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All characters/places/persons not belonging to the writer are the sole properties of their owners, PTEN, WB, JMS, and will be turned over to the owners at the request of their agents. All other characters/places/persons are public domain.

John observed that Lyta was dressed to fight.

"He gets smarter all the time Delenn," quipped Lyta.

"Exactly what are you talking about Lyta?" Asked John.

"John, we think Sheraun's family and clan members will be trying to find fault with her and humiliate her," answered Delenn.

John noticed that Lyta moved like a cat. She had always been very graceful in her movements, but he didn't remember her looking quite so . . . predatory. He wondered how he had missed it. He realized there must be a lot that he had missed about her.

G'Kar met them at the ground car. The trip to Valeck's compound only took just over thirty minutes.

They were met at the door by Valeck. He showed surprise that Lyta was not as formally dressed as the Sheridans and G'Kar. He questioned her. Lyta informed him, in Interlac, that she expected to be tried and humiliated by those who did not care for Shai Alyt Sheraun. She was left alone in what appeared to be a library while, G'Kar and the Sheridans were led away by Valeck.

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

"Do you read Minbari?" Asked a voice in passable Interlac.

Lyta turned to face the owner of the voice. "Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?" She asked, in Interlac, even though the strong family resemblance would have identified the woman as a sister of Sheraun.

"I am Marlan, Sheraun's younger sister," she answered. “You are, obviously, Lyta Alexander, the Human Sheraun is smitten by."

Lyta inclined her head in assent. "I wouldn't use the word smitten. He likes me, that's all."

"I hear he wants to marry you," Marlan replied. "You must be something very special."

"You don't approve of your brother's choices or actions?" Inquired Lyta.

"Actually I do," she answered. "He is his own mind. He doesn't have his head stuck up his rear end. I wish I were more like him. He is so much like father. That's why they can't stand one another. Like I said, you must be very special."

"I am not sure what constitutes special," answered Lyta. "I only met your brother a little less than two standard weeks ago. His ship almost collided with G'Kar's ship, while I was giving birth to my daughter."

"Who was with you during the birth, the Narn?" She asked.

"No. He was piloting the ship. I gave birth in the toilet facilities, alone."

Marlan made a face. "Alone?"

"There wasn't anyone to help. Besides, it isn't the first time a Human has given birth alone, and it won't be the last," responded Lyta.

Just as Lyta started her sentence a young Minbari male entered the room. Upon hearing what Lyta said, he commented in Minbari, "Marlan what do you expect from animals?"

"You should at least have the manners to say that to her face in a language she understands," shot back Marlan.

Another Minbari male entered the room and commented to the first, "It this the animal Sheraun is taken by? She doesn't look like much to me." The exchange had been in Minbari warrior caste dialect.

Marlan noticed a wicked smile on Lyta's face and wondered what she found so humorous.

"She wouldn't be smiling if she knew what we were saying," said the first male to the second. The second male laughed and they left the room.

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

In his study Valeck had taken a seat behind a desk and motioned for the Sheridans and G'Kar to be seated. "What did you want to show me, Delenn?"

Delenn proceeded to play the same data crystals that she had played earlier that week for John. He watched in silence. After the crystals had been played, he asked, "Was this supposed to impress me?"

"No," responded Delenn. "It was meant to prevent your family and clansmen embarrassing you and themselves by trying to humiliate Lyta."

Valeck just shrugged his shoulders. "I would like to talk to your husband alone, if you don't object."

Delenn and G'Kar left the room.

Sheridan looked at Valeck. “What can I do for you?”

“I wanted to meet the infamous *Starkiller*.”

“I suppose I’m a disappointment.”

“Not at all Mr. President. How much do you know about how that war started?”

“One of our captains panicked the first time our people came in contact with one another. In his panic, he opened fire on your ships. By bad luck, his first shot damaged the warcruiser carrying the Grey Council and fatally wounded your leader Dukhat. The rest is history. Since we aren’t in public, would you mind calling me John? I get more than enough of the *Mr. President* thing as it is.”

“I was a member of the Grey Council that made that fateful decision. I won’t tell you about the voting. That’s information for someone else to provide to you, when they deem it time to do so.”

“You still haven’t told me what I can do for you.”

“I’m curious about the logic you used in destroying the Blackstar.”

“Have you ever hunted or fished?”

“Please explain those terms.”

“Hunting is tracking and killing a wild animal on land. Fishing is using equipment, usually a line, hook and bait to catch a fish – an animal that lives in water on earth.”

“If I understand correctly, the answer is yes. I enjoy hunting very much. I don’t get to do it very often anymore. It’s been a very long time since we Minbari have had to hunt and kill for food or fish for it. Like your people, we developed industries that grow and process the animals and plants we need for sustenance. Please, continue?”

“Since you have hunted and fished, you know very well that the most dangerous animal you can face is one that is wounded and cornered. You also know very well that the best way to lure an animal into a trap or catch a fish is to give him a bait that he can’t resist. What can possibly be more dangerous than an animal that is capable of intelligent thought faced with such a situation?”

Valeck smiled as realization swept across his mind. “When our warriors killed your people, even the ones who surrendered, they put you into the position of the trapped animal. When they slaughtered your women and children, instead of terrifying you, they made your resolve even stronger than it normally would have been. You gave the Shai Alyt of the Blackstar and his escort cruisers something they couldn’t possibly resist – a crippled Earthforce destroyer that had no weapons and no drives - a completely helpless victim. Instead of a helpless victim, he, his ship and his escorts were destroyed.”

“If you think for a minute, Valeck, that I regret my actions, you are very mistaken. I hate war, but if I have to fight, I intend to destroy the enemy if possible with the fewest casualties possible.”

“Unlike most of my fellow Minbari, I have no qualms with what you did. Given the same circumstances, I would have done the same thing you did, if I managed to come up with the idea.”

