From Adele_Hutchinson@brown.edu Fri May 10 20:15:24 1996 Date: Mon, 6 May 1996 18:42:51 -0400 From: Adele Hutchinson Reply-To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com Subject: Reflection of the Future's Past, Part 1 Hi all! This is part 1 of a story I've been working on. I want to give a special thanks to all my beta readers not only for the ideas and feedback you gave (and for listening to me babble endlessly about everything from time problems to metaphysics), but also for the encouragement to write this. I don't think I would have continued to write this if you all hadn't told me you wanted to read more. Writing this story has been a blast, and it was even more fun to share that process with the whole group of beta readers. This is set after Voices of Authority, but the spoilers for this and other third season episodes are minor. The story might make more sense after PtG and VoA. The usual disclaimers... None of the characters except for Lea are mine; they belong to jms and he can have 'em back whenever he wants. That being said, let's get on with this already! Please send comments to me at Adele_Hutchinson@brown.edu or to the list. Enjoy! Adele =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Reflection of the Future's Past by Adele Hutchinson Part 1 Lea regarded the falling snow with equal parts wonder and dread. It swirled around her in every direction, pelting her as she trudged forward. she thought. Ahead, she spotted the outline of the train station, blurred by gusts of snow. When she reached the station, she paused to retrieve her commuter card from the bag slung around her shoulders, then inserted the card into the slot at the gate. As she pressed through the turnstile, the floor beneath her foot gave way, pitching her forward. Darkness replaced the train platform, and she felt a cold grip pulling her towards a group of fiery points of light in the distance. She struggled to free herself from the grip, feeling instinctively fearful of its hold. In her periphery she caught sight of a blur of blue and white streaks. Focusing her energy in that direction, she ripped free from the force pulling her and latched onto to the path created in the wake of the streaking lights. Abruptly she felt her surroundings warm, and stars rushed past her on all sides. Slowing, she saw a dusty tan planet lit only three quarters by the distant star and a long cylindrical satellite nearby. Her hold on the path of lights weakened as she approached the satellite, and she tumbled forward uncontrollably. The last thing she remembered before passing out was of a neon sign with stylized lettering that read "Zocalo". *** Commander Susan Ivanova rounded the corner en route to the red sector. A dull ache emanated from a band around her head, a sure sign it was morning and the "coffee" she had just consumed was not the genuine article. This in and of itself was not an unusual state of mind for Ivanova on a given morning, but a bad feeling nagged at the edge of her consciousness. Two seconds later that bad feeling reasserted itself more urgently as she caught a glimpse of a figure crashing into a bulkhead. She sprinted down the hall, finding an unconscious human woman dressed in a hooded parka and mittens, covered in a white residue that collected in the rolls of fabric. The woman's face felt cold to the touch, but the skin above her carotid artery, where Ivanova could feel a strong pulse, was warm. "Ivanova to Medlab. I've got an unconscious human female in Red 23. She's breathing, but I think there might be head trauma." "Franklin. I'll be right there" Ivanova leaned closer to inspect the residue on the strange woman's parka. It was rapidly disappearing into large wet spots on the coat and on the deck. She reached a hand out to touch it and frowned. "Snow? How the hell did *that* get here?" *** Lea opened her eyes carefully, squinting at the sudden bright lights. Something was different, but her mind would not focus long enough to analyze what was out of place. She rolled her head, hoping the motion would force her mind to wake up. A strange man, dressed in a gray smock came into focus. "How are you feeling?" Lea moved her mouth, trying to remember how to put the sounds together. "Like my brain is filled with cotton candy," she said at last, pleased that the thought, not to mention the words, was actually coherent. The man smiled. "Any nausea, dizziness?" he asked. Lea shook her head. "Good. Let me know if that changes. Do you know what your name is?" "Lea Dumont. Where am I?" Lea tilted her head around to scan the room and tried to sit up. "Woah, there. Sit up slowly." The man helped ease her into a sitting position. "Ms. Dumont, my name is Dr. Franklin. You're in Medlab. This is Commander Ivanova." He motioned to a woman to his left who was wearing a navy blue uniform Lea did not recognize. "She found you unconscious in the hallway near the Zocalo. Do you remember what happened to you?" Lea closed her eyes as she coaxed her most recent memories to the front of the tangle of thoughts in her head. "I was walking to the train after work. I should have left much earlier, before the snow started, but by the time I finished my article, it was almost blizzard conditions outside. I remember putting my card in the turnstile, then I fell forward-- it felt like somebody removed the floor out from underneath me. Everything went dark and cold... I could feel something pulling me ..." She shivered involuntarily. "The next thing I remember is waking up here." She inspected the room again. She assumed it was some sort of hospital, but the equipment was unfamiliar. "Well, you have a mild concussion and a couple of nasty bruises. I don't think it's anything to worry about, but I'd like to keep an eye on you just to be safe. You don't remember anything after train station?" "No, nothing. Just waking up here." Lea felt an surge of uneasiness. She took a deep breath and gripped the side of the bed to force it away. She tried to place the name the man had called this place, "Medlab", but it didn't ring a bell. Perhaps it was the department name, like "ER" or "ICU". "That's okay," said Dr. Franklin softly. "It's normal in the case of concussion to see some memory loss surrounding the events of an accident. " Lea relaxed her grip on the bed. "If you don't mind, I'd like to ask you a few more questions to check for the extent of neurological damage." Lea nodded. "Do you know what day it is?" "Monday. Definitely Monday." Lea responded with distaste, noticing Ivanova's smiled agreement with her disapproving tone. "Good. What about the date?" "Umm... I believe it is February 22...Yes, February 22." "Actually, it's March 7. But it is Monday," Franklin corrected. "March 7?! How long have I been unconscious?" Her earlier uneasiness returned intensified. *Maybe* it was February 21 or February 23, but how could it possibly be March 7 already? "Judging from your blood work, I'd say about 15 or 20 minutes. Not much longer than that, though. It's more likely your head injury has left you with some residual disorientation. Let's try another question." Lea nodded. "Do you remember what you ate for breakfast?" "Yes, cereal and milk. My roommate offered me scrambled eggs, but I can't stand eggs in the morning" Commander Ivanova's eyes widened. "Where did you get the eggs?" "At the market, I suppose. They were my roommate's," Lea answered, confused by the question and the woman's alarm over scrambled eggs. "They don't serve eggs in the cafeteria here?" "Eggs are very hard to come by out here," Franklin responded. Lea wondered. Ivanova looked as if she wanted to press the issue further, but Franklin jumped in with another question. "Do you know who the president is?" "Of course. Yuki Shima. She's up for reelection next year." "Yuki Shima?" Franklin looked at Ivanova. "You said it was February 20. What year?" Ivanova asked after a pause. "2133. I haven't been unconscious *that* long." *** Lennier stood at the doorway, waiting for the ambassador to call him in. He had the lock code and could open the door himself, but he considered it an unnecessary intrusion into her privacy when she was at home. Which she was now, since she had called him there only a short while ago. He chimed again, and stood without moving at the door entrance. Several minutes passed before he chimed again. thought Lennier. Perhaps she was not inside. That didn't make sense. He punched the code into the keypad to his left and watched the door swing open to admit him. Once inside he headed to the couch to start on some paperwork. He did not notice the crumpled form on the opposite side of the room until he had seated himself and arranged the flimsies in his lap. He bolted upright, scattering the flimsies in front of him, and rushed to the unconscious ambassador. He sighed in relief when he realized she was still breathing and activated the comm screen. "Doctor Franklin? This is Lennier. Could you send somebody to help please? Ambassador Delenn is unconscious in her quarters, and she doesn't seem to be responding." *** (to be continued...) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Adele Hutchinson/ Aphasia Research Center/ Boston V.A.M.C./ Brown University e-mail: Adele_Hutchinson@brown.edu *** "Your scientists have yet to discover how neural networks create self consciousness, let alone how the human brain processes two dimensional retinal images into the three dimensional phenomenon known as perception. Yet you somehow brazenly declare that seeing is believing. Mr. Crikinson, your scientific illiteracy makes me shudder" -Man in Black, "X-Files" -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= From Adele_Hutchinson@brown.edu Fri May 10 20:15:29 1996 Date: Tue, 7 May 1996 12:20:00 -0400 From: Adele Hutchinson Reply-To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com Subject: Reflection of the Future's Past, part 2 Reflection of the Future's Past Part 2 *** "I'll be right there, Mr. Lennier." Franklin replied into the monitor on his desk. He activated his hand link and spoke into it. "I need an emergency med team to Ambassador Delenn's quarters stat." He cut the link and exchanged a worried look with Ivanova. He spotted Dr. Hernandez on the other side of Medlab and asked her to finish the neuro exam. "No problem. " she answered as she joined them. Dr. Franklin turned to his patient. "I have to go for now, but Dr. Hernandez will finish the exam. I'll be back as soon as I can to check out the results of the tests, but I'm going to have to keep you here until I have a better idea of what's going on." Ivanova stayed behind and watched as Dr. Hernandez continued the exam. The news about Delenn's collapse disturbed her. She considered calling Sheridan on the link to let him know, but decided not to worry him until there was more information to pass on. Forcing herself to think about something else, she turned her attention to the woman sitting on the exam table in front of her. She seemed calm as the doctor checked her pupils and took another blood sample, although Ivanova could sense both confusion and fear from the otherwise composed woman. She answered the questions Dr. Hernandez asked easily and, as far as Ivanova could tell, correctly. "Okay, Ms. Dumont, spell 'world' backwards" "D-L-R-O-W" answered Lea carefully. "Good. Now I want you to go through the alphabet and say only the letters that have curves in them, starting with B..." Something didn't add up, and it bothered Ivanova. The woman, Ivanova noticed, had shed her heavy purple parka, and it was lying on the exam table next to her in a soggy heap next to her briefcase. Underneath