Peace Talks - Part 2 By Sunraven "Shai-Alyt?" Branmer looked up from the papers on his desk and smiled at Terra. He had a very sweet smile, and she felt herself responding to it by grinning back at him. "Terra. You are prompt as usual." "You did promise me a tour of the Ingata, Shai-Alyt. I've never seen the inside of a Warrior Caste cruiser. It's not as luxurious as the Religious Caste cruisers." He laughed. "No, the Warrior Caste don't give in to the weakness of luxuries such as cushions and padded beds. They feel things like that are for weaklings." "Well, then I guess I'm a weakling, because I like padded cushions to sit on. Though I don't even use the bed in my chamber, so I couldn't comment on that." "Is there something wrong with the bed in your quarters?" "No, sir. It's just that Humans aren't used to beds that tilt like yours do. I have a tendency to fall out of it. I'm safer on the floor and horizontal. Trust me on that." He looked at her, his blue eyes curious. "My people feel it's bad luck to sleep horizontal. If they do, they are afraid that their breath will be stolen from them." "There isn't a physiological reason for that belief, is there?" "The reason for the belief has been lost in antiquity." He got up from the desk. He was a small man physically who seemed a great deal larger than he really was. The presence that radiated from him was quietly powerful when he was feeling mellow, as he was now. But Terra had seen him angry when he had dressed down one of his crew for being rude to her, and it wasn't a pretty sight. In fact, it had scared her almost witless. If Alyt Neroon hadn't been right next to her and giving, inadvertently she was sure, her the support of his inner strength, she might have been tempted to run out the door like a bat out of Hades. Somehow having him next to her reassured her, though only the Great Maker knew why since he could be almost as threatening as the Shai-Alyt when he wanted to be. The tour was quite interesting for Terra. But everywhere she went she was blistered by the hatred the warriors felt for her race. The wounds from the war were still so fresh that she would have been surprised if the hostility wasn't there. But packed on a ship with hundreds of Minbari warriors who hated you was really rough on her empathic gift. She felt like her shields were constantly being battered, even in her sleep. "So, Dr. McClare, you have now seen a warrior caste ship. Feel free to go anywhere you like in it during the voyage." "Shai-Alyt, I mean no insult, however, do you think I could be at risk walking around on my own? Some of these warriors are very angry and hate Humans so much." Now he was annoyed, and his feelings suddenly radiated at her. "I have given orders that you are to be treated with nothing but courtesy and respect, Doctor. My orders will not be disobeyed." She smiled sheepishly and said to him, "I've insulted you, haven't I?" He smiled then. "Actually, you did prick my pride, Doctor. But I am sure you had no idea you would be doing so. I forgive you." She bowed her head with a smile. "Thank you for your latitude, Shai-Alyt. I still am learning about your people, and there is much I still do not know about your ways." "You did not prick a Minbari's pride, Doctor, but a male one. I apologize as well." Two days later, Terra was walking down the main walkway to get to her favorite meditation room. She was almost to her destination when two warriors from the Firebird clan turned a corner quickly and purposely ran right into her. Although she hadn't been going very fast, she flew against the opposite bulkhead with a loud thud, and stars filled her vision suddenly. Instead of apologizing and helping her up, the two large males came up to her with hands identically on their denn'boks. "Watch where you are going, Earther!" The largest one with a headbone like a Roman soldier's helmet growled in his own language with a raspy voice. "Maybe we should have run into her harder, eh Stan'h? Then the Firebirds would have the honor of another Earther kill. This race is so pathetically weak it is unbelievable that they stood against us so long." The other one said, then barked out a laugh. He toed Terra, who was still dazed, with one size fourteen boot. She winced away from the contact, trying to clear her head to knock them out with her gift. But she just couldn't concentrate through the haze of pain and hatred! "And perhaps the Firebirds will be disgraced for all time because of two lac'hrahs who decide to disobey the Gray Council's edicts. Not to mention the Shai-Alyt's orders as well." Growled a deep voice that Terra recognized, though she couldn't see Neroon, who had walked up behind the two Firebirds. Did he just call those two mother lovers? Her