The Lady of Downbelow
a.k.a. "Not My Babylon Circus, Not My Downbelow Monkeys"
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March 9, 2256 – Babylon 5 opens
November 12, 2256 – Nova arrives
02.08.2020
She did not arrive by ship, if anyone had cared to go back through the security tapes to check. She first appeared in the middle of the tangle of beings, a wide eager smile already in place and a bounce in her step. All initial impressions put her as any other tourist goggling at all the things to see and buy in the Zocalo of Babylon 5.
She didn't set off any security alarms because she didn't come through any checkpoint, just as she didn't come from any ship—not a ship that any security here would recognize—and once a visitor passed the initial screening upon disembarking, security (though present) was much laxer.
However, those that may have recognized the import of her arrival were not present to witness and thus none knew the significance of the overly energetic redhead in their midst, who flitted from stall to kiosk admiring the wares on display. Occasionally she would purchase one and proceed to place it in her bright blue cloth bag that hung from her right wrist. Overall, upon first appearance, she was rather unremarkable, utterly forgettable in a sea of tourists and shoppers.
Only one set of eyes blinked curiously—not at the woman herself—as they noticed that the small cloth sack could hold items two or three times its size and still appeared to be unchanged. The owner of said eyes followed the sack through the crowd and saw another five purchases disappear inside. The outside of the bag never seemed to change. It still looked just as empty as before. As if the whatever it was held only soft things of little mass.
Wondering at what else the magical bag held, as well as certain responsibilities and obligations, a hand reached out…
+++B5+++
When she reached to tuck her newest prize into her bag, she blinked. Her hand kept trying to hook strings to draw it up and out. She glanced down. Strings which weren't there. "Huh," she muttered.
"Fingers all 'round sticky be. More careful be you," said the unsympathetic seller.
Nova looked around, spinning in a slow circle, but didn't see anyone looking particularly guilty or running away. She looked back at the alien with a tilt of her head, "Did you see where they went?"
It shook its massive bulbous head, one hand gesturing to the right. "Many Sector Brown shelters. Not go you. Hurt be you." That was the last word before it turned to its next customer. Now that it had successfully gotten her to purchase something, it was no longer interested.
Nova turned and found 'Red 5' stenciled in two-meter-tall letters. Her eyes found what appeared like it might be a terminal right under. She headed that way. She didn't bother to look around nervously or to see if anyone noticed her as she pulled out a small metallic tube out of her inner jacket pocket. (She had learned that most don't pay any attention to those who appear to be doing their jobs. Walking with a purpose did wonders to make one go unnoticed.)
Her fingers worked the several tiny buttons and single dial with the quick efficiency speaking of long practice. A strange rapid chirping buzz was emitted upon activation, similar to a high-frequency animal call. More interestingly, the computer terminal screen began to flash through dozens of images rapidly before settling on a diagram of the station. Her eyes swept over the map several times before landing on where she needed to go. "There," she muttered. She tapped the screen with a finger absently, then shut down the terminal.
It took three 'vator rides and a long walk to get to the closest part of Brown Sector. When she did, she looked around with a combination of disgust and pity. It seemed to be a maze of pipes, covered by dust, dirt, and heaps of trash every few yards. Industrial facilities and waste management…except that people lived here.
It reminded Nova of an old Hooverville – a shanty town built by the homeless of the United States during the Great Depression – made of anything and everything, all held together with rope, bubblegum, and prayers. They couldn't afford real housing and couldn't afford to leave the ship. They built what they could from what they could find or steal; a lucky few had jobs that paid under the table, while most stole what they needed; all doing their best to survive.
A sniffle caught her attention. "But I saw her put things in it! I swear!" came the voice of a young female.
"It's empty, but it's pretty enough," soothed another, "Maybe we can sell it."
Nova rounded a corner carefully and saw the pair, both huddled around the bright blue bag. The boy couldn't be more than twelve, while the girl was around eight. Both humanoid. Both in threadbare clothes and no shoes. The girl was cleaner, and Nova suspected it was a calculation on their part; the cleaner she was, the easier she could blend into the market crowd and pickpocket. Her size and speed accomplished the rest.
"It's not empty," Nova said.
Both sets of eyes were the same shade of honey brown as they looked up in shock. The boy stepped forward and in front to shield the girl from the unknown possible threat. "What'da'ya want?"
Nova wondered how long they had lived on the streets that the standard questions of 'who are you' and 'where did you come from' were no longer important. Only what a stranger wanted mattered anymore. How long had it been since they had known kindness or safety? If she tried to be kind, they probably wouldn't know how to react, or quite possibly act antagonistically, even violently, in defense of the perceived threat her presence created, or perhaps try to take advantage of her generosity.
For the best results, she would need to take a page from her tabritar's book and treat them like adults. She gestured with a hand, "That's my bag. I'd like it back."
The boy didn't take his eyes off her, on guard for even the slightest twitch. "It's ours now. Go away," his words tumbled together in a rush of air, trying to be forceful and commanding and failing miserably.
The girl peeked around him carefully, "How's it empty? I saw you put lots in!"
"Only I can put things in it and take things out. It's not much use to you."
"Liar!" said the boy. He might be a kid, but he knew how bags worked!
Nova eyed him for a long minute, where both children began to fidget and eyes dart for exits, then offered, "How about we trade?"
The girl perked up. "You wanna trade?" Her protector hissed "Kari!" and made to pull her back, but she stepped around and in front. "What are you offering?" she asked primly.
