Lyta and Ivanova Part 9 of ---(WIP)
********************************************************************* "Susan, you aren't serious, are you?" asked Jack Garvey. "I’m afraid so, Jack. They have a data crystal video of you giving Captain Ivanova the orders, and they have traced the origin of the confirmation message," answered President Susan Luchenko. "I didn't think a military board of inquiry could subpoena a civilian witness?" "This one can, and you are right, you certainly didn't think. You may have murdered my career, what was left of it. I suggest you go there and tell the damned truth, no matter how bad it looks. If you try to cover up anything, they’ll hang both of us. Be warned that there are a number of non-Earth Alliance human telepaths on the station. I would not rule out them having you scanned." "That’s illegal." "For our telepaths it is; however, there’s a group of them there for trade negotiations that have diplomatic immunity. If one of them conducts an unauthorized scan, all we can do is lodge a complaint, and the most that will happen is the telepath will have to leave the station. So, just tell the damned truth." ****************************************************************** Day 8 Babylon 5 Lochley's quarters It was 0200 on the third day after Lyta had agreed to help Lochley with a visit to her past memories. Lochley and Evans had made love and were in a very deep sleep. "What’re you doing here, Larry?" asked Lochley looking at her lover. "I don't know. Where are we?" he responded. "I don't know either, but it looks familiar for some reason." The scenery changed and Lochley recognized her home. She was only five years old and her parents were leaving her with her aunt and uncle for the evening as they left for a dinner party. Her parents hadn't been gone long before her uncle watching a video hoisted her up on his lap. Suddenly she realized where she was and what was about to happen. She screamed, but there was no sound. It all happened as it had before, every sickening detail. Twisting and turning she could see Larry standing by watching, not offering to help. Her mind kept screaming to no avail. As Larry watched what was transpiring, tears began running from his eyes. Elizabeth realized that Larry couldn't help. He hadn't been there the first time it had happened. All he could do was watch in abject horror. The scenes of the abuse, her lack of support from her parents, and their disbelief belief, when she finally got up enough courage to tell them, kept replaying themselves. They not only didn't believe her, but they accused her of making the stories up and punished her. Finally she could take no more and she ran away. Her life as a runaway, her use of alcohol and drugs to numb the memories, it was all replaying and she was trapped in it. She could feel the hands of the lowlifes she sold her body to pawing her in their simple lust and gagged at the things she did for them, only to barter for her next fix, so she could escape her reality. Finally she was found by her father and brought home. She was thirteen and had suffered more than any human should endure. She was locked up and detoxified. Her father wasted no time on the punishment. Her mother meekly said nothing. She was confined to her room, allowed no friends and constantly monitored. Even when she was in school, he had her closely watched. She endured this until her uncle came to visit and tried to take up where he had left off. She had been home for all of eight months when this occurred. Up until then she had behaved and applied herself to her school studies. Elizabeth fought off the attack by her uncle and in doing so had permanently crippled him. Her father was furious and had her remanded to a criminal juvenile facility. It was a virtual prison for unruly children. Elizabeth escaped and was on the run again. She met her friend to be, Zoe, in the facility. It took little time for the two of them to start panhandling to pay for food and shelter. When the panhandling wasn't working they sold whatever they had, mostly themselves. The alcohol and drugs came quickly. They sold themselves for money to buy fixes or for the fixes themselves. Elizabeth and Zoe had been on the streets for almost two years when Elizabeth returned to their "apartment" and found her friend in the middle of the trash-strewn floor with a needle still in her arm. She had overdosed and choked on her own vomit. Elizabeth sat and cried for a very long time. The event scared her so badly that she went a to shelter and asked for help. She eventually was put in a foster home. The foster parents were everything her parents weren't. She finished school and because of her age her records were permanently sealed. When she academically won a scholarship to the Earthforce academy, she knew her life could really amount to something, but only if she maintained tight control over it. When she and John Sheridan ran off and had a quickie marriage it was doomed to failure. Her need for control was so great, she wouldn't let him make any decisions, so they had it annulled. It had lasted barely three months, a lifetime for her. As Lochley was reliving these events, Larry could only watch and cry. He would do anything to help her, if only he could. The scenes shifted to other parts of her life and she experienced the results of the decisions she had made. In many of the scenes, she saw how her forgotten past had caused her to make a less than optimum decision, sometimes with regrettable results. The last of these had been her handling of Lyta as she was