From: dgolding@connect.ab.ca Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode VII, Overture Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 21:21:09 "In the beginning, she stood alone, singular to her task among the people of the Younger Races.... but then I joined her, as acolyte to a greater light. We thought ourselves unique... annointed we were by the Vorlons, named to our calling by their most peaceful member -- and soon enough, we dared to think ourselves alone in the universe. As the spring of 2267 drew to a close, however, we were about to find out *exactly* how wrong we could be..." * * * Zax'the Major -- the edge of Minbari territory. The Rim. Alyt Vahnell of the Wind Swords Clan, the master of the Minbari War Cruiser ELOSHANN, smiled wryly as he gazed out upon the frontier that was. Not so many years ago, the Rim had been equated with ultimate danger, and rightly so -- the threat of the Shadows had come from here, from lost Z'ha'dum... but now the Shadows were gone, their warships banished, their home destroyed. And even though their former servants, the Drakh, continued the work of their vanished masters (a case in point, the continuing crisis on the Earther homeworld) the Rim was now a far more friendly place then it had been -- and in recent cycles, there had been few if any incursions into his people's territory. No one, even the Drakh, would now dare face the might of what was arguably the greatest military force in the known galaxy... "Alyt." Vahnell turned on one foot as his First, Maelaid, emerged out of the darkness. "Our forces in-system claim that they have detected a disturbance near the worldlet Par'amon. Should we investigate?" "A disturbance, you say?" he replied, running one finger along the blade that was forever at his side. "Were they not more specific, Maelaid?" "No, Alyt. They do, however, suspect *jump* activity." "Ah. And can you confirm whether or not there are any of our ships in the area?" "There are not." Maelaid darkly replied. "So..." Vahnell mused, a bright light coming into his eyes, "This may very well be what the Warrior Caste has been waiting for ever since the end of the Shadow war... this 'disturbance' *may* signal the arrival of the lead elements of an aggressor force coming into our territory!" "It has been many years since any force has done what you suggest," Maelaid thoughtfully replied, "And since we are allied with most of the other Younger Races, perhaps you are being... hasty in assuming this disturbance signals a prelude to invasion." "And perhaps *you* have grown over-accustomed to peace!" Vahnell sharply retorted. "Even when one adds together the territories of all the local powers, a great deal of our home galaxy remains unexplored and unknown. And that does even begin to touch upon the numerous star clusters orbiting above the galactic plane, as well as the two satellite systems that some among us name the Flames of Yedrae, and the humans the Magellanic Clouds..." "The travel time in hyperspace required to reach the Flames is longer then any that has yet been made..." the younger Minbari replied, after a moment. "That does not mean that it is not possible, however. But observe! -- we now draw near to Par'amon. What, if anything, is present?" "Our sensors detect nothing... hold!" Maelaid frowned, then. "I take back my previous comment, Alyt. One vessel in Par'amon's shadow makes itself known to us... heavily stealthed -- it's configuration, unknown." Unknown. Alyt Vahnell smiled at that remark -- the probability of engagement with an unknown foe appeared to be increasing with every passing moment. "Very well -- take us in towards them on an approach vector -- very slowly. Do nothing that will seem... threatening to them." Maelaid nodded curtly at that remark -- this time, the gunports would remain *closed*, of course... that was a given. "We are approaching Par'amon's Shadow, Alyt -- surely they must realize that we have detected them by now?" Vahnell was about to reply, when all of a sudden, the 'first contact' turned ugly, as he had feared. The ship they were slowly approaching abruptly wheeled in space towards them, and two things happened in quick succession. The first, the insistent *screech* of a scan-field penetrating the systems of a Minbari Sharlin class cruiser... the first time such a thing had happened to a Minbari ship of the line in hundreds of cycles. And the second? The opening of many, *many* jump points around the ELOSHANN. And in that singularly unpleasant instant, only one thought was going through Vahnell's mind... Was this how war began? * * * ISAS SHARD OF NIGHT -- resupply stopover at Minbari outer colony Shelaya. May 14th, 2267. Her eyes bright with anticipation of the reunion to come, Julia entered the SHARD's hangar bay, most of her command staff behind her, and paused just beyond the doors to take in the sight of the recently arrived Minbari flyer that had just come over from White Star 135. The pilot of that flyer, when he had discovered from High Councillor Westcastle that she intended to stop over at Shelaya for some much-needed supplies and a brief shore leave for her crew, had moved with unexpected *haste* to order a White Star to 'ferry' him to the colony forthwith, before the SHARD and her crew were once again called back to duty. "So..." Nicholas began, as was his way, "What's the big deal about this Ranger, anyways?" "Once again..." Klairika replied dryly, "Our esteemed chief engineer proves to one and all that he still has much to learn about the Anla'shok and our ways." "Could we maybe skip the lecture just once?" "As you wish, Mr. Dawson. For your information, the just-arrived flyer is commanded by one of the original members of the Babylon 5 Anla'shok Council. This member served with distinction on that station until the year 2263 by your reckoning, when he followed his superior, Sha'vei No'Raden Shival to Minbar to help instruct the latest generation of Rangers in the holy city of Tuzanor. By far the most important piece of information for you to digest about this individual, however, is the following -- he was instrumental in instructing our Val'na in the ways of the Anla'shok when first she came to the side of the Rimstalker and Sech Westcastle during the early stages of the Shadow War." "And the name of this teacher of prodigies would be what?" Dawson inquired with a frown, as the flyer's entry hatch finished opening in front of them. "She knows my name, Nicholas Dawson." a calm yet amused voice replied. "So why don't we let your Val'na take care of the introductions?" "Welcome aboard my command, Sech Tharvonn..." Julia said, her smile now brilliant, as she moved forward to meet her former teacher and friend of long standing. "Your trip from Minbar was a pleasant one, I trust?" Tharvonn snorted at that remark, as Klairika and the rest stepped forward to introduce themselves. "The commander of White Star 135 was a trifle, shall we say, 'miffed' at being diverted to Shelaya for what he termed a 'non-strategic' reason, but yes, the trip was pleasant overall. Enough about travelling, however!... I did not come all this way to talk about that -- I came to see *you*, and to meet the crew you have assembled around you... and lastly, to take a good look at this warship I have heard so much about in the last little while." "And what do you think?" she replied, slowly twirling on one foot to take in the hangar bay and fighters around them, as Tharvonn and the rest finished greeting one another. "First impressions are not necessarily correct ones, as I told you long ago. But thus far," Tharvonn continued, "I am... tentatively impressed with what I have seen here, my former student. This, together with the reports you have been forwarding to the High Council, allows me to believe that you may yet succeed in the tasks that President Sheridan has assigned you." "Yet?" "Yes, indeed!" Tharvonn cautioned, as they moved out of the hangar by together. "You've had it easy thus far, Julia... Captain Gideon and his crew have yet to encounter a threat sufficiently powerful to make it necessary for you to intercede on their behalf. I have no doubt that this day is coming soon... but it has not happened *yet*. And until it does, the experiment must be deemed incomplete..." Julia turned away from Tharvonn in astonishment then, as that tone sounded -- the tone that meant one thing, and one thing only. Battle stations. "Anla'shok Keynes!" she snapped. "Report!" Without a beat, the ship's systems responded to her commands, and a holographic image of the SHARD's bridge promptly shimmered into being in the corridor, centred on Sheynell, who had volunteered to take on the duty of Watch officer so the rest of the staff could greet Sech Tharvonn. "President Sheridan is on the link for you, Val'na -- may I suggest that you and the rest of the senior staff come to the bridge at speed?" * * * "Ah, Captain Tikopai..." President Sheridan began as Julia, Klairika and the rest arrived at their stations, "At last." "Mr. President," Julia replied, a trifle curtly, "Would you care to explain to me why my tactical officer has placed the SHARD OF NIGHT at full combat readiness?" "As a matter of fact, I would, actually. Captain, less then five minutes ago, several members of the Grey Council, in addition to Shai Alyt Kozorr of the Warrior Caste, were present in my office to relay what may be a fairly disturbing piece of information. Less then a hour ago, the early warning satellites in place around the Minbari Colony Xax'the Major registered what the warriors on station there believed to be jump activity. As such, the Minbari war cruiser ELOSHANN was diverted from its normal patrol pattern to investigate the situation. Shortly after that order was given, all contact with both the colony and the ELOSHANN was abruptly terminated." Sheridan took a deep breath, before continuing. "The Grey Council has at this time asked me to divert elements of the White Star Fleet to Xaxthe nearspace to support the war cruiser squadron that Shai Alyt Kozorr is sending in to investigate the situation. I have also, at this time, decided to send you and the SHARD in as well, Captain. If this is a prelude to war with a new and unknown power beyond Alliance boundaries, we need to have as much firepower on the spot as is reasonably possible." "And since we're already in Minbari space resupplying," Julia finished for him, "We'll be able to get there ahead of most of the White Star Fleet, in any case." "Exactly." Sheridan concluded. "Any other questions, Captain?" "None at this time, Mr. President. SHARD OF NIGHT out." And as Sheridan's figure faded from sight in front of her, Julia cast a rather pointed glance in Klairika's direction. "Our crew?" "Will all be back aboard in ten standard minutes..." the Brakiri replied. "Your orders?" "As soon as they're aboard, we jump for Xax'the Major, of course." Julia concluded, her expression determined. "Best possible speed." * * * Elsewhere. "The bait has been laid, my daughter. Now, the question is, *will* they take it?" An eye glistened in the near-dark of the Sanctum, and then the daughter in question joined her father on the viewing point of their domain, her wings easily supporting her weight against the reduced gravity field of the Nai'shrawn dreadnought that had carried them so far away from their home in the Cradle of Stars. "They will, my father," the Observer named Nirisha-Shalios- Trakande declared, her expression almost... sad. I have seen it." "And so shall it be." "So shall it be." * * * [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 * * * 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 VII: "Ultimatum" * * * http://www.connect.ab.ca/dgolding/index.htm From: dgolding@connect.ab.ca Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode VII, Act I Date: Tue, 02 Nov 1999 23:47:31 Starting with this episode, I will be moving more towards the 'virtual TV' mode of writing in S&C then I have been in the recent past. As you can see below, 'guest starring' actors and actresses of today's world will now be chosen for the roles in S&C wherever possible (just like in VS6) -- and guest roles in prior episodes on my web site now also share this trait. This done, in response to S&C now being part of the Phoenix Online TV network located at http://www.pvtonline.com. Check it out! And with that said, on with the show! The Author * * * "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE" EPISODE SEVEN "ULTIMATUM" (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture) GUEST STARRING ROBIN SACHS as Aielyn LEA THOMPSON as Nirisha TERRY O'QUINN as Tharvonn LARA FLYNN BOYLE as Sech Jennifer Westcastle WITH RUSSELL CROWE as William Westcastle *and* BRUCE BOXLEITNER as President John Sheridan * * * <> Minbari Colony Xax'the Major - high orbit. May 15th, 2267, human reckoning. Her eyes never showing the fear she felt inside at what might still be ahead of