See Prologue for Disclaimer.

Part 25 of 36

„Susan, is that the way you greet an old friend? If this is the case, we turn immediately and fly home." said a cheerful voice Susan had missed so much.

„Michael, what are you doing her? I hadn't calculated until te end of the week with you."

„I will explain you that later. May we dock?"

Susan saw to the responsible officer, who told her the landing field for the ship. She transmitted it to Michael, and then progressed on the way to there. It didn#t last long until Michael Garibaldi and his girlfriend Lise Hampton- Edgars stepped from the ship.

„Michael!" Susan called as she saw him and embraced him stormily. „I have missed you."

„Susan, it's beautiful to see you. You look good. May I present you Lise Hampton? Lise this is Susan Ivanova, the mistress of Babylon 5 and a very good friend of mine."

The both women shook hands. „Michael, unfortunately I must disappoint you, but I'm no more the mistress of the station. I have left the EarthForce."

Michael examined her disconcerted. „I don't believe that. The station and the military were your whole life. What do you want to do now?"

„I will tell you that at supper. Where do you want to go? Do you already have a quarter?"

„No, I had no time to trouble about it. But my old quarter would be fine."

„Let me see, what I can do for you. Therefore, where do you want to have supper?"

„What do you think of Earhearts? With all the others. Can you arrange that? I would like to see the whole troop again."

„Okay, the best is, you both go in my quarter and I get the others. Is eight o'clock okay? I come to you shortly before, so that I can change my clothes."

Michael and Lise agreed. Susan went to Delenn and John. On the way she invited Stephen, Lyta, Commander Lochley and Zack to the meal.

„Have you clarified the problem with the ship?" Delenn asked, as Susan entered the room.

„Yes, you won't guess, who it was. It doesn't matter. Will you both come to Earhearts tonight about eight o'clock? I would like to have some company. Bye." Susan took the child and went in her quarter, where Michael and Lise sat on her sofa.

„I have all informed. Nobody knows that you both are here. It will be a big surprise. So, now I take a shower and then I get the small ready. I hope it's okay with you, if I take him to Earhearts?"

They had nothing against it. After half an hour Susan came freshly showered and dressed from the bath. Michael examined her and whistled.

„ You look well."

„Thanks Michael."

Susan wore this evening a dark-green dress. Later she would wear her cloak above it. Her hair she wore open. They had arranged that Michael and Lise would come a bit later to the meeting, when all others were already there. Susan and William entered behind John and Delenn. After some time the others came also. All chairs, but two beside Susan were covered. Just as Zack wanted to ask, if somebody else was expected, the both came. Susan lifted her hand to show them, where they sat. All turned around and looked on the man without hair in dark clothes with his following, a large slender woman in a tight dress with brown hair. It lasted something, until the others recognized who that was. But as they recognized them finally, the delight was great. Michael and Lise were receiving cordially and John had finally the chance to thank Michael. All enjoyed the meal. It was a beautiful evening. Susan went as first, since she had to put William in his bed. Garibaldi and Lise joined her. Susan put the small in his bed and went again to her guests. There were a small problem with the rooms; therefore they had to spend this night at her place.

„So, Susan. Now tell me, what you make, after you aren't the mistress of the station." Garibaldi asked.

„When I was healthy again, I have gone to Minbar and have joined the rangers. By chance I have learned about a book written by Jeff and read it. It was very interesting. I think I can procure you a copy of it. In any case this book told something about a prophecy, that 1.000 years after Valen has emerged two persons will appear who will set up the dream-chancer to something great. Oh yes, the dream-chancer are a secret organization, something similar like the rangers, only we work with the dreams of the creatures to come to our information. And with the help of telepathy. It has turned out, that I'm one of these both persons and Marcus is the other one. Valen, or Jeff, was ... ähm, is the first of these dream-chancer. He has become it through his time-travel. He can see into the future, therefore he knows about me and Marcus."

„Yes, right. Jeff is a dream-chancer and telepath and you and Marcus also. Good joke. Therefore, what are you doing now?"

//Michael, don't you believe me?//, Susan asked telepathically.

„No Susan, I don't believe you."

„Michael, she has asked you that not at all." Lise ascertained.

„However I have heard it completely clearly."

„I have asked you, but through telepathy. It's true. I'm already from birth a 'teep', but I was never very strong. Something has happened with me. Stephen means that I'm stronger than our common large enemy."

