From: nick! Subject: Famine's Tale Part one Date: Tue, 26 May 1998 12:13:34 +0100 (BST) Okay folks, here's another one (I really need to get out more...). This is set after Killing Susan, which is set after Rebirth. (You see it's just a mad conspiracy to trap you into reading my warped scribblings for ever and ever and ever...!) Apologies for the last story- it was a nice idea it just failed slightly in practice. This one though...I'm a little more positive about..Have a read and let me know what you think... Disclaimer: none of the characters belong to me, but to JMS and his gang. I'm not making any profit from them...blah de blah de blah I don't *think* there are any spoilers but since this is set during season 5 don't read it if you've not seen that far! Enough blathering, on with the story. Ps. in case you're puzzled at the title, it refers to the nickname a certain well-known Centauri gave to one of his wives... FAMINES TALE The first thing Marcus noticed on entering John Sheridan's office that afternoon was that the President was not alone: seated opposite him at his desk were Delenn- as expected, and Vir- which was not expected. Concealing his surprise the ranger greeted each of them in turn, bowing his head respectfully to Entil'zha and seated himself in the only other available chair. "Marcus," Sheridan cleared his throat, "what are your contacts with Centauri Prime like? How strong are they?" "Not very. I've been out of action for a good six months or so and a lot can change in that time. Why?" Delenn picked up where her husband had left off: "During the occupation of Narn by the Centauri there was, as you know, great suffering faced by the people of Narn." "Of course," Marcus couldn't resist smiling- her words were so obvious to him. "Countless Narns were killed or enslaved by the Centauri." Vir was concentrating very closely on his hands, Marcus noted, he seemed embarrassed, ashamed even. "Throughout those troubles we on Babylon 5 have attempted to reduce their suffering in whatever way we could without becoming actively engaged in the fighting. A small number of Centauri also became involved in providing humanitarian aid to the victims of the war, by offering medical care, and food and in some cases actively assisting sick and injured Narns to safety on other planets, sometimes via Babylon 5." Delenn gestured at Vir as she spoke and he glanced up briefly. Marcus nodded, he knew about Virs covert attempts at relocating injured Narns by inventing a fake bureaucrat who could issue fake travel documents. "Th-the idea wasnt exactly my own," Vir spoke softly, barely raising his head. "When asked about it before I *said* it had been *my* idea as a way of protecting the person who was *really* behind it. The Centauri occupation is over now but the individual concerned is now in great danger of arrest for her actions. The Centauri government is gathering evidence on collaborators and it is only a matter of time before they realise who is behind it all. *My* position is safe, Ambassador Mollari took care of that, but it is unlikely he will do the same for her because firstly he does not know another ringleader exists and secondly, once he knows her identity he will be even *less* willing to help." "Why, who is she? An arch-enemy of his?" "Oh far, far worse than that. She's his wife!" "What?" "The government knows that it is someone close to the royal court and is greatly embarrassed by the whole thing. When they are sure of her identity she will be arrested and tortured until she tells them the names of her accomplices. She'll then be tried for treason and put to death. As organiser of the whole operation she alone knows the names of all the others involved- she arranged it this way so that more sympathetic parties would lend their support knowing they were unlikely to be found out. Most of the others are lower ranking Centauri with little power but more opportunity to help the cause. They are pretty much under her protection- if she goes down, they and their families are doomed. We had arranged for her to leave the Centauri homeworld several times before but she's always refused- she won't leave the others." "Marcus, we need you to go with Vir to Centauri Prime and help him persuade her to leave, as quickly as possible." Sheridan added, leaning forward on his hands. "If she escapes then we're confident that the rest of her accomplices will be safe." "Okay, when do we leave?" "Right away. Youll take a Centauri transport and travel as yourself. There's been a lot of trouble recently with attacks on high-ranking Centauris by the Narns so Vir can easily justify your presence as bodyguard. He'll have to be seen to carry out other errands, visiting Mollari and his own family while he's there. Since Timov is essentially an Aunt and since it's quite normal for him to visit her to notify her events she's expected to attend with her husband, there shouldn't be too much suspicion aroused. I'd rather you didn't mention this mission to anyone else though, just in case." "How will we get the Ambassadors wife off of Centauri Prime once we've convinced her to come?" "You'll take a shuttle to a local jump gate under the guise of visiting one of Centauri Prime's moons or colonies. We'll arrange for a White Star to meet you in hyperspace. Oh and Marcus, theres one other thing. If she refuses to leave, please bear in mind that many other lives depend on her silence. You may have to resort to more extreme measures to obtain it. Also, if any of you face capture..." "I understand." Marcus replied softly. "With your permission I'd like to leave a message for Ivanova in case I don't make it back." "Of course. Record the message and give the data crystal either to Delenn or myself. We'll take care of it. Good luck." Marcus returned to his quarters to pack a small bag and record his 'just in case' message to the absent Ivanova who was at that time captaining the E.A.S Agamemnon. He hadn't seen her since she'd left the station two months ago and although most of the time he managed to stay busy enough to keep himself from brooding on how much he missed her, it was at times like these that he felt her absence most. During the Shadow war and the fighting with Earth, he'd carried out many of his missions with her at his side, but this time... "Susan," he started. "God this is weird: I'm recording a message that you'll only see if I'm dead, or worse. Sods law being the wonderful thing that it is, the very fact that I'm recording this should mean that nothing whatsoever happens on this trip and I'll come back from what will have been a glorified holiday feeling like a complete fool for being so melodramatic. But anyway. I suppose what I really want to say is just more of what you already know: that I'm still madly in love with you and want to spend the rest of my life with you but, if I do end up dead-again, at least we've both acknowledged our feelings and had some time together- better than last time eh? I know it's horribly clumsy but I'm nervous as all hell and can't think of another way of putting it. My words truly are inadequate to the burden of my heart! Oh look: nothing going to happen, fingers crossed and you'll never see this complete drivel- I plan to chuck it away as soon as I get back; you'll have found out what this mission entailed and beaten me around the head repeatedly for my stupidity and we'll both live happily ever after. Oh bugger, that'll be Vir. I've got to go. I love you Susan, Marcus out." "Is everything okay Marcus?" Vir trundled along behind the ranger who was hurrying toward their transport at some speed, his eyes far away, deep in thought. "I'm fine Vir, I'm just worried about Susan." He smiled down at the young Centauri. "She'll be angry?" "Furious. When she left we agreed we'd both stay faithful and keep out of trouble. She's going to accuse me of breaking a promise." "What promise?" "That I'd never leave her again." The two of them stopped at the checking in desk. "In your line of work isn't that a rather difficult promise to keep?" Marcus nodded sadly. "Well, how does this sound: we'll each take care of half of your promise each; you can concentrate on staying alive and I will ensure that no attractive females come anywhere near you by stunning them with my own personality and unusual good looks, thus taking care of the other half of it!" "Vir, you are quite mad. Are you sure the stress of this trip isn't getting to you?" The two of them boarded the Centauri vessel for their journey to Virs homeworld. *************************************************************************** End of part one. Part two will follow shortly. ttfn, Nick xxxx