Title: Enter The Cleavage
Author: Paradox761
Email: Paradox761@mail.com
Website: members.tripod.com/~Paradox761
Disclaimer: Joss owns Buffy, SFC owns Farscape, and I own nothing. No copyright infringement is intended, so please don’t sue. I don’t have any money anyway. Also, some dialogue has been taken directly from the episodes “Homecoming” and “Grave”. No plagiarism intended, they’re just flashbacks.
Summary: Intent on discovering the origins and ramifications of Chiana's visions, Xander and Chiana take the DeLorean through time and space to visit of all things, an Oracle. But when they're intercepted by Grayza's Command Carrier, Xander will find his first encounter with the Peace Keepers to be an unpleasant one. Will he be able to survive the Aurora Chair? What will Grayza discover in his mind? How will he and Chiana escape?
Author’s note: This story is a sequel to Back to the Uncharted Territories, which in turn is a sequel to A Sympathetic Ear. Special thanks to A. Grandt, Rob Clark, dragon_hulk, Jason Hill, Ghostrider, DaBear, greywizard, MagnusXXZ, and C.J. Whittaker for the feedback. It’s much appreciated.
Dedication: To Jordan and Jessica, my angels. May they rest in peace.
(BtVS/Farscape, Xander/Chiana, R)

(2/5)

“Xander, are you sure about this?” John asked. They were standing in Moya’s hangar bay, and Xander was doing a preflight check on the DeLorean.

Xander nodded. “This is the best lead we’re going to get. And I’m not going to let a little thing like this guy being dead stop me from getting some answers.”

“I know you’re worried about Chiana, we all are. But every time you use this thing, it’s a risk. I just hope you know that.”

“I do, and the risk is small. Pilot says that according to the decay rate of the weapons signature, the attack happened three days ago. So Chiana and I will go back five days, have a chat with the Oracle, and be back before you know we’re gone, literally.”

“And what if that’s not far enough, what if the Peace Keepers are still there?”

“Then we’ll time shift back even further before they have a chance to spot us.”

“We can find another way, Xander. We don’t have…”

“John,” Xander interrupted. He stepped closer to him, his voice dropping in volume. “Jules told me before we left that the reason he was giving me the time machine was because in the original tangent, Chiana died. And with the DeLorean here, she doesn’t. What if this is why? This could save her life.”

“Jules also told you not to second guess yourself. You can’t make judgment calls based on your knowledge of the future.”

“I’m not,” Xander insisted. “I’m basing it on the fact that the chances of us finding anyone else out here who knows anything about these visions is slim to none. This is exactly what I’d do, whether I knew about the future or not. Jules also told me to trust my instincts. I can do this John, please…just trust me.”

John nodded slowly. “I do trust you,” he said. Xander could see in his eyes, it wasn’t a matter of trust. John was just worried about his friends, and Xander understood how that felt better than anyone.

“Are we ready?”

John and Xander turned to see Chiana walking into the hangar bay. “Just about,” Xander said. “Hop in.” Chiana popped the passenger side gull-wing door and got inside.

John clasped Xander on the shoulder. “You just…be careful, okay.”

Xander nodded and gave John a reassuring smile. “Like I said, we’ll be back before you know it.”

John just nodded. Xander turned and got into the DeLorean. John could hear its engines powering up as he made his way out of the hangar bay before Pilot opened the outer doors. “Literally,” he mumbled to himself.

*

The planet Meloni,
Five days ago

Several Hynerian ships sat in orbit around the small blue-green world. None of them even noticed the small, oddly shaped silver craft appear out of nowhere. That is, until the ship started moving past them all toward the surface. Xander ignored the comms, as a plethora of annoyed Hynerian voices yelled at him that he had to wait his turn. From what he could tell from his scans, none of the ships had any armament. From what Rygel had told him, they were luxury liners, belonging to the richest of Hynerian nobility. And since nobody outside of Hyneria was supposed to even know of Meloni’s existence, no one ever felt the need to bring an armed escort.

“They sure don’t sound happy,” Chiana commented.

“I’m beginning to wonder if Hynerians are ever happy,” Xander added. “Outside of swimming around in their money, like Scrooge McDuck.”

“Who?”

“Never mind. There’s the temple, I’m going to set her down.”

There were hundreds of Hynerians gathered around the outside of the temple, waiting for their turn to see the Oracle. They watched as a strange looking craft descended from the clouds and landed only a few dozen metres from the temple steps. Much closer than any ship was allowed to land.

Xander and Chiana got out once they landed. They started walking toward the temple, when Xander pulled something from his belt and pointed it at the DeLorean. The time machine let out two high pitch beeps, and Xander returned the device to his belt.

