The next morning found the senior staff dinning in an open air café in the Arboretum. Michael Garibaldi sat slumped forward in his chair, with his arms encircling his tray. Next to him, Susan Ivanova, second in command at Babylon Five, sat up straight and proper, sipping her coffee with her pinkie extended.
"Eat like a lady," her mother would always tell her. "People will respect you then."
Captain John Sheridan, commanding officer of the station, and Delenn, the Mimbari Ambassador, sat across from Garibaldi and Ivanova. The entire group engaged in small talk during their meal.
"Hey," said Garibaldi, glancing at the next table. "Have you seen Zack's sister?"
"Not yet," said Ivanova, "she just arrived last night."
"That's her over there with Zack," Garibaldi said gesturing with his chin.
Captain Sheridan glanced in the direction Michael had indicated and smiled. "She can't be Zack's sister," he said, "she's too beautiful."
Delenn kicked him under the table. "John," she said, "that wasn't nice."
"I'm sorry," he said, turning his attention back to Delenn. "I'll go invite them to dine with us."
Delenn nodded slowly. "That would be a nice gesture," she said.
The Captain stood up and strolled to Zack's table.
Michael and Susan exchanged looks. It was obvious that Delenn had the Captain wrapped around her little finger.
"She has him well trained," said Susan, smiling as she watched him talking to Zack and his sister. Then she felt a presence behind her, turning she saw that the Ranger, Marcus Cole was just standing there quietly. "I wish you wouldn't sneak up on people like that." She said.
Marcus smiled and shrugged. "What's everybody looking at?" He said.
"Zack's sister," sighed Garibaldi, tilting his head in the direction of the next table.
"I see," said Marcus, not taking his eyes off the beautiful woman with green eyes and auburn hair.
"Men," muttered Susan as she and Delenn shook their heads in unison.
"Uh, huh," sighed Garibaldi.
Captain Sheridan returned to the table moments later and began arranging chairs around it. Zack and Adrian followed. Marcus held out an empty chair for Adrian, which she accepted with a smile and slight nod. Marcus took the seat across the table from her, which was next to Delenn. Zack chose a seat at the end of the table.
"Okay, Zack," said Garibaldi, "introduce us to your beautiful sister."
Zack smiled. "Everybody," he said, "this is my sister, Adrian. Adrian, this is everybody."
She smiled.
"Susan Ivanova," said Susan offering Adrian her hand.
Adrian shook it. "Susan," she said, "Zack talks about you all the time."
"All good, I hope."
Adrian blushed, as the rest of the people at the table laughed.
"Michael Garibaldi," he said shaking hands with her.
"You're Zack's boss," she said.
Michael nodded.
"I've heard about you," she said.
Before Garibaldi could speak, the others at the table erupted in laughter.
"I've already met the Captain," she said nodding to him.
"And, this is Ambassador Delenn," said Sheridan, tilting his head in her direction.
She nodded slightly.
"Nice to meet all of you," said Adrian, looking straight at Marcus.
Standing, he said, "Marcus Cole, at your service." He took her hand and kissed it gently on the back. She blushed deeply, but never took her eyes off Marcus. For a long moment they gazed into each other's eyes.
"Well," said Captain Sheridan, "I have work to do. Adrian, it was nice to meet you, I hope you will enjoy your stay on Babylon Five."
"Thank you, Captain," she said, "I'm sure, I will."
The group stood and bid one another good day, until only Zack, Adrian and Marcus were left standing around the table.
"I have to get to work," said Zack. "Will you be all right with out me, sis?"
"I think I can manage." Adrian said, not taking her eyes off Marcus.
"Good," said Zack, "I'll just be leaving then."
"Yeah, bye."
"Umm, bye."
"Leave already," said Adrian.
"Okay, umm, Marcus, are you coming?" Asked Zack. "Remember Garibaldi wanted us to check out Down Below today, he isn't convinced that nothing is going on down there. He doesn't want to take any chances."
"I had forgotten that," said Marcus. "I'll be right behind you."
"Okay, I'll, umm, just wait over here." Zack said as he edged toward the exit.
Marcus sighed. "I have to go," he said. "Would you like to have dinner with me this evening?"
Adrian smiled broadly. "Yes," she said, "pick me up at 7:00?"
Marcus smiled. "I won't breathe until then," he said.
"Do you know where Zack's place is?"
"I'll find it."
"Till then?"
"Till then," Marcus said, turning on his heels and hurring to catch up with Zack.
Adrian sighed deeply and took another sip of what they said was orange juice.
*************
Zack and Marcus boarded the lift when it arrived.
"Blue 50," Zack said.
The lift started to move.
