From bruckner@usia.govWed Jun 14 23:20:39 1995 Date: Tue, 13 Jun 95 12:25:38 -0400 From: "Bruckner, Sandra" Reply to: b5-creative@best.com To: b5-creative@best.com Subject: Demons in the Dark Started on another story and thought I'd share it with you all. Let me know what you think. Sandy Demons in the Dark Under any other circumstances, this would have been a great place to work. The weather was always mild, the work was enjoyable and the living conditions more than tolerable. However, Jeffrey Sinclair, Earth Ambassador to Minbar was not feeling fortunate to have landed such a choice position. Sure, he had been hand-picked by the Minbar for this position and the President of Earth Force had personally requested him to assume this new position. This should mean a very secure future, but the past continued to nag at him. Why? This was a constant quesion Jeff asked himself? Why had he been spared during the Battle of the Line? Why did the Minbari truly surrender when they were more superior in strength and could easily have wiped out Earth Force? Why did the Minbari want him on their homeworld when they had refused individuals before? Enough questions. Jeff had to prepare for another day of diplomatic duties and there were plenty of them. He had never imagined there would be so much paperwork to do. He thought he had a lot on Babylon 5! Here, it was easily trippled! Probably populated someone's round file, but he had to play the game -- at least for now. Jeff was looking ahead to the weekend. He had plans, for a change. Delenn was arriving from Babylon 5 and they would finally have a chance to talk. Jeff had arrived too late to talk to Delenn before she entered her chrysalis and began changing. While they had had some brief conversations on the vid-phone, this was the first time they would be face to face. It seemed like ages since he had seen her, but it had only been 6 months. But it had been six long months and a lot had changed with Jeffrey Sinclair during that time. Besides his new position, his engagement to Catherine Sakai had been broken and he was literally alone on a planet of aliens. While most were very friendly, he was still alone. It hadn't seemed to matter before, but lately things seemed to be closing in on him. Perhaps he had been working too long and hard. There was always something to be done and it always took longer than expected. Bureaucracy never seems to change. However, Jeff was concentrating on this weekend. He wanted Delenn's visit to be special. He had it all planned. He had rented a vehicle and they would be able to move around the immediate area with ease. There were a few special places Jeff had discovered, up in the mountains, that he wanted to share with Delenn. A picnic lunch had been arranged for their trip into the country and as time grew short for her visit, he was getting anxious about the whole thing. While he had developed a good relationship with Delenn, they had actually spent very little time alone. There always seemed to be someone around -- Garibaldi, Ivanova, G'Kar, Londo, Lennier. The more Jeff thought about this, the more anxious he became. How would Delenn react? How different was she now? Her appearance was radically different, but the change had been a good one. Delenn was now as beautiful outside and she was on the inside. Jeff had always admired Delenn's intellect and commitment, but he realized that he knew nothing about her as an individual. He hoped that would change soon. The silence was broken by a message coming on on the vid-phone. "Ambassador Sinclair. A messages is coming in from Ambassador Delenn's shuttle." "Thank you very much." Sinclair replied. "Ambassador Delenn, how good to see you again. When will you be arriving on Minbar?" Jeff asked. "We will be arriving in just a few moments. I wanted to make sure you were in your office." Delenn said. "Yes, Delenn, I've been awaiting your arrival." Sinclair said. "I should be there shortly then." Delenn said and the transmission ended. Jeff looked around at his office. All was ready for Delenn's visit. They would first get some work out of the way and clear their schedules for a nice trip in the country. It had been quite a while since Delenn had been on Minbar so this trip should be enjoyable for both of them -- at least that was Jeff's hope. A half an hour passed and the door chimed indicating someone had arrived. Jeff hurried to the door, hoping is was Delenn. "Come", Jeff said. As the door opened, Delenn entered the room, Jeff was taken by her new beauty. While he had always considered her attractive, for a Minbari, her transformation seemed to have captured the best of human and Minbari features. Jeff realized that he must be standing there with his mouth open, just taking in Delenn. They had talked on the vid-phone, but this was very different. He was starting to feel as awkward as he had on his first date. This was ridiculous -- this was Delenn, afterall. "Delenn, I'm sorry. It's just that you have changed quite a bit since I saw you last. Welcome and please make yourself comfortable." Jeff said. "Thank you, Jeffrey. I know my appearance is different, but I'm still the Delenn you knew on Babylon 5. We have much to talk about, you and I." Delenn said. Her voice was soft and the sincerity of her words was written on her face. Jeff had always been captured by Delenn's eyes, but it was even more so now. "Yes, but first, can I get you anything? You must be tired after your long journey. I've made some tea, if you would like some." Jeff said. "Why, yes, I would like some tea. It is kind of you to have some prepared. I must admit that the trip from Babylon 5 seems longer than I remember it, but perhaps that is because I was very much looking forward to seeing you again." Delenn said. "You have been away too long and I must admit I have missed our talks in the garden." "I have missed them as well Delenn and yes, I have been away and out of touch too long. Things have been very busy here, business and all. Being the first EarthForce Ambassador here on Minbar is a lot more involved that I first thought. But I don't want to get into that now. What are your plans while on Minbar, Delenn?" Jeff asked. "I have a few people to see while I'm here, but there is nothing pressing." Delenn said. "Great. I've planned some things that I hope you'll enjoy, but I don't want to rush you. Tomorrow will be time enough. Right now, let's just relax and enjoy our time together." Jeff said. He moved over to the table where he had set up a tea service and poured tea for both of them. It was a new variety that Jeff had just discovered last week and he hoped Delenn would enjoy it as much as he did. As he brought the tray over to the table in front of Delenn and handed a cup to her, their eyes met and Jeff nearly dropped the entire tray. "Jeffrey, you seem a bit nervous. Is anything wrong? Delenn said. "No Delenn, it's just that I haven't had many visitors here on Minbar and my social skills were always a little rusty. Didn't have much of a chance to use them on Babylon 5 either, so this is a new experience for me. Coupled with your visit, yes, I am a little nervous." Jeff said, at little embarrassed by the whole thing. "Please remember that we have been friends for a long time. You once were very comfortable with me and I with you. I hope that is still the case." Delenn said. "Thank you, Delenn. I have thought often about our conversations; what you taught me about Minbari culture. You'll be surprised at how much I've learned. I have started to study some of your ancient religious rituals at a temple nearby and the brothers there have been very helpful." Jeff said. "I see that you have not changed. You were always curious about other people; how they lived, their religious beliefs. I am glad that you are learning more about our culture. Is it the Temple of Ackbar that you speak of?" Delenn asked. "Yes, it was one of the first places I visited. The brothers there are among my first new friends and I have joined one or two of their weekly classes. Brother Trai has been most helpful and I, in turn, am teaching them about my culture, including chess. Brother Trai likens it to one of your games of strategy -- moblan." Jeff said. As Delenn sipped her tea, a questioned look came across her face. "Jeffrey, what kind of tea is this?" Delenn said. "Oh, it's called chi. Discovered it the other day while at the market. A friend gave me a cup and I really liked it. It's not bitter like many of the Minbari teas. What do you think of it?" Jeff said. "Yes, I like it very much. In fact, it's my favorite and most treasured indulgence. Chi is hard to find outside of Minbar and so I use it only on special occasions. I see we still have a lot in common Jeffrey Sinclair," Delenn said. A special glint was in her eye and Jeff didn't know if she was teasing or just accenting the obvious. "You mentioned that you have planned some things. Can you tell me about them?" Delenn asked. "I wanted it to be a surprise, but perhaps it would be better if you knew beforehand. I have a vehicle and have mapped out a little field trip into the outer areas, beyond the city. I know that it's been a while since you have spent much time on your homeworld and I thought you might like to see more of it than just the city. Since I arrived on Minbar, I have ventured out often and have discovered some absolutely beautiful areas that I would like to share with you." Sinclair said. "I would enjoy that very much. It has been a long time since my last visit and you are most thoughtful in preparing such a trip. When do we leave?" Delenn said anxiously. "I had thought we could leave first thing in the morning, if that is acceptable to you. You will have an opportunity to rest a bit and I can see to all the final preparations." Jeff said. "That will suit me very well, indeed." Delenn said. She finished her tea and rose, walking over to a window in Sinclair's office. "It will give us time to talk as well, Jeffrey. But for now, I think that I will return to my quarters and see what awaits me there. I do have a few things to tend to