From: dgolding@connect.ab.ca
Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode V -- OVERTURE
Date: Sat, 28 Aug 1999 16:13:56

Writer's Note: Apologies for the lengthy delay between the tail end of Ep.4
and the start of this one are in order, but certain unexpected
circumstances encountered upon returning from Europe resulted in my muse
deciding to take a vacation for most of this week.  Now that things are
beginning to calm down a little again, however, here is the next
installment in what looks like it will shortly be an online saga sailing
into uncharted waters.

i.e -- for those who are wondering, the demise of CRUSADE will not affect
the future progression of STAR & CIRCLE in the *slightest*.  There is a
story to be told here -- a fairly important one, actually -- and all bets
are off as to where it will end, and how.

I do have a few interesting "whams" in mind, however, for later on this
season. That's all I'll say for now.

DGG, August 27th, 1999


				* * *

            PREVIOUSLY, IN STAR AND CIRCLE I: "THE SEEKER'S FIRE"...

				 * * *

Having fallen through a gate between realities on the world named Amaranth,
Anla'shok Val'na Julia Tikopai, the young and sometimes impetuous commander
of the ISA battlecruiser SHARD OF NIGHT, suddenly finds herself in a shared
body with her doppelganger, a woman who serves an Empire of Minbari, Drakh
and Humans -- an Empire built by the Drakh for their Masters, the Shadows,
and opposed by an Interstellar Alliance consisting of most of the other
Younger Races.  

Under the command of this reality's John Sheridan, Julia's opposite has
committed herself to an attack on the Alliance flagship (another
EXCALIBUR), and while the 'Other' has been warned that Julia would arrive
through the gate between worlds by a mysterious 'Shadowman', she will allow
no interference in Imperial plans...and for a little while at least,
trapped in a prison of her opposite's devising, Julia finds herself unable
to act.  Meanwhile, on the other side of the fence, the Alliance forces,
nowhere near as unawares of the forthcoming attack as the Imperials would
like to believe, are preparing an intricate trap for their enemies.

At the same time this is going on, Klairika, Sheynell and the rest of the
crew of the regular SHARD OF NIGHT are doing their best to try and figure
out what has happened to their captain, when their investigations are
disturbed by the arrival of several unexpected allies -- the first, a pair
of Soul Hunters, and then, the Technomage Galen.  Each have come to help
the Rangers for their own reasons, but all agree that Julia must be
saved... and soon enough, Galen and the Soul Hunters devise a means to
locate the Observer's missing soul, and Klairika and Sheynell are summoned
into action to help search for their Captain.

Back in the other reality, battle is soon joined between the forces of
Alliance and Empire, and Sha'var Alyt Sheridan eventually orders the
EXCALIBUR to be destroyed. This action is thwarted, however, by an
unexpected energy burst from the EXCALIBUR that disables the SHARD, the
arrival of a second fleet of Alliance warships lead by Shai Alyt Sinoval
himself...and finally, by a direct intervention from Julia that causes the
Other to collapse.  

In short order, the SHARD, now cut off from the rest of the Imperial
forces, is boarded, and Julia, now in control of the body she shares with
her opposite, is captured by a force of Minbari and taken onboard the
EXCALIBUR.  A number of revelations soon follow, chief among them being the
fact that the 'Admiral' in command of the Alliance is none other then
Jeffrey Sinclair.  Sinclair, aided by Zathras and at least three
Technomages, has been expecting Julia's arrival -- Zathras in particular
tells her that she is 'to teach' her opposite how to bring Sheridan out of
the darkness and into the light -- and she soon discovers that the price of
failure may be very great indeed.

And is failure inevitable?  For in the aftermath of the disastrous attack
on the EXCALIBUR, Sheridan's wife and fellow officer Elizabeth Lochley has
ordered the arrest of her husband, so that he may be returned to Minbar to
pay the price of their defeat at the hands of the Alliance forces.

				* * *

                     AND NOW, THE CONCLUSION...

				* * *

	My name's Garibaldi.  Michael Garibaldi.  And for the last ten years or
so, I've served as Armsmaster to one of the senior Earth-sect houses in the
Empire.  Those years have consisted of good days, bad days...and days when
it's almost been safer not to get out of bed, if you know what I'm saying.
And just in case you have a hard time making guesses, yesterday was
definitely one of those days.

	The day started when Sha'var Alyt John Sheridan, he of the mad power
trips, gave the order to destroy the latest Interstellar Alliance flagship,
a newtech destroyer named EXCALIBUR.  And you know what?... to start with,
things looked good.  It looked like our Sha'var Alyt was actually going to
have a numerical advantage in ships for a change, and that the jump-out and
attack was going to be a serious shock for the bad guys.  Hell, to start
with, it looked like I might actually get to board something, and capture
some people.

	In other words, it looked too good to be true, and soon enough, the tables
were turned.  First, one of our Warlocks, the BASILISK, gets taken out by
the EXCALIBUR's main gun... then, our secret weapon, a ship named SHARD OF
NIGHT, is disabled by a new Alliance defensive gizmo of some sort, and
finally, just to throw salt on the wounds, Shai Alyt Sinoval *himself*
rides in with the cavalry.

	Needless to say, SHE wasn't very happy about all this, and everyone in the
Imperial military knows how things work when the generals lose too many
battles -- it's 'off with their heads', as the old saying goes.  During the
night after the battle, she wouldn't see him, wouldn't even speak to him,
and finally, this morning, she ordered me to arrest the man she'd been
married to for twenty-five years, and get him ready to go back to Minbar to
face the music in front of the Council of Ascension.

	Sounded like a great plan, as plans go -- I never really did like the guy
in any case.  It's always the same with his type, give 'em too much power
and it always goes to their heads.  And the order was simple enough to
execute -- go to Sheridan's quarters, break the door down and throw him in
the brig.

	Only... you see, there was this *small* problem.  While I was on the way
to said quarters, Sheridan's sanctum, along with a six-hundred or so foot
long section of the ENCHANTRESS's hull, detached and decided to go its
seperate way, luckily before I tried to open the door.  That sneaky
bastard, I told myself at the time, he ran *before* we could arrest him,
not exactly the most Imperial thing to do, but not terribly surprising,
either.  As a result, SHE is now furious, and the Drakh aren't much
happier.  While every ship under HER command is now chasing this little
black organic splinter-ship with a Sheridan inside it.

	And I thought yesterday was bad.  So far, today's shaping up to be much,
*much* worse.

				* * *  

	Interstellar Alliance flagship EXCALIBUR -- enroute from Zander Prime to
Transfer Beacon 1175-A.  11:35 hrs, EST, March 10th, 2267.

	Julia sat in front of the Technomage's Mirror, now dressed in the familiar
black-and-grey uniform of her craft, and tried not to shiver.  The last
time she had been placed in this position, her opposite had abruptly and
very ruthlessly taken command of their shared body and forced her into a
prison she had escaped from mostly due to sheer luck.  For now, the Other
was silent and sullen, still in shock from the revelations of the last few
hours.  For now, she had the upper hand.

	For now.  How long this would last depended entirely on how the upcoming
conversation went -- and also, of course, on her not letting her
concentration lapse even for a moment.  Entil'zha Sinclair, before he and
the others had retired from her side, had warned her not to lose that
control even for a moment... until they had 'shown the truth to your
apprentice' as he had put it. Although what the truth consisted of was yet
to be revealed.

	"You will have to hold very still while we finish making the adjustments."
the Technomage named Jaenisara warned her.  "The Gatekeeper has told us
that the instruments of Contact are very easy to destroy, and none of what
we are attempting here will be possible unless you and the woman we know as
'the Darkness Born' can talk to one another *face to face*."  Julia was
finding it especially difficult to talk to the Technomage, and merely
nodded in return -- in her reality, this woman was Jennifer Westcastle, her
teacher, friend and confidante, while here, she was an unknown quantity; a
person with a different name, history and identity...

	"You have a question?"

	Julia jumped, before raising her eyes to meet Jaenisara's.  "Am I that
easy to read?"

	"In some respects, you are veiled to us... but in others, it is as if a
brilliant light is shining upon your soul.  You are multi-faceted,
Anla'shok Tikopai -- in short, a very dangerous woman for your age.  The
question you wish to ask me is an important one to you, however; ask it."

	"Were you... ever known by another name?"

	Jaenisara sighed.  "I thought it might be that.  The answer to your
question is yes, child; I *was* known by another name... before I was
reborn, that is."

	"Reborn?"

	"Yes.  My father's trading fleet was destroyed by an Imperial Wolfpack
squadron over fifteen years before the start of the Shadow War, and I was
the only survivor of that attack.  I was thrown into an escape pod before
the end, and drifted for days all alone, with very little in the way of
supplies or air. I nearly starved to death before I was rescued..."

	"Who was it that resuced you?"

	Jaenisara smiled, then -- a smile of wistfulness, and memory.  "Alwyn was
the one who rescued me, Isabelle at his side even then... and in the years
that followed, the skeletal wraith that a Technomage and his pupil rescued
from certain death blossomed into his latest protege.  Together we are very
powerful, as the Empire has discovered already -- and with the addition of
other allies you have yet to meet, we can be formidable."

	"Then the purpose of this mission..."

	"Has yet to be achieved." Jaenisara freely admitted.  "Your capture and
the encounter with the forces loyal to Sheridan was only the first move in
a much bigger pattern, and success is far from certain..."

	"And what of my return through the gate?" she suddenly exclaimed.  "How
long am I to be trapped in this shadowy reflection of the worlds and
peoples I know and care about?"

	"You will know when you are no longer needed." the technomage assured her.
 "The Gatekeeper will relax his hold on you, and those who seek you out
will be able to find you at last.  But be warned -- it may take longer then
any of us wish for that moment to come.  As such, the time for talking is
finished; the time for you to confront your opposite has come.  Behold."

	The mirror shimmered then, and Julia gazed into the Looking Glass and
shivered anew, as a reflection came into being, a reflection of the
Darkness in her own soul that she had only touched briefly during the
Thirdspace Crisis, almost six years before -- a reflection whose hateful
gaze seemed to burn with its intensity.

	And then, as Jaenisara made another adjustment, a whisper of that hate
emerged from the mirror, a voice brittle with venom and fury.  "Usurper, I
name you." the Other began.  "And betrayer of all I hold dear!"

	"If that is your wish," Julia coldly replied.  "My lady Darkness Born.
But I have promised the Entil'zha I will do what he wants me to do, and
unless I succeed, you will never know peace.  You will never be alone in
this body ever again... is that what you want?"

	"I will see your spirit torn to shreds and scattered to the winds before I
give in to your ENTIL'ZHA, Usurper.  I am what I am, a soldier of the
Empire, an agent of chaos.  I am, and always shall be, your enemy -- you
cannot change that.  You *cannot* change me... I will not allow it."

	So be it; if that was the way she wanted it, that was the way it had to
be.  "That is your line to hold if you wish, of course... a line in the
sand -- an enviable line, I will admit.  But I have sworn to break that
line, in Valen's name, and I shall."

	The Other was about to reply, when a sudden, sardonic chuckle filled the
room, and Julia whirled away from the mirror to see a figure in the doorway
of Jaenisara's sanctum: a man she hadn't expected to meet for some time to
come, if ever.  But here he was, all the same.

	"And so the two unmovable mountains collide." Matthew Gideon drawled, as
he and Jaenisara locked gazes, and appraisingly nodded at one another.
"Now which of the two will be first to splinter, do you think?"

				* * *

	Elsewhere on the EXCALIBUR, a figure gazed out upon the ruthless red light
of hyperspace, and the various destroyers, cruisers and fighter groups
accompanying the Alliance flagship on its run to the nearby transfer point.
 A sigh emerged from the figure, then -- where he was at the moment was a
very VERY long way from his home, from his friends, his teachers, and most
especially, his brothers.  He missed his brothers, and although he had been
warned by the Guardian of the Machine that the path he would shortly be
following would take him even farther away from those he cared for, the
pain of seperation could not be ignored.

	And yet, there *was* the mission to occupy his thoughts, the task that had
occupied most every waking moment of his life for almost as long as he
could remember.  The ONE had been preparing him for this task for a very
long time, of course, and the moment would soon be coming when all would
come down to success...

	Or to ultimate failure.

	Just for a moment, his hand strayed down towards the fold in his loose
overcoat that contained a small box.  A small, VERY important box -- a box
that would change the future, and create the past that had been.  If all
went well, that was.

	And then, behind him, the door opened, and the brilliant light beyond
spilled into the chamber.  He turned, then, to see the figure of the human
who was his friend, the human he had followed for many years, now.

	The human who was the ONE.

	"Zathras," Jeffrey Sinclair began, "We need to talk."

				* * *

	Imperial Warlock Class Destroyer ENCHANTRESS.  11:47 hrs, EST.

	"What do you mean," Sha'var Alyt Elizabeth Lochley, formerly Sheridan,
snarled, as her first officer visibly winced, "You've lost his trail?"

	"Splintership trails have always been notoriously difficult to follow,
Sha'var Alyt," Warren Keffer carefully replied.  "For starters, we didn't
know that he'd had one built into the hull of the ENCHANTRESS until it was
too late. Empire splinterships are based directly on the Dark One's
technology -- one group of Drakh servants have been using them for
thousands of years..."

	"Pa'trakar Keffer," she ground out, each word pronounciated slowly and
with deadly emphasis, "Let me make something absolutely clear to you.
Sooner or later, the Council of Ascension and our superior officers are
going to realize that we've lost him.  At that point, they will be looking
for someone to execute.  I assure you, Pa'trakar, I do not intend to
shoulder the blame for this travesty of a mission.  In fact, I give you one
guess as who I will blame for the loss of Sha'var Alyt Sheridan."				

	Pa'trakar Keffer got the point very quickly.  "I understand, Sha'var Alyt.
 We'll find him."

	"You'd better."

	It was, of course, at that point that an alarm rang out on her bridge...
and Lochley slowly clenched her left hand into a fist.  That particular
signal meant one thing and one thing only -- a squadron of small warships
had just leapt into existence on the ENCHANTRESS's scanners, and besides
the still damaged and only-just-reclaimed SHARD OF NIGHT, there was only
one squadron in the Fleet that had that capability.  And that meant that
the Council of Ascension already knew a great deal too much about the
current situation for her own peace of mind.

	"We are being hailed, Sha'var Alyt." Keffer informed her, his face now a
frozen mask.  "Do you wish to accept the hail?"

	A dozen responses whirled through her mind at that point, but finally, she
nodded; was there really any other choice?  "On screen."

