Part 2
Zack Allen was troubled by the reports he was getting. He knew he would need to disperse the huge crowd gathered outside of Medlab. He had been informed that Marcus Cole was responsible for the gathering, or rather, Susan Ivanova was. The sound of her voice yelling from Medlab had stopped people in their tracks.
There were so many rumors going around the station. A dying Susan Ivanova had been brought back to Babylon 5. He knew that Marcus Cole had returned to be with Susan. When Stephen and Lyta had docked, Stephen had run off to Medlab, and Lyta had remained with Zack to fill him in. Lyta did not seem eager to go, with Stephen. Marcus was dead.
Zack had been stunned by the news. He liked Marcus. Granted, Marcus was a little too cocky, but he was a brave man, willing to give his life for the things he believed in. Obviously, Susan meant more to him than his own life. When Lyta finally left to see if she could be of any help to Stephen, Zack went Down Below. He had just exited the lift when he got the call to assist in the crowd dispersal.
When Zack got to the corridor near Medlab he discovered it was worse than he thought. It was so crowded it seemed as if half the inhabitants of the station were there. With his authority to back them up, security was able to clear the area.
Zack entered Medlab 3. Stephen was consulting with Lennier.
"I can keep his body functioning, but without some brain activity soon, I'm afraid any effort will be a waste."
"What are you proposing?" Lennier asked.
"This may sound crazy, but Laura Rosen used the machine to heal people. She sacrificed a little of her life to make them well. I'm going to give Marcus a little bit of my life and see if that makes a difference."
"Wait a minute, Doc," Zack put in, "That sounds pretty risky."
"I've been studying the machine for a long time now. I think this will work. I need to test the idea, and for Marcus' sake I can't wait any longer."
"Someone will need to operate the machine," Lennier said. "Let me be your test subject."
"I can't let you do that."
"You can't restore Marcus by yourself."
"Lyta," Stephen called, "are you sure Marcus is still here? I still can't get any confirmation on my sensors."
Lyta was now seated next to the bed. Susan was seated opposite her. Susan's arms were stretched across Marcus, her hands touching Lyta's hand.
"I can sense his thoughts, and Susan's thoughts. I am getting a vague impression from Susan of the two of them standing together."
"That's impossible!" Zack said.
"This is different from anything I've ever encountered. It seems spiritual, somehow, yet very real."
"It may have something to do with both Susan and Marcus being in a near death situation." Stephen replied.
"Susan, what are you sensing?" Stephen asked.
Susan gave no reply, her expression remained fixed.
"Lyta, can you contact her telepathically?"
((Susan)), Lyta called out.
(What is it, Susan?) Marcus asked.
(Lyta is speaking to my thoughts.)
(What is she saying?)
(She's trying to speak to you, Marcus. Can you hear her?)
(I only see you, Susan.)
(He can't hear you, Lyta.)
"Susan says Marcus can't hear me."
Zack looked at Susan. Her expression hadn't changed.
"Their souls are linked," Lennier said reverently, "you must let me help them."
"I can't unless I'm sure it's going to work. Watch the monitor, Lennier, and see if anything changes."
Stephen's medical staff, crowded in the doorway to Medlab 3, started to protest.
This was an untested, potentially dangerous experiment after all. Stephen was determined, and would not allow them to interfere. Stephen strapped himself to the machine and turned it on. He felt weak and sick. After a few moments, he turned it off.
(Susan, I'm feeling a bit stronger than I did a moment ago.)
(Stephen must have thought of some way to help you.)
(Why are you here, Susan?)
(I'm not sure where "here" is, but I couldn't let you die.)
(That's funny. I'm here because I couldn't let you die.)
Stephen unhooked himself and stood up weakly. Zack helped him into a chair.
"There has been a definite change on the monitor you asked me to watch," Lennier told him.
Stephen got up, and with Zack's help walked over to get a good look at the readings.
"It's working! I'm detecting a little brain activity."
A shout of excitement and congratulations went out from the gathered staff and bystanders. The atmosphere in Medlab went from sad and tense to joyous and hopeful.
Lyta slipped her hand out and walked over to Zack.
"They don't need my help anymore...I feel as if I'm intruding on what should be a private conversation. They've formed a mental link."
Stephen looked up from the monitor.
"I know Susan has telepathic abilities, but I wonder if Marcus doesn't have some, too."
"That would explain a few things," said Zack.
"What do you mean?" Lyta asked.
"Things I've noticed about the way he does his job. He seems to have great intuition and reflexes. Maybe it's more than that."
"Well, whatever it is, it's keeping him alive right now," Stephen replied.
"Since the procedure worked, will you allow me to make a small sacrifice, too?" Lennier asked.
"I can't do this by myself. I'm going to need some volunteers."
"I'll put the word out," Zack said.
"The more, the better," Stephen replied.
"I'll be back as soon as I can," Zack told Lyta as he left Medlab.
Stephen hooked Lennier to the machine. He switched it on for the briefest of time.
(There's something I need to ask you, Marcus.)
(Go ahead.)
(You once told me you were a virgin.)
(And you made a crack about unicorns.)
(Well, it is kind of unusual at your age!)
(Just because I'm a virgin, doesn't mean I don't have any passion. I don't want to waste it on the wrong girl.)
(The girl you told me about...Do I know her?)
(Rather well.)
Lennier took stock of himself after the transfer. He really didn't feel that much different.
"I'd like you to run the machine a little longer."
"Lennier, I can't gauge how much of your life energy I've taken."
"I haven't made enough of a sacrifice. Please Stephen, this is important to me."
Stephen switched the machine back on.
(Marcus, who is she?)
(Don't you know, Susan?)
(I think I've probably known for a long time, I just didn't want to acknowledge it. Everyone who's ever really meant something to me has left me, Marcus. Most of them have died.)
(Susan, I won't leave you if you say you want me to stay.)
(I've come here, Marcus, to try to get you to come back. I wouldn't have done that if I didn't want you. In this place I can't hide my true feelings.)
(I can't hide mine, either. I feel totally exposed to you on a level deeper than I've ever known.)
(Tell me, then, the truth.)
(I love you, Susan.)
Stephen turned on the switch. Lyta felt a draining of herself, and a type of euphoria. It was so satisfying to be part of Marcus' recovery. After her brief mental link with Susan, she knew that this was the right choice. She reached out her thoughts to Susan. She could sense Susan's feelings for Marcus. She withdrew from her probing, but as Stephen unhooked her, he noticed she was smiling.
"It gave me a good feeling, too. I'm glad I could do this to help them."
Lyta just smiled.
A line was beginning to form outside of Medlab.