From: Nick Subject: New: 'Stranger with this face'- Part eleven Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 18:48:42 +0100 Hi, long time no see. Just got *major* nagging email from someone and felt guilty enough to take time out from job and flat hunting to send in another part to this monster... 'STRANGER WITH THIS FACE' (sequel to 'redemption' which can be found at fanfiction.net) * PART ELEVEN * "You're not making any sense." Arms folded over her chest in a show of finality, Lillian stared back at her colleague and friend, defiance hardening her face, sharpening her features. * "Lillian-" Sighing, Franklin stepped back, retreating to lean on his desk. "I can't just *leave*." The two friends had been arguing for some time now as to who was to leave the Lumati homeworld and who was to stay behind. "These are my *patients*-" * "And mine too! That's not the point I'm making. What-" * "Of course it is! And yes I know that they've been your patients for longer but-" * "Stephen-" * "I didn't think this was going to turn into an argument about who's been here the longest!" * "If you'd just let me get a word in! As I was *trying* to say, you're the one with the research experience- this is your *thing*! But you need equipment- facilities- *staff*! And what if you develop the virus?" * "What if *anyone* does! Lillian this is *not* about staying behind because I've nothing to contribute! That's not why *anyone* is going to stay behind! None of these people are *expendable*- no life is-" * "That's not what I'm saying Stephen!" Exasperated, she paused, expecting, *daring* him to interrupt her again and when he didn't she raised one surprised eyebrow before continuing. "What I'm saying is that you're quite possibly the only person who can find a cure for this disease- If these people are going to survive this- if we're going to *save* them then you have to be able to work. You need equipment and facilities and *staff* that aren't permanently exhausted! Leaving isn't taking the easy way out, it's doing the *best* you *can* for them." Her point made, she let her voice and her countenance soften, "Stephen- the Lumati *need* you... They *need* your research and your intuition and your wild ideas and your dedication... And most of all, when you get back to Earth they're going to need you up against EarthGov fighting their corner... You know I'm right..." The man's downturned eyes and the tight line of his lips told her that she had won. ^^^^ "What now?" All events up until this moment were forgotten as Marianne slumped onto the low bench that ran an intermittent perimeter of the temple's exterior. Her hands were pressed palm down against her knees as if to hold her torso upright and her back straight. Still numb with shock, she stared unseeing at a spot a meter or so from her feet, unable to meet the steady gaze of the Minbari who moved fluidly to sit beside her. * "Now-" Realising that she wouldn't meet his eye, Lennier turned his face to stare at roughly the same spot that so fascinated Marianne. "*Now* is little different from *then*. I am unlikely to develop any serious or debilitating symptoms for some time- perhaps not ever since Minbari physiology is generally more- *robust* than that of many other species.... I will remain in service to the Lumati people." * "I see... And you don't think it might be an idea to seek treatment? Leave when the evacuation team gets here?" Marianne was fighting to keep her voice calm but she could feel her tone rising. * "Marianne, there *is* no cure." * "*Yet*. There's no cure *yet*." * "Nevertheless-" * "What about me?" A suddenly tiny voice spoke up in Marianne's mind and before she could stop it, leapt from her mouth as well. Clearing her throat so that her normal speaking voice could return, she repeated her question, "What about *me*?" * Lennier paused, froze even, suddenly without a clue as to how to answer her. Taking a deep breath he formed the most obvious answer, "You will return with the evacuation team- of course." * "Of course. Of course... Lennier, how dare you." And with that, she rose to her feet, retreated back into the hospice and the company of others. Confused, Lennier remained for a few moments where he sat. Then, he too turned toward the temple, returning to advise Dr Franklin of his condition- or so he told himself. ^^^^ T-minus twenty-three hours. Pausing to stare for a moment around the tiny and now almost empty office, Lillian hoped for about the hundredth time that this would work. The list of volunteers to stay behind was growing fast- Dr. Franklin would only take a few members of staff with him back to Earth. They had still to find out what Marianne's plans were but it was obvious to them all that Stephen wanted her to return with him and Lillian found she was inclined to agree. The recent resurfacing of the P.A's memories made that all the more important now- she needed treatment herself. * "How's it going?" Dumping an overflowing archive box on the chair nearest the open doorway, Stephen