"Deus ex Machina" Farscape Fanfic (Part 3)
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
Part 2
After, as John and Aeryn were getting dressed, she said, "We need to finish getting the supplies and get back to Moya, John."
"Yeah, I know," he sighed, watching Aeryn with adoring eyes.
Aeryn smiled, zipping her vest closed as she stepped forward to kiss John lightly, a soft brush of lips against his "Let's go, John."
John nodded and slipped his own tee-shirt and vest on as he headed out of the transport pod and back into the market with Aeryn. They were careful to keep close to each other, and eventually, they reached a large, almost menacing stone building. As Rygel had told them, there was a red marker with an odd circular design, showing that it was the shop that they were looking for.
Aeryn lead the way into the building with John close at her heels. As a matter of course, they both kept a wary eye out, ready to act if need be. This visible part of the shop seemed to be a strange mix of food stuffs, mechanical parts, and various odds and ends. At a counter at the end of the shop stood Toqra.
Toqra was a short, sour looking little being, no taller than Rygel. In truth, he looked like nothing so much as a ill tempered wart hog, complete with wicked looking tusks. He had small red eyes that seemed to glare out of his wrinkled face. His hands were small and tipped with sharp black claws. And when he opened his mouth to speak, sharp ebony teeth could be seen.
Looking at the little man, one would expect to hear a high pitched sort of squeal issuing from him. Instead, Toqra had a soft melodic voice sharply in contrast with his appearance. "What can I do for you?"
"I believe that you spoke with one of our shipmates about a trade transaction," Aeryn answered.
The small man tilted his head slightly then nodded, "Ah yes, you must be the Dominar's attendants," Toqra said in his soft voice.
Aeryn made a slight face at this statement, but John stepped forward and said, "Yes, we're the Dominar's attendants." He looked to Aeryn with a look that said, 'play along.'
"Good, good. I told him no Luxans, Kalish, or Nebari. Don't deal with them, nothing but trouble," Toqra muttered. "You have payment?"
"The Dominar would like us to inspect the goods first," John said quickly.
Toqra snorted, sounding finally like the pig he looked, then hopped down from the platform he had been standing on. He disappeared behind his counter and into the back part of the shop. Aeryn and John heard a great deal of shuffling and squealing, then three small creatures looking like Toqra started hauling boxes and crates out to where John and Aeryn stood. Toqra was behind his workers every step of the way, squealing as they did, and sounding very upset. But when he spoke to John, his voice was once again the melodic one that he had used before.
"It's all there, everything that you wanted," he said. Then, lowering his voice, he added, "The special things you requested are at the bottom of the blue crate."
John nodded to Toqra as Aeryn went to inspect what the 'special' things were. After she had, she walked back to John and whispered, "Notma beetles and sutha snicks."
"Finest quality to be found in the quadrant," Toqra said proudly.
At a brief flicker of surprise on John's face that the little man had heard Aeryn's soft whisper, Toqra said, "We Unthar have excellent hearing and smell." Then he chuckled a moment before getting back to business. "Now, my payment."
Aeryn stepped forward and brought out a bag of small silver coins and green gems.
Toqra's small red eyes glowed with avarice and he took the payment eagerly. Then he turned to squeal at his workers before addressing Aeryn., "Just lead them, and these ones will carry your purchases to where you need them."
Aeryn nodded and started out the door followed by the three Unthar carrying the crates, and John taking up the rear. Once they were well out of the shop, Toqra called another small Unthar to him.
"Go to Captain Neracc. Tell him that the two Peacekeepers that were just here match the description of Crichton and the woman that they want so badly. Tell him that if he's willing to pay, I'll give him the frequency for the tracking devices that I put in the Notma beetles." When the other Unthar stood unmoving too long for Toqra's patience, he hit her and said harshly, "Go, now."
The small female, who's name was Mushi, squealed and practically ran out the door. She was still running when she ran into the tall warrior caste Scarran. With a growl, the Scarran lifted the small Unthar up to the level of his face. "Watch where you're going, or I'll make you my lunch," he hissed.
