Fanfiction Babylon 5 - Mars Rising - (part 7)
Disclaimer: Babylon 5 belongs to the Great Maker, JMS, I'm just playing in the sandbox a while. No copyright infringement is intended and no money was made from this. Any similarity to any other story not my own is coincidence.
Title: Mars Rising
Genre: Babylon 5 fanfic; AU; Drama/melodrama
Rating: PG-13; rated for swearing, violence/torture
Timeline: After the end of the 5 season, but before "Sleeping in Light," shortly after they have begun to set up the Alliance and before the birth of John and Delenn's son.
Author's Notes: This is one of my only attempts at something with a plot, so to speak, or drama, so... *grin* There are also probably bits and pieces of inspiration from various sources and the Minbari language is a mix of "canon" and what sounded right to my ear. It is the last old B5 fanfic I have left to archive.
Story breaks are indicated by boldface and ellipses. I've also split it up to make the post a bit more manageable.
It Begins
On the Maria
The Plot Thickens
Negotiations
Captured
In Their Hands
Mr. Garabaldi stood patiently in the doorway waiting for E'da Se'k Taloryn and Theresa Halloran to acknowledge his presence.
"She's coming here?" Theresa asked, her voice fierce. "What is she thinking?"
"If you're referring to Delenn," Michael said from his place by the door, "she's probably thinking that she's going to do everything that she can to make sure John comes back to her in one piece. And I say God help anyone that stands in her way."
Theresa rounded on the former Head of Covert Intelligence, "You," she said, her voice low, "what are you doing here?"
"Let's just say that old habits sometimes die hard," Michael replied.
"And what does that mean?" the Intelligence agent asked.
"Look, I'm not trying to step on any toes here. You're excellent at your job, and I sure as hell don't want it back, ok? But it turns out that the people involved in this are not only my friends, but people that have saved my ass more than once. I figure it's my turn this time. Here," he finished, tossing a small data crystal to Theresa.
She caught it deftly, "What's this?"
"Information about certain people that are involved," Mr. Garabaldi answered.
"Information? What kind of information?" Ms. Halloran prompted.
When Michael said nothing, Theresa sighed quietly and placed the crystal into an open information port. Files scrolled down the screen and Theresa looked askance back at Michael. "I don't suppose you're going to tell me how you got a hold of this much classified information?"
Michael gave her a wry look.
"I didn't think so. Ok, so, what does it all mean?"
"A 'friend' of mine saw your Major Harrison enter and leave the Drazi weapon smuggler's shop. And he very keenly observed that the two lieutenants did not leave after they had entered," Michael said darkly. "He very kindly shared this information with me which lead to me digging around a little."
"Should I ask how you convinced this new 'friend' to share?" Theresa replied, a world of meaning in her voice.
"Believe it or not, I can be a really charming guy," Michael said casually.
Theresa looked as if she would say something, then seemed to think better of saying anything else about the matter, and let it drop.
"Mr. Garabaldi, are you saying that the Earth government is involved somehow?" E'da Se'k Taloryn asked.
Michael turned to the elder Minbari, "No. Not directly. Major Jeremy Harrison appears to be though, and as it turns out, is a member of Earth First. And both Lieutenants Enriquez and McDonald were also members, quite a coincidence wouldn't you say?" Garabaldi paused a moment, letting the others consider this before he said, "Earth First would like nothing more than to see Earth as far away from any 'alien influence' as possible. And John represents everything they hate; him, Delenn, and the Alliance."
"And with Sheridan here, they saw the perfect opportunity to get rid of him without any reason for someone to suspect them," Theresa said grimly.
"Blame the telepaths," Michael confirmed. "Everything I've been able to come up with is there," he said, indicating the data crystal. "Major Harrison may have been quite careful with his information, but Lieutenants McDonald and Enriquez were not."
"So, do you know where they're keeping the President?" Theresa asked.
"Not yet, but…" and he turned once more to the Anla'shok E'da Se'k, "…If I can work with the Rangers, maybe together, we can figure that out."
"That will be acceptable, Mr. Garabaldi," Taloryn said.
"Leaving me to deal with Major Harrison and the fit that the Earth delegation is going to throw, not to mention the block it's going to throw in front of the negotiations," Theresa said grimly.
"Like I said, I don't want the job back," answered Michael...
John lay curled up on the floor, having finally been removed from the chair. He was a mass of bruises and cuts and his breath was coming in ragged gasps. The Melange was burning through his mind as well, bringing forth a kaleidoscopic whirl of images, thoughts and memories. Out of the corners of his eyes, phantom images taunted him in the shadows. Reality blurred before John and his inner world was heightened to a painful clarity, making him vulnerable to the telepathic pressure that Joseph used to enter his captive's mind.
