From digit@tidepool.comFri Mar 8 21:29:37 1996 Date: Sat, 02 Mar 1996 00:47:56 -0800 From: Digit Reply to: b5-creative@blob.best.net To: b5-creative@blob.best.net Subject: Daja When? Part1 of ??? Daja When? Part 1 of ??? -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= This is my first real story here or anywhere else so please tell me what you think. Good, bad, or indifferent all comments appreciated. If I messed something up obviously please don't hesitate to tell me. I need feedback if I am going to truly do a good job on this. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Babylon 5 copyright(left also?) JMS,PTEN,PARAMOUNT etc. =================================================================== She was standing in a very flat place, almost like a field. The sun was bright and Kosh was beside her whistling away happily in that sing song language of his. Ivanova had never understood him or his people and looking at some of what was happening right now, it seemed a good idea. Abruptly she realized what it was that was bothering her. She was standing in a field of hard baked high country desert flats. There were no real plants to be seen except for the occasional sage brush or cactus. The mountains were so far away as to be diminutive in size although their shapes said they were big. To top all this off, the place was so flat that the curvature of the Earth showed plainly. 'Wait a minute, ' she thought. ' Something is wrong here.'. 'What am I doing on "Earth?" ' Ivanova asked herself abruptly realizing that she recognized the Sun and knew that this was 'Earth'. Closing her eyes for a few moments and taking a deep breath, she was slowly able to tune out almost everything around her. Everything that is, except for that damn Kosh and his windchime for a voice. When Ivanova opened her eyes she was disappointed, the flat plain was still there and worse, she was still on it. Kosh still stood beside her sounding like an oriental tea party with a jazz band doing flutes. In front of her stood a man who at first glance was hard to describe. He had dark hair kind of short and worn in a style she had never seen. His eyes held a fervor that truly frightened her, a look that just said 'I Knew it, I knew it.'. He wore an authentic trenchcoat. 'Garibaldi would have loved it and tried to beg, borrow, buy or steal it from him given half a chance' she thought. He looked just like anyone else you would see anywhere except for that look in his eyes, that look bothered her. "Miss, Miss are you Okay?" a new voice spoke startling her out of her revelry, female this time. 'It' (the new voice) Ivanova thought to herself had come from beside the trenchcoat, er guy. She stood right at Ivanova's height, wore a matching trenchcoat and had shoulder length strawberry blond hair that seemed to wave slightly in the breeze she had just noticed. She looked shaken, but holding on to sanity by keeping her natural reserve up front for the world to see. "Yeah," she answered "I'm uhh, I'm fine thank you." Ivanova answered vaguely confused. "You looked like your mind was a million miles away for a moment there." The man commented. "Sorry about that I guess I was remembering something." Ivanova replied thinking to herself, 'No a little farther than that.'. The walking wind chime next to her changed tome for a moment and Ivanova "heard" him say "When it is time" in his usual cryptic manner that normally had nothing discernible to do with what was going on. This was no exception. "Time for what?" she asked turning to Kosh irritated. "You will know" Kosh replied in a series of sounds that would do a songbird proud. "Uh, Miss" the female was asking. "Ivanova, Commander Susan Ivanova" she replied. "Commander?" the female asked in return. "Yes, Commander Susan Ivanova Earth Force, assigned to Babylon 5." Ivanova replied out of habit. "This is your ship then?" the Man asked pointing behind her. "Huh?" she said starting to turn around. "Va, Are you Okay?" Came yet another voice, this one apparently from nowhere. Turning around she saw the Whitestar. It floated a few feet above the ground looking as if it were challenging anyone to say it wasn't allowed to float. A gentle wash of air was coming from the ship and she realized it was floating on antigravity in the desert on Earth, and she was standing there on earth with it talking to people she didn't know. She closed her eyes and prayed to a god she who had always helped her in her greatest hour of need to please help her now. When she heard a soft moaning she somehow knew was her, Ivanova knew something was horribly wrong. "Ay?" came the new voice again. "nggggh" "Are ... .. Ay?" the voice repeated more insistent. "No Go away" "Ivano ... ... You .. ... .. ,Ay?" the voice repeated louder. Abruptly she opened her eyes and found herself laying in Medlab1 with Dr. Franklin talking to her urgently. She looked around taking in all the familiar sights and sounds of Babylon 5. Lyta Alexander stood a few feet away looking very concerned. "You okay Ivanova?" Lyta asked. "Yeah just cherry, what the hell happened?" "Kosh and I found you collapsed in elevator four near your quarters. He helped me carry you here and said to stay and make sure you were okay. So are you?" "I'll bite, am I okay doc?" Ivanova asked. "Yes, you appear to be fine. Your endocrine levels were way off and your endorphines are still a mess but I can't see anything wrong. Just take easy for a few days. If you get dizzy or feel sick to your stomach come see me immediately. And I do mean immediately Ivanova not when you decide to get to it." Dr. Franklin answered not quite scolding her in concern. "Good, an excuse not to eat at the cafeteria for a few days." She quipped back, "And yes doctor, I will come back if I have any problems. By the way, how long have I been here?" "About three minute's total." Dr. Franklin answered. "Okay fine then. Uh, doctor, will you not mention this to the captain please - at least until I can say what happened." Ivanova asked cautiously. "Sure, for no problem for now but, if anything else happens, anything at all I will have to tell him, do you understand that?"Dr. Franklin questioned in return. "Sure doc, anything you say." Ivanova got off the bed and stood not shaky at all and proceeded out of Medlab1 Heading toward C&C with Lyta following. "I'm fine Lyta honest, just a little tired and shaken that's all. It'll pass." Ivanova said once they had left the Medlab behind. "Sorry commander, Kosh said to make sure you were okay and he was very specific about it." Lyta replied firmly. "Oh just 'Kosh' now is it? , well anyway what's he got to do with it?" she asked puzzled. "We were together when we found you in the elevator and he was very upset when we did." Lyta answered ignoring Ivanova's first question. "Well thanks. I appreciate you taking me to Medlab" Ivanova replied. "No problem Commander, no problem at all." Lyta responded. "You don't have to escort me to C&C. Honest I'm fine." "That's okay Commander," Lyta responded quietly. "There's plenty of time." -------------------------------------------------------------- end of original post -------------------------------------------------------------- As Ivanova and Lyta went down the hall way toward C&C Kosh stepped from a shadow and went in to see Dr. Franklin. "Ahh!," Dr. Franklin exclaimed as he turned around with a tray full of instruments and bumped into Kosh whom he hadn't heard enter Medlab. "Ambassador Kosh," Dr. Franklin asked by way of greeting, "what can I do for you?" Five flutes and an oboe later his little box responded "How is she?" "Who?" Dr. Franklin asked. "Commander." Kosh whistled in reply "Well, she appears to be fine. A little shaken up is all. Any idea what happened to her Ambassador?" he asked curiously at Kosh's interest. "Time will tell Doctor, thank you." Kosh whistled in yet another cryptic reply that left Dr. Franklin more puzzled than ever. Kosh turned away and left Medlab in his normal ponderous fashion, as usual leaving more questions in his wake than he answered. "Franklin to Garibaldi." Dr. Franklin spoke into his link as soon as he thought Kosh was safely out of ear shot. "Garibaldi here, what's up doc?" Garibaldi's voice answered momentarily from Dr. Franklin's link. "I need you to come to Medlab1 as soon as feasible" Dr. Franklin answered. "Sure doc, is there a problem?" the voice asked. "No, no problem really. I just need you to do me a favor." "Okay, it's oh eight fifty now. I'll see you about oh nine thirty when I finish my rounds in brown sector." "That would be great, thanx." "No problem. Garibaldi out." A little ways away around a corner Kosh stood next to a man in a brown uniform and quietly whistled a single word, "Good.". The man understanding something in this set out at once down a corridor to see some other men. Kosh headed for his ship. The vision's he had seen in Ivanova's mind's eye disturbed him. He needed to confer with others to confirm what he thought. In the mean time he could not let the others on the station know this development had taken him surprise. 