From: Price Subject: Babylon 5: IA Sheridan "The monkey chased the weasel" & "Ganymede" Date: Fri, 05 Jun 1998 08:40:57 -0700 Babylon 5: IA Sheridan - http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Rampart/8842/index.html The following stories are part of a Play By Email role playing simulation. The setting is the Babylon 5 universe in the current fifth season. Events and references in these stories may contain spoilers for prior and future episodes of B5. Additional information, character back ground, etcetera can be obtained by visiting the above website. We live for the one. We die for the one. Enjoy. ***** "The monkey chased the weasel" by Commander Kem Zaelea 9804.27 The Sheridan had spent the last eight hours sifting through the wreckage of the Gaim freighter convoy under Captain Yawashita's orders. After his short conversation with the President of the Interplanetary Alliance, John Sheridan, Senji was determined to find out exactly what had happened here and who could have defeated an entire wing of Red Dragon fighters. In their preliminary investigations, two things had become painfully clear. One, that the hull fragments of four Minbari fighters, the Red Dragon elite, were present in the debris. In some cases even the scorched remnants of the Minbari that piloted the craft were found. The other obvious fact that was being drawn was that the fifth Red Dragon was no where to be found. When it was learned that of the four destroyed Red Dragon Fighters, all of the pilots were Minbari, rumors started to circulate that the out worlder Narn, N'Graz, who was temporarily assigned as the Wing Commander of the Red Dragon, had fled the battle, leaving the helpless Gaim freighters, and his own Ranger brethren, to die in the loneliness of space. While they were only hushed whispers, mostly among the Minbari sect, the rumors didn't escape the ears of Captain Yawashita or Commander Zaelea. Senji insisted that there must be an explanation for N'Graz absence. His leading hypothesis that this mysterious attacker had taken the Narn and his fighter captive for some unknown reason. Commander Kem Zaelea was less optimistic. She understood the Captain's desire to quell these non-productive rumors. And she knew she was not a Ranger. But still, given the circumstances, she had to admit there was a trace of doubt in her gut about what had happened in the heat of battle. N'Graz would not have been the first fighter pilot to become afraid and flee in the entrapments of battle. And despite Yawashita's claim of a mysterious alien abduction, N'Graz fleeing seemed to be a more likely explanation. "I hear they still have not found any sign of the Narn's ship. Captain Yawashita searches and searches and yet he ignores the obvious. The ship is no where to be found because it wasn't present for this deadly battle." A Minbari quietly comments to a group of his fellow Rangers. Commander Zaelea, overhearing the hushed conversation, presses closer to the corridor wall, concealing herself momentarily in the shadowy recesses of the White Star vessel. "The Shai'Alyt gives N'Graz the benefit of doubt. There is no proof that he abandoned the Anla'Shok." Another Ranger comments. "Benefit of doubt can be taken too far. Is there any doubt to the actions of those Minbari Rangers that flew with N'Graz? Those brothers whose ships now line the cargo bay floor in pieces of burnt and twisted metal? They died as Rangers. Defending the defenseless. Protecting the weak. They did not abandon the Gaim or each other - even to the death." The Minbari snapped back, "This Narn sold out his oath. He abandoned that which is Anla'Shok! He values his own skin more than the ideals of the One. He should be hunted down and made to face his disgrace." Not wanting this to go any farther, Commander Zaelea stepped out of the shadows and into the light, making her presence known to the three arguing Minbari. Two of them looked surprised when they saw the Alyt walking over, but the hateful Ranger just grew even more angry. "Captain Yawashita believes Ranger N'Graz would never do what you have been speaking of. The Captain has known N'Graz for a long time. If he says his friend would not run, I tend to believe him. Verone, Do you not trust the word of your own Captain?" Kem asked pointedly. Verone's eyes narrowed, his tiny ears flared slightly, "How can you say that Alyt when your own heart is filled with the same doubts of which I speak?..." Kem was taken aback by the Minbari's revelation. He was correct, she did have doubts about the Narn and wondered if he did in fact run as the evidence would indicate, but