XOVER: Going Home Again - part 1 of 7
Dawn341@aol.com
Wed, 6 Nov 2002 21:45:53 EST
Going Home Again by Dawn Cunningham
None of the characters in this story belong to me. I'm using them
without permission and receiving no monetary gain.
Do not post or publish this story anywhere else, without my express
permission. Feel free to share it with others as long as the disclaimers
remain intact. Permission is granted to post this story on the 7th
Dimension Highlander fiction archive
Warnings:
This is the fourth story of my Farscape/Highlander universe. It probably
won't make much sense unless you've read the first three: 'The Farscape
Project', 'Hope', and 'Betrayal'. You can find it on my website below,
or the 7th Dimension Highlander Fanfic archive. I've also added another
universe to this story - Stargate: SG-1. While I'm not a big fan of
stories that cross over multiple universes, sometimes I just have to
follow the muse whether I want to or not.
There are spoilers for season 3 of Farscape. However, my universe
separates from the Farscape universe before the last four episodes of
Season 3. Anything that has happened since then has not happened in my
universe (although I reserve the right to use tidbits from anything I
think will fit).
This story does not end this universe, however, I probably will not
write any more stories in it. Of course, that could change, too.
However, I have found that I don't enjoy writing Farscape fanfic all
that much. Plus lack of feedback makes me think that only a few others
are enjoying it either. If others wish to continue on with this universe
I've created, please feel free, but give me credit for setting it up.
Characters:
>From Highlander:
Duncan MacLeod, and Richie Ryan
>From Farscape:
Most of the main characters
>From Stargate SG-1:
Most of the main characters
Acknowledgments:
Once again, Melanie gets the credit for trying to fix all my typos. I
keep adding more in though. She always improves my stories. Judy gets
the credit for making sure I got the Stargate characters right. You can
think Judy for all the Daniel scenes.
Comments are always welcome at Dawn341@aol.com
If you wish to read any of my Highlander stories, they are archived at:
http://members.aol.com/dawn341/fiction.html. My other universe stories
can be found at: http://members.aol.com/dawn341/fiction2.html
*******
Going Home Again by Dawn Cunningham
"Pizza. Yeah, pizza and beer," Richie Ryan said, dreamily. "That's the
first thing I want when I get back home."
"Not me. Although the beer does sound good," John Crichton agreed as he
set his food tray down on the table. "But I want chocolate. Lots of
chocolate. Fried chicken. Apple pie. Grandma Crichton's biscuits."
"Chili dogs. Ice cream. French Fries." Richie grinned at the other
human. "Twinkies!"
John grinned back. "Twinkies! Although I don't know why you're dreaming
about food. After all, you were dead for most of the time since leaving
Earth. You've only been back in the land of the living for about four
months. It's been closer to four years for me."
"Yeah, but four months with no pizza and beer seems like an eternity!"
"Will you two stop it!" Aeryn Sun ordered. "What if this isn't a way
home? If you keep building up all these expectations, you may be in for
a very big disappointment."
"But it could be Earth," John pointed out.
"How? Do you recognize any of the star patterns? Wouldn't some race have
discovered your planet by now? Just because we're in the uncharted
territory doesn't mean that other races aren't searching for planets to
trade with."
"Hey, there's always been rumors about aliens visiting Earth," Richie
protested. "Maybe they have discovered us, but left us alone."
"Yeah!" John agreed. "Or maybe they've figured out wormholes. D.K. is an
intelligent guy - he would have kept at it, and he'd have a whole lot
more resources than I've had to work with. Maybe they made a wormhole,
then came through it and set up a camp on a planet."
"And they just assumed you'd still be alive after more than three
cycles. You're dreaming, Crichton."
"You gotta have dreams, Aeryn," John stated quietly, hoping his eyes
would tell her his biggest dream - that they would become lovers.
The sudden silence seemed to last forever. Richie glanced back and forth
between the two of them, then stood up. "Hey, I think I'm needed in
command," he muttered before hastily leaving the room.
Aeryn stood up to follow him, but John grabbed her hand. "When are you
going to stop running?" he asked. "We have to talk about us."
