Mulder looked at the man coming toward him with a mixture of amusement and curiousity. The man - who was obviously a soldier of some sort - couldn't have been more than 21 years old. 'Too young to be holding a gun that big,' Mulder thought. 'And is he a good guy or a bad guy?' Mulder looked over the uniform, and saw what he wanted to know. 'So, this place is called Babylon 5 huh? Wonder where it is in relation to Tennessee?'
Mulder looked sideways at Scully and she caught his look. She nodded almost imperceptibly. Mulder counted off on his hand, which was behind his back. Three-two-one...
Mulder and Scully jumped to their feet and rushed the young Lieutenant, Mulder yelling suddenly and startling him. Scully grabbed his gun, and Mulder pinned his hands behind his back.
Behind the crates, Garibaldi sighed and got to his feet. "Typical Earthforce training," he muttered under his breath. He stepped out where Mulder and Scully could see him, leaving his gun in his holster and holding his hands up near his head.
"Why don't you just let the Lieutenant go and give him back his gun. Then we can go somewhere and talk about this."
"Where are we?" Scully asked him, her desperate confusion evident in her voice, though her face remained calm.
"You're in the cargo hold. Did you make a wrong turn?" He slowly moved forward as he spoke. "If you give the gun back, I can show you how to get back to the main deck if you're lost. We'll just forget any of this happened." He was within a foot of Scully now. Uncertain, she glanced back at Mulder to see what he thought they should do. That was all the opportunity Garibaldi needed. He snatched the gun from Scully, and pointed it at her.
"Let him go," he said to Mulder, turning the safety off the gun, "or I won't hesitate to turn your lady friend here to dust." Mulder reluctantly let the Lieutenant go. Scully stepped back next to him, and they joined hands.
"Call for backup," Garibaldi instructed the Lieutenant. Turning to Mulder and Scully he said, "Alright, you'll be coming with us. You're not under arrest until I figure out what's going on here. Now, move," he ordered, indicating the door with the gun.
Scully gripped Mulder's hand tighter as they were marched along the corridors. After a few minutes, they were being escorted by half a dozen men in identical uniforms.
"I think we're in trouble Scully," Mulder said with a grin.
"When aren't we," she murmured back, squeezing his hand affectionately.
"So, what were you doing down in the cargo hold?" Garibaldi asked Mulder. Mulder and Scully had been separated, and Mulder was being interrogated first.
"Sleeping," Mulder replied. "You must have seen us sleeping there." He looked Garibaldi in the eyes, trying to gauge his reaction.
Garibaldi said nothing, and went outside. The Minbari telepath who had been standing in the corner of the room followed him. Garibaldi looked at him questioningly.
"He is confused. He does not know how he got there, and seeks the comfort of the female who was with him."
"Are they lovers? Just friends? What could you find out about the woman?"
"He loves her, but they are not mated. They are friends - very good friends. He trusts her with his life, and would die to protect her."
"Can we use it against him?" Garibaldi asked him.
"I do not see how," the Minbari replied.
"Your husband has told us the truth, so I think you'd better corroborate his story," Garibaldi said to Scully.
"Two points," Scully began. "One, he's not my husband - and two, that trick won't work on me. I've used it enough times to recognise it." She smiled sweetly at Garibaldi, and crossed her arms.
"Listen, I've had enough of your games!" Garibaldi was beyond patience, and just wanted to get some answers. "Either you tell me what you were doing down in the cargo bay, or I'll make life very miserable for both of you." He stormed out of the room before he lost his temper completely, and walked straight to Sheridan's office.
"Come," Sheridan called. 'I wonder what it is this time,' Sheridan thought wearily. His day had been long and tedious, and he just wanted to spend his evening relaxing with Delenn.
Garibaldi entered and stood in front of Sheridan's desk, waiting for the invitation to speak.
"Yes Mr Garibaldi? What can I do for you?"
"Sir, we've got two humans in custody. They appeared in the cargo bay, and they won't tell me where they're from or what they're doing there. They're dressed quite strangely and the Minbari telepath Delenn said I could have a couple weeks ago says they're confused. The male is a smart ass and is really beginning to get on my nerves."
"Appeared? Where did they come from?"
"I don't know sir. There was this light and they came out of it. I know it sounds strange, and frankly sir if I hadn't witnessed it myself I wouldn't have believed it, but that's what happened."
"And you want me to what? Come down and get them to talk? I don't know. Commander Ivanova would be much better at that don't you think? Her homicidal tendencies lately would come in quite handy. If she threatened me I know I'd do whatever she asked, and I know she wouldn't really hurt me!" Sheridan looked amused. "You could just let them cool their heels in the cell for a while. Put them in together and see if they say anything about how they got here. I give you the full cooperation of anyone you need to get them to talk. I'll be unavailable this evening. If anyone wants me, they'll have to talk to Ivanova. That includes you. I don't want to hear another word to me about those mysterious humans until tomorrow morning."
"Yes Sir," Garibaldi said, going in search of Ivanova.
He found her on the command deck.
Ivanova hadn't had a good day either. The lieutenant in the quarters next to hers had been up late playing music, and she hadn't gotten much sleep. To top it all off, a Centauri ship and a Narn cruiser had wanted docking at the same time, and some idiot subordinate had docked them next door to each other. Then Garibaldi had been off doing something and she couldn't raise him on his link. Now she was bored. Nothing had come through the jump gate in the last four hours, and she'd already caught up on her paperwork.
When Garibaldi walked through the door with his "I need your help with something" look on his face, she almost hugged him.
"What can I do for you Mr Garibaldi?" she said, with surprising restraint.
"Are you busy? I can come back later if you're busy."
"No!" Ivanova almost yelled at him. "Uh, that is to say I'm not busy. I can help with whatever you want me to help with. Really I can!" Her eagerness made Garibaldi suspicious.
"Are you sure?" he asked. "You're not trying to get out of something are you?"
"I'm gonna be honest with you Garibaldi. I've been stuck here in C&C for the last four hours with nothing to do. I'm bored. Totally bored. I'd run around the outside of B5 wearing antigrav boots if it'd get me out of here. I'd love to help with whatever you need help with." Her face looked earnest and eager, and she stood and started toward the door, half dragging Garibaldi with her.
"Okay," was all Garibaldi managed to get out before they entered the hallway.
"So, where are we going," Ivanova said, heading instinctively toward the holding cells.
"Interrogation room 2. There's someone I'd like you to speak with."
"Fine. What are you going to do?"
"I'll come with-" Garibaldi broke off as his link beeped.
"Yes?" he answered it.
"Mr Garibaldi I need to speak with you urgently," came Delenn's voice. "Please meet me in my quarters immediately."
"I'm on my way," Garibaldi replied. "I'll brief you on the way to the interrogation rooms," he said to Ivanova.
"Don't bother," Ivanova told him. "I can find out what I need to know from one of those Minbari telepaths Delenn's been lending you."
"How'd you find out about... Never mind. I'll talk to you later." He started in the opposite direction, then stopped and turned. "Oh, and one other thing," he called after Ivanova, "don't kill her!"
Ivanova nodded at him, and went on her way to the interrogation rooms.
End of Part 2.