PART 7 - The Delicate Balance of In-Between
by Jimmy, June 2, 2001
Dr. Franklin examined his friend's vital signs with rising confidence. It had been steady for the last hour, allowing him to judge her stable enough to be removed from the ICU.
"She is so small. Is she as fragile as she looks?" The unfamiliar and lightly accented voice remarked from a dark corner in the room.
Franklin whirled around to face a female Minbari sliding out of the shadows. He had never considered the aesthetics of their physical attributes, until now. The visitor was his height, dressed in the uniform fitting of a warrior. Yet, unlike others of her caste, this silent intruder possessed a demeanor less martial and more serene. She also had the most startling gray eyes Stephen had ever seen, which fully caught his attention and held it.
"I am sorry, but this area is off-limits to everyone but family and visitors."
The female gave a curt bow and stepped out of the room. Franklin followed, wondering who she was.
"May I ask what your business is?"
"I am Jerina of the Sun Hunters Clan. Callimer belonged to us."
"My apologies," Franklin immediately softened his tone. "And my condolences for your loss. What can we do for your clan?"
"When will you release his body?"
"If you give us the appropriate paperwork, we can do it at your earliest convenience."
Jerina took a deep breath, "I was told ... I was told Callimer died of unnatural causes."
"Yes, he was murdered."
"Do you know who?"
"No, I'm afraid not. And the investigation into Callimer's murder has hit a problem. Dr. Quietbrook, the patient whose room you found me in, was heading the investigation with the Chief of Security when she was injured."
"What happened to her?" Jerina asked, her voice turning cold.
"There was a sabotage attempt ... she and two other Minbari were almost killed."
"Who else?"
"Ambassador Delenn and her friend, Rathenn."
She gasped sharply, "Are they well?"
"They came out of it fine. Your physiology is much stronger than ours and the impact did little damage to either of them."
"But the doctor suffered. Will she survive?"
"Yes, she'll bounce back pretty quickly. I expect the medication to wear off within the hour and for her to start demanding to be let out of the bed ten minutes after that. Quietbrook's one stubborn human."
"Are there any other kind?" Jerina asked.
Franklin had to smile at her observant answer. "No, unfortunately for the universe there isn't."
"I have something ... Callimer's body ... a shroud to ..." Jerina did not finish the sentence and Franklin didn't need to hear more.
"This way."
Stephen led her to the cool, tomb-like room and turned on the weakest light. He respectfully left the guest alone with the unfortunate soul, but managed to discreetly watch through the observation window. Jerina unfolded what looked like a flag and covered the body of her clan member. Then, without any warning, she bent down and kissed the corpse passionately. Franklin turned the light off from a remote switch when he heard her crying and walked away. His presence would only offend her, and he had no desire to further burden the warrior's soul with the shame of another witnessing her grief.
Jerina exited the room few minutes after, her face unrevealing of her previous emotion. Franklin admired her, she was obviously very young but her self-control was well developed, and she practiced it flawlessly.
No wonder Callimer fought so hard, even when he knew he didn't have a chance.
"If I speak to Delenn, will she know what to do?"
"Yes, if you wish, I can escort you to the Ambassador's quarters."
"I hardly need an escort, doctor."
Franklin nodded in embarrassment, "My assumption, my mistake. I will be here in case Delenn needs to contact me with any questions."
"Thank you for your troubles, doctor. I hope your friend recovers quickly, for everyone's sake."
"Thank you for your concern."
The Med Lab's door opened and Neroon rushed in with Adolyn in tow.
"Jerina! I only just learned of your presence on Babylon 5."
She bowed but her eyes never left Neroon's figure. Franklin felt animosity radiate from her frigid stare and debated whether to stay or leave.
"Doctor, if I may have a moment." Jerina politely asked, getting Stephen off the hook.
"I'll be with Dr. Quietbrook if you need anything." He didn't even glance at the others before leaving. Hell would freeze over before he recognized any sovereignty rights Neroon and his ilk might possess in Babylon 5.
"Satai Neroon, I am surprised to see you here."
"I had business to attend to. Jerina, your clan's grief for the loss of Callimer must be ..."
"Incalculable, Satai. I contacted my father, and he's demanding all sorts of things, mostly improbable, but I will do what I can to see justice brought to our clan for this, most grievous theft of our warrior."
"Your clan must realize everything that can be done ..."
"Will be done, yes, and we thank you, Satai Neroon, for your personal involvement in this tragedy. The Sun Hunters will long remember your actions in this."
Neroon took a deep breath, "Jerina, think carefully. You are not aware of all the facts."
"I have to respectfully disagree, Satai. I am thinking very carefully. Indeed, I have never thought this hard, and I must admit it is a disturbing experience for one so young as I." She turned her gaze to Franklin who had returned to his friend's side. "The human doctor told me interesting things. His friend was involved in the investigation into Callimer's death, and as a result, she's in there, under medical observation because the murderer decided she was too great a threat to live. There is enough insult in that act alone to bring our clan's wrath down on the particular creature responsible for so much pain, but to make it worse, there were two other victims in the attack, Ambassador Delenn and Satai Rathenn. I can only imagine what the Religious Caste would demand once they hear of this ... vicious and cowardly behavior."
The gray eyes once more trained on Neroon. "Though the Religious Caste are not like us, Satai, they are not without influence as the Earth-Minbari War clearly demonstrated. To target both Delenn and Satai Rathenn, someone's either very stupid or very ambitious. I wonder if there is a difference between the two."
Adolyn took a step forward, but Neroon blocked his path by raising his arm. "Your grief does great justice to your loss, Jerina. If you need anything, I will be here."
She smiled bitterly and tears once more clouded her eyes. "I will be looking for you soon enough, I think, Satai Neroon."
"Is there any request from your clan that I can fulfill to ease your burden while you're on Babylon 5?" Neroon offered magnanimously, deliberately choosing to ignore the thinly-veiled threats behind Jerina's words.
"None. My father has given me permission that should a Minbari be involved in this heinous act in any capacity, I am permitted to invoke Denn'Sha against the traitor. And that right belongs to my clan only."
"Denn'Sha?" Adolyn echoed in shock. He didn't think Shykan would allow his daughter to perform the ritual fight to the death on behalf of his clan, no matter how deep the insult. "He has done this?"
"The Sun Hunters swore vengeance as soon as we received the news of Callimer's murder. And since I am the only Sun Hunter here, I claim the right as mine. Why does that worry you, Adolyn?"
"Just that the humans will not like Minbari interference." Adolyn tactfully replied. "They have made that abundantly clear to us."
"I will speak with Delenn. I believe she can handle any human interference. If I may be excused?"
"Take care who you ally yourself with, Jerina. The repercussions might be greater than the benefits." Neroon cautioned the grieving lover.
"How strange, I was thinking the same thing about Callimer. Satai." She gave the final salute and left the group without a backward glance.
"Shykan would not risk his daughter's death by allowing her to ..." Adolyn protested weakly.
"Jerina is the only Sun Hunter on-board. Even if Shykan wanted to deny her the right, he can't stop her."
"What will Delenn do?"
"I don't know, Adolyn." Neroon answered truthfully. "I do not know, but it cannot be good for the Star Riders."
-- continued in part eight --