3.21 - Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
(Into the Lion's Den: Part 2)

Scorpius is growing increasingly desperate for his research to succeed and John is beginning to question if destroying it is actually the right thing to do. There is little time remaining but Crais and Talyn have one final chance to help the crew.

If Grayza's going to stop the experiment in a few days then we have already succeeded. - Aeryn Sun
No, Scorpius is in Captain Queeg mode; somebody's stolen his strawberries and he's not going to let his pet project die. - John Crichton
How is he planning to stop Grayza? - Aeryn Sun
We're talking about Scorpius. Are you prepared to bet against him? - John Crichton

Why don't you come with me? Come on grasshopper, come with me. You spent your life in search of wormholes. Let me introduce you to one. Up close and personal. - John Crichton

What do you think? - John Crichton
This is without description, John. - Scorpius
Yeah, it's a real Kodak moment. - John Crichton

Flying through wormholes ain't like dustin' crops, farmboy. - John Crichton

I've never felt this... connected, John. - Scorpius
You're not going all mushy on me back there are you? - John Crichton

Where are you, Crais? - Scorpius
I am standing in your heart, and I am about to squeeze. - Bialar Crais

You are the most repellent of creatures, Scorpius. You weren't born into the Peacekeepers. You weren't conscripted against your will. The last time I left this ship... my ship... I did so under a veil of secrecy. You forced that situation. You took away my command. You stole my life from me. Well, this time, Scorpius, I am not leaving quietly. - Bialar Crais

Talyn. Starburst. - Bialar Crais

John Crichton. Commander John Crichton. Generations will know that name. Because of you, very soon, the Scarrans will destroy us all. - Scorpius

Scorpius is still holding John down and facing the hologram of Earth. He tells John that he doesn't care about Earth or its people but that he knows it is important to John. He has to be able to report a success before Grayza returns or the entire project will be shut down and the Scarrans will rule half the galaxy.

John comments that Scorpius is "screwed" and Scorpius responds by saying that if he is screwed then things will become very ugly. He pats John on the cheek and leaves.

Later, John is in the lounge with Aeryn. Crais is also present. Aeryn says that if Grayza is going to shut the project down then they have succeeded in their plan but John isn't convinced that Scorpius is going to give up on the project that easily. He tells Aeryn and Crais to come with him to the medical facility.

Chiana, D'Argo, Jool and Rygel are already in the medical facility. They have just decided that they are going to leave when John, Aeryn and Crais arrive. John tells them that Grayza's arrival means a change in their plans. Things are getting very dangerous but even Grayza may not be able to put an end to the project and they do not have much time to come up with other alternatives. He sees only one option; destroy the Command Carrier.

Everyone is stunned. Rygel points out that the Command Carrier is over a metra in length and Aeryn reminds him that there are over 50 thousand men, women and children on board. John replies that they will find a way to destroy it and a way to give enough warning to get as many people off safely as possible. But the Command Carrieristhe wormhole project; its hull has even been modified to serve as a repeater to stabilize a wormhole. Destroy it and the project is over forever.

John asks Crais if it is possible to destroy the ship and Crais says that he thinks it is. There are a few other objections but Rygel tells them that he saw the potential of wormhole weapons and that he thinks no one should have that power. No one. The others do not seem completely convinced but reluctantly agree with the plan.

John returns to the lab where he again begins analyzing the display and working on some equations.

Mindscape: Still in the World War II setting, John and Harvey are now sitting on some crates and playing chess. John asks if Scorpius would really destroy the Earth. Harvey places John in checkmate then says that he would never underestimate Scorpius' quest for revenge.

The two then are playing checkers. Harvey asks John that if he found a way to create a wormhole and go home, would he really throw it away. John doesn't answer and Harvey jumps several of John's pieces, winning the game.

Next the two are playing cards, apparently "Go Fish". Harvey wins this as well and is celebrating his win when a voice brings John back to reality.

Co-Kura is calling to John, telling him that he has stopped writing on the tablet he is holding and is now writing on his hand. John looks and sees that he has written equations all over the back of his hand. Co-Kura sees them and becomes very excited, saying that John may have solved one of their problems. He runs off while John continues to look at his hand.