she was the Captain's second in command. Her job was to support him no matter what. But how did this Ranger know that? "Do you deny that you yourself feel that the best explanation for N'Graz absence from the battle scene is his willful withdrawal as he ran away from the battle?" Verone snapped back. Kem quickly recovered. "What I feel and what I believe are not on discussion here Ranger. People think and feel and act as a part of all life. When it comes down to it a great man and a fool both share much of the same things. The difference is when and where the fool chooses to speak of such things. Consider that Verone. When the truth is known, what you do and say today may very well determine if you are considered a fool or a great man." The Minbari shut his mouth and was too angry to say anything more. Crossing his arms, Verone turned to one side and brooded. Kem glanced at the other two Rangers and after a moment asked, "Don't you gentlemen have something you should be doing?" With that the three Minbari Rangers each went their own ways. Kem watched as the last of them, Verone, glanced back and gave her a disapproving glance before continuing down the corridor. "Looks like I just made a few more 'friends' on this ship." Kem mussed to herself sarcastically. Being a non-Ranger on a ship full of Anla'Shok was proving to be more difficult with each passing day. ***** *** Canyon recesses on Aloc *** "Come Amile, look at me! I am a birdie." A child playfully declares standing on a rock outcrop along the canyon trail flailing her arms like a giant bird. Amile laughed. The youngster was great company when she'd make these long walks to gather water for the settlement. "Careful Gatty, you do not want to fall from there." "I won't! I'm a birdie! I can fly upon the wind!" she said, running down the canyon face flapping her arms and staring at the sky. When she reached the bottom near her older sister, Gatty stopped and pointed at the circling buzzards in the distance. "Look, there are some of my birdie friends." Amile shielded her eyes from the glaring mid morning sun. Aloc was a hot, dry planet. Her lips were already parched from the warm air and the fair distant walk from the settlement to the nearest watering stream in the recesses of the canyon. "Those are not the sorts of birds you want to call friends Gatty. Come, we need to get moving to fetch the water before the full heat of the day is over head." Gatty continued to look at the half dozen blackened birds circling the sky up ahead. The youth didn't understand the danger the large winged creatures presented. To her they were just wonderful creatures that were circling the sky. ***** N'Graz laid on his back, unmoving. The pain from his injuries to his head and broken leg, coupled with the loss of blood that had now thankfully congealed had weakened the robust Narn into a delirious lump of flesh. Conscious, only barely, N'Graz was unable to remember anything of who he was, where he had come from or how he'd gotten in this canyon. He laid there, sprawled out in the open sun that crested the side of the canyon and now was beating down upon him fully. Unable to move, nor remember why he'd want to, the Narn began mumbling incoherently. Quietly at first, and then louder and with rhythm until the Narn finally realized he was singing an nursery rhyme. It was a stupid, repeating lyric. Non-sense really, but it was the first thing he'd been able to remember about himself so he kept singing it over and over again. "Here we go around the mulberry bush, the monkey chased the weasel. The monkey thought 'twas all in fun. Pop goes the weasel! A penny for a spool of thread, a penny for a needle. That's the way the money goes, Pop goes the weasel! Up and down the city road, in and out of the eagle. That's the way the money goes, Pop goes the weasel! Half a pound of tuppenney rice, half a pound of treacle, mix it up and make it nice, Pop goes the weasel!" ***** "Do you hear that Amile? That noise?" the little girl asked as they walked along the canyon trail. Amile shook her head, "No I don't hear anything Gatty. Come here and stay on the trail before you get hurt." "It's this way! It sounds like singing..." the little child said, scampering up the side of the out croup and disappearing on the other side. Amile gave out a disturbed sigh while holding the filled water skins from their visit to the water stream in the depths of the canyon. "Gatty come back here." She called, and then repeated louder from where she was standing, "GATTY! COME HERE!" After a few moments, Amile realized how futile it was trying to get the young girl to