she wore a cream silk knit turtleneck blouse with a black and white patterned vest, a slim black wool skirt and a pair of heavy boots that did not match the style of the rest of the outfit. Ivanova's observation was interrupted by Franklin and the emergency med team returning with Delenn's motionless body. Lennier hustled in behind them, his face drawn tight with worry. Ivanova felt a sudden alarm, and realized with a start that it did not belong to her. She scanned the room and followed Lea's gaze to Lennier, then concentrated on blocking out the emotion as she felt the woman's panic increase. Lea's eyes met Ivanova's, broadcasting the fear Ivanova sensed. "Wh... what is he?" she asked, her voice a whisper. "Who, Lennier? He's Ambassador Delenn's attach=E9." Ivanova answered. The question still hung in the air. "He's Minbari" she continued after a pause. Lea still looked puzzled. "You've never seen a Minbari before" Ivanova said, the truth dawning on her. "You've never seen an *alien* before. You weren't disoriented before when you said you thought it was 2133." Ivanova took a deep breath, partially to give Lea time to digest what she was saying and partially to shield herself from the emotion to come. "Mr. Lennier and Ambassador Delenn are from the Minbari =46ederation. We first met their people 15 years ago, in 2245" *** "How's Delenn?" Ivanova asked Franklin when the initial pandemonium had died down. "I really don't know. Physically, she's fine. As far as I can tell, she *should* be conscious. To produce this level of coma, there would have to be widespread bilateral damage to her cerebral cortex, or damage to particular structures in the midbrain. There's nothing on her scans or in her blood work to indicate that kind of damage. In fact, I can't find *any* sign damage in her scans, her neurotransmitter levels are normal, there's no disruption of blood flow, and her reflexes are completely intact. I can run a few more tests, but frankly I'm not optimistic that they'll show anything useful. I just don't understand." "Could it have anything to do with her change?" "Well, I can't say for sure, but I don't think so. Her brain has become a hybrid of human and Minbari neurobiology, but I'd say that's more to her advantage, medically speaking, than anything else. I compared her test results with a battery of tests I ran just after the change, and I don't see any significant differences, except maybe a better integration of the two biologies." "Have you told the captain yet?" Ivanova asked. "No, I wanted to have something to tell him first, but I guess I'll just have to tell him what I know now, which is damned little." "I'm glad *I* don't have to tell him" she said, gazing absently at Delenn's unconscious form. She had sensed a bond building between the captain and the Minbari ambassador ever since the visit by the Vorlon inquisitor, and perhaps even before. she mused darkly. She shifted her attention back to Franklin. "What about the woman I found, Lea Dumont. Any connection?" "I don't see how. Ms. Dumont's symptoms are a direct result of her concussion." "Stephen, this is crazy, I know, but what if she *isn't* disoriented? What if she really is from 2133?" "And she traveled here in a time machine? Come on, Susan." "Look, I know how it sounds. But you didn't see her reaction to Lennier. She had never seen an alien before" She broke off, trying to figure out how to tell him what she knew without telling him how she knew it. "It's just a feeling I have. There's more going on here." "On that, we both agree." said Franklin, but he still looked skeptical. "I'll keep her here overnight for observation and see what I can find out." "Just keep it in mind when you talk to her, okay? I have to go to C&C for my shift. I'll stop in later." "And I have to deliver the captain some news he is *not* going to take well." Franklin said sullenly. *** "Computer, display all records of Lea S. Dumont." "There are 247 matches to those parameters. Please input more specific search parameters." He paused for a moment, head tilted slightly, then nodded and smiled. "Date of birth: 4 February 2105, on Earth in the United States." "Searching.... match found. Displaying record." Mr. Morden smiled and inserted a crystal into the data port. *** (to be continued...) -=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D= -=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D Adele Hutchinson/ Aphasia Research Center/ Boston V.A.M.C./ Brown University e-mail: Adele_Hutchinson@brown.edu *** "Your scientists have yet to discover how neural networks create self consciousness, let alone how the human brain processes two dimensional retinal images into the three dimensional phenomenon known as perception. Yet you somehow brazenly declare that seeing is believing. Mr. Crikinson, your scientific illiteracy makes me shudder" -Man in Black, "X-Files" -=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D= -=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D From Adele_Hutchinson@brown.edu Fri May 10 20:15:31 1996 Date: Fri, 10 May 1996 16:47:50 -0400 From: Adele Hutchinson Reply-To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com Subject: Reflection of the Future's Past, part 3 Reflection of the Future's Past by Adele Hutchinson part 3 *** Ivanova found it difficult to concentrate on her duties in C&C. "Centauri freighter, this is Babylon Control. Please cut power to your thrusters." Finding Lea Dumont this morning had thrown her entire day off kilter, and Delenn's condition was an ominous twist. The captain had been brooding about all day, unable to find something in either C&C or in his office to keep his mind off Delenn. Strangely enough, it was a quiet day, work-wise, with very light traffic both in and outbound. "Centauri freighter, you are now clear for docking procedures in Bay 9. Control out." Ivanova removed her headset. "Lt. Corwin, take over command of C&C." The young lieutenant nodded seriously, looking a little relieved that she was leaving C&C. Ivanova walked the short distance to Medlab lost in thought. What was the story behind this Lea Dumont? Was she really from 2133? One thing was certain to Ivanova: Lea Dumont believed she was. She entered Medlab and walked to Delenn's bed, not surprised to find Lennier at her side, roles reversed from a couple of months earlier when he was recovering in Medlab and she was at his side. Franklin was there as well, trying to convince Lennier to get some sleep. The young Minbari was putting up a formidable resistance to the idea, but he did look very tired. She suspected he hadn't even eaten since they brought her in over twelve hours ago. Finally Lennier relented, and politely requested that he be informed if *anything* changed. Bidding the ambassador and Dr. Franklin good-bye, he turned to leave. "Still no change?" Ivanova asked Franklin who was checking Delenn's vital signs with a penlight. "Hi Susan. No, still no change." He looked morose. "What about Ms. Dumont? How is she doing?" "Our resident time-traveler, you mean?" Ivanova made a face, but Franklin continued. "She's doing fine. Her tests showed no permanent damage at the initial or counter-coup sites of impact. She's going to have a nasty headache for a few days, but no lasting deficits. Still I'm a little concerned about her confabulation." "Unless she's not confabulating," Ivanova said. Franklin opened his mouth to respond, but she raised her hand cutting him short. "I know, it seems highly improbable. Anyway, can I see her?" "Sure. I think she was going to turn in soon, but if she's still awake you're welcome to visit." Ivanova found Lea sitting up on a bed near Delenn's. She was fishing through her briefcase looking for something when Ivanova approached. "Hi there." Lea looked up from her search. "Commander Ivanova, right?" she asked. She seemed to find what she was looking for, a small, carved pebble, and held it tightly in her balled fist. Ivanova sensed some of Lea's anxiety release. "That's right. I just wanted to see how you were doing. Dr. Franklin says the damage was not permanent, but he wants to keep you overnight for observation." "He's concerned about my 'memory problem'." "Yes, well not every patient passing through here misses the date question by more than a century. Fifty years, and you might have gotten away with it, but a hundred years off-- that got his attention," Ivanova joked. Lea looked at Ivanova again. "But you aren't concerned, are you? Why do you believe me when the others don't?" "I don't know. It's just a feeling I have. Plus it would explain the snow." "The snow?" "Yeah, when I found you in the corridor, you were covered in snow. Most of it melted on the deck before help came. I thought it was strange, but I had other things to worry about, like getting you to Medlab. Besides, strange things happen around here on a daily basis. I figured there was a perfectly reasonable explanation for it. Turns out there was." "I wish I knew how I got here. I guess you don't have any more idea than I do." "I'm afraid not. Time travel in 2260 is not exactly commonplace," Ivanova said. She considered telling Lea about the fate of the last Babylon station, but decided against it. "Then there's not much of a possibility of returning home?" "I don't know. I don't think so. At least, not until we figure out how you got here." Ivanova responded carefully. Lea looked dejected. The woman's pain was palpable, even without telepathy. "Where is this place, anyway? Dr. Franklin called it Babylon 5." "Babylon 5 is located in the Epsilon system, considered neutral territory for the five major races. The station itself is for diplomatic exchange as well as a center for trade and commerce. We're about two days away from Earth by way of hyperspace." Lea looked dazed by the information. "Aliens, space stations, hyperspace... so much has happened." "Well, it has been 127 years. It didn't happen all at once. And it didn't come without a price. The Minbari nearly eradicated Earth twelve years ago. We fought another war in the Dilgar system before that." Ivanova thought, but kept it to herself. "Everybody I know is dead now." Lea gripped the stone in her hand tighter, struggling to control a sudden wave of pain. "Maybe I can look up my great, great, great grand-nieces and -nephews." she said with an attempt at humor. She looked at Ivanova with weary eyes. "Thank you Commander for coming by to check on me. I think I'm going to try to sleep so I can put this day behind me for good." "I'll come by in the morning to see how you're doing." Ivanova said, then reached to squeeze Lea's hand. Upon contact Ivanova felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity. Startled, she released the grip and abruptly left Lea's bedside. She passed Delenn's bedside once more, lingering for a moment before striding out the door. *** Lea entered a chamber, its interior darkened. One by one, eight spotlights illuminated, revealing cloaked figures standing in a circle. She walked to the far side of the circle and took the place she knew to be hers, one final spotlight winking on as she halted. "Summoned, I come," she said. The words she spoke were in a strange language, yet she knew both what she said and how to say it. "I am Grey, I stand between the candle and the flame. We are Grey, we stand between the darkness and the light." The light above her become blindingly bright, and she shielded her eyes with her arm. Her clothes had changed, from the grey cloak she wore like the other figures to a blue silken dress. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she realized the nine figures were gone, replaced a man's voice. "That's far enough," he said in English. She heard a scraping noise along the deck. "Put them on," he said as she stooped over to pickup the pair of metal rings that slithered to her feet. "The manacles are made for you. You may remove them at any time, but in doing so you admit failure and defeat, and will stand before the Vorlon as inadequate for the task ahead. Do you understand?" "Yes," she said. She heard a click, followed by slow footsteps, then another click. A pale man wielding a cane appeared. "Who are you?" he asked, each syllable carefully measured. The eight cloaked figures reappeared in their globes of light, the pale man gone. Another man, bruised and ragged, stood in the center of the circle. "What are you doing here? What do you want?" he asked looking wildly around the circle. He approached her. "Who are you?" he asked, removing her hood. She blinked, and yet another man appeared before her, this time in a lighted room. Beside her sat an intricate crystal structure only half completed. "What do you want?" the man asked her. She felt a coldness at the base of her spine, and saw a shadow cross his face. She turned, covering her forehead with a hand. Underneath she felt the shape of a triangle. "Please leave," Lea said urgently, turning away again. She found herself on the floor, the Minbari Lennier squatting next to her with a mixture of concern and panic in his expression. In the background she heard the cane's clicking approach, slow and deliberate. "Please, you have to go. Quickly!" she said, pleading. "Not without you!" Lennier answered. The clicking became louder, more urgent. "If I leave I will have failed you and Kosh. I will have failed everyone. If you care for me, you can't let that happen. Please go. Please, go... go.... go..." *** (to be continued...) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Adele Hutchinson/ Aphasia Research Center/ Boston V.A.M.C./ Brown University e-mail: Adele_Hutchinson@brown.edu *** "Your scientists have yet to discover how neural networks create self consciousness, let alone how the human brain processes two dimensional retinal images into the three dimensional phenomenon known as perception. Yet you somehow brazenly declare that seeing is believing. Mr. Crikinson, your scientific illiteracy makes me shudder" -Man in Black, "X-Files" -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= From Adele_Hutchinson@brown.edu Sat May 11 13:30:25 1996 Date: Sat, 11 May 1996 16:03:14 -0400 From: Adele Hutchinson Reply-To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com Subject: Reflection of the Future's Past, part 4 Reflection of the Future's Past by Adele Hutchinson Part 4 *** Sheridan navigated his way through the late evening crowds near the Zocalo en route to see Delenn. Franklin had warned him to stay clear of Medlab until he had some time to run tests, so Sheridan had waited until his shift was over before visiting. Sheridan reminded himself. Still, Franklin's news about Delenn had eaten at him all day. He felt as though his lungs were pinned in a vice that continued to screw tighter. There was nothing he could do, and he hated feeling helpless more than anything. Susan had come by soon after Franklin's call to see how he was doing. He saw his pain mirrored in her eyes, and realized that some of the pain he saw was, in fact, his own. As much as he hated the knowledge that somebody else was forced to share his despair, it brought him comfort somehow to know he was not alone with it. Medlab seemed quiet at this late hour, with the patients mostly asleep and the majority of the staff home for the evening. Not that Babylon 5 saw day or night any more than it saw changes in season, but there was definitely a period of eight hours every standard day that was quieter than the other 16 hours. Franklin, Sheridan noted, was not among those who observed the eight hour down time considered night on the station. This night was no exception; Sheridan found Franklin hunched over his desk puzzling over test results. "Any change?" Sheridan asked. Franklin looked up from his work and shook his head. "She's still not responding. I've tried several treatments, but since I can't find anything *wrong* with her, I'm not too optimistic the treatments will help. I'm afraid anything more drastic might do more harm than good." Sheridan sighed. "I know you're doing your best, Stephen." He looked at the bed where Delenn lay. "I'm surprised Lennier's not here." "He was, but I convinced him he needed some rest. I practically had to throw him out." Sheridan thought to himself. "I think *you* should take some of your own advice. Get some dinner and sleep." Franklin opened his mouth to argue, but Sheridan cut him off. "You said yourself there's nothing more you can do for her right now. You've got a capable staff who can keep an eye on her in case something changes." He used his best 'don't-argue-with-me' tone, and gave him a look to match it. "But her test results... I want to go over them again. I feel like I'm missing something..." "...And if you are, your head will be clearer after some sleep and you'll be more likely to see it." Defeated, Franklin muttered an okay, and scooted off to check his patients one last time before leaving. Sheridan walked to Delenn's bedside, plopping down in a nearby chair with a heavy sigh. He looked at Delenn silently, watching her chest rise and fall with each breath. She was dressed in a gray medlab gown instead of her traditional Minbari religious caste robes. She looked as though she were sleeping, and if he disturbed her she would wake up. He took one slender hand in his, half expecting her to squeeze his in return as she had before. He longed to see her green eyes staring back at him. "Delenn... I..." His voice croaked when he tried to talk. What could he say? He cleared his throat. "Delenn, I don't know if you can hear me, but... aw hell." He stood up, released her hand and began pacing. "Delenn, you can't do this to me. You can't leave me like this. We're a team. I need your help to help fight the darkness. I can't do this alone. I need *you*." He turned to face her, a part of him hoping his outburst had caused her to respond. "I don't want to lose you," he said as he sat down at her side again and took her hand again. He took a deep breath and counted to ten. "Delenn, I don't have your strength. I wish I did, but I don't. I don't think I can do this alone anymore. I need you to come back." He bowed his head, looking at her hand in his. He opened his hand so he could inspect hers more closely, tracing his left finger around the edge of her pink fingertips. He looked at her face again, framed by her dark human hair, and on impulse reached a hand to her face. he mused as he brushed a section of errant bangs from her hairless brow. His thoughts were interrupted by a sharp gasp from a nearby bed. The medlab staff, busy on the other side of the room with an emergency procedure, had not noticed. Standing, Sheridan found the source of the disturbance, a young woman at a nearby bed with auburn hair, dressed as Delenn was in a medlab gown. "Are you okay?" he asked as he approached her bedside. Her hazel eyes met his, and he felt an out-of-place sense of recognition. "If I do not see you again here, I will see you in a little while in the place where no shadows fall," she said, her eyes distant. "What? Where did you hear that?" "Where did I hear...I don't know...my dream. It was a *dream*..." she looked at him again, furrowing her brow. "You were there..." "Me?" "And Mr. Lennier... I can't remember any more except...she was there, too!" she said, pointing towards the bed where Delenn lay. Sheridan's gaze followed the gesture, remaining on Delenn's form. "When I looked in the mirror just before I woke up, the face was not mine. It was hers." "Delenn? Are you a telepath? Can you sense what she is thinking? What else can you tell me?" he asked, the questions rushing out, but when he turned to look at her again she had fallen back to sleep. He lingered a moment longer, staring at the mysterious woman, then returned to Delenn's side. "I don't know what's going on, but I intend to find out." he muttered, interlacing his fingers in hers. He sat down and made himself comfortable next to Delenn, telling her stories from his childhood. He wanted her to have a voice to listen to, but also he didn't want the silence which would allow him to dwell on his own thoughts and worries. *** (to be continued...) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Adele Hutchinson/ Aphasia Research Center/ Boston V.A.M.C./ Brown University e-mail: Adele_Hutchinson@brown.edu *** "Your scientists have yet to discover how neural networks create self consciousness, let alone how the human brain processes two dimensional retinal images into the three dimensional phenomenon known as perception. Yet you somehow brazenly declare that seeing is believing. Mr. Crikinson, your scientific illiteracy makes me shudder" -Man in Black, "X-Files" -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= From Adele_Hutchinson@brown.edu Mon May 13 18:34:20 1996 Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 15:10:32 -0400 From: Adele Hutchinson Reply-To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com Subject: Reflection of the Future's Past, part 5 Reflection of the Future's Past by Adele Hutchinson Part 5 *** Sheridan woke to the feel of a grip tightening around his hand. He hadn't even realized he had drifted asleep. Foggily he stumbled to his feet, trying to determine what was happening. He looked at Delenn, noting that her eyes were still shut, but there was movement beneath her eyelids. "Doctor! Doctor! I think something's happening!" Dr. Sanchez hurried over, checking one of the machines on the wall. "You're right! She's in REM sleep." "That's an improvement, right?" "Yes, it means she's going to regain consciousness. We call sleep 'unconscious', but it's not the same as a coma. Her EEG shows almost normal wave patterns for REM sleep, which are much faster in frequency than the EEG of a comatose patient." An alarm sounded, and Dr. Sanchez ran off to grab a medkit. Sheridan thought something was happening to Delenn as several medics converged, but they passed her bed and continued to the bed of the woman with the auburn hair. Moments later Franklin strode in. Sheridan watched as the medteam bustled around the patient, Franklin issuing orders, the medics scurrying to carry them out. He looked at Delenn once again; he could still see her eyes moving underneath her lids, and she mumbled something incoherent. Franklin approached from behind. "I hear she's entered REM sleep. That's a very good sign." He examined a readout at the foot of her bed. "Her EEG looks a little unusual for her, but it's much faster than before." "What happened to that other patient? I talked to her earlier tonight and I have some concerns." "Lea Dumont? You talked to her earlier?" "Well, not exactly talk, as in a two way conversation. Stephen, is she a telepath?" "Franklin blinked at the non sequitur. "No, I don't think so. If she is, there's no evidence in her EEG and neurotransmitter levels. Why?" "It's probably nothing. Just something she said." "Did you notice anything else unusual about her? Did she have any slurred speech or complain about pain?" "No... I heard her wake up, and I thought something was wrong. I went to see what it was, and she said something about a dream, then fell back to sleep. Why? What happened to her?" "She came in this morning with a mild concussion, but she was disoriented, so I thought I should keep an eye on her overnight. She just