Joseph himself crouched next to the injured man, his eyes dark pools of color without pupils and a few tears of blood slipping from them. The telepathic drug was working in him as well, bringing his telepathic abilities to a heightened power. Where he had been a P7 before, now he was well past a P12 for this brief time. It was one of the reasons why the Blue Melange was dangerous for telepaths, it had the potential to burn them up in a burst of power.
Almost casually, Joseph tossed something in front of John. The president refused to take it up though until Joseph planted the compulsion in his mind that John had to pick it up. With trembling fingers, the bruised man picked up the object before him. It was the image of Delenn, radiant in the crystalline light of Minbar. John instinctively focused on the image, the drug heightening his thoughts and making it impossible for John to concentrate on anything else but the image of his wife before him.
Joseph slipped into John's mind as the president narrowed his focus down to the image before him. Without regard for anything but what he wanted to accomplish, the telepath ripped through John's mind, tearing his way through it in search of the information that he wanted. John's mind relented to the onslaught, ignoring the pain and the possible damage that the telepath may have been causing. It was one of the dangers of the drug for non-telepaths, the damage to the mind, and the very real possibility that the person could lose himself and all that he was, entirely focusing on one image, thought, or memory.
The Martian light was fading now, as Joseph ripped through John's mind, feeling a great sense of urgency. The drug's immediate effects only lasted a few hours and Joseph knew that his time was short. He had to find what he was looking for now...
Garabaldi pointed to a building on the screen before him and E'da Se'k Taloryn. "There," he said, "that must be where they're keeping him. See, that's the same woman from the other data crystal showing the bombing of the government building." Michael pointed out the small blonde woman entering the innocent looking building in Mars Dome 1.
Taloryn nodded, "I agree," he replied. "Now, we must determine how we can safely remove the President."
"I believe that I can help with that," said Theresa as she entered the room. "It turns out that the rouge telepath Cell is called the Red Hand, and their activities have made some of their other telepath friends a bit upset. They're planning on hitting the Cell tomorrow."
"How do you know this?" Michael asked.
"You're not the only one with 'friends' Mr. Garabaldi, and you sure as hell don't have the market cornered on charm," Theresa replied dryly.
Michael nodded, a wry smile on his face. The smile faded quickly though as Taloryn spoke, "Can the president last another day? It has been six days that President Sheridan has been hostage to these people."
"If we use the attack of their fellow telepaths as cover, it should be easier to reach the president and get him out. With the Red Hand distracted by the attack, we should be able to avoid any unnecessary injury on our part, for both our operatives, and the president," Theresa said.
"The president's survived worse," Michael said, sounding as if he was trying to reassure himself as much as the other two people in the room with him.
"It's the best option so far, unless either of you have something better to suggest," Theresa asked, hoping somehow that they may have indeed had something better to offer up. When neither offered any other suggestion, the Intelligence operative spoke, "then let's figure out how to do this"...
The General's face was stern and cold as he spoke with his son. "I do not understand how this could happen. Your position has been compromised and you have failed in your mission."
Jeremy sat very still listening to the cold voice of his father over the secure channel that had been established.
"These aliens, these Rangers, know that the telepaths have not been working alone," the General stated flatly. "They have linked you to Earth First, you have endangered the cause, and therefore endangered the earth."
"Sir, I'm confident that they cannot prove anything for certain," Jeremy answered his cold father.
"Even if I were to believe that Major, it is enough that they suspect your involvement, and that of your officers. You should be made aware that we will deny our involvement in this matter. You are on your own in this, Major," the General said crisply, letting his son know that his associates were about to allow the Major to take the fall for everything.
Before Jeremy could react, the door opened and he faced the darkly dressed assassin. The woman quickly threw the Drazi knife that she had been holding loosely in her hand.
With a wet sound, it entered Jeremy's chest and he fell heavily to the floor, dying.
Make sure all evidence that could implicate us is removed," General Harrison ordered the assassin.
"And the body?" She asked.
Jeremy coughed wetly from where he lay, blood draining from out of his mouth. Dimly he heard his father's answer before he quite struggling and allowed himself to fade, "Leave it. Major Harrison is no longer our concern."...
Theresa stood with two rangers before the open door of the small room that Major Harrison had been using as an operations center for his detail. In her hands, the Intelligence officer held a paper, permission to arrest the Major for his crimes on Martian soil. But before them was a gruesome sight.
The body of Major Jeremy Harrison lay darkly on the floor.
"Why?" asked the young Minbari ranger standing next to Theresa.
"Because this way, he takes it all with him," replied the human ranger.
