From: David Goldingay Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode 14, Overture Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 09:00:12 -0600 Chryse Planitia, Mars - August 8th, 2267. The Director of the Bureau of Telepathic Integration stood at the pressure-shielded window of his borrowed office, and looked out upon the frost-laced surface of Mars, his face bleak as the cold sands outside. It was just dark enough to see Earth, hovering low above the western horizon where the sun had set, a short time before... and after a moment, he forced himself to look at that harmless-seeming dot of green light, and review what had come before, as well as what might *yet* be. For about seven months now, as all knew and *could* not forget, the cradle of Mankind had become what amounted to a planet-sized prison... the quarantine enforced by those soldiers of Earthforce who'd survived the disastrous confrontation with the Drakh that had started the crisis. A battle in which one of the Interstellar Alliance's Victory class destroyer prototypes had been destroyed, its crew valiantly sacrificing themselves so that the Drakh's one-and-only planet-killer might be destroyed. And all for nothing. So many telepaths had been trapped on Earth when the Drakh had unleashed their deadly plague - and now, like the rest, if a cure was not found, they would all die what might amount to horrible, painful deaths. Like every other human who'd been off world during the attack, the Director had, in the weeks and months since the confrontation in Earth's skies, found himself unable to put this tragedy out of his mind. To date, Captain Gideon's search for the cure had turned up nothing -- *could* a cure even be found in time? The Director wished he had the answer to that question... but he was a telepath, not a precognitive. He had no wish to witness what might yet be - and as the man who'd been chosen to oversee the activities of human telepaths since the end of the war that had very nearly destroyed his kind as well as tearing apart the Earth Alliance - he'd quickly learned that what operatives he had, simply weren't enough to get the job done properly... while governing their operations had become more and more difficult, as well. As a case in point, there was the matter of Viyana Metois and Edward Cattrall. Metois and Cattrall were two of his best P12 monitors - except... except of course that Metois had never *quite* set aside what amounted to her single most deadly obsession - to track down the powerful 'renegade' P12 named Sheynell Keynes, a young woman who'd once served the infamous Alfred Bester as his most trusted associate... and bring her to justice. The woman who'd once been her firmest friend, before wars and destinies had torn them apart. What Metois didn't know, of course, was that he possessed other sources of information - and those sources had revealed to him what Keynes had done, after she'd escaped from EA territory more than two years before. Having escaped the destruction of one of the Psi Corps' greatest bases, Keynes had gone to Tuzanor, seeking asylum - and that request, as it turned out, had been granted by John Sheridan and his advisory council. Just thereafter, Keynes had enlisted with the Rangers - and then, after the Drakh attack, she'd disappeared from plain view, to undertake a mission of critical importance... While a *single* source the Director had acquired had revealed the truth in full -- a source who had also revealed some of the same information to Metois -- for a price. Some time before the attack, the Minbari warrior caste had built a prototype White Star battlecruiser named the 'Shard of Night'... and in the wake of the plague's release, President Sheridan had assigned the Rangers' best, brightest and youngest the task of protecting Gideon and his crew. Thus far, as near as the Director could tell, the Rangers assigned to that ship had done a damn fine job. Except... except, apparently in recent days, they'd been cast beyond the Rim of the galaxy in some sort of freak accident... and had only just barely returned alive, or something along those lines. The Director didn't know all the details, but he didn't have to. Sheridan and the Anla'shok High Council had almost certainly recalled the crew of the 'Shard' to Minbar to be debriefed on their adventures - and Metois and Cattrall, who'd been sent to a conference on Minbar involving telepaths from all the races to possess their gift -- were now seeing one of their dreams coming true. Because if *he* knew that Keynes and her crew were returning to Minbar... they probably did, as well. And wouldn't you know it?... he didn't have any people to spare to try and stop them from doing something that would almost certainly destroy both of their careers. The Director whispered a curse. What Metois didn't understand was that ever since Keynes had left the Psi Corps, she'd been trying (and mostly succeeding, from what he'd heard) to atone for her mistakes the only way she knew how - no, the best way, the Director mentally corrected himself -- in service to the Anla'shok. To bring her back here would be a mistake of the greatest caliber - because even if Metois succeeded in capturing her, the Rangers would probably seek to challenge his operative's actions... and if things went badly, they might even succeed in bringing her *and* Cattrall up on charges. The Director scowled -- no one, *least* of all him, wanted another Brianna Tolmanes situation to develop. Most of the Bureau's senior telepaths, especially him, remembered what she and Lyta Alexander had done in the spring of 2265... Damn it all, what a horrible mess this was - was there anything he could do to stop this from getting right out of hand? "Director." A pleasant contralto voice whispered from behind. "I thought I might find you here." The Director whirled, shock emblazoned on his features, as a gray-cloaked figure, her features nearly invisible within the cloak's hood, strode into view around the corner behind him. This... this was simply impossible. He knew that voice, knew the feel of her mind better than almost any other - what was she doing here? The Director moved towards the figure, step by trembling step, wanting to believe, wanting to... A single shake of head was all he was given... but it was enough. What was past could not be reclaimed, as someone had told him once -- but that was sometimes the way it had to be. Never- theless, there were some things that still had to be said -- and the first thing that came to mind was... "My God - is it really you?" "You know that it is -- and I think you know why I've returned here, as well." "I think I'd like to hear your version, before I make any judgment calls, actually -- especially after what you said to those ISN reporters last year..." The cloaked figure laughed, the sound mirthless in the stillness of the office. "Oh... that. I suppose you're referring to the 'I will never return to Tuzanor; there would be too many painful memories involved' speech." "That *would* be the one, yes." the Director replied, his tone wry. "What I said was the truth -- at that point. I've been... abused *and* used by too many -- the Vorlons, Bester... and others. I've been blackmailed, and I have done terrible things to those I love and care about -- and I have known great shame because of my actions and choices. And for a very long time now, running away from my obligations has been easier then facing them." "And now?" "I can't take it anymore!" the other telepath suddenly exclaimed, her voice raw and emotional. "I'm so tired of being lonely -- I need to find somewhere where I can *belong* again, somewhere I can escape from my past -- and reclaim the life I once had, the only pleasant years I've had in a lifetime of sadness." "And to get that, you're going to try and save her, aren't you? To try and open a door you thought shut forever." The cloaked telepath raised her eyes to meet the Director's -- and nodded. "Then you understand -- I was hoping you would. Needed you to, actually." "Of course I do." And even as he said the words, they suddenly moved into a fierce embrace, the embrace of two close friends who suspected this might be the last time they would see one another for a very long time... if ever. "I've always understood. Now *go* -- she needs you now, more than ever before. Metois must be stopped -- and now that Alexander's dead, you're probably the only one capable of pulling this off." "A burden I've long since accepted." the cloaked telepath sadly replied. "Remember this night, Director -- for if I succeed, and if *they* succeed*, perhaps..." "Perhaps there will be a party such as no one has ever seen." he replied. "I'll be there -- will you?" The other telepath finally smiled -- and then, with a rustle of gray fabric, she vanished into the night -- and the Director whispered four words -- the only words that seemed to fit. Words that whispered to him of memories bright as a flame. "And so it begins." But how it would end -- now that had yet to be determined. * * * Minbar nearspace -- 13:30 hrs Earth Standard Time. August 9th, 2267. The gate had a history matched by few others in Interstellar Alliance territory. From this gate, the Minbari had taken their first tentative steps into a realm they knew not -- the colony ships which had left to establish their colonies had begun their journeys here... and from here, Valen had walked forth with his armies behind him to face the Darkness... and drive it away. That darkness had returned eventually, of course... but eventually a new and different age had dawned, and the planet the gate watched over had become the capital of a new Alliance. An Alliance of peace -- and as necessary, an alliance of peoples still willing to fight for what they believed in. An alliance guarded by a force named... Anla'shok. And then, it happened -- on the nearby watcher-station, resonant chimes warned of the event at hand... even as bright flashes of light ran down the tines of the gate, and a brilliant bluish-white portal flared into existence... out of which emerged the Anla'shok battlecruiser named *Shard of Night*. The crew of that ship had travelled far in recent days, farther than any of them had believed they would since mission's commencement -- and now, they had returned to a place which, while it was not their home, as the ancient being named Lorien had explained to their captain in recent days, was certainly a place that was dear to all of them. And the reasons this was so? Now they were numerous, *indeed*. * * * "Captain Tikopai!" John Sheridan began with a grin, "So -- it appears as if we can now list 'returned from the dead' to your list of accomplishments..." "Hardly that, sir!" Julia Tikopai replied, her smile not much fainter, as she reclined at her ease in the *Shard*'s captain's ready room. "Although -- Lorien did mention that we should 'inquire after your health if we were so willing', upon our return." Sheridan's eyebrows rose. "Now hold on... are you trying to tell me that you actually ran into *Lorien*, out there?" Julia nodded. "Yes, sir -- we did. I... thought I should hold that and a few other things back from the preliminary log my comm officer forwarded to ISA headquarters shortly after our rendezvous with the *Night's Dagger* -- you never do know who might be listening." "That is a fact." Sheridan admitted -- but then he began to frown suspiciously. "Ah... what *else* have you 'held back', if you don't mind me asking?" Julia's expression sobered. "I think *that* should wait until I and my senior staff reach the surface, Mr. President." Sheridan nodded. "The others and I will be waiting, Captain." And with that said, the President's image faded from sight -- at which point Julia rose to her feet with a frown, and moved over to the small travel-bag that was sitting in the chair nearby, along with her captain's cloak. Was there anything she'd forgotten to pack? * * * "You want to do *what*?" Klairika exclaimed, as she and Sheynell moved down the corridor towards the hanger bay together. "It's a quite simple request -- I just haven't had time until *now* to take the final step." the other Ranger replied, her expression one of challenge. "After all, you have one, Larieken has one -- our captain, of course, has one that