From: Kate Bolin Subject: Exploring---a newbie's first go Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1997 14:27:51 -0600 (CST) Okay, this is my first seriously written baby. All the other ones were parodies, and can be found on http://studentweb.tulane.edu/~kbolin/b5.html Any comments can be sent to kbolin@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu and will be read and maybe even responded to! ================================================================== EXPLORING A Babylon 5 story by Kate Bolin disclaimer: Babylon 5 is copyrighted by Warner Brothers, Babylonian Productions, PTEN, JMS, and whoever else might have a copyright. This story is meant not to infringe on any of these copyrights, because I would be very sorry if they came for me. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hey David, guess what?" David Sheridan turned towards his best friend. "What now, Sunita?" Sunita Franklin threw her long black braid of hair behind her and grinned. "Well, remember how Dad is always telling me that he found me in Down Below?" David nodded, his eyes curious but wary. "Yeah...just after I was born...so?" "So...Last night I asked him about it again. And he told me _exactly_ where he found me. Isn't that great?" David frowned slightly, his nine-year-old forehead wrinkling. "And...?" he asked, waiting for the inevitable. "And I thought that we could go find it. C'mon! It'll be fun..." David frowned even deeper. "I don't know, Sunita. We could get in trouble..." She stared at him for a second, her mouth open. "'Trouble'? We'd only get in trouble if anyone else knew about it!" Her liquid black eyes grew pleading. "C'mon, David...Don't you remember how much fun we had sneaking into the Zen Garden?" "Then we got in trouble for making sand castles! I don't know about this..." "Come on, David! It'll be fun! And no one's gonna know about it!" She paused for a second, a mischevious look creeping over her face. "Unless, of course, you're chicken..." David stood up beligerently. "I'm not chicken!" he said sharply. He brushed a lock of sandy brown hair away from his eyes and tucked it under his small bony crest. "I just think we're going to get caught. People know what we look like, Sunita. How are you gonna explain this?" He pointed at his crest, thinner than his mother's, but still noticable. Sunita grinned again. "Here," she said, pulling a baseball cap from her backpack. "Now you'll be just another kid." David put the cap on, but still looked concerned. "I still don't know, Sunita. How are we going to sneak out of school?" Sunita frowned for a second, then brightened. "Hey, Sofie!" she said to a small child nearby. "Come here!" Sofie Cole shuffled over, her pudgy five-year-old face curious, but wary, which seemed to be a common expression around Sunita. "What?" she asked, in a near mumble. Sunita pulled Sofie towards her. "I want you," she said in a near whisper, "To turn on that console over there." She pointed to a basic education module, one that all the students knew was broken. Vanya stepped away from Sunita. "Why?" she asked, her voice filled with distrust. Sunita began to look menacing. "Because I say so, Sofie. So do it." Sofie stood there stubbornly, her blue eyes flashing. "No." David looked at Sunita worriedly. "Come on, Sunita..." he said, his voice coaxing. "We don't really have to go to Down Be-" Sunita cut him off. "David!" she said sharply. She turned back to Sofie and grabbed her shirt. "Look, either you do this or I tell Aunt Susan who really took all the cookies!" Sofie stepped away, an even more stubborn expression on her face. "No!" she said again, this time a bit louder. Sunita sighed. "Fine!" She ran over to the console, flipped the switch, then ran back. She counted to five, then smiled when sparks began to fly and fire alarms began to blare. The teachers jumped into battle-readiness. "Okay, children. Let's exit in an orderly line. No pushing." They began filing the children out of the room. Sunita and David exited with the rest of the children, waited until they were counted, then snuck off into a lift. Sofie saw them leave, and smiled. ***** The two children wound their way deeper and deeper into the darkest parts of the station. Adults noticed them from time to time, but let them pass. There were always children running around in Down Below. Two more weren't noticable. Sunita's eyes were wide with wonder. Everything about this place was so cool! She stopped at a vendor's stall. barely managing to grab onto David to get him to stop too. "Sunita...I'm not sure about this...let's go back." She looked at him in shock. "What are you talking about? This place is great! And