A Week in the Strife - Part 4 By Sunraven The place she’d been assigned was on a balcony that overlooked an open room with a vaulted ceiling. There were three doors coming into it. Garibaldi had assigned Zack to guard her. His obvious upset at being left out of the firefight radiated out from him. Terra settled on the floor in the corner, protected from three sides by walls or overhangs, and Zack stood in front of her. Neroon came to check on the arrangements before he moved into his designated position. He turned to Zack and said, "You have been given quite an honor, Human. Guard her well, or you will answer to me!" He then turned and left, the unfamiliar ppg thrown over his shoulder. Terra’s job, once Mr. Garibaldi gave the signal, was to start projecting doubt, fear, claustrophobia, and a feeling of catastrophe towards the hideout. She relaxed, pulling out her memories of the times she had felt those emotions before. She touched on them separately, building up the feelings into an awareness. Then she lowered her shields enough to keep the outside clamor out but still be able to project, then went seeking the now strong beacons of a badly wounded Lenann and a very annoyed Delenn. Grimacing at the incredible pain from a ppg blow to the shoulder that Lenann was feeling, she projected caring, and a feeling of readiness for anything to both of them. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lenann was doubled over, his shoulder a mass of agony that was moving his spirit towards berzerking. The throbbing of it was in time with the rhythm of his heartbeat. It was looking grim for Delenn and himself, and he felt this incredible sense of failure. He hadn’t been able to save the leader of his caste against these maniacs. Suddenly, again like a cool breeze, a strong feeling of Terra touched him. He could almost smell her odd Human scent, and felt what seemed like a caress on his face. And then there was a powerful feeling of caring and a warning as well. Something was going to happen. He glanced at Delenn. She nodded imperceptibly. She’d felt it too. ************************************************************************************************************************ "Terra! Now!" She gathered the feelings that she had built up, and sent out the emotions that Sheridan had asked her to. She aimed them in a kind of spray of feeling, laying them over the twenty men in the room like a blanket. She felt their agitation increase, and diffused the projection slightly to solidify the effect. It was difficult not to project too strongly, so that they would suspect that someone was manipulating them, but she just managed. It worked! She felt them bolt with their prisoners, and she stopped the projection. And none too soon. Even that close to most of the scumbags’ emotions, especially a few really disgusting ones, made her feel soiled deep inside. She was going to pay deeply for this day, that was for sure. The remnants of the Nightwatch moved into the room, with a badly injured Lenann and Delenn in the middle of them. As soon as they were all in the room, Sheridan made his move. He shouted to the bad guys, distracting their attention, then started firing at them from behind a large case. Terra crawled forward to see over the rail, ignoring Zack trying to stop her. She saw Lenann break his bonds in a massive effort that caused a surge of pain from him. Then he pushed Delenn behind a case and took the closest opponent by the throat with his good hand and shook him, breaking his neck like a terrier with a rat. Neroon jumped out from crushing two men’s heads with a strong swing of his ppg rifle butt, and yelled something to Lenann. Because of his friend’s injuries, the Warrior Caste tried to push him down behind the case with Delenn. The problem was that Lenann, with the combination of the pain of his injury, the anger at the dishonorable killing of his aide, and the fierce emotions from the brawl, was beginning to berzerk. Terra was terrified! The berzerker fury always killed Minbari who experienced it, and Lenann would die just like Ledann, who he so resembled. Without thinking, and probably without a shred of common sense, she sprang off the floor, bumped Zack aside, and flew down the nearest stairs. Zack followed, yelling at her to stop and laying down covering fire over and around her. Meanwhile, finally giving up on trying to keep him safe, Neroon had thrown Lenann his denn-bok and was still using the ppg rifle as a club. He took down another man who was trying to escape, breaking his back completely through in his fury. Once Lenann had the denn-bok, even one-handed he killed two of them in as many minutes. By that time, Terra was near enough to him that he saw her, and started moving in her direction. He killed two more while he moved, until he was only about three feet from her. Then someone who smelled really rank grabbed her from behind by some of her hair. "Let me go, or I’ll kill her!" Was yelled past her ear, and she felt the cold circle of a ppg barrel against her cheek. She used her gift to clamp down on the nerves in her assailant’s hand, paralyzing it. Once the ppg was gone from her face, she elbowed him in the belly, and stomped on his instep, then broke away, barely feeling the tearing pain as some of her hair stayed behind. In getting away, she catapulted into Lenann, who was closing in on her, knocking him down. She lost her balance and fell on top of him, barely catching herself to avoid falling on his injured