From: "Aubrey W. Adkins" Subject: Lyta Chronicles Part 1H-2/3 (WIP) Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1999 18:34:38 -0500 All characters/places/persons not belonging to the writer are the sole properties of their owners, PTEN, WB, JMS, and will be turned over to the owners at the request of their agents. All other characters/places/persons are public domain. Title: Lyta Chronicles Part 1H-2/3 (WIP) There are no spoilers in this story. "--" = spoken words <--> = telepathy [--] = self thoughts `--' = emphasis Negative comments welcome at: xazqrten@norfolk.infi.net It had been six months since Lyta had arrived on Fjon. The transfer of custody of Jaen had gone without incident. Julie and Harold had a nice small wedding if 50 people could be considered a small contingent. Julie's baby was a healthy baby boy. He exhibited no telepathic capability, but his mind was closed. It was very hard for Lyta to scan the little fellow and his mind didn't broadcast at all. He was a different kind of mundane. To the average telepath he was totally unreadable. Jaen's training was coming along very well. She had never been taught to speak her native language, so teaching her interlac and other languages was proving to be a very easy task. She seemed to have a natural affinity for languages. In her later training it would become apparent that she had an affinity for learning of all kinds. The girl was beyond genius by several magnitudes. She was living with Lyta and Jonathan and things were going well. Lyta was enjoying her job as baby-sitter extraodinaire. ****************************************************************************** It was now two years since she had arrived. Jaen was learning her lessons at nothing less than a fantastic rate. She was helping Jonathan with some of his studies. At the rate she was progressing she would be beyond what levels of studies were available locally in a short time. It would not be long before Lyta sent her to Epsilon III to further her studies. It would not be very long after that until Jaen would be ready for field studies. She had learned to control her telepathic abilities in her first year of living with Lyta and Jonathan. He had completely accepted her as a little sister. Lyta had heard nothing from Paul since she had arrived on Fjon and her communications efforts had gone unanswered. It was obvious that her marriage was over. All that remained was to do the paperwork. It was time to go home and take care of business. It was time to leave. Their luggage was loaded on the shuttle, Jonathan and Jaen had boarded. Lyta was saying goodbye to Julie and her son James. She had become very close to the boy in the last two years and it was like leaving one of her own children behind. It hurt terribly. Goodbyes said, Lyta boarded the shuttle. Lyta always kept her mind blocks in place to keep out peoples stray thoughts, but as the shuttle lifted off a thought came crashing through her blocks, Lyta looked at Jonathan and Jaen. They had apparently not heard the thought. Lyta smiled to herself. James was going to be very special. The trip to Epsilon III was uneventful. Jaen got her first taste of merging with the whitestar control computer during the trip. She loved it. ****************************************************************************** Lyta had not returned to her home upon her return. Instead she rented an apartment. She had been back on planet about a week when she entered Paul's office unannounced one morning. "Good morning Paul." "I didn't know that you had returned, Lyta." "We have some unfinished business, Paul." "How long have you been back?" "Do you have the papers ready?" Looking bewildered that she had used verbal rather than telepathic communication, Paul nodded yes. He reached into his desk and pulled out a legal sized folder. He handed a multiple page legal document to Lyta. She sat down and silently began reading it. Her face never changed expression. This wasn't what Paul had expected. While she was reading Paul called his partner in to notarize the document. ****************************************************************************** "Paul, I think you are making a mistake." Mark had been his friend for longer than he cared to remember. "Maybe, Mark, but it is time she learned, I don't like to be jerked around." "Paul. She has never jerked you around. She went to great lengths to corral you. Most men would be proud to have a woman care that much for them." "Well, I'm not most men." "No. No you aren't, and it's a damned shame." "What do you know about it. You don't have kids underfoot every time you turn around." "As a matter of fact Paul, I have never had kids underfoot, so I don't know what it is like," Mark said wistfully, wondering how things might have been if he hadn't brushed off Admiral Ivonava. Mark had never married and seldom had female companionship. He kept measuring them against Ivonava and was disappointed. Taking another slug of his drink, "That's what I mean. You are sticking your nose into things that are none of your business." His friend nodded acknowledgment and went back to his drink. This scene had played itself out many times over the last two years with most of his friends and many of them had children, so he couldn't just blow them off as he had Mark. His lack of patience with his children was a direct result of his treatment as a child. His unresolved feelings had festered for years