Moya drifts in a hazy yellow mist. John stares into it, with a concerned and almost sad look on his face. Dargo walks up beside him.

D’ARGO: Anything?

JOHN: Nothing. [takes a cup from Dargo] Thanks. No sign of her on any of Moya’s senses. Of course, we can’t see more than three hundred metras in this stuff, it’s thicker than pea soup.

PILOT: [on comm] Crichton, Moya’s never traveled in a stellar mist as compressed as this. I’m having trouble accelerating and navigating. Perhaps Aeryn’s experiencing similar difficulties out there, in the transport pod.

D’ARGO: Let’s hope that’s all it is, Pilot.

Zhaan walks onto the command. She sees Stark.

ZHAAN: Stark? Stark, is that you? I never thought we’d see you, again. I was meditating. When did you come aboard?

STARK: Almost two solar days ago, I finally returned the transport pod you lent me after we escaped from the Gammak Base. I’m glad you woke. I must talk to you privately, I have something important to tell you.

RYGEL: Oh. What are you doing out here, Zhaan? I thought you were locked in your chamber, meditating.

ZHAAN: I was, but...I woke early from my time with the Goddess.

Zhaan walks over to John and Dargo.

D’ARGO: [to Zhaan] Aeryn went out into that, and we haven’t heard from her since. Perhaps you sensed the danger, and that’s what woke you.

ZHAAN: [to John] How long she been gone? ZHAAN: No signal from her?

JOHN: Nothing.

Just at that moment, there is some squalling from the comms and Aeryn’s voice.

AERYN: Moya, is that you?

D’ARGO: Aeryn.

JOHN: Aeryn?!

D’ARGO: Where in the hezmana have you been?

AERYN: D’argo, I’ll come on board now, if that’s alright.

JOHN: Sh-yea-hea, we’ve been lookin’ for ya. Aeryn? Aeryn?! Pilot, I’ve lost the transmission!

PILOT: I’ve locked on her position, but...some kind of opening is forming in the mist. I can see a planet, below us, now.

John looks confused.

Outside, the mist swirls all around Moya. The transport pod forms out of it and enters the docking bay. The crew looks on, a little unsure, as the docking doors open. The transport pod is well-worn from its journey. Much more so than it should be. The stairs on the pod come down.

RYGEL: What did Aeryn do to it?

CHIANA: Frell.

RYGEL: Looks like she’s been in some kind of...battle.

CHIANA: I told you. I told you she shouldn’t have gone out into the mist.

D’ARGO: Why isn’t she coming out?

JOHN: D’argo.

John holds up his hand, and D’argo tosses him a weapon. John runs into the pod. Zhaan and Dargo following quickly, behind. When they get inside, there is plant life all over.

JOHN: Whoa! What the hell?

ZHAAN: This is Zeckam leaf.

JOHN: Yeah, so?

ZHAAN: I gave her in a plant before - before I started my meditation. She said she was suffering from head pains. Chewing Zeckam leaf provides a potent neuralgesic affect.

JOHN: You don’t think maybe this is overkill for a headache?

ZHAAN: Well - no - no, the plant I gave her, was this tiny [holding up her hands just a few inches tall]

JOHN: [whispers] Blue! Over here!

John ducks through the plants. Someone (Aeryn) is laying face-down, on the floor. He pokes the body with his gun.

JOHN: Hey.

The person turns around. She is old.

AERYN: John!

She gabs him by the shoulders and begins shaking him. He looks very confused.

AERYN: John, you have to get out of here, you have to get out, now.

Aeryn in the medical bay with John and Zhaan.

AERYN: How long - how - how - how long have I been here?

JOHN: Not long, maybe an arn.

AERYN: An arn?

JOHN: Yes.

AERYN: Th-the mist, the opening, it-it goes. I have to go back to the planet, my Granddaughter’s waiting for me. Ennix can’t survive without my transport pod!

John tries to calm her as she’s ranting.

JOHN: Just - just sit back now. Aeryn. Aeryn! Shh!

AERYN: There’s no other way off the planet. No...I ju - no! I only came back to warn you to get out of the mist as soon as possible while you still can!

JOHN: Aeryn! Aeryn! No! Stop it, stop it! You cannot have a family...a granddaughter. You’ve only been gone for one solar day!

AERYN: One day?

JOHN: Yes. Look, you’re wearing the locket. The locket that Chiana gave you. That one that says “Sorry I smashed your Prowler”. The one she stole from the last commerce planet we were on.

AERYN: She stole it?

JOHN: Yes.

AERYN: She told me bought it.

JOHN: Well, that’s Chi.

AERYN: Look. If I’ve only been gone one solar day, then why am I so old? Why, oh, why - why - why everything I’ve lived, my memories, everything?

JOHN: Aeryn. Aeryn. Aeryn! We don’t know. We’re tryin’ to find that out. Look. Maybe. Maybe your mind created the memories to compensate for your body getting old.