before we leave in the morning." "Then, until tomorrow morning," Jeff said. He rose from his seat and moved toward Delenn; he took her hand as they walked to the door of his office. "I think that we will both enjoy a day away from the office tomorrow." "Until tomorrow," Delenn said as she departed. Jeff watched her as she walked down the long corridor and vanished into the courtyard. A lot of emotion was bubbling up inside of him and he didn't quite know how to deal with it. Had it just been Delenn's visit or an accumulation of things -- Catherine's departure from his life, his new position on Minbar, leaving Babylon 5 and all of the people he had become close to? Perhaps. Jeff went back into his office and started to clear his desk. There were a few items that begged his attention and then his calendar would be totally clear. His mind kept wandering, however, and it was hard to concentrate, even on the smallest detail. This would have to wait. He would gather everything he and Delenn would need for their trip and stop by the market to make sure that everything was ready. This would occupy his time for a little while, at least, but waiting had never been his favorite pastime! Jeff closed the office and walked down the street to the market. "Hello, Sarah." Jeff said. Sarah was a small woman from the planet Jall, about 5 feet high and bearly a hundred pounds. Her market was known for it's excellent food and it had become one of Jeff's favorite places. He could always pick up something for dinner and enjoy some good conversation as well. Sarah was busy behind the counter but came out as soon as Jeff entered the store. He was surprised that there were only a few people milling around. "Hello, Ambassador Sinclair. It's good to see you. Are you here to check on tomorrow's lunch?" Sarah said. "Yes, Sarah. I know that you will have everything ready for me, but I needed something to do until tomorrow. Thought I'd stop by to see what new items came in; I noticed a transport on the roster and wanted to see if I could talk you out of some more chi as well." Jeff said. Sarah grinned widely and took Jeff's arm, leading him over to a large case in the corner. "A transport did come in and it brought just the thing for your picnic tomorrow." Jeff wondered what Sarah could be referring to and was surprised to see a huge crate of strawberries in the case. "Sarah, these will be perfect. I'll have to keep them cold, though. Do you have something to put them in?" Jeff said. "Of course, Ambassador. When they came in yesterday, you were the first person I thought of. I needed something different as dessert and this shipment was made to order. I've set aside some for you already, just to make sure they would stay fresh." Sarah said. "I can't thank you enough, Sarah. I'll be here first thing in the morning to pick everything up." Jeff said. "I'll be here. I hope that everything turns out for you tomorrow. You've gone to a lot of trouble; this must be someone special." Sarah said with a twinkle in her eye. Sarah was a hopeless romantic --she had been married for 30 years, had 8 children and 5 grand children. There was very special about her. Maybe it was that she took in every stray in the neighborhood, including Jeffrey Sinclair. "Yes, it is," Jeff said with a smile. He walked over to Sarah, took her hand and gracefully kissed it. Sarah was not just a little flustered by this action. "Thank you, Sarah." "Well, well, you are very welcome, Ambassador." Sarah blubbered as she watched him depart the store. Ambassador Sinclair was a gentleman, one of the first Sarah had met here on Minbar. Most of the other "men" treated her as if she were some sort of servant. She knew that Minbari men did not care for women of other races, but she had always been very civil to them. Amabassador Sinclair had been different though, from the start. Maybe it was because they were both strangers in a foreign land. She at least had her family. He was alone. She grinned as she thought, maybe not for long. Jeff walked over to his apartment and entered to find a few items of mail waiting for him on the vid-phone. Later, he thought. First he would change his clothes, get comfortable and then take care of any loose ends. He went into his bedroom and selected a comfortable pair of jeans and shirt from the closet. As he hung up his suit, he noticed that some of the items on his dresser were out of place. He wondered if he had just arranged them differently this morning, but couldn't remember even touching them. Could someone have been in his apartment today without his knowledge? What could they have been looking for? Jeff looked around to see if anything else was out of place. Indeed, in each room, things had been very carefully moved, but he could tell that someone had been searching for something. What a surprise for them, he thought. There certainly wasn't anything of value here. Jeff had brought little with him from Babylon 5, a few personal items that wouldn't mean a thing to anyone else. He knew that he was not trusted by many Minbari and his very existence on their homeworld was an insult to many. He had never had cause for concern, however. They were an honorable people and most would not even think of violating his privacy. Who then? It was something he would ponder at length -- later. Now, he would focus on tomorrow! He changed clothes and went to answer the messages on the vid-phone. Nothing urgent, just a few confirmations of appointments for next week and an EarthForce directive. More paperwork -- just what he needed. He chose to ignore it, until later. Jeff sat down and went over a mental check-list for tomorrow's journey. It would take them about 2 hours to reach the first site; a very secluded spot on the other side of the mountain range. They would have lunch there. It would be cool and they could sit and talk without fear of interruption. After lunch, they would go down to the valley of tombs, an ancient place he had discovered with Brother Trai. There were several other places they would visit, depending on how much time they had available before darkness fell. While Jeff knew this area fairly well, he didn't want to be here after dark. Jeff had gathered many of the items for their trip near the door -- as a precaution against forgetting something important. He had a blanket and water containers. Most of the other things would be provided by Sarah. He had given her a fairly long list of things to include in the picnic lunch and he was sure she would throw in a few extra items. Night was falling and Jeff couldn't wait until morning. He had been looking forward to the trip with Delenn for weeks and now it was a few hours away. He just hoped everything would go well. He didn't even want to think otherwise. Everything had to be perfect. Jeff must have fallen asleep thinking about their journey into the countryside. When he woke, it was nearly dawn. He enjoyed watching the suns rise on Minbar -- all three of them. It was truly a beautiful site and one that few humans had ever experienced. Times like this made him glad he was here, on Minbar. There were many regrets in his life, but he was coming to terms with most of them. This time on Minbar had actually been good for him. It had given him time to reflect on his life thusfar -- where was he heading, what he was seeking out of life. Perhaps he would find it here on Minbar, maybe this would lead him elsewhere. His daydream was interrupted by an incoming vid-phone transmission. "Computer, put through the transmission," Jeff said, rubbing his eyes. "Good Morning, Jeffrey. I thought I would find you up already. You said we would leave early in the morning. Is this too early?" Delenn said. Jeff was a little astonished that Delenn had called so early. Was she as eager to get started as he was. Now that's something to daydream about, he thought! "No, of course not. I was just watching the sunrise. It's become the favorite part of my day here on Minbar. They truly are beautiful. Shall I come over to pick you up?" Jeff said. "Yes, you can do that. I have a few things to gather and I'll be ready when you arrive." Delenn said. "Perfect. I have one stop to make before I pick you up. It won't take long. Should be there in 30 minutes." Jeff said. "I'll be ready," Delenn said and with that the vid-phone conversation ended. Jeff found himself looking at the blank screen for a minute, trying to gather his thoughts. This was going to be an interesting day -- he could feel it already! END PART ONE Copyright @ 1995 by Sandra Bruckner. All rights are retained by the author. Babylon 5 is a copyright of the PTN Consortium; no infringment of that copyright is intended. <*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*> Sandra G. Bruckner I/STC - USIA (202) 619-5674 (202) 401-1914 (fax) "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield." <*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*> - Unsubscribe: majordomo@best.com With message: unsubscribe b5-creative Digest of b5-creative: unsubscribe b5-creative, then subscribe b5-speculation-digest From bruckner@usia.govFri Sep 15 20:26:45 1995 Date: Mon, 4 Sep 95 20:00:19 -0400 From: "Bruckner, Sandra" Reply to: b5-creative@best.com To: b5-creative@best.com Subject: Demons in the Dark -- Part 2 Here's how I spent my Labor Day. Let me know what you think? Sandy Demons in the Dark (Part 2) Jeff had waited for this day for quite a while -- it seemed like forever. Today he and Delenn would go out on a picnic, have a chance to talk, enjoy each other's company and see some of the Minbari countryside. Jeff dressed in a pair of jeans and denim shirt. He wanted to be comfortable and casual. He hoped that Delenn would dress appropriately. She knew a little of what he had planned for today, so that should help. Jeff went into the bathroom, shaved, brushed his teeth, combed his hair and made sure the apartment was fairly neat. While not a neatnik, he did like things in order. Now that he was an Ambassador, he never knew who would come for a visit. Most people came to the office, since it was rare for any Minbari to