See prologue for Disclaimer

Part 5

"May I ask you something, Susan?"

"Go on ambassador." Susan was curious what the minbari-woman would ask her.

"Susan, we know ourselves long enough, to be on first name base." Susan nodded. "What do you believe is your government doing with John?"

Susan thought about it.

"I don't know what they will do with John. But they will answer him for the deeds he had done. And that were rather many. And he will not be the only one, who must justify. I believe firmly, that also Garibaldi, Franklin, Allan and I must put through an investigation of the Earth reign. On which way they will punish us, I cannot say however some possibilities would be imprisonments on indefinite time or the withdrawal from EarthForce."

"But you believe that he will survive the inquiry?"

"Yes I do. I know how much John means to you. Don't worry. He will come back to you."

"And if we bring him to leave EarthForce, then he will be punished more mildly, wouldn't he?"

"Yes, this could be the case. But what should John do without the military, without Babylon 5? Oh no, I know this expression!"

Delenn smiled. "I believe I have an idea. I'm not sure, whether he can keep the command over Babylon 5, but with his new military post he hardly will have time, to command the station. But I need your help, Susan."

"Okay what can I do to help John?"

"You must call all representatives of the alien races on the station in the war room. And please be inconspicuously."

"I meet immediately with Londo. He can help me to notify some. Zack should worry about the other."

"Thanks Susan and if you can arrange it, you should also come, please. I need urgently the support of a friend."

Astonished Susan left the room. *Delenn considers me as a friend!* Susan had helped Delenn after her transformation from minbari in a mixture of minbari and human very with her questions and problems, however her was new, that she felt so for her. Susan did not have many friends, the only one, she would call so was the Captain, with whom she has worked together many years ago. Before all the things have gone wrong in her life. She had had a difficult childhood. Her mother had been a telepath, who didn't want to join the PsiCorp. She was forced to take medicines to suppress her Psi - abilities. These medicines had driven her slowly in the insanity. At the end she couldn't endure it any longer and has killed herself. Susan had been then tight ten years old. She had to promise her mother, that nobody would learn about her abilities. As Susan had been four years old, she had read for the first time the thoughts of her mother. Later she could also read the thoughts of her older brother Ganya. The PsiCorp didn't know that she was a latent telepath and this should remain so. She hated the Corp and all telepaths, especially Bester, the strongest among them. Her father couldn't evade with the death of his wife and left the family. Susan grew up with her brother Ganya at their grandmother in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Susan's brother joined EarthForce and fought in the great Earth - Minbari - war, where he found his death. Susan joined EarthForce, too. Her dream was to command once her own ship. Susan was displaced on a supply base on Io, where she worked for the first time with John Sheridan. Later she was offered a place on Babylon 5. Since the first minute she was on the station, although at first she was afraid, because of the incidents, which had happened with the prior 4 stations. She had much experienced there. Yes, her first superior Jeffrey Sinclair she would also mark as friend. As he suddenly and fully unexpectedly was displaced to Minbar, she had missed him awfully. If she considered exactly, she would also mark Michael Garibaldi and Dr. Stephen Franklin as her friends. They had been a great help in the last few months. On Babylon 5 she had also met Talia Winters. She was also a telepath. The first stationed for longer on Babylon 5. Susan had fallen in love with her and lost her on a dramatic way. Talia was a spy of the PsiCorp, although she didn't know this personally. After this incident Susan had sworn never to love somebody again. Then however Marcus came into her life . Susan displaced the thought of him. First she had to help John. She stood in front of the door to Londo Mollari's quarters, ambassador of Centauri Republic.

"Ah, Commander. Nice that you could arrange it."

"What can I do for you ambassador? It appeared to be urgent!"

"Commander, you are always getting straight to the point. Would you like something to drink? Vir, get the Commander something."

On Londo's call his clumsy and confused aide came. He gave Susan a glass of water.

"Londo, please come to the point. Perhaps you have observed it's rather much chaotic on the station."

"I will leave you. I also won't be available as ambassador any longer!"

Susan was shocked. She had calculated with a banality and not with such a problem. "What? Where will you go and who will be your successor?"

"Yesterday I received a message from the home world. Since emperor Cartagia is dead, Centauri Prime is ruled by a prime minister. He's seriously ill. He has demanded that I lead Centauri Prime. I become the new emperor. My successor is already certain. I have chosen Vir. He knows the station and the personnel. He has earned this chance."