From: nick Subject: Famine's Tale Part Two Date: Thu, 28 May 1998 16:02:55 +0100 (BST) Here's part 2: all comments welcome, for disclaimer see part 1. Enjoy. FAMINE'S TALE PART TWO <> Ivanova slammed her lunch tray down on the table in front of her. She'd just tried to contact Marcus via stellarcom and been informed by a rather cagey-sounding Lennier that 'unexpected business' had taken him off station. <> She started angrily shoveling food into her mouth, barely pausing to chew. "Mind if I join you?" The gentle, melodic voice of Susan's executive officer Commander Webb dragged her from her seething thoughts. Impatiently she motioned for him to sit. He did so. Two months of serving under Captain Ivanova and a brief memo sent by an old friend from his training days- Lieutenant David Corwin, had taught him that the best way to deal with his superior officer was to be quietly assertive without attempting to match her aggression, to always speak loudly (but as respectfully as possible) and most importantly, if the captain was having a bad day, then the whole crew was having a bad day! "Is there something troubling you, Sir?" he enquired, placing gentle emphasis on the word sir and picking up his fork. She relaxed a little, she had no choice, and the man had a face no one could stay angry at for long. "Yes, but it's personal" "And this is neither the time nor the place for such matters." He finished for her. She almost managed a smile and the two of them resumed eating in a comradely silence. Webb knew better than to ask too many questions or to try to distract his captain with trivial conversation. He knew well enough that the cause for her scowling and salad-stabbing motions would soon pay the price. So long as he wasn't the cause he considered that he had little to worry about. He resolved to have a word with the rest of the command staff later on to ensure that his superior officer's day went as quickly and as smoothly as possible. ************************************************************************* On arriving on Centauri Prime Marcus and Vir went straight to the house where Ambassador Mollari's wife Timov was living: her father's country home, set in acres of private and well guarded grounds more than half a day's journey from any major towns or cities. Vir informed his companion that Timov's late father; Algool had been a powerful and highly respected Centauri. The running of his estate had fallen to his widow and daughter since his son could not be trusted not to gamble away the family fortune. "Isnt that unusual, the family affairs being handled by a Centauri female?" Marcus asked. "Well yes, but the only other alternatives were the son, who's an idiot, and Londo who the father couldn't stand. Algool raised his daughter as he *should* have raised his son and she's a little unusual- very assertive for a Centauri female." When they arrived at the Algool family estate they were greeted by guards who led them through into a parlour to await the young mistress of the house. Vir sniggered to himself at the very thought of Timov Mollari being considered young, although since her mother was still alive there was nothing else she could be called. Marcus looked around him and noted with interest that the room they now stood in was decorated with taste as compared with the rest of the house, which was in more typical Centauri style. Vir explained that this had been Algool's study when he'd been alive and was now Timov's private parlour. She occupied this wing of the house; the west wing was occupied by her mother and the house was so decorated in accordance with their differing tastes. "Vir." A small, slightly rounded woman glided into the room. She wore the clothing typical of a woman of her rank- a deep red tightly corseted gown that flaired out from the waistband and twitched along the floor as she moved. Around her bald head fitted an inch wide band of corresponding fabric. She was almost exactly as Marcus had expected short and stout but dapper and gracefully elegant at the same time- a female version of her husband. "Lady." Vir greeted her nervously, noting to himself that she had grown thinner and looked pale and drawn. "Are you in health?" She tutted at him, "Now please dont embarrass yourself. Why are you really here?" she demanded, seating herself in a chair and waving the guards away. Vir lost whatever little nerve he ever had and began to stammer, shifting from one foot to the other. His trembling gave her the opportunity to notice Marcus for the first time: "And who might you be?" she asked, peering around the bulk of Vir to fix her stare on him. He smiled and bowed his head slightly; "I'm Marcus. I'm here to keep an eye on Vir." "Good. He needs it. Vir, would you please sit down and be quiet. Marcus, perhaps you could explain this foolish boy's presence here?" He did so: Although he could understand Vir's nervousness, Timov Mollari *was* rather shrewish; more than two years of knowing Susan had pretty much prepared him. The Centauri, he reasoned to himself were simply unused to their females standing up for themselves so openly... Once Marcus had finished explaining their mission to Timov, she sat back in her chair a little, although, he noticed, not completely: the corset she wore combined with a lifetime of training in Centauri etiquette would never allow that. "No." she said very simply. She then took a deep breath, "My place is here. If I am arrested I can simply remind the royal court that my accomplices had no alternative but to follow me. They are all servants in this house or tenants on my father's land. Being simple peasants they would be considered incapable of disobedience or freethinking. I cannot be seen to abandon them to the fate mine and my father's actions have bestowed on them. I will stay." "But," "Vir, let me finish. My actions and imminent arrest will lead to dishonour befalling my family name, in the eyes of my fellow Centauris at least. But such dishonour will not last forever. My mother and brother will soon regain their present status, particularly if one of them turns me in themselves, as I've no doubt they will. The same goes for my husband. I went into this consciously, willingly and with my eyes open to the consequences. Other members of my family did not make that choice. My brother spent the bulk of the war gambling in the casinos along with my husband and his ilk: this is one thing he is completely innocent of. My mother's silence was enforced by my father until his death and now has no guaruntees. If I leave, the burden of guilt will wrongfully lie with them and they will be arrested and tortured to death in my place. The Empire *will* have it's revenge- one way or another." "What if they were to come with you?" Marcus asked "They would never agree to it. Both would turn me in without a moment's thought. What I have done is inconceivable to the average Centauri: to help the enemy that has burned our cities and killed our husbands and fathers and sons- evil! And what of the others? Once I am gone, the emperor will go to increasing efforts to ensure they are punished in my place. If they have me on the other hand- the *aristocratic ringleader*, he will most likely forget about the rest of them." "But lady, they'll torture you..." Vir's voice was beseeching "Yes Vir, I know. And I do *not* need reminding! Now, it is growing late. Vir, you should return to your family. Marcus, if you prefer you may stay here." Reluctantly Timov's nephew turned to leave. Marcus escorted him to the door. "See what I mean?" Vir whispered, "We're doomed" and with that he left. Marcus returned to the parlour. "So," Timov smiled up at him "Come along then, talk some sense into me!" Marcus chuckled softly and sat down in the chair nearest to her. Gently he took her hand, "How ill is your mother?" he smiled knowingly. She sighed, refusing to let him see her surprise, and rose smoothly to her feet. "I didn't want anyone to know. She's senile; quite mad. Were she not I could have convinced her that although he is dead, my fathers will is still paramount. While still in her right mind, my mother could still have been bribed- Its funny how insanity manifests itself: my mother would never have thought past her household and her own pocket but now..." She beckoned him to follow her out of the parlour and down the hall to the western wing. "Most of the time she's quite lucid: Among the royal court a little eccentricity is expected- most people consider her no different, Particularly when I stay out of the way." Timov opened a door and the two of them were greeted by the sound of gentle singing. The room they entered was larger and