come to an outworlder's home for any reason. But Jeff had made a few friends and they did come over to play chess, have some tea and enjoy the company of each other. Well, it was now time to leave. He carefully took the items he had gathered for his picnic down to his vehicle. It was a land rover, great for just about any venture into the Minbari countryside. It was a rugged and could go just about anywhere. He needed such a transport for this trip. His journey with Delenn today would cover a fair area. He had rented this particular vehicle before from a friend. As he packed the transport, he made sure he had extra items like water, fuel, blankets. There was first-aid kit included as well. Couldn't be too careful! With the transport now fully packed with these items, Jeff went back for a quick look around his apartment. He had left a message on his vid-phone, saying that he would be away for the day and that he would return the call when he got back. Checked to make sure everything was turned off and he locked the door. He was off. Next stop, Sarah's market. Although it was still fairly early in the morning, Sarah was outside, talking with some patrons. As soon as she spotted him, she cut her conversation short and rushed over to Jeffrey. "Ambassador Sinclair." she said. "My, you are up early this morning. Couldn't sleep either, I bet!" she said with a sparkle in her eyes. Jeff hoped it wasn't that obvious that he really hadn't gotten much sleep last night! "Sarah, good morning. You really do have me pegged. I'm going to have to watch you a little more closely!" Jeff said. "You're right though. Didn't sleep much and I am eager to get started today. Knew you would be up and about so I figured, why wait!" "We start very early around here. Farmers are bring in fruits and vegetables all the time, but in the early morning we are the busiest." Sarah said. "Well, if you will gather up my things, I'll let you get back to your store." Jeff said. "I have had a lot of fun preparing this picnic for you, Ambassador. I hope that everything will meet your approval." Sarah said. "Sarah, I'm sure everything will be absolutely perfect." Jeff said. He really did appreciate all the time and effort Sarah had put into this picnic. He'd have to pick up something special for her, just to show how much her efforts meant to him. Jeff followed Sarah into the store and behind the counter. All of the items Sarah had gathered together for his picnic were in a couple of boxes and a basket. She had remembered everything -- plates, napkins, bread, wine -- everything. He couldn't imagine how two people could eat so much food, but Sarah assured him that it was far better to have too much than not enough. Sarah was clearly enjoying herself. The smile on her face showed that this was a labor of love. Jeff Sinclair was someone very special to her -- not just the Earth Ambassador, but a dear friend. She knew this "date" was very special for him and didn't want anything to spoil it. She had spent a lot of time checking and double checking the items. Everything was here for Jeff and this special someone to have a great meal and a great day out in the Minbari countryside. As she thought about it, Sarah couldn't remember if Ambassador Sinclair had ever mentioned who he was talking on this picnic. She had assumed it was a women, but who? Now her curiosity was really working overtime. "Ambassador Sinclair, is there anything else you and your friend will need. Does she have any favorite beverages that we could throw in?" Sarah said. "Sarah, you have taken care of everything. The chi that I picked up last week turns out to be her favorite drink. How about that? And you have picked items fit for a king's banquet." Jeff said. " "Well, Ambassador, I'm glad you are pleased with everything." Sarah could wait no longer, she just had to ask. "Ambassador, do I know the lucky someone you are taking out today?" Sarah was as transparent as a water glass. Jeff really wanted to tell her all about Delenn, but decided that he would not -- just yet. "No Sarah, I don't think you know her. She doesn't live around here. She's just visiting for a few days." "You are a devil, you know Ambassador Sinclair." Sarah said. "I hope you have a wonderful day." Sarah thought she had gotten just about all the information she was going to get out of Jeffrey Sinclair on this issue, so with that they gathered up the boxes and basket and headed toward his rover. Everything fit with room to spare. "Well, Sarah, see you tomorrow. Thanks again for all your help on this. I will tell you all about it sometime." Jeff said. "I certainly hope you will, Mr. Ambassador." Sarah said. That twinkle in her eye was even more evident as he kissed her hand and hopped into the rover. As he drove off he waved back to her and started thinking about Delenn. The building Delenn was staying at was just down the street -- about a half mile. Jeff was there in no time. His long legs made short work of the front stairs and he pressed the door bell. Delenn came to the door, opened it and he stepped inside. The entry way opened out into a large living room area, complete with comfortable seating, a few plants, paintings on the wall and a crystal sculpture. It reminded Jeff a little of Delenn's quarters on Babylon 5 -- especially the sculpture. The room had a nice, airy, comfortable quality to it. Jeff followed Delenn into the living room. She motioned for him to take a seat and he did -- one next to her. "Well, Jeffrey, I see you are ready for a day in the country." Delenn said, looking at his jeans and denim shirt. "Yes, Delenn, I wanted to be comfortable and really enjoy myself." Delenn was feeling a little awkward, she was in her traditional dress and didn't know if this would be appropriate for today's activities. "Delenn, if you would like to change, we have plenty of time. It is really still pretty early in the morning. I hadn't planned on getting started for at least another hour." Jeff said. He wanted to make it appear that she had not interferred with his timetable and really did have the option of changing clothes. "Well, if you really think there is time, I would like to put on something a little more appropriate." Delenn said. "Make yourself comfortable while I change. It won't take me long, I assure you." "No hurry, Delenn." Jeff said. Jeff watched Delenn climb the stairs to the living quarters on the second floor. He took the opportunity to walk around the room and look more closely at the art work. The paintings were Minbari, Centauri and a few he did not recognize. The Minbari painting was somewhat abstract, very much like the crystal sculpture. Most of the art had similar coloring and as a whole, went very well together. The exception was the Centuari piece. It reminded Sinclair of a banquet Londo had once given during the celebration of one of their holidays. The painting showed a table full of food, drink and several Minbari gods. It seemed out of place in this room, somehow. Perhaps it had been a gift and Delenn felt compelled to have it displayed here. "Jeffrey, I'm ready now, I think." Delenn said. Jeff turned to see Delenn descend the stairs, She had changed into a much more casual outfit with slacks and cover. He couldn't take his eyes off her as she came down the stairs. She was a beautiful woman! "That is a gift from Londo Mollari," Delenn said. "I really don't like it very much, but ....." "I sort of thought it might be from Londo." Jeff said. "Very much his style." Jeff and Delenn chuckled together at the thought of Londo. Perhaps they were both remembering the banquet they shared with him last year. Quite a party! "Delenn, you look wonderful and I think you'll be much more comfortable. We'll be walking around a great deal and we probably won't be back until late this evening." Jeff said. "That's fine, Jeffrey." Delenn said. "Let's get started then." Delenn looked around her apartment before locking the door and joining Jeffrey in the rover. He insisted on her buckling up, since this was going to be a rough ride, at least once they reached the mountains. Jeff drove to the north, toward the Hedra mountain range. Out of habit, Jeff checked the rear-view mirror occasionally to see if anyone was following them. He had gotten used to it over the past six months. Most of the time, they were not too obvious, but sometimes it was just awful. Today, he had a plan to shake his guests so that he could be totally alone with Delenn. He had planned out this little detour for quite a while -- in his head -- so that no one knew what he was going to do. Jeff set their course out of town, wandering past some of the landmarks in town, just so that Delenn could see these very familiar buildings again. It was like being a tourist again. They went by the Trevi fountain, the Valen memorial. All of these places had become very familiar to Jeff and it was clear that Delenn was enjoying the ride. A smile broke her features periodically, almost as if she was thinking about when she had been here last or something. "Jeffrey, why are we not headed directly toward the mountains?" Delenn said. "I have a little chore to perform first, Delenn. "Haven't you noticed that we have company following?" Jeff said. "No, I hadn't noticed," Delenn said. "Well, they are there and I will loose them shortly." Jeff said. They had driven to the edge of the city and near the bizarre area. There were hundreds of vendors gathered here, selling anything from food to furniture. You could find anything here and Jeff had spent many hours here, just looking at the various crafts from worlds. Jeff made an abrupt turn to the left and headed down a narrow street toward the south. Once at the end of that street, he made another turn right and then another left turn. He looked back and was pleased not to see the other vehicle that had been following them. Now they could begin their journey. Jeff pointed the rover south and into the desert. He would take Delenn to one of the most beautiful places he had found here on Minbar -- the valley of elan. It was at the foot of a small mountain range about 