From GREMS@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDUSun Jul 9 13:11:52 1995 Date: Fri, 07 Jul 95 14:01:59 EDT From: Ari Reply to: b5-creative@best.com To: Major Domo Subject: A new story. HELLO, MY NAME IS ARIANWEN P.F. EVERETT, AND I'VE DECIDED TO WRITE A B5 STORY FOR THIS CREATIVE LIST. THIS STORY HAS NO REAL ACTION, UNLIKE B5 AND MOST OF IT'S FAN FICTION, AS IS MORE ABOUT THE CHARACTERS THEMSELVES. SO CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED! PS. THIS STORY IS RATED R FOR SOME ADULT LANGUAGE! INSERT DISCLAIMER HERE. THOUGH I GIVE FULL PERMISSION TO ANYONE BUT JMS TO USE THE CHARACTERS OF ALONZO GARABALDI, ELLA GARABALDI, AND MARIE GARABALDI IN ANY WAY THEY SEE FIT, AS LONG AS THEY MENTION THEY'RE MINE. FIVE HUNDRED MILES -BY ARIANWEN P.F. EVERETT TALIA WINTERS CLUTCHED HER BAG TO HER CHEST, TOOK A DEEP BREATH, AND STOOD UP, MOVING HERSELF INTO THE AISLE, AND TO THE FRONT OF THE TRANSPORT. SHE BARELY NOTICED AS THE STUARDESS SAID GOODBYE TO HER OR THE WOMAN'S SUBSEQUENT THOUGHT 'PSI BITCH.' AT TALIA'S LACK OF REPLY OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. HER MIND WAS WAY TO PREOCCUPIED FOR ANYTHING BUT PLACING ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER, AND NOT LETTING HER NERVES GET THE BEST OF HER. SHE KNEW SHE HAD NOTHING TO BE NERVOUS ABOUT REALLY. THE WOMAN HAD HAD CARRIED HER FOR NINE MONTHS, HADN'T SHE? SHE MUST CARE SOMETHING FOR HER AND HER WELL BEING. IT WASN'T LIKE SHE WAS GOING TO STICK A PPG TO HER HEAD..., BUT SHE COULDN'T REALY KNOW THAT. FOR TRUTH BE KNOWN SHE HAD NO IDEA WHAT HER MOTHER WOULD BE LIKE, BUT TALIA KNEW IN HER GUT THAT WHATEVER HAPPENED, SHE HAD TO MEET HER, TO KNOW WHY SHE HAD ABANDONED HER FIVE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AT A SCARY TIME IN HER LIFE, AND NEVER SOUGHT CONTACT AGAIN. BUT FIRST SHE HAD TO GO AND CHECK IN AT MRS. GARABALDI'S HOUSE, WHERE SHE WOULD BE STAYING. SHE'D NEVER MEET MICHEAL'S MOTHER, OR ANY OF HER FRIENDS' ON BABYLON 5 FAMILIES, YET THE WOMAN HAD INSISTED TALIA STAY WITH HER THESE NEXT TWO WEEKS, IF HER OWN MOTHER DIDN'T INVITE HER. MICHEAL SAID HIS MOTHER WAS LONELY, BUT TALIA WINTERS SUSPECTED THAT HE HAD PUT IN A WORD FOR HER. STILL IT WAS A SWEET GESTURE ON BOTH MOTHER AND SON'S PARTS. SUDDENLY A YOUNG MAN, LOOKING VERY MUCH LIKE THE SECURITY CHIEF OF BABYLON 5 APPROACHED HER, AND STUCK OUT HIS HAND. "MS. WINTER'S, MY NAME IS ALONZO GARABALDI; I'M MIKE'S COUSIN. MY AUNT ELLA SENT ME TO FETCH YOU," THE MAN OF ABOUT 25, STATED, GRABBING TALIA'S GLOVED HAND, AND SHAKING IT BRISKLY. "WELL, THANK YOU FOR FETCHING ME," SHE SAID, A BIT UNSURE OF HOW TO RESPOND TO THE ONSLAUGHT OF THIS PERSONS MERE PRESENCE IN HER MIND. OBVIOUSLY IT WASN'T JUST ONE OF MICHEAL'S PERSONAL QUIRKS, BUT A PRODUCT OF HEREDITY. SHE HOPED HIS WHOLE FAMILY WASN'T THIS PSIONICALLY INTRUSIVE, OR SHE WOULDN'T SURVIVE THE DAY, MUCH LESS TWO WEEKS. SHE FOLLOWED ALONZO OUT INTO THE PARK LOT, AND THEY STOPPED IN FRONT OF A VEHICAL THAT SEEMED TO HOLD TWO PEOPLE, AND HAD NO VISIABLE COMPUTER ON IT, INSTEAD, THOUGH SHE COULD HAVE BEEN WRONG, IT SEEMED IT WAS MANUALLY, WITH GRIPS ON EACH SIDE. "SOME BIKE HUH, HOP ON!" ALONZO SAID PROUDLY. HE EXPECTED HER TO RIDE THIS THING WITH HIM?! WAS HE CRAZY?! "UM ALONZO, IF I MAY CALL YOU THAT, I DON'T THINK THIS IS SUCH A GOOD IDEA. I THINK I'LL WAIT FOR MORE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. THANK YOUR AUNT FOR ME, IT WAS KIND OF HER TO SEND YO..." "OH NO YOU DON'T, MY AUNT AND MY MOTHER WOULD KILL ME, IF I LEFT MIKE'S FRIEND STAY AT THE PORT AND WAIT FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. HOP ON," ALONZO INSISTED. TALIA'S ONLY REPLY WAS A NERVOUS LOOK AT THE BIKE. "WHAT, YOU SCARED OF THIS?" HE ASKED, POINTING AT THE MOTORCYCLE. TALIA NODDED. "YOU MEAN TO TELL ME MY COUSIN, MICHEAL GARABALDI, NEVER TOOK YOU RIDING ON HIS BIKE, NEVER EVEN ASKED YOU TO RIDE WITH HIM?" ALONZO ASKED INCREDULOUSLY. "NOPE, NEVER CAME UP. I'VE NEVER EVEN SEEN ONE OF THESE BEFORE," TALIA RESPONDED, FOLDING HER ARMS, BEGINNING TO RELAX AGAIN. "REALLY," WAS HIS ONLY REPLY BEFORE HE SCOOPED HER UP, AND DEPOSITED HER ON THE BACK SEAT. HE THEN JOINED HER, AND SPED OFF. THE LAST THING TALIA WINTERS HEARD, AFTER SHE CAME OUT OF SHOCK AND BEFORE THE ENGINE AND THE WIND KEPT HER FROM HEARING ANYTHING, WAS "SO HOW LONG HAS MY COUSIN BEEN BLIND?" THAT'S PART 1, PART TOO COMING UP NEXT WEEK! -ARI From GREMS@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDUTue Jul 18 22:10:03 1995 Date: Thu, 13 Jul 95 20:18:59 EDT From: "Arianwen P.F. Everett" Reply to: b5-creative@best.com To: Majordomo Subject: Five Hundred Miles part 2 OKAY FOLKS, HERE'S PART TWO. SORRY IT'S ALL IN CAPITALS, BUT FOR SOME WIERD REASON, MY COMPUTER CHANGES ALL TEXT TO CAPITALS. AS I SAID BEFORE THIS STORY HAS NO ACTION, OR ARC-SPECULATIONS, JUST PERSONAL STUFF, SO IF YOU DON'T LIKE THOSE KIND OF STORIES, READ SOMETHING ELSE. DISCLAIMER HERE. (NOT THAT IT WOULD DO MUCH GOOD, SHOULD JMS GET PISSED. HE COULD DRAG ME INTO COURT, GET A CONVICTION IN A SECOND, AND HAVE MY LIFELESS HEAD STUCK ON A POLE IN THE CENTER OF HOLLYWOOD, TO REMIND ALL ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT, AND RIGHTFULLY SO.) ANYWAY, THE CHARACTERS OF ALONZO GARABALDI, ELLA GARABALDI, MARIE GARABALDI, AND MADELINE GANICE, ARE MINE, BUT I GIVE EVERYONE, EXCEPT JMS FULL PERMISSION TO USE THEM, AS LONG AS THEY MENTION ME. FIVE HUNDRED MILES PART 2 -BY ARIANWEN P.F.EVERETT TALIA WINTERS THOUGHT THE MACHINE FROM HELL, AND THE MAD COUSIN OF MICHEAL GARABALDI WHOM SHE HUNG ON TO FOR DEAR LIFE, WOULD NEVER STOP, BUT FINALLY IT DID, RIGHT IN FRONT OF A COZY LOOKING HOUSE. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL, WITH A GARDEN OUT FRONT, BUT THAT WAS NOT WHAT MADE HER GASP. IT WAS THE FEELING OF WARTH AND HOME THAT SEEMED TO RADIATE FROM THE STRUCTURE THAT STOOD BEFORE HER. THIS HOUSE HAD BELONGED TO THE GARABALDI FAMILY FOR TWELVE GENERATIONS, AND TALIA'S MIND WAS SUDDENLY RUNNING OVER WITH MEMORIES THAT WERE NOT HER OWN. HUNDREDS OF MEMORIES, FORCED THEIR WAY INTO HER MIND, CAUSING HER TO FAINT AGAINST THE FRONT OF THE MOTOR BIKE. HER EYES CREPT OPEN, AND SHE BEGAIN TO LAUGH WILDLY. A LITTLE ELF WITH EBONY COLORED HAIR AND GREEN EYES, STOOD OVER HER, WEARING A PSI- COP'S UNIFORM. THE YOUNG ELF CLICKED HER TONGUE, AND SIGHED. NO, I'M REAL. MY NAME IS MADELINE GANICE. I'M STAYING WITH MY PARENTS THIS WEEKEND, WHEN MR. GARABALDI CAME TO GET ME TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH YOU. LIKE MOST NORMALS, HE NOR THE REST OF THIS FAMILY, KNOW NOTHING ABOUT OUR KIND, AND HAVE TO COME RUNNING FOR HELP, WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG. SO, I CALLED THE CORPS HOSPITAL IN ROME, AND THEY SAID THEY'D SEND SOMEONE IF YOU DIDN'T COME TO IN AN HOUR OR TWO. I'LL GO CALL; TELL THEM NOT TO BOTHER," THE GIRL SAID WITH A SLIGHT SIGH, THEN LEFT. "THANKS" TALIA REMARKED SARCASTICALY. "DON'T MIND MADELINE, SHE'S ALWAYS SO STUCK UP WITH HER PSI-COP SELF NOONE LIKES HER. IT'S BEEN THAT WAY SINCE WE WERE KIDS." ALONZO EXPLAINED. "SO HOW YOU FEELING?" A LOOK OF GUILT RAN ACROSS HIS FACE, AND IT ONLY TOOK A SIMPLE SURFACE