AERYN: Look at you.

Aeryn strokes John’s cheek.

AERYN: I had forgotten how beautiful you are. [pause] You’re so young. [pause] I’ve also forgotten how wrong you can be. If I’ve only been away one solar day, how did this locket here, get so old.

JOHN: Aeryn, it’s an antique locket!

AERYN: I don’t care what any of you say, I have lived for a hundred and sixty five cycles, I have had three sons and watched them die! And I have a granddaughter -

ZHAAN: [cuts in] Aeryn, stop!

AERYN: Who will die if I don’t get to her!

JOHN: Aeryn! Aeryn! No, Aeryn!

John lays her down on the table, as she struggles and cries. Stark rushes over.

STARK: May I?

ZHAAN: Please.

JOHN: Aeryn, Aeryn, no, stop it! No, Aeryn, stop it!

AERYN: No! Ple-ee-ase!

JOHN: No, no!

AERYN: Get your hands away from me!!

Stark takes off his mask hand hovers his hand above Aeryn’s forehead. She relaxes slightly, but continues to sob.

STARK: There. Take my thoughts. There. [long pause] Can you feel it?

JOHN: [to Aeryn]: Shhhhhhh.

Aeryn seems to fully relax. John touches Stark’s arm briefly.

JOHN: [softly, to Stark]: Thank you. Zhaan.

John gets up. He and Zhaan walk away slightly and talk.

JOHN: [softly] Do you have any idea what’s happened to her?

ZHAAN: [softly] Not as yet. I know it is Aeryn. Same DNA, same blood composition, same scars. By my best calculations, she has aged one hundred and sixty cycles!

JOHN: [softly] In one day?

ZHAAN: [softly] I’ve heard of rapid aging, but nothing this fast.

JOHN: Is it reversible?

ZHAAN: It’s unlikely.

John and Chiana are in the dining room.

JOHN: [to comm]: Pilot.

PILOT: Yes?

JOHN: You got anything yet?

PILOT: I’ve been analyzing the stellar mist. It seems to be contracting more, but Moya senses don’t find any toxins in it, that migt’ve caused Aeryn to age like this.

JOHN: Have you analyzed the planet?

PILOT: Yes. It’s atmosphere is acidic and barely life sustainable.

JOHN: Could Aeryn have survived there for a hundred and sixty cycles?

PILOT: No. She wouldn’t have survived one.

Transport pod. Chiana and Rygel enter.

CHIANA: Would you look this frelling place?

RYGEL: Fascinating. What are we doing here?!

CHIANA: Well, we’re just seeing if Aeryn came back with anything.

RYGEL: But why? She’s only been gone a solar day. You don’t believe that other yotz, do ya?

CHIANA: No, but she still mighta’ come back with something...interesting.

RYGEL: Are you gonna steal it?

CHIANA: Of course not!

RYGEL: [laughs] You’re worse than me! I like that! [laughs]

Dargo sneaks on board. Chiana sees him and hides.

D’ARGO: What are you doing in here?!

RYGEL: [laughing] Nothing. We’re - looking for clues to see if we can find out how this terrible, terrible thing happened to Aeryn.

Dargo reaches over and pinches Rygel’s mouth shut, with his hand.

D’ARGO: Chiana.

Chiana peeks out from amongst the leaves.

CHIANA: Yeah?

D’ARGO: There’s no dignity in what you are doing. Zhaan would like someone to look after Aeryn. Would you do that, please?

CHIANA: Well, you know Aeryn. Why don’t you watch her?

D’ARGO: Chiana.

CHIANA: Awww, frell!! I don’t see why it’s always gotta’ be me! I mean, why do you always get the girl -

D’ARGO: [cuts in] Just do it!! [pause] She may be dying.

Chiana sits by Aeryn’s side. She looks her over and strokes her hair. Aeryn coughs and comes awake.

CHIANA: Hey. I didn’t mean to wake you.

AERYN: Chiana. [coughs] Would you help me sit up?

CHIANA: Sure.

Chiana helps her up, as she continues to cough.

CHIANA: That ok?

AERYN: Mm hm. There’s some water over there.

As Chiana turns to get it, Aeryn sticks her in the neck with a sort of hypo-spray needle. Chiana gasps and begins to shudder.

AERYN: Shh! I’m sorry! Don’t make a sound. No, no, no. Shh!

Aeryn lays Chiana back as the injection takes affect.

AERYN: I’m sorry, Chiana. That’s it. That’s it. I’m sorry. It’s just I don’t have much time...and neither do you. Shh.

Pilot’s den.

PILOT: Aeryn. What...happened to you?

AERYN: I lived, Pilot. If you don’t believe me, you still must convince the others to stay out of the mist. I'm glad I got a chance to see you one last time, my friend.

PILOT: What do you mean? I’ll see you...again.

AERYN: No you won’t. Goodbye.

