Meanwhile, Aeryn has gone in search of food supplies. She takes a moment to check in with Captain Crais aboard Moya's baby, the genetically altered Leviathan named Talyn. Aeryn and Crais have struck a private arrangement of sorts.

Back on the asteroid, Crichton brings D'argo up to date. The Luxan doesn't like Talyn's name, and he's livid at the idea that Crais has made off with the baby starship.

Aeryn returns, but she's too worried about their situation to take much joy in D'argo's awakening. She vehemently insists they remain on the asteroid to wait out the Peacekeepers' ongoing search for them, an argument that leaves Crichton and D'argo puzzled.

Meanwhile, the Peacekeepers are still searching for Crichton and Talyn, but have detected no sign of either of them. Scorpius decides that it's "time for a change of tactics."

Aeryn checks in on Talyn again and finds that Crais is having trouble controlling the young gunship, who is panicking after receiving random transmissions from the Peacekeepers meant to draw him out. Together, Aeryn and Crais succeed in calming him down.

Aeryn tells Crais about the others' wish to leave. He discourages her, telling her that Talyn's weapons and starburst capability are still so undeveloped that the gunship can neither fight nor run.

On the asteroid, Crichton has taught D'argo "rock-paper-scissors." D'argo loves the game, but he can't understand how paper can beat rock.

Aeryn returns, but this time the other two won't accept her attempts to brush them off. Crichton reminds her of the times they've saved each other lives and their closeness to each other -- though exactly how close they are is a confusing and touchy subject.

"Whatever our relationship is," Crichton tells her, "we should be at a place where we can trust one another. I think you're holding something back."

Warning them they won't like what they hear, Aeryn tells Crichton and D'argo about the deal she has made. Crais found the asteroid they are hiding on, and in return for sanctuary, Aeryn is encouraging Talyn to obey Crais.

She's right. Crichton and D'argo don't like it.

Aeryn stands up for her decision, arguing that Talyn is better of in Crais' hands than dead or captured by Scorpius. The others disagree, but she insists "it's all we have."

"No it's not," D'argo says, and strikes her unconscious with a quick flick of his tongue.

After a brief argument with D'argo over who owes Crais more vengeance, Crichton takes Aeryn's gun and heads for the Prowler to retake Talyn.

After Aeryn regains consciousness, she and D'argo debate Crais' intentions. Aeryn thinks he has a lot in common with them now that he is a fugitive, but D'argo warns her, "If he has deserted the Peacekeepers, his loyalties are only to himself -- which makes him even more dangerous."

Meanwhile, Crais has contacted Scorpius. After complaining about the attempt to panic the gunship, he urges Scorpius to remain patient.

"My patience is formidable," Scorpius replies, "but it is not infinite."

After breaking the connection, Crais tells Talyn that Scorpius' behavior is typical of how Peacekeepers treat their own, which is why the two of them should work together with Aeryn.

He's interrupted in this lesson by Crichton, who mock-apologizes for breaking in. Although Crichton wants Crais' head on a platter, the renegade Peacekeeper points out that he is unarmed -- but Talyn would take his murder badly.

Crais tries to explain his new philosophy of life, but Crichton takes him hostage anyway.

"We're going to go for a little drive," he says.

Talyn goes on alert, sending a transmission to Moya, which accelerates toward her distressed child. Chiana and Rygel consider leaving on Crichton's shuttle, but they decide against it.

Scorpius has also received Talyn's distress call, and prepares to move in.

As Moya nears the baby Leviathan, Pilot reports that a Prowler has spotted the ship. When the small fightercraft moves to dock with Moya instead of signaling the Peacekeeper fleet, Chiana and Rygel begin to hope their friends have survived.

Soon afterward, Crichton drags a manacled Crais into the hangar bay. Chiana throws herself in the human's arms, crying "You survived!"

Crichton asks, "Don't I always?"

Zhaan can't believe Crichton is real when he comes to say hello. Convinced he's a visiting ghost, she apologizes for yelling at him before returning to her prayer.

While D'argo learns the futility of playing rock-paper-scissors with himself, Crichton returns to the asteroid to retrieve him and Aeryn. They quickly return to Moya when Pilot reports that Talyn is leaving the asteroid belt.