we haven't even gotten to where I was found yet!" She left the vendor's stall and took off. She had gotten several feet before she realized that David was still back at the stall, distracted by a piece of jewelry. She ran back and grabbed him. "Come on, David," she said, pulling his arm. David let himself be pulled away, his eyes still on the jewelry. "That would be so nice for Mom..." he said, his voice longing. Sunita heard the tone of his voice and slowed down. "She still on Minbar?" she asked, already knowing the answer. David nodded. "Yeah...There's a lot to do." He fell silent for a second. "She calls every once in awhile, but with Dad always being called away on something..." Sunita nodded. "Dad's never at home either. If it isn't Medlab, it's down here at the clinic..." Sunita looked up from the ground and tried to get her bearings. "He said it was one level from..." She gasped. "David," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "I think this is the place..." David looked around, noticing the trash strewn around and the faint sounds of movement in the background. "You were found here, Sunita?" She nodded, and sat on the ground. "It was the day after you were born. Dad was heading down to his clinic when he heard me crying. He found me sitting on a pile of rags, a sick and hungry six month old. He was going to just leave me in the War Babies Orphanage, but, after delivering you, he felt like he needed someone else in his life. So he kept me." She looked around, then looked at David. "I was born here, David. I would have died here." David was going to say something when he heard a strange sound behind him. Before he could turn around, he felt himself being lifted up and heard Sunita scream. He closed his eyes tightly, trying to wish it away. ***** Sheridan made his way through the crowds of worried parents and scared children. He caught sight of the main teacher, and worked his way there. "What happened here?" he asked. The main teacher straightened up and turned towards Sheridan. "Oh, sir, it was really nothing. One of the children turned on a broken console that caught fire. The alarms went off and we got everyone out safely. We're dismissing the chlidren from school today while the room is repaired." Sheridan looked around for his son. "And all the children are accounted for?" At the teacher's nod, he frowned. "Then where is my son?" The teacher looked around in shock. "He was right here...I saw him myself..." Dr. Franklin made his way into the conversation. "Sunita isn't here either." Sheridan swore under his breath. "They're probably together. Where do you think they went?" The Coles walked over, Marcus holding Sofie's hand. "What's wrong?" Susan asked. Franklin sighed. "Sunita and David took off again. Any idea where they could be?" Sofie tugged her father's sleeve. "Papa...Sunita turned on the 'puter..." Marcus looked down at his daughter. "Really?" he asked. "Why?" Sofie held herself up haughtily. "They were going to go somewhere. They wanted me to turn it on, but I said no." She looked at her mother. "Mama, can I go home and have a cookie?" Susan held up her hand. "In a minute, Sofie. Where did they say they were going?" Sofie scrunched up her face. "They went to Down somewhere. Mama...I want a cookie!" Franklin and Sheridan looked at each other, then ran off to the nearest lift. Once there, they waited. And waited. Finally, Sheridan turned to Franklin. "You know," he said. "It seems like your daughter is always the one who starts these things." Franklin looked at Sheridan in mock surprise. "It's not my fault she's a little..." he paused for a second. "Uncontrollable. Anyways, she wouldn't be like this if she didn't have an audience..." Sheridan was about to give a comeback when the lift opened. The two fathers entered, and were quiet the entire trip. ***** David opened his eyes to see the walls of Down Below moving past him. He moved his head a little and saw a large arm holding him. Who was carrying him? he wondered. "Let me go!" he heard Sunita yell. "Ambassador! Put me down!" David felt his captor's chest rumble with laughter. "I was walking in Down Below, and I saw two children there. 