	The woman that appeared there was someone that many in the Fleet feared,
for she was the only squadron leader in the entire EMPIRE that answered
directly to the Tyrant himself.  Again and again, she and her Wolfpack had
proven their worth in the wars of the past ten years, and their victories
were widespread and numerous.  The gold-and-gray uniform she wore was a
symbol all its own, unique and one of a kind.  And even she shivered, then,
as that woman smiled a smile of bitter purpose, a smile that almost always
meant death was waiting just around the corner for someone.  

	Somewhere.

	"Alyt Tha'ssele Sheridan, how good of you to be so predictable."  The
smile widened, then, however.  "Oh, my mistake... it would be Sha'var Alyt
Sheridan now, wouldn't it?"

	"LOCHLEY." she icily corrected.

	"Hmm.  An understandable response on your part, Sha'var Alyt, but not
entirely unsurprising, either... although it will, of course, make my job a
whole lot easier."

	"Do you mean to say that..."

	La'sekvah Susan Ivanova nodded mirthlessly in reply, the smile now gone.
"I do not believe I have to remind you, Sha'var Alyt, that I am the
Huntmaster of the Empire.  And this, I *assure* you, will be a Hunt I will
enjoy.

	Please DO stand by.  I'm coming aboard."

				* * *

	Elsewhere...

	Below her, a dizzying galaxy of light whirled, and all around was
darkness.  Klairika extended her arms, almost terrified by the perspective,
as she slowly spun over what appeared to be ten thousand light years of
emptiness. The perspective was almost enough to make her ill...

	<Don't be foolish, Brakiri.> Galen coldly informed her through the link
with Sheynell... and how *that* was possible was something she didn't even
want to touch at the moment.  <What you are seeing is a virtual projection
of the gateway.  Below you are the myriad lights of this domain, beyond,
the darkness of the Gap Between one world and the next.>

	<But... it's so dark!>

	<There is no need for you to fear -- the Soul Hunters and I have already
located that which you seek.  Open your eyes, and see for the first time
what is around you.>

	Gritting her (virtual?) teeth, Klairika forced herself to turn away from
the light below her, and towards the darkness above.  Slowly, very slowly,
her eyes adapted, and tiny gray patches slowly began to appear against the
black night of the Gap Between.

	<What... what are those?>

	<Other worlds.> the Technomage noted.  <You see what might have been,
Klairika Alidiae, possibilities we chose to ignore.  Now!... between here
and the possibility we seek, you will see a path to follow, a path that
will lead you to that which we seek.>

	Almost she protested, then, that she could see nothing at all... and then,
that all changed, as a faint, gossamer thread of light slowly appeared, a
thread that ran off towards one of those faint gray galaxies of light, off
in the distance.  <Is that...>

	<The link between her body and her soul, yes.> Galen replied.  <The Gate
allowed her to make the trip almost instantly.  You do not have that
luxury, I'm afraid.>

	<How long will it take to reach her?>

	<We do not know the answer to that question.  We only know that time is
running out.>

	<And if we can't rescue her before the Gate closes?>

	<She will be trapped in the other reality, I'm afraid.> Galen informed
her.  <And if we are not careful, so may you.>

				* * *

[Cue Dramatic Music]

KLAIRIKA ALIDIAE
We are the Watchers...

[Klairika standing on the bridge of the SHARD OF NIGHT, an image of the
EXCALIBUR hanging in the air in front of her.]

SHEYNELL KEYNES
We are the Warriors.

[Images: Sheynell at the tactical station, the battlecruiser firing its
main gun and destroying a Drakh capital ship]

LARIEKEN
We are the Guardians...

[Image: Larieken defending his Captain against Z'shailyl attackers, warrior
pike in hand]

VEYSHAHK
We are the Healers.

[Image: Veyshahk at his desk in MedSection, an image of the Drakh virus on
his computer screen.]

DASOURI and NICHOLAS DAWSON
We are the exiles...

[Image: Nicholas in Engineering, Dasouri at the helm of the SHARD]

JULIA TIKOPAI
And I am the Seeker.

[Image: Julia's face, lit by candles, the stars of the Galaxy beyond]

KLAIRIKA ALIDIAE
We are the Rangers of the SHARD OF NIGHT, in this, the Earth Year 2267.

[Image: The SHARD OF NIGHT enters, from the left...]

JULIA TIKOPAI
This is our story.

[... before engaging darklight mode, and going into hyperspace.]

		      S T A R   A N D   C I R C L E 
		     "T H E  S E E K E R' S  F I R E"

				* * *

			STAR AND CIRCLE created by
		 David Goldingay <dgolding@connect.ab.ca> 

				* * *

			  Legal Disclaimer:	

BABYLON 5, CRUSADE and all characters and situations thereof are the
creations and copyrighted property of J. Michael Straczynski and Babylonian
Productions. This series is a non-profit creation for the purposes of
private entertainment only. Original characters and situations are
copyright of the
author, 1997-99.

				* * *

Coming soon: Act I of Episode V: "Their Proper Time and Place"	

http://www.connect.ab.ca/dgolding/index.htm 	





From: dgolding@connect.ab.ca
Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode V, Act I
Date: Tue, 31 Aug 1999 15:50:13

	  	 "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE"	
			      EPISODE FIVE
		     "THEIR PROPER TIME AND PLACE"

	(disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture)

				 * * *

	<<ACT ONE>>

	"Who are you?" - Galen

				* * *

	ISAS EXCALIBUR -- near Transfer point 1175-A. March 10th, 2267.

	#There#

	In a room that looked out to hyperspace, two individuals spoke to one
another.  One had ascended from nowhere to become Entil'zha of the
Anla'shok years before -- an ascent that had certainly saved the
Interstellar Alliance from defeat on a number of occasions.  In time, most
of the Alliance Council had also come to call him 'Admiral'...there were
some days when he wasn't sure whether he had deserved that title or not,
but the time for wondering was nearly past, now. 

	The other, of course, had appeared at his side during one of the many
battles that had filled those years.  Since then, they had not only saved
each other on a number of occasions, *he* had also helped to save the lives
of many of their comrades.  That they were close friends could not be
argued with.  That they were approaching the greatest challenge of their
lives to date could also not be argued with.

	"The One knows what this is," Zathras declared, as he showed a small box
to Sinclair.  "Does he not?"

	Sinclair nodded.  "There is a bargain to be made, a price to be paid in
what we attempt, Zathras -- he told me this moment would come.  For a very
long time now, I've understood and accepted the need for this
sacrifice...and in time, so will she.  The path is clear, as always it has
been."

	"Path may be clear," the short and quizzical alien accepted, "But path is
never easy, this Zathras has known from beginning.  To come to this place
and this time not easy  -- first, needed to be taught what needed to be
known.  Things you must do, to ensure all will go well; if matters not
accomplished properly, *very* bad."

	"The matter of Sheridan being one such -- the matter of our errant visitor
from elsewhere being another.  Are there any other major reality-altering
revelations you can think of at the moment?"

	"<tck, tck> List of things to be done not all known to Zathras, but
knowing too much mean defeat, defeat mean no success... no, not waste time
on things that have not happened -- this is what must happen.  Before
anything else, the One must reveal the truth to the Apprentice, help the
Visitor in her quest."

	Sinclair sighed.  "That won't be an easy task, Zathras -- we may have
captured her, but she's been trained by the Empire to be what she is almost
from the beginning, as are almost all the great children of the Empire's
houses -- the 'Rings' as they are called.  To succeed in this aim, we need
to show her something that will turn her view of the world upside down and
inside out."

	Zathras conceded the point.  "Must soon travel to the Great Machine to
meet the Guardian and the Gatekeeper... what we seek, they can provide,
this Zathras know to be true.  Final path you must travel in the service of
Light will also be revealed, when destination is arrived at."

	"And until then?"

	Zathras grinned toothily.  "Attack, the Visitor will, the wall that cannot
be destroyed.  Slowly, very slowly, until wall appears strong -- but is
weak.  Then ... ptttth! ... the One will push, and wall will fall down.
The One will see the truth of this when the moment comes." Zathras
finalized, with some emphasis.

	"And afterwards?"

	"The Circle must be closed.  Told us this truth, THEY did, long ago.
Different moments for different paths, Zathras was told; finally, Zathras
stopped arguing, when realizing arguments bad for Zathras's health."

	"You know, in all the years we've known one another, you've never told me
who 'they' were."

	"The One will learn the answers to all his questions soon enough."

				* * *

	"Splinter?" the Other contemptously exclaimed, as Gideon strode up to the
mirror.  "You don't really expect me to take that comment *seriously*, do
you?"

	"When I'm being serious," the captain of the EXCALIBUR replied, as
Jaenisara slipped off into the shadows behind the mirror, "It's usually for
a damn good reason.  In fact, as near as I can tell, you seem to be
desperately in need of a reality check."

	"WHAT?"
	
	"You know what your problem is?" Gideon continued, apparently warming up
to the topic even as an incredulous Julia watched on, "You think you've got
all the bases covered, when you don't even know what game is being played."

	"I know everything I need to know about you and your kind, Captain Gideon!
 Your Interstellar Alliance is weak and undisciplined, and sooner or later,
our agents will shatter it from within, while our fleets grind yours into
powder.  It's inevitable, really..."

	"Did I just hear the word 'weak' come out of your mouth a moment ago?"
Gideon inquired.  "If that's true, then why is it your *glorious* Empire
has lost every major battle it's fought in the last nine months, including
the one in which your ultimately bad copy of a White Star was supposed to
have destroyed *my* command? 

	I'll tell you why -- your military leaders are so afraid of getting their
heads chopped off that they're all starting to turn on one another, secure
in the belief that if all their rivals making the bad decisions are
elliminated, they can win the war for your Tyrant... that the 'bad news'
will stop coming.

	Only thing is, there's a big problem with that logic, and again and again,
history has proved me right.  And every time an Imperial poster child like
yourself makes that argument, I hear the sound of another nail being
pounded into the coffin."

	"The servants of the darkness I love will destroy you!" the Other cried.

	"Why do you love their darkness?" Julia exclaimed.  "They don't care for
you, or any of their 'allies'... not the Warrior Minbari, and certainly not
you! Don't you see that you're their tools in the war against the Light,
and peace... and freedom?  Don't you understand that once they've broken
you, they'll fling you aside and pick up the next rising star that comes
along?"

	An almost inarticulate cry of rage emerged from the mirror then, and the
Technomage construct shimmered and went blank, while Julia winced and began
to massage her suddenly pounding temples.  "If you wanted to make her mad,
Captain, I believe you may have succeeded."

	"You looked like you needed to be taken out of the line of fire, if only
for a little while." Matthew Gideon noted.  "And besides, I happen to know
most of what going on anyways... the angrier we make her, the more off
balance she'll become.  And as I understand it, eventually the Admiral's
planning on administering a knockout punch of some kind."

	"Oh *terrific*." she muttered.  "In that case, can you get one of your
doctors to prescribe some painkillers?  It looks like I'm going to need them."

	"I suppose that can be arranged."  At that point, Gideon's expression grew
a little more focused, and crafty.  "The rumour mill has it that you're
from an alternate reality where the Minbari never turned bad... and also,
that you're the Ranger captain responsible for guarding *my* ship, over
there."

	Julia sighed.  At this point, telling the truth wasn't going to make that
much of a difference.  "In my universe, Captain, the Drakh have poisoned
humanity with a nano-virus that's going to kill most of our race in just
under five years.  Your opposite has been assigned the task of finding the
cure to the plague, before everyone and everything on Earth is killed."

	"And does, ah, 'he' know there's a ship-full of Rangers watching his every
move?"

	"Uh... not quite."

	Gideon snorted.  "That's what I thought you were going to say.  Take it
from me -- if I were you, I would start thinking of ways to defuse the bomb
that's going to explode when I... ah, *he* does find out."

	"Um... what bomb might that be?"

	"I'll have you know, Miss Tikopai, that we Gideons have never really cared
for the idea of secret protectors all that much."

	"Oh." she whispered.  "To be honest... I never really thought about this
before."

	"Well," Gideon warned her, "Now would probably be a real good time to
start. Because sooner or later, the Admiral and his Techno-ladies are gonna
figure out a way to send you back home, and once that happens..."

	"Boom." she muttered.  "Sooner or later, there's *always* a boom."

	Gideon frowned.  "That sounds like a quote of some time; might I ask who
the originator was?"  

	"The explanation," she wearily noted, "Would take too long, and we don't
have the time.  Let's just leave at this... your warning is duly noted,
*and* appreciated."	

	"All part of the service." the captain of the EXCALIBUR concluded, on his
way out the door.

	Boom.  Julia sighed -- oh Valen, she hoped she wouldn't have to run into
*her* doppelganger.  From what she'd experienced so far, said encounter
would probably NOT be a pleasant one.

				* * *		 			

	Aboard the ENCHANTRESS.

	"As sword-sister, I..."

	"You may dispense with the pleasantries, Sha'var Alyt," Susan Ivanova
frostily interrupted, cutting a surprised Lochley off in mid-ritual.  "I'm
just not in the mood.  In fact, if the voting in the Council had gone even
a little bit differently, I would not even be speaking to you at this time
-- instead, my warriors would have already unceremoniously thrown you in
the deepest, darkest cell on my flagship they could find... which,
incidentally, would have been the ferry to your *very* public execution."

	"Over my dead body." Garibaldi whispered at Lochley's right elbow... at
which point, Ivanova pivoted on one heel, and fixed the Armsmaster with a
terribly brittle smile.  

	"Armsmaster Garibaldi!... let me reveal a terminally important truth to
you at this time.  If the order had come down, I would quite *cheerfully*
have ordered the deaths of whatever portion of this warship's crew decided
to get between me and the target of my hunt... yourself included.  Luckily
for you, however, the target I seek is not the woman you have sworn to
protect from harm -- Death has another target in mind, this day."

	Lochley let out a long breath.  "May I assume you're referring to my
former husband?"

	"You may indeed.  The vote of the Council was very close, but the end
results cannot be argued with... and my Master confirmed those results in
person -- a rare event, in these times.  You are not to be blamed for the
loss at Zander Prime or for the loss of the Imperial officer most
responsible for this crime.  You could not, after all, have predicted his
actions... through your union with this man, you allowed yourself to be
blinded with respect to his true rebellious nature and intentions.  It is,
in fact, commendable that you broke off that union when you did; if you had
not -- if you, in fact, had tried to protect him..."

	"I understand your... point, La'sekvah." Lochley assured Ivanova.  "I
consider the matter to be a closed one."