slipped into a coma." "A coma? She was fine a few hours ago!" "Yet another mystery surrounding the enigmatic Lea Dumont." "Another mystery? What else?" He had a feeling he wasn't going to like what Franklin had to say. "Ivanova believes she's from the 22nd century," Franklin replied. "A time traveler? Well that's just great." *** Awareness seeped into her being. Bright sunlight warmed her face and the scent of pine and dirt registered in her mind, followed by the feel of her legs stepping below her in rhythm with her breathing. A gentle breeze evaporated tiny beads of sweat, leaving behind a pleasant tingle. Delenn opened her eyes and found herself gazing at a mountainous panorama. She came to a halt to take in her surroundings. A lake framed with craggy shale mountain peaks sat in the distance in front of her, the goal of her walk she realized suddenly. The vegetation consisted of altitude stunted pine trees, small deep green leafy vegetation that was not familiar, as well as a number of wild flowers ranging in color from pure white to bright orange to violet. Clearly she was no longer on the station, but this planet was not Minbar either. She could not feel her long hair against her shoulders, and wondered if perhaps she was Minbari again. A quick examination of the back of her head revealed that her hair was braided into a ponytail, much like Commander Ivanova wore on duty. Missing, however, was her bonecrest that encircled her head above her ears. she thought to herself, startled that the realization did not surprise her. She inspected her clothes, and found herself dressed in tan shorts, boots that laced up to her ankles, and a plain shirt covered by a dark green jacket. A voice from behind her interrupted her thoughts. "Resting again? We're almost there." "No, Simon, I was just admiring the view," Delenn heard herself say. The man she called Simon stepped next to her side and rested a hand on her shoulder. Above she heard the cry of a bird as it dove towards the lake. She felt her hand grasp a small leather pouch strung around her neck. "An eagle, just like your fetish. It must be a sign of good luck," Simon said as he watched the bird, its wings spread, glide towards the lake. Delenn untied the pouch, and examined the inside. It contained a single stone, unadorned by any markings, but carved into the shape of the bird she had just spotted. "My father gave me this fetish," she said as she held it between her fingers. "The eagle is the guardian of the upper regions, and holds great power. It carries with it wisdom and the ability to look at the greater context." She put the fetish back in the pouch, turned towards the man and took his hands. "Come, lunch is waiting at the lake," she said smiling. She took a step forward and found herself inside a hallway, her footsteps echoing in her wake. She passed a number of humans dressed in suits as she now was, some of whom acknowledged her with a wave as she passed. Her hair, no longer captured in a braid, tickled her cheek as she moved. She noticed it was redder than her own, and much shorter, too. Delenn entered the door at the end of the hallway and sat down at a desk. She turned towards the computer which was of an extremely old design that did not use crystal ports for data storage. The file on the screen was entitled "Fear and Discrimination: The Continuing Controversy Over the Telepath Problem" and was neatly formatted into two columns of type. "Is that telepath piece finished yet? I need the copy soon," said a woman who Delenn knew to be named Sylvia. Her boss, Sylvia. "I was just going to call you to tell you it was ready." Delenn hit a few keys on the command pad, slid the disk out of the drive and handed it to Sylvia. "This article is probably going to make you a few enemies, but I'm glad you wrote it. The public needs to know." "Yes, well I am not concerned with a few politicians' opinions. Right now I am more concerned about the weather. I wanted to leave before the snow started, but I suppose I am too late," Delenn said, peering out the window. A gust of wind pounded the window with a mournful whistle, as if to underscore her statement. "Be careful if you're driving in that. It's almost a total white-out," Sylvia said as she labeled the disk. "I took the train this morning, knowing I probably would not finish in time to avoid the snow." Delenn removed her shoes and slid a pair of socks over her stockings. She reached for a pair of boots under her desk and slipped her feet into them. "Well, be careful anyway. I'll see you tomorrow," Sylvia said as she left. Delenn finished lacing her boots, grabbed her briefcase and coat and started towards the entrance. As she stepped outside, she saw the snow whipping in all directions, reducing visibility to only a few meters as Sylvia had warned. She pulled her hood tightly over her face to prevent the snow from stinging her eyes as she walked. In the distance she heard someone call a name, her name, but she could not detect the source. Concentrating, she heard her name again, this time more clearly... She opened her eyes to unfocused bright lights. Blinking, the world resolved into familiar shapes and faces. Sheridan was peering down at her with concern in his eyes. He looked haggard, his uniform shirt wrinkled and his hair mussed as if he'd run his fingers through it a number of times. He smiled broadly and released his breath. She felt her hand enclosed by his, and squeezed gently. She felt his squeeze in reply. "John? What happened? Where am I?" Delenn tried to sit up, but found she could not. She strained to remember what happened, but her thoughts were a jumble as her dream receded and reality returned. She moved her free hand to her hair, relieved to find her bonecrest intact. "I remember speaking to Lennier... then I was fixing tea..." "Take it easy, Ambassador. You've been unconscious for 18 hours," said Dr. Franklin, appearing at Sheridan's side. He removed the restraining device and helped her sit up. "Your EEG is still a little slow, probably a residual effect of your coma. Do you remember anything about this morning that might help us figure out what happened to you? Any unusual symptoms?" Delenn again tried to wade through the static in her mind to remember the morning. "No, I do not remember *anything* out of the ordinary." She heard Lennier's voice at the entrance of Medlab. "Delenn!" He rushed to her side across the bed from Sheridan and Franklin, his face lit up with happiness. "I am glad to see you are awake!" "Lennier. I am fine. I am a little disoriented, nothing more," she said looking firmly at Franklin. "I had a most vivid dream. It felt like an echo of a memory, but not from my experience. It felt so real," she said, perplexed. "It is unusual to have such high REM activity after an extended period of unconsciousness, but not unheard of," Franklin said. "If you don't mind, I'd like to run some tests to see if there is any residual damage." "I suppose, if you must." Franklin looked at Sheridan and Lennier. "This would be much easier without an audience," he said sternly. "Of course," Sheridan replied. He caught her gaze for an instant. "Delenn, I'm glad you're back" She heard his voice catch slightly. "I'll check in on you later." "As will I, Delenn," said Lennier as he bowed. She returned the gesture as well as she could from her position, then watched as the two left Medlab, Sheridan peaking once over his shoulder as he stepped out of sight. Franklin approached with a penlight and checked her pupils. "Do you remember what today's date is, Ambassador?" *** -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Adele Hutchinson/ Aphasia Research Center/ Boston V.A.M.C./ Brown University e-mail: Adele_Hutchinson@brown.edu *** "Your scientists have yet to discover how neural networks create self consciousness, let alone how the human brain processes two dimensional retinal images into the three dimensional phenomenon known as perception. Yet you somehow brazenly declare that seeing is believing. Mr. Crikinson, your scientific illiteracy makes me shudder" -Man in Black, "X-Files" -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= From Adele_Hutchinson@brown.edu Tue May 14 11:54:05 1996 Date: Tue, 14 May 1996 14:27:20 -0400 From: Adele Hutchinson Reply-To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com Subject: Re: Reflection of the Future's Past, part 6 Reflection of the Future's Past by Adele Hutchinson Part 6 *** Franklin sat at his desk, savoring the early morning quiet in Medlab. He probably should go back to his quarters and sleep as Sheridan had ordered earlier, but he was too worked up to sleep now. He stared at the test results he had compiled for Lea Dumont since her arrival in Medlab nearly twenty-four hours ago. He still had no clue about the nature of what he was dealing with. Was it an infection or trauma? The fact that he had two very similar cases seemed to suggest the former, but he could find no evidence of viral or bacterial invasion. There was no immune response, no abnormalities in the cerebral spinal fluid, nothing to even indicate stress. "What is going on here?" he asked aloud. Nobody was in earshot to answer. he wondered silently. He spread Delenn's file out next to Lea's, hoping a connection would pop out of the page. The fact that Delenn had recovered made him feel a little better, but her recovery was not yet complete. Franklin inspected her latest EEG reading and compared it to one taken when she woke up. The same anomaly existed in both, and it showed no signs of improving. He put the EEG reading back into the file and stared again at the two sets of results. There was something there, he *knew* it, but he couldn't seem to find it. He leaned back to think about it, to let his mind work it out, but drifted off to sleep instead. The sound of medical equipment spilling to the floor woke him up. Startled, Franklin jumped out of his desk chair to investigate. His tired brain required an extra moment to make sense of the situation in front of him. Delenn was out of her bed, some of the monitor feeds still dangling from her arm. She was standing with a human male wedged under her foot. "He was trying to suffocate that patient with a pillow," she said, pointing to Lea Dumont's bed. Franklin unfroze, then tapped his link and called for security as he ran to Lea Dumont's bed to check her condition. One of the monitors showed a momentary drop in blood oxygen level, corroborating Delenn's assessment. Satisfied that his patient was in no further danger, Franklin returned to examine Delenn's prisoner. Although he was still conscious, his face was swollen and bleeding. Franklin looked up at Delenn, who had not released her foothold on the man. "Nice shot." *** Sheridan strode purposefully towards Security, other pedestrian traffic scurrying out of his way as he passed. He was getting just a little tired of these mysteries piling up on his station, and he intended to get some answers. Not even pausing to allow the doors to the Security main office to open, Sheridan plowed through the half opened doorway. "Got anything for me Chief?" he asked without preamble. Garibaldi sat at his desk with his feet propped up on an open drawer. "Our prisoner's not talking. But I was able to make an ID on him based on his mug shot." "And..." "And he's Earthforce," Garibaldi replied, sitting up. "Or he was Earthforce, stationed at Io, up until a few months ago when he got the boot. But up to that point he was not only Earthforce, but also Nightwatch." "Nightwatch? Do you think they're involved with this?" Sheridan did not like the possibilities *that* conjured