From: David Goldingay Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode 15, Overture Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2000 21:14:59 -0600 Writer's Note -- as with my fellow VS6 producer Stephen Barringer, work & life have been eating up way too much of my time just lately (as well as writing the for-now 'unaired' 13th episode of the Virtual Sixth Season, coming soon to this list) but having finally got my plot threads in order, without further ado, here is the overture for S&C #15... * * * There is an old saying that certain members of the human race have used for centuries, passing down the wisdom of those words from father to son for as long as any can remember -- that home is where the heart is. For many of us, that means Earth... a home poisoned by the Drakh Plague, a world containing a valley my family has called home for generations... a place I may yet return to if the mission we share with the crew of the *Excalibur* succeeds. A place I have not seen in seven years, now. Now, consider the Drakh -- our enemies, the race we have joined in battle with on more than one occasion in the last eight months. As many have surmised and a few understand, the Drakh once lived at the feet of their masters on the world named Z'ha'dum... a world torn to shreds at the end of the war that banished those masters forever. And now, the Drakh wander amongst the stars homeless, their need for revenge forever unquenched. And therein lies our problem -- therein lies the reason that only one side in this conflict may survive what lies ahead. It has also been said on occasion that to defeat one's enemy, one must understand him. The question is... is it even possible for us to understand a species that has no home... a species that has sworn to destroy my people, if we do not destroy them first? * * * Sector 800, 21x14x47 -- August 22nd, 2267, human reckoning. Primary Drakh rendezvous point. "You have failed us." the Sha'drakh named Uneenvaz icily whispered, as he and the rest of the Council of Return gazed down upon the Vekh'shivaht who had volunteered to lead the search for the missing Zha'vanare named Palakz, as well as those who followed him, many days before. "Explain this to us, you will." "Failed, you say..." the warrior captain bitterly replied, as he met the gaze of the Drakh elders glare for glare. "Forgive me for these words... but I would *disagree*. All of us know and understand the risks that were taken when we cast La'skaa and his order of battle against the human daggership... while *all* of us have heard the claims of the Zha'vanare, of his apparent need to track down the enemy vessel he names 'Adversary', and destroy it..." "A vessel whose crew may have destroyed the warships commanded by La'skaa and A'aveilz..." "And perhaps the Zha'vanare's, as well. Long and hard we have searched for Palakz and his missing warriors... to no avail. I would suggest that he and his followers were destroyed, as well..." "Failed, they said." another voice spoke from out of the darkness, a voice dripping with menace and sharp as a blade. The Vekh'shivalht stiffened as another member of his race stepped out of that darkness, a Meris'shaal, she was -- dark of skin and sharp of claw, a member of the clan who had once, long ago and far away from this place, served the Ancient Masters as *deinarakh* and *meizhal*... that time, however, had now passed, and while the Meris'shaal were not as common as once they had been, this one's name was well known -- one of few deinarakh who had survived assault that the human named Sheridan had conducted upon the Master's greatest, and final, city -- the human who was now the leader of the Interstellar Alliance. "The claim was accurate, if *that* is what you believe." "And you think you can do better... za-deinarakh Mei'riki?" the Vekh'shivalht replied, his words twisting the once honorary title into something contemptous. "With certainty." Mei'riki whispered, as she turned to face the waiting elders above. "You will allow me to make an observation at this juncture?" Uneenvaz nodded. "As all know, Palakz and his order are Zha'vanare, one and all... as such, he and the crews of his warships are, if they should wish it, able to *hide* themselves from the Entire at their leisure..." "Hide?" another councillor hissed. "What you describe, za-deinarakh, is an attitude unknown to our race..." "How *low* we have sunk, if that is what you believe!" Mei'riki suddenly snarled, her voice full of venom. "Palakz is the leader *they* have been waiting for since long before the Minbari and humans drove the Masters beyond the galactic rim -- the Drakh who will, they believe, guide the Zha'vanare to a greater and better destiny, beyond the call of the Entire." "This cannot be allowed!" the councillor replied. "If the humans learn of this..." "Fear not." Mei'riki said, her tone suddenly companiable. "All is not yet lost. And while this one believes Palakz to be dead, I know better. I have known him from since before we were both summoned to Z'ha'dum to serve at the feet of our Masters... and I will find him, if alive he is." "We hold you to this promise." Uneenvaz declared, his leathery face stern. "For if you should fail us, as well..." "I shall either return with him," Mei'riki replied, "Or not. And if not..." The meaning was obvious to all present in the chamber -- the only reason deinarakh failed in their missions was if their targets managed to kill them during the course of the operation... and this outcome had only happened twice in the order's long history. "Unlikely, that is." the elder allowed. "You will return him to us, Mei'riki -- alive, if possible." The hunter nodded, and without further word, melted back into the shadows. While the Vekh'shivalht listened to the Entire whisper the conclusion to that sentence even as he waited to learn of his own fate. * * * ISAS 'Shard of Night' -- on patrol near the Hyades Cluster. 