[FFML] [Eva][B5] Forgotten Warriors Chapter 4

[Christopher Smith]

Forgotten Warriors
Chapter 4: In the Shadow of NERV
An Evangelion/Babylon 5 Crossover
By: Lord Legato Deathscythe and Isamu

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Sheridan had followed the trauma team from the cargo bay all the way to 
medlab, Garibaldi close on his heels. Asuka and Kosh also followed at a 
distance, with Sarah at her daughters side. After they got to medlab the boy 
was pulled into the isolab so that Dr. Franklin could do a proper 
examination. Sarah just looked the boy over, something about him kept 
gnawing at her. There was something she didn't like, but the elder Soryu 
couldn't put her finger on it.
Asuka however felt differently then her mother. She knew this boy, that 
much the young woman was certain of. Every line, every curve of his face 
was familiar to her. He wasn't a stranger to her, but she couldn't place her 
finger on it. But she knew she had to be near him when he awoke, if he did.
“This doesn't make sense, every scan we had said there wasn't anyone on 
board that thing,” Micheal said.
“The scans we had were inconclusive, we couldn't make out anything from 
all the interference from that things shield. I'm just as stumped as you are,” 
Sheridan said.
“Perhaps these will help us figure something out,” an annoying voice said. 
Everyone turned and saw Bester walking into medlab holding two white 
objects in his hand.
“These were found in the entry plug after the boy was pulled out. I can't say 
what they are, nothing Earth Dome has been able to uncover has anything 
on these, our our young friend in there,” he said, indicating the boy.
“How is he?” Asuka asked.
Franklin was the one who answered over the internal communication 
system, “So far everything shows he's in perfect health. No pathogens of 
any sort, no injury, the only thing I can find he's suffering from is extreme 
exhaustion and fatigue. There's also some unusual activity in the cerebral 
cortex. Without doing a more detailed scan my prognosis would be severe 
neural strain caused by an external source.”
Bester took all of this, and took the opportunity to do a surface scan of the 
young girl now. How she fit in he couldn't say, but her thoughts revolved 
around this boy now. Everyone else's thoughts were along the same track, 
however she seemed to be the most interested in the boy himself. He didn't 
press too far in, but there was something decidedly odd about this child's 
mind.
Bester let it go for now, he was curious about the boys brain scans. 
Perhaps he was a telepath? That would at least put Bester into some kind 
of authority here.
Sheridan hit the com on his link, “Sheridan to Ivannova.”
“Online,” Susan's voice responded.
“If the tech teams can get close enough to the Eva, I want ever inch of that 
entry plug checked and rechecked. Go over it with a fine toothed comb, and 
then do it again,” Sheridan ordered.
“Understood.”
Sarah looked at the boy, and then it clicked, “Captain, I just received a 
couple of boxes from Earth. I think there might be some answers in them.”
Sheridan turned and looked at her, “Why do you think that?”
“I opened up one of them just before the Eva did, whatever the Hell it just 
did. The first thing in the box was an old photograph. I swear, it was a 
picture of this boy and two girls the same age,” she said. She didn't want to 
say what had really disturbed her about that picture.
“Well then, lets go take a look,” Sheridan said.
Sarah placed her hand on Asuka's shoulder, “Come on, you need to see this 
too.”
Before she moved Asuka saw Kosh at the door to medlab, “Do you know 
what is there?”
Kosh nodded. Asuka then asked him, “What will I find?”
“A legacy of sorrow.”

--

He had been in this situation before, but something had changed. He no 
longer saw the familiar landscape of his home passing by as the train made 
it's endless circle around the great city. The world outside seemed to wrap 
around itself now, as if the world had enclosed itself on all sides. He could 
not explain it, but something felt right about this new setting.
Then he saw her standing in front of him. The saw gaze from blood red eyes 
he had become so used to before. She looked on him, and for a time he felt 
at peace. He said nothing, asked nothing, afraid she would disappear as 
she had so many times before. 
He just sat there with her, as the world passed by and was engulfed in 
darkness when the train passed into a tunnel of some kind.