was sent across a thousand years to her by Valen, if you can believe *that* story -- why, even our happy-go-lucky doc has one..." Klairika began to smile at that description -- Veyshahk, of course, had been almost beside himself with joy ever since the *Shard* had emerged from the darkness to aid Nathan Gardinier and the Rangers of the 'Night's Dagger' some days before -- while he and his assistants Jharais and Taylene Nividia had been inseparable ever since. "So -- you mean to bring your case before F'hursna Sech Durhan and Sech Westcastle, then?" "I do." the telepath confirmed. "I've been practicing my movements ever since we left Minbar -- but after that whole thing that happened on Brakos when we broke into your mother's fortress to rescue you, I decided I should try and earn my fighting pike, simply because..." "Because you relied entirely on your abilities to keep you safe during that mission," the Brakiri finished for her, "And if my mother had cast a telepath against you during the crisis point of your rescue..." "Things could have got a little sticky -- let's just leave it at that, shall we?" "Quite understandable -- while your reasoning is sound. For now, however, perhaps we should concentrate more on what we will be saying to the Advisory Council later today..." * * * Far below the Ranger battlecruiser, a single, long haired figure in black stood upon a stone ledge in the City of Sorrows, and looked up towards the sky -- and the target she knew had finally arrived in- system. A target that would, all too soon, come within her grasp. Viyana Metois had waited for this moment for a *very* long time. And soon enough... She would have the answers she sought -- at last. A pleasant family reunion, this would not be... "But even now, after all that's happened, that link remains..." she whispered. "And everyone knows what happens to children who've been bad." * * * [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 14: "Crimes of Association" http://www.connect.ab.ca/~dgolding/star_circle.html From: David Goldingay Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode 14, Act I Date: Fri, 19 May 2000 23:07:00 -0600 "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE" EPISODE FOURTEEN: "CRIMES OF ASSOCIATION" 'Starring' MENA SUVARI as Viyana Metois MICHAEL BIEHN as Edward Cattrall ROMA DOWNEY as Brianna Tolmanes MALCOLM GETS as Colin Ferris LARA FLYNN BOYLE as Jennifer Westcastle MELANIE SMITH as Belaii BRIAN McDERMOTT as Durhan With, BRUCE BOXLEITNER as President John Sheridan MIRA FURLAN as Delenn RUSSELL CROWE as William Westcastle *and* WALTER KOENIG as Bester * * * (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture) * * * <> Tuzanor, Minbar -- ISA Headquarters. 14:45 hrs, EST, August 9th, 2267. Over the course of its almost five years of existence, a great deal of discussion on various matters had taken place within the confines of the Council Chamber in Interstellar Alliance headquarters... but this, Julia considered as she strode through the main portal, was almost certainly going to be a first. The species she was about to... discuss with the President and the others had been a great topic of 'interest', of course, back when there had been no Interstellar Alliance... only the League of Non-Aligned world and the 'greater' powers, as they had been known in those days. The species was a race that no one now alive would ever forget... their name still used, she suspected, to strike fear into the hearts of children all across the galaxy. 'Be good - or the Shadows will come for you.' This day, only the most senior members of the ISA ruling council were present as she made her way across the smooth, gray tiled floor and through a gap in the great table of alliance to stand before the two individuals who had, for five years now, ruled the Alliance side by side. A man who'd walked through the fire and out the other side to pursue the agendas destiny had thrown in his path. And his partner, the Minbari who'd first become a bridge between peoples, and then the greatest ally the man had ever possessed - in more ways than one. And then it was that President John Sheridan rose to his feet, his silver-bearded face solemn, as the portals to the chamber closed behind her. "Captain Tikopai - thank you for coming down from your ship on such short notice. While I hope you'll forgive us for excluding your senior crew from this discussion - time is short, and with so much else going on at the moment..." Julia nodded in understanding. "You decided that I should be the one to brief you on what it was we saw and who it was we encountered, after the living Neilgeithan weapons cast us beyond the Rim almost a week ago." Sheridan nodded, but Delenn, as she had expected, was the next to speak. "You say, Val'na, whom you encountered. The President has informed us that the First One who names himself *Lorien* chose to aid you in your quest - may we assume that with this aid, the creatures that named themselves 'Craneori' found their creators?" "Not... entirely, no." Julia carefully clarified. "While Lorien was the first to reach us, others weren't far behind. The next species we encountered were friendly to our cause, however... and chose to honour an alliance that was established some years ago, before the Shadow War reached its height. If you will allow me to display some images from our sensor logs?" Sheridan nodded, and then turned to face the worker caste technician who was waiting nearby - and a moment later, that Minbari inclined her head, to indicate that an uplink had been established between the headquarters computer network and the 'Shard', orbiting high above. "We encountered the species in question at time index 0937 - 06". She paused, then, as the HQ computer obligingly pulled up an image from that moment in the air behind her. "They were..." Off to the President's right, a sudden laugh filled the silent chamber, and Julia smiled as her High Councillor, William Westcastle, began to speak. "Well, I'll be damned! -- so they did manage to find a place where they could live in peace." "The Cha'hal'zhamon were nearly as ancient as the other First Ones." Delenn reminded her second-in-command. "I find myself unsurprised that Lorien encouraged them to travel beyond the Rim with the rest." "While they told me as much, on at least one occasion I can recall." Westcastle confirmed. "But if I may be blunt - it wasn't them that helped you to find the Craneori's creators, was it?" "No, sir." Julia confirmed, "It wasn't. The next species we encountered was one we feared would not be nearly so friendly - luckily for us, however, the elder in charge of the expedition sent to meet us proved to be more moderate than any of us could have dreamed." And then it was that she called up another image - and watched the faces of the President and the rest stiffen in surprise as the familiar, deadly arachnoid forms of Shadow warships appeared in the holographic display - followed by another, of her and the Shadow elder who had called himself Zhe'chal, on the bridge of the 'Shard of Night'. "Lorien, to our great amazement, declared the Shadows responsible for the whole situation. A very long time ago, during a war that happened before any of our species entered space, the Craneori were imprisoned by the Shadows for the crime of existence. And because this was so, Zhe'chal, the Shadow elder who came to confront us, eventually agreed to help us find the species who'd created the Craneori. And shortly thereafter..." "That species helped you to return to where you were most needed." Westcastle said. "Yes, sir..." she replied. "They did." A small smile appeared on Delenn's face, then, while the President appeared to be having difficulty coping with the concept that the Shadows appeared to have actually done something... almost *good* for once. "So - perhaps they are learning what it means to leave their past behind - to move on, to become more than they were." "Learning, Delenn?" Sheridan replied. "That would appear to be the understatement of the year!" "This," Julia countered, "May not exactly be the best way of looking at the situation, sir. We were, in many respects, lucky this time around - especially since, in his closing remarks to us, Zhe'chal implied that they might not be so kind to the next group that came knocking at the door. These were special circumstances, for the simple reason that it wasn't our fault we were sent beyond the Rim..." "The Shadows," Westcastle clarified for everyone present, "Found that they had to make another bargain to pay for the crime they committed, long ago. And one part of that bargain..." "Was to help us, so we could get out of their place of rest as fast as possible -- and ensure that no other members of the Younger Races disturbed them for the forseeable future." Sheridan sighed. "Ah, well... only to be expected, I suppose. The important thing, of course, is that you managed to get out of there without getting any of your people killed..." "And back to where you are most needed." Delenn concluded, as she turned to face her husband. "I believe that she has told us what we needed to hear." Both Sheridan and Westcastle nodded at this, and so it was that Julia's Entil'zha turned back to face her, to say the words she'd been waiting for. "Nalae`n vash val'na merian'nal." Or, as humans would say it - 'we give you your leave, Captain - rest now, until you are needed again'. "mer'aian vash nai." Julia gratefully replied, as she turned to leave. "I shall." * * * Melanas Practice Ground -- the Ranger Compound. 16:55 hrs, EST. The rumble of thunder high above the mountains of the Valley of Sorrows was the only sound to disturb her meditation -- but that was enough to shatter the silence of the practice ground, otherwise silent on this day of storms and change. Most of the current crop of trainees were, she understood, away on a training expedition into the mountains, and would not return until tomorrow at the earliest. And so she had come here to rest, to clear her mind -- to think back on what had been, and what might yet be. Sheynell let out a ragged breath, and opened her eyes, her hand briefly moving to rest upon the badge of silver and jade on her right breast. This was what she was... but even now, she could not ignore Alfred Bester's whispers, come down to her through all the years of pride and loss... and pain. Where was he now, she wondered -- did he even still live? A question best not examined too closely, that one -- for that way lay obsession -- and she could not... *would* not, let herself go down that road. Again. A road that the Vorlon touched telepath Brianna Tolmanes had thrown her forcibly off of, almost two years ago. For now, however, there were other matters to consider. Sheynell rose to her feet as she sensed the approach of two warm yet strict mental glows that signified the arrival of the two instructors she was waiting for. "Anla'shok Keynes!" a deep, authoritarian voice boomed, "It is time." "Show yourself." a gentler voice implored, a voice she recognized only too well from her dinner engagements at *that* instructor's household during her time as a trainee. "So that we may begin this dance." She rose to her feet then, and moved onto the practice ground to face the two figures in black that waited there. The first, of course, was F'hursna Sech Durhan -- formerly a Minbari warrior of the highest caliber, Durhan had been among the first instructors to come to this place back during the time when Entil'zha Sinclair had taken on the task of drawing together the Rangers to fight the Shadows... and the second? The second, her face solemn but with just the hint of a smile thrown in for good measure, was Jennifer Westcastle, the wife of the High Councillor. Sech Westcastle, of course, had served honorably at her husband's side on the White Star flagship for the duration of the Shadow War and after... was an Observer in her own right... and finally, an instructor of the highest caliber, trained by Durhan himself in the use of her pike. And now... And now, as they had indicated, it was time to show her worth. "I am here." she replied. "I seek what may be earned -- I ask for the opportunity to demonstrate what I have learned." "Ah, but it will not be quite so simple as that!" Durhan warned, as he raised a