"Stop," he said.
The lift stopped.
Zack turned to Marcus and asked defensively, "What were you saying to my sister?"
Marcus looked at him innocently and said, "I asked her to dinner tonight. That's all."
"I saw the way you looked at her."
Marcus looked even more innocent.
"Don't look at me that way," Zack said. "I know what you're thinking."
"What am I thinking?" Asked Marcus.
"You're thinking that Adrian would make a perfect one night stand, that you could have your way with her and then leave. You would break her heart. I know you 'girl-in-every-port' guys."
"How do you know I'd do that? I night be different."
"Maybe, but she's engaged to someone back home. A powerful young man, with money. Lots of money. She deserves someone better than, a solider."
"Like us?"
Zack looked at him, the sadness in his eyes told the whole story. "Yes," he said, "all we've had since mother died has been each other. All I want is for her to be safe and happy."
"This rich chap will do this for her?"
"I don't know, at least she'll be safe."
Marcus nodded. "I promise," he said, "I won't do anything that will make her change her plans. All we are going to do is have dinner."
"Make sure that's all."
Marcus nodded.
"Continue," said Zack.
The lift began to move and stopped on the next level.
Londo Mollari got on. "Is the lift having problems today?" He inquired.
Marcus and Zack looked at each other and shrugged.
"Must be just me. Green 7," Londo said.
The lift began to move again.
********
It seemed as if it had been hours that Marcus and Zack were tromping through Down Below. There was even less excitement here this time than the last six times this week Zack had been here. He disappeared around a corner into an even more dimly lit area of the level. Marcus heard a noise behind him and turned just in time to meet three Drazi coming straight at him. He drew his Den'bok (pike) and met them head on. He expertly fended off the attackers with the grace of a dancer. Just as the last one fell, he heard Zack call his name. Marcus ran around the corner and found Zack hanging upside down tied by his ankles to a beam overhead.
"How did you get up there?" Asked Marcus.
"That's a good question," said Zack sarcastically. "All I remember is coming around that corner and seeing something moving in the shadows. I got closer and pow, here I am."
"Well, let's just get you down then." Said Marcus as he edged closer to where Zack hung.
"Watch out," said Zack, "there might be more."
Snap.
Marcus had triggered a second booby trap and was now hanging by one ankle next to Zack.
"Told you so," said Zack, smiling gleefully.
Marcus hanging there with his cloak drooping nearly to the floor, reminded Zack of the cave bats that he and Adrian used to harass back on Earth. He allowed his mind to wander back to a time when they would play in the caves and poke the sleeping bats. Every time one would be startled and fly out of the cave, Adrian would scream. She would then want to do it again. Zack sighed, time had passed so fast. Now, she was getting married. Suddenly, he felt a hand on his ankle, looking around he saw Marcus hanging from the beam by his knees. He was carefully cutting Zack down.
"How did you get up there?" Zack asked.
"Talent, my dear Mr. Allen, talent." Said Marcus with a twinkle in his eye.
"Fine, but how do I get down without landing on my. . ." Just then the rope broke and Zack fell to the floor, landing on his head.
"Oh," he sighed. Momentarily Marcus was kneeling beside him.
"Are you all right?" Marcus asked.
"Ahh," said Zack.
"I'll take that as a 'No'," muttered Marcus, touching the Comm Link, he said, "send a medical team to Brown 51, Section 43."
"What happened to Zack?" Came the shouted reply from Garibaldi.
"He had a fall," said Marcus.
"I'm on my way," shouted Michael, "with a security detail."
"Would you bring Doctor Franklin with you as well?"
"I'm on my way," said the Doctor Stephen Franklin, Chief Medical Officer on Babylon Five. "Keep him warm and still until we get there."
Marcus placed his cloak over Zack. "Done," he said. "Marcus, out."
"Franklin, out."
Marcus sat next to Zack. "I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't realize it would break so easily."
"Uh," Zack said with a slight smile.
"It's okay, don't try to talk. Doctor Franklin is on his way."
"Ahh."
"Maybe he can give me something for this bloody headache I've got."
"Huh," sighed Zack.
Finally, Marcus heard the lift door open and Doctor Franklin directing his medical personnel to the proper places. Garibaldi had his security team collect the Drazi from the outer room, none of them were badly hurt. He then moved into the inner room to assist Doctor Franklin.
Marcus, backed away to let the Doctor do his work. He felt his foot touch something. He looked down and found an old book. He picked it up, the cover was very worn, but he could make out the title; it read: Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Volume 2, the Tragedies. He put it under his cloak. Looking around he found a small glass bottle containing something round and slimy, he put that under his cloak too. When Doctor Franklin was ready to leave Marcus followed the medical team out of the area. Garibaldi decided to stay behind and search for any unauthorized persons that may be lurking around.