00:01 hrs, EST -- August 23rd, 2267. In the darkness, the chimes rang out the midnight hour as Julia meditated in front of her candles, her latest book of Observance laid carefully nearby. All was... for a wonder, quiet for the time being -- Captain Gideon and his crew were busy investigating an ancient colony world on the fringes of the nearby Hyades... while the Drakh and the other threats facing the *Excalibur* and her crew were posing no problems, at least for now. It was an extraordinary feeling, actually, after the multiple crises that had faced them during the last few months, for things to be as quiet as they were. As well as almost... Darkness claimed her, then -- and after a moment, Julia rose to her feet as a faint frown came onto her face. Where she now was was *not* where she had been a moment ago, and that usually meant... "Good evening." a voice announced from behind her. "Or, I suppose, it's morning where you are now." "Galen." she muttered, even as she wrapped her black robe more tightly around herself and turned to face the equally dark-clothed Technomage. "It's been some time since you've 'visited' -- been busy, have you?" "Ah... but that depends on how one defines 'busy', now doesn't it?" Galen replied, his eyes bright within his hood. "I do what I must, when I must -- and now, I come to give you a very important message, young Seeker... words you must take to heart if any of us are to survive what lies ahead." "And of course the message will be cryptic, won't it?" she slyly observed. "You do have a reputation to preserve, after all." "Perhaps. The message is this -- 'beware false messengers'." "That's it?" "That is *enough*." the Technomage replied. "And now, if I am not mistaken, someone is trying very diligently to get your attention..." "Julia -- Julia, are you there?" Her eyes snapped open -- and after a moment, she rose to her feet -- for real, this time -- and walked out of her private chambers and into the more public part of her quarters. "Don't tell me, let me guess -- something's come up." The telepath nodded. "The whiskers have detected a distress call coming from a star on the fringes of the cluster, no more than about eight light years from our present position. Looks like it's been bounced off at least one transfer gate along the way." "Any idea who it is that's in trouble?" she asked, even as she moved into action, shaking her head as she went -- so much for having a 'restful patrol'. "The beacon type isn't one we're familiar with." the telepath admitted, even as Julia shrugged off her robe and began putting on her uniform. "Larieken and Mr. Dawson are trying to figure out the syntax of the beacon as we speak, though. While your first officer, who will be here shortly..." "Wishes to know what we are going to do." Julia replied, as she finished putting on her ae'ishareith and reached for one of her handful of tunics. "Right?" Sheynell nodded. "Remember, then, that one of our many duties as Rangers is to investigate distress calls, and render aid, as required." "But..." "There's a few people in the ISA, Dr. Elizabeth Trent and my mother, for instance, who now know that this ship exists." Julia continued. "While thus far, each and every ISA citizen who's come onboard the *Shard* has been... persuaded that it's in their best interests not to let our secret out." Sheynell nodded wearily -- she had, of course, played a rather large part in the 'persuading' from time to time. "And if things look difficult, we can always relay the location of the ship to the nearest White Star..." "The nearest is more than forty hours away from our present location, even at emergency speed." Larieken pointed out from off-screen. Julia sighed, as she made for the door. "In that case, let's hope we can handle the problem." "Indeed." * * * Sector 180, 41x17x5 -- 1:17 hrs, EST. His expression contemplative, Rahkeel stood alone on the *Stormwind*'s observation deck, and tried once again to make sense of the message that had come to him, some time before -- a message instructing him to make a rendezvous in this sector at a very specific time. The warrior took a deep breath, and then turned aside from the vista of darkness beyond the viewport, and read the message again. 'The road you are searching for is within your grasp, even if you cannot see it. The secret will soon be revealed, to those who have earned the right -- while the meddlers and righteous will soon pay the price for what it is they have done. Come to us, and all will be as you have forseen.' Come to us -- but who were they, and how had they learned of his secret mission, the mission he conducted while at the same time acting in the name of the Warrior Caste, and doing their bidding as they saw fit? It was most troubling... "Alyt Rahkeel." Rahkeel turned aside from the screen then, as an image of his first officer sprang into being beside him. "You will please come to the bridge at once." "May I assume, Tirivail, that we are no longer alone?" he inquired, as he strode briskly out of the observation area and down the corridor towards the bridge. "You may." Tirivail acknowledged, her expression perplexed. "The vessel emerged from hyperspace only a moment ago -- it appears to be nearly as advanced as the *Stormwind* in terms of its technology." "And its origin?" Rahkeel inquired. "Do you recognize in its lines the race that gave it birth?" "I must regretfully admit that I do not." Tirivail said, even as Rahkeel reached the bridge and moved to stand at her side. "This