60 miles from the city. The valley was full of flowers, ancient sculpture and a temple. It was a peaceful place where they would rest for a while before continuing to the waterfalls high in the mountains. As he drove, Jeff told Delenn about some of the people he had met while on Minbar. Delenn was impressed with the number of Council members Jeffrey had seen and discussed some serious issue with already. She had originally been a little concerned with Jeffrey's new assignment. While she knew he was perfect for this position, she was concerned that some of the Council members would resent him. He did have a Minbari soul, but he was still a human. And that didn't sit well with many Minbari. The war was still fresh in their memories and the hate was not easily forgotten. What Delenn discovered though, was that Jeffrey had won over quite a number of the Council. Even Neroon had written her at how impressed he was with Sinclair. "For a human, he has a logical mind and is an honorable man." Neroon had written. This was quite a compliment, Delenn thought. Neroon was from the warrior caste and not easily swayed. Other Minbari Council members had talked to Delenn about Sinclair. They were, for the most part, impressed by him. He was doing very well as Ambassador. Delenn was very pleased by what had been said. She had no doubt that Jeffrey would be a good Ambassador and represent EarthForce well here on Minbar. More importantly, she felt he could learn more about Minbari while here, more than she could explain to him while on Babylon 5. This was a good experience for him. He would see things first-hand, experience both the good and bad parts of Minbar. She could tell from his description of his meeting with Sangor, one of the highest Council members, that everything had not gone as expected, but things had turned out OK. Sangor was very hostile to anyone not Minbari -- especially humans. On their first meeting, Sinclair had brought a small sculpture he had found in the bizarre, a gift to the Council member for seeing him. Sangor was taken aback by both this gesture and the fact that the sculpture was one of his favorites. He had a larger one in his home and could sit and look at it for hours -- it was soothing for him. This got their first meeting off on the right foot and Sangor now, while not a friend, did call upon the Earth Ambassador from time to time to see if he was doing well. Quite an achievement for a human. Jeff realized that he was walking into a tenuous situation when he accepted the job as Earth Ambassador. The Minbari were not overly fond of humans and here he was, living with them now. After six months, he still didn't feel totally comfortable here, but he was adjusting and this visit from Delenn was helping quite a bit. He could talk to her about some of his concerns. It was as if she already knew what was on his mind. He, at times, felt the same way toward Delenn. There was some kind of common bond between them that was very difficult to explain. Maybe it was this Minbari soul thing the President had told him about -- he wasn't sure. There was something there though, to be sure. Someday he would ask her about it. Not now though. He was enjoying himself too much. Jeff loved driving, especially now since he did very little of it. It was not like taking out a StarFury, but this land rover had some similar features. It maneuvered very well for a large vehicle and over this terrain, it was wonderful. He left the road several times to stop and look at some flora or rock formations. By the time they reached the valley, Jeff and Delenn had nearly caught up on six months of small talk -- who they had seen, what they had done. Delenn mentioned what was happening on Babylon 5. Jeff knew John Sheridan had taken command; that Ivanova had been promoted and, most importantly, that Garibaldi had completely recovered from his near fatal attack. She also mentioned that Stephen Franklin's father had come to the station and that they had made peace with each other. Jeff was very glad to hear that. He was aware of the strained relationship Stephen had with his father. It was a situation all too familiar to Jeff. He had a similar relationship with his father. General Samuel Sinclair had wanted Jeff to follow in his footsteps, rise to the top of his military profession. While Jeff wanted very much to honor his father's wishes, there were times when he wished he could chuck the military entirely. He was unsure whether this was actually his line of work at all. Funny, now that he was an Ambassador, things felt a little different. He was working with many of the same people he had worked with before, but their attitudes were a little different. He no longer represented the military. He was a full-time diploma -- someone that could pull some strings and make things happen when necessary. As Jeff pulled up to a little grove, Delenn gasped at the beauty of this place. It was quite a sight -- blooming plants of red, yellow, orange and pink all over. The fragrance was similar to honeysuckle, sweet and so rich you could nearly drink it in. Nearby, there was a little pond. Delenn got out of the rover and began looking around the grove. It truly was a striking sight. In the pond, there were small fish of assorted colors -- red, yellow, blue. All of this added to the very peaceful nature of this place. It was brimming with life. "So what do you think of this place," Jeff said, smiling from ear to ear. He could see from Delenn's expression that she loved the vibrant nature of the grove. "Jeffrey, I never knew a place like this existed on Minbar. How wonderful it is. How did you ever find this place?" Delenn said in wonder. Her eyes danced over every inch of the grove. It seemed like she could not see enough, could not take it all in. "I was wandering around one day, trying to find a quiet place to read and stumbled into this grove." Jeff said. "I loved it from the first time I saw it. You won't believe this, but it's my second favorite place on this planet. My favorite is yet to come." "How can any place be more beautiful than this, Jeffrey?" Delenn said. "I felt the same way when I first saw it, but you'll see what I mean later." Jeff said. "Let's just walk around a little while and look at the flowers and the fish and other wildlife. This place seems to attract just about every life form on the planet. Given it's beauty, that doesn't surprise me a bit." Jeff took Delenn's hand and they walked around the pond. He showed her another pond that had lily pads and flowers on it. There were even frog-like creatures jumping from pad to pad. They watched them for a while, just trying to absorb all the activity going on about them. "Are you hungry or thirsty yet?" Jeff said. "I could use a drink," Delenn said. "OK, let's go back to the rover and see what Sarah packed us to drink. I'm sure there will be an assortment of things so that you can take your pick." Jeff said. "This Sarah, she is a store owner?" Delenn inquired. "Yes, she runs a little grocery down the street from the office I have. She's been a wonderful help and a true friend. She's also a great cook, mother, grandmother and wife." Jeff said. "Oh, I was just wondering." Delenn said. "She's relatively new to Minbar too, so we have a lot in common. Minbari don't like either of us too much." Jeff said. "Oh Jeffrey, all Minbari don't hate you. Look at Neroon. At first, yes, he disliked all humans, but he seems to have developed quite a relationship with you. When we spoke last, he said that you and his son have become quite friendly." Delenn said. "Yes, Anthony is quite a boy. He's about 11 and very curious about everything. I don't know who is learning more -- him or me. I seem to be teaching him about humans; he's teaching me about Minbari." Jeff laughed. "It's good to hear you laugh. I guess we did not have much time for this sort of thing on Babylon 5. You were always going off to take care of a problem or something. Most of the conversations we had, even in the garden, were on serious subjects," Delenn said. "Yes, I guess we seldom took time to just enjoy each other's company. There were a couple of times, however, when we did just sit and look at the rock garden. We didn't have to talk. I enjoyed those times very much, Delenn." Jeff said. "I, too, enjoyed them Jeffrey. I also miss those times very much." Delenn said. "Captain Sheridan is a good man, but somehow it's just not the same. He is still troubled by the loss of his wife. Perhaps that's what prevents him from reaching out to others." "Oh, Sheridan recently lost his wife," Sinclair said. "How?" "Anna Sheridan died in a shuttle crash about two years ago while on an expedition in Sector 14. I believe everyone on board was killed." Delenn said. "Sector 14? That section of space has been giving everyone a lot of trouble." Jeff said. His eyes reflected his concern over what he had just heard -- and said. Sector 14 was where Babylon 4 had reappeared, where high tachyon omissions constantly were registering, throwing instrumentation off and causing a lot of trouble with space craft. What was it that caused these strange conditions in Sector 14. He wished he could investigate first-hand, but he knew that was out of the question. He would keep an eye and ear out for information though. "Jeffrey, is there something about Sector 14 that I should know?" Delenn said. "Delenn, I'm sure the Minbari are aware of what's going on in Sector 14. It's just that section of space has been quarantined because of strange readings. It truly is a sector of space to be avoided." Jeff said. They had reached the rover and Jeff lifted the lid on the storage compartment to see what kinds of beverages Sarah had packed. To his amazement and amusement, there was a wide variety of juices, teas and even some coffee for him. Coffee was one of those things he couldn't live without -- and Sarah knew that. He was one of her best customers. "What can I get for you, Delenn." Jeff said. "Would you like some chi or water or juice?" "I'll have some chi, thank you." Delenn said. He handed her a bottle filled with