--

“Here they are,” Sarah said as they entered her quarters. Asuka moved to 
the boxes quickly, wanting more pieces to the puzzle. The first thing she 
saw was the photograph her mother had mentioned. It was true, the boy in 
medlab was in the picture. The girls he was with though in it startled Asuka.
She saw herself on one side wearing the odd red suit she had worn in her 
dream, and the girl with blue hair was on the other side in the same suit. 
Asuka gasped as she looked upon the picture, her hand covering her mouth 
as she tried to understand what she saw.
“Asuka?” her mother asked, worried at her daughters reaction.
The child didn't answer though, she just looked at the image of herself in 
horrified silence.
“How can this be?” she asked before being led to the couch by Sarah. She 
was just sitting there, barely holding herself together.
“What's in the picture?” Garibaldi asked. The only answer he got was when 
Sarah handed it to him after pulling it from Asuka's grasp. Garibaldi looked 
at the picture and then showed the captain. They both kept the shock out of 
their own faces.
“Was there anything in their about this kid?” Sheridan asked Sarah.
“I don't know, I didn't have a chance to go through everything before the call 
from C and C. I have to go through it, but if that's in there I'm certain that 
we'll find out at least a name for this kid somewhere in there.”
“And how did your family happen into all of this?” the captain asked.
“That picture is over two hundred and forty years old sir. I can't tell you 
where it came from, just that this has all been sitting somewhere in storage 
for most of that time,” She responded, focused more on Asuka at the 
moment.
The captain was about to ask when the sound of two links going off filled 
the room. Both Sheridan and Sarah both looked at their communication 
devices and moved to check them.
“Officer Soryu, you have a stellar com transmission from IO,” the tech on 
the other end told Sarah.
“Captian, priority transmission from IO, it's General Hauge,” Ivannova 
reported.
The absurdity of two similar calls at the same time from the same place 
would have been funny under normal circumstances. However, with the way 
things had been going today Sheridan couldn't discount it.
“Patch him through to Officer Soryu's quarters. I'll take it here,” Sheridan 
ordered. Sarah didn't object, and went to a com terminal in her bedroom to 
accept her call. 
Garibaldi however kept his eyes on Asuka, glancing back at the photograph 
on occasion.
Sheridan accepted the call and the image of General Hauge appeared, 
“Captain Sheridan, I thought I would give you a heads up. I'm on my way to 
Babylon 5 aboard the Alexander, I'll be there in a few days to inspect the 
Evangelion. Also, I'm bringing along one civilian with me. She has 
information that will be critical to the final analysis of the Unit.”
That was damned odd, “General, if I may ask, how does a civilian have any 
knowledge of the Evangelion? No one in Earth Dome even knew it existed 
until a week ago.”
“She's the only expert we've been able to find. I believe she sent along 
certain materials to Babylon 5 and they should be there by know,” Hauge 
responded.
“I haven't received anything from Earth aside from the data they've been 
able to recover.”
“She sent them to her daughter I believe,” Hauge answered.
“I see, I'm actually inspecting some of those items now. Frankly General, I 
have to say this is starting to get very out of hand here. When can we 
expect your arrival?”
“I'll be there in two days, be ready for an inspection of the Eva shortly 
after we arrive. Hauge out.”
Sheridan looked back at Micheal as Sarah returned from her call. She didn't 
look any happier then when she had disappeared to answer it.
“She just had to pick now to pay a visit,” she muttered.
“I take it you're referring to your mother,” Sheridan said, it wasn't a 
question.
“Yes, and all she told me was to let Asuka look at the contents of these 
boxes and follow her lead. I swear, she wouldn't even tell me what any of 
this was about,” Sarah said, aggravated by the way her mother had evaded 
her questions.
Micheal took this opportunity to speak, “Well, she's hitching a high class 
ride I'll say that.”
“What are you talking about Chief?”
Sheridan answered her, “General Hauge is heading in, and from his 
transmission it seems he's bringing your mother with him.”
“This doesn't make sense, any of this,” Sarah said.
Garibaldi motioned to the Captain, indicating that he felt they should leave 
for now. Sheridan agreed, not wanting to push the two women any more for 
the day. The strain on the two was beginning to show, and Sheridan didn't 
want to be the one to push them over the edge.
“Go through it, and bring anything that can tell us about that boy straight to 
myself or Mr. Garibaldi,” Sheridan said, keeping his voice calm.
“Yes sir,” she said before wrapping her arms around her daughter.
Sheridan and Garibaldi left, Micheal reminding Sarah to let him know if he 
could help at all. As they stood in the corridor Garibaldi just chewed his lip 
as he thought back.
“Something on your mind Micheal?” Sheridan asked.
“Just something Ambassador Delenn told me a few months back. She said, 
that the Minbari believe that each soul is reborn generation after generation, 
and that they go around looking for other souls they knew in past lives. 
Sometime to relive good times, and sometimes to make right the mistakes 
of the past,” he said.
“And you believe this?” Sheridan asked.
“If you asked me before this all started I would have said no. After seeing 
that picture and all the other stuff happening around this thing, I'm not too 
sure anymore.”