“Is that going to be okay here?” Chiana asked.

Xander picked up a rock from the ground and turned, winging it at the DeLorean as hard as he could. It bounced harmlessly off of an energy shield that now surrounded the vehicle. “It’ll be fine,” he said.

The Hynerians started grumbling as soon as the ship touched down, and seeing two aliens step out certainly didn’t please them either.

“This is an outrage!”

“It’s sacrilege!”

“Why I’ve never!”

For the most part Xander and Chiana just ignored them. They had more pressing matters to attend to, and they couldn’t have cared less about ruffling a few Hynerian feathers. But one bold individual refused to be ignored. He parked himself right in their path, and started poking Xander in the shins with his finger.

“Now see here, how dare you! Outsiders are not welcome here! You must leave immediately! You must…”

The Hynerian promptly stopped talking once Xander drew his pulse pistol, Naomi, from his belt and leveled it at him. “Back off, ankle biter. We’re here to see the Wizard, and none of you munchkins are going to stop us.”

The Hynerian backed off without another word, and the rest of the walk to the temple proceeded without incident. The rest of the tiny tyrants parted like the red sea. They walked up the steps to the top of the structure, and found themselves standing in front of a solid stone wall.

“Okay, what now?” Chiana asked, tapping on the wall with her hand.

Xander reached out and took Chiana’s hand in his. “Trust me,” he said. He stepped forward, leading Chiana with him straight into the wall. And with a flash, they both disappeared.

Chiana blinked, and suddenly found that she was no longer outside of the wall, but inside a great chamber. Tapestries hung from the walls, and beautiful pieces of ornate pottery sat on pedestals all around them. “How did…what…how did you do that?” Chiana asked.

“It’s a test of faith,” Xander said. “If you meet the wall unbelieving, with your hands first, then you can’t pass through. But if you believe, and walk in face first…”

“Then you will be allowed entry,” another voice finished.

Xander and Chiana both turned to see who had spoken. What they saw surprised them both. He was Hynerian, looking almost exactly like Rygel, except for the gray beard. He was wearing a gold toga, and sandals on his feet, which matched the whole ancient Rome décor of the temple. But the surprising thing was that he was hovering, unaided, five feet off the ground. There was no throne sled, nothing below him but air.

“Oracle,” Xander breathed, like the word itself held some kind of power.

“I’m impressed,” he spoke again. “It usually takes newcomers days to figure that out, if ever.”

“We…we’ve come seeking answers,” Xander said.

“Everyone seeks answers,” the Oracle spoke. “But not everyone asks the right questions. Do you bring an offering?”

Xander mentally kicked himself. In all the excitement, he had forgotten completely to bring something as an offering. His mind raced for a few seconds before he finally settled on what he had to do. He drew his sword from the scabbard on his back and held it out in front of him.

“I present to you my most cherished possession,” Xander said. “My sword.”

“Xander, no,” Chiana said. She knew how much that sword meant to him, she didn’t want him to lose it because of her.

The Oracle was hovering ten feet away from where Xander and Chiana stood. He reached out his hand and in a flash, the sword disappeared from Xander’s hand and reappeared in his own. Had circumstances been normal, Xander would have been sure that the tiny Hynerian wouldn’t have been able to lift the sword. But circumstances were not normal, and the Oracle hefted the weapon with ease. He examined the sword closely.

“A beautiful weapon,” the Oracle said. “A warrior’s weapon. You are a warrior, are you not? A…knight.” Xander was stunned into silence. “I don’t get many of your kind here, unfortunately. You’re a dying breed. You may ask of me what you wish.”

“My companion,” Xander said, motioning toward Chiana. “I believe that she has been given the gift of the visions.”

“It is true, she has,” the Oracle said.

“We need to know, is she strong enough to bare them? The side effects are quite…severe.”

The Oracle cocked his head curiously. “Are you sure that is the question you wish to ask? You may not get a chance to ask another.”

“I’m sure,” Xander answered without hesitation. “It’s the most important thing I need to know.”

The Oracle floated closer to Xander, until he was directly in front of him. He looked into his eyes for a moment, and then smiled. “So it is,” he said. “The answer is yes, she is strong enough to bare the visions. However, it isn’t the side effects of the visions that are severe, are they?” he said, turning to Chiana. “It isn’t looking into the future that causes you to loose your sight, it’s looking more closely at the present.”

“That’s right,” Chiana said.