SCAN TO KNOW THAT HE BELIEVED SHE HAD FAINTED FROM FEAR OF THE BIKE RIDE. "I GOT A SLIGHT HEADACHE, BUT I'M MOSTLY FINE, AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, YOUR BIKE AND YOU DIDN'T CAUSE THIS... I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT DID, BUT IT WASN'T THAT," TALIA REASSURED HIM, AS HE HANDED HER AN ICE PACK. "THANKS, AND I AM SORRY ABOUT THE BIKE. SOMETIMES I FORGET THAT OTHERS DON'T ALWAYS SHARE MY SAME ENTHUSIASM FOR IT. I'M SORRY IF I FREAKED YOU OUT," ALONZO APPOLOGIZED WITH HIS HEAD DOWN. "IT'S OKAY. ACTUALLY ONCE I CALMED DOWN IT WAS QUITE EXILERATING," TALIA SAID WITH A SMILE. ALONZO SMILED BACK. "SO PERHAPS YOU AND MIKE WILL GO RIDING ON HIS BIKE SOMETIME?" HE BAITED. TALIA'S SMILE WIDENED. "PERHAPS," SHE ANSWERED. ALONZO GRINNED FROM EAR TO EAR, AND NOW TALIA WAS SURE MICHEAL HAD TOLD HIS COUSIN ALL ABOUT HER. "OR PERHAPS I'LL GET MY OWN..." SHE TEASED. ALONZO GAVE HER A HURT LOOK WHICH MADE HER LAUGH. JUST THEN ELLA GARABALDI WALKED IN, AND SMILED AT TALIA. "HELLO, WELCOME BACK TO THE WORLD OF THE LIVING, MS. WINTERS," SHE GREETED CHEERFULLY. SHE CARRIED A SMALL TRAY WITH HER, AND SET IT DOWN IN FRONT OF TALIA. SHE LOOKED AT IT AND SMILED. "TEA AND CRACKERS, MICHEAL TOLD ME YOU ONCE SERVED HIM THIS, AND I'M JUST RETURNING THE FAVOR. BESIDES, THERE'S STILL THREE HOURS TILL DINNER, AND I KNOW HOW AWFUL THE FOOD ON THOSE TRANSPORTS CAN BE. I SWEAR I LOST A POUND JUST GOING FROM MARS TO EARTH, NOT HAVING HAD BREAKFAST THAT MORNING, AND THEN BEING FACED WITH THAT STUFF, I LOST MY APETITE FOR THE REST OF THE DAY," SHE SAID, AS TALIA BEGAN TO EAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MRS. GARABALDI, AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME HERE," TALIA, SAID, TAKING A SIP OF TEA. "YOU'RE WELCOME DEAR, AND HOW COULD I REFUSE ANYWAY? TOMORROW YOU SEE YOUR MOM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ALMOST THIRTY YEARS. THAT'S SPECIAL. I WANTED TO BE A PART OF THAT. WELL, I'LL CALL YOU WHEN DINNER'S READY. DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE TRAY, I'LL GET IT LATER," ELLA GARABALDI SAID, AS SHE SCURRIED OUT OF THE ROOM. TALIA SMILED, AS THE DOOR CLOSED. MICHEAL'S MOM, WAS REALLY SOMETHING. SHE COULD SEE WHY HE LOVED HER SO MUCH. THE THOUGHT MADE HER SAD, AS SHE REALIZED THAT SHE NEVER REALLY HAD HAD A MOTHER. AS SHE LAY IN THE SOFT BED, LOOKING AROUND THE ROOM, SHE BEGAN TO WONDER, IF HER MOTHER HADN'T GIVEN HER AWAY SO COMPLETELY, COULD THEY HAVE HAD SUCH A GREAT RELATIONSHIP. A TEAR TRIED TO FORCE IT'S WAY OUT OF HER EYE, BUT PUSHED IT BACK. TOMORROW SHE MIGHT JUST FIND OUT! From GREMS@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDUSun Jul 30 00:10:36 1995 Date: Wed, 26 Jul 95 13:24:05 EDT From: "Arianwen P.F. Everett" Reply to: b5-creative@best.com To: Major Domo Subject: Five Hundred Miles, Part 3. HERE'S PART 3! PERSONAL STUFF, NO ACTION, NO RELATION TO ARC SPECULATION! PUT DISCLAIMER HERE! EVERYONE, EXCEPT JMS HAS MY PERMISSION TO USE MY CHARACTERS ELLA, ALONZO, AND MARIE GARABALDI, AND MADELINE GANICE, AS LONG AS THEY MENTION THEY'RE MY CREATION. FIVE HUNDRED MILES PART 3 BY ARIANWEN P.F. EVERETT THE MORNING BROKE, AND SUNLIGHT STREAMED INTO THE GUEST ROOM OF THE GARABALDI HOME AND ONTO THE SEMICONSCIOUS FORM OF TALIA WINTERS. SHE HAD SLEPT BETTER THAT NIGHT THAN SHE HAD IN YEARS, AND THE COMFORT OF THE BED WAS A HARD THING TO FIGHT. SHE SAT UP AND SMILED, AS SHE CRANED HER NECK TO LOOK INTO THE GARDEN. ACROSS THE STREET A WOMAN WAS LEAVING HER HOUSE, AND GETTING THE NEWSPAPER. FUNNY, SHE HADN'T REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT NEWSPAPERS IN A LONG TIME. ON BABYLON 5 , THEY JUST COULDN'T GET THEM OUT ON TIME, NOT IN PAPER FORM ANYWAY, SO SHE JUST WATCHED THE NEWS, LIKE MOST PEOPLE. 