--

“I've seen that suit before,” Asuka whispered after she had calmed down.
“Where could you have seen that before?”
“In a dream, I fell asleep in the cargo bay and had a dream just before he 
came out. I think, yes I know his name too. I've seen him before in my 
dreams as well,” Asuka said, her voice so calm it made the hair on the back 
of Sarah's neck stand on end.
“How? How is any of this happening?”
Asuka didn't answer, she just got up and started looking through the boxes. 
One of the first things she pulled out was the red suit from the picture and 
the dream, folded neatly in the box. On top of it were two red objects, which 
appeared to be hair clips to the young woman.
“I know these things, I know I know them,” she muttered.
Sarah was almost on the edge, she couldn't take much more of this. She 
walked up to Asuka and turned her around to face her. With fear and anxiety 
lacing her voice she said, “There's no way you can? You've never seen 
them until just now!”
“I can't explain it! I don't know how or why I know these things but I do. 
I've never held this thing in my hands before, but I could put it on with my 
eyes closed. I've never seen that boy before, but I know his name. I'm 
certain I know his name!” Asuka said. Her entire body was shaking as she 
spoke.
Sarah spun on her heel and walked back to the table the thrice damned 
picture laid on. Flipping it over to confirm what she thought was on the other 
side and making sure Asuka hadn't seen the handwriting she held the 
picture out so Asuka could see it.
“Alright, there is an easy way to clear this whole thing up. You haven't seen 
the names on the back here, and their written in Kanji script. You can't read 
that, you've always had problems with Japanese writing. I can, so I already 
know what's written here,” Sarah declared, ignoring the fact she was seeing 
Asuka's name on there.
She pointed first to the second girl in the picture, “Who is that?” she asked. 
Sarah was certain that her daughter couldn't know these names.
“Rei Ayanami,” Asuka answered, her voice dreadfully calm and determined.
Sarah held in the horror she felt hearing that name. It was exactly the same 
as what she was reading. She didn't want to ask the next question, but she 
had no choice, “Then who is he?”
Sarah felt as if her world would fall apart when she heard Asuka's answer.
--

