Address criticisms to [xazqrten@cox.net]. Without, it there can't be any improvement.
****************************************************** The door chimes sounded, interrupting the conversation between Ivanova, Charles and Lyta. "Come in!" said Lyta. Delenn walked through the door and was greeted by Susan and Lyta. She turned and dismissed her bodyguards, saying, "I will contact you later tonight, when we return here, after dinner." The guards bowed slightly and left. "What's with the bodyguards, Delenn?" inquired Ivanova. "They have become a requirement of my positions, wife of the IA president and Entil'za." "Better you than me," replied Susan. "Why did you dismiss them, Delenn?" asked Lyta. "Since I am going to be with you, they are redundant." "I think you put too much faith in my abilities," responded Lyta. "Delenn, this Charles Wayne. He is one of my top aides and Susan's boyfriend. Charles. Let me introduce you to Delenn Sheridan. She is a most formidable person." Charles stood, came around the table and shook hands with Delenn. "I’m pleased to meet you ma'am." "Please, call me Delenn." "Hi, Aunt Delenn. Mom says I can go to dinner with you tonight." "Delenn turned to face the youngster. You have grown a bit since I last saw you." She offered her arms and Maya ran to her. She picked her up, hugged her and got a bunch of kisses in return. Delenn put Maya down and took a seat at the table. Susan picked that time to jump up and run to the head. They could hear retching sounds coming from the facility. Delenn looked at Lyta, but she wasn't giving anything away. "How long have you and Susan been seeing each other, Charles?" asked Delenn. "Almost a month," he replied. Delenn looked at Lyta again and grinned, "I see." Lyta knew that Delenn had figured it out. Susan reentered the room and took her seat. "This illness won't keep you from dinner will it, Susan?" "No. I’ll just have to watch what I eat." ****************************************************** Susan and Charles led the dinner party to the restaurant. Maya walked behind them, but in front of her mother and Delenn. Lyta and Delenn walked several paces behind them. "How long have you known, Lyta?" whispered Delenn. "Since this afternoon. Maya told me she sensed a separate life force inside Susan," Lyta whispered in response. "Susan doesn't even know yet?" Lyta shook her head, no. Delenn looked at Maya. This would require further conversation, when she could get Lyta alone. ****************************************************** "Mind if I use your comm. panel, Tom?" asked Sheridan. "Be my guest," he responded. Sheridan retrieved the message from Delenn telling him she was going out with the girls, but it didn't specify which girls. He could imagine who they might be. "Tell you what, John. Let's go out for a drink and dinner. We might run into them," said Leftcourt. Looking over at Sanchez and Marsh, John said, "You fellows are welcome to come along if you wish." Leaving a message for his aide as to his whereabouts, Leftcourt left with the others for his first "Boys' Night Out" in more than twenty years. ****************************************************** Somewhere in Downbelow, a half dozen men were listening to another man tell them how they could make an easy twenty thousand credits. "You don't have to blow up the station or anything like that," said the man. "Just what or who is worth twenty thousand credits?" asked one of the lurkers. The fellow, talking about the money, passed around a picture of Lyta Alexander and her daughter. "We want the mother dead or alive. The operative word is "dead". The daughter is of no concern. You can kill her or leave her, whatever pleases you. The mother is named Lyta Alexander. She used to be a commercial telepath." "What ain't you telling us?" asked a different lurker. "If she's worth a hundred thousand credits dead or alive, why ain't someone whacked her, yet?" "We aren't sure. Several people who have tried, haven't been heard from since," the man told them. He was lying, a number of people had tried and died for their efforts, but that wasn't for them to know. "It's up to you how and when you do it, but it must be before this board of inquiry thing is completed. That gives you three days at most. After that we’ll still pay, but we won't be able to provide any assistance." "What assistance are you going to provide?" asked the first lurker. "There will be several people stationed around to provide backup, if you need it, also to help you escape. You won't see them, but they’ll be there." Shortly after that meeting the man who had done the talking met with one his