Aeryn turns, and leaves. Pilots breathes in deeply, in shock.

Aeryn’s transport pod leaves the ship.

D’argo walks onto command. John is sitting there.

D’ARGO: Pilot, you let her leave?!

PILOT: She asked me not to alert you. You’re all free to come and go.

JOHN: Are you certain this mist is harmless?

PILOT: It seems to be, yes.

JOHN: And if I go down to the planet, I’m not going to age two hundred cycles, right?

PILOT: Moya has not sensed anything on the planet to cause the accelerated aging we observed in Aeryn.

John begins walking off.

D’ARGO: John, we do not know what made Aeryn grow old.

John whips around.

JOHN: She will die if I don’t go. I’m gonna get her, pick her up, bring her back. I’ll be on the surface thirty microts - max! Worse case scenario, I age a couple years.

John takes a transport pod to the surface of the planet. He comes off the pod to a harsh planet surface. Dust is blowing everywhere, no plants to be seen, only dirt and rocks.

JOHN: Aaaeryn!! [pause] Aeryn!!

He looks and sees her hobbling through the rocks.

JOHN: Aeryn! I’ve come to take you back to Moya!

AERYN: Go back, before it’s too late!

JOHN: I’m not leaving without you! Aeryn, look around you! Is this where you lived for the last hundred and sixty cycles? You could not have lived here!

AERYN: I didn’t live here! I lived on another planet! Another place!

JOHN: Aeryn, there’s nobody here! No one! There’s nothing!

AERYN: You don’t know what you’re talking about! Now, please! Just go!

JOHN: Aeryn! no! Come back with me to Moya!

John grabs her.

AERYN: No, stop it, don’t!

JOHN: Aeryn!

Aeryn falls to the ground in their struggle.

JOHN: Whoa!

As he’s checking her, gun fire hits a rock near him. He draws his rifle and looks around.

ENNIX: Put the rifle down!

He sees a young black haired girl (Ennix), with a rifle pointed at him.

ENNIX: Now!!

John puts down his rifle.

ENNIX: You touch my grandmother again and I will kill you!

Continued Scene IX.

John stands over Aeryn. Ennix is squatted down beside her.

JOHN: Wait a minute, you’re Aeryn’s granddaughter?

ENNIX: Of course. Who the frell are you?!

JOHN: I’m John Crichton.

ENNIX: You’re Crichton?

John squats down beside Aeryn.

JOHN: Yeah.

ENNIX: Huh. She wasn’t making it all up. You’re real. [pause] All her life, Grandmother’s talked about you. About a - a ship.

JOHN: Moya.

ENNIX: Yeah. Everyone. My father...her own son thought she was crazy. She kept returning to this Bulla-forsaken hell-hole every cycle, checking to see if you’d come back.

JOHN: She’s only been gone for one solar day.

ENNIX: A day? I’m twenty four cycles old. I’m her granddaughter.

JOHN: Well, I saw her yesterday.

Ennix makes a scoffing noise. Aeryn coughs and becomes conscious.

ENNIX: It’s alright, Nana, I’m here.

AERYN: John? Go! Leave!

JOHN: No, I came to take you back!

AERYN: But the opening only lasts for four arns. It goes away. You have to go, now!

JOHN: I’m not gonna leave you!!

John and Ennix help her to her feet.

AERYN: I’m trying to save you. If you don’t go, you’ll get trapped for fifty five cycles. Trapped like I was.

JOHN: Aeryn, what the hell is goin’ on?!

John, Aeryn and Ennix begin walking.

AERYN: Crichton! Go back to Moya. If you want to, come back in eight arns when the opening re-appears. Come back down and you will find me there, but you must go now, or you will be trapped!

JOHN: Eight arns! Be here!!

Chiana in the medical bay. She has her head in her hands. Dargo is with her.

D’ARGO: How’s your head?

CHIANA: Like I’ve been kicked by a Systic. Why did Aeryn spike me?

D’ARGO: Chiana. I didn’t want to embarrass you in front of Rygel in the transport pod, but...

CHIANA: You could never embarrass me.

D’ARGO: Maybe not. But you’re one of us now. There’s no need for you to act like you’re not.

CHIANA: D’argo, I always do what I want, ok? I don’t know why, it’s just the way I am.

D’ARGO: I understand that, but -

CHIANA: [cuts in] Yeah, but you’re not gonna to change me.

D’ARGO: I’m only just beginning to realize that.

CHIANA: You’re pretty straight. Huh?

D’ARGO: Yes I am.

CHIANA: We’re not gonna make it...are we?

Dargo just looks at her, a little confused.

ZHAAN: [on comm]D’argo, you’d better ge up here, John’s on his way back.

Dargo stays another moment, and then walks away.

The transport pod flies towards Moya.

JOHN: Aeryn was telling the truth, or part of it. She had some kind of life down there. I met her granddaughter.