the tea, picked up a glass and filled it. As she drank, the liquid quickly quenched her thirst and she was ready for more walking. Jeff picked up a bottle of juice and quickly downed the liquid. He hadn't realized how thirsty he was until the juice hit his taste buds. The orange juice really tasted wonderfully sweet and refreshing. "Shall we head off to another site?" Jeff said. He was anxious to change the subject away from Sector 14. "Oh, I wish we could stay here all day, Jeffrey. It's so beautiful and peaceful here." Delenn said. "I knew you would feel this way, but you haven't seen anything yet." Jeff smiled and steered Delenn back into the rover. "There are a couple of places up ahead that will literally take your breath away." "I can't imagine a more beautiful place than this one, but drive on. I'm curious to see where you are taking us." Delenn said. Jeff laughed aloud as he swung behind the wheel of the rover. "Delenn, this is really going to be something. This next place is even further removed than this one. You have to use a rover to get there. So, buckle up. The ride is going to get a little bumpy." Jeff said. "I can't wait to see this place," Delenn said. "How long will it take to get there?" "Not long, it's only a few miles to the north," Jeff said. As they drove on down through a valley, Delenn would occasionally glance over at Sinclair. She hadn't enjoyed herself so much in quite some time. It was strange that she felt so much at peace with this man. He had once said they were kindred spirits. Perhaps there was something in that. Whatever it was, she liked being with Jeffrey, especially now. He was no longer Commander Sinclair, the chief authority of a large space station. He was Jeffrey Sinclair, diplomat. It was a position that he was well suited for, despite his youth. Though filled with great responsibility, he seemed to be enjoying his duties and his stay on Minbar and had certainly learned a lot about the country side. He drove down a shallow path as if he had come here often, but sensed that it was somehow a very special place to Jeffrey. Everyone has that special place where they feel comfortable. Jeffrey was sharing those places with her and that made her feel very special. She knew Sinclair was not comfortable with outward displays of emotion, but he was truly demonstrating his love for this country and a desire to share that with Delenn. As they bounced along, Delenn wondered what lay ahead. They were nearly at the foot of the mountain range and headed northeast. She couldn't remember being out this far from the city before. She had spent much of her time in her studies and had missed adventures like this one. Her goal had always been to be a member of the Grey Council, to help Minbar gain prominence in the Alliance. This was part of her youth that she regretted; she had never stopped to smell the flowers, never tried to see the beauty near her. "We're nearly there, Delenn. Only a few more minutes and we'll be able to see the temple." Jeff said. "Temple?" Delenn said. "Yes, it's an ancient dwelling. Hasn't been used for many, many years. Brother Trai and I discovered it about two months ago. He said it was inhabited by monks two centuries ago. It was used in defense of the city in ancient times and as a sanctuary later on in history." Jeff said. As they came over a rise, there stood a striking dwelling nestled in the side of the mountain. It had been carefully carved out of the stone and vegetation had nearly made it invisible. "We uncovered a bit of the building, just so we could see what the original structure looked like. That was a real job. The vines had taken over and we struggled with them for two days before we made some headway. We didn't want to uncover too much of it, however, before we could explore it a little more fully. We didn't want to share our discovery with anyone." Jeff said with a smile. "Jeffrey, this truly is a wonderful old building. I have read a little about this place. In ancient times, the monks would teach children here in the ancient ways. Those children would then in turn teach others, and so on and so on." Delenn said. "We haven't really gone into the structure yet. Trai and I were waiting until after the hot season was over. I was afraid every creature imaginable would be inside seeking shelter from the heat. I'm not real big on snakes and things like that so, we'll open up the building in a month or two to see what's inside." Jeff said. "Jeffrey, you are scared of snakes?" Delenn teased. "You bet. Some of the snakes I've seen here on Minbar are huge. Makes the ones I've seen in zoos look like miniatures." Jeff said. "I'm not too fond of them myself, Jeffrey. I think we can pass up exploring this place until next time." Delenn said. "I just wanted you to see the outside of this building. I think it's lovely -- the craftsmanship is truly outstanding." Jeffrey said. "Yes, a lot of time, effort and love went into creating this place," Delenn said. "Let's go on to the next place." Delenn walked back over to the rover and buckled up again. She was ready for the next place Jeffrey had to show her. In a way, she was eager to get away from this place. While lovely, there was something very strange about it. Perhaps it was the fact that it was so old, so full of history. From bruckner@usia.govFri Sep 15 20:26:49 1995 Date: Mon, 4 Sep 95 20:04:56 -0400 From: "Bruckner, Sandra" Reply to: b5-creative@best.com To: b5-creative@best.com Subject: Demons in the Dark -- Part 3 ----------------------- Part 3 Jeff got into the rover and headed the vehicle north, continuing up and along the base of the mountain. They gradually started up the side of the mountain, using a path that made the climb to the summit. You could feel the air getting lighter as you ascended the mountain. As they reached the top, they got out of the vehicle. Delenn couldn't believe the sight. They were on top of a mountain overlooking a valley of total green. For as far as you could see, there were trees, flowers, vines. In the distance, you could see the city, but it was very small and seemed so insignificant. Here, it was peaceful and serene. Jeff took Delenn's hand and led her down a small path. "We're almost there, Delenn." Jeff said. Delenn could hear a rushing noise that she couldn't quite place. As they drew nearer, the noise got louder and louder. Finally, she could see what Jeffrey was talking about. There, in front of her, was a huge waterfall, perhaps 50 feet high. "This is my favorite place." Jeff said. "I've never seen any place like this." Delenn said. Her eyes gazed at the water crashing down upon the rocks below. Above the waterfall, vines grew and purple flowers hung down from each stem. The air was filled with a sweet, delectable fragrance. "I hope you'll like it." Jeff said. "Oh, Jeffrey, it's beautiful. No, beautiful can not adequately describe this place. It is beyond words." Delenn said. As they walked along a path that had been made by animals, they drew closer to the waterfall. The pond formed at the base was so clear you could see right through it to the rock below. Along the waterfall, there were flowers of all shapes and sizes. On the ground, were tracks of a lot of different animals that came here to drink. Across the pond were some deer-like creatures and they were frightened as Delenn and Jeff came near. They ran into the forest and were gone in a flash. The forest was very dense and light did not penetrate very far. "Jeffrey, this is breathtaking. I don't know how it can be, but this truly is more beautiful than the glen where we first stopped." Delenn said. "This is my favorite place in the universe." Jeff said. "There's just something about this place that I can't seem to get enough of. It's very peaceful, but brimming with life. I thought this would be the perfect place to have a picnic. We could just sit and talk, eat and enjoy." Delenn could just shake her head in agreement. She was still trying to see all the activity around her. "You wait here and I'll bring the things from the rover that we'll need. I won't be long." Jeff said. "Can I help?" Delenn said. "No, I think I can handle everything. Sarah put everything in the basket for lunch." Jeff said. Delenn watched as Jeff left for the rover. She sat on a nearby rock and just gazed at this sight. How could she not know about places like this on her own home world? She truly was fortunate that Jeffrey had brought her here. She needed to see this beauty. She had seen death and such destruction and needed to remember what it was like to see such natural wonders. It was refreshing and delightful. After a few minutes, Jeff was back with the basket and a blanket. He spread the blanket on the ground for them to lie on and put the basket down on top of it. He opened the lid to find some flarn, a loaf of bread, some wine, a container of strawberries and a few other items Jeff wasn't quite sure about. He took out a cloth and spread some of the items out so that they could pick and choose what they wanted to eat. As he took out the flarn, his mind drifted off to thoughts of Catherine. She had brought flarn to his apartment when she was celebrating some business closure. "Jeffrey, is something wrong?" Delenn said. She had noticed a worried look had come over Jeffrey's face. "No, Delenn. I was just thinking about things. Fate does work in mysterious ways, does it not. I'm here today because of my assignment on Minbar. If I had remained on Babylon 5, who know what I would be doing now." Jeff said. He was going to mention Catherine, but decided not to. "Yes, you would probably be trying to get Londo and G'Kar talking to each other, pleading with them to reconsider their actions and pull back from war." Delenn said. "I imagine I would be doing that, indeed." Jeff said. "I guess this sort of thing is keeping Captain Sheridan quite busy. I almost feel sorry for him." Jeff couldn't help but smile. While he missed the station, he didn't miss having to mediate every disturbance on the station. He was greatly concerned over the war that had started between the Centauri and the