Nova held back a smile as the girl presented herself as if she were a miniature clerk ready to sell her wares. "Well, little miss," Nova began, "what might you be needing?" There were only a handful of items that she wasn't willing to part with. Nova had also carefully phrased the question as to their needs, not their wants. Children wanted many things, but orphaned homeless children knew and understood about needs.
Kari bit her lip as she thought. When she reached a decision, she crossed her arms. "Food and blankets."
Though Nova had expected the first request, her heart ached by the second. "Hmm…that's a tall order," she said instead. "How about food, water, and soft blankets?"
The girl blinked. She spent a lot of her time in the Zocalo and thought knew how haggling worked. "That's not right…" The lady was supposed to offer LESS, not more!
"It's not?" Nova asked innocently. "It IS a special bag, you're right." She tapped her chin as if in thought. "Alright, I'll throw in a percolator and supplies too."
"What's a perk-a-ler?" she asked hesitantly.
"Doesn't matter. We can sell it even if its junk!" the boy hissed quietly from behind.
"Say…" the two children tensed "…I have to stay here for a while. I'll bargain with you for food, water, a place to stay with soft blankets, a percolator, AND a new set of clothes for each of you."
The boy stiffened at this, his mind a whirl of newer horrible possibilities. "What'da'ya want for all that?"
"Well, I'm new here, and I don't know my way around. You give me my bag and show me the ropes, and it's all yours." Nova didn't say that she was already making long term plans. First, she needed a way in. Gaining their trust would take much longer.
The boy looked torn between the temptation she offered and his own prior experiences warning him away. He opened his mouth and Nova had a feeling he would refuse, when Kari's stomach growled. His mouth snapped closed as the little girl's shoulders slumped, as if ashamed. He looked at Kari, then Nova, and snapped, "Deal!"
"But we get half up front," Kari hurried to insert, sounding as if it was something she had heard and memorized to now demand at the appropriate moment.
"What?" the boy was confused.
Nova nodded seriously, "Of course."
Kari looked smug.
November 2256 – Nova & littles take over Gray-17
November 2256 – Nova begins giving free medical care to those near where she & littles sleep
December 2256 – whispers of mysterious healer begin
December 19, 2256
09.17.2021
Security Chief Michael Garibaldi looked up from the report and stared at the greenie. "Is this a joke? Are you being hazed?" he asked seriously.
The young security officer, barely out of the academy, nervously shook his head. "I don't think so, sir. I mean, I don't think it's a joke, sir. And I'm not being hazed, sir…I don't think, sir. I spoke to the head personally, sir. She said that her people started to notice about a week ago—"
Garibaldi's brows were narrowing incrementally downward as the words tumbled out. All the 'sir's were making his neck itch. He rubbed the bridge of his nose to try to ease the tension.
"—wouldn't have mentioned it at all, sir, especially since the gardens are supposed to be for entertainment and relaxation as well as oxygen production, sir, except that all the plants that are being stolen are edible or medicinal in some way." The very young twenty-something finally took a breath, a deep one.
Garibaldi blinked and looked up. "Edible or medicinal? All of them?"
"That's what she said," he nodded, "and she also noted that…" he hesitated.
"What? Kid, spit it out."
"Well, sir—"
"Stop with all the 'sirs' and just tell me!"
"Sorry, sir…" he paused as he realized what he'd done, then just barged ahead quickly as if to cover up his error, "She noticed that the plants were not just carefully selected for their properties, but were carefully taken as well. Roots and all, but leaving enough left for the theft to not be noticed, and for the remaining plants to fill in the gap as they grow back. None of the spots were completely bare."
Michael sat back, contemplating. "Did Harriet say anything about how long this might have been going on?" Harriet Koner was the Head of Dendrology and Cultivation on Babylon 5.
"A week ago, sir."
"No, you said that her people noticed it a week ago. Can they estimate how long its been happening since before they noticed?"
The boy looked more anxious, "I didn't ask, sir."
Garibaldi rolled his eyes. "One 'sir' is plenty." His mouth didn't dare open again. "Well? Why are you still standing here, go find out!"
"Yes, sir!" he escaped the dreaded office.
Garibaldi rubbed his forehead.
+++++THE+LADY+++++
I've been dwelling on this possibility not long after I discovered Babylon 5, which was after I had already written my first Doctor Who fanfic. I've been sitting on it, thinking about the possibilities, ever since. This has been several years in the making (been making notes and possible since 2017)…and continuing in its making… And this is what happens when my brain hits a giant brick wall on my main DW fic…it starts branching out.
As such, I give NO guarantees on when or if this fic will be updated. I have a few things that I know will happen and in what order, but not much more than a handful. When I run out of ideas, my fingers stop typing, and it'll sit on a shelf again for Lord-only-knows-how-long. Even so, currently there is over 8k written, so chances are I'll pick it up again. Just don't know when.
The main OC/OFC of this fic features one of my first DW OCs, Nova Morganson. Nova is completely mine and lives in my head, bouncing around fandoms like a jackrabbit. She first appeared in my fic "Dreams May Come True", but you do not have to read it to follow this story. Nova has been featured in many other stories, but other than the first that gives you Nova's background and how she came to the Who-niverse, they are all written as stand-alone fics.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy!
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Awesome betaing skills go to denise3, BarbedCaress, emptyvoices, and Random_human1511! Not all of them know B5, but all were willing to take a peek and offer their opinions. Thanks bunches guys!
Please let me know what you think! I know its not perfect, but I've done my best. Reviews are love and remind me to keep writing!