stop adventuring when she clearly wanted to do nothing but explore and play. Kneeling down, Amile placed the pole with the filled water skins down and started to climb the out croup where Gatty had just disappeared. When she crested the ridge, she saw her younger sister squatting near a strange looking creature with mottled skin. He appeared to be bald, and unlike anyone she had ever seen on all of Aloc. "Amile! Look what I found. He looks hurt. Come and help Amile! Come and help!" the little girl called out, not fearful of the strange alien that was mumbling some repetitive limerick in a foreign tongue, or that giant buzzards were circling over head, waiting for a chance to gain an easy feast. "By the maker of all things, what is this?" Amile stated under her breath in amazement. Gathering her long dress skirt up in bundles, the young woman carefully descended down the difficult slope to where her little sister was squatting and the Narn laid motionless. "He looks thirsty Amile. We should give him something." Gatty explained. Amile nodded in shock. N'Graz was unlike anything either of these Aloc inhabitants had ever seen before. Reaching for a cask of water tied to her waist, Amile handed it to Gatty. "Here..." Gatty took the cask of water and without fear, uncorked it and began pouring it over N'Graz. The Narn quickly realized what was happening and instinctively accepted the liquid gift, taking several swallows from the water skin. "Can we keep him Amile? PLEASE????" the little girl asked with big brown eyes. Her older sister shook her head. "I don't think it is a pet you can keep like a bird or a lizard Gatty." Amile explained. "But he's hurt!" she pointed out his head wound and injured leg. "We can't just leave him here or he will die!" the child pleaded. Amile placed her hands on her hips. A worried expression formed on her face when she glanced up and saw the circling buzzards over head. The child, though very young, was correct. It was unlikely this creature would survive alone out in the canyon for more than a complete cycle of the sun and moon. "We need to go and get help Gatty. You and I can not move it by ourselves. It's too large." Gatty nodded. "You go and get help from the settlement. I will watch over him." She said, pouring more water over the Narn's face to wash away the dust from the early morning winds. Amile hesitated, but watching the unselfishness of the innocent child tending to the creature, she decided it would be all right to leave her for the time it would take to run back to the settlement and bring help. "Okay Gatty, but be careful. I will be right back with help from the settlement. Here, take this water too. Use it sparingly. It may take me a while to go back and return with help." Gatty took the second water skin and smiled at her older sister. "I'll be okay. Go on and hurry back." With a second look at the singing Narn, the child and the circling buzzards, the young woman turned and began walking back around the canyon out croup and to the main trail. Leaving her balanced pole of water skins on the train, Amile set out at a quickened pace down the trail to the settlement to bring help for her sister and the strange creature they had just encountered. ***** "Ganymede" by Commander Kem Zaelea 9804.29 *** Babylon 5, assembly hall *** President John Sheridan and Ambassador Delenn stand on the floor of the empty assembly hall, meeting place of the league of non-aligned worlds. Sheridan is pacing silently. A worried look rests upon his brow. "I do not see what good pacing is going to do John." Delenn comments. Sheridan continues walking, only glancing at Delenn for a moment. "It helps me to think." his only response. A few paces later, John blurts out, "It's all falling apart Delenn. I can feel it all slipping through my fingers like grains of sand. It's only a matter of time before the Alliance splinters apart and skirmishes break out along the boarders of the adjoining systems. And I can't get over this feeling of helplessness, like there is nothing I can do to stop it!" Delenn stood solemnly watching John pace. She still had all of the grace of a former Satia of the Grey Council. "If you really feel that way, then maybe you should tell the Alliance members what we do know about the Centari John." Sheridan's pacing stopped while he considered Delenn's suggestion. After a moment, he rocked his head against the idea. "No. We can't risk tipping the Centari off and allowing them to simply deny the accusations and cover their tracks. If we come out with this now, we will not be able to prove anything, those responsible will get