stepped into the cramped space. * "Okay, I think- That's the 'staying' pile," she gestured over her shoulder at a small stack of charts and crates of bottles, bandages and other assorted equipment. "The 'going' pile is that heap of stuff just outside the door... Where's Marianne?" * "Rounds. She's been a little distant... Something's up...." * "You should go and talk to her. She's going back with you- isn't she?" * "Yes. She might not know it yet..." * "She's not a child Stephen, you should check with her first." * "Yeah, I know- I'll go now." The man turned to leave, * "Stephen... Did you hear about Lennier?" * "Yeah... I did... He won't be able to leave now..." * "I don't think he was planning to anyway." ^^^^ This room was shrinking. * Lying flat out on her bed, her hands folded childishly over her chest, Marianne stared around her. She didn't know how long she'd been lying there, barely remembered her journey back from the hospice... * Exhaustion, Grare had proclaimed, taking her arm and gently pulling her from the ward to lean by a laundry trolley, her face waxlike and her eyes vague. * Exhaustion, he'd diagnosed and she'd not bothered to argue... No use telling him the truth, that every surgical instrument appeared to be covered with blood; that every human male she came into contact with now looked like Mitch or Simon, Gregory or David; that like some modern-day Lady MacBeth she couldn't seem to wipe the blood from her own hands nor where it smeared her face... No use worrying him. * He'd left her here a short while ago. Fussed around making a relaxing herbal tea for her to sip and closing the strange blinds that covered the windows on this world, then left, gently pushed out by her. Now alone, Marianne wondered for a moment whether she should have let him stay... His worrying and flustering, while irritating had at least kept her demons at bay... * She knew it all now, a few details missing but now she knew the names, the faces, the deeds... Knew who Deborah Tully was, saw her reflection in the mirror... She hadn't *become* her yet and Marianne hoped that she would retain her own personality since it felt that she were harbouring the memories of someone else inside her mind: these weren't her memories, those weren't her actions... * In a sudden, decisive move, she swung her legs around to stand and walk to the comm screen that dominated one wall, one hand blindly reaching out to tap instructions into the control panel. These were guest rooms, thankfully and things such as the computer were designed for use in Interlac rather than the Lumati's own language. Fiddling her way through file after file she eventually located an Earth-based newspaper in the database- These Lumati seemed to like the Humans, admired their lack of regard for those around them, related to it... * Searching under various titles and subjects she eventually reached Tully, D and began to read. ^^^^ T- minus fourteen hours. * Lennier opened his eyes to scowl, at the room around him, at his own inability to focus. He could feel the virus coursing through his veins, forcing its way into his respiratory and digestive systems... Or perhaps his imagination was running away with him... Rising a little shakily, he rolled up his prayer mat and tucked it back into his foot locker. * His... 'discussion' with Marianne had left him unsettled, her reaction... he was still unsure as to how to process *that*... * Checking the time, he prepared himself to return to the hospice, to continue his work as if he were not, now one of the 'victims' of the plague. ^^^^ When Dr Franklin found Marianne, after hearing several disturbing reports of her exhausted collapse on the ward, she was facing the computer terminal in her quarters, one hand propping up a tired chin and the index finger of the other pressed firmly onto the screen's down cursor. * "Just *what* do you think you're doing?" Although he managed to keep his voice relatively light, she still detected the concern it held. * "I'm okay Stephen-" As she turned in her chair to face him her eye caught the bag in his hand and sighed at it's meaning, "I've not got the virus." * "Then what is it?" He perched himself on the desk by the computer and stared down at her, "If it were the 'exhaustion' Grare talked about then you'd still be asleep-" * "It's nothing like that..." Sitting back in her chair she gestured vaguely at the screen in front of her and when the man shifted to read it more closely she vacated her chair to pace around the room nervously. When he'd finished reading and turned to look at her she shrugged and said simply: * "Deborah Tully, pleased to meet you." * "I remember this case- vaguely... There are so many murders that when you're so far away you give up paying attention... Do you remember what happened?" She nodded dumbly and he got up to lead her over to the small couch in one corner of the room, press her into it and sit beside her. * "I keep having flashbacks- Seeing things that aren't really there, things I've seen before-" At