shooters. "Have our people shadow them. Let them make a move and draw attention, then take her out. Kill them, too, if you’re successful getting her. I see no point in leaving any stray witnesses." "I assume you mean all six." "Of course." ****************************************************** After the man left the lurkers started talking amongst themselves. "I tell ya Mike, this stinks worse'n the garbage down here." "Whatcha mean, Dennis." "Man, this suit waltzes in here and offers us twenty thousand credits to off this Alexander broad. Hell, he coulda bought us fer a hunnert." "Dennis is right. Why come here, when he coulda got the real thing for a tenth of that." "I ain't lookin' no gift horse in the mouth." "I agree with Dennis. Leave me out," said Mike. "I think this’s gonna get us whacked." As Dennis and Mike were leaving, the other men continued talking. "I heard she froze a guy that tried to kill her the other night. I ain't sure I want to do this." "Okay, Bobby. You don't hafta, but if you go near security, I'll snuff ya myself." "I ain't gonna hafta. If'n she don't kill ya, that suit guy mor'n likely will. He ain't gonna want any loose ends, and we's loose ends," said Bobby. ****************************************************** John led the generals through some of the not so reputable bars on the station. It was like kids in a candy store. The ranger body guards discouraged the regular patrons from bothering the three men. John wondered exactly what Delenn was doing. He resented the fact that she could be spending time with Lyta. ****************************************************** Susan had invited Lochley and Evans to join them, also. It made for a table of seven. They had ordered appetizers and the conversation which started about Susan's and Elizabeth's relationships lasted until they were ready for their main meal. "You are scheduled to be questioned tomorrow, Susan?" asked Delenn. "Yes. I’m the star attraction. I think I’m beginning to feel like Jesus must have," answered Ivanova. "Can't be the same Susan," noted Lochley. "There are only seven of us here this evening." It was at that time that Sheridan, three generals and two guards walked up to the table. "You were saying we were six short?" asked Lyta. "My mistake," replied Lochley. "Generals Sanchez and Marsh, I'd like to introduce my wife, Delenn," said Sheridan. "Pleased to meet you gentlemen. Good evening to you General Leftcourt," replied Delenn. "Captain Ivanova, this is a pleasure," said Leftcourt. "Speak for yourself, general. With all due respect, this is most definitely not a pleasure for me," responded Ivanova. "I am sorry about that." Ivanova never replied, instead, her eyes drilled holes in Leftcourt, Sanchez and Marsh. Lyta watched the exchange in silence. She wasn't part of this mess and didn't intend to be. She noted Sheridan glaring at her. She ignored him. She noticed that Maya was paying complete attention to the scene. She would have to ask her about it later. "Mind if we join you?" asked John. "I had planned on a private dinner with my friends, John. You are welcome to join us. They aren't," stated Susan flatly. "That is no way to be, Susan," said John. Susan signaled the waiter and when he arrived, she said, "I need our check." "It is too late to cancel your orders, ma'am," said the waiter. "Not a problem, put it on the check and give it to the five of them," she said, indicating John, the generals and the bodyguards. "Yes, ma'am," he answered, quickly computing the check. "Susan, you don't have to do this," replied Sheridan. "John. Go to hell, and take your bastard friends with you. I’m sorry, Delenn," she said then she and Charles went to meet the waiter and pay the check. "Good evening, Delenn," said Lochley, as she and Evans followed Susan and Charles out of the restaurant. Lyta and Maya sat and watched with interest. Lyta waited to hear Delenn take John's head off. She wasn't disappointed. "What you have just done, John, is inexcusable. She had a right to eat with whom she pleased. You had no right to insist she allow them to join us. It is obvious these men mean her ill will, and yet, you insisted she have dinner in their presence. I expected better of you!" snapped Delenn. Her voice easily was carrying all over the restaurant. For their part the three generals looked like they wanted to be anywhere, but here, now. "You talk about dinner with friends, what about her?" "She was invited by Susan, you and they weren't. Besides, Lyta is not the issue here. You're extremely rude and bad manners are inexcusable." "Where are your bodyguards?" "Don't try to change the subject, John