Part 8

Ship life began again for Susan; and this time she really did live instead of just going automatically through the motions. Corwin had grown since she had last seen him, in stature, in confidence, in authority. He smoothly slipped into the role of first officer, quickly gathering respect and admiration from the crew. His efficient command of the daily duties made Susan's job a delight and she began to enjoy herself.

It took him a little longer to relax around Susan, and she took a sadistic pleasure in making Corwin jump at odd moments, sneaking up on him silently. He obviously hadn't lost his lieutenant's fear, which Susan had instilled in everyone who had served on B5.

When she told Marie about Corwin in her regular messages, the younger woman sent back a scolding reply.

"You shouldn't really make fun of David; he seemed a lovely man when I met him on the station. Don't get me wrong, I've pulled some interesting practical jokes in my time, and you know what Dad was like, but this is just teasing. It's hard enough coming into an environment where you don't know anyone, without being the butt of a joke. If he is as good an officer as you say, then you should start treating him as one, not an easy victim. I hope he gets you back."

Susan was a little shocked. Marie was such a quiet person that she couldn't understand this uncharacteristic outburst. That was until she remembered what Marie had said about being bullied at school.

"Wonderful Ivanova," she mentally kicked herself, "You've stuck your great big Russian boot right in it again."

Her next transmission to Mars went through a number of revisions before Susan felt confident enough to send it. She apologised as best she could and hoped that Marie would forgive her; plus she started having breakfast with Corwin.

It proved to be the best decision she made that year, as their relationship developed into the kind of friendship she had shared with John and Michael. Briefings and strategy sessions became informal discussions over coffee from Susan's private supply and their conversations often strayed from the matter in hand. Each officer discovered the person hiding within the other, and as a result their mutual respect and trust grew.

"It's something I'd never appreciated before." Susan recorded to Marie late one evening, "Even though the captain is the ultimate authority on a ship, they are still part of a team. I had forgotten about that, along with everything else that is important. Is it really less than a year ago that I told myself that I needed no one else? I couldn't imagine running this ship without David now. Actually, I never want to be without a friend within close reach. How did I survive those five years?" Susan paused as she reflected on a time that seemed just a strange dream.

"Thank you for pointing out how stupid I was." She continued, "You have my permission to tear into me whenever it is appropriate. I must tell David that as well," she leaned into the monitor as if she was afraid someone would overhear, "He's still a little scared of me, which is sweet, but don't tell him I said so."

Susan settled back with a smile, "He has five sisters you know. Poor guy, it's no wonder he's frightened of women. I've discovered that he's a big fan of Reboo and Zooty; does a scarily good impression of them. I'm thinking of getting him to entertain us at Christmas, wherever we'll be.

"It's very unlikely that I'll get to visit this winter, but I'm definitely putting in for leave for next year's vacation; if you can fit me around all your assignments. Good luck with college by the way. I want to hear all about it next week. All the gory details, the parties, the boys, you know the kind of thing."

OoOoO

Marie threw herself into college work with a vengeance. In fact, she would have been living in the library if Susan had not ordered her to get a social life, after which she joined a martial arts class and the theatrical society.

The universe settled into a nice rhythm. The Titans patrolled around the Earth colonies, dealt with raiders, kept their eyes open for a plague cure, and ran the occasional errand for Earth Gov. Susan was content to be exactly where she was. The little voice inside her insisted on saying that chaos would rear its head at some point, but she firmly ignored it. In fact, for the first time in Susan's adult life, she was not fighting a war or running from something. Her day-to-day existence was boringly normal, only interrupted by the kind of surprises boring normal people have, like when Marie sent Susan a Christmas present.

The delivery was slightly unusual, as the plain wrapped parcel had been given into the custody of the Rangers to be transported. As a result it passed from ship to ship in a strange relay of couriers. Eventually, a Whitestar was passing close enough to the Titans for Susan to receive the package. When she broke the vacuum seal, she little expected what would happen next.

The parcel exploded in a fountain of material, which floated down to completely cover Susan's desk. She stared in amazement at the patchwork quilt spread out before her. The pattern was a copy of one that she and Marie had seen on Mars, but the material was all of the finest Minbari silk. Shimmering pinks, blues, golds: hand sewn into a starburst arrangement. Susan ran a hand over the luxurious fabric, marvelling at the hours of work Marie must have put into it.

It was only when she was folding the quilt up, that she noticed an envelope pinned to one corner. In it was a data crystal and a note.

Happy Hanukkah Susan! You did say you always wanted a quilt. Enclosed is a copy of Dad's final message. Keep it until you are ready. M.

It was the first time David had seen her cry.

OoOoO

So the years passed. Susan and Marie continued their lives, sharing with each other the good and bad times in a relationship that had brought them closer than sisters. Susan though found herself taking on the parental position as Marie's guide and role model, comforting her over her first broken heart then watching her grow into her own woman to find love with a student that shared her passion for music. Susan's proudest moment was giving Marie away at her wedding, tempered slightly by the longing both of them felt that Marcus should have been there.

Together they celebrated Susan's promotions, although tinged with sadness when she finally handed the Titans over to Corwin and took up an office on Earth. The move did mean that Susan was based in one place and could have Marie and Ian to stay between their trips. The couple had both joined a deep space exploration company after graduating and often spent months away surveying planets for their mineral wealth. Marie never had rejoined the Rangers, although she still considered Minbar her home.

Twelve years after their first meeting Susan was at home one evening, waiting for a message. Only the day before she had been promoted to General and had immediately sent the good news off to a system that was just a dot on the star charts. She was expecting an interesting reply as Marie always made her congratulations special. When she had been made a Major General, Marie and Ian had greeted her with a rendition of the Sullivan song, with a few alterations. Susan smiled at the memory, then looked up from her paperwork as the computer sounded an incoming message.

"There she is." She thought to herself.

But it wasn't.

"Sorry to disturb you Susan," It was General Jackson, a colleague of Susan's and her closest friend after Marie and Stephen. "You didn't disturb me," Susan bit back her impatience, "I was just waiting for a message from Marie."

"Ah.. That's what I called you about."

Susan's chest immediately tightened. Something had happened. She gripped the arm of her chair and listened to her friend. She heard the words; she understood them; but they were not being told to her. They were being told to another Ivanova in another universe. Susan was just eavesdropping on this reality; she wasn't really here.

Marie and Ian's ship had been surveying a planet in a disputed sector of space. Just as they were there, the two races involved decided to launch into a full-scale war. Communication had been lost with their ship and the local governments were not being co-operative. Skirmishes were proving so frequent that all races not involved in the conflict had been ordered to avoid the area. Reconnaissance by a local EA ship indicted that Marie would have been caught in the middle of a firefight; and at the moment, no trace of them could be found.

From her distant elsewhere place, Susan watched the other Ivanova thank the General for letting her know, and terminate the connection.

Then she sat.

Slowly, Susan seeped back into her reality. She felt the heartbreak hum around her in the air. She could not deny it.

Marie was lost.

She could not deny it, but she would not accept it. Susan pulled in every ounce of privilege that her rank gained her and put in a gold channel message to the Titans. Corwin was only too glad to divert course to the planet Marie was last seen. After that, Susan contacted Delenn and requested help from the Rangers. Within hours, Susan was speeding through hyperspace on a Whitestar, not knowing what she would do when she reached her destination, but knowing that she had to do something. She owed it to Marie and Ian, to herself, and to Marcus.

To be continued..