them all, Nirisha gazed down upon the alien world from her viewpoint in the sanctum aboard TIELDA'S PRIDE, the Nai'shrawn-class flagship that had carried them all the way through the silent, abandoned territory of their greatest enemies and into this calmer quadrant of the galaxy, in search of that which her father the Speaker sought. In search of the one she feared. The Observer she had to meet at all cost, if any of her kind were to survive. She was also, of course, an Observer -- one of the few in any species born to touch upon the currents of history and record the events of the present for posterity -- and in the five and a thousand turns since the Exodus Fleet had arrived in the Cradle of Stars, her species, the Eloi'a, had been senior amongst those known to harbour Observers... or 'Watchers' as some named them -- the first to develop the touch called *gla'ima*, the genetic heritage that made them what they were. Gla'ima. Nirisha sighed anew, and shook her head then -- it was one of the great mysteries of the ages how such an ability could be shared by so many species... an ability that allowed Observers to call out to one another across the vastness of space (if the gifts they possessed were strong enough) and occasionally even see into the futures-that-might-be. The loose confederation of Cradle species that answered to the Elder Eloi'ae in their flame-crystal towers all possessed the heritage of her kind -- but then, as all knew, the spread of their union outwards from the Cradle had halted -- as an age began in which her species and their allies had been forced to retrench and retreat before the onslaught of an enemy not unlike those spoken of in the Book of Exodus. Like the enemy that had destroyed their former home, now lost forever. The Dark Ones her mother had named them in Nirisha's youth, and dark they had been in truth. Their black, many-armed warships had first come screaming out of the void into the outskirts of the Cradle more then four thousand Turns before, and nearly her kind had been destroyed then. The times since had been divided into movements of peace and of war, and luckily for the Eloi'a the times of War had been predicted by their greatest Observers well in advance of the actual arrival of the Great Enemy... enough so that the Militarists had been able to undertake significant warship construction programs turns before the Dark Ones had come upon them. But then... then, at the height of the latest outbreak of terror and pain, the Dark Ones had abruptly, *mysteriously* turned their legions of chaos aside and vanished from sight. Cautiously the squadrons had pushed out into the void, and even down into the great whirling disk of stars below their cluster-home... and they had found nothing, no sign of the enemy at all! What had caused this to be, the militarists had asked? Yet again the commanders had turned to their Observers for guidance, and *one* Observer had answered the call -- that Observer had reached out across the darkness and received the answer that everyone sought. She had been that Observer, and even now, Nirisha clearly remembered the message that had come to her in the night -- the message she had subsequently given to the disbelieving flight-leaders that protected them all. "The One has driven them away." she had cried out, all those turns before. "The one who is Three -- the Three who is one... the three that is alien to us." It had not stopped there, of course, oh no -- the vision had continued. "The One who is served by two of our Order, lost ones they are... nevertouched, misguided... but they will change our future, and walk upon the walls of divison. They must be found... or we are lost for all time." In the turns since those words had been spoken, Nirisha had come to conclude that there were some things should never have been said. Long it had taken her father to convince the Elders to send an expedition out across the void that seperated the Cradle from the galaxy below, but in the end, they had done so -- and moving slowly, trusting in their gla'ima, the two of them had guided the squadron across the years-of-light and through the reddish murk of the gap-between, until they had arrived at *this* place, the world named Xax'the Major by the race who had colonized it. A race named the Minbari. Nirisha turned away from the view, then, extended her wings, and glided across the Sanctum interior and into the passageway that connected it to the nerve centre of TIELDA'S GIFT -- the command sphere.. the place, even now, where her father resided. "Ah, Nirisha..." Aeilyn-Trakande-Xexus noted a moment later, his voice penetrating thorugh the hubbub of the command sphere, "There you are." His gray and emerald plumage well groomed as always, the Speaker drifted down on his own wings to join her. "The warriors are becoming anxious, I am afraid -- the waiting does them no good." "The wait will be over soon, father, as well you know and understand. Our scout drew in a warship of these Minbari as we had hoped, and soon enough, you gave the call to jump in and surround their vessel. Fight they did not, as honorable and intelligent beings should..." "If there had been more then one of their ships," Aielyn darkly replied, "The story might well have been very different, my daughter. In any case, the 'Ael-leet' of their vessel was quick to warn us that his fellow warleaders would soon be joining him at this place." "And they will not be alone, father." Nirisha reminded him. "We have woven this net carefully... and they will respond." She ground her sharp teeth, then. "They *must* respond -- for if they do not, negotiations with these warrior Minbari may not go well at all." "You would speak, Observer to Observer, to an alien outcast who knows nothing of our kind and ways?" Aeilyn cautioned. "Who, indeed, may not even know how to touch her 'gla'ima' properly?" "Even so, father -- it is our only chance. We *must* negotiate in good faith and show the races of this domain that we mean them no harm -- or this first contact will be doomed to failure." "Still I question this concept of 'equals', Nirisha..." was the other Observer's next comment. "By what right should they be treated so?" "If they had not done what they had, we might not now live!" she retorted, her eyes flashing dangerously close to anger. "We must not insult them, Father, for they clearly played an integral part in driving away the Dark Ones -- this I have seen already." Aeilyn snorted. "We shall see, I suspect, soon enough whether you are right or not." "Speaker!" the master of TIELDA's crew suddenly exclaimed, "Disturbances forming -- confirmed!... eight vortexes opening, quadrant perimeter seven-high polar perspective." "I see them, my Wingleader -- how many vessels of the Minbari do we have?" "five full claws... in addition to a handful of smaller vessels..." the Wingleader blinked, then, as new data was relayed to his station. "Interesting, my Speaker -- the smaller vessels *appear* to be more advanced then the larger ones in some respects -- we are being hailed by them in several languages, including the Minbari tongue we have translated named 'Light'." "Translate to Eloi'shalaai and project!" Aeilyn commanded. All Eloi'a in the sphere gazed to the heart, then, as an image shimmered into being of what appeared to be a Minbari female on a sleek, purple-yellow- white bridge that made Nirisha shiver in anticipation of what was to come. "This is Anla'shok Val'na Levann of the White Star Fleet to unknown intruders in Minbari territory. Know that I represent the Interstellar Alliance, of which the Minbari Federation is an integral part. You have surrounded one of our warships, and under our laws, we now require you to free this vessel, or face the consequences of that refusal." "Anla'shok Val'na?" Aeilyn muttered, his expression puzzled. "It... roughly translates as 'watcher-captain', my Speaker," the sphere academatrix announced. "The situation grows more and more complex -- it is apparent that these 'White Star' vessels are part of the military force serving this Interstellar Alliance the Minbari female has mentioned. Perhaps the leader of this 'Alliance' seeks to avoid shedding-of-blood?" "Perhaps... and yet, the Observer has not yet come?" Aeilyn inquired of his daughter. Nirisha shook her head. "No, my father and Speaker -- neither of them have as yet appeared." "Then for now, we keep our silence." * * * White Star 77. "Observe that the ELOSHANN has not yet been harmed, Val'na..." White Star 77's first officer commented. "The alien warships, while numerous, have not harmed them in any way that we can observe... they have only chosen to scramble all communications into this area." "And yet," Val'na Levann replied, as close to anger as she had come for as long as he could remember, "They ignore our offers to talk, and spurn all communication." The Minbari rose from her command-chair then and began to pace. "What could they be waiting for?" * * * It was at that moment, of course, that her sixth sense kicked in, and Nirisha shivered all over and whirled upon her clawed feet, as a sharp alert-signal sounded in the sphere, and most of the militarists on duty suddenly *surged* into action. "What has happened?" the Speaker demanded. "It is... curious, my Lord Speaker!" the flummoxed Wingleader replied. "A *new* vessel has just appeared as if out of nowhere, next to the Minbari vessel we cornered upon our arrival in this place." TIELDA's commander drew in a deep breath, then. "My Speaker! -- this new vessel appears to be emitting *more* power per mass unit then our greatest dreadnoughts -- certainly enough to tear a link through our jamming systems." "Impossible!" "The technology of this vessel is extremely advanced, Lord -- perhaps equal or greater to our own in many respects." It was then, of course, that Aeilyn realized his daughter was paying absolutly *no* attention to what was going on, and instead was focused completely and totally on the new arrival to the exclusion of everything else. "Nirisha!" Aeilyn exclaimed, "Is it them?" "It is *her*..." she whispered, the thrill of fear running along her spine at the words she spoke. "The one spoken of only in whispers -- the breaker of rules, the maker of destinies. The Seeker of change." "We will speak of this later, Nirisha... not now." "But Father!..." "You will be silent, Nirisha!" And even as she obeyed his command, the Eloi'a Speaker for the Cradle of Stars gave another command. "If only to listen to my words. Now that she has come, this is what you shall do for us..." * * * "Your analysis, Larieken?" Julia inquired, as the face of Levann, still showing surprise from the sudden appearance of a warship she had obviously known nothing about up to this point, faded from the holographic screen in front of her. "The formation consists of twenty-one capital vessels and over thirty smaller vessels of White Star size or greater, Val'na." Larieken replied, his eyes showing his clear fascination as the specs of the alien vessels were downloaded to his station. "The largest are more then three of your kilometers long, and heavily armed... and even their smallest ship-of-the-line carries more firepower for their size then almost any ship your race has ever built... the only exception being, perhaps, the various iterations of the Warlock Class." "Are they powered up?" "Negative... their weapons systems are, for the moment, completely powered down." "Very good." Julia took a deep breath, then. "Hail the ELOSHANN for me please, Klairika." "Done." the Brakiri replied, a moment later. "Alyt Vahnell, this is Anla'shok Val'na Tikopai of the Alliance battlecruiser SHARD OF NIGHT. Are you and your crew well?" A moment later, the air in front of Julia shimmered, and the face of the ELOSANN's Alyt appeared. "Well enough, yes -- although I will admit, by Valen, that my crew was somewhat, shall we say, *surprised* by your sudden appearance here, Val'na! We were not aware that such a vessel as yours had even been constructed..." "And that is the way it must stay for the time being, Alyt!" she warned him, as she had Levann a moment before. "President Sheridan only allowed this mission to proceed because we are inside Minbari space -- there are races and individuals known to us that must never know this has happened." "I understand your words." Vahnell seriously replied. "For the present, however, there are other concerns -- firstly, do you believe that there is a chance your sudden arrival may have given our opponents cause to rethink their strategy?" "I do not know the answer to tha..." Julia paused in mid-sentence then, however, as a strange shimmery sound began to grow in the air around her. "Klairika, do you hear that?" "Hear... what?" the Brakiri replied, her expression one of puzzlement even as the sound grew louder. "Is this... telepathy?" she replied, rising to her feet as the rest of the bridge crew began to realize that there