Note: You can select the format of this script by going to your browser's “View” menu and selecting a different style from the “Page Style” submenu.

No Serviceable Parts Inside

by Christian Bauer

Teaser

Fade in:

Ext. Space

A spaceship of unknown origin slowly drifts across. The craft resembles an octagonally cut sapphire, symmetrical, with flat faces on the top and bottom. There are very few exterior features on its bluish windowless sides. No drive exhausts can be seen, and due to its symmetry it's impossible to tell which would be the front side of the ship.

Int. Ship's bridge

A small circular room, very brightly illuminated. Three people are on duty, sitting in chairs in front of consoles lining the walls: the ship's captain to one side of the room's only entrance, the navigator opposite to him, and a third one (who appears to be younger than his companions) near the back, closest to a black, waist-high cylindrical object resting on a low pedestal at the center of the room.

The ship's crew are humanoid aliens, with pale skin and round, pitch black eyes. They are wearing crudely fashioned cloth robes as uniforms, held together by a belt at the waist. These beings radiate a certain clumsiness: they are near-sighted, their movements are slow and sometimes uncoordinated, and they have trouble operating the controls with their short, thick fingers.

The crew is in the middle of a casual conversation and everyone is relaxing.

Captain: ...and when they brought it to our table, I noticed it was still wriggling! My mate nearly fainted.
Navigator: (laughs) That's disgusting!

The alien sitting next to the black cylinder looks skeptical but says nothing.

Captain: I called the waiter to complain, but he said that--

He is interrupted by a buzzing alarm from the navigator's station.

The navigator straightens up in his chair and activates a large display on his console.

Navigator: Captain, sensors are detecting three Scarran vessels on an intercept course. Their weapons are armed.
Captain: Enable all reactors and charge disruptor!

He turns to the ship's intercom while his navigator tensely tracks the enemy's movements on his screen.

Int. Crew quarters - Continuous

Cramped, untidy, with bunks for four people. Two sleeping crew members are rudely awakened as the lights come on and an alarm wails.

Captain: (over intercom) Attention. We have made hostile contact. Everyone to stations.

The two briefly look at each other and hasten to get up and ready.

Int. Bridge - Continuous

Captain: Naras, wake her up!

Naras, the third member of the bridge crew, obeys his order.

Naras: Yes, Captain.

He turns his attention to the cylinder.

Ext. Moya

Moya flies leisurely through a different region of space.

Int. Moya, Stark's quarters - Late Evening

Stark sits on the bed with closed eyes, meditating. His face is softly illuminated by a lantern standing on the bedside table, next to a collection of glass vials containing what's left of Zhaan's mixtures.

Through the grating of the room's closed door we see Chiana walking past outside, pausing as she notices Stark.

Int. Moya, Corridor outside Stark's quarters - Continuous

Chiana is about to enter, but then hesitates. She finally decides that Stark is best left alone now and resumes scouring the dim corridor, peeking into rooms as she passes them, apparently looking for something or somebody. At a junction, she runs into Aeryn.

Aeryn: (casually) Good night, Chiana.
Chiana: Aeryn, where's Crichton? I thought he was with you.
Aeryn: No, he's still on the command, playing with Rygel.
Chiana: (smiling) What? They've been at it for six arns straight now. Crichton's gonna be broke by tomorrow morning... if he doesn't drop out before.
Aeryn: Well, I tried to warn him, but he wouldn't listen to me. You may give it a go if you like.

Aeryn continues on her way to her quarters, while Chiana now heads for the command.

Chiana: (to herself) I should have offered to teach him. (She nods.) Yeah. I would have gotten richer than a Kejarian casino owner.

She walks off the screen.

Int. Alien ship's bridge

Naras faces the cylindrical object at the center of the bridge.

The cylinder's dark color makes it stand out strongly from the other bridge equipment. Its top face consists of a silvery metal disc with a small semi-transparent hemisphere on it, which is connected to the disc by a black ring at its base. A thin optical cable is routed from the top of the hemisphere to a console nearby. Similar cables and a couple of tubes run from the base of the cylinder to a second device next to it.

Naras presses a few buttons on the console and a yellow light begins blinking on the hemisphere. There seems to be something organic underneath, but it is not clearly visible. Bubbling sounds come from inside the device.

A few moments later the light stays on permanently and Naras starts talking to the cylinder.

Naras: Hello, Keeper. Did you sleep well?

A red indicator on the hemisphere lights up and the question is answered by a slightly mechanical sounding voice emanating from the cylinder. It is clearly a synthesized voice but one that tries hard to convey emotions in its tone, sometimes overly so.

Voice: (dozily) Disturbed... my dreams...
Captain: There's no time for chatting. Link her in!
Naras: (still looking at the cylinder) Keeper, we have encountered three Scarran ships.
Voice: (more focused) I see them.

Naras taps a few more buttons on his console.

Naras: I have switched over inertial and weapons control to you now.
Voice: Acknowledged.

Ext. Ship - Continuous

The ship comes to life. It spins and flips so its bottom side is now facing forward, and then zooms off the screen.

Ext. Space - Continuous

The Scarran ships enter the view, moving steadily. The group consists of one larger attack vessel flanked by two smaller craft which are now spreading out to battle formation. Suddenly, all three ships open fire simultaneously. Red-hot plasma shots travel into the distance at high velocity.

Ext. Ship - Continuous

Just as the plasma bolts are about to hit their target, the octagonal ship starts dodging them at insane speed, in beautifully fluid movements, but maintaining its course toward the Scarrans.

Ext. Space battle - Continuous

From the perspective of the Scarrans we see that the octagonal ship has quickly reached the group and moves between them, still under constant fire but not taking any hits.

In a not so bright move, the large Scarran vessel fires its weapon while the much smaller octagonal ship is between it and one of the escort craft. The small ship evades and the shot hits the attack vessel's escort, obliterating it.

The other escort craft breaks away from the attack ship.

Int. Bridge - Continuous

The captain snorts a laugh.

Captain: Scarran trasniks...
Naras: Very good, Keeper.
Voice: (flatly) I'm doing my very best.

Ext. Space battle - Continuous

The octagonal ship moves away from the attack vessel, then upwards, while the remaining escort is trying to take it into a pincer attack.

At first, the ship prevails in the cross-fire but then takes a sudden hit at the edge and starts spinning wildly.

Int. Bridge - Continuous

The ship shudders slightly from the impact.

Voice: Internal inertial control is down to 90 percent. I recommend that you hold on.

The intercom on the captain's console crackles.

Intercom: Avat here. It was just a minor hit. I'm initiating repairs.
Voice: Disruptor is now fully charged.
Captain: Open fire!

Ext. Space battle - Continuous

The octagonal ship stops its uncontrolled spinning, flips over and darts toward the large Scarran vessel which has now resumed the plasma bombardment.

Still evading the projectiles, the ship fires its disruptor weapon. A continuous green energy beam emerges from its bottom, but misses the Scarran. The ship dodges a few more plasma bolts, then fires a second time.

The beam slices through the bow of the attack vessel, taking out its primary cannon. Despite the damage the vessel remains operative.

With the main threat eliminated, the small ship closes in, flips to aim at the escort craft (which is now farther away), fires, and hits mid-ship. There is an explosion but due to the disruptor's limited range the escort craft is not completely destroyed.

Suddenly, a shining orange orb is fired from the large Scarran vessel and accelerates toward the octagonal ship, which initiates blindingly fast evasive maneuvers. The orb, obviously a torpedo of some kind, attempts to match its target's movements, unsteadily at first but quickly adapting and getting closer.

