
Stark: You're just like Zhaan in so many ways.
Aeryn: If you say so. I am going to manually prime the main cannon. Crichton has located a target. Please prepare Talyn to fire.
Stark: Would Zhaan approve of this use of violence?
Aeryn: She's speaking through me now. It is her wish.
*Mu-Quillus is vanquished*
Mu-Quillus: Stop what you're doing!
John: Is there some kind of stupid alien quotation book you guys use?
Mu-Quillus: A deal between us can be brokered.
John: Lava Boy! You are losing!
Mu-Quillus: A compromise assures your survival.
John: Again with the quote book - hey - quote me on this - We're gonna blow up your fuse box!
Mu-Quillus: I will release my grip on your vessel.
Aeryn: And in return?
Mu-Quillus: Go awaaaay.
John: W-ow, he's gonna give us our freedom in exchange for his.
Mu-Quillus: Leave us to our own.
Aeryn: What about other Leviathan's you'll encounter?
Mu-Quillus: Why should that concern you?
Aeryn: That was the wrong answer.
*Stark gets the last laugh over Crais*
Crais: This apparatus was not designed for any species but a Pilot’s. What you did was beyond foolish Stark. Hold still.
Stark: You cut me!
Crais: You moved.
Stark: EE-YAW - GAWD! )
Crais: Talyn is now off limits to you. All functions, all programs, all controls.
Stark: I know.
Crais: You know nothing.
Stark: I know how he feels, what he thinks - about everything - about you.
Crais: Talyn was not of his right mind. Anything you think you experienced - *brandishes knife* - must take that into consideration.
Stark: I know. Even if you slit my throat - I will still know.
*Rygel’s ordeal also has him gaining new insight :P*
Aeryn: Most of Talyn’s internal systems are back on line and his drexim levels have returned to normal.
Rygel: I wish my levels were returning to normal.
Aeryn: Next commerce planet, you are restocking the galley - you ate everything.
Rygel: I never ever want to even look at food again.
*John can finally make good excuses for that sexual payoff :P*
John: Well I think that, uh - fates -- would have brought us together anyway. You know - Crais is gonna be cutting Stark free for about an arn. Rygel's gonna take at least that long - he's got 3 stomachs. *cue smoochie—and etc—time*
___
I also don’t remember being head over heels for the J/A PDA. :P I mean, I’m a shipper in the way that shipping J/A is like breathing on this show, but I didn’t need to see all the details. That saxophone was relentless, man.
The Scaper Chronicles, of course, like the J/A shippiness, but don’t like what they call the “framing story.” (Great terminology.) On first glance, it does sort of feel like that, in the midst of a lot of heady story arcs in this season alone, the writers decided to take a little break. :P They assumed that the J/A action would carry us along just fine for this hour.
And upon repeat watchings, I really have to give my props to Ben and Claudia, both of whom were certainly having fun. But even moreso to the writers for all of that sexual innuendo…which finally got a payoff. :D Frell, I can’t even type that without sounding dirty, hee.
But perhaps most poignantly, and this is a new development for yours truly, there is an intriguing mythological/fairy tale construct going on here. Maybe not enough to redeem the entire episode to the echelons of other recent ones, but intriguing nonetheless. I look forward to dissecting all of this under the cut.
Episode summary is here, courtesy of the John and Aeryn Fansite.
So the plot is…relatively straightforward. With the immediate threat of a Peacekeeper retrieval squad currently vanquished, the Talyn crew attempts to contact Moya. No such luck, leaving room for an off-the-track episode. Talyn literally goes “off the track,” and can’t stop himself from flying directly into a sun! Not with a lot of speed, it seems, and some occasional pulling back, because everyone doesn’t immediately fry. But some strange mist (Crais offers techno babble about why Talyn might be secreting it now) starts filling the corridors, and people are acting…mighty freaky. Or maybe just themselves, amplified. Rygel can’t stop eating. Crais goes on a paranoid power trip. And John and Aeryn, well…cue the saxophone. :P Stark, meanwhile, encounters Sierjna, the spirit of a woman whom the devil-like (in both make-up and personality) alien, Mu-quillus, has trapped to be his proverbial Rapunzel in a tower. Mu-quillus is also the bad guy who lures Leviathans into the sun for some ship building company that sees them as competition. Have to agree with the Scaper Chronicles a little bit…since Leviathans are biological beings, it’s a sort of strange correlation. And either way, it’s just an excuse for this week’s conundrum. :P Anywho, while the rest of the crew struggles to maintain their wits to get out of this, Stark bonds with Talyn in a suddenly-appearing Pilot’s den as an attempt to cross Sierjna over to the other side. There’s a little bit of dramatic tension, but not too much. Ultimately, Mu-quillus dies, Stark crosses Sierjna over, Crais calms down, Rygel is miraculously still alive after eating the entire galley, and John and Aeryn…well, actually, they stay about the same, mist or no mist. :P The ship has docked.
