TITLE: "CHOICES MADE"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "Farscape"

PAIRING: M/F

RATING: NC-17

STATUS: New.

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

SERIES/SEQUEL: SEQUEL to "HEAVEN AND HEZMANA"

WEBSITE: http://www.carlajane.50megs.com/Ali00.html

SUMMARY: "Crichton sets down roots. Jool worries about Aeryn. D'Argo closes in on his quarry."

The usual disclaimers apply. No infringement of copyright is intended.


"CHOICES MADE"
A "Farscape" story
Written by Alison M. DOBELL

It was a bright beautiful day. Crichton was up and about early. Kissed Hemnoth before going to the nearby lake to wash before dressing. She watched him for a microt then joined him, slowing down when he turned to watch her strip off her clothes. The water was cool and refreshing on her hot skin. It lapped their bodies like wet silk as their hands gently played across the valleys and plains they had navigated so expertly when they made love. They kissed and caressed each other as they washed away the sweat and grime of the last few arns. Every touch a joy Hemnoth never wanted to end. She considered how much had improved for them since the human had come. Six of the women had fallen pregnant after their shared feast with the men.

Crichton had helped another five join that number and now she, Hemnoth, was to be their crowning glory. Her clan numbered thirty five. The proportion was good though she would have liked to have seen at least half bear children this year. She smiled into his eyes. The human was happy and that made her feel a kind of deep content that went beyond anything she had ever known before. Was this what he called love? She knew she loved him but in the tradition of her people that term was usually describing the physical act of making love, of sex, not the merging of hearts which was Crichton's way. Her smile broadened. She liked his way better.

Today they were going to meet with Bishyin and the male clan. It was what Crichton wanted. She knew he was dying to tell his friends what had happened. To share his good fortune with them. A little smile teased her lips. That was not all she wanted her clan to share. This time the men would provide the feast and as hosts it would be their duty to feed the women. Literally. Her smile widened and a small delighted laugh bubbled out of her throat as they emerged wet and gleaming from the water. He smiled back at her. His look gentle. "Do you have any idea just how much I love you, Hemnoth?"

She shook her head and took his hand, drawing him down to the grass bank so she could kiss him. Not caring to draw him into the privacy of their woven hut. A few polite heads turned but no one intruded or spoke. She cared not who saw them and because she loved him with such abandon he did not care either. He mumbled about needing to dry off and get dressed. Her words were low and husky and almost a growl. "I like you naked."

He returned her kiss. The water drippiing down off his wet hair and dribbling down her face. Her beauty reflected in every bead of water glistening on her tanned flesh. She shone for him as if newly polished. Her skin like bronze, her eyes like precious jade. Her lips red like cherries. Fruit ripe for the picking. "Oh yeah?"

The kiss deepened, her hands exciting him as they explored. Every touch another piece of tinder added to the fire she was building in his loins. He groaned lightly into her mouth then she pulled away and lay on her back, guiding him down to his knees to straddle her. "Hemnoth, we don't have time for this...."

"Is our child's father so intent on neglecting his duty?"

A sigh trembled on her tongue then he kissed and caressed it with his own as her hand slid down to hold him, her touch firm but gentle. His protestations devoured before they could form into words She massaged him lightly then slowly became more demanding as their kiss deepened. Pumping the blood through his cock until it flooded and inflated the tissues into a hard throbbing shaft whose heat flashed in her hand. She loved the way he hardened to her touch. The groan shivering out of his throat with rising lust. He was so damn hot for her. "Man, that is *so* unfair."

She smiled and he pulled back slightly so he could look into the dappled jade depths of her exotic eyes. "What are you doing to me, woman? Keep this up and I won't be able to walk."