“I’m a soldier. I’m making a fairly poor politician and it’s taking everything I have to keep the peace amongst the IA members. One thing I do remember though, and wonder about, Valeck, and that is why the warrior caste didn’t join us in the fight with the Shadows. I was told that it was because they didn’t believe that the problems of others were any concern of theirs. I’m surprised that they weren’t champing at the bit to join in. I don’t suppose it had anything to do with the fact that the Shadows’ technology was far superior to anyone else’s except the Vorlons.”

“It takes guile and deception to be a really successful politician. Being a soldier is rather straightforward. From what I know, you seem to be making the transition with some success. For what you are and what you have managed to accomplish with Delenn at your side, I have the utmost respect for you, Mr. President. I also think we should be meeting my guests.”

Sheridan made a mental note to himself that Valeck had ignored his comment about the refusal of the warrior caste to fight the Shadows and followed him out of the study. As they left the study, he couldn’t help but feel that his guess had been right on target.

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

Walking into a very large front room, later identified as the Great Hall, G'Kar commented to Delenn, "He wasn't much impressed by the information on the data crystals."

"Don't let him fool you, G'Kar. He was very impressed, and his response tells me my worst fears are going to come true," responded Delenn.

"Your worst fears?"

"Yes. They are going to try to humiliate Lyta."

"That could be hazardous."

"If she accidentally kills one of them, it will not be good."

"You tried to warn your host. It is his responsibility now," responded G'Kar.

Other guests were arriving and the Great Hall was starting to seem a lot smaller. Valeck and John Sheridan rejoined the rest of the guests there. Since some of the clan members had not seen one another in some time, there was much hubbub as they greeted one another.

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

“It's time we joined the others in the Great Hall, Lyta," said Marlan.

"You go ahead. I don't know anyone except G'Kar and the Sheridans. This is a family affair, and I’m certainly not family," responded Lyta, neutrally.

Marlan closed the door leaving Lyta alone in the library.

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

Valeck entered the room and noticed Lyta holding one of his books. It was open and she appeared to be reading it. "Is it any good?" He asked in warrior caste dialect.

"You haven't read it?" She asked, turning to look at Valeck.

"No. I only collect them," he replied. "Does anyone else, except Delenn and me, know you are proficient in Minbari warrior caste dialect?"

"No, but G'Kar would expect it, considering what I’ve done during our travels."

"You are aware of how some of our clan feel about you?"

"How much do you know about me?" Asked Lyta.

"Delenn played the data crystals for me. You are impressive," he answered.

"Are you aware that I am a telepath?"

"It wasn't brought out, so, no, I didn't know that. Well, that may not really be true. I had heard about a redheaded Human who was instrumental in helping find and exploit a weakness in Shadow ships and it was spoken of as using telepaths, but I never heard any of the details. Let me guess; that was you."

"Yes. I’ve been listening to the stray thoughts of your guests. Some of them plan to humiliate me and some of them even want to kill me and make it look like an accident," she said matter-of-factly. "I believe a few object lessons and some personal experience will be in order."

Valeck responded, "I don't think I like the sound of that."

"Don't worry. I promise I won't kill anyone," she said. “But I don't promise not to send a few of them to your nearest medical facility. It will make things easier if you have a selection of weapons assembled just after dinner. I don’t suppose that the entertainment will begin before that and it seems that I am considered entertainment by certain parties on tonight’s guest list."

"It's time for dinner, I suppose we should join the others," said Valeck.

Lyta preceded Valeck through the door into the hallway and followed him into the very large dining room. Most everyone had been seated at the three long wide tables in evidence around which were seated one hundred and eight family members and guests. He guided her to a seat at the head of the largest table and he took the seat next to her. There were murmurs amongst the other guests. Lyta could sense intense hostility in many of the guests, but decided to ignore it.

Valeck stood again and, while the food was being served, began to talk about Minbari history, the clan's history and how the clan had been part of it. He elaborated on the many achievements of various clan members, and introduced those who had made their contributions in the past year, since the last clan get-together. He never mentioned Sheraun in his recounting. He also introduced Delenn, John Sheridan and G'Kar.

Valeck returned to his seat and dinner began. Lyta ate very lightly, seeming to barely taste the food. Her actions did not go unnoticed. When the meal was almost finished a question was directed at Lyta. "Is there a problem with the food, Human?" Came an inquiry from about half-way down the table. The speaker had spoken in an angry voice and used warrior caste dialect.

Lyta ignored the question. She looked at Valeck and asked, in Interlac, "Can you open communications with the cruiser in orbit, after the meal?"

Valeck nodded assent.

One of the guests at the second table stood up and asked, "Aren't you going to introduce the Human female?" Lyta detected no animosity in the speaker.

Valeck responded, "She is my personal guest and prefers to not be introduced."

"Isn't she the Human female that Sheraun is sniffing after?" Demanded another guest.

Valeck admitted that she was the woman Sheraun was courting, as it were. He looked at Lyta. Lyta gave him a brief nod.

Standing up He rapped loudly on the tabletop to get everyone’s attention. "Honored guests and family, as most of you know, my son Sheraun and I have not been close these past few years.” This brought a burst of low-level laughter from the guests. He continued, “To say that neither of us would shed any tears at the death of the other is, I believe, a most accurate statement of the present situation.” The laughter was much louder this time. “In spite of that, I have met and talked with the woman he seems to have chosen as a mate. I have learned enough about her to be quite impressed. If Ms. Alexander were Minbari, I would welcome her to our clan without reservation.” He had directed his hand toward Lyta when he made his last statement.

This mention of the woman being a different species caused an uproar amongst most of the guests. There were many demands that Sheraun be disowned and other demands that Lyta be thrown out of the house. The expected demands that she demonstrate her worthiness to be a member of a warrior caste family and clan were immediate and loud.

"I accept your challenges," answered back Valeck as loudly as those doing the demanding. "We must adjourn to the main meeting hall to accommodate these requests for ‘proof’ of her capabilities and worthiness."

In the main meeting hall Valeck, even though he had no idea why Lyta had requested it, opened a communications channel with the war cruiser. The Alyt appeared to be standing in front of Valeck and Lyta. The communications system apparently had a holographic imaging system.