Lots and lots of fairytale/mythological motifs in here. There’s the nod to Icarus flying too close to the sun, but we will actually see that play out, metaphorically, again later in the season, so *zips lips!* Above, I mentioned Rapunzel; more broadly I’m thinking of the construct about where an evil man traps a young, innocent girl. Mostly so that she can be a damsel in distress for her knight/prince…aka Stark in this story, who can’t rescue her from the tower and take her back to the world of the living, but he can cross her over and give her peace. Bittersweet endings ftw! :P Mu-quillus also calls Sierjna a “siren star,” which refers to Greco-Roman mythology; these beautiful women who lived on the sea where known to sing sailors to their doom. Stark more or less falls into that doomed-sailor role as well, as at one point he forces Talyn back towards the sun so that he can save his siren. So yeah, maybe the writers put more effort into this episode than it first appears. (Also, it’s kinda clever—and humanizing—that Talyn naturally responds to stress with his own form of adrenaline, hee.) I’m not sure it’s enough to carry the whole hour, but if there’s one person who fits well into the world of mythology, it’s Stark. The ScaperChronicles might not like the lack of hard and fast “rules” about just what was going on here and how exactly everyone’s mystical powers worked, but…yeah. Beyond nitpicking the small stuff, the forest through the trees speaks to such themes as entrapment, heroics and redemption.
Stark clearly still has major issues about how Zhaan died. He couldn’t save her, not by talking her out of her suicidal mission, nor by crossing her over in the traditional sense of his powers. Sierjna is an obvious, and underwhelming in this capacity, substitute. I just don’t think anyone can replace Zhaan.; her relationship with Stark was too complicated to be so easily resolved. You know, I kind of hated how John and Aeryn played into this, too. I get that John was basically trying to do hostage negotiation by this point, but it’s so belittling, this “Aeryn is my Zhaan” dren. I mean first off, like with Sierjna, it kind of diminished Zhaan; she’s not here to be a straw dummy in your argument! :P Her life had worth in its own right. And Aeryn lying and saying that Zhaan was “speaking” to her…hilarious, but also hella cruel. :/ Secondly…I mean come on, John, after an episode of sex talk and physical gymnastics, it’s a little too saccharine to be talking about Aeryn this way. :P But on the other side of things…I’m not too thrilled with Talyn’s sudden Pilot’s den and Stark being able to take on that role. The symbiosis with a real Pilot is a little more intense than all of that, aurgh! I know…I’m taking all of this a bit too seriously. And I do like how this experience apparently gave Stark insight into Crais and Talyn’s relationship, heh. He has one to hold over the good Captain now.
The good Captain has some layers going on in this episode, too. We start out back on the Degobah planet where he supposedly frees Xhalax and sells everyone out except for Aeryn…then he looks into the camera, breaks that fourth wall; it turns out that this was a melodramatic plot construct, borne out of Jon’s continued mistrust for the man. But there’s no denying in the real episode…there’s something still power hungry about Crais. He may not be gunning to be a Peacekeeper again, but he sure hates being out of control. Lani gives a great performance of Crais slowly losing it. He’s also briefly detached from Talyn, which at this point in their dangerously codependent relationship, can’t be healthy to rip off so quickly. Though perhaps we stray into the land of the goofy, when things don’t come to worse blows between him and Rygel over his attack. Crais is obsessed with Stark’s “mutiny,” but he basically just has a temper tantrum when the dominar bites him. :P Poor Ryg, really. Gotta agree with the ScapeCast; he’s just comic relief here. All he does is eat and whine about eating…other than apparently grabbing a bigger puppet, there’s nothing too noteworthy about it. Maybe the fact that the poor guy doesn’t implode after eating the entire galley, hee. And of course he can’t see Sierjna, but that is to be expected. Over all, perhaps a little disappointing on the character level.
