[FFML] [Eva][B5] Forgotten Warriors chapter 6

[Christopher Smith]

The Latest and Greatest

Forgotten Warriors
Chapter 6: Ikari's Shadow / Soul Diving
By: LD

Disclaimer: See Part 1.

	Asuka walked into a buzzing medlab, and she already knew the 
reason. Nothing stood in her way as she made her way to the bed where 
Shinji lay. Doctor Franklin was already looking him over, trying to get him to 
relax. Shinji however was panicking, Asuka could see the cold fear in his 
eyes as he tried to speak to the doctor but Stephen couldn't communicate 
with him.
	“Someone get a translator in here now,” Franklin demanded. Asuka 
heard the language Shinji spoke and already knew she could speak with 
him.
	Her eyes met his, and he immediately began to calm down. She was 
probably the only familiar face he knew. Asuka spoke to him before Franklin 
could say anything about it. “It's okay, he's a doctor,” Asuka said in 
Japanese. 
	Shinji nodded, “Are you alright? When I saw you you were...” 
	Asuka shook her head, “I'm sorry, I'm not the Asuka you know.”
	Shinji didn't understand, “What do you mean? Asuka this isn't funny, 
where am I?”
	Doctor Franklin broke in on the two, “You can talk with him?”
	Asuka answered him, “Yes, he's speaking Japanese and I know that 
language. Never could read it though.”
	Franklin nodded, “It will do for now, see if you can calm him down. I 
don't want to risk a sedative right now.”
	Asuka was helpful in getting Shinji to cooperate. There were parts 
where the boy seemed to already know what was about to be asked. After 
he was satisfied that everything was alright with the boy he left the room. 
Franklin left to make his report, but not before telling Asuka to try and keep 
him calm. 
	Asuka stared at the boy intently, trying to figure out what to say to 
him. How was she going to tell him everything that had happened? What 
could she say that would make the pain her words would bring any less? 
Nothing really seemed appropriate, except for the truth.
	“What did you mean you aren't the Asuka I know?” he asked.
	Asuka sighed and sat down next to him in the chair she had grown too 
familiar with, “I don't even know where to begin.”
	She noticed Shinji staring at her, looking her over, “You're alright 
though? I saw Unit Two torn apart, I was afraid you were dead. I should 
have tried harder to get to Unit One.”
	Asuka shook her head, “I'm sorry, but she is dead.”
	Shinji's widened in shock and guilt, but that didn't stop Asuka, “She 
died about two hundred years ago. She lived to the age of seventy-two and 
then passed away quietly in her sleep surrounded by family. Everything she 
had from when you knew her was already locked away in storage. We've 
been keeping it all safe ever since.”
	If Shinji wasn't in shock before, he was getting close, “Two hundred 
years?” Asuka nodded, watching the boys reaction. She could see his 
hands begin to shake, followed by the rest of his body. “Touji, Kensuke, 
Hikari, everyone, all dead?” Asuka nodded again, but this time got up and 
sat next to him, placing her hand on his.
	“I don't know why I look like her. She was my ancestor yet I've been 
seeing things in my mind as if I was her. Everything is strange right now, 
and it's only going to get harder now that you've woken up. We have things 
in our quarters you should see, perhaps there is something there that will 
help you through this. I wish I knew.”
	Asuka saw the tears slide down his cheeks, and did the only thing that 
made sense to her. She pulled him into her arms and held him as he cried. 
So deep was his sorrow she could feel it herself and shed a tear with him in 
rememberence of the people he had left behind. Neither of them noticed the 
Vorlon turn and leave them together.