addled brain asked herself. No way. I must have mistranslated. But she couldn't deny that she was filled with an overwhelming relief at hearing his voice. Neroon may still hate most Humans, but he would never allow any disobedience to the Shai-Alyt's orders. And his anger was radiating off of him in blistering power, she noticed with a wince at the magnitude of it. The Star Rider bumped the two Firebirds out of the way and leaned over her, asking with concern, "Are you injured, Doctor?" Then he reached one callused hand out, grabbed her hand, and helped her up. The glowing brown eyes pinned her to the bulkhead, and his barely banked anger burned over her emotions. But she knew that he wasn't angry at her, which was a distinct relief since he scared the hell out of her right then. Finally pulling away from the magnetic hold of his eyes, her own eyes dropped down to where he still held on to her arm. He wasn't hurting her, just... not letting her go, either. "I...I'm fine, Alyt Neroon. I was only stunned, not injured seriously. Thank you for asking." Noticing her eyes on his hand, he dropped it from her arm. "I am pleased that you were not injured." Then he turned in a motion almost too quick to see towards the now very frightened Firebirds, his denn'bok out and extended in the ready position. In a lightning move he swung the pike out and struck the larger Firebird on the chin, dropping him to the deck with a thud that shook the steel. The other hapless warrior soon followed his kinsman to the floor. Neroon compressed his fighting pike and turned to the nearest com. With his eyes on Terra, he said, "Shanellt, send security to pick up Jon'tach and Stan'h on deck twenty. Take them to the Shai-Alyt's quarters for discipline. They have assaulted the Earther mediator." "Yes, Alyt Neroon!" Terra could see the distaste on the Lieutenant's ugly face at the order. But he would do anything for Neroon and Branmer, that much was also clear. Neroon, seeing that Terra was pretty scared-looking, moved back to her and said in a gentler voice, "I did not mean to frighten you, Terra. Are you sure you are not injured?" Resisting the impulse to swoon into the handsome hero's strong arms like all the heroines did in all of her holo-romances, she answered, "I just have a slight headache, Neroon. They didn't injure me." After all, this particular hero would probably have a heart attack if she fell into his arms, then maybe throw her across the corridor in response. She really didn't want to hurt her head more than it already was. "Then perhaps I and the Shai-Alyt will let them live!" He growled, the anger again coming through loud and clear. Now her hand came up to his black-clad arm. "I would feel better if we just forgot about the incident, Neroon. After all, they could have killed me if they had really wanted to, since I was too dazed to use my gift." He shook his head. "Aside from the political considerations if the other castes should find out that we did nothing to them for assaulting you, Doctor, there is a question of honor, and discipline. They disobeyed a direct order from the Shai-Alyt and myself. That cannot be tolerated. Because they did not seriously damage you, they will not be killed. But they will be punished severely, and made examples of to the rest of the crew. That cannot be avoided." Her bluish-green eyes caught his. "I see. I wouldn't think of interfering with ship business, Alyt." Then she blurted out, "Is that why you are so angry, Neroon? Because they disobeyed the Shai-Alyt?" Or is it because they hurt me? Red tinged his cheeks. "Of course that is why. What other reason would I be angry, Doctor?" She shook her head, but then memory of the killing rage he'd given off came back to her as she said, "None, Alyt Neroon. I admire your loyalty to Shai-Alyt Branmer. He is lucky to have you. And I was lucky you came along when you did as well. Thank you." Now embarrassment colored his emotions, and her eyes narrowed. "It was luck, was it not, Alyt Neroon?" "Actually, Doctor McClare, I must admit that I have been becoming more and more concerned about the hostility of the crew towards you. Though my warriors' feelings are certainly understandable this soon after the war, I was concerned that some of them felt strongly enough to overcome their discipline." Suddenly grasping what he was admitting, she accused, "Alyt Neroon, you haven't been following me, have you?" Now he blushed furiously, and his anger came again. "I merely wanted to insure there were no incidents aboard the Ingata on my watch. And I was right to do so!" This last was added defiantly. Suddenly she smiled at him, her heart suddenly lighter than it had been for a while. "Of course you were. Thank you for your consideration, Alyt