The two objects dance wildly around each other. The disruptor beam fires several times but scores no hit.

Int. Bridge - Continuous

Everyone is looking distressed.

Voice: It's moving too quickly. I cannot evade it!

Ext. Ship - Continuous

The shining orb has almost reached the small ship, which tries to flip over and reverse its course. The torpedo, having anticipated that maneuver, strikes squarely into one side of the ship. There is a large detonation.

Int. Bridge - Continuous

Impact. The crew gets tossed out of their seats. Naras lands on the floor. With a sound of splintering bone, the navigator hits his head hard on the console in front of him. He groans and falls over.

Int. Ship, Corridor - Continuous

A wall of fire rushes along the narrow corridor, toward us. A moment before we become engulfed in it, a series of automated bulkheads slams shut, containing the flames and sealing off the destroyed section of the ship.

Int. Bridge - Continuous

Alarms are sounding. A milky white fluid comes forth from an ugly wound in the navigator's skull.

Voice: Hull is breached, section 4 downspin.

Fade out: End of teaser

Roll opening titles

Act one

Int. Bridge - Continuous

The navigator lies with his upper torso on the console, his lifeless eyes still opened. White, viscous blood runs down his forehead and over the controls.

The captain walks over to him.

Captain: Hey, Katain! (shaking him) Talk to me!

Dead.

Voice: I told you to hang on.

The captain throws a grim glance at the cylinder, and then presses the intercom button on Katain's console.

Captain: (into intercom) Avat, damage report!

He looks at Naras on the floor, who seems to be OK and starts getting up.

Captain: Avat?

Ext. Ship - Continuous

There is a gaping hole in one side of the small ship.

Captain: (voice-over) Avat?!

No response. The torpedo has destroyed the entire section where Avat and his aide had worked.

Int. Bridge - Continuous

The captain is starting to panic and nervously pushes buttons.

Voice: Disruptor is still operational.
Captain: (looking at a display, not at the cylinder) Then keep firing, you Fellip-brained slijot!

Naras is now back at his post.

Naras: If it weren't for her we would be dead by now. I'm certain she's doing the best she can.

The captain looks sharply at Naras who is startled, expecting a rebuke. He wants to say something at first, but then sees that Naras has a point.

Captain: I'm going down to find out what happened to Avat and Yoris. You stay here with her. And make sure she doesn't mess up again.

He leaves the bridge.

Naras: (under his breath) Yes, sir... (then to the cylinder, in a commanding but controlled voice:) Keeper, aim at the larger ship.

Ext. Ship - Continuous

The ship is again engaging the Scarran attack vessel, turning to aim, when a second torpedo is launched at it. Unswerving, the ship fires its energy beam.

It's a direct hit. A huge explosion breaks up the Scarran vessel into two parts. The torpedo, however, escapes and continues toward its target.

The octagonal ship tries to evade to the side, but it has lost a great deal of its agility in the first hit. It is obvious that the second torpedo is not going to miss.

Int. Bridge - Continuous

Voice: Incoming!

The torpedo hits. Lights flicker. Sparks fly out of the consoles.

Naras hurts a hand trying to latch onto a rack-mounted device next to him. There is some blood but it's not a serious injury. After the tremor of the impact subsides, he stands up and reaches for the intercom.

Naras: (into intercom) Captain, we've been hit again. Are you all right? Captain! (No answer.) Captain! (Still no answer.) This is not good... Keeper, what's our status?

He pulls a piece of cloth from inside a sleeve of his uniform and starts bandaging his hand with it.

Voice: (a little freaked out) Inertial generators are down to 20 percent... And the disruptor is almost completely discharged. Bulkheads are holding, but life support seems to be gone, and there are leaks in two of the fuel cells.

Naras studies the displays to confirm the damage assessment.

Naras: What about the Scarrans?
Voice: I have destroyed their larger ship. The remaining escort appears to be fleeing. I will pursue it.

Naras sways as the ship turns.

Naras: No, calm down! You'll get us killed. They will lead us back to their fleet and I don't think we can take another hit. I'm going to call for help now. Keep monitoring that Scarran ship.
Voice: Whatever you say.

Naras walks up to the captain's console and activates the distress beacon.

Naras: (into ship's communications system) This is patrol ship Blue Feather--

Ext. Moya - A little earlier

Moya quietly passes by. There are no signs of the battle the other ship is involved in.

Int. Moya, Command

Rygel is teaching John how to play Tadek. They are sitting at a table with the game board between them. John is thinking hard about his next move, twisting the stick that is used to move the game pieces between his fingers. Rygel leans back, looking contented with the game's progress.

Chiana enters the command, unnoticed by John who sits with his back to the door, totally focused on the game. She looks curiously at the two players and smiles.

John now seems to have made up his mind.

John: Yep, this is it!

He puts his left hand on a small glass globe next to him and starts pushing one of the game pieces in Rygel's direction using the stick.

John: (again, to himself) This is it...

The Tadek board emits a couple of lights and sounds while John is moving the piece, but suddenly he receives a shock from the globe. Chiana starts laughing in the background and Rygel smiles victoriously.

John: Ouch! Hey, why did it do that? That was a brilliant move! It would have nailed you right down on the left side.
Rygel: (laughing) In this game, you never reveal your intentions to your opponent, Crichton.

Chiana comes closer.

Chiana: (to John who is rubbing his hand) You still haven't had enough yet? That little toad will wangle your last food cubes out of you.
John: (looking at the board again) Don't worry about me, Pip. I still have my pants on. Look, I know I can win this game; I'm just having a run of bad luck.

Rygel looks at John, knowing that he plays poorly.

Chiana: Suit yourself...

Chiana smiles again and turns away.

Chiana: (into her comms) Pilot?

Cut to: Int. Moya, Pilot's chamber

Pilot looks up from his console.

Pilot: Yes?

Back to scene

Chiana: I'm going to bed now. Keep an eye on Rygel. I suspect he's cheating.
Pilot: (over comms) Yes, Chiana.
Rygel: (offended but still friendly) Ah, watch it, tralk!

Chiana snickers and exits the command.

Int. Moya, Pilot's chamber - Continuous

Pilot smiles and shakes his head. He then taps some of the controls on his console, sighs, and slowly closes his eyes. We move in, the screen fades to white, and we end up:

Inside Pilot's mind

The sight is overwhelming: a view of the stars as provided by Moya's senses, with dozens of changing images moving across, constantly appearing and vanishing again. Most of them show the view of DRDs performing small maintenance tasks or moving along corridors (Rygel and John are also briefly seen, watched by a DRD in the command). Others show planets, stellar phenomena and fragments of Moya's past adventures. All of these images are loosely held together by a swaying tree-like structure with a dark red, twisted stem, and a myriad of differently colored branches going off in all directions. Various sounds can be heard: Moya's constant rhythmic humming and other organic noises, but most of the sounds belong to the images which are visible.

Slowly, one specific image grows larger, pushing all the other pictures to the side: a memory from Pilot's youth. We see a younger looking Pilot diving under water, just beneath the surface. It is very gloomy, but Pilot moves at great speed and with surprising elegance, using his four arms to propel himself forward. He reaches the edge of a rock and starts climbing it. When he emerges from the water, we see that there is a thin layer of mist covering the surface. Pilot continues to climb the rock a short way to its top, water dripping from his head, then he looks up. Thousands of stars are visible in the clear night sky of Pilot's home world, and he gazes at them in amazement.

