[Previously on]

John hangs from the catwalk.

JOHN: Winona, don't fail me now.

He pulls his gun and shoots at the serpent. It quickly exits. He watches after it, then pulls himself up onto the walkway. He picks up the damaged device.

JOHN: Crap.

Later, Zhaan and Aeryn join him in the den.

JOHN: I'm tellin' you Aeryn. It was from Earth. A television transmission.

AERYN: What, you mean like that Yoda from Degoba?

JOHN: No-no-no-no, Three Stooges. [makes Stooge noise]

AERYN: Well, whatever was in there, it's not any use to us now.

JOHN: Do you know what this means?

AERYN: [turse] No I don't.

JOHN: It means that some part of this wormhole is ten, twenty, thirty, forty light years at most, away from Earth. It's do-able. I could get home.

ZHAAN: Amidst our misfortune, I'm pleased for you John.

JOHN: Yes. I know. Selfish. [ship shudders] Forget it.

ZHAAN: Where is Neeyala's injured crew member?

JOHN: What are you talkin' about?

ZHAAN: Well, this is their blood. [indicates blue blood on walkway]

JOHN: No, serpent blood.

ZHAAN: No, no, this is Neeyala's species' blood, John.

JOHN: Zhaan, there was no one here.

AERYN: What about their crew member? Who died? Lost a limb during Starburst? Could the serpent have done that?

ZHAAN: Well, possibly, but why would they lie?

JOHN: Yo! Both of you! Even if Mister Wiggles did chew on that guy, [enunciates] there was no one here.

AERYN: Their Phaztillion generator. What does it do?

JOHN: It alters the phase physicality of an object. Conceivably.

AERYN: We wouldn't be able to see it.

JOHN: Invisible.

Zhaan and Aeryn nod.

Neeyala's ship.

KREETAGO: I grow weak, Neeyala.

NEEYALA: They must continue to believe that their Leviathan deteriorates faster than it is. Even the remotest hope would cause them to rally to her.

He nods weakly, and places his hand on the generator. A shimmery wave washes over him, until he is invisible.

NEEYALA: Shut down their thermal condensers. Losing ability to regulate temperature should convince them to abandon ship.

KREETAGO: I will do what needs to be done. Including destroying them. If I must.

The crew bands into two groups. Chiana, John and Rygel in the neural cluster. Aeryn, D'argo, Stark and Zhaan in the maintenance bay.

Chiana: There's no way to tell if this is sabotage.

RYGEL: Doesn't matter anymore, if it is. Moya's frelled and our only option is to go on Neeyala's ship.

JOHN: And what if they are screwing us?

Moya lurches heavily.

RYGEL: Especially if they've screwed us. Means they have the upper claw.

JOHN: Nah. I'm with D'argo on this. I think we need to know the truth.

D'ARGO: I do not trust Crichton's judgement.

AERYN: Agreed. He claims to have seen Earth again and I'm sure he's still talking to Scorpius.

D'ARGO: Mm.

STARK: We all know where Rygel's loyalties lie.

D'ARGO: Sadly, Chiana's too.

Another lurch.

ZHAAN: Alright. Then whether they agree or not, we must stick to plan.

JOHN: First thing we do, everybody acts normal.

AERYN: Don't tip them off. Surprise may be our only ally.

JOHN: If Neeyala's people aren't sabotaging Moya, we'll go with them.

AERYN: If they are, we defeat them.

CHIANA: I'll repair some of the nexus points.

STARK: ...so they're isolated from Moya's main systems.

CHIANA: That way if they fry again...

STARK: ...we'll know it's them.

RYGEL: Do you actually believe they're using their generator to turn themselves invisible?

D'ARGO: It would explain the sequence of decompressions.

JOHN: It's geographically consistent with somebody running...

D'ARGO: ...from place to place.

JOHN: Which leads us to the blood in Pilot's den.

ZHAAN: The cabin beneath must be searched.

JOHN: Can we rely on you Rygel?

STARK: Can we rely on Rygel?

RYGEL: Alright. But not for you.

D'ARGO: He has been on Moya the longest.

RYGEL: For Moya.

AERYN: Keep comms on restricted frequency.

JOHN: Switch comms to Decca.

ZHAAN: Neeyala!

AERYN: Neeyala. Neeyala is mine. First thing I want- [gags] to get from them - [gags] - is a head count. [coughs up hair] What is this?!

STARK: She sheds.

Jool squeals angrily from behind her gag. Aeryn disgustedly tosses the hair towards her, and exits.

Hangar bay.

John dips his fingers into a puddle pooling up on the floor under his module, and sniffs it. He hears a sound behind him and slowly turns, gun drawn. He steps towards the new alien ship, as the walkway on it lowers. He sighs deeply, and puts his gun back, as D'argo exits the ship.

