Address criticisms to [xazqrten@coxnet]. Without, it there can't be any improvement.
******************************************************
1100
"You’re going over to the station, Shai Alyt?" asked his first officer.
"Yes. There is someone there, I’m looking for. At least there was a
week or so ago," replied Sheraun.
"How can you be so sure, sir?"
"No one else could have destroyed that Drakh fleet. I’m betting she
is there. Entil'za Delenn will help me find her."
1245
The large Minbari in the ranger uniform was passed through customs and
immigration without delay. Sheraun went to the first public access comm.
panel available. He made two requests. The first was for the quarters
location of Entil'za Delenn, and the second was for Lyta Alexander. The
first was returned in a few seconds. The second came up negative. Sheraun
was miffed. Lyta could have erased the records of her presence from the
database.
"A credit for your thoughts, Shai Alyt Sheraun," said a female voice
from close behind him.
Turning he found himself looking down at a female Earthforce captain.
He immediately recognized her from their earlier meeting.
"Captain Ivanova. I heard about your little firefight. I believe that
is the human term for it."
"I could have done without it. Did you notice how much damage they did
to my ship?"
"The visual looks bad, but sensors indicate that the real damage is
very minor. You have a good ship."
"It gets the job done. Who’re you looking for?"
"Entil'za Delenn and Lyta Alexander. I found where Delenn is staying,
but the database has no information on Lyta."
"Lyta’s here. She just doesn't like people knowing where. I didn't know
you knew her."
"Yes. We met several years ago. She was traveling with Ambassador G'Kar."
"I take it, she made an impression on you?"
"You could say that. Do you know where I can find her?"
Susan thought for a minute. This guy knew Lyta, and from what she could
feel of his emotions, when she had told him she was here, his level of
anxiety had gone through the ceiling.
"I suggest you ask Delenn, Captain. I don't know what the relationship
is between you and Lyta, but I get the impression, it’s more than just a
passing fancy. Lyta is my best friend. I won't do anything to hurt her."
[Even if I could.]
"As you wish," he replied, obviously disappointed.
Unknown to both of them, Lyta was observing the encounter from a
vantage point about ten meters away. Looking at Sheraun and sensing his
feelings for her, made her stomach churn, and her heart ache. She didn't
want to admit it, but she loved the big Minbari. However, she knew now
was not the time or place.
Maya at her side felt the turmoil her mother was experiencing. {What
is wrong, mom?}
{Nothing, sweetheart.}
{You are lying, mom. You can't hide the truth from me.}
Lyta glared at her daughter. {It's none of your concern.}
{So you say. If it hurts you, it concerns me.}
{That's not what I meant. You’re too young to understand, but one day
you will.}
{Okay.}
{We have to leave, now.}
Maya looked up at her mother's face. {You love him.} She turned and
looked in Sheraun's direction and zeroed in on his mind. {He loves you,
even more than Charles loves Aunt Susan.}
{You shouldn't be scanning him.}
{I'm not. His feelings are so strong, a regular person should be able
to feel them.}
{Come on. We’ll leave until he’s gone. I’ll take you home. That should
be enough time for him to be sent somewhere else. Then, I will return and
finish, what I am doing.}
*****************************************************
1315
"I’ll leave until he is gone, Delenn," said Lyta to her friend. "I
need to take Maya home anyway. She’s getting old enough to get started on
a formal schooling program."
"You should see him, Lyta. You can tell him, you are no longer interested,
and he should get on with his life. It will be doing him a favor. He asked
where you are staying, but I didn't tell him."
"It may not be that easy, Delenn. You don't understand the depths of
his feelings for me. I made the mistake of kissing him like I wanted to
make love to him, and I did. It was a mistake, but it’s done. If he could
have handled it, then, I would have."
"I don't understand?"
"I will show you, but it may disgust you?"
Lyta put her arms around Delenn and kissed her deeply on the mouth while
feeding back the pleasure to her, and felt Delenn's pleasure and fed it back
to her. A minute later, Lyta stepped back, and Delenn had to hold onto the
edge of the table to keep from falling.
"Do you understand, now, Delenn?"
Trying to get her thoughts sorted out, Delenn was slow to respond. "I
have never experienced anything that intense before."