The tranquility of the scene is brutally interrupted by a sound from Moya's communications system. Pilot's recollection immediately disappears and is replaced by a distorted rendition of the distress signal sent out by Naras.

Distress signal: --patrol ship Blue Feather. ... been attacked by a Scarran--

Abruptly, we return

Back to scene

We are still looking at Pilot's face when he quickly opens his eyes, looks to the side and starts operating the controls.

Int. Moya, Command

Nothing much has changed here except that Rygel now has a few higher stacks of Tadek pieces on his side of the board. John is still concentrating on the game, absent-mindedly scratching himself behind the ear with the stick.

The image of Pilot appears in a clamshell behind Rygel.

Pilot: Crichton! I am picking up a distress call.
John: (suddenly very alert) Put it on the screen, Pilot.

The view of the stars on the command's viewport is replaced by the transmission.

Distress signal: ...ship's status is critical. ... about eight arns remaining until the atmosphere... Calling anyone in the vicinity... respond. (The image freezes.)

John has risen from his seat while the signal was playing.

John: Oh, my... Pilot, do you have a fix on that signal?

He starts racing toward the command's door.

Pilot: (looking at his console) Yes, it is approximately one arn away at maximum speed.

John slows down his pace to look back at the clamshell.

John: Keep tracking its position!

Pilot nods and the image in the clamshell folds away. John has reached the doorway.

Rygel: Wait! Where are you going?

John stops and looks at Rygel.

John: I'm waking the others.

He exits through the door.

Rygel growls, but as soon as John is out of hearing range, he moves one of the Tadek pieces into a more favorable position on the board with his hand, smiling innocently.

Int. Blue Feather, Bridge

Still standing at the captain's station, Naras turns back to the cylinder.

Naras: Any news?
Voice: The Scarrans are still moving away from us at great speed.
Naras: Good. We seem to be safe for now.

He taps a few buttons but then looks dismayed.

Naras: The repair drone is not responding, either.
Voice: (slightly enraged) They have wrecked my Blue Feather!
Naras: Don't be upset. Someone will pick us up and then we'll have our ship restored. I'm going to take a look at the upper levels now.
Voice: Come back soon. Please.

Naras smiles and exits the bridge.

Int. Moya, Command

John, Aeryn, Rygel and Jool are already here. D'Argo (still in his black pajamas) and Chiana are entering on the double. The image of Pilot can be seen in the clamshell at the back.

John: (to Chiana) Where's Astroboy?
Chiana: Stark's in his quarters. He's still a little yotzed out from what happened at the Jocacean monastery.

Everyone is looking at the viewport where a recording of the distress signal is being played back.

Distress signal: ...been attacked by a Scarran-- ... ship's status is critical... (etc.)
Rygel: I say we blast out of here. The Scarrans might still be nearby.
Jool: You're not going to just leave a distress call unheeded, are you?
Aeryn: Well, I hate to agree with Rygel but he's right. Moya hasn't yet fully recovered from the damage caused in the wormhole, and we cannot risk being drawn into a conflict.
John: Aeryn, there are survivors on board and they're gonna kick the bucket if we don't do something.
D'Argo: Pilot, are there any Scarran ships in this area?
Pilot: No, I'm not registering any other vessels.
John: (to Aeryn) We're the only ones who could save them.

Aeryn is convinced and nods. John looks around and Chiana, D'Argo and Jool also agree. No one is paying any attention to Rygel.

John: Pilot, set a course for that ship.
Pilot: Changing course now.

Rygel sighs and shakes his head.

Int. Blue Feather, Maintenance corridor

A bulkhead on the floor opens and Naras climbs out of it. Metal girders creak from strain. Blue vapor leaks from cracked pipes running along the walls.

Naras: Captain?

No answer.

Naras walks to a nearby door when there is a sudden sound, like steel cables twitching. He freezes and looks around cautiously.

Nothing happens.

He activates the intercom panel next to the door.

Naras: (into intercom) Keeper, I haven't found any of the others so far, but I'm now at the life support systems. If I can get them back on-line, we might be able to make it to the base on our own.

He unlocks the door and opens it, but at the same instant he hears something bursting overhead. He looks up.

There is a deafening explosion. Before Naras can react, several ceiling panels and pipes rain down on him. He is immediately knocked out and falls on his back, his face and chest pierced by pieces of shrapnel. Another panel hits him on the head and he lies there motionless, buried in the debris.

Ext. Moya - An hour later

Moya slows down as she arrives at the Blue Feather. No activity comes from the badly damaged battle ship.

Int. Moya, Maintenance bay

Aeryn, John and D'Argo are about to board a transport pod. D'Argo has changed into his normal clothes, with the Qualta Blade on his back. Aeryn is carrying a pulse rifle.

D'Argo: Pilot, is there still no answer from that ship?
Pilot: (over comms) They are not responding to any of my signals.
John: (to Aeryn and D'Argo) Then let's go.

Ext. Moya

The transport pod leaves Moya's docking bay, turns, and flies toward the Blue Feather.

Int. Blue Feather, Hallway

We are looking down a short hallway, at the end of which is a solid door. Corridors are branching off to the left and right, and a ladder in the front leads down. Red alarm lights are flashing and fried electric connections are giving off sparks.

D'Argo can be heard forcing the door open from the other side at great effort. When the jammed mechanism finally gives way and the door slides up, he steps into the hallway, followed by Aeryn and John. They look around.

Aeryn: We should split up. I'll take this passageway.

She exits by the corridor next to her. D'Argo walks away in the opposite direction, and John heads for the ladder.

John: (to himself, looking around) Watch me search the hell out of this corridor...

He decides to climb down.

Int. Blue Feather, Corridor to engine room

D'Argo has reached the end of a corridor, opens a door and walks into the:

Engine room

A high room with a tall apparatus in the center. The doorway leads directly to a short catwalk that allows access to the machine. A ladder at its side runs upwards, and at the bottom of it the ship's captain lies on his side, wounded. The room is filled with a quiet but penetrating metallic ringing.

D'Argo looks up the ladder and notices an open access panel with sparks flying from it. The alien must have fallen down while working on the machine. He runs up to the body and kneels down beside it.

D'Argo: Are you all right? Can you hear me?

No sign of life. D'Argo feels various spots on the captain's head and neck for a pulse. Having found something he taps his comms.

D'Argo: John, Aeryn, I've found someone. He's unconscious but still alive. I'll take him back to the transport pod.

D'Argo rolls the captain on his back and prepares to carry him away.

Int. Blue Feather, Maintenance corridor

Aeryn enters the corridor via a ladder from the top and cautiously walks toward the pile of debris under which the body of Naras is buried.

Aeryn: Hello?

She pushes some of the debris away with the muzzle of her pulse rifle, revealing Naras' face. Seeing the extent of his wounds, she realizes that he is dead and continues down the corridor, when John's voice comes over the comms.

John: (over comms) I've reached what appears to be the bridge. There's someone lying here.

Int. Blue Feather, Bridge - Continuous

John enters the ship's bridge, which is still brightly lit, his pulse pistol drawn. Parts of the equipment emit faint alarm signals and there's some smoke coming from one of the consoles.

The dead navigator's body has fallen to the floor and the white liquid running from the hole in his skull has formed a small puddle next to it. John looks down at the body with some disgust.

John: (to himself) Aliens leaking brain fluid, Parental Guidance advised...

