The Bester of Both Worlds, chapt.21
Roberta seemed to want to accompany Scarlet and Isis in their mission to erase the evidence of their and the newly discovered Guardian's existence, but Seven did not feel she was ready for such a dangerous job. He had noticed that she had developed a modicum of courage, being very proud of her for cracking Bester over the head with the same box she had used on him at their first meeting. He smiled a little; thinking that it was better that she did it to Bester this time and not to him. He thought of the gun that Winters had pulled on O'Neil, and handed it back to Scarlet, telling her that it had been drained of its power and to take it back with her. There was no use in keeping it, being that he and his organization had much more sophisticated armaments at their disposal. He thought of giving O'Neil a servo, but knew that she was also new at this, and it would take too long to train her on its use, even though she was a telepath. Also, if something went wrong, he didn't want the servo to fall into the wrong hands. The temporal Prime Directive was very specific about not having more sophisticated technology introduced into other universes, where it could be used to everyone's detriment. Seven still had the controls set for that other universe, and the two alien women stepped into the safe-like enclosure and dissolved into the blue transporter mist. Seven also knew that Roberta had no special ability like the others, and he didn't want her to get hurt. It was true that Bester would be out from Selar's phaser stun for quite some time, Seven noticing that it was a type two phaser the good doctor was carrying. That kind of weapon packed quite a punch, but Bester might have cronies on board that space station. She seemed a little too eager to go with them, and he sensed that there was more at work in her mind. She obviously wanted to strike back at the man who hurt Isis and Pavel, but to let her go with them would be foolhardy. He had also not forgotten about the non-corporeal alien known as Jack the Ripper, who could still be lurking about there. New tears started to form in her eyes, but they were not because she was disappointed in not being able to go with them.
"Roberta, to go with them would be suicide. You know that."
Her lips started to quiver and a tear fell.
"You saw what that monster did to Pavel." She started to cry again. "Oh, Gary, I love him so much! I don't want him to die."
"I know. I don't want him to as well, but I don't want you to, either. Stay here. There will be other missions." He saw that she could use that hug that she had refused from McCoy. She wept into his chest and he held her close. He took out his handkerchief from his left shirt pocket and gave it to her. "There there, honey. He's going to be all right."
"How can you be so sure?"
"There is something I haven't told you. I didn't tell the whole truth to Captain Kirk. I was born in the late twentieth century, but I'm not really from this era. I'm from forty two years in the future. I have known Pavel all that time. He is one of my best friends and a good agent. You have only known him for a short time…as a young starship navigator and as a senior citizen. I have known him for much longer than that, in those years between. He has a strong instinct for survival, and he will be all right. Please believe me, Roberta." He wiped her eyes and he knew that she did not completely comprehend or believe what she had just been told. "Now, dear, dry those tears. If they return from their mission and see you crying, they will think that he died. You don't want that to happen, do you?"
She shook her head "no", and he released her. She thanked him for the hug and tears of worry formed in his own eyes, but he did not let them fall.
When Isis and Scarlet materialized onto Babylon Five, they were met by Commander Ivanova and Security Chief Garibaldi. They found themselves at the entrance to the receiving area of the station, the area that led to the place the locals called the zokolo. It was a local marketplace, where people could also grab a bite to eat and hang out with friends when they were off duty or just visiting the station. It was fortunate that at present, they were unobserved materializing onto the station, except for the two officers. They, having been informed by Marcus Cole about Bester's activities in the other reality, knew that they did not have an unlimited amount of time until Bester recovered from the phaser stun. They were astonished to find out that Bester had not really killed Isis, but they were very concerned about poor Pavel, especially Ivanova. O'Neil did not wish to worry them too much, so she told them that she thought he would be all right, although the commander detected some uncertainty in her voice. They watched with astonishment and fascination as Isis morphed back into cat form, seating herself next to Scarlet's feet. Scarlet was still visible for now, and was eager to get started, knowing what she should do to erase Winters' message, having taught herself about this universe's technology by reading the minds of local technicians, but first, she asked where Bester was, hoping that they wouldn't say he was in his quarters. Garibaldi smiled and told her that he was still under the effects of the stun from the alien lady doctor's energy weapon and was in the med lab. The two were relieved to hear that, and Commander Ivanova told them that erasing the evidence of their ever being on the station was a good idea, and also she knew that more human telepaths had arrived on the station, fleeing the Psi Corps, having been told by their relatives about the new escape route. There was only one problem with that: who was going to ferry them down to Epsilon Three? The Commander could not do it, and neither could Dr. Franklin, who had previously headed the Underground Railroad for rogue telepaths. He was still on some sort of personal journey called a walkabout, having become addicted to stimulants he had been taking to keep himself alert while doing his rounds as the station's chief medic. It was then that Scarlet's Dowd father appeared in his shining non-corporeal form and announced that he would do it, knowing that his half-Betazoid daughter had a job to do, not only in this universe but in Seven's. They accepted his offer gratefully, another problem solved, much to their relief. Ivanova also knew that she or anyone else on the station could not keep this new escape method a secret forever. However, it was a terribly good idea to keep Bester from finding out about his counterpart and the other universe. The Guardian of Infinity had done its best to wipe Bester's memory of it and that other universe. They all knew as well that in the week that he would not have his telepathic ability because of the sleeper drug, they would have to be quick about helping the rogues escape to the inner recesses of the planet they were orbiting.
Mrs. Dinah Bester held the hand of her five-year old daughter's securely as they stepped off the shuttle into the hangar deck of space station Babylon Five. For some reason, her little girl wanted to see what her mostly absent father did for a living. They also knew that he was presently unconscious in the med lab, having been stunned by some sort of energy weapon. Being that Dinah and her daughter were Bester's only known kin, they had been informed of this development. Dinah had been forcibly married to that rotten husband of hers by the Psi Corps. When they first met, she was revolted by his twisted and perverted thoughts. Because she happened to be reasonably attractive, he wanted to force himself on her to produce a baby instead of going the usual route of artificial insemination. Since her telepathic abilities equaled his own, she told him that if he tried that, she would kill him. He knew right then and there that she loathed him. He had no real love for her, either, only lust, so he agreed to do it the usual way. When little Alice was born, he took off for the Psi Corps headquarters on Mars, leaving her to raise the child practically alone. Of course, Dinah tried to keep all this information from her gifted child, but little Alice was a very bright little girl, and had figured out for herself that her father was a meanie, and both mother and daughter were terribly glad that he would be out of commission for a while.
As the two stepped into the receiving area, O'Neil and Isis were still there, only O'Neil had made herself invisible. Little Alice loved kitty cats, and was instantly drawn to Isis, but, for now, was restrained by her mother, who told her telepathically that touching animals she knew nothing about could be dangerous.