"So that's how it works." John says, reading the equations. Then, "I can do this."

Meanwhile, Crais has returned to the hanger bay but is blocked from entering Talyn by a guard. He cannot convince him to let him on board and so returns to his quarters. There, he meets Larell who tells him that Talyn has been completely disarmed but that they need Crais to get back on board in order to reactivate him. Crais says that Scorpius will never let him back on board. He pauses, then says that he will if he has something to trade for it.

Crais arrives in Scorpius' quarters and demands to talk to him. Scorpius orders him to be thrown out but Crais yells that he wants a pardon for his actions, to be reinstated into the Peacekeepers and to be put in charge of the Leviathan gunship project working with Lt. Larell. Scorpius asks if he has something to trade and Crais says he does.

Scorpius points out that anything he agrees to may be overruled when Grayza returns but Crais says that if he writes it as an executive order then High Command will have to accept it. Scorpius agrees and asks what Crais trade is. Crais then tells him of John's plans to destroy the Command Carrier.

Aeryn is in one of the park-like areas of the ship when she sees several young children attacking a young girl. Aeryn chases them away and talks to the girl, who has a cut on her hand. Aeryn is about to help her when Henta appears and hits the cut, telling the girl to let it scar and that she will appreciate it someday. The girl runs off.

"Don't make her soft, Aeryn." she says then turns to leave.
"So much you don't know, Henta." is Aeryn's response.
Henta pauses for a moment then leaves without turning.

Crais appears and tells Aeryn that there is a problem and for her to come with him.

Chiana, D'Argo, Jool and Rygel meet in a corridor and say they have the information they have been looking for. Suddenly Peacekeeper guards appear and take them prisoner.

John is still in the lab and still writing on his hand. Co-Kura is excited, saying that the equations are coming to him quickly now. Scorpius enters and compliments John then tells him that the rest of Moya's crew is back in custody and that his plan to destroy the ship has failed.

John looks up and sees Crais. He tries to attack him but is grabbed by several guards and by Scorpius. Scorpius tells him to give him the wormhole information or he will kill the others.

Everyone else, with the exception of Aeryn, is in a cell. Chiana asks if they can escape and Rygel points out that it took him 130 cycles to escape before and even then he got lucky.

Some time later, John arrives in the power station where he encounters Aeryn and Crais. He is about to attack Crais again when Aeryn gets between them and tells him to listen to what Crais has to say.

Crais says that it is impossible for them to destroy the Command Carrier on their own. He has a plan, but to make it work he needed Scorpius to trust him and to think any plans against him had failed. He needed Aeryn to help him which is why he kept her safe.

John is still angry and turns to leave but Aeryn tells him to wait. Crais says that everything of importance to him has been taken away from him. He also says that he knows the danger of wormhole technology and that he does not want anyone to have it. Finally, he says that he is the only one who can make his plan work.

The plan requires Talyn. He will board Talyn and have him Starburst from within the hanger bay. The release of energy in the enclosed area will cause the Command Carrier to implode, starting with the outer decks. It will take about a half-arn to collapse completely, giving most of the crew time to escape. Aeryn says that she knows where the others are being held and that she will be able to release them in time.

John asks Aeryn if she belives Crais and she says she does. John then reluctantly agrees to the plan and asks Crais where they should arrange to meet up with him and Talyn.

"You don't." says Crais without emotion. "Starburst in a confined space, where the energy can't dissipate... will be hero's death Talyn deserves."
John stares at him for a moment. "You're gonna die." he says flatly.
"I will need a significant distraction to keep Scorpius occupied." is Crais' only reply.

Crais starts to walk away but stops when John calls his name.
"I'll get you one." he tells him. Crais leaves.

John goes to the lab where he finds Co-Kura. He tells him that he needs to go to Moya to get his module.

Crais is walking through the corridors when he is intercepted by Larell. She says she knows he is up to something and he admits that she knows him well. She then says that if she suspects he is being disloyal then she will have to report to Scorpius. He tells her to do so and walks off.

She runs after him, asking again to tell her what he is planning. Crais slaps her hard, then tells her to tell Scorpius that the next time he sends someone to spy on him to send someone he cares about.