Her look was innocent. His hands stroked the swell of her belly as he watched the way the light filtered down through the canopy above their heads to illuminate the planes of her face. Waiting to see what she wanted. He laughed gently, his eyes shining down at her with love unabated. With the beautiful sound echoing in her ears she wriggled down between his legs until she could take him in her mouth and began to lathe her tongue up and down his length, her mouth massaging him as he closed his eyes and groaned in surprise. Her hands sliding over his hips to cradle and stroke the cheeks of his ass as she worked. He tried to speak but at that microt she did something to him that had him gasping. Hezmana, what was she doing? His brain kicked in a microt later as the gentle but dry insertion made his hips jerk and the head of his shaft began to leak in her mouth. Her insistent probing finding the right spot to hit his prostrate. He struggled for words as she continued to excite him, varying the pressure so he could breathe. Her tongue dragged slowly back and forth across the sensitive head of his penis between sucking and caressing him in her mouth, the delicious milky fluid draining down her waiting throat as she savoured him slowly. "H...how in hezmana did you learn to do that?"

Hemnoth did not answer. She was too busy. Her eyes had flattened into liquid opalescent pools, desire stirring in her that was as ancient as the clan itself. She wanted to taste his juices as he so often had tasted hers. Expertly her penetration continued to make him pump slowly into her mouth. She did not speed him up, did not want him to ejaculate all his jism in a sudden exploding fire. He was aching now with the effort of hanging on. Leaning over her propped up on his hands, elbows locked, body trembling. Longing to orgasm but holding back, trusting her to know what she was doing. It was killing him to be so passive, so compliant to her manipulations but it was also turning him on so much that the pleasure was almost painful. Another finger now joined the first. So gentle. His own cum lubricating him this time so it slipped in without causing pain or discomfort. Slow, deeper now. His hips trembled and continued to jerk slightly then she stroked his prostrate and he jerked hard, a spill of precious liquid washing the back of her throat. She eased back a little and caressed the tight interior ring of muscles, her lips mimicking the motion on his cock. Her moist heat around him, so damn beautiful as his hips began to rock. She sucked harder, teased lovingly bringing him close to the edge so many times his muscles were bunching into knots, then she timed her microt and jerked her slicked fingers hard against his prostrate gland until he exploded.

All his heat, his strength, his power surged down her throat. She was swallowing to accommodate him but not rushing, her hands on him such a wonderful gift, carrying him as she coaxed the last drops out of him and devoured it all. He lay back momentarily exhausted and more than a little stunned. She had never engaged in oral sex with him before and he had just assumed there was some taboo against swallowing a man's seed instead of putting it to other more practical purposes. He lay back eyes closed for a few microts, losing himself in her as she finished, her rough tongue gently washing him clean as he shrank in her mouth. The lapping of her tongue making him jerk and tremble where he was still sensitive. When she finished she lay down alongside him, her body cradling his, a hand brushing lightly through the hairs on his chest, her eyes adoring him. He stirred and looked at her. One hand brushing gently through her dark hair. "I didn't know you could do that." He whispered huskily.

She was amused. Her humour turned him on. He kissed her and could taste himself on her lips. Oh God, how damn erotic was that?

"We can do many things." She answered him enigmatically.

"Well I want to discover them all Hemnoth, but we have to be going soon. Bish and the others will be waiting for us."

Hemnoth nodded, and kissed him. Her lips travelling from his mouth to his throat and up the strong chord of his neck muscles to his ear.

"Um...we should move..."

She ignored him. Why did women always do that? Her tongue washed the shell of his ear then slid inside the ear canal making him shiver. He could feel himself losing it again. "Hemnoth, honey, if you keep doing that..." He had to take a breath. "We are *not* gonna make it. At least, make it to the other camp."

She pulled back, watched the way his brows had quirked up then laughed. A light kiss lingered on his lips like honey then she helped him up. "If that is what you want, John."

He felt immediately bereft. Cursed himself for arranging to meet Bish in the morning. He should have said afternoon, or better yet evening. He realised her eyes were watching the play of emotions on his face. Silently laughing at him. He frowned. "What?"

"If you want to delay we can do so. I can send a runner to tell Bishyin that you are.....busy....for a few more arns."

His lips quirked. Tempted. He kissed her and wrapped his arms round her in a hug of affection then drew back, his eyes steady in their regard. "No, that's the coward's way out. We dress and we go now, Hemnoth."

Hemnoth nodded and they got dressed. The other women exchanged little indulgent smiles which vanished the microt either Hemnoth or Crichton turned round. It was weird but in the weekens he had been among them Crichton had lost all sense of embarrassment with them. They were his clan. What was good for the clan was good for him. And right now he could not get enough of Hemnoth and that suited the clan just fine.