'There needed to be order if there was to be victory.' Kosh thought as he went. Garibaldi saw the man almost running in his haste through brown sector but didn't stop him because he recognized him as a ranger. His direction however was puzzling, 'Why's he headed for that part of down below? ' Garibaldi asked himself rhetorically while he finished his rounds. When Lyta and Ivanova arrived in C&C they talked for a while with a few interruptions as ships came and went. Ivanova explained what each thing did one by one. From the Jumpgate opening detector to the magnetic grapples that aligned a ship so it could dock in the rotating section of the station Ivanova explained most everything that went on. While Ivanova and Lyta were talking in C&C Garibaldi made his way to Medlab1 to see Dr. Franklin. "What's up doc?" Garibaldi quipped poking his head in to Medlab1. "Cut the jokes Garibaldi, this is serious." Dr. Franklin replied. "Okay, fill me in." As Dr. Franklin proceeded to fill Garibaldi in on everything he knew about what had happened, Ambassador Delenn got a knock on her door. "Come." she said distractedly while she sat studying a scroll on her desk. The door opened to admit a man in a brown uniform that she recognized. He had unbeknownst to her just left another errand for Kosh and this was next on his list. Upon seeing whom it was Delenn rose. "Can I get you some tea. Lenier is not here at the moment, but, he made some earlier and it is still hot." "No thank you Ambassador, may we speak in private?" he asked even though they were alone in the room. "Certainly." she replied rising while removing a small privacy insurer from her robes, placing it on the table and activating it. "Now we are alone. You may speak freely." "Thank you Ambassador. I would not have disturbed you except that Ambassador Kosh specifically said to inform you that he would temporarily be off station checking on some things. He also wanted me to fill you in on some new developments." And he proceeded to tell Delenn what had happened to Ivanova. "And Kosh thinks it may have something to do with Draal's machine?" Delenn asked puzzled. "Yes Ambassador, something to do with possibilities and that recording of Morden with President Clark." the ranger replied somewhat uneasily. "Yes, this is most interesting, I will speak with Draal myself. Thank you." she replied sounding only half there. "Good day Ambassador." The ranger said bowing slightly and taking his leave. Delenn absently turned off the jammer and put it back in her robe considering how to contact Draal. When she did though; 'What could she tell him? ',' What did Kosh know that they didn't to make a connection between Draal's machine and Ivanova's collapse? ' and 'Why was he leaving the station? '. In Medlab1 Garibaldi was looking at Dr. Franklin and wondering if this day was already shot. "Kosh and Lyta brought Ivanova in? Does the captain know about this?" Garibaldi asked still trying to find a way the pieces fit together. "Yes, Kosh and Lyta brought her in. Lyta stayed and Kosh took off as fast as I have ever seen him move. Lyta left with Ivanova. Then right after they left, Kosh came in wanting to know if Ivanova was okay or not. When I told him, he just left." "Okay then" Garibaldi began when his Communit beeped. "Garibaldi here." He replied holding it up. "Ambassador Delenn wants to see you sir." the voice on the link replied. "What about?" He asked. "Wouldn't say exactly sir, just said she needed to see you about some kind of security arrangements." "More Minbari delegates coming in then." Garibaldi said more to himself than anyone. "I don't think so sir, we've had no messages from Minbar in three days." "Right, I'll get to it. Garibaldi out." he replied puzzled, "Wonder what she wants?" He mumbled, wondering out loud. "Just keep in mind what I told you, and Ivanova did ask me not to mention it to the captain just yet." Dr. Franklin said. "Yeah no problem. I'll keep an eye on her." Garibaldi replied distractedly. As Garibaldi was heading to Delenn's quarters a call came into C&C that grabbed Ivanova's attention. "Commander." The Comm officer spoke to get her attention. "Yes." she replied. "Ambassador Kosh requesting departure clearance." he replied. Ivanova looked over at Lyta who merely shrugged and looked back. Ivanova told the Comm officer to give him clearance. "Yes ma'am." he acknowledged then switched to Comm channels. "Babylon control to Vorlon Vessel, launch tube is clear, you are clear for departure." Without a reply Kosh's ship moved out thru the tube and away from the station proceeding to the jump gate which opened as he got there. Delenn sat on her couch wondering just how to approach Mr. Garibaldi with this request. She needed to leave the station without anyone knowing she was gone or she had to somehow contact the planet down below without anyone knowing she had. The thought of asking Lyta to contact Draal just seemed somehow wrong. She couldn't say how, it just did. As Delenn sat there thinking her door chime sounded startling her out of her revery. "Come" she spoke out loud. "You wanted to see me." Garibaldi said stepping in. "Yes Mr. Garibaldi thank you for coming, I need to ask a favor of you." Delenn replied getting up and placing the jammer back on the table and reactivating it. "Shoot." he replied eyeing the jammer curiously. "Your languages Amorphism's still escape me sometimes, but that I take it means to proceed." Delenn said slightly confused. "You bet." "Another Amorphism? Any way Mr. Garibaldi I need to get off the station for a while." Delenn replied hoping she understood everything Garibaldi was saying. "Shouldn't be a problem Ambassador. Your shuttle should be ready to go anytime." "Yes it is, that's not the problem however. I need off the station without anyone knowing that I'm gone." "For how long?" Garibaldi asked concerned. "Four to eight hours at most Mr. Garibaldi" Delenn replied seriously. "You don't want much do you?" "Please Mr. Garibaldi, this is most important. I have to contact Draal in person." Delenn replied flatly. "How do you plan on getting all the way down to the planet without turning into crispy critters?" Garibaldi asked. "If you mean without being destroyed, that is easy. Once around the planet from Babylon 5 I will send a tight beam message to Draal asking to come down. He will respond with permission to land." Delenn replied seriously. "Ambassador do you know how to handle anything except a Minbari shuttle?" "Well, no not really." "Then that means not only a pilot, but one who can be trusted totally. Got just the guy, he needs to be shaken up a bit anyway. Draal in person would be good for him." Garibaldi replied sounding like the cat who just ate the canary. "How soon can this be done?" Delenn asked. "How about an hour?" "That would be excellent Mr. Garibaldi, thank you." "No problem, just doing my job." he replied getting up heading out the door to go to a certain bar looking for a certain man named Marcus. "Oh, and Mr. Garibaldi." Delenn said quickly before he could get all the way out. "Lenier is going to be on earth for a few days. He will be taking my flyer, just wanted you to know." "Yeah thanks, anyway I'll see what I can do. See ya." Delenn sat thinking quietly for a moment after Garibaldi left. She got up and pocketed the jammer. Then got herself some tea and wished that Draal would make one of his unannounced visits and save them all the trouble. In C&C Ivanova was becoming suspicious of Lyta, she had hung around most of the day asking questions. Not once had Lyta let Ivanova out of her sight. The Comm officer, Lt/Jg Corwin was no help at all. He nearly drooled on Lyta whenever she asked a question and never seemed to tire of answering them. Ivanova suspected Lyta wasn't as blind to Corwin as she let on and had some other purpose for being here. 'You never take anything at face value when Dealing with Vorlons or anyone who dealt with them, let alone worked for them.' Ivanova thought to herself while watching Lyta. Garibaldi barely hit the restaurant when he spotted Marcus talking to someone and discretely signed for him meet Garibaldi soon. =============================================================== -- ------------------------- To all prospective authors: To Air is hewMan Never fear critisism; 2 rillE FouL theengS uph, Constructive or otherwise. reqYres a comPUtuR!!! The more they pick, The more they've read. ------------------------- Eng 1A. Instructor unknown. 