"Congratulations, emperor Mollari. After this news I'm not sure, whether I can still bother you with my problems."

Londo laughed. "It's not official yet. How can I help you, Commander?"

"You have heard that Captain Sheridan is captured on earth? Ambassador Delenn has an idea, how we all can help the Captain. She has convened a meeting with all representatives of the alien races. You should help me, to notify them. Delenn and Chief Allan are also taking care about some."

"No problem, Commander. Consider it as settled. Vir, please do it."

Susan left Londo and went out. She progressed on her way to C&C. On the way there she notified Allan because of the meeting. Just as she was finished with her orders for Zack, she entered C&C.

"Commander, you look well." Lt. Corwin overthrew on her and was visibly facilitates to see her. He was so pleased about it that he had even dared to make her a compliment, which could have bad consequences, from easy injuries up to the death.

"Thanks David. Are there any problems?"

Corwin couldn't believe it. The Commander had thanked him and he was still alive. The Commander had changed - for the better!

"No, there are no problems. At least nothing I could not solve alone."

"Well David. I will be in my quarter, since normally I haven't been release from MedLab. If there is a problem you can reach me via ComLink."

Susan left C&C, however she didn't go to her quarters, but with a small detour over the officer's mess to MedLab. She had promised Marcus to come back as soon as possible and since it gave nothing more to do for her, she observed this promise. On her way she ate her lunch, which consisted of synthetically manufactured foods. It didn't really taste, but it was better than nothing. When she entered MedLab, she was astonished, that Stephen was nowhere to been seen. She looked at the clock and observed the reason for it; he had a short lunch break. She didn't wait for him coming back but went directly in Marcus' room. She knew that Stephen wouldn't be against it. She sat on her chair again and took his hand. She felt that everything around her was going into a blur. She shook her head to be able to see again clearly and noticed that she was in Tuzanor again. Marcus stood next to her.

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"Susan, my darling!"

"Marcus! I have promised you, that I will come back again. It's rather quiet on the station. Corwin appears to be in control of everything."

"He had the best teacher. Tell me, what has happened."

"I don't know so exactly. Everything I know is, that we freed Earth and have prevented a large disaster. Clark has committed suicide and wanted to destroy the Earth. The Captain has prevented it in the last second. Now he is on Earth and answers the government. Delenn is very anxiously about him. I never have seen her like that. But I have the feeling, that she has already an idea, how she can help him. She has convenes a meeting with all representatives of the alien races. I should support her as a friend."

"I can already imagine what Delenn plans. She has had this idea already since some time and wanted to realize it with the help of Sheridan, when everything has become somewhat quieter. Now I believe, she wants to make it without his help and you must support her. She needs you, just like I need you, Susan."

"I need you also Marcus. You must get healthy again. I couldn't live without you."

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Delenn had met Stephen, as he was after his lunch break on the way back to MedLab. Delenn wanted to visit Marcus. As they came in the room they found Susan there. She sat at Marcus' bed and held his hand. She didn't appear to notice the both of them. Stephen looked for a nurse and asked how long Susan was already with him. The nurse said that she sat already since an hour there and appeared not to be moving. Stephen was worried about Susan. He stepped in the room and touched her softly by the shoulder.

"Can you hear me Susan? Are you alright?"

Susan didn't want to leave her dream-state with Marcus, but however Stephen appeared very anxiously.

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"Marcus, Stephen is in the room and wants to talk with me. I don't want to leave you."

"Susan, you don't leave me. Go to Stephen and tell him, that everything is okay. Give my husband a kiss on the cheek from me and tell him, he should hand in a petition for our divorce."

Marcus smiled at her, as she returned to the reality again.

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Susan laughed, when she saw Stephen.

"What's the matter?" she asked.

"We were worried about you. When Delenn and I came in here, you sat there and haven't noticed that we were here. It was frightening. I have thought you were in another world."

"Somehow I was that. I can't explain you that, because I don't understand it myself. But I promise you, that everything is okay with me and I have the feeling, that Marcus will make it. It will claim some time, but he will get healthy again. He has promised me that."

Susan got up, kissed Stephen on the cheek and left MedLab. As she had reached the door, she turned around and smiled at him.

"Hand in a petition for your divorce, Stephen."

Stephen heard Susan still laugh, after she was out of his view. 'What does this mean?' he wondered. He would have a serious word with Susan, when she was the next time in his holy halls, which in his opinion wouldn't last very long.

What do you think so far? Please R&R.