She squealed a moment before she could say in Scarran, "Apologies mighty warrior. Please, let me go. My master wishes me to seek out the Peacekeeper, Neracc. Toqra will be most displeased with me if I do not deliver my message," the little Unthar babbled in her fear before she could stop herself.
"What message is that, Unthar?" The Scarran growled, his face in Mushi's terrified one. "The Unthar belong to the Scarran Empire, why are you delivering messages to the Peacekeepers?"
Mushi gulped loudly, but otherwise attempted to keep silent.
"Answer me, Unthar," the Scarran hissed, using his heat probe on the small pig-like being.
"My master wishes to make a deal with the Peacekeeper," Mushi ground out under the pain of the heat probe.
"What deal?" The Scarran warrior asked.
"My master, Toqra, knows where the human, Crichton, and the Sebacean, Aeryn, are," Mushi gasped.
"Where?" The Scarran growled, intensifying his heat probe.
Mushi gasped and began to make distressed gurgling noises, then suddenly died in the Scarran's grasp.
The Scarran dropped the Unthar corpse in disgust. "Weak species," he hissed.
People had backed as far away from the Scarran warrior as they could in the crowded space, but they backed even further away, if possible, when he growled and pushed his way through. Determined, the warrior made his way back to his elite special unit. They were not hard to find, standing by the small ship that they had just arrived in. Six more warrior caste and two ruling caste Scarran stood by the ship waiting for a report from their Scout.
"Report," commanded Iajo, the ruling caste Scarren in charge of the mission.
"Crichton and the female Sebacean are here. An Unthar, Toqra, was trying to reach the Peacekeepers that are tracking the human, to tell them where Crichton is," Daska, the Scout, reported.
"Where are they?"
"The Unthar I was questioning died before I could discover that information," Daska replied.
Iajo viciously hit the Scout before turning to the other ruling caste Scarran, his second in command. "Gaio," he addressed the female Scarran, "you and two warriors will accompany me. We will seek this Crichton and his female." He turned to Daska, "You will find this Unthar, Toqra, and find out what dealings he has had with the Peacekeepers and where they are." He turned to the remaining warriors, "You will find Crichton's transport and secure it."
With a growl, Iajo stalked into the busy marketplace of the trade-post, followed by Gaio and two warriors. Their keen eyes scanned the crowded market for the sight of their prey.
Never very patient, Iajo growled in irritation after their search proved unsuccessful for half an arn. When Daska came striding up, Iajo turned to lash out at him. The Scout accepted the abuse then spoke, his grating voice the only indication that he was angered by Iajo's action.
"The Unthar has been selling information to the Peacekeepers about the Scarran Empire. He had found a way to track our ships and communications. These Peacekeepers though are on a special mission to find this Crichton. The Unthar was going to sell the information of the human's location to Captain Neracc, the Peacekeeper leading the mission."
Daska paused a moment, certain that he had his leader's attention now as more than something to lash out at. "I destroyed the Unthar's devices and shop and secured him for interrogation."
"Very good," Iajo hissed.
Daska held up a small blinking device. "The Unthar put a tracking device in the goods that he sold the human. This will lead us to Crichton."
"Very good Scout. If this proves to be useful, you will be rewarded."
Daska hissed in pleasure and followed the direction that the tracking beacon lead them in. The small blinking red light flared brighter the closer that they got to the position of the corresponding beacon. As the light flared ever brighter, Daska began lashing out more at the crowds of people, clearing a path. His fellow Scarrans walked menacingly in the wake of his violence.
The pulsing beacon finally lead them to the transport pod from Moya being secured by Peacekeeper commando forces. Iajo hissed his anger at the sight and seemed ready to attack the Peacekeepers immediately. It was Gaio that held the enraged mission leader back, standing her ground even as he growled at her.
"Wait," she commanded. "We'll send Daska to find the others."
"They are a weak species," Iajo hissed.
"Perhaps, but War Minster Ahkna wants the human and the woman alive and unharmed until she can interrogate them. If we attack now, we risk damaging Crichton. I for one, do not want to explain to the War Minister why we failed when we were so close to success," Gaio asserted. "We wait."
Iajo paused, seeing the Scarran female's wisdom. He turned to Daska. "Go find the others." Then he turned back to Gaio, "Then we attack."