'STOP THINKING!' SHE ORDERED HERSELF. SHE WAS ALWAYS THINKING, OR HEARING OTHERS THINK, AND SHE RARELY HAD TIME TO SIT IN SILENCE BY HERSELF. SHE SIGHED, SMILED, AND LAY BACK AGAIN. SUDDENLY HER MOMENT OF SILENCE WAS BROKEN, WITH A SUDDEN SHRIEK. SHE JUMPED OUT OF BED AND RAN INTO THE HALLWAY, PICTURING MRS. GARABALDI IN SOME WAY HURT, BUT STOPPED SHORT WHEN SHE LOOKED DOWN THE STEPS, INTO THE FOYER, AND SAW A WOMAN WITH A BABY, CORRECTION, A PSI-COP WITH A BABY. THE WOMAN LOOKED UP THE STEPS AT TALIA, AND TALIA SUDDENLY RECOGNIZED HER AS THE WOMAN WHO HAD BEEN THERE WHEN SHE HAD WOKEN UP YESTERDAY, THAT MADELINE GANICE, THAT WAS SO ABRUPT, AND WHOM ALONZO HAD MENTION WAS NOT VERY POPULAR IN TOWN. "SO, HOW ARE YOU FEELING?" SHE CALLED UP THE STAIRS, SHAKING TALIA OUT OF HER THOUGHTS. "FINE," TALIA REPLIED COVERING HERSELF UP A BIT, AS SHE REALIZED SHE WAS STANDING THERE IN HER NIGHTGOWN, HER ROBE WIDE OPEN. AN OLDER WOMAN CAME INTO VIEW, AND SHE AND MRS. GARABALDI GREETED HER WARMLY. MRS. GARABALDI LEANED IN AND WISPERED SOMETHING IN HER EAR, AND THE OLDER WOMAN LOOKED UP AT TALIA WITH A SMILE. "HELLO DEAR," SHE CALLED, TURNING BACK TO MRS. GARABALDI, AND SAYING SOMETHING IN A WISPER. TALIA WAS UNSURE OF WHAT TO DO. TO SCAN THEM WOULD BE UNAPPROPRIATE AND THE PSI-COP WOULD KNOW INSTANTLY, BUT TALIA WAS CURIOUS. THE BABY SQUALLED AGAIN, AND MADELINE TRIED INEXPERIENCEDLY TO ROCK IT, MOVING FROM THE WAIST AS IF SHE WERE EXERCISING. TALIA CAME DOWN THE STEPS HALFWAY, AND MRS. GARABALDI SMILED AT HER. "THIS IS TALIA, MICHEAL'S FRIEND FROM THE STATION," SHE INTRODUCED. TALIA SMILED AT THE WOMAN, WHEN THE BABY HOWLED ONCE MORE. MADELIN GANICE SHOOK THE BABY. "YOU'RE NOT HUNGRY, THIRSTY, TIRED, BORED, SICK, OR ANY OF IT, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?" MADELINE GANICE HISSED AT THE CHILD. THE BABY FUSSED EVEN MORE IN RESPONCE. "MOTHER!" MADELINE CALLED OUT HELPLESSLY, AT THE END OF HER ROPE. "YES DEAR," THE WOMAN RESPONDED NEUTRALLY. "MOM, THE BABY, HE WON'T STOP FUSSING AND CRYING, MOM!" MADELINE SEEMED TO PLEAD. TALIA HAD NEVER THOUGHT IT EVEN POSSIBLE FOR A PSI-COP TO GET FRAZZELED, BUT MADELINE WAS OBVIOUSLY THAT. "SO DEAR, WHAT CAN I DO?" MADELINE'S MOTHER ASKED COLDLY. "HELP ME CALM HIM DOWN, PLEASE MOTHER!" MADELINE BEGGED, AS THE BABY LET OUT A PARTICULARLY ANNERVING SHRIEK, AND MADELINE GRABBED HER FOREHEAD IN PAIN. I'M SORRY DEAR, BUT I CAN'T DO THAT. PERHAPS YOU CAN GET HIS FATHER, WHOEVER THAT MAY BE, TO HELP YOU," MADELINE'S MOTHER STATED MATTER-OF- FACTLY. MADELINE GAVE HER MOTHER AN ICY LOOK, AND BEGAN AGAIN TO TRY AND CALM THE BABY. MRS. GARABALDI TRIED TO HELP MADELINE, BUT WAS BARRED WITH ONE HAND PLACED BETWEEN MADELINE AND ELLA GARABALDI. TALIA FINALLY DECIDED SHE WOULD HELP MADELINE, DESPITE HER MOTHER'S WISHES. WHATEVER WAS BETWEEN THEM WAS THEIR BUSINESS, BUT THE BABY WAS INNOCENT, AND SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SUFFER. SHE QUICKLY MADE HER WAY DOWN THE STEPS QUIETLY, AND TOUCHED MADELINES BARE ARM, COMMUNICATING HER INTENTION. BY THE TIME MADELINE'S MOTHER NOTICED, TALIA HAD ALREADY SCOOPED THE BABY INTO HER ARMS, AND BEGAN ROCKING IT THE CORRECT WAY, SHOWING MADELINE PRECISELY HOW TO HOLD THE CHILD. THE CRYING EASED, AND SOON THE BABY GIRGLED IN TALIA'S ARMS. TALIA HAD EXPECTED A PROTEST FROM MADELINE'S MOTHER, BUT SUPRISINGLY THE WOMAN STAYED SILENT. