DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: Babylon 5 and all related stuff is the legal property Warner Bros., TNT, and Babylon Productions. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. All other characters that appear belong to me. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may be made for private use only and must include this copyright notice and disclaimer. It is set during the Babylon 5 episodes Between the Darkness and the Light, Endgame, and Rising Star. Subtext? Hm, implications only. Oh, yes, there is a kiss between two women. If this kind of stuff is illegal in your neck of the woods, if you're under 18 or if you find the notion of two women being in love offensive, then get lost and don't come back until that changes!

Dark Roses
By Kristjan Brezovnik

Lyta got to the cavern where she was told she would find Number One, but there was only darkness there.

"Hello!"

There was no response, but she felt that there was someone in the darkness. She waited.

Finally, someone turned on the light and Lyta saw that it was Number One. She waited for the invitation to come in.

"How can I help you?" Number One asked.

Lyta slowly approached her.

"I came to apologize."

Number One was confused.

"Apologize? For what?"

"For intruding in your mind with Garibaldi's memories."

"Oh."

"I am sorry. I will accept any punishment you deem appropriate."

Number One was surprised. She stared at the telepath, right into her eyes. She noticed that Lyta was feeling uncomfortable, but was hiding it well. She also saw the guilt Lyta was feeling.

She considered how she felt about the intrusion and realized that she was relieved that Lyta did what she did and so stopped her from killing an innocent person.

"What is the usual punishment?" she asked, curious.

"The official punishment is death."

Number One was shocked.

"Death?"

"Yes. Intrusion is considered a form of mind-rape."

"Oh." She thought. "And what is the unofficial?"

"The rapist is strapped into a chair and faces his worst nightmares which are implanted by a Psi Cop."

Number One was shocked. She looked into Lyta's eyes and saw that she would accept either of the two punishments. She took a deep breath.

"I forgive you," she said.

Lyta rose her eyebrows, surprised.

"Your intrusion stopped me from killing an innocent man," Number One explained.

"That still doesn't make it right."

"I know. We all make mistakes."

Lyta didn't know what to say. Number One smiled.

"Can I ask you a personal question?"

Lyta jerked.

"Yes."

"What's with your eyes?"

"My eyes?"

"Yes. They turned black when you were scanning Garibaldi."

"Oh." Lyta paused. "I was working for the Vorlon Ambassador Kosh. The Vorlons changed me so that I could breathe their atmosphere and communicate telepathically with them."

"I see."

Lyta turned to leave.

"Wait!" Number One called and got up.

Lyta turned back and Number One stepped closer to her.

"I'd also like to apologize."

Lyta was surprised.

"For what?"

"For treating you the way I did when you first came here. It's not… wasn't you that I didn't like, it was the fact that you were a telepath. I'm sorry."

Lyta stared at her, surprised by the fact that she was being apologized to by the person she had mind-raped.

"I see. I don't blame you," she said.

"Still, it was a wrong thing to do."

"I forgive you."

"Thank you."

Lyta left.

Number One stared after her. She had hated the telepath at first or at least couldn't stand her, but now she liked her. Hell, I really like her.

The next few days were very busy as everybody prepared for the final battle. Number One was exhausted from the constant planing and coordinating. Fortunately, her people were well disciplined and they knew their jobs. She took a deep breath, trying to relax and decided to take a break. She left her office and walked around for a while, just observing her people do their jobs. She really hoped that all this would soon be over and they could all return back to their normal lives.

She sighed as she looked around. Everybody had someone to talk to, everyone except her. And Lyta, she suddenly remembered. She did have Garibaldi and Franklin, but they were both very busy right now. She decided to look for her. She asked around and soon someone told her that she was in the room where the telepaths were stored.

Lyta was walking from container to container, observing the doomed telepaths. Suddenly she felt that someone came. She turned around and smiled when she saw that it was Number One.

"Hi," she said.

"Hello," Number One said.

"Can I help you?"

"No. I just came to see how you were."

Lyta was surprised.

"I'm fine."

"Yes. What are you doing here?"

"Just thinking."

"Oh." She paused for a moment. "Do you want to grab a lunch?"

Lyta was surprised.

"Yes."

Number One relaxed, glad that Lyta had accepted.

"Come," she said and Lyta followed her.

They got the food and sat down at an empty table. Number One considered how to begin.

"You said you worked for the Vorlons," she finally risked.

Lyta jerked.

"Yes," she said after a short pause.

"But you're a Psi Corps telepath."

"Yes."

"I didn't know that the Psi Corps worked with the Vorlons."

"They don't."

"I don't understand."

Lyta thought.

"When the Vorlon Ambassador Kosh first arrived to Babylon 5, he was poisoned."

"Poisoned? I thought the Vorlons wore full body suits?"

"They do, but the assassin managed to get through. When we were searching for the assassin, I got to scan his mind. The Psi Corps immediately recalled me and they interrogated me." She paused. "I ran away and went to the Vorlon border. Several days later one of their ships picked me up. I was changed and got a job as Ambassador Kosh's assistant."

"And the Psi Corps let you?"

"They had no choice but to let me go, because they didn't want to mess with the Vorlons."

"Oh. But how come you still wear their insignia?"

Lyta bit her teeth and Number One saw her expression change.

"After the Vorlons left, I couldn't get a job, because I wasn't a Psi Corps telepath. The Psi Corps offered me a deal and I accepted it."

"What deal?"

