Franklin looked over his findings carefully after the Vincents left. He had a recorder set to take his observations, though these wouldn't be going into his official files. Instead, they'd be secured with the rest of his files on the telepath patients he'd funneled through Babylon 5 over the recent year.
"Shanti Vincent," he said. "Human, female, appears to be Indian-Caucasian ethnicity, telepath unknown rating, age fifteen."
"Skin is hot to the touch, recorded temperature is around one hundred degrees, but reports from her mother say that this is normal for her. She shows no other sign of illness and there is no sign of negative impact on any systems. Higher than normal body temperatures are a normal occurrence, but this is one of the more extreme versions I've run across."
He paused and continued.
"Higher than average traces of both endorphins and adrenaline in her blood stream imply a tendency toward mood swings. There are also a significant number of mitochondria in her system, more than twice the average, this would account for the raised body temperature as it implies a higher metabolism."
"Vivian Vincent," he completed. "Human, Indian-Caucasian ethnicity, female, telepath of unknown rating. Age fifteen."
"Vivian has very quick reflexes," he said. "And she seems sensitive to touch. She is hesitant to handle things or shake hands. This appears to be physiological as a basic biometric scan showed a higher degree of neural activity than normal. I can't say too much more without a more in depth study, and I think I'll wait to speak to Miss Vincent about that. It is not of medical concern and Miss Vincent is a bit...protective of her children."
"Both children have inherited at least some of their mother's damaged genes," Franklin continued. "Miss Vincent seemed surprised and troubled by that."
"Her own response seemed to imply she thought her children may have been exposed to the same chemical she had been," Franklin noted. "Inheritance did not seem to be her first thought."
"In any case, while Miss Vincent's mutation has negligible effects on her," Franklin said. "I wonder if they have more significant effect on her children. Most of the damaged genes are on the telepathic markers. Shanti Vincent inherited seemingly all the damaged markers from Rally and more than enough other markers from her unknown father to indicate an active telepath. Vivian Vincent appears to have more markers than her sister, but has not inherited as many of the damaged markers."
"I have no idea what this might say for their telepathic abilities," Franklin said. "But it seems that Rally Vincent is a carrier for a mutation of the telepathic gene. If so, then I have proceed with everything involving these proceedings with the utmost caution."
Rally started to fall back behind her girls subtly as her ears caught the characteristic click of heels on metal. This was the very intense negative associated with coming to such places for medical treatment. Such places as Down Below were flooded with scavengers and a few actual predators.
Rally made sure that she was between the stalkers, who were deciding whether or not to approach the thirty-something woman and her two charges. She gave the unseen watchers a bit of something to think about when she lifted up the back of her jacket as if to adjust it and showed the knife against her back as well as a bit of her shoulder holster.
Predictably, the cautious pursuit faded away to nothing and they were soon safely in the middle of the market.
Rally started to breathe easier, glancing forward to see if either of her girls had picked up on the situation, and was partially gratified and partially worried that they seemed more or less unaware.
On the one hand, it was good to know they weren't yet as paranoid as she was. On the other hand, she'd definitely have to teach them to pay attention to their surroundings in such places.
That thought came ironically about the same time as Shanti made an observation.
"Why are the Drazi all wearing those purple and green scarves?" she asked.
Rally glanced around, noticing the level of tension and looks between the Drazi as she remembered what one of her customers had said some time ago. Here they were, small groups of two to four Drazi scattered all over the Bazaar and eyeing any Drazi not wearing their particular color of scarf.
"This sucks," she sighed. "Riot."
The two girls looked at Rally for a moment and then the first Drazi launched at one of his rivals. Both huddled close to Rally, making a tight unit as they started moving cautiously through the erupting chaos.
A Drazi cut ahead of of them trying to push through the three to get at a lump of others past the Vincents. Rally caught his attack and easily shifted him into a tumbling mass out of the way.
