FOR THE LOVE OF THE SHI ALYT - PART 4

By Sunraven


The room where Branmer's body was to lie in state was very tasteful, with a simple design and plenty of room for mourners to pay their respects.  At the moment, it was filled with Star Riders from the procession, with Babylon 5 security personnel, and with Susan Ivanova and Michael Garibaldi.  Oh, and of course, Neroon.  He was directing the placing of the coffin, and giving the human security personnel dirty looks while he did so.

Terra walked over to Garibaldi and Ivanova.

The Lt. Cmdr. saw her and said abruptly, "Dr. McClare, I don't think this is an appropriate place for you to be right now.  I do not mean to be rude, but we are trying to keep unnecessary personnel down to a minimum."

Sensing that she was sincerely trying to make the Minbari happy, and not trying to be insulting, Terra responded gently, "It is good of you to do that, Lt. Cmdr., however I have been asked to come here by the Minbari.  Might I make a suggestion, Michael?"

"Sure, Doc.  I don't guarantee I'll take it, but you can suggest it all you want."

"The Minbari who accompanied the Shi Alyt's body are rather uncomfortable about your security people being so close to the body.   Would it hurt your security plans too much if you had them move to the perimeters of the room so that the Minbari wouldn't feel so, ...violated?"

Ivanova answered before the security chief could even open his mouth.  "Mr. Garibaldi has planned these security precautions in detail with Commander Sinclair, Dr. McClare, and as far as I see it, they are perfectly adequate."

Terra, her temper never good under the best of circumstances, looked at the second-in-command with sea-colored eyes blazing and said in her best mediator voice, "I'm sure that you do see it like that, Lt. Cmdr. Ivanova.  However, as a class 25 empath and an expert on Minbari culture, I see, and sense, a great deal more than you do.  At this moment you have a room full of grieving Minbari Warrior Caste from the Star Riders clan, which is a clan that does not care for humans.  Even under normal circumstances they are paranoid, xenophobic, and quick to pick up their fighting pikes for the slightest reasons.  To have humans so close to the resting place of their warleader is being looked upon as an insult to his memory, and there are a few of them that are just spoiling for a fight.   If Mr. Garibaldi doesn't do as I suggest, you may have a great deal of trouble around here in a very short time.  I really don't want to have to use my gift to suppress the violence should something break out.  Doing that is very tiring for me, and should any of the Minbari go berserk, I'm not really sure I could handle them all."

Garibaldi looked around at the irritated Minbari, staring for a long time at Neroon, who was eyeballing the Human guards evilly and fingering his compressed denn-bok.  "They are starting to look kinda mean, aren't they?"  He glanced in apology at Ivanova and said, "Okay, Doc, you win.  I'll move my people out to the entries and exits for now.  Will that be any help, do you think?"

"I think it would help a great deal, Michael.  I will tell Alyt Neroon that you are doing so.  He can take care of his people from there.  Thank you."  Terra made sure that she didn't look at the rather annoyed Lt. Cmdr. at all.  The woman was awfully prickly.  She would make a great Warrior Caste.

She approached Neroon where he was in conference with one of his subordinates.  She waited for him to finish his conversation and turn to her, then she said in Dark Minbari, "I told the Security Chief that the close presence of his people were making your Star Riders uncomfortable, and asked if he could move them out to the perimeter of the room.  He is doing so now.  Some of your people were beginning to get," she had to smile a little, "nervous at the close proximity of the humans to the Shi Alyt's body.   Since all you Warrior Caste think with your denn-boks, I thought it would be prudent to get the poor humans out of their, and your, way."

Neroon didn't quite smile, but she could sense some amusement creeping in under the grief.  His eyes searched her face as though he was looking for something extremely important there.  "You are still as impertinent as ever, I see.  But that was wise of you.  Thank you.  Your accent has improved significantly since the last time I saw you."

"It should have.  I spent four years on Minbar after the peace talks, and have been living with Minbari on Halanthe for the last six and a half years.  I can see your disposition hasn't improved much, Neroon, but considering the circumstances, I suppose I will forgive you for that.  Could you please speak to your people and ask them to keep their denn-boks compressed during this? We don't need any incidents that may take away from the honoring of the Shi Alyt."

"I will talk to them.  Nothing will happen during the ceremonies."

"Thank you.  You are obviously very busy here, Neroon, and given the way your Star Riders feel about humans, my presence here is an intrusion.  I'm thinking maybe I should leave now and see you later, perhaps?"

"No!"  His annoyed shout and the subsequent deluge of strong emotions startled her so that she blinked.  In a quieter tone he continued, "I mean, I appreciate your presence here.  No one will offer you insult, or they will answer to me.  I wish you to stay."

"That sounds an awful lot like an order, Alyt Neroon, and the last time I checked, I wasn't assigned as crew aboard the Ingata."  Her voice only held a hint of warning.  

"No, it is just a request from an ...old friend."

