Chapter 11
John Sheridan, Susan Ivanova and Michael Garibaldi were waiting for the arrival of Lena in the Captain's office. Now Dr. Franklin had seen it fit to discharge her, Michael wanted to know who was involved in the murder attempt. John, in addition to Michael's request, asked for Lyta Alexander to be present in case Lena had to be scanned.
"Are you sure it's necessary to bring Lyta into this?" asked Susan.
"Yes," John replied. "In case Lena tries to hide something."
"Come on! She was almost killed! Who'd hide that?"
"Don't get me wrong Susan; I'm perfectly sure Lena will be happy to tell us who it was that tried to murder her. I'm just not convinced that she's going to tell me the real reason why."
At that moment, Lyta and Lena arrived in the Captain's office. Ever since her first arrival on Babylon 5, Lena always wore a cloak to hide her appearance. Now she had taken to not wearing it and always appeared wearing black. The whiteness of her pale face always stood out from her black hair and black clothes. She obviously carried the secret and sinister look of the Vorlons into her own appearance as well. Just to show where her loyalties lay.
"Lena," John nodded.
"Captain," she replied, shortly.
It was clear from that exchange that they did not entirely trust one another.
"I think I should take care of this," Michael cut in. "As head of security."
"Go ahead," John agreed.
Nodding his head affirmatively, Michael turned to Lena.
"You've recovered well," he observed. "That's good to…"
"It was a pair of Drazi," Lena cut across him.
"Right… what? The Drazi?"
"Yes."
"Why would they do that?"
"There is only one reason why the Drazi would want to attack me. I am unknown to them, and I am certainly not an enemy to them, even if they do dislike the Vorlons after the Shadow war. I only have one enemy, and they are the Noxx. I believe the Noxx hired the Drazi to kill me so they could put the blame on someone else if they succeeded."
"Why are the Noxx after you?"
"Because my mind has Vorlon signatures."
"What are the Vorlons to do with this?"
"The Noxx are a species which developed around the same time as your species did. The galaxy has always had a balance of power in it that cannot be changed. Because of the presence of the First Ones, the Noxx were not able to evolve, so remained dormant on their home world. Once the First Ones left, the Noxx started to wake because the shift in the balance of power enabled them to evolve. Because I am the only remaining life form tied to the First Ones, they consider me a threat."
"But you're not a Vorlon, you are still human."
"I have a Vorlon psyche. The Noxx are probably paranoid that I can contact the Vorlons from beyond the Rim and order them in to destroy them or something. That's quite amusing really. Naïve young ones."
Lena smiled, John looking less than convinced.
"Is this true Lyta?" he asked.
Lyta looked at Lena, who turned and looked back. There was a silence as they wall watch the exchange between them. Lena had an unreadable look on her face as Lyta appeared to scan her. Eventually, Lyta nodded slowly and turned back to John.
"Yes," she said. "It's true."
John paused. "Right."
"Am I free to go now?" asked Lena.
"Yes of course."
But before she could turn round to leave, there was a knock at the door to the Captain's office. Standing there was the Noxx Ambassador Myka, who had only just arrived in her transport today.
"Ah Ambassador!" John greeted her warmly. "A pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise," Myka bowed her head.
"I assume you are here to sign our agreement?"
"Whenever you are ready, Captain."
Myka turned to look at Lena, who gave her a look of pure venom that would have been enough to kill anyone. The commanding officers could feel the aggression shared between the two and things were beginning to feel awkward. But before anything could happen, Lena quickly left the room, the last thing to be seen of her being the torn ends of her leather coat whipping round the corner.
"Pity," Myka noted.
"Sorry Ambassador?" queried John.
"She is a threat to our peace keeping will."
"Don't worry; we'll keep her out of your way."
"Most appreciated Captain."
"If you would follow Commander Ivanova to the council chambers, we can sign our agreement."
"Can you not be present?"
"Not right now, I'm afraid."
"Then I'll see you in the next meeting."
Myka bowed her head to John and left the room behind Susan.
"Michael, could you leave us please," John instructed.
"Yeah sure," Michael replied.
He left the room, John turning to Lyta. She didn't have to read his mind to know what this was going to be about. He must have been aware that she didn't scan Lena when she was asked to.
"Why did you lie for Lena?" he asked.
"She was partly telling the truth Captain," Lyta replied.
"Partly. So, do you know the rest of it?"
"No. And I do not wish to."
"What is she hiding from me?"
"Listen. It's important that she keeps everything a secret. What she is protecting is too important to put into danger, and you will understand it all eventually. Some things like that are needed to be kept silent and it's difficult to do it. It was hard when I had to do the same thing on Mars when I was being interrogated by the Psi Corps. The things about Kosh and the Vorlons I was keeping safe were very important to me. What Lena is keeping safe is just as important to her."
"I just don't like secrecy. It makes me suspicious."
"Lena is not a threat, John. Please believe that."
"Hmm, now I can see you're telling the truth."
Lyta smiled. "Thank you."
----
Lena was resting in her quarters after the day, glad to be out of the infirmary and glad to be away from the commanding officers. She hated the questions. It was more like being interrogated. But she would push herself on and not yield to the pressure. The things she was hiding were too important to explain to anyone.
"You make your move tomorrow," Drakosh told her.
"Tomorrow?" Lena replied. "So soon?"
"I've sent my ship to you. It will arrive during the night."
"Why now?"
"Because I had no choice."
"I'm sure I can hang on until the Noxx make their move."
"They already have. By attacking you."
"The Drazi were no trouble."
"I cannot let you die. You are too important; for the mission and to me."
Lena smiled. "Whatever you wish is best, Drakosh."
"Tomorrow, you will go to Sheridan and tell him to go with you onto my ship. It is vital also that you bring Lyta Alexander with you; the other Vorlons will be more trusting towards the Captain with her there."
"Even after the death of Ulkesh?"
"Ulkesh made a mistake. We remember Kosh more."
"So, is the plan still to go to Sigma 957?"
"Yes. There it will begin."