finger in warning. "The first thing we must consider, young telepath, is the matter of *anticipation*." "I..." Sheynell paused, confused by the observation. "I'm sorry, Sech Durhan, I don't understand." "Then let me elaborate." Sech Westcastle continued. "The greatest problem we've had with your application to earn the denn'bok is the very nature of your gifts. You are, as all are aware, a P12 telepath of the highest caliber. Because of your strength, it is all too possible for you to *anticipate* our moves even as we are making them -- and thus, the opportunity to advance, and more importantly, to *learn*, is lost." Sheynell's mouth opened, and then shut, without her saying a word, so surprised was she by this observation. And yet... and yet, they were right, of course -- she had taken her abilities for granted for *so* long that she hadn't even considered this would be a concern. And since this was the case -- she lowered her head in resignation, while raising her blocks as high as they would go, so she wouldn't be able to sense anything of what they were thinking. "I... understand, Sech. I must assume, therefore, that my application to earn the pike has been rejected?" The two instructors looked at one another for a moment, and then Durhan... laughed. "In Valen's Name... *no*! I did not imply anything of the sort." "Then what, but..." Durhan nodded in the direction of one of the exits, and a moment later, another Minbari entered the arena. "Do you recognize this Ranger, Anla'shok?" Sheynell unleashed a brilliant smile as she finally understood what was going on... even as the Minbari in question bowed in her direction, and a moment later, they exchanged glyphs of greeting. "Vahzil, you are well?" "Well enough, yes." the other telepath replied. Vahzil, of course, had been the Ranger to help her when she had been convalescent in the nearby medical facility recovering from the results of the vicious attack that had come soon after her abrupt departure from the Psi Corps. "Sech Durhan has asked me to aid him in this matter -- 'to even the scales somewhat' I believe he termed it." "The rules are simple." Durhan explained, "Vahzil will be responsible for setting up what amounts to a telepathic *noise* screen during our practice session. In this fashion may we ensure that even if you do let your blocks drop by accident, or are tempted, our fellow Ranger is to ensure that scans will be near to impossible." "And if I try too hard," Sheynell finished for him, "He will tell you, and the contest will be over in any case." Durhan nodded in approval. "You have it, Anla'shok Keynes. And now..." She saw the shimmer of light coming through the air towards her only at the last instant -- and then she whirled to catch the tiny cylinder of metal that Sech Westcastle had thrown in her direction... and now? -- Sheynell nodded -- she knew the rules. After a moment's hesitation, she entered the practice circle, and as one the two combatants, student and master, bowed to one another... And then a moment later her opponent had opened her pike and was rushing towards her. Keeping her blocks firm, Sheynell opened her own weapon and moved to guard. * * * Elsewhere in the Ranger Compound, two other figures danced the same dance, but at the same time, a different one... for these two, once divided, would soon be serving together... after a fashion. They had fought each other to a standstill on more occasions than they cared to remember -- and this day was no different. Except... "You progress well." Larieken admitted, as he and his sparring partner closed their pikes. "It appears that the Sech'sha have taken something already well honed, and made it sharper." Belaii, formerly of the Wind Swords and now a senior trainee in the Anla'shok, let out a laugh as she and her love left the circle together. "If you refer to my skills in battle, I thank you for the compliment -- but yes, you are right, Larieken. The Rimstalker's chosen, in particular, has seemed eager to push me farther than I have ever gone before in such skills -- an astonishing way of thinking, this is, for a human." "And honorable, as well. For now, however -- it is my understanding that they have granted you an evening's leave so that we may sit down to meal together -- and also... discuss matters." Belaii extended a hand, and without a moment's hesitation, he closed his upon hers. "Your suggestion is not without merit -- but may I suggest we make our way down into Tuzanor proper? I find that I wish to walk with you, to discuss what you have seen..." "Ah, yes... that." Larieken cleared his throat. "Let me be honest with you, Belaii -- while I have made my vows before the Entil'zha, vows I cannot unswear... there are some days when I am *certain* she is going to get us all killed." Belaii laughed -- which 'she' Larieken was referring to was not even in question. "Come then -- and tell me *more*..." * * * The upper ledges. 18:45 hrs, EST. The training session, as she'd expected it would be, had been a trying experience -- but much progress had been made. Sheynell let out a deep sigh as she sat on the ledge, and looked out over the green valley slopes, and the mountains beyond. Sech Durhan -- had been pleased by her efforts, and while at no time had she defeated Sech Westcastle in the contests, Durhan had eventually informed her that while more training sessions would be necessary before she and the rest of the *Shard*'s crew returned to their duties, he suspected that yes, she would be allowed to carry a pike before her leave from duty was over... a whisper intruded on her senses, Her eyes snapped open, and with a cry of astonishment, she sprang to her feet and whirled to face the menacing dagger of telepathic force that had suddenly materialized behind her -- and then she froze when she saw the figure standing there. It had been him, then, just as she'd feared. He was dressed in a grey and ash suit, well tailored -- and unbidden, the whispers of memory came back to haunt her... She remembered the uniform he had worn, the last time she'd seen him -- the same uniform that she'd worn, once upon a time. She remembered the hunts that Bester had ordered to conduct, and how he, as a member of the Humanist faction, had tried to intervene... Shock quickly gave way to white-hot anger in her mind, then. How *dare* he confront her like this? She didn't need this, this was intolerable... she wasn't answerable to THEM, the ISA had granted her asylum before she'd become a Ranger... "I'm sorry, Sheynell." Edward Cattrall informed her, his tone resigned but firm. "But that's just not going to cut it... not this time. It's taken us a long time to catch up to you... but now we have, it's time for you to answer a few questions for us, I'm afraid. Now you can either have this the easy way, or the hard way -- which will it be?" "You want to know the way it's going to be, do you?" she angrily retorted. "Then understand this, Edward -- I am a *Ranger*, and a servant of the Interstellar Alliance... while I am involved in a mission more critical to the survival of the human race then you can possibly comprehend." "Oh, I'm sure that's important to you." Cattrall replied with a shrug. "But there's something you've forgotten -- I'm not the only one who's been looking for you. They want you to talk, Sheynell -- and I'm afraid that they're not going to take no for an answer." And with that, the other P12 moved towards her, his pace quickening towards a run. She only had a moment to react -- and her first instinct, as it had been before, was to turn and... Her mouth dropped open, even as her brain tried to make sense of the figure that had *folded* out of the air behind her. Oh Valen, no!... she was out of practice, to fall for this trick, to... Pain. Hands closed around her waist from behind, and even as she opened her mouth to scream, there was a prick on her arm, and the world began to narrow into a tunnel as the synapse blocker drugs began to sever her connection to reality. A tunnel centered on a face she knew only too well -- the face of the woman who'd once been her closest friend... "Viyana." she whispered, as she sagged down onto the ledge, Cattrall supporting her from behind. "You won't..." "Get away with this?" her former roommate suggested, her narrow eyebrows upturned in mock surprise. "So sorry to disappoint you, Sheynell -- but I already *have*." And then she had no more time to argue, as the drugs finished their work, and the darkness consumed her. * * * "That," Viyana Metois observed with a smile, as Cattrall slung the much lighter Ranger telepath over his shoulders, "Was just *too* easy." "Don't get overconfident just yet." Cattrall warned, as they made their off the ledge and out of the compound proper. "We still have to find a way to get her off the planet and back to Mars." "We will. But first... we need to deactivate her marker crystal so they can't find us... " "And then?" Metois's smile began to curdle. "Our inquisition... Begins." * * * To be continued... http://www.connect.ab.ca/~dgolding/star_circle.html From: David Goldingay Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode 14, Act II Date: Sun, 04 Jun 2000 22:07:47 -0600 "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE" EPISODE FOURTEEN: "CRIMES OF ASSOCIATION" * * * (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture) * * * <> Tuzanor, Minbar -- the point of Gajn'darahl -- just after local sunset, August 9th, 2267. Julia moved slowly up the steps, knowing in her heart what it was she was looking for -- what it was that had drawn her here, this time. She slowly stepped onto the last arc in the stairwell, just below where it opened up onto the level, ancient surface built in this place long before the coming of Valen -- and the spot where darkness had first bloomed within her soul, almost seven years ago. She remembered the words that Walther Gideon had spoken that day, of course -- as she remembered everything else that had lead up to that terrible moment -- as well as the loss and triumph that had followed. {Of course...the last player arrives on the scene. Julia; welcome to our little gathering -- as you can see and as I warned you, not so long ago, if you play with the Greater Lights, you're going to get burned...} She paused, finally going down on one knee -- and after a moment, her cloak held tightly around her against the growing evening chill, her hand came down upon the spot where everything had changed, while the other came up to rest on the scar at her side. Her eyes narrowed -- yes, it was still there -- a part of the stone that was slightly darker than the rest. The Religious Caste acolytes who'd found her here, afterwards, had very carefully cleaned away as much blood as they could... but no one, not even they, were perfect. Her hand trembled for a moment -- she'd *failed* Jennifer that day, when Gideon's dark partner had struck her down from behind... and ever since then, she'd forced herself to go farther, to do things that were considered impossible for... people her age -- to atone for that mistake... and for others. Why, in Valen's Name, had the... Chosen her to be his Seeker, if this was true? The youngest Ranger ever to captain an Interstellar Alliance warship, they'd named her... and that was a truth -- a terrible truth, all things considered. And the worst thing of all was this -- if she continued to press herself and her crew as hard as she already had, eventually the day would probably come when she would stumble... And fall. Again. "Julia? Are you there?" She winced -- and again remembered one of the things her mother had told her, many years before -- one of the liabilities of command was that even on leave, there would always be someone looking for the captain to solve their problems. "Right here." she wearily replied, as Klairika emerged out of the darkness behind her. The Brakiri took stock of the scene in front of her, and finally nodded. She understood what was going on, of course, and since that was the case... "Do you still find it so hard to escape from what was?" Julia nodded regretfully. "Every time I come back to Minbar, I try to come here -- to remember what I did wrong, and why it can't ever happen again." "If only it could be that simple. In any case, I'm afraid I have some grave news for you -- there appears to be a problem with our tactical officer. I tried to contact her a short time ago, and received no reply -- shortly thereafter, I called up to the *Shard of Night* and spoke with Anla'shok Fenric..." Julia's eyes narrowed in concern. "Since you couldn't contact her, you had him try to find Sheynell by tracking her crystal..." "He failed in that attempt." "What?" she burst out, rising to her feet... her prior concerns now forgotten in the here-and-now. "Is that even possible?" "Only if someone or something has attacked her in some way." Klairika observed. "Perhaps we should call everyone together, before we start our search." Julia sighed -- and it had looked like it was going to be such a *nice* holiday, too. * * * A chill wind whipped across the glaciers of Chayankeer, a breeze that found its way into every nook and exposed rock surface -- but not into the small abode hidden on a spire of rock high above one of those frozen, gently creaking rivers of ice. The abode was a secret place, a redoubt used for many purposes... and now it was time to revisit one such, as a faint whispery sound began to fill the air, and a small, stealthy flyer emerged out of the night to gently alight upon the refuge's landing pad. A moment passed, and then the flyer sank out of sight on that pad, and vanished. * * * "You play a dangerous game, telepath. Perhaps more dangerous than any of us realize." Viyana turned her gaze away from the prize slung over her partner's shoulder, and laughed, as the 'owner' of the refuge stepped forward to meet them, his breath steaming in the chilly air -- and then her amusement quickly faded into calculation. "I play the only game that matters, the game of *truth*. We've been looking for her for a very long time, as well you know..." "And now that you have her, what will you do?" the Minbari asked. "And more specifically..." "What can we do for you?" Viyana finished for him, his thoughts more-or-less transparent to her honed telepathic senses. "Her kind have humiliated you, of course... and now you seek revenge." "Perhaps this is true, and yet perhaps the matter is more... complex then you imply. In any case... as you would say, our hand is not yet played out -- while *you*, little telepath, now need somewhere to hide, until this one's changeling captain grows tired of the search. Then may you move safely... but not before." Viyana clamped down on her anger -- little? How dare he imply... no -- she wasn't about to let herself descend to *his* level. "Which is why we've come here, of course -- why we accepted your offer of help. We made sure the others couldn't track us here, and while we're waiting... I think it's time we asked a few questions." The Minbari's mouth quirked into a mirthless smile. "In that case, we will leave you to your... inquisition." * * * The glass was cold - with a sudden cry, Sheynell drew her hands away from the portal, and the impossible sight outside - the barren red sands outside Main Dome, the sky pale violet and ocher before the coming dawn -- while seemingly tiny bullet cars ran back and forth through the tubes outside. Too many times she'd stood here looking out, watching them move to and fro, before the... Before everything had changed. Before her family had abandoned her into the hands of the Psi Corps - the only force capable of restraining her wild, uncontrollable, newborn P12 abilities. She remembered crying, of trying to hang onto her mother's arm, not understanding the fear that was filling her mind... her family's fear. And then the black-uniformed woman had taken her away from them, all the time assuring her that she had a new family now, and that there was no reason to be afraid. Elspeth had looked after her for a very long time... until she'd been called away on a mission she hadn't returned from. Shortly afterwards Paul Frost had taken her under his wing... and then, of course, after he'd turned away from the Corps and she'd clawed her way to the top of the Major Academy's pyramid of power... had come Alfred Bester. Her former idol -- and final mentor, before she'd turned away from the Corps herself. But enough of that for the time being -- she was distracting herself from the key concern -- how much time had passed since the two Bureau agents had confronted and captured her? She remembered Viyana's mockingly triumphant face above her, of how she and her partner Edward Cattrall had closed their trap. Time had passed -- but *certainly* not enough for them to take her out of Minbari space and back here, back to Main Dome, where she'd been born. And was there *ever* a time when this part of the Dome was empty? The mindscape around her suddenly shimmered and vanished at that point, to be replaced by darkness - and a familiar 'voice'. the poisonous whisper of her former friend came back. The mocking sound of Viyana's laughter descended to smother her in the darkness. Then it was that a now well and truly furious Sheynell struck against the dark barrier surrounding her - and found, to her astonishment, that it was all but impervious to her attack. Which meant... Cattrall's amused drawl came down to her. Viyana insisted. The mindscape shimmered again, this time painfully -- before anchoring itself onto a new and decidedly different vector, as what was became what had been. And even as Sheynell began to scream, she knew that she was falling into... * * * "Good day, sir -- you're well this morning, I trust?" Bester laughed, the sound pleasant in the stillness of his office even as he turned away from the window to face her. "As well as can be expected, given the present state of affairs. This may be the worst one yet, Sheynell -- worse even then the... situation that developed on Babylon 5 towards the end of last year." "Is that even possible?" she asked, as Bester poured her a cup of coffee and passed it over. "After all, if we hadn't moved against Frost when we had... it would have been very bad. What he intended to do to us..." "Never came to pass." Bester clarified, his eyes suddenly gone hard as agates. "But let me return to our present concern -- in recent days, we've been gathering evidence that suggests two of our most powerful field agents, Andrus and Powell, have been aiding the various rogue camps in their strikes against our facilities here on Mars. Within the last six hours, our Bloodhound units captured one of their associates, and were able to... retrieve evidence that confirms this hypothesis. As such..." "As such," she replied, now all business, "You would like me to take my team and deal with this problem." Her 'team', of course, was the hand-picked group of young P12's that Bester had chosen to follow her in the weeks since she'd passed the last of his tests and had been commissioned as a full fledged officer of Psi Corps -- some had already nicknamed her team 'the Hand of Bester'. Already they'd taken down three powerful rogues -- how would this hunt be any different? Bester nodded. "That is your assignment, Miss Keynes -- this threat to the stability of the Corps must be elliminated at once, for the good of us all." "I won't fail you, sir." "No... of course you won't. Now go -- it's time for us to deal with this matter, the only way we can." "And when I return?" "There will, of course, be another assignment waiting for you and the other members of your team..." * * * A cry of astonishment and triumph escaped from Viyana's lips, and after a moment she lifted her hand away from Sheynell Keynes' face, and laughed. "So -- she and the others were the ones who killed Andrus and Powell -- I thought they were the ones who'd done it, but I never knew for *sure*!" Cattrall nodded his understanding. "Until now. And since every other member of Bester's 'Hand' is dead except for her..." "We have our first conclusive piece of evidence demonstrating her guilt." Viyana observed. A lot had changed since the pre-Telepath War days, of course -- and one of the chief changes had been that telepathic evidence presented by the Bureau's P12 operatives could be presented in court -- but *only* if the individual in question was proven, beyond a doubt, to be a war criminal. Sheynell Keynes, of course, *was* one in her honest opinion -- an opinion that Cattrall appeared to share. Her expression sobered then, however -- it would in all likelihood be extremely difficult to convince the Director of this truth, however. What they would have to do was convince a majority of the Vice-Directorial council that the case should be pursued -- that it was necessary for them to prosecute Keynes to the full extent of the law. And that she *might* even be the lead they could use to find Bester. For now, however -- for now, it was far too late, and that meant... "I think it's time for us to administer another dose of blockers, Edward. We need to rest before continuing with this." "Sounds good to me." Cattrall agreed. "After all, we still have to wait a few days before we can even *begin* to move." Viyana nodded regretfully -- she was as impatient as he to get the Hell out of here and back to Mars -- but their Warrior Caste Minbari ally had been right. If they moved too soon and too openly, Tikopai and her loyal followers would probably pounce. No... she would be careful -- she *had* to be careful, for victory to be assured. * * * The Ranger Compound -- Early Morning. August 10th, 2267. "Let's face it, people..." Julia wearily began, as she, Klairika, Veyshahk and Dasouri grimly considered the situation at hand -- and the complete lack of progress that had been made during the course of the long, sleepless night just concluded. "Whoever's kidnapped Sheynell's done a damn good job of covering their tracks -- we need a clue, and we need one soon, if we're to have a hope in Hell of finding her, and them." "Kidnapping, as you name this action," the Drazi noted, "Always happens for a reason -- is it not normal for those who kid-nap to issue demands or ransom, in order that the individual kid-napped may be returned?" "You assume," the doctor pointed out, "That they have any intention of returning her, Dasouri. This has yet to be proven to our satisfaction." "And who is 'they'?" Klairika asked, as Julia rubbed her eyes and drank deeply of the tea which, along with a light breakfast, Will and Jen had arranged to have brought to them a short time before. "This force that has taken her has struck to the very heart of Interstellar Alliance power -- that they have done this implies resourceful intent -- and also a great deal of guile." "Another question we must also ask," Dasouri added, "Is whether our officer has been taken off of Minbar." "I'm fairly sure we can, for now, elliminate *that* possibility." another, familiar voice announced, and all the Rangers rose to their feet as their High Councillor swept into the chamber, Larieken at his side. "As all of you may or may not know, shortly after we learned that Anla'shok Keynes had vanished from this place, your Val'na asked me if we might... begin to discreetly scan all ships leaving Minbar. We received approval for this very quickly, as a matter of fact -- while no... lifesign matching your tactical officer's has been detected since that search has begun." "Which means that she, and probably her kidnappers, are still on Minbar." Veyshahk replied, his brow furrowed in thought. "Which brings us back to the nature of those individuals." "As it turns out," Westcastle replied, "Your tactical officer has a few ideas as to their nature -- and has come up with an interesting theory that I happen to like -- one that almost seems to make sense. Larieken?" "I have made some inquiries," Larieken continued, "And have learned some interesting truths. What none of us realized upon our arrival was that a conference of telepaths from the various Alliance worlds was taking place on Minbar upon our arrival. Included in this conference were telepathic representatives from the faction of the Earth Alliance Bureau of Telepathic Integrration uninfected by the Drakh Plague. The youngest member of that embassy was a P12 human telepath named Viyana Metois." Julia's eyes widened as she turned to face Klairika -- and after a moment, her first officer nodded in understanding. In recent weeks, Sheynell had begun to slowly open up and tell her friends about some of her experiences