From: David Goldingay Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode 11, Overture Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 21:40:29 -0700 Hyperspace -- within debris field from Drakh battle. July 12th, 2267. It is a sight not to be looked at too closely by living eyes, the evidence of death all around us... and of differing ideologies. The battle is over, but the memories will not go away so easily. Nor, as I have observed, will the evidence we have accumulated. As I have learned the hard way over the past several days, it would appear that we have made many enemies during our more then six months of guarding the Earth Alliance Destroyer ‘Excalibur’ – and now, either through a combination of coincidence or precognitive betrayal, my first officer has been stolen away from me. There is a choice to be made… do we attempt to reclaim her from those who have taken her from our side, or abandon Klairika to them to ensure the continuation of the mission? Julia resignedly set down her pen as the red mists of hyperspace slipped by outside the ready room portal. It was a difficult prospect, to be sure… and this time, unlike during their recent encounter with the Fen and their predators in this domain, there didn't seem to be an easy way out. “Larieken – what’s up?” “Val’na,” the Minbari replied a moment later, as his image appeared above the desk, “May I suggest you join us on the main bridge? Anla’shok Keynes and I have detected a small vessel approaching this location – the pilot of that craft wishes to speak with you.” Julia frowned. Her Minbari operations officer wasn’t usually this evasive about rendezvous made between Ranger ships… but now that she thought about it, how in Valen’s name could this ship he was talking about be Anla’shok? Even though she’d passed on the report of the battle and subsequent loss of her first officer to Minbar (in response to which the Council had ordered them to hold their position for the time being) there wasn'tt any Ranger ships in the area that she knew of... besides her own, that was. And so it was with her curiousity heightened that Julia emerged onto the bridge… and there saw a familiar figure on the viewscreen, a dark-robed individual with a dark grey triangular face and bulging red eyes... “Moreil?” “Is I, yes-sss.” the Z’shailyl agreed a moment later. “Much time has-sss passed since las-sst we spoke, Huntleader – I have been very busy.” She could believe that – the last time she had seen him, back in the spring, Moreil had told her he would need to walk apart from them for a time, to try and find others of his kind that thought as he did. “How did your own hunt go, if you don’t me asking?” Moreil's head lowered in resignation. “As good as-sss can be expected – some success-sss, not as much as-sss I had hoped – we will talk more on this in time, Huntleader. For now, however,” her ally continued, as he concentrated to reduce the hissing in his speech, "News I possess that you may find valuable. When first I came into this region in search of your vessel, observed battle in progress – your fight with those who forced race to submit. Also observed crisis-sss of Brakiri…” the Z’shailyl cunningly added. “Thought to aid her, I did, but was-sss too dangerous to make approach. Others there were in area, they were the first to reach her.” Her heart leapt at this news… another coincidence, to be sure... but in their favour, this time. “Moreil,” Julia entreated, “Did you recognize their ship, the ones who stole her away from our side?” Moreil inclined his head, and hissed darkly. “Vessel was Brakiri in nature, Huntleader – does this-sss mean something to you?” Julia drew in a sharp breath – oh yes, it did indeed. For a number of months now, Klairika had from time to time spoken of the enmity between her and the rest of her family, especially her powerful mother, who was head of a syndicate back on their homeworld, Brakos. Her first officer had also mentioned that there might be ‘hunters’ looking for her, and that they should watch carefully for such individuals. Well, it looked as if they hadn’t been careful enough… with the assistance of someone, possibly a seer, but more likely an Observer sent by Aeilyn to harass her, the hunters had finally caught up to Klairika. “This is a tremendous piece of news, Moreil!” she finally replied. “You've come to us at an ideal moment – now we finally know for sure who's taken her, we may make certain… other decisions. And if all goes well, we may even pursue those who have taken her to Brakos… there to fight them on their own battleground.” “You are the Huntleader,” Moreil reminded her. “So this-sss I do not find surprising. I place myself at your service for the duration of this crisis. Understand that I have certain talents that may prove… useful to you – that her Brakiri captors will not see me unless-sss I wish them to.” “Thank you.” She replied, the gratitude in her voice not just for show. “This just might be our hardest mission yet – and the more help we have to pull this off, the better we’ll be. And speaking of which,” she muttered, as Moreil bowed in her direction and then faded from sight, “Larieken…” “Val’na?” “Get me High Councillor Westcastle on Minbar, soonest.” * * * It was in orbit that one could see the patterns-of-fate most clearly, Sionaya zei’chaal Alidiae observed – the patterns never repeated, as Derchal willed… sometimes they stood against you, but occasionally, everything synchronized and one was allowed to carry the day. Such had not often been the case of late, but now, as the ship commanded by her most trusted servant Mezhik zum Berane approached the slowly spinning annular form of Serathas habitat, she found that her faith had been restored. To behold this image was to understand the meaning of victory… Berane’s ship, suspended between Brakos below and the darkness above, the orange-red mingled glare of the sun and its wandering companion just beyond. The lifegivers were even now approaching conjunction with one another and also closest approach… as such, the lightseasons were warmer now then they had been at any time in recent memory, a period that had been heralded by the Comet’s return. A potent sign, this was… and now that her wandering miskaa` firstborn was about to be returned to her, anything might be possible. “So,” Kareina observed, her expression cool and full of cunning as she came to her matriarch’s side, “It is true, then, what I have heard – Mezhik zum Berane managed to track down and capture Klairika-miskaa`… an astonishing success, even for him.” Sionaya’s eyes narrowed, as she turned to face the first-daughter of her younger brother. Since Klairika’s abrupt departure from Brakos after the Day of the Dead, she had begun grooming Kareina for the role that her own first-daughter would have one day assumed, if all had gone as she had originally planned. The younger Brakiri had stepped into the gap with uncompromising ferocity for one so young, and had ruthlessly used her beauty and sharp wit to pursue those things that all members of the syndicate and race coveted – wealth, position and power. An enviable successor, she was, to replace what had unquestionably been her greatest failure… but there would be time enough for this later. “This is an accurate observation,” she allowed. “I shall be most interested, Kareina, to learn how Mezhik succeeded, when all others before him had failed.” “And now that he has returned Klairika-miskaa` to the fold,” Kareina continued, her expression now suspicious, “I would have another answer from you, nei-leidrei… word has reached me of this new technology being worked upon by one of our syndicate-divisions – a technology that may return the lost-one to us as one of our most loyal servants. Should this procedure succeed as the scientists believe it will, would you seek to set me aside and replace me with the first-daughter you lost, so long ago?” You will make a worthy successor when I am gone, Sionaya noted, as she briefly met Kareina’s now-hostile gaze with an icy glare of her own… a blast reminiscent of the glacial winds of Mekarr province, where she had been born and raised – but then she allowed the glare to fade, and a smile to emerge onto her face. “As you no doubt have already determined, Kareina, that will now be impossible. Klairika-miskaa` will have to pay a price for what she has done – the new technology you refer to is the gate through which she will walk to begin her penance at our side. If all goes well,” Sionaya concluded, her tone now bitter and vengeful, “My *darling* little zei-leina will shortly become the most loyal member of the family in the history of our syndicate – and I assure you, Kareina, that all will go as planned.” And with that said, she turned her attention back to the now-docked vessel commanded by her na raen-shahn, and abruptly strode forward towards the docking bay to meet her hunters. This, she grimly concluded, was going to be a most pleasurable experience, indeed. * * * “So…” Mezhik zum Berane silkily inquired, as he arrived at the docking portal, the mysterious dark-robed agent at his side and the rest of the raen-shahn close behind, “I am going to assume that this is where the paths we walk upon diverge...” The agent inclined its head, the dark amusement in its eyes obvious to all. “It is as you say, Brakiri – now that the task you wished performed is complete, the pattern summons me elsewhere. Another opportunity to cause harm to the fallen-one and her followers may soon arise, and my master was clear on this matter – I must… observe the pattern carefully, and take advantage of enemy mistakes where and when I can.” “This is understood – we wish you success upon the road traveled.” A harsh sound emerged from the creature’s mouth, a cry that sent shivers down Berane’s back – and briefly he saw the amusement in its eyes replaced by mockery before the agent turned away, its features flickering and shifting as it activated its pattern-shifting technology. A moment later a Brakiri walked away through the docking port – and soon passed out of sight. And now that had been dealt with, the hunter concluded, it was time to deal with more pressing concerns – the nei-leidrei would be here soon enough. And there were… preparations to be made. * * * Elsewhere. “You understand what this means, of course.” the information-merchant inquired, his tone polite as always. “That the capture of the Anla’shok upsets the pattern we have followed of late.” “That is not entirely true, Bekas.” the voice in the darkness replied. “And you know it. The return of Klairika Alidiae to this place does not upset the pattern, it merely allows us to revisit one of the great scandals that have plagued this world since last the dead walked openly among us – a scandal that, as I recall, nearly destroyed her family’s syndicate at one point.” Bekas chose not to dispute this fact – yet again, his master revealed how he had become lord of one of the great Chadis brotherhoods – unlike so many other Chadi, the master was more then capable of seeing the ‘big picture’ (such an excellent term this was, that the humans had invented) as well as dealing with the smallest and most intricate details at the same time. This made him a dangerous opponent, as the Krona had discovered on numerous occasions in the recent past “As you say.” Bekas amended. “This humble servant would be interested in learning what it is that my Lord intends.” Cho-nori leant forward out of the darkness then, his expression terrible to behold, his shaven skull covered with the dark tattoos that symbolized his power amongst the Chadi. “Why, the obvious thing, of course.” The crime lord replied. “We shall attempt to destroy the Alidiae syndicate, and grind their *great* family into the dust. And then,” Cho-nori concluded, “We shall spit upon their graves. Is there any part of this progression you do not understand?” * * * Tuzanor, Minbar – the Tower of the Anla’shok High Council. “Thank you for coming on such short notice,” William Westcastle began, as Anla’shok Te’ras Araella Dechene entered his office, her expression more solemn then he had ever seen before… and for a good reason. Araella was one of his best intelligence agents, a project that Shival and Tashann had whipped up between them several years before. It hadn’t taken very long for the three of them to convince the President that having a body of Rangers dedicated to covert operations was a good idea – a body more secret, even, then the Alliance Directorate of Covert Intelligence, an operation that had been run by Tessa Halloran for more then four and a half years, now. After a moment more, William touched several controls on his desk, effectively sealing the office away from the outside world – when the new technology White Stars began coming off the production lines in a year or so, Valen willing, maybe he could try and arrange to have some of them assigned to the covert operations di! vision… “I haven’t forgotten the vows I swore to you and Tashann, sir.” Dechene replied, her throaty voice guardedly pleasant, as she took a seat in front of his desk. “What’s up?” “What we are about to discuss, Araella, is potentially the most serious breach of Alliance security since the Drakh were able to learn the location of the new technology destroyer shipyard…” Westcastle paused, then, and sighed. “Hell, forget that, it’s probably worse.” “Sounds serious.” Dechene noted with a frown. “The situation that has developed in the aftermath of the most recent Drakh attack on the ‘Excalibur’ is, to put it mildly, not something I was expecting. A short time ago, Val’na Tikopai of the ‘Shard of Night’ forwarded her own report of the engagements conducted during that operation, and also one other piece of information… somehow, an external group was able to learn the location of Na’lai Klairika Alidiae’s fighter during the battle, and subsequently removed her from the field, their destination and identity unknown at first. In a more recent communiqué,” he concluded, “The identity of those kidnappers was revealed – they’re Brakiri, Araella… possibly working for the Alidiae matriarch, herself.” Dechene whistled. “Serious is an understatement… ‘incredibly dangerous’ is a more accurate description, in my opinion.” “Exactly so. The crew of the ‘Shard’ are only seven months into their deployment, and now there’s a very real chance their existence may be revealed to the galaxy at large, if we don’t move on this now.” “It’s too soon,” Dechene agreed. “The recent attack on the ‘Excalibur’ is proof of that – Gideon and his people still need our help, at least for the time being.” Westcastle nodded. “That’s where you come in. I need you to rendezvous with the ‘Shard of Night’ near the edge of Brakiri territory, go in with a covert team assembled from her crew, and attempt to extract Na’lai Alidiae from the trap she’s fallen into. At the same time, we have to assume that the Brakiri loyal to her mother will attempt