ZHAAN: [whispers to Stark] Granddaughter?

JOHN: Yeah, she said that they had to stay, she had to get back through the opening in the mist before it - whoa!

The pod suddenly lurches.

JOHN: Man, you guys feel that up there?

PILOT: [on comm]Crichton, Moya’s senses indicate that the opening in the mist, seems to be closing.

JOHN: Estimated time to the hole, fifteen microts. Man, holding this thing together is a bitch!

D’ARGO: [on comm] John, you’re breaking up!

A garbled transmission from John.

PILOT: Crichton, the planet is disappearing from Moya’s sensors!

D’ARGO: Pilot, what’s happening?

PILOT: I don’t think the transport pod will be able to survive entry!

D’ARGO: John, you have to break entry! Break entry, now!

JOHN: Ah, it’s ok. I can hold this thing together.

D’ARGO: John! [only static comes through] John, can you hear me? Pilot, what’s happening? Pilot!

Transport pod heads quickly for the mist.

JOHN: Gonna make it. Gonna make it. Gonna make it. Entering the mist.......now!

At the very last second, the hole closes and the transport pod turns sharply, and drifts.

JOHN: Pilot? [static] Pilot? D’argo?

Zhaan meditates in her room.

STARK: Are you in prayer for Crichton?

He is standing at the door. Zhaan takes a cleansing breath and “clears her aura”.

ZHAAN: Yes. And Aeryn.

Stark enters her room, with a cup. He goes to hand it to her, but thinks better of it, and sets it on the table.

STARK: Zhaan. I’ve thought of something we might try, to attempt to discover what’s happened to them.

ZHAAN: Tell me.

STARK: An ancient named Galek, theorized about what he called Center Halo’s. They believed that scattered throughout the universe, were mists, where all dimensions met and where time ceased to exist.

ZHAAN: What? Uh. Do you think that Moya is caught in one of these Center Halo’s?

STARK: I thought...that if you and I joined spirits.

ZHAAN: Join with you? What would that do?

STARK: I’ve been told, that Delvians, during a mind link, can sense the time continuum.

ZHAAN: Yes! That is what we strive for, but - but few have achieved it.

STARK: I thought, maybe together, we could catch a glimpse, and see if there’s a void in the time continuum around Moya. See if no time exists, in the mist.

ZHAAN: If I join spirits with you, your mind might over-power mine.

STARK: It is possible.

Zhaan considers it and then nods her head. She gets up and pulls on her wrap. She begins to reach out her hands to him.

ZHAAN: Like so? STARK: I will lead you.

They touch their foreheads together. They seem to spin in their space. The ship rocks and the cup begins to fall off the table. For just a moment, it hangs in the air. Stark is thrown off from Zhaan and the cup falls to the floor. Stark is thrown back, disengaging their efforts.

PILOT: [on comm] Zhaan! What just happened? Moya’s readings just went all over the scale and then everything froze! I couldn’t move! Did you feel it?

ZHAAN: Yes Pilot, we felt it!!

The harsh planet John originally landed on, hangs in the sky, above the Favored Planet. Aeryn and Ennix plant.

ENNIX: What happened to him, Nana?

She stands.

AERYN: Oh, Crichton. He was happy for a few cycles, there, too.

Ennix helps Aeryn to her feet.

AERYN: Something must have reminded him of - thank you - of his past. I still think about it sometimes; Moya.

ENNIX: You’ve never been as sad as him.

AERYN: Or, perhaps, I hide it better.

ENNIX: Will he ever be over it? I’ve done what I can. We took him from the Barren Planet, shown him our Favored World.

AERYN: I know, you’ve tried, we’ve all tried, but Crichton was always stubborn.

ENNIX: Why are those from the outside always so unhappy?

AERYN: Because we weren’t born here, this your home. Not ours. Give Crichton a few more cycles. He’ll come around.

Fast-forward to John, aged.

JOHN: You can rack off! I’m gonna do what I wanna do!

SCORPYCLONE: No, Crichton, no! I need the wormhole knowledge that you have locked in your brain!

JOHN: Heh heh, that’s great Scorpy. You ain’t never gonna get that. I’m dyin’. I'm dyin’ right here on this planet. You ain’t never gonna get what’s in my head.

ENNIX: Still talking to those visions in your head?

JOHN: [whispers] Loser. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, he’s bitchin’ again. Oh, he’s gone. Bastard. Wonder if he’s still lookin’ for me. Oh well.

On Command. Stark and Zhaan explain their theory.

ZHAAN: Stark has developed a theory. He believes it’s possible that Aeryn was telling the truth. She has, in fact, lived for one hundred and sixty cycles.

CHIANA: How?

RYGEL: How, yotz! Have you been drinking Fellip juice?!

STARK: Now, when Zhaan and I joined an arn ago, did any of you experience anything unusual?

CHIANA: Well, yeah.

Stark rolls his hands in a gesture for her to continue.

