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CHAPTER 2"Commander, it is 06oo," the computer said, and began to beep. Susan hit the snooze button. She just wanted a few more minutes. Finally, she sat up. "Good morning," she said aloud. "Computer, schedule."
It reminded her that she had a meeting with the Green Drazi leadership. She covered her face and groaned. Several months ago, the Green and Purple Drazi here on the station were bent on killing each other. She had finally settled matters and literally, by accident, she became leader of the Green Drazi on the base. Her right foot still ached from the encounter.
She heaved herself out of bed, and slowly went to shower. A real shower was the only think that made it worthwhile to get out of bed. Ten minutes later, she was dressed. After fixing coffee, she filled her favorite mug, grabbed her morning report printouts that had printed as she had dressed, and left for the mess hall.
She found the Captain, and Mr. Garibaldi already at a their usual table. She took the only empty seat.
"Good morning, Commander," Michael said between bites. As always, Michael seemed to attack his food as if he hadn't had a meal in days.
"Garibaldi. Captain," she said. The Captain waved some printouts he was reading, and nodded. This had been a routine that they had got into since the Captain came on board. It helped them to have an informal staff meeting before the day began.
"… As I was saying, Captain, the information is still sketchy. We are turning over every rock, leaning on every snitch we can find, and still no new information."
John turned to Susan, "I am at least glad to hear for once you aren't being stubborn…"
Susan sat her fork down, and looked at him questioningly, "Excuse me?" She looked at Michael, but he appeared to be even more involved with his food.
"Mr. Garibaldi has just informed me about the dead mercenary found in Brown sector…"
"Mr. Garibaldi is making too much out of the information he has so far," she
said evenly, but was unable to keep the anger from her voice. She stared at
Michael, but he wouldn't look at her. She kicked him under the table and
viciously smiled when he grimaced. Turning back to the Captain, "I'm sorry he
bothered you about this. As I told Mr.
Garibaldi, I am a big girl and have been trained by EarthForce to take care of
myself." With that said, she stood, "I
need to go if there is nothing else, Captain?" She looked at John.
He shook his head, "No, Commander; carry on."
"Yes, Sir," she said, and walked away.
John laughed as Michael grimaced, and watched as Michael reached down to massage his injured leg, "Are you okay?"
"I'll be fine," he growled. "I told you, she wasn't taking this very well."
John stood, gathered his printouts, and then patted Michael on the shoulder, "Yes, but I feel better knowing that you are keeping an eye on her." His tone turned serious, as well as his thoughts, "Don't let anything happen to her, Michael. I don't know what I would do…"
Michael interrupted, "I feel the same way, Sir. Over my dead body, Captain, over my dead body." He decided to lighten the mood, "'Lil" sister will be protected whether she wants it or not."
John laughed, "Be glad she didn't hear you call her that…" and walked away.
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Finally, Susan thought as she looked at the chrono display, it's over. She had already brief Lt. Davis about the alpha shift. She turned to Lt. Davis, "Well, Davis, that's everything. Good luck, and I hope your shift goes smooth."
"Thanks, Commander," Davis said, and took her place at the com station.
A few minutes later found Susan at the Eclipse Café sipping on a cup of coffee. She noted Lou looked real out of place here. She smiled. Well, I'm not changing my routine just to make him, or anyone else feel comfortable.
As the warmth of the coffee, and the caffeine began to spread throughout her body, she slowly began to relax, and her headache seemed to ease. She let her gaze wonder over the other patrons, and the people walking by the windows outside the shoppe. The Zocalo was packed with others getting off shift. She signaled the waiter for another cup, and tried to decide on dinner.
"Hello, Commander," a sultry voice broke her train of thought.
Susan looked up and found Ms. Talia Winters, Babylon5's resident commercial telepath, and the one person Susan had tried to avoid since she came on board at all cost. But, Ms. Winters was tenacious, and had finally worn her down. After a few shared drinks, and a meal or two, Susan had begun to realize Talia wasn't such a bad person after all. She would never like Psi Corps, but she had begun to think she could separate her feelings for Ms. Winters from her feelings for the Corps.