12345678 The digit digit@tidepool.com http://www.tidepool.com/digit/digit.htm From digit@tidepool.com Wed May 29 19:13:03 1996 Date: Sun, 19 May 1996 19:06:47 -0700 From: "Digit: Aspiring Author; Fanfic Daredevil" Reply-To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com Subject: Daja When 2 of ????? Many many apologies for the delay in part two. Life decided I needed a break from writing so it gave me one. Which really stinks. Maybe now I can enjoy some background music for a few days. Just as a note, I did not get Delenns scene from WWE. I wrote that before the episode aired. Really kind of creepy to tell the truth. --------------------------------------------------------- All rights Copyright 1993-1996 JMS & Co. This is not intended to infringe or anything else. Strictly for the lists amusement. ---------------------------------------------------------- Anticilliary note: Kosh is not divine, Just musically inclined. Delenn sat thinking quietly after Garibaldi left. Slowly getting up she pocketed the jammer and silently wished that Draal would make one of his unannounced visits and save them all the trouble. In C&C, Ivanova was becoming suspicious of Lyta who had hung around most of the day asking questions. Not once it seemed, had Lyta let Ivanova out of her sight. The Comm. Officer, Lt/JG Corwin was no help at all. He nearly drooled on Lyta whenever she asked a question and never seemed to tire of answering them. Ivanova suspected Lyta wasn't as blind to Corwin as she let on, and had another purpose for being here. 'You never take anything at face value when dealing with Vorlons, anyone who dealt with them, let alone worked for them.' Ivanova thought to herself while watching Lyta. Garibaldi barely hit the restaurant when he spotted Marcus talking to someone and discretely signed for him meet Garibaldi soon. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Delenn was sitting in prayer, her quarters nearly dark when Lennier returned. "I have fin-Delenn," Lennier said in surprise, "Is there a problem?" "Lennier," Delenn answered quietly without rising from prayer. "I am glad that you have returned." "What is wrong?" He repeated concerned with the darkened quarters and her tone of voice. "I need a favor Lennier, but, I hesitate to ask it of you." "Anything Satai Delenn, anything at all. You know that." Lennier answered surprised by her words. "Lennier, I am Satai no more. You know that." Delenn replied wearily. "As you wish Delenn, you will however be Satai once more when this is all done. Of this, I am sure." Lennier replied calmly. "I don't think so Lennier, but it is of no matter. I do however need some information and yet, I still hesitate to ask it of you." Delenn replied quietly. "Delenn, when I chose your path, I defied many by doing so. That was before I knew you were Satai. I defied them by supporting you by my presence when they removed you. I defied them yet again by returning here and yet again to help defend Sheridan. As I believe Mr. Garibaldi would say 'I now defy them by just breathing'. So whatever it is you need you need only ask and it will be done. I have chosen my path and nothing will stray me from it." "I thank you Lennier, for your faith." Delenn replied still without rising, "I hope that this is nothing serious." "As I said Delenn, anything." Lennier stated flatly. "There is a place on Earth where it is so flat that you can see the world curve. It is dry there and has almost no trees, only small plants that seem to roll on the ground, and others that appear to be limbs with thorns. It is ringed by mountains so far away that they look to be tiny hills." Delenn said as though quoting from memory. "Yes Delenn." He replied, plainly puzzled. "Find it Lennier, I need to know where it is." "I will look it up immediately Delenn." Lennier replied turning to go. "No Lennier." Delenn spoke quietly and Lennier stopped and turned around looking puzzled. "But you just asked me to find it." "Yes Lennier, I need YOU to find it." "Me?" Lennier asked incredulously. "Yes Lennier, you." Delenn replied finally rising,"I need you to see it for yourself, to bring back to me what you saw there, to tell me what a Minbari sees there." "What a 'Minbari' sees?" Lennier asked back for understanding. "Yes Lennier, what a Minbari sees." "As you wish Delenn. What shall I say I am doing on Earth?" "Say that you wish to take a few days off. I will have you deliver the next diplomatic pouch going to Earth, then you can take a few days to look around. Just to see what's there." "I will leave with in the hour Delenn. However, I would ask one thing." Lennier said in return. "What is that Lennier?" Delenn asked back. "What this purpose does this serve? What difference does it make what a Minbari sees on Earth? This has my, what does Mr. Garibaldi call it?, Curiosity up." Lennier replied. "When it is time yes, I will be happy to tell you Lennier. Please let me know before you leave." Delenn responded as a polite dismissal not realizing she had just made her first pun. "Thank you Delenn, I will inform you before I depart Delenn." Lennier said as he exited her quarters to make preparations to leave. Meanwhile Marcus was just sitting at Garibaldi's table and G-Kar was receiving a visitor with important information. Lyta was still C&C watching Ivanova while waiting for Kosh to return. Kosh however, was in no particular hurry to return. The vision had plainly shown 'him' in it. That meant it could not happen until he returned to Babylon 5 or the Whitestar. Until he had more information, Kosh wasn't going near either one. He and many other Vorlon were 'listening' to the vision relayed to him by Lyta from the collapsed Ivanova and comparing it with what he had 'seen'. He was watching himself in it, listening to himself tell about what had happened. There would be a battle near where Babylon 4 had disappeared. Seven shadow ships would converge on the Whitestar and she would have to run. According to 'himself' they, the Whitestar, will destroy a shadow ship and have three follow them thru. Though 'he' had not said thru what. That left four to be planned for. It was 'his' usage of the human word 'TIME' in both visions that bothered him. The usage of another language was done only when it was essential to understanding a nuance. The Humans concept of time was both limited and different. They, the Vorlons, knew most of the sequence of events now and could be ready, other things happening around them told him it would be soon. While Kosh was debating the best way to proceed, Marcus was just finishing his usual banal pleasantries. Garibaldi was nursing a drink slowly when Marcus finally wound down and asked what was up. "Well Mr. Garibaldi, what can I do for you today?" Marcus asked. "You know how to pilot a shuttle craft right?" Garibaldi asked bluntly. "Yes, of course." "Good, you're hired." Garibaldi replied, suddenly smiling cheerfully. "I'm hired? For what?" "This Marcus, is your lucky day! Today you get to go where no Ranger has gone before, and you even get to live to tell about it." "Go where?" Marcus asked, very suspicious. "Oh, nowhere special." "Business or pleasure?" "Business, very business Marcus." Garibaldi replied still grinning as he sipped his drink. "What kind of business?" Marcus asked both curious and a little nervous, 'What kind of business would have Garibaldi drinking and still be in a good mood?' Marcus asked himself undecided whether he was more nervous or curious. "Cheers." Garibaldi said raising the glass as though to finish it then changing his mind, "Better yet, you finish it." He continued while setting the glass in front of Marcus, "When you've finished that, go see Delenn. She'll explain." And rose to leave. "What's going on Mr. Garibaldi?" Marcus asked yet again. "Oh, nothing much. Delenn'll fill you in." Garibaldi replied straitfaced turning around and walking off. "But Gari..." Marcus began and found himself talking to Garibaldi's receding back as he walked away. Marcus sat there for a few moments thinking before deciding that; 'if it was serious enough for Garibaldi to have a drink, it's serious enough for me.'. Grimacing ahead of time he raised the glass to finish it off and nearly choked. He had been expecting anything except what he found. 'Damn!' he thought to himself, 'WATER?', that sure wasn't what he thought was in the glass. 'Then again' he thought, 'that might mean something to.'. If nothing was what it seemed? Then what was the real reason for seeing Delenn? And how was he going to get even with Garibaldi for that? Garibaldi watched nearly stifling laughter as Marcus choked on of all things, straight water. Garibaldi had spent weeks watching Marcus spend weeks watching Garibaldi, Marcus had come to assume that the barkeep put whisky in Garibaldi's cup when he came here for a drink every day and looked morose while he drank it. That led Marcus to think that Garibaldi was a little closer to the edge than he really was. Now Marcus would really wonder what Garibaldi drank when he came here. It also told him without words to keep his eyes and ears open because none of them really knew what was happening. Besides Marcus was always in to good of a mood anyway. Lennier stood in his quarters looking at a sculpture in the corner. It was a miniature of a greater statue in one of the halls where he had studied. It depicted Valen with a Vorlon in the inevitable encounter suit at the commencement of the last war. 'Did he?' Lennier wondered, 'know what was to come?'. The same wonder that he felt looking at the statue came to him as he thought of the coming conflict. Did he (Valen) really know what he was doing? Or did he do as we do and just do what he could, his best. 