JOHN & D'ARGO: What are you doing?

D'ARGO: Well, now that we've both asked...

JOHN: I made seventeen loops through the wormhole, fried the organic bits on my module. If we stick with Moya, she makes less than one. And I'm just looking for...anything. Now what the hell are you doin'?

They sit in the ship.

D'ARGO: I'm formulating ideas.

JOHN: Formulating ideas. Well here's an idea, since we know nothing about this craft, how 'bout you stop pushin' buttons?

D'argo presses another button. The ship makes noises, but doesn't explode or anything horrible.

JOHN: Alright, two for two. You're not still feelin' a little suicidal are you?

D'ARGO: Not in the least. Oh, this looks interesting.

He presses a button. The ship makes a high pitch noise and fills the bay with a green laser-light show.

D'ARGO: Now what do you suppose it does?

JOHN: So far? Scare the crap outta me.

D'ARGO: This ship feels somehow familiar to me.

JOHN: Yeah, you know we have a crisis goin' on out there?

D'ARGO: I said I was formulating ideas.

JOHN: I heard you.

D'argo presses a button. The green lights slow.

D'ARGO: Being on Moya. A fugitive. It's changed me.

JOHN: Well, if you're not feeling suicidal, now's a bad time for a mid-life crisis.

D'ARGO: Chiana's a young woman. She needs attention.

JOHN: D'argo. You were focused on your son. It's completely understandable.

D'ARGO: Still, I neglected her. Do you know what troubles me the most? I did my best. I did the best I could, and it wasn't enough. I still lost them both.

JOHN: My grandmother used to say, that life is...a great wheel. Sometimes it grinds you down to the mud and other times it...lifts you up into the light.

D'ARGO: Are we strapped to this wheel?

JOHN: That's a given. Point is, is that most of the times, you get a second chance. Just gotta wait for the wheel.

RYGEL: [comm] Aeryn, I'm nine tiers below Pilot's den. I've uh, found the alien girl. Well, half of her. Looks like a serpents bite to me.

AERYN: Alright, well open the gills on her head and carefully remove some of the needles.

RYGEL: Huh?! What in hezmana for?!

AERYN: I like to know my enemy.

Zhaan rushes past Aeryn.

AERYN: Zhaan? [chases after her] Zhaan!

She grabs her. When Zhaan turns around, her eyes are blood red. She shoves Aeryn into one of the pieces of Neeyala's ship.

ZHAAN: That woman was invisible when she was killed in Pilot's den! Their betrayal, must be punished.

AERYN: Not like this, Zhaan. It won't help Moya.

Moya's lurching causes Zhaan to fall to the ground, releasing Aeryn.

ZHAAN: I must control myself.

AERYN: It was a bad trade, Zhaan. Your health for mine.

Zhaan's eyes have returned to normal.

ZHAAN: Don't undervalue yourself.

AERYN: I'm just a soldier.

Zhaan gets back up.

ZHAAN: Don't underestimate yourself.

AERYN: I'm being realistic.

ZHAAN: Don't be afraid to understand yourself. We're not as different as you assume. Violent past. No faith in the future. And then a transformative experience aboard this very ship. My time grows short. And yours stretches before you. Use it wisely.

Aeryn nods.

Stark makes repairs, with a bound Jool nearby.

JOOL: [scoffs] A living ship. Huh. I've never heard of such a beast.

STARK: Which obviously means it can't exist.

JOOL: Oh, you've so figured me out.

STARK: Not trying to. Be quiet, please. The gag remains an option.

JOOL: Is it true what the animal said? That you're all prisoners?

STARK: At some time or another, yes.

JOOL: Great. Just great. I take a multi-civilization tour for my birthday and barely make it through the first stop. I lose my deposit. My cousins get murdered. I've been frozen for twenty two cycles. I've been captured by degenerate aliens. Attacked by a huge serpent-

STARK: Dead! All of us, dead! My love, dead! My dreams, dead! You, dead! Me, dead! You dead, me dead, you dead, me dead, you dead, me dead [growls] Your list is short and unworthy of entree to this ship of horror! Tortured by demons you could never know! Marked by a love that will never be!

He's worked her into a corner.

STARK: Oh, you want to cry, young creature? I will show you something that will make you cry...forever.

He tries to unbuckle his mask. She screams, causing him to draw back and cringe. She loses energy and lays on her side, sobbing. Suddenly, the area he was just working, sparks and dies.

STARK: [comm] It's me. [panting] Tier five, Hammond level. A circuit blew, but I had it offline. Someone was here. Invisible. Get ready.

He watches Jool carefully, as he re-buckles his mask.

Zhaan, Aeryn and John talk to Neeyala on Command.

