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Entry tags:
Farscape fic: Repositioning, PG, Sikozu
disclaimer: not mine
fandom: Farscape
character: Sikozu Shanu
genre: AU, fix-it, post-episode
spoilers: Peacekeeper Wars (entire series)
rating: PG, language, violence, adult situations
length: 2400
notes: I've always had this sort of personal canon, I've just never bothered to write it;![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
halfamoon gave me an excuse, and randomly listening to PKW gave me the impetus and details.
summary: Survival isn't as hard as it looks.
Repositioning
by ALC Punk!
Scorpius had left her to die, but the others had left Grunchlk to the same fate. His appearance in her line of sight gave Sikozu the luck she had been cursing. The creature was obnoxious and a slob, but she would be able to use him.
It was easy to entice Grunchlk closer. Sikozu whimpered and half-smiled at him, "Please. I can... pay you."
Avarice and something worse gleamed in his eyes before he moved, his bound hands reaching up to unclasp the manacle sealing her fate. Once she was freed, he grabbed her shoulder, dragging her closer and pinning her beneath his considerable bulk. "You can pay me, eh? And just who are you working for? Ain't that Peacekeeper bloke, is it now."
"No. I no longer work for Scorpius," she admitted, gritting her teeth. "Now get off of me, so I can release your hands."
The man was a mongrel, an idiot, but he was also brutish and cunning in his own way. He moved, but not too far, letting her pick his bonds apart, but not letting her get away from him further. It was frustrating; she could turn and go through the half-open window, climb down by shifting her gravity center, except for the fact that he could grab her before she made it and lose any advantage she had.
Her neck ached, the pain from where Scorpius had ripped her communication device pulsing in time to her heartbeat. It was wearying but ignorable.
Once free, he grabbed for her wrist, hauling her to her feet. "You'll come with me now, I think. Man's gotta make a livin', after all, and with the Doc gone..." He trailed off, leaving his plans to the imagination.
Gritting her teeth, Sikozu let him drag her down the stairs, dodging the crumbling masonry and working on her escape options. A piece of stone in her hand, grabbed when she stumbled and bumped into him, she waited until he was two steps below her, then swung. He made an angry sound, turning and yanking at her, lurching forwards. Sikozu hit him again, twisting her wrist and feeling his thumb snap outwards under the force.
He yelled, then, and she smashed the rock into his nose, then his cheek. Her hand ached and she dropped the rock when he grabbed for her waist. Guessing his intentions, she head-butted him, her ears ringing as he fell backwards and she sat down on the steps, almost falling off herself. Grabbing the edge, she concentrated, altering her gravity center before rolling over the edge, and walking down the wall as fast as she could.
Once on the floor, she grabbed for the nearest weapon and found it spent. Disgusted, she nevertheless held onto it, grimly aware it was her only option.
"You're not getting away that easily--"
Sikozu was on solid ground now, with more options. She hopped onto a pile of bricks, then jumped, snapping her leg around, the impact snapping Grunchlk's neck. He collapsed like a bag of mush and she landed, grabbing onto the lip of the fountain to steady herself.
Time was of the essence, the Scarrans might not honor their promise to her (and, bitterly, she knew that Scorpius was probably right), but they would destroy this planet if they could. She made a swift search, finally uncovering one usable pistol before she started out after the others. Her plan was simple: find transport off the planet, and, if she could, make a deal with Ahkna again. If not, Sikozu was wondering what the Peacekeepers would give for the knowledge of Scarran defenses she held.
It was frustrating to think that her people were once again without option: slaves to the Scarran and under a yoke that seemed to drag at them worse with every passing microt.
Tracking Crichton and the others through the city wasn't hard, and she was careful as she came upon a place that would make a wonderful ambush. With caution, she walked up the walls, gaining a rooftop as a vantage point. There was no movement, and finally satisfied, she started back down, only noticing the body of Ahkna after she'd stripped the weapons from one of her guards.
"Frell."
A noise from behind made her whirl and dive for cover, narrowly avoiding getting shot.