to interrogate her… and that she may be coerced into revealing information about the ‘Shard’ and its mission.” ‘And that they will then move to sell the information they’ve acquired to the highest bidder.” Dechene mused, her eyes narrow with speculation. “They’re Brakiri, after all – backstabbing like this is all part of their economic game.” “We cannot allow that to happen.” Westcastle replied. “For the mission of the ‘Shard’ to be compromised at this stage, and in this fashion, is not an outcome I will accept.” “I understand, sir… please, let me summarize the details of my mission for you. You want me to go in there, rescue one kidnapped Ranger, and tidy up the mess, up to and including terminating the lives of any Brakiri who have learned about the ‘Shard’ and its mission. Correct so far?” “Be careful on this one, Araella.” Westcastle warned. “Don’t rock the boat too much... just get the job done, rescue Na’lai Alidiae, and get the hell out of there in one piece. Clear?” “As crystal.” And with that said, Dechene smoothly rose to depart, but then she paused, and turned back to face him. “One more thing, sir… if Alidiae has been reprogrammed and cannot be saved, what then? If she has reverted, and intends to support the sale of the data?” “Then Na’lai Alidiae may have to die as well.”, William replied, his expression now troubled. “Again, use your judgment carefully on this one, Anla’shok Dechene. Now get going -- Val’na Quintara and his White Star are waiting for you upstairs.” * * * [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.] * * * STAR AND CIRCLE: “THE SEEKER’S FIRE” * * * ‘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, 1997-2000. * * * Coming soon: Act I of Episode 11: "Possessive Necessities" From: David Goldingay Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode 11, Act I Date: Tue, 29 Feb 2000 20:58:03 -0700 "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE" EPISODE ELEVEN: "POSSESSIVE NECESSITIES" Starring, KRISTEN CLOKE as Araella Dechene RICK SCHRODER as Talion Quintara JEFFREY COMBS as Moreil ALEXANDER SIDDIG as Mezhik Zum Berane CLAIRE DANES as Kareina Alidiae TED RAIMI as Bahkmein MICHAEL IRONSIDE as Cho-nori IAN RICHARDSON as Taklaeih With, RUSSELL CROWE as William Westcastle and HELEN MIRREN as Sionaya Alidiae * * * (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture) * * * < Prison cell aboard Brakiri hunter-vessel *Zal'cior* -- Brakos orbit, docked at Sarathas habitat. July 12th, 2267, human reckoning. She had been brave for so very long -- and dutiful, in the life she had lead. A life that had brought her face to face with her dead father on the night the Comet had been brightest. From that moment on, the road she had walked upon had diverged towards a different future; a future that had become the present, upon the bridge of the warship she had come to call home since the hunt for the cure to the Drakh nanoplague had begun. That future now seemed to be as ashes, however -- and in a sudden fit of rage, Klairika sprang off of the narrow bed that was all she had in this dark place -- and came to the end of the chains that bound her at neck and feet. So easily she'd been captured!... so easily. And only now, after being brave for so long, did the bitter tears begin to come. Which was when the door swung open in front of her, of course, and she fell to her knees as two figures appeared in the light -- both were indistinct in the glare, but she didn't have to see them to know who they were. The taller was the na raen-shahn who had captured her... Mezhik zum Berane, loyal servant of her family since before she'd been born. And the other, of course... was the matriarch-ruler of the medical-technology syndicate that had become one of the strongest Krona'chaal of recent times... the 'Nei-Leidrei', as she was known. Her mother. Klairika turned her gaze away from the vicious triumph visible in those eyes, and shuddered. This was not going to be pleasant, by the look of things -- and received a slap for her troubles. "You *will* look at me when I talk to you, zei-liena miskaa'. I have not come this far to have my only daughter turn her back on me in the instant of our... reunion." "A reunion," she spat, "That should never have happened. How did you do it?" she spat, suddenly whirling to focus her fury upon the icy superiority visible on Mezhik zum Berane's face. "How, in Valen's Name?" And for that utterance, received another slap. "Another example of how far she has fallen and been corrupted by these *Anla'shok* she favours..." the Nei-leidrei observed, as Berane inclined his head in agreement. "Understand, you will, miskaa', that I am most pleased with our na raen-shahn Berane -- his success was beyond our wildest expectations. And understand, as well, that the phase of your life involving those black-cloaked murderers of profit is now *over*." "What do you mean?" she managed. "Now that you have been returned to us," the Nei-leidrei explained, "You will *never* be allowed to leave Brakos again." Klairika let out a long breath... and smiled a vicious smile. "I *am* Anla'shok, mother -- and no matter how many times you strike me, this is one thing you cannot take away from me. I am a Ranger, and the Anla'shok takes care of its own. The human I serve, a human you will be meeting soon enough, will come to this place once she learns that I am not dead -- this I know. If you intend me to... stay, then you will have to keep me imprisoned at all times... for otherwise, I shall escape, and return to my duties." For a wonder, her mother chose not to strike her at that point... instead, a terrible and strangely *anticipatory* smile appeared on her face. "It is as I had feared, then -- the Anla'shok have programmed you to serve their will, miskaa'... but as you will discover, there is something going on Brakos below that will change your mind soon enough. Bring her, Berane!" the Nei-leidrei ordered, as she turned away in disgust. "Her willfulness sickens me." And with that said, a now confused Klairika watched her mother stalk out of the cell. "This fate, you have brought upon yourself," Berane informed her, as a pair of hunters appeared in the door, and moved forward to surround them. "What do you mean?" she demanded, as the hunter began unlocking her chains. "What is she talking about?" "Soon, you will learn the truth." the reply came, as the other hunters took hold of her, and despite some well-timed struggling on her part, proceeded to carry her out of the cell. "Very soon, indeed." * * * White Star 66 -- near the edge of Brakiri territory. "So let me see if I've got this straight..." Dechene muttered, as she arrived on the bridge, "Tutored by Councillor Westcastle's wife during the Shadow War, nearly killed by a Shadow agent at one point, assisted in White Star operations duties both during the battle of Corianna VI and also the final battle for Earth..." "A normal girl, she wasn't." Talion Quintara admitted, his expression contemplative, as he turned in the captain's chair to face the intelligence Ranger. "And, as you probably also know, I was there to see most of it happen." "And what about you?" she retorted, as she sat down beside Quintara. "There's some in the Anla'shok that say both of you gained command rank *because* of your association with the High Councillor and his wife." "In some respects, I suppose 'they're' probably right." he replied. "But forgive for saying this, Araella, but you weren't serving under them during the Shadow War, as I did... as she did. We learned a lot from the Westcastles -- learned what it meant to give commands that might send people to their deaths -- and we learned how to win... the hard way. I've said it again and again over the years," he continued. "How do you think things would have gone if the High Councillor *hadn't* been there to lead us when times got tough?" "A lot of people might not have made it." the other Ranger finally admitted. "Damn straight they wouldn't have. I've got an answer for all those people that wonder why *we're* commanding ships of the line -- because we get the job done. It's that simple." "So far." Dechene muttered. "Sir!" White Star 66's first officer suddenly exclaimed, "There's a jump point disturbance forming, one hundred kilometers to port." "Bring us about, Mr. Veranes." Quintara ordered, suddenly all business. "We've all heard a lot about this new ship -- maybe now we'll see if the stories are.... true..." Which, was, of course, when the crew of White Star 66 got their first good look at the almost predatory warship emerging out of that jump point. "Well, I'll be damned... guess they are." "Signal coming in." Veranes continued. "The captain of the 'Shard of Night' for you, sir, on primary comm." "Julia!" Talion began, rising to his feet as the image of the other ship's bridge shimmered into view in front of him, "William told me you'd gone up in the world, but what can I say? That's a hell of a ship you've got there." "We like to think so, yes." the reply came. "Although some of my crew seem to think that it's a lightning rod for trouble, actually!" Quintara laughed, conceding the point. "Well... if you're going to follow the 'Excalibur' around, that's something you're going to run into on a regular basis, I'm afraid." "And now, down to business." Talion nodded. "I'm afraid so. This is Araella Dechene, Julia -- as you probably know, one of our finest intelligence agents. She's been assigned by the High Councillor to help rescue your first officer... if she's still alive, that is." "She is -- I know it." "Yes, I've heard that about you." Dechene replied, her tone somewhat acid. "That you're one of these so-called 'Observers' -- that you sometimes know when things are going to happen before they do. Well this time, I hope your sixth sense is working in overdrive... Val'na. Because if this mission doesn't go exactly as planned, none of us are going to get out alive." "Why don't we continue this discussion in person, Anla'shok Dechene?" At that, Talion shuddered -- whenever Julia got that expression on her face, there was going to be trouble. "Sounds *good* to me." At which point, the link with the other ISA warship was terminated. "Well..." Dechene muttered, "Looks like this is going to be fun." "You'll get used to the way she does things... eventually." "Either that, or we're going to end up killing each other. Do I have your permission to disembark, sir?" Talion nodded, while only just managing to keep a straight face. This was one clash of wills he was glad he wouldn't have to witness. * * * Brakos -- corporate enclave Heiljamar. "Aian-shan -- she is here." Aian-shan Bahkmein ground his teeth nervously as he turned away from his work to face the facility entrance. For some time now, he'd been expecting (and dreading) the Nei-leidrei's return to his domain. Maybe *this* time, he'd made enough progress to make her happy... The door slid open, and a moment later, *she* stepped into the lab... along with her latest assistant -- a member of the People barely full grown. The muttering amongst his own people began to grow, then... and Bahkmein could understand why -- the nei-leidrei's assistant, her hair was, what did the humans call that colour... ah yes... *blonde*. This was a strange new fad the new generation had been embracing as of late -- one that Bahkmein found most disturbing. Why couldn't they be happy with what nature had provided? Blonde, indeed! -- no doubt, they'd been looking at some of the transmissions from the old human archives, again... "Aian-shan Bahkmein." the nei-leidrei began, as her assistant moved around the lab looking over the shoulders of his now-nervous assistants. "My analysts have told me that the project is moving forward... as expected. Is this true?" "As expected, yes." he allowed, "Although one of the recent tests arranged with the help of the syndicate justice division produced certain... unexpected side effects." "Side effects?" the nei-leidrei inquired, her eyes bright. "Ah... yes. The criminal in question lost about a quarter of his adult memories during the procedure -- loss of sensory input and subsquent immersion in the virtual environment, in combination with an unexpected reaction to the Verfahrin-B compound, produced this result. We, ah, believe, however, that this individual does not represent the majority of Brakiri society -- all other tests have gone smoothly. The individuals in question can now be classified as model citizens." "Aian-shan Bahkmein," the assistant suddenly inquired, "Forgive me for asking the obvious... but I have not had the privelege of visiting this facility until now. Would you care to review the intent of this project for me?" "And this is...?" he asked with a frown. "Nei-lahl Kariena Alidiae." the nei-leidrei replied. "The latest member of our family to involve herself in syndicate affairs. You will do as she says, Bahkmein." "Ah... of course." Bahkmein cleared his throat. "I will try not to be too technical -- but where to begin? This project was begun some time ago... the intent, to discover whether or not we could introduce a method of controlling the criminal population that does not involve imprisonment. Re-education seemed to be the most promising alternative -- but the ratio of success to failure until now has been... discouraging." "Until now, you say." It was then the younger Alidiae switched her gaze to the machine in question, a table and helmet combination surrounded by a dense meshwork of metal fibres. "This machine you have been working on has altered the ratio of success to failure, then?" "Ah... yes, it has. In combination with a drug recently perfected by another syndicate division -- we have discovered it is possible to isolate subjects in a virtual environment of our choosing -- the... drug inhibits time-sense, which allows us to do a great deal of... re-education... in a very short time span." "But?" "For various reasons, Verfahrin-B has proven difficult to synthesize." he finally admitted. "This may change in the future, but until it does, we can only afford to pursue this project on a small scale -- while the machine that makes this all possible is, for now, one of a kind -- and very expensive to maintain." "We are aware of the expense involved." the nei-leidrei icily replied, "And it *is* considerable. But since you have assured us that progress continues, we may yet be persuaded to continue funding this project -- if you are willing to do something for us, that is." "Of course." Bahkmein fervently replied. "What, ah, exactly did you have in mind?" "There is... an individual we wish re-educated." he was informed. "You and your team will do this for us, no questions asked. That is our price for continuing this effort." "Ah... I see. This... individual you refer to -- an enemy of the syndicate, perhaps?" "Not... exactly." At which point, nei-leidrei explained to the astounded, and subsequently horrified scientist who it was she was talking about. * * * Almost