shoulder. "Lenann! Nei!" She crawled up to his face, projecting through the red haze of his berzerker fury. Taking his face in her hands, she reached and clamped her gift down on the glands in his body that were secreting the enzymes that maintained the fury. Still controlling them, she rolled off of him and started dragging him back behind the case by his good arm. Neroon stood in front of her, fighting a really ugly big guy with the face of a prizefighter. Zack, of all people, was fighting by his side. He hadn’t abandoned his charge through it all. From behind the packing case that blocked her sight, Terra heard Delenn, who had gotten up and gone out into the firezone, yell "John!" Then she heard a thud, and saw Sheridan run by like a bat out of Hell. What was going on here? She let up on Lenann’s body mechanisms once she was sure the danger of him berzerking was over. He looked up at her, his hazel eyes clear of the madness, and smiled weakly. "You sure know how to show a male a good time, Terra!" Then he passed out cold. Neroon had looked over the scene of carnage and came back to them. "Terra, Delenn has been hit by a knife! Go to her! I’ll take care of him." She did exactly as he said. She ran up to Delenn about the same time Stephen got to her, and with her gift felt the area of the stab wound. Ivanova reached to take the knife out, but Terra stopped her, Delenn’s blood all over her hands. "No. Leave it in for now, removing it will only make the bleeding worse. I’ve got to stop this bleeding, or she’s going to bleed out!" Terra put her red-soaked hands around the wound, and concentrated on clamping down the blood vessels around it. Franklin tried to take her hands away from the wound, and she said with gritted teeth, "No! I’m holding the blood vessels closed! Leave me be!" So Delenn and Terra together went back to med lab. Stephen performed the surgery on Delenn, and Terra worked on Lenann, who had a horrible ppg wound and a shattered collar bone whose pieces had to be resected back together. He had some internal bleeding from his wounds, and his body was weakened even more from the time he had berzerked. The operation on Delenn took two hours, but fortunately for her, the knife had embedded itself in her thick Minbari rib cage. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After hearing that Delenn was going to be all right, John and Ivanova were in his office discussing the Nightwatch attack. Garibaldi came in holding a crushed and mangled piece of metal and plastic. Sheridan looked at it and said, "What’s that?" "This was, up to about two hours ago, a perfectly good ppg rifle. The one we assigned to Neroon. Damned if he didn’t use it as a club! The load hasn’t even been fired. You know, I think he killed about five or six guys, and that wounded captain killed at least five. Those two could sure teach my guys some things about hand-to-hand fighting, and in a firefight, of all things! Do you think I should ask him to?" "Ask Alyt Neroon to give your security fighting lessons? Sure, if you’ve got the nerve." "You go first, after all, you’re the Captain." They all laughed. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Waiting for news on Lenann in Med lab, Neroon just stood there with a nasty gash on his forehead that was steadily seeping blood. Whenever one of the Human Medics approached him to attend it, he just glared at them, and they backed off. Such behavior was understandable, because Neroon did look pretty scary standing there in his black Samurai armor with his face all smeared with blood. Once Terra finished with Lenann, she walked out of the operating room and saw Neroon standing there waiting for her. "Why didn’t anyone treat that?" She asked, glaring around at the rest of the med staff. One of the other doctors said, "We tried, Doctor. He wouldn’t let anyone near him." She turned to look at Neroon again, smiling. "Don’t worry about it, Doctor. The procedure the Warrior Caste physicians are the most skilled at is the last rites, because that’s the only time they can get their patients in for treatment." She came up to him and put her hand up to the wound. "Let me clean and treat that. It looks sore, and with all that blood on your face, you’re scaring the staff." "How is he?" The worry in his voice touched her heart. "He’ll be fine. He had a badly shattered collarbone, but I put it back together with a little twine and superglue. You Minbari heal so fast, he’ll probably be ready to challenge you to a denn-bok match in a couple of weeks. I managed to stop the berzerker fury in time. His system has been weakened, but he won’t die, thank Valen." She looked at him, and sensed that he was tired, though he would never admit it. After she treated his small wound, she said, "Come, now that Delenn and Lenann are out of danger, let’s go to my quarters. Neither of them will wake up for a few hours, and we could use some down time, okay?" He nodded, and followed her to her quarters. On the way, he asked her, "Terra, how did you save Lenann? He lost himself! I felt it from him. He should be dead right now." "After Ledann was killed, I forced myself to study everything in the medical archives about berzerker furies. After getting permission from Lenann and Sherissa, I asked another physician to autopsy Ledann, and I found out all there was to know about how the fury works on the body. Her eyes hardened. "I was determined not to lose another person I love that way. Never again." Some really sharp