up. "Dunno. Could be. It does seem awfully coincidental," Garibaldi answered. He punched a command into the terminal and the file appeared on the monitor. "According to this, his name is Reilly Haskell. He got kicked out for insubordination and assault on a senior officer." Sheridan looked at the information on the screen, muttering a soft 'harumph' under his breath. "What I want to know is *why* he tried to kill her. And why try and suffocate her? There are much more efficient ways of killing somebody." "I think he wasn't planning on getting caught," Garabaldi said. Sheridan raised an eyebrow expectantly. "Look, if Delenn hadn't interfered and he'd succeeded, Stephen might not have suspected foul play was involved..." "He might have thought she had died from complications from the coma," Sheridan finished. "But that still leaves the question 'Why would anybody want to kill her?'" "And I'd have a much easier time finding that out if I could find any record of Lea Dumont. Not only is there no record of her coming on station through customs, but there's no record of her anywhere." Sheridan shook his head a chuckled. "Try the historical database for the year 2133 and see if you have any better luck." "Sir? 2133?" "Just a hunch, Michael. Ivanova's hunch actually." Sheridan looked at the video feed from the prisoner's holding cell. His face was swollen, and he looked like breathing was causing him some pain. "Delenn did some damage, didn't she?" Garibaldi looked at the monitor. "According to Franklin she cracked two ribs and dislocated his jaw." "Remind me not to get her mad." *** Sheridan sat in his living room absently picking at some take-out pasta from a restaurant on the Zocalo. He stared at the face on the monitor before him and asked himself again who this woman was. He reread the file Michael had compiled: Lea S. Dumont Date of Birth: 4 February 2105 to Marcel Dumont and Joanne Gibson Occupation: Journalist; Honors include a Pulitzer Prize in 2156 Personal: Married in 2135 to Simon Thayer; no children Date of Death: 6 July 2177, cause: shuttle accident Included in the dossier were a number of essays and articles she had published during her lifetime, as well as several articles and reviews written by others about her. Her journalistic works covered many of the defining moments of that era including the consolidation of Earthdome, the first contact with the Centauri, and the formation of the Psi Corps, but her most highly praised works were her essays about human nature. Indeed, her Pulitzer Prize was earned for a collection of essays written about humanity's attempt to fit itself into the newly redefined universe. Sheridan looked at the photograph again, a file photo taken from her 2130 passcard-- the 22nd century's version of an identicard. Not only did it resemble closely the woman Ivanova found near the Zocalo, but it was also an exact replica of the passcard found in her briefcase. he asked himself again, for the 264th time that day. Most disturbing to him, however, was her connection to Delenn. He replayed his short conversation with Lea Dumont in his head again. <"If I do not see you again here..."> His thoughts were interrupted by the door chime. "Come in," he said without looking up from the screen. "Hello, John." "Delenn! What are you doing he--... what are you doing out of Medlab?" he amended. She smiled. "Dr. Franklin allowed me to leave, provided I wear this," she said, indicating her left arm. She crossed the room to stand next to him in order to give him a better look. The sleeve was unfastened to make room for a device strapped around her wrist like an old-fashioned watch. Sheridan raised an eyebrow. "He just let you go. That's it. No argument." "True, he did not like the idea at first. But after some discussion, I convinced him that I would be more comfortable in my own quarters." Sheridan paused a single beat before responding. "Oh, and I suppose you *also* convinced him that *he'd* be more comfortable if you rested in your own quarters." "I believe he had that impression, yes," she answered, a hint of a smile in her voice and in her expression. Sheridan couldn't help but grin in return. He chuckled softly. "Well, I guess now that Michael assigned a security team to Medlab, your services there are no longer necessary. I saw the guy you stopped when I was in Security this afternoon. He didn't look so good." "It was not my intention to break his ribs, but he would not back down. The whole event was so odd," she said, her brow furrowed in puzzlement. "I was sleeping soundly, then felt like I couldn't breathe. I woke up, saw the man with the pillow and... reacted." "Well, it's a good thing you were there," he said, marveling silently as she smiled again. "What? What is it?" Delenn asked. "Your smile. It's just... while you were unconscious, I was afraid I'd never see your smile again, and that thought troubled me greatly." "Well I am back now, and you can watch me smile as much as you like." "How are you, Delenn?" he asked, his tone suddenly serious. "I am fine," she answered quickly, automatically. "Delenn, this is *me*. How are you doing, really? You don't have to hide from me." He stepped closer, placing a hand at her elbow. She looked in his eyes, and he saw hers cloud over with fear. "No, I suppose I cannot," she said at last, her eyes falling to his hand on her elbow. "I do not know any more how I am. Physically, I feel fine, well-rested. But I feel as though part of me did not return when I regained consciousness. As though part of my soul has withered and continues to diminish." Her eyes locked with his again. "I do not fear death John, but I am afraid now. For the soul to dissipate without dying is a fate far worse than death itself. It prevents that soul from returning and thus the whole suffers as a result." Sheridan did not know what he could say to comfort her, so he reached out and held her hands in his silently. He didn't understand what she was trying to describe, but he sensed how deeply it troubled her and wanted desperately to be able to do something to help her. But what? He felt just as helpless as when she was lying in a coma. "Thank you," she said. "For what? I didn't *do* anything but stand here." "For listening to me. It is difficult for me to admit my fears, to give them a voice, but I feel better for having done so." "Why don't you sit down," he said motioning towards the couch. "I was just snacking on some leftover pasta... would you like some?" he asked. She nodded her assent and he walked to the kitchen to fix her a plate. Delenn inspected the photograph on the screen. "This is the woman in Medlab," she said. Sheridan craned his neck around a cabinet to see what she was referring to. "Yeah, Lea Dumont. I was just going to ask you if you knew anything about her." "No, I have never seen her before this morning. She seems familiar somehow, but I am certain I have never made her acquaintance." Delenn skimmed through the folder, her brow creased. When Sheridan returned with a plate of fettucini and two glasses of juice, she had singled out one of the articles. "But I believe I have read this article before..." "Really? I'd be surprised if you had. It was written over a hundred years ago." "How can that be?" "How, indeed," Sheridan answered. *** (to be continued....) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Adele Hutchinson/ Aphasia Research Center/ Boston V.A.M.C./ Brown University e-mail: Adele_Hutchinson@brown.edu *** "Your scientists have yet to discover how neural networks create self consciousness, let alone how the human brain processes two dimensional retinal images into the three dimensional phenomenon known as perception. Yet you somehow brazenly declare that seeing is believing. Mr. Crikinson, your scientific illiteracy makes me shudder" -Man in Black, "X-Files" -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= From Adele_Hutchinson@brown.edu Sat May 18 15:50:34 1996 Date: Thu, 16 May 1996 17:47:41 -0400 From: Adele Hutchinson Reply-To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com Subject: Reflection of the Future's Past, part 7 Reflection of the Future's Past by Adele Hutchinson Part 7 *** A single candle flame danced in front of Delenn. She sat meditating in her quarters, immersed in darkness save for the one candle in front of her. She had left Sheridan's quarters abruptly, and upon returning to her own had sent Lennier away to allow her to sort out the puzzle in her mind. "Human intuition," she said out loud, listening to the sound of the exotic language of the humans. Intuition was not a fostered trait among the Minbari, not considered valuable in a society that prized obedience over individuality. Yet her own intuition was screaming at her to listen, but what was it trying to tell her? She wondered when and where it had found such a voice for itself. A by-product of her change perhaps? No, it had guided her long before she stepped into the Chrysalis. She focused on the flame again, watching its contour contort with the barely perceptible changes in the atmosphere. Closing her eyes, she imagined the barriers in her mind releasing to allow the thoughts from all sides of her mind to crash to the center and mingle. She opened her eyes, filling her outer vision with the light of the candle as images and thoughts cascaded through her mind out of sequence and unhindered by logic and order. One image struck her as unfamiliar to her own experience, but somehow congruent with her being. She coaxed it back to the center of her mind's eye, temporarily replacing some of her barriers to allow her to get a closer look. The fragment resolved into a large bird gliding overhead, its wings outstretched to take advantage of the wind pattern. Freezing the image in her mind, she inspected the periphery. Mountains, blue sky with a few wispy clouds, flowers, and another person, a human man standing next to her. she thought, frowning. She had never been on the planet, yet she was sure the memory originated from there. Releasing the frozen image, she followed it backwards to the beginning, willing it to play in her head in order. *** "Lennier, I am returning to Medlab." Concern clouded her aide's expression. "Has your condition worsened?" he asked. "I feel it would be best," she replied, evading his question. "In the meantime, I must ask a favor of you." "Anything, Delenn, you know that." She smiled. Lennier's devotion to her was touching, if not always sound in judgment. She pressed a data crystal into the palm of his hands. "There is something I must do, and I ask that you not interfere no matter what happens." *** The entrance to Medlab was now watched by two station security personnel. Delenn bowed slightly to each as she passed, then headed to Lea Dumont's bed. She inspected the woman in front of her, marveling inwardly at the implications of the conclusion she had come to about Lea Dumont. She felt with certainty that she was right about the woman, although she was not sure how she knew it with such resolve. She spotted a briefcase resting near the bed, picked it up and rummaged through it until she found what she wanted. She inspected the item, a small leather pouch hanging from a piece of leather thong, and checked its interior. Satisfied, she placed the pouch on top of Lea's chest. "I believe 'sweet dreams' is the appropriate expression," she said. "I'm glad you've come back, Ambassador," said a voice behind her. She turned to see Dr. Franklin. "Yes, I have a favor to ask of you," she said, nearly the same words from her conversation with Lennier earlier. "Oh? What can I do for you?" "Would it be possible for you to induce a dream state?" He looked at her, surprised, then seemed to consider his answer. "I could, but I'm not sure that's such a good idea," he said guardedly. "Your EEG is still not normal, and I'm afraid artificially altering your synaptic firing could--" "But it *is* possible" she said. "Well yes, but--" "Then you must help me, please, doctor." "What do you hope to accomplish? I still don't know what we're dealing with here, but I've been working on a few theories. Somehow your conscious state is linked with Ms. Dumont's, and something is causing the two of you to alternate conscious states. I'm afraid inducing a REM state will set something off." "That is exactly my point, doctor. If we are to find a solution, I must take the risk. I do so willingly. But we must act soon. Please, you must help me now. Please." *** Lea stood in the center of the spotlight, looking around to orient herself. She heard footsteps matched in rhythm by the clicking of a cane. The pale man appeared again. "Who are you?" he asked. "I am Delenn," Lea answered simply. The clicking dissipated, and she saw the battered man in front of her. Just as before he removed her hood. "I know you! I know who you are!" he said. The pale man returned, and she found herself on the floor. He sat perched above her, angry. "Who ARE you?" he asked again. "I am DELENN!" Lea responded, and closed her eyes to prepare for the retribution she felt sure was coming. None came. Instead she faced a mirror, the Minbari Ambassador's face staring back at her. "I know who you are," the reflection said. "Please, do not be afraid." *** (to be continued...) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Adele Hutchinson/ Aphasia Research Center/ Boston V.A.M.C./ Brown University e-mail: Adele_Hutchinson@brown.edu *** "Your scientists have yet to discover how neural networks create self consciousness, let alone how the human brain processes two dimensional retinal images into the three dimensional phenomenon known as perception. Yet you somehow brazenly declare that seeing is believing. Mr. Crikinson, your scientific illiteracy makes me shudder" -Man in Black, "X-Files" -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= From Adele_Hutchinson@brown.edu Wed May 29 19:16:28 1996 Date: Tue, 21 May 1996 17:48:25 -0400 From: Adele Hutchinson Reply-To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com Subject: Reflection of the Future's Past, part 8 Reflection of the Future's Past by Adele Hutchinson Part 8 *** Ivanova watched as Sheridan paced within the confined perimeter of the briefing room, waiting for the War Council meeting to proceed. Garibaldi filed in, followed by Franklin and Marcus Cole, each taking their customary seat at the table. Finally Lennier entered, looking grim, and joined them at the table. One seat save for Sheridan's remained unoccupied. He glanced at it then looked away before speaking. "An hour ago Delenn fell back into a coma again," he said evenly, trying to hide the pain Ivanova knew he felt. "After the attempt on Lea Dumont's life in Medlab earlier, we have stepped up security down there, but something is going on, and I intend to get to the bottom of it. Stephen, what have you come up with?" "Well, it appears that Delenn and Lea Dumont are alternating conscious states with each other, with an overlapping REM cycle, but I don't know what's causing it. I can tell you it isn't due to any viral or bacterial infection, and it's not caused by trauma. I also doubt telepathy is involved, although it might be something I can't detect on my scanners." "I believe I have a theory," Lennier volunteered. All eyes turned toward him, curious. "More accurately, Delenn has a theory. She believes that Ms. Dumont and herself are *zah-rak'po*" "Soulmates?" said Marcus incredulously. "That would be a fair translation. She believes Lea Dumont is the previous incarnation of her own soul. The alternating comatose condition arises because the soul is in paradox, faced with two bodies but only able to inhabit one of them at a time." "But how could that be?" Marcus asked. "How can Lea Dumont be Delenn's soulmate?" "The prophecy indicates that some of our souls have migrated to be reborn in humans, but it doesn't preclude the possibility that some of those souls might travel back to the Minbari. Lea Dumont's death coincides within a short time of Delenn's birth. Furthermore, Delenn herself is convinced that this is the case, and I have no reason to doubt her certainty" "But aren't we all forgetting something? How did Lea Dumont get here from the 22nd century?" Marcus countered, still skeptical. "Perhaps I might have some information that will, as you humans say, shed some light on this issue." Ivanova spun to identify the speaker. A bright flash, then Draal's holographic form materialized at the back of the room. "I'm sorry to arrive unannounced, but there isn't much time. Everything we are fighting for may be in grave danger of collapsing." *** Lea opened her eyes, a now familiar scene filling her vision. Laying still, she allowed the images in her mind to reassemble, reminding her of what she needed to do. Gone was the fear and confusion she experienced earlier, replaced by an urgency she could not ignore. She pushed the monitoring equipment out of her way, freeing her to sit up. She felt something fall to the side when she sat up and smiled when she recovered the fetish pouch. Nobody had noticed her wake up yet, and she slipped quietly out of the window's view. Locating her clothes, she dressed quickly, and snuck out behind the partition that walled off her bed from the rest of Medlab. She stopped by the side of Delenn's bed, looking at her once again. "I don't belong here, and I'm going to insure that you remain here. Somehow..." *** "Delenn is correct; she and Lea Dumont are indeed *za-rak'po*," said Draal. "Using the Great Machine, I sensed a familiar soul adrift and alone. I thought it was Delenn's soul I had come across, so I helped guide it back to Babylon 5. But I was only partially correct in my assessment." "You sensed Lea, not Delenn," Ivanova said. "Exactly!" Draal responded with a flourish. "When I discovered my mistake, I realized that finding the true identity of the individual I had encountered was of the utmost importance. Using the Great Machine, the task was not difficult. I found the records of Ms. Dumont, and backtracked to the source of the disturbance. There I found evidence that the Shadows had interfered." "The Shadows?" Ivanova asked. She did not like the turn this conversation had taken. "This is supposed to be some kind of a Shadow attack?" "It was, but something went wrong. I do not believe Lea was ever intended to turn up on the station. I believe she escaped, at which point I stumbled across her and delivered her here." "If this is true, why would the Shadows go through all this trouble. To what end?" Sheridan asked. "The Shadows are not yet prepared for a direct attack. They are still amassing their forces, just as we are. But they are becoming aware of our efforts, and the people involved. The attack on Lea Dumont, her abduction from her own time to this one might be an assassination attempt." "How? What could they accomplish by killing her?" pressed Sheridan. "If all had proceeded as planned, they would have removed Lea Dumont from her proper time to 2260 or perhaps even later. Once here, they would kill her, thus removing Delenn's soul from the timeline and preventing it from being reborn at the proper time." "But didn't they accomplish that by removing her from the timeline?" Garibaldi asked. "No. The past has not yet been altered. We have records of Lea Dumont's existence *after* February 22, 2133. The past is difficult to alter from the future." Marcus broke in, "Then how could this be an attack at all if you can't change the past?" "Because our past is Lea's future. For Lea, the future is mutable. If she were to be killed outside of the natural timeline, her future, which is our past, would be irrevocably changed," Draal responded. "And Delenn would never be born," Sheridan concluded. "The body would be born, but it would not be the Delenn that we know. That soul would not be available at the time of her birth. In fact it would not be available again until *after* 2260 when it is free to rejoin the collection of souls. Everything Delenn has done in her lifetime would cease to exist, as well as everything Lea Dumont did after 2133." Ivanova sank back in her seat and considered the implications of what Draal was saying. She didn't know exactly what Delenn's position among the Minbari was, but she suspected her role was greater than that of a mere ambassador, particularly before her transformation. Since that time it seemed she had fallen out of favor with her government and people. One thing was certain: without Delenn's presence aboard Babylon 5 these past four years, Sinclair would have died, and probably Sheridan as well. An assassination attempt on Delenn in the present would make her a martyr, but preventing her birth would eliminate that possibility as well as remove her influence from the past and present. "What can we do about it?" Sheridan asked after a pause. "There may be a way to return Ms. Dumont to her proper time, but it will be extremely dangerous, and I'm not certain it will work." "I'm willing to take that risk," replied a voice in the doorway. Lea Dumont entered the room and stood next to Sheridan. "I'll do whatever is necessary." *** (to be continued...) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Adele Hutchinson/ Aphasia Research Center/ Boston V.A.M.C./ Brown University e-mail: Adele_Hutchinson@brown.edu *** "Your scientists have yet to discover how neural networks create self consciousness, let alone how the human brain processes two dimensional retinal images into the three dimensional phenomenon known as perception. Yet you somehow brazenly declare that seeing is believing. Mr. Crikinson, your scientific illiteracy makes me shudder" -Man in Black, "X-Files" -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= From Adele_Hutchinson@brown.edu Wed May 29 19:18:25 1996 Date: Thu, 23 May 1996 19:05:02 -0400 From: Adele Hutchinson Reply-To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com Subject: Reflection of the Future's Past, part 9 Reflection of the Future's Past by Adele Hutchinson Part 9 *** "I don't know when I became aware of her presence, but I believe it was during my last dream. I think I felt her earlier, just before I saw you in Medlab," Lea said, indicating Sheridan with a nod. "You communicated with her? While you were dreaming?" he asked. "This time, yes. She was able to communicate with me directly, and I looked into her mind. I saw the darkness you spoke of, and the urgency of its defeat. You say that my being here endangers her life, not only in the present, but also in the past. I'll do anything to set events back on course. No matter the danger to myself." Draal approached Lea and gave her an appraising look. "Very well, then. I will make preparations on the planet. But you must realize, we have only one chance to send you back. And if the Shadows discover our efforts and attack during the process of returning you to your own time, I will be unable to assist you further." "I understand. Please proceed with the plans," Lea said. "Be on the planet in two hours," Draal said before winking out. A contemplative silence descended over the room. Finally Franklin stood up. "Ms. Dumont, would you mind returning to Medlab with me? I want to make sure your vital signs are stable before you return." She nodded and followed him out of the room. "And