away and we will only further harm the fragile Alliance that exists between all of our worlds. No, we have to wait until we can prove undeniably that the Centari are behind these attacks." Delenn nodded, "But if we wait, it may become too late. Once fighting breaks out between the independent government bodies of the Alliance it will be very difficult to stop. This is something we have both experienced first hand John." Sheridan looked at Delenn for a long moment with little more than a concerned look. Delenn was referring to the Earth-Minbari war that nearly destroyed all of humanity. Without answering, the President returned to pacing the assembly hall, worrying about the present situation with the Alliance. ***** *** Babylon 5 Bazaar *** A some what gimpy Chief Intelligence officer, Garibaldi, walks across the open market bazaar of the Babylon 5 space station. Small bandages hold together his cut and bruised face where just a few days earlier, a group of masked Centari had beaten the investigator while he tried to recover the sole survivor from one of the mysterious attacks against Alliance freighter ships near the outer rim. Limping along gingerly, Garibaldi has a look on his face that he doesn't want to be disturbed. The only thing on his mind is finding a large bottle of alcohol and a quiet corner to drink it in. The Bazaar was overly crowded as usual for the mid afternoon hours on the space station. Garibaldi retained his anti-social expression while he pressed through the people, moving those that were too stupid or too slow aside with his depressing stare. Passing through the many faces and different races on the bazaar floor, Garibaldi's attention turned to an odd looking man that seemed to be out of place on the bazaar. His clothes were raggedy, shades of dark brown and black. His hair long and unkempt, like it hadn't been washed in weeks. His face a rough texture of stubble that made him look as if he belonged in the lower quarter with the rest of the homeless on the station. A tingling sensation ran down the Chief Intelligence officer's back when his eyes meet the raggedy man's. An instinctive reaction that he was suddenly in danger. Had he not been so badly beaten and bruised, Garibaldi might have been able to react more quickly. "Relax mate. No need to make a scene..." the raggedy man said grabbing Garibaldi's arm and sliding a shinny chromed PPG underneath and jabbing him in the ribs. Garibaldi looked down at the weapon and was disgusted with himself. Racked in pain from his beating, and suffering from a mild case of hang over withdrawals, he knew that if he were clean and sober and at the top of his form that this guy could never have gotten the drop on him. Garibaldi's face expressed the disgust of this knowledge more so than anything resembling fear as he moved his hands slightly, curling the palms outward in a gesture of compliance. "Easy with the ribs." Garibaldi bit back in response to the painful jab of the PPG. "We need to 'ave a word you and I. Common, that way." The man said while cohering Garibaldi along. The two of them worked their way across the crowded bazaar floor. Garibaldi was hurting too badly to try anything. His jaw was still sore and his mouth felt like his tongue was swollen from the lack of booze this morning. And this guy's lack of deodorant was not helping matters. He not only looked like a homeless cit, he smelled like one too. "That's it, in here. Common, we 'aven't got all day." The man nudged, pushing Garibaldi ahead while they exited the bazaar and went down one of the private access corridors between the shops. They walked for another fifty yards or so to a bend near the delivery lifts not far from the trash shoots that lead to the recyclery. Glancing the way they had just come and down the dark, adjoining corridor the man saw that they were indeed alone. "That's far enough mate. It should be safe to stop here and talk for the moment." The raggedy man took a step back and removed the PPG from Garibaldi's ribs. Garibaldi glanced at the shinny hand weapon, lowered his hands slightly and relaxed. "That is a fancy weapon for someone like you to be carrying around. Where did you get it?" The raggedy man just smiled, brushing back his long stringy hair with one hand while sliding the pistol into his pocket with the other. "Looks can be deceiving governor. You shouldn't jump to conclusions based on appearance alone." "Yeah, yeah, right. Now what's this all about if you don't mind my asking?" Garibaldi asked sarcastically, not taken in by this vagrant's charm. "Not one for socializing I see. All right, I'll cut right