Sheridan. I don't need bodyguards when I am with Lyta, and you know it. Take your friends and go somewhere else." Leftcourt could see this escalating into a real nasty fight and tried to get John to give it up. "John, don't do this. We’re in public. Let it go." Incensed, John Sheridan stomped off, the three generals going with him. Delenn signaled the waiter. "Yes, ma'am?" he inquired. "The dinners our friends abandoned, can you give them to someone who might put them to good use?" Understanding her meaning, he smiled and replied, "It would be my pleasure ma'am." "I am sorry about the scene, Lyta." "It was educational, Delenn. Wasn't it educational, Maya?" "Very, mom, very." "Delenn, how much do you know about what they’re planning to do to Ivanova? I was told by Sanchez that Leftcourt had something planned, but that I should ask him what it is. I don't see that as being likely before they have at Susan tomorrow. I’m considering doing some real damage to these people." "I don't know what is planned. I came in on the end of a conversation between Leftcourt and John, but John would not tell me what it was about. I suspect it had to do with Susan. What kind of damage are you talking about?" "The kind that has them waking up in the middle of the night for the rest of their lives and finding out they have peed and crapped all over themselves. The more I think about it, the better I like it. I’ll let John off the hook only because he’s your husband." It was then that their dinner arrived. "Wait until it is all over, Lyta. It might not be what it seems. I find it hard to believe John would help them ruin Susan. He loves her like a younger sister, and is very proud of what she has accomplished." They were just finishing up the meal, and waiting for after dinner coffee, the real thing, when Maya was pitched forward by the impact of a shot from a PPG rifle. Lyta responded instantly reaching out and finding the shooter's thoughts. Every blood vessel in his head erupted, killing him instantly. She was searching for other thoughts when three lurkers from three different directions pointed PPGs and tried to pull the triggers. She grabbed their minds and deep scanned them finding their memories of the man who had hired them. They were dead from massive hemorrhaging in their brains before their bodies fell to the floor. She was reaching for any other thoughts when she felt the stinging sensation of two PPG impacts against her back. She kicked Delenn's chair over causing her to sprawl onto the floor. A PPG blast passed through where she had been sitting and scorched the table in front of Lyta. She found the thoughts she was looking for and seized the minds associated with them. In a moment she had ripped their minds apart and got what she wanted. The assassins were left in a vegetable state of mind, from which they would never recover. In less than three minutes, security started arriving. Lyta was bending over Maya when Delenn pulled herself up off the floor. Her vision was met with an image of the scorch mark on the table where she had been sitting. If Lyta hadn't kicked her chair, she would be dead. She saw Lyta bending over Maya and realized both of them had been shot. The back of Lyta's vest had been burned off, making the skin underneath visible. As Lyta picked up Maya, Delenn could see the scorched area where she had been shot. She was breathing, but appeared to be unconscious. "I have to get Maya out of here, Delenn. Let's go, we can answer questions later." Carrying Maya, Lyta made a hasty exit through the back door of the restaurant with Delenn close behind. It took her fifteen minutes to reach her quarters using some passageways that most people avoided. In her quarters, Lyta took a quick shower and changed clothes into a new outfit that was a twin for the one she had been wearing. She quickly bathed Maya who was regaining consciousness and dressed her in clothing that matched what she had been wearing in the restaurant. "How do we look, Delenn?" "Just like you did in the restaurant. What now?" "There is something I must do first," said Lyta. Then she closed her eyes and concentrated. In security control one of Zack's men was putting the data crystals, from the cameras that had been monitoring the area of the shooting, into the safe. He closed the safe door and reset the lock. Lyta reached inside and mentally crushed the crystals. "Now we stroll back down there like nothing happened, after I get rid of this burned clothing." Lyta put the damaged garments into the trash can. Less than a minute later she emptied it into the disposal then they walked back to the area of the restaurant