*******
Adrian raced into Medlab when she heard about Zack. She saw her brother sitting on an examination table chatting with Marcus. His arm was bandaged and in a sling.
"Zack," she said as she hurried to him, "what happened? Are you all right? Oh, does your arm hurt?"
"Slow down, sis," he said. "I'm all right. I just broke my collar bone and bruised my shoulder. My arm is in a sling to keep it still while it heals. I'm really fine."
"He landed on his head." Said Marcus.
"Good," said Adrian, "any place else and he would have been really hurt."
Zack laughed and then winced. "Ow," he said.
"Take it easy," said Doctor Franklin. "I'm going to give you three days bed rest."
Zack looked at him with his mouth open.
"Don't argue with me," the Doctor said firmly, "or I'll have the Captain confine you to your quarters."
Zack lowered his head. "No," he said, "I'll go quietly."
"I'll make sure he stays in bed," said Adrian.
"Good," said Doctor Franklin.
"Are we still on for tonight?" Asked Marcus.
"I guess so," said Adrian. "But, why don't we have dinner at Zack's? I'll cook."
Marcus was obviously disappointed. "Well, okay," he said.
She gently touched his face and gazed deeply into his slate blue eyes. "It's going to be all right." She said, "Zack has to stay in bed, we'll have the rest of the place to ourselves."
Marcus managed a sad smile.
Adrian winked and escorted her brother out of Medlab.
Doctor Franklin and Marcus watched her leave.
Marcus sighed.
Stephen looked at him and shook his head. "You're incorrigible, Marcus." He said.
"Whatever do you mean, Doctor?" Asked Marcus innocently.
"You know very well what I mean."
Marcus smiled. "Oh, Doctor," he said, holding out the small bottle. "I found this on the floor near where Zack was. Can you tell me what's in it?"
Stephen took the bottle and turned it over in his hand. "It kind of looks like caviar, but I can't be sure until I get it under a microscope."
"Okay, no rush. Let me know when you find out."
"I will." Then Stephen smiled evilly. "Have fun tonight," he said.
Marcus looked at him innocently and shrugged, then turned on his heels and left Medlab.
****************
Marcus strolled through the Zocalo looking for something appropriate to take to dinner with Adrian, when his Comm Link chirped.
"Marcus, here." He said into the device on his hand.
"This is Garibaldi, you'd better get to Medlab ASAP." Said the distorted voice.
"I'm on my way." He said, heading for the nearest lift. "I wonder what he wants," Marcus thought as the lift doors opened.
***********
Meanwhile, in Medlab, Garibaldi and two men from his security team were holding down one of the women in rags, while Stephen administered a sedative. Another woman was restrained on an adjacent table, while a third slept fitfully on another. Finally, the first woman calmed down enough that restraints could be placed on her ankles and across her chest.
"Death to you all," she cackled. "You will all die."
Doctor Franklin shook his head sadly. "I wish there was a cure for some of these psychosis." He said.
"What?" Said Garibaldi.
"These women are all suffering from some mental illness."
"Loony Toons, if you ask me. What's this nonsense about bats and cauldrons? Why does this one keep calling me MacDuff?"
"I don't know, perhaps it has something to do with Halloween."
"I like a good scare as much as the next guy, but this is taking things a little too far."
Stephen nodded in agreement.
"Hecate," shouted one of the women, "will have her revenge on thee, MacDuff!"
"Make that a lot too far," said Michael, shaking his head and gesturing with his thumb over his shoulder. Looking up, he noticed Marcus standing next to him. "I wish you would stop doing that."
"Who's MacDuff?" Asked Marcus.
"A character from Macbeth, but that's what these women keep calling me."
"We thought you might recognize them from Down Below." Said Stephen.
"We thought they might be the ones that tied Zack up."
Marcus looked at the women and shook his head. Then he moved closer to one of them. "Do I know you?" He asked.
Suddenly, the very agitated woman calmed down. "Oh," she said politely, "my lord. Forgive me, good Sir Knight, but the King's life is in danger."
"The King?" Marcus asked.
"Yes, my lord," said the woman on the next table, "King Duncan. Macbeth and Banquo this very minute plot against him. Thou must stop them."
"Why me?"
"It's Hecate's wish." Said the third woman.
"Very well, fair ladies. I will do thine bidding." Said Marcus, formally. The woman closest to him motioned for him to get closer. He leaned down.
"MacDuff is in league with Macbeth, be ware." She said quietly.