from the moment that Councillor Westcastle had given her this job, she'd been... what was the best word?... may as well admit it -- *dreading* this meeting. And only after coming aboard the 'Shard of Night' had she figured out why. It had taken her a long time to get to where she was today... while the individual she was about to meet had been groomed for command almost from the start. As Rangers, they weren't supposed to be envious of others and their accomplishments ... but damn it, she was only human -- it was a hard pill to swallow. For a moment, Araella paused at the entrance to the captain's ready room, aware of the curious eyes upon her, and then she resolutely strode towards the door -- which slid obligingly aside, revealing the shadowed space beyond. And the single candle, burning next to the dark-haired, dark uniformed woman standing by the ready room portal. Tikopai. Quintara had said 'expect the unexpected' in passing -- and now, it looked she was about to find out exactly what that meant. "So... is *this* private enough for you?" "It is." she was told, as the door closed behind her. "Whatever you are going to say, Anla'shok Dechene, now would be the time to say it. There is no one else to hear us, in this place -- and if we cannot move past this strife between us, we will never rescue the one who needs us the most." "You want to know what I think?" she sharply replied. "I think that he was crazy to give this ship to you -- and I'm not alone. You've been lucky so far... but now, it looks as if that luck's run out." "You cannot prove that -- and without proof, the statement is meaningless." "No... I guess I can't. But It's sometimes been my job to point out the obvious -- and here's a truth for you. Almost from the beginning, this mission has moved in the shadows -- and it's becoming increasingly clear to a lot of us that you're beginning to make enemies -- Drakh... Minbari, and others. Enemies that may have planted spies among your crew." A flare of anger came, then... before calm returned. "I have considered that possibility -- I do not want to believe it, but..." "The Brakiri knew *exactly* where Alidiae was," she harshly reminded the younger Ranger. They knew she was in trouble, and they were able to get to her before any of your people could. Now either that's one *hell* of a coincidence -- or they had inside information." "There is another option you have not considered. Among my 'enemies', as you put it, are a number of Observers -- if one of them has chosen to aid the Brakiri..." "I've never put much stock in mysticism -- and even though I've taken the vows just like you have, I prefer to stay rooted in reality for the most part. Don't suppose it really matters, anyways -- you made a mistake, or someone close to you has betrayed everything we stand for... either way, I'm sure you know what we have to do. It's our duty to get to Brakos without any of your enemies knowing we're there -- the mission, to try and rescue your first officer, and also to find and destroy any information they may have extracted from her. While you are obligated to support me in this... *Val'na* Tikopai -- and in case you've forgotten, we can't let personal feelings get in the way of this mission. I'm sure you understand." "I have always obeyed his orders without question. I understand what must be done." "Well, then... in that case, maybe this won't be such a bad experience, after all. I'm going to assume you've chosen your support team, already?" Tikopai smiled, then... at which point Araella whispered a silent curse -- those sort of smiles almost always meant an unpleasant surprise was waiting just around the corner. "I have. My tactical officer, my fighter squadron commander, myself, yourself... and... one other." At which point she blinked in surprise, as a pair of red eyes opened behind Tikopai's shoulder. "What the *Hell*?" "Sss-uprised you, I did." the alien observed, as he moved into plain view. "Proof this-sss is, that technology of the ancient masters can sometimes be used for *good*." "Who is this?" she asked, her voice full of suspicion. "What is he? And why didn't the High Councillor warn me he was aboard?" "His name is Moreil." she was told. "He is a Z'shailyl, an ally we drew to our side early on in the mission. He is an enemy to the Drakh... and a friend to our cause. And as you have just seen, where we are going, he can be very valuable." "Z'shailyl? But aren't they..." "Not all, no. The Drakh have forced the majority of his people back into servitude -- but Moreil intends, eventually, to free as many from their control as he can. We helped him once... now he helps *us* in return -- from time to time." Great... just great. Now, on top of the rest, she was going to have to deal with a former agent of the Shadows that could become invisible on a moment's notice? She was going to regret this... she just knew it. "I see. Just out of curiousity, have you and your crew figured out a way for us to get into the Brakiri system without anyone seeing our jump point?" "We have, actually. It goes like this..." * * * In the dark belly of Heiljamar enclave, a circle of power came together, and words were exchanged. A light flared in the darkness, and was quickly shielded. After a time, the criminal ranks parted, and Cho-nori moved into the dim, radiant circle produced by the lamp. "Bekas," the crime lord inquired. "Tell us what you have learned." "The news is not good, Chadi-naal." the reply came -- quick, decisive. "It is as we had feared -- word has come that the Alidiae syndicate has perfected a device capable of... re-educating those who are seen as being... undesirable to the future prosperity of the syndicates and Brakiri society." "Their words..." Cho-nori growled, "Not ours." "As you say. In any case, the Alidiae nei-leidrei has shared words with the aian-shan most responsible for the construction of this device -- we believe that she has authorized an expansion of the contract... for a price. The lost one, the miskaa' who ran away to become Anla'shok -- the nei-leidrei has commanded that she should become a proper daughter of Brakos. And if the procedure is successful..." "This cannot be allowed to continue." another Chadi'naal observed, his baleful stare difficult to meet. "If the syndicates mass-produce this... device, our way of life, it will be threatened!" Cho-nori raised his hand then, however... and all fell silent. "I will not have fear walk among us in this fashion." the brotherhoods were warned. "As it has been in the past, so shall it be now. Bekas, we command you to take a team and infiltrate the domain of this aian-shahn, Bahkmein I believe he is called -- if the project is as limited as we believe it is, then will we strike, to elliminate the threat. The syndicates must be made to understand that we will not stand for this -- that we will even go so far to wage war against them rather then submit to this... re-education. Bekas, go now... do what you must, so that we may elliminate this threat." "You shall have the information you seek, dread lord." the information merchant promised. "As it has been, so shall it always be." "So shall it always be." Cho-nori confirmed, as he turned away from the light, and back into the darkness. * * * The last time she had stood in their ancient holdfast, the dawn had just come upon the sharp peaks and icy glacial tongues of Heiljamar -- the sun about to rise, its distant blood-red companion high in the sky. She had slipped away in the between-time, when eyes grew dull and the need for sleep was greatest -- and now, returned she had... but not to the life she had lead before. Her hands went yet again to the manacles around her wrists -- and she fought against the fear that was waiting, ever vigilant, in a corner of her mind. What *was* her mother planning? And why... The door sprang open behind her, and Klairika whirled, but not quickly enough, as Berane's men surrounded her. She had not even time to cry out, as a spraygun was quickly, efficiently pressed against her neck -- the trigger pressed. A taste of charis blossom.... and into darkness she walked again. * * * How many times was this to happen, she wondered -- darkness to light, and light to darkness? They had injected her with charis'lahl, a powerful sedative -- her skin, it was still tingling, it almost felt like... Her eyes sprang open, and she moved to sit up... and found she could not. What was this? And where was she? A brown tile ceiling, brilliant lights and darkness beyond -- she was laying on what appeared to be... an examination table?... bound at legs and arms and neck -- a helmet of some sort was on her head... while hundreds, perhaps thousands of silver threads dangled all around her -- the itch, no doubt the contact points upon her skin. "What is going on?" she cried out. "What are you *doing* to me?" "It is a necessary evil." a voice whispered -- and she winced, as her mother's face shimmered into view -- were her senses still dulled by the charis'lahl?. "The na raen-shahn spoke truly... you have brought this upon yourself, my daughter -- and now, it is time for you to pay the price for your mistakes." Then it was that she began to understand what was going on here -- this device, could it be... some sort of experimental re-education device? "No!" she cried out, as she struggled anew, "You cannot do this to me! You have no *right*!" "I have *every* right." she was icily informed. "From the beginning, you were willful... and ever since the Day of the Dead, your rebelliousness has hurt our family, our business... our livelihood -- this phase of your life ends, here and now. It is time for you to show our competitors how wrong they were, Klairika-miskaa'. In time, if you do well, I may even accord you your honor-name again... now, the time for talking is done. Bahkmein!" "I... await your command, Nei'leidrei." a nervous voice replied from out of her field of view." "Begin the treatment." * * * To be continued... http://www.connect.ab.ca/~dgolding.index.htm From: David Goldingay Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode 11, Act II Date: Sat, 04 Mar 2000 23:30:16 -0700 "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE" EPISODE ELEVEN: "POSSESSIVE NECESSITIES" (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture) * * * < Brakos. Time indeterminate -- place indeterminate. This simply.. could not be real. The memory of her mother telling her what was about to happen to her had been very clear indeed... but seemed to be growing strangely fuzzier with time. And the rest, how the helmet had descended over her eyes as a sharp prick heralded a needle entering her arm... and then, the blackness that had followed. Shortly thereafter, she had awoken to find herself in this place. It could *not* be real. Klairika looked around the small chamber she was in, as much as her bonds would allow... at the studs on the wall around her... and she knew what came from those nodes... no! She had to focus... this could *not* be real. How long had she been in this place? Three cycles of darkness and light? Four? Longer? The light had come and gone in this place at least that many times now... or had it? "You will look at me when I am talking to you, miskaa`." the sinister, dark-cloaked raen-shahn informed her. "And perhaps we will make more progress in this session then in the last." "I will not talk to you -- I will not answer your questions!" she spat, her voice shakier then she remembered. Not real, not real, not real... "Who do you serve?" Silence -- the Brakiri's mouth twisted unpleasantly, and he touched the toggle in his hand -- electric fire spat, and despite her best intentions, Klairika cried out. "Who do you serve?" "The Anla'shok!" Pain... and this time, her cry was somewhat more like a shriek. "You are doing this to yourself, you know." she was informed. "How sad it is to see a true daughter of Brakos descended to this level... to serving the Minbari." "I serve the One!" Pain. "The Nei-leidrei commands that you serve the syndicate." "I will do... no such thing!" Pain. "You will. Hungry, are you?" the raen-shahn inquired, his tone now compassionate. "And thirsty, I imagine. If only you would turn aside from the path that leads to destruction... but you are stubborn, Klairika-miskaa`... too stubborn by far. Who do you serve?" * * * July 14th, 2267 -- Brakiri corporate enclave Heiljamar. The rage she had felt at her daughter's return had passed now -- and to her surprise, Sionaya found herself wincing slightly as she entered Bahkmein's lab -- this, as she heard the cry of terror and pain emerging from the primary lab area beyond... a cry just as suddenly silenced. "Bahkmein!" "Ah. Nei-leidrei -- we had not... expected your return so soon." "I heard my daughter cry out upon entering your domain, Bahkmein -- I trust that you are making... significant progress?" "Ah, progress... yes, of course." the scientist replied, his voice steadying towards something resembling calm. "As I explained during your last visit, the interface sets being used by my project volunteers allow them to enter into the virtual environment your daughter was placed in shortly after she was brought here -- the interface is necessary, of course, because manipulation of the virtual environment is, ah, *necessary*, to produce the effects desired. The Verfahrin-B we have introduced into her bloodstream has confused her timesense to the point where she believes that over thirteen days have passed -- days in which she has been interrogated, subjected to suggestion, ah... we have had to punish her due to her... stubborness, but these events are decreasing with time. As we have expected, the time is drawing near when she will tell us everything we want to know -- when she will agree to our, ah, demands." "This does not make you happy, does it?" she asked him. "Happy, no -- I believe I made that *quite* clear in our last discussion. But this has been my life's work, continually threatened from the beginning!... and no one else in our society has come as far as I have. You will have what you want, while... I will have what I want." She nodded. Bahkmein grimly smiled, and then nodded in return. "In that case... when we are done with her, approximately a third of a day from now if all goes as...planned, she will be returned to you -- you will allow her to wake normally tomorrow, to believe that the nightmare is over -- I assure you, the effect this has had on her will be permanant. A reminder -- for the first little while after we are finished here, while the Verfahrin is washed out of her bloodstream, her temporal sense will continue to be... somewhat confused." "I will deal with this matter personally." "Of course. In that case, Nei-leidrei, I'm going to assume that Berane and his men will return to my lab to pick her up at the time I have indicated?" "I will arrange it." * * * If Hell could be defined as a question, it was this one. And from that Hell, there was no