Contains images of sexual activity and violence. Oh yeah and probable inaccuracies - grant me poetic licence, would ya?! Allow me my Psi Corps guards wearing red and black uniforms!
by Lindy
Part 1
Lieutenant Corwin gazed wistfully after the strong featured woman striding from C&C. He had ben enraptured by her since their first meeting; she, on the other hand, had trouble remembering who he was. Corwin sighed, feeling the pangs of pointless love.
Commander Susan Ivanova frequently experienced similar feelings, although due to rather different circumstances. In the two years sine Talia had been gone, there had been no one else and Susan still saw the face of the beautiful telepath laughing in her dreams. Now, however, as she walked to her quarters after particularly hard day in C&C, the only thought in her mind was the vodka bottle in her cabinet,and her warm, comfortable bed...
She keyed the door open, already struggling out of the constricting jacket; the new uniform made for the Command staff of Babylon 5 by the Minbari after the split from Earth. Whatever, thought Susan wryly, they're just as uncomfortable as the old ones.
A sound near the door made her whrl, just in time to see the Psi Cop point his PPG at her head. Susan's heart raced as she stared at him, momentarily unable to speak, to even think. As she stood motionless, a low, throaty voice spoke from the darkness.
"Well, well, Susan, we meet again"
The owner of the voice moved slowly into the light, revealing a slim body clad in Psi Corps black, complete with gloves and insignia. Talia Winters raised the PPG she carried and pointed it at Ivanova's heart.
"Did you miss me, darling?"
"Don't move, sweetheart" Talia advised, quickly divesting Susan of her personal link. "Why don't you take a seat?" she gestured towards the couch. Ivanova moved forwards mechanically, not wanting to argue with two mad telepaths clutching guns. For a moment, one heart stopping moment, she had thought it was the real Talia come back to her. But then she saw the coldness deep in her eyes and knew her for the same manipulated program used to steal Talia from her two years ago. Susan tried to choke down the hatred she felt for this woman, mixing with the beginnings of fear.
"What's going on?" she asked guardedly from the couch.
"What's going on? What's going on?!! My dear Susan, haven't you guessed? We've come to take you for a little trip. ... Na-ah!" she cautioned as Ivanova, her eyes suddenly wide with fear, made a sudden movement as if to run for the door. "Don't try anything. My orders are to bring you in, and I won't hesitate to use force if necessary"
he pushed Susan back into her seat with the muzzle of the gun.
"Still the same, beautiful, headstrong Susan..." she stroked Ivanova's cheek absently before suddenly snapping to attention.
"Come here, Fleming" she said to the Cop at the door who hadn't moved during the entire scene.
"Now listen to me very carefully, Commander"
Winters and the Psi Cop suddenly grasped Ivanova's hands, easily overcoming her defences and climbing deep into her mind. The pain was sudden and intense, building to a point where Susan knew she could no longer keep from screaming. Talia's voice cut through her thoughts.
*Now Susan, are you listening to me?*
Susan manged to nod her head, fighting to keep control.
*Good. Now this is what you are going to do...*
Susan walked slowly down the corridor in the direction of MedLab, her mind desperately searching for a way out of this. The telepaths were a short distance behind her, out of sight, but she could still feel their cold presence coiled inside her head. She thought back to what Talia had just said..
...If you deviate the slightest bit from what I have just told you, I will have no choice but to burst a small blood vessel in your brain. I can be quite selective, you know, Susan, it's easily done. But don't worry love, it won't kill you. The information you carry is too valuable. I can put you in a coma for some weeks. If you are so stupid as to select this course of action, then Talia Winters will miraculously rise from the dead, distraught at your mysterious collapse. I'm sure the good doctor will allow me to maintain a constant vigil at your bedside. Do you have any idea, Susan, of the nightmares I could send you while you lay sleeping, unable to wake up? Hour after unending hour, your brain screaming for release... and I'll stay with you, Susan, through the pain and the suffering... I'll never leave you...
Susan forced herself to return to the present. She had reached MedLab.
*Remember, Susan, one false move...*
"Uh, Stephen?"
The doctor turned. "Commander!" he said, his face breaking into a grin at the sight of her. "What's wrong? I usually have to ask Michael to send a Security team just to get you in here for your monthly check up!"
"I, uh, need to talk to you, Stephen..."
Susan played out the scene word for word as she had been told. She told him of her nightmares, of her fear of the Shadows and of death, of the depression which had plagued her since Talia's death. She told him she was scared of herself, of what she might do. She had no choice.
Stephen was sympathetic, asked her to stay for a checkup, which she declined, gave her some pills and told her to come see him again in a few days. He eyed her strangely as she left him, but said nothing. Susan left MedLab, wondering if she would ever see her friends again.
They were close now, reaching darker, emptier corridors leading to the more remote docking bays. They were still behind her, but the pressure inside her head had lessened, perhaps because there were fewer people around. Finally, Ivanova noticed a small unmarked ship. Talia and Fleming stepped up behind her.
"That's your transport, Susan" laughed Talia gleefully. "All the way to Mars"
"Wait!" Fleming looked back the way they had come. "There's someone else here"
"What? There can't be!" Talia exclaimed irritably.
Hoping to shock the intruder, Fleming sent out a mind blast. There was a cry from the shadows. Ivanova turned to see a figure fall to the floor, clutching her head. Her red haired head.
"Lyta Alexander!" Talia said, amused. "Bring her here"
Fleming dragged the telepath upright by her elbow and hauled her over to where Talia and Ivanova stood. Lyta looked petrified, thought Susan, who didn't even want to think about how she herself must look.
"Why are you spying on us, Lyta?" Talia asked, in the silkiest, most pleasant voice imaginable. Lyta swallowed, her eyes darting from one to the other. Susan's eyes screamed silently at her, to get out, any way she could.
"I... I..." she faltered. "I saw the Commander walking down here on her own and I thought... I thought something must be wrong..."
"I see. Well, Lyta, you'e stumbled into a spot of trouble, you see..."
She did not finish her sentence. Turning away, she spoke to Fleming.
"Kill her"
As Fleming swung up his PPG, Ivanova shouted
"NO!!"
They turned to look at her, surprised. She struggled with words, trying desperately to persuade them before it was too late.
"Look, you don't need to kill her! I'm one you want. Please, Talia..."
Talia studied Susan for a moment, thinking. Then she nodded.
"Very well" she motioned for the Psi Cop to lower the gun. "It's just as well, really. The Corps doesn't want Ms Alexander dead just yet anyway. They have... other plans for her, plans she is in the process of completing..." she appeared to come to a decision. "Fleming, wipe and replace her memory of what happened here tonight"
The Psi Cop gripped Lyta's face, forcing her to her knees as she cried out in pain. Ivanova turned her face away, sickened by the prolonged agony induced in the weaker telepath. Talia,however, watched the whole proceeding with an interested smile on her face. Finally it was over. Lyta lay on the ground, unconcious.
The telepaths turned their attention back to Ivanova, who swallowed instinctively, fearing she was next. Talia laughed.
"Oh don't worry, Susan. There are much more interesting things in store for you"
She gestured with the PPG for Ivanova to climb before her into the vessel. Ivanova heard Fleming enter the shuttle from behind. She felt Talia brush by her her as she moved forwards. She did not feel the needle as it slipped into her neck.