NEEYALA: The privilege of working with technology is guaranteed by our families. Should we fail to return this ship, they will all be executed.

ZHAAN: Why didn't you just lie and tell us both ships could survive separation? We would have happily remained here and perished with Moya.

NEEYALA: I did not wish to see you die. But, I incorrectly assumed that given the choice, you would take the rational option.

JOHN: So just to be sure, you helped things along? You cripple a living ship and we jump at the chance to escape with you. I trusted you.

NEEYALA: Your feelings for Moya and Pilot are matched by those for our families. Allow personal passions to cancel each other out. What's left?

AERYN: [laughs] Wormhole technology.

NEEYALA: Yesss. Garnered at great cost. With potential beyond measure. Would you compare that with the lives of a ship and Pilot, which I assure you, are doomed anyway?

ZHAAN: Moya lives, Neeyala. You misjudge her will and ours.

NEEYALA: Will? [laughs] A poor substitute for Beirzian alloy when crushed by astronomical tidal forces!

AERYN: That's still no excuse for sabotaging Moya. Stop Kreetago.

NEEYALA: He carries no communications device. That would give him away. He will continue his mission, until your ship is incapacitated.

AERYN: Then we shall find a way to stop him.

Kreetago enters a storage bay, the floor covered in fog. He pulls wires in a nearby hatch. The room goes dark.

D'ARGO: DRDs. Find this frelling bastard.

The DRD's light up the room with green lights, similar to what his ship did earlier. Kreetago's silhouette becomes visible. D'argo and Chiana carefully close in on him.

CHIANA: Very krell, D'argo. How'd you think of it?

He looks into the lights.

D'ARGO: Watch for disruption in the beams.

Kreetago turns and fires his poison darts at them.

D'ARGO: His needles!

D'argo whips his Qualta blade quickly, to deflect the darts, as Chiana screams.

CHIANA: My leg!

D'argo fires into the lights.

CHIANA: D'argo! I'm hit!

Kreetago runs out the door, into the lighted corridor.

D'ARGO: Tourniquet, it'll stop the poison!

CHIANA: With what?!

D'argo comes back to her, and grabs her leg roughly, dragging her along the floor. He puts her on his back.

D'ARGO: He's out here somewhere.

He whips around, looking at the various exit points.

CHIANA: Where?

D'ARGO: Don't look. Listen.

Chiana hears a noise, and screams. D'argo turns and fires in that direction. His third shot hits Kreetago. A bloody handprint slides down Moya's side.

Zhaan puts handcuffs on Neeyala.

D'ARGO: [comm] Zhaan, Chiana's got one of their needles in her leg.

ZHAAN: [comm] Rygel, do you still have the spikes from the alien corpse?

RYGEL: Yes. Why?

ZHAAN: Meet me in my lab now. [turns Neeyala around] If this young girl dies, I will come back for you. And I will most certainly lose any chance I have left, of meeting my Goddess.

She begins to exit, when there is suddenly a high pitched whine, and alarms. She finishes her exit.

AERYN: Explain?

NEEYALA: The generator has reached optimization phase.

JOHN: And what does that mean?

NEEYALA: Once activated, the power cell will engorge a final time. And when it releases, we'll find out if our ships are destined to separate.

JOHN: Aeryn, you wanna hold off?

NEEYALA: Impossible! Even now the reactor shuts down permanently. Listen! [pause] My crew is dead. This is our one chance to avoid the certainty of joining them.

John pulls out his gun. Aeryn releases Neeyala's handcuffs.

AERYN: Go ahead.

NEEYALA: Be aware. Should our vessels disengage, the built-in timing favors yours being the one destroyed.

The generator revvs back up.

JOHN: How long do we have?

NEEYALA: Hard to discern with the damage. Maybe an arn. Not more.

Corridors.

RYGEL: Ri-diculous! We tried Starburst, everybody heaved.

D'ARGO: Neeyala has fixed it so that when we separate, she enters the wormhole while Moya is ejected through the wall and into normal space.

STARK: From hetch impossible to a dead stop? That's sub-atomic dispersal!

RYGEL: All perfect reasons to be on her ship, strapping in for the ride.

D'ARGO: Starburst could rotate Moya so it's us who go into the wormhole.

RYGEL: Where she'll get ripped apart from the stress. I've flown there, remember?

STARK: We voted, Rygel.

RYGEL: I didn't get to vote.

STARK: I was your proxy.

RYGEL: Pilot's in a coma, Moya's half decompressed, nothing works, fiiiine, I'll kill half an arn.

D'ARGO: I want you to reconnect Pilot to Moya's external senses.

STARK: The neural cluster? D'argo, we shredded those synapses!

D'ARGO: It'll take all three of us. Splice and hook, nothing permanent, I want to give Pilot a chance.

RYGEL: He's un-concious!