“This second gift you’ve been given is much like this sword,” the Oracle said. “It’s a double edged blade. Unlike the visions, you are the one who is in control. And the price you pay will increase each time you use this gift, until the day comes when you will never regain your sight.”

“You’re saying that if I keep using my power, slowing down the present, that someday I’ll go blind…permanently?” Chiana asked.

The Oracle simply nodded, as he floated back to his original spot. “And now good sir knight, that I’ve answered the question that you asked, I will answer the question that you did not ask.”

“I don’t understand,” Xander said.

“You came here today seeking knowledge. And for that knowledge, you have shown that you are willing to sacrifice something that means a great deal to you. And I’m not just talking about your sword. Given the choice between yourself and your companion, you chose your companion without hesitation. You chose her well being over your own thirst for answers.

“You wish to know if her visions have been sent to her to help guide you on your path? You wish to know if you are walking the path that you are meant to, if you’re doing the right thing. You want, more than anything, for your destiny to be clear.”

“Yes, I do,” Xander answered.

“But I cannot tell you these things.”

“I…I don’t understand.”

“Much like the wall, it is a test of faith. Not your faith in me, or the Gods, but your faith in yourself. Your greatest enemy has always been self-doubt.

“You have a great battle ahead of you, Knight. And you will have choices to make. Keep your friends close to you, old and new. Stay true to yourself. I cannot give you the answers you seek. You must earn that knowledge yourself.”

“I don’t understand,” Xander repeated.

“You will. And for now, that is enough. That is all I can tell you.”

Xander nodded. “Thank you.” He and Chiana turned, heading back the way they came.

“Knight,” the Oracle called out, stopping him. Xander turned. The Oracle held Xander’s sword out, and it disappeared from his hand, only to reappear back in Xander’s. “It is a warrior’s weapon. And it belongs with a warrior.”

Xander nodded and slid the weapon back into the scabbard on his back. “There’s something I need to tell you. In two days, this temple is going to be destroyed by the Peace Keepers. As near as we can tell, there won’t be any survivors.”

The Oracle seemed to smile. “I already know this,” he stated.

“You do?” Xander asked. “How?”

“The knowledge of the Gods is not limited by time, ergo neither is mine.”

“You can come with us.”

The Oracle shook his head. “You have your path to walk, and I have mine. My place is here.”

Xander nodded. “I understand.” He took Chiana’s hand and together they walked back the way they came, through the wall.

They once again found themselves outside, on the steps of the temple. “I still don’t understand,” Chiana said. “He didn’t tell you anything.”

“Yes he did. He told me that I wasn’t ready to know yet. But more importantly, we found out that you’re strong enough for the visions. You just have to lay off that little cheating trick of yours.”

“No argument here, I’m not really eager to do it again any time soon any…way,” Chiana trailed off as she looked down the temple steps. Xander followed her gaze and saw what it was that disturbed her.

“Uh oh,” he muttered to himself. Below them, on the grounds around the temple, there was nothing. Not one single Hynerian of the hundreds who had been there when they entered was still there. It looked like a ghost town.

“I’ve got a bad…”

“Don’t say it,” Xander interrupted. “Let’s just get out of here.”

Chiana nodded and the two of them hurried down the stairs and over to the DeLorean. Xander deactivated the shield and the two of them got in. The engines powered up and the car lifted off, flying up into the clouds.

“As soon as we’re clear of the atmosphere we’ll time shift,” Xander said.

“I wonder what spooked those Hynerians,” Chiana said.

“I don’t know. Maybe they just went to get reinforcements.”

“All of them?”

“I don’t know,” Xander admitted again. “Keep your eyes on that sensor readout, let me know if you see anything.”

The DeLorean broke through the upper most layer of the atmosphere and Xander turned to the time circuits. “Xander.”

“I just need to enter our destination into the time circuits.”

“Xander!” Yelled, panic in her voice.

“What?” Xander asked, looking over at her. But she wasn’t looking at the sensor readout, she was looking out the windshield.

“I see something,” she said, her voice trembling as her hand came up to point out the front window.

Xander turned and saw something so big, it filled the sky in front of him. His jaw fell open as his brain tried to absorb the sheer size of it. “Holy shit,” he muttered in amazement. “What the hell is that?”

“It’s a command carrier,” Chiana answered. “Peace Keepers. We have to get out of here, now!”

“We’re not going fast enough to time shift, and the controls aren’t responding!” Xander yelled, pounding on the console in front of him.

Chiana turned and looked out the side window. “That’s because we’re already in their docking web!”

Xander looked back and forth between his piloting controls and the command carrier that was looming in front of them, seemingly getting bigger as it pulled the DeLorean closer. “Frell!”




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