emotions came off of him suddenly, and he asked, "You love Lenann?" "What? Oh, I..." She looked inward for a moment, then said in a surprised voice, "I guess I do, as a friend and brother." She shrugged. The truth was that when she thought that she was going to lose Lenann the same way she had lost his cousin, her heart had almost broke inside her. He’d become a close friend. From the emotions Neroon was giving off, she could tell he was torn between hurt and angry jealousy. He was holding his feelings inside himself like a good Warrior Caste, but he didn’t fool Terra. Her heart went out to him, and her love for him was like a lump in her throat. "Neroon, I am so sorry for my thoughtless words. I will never care for him the way I feel for you, but he is my friend and clansman. I didn’t mean to cause hurt to you by my words." The awkward moment was broken by the vid com chiming. Sheridan’s face came on the line. "Terra, I just want to let you know that we have all decided to go ahead with the rebirth ceremony that Delenn prepared for." "How can you do that? She’s in no condition to conduct it, and it has to be done within 24 hours from the time that preparations are begun." "Well, we figured that if she can’t come to us with the ceremony, then we’d bring the ceremony to her. We each are going to give something up to her in her hospital room, and tell her something that we’ve never told anyone else. Because you and Neroon helped to get her back safely, we wanted to ask you both if you’d like to participate with us." "What a unique Human version of the ceremony! I would be honored, John. Neroon is right here, you can ask him." She motioned Neroon into the com view. Sheridan was good, he didn’t show his surprise much at seeing the Alyt in Terra’s quarters. "Captain, you honor me also, with your request. I will consider it. When are you going to hold the ceremony?" "Dr. Franklin said that she would be awake in about two hours. We thought we’d do it in three." "I will consider your request. Thank you. Neroon out." He turned to her, the vid conversation already forgotten. He reached out and brought her chin up so that their eyes met. "You have never been afraid to look at me before, my heart. Why now?" "I am ashamed of my thoughtless words earlier, Neroon. I would never hurt you like that on purpose. Especially not after I have finally realized that I don't want to live without you any more." "But what about your gift, and what I do to you? I would die before I would hurt you." She came into his arms, hiding her face in his black tunic. "Oh, Neroon, I love you! We are mated souls, you and I, and I will always love you. When you pulled me back to myself earlier, I realized that the only reason you could have done that was because we are one soul!" She pulled back, tears in her eyes. "Lenann asked me to undergo Srin’hardhan with him while we were on the Ingata. He didn’t pressure me then, but he’s beginning to grow more impatient, though he’s too nice to say so." She saw a glare developing in his eyes. "Don’t look like that, Neroon! He didn’t approach me until after we decided that you and I could never marry. He had stayed quiet before that because of you." "Srin’hardhan? That’s fallen out of practice since Valen came. How appropriate to start it up again, now that Valen’s peace is going to be only a memory. What are you going to tell him?" "What else can I tell him? I don't care what you do to my stupid gift, Neroon! We'll work it out, somehow. I'm yours if you still want me." His eyes glittered, his joy obvious to even a non-empath. "My heart, you don't even need to say if, and you know that. But with all that is going on, we may have to wait to marry until Minbar has a new government. We must decide on our future actions carefully." "That's what I get for loving a politician." She smiled up at him. He kissed her. "I should go and prepare for the Na’Vok’Cha ceremony. I think it is about time I was reborn again." He left to do his solitary meditation, his step lighter than it had been over this last stressful few days. Terra and Neroon, who was holding a wrapped bundle, waited while Steven went in with his uniform. Sheridan, Ivanova, and Garibaldi were standing quietly to the side, all of them looking pensive. Steven came out, smiled at Terra, then went to join the other three. Terra walked into the sickroom. She smiled down at her friend, then gently brushed Delenn’s hair from her face. "I’m giving up something that means a great deal to me, Delenn. Neroon and I love each other." She smiled at the surprise in Delenn’s eyes. "We have loved each other since the peace talks. That’s why he left them, so that I wouldn’t be compromised. Since he came back in my life, the love has deepened. I don't know how we are going to manage it with all that is going on, but we plan to get married. Lenann has asked me to share Srin’hardhan with him, and I’ve decided to turn him down. I care deeply for him as a friend and brother, but my soul is mated to Neroon already." Tears fell down her face. "In finally giving in to my love for Neroon, I in turn must give up my close friendship with my clansman, or risk hurting him further. And it hurts, Delenn. But I can't have both of them." She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, and took the hand Delenn weakly offered her in sympathy. "The secret that I’ve told no one else is this: I have researched an issue, one of great importance to me since my marriage. I’ve finally been able to synthesize