PART 4
Susan was giving her crew a hard time. Lewis sighed in relief as he watched her leave the bridge after eight hours of what seemed to be constant yelling. She had told the entire crew, long and loud that the search of this sector was going to be the quickest in history.
That it still had to be as thorough as all the rest of the searches they'd made though had caused a few problems. Problems that he'd had to deal with and when they weren't solved quickly enough, her wrath had been turned on him. Now, a week later, they'd finished and were heading back to the point where Ivanova would pick up her transport for Babylon 5.
His comms unit beeped for attention. He pushed a button and the face of Corwin appeared on screen.
"Hi David," said Lewis wearily.
"Robert," acknowledged Corwin with a nod of his head. He frowned as he noticed his friends face. "Anything wrong? You look like you haven't slept in days," he commented.
Lewis quickly darted a look around the bridge to make sure Susan hadn't come back unnoticed. "I think your old Commander is back," he told him with a grimace.
"My old Commander?" Corwin repeated, looking puzzled. "What do you…….Ohhhhhh." Realisation dawned and he started chuckling. "So, tell me Robert. Still enjoying it?"
Lewis muttered something nasty under his breath, then asked curtly, "What can I do for you, David?"
Corwin stifled his laughter. "I have a message to relay to Captain Ivanova personally."
Lewis gave a grim smile. "Well, with the mood she was in when she left here, I just hope it's good news. Transferring you now." Before Corwin could say anything, Lewis pushed a button cutting the link. He looked heavenward and sent up a silent prayer, 'Please, please, PLEASE, let it be good news.'
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Images flooded into Marcus' head so fast, they caused him excruciating pain. His saw his life rapidly flash by. His happy times with his parents, his brothers death, his time on Minbar, Babylon 5 and finally Susan dying.
He tried desperately to control the overwhelming feelings that coursed through him at this sensory overload. And, somewhere, through all the pain, he recognised the urge to breathe. Forcing open his mouth, he drew in the much required air needed to fill his lungs.
At Duncan's call, Stephen looked back at the bed just as Marcus drew in a deep, shuddering breath. "Oh my God," Franklin choked out. He hadn't really believed until this moment that it would work. Quickly grabbing his scanner, he ran it over Marcus' body. Life signs were present but very weak.
Marcus drew in another shaky breath and slowly opened his eyes, narrowing them against the light.
Stephen leaned over and spoke to him quietly. "Marcus, can you hear me?"
The Ranger groaned and found his voice worked. "Yes, Stephen…….you don't have to…….shout," he whispered back.
Franklin smiled, "How are you feeling?"
"How's…..Susan?" Marcus asked, ignoring the doctor's question. He had to know what happened. Her image was the one out of all he'd witnessed that was still emblazoned in his brain.
"Don't worry, she's alive and just fine," the doctor assured him. "Now, tell me. How are you feeling?"
Marcus relaxed, knowing his love was alright. "Head….hurts…like hell. You didn't……let Susan……loose in here…..with my pike….did you?" he asked, with a ghost of a smile.
"No, not yet," replied Stephen and started to laugh. It was good to have his friend back. He felt a couple of tears roll down his face and looked up at Duncan who was in much the same state. He looked back down and asked, "Do you hurt anywhere else?"
Marcus didn't even answer as his head rolled to the side. Worriedly, Stephen checked his scanner again, the life signs showed improvement. He was just asleep. He hooked up an IV and inserted it into Marcus' hand. After one last quick check on his scanner, Franklin turned to Duncan and grabbed the old man's hand, shaking it vigorously. He grinned happily and said warmly, "Thank you."
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Susan was busily stuffing what clothing she needed for her trip, into a bag when the comms unit beeped. She pushed the button and Corwin's face appeared.
"Corwin, you have news for me?" she asked, urgently.
"Yes, Captain. Duncan has arrived safely and is with Dr. Franklin now," he informed her with a smile, noticing how she visibly relaxed.
"Good. And have you still managed to keep this quiet over there?"
"So far," he replied, then lowered his voice secretively. "Captain Lochley and Ambassador Delenn are both still off station and President Sheridan has been in meetings with different governments this week."
"Good," she said, again. "Well, my transport leaves an hour, so I'll see you in about a week."
"Yes, Captain. Babylon 5 out" With a nod of his head Corwin broke transmission and left Susan to her preparations.
She returned to her bag and finished packing. She still needed to have a shower and give Lewis last minute instructions. Now she knew Duncan was there, she was impatient to find out if his serum would work. She cursed her superior aloud again, wishing that she was on Babylon 5 herself to see what was happening. She should be there. It was her right, dammit.