Probably the two folks who come closest to real character development are John and Aeryn, but even that’s a bit of a stretch. Sure, they aere more amorous than they ever have been, but they’ve been moving in that direction anyway, especially in “Relativity”. The mist enhances things, and they get to share some incredibly sultry moments. *fans self* I’d describe them all here, but really, there’s so much cleverness in the dialogue that I might as well wait for the next section. Meanwhile, even when their sex talk is muted, they are still pretty damn handsy with each other. There’s one scene where they and Crais have their guns pointed at Mu-quillus, but by the time the alien leaves, the couple are all over each other; hands roving each other’s waists rather than their own guns. :P Dammit, it all sounds so dirty! So I’ll quickly move on and point out that John does have a mini-epiphany—he dislikes “god-like aliens” even more than he dislikes critters. :o Quite the large gauntlet to throw! And Aeryn, meanwhile, is apparently getting proficient at tech work. Quite a step sideways from where she was in season one, as John notes. But that about covers in with regards to significant character beats for these two. Maybe it’s worth noting that even once the mist is gone at the end, they’re apparently still cool with getting all-the-way freaky in the command room. :o Take us to black, saxophone! :P
I don’t think I’ve ever done this for a “Farscape” episode, but alas, there isn’t too much meat on this proverbial bone, so I have to scavenge some. Time for some behind the scenes highlights, courtesy of the show’s special wiki! Mu-Quillus’s costume included LED lights in the fingers and more lights in the head “to simulate gas fires and give off a glowing effect.” Kinda sounds like the trickery they used with the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 “Wizard of Oz” movie! But apparently the actor, Mark Mitchell, had a tendency of falling asleep in the makeup chair, so I guess the transformation wasn’t too exciting. :P They shot Talyn’s den on the set of Moya’s Pilot’s den, unsurprisingly, just with a little set decoration (and a missing Pilot) to make it look different. Apparently, the Stark/Talyn “bonding” scene with the tendrils was actually backwards; Paul Goddard had the tendrils pulled off of him, and the film was later reversed. Finally, we all may love our J/A PDA, but according to Claudia, she and Ben practiced making out so much that the crew went for coffee breaks instead of watching it. :P I guess that even the most cherished ships have an “overkill” button, hee.
Favorite Crichtonism: God-like aliens! Man do I hate god-like aliens! I'll trade a critter for a god-like alien any day!
Favorite Quotes:
*our magical realist opening to the episode*
Crais: XHALAX!
Xhalax: Go on - do it!
Crais: Believe me - nothing would give me greater pleasure. But - I kill you - and another retrieval squad will already be on its way.
Xhalax: Unless - I report you terminated, in which case you free me here and now and - you disappear forever.
Crais: You forget who is in charge here. I'll tell you what's going to happen. You go back to High Command. You tell them I can deliver Talyn and Moya. They can have the escaped prisoners. They can even have Crichton - if they want.
Xhalax: And in return?
Crais: Two things - I want Aeryn.
Xhalax: Oh Crais! You're so predictable!
Crais: I want Aeryn! And I want to be a Peacekeeper again! *breaks the fourth wall by chuckling and looking up at us as the audience—and John* Is that what you think? Is that what you think happened Crichton?
*at least he gets a good Crichtonism in there :P*
Crais: You know the truth. You know I'll never again be a Peacekeeper.
John: Never say never again 007. That's all I know.
*this hour’s plot reveals itself*
Rygel: What the frell?
Crais: Talyn has pulled away. Saved us.
Rygel: And we're supposed to be grateful?
Crais: He's now orbiting the sun. His shields are holding but - there are parts of Talyn I can't see or feel.
John: We're gonna have to do a manual survey for damage.
Aeryn: All right. Crais - you should stay up here in this section. The rest of us will divide up the ship amongst us.
*a perfunctory work talk turns into something subtly more sexy…*
John: You know, Talyn has got a hog of a power plant - but he's got a piss-poor electrical system. He sneezes and half of his circuits fry.
Aeryn: He hasn't fully healed from the retrieval squad attack.
John: Yeah I know that. I still say he could use some heavy-duty wiring. *unbeknownst, mist starts seeping in…*
Aeryn: He's still young. He's going to get much stronger as he develops.
John: Not if he flies into any more stars he won't. How big is he gonna get anyway? Is he gonna be Moya’s size?
Aeryn: Well Crais seems to think so.
John: *as circuit shorts in his fingers* Damn!
