Title: Back to the Uncharted Territories
Author: Paradox761
Email: Paradox761@mail.com
Website: members.tripod.com/~Paradox761
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns Buffy; SFC, Jim Henson Productions, and Rockne S. O’Bannon own Farscape; and Universal Pictures owns Back to the Future. No copyright infringement is intended, so please don’t sue. I don’t have any money anyway.
Summary: Sequel to “A Sympathetic Ear”, John Crichton finally makes it home only to discover that the life he left behind is no longer there. His father, DK, and Xander Harris are all dead. Then he meets an extraordinary man in a bar, a time traveler, with an extraordinary proposition. Will John risk it all to go back in time to save his father’s life? And what happens when the consequences are much worse than he ever could have imagined?
Author’s note: Takes place directly after the third season of Farscape, after that it’s an AU. Also, for the sake of this story, Farscape takes place in the near future (2017), and some of the modifications made to the DeLorean in the second movie, namely Mr. Fusion, came from further into the future then when the movie took place (2015). Also, some dialogue has been lifted directly from the Buffy episode “Grave”, no plagiarism intended.
Dedication: To Jordan and Jessica, my angels. May they rest in peace.
Special thanks to A. Grandt, greywizard, Wayne, Rob Clark, Danielle, Goblin, Calen, DaBear, Obi, Gareth, Troy, David, and Lafe for the feedback and support.
(Farscape/BtVS/BttF, Xander/Chiana, John/Aeryn)
Rated R for language and violence
Guest Cast:
Guy Pearce as Dr. Julian Martin Brown, PhD.
James Remar as Lakas

(5/6)

It looked like every other casino on K'Trell. And for the most part it was. It was loud, and bright, with a bar in the corner keeping the gamblers well lubricated. The odds were in the favor of the house of course, and everyone knew it. But it didn't stop them from trying to strike it rich. So what made this casino different? Maybe it was that the man who ran it was a bit more ruthless and devious than most, a man named Lakas. Or maybe it was the edge that Lakas had over the competition. Every casino on K'Trell had given out major payoffs within the last twelfth of a cycle. A statistic impossibility, to be sure. But all of the payouts went to different people, at different times. People that couldn't be traced back to Lakas, but who worked for him nonetheless. He even staged a winning at his own casino, to exempt him from suspicion. But K'Trell was a small planet in the grand scheme of things, and he couldn't keep this up for long without someone getting caught. It was time to take this act on the road.

Lakas stood from his seat at the bar, from where he had been watching over his casino. He had preparations to make, and there was no sense in dawdling. He nodded to the two guards that stood watch over the entrance to the back rooms of the establishment as he passed. He made his way through the maze of corridors, past offices and storerooms, until he came to a dead end. There on the wall was a small keypad, looking to anyone else like a simple lighting control. Lakas typed a series of commands into the keypad, and a section of the wall slid away, revealing a secret room.

It was something that came in useful with his more clandestine business dealings. It was always a good idea to have someplace to store contraband in case the authorities decided to poke around. But this room held something much more valuable than simple contraband. It held the secret to Lakas’ financial success. His edge.

In the corner of the almost empty room, sat a young Nebari girl. She was naked, hugging her knees and rocking back and forth slowly, sobbing quietly and muttering to herself. As she heard the door slide open her head shot up in alarm, her eyes completely white.

“Who’s there?” she asked, her voice filled with terror.

Lakas stepped inside the room, letting the door slide shut behind him. “Who is it always?” he responded. She bit her lip to keep from crying out as she pushed herself further into the corner. Lakas walked across the room toward her, squatting down right in front of her.

“I still can’t see,” she said. “I can’t do it again.”

“Oh, I know. I didn’t come to get you for another job. I came to tell you that we’re leaving K’Trell tonight.”

“Have a nice trip.”

Lakas chuckled. “Oh no, you’re coming too. Things are getting a little too hot here, it’s time to move this little operation off-world.” He reached out and laid his hand on her cheek. Chiana shuttered. “If you behave yourself, I’ll book you as a passenger. If you don’t, you’re cargo. Do we understand each other?” Chiana just nodded. “Good. I’ll bring you your clothes when it’s time to go.” Lakas stood and headed for the door.

“They’ll come for me,” Chiana called out after him.

Lakas smiled as he turned. “Who’s coming for you, trelk? Do you honestly think anybody cares about a piece of trash like you? Do you think anyone would even notice you’re missing?”

“They’ll come for me,” she repeated.

Lakas leaned done until he was right in front of her face. “No one’s coming for you, no one cares. You’re mine, until I decide that I’m done with you. Do you understand me?”

“They’ll come for me, and they’ll kill you. And there isn’t anything you can do about it.”

Lakas backhanded her across the face. “Cargo it is then,” he sneered, standing up. “I’d watch your mouth if I were you. I wouldn’t want to damage that pretty little face of yours. But there are…other ways I can hurt you.”

Chiana could hear the smirk on his face through his voice. She heard him walk away, and the door open and close. She dropped her head again, hugging her knees tightly against herself. She rocked back and forth, repeating to herself the phrase that had become her mantra.