Still standing near the bridge entrance he looks around and notices the cylindrical device at the center.

The red indicator on the top of the cylinder lights up.

Voice: Turn off the lights. Please.

John looks puzzled but keeps the pistol down.

John: The lights...?
Voice: Press the blue button to your left. Please.

John looks back at the entrance and finds a control panel with 4 large buttons of different colors. He presses the blue one and the lights on the bridge dim down, leaving only an emergency illumination of about one tenth of the original intensity.

Voice: I will come out now.

John looks curiously at the cylinder and takes one further step into the room and to the side, to keep away from the corpse on the floor.

There's a click and faint electric whirring noise. Two seconds later, John is startled when the black ring joining the base of the hemisphere to the top of the cylinder quickly rotates 45 degrees, the top surface of the cylinder splits in half and the two parts move halfway to the sides almost instantaneously with a loud clonk.

Instinctively, he raises his pistol but slowly lowers it as he sees a very peculiar creature emerging: Its long, cone-shaped head is permanently attached to the hemisphere which it wears like a helmet. The two eyes at the sides are of a very unnaturally looking, almost reflective white color and have thin black cross-shaped slits in the place of pupils. The creature is half-submerged in an oily liquid which still bedews the light brown skin of its head. Originally, the liquid must have filled the entire volume of the cylinder.

The creature's body looks horribly underfed and there are several implanted tubes protruding from it. It carries a shell on its back, giving it a somewhat turtle-like appearance. The only visible extremities are two spindly arms with hands of four fingers each which the creature has laid on top of the halves of the cylinder's cover, pulling itself upward, seemingly at great strain, trembling.

Suddenly, a quiver passes through the creature and it opens its toothless beak-like mouth, disgorging a quantity of the same liquid that fills the cylinder.

Then it looks up at John.

Fade out: End of act one

Act two

Int. Blue Feather, Bridge - Continuous

John looks at the cylinder's inhabitant in stunned disbelief saying "What the...?" to himself, but before he can speak, the alien creature draws in a sharp breath and starts talking at an incredible speed in what sounds like a mix between a croaky dolphin's cackling and the cries of an excited magpie. John's translator microbes cannot interpret any of that language, but only half a second later the red light on the creature's 'helmet' comes on as the automatic translator kicks in.

Creature: Who are you?

John puts his pulse pistol back into its holster and takes a step toward the creature.

John: My name is John Crichton. We picked up your distress signal. Why were you being attacked?
Creature: The Scarrans are at war with the Korin.
John: The Korin, that's your people?
Creature: (pointing at the dead body on the floor) No, that's them.

Aeryn enters from behind.

Aeryn: I've found another one, dead. There doesn't seem to be anybody else on board... Who the frell is that?

Aeryn switches on the flashlight on her pulse rifle and points it directly at the face of the creature who, dazzled by the light, gives off a cry and, having no eyelids, quickly looks down and tries to shield its eyes with its hands. Aeryn sees that the alien is in discomfort and points the light down at the floor.

The creature looks up again and licks over its eyes with its wormlike tongue.

Creature: My name is Third Luminous Keeper. But they only call me Keeper.
John: "Keeper"?
Keeper: It's my family's name.
John: (to Aeryn) This ship's been hit pretty badly. We should take him with us.
Keeper: I am female.
John: Oh, I'm sorry. How do you determine the gender in your species? (Keeper wants to say something, but:) No, please don't answer that. (pointing at the hemisphere with the optical cable:) What is that thing on your head?
Keeper: This is a direct link to my ship's sensors, guidance and weapons systems. It's also my translator.
John: Now that's cool...
Aeryn: You are bonded to this ship? Like Pilot?
Keeper: (proudly) My ship, the "Blue Feather." I am its pilot, yes.
Aeryn: No, I mean, on our ship, Moya, we also have someone who is... connected to it like you are. His name is Pilot.

Keeper thinks for a second.

Keeper: May I speak to him?
John: I'll be happy to introduce you to each other later, but right now we should get out of here. Will you come with us?

Keeper pulls lightly at the tubes coming out of her body.

Keeper: As you can see, I'm somewhat tied up here.

John bends down to take a closer look. Keeper steps back a little.

John: Holy hezmana... is there any way we can remove these?
Keeper: Not without killing me, I'm afraid. Besides, I would not want to leave the Blue Feather.
Aeryn: Your ship is damaged and the Scarrans could come back any microt. Moya has no offensive capabilities and if we remain here, we are easy targets.

Keeper is undecided.

Pilot: (over John's comms) Commander Crichton!
John: Yes, Pilot, what is it?

Cut to: Int. Moya, Pilot's chamber

Pilot is nervously operating the controls.

Pilot: Moya's senses are registering five Scarran Strykers heading directly towards us! I suggest we starburst--

Back to scene

John: Pilot, wait! This ship's pilot is still alive and we don't know how to--

He stops talking as he sees that Keeper is moving her head down to bring the rim of her 'helmet' on a level with the basin's opened top cover.

The following is now seen from:

Keeper's point of view

The image is warped as if seen through a fisheye lens and has colored fringes like light coming from a prism. Keeper moves down while looking straight forward, and suddenly the top cover of her 'fish tank' closes as rapidly as it had opened, locking her head firmly in place. The whirring noise from earlier on is heard while the fluid level in the tank rises to the top. As soon as Keeper's eyes are submerged, the distortion of the image disappears (the spectral decomposition, however, remains). It is now apparent that, while opaque from the outside, the cylinder's wall allows its inhabitant to look out.

Bubbles are rising while Keeper expels the remaining air from her lungs. A few beeps are heard and the wall turns completely black, then shows a three-dimensional 360 degree image of the space outside the ship (Moya and debris from the battle are visible). A wireframe representation of the Blue Feather appears in the middle, spinning while the ship's attitude controls are coming on-line. A second later, the view of the stars rotates synchronously with the wireframe model and five barely visible dots pointed to by markers from the targeting system come into view.

Keeper starts talking, her (true) voice muffled by the liquid.

Back to scene

Aeryn and John are looking at Keeper's cylinder.

Keeper: (via the translator) I will engage them. You should return to your ship and escape.

Aeryn and John sway as Keeper turns the Blue Feather.

John: No, hold it! We can still get out of here together. (into his comms:) Pilot, how long until they reach us?
Pilot: (over comms) At their present speed, we will be within their firing range in 130 microts.
John: That should be enough. Listen, Pilot, we will stay on this ship. As soon as we are close enough, initiate starburst, and make sure you keep us with you.
Pilot: (over comms) Understood.
John: Now, Keeper. Move us as close to Moya as you can. Then we're gonna starburst away and the Scarrans won't be able to follow us.

Keeper says nothing.

Aeryn: If you try to fight now, you'll die. You have to know that.
John: Trust us.
Keeper: (surprised) You are concerned for me? (Pause.) I will move the Blue Feather close to your Moya. My ship's dampers are damaged. I will be safe in here but I suggest that you hold on. That one on the floor did not.

Aeryn and John look down at the dead navigator. John taps his comms.

John: D'Argo, put your seat into an upright position. We're going to starburst together with Moya.
D'Argo: (over comms) All right, John.

Aeryn and John head for the chairs.

Ext. Moya

The Blue Feather moves directly underneath Moya's mid-section, matching her speed. Moya then goes into starburst, taking the Blue Feather with her.

Later

Moya exits from starburst and slows down. The Blue Feather is still underneath her.

