Address criticisms to [xazqrten@cox.net]. Without, it there can't be any improvement.

******************************************************

   "It was thirty years ago on the Hermes, General Ames. You were the 
division officer for the weapons department and I was the operations 
department leading chief. Me and some of your boys engaged in too much 
drink, and had to be bailed out of jail for breaking up a bar. I got 
three months restriction and three months pay deducted. My wife almost 
divorced me over that."

   "You have had a colorful career, Chief Comer, since you pulled my butt 
out of the sling," commented Leftcourt.

   "You could say that, sir, and with a very straight face, I might add," 
replied the chief.

   Fitzgerald added, "Truth is, General Ivanova, Chief Comer has served for, 
or with, almost all of us, at one time or another."

   Ivanova looked at him and said, "Please, call me Susan."

   In less than thirty minutes, most of the people had quietly made their 
exit. Some to go back to work and others to take care of interrupted 
business.

   "John. You should be very proud of Susan. She followed in your footsteps 
about doing what was right, not what might be convenient or safe, and she 
has done one hell of a job of it," said Leftcourt.

   Only Susan, John, Delenn, Leftcourt and Conrad who had remained in the 
back of the room all this time were left in the wardroom. Conrad approached 
Susan. 

   "I know this doesn't mean anything to you, general, but I want to offer 
my congratulations, to the finest officer it has ever been my pleasure to 
meet. I hope your future is even more successful than your past."

   Susan took his offered hand. "It means more to me than you know. Thank 
you."

   Conrad left.

   "I lost one hell of a good man, when I lost him."

   "I know, because Lyta hired him before the ink on his resignation was 
dry," said Susan.

   "Concerning Owens. The officer personnel people screwed up beyond all 
belief."

   "How’s that, Tom?" Asked John.

   "According to the records, he was selected for promotion by the last 
board. They lost his paperwork, and his name never appeared on the list. 
Another section had it, and sent it to finance, and on the date of his 
promotion, they started paying him, but never told anyone. They thought 
the people who sent them his paperwork had already taken care of everything 
else. Then, when they found it again, they assigned him a date, after he 
was already officially a captain."

   "Put that in simple terms, general?" requested Ivanova.

   "Owens has officially been a captain in Earthforce for the last six 
months. He has been paid as such ever since, but you were forward deployed, 
and his wife gets all his pay. She apparently never noticed it, because 
she probably thought it was some kind of hazardous duty pay." 

   "So, my XO was a captain, and didn't know it. Can you spell ‘major 
screw-up’?" Asked Susan.

   "The part about his resignation and retirement is easier. I’ll have 
him listed on terminal leave, and he has a bunch of it piled up, and when 
he goes in to liquidate his travel pay, they will give him his new captain's 
ID card and his retirement papers. I would love to see the look on his face 
when he hears that. It has got be worth his jaw hitting the deck a least 
twice," laughed Leftcourt.

   "What made you change your mind, general?" Asked John.

   "The people I’ve met on this trip, John. Some of them are as good as 
they get, and some are even better," replied Leftcourt.  

   "If you want to ride back with us, general, you can. We have extra room. 
We’re going to make a speed run. I figure maybe a day and a half or so. John 
and Delenn made the trip there and back in just under four days in a whitestar,
and Ares is faster than a whitestar. Besides, you might as well see what you 
got for all that money."

   "I like that idea, Susan. I’ll let the others know. When’re you leaving?"

   "The day after my marriage. I’m taking Charley with me. We'll only need 
one bed."

   "The Ares is faster than a whitestar? I didn't know that," said John.

   "Stick around an extra day, and I will show you how it's done,"
replied Susan.

******************************************************

   "You are a pain, Sheraun," noted Lyta, as they walked down the passageway.

   "So I’ve been told, on more than one occasion," he replied.

   "You had a lot of nerve, behaving like that back there in the wardroom."

   "I have also been told that, too."

   "Do you know that constitutes assault?"

   "I didn't hear you complain."

   "That's not the point. I didn't want to make it a scene."

   "You were successful."

   Lyta was walking with Maya on her left and Sheraun on her right. Without 
being asked he put his arm around her and rested his left hand on her left 
hip.

   "I don't remember telling you to put your hand there," she whispered. 
She could almost hear the blood rushing through her arteries her heart 
was pounding so hard. She couldn't believe she was reacting like a bitch 
in heat.

   Not only did he not remove his hand, he tightened his hold.