"Damn," Theresa said quietly. "Let's find out if he left anything behind at all that'll be of use...
On to Part 8 ---->
Title: Mars Rising
Genre: Babylon 5 fanfic; AU; Drama/melodrama
Rating: PG-13; rated for swearing, violence/torture
Timeline: After the end of the 5 season, but before "Sleeping in Light," shortly after they have begun to set up the Alliance and before the birth of John and Delenn's son.
Author's Notes: This is one of my only attempts at something with a plot, so to speak, or drama, so... *grin* There are also probably bits and pieces of inspiration from various sources and the Minbari language is a mix of "canon" and what sounded right to my ear. It is the last old B5 fanfic I have left to archive.
Story breaks are indicated by boldface and ellipses. I've also split it up to make the post a bit more manageable.
It Begins
On the Maria
The Plot Thickens
Negotiations
Captured
In Their Hands
Mr. Garabaldi stood patiently in the doorway waiting for E'da Se'k Taloryn and Theresa Halloran to acknowledge his presence.
"She's coming here?" Theresa asked, her voice fierce. "What is she thinking?"
"If you're referring to Delenn," Michael said from his place by the door, "she's probably thinking that she's going to do everything that she can to make sure John comes back to her in one piece. And I say God help anyone that stands in her way."
Theresa rounded on the former Head of Covert Intelligence, "You," she said, her voice low, "what are you doing here?"
"Let's just say that old habits sometimes die hard," Michael replied.
"And what does that mean?" the Intelligence agent asked.
"Look, I'm not trying to step on any toes here. You're excellent at your job, and I sure as hell don't want it back, ok? But it turns out that the people involved in this are not only my friends, but people that have saved my ass more than once. I figure it's my turn this time. Here," he finished, tossing a small data crystal to Theresa.
She caught it deftly, "What's this?"
"Information about certain people that are involved," Mr. Garabaldi answered.
"Information? What kind of information?" Ms. Halloran prompted.
When Michael said nothing, Theresa sighed quietly and placed the crystal into an open information port. Files scrolled down the screen and Theresa looked askance back at Michael. "I don't suppose you're going to tell me how you got a hold of this much classified information?"
Michael gave her a wry look.
"I didn't think so. Ok, so, what does it all mean?"
"A 'friend' of mine saw your Major Harrison enter and leave the Drazi weapon smuggler's shop. And he very keenly observed that the two lieutenants did not leave after they had entered," Michael said darkly. "He very kindly shared this information with me which lead to me digging around a little."
"Should I ask how you convinced this new 'friend' to share?" Theresa replied, a world of meaning in her voice.
"Believe it or not, I can be a really charming guy," Michael said casually.
Theresa looked as if she would say something, then seemed to think better of saying anything else about the matter, and let it drop.
"Mr. Garabaldi, are you saying that the Earth government is involved somehow?" E'da Se'k Taloryn asked.
Michael turned to the elder Minbari, "No. Not directly. Major Jeremy Harrison appears to be though, and as it turns out, is a member of Earth First. And both Lieutenants Enriquez and McDonald were also members, quite a coincidence wouldn't you say?" Garabaldi paused a moment, letting the others consider this before he said, "Earth First would like nothing more than to see Earth as far away from any 'alien influence' as possible. And John represents everything they hate; him, Delenn, and the Alliance."
"And with Sheridan here, they saw the perfect opportunity to get rid of him without any reason for someone to suspect them," Theresa said grimly.
"Blame the telepaths," Michael confirmed. "Everything I've been able to come up with is there," he said, indicating the data crystal. "Major Harrison may have been quite careful with his information, but Lieutenants McDonald and Enriquez were not."
"So, do you know where they're keeping the President?" Theresa asked.
"Not yet, but…" and he turned once more to the Anla'shok E'da Se'k, "…If I can work with the Rangers, maybe together, we can figure that out."
"That will be acceptable, Mr. Garabaldi," Taloryn said.
"Leaving me to deal with Major Harrison and the fit that the Earth delegation is going to throw, not to mention the block it's going to throw in front of the negotiations," Theresa said grimly.
"Like I said, I don't want the job back," answered Michael...
John lay curled up on the floor, having finally been removed from the chair. He was a mass of bruises and cuts and his breath was coming in ragged gasps. The Melange was burning through his mind as well, bringing forth a kaleidoscopic whirl of images, thoughts and memories. Out of the corners of his eyes, phantom images taunted him in the shadows. Reality blurred before John and his inner world was heightened to a painful clarity, making him vulnerable to the telepathic pressure that Joseph used to enter his captive's mind.