concerns me." "Show us this vessel, then." The younger Minbari nodded -- and a moment later, an image of the vessel sprang into being... and then it was that Rahkeel's eyes first widened with surprise, and then narrowed in concern. The vessel, while perhaps only a third the size of his own battlecruiser, was easily as sleek... while its marbled gray and black hull suggested the incorporation of organic technology. "Weapons systems?" "Pulse cannon, no stronger than our own engine mounted weapons." Tirivail replied, as she moved to her own station behind him. "Nothing to compare to our own secondary and primary batteries. They have not, as yet, brought any of their weapons on-line." "This is well. Prepare to..." "Message incoming!" "Is that so." Rahkeel muttered. "On screen!" The viewscreen shimmered down a moment later, to reveal a craggy-faced, stocky human standing on what apparently passed for the bridge of the other vessel, his hair just beginning to go to silver, and pulled sharply back into a long tail, his clothing set in various shades of grey. "This is..." "Alyt Rahkeel of the warrior caste battlecruiser *Stormwind*." the human matter-of-factly replied. "I know who you are, Alyt -- I was the one who sent the message to you, after all." "Who are you?" "A dangerous question, that is." the other captain replied, his eyes now glinting dangerously. "Perhaps you will learn the answer to that question in due course -- and perhaps not. For now, though... The Messenger will do." * * * The Hyades Cluster. 1:47 hrs, EST. "We are approaching the location of the distress signal." Klarika reported. "Shall we jump?" Finally! Julia stifled a yawn, and shook her head in exasperation -- why, in Valen's name, did these rescue missions always have to happen in the middle of the nightwatch? "Yes, please do... let's see who managed to get themselves into trouble, out here." "In stealth mode, I will assume?" "For now, that's probably a safe move." Julia agreed. The Brakiri nodded, and a moment later, Dasouri's hands moved upon the helm controls, and the *Shard* transitioned out into realspace, even as it faded from sight. "Okay -- do we have a fix on the position of that ship, yet?" "One moment... yes. The whiskers have located it -- image coming up now." And only seconds later, the image of that ship shimmered into being in front of them -- and then Julia's eyes widened, for it was now quite obvious which race had built the crippled vessel. "The Drakh!" "Fascinating." Larieken allowed. "They must *know* that Captain Gideon and his crew are in the area -- and yet..." "And yet Drakh activated their beacon anyways." Dasouri said. "As if..." "As if they wanted either Gideon or *us* to come looking for them." Klairika finished for the other Rangers. "And if this is true... hold. There is a message coming from the Drakh ship -- it is, I think... For *you*, Val'na." "WHAT?" Julia erupted. "Aw, *Hell*." Nicholas Dawson muttered from his own station in the bridge's rear hemisphere. "Well, boys and girls, there goes our secret right out the window. Because if the Drakh know her name, and know we're out here..." "No, Mr. Dawson," Klairika interrupted, "You misunderstand. The message isn't in her *name*, it's..." "Let's hear it." Julia commanded. And a moment later, the words of the message emerged from the bridge speakers. "We are Zha'vanare." the voice of the Drakh hissed from out of the darkness. "We seek the Observer. We come... In *peace*." * * * [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 15: "My Master's Keeper" http://www.connect.ab.ca/~dgolding/star_circle.html From: David Goldingay Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode 15, Act I Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2000 23:34:07 -0600 "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE" EPISODE FIFTEEN: "MY MASTER'S KEEPER" 'Featuring' PETER WINGFIELD as Palakz NANA VISITOR as Raeznon NICHOLAS LEA as Rahkeel GEMA ZAMPROGNA as Tirivail MARK HARELIK as Belanak NANCY BELL as Fahl'meain With, RUTGER HAUER as The Messenger *and* COURTNEY COX-ARQUETTE as Mei'riki * * * (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture) * * * <> The Hyades Cluster -- 1:51 hrs, EST -- August 23, 2267. "We await your reply." the Drakh voice concluded, "And also a rendezvous point -- of *your* choosing." And then the channel fell silent -- the same could not be said a moment later, however, for the bridge of the Interstellar Alliance battlecruiser named *Shard of Night*. "In *peace*?" Nicholas Dawson erupted with a guffaw. "I'm sorry -- maybe I'm missing something here, but aren't the Drakh supposed to be the 'Enemies of Humanity', or something?" "That had been guiding assumption for some time now, yes." Larieken agreed. "But perhaps we do not as yet understand the full nature of our opponents. For instance -- the Drakh referred to himself as 'Zha'vanare'. I would be most interested to learn what this means." "That may be so," Klairika agreed, "But perhaps there are other things we should be concerned about. For instance -- it would appear that these Drakh brought their ship close to the *Excalibur* in order to attract our attention -- and then, they called for you by the title the Vorlons gave you, Val'na -- Observer. This implies..." "This implies that someone has given the Drakh information about the nature of this vessel and her crew." Julia concluded, her tone suddenly brittle and full of anger. "And that our mission may have been compromised, as a result. A citizen of the Interstellar Alliance who has betrayed all that we hold dear..." "Ye gods, there she goes into dramatic mode again." Dawson drawled. "There's a word that describes such a person, Captain -- and that's *traitor*." "Remember also, however, the other words Drakh used." Dasouri said. "We come in peace -- we await your reply." "We wish a rendezvous with you... but why?" Julia began to massage her temple -- she could feel a headache coming on already, and not just because of lack of sleep... her Observer's sense, for instance, seemed to be going crazy, implying that this was probably more important then it seemed. "What's going on here? -- and more importantly..." "What are we going to do about this?" Sheynell suddenly said, adding her voice to the discussion for the first time. "Val'na, let me be frank -- this feels like a trap. For all we know, the Drakh may be trying to draw you into their grasp in order to deprive the ISA of one of it's finest Rangers..." "That may well be true," Julia interrupted, "But just the same, I find myself curious to find out what exactly the Drakh are up to -- if they're telling the truth, and why. Very well, then -- Larieken, are there any likely worlds nearby that we can conduct this rendezvous at?" "But!..." Julia turned a glare upon her friend, and after a moment, the telepath subsided. "Larieken -- an answer, if you please?" A moment passed, and then the Minbari nodded. "There is a marginally inhabitable world on the fringes of the Hyades cluster, perhaps nine light years from our present position -- will that suffice?" "It should... while as to answer other *concerns*, while we will be sending down a landing party to meet with this Drakh 'Zha'vanare', at the same time the meeting is taking place, I want Anla'shok Fenric and his fighter squadron nearby at all times, as well as the *Shard* within the planetary atmosphere, ready to come down and help out, should Anla'shok Keynes' assessment of the situation be accurate." "As well as a fully armed escort for the away team members?" Sheynell suggested, to which Larieken emphatically nodded. "Indeed." Julia confirmed. "And now... I suppose I should send a reply. Mr. Dawson -- can we bounce a message off enough of our whiskers so that the Drakh don't know where the message is coming from?" The engineer grinned. "Thus ensuring they don't figure out where *we* are, until and if it's too late. No problem, Captain -- if you'll just give me a minute to set things up?" * * * Drakh courier vessel *Mis'rah* -- 2:02 hrs, EST. His eyes closed, his breathing steady but even, the Drakh named Belanak knelt before the ka-rakh of black rock that he had taken from Z'ha'dum before the end, and thought on matters of state. Although, he wearily amended a moment later, perhaps that was not an accurate description for his kind. The 'state', of course, that body that ruled his race and the many who belonged to the Drakh Entire, were rumored to think of his kind as aberrations... as a disease that needed to be eradicated, for perfection to be obtained. Order out of chaos, he mused ironically -- how amusing that was, given how the Council of Return had long ago sworn to follow in the footsteps of the Masters... and to seek revenge against those who had banished them. Revenge. In the end, that was all it came down to -- and in the end, none of the rest mattered. The council had flung much of their military strength against the primeworld of the humans when the Nak'laht had managed to activate one of the fists-of-darkness.. and many warriors had died -- but not enough to matter. Later still, the Council had cast still more squadrons against Sheridan's daggership, the *Excalibur* -- the vessel now commanded by the one named Gideon -- and many of those had been destroyed by the vessel certain Drakh named the 'Adversary'. That, of course, was an inaccurate term, as he'd learned a short time before. As it turned out, certain citizens of Sheridan's Alliance sought revenge against those who had wronged them almost as eagerly as the Council of Return... and among those was a Minbari named Rahkeel -- a warrior who had once served as warrior-captain upon the vessel the fearful named Adversary. Belanak, of course, knew better -- knew from the information his fellow Zha'vanare Palakz had obtained from Rahkeel that the vessel was named *Kene`l`lan a`zeit* -- or, as the humans would put it, *Shard of Night*... and that a human female named Tikopai commanded that vessel -- a Ranger who had, early on in her service to the Alliance, also earned the title 'Observer'. Belanak's mouth tightened as he rose to his feet and placed a hand upon the talisman he had saved from the lost world of his Masters. In his experience, to observe was to understand -- the question was, could he make this female understand the problem that was facing his kind? Make her understand that not *all* of the Drakh served the Entire, or, for that matter, sought to destroy her ship and crew... or agreed that her race should perish for the crime of banishing their Masters beyond the Rim? It was a most distressing problem... "Rak'shivalht Belanak." Belanak turned and inclined his head as an image of his First, Fal'meain, appeared on the wall behind him. Titles and names -- those were what identified individuals to the rest, spoke of which clan they served, and purpose -- and that was his, worker-captain as opposed to the *Vekh* of the warriors. "A message has come from the human Observer -- she has agreed to your request." Belanak frowned -- Fal'meain was new to her duties, having only just begun her first cycle of life... and thus, was perhaps unused to human subtleties. "With conditions, I will assume?" The younger Drakh inclined her head. "Indeed. We are to move to the coordinates indicated, and there we are to wait for the arrival of the Observer and her... fellow Anla'shok. We are not to descend to the planetary surface before their