escape... save one. "Who are you?" "No more pain... please!" she whispered, as she crouched on the floor, all energy gone, the clothes on her body now no more then rags. "I am..." {not real} "Who do you serve?" So many days... had many it had been?... she could not remember how many. Too many. They had threatened her, cajoled, promised -- she had resisted, but that resistance had been worn down, little by little. So hungry, she was... "Servant." she managed. "What you want to hear?" "Your past life..." {not real} "Lost. She will punish me for saying what was." Please, she whispered, no more *pain*. It was a vicious truth to accept -- but her people's way had always been a vicious way... and it had only become *more* vicious since she'd run away. So many days... and Julia had not come. "You will serve?" "I... will." But still, a part of her cried out that this was... {not real} "But what of your service to the Anla'shok? What of your vows?" "Lost now." she replied, her voice little more then a croak -- the ultimate betrayal, this was, but there was no way out, save this way. How easily they'd broken her... too easily? No! She could not... she had to say -- what they wanted her to say. "I am yours. I am hers." And then, a part of her, the larger part, said the expected words -- the words that would end the pain. "Do with me what you *will*!" The rest of her, however, went away to hide. * * * "You are sure?" Bahkmein imperiously inquired, as his associate emerged from the virtual hell, and the prisoner that waited there. "Very sure." the other Brakiri replied. "We have broken her, aian-shan -- eighteen 'days' in virtual time it has taken us... but we have broken her at last. The procedure is complete." * * * The probes slipped into the Brakiri system thorugh its primary jumpgate unnoticed, their stealth systems fully operational, and after momentary pauses to determine their exact spatial location, those three elements of the *Shard of Night*'s whisker system sped outwards across the void towards the massive gas giant planet that dominated the outer system -- their gravimetric drives allowing them to race across millions of kilometres in a matter of hours. While not quite so large as the world humans named 'Jupiter', the planet the Brakiri called 'Aklanas' was still quite active, its storm belts vividly yellow and ocher -- it's two innermost moons covered in sulphur and water volcanoes in response to the tides raised by their enormous parent. The probes ignored all of this, however, as they plunged past the broad rings and into the crazed cloudscape below -- deeper, deeper, looking for the thing their Ranger masters had commanded them to find. The search took *some* time, but finally, the probes sped through a discontinuity, and out into an enormous rift in the third layer below the cloud tops, a relatively clear gap more than a thousand kilometres across. While merely an eddy on the scale of the world itself, the gap was more then sufficient for what came next. * * * "I cannot believe you're going to do this!" Araella flared, as she arrived on the *Shard*'s bridge. "Don't you know what happens when you open a jump point in a hydrogen rich atmosphere?" Julia sharply held back on the first reply that came to mind as she turned to face the intelligence operative -- starting a yelling match wasn't going to help, that was for sure. She took a deep breath. "Anla'shok Dechene -- recall that President Sheridan conducted a jump *out* of the Jovian atmosphere in the first White Star over seven years ago -- and yes, they set off an explosion in the atmosphere, but they made the jump without difficulty. Ranger technology has improved a great deal since then -- and the probes we've sent into the Aklanian atmosphere have found exactly what we're looking for." "And that would be... what, exactly?" She nodded in Larieken's direction, and after a moment, a three-dimenisonal slice of the gas giant shimmered into view in front of them -- a slice that showed the cloud-rift discovered by the probes. "Larieken has calculated that if we make a positional jump *into* this clear pocket, and then accelerate away at the best speed we can manage, we should be able to move clear of the area before the shock wave from the jump point reaches the denser hydrogen gas at the pocket perimeter." "We will," the Minbari added, "Still set off an explosion, of course, but the eruption will be much smaller, and deeper in the atmosphere, then the one that occured during the Jupiter incident. If all goes well, the Brakiri will not even notice." "This had better work." Dechene replied with a scowl. "Because if it doesn't..." "There isn't any other way we can get into the Brakiri system without them knowing about it." Julia reminded her. "We can't jump out into clear space -- so this is the only other option. Larieken!" "The probes are in position, and we are approaching the requisite hyperspace coordinates." "Then by all means, let's get this over with. Sheynell, bring our jump engines on line -- Dasouri, take us in!" Two simple commands -- but that was all that was required, as her crew smoothly moved into action. The telepath, who was acting as Julia's First until Klairika could be rescued, opened a jump point in front of them -- and a moment later the Drazi smoothly guided the battlecruiser through that aperture and out into an pocket of planetary atmosphere that crackled with the fire of their entry -- and even as she watched, the boundary of this region moved out towards the more volatile clouds at the perimeter of the pocket. "Dasouri..." "We leave!" the Drazi declared, and a moment later, the *Shard* passed through the shockwave and into the cloud deck beyond -- and a good thing that was, as seconds later -- a fireball lit up the hydrogren behind them. "There, you see?" Julia said, as she turned to face Dechene. "Nothing to worry about." "This time." Dechene muttered. * * * Karea'niga tower had been built by her grandfather, more then seventy years before -- and even now, it was one of the tallest buildings on Brakos. One hundred and seventy-five levels of silicate and unbreakable glass, it towered over the other enclave buildings in Heiljamar, and from its topmost level, one could look across the sea of buildings below towards the icy, glacier covered teeth of the Rakshaa, far to the northeast. Ice in reality and ice in blood, the family retainers had been known to say from time to time... but only as was necessary. Sionaya turned away from the view, and silently checked the time -- any moment now, they would be arriving... At the far side of the stone floored, black and emerald walled office, the twin doors swung open to reveal two figures, both dressed in well cut, immaculate business attire -- the first, his expression superior but watchful, was Berane -- for the time being, watcher of the other individual approaching her great stone desk -- her daughter -- her face still pale and drawn after the ordeal she had gone through in the hands of Bahkmein and his people. Sionaya smiled as her daughter came to a halt in front of the desk, and went down on one knee before her. "Klairika -- we are pleased to see that you have survived your... ordeal, and sorry we are that you made this necessary -- but we believe you have now paid the price for your... transgressions. What think you on this matter?" "I have done... great wrong." the reply came -- Sionaya noted with interest the deep shakiness in her daughter's voice -- the convinction that had lived in that voice even two days ago was gone, now. "They... they told me that I had offended the ancestors, gone against the wishes of the Dead -- they told me that a lahk'vha spirit posing as my father had lead me astray during the Day of the Comet. I... I cursed them, I said things I should not have. They punished me." Klairika whispered. "For many days, they punished me, until I admitted the truth -- they were so *cruel*, mother!" "What do you remember of the time before?" Klairika frowned. "It is not as clear as it used to be -- I remember serving amongst the Anla'shok -- I remember fighting desperately to escape from Na raen-shahn Berane -- I remember doing... "Great wrong." "Surely I have atoned for my crimes?" Sionaya nodded, as she kept a smile of pleasure hidden just out of sight. "You have atoned, my daughter." Klairika relaxed, though she did not rise. "Then I offer... apology to you, mother -- what I did was wrong, it was... unwise of me to turn away from the syndicate as I did -- can you forgive me?" "In time, if you serve us well, perhaps I shall. But your dedication to the syndicate and to the family must be unwavering from this moment forward. Do you understand?" "I *do*." "Then all is well, my daughter. Berane, take her from this place -- I must resume my work." "As you command, Nei-leidrei." Berane replied, as he moved forward to place his hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Come now, Klairika -- we must now discuss what to do with the remainder of the day -- I have much to show you..." A few moments passed, then -- and then Bahkmein and Kariena entered the office. The scientist was, of course, somewhat happier then he'd been the last time she'd seen him -- now that the procedure he'd put her daughter through was complete, he had every right to be pleased. "Nei-leidrei... I trust that all is well with your daughter?" "As well as can be expected." she replied. "As you had indicated, Klairika still appears... confused by what has been done to her, but the change is *most* noticable. With proper guidance, we believe that she will eventually become... something similar to that which was originally intended. You have done well, aian-shan -- we are pleased." "And you will allow us to begin work on the second generation models, then?" "We will. Would you care to estimate how long it will take for the first to be completed?" Bahkmein shrugged. "No more then seventeen tendays, if all goes as planned. It will, of course, take some time for us to complete the preliminary work, but we should be able to begin work on the fabricators in roughly six tendays at the very latest." "I will authorize an initial production run of three." "THREE?" "Three. We must be very careful, Bahkmein, not to let the secret of this device escape from our hands. For the time being, only your closest associates will be allowed to operate your creations -- and when the time comes for the other syndicates to purchase the devices, we will send your people to operate the machines for them. If we move too quickly, others will rush to take advantage of our mistakes... while the Chadi will, no doubt, be quick to organize strikes upon our positions, should we give them the opportunity." "I... understand." "Oh, and one other thing. I have decided to place Nei-lahl Kareina in charge of the project. Remember that you answer to her, Bahkmein... go over her head, and your project may yet suffer cancellation." "I understand." "This is well -- leave us now, Bahkmein." Now mildly perturbed, the scientist did as he was ordered. "Kareina." "Nei-leidrei." "If Bahkmein is killed by the Chadi, as seems likely, this project of his may yet fail -- and we have invested too much time and funds in this matter to let it all be destroyed so easily. Can you think of some way to preserve the project should he die?" "Of course." At which point, Kariena outlined to her syndicate leader the plan she'd come up with to do just that. "I have one other thing to say to you as this time, as well." "And that would be?" "Bahkmein has not told you the whole truth." the younger Brakiri replied. "There is a second machine." * * * Deep in his own inner sanctum, Cho-nori was also reviewing the record of what had just occurred. Needless to say, the apparently successful reprogramming of the Anla'shok female did not give him much pleasure... although, at the same time, he suspected that not everything was as it seemed. His information merchants had given him a great deal of information about the Anla'shok since this had begun -- including a rather interesting report on how the Rangers were trained to resist procedures just like the one Sionaya Alidiae's rebel daughter had just gone through. That some of the Rangers, when tortured, had been known to 'compartmentalize' their minds -- and that the part of their mind that had 'escaped', as it was, had been known to break through the programming on occasion and restore the *original* personality. A curious notion, this was -- but for the time being, Cho-nori had no proof that the rebel daughter was capable of this feat -- everything that Bekas and his people had reported seemed to indicate that the change in Aian-shan Bahkmein's latest 'subject' had been... dramatic, and that the head of the Alidiae syndicate had authorized... further construction of the re-education devices. And that, as he and the other Chadi had already decided, could not be tolerated. The time to strike was coming very soon now... and now, it was time to contact one of his 'allies' among the Krona. Cho-nori entered a communications code known only to him and a select few others, and after a moment, the face of the Brakiri that ran the Lasharr Weapons Consortium appeared before him. "Nei-leidrei Takleiah." Cho-nori began, "I trust that all is well with you and your... family?" "Let us dispense with the pleasantries." the patriarch of the Lasharr family replied, his tone haughty. "There can be only one reason for this contact, Cho-norii, and now that your nightmare is about to come true, you and your accomplices are looking for help, is that it?" Cho-nori nodded. "It is becoming increasingly apparent that the Alidiaes have... perfected their re-education device. Needless to say, this doesn't make us happy." "While you assume that anything which increases the net income of the Alidiaes will make me unhappy as well, hmm? Well, in that you are correct, Cho-nori -- we have been waiting for an opportunity to strike at them and strike *hard* for some time now. We will help you, Chadi -- if your demand for weapons and personnel is reasonable, that is." Cho-nori smiled, and the sight was not a pleasant one. * * * July 15th, 2267. For a wonder, everything had gone exactly as planned, and now, nine hours after they'd entered the system, the *Shard of Night* hung a little more then ten thousand kilometres above the surface of Brakos -- unseen, or so it coud be hoped -- especially given the number of warships they could see in Brakos nearspace. "And now we're here," Julia muttered, as she set her bag of gear down on the hanger bay floor, "The fun really gets started." "And just how are we supposed to find her, exactly?" Sheynell asked, as she sorted through her own gear nearby. "That, at least, isn't going to be too difficult." Araella informed them. "ISA Intelligence has a number of covert operatives in place on the surface of Brakos -- as soon as this crisis started, they began searching for your first