and found it swarming with security personnel. Zack Allan was in charge and getting reports from a dozen people. Captain Lochley was just arriving on the scene and began talking to Zack. There were people who were obviously reporters crowding around trying to get comments or any other tidbits out of Zack and Lochley. Lyta, Maya and Delenn walked up to them and waited to be noticed. Lochley noticed them first. Then the news hounds turned lights and cameras on them, and began clamoring for comments from the wife of the IA president. They wanted to know what she had seen, heard, or thought she had seen or heard. Lochley and Zack pushed through the reporters and hustled Delenn away from them. The reporters took no notice of Lyta and Maya. Since they weren't readily known, they were ignored. Some of them would regret it later, after they realized they had missed a chance to grill the leader of the rogue faction of the Telepath War about her relationship with Delenn and John Sheridan. They had been so hungry for a fast story, they had missed a really good one. After getting Delenn away from the reporters, she said, "Looks like you were lucky. Someone, or several someones, shot up the table we were sitting at earlier." "We know," said Lyta. "We were sitting there. We got the hell out before someone got lucky." Zack looked at Lyta suspiciously, "Was it you they were gunning for?" "Why would anyone be gunning for me, Zack. If I had thought about it at the time, I would have asked, but I had Maya and Delenn in danger, and wanted to get them out of the line of fire." "I’ve heard that there is a pile of money on your head. I don't suppose you know anything about that, do you?" "You give me too much credit Zack. I damn near got killed, and I’m the one getting grilled. What's wrong with this picture?" "The shooters we’ve found are dead or mental vegetables. We don't have much to work with." "I am sorry, Zack, but that isn't my problem." "You’re right, Lyta. It isn't. I just wish we had more to work with. This was a professional hit attempt," he said and paused. "It looks like the lurkers were intended to distract the target, you and/or Delenn and people around them while the snipers did the job." "Zack, how do you know they're mental vegetables?" asked Lyta "We don't officially, but Dr. Hobbes' people did real quick neural scans, and the three we found alive have neural scans that look like what you would expect from a carrot," he replied. Lyta looked at Delenn then said, "I didn't know you had that kind of sense of humor, Zack." "It’s a statement of fact, Lyta. Funny is not the word that comes to mind, but talk about justice." "We left in a hurry, Zack. I think the waiter and manager would appreciate us paying the rest of our check." Lyta, Delenn and Maya went to find their waiter. Delenn looked at Lyta, "He let you go too easily." "I know. When he gets the stories from people who saw us get shot he’ll be on me like stink on...well, you get the idea." "Yes. John has used that expression in the past. It is rather descriptive." They found the waiter and settled the remainder of their check, then departed. "I’ll escort you to your quarters, Delenn. By now, I am sure John has heard about the shooting and he will be rightfully, concerned about your safety." "I have had quite enough excitement for one day," responded Delenn. When Lyta left Delenn at her quarters, John was not there. Lyta had seen a face in that group of media hounds and it looked familiar. She would take a walk back to the area and see what she could find, but first she had to divest herself of Maya. ****************************************************** Lyta reentered the area of the shooting and began to scan the faces. It took more than a few minutes, but she found what she was looking for. He was sitting at a bar having a drink. Lyta took a stool beside him that had just become unoccupied. "I heard there was some excitement here earlier?" The ruggedly handsome man looked to see who had addressed him. He was not disappointed by what he saw. A tall slender redhead, classification about twelve or thirteen on a scale of one to ten. "I don't know you and am poorer for it. My name is Dan Randall. I freelance for the news networks. You’re correct there was some excitement earlier. Can I buy you a drink?" Lyta smiled and replied, "Certainly. A martini would be fine." In spite of her being with Delenn earlier, the overshadowing of the Minbari woman had kept anyone from noticing her. It meant that her notoriety from the Telepath War had waned to the point that in public no one would even notice her. She had destroyed the