was something *very* strange going on, and Klairka suddenly and abruptly decided to sever communications with the ELOSHANN. "And who are you?" "Who are you?" she repeated, shivering at the title the Other had given her... the same title Galen had bestowed upon her, months before. Seeker. The sense of ice grew greather in her at those words, and suddenly, finally, and all of a sudden, she understood. "You're an Observer, too?" came the reply, heavily tinged with amusement in response to her shock and confusion at this sudden turn of events. "If it pleases you, will you show yourself to us?" "Signal coming in from the alien flagship..." Klairika announced, her expression troubled. "Shall I..." "Display on main viewscreen, and reroute to all other Alliance ships in-system!" she exclaimed, and a moment later, everyone on the bridge straightened involuntarily as an image rippled down revealing what appeared to be the bridge of the alien warship.. the Eloi'a warship, she mentally corrected a moment later -- and part of the stiffening was due to the surprise that everyone appeared to be feeling at the sight. For standing straight and tall in the viewscreen were two... what could they be called? -- *avians* was probably the closest analogue, their faces sharp and beaked, their tall and shimmery wings folded neatly behind them. The first, his face wise and aged, was probably the leader or captain of that vessel... and yet, was clearly *not* the Eloi'a that had contacted her. This individual, far younger then the first, stood behind and beside him, her plumage brighter but less complex, and while Nirisha of the Eloi'a was not smiling (nor, given her avian characteristics, was this probably even possible) she was quite obviously pleased that the meeting had now become face-to-face instead of mind-to-mind. And also... almost *fearful* about something else. Involving her? "The contact has been made, as we predicted it would, so long ago." the older Eloi'a began. "In the name of the Order and the Crystal, I greet you, Lost One, as Observer to Observer. We have travelled far to meet with you and your kind... travelled far to discover what it was you and the others did to drive the Dark Ones away. It is an honour to meet you at last." "Your name, Elder?" she managed. The Eloi'a... laughed? "You may call me Aeilyn-Trakande-Xexus, Julia-family-Tikopai." "And are you and Nirisha related, then?" "The one you refer to is my daughter, Lost One... the Observer who first gave us a reason to begin the search for you. And now that we have come to this place, anything is possible." Aeilyn bowed in her direction, then. "As Speaker for all who Follow, I invite you and your First aboard my flagship, TIELDA'S GIFT -- the negotiations, they must begin." "Before this occurs," she firmly replied, "I would have an answer as to why you cornered a Minbari ship-of-the-line, Speaker, and enacted a communications blackout throughout this system. These actions must be answered for if the Minbari are to think you a peaceful race." "And so shall they be, Observer..." Aeilyn replied. "When you join us." "'Round and 'round we go..." Sheynell muttered from the tactical station. "And where we stop, nobody knows." She sighed. "A fair request, Speaker. We shall be coming aboard your vessel shortly." "Then all is as it should be." Aeilyn concluded. "Until then, Julia-family-Tikopai, I and my daughter await your coming most eagerly." And with that, the image of the TIELDA's bridge faded away. "Val'na..." Klairika noted a moment later, "Alyt Norann of the war cruiser SILAHTI is on-line waiting to speak to you, and Val'na Levann as well." She winced at that -- Norann was probably furious that *her* ship had been the one to be contacted, while Levann probably just wanted more answers. "Inform them that I will speak to them in my ready room, Klairika -- and would you please bring us into close proximity with the Eloi'a flagship while the argument is progressing?" "It shall be as you say." Klairika replied, a hint of a smile now on her face as at the helm, Dasouri twisted the SHARD in space and moved her off towards the flotilla of alien vessels in high Xax'the orbit. And now, Julia mused, as she moved through the door, it was time to moderate what was probably going to be the conference call from Hell... * * * 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 VII, Act II Date: Sat, 06 Nov 1999 22:58:45 "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE" EPISODE SEVEN "ULTIMATUM" (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture) * * * <> Minbari Colony Xax'the Major - high orbit. May 15th, 2267, human reckoning. "Observers?" Alyt Norann of the Minbari war cruiser SILAHTI ground out, his disbelief plain, as Julia leant back in her chair and tried desperately to avoid the urge to start shouting into the holographic receiver. "I will assume you have proof of these claims, Val'na Tikopai -- that these creatures you name the Eloi'a do indeed mean us no harm?" "The proof you seek will not be easy to give, I am afraid," she carefully replied. "The only thing I can tell you at this moment is the following: Aielyn-Trakande-Xexus, the commander of the Eloi'a expeditionary force that crossed the Shadow territories to reach Alliance space, is the Speaker for an organization of races he names the Cradle of Stars. It also seems clear that they have come a very long way to meet both myself and my former Anla'shok teacher Sech Westcastle... as well as discover why and how the Shadows were banished beyond the Rim -- and who was responsible for this feat." "Then why," Norann continued, "Did this *Speaker* choose to isolate one of our colonies and also the war cruiser ELOSHANN from the rest of Minbari territory, if this *expedition* is one of peace... and why did he bring so many vessels of war with him?" "To gain our attention in a fashion we could not hope to ignore, Alyt." Julia succintly replied. "And to ensure that your Shai Alyt sent enough military force to this system to that neither side 'jumped the gun' as my kind says. As you may noticed and he had hoped, the forces loyal to Minbar and the Cradle of Stars are more or less balanced at the moment. Finally, it was belief that President Sheridan would also feel the need to send my command to this region, so that he would be able to make contact with *me*." "And you claim that he is one of these 'Observers' I have heard mentioned on Minbar from time to time, then..." Norann's eyes narrowed, then. "As are you, if memory serves." "You are correct..." she allowed. "Up until this point, Sech Westcastle and myself had been lead to believe that 'Observing' only involved the need to write of the important events in recent history, and record them for posterity's sake. It is now becoming increasingly evident that is not the case... if this trait is shared among as many species as Speaker Aeilyn claims it is." "I see. So what is the next step in this progression, then?" "In a few moments time, myself and my first officer will be making the trip to the Eloi'a flagship TIELDA'S PRIDE, at which point we will begin to negotiate a continuation to our relationship with the representatives from the Cradle of Stars... a relationship that may, if all goes well, be quite a valuable one for all concerned." "Yes..." Norann pondered, "Their technology is evidently quite advanced, perhaps even more advanced then our own in some respects. Very well, Val'na Tikopai, I will keep you from your duties no longer." "Thank you, Alyt." "Only remember this!..." Norann cautioned. "Negotiate well, and do not make too many concessions before we can maneuver these Eloi'a into an arena where experience is more readily available then enthusiasm!" She bowed slightly in his direction at those words. "I hear your advice and will take it to heart, Alyt. Good day." And even as Norann's image faded away, she sighed in relief -- at last, that was over! And now it was time to get ready for the trip over to the mammoth Eloi'a flagship... Julia frowned -- now who could this be? "Yes?" The door slid open, and she involuntarily smiled as Tharvonn stepped through the door, his expression serious, precise and to the point... as usual. "Now *this* was quite a sudden turn of events, wasn't it? And while I do understand you haven't had time until now to think about much anything but whether you were going to be fighting these 'Eloi'a' or not, perhaps now things have calmed down a little, I can be of service here." She smiled, and gestured him to the nearby chair in front of her desk. "I will admit, Sech, that the events of the last hour have taken me somewhat by surprise -- and even more surprising is the fact they want *me* to open negotiations with them!" "Hmm, yes..." Tharvonn thoughtfully replied, "Let me be honest with you at this time-- despite your recent bold ascent to command rank and your status as Observer-on-station, the reason they wish to meet with you may also be a cover set in place to take advantage of your inexperience with negotiation." "You speak truly," she ruefully admitted. "But is there is a solution to this problem, Sech?" "Perhaps," Tharvonn replied, an amused glint now in his eyes, "The Eloi'a would not be offended if yourself and Na'lai Alidiae were accompanied by an 'advisor' during this difficult, early stage..." * * * Historical noting for my Great Work -- the meeting I have feared all my life is about to occur... and my father is about to make the greatest mistake of his career. He believes, of course, that what he is doing is the right thing to do... that we will be able to treat these two Lost Ones as members of our Order -- that the Code of the Crystal Towers can be applied to them, and that they will accept him as their leader once the 'shock of reunion with your own kind' has worn off. And that the tithing will occur as it has always occured. I wish I could believe that this was the right thing for us to do... but in my hearts, I know that it is not... and that my father Aeilyn is about to do something that once undertaken, cannot be turned away from. I have done all I can to help him avoid what is to come... but he is my father, and he is our leader, while my standing is merely that of the Clairion's Tower... lowest among our kind. I can advise, but he does not have to listen to me, now does he? No, not at all. He has, you see, already made the decision that will break us... and all I have done, it will not be enough to avoid the darkness to come. These Lost Ones are about to prove my father completely, tragically wrong in his need to assume 'all will be as it should be'. While beyond that moment of sundering, I cam see only pain and loss, for all concerned. * * * Eloi'a Expeditionary flagship TIELDA'S PRIDE -- smallship docking portal. Shortly thereafter. "Have you noticed, my Lord," the TIELDA'S Wingleader commented, as Aeilyn patiently awaited the arrival of the 'flyer' from the Lost One's battlecruiser command, "The dependence of these 'Alliance' races upon tiny one-pilot warcraft?" "I have, yes..." Aeilyn replied. "Curious this is that the Minbari, in addition to this other race named 'humans', are so willing to send their warriors out in craft so frail and undermanned. I will assume of course, that you have an opinion on this matter?" "I do, yes." the Wingleader replied. "The drive technology used by the races of this Interstellar Alliance does not seem to be as *advanced* as our own -- or their projectile technology, for that matter. The Minbari in particular, and the Alliance fleet warships as well to a great degree, appear to have developed a dependence upon energy weaponry -- and therefore, are willing to fight battles at close quarters. Hence, their use of one-pilot warcraft -- it is... advantangeous, my Lord, under such circumstances, to send out swarms of highly maneuverable fightercraft to damage the capital ships of one's opponent." "While we, on the other hand," Aeilyn noted, "Have learned from long experience the following wisdom -- if one is willing to let one's enemy get that close, one will almost *surely* die." He was, of course, referring to the deadly weapons the Dark Ones had employed in their age-long wars against the races of the Cradle -- even now, Eloi'a broods were frightened in the times before sleep by the tales of brave warriors and warfleets decimated by the purple knife-rays of the Great Enemy... before the lesson had been taught, and the builders and creators had begun acting instead of *re*-acting. The many heavily defended orbital missile platforms throughout the Cradle of Stars and even in the approach lanes of the Gap-between were a legacy of those times, as well as the gravitic drive systems that could effortlessly accelerate their militarist ships and missiles at over eight-cubed homeworld gravities for minimal periods. In other words, the one advantage the Eloi'a had held over the Dark Ones for a very long time was the ability