2.07 - Home on the Remains

Out of food, Moya and her crew head to a colony where Chiana once lived; a mining colony on the carcass of an enormous creature known as a Budong. Unfortunately, things on the colony are not going well and the lack of food is having a dangerous effect on Zhaan. Dangerous to the rest of the crew, that is.

What's that appalling smell? - Aeryn Sun
Breakfast! - John Crichton
Dentics? You can't eat Dentics! - Aeryn Sun
Fried Dentics. You can eat anything if it's fried! - John Crichton

D'Argo... are you and Chiana together? - Altana
No. - Ka D'Argo
"No" or "Not yet"? - Altana
That's up to her. - Ka D'Argo

Okay. No more Captain Kirk chit-chat. - John Crichton

Chiana, you're a thief and a tralk. But, you're not a killer. - B'Soog
I'm evolving... as an individual. - Chiana

It's wonderful. - Zotoh Zhaan
Yeah. Carolina Style Keedva, best barbecue this side of a Budong! - John Crichton

Moya is orbiting near the body of a dead Budong; a living creature the size of a small planet. The crew is completely out of food and Chiana has led them here. There is a colony on the Budong which mines Nogelti crystals. Chiana and her brother, Nerri, once stayed on the colony.

Aeryn talks to Chiana about her time on the colony while John tries to fry some Dentics to eat. His experiment fails and Aeryn finds out that Chiana left the colony after stealing from some of the miners. Aeryn and John are suddenly dubious about getting food but Chiana insists that her friend Temmon will help them.

Zhaan enters, wearing a hood, and Aeryn and John try to convince her that they should leave and look for food elsewhere. Zhaan removes the hood, revealing that her eyes have turned yellow and that her head is covered in small growths.
"I must have food." she tells them. "Or, I'll die."

D'Argo and John are proving to be allergic to whatever is happening to Zhaan, so the two of them go to the Budong along with Rygel and Chiana, who has changed into a very revealing outfit. Aeryn, to her displeasure, stays on Moya with Zhaan.

The crew arrive at the mining camp and John asks Chiana if Temmon will help them since she stole from him. She says he will since Nerri is dead. John is unconvinced but is interrupted when an alarm goes off. Chiana yells that it indicates an attack by a "Keedva".

The four of them rush with many of the miners to the entrance of the mine. Several miners carry someone out and Chiana recognizes him as Temmon. Temmon sees Chiana and begs her to help him and she grabs a mining tool from another miner and uses it to kill him.

John grabs her and asks what is happening. One of the other miners says that Temmon was running from the Keedva and ran into a "pustule". Chiana says that once the contents of a pustule get on someone they are dead anyway and what she did was a mercy killing.

They are interrupted by the arrival of B'Soog, who seems to be in charge of the mine. He refers to Temmon as his brother and tells Chiana that she did what had to be done. He then tells the other miners that he is closing the mine until the Keedva can be caught. The miners grumble but leave.

B'Soog then tells Chiana that he is surprised to see her. Chiana explains that their ship is out of food and B'Soog agrees to give them some, except for her.
"I'll feed your friends," he says, "but not you, Chiana. You used up my charity."

He insists that the others turn over their weapons. D'Argo is reluctant but John hands over his pulse pistol and D'Argo eventually gives up his Qualta blade as well. The two of them and Rygel go with B'Soog to get food.

Another miner, Altana arrives and greets Chiana, who is surprised to see her. Altana tells Chiana that she will give her some food and they leave as well.

Chiana and Altana briefly talk about other miners then Altana reveals that she has found a large vein of Nogelti crystals, enough to set her up for life, and that she wants Chiana to have a share of the find. But, she is concerned because B'Soog has shut down the mine and worries that he is planning on stealing the crystals from her. Chiana asks if she thinks that B'Soog killed Temmon but Altana says no.

Back on Moya, Aeryn and Zhaan are in Zhaan's cabin with Zhaan lying in the bed. Aeryn tries to mix some medicine to help Zhaan under her instruction, but Zhaan passes out before she can finish.

Pilot reports that the spores being produced by Zhaan are starting to have a numbing effect on Moya. Aeryn suggests setting the atmosphere scrubbers to maximum but cannot think of anything else to do.

At the mining camp, D'Argo, John and Rygel are around a table eating. B'Soog is at another table. Rygel complains that B'Soog is eating meat while they only have lichen and fungus and John asks if they can stock up on supplies. B'Soog tells them that the only way to get more food or meat is to pay for it with Nogelti crystals and the only way to get them is to work in the mine, which is closed. John offers to trade weapons or medical supplies but B'Soog refuses. D'Argo says they will mine for crystals when the mine reopens.