	"And she has a knack for self-preservation, as well." Ivanova noted, while
Lochley kept an iron grip on the anger that threatened to erupt out of her.
 "The Tyrant *will* be pleased.  And the lives of your darling children
will continue for now, it seems."

	"What orders do you have for me and mine?"

	"As it turns out, the Council of Ascension has ordered your battlegroup
recalled to Minbar nearspace... and you, yourself, are summoned into the
presence of the Council, Sha'var Alyt."

	"While the search for my former husband..."

	"Will be handled by my Wolfpack." Ivanova confided, "Who are *more* then
capable of tracking him down and capturing him."

	"And if he resists?"

	Ivanova shrugged.  "Well, we'll just have to kill him then, I suppose."

	"I see.  Is there... anything else you wish to pass on at this time?"

	A pause, then... but finally, the Imperial Huntleader shook her head very
slowly.  "No, I think I've managed to cover all the really *important*
points during this discussion.  You can run along now, Sha'var Alyt...

	WE'LL handle this matter, from here on in."

				* * *

	Elsewhere.  In between the worlds.

	<We're getting closer, now.> Sheynell noted, as the indistinct presence of
Klairika sailed on through the darkness beside her.  <The lights of that
reality -- they're almost as bright as ours was, when we first stood in the
gate.>

	<How long has it been, now?>

	<A few hours at the most -- I think.  It's getting difficult to tell how
much time is passing in this place.>

	<And when we *do* get close enough, how exactly are we supposed to find
her?  Our magnificently mysterious ally never saw fit to tell us that
detail, now did he?>

	<No.  Not yet.  As a matter of fact, I haven't felt his presence close by
for some time now.  It's almost like he's standing aside, waiting for us to
make the first...>  At that moment, Sheynell froze, as a bizarre, almost
frightening icy wave passed through her.  Past generations had, she knew,
referred to this sensation as 'someone walking over my grave', but what was
causing it, in the here and now?  She focused her telepathic senses on the
origin, and to her astonishment, the still quite distant galaxy of the
alternate reality seemed to flare into an endless blaze of light.  A blaze
that expanded until the light and her were as one...

				<flash>

	"Is she safe?" a voice inquired.

	"It was touch and go for a while," another, familiar voice replied, "But
yes, she's safe now.  Using the Kyle Technique, we managed to remove all of
the Shadow circuitry from her brain without damaging any of the higher
functions.  Once that had been achieved, we were of course able to remove
the exterior implants without too much difficulty..."

	"Can she hear us?"

	"I suspect so; as a matter of fact, she has been drifting closer and
closer to consciousness for some time now."

	A flare of light dazzled her, and then gradually resolved into two faces,
the ceiling of this place just beyond.  One of the two was familiar to her
-- it was Veyshahk.  While the other?	

	Oh Valen, no!  It was... 

	Him.

	"John?" a voice murmured.  "What are *you* doing here?"

	Sheynell jumped, then -- the voice was *her* voice, but she hadn't -- she
hadn't been the one doing the thinking!  Oh no, this was...	

	"When I heard you'd been captured, there wasn't anything in the galaxy
that could have prevented me from coming here.  And when I heard what
they'd done to you, there was nothing that was going to tear me from your
side, Sheynell.  It's taken a long time, but I finally realize how much you
mean to me... I don't know what I'd do if you were killed."

	"We're the best telepathic operatives the Alliance has got." the other
Sheynell noted.  "The regulations aren't going to give us the kind of free
time you want."

	"To Hell with the regulations!"

	"Well... if you want to break regulations, why not one more?"

	It was then that she turned to run, to escape.  She didn't belong here,
there had to be a way out!

	A voice.  She could hear a voice.  What was it saying?  The voice sounded
agitated, sounded almost...

	Angry.

				<flash>

	<Focus, damn you!> Galen cried, as a very disorientated Sheynell emerged
back out into the darkness.  <It is bad enough that one of you has been
lost through this breach, I will *not* allow another to pass through
unheeded!>

	<What... what happened?>

	<You allowed yourself to become synchronized with your alternate self.>
the Technomage informed her, his voice stern, his tone frosty.  <Perhaps I
should have been more clear when we began this operation -- neither of you
can allow yourself to relax in this medium.  As you have already discovered
first hand, it is entirely possible to fall completely through the gate...
there is a chance that you will be lost to us as well if you do not *focus*
on the matter at hand.

	Do you understand?>

	<I do.> she whispered, her voice trembling.

	<I will not warn you again.  The next time this happens, the Praetor
Questus may have to break you out of this working.  And if that happens,
Sheynell Keynes, all that we are working towards will be doomed to
disaster, for you are the link that holds us together.  Focus on the duty
at hand, or lose your captain forever.>  And with that harsh reminder, the
razor-fine form of the Technomage's mind vanished from the link, leaving
the two Rangers alone with their thoughts.

	<What did you see?> Klairika tentatively began.

	<It wasn't what I saw,> Sheynell dully replied.

	<It was what I felt.>

				* * *

	For the longest of times, he had enjoyed the feeling of power -- the glory
of winning battle after battle at the head of his fleet.  But then, the
arrogance that came from being one of the Council's premier warriors had
taken its toll.  In the end, it had come down to the simple fact that this
battle could not be lost.  He could *not* be beaten!... it simply wasn't
possible.

	Not possible.  It was then, light years away from any living thing, that
John Sheridan clenched one trembling hand.  He could not shut out the agony
that burned inside him -- the agony of failure.  The Empire that had
proclaimed him favoured son had now turned against him -- the Councillors
who had heaped their commendations and medals upon him were now calling out
for his blood.  What could be done?  Was there any way out for him?

	Yes, there was.  He knew there was -- the only choice remaining was the
choice that would destroy what he had been, and create a new man in its
place.  The only thing that remained, the only possible choice to be taken,
was to help destroy the system that had created him, or be destroyed in
turn.  Either it would survive the winnowing to come, or he would.

	There was *no* other option remaining to him.

	And then, all of a sudden, his ship warned him that the unthinkable had
occurred, that jump points were beginning to tear space asunder around him.
 Was this the Imperial Wolfpacks, come to nip at his heels, come to take
him down into Hell?  Or had he gone far enough towards Alliance space to
make himself an interesting target for their intelligence gathering forces?

	A moment later, Sheridan received his answer.

				* * *

	Onboard White Star 750, the flagship of the Interstellar Alliance's Third
White Star Fleet, a rather interesting conversation was taking place.  "The
frontier probes detected a disturbance -- and for once, it looked like the
probes were right on the money."	 				

	"Interesting." the Minbari who commanded that ship observed.  "An Imperial
splintership.  The predictive abilities of our seers would appear to have
been... entirely accurate in this case.  You and your partner were right to
summon me, Stephen -- this bears investigating.  Especially if the pilot of
that ship is who I think it is."

	At that moment, another human entered the bridge, and quickly made her way
over to the others.  "So, were they right?"

	"Apparently.  The splintership appears to have one occupant...while its
weapons are powered down at this time."

	"Bring us alongside and prepare to grapple."

	"Yes, Sha'vei."

	"You think it's Sheridan in that ship, don't you?"

	"The intelligence reports from the aftermath at the battle of Zander Prime
were very specific; it can be no other.  Any other splintership in the
Imperial Navy would have fired on us long before now."

	"We're still taking a big gamble here, you know."

	Sha'vei Lennier leant forward in his chair, his gaze intent.  "Yes,
Stephen... we are.  But if we are right about this, there is now a chance,
a very real chance, that I may now stand on the soil of my homeworld as a
free Minbari.  It is... my destiny."

	Stephen Franklin sighed, before leaning back in his chair.  "You're going
to try and get us all killed again, aren't you?"

				* * *

	To be continued....

	http://www.connect.ab.ca/~dgolding/index.htm    

	
	From: dgolding@connect.ab.ca
Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode V, Act II
Date: Fri, 03 Sep 1999 17:11:29

 		  "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE"	
			      EPISODE FIVE
		     "THEIR PROPER TIME AND PLACE"

	(disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture)

				* * *

	<<ACT TWO>>

	"What do you want?" - Galen

				* * *

	#There#

	Many of the crewmembers on the bridge of the EXCALIBUR had followed their
captain from his previous command, the surveillance cruiser WARSPITE, and
as such, were after a fashion able to sense his moods.  And without
exception, those crewmembers were now keeping their mouths shut, so as not
to attract his wrath.  Because when Captain Gideon got as irritated as he
was now...

	And then, to their relief, another figure appeared -- someone who'd been
absent from the bridge ever since the battle at Zander Prime has concluded.
 And now would come the explosion.

	"Admiral," Gideon began, his voice *ever* so calm and collected.  "I beg
leave to report that we've now arrived at transfer beacon 1175-A.  And
since that's the case, were you planning on transferring us to some other
location in the forseeable future?"

	"As a matter of fact, Captain, I am.  After some discussion with our
allies, the decision has been made to set course for Epsilon 3."

	"Epsilon 3?  Would you care to explain to me why we're taking an
armed-to-the-teeth Alliance battlegroup into orbit around a planet whose
most evolved lifeform happens to be bacteria?"

	"For now, Captain," Sinclair patiently replied, "It's enough for you to
know that things aren't... exactly what they seem.  It will all become
clear to you once we arrive."

	"Which still doesn't tell me why we need all the firepower."

	Sinclair's expression darkened, as he settled into his chair.  "Let's just
say for now that I'm expecting some Imperial partycrashers to show up at
the main event.  And when our enemies discover what we're up to, they'll
undoubtedly decide the successful completion of our mission is not in their
best interests. "

	"And this mission?..."

	"Would be the part I can't tell you about yet."

	"Rigghht."

				* * *

	The door opened, and for the second time since her arrival on the
EXCALIBUR, Julia stepped into the Technomage's sanctum.  Not a lot had
changed since her last visit -- their 'mirror' still stood in the middle of
the chamber, all alone in its pool of light.  Neither Isabelle nor
Jaenisara had seen fit to explain to her how it worked... but was that so
important?  The only thing that seemed to be important for the time being
was to succeed in the quest that Sinclair and Zathras had laid upon her --
to pull her opposite out of the darkness, and into the light.

	If that was even possible, that was.

	"Recovered sufficiently, have you?" a gentle voice inquired, and Julia
turned in mid-step, to see Isabelle emerge from the darkness.  

	"So it would seem.  But at the same time, I cannot waste too much time
focusing on the minor pains induced by our... coexistence.  I have
something very important to do, here... and unless I succeed, I may never
see my home again."

	"There is a certain amount of truth in what you say." Isabelle allowed.
"But at the same time, understand that Captain Gideon should not have done
what he did.  My Master and the Captain have had words, and I assure you
that he will not interfere in your sessions again."

	"That's probably for the best, I suppose.  And yet..."

	"And yet," Isabelle noted, a smile of amusement touching her features,
"You found it worthwhile to finally meet him... the man who commands the
ship you have been sworn to protect, yes?"

	"Would their happen to be anyone in this little conspiracy of yours that
hasn't been peeking into my reality, just lately?" she sharply inquired.

	"Fear not.  Besides those you have already met, there are very few other
individuals in this place and time that know the details of your origin.
And all of those were contacted by the Gatekeeper... individually."

	"Again, the Gatekeeper!  Just who *is* this Gatekeeper you keep talking
about?"

	"You know him." Isabelle allowed.  "And before this is all over, you will
meet him... again.  For now, however, we must attend to the task at hand
more closely.  We must approach the goal in a more... constructive method
then previously.  And you, Julia, must use your skills of persuasion and
Observance as you have never used them before.  You must ask her five
questions -- and those questions will unlock the door that will take you
home.  But choose carefully... the questions must be the right ones."

	Questions?  "And, how much time are you going to give me to prepare for
this inquisition?"

	"None at all." was Isabelle's reply, and the now stern-featured Technomage
turned towards the mirror, and with a gesture, brought it alight.  "The
moment comes.  Ask the first question, the question that will lead the
woman named Darkness Born onto the road that awaits her."

	"Ah," the sinister whisper came, and Julia gritted her teeth before
turning towards the mirror to meet the malicious gaze of the Other.  "Back
again so soon are you, Usurper?"

	"We have unfinished business, you and I.  A great deal of unfinished
business."

	"Haven't you learned your lesson yet?  The only thing that you will
accomplish in these *conversations*, as you and Captain Gideon have already
learned, is to increase my hate of you and the rest... increase my anger at
the injustice of being trapped here, of being forced to talk to you by
*her* kind.  And that, as you have already learned first hand, gives you
pain."  The Other raised her eyebrows, the smile now manipulative.  "And in
my experience, most people will do just about anything to avoid pain.  How
much pain are you willing to endure, before admitting defeat?"

	It was then that a light came on in her mind... and Julia smiled.  "And
you would, of course, include yourself in that category, wouldn't you?"

	"I *beg* your pardon?"

	"Don't deny it!" she declared, suddenly striding up to the mirror's face.
"I've seen how you respond to pain -- I remember you screaming, as the
Drakh ordered its underling to whip you for your mistakes, so long ago.
And what of the pain you endured when I stopped you from giving the order
to destroy the EXCALIBUR?  What did you do?  You ran away from the pain,
ran away in the only way you knew how."

	"That's not true!"

	"Isn't it?  What is the meaning of pain, do you think?  Why do we endure
it?  And has there ever been a moment when you've stood by someone's side
and endured pain for their benefit?"

	Julia paused, then, and to her amazement and satisfaction, the Other said
nothing, her expression scornful... and a little bit frightened.  "I take
it your answer is no, then?"

	"Have you learned nothing?  In my Empire, it is every man and every woman
for themselves!  Everyone is out to get everyone else, and it is necessary
to kill to get what you want.  The action you describe is alien to my
world... alien to me."

	"Then learn your first lesson.  There may come a moment in your life when
enduring pain to save another may mean the difference between victory or
defeat."

	"You're not going to tell me *you've* endured such a moment, are you?"

	"I have." Julia whispered, as the whispers of a time in her life she
hadn't touched in years returned to haunt her.  "It was almost the end of
the Earth Year 2260..."

				* * *

	It was almost the end of the Earth 2260, and the man we named Rimstalker
had taken the White Star Fleet into battle against the Shadows for the
first time... while the woman he would eventually marry had stayed behind
on Minbar at his order.  He wanted to protect her, you see, to make sure
the Shadows wouldn't touch her.  It was a ultimately futile choice in the
end -- a choice that would lead both of them through darkness and fire,
before victory would be attained.