„I believe that simply not! Don't you know, what the Corp and Bester have done to me. And now you simply tell me, that you are also one of them?"

„Michael, I'm none of them! I hate the Corp just like you. It has destroyed my family! I'm subordinate to the minbari. With them we are honoured and not scorned. I will never undertake a Scan. I won't abuse my gift also on a different way. It helps me only to do my tasks with the dream-chancer better. These people rely on me. I'm their leader."

„Okay, I believe you, but just because I know, that you hate Bester just like I do."

In the next morning all who participate in the project went in the MedLab. Stephen already waited and had everything prepared.

„Good morning Stephen. I have brought all along, who want to help Marcus. I think, they are enough."

„I think so but I unfortunately have to cut down your selection a bit."

„How do you mean that?" Susan wanted to know.

„I don't think it's a good idea, if John and Delenn participate in the transfer. John has already lost on Z'ha'dum enough life force and Delenn must think about the baby. And you also don't take part in the transfer. It isn't advisably in your condition."

„Stephen, you can't do that! Okay, I agree, if you forbid it John and Delenn, but how can I demand something from my friends, I once can't participate in it personally. It wouldn't be fair!"

„Susan, no objection. Either you dispense of it, to favours of your health or I abort the whole matter. It's your decision."

„That is extortion and you know that."

„It's no extortion. I think only for you. You aren't alone, but it seems you have forgotten that. You must also think about you. It would be irresponsible, if I would connect you to the machine. If Marcus would learn of it, he would quarter me and that I would like to avoid gladly. I think there is in next time still much to do for me. The others will surely understand, that your health condition doesn't admit it."

The others listened very tensely to the dispute. They wondered, what it had to mean.

„Susan can you explain us about what you were speaking with Stephen? What condition means he?"

„As some of you surely might have noticed, I'm not in my normal health constitution at the moment. More I don't want to tell you now, but I promise you, that you will learn about everything in given time. I can also understand it, if you aren't ready now, to connect you to the machine. I can't demand something from you I'm not even personally in the position to do." With these words Susan threw an evil look to Stephen.

It didn't seem to be a problem for the others. They still wanted to help Marcus, so that the love of them had finally a chance. Therefore Stephen began to connect the gathered persons with the machine. He began with Lillian Hobbs. After few seconds he separated the connection again. He wanted to risk nothing, since he didn't yet know exactly, how this devilish machine worked. With each transfer the vital signs of Marcus became stronger and his movements in sleep increased.

Susan sat on a chair beside his bed and held his hand.

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„Susan, what happens with me? I feel suddenly so strangely." he asked with confused voice.

„We rouse the sleeping beauty from his sleep. You have sneaked out of your responsibilities long enough. There are now matters needing your whole attention."

„What do you mean with it and who is we?"

„We are the part of our friends, who know about the machine, which has brought us in this situation. And from the matters you will learn still early enough. Now calm down and gather your strength. We all only wait that you open your eyes."

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Stephen had connected all volunteers to the machine. Now he personally was still missing. He showed Lillian quickly the functioning and connected himself.

„Really I'm not sure, whether I should do this. Still he has left me because of another, this villain." Stephen said and examined Susan grinning.

Susan threw him an evil look and he put on the switch. He remained longer at the machine than the other.

„I think it will last something until he wakes up. It was a long time, he was in coma and he was very weak the whole time. I will tell you immediately, if something changes about his condition."

The others went back all in their quarters or to their work. Only Susan remained seated with William on Marcus side. The whole time she held his hand and felt, as his pulse increased continually, until it was normal. To this point in time he began to move more. He moved his head from one side to the other and moved his lips, as if he wanted to say something. Ultimately he began to open the eyes slowly. Susan noticed this and got up from her chair.

„Marcus? Can you hear me?" she asked softly.

„S... Susan? Are you here?" he asked with trembling voice.

„Marcus, I'm here and will never leave you again. Don't overstrain you. You are still very weak." she leant to him and gave him a soft kiss on his forehead.

„Stephen." she called from the room. „Stephen, hurry up. Marcus has woken up."

Few moments later the doctor was in the room and examined Marcus signs of life.

„Welcome back among the living. For some time it didn't look like you would make it."

„Stephen? Does our separation already run?" Marcus said weakly and grinned.