'Is Delenn the one?' He wondered thinking back on things that Delenn could not know. Where she was from and where she went there were some things that simply did not get said. Valen had also arranged that when the time came for the next war there would be the help that the great leaders of this time would need. Each generation a few from each Fane chose those that they believed would rise. They said nothing of why they were really there, Their only job was to be there when needed. He had chosen Delenn. Was she Minbari like no other Minbari? Thinking of the change she had undergone, Or was she just simply doing her job as she saw it. Since her transformation she had seemed more human, as many said she did. However, what he did not say was that according to scrolls he had access to during his Acolytehood, she was also much more Valen like. The connecting of things unrelated, to find a common whole not previously known. Finally the phrase he had been trying to remember came to mind. "Who watches the watchers?" Was the way that Garibaldi had put it? 'Does someone watch me as I watch Delenn?' Lennier asked himself as he packed. These humans confused many issues with their way of thinking and he found it somewhat infectious. 'Am I' Lennier asked himself, 'Still the Minbari I once was?' looking at how quickly he had begun to pickup the human phrases that never seemed to say what they said. These matters disturbed him greatly as he went about his duties. Delenn behaved more and more like a nexus every day. The Grey Council may have removed her, but, they still read her reports each time they went in. These reports were not turned over to underlings for categorization, they were directly read and reviewed by the Grey Council Itself. 'Could the Council suspect finally?' Lennier asked himself. 'Are they using her as a pawn?' Knowing all the while that she can't truly be a tool. Do they really think she could be controlled so easily? Or did they release her from the Council so that she could move freely about and do her job, Her destiny? 'Always err on the side of caution.' Lennier remembered Garibaldi saying. So packed for a couple of weeks trip he stopped at Delenn's quarters to tell her he was leaving. "Come." Delenn said answering the door chime from the little kitchenette. "Delenn." Lennier said in greeting as he stepped thru the door. "Lennier, thank you for stopping before you leave." "Is there a problem?" "No Lennier, no problem at all. I just simply wanted to tell you to take my flyer to go to Earth." She replied from beside the stove in the kitchenette. "Your flyer?" he asked puzzled. "Why umm, yes Lennier," She replied stumbling verbally while she contrived an excuse. "so that you can have autonomy and can return anytime you wish after you have taken a few days to look around." "If you say so, though it is highly unusual, If you truly wish it, I will naturally do so." "Yes Lennier, it is my wish for you to do so." Delenn replied seeming distracted. "May I ask why?" Lennier asked puzzled enough to want some kind of reassurance. "Lennier," Delenn replied, stretching his name out just a little "Is it possible that I thought you might just like to take your time and get there when you are ready to face all of those humans at once. Officially however, it is so that you can be back here quickly if I need you for anything." "Thank you Delenn, I gladly accept. It will help make it a more pleasant trip." Lennier replied keeping his voice neutral even though he knew somehow that it was what Garibaldi called a 'Snow Job.'. Though he didn't understand what job the snow had and made a mental note to look up 'Snow' and what it did when he got back. "Have a good trip Lennier." Delenn said as both a sign not to ask questions and a polite, but firm dismissal. "Thank you Delenn, I shall." Lennier replied heading out then door nearly running into a frustrated Marcus about to ring. Marcus simply entered before it closed and asked what was going on. When Garibaldi arrived in C&C a few minutes later. He was somehow not surprised to find Lyta there. In fact with the way this day was going it made a crazy kind of sense. 'Careful,' he told himself 'you might be going off the deep end if you can make sense of this place on a day to day basis.' From where he was at no one on duty in C&C could see Garibaldi. On sudden inspiration he took advantage of Lyta being there since he needed to arouse no attention what so ever if at all if he possibly could. 'I need to speak to Ivanova alone.' He thought as loudly as he could straight at Lyta picturing himself standing face to face with her. He knew that anyone could reach a Teep if they really tried. He didn't really want her or anyone else in his head, but, if she could pick up what he wanted her to then all would be fine. After all she was working for Kosh, and if they couldn't trust Kosh than it was already over anyway. 'About what?' came the whispered question in his mind. Thinking quickly, Garibaldi envisioned what he needed to do. Next he broke it down into a couple of simple images. Then concentrated on Lyta once more. Ivanova and Lyta continued talking as though nothing was happening. Garibaldi began to think his brilliant plan had failed until he caught a single word. 'Patience.' 'Creepy,' he thought to himself, 'now she's beginning to sound like Kosh. Vorlons must be rub off on you after a while.'. Still watching, he saw Ivanova ask Lt/JG Corwin, to show Lyta some piece of equipment concerning monitoring the jump gate. Ivanova then assumed the comm station herself. Garibaldi waited a couple of more minutes until he heard another single word 'Now.' He then proceeded into C&C and looked around for Ivanova. Heading over to where she was he stood so that his body formed a shield around them and blocked most of the sound of their talking from anyone else in the room. "Okay, What's this about a secret shuttle trip for Delenn to Earth." Ivanova asked Puzzled. "No, Lennier's Going to Earth, Delenn's going to the planet below." "Oh I see, I guess that makes more sense." Ivanova replied sounding relieved, "Why's she need to go down there?" "I guess my idea didn't work to well did it?" "Well, she said the images were a little hard to understand, and next time to try to see it from her point of view. She also said something about having to speak the language to convey anything except simple thoughts telepathically. How did you come up with that anyway? You almost scared her half to death, she said you sounded like somebody was dead or something." "Sorry about that. I guess I just made it up because I didn't want you to be heading over here after I showed up. To damn many Nightwatch arm bands around for my liking." "No problem, so what's happening?" Ivanova asked mentally counting arm bands she had seen in C&C today. "Lennier is going to Earth to deliver some papers to Earthdome." "I thought they had a courier for that." "They do," Garibaldi replied,"however I think Lennier is going to Earth in Delenn's shuttle to do something for her. What I want to do is have the record state that Delenn went with him, at least for a while anyway." "And she's going to the planet?" "Yeah." Garibaldi replied smiling. "How's she going if Lennier has her shuttle? And what's so funny?" Ivanova asked seeing Garibaldi's grin. "In a shuttle do to leave in about ten minutes. The funny part is that Marcus is playing Chauffeur." "Chauffeur?" Ivanova asked puzzled by the word. "Yeah, he's driving, uh piloting since Delenn can't fly anything except Minbari flyers." "Okay, Lenniers going to Earth I can see why he can't do it, but why Marcus?" "I thought it might to him good to have a nice long conversation with Draal." Garibaldi replied looking very like the cat who ate the canary. "Yeah," Ivanova replied nearly choking "that would be perfect, They'll get along great." "That's what I thought. Do him good to get shaken up with a little Draal one-on-one." "Don't have a spare camera do you? Captain'd get a kick out of this. The most Unflappable versus the most Ostentatious. This I gotta see." "I don't think Marcus would appreciate it very much though." Garibaldi replied. "True, although it would be fun to see." "Yeah but I suppose we can't though, can we?" "No, not really." "To bad, Any way Lennier's headed out almost any time. Then right after he heads out, Marcus is going out in a borrowed shuttle craft." Garibaldi said filling her in. "Any body else going crazy today?" "Going crazy?, Anybody ELSE?" "Yeah, first I can't shake Lyta. Then Kosh heads out of here like half the Shadows are chasing him. Now Lenniers going to Earth for no apparent reason and Markuss is taking Delenn down to the planet below. Next the captain will show up wanting to go play in a star fury again, Uh log flight time on patrol to keep his flight pay." Ivanova replied sounding emotionally overloaded. -- ------------------------------------------------------------ WARNING THERE BE SPOILERS HERE!!!!!!!!! ------------------------------------------------------------ Only one Human captain has ever survived battle To all prospective authors: with a Minbari fleet. Never fear critisism; He is behind me. Constructive or otherwise. You are in front of me. The more they pick, If you value your lives: The more they've read. BE SOMEWHERE ELSE!!!! Eng 1A., Instructor unknown. Delenn:Severed Dreams. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 12345678 digit@tidepool.com The--Digit mailto:digit@tidepool.com 9ABCDEF0 http://www.tidepool.com/digit/digit.htm ------------------------------------------------------------- From digit@tidepool.com Sun Dec 22 23:19:26 1996 Date: Fri, 13 Sep 1996 08:58:11 -0700 From: "Aspiring Author;Fanfic DareDevil" To: b5-creative@lists.best.com Subject: Daja When III Sorry to take so bloody long on this. Life decided I needed a writing break. I have hopefully fixed this problem for a while. As usual blame me for all mistakes not any beta readers. B5 is as always copyright the peole who made it. Comments critisms etc. welcome. -------------------------------------------------------- "No, not really we can't." "To bad, Any way Lennier's headed out almost any time then right after he heads out Marcus is going out in a borrowed shuttle craft." Garibaldi said to fill her in. "Anybody else going crazy today?" She asked. "Going crazy? , Anybody else?" "Yeah, first I can't shake Lyta. Then Kosh heads out of here like half the shadows are chasing him. Now Lenniers going to earth for no apparent reason and Marcus is taking Delenn down to the planet below. Next the captain will show up wanting to go play in a Starfury again. Uh, I mean log flight time on patrol to keep his flight pay." Ivanova replied sounding emotionally overloaded. ------------------------------------------------------------- "Cute save." "Thank you." Ivanova replied smiling. "Problem?" She asked a moment later noticing that Garibaldi looked a million miles away. "No, Lyta asked how long to keep him occupied." Garibaldi replied. "How long do we need?" "Till Delenns gone." Garibaldi replied closing his eyes for a moment then muttering low repeating what he had just said. "Hurry," he 'heard' Lyta's telepathic reply laughing."He might be drooling on me by then if you don't." "She says Hurry," Garibaldi commented in a conspiratorial whisper, "He might be drooling on her by then if we don't." "You know," Garibaldi continued as he shivered involuntarily, "this is weird, just knowing what someone is saying without hearing them. Eerie!" "Minbari Flyer to Babylon Control requesting clearance to leave docking bay." Lennier's voice came over intercom interrupting both of their's quiet laughter at Lyta's 'tone' of 'voice'. "Minbari Flyer this is Babylon Control, hold for shuttle /Aries/ currently docking." Ivanova replied via the intercom to Lennier all business now that it had begun. "Minbari flyer to Babylon Control. Holding." "Babylon Control this is shuttle /Aries/. We will be clear of central docking tube in one minute." A new voice came on. "Babylon Control to shuttle /Aries/. Understood, Please advise when you are clear." "Shuttle /Aries/ to Babylon Control. Will advise when clear." "Babylon Control to Minbari flyer. one minute to clearance. Will advise." "Minbari flyer to Babylon Control. Standing by." "Babylon Control to Minbari flyer. Please send Flight plan now." "Minbari flyer to Babylon Control. Sending." Ivanova sat watching the screen as the flight plan for Lennier's shuttle came up. When it was done, she scrolled back to the passenger section and added Ambassador Delenn to the list officially going out. "Shuttle /Aries/ to Babylon Control." "Babylon Control to shuttle /Aries/. Go ahead." "Shuttle /Aries/ to Babylon Control. We are clear, I repeat we are clear of docking tube. Proceeding to bay two dock seven." "Babylon Control to shuttle /Aries/. Acknowledge tube clear proceeding to bay two dock seven." "Shuttle /Aries/ to Babylon Control. Affirmative, will advise when docked." "Babylon Control to shuttle /Aries/. Acknowledged." "Babylon Control to Minbari flyer. You are clear to cast off moorings and proceed to docking tube. You have right of way." "Babylon Control to all ships in docking sections. Minbari flyer currently has the tube I repeat Minbari flyer has the tube. Will advise when clear." Even as Lennier was going down the launch tube, Delenn was quietly boarding a skiff with Marcus in bay five. Marcus sat waiting for three more ships to leave before he went. The skiff, like its name implied, was a small and agile craft. Originally designed for running about in the asteroid belt they had quickly become the ship of choice for those who just wanted to look around. The Twenty-third century equivalent to the venerable bug. Two days away by Jumpgate a man dreamed the leaving of Lennier. He saw a tiny piece of light leave the great light and come toward him in his mind's eye. Among the survivors of his people his was the strongest gift of foreseeing. He called to his great grandson to help him. They had many miles to cover before the moon rose high. Though early, four hours before the dawn, they set out along the mountain paths slowly heading for a little known place that had survived the centuries relatively unscathed. As he rode, he dozed lightly, his spirit singing loudly as his people had for millennia, to his brothers in the stars. A haunting melody that seemed to verge on words then drift away. He sang that he was coming and the time was near. Marcus and Delenn were silent on the journey to the planet below. Delenn was lost in her own thoughts and Marcus was trying to figure out how to get them away if anything went wrong. He knew on an intellectual level that Draal was on their side But had that nagging feeling that they didn't know everything he did. The silence was broken abruptly by a voice behind them nearly causing Marcus to send them into a spin. "Hello Delenn!" Draal's voice boomed in the relatively confined space of the control cabin. "Hello Draal," Delenn managed after a moment, "Thank you, for noticing us." "How could I help it? " He asked loud enough to rattle the walls making Marcus wonder if they heard him all the way back at the station even through the vacuum of space. "You come down like a rock at my little domicile and I'm not supposed to notice." "Well thank you anyway Draal." Delenn replied not quite certain how to treat the mood Draal seemed to be in. " Draal this is . . . " "Marcus COLE!" Draal boomed even louder. "Uh yes" Delenn replied "Ah Mr. Cole how nice to see you and make your acquaintance at last. I've heard so much about you in fact I hear so much about everyone that I sometimes feel like I know everyone there is to know and sometimes I feel the need to talk to someone anyone at all you seem to be just the type to be worth talking to and how can I help you today? Or is this just a social call? .." "No," Delenn said somewhat louder than she really intended, "It is not. We need some information Draal." Delenn finished a little calmer with an apologetic look at Marcus who seemed to almost cringing in his seat at Draal's monolog. "Uh, could we resume this in a minute please?" Marcus asked quietly in a momentary pause. "Oh I'm sorry, you have to land don't you?" Draal commented in almost normal tones, " I'll see you there." "Is he always so.." Marcus asked after a few moments of silence. "Loud?" Delenn supplied in the pause. "Well I wouldn't want to hurt anyones feelings." "You won't. Draal is a little hard to take sometimes but he means well. And he does spend a lot of time in that machine and sometimes he forgets little things." Delenn said sounding unsure of how to say what she wanted to say. "Like the volume?" "Among others, yes." As Delenn and Marcus landed on the planet and went to meet Draal, Lyta was wandering around C&C just watching everyone and trying her level best to keep a strait face. Corwin was almost laughably cute trying to answer her questions and at the same time trying to please Ivanova. If he half a clue of how loud he was broadcasting emotions, he would have died of embarrassment. So lost was she in her reverie that at first she missed the noise that meant something interesting was happening. "Jumpgate online," Someone announced, "Something coming through." "It's, Uhh ... They're Vorlon sir, Nine of them." "How many?" Lyta heard Ivanova ask. "Nine sir." "Nine?" Ivanova repeated the obvious. "Yes Sir, Nine. Staggered diamond formation." Lyta didn't need to ask what that meant because every mind in the C&C fairly shouted the same thought at the same time, "Attack formation.". She knew it wasn't but how could she tell Ivanova when she didn't know why they were here. A moment later she heard a song as though on the wind, a light melody with heavy undertones that seemed to echo in her bones. "Hail them." Ivanova ordered as she looked sideways at Lyta a questioning look on her face. Lyta responded with an encouraging smile trying to convey that they were no threat. "They have responded sir." Corwin replied. "What do they want?" "They say they are waiting for Kosh to return." Lyta made her way to Ivanova and said perhaps she should go. Standing around when nothing was going on was one thing, but right now this was another, and let her know that they were not a threat. Lyta quickly made her way to Kosh's quarters. There were arrangements she had to make. Ivanova watched fascinated as eight of the ships