Int. Blue Feather, Bridge

The cylinder opens and Keeper comes out. She begins falling slowly to the side but manages to get a hold on the cover. Aeryn and John stand up from their chairs. Again, Keeper spits out some liquid.

John: Are you all right?
Keeper: I'm fine. (She shakes her head.) Really, I'm fine. (She straightens up.) Where are we?
John: (imitating Pilot) 'Someplace else'... But far away from the Scarrans.

Aeryn looks around the bridge.

Aeryn: (to Keeper; nodding toward the body on the floor) Why are you flying this ship, and not one of them?
Keeper: The Korin are much too slow and clumsy to control this kind of craft. This is why they are using us.
John: They are 'using' you?

Keeper hesitates for a second before answering.

Keeper: Five cycles ago, the Korin captured me on my home planet. They made me unconscious and when I woke up I had these in me. (She points to the tubes on her body.) Then they brought me here and connected me to the Blue Feather.

Aeryn and John briefly look at each other.

Aeryn: How many of these ships are there?
Keeper: Several thousand.
John: Let me get this straight. The Korin are enslaving your people to fly their ships?
Keeper: They... they say they needed us for the war against the Scarrans.
Aeryn: Why don't you stand up to them?
Keeper: With what? We're only peasants and have no weapons. We cannot defend ourselves against the Korin.
John: (to Aeryn) I'm gonna have a serious talk with that guy D'Argo found when he comes round.
Keeper: One of them is alive? Is it Naras?
Aeryn: We don't know. We haven't talked to him yet.

John squats down beside Keeper and takes a look at her implants.

John: Do these things hurt?
Keeper: Why do you want to know?
Aeryn: John, we should get back to Moya for now. The Korin may need medical attention and we also have to decide what to do with her.
John: Right.

He stands up.

Keeper: You are leaving me alone?
John: Don't worry, we'll be back soon.

He turns to go but Aeryn holds him back.

Aeryn: We better get that body out of here.

John looks at the dead navigator and sighs.

John: All right. But I won't mop the floor.

Aeryn slings the rifle over her shoulder and the two of them grab the body by its arms and legs and carry it out of the room.

Ext. Blue Feather

The transport pod undocks from the Blue Feather and heads back toward Moya.

Int. Moya, Sick bay

The Korin captain of the Blue Feather, who is still unconscious, is being laid down onto the sickbed by D'Argo and John. Aeryn has put away her pulse rifle and is standing nearby. Chiana, Jool and Rygel are coming into the room.

John: (to D'Argo, but looking at the captain) Careful...
Jool: Who is this?
D'Argo: I found him unconscious, lying on the floor. His leg is broken but as far as I can tell he has no further injuries. He should recover.
Rygel: Is he the only survivor?
Aeryn: No, the ship's pilot is still on board. She seemed to be unharmed.
John: She's actually from an entirely different species, connected to her ship by some kind of... neural interface. Her name is Keeper.
Chiana: Wow. This means that ship's alive like Moya?
Aeryn: I don't think so; it appears to be entirely mechanical, but that creature controls most of it. From what she told us, however, she's not doing this of her own volition.
Chiana: What?
John: (pointing to the captain) Apparently, the Korin--that's these guys--shanghai members of her species from her home world and then coerce them into fighting the Scarrans as combat pilots. Keeper is artificially grafted to her ship and she said that cutting her loose would kill her.
Jool: They send slaves into war shackled to machines? That's outrageous!

Chiana looks concerned but says nothing.

D'Argo: John, that ship is falling apart. If we don't do something soon, Keeper won't survive no matter what.
Chiana: Well, can't we repair it somehow?
Aeryn: The ship's too large to fit into Moya's docking bay and we don't have the materials or the equipment to make large-scale repairs anyway. We would have to tow it to the nearest commerce planet.
Rygel: But we're at least three solar days away from any commerce station.
D'Argo: How about the DRDs? If we take a couple of them aboard Keeper's ship they might be able to stabilize the life support and fuel systems. This should buy us enough time to get it to a dry dock.
John: Excellent idea, D'Argo. Pilot?

The image of Pilot appears in the clamshell in the sick bay.

Pilot: Yes, Crichton?
John: Can we borrow some of Moya's DRDs? We'd like them to make some repairs on that ship out there.
Pilot: I have finished all the regular maintenance tasks on Moya, so you may take as many as you want. I'll be monitoring their work from here.
John: Thank you, Pilot. Oh, and there's someone aboard who wants to talk to you.
Pilot: To me?
John: Yeah, she's... kinda like you. I think she wants to show you her collection of 'Koku-Fan' issues or something.

Pilot gives John a puzzled look.

John: Come on, Aeryn. Let's get the DRDs.

He walks toward the sick bay's exit. Aeryn follows him.

Jool: Wait! What do we do with this guy?

John turns back to Jool.

John: Treat his leg and stay with him. As soon as he comes round, call me.

John and Aeryn exit while Jool starts examining the captain's leg with the medical scanner.

Rygel: (to D'Argo) I wonder what the Scarrans were doing in this sector. We shouldn't be anywhere near their territory. If they traveled that far to fight the Korin, they are probably still somewhere in the area.

D'Argo is looking at the Korin captain.

D'Argo: I don't like it, either. Maybe we should get him off Moya and part with his ship as soon as he's able to fly it to the nearest shipyard by himself.

Int. Moya, Corridor

Aeryn and John are walking briskly along the corridor while talking.

Aeryn: You're determined to take Keeper with us?
John: Yep.
Aeryn: She didn't seem very eager to leave her ship.

John stops and looks at Aeryn.

John: Aeryn, she's a slave. Her dignity as a sentient being demands that we free her.
Aeryn: Her dignity demands that we respect her choice.

She turns away from John and continues down the corridor while John ponders Aeryn's reply.

Fade out: End of act two

Act three

Ext. Blue Feather, Closeup of top side

The transport pod with John and Aeryn (and the DRDs) docks its upper hatch to the top of the Blue Feather.

Int. Blue Feather, Bridge

John enters carrying a DRD. Keeper looks up at him.

John: Hi. Still doing fine? This is one of Moya's DRDs. They'll be making some repairs here and will also take a look at you to see if we can do anything to separate you from that contraption.

He puts the DRD on the floor and it begins moving toward Keeper.

Keeper: (looking curiously at the DRD) Hello.
John: You can also use it to talk to Pilot.

Keeper moves back her head as the DRD points one of its probes at her.

John: Now, here's our plan: as soon as the DRDs have managed to prevent this ship from becoming a drifting heap of space junk, we're going to drop it and that Korin off at the next commerce planet. You're free to come with us, then.
Keeper: Come with you?
John: Yeah, we're all escaped prisoners. (smiles) You'd fit in nicely.
Keeper: But to come with you I would have to leave this ship, wouldn't I?
John: Well, I don't suppose the Korin military would consent to us stealing one of their toys. And we've made enough enemies already...
Keeper: I will not abandon the Blue Feather.

This answer has taken John completely off guard.

John: What? (Pause.) Look, do you want to spend the rest of your life in that fish tank, tortured by those albinos into fighting in a war you have nothing to do with?

Keeper puts a hand to the tip of her mouth and looks down, thinking for a second.

Keeper: No...
John: See? Well, I'll be working on the environmentals now. If you need anything, just call me.

He sees that Keeper is uncertain.

John: Everything's gonna be fine, I promise.

He turns to go.

Keeper: (hesitating, then looking at John) Thank you... John Crichton.

John makes a small gesture and exits the bridge.