Neroon. I appreciate it." Then she leaned up and kissed his cheek lightly, and turned and walked back towards her cabin, leaving a very flustered Minbari behind her. On the trip Terra had taken on some voluntary duties to keep herself busy. One of these was to water the few plants on the ship, which were all in a meditation room close to Branmer's quarters. The priestly side of the Shai-Alyt appreciated growing things, which was why the plants were there at all. Another duty was to study further the intricacies of Minbari Culture, with Branmer providing the reading materials. The next day, Terra was watering the Lic'hthanc tree and pruning some of it's dried-out blue leaves. The warmth of the artificial lighting and the humidity of the garden brought out a sheen of sweat and an added rosiness to her face. She felt so lighthearted suddenly that she started singing an old lullaby that her mother had sang to her when she had been a young child. The peace of the meditation room dulled the empathically shouted angers and hatred that were her constant companions on the ship. As she let the water pour into the thirsty soil, she remembered the warriors' competition she'd witnessed the afternoon before. Neroon, of course, was the best of them, and there were a few minutes there that she actually believed he was showing off to impress her. He was mugging, in fact. And she was realizing that she had liked it very much. This was really odd... "Doctor?" She jumped, startled, at Neroon's voice. Turning in a jerk, she said through a coloring face, "Neroon! You startled me." He approached her, a puzzled look on his face. "How could I do that, Doctor? You're empathic ability should preclude anyone surprising you." She blushed, realizing that she'd been totally wrapped up in her thoughts and emotions, which, of course, had been about him. "Normally they do. But I... I was preoccupied. It does happen even to me sometime." Now he frowned. "No one has been bothering you again, have they?" She shook her head. "No! I mean, my mind was wandering as I watered the plants." "About what?" He persisted, now curious as to what could have taken the empath's attention to the point where she couldn't feel someone approach. Oh, Great Maker, what do I say now? Oh, it was nothing, Neroon, I was just wondering what it would be like to make love to you... "In my world, Neroon, it is impolite to ask someone what they are thinking if there isn't an intimate relationship between the two people." Now why did I say that? Now it was the warrior's turn to blush, and he answered testily, "I was merely wondering what it was that made you so vulnerable to potential attack, Doctor. I did not intend to intimate that you and I were close. I meant no insult." She looked at the bristling warrior in front of her. There wasn't a hint of softness in either his expression or his posture. Had she really been daydreaming about seducing him? It would be like making love to a porcupine! "I meant no insult either, Neroon. I realize that you are concerned with my safety, and I shouldn't have snapped at you. You have my apology." At least we've gotten off the subject of what I was thinking about. My emotions would have shown all over my face. And he's very intelligent. He would notice for sure. "We are scheduled to arrive at the peace planet in two kh'ai-cycles, Doctor. We have made good time, and the Shai-Alyt felt that you should be notified that we will be arriving ahead of schedule." A smile of relief came over her face. "Thank the Great Maker! Only two more days!" Suddenly Neroon bristled again. "I did not realize that you have found our company so onerous, Doctor McClare." Darn if his feelings aren't hurt! "Oh, Neroon, I've enjoyed the time I have spent with you and the Shai-Alyt. Please do not believe that I have found either of you onerous. It's just that it is very difficult for me to be in the close quarters of a ship for a long time under any circumstances, and you have to admit that your Warrior Caste have very strong negative feelings about me and my people. I haven't had many minutes of peace for the entire trip." He moved closer to her suddenly. "It has been difficult for you, I have seen that. I too enjoyed the discussions we have had. I have attempted to keep the trip only pleasant for you." She touched his arm. "Thank you for that, Neroon. I really appreciate it." For a minute there she could have sworn he was going to hug her or something. Instead he reached up and wiped his thumb over her nose, smiling a bit. "You have dirt on your nose." The gentleness was back in his voice, and she blushed suddenly. Then she reached up and wiped her face with a towel she carried for that purpose and the moment was over like it had never been.