Here's chapter 3. And in some ways the story starts now. Hope you'll enjoy
it.
Chapter 3 - New woes and old ghosts
The president's residence, Thursday evening
They had gathered again, for the second time this day, Delenn, Michael, Stephen, G'Kar and the President himself. Maybe it was because they were the only ones he could really trust after all they had gone through together, but somehow they always found themselves in the presidential home in a situation of crisis.
"I want to go down there. I want to talk to them."
"John, have you lost your mind? Have you got any idea how dangerous that would be?"
"This is Earth, this is my home we're talking about!"
"No offense, but you are still on the list of favorite heads to chop off among some groups."
"Oh, come on. I'm not scared. And I want to know what is going on! It's probably not as bad as it seems, but I need to check it out anyway."
"If you go, then I will walk with you." Delenn had already realized that there wasn't much to say or do to change her husbands mind. The least she could do was follow him.
"No, Delenn, please."
"If you go, I will, too." She repeated stubbornly.
"I don't believe you, guys! You have lost your minds altogether. Are you crazy?! Be happy that you are at least a little protected here!"
"I can protect them." Now G'Kar joined the discussion. Somehow he had a feeling that it was important. He knew that many Humans felt that the President had lost interest in Earth when he married Delenn and moved to Minbar and he knew that Sheridan was aware of it, too. And that he, who always had fought for his home-planet, suffered under this image of a traitor.
"And I can check them up if they are hurt. I mean, you need a doctor to go along, don't you?"
"You, too? Dammit, why aren't you listening to me?"
"We are, Michael. But probably this is over in a day or two, and we can have a nice sweet holiday on Earth."
"And who stays here during your "vacation"?"
"Delenn and I have been away together before. It works, they'll manage. And Stephen's job doesn't make much sense if he's here and we're on Earth."
"Why don't you join us, Michael?" The voice came from the door. They were not sure how, but somehow Susan had gotten in and now she stood there looking very determined.
"Us?"
"Yeah, if you all are going, and we will, too, why not travel together?"
"We?"
"You, John, Delenn, Stephen, G'Kar, Nathan and I on a White Star to Earth. Mrs. Fesse is taking the regular shipments. You'd gain a pilot and a bard, not the best treat, but what can you expect days like these."
"Are you sure, Susan?"
"Yes. And don't try to persuade me to stay here. It won't work."
"Alright then that's settled for now. We'll take the White Star and leave in an hour." John gave Michael a satisfied smile.
He sighed.
***
White Star 1, Thursday late evening EST
To Michael's great frustration they really had left an hour later and had now been heading towards Earth for some time. He had joined because he'd get crazy if anything would happen to them. But maybe it would be over in a day or two. Maybe he could get Lise to- Suddenly a beep on the screen ripped him out of his daydreaming.
"Mr. Garibaldi."
It was the pale, ascetic face of Fannon, chief of security in the President's Residence. Michael knew him quite well, since he just couldn't help interfering in the poor man's work. He missed his old job back on B-5.
"I have bad news I'm sorry."
"Shoot."
"Shoot? Who?"
"Go on please, Fannon."
"Of course. We now know that the man who attempted to kill Mr. Gray is a Martian assassin. He goes under the name Richard Josephsen. For the time being at least."
"That's good news, isn't it? Well, do you know who hired him? Have you caught him?"
"No. We don't know that yet, I am afraid. And we haven't caught him either. He has left Minbar."
"Oh."
"We have found his quarters though and searched them. There we found a bugging device. He must have planned this for a long time."
"Well, it was kind of a stupid way to try to kill anyone, that's for sure. Doesn't seem like his planning paid off."
"On the contrary, I'm afraid, sir. We think he heard that you were leaving for Earth."
"What?!"
"He left about the same time you did, his landlady said. We have reasons to suspect he is hiding on the ship."
"That's impossible! What about all the security when we boarded?"
"He seems to be very good in disguising himself. And I am sorry to tell you, that the precautions weren't as complete as usual, hence to the President's sudden rush to leave."