* * * * *

It was dark. It was cold. The air was almost gone. So thin as to be almost non-existent. <Nerri. Where are you? You said you would be here> Silence. It hurt more than the lack of oxygen. She blinked.

Her brain slowed. Images began to break up and fade before she could hang on to them, try to save them. It was not such a bad way to die. All things considered. Maybe her brother was already dead? Maybe he had been captured and was even this microt undergoing mind clensing? She hoped not. Better dead than turned into one of those zombies so beloved of the ruling council. Mind clensinig had started out as a correction method for criminals but it had worked too well. Spurred on by their success a witch hunt started until every crime and misdemeanour became punishable by mind clensing. Then the ruling council began to use it to stifle political debate. To quiet the concerns of a populace uneasy with their decisions and the solutions they chose to employ. Gradually the shape of her homeworld turned nightmare into reality. Free thinkers became the new criminals. Anyone who opposed the government were the enemy. So the Nebari Resistance was formed. Now she would not have to fear being mind clensed. The Universe was going to clear up their dirty work for them. They would not even have to wash their hands.

* * * * *

Jool was nervous as Aeryn took off in the transport pod. Part of her wondering at her own actions in going with the Sebacean. What could she do anyway? She was no warrior and it was not as if she was even very brave. She looked at Aeryn. So rigid, so focused and emotionless. Jool corrected herself. Not emotionless. Aeryn was giving in to the darker impulses of her soul. Drowning her sorrow and sense of loss in anger and the need for retribution. Jool could see that the Sebacean's control was actually paper thin.

When they reached the planet surface the first thing that struck Jool was how beautiful it was. The colour green assaulted her eyes with its' many shades. The marketplace a quiet buzz of activity with stall holders making a steady trade. No one took any notice of Jool but several stared at Aeryn then quickly averted their eyes as if nervous of being noticed. Jool found herself watching their reactions more closely. Wondered about it. To them Crichton would have appeared Sebacean. But appearances were the only thing he had in common with the Peace Keepers. Anyone who knew him even in passing could attest to that even if they could not understand it. So it did not explain their fear of Aeryn or more worryingly Aeryn's total acceptance of it as if it was her due. It was as if their reactions were too commonplace to trigger alarm bells. Jool had the uncomfortable feeling that alarm bells would only have rung in Aeryn's head if they had ignored her completely.

Aeryn walked up to the nearest stall holder. "A friend of mine came here two monens ago. Did you see him?"

The man shook his head. She leaned in close to him and he began to shake.

"Other friends came looking for him. A Luxan and a Nebari. Brought back his remains."

The man was openly terrified now. Eyes wide with fear. Unable to take his eyes away from Aeryn. It was doubtful if he would be able to form words anyway, his fear of her was so great. Aeryn swung her huge weapon into position for firing. Jool's eyes widened and she stepped quickly between them. The Sebacean growled. "Get out of my way Jool or I will blast you to hezmana!"

"Aeryn, stop it, listen to yourself! Is this any way to get information? To ask for help?"

"He knows something. I can see it in his eyes."

Jool shook her head. "No. All you see is your own terror staring back at you."

For a microt Aeryn looked at Jool stunned. "What?" She was tempted to laugh but the humour would be too painful. Too human she thought to contemplate surrendering to it now. If ever again. "My terror?"

"Yes, Aeryn."

"I am not frightened of anything. I just want answers and I am here to find them."

"You will not find answers at the point of a gun, Aeryn." She paused half a microt. "Only death."

"I do not care. Now stand aside!"

"You do not care?" Said Jool allowing her voice to rise a little. "Not even about finding out the answers? You do not care about the promise you made to John's remains?"

Sudden tears threatened. Aeryn felt emotion rock her, threatening to tear down her walls. "How dare you presume to know me! To judge me!"

Jool's voice suddenly became soft. Compassionate. "I know about grief, Aeryn. I know about loss. I even know about love."