far grander than any of the rooms in Timovs east wing and was decorated in the extravagant style typical of a Centauri house- there were enough colours and boldly clashing prints to induce senility, Marcus was sure! Seated on a chaise-longue and dressed in a heavy black gown not dissimilar to that which Timov wore, sat a regal-looking woman- bolt upright and composed. The stately composure ended the moment the older woman caught sight of her daughter: "Ha," she spat, "It's not been five years and you're already out of mourning dress: spoilt brat!" she snarled. If Timov was shocked by this outburst, she hid it well. "Are you well mother?" She simply asked politely, exchanging glances with the maid who stood to one side- it had been her singing they had heard on entering the room. Marcus looked on from the background as the older woman continued to shriek and shout insults at her daughter, who took them without batting an eyelid. Then, considering the floorshow to be over for one day, the younger woman turned on her heel and moved toward the door, motioning for Marcus to follow. As they reached the door, the woman called out to her daughter, causing her to turn around. At that moment a large pot sailed across the room, having been thrown by the older woman. It hit Timov in the stomach; its contents spilling over her, "Ugh." Timov clapped her hand to her mouth and hurried out. Marcus followed her and found her leaning against a wall in the hallway, taking repeated deep breaths and dripping wet. "I won't cry. I will not." She gasped between breaths. "That's the fourth time she's thrown her chamber-pot at me this week!" she said to Marcus who remained silent, a shocked and concerned expression on his face. "The last time," she continued, "she tipped it straight over my head. It's alright," she smiled seeing her companions expression, "we Centauri females wipe clean!" She smoothed a hand over her head to further illustrate her point, then excused herself and hurried along the corridor to change. ****************************************************************************** The following morning they were rejoined by Vir, who stumbled into the parlour, bobbing nervously at first Timov and then Marcus. "Sit down before you fall down, Vir." Timov peered at him over the cup in her hand, "And before you say anything, no I have not yet had any sense talked into me!" Vir slid into a chair. "There have been developments." He started, looking nervously at Marcus. "It's only a matter of time before they arrive here. Last night one of Londos ex-wives was granted an audience with the royal court saying that she had evidence of your wrong-doing and treason." "Who?" Timov snapped. "Mariel." He replied. Timov slumped a little. "She no doubt *does* have evidence of some sort, either real or invented. She' far more dangerous than she is ever credited." Timov got up and moved over to the window- she didn't want either of the two men to see the fear in her eyes. "What's likely to happen now?" Marcus asked. "They'll come here, after securing the town house. I will be arrested, as will the pair of you if you are found here. My mother will be thrown out on the street as a mad woman, unless she is in one of her more lucid states of mind in which case shell be arrested also. This house and the rest of my fathers property will be auctioned unless my brother can bribe it back in which case he will gamble and squander it all away. I will be tortured until the emperor tires of my screams at which point I will be tried and found guilty of high treason. Ill be be-headed, most likely, and my head nailed to the palace gate alongside those of yourselves, two beggars, three thieves and a Narn or two!" Timov fought to keep the hysteria from her voice, and found that she could not stop shaking. "Vir, you should go. If you are linked to me it will be embarrassing for your family and Londo's" "But lady, I-" "Go!" she shrieked. "I will *not* be pleaded with." "I'll get help." Vir stammered as he left. Marcus of course stayed. "So, are you going to kill us both then?" Timov asked, turning to face him. "I'm sure that is what you were told to do if there was a chance of our capture." Marcus stared at the floor. "I have a knife somewhere," she added, going over to the writing desk and rifling through the drawers. "No." he answered softly. "We are leaving, alive." She laughed, "You're not a bit afraid of me are you?" "Your honourable deed is *done* Timov," he spoke quietly. "There's no need for you to die a martyr." She stopped her rifling and turned to face him. Half-smiling, she took a deep breath: "Suddenly my courage is failing me. All my resolve evaporating before my eyes. My place is here; this is where I shall stay. I cannot run. You however can, and you should. You have loved ones to think of. All I have; all I have ever had is here. Without it I am nothing." "You'd rather stay and die than risk being poor!" "Marcus, you're deliberately misunderstanding me. As the daughter of an aristocrat I have done all that I could to stand by my beliefs. There is no more I can do. A Centauri woman spends her entire life looking for a purpose and rarely finds a useful one. I have been lucky. Now I'm simply tired. Too tired to spend the remainder of my life on the run, living as a fugitive off the charity and goodwill of others. My time is done. It is as simple as that." "Timov, listen to me: if you stay, you'll die, horribly. And so will I." Timov stared up at him in disbelief, "Thats right, he smiled sadly, if you insist on staying, then I must insist on staying with you." "Misguided boy..." she muttered under her breath. Finally locating the long handled dagger in the desk drawer, she removed it's scabbard and thought for a moment how best to complete such a task... "No." Marcus reached for her and wrestled the knife from her hands. Throwing it aside he kept hold of her wrists and pulled her toward the door, "Enough nonsense, we have to go. Now." In the distance they heard the sound of engines: the emperors guards. "This way," Timov gasped, pulling Marcus back down the corridor and into her bedroom. She hurried over to a paneled interior wall part of which was obscured by a tapestry. Reaching into her pocket she took out a key and unlocked the door hidden by the heavy fabric. Silently the two of them raced down the endless stairs behind the door, into the darkness. At the bottom of the stairs their path branched out into a series of intricate tunnels. "We got many of the Narn refugees out through these catacombs," she whispered as they hurried along. "We'd apply to the government for more Narns to work as slaves in the fields, and then smuggle them out. These caves lead all the way to the sea. Minbari transports would leave food there for the stronger Narns and any that were too sick, injured, young or old to work left on the transports. Then we'd ask for more Narns saying that the last lot had died!" "How long has this been going on for?" "Oh, I don't know- a long time. At least 20 years." "Who else knows about these tunnels?" "Only my mother. Father forbade her from telling anyone- Centauri women rarely argue with their husbands. Hopefully the palace guards will dismiss heras a mad woman. They'll probably kill her.if her nurse doesn't manage it..." "What?" "My mother's nurse is the daughter of my old nanny. Both of them were involved in the relocation of the refugees. I told her that should anything happen to me or should my mother attempt to betray us, she should end her life by the gentlest means possible.2 "Oh." "You must think me terribly callous, but these are desperate times. Also, mother and I have never been dear to one another so I must treat her as I do the rest of my family and protect myself from the worst that she can do." "Do you think she'd betray you?" "I don't doubt it for a minute!" ***************************************************************************** Gasping for breath, Vir reached the office of Londo Mollari. "What is it Vir?" Londo looked up from the flimsies he was perusing. Vir stopped dead, open-mouthed- Londo wasn't alone. Eventually Londo noticed his nephew's frantic gesturing and sent his secretary out. "Londo, you have to do something. Timov is being arrested" Londo rolled his eyes and stood up, straightening his jacket. "Vir, I know." He moved out from behind his desk and poured himself a drink. "What?" Vir's face paled and he fell into a chair. "How do you think *your* contacts found out about it? Hm?" Londo drained his glass and refilled it. "No Vir, I have done all I am going to do. Your warning should have given ample enough time for the wretched creature