"So what you want to say is that we have a professional killer onboard who might try to kill Nathan Gray anytime?"
"I am sorry, sir, but we believe so, yes. We have several pieces of evidence that do support this thesis. I will send the reports to you as soon as possible. But for now, if I might suggest something, you ought to let a team search the cargo-areas, just to be sure."
"Alright. Garibaldi out."
He sighed, not for the first time this day. Great, a killer on the White Star, riots on Earth - what more is to come?"
***
It almost felt like old times as he briefed the others a moment later. It had been a lot of meetings in the last days, a lot of worried faces and rather bad news. Michael could see the fear in Susan's eyes, she cared about Gray. And if he hadn't witnessed the scene earlier today he would have been nothing but glad for her - no one deserved better a little happiness in her life than she. Now she just looked tired and anxious and Michael didn't know what to think.
"Do you think that he still wears that Ranger uniform?" G'Kar said and caught Garibaldi's wandered-off thoughts.
"No, why? Why should he do that?"
"I just thought I saw a hooded Ranger sneak through the corridor when I came here a little while ago. I know it's not really unusual and a long shot - I really just saw a shadow of someone. Oh, forget I brought it up."
"Well, it's easy to check out." Garibaldi replied. "Computer, are there any Rangers onboard this ship?"
"Negative."
"Strange, I thought there always were Rangers on White Stars." John said absentminded.
"Not on this one." Delenn ended the subject.
"Maybe we should look for him then. I am going to go down to the cargo- area, maybe I'll find someone. Be careful, all of you. If you see someone call me. Mr. Gray, please make sure not to be alone at any time. I'll get someone to guard you."
Nathan was just too tired to care so he nodded. Susan had not even looked at him the entire time, the wound on his arm hurt and he just wanted to go to bed and die. He was sorry that he had endangered the entire ship and everyone on it, especially Susan, but since they were in hyperspace and there was nothing at all, that he could do to help, he decided to at least be as cooperative as possible. And to get some sleep, even if it was only for a few minutes.
***
White Star 1, Thursday night EST
Nathan was asleep by now. John had told Susan to get some rest, too, after he took her place on the command deck, but she couldn't just lie there and wait for something bad to happen. They had still not found out anything about the killer. An hour ago Fannon had confirmed that it now was almost absolutely certain that he somehow had sneaked on the White Star. The nearest ship was light-years away, and she was afraid. She hated her own fear she hated her vulnerability so she took a PPG and left to deal with it.
Half an hour later Susan felt the exhaustion slowing down her body. She knew it was time to rest, she hadn't slept for almost 24 hours, but she couldn't give up the feeling that she was followed.
Susan walked through the main corridor and felt as if there wasn't any part of this ship that she didn't know yet, as suddenly a whisper of a sound made her alert.
It was probably just her own weariness that made her think that, still she turned around and peeked around the corner, just to find a piece of cloth disappearing behind a door.
The adrenaline awakened her stiff muscles in an instant and she followed it without thinking. As Susan entered she found another corridor, as always.
There! Footsteps. Around the corner. Yes - another glimpse of some Minbari fabric. Dark, brown or something. Maybe he still was dressed like a Ranger. Made sense. G'Kar had been right and it must have been easier getting on the ship. She ran. She knew it was stupid and careless but couldn't have cared less. Another corridor. Corridors! Corridors! Stupid corridors. Where was she? She wasn't sure. She had been here before. When! No time to think, he was fast. A few steps faster from her. Maybe she should get help. No, not now, not this close. "Wait!" That was stupid. Oh, what the hell, he knew he was followed, why would he run otherwise. Why should he stop at her command?
Yes, he still wore that Ranger costume; she saw it now as he threw himself into the lift. Machinery. Maybe, it was worth a try at least. She took the other turbolift, breathing heavily as she entered it. Not now. No exhaustion, Captain, that's an order. She exited. She had lost him. No, a cloak - there! He swirled around as he heard the doors close behind her. "Freeze!" He didn't listen, and rushed for the door. No corridor she stated satisfied. A dead end. She saw him, like a caged animal desperately searching for an exit. In a last effort she threw him over and knocked him out. He was not unconscious but disabled as she pushed him down on the floor with her entire bodyweight. "Got you, you little bastard. Move and you're dead!" With her PPG-free hand she removed the hood.