Time stretched. Warped around them as if stopping the hands of a cosmic clock. Aeryn stared at her, seeing her suddenly and feeling ashamed of herself. Jool was not her enemy and neither were these people. She took a step back and nodded to the man. "I am sorry. My friend meant a great deal to me. I am trying to find out what happened. Who killed him and why."

The man shook his head. "I do not know."

He expected her to kill him but she did not. Instead she took his word and continued to walk slowly through the market, the feel of cautious eyes following her movements. She looked at Jool. "Thank you."

Jool frowned. "What for?"

A bitter smile made it to Aeryn's lips. "For stopping me being an even bigger greebol than I am already."

The Interon was tempted to laugh but did not want to ruin the small truce she had won. She nodded carefully. They spent arns speaking to other stall holders but no one told them anything. At the end of the market place they came to some wooden tables and chairs. Areyn turned around slowly, puzzled. "What is this?"

Jool smiled. "A rest area."

"Rest area?"

"Yes. Some places have a place of rest for travellers, customers to rest."

Aeryn was frowning. "Why? There is no refreshment place, no rasklak to buy or food. It is a waste of space."

The Interon looked around with a light happy smile. "I like it and it encourages visitors to relax. To take in the beauty of this place."

"It has no purpose Jool unless it is to make us soft. Let down our defences."

Her eyes were carefully scanning around her. Looking for hidden threats. Is this what had happened to Crichton? Had he rested here and been attacked? What had Chiana told them? Ah yes, she had found his remains along with his bloody communication device just within the entrance of a vast forest. She turned her head and stopped. Frozen in place, her heart doing somesaults. Jool was looking at the wavering grasses, dark green one side, a light pale sage green on the other. As the breeze fanned the grasses the colours changed fascinating her eye. Aeryn though had eyes only for the Forest. "Jool, turn around."

The Interon did as she was told and saw what had caught Aeryn's eye. Remembered what a tearful Chiana had told them and felt an ache in her heart. This must be the Forest she had told them about. It's dark depths hidden from them they saw only the vastness of it in the distance.

"We must go there."

Alarmed, Jool shook her head. "No! This is madness Aeryn."

Aeryn was suddenly icy cool, calm. Her path clear before her. It felt firm and comforting beneath her feet. "It is where he died. If the answers are anywhere Jool, they are here."

* * * * *

Ka D'Argo pressed on. He would like to have taken out the last of the enemy ships but to do that he would have had to turn from his objective and follow the other craft. Now that he was finally on Macton's trail he did not intend to be deflected from his purpose for anything. His ship ate up the distance to Cromar. A Peace Keeper outpost which was the last known place Macton had been. He checked the vector gappa and calculated the distance in pemno. Within another twenty arns he would be there. Twenty arns. His blood compressed in his veins as anger ingnited inside him. Not in an uncontrolled rush of hyper rage but in the long slow dance of death approaching. He could almost taste the Sebacean's blood in his throat, feel his hands choking the life out of his pathetic body as he took the life from him. It would not be murder. It would be justice.

He took several microts to focus again. His cheeks wet, his thoughts turning to Lo'laan. He took the memory crystal from the small pouch in his chest flap and immediately activated the image. It turned slowly in a halo of gentle light. Lo'laan smiling at him with Jothee in her arms. "Soon." He whispered harshly, emotion making the words difficult. "I will find him. I swear! You will be avenged Lo'laan."

* * * * *

Crichton was so happy. He hugged Bishyin and spun the boy round in his joy. Everyone was happy, light hearted and full of celebration. Bishyin caught Ryal's eye. Her gentle smile made his heart beat a little faster. Crichton pulled back and hugged the others, each exchanging the greeting the human had impulsively introduced into the clans. It drew their hearts to him, this strange oddly captivating non-Sebacean. His eyes laughed at them with affection and good natured good will. They took him as they found him and gave him affection back. He was their clan brother. They were his. Bishyin turned to Hemnoth and bowed politely. "Our hearts are full of joy that you are with child, sister."

Her eyes danced back at him. Crichton slid an arm gently around her. Both loving and protective. The others saw on both sides of the clan and approved. "Thank you, little brother."

"We have prepared a feast for you."

