'The Second Path' part one (alternate universe) by Anonymous
'The Paths Not Taken' Sequel. I suggest reading it first, because otherwise you'll be *sooo* lost.
But, if you just want a summary: Ivanova didn't leave B5 when promoted to Captain at the end of season 4, she decided to stay and try to cope with the loss of Marcus, and the fact that the transfer of life energy had woken up her telepathy - she was no longer a latent, instead was an active telepath. She soon met Byron, and turned to him secretly for help in training and for 'physical comfort'. (This freed Lyta Alexander to pick up her relationship with Zack Allan.) Accidents happen - Ivanova found out a while later she was pregnant. Terrified about being found out as a telepath, she secretly forced Lyta to take the fetus in a medical procedure called a transfer. When Byron killed himself and the others, Ivanova left for an earthforce ship, not caring about what happened to the child or surrogate mother in her grief. Lyta had been caught in the edge of the blast, and while recovering in medlab, Zack discovered the child's DNA didn't match his - it matched with a certain charred corpse. Assuming Lyta had cheated on him (she hadn't even kissed Byron), he got mad and refused to speak to Lyta again, but didn't tell the Psi Corps about the fetus since he still cared about Lyta, even when furious at her. The surrogate mother hadn't started to be noticeably pregnant when she was forced off B5 with G'Kar, and when an anonymous note arrived several months later, Zack had long since come to his senses, and so went AWOL to go apologize and try to make amends. He arrived to find Lyta in the final stages of labor and helped her deliver a healthy baby girl. When the placenta (evidence) was out, Zack suddenly realized that the child had been transferred, and the Lyta wasn't the child's genetic mother. He apologized profusely, but Lyta was still (understandably) ticked off at him for not listening when she tried to explain. Zack didn't ask who the 'real' mother is, knew it must be one of the rogues, and that Lyta was only trying to protect someone, just like she had protected a group of children (most of the kids were Byron's, by a host of different rogue mothers) in the telepath's sanctuary, smuggling them to safety in Minbari space. Zack left the two of them safely in G'Kar's custody, and while on the return trip to B5, a Minbari telepath altered his memories to protect all of them, so when he was scanned by Psi Cops after the fact, they assumed Lyta and the child had died in birth, thereby ending the hunt. Unfortunately, to make the lie work, Zack had to believe it as well, and so, has since mourned Lyta's death . . . and can't remember the newborn was a transfer.
//indicates thoughts//
*emphasis*
Early May, 2263.
~~~~
"This damned uniform is still making my skin itch," the guard complained. "I wish we'd been allowed to wear our normal uniforms. Black and grey don't do much for my completion."
Zack Allan didn't spare much of a glance to the fellow walking on his right. His main concern was navigating the streets without the benefit of knowing what the signs read. //I should have taken the time to learn at least *some* Minbari. It'd be a lot easier to find my way around. Tuzanor's old quarter is a damned maze.// "I wasn't aware that your interest in picking up women extended to species other than human."
"Hey! I - uh - nevermind, Chief."
The third man in their party shook his head. "Calm down, Young. You know we were reminded before leaving B5 to check the formals at a tailors. If you didn't get the silk lining, you have to suffer. Our part in the ceremony will only take a few hours. Except for you, Chief. You've got to stay the three days, right until B5 officially becomes Alliance property."
"It's not a vacation, Salinger." Zack said in return. "Pick a direction, you wanted to see the city."
"Ok, sure. . . that way."
The three men turned down a side street, two of them continuing to enjoy the afternoon off by playing tourist. One of the three wasn't enjoying it, but he wasn't hating it either. Zack Allan rarely allowed himself to feel anything anymore. Feeling things hurt.
The cause of his somber mood was also the cause of the black band he wore around his wrist, under his uniform. His reason for wanting to feel emotions had died two months before, and the only one Zack could blame was himself.
It was his fault Lyta had died. Him and the damned Psi Corps.
~~~~
Several minutes later, the quiet, reserved sounds of the Minbari conversations began to be gradually overlaid with louder, more enthusiastic noises. Looking at each other in puzzlement, the three of them went towards the noise. Soon they could make it out more exactly.
"That sounds like kids playing!" Young stated in surprise.
"It does. A few years ago, I'd have never even considered that fact that Minbari had families," the other guard stated. "Think they'll mind if we go look, Chief?"