and only came to the surface after the birth of Julie. His feelings of entrapment were in his mind and had no basis in reality. He had finally come to terms with his feelings, but only after having sought professional help. *************************************************************************** Now he was about to get what he had convinced himself he wanted more than two years ago. He remembered Lyta's attempts to reason with him and his heated replies. He had left in a huff and rented an apartment and refused to communicate with her. She had resigned her position, put the furniture in storage, took Jonathan and left for Fjon. He had been less of a father to Julie and Jonathan than he should have been. He had resented Lyta's having more children and the children had felt the brunt of his displeasure. He had not communicated with her since she had left. He had not answered her attempts to reach him. Now, he was trying to think of something to say. "Lyta?" "Everything seems to be in order." Taking a pen from his desk, Lyta began leafing through the document and signing her name at places indicated. In less than two minutes she had finished. Looking up at Paul, she said, "I need a certified copy for my records." Paul nodded and his pardner notarized the documents and stepped out of the office to make the requested copy. He returned about five minutes later and handed Lyta the copy. Lyta stood up and looked Paul straight in the eyes. "I think that concludes our business. Good day." She turned and without hesitating left his office. Paul, watching her leave, felt a pain of emptiness. He had wanted to say something to change how things were, but something about her demeanor stopped him. Forty plus years of marriage down the tubes, but he didn't have to worry about children anymore. **********************************************************************8 Later in his favorite bar he was talking with his fiend, Mark. "How did it go Paul. Did you make up with her. Use the old Blaine charm?" "No." "Well, tell me about it. What did she say?" "She said, "good morning", signed the papers and said, "good day"." "She didn't give you a chance?" "No. She gave me all the chance in the world, I just couldn't think of anything to say." Looking at his friend, Mark, said, "Why didn't you say, "The papers aren't ready yet"?" Paul just looked at him. ************************************************************************* responded Lyta. Smiling Bester took another swig of his tea. Bester was correct. It wasn't the Psi Corps they had grown up in. They didn't chase rogues anymore. They trained them and let them go. They found that being identified with the corps made their lives much more fruitful and even offered them protection from abuse. Some were serving as senior military officers now. Lyta finished her coffee as Jaen walked up to her table. Bester eyed the girl. Lyta dismissed it with a wave of her hand. Bester smiled, Then he got up and left. Jaen shook her head, no. , said Lyta. ************************************************************************* Jonathan came home about that time. Jonathan had walked over to Jaen and gave her a hug and kissed her on top of her head. Smiling, Jonathan replied, Lyta explained the purpose of Julie's visit.> , asked Jaen. Jonathan and Jaen noted that Lyta had not answered Jonathan's question. , replied Jonathan. ******************************************************************************** Julie arrived on schedule and indicated that Harold would be joining her shortly. He had to finish some project work first. The new ship had the latest refinements and teek armor to enhance its survivability. The weapons tests had been completed, and were awesome. Lyta knew of the test results, but said nothing. The survivability tests had included live fire directed at the ship under test. The weapons fire had never impacted the hull. The new ship could independently defend itself. It was large enough to hold three normal sized whitestars in its main hanger deck. It could carry several squadrons of small fighters also, in secondary hangers. It could do months long patrols without any additional support vessels. For its size it was amazingly fast and incredibly maneuverable. Like the regular whitestars it could operate within a planet's atmosphere. For all its immense size the crew was only 120 personnel, officer and enlisted combined. When on patrol there would be an augmenting force of 200 technicians and other mission support personnel. Unlike the its smaller cousins the larger ship had an array of powerful secondary batteries and the weapons covered all avenues of approach. Attacking from any direction would be a hazardous under! taking for any opponent. **************************************************************************** Onboard Babylon 5 the C&C watch was jarred out of complacency by the alarm announcing the forming of a large jump point. A hundred thousand kilometers from the station the jump point opened and out came what looked like a giant whitestar type ship accompanied by three normal whitestars. The large ship was requesting a parking orbit above Epsilon III well away from the station and its traffic. The ships slipped into orbit over the planet and a small shuttle dropped away to the planet's surface. In the captain's office just off C&C, B5's present captain and an Earth Alliance intelligence officer were having coffee and looking at the