CHAPTER THREE: Close Encounters of the Worst Kind?

Leaning over the secure cam, Security Chief Michael Garibaldi let out a slow whistle. "Well I'll be damned." He muttered before tapping the comm.

"Garibaldi to Franklin."

"Franklin, Go."

"Stephen my friend, I believe I just figured out the identity of our mystery lady."

"I'll be right there. Franklin Out."

A few minutes later Stephen walked into the security office with an expectant look on his face. "So, what do you have?" He asked.

Michael tapped a button on his desk and Elyse's smiling face appeared on the main view screen. "There she is -- our mystery guest."

Stephen studied Elyse's face and bio stats. "Doctor Elyse Kader? Wait a minute Michael, this can't be right. According to this, she was on the first mission to Mars in the early 21st century. If I remember correctly, the ship was lost and the crew were presumed dead soon after the launch."

"Exactly!!" Michael replied getting up out of his chair to stand next to the view screen. "I went over every inch of the wreckage she was found in. It all fits!" Pointing to Elyse's picture, he continued, "This believe it or not, is Doctor Elyse Kader. And that hunk of scrap metal is what's left of the Odyssey, launched almost 250 years ago. There's no doubt about that."

"Well," Stephen said with a long sigh, "That certainly explains her reaction in MedLab today."

"What reaction?"

"She woke up and saw a Pak'Mara."

Michael's face underwent several expression changes from surprise to humour before he finally forced himself to look concerned. "Oh." He said rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet, a muscle in his cheek twitching. "She must have been…errr."

"…upset. Yes." Stephen finished his features mirroring his 'doctorly' concern.

"Yes, I guess she would be." Michael managed, clearing his throat loudly, the humour of the situation getting the best of him.

"Of all the alien species on Babylon 5 she had to see first, it had to be the Pak Mara." The doctor muttered, shaking his head.

Garibaldi looked around his office, desperate to control the laughter that threatened to erupt from deep inside him. In spite of himself, a guffaw escaped.

"Michael! That's not funny!" Stephen chided as the security chief fought for control, "She was hysterical. Kept going on about tentacles…."

Unable to contain himself anymore, Michael burst out laughing while Stephen simply glared. Resting his hand heavily on the young doctor's shoulder, Michael wiped away the tears in his eyes and said "Sorry man, it's just…I mean…think about it!"

"Yeah, well. I think we should inform Sheridan, don't you?" Stephen replied looking at his friend disapprovingly. "I'll be in MedLab if you need me."

Still laughing, the security chief fell heavily into his chair as he watched his friend leave the room.