being arrested, locked up and thrown off the station. The visions faded as a mist moved to cover the scenery. Larry was still there. "You saw it all?" "Yes, Elizabeth. I saw it all," he replied. After a moment, he continued, "Now, how do we use it to make things better?" "I don't know, but I am willing to try and learn." "That's all any of us can do. I’ll help, if you’ll let me." Elizabeth put her arms around his neck and kissed him. Everything slowly faded out. *********************************************************************** Lochley slowly fought her way to a waking state in response to her morning wake-up call. She was in bed with Larry and his arms encircled her as he snuggled up to her. She managed to turn far enough to kiss him. He awakened and returned it. Then he let her go so she could get up. Doing her morning exercises, she said, "I had a very vivid dream last night. You were in it." "What was it about?" he asked. "I relived the some of the most horrible times of my life. It was so real, I can still taste the booze and drugs." She stiffened as she realized what she had just said. Larry didn't reply. He waited for her to continue. "Do you think Lyta had anything to do with it?" He shrugged his shoulders, "Maybe." "Did I say something wrong?" she asked. "Not at all. I assume your remark was about something out of your past. I figure you will talk about it when you feel like it." "I have done some awful things in my life, Larry. Things I am very ashamed of." "Haven't we all?" Lochley looked at him and remembered his admission of illegal scans, when he was in Psi Corps counterintelligence. He had a good point. "Were you there with me, Larry?" "Yes." "How? Why?" "You will have to ask Lyta. It must be her doing?" "You know my darkest secrets. The abortions, all of it?" "Everything, even the part about you being sterile because of the botched abortion. You have paid a very heavy price for your transgressions." She looked broken at that. "It is not my place to judge you, Elizabeth. As far as I am concerned, you have paid for your past. Anything more would be unfair and serve no useful purpose. I don't suppose Sheridan ever knew or even knows now." "No. Only you and Lyta, if she is responsible for the dreams. That all happened in San Diego, before it was nuked. The records and the people who knew are all gone. The records are just so much ash." "Then, leave it there." She finished her exercises and took a shower and dressed. She hugged him and kissed him before leaving for C&C. ****************************************************************** "Good morning, Larry," said Lyta as he entered her quarters. She had ordered breakfast and it arrived at the same time that Larry did. "I had an interesting dream last night." "Tell me about it," she replied. Larry did and kept watching her face while he did. She never changed her expression. He continued to eat and talk and hoped he never had to play poker with her. "She asked me to do for her, what I had done for Susan. I was surprised when you were the figure she chose for her confessor. Susan, of course, used her mother and brother. It says something about how she sees you." "I’m distressed that she can't have children. I get the impression she wants them very badly." "Maybe she might consider adoption. She could give a child or children the love she never had." "I’m going to let her be the one that breaches subjects like that." "I think maybe another session might be more helpful. I will concentrate on the good things she remembers." "Are you going to talk with her about last night?" "Of course. Don't we have some meetings today?" ********************************************************************* Lochley had a full day ahead of her. She had notified the habitation department of the board of inquiry berthing requirements, but she hadn't heard anything from them. It was not going to be a picnic. She would have more brass aboard for the next couple of weeks, than had attended the commissioning of the station. She had read the message and counted two three-star generals and at least half a dozen two and one-star generals, plus a cadre of captains and colonels. Someone was gunning for bear, and the bear they were gunning for was Captain Susan Ivanova. She felt sorry for Susan. Her recent decisions and actions would be dissected to death looking for the means to hang her out to dry and end her career. They had enough senior officers to hold a board of inquiry and a general court martial, if it was deemed necessary. This much horsepower could only bode ill for Susan. Then it occurred to her that she might very well be a target of the inquiry. She couldn't see how, but she couldn't dismiss the possibility out of hand. She reread the list and realized that one of the Lieutenant generals was from the JAG office as were a few of the lower ranked senior offices. Susan would need representation as might she. Maybe that was the purpose of a few of the legal eagles. Her intercom buzzed and Lt. Corwin's voice said, "Captain. Lyta Alexander is requesting to see you." "Send her in, Mr. Corwin." Lyta entered the office and closed the door behind her. "I hope I’m not interfering with your regular business." "You aren't. Please sit down." Lochley handed the message she had been reading to Lyta. Lyta looked at it and whistled. "Are they moving Earthforce headquarters to Babylon 5 or what. It looks like anybody who is anybody is coming here." "That was my first reaction. This is the list of people on the board of inquiry, and some to spare. The last paragraph