Author's Note: I just wanted to apologize for missing so many posts over the winter. Bad writer. I'm back now, and hopefully I'll be posting weekly again (as class work allows).
Talia pulled back and wiped her eyes.
"What would you want me to do?"
"Watch, listen. Maybe more."
"Alisa, I know I don't have a choice, but I can't just agree to something like that. I trust you, but you're asking me to betray more than just the Psi Core. I can't, you have to understand that."
"I'm not asking you to. Talia, I'll have to contact the Entil'za before I can give you any solid information. But we are trying to protect Earth, there is more going on then you think. When can we meet again?"
"I can only take over when She's asleep."
"I'll meet you three nights from now then. The Moirae at 0100 hours?"
"The Moirae?" Talia looked up surprised; a genuine smile briefly touching her lips for the first time since the Sleeper had taken over.
"You know it?"
"Not really, it's just that Susan stayed in one on Io."
"Wait, I think I remember hearing about that. Didn't she end up throwing a telepath out of a third story window?"
"There was a pool."
"You think she knew that?"
Talia's slight smiled returned. "No. But she had reason."
Alisa let the statement pass. The humor faded out of her eyes as she leaned toward Talia and placed her hand comfortingly on Talia's knee. "Talia," She asked gently. "Why didn't you want Susan to know that you're… um still alive?"
The Talia I knew is dead. "Because I might not be alive. Not really. Alisa, I'm trapped inside my own head and there no reason to believe there's anyway to fix this."
"Talia we're going to find a way-"
"When? Months? Years? I can't put her through that. And I have to protect her. If she found out- And the Sleeper's in control almost all the time- If the Sleeper or the Psi Core. No. No." Talia took a deep breath. She hated losing control of herself like that, but lately efforts, when they where her own, at calm exterior had been transparent at best. "Alisa please, don't tell Susan."
Alisa listened as Talia repeated the plea she had made in message and reluctantly nodded her agreement. "She won't find out unless you tell her yourself, I give my word. And you know how the Minbari treat such things." Looking like the overly curious girl she had been when Susan and Talia had found her Alisa opened her mouth as if to ask something and closed it again.
"What?" Talia asked.
"Susan? You two didn't seem very friendly when you guys where trying to help me get used to my gift. My blocks where, you know, nonexistent back then and the way you guys where radiating hostility…."
"We," Talia paused trying to think of what to say. 'I'm in the middle of fifteen things all of them annoying.' 'Perhaps tomorrow we can start on better terms?' 'Me? I'll have you know I have been nothing but considerate and understanding. All you had to do was admit that you were wrong and I was right…' 'You don't offend me, that does.' "I love her."