latest arrival on the office view screen. "Well, what do you think?" asked the captain. "It looks like an oversized whitestar," replied his guest. "Its escorts are regular whitestars. It is large enough to carry those in its hanger bay," noted the captain. His guest raised an eyebrow and asked, "How did you learn that?" "Rolly, I am not without my resources." "Our best information is that it is a monster by our ship's standards. It could take out this station in one pass with its secondary armament." "What else can it do?" "We aren't sure. The information we have cost a fortune and the lives of two of my best operatives. The telepaths are not free with their secrets. What have your scanners been able to gather from her." "Not much. They can't penetrate her hull, but her energy output readings are attention getters." "How so?" "Our readings seem to indicate that she can generate more power than this entire station." ****************************************************************************** Paul and Mark were sitting on barstools in Paul's favorite bar having their evening drink. Between them set a good looking brunette in her early forties. She was Paul's date. Mark didn't date as such. A young redhead, 188 cm at least, with a knockout build to boot came through the door and headed straight for Paul and Mark. Eyes from all over the bar looked her up and down with approval. She walked up to Paul, ignoring the brunette. "Can we talk in private?" she asked Paul. Before he could respond, the brunette said, "Honey, he is old enough to be your father." Mark choked on his drink from laughing. The brunette gave him a look that could kill. The redhead ignored her and asked again, "Can we talk in private?" Paul's date started to get up from her seat, but Mark restrained her with his arm across her chest. "You don't want to do that," he told her. "Don't even think about it." The brunette glared at him, but sat back down. The redhead continued to ignore her. Paul got up and said, "Come on, we can get a table and talk in the dining room." As they moved away from the bar toward the dining room, mark looked at Paul's date and said, "She can hurt you very badly if you give her a reason." "Who does she think she is?" "She thinks she is his daughter, and she is." "Oh." About 40 minutes later Paul returned accompanied by Julie. Her returned to his barstool and Julie started to leave. Before she could take more than one step a slightly drunk man grabbed her by the arm. Everyone in the bar heard the breaking bones as the man screamed and fell to the floor. Julie walked out without looking back. Mark said to Paul's date, "That's why you didn't want to mess with her. She's a very powerful teep and teek." The brunette had a sickly expression on her face. "Paul?" asked his date. "You have nothing to worry about. All she wanted to do was talk. It has been over between her mother and me for several years now," said Paul. "Is her mom like that?" "Her mother is much more powerful, but she is not as quick to use it. She would just have made him feel the pain in his mind. Julie isn't as patient. And before you ask, I can't do that." Julie walked back through the door a few minutes later as the medics were preparing to transport the injured drunk. She walked over to him and bent close to him. A few minutes later she stood up and departed again. "What was that all about?" asked Paul's date. "She put the bones back together," said Paul. "Paul has an interesting family," added Mark. "I would never have guessed," said Paul's date. TBC From: "Aubrey W. Adkins" Subject: Talia Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1999 15:10:41 -0500 All characters/places/persons not belonging to the writer are the sole properties of their owners, PTEN, WB, JMS, and will be turned over to the owners at the request of their agents. All other characters/places/persons are public domain. Title: Talia (takes place immediately after Lyta Chronicles Part 1H-2/3 (WIP)) There are no spoilers in this story. "--" = spoken words <--> = telepathy [--] = self thoughts `--' = emphasis Negative comments welcome at: xazqrten@norfolk.infi.net The incoming call drew the redhead's attention. "Accept", she said. The black haired gentleman's message was what she wanted to hear. "I think you are making a mistake. She has been there for over forty years and is mentally so disorganized she is beyond help" "I appreciate your concern Alfred, but I see it from a different perspective," She replied. "The paperwork has been done. All you have to do is go pick her up. Don't say that I didn't warn you." "I won't," she said and closed the connection. At home that night she told her daughter that she had to leave for a while. She had a personal project and it required her to be elsewhere. Her daughter wasn't pleased, but didn't raise any objection. When she asked her mom how long she would be gone, her mother only answered, "As long as it takes. This is for two of my oldest friends." The woman she took custody of was restrained in a straight jacket. The institute director related that she was kept that way for everyone's safety. "Remove her restraints," said the redheaded woman. "She won't need them now that she is with me." The director looked mortified. "Not on these premises." Giving the director a look that would freeze a lake, she said, "Remove them. I can control her." "The nurse looked at his boss. The director nodded. The two women