***
He had forgotten how much he had missed this seat, how much he had missed the imminent power that this chair radiated. Here he had won wars; here he had lost, he thought in a slightly pathetic moment. Right now he couldn't even remember why he ever had changed this for a desk on Minbar.
"Mr. President. A life pod is breaking loose."
"What? Who's on it?"
"One person."
"Hail it."
"No response. Sir, if we don't let it go it'll rip up the entire ship."
"Josephsen. But why is he leaving without completing his mission? How is Gray?"
"He is alright." Nathan said.
"Mr. Gray?"
"I came to search for Captain Ivanova."
"She isn't resting?"
"No. The hitman is abandoning the ship?"
"Seems like it. Alright let him go if there is nothing we can do about it. Lock the weapons on the ship and hail again."
"Negative. Weapons not functioning," a Minbari said.
"What?"
"They are blocked somehow. I'm working on it."
"Do it fast, he's getting away."
"He wouldn't leave without doing his job." Nathan murmured.
"I know. Maybe he changed his mind."
"Maybe he has finished the job already and is leaving before it gets really nasty here."
"A bomb."
***
She looked at the face and couldn't understand. She looked again and again and it still made no sense.
"Hello Susan."
"No."
"'No.' Great greeting-phrase. I like the syntax of it. Simple and yet so welcoming. Almost as charming as "Get lost" but much more sophisticated, don't you think?"
"Who are you?"
"You know that."
"No, I don't. You are dead."
"Not anymore. Evidently."
"Prove yourself."
"What?"
"Prove that it really is you. Say something!"
He looked at her for a moment and thought an instant before speaking.
"No, my words are inadequate to the burden of my heart."
***
That's all for now. Please r/r so that I know if you hated it of liked it. Reviews really make my day shine brighter!
Chapter 3 - New woes and old ghosts
The president's residence, Thursday evening
They had gathered again, for the second time this day, Delenn, Michael, Stephen, G'Kar and the President himself. Maybe it was because they were the only ones he could really trust after all they had gone through together, but somehow they always found themselves in the presidential home in a situation of crisis.
"I want to go down there. I want to talk to them."
"John, have you lost your mind? Have you got any idea how dangerous that would be?"
"This is Earth, this is my home we're talking about!"
"No offense, but you are still on the list of favorite heads to chop off among some groups."
"Oh, come on. I'm not scared. And I want to know what is going on! It's probably not as bad as it seems, but I need to check it out anyway."
"If you go, then I will walk with you." Delenn had already realized that there wasn't much to say or do to change her husbands mind. The least she could do was follow him.
"No, Delenn, please."
"If you go, I will, too." She repeated stubbornly.
"I don't believe you, guys! You have lost your minds altogether. Are you crazy?! Be happy that you are at least a little protected here!"
"I can protect them." Now G'Kar joined the discussion. Somehow he had a feeling that it was important. He knew that many Humans felt that the President had lost interest in Earth when he married Delenn and moved to Minbar and he knew that Sheridan was aware of it, too. And that he, who always had fought for his home-planet, suffered under this image of a traitor.
"And I can check them up if they are hurt. I mean, you need a doctor to go along, don't you?"
"You, too? Dammit, why aren't you listening to me?"
"We are, Michael. But probably this is over in a day or two, and we can have a nice sweet holiday on Earth."
"And who stays here during your "vacation"?"
"Delenn and I have been away together before. It works, they'll manage. And Stephen's job doesn't make much sense if he's here and we're on Earth."
"Why don't you join us, Michael?" The voice came from the door. They were not sure how, but somehow Susan had gotten in and now she stood there looking very determined.
"Us?"
"Yeah, if you all are going, and we will, too, why not travel together?"
"We?"