officer. It took them a while, but eventually, one of their probes revealed that an Alidiae syndicate orbit-to-ground transport transported her from the Sarathas orbital direct to Heiljamar enclave almost three days ago." "And do they know," Azhahk Fenric calmly inquired, "What has happened to her since then?" "They have suspicions..." Dechene replied. "And none of them are good. In short, in looks as if the Alidiae syndicate is in the final stages of perfecting some sort of criminal re-education technology -- we have to expect that they've at interrogated her at the very least... or worse." "Klairika has one of the highest scores in interrogation resistance training our instructors in Tuzanor have ever seen." Julia reminded her. "That may be so," Dechene said, as the Rangers finishing packing up their gear and made their way over to the transport they would be using to descend to the surface... where Moreil was already waiting, his zei'taku pike in hand. "But just the same, I don't think we should expect her to be too cooperative when we finally do track her down." "That's," Sheynell frostily informed Dechene, "Where *I* come in." "Oh, here we go," Dechene muttered. "Let me guess -- someone in the Psi Corps taught you how to undo mental programming, right?" "As a matter of fact... yes" the telepath replied, her tone lofty. My... instructors were very thorough when it came to my instruction -- and one of the things they taught me was how to delicately manipulate the minds of non-telepathic humans." "Don't you mean 'mundanes'?." Sheynell's eyes flared with momentary anger at the barb, but after a moment, the telepath gathered her thoughts, and continued. "Just after we started this mission, Julia and the rest allowed me to conduct deep but *very* gentle scans of all the senior Rangers in the crew, herself included -- if Anla'shok Alidiae's mental pattern's been disturbed, which you seem to think is very likely, I should be able to restore the original pattern if I'm given enough time alone with her." "This I've got to see." "Enough arguing." Fenric suggested, as he came between the two women and gave each a *very* level stare. "As our Val'na has told us from time to time, now is the time to focus on the mission, and less on internal bickering between the mission personnel, yes?" "Agreed." Julia said, as she turned to face her just arrived operations officer. "Larieken, the ship's yours until we get back -- don't do anything I wouldn't." The Minbari laughed. "I shall show more restraint then *that*, Val'na. You do want a ship to come back to, don't you?" * * * Lasharr-aai enclave -- Brakos. "How interesting," Takleiah muttered, as he looked *again* at the invitation that had arrived on his desk a short time before. "Marek, what can she be up to?" "A meal to celebrate her first-daughter's 'return to the place of power' it says," the Lasharr heir mused, his eyes narrow. "Many syndicate heads and their chosen successors have been invited to this feast, my father -- she is either bold, foolish or *both* at once to invite us to this... event, especially given the alliance we have just established with the Chadi Brotherhoods." "Ah, but consider *well* the meaning of this invitation," the wily elder Brakiri replied. "Sionaya Alidiae believes herself triumphant on every front that matters... but she does not know that we have established that alliance -- and for now, that is the way it must stay. We will, of course, give Cho-nori what it is he desires, and in short order, I expect that he and the other crime lords will attack. We will, however, attend this event." "We *will*?" the astounded Marek replied. "Indeed. If we can deny the Alidiaes the power and income derived from this... re-education device of theirs, if the information is destroyed and the creator is killed, we will be pleased. But at the same time, if we are to offer her aid against their assault in *person*..." "In exchange for what?" Marek exclaimed. Takleiah smiled. "Well, now that *is* the question, isn't it? The more desperate one is to escape one's fate, the more willing one is to do something previously... unacceptable. The alliance would almost certainly have to be sealed in the... usual fashion. And if Sionaya Alidiae was to... accidentally die thereafter, and her brother as well, who will be left to run her syndicate?" "You cannot be seriously suggesting that *I*..." "I *am* indeed." Takleiah replied, his eyes now hard as diamond. "Remember that their heirs are *both* females -- and as recent intelligence suggests, the mental stability of the firstborn daughter is not assured in the slightest, after the... procedure they've put her through. If this movement is played correctly," the magnate concluded, "We may even end up in charge of her syndicate." "I have always *wanted* my own seat in the Krona." Marek allowed. "Then it is decided." Takleiah replied, as he poured two measures of vintage pechain and raised his glass high. "Death to our enemies!" "Death to our enemies." his first-son replied. "Death to them all!" * * * To be continued... http://www.connect.ab.ca/~dgolding/index.htm From: David Goldingay Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode 11, Act III Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 22:09:54 -0700 Here, finally, is Act III of 'Possessive' -- should have this episode done before Friday... hopefully? * * * "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE" EPISODE ELEVEN: "POSSESSIVE NECESSITIES" (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture) * * * < Near Heiljamar enclave -- July 15th, 2267. For centuries, she knew only too well, her kind has been obsessed with the idea of stealth technology. From the now-obsolete military airbreathers built near the end of the 20th century, through the black project platforms of the 21st and 22nd centuries... the Shadowtech destroyers of the past five years... to this. Julia smiled, as the *Shard*'s covert atmospheric transport descended into the rarified air over their target -- the Minbari stealthtech protected this vessel as it protected her own command, many miles above -- but the question was, how well would they fare once they stepped out of the Shadows, and attempted to rescue the Ranger they'd come here for? "So tell us again where we're going." Fenric inquired, as he brought the transport in among the shark's teeth of the Rakshaa mountain range. "I hope and pray it will not be the city." "Doesn't look like it." Dechene replied, her eyes intent upon the landscape below. "According to our contacts, Alidiae's mother is holding some sort of 'celebration feast' at her mountain redoubt in honour of her daughter's return to the fold. It's a fair distance outside of Heiljamar proper, up in the Rakshaa -- which is going to make *our* job just a little bit easier, hopefully." "Indeed this-ss is so." Moreil agreed, his eyes glowing dimly within the shaded interior of the transport. "While as-sss you may be aware, Z'shailyl have never been to this-ss place -- actions we take here will surprise our opponents, if all goes as-ss planned." "Let's hope you're right." Sheynell muttered, as Fenric skillfully skimmed the flyer lower and lower looking for... there, that was what the covert reports sent up to the 'Shard' had described -- a hanging glacial valley set in the side of the broader valley that descended out of the Rakshaa mountains towards Heiljamar. "But first, we have to get there." "I'm afraid so." Dechene agreed. "Our latest intel suggests that it should be safe to set down about four miles up the valley from this little fortress of theirs -- luckily, of course, we've got the night to hide our approach." "Hmm, yes." Fenric pondered, "But do remember, Anla'shok Dechene, that the Brakiri sleep in their planetary morning rather then at night, like we do -- even though we make this approach in the night, they will be more alert then we would be under similar circumstances." "That is-ss where I come in." Moreil said. "The Dark One-ss allowed us to develop armor which can hide my form from plain view -- and I also have... certain talents I have not yet revealed to you and yours." "I sure hope you're right about him." Dechene muttered, as Fenric gently set the transport down in a tree-fringed clearing. "I am." Julia replied, her expression calm. "You'll see." "In that case -- I suppose we should get going." "Everyone remember where we parked." Sheynell suddenly said, as the Rangers moved to leave the still thoroughly stealthed landing craft. "What?" The telepath smiled. "A line from a *really* old fiction-drama Nicholas was telling me about -- but the phrase applies to our situation, as well." "How so?" "Well in this drama, there's this starship with a **cloaking** device, if you can believe it, that lands in the middle of a park in San Fransisco..." * * * Klairika remembered this place -- remembered the long approach up the road of pressure-treated vi-tel crystal, the descent into the tunnel -- an underground progression that wound up in a tight spiral until it suddenly emerged in the parking area of the redoubt. She remembered looking out into the night from these windows set into the mountainside -- from the room that used to be hers. From the redoubt, with the help of several good friends... had she run away from this place to become Anla'shok?...and now she stood before those windows again, the glowing embers of blackrock behind her on the hearth -- the traditional la-shelynial laid out on the bed behind her... what humans would call a 'dress', she supposed. How long had it been since she'd worn one? Klairika shook her head, trying to clear it -- experiencing again the shimmer of duality that had plagued her since... the event. She couldn't remember... "Klairika." She turned, to see Berane standing in the doorway of her room -- his expression watchful... and speculative. "You have not yet changed, I see." "And I must, of course." she replied, her tone bitter, as she sat down on the bed and took the dress into her hands. "Mother's guests will be arriving soon?" "Soon, yes -- but there is yet a little time for contemplation -- for you to remember what was -- and embrace what lays ahead." "That is... what she expects of me." "It is." the na raen-shahn agreed. "My family has served yours for many generations, Klairika zei-lina... and what you did when the spirit deceived you, when you left us to become Anla'shok... this hurt your mother terribly. Now that you have been returned to us, however -- you must show her what you are capable of. You must remember who it is you serve..." She blinked, and then cried out, as a flash of light suddenly filled her mind, and a vision emerged from that light -- of a man in black, his face grave. the man asked her. The vision faded -- and Berane was there, his face full of concern, his hand on her shoulder. "You were far away for a moment, zei-leina... are you well?" She straightened, and rose to her feet, the la-shelynial in hand. "I will be, yes." * * * The underground portal that Brakiri ground vehicles used to enter the Alidiae redoubt was not the only entrance to the underground mansion -- there were a number of secondary entrances on higher levels that exited out onto the trail network used by the raen-shahn and militia loyal to the Alidiae syndicate. This night, the patrols around the redoubt were no lighter and no heavier then was usual, for Sionaya Alidiae had chosen not to believe the Anla'shok would come in search of their stolen member so quickly -- and of course, how could *Rangers* steal down to the surface of Brakos unseen? Their White Stars, while powerful, were far from invisible! A standard form of guards exited one such entrance high up on the rock face, and proceeded down the trail into the tree-lined ravine below to begin their standard patrol of the redoubt perimeter. They did not see the shimmery darkness that moved down the rock face behind them -- or the dimly glowing set of eyes that moved within that shimmer. Moreil, of course, found this all highly amusing -- while the Brakiri were capable of seeing much more detail in darkness then humans or Centauri, in comparison with *his* people, they were still as blind as all the rest. They had not seen him -- and even if he had not been wearing the armor developed by the Z'shailyl warriors and elders with the assistance of the banished Masters, long ago, they still would not have seen him. For now, however, there was no time to consider this -- he had to focus on the task at hand... the Huntleader would not be pleased if this plan failed. Moreil moved along the trail as a whisper of wind would upon the rock, and finally he came to the portal the guards had emerged from -- a portal guarded by two Brakiri. Moreil moved forward, and slipped behind them -- and then he turned... and struck at one from behind with his zei'taku pike. The Brakiri in question had not even time to cry out as he sagged to the ground -- and even as his astonished companion turned and ran towards the shimmer of light and darkness which had struck down his comrade, four black-clad forms swung down the rock face behind him -- and a warrior pike forged when Valen walked among the Minbari flashed open. A moment later, it was all over. "Now," Julia whispered, as Sheynell and Fenric dragged the two guards off into the trees, "We're running on a timer." "Damn straight, we are." Dechene muttered, as she plugged a code-breaker into the portal's digital lock. "My contacts have assured me that the guards in this place go out on about two standard hour patrols before returning -- we've got that long to find Alidiae, hack into the syndicate network and delete her interrogation files, and then get the hell out of here." "Hopefully without half of her mother's private army in pursuit, you mean?" Sheynell inquired. "Even if it does come down to that," Julia replied, as the door finally cracked open and Moreil slipped inside, "I've got a surprise or two in store for said army." "You don't mean..." Dechene managed. "She does." Fenric replied. "You must realize by now that our captain likes to show off once in a while?" "Give me a break!" Dechene hissed, as the infiltration party silently padded down the passage beyond the portal. "As if there's anything *she* can do that can top that intra-atmospheric jump out in the gas giant..." Julia turned to face the intelligence Ranger, and smiled. "You don't know me nearly as well as you think you do, then, Anla'shok Dechene -- or, for that matter, my chief engineer. But I'm going to use that plan as a last resort, of course." "Oh, of *course*. Now why don't we do less talking and try to get the job done?" "After you." * * * Some miles up valley, the covert transport that Julia and her team had used to descend to the surface of Brakos silently left the surface, and began to slowly spiral up out of the atmosphere towards the waiting *Shard of Night*. "So let me see if I've got this straight..." Nicholas