"For a man, Sheraun to be precise, it’s much more intense. He actually
lost consciousness."
Delenn just stared at her.
"I’m not human, Delenn. You, most of all, should understand. That's why
it's best, I don't see him again. The other reason is, I do want him, but
I can't have him. Maybe in the future, but not now."
"What about Susan's wedding. Are you going to miss that? Are you going
to the small ceremony for her promotion today?"
"I didn't know about the promotion ceremony. I’ll just have to miss
her wedding."
There was a knock at the door, it was Susan.
"Lyta is leaving, today, Susan."
"Why?"
"To avoid an encounter with Sheraun."
"You saw him today?"
"He was talking to you, just outside the customs area."
"I don't understand, Lyta. What is he to you? I felt his anxiety level
go through the roof when I told him you were still on the station. Is
there something between the two of you?" asked Susan.
"He thinks so."
"Tell her the truth, mom," commented Maya.
"What truth, Lyta? This is me Susan Ivanova, your number one best friend."
"He is very much in love with me, and wants to marry me."
"And?"
Lyta didn't answer immediately. Susan looked into her friends eyes,
and studied her face. "My God. This big Minbari owns your heart, Lyta
Alexander. Tell me I'm wrong."
Lyta still didn't answer.
"It's true. I just find it hard to believe."
"Why?" responded Lyta.
"You’re powerful beyond imagination. You can trash a Drakh fleet as
easily as I step on a cockroach, kill and cripple with a thought, but you
can't handle how you feel about this Minbari warrior. What do you think,
Maya?"
"I don't have to think, Aunt Susan. I know."
Lyta glared at her daughter.
"And?" asked Susan.
"You are right."
"I have to run. Leftcourt is expecting me," said Susan.
"Susan. What time is the ceremony?" Asked Delenn.
"I don't know what you are talking about, Delenn," said Susan as she
hurried out the door.
*****************************************************
1415
In Leftcourt's quarters. "Someone screwed up Susan. The guy they want
to send as a replacement has no shipboard experience above the division
officer level. I don't know how long it will take to assign some one
competent to the billet."
"I'll take her back, general. I’m going that way anyway. The shipyard
supervisor requested that he and his people be allowed to make the transit
on the ship, and I agreed that it's a good idea. Also, I’m going to get
married in a couple of days, and I plan to take my new husband back with
me, unless someone has objections."
"It's your ship. I don't think anyone, who values his physical health,
will object. By the way, I am taking care of the Owens matter."
"It's okay, general. Lyta and I talked to an old and mutual friend on
Mars. Pat won't have any problems."
"Who is the friend?"
"The former head of security on Babylon 5, Michael Garibaldi. He owns
and runs Edgar Industries with his wife, Lise. She is the former Mrs. Edgars."
"You seem to know a lot of people with money and influence."
"If Michael hadn't handled it, Lyta would have. She has some interests
on both Mars and Earth."
Leftcourt consulted his watch. "It's time we made our way to the wardroom.
We have business there."
Susan led the way.
*****************************************************
1400
"Entil'za Delenn. Do you know where, Lyta is staying?" Asked Sheraun.
"Yes, but I don't think she wants to see you."
"With all due respect, Entil'za, I want to hear her tell me that. The
fact that she eluded us at Mars, doesn't mean she is not interested in me."
"You know what she can do. It must be obvious even to you, she is not
human."
"I agree, she is not human, but, then, neither am I."
Delenn looked up at the big ranger. He wouldn’t take no for an answer.
"I will tell Lyta you are here. I wouldn't be surprised if she already
knew."
"Thank you, Entil'za."
*****************************************************
1415
Sheraun was feeling good. She was here and he was going to get to see
her. He was humming to himself as he made his way to the office of the
ranger in charge of rangers on Babylon 5.
Passers by looked oddly at the humming Minbari. Since most all Minbari
on the station in particular always seemed so serious, Sheraun's actions
did draw attention.
Stepping into the office, Sheraun asked the young ranger at the desk,
"Where is the senior ranger?"
"He’s in the inner office, sir."
A middle aged Narn, in superb physical shape even for a Narn warrior,
stepped into the front office and looked the visitor up and down. "Welcome
to Babylon 5, Shai Alyt Sheraun. How may I be of assistance?"
