"Welcome back Mr President. Thank you for alerting me to your arrival."
Oh! Hell she's still pissed off at Delenn"Captain Lochley its very nice to be back and to see you again." Sheridan replied deftly ignoring the dig at his wife…for now.
Lochley looked rather disappointed by his restraint.
Sorry Elizabeth I don't rile that easily any more.
Sheridan smothered the desire to grin as he said, "If you could get me through Customs Area as quick as possible. I really want to see Cole as soon as. I understand you were introduced to our Station Ranger yesterday?" he said watching her reactions closely as they moved on.
Lochley grimaced; the meeting had confused her even more about the Rangers. She had entered Delenns quarters at the Rangers to be met by a tall, handsome and very charming enigma.
She had to admit that Marcus Cole was not hard to be with, but she had learned absolutely nothing about the Ranger. Except for his total devotion to his Entilzha and surprisingly enough Babylon five. He was an intelligent, articulate and loyal man she found as he talked about the past residents of Down below.
Eventually she had left and wondered how the hell he had managed to say so much, and to tell her absolutely nothing of importance.
"Elizabeth is something wrong?" Sheridan asked curious as to what had caused her silence as they moved toward the assigned shuttle car.
"Mr President I spent over two hours with that man. He never answered one of my questions directly, and yet he never shut up…Its not funny sir. First Delenn ignores every Reg she can, even common courtesy. Then this man…this Ranger takes the total piss," she hissed, her anger at being made a fool of evident in her face.
John Sheridan said nothing until they were enclosed in the shuttle with his personal guards.
"Now listen to me carefully Captain," he began sternly. "Marcus is one of the most polite and respectful man I know. So that statement is just plain rubbish…As for Delenns secrecy, I understand that you are annoyed by her behaviour. But it was necessary and I'm sure that she explained why." He concluded coldly.
"She explained, but some of it sounded pretty paranoid. I mean who would come after a man, who to all purposes has been dead for five years? Who would remember him?"
She countered defiantly.
Sheridan shook his head tiredly.
"People who encountered Marcus would never, ever forget him, for good or bad reasons. That would include quite a few top underground bosses who were dealing in arms and dust, who had the misfortune to cross his path; the Home Guard and their cohorts, quite a few Earthgov representatives who are aware of his part in Mars independence and of course some of the EarthForce brass that he made look very stupid during the Clarke scandal…for beginners." He explained seriously. " The man you met yesterday can be charming, funny, damn annoying and articulate. But the one thing that Marcus Cole always is is Dangerous. He was trained by the best, and became even more than they ever dreamed," he concluded passionately hoping that his words were getting through Lochleys long standing prejudices.
"The Best! I take it you mean Delenn and the Rangers?" Lochley scoffed.
"No actually I was referring to Sech Durhann and Entilzha Jeffery Sinclair," Sheridan replied with a grin at his memories of the two men.
"Sinclair!…I don't get it. All the aliens I've met since I've been posted here hold him in such reverence. Yet he was a rogue officer and a traitor to the Earth Alliance…"Lochley snapped exasperated by the events that surrounded the revival of Marcus Cole.
"Elizabeth I am only going to say this once. Do not ever insult Sinclair in front of me again. You have no idea how much we ALL owe that man. And if you value your life don't even hint of about your views to Marcus," Sheridan instructed in a frigid tone.
"You think your Ranger would take retribution," she sniped back, hoping if she pushed more she would get more information.
"Not think…KNOW. Sinclair basically adopted Marcus and even if he didn't retaliate you would still have to face Garibaldi, Ivanova, Delenn and probably Sech Durhann himself. And this is an end to this discussion."
Lochley was stunned by Sheridan's icy tone, but disappointed that he had not been more forthcoming in his anger. But she really had gleaned anything new.
She had already tried to do a computer search on the Ranger and had hit an ISA security wall, advising her that any information was classified.
"Look Elizabeth I don't want to be at odds with you, but this falls under Minbari law and is really only a Minbari matter." Sheridan explained quietly trying to keep communications open between them. "I cant discuss this anymore just now, but after I've checked in with Delenn and Marcus I will bring you up to date on the plague and the Drakh?" he offered hopefully.
"Fair enough…You really do chance your arm Mr President," she declared as the shuttle reached its destination.
As the doors opened zack Allan and two security guards became visible.
How the hell does he manage that? I bet Michael taught him how just because it's so damn annoying. For God sake the station is five miles long and yet he pops up in the right place every time. Sheridan mentally groused
Then he turned back to face Lochley and grinned, "Only so far Captain…Hi Zack good to see you. How's the leg?.."
The two men walked away chatting with the smooth ease of old comrades, as the guards took their places.
"Just another day on Babylon 5," Lochley mumbled as the doors closed on the scene.