Aeryn: Here. *takes his hand in hers and administers a rather long-lasting suck to his wound* Be careful.
John: Yeah...
*the flirtation slowly gets more heady*
John: You know for somebody who used to look down their nose at tech work - you're pretty damn good at this.
Aeryn: Well perhaps people can change.
John: Well at least some people are smilin' around here these days.
Aeryn: Yeah I know. It suits your face.
John: I was talkin' about you.
Aeryn: Me? I'm not smiling.
John: Yes you are.
Aeryn: *chuckling, smiling* Pay attention to your work.
John: Right. Focus on the work. *lays a hand on her thigh as he works*
Aeryn: And don't do that.
John: I'm workin' here! Stop distracting me.
Aeryn: I'm distracting you?
John: Yes. You are always distracting me.
Aeryn: Well then you are easily distracted.
John: No I'm not.
Aeryn: Yes you are.
John: I'm not.
Aeryn: Oh really? *rises to work on a higher piece of circuitry, her nearly bare midriff now in John’s face*
John: Okay that's a little distracting.
Aeryn: And it's something I did?
John: Could be.
Aeryn: What? Something like - *classic “drops tool, bends over to retrieve it” gag* - this?
John: *shoving her bum playfully* You said - pay attention to the work.
Aeryn: *grinning and seductive* You're right. I'm sorry. I won't distract you any further.
John: *crosses to her, running fingers over her belly* You - have problem here?
Aeryn: No I don't have a problem.
John: No? *moving closer, hands going around each other* You're not distracted? *give in to a hard kiss for a bit*
Aeryn: Mmwhat are we doing?
John: Better question - Why now?
*Crais explains the mist, John makes a “Crackers Don’t Matter” reference, and Aeryn comes up with a convenient plot complication*
Crais: Drexim. A synaptic fluid naturally occurring in Talyn’s conduits.
John: Uh-huh. Why is it steaming from the walls?
Crais: When it becomes acidic, it can erode the seals joining the conduits.
John: That is a beautiful design Crais. Tell me - i-is this stuff affecting you?
Crais: No. But it seems to have made Rygel permanently hungry. Has it been affecting you? Or Aeryn?
John: What exactly does it do to Talyn?
Crais: When he's in danger, it increases the stimulus. Increasing his response rates.
John: All right - so it's like adrenaline. *Crais is confused* Adrenaline - in humans when we get in a tight spot, makes us fight - *play boxing* - and uh - *boogey-ing movement* - do other things. It's not gonna affect us the same way is it?
Crais: Quite possibly. But the effects should be manageable.
John: Should - be manageable? Look, Crais, before ah - we all go crackers - *slight aside to Aeryn* Hey baby, how you doin'? *back on track* - maybe we should get some space suits, masks or something?
Aeryn: Already thought of that. We're too late. The drexim's reached the suits and it's made all the seals dissolve.
*introduction to Sierjna*
Sierjna: You can see me! I am Sierjna.
Stark: This room... this room - I haven't seen this room before.
Sierjna: But you can see me? And hear me?
Stark: Yes of course I can. You're there in front of me.
Sierjna: I am? Full formed? Visible? *spiritual word of thanks* Savasina! You can help me!
Stark: Wh-What? What do you want? This room, this room, this room...
Sierjna: I seek the Pilot.
Stark: I've never seen this room before.
Sierjna: I may say the same about this ship. In part, it appears Leviathan and yet - not.
Stark: This ship is Talyn. It is a hybrid. It is part Leviathan, part gunship.
Sierjna: Then where is the Pilot? He should be here.
Stark: There is no Pilot. There has never been a Pilot.
Sierjna: There is always a Pilot. But - never one who could see, hear - *demonstrates by putting his hands on her chest* - feel me! Until now.
Stark: How did you get on board this ship?
Sierjna: I-I kanished. You were in my zone.
Stark: In your zone? I don't understand. How did you get on board this ship?
Sierjna: Cycles ago, I came from Delfarion. One microt I was on my ship - and then not! I'm trapped outside my world for so long trying to get back! But I float here unable to free myself! I board a Leviathan, then another, then another. Only to find myself unseen, unheard, by all aboard! Until now - where at last I am given form. Finally I find those who can help me! Please! Only you can save me!
*John suggests Crichtonisms to aid Talyn*
Crais: As I suspected - Talyn is overproducing drexim due to the stress he's under. The radiation pulses are still compelling him to move towards the sun.