grumbled, as Larieken reclined in the captain's chair and waited for the engineer's latest rant to burn itself out. "What we're going to do is what she thinks of as..." "Plan A." "While what she told that Dechene woman was?..." "Plan B. As well you know, the transport can be sent back down to them as soon as they tell us the mission objectives have all been achieved without flaw -- this is the 'plan B' scenario." "Ah hah." After a moment, Nicholas began to chuckle. "That devious little... well, Hell, I suppose with our track record so far, it only makes sense to plan for the worst, right?" Larieken nodded. "Bingo." "Bingo?" Dawson's chuckle became an outright laugh. "I suppose *she* taught you what that meant?" The Minbari nodded again. "It's a fascinating word, isn't it? I believe we were on Babylon 5 when the 'lesson' in question occured..." * * * It was not an easy task -- but eventually the Rangers were able to slip up out of the lower levels to an unused conference area where Dechene began the job of hacking into the planetary computer network. This also did not go as smoothly as the intelligence Ranger had originally hoped -- and since the idea was not to alert the planetary/syndicate authorities, going quickly was not an option in any case... but after a fair amount of whispered curses, the data she was looking for finally emerged into plain view. Things went downhill from there. "Well I will be *damned*." Dechene muttered, as the other Rangers looked over her shoulder. "It looks as if the forces loyal to Alidiae's mother were more interested in breaking her then they were in actually interrogating her -- but this tech they've invented... it's dangerous, Tikopai -- we, and more specifically *I*, have to do something about this before we leave." "Why?" "Why?" Dechene all but exploded. "Look closely -- this researcher guy, Bahkmein I guess his name is, has hypothesized that this virtual environment/drug combination they've come up with will have similar effect on a number of other races in the Interstellar Alliance -- and if the rogue elements in those societies, *ours* included, are given access to this tech, it's going to make the job of the intel agencies a whole lot harder." "Remember that we came here to rescue my first officer!" Julia suddenly flared. "And while I understand this is a serious concern for you, we can't do everything in one night. If we were to stay here long enough to try and elliminate this technology, what do you think would happen?" "They'd probably find us." Dechene finally, ruefully, admitted. "Damnit! All right, I see your point -- first things first. We can always send some sort of strike team back in later before the production of these things *really* gets underway -- for now, I guess I'll have to be content with trying to insert some sort of virus into their system to damage the research data..." "Fine!" Julia hissed. "For right now, though, can you tell us where she is?" Dechene sent a couple of commands into the redoubt network, and then frowned. "She's at... dinner?" Julia grinned an evil grin -- and Sheynell sighed. "Oh lovely." the telepath muttered. "She's got that 'it's time for a diversion' look on her face again." * * * The nearer she got to the assembly of Brakiri, the greater Sheynell's concentration became. She knew what she had to do, even as her captain knew what *she* had to do, and while Dechene had made it clear she didn't approve... Sheynell also knew that beside Moreil, she was the *only* member of the team who could do what needed to be done -- who could, in a matter of speaking, make herself 'invisible'. In his time, Alfred Bester had taught her this was possible -- and while the mental 'feel' of the Brakiri mind was quite a bit different to that of the many humans and Minbari she'd dealt with in the last few years... the initial exposure to Klairika's mind some months before had prepared her for this act. She took a deep breath -- and then stepped out of the shadows behind the pair of servants who were carrying several trays of food to the feast already in progress in the redoubt dining hall. Their movement smooth, the doors ahead of the servants swung open, revealing that hall beyond... brilliantly lit by four long, tapered crystal chandeliers, the walls emerald fringed with black (evidently, this was the Alidiae syndicate colours?) while almost the entire right-hand side of the hall was window -- the chamber being almost at the top of the buttress the underground mansion had been carved out of, years before. Her paces slow and steady, she slowly moved past the congregation -- and for a moment, she looked at Klairika's mother -- cast her spider's web across the surface of that mind... and flinched. No! She would not look there -- *could* not look there. After a moment, she found who she was looking for, and flinched again. Klairika was dressed more elegantly then she had ever seen her dress -- but beneath that elegance her friend's mind felt like glass which had been shattered and then reformed. She concentrated -- and then relaxed... there was... a *kernel* of her original personality still buried inside that the drug and the torture had not reached -- a kernel crying out to be released from the viewpoint of her honed P12 telepathic senses. This, of course, was exactly what Sheynell had been hoping for -- and as she came to a stop about three feet behind Klairika's chair, she turned towards the portal, and activated the tightbeam transmitter on her uniform collar. "In place." she whispered, even as she continued to convince the room-at-large that she... wasn't... there. "Target acquired -- it's time for the diversion." "Roger that, Tactical." Julia's voice whispered out of the tiny remote in her ear. "Here come the partycrashers." Several sharp thumps became audible beyond the hall doors at that point, and the Brakiri at table began to mutter amongst themselves and cast daggered looks in the direction of their host. Sionaya Alidiae rose to her feet, and cast her own glance in the direction of... what was his name? -- Sheynell concentrated... Mezhik zum Berane -- and a moment later, the black-clad hunter nodded and moved towards the door. A movement that became unnecessary as those doors violently sprang open, revealing three figures in black beyond, all holding Minbari warrior pikes. And even as *every* Brakiri in the room sprang to his or her feet, Sheynell watched her dark-haired captain lock eyes with the disbelieving, furious matriarch at the end of the table. "Nei-leidrei Sionaya Alidiae -- you have stolen something from us that does not belong to you -- you will return her to us, or suffer the consequences." There was a long pause -- and then the Alidiae matriarch began to laugh. "I think *not*. Berane!" The hunter barked out a command -- and all of a sudden, two sections of wall behind his syndicate head slid aside to reveal tunnels beyond, and two troops of raen-shahn emerged -- and rushed straight at the Rangers standing in the door... who promptly turned on their heels and ran down the corridor. This, of course, was the cue for the dinner guests to begin a stampede of their own out of the dining hall -- which allowed *her*, of course, to step forward that all-important three feet, grab hold of Klairika (and more importantly, her mind) and *yank*. The confused young Brakiri, already paralyzed by the sudden appearance of Julia and her Rangers, had not even time to cry out as Sheynell cast a dagger-line of thought into her brain and ran from the hall herself, dragging her friend along behind her like a balloon on a string. * * * How it had happened, she would never know... but even as her dinner guests finished their exodus from the hall, Sionaya turned to face her daughter... and froze, simply unable to believe what she was seeing. Klairika was gone -- had simply *vanished* from plain view! What had, who had... "Berane." "Nei-leidrei." the hunter whispered, his face gone pale. "Find her... at once!" * * * Heiljamar. VR interrogation lab facilities. It was, Bahkmein ruefully considered, apparently going to be another long work session -- the sun, no doubt, would be well up in the sky before he called it 'a day'. And even then, he would not sleep long or deeply -- there was simply too much to *do* -- and now that the Nei-lahl, curse her for her upstart smugness, had removed the second machine to the Alidiae fortress lair, he was going to have to *insist* that his researchers be more careful with the original prototype... The world suddenly convulsed -- and Bahkmein was thrown through the air from his seat as the lab doors exploded outwards behind him -- throwing pieces of equipment in all directions and even on top of some of his people. The astounded scientist turned towards the disturbance just in time to take numerous slivers of metal in his face -- and with a cry, he sagged down to the floor and reached a hand up to touch his battered features... a hand that came away a moment later covered in blood. But that was only the beginning of his torment, as a swarm of gray-armored soldiers rushed into the room... followed a moment later by a battered group of researchers, all those who had left the facility for the day -- and finally, a small group of... Chadi? Bahkmein felt himself begin to shake -- the nei-leidrei had assured him this would not happen, had assured... A hand reached out, and closed around his throat, and Bahkmein looked up into a face covered in black tattoos. The expression in those eyes was terrifying, and if he could have, he would have looked away... but Bahkmein was not given that option. "Who are you?" he croaked. He did not ask why they were doing this... that much was obvious. "Who am I?" the crime lord spat, as he lifted Bahkmein to his feet and smashed him into the glass seperating the scientist's work area from the main lab floor beyond. "I am your worst nightmare -- and I am your executioner, tu`rahk that you are! But to be more specific -- my *name* is Cho-nori." "Executioner, you say -- what gives you that right?" "What gives me the right?" Cho-nori roared. "I will explain your crimes to you before you die," the Chadi continued, his voice now back to normal. "You *dared* to design a machine that would give the syndicates the ability to reprogram the minds of our brothers -- you would break their wills, and spit upon the vows they have made. You made a mistake when you agreed to reprogram the Anla'shok -- the instant *she* agreed to begin production, was the instant we had to act. And now, Bahkmein," Cho-nori concluded, "You and your researchers will die, and this place will be destroyed, while our network infiltrators send viruses into the system to hunt down any files connected to this... project. In short, it is time to end this threat, the only way we know how." Bahkmein laughed. "Do you... really think it will be that easy... Chadi? The Alidiaes have removed the second prototype of the machine to their mountain fortress -- and from there, others can continue the project. Kill me if you wish, and destroy this place... but the work *will* go on. You... you will never win." The face of the crime lord grew dark -- his fury at this news, Bahkmein concluded, would soon overcome all reason. "Victory *is* assured." Cho-nori replied after a moment, as he laid the barrel of his Nagean plasma rifle against the scientist's forehead. "But not yours, Bahkmein. Not today." Bahkmein clenched his eyes shut -- and a moment later, Cho-nori pulled the trigger. * * * "We were *fools* to believe it would be this easy!" Cho-nori growled to his equals a few moments later, as the flames announcing the destruction of the Alidiae syndicate lab lit the skyline of Heiljamar behind him. "If the tu`rahk spoke truthfully, another of these *machines* exists in the belly of their mountain fortress." "You choose to attack the redoubt, then, do you?" another crime lord asked. "Many of our brothers would die in such an assault." "And if the machines are still built, from the secondary prototype?" Cho-nori spat. "All that we have done in this place will be for nought -- we have drawn a line in fire and blood that the Krona cannot be allowed to cross -- we must end this threat, we *must* attack the redoubt -- we have *no* other choice!" A great deal more arguing occured after that -- but in the end, the decision *was* made... the commands issued. And the Chadi of Heiljamar rode forth to meet their destiny. * * * It hadn't been what she had in mind earlier, of course -- but sometimes the enemy didn't give you exactly what you wanted. Now many levels below the dining hall where the pursuit had begun, Julia paused for a moment in a poorly lit corridor junction to catch her breath -- and then advanced down the corridor in front of her, her pike retracted for the time being. The raen-shahn Sionaya Alidiae had sent after her and the others had eventually caught up with them, and Azhahk, Dechene and herself had found it necessary to engage them closely. During the battle they'd been separated -- and to throw salt into the wounds, a stray blow had damaged her comm unit. This place... this redoubt built by Klairika's family -- it was simply *huge*... Only at the last moment did she hear the slither of a footfall upon the stone floor behind her, and she smiled before turning, her hand going to pike as the *blonde* haired Brakiri girl rushed at her, her own weapon in hand. And for the first time in a *very* long time, she found her reflexes bettered by an opponent -- the club caught her on the left temple -- and she fell. Time passed -- and eventually, awareness returned. "You have done well, Kareina." a now familiar, now hated voice allowed. "You see? -- these Rangers, they are not invincible -- they *can* be defeated. On your feet, human!" Sionaya Alidiae barked, and a moment later, two syndicate guards grabbed her roughly from behind and pulled her upright. Despite her best intentions, Julia cried out at the pain in her head -- and was rewarded by a laugh from her enemy. "What is this, then? Surely you are not the 'mistress' of this Ranger vessel my daughter served upon before she was returned to us?" "I am." she defiantly replied. "I am a Ranger -- I serve when and where I must -- I do what must be done, to save my kind... in the name of the One." "You are well spoken, for one so young..." Sionaya Alidiae allowed, "But ultimately, that is your final flaw. Your *President* is more desperate then I thought, if he is willing to crew a ship of the line with *children*... but enough. We have you, and now that Nei-lahl Kariena here has arranged for a re-education machine to be installed in the basement of this facility... perhaps we will see what effect it has on a human." Julia raised her chin high. "My friends will rescue me before you can do anything to me!" The Alidiae matriarch laughed. "You deceive yourself, child -- we have captured them, as we have now captured *you*." "Impossible." she retorted. "Impossible