Rygel sees several miners playing a game which B'Soog identifies as Deemo. He agrees to introduce Rygel to the players. John takes a container of food and leaves for Moya.

There, he gives some of the food to Aeryn and the two of them go to Zhaan's cabin. John tries to give some food to Zhaan but she refuses, saying she must have meat. John continues to try and she suddenly grabs his hand and twists it backwards, causing him great pain.

Zhaan tells him that the growths are a defense mechanism. When her people are starving they become immobilized and vulnerable to predator attacks. The spores produced are poisonous to animals and, when the attacking predator dies, her people eat it. Only eating meat will stop the spores from being produced. Her eyes turn red and she throws him away from her. John, shaken, says he will get her some meat.

Back at the mining colony, Rygel is playing Deemo with one of the miners and loses. The miner demands that Rygel pay him but Rygel wants to have another game. The miner tells Rygel that he will have to give him the crystals he owes him, one way or another.

Elsewhere, Chiana is lying on a couch when B'Soog enters. The two talk about Temmon and she starts to flirt with him when D'Argo enters and demands that B'Soog give them some meat for Zhaan but B'Soog says they will have to pay for it. He then looks at Chiana and suggests that maybe they do have something they can trade for food.

D'Argo grabs B'Soog but B'Soog tells him that he has all of the meat hidden in the mine and that if D'Argo kills him then they will never be able to find it. Chiana offers to spend the night with him if he gives them meat but B'Soog says no; she will have to stay with him as long as he wants her.

Somewhat later, Chiana and D'Argo are outside and arguing. Chiana seems willing to stay with B'Soog to help Zhaan but D'Argo says he won't let her and that they will find another way. Chiana becomes angry with him.
"D'Argo," she tells him "I had a brother. He's gone. I don't need another."
"I don't want to be your brother." says D'Argo quietly.
Chiana is exasperated. "Then what?" she asks. D'Argo just stares at her.

Chiana starts to walk away then stops and tells D'Argo about Altana and her find but says she can't get to it while the mine is closed. D'Argo offers to go with her to help her.

On Moya, Aeryn is arranging a bank of lights around Zhaan. She asks Pilot to help adjust them since Zhaan cannot give her any advice. Pilot wonders if the lights will help but Aeryn says that Zhaan is a plant and that they have to try something.

The lights are turned on and spores start pouring from Zhaan. Aeryn turns the lights off and Pilot confirms that the lights have made things worse.

Zhaan suddenly sits up and yells at Aeryn, accusing her of trying to kill her and of wanting to see her die. Aeryn can only wave spores away from her face and sneeze.

John is wandering through the mining camp when he sees Chiana arguing with B'Soog. Chiana offers to stay with him for a half-cycle but B'Soog simply repeats his earlier terms. He goes inside and John goes up to Chiana.

John asks Chiana where D'Argo is and she tells him he is in the mine. John gets angry and reminds her of the Keedva then goes off to look for D'Argo.

Back on Moya, Pilot tells Aeryn, who is now showing signs of allergies, that the spores are starting to harm Moya. Aeryn decides to put Zhaan in a transport pod and remove her from Moya until John can return. Pilot can then flush the atmosphere out of Moya to get rid of the spores. However, when Aeryn goes to Zhaan's cabin she is no longer there.

John is walking through the mine when he comes across Rygel chipping away at a Nogelti crystal. Rygel tells him that the miner forced him to come here after he lost the Deemo game. John leaves and continues to look for D'Argo.

John hears a noise and, investigating, finds himself face to face with the Keedva. He runs back to where Rygel was working and, as Rygel tries to rise to safety on his thronesled, grabs onto it. The thronesled lifts both of them into the air with the Keedva raging below them.

Rygel yells for John to let go and John yells for Rygel to raise the sled higher. The thronesled starts descending and Rygel starts biting John's fingers. Suddenly, a whistle is heard and the Keedva runs off. John yells for Rygel to let go and, when he doesn't, bites him on the earbrow. Rygel lets go of John's hand and John head butts Rygel.

John tells Rygel to go wait in the transport pod while he goes to find D'Argo. Rygel asks about the miner that sent him there and John reminds him of the Keedva. Rygel agrees to go to the pod.

D'Argo and Altana are collecting crystals and Altana thanks him for his help. She talks about Chiana and asks if she and D'Argo are together. D'Argo says they are not.
"No?" asks Altana. "Or, 'Not yet'?"
"That's up to her." says D'Argo.