Aeryn: He is resisting - barely. We're maintaining orbit and we're not getting any closer.
John: We're not getting any further away either. How do we pry this boy loose? Can we stick cotton in his ears?
Aeryn: Crais is there a way to filter out these pulses?
Crais: His shields are linked to his sensors to inform him of ambient conditions.
John: So cut the link.
Crais: That would blind him.
John: Get him some sunglasses - blue blockers!
*Mu-Quillus introduction, and Crais starts to lose it*
Mu-Quillus: I want to help you
John: They all say that.
Mu-Quillus: This unusual vessel - is it - a Leviathan?
John: Who wants to know?
Mu-Quillus: I am Mu-Quillus. You are in great danger. If this is a Leviathan - you must abandon ship immediately.
Aeryn: Why?
Mu-Quillus: Your ship has been caught by a siren star. Inevitably it will succumb. Like the 83 Leviathans that have already died here.
Aeryn: So this sun has claimed over 80 Leviathans?
Mu-Quillus: Yes. Please - get to your lifepods while you still can. I don't understand how this vessel has lasted this long.
Crais: Talyn is a hybrid Leviathan, built for combat, with much tougher shielding.
Mu-Quillus: And weapons I see. Who built it?
John: How about you tell us first - how did you get here? You just beamed in?
Mu-Quillus: I transmuted. I'm something of a hybrid myself. Able to switch between a matter, and an energy state. That's how I can exist in the stars corona.
Aeryn: So you live here?
Mu-Quillus: I find the unusual spectrum of the siren star quite - pleasing.
John: Or maybe you just like watching Leviathans dive in and burn up.
Crais: Perhaps you cause them to do so.
Mu-Quillus: The siren stars pulse radiation is a perfectly natural phenomenon. It's not my fault that it attracts Leviathans to it. I tried to warn them, as I'm warning you. But until now - they have always perished before I could do so.
Crais: I don't believe you.
Mu-Quillus: How severely damaged are you? How closely did you approach before it pulled away?
Crais: And I don't like all these questions. Leave the ship.
Mu-Quillus: I'm only trying to help.
Crais: GET OFF THE SHIP NOW!
*Sierjna gives another angle on Mu-Quillus and learns the distressing reality of her situation*
Sierjna: We must fly away - quickly! Before he discovers I am here.
Stark: Who?
Sierjna: Mu-Quillus, my savior - my captor!
Stark: A being like yourself?
Sierjna: No not like me - another species. He inhabited this star before I came. When my Leviathan perished, he kept me from dying. He claims that he saw me and had to save me. He says that he's in love with me - but I don't love him and I never will! He murdered my ship and all it's passengers!
Stark: *shocked* He did that?
Sierjna: He's still doing it! That's why he's here! To lure Leviathans to their doom!
Stark: Why?
Sierjna: He was contracted to - by the Prahtikrah - a race of shipbuilders who see Leviathans as competition. The more Leviathans disappear-
Stark: - the more ships they can sell!
Sierjna: Yes!
Stark: That's monstrous! *activates his comms* Crais! Crais - Talyn is being lured into the sun by-
Crais: By a creature named Mu-Quillus. I KNOW THAT STARK! WHAT I NEED TO KNOW IS HOW TO BREAK FREE!
Sierjna: I don't know. I don't know how he's doing it!
Stark: *to Crais* Sorry I can't help you.
Sierjna: We must break away! You don't know what it's like! To-to be trapped forever in the light of the sun! Not to be able to feel! To touch! Your only companion a monster! Take me away from him! I want to walk on a planet again! I want to breathe its air! I want to drink its cool water! Give me back my life!
Stark: I can't. You've already passed beyond life. Sierjna - you perished with your shipmates. Mu-Quillus trapped your soul between realms.
Sierjna: I'm - dead? *Stark nods* Oh no - no that's not true! I-you can see me! You can touch me!
Stark: Sierjna - I am a Stykera with certain talents. I can help you cross over to the next level.
Sierjna: To death? No. No I'm alive! I'm here! I'm real again!
Stark: You can never be real again in the way you wish. I can only - release you.
Sierjna: I don't believe it. You, this ship - y-you brought me back. I'm whole again! I won't give that up!
*saxophone mist*
John: Yeah! Right! Focus! Eyes on the task. Remember the mist. The mist is not your friend.
Aeryn: Right. Bad mist.
John: Naughty mist.
Aeryn: OOh.