in the Psi Corps before the Telepath War -- and among those remembrances had been a story of something that she and her former best friend had seen on Mars, years before -- that friend, Sheynell had mentioned matter-of-factly (almost *too* matter-of-factly, Julia now thought) had been named Viyana. And if that former friend and this visitor to Minbar were one and the same... "Sir -- do we know of the present whereabouts of this Metois woman and her partner?" "We do not." Westcastle replied, "And it doesn't look like they've left the planet, either. Which does seem to imply that they might be the ones responsible for this kidnapping, doesn't it?" Julia bared her teeth in a predatory grin. "Yes, sir." she replied, "It does *indeed*." But then her grin faded. "Which still doesn't help us with the probleme of where they've *gone*, though." "In that, Val'na, you may be wrong." Julia raised a eyebrow as another Minbari swept into the room to stand at Larieken's side -- belatedly, she realized that this was probably Belaii, his chosen -- as well as nearly a Ranger herself. "While Larieken and the High Councillor came to meet you, he instructed me to make a number of other inquiries -- the most critical, of course, was to see if what you would call our 'Air Traffic Control' facility detected any... unusual activity over Tuzanor last night." "And?" Belaii smiled. "At first, the superior at that facility insisted that no such activity had been detected... at which point, I asked to see the records of the time period in question. An anomaly was detected -- an abberation the controllers had considered only a 'ghost' -- for even with our advanced technology, abberations such as this are known to show up, from time to time." "Show us." Julia commanded. Belaii inclined her head -- and a moment later, the room darkened and a holographic display sprang into being showing the airborne traffic over Tuzanor during the time frame in which Sheynell had vanished -- and after a moment, Belaii enlarged and enhanced a faint and blurry, nearly invisible signal that seemed to approach the Ranger compound, and then retreat out of the Valley of Sorrows some time later, eventually vanishing from the field of view. "And if that was a real target -- where was it going?" "The Plateau of Chayankeer." Larieken replied, his face solemn. "One of our highest mountain wildernesses -- and the home of one of our smaller warrior clans." "Oh *damn*." Julia whispered. Which was, of course, the former clan of Lanniel, the new White Star Fleet commander. "The Storm Dancers." * * * Beacon 1711-Beta -- near the boundary of human/Minbari space. The transfer gate orbited all alone between a massive Jovian-class world and its largest satelite, and was one of the loneliest in the series of gates that stretched between Earth and Minbar. And then, all of a sudden it wasn't, as the gate suddenly came online, and spat out a small transport, its crew taking a short break before continuing the trek onwards towards the Interstellar Alliance capital. Traffic between the Earth Alliance and Minbar had dropped off significantly since the Drakh had poisoned the peoples and creatures of Earth with their plague. The corporations in charge of the larger passenger liners were finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet in this age of uncertainty -- while it was known for even the smaller flights to be more empty than full. This was one such, and as a result, the transport's passengers had significantly more room to themselves then was common... which was, as it turned out, entirely acceptable to one of the passengers. The woman still wore the grey cloak she'd worn when meeting with the Director of the Bureau of Telepathic Integration, over a day and a half before -- with the hood drawn up to conceal her features. Some of the other passengers found this curious... but some reason, none of them were eager to inquire as to the reason, nor the crew for that matter. It seemed... evident that the woman wanted her privacy, and who were they to disturb her? That this was not normal didn't occur to any of them -- if another telepath had been aboard, certain questions would have been asked -- but the woman had already ensured that no other telepath would be on this particular flight, and that no questions would be asked. While in several more days, the flight would finally reach Minbar... and then? The woman drew in a deep breath, and let it out slowly, trying to fight off the fear she was feeling -- not fear at what lay ahead, but fear of what the Bureau's agents might have already done to Sheynell Keynes. Her Ranger comrades would undoubtedly have already started a search, while Julia... While Julia's damnable luck would probably work in her favour, like always, which meant she and her crew would probably find Metois and her partner, *and* their hideout before too much time had passed. Valen willing, this would not be *before* her arrival, for if the Rangers were to confront two desperate P12 telepaths willing to do anything to further their cause... No! -- the remembered song supporting her, the woman decided that she would simply have to arrive on-site before that confrontation took place. There was no other option. Could *be* no other option, if further bloodshed and injury were to be avoided. * * * To be continued... http://www.connect.ab.ca/~dgolding/star_circle.html From: David Goldingay Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode 14, Act III Date: Wed, 07 Jun 2000 23:58:04 -0600 "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE" EPISODE FOURTEEN: "CRIMES OF ASSOCIATION" * * * (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture) * * * <> Refuge Bazalshieon, Chayankeer Province, Minbar -- Late afternoon, local time. August 10th, 2267. With a faint whisper, the Minbari atmospheric flyer settled gently onto the surface of the landing pad, the emblem of the Anla'shok prominent on its side -- while the Rangers riding within the flyer could only look upon their exterior surroundings with astonishment. Julia grinned as she stepped out of the flyer into the late afternoon sunshine of this place, nearly a third of the way around Minbar from Tuzanor and much closer to the pole... her concerns over her missing tactical officer briefly forgotten. Bazalshieon, with its four massive towers and mighty stone battlements, was, as near as she could tell, the Minbari equivalent of an ancient human castle... and commanded a high point above the river Varht, from which one could see for a great distance in every direction... but for into the massive snowcapped range of mountains to the north... beyond which lay Chayankeer proper, an icy wasteland of glaciers and rock perched on the edge of the north polar icesheet. As the other Rangers had explained to her on the way over from Tuzanor, Bazalshieon was almost unique among the ancient Minbari holdings in having four primary towers instead of three. This, of course, was to do with their Way of the Windflower... She jumped then, however, as Belaii tapped her gently on the shoulder, and set her musings aside for the time being. "Val'na, I believe that there are certain things you should be reminded of before we enter this place. While the elder who comes to meet us is sympathetic to our cause, certain other members of his clan are *not*. For instance I would speak to you of D'Hal Takier, their Warmaster, as well as..." "Alyt Rahkeel, one of their greatest warleaders." Julia finished for her. Belaii nodded, her expression solemn. "Just so. Luckily for us, our sources indicate that Alyt Rahkeel, together with Sha'vei Lanniel's sister Tirivail, disappeared from this place some time ago, presumably sent on a mission either by Takier or..." "Or, as Takier has claimed on more than one occasion, by Shai Alyt Kozorr himself." another, mildly accented voice intruded, and all the Rangers turned as one to see a stately Minbari of advanced years appeared over the edge of the landing pad, a much younger member of that race at his side. "And on that point, I will agree with him... which does not, as you no doubt surmise, happen all that often. Now -- you are Lak'otal Belaii -- formerly of the Wind Swords, if I am not mistaken?" Belaii bowed, a small smile now on her face. "Yes, D'Hal." "While *this*, of course, would be the human named Julia Tikopai... the young Anla'shok who upset Rahkeel so badly after the Drakh attacked the human homeworld -- as well as 'Vi'dalae An'shaka's commander since the beginning of the hunt for the cure conducted by Gideon and his crew onboard the starship *Excalibur*." The Minbari elder began to smile, while Julia stood before him, tapping her foot nervously. "Now, now... no need to look so worried -- I won't, as your kind would say, *bite*. My name, if the others have not already told you, is Miyonn, and I am eldest among the Storm Dancers. I will also introduce to you at this time my assistant Selvahn, who is the youngest brother of your esteemed fleet commander -- as well as a prospective future member of your order. Welcome to Bazalshieon, Anla'shok -- one and all." "It is a... truly imposing place, D'Hal." Klairika allowed, as the party made their way off of the landing platform and towards the nearest entrance. "If you do not mind me asking, how..." "Old is it?" Miyonn inquired, his eyes wide. "Ah... it is interesting to hear a question like that, coming from a member of your race -- so often, the Brakiri are only interested in material wealth, and nothing more..." "I am a Ranger." Klairika replied. "The first of my kind to take the vows." "Which," the elder agreed, "Tells me everything I need to know. But now, let us discuss the answer to your question -- Bazalshieon has stood above the Varht since long before the coming of Valen -- perhaps one thousand seven hundred of your commander's years, if our histories of the time-before-darkness are accurate. While your timing in coming to this place is impecable, I might add -- your chiefest enemy among the Storm Dancers, my Warmaster, Takier, is absent at this time conducting an inspection of our deployed forces out on the Rim -- along with Rahkeel and his daughter Tirivail, who are also away on their own, mysterious mission... as Belaii has already informed you." Miyonn cleared his throat then, however. "But enough of that for the time being -- I speak of things which, while important, pale temporarily before your present concern. Shortly before your arrival in this place, your High Councillor and I shared words -- and he described the situation to me in full. Let me summarize, if I may -- it is your belief that a pair of field agents from the human Bureau of Telepathic Integration captured your tactical officer and brought her to a hiding place somewhere on the plateau behind us, there to interrogate her until and *if* they can safely find a way to depart from Minbar." "That would appear to be the case, D'Hal." Julia gratefully acknowledged. "Ah. In that case, it would seem as if a certain *deployment* will be necessary to take care of this... small problem." Miyonn crisply issued a command, and after a short discussion, Selvahn bowed in his Master's direction and moved off at speed. "There are among our ranks warriors who will aid you in your search, Val'na -- those who are able to ignore the foolishness begun by my Warmaster and Rahkeel. With their aid, we will conduct a search of the various refuges known to exist on the plateau." "And if we do not find her in these outposts of yours?" Julia asked, her tone cool. Miyonn's eyes hardened. "Then we will widen the search. I assure you, m'shaka zha vei'llani -- if the telepath named Sheynell Keynes is here in Chayankeer, my Storm Dancers *will* find her and her captors." "M'shaka...?" Julia began. Larieken's mouth quirked into a smile, and he bowed respectfully in the elder's direction. "That she is indeed, D'Hal." Which was, of course, when the translation hit home, and her eyes widened. "The walker in the darkness?" Miyonn shrugged, a twinkle in his eyes. "I thought to introduce a moment of surprise into the grimness of your search. You have many titles -- now to add to those another. And now, while my warriors prepare themselves for the search, pray step this way -- we have prepared refreshments for you and yours. While