--

	“So what's his status Stephen?” Sheridan asked.
	Franklin rubbed the bridge of his nose as he answered, “Physically 
he's alright, nothing I can find to hold him in Medlab. Ms. Soryu has been 
acting as translator for him until she can get his English at least up enough 
to speak for himself. Seems he only speaks Japanese which has made any 
communication difficult without her.”
	Hague spoke up at this, “Almost as if something or someone planned 
it that way.”
	“I couldn't tell you General. All I can say is that he is as fit for release 
from Medlab as he can be. The rest is going to take a lot of time and 
patience,” Franklin said.
	Sheridan nodded, “Thank you Doctor. I think the best thing to do would 
be to release him into the Soryu's care for now. Do what you can for him 
Stephen.”
	Franklin nodded and left Sheridan's office. Hague stood and watched 
the door the doctor had left through for a moment. “Are you certain that's a 
good idea John?”
	Sheridan knew what the General was asking, “No, but from what Dr. 
Soryu has told us it makes the most sense. I'm more worried about this 
hearing before the council.”
	Hague threw him a glance, “I thought you already had enough votes 
from the Council to prevent the Centauri from getting their hands on the 
two.”
	“It's not that. Ambassador Mollari knows he can't win on a straight up 
and down vote. Even if Earth abstained on this the Minbari, Narn, and 
apparently the Vorlons now will vote against him. No, he's doing this for 
show. I've got a bad feeling about this,” Sheridan admitted to the General.
	The General nodded, “And what about Bester?”
	“He's been quiet, a little too quiet. He's doing just enough to be 
annoying but hasn't tried anything. That telepathic kick back must have 
rattled him.”
	Hague nodded, “I have to report back to the Joint Chiefs and the 
President. I'll update them on the situation while you tend to the Council. 
Keep your eyes open for anything.”
	“Have to around this place, but then again nothing is ever quiet what it 
seems,” Sheridan said as the General left the office.

--

	Asuka had left Shinji in Medlab to rest, trying to give him time to 
adjust to what he was going through. She wasn't sure if it was right to leave 
him there, but she needed time as well. Everything had happened so fast 
over such a short amount of time. Revelations into her families past had felt 
natural for a time. Now however it was all starting to set in, and she didn't 
know if she could handle it. The visions of a life not her own haunted her. 
The pain and loneliness these images made her feel. Asuka was having a 
hard time making sense of them all.
	So as Shinji rested she sat staring at a stone garden. The waves in 
the sand meticulously cared for warping around each single stone. So 
engrossed in her thoughts she never noticed the black clad figure of Bester 
sit down next to her. The Psi-Cop sat there, patiently waiting as he listened 
to the thought noise she put out. He didn't have to be a telepath to know 
what she was thinking or who she was thinking about right now.
	“You know, there are more ways to tell what a person is thinking then 
just being telepathic. It's in how they sit or stand, how they hold their 
hands, or the look in their eyes. Just by looking at that I can tell that you 
are very troubled without even touching your mind or listening to what ever 
thought noise you are putting off,” Bester said, trying to break the ice.
	Asuka didn't know why but the thought of the image of herself being 
mind raped came to mind at the sound of Bester's voice. She shivered as 
she thought of it, turning to Bester and asking, “Can you see that thought?”
	Bester took the question at it's face and looked at the image. As much 
as he flaunted his talents, even taking the liberties he would go after lower 
level telepaths, what he saw sickened him. He nodded as Asuka looked 
back at the stone garden, “I've got a thousand thoughts just like it running 
in my head right now. You're a Psi-Cop, what would you call that one?”
	Bester choose his words carefully, “I'd call it telepathic rape, 
something I'd hunt a man down for and probably have a convenient accident 
with,” he admitted. After all, psi-cops were still human.
	“Is that what a deep scan is like?”
	“Similar, the further you dig the more damage you can do to someones 
mind. It's why we have strict rules about how telepaths act and use their 
abilities.”
	Asuka nodded, “I suppose I should be grateful, I'm not the one that 
had to go through that. That was another girl with my face, my name. I don't 
understand though how those memories can be in my mind if I never lived 
them. They belong to a girl dead for two centuries. I just have her face, and 
now I'm trying to reach out to a boy that saw those nightmares. Hell, he 
suffered his own nightmares from that previous life. How can I even hope to 
understand him when I can't make sense out of my own head?”
	Bester took in her words as she spoke. Her feelings were pouring out 
of her mind like a sieve, one thought after another. It was a sad truth that 
telepaths had to shield themselves from this thought noise if only just to 
stay sane. The voices were constant companions. Bester however picked 
up on something in those thoughts, “You feel you owe him something that 
this other Asuka couldn't do for him?”
	Asuka didn't respond. Bester continued, “All I can say is that from 
what you've said you have come as close as any normal can to knowing 
what a telepath feels. We hear peoples thoughts as loudly as if they spoke 
them, and build up walls around our minds to filter them out. If we didn't 
we'd go mad. Mental illness is unfortunately a part of the deal. A lot of 
telepaths go insane during training just because they can't stand the voices 
always being present. Perhaps that's what makes us so mistrusted, the fact 
that we can't even control ourselves at times.”
	Bester smiled, “But then again I don't think what you need to hear are 
the ramblings of an old Psi-Cop like me. The question becomes though, 
regardless of where these memories are coming from what do you do? Yes, 
they are thoughts from someone you never knew in your mind trying to find 
purchase. But you are still the same girl who only a few days ago was eager 
to see something that was strange and wonderfully scary. Who you are 
doesn't change because a few memories show up out of no where.”
	Asuka let the words linger, playing them through her mind as her eyes 
traced the waves on the sand. Bester placed his gloved hand on her 
shoulder, “Regardless of what has happened, if the circumstances were 
more normal would you still be willing to help this boy? You already know 
the answer to that question. That answer is all you need to know.”
	Bester stood and began to leave her to ponder his words. Before he 
left she sent one thought straight at him.
	Thank you.
	The waves in the stone garden continued to remain immutable and 
unchanging before Asuka's eyes until one of the stones was in place. She 
just wondered which she was, the steady wave or the stone that changed 
everything.
--