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, SHE TURNED TO ELLA GARABALDI. "SHE'S GOOD WITH YOUNG CHILDREN," SHE STATED BLANDLY, WITH ONLY THE SLIGHTEST HINT OF A SMALL SMILE, ON HER NUETRAL FACE. THEN SHE WALKED INTO THE GARABALDI'S LIVING ROOM, WITH ELLA, AND BEGAN TALKING IN ITALIAN. TALIA WAS A BIT SUPRISED TO HEAR THE BABY'S THOUGHTS, BUT IT WAS A NICE FEELING, AND THE BABY WAS HAPPY. HER WORLD SEEMED TO SHRINK TO HER AND THE BABY BOY, AS SHE KISSED HIS TINY FEET, AND COOED BACK TO HIM. FOR AN INSANE MOMENT, SHE WANTED HER OWN BABY, AS THE MATERNAL INSTINCT TOOK HER IN A WAVE OF THOUGHT AND FEELINGS. MADELINE, WHO WAS STANDING THERE, WATCHING HER SMILED MOCKINGLY, AS TALIA BECAME FEARFUL OF HER FEELINGS, AND QUICKLY HANDED THE BABY BACK. THE SMILE WIDENED AS TALIA TRIED TO COLLECT HERSELF. "NO USE FIGHTING IT DEAR," SHE TEASED, AS TALIA TURNED TO GO BACK UP STAIRS AND DRESS. From GREMS@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDUMon Aug 14 19:59:47 1995 Date: Mon, 31 Jul 95 16:14:21 EDT From: "Arianwen P.F. Everett" Reply to: b5-creative@best.com To: Major Domo Subject: FIVE HUNDRED MILES Part 4! HERE'S PART 4! INSERT DISCLAIMER HERE! RATED R FOR SOME LANGUAGE, THOUGH THE LAST PART WILL BE NC-17. IT'S ADDED ON, AND THE STORY ENDS JUST FINE WITHOUT THE LAST SECTION, WHICH IS JUST GRATUITOUS SEX (AND WILL HAVE A WARNING LABEL!). NO ACTION, JUST PERSONAL STUFF! AND NO ARC SPECULATIONS, THOUGH THIS DEFINELY TAKES PLACE AFTER "THE SHADOWS OF ZA'HA'DUM" AND DEFINITELY BEFORE "DIVIDED LOYALTIES". ANYTIME IN BETWEEN THAT IS GOOD. ALSO, EVERYONE, SAVE JMS, HAS MY FULL PERMISSION TO USE THE CHARACTERS OF ELLA, ALANZO, AND MARIE GARABALDI AS WELL AS MADELINE GANICE, AS LONG AS THEY GIVE A SIMPLE MENTION THAT THEY'RE MINE. FIVE HUNDRED MILES BY ARIANWEN P.F. EVERETT TALIA WINTERS SPLASHED SOME COLD WATER ON HER FACE AND THEN WENT TO THE SMALL CLOSET SHE HAD HUNG HER FAVORITE DRESS IN LAST NIGHT. THE EMERALD FABRIC HUGGED HER BODY, YET REVEALED LITTLE. IT WAS ATTRACTIVE, YET NOT TOO SEXY FOR THIS OCCASION. AFTER ALL, SHE DIDN'T WANT HER MOTHER TO THINK THE CORP HAD TURNED HER DAUGHTER INTO A HOOKER. ONCE SHE HAD THE DRESS ON, SHE APPLIED A SMALL AMOUNT OF MAKE UP, SLIPPED HER GREEN GLOVES ON AND FASTENED THE PSI CORP PIN TO HER LAPEL. SHE STOOD BEFORE THE MIRROR AND TOOK A DEEP BREATH. SHE LOOKED NICE, BUT SHE COULDN'T SHAKE THE NERVOUS FEELING THAT SEEMED TO RISE UP IN HER EVEN WORSE THAN IT HAD ON THE TRANSPORT YESTERDAY. SHE WAS GOING TO MEET HER MOTHER, AND NOTHING HER NERVES DID WOULD PREVENT THAT. WITH CONVICTION SHE TURNED AND EXITED THE ROOM, QUICKLY SKIPPING DOWN THE STEPS. JUST AS SHE DID SO, ELLA GARABALDI CAME INTO THE FOYER, AND SMILED APPROVINGLY. "YOU LOOK LOVELY! YOUR MOTHER WILL BE SO PROUD YOU'VE TURNED INTO SUCH A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG WOMAN!" SHE SAID, HUGGING TALIA. "THANK YOU," TALIA SAID, STEPPING AWAY FROM THE EMBRACE. "WAIT, BEFORE YOU GO..." MRS. GARABALDI SAID, RUSHING OFF INTO THE KITCHEN. A SECOND LATER SHE RETURNED WITH A BUNCH OF ROSES. "EVERY MOTHER LIKES TO RECEIVE ROSES," SHE EXPLAINED, HANDING THE FLOWERS TO TALIA. "THANK YOU! YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THIS, REALLY," TALIA SAID, REALIZING HOW MANY TIMES SHE'D BEEN SAYING THAT TO MRS. GARABALDI IN JUST THESE PAST TWO DAYS. THE WOMAN HAD AN EXCEPTIONABLY BIG HEART. "NO NEED TO THANK ME. YOUR FRIENDSHIP TO MY MICHEAL IS THANKS ENOUGH. MY SON, LIKE HIS FATHER, HAS A SUSPICIOUS MIND, AND FINDS IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN UP TO PEOPLE, TO TRUST