PART 8 - The Delicate Balance of In-Between
by Jimmy, June 2, 2001
"There's dedication for you." Garibaldi muttered when he spotted Beano in her wheelchair with her injured leg sticking straight out and resting on a stool. However, it received scant attention from its owner because she was furiously working on the samples taken from the crime scene.
"How long has she been like that?"
"She managed to crawl out of bed about three hours ago." Franklin replied, irritated and worried. "She had no idea she was attached to an IV unit until she ripped it off by accident. It's going to take her couple of days before she can function without pain meds."
"And I thought the Hakadas were supposed to be a bright bunch."
"You know who she is?"
"I'm the Chief of Security, I'm supposed to know these things." Garibaldi replied as if he was talking to an uneducated child. "Besides, it's not like it's a big secret or anything. Her face was all over the news for months after the War."
Suddenly Beano shouted in triumph and threw her hands into the air, "I am a god!"
"That's debatable," Franklin dryly countered. "Either that or godhood isn't what it used to be."
"Tell me you found something." Garibaldi said, "And if you didn't, lie to me and tell me you did so I can feel better."
"I found lots of things. First of all, I had to separate the genetic markers belonging to Callimer, a Minbari, from the rest of the evidence. I was able to determine early on that only two other traceable genetic prints were present in the crime scene. But even with three genetic markers you can just imagine the permutation that could explode if one didn't have a basal point to start with. I had Callimer as an axis, but I needed another. So, I ran a random match using Franklin's genetic database."
"Why random?" Garibaldi asked, pleased with himself that he actually understood what Beano just said.
"Because I didn't want to be accused of being prejudiced."
"And what was the other axis?" Franklin asked.
"Delenn, before she went hocus pocus on you guys."
"Are you telling me Delenn was in that room?" Garibaldi voice thinned to a horrified whisper.
"No, she's saying a Minbari was in the room." Franklin corrected.
"And the black scrapings I took off from the wall match a certain polymer the Minbari use in making their footwear. I will admit it's common enough material so we won't go too far with that." Beano said, grinning from ear to ear. "Can you stand more good news, Garibaldi?"
Michael's smile matched Beano's. "Bring it on, sister."
"I wondered; if the person standing right against the wall was a Minbari, then what are the odds his or her headbone would scrape against the wall and leave genetic traces?"
"Beano, you are a god." Franklin whispered. "Were there?"
"Yes, perfect genetic print of Minbari origin. All I need is something to compare it against. And to top it all off, I have a pretty good estimate of the person's height and weight too."
"You got all this when you made that run to the room?"
Beano nodded, "Thanks for the warning by the way. If Lennier or that Neroon character crept up on me, they would have figured it out. I managed to pack it all away just seconds before they came in."
"I thought you guys might like to see this." Garibaldi took out a data crystal and played the vid. Franklin gave a long whistle and a knowing glance at Beano. Michael shook his head slowly, "They are so screwed, and the funny thing is they don't know it yet."
Beano examined Garibaldi's face. "You don't like them, do you?"
"Nothing against Delenn, and I really like Lennier, but yeah, the Minbari always put me on the edge. I have a thing against races who declare genocidal warfare because they think they're in the right. Call me a romantic, but that's too close to playing G-d for my taste."
"But Beano, you still need genetic material from Neroon and the others to make the final match." Franklin said, "How are you going to do that without getting your head ripped off? Something tells me none of them will be lining up around the block to donate samples anytime soon."
Beano took a deep breath, "I have an idea."
-- continued in part nine --