	Garibaldi had been keeping an eye on Bester the whole time in one 
way or the other. When he heard that little bastard was near Asuka he had 
immediately went to drag him away. As he was turning the corner he almost 
ran smack into the smug Psi-Cops face. Garibaldi could barely contain his 
loathing for the smaller man. Bester usually would simply smirk at the Chief 
but this time simply ignored him.
	“You know I should lock you away for going near a minor without their 
parent or legal guardian available,” Garibaldi seethed.
	“Perhaps you could, however I have not violated any laws governing 
telepaths or other people. I'm well within my legal authority to simply try to 
monitor anything that could be influenced by the Evangelion. Also, that girls 
mind has been flooded by thoughts and memories that aren't her own. A 
little telepathic assistance would benefit her. This way she's not the only 
one to have seen what's been put in her head. You'd be surprised how that 
sometimes puts people at easy Mr. Garibaldi,” Bester said.
Garibaldi ground his teeth, “You still need written consent when it comes to 
a minor to even talk to them in any official capacity.”
Bester turned and regarded Garibaldi for a moment. The look in Bester's 
eyes was something he hadn't had in the few times Micheal had dealt with 
him, “Do you ever have any children Mr. Garibaldi?” Bester asked, already 
knowing the answer.
“No.”
“I do. Any real father who saw that look on a child would have done the 
same. Even if it wasn't his own,” Bester said. He then turned and left 
Garibaldi in the corridor to chew on what had transpired.

--

Katharina stood before the behemoth, silently cursing men and women long 
dead as she watched various tech attempt to unlock Eva's secrets. She 
knew they would fail, hoped that no useful data would ever be taken from 
this monstrosity. The nightmare that would result from humanity getting it's 
hands on this power again terrified her. Not to mention if it was captured by 
the other races. She trusted no one with this power. No one at all.
“Why couldn't you sleep for the rest of time and drift beyond the rim? Why 
did you have to come here? Was it him? Did you finally find it in yourself to 
give him a chance without your interference?”
The old woman ran her fingers through her hair. Naturally her thoughts were 
followed by nothing but silence. The log entries, reports, and journals she 
had read from the NERV Project E Staff including Pilot Asuka Langley 
Soryu were all very clear about the danger this beast posed. No one would 
be safe should it loss control again as it was known to do. Or the worst 
possible scenarios, should one of the other races get their hands on this 
technology and the power it could bring. To say nothing about the atrocities 
that would be committed to feed this particular beast.
Her bones ached with worry over what horrors this beast brought with it. She 
turned away, quickly leaving the cargo bay. She had already been notified 
by Captain Sheridan about arrangements for the boy. The covenant her 
family had been sworn to by destiny demanded she do no less then help the 
boy adjust. Though while she would do what she could for young Ikari, her 
thoughts couldn't help but drift to her granddaughter.
It was selfish, but she was an old woman and allowed to worry about her 
grandchild above interplanetary relations and ghosts.