Lyta didn't immediately respond.

"Psi Corps membership and independence in exchange for my body after I die."

"What?!"

Number One was shocked. Lyta looked down, trying to control her feelings. Number One gulped and slowly reached out with her right hand and took hold of Lyta's left hand. She squeezed it gently and smiled. Lyta looked up and tried to smile back. She took a deep breath and then withdrew her hand.

"So, what about you?" she asked.

Number One pulled her hand back.

"What about me?"

"Who are you? I don't even know your name."

Number One smiled.

"No one around here does. Not everybody even knows that I am Number One."

Lyta rose her eyebrows, surprised.

"You must be pretty lonely," she said.

"Probably no more than you are."

Lyta was surprised, but she realized that Number One was right.

"Yes."

"I can't afford to let anyone know my real identity, because I'm responsible for all those under my command. What ever they do, it will be my responsibility."

They were quiet for a while.

"Number One," someone said.

"Yes?"

"The supply officer is here."

Number One sighed.

"We'll be there in few minutes."

The woman nodded and left.

"I hope this war will be over soon," Number One said.

"Yes," Lyta agreed.

They silently finished eating and then went to meet the supply officer which would bring the telepaths aboard the Earth Force ships.

Several hours later all forces were in position and Lyta looked up into the sky. She took a deep breath and concentrated. She went from one telepath to another, touching their minds, feeling their suppressed fears and the Shadow implanted instincts. She woke up each of them, knowing that they would all be dead soon.

After all telepaths were activated, Lyta collapsed on the ground, exhausted. She had done all that she could, now it was up to the telepaths and Captain Sheridan.

When they got the message that all destroyers loyal to Clark had been neutralized, Garibaldi contacted Lyta. There was no response, so he tried again. There was still no response, so Number One put on her mask and went outside.

Lyta was breathing deeply, trying not to lose consciousness.

"Lyta! Are you okay?"

Lyta jerked at the familiar voice and turned her head. It took her a few moments to recognize the voice and the few still visible features of Number One. She nodded.

"Just tired," she said.

"Let me get you inside," Number One said and wanted to help Lyta get up, but Lyta was too exhausted.

Number One picked her up and carried her inside. Lyta leaned her head on Number One's shoulder and relaxed.

"How is she?" Garibaldi asked when they got inside.

"She's exhausted," Number One said and laid Lyta on the ground. "Tell the other team to get here, we're returning to the base."

"Okay," Garibaldi said.

Franklin approached and scanned Lyta.

"She's okay," he declared.

Back in the base Number One carried Lyta to her room and laid her on the bed. She caressed her and looked around the room. It was an ordinary room with no personal belongings. Not that she had expected any, after all, Lyta was only visiting. Then she left.

When Lyta finally regained her strength several hours later, she went out of her room. She immediately noticed that all the people were very happy. She was about to ask someone about it when she heard someone call her. She looked and saw Franklin approaching her.

"How do you feel?" he asked.

"I'm fine. What's going on?"

"The war is over and Mars has gained independence."

"Really? How long have I been sleeping?"

"Seven hours, I think."

Lyta rose her eyebrows.

"When do we leave?"

"In four hours."

Lyta thought.

"Have you seen Number One?"

"Yes. I think she went to an observation dome."

"Thank you."

Lyta left.

Number One was in an observation dome and she was crying. But those weren't the tears of pain, but the tears of happiness. Finally Mars has gained its independence. No more hiding.

She jerked as she heard footsteps approaching. She dried her tears and turned around to see who was coming. It was Lyta.

"Hello, Lyta."

"Hello. You were crying."

"Yes," Number One admitted and rubbed her eyes again.

"Why?"

"Because Mars is finally free and I can get my old life back."

"Oh." Lyta thought. "What were you before you joined the Resistance?"

"A…" Number One stopped, the security protocols in her head told her to trust no one. She thought about it for a moment and then decided to trust Lyta, even if it meant her death. "I was a kindergarten teacher."

"Really?" Lyta asked, surprised.

Number One smiled.

"Yes."

They were quiet for a while.

"So, you are returning to Babylon 5?" Number One finally broke the silence.

"Yes."

"Could you wait a couple more hours?"

"Why?"

"I'd like you to go with one of our ships."

"Why?"

Number One looked around and then came closer to Lyta.

"We have located and rescued Talia Winters," she whispered into her ear.

"What?!" Lyta was surprised. "You have been looking for her?" she asked in a quieter voice.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Commander Ivanova asked us to."

"But the original Talia is dead."

Number One shrugged her head.

"I wouldn't know."

Lyta thought.

"I will accompany her. In what condition is she?"

"She is suffering from malnutrition. We're keeping her sedated and we're giving her food IV."

"I see. Good."

Another silence followed.

"Will you ever return?" Number One finally dared ask.

Lyta jerked, surprised. She observed the blond woman who had sparked a flame in her heart. She stepped closer and took her hands into her own.

"I will," she said, leaned closer and kissed her.

Number One was surprised, but she quickly responded to Lyta's probing tongue and their mouths joined in a long passionate kiss. Number One closed her eyes for a few moments and then opened them again. She was relieved that it wasn't a dream.

When they broke the kiss, they quietly stared into each other's eyes for a few moments. Then Lyta smiled and looked through the dome.

"It's beautiful up here," she said.

"Yes," Number One agreed and turned around.

Together they quietly stared through the dome onto the red surface of Mars and held their hands.

The End