   "Sheraun. I’m going to leave Maya with my babysitter. Then, you and 
I are going to my quarters and have it out. It’s time you learned that 
we have no relationship."

    "Shouldn't I be there, mom. It would be a good learning experience," 
popped off Maya.

   Maya had never seen her mother look at her like this before. Common 
sense told her, this was not a good time for smart remarks. She could 
feel her mother’s emotions like really big waves pounding on a rocky 
coastline. She didn't understand them, but she knew they were more intense 
than any she had experienced before.

   Lyta dropped Maya off at Emily's quarters. It only took a minute to 
return to her quarters.

   "Sheraun sit down!" said Lyta. She went to her cooking area and put on 
a pot of water for tea.

   "You seem to be a bit angry, Lyta."

   "I’m not some toy, to be played with. You were out of line in the 
wardroom. To the people there, you made me look like a tramp, and I resent 
it."

   "That was not my intention. I only wanted to make sure you didn't slip 
away again."

   "Well, I'm here, now. Do you want some tea?"

   "Yes. I do have feelings for you, Lyta. They are very real."

   "Do you think, I don't know that?"

   Sheraun thought about it for a moment. "No, I think you do."

   Lyta served the tea and took a chair on the opposite side of the table.

   "There can't be anything between us. I have things I must do, and a 
family is not in that picture."

   "What can you have to do that is so important?"

   "You would not understand?"

   "So you say. Can you tell me about it, or is that against the rules."

   "It works better if people don't know about it."

   "Try me."

   "If I told you to do away with war per se in the galaxy, how would you 
go about doing it?"

   "What does that have to do with us?"

   "You asked me, and I answered. You don't see the obvious."

   Sheraun sat looking at her for several minutes, mulling over what she 
had just said.

   "I am waiting, Sheraun."

   "I'm thinking."

   Lyta waited patiently. Without thinking about it, she changed her eyes 
from their natural color to red, then white glowing lights. She watched 
Sheraun trying to digest what he knew. 

   With glowing eyes, her voice altered, she asked, "It is not so simple, 
as it sounds, is it?"

   Cold reality broke over Sheraun as he looked across the table at the 
being looking back at him. He visibly shivered.

   "I'm not so desirable now, am I? You do not understand what I am."

   Sheraun didn't answer. He just sat and stared at her.

   "If it's any consolation, Byron never knew what I was either. If he 
had known, Maya would have never been born. I'm surprised, I could bear 
children at all."

   "It is easy to get rid of me. Lyta."

   She didn't reply.

   "Aren't you interested in how?" 

   "I'm sure you will tell me."

   He reached across the table and took her hands in his. She was amazed 
at how gentle his touch could be. She did not pull her hands away. He 
leaned over the table and rubbed her hands against his cheeks.

   As her heart sped up, she said, "This isn't getting us anywhere, Sheraun."

   "If you want me to leave, just tell me."

   Lyta said nothing. Inside her emotions were playing havoc with her logic.
   
   "Tell me you have no feelings for me, and I will leave."

   She got up and walked back to the kitchenette area, and started putting 
another pot of water on to heat. Sheraun stepped up behind her and put his 
arms around her and rubbed his cheek against her hair. She didn't pull away. 
It felt so good to be held.

   [This isn't happening. I must be crazy. Damn his arms feel so good.] 
Her breathing was getting a bit ragged as she snuggled back into his 
embrace. [I've got to stop this, now.] Then she twisted in his arms and 
kissed him on the mouth. [Goddamn Vorlons. What did they do to me? This 
isn't right.]

******************************************************

   "They left about twenty minutes or so ago," said Delenn. "I hope they 
don't hurt one another."

   "Hurt who, Delenn?" asked Susan.

   "Lyta and Sheraun. She is trying to get him to leave her alone, and not 
being very successful."

   "Sheraun told me they had met, but he didn't say anything else. She 
loves him, but says it's not the right time or place, and he wants to 
marry her. Is this picture screwy, or what? Exactly how did they meet?"

   "They met an less than an hour after she gave birth to Maya on G'Kar's ship."

   "She must have looked like hell."

   "That's what she said. He fell in love with her anyway. They were together 
on his ship for a week on their way to Minbar. Nothing happened between them,
but Sheraun got the impression she liked him."

   "...And she does, in spades."

   "He knows what she is capable of. I can only think of one reason he would 
feel this way toward her."

   "I didn't think Minbari had anything to do with humans if they could avoid 
it."