--

The Council chamber filled with mummers as the various ambassadors 
milled in. General Hague sat in the back watching the proceedings carefully, 
gaging the delegates as they took their seats. He knew the Narn and 
Centauri had been making the rounds, but he was interested in how they 
actually saw the situation. The general in him saw the entire situation from 
it's military and strategic aspect. The Evangelion and it's pilot were a major 
technological and military advantage for Earth. Allowing it to fall into the 
Centauri's hands while depriving Earth of it's technology was simply not an 
option. The fact that the council would not allow the Centauri to acquire 
either eased the older man's mind some. However he also knew that Earth 
could not be allowed to gain this technology. 
The President was growing more and more paranoid by the day. Knight 
Watch, Ministry of Peace, and the Psi-Corp presented very real domestic 
threats to the Alliance. Allowing Clark's people to potentially get their 
hands on some technology they could abuse to their purposes was just as 
dire a problem as allowing a foreign government the same technological 
advantage. Something would have to be done in order to neutralize the 
threat. 
Ikari was just a boy, and yet he had presented one of the greatest threats to 
the Earth Alliances security and survival since the Earth-Minbari War. The 
irony of it being that every bit of information they had found pointed to him 
having been put in this position to protect Earth. The universe had a funny 
way of rewarding someone who made such a sacrifice.
He couldn't stop himself from imagining the reluctant warrior's battles, his 
struggles with what he was responsible for at an age where he was also 
defining himself. Adolescence was hard enough, but when one was tasked 
with protecting Earth at an age many years before he could volunteer for 
what would become Earth Force military service. What was his life under 
his commander? Prior to serving in this position of combat, did he have a 
good life? They still hadn't translated any of the personnel files Dr. Soryu 
had provided. And even then Hague didn't expect any usable data save for 
a service record.
While he wasn't thrilled with the Minbari involvement with those files he 
didn't see any problems. Most of the information within those files more 
then likely would come out in these very proceedings. It would hopefully be 
minimal information, nothing anyone could use against them on either side 
of their precarious perch. Sheridan could handle the council, and most of 
the deep diving into the past could be handled by his people. It was the two 
children that held Hague's concern.
Bester sniffing around didn't make him comfortable, but he was disciplined 
enough to keep his surface thoughts in check. Without a deep scan he 
couldn't be found out, and anyone would be able to notice such a thing. 
Something was protecting the boys mind according to Dr. Franklin, 
something not entirely human and yet not an aggressive entity. For now it 
wasn't an issue. The girl however would be. 
The Minbari attache Lennier walked up to him and bowed, he presented the 
General a file and said, “Captain Sheridan asked me to give you this as he 
is indisposed with the proceedings and Commander Ivannova is in C&C.”
Hague opened the file and asked, “What am I looking at?”
“This is the translated personnel file on Mr. Ikari. Captain Sheridan just 
received the translations from the native Japanese and requested you be 
given a copy to look over while he was involved with Ambassador Mollari 
and the Council's requested meeting.”
Politely Hague said, “Thank you Mr Lennier.”
The Minbari once again gave Hague a small bow and moved off to his 
position next to Ambassador Delenn. He had to admit that as an ally the 
Minbari ambassador was an asset. There was  certainly some mutual 
respect between the Captain and most of the ambassadors.
Hague sat back and read of the file Lennier presented him. Perhaps it would 
give him some insight into the Child Warrior they found themselves with.

--

Sheridan had convened the session calmly as he could. He was outwardly 
calm and confident as usual. He showed no indication of any worries or 
weakness. Inside however he was cautious. Simply because the outcome 
of these proceedings were pretty much a foregone conclusion was no 
reason to drop his guard. He couldn't help but keep his eyes opened looking 
for any subterfuge on the part of anybody at this point. Only his people were 
completely trustworthy. Even then they were only human.
The Captain continued to go over Ikari's personal file. The service record 
was very impressive for someone his age ad no formal military training. A 
few disciplinary marks were on the file, which after reading left him 
wondering why they had come up. After all, this was a child they were 
talking about. It seemed callous to expect him to act the role of seasoned 
combat veteran so soon. Tough break for the kid and his fellows.
Still, to have faced down such a situation at such an age deserved a level 
of respect from Sheridan. He looked up as the meeting began. He still 
couldn't figure out what Londo was playing at. The ambassador was making 
a strong argument towards having the kid taken back to Centauri Prime for 
trial. No one in the council was believing it be anything but a farce if that 
happened.
“What are you playing at, Londo?” Sheridan thought to himself. He looked at 
Kosh out of the corner of his eye. He hated it when things were hidden 
under layers of dust and deceit.