"As long as we don't cross into anyone's house, I don't think so. If we make a mistake, we can claim stupidity."
" 'I'm just a moronic human, please forgive?' still works?"
"Are there still moronic humans, Salinger?" Young asked dryly.
His friend had to chuckle at that.
"Through here," Zack said, indicating a covered walkway that opened from a wall beside them. Sunlight was visible about a hundred meters in, indicating a large courtyard. They turned from the street and followed the passage until they reached the end and stepped off the paving stone onto thick grass. The yard was at least 200 meters square, and filled with several dozen children of varying ages, from crawling infants to teenagers engaged in the cross-species business of looking bored. Most were Minbari, but a few . . .
"Hey, some are human!" Young exclaimed.
A few of the children nearby looked up from their game of tag ball, and one brown-haired grinning boy wandered over after visually examining their uniforms. "Hi!" He said, echoed by several other children who quickly went back to their game. "Do you guys know a Ranger named Barrin? He's based on Babylon 5."
"Yes," Zack replied. "You're Steven, aren't you."
The boy beamed with pride at being recognised.
"You look your dad describes . . . if a little dirtier. It's a pleasure to meet you. Zack Allan. This is Joseph Salinger, and Lee Young."
Steven rubbed at a smudge of dirt on his cheek. "Thanks." He reached out and grabbed Zack's hand. "Come on, I'll introduce you to everyone. Some are just over to play, but most all of us live here, 'cause our parents - one or both - are out on missions. It's kindof like summer camp, all year!"
Steven pulled Zack this way and that through the swarms of children, pointing to various kids and saying their names, but most of the time Zack and the other two didn't know exactly which child belonged to which name, Steven went so fast. Zack startled slightly to see a pair of small girls, obviously sisters, playing jump rope - they were two of Byron's children that had been smuggled off B5 the year previous. //Is this were they were sent? Delenn promised them safety, I know that much.// "Steven," Zack asked, "Do all the children here have Rangers for parents?"
"No. Some of the other's parents work desks in the city, but still for the Alliance. And . . . and some don't have parents anymore. We all help look after those ones. Like Tyler over there," and he pointed to a large group of children, dragging Zack in the direction indicated.
Zack's heart dropped. //The kid's not talking about the same Tyler that was Byron's son, was he? The same Tyler whom Lyta had taken under her wing because she reminded the baby of his murdered mother?// Zack hoped not. He didn't know if his heart could stand such a vivid reminder of his lost love. He hated himself for not getting to her sooner, for letting her be sent away in the first place. He hated himself for not being able to save her life. But he couldn't see the little golden-haired toddler in the group he was being lead to.
Then Steven shoved past the other children, and a sour taste suddenly rose in Zack's throat.
"That's Tyler, sitting by the corner. He doesn't play with us much. He's special. He doesn't talk. Not when awake, anyway."
Zack's feet stopped themselves just past the large group. He could see a little boy, turned away to face the wall, playing with a Minbari ranger doll. The mop of hair was a terribly familiar shade of reddish blond.
Quietly, Steven continued. "He screams at night, sometimes, calling for his mother. But the grownups put a block in his mind so he can't remember when he's awake." Steven walked over and tapped the toddler on the shoulder, causing him to glance up. "Come on, Tyler, wave hi, we've got guests." He took the smaller boy's hand and helped him to stand up.
Salinger choked suddenly as Tyler turned around to face them. In a strangled voice, he gasped, "Oh God he looks like-" He stopped suddenly as he glanced at Zack's ashen face.
Young, who had only been assigned to Babylon 5 for a few months and had never met Lyta, had walked up to the boy and bent down. "Hi, little guy."
Tyler clutched his doll to his chest and stared wide-eyed at the guard. "You've sure got big eyes, little guy. Big baby browns." Young looked at Steven. "How come he doesn't talk?"
[He stopped trying to talk after he saw his mother's murder,] Zack remembered. [It wasn't until he started to spend time with Lyta that he began to try again. But now. . . ]
Steven didn't have Zack's personal insight. "We don't know. He wasn't saying anything when he came last year. En'til'zha says it's because he's suffered a trauma. She comes to visit us, especially him, when she can. He makes her sad, but I don't think it's on purpose."
Salinger had managed to work his tongue enough to stammer, "Who - the - " he glanced from Tyler to Zack and back to Tyler, "parents - who'shismom?!?"