"There is no 'us'," she spat back. "If that radio signal isn't a trick,
then you'll be on your way back home. How can there be any 'us' when
you're on Earth and I'm in the uncharted territories!" Tears glistened
in her eyes.
"You can come back with me. Make a new life on Earth. You liked what you
saw when the ancients made us think we were there. You'd like the real
Earth even more."
"And what about D'Argo? Chiana? Rygel? Will they be welcome on Earth, as
well? Or will your scientists want to experiment on them?"
John shook his head slowly. "No, I doubt they'd ever be welcome.
Although, if we've progressed far enough to get out into the uncharted
territories, then maybe they've already accepted that aliens exist."
"And maybe they haven't." Aeryn twisted her arm, and freed herself.
Before John could stop her, she left the room.
"Damn!" John said, as he sat back down again. He could go after her, but
he knew she wouldn't be receptive to anything he had to say right now.
*****
"It's not Earth," John said, unable to hide the disappointment in his
voice. He'd kept trying to tell himself not to expect miracles, but
hadn't been able to block all hope during the last ten days.
"The signal is definitely from that planet," Pilot stated. "It is also
the planet where you buried your friends."
"Are you sure, Pilot?" John asked, spinning around to stare at the
hologram.
"Yes. Based on my calculations, the signal is very close to the burial
site. There are also life forms present."
"Can you tell what kind of life form?"
"No. However, it appears to be a very small group."
Richie turned away from the view screen where he had continued to stare
at the planet while Pilot had been talking. "The message is aimed at
you, John. I don't think you should risk going down there. I'll go -
they can't kill me."
"And if it's Scorpius? Do you want to end up back in the Aurora chair?
You know what it did to you the last time!" John almost cringed as he
remembered back to when Richie had kept switching personalities.
Richie shuddered at the memory. "No, I don't want that to happen, and
you don't want to end up in it either."
"Of course not. But that signal is specifically aimed at me. I *have* to
be the one who goes down."
"Then we go together."
"And we're going with you."
Both humans spun around and saw the rest of Moya's crew standing there -
well, everyone but Rygel. Aeryn and Chiana had pulse pistols strapped to
their legs, and pulse rifles in their arms. D'Argo had already converted
his Qualta blade to a rifle, as well.
"What? No Rygel?" John asked with a grin.
"He's offered to keep Pilot company while we are gone," D'Argo
responding, offering up a grin as well.
"How... heroic of him." John looked at his friends. "This could be a
trap. Maybe you'd better stay here, just in case."
"No, if it's a trap, we're going to spring it together," Aeryn insisted.
John knew better than to argue. "Let's at least split up. Aeryn, you can
fly your Prowler down. Richie and I will take the module, and Chiana can
go with D'Argo in his ship." He moved over to the chart table. "Pilot,
can you show us where you register life forms?"
A holographic image popped up. The life forms appeared to be
concentrated in two areas, although there were several off by
themselves. John pointed out three separate landing sites. "If we land
here, here, and here, we can surround them. Richie and I will go in
first - where there are the fewest life forms. If something goes wrong,
they won't be expecting you to come in from behind."
"All right," Aeryn agreed, while D'Argo nodded his head. "We'll stay out
of sight until we see if you get into trouble."
"What do you mean *if* he gets into trouble?" Chiana retorted. "Don't
you mean *when* he gets into trouble?"
Crichton took the ribbing in stride, and turned to leave command. After
all, he did have a history of running into unexpected difficulties. Of
course, he also had a history of getting them out of those same
difficulties.
Richie stopped him by placing a hand on his arm. "There's one thing I
need you all to understand," he said. "If there *are* humans on this
planet, they must never find out about my immortality. They'd take me
apart faster than Scorpius would."
John looked around at the rest of Moya's crew. "Does everyone
understand?" When they all nodded, he added, "Then let's go."
*****
John climbed out of the module, quickly drawing his pulse pistol while
he waited for Richie to join him. The Immortal drew his own weapon as
soon as his feet hit the ground.
"That way," Richie said, pointing out the direction.
"Wait a minute - let's not go in with our weapons drawn. Maybe that way
they won't start shooting at us before we can find out what's going on."
"Okay." Richie placed his pistol back in the holster. "If they do start
shooting, get behind me. I'll come back - you won't."
