By Elizabeth Ann Lewis

Part 3

"Transporter Dali, you are clear for entry into the jumpgate."

Ivanova watched as the small transport entered the vortex into hyperspace and disappeared. It had taken a few days for the orders to come through, but inevitably, Earth had claimed jurisdiction over the attempted murder of Mingala Chang, and had required Babylon 5 to release both Julian Benedict and Gideon Hampton. They were on their way to stand trial on Earth.

Garibaldi appeared behind her, his hands in his pockets and his forehead furrowed in thought. "So now what?"

Ivanova turned away from the window she had been staring out of and immediately picked up a duty roster to check. It was all right to do alone, but she had no taste for group brooding. "And now... we keep going. Ms. Chang is recovering, which means those two will get off with a slap on the wrist --"

"Benedict confessed," Garibaldi pointed out. "And Hampton really didn't have anything to do with it."

"Yeah, well, on Earth they aren't going to get half of what they deserve." Ivanova smacked the roster down and picked up a report, double-checking and making corrections as she went through C & C. "After all the unrest of the station has died down, I suppose I should be grateful that we're not going to have a circus of a trial on board." Oddly enough, Ivanova didn't sound terribly grateful.

"What about Ximenn?" Garibaldi asked. "Is EarthGov going to make a formal complaint?"

"Complaint? What, for Benedict? Are you kidding?" Ivanova snorted. "They are officially thanking him for uncovering two, and I quote, 'Traitors in their midst', unquote. They only traitorous thing that they did was get caught, as far as EarthGov's concerned."

"Things could have been a lot worse," Garibaldi offered without much hope of success.

Ivanova put the report down and looked at him for the first time. "You know what? I get the feeling that they are going to be worse. This is just the start," she predicted morosely.

"I have your word on it, right?"

Mingala laughed at the doctor's slightly-harried tone. "Just you, me, the interviewer and the camera. Oh, and the producer," she added, raising her voice slightly when she saw Margo to make sure the barb landed.

Margo grinned. "You're obviously feeling better." Mingala looked pale, especially under the bright lights of MedLab, but the bruises and cuts were healed. If you didn't look deeply into her eyes, Margo thought, you wouldn't know anything had happened. "Sophie'll be --"

Sophie herself cut off Margo's excuse, breezing in with a mirror in hand, checking her makeup and hair. She clicked the mirror shut and put it in her bag. Smiling more brightly than the MedLab lights, she stowed her bag and took her place beside Mingala's bedside. She chattered easily as Margo set up the camera and checked the light levels. Mingala folded her hands and breathed deep, concentrating. The bridges had been burned long ago, with the first interview she had given. She couldn't go back to what she had been before, didn't want to go back. But every step she took seemed to heavy and so weighted with significance...

Margo raised her eyebrows at Mingala from the foot of the bed. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"They've cut off any other way for me to tell the truth," Mingala said bitterly. "I've got nothing left to lose now."

Margo sighed. "Okay. Sophie, keep it low-key. In five, four, three, two..."

"Besides," Mingala broke in quickly, "don't you want your Galaxy Award?"

Margo rolled her eyes, then pointed to Sophie, the camera on. As though a switch had been thrown, Sophie's nervous agitation flowed smoothly into her professional on-air manner. She smiled in a subdued, concerned manner at the camera, inviting her viewership into her sympathy with the material.

"Hello, I'm Sophie Tenatta with ISN's Personality Profiles. Today, we have a follow-up interview with Mingala Chang. Ms. Chang, a representative for the Terra Firma Corp., was here on Babylon 5 negotiating with the Minbari when she was viciously attacked. Ms. Chang wishes to make her views on her attackers, and their agenda, clear. Thank you for consenting to this interview, Ms. Chang."

"It was my pleasure. The last one was so... interesting."

Sophie smiled slightly ruefully, and shook her head. Margo controlled a snicker. Given what they had planned for Mingala last time... oh, yeah, Mingala was better. Definitely.

Sophie said innocently, "A pity it was edited so badly when it first aired. I believe you strongly expressed your views for the airing of the unedited version."

"Yes. I did not find out about the edited version until after it was aired. The editing was a manipulation of the media that I find difficult to credit." Mingala's voice was a suppressed whiplash of fury; Margo imagined that she had used that tone on debate opponents in the past.

Sophie looked downright outraged, in a restrained way. Margo grinned again, catching the eye of Doctor Franklin. Between Sophie and Mingala, they were creating enough righteous indignation to light the airwaves up from here to Earth. "Who do you hold responsible for that manipulation?" Sophie continued.

"Myself, mostly. I was willfully blind to the people around me. I allowed myself to be used. That I gave them the material to so mislead the people of Earth is, ultimately, my own fault."

"I think I should make it clear that neither I, nor the producer of that piece, were responsible for the editing that was done," Sophie broke in hastily.