CHIANA: That was you guys?

STARK: Rygel, did you experience anything?

RYGEL: My throne sled stopped. Heh! I froze in mid-air for a microt.

STARK: And you were still conscious?

RYGEL: Absolutely!

ZHAAN: Stark believes that Moya is trapped in what is known as a Center Halo, where time does not exist at all. We believe, that when we joined, for a moment, we all experienced this absence of time in the mist.

STARK: You see, it’s possible that Aeryn aged normally, down there, on the planet.

D’ARGO: So, it’s us?

Stark nods.

D’ARGO: It’s us who are not growing old?

STARK: Yes.

RYGEL: I don’t believe it.

CHIANA: You’ve got to be frelling with me.

D’ARGO: So this means everyone we know - Crais, Scorpius, my son. They’re all old, now?

STARK: Yes. It is believed that nothing ages in a Halo and eventually it hardens and everything inside it is trapped without time, forever.

D’ARGO: Pilot says the mist is hardening, now!

STARK: Yes.

CHIANA: Well, then let’s go! Let’s get out of here!

D’ARGO: [to comm] Pilot! How long until the planet is due to re-appear?

PILOT: If what Aeryn outlined still holds, the opening will re-form in the mist in less than one arn.

Back on the Favored Planet. John is walking through the woods.

JOHN: [singing] I’ll go a’morrow a-roving with you, fair maid. A-roving, A-roving. Since roving’s been my ru-i-n, I’ll go a’morrow a-roving - [cuts off] [to Aeryn] These have grown.

AERYN: Yes. Seems like yesterday when we planted them.

JOHN: Yup.

John bends over and makes a few sounds.

AERYN: How’s your knee?

JOHN: Aw, it’s fine. Just chasin’...beautiful women up ‘n down the hills.

Aeryn chuckles and gets up from what she was doing.

AERYN: Well, why don’t you come and sit down, here, old man, or you’ll give yourself a heart attack.

JOHN: Don’t - don’t - don’t you “old man” me, woman, you’re two hundred cycles older than I am!

Aeryn laughs. They both sit on stumps in the trees, John making a loud grunting sound as he sits.

JOHN: Ennix and that...sleepin’ pill she married have arrived.

AERYN: He’s not that bad.

JOHN: He’s boring. Just like everything else around here, boooooring.

AERYN: Well, I warned you. I tried to make you to go back.

JOHN: I know you did.

AERYN: John, I gave up being who I was, what I was, a hundred cycles ago. Why haven’t you?

JOHN: Cause I ain’t a gardener. I never wanted to be one. That’s all we do ‘round here. Garden! Plant things. I was a pilot, Aeryn. Astronaut. I was what I wanted to be. I ain’t gonna forget that, and I can’t accept this.

AERYN: Do you regret this?

JOHN: What?

John looks at Aeryn. She looks away, straight forward.

AERYN: Spending the last fifty five cycles here with me.

JOHN: Aeryn. You are the one thing which has kept me from doing a Kamikaze in the transport. I just have to try to get back to my old life. Just for a day. That’s the hope. Hope! That’s what keeps me goin’.

AERYN: Alright. Just...don’t be too disappointed if...it doesn’t happen.

JOHN: [softly] Yeah, right.

AERYN: If you can't. Oh ..oo…ooo.

JOHN: You okay?

AERYN: Yes. I’m fine-I’m fine-I’m fine.[hand on her chest] It’s just the same old pain. Same pain.

JOHN: Ok. Let’s uh, get you back to the house. You can lie down. Come on.

John gets up and helps Aeryn up. As she’s getting up, her locket falls on the ground. She goes to reach for it, but John stops her.

AERYN: Ooo!

JOHN: Oh no-no-no you-

AERYN: I’ll pick it up. AERYN: Give it to me.

JOHN: I’ve got your locket.

He stands up fully, holding the locket in his hand.

JOHN: Whose uh, image you got in here, anyway?

AERYN: You know who’s in there.

JOHN: Your husband? He’s been dead ninety cycles. Why would you have his image in there?

AERYN: Oh, just to drive you crazy.

JOHN: You know what I think? I don’t think it’s him in there. I think you’ve got my picture in there.

AERYN: Don’t flatter yourself.

JOHN: Yeah! Yeah, my picture. Surrounded by roses, and hearts, and yotz.

AERYN: Open it then.

JOHN: What?

AERYN: Take a look inside, you’ll see his image. The only love of my life.

John looks at the locket, then at Aeryn.

JOHN: No. No, I don’t want to see his ugly face.

He gives the locket back to Aeryn.

JOHN: Come on. Let’s get you back to the house.

AERYN: He wasn’t ugly you know. Aeryn and John walk back to the house, talking and laughing, hugging and caressing.

Command.

D’ARGO: Pilot, are you picking up any transmissions?

PILOT: There’s nothing.