Narn, however. "Commander Ivanova has been doing a lot of this lately, Jeff. She has been involved in a great number of treaty negotiations with the Mytar and the P'Qain. She is showing great promise as a diplomat, but she has a lot to learn." Delenn said. "Oh, Captain Sheridan is not actively involved in negotiations?" Jeff said. "I'm a little surprised by that. I supposed I would have been in the middle of all that, and perhaps that's why I'm here and he's there." Delenn just shook her head. "Perhaps" she said. Jeff picked up the knife and sliced some bread for both of them. Everything looked very inviting and both ate a little of each item Sarah had placed in the basket. Delenn said that some of the items were delicacies and very hard to find, even here on Minbar. Jeff laughed, saying that Sarah could find anything, given enough time. Jeff really liked a pudding-like something Delenn had called mosik. She said it was made from petals of a flower, crushed berries and a few other ingredients she couldn't quite remember. It had a very subtle flavor, something like coconut and hazelnuts, but different. The strawberries were delightful. When they could eat no more, they packed up the remainder and placed everything back in the basket. As punishment for eating to much, Jeff said they would go for a walk around the pond. Neither felt like riding with a full stomach -- not a good idea, particularly over the bumpy terrain. So off they went around the pond. They would stop every so often to look into the water, see little fish or some sort of creature swimming in the water. There were birds overhead, small pink birds that reminded Jeff of doves. They would coo a greeting as they came closer, but fly away when they got too near. It took them the better part of an hour to walk around the pond. They hadn't walked very fast, but the pond was more like a lake. The waterfall commanded their attention for quite a while before they decided it was time to get back to the rover. Neither really wanted to think about the trip home. Where had the day gone. Jeff looked at his link and couldn't believe the time. It was 6:00 p.m. already and the suns of Minbar were starting to go down. As they got to the blanket, they could see that some animals had been sniffing around the food. Nothing had been disturbed, but they had been here, curious about the visitors to their world. "We had best be on our way, Delenn. I would guess it gets a little spooky around here after dark." Jeff said. "Yes, I would suppose all the creatures come out at night, both for a drink of water and to find food." Delenn said. "It would be best if we were on our way back to the city before too long. This has truly been an enjoyable day, though, Jeffrey. I can't thank you enough for a day I will not soon forget." "It's not over yet, Delenn." Jeff said. "You mean you have more?" Delenn said. "Well, sort of." Jeff said. As he packed up the basket and blanket, he lifted out a small black box that Delenn didn't quite recognize. Jeff also brought out a little case and sat it on the back seat of the rover. It was a recording device of some kind, Delenn figured. But what did Jeff have in mind? "I found some old recorded music I thought you might like to listen to as we head back toward the city." Jeff said. "It is from some ancient Minbari ceremonies and there are some chants and songs that date back further than Trai could figure. I stumbled upon them in the bizarre one day and have had a great time listening to them. It's very soothing music." With that he flicked one of the buttons on the recorder and music filled the air. It was some sort of wind instruments, combining into a mixture of tones that resembled the wind, but stronger and sweeter. Delenn sat back in her seat and closed her eyes, This music was from an ancient Minbari right of passage. She had heard it once in some of her studies, but had not had occasion to hear it again. It was truly soothing music and it drifted over her like a sweet perfume. Jeff drove down the incline, being very careful as the light began to fade. He put on the headlights, but in this section of the country, they did not afford too much light. He could not go too fast for fear of hitting a rock or stump. Although he had figured this part of the trip would take a little longer, he had hoped to be through this area before dark. Oh well, you know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men! They had nearly gotten to the bottom of the mountain when Jeff saw a strange, huge shadow in front of the rover. He couldn't quite make it out, but it was coming toward them at quite a clip. It was an animal of some kind, but he couldn't quite make it out. "Hold on, Delenn. This could get a little bumpy," Jeff said. He jerked the wheel right and then left in an effort to avoid the animal. The animal seemed to sense exactly what he had in mind and mimicked his motions. The beast rammed the rover like a bull elephant, sending the rover off the path and down into a small ravine. Jeff fought with the wheel in an effort to keep the vehicle from turning over, but was only partially successful. The rover flipped over onto it's side and came to a skidding halt. As the dust settled, the beast, a combination of buffalo and elephant -- sniffed around the rover. It raised it's Huge head, tusks extending into the air. Jeff and Delenn remained still for fear of a second attack. With no movement to follow, the animal lost interest in the rover and wandered off to the north. With the rover setting passenger side down, near a cluster of rocks, it was hard for both Delenn and Jeff to get out of the vehicle. "Are you all right, Delenn?" Jeff asked, looking at Delenn in the fading light. His eyes reflected his concern and worry. "I am a bit shaken, Jeffrey, but I believe nothing has been broken." She started to move, unbuckling her seat belt and trying to get out of the vehicle. With her door jammed against the ground, so she would have to wait for Jeff to get out of the rover first. "Well, it seems that we aren't the worst for wear. Thank God," Jeff said. He unbuckled his seat and tried to climb out of the rover. The buckle was stuck and so he struggled a bit with it before it would finally release. As he climbed out of the rover, he felt a sharp pain in his side. He hadn't thought about it before, but the animal had sizeable tusks and they had come right through the door. "Ouch," Jeff said, looking down at his side. His shirt was torn and there was blood soaking the area of his rib cage. "Jeffrey, you are injured?" Delenn said with great concern. "Well, it appears that both the rover and I have a couple of dented or broken parts," Jeff said with a slight chuckle. He didn't want to worry Delenn, but he feared that several ribs were broken. He was not yet feeling the pain, but he knew that would follow. He gingerly, climbed out of the rover, holding his side as he reached the ground. Delenn scampered out of the rover and rushed over to Jeffrey. She picked up the first-aid kit she saw laying on the ground and started looking to see what was available to stop the bleeding. She quickly found some bandages and brought them to where Jeff was now sitting. Jeff, however, was not as much concerned about his side as he was about the animal coming back. They certainly were no match for him, even in the daylight. In the dark, they had no chance at all. "Hold still while I bandage your side, Jeffrey. We must stop the bleeding before we can do anything else." Delenn said. "I'm fine Delenn, I just need to rest a bit and catch my breath," Jeff said. "We'll have to get the rover back on it's wheels and get out of here as soon as possible." When Delenn finished with dressing his wound, Jeff got up and walked around the rover to see how badly the vehicle was damaged. It would take a bit of effort to set it back on it's wheels, but everything looked to be in working order. For that Jeff was grateful. He looked around the area illuminated by the headlights for something to create a lever. He found a tree limb that seemed sturdy enough for the task. He dragged it over to the vehicle and then found a rock to provide the leverage needed. Once he had the limb and rock positioned, both he and Delenn pushed and struggled to upright the rover. It took every ounce of strength they had, but they did get the rover back on it's wheels. By the time they finished, Jeff was totally winded. His ribs were starting to hurt and he was having more and more difficulty breathing. He didn't want to alarm Delenn, but he knew he was in trouble. "Jeffrey, come and sit down for a while. I can put the things back in the rover. Rest a bit and then we will start back toward the city." Delenn said. "Delenn, I'm too tired to argue with you." Jeff said. He sat in the rover while Delenn gathered as many of the things that she could. Picnic items were strewn everywhere and without proper lighting, she would never find everything, but that was of little concern. She had to get Jeffrey back to the city and seek out medical help. He needed a doctor and that was her first priority. "How far are we from the city, Jeffrey?" Delenn asked. "We're probably 60 miles away or so. Our real problem is the terrain and darkness. It's hard enough to see where you're going in the daylight, but at night it's also very dangerous. I don't know whether we should stay here tonight and begin in the morning, or try to make it to town tonight." Jeff said. "Do you think that beast will return?" Delenn said. "I haven't any notion what that animal was nor what it's intentions might be, Delenn." Jeff said. "I do know that we can't afford another encounter with it. It would probably rip the rover to shreds." "Will you be able to drive, Jeffrey?" Delenn asked. "I don't know, Delenn. This is a really rough, bumpy path. I'm afraid I've already punctured a lung and don't want to do more damage bouncing around in the rover." Jeff said. "What do you suggest then?" Delenn asked. "Well, I thought you could take the rover into town and bring back some help." Jeff said. "A land cruiser would be