arrival, we are to make our position plain to them -- and we are to keep our weapons deactivated at all times." "Tell me, Fal'meain..." Belanak inquired. "Do you find these terms... displeasing? Is it your belief that these *Anla'shok* will prove the Council right, and destroy us rather than hear what it is we have to say?" "I am... concerned, Rak'shivalht." Fal'meain finally admitted. "If our intelligence is accurate -- if the information the Minbari gave to Palakz is equally so... then this human and her crew have killed many of our kind..." "Our kind?" Belanak replied, his voice now sharp as a blade. "Be *careful* where it is that you walk, Fal'meain -- and how it is you define 'our' kind." "Forgive me." Fal'meain quickly replied, "I meant to say, many of the *Entire* have been killed by this human and her crew." "That will suffice." the worker-captain allowed. "So... concerned, is it, then? Well this is -- but nevertheless, you shall make for the rendezvous coordinates at once -- while I will join you on the bridge shortly." And then, even as the image of his First faded from the screen, Belanak laid a careful claw atop one of the two living weapons on his chest, took a deep breath -- and prayed to the Masters, if any of them were still listening, that he would not have to use those weapons against his fellow Drakh. What neither of the Drakh were aware of, however, was that elsewhere on their ship, another Zha'vanare had opened a commmunications channel, and was about to send a message elsewhere. * * * Drakh fleet carrier *Nelaziz* -- enroute in hyperspace -- 2:22 hrs, EST. "It is as you had suspected, Vekh'shivalht," the Drakh on the other end of the channel informed Palakz, "While Belanak is as we are, and as such does not answer to the will of the Entire, what he is doing is..." "Wrong." the Vekh'shivalht coldly replied. "To reach out to this *Tikopai* female, to begin negotiations with the Anla'shok who has destroyed many of our ships, who has even gone so far as to destroy ships crewed by OUR kind..." "One assumes," the other asked, "That you are planning to do something about this?" "Yes." Palakz coldly replied, "We are. You will relay to us the rendezvous point that the *Observer* has given to you -- and then, when the time is right, we we will be there to close the trap... as is just." "I will advise caution at this time -- for while the rendezvous point supplied by the Observer is deep within a gravity well, it is our belief that the warship we once named 'Adversary' is more than capable of operating within atmospheric environments, as are Sheridan's White Stars." "That is a safe assumption to make, given that her command appears to be based upon similar if more advanced technology." Palakz agreed. "For now, however, you are to say nothing and do nothing that is seen as unusual -- for if Belanak is lead to believe that we are setting a trap for the Rangers, he will surely break off the attack... and this mission will meet with failure." "We understand, and will comply." "In that case -- be at peace, for we will be with you soon." And then, even as the image faded, Palakz opened another channel. "Raeznon!" "My Vekh'shivalht -- command me." Palakz bared his teeth. "We have the coordinates for the rendezvous -- prepare to set an *intercept* course." Sector 180 -- 2:47 hrs, EST. The human who named himself Messenger reclined in the captain's chair of the ship the Others had given to him for this purpose, and dozed. The Others had commanded the timing for this rendezvous, and as was just, the Messenger had not seen fit to argue with that judgment -- had even agreed to the points they had made, that it was best to keep the Minbari and his partially-renegade crew off balance, until the time was right. Until *he* was sure the Minbari had been convinced that his path was the right path to follow. A faint chime sounded within his mind, then -- and the Messenger's eyes opened. "Ready to speak to us, are they?" "Excellent." He smiled, then, as an image of the *Stormwind's* bridge shimmered into being. "Alyt Rahkeel -- finished arguing with your crew, have you?" "We have... arrived at a decision." the other captain carefully replied. "We have... decided that we will hear your 'message' -- and then decide what it is we will do." "Well -- that's a start, isn't it?" he replied. "Very well... but where am I to begin? Ah, yes... Alyt, let's be honest with each other -- have you, or have you not, been wasting your time since you took command of the *Stormwind*, what was it, almost five months ago, now?" "Explain your words... *carefully*, if you please." the warrior replied, his expression now deadly. The Messenger bowed, half-mockingly, in Rahkeel's direction. "But of course -- if specifics is what you want, then specifics you shall have. For five months now, since you captured the engineer named Varsak and extracted many of the secrets of his creation from him before doing away with the poor Worker entirely -- you and your crew have been attempting to intercept the Alliance battlecruiser *Shard of Night*, in order that you might separate the ship from its Ranger crew... or, should that plot fail, destroy it and them, in order to fulfill the wishes of Shai Alyt Kozorr. Am I reasonably on track, thus far?" "How do you..." "Know all of this?" The Messenger laughed. "Oh come now, Rahkeel, you couldn't have been more obvious if you'd tried -- although, I must admit that the idea you had of capturing the Drakh servant was a novel one, since it brought you together with the only other ship's commander in the galaxy who wants the same thing you do." "The Drakh, you mean?" "His *name*, since you're so interested in specifics... is Palakz, Rahkeel. He