She smiled at him, performing the Religious Caste subordinate to a Superior in the Warrior Caste bow to him.  "In that case, Alyt, I will stand over by Mr. Garibaldi, if that will be acceptable."

Not waiting for an answer, she went over to where Michael was standing.  "He still wants me to stay here, Michael, even though I'm picking up that my presence is an intrusion.  The Warrior Caste are the most difficult people to understand."

The security Chief eyed her sideways and commented, "You two seemed to be having a lively discussion, there, Doc.  When he yelled at you, I thought for a minute that I was going to have to come get you with ppg blazing." 

"I can handle the Alyt, Michael.  We were friends during the peace talks, and though sometimes it seems as if we're going to kill each other, we haven't broken any bones yet."  She smiled at him and patted his arm.  "But thank you for thinking you would protect me, anyhow."

"If you don't watch out, I or the Commander may need to protect you from Ivanova.  She isn't used to her orders being questioned."

"Lt. Cmdr. Ivanova is very good at what she does, Michael.   With her nature, she would make an excellent Warrior Caste Minbari.  But she knows as well as Commander Sinclair does that when the mediator in a situation says that something needs to be done, then to not do it is really a bad idea.  But she doesn't have to like it, even so."  She smiled at him.  "The negotiating team for the Minbari peace talks didn't like it much at times, either.  But they did it."

"Can you really knock a whole room unconscious?"

"Well, it all depends on the number of people in the room, and the level of strong emotions.   But it's quite a strain to do so.  Why?"

"Oh, I was just thinking that the next time we have a riot, we could just call you."  

She stifled a laugh behind her hand.  "Don't make me laugh here, Michael, it is disrespectful to the Shi Alyt's memory."

"Okay, okay.  I'd better go talk to the Commander about this change in security you've brought about."  He eyed the crowd of Minbari.  "Are you going to be all right here?  None of these guys will bother you, will they?"

"No, they won't bother me.  Even if I couldn't protect myself, I'm here at Alyt Neroon's request, and as such am under his protection."

Garibaldi left, and a concerned Terra continued to watch Neroon while pretending to watch the warriors prepare for the viewing ceremony.  At the same time, Neroon pretended to watch the efforts of his crew while actually watching Terra.  After a while, Delenn entered the room.  She saw Terra and came over.

"Terra, what are you doing here?"  She asked, puzzled.

"Neroon asked me to stay while the preparations are being made.  If it gives him comfort to have me here, I don't mind staying." 

"I wouldn't think that comfort and Neroon could be in the same sentence."

"Well, things aren't always what they seem, Delenn."

Right then Neroon came up to the two of them and bowed abruptly to Delenn.  "Ambassador Delenn, I need to speak to the Commander regarding the security procedures, could you take me to his office?"

Delenn bristled at being treated like an errand girl, but decided to leave it alone for the moment.  She answered, "Come with me."

Terra took a breath in preparation to telling Neroon and Delenn that she would leave them and see them later, when Neroon gave her a dirty look that translated into "Don't even think about disappearing," so she trailed after the two of them and before Neroon's bodyguards, feeling absolutely ridiculous. 

What was that black-suited gorilla up to?  He was apparently not planning to let her out of his sight, that was for sure.  To test this theory, she went left when he and Delenn turned right down the corridor that led to Sinclair's office.  After getting about fifteen feet down the corridor, a very young Star Rider came up to her from behind and said in Dark Minbari, "Human, the Alyt wishes that you accompany him.  Why are you not doing so?"

She turned and responded back to him in the same language, "I am not the Alyt's servant, young man, and I wish to go back to my quarters.  Tell Alyt Neroon to contact me when he is through with the preparations, and we will finish our discussion."

"But the Alyt told me to bring you back!  You must do as he says!  Or I will have to force you to go with me." 

Wrong thing to say, kid, she thought.  "What is your name, Star Rider?"

"Rekon." He was trying to act belligerent, but underneath he was terrified of not being able to follow his Alyt's instructions.  The poor guy had probably never even seen a human before this.

"Well, Rekon, you seem like a nice young man.  The Alyt did not mean for you to use violence to make me go with you, did he?"

"No, uh, I don't know!  He merely told me to make sure you stayed where he could meet with you when he has the time."

She was about to say something else to him since he really seemed like a nice boy, though a little confused, when the bond between her and Neroon screamed alive with a furious anger sweeping through her from it.  Oh no!  She turned back the way she came and flew towards Commander Sinclair's office, hoping that she could stop something before it escalated.  Poor Rekon just followed, wishing that he could have had latrine duty, or something quiet like that, instead of chasing this insane human female around.   

By the time she rounded the corner near the office, she felt Jeffrey's anger boil over as well and heard Neroon say belligerently, "No.  We were in control then."

Then Sinclair responded with a growl of fury, "Why you ..I should.."