left the institute together looking like a haggard grandmother and her granddaughter. Time and circumstances had not been kind to the elderly blond haired woman except that for some reason her hair had not grayed with age. Two weeks later at a medical facility far removed from alliance space, the women sat sharing breakfast looking out on a beautiful morning sun and landscape to match, fields of grass with mountains in the near background. "The blond looked at the redhead and asked, "Why are you going to all this trouble. It probably won't work anyway." Her redheaded friend smiled. This smile was as warm as the morning sun. "I didn't know you were alive until recently and things have changed since we last saw one another." It had been many years ago, aboard the Earth Alliance space station Babylon 5. It wasn't a pleasant memory. Months passed as the redhead proceeded with her efforts to put the blond's mind back together again. The implanted personality had broken down and allowed her original persona to resurface and it had driven her insane. She had been committed to the mental institution, warehouse for castoffs really, where she had been found. She had been a slobbering useless piece of human flotsam living in a straitjacket for more than forty years. Now she was able to sit a table and eat a meal like a normal person. She was terrified that what her friend was doing would not be permanent and she would revert to what she had been. She resigned herself to enjoying her moment of sanity while it lasted. Her friend seemed to be very pleased with the results of her efforts. The blond knew she was only an experiment, but hoped it worked. The redhead was aware of how the blond saw herself, but didn't share that opinion. Surely, what she was doing was experimental, since no one had tried it before, but her friend was no experiment. She was acutely aware that she held the other woman's life in her hands, but that only increased her determination to succeed. It had been a year since the blond had been released from the institute she had occupied for more than half her life. Her friend had not only straightened out her mental problems, but she had arranged for her to be treated for her physical ailments. She felt at least thirty years younger and could pass for middle fifties. She was pleased. Her friend was apparently impressed with the new person she had created. **************************************************************************** Admiral Ivonava should have been retired years ago, but she had refused to quit, so they had given her a sumptuous office and kicked her upstairs until she now ran earthforce. She had her title "Commander in Chief Earthforce" for ten years now and answered only to the Earth Alliance president. Sometimes she felt redundant. The earthforce ran itself. All she did anymore was go to various functions, advise the president and set policy. It wasn't fun like it had been early in her career when she could still bully her way into a starfury. Everyone said she was too valuable and besides she wasn't physically what she had been forty years ago. [Time be damned,] she had thought on many occasions, but it didn't change anything. Today was going to be just one more in an endless string of days. "Admiral, you have an unscheduled visitor. She says she is an old friend," said her secretary's voice from the intercom on her desk. Ivonava looked at her desk clock and it showed 1100 hours, almost time for lunch. She responded, "Send them in." and returned to finishing reviewing one last report. She didn't look up as her office door closed. "Hello Susan," said a sultry voice she hadn't heard in more years than she cared to remember, but it couldn't be, because she was dead and had, according to Bester, been dissected. Very slowly Susan raised her head and looked at her visitor. Her heart skipped several beats and her emotions kicked her in the stomach. She could barely whisper, "Talia." The woman in front of her smiled a warm smile and said, "I am sorry, to surprise you like this, but I was afraid if I called, you wouldn't see me." Susan, trying to get her thoughts straight, whispered, "I thought you were dead. How? Why? Bester told us you were dissected." "One question at a time, please. I wasn't dissected physically, but they tore my mind apart to get what information was there. It wasn't much. The implanted personality broke down under the probing and my real one tried to reassert itself. The result was a slobbering insane half vegetable. I might as well have been dead. It would have been more merciful, but mercy hasn't ever been one of Psi Corps' strong points. I have been locked up in a mental institution restrained in a straight jacked for forty years. I am the Talia I was before they implanted me with the second personality. As to how, I can't tell you. I promised to keep that a secret." "It wasn't therapy that healed you. You look better than I did twenty years ago and I know you are older than I am." "My benefactor, said that since I was cheated out of most of my life that I would be given part of it back." There were tears in Susan's eyes that threatened to mess up her makeup if they started running down her face. She wiped her eyes and sat looking at her old friend. "Your mind must have been in worse shape than Humpty Dumpty and yet someone put it back together. I know Psi Corps wouldn't have bothered, so who?" "I can't tell you, honestly." "Give