D'ARGO: Well do your part! [slaps tool into Rygel's hand] He'll be awake.

RYGEL: What if we're not done when the time comes?

D'argo goes to speak, then steps back towards Rygel.

D'ARGO: Then we race to the other ship.

Corridors.

JOHN: We gotta seal all the chambers on the outer rim, Starburst is gonna spin us like a top. One decompression and we're vapor.

AERYN: Once secure, I'll overload Pilot with Moya's adrenal secretions.

JOHN: I really blew this one, Aeryn.

AERYN: You're not done yet.

They hear Jool scream, and race towards Command. As they enter, they fire on the serpent, who has once again re-appeared. It slithers between them, and they fire after it, until it's gone.

AERYN: It didn't disappear, that's new.

JOHN: Cause the generator's fully on, right?

NEEYALA: Correct. We now share the serpents phase existence and will, until ssseperation.

JOHN: It just keeps gettin' better. [comm] One out of twelve, guys. The critter's part of our reality now, be careful out there.

AERYN: I'm going to try to chase it to the outer rim.

She exits, John begins to follow.

NEEYALA: You do anything to upset the balance that I have set into place-

JOHN: [cuts in] Zip it, tea lady! You had your shot, we're takin' ours.

He exits.

JOOL: You can't leave us tied up like this! What if that thing comes back?

Medical bay.

ZHAAN: Hm, these are very similar to the Quellian Tibor's mating spikes. Pliable root, tensile fiber stalk, metalline venom tip.

D'ARGO: Will she be alright?

ZHAAN: Well I believe so. But not if Rygel hadn't secured these other needles for anti body serum.

CHIANA: I heard the plan. [sits up] I'm ready to go.

ZHAAN: Ah-ah-ah-ah. The more your blood pumps, the more chance you'll make a liar out of me, child.

Zhaan stumbles. D'argo catches her.

ZHAAN: Ever my protector.

D'ARGO: It's not you needs protecting. It's the rest of the universe I fear for.

ZHAAN: [giggles] [sits, sighs] When I was first incarcerated on this ship, wild and murderous, I could not conceive how I would survive. I heard a rumor, that a Luxan warrior was a fellow prisoner. I actually prayed...that the brute would succumb to hyper rage and kill me. [touches his face] How ironic is that?

D'ARGO: There is a planet out there that will heal you.

ZHAAN: [nods] The intent is noble. The result is in the hands of the gentle Goddess.

She holds his hand with both of hers, to her cheek.

Neural cluster.

RYGEL: Too bad about Pilot. I liked him.

STARK: He liked you too.

RYGEL: Hm?! How do you know?

STARK: He told me.

RYGEL: He did?

STARK: [nods] Yeah.

John shoves a comms chip into Jool's cleavage.

JOHN: Comms chip.

JOOL: What are you ding?

JOHN: Deputizing you, Debutante. See those lights? They're cycling faster. Hear that noise?

JOOL: Ow!

JOHN: Pitch is rising. At some point, we're out of time. Want you to make a judgement call. When you think it's gonna blow, you get us back here.

JOOL: What?! I mean, I don't know how - [stammers]

JOHN: Look, Princess, I know this...trip to Kruegerland was not on your itinerary, but believe it or not, I know exactly how you feel.

JOOL: Don't presume to know anything about me!

JOHN: [gives her rifle] You hold this, steady. Be more afraid of what you're aiming at [points at Neeyala].

JOOL: I-I've never done anything like ths, before!

JOHN: None of us have.

JOOL: You killed my cousin!!

JOHN: Not on purpose!! He was a corpse-sicle and your other cousin...he didn't last half a minute, defrosted.

JOOL: Then why did I survive?

JOHN: I don't know. You're not sick. Maybe they shanghaied you for body parts, you're the freebie.

JOOL: Everything I have seen so far is despicable!

JOHN: Welcome! To the Federation Starship S.S. Buttcrack! [slaps butt, exits]

Throughout the ship, chaos ensues.

D'ARGO: Decompression Tier three!

ZHAAN: It's rolling! Internal airtides are giving way!

STARK: Zhaan! Do not enter Pilot's access corridor!

The ship shudders.

D'ARGO: That's tier three and four air bladders, back pressure to the hatches!

JOHN: On three big man, you go four!

ZHAAN: Going to be cut off! Do something!

Aeryn stops John from entering a corridor.

AERYN: No, blocked. Outer hull rupture - long way!

He follows her.

JOHN: Chiana's okay!

AERYN: So I heard.

Neeyala is rocked violently. Jool whips around, rifle pointed at her. She relaxes slightly, as she sees Neeyala is no threat.

NEEYALA: Serpent!

Jool screams hysterically. Neeyala's handcuffs drip as they melt.