   "He doesn't look at Minbari women anymore, much less human. It's an insult 
to his clan. He was in love once, when he was a younger man. He and his love 
were due to be married and she was carrying his child. They had been 
sweethearts since early childhood."

   "What happened?" asked Susan.

   "She was on her way to the wedding when, somehow, her flier crashed. It 
killed her, her brother and both her parents. Sheraun was devastated. He 
never recovered, emotionally."

   "Lyta probably can't be killed accidentally, so he isn't likely to 
lose her. That could make her attractive, but it doesn't explain him 
being in love with a human."

   "He pointed out that she isn't really human anymore, and noted that he 
is not human, either."

   "He sounds like one sick puppy, but I wouldn't worry about it After all, 
he can't hurt her, but the reverse isn't true. She can hurt him, very badly."

   "Maybe we should go check on them. Sheraun can be very hardheaded."

   "Big Minbari without a lick of sense," said Susan.

   "We can start at Lyta's quarters."

   "Why not just use BabCom?"

   "They can ignore that."

   "Lead on, Delenn," said Susan

   John and the general watched the two women leave. "Remember, Tom, I’m 
married to her."

   "I feel sorry for the big Minbari fellow," said Leftcourt.
   
   "So do I," agreed John.

******************************************************

   "What are we going to do when we get there Susan? She may not answer 
the door."

   "Garibaldi once showed me a way to open any door on Babylon 5, that uses 
the card system. It’s a flaw in the security system. If they haven't found 
and fixed it, I can open the door."

   "Lyta may not like us just barging in."

   "It's for her own good."

*****************************************************

   Lyta had turned in Sheraun's arms and was kissing him very deeply. He 
responded eagerly. 
   
   Pulling away from him, she whispered, "This is a mistake. It won't work, 
Sheraun."

   "What won't work? I don't expect children? That is impossible, anyway. 
I just want to love you. Is that asking too much?"
   
   Pulling her closer and kissing her again, Sheraun took her lack of 
resistance as a positive answer. He began removing her clothing and met 
no resistance.

******************************************************

   Susan had pushed the button for Lyta's doorbell, but it didn't ring. 
She tried to override the lock and was informed by the compute that the 
lock was jammed.

   "I don't think she wants to be disturbed," said Delenn.

   "Maybe you're right, Delenn. Let's go see Charley. We can try BabCom. 
Maybe she’ll answer that."

   At Charley's door, Susan tried the override, and it worked. Looking at 
Delenn, she commented, "She didn't want to be disturbed."

   "I already said that, Susan."

   Inside Charley's quarters they tried the BabCom system and were informed 
that the address was not accepting any incoming calls; however, messages 
could be left.

   Charley was watching this with some interest. "Just what are you two 
trying to accomplish?"

   "We are trying to check on Lyta. She’s alone with Sheraun, a Minbari 
warrior caste ranger and whitestar Shai Alyt," replied Susan.

   "Is she in some kind of danger?" Asked Charley.

   "We don't think so," answered Delenn.

   "Then, what's the problem?" he insisted.

   "Lyta wanted him to stay away from her," answered Delenn.

   "I was under the impression, she could take care of herself," he replied.

   "I am not sure that is true where Sheraun is concerned," responded Delenn.

   "How is he any different from any other man on the station?" He asked.

   "He thinks they have a relationship?" answered Susan.

   "You might entertain the thought, that since she hasn't kicked him out 
on his ear, or called for help, or done anything else to make anyone believe 
anything is wrong, maybe, just maybe, she isn't in any trouble. If she 
disabled her door, and turned off the comm. system, it seems to me she is 
saying, "Leave me alone". It might be a good idea to pay attention to those 
indicators," he commented.

   "What time are we going to dinner tonight, Charley."

   "I like 2000. If she turns her comm. system back on between now and then, 
we can invite her and him."

   "Delenn, will you come? Even John is welcome."

   "I will let you know. I don't know if he has anything planned. Your wedding 
is day after tomorrow. What are you doing for it?"

   "I bought a dress and we are going to use the station chapel. The station 
chaplain has agreed to perform the ceremony. I invited Lyta's people and 
Lochley. It's going to be a very small event."

   "You didn't invite any of the board members did you?"

   "No. I survived the witch hunt, not because of any of them, but in spite 
of
them. I have to work with them, but I don't have to like them."

******************************************************

   Lyta awoke and realized that both she and Sheraun had dozed off to 
sleep. Extricating herself from his embrace, she got out of bed and headed 
for the shower. A few minutes later she restored the comm. system to 
normal operation and unlocked her door. The comm. system noted that she 
had several messages waiting. All of them were from Susan.