'Whatever could they be doing down here?' I wondered to myself." The man laughed again. "Your fathers are not going to be pleased." Sunita yelled again. "Ambassador G'Kar! Let me go!" He laughed again. "Oh Sunita," he said, his voice low. "You should be glad I found you. Down Below is no place for children, especially you two." David gulped. "Where are you taking us?" he asked, his voice trembling. G'Kar chuckled. "Nowhere dangerous, I can assure you. I am simply returning you to your fathers." With those words, Sunita resumed struggling. "No! G'Kar! You can say you never saw us! Put me down! Ambassador!" G'Kar laughed. "Consider this payback, my dear Sunita. Payback for the time you took my eye from my quarters and hid it among the other artificial eyes in Medlab." Sunita groaned. "I didn't do that! G'Kar!" David sighed. It was going to be a long trip. ***** The lift door opened, revealing a sight that Franklin hoped he would never see again. Standing in front of them, grinning broadly, was G'Kar, with a child under each arm. "Ah, Captain Sheridan and Doctor Franklin! I was just going to start looking for you!" He looked down at the two children and set them on the ground gently. "I believe these are yours." Sheridan looked down at his son, none the worse for wear. "Your mother is not going to like this," he finally said. "Come on." David followed his father into the lift, with Franklin and Sunita following. ***** Sheridan led the children to his quarters. "Both of you have some serious explaining to do." David looked down at his feet. "I'm sorry, Da-" Sunita interrupted him again. "We didn't do anything wrong! We just wanted to see where Dad found me!" Sheridan looked at her sternly. "So you took David to the most dangerous part of the station?" Franklin interrupted. "Sunita, what were you thinking? I thought you were smarter than this!" Sunita sat there sullenly for a second, then started. "You never let us go anywhere! It's always 'Stay here, Sunita.' 'Don't wander off, Sunita.' 'It's for your own good, Sunita.' I want to see what's out there!" Franklin looked at his daughter in shock. "Sunita!" he said sharply. David turned towards his father. "I'm sorry, Dad. I wasn't thinking." Sheridan looked at his son. "Obviously. I hope the next time Sunita decides to explore the other side of the station, you remember what I told you. Down Below is no place for you two! My God, if someone were to recognize you!" Sheridan paused for a moment. "We're just lucky Sofie told us where you were and that Ambassador G'Kar found you." He sighed. "Go into David's room while we decide your punishment." David went quietly into his room while Sunita stomped. Once the door was shut, Sunita started. "Sofie told! I'm gonna get that little tattle-tale-ing brat!" David looked at his friend resignedly. "Sunita...we knew it was dangerous. We shouldn't have gone." Sunita looked at David with anger. "You always say that! You just don't want to go against Daddy!" David looked at her angrily. "No! Sunita! You're always doing something stupid!" "I'm stupid! You're the stupid here!" She shoved him. David moved away from her. "Sunita, stop it, okay? Do you want to get into more trouble?" Sunita looked at him. "I just wanted to go exploring! Why do we always have to stay here?" David shrugged. "I don't know." He sighed. "I wish Mom was here. She always let us go out exploring." Sunita smiled. "Yeah. Remember the time we snuck into the Council Chambers and she let us hide behind the desk?" David nodded. "Or the time she took us out in the White Star?" He looked down at the ground. "I miss her, Sunita." Sunita came over and put her arm around him. "I miss her too." They heard a sound at the door. The captain stood there, with the doctor next to him. "Kids," he said. "We've decided. Since you wanted to see what Down Below was like, I'm assigning you to three weeks of volunteer work at the clinic. You will go there every day after class, and I don't want to hear any complaints.. Understood?" David meekly said, "Yes sir" almost instantly. Sunita glared at her father and at the captain for a second,then nodded sullenly.. Sheridan nodded. "Good. Now, I hope the next time you get an idea in your head to go 'exploring', that you reconsider. This station is not a safe place for you two." Franklin nodded. "Come on, Sunita. It's time to go home." Sunita turned to David. "See you tomorrow..." she said quietly, then followed her father home. John Sheridan turned to his son. "I...I, uh, heard what you said about your mother," he said. David looked at his father. "And?" he asked. John looked at his son. He still couldn't get over how much he looked like Delenn. "And...I got a call from her today. She's coming home within the week." David looked at his father with barely controlled delight. "Really?" he asked. John nodded. "And she can't wait to see you." David grinned. "Thanks, Dad," he said. John smiled. "I know, son. I miss her too." -------------------------------------------------------------------------- =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= Friends help you move. Real friends help you move bodies. From: Kate Bolin Subject: Moving Day Date: Sun, 6 Apr 1997 21:15:39 -0500 (CDT) It's the sequel to "Exploring"...enjoy! Let me set ages here. Sunita's 15. David's 14 (he is, after all, 6 months younger). Sofie is 10. Jeff (Sofie's little brother) is 7. Disclaimer: Babylon 5 is the property of JMS, WB, PTEN, and whoever else might have a copyright. This story is not meant to infringe on any of those copyrights because I would be very sorry if I did and I would like to be able to finish college without getting sued. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Moving Day David sighed as he pushed the box onto the loading platform. "That's the last of it," he said, out of breath. Susan Ivanova looked down at the group of boxes. "This is all yours?" she said in surprise. David nodded. "Yeah. Mom said to take everything. She didn't want any trace of me on this station." Susan sighed. "I knew we shouldn't have bought you all those toys," she said under her breath. She looked around. "Where's Sunita?" David shrugged. "I dunno. I think she's talking to Ambassador G'Kar." Susan raised an eyebrow. "Well, I hope she hurries. You have the leave the station soon, or else Draal is going to turn back on the defenses." David stared down at his feet. "Aunt Susan?" he said quietly. "Why are we going down to the planet?" She looked at him with a tinge of regret. "Your father and mother don't think the station is safe enough for you now. The Centauri are trying to get at us again, and your parents would feel a lot better if you were somewhere safe." She paused for a second. "And it's not going to be that bad. Sunita's going to be there, Sofie and Jeff are going to be there, and Draal liked you the first time you visited." David nodded, but still looked down at his feet. "I guess," he said quietly. Susan was going to say more, but she heard footsteps approaching. Sunita walked into the hangar, her father and Ambassador G'Kar with her. Sunita held a sheath of unbound papers in her arms, clenched tightly to her chest. "Susan, David," Doctor Franklin said. "Everything ready to go?" "Almost," Susan said. "All we're waiting for is Sunita." Sunita turned towards her father. "Take care of yourself, Dad." He nodded. "You too, Sunita." He hugged her tightly. Sunita then turned to G'Kar. She spoke to him softly in Narn, and he responded back in Narn. He handed her a thick, old book, that appeared to be handwritten. Sunita looked at him with tears in her eyes. "May G'Quan guide you," she said. "And you," G'Kar replied. "Sunita," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "Remember, 'Greater than the death of flesh is the death of hope, the death of dreams.'" Sunita nodded. "Goodbye, G'Kar." She walked onto the shuttle. Susan looked at G'Kar. She swore she could see tears. She shrugged it off and boarded the shuttle. **** David and Sunita made their way through the wonders of the Great Machine without even noticing. Susan saw how they were feeling and stopped them. "David, Sunita," she said. "Want to talk about it?" Sunita shook her head. "No, Aunt Susan. We're okay," she said, her voice low. Susan looked at the two of them, worried. "C'mon, guys," she said quietly. "It's Aunt Susan you're talking to. What's wrong? Are you upset about leaving B5?" Sunita looked at the ground. David shook his head, then said, "It's not that, Aunt Susan. We..." His voice broke off. "We know that the Centauri are coming after David's parents and that G'Kar is going to go with them," said Sunita dully. Susan stepped back in shock. "What?" she said incredulously. "Where did you hear that?" David looked at Sunita, who held on to her books tighter. "I just know, okay?" Susan stared at Sunita, her eyes wide. It was possible she _did_ know. Sunita hadn't been quite the same since Franklin allowed G'Kar to teach her the Narn way. Susan placed a hand on Sunita's shoulder. "It's okay, Sunita." She paused for a second, taking a deep breath. "Well then," she said, her voice happier. "Draal mustn't be kept waiting." The children and Susan made their way deeper and deeper into the planet. **** "You'll be okay, right? I won't have to worry about you?" Sunita smiled and nodded. "Aunt Susan, we'll be fine here," she said, pushing Susan back towards the shuttle. "You have to get back to the station now, though." "Well, you know I worry. You'll be fine?" Draal laughed. "Commander, they'll be fine." He suddenly straightened up. "You're needed at the station, Commander." Susan sighed. "I guess." She turned towards her daughter. "Give Mom a hug before she leaves?" she asked Sofie. Sofie ran into her mother's arms. "Bye, Mom," she said. "I'll miss you." "I'll miss you too, baby." Susan