John, Co-Kura and several Peacekeeper technicians are on Moya and working on John's module. John is in Pilot's den and has apparently told their plan to Pilot and Moya. Pilot says that Moya understands that Talyn was always doomed to a violent end but that this way at least it will be a noble one. John says for them to Starburst if he doesn't see the rest of them escape from the Command Carrier then leaves, telling Pilot to give Moya their love. Pilot tells him that Moya sends the same to them, as does he.

Back on the Command Carrier, Scorpius wonders why John has brought his module over and John says that he has an idea as to why he is safe in his module while the other experimental pilots have liquefied when trying to navigate the wormhole. He wants to test his theory.

Scorpius is concerned that John could be killed and John says that he will be executed when "Commandant Cleavage" returns anyway and so he needs to do something drastic. He asks if Scorpius is worried that if something happens to John then it will happen to him too and suggests that Scorpius fly with him. After a long pause (in which John suggests Scorpius is afraid) he agrees.

John and Scorpius fly into the wormhole, all the while sending data back to Co-Kura and keeping up a running commentary on what they are seeing. At one point they encounter some trouble but John is able to keep the Farscape 1 under control and they continue their study. Their reports are broadcast throughout the Command Carrier and most of the crew stands transfixed while listening in. Aeryn is seen walking through the ship carrying a coil of rope.

Crais goes again to the hanger bay and is again told he cannot board Talyn. In addition, the guard tells him that Scorpius has given orders to kill him if he tries. Crais produces a grenade and throws it at some of the guards. Aeryn swings down from above on the rope she was carrying earlier and takes out a few more. The two of them are able to defeat all of the guards.

John and Scorpius finish their survey of the wormhole and return to the Command Carrier. Scorpius seems awed by the experience.

Aeryn and Crais stand together, her hand on his face. She pats him gently and tells him to go. She leaves and he boards Talyn.

There, he powers up Talyn and speaks to him. He tells Talyn that the Peacekeepers have taken his weaponry away, he and all of their friends are prisoners and that Moya will soon be captured too. He says there is only one thing they can do and that they will do it together.

The Farscape 1 arrives aboard the Command Carrier. Scorpius climbs out, somewhat unsteady and John tells him he hasn't got his wormhole legs yet. Suddenly, Crais comes over the intercom, telling Scorpius he is saying goodbye. Scorpius, sounding more annoyed than concerned, demands to know where he is. Braca tells him that Crais is in Talyn and that Talyn is powering up.

Scorpius orders the hanger bay doors closed and Prowlers launched to prevent Talyn from escaping. Then, he notices that John is still sitting quietly in his module and a look of realization appears on his face.

"I suggest you hang on to something." says John.

"You are the most repellent of creatures, Scorpius." continues Crais. "You weren't born into the Peacekeepers. You weren't conscripted against your will. The last time I left this ship... my ship... I did so under a veil of secrecy. You forced that situation. You took away my command. You stole my life from me. Well, this time, Scorpius, I am not leaving quietly."

Scorpius yells more commands at Co-Kura and Braca then storms out of the room. In the hanger bay, Talyn rises into the air. On board, Crais stands with his hands spread and his eyes closed.

"Talyn. Starburst!"

Talyn Starbursts. There is a massive explosion and all hell breaks loose on the Command Carrier. Peacekeepers all over the ship are flung about, emergency warnings blare and cables and other debris flies about as the ship begins to break up. On Moya, Pilot sees explosions as the Command Carrier pitches out of control, escape pods and other ships blasting away from it.

In the detention cell, part of the wall collapses, trapping the rest of the crew. D'Argo yells that John has done it but Rygel is more concerned about the fact that they are about to be crushed themselves. Jool screams for help.

Aeryn walks through the ship as it falls apart, trying to get people to the escape pods. She hears the others calls for help but cannot get them out. Fortunately, another explosion causes part of the detention cell to split open, allowing them to escape.

John is with Co-Kura who suddenly realizes that John had something to do with the destruction. He tries to attack John who easily avoids him and pins him down. Co-Kura says that John wanted the project to succeed too and John says he did more than he will ever know. But, he also says that it was more than science; it was a devastating weapon that he could never allow the Peacekeepers to have. Co-Kura points out that John still knows all of the wormhole secrets and John says he will have to be careful.