Terra stopped at the door, causing poor Rekon to bump into her and almost knock her down.  He grabbed her on reflex, and steadied her, then realizing who and what he was helping, dropped his hands to his sides.  Terra looked into the office just as Delenn stepped in between Neroon and Sinclair and said loudly, "I have found that the discussion of old battles only interest historians, don't you agree, Commander?"

"I know," Terra could feel Jeffrey force himself under control again.  "that I have a station to run."

Then Delenn led Neroon out of the room where she saw Terra, with Rekon standing right behind her.  "Terra, could you please talk to Commander Sinclair?  He is upset."

Neroon piped up.  "I have a task which I would like the Doctor to help me with, Ambassador Delenn, but I will allow her to talk to the Commander before coming to me, if she wishes."  And he smirked at the two women!

Terra gave him a look that said in no uncertain terms, "you are definitely pushing it, dude." but responded, "I will stop by your quarters later, Alyt, to discuss it."  Then she went in to Jeffrey, who was still practically choking with rage.

She heard Michael say, "Diplomacy, Commander?" as she walked in.

"Jeffrey, are you all right?"  I could feel your anger all the way down the hall."

"That Alyt Neroon seems to be spoiling for a rematch, Terra.  I nearly went after him with my bare hands a minute ago.  He actually had the balls to bring up the Line to me."

"Do Minbari even have balls?"  asked Garibaldi.

"I expect that he is probably just testing your mettle, Commander. "  She patted his arm, sending calming vibes at him.   "Just calm yourself down and don't let him get away with it.  He's deliberately trying to get your goat."  She could feel him starting to calm down.

"Yah, well you are probably right.  I need to get back to work, this has taken enough of my time as it is." 

She patted his arm, then said, "Well, I'll just have a little chat with our Alyt, I think.  He was out of line, and I'm sure he knows it."  She looked over at Garibaldi, "Michael, the answer to your question is yes.  Minbari males do have balls.  And the Warrior Caste has way too much of the Minbari equivalent of testosterone."

She left both of them chuckling at her snide answer and went to find Neroon's temporary quarters, which were over in the Minbari delegates section of the station.

Neroon's quarters were easy enough to find.  Two of his organic buildings were standing on guard in front of his door.

"I am here to see Alyt Neroon."

"He told us that he was not to be disturbed, Human.  Go away."

"If you check with him, you will find that I am expected."

"We will not bother the Alyt for a Human.  Go away."

Terra was hit with a major sense of déjà vu.  It was like she was back being tested for the mediator position all over again.  The big difference was that she wasn't 25 years old and had never seen a Minbari before.  She looked the biggest one in the eyes.

"It is admirable to follow your orders so carefully.  However, the Alyt was most insistent to me earlier that he wanted me to assist him with something, so much so that he sent Rekon to find me.  If he has to come to find me later because you did not check with him about me now, I expect that he will be quite irritated.  But it is of no matter to me.  I will just tell him when he starts yelling that I was stopped at his door."  

The two guards looked at each other uncertainly, then the bigger one mumbled that he would go check.  He did, and when he came out they both stepped aside so she could go in.

"Your guards weren't going to let me in."  He was standing at his com screen looking at a message he had received.  He clicked it off then turned to look at her.

"And they are still standing?  You've mellowed in the last 11 years."

"Not necessarily.  I've just grown lazy.  I don't like to use the gift if I don't have to.  They were easy enough to convince.  Of course, they hadn't been ordered not to let me in, either."  Why was he just standing there staring at her?  It's not that she looked much different, just a little older, maybe.  Of course she didn't notice that she was returning the stare measure for measure.

"Neroon, why are you just staring at me like that?  Have I grown into a venerable old crone since you last saw me?  Or are you just trying to make me uncomfortable?"

He smiled a little smile then.  "No, you haven't changed.  You are still as beautiful, and as annoying, as you were then.  Maybe more so, now."

She came over to him.  "Well you have changed.  You are a wreck physically, Neroon.  You're suffering from dehydration, starvation, a lack of sleep, and you have got several trauma-induced injuries that would have taken a human down for the count.  Among other things.  What have you been doing to yourself?  You need to see a physician.  You need medical treatment.  And you need to eat, and to get some rest."

"Does that mean you are happy to see me?"  He asked as he looked down at her, his dark eyes alight with some inner fire.  His emotions were in such a turmoil, she couldn't make sense out of them.

She touched his face, stroking his strong jaw lightly.  "Even with as long as it's been, of course I am happy to see you.  I just wish it was under happier circumstances."

The jaw clenched tightly under her fingers.  "Yes."  Then his hand covered hers on his face, and he looked down at her, the fire dying from his eyes.  Without even thinking about it she moved into his arms and held him tightly.  Even though she noticed that he had a recently broken rib, she still held on tightly.

They stood like that for several minutes, she offering, and him taking comfort.  Finally he lead her over to the couch and sat down.

"So you think I should see a physician?"  

"Absolutely.  Like I said, you're a wreck."

"You are a physician."

"Yes, I am."




Part 5:  Body, body, who has the body?