JOHN: That was a good call on Rygel on the gill darts. Did anybody ever tell you how good you are around here?

AERYN: Matter of fact, just recently.

JOHN: Whoa!

He pulls up short, as they encounter the serpent. They fire on it, with no effect. They back up and start running.

JOHN: Go on, keep movin', I gotta plan!

AERYN: Don't tell me you have a plan!

JOHN: What's wrong with 'em?

AERYN: They never work!

JOHN: Damn, these doors.

They close themselves in the docking bay.

JOHN: They always work!

AERYN: Not the way you detail them!

JOHN: Hey look, I get results! You're hung up on details!

AERYN: Your plans never work!

JOHN: This way!

He runs to the new ship D'argo had brought aboard.

JOHN: Aeryn!

AERYN: How did this ship get opened?!

JOHN: Get in here!

AERYN: But we don't know anything about it!

JOHN: Aeryn, just get in here!

The serpent opens the door.

AERYN: This is wrong!

JOHN: D'argo rubbed the damn thing, now get in!

She gets in, as the serpent enters the bay. John fiddles with controls. The ship shudders and an alarm buzzes. The serpent closes in.

AERYN: Crichton, you idiot!

JOHN: Aeryn, D'argo found a force field here, somewhere. Just gotta find the button!

His hand manages to find the right button, just before the serpent attacks. It jerks, and falls dead on the floor of the ship.

JOHN: Idiot? Hah. World class plan.

ZHAAN: [comm] Why hasn't anybody vented Tier four's air bladders?

JOHN: Zhaan. I - sorry we ran into a little problem, here.

ZHAAN: The passageways beyond have opened to space. There's no way I can get to Pilot. Your excuses have failed him again, John.

Throughout the ship.

John closes a doorway.

JOHN: [comm] That's it! All the outer chambers are sealed. How'd you go Heavy D?

D'ARGO: [comm] The air bladders are completely vented, but we don't have enough back pressure to reverse the damage done in Pilot's quarters.

Neural cluster.

RYGEL: If...Pilot's dead...

STARK: Yes. We're out of here.

JOHN: [comm] Aeryn. It's all you, now.

Aeryn enters the dark corridors, in her EVA suit. She inspects the damage with her flashlight.

AERYN: [comm] Link number four....open to space.

CHIANA: Only one more to go.

She exits the medical bay.

JOHN: [comm] Jool, how's the timing?

JOOL: I'm not sure.

JOHN: Do better.

JOOL: Faster. Maybe.

NEEYALA: Approximately one third increase. Geometrically building.

JOOL: The alien says I'm right.

AERYN: Third level in is compromised. Like the last two.

ZHAAN: [prays] I beseech your wisdom. Hatale. I entreat your spirit. Hatala. I petition your mercy. The gentle are stricken. The kind are helpless. The silent uncounted.

AERYN: I'm approaching Pilot's den.

ZHAAN: Even as a tenth level Pa U, I am weary and without resources. Oh Goddess...of all things holy, hear my soul. This gentle ship is pledged to my care and I am powerless. [pause] Though I am but...a mote upon your winds...grant me one supplication, ask anything in return.

Aeryn stands beside Pilot, and removes her helmet, breathing deeply.

ZHAAN: Just spare them their lives.

AERYN: The seal has held. The air is thin, but it is breathable.

JOHN: Yes!

D'argo growls agreeably.

RYGEL: Yotza!

Stark smiles.

Chiana falls to the floor, as she tries getting off the bed. AERYN: If we're gonna try this...I'm gonna need Moya's adrenal secretions pumping on my command.

ZHAAN: Just tell me when.

AERYN: So we're agreed? One shot.

JOHN: Go!

STARK: Go!

RYGEL: Go!

ZHAAN: Go!

D'ARGO: Go!

He catches up with Chiana, limping down the corridor.

CHIANA: Go!

D'ARGO: You shouldn't be up!

CHIANA: These hands can wire-wire a whole lotta neural cluster. Get me there.

JOHN: Time?

JOOL: Fractionally faster. John?

JOHN: Yeah.

JOOL: Why is this ship so important?

JOHN: You still worried about your parents after twenty two cycles?

JOOL: Yes.

JOHN: That's how we feel about Moya. She raised us.

Neeyala breaks free of her handcuffs.

John leans into his module.

SCORPIUS CLONE: Bravo! Bravo! [claps] Magnificent! Encore! Encore, John! John Crichton...was riveting in the role of cheerleader, rallying his comrades in the aid of a stricken ship he had earlier betrayed-

John rushes at him, cutting him off. They slip easily from the docking bay, to a rural side ride. He is pinning Scorpius against the grill of a parked semi-truck.