to run away from them effortlessly, lead them into range of the missile platforms and backup energy weapons grids, and live to tell the tale. The tactic hadn't always worked, of course... but it had worked often enough for the Cradle to survive four cycles of the war against their enemy. And now, the Speaker pondered gravely, they had come upon this Interstellar Alliance... a group of races that (beyond the Minbari) did not seem to possess nearly as advanced a technology base as the Cradle of Stars... an Alliance willing to send out its warriors to die at close range in warcraft too frail to protect their pilots, but numerous enough to do damage to the foe. An Alliance which had, on the other hand, somehow managed to drive the Dark Ones (in this part of the galaxy, named the Shadows) completely out of the galaxy. How they had done such a thing was a question to even make him pause -- the records they had downloaded during the initial datascan of the Minbari war cruiser ELOSHANN had but not been terribly clear on how it had been accomplished, only that a being named 'Lorien' had been involved... but had been *quite* clear on which Alliance world-members had been primarily responsible for the feat -- a Minbari named Delenn -- and her life-partner, the human named John Sheridan... who was (not coincidentally, in his opinion) presently the leader of the Interstellar Alliance. Now *this* was a warrior he keenly wished to meet! But first, Aeilyn mentally added, as the graceful purple-white Alliance flyer arrived on the docking-floor below, there was the matter of this Tikopai female... this *youthling* outcast Observer who commanded what was almost certainly one of the most advanced warships in the Alliance arsenal. The female his daughter had named Breaker of Rules, Maker of Destinies, and Seeker of change. What these titles referred to, he did not yet know... but Aeilyn nevertheless feared that he was about to find out *exactly* how the isolation imposed upon this Lost One would affect her obeyance of the rules of the Order. Part of him was not looking to these revelations in the slightest. But only a part -- the rest? The rest of him was looking forward to the greatest challenge of his career. "Enact hi-gravity bubble!" he commanded, as the pressure door of the Alliance flyer began opening. "Stand ready to receive our guests!" * * * "This is..." Klairika began, "An imposing vessel, Val'na." Julia gazed up and around, almost but not *quite* restraining herself from a mild gape at their surroundings. The outer hull of the Eloi'a dreadnought TIELDA'S PRIDE, a double-spindled silver splinter more then three kilometres long, had proven to be a thick shield above what amounted to a hollow interior full of metal lace. Nodes and great arcing strands of superstructure filled the void over her head... while above and towards the bow from her perspective, a larger black and silver node dominated the interior of the warship -- no doubt the 'command sphere' they had seen in the first transmission from this vessel. The other thing she had noticed immediately was the following -- while she, Klairika and Tharvonn were quite clearly within a gravitational environment suitable for their needs, just beyond the platform they were standing on, Eloi'a could be seen drifting from place to place within a warship on their wide, often multi-colored wings. "Greetings to you, Lost One." She turned aside from her preocupation with the ship, then, as the leader she had spoken with before, the Eloi'a that named himself Aeilyn-Trakande-Xexus, approached from above and almost silently set his clawed feet down upon the platform she was standing on and approached. "I sense your interest in this vessel, and also a question. The answer to your question is this -- the flight-engineers of my kind have elected to create a gravitational bubble around you and your aides. I fear," the Speaker added almost matter-of-factly, "That you find our normal environment difficult to deal with." "If you do not mind me asking," she politely replied, "Your homeworld..." "Is not a world such as yours. My world-home is a smaller and lighter place then yours, Lost One -- which allows us, as you have already seen, to glide upon the currents of air from place to place, as is natural with our kind. But enough of such matters... the time has come for us to speak of what is to come. When your leader, the one named Sheridan, elected to send you to this place, he opened the door we wished opened. The battlegroup that accompanied us through the territories of the Dark Ones will now retreat and return to our own space, the path now known, the fear of unknown danger banished. It is our wish for this vessel and several escorts of honor to continue onwards to the capital world of your Alliance, there to open negotiations both with your leader and also with the other Observer amongst you." A clearing throat was heard at that point, and Julia turned towards her companions, and smiled as Tharvonn began to speak. "Speaker, if I may address you?" "Observer Tikopai," Aeilyn inquired, "Who is this Minbari you have brought with you? Yourself and your First I specified -- but young you are," the Eloi'a finally allowed, "Advisor to you then, is he?" "Indeed that is the case," she confirmed. "This is Sech Tharvonn, one of the more senior Anla'shok among us, and most valued for his even-handed judgement on most matters." "I will hear his words, then." "Thank you, Speaker Aeilyn." Tharvonn continued. "What you request, it may be allowed... but only if certain requirements are met." "Explain." "The weapons systems of this vessel are, how shall I say it without offending?... somewhat *dramatic*. The warriors among my people will be loath to allow a ship such as this into orbit around our homeworld with operational weapons systems such as yours, let alone three!" "You wish, therefore, to have our weapons systems deactivated?" Aeilyn responded, his tone now cool. "You would ask us to do something a Speaker such as myself has not done in all our history?" "If trust is to be established between our peoples," Tharvonn replied, "I must ask this of you, yes." "Observer, do you concur with his... assessment of the situation?" "I must, yes." "And will you then guarentee the safety of my crews and followers during our stay in Alliance space?" "I will." she firmly replied. "In Valen's Name, I swear they will be kept safe." The Eloi'a snorted at that remark, and paused for a long moment, then. "It is a fair request..." Aeilyn finally admitted. "It shall be as you say, then, Tharvonn of the Minbari -- Observer Tikopai has guarenteed our safety during the course of this affair... as such, the TIELDA'S PRIDE will make its way into Minbar space unarmed and *without* the escort I previously mentioned. We do, however, demand that your Anla'shok provide escort for my flagship at this time." "We have very little in the way of resources along such lines at the moment, Speaker, but I will do what I can. At the very least I can promise that my own command will be guarding your vessel during the voyage ahead." "This is an acceptable compromise, although the militarists among us will no doubt disagree with that assessment." Aeilyn replied, his tone now full of humour. "We will hold our position here until you have assembled your guard of honor, Observer Tikopai... we will then follow you to the capital of the Alliance, and there our discussions will continue." Sensing that the initial phase was now over, Julia bowed in the Speaker's direction, a movement that Klairika and Tharvonn soon emulated. "I will contact you when we are ready to proceed, Speaker -- if I may now have your leave to depart?" "Depart as you have come, then, Observer Tikopai... in good faith, and as a friend to my people. Until next we speak." * * * A short time later. "Okay, let me see if I've got this straight, Captain..." John Sheridan wearily began, after Julia had fully explained the situation, "They want to come to Minbar to meet with me and your Entil'zha as well as High Councillor Westcastle's wife -- you think they'd like to establish a pact of alliance with us... and they want a few White Stars to help you protect their ship on the way here, because they're busily disarming their flagship as we speak?" "That's pretty much an accurate assessment of the situation, Mr. President." she replied. "I get the impression they don't much care for being vulnerable at the best of times, and after fighting against the Shadows in the Great Wars of the past few thousand years..." "While I understand their concerns, Captain," the President explained, his expression tight, "As you know, under the present circumstances we don't have a Hell of a lot of White Stars on hand to help out. I'm afraid the few out there with you will have to suffice for the time being." "I understand, Mr. President. How soon can you have the orders cut and in the hands of Anla'shok Levann?" "If all goes well, within the next half an hour or so." "In that case, I hope to be enroute towards Minbar with our... guests within two standard hours, Mr. President." "Understood, Captain. We'll speak again when you arrive. ISA Headquarters out." And with that, Julia immediately signaled the main bridge. "Klairika?" "Yes, Val'na?" "If you would please get me a channel to the TIELDA'S PRIDE?" * * * Minbar. In a dark place, two cloaked and hooded warriors met, their expressions grim. "It is confirmed," one began without pause. "Our forces, along with the Anla'shok loyal to Sheridan, including the upstart Tikopai and her followers aboard 'Vi'dalae An'shaka', have encountered a new alien race out on the deep range." "And will they be escorting the envoys of this new race here, so that they might negotiate with Sheridan and his agents of diplomacy?" "That appears likely, yes." A sigh. "So. Alyt Kendraii, my father, will no doubt soon discover that my elder brother Anla'shok Larieken will soon be returning to Minbar, and when he does, the inevitable will occur, now that my eldest brother has managed to have himself dishonorably exiled and denied the birthright that is his." The Minbari named Ariekaas smiled a tight and bitter smile. "The battle for the future of my family is about to begin, friend. Can I count on you to aid me in my time of need?" "You can." "Then let this game of chance... begin." * * * 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 VII, Act III Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 22:31:37 "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE" EPISODE SEVEN "ULTIMATUM" (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture) * * * <> Tuzanor, Minbar -- before dawn, local time. May 17th, 2267. In the darkness, the man whose skin was also dark flinched and cried out in the night at what he was seeing and experiencing... the warnings that cried out to him in ways hardly anyone now alive understood. Those who cared for him, those who had undertaken this duty for almost seven human years now, they arose, somewhat grimly, to calm him down. This was a task they had accepted, and they would fulfill their duties, to the end -- but even so, some days it was hard when he cried out as he was crying out now, in the middle of the night... in the darkness before the dawn. Talking to him however, they had found, almost always calmed him down. "'Kanion -- be calm, be at peace. We are here for you, as always we have been." "They are coming." the man on the bed insisted, his outstretched finger trembling as he pointed at the star-dappled sky through the portal of his bedchamber. "Warned you I did, what might happen, but listen you did not... and now they are coming. The war we cannot hope to avoid -- it is coming... the discord born of Dreamer and Daughter." One of those who waited, an Anla'shok trainee named Jaarisa Kaise, an apprentice Ranger whose skin was as dark as that of the man on the bed, moved to the portal, and looked out upon the night that was. "I see nothing, 'Kanion -- you are..." And then Jaarisa nearly gasped out loud -- as all of a sudden, slightly less then half way up from overhead, part of the sky flickered twice, and then abruptly irised open into the electric white-and-blue maw of a rather *large* jump point.... out of which emerged a black-and-silver splinter flecked with lights, its bulk a shadow against the night beyond. This vessel was of course only a splinter from perspective -- to be seen so from the surface, the ship was quite obviously a large one. "What is that?" she managed. "Have you not heard?" a Minbari Ranger named Leishenn inquired, as she came to Jaarisa's side to gaze up upon the new arrival with knowing eyes. "Our leaders have only now deemed the moment right to release the information I now pass on to you -- several days ago, my people and those of yours among the Anla'shok encountered a new race on the edge of our territorird, a race set upon by the Shadows and now freed of