"You, John, Delenn, Stephen, G'Kar, Nathan and I on a White Star to Earth. Mrs. Fesse is taking the regular shipments. You'd gain a pilot and a bard, not the best treat, but what can you expect days like these."
"Are you sure, Susan?"
"Yes. And don't try to persuade me to stay here. It won't work."
"Alright then that's settled for now. We'll take the White Star and leave in an hour." John gave Michael a satisfied smile.
He sighed.
***
White Star 1, Thursday late evening EST
To Michael's great frustration they really had left an hour later and had now been heading towards Earth for some time. He had joined because he'd get crazy if anything would happen to them. But maybe it would be over in a day or two. Maybe he could get Lise to- Suddenly a beep on the screen ripped him out of his daydreaming.
"Mr. Garibaldi."
It was the pale, ascetic face of Fannon, chief of security in the President's Residence. Michael knew him quite well, since he just couldn't help interfering in the poor man's work. He missed his old job back on B-5.
"I have bad news I'm sorry."
"Shoot."
"Shoot? Who?"
"Go on please, Fannon."
"Of course. We now know that the man who attempted to kill Mr. Gray is a Martian assassin. He goes under the name Richard Josephsen. For the time being at least."
"That's good news, isn't it? Well, do you know who hired him? Have you caught him?"
"No. We don't know that yet, I am afraid. And we haven't caught him either. He has left Minbar."
"Oh."
"We have found his quarters though and searched them. There we found a bugging device. He must have planned this for a long time."
"Well, it was kind of a stupid way to try to kill anyone, that's for sure. Doesn't seem like his planning paid off."
"On the contrary, I'm afraid, sir. We think he heard that you were leaving for Earth."
"What?!"
"He left about the same time you did, his landlady said. We have reasons to suspect he is hiding on the ship."
"That's impossible! What about all the security when we boarded?"
"He seems to be very good in disguising himself. And I am sorry to tell you, that the precautions weren't as complete as usual, hence to the President's sudden rush to leave."
"So what you want to say is that we have a professional killer onboard who might try to kill Nathan Gray anytime?"
"I am sorry, sir, but we believe so, yes. We have several pieces of evidence that do support this thesis. I will send the reports to you as soon as possible. But for now, if I might suggest something, you ought to let a team search the cargo-areas, just to be sure."
"Alright. Garibaldi out."
He sighed, not for the first time this day. Great, a killer on the White Star, riots on Earth - what more is to come?"
***
It almost felt like old times as he briefed the others a moment later. It had been a lot of meetings in the last days, a lot of worried faces and rather bad news. Michael could see the fear in Susan's eyes, she cared about Gray. And if he hadn't witnessed the scene earlier today he would have been nothing but glad for her - no one deserved better a little happiness in her life than she. Now she just looked tired and anxious and Michael didn't know what to think.
"Do you think that he still wears that Ranger uniform?" G'Kar said and caught Garibaldi's wandered-off thoughts.
"No, why? Why should he do that?"
"I just thought I saw a hooded Ranger sneak through the corridor when I came here a little while ago. I know it's not really unusual and a long shot - I really just saw a shadow of someone. Oh, forget I brought it up."
"Well, it's easy to check out." Garibaldi replied. "Computer, are there any Rangers onboard this ship?"
"Negative."
"Strange, I thought there always were Rangers on White Stars." John said absentminded.
"Not on this one." Delenn ended the subject.
"Maybe we should look for him then. I am going to go down to the cargo- area, maybe I'll find someone. Be careful, all of you. If you see someone call me. Mr. Gray, please make sure not to be alone at any time. I'll get someone to guard you."
Nathan was just too tired to care so he nodded. Susan had not even looked at him the entire time, the wound on his arm hurt and he just wanted to go to bed and die. He was sorry that he had endangered the entire ship and everyone on it, especially Susan, but since they were in hyperspace and there was nothing at all, that he could do to help, he decided to at least be as cooperative as possible. And to get some sleep, even if it was only for a few minutes.
