Farscape: Next Generation

Chapter 12: E.T., Phone Home

"Commander!" Pilot exclaimed over the comms system.

John groaned and groggily placed a pillow over his head. It was the middle of the night for the crew of Moya.

When John didn't respond to Pilot's inquiry Aeryn nudged him, half asleep herself. "John, see what Pilot wants before he wakes D'Argo up."

"Crichton," Pilot tried to grab his attention again.

Aeryn, now fully awake, hit John's upper arm in an attempt to wake him up so he could answer Pilot. John immediately propped himself up, "what?" He rubbed his right arm where Aeryn hit him. "Geez..." He forgot how well she packed a punch. She had knocked him out a few times now that he thought about it.

She raised her eyebrows, her face saying, 'well aren't you going to answer him?'

"Yeah Pilot, what is it?" John yawned after asking.

"Moya's scans detect some kind of wave energy forming not but 300 metras from our current position."

If John hadn't just woken up from deep sleep, he would have been able to process this information and known that what Pilot was describing was the beginnings of a possible wormhole. It took him a little longer than usual, but the information clicked in his brain a few seconds later.

"You mean a wormhole?" He quickly stood on his feet.

Before Pilot could respond, a wormhole fully formed next to them and sucked Moya into it. By the time Moya was spat out the other end, John and Aeryn were both on the floor.

John blinked a few times trying to refocus his vision. "That never really gets any easier does it," he muttered to himself. "Aeryn?"

"I'm alright."

He stood up, catching his balance on the way, and walked over to Aeryn. He held his hand out for her to take, which she gladly accepted. Although her belly was small, it was already hindering her usual physical capabilities.

"Dad!" It was D'Argo, he sounded completely terrified and in a panic.

John was eager to take off towards his son's room.

"I'll get him, you go to Pilot." Aeryn instructed.

John sighed, realizing she was right. As badly as he wanted to answer D'Argo's distress call, he knew Aeryn could handle it. He still hesitated though.

"Go, now," Aeryn spoke more sternly.
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"What do you mean we flew through a wormhole? How could that have happened?" John paused, "actually no, don't answer that. I know how it happened."

"I too am just as surprised as you are Commander. I have never seen a wormhole form that quickly before." Pilot continued checking readings as he conversed with John.

"So where are we? And please for the love of God do NOT tell me Scorpius or the Scarrans are nearby."

"Have a look for yourself."

John looked out of one of the windows on Moya. Before him was something familiar, earth. He honestly never thought he would see it again after the last time and doing so gave him a warm feeling.

"Earth," John said softly to himself.

Footsteps entered into Pilot's den.

"Is that..." Aeryn began to ask.

John turned around to find her voice and saw D'Argo with her. He nodded his head yes to her question, his facial expression quite dumbfounded that earth really was there. It took him a minute or two to logically decide what to do next.

"Call me Ms. Frizz 'cause we're going on a little field trip kids." John made the internal decision that he had to stop at the moon first and attempt to make contact with his dad, Jack, before moving his family down to the planet. No telling what IASA or any other space programs would do. It had been five cycles since he and the rest of the gang had visited. A lot could have changed in that time, God knows he had.

John took off to find his module.

"John?" Aeryn followed him out of Pilot's den. "John!"

He stopped and turned around to face her.

"Where are you going?"

"I gotta make a quick pit stop on the moon first before we fly down."

A what? She thought to herself.

"Why?" Aeryn was usually able to follow his impulsive plans, but she wasn't quite catching onto this one.

"Because I need to talk to my dad. I have to know if it's safe for us to return to earth."

Aeryn scoffed, "I'm sure no matter the level of safety, Earth is still preferable over flying around in the uncharted territories evading Scorpius and the Scarrans."

"Yeah well you know, with our luck..."

Aeryn nodded in agreement. They didn't have the best track record. There was no harm in playing it safe.
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"Pilot, Aeryn, are you reading me?" John asked from inside his module as he navigated his way towards the moon.

"Yes Commander," Pilot replied.

"Landing now. Shouldn't be too long."

"The docking web will be ready for you upon your return," Pilot informed.

"Thanks Pilot."

Stepping out of his module and onto the surface of the moon reminded him of his father who was one of the first men to walk on the moon. At the U.S. flagpole, the phone he used the last time he communicated with his dad was still there.

"Here's to hoping this thing still works." John uttered to himself.

He turned on the device and astonishingly it lit up.

"Frell me sideways, the damn thing still works."

John wasted no time and dialed Jack.

Pick up old man, pick up.

"This is Jack Crichton."

"Dad."

"Son, is that you?"

John let out a small laugh as he replied, "yeah it's me dad."

"What are you doing back here?"

"It's a long story. Listen dad, we need to return to earth but I wanted to check with you first. I'm sure, like last time, we're not gonna be welcomed with open arms."

"You let me handle that. I can arrange to get coordinates for a landing location by tomorrow and send them to you."

"Sounds good Pop." He was apprehensive with the plan but as Aeryn said, it was better than the uncharted territories.

"I've missed you son. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Bye dad."

The call ended and John returned to his module.