his encouragement she rested her head on his shoulder and he wrapped his arms securely around her. * "It doesn't have to stay this way. When we get back to Earth we can find a way to stop this-" * "I'd have to undergo another mind-wipe- It'd be as temporary as this one- I'd have to become someone else-" * "Not necessarily." * "I don't know..." Sitting up again, she wiped her damp eyes on her sleeve. "Did you hear about Lennier?" * "Yeah-" * "He wanted to stay anyway..." she shrugged * "Marianne, what *is* going on between you and him?" * "She and he were close- Would have been lovers if she'd not been under almost constant armed guard!" Another shrug * "And what about you?" * "I don't know... I think Deborah and I share the same feelings for him... I don't know if he can separate me from her though... If I stay, maybe I'll become Deborah and his feelings for me- or lack of them won't matter..." * "Marianne-" * "I know. I'm selling myself short- I can't help it!" * "Marianne, I need you to come back with me. Lillian's staying and I'm gonna need your expertise- I promise that if EarthGov insists on your undergoing the mindwipe I'll fight them every step of the way... To be honest I think a partial wipe would be enough to stop the flashbacks, suppress 'Deborah' and live a normal life as *yourself*." * "And if it's not?" ^^^^ T-minus three hours. * The hospice was chaotic, Grare's luggage was packed and he was now busy running around the wards, trying to be helpful. * "Grare!" Lillian's voice sounded from behind him and he turned to find her standing in the doorway of the office, a fearsome look on her face. Her expression still stern, she stepped back, motioning him to join her and when he did so she closed the door firmly behind them. * As he sank into the cold confines of the plastic chair before her desk, he felt rather like a small child about to be disciplined by one of his elders. As such, he bowed his head and tried to look as meek as possible. * "Grare- Oh for goodness sake, stop looking so terrified, I want to talk to you, not *spank* you!" Falling into her own chair, it suddenly occurred to her that she didn't know his race nearly as well as she might, and that he might actually *enjoy* that! She found that she had to bite her lip to keep from bursting out laughing. "I'm worried about you. Are you okay? You're leaving, I take it?" * "Yes. Yes, yes- I intend to." The Brakiri nodded frantically, "My only concern is Lennier... I feel that he planned to stay from the outset..." * "And...?" * "And... I feel that perhaps his becoming infected gives him a rather convenient excuse to stay-" * "Grare, whether people stay or leave is up to them..." * "Yes, but... Doctor... what I am about to say should not leave this office-" At her nod and impatient gesture to continue, he sighed dramatically. "I do not think that Lennier *trusts* himself to stay, to do what he considers the right and honourable thing! I think that *if* he has infected himself, or allowed himself to become infected then it is part of some misguided notion that he won't have the strength to stay of his own volition." * "I understand. But what about *you* Grare? You've been running about like a mad thing! To be frank, it's not helping matters... I need my staff to be calm enough to make clear decisions, first to save lives and then later, whether to stay or leave... Please try to stay calm, it'd help the others to do the same." * "Of course doctor. I'll try to do better in future." His head still bowed, the man got to his feet and all but scuttled out of the office. Groaning to herself in defeat, for now she had offended him, Lillian slumped back into her chair and closed her eyes against the raging headache of earlier that she had been sure had gone away... * The slam of the office door brought her out of her reverie and she found herself staring into Stephen Franklin's worried face. * "You okay?" In a flash he had rounded the desk and had grabbed her chin to peer into her weary eyes with a flashlight. * "I'm fine! Just get that thing out of my face, will you!" Forcing her way past him she stalked around the room, one hand tugging loose strands of hair out of her way, tucking it behind her eyes. * "Lillian, what's wrong?" * "Wha? Oh, it's nothing, I just upset Grare..." * "Brakiri can be sensitive," the man shrugged then added as an afterthought, "you didn't accuse him of being hysterical did you?" * "Not *exactly*... Why?" * "Brakiri are *particularly* sensitive over that one..." * "Great... So what's going on with you?" * "Not much... Marianne carried on trying to talk me into going back to Earth..." * "And?" * "And... I've *provisionally* agreed." * "Thank god for that! What was the *proviso*?" * "That she comes with me. She can receive whatever treatment she needs and I'll need her assistance if you're still insisting on staying..." * "I am." * "Yeah... I thought you might." ^^^^ End of part eleven. I'm gonna try to get this finished in the next part... whenever that'll be... -- Nick