then turned to her son. "Do I get a hug too?" she asked. "No. Girls' stuff," Jeff said, wrinkling his nose. Susan grinned and gave him a hug anyway. "I'll miss you, Jeff." She straightened and looked at all the children. "Now, listen to Sunita and Draal, and I'll be back for you as soon as I can. Okay?" "Okay, Mom," Sofie said, waving. "Bye!" Jeff scowled, but waved. "Bye Mommy!" David waved. "Bye Aunt Susan." Susan turned to Sunita. "You'll be fine?" Sunita laughed. "We'll be fine. Go on." Susan left the children and got onto the shuttle. The children and Draal watched her leave. As soon as they could no longer see her shuttle, Draal clapped his hands together. "Okay. Who wants to see their rooms?" "Me!" piped up Sofie and Jeff together. Draal led the younger children out. Sunita stayed where she was, looking up. David tugged on her shirt. "C'mon, Sunita," he said. "We're going to get lost." He looked at his best friend. "Sunita..." he said, his voice low. "Are you sure about what you heard?" She shrugged, still looking up. "I don't know, David," she said, her voice calm. "I don't know what will happen." She stood there for a second longer, then shook herself. "C'mon," she said, her voice much happier. "Let's go see where we're sleeping." **** The younger children sat near Sunita. "Tell us a story, Sunita," said Jeff. Sunita frowned. "What do you want to hear?" "Something different!" shouted Sofie. "I don't wanna hear about the Narns joining the war again!" "I do!" Jeff shouted. They started arguing again. "All right! All right!" yelled Sunita over the noise. "I've got one. Have I told you about why the Narns joined the Army of Light?" Jeff and Sofie sat down. "No," said Jeff. "Why?" Sunita smiled. "One day, G'Kar bought some Dust. That's a drug that causes telepathy. Well, he tried it out, and then he decided to go find Londo Mollari..." Sofie frowned. "The Centauri Emperor?" Sunita nodded. "He was just the ambassador then. Anyways, G'Kar was probing into Mollari's mind, finding out about the race we call the Shadows, seeing what Mollari had done. Just when he was about to kill him, G'Kar had a vision." "What kind of vision?" asked Jeff. "A true vision," Sunita said, her voice tinged with what could only be called worshipfulness. "He saw his father, hanging from the tree where he died. Then, he saw G'Lan." "Who's G'Lan?" Jeff asked. "He was a religious leader, who lived in the same time as G'Quan. G'Lan also fought the Shadows, but took a different path afterwards. G'Lan stood there in front of G'Kar and told him that both the Narn and the Centauri were destined to die. 'Would it not be wise,' said G'Lan, 'to die fighting on the side of light?' "G'Kar took those words to heart. While imprisoned for injuring Mollari, he began writing." She held up the sheath of papers that she kept with her. "This is the book of G'Kar, the book he wrote after his vision." Sofie held out her hand. "Can I see it?" she asked. Sunita shook her head. "No. Only believers can touch it, and you have not been properly instructed. It would be sacrilege." Sofie pouted for a second, then asked another question. "Sunita? How come you have the book and not G'Kar?" Sunita sat there for a second, just looking at Sofie. "I...I..." she said, unable to finish the sentence. "He gave it to me," she finally said. "Why?" asked Jeff, a curious look on his face. Sunita looked at him, tears in her eyes. Before she could answer, Draal appeared before them. "Sunita, go to the heart of the Great Machine and hurry." Draal disappeared as quickly as he appeared. Sunita stood up. "Don't worry, I'll be back. Until then, Sofie, you're in charge." Sofie grinned. "All right!" She looked at her brother with an evil look in her eyes. "Don't worry about us, Sunita." **** Sunita made her way through the maze of underground tunnels. She eventually reached the heart of the Great Machine. There stood Draal's body, plugged into the Machine. The hologram of Draal appeared before her. "Sunita," he said grimly. "I have asked you here because I saw something you need to see." Sunita frowned. "What is it?" she asked, her brow wrinkling. Draal vanished.. Inside the Great Machine, Draal's body opens it eyes and sighs. "Well, then, step into here." Sunita looked at the machine for a second, then climbed in. "Relax, Sunita. Let your mind wander. Follow the path I have set for you." Sunita relaxed. All around her she saw stars. In the middle was a glowing path. She flew down it. "Is this what it's like to be a ship?" she asked Draal. Before Draal could answer, she reached her destination. "This looks like--" "Centauri Prime, yes. Watch." Sunita watched. She heard everything, she