Joseph himself crouched next to the injured man, his eyes dark pools of color without pupils and a few tears of blood slipping from them. The telepathic drug was working in him as well, bringing his telepathic abilities to a heightened power. Where he had been a P7 before, now he was well past a P12 for this brief time. It was one of the reasons why the Blue Melange was dangerous for telepaths, it had the potential to burn them up in a burst of power.
Almost casually, Joseph tossed something in front of John. The president refused to take it up though until Joseph planted the compulsion in his mind that John had to pick it up. With trembling fingers, the bruised man picked up the object before him. It was the image of Delenn, radiant in the crystalline light of Minbar. John instinctively focused on the image, the drug heightening his thoughts and making it impossible for John to concentrate on anything else but the image of his wife before him.
Joseph slipped into John's mind as the president narrowed his focus down to the image before him. Without regard for anything but what he wanted to accomplish, the telepath ripped through John's mind, tearing his way through it in search of the information that he wanted. John's mind relented to the onslaught, ignoring the pain and the possible damage that the telepath may have been causing. It was one of the dangers of the drug for non-telepaths, the damage to the mind, and the very real possibility that the person could lose himself and all that he was, entirely focusing on one image, thought, or memory.
The Martian light was fading now, as Joseph ripped through John's mind, feeling a great sense of urgency. The drug's immediate effects only lasted a few hours and Joseph knew that his time was short. He had to find what he was looking for now...
Garabaldi pointed to a building on the screen before him and E'da Se'k Taloryn. "There," he said, "that must be where they're keeping him. See, that's the same woman from the other data crystal showing the bombing of the government building." Michael pointed out the small blonde woman entering the innocent looking building in Mars Dome 1.
Taloryn nodded, "I agree," he replied. "Now, we must determine how we can safely remove the President."
"I believe that I can help with that," said Theresa as she entered the room. "It turns out that the rouge telepath Cell is called the Red Hand, and their activities have made some of their other telepath friends a bit upset. They're planning on hitting the Cell tomorrow."
"How do you know this?" Michael asked.
"You're not the only one with 'friends' Mr. Garabaldi, and you sure as hell don't have the market cornered on charm," Theresa replied dryly.
Michael nodded, a wry smile on his face. The smile faded quickly though as Taloryn spoke, "Can the president last another day? It has been six days that President Sheridan has been hostage to these people."
"If we use the attack of their fellow telepaths as cover, it should be easier to reach the president and get him out. With the Red Hand distracted by the attack, we should be able to avoid any unnecessary injury on our part, for both our operatives, and the president," Theresa said.
"The president's survived worse," Michael said, sounding as if he was trying to reassure himself as much as the other two people in the room with him.
"It's the best option so far, unless either of you have something better to suggest," Theresa asked, hoping somehow that they may have indeed had something better to offer up. When neither offered any other suggestion, the Intelligence operative spoke, "then let's figure out how to do this"...
The General's face was stern and cold as he spoke with his son. "I do not understand how this could happen. Your position has been compromised and you have failed in your mission."
Jeremy sat very still listening to the cold voice of his father over the secure channel that had been established.
"These aliens, these Rangers, know that the telepaths have not been working alone," the General stated flatly. "They have linked you to Earth First, you have endangered the cause, and therefore endangered the earth."
"Sir, I'm confident that they cannot prove anything for certain," Jeremy answered his cold father.
"Even if I were to believe that Major, it is enough that they suspect your involvement, and that of your officers. You should be made aware that we will deny our involvement in this matter. You are on your own in this, Major," the General said crisply, letting his son know that his associates were about to allow the Major to take the fall for everything.
Before Jeremy could react, the door opened and he faced the darkly dressed assassin. The woman quickly threw the Drazi knife that she had been holding loosely in her hand.
With a wet sound, it entered Jeremy's chest and he fell heavily to the floor, dying.
Make sure all evidence that could implicate us is removed," General Harrison ordered the assassin.
"And the body?" She asked.
Jeremy coughed wetly from where he lay, blood draining from out of his mouth. Dimly he heard his father's answer before he quite struggling and allowed himself to fade, "Leave it. Major Harrison is no longer our concern."...
Theresa stood with two rangers before the open door of the small room that Major Harrison had been using as an operations center for his detail. In her hands, the Intelligence officer held a paper, permission to arrest the Major for his crimes on Martian soil. But before them was a gruesome sight.
The body of Major Jeremy Harrison lay darkly on the floor.
"Why?" asked the young Minbari ranger standing next to Theresa.
"Because this way, he takes it all with him," replied the human ranger.
"Damn," Theresa said quietly. "Let's find out if he left anything behind at all that'll be of use...
On to Part 8 ---->