8 Months Later….

            Susan's hand fiddled with her newly acquired Minbari Pike, and she was proud of it. Susan's  face was hooded,  a dark cape hung around her thin frame, green pin attached proudly. She stood in a hallway made of sparkling crystal, with windows of shining prismatic colors, though her eyes had never seen the beauty.

            Behind her stood a young girl, possibly ten, her long blonde hair tied back in a ponytail, and cascading down her back. She was in a layered dress of blues and purples, Minbari style. Her hand was attached to Susan's cape, tightly bound there, as if she would never let go. After two days of separation for the final cleansing ritual, Mari, had nearly gone mad, and was making sure that Susan wasn't leaving any time soon. Her face was pale, but a pink scar of the psicorps symbol rested angrily on her cheek. Her eyes were closed, as if she were sleep walking, however, to this girl she wasn't-she was blind.

            Susan? Why are we standing here? She sent to her.

            Mari, I told you, We're waiting for Delenn, she's coming.

            Susan, from Delenn's eyes, these halls are beautiful, do they really look like that? Or is it her opinion of her home?

            From what I've heard child, they are as she describes. Don't worry, though, one day you'll be able to see these for yourself.

            Will you be with me?

            Of course I will. I'm not letting you go anywhere without me.

            You did. I… Mari sent emotion along their link, the feelings for deep loneliness, and fear surged though Susan, combined with the fear that she'd leave again, but the relief that she was there. There wasn't a need to explain, they both knew. Her fear stemmed from what they both experienced. You're gonna protect me right?

            Kid, I always will.

            Delenn is coming.

            I know. I can feel and hear her now.

            Good.

            "Ahh Susan, Mari, it is good to…"She paused… "Nice to meat you two again."

            Do not worry about your words Delenn. Susan sent, though she knew that she'd probably sent some of her own regret with it. Delenn did not seem surprised by this action at all.

            "Then I will not, Susan, Mari."

            What have you come here to discuss?

            Mari added quickly and sharply If I can be right by her she isn't going.

            Delenn smiled. "You two are quite attached to each other. Now I'm not going to separate you, but Susan, it is time."

            No! Susan shook her head and tried to get across she didn't want to go back.         

            "You have to go back, its been 7 months since we rescued you two. And they don't even know that much."

            I thought they were all… the things they made me see before, Delenn. And I can't go like this! I'm…

            "What has happened hasn't changed your abilities any. It has enhanced ones you didn't even know you had." Delenn interrupted before Susan could go on.

            I don't care if it's made me a good telekinetic or telepath! They'll look at me, and they'll…

            "Pity, certainly not! You've become a ranger, passed all the tests without sight or speech! Quite an accomplishment. If we could have telepaths undo what has been done, it would have been done. The only person who can..."

            Is on Babylon 5.

            Susan, where is Babylon 5? Mari was curious, Susan didn't tell much of her past. Susan sent images and pictures of friends, and near family, and showed a memorable image of the monstrous station in its backdrop of space.

Delenn, they won't…

            "No arguments from the two of you! I know that Mari is going to follow you. They will trust you. Now, your ship leaves in two days, and I will be coming with you, after all, being here and not with John has been very stressful for me. And no, he doesn't know you two are coming, doesn't know what has been going on. When you tell them is up to you, but if you choose not to, mark my words, they will know."

            Yes Entil'Zha

---------------

            Susan stood in the center of an empty training room, waiting for Sech Turval a trained Minbari in the art of the Denn'Bok, and her instructor in the art. She still wore the black hood over her face, her cape behind her. She looked almost like a specter, rather than a human.

            "Hello Susan."

            Sech Turval, it is good to see  you.

            "Congratulations, I hear you and your follower are leaving tomorrow."

            Yes, Delenn , Mari and I are going to Babylon 5

            "Speaking of your small shadow, where is she?"

            Oh, Delenn is with her in the other room…she's trying to make it so she's less dependant on me.

            "You should have seen her, she caused quite a ruckus without you, didn't want to eat or anything."

            I know. She jumped on me and didn't let go of me until she fell asleep last night, and then this morning the same thing. Anyway, are we going to fight?

            "My weapon is drawn."

            Susan drew her weapon from her belt and immediately blocked Sech Turval.

            "Susan. Your stance."

            You're about to sweep, well you were about to, and I was prepared.

            He went under her pike, and she blocked again, and the battle ranged for a couple minutes until Susan was knocked off of her feet.

            "Your stance. See you fell, and you'd be dead."

            Susan wanted to retort about that wasn't necessarily the case when telekinetics was added to her fights, but she didn't. She nodded, and rose, and they begun again. Neither spoke as attacks were parried, and they moved on the mat.

            "Stop."

            Susan retracted her Denn'bok and stood straight facing him. She was glad to; she had been getting a slight headache from scanning his thoughts to figure out where he was going to attack, and then using her telekinesis to sense exactly where the pike was to block it.

            "You're stance was fixed, though your strength in your attacks need to be worked on. When you're gone, I expect for you to still be training, on your stance and you will have a little more strength behind your arms. When you come back, I look forward to doing this again Ranger Ivanova."

            Susan grinned; she knew he didn't speak of his students in nice terms unless he really meant it.

            I am looking forward to it to.

-----------------