	On that fateful day, I stood at her side, on the waterfall the Minbari
name Gajn'darahl, and waited for word to come.  The wait was long, and
after much meditation and prayer, she sent me down to the temple below for
the daily meal. I obeyed her of course, for she was my Mistress -- and yet
I rushed through the meal so I might return to her side.  What I found upon
my return, however, was enough to make hope fade -- for in my absence, the
Shadows had come to the heart of the Light... the darkness had come to
steal my teacher away from me.

	The Shadows had come, and with them had come their servants.  I returned
to the waterfall to find a dark-clothed man standing over my Mistress, a
man I knew.  A man I had met before.  Once, the man had served honorably at
her side, but into darkness he had fallen, corrupted by the Shadows.  Come
to take her away into their darkness he had, but he had not expected my
return so soon -- and he smiled at me, and said the following words...

	'I warned you, did I not?  Play with the greater lights, and you will get
burned.'

	I did not know what this meant in that moment... I only knew I could not
let him take her away from me without a fight.  But decision and action are
not the same thing, for the man had not come alone... and his dark-haired
accomplice, concealed by her associates from my sight, decided to strike in
that fateful moment.  A green light played upon the rock, and I looked
down, unable to believe what I was seeing -- not believing it could be
true, that this woman had bowed so low as to shoot an innocent *child*.
But it was true -- and the blood... there was so *much* blood.

	And then?  Then I knew pain.  Even as my mistress screamed, I knew pain.
And then, I knew darkness.

	And it was a very long time before I found the light again.

				* * *

	"But you... you were cut down from behind!" the Other exclaimed, more off
balance in this moment then Julia had ever seen.  "You were ambushed by the
man's accomplice!  How could this action have possibly saved her?"

	"When they attacked her, she dropped her fighting pike." Julia explained.
"And so distracted were they by my appearance, that they moved faster then
they might have... they made a mistake that later cost them both their
lives.  For when the Rimstalker returned to find his love stolen, he took
up the burden of her pike, and walked with it into the darkness.  He
returned it to her hands so they might fight their last battle together.
They made a desperate gamble -- but in the end, that gamble paid off.  In
the end, they both returned to us...

	And I returned to them."	

	And for the first time since their conversation had began, the Other had
nothing to say.  Julia smiled... and then she jumped, as the sound of a set
of hands being slowly clapped cut through that silence.  

	And she ever so slowly turned around, and sighed, when she saw who'd been
doing the clapping.  What a surprise -- she should have *known* he would
turn up, sooner or later.

	"Bravo." Galen allowed, his eyes bright and amused, Isabelle beside him.
"Now what, exactly, will you be doing for an encore?"

				* * *

	White Star 750 - in hyperspace.

	"Who are you?" the voice asked.

	Sheridan looked up into the spotlight, and shielded his suddenly dazzled
eyes, while trying to ignore the painful jolts that were coming from his
jaw.  He'd tried to surrender peacefully when the Alliance Rangers had
boarded his ship, of course, but those Rangers had already decided that was
not going to be an option.  His next memory, the last until a short time
ago, had been of a warrior pike making rather solid contact with said jaw.
And now... now the inquisition was about to begin.

	"You know who I am." he muttered.

	"Who are you?" the voice insisted.  	

	"John Sheridan, Sha'var Alyt of the Imperial First Order."

	"The Conquerer of Vega?  The man responsible for the razing of Ragesh?"

	He nodded.  "That would be me, yes."

	"And what, exactly, is one of the Empire's most favoured warriors doing
skulking around on the edge of our territory, without his fleets, without
his warriors?  It's almost as if you *wanted* to be captured, Sha'var Alyt!"

	"Being captured by you," Sheridan replied, "Is, at the moment, better then
the alternative."

	"And what alternative would that be?"

	"Being chased down by an Imperial Wolfpack and returned to Minbar in
chains.  Unless, of course, the Huntleader happens to be in a particularly
vile mood... then I'd probably just be shot on sight."

	"Interesting." the voice observed.  "Sha'var Alyt Sheridan, have you
actually fallen from grace somehow?  The loss that your fleet endured at
Zander Prime -- has it caused your mighty Council of Ascension to
reevaluate their opinion of your *fine* warrior skills?"

	"Now listen here!" a suddenly exasperated Sheridan shouted, "My own wife
was ready to sell me out -- had actually send the Armsmaster of her house
to our quarters to arrest me!  At times like these, it suddenly became
*real* easy to figure out that the system is ready to toss you aside!"

	"Maybe your *system* has been teaching the wrong things all along."

	Sheridan gritted his teeth, before nodding. "Maybe so.  But after the
fact, as I'm sure you're aware, everyone has twenty-twenty vision."

	"You tried to win, one last time..."

	"And failed.  And now, as the old saying goes, 'if you can't beat 'em,
join 'em."

	A pause came, then, and Sheridan smiled.  Now he had them *right* where he
wanted them.  "Do you mean to tell us, Sha'var Alyt... that you wish to
defect?"

	He sighed.  "Don't suppose a simple 'yes' would convince you, would it?"

	"You are our prisoner." the voice warned.  "We will shortly be taking you
before the Alliance Council -- they will decide your fate."

	"Well," Sheridan muttered, as an abrupt <click> told him the conversation
was over, "We'e all got to start *somewhere*, I suppose."	

				* * *

	"So," Stephen Franklin inquired, as he turned away from the mike, "What
did you make of that?"

	"Do you know," Tessa Halloran-Franklin icily replied, "What I would like
to do to him after that little display, Stephen?"

	"Wouldn't have something to do with throwing him out of the nearest
available airlock, would it?"

	"Damnit, you know how many of our colleagues have died, how many innocent
lives have been lost because that monster in there decided that obeying the
orders of his Council of Ascension was the right thing to do?  Sheridan was
the Imperial officer responsible for carpet-bombing Ragesh 3 in the second
year of the Shadow War.  The Imperials under his command killed thousands
of Centauri in less then an hour during that attack, and who knows how many
civilians since then!"

	"I know." Franklin replied, as he took Tessa's hands in his own, and
clasped them tightly.  "But as much as I would like to agree with you, as
much as I would like to grab that man in there and help you with the
tossing-out-the-airlock part, I have to remind you that we simply do not
have the authority to do that.  I know it, Lennier knows it, and as much as
I'm sure you want to disagree with me at the moment, you know it, too.  In
fact, as far I as know, there are only two people in the whole damn
Alliance who have the authority to decide Sheridan's fate..."

	"Delenn and the Admiral."

	"Exactly.  And you know what?  Whatever penance they decide to make him
serve will probably be a *lot* more painful then spacing."

	"You'd better be right, Stephen."

	"He is." another voice announced, and Tessa and Franklin turned away from
their contemplation of the prisoner as Lennier entered the room.  "Death
is, in every respect, the easy way out for Sheridan.  And yet -- and yet, I
must be sure that he is telling the truth before we rendezvous with my
Leaders.  Very sure."

	"And the nearest available telepaths..."

	"Are the ones under HIS command, as well you know."

	"That's what I thought you were going to say."

	"It is -- necessary."

	"Necessary to actually speak to the man?"

	"Or necessary to ruin what was, up to this point, going to be an
absolutely wonderful day?"

	"Will answering both your questions prove hazardous to my health?"

	"LENNIER!"


				* * *

	Nearby, other eyes, *predatory* eyes, were watching Lennier's squadron of
White Stars with great interest.  "Mistress!  We beseech you, let us act
freely!  This ragged group of Alliance warships that Sheridan has
surrendered himself to... surely you do not believe them strong enough to
repel our advances?"

	"You must have patience, my Huntsman!  While our Hunt may have achieved
its first objective easily because of Sheridan's foolishness in fleeing in
one of *our* splinterships, the TRUE objective of this Hunt has not yet
been attained."

	The Huntsman frowned.  "But what of our orders to capture Sheridan, and
return him to Minbar?"

	Ivanova leant forward in her chair, then, her eyes suddenly narrowed. "In
time, this will happen... but not yet.  For the moment, Sheridan acts as
the bait, drawing in richer targets for our pursuit."

	"Do you mean to say..."

	"Exactly.  The moment draws near, the moment I have waited my entire
career for.  When Sheridan conducted his futile attack against the
EXCALIBUR, unaware that the Alliance was aware of his plan all along, he
had the right target.  He simply chose the wrong moment, and for the wrong
reasons."

	"And the moment of our attack?"

	"Will come soon enough." Ivanova replied with a smile, as she watched the
movements of the prey on her command-screen.  "There will come a moment in
the very near future when the prey will become vulnerable.  That is the
moment I will let loose your chains -- the moment when those who are our
*true* targets reveals themselves.  

	Then, and only then, will the final pursuit begin!"

				* * *		

	#Here#

	Amaranth.  The Labyrinth of Night.  	

	Time had passed -- quite a bit of time, as a matter of fact.  In the
beginning, when his Na'lai and her tactical officer had gone 'between
worlds' as the older of the two Soul Hunters had put it, Larieken had been
told he would have to be patient.  The sun of this place had risen from
behind the icy mists, and Larieken had waited.  It had crossed through its
highpoint, and he and the others, now including *all* of the SHARD's
medical personnel, had waited.  Now, however, he was done with waiting.
None of them, Klairika, Sheynell *or* Galen, had spoken in hours.  Enough
was enough.  He strode forth -- the time had come to...

	Larieken froze then, however, as a strong hand clamped down on his
shoulder.  "Minbari." the Praetor Questus rumbled, "Warned you we did, not
to interfere.  If connection is broken, your captain will be lost to you
forever.  Is this what you wish?"		  

	"No, of course not!  But the sun has nearly gone down again, they have
been at this for *hours*!  How much longer will this take?"

	"Will take as long as it takes... Protector.  Wise we are in the ways of
the soul, but even we cannot say how long a search such as this one will
take.  Many variables, difficult problems to overcome..."

	It was then, of course, that the Praetor Questus's companion, the
Fhedayar, raised his hand away from their silver instrument (a silver
instrument now surrounded by two occupied stretchers and a black-clad
statue that was also a Technomage) and approached them.  "He wishes to
speak to you.  Close they are drawing, after long hours of travel."

	The Praetor Questus let out a long breath.  "Well, this is.  I will speak
to him then, observe the entry of the Rangers into the matrix.  Ensure you
will that the *Minbari* does not interfere while talking to him, I am."

	The Fhedayar bowed in the direction of his superior.  "It shall be as you
say."

	Larieken shook his head, irritated beyond words, before he turned away
from the sight of his friends and strode out into the gathering twilight.
This whole situation still disturbed him -- and in the end, he knew, there
would be a price to pay.

	With Shagh Togh, there was *always* a price to pay.

				* * *

	More relaxed now that he did not have to deal with the suspicious Minbari
who was the Ranger captain's protector, the Praetor Questus firmly grasped
the Soul-searcher in his hand, and closed his eyes.  After a moment, he saw
what he had expected to see -- nearby, the shimmering, partially veiled
essence of Galen -- in the distance, the shimmery soulform of the human
telepath -- and farther yet, hovering over the bright matrix of the other
reality, the more spidery form of the Brakiri... no doubt searching through
that madness for the soul-form of her lost captain.

	<Technomage.  I am here.  Tell me of your progress.>

	<It has been annoyingly touch-and-go in here for the last several hours,
I'm afraid.  Not only did the telepath nearly fall into her alternate body,
but in the last few minutes, I have felt the presence of my own alternate
self in the continuum, very close to the Observer.>

	The Praetor Questus shrugged.  <This is to be expected.  Told you, we did
-- she is the Sha'naktoweire, Technomage.  Around her, the web of destiny
will be woven.>

	<Eventually, perhaps... but not yet.  For now, it is clear that we must
delay the Brakiri and her comrade a while longer.  The moment of Return has
not yet arrived.>

	<A warning I must give you, then, Technomage, a warning you must heed.>

	<Say on.>

	<In recent time, the Gate has become... unstable.  Thought this would
happen, we did.>

	<The instablility -- it is not yet... serious, I trust?>

	<Not yet.  But this may change at any time.  If the Gate destabilizes
before your Moment of Change arrives...>

	<Your warning is heeded.> Galen gravely replied.  <But until the
instability becomes serious, here we will remain.>

	<When Gate is about to collapse, no more then forty of your seconds
warning can I give!>

	<That will be enough, friend, I assure you.  More then enough.  

	Now go.  I have work to do.>

				* * *

	#There#

	"I got your message -- so it's true, then?"

	Lochley nodded.  "Yes.  It's true.  They're hunting him, even as we speak."		

	"I hate to say it, Lizzie, but I told you so.  Twenty-five years ago when
we went our seperate ways, I told you that marrying Sheridan would
eventually lead you to grief."

	"But I didn't want to listen to you."

	"No, you didn't.  Oh well, I suppose love blinds even the *best* of us on
occasion."

	"But not you?"

	A shrug.  "I've never had that problem in my relationships."  The other
woman sighed then, however, a sigh of contentment. "But in the end, I
suppose we both got what we wanted.  You're now the commander of the
Imperial First Order, while I..."

	"Now hold on!  You're not saying what I *think* you're saying, are you?"

	A nod.  "Two days ago, the Majestari chose me as the Ministry's Illa'ri
Tiveillum."

	"Chief Prosecutor of the Empire?"

	"Exactly.  Wonderful, isn't it?"

	Wonderful.  "And when Sheridan is captured..."

	"I will have the honour of conducting his cross-examination in front of
the *entire* Council of Ascension.  The Whole Empire will be watching me,
think of it!"

	"Congratulations." she whispered.

	"Look, I don't mean to cut you off, but I'm all out of time on this end.
When you arrive on Minbar, they'll be plenty of time to talk more... to
talk about *old* times.  Until then, keep safe."

	"And you.

	Zoeie."

				* * *

	"Back again, are they?"

	"Yes.  And in greater numbers then last time."

	"And you're surprised about this, Mr. Eilerson?  Their leader, he is quite
a *focused* individual, isn't he?  He knows what he wants, and he knows
that we will help him... and to assure success, he has reached the point
where he is nearly ready to pay *any* price.  I treasure your suspicion and
protectiveness, for it has saved my kind on a number of occasions, but for
the moment, as my most trusted servant, I require you to go to them, and
bring them here."

	"And then?"

	"Why, the latest move will have been played!"		
	
	"And how close, do you think, are we to checkmate?"

	"Soon." Bester allowed.  "Very soon, now."