JOHN: That's my dad's tux! Take it off! [looks at himself] This is not my tu- [lets go]

SCORPIUS: You can use the venue John, but I'll make sure we look good! Yeah!

JOHN: Macon. Georgia.

SCORPIUS: College spring break-

JOHN: Macon, Georgia-

SCORPIUS: Hitchhiking-

JOHN: On the way to Lauderdale, this is the truck stop-

SCORPIUS: ...see the strippers for you at Fort Lauderdale-

JOHN: This is the truck stop - Yo, hey! Yo-yo-yo, no! You do not enter my reality! You do not talk to me in my reality! If I want you, I'll call, those are the rules!

SCORPIUS: Unacceptable. And I suggest you sue for peace, now. Your distractions are many. While I'm totally dedicated to gainin a measure of freedom. No more dumpsters, John.

JOHN: Tabled. What do you want?

They begin walking.

SCORPIUS: You may fool them with your rah-rah. But I know the disappointment of letting Neeyala's ship be destroyed.

JOHN: Yeah, well you can't have everything you want. I'll figure out wormholes by myself.

He thumbs for a ride from a passing truck. Scorpius mimics him.

JOHN: Green Chevy, I had one of those. [softly] I loved that truck.

SCORPIUS: It's not too late to change the outcome.

JOHN: Oh, you know everything about me! Do you want to make a point?

SCORPIUS: Excellent! Excellent! Yes! And with familiarity, we might develop a shorthand which will...benefit us both. Try this..... you would do...well, anything to save your ship. Anything.

JOHN: Make a point.

SCORPIUS: Why assume less of Neeyala?

He runs, and runs into reality in the docking bay.

JOHN: Jool! Jooool!

He enters the Command. Jool's comm is laying on the floor. He sees Jool, getting up from the floor. She groans and holds her head.

ZHAAN: Adrenal secretions fully opened, Aeryn. Goddess speed.

Aeryn uses the console to lift her lower body off the ground, and uses both feet to kick Pilot as hard as she can.

AERYN: Pilot!

He groans.

AERYN: Come on, Pilot, feel that nice warm adrenaline flow [kick] everywhere.

PILOT: [groans] O-officer Sun? Hello.

AERYN: Hello.

He starts to fade, again.

AERYN: No. N-no. [kicks] Wake up!!

John rushes into the central part of Neeyala's ship.

JOHN: Neeyala. Let's work together on this. We'll all survive, we'll get you home.

NEEYALA: Family executed, me to follow, knowledge lost. No thanks. We both defend that, which we love.

JOHN: You shouldn't have lied.

NEEYALA: You should not have been in our path! And I should have listened to Kreetago and destroyed you when I had the chance. I have failed my crew and my ship. Now I will make it up to them.

She steps up to a console near the generator and presses a button.

JOHN: Don't make me shoot you!

NEEYALA: I encharged hydro-ssstatic vapor residue in atmossspheric sssuspenion.

JOHN: One spark and we're nuclear?

NEEYALA: Meager as it is, you do know more than any ssspecies we're aware of.

JOHN: We can find a way!

NEEYALA: If my ship sssurvives, even without me, a beacon will attract our flight command. If, by some unfathomable circumstance your vessel survives...[presses another button]...we share a joined hull. I have just infused our beacon into the Leviathans super-structure.

JOHN: We're gonna have...another set of bad guys...chasin' us across the Universe?!

NEEYALA: Unfortunately Commander, not you.

JOHN: I don't think so!

He runs. She just barely misses him with her poison darts. He hides - she shoots.

JOHN: Hey, Neeyala! You think this is gonna get ya what ya want?!

NEEYALA: What I want, you cannot give!

She just barely misses him, once again. As he tries to dodge her, he runs full-on, into Jool.

JOHN: Jool, you nitwit!

Neeyala approaches him, he's now cornered. Jool screams, as Neeyala approaches.

NEEYALA: I have never before released my bristles to kill. Your forgiveness.

She shoots them, but they simply bounce off of John.

JOHN: Melted tips.

He gets up, and grabs her by the head (being sure to pin close the gills).

JOHN: Hey, what's the matter? You can't hear me?!

He slams her against the wall. They struggle, and she manages to get free, and shove him backwards. She fires again. He swings his body and kicks her backwards. She falls against the generator. Her body shimmers a moment, then disintegrates into a pile of dust. John reaches down and picks up one of her spent (and melted) darts.

JOHN: That's a hell of a scream. Thanks. Come on. We're almost out of time!

They run out of Neeyala's ship, onto Command.

AERYN: Crichton, it's Aeryn. Pilot's just doing the calculations now. Won't be long.

JOHN: We're out of time, Aeryn!

AERYN: Just a little bit more?

JOHN: We are out of time! [to Jool] Which ones?! Which ones?!

JOOL: [whines] Stop yelling at me!

