Daisee Chain CELERITER VADENDUM, ACRITER SAGITTANDUM

Rating

G

Spoilers

None

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"Hold on a moment. The sensors say there's something lodged on the front screen. I'll just go remove it."

"Be quick. I have little interest in remaining on this blighted planet."

"Oh I don't know. There's probably some decent work to be had here."

"For you perhaps, Vila. And I wouldn't count on it anyway. With the Rebel and Federation bases destroyed, there are very few high tech locks left for you to pick."

"Well, it was just a thought."

"A small one."

"What do you reckon it is?"

"What do I think what is?"

"Whatever it is that Blake's gone to shift from the screen."

"No doubt we shall find out soon enough."

"Sooner than that. Speak of the devil."

"Of the what, Vila?"

"Nothing. You got rid of it then?"

"Not exactly." Blake brandished a small furry object.

"An animal?"

"No. It seems to be a fabric icon of some sort."

"And this is of interest to us because?"

"Curiosity. I've never seen its like before. What do you make of it?" He handed the find to Avon, who turned it over to inspect all angles.

"I am unfamiliar with its origin." He squeezed it experimentally. The thing let out a small squeak. He tried it again, with the same result. Vila came wandering over.

"'s a Teddy Bear."

"A what?"

"Teddy Bear. You know, for littelies."

"Ah. A toy." Avon grimaced.

"No shame in holding toys. There's worse things to be playing with."

"As you should know, Vila." said Blake. "It still doesn't answer the question of how it got onto the front screen."

"Blown there by the wind?"

"In case it escaped your attention, Vila, there is no wind today."

"Oh."

"And this space port has laser fencing, which means that theoretically, even if it was blown this way, it should have arrived as very fine dust."

Vila snatched the bear from Avon. "Shh. Don't say that. He'll hear you."

"It"s a child's toy, Vila."

"Sorry. There's just something about them that makes most people want to protect them."

"I feel nothing of the sort."

"You wouldn't."

"Neither do I. Why would you want to protect a toy, Vila?"

"Didn't either of you have a teddy bear when you were kids?"

"Alphas are not given toys."

"The theory is that it distracts us from our studies."

"And look what happened to you both as a result."

"You are hardly one to be levelling criticism."

"Yes, well this is all very interesting, but I'd still like to know how it got here. Is it a message of some sort?"

"Could be," said Vila as he looked at the bear, "Look at this logo on its shirt."

"We could ask Orac to divine its trajectory."

"Based on its end position? Yes, might be worth a try. Ask him, Avon."

"It. I will ask it."

"Just do it."

Avon clicked the key into Orac, and they listened to the familiar whir of the ghost in the machine waking. "Orac, please locate for me the most likely point of origin for the object I am holding, given that it landed on the front screen of this vehicle. You can ask the ship's computer for the precise landing coordinates."

"The coordinates are quite simple to discern if one takes the trouble to do so!"

"Then it shouldn't be a problem for you."

Vila petted the bear. "Nice threads he's got. The shirt's an interesting design."

"And bears little resemblance to any I've seen so far."

"Ha!" barked Vila. "Bears little!"

Blake just pinched the bridge of his nose, closed his eyes and let out a long suffering sigh. "Orac?"

"What do you want?"

Blake gritted his teeth and ground out a reply. "Do you have those coordinates yet?"

"Be patient!"

This time a sigh exhaled from three people.

"I have the results. Preliminary calculations suggest the origin of the object was a transient time rift, passing briefly through this planet."

Vila looked doubtful. "And the bear came from there?"

"Yes."

"Is there any other information available?" asked Avon.

"Voice data transmissions were also received via the time rift."

"Play them." said Blake.

Snippets of transport and supply chatter filled the air, soon to be replaced with distress calls, the sounds of a space battle, threats and invectives, screams and finally static.

Vila looked at the bear. "You were lucky to escape, my friend."

"Where do you suppose this Babylon 5 was?"

"Not enough data to form a thesis, Blake."

"Well, wherever and whenever it was, it's gone now."

"I think I'll keep him. They should be remembered in some way."

"Yes, they should. All freedom fighters should be remembered." Blake said firmly.

The silence hung heavy for a moment.

Eventually Avon asked, "What makes you think it's a he?"

"Says right here on his tag. Captain John Sheridan."

"Ah."

"Right." Said Blake, turning to the console. "Let's get this ship off the ground, and the three of us can find somewhere safer to shelter."

"Four of us." Vila corrected him. "Sheridan can be the ship mascot."

Blake smiled. "Okay then, the four of us. You ready, Avon?"

"As always."

"Then say goodbye to Gauda Prime."

"And good riddance." Added Vila. He took the bear the window and held it up. "See out there? That's where we leave our ghosts behind. You too."

As they fought gravity to leave, Vila waved Sheridan's paw in a mock salute, then did the same. When he turned back toward the controls, Avon nodded minutely, then busied himself with the readouts. Vila perched Sheridan next to the weapons display, and they left orbit, four old veterans together.




finis.