saw everything. "Welcome back from the abyss, Sheridan..." "It cannot hold its liquor..." "...my old friend..." She screamed. "No! It can't happen this way!" she yelled. She broke contact with the Machine and ran past Draal. "No! " she ran down the hall. "Sunita!" Draal yelled. "Sunita!" **** David found her, hours later, sitting in a small room, carved out of the planet itself. She sat there with a candle, looking into the flame, softly whispering prayers in Narn, barely loud enough to be heard even in the stillness of the room. "Sunita?" he said, his voice low. She stopped praying, and turned towards him. "David...come... sit..." She patted the ground next to her. David shrugged and sat on the ground. "Sunita, I--" She put a finger to her lips. "Shhh... Now is not the time for words." David frowned. "What?" "Shhh..." They sat there, in the dimness, silent for a minute, then Sunita began praying again. David listened, hypnotized by the soft tonal sounds of the prayer. Sunita stopped suddenly. "May G'Quan guide you beyond the darkness, G'Kar," she said quietly. She blew out the candle. David felt a bit uneasy in the darkness. "Sunita?" he asked. "Can we have the lights on?" She chuckled. "Still afraid of the dark, David?" There was a flash, then the soft glow of candle light. David noticed that it wasn't the same candle. "Sunita..." he said, his voice cautious. "What happened?" Sunita looked down at the candle, playing with the loose wax. "The Centauri captured your parents. G'Kar went with them." David gasped. "How do you know?" he said, his voice breaking. "Draal showed me on the Machine. I saw it as it happened." She paused for a second, staring into the candle's flame. "They escaped, David," she said. "Your parents escaped." David let out a sigh of relief. "Thank Valen," he said under his breath. Then, he noticed Sunita trying to hold back tears. "Sunita? What happened?" She raised her heads, matching her eyes with his. "G'Kar died, David," she said, her voice oddly calm. David closed his eyes. "Great Maker," he said. "How?" Sunita looked back down at the candle. "He died with his hands around Emperor Mollari's neck and Mollari's hands around his." She looked up at David again. "He died a worthy death, David. And I honor him now." David wrapped his arms around his best friend. "Oh Sunita..." he said. "I'm sorry." Sunita hugged him tightly. "Thanks, David," she said softly. They sat there for a few minutes, then Sunita stood up. "Come on," she said. "Aunt Susan's probably going to come for us soon." David nodded and followed his best friend. "Sunita?" he said, his voice soft. "Does this mean the end of the Narns?" Sunita didn't look back at David. "G'Quan once said, 'Greater than the death of flesh is the death of hope, the death of dreams.' G'Kar may be dead, but as long as I live, I swear to all the Gods, I will not let Narn die." David nodded. "I know, Sunita," he said softly, a hint of admiration in his voice. "I know." The two friends made their way back to their rooms. From: Kate Bolin Subject: One moment of perfect beauty Date: Sat, 10 May 1997 00:14:29 -0500 (CDT) It's another David/Sunita story... This one goes in a direction that I really hadn't seen for either of them. So I would love any responses. Disc: B5 prop of JMS, WB, PTEN, etc. No infringement intended. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- One Moment of Perfect Beauty The woman held up her arms. "Remember my children," she said in a strong voice. "Greater than the loss of life is the loss of hope, the loss of dreams. Frederic may be dead to us in flesh, but his hope, his dreams live on in us. We are the universe trying to explain itself." She clasped her hands together. "Let us pray." The audience bowed their heads and they began to chant a nearly dead language. The woman standing led them, her voice deep and strong, her face calm and radiant. When the chanting finished, she opened her eyes and smiled beautifully. "G'Quan guide you, my children," she said. The worshipers filed out of the room. The woman began to pack up, still peacefully smiling. Suddenly, she looked up and grinned even wider. "David!" she said happily, walking towards him. The man standing in the back grinned. "Hi Sunita," he said. "Oh David!" she said again, hugging him tightly. "I haven't seen you since you left for Minbar! How is everything?" David shrugged. "Busy. We finally got the Grey Council started again, so we're just having a little trouble getting everything all worked out." Sunita nodded, then grew serious for a second. "I heard about your mother," she said quietly. David nodded. "I thought as much." He paused for a second. "Sunita, she went peacefully, knowing that she was going to see my father again in...how did she put it? 