that burden... a people that dared to send a fully armed warfleet through the heart of the ancient Shadow sectors in the hope that they were gone... and also in search of the power which drove that ancient enemy away." Leishenn extended one long, pale finger into the darkness, towards the massive ship now riding in orbit. "That vessel, bigger even then our greatest war cruisers, is the flagship of that force. Invited to this place by President Sheridan they were, so negotiations between the Alliance and their leaders might begin." "And they come in peace, then?" "So it would appear, yes." Jaarisa frowned then, however.. if these creatures came in peace, then why, in the name of all that was holy, in the name of the One and the Protector, was the half-insane Observer in the bed behind her crying out his warning? There was a connection between the two events -- now she and the rest only had to make it... * * * "In all my wildest dreams," Julia began, as she and Klairika sat together in the SHARD's conference room and gazed down upon the silvery-gray hairnail crescent of Minbar below them. "I never believed we'd be back here so soon. The search for the cure, our mission to protect the EXCALIBUR..." "Has barely begun, yes..." Klairika replied with a small smile, "But the vows we make as Anla'shok must always be honored, even if they do take us away from our primary tasks for a time. These... Eloi'a may be valuable allies, and even as President Sheridan explained to us two days ago, since so many of our kind are now out on the Rim helping with the search for the cure..." "This may happen more then I like?" she retorted, before reining herself in with a grimace. "My apologies, Klairika, you didn't deserve that -- what you say, it's the truth of course. I suppose I *should* be honoured we're considered such a valuable commodity!" "Do not be so quick to consider this captaincy an honour just yet..." Klairika gently reminded her, "Our greatest crises yet await us. For now however, I believe the time has come for us to proceed down to the surface. The moment of meeting between President Sheridan, our High Councillor and the Eloi'a Speaker draws near... a meeting we should not miss." As if to prove that point, a summons-chime sounded, and both Rangers turned as Sheynell's image sprang into being on the table. "Val'na -- you wished me to warn you when the Eloi'a landing craft left the TIELDA'S PRIDE... that has now occured." "In that case, Anla'shok Keynes..." she replied, as both she and Klairika moved towards the door and out into the main bridge, "The ship is yours until we return... wait. While I'm thinking about it, maybe we should let the crew go down to the surface to resume the shore leave we were taking at Shelaya, as long as we're here." "If we're going to do *that*," Sheynell drolly replied, "We'd best not delay -- let us enjoy *today*," she quoted, "For who knows what tomorrow may bring?" "If the voyage to date is to serve as precedent," Dasouri gruffly noted from the helm station, "Tomorrow will bring *trouble*." "Let's hope not!" Julia replied with a small laugh, somewhat forced, as she left the bridge, Klairika at her side. "And anyways, now we're in orbit around the capital world of the strongest member of the Interstellar Alliance, about to initiate negotiations with what looks to be a very valuable ally... what can possibly go wrong?" She would have reason to regret saying those words later on. * * * "And what of you, Larieken?" Sheynell inquired, as her captain and first officer vanished from sight. "Now that we're back at Minbar, isn't there anywhere you want to go while we've got the time to do so?" "That," Larieken solemnly replied, "Is a far more interesting question then you might suspect. While we were enroute to Minbar, I received a message from my father, Alyt Kendraii of the Wind Swords Clan -- he *requires* of me my presence at our ancestral home below the *Nael's'sha Aeiyn Vei'shai*." Sheynell translated that title in her head, and abruptly shuddered. Translated from the Warrior tongue, it meant 'Wall of Daggers' -- and she knew well enough where that was. The Wall was a great, serrated graben fault that helped to define the shape of Minbar's second largest northern hemispheric continent, almost half way around the planet from Tuzanor... a fault that predated the coming of the north polar ice by at least three and a half million human years. The south coast of that landmass had, of course, been one of the centers of Wind Swords territory since before the coming of Valen. But, she pondered, why, after so many years among the Anla'shok, did his father want to see him *now*? "Why?" she asked, a simple question... though also a question that tended to produce complex answers, in her experience. "I do not know." Larieken replied, his face now expressionless. "And, I will admit, this concerns me. The last time I saw my father and family was when I decided to turn aside from the path they had chosen for me and train to be Anla'shok -- like so many of my caste, the parting was not, shall we say... an amenable one. My younger brother Ariekaas, for instance, considered what I had done to be a betrayal of caste and clan... but enough of this, for the time being. It has been too long since I have seen my family, and since it is my father that has asked it, it would not be... acceptable for me to refuse the invitation." "And what if he asks you to give up the Rangers?" Sheynell inquired, a slight frown on her face. "What will you do if that happens?" "I will, as your kind says," Larieken said, "'Cross that bridge when I come to it'. Until I see you next, Sheynell, be well -- and keep this vessel safe for our captain." "I will." she replied with as much sincerity as she could manage, as Larieken left the bridge. "Good luck." * * * Luck. Again and again, the humans had revealed their love of chance to him, over the years. He had lost count of the times his charge and her various leaders and friends had wished each other 'luck' over the cycles he had known them. And yet, Larieken added almost as an afterthought as he made his way to his quarters to gather the few belongings he would need on this trip, on this occasion he might well need all the 'luck' he could find. Everything about this matter was a curiousity, from the tone of the summons to the lack of information about the actual reason for the summons -- 'it will wait until you arrive, Larieken', as his father had put it. Now that he thought about it, though, the ever present imperious shell he remembered from his youth seemed to be showing cracks, now. And through those cracks, he had sensed concern. And also regret. But concern about what? And regret for whom? "What are you up to now, Father?" he muttered. "And what have you done?" * * * William braced himself against the stiff wind blowing off the northern mountains, and watched the Eloi'a atmospheric shuttle approach the main landing platform at Tuzanor with no small amount of anticipation. All that Julia had told him thus far on their voyage from the Rim back to Minbar had been promising -- that these Eloi'a had evidently survived their own wars against the Shadows was only the beginning. By far the most interesting aspect of the whole situation was her claim that their leader, an Eloi'a by the name of Aeilyn, was an Observer, like Julia... like his own wife. Spatters of rain blew across the platform in the wind, and he shook his head grimly, before turning to appraise the approaching black wall of cloud to the north. From clear and calm last night to this in only a matter of hours... it was clear the Fates were having their fun with him and the President, *this* day. He turned his thoughts away from the weather then, however, as the Eloi'a craft turned in mid air and gently set itself down, while the flyer from the SHARD OF NIGHT passed by overhead and whispered around to the south to begin its own final run. He knew, without guessing, who was at the controls of the flyer... but for now, the visitors to this place were by far the more interesting of the two arrivals. Three-pronged the lander was, two forward and one to the rear, like the outstretched talons of a bird. Which, considering these Eloi'a were avian in nature, wasn't really all that surprising. A brief vibration as the tips of the prongs touched the platform, and almost immediately thereafter, part of the rear tip reconfigured itself into a ramp, and the guests themselves began to emerge, as he and the Ranger guard of honor accompanying him moved forward to meet them half way. "In the name of the Towers I serve in this life, I greet you, High Councillor Westcastle..." the Speaker began, his tone respectful. "From the histories that Observer Tikopai relayed to us enroute to this place, it appears that you have also walked with the Beyonder against the ones you call Shadows, and we the Dark Ones -- and earned the respect of those you serve with and those you obey. As warrior to warrior, I greet you, *Rimstalker*... perhaps there will be opportunity during our time here for us to discuss our accomplishments in the war against the Great Enemy?" "Perhaps," he replied, gesturing at the storm front almost upon them, "But for the time being, Speaker, the weather worsens, and there are those among us in this place that you have yet to meet... the President, for instance. He keenly wishes to begin talks with you and your fellow Eloi'a." "And us with him!" the Speaker replied. "And while, because of our nature, we do not share your... concern with the elements, for the time being your suggestion is a just one, Councillor. Will you, then, be guiding us to our destination this day?" "As much as I would enjoy that duty, for the time being other duties await." William paused for a moment, then, as his second-in-command stepped forward, expression properly solemn. "Speaker, if you will allow me to introduce to you my fellow Councillor, Sha'vei no'raden Shival. He and his associates will be guiding you to your destination this day. After I have concluded my business, I will then be rejoining you." "It shall be as you say, then, High Councillor..." the Speaker replied with a slight bow. "Until next we speak." Which gave William all the opportunity he needed -- a brief glance in Shival's direction, to which his old friend gave an abrupt and understanding nod in response, and then he turned aside to stride across the platform towards the two slender figures in cloaked Ranger black-and-silver even now emerging out of the thickening misty drizzle now falling over Tuzanor. "And out of the darkest shadows," he drolly began, "There comes two candles..." "Lights to guide by and flames to guard against the darkness." the target of his barb finished for him with a smile, as they moved into a quick embrace that most everyone else on the platform chose to ignore. "And now you'll be wanting an apology, I suppose?" He raised an eyebrow. "For doing the right thing, you mean?" "Then you forgive me?" Julia replied, her eyes dancing. "Only if I get a proper goodbye when you leave this time. Deal?" "But of *course*." came the reply, even as both of them looked off in the direction of the rapidly dissapearing Eloi'a ground party. "So... do we get a little bit of time to make ourselves presentable before the main event?" "I'm sure something along those lines can be arranged, yes..." he replied, as they made their way off of the platform together, Julia's first officer close behind. "*If* we can avoid the deluge of people waiting to see you, that is." * * * The sound of rain falling upon crystal was not something he had expected to hear after crossing so much distance and enduring so much fear from his crew during their crossing of the Dark Territories, but then again, was this so surprising, to hear an echo of the water-sound upon his own tower, so far from home? He nodded... the synchrony was a just one for this place, the Home of the Observers who served this Interstellar Alliance. A beginning to what lay ahead. "Father." He turned then, as his daughter emerged from the dry-shelter behind him out onto the rain-swept outlook. "The moment you have been waiting for draws near -- your intent, it remains unchanged?" He shook his head, irritated that she would ask this of him, in the here and now, with the moment of meeting so near. "It is our way, Nirisha! -- it is the way that things have always been done. The Order has survived many crises, great and small, because even in our darkest hour we have upheld the traditions that are. And even as we have gathered new allies and new Observers to our side, the traditions have spread and grown. Now, as we prepare to welcome new members of the Order into our gatherings, must we remember that our traditions and our ways are more important then ever. The question, it must be asked!... the young one who met us on the deep range, she has no young -- but the other, the one she thinks