From: "Gentile, Richard" Subject: Acolyte Date: Fri, 18 Jun 1999 16:26:34 -0400 ***Hey all! This is my second piece of Fan-Fic focusing on Morden (the first is Morden's Return! Check it out-Unabashed plug!) The standard disclaimers apply to this story- The characters are not mine, I'm just using them, blah, blah, blah! Comments and constructive criticism are appreciated, though I am flame-retardant. Contact me at ShadowDenizen@Yahoo.Com. This piece takes place between Chrysalis and Into the Fire.*** ACOLYTE (Pt. 1/of ?) By Rich Gentile The Narn heavy cruiser shook from the heavy fire that battered it mercilessly. "Mommy, what's happening?" Na'Vara wailed, as he and his mother raced down the drab, gunmetal grey corridors. "Don't worry, sweetie. It'll be over soon." she fondled his spotted head. "It'll all be over soon." The duo stopped in front of a steel door. Na'Tal opened the door, wincing at the squeak it made, audible even over the weapons fire from outside. "I want you to be a brave little Narn now. Can you do that for me? For mommy? Can you be brave?" Na'Vara bobbed his head up and down, fear in his eyes. "I need you to get in here, right now, child." Na'Tal said sternly, although tears glistened in her eyes. "I need you to get in here, curl up into a ball and close your eyes. Do you understand?" Na'Vara nodded his head again, mutely. "I want you to stay here until I come for you. You are not to open the door for anyone but me. Understood?" Once again, Na'Vara nodded mutely. Na'Tal's voice became softer. "I won't be gone long, my darling. But here" she unstrapped a water bag from where it hung around her neck, passing it to him. "If you get thirsty while you're waiting, here is some water to drink. Now, Mommy had to go. Be brave and remember what I said." She turns, prepared to leave. "Don't go mommy." Na'Vara lauches himself at his mother, locking his arms around her legs. Gently, but firmly, she disentangles him. "I'll be back before you know it." Na'Tal croons reassuringly. In the distance can be heard the whine of PPG fire. "Now be a good little Narn soldier for mommy, and get in there." Na'Vara enters the small cubicle, Na'Tal shutting the door behind him. The room is plunged into blackness, Na'Vara's eyes gradually adjusting to the dim light. The room was featureless, barren. Na'Vara slumped to floor his back against the wall. Despite the excitement of the last few hours, Na'Vara found that he was awfully tired... Perhaps he would close his eyes for jus a few moments... Na'Vara awoke with a jerk, not knowing where he was. Then, it all came rushing back to him. "Mommy" he croaked, acutely aware of the silence that had fallen throughout the ship. There was no more PPG fire, no more blasts bombarding the hull. It was eerie, really. But he would be brave like his mom and the Regime expected of him. It wouldn't do to disobey orders, after all. And he was still kind of tired. Na'Vara gradually awoke once more, this time to a shaft of light streaming into his cubicle. taking a moment to survey his surroundings, he found that the door was open and there was a man there, a man who was decidedly not his mom. This man was handsome, in an elegantly tailored suit. His hair was slicked back, and he wore a necklace made of some sort of crystal, that seemed to beckon to Na'Vara. A reassuring smile was plastered on this mans face, revealing even, white teeth, and unable to help himself, Na'Vara found himself smiling in return, all thoughts of his mother and this whole situation put of the back of his mind. "Ah, the prodigal son awakens" the man began, the smile still lighting up his face. "you must be Na'Vara, and you may call me" the man continued"Morden", his smile widening even more, so that it seemed to take up his whole face. "I'm hungry." Na'Vara plaintively whined. "Well, let's see if we can't remedy that." Morden extended his hand to Na'Vara. After a moments hesitation, Na'Vara took it. "I believe" intoned Morden, "That the mess hall is this way." And so, hand in hand, the two strode down the corridor, Na'Vara oblivious to the blood that splashed the walls a hideous shade of crimson, and the Narn bodies that lined the floor, most with PPG burns in their chests and backs. The two entered the mess hall, Na'Vara helping himself as Morden looked on approvingly. The two settled into a table, Na'Vara wasted no time in stuffing his face with the Narnish delicacies, including a heaping helping of fresh spoo. After a while, his hunger assuaged, Na'Vara looked up at Morden. "Where's my mommy?" Na'Vara queried. "Well, we can deal with that later. I'm sure she's around here someplace. But for now, I still see food left on your plate. Eat up. You're gonna need it." Na'Vara found his eyes tended to gravitate towards the dangling crystal necklace... "You like this?" Morden inquired, taking the crystal off and holding it in his hands. Na'Vara nodded. "Well