On the Barren Planet, Ennix, Aeryn and John get ready to contact Moya. John shakes a container and out of it, comes his comm badge.

JOHN: Fifty cycles I’ve kept this thing sealed up. Hope it works.

John presses on the comm.

JOHN: Pilot, can you hear me?! [laughs] Been waitin’ to say that for fifty damn years. Feels good Pilot! Can ya hear me?

John walks off.

ENNIX: [to Aeryn] Why are you going?

JOHN: Pilot?

ENNIX: [to Aeryn] Stay with us. Look, come back to the Favored Planet, and I will take care of you. The mist is dangerous it’s -

AERYN: [cuts in] Ennix, listen to me. I grew up a Peacekeeper. We are born in space and we must die in space.

ENNIX: But what about -

AERYN: [cuts in] Now I have spent most of my life down here with you, and it has been glorious. But when I die, I belong up there.

Ennix nods, fighting the tears.

ENNIX: Goodbye, Nana.

AERYN: Good girl.

Ennix and Aeryn hug.

AERYN: Now, go, before I change my mind.

Ennix runs off.

JOHN: Pilot?

Aeryn walks over to John.

JOHN: Pilot?!

They look into the sky. John holds the comm near his ear. Aeryn puts an arm around him for a moment.

JOHN: Nothin’. I’m not gettin’ anything.

PILOT: Wait! Something’s happening. The opening in the mist, I can see it forming!

D’ARGO: John, Aeryn, can you hear us? [pause] John. John!

Dargo lays down his head on the console.

JOHN: Aw, maybe this thing’s bust. Maybe Moya decided not to wait for us.

AERYN: No. Command, John’s signal kicks in.

JOHN: Pilot - anyone over there, pick up the damn phone you useless pieces of sh - [cuts out]

D’ARGO: We hear you!

Barren Planet. John is jumping and dancing around in joy.

JOHN: Oh! Ha! Ho! Hoo! Ha! D’argo! [to Aeryn] Hey, hey, listen to this! D’argo it’s me, John.

D’ARGO: John, are you alright?

D’ARGO: Can you make it back to Moya or do you want us down there?

JOHN: Oh, no, no, it’s alright, we can get back up to ya. We will come back up! Right away! [To Aeryn] They waited! Oh! Ho ho! Oh! They waited.

AERYN: Yes, they did. Come on.

As she goes to move, Aeryn collapses back a little.

JOHN: Aeryn, baby, you alright?

AERYN: I’m alright. I’m fine. Let’s get back to Moya.

JOHN: Goin’ home. Goin’ home.

They walk slowly off to the transport pod.

Through the mist, the pod boards Moya.

When the docking doors open, John is sitting on the steps of the transport pod, with Aeryn sitting in his lap, her head on his shoulder.

Rygel, Zhaan and Chiana enter the bay.

ZHAAN: John?

Dargo and Stark enter next.

John is holding Aeryn in his lap, on the steps of the pod.

JOHN: Uh. I - I tr - I tried to get her back here, before, uh. She was so weakened. You, uh. She, uh. She died. On the way. She’s gone. Aer - Aeryn’s gone.

John hugs Aeryn’s body to his and cries.

The crew sits around a bed in the medical bay.

JOHN: The opening is on some kinda - inter-dimensional orbit. It appears in the mist over the Barren Planet every fifty five cycles.

ZHAAN: Do you know how to get us out of the mist?

JOHN: Well, you could go back down to where I was.

CHIANA: Well, then, let’s do it. Let’s go down there.

JOHN: Naw, ain’t nothin’ down there, Chiana. Just a few planets, a small colony of people. I searched it from end to end, there just isn’t anything there.

RYGEL: It still sounds better than being stuck up here, forever.

JOHN: Yeah. Maybe. But I have had...a lot of time to think. I believe, that if we can get out of the mist, at the exact point that we entered it [sighs] I might be able to get my life back. Might be an arn later, might be two hundred cycles later. But, I, uh....

D’ARGO: But, how do we get back to that exact point where we entered?

PILOT: Uh, [clears throat] I might have an answer for that. I’m not sure, but I think we just have to go...backwards.

D’ARGO: What do you mean, Pilot? RYGEL: Then go for it. Just...back up.

PILOT: I’ve been trying to, but I can’t. The mist has hardened so much in the last arn, Moya can no longer move.

CHIANA: You mean...we’re stuck?

PILOT: I’m...afraid so.

JOHN: Have you tried Starburst?

PILOT: A Leviathan is not structurally designed for a reverse Starburst. It could destroy us.

JOHN: Pilot, just do a small jump, and get us back to where we started.

PILOT: No. If we are going to try and Starburst out, I think we should go forward, down to the planet, not backwards.

JOHN: Is that what you want? You want that? You wanna...live your life on that planet? A place where...you never see anyone you know, ever again?

John looks at each of the crew. Rygel sighs heavily.