Valeck put a data crystal into a socket and the scene of the bounty hunter ship being destroyed was shown to all of the guests and was sent to the cruiser at the same time.

Valeck stepped away and left Lyta center stage. Lyta looked at the guests and said, in perfect warrior caste dialect, "I destroyed that ship without weapons.”

"Images can be faked," came a response from a number of guests who apparently had not realized that Lyta had spoken in their language.

John looked at Delenn. “She is very good with languages,” she informed him.

She looked at the image and said, "Alyt. I am afraid you, your crew and your ship are going to help me present these people with an object lesson."

Less than a minute later the dinner party heard the sound of emergency alarms coming from the cruiser. The Alyt said in a balanced neutral voice, "I seem to have a problem."

"Please keep the channel open, Alyt. It is necessary for the lesson," said Lyta.

"Alyt! We have lost main engines; the reactors have shut down.” reported an off-screen voice. A minute later the same voice was heard, “The reactors won't restart.”

A few minutes later, another voice from off-screen exclaimed, “We have lost maneuvering thrusters! We are beginning to drift!"

Less than a minute after the report of losing thrusters was made, another report was given by the same worried voice from off-screen. "Alyt, the thrusters are back online; they are pushing us toward Minbar!"

"Do you see how easy that is, ladies and gentlemen?" Asked Lyta.

There were boos and hisses and claims of trickery.

"Alyt! The reactors are back online and they are starting to go critical!" Exclaimed the first off-screen voice.

The Alyt's image turned to Lyta, "You are doing this?"

"It's part of the object lesson, Alyt. I am terribly sorry, but these people think this is a trick," replied Lyta.

Delenn, John and G'Kar were watching with looks of horror on their faces. Many guests observing Delenn, John and G'Kar realized that the danger to the ship's crew was real, not some kind of trick.

"Lyta, Please. Don't do this. Those people on the ship haven't harmed you," pleaded Delenn.

"Very true Delenn. The helpless women and children that your warrior caste slaughtered hadn't done anything to them either. It’s easy to be heroic slaughtering someone who cannot possibly fight back," replied Lyta in a cold impersonal tone.

By now the guests were raising their voices for Valeck to do something.

"You do understand, Alyt, why you and your crew are going to be killed like vermin? I need to make a point. I’ll begin breaking up your ship in about forty-five standard minutes. You will find that your lifepods are non-functional. There is no escape. I know that you appreciate that this really is nothing personal," said Lyta.

The image of the Alyt showed a man concerned by his present situation, but determined not to allow it to dictate his actions. “Killing me and my crew and destroying my ship will not bring back even one of the innocents that were slaughtered during our war. If it will satisfy your need for revenge then so be it.”

The room was growing silent as what was happening really started sinking into the Minbari minds.

"Lyta," said Valeck, who by now was sure she intended to destroy the ship and its crew, "these people have many loved ones serving on that ship. You don't have to do this."

"I am afraid I do. It’s necessary for them to truly understand helplessness," she answered looking at him. She then faced the image of the Alyt and said, “I have had people try to shred my mind to get information they thought I possessed. They were more than happy to butcher me if necessary and there wasn’t anything I could to fight them, and no one cared. Now, I can destroy your ship and your crew with nothing more than an angry thought. Believe me when I say that you can never truly appreciate absolute power unless you have experienced absolute helplessness. That has been my very personal experience.”

Looking into the face of Lyta, the image of the Alyt reflected his personal realization of what this Human female was, a living breathing thing of unbelievable terror.

There was total silence in the room. The ship's Alyt's inability to save his crew and its effects on him were not readily evident. He hadn’t said anything, but if one knew how to look, his eyes said it for him. It was one thing to be killed in battle, but this was simple execution. Valeck remembered that the Alyt had been a young man during the Earth-Minbar War and had been opposed to it. He knew that the Alyt couldn't understand why he and his crew were being slaughtered to prove a point. It seemed so senseless. Lyta let the situation go on for almost the full forty-five minutes.

"Alyt! We have thruster control again, and the reactors are returning to normal!" Said an unidentified off-screen voice. "We have main engines back online, sir."

"Thank you for your assistance, Alyt," said Lyta turning to the crowd of guests. "Now that I have made my point, I must get on with remainder of the entertainment."

It was dawning on Delenn that she did not know this Lyta. She was still shaking from what she had just witnessed. John and G'Kar were looking at one another in complete disbelief.

The crowd was silent. Any sign of merriment had been totally destroyed. Lyta was no longer a joke to them.

"There is one item left to address before everyone calls it a night," said Lyta. No one was laughing at her now.

"There were some of you who came intending to humiliate me, and a few intended to kill me. I want those who would kill me to step forward." No one moved. "I’m a telepath, and I know who you are. You will come forward now or everyone will suffer."

There was shuffling amongst the crowd and ten Minbari males came forward. They varied in age from young adults to old adults and amongst them were the two who had run their mouths earlier in the evening in the library.

“We will now adjourn to the Great Hall for the remainder of the entertainment,” said Valeck.

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

As Lyta had requested earlier, Valeck had assembled a variety of Minbari weapons, everything from PPGs to denn'boks to knives. Other members of the family had cleared the furniture away and left the Great Hall bare in the middle area.

Lyta walked into the center of the hall, turned and looked at the ten men. "Take whichever weapon or weapons you wish. You can wait and use the same weapon another has used if you wish. Take it and come here."

It only took Lyta a few minutes to leave the men laying on the floor barely conscious and battered.

The men were taken to the bathroom and cleaned up. Lyta followed them into the bathroom facilities and, looking them all in the eyes, said “The only reason I didn’t kill you was I didn’t see anything to be gained.” Stepping in front of the two who had mouthed off earlier, she continued, “The next time you shoot off your mouth, you might first make sure that the object of your ridicule *doesn’t* understand what you’re saying.” Both young men turned their eyes to the floor. Outside in the main room, the gathering was breaking up and the mood was somber.