has seen many of his warriors killed by the Rangers you seek -- and he has even gone so far as to disobey the orders of his leaders in order to *continue* the search for those Rangers. They are angry at him, of course -- have even gone so far as to send ships and hunters to search for him... but what does that matter? After all, he believes he's doing the right thing, for the right reasons. Can the same be said for you, I wonder?" the Messenger pondered.. "Are *you* doing the right things, for the right reasons?" "You would question my motives, my actions?" "I must." the Messenger confirmed. "The Others have sent me to this place to give you a message -- to give you some *hope* that in time, your quest may yet succeed. But before I give you that message, Rahkeel, I must understand why it is you and your followers are doing this thing... what, indeed, has drawn you onto this path, a path that many of your kind would be horrified to find you following. So... what will it be? Are you going to tell me the truth, or were the Others wrong, and am I just wasting my time?" * * * In another part of hyperspace, a much smaller vessel then the ones captained by Belanak or Rahkeel moved at speed thorugh the gravitmetric murk, while the owner of that vessel considered the nature of the transmissions between the Zha'vanare vessels, and was pleased. As she had suspected would be the case from the moment she had learned about Belanak's mission to contact the mistress of the warship named *Shard of Night*, Mei'riki had known that at least one of Belanak's crew was symphathetic to Palakz's cause, and would inform the Vekh'shivalht of the rendezvous location... while the warrior, of course, would be unable to resist the tempation -- and would bring his renegade fleet of Zha'vanare in pursuit of the target he and his Favored Claw had been seeking since the destruction of the fleets answering to La'skaa. And now... now it would be necessary for her to enter the fray, as well. While unlike Belanak, Mei'riki had no objection of arriving at the rendezvous location and landing on the planetary surface ahead of the Zha'vanare and their quarry... for as she had told Uneenvaz a short time before, she knew the way Palakz thought... knew what he would attempt, and why. For of course, Palakz's greatest weakness was that while hate burned within him as strongly if not *more* strongly then many of the Entire, for a member of her race, the Vekh'shivalht was more honorable than most... and it was her belief that Palakz would attempt to capture this human female and then order her ship to surrender. And that, of course, was what she would be waiting for. And then... Why, then there was *every* chance that she would return to the Entire with both Palakz and Tikopai in hand. And that, she suspected, would please the Council... to no end. * * * To be continued... in August! http://www.connect.ab.ca/~dgolding/star_circle.html From: David Goldingay Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode 15, Act II Date: Thu, 17 Aug 2000 00:18:29 -0600 "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE" EPISODE FIFTEEN: "MY MASTER'S KEEPER" (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture) * * * <> Sector 180, 41x17x5 -- 3:11 hrs, EST, Aug 23rd, 2267. The bridge of the 'Stormwind'. "The truth." Rahkeel mused, as he carefully considered what to say next to this mysterious human who named himself 'Messenger', and what might result thereafter. "The truth of *why* this crew follows us in search of the ideal moment to ambush Tikopai and her crew... at the same time as serving the interests of the Warrior Caste and our Shai Alyt. It is a seemingly simple request, except..." "Yet you hesitate!" the Messenger exclaimed, his tone bitter. "Perhaps the Others *were* right -- perhaps I *am* wasting my time here." "Again, you say the *Others*." Rahkeel craftily noted. "Would you care to be a little more specific about their identities... Messenger?" "Until you tell me what I want to hear, I am afraid that will not be possible." "Ah, but of course -- I suppose that would be part of the 'message' as well, wouldn't it?" Rahkeel laughed, the sound bitter across the 'Stormwind's' bridge. "So -- there would appear to be deadlock between us, then. You won't tell me what I want to hear because I won't tell you what *you* want to hear... and yet, someone must break their silence for the pattern to be... completed. But to do so may imply an alliance between us... and to have an alliance, one party must trust the other. What reason can you give us to trust you... Messenger? Besides the idle promises you have given us thus far, that is?" There was a pause, and then the Messenger laughed, as well. "The Others did warn me that you had a way with words, Rahkeel. Very well, if it is a tidbit you want, then a tidbit... you shall have." The silver haired human closed his eyes and seemed to whisper a command -- and then Rahkeel's eyes widened as the the other ship shimmered and then vanished from sight... before reappearing a moment thereafter. "So..." the Messenger inquired, "What did you sensors show you, Alyt, when my ship... disappeared before your very eyes?" "Tirivail?" "His vessel possesses stealth characteristics similar to those shared by your command and also... Tikopai's." Tirivail reported, her tone unsettled. "But how could this be?" "Ah yes, but that *is* the question, isn't it?" the Messenger stated. "The road beckons, Alyt -- you must follow it, and I, to receive the answers to that question... and others." "You will allow us a moment alone to discuss this matter." "As you wish." Rahkeel gestured sharply, and the other captain's face abruptly faded from sight. "He talks smoothly, for