*Stark proves that a severely overstuffed Rygel can’t see Sierjna, meaning that she’s dead*
Stark: I - we - just wanted to know-
Rygel: "We"? What are you talking about? Have you gone totally fahrbot? Who's "we"?
Stark: *to Sierjna* You see? It is as I said. I am the only one who can see you.
Rygel: Staaaark! I'm too sick to witness one of your hallucinations!
Sierjna: That can't be true! That- *implores Rygel* Sir! Noble sir-!
Stark: Sierjna, don't. He can't hear you! He can't see you!
Rygel: Mm - yes, but I can see you, you crazy nitnik! Who you talking to?
Stark: Only I can see you. Only I can hear you. Only me. I will take care of you. I promise.
Rygel: *watches Stark presumably escort an imaginary friend out* Right. That's done it. He's gone. He's totally -*farting galore* - insaaane...
*finishing quickly :P*
John: The mist, the mist, resist the mist. Resist the mist. *to Aeryn, over his work* Are you done?
Aeryn: I'm almost done. I'm really close.
John: Close?
Aeryn: Nearly there!
John: God, I love you.
Aeryn: I love you too.
John: Tell me when you're done.
Aeryn: I'm - nearly done.
John: Tell me when you're finishing. *Aeryn moans* Yah? Yes?
Aeryn: Almost!
John: Yah?
Aeryn: Last one! Finished! *throws down tools before crashing into John for a makeout session* Frell!
John: *breathless* Yeah.
Aeryn: No! Nono! I mean bad frell!
John: Mr Sun still wants Talyn!
*uh oh, someone has the dreaded PLAN… :P*
Sierjna: I know that sound! He's luring your ship back to the sun!
Stark: No...
Sierjna: You'll be killed! All of you! I've seen it before! Over and over!
Stark: Sierjna!
Sierjna: Every time! Mu-Quillus was right. He's all I have! I'm going to be trapped with him forever!
Stark: Listen to me! I won't let that happen! I have a plan!
Sierjna: A plan?
Stark: Yeah! Come on.
*John catches on to the bad guy*
John: The Pied Piper's found a new tune.
Crais: Explain.
John: 'Natural phenomenon' my ass! Mu-Quillus is generating these pulses!
Crais: How?
John: Aah - orbiting boom box! He's ah - whistling out his butt! How in the hell should I know? The point is - we gotta find the source, and w-we gotta squish it. I'm on scan.
*Stark gets delusions of grandeur after bonding with Talyn*
John: Talyn is turning.
Crais: How?
Stark: *via comms* EVERYONE! WE'RE SAVED! WE'VE DONE IT!
Aeryn: Who has done what?
Stark: TALYN AND I! WE'VE ESCAPED FROM THE SUN! AND WE'VE SAVED SIERJNA FROM MU-QUILLUS! *but she’s gone!* Sierjna? Sie-? Sierjna? Oh no! We must have gone too far! She-she couldn't stay with us!
John: STARK WHAT IN THE LIVING HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
Stark: We must - go back! Must find her!
Aeryn: He's turning again.
Crais: Stark? Are you controlling Talyn?
Stark: Yes, yes. I must, I must, I must...
John: YO ASTRO! CALM DOWN AND TELL ME WHAT - THE HELL - IS GOIN' - ON?
Stark: It's very, very simple. I AM NOW TALYNS PILOT! AND WE ARE FLYING BACK INTO THE SUN!
*amidst trying to negotiate with Stark*
Aeryn: You okay?
John: Yeah. Yah - I'm - I'm all right. Thanks for watchin' my backside.
Aeryn: Couldn't help myself.
*turning into a repeating porno plot*
John: Right. We have, uh - all the time in the world. No need to rush. *she straddles his lap, face to face* You comfortable? *running hands all over each other* Aeryn - this is the mist talkin'.
Aeryn: I like what it's saying.
John: So do I - but we gotta... We gotta focus.
Aeryn: *flick eyes down corridor* I'm doing my job. Corridor is all clear.
John: So it's just you and me...
Aeryn: *whisper repeats* Just you and me.
*Stark attempts to have his hero’s moment*
Stark: SIERJNA!
Sierjna: But you got away! You were free!
Stark: I came back for you!
Sierjna: No. No you're risking everything!
Stark: Nothing else matters! I told you I would save you, and I will! Even if it takes my own life!
Sierjna: Stark!