   "Play messages," she said and the comm. system sequenced through them. 
She returned Susan's call and was greeted by the image of her friend on 
the comm. screen. "What time is dinner, Susan?"

   "We’re thinking 2000. Can you make it?"

   "Of course. I just have to get Sheraun showered and ready," answered 
Lyta with a straight face.

   Susan decided not to go where her curiosity wanted to lead. "Come by 
Charley's, and we’ll go. Delenn and John will be there. Is that a problem?"

   "No, no problem at all. I’ll see you in a while."

   Lyta walked to the bed and shook Sheraun. "Time to get up and shower. We 
have been invited to dinner."

   Sheraun opened his eyes to make sure this was real. He hadn't been 
prepared for the woman with the red hair. In his estimate, nothing could 
have prepared him for her. He had wanted her, and he had gotten her...no, 
she got him. Anyway, he got more than he had bargained for, much more. 
How could she be so chipper, and have so much energy, after the last couple 
hours? He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood up. Whatever 
energy he thought he had was somewhere else. It was all he could do to stand.

   "What’s the matter, Sheraun. A little lovemaking and you're completely 
wasted."

   "You call that a little? I think most men wouldn't have survived the 
preliminaries."

   "You may well be right. Now, take a shower and get cleaned up."

   "Yes, Mistress Lyta."

   A minute later she heard the shower running. Minbari didn't normally 
use water for personal hygiene. It was a concession that he was making 
for her.

   Sheraun exited the shower, dried off and returned to the front room.

   "You're not bad looking, Sheraun. A little on the large side, but no 
one’s perfect."

   Putting his arms around her and kissing her on her lips, he said, "You, 
on the other hand, are flawless."

   Snuggling into his arms, she replied, "I bet you tell all your 
girlfriends that."

   "Umm...yes I do."

   "Put on your clothes. We’re expected in less than ten minutes at 
Charles' quarters."

******************************************************

   "Sorry to take so long, Susan," said Lyta.

   Susan noted that Sheraun had his arm around Lyta's waist, in a casual, 
familiar sort of way. "Come on Charley. We have people waiting for us. 
Where’s Maya?"

   "She’s spending the night with Emily," replied Lyta.

   "You don't talk much, do you, Sheraun?" asked Susan.

   "Not unless I have something to say," he responded.

   "I can see that you're going to be a great conversationalist."

   "Are we ready to go, yet?" asked Lyta.

   Charles came to the door dressed and ready to go. "Yes we are, Lyta."

******************************************************

   The table was for eight. Six were present and were waiting for the last two.

   "I’m going to order and appetizer and a drink," stated Ivanova.

   The waiter took their appetizer and drink orders, and departed.

   "It's your turn Elizabeth. You’ve been out of the inquiry loop for a 
while now," commented Susan.

   "I heard rumors about what happened, but I'm not sure what to believe," 
responded Lochley. "I learned today that Conrad was messed with on Earth, 
before he left to come here?"

   "That is true. John suspected it after watching him question Commander 
Owens, and expressed that opinion to Leftcourt," answered Susan.

   "That must be the job they had Lyta do for them," stated Larry Evans.

   Lyta nodded confirmation.

   John and Delenn arrived at this time.

   "John. Is it true that Lyta straightened out Conrad for you and Leftcourt?" 
asked Susan.

   John nodded, yes.

   "She skinned them," commented Delenn.

   All eyes turned toward Lyta.

   "They paid a price for the assistance," she commented.

   "Leftcourt and company are going to have to mortgage Earthdome to pay 
for it," jested John, with a smile.

   "The sum isn't that large," noted Lyta. "It would have been two months 
basic pay for Susan if she had taken the job I had waiting for her."

   Everyone at the table visibly choked when she said that.

   "You aren't serious, are you?" asked Larry.

   "Very serious. People like her and Conrad are of great value to industry 
and command salaries commensurate with that value," explained Lyta. "When 
Elizabeth decides to chuck the military lifestyle, I’ll have a position 
like that for her. Running this station is good training for a top notch, 
top level, chief executive officer in a large corporation."

   "Are you telling me you can supply a position like that for me?" asked 
Lochley.

   "Of course. You have the discipline and experience. You won't believe 
how hard it is to find really top quality senior executives," replied Lyta. 
"All you have to do is accept the position. Besides, after being an XO or 
CO on Babylon 5, a large corporation should be a stroll in the park."

