From: "Aubrey W. Adkins" (xazqrten@cox.net)
Subject: Lights Out
Lights Out
Just a shortie about Lyta and Delenn
Criticism is welcomed. Without, it there can't be any improvement. Address criticisms to xazqrten@cox.net
All characters/places/persons not belonging to the writer are the sole properties of their owners, PTEN, WB, JMS, and will beturned over to the owners at the request of their agents. All other characters/places/persons are public domain.
The old minbari woman looked more like a prune that had been over dried and shriveled beyond recognition. She was on her deathbed and her time was short. She had family gathered around and a greatgranddaughter was holding one of her shriveled hands and a grandson the other. She felt no pain, thanks to the doctor's efforts with painkillers. She was at peace with herself, her family and the universe in general. Her only regret was not being able to see John one more time. What she wouldn't give to know his fate. Maybe she would meet him where no shadows fall.
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"Hello, Delenn. I see you're trying to sneak out on me."
"Lyta? Is that you?"
"Who else, Delenn? You were expecting the March Hare?"
Looking around Delenn saw her friend looking as young as ever standing just a meter away. "How do you do it, Lyta. How do you remain so young?"
"I think it's either the Vorlon part of me, or maybe Lorien's doing.One way or the other, I am stuck with it."
"You don't sound happy."
"Delenn. After a while, you tire of watching your lifetime friends all die. It makes one lonely. Sure, you make new friends, but it's never quite the same."
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to get you."
Delenn was watching the doorway opening and seeing the white swirling light through the opening. It began to close up.
"Sorry to mess up your day, Delenn, but you can't go there. You have other places to go and other people to see."
Putting her arm around her friend Lyta began walking toward a white mist. Delenn walked putting her hand in Lyta's.
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"Lyta where am I," asked Delenn.
"You are with me."
"I can only see white mists and light."
"I was reengineered to be able to carry a Vorlon's complete consciousness," replied Lyta.
"So, I am dead."
"Yes and no."
"Lyta! Your answers are worse than Kosh's!"
"Delenn. Your body has been dead for more than four hundred years. It is dust. Your consciousness, that part that makes up the spirit of you, it's alive in me," replied Lyta.
"Four hundred years! Why don't I feel time passing?" she asked.
"Delenn, as much as I can do, I'm not God. I don't know why time doesn't pass for you. Maybe to your spirit, time is meaningless. Ask Lorien the next time you see him."
"What does that mean? Next time I see him?"
"Just what I said. You're going to meet him again, in a hundred years or so."
"I would like to understand this arrangement a little bit better."
"I came to you as you were in the process of dying. I took your essence into me, just like I used to do for Kosh when he needed to travel incognito. Think of yourself as incognito. If you try, you can see what I do. You just can't interact. It might make things easier for you," explained Lyta.
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She stood in a beautiful forest looking at trees whose colors spanned the rainbow and were as intense as if powerful lights were emittingthem.
"You, like this type scenery. Why?" asked Lorien.
"I don't know. It makes me feel very alive. I get the same feeling in the spring when all the flowers bloom," replied Lyta. As she finished the sentence, the scenery changed to that of spring with meadows full of flowers in bloom.
"I see," said the old gentleman.
"You let me choose the place. Why?"
"I like your tastes in colors," he replied.
Lyta concentrated and Delenn appeared beside her. In front of her stood someone she had never expected to see again. Lorien bowed slightly out of respect, and John Sheridan stepped out from behind him. He was dressed in his army of light uniform, except it was pure white.
"Hello, John," Delenn managed to choke out.
"It will help, Delenn, if you hug him," said Lyta. "He is as real as you are."
"He looks, so, young."
"So do you, Delenn," replied John, stepping closer and taking her in his arms.
Lyta looked at Lorien and asked, "When do I learn my fate?"
"In good time," he replied, fading away and taking John and Delenn with him.
Lorien as he left taking Delenn and John with him heard what sounded like a very large and angry tigress growling in her throat.
Tale End