Delenn made apologies and she, John, G'Kar, and the now hated Lyta started to depart. As Delenn and the others were getting into the ground car, Valeck took Delenn aside and leaned close to her. Into her ear, he whispered, "I know it won't mean anything to him, but tell Sheraun, I approve his choice of mate."

Delenn nodded assent and rejoined her husband and friends. In the car Delenn said to Lyta, "Thank you for not doing any permanent damage." Lyta just gave her a small smile. The rest of the return trip was in silence.

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

Delenn was sitting yoga style on the bedroom floor staring into the light of a candle meditating. John sat down beside her and looked into the candle, waiting for her to acknowledge his presence. Shortly, she turned her head a little, just enough to signal that she was aware of him.

"A penny for your thoughts."

She waited almost two minutes before responding, "I am thinking of all the trials Lyta has undergone since she first came aboard Babylon 5."

When she didn't continue, John turned his head to more directly face her and waited.

"No Human or Minbari has been so sorely tested as she, not even Sinclair/Valen."

John waited for her to continue.

"You died and Lorien brought you back, but you were still Human and, for all intents and purposes, the same as before."

The waiting between her comments was nerve wracking. She could take hours to finish an observation he would espouse in five minutes.

"John. What would you do if you could kill with a thought. If you could destroy a warship as if it were nothing, would you be afraid?"

He had to admit to himself that line of thought had never occurred to him. For him the idea was beyond dreaming. It was something he needed to think about in depth.

"John. When I was Grey Council, I was responsible for many lives, but I did not truly understand. Even when I sent whitestars out, I didn't understand, not until you had to order that crew to their deaths just before Coriana 6. I cannot comprehend what it must be like to be able to kill with a mere thought. What it must be like to have to guard your every thought, so you don't harm someone? I think I would be terrified."

"I don't know, Delenn."

She had given him something to think about, that he didn't want to think about. How could anyone who didn't have that power, had never exercised it, ever hope to understand it? The thoughts were giving him a headache. Tonight would be one he would remember for the rest of his life, what there was of it.

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

It was early morning and very dark outside. Lyta was sitting up in bed feeding Maya. A point of light began to appear at the foot of the bed. It became very brilliant, and then faded into the form of Lorien. Lyta knew what was coming.

"You shouldn't have interfered," said Lorien.

“I couldn't let him die. Besides, no one knows except Delenn, and she can't tell anyone. I saw to that," replied Lyta.

"You will pay a terrible price for your actions."

"I know. It was the only way to make them forget what really happened. When they think of me or someone mentions my name, they will be revolted. I wiped their memories as best I could, under the circumstances. There were more than a hundred of them."

"It's little comfort, but no one could have done better," he observed. "Why are you allowing Delenn to remember the truth?”

"I feel she deserves it because of what she has done for me in the past. Maybe, just maybe, I want at least one person who will not be offended or sickened by my presence or the very thought of me," replied Lyta, with a smile at the corner of her lips.

"It doesn't matter, Lyta. You have a destiny and personal feelings only increase the difficulty in your completing it. Your compassion for your fellow beings is laudable, but you are no longer one of them," he reminded her.

"If I don't follow orders, I suppose I’ll be destroyed. I would expect nothing less."

"Lyta. You misunderstand. Your compassion is what makes you perfect for this job. You are essentially indestructible. It is doubtful you can be killed by anything except time, and we aren't sure about that. Your compassion will keep you from destroying entire races, the function for which the Vorlons engineered you. They forgot about that, fortunately. I made a few changes in you, for the best it seems."

Shifting Maya to her other breast, Lyta said, "You think if it was known what I can do, they would want me to extend Sheridan's life."

Lorien nodded. "That must be allowed to continue unchanged."

"Will I see you again?"

"Certainly," answered Lorien, eyes twinkling as his image faded to darkness.

Lyta spent the remainder of the night mulling over their conversation.

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

In her office, Delenn was surprised, but seemed pleased to see Lyta come through her door. An earlier discussion with her husband about last nights dinner had been bothering her ever since. She had two memories of the dinner and was bothered by the experience.

"Good morning, Delenn," Lyta greeted neutrally.

"Lyta. I have a problem," said Delenn.

John stuck his head in the door and saw Lyta. His smile disappeared and was replaced by a frown. He left without speaking.

"I have two memories of last night. I think one of them is real, but I don't know which one."

"What do you want from me?" Asked Lyta.

"I want to know which one is real. I also think you are responsible."

"Tell me about them," said Lyta.

Delenn told her about picking her up at her apartment and that both of them were excited about the dinner. She told about meeting Valeck and his being impressed with Lyta's beauty and her contributions during the Shadow War, the Earth civil war and to the Interstellar Alliance. "You were a hit with many of the guests. Everything was going very well until the fight demonstrations."

"What went wrong there?" Asked Lyta.

"One of the young men slipped and was dealt a lethal blow to the head by his older brother."

"I don't understand what that has to do with me, Delenn?"

"When the young man fell one of the guests, a physician, examined him and declared him dead." Hesitating a moment, she continued, "It was then that everyone in the house apparently froze where they were, except you and me."

Lyta said nothing and waited for Delenn to continue.

"You said he could be revived and sent me to get a medkit. You somehow fixed his head wound and brought him back to life. I saw your hands glow like Lorien's, after we took out Kosh's replacement, and he revived John."

"You want to know which of these is true? Which do you want to be true?"

Looking at her friend, Delenn said, "I prefer to believe you saved the boy."

"I can't do the same for John. Lorien has forbidden it. We spoke during the middle of the night. The hatred and loathing I generated amongst Sheraun's family and clan and G'Kar and John by giving them the new memories, is the price I must pay for my interference."

Delenn came around her desk and hugged her friend very tightly.

"You will never be able to speak of this to anyone, Delenn. That is the price you must pay for knowing the truth."

As Delenn released Lyta, her eyes were brimming with tears.

"We all have crosses we must bear, Delenn. It’s not fair, but it is how things are."