launched ships that looked like Kosh's and went to the center ship. A few minutes later a single ship emerged from the center one and hailed them. "Commander they are requesting entry clearance, routing them to head of queue." "Belay that. They can take their place in line just like everyone else." Ivanova said with a lot more confidence than she really felt. "But Commander, they have . . . " "I Know Lt./JG. They have nine ships out there that look like any one of which could mop up earth force for an afternoons fun but, there are people in line ahead of them. And if those people are half as intelligent as I give them credit for they will hurry their asses up and get out of their way. We might even get a decent days work thanks to them." "Yes sir, Uh Ma'am." Ivanova had to smile at herself a little. Corwin was doing pretty good. She released the button on her console so that what she said no longer broadcast over the comm. channel for docking. It already working, a Centauri Shuttle was sitting very quietly behind a Freighter that everyone knew was carrying Narn refugees'. All in all, it made for a very quiet afternoon. Kosh was still not coming back to the station and Lyta knew it. She somehow had to keep the Vorlon coming on board from starting a panic because Kosh wasn't back. The Vorlon weren't the problem, the station crew was. Nobody was used to having even one Vorlon around, let alone nine ships worth. She could already feel the difference around her as she made her way to Kosh's quarters. The normal end of day rush of people coming and going seemed somehow subdued, like the quiet before the storm. Kosh for his part was singing a lonely tune with another he knew who was telling him much. The information he sought was going to come soon. A few days at most and the traveler would return. Marcus was if anything in a worse mood than Kosh. He had been talked at by the rather loud and boisterous until even the patients he had learned from his Minbari tutors seemed put to the test. "And furthermore Mr. Cole let me tell you something about the sad state of affairs on earth at this moment. Did you realize..." "No I didn't." Marcus Interjected quickly when Draal seemed to pause for a split second. "You didn't? How could you be so lax, so lazy, didn't they teach you anything at all? You know you have to know what isn't going on to know what is really going on." "Yes, well I am sure that is a very true thing. I am however ,sure that Delenn is getting tired of waiting for you to talk with her in there." Marcus said pointing to a room that Marcus had somehow just not wanted to enter where Delenn was apparently waiting for Draal to get done pestering him. "Oh no problem there. We been having a wonderful time discussing many a varied thing. In fact we were just getting caught up on some station gossip." "Gossip? From Delenn?" "Of course, Don't you think I taught her anything?" Draal replied sounding a little serious. "You taught her?" "Yes of course I taught her, She was my student you know." "No, " Marcus replied thinking he had just found out where Delenn got her patients from." I didn't know that." "Why yes of course I uh...." Draal paused for a moment then continued," Well Mr. Cole, it seems you fancy a friend of mine, what do you have to say for yourself?" "I what?" Marcus asked confused. "I said, you fancy, a friend, of mine." "I do?" "Yes you do. It seems that you do a lot too." Draal replied his voice sounding very insinuating. "Umm, just who is this friend of yours?" "Well can't you just figure that out for yourself?" "Well we certainly can't know that many people in common." Marcus replied sounding somehow hopeful. "No, not many I will grant you. but I think you can figure this one out. Spunky, Trouble, Short and Ru..." "Ivanova?" "Russian actually but yes Ivanova."Draal replied looking pleased. "Susan Ivanova." "Yes Mr. Cole, Commander Susan Ivanova," Draal replied almost quietly before shouting to Delenn in the other room,"See Delenn, I told you he wasn't completely blind. He has taste." "Sorry,"Draal said after a moment to no one in particular,"I didn't mean to shout Delenn." "You mean you know,"Marcus replied,"Oh of course you met her I forgot about that." "Yes I did meet her. And I liked her. I think I like you but I'm not sure yet. I'll let her make my mind up for her." "Her make up her own mind, or you yours?" Marcus asked. "I meant exactly what I said. However since the concept is beyond you I'll make it easy on you." "You will?" "Yes," Draal smiled while replying,"I will. You stay near my friend, you see to it that she is safe and nothing happens to her. If anything happens to my friend then you will share her fate. You wanted an excuse to get close to her. Well here it is. Whatever happens to her, happens to you. Simple enough for you." "U'mm, yes. And when she asks why I'm bugging her, what do I tell her." "Well you just say you like spending time with her. Innocent enough isn't it. Or you could tell the truth and tell her that only reason you stick close to her is that are afraid of me and wouldn't otherwise be anywhere near her." "Now hold on a moment here."Marcus shouted back finally,"What makes you think I don't want to be near her." "Oh I don't, I know you do. However if you mention this conversation to her then that's what she will think." Draal replied smiling brightly. "Now just a minute this isn't fair." "Neither is the universe Mr. Cole, and I value my friends highly." Draal replied in a level tone aimed right at Marcus. "Well," Marcus replied swallowing," So do I." "Good then," Draal replied smiling again," Were agreed. You stay as close as you can to her and make sure she lives and doesn't get hurt, and neither do you." "Uh, Okay," Marcus replied. "Ah there you are Marcus." Delenn said interrupting the conversation coming into the room. "Delenn, Are you through already? Shall we go?" Marcus replied turning to face Delenn. "Yes, I am through here Marcus. We can go anytime you're ready." "Good, I have some business to attend to on the station." Draal walked with them to the shuttle and watched as they got ready to go. "Be seeing you Delenn, Marcus." Draal said in his usual booming voice. The Skiff lifted off quickly as Marcus turned it around and left as quickly as he could manage. They were leaving low orbit when Marcus finally spoke. "Delenn, a question." Marcus said. "Is it about Draal?" "Ah, yes" Marcus replied hesitantly. "He is how do you humans put it? 'A little much' sometimes isn't he?" Delenn asked smiling "Well I don't want to put quite that way." "Don't worry Marcus. I have the deepest respect for Draal but I also understand him. A first meeting is usually a little awkward." "Uh yes, you could say that. Is he always so serious or does he ever loosen up?" Marcus asked while watching the controls his face carefully averted where Delenn couldn't see it. "Do you mean, is he ever what we would consider normal?" "Well I wouldn't want to insult anyone but I was thinking more does he ever play jokes or anything like that?" "Yes he is always playing what you humans call jokes. His humor is very unusual for a Minbari, Why?" "Just curious," Marcus asked studying more obscure instruments,"So if he said he might do something it's probably just a joke right?" "Oh no, that's different." Delenn replied seriously her face as impassive as it could get, "If Draal says he will do something then he will do it. He's honor bound to his word." "Oh." Marcus replied quietly. "Shit." He finished under his breath. --------------------------------------------------------------- Well what does anyone out there think? Have a nice day. -- ------------------------------------------------------------ WARNING THERE BE SPOILERS HERE!!!!!!!!! ------------------------------------------------------------ Only one Human captain has ever survived battle To all prospective authors: with a Minbari fleet. Never fear critisism; He is behind me. Constructive or otherwise. You are in front of me. The more they pick, If you value your lives: The more they've read. BE SOMEWHERE ELSE!!!! Eng 1A., Instructor unknown. Delenn:Severed Dreams. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 12345678 digit@tidepool.com The--Digit mailto:digit@tidepool.com 9ABCDEF0 http://www.tidepool.com/digit/digit.htm ------------------------------------------------------------- #1 Psi-Cor christmas carol - "Do you see what I see?" From digit@tidepool.com Sun Dec 22 23:23:17 1996 Date: Sun, 15 Sep 1996 23:03:09 -0700 From: "Aspiring Author;Fanfic DareDevil" To: b5-creative@lists.best.com Subject: Daja When IV of ??? Well here I go. I did this all in one setting. I had a few hours to spare this afternoon and this came as a bit of a burst. Printed it up and then quadrupple checked my self decided I could live with whatever comedy of errors I left behind. Of course blame all errors on me and me alone. More parts to come as I get time. (Hopefully soon) Copyright, copyleft and copy copy everywhere all belong to JMS, WB, Etc. ------------------------------------------------------- "Well I wouldn't want to insult anyone but I was thinking more does he ever play jokes or anything like that?" "Yes he is always playing what you humans call jokes. His humor is very unusual for a Minbari, Why?" "Just curious," Markus asked studying more obscure instruments, " So if he said he might do something it's probably just a joke right?" "Oh no, that's different." Delenn replied seriously her face as impassive as it could get, "If Draal says he will do something then he will do it. He's honor bound to his word." "Oh." Marcus replied quietly. " Shit." He finished under his breath. ------------------------------------------------------------- By the time Marcus and Delenn made it back to the station the Vorlons were long on board and the night shift had taken over. Lennier sat in quiet meditation thinking about all that had taken place in the last few years. He was sure now that he had chosen the right path. 