–

While the fate of the young man was being debated, Asuka was leading 
Shinji into the quarters she shared with her mother. The young woman had 
already arranged some of the items her grandmother had sent along. When 
they entered her quarters Shinji simply took off his shoes and set them at 
the side of the door. Asuka was curious for a moment, but then shook her 
head. Something in her head was telling her that that was a habit borne of 
tradition.
She sat him down and went to the Babcom to order some dinner. When it 
was done she turned and joined Shinji in the living area. She made sure to 
remember to speak in Japanese for him as she asked, “So, what do you 
want to ask?”
“Where exactly are we?” Shinji asked.
Asuka smiled, a simple question first, “We are on Babylon 5. It's a space 
station run by Earth. I suppose you could also say we're in orbit of Epsilon 
Three, the third planet in the Epsilon Eridani star system. It's a three day 
jump back to Earth through hyperspace.”
Shinji shook his head, “We're in space?”
“Yup.”
“That's just...”
“I know, pretty freaky when it was just science fiction a couple centuries 
ago,” Asuka said.
Shinji just shook his head, “Is Earth still there?”
Asuka handed him a drink and sat down, “Yup, Earth is still where you left 
it. I haven't been on world for a couple of years though. Earthgov keeps 
things pretty nice, of course there are some issues with the planetary 
governments at times.”
Shinji was a bit confused, “Earthgov?”
Asuka smiled, “Think of it like the United Nations. The UN was dissolved 
and the Earth Alliance setup near the end of the twenty-first century. We left 
Earth and colonized Mars first. People wanted to go out further so over time 
we sent out ships with people in cold sleep.”
“That seems like a long time to get here. Why go through all that trouble?” 
Shinji asked.
Asuka smirked, “A little over a hundred years ago we made first contact 
with the Centauri Republic. We got Jumpgate and Jumdrive technology from 
them. I don't understand all the astrophysics behind it, but for all intents 
and purposes distances in Hyperspace are shorter then in Normal space. A 
trip from here to Earth would be three days by hyperspace, where in normal 
space it would take hundreds of years.”
“I... think I understand,” Shinji said, sounding more then a little confused.
Asuka chuckled, “Don't worry, a lot of people who grew up with this stuff 
don't understand it. It just is.”
The door chimed breaking up their conversation. Asuka went and checked 
the door screen, seeing it was just the delivery man. She opened the door, 
paid him his credits, and then brought it in. She had ordered a pizza from 
the Zocolo, nothing special and brought out two plates for her and Shinji.
They sat there eating in a companionable silence. Asuka asked, 
“Grandmother brought a lot of things from Earth with her. I think a few of 
them are yours.”
Shinji looked up at that, “How would your grandmother have anything of 
mine?”
“Apparently our ancestor packed up everything from Tokyo-3 and put it in 
storage. It's been in the family ever since. In fact...” Asuka left the table 
and went to one of the storage closets. She opened it up and dragged out a 
familiar if dusty cello case.
“I am guessing this is yours,” Asuka said.
Shinji took the case and looked it over. The embossed initials, SI, still 
visible. He opened the case and inspected the carefully preserved 
instrument, confirming that it was in fact his. “I'm surprised she kept any of 
it.”
“Why don't you play a few chords, see if it needs anything. Strings should 
only be a few credits if you need them,” Asuka recommended.
Shinji blushed lightly as he set the cello against his shoulder and sat down, 
“I'm not very good.”
Asuka just smiled encouragingly, “Humor me. Just play, nothing specific.”
Shinji sighed and couldn't help but smile back. He did as she requested, 
and closed his eyes as he drew the bow across the strings. The sounds and 
tones carried through the Soryu quarters drew the young girl in. There was 
nothing completely recognizable about the piece, but she could feel his 
sorrow and pain through the music. It was so horrifically beautiful she 
couldn't restrain the tears from slipping from her eyes.
When Shinji finished she felt her hands clap on their own. “For someone 
whose not very good, you play wonderfully.”
The unfamiliar praise from a face he had never known to be anything but 
scornful caused him to blush even more. “Thank you.”
Asuka brightened up a little bit with an idea, “Come on, pack up your cello 
and follow me.”
“Where are we going?” Shinji asked.
“The garden.”