I'd like to know how you got past Security in Medlab..." said Franklin, his voice retreating as he and Lea walked down the corridor. The silence returned, each person immersed in his or her own thoughts. Ivanova considered what she had learned in the last ten minutes, satisfied that the pieces of the mystery were finally falling into place, but chilled by the implications of the situation. "If we fail to get Lea back to her time, what happens?" she asked. Lennier snapped to attention, recovering from what seemed a trance. Ivanova could feel the alien touch of his fear overcoming his attempts to supress it. She wasn't sure what frightened her more, his fear itself or its strength that she could detect it so easily in the normally well-contained Minbari with her weak psi skills. "I believe all would be lost," he said quietly. "Because we would lose Delenn as a leader?" Garibaldi asked. "Or because of something she did earlier?" "Both are factors," Lennier responded evasively. "If we can't get her back to her time, but were able to protect her in this time, what would happen then?" Marcus asked. Lennier turned sharply and gave Marcus a fierce look. "She *must* return. No matter when she dies in this timeline, even if, Valen willing, we defeated the Shadows before her death, events will revert to an alternate timeline in which Delenn, our Delenn, was never born as soon as Lea dies. If that happens, our future is in jeopardy. Our fight against the Shadows might be lost before it begins." "You don't mean the prophesy?" Marcus asked, horror apparent in his voice. Lennier nodded. "Which prophesy? What does it say?" asked Sheridan. "Lennier took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "If something should happen to remove Delenn's influence from the course of the past, then the prophesy-- the uniting of the two halves of our souls-- may not come to bear until it is too late." "Go on," Sheridan said, his eyes wide. Lennier looked at Marcus, who nodded quietly. "It was Delenn who suggested taking human prisoners during the Battle of the Line. That action led to the discovery that humans, or some among you, carried Minbari souls, which, as you know, led to our surrender." "If she hadn't been there..." Sheridan prompted. "We most likely would never have surrendered," Lennier finished, omitting the obvious conclusion that the Minbari would have then wiped out a large portion of the human population. "Then we will have to make certain we succeed," Sheridan said grimly. "I'll go to the surface with Ms. Dumont. I want armed guards protecting her at all times while she is on-station, Michael." "No problem." "And we'll need Lyta Alexander there too. Have her meet me at docking bay 8 in an hour." *** Sheridan left the War Council briefing room. He had an hour before leaving for the planet, and nothing to do but brood about the consequences if they failed. Still, there was something he had to do before he could leave. Lennier had the same idea Sheridan noted as he approached Delenn's bedside. The young Minbari looked sullen but just a little hopeful. He greeted Sheridan with a slight bow. "During our training in temple we are taught that focusing on negative outcomes leads to their manifestation," Lennier said, sighing. "I have tried to push the darkness from my mind, but it continues to reassert itself in my thoughts." He seemed abashed. "I wanted to tell her good-bye, in case...." "I know, Mr. Lennier. I know," Sheridan replied quietly. "Me, too." Both watched Delenn silently for a moment, as if waiting for a sign. "I believe it would be best if I returned to my quarters to meditate in order to rid myself of this intrusive darkness. If you would excuse me, Captain?" Sheridan nodded. "Lennier?" he said as Lennier reached the entrance. Sheridan wasn't sure what he wanted to say when Lennier turned around. "I just want you to know that I'll do everything in my power to make sure we get her back." "Thank you, Captain. I know you will." Lennier turned and quickly left Medlab. Looking at Delenn, unconscious but alive for now, Sheridan was reminded of standing at her bedside only twenty hours ago. This time he knew what was happening, and he had a plan to counteract it, but he also knew the consequences if he failed. Before failure meant her death, a thought that made his stomach seize. He was almost alarmed at how strongly he felt, but in retrospect he was not too surprised. She had become an integral part of his life, and it was time he faced that fact. But now the consequences stretched beyond one person's death. Everything could be lost. The station, Earth, even the war itself. Would his soul even know to meet her there? "Delenn, I don't know what's going to happen when we try to send Lea Dumont home, but I can't allow myself to think that we might fail. There's just too much at stake. But I don't want to leave without telling you good-bye. I can't imagine what my life would be like if I'd never met you... if I'd never been touched by your soul... I wish..." "She knows," said a voice behind him. He was not surprised to see Lea Dumont when he turned. Tall, with olive skin and almond shaped hazel eyes, she bore no resemblance to Delenn. Yet something about her, the way she held herself, the emphasis she used in her unaccented speech, was reminiscent of Delenn. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," she said and smiled reassuringly. Delenn's smile. "Oh no. I was just... I was just thinking. It's a little strange to know that in a way you're her. You even have her memories." "Not exactly. Just bits and pieces. Impressions of her world, her thoughts and feelings." She glanced at Delenn. "What is she like?" Sheridan paused, thinking of the best way to answer. "Delenn is one of those people who knows exactly the right thing to say when it needs to be said. She is brave and driven to do what she thinks is right, no matter what the cost to herself." He stopped, wondering why he was babbling on so to a stranger. he reminded himself. She was gazing attentively, her eyebrows raised slightly in expectation, much like Delenn's expression when he explained Earth customs to her. Only this wasn't Delenn and he wasn't explaining Earth customs; he was explaining Delenn to a person who was, in essence, Delenn. A person whose hazel eyes bore straight to his soul. Abandoning that line of thought before it went any further, Sheridan continued talking. "And she can be incredibly headstrong when she wants to." He chuckled remembering how he'd learned that particular trait the hard way. "She has endured so much pain-- physical and emotional-- and has sacrificed everything she is for her convictions, for the coming war. She values life above everything, and would trade her own to save another." Lea said nothing for a moment, entranced by he rhythm of Delenn's slow breathing. "It doesn't seem real to me. How could I be her? Nobody will tell me outright, but I gather she is vital to this time. How can I live up to that?" Sheridan remembered her dossier. In her lifetime Lea Dumont had been a famous and influential journalist, her work still remarked upon a hundred years later. Yet here she was, concerned about living up to her soul's potential. He no longer had any doubt about her identity. "You live your life for yourself. Doing what you think is right. Listen to your heart, follow where it leads. Delenn once told me that we are the universe made manifest, trying to figure itself out, and that sometimes the universe needs a change of perspective. You don't have to live up to anything. She is part of you, but you are Lea, not Delenn." *** (to be continued...) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adele Hutchinson / "We are starstuff; we are the universe made Aphasia Research Center / manifest, trying to figure itself out. As we Brown University / have both learned, sometimes the universe Boston V.A. Medical Center / requires a change of perspective." -Delenn ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From Adele_Hutchinson@brown.edu Wed May 29 19:51:20 1996 Date: Wed, 29 May 1996 14:23:37 -0400 (EDT) From: Adele Hutchinson Reply-To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com Subject: Reflection of the Future's Past, part 10 (conclusion) Reflection of the Future's Past by Adele Hutchinson Part 10 (conclusion) *** An hour and a half later, Sheridan, Lea, and Lyta Alexander navigated through the maze of tunnels beneath the planet's surface. The trip to Epsilon 3 from the station, though short, had been wondrous to Lea. In her own time only the privileged and the military had the opportunity to fly in space. She felt a pair of eyes on her, and was not surprised to find they belonged to Captain Sheridan. She knew from her borrowed memories that he was special to Delenn, and was disconcerted by how drawn she was to him. She felt compelled to comfort him, to let him know once more that she would do everything in her power to make sure all went well, but she felt awkward acting on somebody else's thoughts and feelings. They reached a land bridge, and she saw the innards of what she assumed was the Great Machine Draal had referred to. The others in the group gasped with her in appreciation of the sight. Crossing the bridge quickly so as not to dwell on the sheer drop below her, Lea found herself face to face with Draal. "Your timing is perfect; I have just now finished with the preparations. And why are you here?" he asked, glaring icily at Lyta. "Captain Sheridan asked me to try to remove Lea's memory of 2260 before she returns to the past," she said, not flinching under Draal's scrutiny. "A prudent measure," Draal replied after a moment's thought. "Do you think it will work?" "Well, I guess we'll have to see. If she does remember anything, it's likely she'll think it's a dream." The group walked towards the heart of the machine, where Draal's flesh and blood figure stood, still plugged into its circuitry. He looked as though he were napping instead of running the entirety of the Machine that stretched underneath the planet's surface. The holographic Draal followed Lea's gaze to his bodily form. "Looks so peaceful, doesn't it? But don't let appearances fool you; my mind is busy checking the Machine's settings for the task ahead." "How is this going to work?" Sheridan asked. "The Machine will help guide Ms. Dumont to the proper time and place; once there, the it will produce a tachyon pulse here that should create a fracture in the time stream. When her body passes through the fracture, she will be returned. Theoretically." "Theoretically?" "If we cannot contain the fracture, the effects to her and to us could be quite... unsettling. It could create areas of accelerated and decelerated time, very unpredictable, and potentially lethal. I must remove myself from the machine in order for Ms. Dumont to operate it, but that also means I lose a measure of control over the whole process." Sheridan looked grim, but he nodded his assent. "Now Ms. Dumont, if you wouldn't mind stepping up to the center," Draal said, leading her to the Machine. After a moment the holographic figure disappeared. Draal opened his eyes and disengaged from the Machine. He helped her step into the assembly, slipping her fingers into the connections as she stretched out her arms. Feeling them click into place, she took a deep breath to calm herself. Lyta Alexander followed her up to the platform. "I'm going to have to remove as much of your memory about this time as I can find. It won't hurt you, but it might be a little frightening," she said, placing a bare hand on Lea's forehead. "I understand. Do whatever has