says there will be others added to the list in later messages. I noticed that one of the civilians on the list is the SOB who issued the orders for the Ares to depart the area just before the attack. I’m considering helping Susan skin the bastard alive." "Let me handle it. There’s no need to soil your hands," said Lyta, in a voice that left Lochley with chills. "I think it’s going to be a very interesting few weeks or so." "I agree, Elizabeth. We need to talk about last night." "Why was Larry in my nightmares. I hesitate to call them dreams?" "I don't know," replied Lyta. "In Ivanova's case, it was her mother. The thing is, I don't pick the person in the dream. You do." "Are you telling me, of all the people I have known in my life, I chose Larry to share my innermost fears, dreads and the like with?" "I’m not telling you anything, Elizabeth. I only tell you what others have seen. You’ll have to draw your own conclusions, and Larry was really there with us." "Is this all there is?" "Normally, yes, but in your case, I’ll try one more time. You were sleeping with Larry when I did it this time. His closeness and your intimacy may have affected the process." "You want me to kick him out for a few nights?" "I want you to be normal as possible. I want you to perceive yourself under the best conditions for you. Do you think kicking him out will help?" "I don't know. I do know, I don't want to kick him out." "There, you've answered your own question." "I don't want to be a bad hostess, but there are some crocodiles trying to bite me in the butt." "That's okay. I know the feeling. I’ll be talking with you later," saying that, she left. ******************************************************************** The next night Lochley was in the embrace of Larry Evens, both deeply asleep when the dream occurred. It was as before only with much more detail. Lochley awakened abruptly as her wake-up call sounded. She found herself once again wrapped in her lover's arms. She settled back and snuggled even closer to him. It felt warm and secure. Elizabeth slowly realized what part of her dreaming mind was telling her. Her only regret was, there would be no children. The wake-up call sounded again and Elizabeth gently worked her way free from Larry's embrace. She did her exercises, showered and dressed. She kissed him gently so as to not wake him and went to work. As she walked down the passageway to the lift, it occurred to her, since she couldn't have children, there was always adoption. ******************************************************************** Day 9 Babylon 5 "Welcome aboard Babylon 5 General Sanchez," said Elizabeth Lochley, as she saluted the chairman of the board that could destroy the careers of both her and Ivanova. Sanchez, smartly, returned her salute. "Quite a place you have here, captain." "It keeps us busy, general," she replied. "Why do I get the feeling that is a gross understatement?" "It's not a bad as it looks. It gets somewhat easier with time, sir," she responded. Then she introduced her XO and support department heads. "You didn't displace any of your people did you?" asked Sanchez. "No sir. We had flag spaces already available, and the ones we couldn't put there, are housed in available quarters in the ambassador quarters section. The damage suffered during the attack did put a crimp in our available space. As per your directions, everyone O-6 and below are in duplex quarters where available. In a few cases the more junior officers are bunked four to a space. It was the best we could do." "It will suffice, captain. I learned long ago, getting blood out of a rock is not a paying proposition." "Gentlemen." She told the general's group, "These personnel will show you to your assigned quarters, and aide in getting your luggage delivered to your quarters." "I’m remiss, Captain Lochley. Let me introduce to our senior JAG representative, General Arthur Marsh." "Pleased to meet you, General Marsh. I can't remember us ever having JAG personnel aboard before," replied Lochley. "As far as I know, Captain Lochley, there hasn't been a need before now," replied Marsh, "discounting the civil war." "It’s lunch time, General Sanchez. I took the liberty of having lunch held over. I thought you might appreciate a decent meal after several days on a transport." "We do, captain." Turning to his other personnel, he stated, "You heard Captain Lochley. They’re holding lunch for us. As soon as you find out where your quarters are located, beat feet to the wardroom and eat. The people who are acting as guides will show you where it is." "After you get settled, general, I would appreciate meeting with you and General Marsh and any others of your group you choose, to go over the arrangements for your space requirements and security," requested Lochley. "Most certainly, captain. I will call you after I have settled in and tried your cuisine." Lochley watched the group make its way toward the Zocalo and wondered if she would still have a career when they departed. ******************************************************************* Two hours later General Sanchez entered Lockley's office. "Kind of small isn't it, Captain Lochley?" "It was large enough for my predecessors, general, and it has worked well for me these last few years. Speaking of few years, when’re they going to send my replacement? I've been here almost five years now." "Sorry, captain. That isn't in my department. Five years is a very long time for one assignment; however, Babylon 5 isn't just another duty station. It is unique, and not