"I don't know," Steven admitted, "Just that she died when he was really little. Wave hi, Tyler. They're nice. They know my dad!"
Tyler shifted his eyes from Young to Zack, then to Salinger, then back to Zack. Dropping his doll, he staggered forward, holding his arms up and grunting.
Surprised, Steven said, "He wants you to hold him?"
Zack bent down and picked Tyler up, holding him closely as little fists grabbed hold of his uniform and hung on so tightly that the baby's knuckles went white. Holding the trembling toddler gently but firmly, Zack felt a little less lost as Tyler closed his eyes and laid his head down on Zack's shoulder.
"You ok, Chief?" Salinger asked carefully, still watching the grey color on his boss's face.
"Fine," Zack said hoarsely.
Young was starting to get worried. "Chief? He's starting to cry."
"It's ok, Tyler. You're safe here," Zack whispered to him.
Steven, by now confused, said, "I'd thought he wouldn't like you. He usually won't go near strangers."
"I know him," Zack said softly. "He came to B5 last summer to visit his father. He - he - I didn't know he was here."
"You didn't know his parents had died, then?" Young stated.
Zack didn't answer out loud, at first. Then, "he was a couple months past his first birthday then. Pretty active, made lots of little baby noises. When he smiled, he had nine teeth, and another one about to come in. Does he still smile? At all?"
Steven shook his head, no.
Zack sighed softly, hugging Tyler. //Can you still here me, little one? Will you talk to me with your mind? Do you even remember me?//
Tyler's shivering hadn't changed.
Zack looked at the other two guards. "Do you two want to continue wandering around for the rest of the afternoon? I want to find out who's the administrator, talk to them about Tyler."
"Sure, Chief."
"Ok, Chief. We'll meet you back at the hall just before the meeting tonight."
Nodding at them, but looking at Tyler, Zack agreed. "I'll meet you then. Steven, where's the office? Who would I talk to?"
"Devo's rooms are that way. He'd know who was in charge of paperwork. I'll show you." The boy took Zack's sleeve again, leading him towards a doorway on the far side of the courtyard.
The other two guards started to wind their way through the groups of children, back towards the passageway to the street. Halfway, Young - being overly nonchalant - asked, "So . . . who's the kid look like?"
Salinger suddenly stumbled over his own feet. "Whu?"
"As soon as you saw Tyler, you said, 'Oh god, he looks like-' and you stopped. And the Chief, who, until 10 minutes ago, was legendary for having a face cut from granite, went so pale I thought he'd pass out. Whoever that boy looks like, it got the Chief's attention. Special visits by the president's wife? That *means* something. So spill it."
Salinger, suddenly glowering, snapped, "Let the dead rest in peace, Young. She got little enough of it in life." He started walking a little faster then before.
"A she. Ok. So now we have a gender. How about a name?" Young began to pester his coworker, by now very curious. "When did you know her? How about the other parent? Why didn't the Chief want us to stick around? Who was this mystery woman?"
Salinger kept walking, ignoring the questions, until they were out on the street again. Suddenly he spun on his heels and slammed Young into the wall, pressing his arm into the other man's throat. "I - said - to - leave - it - be!"
The few Minbari using the street pointedly avoided taking notice.
"What's your problem? It was a simple enough qu- um - it's not classified, is it?"
Letting him go, Salinger backed up a step, rubbing his face with sudden fatigue. "No, I - I don't think so. It's just . . . taboo, I guess."
Young paused to consider. "Can I ask for a few details, just enough to avoid pissing off anyone important?"
Somber, Salinger nodded slightly. "Keep walking . . . you never got to meet her. You didn't get assigned to B5 until after she had to leave."
There was a few minutes of silent walking, then Salinger abruptly asked, "What's the worst way you can think of to die?"
"What? Uh - explosive decompression, I guess."
"Try again."
Young was visibly confused. "Why?"
"Pick one that takes at least six days, hurts so badly that no amount of painkillers can fix it, and it has to leave you conscious and at least partly aware right up until the end."
"Oh, jeez, I don't know . . . severe burns, maybe?"
Salinger sighed. "I don't have the details. Nor do I want them. But it ripped the Chief - almost all of us - into pieces when she was murdered. The bastards responsible just gloated it over us, since they knew we couldn't touch them. I mean, sure, I was never fond of Psi cops in the first place, but now I flat out despise them."