John rolled his eyes. There was no way he was going to hide behind his
friend. "Let's go."
Cautiously, they made their way through the trees, headed for the site
Pilot had shown them. Before they got there, they heard someone
approaching from the other direction. John signaled to Richie, and then
both took cover. A few moments later, a man walked out into the open.
With a curse, John came out from hiding and pulled his weapon.
"Can't you guys come up with something new?" he asked, pointing his
pistol at the man.
"John? Is that really you?" the man asked, bringing up one hand to rub
at his eyes.
"Of course, it's me," John replied sarcastically. "The question is, who
are you?"
Richie joined him, looking puzzled. "John, he's your father. Why are you
aiming your gun at him?"
"No, it just looks like him. It always looks like him. Let's see... I
suppose you could be one of the ancients, but the one who masqueraded as
my dad is dead, so I don't think that's who you are. I suppose you could
be another Scarran messing with my mind, but I don't feel warm. So, who
are you?"
"John, I'm your father!" the man stated, moving closer.
John quickly fired off a shot, deliberately missing the man, but coming
close enough to make it obvious that he wouldn't hesitate to shoot if he
felt the need. "That's far enough. I don't know who you are, but you are
*not* my dad."
The man stopped where he was, a stunned look on his face. "Son, what's
happened to you?" He looked at John, then turned to the Immortal.
"Richie, why won't John believe it's me?" he demanded, looking ready to
do battle with whoever was responsible.
Richie wasn't sure what to believe. The man sure looked like John's
father, but his friend seemed to think it was some kind of trick. Of
course it didn't help that twice before aliens had messed with his mind,
trying to convince John that he was back on Earth.
"What did they do to John?" the man almost pleaded, looking at Richie.
"Why won't he believe it's really me?"
"Okay, if you're really Jack Crichton, how did you get here?" Richie
asked.
Before the man could answer, Richie felt something that he hadn't felt
for a long time - the touch of another Immortal. He quickly pulled his
sword out, ignoring the shocked looks from the two other men.
"What's going on, Rich?" John asked.
"Why does he have a sword?" Jack asked.
"There's another... uh... someone like me here," he explained, searching
the surrounding area carefully.
"Are you sure?" John asked.
"What does he mean?" Jack demanded, starting to look upset that no one
was paying any attention to him.
"Of course I'm sure," Richie fought to keep the sarcasm out of his
voice. It wasn't John's fault that he didn't know all the facts about
Immortals. When another figure stepped out into the clearing, Richie
almost dropped his sword. "Mac?" Richie couldn't believe his eyes as he
lowered his sword's point toward the ground.
"Richie." Duncan MacLeod looked stunned. He slowly slid his katana into
his coat, without taking his eyes off the younger Immortal, then he
moved closer. They stared at each other for a moment, then Duncan
reached out and pulled Richie into a strong embrace.
John looked back at the man who looked just like his father, and studied
him closer. He looked older - none of the other apparitions had done
that. Was it really possible? He started trembling, and his pulse pistol
slipped from his hand, unnoticed. "Dad, is that really you?" he finally
asked, hope and uncertainty mixed in his voice.
"Yes, it's really me, son." Jack copied Duncan's move and pulled his son
into a tight embrace. "I'm so glad you're alive," he said, barely
choking out the words.
John didn't say anything - couldn't say anything. He just soaked up the
comfort and love that seemed to flow from his father. Slowly his arms
came up and encircled the older man. John struggled to swallow the lump
that had suddenly formed in his throat, and he fought back the tears
that were stinging his eyes.
When John felt his father's body stiffen, he finally pulled back from
the embrace. His father's eyes were fixed on something behind John's
back, and he quickly spun around, while frantically reaching for his
pulse pistol on the ground, ready to defend his father at all costs.
When he saw what had surprised his dad, John chuckled.
"Dad, I'd like you to meet D'Argo - he's a good friend. D'Argo, this is
my dad, Jack."
D'Argo approached warily. "Are you sure he's your father this time?"
John frowned. "I think so - no, I *know* it is."