recordings from the Zocalo area monitors, so there wasn't any record of her and Maya being shot, and witnesses' stories seldom matched, so there wasn't much chance of Zack and his people getting anything useful from them. It didn't take long for her to agree to accompanying Randall back to his quarters. Some of his contemporaries saw them leave, and wondered how he had managed to get the redhead to leave with him, so quickly. In Randall's quarters, he made drinks while Lyta took a seat on the small couch and asked, "Exactly how did you get such a good story on John and Delenn Sheridan." Randall wasn't sure he heard the question. "What was that?" "The story on the Sheridan's during the civil war. It was an impressive piece. I was wondering how you managed to get them to make so many compromising statements?" "It was all in the editing," he replied, "I just kept asking questions and filming parts of the station. It’s amazing what can be done with creative editing. Why’re you so interested?" "Delenn and I are old friends." Something about the way she said that got his attention. "You're old friends?" "Very good friends as a matter of fact. I suppose a fact is not something you would readily recognize if it bit you in the ass." Leaving the drinks on the table, Randall sat down in the chair. "Now that you have me alone what are your plans. I assume they’re not congruent with mine." "Quit worrying, Danny boy. I’m not going to do anything to hurt you, not personally. I just want information. I’ll use it to ruin you and trash your reputation. When I get through, no one will hire you for a news story again. Well almost no one. I’m sure some sleaze ball needing a good spin doctor will hire you." "Just how do you propose to get this information?" "You really don't remember me. I guess you were to busy manufacturing news, to watch any of the real newscasts during the recent problem with the telepaths." Slowly, it dawned on him who she was. “You were the leader. The woman who was always in the news." "That was or is me. I’m a telepath, and you will give me everything I want." "Unauthorized scans are illegal. Even you must know that." "Earth Alliance laws only pertain to human telepaths. Despite my appearance, Danny boy, I assure you, a DNA sequencing will reveal that I’m anything except human." Lyta retrieved the not forgotten drink from the table. "I have heard what deep scans do. I have some friends that used to be psi cops." "I believe you; however, I won't do any damage, and you won't even remember bringing me here. You’ll remember me making some excuse, and leaving you before we got here." "Not even a psi cop could do that?" "I'm not a psi cop. It's been a long day, Dan. Why don't you lay down on the bed and relax." Randall took one long gulp and finished his drink. He seemed to forget Lyta was there. He took his shoes off and walked over and lay down on the bed, yawning as he did so. Within two minutes of laying down, Randall was fast asleep. Twenty minutes Lyta let herself out of his quarters and returned to her own. The next morning, Randall awoke to find that he had slept in his clothes. Getting up and heading for the sonic shower, it occurred to him that he must have been dead tired, and trashed out, to fall sleep without undressing. ****************************************************** The bald-headed man looked at the display. "Isn't it rather late there?" "Yes, Michael, but I want to get this ball rolling. Please put in the number one crystal that I left with you." It took a minute then her screen picture went blank, changed to random noise and then resolved itself into Garibaldi's face. On Mars Michael's system went through the same process. "Okay. Lyta. Give it to me." "Do you remember the reporter that trashed John and Delenn during the Earth civil war, Dan Randall. Well, I ran into him a little while ago and got some really interesting information from him." "I take it, he didn't volunteer it?" "He didn't object, but he won't remember anything about it." "What do you have?" "Locations for the raw footage that he shot, the edited version of their interview, the rest of that show, plus a number of other shows he did. I got the names of people who arranged his accesses and helped him do the editing. I’m sending it hardcopy now. You know a number of people in the media. I like to think that a good expose is still a good audience magnet. The best part of it is that it's all true. We just become anonymous sources." "Let me see what I can do. I won't get back to you, but if we succeed, you should see it on the vids before long. Anything else?" "General Arthur Marsh. I want to