JOHN: Yelling starts in about two seconds, which ones?!

JOOL: [indicates] These! I'm pretty sure.

JOHN: You're sure? Be sure!

JOOL: [whines] I'm hurt! She hit me in the head!

JOHN: What? Did you see the order?

Zhaan steps up and points out the correct sequence.

ZHAAN: This, this, this, this.

JOOL: [nods] Yes.

JOHN: What the hell is that?

JOOL: Diagnostical helix. The mathematical representation of quantum elasticity.

JOHN: Right-right-right, that's good, that's-

JOOL: [continues] Order of nature-

JOHN: [cuts in] Enough! Enough! Thank you! Over there. [comm] Guys, I got Zhaan here with me. Where are you?

AERYN: On my way! We're not quitting.

JOHN: D'argo? Stark?

D'ARGO: We're never gonna make it, John. We voted to stay together, no matter what.

JOHN: Even Rygel?

RYGEL: Pilot likes me!

JOOL: You know, I would care to say that anything that gets me out of here alive is what we should be doing!

ZHAAN: You are a very ungrateful and selfish woman! Please remain silent from now on!

JOHN: Zhaan, none of this is gonna matter if Pilot doesn't-

PILOT: [clamshell, slurred] I'm ready.

JOHN: Pilot! Hey! Man, it's good to see ya! How ya doin'?! No, no, answer that later, we got a serious situation here. What - what do we gotta do?

PILOT: [struggles] Impulse data from each test of their generator was stored in Moya's neural circuitry, allowing me to construct a statistical model-

JOHN: [cuts in] Yeah-yeah-yeah, whatever, I trust you to do the math! Just tell me what we gotta do!

PILOT: I must initiate Starburst approximately seven microts after the generator is unleashed.

JOOL: Oh dear Chanu please don't let me die this way, please!

PILOT: Who is that creature?

JOHN: That's ballast. Ignore it. How exact do we have to be?

Aeryn enters command.

AERYN: Not as close as you'd think.

JOHN: Aeryn.

AERYN: Uh, once we start spinning, Moya's weight gives us an advantage with the gravitational pull of the wormhole.

ZHAAN: Then Neeyala's vessel will be the one ejected directly into space.

JOHN: Pilot, you wanna try a little manual point and shoot just in case you fade?

PILOT: Yes, Commander.

The manual controls come up.

AERYN: Crichton, no.

JOHN: Feel lucky?

AERYN: No-no-no-no, I've never flown a wormhole, I think it should be-

JOHN: [cuts in] Aeryn, it's easy, the exits are clearly marked and you're better with Moya.

John prepares to work on Neeyala's controls.

ZHAAN: No! John.

JOHN: Zhaan. [takes her head] I've got this.

AERYN: What's going on?

JOOL: Well just a guess, but somebody's got to actually trigger the generator.

Aeryn walks over to Neeyala's controls.

AERYN: Get back. Both of you get back.

JOHN: No! Aeryn, Aeryn, do you see this disco? I put it here, I'm gonna take it away!

ZHAAN: Crichton! Aeryn. Enough. You both are so good at gauging reality. Yet in this instance-

JOHN: [cuts in] Zhaan, there's a planet out there.

ZHAAN: A long shot at best, John. The illness that is ravaging my body, is frighteningly efficient.

She pulls back her hood, showing the multiple sores on her head.

STARK: No!!

Aeryn looks on in shock, then looks away. Jool steps back in horror. D'argo lowers his head sadly. Chiana seems to register what's going on.

ZHAAN: So while I'm still sound of mind and spirit, I chose this path for myself.

D'ARGO: [comm] Zhaan, you're needed here.

ZHAAN: At one time, I believe I was. But then a family was born.

D'ARGO: You birthed it.

CHIANA: [comm] We love you, Zhaan.

Stark runs to try to reach command, but runs into a locked doorway.

STARK: [growls] Decompression, decompression! Where to go, where to go, where to go?

JOHN: Zhaan. It'll be easy. I'll start the generator, I'll come across.

ZHAAN: [holds up hand] If it is so easy, allow me.

AERYN: Zhaan, no!

ZHAAN: No, no. [shakes head] No more. If I am so needed, and so valued, and so wise, then you will honor my words. You will obey me.

Stark continues to look for a way. He runs into another door, crying.

ZHAAN: For the longest time, I feared physical demise. Because my spiritual lessons were suspect. But now I know I'm worthy. Now I know the transgressions have melted from my soul. Now I know I shall meet my Goddess, and be accepted to her bosom. Sensitive D'argo. Exuberant Chiana. Wise Rygel. Selfless Aeryn. Innocent Crichton. My children. My teachers, my loves. There is no guilt, there is no blame, only what is meant to be. Grow through your mistakes. And know that if patient, redemption will find you.