TBC
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
Part 2
After, as John and Aeryn were getting dressed, she said, "We need to finish getting the supplies and get back to Moya, John."
"Yeah, I know," he sighed, watching Aeryn with adoring eyes.
Aeryn smiled, zipping her vest closed as she stepped forward to kiss John lightly, a soft brush of lips against his "Let's go, John."
John nodded and slipped his own tee-shirt and vest on as he headed out of the transport pod and back into the market with Aeryn. They were careful to keep close to each other, and eventually, they reached a large, almost menacing stone building. As Rygel had told them, there was a red marker with an odd circular design, showing that it was the shop that they were looking for.
Aeryn lead the way into the building with John close at her heels. As a matter of course, they both kept a wary eye out, ready to act if need be. This visible part of the shop seemed to be a strange mix of food stuffs, mechanical parts, and various odds and ends. At a counter at the end of the shop stood Toqra.
Toqra was a short, sour looking little being, no taller than Rygel. In truth, he looked like nothing so much as a ill tempered wart hog, complete with wicked looking tusks. He had small red eyes that seemed to glare out of his wrinkled face. His hands were small and tipped with sharp black claws. And when he opened his mouth to speak, sharp ebony teeth could be seen.
Looking at the little man, one would expect to hear a high pitched sort of squeal issuing from him. Instead, Toqra had a soft melodic voice sharply in contrast with his appearance. "What can I do for you?"
"I believe that you spoke with one of our shipmates about a trade transaction," Aeryn answered.
The small man tilted his head slightly then nodded, "Ah yes, you must be the Dominar's attendants," Toqra said in his soft voice.
Aeryn made a slight face at this statement, but John stepped forward and said, "Yes, we're the Dominar's attendants." He looked to Aeryn with a look that said, 'play along.'
"Good, good. I told him no Luxans, Kalish, or Nebari. Don't deal with them, nothing but trouble," Toqra muttered. "You have payment?"
"The Dominar would like us to inspect the goods first," John said quickly.
Toqra snorted, sounding finally like the pig he looked, then hopped down from the platform he had been standing on. He disappeared behind his counter and into the back part of the shop. Aeryn and John heard a great deal of shuffling and squealing, then three small creatures looking like Toqra started hauling boxes and crates out to where John and Aeryn stood. Toqra was behind his workers every step of the way, squealing as they did, and sounding very upset. But when he spoke to John, his voice was once again the melodic one that he had used before.
"It's all there, everything that you wanted," he said. Then, lowering his voice, he added, "The special things you requested are at the bottom of the blue crate."
John nodded to Toqra as Aeryn went to inspect what the 'special' things were. After she had, she walked back to John and whispered, "Notma beetles and sutha snicks."
"Finest quality to be found in the quadrant," Toqra said proudly.
At a brief flicker of surprise on John's face that the little man had heard Aeryn's soft whisper, Toqra said, "We Unthar have excellent hearing and smell." Then he chuckled a moment before getting back to business. "Now, my payment."
Aeryn stepped forward and brought out a bag of small silver coins and green gems.
Toqra's small red eyes glowed with avarice and he took the payment eagerly. Then he turned to squeal at his workers before addressing Aeryn., "Just lead them, and these ones will carry your purchases to where you need them."
Aeryn nodded and started out the door followed by the three Unthar carrying the crates, and John taking up the rear. Once they were well out of the shop, Toqra called another small Unthar to him.
"Go to Captain Neracc. Tell him that the two Peacekeepers that were just here match the description of Crichton and the woman that they want so badly. Tell him that if he's willing to pay, I'll give him the frequency for the tracking devices that I put in the Notma beetles." When the other Unthar stood unmoving too long for Toqra's patience, he hit her and said harshly, "Go, now."
The small female, who's name was Mushi, squealed and practically ran out the door. She was still running when she ran into the tall warrior caste Scarran. With a growl, the Scarran lifted the small Unthar up to the level of his face. "Watch where you're going, or I'll make you my lunch," he hissed.
She squealed a moment before she could say in Scarran, "Apologies mighty warrior. Please, let me go. My master wishes me to seek out the Peacekeeper, Neracc. Toqra will be most displeased with me if I do not deliver my message," the little Unthar babbled in her fear before she could stop herself.