At that D'Argo smiled widely and stuck out his hand to shake Jack's. He
was a little too vigorous, and Jack winced as his arm was pumped up and
down too fast. D'Argo stopped immediately and looked at John.
"Is that not how you humans greet each other? Did I do something wrong?"
John laughed, and clapped D'Argo on the shoulder. "Next time, don't try
to rip his arm off while you're shaking hands."
D'Argo looked sheepish, and turned back to Jack. "Sorry," he apologized,
not realizing it had come out as nothing more than a snarled sound to
Jack.
Richie came over to join them, almost pulling Duncan forward. "D'Argo,
as long as we're doing introductions, this is my friend, Duncan MacLeod.
Mac, this is D'Argo. He's a Luxan warrior."
D'Argo tried the handshake ritual again, but this time he barely moved
his arm. Richie and John grinned at each other.
"You need some practice, D'Argo," John said. He looked at the man
standing next to Richie, then stuck out his hand. "I've heard so much
about you that I feel I already know you. I'm John Crichton."
Duncan clasped his hand, and shook it. "I feel the same way. Both Rich
and your father have told me a lot about you."
John held up his hands and grinned. "None of it is true! I swear!"
Everyone laughed at that. John tapped on his communicator. "Aeryn,
Chiana, everything is cool here. Come join us."
Jack moved closer to his son and whispered in his ear, "There's more of
them?"
"He's the only Luxan. Chiana is a Nebari, and Aeryn is a Sebacean."
"And you understand what he's saying?" Jack asked, continuing to stare
at the alien.
John smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand. "We didn't bring
any translator microbes with us," he moaned.
"Maybe Rygel can bring some down," Richie suggested, grinning at the
thought of how Jack and Duncan would react to that alien.
John chuckled, immediately catching on. "That's a good idea." He tapped
on his communicator again. "Pilot, could you have Rygel bring down a DRD
and some translator microbes?"
"Translator microbes? What's that?" Jack asked.
"They'll help you understand everyone," John explained. "Once they're
injected in you, they colonize at the base of your brain and translate."
"Injected!" Jack stepped back. "I don't think that will be necessary."
"I agree," Duncan said, placing one arm around Richie's shoulders, and
squeezing them lightly. "Now that you two are back here safe and sound,
we can all go back to Earth. I don't think we'll need your translator
microbes there."
John and Richie exchanged glances.
"It's not that easy, Mac," Richie stated. "We've got some unfinished
business to take care of."
"Can't your..." Jack glanced at D'Argo before continuing, "friends take
care of it?" Jack asked.
"It's a long story," John said, "but, I'm the one responsible for the
problem, so it's up to me to correct it."
"Why don't we all go back to camp, and you can fill us in," Duncan
suggested. He still hadn't removed his arm from Richie's shoulders, but
the younger Immortal didn't complain. It felt good. It felt like he was
home.
"Maybe it would be best if the rest of us return to Moya," D'Argo
suggested. "You can talk to your father in private, then let us know
what you have decided."
"That's not necessary," John stated firmly.
"Not necessary, but still for the best." D'Argo tapped on his
communicator. "Aeryn, Chiana, we are going back to Moya."
"But I want Aeryn to meet dad!" John burst out.
D'Argo clapped him on the shoulder. "There will be time later for that.
Enjoy your reunion, then we will come back." With that, he turned and
headed back toward his ship.
"Let's go back to camp," Jack said, reaching out one arm to place around
his son's shoulders when he didn't move. He gently turned him, then led
the way back. "And maybe someone will explain why Richie and Duncan
carry swords hidden in their coats."
Richie and Duncan exchanged glances as they stopped in their tracks.
Jack and John stopped as well, and turned to face the two other men.
"Jack, for the sake of our friendship, don't ask us to explain," Duncan
said. "It could be dangerous for you to know the reasons."
Jack stared at the Highlander for a long time, then looked over at his
son. "You know why, don't you?" he asked John.
Reluctantly, John nodded. "I know, but I've promised to not tell anyone
about it. Don't ask me to break that vow, Dad. I will tell you that it
isn't anything bad."
John looked at the three men, studying each one carefully in turn. "All
right. I won't ask again."
"Thank you," Duncan said. "Now, let's head back to camp."
***** end of part 1