by Lindy
Part 5
Their escape from the buiding had been remarkably easy. The only obstacle they had met was a young ginger haired telepath wholooked petrified at the sight of them. He had been easily dealt with, leaving the way clear for the outside. Once clear, Garibldi lost no time in reaching the ship and setting the course back to Babylon 5. Looking back as the familiar planet disappeared beneath him, he shivered. He had no desire to return after what he had see there.
He was worried about Susan. She remained unconcious, hours after the raid, and looked deathly pale Once or twice she had moaned as if coming round, but immediately sank back into slumber as if unable to face the world. He had given her pain killers, wrapped her in blankets and traeted the open wounds on her face, but knew he needed to get her back to Babylon 5 as quickly as possible.
Garibaldi's lips thinned as he glanced at the woman responsible for Susan's condition. The telepath sat in back, securely bound to her seat. Garibaldi had given her a shot of Psi dampening drugs, but was still mildly apprehensive, knowing what she was capable of and what she had done. As he watched, her eyes flickered and opened. She blinked as she foused on him, and she smiled.
"Very clever of you, Michael"
A slight frown crossed her perfect face as she tested the strength of her bonds
"Dampeners?" she asked.
He nodded. "Uhuh"
"Well, Mr Garibaldi, I'll extract great amusement from tearing your mind yo shreds, bit by..."
She stopped, looking puzzled. Her face seemd to shudder as if undergoing a trasformation. She whispered one word, "No..." and her face changed. The harsh defiant expression was gone, a tenderness replaced the cruelty in her eyes. She looked round in confusion before her eyes came to rest on Garibaldi.
"M...Michael?" she said fearfully.
"Talia?" suspiciously.
"Yes, it's me. What's happening? Where am I?"
"Is it really you?" he asked guardedly. "It's not one of your tricks?"
She stared at him in confusion.
"I... I don't understand. The last thing I remember is talking to the Captain..."
She stopped as her face began to quiver, concentrating as if fighting an internal battle. She looked up at him pleadingly.
"Michael..."
Her face changed again and he was looking back at the cold sneering face of the alternate Talia Winters.
"Stupid, weak... I was stuck watcing that for so long... I am not going back! I won't allow it!"
Garibaldi stared. The transformation had been too real, too clear... it could not be a trick. He thought bak. It must have been the blow she had recieved as her head hit the wall. He shook his head, fascinated and a little spooked. He got up to sedate the telepath, ignoring the spits and growls and threats she gave as she tried to evade the needle. Finally her head dropped and she sank back to sleep.
"Everybody out!" Franklin roared at the people clustered in his MedLab, brandishing an evil looking medical device.Most of them slunk abashed through the door. The Captain, however, remained uncrushed, trying unsuccesssfully t dodge round Franklin to Ivanova's bed.
"C'mon, Stephen, lemme see her!"
"John, if you weren't Captain in this hole..." Stephe said menacingly, advancing with the instrument rasied threateningly.
"OK, OK!" Sheridan backed off, grinning disarmingly. "Just tell me how she is?"
Stephen looked calmer now order had been restored and his control re established. He lstraightened his lab coat with a maddening air of authority and looked at the group of people waiting anxiously for his words, Delenn, Garibaldi, Marcus Cole, Lyta...
"Physically, she's badly malnourished and dehydrated, she's suffered physical trauma which will take time to heal, however there doesn't appear to be any long term damage. Mentally..." He paused and wiped his brow. "There's no way to tell how seriously she's been hurt until she wakes up. Now if you'll excuse me..." he said, herding Sheridan towards the door.
Sheridan refused to be herded, dodging round Stephen like a recalcitrant sheep.
"And what about Ms Winters?"
Stephen sighed heavily.
"Ms Winters" he said, glaring at Sheridan, "is in a secure room. Cranial trauma appears to have resulted in the re emergence of Talia's original personality, however the two seem to be in a battle to reman dominant. In effect, she's suffering from Multiple Personality Disorder, and at present ther's very little I can do for her"
He laid the insrument on a bench, looking defeated.
"I guess all we can do is wait and see who wins"
Stephen sat in his office working lae. Although he trusted his medical staff absolutely, there were some cases he preferred to handle himself. Susan's was one of them. He was pleased with her progress, her wounds were healing nicely and she appeared to be calmer. Once she had risen to the surface of conciousness, looking terrified, but Stephen had been there to hold her hand, reassure her and tell her she was safe. She had smiled a him weakly and gone back to sleep. He was beginning to hope she had suffered no severe mental injuries, and smiled as he worked on his case files.
A soft sound made him look up. The Vorlon Abassador stood looming over him. Suppressing the urge to leap up screaming with fright, (how the hell did he sneak up on people like that??) Stephen smiled his most professional smile.
"Ambassador!" he said brightly. "What's the problem? A touch of toothache? Sprained your ankle playing squash?"
The Ambassador's mouth hole gaped wider, a sign Stephen interpreted as a gesture of annoyance.
"The human, Talia Winters. Where is she?"
Stephen's smile wavered.
"Ms Winters? She's, as not quite herself at the moment. If you could..."
The Vorlon seemed to sigh ominously and the whirring noise that accompanied him increased. Stephen suddenly got the distinct impression he should watch what he said from now on.
"I can... repair her, if you wish. It was the wish of my predecessor...
"Oh! Right! Right! Excellent!" the doctor beamed, smiling engagingly. After all there was nothing he could do. Why not let the Vorlon have a go? "Well, I'll, um... if you'd like to come this way..."
He led the Ambassador to a small room opening off MedLab. He could hear sounds of the struggle going on within.
"Not... going... to..."
"This is... my life..."
"It's my life... now..."
"I won't let you do this... oh God, what have you done to Susan.."
Kosh entered the room and all was suddenly silent. Then,
"Kosh!"
"What do you..."
"No, don't try to..."
"How dare you! ......... stop!!......."
"NOOOOO!!!!!!!"
Then silence. Stephen stared in consternation at the door. It opened and Kosh glided out. He stopped befe Stephen.
"It... is... done" he said slowly, and moved away down the corridor. Stephen stood gobsmacked. His mouth opened but no sound came out. He stood and stared after the retreating figure.
Hearing a sound from the room, he entered, suddenly scared at what he would find. There on the floor, on hands and knees, was the blonde telepath. Her usually perfect hair was in disarray, the only sign of the struggle she had been through. She slowly raised her head and he felt his heart pounding as he waited to see who it would be. The eyes opened and he found himself staring into the tired face of a woman he had last seen more than two years ago.
"Hello, doctor" Talia Winters smiled.