–

“He knows this is a lost cause. I can tell. He's doing this because his 
government says so. Still, he had to have told them the situation. So why 
are they doing this?” Sheridan thought to himself as Londo made his case. 
He still couldn't come up with any reason for it though. 
“The boy in question single handedly destroyed one of our warships, in 
Centauri space on routine patrol. Such an act cannot go unpunished. As the 
original attack occurred within our borders, it is only fair and right that he 
be remanded to our custody for trial, to answer for the deaths of our people 
he caused,” Londo said, his voice brimming with bravado he didn't feel.
“Also, the female human is obviously an accomplice to the boy. As such 
she faces charges as well before the Centaurum. Extradition of suspected 
criminals is allowed under our treaties with Earth and by consent of this 
council,” Londo said.
Before anyone could speak Kosh simply said, “First strike.”
Londo barely paused, “The boy failed to respond to hails in both Centauri 
and Interlac. Fighters were dispatched to intercept the Evangelion.”
“But, by your own governments admission and the sensor log data your 
fighters fired first. With no confirmation of hostility or intent your people 
attacked. Why would your people do that when there was no threat being 
made?” Delenn mentioned.
“We are in the middle of hostilities with the Narn. Sector 1138 lays upon our 
border with the Narn. It was perfectly reasonable to assume the object was 
hostile when it crossed into our space,” Londo said. Sheridan had to give 
him credit, his reasoning was perfectly logical.
G'Kar stood up and demanded, “You lost one Warship, while my people lost 
several. Why should the Centauri be given preference over our losses?”
“We were the first harmed by the boy and his monstrosity. It only makes 
sense we get first right to try him,” Londo said.
Kosh stepped forward, “Ghosts of past wars, cannot stand on the 
battlefield.”
Londo was understandably confused, as were many in the council chamber. 
Sheridan smirked, “I think what Ambassador Kosh is saying is that you 
can't confirm he was even in there when the attacks occur. For all we know, 
your attack activated an automated defense system.”
Londo looked stumped for a moment. Sheridan decided to take pity on the 
ambassador, “I'm releasing all information related to the case for all 
Ambassadors to evaluate. This includes copies of several files that we just 
received from Earth and are translating. We'll reconvene here tomorrow, and 
see if we can't resolve this.”
Londo just turned and left the council room, Vir shrugging and heading off in 
his wake. The rest of the ambassadors and their assistants left shortly 
after. As they did General Hague approached the Captain, “Putting all your 
cards on the table?”
“Seems best, get everything out in the open so it can do the most good. 
With that, no one will be able to make a play for the Evangelion without the 
others getting defensive. Same goes for us,” Sheridan said.
“You are playing a dangerous game, John. I just hope you have one hell of 
a poker face,” Hague responded. He left the council chambers, leaving 
Sheridan and Kosh alone.
John turned to the enigmatic ambassador and said, “Time to put some 
ghosts to rest.”
Kosh merely nodded and returned to his quarters.

–

Garibaldi sighed as he made his rounds through the station. All the 
ambassadors were safely packed away in their quarters looking over the 
stuff the Captain gave them. Down-below was quiet for the most part. And 
except for a couple of warships hanging around outside the station no one 
was expected through the gate for a few hours. All in all everything was 
very peaceful. So he was ready for the worst.
He was walking throw the passenger terminal when he saw a familiar 
Minbari coming through customs. He shook his head and met her as she 
walked towards the rest of the station. He didn't mind seeing this Minbari, 
just wished she had given him fair warning, “Shaal Mayan, what a pleasant 
surprise. If I had known you were coming I would have arranged for 
security.”
Mayan simply smiled at him, “I know, and I am honored for your concern for 
my safety, Mr. Garibaldi.”
Micheal just smiled, “You got attacked on my watch, I'm not wanting to let 
that happen again.”
“With everything going on I doubt you have to worry about me,” the Minbari 
poet said.
“Exactly, it's not exactly the safest time to be around here,” Garibaldi said 
as he walked her to pick up her bags.
“Which makes this a time when someone like myself is most needed. If 
only to provide hope for the many caught here,” Shaal Mayan said, a small 
smile on her face.
Garibaldi's link interrupted their conversation, “Garibaldi, go.”
Zack's voice came over the link, “Chief, I got something going on down in 
the garden. Nothing serious but you might want to come take a look.”
“What's going on?”
“Looks like Shinji's putting on an impromptu performance. He's got a bit of a 
crowd gathering but nothing out of control just yet,” Zack said.
Garibaldi thought on it for a second, then asked, “What's he doing?”
“Playing a cello. Nothing I recognize but I'm not a fan,” Zack said.
“Alright, I'll check it out. Garibaldi out,” he said then signed off his link.
He looked at Mayan and said, “You know, you might be interested in this.”

