Disclaimer: I still own nothing except for Saffire…and this piece of chocolate I found in my book bag but still all hail the mighty JMS!!!
~=Telepathy this (italics) is someone thinking
Author's note- thanks to Sabrina and Ankha for reviewing…I continued writing because you two asked me to here's a free….piece of chocolate ^_^ without further ado…part 2
A Friend's FriendPart 2
In his ship somewhere in hyperspace, Galen was jarred out of meditation. He looked around then thought for a moment. He got up and headed to his control panel to change course.
"Open a channel to the Excalibur," he said as his fingers ran over the keyboard. After a few minutes the channel opened. "Ah Lieutenant Matheson, so good to see you again."
…
In Med-lab, Dr. Sarah Chambers looked over the sleeping creature.
"Captain, I've never seen anything like this," she commented picking up one of the paws. "I'm glad I'll get a chance to study it some before it wakes up. That tranq you gave her will keep her under for at least three hours."
"Doctor, is it going to be alright? You told me not to give it the whole thing and I did," Captain Gideon paced in front of the alcove.
"Well as far as I can tell, she'll be fine. I've check the Vitals and compared them to the panther back home; so far so good," Sarah walked out of the alcove. "Captain, you've done nothing wrong."
Mathew cocked his brow, "Sarah, you're beginning to sound like Max." He turned to go, "I'll be in my quarters, call me if anything changes."
As the door slid shut behind the captain, Sarah slid into her chair, "Max? Max Eilerson? Oh man, I have been at work for far too long." She rubbed her temples and leaned back.
…
Mathew sat in his quarters reading more of the dreaded reports. He had just finished one and picked up another when his comm unit went off.
"Captain?"
"Yes Matheson?" Gideon called not looking up.
"We have a problem-" Matheson started.
"I said, WHERE IS SHE?!" Galen's voice cut in. Gideon threw the paper down and literally ran to the bridge.
"I know she's here!" Galen was saying when he reached the bridge. "I sensed her for a short time, and during that time she tried to call me!" Galen was fuming. He had every member of the bridge crew scared half to death and ready to run out the door first chance they got. A Technomage was dangerous enough, but an angry Technomage was a whole other story.
"Galen, if you calmed down a bit and told us who 'she' was, maybe we could help," Gideon walked over to Galen slowly. So far no damage had been done, but Galen was as predictable as a mustang.
"Saffire, I know that she is here and I demand that you tell…" he trailed off as he noticed that Gideon wasn't following. Frustration showed all over Galen's normally calm features, "She looks like this…" He held up one hand and a smaller version of the creature in Med-lab appeared sitting comfortably.
"Oh, the thing that nearly ripped my ship apart. Yeah she's here," Mathew crossed his arms over his chest.
"Rip the ship apart? Hah," Galen had an amused look on his face, "I've known Saffire for as long as I can remember. She would not rip this ship apart. Maul it maybe but…" He glared as he thought of what the captain would do to protect the ship. "You didn't harm her did you?"
"Galen, let's talk about this somewhere else so my crew can get back to work."
"Oh, yes! Get back to work you mindless little automatons!" Galen's voice was getting stern again. Gideon rolled his eyes.
"Come on Galen."
…
Dr. Chambers was working on Saffire's leg when the captain and Galen walked in. Galen took one look at the feline and his eyes got wide.
"What did you do to her? Why is she unconscious?" He ran to the glass and looked on like a concerned brother.
"Well when she first got here, something happened and my men started shooting, thus the leg." Gideon shifted his weight uncomfortably, "When I got there, I used a tranq on-"
"A tranq?! Do you realize what you've done?!" Galen ran into the alcove where the doctor was working. "Please stop what you're doing and leave." After a few moments hesitation, Dr. Chambers did as she was asked.
Galen pulled a small crystal from the folds of his jacket and scanned the feline. "Captain, I would like you to meet Saffire," he started, concentrating on the crystal's readings, "She's a Guardian, immune to every known toxin except tranqs and the like. They are deadly to her." He returned the crystal to its hiding place in his cloak then looked at Chambers.
"How much was given to her?"
"10 cc's," Sarah replied quietly. Galen thought for a moment then kneeled next to Saffire's head.
After taking a deep breath, he placed his hands on either side of the cat's head palms facing her. He mumbled a few and closed his eyes as a small grid appeared between the hands and started making it's way down the feline's body.
I hope I'm not too late, he thought sadly. "Captain, we need to change course. I was going to take her to Babylon 5; however, she is in no condition to be moved to my ship." The grid returned to Galen and he dispersed it then looked to doctor Chambers.
" I have removed as much of the tranquilizer as I could. Watch her well doctor, she is a rare find indeed, he looked at Mathew, "Come on then Mathew, I need to discuss some things with you."
…
They arrived at Gideon's office a short while later. Galen got comfortable in one of the chairs and looked at Mathew.
"Now that you know what a guardian looks like, let me explain what they do." Galen propped his feet on the desk.