or not, it is the truth. And now, childling, you shall service *us*. Take her away." * * * Some moments passed -- moments in which the raen-shahn dragged Julia away down the corridor, and the two Alidiaes departed as well. Moments of quiet -- and then a hiss of breath was heard, and Moreil shimmered into being as he deactivated his chameleon armor. "The Huntleader is-sss *mad*..." the Z'shailyl muttered, as he moved off in pursuit. "But obey her, we mus-ss-t." * * * She had long ago ceased to struggle, and for this Sheynell was grateful, as she cast her probes ever deeper into the confused landscape of Klairika's mind. Confused by the drugs the scientists had injected into her blood -- damaged by the virtual torment they'd put her through. But from the beginning, she'd known what she was capable of -- sometimes what she could do frightened her, an emotion that the Corps had discouraged in its officers. The past, however, was *not* the present -- and in the here and now, what needed to be done... Was -- a probe deeper then any she'd attempted with any other Ranger. A flutter of eyelids. Image -- a booth of electric fire, not real, not real.... "Over." Klairika whispered, her body shaking as she let out several long sobs. "They... oh, Sheynell, it was horrible. I had to hide from it, the only way I knew how, the way they taught us how to in Tuzanor..." "It's all right!" Sheynell insisted. "It's over, now -- you're going to be all right." "That part of the mission might be over..." Dechene's voice ruthlessly cut in, "But *this* isn't over yet." "Who's... this?" "I'll explain later." the telepath replied, as she turned to face Dechene. "What's happened?" "Julia's been captured by the forces loyal to *her* mother." Dechene brusquely explained, "And if I'm reading this right, they've taken down to this place's dungeon." Oh *no*. "What aren't you telling me?" "Looks like Bahkmein built two prototypes -- and the second one's..." "In the dungeon." Sheynell wearily finished for her. "And where's Moreil?" Dechene shrugged. "Your alien buddy's nowhere to be seen." "If he's disappeared, it's for a reason." "Oh really? And what would that be?" "Enough!" Klairika suddenly interrupted, her voice still shaky, but getting stronger -- the tone of command already half-returned. "I know how to get around here -- remember that I used to live here!" "You know how to get to where this machine's installed?" "I have a good idea where that may be, yes." "Then let's get going." Dechene suggested. "Before time runs out for us *all*." * * * To be continued! * * * http://www.connect.ab.ca/~dgolding/index.htm From: David Goldingay Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode 11, Act IV Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 22:58:43 -0700 "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE" EPISODE ELEVEN: "POSSESSIVE NECESSITIES" (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture) * * * <> The lower levels of the Alidiae redoubt -- July 15th, 2267. They'd taken her weapon, her cloak and tunic from her, and of *course* it did no good to struggle, what with metal bonds holding her securely at ankles, waist, wrist and neck... never *mind* the horrible brace they'd put around her jaw -- Julia breathed as deeply as she could, and tried not to squirm as hundreds of silvery sensor probes wriggled under and pierced her shirt and trousers -- she had her part to play -- she just hoped that everyone else remembered *theirs*. "Any last words before we begin, *Ranger*?" the blonde-haired Brakiri smugly asked her. "Come now -- not even a cry of defiance?" Julia gave the girl her most withering glance. "For a cousin of one of my finest friends, your manners leave a great deal to be desired." "And therein lies her greatest flaw!" Kareina Alidiae explained, her voice now full of anger. "Polluted by the Minbari and your kind, twisted away from what should have been her destiny! Even after she was returned to us, you were not content to let the natural order of our lives resume -- no, instead you walk into our innermost halls, and made *demands* you had no right to make! And now," the Brakiri concluded, as the nervous scientists lowered the helmet over Julia's head, "Now, you must be punished for your crimes against my people and, more importantly, our family. The Nei-Leidrei was right in what she said -- you *will* service us, Ranger. No, let me be more specific -- you will service *me*." "I think *not*." A laugh. "She said the same thing in your place, human -- but enough. Have you loaded the new program into your system files?" Kariena suddenly asked of her assistants. "We have, Nei-lahl -- and stand ready to inject the Verfahrin into her bloodstream." Julia winced, then, as a sharp pain on her arm announced the entry of an intravenous needle -- and the Brakri girl's smile widened as she saw her distress. "Stand by." At which point, the visor of the helmet lowered over her eyes -- and Julia waited, her heart beating just a little faster, to see what would happen next. "Begin n..." <>. The technicians cried out, and Kariena Alidiae's voice faltered, and then became alarmed as the sound of several bodies hitting the floor was heard. "What? How did, what are..." <>. The hateful voice fell silent, and then a moment later she heard furtive footsteps approaching -- a hand briefly touched her face... and then the helmet was yanked back... revealing the familiar face of Moreil above her, looking down in concern. Julia let out a deep breath, as the Z'Shailyl carefully extracted the needle from her arm, and freed her head from the brace. "In Valen's Name, Moreil -- if you'd left it even a *moment* longer..." "Not poss-ss-ible." the former Shadow servant assured her, as her bonds all popped open at once -- she frowned, now *that* had been a neat trick, she hadn't even seen him touch them -- "Almost from the moment they captured you, Huntleader, I have been following you. Was not my ss-tealth sufficient for our needs?" "Absolutely!" she managed, as she quickly looked down at the three Brakiri lying on the floor. "How long do you think they're going to be out like that?" Moreil shrugged. "I did not hit them that hard, Huntleader, nor was the kerlaaq' crystal set at full power. Perhaps two thirds of a merazzh'..." Julia gave him a look, and the Z'Shailyl grinned toothily. "Thirty or forty of your kind's minutes, if all goes as expected." "Tikopai, are you okay?" Julia turned to face the door, and finally smiled -- as Dechene and Klairika, Sheynell and Fenric just behind them, came into the room. "Oh," Dechene muttered, as she saw Moreil, "So *that's* where he got to." "You're okay?" Julia asked, as she and Klairika came together. "I think so... yes!" "Come now!" Fenric reminded them, his voice tense, "There will be time for talking and reunions when we are safely back onboard the *Shard of Night* -- for now, we must still escape from this fortress-of-rock." "And destroy the machine, of course..." Dechene reminded them, as she began rummaging through her pack for charges. "Before her crazy mother tries to reprogram any more of her enemies." "And what about the other one they used on me?" Klairika reminded them. "Your captain suggested we focus on one thing at a time, and she's right, of course -- we send a covert team in to destroy it later... that's if one of their rivals doesn't beat us to it." "Fine!" Julia allowed, as she finishing dressing and bent down to retrieve her warrior pike from the still-unconscious Kariena Alidiae. "But Fenric's right -- let's not waste any more time -- we've still got to get to the top of this place to get out." "You mean the side, don't you?" Klairika inquired with a frown. "There is no way of escaping from the top levels to the surrounding area." "That's," Julia sweetly replied, as she made her way to the door with Fenric at her side, "Exactly what I want the enemy to think, as a matter of fact." "Oh." Everyone watched Klairika's train of thought abruptly change tracks, and then the Brakiri smiled. "It's going to be one of *those* escapes, is it?" "Exactly." "Okay!" Dechene barked, as the intelligence officer rose to her feet, shouldered her pack and backed away from the machine at a run, while the rest of the Rangers dragged the unconscious Brakiri into a storage room, before closing and locking the door. "We've got maybe ninety seconds to preform a getting-the-hell-out-of-here maneuver, people! -- after that, this whole *room* is going to go boom!" "Then I guess we should go." Julia replied. "Klairika -- how many guards does your mother have here?" "Enough to give us trouble..." her first officer replied, as they burst out of the 'dungeon' and headed off down the corridor, while Moreil shimmered back out of sight as he re-engaged the stealth bio-circuits in his armor. "But knowing my mother, she's divided them between guarding all the exits and hunting for the rest of us -- and as far as she *knows*, there's only Fenric and Dechene here still at large." -- there went one little problem. "That"s exactly what I want her to think," Julia told Klairika, as they moved furtively up to a corner in the passage -- and then, after Fenric gave the all-clear, headed for the nearby stairwell -- out of which came a party of *very* surprised Brakiri guards. "Oh *damn*," she whispered, as she and Dechene extended their pikes and ran forward, "Here we go!" The Brakiri, of course, *never* stood a chance, so surprised were they -- and after a time, Klairika turned to face her friends. "Azhahk -- I have a favour to ask of you." "Anything, Na'lai." the Arabian Ranger replied. "I must borrow your denn'bok -- I have a... bone to pick with na raen-shahn Berane." "He has your pike, doesn't he?" Sheynell asked, as the party drew near to a window carved in the side of the mountain. "He does indeed." "All *right*, then!" Julia suddenly exclaimed, as the comm-status on her wristlink suddenly went from amber to green as the Rangers paused beside the window. "We're in business! Val'na Tikopai to *Shard of Night*, is anybody out there?" "And very relieved to hear your voice they are." Larieken replied, a moment later. "Your orders, Val'na?" "Plan A, Larieken -- just like we discussed earlier on." "Ah. Excellent -- we will be joining you shortly. *Shard of Night*, out." Julia began counting up -- one, two, three... "Okay!" Dechene exploded, "Now *how* are you going to hide a 600 and more meter long warship from the Brakiri? It's a damn fine warship, I will admit, but aren't they going to detect the bowshock from its passage through the atmosphere?" "Not... exactly. Nicholas and Larieken have been wanting to try this for a while, you see..." "Try *what*?" Julia explained. * * * Brakos orbital space. "Well, well, well." Dawson gloated, as he all but *bounced* his way over to the first officer's station. "I was kinda hoping she'd give me the chance to play with the atmospheric mods -- this is going to be a lot of fun, actually." "As you say." Larieken replied. "Stand by to transfer power to secondary propulsion system." Dawson input a series of commands, and the familiar sound of the *Shard*'s main engines faltered -- and then faded completely away, to be replaced a moment later by a smoother, resonant vibration. The 'secondary' propulsion system in question was an experimental gravimetric drive that Varsak had ordered installed even before his people had finished preliminary tests on it. The Minbari engineer had not been one to worry too much about 'tests', of course, so sure was he of his designs. Nicholas, of course, had been fascinated by the concept -- one thing the *Shard*'s White Star predecessors hadn't possessed was a drive like those in the Sharlin class cruisers -- the battlecruiser, on the other hand... did. Although they couldn't use the damn thing for very long, of course, because it drank up so much power. "Reactionless drive on-line." he reported. "Standing by on pressure-wave dampers." "Excellent, Mr. Dawson. Dasouri, take us down into the atmosphere -- we have a team to retrieve." His eyes bright, the Drazi immediately complied with that order -- and after a moment, the *Shard* slashed down out of its parking orbit at almost thirty standard gravities -- and courtesy of the drive, there were no heat sources to betray their movements. Only moments later, they began encountering the atmosphere, and Dasouri immediately began to dampen their forward momentum, which was where the pressure-wave dampers came in. Nicholas tapped in a series of commands -- and a moment later the battlecruiser's tiny whisker-probes began sampling the atmospheric state around their mothership, and tiny conal beams of force began to emerge from the hull, as the projectors began their job of *smoothing* the air towards something resembling normality. The process wasn't perfect, of course -- but more than sufficient to hide the Rangers and their ship from plain view as they descended ever lower into the atmosphere of Brakos. Finally, the *Shard leveled off at an altitude of about two kilometers, and canted off towards local southwest across the icy polar oceans of Brakos, and began to close on the Heiljamar coastline and their target, slightly more then a thousand kilometers away. It would, Dawson reflected, not take them long to get there, of course. He fervently hoped that Julia and the rest of the team would be ready for pickup when they arrived. * * * "What, in the name of Kaz'h the Holy, is going on here?" Sionaya furiously exclaimed, as reports began drifting up the redoubt chain of command that something -- unusual was going on. A team had reached the lowest level only a short time before to learn that the room the re-education machine had been installed in had been firebombed... while the guards in question had shortly thereafter retrieved a quite unconscious Kareina, as well as the two technicians who'd accompanied her to the redoubt, from a nearby storage area. At the same time, reports had also reached her of the destruction of the main facility in Heiljamar. She ground her teeth irritably -- Bahkmein and the rest of his people were no doubt dead, as Kariena had darkly suggested might occur. As a result, this project was quite possibly also... dead. This felt like the work of the Chadi... "Nei-leidrei Alidiae." she turned, to find Taklaeih standing in the entrance of her office. "Word has come of a massed force of Chadi brotherhood troops approaching this position. The Krona syndicate forces have attempted to intercept them, but the crime lords appear to be... quite persistent. Our allies estimate they will be here in less than thirty standard minutes, and that the attack body will be sufficiently strong to enter this place, and kill all within." "I will not leave without my daughter!" she snarled, as she stalked up her business rival. "There are Anla'shok within my walls -- and given the technology store in the lowest levels was destroyed a short time ago..." "Oh... you must mean