„I knew that it was a big mistake, hardly awake again and already a-pain-in- the-ass. Susan may I remind you of your promise?"

„Okay, I will try my best. Thank you for your help."

Stephen went out and gave the other the information. Naturally they wanted to come immediately. He agreed, but only for some minutes. Marcus was still very weak and needed much quiet.

Delenn and John came as first to Marcus.

„Entil'Zha, Mr. President."

„Marcus, please don't overdo it. It's already good to see you again so alive. We were all very worried about you."

„I'm sorry that I had kidnapped a ship, but I simply had to save Susan. Without her my life would have been worthless. Please Entil'Zha, don't get me wrong. The rangers were my life, but now there is something more important for me: Susan, the love of my life."

„Marcus, I understand you completely. And there isn't only Susan but also your nephew. He's such a nice child."

„By the way congratulations to the baby. Susan has told me already about the good news. I'm looking forward to play with your son or your daughter. It and William will understand themselves surely well."

„John, Delenn, I don't want to throw you out, but Stephen has said, that Marcus needs now much quiet. You can come back tomorrow morning."

They dismissed and Delenn took the small off Susan, since she assumed that Susan would remain longer with Marcus. Susan sat again to Marcus.

„It's beautifully to see you so lively again."

„ I'm not really lively at all. You should think that after I have slept so long I should be awaken" Marcus answered.

„If you want to sleep, I can go." Susan got already up, however Marcus grasped with still weak hand after her.

„No, please stay. I simply want to enjoy your company. Tell me something. What are your dream-chancers doing? What had happened as long as I was in coma?"

„Okay, I stay and tell you something, but you try to sleep. Therefore, I haven't yet worked much with the dream-chancer. Lennier and Tilaan have taken me off most of the work. I had to do too much other thinks. But now I can completely proceed to my task as Isban'Tho and perhaps I can bring the second Selected to it, that he joins us. What else has happened? Let me think. Michael has stayed with his great love on Mars and has cancelled each contact with his friends. He was afraid to meet John. As I have developed the plan, to get you to me again, I have tried to get in contact with him. It has worked. He and his girlfriend have come to Babylon 5. He and John have reconciled."

„You have brought Mr. Garibaldi to it that he comes again to the station. I must mean really much to you."

„You do that. But I had still a trump in the sleeve, which I can hopefully redeem. But to do it, it needs a bit of supernatural power. Let us hope, that it goes well, otherwise we have a rather sour Michael on the station and that isn't very desirable."

„Thanks Susan, that you have given me back my life and that you love me."

„It's the least I can do. I have loved you already since some time, but I was afraid of my feelings and I that you were in love with somebody else. I would have never thought in the life that I could be the woman of your heart, although I had desired it so much. And indirectly you have given me many hints. But I haven't understood it. From your presents for me I have simply assumed, there are attempts to drive me nuts. And as you have said me on minbari, that I'm the most beautiful woman, it wasn't very nice, that you have translated it wrong for me. But now I can speak perfectly minbari, Owing to you. Besides that you have saved my life first and there is nothing, for what you would have to thank me. I couldn't even participate in your rescue operation. I had only the idea and I have got the remaining persons together."

„What do you mean you couldn't participate in it?"

„Stephen has forbidden it me. Just like John and Delenn." Susan said and hoped, he wouldn't inquire further. However he did. Therefore she had to explain it to him.

„Stephen thought that it wouldn't do me well, if I participate in the transfer. In the first place because I have been cured first some months ago by such a transfer and secondly because of my breakdowns."

„Break-downs? I know only of one. Did there were further ones? Have you spoken with Stephen about it? Is everything okay with you?" Marcus was completely incensed.

„Please calm down, Marcus. Yes, there was still another one and yes, I have spoken with Stephen about it. He has consisted on it that I have myself examined. He says it's nothing dangerous. I'm feeling very well. Therefore, you see, there's nothing you have to worry about. And now I will leave you so you get some sleep and that you can soon home with me. And be nice to Stephen, I have promised it him."

„I'm always nice to him." he said with a grin on the face.

As Susan went out she met with the doctor. „Thanks Stephen that you have made this possible. It means very much to me. And please don't tell Marcus about the baby. I want to wait with this news until you have dismissed him."

„He will learn nothing from about the pregnancy, even if I would like to see his face."

„I can imagine that. Good night and thank you again."

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