to escape. If that ranger cannot get her off of Centauri Prime, then she will face the authorities for her crimes. I have washed my hands of it; You should do the same." "But Londo. I-" "Vir, if your involvement comes to light, my not having reported you will also be made known. And then, as the humans say, the 'shit will really hit the fan'. No, it is done with. I have turned the page on an unfortunate chapter in this book!" ***************************************************************************** Dangarr, wife of Algool sat upon her chaise-longue, waiting. On the floor, at her feet lay her nurse, a gold-hilted dagger protruding from her back. <> Dangarr smiled dreamily to herself. <> Calmly Dangarr sipped at her tea. Senile she may be, but she knew her duty to her emperor. The sound of splintering wood and raised voices signaled the arrival of the emperors men. Dangarr heard the protests of the house staff as they tried in vain to slow their advance. Dangarr finished her tea and stood up. Leaning heavily on her stick she hurried to the door. ***************************************************************************** "How much farther?" Marcus asked, taking Timovs hand to steady her. "Not much- did I just hear something?" The two of them froze. Silently Marcus removed his pike from his belt; Timov bent down and drew a Centauri PPG from an ankle holster, "I'm not going down without a fight!" she whispered, her eyes sparkling- this time there was no fear there. The ranger nodded and the two of them ducked behind a corner. There were ten of them- they obviously knew what a ranger was capable of. Timov took a deep breath to calm her nerves; her two hearts were pounding in her chest and she felt certain their hunters could hear them. She felt Marcus' hand on her shoulder and she looked around at him. He held up three fingers, two, one, Now. Six of the guards had fallen before Dangarr made her presence known to her daughter. Timov froze: "Mother!" At that moment one of the guards stepped forward, holding a knife to the older womans throat, he smiled knowingly at the two fugitives. Timov's hearts sank and she let her weapon slide to the flood, "I'm sorry." she whispered to Marcus who mutely raised his hands above his head in surrender, dropping his pike to the ground. "Mother, how can you do this? You fool." Timov tried to keep her voice to a whisper so as not to betray her fear to her captors. "They'll kill you now." Dangarr threw back her head and laughed at her foolish daughter, and then froze as she felt a sharp pain as the knife at her throat edged in closer, tracing an increasingly large line in blood across her thin flesh. ****************************************************************************** End of part two. Part three will follow ttfn, nick xxxx From: nick! Subject: Famine's Tale Part Three. Date: Fri, 29 May 1998 14:17:40 +0100 (BST) Me again. You know the drill. Disclaimer's in part one. Enjoy. ps. thanks to everyone who emailed me about this and my other stuff. You're all lovely!!! Famine's Tale Part Three It was 04.30 when Ivanova awoke gasping from the worst nightmare she'd had in months,<> She scrambled out of bed and over to the monitor on the wall. "Put me through to John Sheridan on Babylon 5. Now" "Susan? Whats going on?" "You tell me..Where did you send him?" "Oh god,Susan, I'm sorry-how did you know?" "Marcus and I are both telepaths,how d'you think! Look Im about 3 hours from you in normal space. I'm going to take a starfury." "No wait. You can't leave your ship" "Screw it!" "Ah jeez okay, look, Lennier is in a White Star in hyperspace near Centauri Prime. I'll set up a rendezvous point for you." <> Ivanova felt faint; she needed a drink but there wasn't time. Hurriedly she dressed, pulling her hair back into a rough ponytail. Then she left her quarters and ran through the corridors of the Agamemnon- her ship, toward the launching bays. Commander Webb appeared out of nowhere and she only narrowly averted running straight into him. "Captain, is everything okay? You look like you're running from the devil." Ivanova stopped dead, how was she going to explain this "Get out of my way" she growled, "I don't have time to talk." Webb complied and walked along beside her, "Tell me." "It's Marcus.I have to help him." Webb hesitated for a second, "He's in trouble? Okay, come on, I'll clear you through and keep this hidden from the powers that be for as long as I can." **************************************************************************** Timov sat curled up in a corner of her cell. Her face swollen and bloody, as were her hands. Her head throbbed still from being knocked to the floor; hot sticky blood was dribbling from a long cut at the back of her skull and dripping down her back. She had no idea how long she'd been there nor how long Marcus had been gone- they'd dragged him away to be interrogated some time ago. She knew he'd be able to cope with the torture, as a ranger he had been taught ways of dealing with pain, and that he'd also be able to block any telepathic scans, for now anyway. She wasn't so sure about herself though:the beating she'd suffered in the tunnels combined with having been forced to watch her own mother's murder had left her in severe shock. <> she resolved, <> The cell door opened and a man was thrown in; the door shut behind him. "Marcus?" She crawled over to where he lay prone and carefully turned him over. His eyes were tightly closed. "Marcus!" His eyes slowly opened, "I'm okay" he whispered. "They got bored once they thought I'd passed out," he continued. "I never realised how useful meditation could be" he managed a weak smile. "They'll come for you soon-maybe I can teach you how to cope with it."She smiled and shook her head, "No. Ill keep quiet just to spite them." Somehow he knew she meant it. *************************************************************************** "Londo. I am *not* going to stand by and let them die. Not when something can be done." "Nothing can be done." Londo sat slumped in his chair, glass in hand, bottle before him. "How can you say that? How do you know? Don't you care?" "Of course I care." Londo snapped, slamming his glass down on the table. "I do not know Marcus very well but I have been married to Timov for more than twenty years!" he shouted, then repeated in a quieter, smaller voice, "Of course I care." He took another gulp then refilled his glass. "And I am doing what I can. One of the guards is loyal to house Mollari; she knows him and if she asks him, he will end her suffering and that of your ranger friend." ***************************************************************************** In her starfury Ivanova tried to concentrate her thoughts on the task in hand. She knew that Marcus was in terrible pain but she had to reach the White Star first. Then and only then, she could reach out to him, comfort him with her mind and then find him, rescue him-if only there was enough time.Her mind wandered back to the Agamemnon and Commander Webb: why had he helped her? He should have placed her under arrest for desertion.She remembered his last words to her as she'd climbed into her starfury, "I've been in a situation similar to this before and if I'd had the guts to do what you're doing right now, I'd be married instead of widowed". She hadn't known that about him and now she wished she'd bothered to find out a little more about her crew instead of rushing through her posting to get to her annual leave a little quicker. She hadn't been a good Captain, she realised that now. Marcus had understood her need to leave Babylon 5 to take up the post on Agamemnon, but right now she wished to god he hadn't; that he'd asked her to stay. She probably would have if he had asked. But then things probably wouldnt have worked out... So here she was, in a starfury, racing through space to reach her lover before they ran out of time, and he ran out of life. The instruments in front of her told her that she'd reached the rendezvous point: where the hell were they? A jump point was forming just ahead of her- the White Star, thank god. "Ivanova to White Star, do you read me?" "This is the White Star. You are clear to dock." Lennier's gentle voice answered her,<> As she boarded, she noticed a familiar figure standing beside Lennier: GKar! **************************************************************************** "Timov, are you awake?" She opened her eyes and saw Marcus looking down at her. "Ugh. I thought I had dreamt it all" she sighed, struggling to sit up- she couldn't, there wasn't a part of her body that didn't hurt. "Lie still." he told her quietly. He didn't look too