"I’m looking for Lyta Alexander. I thought you might know where I can
find her."
"Most people would rather avoid her, especially those on the wrong side
of the law, but that would not include you."
"I’m on the right side of the law. At least I think I am."
"I wasn't casting aspersions on you, Shai Alyt. I meant that most
people prefer to avoid her. It’s safer."
"I don't understand?"
"Recently, someone tried to kill her and her daughter. They just
missed killing Entil'za Delenn during the aborted attempt. She had
dismissed her guards earlier, not that they would have made a difference.
There were seven individuals involved."
"I just saw Entil'za Delenn and she said nothing of this."
"Since neither she nor Lyta or her daughter were hurt, she doesn't
consider it anything worth wasting time on. Besides they picked up the
assassins or rather what was left of them."
"What do you mean by, what was left of them?"
"There were four of them killed outright. Their brains looked like
someone exploded a device within them. The other three are vegetables.
They have only basic activity, enough to keeping them breathing and their
hearts beating. They have decided to let nature take its course. They are
not providing any life support of any kind."
"Does anyone know what happened to them?"
"According to security, there are no clues. The same night they had two
more vegetables come in to Medlab 1 with more than two dozen crippled lurkers
just so the Medlab 1 boys wouldn't feel ignored. They don't have any clues
there either."
"There must be something. I find it hard to believe that much mayhem
just happened in that period of time. That is a stretch even for Babylon 5."
"I have heard a couple of rumors, but I don't put much stock in them."
"Why don't you offer me a cup of tea, and tell me about it?"
The Narn motioned him into the back office.
Taking a sip of the tea, Sheraun commented, "Good tea. Now, what are
these rumors you have heard."
"Remember these are just rumors," insisted the Narn, "They say that
the mother and daughter were actually hit by the gunfire, and that Lyta
kicked Delenn's chair over just in time to keep her from being hit.
Personally I don't believe the part about Lyta and her daughter being
hit. However, there are several people who swear they saw them leave
through the restaurants back door, and that the back of her clothing was
burned away."
Sheraun chuckled. "Sounds like some of the patrons had too much to drink."
"I agree, but two of the witnesses were their waiter and the establishment
manager, and they were cold sober. When they were seen about thirty minutes
later they were wearing the same clothing, and it wasn't burned. So, I guess
you can believe it or not. I choose not to."
"What does Delenn say happened?"
"She claims she heard the PPG fire, and was kicked to the floor. She
also claims she doesn't know where the other shots went. She only knows
one of them hit the table where her plate had been."
"What else were you going to tell me?"
"The security chief, Zack Allan, believes the assassins were dealt with
by Lyta. He has voiced the opinion that the other vegetables were her doing.
He even believes she crippled most, if not all, of the lurkers that showed
up in Medlab 1 the same night. She must be a regular one-woman crime wave,
but only if you accept Mr. Allan's fantasies."
Sheraun laughed, "I’m trying to picture Lyta as a one-woman crime wave."
"I told you, they weren't believable."
"You did, and I agree."
Finishing his tea, Sheraun asked, "Any real news or other information
that I should know while we are on patrol here?"
"Nothing that I know of. Since the attack, it has been very quiet. The
IA members are rotating their warships through here in order to give the
station additional protection. If it hadn't been for Captain Ivanova and
the Ares, we would be history."
"She is a very formidable opponent."
"The Drakh learned that one the hard way. They had to know she and the
Ares were here."
"The knowledge did them no good, apparently?"
Putting his hand across his heart the narn bowed slightly and said,
"Please come again, and may Valen be with you."
Sheraun returned the salute and walked out of the office.
*****************************************************
1445
"Hello, Mr. President."
"Hello, Shai Alyt Sheraun. What brings you to Babylon 5?"
"We are relieving Whitestar 84, Mr. President. Since we are here, I
decided to visit the station ranger."
"You wouldn't be looking for a particular redhead, would you Sheraun?"
"I might, but she doesn't want to be found."
"Since you’re here, why don't you attend Captain Ivanova's promotion
ceremony. I’m heading there myself. You remember her. She annihilated
Clark's advanced destroyer group during our civil war."
"She is being promoted?"