me a few minutes to finish up here and make a couple of calls and we can get some lunch. Edward, my secretary, will get you some tea." After Talia had left her office, Susan made a call to Epsilon III. A face appeared on her comm screen and Lyta responded, "Susan. To what do I owe this call?" "Talia was just in my office." Lyta looked confused. "She told me what happened to her after you exposed her on Babylon 5." "Oh? What has that to do with me?" Lyta asked with even more confusion in her voice. "Someone has straightened out her mind and I don't know anyone else except you who could have pulled that off." "I am sorry to disappoint you, Susan, but I don't know what you are talking about." "Lyta, you are an expert liar. "There is no reason to insult me. If that is all you have to say, I am going to close the channel." Trying to hide her emotions, Susan choked out, "Thank you." On Epsilon III sitting her home office, Lyta was looking across her desk at her daughter and youngest son. asked Jonathan. asked Julie. Seeing the expressions on both her offspring's faces, she recounted the story of Talia on Babylon 5 and her part in it. replied Lyta. As they were leaving her office, Julie leaned back into the room and said, Lyta just smiled at her. ****************************************************************************** Talia was sitting across the outer office from Edward sipping a cup of tea when Susan exited her office. Ivonava walked over to her secretary and stood behind his right side. Putting her hand on his shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze. She felt him tense his whole body as if he were expecting to be hit. Inside Edward there was an intense feeling of anxiety. The admiral had never touched him before and had always been cold and businesslike. He was wondering what he had done wrong. "Edward. Cancel my appointments for this afternoon. Take the rest of the day off," said Susan. She and Talia left her office. Edward was confused. The admiral had never taken a day off, or at least not in the five years he had worked for her. She had never given him time off, either and she had sounded odd. Her voice had a quality he had never heard before. Oh well. It was none of his business. He cleared her calendar and left for the day. "You scared him to death, Susan," said Talia as they exited the elevator into the underground station. "I know," responded Ivonava. "It was unintentional. I will apologize tomorrow." Forty-five minutes later they were entering one of Susan's favorite mid-day eateries. Sitting in a booth with drinks in front of them, tea for both, Susan looked at Talia and said, "Tell me about what happened after Lyta exposed the hidden personality." What followed was a horror story that would have done any writer proud. The difference being that Talia's story was real. Every new revelation was a kick to Susan's emotions. She felt pain at the descriptions. At the end she again asked Talia who was responsible for her recovery. "I was told that I wouldn't be able to tell anyone and that a psi scan won't uncover it. So, the truth is I don't know." "I still think it was Lyta. She denies it, but I think she is lying. What I don't understand is why. We were never close, but I always thought of her as a friend or at least as much of a friend as she would allow." "Is she still a rogue?" "No. Psi Corps doesn't classify telepaths as rogues anymore. She was more than Psi Corps could handle anyway." "How so?" "After you left, she went to the Vorlon home world and was changed." "I thought anyone who went into Vorlon space never came back." "She did. It doesn't matter anyway, the Vorlons are gone." "I didn't know that." "We will arrange for you to get caught up on events that have occurred since you were hospitalized." They quietly ate a very leisurely meal and left for Susan's home. ***************************************************************************** Lyta was half way through her lunch when Bester walked up to her table. Looking at her with a twinkle in his eye and a real smile on his lips, he said, Having finished her lunch Lyta started to leave, when Bester asked, Bester stood watching her walk away and shook his head. End From: "Aubrey W. Adkins" Subject: Lyta Chronicles Part 1H-3/3 (WIP) Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1999 15:09:26 -0500 All characters/places/persons not belonging to the writer are the sole properties of their owners, PTEN, WB, JMS, and will be turned over to the owners at the request of their agents. All other characters/places/persons are public domain. Title: Lyta Chronicles Part 1H-3/3 (WIP) There are no spoilers in this story. "--" = spoken words <--> = telepathy [--] = self thoughts `--' = emphasis Negative comments welcome at: xazqrten@norfolk.infi.net It had been almost 15 years since Lyta had first visited the Fjon homeworld. Her hard nosed bargaining had allowed her people access to the 'mentally defective' fjonian children. The fjonians were glad to be rid of them. Lyta's people had not been able to help most of these children, but the one's they helped were becoming productive members of Lyta's telepathic society. Only one of the fjonian children had been back to see family. Jaen had gone back to visit her mother, sister and grandfather on her sixteenth birthday. She had grown up to be a beautiful and very intelligent young woman. ******************************************************************************* "Mother, thank