A few feet later, a Drazi was sent flying into the side of the Vincents, where Vivi redirected his fall aside, using the same motion to put a sidekick into the pursuing Drazi's belly.
Another pair of Drazi stumbled into Shanti a few seconds later and might have continued on without noticing or causing her too much issue. Though he'd picked the wrong Vincent to antagonize casually.
The fifteen year old took the oblivious Drazi, a civilian with no real training only caught up in the cycle of fighting they were currently in, and pushed her knee forcefully into his back before taking advantage of his now further off-balance stance to slam the reptilian's head into the nearest wall, five feet distant, forcefully.
She might have continued had Rally not stepped in and pushed Shanti further ahead, out of the main area of the ongoing riot.
They were just clearing the area as security swarmed in to take control of the situation.
"Shanti," Rally said with a sigh as they backed into a clear space.
"I know, I know," Shanti said, looking embarrassed. "Don't leave the group and minimal force. I was surprised."
"You're going to be surprised, that's the nature of these things," Rally said shaking her head. "I think you'll be helping me clean guns tonight."
"All right, Rally," Shanti said with a grimace.
Rally turned toward Vivian then, watching as the riot was quickly suppressed.
"Watch those kicks," she said. "This isn't a kung fu vid, keep your feet on the ground unless you've got one opponent and you've got a huge advantage."
"Right," Vivian said, blushing.
"Other than that," Rally said. "No one hurt..."
She glanced at the dizzy Drazi standing up after Shanti's use of him as a battering ram.
"No one's seriously hurt..."
The Drazi fell down again and shook his head before standing back up.
"...that I care about."
The girl gave an abashed and embarrassed smile as she placed her hands behind her back and hunched her shoulders under the lovely synthetic silk blouse she was wearing.
They watched as the security team carried off the Drazi and then started heading up to the Zocolo to do some shopping before heading to their quarters in Brown Sector.
As they turned about, Rally noted a Minbari walking across the scene to where they were. It took her a moment, but she recognized Lennier from their first encounter, and the occasional instance of seeing him around the course of her business.
"Miss Vincent," Lennier said as he reached her. "I was asked to find you."
"Really?" Rally said.
"Yes," Lennier noted as he cautiously took in the two teenagers. "Ambassador Delenn would like the chance to speak to you and your children."
"Really?" Rally said, a bit surprised. "I'm honored, but I'd think you'd want to avoid being seen with me."
"If it would make you more comfortable," Lennier said. "I believe she is arranging for someone from Babylon 5 Command to present as well."
Lennier was surprised when it became clear that all three human females grew more tense at that.
"Is there a problem?" he asked.
"Who would that be?" Rally asked.
"I think she was going to speak to Captain Sheridan," Lennier said.
"Oh," Vivi said, with a clear sigh of relief. "He was cool, but weird, but cool."
Rally looked back toward Vivi.
"Cool?" she asked in a single word.
"Seemed like a nice guy," Vivi said.
"All right, Little Girl," Rally said, patting her on the shoulder gently. "I think we can do that. I'll have to check to see if I have any business first."
"When would you be able to do that?" Lennier asked.
"As soon as we get back to our quarters," Rally said.
"I see, would you mind if I accompany you?" the Minbari aide asked.
Rally thought about it briefly and then nodded. Her paranoia was mostly extended toward humans of late: Psi-Corps, remnants of Goldie's devotees and the like. She'd burned out her anger at the Minbari a year into the war, and nothing had yet occurred to seriously bring it back to life.
Granted, she hadn't been around Minbari for a long while, but she had a few aces up her sleeves to deal with things if Lennier wasn't the decent guy he seemed to be.
Several aces, in fact, at least one literally up her sleeve. Another in her sock. The concealed shoulder holster, of course and against her thigh reachable through a pocket with a hole in it.
All that without including the knife.
"That should be fine," she said, looking to the girls. "Go ahead and get things set up."