to be done." She felt the woman enter her mind and evaluate her memories. Slowly her grip on recent events floated away, the content becoming more distant although the underlying emotion remained intact. Gently the telepath's touch on her mind withdrew. "Is everything in place?" Draal asked. Lyta nodded. "I preserved enough memory to allow her to focus on the task of getting back to her time, but that should recede within a day." "Very good," he said. "Are you ready to go home, Ms. Dumont?" he asked, turning his attention back to Lea. She nodded. "What do I do?" "Just relax your mind and reach out to the Path that joins all living beings," he said. Lea took another deep breath and let it out slowly. She still wasn't sure what he meant, but she followed his directions. "Do you see it before you?" Blue and white streaks of light filled her vision. She felt an energy surge through her, urging her towards the light. "I see it." she said. "Good. Now follow it, let it guide you back to Earth. Whatever you do, stay on the Path." Doing as told, she followed the path of lights, feeling herself propelled forwards even as her body stood bound up within the machine. *** Sheridan watched silently as the Machine took hold of Lea Dumont. His stomach clenched and his palms felt moist, but he tried to remain calm on the outside. Lea reported her progress as the Machine guided her home, her voice becoming more distant and hollow. So far there had been no sign of trouble, although they probably would never know it if she ran into any; in that case everything they knew now would cease to exist as Lea Dumont's future became their past. A bright light pulsed through the Machine, the glare temporarily blinding him. When his eyes readjusted, he saw Lea's form double over in pain, her arms still mired in the circuitry as her body went limp. He felt the urge to jump up to the Machine's platform to help her, but before he could move, she disappeared. *** The lake was so clear that Delenn could see the smooth pebbles that lined its bottom a few meters below. An insect with long skinny legs skittered across the surface, leaving small circular disruptions in its wake. Beneath the surface, a grey spotted fish eyed the bug's progress. Delenn's attention was focused elsewhere, on the human face staring at her from the lake's surface. "You will be home soon," Delenn said, addressing the reflection. "Yes, events will be set right," Lea answered. "I'm sorry I've caused so much trouble." "It is not your fault. In fact, I believe we all owe you a debt of gratitude. If you had not escaped from the Shadows when they first captured you, then they would surely have succeeded. So much would have been lost. Your escape gave us the chance to defeat them." "Everything that has happened to me here, it's all been so extraordinary. I wish I could use what I've learned here, warn the people from my own time of the threat in yours. I regret that I won't be able to remember any of it. Already I can feel the memory slipping away." "The past must not be altered in *any* way. If you remember anything, you must not act upon the knowledge, no matter the cost. Besides," Delenn said smiling, "you will remember. In 127 years you will remember everything." Lea smiled in return, then looked beyond Delenn. "I can almost see home. I can barely make it out. Just beyond the fire..." The lake dissolved into darkness, the face lingering a instant longer as if to say goodbye before the blackness engulfed Delenn. *** Sheridan exhaled a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Cautiously he looked around to see if he could detect any changes. Everything appeared as it had ten seconds ago. "Did it work?" he asked. Draal looked at the now vacant machine. "I believe so, but it's difficult to say. Return to the station, assuming it's still there. I will see what I can learn from the Machine, and I will contact you if I find any definitive answers." *** Lea regarded the falling snow with equal parts wonder and dread. It swirled around her in every direction, pelting her as she trudged forward. she thought. Ahead, she spotted the outline of the train station, blurred by gusts of snow. When she reached the station, she paused to retrieve her commuter card from the bag slung around her shoulders, then inserted the card into the slot at the gate. As she pressed through the turnstile, the floor beneath her foot gave way, pitching her forward. Darkness replaced the train platform momentarily, but then her foot hit solid ground and she stumbled forward into another passenger waiting for the evening train. "Are you okay?" the passenger asked with concern as she offered a hand to help Lea up. "I'm fine," Lea answered, not quite certain. "I just had the strangest feeling like I was in some sort of danger, but it's passed now. It was probably nothing." She replayed the incident in her head, certain she was missing something important. "Excuse me, but could you tell me what today's date is?" "Sure, it's February 22." "What year?" The woman looked at her strangely. "2133." fin -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Adele Hutchinson/ Aphasia Research Center/ Boston V.A.M.C./ Brown University e-mail: Adele_Hutchinson@brown.edu *** "Your scientists have yet to discover how neural networks create self consciousness, let alone how the human brain processes two dimensional retinal images into the three dimensional phenomenon known as perception. Yet you somehow brazenly declare that seeing is believing. Mr. Crikinson, your scientific illiteracy makes me shudder" -Man in Black, "X-Files" -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= From Adele_Hutchinson@brown.edu Sat Jun 15 14:02:09 1996 Date: Wed, 5 Jun 1996 15:21:50 -0400 (EDT) From: Adele Hutchinson Reply-To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com Subject: Reflection of the Future's Past, Epilogue I'm going to take a break out of the craziness of the Spontaneous Round Robin to finally finish off Reflection of the Future's Past. Thank you everybody who sent comments on the story. And beta readers, thank you once again for EVERYTHING! Adele -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Reflection of the Future's Past by Adele Hutchinson Epilogue Delenn stared at the report scrolling down her computer screen trying to concentrate. For an instant the Minbari script seemed unfamiliar and foreign, meaningless squiggles lined in neat columns. She closed her eyes and leaned back against the couch. She massaged her temples near the juncture of her forehead and bonecrest, then swept her hand backwards, feeling the grooved shape of her crest. On impulse she gathered the hair below her crest in both hands, separating it into three equal sections and weaved it deftly into a braid. Once finished, she inspected her handiwork, both pleased and astonished with the results. She wondered what other skills she would discover within the next few days as Lea's influence integrated with her self. She thought of a more tangible gift that Lea had left for her, and removed the small pouch that was hanging from her neck. The leather was surprisingly soft between her fingertips, and the drawstring released easily when she removed the bead that secured it in place. Carefully she let the stone inside roll to the surface of the coffee table, then picked it up to inspect it. The shape suggested the profile of a bird, but there was no other adornment. She heard the words echo in her mind and remembered the bird soaring past her, wings outstretched as it gracefully rode the current of air. The door chime sounded, intruding on her silent thoughts. She answered it distractedly, but did not lift her eyes from the object in front of her. "Hello Delenn." "John!" she answered, surprised. She expected Lennier. "Dr. Franklin said he released you, but I wanted to come by, just to make sure you were okay." "I am much better now, thank you. Still, as you say, in one piece. It went well on the planet's surface, then?" "Well, the station is still here, you're okay, and the coffee still tastes like turpentine. I'm beginning to think everything went according to plan." She smiled and closed her hand around the stone in her hand, silently thanking Valen. Sheridan's gaze followed her hand. "What have you got there?" he asked, moving closer to get a better look. She handed him the carved stone and watched as he turned it around in his fingers. "Is this an eagle?" "As a matter of fact, yes," she replied. "It's a fetish from an Earth culture called Zuni." "I didn't know you collected ancient Earth artifacts." "It was a gift, from our recent visitor. One of several, actually." Sheridan raised an eyebrow, silently urging her to continue. "Lea used the fetish as a guide, to bring balance to her life, to connect with her intuitive and creative spirit, and to keep the greater context in focus. She called on it to help guide her through her writing as well as through her life." "Why did she leave it for you?" "I believe she thought I needed its help more than she did. She wanted to contribute something to our war, to the side of Light." "I think she already has," Sheridan replied. They sat silently for a moment, then Sheridan asked, "How do you feel coming face to face with your past self?" "It is certainly not opportunity afforded by most," Delenn responded. She wasn't entirely certain how she felt about the encounter. She thought of the image of Lea's face dancing in the slow waves of the lake's surface, saying goodbye. Lea would not have the luxury of remembering, while Delenn would struggle to integrate it with her experiences. "Every once in a while a memory will surface, or a fragment of a thought or habit. I think for a moment that it belongs to me, so familiar it seems to my existence, and then I realize it originated from Lea and it slips away again. I am left with the strangest impressions, a craving for a food I've never tasted, a memory of a place I've never seen. The image will dissipate, but the feeling remains." "I'll bet Lea's back on Earth in 2133 trying to satisfy a craving for flarn," Sheridan said, laughing. *** Lea watched the snow fall from the window in her living room, a cup of hot cocoa in her hands and fuzzy slippers covering her wet feet. As she stared at the formless white exterior, a memory of a garden floated through her mind. It seemed familiar, but did not look like any place she had ever visited. Still, it gave her a sense of well-being even if she could not place it. She thought of her eagle fetish, the one her father had given her so long ago. She had tried to find it when she arrived home, certain she had left it in her bag, but could not locate it. Yet she knew it was somewhere safe, and she did not need the stone to seek the guidance of the eagle. She continued to watch the snow fall, lost in thought, until her cocoa was long cold. Putting the mug down, she sat at her computer. She wondered where the thought had come from. "Sometimes the universe requires a change of perspective," she said aloud, then began to type. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Adele Hutchinson/ Aphasia Research Center/ Boston V.A.M.C./ Brown University e-mail: Adele_Hutchinson@brown.edu *** "Your scientists have yet to discover how neural networks create self consciousness, let alone how the human brain processes two dimensional retinal images into the three dimensional phenomenon known as perception. Yet you somehow brazenly declare that seeing is believing. Mr. Crikinson, your scientific illiteracy makes me shudder" -Man in Black, "X-Files" -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=