John releases Co-Kura and starts to leave but Co-Kura calls after him, pointing out that he too knows most of the wormhole data. If Scorpius survives, he may come after him and force him to tell him everything he knows. John admits this is a problem and asks what they can do. Co-Kura says there is only one thing to do.

Scorpius arrives in his quarters and, activating the ship-wide intercoms, orders the entire crew to abandon the Command Carrier. He then tells Braca to follow him and leaves.

D'Argo and the others are still trying to escape. D'Argo calls Pilot and has him connect him to the Luxan ship. He then activates the ship using voice commands and it leaves Moya, heading for the Command Carrier.

Aeryn is making her way though the ship when Henta appears, weapon ready. She accuses Aeryn of being responsible for the destruction and reminds her that there were over 50 thousand people on the ship. Aeryn says that most of them should be able to escape. Henta repeats the word "most" and Aeryn calmly says that by destroying the project she is helping to save millions of lives.

"Too bad you can't save your own." says Henta, aiming her weapon.

There is another explosion and a fireball engulfs Henta. Aeryn looks down at her body in silence for several seconds before turning and running down the corridor.

John and Co-Kura are now in the Aurora Chair chamber; Co-Kura in the chair. Co-Kura says that the chair will erase all the wormhole knowledge from his brain. John tells Co-Kura that he is a brave man; that even if the chair could erase the knowledge the Ancients put in his brain he still wasn't sure he could do what Co-Kura was doing. He activates the chair and Co-Kura screams.

John gets to his module in the now smoke-filled hanger bay. He is about to board when Scorpius appears, telling him that because of his actions all of them will be killed by the Scarrans. John says he will worry about one thing at a time.

He then asks Scorpius if he will go after Earth and Scorpius, disgusted, tells him that the only revenge he cared about is now out of his grasp. He tells John how to release his bracelet and John does the same for him.

There is another explosion and John suggests that it is time for them to get off the ship. Scorpius says he may not be getting off then turns and walks of into the smoke, John calling after him.

Aeryn calls over the comms and tells John she is taking a Prowler and leaving. John says he will take his module and meet her on Moya.

"Fly safe." he tells her. She pauses for a moment before climbing into the Prowler.

Some time later, Moya is in flight. Chiana, D'Argo and Rygel are together and D'Argo says they knew all of them would be going their separate ways someday but he never thought it would be this long. Chiana announces her plans to search for the Nebari resistance and Rygel says he won't miss any of them. Well, not much.

Jool is in Pilot's Den and Pilot is asking if she is planning to leave if they are able to find her people. She says she is then, sadly, says she doesn't think she is the only one planning to leave. Pilot lowers his head in sadness.

John and Aeryn are in Command. John is still writing equations and has covered his hands, arms and legs with them. He looks at Aeryn who is staring out at space and ignoring him. He looks away then returns to his equations.

Crais lost his command to Scorpius and initially gained control of Talyn in Family Ties.

The Aurora Chair, here used to erase Co-Kura's memories, first appeared in Nerve.

Aeryn has now replaced her Prowler, which was lost in Die Me, Dichotomy.

D'Argo discovered his ship in Revenging Angel

Did Scorpius escape? How about Co-Kura or Braca?

What happened to Braca anyway? Scorpius told Braca to follow him but when we next see Scorpius he is alone. Obviously he wanted Braca for something, but what?

This episode is a prime example of what makesFarscapewhat it is. Think about this. How many of you, way back in the very first episode, would have predicted Crais' end? I'm willing to bet that no one, way back then, saw anything like that coming.

But, when it did, did it seem wrong or out of character? No. It was an appropriate and fitting end for Crais. What changed?

Crais did. He was no longer the same character he was back then. His character had grown and developed over the past three seasons to the point where he could sacrifice himself for the good of others. And no one can say it was an out-of-character thing for him to do.

Many of the themes which echo throughFarscapeare heard here as well. Going back to the first episode again, we find Jack Crichton saying "Each man gets the chance to be his own kind of hero. Your time will come and when it does, watch out. Chances are it'll be the last thing you ever expected."