'Correct' path he amended. Funny how the human view point was so infectious. He thought to himself They learned from others and incorporated what they could use. They also somehow caused this in others, though to a lesser degree. He had noticed it among the instructors for the human rangers. He had, if he was honest with himself, noticed it in himself as well. They seemed familiar to all those they met. Even the few records of the first time the Centauri had met them they had seemed familiar. They built their communities and other races stepped into them almost without question. There always seemed to be a human that fit any given culture no matter how different they seemed at first. Among the star faring races of this galaxy there were many types and the humans fit none. They were truly alien to all they met but still somehow managed to get along with them much to everyones surprise. Only the Vorlon seemed unsurprised. 'Why?' he asked himself 'do the humans seem to be so diverse.' Meanwhile back on the station Lyta was beginning to wonder how long she could do damage control. When the Vorlons had come on board, she had been waiting in Kosh's quarters. They had gone instead to the lift where Ivanova had collapsed. Then they had gone to see her. That had not been one her better times in working with the Vorlons. They had analyzed the vision that Ivanova had while collapsed. Then her memory of the vision, then Kosh's perception of what had happened. Finally one of them had gone to C&C where the crew had faced a question no one wanted to answer. 'How do you kick a Vorlon out?' Mea'el 's only answer to the question of her presence in C&C was a Kosh like tinkling and the single word 'Waiting.'. Sheridan was coming back from a meeting with ambassador Mollari when he noticed the quiet in the zocallo. When he noticed two Vorlons wandering around, he made a mental note to amend his 'Do not disturb' orders a little. As Sheridan walked up to one of the Vorlons, he heard music and then a whispery voice they used 'No.' and stopped. A moment later he heard more music behind him and more hollow words 'Waiting . . . Watching . . . Time' then a few more notes from the first one and another single word 'Patience.'. He turned to leave the spot to go to C&C and get some answers there since there were obviously none here and noticed the number of people watching and decided to play the situation a little. 'Of course' he answered the Vorlons before walking off toward C&C without a backward glance. The two Vorlons stood still as Sheridan left then began talking to each other. A few minutes later they stopped when they felt a presence watching them. "Hey," a little voice called out from behind a small shrub "Don't stop playing. I like it, it almost sounds like words." A few notes sounded and a single word formed 'Come'. A small human boy about seven came out from behind a shrub and walked up to them. He was to young to be afraid of something new. They watched as the boy came closer to them and spoke again. "I would offer to shake hands." He said enthusiastically "But I don't see any and my mom always says to be nice and don't offend people. Well you're not people but you're close enough for me. Anyway," He paused for a moment and pulled out a harmonica from his pocket "Can I join you? My mom says I'm really good but I know I'm not as good as you but I bet if I could practice I could be. Uhh that is, If I practice, I could be as good as you are someday." The two Vorlon Stood very still for so long that the boy began to think they had forgotten him. Then they began to speak in their musical voice and the little boxes spoke "Remember, Old, War, Hope Arisen" They began a harmony in two parts then stopped. A moment later the boy caught on and copied it as best he could. They began again and this time he joined them. As he played along he found he could almost hear words being formed, He became oblivious to the Zocallo, to all the people around him. He seemed to know the notes before his two friends made them, almost like he was remembering them, not learning them. The crowd in the zocallo quieted. Nearly everyone Human and alien alike almost heard words in the haunting melody. Sheridan almost away from the scene caught the first notes of the song and stopped to listen. It brought back his earliest memories and then his time with anna. The E-M war, his part in the destruction of the Blackstar. His time Dealing with Anna's Death. What he had felt when dealing with Sebastian. It brought it all back and more. All around the deck there were tears on the human faces and the equivalent on most of the aliens as well. As the song finished after twenty minutes the Vorlon quietly left as the boy continued playing. He stopped and spoke to them as they left. "Thank you." The boy spoke to their backs, "I will remember." "You are welcome." Came the reply in music. "What's it called?" He asked. "The fallen." The music answered and the two Vorlons went along their way. Sheridan found himself stiff when he went to move and finally noticed his link beeping at him. "Sheridan here." He said raising his link and replying distractedly. "Captain you're needed in C&C, Is there a problem? Took you forever to answer everything all right?" Lt. Anderson's voice came from the link. "I'm uh on my way. But let me guess, we have a few extra Vorlons on board." "Yes sir. How did you know?" "I sort of ran into two of them. I will explain when I get there. Where's Commander Ivanova? " "Already off duty sir, Shall I raise her on her link?" "No that's all right I'll talk to her tomorrow. Sheridan out." While Sheridan continued on his way to C&C, the boy s mother came running up to the boy and grabbed him. She worked in part of the diplomatic core and knew that the media would be after her son if they could identify him. No one had ever gotten that kind of response from a Vorlon before let alone two of them. Before this day only a few Vorlons had been seen in neutral space. She knew there were nine on board and wanted nothing to do with the publicity it would cause. As she ran with him she feverently tried to explain that he had done nothing wrong and was not in any trouble. Her eyes scanned the armbands of everyone she passed that worked in the station itself. She knew that Night watch would pick her and her son up on basic principal. She also knew they would never be free again if that happened. Meanwhile two days by Jumpgate away the old man was making supper from simple things as his people always had. He was explaining to his great grandson that this was the day he had been waiting for many years. That his grandfather had told him this day would come. The old man had some local youths clean a room in the main part of the old family dwelling from previous centuries. When asked why, he told them that they had a visitor from afar coming. As the moon rose men young and old drew circles in the hard sunbaked dirt and laid fires in their centers. Ceremonies began soon after. From several different peoples a long set of interlocking ceremonies took place. These would continue all this night and through the next day until their visitor arrived. Aztec, Cherokee, Hopi, Maya, and Navaho sang together in a song as old as their way of life. Lyta had heard the Vorlons song and was nearly panicked. That song was about 'The Fallen', the legend of a race that stood against the shadows alone and had given the galaxy time to prepare for war. They had given up there very existence to save all the other races. Almost every race had these legends and a Vorlon song spoke to racial memory in all species. She understood this and knew what she had to do. She began to race toward Ambassador Delenn's quarters as fast as she could. Ambassador Delenn was just then getting to her quarters. She thanked Marcus for piloting for her and had just sent him home when she spoke to the room at large. "Draal, what did you tell him?" "Oh, nothing." Draals voice replied from a light spot that was solidifying into a holographic outline of Draal "And how did you know I was here?" "What is nothing? You knew I would contact you after Marcus and I had our 'little chat' didn't you." "Oh," Draal replied shrugging "I Just might have mentioned that his and Commander Ivanova's fates are linked, Thats