good himself. "Are you alright?" "I'll live." he smirked "Poor you! Talk to me, about anything. I want to forget where I am." "Anything? Okay...I grew up on a colony on Mars. My parents owned a mining company there. We'd left Earth when I was a baby and my brother, Will, was two. They didn't want us growing up on Earth, didn't trust the government, or psi corp. It was hard for mum, she'd had a good job back on Earth- she was an archaeologist. On Mars she had to be simply wife and mother and suddenly it was dad's turn to earn a crust- On Earth he could never get a job- too old- there were a good fifteen years between them. Mars truly was a fresh start for them: dad started the mine and it was doing well. They died barely a year apart: She'd developed a particularly aggressive form of cancer, probably as a result of spending her student years living in San Diego,He went to pieces when she died and followed not long after. My brother, meanwhile joined this weird cult called the 'rangers'. I carried on the family business until a shadow attack decimated the mine and the colony where we'd grown up..My brother died and I picked up where he left off. I spent years blaming myself for what happened and living the most isolated life possible as a way of ensuring no one ever got that close to me again-it didn't work: the moment I met Commander Susan Ivanova I realised that I could go on. Its bizarre: the rangers taught me how to die, gave me something to die for and she taught me how to live and gave me something to live for: poetic isnt it? Or have I just received too many blows to the head!" "Your race is a strange one." Timov chuckled to herself, "Marrying for love -I assume you will marry-a recipe for disaster. I think my father married for love. Or tried to. His marriage to my mother was arranged theday she was born female! But I think he tried to bring something else into it: she had other ideas! I was first born, my brother is 3 years my junior. He was always such a pathetic, weak little thing- my mothers pet. I was the son my father never had: he used to take me hunting in the grounds, which is where I learned to use a PPG. He took me fishing and riding and taught me how to fight:I was one of the best swordsmen in my circle until I reached puberty,when I was packed off to be taught how to be a lady! You know I think he must have suddenly realised that I could never be his son but that if he acted quickly I *could* learn how to become his daughter! During the process I lost him for the first of many times. I was promised to Londo, and that was that." "Do you ever wonder what it would be like to fall in love?" "Hmph! More trouble than its worth...love, pah!" she laughed more than a little bitterly. "I *was* in love once: or so I thought. The emperor's son no less!" she felt her eyes misting over. "I thought we were going to run away together... I'd been promised to Londo by my mother even though I'd not seen him since I was a child and I had made up my mind: I would not marry such a terribly *little* man; my father agreed. I was of course, pregnant- suddenly Eston wanted nothing more to do with me... I ran after him, begging him to marry me..." another laugh suddenly escaped her and was ended by a coughing, fit during which a frightening amount of blood came up. "Oh well, there goes one of my lungs...anyway, he of course refused me, very publicly and very cruelly and so I ran away. My child was born- dead in a cave half a days walk from my father's house. I lay there for 12 days, holding him, nursing him as if he were still alive... One of the Narn slaves, a man named C'Giur found me. He helped me bury my child- can you believe it! And then he carried me home to my father." "In Valens name!" Marcus shut his eyes briefly, "What happened?" "I was married to Londo. My pregnancy was kept a secret by both houses- the scandal! I'd developed an infection as a result of the pregnancy and could no longer have children, but that mattered little- he married again a few years later and then a third time after that. I remember being carried up to my fathers house by C'Giur- the look in his eyes- I'd lost him again: I had betrayed him by being born female, then by becoming a woman and then a third time by causing such scandal. Nothing was ever said of course... I even spent my entire married life living in my fathers house. But I don't think he ever forgave me." "What is it about fathers and daughters? There was bad blood between Susan and her father; *my* mother was practically disowned for marrying someone old enough to be her father, and now you..." "Ah, well you see, there is always a strong bond between the two. I suppose a daughter is an amalgamation of all her fathers hopes- he tries to shape her into what he sees as the perfect woman, a woman he can fall in love with." "And for the daughter?" "Well," she smiled into the distance, beyond the wall in front of her. "My father was the first man I ever knew and was, I suppose, how I imagined all men should and would be:He was my world- for a long, long time. And no one could ever replace him" She snapped herself back out of her reverie with a forced laugh, "especially not Londo Mollari! So tell me about your Susan. When are you going to make yourselves and each other miserable by marrying?" "Ha, you truly are a cynic! But you know what a cynic is, a disappointed romantic!" "No. A cynic is a *tired* romantic." She corrected him her voice taking on a mock primness. A key turned in the cell door: whose turn was it this time...? **************************************************************************** End of part three. Part four (the final part) will follow shortly ttfn, Nick xxxx From: nick! Subject: Famine's Tale Part Four Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998 14:54:31 +0100 (BST) Here is part four. I'm assuming you all have part three since it's not in my postponed message folder...i stupidly decided to clean out the sent mail folder the other day and now cannot remember what i had and hadn't sent! if yo've not got part 3 let me know and i'll dig it up from somewhere or other and pass it on. Disclaimers in part one. All comments welcome. Enjoy... Famine's Tale Part Four "GKar, what are you doing here?" "Timov Mollari has done my people a great service, as did her father before her. I will repay her by ensuring she does not die for her great deed." the rather imposing Narn shrugged. "We should, as you say, make tracks, Captain." Lennier spoke softly, beckoning them into the ship's command center. "So, what is your plan, Captain? I assume you have a plan..." GKar eyed her closely. "Oh, I see-well, we have two standard hours to come up with one." "Captain, Delenn asked me to give you this. It was recorded by Marcus before he left for Centauri Prime, as what John Sheridan referred to as a 'just in case'" Lennier presented Susan with a data crystal, "I can show you where you can view it in private." ***************************************************************************** Londo was drinking again. He found it to be a useful way to stop himself from thinking too hard. Vir hadn't stopped nagging for a week now: 'what are you going to do about Marcus and Timov, Londo...' He was sick of it. She had got herself into this mess, and so had he. <> he intoned. <>. Between drinks though, he occasionally felt the odd twinge of something that felt like guilt. And once, just once he caught himself remembering Timov as she had been before she became his wife. ************************* It was late afternoon when his father and he walked through the gardens that led to the house of Algool. He was to meet his wife. As was the Centauri way, the marriage had already been arranged: there only remained a few formalities, like the two of them meeting officially. The marriage had nearly been cancelled: his family and her mother had arranged the match- Her father had opposed the it, however, as had she (both father and daughter considered the youngest, son of the youngest son of the Mollari house to be far below the eldest child of the Algool household). Now finally, all was arranged. He was so nervous that his hands dripped with sweat; he wiped them down the sides of his jacket. His mother had told him to treat his wife with kindness and that she would thus repay him, and during the journey he imagined her as a sweet faced, gentle and frightened little thing whom he could protect- for once *he* could take dominance. She sat in her father's drawing room, bolt upright, poker faced. He knew of her past, that a far worthier suitor had made her to look a fool and that she was now forced by circumstances to agree to