Looking out from her cover, she found D'Argo holding a rifle pointed where she'd been. He was half-lying on his side, eyes misting over as she watched. There were flecks of dark blood everywhere, and he seemed to sag into the dust a moment later, confirming her suspicion.
"You're dying," she told him, approaching with care and kicking the rifle out of his grasp, "But you acquitted yourself well." There was grudging respect in her tone as she took in the piles of charrids he'd shot. He would make a bargaining chip, she decided. If she could save his life, Crichton and the others would owe her. And perhaps the Peacekeepers would be interested in him for the same reason.
"Thank you," he rasped. His eyes focused. "Sikozu."
Gambling that Scorpius hadn't revealed to the others what she'd been, she touched his shoulder, "If I help you up, can you walk? There should be a transport nearby." The troops had come from somewhere, and Ahkna would never have gone too far from her personal shuttle.
"Maybe. I don't know."
Frowning, she stood and looked around for something he could use as a crutch. A long piece of metal piping had come from somewhere, and she brought it back, leaning it against the rubble behind him before kneeling again. "You must stand. I shall help you up."
They would have to be quick about it. Sikozu rarely trusted what the annoying human would call 'gut instinct', but her opinion of the war going on over their heads was that it would either end soon, or destroy the planet in the process. Being on the planet when it was razed wouldn't be exactly conducive to her plans.
On the first try, he barely managed to get to his knees before falling again, almost taking her down with him.
"Frell! Get up, soldier!" Sikozu ordered, dragging at his tunic as she surged to her feet. The surge of energy that went through her reminded her of the feeling of power her abilities caused as they built. He lumbered upwards with her, crashing back into the pile of rubble, but staying almost on his feet. Panting, Sikozu shoved the pipe into his other hand, then dragged his arm over her shoulder.
They stumbled two steps and almost fell when he doubled over, coughing. She could see more black on his lips and chin, and cursed under her breath, the words forming a cadence as they made their way from the square.
It took them more time than she wanted to spare to find the transport, and she berated herself for not discovering it first before lifting him to his feet. The guards were gone, and they staggered inside, D'Argo sliding from her shoulder to collapse unconscious while she ran around, checking the systems over. The ship was primed for lift-off, and Sikozu sealed the hatches before taking them upwards.
Proximity alarms went off as they exited the atmosphere, and she was occupied with flying around the debris of ships and ammunition until she could orient herself enough to begin making her way towards the Peacekeepers.
She searched for the Peacekeeper bands on the comms system, then began listening, deciphering who was in charge gave her the second stroke of luck she'd had since she'd stumbled over D'Argo. If it had been any random Peacekeeper, such as their ridiculous Grand Chancellor, she might have had no interest from their side. Grayza was another matter; Grayza had dangled promises at her, during their time on Katratzi.
Perhaps she would still hold to some of them. Perhaps not.
With a smile, Sikozu sent a swift text message to the lead command carrier.
Several minutes of flying and dodging later, she had a response. "Your proposition was quite interesting, last time."
Grayza sounded smooth, unstrained. Knowing she was starting from a position with little power, Sikozu nevertheless replied with arrogance, "You would be a fool to dismiss it."
They haggled for a short time before Grayza agreed to take them aboard and give D'Argo medical attention. "He would, after all, make an excellent bargaining chip."
"So I thought," Sikozu murmured, keying in the coordinates she'd been given and letting Grayza's people dodge around her. There was something else going on in the distance, but she ignored it. If it became a problem for her, she could note it later. Right now, she had a prisoner to deliver and a deal to strike.
Once she'd landed, Sikozu tucked her pistol into its holster and keyed open the hatches. There was a medical team on stand-by, and she ushered them in, leaving D'Argo to their care as she followed the officer who'd been sent to bring her to Grayza.
Somewhere between the hangar and the bridge, something happened. A ripple went through the ship and alarms began sounding.
"Duty station," the Peacekeeper said, turning to the right and leading her to the nearest one. She checked in, then looked at Sikozu. "You must stay here while we deal with this. Do not leave, or you will be shot on sight."