all." "You scared him half to death." Delenn replied sounding like she was scolding him. "Well if he can't take a hint then why is he in the rangers?" "Draal I," Delenn began then stopped. She took a deep breath before continuing along a different vein "What did you find out so far." "Not much so far but it does have something to with the shadows on earth some tens of cycles ago, Perhaps a hundred or more." Marcus on the other hand was just getting to his favorite bar when he spotted Ivanova siting alone head in hands nursing what he was somehow sure wasn't coffee. Gritting his teeth he grabbed a small plate of food and sat down saying hello. "Hello Commander, and how are we today? Purple with rage at fate, or, Green with envy at those who don't have your work load?" "You want to wear this?" She asked without looking up pointing to her half a tumbler of drink. "Not really, it would clash with my uniform and besides it would really st. . ." "Then shut up or I might . . . Then again, I might not" She replied. "Rage, so you must be purple today." "No, green. Oh shut up." "Oh you're envious of someone then." "Do you ever pay any attention to what you're saying or do you just ramble on like a madman all the time?" "No not really, I find conversation a lot more interesting than telling people about large eight legged creatures crawling up their arms intent on chewing off their ears. They never listen and always think I make these things up. Oh poor me, no one ever believes Marcus." "Well I'll tell you what. Since I feel like squishing something right now how about I test your theory. And if there is not a large spider crawling up my arm then I will squish you instead. How does that sound?" "Well to te . . . " And Marcus was saved by Ivanova's link beeping at that moment. "Ivanova here," She managed without opening her eyes or sitting all the way up "And this better be good." "Commander, Ambassador G'kar wants to see you as soon as possible. He says it's important." Lt. Anderson s voice replied from the link. "Ok, I'll get to him in the morning." "He said it was most important. He said he needs to see you tonight." "Tonight? Oh what the hell why not? I'm on my way, Ivanova out." And she stood up, looked at Marcus, and told him to go away. Marcus sat there stunned. Dr. Franklin had once told him that those two colors would be guaranteed to get a reaction out of her no matter what. Franklin hadn't said what it was all about but he had told Marcus never to mention them around her as it likely to get a violent reaction. This must be serious he thought if even the worst he could do did nothing more than produce mild threats. He resolved to find out. Lyta stood as Delenn's door and stopped to think for a moment. How should she put this? Lyta wasn't sure how much Delenn knew about legends. She rang the buzzer and was admitted quickly. Once inside she decided to take things slowly and find out for sure just how much Delenn might or might not know. Ivanova slowly worked her way to G'kar's quarters mad at him, mad at Marcus for disturbing her misery, mad at the world for always finding something she wasn't ready for, mad mostly at herself for collapsing this morning. She felt left out of the loop because so much was already happening today and no one had said what was going on. She buzzed when she arrived and was admitted immediately. "You asked to see me G'kar." She said a little more tensely than she intended. "Yes Commander, I did." G'kar replied from his position near a small table with a large very old looking book on it, "But first please have a seat. This may take a few minutes and I'm sure you're tired after a long day at work." "Thank you G'kar I think I will." She replied looking around for a chair on her own since G'kar's assistant was conspicuously absent. "There now Commander, I believe we can discuss this better if both parties are comfortable." "So what is it that's so important it couldn't wait until morning?" she asked. "On the contrary Commander I have waited patiently the whole day for you to be off shift so we could speak informally. As to what I need, let me say that I need to pose what I have heard you humans call a theoretical question." "This is off the record then?" "Most definitely commander, most definitely." He replied with what she thought looked like a bit of a smile. "Ok Ambassador, ask away." "Suppose for a moment I needed to get someone on the station then back off the station without this person ever officially being here. Assuming for discussion purposes that this person posed no threat to the station but, for some reason could not afford to be seen by certain parties." "Like maybe the Centauri?" Ivanova replied feeling uneasy with the direction this was taking. "Well now that you mention them yes, maybe they would be a good group to avoid as they have particular liking for my kind at this time." "And since theoretically anything you do will tend to piss them off you don't want them to know you're doing something?" " Piss them o. . . Oh I understand. Make them angry, Yes something like that commander. Think of it as an exercise in avoiding confrontation. " G'kar replied sounding quiet and reasonable. "Oh cut the crap G'kar. You want me to smuggle someone on board since you can't leave with having half the Centauri fleet watching everything you do." "Well Commander, Since you have put it so . . . " "Bluntly G'kar, The word is Bluntly." Ivanova replied rapidly running out of patience and not wanting a confrontation. "Bluntly then commander, I need to speak with a certain person in person not on a link that might be intercepted." "When?" "Tomorrow morning or afternoon at the latest." G'kar replied. "Gee G'kar, you don't want much do you?" "Only what is necessary commander. Only what is necessary." "Okay G'kar lets say I give you the benefit of the doubt and go ahead and get your 'guest' on board. What guarantee do I have that there will be no problems." Ivanova asked wearily. "You have my word commander." Ivanova was thinking about this while other things were still happening all around the station, particularly in up in C&C where a very nervous night shift wanted rid of there Vorlon guest. "Can I help you?" Sheridan asked when he saw Mea'al upon entering C&C. "No." came the single word well understood even before the box made it's whispery voiced reply. "Why are you here?" "Captain" Lt. Anderson interrupted, "You might want to take a look at the tactical before you bother asking." Sheridan looked out side and saw the Vorlon ships and something seemed to settle in place for him even as he looked at them. "What are you waiting for?" Sheridan asked turning back to the Vorlon. "Kosh." Came the flutey reply from the little box. "Kosh isn't here?" "No Captain" Lt. Anderson replied for the Vorlon, "He left earlier today." "Correct. Returning. Rebirth." The little box replied after the flutes were over. "Well could you wait somewhere else please?" "No." "Captain," Lt. Anderson spoke up quickly, "As long as he? Or is it she? Stays out of the way there is no need to bother." "Are you sure Lt.?" "Yes sir, If there are any questions, I would be happy to answer them. If he or she would please tell me a name so I know what to call him or her." "Interested in th. . . " "Mea'el, Where?" The little box intoned after a few notes of native Vorlon song. While Lt. Anderson was making arrangements with Mea'el and Sheridan was feeling left out Delenn was having a very disturbing talk with Lyta. "Legends from long before Valen." Delenn replied to Lyta's latest question. "Are the legends of the fallen among all races?" Lyta asked. "Yes, they are universal. All races seem to have them. They are as universal as the Vorlon in myth. Only the Vorlon and the Humans don't have legends about them. Those who stood against the darkness until a part of there own souls were consumed in the war to stop the shadows and the darkness." "They are all gone?" "Yes." "How long ago?" "During the last great war, Ten thousand years ago." "So ten thousand years ago the Fallen stood alone against the shadows and fought a lone war against them and won?" "Alone yes, They fought alone because only they were prepared to fight. To victory, no. They fought to extinction." ----------------------------------------------- As always comments, criticisms etc. greatly appreciated. -- Have a nice day. ------------------------------------------------------------ WARNING THERE BE SPOILERS HERE!!!!!!!!! ------------------------------------------------------------ Only one Human captain has ever survived battle To all prospective authors: with a Minbari fleet. Never fear critisism; He is behind me. Constructive or otherwise. You are in front of me. The more they pick, If you value your lives: The more they've read. BE SOMEWHERE ELSE!!!! Eng 1A., Instructor unknown. Delenn:Severed Dreams. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 12345678 digit@tidepool.com The--Digit mailto:digit@tidepool.com 9ABCDEF0 http://www.tidepool.com/digit/digit.htm ------------------------------------------------------------- #1 Psi-Cor christmas carol - "Do you see what I see?"