–

When the pair arrived at the Garden it was to a deep mournful sound. Many 
people seemed to have taken up seats or were standing near the walls 
listening to the music produced from the deep polished wood of Shinji's 
cello. Garibaldi had to admit, he didn't know much about this kind of music 
but the kid was good. He spotted Zack on one side of the group, and 
nodded when he caught his subordinates eye. He kept any eye on the 
crowd, looking for anything dangerous. He spotted Bester a ways away, and 
his skin crawled as the Psi-Cop looked his way and did that wave of his.
Mayan simply closed her eyes, letting the music flow through her. When it 
was complete she found herself wiping away a single tear, “He is most 
skilled. I have rarely encountered someone so capable of conveying such a 
complete view of their own soul.”
Micheal took it for what he could, “I'm not much of a music buff myself.”
Mayan smiled, “For a true master, one doesn't have to have an 
appreciation, but simply ears with which to listen. With time he could easily 
become such.”
“I'll take your word for it. Right now my priority is keeping him and his red 
haired friend safe. He's part of the reason for all the fuss around here 
lately.”
Mayan paused for a moment, “Then perhaps I truly have come to he right 
place, at the right time.”
Garibaldi just shook his head and excused himself. Sometimes he really 
didn't get the Minbari, but he didn't mind them so much. The Psi-Cop 
however was a different story. He walked over toward Bester and glared at 
him before saying, “I suppose you are just enjoying the performance?”
Bester smirked, “I happen to have an appreciation for art. Is that such a 
surprise, Mr. Garibaldi?”
“Yea, you and everyone else I run into today.”
Bester chuckled, “Something interesting I find about this boy. He's not 
putting off any thought noise.”
Garibaldi decided to forgo his indignation and asked, “So?”
Bester looked thoughtful for a moment, “There is a theory running around 
the corp. Everyone, normal and teep, is set up when they are born to 
transmit their thoughts to the world. Most normals don't make much of a 
distinction when it comes to their thoughts, they think being able to hear 
any thoughts is a scan. For all intents and purposes neither does the corp. 
However, it's like talking in an apartment with thin walls, and being offended 
when your neighbor hears you screaming in the other room.
“Telepaths build up walls to block out as much of this casual noise as 
possible, mostly for our own sanity. Now, while we can block out most of 
the noise, and while everyone can learn techniques to  keep casual scans 
out it is never completely quiet.”
“So?”
Bester smirked, “A few members of the corp started talking about the 
possibility of someone who has no transmission capabilities. A sort of 
perfect block. Even a P-twelve wouldn't be able to break through because in 
effect there is nothing there.”
Garibaldi was confused, “You're saying he doesn't have a mind to read?”
Bester shook his head, “More along the lines of his mind working on a 
completely incompatible frequency to everyone else's. A few scientist I 
know actually think that everyone in someway has telepathic perception of 
some kind. Nothing like what a member of the corp is, but that little bit of 
perception that lets you know someone is watching you. If they are to be 
believed, then it would be something we'd never notice, but be completely 
used to.”
Micheal was starting to get annoyed, more so then usual, “Your point?”
Bester just graced him with that condescending smile, “My point is simple, 
Mr. Garibaldi. If you don't have that psychic connection to the rest of the 
world, then how do you think the world would seem? Think about it.”
Bester pushed himself off the wall he had been leaning on and with a wave 
was gone.  Micheal just turned and watched the pair as Shinji finished up 
whatever it was he was playing. As he boy started playing another piece 
Micheal couldn't recognize he remembered Mayan and got a crazy idea in 
his head.
He tapped his link and said, “Garibaldi to Ambassador Delenn, an old friend 
of yours is down in the garden.”

To Be Continued...

Authors Notes: Still working on it, and bringing in another Character which 
might be interesting over time. If you haven't watched Babylon 5, then 
shame on all of you. I hope this was worth the wait. Also, Isamu is no 
longer helping with this story, mostly because he's vanished into the either.

Prereading done by Datdude. You know, dat one... dat dude right over there!