"What message is that, Unthar?" The Scarran growled, his face in Mushi's terrified one. "The Unthar belong to the Scarran Empire, why are you delivering messages to the Peacekeepers?"
Mushi gulped loudly, but otherwise attempted to keep silent.
"Answer me, Unthar," the Scarran hissed, using his heat probe on the small pig-like being.
"My master wishes to make a deal with the Peacekeeper," Mushi ground out under the pain of the heat probe.
"What deal?" The Scarran warrior asked.
"My master, Toqra, knows where the human, Crichton, and the Sebacean, Aeryn, are," Mushi gasped.
"Where?" The Scarran growled, intensifying his heat probe.
Mushi gasped and began to make distressed gurgling noises, then suddenly died in the Scarran's grasp.
The Scarran dropped the Unthar corpse in disgust. "Weak species," he hissed.
People had backed as far away from the Scarran warrior as they could in the crowded space, but they backed even further away, if possible, when he growled and pushed his way through. Determined, the warrior made his way back to his elite special unit. They were not hard to find, standing by the small ship that they had just arrived in. Six more warrior caste and two ruling caste Scarran stood by the ship waiting for a report from their Scout.
"Report," commanded Iajo, the ruling caste Scarren in charge of the mission.
"Crichton and the female Sebacean are here. An Unthar, Toqra, was trying to reach the Peacekeepers that are tracking the human, to tell them where Crichton is," Daska, the Scout, reported.
"Where are they?"
"The Unthar I was questioning died before I could discover that information," Daska replied.
Iajo viciously hit the Scout before turning to the other ruling caste Scarran, his second in command. "Gaio," he addressed the female Scarran, "you and two warriors will accompany me. We will seek this Crichton and his female." He turned to Daska, "You will find this Unthar, Toqra, and find out what dealings he has had with the Peacekeepers and where they are." He turned to the remaining warriors, "You will find Crichton's transport and secure it."
With a growl, Iajo stalked into the busy marketplace of the trade-post, followed by Gaio and two warriors. Their keen eyes scanned the crowded market for the sight of their prey.
Never very patient, Iajo growled in irritation after their search proved unsuccessful for half an arn. When Daska came striding up, Iajo turned to lash out at him. The Scout accepted the abuse then spoke, his grating voice the only indication that he was angered by Iajo's action.
"The Unthar has been selling information to the Peacekeepers about the Scarran Empire. He had found a way to track our ships and communications. These Peacekeepers though are on a special mission to find this Crichton. The Unthar was going to sell the information of the human's location to Captain Neracc, the Peacekeeper leading the mission."
Daska paused a moment, certain that he had his leader's attention now as more than something to lash out at. "I destroyed the Unthar's devices and shop and secured him for interrogation."
"Very good," Iajo hissed.
Daska held up a small blinking device. "The Unthar put a tracking device in the goods that he sold the human. This will lead us to Crichton."
"Very good Scout. If this proves to be useful, you will be rewarded."
Daska hissed in pleasure and followed the direction that the tracking beacon lead them in. The small blinking red light flared brighter the closer that they got to the position of the corresponding beacon. As the light flared ever brighter, Daska began lashing out more at the crowds of people, clearing a path. His fellow Scarrans walked menacingly in the wake of his violence.
The pulsing beacon finally lead them to the transport pod from Moya being secured by Peacekeeper commando forces. Iajo hissed his anger at the sight and seemed ready to attack the Peacekeepers immediately. It was Gaio that held the enraged mission leader back, standing her ground even as he growled at her.
"Wait," she commanded. "We'll send Daska to find the others."
"They are a weak species," Iajo hissed.
"Perhaps, but War Minster Ahkna wants the human and the woman alive and unharmed until she can interrogate them. If we attack now, we risk damaging Crichton. I for one, do not want to explain to the War Minister why we failed when we were so close to success," Gaio asserted. "We wait."
Iajo paused, seeing the Scarran female's wisdom. He turned to Daska. "Go find the others." Then he turned back to Gaio, "Then we attack."
TBC