				* * *

	To be continued...

	http://www.connect.ab.ca/~dgolding/index.htm

From: dgolding@connect.ab.ca
Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode V, Act IIIa
Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 00:20:40

	  	  "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE"	
			      EPISODE FIVE
		     "THEIR PROPER TIME AND PLACE"

	(disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture)

				* * *

	<<ACT THREE: I>>

	"Where are you going?" - Galen

				* * *

	#There#

	This world had once been known only by a number... before the Darkness had
come, before the Wars had torn the galaxy apart.  But then, one man had
seen, reflected in the eyes of his enemies, the extinction of all those he
cared for, all those telepaths who lived within the borders of the
Interstellar Alliance.  And with a voice louder then any of those he
contended with, this man had ordered his operatives behind the front lines
as the Admiral had commanded... because there was no longer any other
choice.  Because the rebel telepaths under the Empire's control could not
be allowed to win... because the Shadows and their murderous ships needed
to be defeated.  And while those operatives had worked their magics and
died to preserve their kind, he had lead most of his people to safety, and
hidden them away from the prying eyes of the galaxy.

	And in the years since then?  The man had not forgotten the bargain he had
made with the forces of Alliance, had not forgotten that his Imperial
opposite continued to train his own to hunt him down - and so, the
operatives, Sheynell and John among them, continued their work... seeking
out the enemy, and undermining the work of the normals who served their
Master.  In the end, one side or the other would fall to defeat, and Alfred
Bester had long ago decided that his would be that winning side.  And after
that victory?  Bester smiled -- well, that was for the future to reveal.
The Empire was falling, but it had not fallen yet, and for the present,
there was still a great deal of work to do.

	He turned then, as another man entered his inner sanctum.  This man was a
normal of course, and yet... and yet, he had proven himself useful to the
cause, over the years.  Again and again, Bester had sent Eilerson out to
the Rim looking for ancient alien technology to use in the battle against
his opposite... the battle against the Empire.  And when Eilerson had
returned with such riches, Bester had ensured that his servant was well
rewarded.  For now, however, he was displeased.  And it was, of course, for
the *usual* reasons. 

	While Max Eilerson enjoyed *making* deals, he didn't enjoy making ones
that didn't bring money or alien gadgetry into his ever-ready pockets.
This time, Bester had found it necessary to insist his communications and
archeological specialist be the one to deal with the Ranger and his...
needs, from the moment they had landed on his world until the moment they
had left.  The reason for this, of course, had not been the stated one --
Eilerson's ego had been getting just a little too big for comfort in the
last little while, and there were, of course, means of taking care of that
didn't involve... tampering. 

	"Ah, Max!  You have something to report?"

	"I do, sir.  As expected, the Ranger Lennier and his companions arrived a
short time ago with their captive..."

	"Sha'var Alyt John Sheridan of the Imperial First Order."

	"Correct.  Soon after we opened the discussion, Anla'shok Lennier
requested that Sheridan be... scanned to prove the authenticity of his
claims of defection."

	"As expected.  And did Mr. Lennier approve of Ms. Kelsey's examination of
his subject?"

	"As near as I could tell, he did... even after our agent assured Lennier
of Sheridan's sincerity, our Ranger colleague still doesn't trust him."

	"That is to be expected -- it is not enough any longer, in this day and
age, to simply rely on the old adage of 'the enemy of my enemy is my
friend'.  Not when this particular enemy has ordered the deaths of so many
of *his* closest comrades."

	"One thing I still don't understand, though... why didn't you charge him a
fee for our services?"

	"A long time ago, Max," Bester informed his underling, "The Rangers
performed a service for me.  As of this moment, that repayment for that
service has been performed in *full*."

	"Ah.  Now I think I understand..."

	Bester smiled thinly at that remark.  "I sincerely doubt that you do
understand -- in time, maybe, but not yet, and not *now*."

	There was a long pause, then.  "Ah... yes, sir.  Will that be all?"

	Bester nodded, saying nothing... and after a moment, Eilerson left him
alone with his thoughts.  A few minutes passed, then, minutes which Bester
used to compose himself for his next visitor, and then he turned and
smiled, as a tall, dark-haired woman entered his inner sanctum... the woman
who was, even after all these years, still one of his favorite operatives.
<So, Ms. Kelsey -- did we make the right decision?>

	Kelsey nodded.  <Yes, sir.  Sheridan, he is clearly the one we have been
waiting for.>

	<Excellent!> Bester sat back in his chair, and laughed.  The future awaited.

				* * *

	"An encore?" Julia exclaimed.  

	"Why, yes!" Galen replied.  "While you handled asking the first question
quite well, and presently have your opponent at a disadvantage, there are
still four questions to ask, four keys to be turned before you are freed to
return to your own domain.  Again we remind you -- the questions must be
the right ones, or all will be lost."

	It came upon her in an instant, then -- how tiring this all was, how
exhausting it was to be the focus of so much... purpose.  And before she
could take it back, the words came out.  "Why me?"

	"Why... you?" She squirmed, then, as Galen's smile twisted slightly out of
phase, taking on bitter and sarcastic qualities in an instant.  "Anla'shok
Tikopai, have you ever heard the phrase 'curiousity killed the cat'?"

	"Unfortunately," she muttered, "I have."

	"Then please, let me be blunt with you.  The Gatekeeper chose you because
you were the one, out of all the possible realities, that chose to touch
the obelisk when the Keeper made his move... you *are* the Traveller
predicted by Valen.  You must do what you must, or you will never see your
home again."

	"Why," she muttered, "Do I feel like I've just had my knuckles rapped?"

	"Even teachers must have a Headmaster."

	"Oh, *very* droll."

	A laugh stopped her then, and she angrily whirled to meet the revived,
mocking smile of the Other.  "How easily you fall to arguing with one
another -- do you truly believe his claim that asking questions will allow
you to escape from this place?"  Julia narrowed her eyes in thought as she
took in the situation -- at the surface, her doppelganger still appeared
the same.  But if one looked closely, traces of desperation and of fear
were there that hadn't been there before... her laugh, a little shakier
then it had been.

	It was time to end this -- to end the endless banter, the fighting, to cut
to the heart of the matter.  Because unless this was done, the mysterious
'Gatekeeper' would not let her go -- and that was not an acceptable
solution.  Forcing her anger aside, she strode up to the mirror, her gaze
intent, and nodded briskly, as the Other's smile faded away into
uncertainty.  "If they are the right ones, then the answer to your question
is yes.  And while I'm afraid you're not going to enjoy the experience, I'm
actually fairly sure I know which questions they want me to ask you.

	You see, it doesn't matter where we grow up, whether it be in my reality's
Interstellar Alliance or your Empire, there comes a moment in all our lives
when we have to make a choice as what career we're going to pursue, what
path we're going to follow.  My path opened to me when the man my Ranger
comrades named Rimstalker jumped his White Star into Proxima III's
atmosphere to save me and his father -- and while that path has given me
pain and joy in near equal measure over the last seven years, while there
has been moments when I wasn't sure I could continue, in the end I did,
because the path chosen was the right path, chosen for the right reasons.

	The path you've followed, however...it's given you pain, so you've lead
yourself to believe that giving in pain in return is acceptable.  It is
not.  Your leader and his Council of Ascension wish to rule the galaxy with
an iron fist, and those that think the same as they do are rewarded.  In
their eyes, you *do* think the same, but I know better.  You want everyone
to think you enjoy the things you do, that destroying the enemies of the
Empire is what you've been born for.  But that isn't true at all, is it?"  

	"I don't know what you're talking about!"	

	"Don't you?  What loss did you suffer that made you hate the Alliance so?
What tragedy caused you to turn away from the training that would have made
you simply another officer, another daughter of your empire, and step onto
the path that lead to the Drakh?  To the day when you became the Lady
Darkness Born?

	Where is the place where you went wrong?" 

	Rather abruptly, the Other turned away.  "I don't have to answer your
questions, any of them!"

	"That," Galen sharply noted.  "Is no longer your choice to make, I am
afraid. What was said earlier is the truth, you who share her name.  Unless
you tell us what we want to hear, you will never be alone again.  And if we
cannot convince you to move aside from the path, both you and your opposite
will die, and sooner rather then later."

	"What?" Julia exclaimed, turning to face the Technomage.  "You can't be
ser..."

	"Be silent, Ranger." Galen warned her.  "This is the moment we have all
been waiting for."

	"What you, what I..." the Other abruptly stopped, and turned around, and
all those present were surprised to find her face ashen and streaked with
tears... the imperious shell suddenly gone.  "I don't how how to give you
what you want -- I've never done something like this before!"

	"There is a first time for everything.  Now, you must tell us your tale,
tell us of the moment when you set your foot on this path, the moment where
you made the wrong choice -- for the wrong reasons."

	"I must?"

	Isabelle nodded.  "Save yourself now, child, or not at all."

	The Other sighed, and lowered her head in the mirror, even as Julia
watched on, astonished yet again by the sudden turn of events... the sudden
shift in her opposite's mood, as the wall of defeat in front of her was
suddenly replaced by something entirely surprising -- an open hand,
offering help.  "Where must I begin?"

	"At the beginning, of course."

				* * *
	
	Aboard White Star 750, things were finally beginning to move towards some
sort of resolution -- which meant, of course, that Lennier were calmly
sitting in his command chair awaiting the arrival of those he was waiting
for... while Franklin had spent most of the time since the White Star and
its fellow ships had left Bester's stronghold pacing back and forth across
the bridge.

	"Stephen, have I ever mentioned to you that you worry too much?  As I had
hoped, the telepaths were able to confirm Sheridan's claims, and now we
await the arrival of those I contacted, a short time ago.  All is going as
we had hoped."

	"Not quite." Franklin replied.  "In case you've forgotten, Lennier,
there's still at least one Imperial wolfpack out there somewhere looking
for Sheridan, and by now, they must *know* we were the ones that picked him
up."

	"And your point being?"

	"Lennier, one thing I've learned, after helping Tessa oversee the
deep-cover  Intelligence operation these last few years, is that you
*never* stay still for an instant, because just when you think you're safe,
that's when they get you."

	"Ah.  I see." It was then, of course, that the jump-warning rang out in
the White Star's bridge.  "In that case, Stephen, we no longer have
anything to worry about; it appears that those I have been waiting for have
finally arrived."

	"Sir." the Ranger at Ops reported a moment later, "Four Alliance war
cruisers and several smaller escorsts have just emerged from hyperspace.
Shai Alyt Sinoval is waiting on the link to speak to you."

	"You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

				* * *

	"Amazing it is," Sinoval mused some time later, as a resigned-looking
Sheridan walked by, surrounded by Rangers, "How one so great as he could
fall so low.  There was a time when I would have gladly killed him in a
moment like this, Delenn... but that moment has now passed us by."

	"And well for you that it has, Sinoval." came his leader's reply, as she,
too, watched the fallen leader of the Empire's First Order taken away to
one of the more 'comfortable' cells onboard the VELANN.  "His destiny, and
ours, awaits at the world named Valennei'vi -- we should not be late for
that appointment."

	"The world where Valen first appeared, so long ago?" Sinoval replied with
a frown.  "That place is dangerously close to the Imperial border, Delenn."

	"I know, but go we must -- the EXCALIBUR and its fleet will be joining us
shortly after our arrival.  And time is running out."

	"So be it." Sinoval said, before turning to face his waiting, expectant
first officer.  Tirivail..."

	"Shai Alyt!" 	
 
	"You will set course for Valennei'vi.  Best possible speed."

				* * *

	"Mistress." the Huntsman began again, as he slowly, *deliberately* came to
a halt in front of Ivanova's command-chair, "Again, you have let the prey
slip away... and the barrier of Alliance firepower around him continues to
thicken.  Why?"

	"Surely you're not questioning my ability to command?" Ivanova icily
replied, fixing the Huntsman with a sharp glare.  "Because if that were the
case..."

	"No, Mistress!" the Huntsman quickly exclaimed, "Never that.  I only wish
to understand what we are doing here.  For hours now, we have silently
followed the captors of Sheridan, first the Rangers and their White Stars,
and now the command-ship and squadron commanded by Sinoval himself, and
still we have not attacked.  From this, I must assume that the final target
you seek has not yet revealed itself..."

	"Precisely!" Ivanova replied, as on the bridge-screen, the VELANN and its
screen of warships opened a jump point, and fled into hyperspace.  "But
now, the final movement is close at hand, the moment I've been waiting for.
 Would you care to examine the course those Alliance ships laid in, before
they jumped?"

	The Huntsman did, and a moment later, his confusion increased.  "Why are
they going *there*?"

	"A mistake is about to be made, a mistake that my Master has ordered me to
correct.  Now that Sheridan has drawn in his captors as was intended, we
will follow Sinoval and his fleet to *Valennei'vi*." This said caustically.
 "The rest of the Pack will join us there.  And while the enemy attempt to
fulfill their pathetic destinies, there will come a moment of weakness.
And it is in that moment of weakness that their true destiny will be
revealed, and ours will be fulfilled."

	"And there will be no mercy..." the Huntsman stated in finality.

	"None at all." Ivanova whispered, as the Pack leapt through into
hyperspace to continue the pursuit.  She was going to enjoy this.

	Immensely.
		
				* * *

	My name is Julia Katherine Tikopai, and in my time I have been many
things.  I have been a dutiful daughter of the Empire, a daughter taught by
her mother how to fight, and how to kill.  I have stood in the doorway of
the Great House, one Ring among many, and in that standing decided myself
their better.  I have grown arrogant in my successes, and been whipped for
that crime.  I have felt resentment, but at the same time, I have betrayed
my own kind in the Game to become what the Drakh wanted me to be.

	I am not of your world, a world of light compared to my dark, the dark I
have loved -- and now, what I do this day may tear that darkness asunder.
My world is a world of whispers, of alien creatures standing at my bedside
before dawn, their whispers intruding on my dreams.  My world is a world of
levels, of cutting down one's competitors before you yourself are cut
down... and of learning how to hate.  Of listening to the words of my
secret ally the Shadowman, and clawing my way higher up the levels.		

	The Drakh taught me to hate the Alliance, because I only knew the Alliance
as the enemy who had banished our precious Dark Ones.  And I knew a name, a
name screamed out across the light years from the dying throat of my
mother.  And that name was KALAIN, the rogue Minbari who had killed her,
who had ripped her ship apart in the name of his Alliance.  I rose high on
that hate, and swore to avenge her death, swore to destroy the Alliance
that had destroyed her.  In time, I rose far enough that others followed me
through the darkness, Vaar'la fighter units swarming at my beck and call,
tiny motes of hate swarming over the ship commanded by Kalain.  Destroy his
ship, I told them, and destroy it we did... and it was good.