This was Crais' time. And it probably was the last thing most of us expected.

It isn't hard to see why Crais did what he did. As he said, hehadlost everything. His family, his brother, his command, his life in the Peacekeepers... everything. All he had left was Talyn and he was about to lose him too. This way, he and Talyn went out together.

He also knew the power of wormholes. He saw their effect in Icarus Abides (Infinite Possibilities: Part 2) and also, in that same episode, saw the John on Talyn sacrifice his own life to prevent the Scarrans from getting wormhole technology. Could he do any less?

Also, remember Aeryn's comment last episode about the Peacekeeper ideals to which she still held. Honor, loyalty and sacrifice. It seems that Crais, at the end anyway, held to these same ideals. Before he died, the John on Talyn asked Crais to take care of the others and Crais said that he would. He certainly kept that word here.

It is also worth pointing out a few parallels. As I just mentioned, the John on Talyn gave his life to prevent the Scarrans from getting wormholes. Crais gives his here to prevent the Peacekeepers from getting the same thing.

There is also a parallel between Crais' final break with his old life and Aeryn's. Back in the first season (in The Hidden Memory), Aeryn has this to say to Crais:

You destroyed everything. I lost everything because of you. And you know what I learned when I was away from you? Everything I lost isn't worth a damn. And I don't want to go back to your past.

Compare that to Crais' final words to Scorpius:

You are the most repellent of creatures, Scorpius. You weren't born into the Peacekeepers. You weren't conscripted against your will. The last time I left this ship... my ship... I did so under a veil of secrecy. You forced that situation. You took away my command. You stole my life from me. Well, this time, Scorpius, I am not leaving quietly.

Both are angry at being forced from the life they once had. Yet, both ultimately realize that their former life is no longer something they want. Aeryn says her former life wasn't worth a damn. Crais finds Scorpius repellent for willingly being a Peacekeeper. Both took different routes but both arrived at the same place.

One more thing before I leave Crais. What was there between him and Lt. Larell, really? Did she love him or was she simply spying on him for Scorpius. For that matter, did he really love her?

I think he did, his final words to her notwithstanding. By that time he had made his decision; he was going to die with Talyn. She knew he was up to something, both of them admitted it. Perhaps he was afraid she would tell Scorpius of his plans. And perhaps she did tell Scorpius something; the guards on Talyn did get their orders changed to kill.

On the other hand, I think he said what he did to protect her. If he had told her his plans then she may have tried to talk him out of them and she may have been one of the few people who meant enough to him to actually shake his resolve. Or, more likely to me, he may have been afraid that she would insist on coming with him.

And I think he meant something to her too. When he slaps her, yells at her and leaves she seems hurt, not guilty. She probably felt as if she had lost his trust and wondered what she had done. It would be interesting to know if she escaped the Command Carrier and if she ever found out enough to realize what had happened and why.

Crais is not the only one to make a sacrifice in this episode, though his was obviously the greatest. John also faces a crisis.

On one hand, John knows that he cannot allow the Peacekeepers to have access to wormhole technology. On the other, he wants it for himself. Not just because he needs it to go home but also because he simply wants to know if it can be done; if someonecancontrol a wormhole.

Also, it seems that he may almost believe what Scorpius is telling him. He and Scorpius do get close in this episode; close to the answer and close to each other. They are still enemies but it seems as if each now has a certain level of respect for each other.

In the end John chooses to destroy the project but he is obviously continuing his research on his own. Perhaps this is because of the way Aeryn is treating him.

All the time everyone was on the Command Carrier things between him and Aeryn seemed to be back to normal. They were working together the way they always have. But, once the crisis was over, Aeryn retreated from him again. Shut out by Aeryn and with everyone else planning to move on, John has turned to his wormhole equations as the only thing he has left. He is even writing them on himself, as if to make sure they don't leave him too. John has been becoming more and more obsessed with wormholes all season; he may be close to the point where his obsession will destroy him.

Overall this is an excellent episode. As a result of the events here the background of theFarscapeuniverse has changed once again. It will be interesting to see where things go from here.