Waiting just long enough for the officer to get out of sight, Sikozu turned to the panel and began inputting her own codes, pleased to find that they were still viable. Good, Scorpius had only ruined himself with his obsession. Ascertaining the location of Grayza's personal quarters, she set off for them.
The lock caused her little problem, and she found herself vaguely curious to see what was happening. Breaking the codes on Grayza's personal station was simple, and Sikozu was a distant observer as John Crichton introduced them to the entropy that was wormhole weapons. A part of her felt vindication: she'd been right all along. The quest for wormholes was madness, a waste of time. Another part felt almost frightened at the prospect of dying like this, leaving her people still slaves.
Sikozu also cleaned the area on the back of her neck. The skin was already sealed again, but there was still blood on her skin, most of it dried. A wrinkle of her nose decided the issue and she stripped and washed swiftly, as well.
By the time she was finished, Crichton's ultimatum had finished the war.
-
"Why should I trust you?" Grayza hadn't looked surprised to find Sikozu in her quarters, eating from her stash of truffles. Their conversation so far had been a delicate negotiation, until Grayza felt she was on firm ground.
"You can't. But there is one thing that I want, and I will do anything to get it." Setting the box down, Sikozu stood, taking in the signs of advanced pregnancy again, and wondering that the rumors Scorpius had told her were true. "You know what the Scarrans are, how they regard any race that is not theirs."
A bored look crossed Grayza's face. "We have signed treaties promising peace. There is no going back on the terms as stipulated."
"Perhaps not. But I could still gather intelligence for you, bring you word if they were intending to deviate from their side." Tilting her head, Sikozu smiled a little. "It's a task I would enjoy."
"Your position is precarious, my dear. I should have you locked up as I am the Luxian. But your offer... It is an interesting idea." Grayza moved to sit on the bed, obviously comfortable allowing Sikozu to retain the power of her height. "Did you betray Scorpius?"
The question was sharper than the previous words had been, and Sikozu stiffened slightly. "Not a light question."
"An answer, if you please." Spoke the Commandant, her eyes hard.
"No. Not... in a way that would benefit the Scarran." Telling the truth was always a difficult business. "They hold my people hostage, Grayza. With your help, I might be able to free them. Eventually."
"Ah. A noble cause." Grayza's tone made a mockery of her words. She didn't say anything further for a time, her gaze seemingly turned inwards. "I do not know the answer, Sikozu Shanu. Your people were not covered in our peace agreement. The future may hold freedom in its cards, or it may hold certain death."
"I brought you Ka D'Argo. Surely, that counts in my favor?"
"John Crichton is no longer a piece on the board. The knowledge he had is of little use to us," Grayza was bitter, her eyes angry and frightened.
"Then I shall turn my hand to other things. The Scarran will one day break that treaty, and the knowledge I can give them of Peacekeeper technology will surely be invaluable." One last effort before she walked away, turning her hand to another angle. If the Peacekeepers would not utilize her, others would. She had heard tales of the Nebari, and there was always Hyneria, if the Dominar's ramblings were worthwhile.
Grayza abruptly stood. "No. I think not, though your bluff is rather amusing to consider."
"It's not--"
"Yes. It is." A smile crossed Grayza's lips, "But no matter. I accept your offer. You're free to move about this ship to gather supplies and then I expect a report every twelve solar days."
She had won. Relief flooded Sikozu for a moment. She knew how to work within Peacekeeper strictures, she would thrive here better than elsewhere. She turned to go, then stopped, a niggling thought coming to the surface. Not turning back, she murmured, "And what of Ka D'Argo?"
"If he survives, he will be jailed as the prisoner of war that he is." There was a finality in Grayza's tone.
Getting her own back at Crichton, if only obliquely. Sikozu nodded; she could approve of this method. "Very well. I shall report in twelve solar days." D'Argo was on his own, though at least he wasn't dead.
"Sikozu, do not use my command codes again, or the hand which executes you will be my own."
A smile brushed Sikozu's lips. She had chosen wisely. Grayza was not Scorpius, but she could surpass him, in the end.