Stark: I will take you - I will walk you to the other side. Do you trust me?
Sierjna: Mu-Quillus will kill you!
Stark: DO YOU TRUST ME?
Sierjna: *after a pause* Yes.
Stark: Are you ready?
Sierjna: I'm frightened.
Stark: Don't be frightened. No need. Come closer. *takes her palms*
Sierjna: I'm ready. Thank you.
Stark: Nava hajma, nava heerma, ehkittin raiss...
Sierjna: I will find you in the next life. *lifts his mask, but…*
Stark: You're still here.
Sierjna: I have neither moved - nor changed.
Stark: It's not working. Why is it not working?
*Crais’s stern captain role goes awry*
Crais: Are you still eating?
Rygel: *moaning* Oh, stop me Crais. Make me stop! Shoot me! Do something, please! AAargGHh - Here! Here! Tie my hands! Yes!
Crais: I need your help.
Rygel: No! Nononono! Tie my hands now or I'm going to explode! OoOooHhHh - this is all your fault! This is your gunship! Peacekeepers designed it and you can't control it!
Crais: *puts gun at Rygel’s stomachs* I can control you now!
Rygel: You press that into me and I'm going to vomit all over you!
Crais: Stark is a mutineer!
Rygel: He's also out of his frelling mind. Came in here and had a conversation with that wall!
Crais: Must be the mist making him see things. Rygel, Stark has taken control of Talyn. He must be flushed out so I can take back command.
Rygel: Well go ahead.
Crais: I need your help! Slug!
Rygel: Please let me eat that little piece! Please!
Crais: Now you listen to me! Talyn has sealed all the entrances to his Den. But maybe you - being so small - can slip through a ventilation duct.
Rygel: Look at me! Look at my stomachs! I'm not slipping through any ducts!
Crais: I am your Captain!
Rygel: You're not my captain!
Crais: THIS IS A DIRECT ORDER!
Rygel: Dream on!
Crais: IF YOU DON'T OBEY MY ORDERS-
Rygel: Yes - this mist isn't affecting you huh?
Crais: IF YOU DO NOT OBEY MY ORDERS RIGHT NOW AND GO INTO THE PILOT’S DEN AND FLUSH OUT THE BANIK I WILL SHOOT YOU AS A MUTINEER!
Rygel: As you wish. Crais - come here.
Crais: Why?
Rygel: Closer - this is a secret.
Crais: If you try anything...
Rygel: Closer- *as Crais leans in, Rygel bites his ear*
Crais: RYGEEEELLLLL!
*Mu-Quillus reveals himself as the ultimate bad guy*
Mu-Quillus: Let - her - go!
Stark: If we try again-
Mu-Quillus: Nothing will happen! Why do you think she never crossed over in the first place? What do you think is keeping her between the realms? Me! My power! You had your chance to escape! You might have saved your ship, your crew, your own life! But you returned!
Sierjna: You have me back Mu-Quillus. You can let them go!
Mu-Quillus: No. It is not for me to make that decision. My task is set. This ship will continue to the sun. Sierjna - come with me.
Stark: NO! NO!
Mu-Quillus: Sierjna...
Stark: DON'T DO IT!
Mu-Quillus: Oh you must... *they disappear together*
*Stark’s swan song*
Stark: Everyone - I'm sorry. Talyn is once more being drawn into the sun. The lure is stronger than ever and Talyn can't fight it and I can't stop him. So I suggest -- you prepare yourselves for peace. Because I have failed you. And we're all going to die.
*Aeryn confronts a deranged Crais…*
Aeryn: Crais! What are you-?
Crais: I CAN'T GET IN! TALYN WILL NOT COMPLY WITH MY ORDERS! And the drexim has obviously driven him INSANE!
Aeryn: Blast your way in.
Crais: *wide-eyed look to her* Yes! Give me your gun!
Aeryn: Perhaps - not.
Crais: DO NOT QUESTION MY DECISIONS! I AM YOUR CAPTAIN! AND I ORDER YOU!
*…and John confronts a deranged Stark*
John: ALL RIGHT PHANTOM! NEW TUNE FOR THE OPERA!
Stark: Sierjna's gone. I failed her. Failed Talyn. Failed Aeryn. Failed you Crichton.
John: YES - AND YOU HAVE FAILED GLORIOUSLY STARK! AND I WANT YOU - TO FAIL AGAIN! I WANT YOU TO GIVE ME CONTROL OF THE CONSOLES! I WANT YOU TO GIVE ME SOME CONTROL!