you for coming to pick me up," said Jaen. Looking her daughter up and down, Marel embraced her. She didn't want Jaen to see the pain in her eyes. "You have really grown up." "It has been a long time, mother," replied Jaen. Silently they walked to Marel's vehicle. On the way home they didn't talk at all. [He hadn't wanted to let her live. How is he going to react to her now? He always refers to her as a freak. He has never believed the aliens' explanations about why they were interested in the 'mental freaks'], thought Marel. She would have been horrified to know that Jaen heard her thoughts the same as if she had been talking out loud. Jaen hadn't meant to listen to her mother's thoughts, but their intensity had caught her off guard. She never changed her expression of contentment. Within twenty minutes they had arrived home. Jaen's sister wasn't home when she and her mother arrived. They went through the house and out to the garden pool area. Jaen's grandfather was relaxing in a lounging chair. "Hello, grandfather," said Jaen. Harq looked the young woman up and down closely. She didn't look much like the little girl who had been taken away by the aliens so long ago. She was a beautiful poised young lady. For a moment he almost forgot that she was a 'mental freak' and should have been killed shortly after birth. "I see that you are back. How long do you expect to be here?" His tone was one of guarded revulsion. "It will be a very short visit grandfather. I wouldn't want to distress you excessively," replied Jaen. "It doesn't cause me any stress," replied Harq. "Grandfather, you are a bad liar," said Jaen in a calm voice that could freeze water. "Jaen!" exclaimed Marel. "Don't worry Marel. I think she has known all her life how I feel about her," interrupted Harq. "He is correct, mother," answered Jaen. "For a freak your mind seems to work very well," noted Harq. Harq looked stunned. "Marel, did you hear her?" "Hear what, father?" asked Marel. She looked at Jaen, who only shrugged her shoulders. "Nothing. I must have imagined it," replied Harq. Harq looked his granddaughter in the eye and what he saw frightened him. She smiled back at him as if nothing was happening. "It is just his age getting the better of him, mother," said Jaen. Later that evening Jaen had trouble answering all her older sister's questions. "No sis, I won't be coming back here to live. My friends have shown me how I can greatly benefit our people by staying out there," said Jaen pointing upward. "I have missed you terribly." The sisters sat up very late talking and enjoying one another's company. *********************************************************************** At breakfast Jaen told her mother she would be leaving as soon as Laarel left for classes. She told her she had already called commercial transportation. Harq and Laarel came into breakfast. Laarel engaged her sister in conversation, ignoring their grandfather and mother. Thirty minutes later Laarel left for school. A chime sounded somewhere in the front of the house and a servant appeared and announced that Jaen's ride was waiting. "Jaen, I could have taken you back to the spaceport," said her mother. "I didn't want to be a burden, mother," replied Jaen. "Will you visit again?" asked Harq. "Of course, grandfather. It will not be for some time though. I am being posted to a world on the other side of the galaxy for further training," replied Jaen. "In other words, we won't ever see you again." Said Marel. "You will see me again mother," replied Jaen. As she was leaving the house, Jaen reached into her grandfather's mind one more time. Jaen projected visions of things into Harq's mind of wonders he could not imagine and made him know of her place amongst them.> Marel and Harq heard the door close as Jaen left. Marel was looking into her father's eyes and saw hurt and regret there. She couldn't imagine why. The old man always vehemently hated Jaen with all his heart. "Is something wrong father?" "No dear. I was just thinking of what could have been. An old man is allowed to reflect on his life and decisions occasionally." "I hope Jaen's visit, brief as it was, hasn't upset you. I thought she would be here a week or so." "I didn't know that." "I think she knew she was causing you stress. It is probably why she went back this morning." "You wanted more time with her, didn't you?" "Yes. I haven't seen her since she left, so long ago. I wanted so much to talk with her, but it is too late now." "She will be back." "I don't think so father. Somehow, I don't think we will ever see her again." [I won't. I hope you do.] Thought Harq to himself. It was late afternoon when Laarel returned home. "Mom, where is Jaen?" asked Laarel. "I thought you knew, dear. She left just after you did this morning." "Left for where? I thought she was going to visit for a week or so." "So did I, dear. So did I," said her mother wistfully. "Why did she leave?" "I don't know. She didn't say," replied Marel. Marel and Laarel walked into Harq's study and found him in what appeared to be a trance. Inside his mind Harq was seeing an unbelievable sight. He was in some kind of ship and could see and hear several different kinds of aliens. He heard Jaen's voice but he couldn't see her. "I am ready captain," he heard Jaen say. An alien he was unfamiliar with who had a bony formation around part of his head, said, "Jaen, break orbit and prepare