of even now as 'mistress'... this Observer *does* have younglings, Nirisha! Honour and tradition demand that the Question be asked, even as it is expected that the Answer be given in return. It is our way... the way it has *always* been. The way it will always *be*." "I pray that you are right, Father..." came the reply. "Because if you are not, what you are about to do may bring a great sorrow upon us all." "Speak you not this nonsense!" he commanded, briefly showing his anger yet again at her continued, if mild, impertinence. "The humans, they will accept our guidance in these matters... if we are to bring this alliance to the full closure they seek, they will give us what we want, what tradition demands." "We will see, soon enough, whether you are right about this or not, Father." "Yes..." Aeilyn murmured, his belief in the inevitable outcome already solidly in place. "We will, indeed." * * * "And that's the way I see it." Julia concluded, as she and her former teacher and still firm friend walked down the hall together, aide and Westcastle children in tow. "They wanted to meet me because I'm the only Observer in the Alliance to actively command a warship, they wanted to meet the President because he and the Entil'zha were the ones to drive away the Shadows, and they want to meet *you*..." "Because I was the first?" Jennifer Westcastle replied, her normally light filled eyes still full of suspicion, even after all the reasons she'd given her to trust their Eloi'a visitors. "I'm sorry, Julia, but I just don't think it's that simple. The reasons they've given us for coming here are certainly valid ones... but I can't help but feel they're still hiding something from us. For instance, why does he want to see my children, of all things?" "I don't know..." she finally admitted, after a few seconds of furious pondering, "But even if they are hiding something from us, they probably have their reasons for doing what they're doing... traditions, or something. After all, from what little they've told us, the Eloi'a have had Observers in generational families for almost as long as they can remember." "Which, of course," Jennifer continued, "Reminds me that we now need to consider this 'trait' of ours a genetic one... a trait that Richard and Celia might share with us, all things considered. And all these years, I thought it was just a title the Vorlons had given us, because it was something we were good at." She sighed. "Even after all we've been through and even after everything we've seen in service to the Rangers and to Valen, looks like the universe is still capable of throwing a curve ball at us once in a while." "I guess so." she admitted, as they approached the meeting room where the Speaker, William and President Sheridan had been in closed meeting for some time, now. "So... are you ready to meet him?" "Let's get this over with, before I change my mind." came the reply, and with that, they pressed on through the door... and into contact with what could properly be called an Observer... force of nature. "Ah!" a voice cried out, "At last!" Julia and Jennifer almost jumped at that cry, as the Speaker for the Cradle of Stars, his daughter (looking mournful, somehow) standing beside and behind him, rose to his feet and approached them, while William and John Sheridan watched on from behind, looking somewhat bemused by the sudden turn of events. "President Sheridan... would it be untoward for me to request a short and private audience with Anla'shok Tikopai and her senior circle-member Sech Westcastle at this time?" A short series of acceptances and thank-yous followed, and then the two human Observers followed the Speaker and his daughter into a smaller and more private chamber, Jennifer's children still in tow. "A pleasure it is to finally meet you, Jennifer Westcastle..." Aeilyn reiterated, "As Saarlveii' to Saarlveii', we now speak." "Ah... translation, please?" Jennifer tentatively replied. "But of course." came the firm reply. "As I am Circle-Prime to the Eloi'a, you are Circle-Prime to the humans. Admittedly, yours is a much *smaller* circle then mine!... but Prime of this generation you are -- leader of your kind in the here and now." "But there are only..." "Four of you, yes. A small circle, as I said." "Four?" "We are aware of the male of our kind among you who suffered at the hands of the ancient powers..." the Speaker continued, "My daughter will be visiting him shortly to see if anything can be done about the matter. The fourth among you is your female daughter, Saarlveii' Westcastle... an enviable echo to mine, to be sure! As often occurs, the trait among your kind appears to be stronger on the female side." "Damn!" Julia heard Jennifer whisper, and winced herself. All Speaker Aeilyn had done was glance at Celia Westcastle, and he had known -- what else were these Eloi'a Observers capable of? "As such, I have a request to make at this time." And with that, the Speaker for the Cradle of Stars became far more formal. "As has been before since the Exodus, as has always been, the towers live on through the sacrifices made by the generations before to prepare for the struggles ahead -- the gatherings made stronger in each generation. To make our firm the compact between the Cradle of Stars and your Interstellar Alliance," the avian continued, his eyes bright, "I beseech you to allow your daughter to be trained in her calling by the A'arein of Eloi -- the Elders that are, the teachers whose sole purpose in life is to pass on their wisdom to those who would follow. For countless generations they have guided our Towers and our circles... since the Exodus, and before. There is no better place for your youngling to learn her nature, Saarlveii'... and in all our history, no Observer has ever refused the call. Say you now what must be said," Aeilyn concluded, almost as if the decision had already been made. "And all will be as it should be." And with that, silence fell... a silence that a suddenly thunderstruck Julia filled with numerous unsaid responses to this sudden and most unexpected turn of events. Of all the things for this avian visitor to say, she had not expected this... had not expected the Eloi'a Speaker to all but *demand* that Jennifer's daughter be turned over to them for training. And while this request had obviously also taken her fellow Observer by surprise, she could see from Jennifer's suddenly stony expression that a response would not now be long in coming. And that response, she feared, would *not* be the one Speaker Aeilyn was looking for. Not by a *long* shot. * * * 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 VII, Act IV Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 22:15:46 "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE" EPISODE SEVEN "ULTIMATUM" (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture) * * * <> "It's gotten awfully quiet in there all of a sudden, John..." William muttered, as he and Sheridan waited for Aeilyn's interview with his wife and the captain of the SHARD OF NIGHT to conclude. "What do you suppose this is really all about?" "Well, even after five years of running the Alliance, and three years before that dealing with plenty of situations like this one on Babylon 5," Sheridan replied, "The honest truth is, I have to say the answer to that question's different with just about every race I've come across. Everyone always wants something a little bit different from their neighbours -- as for our esteemed visitor the Speaker, however, I suspect that his all-but-jump in your wife's direction upon her arrival here has a *great* deal to do with the answer to your question..." And then, the explosion came. "WHAT?" the Speaker for the Cradle of Stars exclaimed, as the doors burst open, and Jennifer all but stalked out, one Westcastle child in each hand, a worried-looking Julia walking close behind her. "You cannot mean that... it is simply not..." "Done?" was Jennifer's immediate reply, as she abruptly turned to face the Speaker for the Cradle of Stars, her eyes sparkling with barely restrained anger. Aeilyn's cool and expectant, professional facade had been completely *shattered* by her response -- an answer he he had clearly not been expecting to hear. It was such a simple word, but with so much meaning... while behind the Eloi'a leader, the expression on the face of his daughter Nirisha grew more mournful by the minute. That word, of course, was *no*. "Then perhaps you do not understand us nearly as well as you think you do... Speaker. I'm truly sorry if I've offended you in any way, but in this, I'm afraid that our way is not your way. They are my children, she is my daughter!..." and at that, Jennifer's grip upon the hand of Celia Westcastle abruptly tightened, "And she isn't even five of our years old, yet!" "Yes!" the Speaker exclaimed, his expression now somewhat strained, "The perfect time for her training to begin, Saarlveii'! If wait too long you do, the moment of perfect timing is lost... the talent that could be, it will be gone forever!" "And what makes you think I *want* her to have the life I've lead?" Jennifer snapped. "My husband and I stood as leaders to the Anla'shok during the greatest war this galaxy has ever seen!... and more then once, we nearly died because of our beliefs, facing the same enemy you faced yourself! We helped to drive them away... and when it was over, I swore that my children would not share my experiences, would not endure the pain that I have endured. It is bad enough that the woman who was once my protege has been called upon to protect our greatest warship during this time of trial and search... bad enough that she must walk with her Rangers in dark places I will never see. I will not give up my child to you, Speaker!... she is too precious to my heart. If you had asked in ten years, fifteen perhaps, my answer might have been different... but now? I am sorry, truly sorry... But the answer is still no." Another moment of silence fell, then, a moment that William used to restrain the abrupt and sudden anger that had sprung to life within him, as his wife had made known to him the intent of this visitor from the darkness beyond the Rim. As much as this revelation had surprised him, as much as it had clearly even surprised John Sheridan, if any one human in the room chose to go farther down that road then his wife already had, the promised Alliance with these Eloi'a would be doomed. A mistake had been made, an assumption on the part of the Speaker that should never have occurred... but now feathers would have to be smoothed (quite literally, in this case) and tempers cooled. Sheridan abruptly cleared his throat. "Speaker, Sech Westcastle... perhaps it would be a good idea if we paused on this discussion for the time being?" "An excellent suggestion, Mr. President..." Jennifer replied, her face now pale as anger faded, and he saw her finally begin to realize the damage she might have done to the negotiations between the Alliance and the Eloi'a. "If you will please allow my children and I to retire from this place?" Sheridan nodded, a trifle shaply, and even as Jennifer and her children left the room, Julia close behind, the President turned his gaze towards Aeilyn and the other avian Observer at his side. "Now then, Speaker!... would you care to explain why you used this meeting as a cover for your own personal agenda with respect to Sech Westcastle and her family?" "It would appeaar, Mr. President," Aeilyn replied with no small amount of hesitation, "That I have made somewhat of a tactical error -- and that the approach taken was not the correct one to make. I assure you, however, that I will *not* make the same mistake twice." And at that, the Eloi'a Observer bowed in William's direction. "As brood-father and life-partner to those I hold dear among you even now, will you accept my apologies in relation to this matter, High Councillor Westcastle?" "This time, yes." he replied, a trace of ice in his tone. "I would appreciate it, however, if you would try not to make this a common occurence?" "I am quite sure that can be arranged." Aeilyn drolly agreed, the tone of finality in his voice signaling that for now at least, the subject could be safely closed. "And now that I have commited what you humans term, I believe, a 'faux pas', perhaps now we should press on to discuss the terms of our Alliance?" * * * He did it... I warned him not to, but did he listen to me? No. Full of his belief that his way is always the right way, he did what should never have been done... he asked the question that should never have been asked with these humans who are also of our kind. And what was the result? Why, it was exactly what I was expecting, *exactly* what I have been fearing all along. Before the moment of asking, two roads lay before us, but now only one remains -- a path of sorrows built upon the foundations of my father's pride. But this, of course, is only