PART 5 - The Delicate Balance of In-Between
by Jimmy, June 2, 2001
Quietbrook smiled triumphantly as she walked back to the lab. She managed to get rid of two Minbari! And without shedding a drop of blood! That had to be a record of sorts for a human, and the doctor barely managed to prevent herself from punching the air with glee.
"Your quarters are two levels below, not to mention the other direction."
She sighed; it really was too good to last. "I decided to continue my work. I would have to get up in three hours anyway."
"I am glad to see a human so diligent, it is a rare sight indeed."
She turned to Neroon and quipped, "It is a Kodak moment, isn't it?" Then left before he could get in a word edge-wise.
Beano was surprised to discover she could not hear him as he fell beside her. For a person that size, it should have been easy for her to pick up his steps. When he followed her into the tube, she finally accepted he wasn't going to leave her alone, and Beano had the common sense not to ask him to do otherwise. To tell a Minbari to mind their own business when their curiosity was roused was asking the mountain to move for Mohammad. To tell a member of the Warrior Caste to turn their attention elsewhere would be even less useful, and one might earn a concussion and a broken spine in the process.
Beano decided to ignore Neroon altogether as they entered the lab. She noted with slight dismay that Franklin had called it a night. Now she was all alone with a very unsettling guest who quickly blended into the dark corner and stood watch.
Neroon wasn't well educated with medical practice and the various paraphernalia involved, but it was obvious the human was. Once she was freed of her bags, the doctor immediately went to work. Her hands moved among the delicate tubes and various containers with alarming speed. Half the time, she wasn't even paying attention to what she was grabbing, yet by texture and feel, the human seemed to know exactly what was in her hands.
Beano rolled up her sleeves and heard a sharp noise from the corner where the Minbari held sway. She had forgotten about the scar and hoped he would know better than to ask.
"What happened to your arm?"
Obviously curiosity can override anything, even a Warrior Caste's well-advertised distaste against humans.
"I managed to get myself into a mess."
"Looks like an impressive mess."
"It was."
"Have you been talking to Delenn?" Neroon asked, his deadpan voice floating out of the darkness.
"Not really, I would like to meet her though. I hear she is a lively conversationalist."
"She is Religious Caste. When it comes to talking, they're brave enough."
"My father was a priest."
Neroon's gaze narrowed slightly. "Was he a good one?"
"His parish thought so."
"And your mother?"
"Will be remembered."
"You lie, you have talked with Delenn."
She smiled at the blatant annoyance in his voice. "I learned silence is golden."
"Is that human philosophy? I only ask because your kind rarely practice it."
She nodded, "Want to hear another well-loved earth philosophy? I promise it'll be quick."
"Why not?"
"To quote en verbatim, the cruelest lies are often told in silence."
There was a brief pause as both refused to further the conversation. Finally Neroon had to say something. The silence in the Med Lab was becoming oppressive, and he was unable to resist a challenge once thrown at his person.
"Are you calling me a liar? You must know, it's dangerous to challenge a member of a Warrior Caste, doctor, and definitely foolhardy to face me, unattended and alone."
"It was just a statement. People who commit the crimes think they don't leave traces of themselves behind, that somehow ... they can enter a place, kill someone, and then exit without blundering. But the truth is, the moment they decide to commit a crime - they've made themselves a world full of enemies. People who saw them at a certain place will remember and speak. People who sold them material used for the crime will remember and report the transaction. They leave footsteps, treads, blood, saliva samples, fingerprints, threads ... to make it short, they leave themselves behind."
"And you think I am involved."
"Minbari don't kill Minbari." She said, finally meeting his gaze though she couldn't see him hidden in the dark corner. "I remember that from my encounters with your kind on Earth. But I do know you are involved in this, neck-deep, and I hate to tell you but the tide is rising fast and you're going to be drowning in it very soon."
"Is that a warning? I am flattered."
"No, it's not a warning, it was a threat. You really should learn to read humans better."
"It shouldn't take me long." Neroon drawled.
"Good, you can start now. Hopefully, by morning, you'll be all caught up on human discrepancies and oddities to have a raging headache that would force you to stay in your quarters just long enough for me to finish my job." She said. The terminal in front of her began ringing and she immediately switched attention to it, ignoring whatever response might come from the hidden Minbari.
Neroon understood he was dismissed. He was curious enough to stay and continue observing, but knew he would hinder any progress she would make with his presence. It was as he guessed; she didn't lay all her suspicion on him just because he was Minbari. But if she did, he wondered what the consequences would be for him and the Star Riders.
-- continued in part six --