to jump to hyperspace." Harq's perspective changed to that of unprotected space. His heart was pounding like a jackhammer. The view of the planet shifted as if he were turning on an axis and a huge orange vortex was forming in front of his perspective. He was moving toward the vortex and could see a sickening red something in the center of the vortex. The ship jumped ahead rapidly toward the vortex center and was entering it. Harq's vision abruptly ended and in his head he heard Jaen in a soft voice say, "Goodbye." "Father!" Marel yelled as she and Laarel shook him vigorously. Harq opened his eyes with a start. He was obviously confused. He was remembering the dream he just had. It had to be a dream. There could be no other rational explanation. Looking at his daughter and granddaughter, Harq asked, "What is a telepath?" Marel and Laarel looked at one another and then at Harq. "I don't know," they said in unison. *********************************************************************** Lyta stepped from the rented vehicle and looked at the mansion. It hadn't changed since she had been to a weekend afternoon party here more than 20 years ago. She had kept in contact with Jaen's mother on and off over the years. Marel occasionally inquired about Jaen. She was only told that her daughter was happy and doing very well. Jaen had never sent her any kind of personal communication, no letters, no calls, nothing. It was as if she ceased to exist. Lyta walked up to the door and rang the chime. A servant immediately answered the door and inquired what her business might be. Lyta explained and was led inside. Marel came into the front room and greeted Lyta. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" asked Marel. "I came to see your father. I understand he is very ill and in great pain," answered Lyta. Marel acknowledged the statements and led Lyta upstairs to her father's room. Harq was in bed and obviously in great pain. Looking at Lyta, he asked, "What can I do for you Mrs. Blaine?" "I believe it's what I can do for you," responded Lyta. "Marel, will you leave us alone please?" Marel nodded assent and left them alone. Lyta moved a chair next to the bed and sat down. "Just what can you do for me, Mrs. Blaine?" "Do you know what a telepath is?" "No." Lyta put her hand on Harq's forehead and concentrated. Harq felt his pain recede. "What are you doing?" "I am showing you what a telepath can do. Jaen wants you to understand what she is." The pain was gone and Harq for the first time in the last year could move without agony. "What have you done?" "I have put blocks in your mind to stop the pain. You are still dying and the pain still exists, but the remainder of your time will be free of pain. Jaen asked me to do this. It is a gift from her." "Why? I wanted her killed when she was a little girl and I have hated her for her entire life. She knows this." "Yes, she does. She wants you to know she understands. You wanted her killed, but you never did anything to keep her from living. This is her thanks for that favor, small though it may have been." Lyta and Harq walked downstairs to the sitting room. Marel was there, having a cup of tea. Her eyes widened as she saw her father walking with Lyta. They went outside on the large patio and Harq ordered lunch and drinks for them. "Father, how can you be out of bed. What about the pain?" "It is gone. Jaen sent me something that made it go away." "A new medicine?" "Something like that. I also learned what a telepath is." Marel looked confused at that statement, but said nothing. The lunch and drinks arrived. "Thank you for your time, sir, and a very good lunch. I must be getting back to the embassy," said Lyta. The servant showed Lyta out. "Dad. What was that all about?" asked Marel. "It was about me understanding the depth of my error." "What error?" "My granddaughter." "I don't understand. How does this have anything to do with Laarel?" "It doesn't." Marel was confused. If it didn't concern Laarel, who then? Harq had never accepted Jaen's living much less that she was his granddaughter. It didn't make any sense. Marel was looking into her father's eyes and would have sworn that something there was different, but she couldn't imagine what it was. Harq lived for another two years and they were pain free. His doctor never found a reason for the absence of the pain. On his deathbed with Marel and Laarel by his bedside, Harq looked at them and said, "Tell Jaen thanks for her kindness and that I am sorry." "Father, I don't understand," said Marel. "She will." Two days later Harq was dead. The funeral was a small private affair. And as Marel and Laarel walked from the graveside they saw Lyta Blaine and another woman with a small child standing off to one side of the small dispersing crowd. She recognized Lyta, but she didn't recognize the woman with her even though she looked slightly familiar. Marel and Laarel walked over to Lyta and said hello. The other woman really looked familiar and at close range the little boy holding her hand looked like her recently deceased father except he had a partial bone crest around the back of his head. "Mommy. Is this my grandma?" asked the little boy. Marel said one word, "Jaen." "Yes mother. Hello Laarel." Said Jaen. Marel was stunned. Laarel with tears in her eyes grabbed her younger sister in a very big hug. The surprises weren't over. A tall handsome alien with a full bone crest around most of