Keeper looks at him as he leaves.

Flashback perspective: Ext. Keeper's home world - Day

We are looking across a large lake, surrounded by mountains, under a cold overcast sky. Several conical structures resembling pile dwellings are visible in the distance, sticking out of the calm surface of the water like tree tops in a flooded forest.

Keeper emerges from the lake and rushes toward the steep, rocky shore. She quickly spits to the side and looks back to the water. Vapor comes from her mouth as she breathes exhaustedly. She wears a torn, colorful scarf loosely tied around her neck and upper arms and legs, and is bleeding from several small wounds on her body, but she looks more sturdy than on the Blue Feather. Hurriedly, she starts climbing the rocky slope using both her hands and her large, webbed feet.

When Keeper is a few meters away from the shore, she looks back at the lake again as she hears a noise: About twenty other creatures of her species have come up from the surface. At first they appear very agitated and it is obvious that they are chasing Keeper, but now they make no attempt at following her up the bank. She irately hisses at her pursuers, then one of them picks up a small rock and flings it in her direction. With a lightning fast movement, she ducks her head and instantly resumes her flight, hastening up the slope.

All of a sudden, there is a sharp whistling sound and a small metal dart, coming out of nowhere, pierces Keeper's belly. Startled in terror, the creatures on the shore flee back into the safety of the water, while Keeper gazes at the object stuck in her body, petrified with fear and surprise. She attempts to pull out the projectile but rapidly loses control of her muscles, stumbling and collapsing on the ground.

Back to scene

Keeper is still staring at the bridge entrance, lost in thought.

Int. Moya, Sick bay

Chiana, D'Argo, Jool and Rygel are still here. Jool is tending to the Korin captain who now has his leg in a splint, while her crewmates are standing at the back, discussing something amongst themselves. The captain moves his head and mutters some unintelligible words.

Jool: He's waking up.

The others come closer. The captain opens his eyes and looks around.

Captain: Where... am I? What happened?

He tries to get up but the sudden pain in his leg stops him.

Jool: I'd lie still if I were you.
Chiana: You're aboard a Leviathan. We received your distress signal and came for you.
Captain: Distress signal? Was my ship destroyed?
D'Argo: No, but it's heavily damaged. Two of us are currently on board making repairs. I found you injured near some piece of machinery.
Captain: Yes, I must have fallen down when I tried to restart the field generator. I remember there was another impact...
Rygel: Who are you?
Captain: Oh, I am Skian, captain of the Blue Feather. (looking around again) Where is Naras? Is he all right?
D'Argo: We... only found two others aboard. They're both dead.

Skian looks dismayed at the news.

D'Argo: But your ship's pilot has survived.
Skian: Keeper? She's alive?
Chiana: That's why we're fixing your ship. It's falling apart and couldn't sustain her for much longer if we didn't.
Skian: You're taking this trouble upon you for that creature?
Chiana: Yes, we are, actually! She told us that you've forced her to fight the Scarrans, against her will.

Skian looks sheepishly to the side.

Skian: It's our only chance to win this war...
Rygel: Why are you at war with the Scarrans in the first place?
Skian: We didn't start it. Seven cycles ago they sent a fleet against us, totally unprovoked. (He looks at Rygel.) They raided our colonies, even insignificant outposts. At first, our fighters were no match for their battle ships. Much too laggard and sluggish. We would all have perished within less than a cycle, but then we discovered these creatures with reflexes a hundred times faster than ours.
D'Argo: Oh, and so you decided to use them as living combat machines.
Skian: It's our only hope against the Scarrans!
Jool: It's an abomination. I sure hope you don't consider yourselves civilized.
Skian: My people are dying out there! We are desperate! We never meant to harm any other species; we are explorers, not conquerors. But we have no other choice!

D'Argo folds his arms.

D'Argo: Or maybe you don't have the mivonks to face your enemies on your own.

Skian looks down.

Skian: It may not matter any more. Recently, the Scarrans have begun to employ a new kind of missile that's able to outmaneuver even our fastest ships. Perhaps we are doomed to be eradicated, after all...

Chiana, D'Argo and Jool now feel some sympathy for Skian. After a moment, Chiana speaks.

Chiana: I think--I think you should rest now. It will still be some arns before you can go back to your ship.

Skian looks at Chiana.

Skian: I... appreciate what you are doing for me.

Chiana forces a smile on her face, nods and walks away from Skian's sickbed. She taps her comms.

Chiana: John, the Korin is awake. He's the captain of that ship.
John: (over comms) Roger, Chiana. I'll come back as soon as we're finished here.

Int. Blue Feather, Environmental control room - Continuous

The room is crammed with many different types of machines, connected by thin, widely ramified metal pipes and large, flexible hoses. Only a small fraction of them appear to be working, and many are obviously damaged. Some of the machines have vessels filled with bubbling liquids mounted on them, others have excessively large fans and air inlets. One wall of the room is studded with indicator lights and gauges, labeled in undecipherable alien writing.

John lies in a very uncomfortable position on his back under a set of pipes, working on them with a welding torch, while Aeryn is trying to bend away a jammed cover panel on one of the machines opposite to John. About a dozen DRDs are busy fixing other parts of the equipment.

John: That should do it... (turning off his torch) Aeryn, could you open that green valve over there?

Aeryn stops what she is doing and turns to a set of valves next to her. She reaches for a green one, but pauses to trace the course of the pipe controlled by it with her eyes.

Aeryn: Are you sure, John? This one doesn't seem to be connected to the atmosphere regenerator.
John: I've been over the schematics three times. I'm perfectly sure it's the green one.

Aeryn shrugs, turns the valve, and returns her attention to the jammed panel.

A yellow liquid starts dripping from a pipe next to the one John has welded, onto his forehead.

John: OK, maybe I'm not so sure...

John wipes his forehead with his fingers and smells at them.

John: Whoa! This smells like dren! Aeryn, I guess you were right.

Aeryn is now trying to tear the panel off the machine by force.

Aeryn: (strained) I told you so.

The liquid is still dripping onto John's head.

John: Aeryn?

He lifts his head as far as he is able to.

Aeryn: (very strained) What?
John: Could you please close that valve?

The panel snaps off with a loud bang and Aeryn almost stumbles. At the same instant, a squirt of the yellow liquid shoots out from the open machine, directly into John's face. He snorts and lets his head fall back.

A DRD scurries up next to John. He looks at it.

John: Can anybody tell me why we don't just let the DRDs do this...?

The DRD emits some irritated chattering.

Intercut - Int. Blue Feather, Bridge / Moya, Pilot's chamber

Keeper is engaged in a conversation with Pilot, through a DRD that is sitting on the top of Keeper's basin, right next to her head, and examining her.

Keeper: So you are controlling Moya?
Pilot: I do not 'control' her. Moya is a Leviathan, a living being. My task is to be her guide and counselor.
Keeper: And she follows your commands?
Pilot: She follows my suggestions, most of the time. It is often difficult to satisfy everyone's needs and desires.
Keeper: The Korin usually keep me sedated, but Naras was the only one who spoke with me when I was awake. Skian only orders me around...

She looks down. Pilot sighs.

Pilot: There has also been a time when Moya and I were tortured and enslaved, but thanks to the others we have managed to escape from captivity. Crichton asked me to find a way to separate you from your ship so you could come with us.

Keeper looks at the DRD.