great -- no bumps, and fast as well." "I can't leave you here, Jeffrey. What if the beast returns?" Delenn said. "I can't go with you either, Delenn." Jeff said. "I'm already feeling a little dizzy and the ride would just be too rough. I'll just have to take my chances here." "I do not like this, but I suppose there is no alternative. I will take out a few items for you, water and some food, and then be off. It should not take long to reach the city and bring assistance." Delenn said. "When you get to the city, call my aide and he'll pull together all the help we'll need. He'll probably have a good laugh about this when it's all over. My beautiful day in the country has come to a crashing halt." Jeff said. "It's not your fault this happened, Jeffrey. You could not have predicted that animal would attack our vehicle." Delenn said. "This has been a perfect day and it will have a happy ending. Just wait and see." He understood, but could not shake the feeling that he should have done something differently. Perhaps if they had started sooner, or not gone for the walk around the pond at the waterfall. If, if, if. It was too late now. He would just have to make the best of this. How pitiful he was sitting here, watching Delenn get the basket out of the rover. His perfect day had been shattered and now he sits here, broken ribs and all. And he was going to be rescued by Delenn! This was awful. I guess it could be worse, he thought. He could be unconscious or dead! They both could have been injured! At least he could move -- haltingly, but move all the same. If the beast did return, he might be able to get out of it's way. He certainly hoped so. Delenn made a small pile of supplies near the base of the rocks. She brought out the blankets and tried to make a place where he would be comfortable as he waited for her return. If only there was some shelter she thought. Jeffrey was in great pain -- he was drenched in sweat from his efforts with the rover and now with night falling quickly, he would need a fire to ward off a chill. She gathered some dried wood and made sure to put some matches nearby so that he could start a fire soon. It would help keep him warm and perhaps keep the animals away. She was not totally familiar with human physiology, but she was sure that if she did not bring help, Jeffrey Sinclair would be dead soon. Delenn helped Jeffrey to the rocks, showed him were the matches and other supplies were and looked around one last time. She did not want to leave, but there was no choice. "Jeffrey, I will return as quickly as I can. Please try to remain still, so that you do not further injure yourself. I should be back in an hour or two with help. Light the fire so that I can find my way back and it should help with the animals as well." Delenn said. "Delenn, I'll be fine. I was a fantastic Boy Scout and excelled in my survival class at the Academy. Don't worry." Jeffrey said. He was trying his best to calm her. He could see she was torn by having to leave him here. Delenn came over to Jeffrey and sat down on the rock next to him. She was such a serious person by nature, but her now eyes only reflected her deep concern. She could not speak; there were no words to tell Jeffrey what he meant to her. Jeff sensed her awkwardness, took her in his arms and they kissed -- a long, gentle kiss. Damn, he thought. I finally get Delenn alone and ...... He must have started to smile at the thought. "What?" Delenn said and she backed away a bit. "Delenn, you don't know how long I've been dreaming about kissing you. I'd thought it would be different -- a romantic setting, perhaps dinner and candlelight. What happens? I take you out on a picnic and nearly get us both killed." "Jeffrey, I too have thought about you and what it might be like to be together. There is time for that when we are back in the city and you are better. Believe me, Jeffrey, when I say we have just stared to explore our emotions about each other." Delenn said. Delenn leaned over him, gave him a brief kiss and then started toward the rover. Jeff wanted to get up, but could not. It was best that he stayed right where he was, for now. He watched as she got into the rover, turned the ignition key and pressed the accelerator. The engine coughed, but came to life. At least some things were still working, Jeff thought. Delenn looked back at Jeff, waved and sped off toward the south. He watched her for as long as he could, following the head lights as she made her way down through the valley. Darkness was now nearly complete, so Jeff started the fire. It felt good and was somehow comforting. Perhaps the flames would keep the animals away until Delenn returned. He hoped so. He didn't think he could stand another encounter with whatever that was. He wrapped the blanket around himself, trying to stay as warm as possible. He knew shock was always possible after such an injury as his, and he wanted to stay alert, just in case. The supplies were nearby, so Jeff did not have to move much to get some water. He was very thirsty, perhaps because he was running a fever. He drank some water, but nearly choked as it went down. He coughed and the pain in his side grew more intense. He would have to be more careful next time. He put the water away and watched the flames dance against the night air. He wondered how long it would be before Delenn returned. He certainly hoped she would be able to find her way back to this place. The thought alone made him put more wood on the fire, placing a marker for someone to see. Jeff's eyes started getting heavy and he knew he needed to stay awake. He would try to concentrate on something, but what? He thought back of all the time he had spent on Babylon 5, his friends there, the people he had met, the duties he had performed. He thought of Garibaldi and Ivanova, wondered what they were doing at this very moment. Garibaldi was probably trying to pull a trick on Susan of some kind. He was always trying to get her to lighten up a little. He thought of G'Kar and wondered what he was thinking about now as his world was being torn apart by the Centauri. At first they had been adversaries, but as they grew to know each other, Sinclair appreciated G'Kar's wisdom and sense of honor. The one that worried Jeff the most was Londo Mollari. Londo had seemed a buffoon, someone misplaced as a diplomat. Things had definitely changed and Londo had changed -- not at all for the good. Delenn had always been someone special. From the first time Jeff had met her, there was something about her he could not quite identify. Had he actually seen her in the Grey Council chamber room when he had been captured and tortured during the Battle of the Line? He couldn't remember for sure, but when they had met during negotiations regarding Babylon 5, she had been a fierce and strong ally. He remembered how worried he had been for her when the Soul Hunter had kidnaped her and was nearly successful in capturing her soul. He had rescued her just in time. Perhaps he would be just as fortunate this time. In a distance, Jeff could hear something, something coming in his direction. He couldn't quite make out the sound, but he placed a little more wood on the fire, just in case it was someone coming to find him. As the noise grew closer, he recognized it as a land cruiser, hovering above the ground, spreading dust for 50 feet in every direction, but getting closer. The cruiser flashed it's lights in an effort to tell Jeff that they saw his fire and were on their way. The sense of relief was overwhelming. He was ready to leave this place. Within a few minutes, the cruiser had arrived at the simple camp. Delenn rushed over to Jeffrey to make sure he was all right and men brought out medical equipment and a stretcher. "Jeffrey, I'm back. I've brought help and we'll soon be back in the city where you can get medial attention." Delenn said. She had taken Sinclair's hands and placed them on her face. She was nearly in tears, relieved they had found him. The doctor told Delenn to move out of the way and to let him make a quick examination of Sinclair before they headed back toward the city. Delenn moved only a few steps away. "Ambassador Sinclair, how do you feel?" the doctor asked. "Probably not as bad as I look, doctor," Jeff said. "I believe I have some broken ribs and punctured lung. We had a run-in with some kind of beast and I think I'm a little worse for wear." Jeff said, smiling. "Well, at least you still have a sense of humor -- not much sense -- but that's a good sign." the doctor said. "Didn't anyone tell you about the dangers of being out here in the desert after dark? The animal that attacked you. They call it the "Demon in the Dark" because it senses you thoughts. Most people never escape alive." "I had thought we would be back in the city before darkness, doctor. Guess my plans were a little off." Jeff said. "Well, you should count yourself very lucky. Ambassador Delenn told us all about your encounter with the sloth on our way here. Most people do not survive such an attack." the doctor said. "Let's get you back to town where I can get some pictures of your internal organs and see what kind of damage has been done. You are very lucky." "Now that you mention it, doc, I do feel pretty lucky. I've always been a true believer in fate. I guess it wasn't my time yet. Perhaps I still have work to do." Jeff said, pondering that last thought. The doctor directed the men with him to put Jeff on the stretcher and put him in the cruiser. Out of nowhere, Gerrio -- Sinclair's assistant -- lurched forward. "Ambassador Sinclair, are you all right? I came as quickly as I could and brought the best medical team I could find. I've alerted the hospital that we are on our way in and they will be prepared when we arrive. Is there anyone I can call? Anyone, family?" Jeff looked over at Delenn and smiled. "No, Gerrio, there is no one. Most of my family is on Mars and other than Ambassador Delenn and you, I know few people here on Minbar. Guess you're all the family I have right now." Delenn reached over and picked up Jeff's hand as the