the beginning. Shocked he is now, by the refusal given to us by the human female Westcastle... but this will not last, for I know him to the core. He will obey our traditions even to the exclusion of all reason... even though this may destroy him in the end, he will obey our traditions because he has *never* known any other way. As inevitable as the burning paak'li rivers that emerge from the mountains of Home, he has chosen his path, and soon enough, the summons will be made. Saakli will come, his seeker of darkness... his stealer of dreams, the Eloi who walks in the shadows that are. For someone so bright, is it just to have a servant so dark? No, it is not... but the path of sorrows is open before us, now... and there is no turning back from our fate. * * * Home. Larieken stood upon the black lava cliffs, and watched the waves pound against the rocks below him, while the moons cast twinned paths of silver across the ocean beyond. It had been too long since he had last been here... too long since he had been welcome in this place. His mother and his sister had greeted him, while not warmly, at least with sincerity... although with a touch of warning. He had asked them, of course, to tell him what this was all about, but they had refused that honour, explaining only that 'the Alyt will tell you of this matter in his own manner, and in his own time'. And in the place where his father and he had most often discussed the future to come, before the War... when still the family had been unbroken. Where the Wall came down to the sea, and shattered itself upon the water. "Larieken." He turned. "Father." "While others among us may not share this viewpoint, I am glad that you have come to this place. Ariekaas, for one, did not believe you would come... believed that the call of the Anla'shok would be greater then the call of the heart. It pleases me that you have proved him wrong." "And now that this is the case, the time has come for you to explain the reason for this summons," was Larieken's reminder. "Indeed... and would I could avoid this matter, but I cannot. Your eldest brother, Mallarain, has been exiled from Minbar, never to return." "Exiled?" he breathed out. "But why? And how?" "The legacy of what was done during the civil war will haunt us to the end our days, I am afraid," his father replied with heavy tone. "Isolated from this within the Anla'shok you were, but for Mallarain, what happened could not have been avoided. For a time, as well you know, we all went mad, Larieken... the war raged amongst the Castes until Delenn returned to us -- until the day the Starfire Wheel was opened, the day that *most* of us returned to our senses. Understand that Mallarain, like so many others of our caste, killed more then he should have during this terrible time... and even though the Grey Council commanded that the Peace of Valen return upon the face of the land, there were among us, and among the other castes as well, those whose hates and need for revenge could not be so easily curbed. Among the high orbitals he was, when his opponent came upon him. Of the Religious Caste this Minbari was, but sound of body and harder trained then most of their kind. Both of his brothers, this Minbari claimed, had been killed during the war... murdered by Mallarain when the peace was not upon us. Whether or not this was true, who can say... but he was called upon to defend himself, and the attack, it was a savage one. Several times during the duel others came to try and end the match before things proceeded too far, but the opponent, he was most set in his ways... that it should be kill or be killed, and no other outcome." "And Mallarain, he lives then, does he?" Larieken inquired, a dark and terrible sorrow coming upon him now that he began to realize what this was *really* about. "He lives... though badly injured even now. The Grey Council, however, was called upon to render judgement on this matter... not the first time this has happened since the end of the war, and probably not the last. All sides were considered, and judgement was rendered." "Exile it was, then." Larieken stated. Plainly. With finality. "Never to see family, clan or home again in this lifetime?" "Yes." A simple word, it was, but with so much meaning. "And now, a decision must be made, my son... a decision I thought you would never have to face in my lifetime. We must decide who will lead the family when I am gone, Larieken... and who will not." "You would offer this to me?" he asked, not quite believing what he was hearing. "After all that I have done, after the vows I have made as Anla'shok? Are you asking me to give up all that I have become, all that I might yet become?" "I ask nothing of anyone!" his father replied, tone more sharp then it had been before. "For now. I ask only that you *consider* which loyalties are more important to you when all is said and done... to consider that there may indeed be a life for you in this place after your time in the Anla'shok is done. There are no ultimatums for the time being... only questions to be asked. And answers given." "I must think on this matter." he replied, after a long moment. "There is time for this," his father allowed. "But not a great deal of time, Larieken. Before you leave this place and return to your warship, I must have your answer on this matter, one way or the other. Do you understand these words?" "I... understand, Father." "Then until we speak again, my son... sleep well." And with that, his father faded back into the night -- but the damage, Larieken was forced to admit, even as he returned to his contemplation of the waves and the night... The damage was done. * * * "He's coming, isn't he?" Nirisha accused her father. "He is." Aeilyn replied, a reply full of resolution, and no small amount of anger. "The decision made was not the correct one to make, and in time, *she* will come to understand that what we are about to do is the right thing to do! When the daughter is returned to this place, trained as is proper, all will be as it should be... the daughter, more loyal to the Order then to family..." "Father, please forgive me for saying this... but you *cannot* do this! These humans and their allies, they are not like us, not like any of the species of the Cradle! If you do this thing, any hope we have of alliance may be shattered forever!" "Cannot?" the Speaker exclaimed, his anger now plain. "You, of the Clairion's Tower, you would *dare* to tell your Circle-Prime what he can and cannot do? Daughter of my blood you may be, but you have not the right to say such things to me!" "I have *every* right to point out that what you doing will only cast us farther down the road we now walk upon! A single chance you yet have to avoid disaster... a single chance, only! I beg you, abandon this quest for the daughter of the human Westcastle, before it is too late!" "You will remove yourself from my presence, *daughter*," Aeilyn hissed, "Before I do something that I will truly regret. In fact," he added, almost as an afterthought, "Since you are so eager to take their side in all things, perhaps I should leave you here on the world of the Minbari for a time..." "You would not dare!" "But come, there is precedence," her father coldly reminded her. "Do not the worlds of the Interstellar Alliance send ambassadors to this place to deal with Sheridan and those who serve him? Yes... you will do nicely in such a role -- *after* the fact." "I will tell them what it is you intend, I will *tell*..." "Oh I am sure that you will, yes," Aeilyn coldly noted, "But not until it is far too late for them to do *anything* about the situation." And with that, the Speaker beckoned with one long, taloned finger, and Nirisha suddenly realized, as dark-winged servants with cold eyes emerged from the darkness around her, that her question about Saakli and his minions was slightly inaccurate. He wasn't coming... HE was already here. And at that, she finally gave cry to her fears. * * * "Master... command us." Aeilyn cast a single glance down upon the crumpled figure of the Fallen One who had once been his daughter, and then looked away to meet the amused gaze of his most trusted servant. "Saakli... this thing we intend, there must be no mistakes, and no one to suspect. Sheridan and Westcastle now believe this alliance a firm one, and very shortly, I and this vessel will be leaving orbit to return to the Cradle of Stars." "While we, on the other hand," the operative replied, his expression now somewhat malicious, "Will descend to the surface of the Minbar-world unseen, to play the move that must be played. Do you wish us to take... that with us?" "You will remove her from my sight." Aeilyn coldly replied. "Our time together is done... her time among the Order, now ended. As of now, she is Fallen... as the human Jennifer Westcastle is now also declared Fallen." "And what of the one named Tikopai?" A curious and thoughtful expression came upon Aeilyn's face at those words. "A difficult reading to make, my friend... difficult indeed. I sense that one has a long and difficult road to walk upon -- but the road is clouded to me, and all she touches is also clouded. For now, I cannot say if she is friend to us... Or foe." "Then the road walked may be a difficult one." "All roads are, my friend... all roads are. Now go, and do not return to my side until you have the human child in hand." "By your command, my Master." Saakli replied, as he faded back into the shadows. * * * "So is that it?" Klairika asked, as Julia came to her side, beneath the thundering cataracts of Gajn'darahl. "They're leaving already?" She sighed. "I don't think they got what they came for. They may be Observers, Klairika, and this Aeilyn may be the leader of the greatest assemblage of my kind in this galaxy..." "But he could not convince your former mistress and my friend to give up her child into his care." the Brakiri commented. "Therefore, has not part of his mission to this place failed?" "Sure looks like it." she admitted. "Although, I can't help but reflect on something Jennifer said to Speaker Aeilyn yesterday -- how 'you don't understand us nearly as well as you think'. The honest truth is, Klairika, the same goes for them relative to us... now that one of their greatest traditions has been shattered by my dearest friend, what will they do now? They may be leaving us, but *what* comes next?" * * * The farewells made, the massive Eloi'a starship slid smoothly out of Minbar orbit, the departure coming far sooner then some had expected, or wanted. On the bridge of that warship, a father planned and plotted, his thoughts still laced with the anger he felt at the impetuousness of the human who had chosen to thwart his will. On a dark and stealthed commando ship desending towards the world below, his daughter cried out and strained against her bonds, but to no avail. While on the world below, a child played and a mother relaxed, both unaware of the terror still to come. In time, everyone involved would come to treat this as a point of no return, as a line that should never have been crossed. While others, Observers and Fallen alike, would nod wisely in the months and years ahead, and say the following... "This, my children, was where the Schism began -- the day when the Dreamer and the Daughter chose to begin their war against the Old Order. This my children, was where it *all* began." * * * 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 VII, Envoi Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 21:51:43 "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE" EPISODE SEVEN "ULTIMATUM" (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture) * * * <> With a ripple of dimensional brilliance, the Eloi'a flagship TIELDA'S PRIDE ripped open its path between the continuums and vanished from space-time. The commands of that ship's master now given, there was no longer any reason for them to stay in this place, of course. Soon enough, the crew of that ship noted with relief, they would be reunited with the comrades in the fleet -- soon enough they would be making the long return voyage across the darkness between the galaxy and the Cradle of Stars. Soon enough. Meanwhile, a tiny black knifeblade of a vessel commanded by the Eloi'a operative named Saakli moved silently and invisibly through the skies of Minbar. The darkness that had enveloped Larieken half a world away earlier in the day had now reached the city of Tuzanor... and once again, the name of that city was about to be proven all too apt, as Saakli's vessel slipped down amongst the trees on the north slope of the Valley of Sorrows. Moments passed then, moments in which the dark-winged commandoes made themselves ready for the task ahead, and then, unseen by all due to a certain *few* aspects of Eloi'a technology the Speaker had neglected to tell President Sheridan about, the operative and his followers stepped out of their craft, extended