a match inferior to her position and her house. He approached her cautiously. He knew what was expected of him and slowly he knelt down before her, took her hand and raised it to his lips. Through all this she eyed him coldly, with barely concealed disdain. He was beneath her, and she beneath him. "So. It is now you who owns me. You have bought me from my father, yes?" it was more of a statement than a question. "I suppose.." "I hope you paid a good price." Londo was shocked. His father had led him to believe that this fallen woman would be meek, compliant and grateful for his hand. "I'll remain here, in my fathers house." She stated "V-very well." he murmured. And then he left; walked away from that house a married man. After that day they met only a few times a year and it was always the same: Londo felt that somehow the whole of Centauri Prime was laughing at them both for their foolish match. <> he had learned to reason. For look at him now- his star was in ascendance and she, for her part, had always been true to him, unlike his other wives. She took no lovers, so far as he could tell and who cared if she did. If she did she was certainly discreet. They owed one another nothing. And that was the one good thing about their marriage. ************************************* Londo realised the bottle in his hand was empty. And then it dawned on him: that time when hed kissed her hand, kneeling before her in her fathers house, was the only time he had ever touched her. <> he thought to himself. <> *************************************************************************** Ivanova sat slumped in her chair in the command center of her White Star, mulling over Marcus' message to her. This was the first moment she'd had to think at length of the implications of her having left her post. She knew that she would face disciplinary action on her return but right now she really didn't care. "Captain, we're receiving a transmission from Centauri Prime. I'm attempting to decode it, the encrypting is very complicated." Lenniers voice broke through her thoughts. "When you've finished put it through." She swung around in her chair to face him. "This is Ambassador Mollari: I'll keep this as brief as possible, they'll be onto us in no time at all... I am sending through the coordinates of a landing area behind the royal palace. The prisoners will be brought out to you." Ivanova and GKar turned to one another in amazement. ****************************************************************************** "Marcus, wake up." "It's okay, Im still here..." He didnt open his eyes, it hurt too much. He lay on his belly, the numerous welts from the electro-whip their captors had used on him were too painful for him to move. Timov knelt beside him, her head resting against the slimy brick of the prison wall. She was holding up well so far, but Marcus knew that she was close to giving up: the smallest detail like the way she sat told him this. She would never have sat slumped against a wall a few days ago, particularly not one like this. She hadn't yet stopped wiping the blood and dirt from her face as it appeared there, nor had she ceased brushing her clothing down from time to time but in a few more days she would though.The only way to keep what remained of their spirits up was remembering happier times in their lives and the pair of them had found themselves talking more and more about their childhoods, families and so on. "Tell me more about Centauri Prime..." he murmured whenever he felt she was starting to fade away. "My father only married once: quite unusual for a Centauri of his standing. He did, however have a mistress: my nursemaid. I think he might even have loved her, they were certainly very fond of one another. She was more of a mother to me as I grew up than my own had been. In the summer time when he took me fishing, she would often come with us. I didn't mind sharing him with her for some reason. She had been widowed quite young and had a daughter who lived with her family some distance away- she rarely saw her and I think in some ways she liked to pretend *I* was her daughter...She died trying to save *his* life when I was aged about...eleven of your years. There was a duel betwenn him and another aristocrat who had accused my father of insulting his honour in some trivial way...It was of course a nonsense: merely a thinly veiled attempt at getting rid of a man who openly opposed the Centuari government! My father beat his opponent easily and turned his back to take me and my nursemaid back to the house. His opponant drew a knife and made to stab my father in the back. Leesta got in the way, and died in our arms...He was never quite the same again. You should rest now..." she stroked his forehead gently and smiled down at him as he shut his eyes. "Timov," he murmured softly, half-way to sleeping, "...D'you still think about your child?" "Oh, only when I cannot avoid it." she sagged back against the wall, her hand still resting absent-mindedly on his head, "What happened to the father...the emporor's son?" "Him? Oh, the following summer he was found in a brothel with his throat slit- one of the great mysteries of the time! He'd made many enemies and run up a great many debts at the casinos and brothels in the capital, so there were countless suspects. He was only a *younger* son- not a likely heir to the throne so the mystery went largely unsolved....You know, when I heard, I didn't even cry..." ************************************************************************** Ivanova sat slumped in her chair. She could feel that they were getting closer: she could now feel even more strongly Marcus' pain, exhaustion and despair. Trying her best to blot out the sounds of the White Star crew, she focused her thoughts on him. <> <> he was in a cold, dark place. She strained to hear the slow pace of his heart. <> <> she felt him drift way as he lost consciousness. "Can't this thing go any faster?" she snapped at Lennier, "Damnit, we don't have much time..." "We are re-entering normal space now. We have clearance to land." "Good old Londo..." she muttered to herself, shifting anxiously in her seat. G'kar started to leave the bridge, "Hey, where are you going?" she demanded, her eyes following his retreating figure. "I am going to rescue Marcus and Timov, of course..." he balked. "I was not aware that we were merely stopping by for a *social call!*" "Alright, but wait, I'm coming with you." "I didn't doubt it for a minute..." *************************************************************************** Marcus was roused from his fitful sleep by the sound of the cell door opening. "Oh god...not again..." he moaned as he felt hand's pulling him to his feet. He could hear Timov's voice whispering anxiously, then he heard another voice he vaguely recognised. "Quickly, get him to his feet, hurry. If he cannot walk he will have to be left...Timov, you as well." "Marcus!" Someone was lightly slapping him around the face. The mist cleared and he saw Timov's face anxiously peering up at him from where hu hung, supported between a guard and another man. "Marcus, wake up. You have to walk." she had a ppg in her hand- what was going on? He glanced over at the guard and then at the other man- Londo! <> Marcus found himself being half dragged through a series of passageways as dark and murky as the cell he and Timov and spent unknown amounts of time in. Then, suddenly, bright light hit him square in the face, <>. In the distance was the familiar shape of the White Star and from it, two figures emerged, running toward him. "Take him." Londo shouted to G'Kar and Ivanova, "Hurry. We will stall the rest of the guards- tell them that they have escaped although we tried to stop them. It is very important that your ship is not seen, that way we can keep the Alliance out of this...Go!" Marcus realised he was being passed to someone else, <> <> supported by her he managed to stagger toward the White Star. Behind him, Londo and Timov, each armed with ppgs held off the advancing guards. "Timov, go now." Londo yelled, she hesitated- she couldn't just leave him, and they had to be sure that no guard who saw the ship survived long enough to tell anyone. Her hesitation was rewarded by a shot to her shoulder, the force of which knocked her to the ground. Pain spread through her like fire and for a moment she lay, stunned. Then a pair of dtrong arms lifted her up and carrying her, their owner raced toward the White Star. In the distance she heard her husband's voice, yelling that the prisoners had escaped, in spite of his own efforts to stop them. ************************************************************************** Marcus