"Right, Rally," Shanti said, smiling eagerly.
"And don't forget to get prepped for your chore tonight, Shanti," Rally noted, drawing a flinch from the girl.
Lennier watched them leave and turned toward Rally.
"They do not call you 'mother'?" Lennier asked.
"I'm their Foster-Mother," Rally said. "I adopted them seven years ago."
"Oh, I see," Lennier said, nodding. "How did this come about?"
"I knew their mother," Rally said simply.
"Ah, and you took over after she was unable to, I suppose," Lennier said.
"That's about the size of it," the gunsmith noted as they walked along.
"I've noticed you trained them to fight," Lennier noted.
"I teach them," Rally corrected. "Like my father taught me. Training is just how to do it. Teaching is about why to do it."
"My apologies," Lennier said. "I understand the difference. Your family are traditionally warriors then?"
"I'm not sure you could call it that," Rally said, shrugging. "We've been gunsmiths a long time, that's about it. I was just unlucky enough to live a life that actually needed the skills."
"I believe I heard of a phrase from your planet that seems to fit," Lennier said. "'May you live in interesting times.'"
"That one," Rally said, grimacing in obvious agreement.
It was some minutes later that Rally and Lennier came to the Vincent's quarters. Inside, Lennier found a decently sized set of rooms and saw Vivian reading a book while sitting at a desk. Shanti, meanwhile was kneeling in the floor, surrounded by obvious weaponry and holding a servicing kit as she was vigorously using a cloth to clean a large metal gun such as Lennier had not seen used before.
Shanti had changed to an old t-shirt and cotton skirt that was covered in oil stains.
"You're doing it wrong," Vivian said as she continued to read, and then looked up to see Rally and Lennier in the room.
"Shanti," Rally said. "Stop for a moment."
"Told you," Vivi said.
"But, Rally," Shanti protested. "They already pretty clean."
"Give me a moment, Mr. Lennier," Rally said.
"Of course," Lennier said, bowing as Rally moved to kneel down next to Shanti.
"Take a deep breath," Rally instructed, closing her eyes and inhaling before looking to her foster-daughter.
After a moment, Shanti humphed and then took a breath herself, rather perfunctorily.
"Shanti, any idiot can wipe a cloth over a gun," Rally said. "To properly clean and maintain one, you need to pay attention. You like shooting them so much, you have to respect them and maintain them. These are old weapons and not many people know how to keep care of them or make the ammo anymore. You have to be careful with them. Now, with me."
Rally took in a deep breath and waited for Shanti to do likewise.
"Take the weapon," Rally said and watched as Shanti leaned forward.
The teen took up the hand gun in front of her, much more respectfully than she had been doing.
"Remove the clip, check the chamber," Rally instructed from beside Shanti, watching as the girl did so. "A gun is always loaded until you have cleared it each time you take it."
The "clip" was an empty container that Lennier assumed normally held the metal slugs that Rally Vincent's weapons were known to use. The chamber was likewise empty.
"Break it down," Rally said. "Set down the pieces on the towel, barrel, stock, firing pin, so on."
Shanti quietly and calmly, breathing evenly, did as she was instructed.
"Now, clean each component thoroughly and put it back together," Rally said. "Take your time and do it right, I'll help you in a minute."
"Right, Rally," Shanti said, bending to cleaning the gun in her hand much more attentively than she had been.
Lennier noted the rather meditative nature of the task with interest, whatever Miss Vincent had said, she was certainly a warrior above and beyond just a simple soldier or even an assassin. There was a spiritual element to her practice, even if there was nothing overtly religious about it.
Vivian, the human with the shorter hair, watched Lennier the whole time over the top of her book. He hadn't failed to notice that, but it seemed to be more of the look of innocent, childish curiosity than anything else.
"All right," Rally said as she moved to her desk to look over her itinerary. "Let's see when I'm free."
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(Posted Fri, 07 May 2010 05:10)
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