When the transporter arrived the human Ranger who came to aid the Narn who had requested discreet help was surprised when he saw what looked like a heavily injured human leaning on the also quite haggard looking former Ambassador G'Kar and another Narn he didn't know.

The man who accompanied them was looking terribly beaten up. He was tall and slim, with ruffled, short blonde hair that looked as if it had just been trimmed with a pruner and a young and handsome face. He was hobbling, stretching a fully bandaged leg away from him, the two Narn were holding him carefully and as if he was fragile. He did not lift his head or open his eyes to look at anyone around them. He pressed down his chin on the black rag that was wrapped all around his neck. The human pitied him. Something terrible must have happened to him. Maybe he had been mistaken for a Centauri and beaten up by Narn. The three hurried inside the ship as fast as possible, heading out to the cabins prepared for the injured. The Ranger had already alerted the medics which had been assigned especially for this mission. He didn't know why they had needed that specialist but they'd know and he had only to do his duty. If he needed to know he'd find out.

Soon the Transport headed out for a route to the next rangers camp at one of the Minbar-Colonies. No one on board knew why G'Kar didn't go back straight to B5 but they wouldn't ask.

But that wouldn't prevent anyone from being curious.

As soon as the trio entered the cabin a very relieved Dr. Franklin greeted them enthusiastically. He barely waited for them to help the Centauri down on a biobed before he greeted G'Kar warmly. He would have attended to the Narn immediately but G'Kar looked at the Narn medic waiting at the door to the next room and indicated that he would let himself be treated by her. Franklin had been confused why the Narn had asked for a skilled xenobiologist and a Narn healer but he had assumed that he would have his reason. Now he turned to the only other patient in the room and with one look at the now open, shining silver eyes he knew why he was here.

This could impossibly be a human. Usually with his human appearance this could mean only one other species but he could not imagine what could make two Narn rescue a Centauri from their own destroyed homeworld. Confused he stepped closer to the man who besides of the awkwardly wrapped injuries looked strangely stiff as if waiting for something terrible to happen. Gently he touched him lightly and introduced himself.

"Hello, my name is Dr. Stephen Franklin; I'm a human doctor and xenobiologist. I want to help you. I won't hurt you. Please tell me who you are and what I can do for you."

The man looked back to the other Narn that had stayed in the room. He seemed vaguely familiar to Franklin but he couldn't quite put him anywhere.

The Narn stepped forward and put a hand lightly on the man's shoulder which seemed to calm him down and answered in his place.

"Hello Doctor, my name is Ta'Lon and this is Tesorino. He's Centauri. He had been left for death when the occupation ended. We would like you to help him out. You must excuse me speaking for him but…This morning his voice is rather hoarse due to… a rather ungentle attempt to strangle him. He has some other serious injuries too and we would be happy if you could have a look at them." He smiled slightly at the human, "Oh and absolute discretion about all of this would be highly appreciated."

Franklin looked aghast at the rather unlikely scene in front of him. The Centauri avoided his eyes. The Narn stood behind him and touched him in a way that was obviously not only meant to be reassuring but also seemed to be just that for the injured man.

Franklin could not prevent his thoughts to stray for a moment. There must be a most astonishing story behind this. But soon he shoved all thoughts aside and gently, carefully, as if attending to a scared animal he started to unwrap the scarf around the others neck. As soon as his view fell on what was beneath the situation started to make much more sense.

It had taken him a while to attend to all the different injuries the young Centauri had suffered from his own people's hands; even longer than it was necessary since Franklin nearly busted from curiosity and would have loved to bombard the two men with questions but he held back.

Then he had attended to G'Kar who had been a much more fruitful source of information as soon as the Narn-medic had left the room.

Now he sat accompanied by the Narn in the room Tesorino was resting, looking at the sleeping figure beneath the thin blankets. Now and then the man was twitching and mumbling incomprehensible words in his sleep. He had to give him a sedative to make him rest and did so after Ta'Lon had told him how long the Centauri had refused to sleep after he had woken from his unconsciousness after the first aid the two Narn had performed on him.

"What are you going to do with him?" Stephen asked no one in particular.

"I have spoken to Delenn about the subject," G'Kar replied, "we both thought it might be best if he stayed with the Rangers for now."

Franklin looked surprised. "Did he consent to join them?"

"He won't," the Narn went on, "someday he might want to and then he can. But at first he has to be somewhere safe and learn to be free. Also we must see that he gets rid of this damned collar. I'm afraid that might be a harder task than we think but without removing it he has no chance for peace."

Franklin looked at the Narn and asked: "Why that? Don't you think the Rangers of all people would be best suited to look past a slave collar?"

"Maybe," the Narn replied, "but that's not the point. He's not just any Centauri slave; he has been Cartagia's personal slave. I bet there are masses of Centaury who would pay a high price to lay their hands on him. Then there is his unique appearance. As far as I know albinos are even less frequent among Centauri than they are in general. I'm sure people know the only existing Centauri albino had belonged to the unfavored emperor. Presumed it really is possible to do something about his eye color as you said; it might still be necessary he has to disguise himself far beyond the dangers he just escaped. And not just close to Centauri, maybe even among other people."

Franklin looked back at the huddled figure on the bed. "This is a very sad perspective." He uttered.

"He wanted to live," Ta'Lon stated plainly, "if he still wants to stay alive as soon as he realizes what it will cost, he'll pay the price." The warrior stared at them as if he dared them to challenge what he just said. "He's been through a lot already. I'm not convinced this is any harder. I'm pretty sure he'll manage."

With that he left the room. Soon the others followed and went back to their own cabins. They all wanted to be left alone.