IN PEOPLE. SO, WHEN HE TOLD ME ABOUT HOW GOOD A FRIEND YOU ARE TO HIM, I FELT VERY GREATFUL INDEED. AND IT IS OBVIOUS YOU CARE ABOUT HIM TOO, SO HOW COULD I NOT DO THESE SIMPLE THINGS FOR YOU," ELLA GARABALDI EXPLAINED WITH A SWEET SMILE. SUDDENLY MADELINE GANICE BURST IN "CAREFUL, DON'T GET TOO CLOSE TO HER, OR SHE'LL BE SLAPPING THE TAPE MEASURE AROUND YOUR HIPS! SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE'S READY TO POUNCE!" MADELINE SHOUTED, LAUGHING HERSELF SILLY AT TALIA'S CONFUSED EXPRESSION, AND MRS. GARABALDI'S ANNOYED ONE. "DON'T MIND HER DEAR; YOU JUST GO AND HAVE A GOOD TIME WITH YOUR MOTHER," ELLA SAID, AS SHE UNLOCKED THE DOOR FOR TALIA. SHE GAVE ONE MORE LOOK BACK AT MRS. GARABALDI FOR SUPPORT, AND THEN SHE WAS OFF. Part 5 coming soon! From GREMS@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDUFri Sep 15 20:32:30 1995 Date: Thu, 14 Sep 95 22:32:25 EDT From: "Arianwen P.F. Everett" Reply to: b5-creative@best.com To: majordomo Subject: Five Hundred Miles Part 5! THIS STORY TAKES PLACE AFTER "THE SHADOWS OF ZA'HA'DUM" AND DEFINITELY BEFORE "DIVIDED LOYALTIES". INSERT DISCLAIMER HERE. THIS STORY'S RATED R FOR LANGUAGE, AND THE LAST PAST OF THIS STORY WILL BE RATED NC17, THAT IS WHEN I GET TO WRITING IT. BUT DON'T ALL YOU UNDERAGED AND MORAL MAJORITY FOLKS WORRY. THEY'LL BE A SEXLESS VERSION ESPECIALLY FOR YOU. NO REAL PLOT JUST PERSONAL STUFF. THE CHARACTERS OF ELLA, ALONZO, AND MARIE GARABALDI, AND MADELINE GANICE, AS WELL AS THAT OF BOBBY, JENNY, AND SARAFINA WINTERS ARE MINE, BUT I GIVE EVERYONE, SAVE JMS, MY FULL PERMISSION TO USE THEM, AS LONG AS YOU MENTION THEY'RE MINE. FIVE HUNDRED MILES PART 5 -BY ARIANWEN P.F. EVERETT TALIA WINTERS SMOOTHED OUT HER DRESS, AND THEN, TAKING A DEEP BREATH, KNOCKED QUICKLY ON THE APARTMENT DOOR. AT FIRST THERE WAS NO ANSWER, AND SHE LOOKED AT THE PAPER AGAIN. 344 EAST 61 ST. APARTMENT G12. THIS HAD TO BE THE PLACE, UNLESS GARABALDI'S SOURCES HAD BEEN WRONG. SHE SMILED BRIEFLY. IT HAD BEEN TREMENDOUSLY SWEET OF MICHEAL TO HELP HER FIND HER MOTHER. IT COULD HAVE TAKEN HER, BY HERSELF, YEARS, BUT WITH MIKE'S HELP IT HAD ONLY TAKEN TWO WEEKS. NOW SHE WAS HERE, IN NEW YORK CITY. SOMETIMES MIKE COULD BE SO WONDERFUL. ODD, SHE WAS THINKING ALONG THOSE LINES ALOT LATELY. PERHAPS SHE WAS FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIM... SUDDENLY, THE DOOR OPENED, PULLING HER AWAY FROM HER THOUGHTS. A YOUNG MAN WITH A LITTLE GIRL STOOD THERE, AWESTRUCK. SUDDENLY THE LITTLE GIRL BROKE THE SILENCE. "GRANDMA, GRANDMA! THERE'S A WOMAN AT THE DOOR WHO LOOKS JUST LIKE YOU IN YOUR PICTURES! THE MAN FINALLY REGAINED HIS COMPOSURE. "YOU MUST BE TALIA, MY HALF SISTER. THAT WAS MY DAUGHTER JENNY. SHE'S RIGHT THOUGH. THE SIMILARITY BETWEEN YOU AND MY MOTHER WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IS ASTOUNDING... I'M SORRY, I'M JUST A LITTLE TAKEN BACK THAT'S ALL... OH GOD, I'M RAMBLING. PLEASE COME IN. MY NAME IS BOBBY," THE MAN SAID, SHAKING TALIA'S HAND. "PLEASE TO MEET YOU BOBBY..." SHE ASKED HER GLOVED HAND TAKING HIS. "WINTERS, SAME AS YOURS... I SUPPOSE... IF YOU'RE NOT MARRIED... OR DECIDED NOT TO TAKE HIS NAME IF YOU ARE... DAMN THIS IS HARD! I MEAN YOU'RE MY SISTER, LOOK EXACTLY LIKE OUR MOTHER, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO YOU, WHERE TO START!" BOBBY SAID, DROPPING HIS EYES, THEN QUICKLY RAISING THEM AGAIN. "I'M SORRY THIS MUST BE 100 TIMES WORSE FOR YOU. I'M SORRY FOR MY OUTBURST. I'M A LITTLE MORE THAN A BIT SHOCKED, I MUST ADMIT. REALLY, I'M SORRY." "IT'S OKAY, REALLY. I UNDERSTAND." TALIA STATED, FEELING A BIT