She smiled at him and turned to nod to Ryal. As she stepped forward Bishyin looked into her eyes with a question, a hope hanging suspended on a breath. His lungs held the air trapped between beats of his heart. Ryal reached out to take his hand and rested it on her stomach. A smile wide enough and bright enough to rival Father Sun lit his face. "Are you sure?"

She nodded. "Yes, my lord, I am with child."

It seemed all around Crichton and Hemnoth others were discovering their own good fortune. Crichton turned Hemnoth in his hands so that she now faced him. He looked down and ran his hands over her gently swelling stomach. She was beginning to show the new life forming inside her. Their child. He spread his hands but it was still too early to feel the baby kick. He looked up into her eyes, his own eyes shining with such pleasure. Her hands cradled his gentle face and their lips met in a hush of joy as sacred as any sacrement given in a church of God on Earth. In many ways what they felt, shared, promised to each other in their hearts, went beyond the religion of any world. A salient truth. A mystery known only to the Gods of all creation. Their kiss deepened and all other sights, sounds and activity around them ceased to touch them.

When they finally broke away from their embrace it was to find that the others had quietly been laying out the feast for the two clans. Crichton was so happy he could hardly contain his joy. So proud of Hemnoth and the clans. Bishyin touched his arm gently and they exchanged a smile. "Come John, now we must host the women."

That made him grin, amused him no end. Bishyin did not get the joke but loved the look on his face. It was a miracle to him the way this gentle stranger had touched them all. He loved his clan brother as much as the others of his clan. He could not imagine the clans complete without him.

Bishyin eased him away from Hemnoth. Hemnoth bowed slightly and took her place with the other women on the right side of the long ribbon of fruits and vegetables laid out on panapa leaves. The makeshift table mirrored the one which the women had prepared for the men. Bishyin tugged on Crichton's arm and he sat on the leaf strewn forest floor, his eyes on the boy chief's glowing face. Silent. Expectant. Waiting for him to tell him what he needed to know.

"My brother, now we host the women. Remember your first feast, John?"

He smiled. How in hezmana could he forget? "Yes, Bish. I remember."

"Watch me. When I have tasted the fruit I would share with Ryal and she has accepted it you may do likewise. All actions will be ours, all acceptance will be theirs."

His smile widened. "In other words we do what they did to us last time?"

Bishyin chuckled. "Yes, John."

For a microt Crichton could not speak. He had never been so at peace, so happy before, since coming to the Uncharted Territories. The emotion was almost too much for him. "I am going to be a father, Bish." He said softly. His voice awed and reverent and filled with quiet joy.

Bishyin's heart went out to him. "As am I, my friend."

That made the human laugh. "How old are you, Bish?"

Bishyin looked momentarily confused. "Old?"

"Yes. How many cycles?"

"Ah. You should not think in the restrictions of the age of flesh, John."

"I shouldn't?"

He shook his head gently. "I have lived many lives, my friend. Seen many wonders. Tasted many *fruits*. I am ancient in the ways of my people, young in the cycles of this life perhaps but older than you."

"How old do you think I am?"

Now it was Bishyin's turn to laugh gently. A bright happy sound soaked and simmered in warm humour. It touched Crichton's heart microts before the words caught up with his ears. "You my friend, are but a child to us. A child whose eyes delight in every wonder it beholds. This makes you a special joy to us. More beloved for your innocence than your strength. More precious because your heart is closer to wisdom than to war. More part of us because you give as well as receive. Such treasures as only our own kind have shared with us before. You honour us and we honour you in return. There is no division now, John, between your soul and ours."

Crichton blinked back tears. "On my homeworld Bish, you would be about 10 cycles old. A child. I would be old enough to be your father. I would take care of you, protect you. I would teach you all I knew to keep you safe, help you to find your path in life and be there when needed."

He nodded back. All this he knew. Crichton could see the understanding in the boy's eyes. Was he the only one who was slow on the uptake? Bishyin grinned and nudged him. "Come. We neglect our duties to our women."

The human chuckled back. That would never do. They walked back to the feast and Crichton took his place opposite Hemnoth. Her eyes shining with love, his crossing the narrow divide and answering every beat of her heart with one of his own.

* * * * *
END