Title: Deus ex Machina
Genre: Farscape; J/A; romance/action
Rating: PG or PG 13 at most for violence and some suggestive situations; mild swearing.
Disclaimer: Please see Part 1
Author's Notes: See Part 1

Part 1



He arrived in Command shortly after Aeryn. Rygel and D'Argo were already there, looking through the front portal at the large asteroid floating in space before them.

"That's it?" John asked.

"Rygel's already spoken with a trader down there willing to barter with us for some of the things we're running low on or that we need now," D'Argo replied.

"Yes, a reasonable enough sounding fellow. Toqra, I believe his name was," Rygel said, brushing his eyebrow ridges as he hovered in his chair.

D'Argo made a sound almost like a growl.

"What's wrong Big D?" John said as he moved closer to get a better look at the dark asteroid.

"Toqra refuses to deal with Luxons, Nebari, or Kalish," answered Rygel before D'Argo could say anything.

"Then I'll go," Aeryn said.

"You can't go alone, Aeryn," D'Argo said firmly.

"Then I'll take Crichton," she replied.

D'Argo looked over to Crichton, trying to judge how the human felt about the proposition. John shrugged. "She can't go alone, D. And if this guy, this Toqra, isn't going to deal with you or Pip, or Sputnik, that really just leaves me. Rygel's not gonna be any good if she runs in to trouble with Scarrans or Peacekeepers," John said as he turned to Rygel. "No offense Sparky."

Rygel simply huffed.

John turned back to D'Argo, "It'll be ok, D," he said quietly.

D'Argo looked doubtful, but otherwise said nothing.

John turned back to where Aeryn stood. "I'll meet you at the transport pod," he said, and walked out of Command.

John headed to his quarters to make sure that he had everything that he would need then began to make his way to the transport pod. Halfway there, Scorpius stopped him in the corridor.

"I must object to this John. You are putting yourself in danger. I will accompany you and Officer Sun to the trading post," he said in his menacing, elegant voice.

"No way, Grasshopper," John said as he tried to move passed the half-Scarran.

"I insist, John. I cannot risk the knowledge that you carry falling into the wrong hands."

"Move outta my way, Scorpius," John said as he brushed past him and ducked into the central chamber.

Noranti was cooking something over the central flame, tasting various colored plants and herbs and muttering to herself.

"Hey Granny, Aeryn and I are going down to the trading post, is there anything you need?" He asked, pointedly ignoring the fact the Scorpius had followed him.

"Need?" Noranti asked, almost as if she was confused by the question.

"Yeah, herbs, medicines?" John asked.

"Oh, oh yes, Crichton," Noranti began, bustling about.

"Crichton..." Scorpius said.

"I told you, Grasshopper," John interrupted him, finally turning to face Scorpius and pointing at him, "I'm not taking you with us. Aeryn and I are doing this alone. You're going to stay on board, Moya."

Neither man noticed Noranti give John a considering look before she sneaked forward to quickly blow a blue powder into Scorpius' face. The half-Scarran gave a low growl and moved forward as if to grab Noranti. Suddenly, Scorpius fell heavily at her feet as the old woman stepped back.

John looked to Noranti in shock. "Granny, what did you do?"

Noranti made dismissive noises, "Nothing that will hurt him. But if you and Aeryn are going to leave without any further interference from Scorpius, I suggest that you leave now."

"Noranti," John began, worried that the second Scorpius woke up, he was going to kill the old woman.

"It'll be fine, Crichton. He won't even remember what happened," she looked at the human, her third eye glowing red and blue. "Go John."

John gave a last look at where Scorpius lay prone on the floor, then to Noranti before he turned to leave.

"Oh, and Crichton," Noranti stopped him, "I need some hatha root if you and Aeryn find any."

"Ok, Granny, we'll get some if they have any," and John stepped out of the room.

Aeryn was already in the transport pod when John finally made it to the docking bay. As soon as John was seated, Aeryn spoke to Pilot, "We're ready to go, Pilot."

"Docking bay doors opening, Officer Sun," Pilot replied.