a human." Tirivail muttered, her expression dark. "Perhaps too smoothly. It is my experience, Alyt, and my father's before me, that *his* kind always has something to hide... and that it is not wise to make alliances with such individuals." "And yet, his little demonstration implies that 'his kind' may possess technology almost as powerful as our own, and if they are willing to aid us in our search for an ideal moment to ambush Tikopai and her crew..." Rahkeel glanced around at the rest of his crew, and found his decision to be uncontested, as was just. And then, as contact was re-established with the other vessel, the story began to be told -- even if what the Messenger wanted to hear was not necessarily the whole truth. "You pursue this young woman and her followers..." the Messenger stated. "To pursue implies need, to need..." "Implies *hate*, yes." Rahkeel said. "It was not that way in the beginning of course. In the beginning, *Vid'alae an'shaka* belonged to the Warrior Caste -- but then Delenn learned of its existence, and in turn, she told Sheridan about it, as well. A bargain was struck between them and my Shai Alyt that day... that the ship would serve the interests of the Interstellar Alliance while at the same time being crewed by Warrior Caste personnel. And for a time, the bargain *was* kept -- but then the Drakh attacked and poisoned the peoples of Earth... and again, as humans often do, Sheridan showed us that bargains meant nothing to him... and changed the rules." "Yes, he *has* done that a lot over the past few years, hasn't he?" the Messenger observed. "But as you were saying..." "Sheridan removed us from the ship that was once ours... and replaced us with *Anla'shok* -- Rangers commanded by a human barely come of age, a changeling touched by Vorlons. And then another of that order, a Minbari I once considered honorable, refused to aid me on the very soil of our homeland when I sought to challenge the decision that had been made." Rahkeel nodded in appreciation, then, as he saw the renewed flame of anger appear in Tirivail's eyes... for it was Lanniel he referred to, of course -- the Storm Dancer who had turned her back on the rest to stand with the Anla'shok in all things, or so it now seemed. "And so it stands -- Sheridan has humiliated us, and so have the Anla'shok. This, together with the commands of our Shai Alyt, are what guides us on this path. And that is why, in the end, we will confront Tikopai and her Rangers... And carry out our duty." "It is as I suspected, then." the Messenger replied after another long moment had passed. "The Others were not wrong about you. And it would also appear as if I haven't made this trip in vain, after all." "You are ready to give us your message, then?" Rahkeel inquired. "Yes -- but *before* I do, there is something you must see, and a place we must travel to, in order that you might understand what is at stake." "I... see." Rahkeel frowned -- in the name of the Betrayer, exactly *what* was going on here... and how many layers of mystery would they have to peel back before the truth of the matter was revealed? "Send us your coordinates, then -- we will follow." And then, even as the Messenger vanished from the screen, the 'Stormwind's' captain said one more thing. "Even if it is into darkness." "Then let us travel down that path freely..." Tirivail observed. "As is just. For do not the humans say, that the darkest time comes just before... the dawn?" * * * The Hyades Cluster -- Murasaki's Star. 6:17 hrs, EST. More than a hundred years before, a human explorer came to the Hyades cluster with his colleagues, and as humans were wont to do from time to time, decided to name several of the local planetary objects after those he knew, and those who were famous among his kind... and in turn, as the decades passed, one of those bodies in turn earned his name, as well. Many centuries before that arrival, Murasaki's Star had also earned the title Pi Tauri -- and many thousands of human years before that another title entirely by the race that had colonized it for a time... but none of these things mattered to Mei'riki as she piloted her small ship out of the local jump gate and into orbit around the small, reddish and ice-capped sixth world of the system -- and for the time being at least, everything *seemed* to be going according to plan. This, after more than a day of travel at a speed only made possible by the augmentation of her craft by the ancient technology of the Masters -- technology that had allowed her arrival at this place ahead of everyone else involved. Her eyes narrowed then, however -- now that the first phase of the operation was over and done with, there were other concerns to address. For instance -- where was a za-deinarakh on the hunt to hide herself until the quarry arrived? In due course the answer came to her -- for at one time this place had been inhabited, and those... inhabitants had been active in mining the local region -- had, in fact, left several small asteroidal bodies in close orbit around their homeworld. Mei'riki let out a small hiss of pleasure as she commanded her ship to descend. From the surface of one of those small worlds, she might observe the arrival of the quarry, unseen... and then, once they had commenced *negotiations*, she would descend, and prepare the next phase of her trap. But first, there was one... other small matter to attend to, as she entered a private code into the communications board of her vessel -- and a moment later, a face appeared on the screen. "The bargain we have made," she inquired, "It will be kept?" "Yes." the other replied. "It will. None of the military forces involved in this matter will interfere with your plans to