John had stuck his head back in the doorway, just in time to see Delenn release Lyta.

"Delenn, I need to see you," he said.

Lyta smiled at Delenn and left, very conscious of the glare she was receiving from John Sheridan.

"How can you be so chummy with her after last night?" Asked John.

"Unfortunately, John, there are things you will never understand, and Lyta is one of them."

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

Later that same day, Valeck contacted the orbiting war cruiser. He inquired of the Alyt about his ship's status. He was confused when the Alyt didn't seem to know what he was talking about in response to questions about the previous night. He learned from the Alyt that nothing out of the ordinary had occurred on the ship during the previous evening or night. He wondered if the Alyt was only doing to him essentially what he had done to Sheridan the night before when Sheridan had questioned the warrior caste’s non-participation in the Shadow-Vorlon War; simply ignore the inferred question.

Feeling a bit foolish, he decided to drop his inquiry. He wondered what Sheraun would make of Lyta when he learned of the happenings at last night's dinner. He entertained the foolish thought that the incident of the evening before had been his imagination for a moment, and then let it pass.

Lyta used some of the funds in her secret telepath account to outfit a small research laboratory. She was beginning to access memories of Vorlon technology that would allow her to subtlety introduce new items into the ISA via Minbari companies, which were really fronts that could keep the money flowing into her war chest.

Working with several molecular biologists, she was able to guide their efforts in developing and patenting a substance that could be grown and processed into strands finer than spider's silk and a hundred times stronger than presently available metals. It could be made into fabric, which was lighter weight than normal silks and was essentially bullet proof. After that, she led her teams to develop a method of growing diamond type crystals that were a hundred times finer than talcum powder, she helped them combine it into the new thread they were manufacturing. The result was very lightweight fabric that could dissipate the heat energy of multiple PPG pulses. Her teams also developed an insulating compound that could be inserted between layers of the crystal-impregnated fabric to add protection from the heat that was being dissipated by the outer layer of the garment. The first to reap the benefits of these developments were the Rangers and firefighters.

Working with Delenn, Lyta's front companies got their first of many contracts with the Rangers. After she had demonstrated her new 'cloth', the Rangers changed clothing requirements. Lyta turned over the operations of the companies to local Minbari businessmen. Clothing was only the first product to make use of her new fibers. The diamond type crystals would have many uses where heat dissipation and related qualities were required, including armor.

During this period Lyta helped G'Kar with his research and did some telepath work for the local ISA officials.

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

It had been just under seven months since Lyta and G'Kar had arrived on Minbar. He was ready to leave and Lyta approached him. "Am I still welcome as a traveling companion?" She asked.

"Always, Lyta," responded the Narn. "Is the little one ready to go?"

Maya was seven months old, but already she was walking quite well.

"We are ready."

"We will leave tomorrow morning, Lyta."

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

A whitestar exited its jump point about a minute before G'Kar's ship vanished into the local jump gate. On the whitestar's bridge the sensors barely had time to identify G'Kar's ship before it vanished. Shai Alyt Sheraun who had been in good spirits a moment before, suddenly looked depressed. Somehow he knew, Lyta wouldn't be there to greet him.

Onboard G'Kar's ship, G'Kar asked Lyta, "Do you think it was his ship?"

"I know it was, G'Kar, I sensed him just before they jumped to normal space. He was looking forward to seeing me," replied Lyta.

"We can turn back."

Wistfully she said, "No, G'Kar, that's not necessary. When he learns of my performance at the dinner, his interest in me will cease to exist."

"I don't think so, Lyta."

"You’re a hopeless romantic, G'Kar."

"One of us has to be."

"You don't have to pilot this thing, G'Kar. It'll go where I tell it."

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

Sheraun’s whitestar took orbit a thousand kilometers above Minbar in a non-synchronous orbit. His shuttle landed in on the large landing pad at Anla’shok headquarters. In less than twenty minutes he was making a report about his just completed patrol.

The next morning Sheraun was working out with a class of Anla’shok student hopefuls. One standard hour of sparring and he wasn’t breathing any harder than he would be from a brisk walk around the Anla’shok compound perimeter. The same couldn’t be said about the students who had sparred with him.

On his way to meet with the senior Anla’shok in charge of training he was intercepted by President John Sheridan. “Good morning, Mr. President.”

“Do you have a few minutes, Sheraun?”

“Of course, sir. How may I be of service?”

“Your clan had a dinner a few months ago. Delenn, G’Kar, Lyta, and I were invited to attend.”

At the mention of Lyta’s name, Sheraun visibly perked up. “I hope you enjoyed the occasion. My father isn’t the most . . .” He hesitated as he searched for the right word.

“He was a most gracious host, Sheraun. Was that the word you were looking for?”

“It will do as well as any other.”

“It would have been an enjoyable if not for your girlfriend, Lyta Alexander.”

“Why do you dislike Lyta so intensely, Mr. President? To the best of my knowledge, she has never done anything to harm you.”

“Why I do or do not like her is none of your business, Sheraun.”

“With all due respect, Mr. President, if all you are going to do is insult Ms. Alexander, I have better use for my time than to stand here and listen to you berate her.” This he said in a tone of voice that was anything but respectful.

Sheridan realized that he had pushed the big Minbari too hard. He didn’t like what he had said nor the tone of voice he had used, but he had been very rude to the man. Even his position didn’t give him the right to do that.

“She ruined the dinner for everyone there, Sheraun.” He then recounted exactly what had happened at the dinner as he remembered it.

Sheraun looked at him in disbelief. “She wouldn’t do that, sir. She’s not that kind of person.”

“I’m not fabricating it, Sheraun. If you don’t believe me, ask Delenn. She will tell you the same thing.”

“With all due respect, sir, I will do just that.”

Sheridan watched Sheraun walk away. He felt no satisfaction about what he had just told the man. He had shattered his image of the woman he was in love with.

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

Later in the day, Sheraun was called to Delenn’s office. He asked her about what her husband had told him earlier that morning. To his dismay, Delenn corroborated what her husband had told him. Unlike John, she had something to add. She told him what his father had told her to tell him, even the part about it not meaning anything coming from her.

