Days of Future and Past
by Zaxxon
Part 4
[=== From Part 3 ===]
"But what could have cause this?" Delenn asked.
"A very large mallet," Garibaldi joked.
"A portable gravity field," Ivanova suggested.
"Telekinesis," Nathan softly.
"What?" Garibaldi said, "Why didn't I think of that?"
"Because, no human teek is that powerful. The most powerful
telekinetic Psi Corps got, could only lift a unoccupied chair a few
inches off the ground, that's about it. Besides, most telekinetics
are locked up, since they're insane," Susan said.
// Interesting, // Nathan thought.
[=== End of Part 3 ===]
"So what you're telling me is that *five* aliens have been
flatten into pancakes," Captain Sheridan asked.
"Basically," Garibaldi answered.
"Any suspects or an idea as to how this was done?" Sheridan
replied.
"No. My first suspect was Nathan but Commander Ivanova saids that
they can account for each other," Garibaldi said.
"Oh? Just how close is our Commander to this stranger?" Sheridan
asked.
"They're friends, at least, I doubt there's more but . . . "
Garibaldi trailed off.
"Any information on this Nathan?" Sheridan inquiried.
"As a matter of fact, yes, I got some information out of
EarthDome this morning," Garibaldi said. He looked around and
continued, " I'd cashed in some favors, used some Rangers, and hacked
a few systems. His full name is Nathan Dayspring, EarthForce Captain.
He didn't re-enlist after the Dilgar War and been freelance ever since.
The last entry in his record involved the Feroon in Jeriko Sector."
"Jeriko Sector?" Sheridan asked, more to himself than to
Garibaldi, "That sounds fimiliar. . . "
"It might, if you knew that Susan's first posting was to Jeriko
Sector," Garibaldi answered.
Sheridan nodded and said, "Right. Susan was transfered from
Jeriko Sector to Io. Didn't talk much about it."
"Considering the amount of red tape I've had to go through that
understandable," Garibaldi replied, "Susan's unit 'assisted' Captain
Daysprings' merc squad in freeing the hostages that the Feroon took
and 'helped' the Feroon out of Earth Alliance space. The Senate, for a
reward, commissioned the mercs back into Earth Force, with Susan and
someone named 'Elisabeth Towers' rounding out the new team. Susan
remained with the newly formed One Five Special Operations team until
some incident involving a PsiCop and other round with the Feroon."
"What happen?" Sheridan asked.
"I don't know," Garibaldi answered. He sighed and continued,
"What I do know is that afterwards, Psi Corps wants to talk to Captain
Dayspring, Ivanova was transfered to Io, and the Unit's members
disappeared to various degrees."
"So, let's make sure I understand. . . We have a former Earth
Force Captain, Nathan Dayspring. . ." Sheridan began.
"Actually, Dayspring's commission is still valid," Garibaldi
interuptted, "Special Operations have used him a couple of times since
he was in Jeriko Sector."
"Fine. Captain Dayspring's wanted by Psi Corps for reasons
unknown," Sheridan continued, "Which Susan may or may not know why and
he's involved in covert operations. So he may or may not be here on
official Earth Force business, except for his method of arrival. Last
time I checked, matter displacement is outside of Alliance science. Hell,
even the Minbari and the Vorlons don't seem to have that technology, if
it's at all possible. So that's about it?"
"Basically," Garibaldi said.
"Right," Sheridan answered.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
En Sabah Nur sat down. The place was crowded with humans and
aliens. En Sabah Nur's attention was on the aliens in the place. He
looked at each individual and as a group. With but a single look, no
one got in is way. // My work is never done, // he thought. He sighed
and said, "What do you want Worm?"
Morden was surprised. His associates had concealed him and
themselves from the view of those around them, yet this *human* seemed
to see them easily. Quickly recovering, he joked, "That's what I would
like to know. What do *you* want?"
