stykera | Scarran Decimator, near Arnessk

"Assist me," Yondalao said again to Stark. The Banik still hesitated.

"You've seen them now," he said, gesturing towards Scorpius. "Seen how they treat us. Heard their threats."

"Yes." Yondalao nodded. "That does not mean they cannot be influenced to act differently. There may still be hope. Even for these Scarrans."

"Hope," Stark repeated softly. "Yes. Hope. Always that. Always. Even when I forget. I forget it often."

"And?" Yondalao prompted. "Given the choice between galaxy-wide conflict with the death of countless innocents for the possible advancement of their civilization and agreeing to a peaceful resolution? How would they react?"

"I see," Stark said, hands beginning to twitch out of nervousness. "If faced with such a moral choice, the Scarrans would still choose to slaughter innocents. A conundrum: How to tap into their morality. I must think." The twitching continued as he walked away from Yondalao towards the other side of the cell where there was more room to think. Not that it would help, but at least he was further away from Scorpius.

Aeryn spoke briefly with the Eidelon then, only to be interrupted by Ahkna re-entering the cell and accusing them of plotting escape. And then, as they all watched in horror, the Decimator fired on their only hope of rescue, destroying D'Argo's ship and presumably D'Argo and Chiana as well.
Aeryn reacted violently but was restrained. Yondalao, finally facing the inescapable fact of Scarran brutality, simply stated they would be difficult to influence.

And Stark, rocking back and forth on the floor in quiet despair of ever seeing anything other than this cell again, murmured a prayer. "Enshrine their souls, end their suffering and guide the passage of D'Argo and Chiana to their place of rest." And it hurt, as it always did, to say these things for those he cared about. But he was Stykera and there was no choice. This was what he was for.

After a few moments Yondalao approached Stark. "I still require your assistance."

Stark looked up at, staring dully at the man before him. "You've seen them. How can you increase a desire for peace in them that doesn't yet exist?"

"I understand better now," Yondalao acknowledged. "And so need your help more than before. Assist me now. Tell me more of them. There will be something of use in your recollections." His tone left no room for argument.

Stark nodded after a long moment. Helping, or attempting to, was at least better than the alternative of sitting here waiting to die. At least if he was talking to Yondalao he would be too busy to think of much else. And he did talk, trying not to babble and occasionally succeeding.

Crichton's return went mostly unnoticed by Stark. He registered, with relief, that Crichton was not yet dead before resuming speaking with Yondalao about everything he ever knew of Scarran morality. Eventually Stark found himself kneeling at Yondalao's feet while the Eidelon did...something. Stark averted his eye, trying not to stare as Yondalao prepared himself (at least that's what Stark assumed was happening, in any case the Eidelon was glowing purple).

Eventually the Emperor returned bringing with him a rather miraculously unharmed Rygel. And Yondalao, armed with slightly more knowledge of the Scarran psyche, approached the Emperor to speak of peace. Somehow, things went well. Staleek was perhaps an anomaly among his people, Stark thought as the peace talks continued. Or perhaps the Eidelon's ability to influence peace was simply greater than he could have imagined. An agreement was nearly reached. And then, naturally, it all went spectacularly wrong once more.

[Dammit, I WILL finish going through PK Wars within the next week. I keep saying that. Maybe someday it will be true. Mostly pulled from a PK Wars transcript.]