The Peacekeepers soon spot the two Leviathans. "On my signal, " Scorpius orders, "cripple both ships. Commando units will take Crichton alive, but I care for no other prisoners. Clear?"

Rygel gets a slight case of the "intons" -- an airway seizure Hynerians suffer in the grip of strong emotion -- when he sees Crichton, D'argo and Aeryn again. Always imperious, he explains his reaction as merely "shock" at their return.

Talyn is under emotional distress of his own. Confused by Moya's disappearance and return, the baby is fleeing his mother. Aeryn has no success calming him down, and Crichton and Pilot can't persuade Moya to stop chasing him.

Meanwhile, Zhaan has entered a new phase in her quest for enlightenment, and is strumming chords from a crystal. Aeryn visits, but leaves after accusing Zhaan of simply being selfish.

Crais tries to find common ground with D'argo, who is guarding him in his cell. He asks D'argo to let him out, telling the Luxan, "Talyn needs me."

"Too frelling bad," D'argo replies.

Scorpius isn't sure if the Leviathans have a plan or not. Now that they're clear of the asteroid belt and accelerating, though, his next move is clear: overtake and engage both ships.

On Moya, Pilot announces that the Peacekeeper command carrier will be in firing range in 6,000 microns, but Talyn is preparing his weapons -- aiming not at the carrier, but at Moya!

After firing a warning shot, Talyn communicates that he's confused and needs the guidance of a captain. He wants Crais, and will attack if he doesn't get him.

Crichton and the others refuse, but Moya won't begin evasive maneuvers -- she can't believe her baby would attack her. Pilot activates the salvaged defense screen, but it collapses after one shot from the gunship.

With the screen gone and Scorpius moving in for the kill, Aeryn decides to take Crais to Talyn -- and to stay with them "as long as necessary." Crichton is convinced Crais will never agree to that, but Aeryn tells him that the former Peacekeeper has already made the offer.

Crais is not surprised to hear Talyn's decision and pleased to hear Aeryn's. For his part, Crichton is unimpressed by Crais' claim the arrangement is "beneficial" to everyone except Scorpius.

In the hangar, Aeryn and Crichton remember how they refused to say good-bye the last time they stood there. "Here's hoping history repeats itself," Crichton says.

When Crais and Aeryn return to Talyn, the ship extends a strange probe from the floor to Crais. "It is the hand of friendship," Crais says. "It's the greatest honor it can bestow."

Talyn attaches the device to Crais. It's a neural transponder, a direct interface linking Crais to all of the gunship's systems. The feeling, Crais tells Aeryn, "is indescribable. It's a pity you can't experience it."

Crais and Talyn no longer need Aeryn, and they tell her to return to Moya. Aeryn refuses, ordering Crais to take the transponder off. They fight, and Aeryn is defeated as she tries to dodge both Crais' blows and Talyn's formidable anti-intruder systems.

After telling her they know she is not their enemy, Crais and Talyn force Aeryn to leave and return to Moya.

As the command ship closes in, Crais files his final progress report. "The gunship is secured," he says, "and I am resigning my Peacekeeper commission effective immediately."

After adding that he has killed Crichton, Crais reveals that Talyn is capable of starburst after all. The gunship vanishes, and Moya starbursts moments later.

Scorpius orders the command ship to pursue Moya. Crais' lie is transparent to the alien scientist -- "Crichton is alive," he swears, "and I will find him!"

D'argo visits Zhaan, who has realized that she can't abandon her companions in her quest for enlightenment. Instead, she intends to cherish the life she has and the people -- especially D'argo -- she's sharing it with.

Crichton and Aeryn are curled up together in Pilot's den. She feels she's failed, even though Talyn has promised to "call home" from time to time.

Crichton's more optimistic, and has faith in Talyn's ability to assert himself if Crais mistreats him. Aeryn isn't convinced Crais will mistreat the gunship, though.

"He could have killed all of us and he didn't," she points out. "You do believe people can change, don't you, John?"

"You have," Crichton admits. "I have. But Crais . . . ?"