Skillfully, Aeryn piloted the transport pod out of Moya and down to the asteroid, landing on the outskirts of where the trading post had been established.

"Okay, Crichton, lets find this Toqra and get back to Moya."

Suddenly, John grabbed for Aeryn's hand and pulled her close. Before she could protest, he kissed her, lips capturing hers quickly. After a moment, Aeryn returned the kiss, molding herself to John's body. His hands went to her hips and he pulled her even closer, deepening the kiss.

When they finally parted, they were both a little breathless. John gave Aeryn a small lopsided grin. Irresistibly, Aeryn returned the smile with one of her own before she pulled back.

"Let's go, Crichton."

Aeryn confidently walked away, moving into the stalls and shops of the outpost followed by John, who quickly caught up with her. The primary trading center seemed small and crowded with a wild mix of people and goods. Tent stalls pushed up one against another, cheek and jowl with more permanent buildings of stone. The smells of over cooked food mingled with the scent of chakkan oil from the weapons shops, and the unwashed masses of the people around them.

John worked to keep his position next to Aeryn through the bustling of the crowd.

"Where is this Toqra at anyway?" John asked.

"Rygel says that the shop should be at the end of this section of the marketplace. There should be a red marker," Aeryn replied.

John nodded and followed a pace behind as they continued to work their way through the marketplace. But somewhere between a stall of strange foods and another of screeching cat-like creatures, John and Aeryn got separated.

"Aeryn?" John called, casting his eye about for the beautiful Sebacean woman. "Aeryn?"

When Aeryn noticed that she had gotten separated from John, she too began calling for her lost companion and looking around the crowded marketplace trying to spot him. When that didn't work, she tried her comms, "John? John where are you?"

The comms hissed static at her.

"Frell," she swore. "John, can you hear me?" Aeryn tried again with her comms.

"Aeryn?...hiss...I'm...hiss," the comms spit back full of static.

"Frell," she swore again with feeling.

Aeryn began to make her way back to where she last remembered having John by her side, hoping that he would be thinking along the same lines. When she reached the food stall though, he was no where to be seen. She looked about in vain, trying to catch a glimpse of the human. Though her heartbeat skipped a couple of beats, Aeryn refused to panic just yet. She reassured herself that there was no apparent or immediate danger to their separation.

"Maybe he went back to the pod," she thought hopefully and began to make her own way back to where they had left it.

When she reached the pod, she was disappointed to discover that Crichton was not there. After several moments, Aeryn was about to move back out into the market when John strode into view. On his face was a grin of relief that Aeryn found herself matching.

After a moment though, the beautiful Sebacean’s grin began to fade.

"My comms isn't working right," Aeryn explained.

"Mine's buggy too."

"That's not good," she replied, her face looking somewhat concerned.

Suddenly, John's face brightened with his charming lopsided grin.

"What?" Aeryn asked, raising an eyebrow.

John stepped forward, getting very close as he whispered, "That could be very good."
Gently, he leaned forward and kissed her, a light brush of lips. When he pulled away, he looked deeply into Aeryn's ocean blue eyes. He reached a hand forward to run it tenderly through her dark hair.

"I've wanted to do that for so long," he whispered.

Aeryn smiled.

"Let me show you what else I've wanted to do," he said very suggestively, giving her another charming lopsided grin.

John chuckled happily as he saw Aeryn's eyes start to glimmer with amusement and desire, drawing him in. Carefully, he took her hand and lead the gorgeous Sebacean into the transport. As soon as they were inside the pod he whispered, "I love you," and bent to nuzzle at her neck.

"John," she said softly.

"Aeryn," he murmured in response, still nuzzling her neck.

“John, we..."

"Aeryn," he whispered once more, as he moved his mouth down her neck to the hollow of her throat. “I’ve missed you so much,” he murmured against her soft skin. “Let me show you?”

John brought his passion darkened gaze back up to look deeply into Aeryn’s own desire filled eyes, waiting for her response.

Aeryn whispered, “Show me,” and brought her lips to his, initiating another ardent kiss.

Slowly they lowered themselves to the transport pod’s warm floor and sank into each other with an passionate tenderness that had been long denied them...

TBC