men lifted him into the cruiser. She held his hand the entire journey into the city and was reluctant to release him as he was taken into the intensive care facility. She was assured that he was in good hands and that the best care available would be given to him. The hospital had called in a specialist on human physiology and they were very well equipped to handle his injuries. She was relieved by this, but insisted on being nearby, just in case he needed her. In the intensive care unit, Sinclair's examination revealed that he had several broken ribs, a punctured lung, spleen and bruised kidney. Dr. Klain was in charge and quickly assessed the damage. Pictures, resembling x-rays, were taken to confirm the internal injuries and before long, Sinclair's condition had stabilized. Klain had specialized in humans, but had never actually worked on one before here on Minbar. There just weren't any here and the ones that were, never seemed to get sick. However, Sinclair needed his attention now and he was the best doctor for the job. Klain gave Sinclair something for the pain and attached him to a machine that would help replace the blood he had lost. There was no real, whole human blood on Minbar, but this machine was just as good. It was designed to replicate blood for over 100 different species. As Sinclair drifted off to sleep, Klain told the nurse to keep an eye on him and he wanted someone in the room at all times with the Ambassador. The nurse acknowledged his orders and departed. Klain came out of the intensive care unit to find Delenn pacing, worried about Sinclair. "He'll be just fine Delenn. Don't worry. He's in very good physical condition and should be back on his feet in a matter of days." "Oh thank you doctor," Delenn said. "Can I see him now?" "I'm afraid he's sleeping and will be asleep for several hours, It's the best thing for him now -- rest. I would say that you could use some rest yourself. I can arrange for you to have the room next to Ambassador Sinclair, if you like." Klain said. "Thank you very much Dr. Klain," Delenn said. "I would very much like to stay near him while he recuperates. He is a dear friend." Dr. Klain just shook his head and took her to the room he had set aside for her. He sat her down on the bed and told her to get some rest. He would wake her if there was any change in the Ambassador's condition. "Thank you again, Dr. Klain." Delenn said. "I am very tired, now that everything is over. Be sure to awaken me though, if Jeffrey needs me." "You can be certain of that Ambassador Delenn." Klain said. With that he existed the room. Delenn took off her shoes and lay down on the bed. She hadn't realized how tired she was until now. She drifted off to sleep almost immediately. When Delenn opened her eyes, it was morning -- or was it the afternoon. She wasn't sure of the time. She had slept for quite a while, she was certain. She put on her shoes and went into the bathroom to freshen up. She must look a sight. To her amazement, there was a comb, toothbrush, soap, towels -- everything she would need, plus a fresh set of clothes waiting for her. Dr. Klain had indeed thought of everything. As she washed and dressed in clean clothes, Delenn felt 100% better. She was eager to see how Jeffrey was. She hoped that he had spent a restful night and was beginning to mend. As Delenn left her room, she nearly ran over Dr. Klain. He was on his way to wake her. He told her that she looked much better this morning and hoped that she had slept well. He filled her in on Jeffrey's condition, saying that he was getting along remarkably and would probably be able to go home tomorrow. Delenn was delighted by the news and eager to see Jeffrey. "He's waiting to see you as well," Klain said. "He woke up about a hour ago and has been asking for you ever since." "Dr. Klain, Jeffrey Sinclair is a very strong-minded man. You are lucky that he's not well enough to try to leave the hospital yet. Just wait until tomorrow." Delenn said. "He has a very serious injury, Ambassador. He will have to take it easy for quite a while, until his internal injuries heal. I don't think he'll be ready for any more picnics for a while." Klain said. "I wouldn't be too sure of that, Doctor." Delenn said. "When Jeffrey puts his mind to doing something, he does it. Let's go see how he's doing." As they entered Sinclair's room, Jeff was sitting up, reading a book of poetry. "Where did you find that?" Klain said. "Oh, I had Gerrio get it from my apartment. Thought that if I had to be in this bed for a while, I might as well take advantage of it by reading a little." Jeff said. "What are you reading?" Klain said. "It's an ancient poet from Earth by the name of Tennyson," Jeff said. "I've been sort of hooked on him for years. Can't seem to get enough of him." "I'm not familiar with the name. Perhaps I can borrow the book sometime." Klain said. "Why certainly Doctor Klain." Jeff said. "Well, I'll leave you two alone for a while. Don't go moving about too much, now, Ambassador Sinclair. You have a lot of healing to do, so don't make my job any harder than it is already." Klain said as he exited the room. Delenn came over to the edge of Jeff's bed and sat down. She took his hands in hers and there they sat, looking into each other's eyes. "You have to admit, when I take you out on a date, it isn't boring," Jeff said, chuckling a bit. "Jeffrey, don't give this a second thought. I had a wonderful day yesterday. I've never seen such beauty and you shared that with me." Delenn said. "Whatever else happened is behind us now. We need to concentrate on the future." "That's what I want to talk about Delenn." Jeff said. a serious look came over his features and Jeff searched for words to describe what he was feeling. "I guess it takes something like this to open your eyes, makes you see who and what is important in life. You are very special to me Delenn. I hope you know that." "Jeffrey, before you go any further, I must tell you something. I must return to Babylon 5 tomorrow. I have messages stating that the war between the Narn and the Centauri is getting worse. I must get back to see if there is something I can do to help the poor refugees coming from the Narn colonies." Delenn said. "I know that you have duties to return to back on the station, Delenn. I just wanted to tell you that ......" Jeff said. Sinclair stopped in mid-sentence. a knock had come at the door and Gerrio entered the room. "Oh, Ambassador Sinclair, Ambassador Delenn. I'm sorry. I thought you were alone. I have an urgent message from Earth Force for you." Gerrio said. "They are expecting a response back from you as quickly as possible." "Thank you, Gerrio. What is the message." Sinclair said. Gerrio looked over at Delenn. "It's OK, Gerrio. You can talk in front of Ambassador Delenn. What does Earth Force say?" Jeff said. "The Centauri are building up tremendous caches of arms in three or four sectors of space. It looks like they will be waging an all-out offensive soon. EarthForce wants you to be ready, should they have to recall all Ambassadors back to Earth." Gerrio said. "I was afraid of this," Jeff said. "I just hope they do not sit by idly as the Centauri slaughter innocent civilians." Jeff was visibly agitated by this; his anger was very visible. "Tell Earth Force that I can spend my time better here on Minbar, trying to set up alliances with other worlds in an effort to stop the Centauri. I do not want to come back to Earth and be protected." "Shall I say that, Ambassador?" Gerrio asked. "Yes, Gerrio, tell them exactly that." Sinclair said. With that Gerrio departed the room. Sinclair looked out the window for a moment and then looked back at Delenn. "I guess we're going to have to delay this conversation until after this whole bloody thing is settled. You have duties back on Babylon 5 and I have a number of things I need to do here on Minbar. Neither of us can avoid the responsibilities we have, even though I would rather be spending my days and nights with you, Delenn." Jeff said. "Jeffrey, you are right, as always. We cannot put our personal feelings ahead of the our duty toward our own people and the alliance. People are depending upon us to help wherever and when ever we can." Delenn said. "You will be out of here tomorrow and I will be headed back to Babylon 5. We know what we must do and we cannot think of ourselves until then." "Yes, Delenn. I am glad that we did have some time together though. It will give me something to think about while you are gone." Jeff said. "Oh, Jeffrey. I wish things were different, but wishing will not make them so. So, we'll have to try to end this as quickly as we can so that we can take this up where we left off." Delenn said with a broad smile. "Delenn, I will miss you." Jeff said. "I hope that you will send me a postcard now and again." Delenn walked slowly over to Jeff, leaned over and kissed him. He wanted desperately to hold onto her, but did not. This was as painful for her as it was for him. He did not want to prolong their goodbye. Tears welled up inside of him, but he could not let Delenn see. He put her head on his shoulder and hugged her one last time. "Well, you had better go before we both do something we'll regret," Sinclair whispered. He released her and took her hand and kissed it. "Goodbye, Jeffrey." Delenn said. As Delenn departed the room, she looked back at Jeffrey. He thought he saw tears in her eyes, but could not be sure. He hoped she felt the same way he did, but there was no way of being certain. One day, soon, they would have the time to sit and talk and discuss their future -- if indeed they had a future together. In the meantime, he had to get out of this hospital. He had a hundred things to do and none of them could be done from this bed. Although he still was in considerable pain, he almost welcomed it. It helped him focus on what he had to do. Gerrio was busy rounding up the few associates Jeff had made over the past six months. There was a lot of work to be done and he was eager to get at it. Delenn would wait. He knew she would, he hoped she would.