The Fall of Icarus
by Starsinger
A long distance call leads to an unexpected visitor, one that stays a lot longer than planned. No, still don't own them.
The Babylon Project, it was an interesting concept, even the Minbari had to admit to that. Well, it looked like it would never see the light of day. Let's face it, the first three stations blow up and the fourth one disappears. Its fate not to be discovered for ten years. When Babylon 5 was finally completed and people actually started going, it was a testament to human persistence. For some reason no one on Minbar understood that statement. I spent the next few years working on the White Star Project. Ironic that they would put the sister of the man who destroyed the Black Star was put in charge of the White Star. Then I got a call from Anna. I'd kept in touch with Bessie over the years and she'd apparently gotten my location from her. What she left in my care was astounding, and something I would spend the next nine years caring for. Well, with help from Queyla, Kaplan, and half dozen people who would spoil… Oh, never mind, that's another story… -Journals of Julie Saunders
Julie sighed as she stripped gloves off her hands. She never tired of delivering babies, but it was the end of her shift and she was tired. She needed to spend at least another hour with the work crews on the White Star. The problem stemmed from their trying to get the Jump Point Generator to work. The Generator work but the engines would quit, the engines would work but the lights would go out, the lights would stay on but oxygen masks would start appearing because life support disappeared. Somehow the test runs never made it far from Minbar. "It's always the little things," she sighed. She washed her hands and walked to the Nurse's station to dictate her notes.
Julie was finishing her notes as she felt hands on her shoulder, rubbing them, "Almost done?" Kaplan asked in her ear.
"For now," she replied, "What've you got in mind?"
He turned her chair around, "Dinner maybe, a walk on the beach…"
Julie sighed, "I can't, that project is still…" She pursed her lips, "All right, that's it, I'm taking the night off. I think they can spare me."
Kaplan laughed, "Well, I'm sure they can."
A voice intruded into their conversation, "Dr Saunders, there's a call for you. She says her name is Anna?"
"Thank you, Milal, I'll take it in my office," curiosity followed her as well as Kaplan. There was only one Anna she knew and that was Johnny's wife. Why would she be calling her? Sure enough, when the screen came on, Anna Sheridan stood there with a smile. "Anna," she said, "How are you?"
"I'm fine, Kei, how are you? Oh, never mind, look, I need to ask you a favor. I'm going on a dig in a couple of weeks and need you to take care of something for me. It'll only be for a couple of months. I'm going on a dig on the rim and can't take it with me. Johnny and I are planning a rendezvous afterward when he gets back from patrol and I plan to surprise him with it then."
"Aren't there others on Earth who could do this?" Julie asked, rather confused.
"Yeah, but no one would keep it a secret. This is a wonderful surprise, and I want to give it to him at just the right time," she finished.
Julie found herself agreeing to meet with Anna's cousin, Richard, in three days at the Tuzinor Spaceport. Kaplan's next comment was interrupted by excited voices over the intercom, Julie replied and got up to grab her cloak. "Looks like I'm going out there anyway," she muttered. "They think they've got the bugs worked out of the system." Kaplan laughed as she headed out the door. In the space of time it took to pull on the cloak she transformed from hospital doctor to Anla'shok.
When they took the ship up, everything indeed, appear to work. The jump point formed, the engines, lights, and, most importantly, life support all worked. Unfortunately, when they reached their destination on the other side of the solar system, the steering whacked out. They tried to go forward, they went back, went up, they went down, they tried to go left, and ended up going right. Just to top it all off it took the better part of three days to fix.
Julie felt like she was banging her head up against a brick wall. They were only out at the furthest planet in the system and they couldn't even use their sub-light engines to get home. Of course, this was a top secret project, so they couldn't call back to Minbar to get somebody to come out and get them. She ended up calling Kaplan and Queyla and authorizing them to take custody of whatever it was Anna was sending her in case she didn't get back in time.