a drug that will enable a Human and a Minbari to be able to crossbreed, to have children, Delenn." Again she felt her friend’s startlement. "Yes, I’ve done what everyone said was impossible, at least I’ve done it in the lab! I will be the first one to test it." She leaned down and brushed her lips against Delenn’s cheek. "May Valen’s spirit protect our future children, for I’m afraid they will need it." Then she wiped her eyes again and left. Last, but not by any means least, Neroon walked in. He went over to Delenn and unwrapped the bundle in his hands. His Gray Council robe unfolded over his forearms. He laid it over her body lightly. "I do not wish to dishonor this by laying it on top of the Humans’ uniforms. It is for our people alone. This robe has meant a great deal to me. You have separated us from a thousand years of peace, Delenn, in one rash action. I do not know what will become of our people, and I do not envy you for the burdens you will bear as a result of that action. I give this to you because I finally realized, when I watched you break the staff of Valen, that it was wrong of me to have taken it from you in the first place. I don’t trust your intentions, your fanaticism, or your passions, but I do acknowledge your right to be one of the nine." He looked at her face, which showed several emotions on it, astonishment being one, and smiled. "The secret I have told no one else is that I think Shakiri will lead our people into civil war. Yes, Delenn, one from my caste will tear our people apart, and I can do nothing overt to stop it. To do so will lose me the ability to minimize the impact as best I can from within the Warrior Caste structure. I will help with this great war of yours if I can, but now I must concentrate on our people first." He bowed to her, then turn and left the room. He came to Terra to say, "I must go back to Shakiri soon, Terra. My people need my leadership more than ever now." "Don’t you want to see Lenann before you go?" "Yes, I would like to see him." She lead him to where Lenann was lying in another private room. He looked wan, and very tired. The brace she had rigged for the shoulder stuck out from his neck stiffly. He heard them as they entered, and opened his eyes. On seeing who it was, he smiled. "Hi there, you brave hero, you. How do you feel?" "Like I just lost a major denn-bok match with Durhan, only worse." "Delenn told Franklin that you took the ppg shot that was meant for her." "I just did what was necessary." He looked around. "Neroon. I thought you would come to see me and gloat that I got myself into such a position." "It was for a good cause, Ranh’Der’shon! And who knows, the next time we see each other, we may be on opposite sides of a war." Terra then left the room to give the two of them some privacy. Lenann asked, "You think Shakiri will push for civil war, Ranh’Der’shon?" He returned the ritual endearment that meant brother-by-oath. "Yes. I will have to go back soon to try to keep sanity alive among my caste. But I could not leave without saying goodbye." "Good bye, Neroon, and may Valen be with you in your battles." The Religious Caste warrior reached out his good hand. Neroon reached out, took Lenann’s hand, and squeezed it with affection. Then he turned and was gone in a flurry of a black cloak. He came out of the room, and walked up to her. "I should return to Shakiri now. There is much for me to do." "Come to my quarters and let me say goodbye properly first." Her eyes were filled with both joy and sadness as well. He nodded, and followed her out of med lab. Once they were alone, Terra went into his arms. "Do you have to go so soon?" "Yes. Valen knows I do not want to leave you. But my people need me, and I must try to maintain sanity among my caste." "Like I said, that's what I get for loving a politician. Yet, you will be one of the bridges between the castes, I think." Pride for him glowed in her eyes. Then a mischievous glint replaced the pride. "Do you have to leave right this minute?" The light in his dark eyes flared brightly. "I could postpone for a few minutes, I suppose." Her eyebrows went up, "A few minutes? Is that all the time you would need, Neroon? Then the rumors I've heard about Warrior Caste talents must be greatly exaggerated." "You will pay for that one, Terra!" He then proceeded to make her pay in full. Several times. Later, Terra was going back in to check on Delenn when Michael Garibaldi came up to her. "Hello Michael." "Hello, Terra. Hey, Ivanova told me Neroon has asked for clearance to leave." "He has. The Shi Alyt of the Warrior Caste, Shakiri, wants him to return as soon as possible. He has to obey." "Darn!" She looked at him curiously. "What is it, Michael?" "It’s just that I finally got up the guts to ask him to show some of my security people some of his hand-to-hand fighting techniques, and then he leaves before I can ask. The guy took down five people using a ppg as a club in the middle of a firefight, without a single ppg hit. The rest of us, except the Minbari Captain, only took out a few of them each. My guys could definitely benefit from some lessons." "Well, Fleet Captain Lenann is the second best denn-bok master on Minbar, and an expert in all aspects of hand-to-hand fighting. He’s even better than Neroon. Why don’t you ask him to teach your staff when he’s better? After all, he and the Torkul will be around for a while, I think." "That's a good idea. Thanks, Doc!" She smiled. "My pleasure, Mr. Garibaldi." The End