Franklin had been going over every scan of their mystery guest for the last 
eight hours. Each time he came to the same conclusion. The conclusion 
however didn't sit right with him. He couldn't get the idea around his mind 
that this diagnosis was accurate, but it was the only thing that made sense. 
He just didn't want to get the opinion of the only other person on board that 
could confirm his findings.
He was broken from his thoughts when Talia walked into his small office 
area, “Dr. Franklin, can I speak with you?”
“Of course. Any problems from that telepathic cry you heard earlier?” the 
doctor asked. It hadn't just been Bester and Talia who had reported a 
strange telepathic scream at the same time the boy had emerged. Every 
alien telepath had heard it as well. Some where still having problems 
because of it, most notably the Centauri. Every Minbari telepath that had 
reported it had also described a feeling of overwhelming calm afterwards.
“No, the headaches gone now thank you. I just...” Talia started, but she 
couldn't finish.
“Just what?”
“I've just had this strange feeling in the back of my mind since it happened, 
and it gets stronger the closer I am to medlab,” she said.
“I think I know why. Right when you heard that scream this boy emerged 
from the Evangelion. Every scan I've run since he came out has been the 
same. He should be awake, but he's not. It's almost as if he's being kept 
asleep, or doesn't want to wake up,” the doctor said.
Talia just looked at the boy, and couldn't believe what her senses were 
telling her. There was no possible way she could be sensing this. It just 
didn't happen, no one, not even strong telepath could do this.
“Have you run a test to see if he's a telepath?” Talia asked.
“First thing I thought of when I did the initial neural scans. Look,” Franklin 
motioned her to one of his terminals. He pulled up the cranial map he had 
constructed from the various scans and tests.
“Now, a normal telepath, regardless of strength, has noticeably higher 
activity in certain parts of the brain. His are all normal, except for the 
area's responsible for motor control and feeling. Those area's are suffering 
from intense and prolonged states of hyperactivity,  they've also been 
artificially remapped from what I can tell. Bester carried in two pieces of 
odd formed plastic from the entry plug.”
“And you think this has something to do with what's keeping him from 
waking up?”
“It's possible, I have a few theories, but the only person I can run them by 
right now is Bester. I don't want to bring him in on this unless I absolutely 
have to. Why did you ask about him being telepathic?” Franklin asked, 
curious.
“When I look at him, I don't get anything at all. Even people who've been 
brain wiped have some thoughts or the fragments of thoughts in their 
heads,” Talia said.
“Well he is asleep. That could be what's keeping you from picking up on 
anything,” the doctor offered.
“No, even when someone is asleep they put off random noise. I don't get 
anything at all from him.” Talia said, slightly unnerved by the emptiness she 
felt from him.
“Looks like I'll have to bring in Bester. He's a P-twelve, maybe he could pick 
up on something you can't. I hate to do it, but it's the only thing I can 
think of,” Franklin said, a bit of the fatigue he was feeling himself was 
beginning to show.
“Get some sleep first Stephen. Maybe we'll get lucky and he'll wake up 
without Bester being involved,” Talia said.
“Yeah, I hope you're right. I just wish we at least knew his name,” Franklin 
said as he looked at the boy who lay peacefully in the medical bay.

--

He was standing in a garden now,  the world wrapping around and  coming 
back in almost a giant circle. It felt appropriate to him for somehow, that 
everything came back to the same point. It fit how his life had gone since 
he had first set foot in the once towering fortress city. Flowers and plants 
of all kinds surrounded him as  he took in the environment he found himself 
in.
He turned and looked up towards a staircase, and saw her again. Why was 
she still here? She had died because of him, why did she keep haunting 
him. As much as he wanted to turn away, her red eyes wouldn't let go of 
him. Then she did something she had done too few times since he met her.
She smiled.