their wings, and rose into the night sky before turning down-valley towards Tuzanor. The moment commanded was coming... it was almost here. While several miles away down the valley, another member of that same species, cast out by her father for the crime of being right, struggled with her bonds, and with the mask that covered her face and mouth. She would scream, cry out to the world to prevent what was to come, but the planners of this... operation had timed things only too well. Nirisha knew she would escape from her bonds eventually, to act as an ambassador of despair and ill news... but not until it is too late. Unless... yes, perhaps if she cried out in a different way, the human Observer she first reached out to days before and a lifetime away might hear her... perhaps Julia Tikopai will be able to sense her distress through the mental channel that only four beings on the planet are capable of using, and one of those, she knows, still needs her help. She will give that help gladly, but first, she must escape. And time is running out. * * * "So when will you be leaving?" Jennifer asked Julia, as she finished cleaning up the aftermath of dinner. Julia did not reply at first, her eyes on the stars above Tuzanor, bright again now that the storm had broken. "Help you?" she said, turning towards her friend with a frown. "With what?" "I beg your pardon?" Jennifer replied with a frown. "What I *said* was..." the cry came, louder now, and in a moment of sudden realization, she suddenly realized that the cry in the dark had not been from anyone now present -- but the voice *was* one she recognized... the voice of the visitor who had cried out to her before. "In Valen's Name, Jennifer!..." she suddenly exclaimed, "Can't you hear her?" "Hear who?" "The Eloi'a Observer, the daughter who said little, but whose expression spoke louder then words!" she replied, as she moved towards the entrance of the Westcastle household to claim her cloak. "She's asking me for help!" "But how is that possible?" the older woman replied with a frown. "The Eloi'a and their ship left orbit several hours ago -- for you to hear this visitor crying out for help, must mean..." "That she's still here! And since that's the case..." "We'd best find out *why* she's still here." Jennifer flatly replied, reaching for her own cloak. "No... you should stay here. The children need you -- and anyways, there are plenty of Rangers from my ship on shore leave in the area at the moment, as well as a few other friends from the old days... I can handle this." "You're sure?" "Very sure. Are you *ever* going to stop worrying about me?" was Julia's final retort as she made her way down the corridor. "You need to ask?" * * * Half way around the world, Larieken still stood on the edge of what was, the moons now riding high in the sky. The question his father had asked him, he had still not found an answer to it -- the decision had been a more difficult one to make then he could have possibly imagined... "Hello, *brother*." a familiar voice called from the shadows behind him. "Still as predictable as ever, I see." He sighed, before turning his gaze aside from the sea, and towards the barely seen figure standing before in in the darkness. "Ariekaas... I have been expecting you. You have something to say to me." Not a question, merely a statement of fact. "I do... and it is this. Our father has made you an offer you cannot accept. Return to your Anla'shok and your ship of space... your place is not here any longer." "And if I should choose to ignore your kind offer?" he replied, his tone neutral. "If I should find our father's offer an acceptable one?" "Then let me make my meaning more plain..." Ariekaas replied, his voice now laced with steel. "I will not be lead by one who chose to abandon his place at our father's side -- who even now willingly serves a changling human full of of pride beyond her years... who consorts with humans, and walks where he should not have. You are of the Anla'shok, Larieken... your place is *not* here any longer." "This is not your decision to make." "And why not?" Ariekaas challenged. "If I do not make this decision, who will? If you step forward to lead us after our father is gone, our family will weaken. I will will not have it!... but I *will* have your answer, Larieken, here and now. Leave, while you still can -- or stay, and face my wrath! Which will it be... brother?"" A moment passed, a moment meaured in sadness and deliberation. And then, Larieken made his decision known. * * * The walkways between the towers were quiet now, as Jennifer looked down over Tuzanor from her high aerie. William would be back soon, of course, he had just sent word that the President and his Council had just finished going over the documents of alliance with a fine tooth comb... so why did she feel so cold? What was setting her on edge? Looking out over the city as she did, she did not see the three shadows descend on the far side of the aerie, and slip inside. Did not hear their silent feet, claws sheathed, whisper across the floor. She did, however, hear her daughter's sudden, panicked cry a moment later... a cry that was just as quickly silenced. Her heart leapt within her chest, then, and she turned away from the view and moved inside at a run... To come to a sudden and horrified stop at the sight before her... of the black cloaked trio of avian creatures standing in the middle of her dwelling, in the heart of her domain. Nearly she screamed, then, as the realization came clear that it was happening to her *again*. Again, an enemy had carved their way to the heart of all that was light, to wreak havoc upon her family. Only this time, the target was not her... instead, the target of these new enemies was the limp, unconscious bundle of child gathered firm against the chest of one of these *Eloi'a* who had invaded her home. Involuntarily she reached for the pike at her side... and just as suddenly, with dread growing by the minute, realized it wasn't there... that she had left it at her bedside, only moments before. "Put her down!" she cried. "I think not, human," the leader of the invaders replied, his voice silky smooth... and full of death. "Seen us you have, as he commanded -- now we go!" And even at that, even knowing the act was almost certainly futile, she flung herself at the black-garbed creatures in front of her... and watched, almsot despairingly, as the leader cast a knowing glance at one of his associates... and in unison, all three raised weapons in her direction, and fired. A brief moment of pain followed, and then darkness. * * * "Skeir'g Saakli," one of the lesser operatives noted, as Saakli briefly bent down to check that the human still lived, "Our veil will soon be pierced... we must go, now!" "There is agreement," Saakli replied. "The Fallen One is unharmed... merely shocked out of awareness, as our Master commanded. The child is ours, no one knows that we are here... no one will know until it is too late. We are done with this place -- we go. NOW." And with that said, all three Eloi'a shimmered back to near invisibility, and with a single mighty leap, sprang across the room into the aerie, the child slung between them, and out into the night beyond. * * * While a few moments later, William arrived in the doorway to his home, and stopped in mid-step, unable to believe what it was he was seeing -- his wife laid out on the floor, dead to the world... her face full of pain. He moved then, not wanting to believe in his fears, it couldn't be, they couldn't have! They had. His son, while as unconscious as his wife, still remained, but his daughter? His daughter was gone... stolen from him, stolen as Gideon has stolen Jennifer from him before the fiery moment at Z'ha'dum, years before. And while there was no proof these Eloi'a had taken Celia from him, William, his thoughts now ice and anger, knew he would get the proof he needed from Jennifer, soon enough. And then? Then, the pursuit would begin. And he knew, all too well, who would choose to lead that pursuit, and why. "And heaven help *anyone* who gets in her way." he whispered. Shortly thereafter, his wife returned to her senses -- and her tale relayed to him. As well as *another*, equally interesting piece of information -- a revelation that had him in motion only minutes later. * * * While miles away, Julia paused in mid-search, and cried out her shock, as she suddenly, and keenly, felt the pain of someone she held dear to her heart. "Val'na Tikopai..." one of the Rangers accompanying her inquired, "Are you well?" "I am..." Nirisha suddenly exclaimed then, for only her to hear. was Julia's worried question, as she and the others pressed on through the trees towards their goal, the others following their leader without question, even though they thought the quest ultimately a futile one. A few more minutes passed then, and then, the beam of light from her lantern swiveled in her hand almost involuntarily and came to rest upon a grey-cloaked figure lying bound upon the ground, her wings also bound, beating against the ground beneath her. The searchers sprang into action, then, and soon enough, Nirisha rose to her feet, her expression one of panic and alarm. "He has... he has commanded the taking, Julia-Seeker-Tikopai, he has done what should never have been done. Your Saarlveii', the one named Westcastle, chose to thwart his will... this is not done, she did not realize what it was she was doing!" "Why are you still here?" she exclaimed. "He cast me out, for daring to question his authority... for *daring* to speak out against tradition!" Nirisha cried out. "And now it is too late... now he has taken the child of your Saarlveii', the path is sorrows is upon us!" "Taken her?" "There is no time for questions, human!" Nirisha snapped, and with a single step, the Eloi'a stepped forward and grasped Julia's hands in her own. "SEE what I have seen." And she did... in that moment, she saw all that Nirisha had endured at the hands of her father... saw the searing purpose in Aeilyn's eyes, as he had ordered his dark servants to capture Jennifer's daughter, and knew also, in that moment, what it was they would have to do. "We have to rescue her -- you will help me?" she asked, her tone now icy cold and certain. "I will." Nirisha replied. "It is my destiny... and yours." Unfortunately, at that moment, other parties and other purposes chose to intrude... as a brilliant spear of light stabbed down into the clearing they were standing in, and a figure, cold of eye and certain of purpose, descended down that column of light, and Julia quailed at the death in those eyes. This man who was her leader had dealt out death before, and now he stood only feet from a member of the race who had stolen his child. If things got out of hand, the only chance they had to reclaim what had been taken might be lost. Her expression resolute, she stepped forward, into his path. "Sir... as much as I know you want to take this out on her, you can't - do - this. Nirisha is Aeilyn's daughter, she knows him better then any of us!" "In this instant I speak not to you as friend but as High Councillor to ship's-captain. Val'na Tikopai..." the Rimstalker warned, as other Rangers swarmed forward to surround the now frightened Eloi'a, "Get out of my way." "You must know I can't do that, sir." William drew breath to speak again then, his eyes sparkling angrily, but before the words came, another voice cried forth, a voice that Julia knew, for she had only just recently met this man, in a place far, far from here. And the word this man cried was a simple one, but full of command. "STOP!" "What?" William exclaimed, turning as the man in question emerged from the shadows beyond the clearing, his expression authoritative, his manner crisp, his clothing dark as the night around them. "And who might you be, sir?" "He was right about you," the man commented, casting a critical glance in their direction, "And absolutely accurate about when I should arrive in this place. You're both troublemakers, but then again, it's the troublemakers that get things done, isn't it? Allow me to introduce myself -- my name... is Alwyn." "You're a Technomage!" William accused a moment later, as Julia let out a sigh of relief, and silently thanked her occasional ally, Galen, for coming to the rescue again... albeit in a most unusual manner. "But of course I am!" Alwyn drolly replied. "And now that I've managed to distract you from your prior intent, did I happen to hear someone mention the words, 'rescue attempt'?" * * * TO BE CONTINUED... * * * Next time -- The Speaker for the Cradle of Stars has got what he wanted. Unfortunately for him, however, he is about to find out exactly what happens when you make the human in command of the second-most advanced warship in the galaxy angry... "Mythos" the 8th episode of "The Seeker's Fire", coming soon! * * * http://www.connect.ab.ca/~dgolding/index.htm