	But the hate was not satisfied with that -- the hate had been fueled by
that fire, instead.  Time and again, I was sent in to succeed when others
could not, and as you now know, I earned the name 'Darkness Born'.  I liked
the name... the part of me that hated loved the name.  And in time, a
delusion came upon me, the thought that I could not be defeated, that it
simply wasn't possible.  And the Drakh fueled these thoughts, until, in the
end, I was given command of the SHARD OF NIGHT, and ordered into battle one
last time.

	The rest...

				* * *

				
	"The rest I know." Julia whispered, as the end of her counterpart's
lengthy tale finally concluded.  "The rest, I've seen."

	"And now, you know my secret," the Other admitted, her tone weary, her
face fearful.  "And what will you do to me, now that you do know?"

	"She will ask you one more question, I'm afraid..." a voice intruded, and
Julia turned and smiled, as Sinclair entered the sanctum.  "And I'm afraid
that it will be the most difficult one of all for you to bear.

	But before that happens, there is something I must show you -- something
important.  Something that show you just how much really is at stake here.
You will meet the two individuals most responsible for bringing your
counterpart into this reality, and learn of your own destiny."

	"Ah," Galen mused, "Nearly there, are we?"

	Sinclair nodded.  "Almost."

	"Well, then -- I suppose we'd better get ready for the battle, then."

	"Oh *no*..." Julia muttered, "Not again!"

	"Did you think the Empire had forgotten about us, Anla'shok Tikopai?"

	"No." she replied, somewhat tartly, "But it would nice, just once, to go
through one of these moments of revelation *without* fighting for our lives
at the same time!"

	"Nice, yes." Sinclair replied.  "Likely, no.  Shall we?"	

				* * *

	#In between the worlds#

	They were nearer to the gate's edge that he, but that didn't stop Galen
from gritting his teeth.  It would be so *very* easy to fall into THAT body
this close to the moment of transition, but that could not be allowed.  But
now, another moment was coming that he and the Soul Hunters had been
concerned about -- the two Rangers, Keynes and Alidiae, having learned the
rules of the search, were about to come across their target, and when that
happened...

				* * *

	Below her, the Maelstrom whirled, but in the (hours?) they had been doing
this, it had gradually dawned on her and Sheynell that the vortex of light
below them had other patterns within it, smaller whirlpools gyrating back
and forth.  She didn't know what these were, but over time, a particularly
large and complicated one had begun to catch her attention, until finally...

	Until finally, she had figured out another critical piece of
information... that the whole vision of the other reality the Gate was
projecting to her was ONE colour, and deep in that complicated whirlpool
was a fleck of ANOTHER...

	<Sheynell!  Isn't that her?>

	<We've had plenty of false alarms in the last little while, remember...>
the telepath warned her.  <We have to be sure it's her, before we leap.>

	<Look closely... can't you see?>  Klairika squinted her eyes, and almost
by magic, the whirlpool seemed to spring closer and slow down a little,
which allowed her to focus in on that tiny fragment of *wrong*-ness.  It
seemed to be paired, somehow, with another part of the whirlpool, a regular
part.  <You've touched her mind... let that be the final factor.>

	Sheynell focused, then, and reached down to 'touch' that spiralling paired
fragment, and jumped, as a jumbled sense of duality sprang back at her...
but also, the familiar *sense* of being that was Julia's and Julia's alone.
 <You were right... it is her!  We've found her!>

	<At last!> Klairika shouted.  <Now we just have to...>

	<STOP!> a voice insisted, and both Rangers winced, before angrily whirling
to face the fiery glow that was Galen, suspended above them in the darkness.

	<Stop?  But we've...>

	<Found her, yes.  But we cannot take her out of the alternate reality --
not yet.>

	<But why?>

	<All in good time.> the Technomage replied, somewhat distantly.

	<That's not good enough, Galen!> Klairika angrily replied.  <Not this time!>

	<Oh.  You want the truth, do you?>

	<I insist.>

	<Insist?> Galen replied, sounding almost amused.  <Oh very well, then...
if it's the truth you want, then I *suppose* I'll just have to give it to
you.>

	<Klairika.>

	<What?>

	<Didn't any of your family ever teach you not to shout at a Technomage?>

	An instant later, the darkness around the two Rangers erupted into light,
and they both screamed...

				* * *

	"Jumpout complete, sir." Captain Gideon announced, as Sinclair, followed
by Julia and the Technomages, emerged onto the bridge of the EXCALIBUR.
"And since there's already a complete Minbari battlegroup and several
Victory-class destroyers in orbit around Epsilon 3, with several shuttles
requesting docking clearances, may I assume the reason you've brought us
all here is about to be revealed?"

	"All in good time, Captain.  For now, however, the time has come to
introduce to you the two individuals most responsible for this whole
affair."  And a moment later, one of those 'individuals' decided to make
his presence known...
	
	"Ah, Sinclair," an exasperated, accented voice accused,  "Here you are at
last... late, as usual! -- and with the annoying young human in tow, as well."

	Julia winced -- she knew that voice.  "Annoying?" she exclaimed.

	"Annoying, yes!" the voice insisted, and a moment later, the voice's owner
sprang into existence, an accusing finger pointed in her direction.  "You
are worse then the rest of them put together for getting yourself into
trouble! When I look at the definition of this word in one of your
dictionaries, there your picture can be found."

	"Oh come now, Mollari..." another voice announced, "You exaggerate, as
usual.  Miss Tikopai simply has a knack, as the humans say, for being in
the right place, for the right reasons, at the worst possible time.  If
this had not been the case, I would not have been able to draw her here,
now would I?"

	"And of course..." Julia wearily noted, as the image of a Narn sprang into
being next to the Centauri, "Where *one* is, the other must also be."

	"Would *somebody*," Gideon exclaimed,  "Like to tell me exactly who these
two are, and why they've suddenly appeared on my bridge?"

	Sinclair nodded, a faint smile on his face.  "I have the honour of
introducing to you all the current Guardian of Epsilon 3's Great Machine,
Londo Mollari.  As well as his close comrade G'kar.

	The Gatekeeper."

	"And the explanation for all this..."

	"Must now be given, yes." Everyone turned, then, to take in the sight of
Zathras, with all four Technomages arrayed behind him.  "All pieces nearly
in place -- the *time* draws near for us to act.  Follow Zathras to
conference room, Zathras and the ONE will tell all what they need to hear."

				* * *

	<continued in next post>



From: dgolding@connect.ab.ca
Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode V, Act IIIb
Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 00:22:18

	  	 "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE"	
			      EPISODE FIVE
		     "THEIR PROPER TIME AND PLACE"

	(disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture)

				* * *

	<<ACT THREE: II>>

	They were nearly home, if anywhere could be called home.  In her time, she
had been the greatest Ring of her house -- in the history of the Empire,
only one other human had done better, and she had eventually married that
man.  And now she was going home, having turned on him for the good of the
Empire -- and to ensure her own survival.

	In the darkness, Lochley clenched one hand and slowly opened her eyes.
What she was feeling, it could not *possibly* be guilt, could it?  Any love
she had for the man had vanished long ago, wiped away by the call of duty.
And now, for the first time in more then five years, she was about to set
foot on Minbar, the throneworld of the Empire.  And if not guilt, then
could this be *fear* she was feeling?

	No, not possible.

	<chime> "Sha'var Alyt?"

	"Yes!" she snapped, suddenly irritated that the peace of her inner sanctum
had been shattered.  "What is it, Pa'trakar?"

	"We've got a signal coming in from Minbar for you, Sha'var Alyt --
priority Ultraviolet-Omega.  Do you wish the transmission to be routed to
your sanctum?"

	Lochley stiffened, and heard all too clearly the *fear* in Keffer's voice
-- and he was right to be afraid, for there was only one individual in the
Empire who held that authority.  "Immediately."  And then it was that she
went down on one knee before the suddenly activated holographic projector,
and shuddered as its light filled the room around her.

	"My Master," she whispered, "Command me!"

	"Arise then, my Mistress of Battles!" the deep, commanding voice of the
Tyrant announced.  "We have a great deal to discuss, you and I -- matters
that cannot wait for your arrival here on Homeworld.  There is a purpose to
this, they have said.

	This game is barely begun."

				* * *

	<I don't believe it!> the Other exclaimed, as a meeting that had included
many important Alliance leaders and allies, in addition to a certain
defected Imperial Warlord, finally came to a close.  <It simply isn't
possible!>

	Julia smiled -- she'd been expecting this all along, of course -- even in
this reality, that particular circle still needed to be closed.  <And why
not?  We all have our purposes in life, even if sometimes we don't see or
understand them at first.  In my reality, Jeffrey Sinclair went back in
time to bring together the Alliance that would ultimately defeat the
Shadows... and in doing so, became the great Minbari leader Valen.  In this
reality, however... things went just a little differently.>

	<Our historians -- they name him Traitor, and Betrayer, as well.  A
thousand years ago, he appeared out of nowhere to lead the remnants of the
Religious Caste into exile.  The Warriors, they were forever trying to
catch him, but it was as if he was untouchable.  They were never able to
catch him, and in the end, what he accomplished sowed the seeds from which
your Alliance sprouted.>

	She laughed.  <My Alliance?  No... I'm afraid not.  MY Alliance was forged
out of the ashes of the Shadow War -- this Alliance was forged to protect
the free peoples of the Galaxy from *your* Empire.>

	<My Empire.>  The Other paused for a moment, then, and took a deep
breath... in a mental sense, at least.  <Only now, after so many
revelations and surprises, do I begin to realize how *wrong* that sounds...
and how long I've been asleep, brainwashed by my teachers... my mother...
my friends.  How will this all end?>

	"A very good question, that is." Julia jumped and turned on one heel, to
find G'kar, or 'The Gatekeeper' as he was known in this reality, critically
gazing at her from a spot on the wall that had been empty a moment before.
"Oh yes, don't be so suprised, Miss Tikopai -- I am more then capable of
hearing both of you at the same time if I so wish."

	"They called you the Gatekeeper -- does that mean..."

	"Yes, indeed.  When the Shadow War was at its height in this reality, a
Vorlon we both know well asked me to guard the gates of the world you know
as Amaranth, while also arranging for Mollari to become the Guardian of the
Machine within Epsilon 3.  Everything has proceeded more or less according
to plan thus far -- but the critical moment is approaching... and much can
go wrong if we are not careful.  Now that *she* understands what is to
come, you must accompany those who are about to descend into the Machine."

	"But the time rift..."

	"Is moving, I am afraid." G'kar confided.  "It formed in Sector 14, of
course, as it did in your own reality -- but time has passed, and with that
passing, the rift has moved.  In addition, it is now much smaller then it
was, and lies quite close to the planetary surface.  The time has come for
us to act."

	"Exactly." Sinclair declared, as he came to their side.  "Anla'shok
Tikopai, I'm going to ask you and your counterpart to join the rest of us
down in the Machine for the final phase of this operation.  There's
something you have to do, and something you have to say while we're down
there -- and G'kar is right.  Sooner or later the Imperials are going to
figure out what's going on here, and when that happens they're bound to
attack..."

	As if on cue, a siren immediately began to wail.  "Sinclair," Londo
sarcastically noted, "You never did know when to keep your mouth shut, now
did you?"

	"Sinclair to Bridge... what's our status?"

	"Not good, Admiral." the reply came, a moment later.  "Several Imperial
Wolfpacks have just come out of hyperspace right on top of us.  Their
commander is ordering us to surrender, or be destroyed."

	"Well, that sounds a little familiar, doesn't it?"  At that point,
Sinclair turned to Gideon.  "Captain, you have your marching orders --
we're descending to the planet to end this, once and for all.  It's going
to be up to you and Sinoval to keep those Wolfpacks off our backs until
this is all over.  Can you do it?"

	"Leave it up to us, Admiral -- we'll get the job done.  And Admiral...
good luck."

	"To us all, Captain -- to us all."  

				* * *

	Next: Will the Mission Succeed?  Will Julia EVER get home?  The answer to
both these questions, coming next weekend (muse willing!)

	http://www.connect.ab.ca/~dgolding/index.htm
	  
From: dgolding@connect.ab.ca
Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode V, Act IV
Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 01:35:31

	Writer's Note - many apologies for the delay on this one, folks, but life
post-Euro trip has not been generally kind to Mr. Goldingay.  HOWEVER, now
that things seem to be calming down again <read - new, more stable job> the
output should be picking up again appreciably in the near future. <as he
keeps his fingers crossed>  And now I've got this alt-reality bug out of my
system...

				* * *

 		 "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE"	
			      EPISODE FIVE
		     "THEIR PROPER TIME AND PLACE"

	(disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture)

				* * *

	<<ACT FOUR>>

	"Who do you serve?  And who do you trust?"
	- Galen

				* * *

	In my time, I have been called many things, some of them not very
flattering.  I have been the Follower, and I have been a dutiful student of
my art and my discipline.  I have stood at the bedsides of those I care
most about in this universe, awaiting their return out of the darkness...
and I have walked through the Fire, in Valen's name, and theirs.  In this
time and this place I am known as the Teacher, and as far as I can tell, I
have nearly completed my tasks in this place.

	Nearly.  For even as the forces of Alliance form a barrier in the skies
above us, a line drawn against the forces of Darkness, Jeffrey Sinclair, an
alternate version of the man who helped me when I needed help the most,
leads us down to the surface of Epsilon 3... our destination, the planet's
Great Machine, guarded in this reality by Londo Mollari... while alongside
our descending shuttle flies the black splintership that John Sheridan,
ex-Imperial Warlord, used to escape from his followers.  

	Why Sheridan should be joining us on the planet's surface is as yet
unclear -- but then again, a great number of things about this 'operation'
are still unclear.  For instance, the 'something to say' and 'something to
do' that Entil'zha Sinclair referred to on the EXCALIBUR.  At the moment, I
haven't got a clue what he was referring to -- I'm *quite* sure it will
come to me soon enough, however.

	Such is the curse of who I am and what I do... such is the curse of
Observance.

				* * *

	#There#

	"Not good." Zathras muttered, as he stood in the middle of the great
skybridge and gazed upward towards the surface of Epsilon 3, as great arcs
of energy crawled up the walls of the fusion reactor core around him,
focused on the temporal disturbance just above the surface of Epsilon 3.
"Rift is becoming unstable -- we warned you this would happen, but listen,
did you?  No!  No one ever listen to Zathras, any Zathras!... and now we
have no more time."

	"There is time enough to finish what must be finished, my quizzical
friend." Alwyn informed Zathras, as the Technomage arrived at his side.
"The stabilization pattern calculated by Isabelle and Jaenisara will
shortly be implemented by your friend the Guardian.  And if we are correct..."