On Moya, Aeryn is unable to find Zhaan. Pilot tells her that the spores have almost reached the point where Moya is unable to navigate and that she may soon be permanently blind. Aeryn, reluctantly, tells him to seal off Command and flush the atmosphere from Moya.

In the mine, D'Argo and Altana hear a whistle and the Keedva suddenly attacks them. It knocks D'Argo aside then attacks Altana.

John returns to the mining camp and finds Chiana, who asks about D'Argo and Altana. The alarm goes off and B'Soog exits the mine, along with D'Argo who is pulling Altana's body on a cart. D'Argo, in obvious pain, tells John that he tried to protect Altana but that he failed. D'Argo collapses unconscious.

B'Soog tells them again to stay out of the mine and John tells him that he is doing a very poor job for such a great "critter hunter". B'Soog tells him that he closed the mines for a reason and stalks off.

Chiana tells John that B'Soog killed Altana. John tells her to stay with D'Argo and goes into the mine after B'Soog.

Moya has almost been repressurized and Aeryn is in Command when Zhaan drops down from the ceiling and attacks her. She continues to accuse Aeryn of trying to kill her until Aeryn tells her that what she is going through is harming Moya. Zhaan stops and says that she would never hurt Moya and Aeryn uses the opportunity to knock her unconscious. She tells Pilot to get one of the transport pods ready.

John is following B'Soog through the mine. B'Soog enters what turns out to be a meat locker and takes a piece of meat, then leaves. John enters the locker and takes another piece but when he goes to leave he finds B'Soog waiting for him.

B'Soog accuses John of trying to steal meat and says he will have to work for it and John points out that Altana was trying to do that when the Keedva killed her. The Keedva's roaring is suddenly heard and John suggests that they both leave but B'Soog blows on a familiar-sounding whistle and the Keedva appears and stops beside him.

B'Soog tells John that he and the Keedva have learned to work together. We suddenly hear Chiana calling for John and B'Soog leaves John alone with the Keedva.

John throws the meat he has been holding in an attempt to distract the Keedva but the Keedva charges him anyway. John manages to escape by hiding in the meat locker but is trapped there by the Keedva.

John opens the door to the locker and, when the Keedva reaches in for him, closes the door again, trapping the Keedva's arm. This gives John an idea and he opens the door completely. The Keedva backs up and charges John. John waits and, as the Keedva enters the meat locker, flips the door switch. The Keedva is trapped by the closing door and impaled on several locking rods which protrude from it.

B'Soog comes across Chiana in the tunnels and she asks where John is. He claims not to know and Chiana points a pulse pistol at him. He tells her that she isn't a killer and can't shoot him in cold blood.
"You're right." she tells him. "I can't."

Chiana screams and fires the pistol, which hits a pustule on the tunnel wall above B'Soog. Fluid gushes from the pustule and hits B'Soog, eating the flesh from his hand and arm. He yells for Chiana not to leave him there to suffer but she simply smiles and walks away.

Later, everyone is on Moya where they have apparently cooked the entire Keedva. Aeryn is carving the meat, John is happily licking his fingers and Zhaan is asking for her fourth helping. D'Argo sees Chiana walk past the galley and goes after her.

Zhaan thanks John who smiles, loosens his pants, and leaves. She then apologizes to Aeryn who simply gives her another helping of meat.

D'Argo goes to Chiana, who is watching the Budong recede behind them. He asks her if she is happy to be away and she tells him he would not understand, to which he replies that he does understand loss. She tells him that it isn't that important and he tells her not to put on an act for him.
"D'Argo," she tells him, "I do what I do to survive."
"Can't you just let it go?" he asks.
She shakes her head. "I can only let go when I feel safe."
"You are safe." he tells her.
"Am I?" she asks.

D'Argo walks up to her, lifts her chin, and kisses her. He then turns and walks away. She watches him in stunned silence.

"Whoa." she says softly.

Dentics, the Uncharted Territories equivalent of a toothbrush, first appeared in Exodus from Genesis.

We first learned of Chiana's brother, Nerri, and his death in Taking the Stone.

D'Argo has previously indicated an interest in Chiana in Family Ties and Picture If You Will. Chiana has in turn stated an interest in D'Argo in Vitas Mortis. There is also a deleted scene on the DVD for Mind the Baby where we learn that Chiana has cleaned D'Argo's cabin and polished his shilquen while he was missing.

Zhaan, being a plant, normally has a pleasurable reaction to light as was described in Till the Blood Runs Clear and Crackers Don't Matter.

Was B'Soog responsible for Temmon's death?

Is B'Soog dead?

What happens to the rest of the miners now?

