Unification: Civil War III Chapter Six

G'Kar sat in the center of the room, more annoyed than he had been for a long time. Magus himself had asked him to become the Free Federation's ambassador on Babylon 5, an appointment that entitled him to be a delegate to the Pegasus conference. And now, he was accused of being a saboteur and a bomber.

Once more, the icy features of Connor MacCleod stared down at him through the dim light.

"We have information that one of the Babylon 5 contingent currently on the station is responsible for the bombings!"

"Then you have the wrong man!" G'Kar shouted. "Why would I work for the Imperials? They helped the Centauri defeat my people! I would never help them!"

From out of the shadows, Lyta re-emerged. Connor nodded to her.

"What are you doing?" G'Kar asked.

"You'll see," she replied.

Concentrating, Lyta planted the code-word deep within G'Kar's mind. However, she had not counted on one thing. In the only other instance of a human mind linking with a Narn mind, the human telepath had collapsed in severe pain. Moments later, this same thing happened to Lyta. She collapsed in severe pain. Connor was soon by her side and activated his communicator.

"MacCleod to Sickbay! Medical emergency!"

Connor looked down at Lyta as she began to lose consciousness. But before she did, she spoke one final, broken sentence.

"G'Kar... is not... the... one!"

 

As Pulaski treated Lyta, Spock looked down on her fallen body.

"She's fallen into a deep coma," Pulaski explained. "I've seen this before with human telepaths. They have to regress this deep to repair their damaged minds."

"She is the only one who knows Bester's code-word," said Spock. "I will mind-meld with her, so that I, too, know the word."

"I strongly advise against that course of action, Mister President!" Pulaski warned. "By melding with Lyta while she is in this state, you will open yourself to the same thing that affected her!"

"Then unless we find another way of finding the code-word, I will have no other choice but to postpone the talks," Spock replied.

"I think I know of another way!" said Connor, entering Sickbay. "All I need is a Runabout."

 

It wasn't long before the Pegasus runabout Thames was flying over the icy wastes of Istarix, near to the citadel. Connor didn't bother putting on any warm clothes as he strode through the Great Hall to where Gandalf was seated.

"Gandalf! We need your help! There's a saboteur on the station and..."

"There is no need for you to explain the situation, Captain MacCleod," Gandalf interrupted. "Although my powers could have easily told me what has been going on, President Spock has already informed me."

"Then you know that Counselor Alexander has been severely injured, and that she is the only one with the key to finding out who the bomber is."

"I am," Gandalf said. "You want me to try and heal her, so she can carry out her task?"

"As far as I can see, this is the only way," Connor answered.

"Then so be it," Gandalf concluded.

With a wave of his hand, Gandalf made a glow appear around the two of them. Moments later, they were both standing at Lyta's bedside in Sickbay, and the Thames was back in the docking bay. Pulaski, who years ago would have been very surprised by such an event, seemed to take it for granted.

"I assume you've come to see my patient?" Pulaski asked.

"I have," said Gandalf. "Has she improved?"

"Not yet. It will take a great amount of time."

"I understand," Gandalf replied.

Taking Lyta's hand in his, Gandalf used his powers to access her mind. As soon as he entered, he could feel the great power that she wielded. Great things were ahead in her life; Gandalf could feel it. Soon, he found what he was looking for: Bester's code-word. Seconds later, their telepathic link was broken.

"Have you healed her?" asked Connor. "Will she be alright?"

"Counselor Alexander must improve under her own power," Gandalf explained. "Although this will take time, it must be this way. Now, Captain MacCleod, please find Commander Ivanova and Miss Winters for me."

 

It wasn't long before Ivanova was taken to Spock's office. Spock watched with some amusement as Gandalf began to question her.

"Do you have any knowledge of the identity of the bomber?" Gandalf asked.

"Of course not! What makes you think I do?" she replied.

"Are you aware," Gandalf continued, "that Counselor Alexander, before her incapacitation, was given a code-word, which, when projected telepathically, will unearth a dormant personality, and that personality is within one of your delegation?"

"That's ludicrous! Why would one of the Babylon 5 delegation try to wreck this conference?"

Gandalf did not answer, instead using his powers to try and plant the code-word deep within Ivanova's mind. But he was surprised. Something was blocking him. At first he thought it was some kind of outside interference, but then he found otherwise; he was actually being blocked from within Ivanova's own mind. Try as he might, he could not implant the code-word in Ivanova's mind.

"I cannot penetrate your mind, Commander," he said. "But tell me this, how long have you been a latent telepath?"

"A telepath! I'm no telepath!"

"There is no use in trying to hide it from me, Commander," Gandalf said. "Under the Psi-Corp ratings, you wouldn't even rate a P-1."

"Then Commander Ivanova is the spy," said Spock.

"No," Gandalf replied. "I detected no duplicity within her mind. She is not the spy."

"That leaves only Miss Winters."

"Then we must find her," Gandalf concluded, "before there is another explosion. We must find her at once!"