See Part 1 for Disclaimer.
Part 33
In a freighter of the Centauri, 4 days ago
Stephen sat down on a wooden chest. He had just learned the destination of his journey.
„I have the bad feeling, that Marcus has something to do with this. Only every couple of years a Centauri - ship flies up there and just that must I catch. If I would have informed myself before where it will go. But no, I was to busy to flee, again. But it appears to be my fate, so I must accept it.", Stephen spoke to himself.
The journey to his destination lasted three days. In these days he hadn't seen any of the crewmembers, which did not disturb him further. He had not yet got used to it where his journey would end. However he accepted that it was his fate.
He had enough, to be always on the escape. Hardly had he liked it on a place he went to another planet. This had to end and perhaps he would find his peace here finally.
Without notice a Centauri came to the cell and informed Stephen, that they had reached their destination.
Stephen got up and alit. Outside sunshine and a dreamlike environment expected him.
Here I could like it., he thought.
Stephen went into the entrance-hall of the space airport. Here he took a shuttle - cab, which brought him to a hotel in the near city. Stephen hadn't been here before, but he liked it immediately. In the city, Suminaa he bought a newspaper, so that he could look for accommodation.
He went in his room and studied the advertisements. Beside the newspaper a map of the area and a roadmap of the capital city lay on the bed. Stephen intended to take a room in the capital city because he would find there faster a work, although he hadn't thought about this yet.
He found a small apartment, which was in the direct environment of the three places he was interested the most.
He opened a channel on the communication unit to the owner of the apartment and arranged an appointment for the next day.
Immediately at the next morning Stephen went to the capital city. He found the apartment on attempt. The landlord showed him everything. He found it breathtakingly. The apartment had the ideal size for a single. The windows were arranges so that the whole day the light of one of the three suns felt in.
Stephen didn't need long to consider and rented the apartment. After that he went shopping for furniture. This was a real problem, because the inhabitants of this planet had their own idea of style.
Well, then I will be get used to these funny things. Others have managed it before and it did not appear to harm them., Stephen thought when he examined the beds.
Slowly Stephen got accustomed to his new environment. He hadn't yet found a work, but he could wait with it until the end of the week. First he had a surprise to plan.
Since he knew the city a bit by now, he knew where he would get his information.
He went back to the space airport.
„Hello, I need some information about a White-Star-Ship. I would like to know when it will arrive." Stephen said to the ticket clerk.
„Which ship do you mean?"
„It is the ship of the Isban'Tho. The inmates are Marcus and William Cole junior and Susan Ivanova - Cole. They are friends of mine and don't know, that I am here. It should be a surprise."
It required some persuasiveness to receive the information. The ship would land on the next day about noon.
Stephens knew, that his friends surely wanted to celebrate the meeting, so he went shopping and prepared a dinner.
At the next day Stephen went to a flower store to buy some typical flowers for Susan. Then he went to the space airport.
The ship was on time. Stephen stood in the area, where it should land and held his bouquet.
As the three of them alit, he held the bouquet so that they could not see his face.
„Look, Susan our greeting committee. I thought Tilaan didn't know when we would arrive." Marcus said when he saw the person with the flowers.
„I have not told her, but she will have her ways to find it out." Susan went to the bouquet.
„I must disappoint you unfortunately, but your dream-chancer have nothing to do with it.", Stephen said and gave a surprised Susan the bouquet.
„What are you doing her, Stephen?" Marcus asked.
„Well, I haven't asked previously where the Centauri - freighter went. I was very surprised, when they told me, that Minbar was their destination. It was fate. I have sworn to me, when I left the station that I will stay at the first place. So here I am. It looks like as it has worked to persuade me."
„Stephen, you can believe me, I have nothing to do with the matter.", Marcus defended.
„I don't care, who has brought you here. I am only glad that you are there. And don't even think to leave immediately again." Susan said happily and embraced Stephen.
„I can't do that. I have already found a dreamlike apartment here. And I think, I will have found a job very quickly, too. Now, where my both dearest patients with me again."
All three laughed and started walking. Stephen invited them to his new apartment, where they took a delightful meal.
„It is beautiful that you are there, Stephen. When John and Delenn will come next week it is almost like on the station, only with fewer problems and more sunlight. We have even a real lake here. He is just in front of our door. You must visit us absolutely. If you want, you can come immediately with us then you can see our house."
Stephen agreed to short visit because he was really curious how the Isban'Tho would live.
Marcus brought all of them to a shuttle and flew to the house. Stephen was already impressed of the outside view.