JOHN: Wait for the wheel.

ZHAAN: [nods] Thank you, John Crichton.

She steps forward, and kisses him gently. She looks at him a moment. Then, she places a hand on the side of Aeryn's face. Pilot whimpers softly and cries. Zhaan starts to step back, and Aeryn makes a lunge for her.

AERYN: N-

John holds her back.

JOHN: No.

Stark screams, unable to reach his love, to stop her. He falls to his knees, then drops to all fours. He quiets, only at the sound of Zhaan's voice in his mind.

ZHAAN: Stark. Stark. Link with me, my beautiful. Guide me to the place of rest.

He sits up and raises his hands in front of him.

ZHAAN: Melt into my spirit, Stark. So that I may share my last moments, with the man I love.

RYGEL: Goodbye, you big, beautiful, blue bitch.

She begins the sequence needed for Neeyala's ship. The control panel begins to shimmer, and slowly Zhaan begins to shimmer as well. John watches in awe, Aeryn watches in pain. Zhaan looks up a moment, then down at herself, as the shimmer takes over her. Suddenly, like dust, the ship is sucked out of Moya.

D'ARGO: No!

Chiana, Jool and Rygel scream. Neeyala's ship pulls out of Moya, causing the crew to be tossed around, once again. John and Aeryn watch, as Neeyala's ship hangs in front of Moya, Zhaan working the controls. Zhaan stops, and looks back at Moya. Stark listens.

ZHAAN: Always together. Joined as one.

In the ship, Zhaan bows slightly and crosses her hands over her head. She holds her hands out to her sides, and looks through the portal.

ZHAAN: Peace of mind. Peace of spirit. Peace of soul. Goodbye my love.

Neeyala's ship suddenly obliterates. But for one moment, Zhaans image remains. A yellow image of energy; then it's gone. Swept away by the wormhole. Moya shudders deeply. Aeryn struggles to get up, John helping.

JOHN: Aeryn, you gotta fly this baby.

The crew knocks about, crying out, trying to keep as steady as possible. John helps Aeryn back to the controls, and helps pin her in place. Another strong lurch throws them both off. Circuits spark, crew members tumble.

Moya is safely in open space. The ship is quiet. Lights flicker. Steam vents softly.

Pilot's den. The DRD's click and whirl on Pilot's console.

PILOT: I...appreciate your concern, Rygel. It's just that...you've never paid this much attention to me before.

RYGEL: [chuckles] I think maybe you haven't noticed. I like you Pilot. I like you a lot.

Pilot clears his throat, somewhat uncomfortably.

RYGEL: And I know Zhaan did, too. Shame you didn't get to say goodbye.

PILOT: When I was unconscious, in pain, she came to me. Inside my mind. I...already miss her.

Jool follows a limping Chiana, and trips, falling flat on her face.

JOOL: Oh! Oh, wait for me!

She gets back up.

CHIANA: Not that way on Moya. You wanna move faster? Get better shoes. Or maybe, get in better shape.

JOOL: Do you know how much these shoes cost, young whore?!

CHIANA: For me? Three sex acts. Probably double that for you.

Jool catches up, grabs Chiana, and whips her around.

JOOL: You have some nerve to talk to me that way!

CHIANA: One of my very, very best friends has just gone. Right now I am - I am nothing but nerve. You want someone to like you? Invest in a mirror.

D'argo sits in "his" ship.

Medical bay.

STARK: Honestly, Aeryn, you don't have to hover over me.

AERYN: To be honest in return Stark, I'd expect you to be a bit more upset.

STARK: Well, after fifteen thousand deaths, what's fifteen thousand and one?

AERYN: The woman you loved.

He turns to her. He is tightly gripping a scalpel. She looks at him, and then gently takes it from him.

STARK: Those I minister to in their final moments, are usually resistant to the process. Not Zhaan. Imagine being so at peace. So certain what was next, was better. She does not want us upset. She wants us to carry on in her spirit. Positive, and hopeful.

AERYN: And you can do that?

STARK: Not always. I would appreciate you hovering, then.

She hands the scalpel back.

Zhaan's room is painfully empty. Still melted and damaged from fire they had to induce, due to the the spiders they took on at the depository. Zhaan's reflection hangs in the mirror a moment, then pulls back. John sits in her room, staring sadly and distantly at nothing.

In his mind, the snippet of The Three Stooges he saw in Neeyala's device, plays on the drive in movie screen. He leans against the yellow Mustang, in funeral attire. Scorpius sits next to him.

SCORPIUS: Why is it always the gentle ones that pay the price for everyone else's ambition? Hm?

John takes a deep drink of his beer. It seems bitter in his mouth. He lashes out, and throws the bottle.

END OF EPISODE.