"I will be mindful," said Marcus. "Now you rest, allow the good Doctor to take care of you."
"Doctor?" Said the woman, "I know not these words which thee speak."
"I meant, the good Healer, here," he pulled Doctor Franklin closer to him, "will attend to your every need."
"My lord, my own attendant?"
"Until you're better."
"Thank you, my lord. Thank you."
Marcus nodded his head slightly and pushed Garibaldi out of sight of the women.
"What was that all about?" Garibaldi asked.
"This," said Marcus, handing a book to Garibaldi. "I found it in Down Below, near where Zack was."
"Shakespeare? I don't understand."
"Look at the pages the book opens to."
"Macbeth?" Garibaldi said as he held the book in both hands allowing it to fall open naturally.
"Specifically, Act Four, Scene One."
"The one with the witches?"
"Exactly, these women must believe they are the witches on the heath."
"That would mean that all that stuff we found down there was going into a potion of some sort."
"What was in that jar?"
"The one you brought in was caviar, but we found others with dead reptiles, assorted intestines, raw meat, and something that resembled a finger nail."
Marcus shuddered.
"What do you think they were going to do with this stuff?" Asked Garibaldi.
"Kill the king." Said Marcus, matter-of-factly.
"This is too deep for me," said Garibaldi entering his room. "Let me read this book and we can talk about it in the morning."
"Sure," said Marcus, "I heard that the Orson Wells version of the movie is the best one. It's most historically accurate."
"That's just what I was thinking. You want to watch it with me?"
"No thank you, I have a date."
"Have it your way." Said Garibaldi, closing the door to his quarters.
Marcus smiled and hurried to Zack's quarters down the hall.
Adrian answered the door when Marcus rang the buzzer. She was wearing a short filmy black dress, with thin spaghetti straps. The shoes she wore made her long legs look even longer. Her auburn hair hung in soft curls around her face and down her back.
"Come in, Marcus," she said, with a broad smile.
"You look lovely," he said as he entered the room. Taking her hand in his, he brought it to his lips and kissed it carefully. Adrian blushed and smiled at him, her green eyes sparkling. He looked into her eyes and they leaned closer to each other. She stood on her toes to be able to reach is lips with hers. They held each other close and kissed passionately. After a long moment, she lay her head on his shoulder. They stood there rocking back and forth slightly.
Ding.
Marcus jumped.
Ding, ding.
"What in bloody hell is that?" He said stepping back from Adrian.
"A timer," she said, holding up a small plastic wafer that was making a the noise. "Dinner is ready. Are you up for stuffed green peppers?"
Marcus nodded, eyeing the wafer suspiciously. "Oh," he said, "this is for you." He handed her a beautifully wrapped bottle of wine.
"Great, we can have it with dinner." She said as she took his hand and led him to the couch. He sat down and she brought him a plate of food, then took one for herself.
"Will Zack be joining us?" Asked Marcus as he poured the wine.
"No," said Adrian, "my brother ate earlier, besides he's sleeping."
"This is delicious! Did you make it?"
"Yes, and everything is fresh from Mars or Earth."
"I heard you have connections."
"Yeah," she said with a sad sigh.
"What's the matter? From what Zack tells me your beau is very well off."
"He is, but I don't know if that life is for me."
"A life without worries, without wants, a life where someone loves you and will provide for you?"
She nodded sadly.
"That's the kind of life the Rangers are fighting for. That's what this whole bloody thing is about. It's the Galactic Dream, for Valen's sake."
"But, I've never had that. I've always had to work for everything. I don't know if I could stand having it given to me on a silver platter."
Marcus set his plate on the coffee table in front of him. Then he took her plate and placed it on the table next to his. She looked into his eyes. He took her hands and held them gently. "You can stand it," he said as he leaned closer to her, "it will be better than anything you have ever known."
"Oh, Marcus," she said leaning close to him, "I don't know."
He pressed his lips against hers and they kissed passionately.
"We shouldn't be doing this," said Adrian.
"I know," said Marcus.
"But, don't stop," she said as she helped him out of his shirt and pulled her dress up to her waist. Then she pulled him close to her until he was nearly lying on top of her. She put her long legs around his waist and crossed her ankles behind his back.
"No, we definitely. . ." He began.
"Quiet," she said, as she covered his mouth with hers. She pulled his pants down below his hips and with her legs, Adrian pulled him to the couch. He felt her warm moist body against his, he drew in a deep breath and could smell her perfume. He closed his eyes and kissed her neck. They embraced, Adrian let out a low scream and Marcus moaned out loud.
"Wow," she said, "that was incredible."
"I'll say," said Marcus, holding her close. "You were wonderful."