--

“This is intolerable Captain Sheridan!” Londo bellowed. He and G'Kar had 
been called to the Captains office to discuss the situation. Sheridan had 
briefed them about the boy now lying in medlab. G'Kar had taken the news 
calmly, and had gone into deep thought about the situation.
The same unfortunately could not be said about his colleague. The moment 
Sheridan had mentioned it Londo had begun demanding immediate access 
to the boy. When Sheridan had told him that was impossible for the time 
being he had simply began yelling.
“I'm sorry Ambassador, but he hasn't regained consciousness yet. Letting 
you have any access to him would not only be fruitless, but would hamper 
Dr. Franklin in his duties,” Sheridan countered.
“It doesn't matter! He is responsible for the destruction of two Centauri 
warships, and the deaths of the crews on board! We will not standby while 
you protect this murderer!” Londo spat out.
“We don't even know if he was in control of the Evangelion. All the data we 
have indicates this unit had a history of acting on it's own. He wasn't even 
showing up on the sensors until eight hours ago.”
Londo stood up and stared Sheridan down, trying to force him to lose some 
ground. The Captain stood at the same time though, not giving any thing to 
the Ambassador. Londo spun on his heals and made to leave the office. 
Before he did though he turned back at the captain, “I have spoken to my 
government. We demand that this boy, and the girl Asuka be extradited 
back to Centauri Prime for Trial!”
“Absolutely not!” Sheridan said.
“He is guilty of crimes against the Centauri Republic, and all the evidence 
that has been mounting is showing that she is an accomplice! We demand 
they both face trial for their crimes!” Londo spat out.
“Asuka has nothing to do with this, so far she's just an innocent bystander 
caught in the middle,” Sheridan countered.
“Her guilt will be decided by the Centarum, we have the right to demand the 
extradition of criminals!” Londo bellowed. He didn't give the captain a 
chance to answer as he left the office.
Sheridan just hung his head, then looked to G'Kar, “I take it you're 
government is demanding the same thing?”
G'Kar shook his head, “I've convinced the Ka'ri that deferring the matter to 
you would be the most prudent course of action. To do otherwise would take 
our attention from the War and risk putting our people in greater danger. The 
Centauri have taken the opportunity presented here by the destruction of so 
many of our ships by the Evangelion to press their attack. Most of the fleet 
is shoring up our defense and covering for civilians escaping the combat 
zone.”
Sheridan sat down, “Well, at least there's that. Bad enough Londo wants 
them without both of you fighting over who gets to put the noose around 
their necks.”
“What do you plan to do Captain?” G'Kar asked.
Sheridan thought for a moment, “General Hauge will be here in thirty-six 
hours, and hopefully we'll be able to solve this puzzle. Londo won't wait 
though, he's just going to call a session of the council and put it to a vote. 
He does that, then Earth will have to abide by their decision.”
“If there is anyway I can assist Captain, let me know,” G'Kar said as he 
made to leave.
Sheridan stopped him though, “There is actually. I need you to demand 
extradition of those two to Narn for trial.”
“Pardon me?” G'Kar asked, confused.
“If you do that, it'll buy me enough time to figure out a way out of this 
mess.”
“I did present the case for Commander Sinclare to be extradited after the 
attempt on Ambassador Kosh's life. I maybe able to convince enough of the 
council to at least abstain from the debate,” G'Kar said.
“Thank you G'Kar,” Sheridan said.
“No thanks are necessary. You've done much for my people during this war, 
we owe you a great debt. To not do what I could within my power would be 
disgraceful. Who do you plan to represent the interests of the two children?” 
G'Kar asked.
“I don't know yet. More then likely either myself or General Hauge will do 
that if the time comes. Just keep the council busy deciding on who should 
have the right to make the demand. If they side with you then we won't have 
to worry about it. If they side with Londo though, “Sheridan said, letting the 
last hang out there.
“I will do my best to see that they see the wisdom of allowing my people the 
right of trial. Good luck to you, Captain,” G'Kar said, leaving Sheridan's 
office.
The Captain sat in his chair, thinking for a moment. Then he activated his 
link, “Sheridan to C and C.”
“Online,” came the voice of the tech on duty.
“Patch me through to Ambassador Delenn,” he said. He needed to ask her a 
favor, then he would go to the one he felt may have the answer. The only 
question was would he understand it when he heard it.