“They’ll come for me, they’ll come for me…”

*

Xander walked into the casino first, wearing John’s leather trench coat, which concealed the sword hanging from his hip. As expected the sensors at the door didn’t so much as beep, and he got in without a problem. He casually made his way through the crowd, scanning the room. He pretended to be interested in the various gaming tables, but really he was looking at exits, security personnel, people who might be a problem. He spotted what looked like a doorway leading into the back, with two armed guards standing on either side of it. If what Rygel had said was true, and they were keeping Chiana to use her to cheat at other casinos, than they would probably be keeping her somewhere back there. Someplace where she wouldn’t be able to escape, or try and call for help. And from the scuttlebutt they heard after they landed, every casino on K’Trell had given out huge payouts within the last month. The timing fit, it couldn’t be a coincidence. Chiana had to be here.

Xander was walking towards the bar when he noticed a man sitting there, looking out over the casino floor. It was the look in his eye, the way he carried himself that spoke volumes to Xander. He wasn’t simply people watching, he was like a ruler looking out over his subjects. He was in charge here, and he wanted everyone to know it. The infamous Lakas perhaps, Xander thought. According to the intelligence they had gathered around the port, he was the man that ran this place. The man stood just as Xander was approaching the bar and walked by him. Xander watched him from the corner of his eye as he walked into the back, nodding to the guards as he passed. He was the guy all right.

Xander took a seat at the bar, facing the crowd. He spotted D’Argo entering the casino. The guards at the door gave the imposing looking Luxan a second look, but he passed through the weapons detectors without alarm, so he entered without a problem. Xander caught his eye across the room for a moment before turning his head toward the doorway in the back. D’Argo glanced at it for a moment before he continued his way through the room, casually looking around. Xander could tell he was nervous, missing the familiar weight of the Qualta blade on his back no doubt. His only weapon was the short sword that Xander had leant him, hidden under his clothes. An unfamiliar weapon, in a dangerous situation, it was understandable that he be a little on edge. But to the casual observer, he was cool as a cucumber, as he took a seat at an empty table in the back.

Ten minutes later, Xander spotted John and Jool at the casino’s entrance. He stood casually from his barstool and made his way toward the back. ‘Showtime,’ he thought to himself.

*

“Are you sure you can pull this off?” Jool asked as she and John walked along the street towards the casino.

“It worked the last two times we did it,” John said. “Sort of.” He adjusted the collar of the red leather jacket of the Peace Keeper uniform he wore. “What about you?”

“I’ll be fine,” she said, her shoulders unconsciously falling forward a little.

“Stand up straight.”

“I’m trying, it’s a little hard with this overgrown Luxan butter knife on my back.”

“You’re supposed to be my personal bodyguard, a mercenary warrior. If you can’t even carry the weight of your own weapon, they’re going to suspect something.”

“I know.”

“You have to keep your body language relaxed, but on guard. Keep your face neutral, and say as little as possible.”

“I know, I know, you’ve told me a thousand times.”

Jool was wearing black leather pants, a gun belt carrying a pulse pistol hanging low on her hips. Her top was also leather, cut low at the chest and high at the stomach, skin tight. As they got closer to the casino, she straightened her posture and hardened her face. She got several admiring glances from passers by, but she ignored them. She kept her body language all business, broadcasting the she was a force to be reckoned with.

“Much better,” John whispered as they walked up to the front of the establishment.

John started walking through the entrance, not preparing to stop for any security. He ignored the alarm that sounded as he and Jool walked in. He didn’t stop until a guard blocked his path.

“What is the meaning of this?” John asked, affecting his voice with a Peace Keeper accent and trying to sound as annoyed as possible.

“I’m afraid that weapons are not allowed in here, Sir. You’ll have to check them at the door.”

“Do you know who I am? I am Captain LaRack of the Peace Keeper Command Carrier Hortas. I’m on this planet on a very important mission of galactic security!”

“I’m sorry Sir, but the policy applies to everyone.”

“This is outrageous! Do you honestly believe that either my bodyguard or myself are going to start any trouble? I am a respected officer!” The guard didn’t budge. “I want to speak to your boss.”

The guard tapped a pin on his chest. “This is Trenak at the door. I have a problem, can you send the security chief out here.”

“No, no, no. I want to speak to the proprietor of this establishment. A Mister, ah…” he trailed off, turning to Jool.

“Lakas,” she said, her voice even and cold as she stared daggers at the guards.

“Yes, Mr. Lakas. I wish to speak to him immediately.”

The guard spoke into his communicator again. “I have a Peace Keeper captain out here that doesn’t want to check his weapons, he’s insisting to speak to Lakas.”

*

Xander watched from the corner of his eye as John made a scene at the front door. He continued making his way toward the back, keeping his eye on the door. He watched as Lakas walked out from the back, his expression clearly unhappy. He motioned for the guards to follow him as he made his way to the front. Xander smiled. Just as they had suspected, Lakas’ security must be light. Otherwise he would have appeared with more guards in tow, instead of pulling them off the door. That meant that the majority, if not the entirety of the security were now out on the casino floor. And thanks to John’s Oscar caliber performance, all of their eyes were no doubt on him and Jool.

D’Argo was already at the door when Xander got there. They both scanned the room to make sure no one was watching, before they ducked into the back.

“So what are we looking for exactly?” Xander asked in a whisper.

“Lakas is no fool,” D’Argo returned in an equally low voice. “He’ll have her well protected. Look for any guards that look out of place, or doors with complicated security panels next to them.”

Xander nodded. “Okay, let’s do this.”




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