It was such a simple thing. There was a switch located near the navigation console that was on. If it was turned left, it worked the way it was supposed to. Naturally, it was turned right. It was Julie who discovered the error after they had managed to back up into the near orbit of one of the four gas giants in the system. The poor worker gave her a horrified look as she left the bridge, "Get us back to Minbar!" she ordered. "Kill me, kill me now," she muttered under her breath.
They landed as the Earth cruiser landed and she skidded out of the hangar and went running headlong for the public portion of the building. She panted to a halt beside Queyla as passengers disembarked the ship. They watched as the many people walked by, several humans giving Julie odd looks. Most were stopping over for connections to other worlds. One homed in on the three carrying a small burden, "Julie Saunders?" she nodded her head. He thrust the bundle into her hands along with a large bag, "Take good care of her."
She opened the blanket and discovered a baby girl, "This is what Anna sent?" One of the papers gave her temporary custody of the tiny girl. "What's her name?" she called out.
"Kayla Denise," came the reply from the retreating man.
"Well, I have a niece. This should only be a few weeks. I'll talk to Adro, see if he can bring some supplies from Earth in case she's here longer than expected." Queyla had all ready wrested the infant from her newly doting aunt. "Hey!" She called out as she was left with the bag and a newly discovered series of smaller bags. She bent down to pick up the bags as Kaplan pulled the bigger bag from her hands.
He laughed as she struggled to keep up with Queyla, "What'd you expect, that little girl will be spoiled rotten!"
It took her five hours to explain to Delenn what happened. It took her another two hours to explain to the rest of the religious caste of the Gray Council. Julie didn't understand the looks of fear that they gave her when she told them that Anna's destination was a planet called Za'ha'dum. Years later those fears would be perfectly understood, and Anna's fate would become even sadder, and Kayla would never know the mother who gave birth to her.
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"Again, the top story today: An accident met with the space vessel Icarus headed for an archeological dig. No one on board appears to have survived," stunned silence met this announcement as the four adults: Queyla, Kaplan, Julie, and Delenn met over dinner at Queyla's home. "Excuse me," Julie said standing and nearly knocking over her chair. When Kaplan went to find her she was in the nursery sitting in a rocking chair. Kayla cuddled on her chest. "I've gotta get hold of Johnny," she murmured. The nursery had been set up quickly, and was obviously meant to be temporary. Queyla borrowed a crib and dresser and other necessities from one of her daughters. Adro found a rocking chair and stroller. The walls were still a plain white and several devices used for making clothes still stood around the room.
"How do you plan on doing that?" he asked. As far as either of them knew he was still with Earth Forces and they might not take to kindly to someone from Minbar calling him.
"I don't know," she replied, reluctantly handing the infant to him, "but I've got to try." She walked to the nearest console, and after several reroutes she found herself talking to one of the sector chiefs for the ships patrolling the rim. "I need to get a message to John Sheridan… Look, I know where I'm calling from. I'm his sister, Keisha, this is a matter of vital importance to him… It's about his wife, Anna… Believe me, I'm fully aware what's happened to her… Just tell him I need to speak to him," she finished, giving her number.
"Well, that was useful," Delenn said behind her. Her eyes narrowed on the woman in front of her, as she typed in another number.
"Bessie, oh good you're there! Look, I need to get a hold of Johnny. Is there anyway you can get a message to him?" She asked the striking woman in front of her.
Elizabeth Lochley looked tired, "I'll try, Kei, communication to the rim are restricted, even if you're in the military."
Julie looked away, tears gathering in her eyes, "Hey, could you get me a picture of Anna? I'd really appreciate it."
The weeks went by as she tried desperately to contact John. Delenn finally got her full story and agreed that changing her name had been for the best. As the date approached for the expiration of her custody of Kayla, she finally contacted a lawyer who agreed to talk to a judge about giving her full custody. Well, until her brother could claim the girl.
Elizabeth met her and Queyla at the Space Port in full uniform to ensure that there wouldn't be any trouble. The lawyer she'd hired met her at Bessie's apartment where another kitty named Thomas made himself comfortable on Julie's lap. This one was a blue Persian with blue eyes. "My cats all seem to love you, Julie," Bessie laughed.