the second re-education machine." She drew in a harsh breath, and Taklaeih smiled thinly. "Do you seriously believe I wasn't aware of what you were doing? You must have been insane to believe the Chadi would not respond to this threat in force -- as they now have. While as for the Anla'shok, it appears that you have managed to enrage them, as well, by capturing your daughter and forcing her to return to this place." "But... he assured me that the procedure would be without flaw!" she whispered, as her enemy listened to every word she spoke... and continued to smile his mirthless smile. "The programming -- it was supposed to be unbreakable!" "An interesting claim -- if inaccurate." Taklaeih observed. "The most powerful telepaths in the Interstellar Alliance, for instance, are quite capable of restoring most if not all minds to normality under the right circumstances -- especially if the mind in question was not *truly* broken. You did not break her, Sionaya..." the magnate concluded, his tone cruel. "You only saw what she wanted you to see." "You lie!" "I do not believe you are in a position to cast insults at this juncture -- the Chadi draw nearer with each passing breath. I can save you and yours... for a price, that is." She couldn't, she musn't! -- Sionaya Alidiae closed her eyes, and felt the darkness close in around her. "Name your price." A terrifyingly predatory smile appeared on Taklaeih's face. Which was, of course, when a raen-shahn appeared in the door. "Nei-leidrei!" "Yes?" "The Anla'shok -- we have them trapped at the peak of the redoubt. Will you come?" At last! Sionaya began to laugh, while Taklaeih backed aside, his face creased with disgust. "I will -- if only to witness their final defeat!" If she could not have her... then no one would. * * * The fighting had become more fierce the higher they'd climbed -- but finally, Klairika had lead them to the stairwell that lead up to the overlook on the very peak of the redoubt -- a wide ledge, twenty feet wide and more then a hundred feet long, upon which she'd played many games in her youth. This, however, was no game -- but where was Berane? She'd been surprised that he hadn't been leading any of the guards they'd fought with during the climb... They rounded a corner -- and for a moment, her heart stopped. Berane was standing at the base of the stairwell, his expression haughty -- her pike extended in his grasp. "Klairika, Klairika." the hunter muttered as he shook his head sadly, "My darling little zei-leina -- do you really believe I will let you go, now that I have fought so long and so hard to bring you home? I do not know what it is that you plan, nor why you and your *friends* are so insistent on climbing to the peak of this dwelling -- but you shall not pass, Klairika. This, I *swear*." "Uh," Sheynell observed, "Isn't that supposed to be *our* line?" "I will deal with this." she replied, her voice quiet and even -- "I must regain the honour I have lost -- you understand why this must be, of course." As one, the other Rangers nodded, and even Moreil, his tall black staff in hand, did the same. And a moment later, she stepped forward, and extended the pike Fenric had given her, the silvery sound welcome in the darkness. "Berane -- the weapon you hold in your hands does not belong to you. You will return it to its rightful owner." "Which would, of course, be you." the hunter rightly observed, as they began to circle... and then he laughed a cruel laugh. "You were never able to beat me in combat trials before you left -- what makes you think this encounter will be any different?" "People change." -- their pikes came together, high against low. "I have changed." -- and low against high, the blows coming faster now. Klairika ducked under Berane's sudden thrust, and whirled around to strike at him from behind, a blow he only barely evaded. "I am not the girl I was when I left this place -- I am not the lost soul you remember so well." "And I am *not* my mother's plaything -- I belong to... no... one... but myself!" The contest paused for a moment. "Brave words." Berane mocked, as they stared at each other through an 'x' of forged Minbari metal. "But actions speak louder then words!" the hunter suddenly snarled, as he disengaged and struck at her hard and low. "They do... *indeed*!" And even as Jennifer and Durhan had taught her, Klairika watched the gap in her enemy's defence open up... as she twisted her pike rapidly beneath Berane's, and swung... up. The hunter grunted in surprise as his weapon suddenly flew out of his hands, and then a moment later, she followed through with the inevitable concluding move. "I am Anla'shok." she whispered, as Berane sagged to the floor, and then collapsed. "Remember this day, my mother's servant -- and understand." "You fought well, for one who wears a dress." Fenric observed, his usual laconic self as he retrieved Klairika's pike. "But I think it's time we... Left?" At which point, the corridors behind them suddenly began to fill with Brakiri troops. "The Makers preserve us -- they come!" "Time for an exit, stage right, I think." Julia observed, and as one, the Rangers rushed up the stairs and onto the ledge. "Now where the *Hell*'s Larieken?" "That's a... very good question!" Dechene cried out, as she, Fenric and Moreil dispatched the first few guards to emerge. "But I think we're... running out of time, here!" "An accurate observation, my dear." a poisonous whisper emerged from below, and as one, Julia and her friends took one step backwards as Sionaya Alidiae emerged out of the stairwell to face them, her expression one of triumph. "And it quite escapes me why your darling leader chose to bring you up here. There is no escape from this place save into the abyss -- and what choice is that?" "I'm afraid, Nei-leidrei..." Julia replied with a small and *very* knowing smile, as a deep subsonic rumble began to shake the mountainside, "That there's something you've forgotten." As one, all the Brakiri, Sionaya included, looked.. upwards -- and the guards cried out in fear as a seemingly *immense* black shape began to blot out the stars above them. "Valen watches over us -- and in his name and within his light, we fight a war against you and your darkness. We *are* the Anla'shok -- remember us -- watch for us. And be afraid." she concluded, raising her left arm high. "Be *very* afraid." That, of course, was the signal Larieken had been waiting for -- and a moment later, a brilliant violet beam of light stabbed down from the belly of the black shadow hanging over the mountaintop, and all the Rangers, as well as an all too pleased Z'Shailyl, flashed up that beam of force and into the waiting arms of Dawson and his people. "Mr. Dawson..." she managed, as she stepped out from beneath the emitter. "*Well* done." The engineer shrugged, his grin broad as he caught sight of Klairika. "And for an encore," he suggested, "Are you going to walk on water?" "I think," Julia replied, her eyes dancing, "That one miracle a day's my limit, actually. Larieken?" A hologram popped into being. "You called?" "Take us home." * * * To be concluded... http://www.connect.ab.ca/~dgolding/index.htm From: David Goldingay Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode 11, Envoi Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 22:46:02 -0700 "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE" EPISODE ELEVEN: "POSSESSIVE NECESSITIES" (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture) * * * <> Interstellar Alliance Battlecruiser 'Shard of Night' -- enroute to Minbar. July 16th, 2267. "Signal incoming from ISA Headquarters on Minbar." Larieken reported, his voice neutral -- although his face suggested something otherwise. "It is the High Councillor." "Are you ready..." Julia asked Dechene, as she rose out of the captain's chair, "To face the music?" The intelligence Ranger shrugged. "May as well get it over with, I suppose." "Well, well..." William Westcastle muttered a moment later as his image came into being in front of them, "Given that Ambassador Berazkran hasn't tried to bring us all up on charges for invading his planet yet, I'm going to assume that the mission was a success?" "It wasn't as easy as it could have been, sir..." she replied, "But yes... we got the job done." "Anla'shok Dechene -- what are your own thoughts on this matter?" Westcastle inquired, his expression showing he *definitely* wanted a second opinion, this time around. "Well, sir, I wasn't sure exactly what this crew was capable of when I first came aboard -- but even though they can be a bunch of wild cards at times, I've been pleasantly surprised by the performance of Tikopai and her people. They got the job done, and even though they went about it in a more... unorthodox way then I would of under the same circumstances -- what she said was accurate, sir. We rescued the 'Shard of Night's first officer without too much trouble, and ensured that the Brakiri won't be able to sell the news of her existence to anyone -- anywhere." "And what of this technology they invented, this 're-education' device?" Westcastle inquired, a frown creasing his face. "Were you able to do something about that, as well?" "In coordination with a few unexpected allies... yes, we were!" "Explain." "Turns out that around the time Na'lai Alidiae's mother attempted to reprogram her daughter, one of the more powerful Chadi brotherhood leaders decided that he wasn't going to... ah, 'take it anymore' is probably the simplest way of describing the situation. After we left Brakos nearspace, a few of our sources revealed that the primary lab where the research was taking place was attacked the same night we went in to retrieve our lost Ranger. Looks like they destroyed it -- there were no survivors." "I won't say I'm glad to hear to lives were lost pursuing this technology... but damn it all, we can't afford to let something like that loose on the galaxy, especially not now, with the Earth Alliance thrown into chaos because of the plague and the Drakh waiting to take advantage of every slip we make. No, you both did the best you could, under the circumstances. And Julia..." "Sir?" "I'm expecting you to take a few days off when you return -- your first officer, especially, deserves some rest after her ordeal. And I'm sure..." Jennifer, of course, would want to invite Klairika and the rest of the senior crew over for dinner, at the very least -- every once in a while, the kids would go off to play with David Sheridan -- they were quite safe, of course, under the supervision of a 'babysitter' who also *just* happened to be John Sheridan's wife. "Understood, sir -- loud and clear. And now that the latest crisis appears to be over...?" Westcastle smiled. "We'll talk more when you reach Minbar. ISA Headquarters, out." "Well," Julia muttered, as she finally settled back into her seat, "I suppose all's well that end's well, right?" Dawson snorted from his station near the back of the forward bridge hemisphere. "Don't be so sure -- now you've embarassed grande dame Alidiae, it's not over 'til the fat lady sings." Julia sighed, as she briefly met Klairika's eyes, and watched her Brakiri friend nod solemnly. They would have to be careful, this was certain -- because embarassment wasn't exactly the word she was thinking of. That word... was revenge. Another enemy, another emnity made -- when would it end? She knew the answer to that, of course, even though she didn't have to like it. When the mission was over -- and not a moment before. * * * Brakos -- Heiljamar. Karea'niga tower. "The humans have been known to say that revenge is a dish best served cold..." Sionaya Alidiae observed, as Berane and Kareina knelt on the far side of her great desk. "An interesting phrase, wouldn't you agree?" "That would depend," Berane carefully replied, "Who the target is." "And how long the emnity is held." Kareina added, her tone wary. "Especially if family is involved." "Ah yes -- family *is* involved -- but fear *not*, despite what you both may think, I am not refering to either of you." Sionaya watched the two younger Brakiri relax with no small amount of sadistic amusement -- she would return to this eventually, but not here, and not now. "At least not yet. I will not forget, however, the *position* you almost put me in!" "You refer to Taklaeih's 'proposal', of course." "And other matters, as well. If the Chadi had not turned aside as they did at the last moment, we would now stand in debt to that... awerahl` and his sons -- it is apparent that someone warned them the machine had been destroyed before they arrived -- this suggests a leak somewhere in the syndicate. You will find the traitor for me. And I expect neither of you to return until this... task is completed." "And if no traitor exists, what then?" Kariena sharply replied. "Well... you will be gone a *very* long time then, won't you?" Sionaya's amusement deepened as she watched their faces go pale -- this 'command' amounted to exile, of course -- and even if there were traitors within her ranks, she would make quite sure that neither Berane nor Kareina found them for the forseeable future. "We understand." Berane managed. "We will redeem ourselves in your eyes, Nei-leidrei -- so do we swear." "I doubt that... *very* much. Now begone!" They went -- and the shadows lengthened in the office. After a time, another figure stepped out of those shadows, a figure hooded and cloaked in black... and Sionaya inclined her head in its direction. "Is this to your satisfaction?" "It will... suffice. You keep your bargains, Nei-leidrei Alidiae, as we had hoped. And now that this is so, the planning must begin anew. The day of your revenge will come, now that we are at your side." "And will the day come when you show me your face?" she asked. An eye glinted in the darkness -- an eye full of amusement. "If all goes as we have forseen -- you will see that... *and* more." * * * Some time thereafter, a connection was established, and words were spoken. "A failure, then." "As you had predicted, great leader -- the human female possesses great strength -- while those who follow her walk in the shadow of her light, and prosper." "Prosper, you say?" the reply came, both bitter and vengeful at the same time. "Their victories are now numerous, this is true -- but in the end, even the fires of victory must eventually burn down to ashes. And when that happens, when true night comes... we will be there to feast upon their bones!" "Their bones, we shall consume." the dark figure agreed. "As it once was, and is... so shall it be again." "So *shall* it be -- now continue your work, my friend. We will speak again... soon enough." And there, the conversation ended. * * * Next time: One life-threatening mistake in a lifetime is not enough for some archeologists, as the crew of the 'Shard' are about to discover. 'What Lies Hidden' the 12th episode of 'The Seeker's Fire', coming soon... http://www.connect.ab.ca/~dgolding/index.htm