See Prologue for Disclaimer.

Part 14 of 36

They took in the lunch in the presence of several human students and the both most important instructors, Sech Turval and Sech Durhan. It consisted only of Flarn, a dish of the minbari, which Susan doesn't like especially.

'Great if they are only serving Flarn in the next weeks.', she thought.

After the meal Delenn brought Susan in the meditation room. Susan was presented the other students. She was immediately somewhat particular, because she had worked it, to be taken subsequently in the class and because she knew Entil'Zha Delenn personally. Delenn participated also the lesson. Susan sat beside Delenn on the floor and began to free her spirit. Sech Turval sat in the middle of the room and observed his whole students. Particular he paid attention to Susan. If a student wasn't concentrated or even was sleeping during the meditation, he hit him with a stick he held in his hand. Susan sank her walls to free her thoughts. Short time later Marcus was with her.

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"Finally I have contact you, Susan"

"Marcus! I'm just in a meditation." she called frightened.

"Then a little diversion can't harm. I know, how boring the whole thing is. Does Turval still have his stick with him?"

"Yes."

"Oh, what painful memories. I don't know, how often I have gotten this stick. Usually I have fallen asleep, or I have refused to participate in the meditation. I think Turval would say, that I was a bad student."

"Then I rather don't mention your name. Not that he still remembers you and transfers his bad experiences with you to me. I'm already now treated like an eccentric."

"Why that?", Marcus asked.

"Delenn has had her force played, so that I can already now participate in the training. The minbari, who makes the registrations, didn't want to have me thereby, because the training has already begun some weeks ago and he thinks, that I can't make up the remainder. Delenn has offered me her help."

"That's very nice of her. And you know , that you can always come to me. I have that all also endured personally."

"Thanks, I will surely come back to your offer."

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After the meditation lesson came the instruction in self-defence. Susan fought very well, because of her military education. Really she was better, than most of the other students. But in the fight with the denn'bok, the traditional fighting pike of the minbari the others were superior to her some. Susan had no chance against her partner, a young minbari named Lodaan.

'I think, I will take an extra training lesson with my private coach this evening.', Susan thought.

After that the day was past. There was still a common meal with Delenn, but after that she went back to John. Delenn promised to see Susan once more before their departure and she should report her any time if she had problems with the training.

Susan went in her room and lay down on the slanting bed.

"Great, I'm not going to get much sleep in this bed."

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It didn't last long and Susan was with Marcus. He wore sportswear, exactly like Susan. Both held a minbari - fighting pike in their hand.

"Are you ready for an instruction lesson ?", Marcus asked.

"Why have you known that I wanted to ask you about it?"

"You know, I have very much time here in my sick-room to play with my new abilities and somehow it have worked that I knew, what you intend. I only don't know how I have made it."

"No fear I will show you that when you have woken up. Let us begin."

Both opened their weapons and began with simple exercises. Marcus explained her everything exactly. Susan made everything so, as he told her. Slowly he raised the tempo and the degree of difficulty. After approximately four hours they stopped. Both were fully exhaust and sweaty.

"So, now you must be on the same level like the others. I'm not completely sure, what Durhan had shown us in the first weeks, but this might have been it. When do you have your next lesson with the denn'bok?"

"I believe the next is already tomorrow. I report you then, how it has run. Thank you Marcus."

"You are welcome", Marcus said on minbari.

"What was this?" Susan, whom language proficiency wasn't so far extend asked.

"I observe already, that we must work urgently on your minbari. If you like, I can help you immediately with it. Or are you too exhausted?"

"Of course I'm tired, but I enjoy the time with you, that I will gladly continue. Let's begin."

In the next two hours Marcus explained Susan the differences of the languages of the three castes. He procured her also some easier expressions in these languages. Susan observed not at all, as the time passed. She was disturbed by a remarkable buzz.

"Marcus, what's this?"

Marcus heard the noise. "I haven't heard that since some years. It's an old alarm Will has gotten from Sinclair. Later he has given it to me. I don't know where I have left it."

"I can answer you this question . It still stands in your old room on the training compound. Delenn has told me, that you as well as your brother and Jeff were housed here."

"That has Delenn caused? But you will like the room. It has a beautiful prospect of the mountains. I often stood there for hours and have simply seen out. It has helped me to relax. Now you must go, otherwise it gives no breakfast more."

"I rather dispense it there is only Flarn. Not just my favourite dish."

"There I can quieten you. There is mostly only once a month Flarn for the human students. Otherwise there is normal meal for us. It tastes even of something. But I'm not sure, whether there is your beloved coffee."

"If not, I ask John or Delenn, whether they procure me something. They have offered me their help. Without coffee I can hardly survive."

Susan gave Marcus a kiss on the forehead and left their dream world.

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As she was in the reality again, she was astonished, how well she has slept on the minbari - bed. She felt refreshes and strengthened for a new day in the education. After breakfast she had a history lesson about the rangers. Also Susan had here no large gaps, because Marcus and Delenn had told her very much about it. After this lesson, which appeared to last eternally, it gave a light lunch. After that she had to meditate again. The last lesson was a course in the minbari - language. The teacher asked her, to introduce her in minbari.

"Master I don't think, that I already know so much of your language to introduce me", tried Susan to stop the instructor .

"Please try it. We will help you."

Susan began to introduce herself in minbari. In the beginning she had still some difficulties, however it appeared her that the fitting sentences would form up in her thought. The most of the words she spoke had she never heard before, but she knew, what they meant.

"You see, it wasn't so difficult. You almost have made no errors. Very surprisingly for a human, who doesn't master our language."

"Thanks masters.", Susan said and blushed.

After supper she went in her room and got ready on the minbari - bed, for her next training lesson with Marcus.

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They met again at the same place like the day before.

"How was your first lesson in minbari?", Marcus asked with a broad grin.

"I think it was good. The master has praised me." Susan came a thought. "You have send me the right sentences, haven't you?"

"Yes, I have. However I know, that you aren't yet so far, but very soon you will be. But I haven't done that for you. I miss your proximity and if you are finished earlier with the training, because you produce so excellent performances, you can come formerly back to Babylon 5 and hinder Stephen that he makes these whole tests with me."

"You feel, if somebody is with you?"

"Yes, especially Stephen and you. Are you ready for a further lesson with the denn'bok?"

Susan nodded. They trained several hours with the fighting pike. Marcus was astonished, how good Susan was. To loosen the exercises a bit Marcus talked with her in minbari. Susan noticed not at all, that he interrelated her both weaknesses . They were disturbed again through the ringing of Marcus' old alarm.

"I have observed not at all, how fast the time is past. Now we haven't any time more, to exercise minbari. I hope, I endure the next lesson without your help."

"Don't you have notice, that we already have talked the whole time in minbari? You make almost no errors more. Only at your vocabulary we must exercise a bit. I'm sure, that you will make the hour without my help, and if not, you know how you can find me."

"Thanks Marcus." Susan gave Marcus a kiss and returned in the reality .

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