'A place there where no shadows'." He paused for another second, then smiled lightly. "I noticed you started including some Minbari religion into your sermons." Sunita chuckled. "Since I've heard of your mother's death, I've been looking into her religion. And a lot of it fits in with the book of G'Quan and G'Kar." She hugged David one more time. "By G'Quan, it's good to see you again." She backed away for a second. "Hey, did you eat yet?" David frowned and shook his head. Sunita grinned. "Great, because preaching always gets me hungry. C'Mon...there's this great little place nearby you'll love." David started laughing. Sunita stared at him. "What?" she said, his eyes narrowing. David continued to chuckle. "Every time you said that when we were little, we'd get into so much trouble!" Sunita started laughing. The two best friends hugged each other again, and made their way to the resturant. David picked at his food. Sunita looked up from her Swedish Meatballs and frowned. "David?" she said concernedly. "What's wrong?" David sighed. "I don't know...I guess coming back to the station just brought back a lot of old memories." Sunita nodded. "I can bet." Her face grew serious. "David...do you ever regret...staying on board the station after your father's death?" David frowned. "I used to. I mean, after all, Mom went to Minbar, and I stayed. Your father was nice enough to let me live with you, but it didn't get rid of the memories..." He paused for a second. "Or the resentment." Sunita closed her eyes, remembering the hateful looks David would get from complete strangers, and from people he cared for. "Oh David..." she said soothingly. "It would have happened no matter how your father died. The people wanted their messiah." He sighed and looked down at his lunch. "You're right, Sunita...I just...I just wish it had been different. I wish my father had lived." Sunita nodded. "I know, David. I know." She pushed aside her plate. "Are you done?" she asked. David looked up and nodded. Sunita stood. "Well, then, there's something I want to show you." David rose slowly. "What?" Sunita shook her head. "I can't tell you. I have to show you." She took his hand. "Come on..." David looked at her suspiciously, then broke out into a dopey grin, much like the one his father often gave. "Sunita...you're doing it again." Sunita narrowed her eyes at him. "Come on, David. We're going to be late..." She grabbed his hand and led him out of the resturant. Sunita led David through the station. "Sunita, where are we going?" he asked, a little frustrated. Sunita laughed. "You'll see..." she said sweetly. David shook his head. It was just like when they were children. Sunita finally lead him to a doorway. She put in her identicard, and the door opened. She led him inside. It was a small room, with simple decor. There were a number of candles and religious objects from different cultures. David frowned. "Where are we?" he asked. Sunita chuckled. "My quarters," she said, her voice low. David's eyes widened. "They're so small, Sunita...Surely you can afford more space..." Sunita nodded. "But I prefer this," she said quietly. David frowned. "Why? I mean, you're in Brown Sector, in this little hole in the wall..." Sunita put her finger over his lips. "Shhh....Listen. It's starting." David was about to protest when he heard something. It was faint at first, but then grew louder. It was...he turned to Sunita. "Chanting?" he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Sunita nodded and put her finger to his lips again. "Listen," she said, her voice low. David stood there, his mouth open. The chanting was so beautiful, a harmony of voices he could have only imagined before. And it was in a language he knew, but could not place. The chanting continued for a few minutes, then slowly faded again. Once it was silent again, David turned to Sunita. "What..." he said, trying to make his thoughts coherent. "What was that?" Sunita looked at him, her face radiating serenity. "Every day at this time, a group of believers walk through this section. They chant as they walk, chanting a particular passage from the Book of G'Kar." David nodded as he realized that the chanters had been speaking Narn, a language rarely heard nowadays. "Which passage?" he finally asked. Sunita looked into his eyes, her eyes shining. "The tale of how your father went to Z'ha'dum and returned. The story of death and resurrection." David's mouth opened again. Sunita nodded. "They pass by here because they know that I am one of the few people left who knew him. They walk by Aunt