Suddenly, Zack appeared in the bedroom door waiving a PPG. "Get away from my sister!" He shouted.
Marcus jumped, fell off the couch and scrambled to pull his pants up. Adrian sat up on the couch, bewildered.
"What in bloody hell just happened?" Said Marcus, keeping low to the floor.
"I don't know," said Adrian.
"You two are priceless," shouted Zack, "you're acting like you don't even know what happened! Marcus, I thought you were my friend. I thought you understood!"
"Put the gun away, Zack," Marcus said. "Then we can talk."
"Huh," said Zack, "oh, sorry." He put the gun on the table near him. "Now, don't act innocent with me."
Marcus blinked at him. "Umm," he began innocently, "I don't know what happened."
"You were, umm, ha, oh hell, you've got me so upset I can't even talk. You were making out with my sister."
"What?"
"You know, the horizontal tango."
"I knew what you meant, but I believe you must be mistaken. Adrian and I were just finishing our meal."
Zack's face turned bright red. "With my sister as dessert!" He shouted.
"Zack, I don't know what to say."
"Perhaps, good-bye. Before I call security and have you removed physically."
Marcus stood and bowed slightly to Adrian. "Thank you, Miss Allen, for a wonderful meal." He said as he edged closer to the door. "I must be going."
"You'll call me?" She said.
"Yes, I'll call you." He said as the door closed behind him.
Adrian sat on the couch, Zack took a seat in the chair across from her.
"What do you think you were doing?" He asked.
"Zack," she said earnestly, "I don't know. The last thing I remember is eating dinner and talking about Kevin. I guess Marcus and I kissed, but really the next thing I remember was you yelling and him pulling his clothes on. Did we. . . you know?"
Zack nodded.
"Wow," she said, "I don't remember anything about it."
"When you screamed I thought something was wrong, that's why I came in." Said Zack.
"I screamed?"
Zack nodded.
She blinked at him, "I just met him this morning." She sobbed, "I don't do that on the first date. Kevin is going to hate me."
"It's okay, Kevin won't have to know. No one will know."
She put her arms around his neck and hugged him.
"Now," he said, "get some sleep."
"Good night," she said as she disappeared into the bedroom.
**********
Garibaldi sat in his underwear watching the closing credits of "Macbeth", he had taken Marcus' advice and ordered the Orson Wells version. It was a good movie.
The doorbell chimed.
"It's open." He said, not getting up from his seat.
"Hello, Michael," said Susan Ivanova in a very sexy voice.
"Commander!" Exclaimed Michael reaching for a blanket to cover himself, "I wasn't expecting you."
"You're sitting here in your under shorts, who were you expecting?"
"Marcus, Zack, the Captain, any one but you."
"Oh, don't be such a prude, Michael." She said as she threw her arms around him and kissed him passionately. They undressed one another, slowly and carefully. Then they lay down on the bed and Susan cuddled up next to him. She began to fondle the hair on his chest.
"Lights," Michael said, and the room went dark.
*****************
The hallway outside Garibaldi's room was empty. Suddenly, a woman dressed in a long lace dress from the 19th Century came through the door, without opening it. She was followed by a man also wearing 19th Century clothing. Both looked very pale, in fact too pale.
"Wow," said the woman, "that was much better than the last time. This Susan Ivanova has so much energy, its invigorating."
"I bet," the man said, "we gave them the time of their lives."
The couple snickered as they dematerialized.
***************
"The time is 6:30 AM," said the mechanical computer voice. "Time to get up Mr. Garibaldi."
Michael opened his eyes and realized that there was someone else in the bed with him. She had her back to him. He smiled and blew gently on the back of her neck.
"Oh," moaned the woman, as she swatted at the back of her neck.
Then he kissed her on the ear. "Good morning, darling," he whispered.
"Garibaldi?" Said Susan, "what are you doing in my bedroom?"
"Umm, Commander, it's my room."
"What?" Susan said, turning over to face him. "How? No, don't answer that. Did we? No, don't answer that either. Just don't say anything. In fact, don't even mention it, ever."
"Okay," he said getting out of bed. "But, I remember it was a lot of fun."
"It never happened." She said, pulling her uniform on. "I was feeling lonesome last night. So it never happened."
"Okay, see you at breakfast?"
"Yeah, fine," she said as she poked her head out of his door to see if anyone was in the hall who would see her leaving his room. Luckily, no one was out at that time in the morning, so she made her way to the nearest lift. Londo Mollari was waiting there when she arrived.
"You look exceptionally lovely this morning Commander." He said.
"Oh, shut up," she said.
"People are really acting strange around here," he muttered as they boarded the lift.
*********