Stark: She came to me for help. Many do. But - I could have done more.
John: STARK! I - am coming to you for help! You are gonna give me control, OR I AM GONNA RIP OFF THE OTHER SIDE OF YOUR DAMN FACE!
Stark: There's nothing you can do Crichton. We are gonna be lured into that sun and we are all going to die inside there.
John: That's because the bastard - IS LURINING US IN STARK! OKAY? HE'S GOT BAIT - AND WE CAN CUT BAIT! WE GOT A MOTHER OF A CANNON! SO I WANT YOU TO GIVE ME BACK CONTROL! I WAS ZEROING IN ON THE DAMN POWER SOURCE WHEN YOU TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS!
Stark: You remember when we met?
John: You wanna take a trip down memory laaane? STA-ARK! MY SIDE! YOUR SIDE! MY SIDE! YOUR SIDE! MY SIDE! YOUR SIDE!
Stark: I tried to help you then, but I failed. Scorpius put a chip in your brain - I failed.
John: Stark - BLOW THE DAMN AURORA CHAIR! Let's talk about the good times, huuuuh? Do you remember Zhaan, Stark? *makes Zhaan’s ritual greeting motion with his hands* Let's talk about Zhaan.
Stark: I tried to help her - but I couldn't.
John: Well she would piss on your grave right now! YOU WANNA KNOW WHY?
Stark: My soulmate.
John: Because - Aeryn - is my Zhaan! She's my Zhaan in every way. I love her and I would die for her and you know what? Stark? You're killing her!
Stark: What? Me?
John: You're killing her you freakazoid psycho bastard! You are killing my Zhaan!
*no way the plot can’t sound dirty with these two :P*
John: Hi. I - got some control back - lemme show you.
Aeryn: I love it when you take control.
John: That's the drexim talking.
Aeryn: No it isn't. I can manually prime the cannon.
John: I'd love to see that.
Aeryn: Talyn’s cannon.
John: I'm stoked, not stupid. Do it.
*Aeryn blasts right through Stark’s confusion and pacifism*
Aeryn: Stark - are you still there?
Stark: You're just like Zhaan in so many ways.
Aeryn: If you say so. I am going to manually prime the main cannon. Crichton has located a target. Please prepare Talyn to fire.
Stark: Would Zhaan approve of this use of violence?
Aeryn: She's speaking through me now. It is her wish.
*Mu-Quillus is vanquished*
Mu-Quillus: Stop what you're doing!
John: Is there some kind of stupid alien quotation book you guys use?
Mu-Quillus: A deal between us can be brokered.
John: Lava Boy! You are losing!
Mu-Quillus: A compromise assures your survival.
John: Again with the quote book - hey - quote me on this - We're gonna blow up your fuse box!
Mu-Quillus: I will release my grip on your vessel.
Aeryn: And in return?
Mu-Quillus: Go awaaaay.
John: W-ow, he's gonna give us our freedom in exchange for his.
Mu-Quillus: Leave us to our own.
Aeryn: What about other Leviathan's you'll encounter?
Mu-Quillus: Why should that concern you?
Aeryn: That was the wrong answer.
*Stark gets the last laugh over Crais*
Crais: This apparatus was not designed for any species but a Pilot’s. What you did was beyond foolish Stark. Hold still.
Stark: You cut me!
Crais: You moved.
Stark: EE-YAW - GAWD! )
Crais: Talyn is now off limits to you. All functions, all programs, all controls.
Stark: I know.
Crais: You know nothing.
Stark: I know how he feels, what he thinks - about everything - about you.
Crais: Talyn was not of his right mind. Anything you think you experienced - *brandishes knife* - must take that into consideration.
Stark: I know. Even if you slit my throat - I will still know.
*Rygel’s ordeal also has him gaining new insight :P*
Aeryn: Most of Talyn’s internal systems are back on line and his drexim levels have returned to normal.
Rygel: I wish my levels were returning to normal.
Aeryn: Next commerce planet, you are restocking the galley - you ate everything.
Rygel: I never ever want to even look at food again.
*John can finally make good excuses for that sexual payoff :P*
John: Well I think that, uh - fates -- would have brought us together anyway. You know - Crais is gonna be cutting Stark free for about an arn. Rygel's gonna take at least that long - he's got 3 stomachs. *cue smoochie—and etc—time*
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