--

The door had chimed twice before Sarah could bring herself to let whoever it 
was in to her quarters. Asuka had left an hour ago to go sit with the boy, not 
bothering her mother as she left. Sarah's world was slowly falling apart, 
nothing made sense anymore as she kept looking at the picture. They had 
found more in the boxes, including what appeared to be personnel files. Had 
she had the strength to do so, she would have taken those straight to the 
captain so she could get them out of her sight.
She stood slowly, wiping her eyes as she opened her door. Ambassador 
Delenn was standing behind it, and as much as Sarah tried to hide it she 
knew the Minbari could see the agony in her soul.
“Ambassador, come in,” she said, stepping aside so Delenn could enter. 
She showed her to the couch and sat down as the Ambassador sat across 
from her.
“Are you alright?” Delenn asked.
“No, I'm not. Until yesterday, all I ever worried about was making sure 
Asuka finished her studies or wasn't hurt. Now I can't even sit down without 
worrying about the next few hours. I don't know what I'm supposed to do, 
and every time we get one more piece of the puzzle I feel even more ripped 
open,” Sarah said, her voice low.
“It's difficult, to see your child pulled into extraordinary circumstances,” 
Delenn said.
“It's not just that. I've found out more about my families history in the last 
few hours then I have in years, and it terrifies me what I've seen. Asuka's 
involvement doesn't make it easier.”
“How is she handling it?”
“That's the thing, she's taking it as if it's normal. She keeps saying she 
knows the things we found. She even knew that boys name before we found 
the files, or saw the names on the back of that photograph. I don't 
understand how she could know these things. No one knows these things,” 
Sarah said, just looking into space.
She continued after a moment, “I suppose you came to arrange that 
meeting with the Narn and Centauri ambassadors.”
Delenn's face became serious, “No, the situation has changed. Ambassador 
Mollari has demanded that the boy and Asuka be extradited to Centauri 
Prime for trial,” Delenn told her, hating to add to her burden.
“What?! Why?!” Sarah said, panic beginning to show in her voice.
“The Centauri government has decided that the destruction of their warships 
and the death of their crews should rest on the two. Ambassador Mollari has 
already begun demanding they be turned over to Centauri custody,” Delenn 
informed her, preserving a semblance of a professional attitude.
“Great, I suppose the Narn want the same thing,” Sarah said.
“Originally no. However, Captain Sheridan has convince Ambassador G'Kar 
to make the claim on behalf of the Narn. He's hoping that G'Kar can 
convince them to cede jurisdiction to the Narn instead of to the Centauri. If 
that happens, then everything will be settled as the Narn do not wish to 
prosecute. If not, he's hoping to at least buy enough time to find another 
solution.”
Sarah got up from the couch and walked to the small kitchen area, pouring 
herself a glass of water. She slowly drank it, but her throat still felt 
horribly dry. Her grip on the counter tightened, as she tried to steady 
herself. “Why is this happening? Why?” was all she could say.
Delenn stood and walked to her, placing her arms around the other womans 
shoulders. Being one of the religious caste, Delenn could not stand to allow 
someone to suffer alone.  Sarah allowed herself to be led back to the couch 
by the Ambassador, not really knowing what to do anymore. 
Delenn spoke first though, “What's his name?” she asked.
“Whose?”
“The boy, you said you found out what his name was.”
“Shinji Ikari,” Sarah answered. 
Delenn looked at the two files on the small table. She stood and picked 
them up and noticed something odd about the language used. It didn't look 
like anything she had ever seen on Earth documents. The pictograph 
language used was indecipherable to her. 
“This doesn't appear to be human text,” Delenn said.
“It's Japanese, not many people use it anymore what with English being the 
preferred language for most documents on and off world. It will probably 
have to be translated before it's any good to anyone,” Sarah explained. 
“I will take these to Captain Sheridan for you. He will be able to have it 
translated. I will have my aide Lennier come by later to provide any 
assistance you may need. If there is anything we can do to help, we will do 
what we can,” Delenn said.
“Thank you Ambassador, I think we're going to need a lot of help,” Sarah 
said as she walked Delenn to the door.
After the door had closed, Sarah went to her couch and sat there. Tears 
began streaming down her face as she broke down and couldn't stop for a 
long time.