"They’re making a brigadier general out of her."
"I think I would like to attend."
"I don't think there's much chance of running into Lyta there. She
doesn't care for military types."
*****************************************************
1445
"Lyta. General Leftcourt and his staff are having an informal promotion
ceremony for Susan in the wardroom. I have been invited to attend. I think
Susan would appreciate you being there. After all, in some ways you are
very responsible for her being here to be promoted," said Delenn from the
comm. screen in Lyta's quarters.
"I’ll come by your quarters. Give me a few minutes."
"I will be waiting."
Lyta looked at Maya, and asked, "Do you want to come along?"
Maya jumped off the bed and was pulling Lyta's hand toward the door,
almost before she finished asking.
*****************************************************
Delenn was waiting for Lyta's knock. The door opened on the first push
of the bell. "Let's be off, Lyta. We don't have too much time."
1500
Lyta, Delenn, Maya and Delenn's guards arrived outside the station's
wardroom. The guards took up positions on either side of the door. The
women entered.
Inside the wardroom, Leftcourt and Ivanova greeted Delenn. Lyta and
Maya stood in back of the room. The room was full of officers that made
up the board of inquiry and station officers who had wished to attend.
Susan looked to where her friend was standing, and was greeted by Lyta
shaking her head, no. Lyta was using an old teep trick to keep her and
Maya from being noticed. She studied the people who were present. She
recognized all of the board members and most of the station officers who
were present. She had been aware that Sheraun was on the station as soon
as his shuttle arrived. She wondered why Lyta was so sensitive to him.
It bothered her.
Maya was looking up at her mom. {He must mean a lot to you.}
{He’s just another male.}
{Mom. Why do you keep trying to lie to me?}
{You can be a real pain in the butt.}
{That is not an answer.}
{Some things are none of your concern, sweetheart.}
{I am not going to get an answer. Am I?}
{All that you are going to get.}
Lyta tensed up inside. He was just outside the wardroom. The door opened
and in came John Sheridan followed by a very tall Minbari dressed in a
ranger uniform sporting warrior caste trimmings.
Lyta could feel her heart pound in her chest. Her anxiety went off the
scale. She couldn't understand her reaction to him. She hadn't even reacted
this strongly to Byron, and he had been a telepath. Sheraun wasn't even a
telepath.
Maya was aware of the changes in her mother's physiology. It was becoming
interesting from her point of view. It was obvious she was very much in love
with the Minbari, even if she wouldn't admit it.
John and Sheraun approached Susan, Delenn and Leftcourt. "Tom. I would
like you to meet one of our whitestar commanders. Shai Alyt Sheraun of the
Minbari warrior caste."
"Pleased to met you. John didn't use your clan name?"
"My family has all but disowned me, general. They may even have done that
by now. I haven't spoken to any of them in many years."
Marsh and Sanchez wandered over and were introduced. Captain Lochley
entered the room and approached Leftcourt.
"Shall we get this show on the road, General Leftcourt?"
Stepping to the small podium that had been set up, the general tapped
a tumbler on its edge to get everyone's attention.
"If you gentlemen and women will grab a seat, there a few things that
need to be said, before we get to the main reason for this gathering. As
you all know, we completed the witness questioning phase of the inquiry.
There have been some good and bad results come out of those proceedings.
To put them in some perspective, I have asked one of those affected by them
to give you a short explanation. Jason, it all yours," said Leftcourt,
indicating a neatly dressed civilian in the back of the room.
Coming to the podium, Jason introduced himself. "For anyone who doesn't
already know, my name is Jason Conrad, formerly of Earthforce. The general
thought it would help if I explained the prior proceedings.
Between the time I was assigned to the board of inquiry as chief
investigator, and the time I left earth for Babylon 5, I was abducted by
several former psi cops and they messed with my mind. The purpose of this
was to destroy the credibility of this board, and ruin the stature of
anyone who supported it. There was also the desire to destroy Captain
Ivanova and me. That is quite a lot to swallow. However, there is a
telepath aboard Babylon 5 who was able to identify the damage and repair
it. This is how I and others learned the extent of what was done to me
and why.