JOHN: I have done that. And let me assure you, whatever the risk...it is worth getting your life back.

D’ARGO: I’m with John. I do not want to live a life without a past. I want to see my son again.

Zhaan nods her head.

CHIANA: Me too. I didn’t even want to go into the mist, anyway.

RYGEL: I guess I’m in agreement as well.

ZHAAN: Goddess be with us all. [to comm] Pilot, start initiating sequence for reverse Starburst.

John walks away.

D’ARGO: John!

ZHAAN: Leave him, D’argo.

John goes back to the transport pod. He sits down beside Aeryn’s body.

JOHN: Aeryn? We’re gonna try to get out of this. I told them our plan, and uh..... [sighs] Uh. [sighs] Aw, baby. [pause] There are so many...places...that I wanted you to see. People. [pause] There’s this lake, in Maine. We used to spend summers there, when I was a kid. Had more mosquito’s than a dog had fleas. My dad and I, we’d camp out there, and uh...one night, the astronauts landed on the moon. I remember lookin’ up at the sky. [pause] I knew right then what I was gonna do with the rest of my life. [pause] Hell, I couldn’t have been more than four years old. [chuckles] Definitely wanted you to see that. [Tsk sound] Aw. Damn. Baby. I. [pause] I miss you already. [pause] Who else am I gonna tell this crap to?

John gets up on his knees and leans in towards Aeryn’s face.

JOHN: I love you.

He kisses her on the lips and strokes her hair. He takes her locket, carefully into his hands. He stares at it for a moment. Aeryn’s voice sounds in his head.

AERYN: Take a look inside. You’ll see his image.

John opens the locket. It’s him.

AERYN: The only love of my life.

John cries.

PILOT: Priming first phase of reverse Starburst. Kahaynu protect Moya.

Pilot pushes a button on his console. The ship shudders with loud bangs.

John is laying on Aeryn in the transport pod. Everything seems to be slowing down.

JOHN: What, now?

Stark runs to Zhaan in the medical bay.

STARK: Zhaan, what’s going on?

ZHAAN: Pilot! [her voice is distorting] What’s happening?

PILOT: [voice distorted] Priming for Starburst is making everything stop!

ZHAAN: [distorted] We must break free!

PILOT: [distorted] My arms! I can’t move! You must initiate manual Starburst from command!

Command

D’ARGO: Doing it!

Just as Dargo reaches for the panel, he has been stopped.

D’ARGO & CHIANA: No!

D’ARGO: [distorted] I can’t reach the panel!

CHIANA: [distorted and drawn out] Heeeeeeeelp uuuuuuuuuus!

Medical bay. Zhaan grabs Stark by his shirt.

ZHAAN: [distorted] Stark, Crichton and I once shared Unity! So, I can help him! If we join, we can keep time alive, for him!

Zhaan grabs Stark and they join in Unity.

ZHAAN: John. John. John.

John hears her in his mind, in the transport pod. Time is moving at a more normal speed for him.

JOHN: Zhaan, how the hell are you talkin’ to me?

ZHAAN: I’ve fused my spirit with Stark. You must get to command and initiate Starburst.

JOHN: Why can’t Pilot do it?

ZHAAN: He can’t move. No one can move, except you. I don’t know how long I can keep time alive. Hurry John.

JOHN: I am too old for this shit.

John gets up and runs to command, but he can’t move fast because of time slowing.

Zhaan and Stark continue their unity.

ZHAAN: [distorted] Hurry, John, this is ripping us apart! Go! You-you must keep going!!! Keep going. [echoes]

John arrives on command. He finally pushes the button on the console.

Everything is quiet for a moment. Command. The mist looms on the forward screen. Aeryn is at a console, John, and D’argo and Chiana are at one.

PILOT: [clamshell] It appears to be some kind of stellar mist. I’m running tests on it’s chemical properties, now.

John walks over to Aeryn’s console.

D’ARGO: What’d you think, that should we go in there?

RYGEL: Well, it might be a good place to hide from Peacekeepers.

CHIANA: Well, Scorpius hasn’t been chasing us for awhile. I’m not sure we should go in there.

AERYN: Don’t worry, Chiana, I’ll run a long-range re-con in the transport pod to make sure it’s safe.

Zhaan is meditating. She opens her eyes and suddenly panics.

ZHAAN: No!

Aeryn walks over beside D’argo and picks up a plant.

D’ARGO: What’s that?

AERYN: It's just something Zhaan gave me for my headaches.

Aeryn begins walking out of command.

Zhaan runs down the corridor.

ZHAAN: Pilot!! Piiiilot!!

She runs into Stark.

ZHAAN: Stark!

STARK: You know what they’re about to do?

ZHAAN: Yes! And these frelling comms don’t work!!

She pulls Stark with her, down the corridor.

ZHAAN: Pilot! Pilot!

Command.

JOHN: Pilot, looks like we’re all agreed, here.