Keeper: This ship is a part of me. I don't ever want to be cut off from it.
Pilot: I am certain that Crichton only means well. He intends to help you, to set you free.
Keeper: But I am free! The Blue Feather follows every thought of mine. And only mine. I can move! I can see things I'd never dreamed of before! I had not woken into consciousness until I was connected to this ship, and there is only fog whenever the link is shut down. Endless, painful fog... I'm scared, Pilot...
Pilot: I... believe I understand, Keeper. Even when Moya and I were under the control of the Peacekeepers, I never wanted to trade my place for anything else.
Keeper: Then why do you expect me to come with you?
Pilot: You said yourself that you are being forced to submit to the will of the Korin.
Keeper: (hesitatingly) They made it possible for me to be here.
Pilot: But they did so for their own benefit. I fail to see why you would feel obliged to them in any way.
Keeper: (holding up her emaciated arms) Look at me! I have spent one third of my life in here, and my body has grown weak. I depend on this ship. I depend on someone to look after me.
Pilot: We would be happy to look after you.
Keeper: But I will not let you cripple me! I'd rather perish.

Fade out: End of act three

Act four

Ext. Moya - Two hours later

The Blue Feather is flying tight loops around Moya's tail and 'arms'. We close in on the battle ship and end up on the...

Int. Blue Feather, Bridge - Continuous

...dimly illuminated bridge, where Keeper stands all alone, with spread arms, as if trying to maintain balance, carefully but firmly guiding the ship, her only perception of the outside world being the images picked up by the Blue Feather's sensors.

We are still moving closer, toward Keeper's expressionless eyes, until...

Keeper's point of view - Continuous

...we can see the flight maneuver from her perspective, shown from a point outside the ship that precisely follows its movements. The wireframe model of the Blue Feather that is projected into Keeper's diffracted view of the surrounding space spins into ever-changing directions as she turns and moves the ship.

Unexpectedly, a speaker on the bridge crackles to life.

John: (filtered, voice-over) Hey, Keeper! You're having fun there?

Int. Moya, Corridor - Continuous

John walks down the corridor to the sick bay with Aeryn by his side, talking to Keeper over his comms.

Aeryn: She'd better be careful. The struts in some parts of the ship are just barely holding.
John: (into comms) Did you hear that? Don't overdo it, OK? The bird's not fit for the Indy 500 yet.

There is no response.

John: (to himself) Weird turtle...

They reach a junction. Aeryn heads away from John.

John: Where are you going?
Aeryn: Changing. This... stuff is everywhere.

She exits.

John smells at the sleeve of his shirt and makes a slightly sickened face, but decides that cleaning up can wait and continues along the passage to the sick bay.

Int. Moya, Sick bay

Skian lies on his side on the bed, eating something from a bowl, while Rygel is watching over him, also having a snack. John comes in.

John: Sparky! (looking around) Where'd everyone go?
Rygel: Back to their quarters. But at least they left the food here.

Rygel smiles and takes another bite.

John: Yeah, I could also use some sleep...

He wipes his eyes with one hand, then turns to Skian.

John: Yo, captain! How're you doing?
Skian: I feel much better. How is the Blue Feather?
John: We've managed to stabilize your ship and we'll drop you off at the nearest commerce station. (Pause.) But I won't let you take Keeper with you.

Skian stops eating.

Skian: That ship and its pilot are the property of the Korin Defense Force! You have no--
John: (interrupting Skian) Keeper is no one's 'property'. She's entitled to make her own decisions.
Skian: I demand that you let me return to my ship immediately!
John: You may go anywhere you want, but first we get Keeper out of there.
Skian: The Blue Feather is still under my command! The pilot will do what I tell her to.
John: Which part of 'no' don't you understand? Look at what you're doing! You're treating an entire species like a heap of spare parts for your T-Birds, and you don't give a damn about what that means for them. Don't you have any concept of morality?
Skian: Do you expect us to stand there and watch the Scarrans kill our children? We have to stop them somehow!
John: By enslaving thousands of innocent creatures? There's got to be another way!

Skian can't stand looking John into the eye. He knows that John is right but doesn't dare to admit it.

Skian: Even if you wanted to sever the pilot from the ship, she wouldn't survive it.
John: I think we may have found a way.

Skian sighs.

Skian: Do I seem like a monster to you?
John: I do not hold you responsible for your people's actions, if that's what you mean.
Skian: I volunteered for this mission so I wouldn't have to go thrall-hunting, even though most of our patrol ships are never heard from again these days.
Rygel: (from the back) Oh, we can certainly arrange that.
John: Shut up, Buckwheat!

Rygel grins and continues eating.

Skian: (looking up to John) The others told me that you found two of my dead crew. What did you do with them?
John: (a little embarrassed) We put them into your ship's cold storage. We didn't know whether you had any customs...
Skian: Can I see them, please?

John hesitates for a moment but then decides that he should respect Skian's wish and nods.

John: I'll take you to them.

Int. Blue Feather, Corridor - Later

John and Skian are entering the corridor via a ladder from the top. Skian is having trouble climbing with his injured leg.

John: Did you know your crew well?
Skian: We had been together aboard this ship for nearly a cycle before this incident. I shall deliver my condolences to their families as soon as I return.

They have reached the bottom of the ladder. John helps Skian down and then supports him while they are walking over to a nearby door. He opens it.

John: Here we are.

He places himself next to the doorway and gestures into the room.

John: Come up to the lab.

John follows Skian into the:

Cold-storage chamber

The room is a complete mess. Dozens of crates, boxes and canisters of different color and size have fallen to the floor from metal shelves along the walls. A freezer unit in one corner of the room is humming, and white mist comes from the iced-up pipes extending from it.

Someone has cleared a small area of the floor in the middle of the room and laid the bodies of Naras and Katain there, who are still wearing their uniforms.

Skian slowly walks up to them, while John remains standing near the doorway.

Skian: (looking back at John) Can I be alone with them, please?

John is surprised at this request.

John: Oh, yes, I'll... I'll be on the bridge then.

He exits the chamber.

Skian looks back at his dead comrades, but as soon as John's footsteps can no longer be heard, he turns around and sneaks cautiously out of the room.

Int. Blue Feather, Bridge

John runs into the room and heads for the devices near Keeper's basin.

Keeper: Crichton...
John: Good news, Raphael. Pilot said it would be impossible to separate you from your life support unit, but that thing can operate autonomously, so we can take it--and you--with us aboard Moya. But we have to hurry.

He produces a small tool from one of his pockets and begins working on the life support device with it. Keeper looks at what John is doing.

Keeper: (insecurely) You will take me with you?
John: (continuing his work) Yes, this boat is patched up enough so Skian can fly it to a repair shop by himself, and he seems eager to return to Korin space.

Keeper grabs John's arm and pulls it away from the device.

Keeper: Stop what you are doing!

John looks at Keeper.

John: Keeper, we don't have time for this! If you ever want to be free from the Korin you have to leave here now.
Keeper: Leave the Blue Feather? No!

Panicking, Keeper props herself against the cylinder's wall with both arms and powers up the Blue Feather's drive to maximum. Overload alarms kick in. John is jolted off balance and the tool slips out of his hand. Keeper instantly snatches it away.

Cut to: Ext. Blue Feather

The Blue Feather sharply turns and breaks away from Moya.

Back to scene

The ship's acceleration throws John to the floor, away from Keeper.

John: Keeper, what the frell are you doing?!

Startled, Keeper drops John's tool.

Keeper: Crichton!

John turns around and finds Skian standing at the bridge entrance, pointing a weapon at Keeper.