"PSI Cops?!"
"Alexander," Salinger said quietly.
"Huh?"
"Alexander. Her name was Lyta Alexander. She was gorgeous, smart, sweet, could pack a hell of a punch when she was mad, and was a war hero to boot. Sometimes I'd be able to work with her, but usually the Chief - even before he was promoted to that rank - pulled whatever strings he could to do it. They'd known each other for years, got along pretty well. They'd been quietly dating for . . . I don't know . . . more than a year when the trouble started. You remember the Byron group from the old reports? She got caught in the middle. It wasn't her fault, but she ended up being the rogue's target. Are you starting to recognise the name?"
"The commercial telepath Byron and the others tortured. The rumors say she was maybe even raped by them. But I thought the Chief hated telepaths?"
"Sure he does, *now*. But he was really sweet on her. Hell, we all liked her. When she - when she had to leave, the reason sure as hell didn't make any sense. Until a couple of days afterwards. The Captain tried to put a call into the senator that had ordered her arrested - we had Alexander deported instead, under protective guard - when Lochley tried to contact the senator, she found out the woman didn't exist. The orders to ship Alexander back to the Psi Corps had been faked. They just wanted her off B5 so they could kill her. Not officially, of course, but . . . do you remember when we had to move some of those cryounits?"
Young nodded slowly. "The insignia. It was . . ."
Salinger nodded. "Rogues that were caught."
"Jeez."
"Some parts of the Corps got chummy with the Shadows. 'Power corrupts' sort of thing. Alexander had done a whole lot to stop the Shadows from killing everyone. Hell, we wouldn't have had *any* way to stop them if not for her. I guess that pissed off some of the powers that be back home, and they wanted her out of the picture. But, Sheridan had granted her immunity as long as she stayed on Babylon 5. So, when the 'remember Byron' bombings started, they tacked it onto her."
"Forcing her to leave?"
"She told us she hadn't done anything wrong, but after maybe five minutes, she shut up totally. My guess? She figured out she'd been framed and decided to die with dignity. As it turned out, an offer of exile was extended, so she left. The Corps found her a few months afterwards and killed her. Slowly. It was some kind of head trauma, then they either left her to die or she managed to excape. Whoever found her alerted the rangers, and they came and got the Chief. Three days after that, she died in his arms. Zack didn't take it well, especially when a bunch of them were waiting when he returned. They - whether the same faction that killed her or some other group - ripped his brain in two in search of the location where she was buried. They wanted her corpse returned - for 'study'."
"They desecrated a *grave*?!"
"I don't know. Chief didn't look at any of the controls enroute, so he didn't know exactly where. But the Psi Cops left with smirks on. That was two months ago."
"Jeez. No wonder the Chief isn't a smiler. Uh - Salinger - they didn't have a kid did they - I mean - the Chief and - well you saw Tyler. If he looks like her-"
"I've just thought of that, too. As far as I know, she was never pregnant. But . . . when she was working for - well - one of the alien ambassadors, she'd travel a lot, be gone for weeks at a time. I suppose she could have scheduled being away around - no, that was too recently. Tyler looked too old to have been born then. I don't know. The baby might be Alexander's, but it's probably just a coincidence. But the resemblance is uncanny."
"Call me crazy, but the way the Chief looked at him - Salinger, is there a way to check if the DNA matches?"
"We don't have Alexander's on file."
"We've got the Chief's," Young persisted.
"You're assuming a lot for a kid you only saw for three minutes. Leave it be, ok? Don't ask questions that will get people in trouble. There's probably a darn good reason why an aphasic toddler hasn't been sent to Earth for proper rehab."
"Like what?"
Salinger was quiet for a few seconds before answering. "If Alexander *is* Tyler's mother, the boy will probably grow up to be a telepath as well."
"Oh, no."
"Yeah," Salinger sarcasted, "he'd do REAL well in the Corps." Then he paused. "But the kid said his mother died last year . . . a transfer, maybe? To try to protect him? The Shadow war was getting pretty hot back then, maybe Alexander - if she is the genetic mother - adopted him out early in the pregnancy?"
"The trauma - crying for his mom - do you think the Corps found the surrogate and killed her? Or took her in?"
"I don't know. I honestly don't know. We shouldn't be speculating, I mean, it could all be a coincidence."
"It could."
"We should get back."
"Agreed."
~~~~
(begin part two)