awoke to find himself in medlab. He was lying, propped up on his side to protect the whelts on his back from causing him any more pain. In a chair beside him, curled up, with a blanket draped over her shoulders, slumped a sleeping Susan. Cautiously, in case he was only dreaming, he reached out to touch her face. <> <> she pushed her blanket aside to take his hand and kissed it. Then she leaned across to brush her lips over his. "Ahem..." Franklin stood in the doorway, looking more than a little uncomfortable, "This place is for the sick, y'know..." "So how is he?" Ivanova growled at the doctor in her most threatening tone as an attempt to hide her emmbarrassment. "Fine, not too bad...The main worry is those welts on your back..." he frowned down at the injured man, "Tell me about it..." Marcus winced as he shifted his position in the bed slightly. "When we were cleaning you up, I counted...forty-one. According to G'Kar, they come from a Centauri 'electrowhip- he's got similar scars himself," Franklin grabbed a chair and pulled it around to sit on it as he spoke. Then he continued, "Apparently, forty lashes is *supposed* to be enough to kill even a Narn. So...I guess *you* were just making a point..." he grinned ruefully. In reply Marcus attempted what might have been a half hearted shrug. "How's Timov?" Franklin's grin faded, "Not great... ppg burns to her shoulder, a cracked skull that was left untreated for a while; various other cuts and bruises; we had to remove one of her kidneys, but...she should recover eventually...she's quite *robust* all things considered...Probably needs to be considering who her husband is...." "What about Londo and Vir?" "Londo managed to convince authorities that he was trying to stop your escape...he's now awaiting some medal for bravery...!" "Typical..." "He and Vir should be here within a few days to check on Timov's condition." "She'll be pleased." "Hm...she may not even be conscious..." ***************************************************************************** Franklin frowned down at the medical chart in his hand, it didn't look good. The frown already fixed on his features deepened even more as his gaze rested on the tiny figure in the bed in front of him. It was a week since Timov Mollari had been brought into medlab and there had still been little change. She seemed to be healing relatively well, but for the head injury, which was the doctor's main worry. He wouldn't be able to truly assess any brain damage until she woke up. Londo had arrived on Babylon5 two days ago and had rarely left his wife's bedside since. Franklin had found himself prying the Ambassador from her side so that he could examine her and had sent the Centauri to the zocolo to get her some flowers. The irritating man had been moping around sick bay like a child who's pet stick insect had died...Londo seemed to have temporarily forgotten that he and his wife couldn't usually stand being in the same room as one another. Franklin only hoped that the ambassador rgained his memory before his wife awoke: if she found him sitting at her bedside there would be hell to pay... Next door Marcus was making a slow but steady recovery. Although still having to lie on his side since his back was nowhere near healed, the ranger was still quite content to drive all the medlab staff crazy with his sarcastic remarks and bad jokes. Although the doctor considered him to be one of his best friends he also knew that if the ranger wasn't discharged soon, he would end up in a far worse state than he was in when he arrived at the medical facility...and when Susan left to face the music over her desertion of her ship he'd be even more unbearable. The first thing Timov became aware of as she began to wake up was the clean smell of disinfectant wafting up from the sheets and the gown she was wearing. The second thing she noticed was the annoying bleeping of the cardiac monitor close to her head. The third thing she noticed was a familiar looking doctor frowning down at the monitor to her left. "Dr Franklin..." she managed a hoarse whisper, he looked up and smiled at her. "Would you please stop that infernal bleeping sound. I swear, if it grows any more highly pitched, only canines will hear it!" "Nice to see you're back to your usual self..." he smirked, turning the volume on the cardiac monitor down a little, all the while thinking to himself that if *her* tone grew any more high pitched only canines would hear it... "You have a visitor, if you're up to it." At her impatient hand waving actions Franklin called for the visitor to enter and then left himself. "Afternoon room-mate!" Marcus hobbled into the room, a grin plastered across his face and staggered into a chair. "How long have I been out for?" she blinked against the stark blue tinge everything seemed to have and concentrated hard on focusing on him. "Long enough for Londo to start keeping a bedside vigil..." the woman groaned, this was all she needed- her husband feeling dutiful. "Where is he now?" shwe sighed, letting her eyelids droop shut, "Stephen sent him away, but he'll be back soon enough." "Oh great maker...Marcus, help me up..." "Timov, is that wise?" she glared at him a little and he relented, plumping up the pillows behind her so that she could sit more or less upright. At that point Franklin rushed in, "Hey, wadda you think you're doing?" he gently pushed Marcus aside and stood before Timov, arms folded and a stern expression on his face. She shot him a look that could melt plastic, "Listen you silly little man. My husband has not seen me lying flat on my back in twenty years of marriage! I don't intend for him to start now!" as she said this she smoothed a hand over her scalp- ugh, stubble! "Make yourself useful and hand me that towel." she snapped and then on receiving the item proceeded to drape it over her head, fastening it in a knot at the back. "I'll get you a pin or something..." the doctor murmured, realising that arguing with the woman would be futile. "Thank you. If I have to face that *worm* of a man, I'll do so upright!" "I can hear singing..." Marcus interupted, "I think he's coming..." He and Franklin left quick-smart and Timov finished with her ministrations and folded her hands in her lap, fighting hard to ignore the fact that she felt like her entire body was being slowly fed into a mangler. Londo Mollari had not left his wife's side since he'd arrived on the station several days ago. He'd spent his time there reading through reports to himself, holding her hand, even talking and reading to her. He was surprised at his concern for her, but then he thought to himseld that he should no longer find his wife surprising: she'd always been unpredictable. He thought back to the sombre gathering at which the two of them had 'celebrated' their marriage years ago. He and his family and friends had kept firmly to one side of the room and hers had done the same at the other end of the room. When, at the end of the evening he approached her- they were afterall expected to spend that night together, she'd turned on him and told him that if he didn't leave her alone she'd ensure that she wasn't the only one in their marriage who was unable to have children. When he'd laughed she stood on tiptoe to bite his nose! Aws he shrieked in agony Londo remebered hearing Algool's by now quite merry voice, inform the rest of the guest that the chances of Timov letting go and leaving her husband's nose intact were remotely slim... Twenty years later, Londo still winced at the memory... However, he thought to himself, as she was now- lying in peaceful sleep he could almost enjoy her company...And when Dr Franklin had ushered him out of the room and jokingly ordered him to by his wife some flowers, Londo found himself giving the idea some serious thought and returned half an hour later with a huge bouquet in his hand. He had even taken to humming to himself... Londo's merry humming ended the moment he entered medlab and caught sight of Timov Mollari sitting bolt upright in bed, a disdainful scowl adorning her face. He stopped dead, unsure as to how to proceed. "Lady, you are awake!" he forced the fast-forming grimace on his face into a smile. "Yes, I am. Thankyou for noticing!" there was a brief silence as Londo searched for something to say. Panicking more than a little his eyes wandered over to Franklin and Marcus who were looking on from a safe distance. Marcus gestured at the flowers and the ambassador took the hint. "Er...these are for you..." he dumped the bouquet on the bed beside her and then jumped back like he was trying to feed a caged zarg tidbits. Timov glanced