just anybody can run a place like this." "I suppose, if I retire, they’ll have no choice, but to replace me." "That’s true, but what of your career?" "I had it explained to me why, I won't be promoted beyond my present rank, and why I won't get another assignment, general." "Oh?" "After this place, what would offer a challenge? Even if I were promoted to flag rank, anything after here would be a bore. Even running a department on Earth would just be highly paid paper shuffling. With all due respect, there’s no challenge there, General Sanchez." The general sat and thought about the statement for several minutes. Finally he replied, "I hate to admit it, but you may very well be correct in that assessment. From an importance standpoint, it doesn't get much more challenging that Babylon 5, unless you are a member of JCS, and on a day to day basis, even that’s lacking in immediate challenge." "Let me show you what we have planned to support your efforts." With that Lochley handed the general copies of diagrams and layouts and began giving him details. ******************************************************************** Ivanova had been kept busy during the last few days, examining the internal damage to her ship and getting all the data crystals from the numerous monitor stations and ships internal recorders sorted out, labeled and copied. She would supply all the originals to the board of inquiry, but she would also keep backup copies, just in case. She had been notified when the brass arrived by Lt. Corwin as soon as their transport cleared the jumpgate. It was 1500, and it was already a long day. She was looking forward to a quiet evening with Charles. Smiling to herself, just the thought made her feel better. She was jerked back to reality by the signaling of an incoming call on the communications system. She accepted the call. "Good afternoon, Susan," said the image of Captain Lochley. "Are you free for dinner this evening?" The question made her stomach churn. She knew what was coming. "Do I have a choice?" she asked, already knowing the answer was no. Lochley waited almost a minute, and looked off-screen, before answering. "You always have a choice, Susan," she replied. "Bullshit, Elizabeth. We both know better," she replied bitterly. "Is that a yes or no?" Lochley inquired. "I’ll be there. Where and when?" she replied. Lochley looked off-screen, obviously conversing with someone out of camera range. "At the Fresh Aire at 2000." Susan closed the channel and sat back in her chair. [They aren't even going to wait until the board convenes. Why am I not surprised?] Her office door opened and Commander Owens stuck his head in. "What do you need, Pat?" "I just wanted to let you know the shipyard people are here. Each one has been assigned a personal escort from the areas they’ll be working in." "Thanks, Pat." "Something wrong, skipper?" "It's hard to say. I’ve been summoned to dinner by the people sent to hang me out to dry. I guess they can't wait for the evidence." "I hope everything goes well, captain." "Ever hear the term "kangaroo court", Pat?" He shook his head, no. "It’s a court proceeding where guilt and punishment have already been decided. Sort of like, ‘I've made up my mind, don't confuse me with facts’." "Sheesh." Ivanova just looked at him as he turned and left. ***************************************************************** "Captain Lochley. You never told Captain Ivanova what the dress code was," said General Sanchez. "I’m sure she will wear something appropriate, general." "I had hoped for something not so formal. We’ll be very conspicuous in uniform." "General Sanchez. We’ll be conspicuous no matter what we wear, but I would prefer civilian clothing, too." "Will you notify Captain Ivanova?" "Sure, but I suspect she’ll wear a dress uniform anyway." "Why?" "She’s attending under orders, and for that she’ll wear a uniform." "No one gave her any orders." "When I looked at you, while I was talking to her, she understood that someone from the board of inquiry was in my office. She knew you were here before you got off the shuttle, general." General Sanchez thought about it for a minute, then said to Lochley, "I suppose, uniforms it is." "Yes sir, general. Sir. I would like to invite a couple of friends since this isn't supposed to be formal." "Is it anyone I might know?" "Only from ISN newscasts, possibly, sir." "Very well, captain. I’ll see you at the restaurant tonight." After General Sanchez left, Lochley called her yeoman and ordered him to make the arrangements, then she called Lyta and invited her. Lochley fully expected Lyta to wear her black work outfit, since she hadn't even asked who else would be there. Lochley doubted that Lyta would be impressed by the brass. Lyta had made it obvious in the past, not much impressed her. *********************************************************************** Lochley and Ivanova arrived first, had themselves seated and ordered drinks, orange juice for both of them. "You don't have to drink juice, Susan." "I know, but this isn't a good time for me tonight, Elizabeth. It's not like having dinner with you, Lyta and the guys." "Well, they’re going after my head too. I had a bunch of civilians get themselves killed." "Maybe we can arrange adjacent prison cells. It’s the least they can do." "They can hang us out to dry, but we know we did the right thing. They can't take that away from us. Hell, Susan, for women, we didn't do too badly." "I heard that," said a male voice. Generals Sanchez and Marsh had approached them unnoticed. "Don't get