   The appetizers arrived and the dinner party dug in. The conversation 
wandered over the spectrum.

   "Entil'za will you and President Sheridan be remaining here very long?" 
asked Sheraun.

   "We plan to leave the day after Susan gets married. I’m supposed to give 
her away," answered John.

   "I get to be best man," chimed in Larry.

   "How fast is your whitestar, Sheraun?" asked Susan.

   "It is one of the later ones off the assembly line. It is quite fast. Why?"

   "I’m conducting a small demonstration when I leave to take the Ares back 
to Earth. If your boss will permit it, your whitestar can be part of the 
demonstration," said Susan.

   "What kind of demonstration, Susan?" asked Delenn.

   "Delenn. This toy cost a great deal of money. This is the last time, 
they’re going let me command a starship. After this, I’ll be driving a 
paper laden desk. I seriously doubt that’s going to be much fun. I've 
had my last firefight, so I’m going to do a full power run all the way 
back to Earth. I plan to have some fun, just before we head home."

   "When are you due, Susan?" asked Delenn.

   "Give or take a week, I figure in about nine months," she answered. "I 
haven't seen the doctor yet. I'm doing that tomorrow. What’s the latest 
on David?"

   "He is just starting what you call kindergarten. It is one of the reasons 
we didn't bring him," replied Delenn.

   "How about Maya, Lyta. When does she start school?" asked Susan.

   "She already has. She started during the Telepath War. The formal 
schooling will start when I get her home," she replied.

   "You work for the Glenthorian government, Lyta, but where is home?" asked 
John.

   "That isn't for public consumption," she replied, "And everyone, except 
Maya and me, constitutes the public."

   "In other words, none of our business," added Susan.

   Lyta smiled sweetly in response.

   "I'm curious, Lyta. How did you and Sheraun meet?" asked Lochley.

   "I was traveling with G'kar at the time Maya was born. Sheraun's 
whitestar almost collided with us. We were invited aboard his ship. It 
was less than a year after I left here with G'Kar. Essentially that's 
all there was to it."

   "Exactly where was Maya born?" asked Lochley.

   Lyta looked at Delenn and Sheraun. "It's hard to say, Elizabeth."

   "You don't know where your daughter was born?"

   "Well, Yes I do. She was born in the head on G'Kar's ship, to be exact."

   Lochley looked perplexed. "I don't understand. I mean where was she born?"

   "In the head aboard G'Kar's ship. The ship was eighty or so light years 
from any inhabited planet or colony. She was born in deep space. She has no 
home world. G'Kar's ship carried IA registry, but no planetary registration.
Because of our meeting Sheraun's ship at her birth, she was recorded as a 
Minbari citizen."

   Looking at Sheraun, Lochley asked, "How do you feel about a human being 
given Mimbari citizenship under those circumstances?"

   "I have no problem with it, at all," he replied. "But then, I’m not 
exactly unbiased."

   "Have any objections been raised, Delenn," asked Lochley.

   "No. The authorities on Minbar, agreed that she met the requirements 
for citizenship as established in our law," replied Delenn.

   "What time is the wedding Susan?" asked John.

   "Day after tomorrow at 0900 in the station chapel. It will be a short 
one. There is a very small reception in the wardroom. I plan to be underway 
by 1000 the next day," she replied. "I'm planning to visit my old home 
town during my honeymoon. Then I’ll be off to my new assignment."

   The meal arrived and conversation took a back seat.

   "How long are you going to be on Babylon 5, Lyta?" asked John.

   "I have some business to take care of on Mars and maybe Earth. Then back 
here for a few days. I figure two weeks or so then I head home. I will have 
done what needs doing, including the item for Leftcourt and company," she 
replied.

   "Two weeks doesn't leave much time if it includes travel time," noted 
John

   "Travel time won't be but a couple of hours each way," she responded. 
"I intend to use some shortcuts."

   "Shortcuts?" queried Susan.

   "It’s three weeks travel time from here to Glenthor even in a whitestar 
on full burn. It took me three days. I know how to use hyperspace shortcuts. 
They  don't follow the beacon system."

   That statement brought silence to the table.

   "How long for you to get to Mars?" asked Delenn.

   "Five maybe six hours at most," replied Lyta.

   "I don't suppose you can design a navigation system that can do that, 
can you?" asked John.

   "We’re working on it," replied Lyta. "The Shadow and Vorlon ships could 
do it, so it is possible."

******************************************************

END PART 20 

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