--

Bester had slipped into medlab without much effort. No one had asked him 
about his business there. Even if they had he could just put a thought in 
their head and watch as they went on about their business. He walked 
towards the bed area that the boy had been placed in. He didn't pick 
anything up from the boy when he performed a passive scan on him. Bester 
would have pushed deeper, but he had other business to attend to.
Dr. Franklin was at his spot going over scans and test results on the boy. 
That was exactly what Bester wanted to see. The more information he could 
glean from the doctor, the better his position would be. 
“Good Morning Doctor, how are you doing?” Bester asked, putting up an 
almost convincing show of pleasantness.
Franklin however was too wrapped up in what he was working on to notice, 
“Still stumped about a lot of what I'm seeing here. Either way, we won't get 
much more data until he's awake. Of course I can't even tell when that will 
be, everything I have says he should be awake right now.”
“I could always do a deep scan, and get all that information for you,” Bester 
offered.
“No, absolutely not. Not only is it illegal, but as a doctor I can't allow you 
to do anything that could aggravate his situation. A deep scan could do just 
that right now. Take a look at this, what would you say when you look at 
this scan,” Franklin said.
He pointed out several sections of the boys brain scan. Several areas were 
highlighted and enlarged by the doctor. Franklin pointed things out on the 
scan as he spoke, “A lot of the neural damage is spread out over most of 
the brain. Areas responsible for motor control, sensation, even pain are 
suffering from major strain. More strain then any person puts on those 
sections of the brain in a life time, even under stress. Do any of these 
patterns look familiar to you?” Franklin asked.
Bester was slightly taken off guard by the doctor's question. It was odd that 
Franklin was sharing this amount of information with him. Bester did a 
surface scan as he examined the data. The only thing he could pick up on 
were the analytical aspects of what Franklin was thinking. The doctor's mind 
was full of information he himself couldn't make heads or tails of.
“I don't recognize anything out of the ordinary. I'm not a neurologist Dr. 
Franklin,” Bester replied.
“No, but you are a telepath. I ran a search for similar cases to this. I found 
something back just before Psi-corp was formed. Apparently, there were 
experiments in attempting to create control systems in various forms of 
craft, where the human brain was connected to the control system remotely. 
It worked, but the subjects burned out quickly due to the strain of trying to 
control a system like that. They tried with telepaths later, the thinking 
being that since a telepath's brain was already wired for receiving and 
sending signals of that kind. They burned out to, but slower.”
“What happened in those cases?”
“Well, that's the thing. The non-telepaths suffered from periods of fatigue, 
depression, and anxiety. The telepaths that burned out however went into 
short periods of catatonia, during which their brain would try to recover,” 
Franklin said.
“So you think he's a telepath?” Bester asked, a bit too eagerly for Franklin's 
taste.
“No, the usual activity you'd see in a telepath's brain scan isn't there. Even 
in a resting state a telepath's brain is more active then a non-telepath. 
Those objects you brought in with you though, appear to be similar to what I 
was able to find out concerning those experiments,” Franklin said.
Bester was not a fool though, “Doctor, considering the situation I do believe 
that I should be allowed to do a deep scan. I can get in, get what we need, 
and out minimizing any damage to the boys brain.”
Franklin shook his head, “I told you before, I won't have you doing anything 
that would make his situation worse. Right now, anything out of the ordinary 
would do just that. What I would like you to do though is a surface scan, 
nothing major, I just want to confirm something.”
“What is that doctor?”
“Just do the scan, I need to know what you pickup first before I say 
anything,” Franklin said.
Bester did the surface scan as he had been requested. He pushed slowly, 
just gliding the surface of the boy's mind. What he found was unusual, he 
couldn't pick up on anything from the boy. He didn't push too much more 
after that, but just enough to test a theory.
His reward for his efforts was being forcefully shoved out of the boys mind 
by something. It was painful, and even the Psi-cop couldn't completely 
recover quickly enough to keep up the facade of being in control.
“Bester,” Franklin's voice came through as he steadied the Psi-Cop.
Bester put his hands to his head, rubbing his temples as he slowly 
recovered from the telepathic attack. Franklin couldn't wait for him to be 
himself though, “What did you see?”
“Nothing, absolutely nothing. I tried to see if there was some kind of block 
in there preventing me from seeing anything,” Bester said.
“A block wouldn't be too much of a problem though for you,” Franklin said.
“Any block Level-12 or below yes. I don't think this was a block though, it 
was more like someone was actively blocking any scans. I saw a girl, 
probably fourteen, blue hair, red eyes. She said, 'Stay Out!' before forcing 
me out of his mind,” Bester said, slightly winded.
“A human girl?” Franklin asked, himself finding it hard to believe.
“That's just it, she looked human, but the presence was very much alien. 
Unlike any alien I've ever encountered,” Bester said.
“What exactly is going on here?” Franklin asked. He didn't expect a reply 
though.
Both men turned when they heard the door to Medlab open, and Asuka walk 
through the door. She walked up to Dr. Franklin and asked, “Doctor, I was 
wondering if it would be possible for me to sit with him for a while?”
“No problem at all. Just don't get in the way when the other med techs run 
the scans,” Franklin said. Both he and Bester watched her as she went and 
sat in the isolation area with the boy. Before she went in though she heard 
the Doctor comment to Bester, “I just wish you had been able to get at least 
his name.”
Asuka turned around and said, “His name is Shinji Ikari.”
“How do you know that?” Bester asked, beating Franklin to the question 
they both wanted an answer to.
“I wish I knew,” Asuka said, then entered the isolab.
Bester was curious, “Why is she allowed into a restricted area? She's only a 
civilian.”
Franklin looked at Bester, hesitant to tell him anything related to the girl 
for her own safety. He relented when he figured it wouldn't matter if he told 
the Psi-Cop or not, “Orders from Captain Sheridan. Since the Vorlon 
Ambassador has taken an interest in this case, Captain Sheridan said 
anything the ambassador asks for should be granted as long as it isn't a 
threat to the station. Kosh requested that Asuka be allowed complete 
access to the boy if she choose to do so.”
Bester thought about that for a moment, then made to leave. Before he left 
though he said, “It's interesting that a mere child seems to know more about 
this situation then any of us, isn't it doctor?”
Franklin nodded as the Psi-Cop left Medlab. He went back to his tests and 
diagnosis, trying to figure out his piece of this puzzle. 

