THE HALLOWEEN BALL

By Capt Shania aka Jayne

Babylon was alive with people rushing about the Zocalo; it seemed busier than ever. Susan Ivanova dressed in full uniform and just off duty looked up at the salesman in disgust.

"And what women will be wearing this?" She frowned holding up a piece of cloth that would barely cover a child, never mind grown women.

"Who said it was for a woman Commander," the salesman grinned.

She picked up something more suitable and checked out. Now she had her Halloween costume she could relax until the party, which she was actually looking forward to. She hadn¹t let her hair down in such a long time, she had almost forgotten how to have fun, "Maybe I¹ll get lucky with that chick from the bar," she smiled to herself as she walked back to her quarters.

It was Halloween, a time for fun and laughter on Babylon 5, a rare thing in these troubled times that lay ahead of them. So everyone, even Captain Sheridan was going to be at the party. It had been set up originally for senior staff only but Garibaldi said he would put on extra security and then everyone could be invited. It was still by ticket only however, so only those that could afford the ticket would get in.

The party began at 6pm; most command staff arrived at around 8pm. Ambassador was among them. People were in costume, which for the most part was hiding the identities of everyone at the party, masks were popular this year.

Susan Ivanova walked among the large crowd of people, wearing her long black robe; her beautiful face was all that could be seen. Music blared out along with the sound of voices. She took a large glass of champagne and wondered around, trying to find a familiar face; trouble was she couldn’t make out who was who, so a familiar voice was more useful. She walked and listened.

A tall man walked towards her and she stopped.

"Hello Commander" his voice was instantly recognizable.

"Captain, I thought I would never find anyone, this is nuts!" she said slightly frustrated.

"Yeah I know what you mean, you haven¹t seen Delenn have you?"

"No, sorry Sir," she smiled. She knew Sheridan had a thing for Delenn and her for him but neither of them was about to admit it; it was like a cozy friendship they had built up. Ivanova just knew it was going to be more sooner or later.

"Maybe you should look for the one that doesn’t have a drink in her hands," Ivanova said, remembering Delenn could not drink alcohol.

"Good idea, there cant be that many teetotallers on this station," Sheridan said walking off to find the Minbari Ambassador.

Ivanova looked around and made out a few more familiar people, Garibaldi was obvious in his silly Duck Dodgers outfit.

"What was the man thinking," she thought to herself.

A few more drinks later and Susan was pleasantly happy, enjoying the mood of the party, finally meeting up with some friends along the way. Everyone was dancing and having fun, drinking way too much. It was coming up to 12 midnight when Captain John Sheridan came up to make a speech.

Ivanova was stood holding a shot of Vodka, cheering on her Captain when she felt something. It was more a feeling than anything else. She looked around her and caught a glimpse of what looked like a female, under robes just like her own. She was walking away from her and towards the bar. Ivanova watched her with interest, not knowing why. Then she turned her attention back to Sheridan.

"..and I want to thank everyone for coming tonight, the money is going to a very good cause as you all know. Thanks to the staff who have put on such a great party and to the organizers and finally to my chief of Security Duck Dodgers."

At that everyone laughed and the party continued on into the early hours of the morning. Ivanova forgot about the mysterious woman. That was until she saw her again. The woman was walking around looking at people but not speaking to anyone, Ivanova found that a bit strange. She approached her slowly from behind, tapping her on the shoulder to stop her.

The woman turned around, Ivanova could just make out that she was blonde, she wore a black mask across her eyes, but Susan could see they were blue, she was beautiful, that much she could make out.

And her lips, they looked so familiar. "Do I know you?" Susan asked curiously.

The woman just shook her head and walked away quickly. Susan almost chased after her but thought better of it. It was around 2pm and most were slow dancing or leaving. Susan was sitting in a corner thinking about her life, she began to think about the life she could have had with Talia Winters, the woman who was taken away from her by the psi-corps.

Oh how she hated them.

More than once they had destroyed something that was special in her life and she detested them more than ever before. She drank a shot of Vodka in one and filled her glass with another from the bottle she had bought. She had big plans or hopes for her and Talia. She had finally for the first time in her life found someone who really did mean something. The person she wanted to make a life with, grew old together.

Her heart was broken the day she was discovered as being a psi-corps sleeper, a spy in the ranks. She never blamed Talia, it wasn’t her fault, she knew nothing about it, and the person who walked off the station that day with psi-corps was no longer Talia, it was something psi-corps had created; something very evil.

Tears began to form in Susan¹s eyes as her heart ached yet again at the thought of her one true love, Talia Winters. She was shaken from her pain by a very noisy Zack Allen. "Hey Commander, would you like to dance," he was very drunk obviously or he wouldn¹t be within a few feet of her and asking her such a question.

She didn¹t reply and he left. She stood up and decided to make her way back to the place she called home, her quarters. As she walked along the corridor she noticed that woman again, the one in the robe, she knew it was the same person, she just sensed it.

The woman was standing to one side of the corridor as if waiting for someone. Ivanova kept on walking, heading towards the lift when the woman stood in front of her. Ivanova looked surprised and a little alarmed. Then she heard a familiar voice in her mind.

‘Susan, don¹t be alarmed, it’s me,’ the voice trailed off.

"TALIA," Ivanova said out loud rather more loudly than she meant to.

"Shhh," Talia said gently grabbing Susan’s arm and walking towards the lift.

"But how can this be, you are dead, at least that¹s what we were led to believe." Ivanova managed to speak, shock was beginning to set in though and she just wanted to wake up. "As you can see, I am very much alive. And before you ask, I am Talia, I¹m not that bitch they turned me into, or thought they had turned me into."

"What do you mean, thought?," Ivanova asked.

³I will tell you everything back at your quarters." Talia replied.

They both arrived at Susan Ivanova¹s quarters where Talia Winters explained everything to her. "So you see why I had to come here secretly, they do not know where I am and if they find out they will kill me. I know too much about what they do, they also think I am the sleeper they created, they have no idea that it didn’t really work, that my powers are strong, thanks to Jason." Talia finally said as she sat beside Susan on the couch.

They hadn’t even removed their hoods on their robes and Talia still wore her mask. Susan moved to remove the hood from herself and then from Talia¹s head, revealing her beautiful shoulder length blonde hair. Talia removed her mask and threw it to the floor. Susan was overcome with emotion and she began to sob quietly. Talia moved close to her and held her as she felt Susan¹s pain rip right through her heart.

"I love you Susan, I never told you that did I?"

"I knew." Ivanova replied looking up at her, "I cant believe you are really here, is this some Halloween prank?"

"I can assure you I am real," Talia smiled. Her voice just as deep and smoky as Susan remembered.

Susan Ivanova wiped her eyes and pulled herself together, it was real, now she had what she always wished for, for Talia to return. They sat quietly looking at each other; Susan took Talia’s gloveless hand in her own and felt it. It was warm. Her eyes moved from those pretty hands up to her beautiful blue eyes, they were full of warmth and love. Talia moved in to kiss Susan¹s lips. The kiss was something like they had never experienced before, so full of emotion, for all those days they had been apart and for the time they thought they would never see each other again. When they parted they were both breathless. Then they both smiled at each other and hand in hand walked towards the bedroom.

The End.