***
White Star 1, Thursday night EST
Nathan was asleep by now. John had told Susan to get some rest, too, after he took her place on the command deck, but she couldn't just lie there and wait for something bad to happen. They had still not found out anything about the killer. An hour ago Fannon had confirmed that it now was almost absolutely certain that he somehow had sneaked on the White Star. The nearest ship was light-years away, and she was afraid. She hated her own fear she hated her vulnerability so she took a PPG and left to deal with it.
Half an hour later Susan felt the exhaustion slowing down her body. She knew it was time to rest, she hadn't slept for almost 24 hours, but she couldn't give up the feeling that she was followed.
Susan walked through the main corridor and felt as if there wasn't any part of this ship that she didn't know yet, as suddenly a whisper of a sound made her alert.
It was probably just her own weariness that made her think that, still she turned around and peeked around the corner, just to find a piece of cloth disappearing behind a door.
The adrenaline awakened her stiff muscles in an instant and she followed it without thinking. As Susan entered she found another corridor, as always.
There! Footsteps. Around the corner. Yes - another glimpse of some Minbari fabric. Dark, brown or something. Maybe he still was dressed like a Ranger. Made sense. G'Kar had been right and it must have been easier getting on the ship. She ran. She knew it was stupid and careless but couldn't have cared less. Another corridor. Corridors! Corridors! Stupid corridors. Where was she? She wasn't sure. She had been here before. When! No time to think, he was fast. A few steps faster from her. Maybe she should get help. No, not now, not this close. "Wait!" That was stupid. Oh, what the hell, he knew he was followed, why would he run otherwise. Why should he stop at her command?
Yes, he still wore that Ranger costume; she saw it now as he threw himself into the lift. Machinery. Maybe, it was worth a try at least. She took the other turbolift, breathing heavily as she entered it. Not now. No exhaustion, Captain, that's an order. She exited. She had lost him. No, a cloak - there! He swirled around as he heard the doors close behind her. "Freeze!" He didn't listen, and rushed for the door. No corridor she stated satisfied. A dead end. She saw him, like a caged animal desperately searching for an exit. In a last effort she threw him over and knocked him out. He was not unconscious but disabled as she pushed him down on the floor with her entire bodyweight. "Got you, you little bastard. Move and you're dead!" With her PPG-free hand she removed the hood.
***
He had forgotten how much he had missed this seat, how much he had missed the imminent power that this chair radiated. Here he had won wars; here he had lost, he thought in a slightly pathetic moment. Right now he couldn't even remember why he ever had changed this for a desk on Minbar.
"Mr. President. A life pod is breaking loose."
"What? Who's on it?"
"One person."
"Hail it."
"No response. Sir, if we don't let it go it'll rip up the entire ship."
"Josephsen. But why is he leaving without completing his mission? How is Gray?"
"He is alright." Nathan said.
"Mr. Gray?"
"I came to search for Captain Ivanova."
"She isn't resting?"
"No. The hitman is abandoning the ship?"
"Seems like it. Alright let him go if there is nothing we can do about it. Lock the weapons on the ship and hail again."
"Negative. Weapons not functioning," a Minbari said.
"What?"
"They are blocked somehow. I'm working on it."
"Do it fast, he's getting away."
"He wouldn't leave without doing his job." Nathan murmured.
"I know. Maybe he changed his mind."
"Maybe he has finished the job already and is leaving before it gets really nasty here."
"A bomb."
***
She looked at the face and couldn't understand. She looked again and again and it still made no sense.
"Hello Susan."
"No."
"'No.' Great greeting-phrase. I like the syntax of it. Simple and yet so welcoming. Almost as charming as "Get lost" but much more sophisticated, don't you think?"
"Who are you?"
"You know that."
"No, I don't. You are dead."
"Not anymore. Evidently."
"Prove yourself."
"What?"
"Prove that it really is you. Say something!"
He looked at her for a moment and thought an instant before speaking.
"No, my words are inadequate to the burden of my heart."
***
That's all for now. Please r/r so that I know if you hated it of liked it. Reviews really make my day shine brighter!