--

"Bester showing up was a surprise.  I knew that sooner or later Earth Dome 
was going to send someone to see the Evangelion, the Eva I guess, but a 
Psi Cop?  That just seems a little out of sort.  Outside their jurisdiction 
quiet frankly," Sheridan said.  He was in Kosh's quarters, hoping that the 
enigmatic ambassador might be able to shed some light on what was going 
on.  So far, h Kosh had listened, but not said anything.  Or at least, 
Sheridan was pretty sure that the ambassador was listening, it was hard to 
tell because of the encounter suit.
"Then the Centari decided that they want to try Asuka and the boy, Shinji I 
guess, for war crimes against the Republic.  This seems extreme, even for 
them.  I can't tell if Londo agrees with the decision though.  Seems like I 
barely know him anymore.  Thankfully G'Kar's people stepped in and made 
the same request, at my request.  This should slow down anything 
happening at least long enough for General Hague to arrive with the one 
person who I guess will be able to answer some questions for me, who 
turns out to be Asuka's grandmother."  Sheridan shook his head and 
chuckled.  "Never a dull moment around here."
Kosh seemed to regard this last phrase especially, the lights on his 
encounter suit flashing quickly. "Yes."
Sheridan wondered for a second if the yes was in agreement or that there 
were dull moments, but that he was just missing them.  "There are a few 
things I'd like to ask you though.  You seem to be neck deep in this, so 
maybe you'd be willing to answer a few questions I had.  Why Asuka?  
You're the one who brought her to us, so how did you know?  Is there 
something the rest of us are missing?  Why her?"
The ambassadors tilted his head to the side and regarded the captain for a 
moment before he answered, "Her spirit could be no place else, and there is 
no one else who could be a part of this.  Echo's of a past tragedy at last to 
be stilled."  The ambassador was silent for a moment, giving time for his 
words to sink in.  Before Sheridan had a chance to press for more, Kosh 
spoke again.  "That is all that is my right to say."
Sheridan was about to protest, when his link went off.  He tapped it with a 
sigh.  "Sheridan here." 
"Captain," Ivannova's voice said briskly, "Some of the league ambassadors 
want to meet with you, probably about the Eva, but they wouldn't say."
"Never a dull moment," he muttered, then in his normal tone, "tell them to 
meet me in my office in one hour, Sheridan out."
"Yes sir, and I'll tell them.  C and C out."
Sheridan regarded the ambassador one last time before he left and said 
"You know, one of these day's ambassador you're gonna ask me something 
and be just as frustrated." With that, he turned and left.
"Perhaps," Kosh said softly as the door closed.

To Be Continued...

Next chapter: The tension on the station only builds as the Alexander 
arrives with General Hauge and Gertrude Soryu. The arrival also heralds the 
coming of a much darker shadow upon the station. Worlds at each others 
throats only become more dangerous as the fight over control of the two 
children heats up.

All the while, the young boy sleeps while watched over by Asuka. While 
watching him though she tries to unravel the mystery she has found herself 
trapped in. Why has this boy been in her dreams? Why does she know his 
name? The answers however kept from her by other powers.

Next Chapter: Dancing on the Line Between Darkness and Light

Authors Notes: Well, the last chapter I posted was posted while I was 
deployed. Well, here's the new chapter. We are still running a few things 
through and a lot is coming up. It's been difficult to do things while getting 
on with work. I have a few things coming up that will  be taking time away 
from fic writing.

Pre-readers for this chapter were unavailable due to no one knowing B5 
being available.