Zipping up the bag, she carried it over to the door ready to leave. Then she had a quick shower and dressed in a clean uniform before making her way to the shuttle. Her second was waiting for her and she handed him a data crystal. "Here's the course you'll be taking for the next part of the mission. I have every confidence you'll do just fine."
Lewis beamed at her praise. "Thank you, Captain. I won't let you down."
"Good, because I'll personally see to it that you're relieved of some very vital organs if you muck this up or damage the ship in anyway. Do I make myself clear?" Susan asked with a cheerful smile on her face.
Lewis swallowed hard and his smiled faded. "Yes, sir."
"Right, well, I'll see you at Babylon 5 in three weeks then," said Susan, breezily. She nodded curtly and spun around entering the shuttle, the door swishing shut quietly behind her.
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Marcus awoke for the second time to the sound of someone next to him, coughing badly. He opened his eyes and noticed the IV to his right. He turned his head marginally the other way and took in the old man bent over in his seat.
"Duncan," he whispered, feeling surprised. What was he doing here?
The old man hadn't heard Marcus over his coughing and now, as it subsided, he looked over at the Ranger and his eyes lit up. "Marcus, you are awake again. Let me call the doctor."
Before Marcus could respond, Duncan called for Franklin, who appeared quickly with scanner in hand. "Marcus, how are you feeling now?" he asked, staring at the data on the little machine.
"Head still hurting?"
"Not as much," Marcus replied, his voice getting stronger.
"Good. Have you pain anywhere else?"
"Can't feel anywhere else," came the dry response.
Franklin frowned. He pinched Marcus' leg, but there was no reaction. He tried an arm. Same thing. He looked over to Duncan. "Is this normal?" he asked in concern.
"Yes, quite normal. Each dose of the serum he takes will give him more strength."
"What serum?" questioned Marcus. He looked at them both with a frown, a thousand questions on his lips. "What's happening? The last I remember is laying next to Susan and feeling tired. If she lived then what am I still doing here? And, saying that, what are you doing here, Duncan? I didn't think I'd ever see you again. Did we win the war? How are the Captain and Delenn? What about Lennier? And…."
"Marcus!" Stephen interrupted loudly, putting a hand to his forehead and shutting his eyes. "God, even though your body's not working, your mouth certainly is."
"Sorry, Stephen. I was only wondering out loud," the Ranger replied, in a small voice.
Franklin sighed and couldn't help his smile. "I know, I know. And I promise I will tell you everything. But it's past midnight and we all need to get some rest. So, can you please wait until morning?" he asked, wearily.
Marcus sighed dramatically, but closed his eyes. Franklin took Duncan's arm to lead him out of the room, then stopped with a grimace as he reached the door and heard Marcus say quietly, "And I also want to know where those fifty credits are that you owe me, Stephen."
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Susan got off the shuttle and checked in for her transport. As she had a little time to kill, she went and found a place to get something to eat. After her meal, she checked the time - ten minutes to board her ship. She picked up her bag and walked out of the café.
Seated at one of the other tables was a young woman with short black hair. She watched Ivanova leave and got up, following her out. As she walked a few feet behind the woman she was trailing, two men joined her. "Well?" queried the tall, blond one.
"I checked out what my source on Hydra told me and it seems she is on her way to Babylon 5," the young woman replied.
"We'd better get tickets then," commented the other man. He was also tall, but older and balding.
The woman took three ID's from her pocket, passed one to each of the men and held onto the last. "No need, everything's been taken care of. There will no communication between us while on the transport. I'm going to stay close to her until we reach Babylon 5, then someone will contact us."
She reached out and kissed the younger man soundly on the lips. "I'll speak to you when we get to the station." At his nod, she boarded the ship with the two men following shortly after.
Ivanova sat down next to an elderly Minbari who seemed to be in deep meditation and impatiently watched the other passengers find their seats. She wanted to get on her way as quick as possible. A young, black haired woman approached and checked her ticket against the seat the other side of Susan, then sat down. She turned to Ivanova excitedly. "I can't believe I'm actually going to Babylon 5. It's
my first trip there. How about you?"
"I've been before," Susan replied, coolly. The girls' perkiness grating on her already taut nerves.
"That's wonderful," the girl gushed, giggling slightly. "You must tell me all about it." She held out her hand. "I'm Jess, by the way."
"Susan." She shook her hand briefly.
"Well, Susan, I think we're going to be very good friends," Jess said brightly.
Ivanova grimaced slightly, then frowned as she thought she saw a flash of intense dislike directed at her, cross over the other girls face. The look was gone before she could comment and Jess resumed chatting. Dismissing it as just her being in a bad mood, Susan sighed and sat back in her seat, closing her eyes. Wishing the trip to end, she resigned herself to the fate of having Jess' incessant talking as a constant companion over the next week.
END PART 4