Sheraun thought about it for a full minute before replying. “On any other thing, Entil’zah, he would be correct, but not this. If he approves of her, she must be even more special than I first thought."

Delenn smiled. She felt pleasure at Sheraun’s words. She wished she could tell him the truth, but the way Lyta had blocked her mind, she could only repeat what John had told him, even though she knew otherwise.

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

It was just short of a month since G’Kar, Lyta and Maya had left Minbar.

"Where are we Lyta?" Asked G'Kar.

"Mm, closest I can come is, we are about a hundred light years from the nearest ISA outpost," answered Lyta, while looking down on the very beautiful planet below them. It was the first thing besides hyperspace they had seen, since they left Minbar. It was slightly larger than Earth, but a lack of heavy metals gave it a gravity almost exactly that of Earth. There were no indications of advanced civilization. Scans had revealed only narrow paths similar to those made by herds of migrating animals. The planet's axis was perpendicular to its path around the sun, which gave it a temperate climate over the most of its surface. It wouldn't have seasons as such, which made the evidence of migratory paths suspicious. Lower flights over the surface had revealed no buildings of any kind. For practical purposes there was no evidence of sentient life. They landed in the middle of one of the narrow areas that had looked like a migratory path from the air. It was just that, but whatever used it wasn't very large. There were prints of several types of animals, but no animals were seen from the ground level.

Lyta started a survey following the narrow path at an altitude of less than two hundred meters and never saw anything larger than a type of very small deer-like animals. She recorded the available data for future reference and moved the ship back into hyperspace.

"I thought you said the Vorlons visited this planet, and it had some sort of civilization?" Inquired G'Kar.

"I did, but the memories I have indicate that was twenty-five thousand years ago. I suppose they could have killed themselves off in some kind of war. Let the explorers figure it out," retorted Lyta.

The next eight planets only revealed one civilization with space faring technology and the political situation amongst the various ‘countries’ was such that they passed it by. Seven had sentient beings in various stages of civilization, but none were ready to learn that they were not alone in the universe.

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

"Lyta. I am beginning to think that our adventure may be something of a dud," said G'Kar.

"Why? Just because everywhere we go is not whiz-bang, with someone trying to kill you, is no reason to get depressed," she replied. “After all, didn't you want to study cultures and religions?"

"Yes."

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

Six months out from Minbar, they phased into normal space and found themselves about five-hundred thousand kilometers from an Earthlike planet. Scans revealed a system of satellites in orbit. Closer scrutiny of the largest moon revealed the presence of a station of some kind. This species might be advanced enough to be approached. It was worth a careful look.

"How do you want to do this, G'Kar?" Asked Lyta.

"We get close and monitor their communications and see what they have for surface development," answered the Narn.

They spent the next week in high orbit monitoring the communications and surface activity on the planet. On the planet there were many different factions with their own governments and areas of political control. It reminded Lyta and G'Kar of the divisions on Earth during its late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. The various factions had developed alliances among themselves. There wasn't a central point of government or political control. There was a political organization that was loosely organized that moderated arguments between members, but had limited enforcement powers.

G'Kar moved his ship into a lower orbit. At this point electronic surveillance equipment in several of the 'countries' detected its presence. Their space programs were very early in their development and no one could send anything up to check the intruder out.

"Have you found anyplace that looks good for a landing, G'Kar?”

"I have found what looks to be a large city that houses the center of the world alliance referred to in their communications broadcasts. I suppose it’s as good a place to start as any. I am going to try to make contact with them from up here," replied the Narn. "Have you been able to get anything from them telepathically?"

They had been able to decipher transmissions that were some sort of audio/video combination. From their monitoring they learned that the World Alliance was similar to the old Earth United Nations, but with a lot more clout. This alliance had its own formidable military arm. The monitoring also gave them their first looks at what the natives looked like. *Feline* was the first impression that Lyta got looking at the natives in the audio/video transmissions. Graceful and beautiful was her second impression. Some of the audio/video presentations had reminded her of an Earth ballet. The images showed the dancers in a variety of situations and left Lyta with the impression that in spite of their feline features, their body hair appeared, what she could see of it, to have developed similarly to the way it had in Humans; on most of their bodies it was rather sparse. The computers were working on identifying references for language translation. Lyta had easily been able to isolate single minds in the population below, but lack of audible and visual references rendered her efforts at learning the languages she encountered difficult. Like Earth, there were many different languages and dialects within these languages. While her Vorlon enhanced mind was the equal of any computer, even she had to have references.

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

In Ursing, one of the countries on the planet, a young radar operator had passed the alarm the instant the object had appeared on his screen. Because of its altitude, the computer did not recognize it. Nothing but a satellite should have been where the object was. His superior ordered all targeting radars to track the object. Unlike the general search radar that had first detected the object, the targeting radars and their computers, primitive as they were, could track the object and determine its course, altitude and speed, even though it was far outside any weapons range.

As G'Kar's ship passed overhead in each country, the scene from the first one was repeated many times. Most of the weapons systems on the planet that could, were targeting him.

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

"I don't think the natives are friendly," said G'Kar.

"We are an unknown, therefore, we are something to be feared," replied Lyta. "Their reaction is normal."

"Have you had any luck getting a response from anyone down there?"

"G'Kar, you will be the second one to know when I do."

"Are you ready to play target?"

"No, but we’ll have to land sooner or later, regardless."

"Here we go, Lyta."

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

G'Kar dropped toward the planet until they were fifty kilometers from the surface. In the various capitols, this move caused minor panics. They were still far beyond weapons range, and no one was answering Lyta’s and G’Kar’s calls. In the capitols of the largest and most powerful nations, the phones were ringing off their hooks as leader after leader tried to find assurances that the ship wasn't a secret weapon of one of their competitors. In every country that had them, interceptor aircraft were being scrambled to meet the threat.

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

Watching the aircraft on the scanners, Lyta remarked, "I think we have their attention."