then, we'll have to get you one of your own, won't we?" he inquired pleasantly. "I think you and I are going to become good friends." Na'Vara nodded again. "Why don't we go for a walk if you're all done eating? I have something to show you." The two walked, hand in hand, to the nearest porthole looking out on the stars. "What do you see?" Na'Vara squinted, looking out at the vast expanse of stars. He didn't see anything, but didn't want to embarrass himself and the Regime by saying that to his new friend. Then, it came to him... There, just out of the corner of his eye, blocking out the stars behind it... "A spider?" he queried. Morden smiled. (TO BE CONTINUED) From: "Gentile, Richard" Subject: Fan Fiction Pt. 2 **Hello again! All disclaimers are in Part 1. Comment/criticism to ShadowDenizen@Yahoo.Com. Also note that some of the scenes extrapolate/ are inspired by "The Shadow Within"(B5 Novel #7) By Jeanne Cavelos*** ACOLYTE(Pt. 2/of ?) By Rich Gentile Morden and Na'Vara stood together in the bridge of the Spider-Ship, once more looking out at the panorama before them as they sped through space. Seated in front of and below them, strapped into the pilot's chair, was a human female. Her eyes were closed, as if concentrating, though her mouth moved, mouthing words. She was clad in the death-black uniform of the Earth Alliance Psi-Corps. "So we are almost there, my friend." Morden said cheerily, putting his arms on the young Narns shoulder companionably. "And I'll get a crystal of my very own? Just like yours?" Na'Vara was referring to the crystal pendant that Morden habitually wore as his only adornment. "Just like mine." Morden said proudly. "And then, after that, you and I have an important mission to accomplish. Together." he added meaningfully. "I can't wait." Na'Vara said excitedly. "Neither can I." Morden replied. Na'Vara stood, thinking back to the tumultuous events of late. It hadn't been that long ago that he had been a passenger aboard the Narn heavy cruiser Ja'Dora, en route to homeworld for repairs. Then, they had been set upon by forces unknown, and Na'Vara had met his new friend Morden. He hadn't looked back since, although occasionally he had thoughts about his mother, Na'Tal, who had also been aboard the Ja'Dora. He had expressed his concern to Morden once, and Morden had assured him that she was in a better place and looking forward to seeing him in the future. "Where did you say we were going, again?" Na'Vara inquired. "To get your crystal, of course." "I know that, but where are we going? What's our destination?" Na'Vara asked petulantly. "Ah, my little Narn, you need to learn patience. Where we are going is not important, it's what we're going to do there that's important." Even as he finished speaking, the ship exited hyperspace and entered normal space. Na'Vara gaped, looking at the huge, red-tinged planet that filled the viewport. It seemed, even at this point, to radiate a cancerous malignancy. Na'Vara felt a whimper emerge from his reptilian chest. "That." Morden hissed, "is our destination." The light of madness filled his eyes, as the ship drew ever closer to the homeworld of his associates. After a long while, Morden spoke. "Let's head down to the shuttle bay and prepare for arrival." The shuttle, piloted this time by a Minbari telepath, (who had the unnerving tendency to mumble "I am the machine" ) alighted safely outside a cave located on the Northern Hemisphere of the planet. Na'Vara immediately noticed the large, egg-shaped object several meteres away, It was located between 8 pillars (one for each of the cardinal compass directions.) and was covered with some type of hieroglyphics. Na'Vara started forward, yearning to check them out. "Uh-Uh-Uh." Morden put a restraining hand in Na'Varas shoulder. his hand was suprisingly warm, warmer than it usually was. Mordens voice was tinny, filtered as it was thorough his breathing unit. "We've been summoned." He pointed towards the cave, and sure enough, coming out of the cave was a figure from Na'Varas worst nightmare. The creature was spider-like in appearance; it had a chitinous exo-skeleton and eight arms, each of which ended in a razor-tipped claw. Atop its head two sets of eyes blinked, red light emanating from within. As the creature emerged from the cave, skittering forward on it claws, the air was filled with a high- pitched chittering noise. Morden nodded, as if the creature were speaking to him. Na'Vara on the other hand, the noise drilling through his skull, collapsed to the rocky ground, overwhelmed. Finishing his "conversation" with the creature, Morden turned his attention to Na'Vara. "My associate bids you Welcome to Z'ha'dum, and wishes you to follow us." Morden and the creature turn, heading into the cave. After a few moments, realizing he is alone, and the insistent chittering is gone, Na'Vara picks himself up and follows his friend into the cave. (TO BE CONTINUED)