-f-
fandom: Farscape
character: Sikozu Shanu
genre: AU, fix-it, post-episode
spoilers: Peacekeeper Wars (entire series)
rating: PG, language, violence, adult situations
length: 2400
notes: I've always had this sort of personal canon, I've just never bothered to write it;
halfamoon gave me an excuse, and randomly listening to PKW gave me the impetus and details. summary: Survival isn't as hard as it looks.
Repositioning
by ALC Punk!
Scorpius had left her to die, but the others had left Grunchlk to the same fate. His appearance in her line of sight gave Sikozu the luck she had been cursing. The creature was obnoxious and a slob, but she would be able to use him.
It was easy to entice Grunchlk closer. Sikozu whimpered and half-smiled at him, "Please. I can... pay you."
Avarice and something worse gleamed in his eyes before he moved, his bound hands reaching up to unclasp the manacle sealing her fate. Once she was freed, he grabbed her shoulder, dragging her closer and pinning her beneath his considerable bulk. "You can pay me, eh? And just who are you working for? Ain't that Peacekeeper bloke, is it now."
"No. I no longer work for Scorpius," she admitted, gritting her teeth. "Now get off of me, so I can release your hands."
The man was a mongrel, an idiot, but he was also brutish and cunning in his own way. He moved, but not too far, letting her pick his bonds apart, but not letting her get away from him further. It was frustrating; she could turn and go through the half-open window, climb down by shifting her gravity center, except for the fact that he could grab her before she made it and lose any advantage she had.
Her neck ached, the pain from where Scorpius had ripped her communication device pulsing in time to her heartbeat. It was wearying but ignorable.
Once free, he grabbed for her wrist, hauling her to her feet. "You'll come with me now, I think. Man's gotta make a livin', after all, and with the Doc gone..." He trailed off, leaving his plans to the imagination.
Gritting her teeth, Sikozu let him drag her down the stairs, dodging the crumbling masonry and working on her escape options. A piece of stone in her hand, grabbed when she stumbled and bumped into him, she waited until he was two steps below her, then swung. He made an angry sound, turning and yanking at her, lurching forwards. Sikozu hit him again, twisting her wrist and feeling his thumb snap outwards under the force.
He yelled, then, and she smashed the rock into his nose, then his cheek. Her hand ached and she dropped the rock when he grabbed for her waist. Guessing his intentions, she head-butted him, her ears ringing as he fell backwards and she sat down on the steps, almost falling off herself. Grabbing the edge, she concentrated, altering her gravity center before rolling over the edge, and walking down the wall as fast as she could.
Once on the floor, she grabbed for the nearest weapon and found it spent. Disgusted, she nevertheless held onto it, grimly aware it was her only option.
"You're not getting away that easily--"
Sikozu was on solid ground now, with more options. She hopped onto a pile of bricks, then jumped, snapping her leg around, the impact snapping Grunchlk's neck. He collapsed like a bag of mush and she landed, grabbing onto the lip of the fountain to steady herself.
Time was of the essence, the Scarrans might not honor their promise to her (and, bitterly, she knew that Scorpius was probably right), but they would destroy this planet if they could. She made a swift search, finally uncovering one usable pistol before she started out after the others. Her plan was simple: find transport off the planet, and, if she could, make a deal with Ahkna again. If not, Sikozu was wondering what the Peacekeepers would give for the knowledge of Scarran defenses she held.
It was frustrating to think that her people were once again without option: slaves to the Scarran and under a yoke that seemed to drag at them worse with every passing microt.
Tracking Crichton and the others through the city wasn't hard, and she was careful as she came upon a place that would make a wonderful ambush. With caution, she walked up the walls, gaining a rooftop as a vantage point. There was no movement, and finally satisfied, she started back down, only noticing the body of Ahkna after she'd stripped the weapons from one of her guards.
"Frell."
A noise from behind made her whirl and dive for cover, narrowly avoiding getting shot.