"I'd settle for a response to our communications efforts," replied G'Kar.

"They shouldn't be able to hurt us," commented Lyta.

"Oh? And why not?" Asked G'Kar.

"While you were doing research on Minbar, I had the ship outfitted with new armor. We have two centimeters of armor made from that material my company developed, with ten centimeters of my new insulation between it and our main hull. The computers and weapons were upgraded too. Since the upgrades didn’t affect the interfaces we use with our equipment, I forgot to tell you about it," answered Lyta.

G'Kar turned and gave her a strange look.

"Get over it, G'Kar. We may not be able to take out a destroyer, but any raiders dumb enough to attack us are in for a rude surprise."

At Lyta's statement, G'Kar dropped further into the atmosphere. At ten kilometers he leveled off and reduced speed to five-hundred kilometers per standard hour. Ship's sensors detected changes in the targeting radars indicating that lock-on had been achieved. Aircraft were now approaching on intercept courses. There were still no responses to Lyta's attempts to communicate.

"I am going to try and keep them from damaging us," commented Lyta. Saying that she closed her eyes and let her mind expand until she could sense and locate every aircraft and missile installation within a three-hundred kilometer radius. "They are firing missiles at us, G'Kar."

"I’m detecting them on our sensors," replied G'Kar.

The missiles that were being launched detonated just after clearing their launchers. Inside the launch control centers there was chaos. In addition to the destruction of the SAM's (surface-to-air missiles), the targeting and tracking radars became non-operational.

As the interceptor aircraft closed to missile range, Lyta turned her attention to them. The SAM threat had been neutralized. Several fighter pilots attempted to launch their missiles and found that their engines had failed. Without power, their weapons systems were non-functional. As they fell away toward the ground, G'Kar piloted his ship toward the city that was apparently the one in which the world alliance headquarters center was located.

Dropping to less than six hundred meters, G'Kar flew over the city at less than two-hundred KPH. Sighting what appeared to be a large stadium less than ten kilometers from the World Alliance headquarters building he chose that as his landing area. Ten minutes later his ship was on the ground.

"Well, Lyta, what now?"

"We wait. Their police and military should be getting here before too long. Let them get settled first. I think they’ll try to contact us. Let me take it from there. You and Maya stay in the ship." Thinking for a moment, she continued, "I don't have as good a handle on the language as I would like. There are so many of them. I’ll have to play it by ear."

"You Humans have a saying for every occasion," replied G'Kar.

"Just part of our versatility, G'Kar," answered Lyta.

It had been over two hours since they had landed and G'Kar and Lyta had been watching first the police and then what was obviously the military set up exclusion areas and weapons, all trained on the ship. They had deployed at least a thousand troops around the stadium grounds. There was evidence of a public communications system being set up farther back toward the stands. They figured it was probably the local version of ISN.

A ground vehicle approached the front of the ship and stopped about thirty meters from it. What seemed to be the local equivalent of two men stepped from it. Using the ship's scanners Lyta took a closer look and could see the trappings of an apparently high ranking military person. The other was dressed in what she guessed was the local version of a business suit. Upon closer scrutiny of the images on the monitor, Lyta realized that although they were bipeds and their facial features were feline, they looked remarkably human in spite of small horizontal patches of whiskers on either side of what could only be a small nose. They didn’t seem to have as much hair distributed over their bodies as an Earth mammal, excepting humans. She could see nothing to indicate that they had tail like their terran counterparts either. These observations were similar to what she had already seen on the images they had monitored from orbit.

Opening an outer hatch and lowering a stairway from the lower part of the ship, Lyta told G'Kar, "Here goes nothing. Retract the stairs as soon as I step off of them. Monitor and record everything that happens."

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

"What do you think, General?” Asked the diplomat.

"They haven't done anything so far except sit there. It is almost as if they are waiting for us to make the first move," replied General Torok. "I am uneasy, but they could have come in shooting, so we shall see."

An aide climbed out of the back of the vehicle and set up several chairs and a table in front of it.

As they watched a stairway was lowered from the bottom of the ship and a slender being with hair like fire descended to the ground. It stopped there and carefully looked around in all directions in a slow and deliberate fashion. After a few minutes, apparently at ease with what it saw, it began to walk toward them in at a leisurely pace. It stopped when it was about four meters away, apparently waiting for something. It studied the general, the diplomat and the troops even more carefully than it had at the bottom of the stairway.

It held out one of its hands and revealed a small softly glowing ball. The general was obviously apprehensive, while the diplomat was curious.

"Greetings," a neutral voice said, and the glow of the ball changed as the words were spoken.

They had not seen the being's lips move. "I wish peace with you", it continued and then went back to waiting.

The diplomat looking intrigued, asked, "How is it you speak our language?"

"Translator device programmed during observation time," responded the redheaded alien.

The diplomat wasn't sure he trusted appearances, but he would later swear the being was amused by the encounter. It had what appeared to be laughter in its eyes. He said, "I am Ambassador Hental. I represent what passes for a planetary government on Glenthor. That is what we call our planet."

Hesitating, Lyta replied, "I understand. I am Lyta." Then thoughtfully, "I am . . . traveling on quest."

The diplomat looked at the general, puzzled.

"You are seeking something? What?" Asked the general.

"Yes. Understanding," replied Lyta through the orb. She was carefully reading their body language and correlating what she saw with what they said and what they were thinking. The diplomat was at ease. He was satisfied to let things proceed and see where they went. The general, on the other hand, was very uncomfortable. He was suspicious by nature and training. It was part of what he was, a competent military leader. She was disturbed though because the general had three snipers deployed, and they had her head targeted. With a thought she deceived them into actually targeting the general and the diplomat. If he gave a signal to fire, he would dead before his heart beat again. The rest of the military men deployed around the ship would swear they had spent the time at the beach.

Lyta took a chair and sat down at the small table. From all appearances she didn't have a care in the world, which was true. The two men looked at one another and also sat down.

"Lyta, what can we do for you?" Asked the diplomat.