"Ha ha," En Sabur Nur laughed. His laughter, like the man,
seemed larger than life, yet had little humor in it. "Still up to
those old tricks?" En Sabur Nur asked sarcastically. His eyes' seems
pierce Morden's soul. En Sabur Nur turned slightly, looking directly
at Morden's associate on his right, and said "Will you do it?"
The associated said something to fast for Morden to understand
yet he saw its head nod.
En Sabah Nur handed a data crystal to Morden, who took it as he
left En Sabah Nur to himself. Before Morden passed through the exit,
En Sabah Nur heard, "Do we really *need* him?"
He merely smiled and looked around, spotted a Centuri, and
followed him.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Hello, Commander, Captain Dayspring," Garibaldi said to Ivanova
and Nathan.
"I was wondering how long it would take." Ivanova laughed.
"Well, you know how our relationship with EarthDome is now,"
Garibaldi said defensively.
Ivanova just nodded and said, "Out of all the questions you
asked, you never ask about Nathan himself, only about his gun. Wonder
what that says about you..."
"That he thinking about his job," Nathan Dayspring answered. "So
I take it my credit line is active now?"
"Huh? Oh, yes, it is," Garibaldi said while thinking that Ivanova
was right. He didn't ask for Nathan's name or history, just about his
stuff. "So what was 'Ensign' Ivanova like?"
"Well...." Nathan began.
"You better not," Ivanova laughed.
Nathan looked at Ivanova, then at Garibaldi, and then back at
Ivanova, seeming to weight the two and said, mimicking Ivanova, "I
better not."
"Better not what..." Captain Sheridan asked joining the
conversion.
"Tell how wet-behind-the-ear, young Ensign Susan Ivanova was
straight out of the EarthForce Academy," Nathan said to Sheridan.
"I don't believe we've met," Sheridan said.
"Captain John Sheridan, Babylon Five's commander. And we met for
about five seconds at the Mars riots. I had to leave early to deal
with some aliens that took advantage of the riots to acquire some
thing they shouldn't have," Nathan answered.
"That was you?" Sheridan asked surprised.
"Yep. So what can we do for you, Captain?" Nathan asked.
"Well.... Have you figured out *how* you came to be here?"
Sheridan asked.
"No," Nathan answer sourly. "At this moment, I don't care. 'What
is... is.' I'm more interesting in the murders that have been
happening."
"I'd suppose actually turning someone into a pancake is a type of
murder," Sheridan said. "Nothing ever easy here."
"Got that right," Ivanova said. "Well, I'm due in C'n'C soon.
So... What?!?"
"Huh?" Garibaldi and Sheridan both began.
"That was... Morden," Ivanova said. "Seven o'clock."
"Who?" Nathan asked.
"How the hell did he get on board?" Sheridan asked angerly.
"Don't know," Garibaldi answered. "But who ever did let him on
is fired."
"Nathan.... Walk with me to C'n'C, please?" Susan begged.
"Okay," Nathan said only slight more confused than Sheridan and
Garibaldi was.
"So, who's Morden?" Nathan asked causally.
"He is .... We're not sure, really, except he's working for the
Enemy," Susan answered.
"What enemy? Earth Alliance is not at war with anyone..." Nathan
said.
"You've heard of 'Nightwatch' or 'Home Guard?' The Shadows are
behind them, Psi Corps, and the Chaos that surrounds us," Susan
replied.
"The Shadows?" Nathan asked.
"That what the Minbari call them. They say that the Shadows are
the oldest of the old races. They say that if we don't stop them then
the Galaxy will suffer. Ten *thousand* years ago, the First Ones had a
battle between the Vorlons and the Shadows. One *thousand* years ago,
the Shadows returned and the Minbari, the Vorlons, and some of the
others fought them again. To a standstill. The Shadows withdrew and
now they're back," Susan answered.
"Shadows...." Nathan said. "Interesting."
[=== End of Part 4 ===]