Looking out from her cover, she found D'Argo holding a rifle pointed where she'd been. He was half-lying on his side, eyes misting over as she watched. There were flecks of dark blood everywhere, and he seemed to sag into the dust a moment later, confirming her suspicion.
"You're dying," she told him, approaching with care and kicking the rifle out of his grasp, "But you acquitted yourself well." There was grudging respect in her tone as she took in the piles of charrids he'd shot. He would make a bargaining chip, she decided. If she could save his life, Crichton and the others would owe her. And perhaps the Peacekeepers would be interested in him for the same reason.
"Thank you," he rasped. His eyes focused. "Sikozu."
Gambling that Scorpius hadn't revealed to the others what she'd been, she touched his shoulder, "If I help you up, can you walk? There should be a transport nearby." The troops had come from somewhere, and Ahkna would never have gone too far from her personal shuttle.
"Maybe. I don't know."
Frowning, she stood and looked around for something he could use as a crutch. A long piece of metal piping had come from somewhere, and she brought it back, leaning it against the rubble behind him before kneeling again. "You must stand. I shall help you up."
They would have to be quick about it. Sikozu rarely trusted what the annoying human would call 'gut instinct', but her opinion of the war going on over their heads was that it would either end soon, or destroy the planet in the process. Being on the planet when it was razed wouldn't be exactly conducive to her plans.
On the first try, he barely managed to get to his knees before falling again, almost taking her down with him.
"Frell! Get up, soldier!" Sikozu ordered, dragging at his tunic as she surged to her feet. The surge of energy that went through her reminded her of the feeling of power her abilities caused as they built. He lumbered upwards with her, crashing back into the pile of rubble, but staying almost on his feet. Panting, Sikozu shoved the pipe into his other hand, then dragged his arm over her shoulder.
They stumbled two steps and almost fell when he doubled over, coughing. She could see more black on his lips and chin, and cursed under her breath, the words forming a cadence as they made their way from the square.
It took them more time than she wanted to spare to find the transport, and she berated herself for not discovering it first before lifting him to his feet. The guards were gone, and they staggered inside, D'Argo sliding from her shoulder to collapse unconscious while she ran around, checking the systems over. The ship was primed for lift-off, and Sikozu sealed the hatches before taking them upwards.
Proximity alarms went off as they exited the atmosphere, and she was occupied with flying around the debris of ships and ammunition until she could orient herself enough to begin making her way towards the Peacekeepers.
She searched for the Peacekeeper bands on the comms system, then began listening, deciphering who was in charge gave her the second stroke of luck she'd had since she'd stumbled over D'Argo. If it had been any random Peacekeeper, such as their ridiculous Grand Chancellor, she might have had no interest from their side. Grayza was another matter; Grayza had dangled promises at her, during their time on Katratzi.
Perhaps she would still hold to some of them. Perhaps not.
With a smile, Sikozu sent a swift text message to the lead command carrier.
Several minutes of flying and dodging later, she had a response. "Your proposition was quite interesting, last time."
Grayza sounded smooth, unstrained. Knowing she was starting from a position with little power, Sikozu nevertheless replied with arrogance, "You would be a fool to dismiss it."
They haggled for a short time before Grayza agreed to take them aboard and give D'Argo medical attention. "He would, after all, make an excellent bargaining chip."
"So I thought," Sikozu murmured, keying in the coordinates she'd been given and letting Grayza's people dodge around her. There was something else going on in the distance, but she ignored it. If it became a problem for her, she could note it later. Right now, she had a prisoner to deliver and a deal to strike.
Once she'd landed, Sikozu tucked her pistol into its holster and keyed open the hatches. There was a medical team on stand-by, and she ushered them in, leaving D'Argo to their care as she followed the officer who'd been sent to bring her to Grayza.
Somewhere between the hangar and the bridge, something happened. A ripple went through the ship and alarms began sounding.
"Duty station," the Peacekeeper said, turning to the right and leading her to the nearest one. She checked in, then looked at Sikozu. "You must stay here while we deal with this. Do not leave, or you will be shot on sight."