"Supplies, information. We will give information and technology in return," answered Lyta.

"You are not alone?" Queried the general.

After asking his question he stepped back and had a private word with one of his two aides. The man spoke into a communications device he was carrying. He ordered the snipers to target both Lyta and the diplomat. The general had his plans in motion and intended to use the opportunity of the alien landing to get it started.

"Have offspring and traveling companion," she answered. She was bothered by what she had seen in the general's mind. Her listening in to his thoughts as he consulted with his aides only confirmed her first impressions. He was opportunistic and was a power broker and power seeker. It wasn't a good combination. The diplomat, on the other hand was relieved. The mention of her offspring caused him to relax noticeably. Rightly or wrongly, in his mind he equated having offspring with one as being a sign of non-hostile intentions. The snipers who were targeting the diplomat shifted their aim to the generals aides, however, from their point of view their rifles never moved.

"When do we get to meet them?" Asked the general.

Lyta seeing his intentions in his mind, and replied, "Soon. They are wanting to smell the plants and feel the breeze." She sensed the general's intense increase in anticipation. He could already see how capturing the ship would raise his standing. Killing her and her companion and capturing her young would be so much the better. Having the ambassador get killed at the same time would be another plus. The general didn't like the man because he was a civilian and a thorn in his side. If he was to be killed accidentally, who could blame him.

The general had planned to use the assassination of Hental as a signal for his associates to initiate a coup of the Planetary center of government. The opportunity to use media coverage of Lyta’s arrival for the assassination to be broadcast live, was too much of an opportunity to ignore. Unfortunately for the general and his staff aides, Lyta and company were not regular, run-of-the-mill sheep.

Three meters behind the general, his aides were whispering to each other about what was to come. The general moved his hand in the prearranged gesture and his senior staff aide spoke into a communicating device he was holding in his hand. The word was received by the snipers and they began to squeeze the triggers of their weapons. In less than two seconds from three separate parts of the stadium, three separate bullets were on their way to the targets.

The bullets were very special. They were hypersonic, thin metal, filled with a very heavy liquid metal. They would shatter upon penetrating a skull bone, generating a massive hydrostatic shock. An explosion without any explosive. One of them would shatter a skull like a high explosive detonated internally, raining skull fragments and liquefied brains over a five meter square area.

There was a sickening splat as the heads of the general's aides vanished in a rain of liquefied brains and skull bone fragments. The general moved suddenly and the bullet aimed at his head whizzed by and tore a 16 centimeter hole in the ground 10 meters beyond the general's position. Moving quickly, the general reached the body of his senior aide and grabbed the communication device, but before he could speak into it, the sniper had reloaded, reacquired his target and fired again. The general's head exploded, further showering the diplomat and Lyta with brain, bone fragments and gore.

Lyta rendered the snipers unconscious and looked at the ambassador. Ambassador Hental was visibly shaken. He looked at the bodies and the ground vehicle. A major got out, and talking into a communication device, walked over to the ambassador.

"We have the snipers in custody, Sir," said the major, handing a cloth to Lyta so she could wipe the blood and gore from her face and clothing.

Wiping herself, Lyta said, "Ambassador, I need to clean up. Can we meet here again in about one standard hour?"

The ambassador nodded and stepped over to the bodies. He wasn't squeamish, but it was a mess, not for the weak of stomach. He realized that the redheaded alien had addressed him in perfect Glenthorian, the official diplomatic language, and the orb had never changed brightness. He turned to ask it how it had managed that, but it was at the steps leading into its ship. He also wondered why the happenings of the last few minutes had no apparent effect on it. That last observation worried him just a little bit.

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

Lyta, drying off after her shower, asked, "What's bothering you G'Kar?"

"What happened out there?"

"They were going to kill you, mommy and the Ambassador," said Maya.

"She is correct, G'Kar. The general and his aides set it up. I just set them up," replied Lyta.

"I suppose they will conduct an investigation?" He asked.

"They will, and they will find out that a coup was averted. They won't care why the general died. It will be assumed that one of his co-conspirators had a change of heart. There is no reason for them to suspect, I was responsible, or involved," said Lyta.

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

An hour later a ground car that was obviously meant for VIPs pulled up under G'Kar's ship. Two civilian's got out and waited alongside it. The stairway was lowered and Lyta went down to meet the men. She had already met the ambassador, the other was a stranger, she learned that he was the ambassador’s aide.

She, G'Kar and Maya were to be taken to meet the inner circle of the president’s council. The ship’s stairway retracted as they got into the ground vehicle. The trip to the council chambers only took thirty minutes. Having an escort cleared away traffic. Lyta let G'Kar use the translation orb to explain why they were there and what they wanted. She and Maya sat listening, saying nothing. It took a bit of explaining about the relationship between her and the Narn. The council relaxed after she and Maya were explained.

Lyta and G'Kar learned that the general and his co-conspirators had been suspected for some time. The fiasco at the stadium had allowed internal security to obtain the leads necessary to squelch the coup. The president expressed regret that it had occurred during Lyta's meeting with Ambassador Hental.

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

The meeting with the president and his council resulted in Lyta, G'Kar and Maya having a very pleasant and fruitful stay on Glenthor. They departed promising that the Interstellar Alliance would be contacting the president within a short time.

Upon reentering hyperspace G'Kar transmitted an encrypted brief of their recent experience. This was answered by a whitestar arriving in orbit above Glenthor less than a month later with a preliminary diplomatic staff on board. Lyta's contributions to this success were never documented or acknowledged. Because of this, and due to her own efforts, Lyta's presence on the planet went unrecorded.

G'Kar had managed to access some available records, but it had been a laborious task, due to the lack of data storage technology. He had also been able to have access to some religious leaders, and with Lyta as interpreter had managed to get a better idea about the culture. Using Ambassador Hental as a front, Lyta had also bought a large farm and got involved in some other business dealings. These were to bear fruit in massive quantities in the years to come. She explained to G'Kar that this would be a nice place to settle down.

part 4
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