„It is dreamily here. Now I can understand why you want to bring up your children here."
„And you have not seen everything. If you wait until we have landed and see the house exactly. You will be surprised." Susan said.
Marcus landed the shuttle and led Stephen to the house. The key was still hidden under a flowerpot.
„Those are real roses." Stephen noticed, as he examined the garden. „Where have you got them it so quickly?"
„The house exists already since three years. Up until now nobody has lived here. His real owners did not have the luck, to enjoy the beauty of it."
„It looks like a house on Earth. Are this real brick stones?" Stephen asked, but when he looked closer on them, he recognized, that they were crystals. He entered the house and was completely astonished.
„Where have you got the furniture? I have searched the whole city for a chair or somewhat similar. They don't use something like that here."
„The builder of the house has let them fly in from the Earth. Many of the furniture are direct from Earth." Marcus explained.
„Who is this person? He must be mad, if he does not inhabit such a dreamlike house itself and rent it. Even if it is for the Isban'Tho."
„We have not rent the house. It belongs to us. This mysterious builder has given it us. You will never guess but it should be a wedding present of our old friend and superior Jeffrey Sinclair for his Catherine. Marcus has helped to built it. Jeff has caused from the past, that it is arranged like this and that we find a message of him. We should be so happy here, like he is with Catherine in the past."
„Jeff has built the house? He has a good taste."
Marcus showed Stephen the remaining rooms, while Susan took care of William. When she was finished, she prepared supper.
On the next morning Stephen visited with Marcus, Susan and the small the training compound of the rangers. Marcus had proposed this at supper.
It did not last long, until they found Sech Durhann.
„Marcus, Susan it's nice to see you here. What can I do for you?" he asked, when he saw them.
„Master." Marcus and Susan bowed to him. Stephen tried to copy their bow.
„We want that you meet our friend. This here is Dr. Stephen Franklin. He has cured me many times on Babylon 5."
„It's a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Franklin.", the Sech said and gave him the hand.
„Stephen has followed us to Minbar, because we intend to stay here forever. He observes Delenn and my condition. But he needs work. We have thought that he can care about the injuries of the humans here in the training compound. We both know that your doctors give the best, but they don't know everything about us yet. Stephen could offer also courses, to show your doctors our anatomy." Susan explained their appearance.
„It is a very good idea, but I can not make the decision alone. I must first consult with the other. We will inform you about our decision soon. Cordially welcome back on Minbar. May Valen light your way." Durhann left the humans and went back to his class.
„This didn't sound Very promising. I am sure, that I will find a job in the city."
„Stephen, don't give up so quickly. Durhann will regulate the matter. He has much influence on the others and we know him pretty well. He will advocate for you. And if they do not take you here, then you come along into our temple. We will educate our students also some fight techniques and there it will give also injuries."
„That is very sweetly of you, but I will find something else. Don't worry about me. And if it doesn't work out here, I will go back on the station."
„You don't dare it! You are here now and stay here. We will find something for you. You can start your own medical office. Here are so many different races the minbari can't treat. You on the contrary have collected so much experience on Babylon 5, that you can treat almost all races. It will not be missing at patients. And for the next couple of months you still have your dearest patients and I promise you, that we will need you." Susan said to cheer him up.
Already on the evening of the next day an answer from the training - compound came. Durhann informed them, that he would expect them tomorrow noon along with the doctor. Marcus informed Stephen.
They met him in front of the gates to the compound and went in together. Durhann had asked them into his office. Marcus and Susan showed him the way there.
„Beautifully that you could come. I have spoken with the others. They have nothing to object to your suggestion. We know personally, that our doctors are very good, but only with our own race. With the humans and the other races, who are just coming to the compound at the moment we have still considerable missing knowledge. We take you Dr. Franklin as our doctor. You have the right to treat all injured creatures and to teach the minbari."
„Thanks Sech Durhann. I don't know, what I should say. I will fulfil the task to your satisfaction."
They five of them left the office to show Stephen his new empire. The medical installation was well expressed. He would require of course still some instruments for diverse treatment, but the remainder was just from the best. The nurses, who were for the most part young, male minbari, were very astonishes to see a human here. Normally they came only as patients.
„Friends, I may present you our new doctor, Dr. Stephen Franklin. He will help our doctors with the treatment of humans and other aliens. He comes directly from the space station Babylon 5, where he was the senior physician. Call him welcome."
Now the others understood why he was here. He was their new colleague. They would have first to get used to his presence among them.
What do you think so far? Please R&R.