Waiting just long enough for the officer to get out of sight, Sikozu turned to the panel and began inputting her own codes, pleased to find that they were still viable. Good, Scorpius had only ruined himself with his obsession. Ascertaining the location of Grayza's personal quarters, she set off for them.
The lock caused her little problem, and she found herself vaguely curious to see what was happening. Breaking the codes on Grayza's personal station was simple, and Sikozu was a distant observer as John Crichton introduced them to the entropy that was wormhole weapons. A part of her felt vindication: she'd been right all along. The quest for wormholes was madness, a waste of time. Another part felt almost frightened at the prospect of dying like this, leaving her people still slaves.
Sikozu also cleaned the area on the back of her neck. The skin was already sealed again, but there was still blood on her skin, most of it dried. A wrinkle of her nose decided the issue and she stripped and washed swiftly, as well.
By the time she was finished, Crichton's ultimatum had finished the war.
-
"Why should I trust you?" Grayza hadn't looked surprised to find Sikozu in her quarters, eating from her stash of truffles. Their conversation so far had been a delicate negotiation, until Grayza felt she was on firm ground.
"You can't. But there is one thing that I want, and I will do anything to get it." Setting the box down, Sikozu stood, taking in the signs of advanced pregnancy again, and wondering that the rumors Scorpius had told her were true. "You know what the Scarrans are, how they regard any race that is not theirs."
A bored look crossed Grayza's face. "We have signed treaties promising peace. There is no going back on the terms as stipulated."
"Perhaps not. But I could still gather intelligence for you, bring you word if they were intending to deviate from their side." Tilting her head, Sikozu smiled a little. "It's a task I would enjoy."
"Your position is precarious, my dear. I should have you locked up as I am the Luxian. But your offer... It is an interesting idea." Grayza moved to sit on the bed, obviously comfortable allowing Sikozu to retain the power of her height. "Did you betray Scorpius?"
The question was sharper than the previous words had been, and Sikozu stiffened slightly. "Not a light question."
"An answer, if you please." Spoke the Commandant, her eyes hard.
"No. Not... in a way that would benefit the Scarran." Telling the truth was always a difficult business. "They hold my people hostage, Grayza. With your help, I might be able to free them. Eventually."
"Ah. A noble cause." Grayza's tone made a mockery of her words. She didn't say anything further for a time, her gaze seemingly turned inwards. "I do not know the answer, Sikozu Shanu. Your people were not covered in our peace agreement. The future may hold freedom in its cards, or it may hold certain death."
"I brought you Ka D'Argo. Surely, that counts in my favor?"
"John Crichton is no longer a piece on the board. The knowledge he had is of little use to us," Grayza was bitter, her eyes angry and frightened.
"Then I shall turn my hand to other things. The Scarran will one day break that treaty, and the knowledge I can give them of Peacekeeper technology will surely be invaluable." One last effort before she walked away, turning her hand to another angle. If the Peacekeepers would not utilize her, others would. She had heard tales of the Nebari, and there was always Hyneria, if the Dominar's ramblings were worthwhile.
Grayza abruptly stood. "No. I think not, though your bluff is rather amusing to consider."
"It's not--"
"Yes. It is." A smile crossed Grayza's lips, "But no matter. I accept your offer. You're free to move about this ship to gather supplies and then I expect a report every twelve solar days."
She had won. Relief flooded Sikozu for a moment. She knew how to work within Peacekeeper strictures, she would thrive here better than elsewhere. She turned to go, then stopped, a niggling thought coming to the surface. Not turning back, she murmured, "And what of Ka D'Argo?"
"If he survives, he will be jailed as the prisoner of war that he is." There was a finality in Grayza's tone.
Getting her own back at Crichton, if only obliquely. Sikozu nodded; she could approve of this method. "Very well. I shall report in twelve solar days." D'Argo was on his own, though at least he wasn't dead.
"Sikozu, do not use my command codes again, or the hand which executes you will be my own."
A smile brushed Sikozu's lips. She had chosen wisely. Grayza was not Scorpius, but she could surpass him, in the end.
-f-