The downside is that I conducted an extremely thorough background
investigation of both Captain Ivanova and her former XO. My investigators
combed through their careers and lives before they joined Earthforce. We
were looking for anything that could be used either against them or as
leverage to elicit what we desired.
I’m happy to report that we failed, but not before my actions in this
endeavor forced me to resign my commission, or before Commander Patrick
Owens, former XO of the Ares, resigned his. It almost resulted in the
resignation of Captain Ivanova. She was prevented from communicating with
her ship and submitting her resignation papers.
The upside is that we know who the former psi cops involved are,
and whom they were working for. The telepath informed me that none of the
information gained can be used in a court of law. So, there isn't much that
the legal system can do. However, the telepath recently informed me that
those psi cops are in custody, and will be shown the error of their ways,
whatever that means.
Bluntly speaking, not one of you other officers could stand up to
the scrutiny to which we subjected Captain Ivanova and Commander Owens.
A cursory look at your records revealed as much.
Captain Ivanova and Commander Owens have several major flaws. They are
brutally honest in their dedication to duty. They love Earth and her
peoples with all their heart, and they will do what they see as right to
protect her and her peoples, regardless of personal cost. Both have put
their lives and careers on the line in that pursuit. Commander Owens
finally quit.
He was not popular with most of you for his actions in the civil war.
He refused, at risk of his life and career, to follow illegal orders and
kill innocent civilians. How many of you hunkered down and followed orders
hoping to escape justice for your cowardice during the war. If you think
that's too strong, look in the mirror.
Captain Ivanova followed Captain Sheridan and led his forces in battle
during the civil war. We have seen the thanks that Captain Sheridan received.
Once again, the cowards won and he was forced to resign. I was a lowly
investigator during the war and as such I have a treasure trove of
information about people places and things that did, and did not occur then.
I’m thrilled to see Captain Ivanova put on another stripe. I just wonder
how many of you she’ll have to fight in the future. You all have one thing
to look forward to. You won't have to face her in actual deadly combat.
The worst that can happen is you will get a paper cut waving sheets around
as you argue over budgets and such.
I would feel badly about resigning, except that I have been hired in
to run a business at a starting salary, that is seven times as much as I
earned in my whole Earthforce career. I have finished. Thank you again,
General Leftcourt.
"Jason. Who is the telepath you referred to?" Asked Sanchez.
Conrad looked to the back of the room, Lyta nodded. "The lady who is
providing the telepaths for our board security," he answered leaving the
podium.
Heads turned to look where Conrad had been looking. Sheraun turned,
although he already knew, who it had to be. He hadn't noticed her when
he had entered the room. There she was, flaming red hair pulled back into
what the humans called a "ponytail" looking even more beautiful than he
remembered and she had a young girl with her. There was no mistaking the
family resemblance. The last time he had seen Maya she was wearing diapers
and crawling around, getting ready to walk.
Sheraun noted that Maya looked at him almost staring. Lyta just returned
his gaze. Looking her in the face this close cause his heart to skip beats,
and a tight sensation in his stomach like someone squeezing it in a giant
hand.
*****************************************************
"Gentlemen and ladies, if may, I believe we should get to the main
attraction," said Leftcourt from the podium. "Captain Ivanova, John, Chief
Comer will you please come up here. The rest of you military types please
make three ranks and dress off, so we can show some semblance of military
protocol. If the civilian attendees will line up behind the military, we
will do this right."
Susan, John and the chief stepped forward. Leftcourt relinquished the
podium to Susan.
"Gentlemen, and not so gentlewomen, that's you, Delenn and Lyta," began
Susan, "I did not expect to live through the Earth-Minbari War, but I did.
I didn't expect to survive the Vorlon-Shadow war, but I did.
Then we had our civil war, I surely didn't expect to live through that
one, especially not when I, and our whitestars, took on Clark's advanced
destroyers. We were outnumbered and outgunned, but I got out of that alive,
at the cost of the life of someone very special, and lot of good people. I
kept my rank and was even promoted, but it was at the cost of a very good
friend's career.
There seems to be a very large price tag attached to every one of my
pieces of good fortune. When the Zeus was shot up, so badly they had to
decommission her, I got lucky, sort of. We lost crew and pilots, but thanks
to another friend most of us got out alive and brought the ship back.