"Yes. I heard from the producer --" Mingala glanced quickly at Margo "-- about it all." OK, so when I dropped by to make sure she was going to remain among the living I might have mentioned it... so? Margo thought.

Mingala continued smoothly, "But the views expressed in the edited piece were never my views. And the platform I have espoused for so many years has been altered by information that I am just now processing."

"Thank you for that confirmation. So you're saying that someone within your own camp was responsible for those changes?"

Mingala took a deep breath. And then let it out. "I was informed by one of my advisors, Gideon Hampton, that he was ultimately responsible for the editing of that piece."

Sophie looked interested, encouraging, waiting for Mingala to continue with denouncing her advisors and her past. Margo found herself nodding along with Sophie, watching Mingala carefully. How far was she willing to go? Margo wondered.

"I have since been informed --" with another quick glance at Margo, who grinned, widening her eyes.

"Who, me?" she mouthed.

Sophie managed to act like she didn't notice any of the byplay as Mingala continued."--that he was helped by... other agencies." Margo nodded supportingly. Bolstered by the Margo's support, Mingala continued nailing the coffin shut. "The interview that aired made it sound as though my experiences on this station had merely confirmed what I had believed all along, that Humankind was never meant to go to the stars, that staying planet-bound was the best way to heal our people. I disagree with that now. We must take care of our own. And our own includes all."

"All?" Sophie repeated.

"All," Mingala confirmed. "Every living thing. The Centauri took us to the stars. The Dilgar proved that we could hold our own there. And the Minbari taught us that we were not the most powerful force in the universe."

"And those who edited the last interview -- and who were responsible for the assault upon yourself -- do not agree with this stance?" Sophie seemed intent to cut to the chase. That's where the blood usually was, Margo thought, watching Mingala pale again.

"Gideon Hampton allowed hatred to distort my words," Mingala said, her voice painfully controlled. "Julian Benedict allowed hatred to lead to attempted murder."

"What was the result of these attempts, and how was it uncovered?" Sophie leaned slightly forward, eyes bright and alert.

For a moment, Margo thought she was going to have to stop the interview. She glanced again to Doctor Franklin, who looked like he was going to intervene, and shook her head hard. It was a measure of how quickly she'd gotten to know Mingala that Margo even recognized the other woman's distress. It was present only in the tension in her hands, a strained look in her eyes. Other than that, her features did not change and her words were calm, if not precisely even.

"I was outside Gideon's door when I heard something behind me. I turned and saw... saw what looked like a Minbari." She closed her eyes again for something only slightly longer than a blink. Margo controlled the impulse to pull the plug on the interview again. Every bit of Mingala's distress would be recorded, transmitted, and spilled out in front of millions of people. And that horror needed to be understood if what Mingala was trying to do with this interview was to be successful.

Mingala mastered herself and went on. "But it wasn't. There were two of them. They...." Helplessly, her voice broke. Before either Doctor Franklin or Margo could react, she swallowed and continued. "They had metal bars and beat me with them. I knew nothing else until I woke up here in MedLab," she finished in a rush.

Almost as drained as Mingala was, Margo noticed with a certain amount of amusement that Sophie, for once, was showing some real emotion on-camera: sympathy. She might turn into a good reporter yet. Nah. She's good already. But she just might be great.

"It must have been terrifying...," Sophie prompted.

Mingala gave her a slight smile. "I've been sheltered for most of my life. It was a bit... startling."

Sophie nodded and continued, "Especially when you realized that they weren't Minbari. Who were they really?"

"The Security on this station were able to prove that they were wearing changeling nets and thus were not Minbari. They were two Humans hired to kill me."

"Hired by...?" Sophie let the question dangle.

"Julian Benedict and Gideon Hampton were taken back to Earth to stand trial for attempted murder." Mingala said very carefully. Then she abandoned care and sighed. "But Gideon didn't do it. It was Julian."

"ISN received information from the Babylon 5 Security office that Mr. Benedict confessed to the crime. Although we understand a trial will conclusively determine his guilt, what is your feeling about Mr. Benedict and Mr. Hampton at this time?"

"I pity Gideon," Mingala said simply. "He was always so blind. I... I don't think I ever knew Julian. Not if he could do this." She paused again, looking thoughtful. "I never realized how strong hatred burned in people. Even in myself."

Margo shook her head, watching Mingala carefully. This was, in fact, prize-winning material. It was also a woman's soul being spread out for examination before the galaxy. Somehow, it seemed appropriate. Mingala had only had a public persona for so long. Her entire existence had been a mask. It was only right that the mask be shattered in public as well.

Mingala looked up, straight into the camera. "But it's not hatred, is it? It's fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of losing. Fear of winning -- and thus having more to lose."

"Maybe it is," Sophie said quietly. "If there was one thing you could change about the last few weeks, what would it be?" When Mingala didn't speak, she suggested, "Coming to Babylon 5? The attack?"