	At that very moment, the pattern of energy on the walls of the reactor
briefly fluxed before establishing itself into a new pattern.  Another
moment passed, and then Zathras breathed a sigh of relief.  "Perhaps
Zathras jumping to conclusions again, as humans have been known to say from
time to time.  Rift has stabilized as you have said -- we have perhaps one
of your hours before focus is lost again.  May be enough time to finish
what must be finished -- for the Teacher to say what must be said -- and
for the ONE to close the circle that *must* be closed."

	"And for that to happen," Alwyn noted, his gaze now far away, "Our
esteemed warriors must do their duty..."

				* * *
	
	"Thirty percent damage to lower decks," the EXCALIBUR's exec tersely
reported, as the mighty destroyer shook from the latest strikes of the
Imperial wolfpack harrying their flanks.  "We're having problems engaging
the Imperial vessels, sir -- they're very much like the splintership that
Sheridan used to come over to our side -- Shadowtech hulls, beam weapons,
and faster then lightning.  Reports coming in from the Minbari captains and
the commanders of the DAMOCLES and SHEVA'TA indicated they're taking just
as much damage as we are.  This can't last forever, sir -- we're going to
have to make a concerted strike at their battleline or face the possibility
that they may break through and attack the region around the temporal rift."

	"They are the Enemy," Gideon replied, as he rose to his feet, "And every
enemy has a weakness to exploit.  Now all we have to do is figure out what
that weakness is."

	A moment later, a transmission from the planet below came that caused both
officers to raise their eyebrows -- a transmission that soon looked like it
was going to provide an answer to the question at hand.  "This is Sheridan
to EXCALIBUR.  Captain Gideon, can I assume you'd be interested in learning
that there just happens to be a design flaw in the Wolfpack battlecruisers?"

	"If you were looking to get my attention, Mr. Sheridan, you now have it.
Start talking -- we're getting pounded to pieces up here, and the sooner
you can give us that information, the better."

	"Then start taking notes, because I'm only going to say this once.  The
only way to kill one of those things is to fire a continous, full-power
energy burst into the bow twenty-five feet above their fighter bays.  If
you hit the right area, this *should* set up a destructive chain reaction
in the bio-hull that will tear the ships apart -- but only if you hit the
right area."

	"And what happens if we miss?"

	"If you miss, Captain, you'll have an angry crew *and* an angry ship
coming after you."

	"So noted, Mr. Sheridan, thank you for the tip.  EXCALIBUR out."  At that
point, Gideon twisted in his chair, to take in the visage of Shai Alyt
Sinoval on the nearby monitor.  "You caught all that, right?"

	"Indeed I did, Captain." the tall Minbari gravely replied.  "And I would
suggest that only your vessel and the two other Alliance destroyers are
capable of this feat.  My battlegroup is presently beginning another pass
towards the enemy line of battle -- perhaps it would be prudent for you to
come in behind and determine whether Sheridan is telling us the truth or not."

	Gideon nodded.  "Clear the way with your cruisers and fighter groups,
Sinoval -- we're coming in right behind you."

	"Be careful in your aiming, Gideon." Sinoval warned.  "I very much doubt
the enemy will give us a second chance to 'experiment' on their vessels."

	"Sinoval, have I *ever* missed a target when it really counted?"

	The Minbari wisely chose not to respond on *that* score.

				* * *

	#In between the worlds#

	<Now do you understand?> Galen asked the two astonished Rangers whose
essences were hanging in front of his, hovering over the whirling maelstrom
of the Mirror reality that had caused everyone involved in this matter far
too much grief already.  <The Soul Hunters and myself have known of this
matter for some time now... but until the moment came when you could prove
to me that you would go so far as to endanger your own lives to rescue your
captain, I could not tell you of this matter.>

	<And the moment came,> a thunderstruck Sheynell whispered, <And all of a
sudden, you didn't have a choice any longer.  You *had* to tell us why we
couldn't rescue her immediately, or risk the destruction of an entire
reality!>

	<Precisely.  Val'na Tikopai has fallen into a temporal nexus of sorts, a
moment of destiny in this reality that cannot be interrupted.  If she had
not arrived on schedule, certain events would not have occured, and in
short order, the forces of Darkness would have triumphed.  As things now
stand, however, there is a very real chance that all will go well - a
chance that the mission at hand may succeed.>

	<The circle must be closed... or everything will change.>

	<Are you trying to tell us,> Klairika exclaimed, <That this happened in
*our* reality, as well?  That Entil'zha Sinclair went back in time and
became Valen?>

	Galen laughed.  <Ranger that you are, and you do not know of this matter?
Interesting, but not terribly surprising, I suppose.  In any case, what we
discuss is now history in our universe... it has happened, it is done, and
it cannot be changed. For the present, however, we must be patient and wait
for the moment to arrive, the moment we are all waiting for.>

	<But how will we able to recognize that moment?>

	<You will recognize it, Na'lai Alidiae.> Galen distantly replied.  <The
effects of that moment on the patterns below will be *quite* noticable.>

				* * *

	The flare of light told her everything, the flash that meant another of
her best fighter pilots had died.  Ivanova gritted her teeth and turned
towards her chief Huntsman -- this situation was more then intolerable...
something would have to be done and soon, before the prey she sought
escaped from her grasp.

	Permanantly.  "Have you found a break in their battleline yet?" 

	The Huntsman grimaced.  "I regret to report, Huntleader, that we have not.
 The Alliance battle-line is maintaining its integrity despite our
continous assault against their capital vessels -- I do not know how much
longer we can maintain this assault."

	"The orders we have *must* be fulfilled." Ivanova icily reminded the
Huntsman.  "*He* has commanded the capture of the traitor Sinclair, and we
have never disappointed him..."

	It was then, however, that a proximity warning howled, and Ivanova
stiffened, as she beheld the vessels bearing down on them -- three of the
Alliance's deadly Victory Class Destroyers.  "Evasive action!"

	That order, however, came too little, and too late, to help the Wolfpack,
as a moment later, the vacuum in front of Ivanova's battlegroup fluoresced
brilliant white, as the enemy commander gave the order to...

				* * *

	"Fire!" Gideon exclaimed.

	Their targets selected, the EXCALIBUR, DAMOCLES and SHEVA'TA engaged their
main batteries in that singular, dreadful moment, and as Sinoval's
battlegroup began to circle back, ready to protect the Alliance destroyers
in their moment of weakness, a terrible stream of energy sprang out from
each warship's prow to strike an Imperial battlecruiser head on.  A moment
later, each and every Alliance commander on the field of battle let out a
sigh of relief, as the data passed on by Sheridan proved to be *entirely*
accurate.

	As those three targeted Imperial battlecruisers briefly shuddered...

	And then tore themselves asunder.

				* * *

	"Your... orders, Huntleader?" the Huntsman croaked.

	Ivanova sat still for a moment, simply unable to believe what had just
occured -- how three of her *finest* warships had been swatted from space
in an instant.  How had they done it?  How had those *bastard* Alliance
captains destroyed her ships?

	It was Sheridan, it had to be.  Somehow he had *known* about a design
weakness that her OWN engineers had not seen fit to inform her about -- and
in that knowing, had betrayed those he had once commanded -- a final
betrayal, in her eyes.

	Nearly she screamed, then -- but she held back that scream, because that
would be showing weakness... and *that* could not be allowed.  Ever.  There
would be other days, and other battles, but for now, this battle had been
lost. If they stayed, they would probably all die -- while if they left,
there was a chance, a very *real* chance, that Sheridan could be made to
pay for this.  Eventually.

	"Prepare to open jump points!" she snarled.  "We retreat, while we still
can."

	"Mistress?"

	"Do NOT make me repeat myself." Ivanova ground out.  Slowly.  Icily.

	"Yes, Mistress!"

	She clenched one fist, then, and nodded, the plans already coming together
in her mind.  She would have her revenge -- in due course.

	For now, however, there was the matter of choosing someone to carry the
blame for this defeat...

				* * *

	"Hah!" Londo exclaimed, as Sheridan, Delenn, Sinclair and Julia joined
Zathras, G'kar and the Technomages at the heart of the Great Machine, "Now
*that* was a suitably large set of explosions, wasn't it?"

	"I told you he wouldn't miss, Mollari." G'kar replied.  "If it's one thing
I've learned from my time spent among the obelisks of the Gateworld, it is
this: all the various Gideons I have spied upon in the past several years
share one thing in common -- give the man a target to shoot at that's
difficult to attain and yet produces a rather *remarkable* result, and he
will hit that target, or die in the attempt."

	"Pah!  And if I still used money, I would have to pay up on the bet we
made with one another, is this what you are saying, G'kar?"

	The Narn smiled.  "Oh, I'm sure I can think of some sort of price for you
to pay in the immediate future, Londo.  Be assured of that."

	"And speaking of prices," Sinclair interjected, "The time has come for us
to discuss the fate of several of the individuals present at this
gathering.  Without exception, all of us have travelled long roads to come
to this place at this time, and without exception, every one of us have
come for a *good* reason, even though those reasons may not be clear to
some of you.  

	Londo, G'kar, Delenn and myself, together with our followers and allies,
have been battling the Empire for many years.  Delenn, as some of you
already know, stepped forward to serve as a bridge between her people and
mine when the need was greatest... when the Shadows and the forces of
Empire descended upon the Alliance... while Londo and G'kar were chosen as
Guardians of the installations most critical to our success this day.

	And while the mission is a difficult one, I have accepted the risks and
the mission as *necessary*.  The circle must be closed... and the Minbari,
while divided in this age, will be one people again eventually.  But only
if I go back, to do what needs to be done."

	"So let me see if I've got this straight..." Sheridan interrupted.  "While
Delenn became partly human in order to serve as a focus for the forces of
Alliance in their battle against the Empire and the Dar...ah, their
masters, you and Zathras will be going *back* in time with my
splintership... and you will become completely Minbari at the same time?"

	"Not completely, no." Sinclair corrected, "But to all outward appearances,
I *will* be Minbari -- a leader come out of darkness to lead his people
into exile.  A leader able to slip through the forces of Darkness and
appear as one of their own, as necessary.  And that exile will establish
the foundations for the victory to come."

	"Now hold on just a minute, here!" Sheridan exclaimed.  "If you're going
back in time to become this Valen, who's going to take charge of the battle
against the Empire?"

	Sinclair smiled.

	"You're not seriously suggesting that *I*..."

	"Not right away, no -- but eventually, yes, that day will come.  For the
time being, Sinoval and Gideon will lead the battle against the Empire,
while you and your, shall we say, 'assistant', will conduct undercover
strike missions against the Imperial forces until the peoples of the
Alliance believe in your dedication to the cause.  Then, and *only* then
will you come to the forefront, to lead the final strike against the
heartworlds of Empire.

	A strike that will bring an end to the Darkness.  A mission that will
bring peace to a galaxy that has not known peace for generations."

	"And the 'assistant' you're referring to?"

	Sinclair turned in Julia's direction at that point.  "Her, of course... or
rather, this reality's version of her, when the other, the visitor to this
place, departs.  The question I have for *her* at this time, however, is this.

	We have, in our time, named you the 'Darkness Born', Julia Tikopai, and
you have killed many of our finest in battles waged in the name of hate.
Are you willing to turn aside from your past, and embrace a better future?
Can you help your former commander battle the forces of Empire, and end
this war, before it's too late?"

	There was a long moment of silence, then, and Julia used that moment to
turn inwards and search for the half-seen light that was the Other.  <Can
you do this for them?  Are you capable of atoning for the mistakes you've
made, in the service of the Empire?>

	Nearby, Isabelle sighed, and as one, all the Technomages nodded.  "That,"
Isabelle noted, "Would be the fifth question." 	

	"But what," Alwyn mused, "Will be her answer, I wonder?"

	There was another long pause, and then a long sigh emerged from the
darkness, a sigh that only Julia could hear.  <Am I capable, my better,
brighter echo?  If you has asked me this question a week ago, the answer
would have been no.  But after all that I have experienced, all that I've
learned?  After the questions you asked me, the answers you forced out of
me, the *truths* you forced me to confront first hand?  You know the
answer, and so do they -- when you are gone, I will do what I must, when I
must.  It will not be easy, but what choice do I have?  It is either do
this, or be imprisoned, or possibly even executed for war crimes.

	No, my conscience, there is no choice, and no hesitation.  What is real is
in the here and now... and I have a LOT of penance to perform.>

	Julia smiled then, and turned towards the rest.  "She says...

	Yes."

				* * *

	#In between the worlds#

	<Technomage.> 

	<I hear you, Praetor Questus.>

	<Has the moment arrived?>

	<It has -- the pattern is beginning to shift, as I had hoped it would.
There is merely... one small matter to take care of, and then we shall
return.>

	<This is well -- you should know that the instabilities are getting worse.>

	<Even this is well.> Galen replied.  <The instabilities will serve their
own purpose, soon enough.>

	<This thing you intend -- it is... unfortunate, but necessary.>

	<Very necessary, yes.>

	<We will make the arrangements, then.  And when you return, we will be
ready to act.>

	<This is well.>

	<Well... indeed.>

				* * *

	"You have very little time left in this place, Miss Tikopai, Now that I
have released my hold on your... presence here." G'kar warned Julia, as the
group walked across the landing area towards the waiting shuttle and
splintership.  "There are certain individuals in your own reality who are
searching for you -- if you are intending to pass on farewells to anyone in
THIS reality, now would be the time."

	"I... please let me be honest with you! -- this whole experience, it's
been both terrifying and an eye-opener for me.  And if I've made some
difference in how future events will run, here..."

	G'kar chuckled.  "A difference?  Yes, you *have* managed to do that, now
haven't you?  In your own way, you may have managed to change the destiny
of your alternate self... and in her own way, through the experiences she
has endured in your presence, she will help Sheridan do what he has to."

	"She will help Sheridan destroy the Empire, you mean."

	"Perhaps." G'kar allowed.  "Time will tell on that score, I'm afraid.
G'quon be with you, Miss Tikopai -- and may your own quest be as successful
as ours."

	And with that, G'kar moved away, and Julia turned, to find Sinclair
waiting patiently nearby... and almost involuntarily, she smiled.  "It's
strange, you know, what with all the momentous events happening, and
battles being waged, that I should still get the chance to say something I
never got to say to your opposite in my reality, before he left, to go back
in time to fight the Shadows..."

	"Say what you have to, Julia." Sinclair gently replied.  "Before the
moment slips away, never to return."

	"Such a simple pair of words it is, but with so much meaning.  The Minbari
never use it, because it is their belief that there is always a chance of
coming this way again.  But in this case, I know that once I leave, I may
never return -- and so, I say this while I can, and because I must.