know all you can find out about him, family, friends, past record, whatever is available. That I need ASAP." "I’m on it Lyta. I know this doesn't make us even, but it is whittling away at it." "I don't expect this to be free, Michael. Just send me a bill at the Glenthorian Embassy on Earth." "Talk to you later, Lyta," Michael said, then broke the connection. "Who was that?" asked a very sleepy voice from the direction of the bed. "I had some business with Uncle Michael, sweetheart. Now, go back to sleep." In a few moments she heard the heavy slow breathing of Maya as she returned to a deep sleep. ****************************************************** "It was an interesting evening, John. Even without the stage play," said Leftcourt. Sharing a nightcap with the general, he asked, "What stage play?" "The one featuring you and your wife. It had a real life quality about it," he chuckled. "I didn't find it amusing." "No, I don't suppose you did. I think you really pissed off Susan. I don't understand. I thought you and she got along fairly well." "So did I. This inquiry is out of hand and going badly." "I just know she thinks she's been set up. I’m afraid I’m going to lose her." "If this evening is any indication, I think my credibility with her is in the toilet or at least badly damaged." "Let's face it, my showing up just when ISN is reporting that regardless of the board results, she will be relieved of command isn't helping." "Why not just tell her why you’re really here. There’s no reason to spring this on her. I’m surprised you have been able to keep it out of the press these last couple of weeks. Surely, it isn't a secret back at headquarters." "Actually, it has been, John. Lochley knows because I wanted her to help with some preparations, I wanted done here before Susan started for Earth. Lochley wasn't told that Susan hadn't been informed, and apparently no one else has told Susan anything. With what is going on, nobody’s going to talk about it now." "I guess it doesn't matter now. She never had the star, so she won't miss it." "It's a shame, too, John. Even the President was looking forward to the occasion." "After the way she got rid of me, I find that a little hard to swallow. I can't believe she would pass up the chance to trash the former second in command of the civil war." "She had no choice in your case, John. It was either that or dismiss every officer that either supported Clarke or at least didn't object to his policies. She would have had to fire eighty percent of the officer corps. She chose what she thought was the lesser of two evils. Ivanova has outperformed her contemporaries to such an extent it is embarrassing to her detractors. The woman is all balls, John. Just like you." "It is getting late and I have a hostile wife waiting for me. I'd best be going for my health. Thanks for the drink, Tom." Walking Sheridan to the door, Leftcourt shook his hand, saying, "I'll see you in the morning, if you survive the night." On his way to his quarters, Sheridan ran into Lyta. "Aren't you out a bit late?" "Don't worry. I can take care of myself!" she shot back. [Understatement of the millennium], he thought to himself, as she walked on by. ****************************************************** In his quarters, Sheridan found his wife waiting up for him. "I really am sorry about the scene in the restaurant, Delenn." "You should have stayed. You missed all the excitement." "I'm missing something, Delenn, what excitement?" "There was an attempt on Lyta's life shortly after you left. I almost got shot. I would have, but she kicked my chair over taking me out of the line of fire. The shot missed me and ruined the table." "She almost got you killed?" "It wasn't her fault, John." "How close did they come to her?" "Maya and Lyta were hit. Lyta was hit twice." "What were the weapons used?" "Military PPG assault rifles." "How badly was the kid hurt." "She was rendered unconscious, and her dress was burned where she was shot, but she is okay, now." "Did they catch the shooters?" "Yes and no." "Four were killed and three were left mental vegetables." "I just saw Lyta in a passageway on my way here. She looked very pissed off. I suppose getting shot twice can do that to a person." "You have personal experience?" John just looked at her. She had made a joke out of a serious situation. Things would be okay. He could say something to Lyta about it, but it would be a waste of time. What was interesting though was Maya had apparently inherited much, if not all, of what her mother was. Now, there were two of them. ****************************************************** END PART 14