I am quite certain Selvahn will have many questions to ask you, as well..." * * * Elsewhere... August 11th, 2267. All alone in her prison of thought, Sheynell huddled in the darkness, even as she sensed the approach of her captors -- sensed them looming over her body, preparing to strike. Another interrogation session was about to begin, it seemed -- and while she *hurt* from what they'd done to her already in the (two?) days they'd had her, she was damned if she was going to give up just yet. Viyana and Edward were good at what they did -- they'd both received similar training to that which she'd received before the Corps had broken up, of course -- but everyone had weaknesses, even if they *themselves* didn't believe so. All she had to do was... And then the pain struck at her, as Viyana smoothly passed through Sheynell's shattered defences to enter her mind. she fiercely replied. Viyana laughed. Sheynell reminded her captor. Cattrall observed from the background. Sheynell cried out involuntarily, then, as Viyana's worming probes cut into her mind like black little daggers, and her viewpoint shimmered, returning her to... * * * "Ah, yes..." Bester mused, as flashes of plasma passed above the barrier his Bloodhounds had set up, only moments before, "Now what did Sheridan call this... but of course -- 'walking into the heart of the fire'. An apt enough analogy, from a remarkably interesting mundane... when he isn't irritating the Hell out of you, that is. You've never met him, have you, Sheynell?" "No, sir." she ground out, as off to one side, their people struck out as one, pinned down a weaker enemy, and picked her off cleanly with a set of PPG bursts. "I haven't... but isn't all this besides the point? What happened here?" Bester sighed melodramatically. "The Frostian and Byronite factions joined forces and tried to capture the President and her cabinet, at which point *Ferris* and his Humanists tried to mediate their way out of the crisis." Sheynell winced, as the barrier shuddered, and PPG rounds continued to fill the air above them. "Let me guess -- it didn't work." Bester shrugged. "They're rogues, Sheynell -- do you really think any of them are capable of thinking sense by this point? Actually, I must admit Ferris succeeded in buying the President and her immediate cabinet time enough to escape from Earthdome. The Senate, however... now that's another story entirely. The opposition has managed to pin down the majority of the Senate in their chambers -- and while that esteemed body has Security to defend them, and we're attacking the rogues from behind..." "We're too evenly matched to make any progress, because they've got enough people to hold both us and Security in check -- and to end this..." "To end this..." Bester grimly finished for her, "It looks as if we're going to have to kill every last one of them. They'll have it no other way." Sheynell shuddered, as she felt her armor, the armor that Bester and the rest had helped her to build... shudder. "Kill? But they're..." "Family?" Bester sighed, as the firefight continued. "I used to think that way as well -- but we've let this problem spin out of control, I'm afraid, past the point of no return. There is only one way our kind will survive this war now, Sheynell -- and that is for us to *excise* what they've become from the whole." she thought, keeping her blocks high enough that he wouldn't catch the thought -- and then she nodded, priming her own weapon. "I understand, sir." "In that case..." What Bester had been about to say never came out, however, because at that moment the wall on the far side of the battlefield suddenly... exploded, and through it poured a fresh contingent of troops, accompanied by... Accompanied by twelve figures in black, wearing a symbol which, in this age of chaos and bloodshed, was beginning to have less and less meaning. Figures who struck out against the rogues and subdued them, even as the Earthforce troops who'd taken them by surprise pressed their attack -- but those attackers weren't killing their opposition, only *disabling* them. And when it was all over, when the enemy contingent had been carted away, injured and otherwise... their leader of the group who'd ended the crisis came to stand in front of Bester and Sheynell, an expression of fury and regret on his face. "You and your kind are the ones who started this, Bester." Colin Ferris said, each word exacting and precise -- and full of pain. "And that's why I'll never be able to forgive you for what you tried to do here, this day..." She wouldn't figure it out until later, but something in Sheynell... * * * "Broke that day?" Viyana drew her hand back from Keynes' face as if it had been stung. "What the *Hell*?" "I saw it, just the same as you did." Cattrall confirmed, his face and voice tense. "As near as I can tell, somehow Bester was pushing her closer and closer to the edge the longer the war went on -- until..." "Until the day when Bester's enemies tried to capture President Luchenko and her cabinet... and failed. But her resolve didn't really wane..." "Until Ferris confronted her and Bester?" Cattrall shook his head disbelievingly. "It just doesn't make sense!" Viyana held up a hand, and the older telepath fell silent. "Wait -- at least twice before the start of the War, Keynes and Bester visited Babylon 5 -- didn't Ferris teach her a lesson there at least once... or maybe it was more? Anyways, there *is* a connection, I just didn't see it before." "And wouldn't you know it," Cattrall wearily concluded, "This situation just got a whole lot more complex then it was before. If the..." "No! No way in Hell will I give her up, not after spending so many years looking for her! She's guilty, Edward... always has been, always will be. And while we may have just proved she actually *does* have a conscience, as well as learning when it was that she started to figure out that following Bester wasn't such a hot idea -- we still have to press on." Viyana paused for a moment, then, her hands trembling just a little. "We... we have to find out if she knows where Bester went -- and..." "And I'd like to know who it was that finally convinced her to run, actually." Cattrall thoughtfully added. "Who it was that was strong enough to make Bester's imperious little protege become a Ranger, of all things." "Yes... but not today. We've been pushing ourselves hard since we captured her, Edward... we need to rest again, this close to the end of the line. So we don't screw things up." Cattrall nodded. "Sounds like a good idea to me." * * * The High Plateau of Chayankeer -- early morning, August 12th, 2267. "This is the last one, isn't it?" Julia asked Miyonn, as she stood with the Storm Dancer elder on the edge of a thousand foot cliff and bleakly considered the situation at hand. "We've been searching for Sheynell for the better part of two days, now... and while I appreciate the help you've given us in our time of need -- this *is* the last one." Miyonn paused for a moment, and then nodded, as he placed a calming hand on her shoulder. "It is as I feared from the beginning -- wherever it is these telepaths have gone with your Ranger, it is to a refuge that was not built by Storm Dancer hands." "The track of the stealthed flyer they brought here from Tuzanor came to these mountains, D'Hal..." Larieken reminded Miyonn. "And since we began this search, the Rangers have been watching carefully... and nothing has been detected departing Chayankeer apart from carefully observed transports belonging to your clan. She *is* still here... and so are they." "I must agree with your assessment, Larieken..." Miyonn replied, "But all the same, the hunt we must now undertake has become a far more difficult one. Do you and your captain have any idea how *large* Chayankeer is?" "Almost a thousand kilometers wide, and six hundred fifty across..." she sharply replied. "More or less." "To use your measure, over half a million square kilometers..." Miyonn stated, his expression grim. "A landscape of ice and razor-sharp mountains -- a region plagued by storms even in high summer. Without clues, we will have no way of knowing where to look -- while our enemies may simply wait until we weary of the task, and then escape." "No!" Julia burst out, "I won't let that happen!" "It is good to see that you retain your determination to continue..." the elder replied, "But all the same, now that we have looked in all the obvious places, and while we will continue this hunt for as long as you think it necessary, as I have promised... we will need *guidance* in order to know how to proceed, and where." Julia took a deep breath, set her anger aside... and nodded, her misery plain to all those present. "I know -- I didn't want to say it... but you're right." "Of course he is." Klairika said, as the Rangers came together as one to give support to their captain. "But who is there to help us..." "Who has not helped already?" Veyshahk concluded. Unbeknownst to anyone present, however, just *such* a guide had just arrived in Tuzanor, many miles to the southeast. * * * The Ranger Compound, Tuzanor. The grey-cloaked woman let out a long breath as she stepped into the courtyard -- the last time she'd been here had been before the War... before dreams had died, and others had been born. And while it had taken her a long time to pull together the nerve to do this, in the end, the Director had been right -- she'd spoken too openly, too soon... and now she was here -- and she knew what she had to do. And who she would have to see -- and which apologies would have to be made. To start with, that was... there would be others in time, but these would be the first, and also the most *important* ones. A clearing throat made her turn, then. "Excuse me -- can I help you?" At last. Brianna Tolmanes let the hood of her cloak fall to her shoulders, and she smiled as the human Ranger's face blanched with surprise as she began to speak, using the tone the Rimstalker had taught her to use, so long ago. "You can, as a matter of fact. Take me to High Councillor Westcastle, Anla'shok -- immediately. There is very little time left... And all of it is precious." * * * To be continued... soonish! http://www.connect.ab.ca/~dgolding/star_circle.html From: David Goldingay Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode 14, Act IV Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000 23:27:39 -0600 "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE" EPISODE FOURTEEN: "CRIMES OF ASSOCIATION" * * * (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture) * * * <> The Tower of the Council, Tuzanor, Minbar -- Midday, local time. August 12th, 2267. Her face set in a scowl, Jennifer Westcastle strode down the corridor towards her husband's office, even as more junior Rangers hastily moved out of the way of the human female who was one of their finest instructors. As all knew, it was not wise to anger the Rimstalker's wife even on the *best* of days -- and ever since Sheynell Keynes had gone missing... "The High Councillor summons you to his office at all speed, he said." she muttered, as the door leading to her destination came into view. "But does he tell me what this is all about? Hell, no! When I get a hold of Shival, I'm going to do several things to him, and none of them are going to be..." Which was when she passed through the portal, and saw who was standing there, and her mouth fell wide open in surprise. "Pleasant?" The last time she'd seen this woman had been before Bester and his Psi Corps had torn them apart -- and ever since that day, Jennifer had honestly believed she would never see her again. Would never get the chance to say... "Brianna..." Jennifer haltingly began, as the red-haired telepath moved towards her, her face streaked with tears, "Is it..." "Really me?" Brianna nodded, and without another word, the two women came together in a tight embrace, a sight that William observed from his position on the desk, smiling a wider smile than she'd seen on his face since the Drakh had unleashed their plague on Earth, months before. "Does that answer your question?" "Oh yes! Oh... damn!" And that, of course, was when she started to cry, as well -- and it was a few minutes then before either of them could talk again. "You came back to us -- you *finally* came back to us!" "I did." Brianna solemnly acknowledged. "But what you said..." "Was the wrong thing to say at the worst possible time." the other woman replied. "As I've been telling William in the last few minutes, a long time ago a man taught me that running away from my fears wasn't going to solve any of my problems -- except that what happened during the Telepath War..." "Took a lot out of you." Jennie thoughtfully observed. "And after Lyta Alexander died, you fell again for a while, until you could find a new foundation to stand on, and another cause to fight for. Then, and only then, were you ready to come home." "I wasn't sure that this place would ever be a home for me again," Brianna replied, her voice trembling, "But a short time ago, the man I mentioned before -- he and I spoke to one another again, and I decided... I decided that I was tired of being alone -- tired of being afraid... and oh so *very* tired of running. So I came -- and now I'm here, there's something I have to do before anything else. One of us in grave danger, and very soon more of us may die, unless I act." "You're talking about Sheynell Keynes, of course." "She is, indeed." William said, his expression now grave. "As all of us know, sooner rather than later Julia and her team are going to find the telepath hideout -- and there's every chance that they'll force Metois and Cattrall to do something... undesirable. Brianna's offered to go to Chayankeer and help sort out our little problem." "And afterwards?" Jennifer challenged. A small smile crept onto Brianna's face, and both Jennifer and William felt their spirits rise as their telepath friend carefully pinned her long-unworn Ranger badge onto the grey cloak she was wearing. "Afterwards, there will be all the time in the world to heal our wounds. All the time in the *world*." * * * Refuge Vi'weyr, Chayankeer -- mid-morning, local time. The sound of brisk footsteps was what caught her attention -- and then when she saw the expression on the face of the Storm Dancer that had come to meet them, Julia knew in an instant that a breakthrough of sorts had finally been made. The warrior, of course, went to Miyonn to start with to explain what the others had found -- and then the elder nodded his thanks and came to join her on Vi'weyr's outer balcony, his expression grave, yet pleased. "So..." she asked, setting down the cup of tea that one of the refuge inhabitants had brought to her a few minutes before, "The idea that Larieken had, to scan Chayankeer from orbit looking for stealthed heat signatures where there shouldn't be any..." "Was the correct suggestion to make, of course." Miyonn told her. "Your operations officer has aided our cause greatly -- this does not surprise you, does it?" "No..." she acknowledged with a smile, "He's done so *much* for me in the past five years -- I'm not sure if I'll ever find a way to repay him." "You will... eventually." Miyonn suggested. "As long as the mission that President Sheridan has assigned to you and the others continues, your dance with shadows will continue, as well -- a dance that will eventually place you in greater danger than you have faced to this point, unlikely though that may seem to you at this time. And there *will* come a day when the debt will be paid -- how this will happen, of course, I cannot say." Miyonn's expression hardened then, however. "But now, on to other matters -- it appears as if our orbital personnel have located the hidden refuge in our midst -- it is time for us to make our final advance upon the stronghold of those who have kidnapped your officer. The infiltration and assault will not be an easy one... and although we have several telepaths aiding us in this struggle..." "The telepaths we're facing are still stronger." Julia replied with a shiver. "Two determined P12's... but if we don't make the attempt..." "Your friend will never be freed." Miyonn agreed, as he gestured in the direction of Vi'weyr's landing pad. While after a momentary hesitation, Julia followed in his footsteps. * * * She knew already what question they would ask next -- what it was they wanted to know above anything and everything else. Where was the man she'd served, the war criminal Alfred Bester? Where was he hiding, what was he doing? Did she know where he was... Viyana suggested, her tone steeped in malice. she insisted. Viyana replied with a laugh. And even as she began to scream out a denial, the other telepath struck, and once again Sheynell was sucked back into what had been... * * * "What do you mean, you're not coming with me?" "I'm sorry, Sheynell..." Bester replied, "Sorry I can't come with you... sorry that you've made up your mind about what you want to do, and where you want to go, to try and help our people... to try and save as much of the family as you can in the time remaining to us. But I'm not changing my mind -- this, as the saying goes, is where the road divides.... but perhaps it's enough that there's one of us to travel on each branch -- and maybe we'll both be able to make a difference, in the long run." Her eyes widened -- was he going to say... Bester shook his head, and she lowered in head in resignation. There would be no apologies -- that wasn't his way, and there'd been a time when it had been *her* way as well... but now? Now, she wasn't so sure any more -- the only thing she was sure about, though, was that she was going to try and help out at the headquarters complex -- a building full of telepaths that were, if their sources were accurate, about to die. "Then I suppose this is..." "The end of the line?" Bester's mouth quirked into a faint smile. "I suppose you could be right..." "Except..." "Except I've learned to *never* say never -- be seeing you, Sheynell." And then, he was gone. * * * "Damnit!" Viyana whispered, as Cattrall hovered in the background, his expression perturbed. "That tells us exactly *nothing* we didn't know before -- it would appear that the little witch was actually telling us the truth about Bester... they parted ways just before the attack that destroyed one of the Psi Corps' largest bases... and it was just after that attack that Bester vanished from our sight... and hasn't been seen since." "An attack that, I will remind you, Keynes somehow survived, without singing a thread of hair." Cattrall replied. "I don't know about you, Viyana, but I'm still really interested in learning how she survived the destruction of that place, when so many other telepaths died. And who it was that turned her away from the Corps at last, fully and completely... and towards the Rangers." Viyana nodded, and lowered her bare hand back towards the face of the woman who'd once been her finest friend. "And you're going to tell us the answer to that question, Sheynell..." she muttered. "Aren't you?" * * * "What has happened here?" "Who has done this to us?" The red-haired woman turned towards her with a curious smile on her face, while other telepaths rushed by them on both sides. "You know the answer to that question -- the serpent has many heads... cut off one, and many more arise. Bester never learned that lesson, you know -- as much as he tried to prove otherwise, he never learned a damn thing. And now it's too late for him, Sheynell; too late for so many of us. But not too late for you." "No!" She strode forward, and seized the other woman's gloved hand in her own. "He sent me on ahead to contact you and the others... you can't ask me to leave! I am an officer of the Corps, my place is here, fighting to protect his telepaths!" "*His* telepaths? They were never his telepaths, Sheynell, and now the others have come to destroy those he holds dear. You will leave this place... *now*." "You dare to give an order to me?" "WE dare, yes." was the reply, and involuntarily, she found that she'd retreated a step... for the woman's eyes had glowed, if only for a moment. "You will leave this place, before it it too late. Your future is not here." "Who are you?" she gasped out. "*What* are you?" "A dream; a possibility... a means to an end." the red-haired woman half-turned away, then. "We are done with you, and with this place. Face your destiny now, or not at all..." * * * Viyana cried out -- and would have fallen if Cattrall hadn't chosen that moment to step forward to support her. "What happened?" he exclaimed. "What did you see?" "Oh my *God*..." she managed after a long moment, "So it *was* true. Alexander wasn't the only one who served them..." "What the Hell are you talking about..." Cattrall's eyes widened and then he swore as Viyana relayed what she'd drawn out of Keynes' mind -- and then he nodded. "So -- Tolmanes served the Vorlons, as well. And even then, long after Sheridan banished them..." "The walking time bombs they built continued to tick." Viyana replied. "And as we both know, the biggest problem with ticking bombs is that sooner or later... there's always a *boom*." Which was, of course, when the entire refuge... shuddered -- violently enough, as a matter of fact, to throw both telepaths to the floor. "Oh Hell!" Cattrall managed, "They've found us!" Viyana's gaze darted over towards the reclined, once again unconscious figure of Sheynell Keynes -- and in that moment, she decided what it was she was going to do. "There was always the chance this was going to happen, Edward -- and now it's time for us to leave. You remember the techniques we have to use to deal with the Minbari and their telepaths, of course?" Cattrall grinned as he saw the determination in his partner's eyes, even as he swung their prisoner over his shoulders yet again. "Of course I do -- if we play this one right..." "They won't even see us..." * * * "It is," Miyonn admitted to Julia as his Storm Dancer warriors closed their perimeter around the once-hidden and secret refuge, "A well constructed and hidden place -- but in the end, the actions of the agents we sought revealed it to our eyes." "And now?" "And now, it is time for us to end this." another voice said. Julia froze -- that voice, she *knew* that voice... had never expected to hear it again in her lifetime. She slowly began to turn around -- "Brianna?" "Julia." The telepath replied with a small nod, as all around them, Miyonn's warriors cried out -- for from their perspective, the grey cloaked woman had not been standing where she *was* standing a moment before. "So -- William did tell me that you'd grown since the last time we served together, on White Star 4... over four years ago, now?" She wanted to laugh -- and also to weep... but there were other things to say, and other things to attend to, first. "You don't mean in height, do you?" "You know that I don't." Brianna replied, as she gently slung her arm around Julia's shoulder. "And please believe me when I say that now we're going to rescue your friend from those who've captured her." Julia managed a nod, as together, she and Brianna advanced on the entrance of the refuge, while Miyonn's Storm Dancer warriors slowly brought up the rear. "Now that you're here..." she managed, "I can believe in miracles." Which was when Brianna swung her head around to face the doorway -- and Julia suddenly backed away, as anger and deterimation suddenly appeared in her eyes. "Going somewhere, are you? I think *not*." A shimmer of pain passed through Julia's mind... followed immediately by a loud thump -- and then the sound of two voices, crying out in pain, and her eyes widened as the air in the refuge entrance suddenly seemed to *twist*... and two individuals in black and grey suddenly appeared -- a man and a younger woman, both of whom seemed to be having great difficulty in staying on their feet. As well as the seemingly unconscious figure laid out on the ground behind them... Miyonn barked a command, and in an instant a full squad of Storm Dancer warriors swarmed forward to surround that figure, while Brianna stood her ground in front of the telepaths responsible for the whole affair. "Edward -- Viyana. You didn't really think you were going to get away with this, did you?" "You *traitor*!" Viyana Metois managed, her eyes black with rage. "You don't know what it is you've done this day." "A traitor, am I?" Brianna replied with a mirthless smile, as the two telepaths were taken into custody. "But to which cause?" "Brianna..." Cattrall