AMUSED BY THIS MAN, HER HALF BROTHER. SHE ENTERED THE APARTMENT AND LOOKED AROUND. IT WAS A BIT DISORGANIZED, BUT NOT MESSY OR DIRTY. IT LOOKED LIVED IN, BUT NOTHING LIKE THE GARABALDI RESIDENCE. THAT WAS A REAL FAMILY HOUSE. THIS WAS MORE A ONE PERSON HOME. THE LITTLE GIRL -JENNY- TALIA REMINDED HERSELF, SUDDENLY REAPPEARED, PULLING A WOMAN, WHO LOOKED ABOUT SIXTY FIVE, BEHIND HER. OTHER THAN THE AGE DIFFERENCE, SHE WAS INDEED A MIRROR IMAGE OF TALIA. NOW IT WAS TALIA'S TURN TO BE STUNNED BEYOND WORDS. WHEN SHE HAD BEEN LITTLE, SHE AND THE OTHER GIRLS THAT HAD BEEN ADOPTED BY PSI CORPS HAD SCANNED EACH OTHER, EACH HAVING HER OWN IDEA OF WHAT THE OTHERS WOULD ALL LOOK LIKE WHEN THEY WERE OLD AND GREY. NONE OF THOSE IMAGES HAD REALLY IMPRESSED HER THE WAY THIS ONE DID, FOR TALIA NOW HAD AN INSIGHT RARELY AFFORDED MERE MORTALS, SHE KNEW HOW SHE WOULD LOOK WHEN SHE WAS OLD. "SO, YOU'VE FOUND ME," THE OLD WOMAN STATED SIMPLY, WITH ONLY A TINY HINT OF BITTERNESS IN HER VOICE. "YOU ARE SARAFINA WINTERS?" SHE SAID, HER VOICE A BIT SHAKY. THE WOMAN DID NOT SOUND TOO HAPPY TO SEE HER. "ISN'T IT OBVIOUS I AM? WHO ELSE COULD I BE? OBVIOUSLY THE PSI CORP DOESN'T TEACH COMMON SENSE," SHE SAID, LOOKING TO HER SON. "MOM PLEASE," THE MAN RESPONDED,LOOKING APOLOGETICALY AT HIS HALF SISTER. "THIS IS NONE OF YOUR CONCERN BOBBY. STAY OUT OF IT," SHE SAID STERNLY TO HER SON. SHE TURNED HER GAZE BACK TO TALIA. "I SUPPOSE YOU HAVE MANY QUESTIONS. I WILL ANSWER THEM ALL; YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW," THE ELDERLY WOMAN SAID, NO EMOTIONS ON HER FACE WHAT SO EVER. TALIA DIDN'T EVEN CONSIDER SCANNING HER. THIS WASN'T WHAT SHE HAD EXPECTED, AND SHE WAS SURE THAT IF SHE LOOKED ANY FURTHER INTO THIS WOMAN'S HEART, HER OWN WOULD BREAK. "YES, I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS," TALIA SAID SLOWLY, GATHERING HER COURAGE. SHE NEEDED TO KNOW, AND SHE WOULDN'T LET HER DISAPPOINTMENT KEEP HER FROM THE KNOWLEDGE. BOBBY WINTERS LOOKED AT HIS MOTHER, THEN TO TALIA, AND KNEW THEY NEEDED TO SPEAK PRIVATELY. HE GAVE TALIA A SMALL SMILE OF ENCOURAGEMENT, SAYING A PRAYER THAT HIS MOTHER WOULDN'T CAUSE HER TOO MUCH PAIN ANSWERING THESE 'QUESTIONS', AND THEN SCOOPED UP HIS DAUGHTER IN HIS ARMS, AND QUICKLY CARRIED HER OUT SIDE, DESPITE HER PROTEST. TALIA CLOSED HER EYES, SUMMONED ALL HER TELEPATHIC BARRIERS, AND BEGAN TO SPEAK. "WHO... WHO WAS MY FATHER?" SHE ASKED, HER GAZE DROPPING SLIGHTLY. A THOUGH SUDDENLY STRUCK HER. IF HER MOTHER WAS SO COLD TO HER, PERHAPS IT WAS BECAUSE SHE HERSELF DIDN'T KNOW OR SHE HAD BEEN RAPED OR SOMETHING HORRIBLE LIKE THAT. SARAFINA WINTERS DREW HER LIPS TIGHTLY TOGETHER. "WIPE THAT LOOK OFF YOU FACE, LITTLE GIRL, OR I'LL NOT ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS! I DO SO KNOW WHO YOUR FATHER WAS! I'M NOT STUPID! I WAS NOT SOME HOAR, AND I WON'T HAVE YOU THINKING THAT WAY ABOUT ME IN MY HOME!" SHE SHOUTED, STARING HER ASTRANGED PROGENY DOWN. "I'M SORRY," WAS ALL TALIA COULD THINK TO SAY. THIS WAS REALLY GOING BADLY. THE WOMAN RELAXED A BIT AND BEGAN AGAIN. "YOUR FATHER WAS A FRENCH POLICE OFFICER BY THE NAME OF JEAN LAROGUE. WE MET IN PARIS. I WAS ON VACATION THERE, SORT OF A LAST FLING BEFORE I MARRIED BOBBY'S FATHER, KIRK. NINE MONTHS LATER YOU WERE BORN. KIRK HAD SUCH A KIND HEART. HE LOVED YOU EVEN THOUGH YOU WEREN'T HIS. HE WANTED TO KEEP YOU WITH US, BUT I COULDN'T LIVE WITH YOU AROUND, SO WHEN PSI CORP OFFERED TO ADOPT YOU, I SIGNED THE PAPERS. KIRK WAS FURIOUS, BUT IT WAS TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING. BESIDES, HE WASN'T YOUR REAL FATHER