"Comfy?" Gideon looked at Galen and raised his brow, motioning to the feet that were so comfortably placed on his desk.
"Yes, thank you," he leaned back, "Anyway Guardians are a very, very advanced race. When they are born, they are assigned one or two souls to go out and protect. Saffire received two, Marcus Cole and Susan Ivanova. You have heard of them I presume." Gideon nodded. "Good, I don't have to explain it then. When talking about them, she often calls them her guardianees."
"Does this cat have any abilities or is she just a cat that runs around the galaxy?"
"Oh yes she definitely has abilities captain," Galen got an amused look on his face. "She is telepathic…she can heal herself, and a few other, very powerful, abilities. She continues to surprise me with new ones also."
"If she can heal herself why were you so concerned when you saw her unconscious in Med-lab?"
"Because she once told me that the only time a member of her race is unconscious is when one, they are going to be in a coma, or two," Galen paused and took a deep breath, as if saying the next sentence was dangerous, "They are going to die very soon."
"So Saffire flies through space protecting two people, one of whom is dead?" Gideon sat back, skeptical.
"One, Marcus is not dead, he is merely in cryogenic-freeze. But other then that yes, she has a very small one person ship. Every since Sheridan led the war against Earth, Saffire's mission has been very similar to ours. That is why I request that we change course to Babylon 5 as soon as possible," Galen had a pleading look on his face.
"Why?"
"Because Captain along time ago I was unable to help a dying loved one, and I won't let it happen to someone else if I have a cure. We have found a way to bring him back."
…
Four hours after they changed course, Sarah was checking in on Saffire.
"You are a beautiful creature," she stroked Saffire's side, "And you sound like you're really intelligent too. Well from what the captain has told me anyway." Sarah started checking vitals when she heard a faint growl. The growling grew louder and before Dr. Chambers could react, the cat was off the table and had her pinned against the glass. Saffire's purple gazed was sharp.
~What happened?~ the 'voice' was full of venom.
Sarah stuttered and tripped over her words, being pinned to a pane of glass by a very large cat seemed to have that effect on people. The never wavering purple gazed suddenly glazed over with pain and Saffire released the doctor and moved to the other side of the alcove. She looked at the ground and gave a barely perceptible whimper.
~I am…sorry doctor Chambers, I…meant you no harm~
"How do you know my name?" Sarah queried. Saffire hesitated a moment longer then closed her eyes.
~I need Galen, where is he?~
"I never know where Galen is unless he's here. Can I get something for you?" Saffire looked up at the doctor, those beautiful orbs full of pain.
~Find Galen~
Sarah nodded and left the room. Once alone, Saffire climbed back onto the table and began to call Galen while healing her leg fully.
…
"And how long did you say it would take?" Galen was asking Mathew.
"About three more days. The only other time I've seen you this excited was when we were going to the Well of Forever," Mathew chuckled. When no answer was forthcoming Mathew looked over half expecting to find that Galen had left. He was surprised to see the Technomage staring strait ahead, as if listening to something, with his head tilted slightly to the side.
"Thank you captain, I must go now." Before Gideon could respond, Galen was out the door and practically running to Med-lab. He was so intent on getting to his destination that he nearly ran over the doctor coming around one corner. "Excuse me doctor, I am in a bit of a hurry."
"Saffire sent me to find you," Sarah called, catching up to him.
"I know, I heard her," he commented as he walked through the door to Med-lab. He saw the cat and smiled, "Saffire," he practically ran to the alcove, "It has been far too long." To the doctor it seemed like a family reunion. Saffire's eyes lit up and she flipped her tail happily when Galen hugged her then pulled up a chair. She went back to her paper while they talked.
~It has been far too long Galen. You told me I'd be welcomed warmly, all I have to show for that is a few PPG shots~ she looked to her hind leg. ~Well all I did have to show for it anyway~
"Do you remember how you got here, to Med-lab?" Galen asked cautiously. She shook her head. "Well the captain, I believe you've met him, decided to give you 10 cc's of tranquilizer when you came out of the docking bay." Saffire slowly nodded her head as if it all suddenly made sense.
~That would explain the headache. I'll have to watch that one, now I know why you saved that one~ She looked around, thoroughly amused. She looked back at Galen. ~I trust we've changed course~
"Yes, we'll be at Babylon 5 in three days."
~Did you contact her?~
"Not yet. I was working on that when you came here," Galen smiled, "And you just had so much fun that I had to come break it up."
~Oh, shut up!~ She playfully swiped a claw at him.
"Did you heal your leg fully?" he asked after dodging it. Saffire nodded. "Well then, come on. Let's go to my quarters and discuss the details." Saffire jumped off the table and the two left Med-lab without being noticed by anyone.
Ha ha, I finally got the chance to finish that chapter!! *happy dance* Guess where we are going next chapter…Babylon 5. Ya! Well I really need reviews people…I'll give you…*looks around*…this pen. Well I would appreciate any feedback. I want to know if I am unclear on anything or if you think I should expand on things. Hell review about the sky being blue I don't care ;) well see ya next chapter bye bye