John W. Campbell, former editor of Astounding Science Fiction and considered by many to be the father of modern science fiction, once proposed a test that could be used to determine if a particular story was science fiction or not. He suggested that if the setting of the story could be changed to the old west without changing the rest of the story then the story did not qualify as science fiction.

Using that standard, Home on the Remains barely qualifies. On the other hand, what would you call an episode set at a mining colony on the decaying corpse of a creature the size of a planet?

The western analogy is good in this case though, since Home on the Remains does feel more like a western than science fiction. Consider... a wagon train arrives in a small mining town in the desert looking for food, but the corrupt sheriff of the town controls all of it and is trying to drive the legitimate miners from their claims to get them for himself. Of course, the wagon train probably didn't have an intelligent plant with it who was exuding spores.

That point aside, Home on the Remains is a fairly interesting episode and one that has some very good moments. Mining colonies are a staple of science fiction, but has there ever been a mining colony on an enormous dead creature before? (Side note: I have no idea what a Budong eats during it's life. Maybe "space plankton" or something, but then why does it need those huge teeth?) It is certainly an unusual setting, but one that seems perfectly at home in the Farscape universe.

In many ways this is a Chiana episode. She has been on the colony before and takes the lead in getting them there. But, as usual, nothing is as easy as it seems. She no sooner arrives when Temmon, who she came to meet, dies at her own hand. (Yeah, it was apparently a mercy killing, but still...) Then, her friend Altana gets killed and finally she has to kill B'Soog herself.

Chiana has gone through a lot of loss. She learned that her brother had died a few episodes back and here she loses not one but two people who were (in some way) close to her. It is no wonder that she seems to keep herself isolated from the rest of the world.

On the other hand, it is obvious that she considers the others on Moya her friends as well. She is willing to stay with B'Soog for some period of time if that is what it takes to help Zhaan.

Which makes her reaction to D'Argo a bit puzzling. She obviously cares for those on Moya but seems upset when D'Argo tries to protect her. Of course, D'Argo isn't doing the best job of it either. Could it be that the only time Chiana has ever felt true emotions with someone (as opposed to the casual sex which seems to have made up the vast majority of her relationships) was with her brother? If so, she may mistake D'Argo's interest in her as that of a brother. In fact, she says as much. It is only at the very end of the episode, when D'Argo kisses her, that she realizes the actual depth of his interest.

Or, another possibility is that she knows of D'Argo's feelings and is deliberately trying to keep him distant. She obviously loved her brother, considering how his death affected her in Taking the Stone, and it is possible she doesn't want D'Argo to suffer that same fate. We know she likes D'Argo, she said as much in Vitas Mortis. Here, she has just lost another friend. Maybe she is trying to protect D'Argo. Or, she may be trying to protect herself from another loss. It will be interesting to see how this relationship develops.

One final comment on Chiana. When she corners B'Soog at the end, he tells her that she isn't a killer. She responds that she is "evolving as an individual" and shoots the acid pustule over his head; indirectly killing him.

In Durka Returns there was a question as to who killed Salis; Durka or Chiana. It was never really clear as to if Chiana was responsible. Here, B'Soog doesn't seem to think that Chiana will kill him, even though she obviously has reason to. She tells him she has changed and does, indirectly. So, we know that she is capable of killing someone.

It still doesn't tell us if she killed Salis or not, though.

A few quick comments on the rest of the crew. John, as usual, is the one who saves the day. He confronts B'Soog and manages to kill the Keedva. (Fortunately, for some reason the door to the meat locker was equipped with a bear trap attachment.) And, he apparently introduces the concept of southern-style barbecue to the Uncharted Territories as well.

It did seem as if he was able to defeat the Keedva a bit too easily. (John can get away from it but D'Argo can't?) It also seemed that he was able to find B'Soog's "well hidden" meat locker a bit to easily. B'Soog also fell victim to the evil villain syndrome here; leaving John in his trap without waiting to see if it actually worked. Still, these are relatively minor points.

The only real complaint I would have is with Zhaan's "budding". As described it makes sense somewhat but they also contradict themselves a bit. She tells John that the buds appear after hunger immobilizes them but seems to be able to move around the ship quite a bit in that "immobilized" state.

At least they realized they could take her off the ship using a pod this time, unlike Exodus from Genesis.

The main purpose for Zhaan's budding seems to be to add urgency to their mission and to explain why Aeryn simply didn't go into the mine and blast the Keedva to solve the problem with it. So, it seemed a bit contrived but really wasn't that much of a problem.

Overall, this is a fairly good episode. Nothing exceptional but nothing really that bad either.