Then the Drakh attacked the station and thanks to a friend, I’m able to
live to tell another tale. This one was expensive. It cost two outstanding
officers their careers. I’m not happy about that at all, but I’m assured
it’s being handled, so those responsible get their just rewards. Since I
know who is handling it, I feel very sorry for those who will be receiving
those rewards. However, this is supposed to be a happy occasion, and I’m
happy to be with my friends on this special occasion."
Susan stepped to one side of the podium and Leftcourt addressed the
gathering, "I will read from the authorization for Captain Ivanova's
promotion. It gives me great pleasure, as the president of the Earth
Alliance, to authorize your promotion to the rank of brigadier general
in the Earthforce. Your performance as a captain has been exemplary and
an outstanding example for all your brother Earthforce officers. Your
career is one of long and faithful service to the Earth Alliance and
its citizens. This promotion is authorized on ‘this date’. Signed
Susan Luchenko, President, Earth Alliance. Congratulations General
Ivanova. Gentlemen if you will do the honors."
John Sheridan and Chief Comer stepped to Susan's sides and carefully
removed her captain's shoulder boards and handed them to Leftcourt. Then,
they fastened her new ones in place.
Chief Comer shook her hand and congratulated her, he was followed by
John Sheridan, and General Leftcourt and the remainder of the officers
gathered in the wardroom.
Delenn gave her a hug and congratulated her, then Sheraun shook her
hand and did the same. Everyone in the room had given their congratulations
except Lyta and Maya. They stood to the back of the room.
Susan walked over to her and hugged her very tightly, "I owe a hell of
a lot of this to you."
"You owe me nothing, Susan. You earned this by putting your life on the
line for what you believe in. It’s a result of your efforts. Congratulations.
I know your mom, dad and brother would be very proud of you. I am."
Susan looked at Maya and offered her a hug, Maya accepted and whispered
in Susan's ear, "It will be a boy."
Susan kissed the youngster and put her down. "How can you be so sure?"
"It's a Vorlon thing, Aunt Susan," she said softly, to low to be overheard.
Susan went back to the rest of the group, and Lyta started to leave,
only to find her way blocked by Sheraun. She didn't notice the noise level
in the room go down as Sheraun stood in her way. People were turning to
watch the confrontation. The tall redhead looked up at the huge Minbari.
"What's on your mind, Sheraun?"
"You. You have managed to avoid me for a long time. Why?"
Lyta looked around at John and Delenn. It was apparent that she wasn't
happy.
"I didn't know he would be here, Lyta," said Delenn.
"I didn't think you would be here," commented John.
Lyta's heart was pounding. She was close enough to smell him and she
was responding. Her breathing rate increased. Sheraun's heart was racing
and he was becoming excited. Her smell was driving him almost out of his
mind. What neither knew is, they had never responded to someone of the
opposite sex like this before.
"You’re blocking my way," she said.
"I've been looking for you for almost five years. The least you can do
is talk with me."
"Not here, not now."
Maya walked over to him and looked up. Sheraun picked her up and kissed
her on the cheek. "You have grown quite a bit, young lady."
"That won't work, Sheraun," said Lyta, softly.
"I think she likes me, Lyta."
Ivonava whispered to Delenn, "Do I see, what I think I see?"
"He is Lyta's weakness, and she knows it."
"He's not even a telepath."
"She knows that."
"I can feel the emotions even this far away."
"What do you feel?"
"Fire."
Delenn looked questioningly at Susan, "Fire?"
"It's the only way to describe it."
"Okay," Lyta said, softly.
Sheraun put Maya down and put his hand under Lyta's chin and tilted her
head up. Without hesitation he kissed her lightly on the lips. Everyone in
the room could sense the sparks generated by that kiss.
Sheraun stepped aside and let Lyta pass, then followed her and Maya out
of the room.
John looked at Delenn. "What did I just see?"
"You saw Lyta meet her match," said Susan.
"Do you think, maybe, the big fellow likes the redhead?" asked Chief Comer.
"That redhead, Chief Comer, is the friend I told you about," said Susan.
Several of the generals looked at the chief and laughed. General Ames
said, "That may be the understatement of the year, Chief. By the way,
Chief, where have we met before?"
*****************************************************
END PART 19