	Goodbye... Entil'zha."

	And even as she said the words, it was almost as if a great light lit
behind her, and she turned, to try and see what was causing the light, how
could anything be so *bright*...

	She blinked.  And blinked again.  The sensations of a moment before, the
faces and the environment -- it had all changed in an instant, replaced by
icy coldness and shadows... 

	And a moment later, through no fault of her own, having just emerged from
out of a coma, she passed out again.

				* * *

	#Here#				

	"What happened?" Larieken exclaimed, as the SHARD OF NIGHT's medical
personnel quickly carried Julia, Klairika and Sheynell out of the shelter
and towards the waiting shuttle.

	"It is difficult for me to explain, and for now, we do not have the time
in any case." Galen impatiently replied, as a massive vibration ran through
the ground below them.  "It is enough for you to know that we have rescued
your captain, and in due course, that all three of them will recover
completely.  For now, however, you and your followers must leave this
place, Minbari. Immediately."

	"Why?  Now that we know some of the secrets of this place, we could..."

	"That would now be impossible." the Praetor Questus dourly announced.
"The gate was kept open longer then it should have been, and our actions
forced this in some respects.  The gate has now destabilized, and the power
source within the obelisk is quickly approaching critical mass.  It is time
for you to leave -- we will join you in orbit around this world once we are
sure the danger has passed, and the gate is truly closed.  Now GO, before
it is too late!"

	Larieken went.

				* * *

	Together they waited, until the Rangers had boarded their vessel and
disappeared into the skies above, and then it was that the Praetor Questus
and the Fhedayar approached Galen, to say what had to be said.  "There will
be a price to pay for this." the elder Soul Hunter warned the Technomage.

	Galen turned towards the Praetor Questus, and inclined his head, taking
the point as moot.  "The obligation will be met in due course -- for now
however, now that the moment of crisis and destiny has passed us by, it is
time to close the gate... to close all of them, for all time."

	"All is ready... the moment has arrived.  Do what you must, Technomage, or
not at all."

	Galen inclined his head again, and with a single sweeping motion, raised
his staff high above his head, and brought the tip down to strike at the
ground in front of him.

	Behind them, the obelisk that had caused all the problems, the obelisk
that had opened a gate between realities...

	That obelisk suddenly shook violently, and began to shatter, revealing an
unpleasant, curdled-green light that began to brighten even as it appeared
-- a light that would, if the increase continued, soon be as bright as the
sun.

	"Now we go." Galen said, with some finality.

	"Now it is finished."

				* * *

	Later...

	"Are you sure you're ready to see it?" Klairika asked.  "After your
experience..."

	"There are always prices to be paid for any action, as well you know."
Julia replied, as she slowly made her way down the corridor.  "And while no
one will tell me what's happened, it's a given that you and the rest kept
that gate between realities open for longer then you should have."

	"Perhaps we did, and perhaps there was a price to be paid -- perhaps there
still *is* a price to be paid for the rescue... this we will discover soon
enough.  But what we have gained in your return -- can that gain be
balanced against the damage we have caused?"

	"What *are* you talking about?" Julia exclaimed, as they entered the
viewing chamber.

	"Observe." Klairka replied, as she snapped out a short series of commands
in Minbari -- commands that Julia translated in her head as they were
spoken... commands that caused her to tense, for even though she knew what
was coming, it was becoming obvious that the vision would not be a pleasant
one...

	An instant later, the image sprang into being all around them, the
darkness of space, the spangled stars, and below them, the disc of Amaranth...

	A good portion of which seemed to be on fire.

	"What... how..."

	"According to Galen and the Soul Hunters, the gate you fell through
developed an instability while we were searching for you, and after we
returned, they told us to leave because the power source in the obelisk was
about to go critical.  They tried to prevent it from happening, or so they
told us afterwards -- but once one of the obelisks exploded, they *all*
began to explode."

	"And when they did explode..."

	"Everything on that continent that could burn, did, which has made the
planet uninhabitable for some time to come, I'm afraid.  Not that I *want*
to come back here any time soon, after what we've experienced here."

	"No." Julia whispered, as she gazed down on the inferno that she had, in
some respects, brought into being.  "As a matter of fact, we should
probably get the Alliance Council to declared this world off limits for the
forseeable future."

	"Agreed." the Brakiri allowed... but then, Klairika's expression changed,
and became more inquisitive.  "I do, however, have one more thing to ask
you, before we are done with this matter.  Will you ever be able to tell us
what happened to you on the far side of the gate?"

	Julia sighed.  "You were the one who stood in the gate to look for me,
Klairika -- you've earned that telling, many times over.  And when the day
comes that I'm ready to talk about it, you'll be the first one I hunt for."

	"But that day..."

	"Isn't today."

	"Then I make a bargain with you, Julia Tikopai." the Brakiri replied, her
gaze intent.  "I have saved your life, and the time may come, soon enough,
when you will have to save mine.  When this occurs, and when we are both
safe, I will tell you a secret that no one outside the Brakiri race knows
about -- and you will tell me what happened to you on the other side of the
gate.

	Do we have, as your kind says, a deal?"

	She smiled, and nodded -- it was a fair bargain -- more then fair.  "We do."

	"Then let us 'shake' on it." Klairika invited.

	They did.

	And thus was a fate decided.

				* * *  
		
	To be concluded...

	http://www.connect.ab.ca/~dgolding/index.htm

From: dgolding@connect.ab.ca
Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode V, Envoi
Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 01:36:33

	
 		"STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE"	
			      EPISODE FIVE
		     "THEIR PROPER TIME AND PLACE"

	(disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture)

				* * *

	<<ENVOI>>

	"What have you learned?"
	 - Galen

				* * *

	#Here#

	All alone, Julia strode down the corridor towards the SHARD OF NIGHT's
hangar bay.  That enclosure had been emptied of personnel on her order, as
there was a palaver to conduct -- a very private palaver involving only
herself and the three individuals awaiting her arrival... a meeting that
she could not avoid, even if she had wanted to.  Even before she had fully
recovered from her ordeal, she had understood that the Technomage and the
Soul Hunters would probably want some sort of payment for their
'assistance' -- that she would have to do something for them, to balance
the scales.

	The door opened before her, and she stepped through, her throat dry, her
left hand gripped and trembling.  This couldn't be fear she was feeling,
surely? They were there of course, arrayed in the entranceway to Galen's
midnight-black vessel -- and this forced her to admit that yes, it *was*
possible.

	There *would* be a price for her to pay -- and now she would learn what
that price would be.

	"You wanted to see me." she began.  "Here I am."

	"So..." Galen inquired, his gaze intent.  "Is this fear I see upon your
face?  You, the Ranger who have walked through the fire, in Valen's name?
You, the Observer who stood at the Rimstalker's side during the Shadow War,
and flew against the Drakh during the battle for Earth?  Is it *possible*
that you are afraid of the individuals who helped to save your life?"

	"You know it's possible!" she retorted.  "And you know why."  This said
more softly.

	Galen laughed, then.  "So -- you *are* capable of knowing when you have
done something wrong.  It is... a beginning."

	"An important beginning." the Praetor Questus solemnly allowed.  "This
time, young one, you very nearly destroyed yourself... and if we had not
aided your Rangers in the task just completed, your soul, it would have
been lost forever -- and if that had happened, the task you have been
given, it would certainly have failed."

	"But... I fell into my alternate body!  I was..."

	"Safe?" the Fhedayar scornfully replied.  "Do not pretend to deceive
yourself, Observer -- you were never safe, even in that body.  Had the link
between your body and your soul been severed, your alternate self would
quickly have reasserted full control over that body, and *you* would have
been lost between the universes.

	Forever."

	Julia looked down, then, unable to meet the Fhedayar's eyes.  "I... see.
It would appear I owe you an apology, then."

	The Soul Hunter inclined his head fractionally.  "Your apology is
accepted, Observer... *this* time.  And while the Technomage is correct in
his assessment of the situation, what you fear above all must also be
discussed."

	Julia nodded, her expression bleak.  "You helped Klairika and the others
to save me when no one else would... and because this is so, I will have to
repay you for your aid... in full.  I do not know what price you will ask
of me, but I do know I must accept your judgement in this matter." She
knelt then, bowed her head, and closed her eyes.  "Do with me what you will."

	A moment passed, and then, to her surprise, a strong hand descended onto
her shoulder.  "Rise, Observer." the Praetor Questus commanded.  "While you
are *technically* correct in what you say, know that while many fear us, we
are not cruel, and neither is *he*.  The Technomage is merely... intolerant
of those who do not learn from their mistakes."

	"You must be much more careful from now on." Galen explained.  "One of
these days, your carelessness will probably kill you -- and when that
happens, the fate of Matthew Gideon's ship may be sealed.  He needs your
help, even though he himeself does not know it yet."

	"And you?" Julia asked, turning back towards the Soul Hunters.  "You want
nothing more of me?"

	"For now, no -- we have done for you what needed to be done, Observer.
But in the future -- now that is a different story.  You seek to pay a
price, do you?  So be it -- we will meet again, you and I, some day
hence... and when that day comes, I will make an offer to you... and in
that moment, you may either agree to my request, or refuse to honour it.
*That* is my price."

	"I don't understand!" she complained.

	"No..." the Praetor Questus allowed, as he turned away, the Fhedayar at
his side.  "But you will."

	"Well, then!" Galen mused, as the two Soul Hunters vanished into his ship,
"That would *appear* to be that.  You may have a long wait before you see
them again... but be assured, you will see *me* again far sooner.  Your
date with destiny awaits, Julia Tikopai -- and when that day arrives, I
will be there."

	"Is that a promise," she coolly inquired, "Or a threat?"

	"We will have to see, now won't we?" was the Technomage's final retort, as
he too vanished from sight.

				* * *	

	#There#

	"This, then, is the beginning of your long service."

	John Sheridan, the man who had once commanded the greatest fleet in the
Empire, nodded his head ruefully.  "Now that he's gone, someone has to
carry on with the struggle, and well, it's beginning to look like I'm the
only one who has a hope in Hell of pulling *this* one off.

	The other smiled.  "Perhaps.  In time, you will come to replace him... in
time... if *all* goes well. For the present, however, it is your task to
learn, and to serve."

	Sheridan nodded.  "Show me the way."

	"Then follow."

				* * *

	Elsewhere, two women came together.  Both had been affected by the events
just past -- one had lost a husband, while the other had seen the object of
her hunt snatched forever out of reach.  Both women were angry, but for
different reasons.  And both women now wanted revenge on those who had hurt
them so.

	The powers that be had decided to give them that chance.

	"What?" Ivanova exclaimed.  "You *cannot* be serious."

	"I'm very serious." Lochley replied.  "He told me himself that this was
the way it had to be... they told him this, you see.  Sheridan was supposed
to escape, and so was Sinclair... we couldn't have changed that if we had
wanted to, apparently.  The whole intent was to bring Sheridan and Tikopai
together, and now that's happened..."

	"Now that's happened, their desire to bring down *our* Empire may be what
helps to destroy the Alliance?  But how?"

	"Let me explain..."

				* * *

	#Another time, another age#

	The Minbari named Jarran had been running for a very long time, and now,
it looked as if that was one commodity he had finally run out of.  Sooner
or later, the Warriors would catch him, and when that happened...

	He stumbled, then, and finally fell, and a moment later, heard footsteps
approaching him from out of the ruins.  The Minbari sighed -- would this,
then, be the end?  He forced himself back onto his feet, and lowered into a
fighting stance.  "I will not come peacefully!" he cried out.  "I will not
return to your jails.  You will have to kill me."

	"I have not come to kill you, Jarran." the other Minbari announced.  "I am
here to help you."

	"Help me?"

	"Yes.  You are the first to be helped, but you will not be the last."  And
then it was that the other Minbari emerged from the darkness, and for the
first time in a very long time, Jarran was given cause to hope, and cause
to wonder, for the Minbari who had come to aid him was not alone.

	"My name is Valen," the other began, while the unknown alien stood off to
one side, and smiled his crooked smile.  "We have much to discuss, you and
I."	
	
				* * *

	#Here#

	"So let me see if I've got this straight," Nicholas mused, as Dasouri
piloted the SHARD OF NIGHT away from the still-burning surface of Amaranth,
"They basically slapped your wrist and said 'don't do it again'?"

	Julia rolled her eyes and turned in her chair to meet Dawson's frankly
disbelieving gaze.  "If only it was that simple, Mr. Dawson... if only it
was that simple."

	"Perhaps it is enough for us to know that a mistake was made in this
place," Klairika mused, "A mistake that destroyed an ancient gate between
worlds -- a gate that should never have been opened again.  That gate
nearly killed our captain, Mr. Dawson -- whatever else was discussed
between them is not for us to know."

	"And remember," Sheynell reminded everyone, "We've all learned a very
important lesson here -- sometimes it's better to look before one leaps."

	"And maybe..." Julia replied with a sigh, "Once in a while the captain
should stay on her ship and do her job, instead of running around the ruins
and trying to get herself killed."

	"Did I just hear *her* say that?" a perplexed Dawson asked Larieken.

	"That you did, Mr. Dawson." the now-smiling Minbari replied.  "And since
this *is* the case, perhaps some good has come out of this experience,
after all."

	"And sometimes even the harsh lessons have happy endings." Julia
concluded.  "For now, however, I think it's time for us to get out of town.
 Na'lai Alidiae, maybe it's time to pay Captain Gideon and the EXCALIBUR a
visit."

	"Discreetly, of course."

	"Of course."

	"Getting underway now."

	"So how long do you think that planet's gonna burn?" Dawson asked
Sheynell, as Dasouri opened a jump point, and the SHARD shot into
hyperspace, leaving Amaranth behind.

	"There are some things, Nicholas," Sheynell replied, "That I don't think
we're *supposed* to know."

	And that would have been the end of that, except that Nicholas heard his
captain mutter something as he left the bridge... something that had him
frowning all the way back down to Engineering.

	"'When the price is paid'." he muttered.  "And just when I thought I was
*starting* to figure her out..."

				* * *

	Next time: While Nicholas receives several painful messages from home that
bring him closer to the breaking point then ever before, Alyt Rahkeel and
Tirivail discover that Shai Alyt Kozorr has something very interesting
planned for them -- a mission that will put them solidly on the road
towards a future confrontation with the crew of the SHARD OF NIGHT.

	"Twilight's Council", the sixth episode of THE SEEKER'S FIRE, coming soon!

	http://www.connect.ab.ca/~dgolding/connect.ab.ca