to the chase mate. I have some information for you governor. Something I think you are going to find very interesting." Garibaldi rolled his eyes slightly. His patients dwindling from his scrapes and bruises and his pounding, hang-over induced head ache. "Why don't you just write it down on a post card and save all this cloak and dagger act for someone who cares?" The raggedy man smiled and regarded Garibaldi for a moment. "They told me you had a dry sense of humor mister Garibaldi, but I had no idea. The information has to do with a one time mutual acquaintance of ours. Do you want to know about it or not mate?" Garibaldi's with drawls were getting the best of him. He felt like he was burning up and his hands were becoming unsteady. Still, he wanted to know exactly who this person was referring to from his past. "Okay. But let's hear it. I've got things to do..." Garibaldi replied with his usual sarcasm. "You remember a Mister Edwards from Edwards Industries on the Mars colonies?" Garibaldi looked at the man and quipped, "I remember he's dead." "That's right. Very good mister Garibaldi. Edwards is dead. Not that anyone is very worried about all of that. He was a rather eccentric, stubborn old man. Yes, he is dead. But what he was working on has survived." Garibaldi's eyes narrowed suspiciously. He remembered the anti-telepath virus that Edwards was working on. He intended to release it on the entire population, forcing all of the telepaths to contract the deadly disease and enslaving them under Edwards industries servitude if they wished to receive the 'treatments' that would allow them to live. "What are you talking about? Edwards was killed, and all of his work destroyed." The raggedy man shook his head. "No Mister Garibaldi. Edwards virus was taken, and then everything was destroyed. Tell me, do you know who took the virus? Do you know who had Edwards killed and his research destroyed mate?" Garibaldi stared back at the raggedy man. He knew all too well. He knew it from Bestor's manipulation of him. The way the Psi-Cop used him to betray Captain Sheridan during the Civil War against President Clark, all to flush out Edwards and reveal his diabolical plan to enslave all of the telepaths under his pharmaceutical corporation's control with the Edwards serum. "The telepaths. Psi-Corps." The man nodded. "That's bloody right. Psi-Corps. Only now they 'ave the serum and the virus. As we speak they are experimenting on reversing the effects of the virus so that it only affects homo-sapiens and leaves homo-superiors alone. They intend to use Edward's own twisted virus and plans against all of humanity. Only their plan has the Telepaths the masters over the mundanes." The news shocked Garibaldi. He'd thought it was bad enough that Edwards could be twisted and warped enough to conceive of such a plan, but the consideration of the Psi-Corps and people like Bestor having the power of life and death over all of humanity was down right terrifying. Garibaldi had experienced first hand what telepaths were capable of. He'd been used to betray his own friends and family. He'd had an Asimov mind block placed in his brain to prevent him from killing Bestor at the first opportunity. To think of a group of telepaths controlling the lives of all of humanity definitely didn't sit well with Garibaldi. "Interesting story. Do you have any proof to back up these claims?" Garibaldi asked in a some what less skeptical tone. "I leave that for you to discover mate. You can start by checking out Ganymede. There is a laboratory there where Psi-Corp is working on the Edwards virus." "Ganymede?" Garibaldi asked without expecting an answer, "Why are you telling me this? Who are you? Who sent you here? How did you get on Babylon 5?" The questions began to flow from the Investigators mouth as his brain began to kick in, shaking off the beating and liquor induced effects of last night's hang over. "That's not important. Stopping Psi-Corps is. Remember, Ganymede." The raggedy man said and then reacted as is someone had suddenly appeared behind Garibaldi. The Chief Intelligence officer of Babylon 5 quickly spun around to see who was there, only then realizing it was a trick as the cold, hard thud of the butt of a PPG was felt across the back of his skull, sending Garibaldi toppling down to the ground in a daze. One more knot forming on the back of his beaten head. Woozy from his weakened condition, Garibaldi turned and watched with blurry eyes as the raggedy man ran away down the adjoining corridor. His vision faded as he slipped back to the floor, mumbling, "Ganymede. Ganymede. Ganymede..."