briefly down at the blooms, then back up at her husband, obviously unimpressed "Londo, I'm *quite* well now so there's little need for you to hover around me like a bad smell." Although he looked stunned, Mollari realised that this was his lucky escape and nervously bobbing and bowing to her he left the room. "Marcus, you've just been deposed. You are now only the *second* worst patient we've ever had in here..." Franlin turned to mutter to his patient. "Why thank you doctor!" he smirked, "And seeing as I don't think either me or my staff can handle both you and Timov Mollari, I'm letting *you* go...On condition that you take things easy...I'm contacting Susan and telling her that if you disobey my orders and get into any trouble, she'll have to answer to me." "Yes doctor." Marcus grinned sheepishly. Before Franklin had a chance to answer him, their conversation was interupted by a piercingly shrill voice "Will *somebody* please get these...flowers out of my sight!" The two men hurried in to Timov's room to find the woman in a fit of sneezes, "That- achoo- stupid- achoo- husband- achoo- of mine- achoo..." she held the offending bouquet out for Franklin to take off of her and when he had, her sneezing eased off, "He's never given me flowers before and doesn't *realise* I'm *allergic* to them! Odious little man..." *************************************************************************** "Comfortable?" Susan looked down at her lover who lay propped up in her bed by numerous pillows and cushions; a concerned expression on her face. "Yes, thankyou nurse!" he smirked back, "And you can't hit me because I'm still injured." he quickly added as she raised a redundant cushion to strike. She laughed and resigned herself to mentally adding up all the times he wound her up while he was still poorly, to get her own back when he was well again."Did you speak to Sheridan about the trouble you're in with Earthforce?" "Yes, he said he was working on something and he'd let me know. So I'm refusing to even think about it for now. Did you see Timov before you were discharged today?" she asked climbing into the bed beside him. "Yep. She's bored out of her mind and driving Stephen and the others up the wall. I said I'd take her some books to read. She said she wanted something funny, so given her sense of humour...do you have a copy of MacBeth?" "Is that wise, it might give her ideas..." "Hm...she's busy making Londo's life hell again also." "No change there then." Susan reached over him to switch off the light "Susan..." "Mm-hm" she nuzzled against him already half way to sleep "If we're ever like that after we're married..." "After we're married?" her eyes snapped open and in the dim light, he noticed her scowl, "I *hope* that's not a proposal!" "No...I'm just saying..." "Oh, well, that's okay then." she closed her eyes again and relaxed back against the pillows "We'll *never* be like them- I hope." ***************************************************************************** "So what now." Londo was pacing up and down Sheridan's office, hands clasped behind his back, a deep frown on his face. "As far as the Centaurum is concerned, Timov escaped from the palace dugeons with the help of the Narns. But what do we do now, she cannot ever return to Centauri Prime or any of the colonies...What do you propose we *do* with her?" He stopped pacing and whirled around to face the other man who sat at his desk, a drained expression on his face as he tried to remain patient. "The Alliance has already granted her amnesty her on Babylon 5 and on several other worlds, including Minbar and Narn. What's going to happen to the other Centauris involved in Timov's underground railroad?" "Ah...the emporor is bored with it now he no longer has the ringleader. Since they were mostly low ranking Centauri and slaves they are not considered to have any sort of 'criminal responsibility' and will be left alone now." "Well, your wife should be here soon and it'll be easier to discuss this with her present." Sheridan sighed. At that moment Timov herself entered the room. She was still pale and weak, her right arm held in a sling and her gait slow but still graceful as she glided into the room, dressed in a Centauri gown that had been made for her on board the station. "Good afternoon President." she held out her good hand to him and he took it, "Londo." she bowed her head formally at her husband who repeated her gesture, "Lady." He stood aside so that she could seat herself in a chair at the conference table. "How are you feeling?" Sheridan asked her, seating himself beside her "Apart from this thing," she gestured at the sling, "Only the most superficial of wounds remain." "I'm glad to hear it. So what are your plans? As you know, both the Minbari and the Narns have granted you amnesty on their territory, and you will also be quite safe here on Babylon5." "Well, kind as their offers are, I'm not entirely sure that Minbar is a place I could consider my home....Centauri and Minbari do *not* make a good combination. As for Narn, well, I'm sure G'Kar will understand why I must turn that offer down as well. They are still rebuilding their world and need all their resources for themselves. Besides, the Centauri are hated by the Narns, and with good reason...That leaves Babylon 5...Londo, how much time do you intend to spend here?" she turned around in her seat to face her husband who, feeling somewhat redundant, had taken to pacing up and down the room again. "Er...hardly any time at all dear lady..." he stuttered "Good. Then it is decided. Now what is happening to Marcus' lady friend? I hear from him that she is to be disciplined for desertion of her post." "Yes, she is. Her E.O did his best to hide her leaving ship for as long as possible. He almost got away with it but then a high ranking official dropped in on them unannounced and...that was that. I'm currently working on convincing Earthdome that her rescuing you, Timov, is in fact a great PR exercise and they seem to be going along with that- the Narns and the Minbari have both increased their trade with Earth...so hopefully, if our superiors think that Susan's actions have improved our relations with other members of the Alliance..I don't think she'll be dishonourably discharged- the military still needs offcers of her rank and calibre so aside from a mark on her record, she should face little more action." "Well, whatever happens, I hope it doesn't take her too far from here for too long- I don't think Marcus could cope!" The sound of footsteps announced the arrival of Susan and Marcus. "Susan.." Sheridan stood up to greet them, "Marcus, how are you? Not too sore I hope?" "No,no. I'll soon be mended." "Susan, I just wanted to see you before you left. Whatever happens at thea disciplinary hearing, we all know you did the right thing. And don't let anyone tell you otherwise." He pulled her into a brotherly hug "I won't. And I'm sure it'll be okay in the end. I should go, my transport leave in less than an hour." The three of them watched Marcus and Susan leave arm in arm, not quite sure who was holding who up. "For someone whose entire future rests in the hands of her superiors, she doesn't seem at all worried..." Londo mused half to himself "No, I guess not. I think the break from Earth forced us to take a good long look at our reasons for doing things. Maybe Susan found, like we all did, that there *are* things bigger than duty to Earth and the military. Sometimes duty to ourselves and compassion for others is a hell of a lot more important. Besides, she'll never admit to it, but she'd be a hopeless mess without Marcus." Sheridan grinned at his two guests and Timov returned the smile. "Of course. I often wonder why you humans bother with all this 'love' business. Absurd! It's a good job you're all so good at it..." "Indeed. Unlike we Centauri who know only duty, honour and the importance of marrying well." Londo added, glancing at his wife who ignored the comment. Turning to him haughtily she simply said: "Since I am your wife and it remains your *duty* to support me, I take it that you will be arranging an allowance to be placed in an account for me...You *have* afterall received my father's *entire* estate as a gift from the emporor..." "Of course lady..." Londo hid his crossness well as he bowed to her. Later that day, as he left the station for Centauri Prime he chided himself at the memory of his concern for her. <> Then he smiled in spite of himself: he couldn't help but feel a little *proud* of his wife... ************************************************************************ The End. New story will follow soon. ttfn, Nick xxxx