up, ladies," said Marsh. "We are many things, general, but ladies isn't one of them," replied Susan. The men ordered drinks. "Don't you girls drink anything stronger than juice?" inquired Sanchez. "Not anymore," answered Lochley. "Only when I’m alone or with friends," answered Ivanova, looking Sanchez directly in the eyes. Sanchez saw a fire there he hadn't seen in anyone in at least twenty years. This woman was ready to fight. She was probably always ready to fight. The remainder of the dinner party was arriving. When they were seated there were three empty chairs between Lochley and Ivanova. Everyone had ordered drinks and appetizers. General Sanchez introduced Lochley and Ivanova to the other members of his party, all were flag officers. "I thought you were going to invite some civilian friends, Captain Lochley?" asked Sanchez. "I did, but sometimes their meetings run long. Remember, civilians don't keep timetables the way we do, general," responded Lochley. Several of his party were staring across the restaurant at something. Sanchez turned his head to see what it was. What greeted his eyes were two gentlemen in tuxedos and a ravishing redhead. "The redhead is my guest, general," offered Lochley. Susan looked at Lochley and whispered, "You invited Lyta?" Lochley responded, "And Larry and Charles." "Are you nuts?" Ivanova whispered leaning over toward Lochley. Lochley looked at Susan and replied, "Of course not." "Ladies, let's not fight over the guests," said Marsh. Lyta waited until Larry and Charles were seated then seated herself. "We were held up, in a meeting," stated Lyta as means of explanation. "I hope we didn't miss anything interesting." Lyta looked around the table slowly, then asked, "I take it none of you has ever seen a woman before?" "Yes, they have. Just not one like you. Miss...," said General Sanchez. "Alexander, general, Lyta Alexander," answered Lyta. The waiter came and took the drink and appetizer and meal orders for Lyta and her friends. Lyta whispered something into his ear and handed him a credit chit. One of the other officers continued to stare at Lyta. "Is there something wrong, Mr.?" asked Lyta. "No ma'am. It's just that you look familiar for some reason. I just can't quite remember from where." "Well, that's no surprise. After all, my picture was all over ISN a couple of years ago. It was in the post office, too. Hell, it might even still be there," answered Lyta. "That's not why I remember it," the man answered. Then thinking hard, he looked at her again. "Now I remember. My son has it on the wall in the front room of his home. It is over the top of his family pictures." Lyta looked at him, oddly. It was obvious that she had expected any answer except this. Sanchez and Marsh were following this exchange with disguised interest. Before it could go any farther, the appetizers arrived and everyone began serving themselves from the food laden serving plates. They had worked their way through the appetizers and General Sanchez took it upon himself to introduce his group to Lyta and her associates. The man who had told Lyta about the picture was named Ames. "You were saying something about my picture, Mr. Ames," commented Lyta. "Yes, ma'am. I remember now. When I asked him about it, he said it was there in honor of your leading the rebellion against Psi Corps." Lyta just continued looking at the man. "I don't quite understand." "My son is a telepath. He couldn't abide what he saw Psi Corps doing, so he went rogue. They don't like rogues, much less P-10 rogues. He was branded a traitor and sent to a rehabilitation camp. You already know what that means. He spent almost fifteen years there. Your people freed him, literally, and the demise of the corps meant he could try to build a life. He is married and has a daughter. She is a telepath also. He feels he owes you everything." "I hate to destroy his image of me, but I was never anything, but a poster child. I was an image. We knew that pictures of old and beaten telepaths would never get attention, but someone like me presented as the leader. It got attention. I made good copy and pretty pictures, nothing more." Generals Marsh and Sanchez had been following the exchange with great interest. The Alexander woman was good. "Would any of you want to be used on a recruiting poster for Earthforce?" asked Lyta. Then she followed with, "Of course not. You want to show well built young men and pretty young women in settings that get the attention of the target audience. That's all we did. Mr. Ames, it pleases me very much that we could help your son. All people are valuable to us. People like your son are why we did what we did. All we want is to be treated like humans." "You have his thanks and that of the rest of my family." "You were only a front?" asked Sanchez. "I hate to disappoint you, General Sanchez, but that is all there was to it. I am, or was, when there was a Psi Corps, a registered P-5 commercial telepath. Just a run of the mill, midrange teep," replied Lyta. "Miss Alexander, how about when you were thrown off Babylon 5?" asked another man, whose name was Fitzgerald, according to his nameplate. Lyta ignored the question and instead said, "If you gentlemen want good conversation, I recommend you get Captain Ivanova to tell you about the Shadow War. I hear you didn't get much information about it because of Clark's policies." "General?" inquired Susan. "I'm game. I don't even know what it was supposed to be about," answered Sanchez. ******************************************************************** END PART 9