The answer, when it came, was low-voiced but no less clear for that. "Absolutely nothing."

Sophie controlled her surprise, letting it only come out as a slight raise in her voice. "Nothing at all? No regrets?"

"A million regrets. But...," Mingala shook her head. "I can't wish for ignorance again."

Sophie let the silence on that one speak for a moment, then shifted gears. "We also understand that the Minbari trade representative who was on Babylon 5 to negotiate with TerraFirma Corp was in part responsible for uncovering this information. Do you have any comment?"

Mingala contemplative pose -- as well-planned as it was integrally honest -- shattered as she blinked in total shock. "Ximenn?"

Margo covered her mouth with both hands, chortling at the look on Mingala's face. Gotcha.

"Yes, that's right," Sophie said smoothly. Margo could tell from the extra-syrupy tone of her voice that she was fighting giggles as well. "Representative Ximenn."

After a lengthy pause that Margo mentally noted to edit out, Mingala mastered herself enough to say, "Representative Ximenn of Minbar is a man whom I respect and admire."

Sophie did not smirk. But only just. "It does seem somewhat ironic; that one of the people who you most vehemently opposed upon your arrival found the truth about the attack on yourself, while your supporters were the ones responsible."

Mingala nodded and her eyes gleamed. Margo patted herself on the back. Give the girl an opening, and she'll go for the throat. "His actions prove that truth and honor are languages spoken across the galaxy. Unfortunately, so are lies."

Sophie permitted herself a small grin, recognizing a perfect soundbite. " Thank you for taking the time to speak with us tonight, Ms. Chang. We appreciate your desire to set the record straight."

"And I thank you for giving me the chance to do so." Perfectly relaxed, Mingala leaned back, chin up and expression tranquil.

"This has been Sophie Tenatta for ISN Personality Profiles. Thank you for joining us, and remember to keep watching ISN, the Galaxy's most important network!"

"And we're out." Margo flipped the camera off.

Sophie scooped up her bag. "I've got to run. I've got that press conference to cover." But at the doors to MedLab she turned back briefly. "I didn't like what you came here to do," she said bluntly to Mingala. "And I can't say I agree with everything you say, even now. But I just want you to know, I admire your guts in doing this interview." Before Mingala could react, the doors swished shut behind her.

"I'll... uh. I'll." Franklin concluded when he saw the look that Mingala gave Margo. Without another word, he beat a hasty retreat to his office.

"Do you think," Mingala said in very measured tones, "that you could warn me before you do that?"

"Nope." Casually, Margo dropped into a chair. "Remember the Galaxy?" When Mingala just glared at her, Margo laughed. "I think that went well," she said, rubbing her hands together with reporter's glee.

"A lot of people are going to disagree with me on the topic of considering everyone in the galaxy equally worthy to live. But public opinion should be turned against Gideon and Julian."

"You're not going back to Earth to testify?" Margo asked.

Mingala's mouth curved into a bitter smile. "I've been oh-so-gently and oh-so-unofficially informed that, if I do so, my life will be made miserable. You know the media, Margo. You know how easy it would be to make me look bad. And that would make a bad situation worse."

"So you're going to stay away?"

Mingala nodded. "I'll sow as much dissention as I can with this interview and then disappear."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why disappear? I mean, I understand that you don't think that you've got a place in Earth politics anymore. But your gift for persuasion can be used in other ways."

Mingala looked thoughtful and Margo decided to drop it. For the moment.

Abruptly, Margo said, "There's something I have to tell you."

"What?" Mingala asked, still slightly distracted.

"It's about Ximenn. He..." Margo took a deep breath and sighed. "He wasn't just sent here to negotiate with TerraFirma. Apparently, he was supposed to judge just how much of a danger you were to Minbar and their relations with Earth -- and kill you if necessary."

Margo regretting saying it as soon as Mingala's eyes went nearly round in her face. But she couldn't withhold the truth. Mingala deserved to know.

Mingala looked away for a moment. When she looked back, her expression was under control. "That should upset me, shouldn't it? Somehow, I should be angry. But... I can't be."

"You can't believe it?"

"Oh, I believe it. I'm quite sure that he would be capable of it. But... he saved my life. Twice. And he..." Mingala's voice warmed and slowed. "He'd never lift a finger to hurt me," she said with complete confidence.

"How can you possibly know that?" Margo demanded, remembering her own fury when she heard what Ximenn had been sent to do. "I heard Ambassador Delenn was practically spitting nails when he dropped that little bomb about his purpose here. How can you know that he wouldn't have hurt you?"

Mingala's eyes were closed, and a small smile curved her mouth. "Because, you see, the rathenn makes a choice to destroy or protect. And gogs are picky creatures who only love the ones they trust. Because in peace there is nothing to fear. And," she added, opening her eyes, "because, somehow, I know him better than I know myself."

Faced with that serene certainty, Margo had nothing to say.