Edward was a tall and dark man, with kind brown eyes. After Julie and Queyla laid out the circumstances of Kayla's custody. "The only problem that I foresee is that you live on an alien planet. The judge might believe she needs to be reared among her own kind. On the other hand we might get a judge that believes that growing up among the Minbari might facilitate understanding between the species. I, frankly, won't know which one we'll get until tomorrow. One way or the other we'll stress that this is only until her father can be reached to take custody."
As this was a simple matter before the family court, they met the judge in her chambers. The furnishings in her office were a rich cherry wood. The desk, chairs and panels looked antique. The judge, Amy, proved to be a moderate with concerns about Kayla living on Minbar. "My concerns are simple, what will it mean for her to grow up among Aliens?"
"I simply hope that she will become tolerant of experiencing new people and new things," Julie answered. "As we told you this is only until her father can be reached. Earth Force has been reticent about letting communications from Minbar to reach one of their captains."
"How long have you lived on Minbar?"
"Five years, Ma'am."
"And you practice medicine as well as perform some work for the Minbari Government?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Do you have someone able to care for the infant while you're working?"
Julie turned to Queyla, "She has become part of my family, Your Honor. I, myself, have six children, all grown."
"I'm giving you full custody of the child, until, such time, her father can be reached to take over her care. If I were you, Dr. Saunders, I'd take advantage of the time you have here to see your family."
"Thank you, Your Honor."
As they left the courthouse Bessie looked over at Julie, "Queyla wants to go shopping for gifts, you know how grandmothers are. Can you make it back to the apartment on your own?" Julie nodded her head as the three separated.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sarah Sheridan slid into the booth across from Queyla. Bessie had set up this meeting at Queyla's request. They locked eyes as Bessie kept a discreet distance while eating a late breakfast. Sarah smiled, "How is she? Is she happy?"
Queyla's hands folded around the coffee cup the waitress set in front of her. "She's gotten me hooked on coffee," she said as she poured cream and sugar into the coffee. "I don't know if I'd call it happy, but she is content. Frustrated at times with the project she's working on, but satisfied." She pulled out a picture of Kaplan and Julie at a moment they thought no one was noticing. Kaplan had his arms comfortably around her and their faces were leaning into each other. Smiles wreathed their faces as they seemed to be sharing a private joke.
Sarah's left hand went to her mouth as she took the picture. "She looks happy. Thank you so much for meeting me."
Queyla reached over and took the other woman's hand, "My favorite memory of them is I walked into the living room one day and they were curled up on the couch, he had managed to get her sideways on the couch and she was halfway into his lap. They were laughing and kissing and so comfortable with each other." She smiled at the memory, "Let me tell you about her, and your granddaughter as well."
Bessie looked over and smiled at the two women whose bodies were canted toward each other. "Everything all right, Miss?" a voice intruded into her thoughts.
"Yeah, everything is just fine," she replied.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Julie wasn't at the apartment when they returned. They found her at the local lake feeding the ducks with the missing loaf of bread from Bessie's pantry. Queyla found something very humorous about watching the little animals diving for the chunks of bread thrown out onto the water. Julie had pointed to the ducks and said the ones with the bright green heads were the males, the plain ones were female. Some white ones could be seen a little further down but she was told they were called geese and were to be avoided if at all possible.
Earth was lovely, she had to give it that. The greens and blues of sky, water and grass sparkled everywhere she looked. Spring was evident everywhere as brilliant wildflowers covered the landscape and birds were showing off for each other. An acorn dropped on Queyla's head as she looked up to discover two squirrels chasing each other through a tree. Queyla joined her on the grassy bank and picked up bread to toss at the ducks as well. A breeze blew through the Weeping Willows huddled by the river bank. The hanging tendrils of branches swayed in the brisk breeze. She shook off the image of Julie in her native environment as the same breeze played with her hair.
"Are we going home soon?" Queyla asked.
"Yeah, we leave in the morning."