"Ms. Winters," she replied.
Pointing at the empty chair, Talia asked, "Do you mind if I join you?"
"Sure, have a seat," Susan said. She noted Ms. Winters was in her usual Psi Corp brown-black uniform dress, dark stockings, and long, black, Psi-dampening gloves. "So, how has your day been?" Susan noticed the droop of Talia's shoulders, wrinkling of her brow, and the tiredness around her eyes.
Talia sighed as she sat down. It was the first time she had been able to relax all day. She had three different meetings today, and the last one really taxed her limits. It is always difficult when both sides try to lie, and expect to get it by her. She grimaced, "It's been a long day." She rubbed her temples trying to relieve the headache that was persisting since leaving her last clients. She smiled graciously at the waiter as he set a steaming cup before her. She took a sip of her tea, closed her eyes as she enjoyed the taste and warmth of it. Sighing, "I really needed that." She opened her eyes and looked at Susan. "It has been a very long day."
"So, how has you day gone, Commander?" Talia really looked at Susan for the first time since she sat down. She now noticed the dark circles under the Commander's eyes, taunt muscles around her mouth, and she looked a little paler than ever. She is under so much stress, Talia thought, How I would love to reach out, and try to smooth it away. I have been in love with her since the first time I laid eyes on her. Until recently, I didn't think I had a chance, but now… She dragged her thoughts back to the present and focused on what Susan was saying.
"Like you, I am grateful that my day of work is hopefully over." Susan was glad Talia had stopped, and that thought was kind of a shock. Glad to see a telepath…. She couldn't believe this thought didn't trigger a feeling of aversion. Now, I know I have lost my mind. But as the saying goes, if you can't beat them; join them... I guess. She, also, realized she didn't want to eat alone this evening. After rolling the thought around in her mind for a few seconds before she asked the question out loud, "Ms. Winters, do you have plans for this evening?"
Talia arched her left eyebrow questioningly. Was she asking me out on a date?
As if she read Talia's thoughts, Susan supplied, "It's just… I was thinking about dinner, and I just don't want to fight off all of the men who want to join me for dinner if I eat alone," she paused and realized how lame that sounds, "What I meant to say is I would like some company for dinner, and I wonder if you were game?' Boy, that didn't coming out right! I'm such an idiot.
Talia sensed the Commander's discomfort, and insecurity feelings. This was the first time she had ever seen her flustered. She smiled as she tried to radiate comfort to the Commander, "Commander, I would love to have dinner with you."
Susan sighed in relief. She didn't want to offend Talia; she just wanted company-no, her company her inner voice corrected - for dinner. "What are you in the mood for?"
Talia paused, and thought about it for a minute. Making a decision, she countered with another option. "To be honest, I am not looking forward- anymore than you are- to sit in a restaurant, and have to fend off… unwanted company. How about we get takeout, and go to your quarters…" she rushed on, "… since they're the closest?"
Susan thought about it for just a second, and found she felt the same way, "What do you think about Chinese?"
"Sounds great. How about you get the food, and I'll get us something to drink. How about I meet you at your quarters in about twenty minutes?" Talia wanted to freshen up first, and maybe, change into something a little more comfortable. Her feet had begun to really ache.
Susan signaled for the check, "Okay… What do you want to eat?"
" Szechuan Chicken sounds good, and anything else you want," Talia began to get excited about "dinner" for the first time in a while. She stood, "Anything particular you want to drink?'
"You pick," Susan said as she used her chit card to pay the tab. She stood as well, "See you in a few minutes."
They walk out the door then parted with each goes their separate ways.
What they didn't see was the person standing in the dark corner across the way. The person was wearing a cloak with a hood, and faded into the background once he spotted the undercover officer that followed the Commander out of the café.
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