implored, "Remember who it is you serve!" "I have never forgotten, even though it looks as if you *may* have." Brianna said, and Cattrall's face fell as she sent a powerful glyph into his mind. "I am a Ranger. I live for the One -- I would *die* for the One. And now that we've cleared that up... I think there's someone who would like a word with both of you -- in person." * * * Tuzanor, Minbar -- later that same afternoon. "So..." William inquired, as Julia and Jennifer sat at their leisure in his office. "What's the verdict?" "As near as Vahzil can tell, she's going to be fine." Julia replied. "The thing is, even though Metois hated her because she used to serve Bester... both she and her partner made sure not to hurt her too badly, for the simple reason that they wanted to take her back to the Earth Alliance and throw her in the deepest, darkest hole they could find..." "An outcome which," William replied, "I can all but guarantee will never come to pass. I've spoken to our legal representatives, and they've assured me that since Anla'shok Keynes asked for and received ISA citizenship during the Telepath War, the rules and regulations of the Bureau don't apply to her... and that because of these special circumstances, no extraditions will be allowed -- period." The High Councillor's gaze shifted to the door, then, as it opened and another figure stepped into the office. "They also noted that this also applies to one *other* individual, as well." "So, Brianna..." Julia asked, as the other Ranger came forward to stand by her friends, "What do you think will happen to those Bureau agents?" "There was a time," Brianna replied, "When the Psi Corps tried to program its members into believing they were part of a family -- what Viyana Metois and her partner forgot, however, was that there's more than one family in the galaxy... and that it's not a good idea to make those 'families' angry." "Translation..." William noted, "We beat them at their own game with a... little bit of help. And now..." "And now," Brianna confided, "I think a stiff lecture will be the *least* of their concerns..." * * * The vista was the same -- but everything had changed, as the Director of the Bureau of Telepathic Integration read the message one of his assistants had brought to him... And began to laugh. * * * To be concluded... http://www.connect.ab.ca/~dgolding/star_circle.html From: David Goldingay Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode 14, Envoi Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2000 17:54:52 -0600 STAR AND CIRCLE: 'THE SEEKER'S FIRE' EPISODE 14: "CRIMES OF ASSOCIATION" * * * (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture) * * * Interstellar Alliance Starship 'Shard of Night' - in Minbar nearspace. August 14th, 2267. The moment Sheynell stepped onto the bridge she felt the atmosphere change - and for a moment the worries of her friends as they looked at her, trying to figure out if she was 'okay'. The thing they didn't know, of course, was that Bester and the other Psi Corps instructors had, in their time, put her through ordeals almost as bad as the one Viyana and Edward had just put her through, all in the name of teaching her what it was to be them -- and after the youth she'd spent in the Corps... "There's no need to look so worried! -- Vahzil and Veyshahk checked me out thoroughly, and I'm fine." "Then they've proclaimed you fit to return to duty, then?" Larieken asked. She nodded. "They have indeed." "This is well." The Minbari replied, as he turned to face the door to the captain's ready room. "Especially given that *she* wishes to speak to you immediately." "Well of course she does." Sheynell replied with a sigh, as she reached up to tap the door signal. "She is the captain, after all." "And shouldn't the captain worry about her crew?" Julia asked her as the door opened. "Come on in." A moment passed, then, in which Julia poured her some of the piping hot coffee that had been brought up to the ready room a few minutes before her arrival... part of the new supplies they'd taken on at Minbar before departing, she assumed - and then... "So..." Julia began, "Is this 'all's well that end's well', or do we have to worry about..." "The secrets they dug out of my mind after they captured me?" Sheynell matter-of-frankly replied as she carefully sipped her coffee. "You know what, Julia? -- to be honest, I'm not so sure they deserve to be called 'secrets' any longer - and what they learned didn't aid their cause in any case. They already knew I served Bester before they even got a hold of me - and while they learned a few things they didn't before, because of what President Sheridan and the others did for me when I first came here, they couldn't take me back to Mars no matter how much they wanted to. And they sure as Hell don't know where Bester is, either." "And what about you?" Julia asked, her expression one of polite inquiry. "Were they right about you? Are you still hiding some secrets from them... things they weren't able to get to? Are you sure you don't know where Bester is?" Almost Sheynell thought to give a snappy reply to those questions - but then she took a deep breath, and shook her head. "That part of my life is over now, Julia - I made a lot of mistakes I shouldn't have... did a lot of things in his name that I shouldn't have. But no... they took me so much by surprise that I wasn't able to put up any resistance. And yes... I'm sure. Except..." Julia raised her eyebrows. "Go on..." "Except now... Viyana and Edward have reminded me of what went on in the War, I can't help but think on what he said to me before we parted ways for the last time, I to try and save as many telepaths as I could... and he, I suppose, into exile." She sighed - "Never say never, Sheynell. Never say never." Which was, of course, when the chime of the intership comm system sounded, and with a sigh, the captain of the 'Shard of Night' rose to her feet and made her way out of the ready room into the bridge, Sheynell right on her heels. "Klairika - our status?" "We are approaching the gate - all crew and departments stand ready for jump." The Brakiri reported, as Julia and Sheynell took their stations. "Our helmsman respectfully requests that you provide him with a course, Val'na." "Back to where we are most needed, of course." Julia crisply replied - to which Dasouri gave an emphatic nod... even as the jump gate irised open in front of them, and the 'Shard of Night' vanished from Minbar system. * * * While a moment after that departure, the gate technician that had given Julia and her crew permission to jump abruptly turned aside from his duties, and opened a comm channel. "Report." A voice ordered. "Tikopai and her crew have just left through the gate - we believe they are returning to their duty of guarding the *Excalibur*." The worker caste technician reported. "Without any escort, of course." "This is well." The voice replied. "Everything appears to be going according to schedule. You have told us everything we need to know to proceed with the next stage of our plan. Your aid - will be remembered." "Then she will finally be made to pay for what she and the others have done to us?" the technician asked. Like so many of the others who'd served under Alyt Rahkeel on 'Vi'dalae An'shaka' before the Drakh attack, the technician still felt shame at what had transpired when the Anla'shok had taken possession of the battlecruiser, and he and his fellow crewmembers, along with their captain, had been banished from the ship at Sheridan's command... and he and certain of the others continued to look for ways to erase that shame. "Soon." The voice at the other end of the channel confided. "Very soon now indeed." * * * Interstellar Alliance Space Station Babylon 5 - August 15th, 2267. It was, Jamie Pratchett wearily considered as she began to work her way through the mound of paperwork on her desk, looking to be another one of those days already. Her first cup of morning coffee had been going cold before it had hit her desk and she hadn't even got to breakfast before a dozen other things had got in the way. "Damn it!" she whispered, "I never should have said yes when the Council decided to promote me..." "Sha'vei." Jamie looked up to see Cebrai, her primary assistant, standing in the doorway of her office. "I beg leave to report that a package has arrived from the High Councillor's office on Minbar. Do you wish it brought into *your* office at this time?" Jamie scowled as she reached for her latest (and still, for now, hot) cup of coffee - okay, what the Hell was Will up to this time? "A package, huh?" she muttered. "Yeah, may as well - the paperwork pile's already so bad that one more package won't make any..." "Hello, Jamie." There was a moment of silence, then - and then that silence was shattered by the sound of a mug clattering on the floor, even as Cebrai shook her head sadly and proceeded to begin the process of cleaning up the mess her leader had just made. Jamie, of course, was noticing none of this... she only had eyes for the slim figure in Ranger black and silver standing in her door... "Bree?" Brianna sighed, even as the two women came together in a fierce embrace. "Oh dear, here we go again! - please tell me you're not going to cry... because that'll just set me off again, as well!" "But... how? And why?" "It's a long story -- but it all started when I finally returned to Minbar, and went to meet with our fearless leader and his wife..." "Let me guess," Jamie managed after a long moment, "Your reunion with Will and Jen on Minbar was a little emotional, right?" "A little is the understatement of the century." Brianna replied, as she and Jamie sat down, while Cebrai silently vanished from the office to give them some peace. "But the sooner we get this all behind us, the better. And now that I'm back, the first thing you should know is that there's nothing, absolutely nothing that's going to make me go away, ever again. I finally know where I belong, and which family I belong to... and I never forgot what you said to me that time, four years ago..." Jamie grinned. "Once a Ranger, always a Ranger, huh?" "Something like that, yes." Brianna admitted. "And now, would I be incorrect in assuming you need an excuse to set aside your paperwork for the rest of the day? We've got a lot to talk about, while I'm absolutely famished..." * * * Mars -- shortly thereafter. Edward Cattrall sighed as he and his rebellious young partner made their way up the hallway towards the office of the Bureau's Director. Even now, this late in the game, with their suspension from active duty an all too probable outcome, even now Viyana was continuing her tirade about Keynes! "Damn it!" the young telepath said again, "We were so close, Edward - we had her in the palm of our hand until Tolmanes interfered!" "You heard what they said as well as I did - Keynes is a serving member in the Anla'shok as well as a citizen of the Interstellar Alliance - even if we had taken her off of Minbar, we would've had no legal standing to keep her here for trial. The ISA authorities would have been perfectly within their bounds to come for her and take her back." "I know - but it's just not fair!" Viyana insisted, as she and Cattrall reached the portal of the Director's office. "We had her - and we had to let her go!" "And what do you suppose would have happened if you hadn't been coerced to let her go?" a firm tenor voice announced from within. "Neither the Earth Alliance nor this organization needs another crisis right now - and as long as I am in charge, Agent Metois, this will continue to be the case." "But, sir!..." "That is quite enough from you." Colin Ferris interrupted her, his expression grim, "Quite enough. Into my office, both of you -- we have a great deal to discuss... And none of it will be pleasant." * * * Next time: Who is the mysterious figure that is gathering together the enemies of Julia and her crew? Who is the Drakh hunting for Palakh, and what is her intent? And most importantly of all... what is a youthling member of that race doing on the 'Shard of Night'? The answers to some of these questions will be answered in 'My Master's Keeper', the 15th episode of 'The Seeker's Fire' -- coming soon to this list! http://www.connect.ab.ca/~dgolding/star_circle.html