Susan's too..." She paused for a second. "David...you've been living with the guilt of your father's death for the past ten years. You have to let go." David turned to her, his eyes filled with tears. "Damnit, Sunita!" he yelled. "I can't just give it up like that!" Sunita nodded. "Yes, you CAN." She held open her arms. "David," she said quietly. "You have to. If you are going to survive, you have to." David collapsed into her arms, sobbing lightly. She held him and stroked his hair, making sure not to touch his crest. "I know, David," she said quietly. "I know." David's sobs soon subsided and he looked around the room. Things finally began to click. The extra shoes, the men's clothing. He looked at Sunita. "Sunita...who lives here?" Sunita's face grew mournful. "Lived here, David," she said quietly, then was silent. David frowned, then realization crept over his face. "Sunita," he said, his voice just as quiet. "Who was Frederick?" Sunita sat down in a nearby chair. "Frederick...was a ranger," she finally said. "He died in a shuttle accident a few days ago." David sat down across from her. "Sunita...I'm sorry," he finally said. Sunita looked away from him, trying to hold back her tears. "All my life, I've had people leave me. My mother, G'Kar, your parents, my father, Frederick, you..." her voice broke off for a second. "I've had to survive, David. And I won't let you fall apart on me now." David wrapped his arms around the woman who was still his best friend. "Oh Sunita..." he said, his voice soothing. Sunita wrapped her arms around him, hugged him tightly, then moved back for a second. She put a hand on his face, tracing the lines and shapes, then leaned forward and kissed him. David was momentarily surprised, but soon realized that this was what he had really returned to Babylon 5 for. One moment of perfect beauty. =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* | And if a Vorlon told you to jump off a cliff would you do it? | | | | | | | *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= From: Kate Bolin Subject: Epilogue to "Exploring" Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 16:35:28 -0600 (CST) This one takes place a few days after "Exploring". It seems like everyone in Babylon 5 has some greater purpose in life. I was just going to make "Exploring" a one shot because I couldn't find a greater purpose in life for Sunita, and didn't want to figure out David's. Now, I think I have one for Sunita... ------------------------------------------------------------------ EPILOGUE TO "EXPLORING" by Kate Bolin Doctor Stephen Franklin rubbed his eyes in exhaustion. It had been a long day. He was about to leave when he heard someone walk into Medlab. "Yes?" he said, turning around. Ambassador G'Kar stood there. "G'Kar," Franklin said, looking him over. "What brings you here?" "Your daughter," G'Kar said. Franklin sighed. "What did she do now? Hide your eye again?" G'Kar shook his head. "No, nothing like that." He paused. "Doctor, I have noticed that your daughter is a bit....unruly." Franklin sighed again. "Obviously," he said tiredly. "And that you've had trouble restraining her." Franklin frowned. "G'Kar," he said, his voice guarded. "What are you getting at with this?" G'Kar smiled lightly. "Doctor, believe me, I mean you no insult. In fact, Sunita reminds me of myself when I was a pouchling. And that is why I am here." Franklin frowned even more. "What does this have to do with my daughter?" G'Kar smiled a fraction wider. "Education." "She goes to school already." G'Kar nodded. "Yes, but obviously, that isn't working. She runs away, she plays tricks on people. What I am offering is a Narn education." Franklin looked at him oddly. "What?" "A Narn education. A study of Narn language, culture, religion, and beliefs. An education like that will do wonders for someone like her." Franklin chuckled. "G'Kar, Sunita isn't Narn. And I don't know if you can control her either." "But I can try." G'Kar paused. "Doctor, it would be unfair to Sunita if she didn't get the opportunity to reach her upmost potential." Franklin thought for a second, then nodded. "All right. I'll have her come by your quarters after school tomorrow." G'Kar nodded, and smiled. "Thank you, Doctor. You will not regret it." He began to leave Medlab. As G'Kar reached the doorway, Franklin spoke up. "G'Kar," he said, his voice low. "Take care of her, okay?" G'Kar nodded. "Good day, Doctor." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments, questions, complaints, etc. go to kbolin@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= "We are the universe trying to understand itself" --Delenn, "Passing Through Gethsemane"