John: (to himself) Damn, where did he get that gun?
Skian: (to Keeper) You will stop this ship immediately!

He limps toward Keeper's basin while John is still crouching on the floor, preparing to jump.

Skian: (to John) Back off!

Skian has now reached the console next to Keeper.

Skian: This should have shut down arns ago.

He pushes a couple of buttons.

Keeper: No! Don't--!

Skian punches a large red button on the console. Keeper screeches and holds her head in pain.

Cut to: Keeper's point of view

For a split-second, we see Keeper's oddly-colored perception of the stars, overlaying a very shadowy view of the happenings on the bridge. Then, there is a bright flash that quickly dissipates into wavering gray mist while the Blue Feather's drive is heard powering down.

Back to scene

As the ship comes to an abrupt halt, Skian sways and almost falls over, but in this very moment John jumps at him and knocks him down.

With John on top of him, Skian tries to raise his arm holding the gun, but John grabs it and struggles to keep the weapon away from him. Without warning, a violet pulse shot is fired and hits something behind John, who, taking advantage of the captain's momentary confusion, strikes Skian's head with his elbow, rendering him unconscious.

John: (out of breath) Son of a... Keeper, are you--

He looks back at Keeper and is shocked when he sees that the shot from Skian's gun has destroyed her life support system. There is a large hole in it and a brown liquid is squirting out.

John: Oh, no...

Desperately, he moves over and looks for some way to mend the leak, but the inside of the machine is just a mess of tubes, cables and molten metal.

John: (to Keeper) I don't know how to fix this thing. Tell me what to do!

Keeper isn't paying attention.

Keeper: The Blue Feather is gone from my mind...
John: Yes, now focus here, Keeper. This box is busted and you're gonna die unless we do something!

Keeper slowly turns her head to look at the damaged device.

Keeper: I don't know... Naras maintained this for me...
John: Damn! I nearly had you out of here. (standing up) There's got to be spare parts around somewhere! We just fixed this ship, and I won't let you croak like this.

He starts darting out of the bridge.

Keeper: (quietly) I can't see...
John: (looking back) What?

Keeper reaches for the console that controls her neural interface, but it's too far away from her position.

Keeper: Turn it back on.

John doesn't quite understand what Keeper is talking about.

Keeper: (looking directly at John) The link. Turn it back on!

John stands in the entranceway, unsure of what to do for a moment. Then he steps back into the room, heading for the console to re-establish Keeper's connection to the ship.

Ext. Blue Feather - Later

The Blue Feather is drifting through space with Moya visible in the distance.

Int. Blue Feather, Bridge

The room is very dim and quiet now. John has crouched down beside Keeper, working on the life support device and talking to her while she gradually gets weaker. Fragments of the conversation are dissolving into each other.

Keeper: You could have just let Skian take me back with him. Why didn't you?
John: Because I couldn't bear to see you wired up like a lab monkey, working the yoke for those beady-eyed pumpkins? You don't--no one deserves to be treated like this.
Keeper: What if I did not want to go?
John: (controlled) Why are you so frelling stubborn? Don't tell me this galley here is your idea of personal fulfillment. Maybe I should have knocked you out and dragged your ass out of here when I had the chance.
Keeper: The same they did five cycles ago...

John is ashamed as he realizes the implications of Keeper's words.

John: Look, Keeper, I--I didn't mean to--
Keeper: Of course not.

Later

Keeper is having trouble trying to remain in an upright position. Her breathing frequency has increased, and her arms are trembling.

John is trying to fit a replacement part into the damaged device, but the pulse blast has bent the fastening and he is having trouble getting it into place.

John: So you wouldn't want to return to your home world? Don't you miss your people?
Keeper: I'm certain that not one of them has mourned over my departure.
John: What do you mean?
Keeper: I was not very... popular with my people.
John: But surely there must be someone who's worried about you. Family... Friends...

Keeper starts shivering.

John: (continued) You can't tell me they're all pissed at you...?

He stops working as he notices that Keeper appears to collapse.

John: Hey, what's wrong?

Keeper sinks down as if losing consciousness, but after briefly shaking her head she is able to pull herself up again.

Keeper: There was a time... when none of them mattered to me. And I endangered their lives with my improvidence. Now they are probably glad that I am gone.
John: But what about you?

Keeper looks to the side and says nothing.

John: They still don't matter to you?
Keeper: (without looking at John) Would it make any difference?

Later

John's efforts show little progress. Keeper has become markedly weaker, clinging to the wall of her basin with both hands. She has lowered her head and speaks haltingly, gasping for breath between words.

Keeper: Our entire planet... covered in clouds. ... The first time I was linked... to ship's sensors... first time I have seen the stars. ... Few of my people have, Crichton. ... Only those taken... by the Korin...

John, seeing Keeper's condition, now realizes that he could never finish the repairs in time. In desperation, he stops his work and puts down the tool.

John: I'm sorry about this. I wanted to help you but I screwed up...

Keeper doesn't appear to be listening.

Keeper: ... I can see them all... feel them... I feel... terrible...

Later

Keeper has been unable to speak for a while now. She has laid her head upon the cover of the cylinder, her hands beside it. The only sound is the creature's quick breathing.

Suddenly, Keeper quivers, tries to raise one arm to her head, and makes a faint noise. Then the arm falls down, hanging lifelessly at the side of her body. She has stopped breathing and the room is now absolutely silent. The yellow indicator light on her neural link starts blinking.

John keeps looking at her for a moment, and then carefully takes her arm and puts it back beside her head. He waits another second before he taps his comms.

John: (in a low tone) Pilot, Keeper has died. I'm coming back to Moya.

John stands up and slowly walks out of the room, but pauses at the entrance to take one last look upon the dead alien creature.

John: I should stop making promises...

Finally, he turns away and leaves.

Fade out: End of act four

Epilogue

Ext. Moya - Later

The Blue Feather departs from Moya, slowly accelerating into deep space.

Int. Moya, Command

Aeryn is seeing off Skian, whose image is visible on the command's viewport, over long-range communications.

Aeryn: Are you sure you're going to make it?
Skian: Unless the outposts in this sector have been taken, I should be fine.
Aeryn: You don't have to go back if you don't want to.
Skian: My duty is to protect my people. The data recorded by this ship's sensors could be vital to our efforts.
Aeryn: Good luck to you, then.

Skian just nods in response.

Aeryn: About your pilot...

Skian glances at the pilot's station on his ship's bridge: Keeper's body is gone, the cylinder drained and partly dismantled. He looks back at Aeryn again.

Skian: (in a surprisingly regretful tone) They'll install a new one.

He cuts the transmission.

Int. Moya, Pilot's chamber

John is sitting on Pilot's console, looking into the room, contemplating.

John: Do you think she might have come with us? She seemed to be pretty attached to her ship. I mean, not just by tubes and wires.

He looks at Pilot.

Pilot: I do not know, Crichton. I would also not want to be separated from Moya, even if it was certain that I would survive the procedure...

John lays his hand upon one of Pilot's claws that is resting beside him.

John: But Moya is a living being. You and she are friends, right? Keeper's ship was just... a mechanical device.
Pilot: Consider this, Crichton: Keeper was taken from her home world, her body was maimed beyond restoration. I believe that for her, the experience of being linked with her ship was more significant than the prospect of being freed from the control of others.
John: I tried to do the right thing for her. I thought I was doing the right thing.
Pilot: What is 'right' is sometimes a matter of perception.

John silently nods and stares back into the darkness of the chamber.