Chapter 2 - "Radio Silence"

The usual way that these stories come about goes something like this: I see a movie or TV show, read a book or news article, or just sit around daydreaming (usually when I should be doing work).  This leads to an idea for a dramatic situation.  From there, I dream up a few more extended situations-- basically "scenes."  I write stories around these scenes and try to tie them together.  That should explain why I've got so many unfinished works.

Anyway, I've got plenty of scenes in mind for this, but unfortunately, they take place in such separate occasions and settings and moods that they might never get put together.  For this story, I've got to come up with a _real_ complication.

“The Babylon Project: Legacy” : "And So It Begins..."

Chapter 2 - "Radio Silence"

by Eric R. Umali

The veil lifted slowly.  David Sheridan’s eyes drifted open.

Someone stood above him, that much he could see.  As his focus sharpened, he began to make out details.  It was the face of a human female– a beautiful woman, at that.  There was some bright light from behind her, giving her a kind of golden halo.

She was smiling– a smile full of warmth and humor, and not a little relief.  David’s eyes focussed on hers, and he was lost in their brandy-brown depths.  A memory of something his grandfather had described once came to him.  What did he call them?

“Angel...” David said softly.  “An Angel...”

The smile widened, and she laughed with a trilling, musical sound.  “I’m afraid I’m a mere mortal, Anla’shok Sheridan.”

David turned his head as his vision improved.  He recognized the place now– the White Star’s infirmary.  He began to push himself up on the bed.  The young woman’s hand was on his chest, pressing down gently but insistently.

“Oh, no you don’t,” she said.  “Doctor’s orders.”

He squinted.  She wasn’t familiar, and he was sure he’d remember if he’d seen her before.  “Doctor?” he asked.

She laughed again.  “Okay, med student’s orders.”  She squinted back at him.  “You have absolutely no idea who I am, do you?”

“I’m afraid not.”

“Well, first, let’s make sure you’re okay.  Do you know who you are?”

David nodded.  “Anla’shok trainee David John Sheridan.”

“Good,” she replied, then moved to the side of the bed, dissolving the divine image, but allowing David to see her better.  “My name is Valleri Dumont.  I’m one of the new Ranger Medic trainees.”

*Ranger Medic?  Oh, of course–Uncle Stephen’s idea.  He and Dad–*

The memories rushed in on him, and David found himself short of breath.  “Dad–“ he gasped.  “My father–“

Valleri closed in, grasping his shoulders.  “David?  David, what’s wrong?”

David concentrated.  He focussed his mind, and began to clear it.  His breathing returned to normal.  “It’s–It’s my father,” he said finally.

“What about the Entil’Zha?”

As he looked up at her, his face had blanched.  “He’s dead.”

**********

“Trainee Sheridan, do you even have the slightest evidence of this?”  Ranger Jose Garcia, the captain of White Star 104 and David’s commanding officer, rubbed his eyes.

Against Valleri’s, and the staff doctor on duty’s, better judgement, David had woken Garcia.  Now Garcia, David, and Valleri stood in the conference room.  David had just repeated his words to his captain.

David swallowed.  “Nothing concrete, sir.  But I know.”  Then, softly, “I just know.”

Garcia sighed.  He turned to Valleri.  “Your opinion, Trainee Dumont?”

Valleri looked at David, then back to Garcia.  Her voice lowered.  “He honestly believes it, sir.”

*She’s a telepath,* David noted, without the preconceptions that many people still held.  It had been more than fifteen years since the Telepath War and the end of Psi Corps.  Still, the only telepaths David had known were Minbari.  They held special positions in the service and were treated accordingly.

“I know it’s unusual,” said David, “but I would like to contact my mother.  At the very least, we need to verify this.”

“The Entil’Zha approved the mission plan for this training phase, David.  And that includes maintenance of radio silence.”

“But surely an exception can be made,” said Valleri.  “The Anla’shok may have lost its leader.”

“I can _not_ make exceptions.  You both know this.”

David stepped closer.  “Captain Garcia, I’m not asking you as the son of the Entil’Zha, not as the son of the President of the Alliance, but as a _son_.  Please.”

Garcia was silent for a long while.  Finally, he touched a control on the table.  “Communications, this is Captain Garcia.  Open a channel to Headquarters on Minbar.  Inquire if the President or the Entil’Zha is available.”

David opened his mouth to thank him, but Garcia raised a hand.  “My sister always told me that I’m too damned curious for my own good.”

**********

Twenty minutes later, the three stood on the bridge, the words “Please stand by...” hanging in the air in front of them.  A moment later, the holographic display changed to the face of Interstellar Alliance President Delenn, though at this moment, it was a difficult task to recognize her.

Delenn’s face was pale, her features drawn, and her eyes rimmed with a red that told of a river of tears.  She did her best to keep an even facade, but the moment she recognized David, she shook.

“Oh, David...” she sobbed.

Her son clutched a railing for support.  “Then it’s true.”  His voice was weaker.  “Dad’s dead.”

Delenn nodded, wiping at her eyes.  “He fell ill a few days ago.  Saturday, our friends came to say goodbye.  He... he left early Sunday morning.”  She sighed.  “How did you know?”

“He came to say goodbye to me.  In a... in a dream.”

She nodded again.  “You and he always had such a special bond.”

David gave a small smile.  “Probably all those fishing trips on Earth with him and Grandpa.”

“Probably.”

“Was he suffering, Mother?  He seemed so… tired.”

Delenn shook her head.  “Over the course of the last few days, he simply became more and more tired.  Stephen is here.  He examined John.  He couldn’t explain it.”

“I’m not surprised.”  David blinked, his mind still avoiding the pain.  “Who else came?”

“Susan, Michael… even Vir.”

Off to the side, Valleri whispered to the captain.  “Vir Cotto, the Centauri Emperor?”

“A friend of the family,” said David, having heard.

Delenn took a deep breath.  “Captain Garcia?”

Garcia bowed.  “My condolences, Madame President.”

“Thank you.”

“Mother,” David interrupted, “don’t hold Captain Garcia responsible for breaking radio silence.  I insisted.”

“It is quite all right, my son.  Captain Garcia, if your mission is not at a critical juncture, I require your services here.”

“We’ll set off immediately,” Garcia replied.  “We should be at Minbar in less than two days.”

“Until then, my son.”

“Until then, Mother.”

The line closed, and the holograph vanished, leaving only the endless stars beyond the bow of the ship.  David leaned heavily against the railing.

Garcia turned to him.  “Trainee Sheridan, you’re excused from duty until we reach Minbar.  I suggest you get some rest.  Trainee Dumont, escort David to his quarters and make sure he follows my suggestion.”

“Yes, sir,” they both replied.

Valleri followed David to his quarters.  “Thank you, Valleri.  I needed a friend.”

“You’re welcome, and my friends call me Val.”

“Thanks again, Val.”

“You try to get some sleep, okay?”

“Okay.”

Valleri turned and headed back down the hall.  David watched her for a few seconds, then stepped inside his quarters.

TO BE CONTINUED…