his head got out of the vehicle from behind Lyta and Jaen. Marel immediately recognized him as a minbari. In a very pleasant baritone voice, "Ma'am, I assume you are my mother in law." Marel managed to say, "I need to go home." At home Jaen's mother was asking her one question after another. "How long have you been back, Jaen?" "Almost a month And yes, I knew of grandfather's impending death." "Why didn't you come to see him?" "I promised him He would never see me again while he lived." "What kind of promise was that?" "It was what he wanted. I simply honored his wishes. Besides, he would have been horrified at my marriage and my son." Looking at the minbari male, Marel asked, "How did that come about?" "Simple mother. We have been working together for about six years. One day we discovered we loved one another. It took some help from the doctors to make our DNA compatible, but it worked out well. Nor'ok is proof of that." Looking at the minbari, Marel said, "You are rather quiet." "I believe Jaen has said it all, ma'am," replied Jaen's husband. "Mother. This is my husband Neroon. His is and old and respected family on Minbar." Neroon bowed slightly in acknowledgment. Laarel was sitting on a couch and Nor'ok was getting settled in her arms. He was tired and would be asleep in a few minutes. "Please stay for dinner, Jaen?" pleaded Laarel. "Yes. Please stay?" asked a tall burly fjonian male who had just walked into the room. He was sporting a large silvery mane of hair and looked very distinguished. "You are Jaen? I am your granduncle Jarel. We have never met before." "I am sorry sir, but I know nothing about my relatives. Before I left not many people cared to see me." "I never met you, but I saw you the day you left. Not everyone hates you the way your grandfather did." "Sir. It doesn't matter now. He is gone and so will I be after dinner. I don't belong here anymore, as if I ever did." Walking over to Laarel, Jarel picked up Nor'ok and held him close. The sleepy child twisted and turned and got comfortable in Jarel's arms. "I think I can understand how you must feel, but Harq was a son of a bitch. Don't judge the rest of us by him. You have a very handsome son." Looking at Neroon, "Takes after his father." Handing Nor'ok back to Laarel, Jarel asked, "Mrs. Blaine, would you walk with me for a short while before lunch?" "Yes sir, Mr. ....?" "Call me Jarel. No need to stand on formality." "In that case, call me Lyta," Lyta replied with a smile. They walked out of the room and out of the rear of the house. "You are responsible for this, aren't you?" Smiling, Lyta replied, "Yes." "I have heard many things about you over the years." "Not all bad, I hope." "You are a remarkable woman. You and your people have kept your true abilities hidden ever since you came here." "Oh?" "Lyta, you are my age give or take a few years, but you look like a young woman. That should raise most people's curiosity. You have been able to get results from our 'mental defectives'. I have observed John and Delenn Sheridan for many years. They don't seem to age either. All of your people speak our language without having to spend long periods learning it. These are just a few curiosities." "And?" Lyta asked, turning her head and looking Jarel in the eyes. "Just over two years ago you visited old Harq and he immediately ceased having pain associated with his illness. Lyta, I don't believe in deities and miracles." "Are you accusing me of something?" "Not at all. I am curious. If you did something to help his pain, I wonder if it could be used in other instances? I should explain. I am a doctor, even though I don't practice anymore." "Are you really sure you want to know about this?" "Yes." Lyta delivered a very hard kick to Jarel's right shin. The pain caused him to swear and a tear to come to his eye. He started to say something to Lyta and the pain disappeared. "You wanted to know. Now you do. The pain is still there. I am blocking it." Jarel walked over and sat down on garden bench. "Can Jaen do this?" "And much more." With that Lyta knelt in front of him and pulled up his pant leg. There was an ugly red area that would soon be a bad bruise. "Couldn't you have found a less destructive way to show me?" While he watched, she rubbed his shin and the redness slowly disappeared. A minute later the shin was back to normal. "Can she do that?" "Yes, but not as well as I can." "She is really special, isn't she?" "More that you will ever know." They continued to walk through the gardens, well out sight of the house. ******************************************************************************** Watching Lyta and Jarel walking away from the house, Jaen commented, "They make a nice looking couple." Laarel responded, "It doesn't make any difference. Uncle Jarel is many years past the age of reproduction." "What do you mean?" Asked Neroon. "Fjon males and females after the age of fifty or so can no longer function sexually. It seems to be a biological event. The medical profession has devoted a great deal of time and energy to try and find a way around it. Ego, you know." Replied Marel. "With Lyta, anything is possible," said Neroon. "Maybe so in other things, but not this," answered Marel. "It wouldn't matter anyway. Mom, hasn't had anything to do with men since she and Paul separated 25 standard years ago," said Jaen. At Jaen's use of 'mom' in reference to Lyta, Marel looked hurt. No one except Laarel noticed.