CHIANA: Except me.

JOHN: Except for Chiana. Let’s head into the mist.

PILOT: Accelerating, now.

Zhaan and Stark burst onto Command.

ZHAAN: Stop! Pilot, stop the acceleration!!

STARK: [to John] [gasps] You’re young.

JOHN: Uh huh.

Stark turns and looks at Aeryn who is looking back at him inquisitively.

JOHN: Zhaan, you alright?

RYGEL: What are you doing here? I thought you were locked in your chamber, meditating or some yotz like that. ZHAAN: Don’t you remember?

AERYN: Remember what?

STARK: Just trust us. Don’t go into the mist.

JOHN: Why not?

ZHAAN: W-we had a vision. We sensed there’s danger in there.

CHIANA: I told ‘em! I told ‘em we shouldn’t go in there! I - I felt something, too, Zhaan.

JOHN: Pilot uhh, change of plan. Hang a Louie. That’s...left. Away from the mist.

PILOT: Hard acceleration. Away.

Moya skirts the mist.

Zhaan and Stark walk down a corridor.

ZHAAN: Stark, how is it that Aeryn and Crichton are young again?

STARK: We seemed to have returned to a time, just moments before Moya went into the mist.

ZHAAN: But none of them remember anything, yet-yet, we do.

STARK: Because we have returned to a time before any of it happened, they have nothing to remember, Zhaan. I think we only remember because we were joined, when Moya broke free.

ZHAAN: Well, what about Aeryn’s life and the family she had?

STARK: It’s theorized, that through every opening in a Center Halo, our world splits into an infinite number of universes.

ZHAAN: Are you saying that Ennix could still be alive?

STARK: Yes. And mourning the loss of her grandmother.

Zhaan sighs.

STARK: But...it’s time to tell Ka’ D’argo why I came aboard.

Zhaan and Stark walk into command, where D’argo is making some adjustments on the console.

STARK: D’argo. Um. I’ve been waiting to show you this.

He hands D’argo a tube. D’argo takes it, and as he opens it, Stark explains more. There is a rolled up photo inside of a young alien boy.

STARK: I found it in a manifest of slaves being sold to the Keten Mines.

D’ARGO: Who is this?

ZHAAN: The manifest lists him as - as Jothee. Son of Ka’ D’argo.

Dargo stares at the photo.

D’ARGO: My son. [pause] My son is being sold into slavery?

He shoves Zhaan out of the way and grabs Stark by the shirt, throwing him onto a table.

ZHAAN: D’argo!

D’ARGO: [to Stark] How long have you known?! Why didn’t you tell me?!

STARK: I just found out!

ZHAAN: D’argo! Stark wanted me awake before he told you!! D’argo! Let him go, please! There’s plenty of time! The auction isn’t for a few solar days. We will find a way to rescue Jothee. D’argo. D’argo. [softly] D’argo.

D’ARGO: Alright. I’m sorry, Stark. I, uh. [panting] I’ve uh - I’ve uh, gotta save my son, Zhaan. We’ve gotta find a way.

John and Aeryn in maintenance bay. John brings a metal box in and sets it on a work bench. Aeryn is tinkering with something. John sighs. Aeryn looks up, then back at her work. John tries to work, but ends up staring at Aeryn. She notices him staring at her.

AERYN: What?

JOHN: Nothing. Um. Do you get a feeling?

AERYN: ‘Bout what? AERYN: Between us?

JOHN: Yeah.

AERYN: Well, what kind of something do you think happened?

JOHN: I don’t know.

AERYN: If something happened, I’m sure we would have remembered.

JOHN: Yeah.

AERYN: Come here. Have a look at this.

John walks over to Aeryn.

AERYN: It’s uh, the locket Chiana gave me, I found it in the transport pod. And somehow, it’s fused shut. I’m tryin’ to - [cuts off]

JOHN: Did you put something in there?

AERYN: No, nothing. AERYN: It looks like something disintegrated in there.

She pours it into her hand. John reaches around and takes a pinch of the debris, and puts it in his palm. Aeryn runs her finger through it.

AERYN: Hm.

She tips her hand and scatters the debris on the floor. John and Aeryn look up from the debris to each other.

END OF EPISODE

DELETED SCENES

SCENE 026

A short dialogue scene between Crichton and Ennix, Aeryn's granddaughter.

JOHN: Oh, he's gone. Bastard. Wonder if he's still lookin' for me. Oh well. Where's that useless piece of dren husband of yours?

ENNIXX: He's down in the vineyard.

JOHN: Uh huh. You tell him to stay the hell away from me. He tries to poison me again with the homemade nectar of his, I'm gonna snap his neck!

ENNIX: [laughs] I'll warn him.

JOHN: I'll warn Aeryn you're here. [nods] You're beautiful, you know that. [laughs] [sings] Old King Cole was a merry old soul and a merry old soul was he.

END OF DELETED SCENES