ANYWAY, AND HAD NO RIGHT TO YOU," THE WOMAN FINISHED. SHE STOOD UP AND SIGHED. "WOULD YOU LIKE SOME TEA?" SHE ASKED, WALKING OVER TO THE STOVE. TALIA WAS ANGRY NOW. THIS WOMAN WAS RELAYING THE EVENTS THAT BROUGHT ABOUT HER EXISTENCE AND RIPPED HER FROM HER HOME AS A CHILD AS IF SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE WEATHER. STILL, SHE COULDN'T RISK GETTING ANGRY AND BEING FORCED OUT WITHOUT KNOWING ANYMORE. THE THOUGHT OF TEA NOW, WHILE USUALLY RELAXING, NOW MADE HER SICK. "NO THANK YOU," SHE ANSWERED IN A CONTROLLED TONE. From GREMS@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDUSun Nov 12 15:47:14 1995 Date: Wed, 25 Oct 95 16:06:48 EDT From: "Arianwen P.F. Everett" Reply to: b5-creative-owner@blob.best.net To: b5-creative@blob.best.net Subject: Five Hundred Miles Part 6 FIVE HUNDRED MILES PART 6 BY ARIANWEN P.F. EVERETT INSERT DISCLAIMER HERE. NO REAL PLOT, JUST PERSONAL STUFF. THIS STORY IS RATED R FOR LANGUAGE, THOUGH THE LAST PART, TO BE WRITTEN AND POSTED AT A LATER DATE, WILL BE NC-17. BUT OLD NEWT NEED NOT WORRY; I'LL ALSO POST A PG-13 VERSION. THIS STORY TAKES PLACE BEFORE "DIVIDED LOYALTIES" (A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR OUR DEAR DEPARTED MS. WINTERS) AND AFTER "THE SHADOWS OF ZA'HA'DUM" THE CHARACTERS OF ALONZO, ELLA, AND MARIE GARABALDI AS WELL AS THOSE OF SARAFINA, BOBBY, AND JENNY WINTERS ARE MINE, BUT I GIVE FULL PERMISSION TO ANYONE, SAVE JMS, TO USE THEM, AS LONG AS THEY MENTION THEY'RE MINE. FIVE HUNDRED MILES PART 6 -BY ARIANWEN P.F. EVERETT TALIA FELT NUMB IN HER BODY, BUT THE VOICES IN HER HEAD WERE LOUDER THAN USUAL. SHE WAS IN SHOCK, BUT SHE COULD FEEL HER HEART BEGIN TO WEEP. SHE WAS NOW LIKE SUSAN, AN ORPHAN. SHE HAD NO FAMILY NOW THAT SHE'D BEEN SO DISALLUSIONED BY THE CORPS AND HER BIOLOGICAL MOTHER HAD REJECTED HER SO COMPLETELY. ALL HER LIFE, EVEN WHEN SHE WOULD SAY IN SCHOOL THAT THE CORPS WAS BOTH MOTHER AND FATHER TO HER, SHE KNEW AT LEAST THAT WAS UNTRUE. SHE HAD LOVED THE CORP, BUT SHE HAD ALWAYS BEEN A BIT JEALOUS OF THE NORMAL CHILDREN SHE'D SEEN ON THE STREETS. HOW THEIR FLESH AND BLOOD PARENTS WOULD DOTE OVER THEM AND HUG THEM AND EVEN WHEN THEY PUNISHED, SHE COULD TELL THERE WAS STILL LOVE THERE. BUT FOR HER THERE WAS NO MOTHER OR FATHER TO LOVE HER. SHE HAD GOOD FRIENDS, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE FELT VERY ALONE. PERHAPS WHAT THAT LEADER OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD WAS TRUE, THE CORP HAD TAKEN AWAY EVERYTHING SHE HAD BEEN BORN WITH. BUT IF THAT MADE HER THE FUTURE, IT WAS A SAD TIME TO COME. ENOUGH, SELF PITY GOT YOU NO WHERE. SO SHE HAD NO FAMILY, SHE STILL HAD A JOB, A HOME, AND FOOD IN HER STOMACH. AND SHE HAD THE BEST FRIENDS THAT ANYONE IN THE UNIVERSE COULD HAVE. SHE THOUGHT OF SUSAN AND MICHEAL AND EVEN JOHN SHERIDAN, WHO SHE WAS STILL A PIT PEEVED AT FOR PUTTING HER IN THE HALLWAY WITH THAT MAN MORDEN, WHOSE MERE PRESENCE HAD KNOCKED HER OUT COLD, TERRIFIED HER, AND SENT HER INTO A WELL OF DARKNESS SHE FEARED WOULD KILL HER. THE CAUL ON HER HEART LIFTED AND HER ONLY DESIRE WAS TO RETURN TO B5, TO THE PEOPLE SHE LOVED. AS SHE WALKED DOWN THE STREETS OF NEW YORK CITY, HER EYES DARTED TO AND FRO IN SEARCH OF A TRAVEL AGENT. SHE HAD TO GO BACK TO THE GARABALDI HOME TO COLLECT HER THINGS AND SAY GOODBYE TO MICHEAL'S MOM, BUT AS SOON AS SHE COULD, SHE WOULD BE ON A TRANSPORT BACK TO BABYLON 5, IF POSSIBLE, THE NEXT ONE OUT. Sorry it's so short, but if I didn't get it out today, I'd forget and it would sit another month. Part 7 should be out soon, if I can remember that is.