capture the rogue Zha'vanare and your... other target. But that is all I can promise... nothing more." "It is enough." Mei'riki allowed. "Without interference, there is very little that can go wrong with this plan." "We shall see, soon enough..." the other replied, "Whether you are right or not about that... za-deinarakh. Soon enough." * * * ISAS 'Shard of Night' -- just beyond the Murasaki jump gate. 8:20 hrs, EST. "...And after we jumped away, did you manage to get any more sleep?" "A little, yes." Julia finally admitted, as she drank deeply of her morning cup of tea. "Dare I ask..." "That's what hot coffee's for." Sheynell replied, her eyes, from Julia's perspective, showing exactly how much sleep she'd gotten during the remainder of the night watch -- which wasn't much. "As your tactical officer, it's my job to be the worrywort of the crew..." "Oh, I see! -- which means you've wound yourself up as a tight as a spring, right? Didn't I see Veyshahk giving you a lecture about that just the other day?" "Now you hold on *just* a minute..." "A-ha!" a familiar voice jauntily announced, "And here the ladies are, eating the most important meal of the day." "Important, yes..." Julia sidestepped, as Dawson sat down to join them, even as Sheynell glowered at them both across the rim of her coffee cup. "Tasty, however... is another thing entirely. If it's one thing I really miss from my youth, it's the fruit from the valley on Earth where I used to live..." "Well, that's the price you pay for taking on a mission like ours, I'm afraid." the engineer replied with a shrug as he echoed Sheynell's earlier move towards serious coffee intake. "The deep patrol from hell, with an occasional epic crisis just to keep us on our toes. Now, if you don't mind me asking..." "No, I *haven't* changed my mind about the way we're going to do this." Julia replied, her tone suddenly fierce. "As much as I would like to, we simply cannot go in guns blazing on this one... in a little while, Sheynell, Larieken, I and a few of the others are going to leave the ship in a transport escorted by Mr. Fenric and his fighter squadron, and then, once things have calmed down a bit and we've met with the Zha'vanare, Klairika's to bring the *Shard* into the atmosphere behind us and watch for trouble." "Bet you had to argue a bit about that with her, right?" Julia ruefully nodded. "Indeed I did. For some reason, our first officer's still having problems forgetting what happened at Amaranth..." At that, Dawson snorted. "... but I think this time, I'm going to look before I leap. And just in case this does happen to be a trap, and some sort of Drakh fleet tries to jump us..." "We'll be ready and waiting to scoop you up and take off in short order." Dawson finished for her. "Yeah, I guess that'll do for a short-order plan... as long as nothing unexpected happens." * * * Elsewhere... "Unexpected, he says..." Galen observed from his hidden sanctum -- the only place onboard the *Excalibur* where he truly felt safe from the prying eyes and ears of Matthew's officers and crew. 'Unexpected', in Galen's opinion, would serve as a general description for the entire mission of the *Shard of Night*'s crew to date... but perhaps a small test was in order -- perhaps young Tikopai and her Rangers were growing too complacent due to all their recent... successes. "So sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Dawson..." the Technomage observed, "But I'm afraid several 'unexpected' somethings are *indeed* headed in your direction." * * * Drakh courier vessel *Mis'rah* -- 9:10 hrs, EST. Sharp as a blade, the tiny black form of the *Mis'rah* stealthily made its way through hyperspace towards the world-or-meeting... and Belanak found himself glad to note that his crew had now erased all signs of the 'damage' displayed when they had first enticed the human Observer and her crew to investigate the 'distress call' they had sent earlier. They had taken a chance with the daggership so near -- but nevertheless, he had... suspected how things would go, from the very start. Had *known* that destiny was not for him and his crew. And now, it was time to embrace another -- to take a chance, as their opponents would say... something that the Drakh Entire and their myriad scattered cells considered almost repellent. The Entire, as all his kind knew, normally left nothing to chance... but not even they were all-powerful. Their worst mistake, of course, had been to trust Palakz -- but others had been made, as well... while Belanak and the rest of the Zha'vanare continued their own work, if more quietly. And if some form of peace, or survival for that matter, resulted from this effort... it would make this all worthwhile -- even if he did not live to see that moment come. For if the humans managed to find a cure to the plague the Entire had cast against their primeworld, Belanak knew that their wrath would be great, and that they would not rest until those who had done this thing to them were punished for their crimes. Many of his people would surely die before the humans were satisfied... there was even the chance that the race might come close to extinction if the vendetta was pursued for too long. And that was an outcome he would not accept. And if there *was* a way to prevent that doom from coming to pass, perhaps he, Belanak, would be the one to find it. But for now, there were more... immediate concerns to deal with. And so it was that shortly thereafter Belanak found himself once more upon the bridge of the *Mis'rah*, awaiting jumpout -- and when that moment came, for the signal that would follow. "Fal'meain..." he carefully inquired, "Are there any signs of the Observer's warship in planetary nearspace?" "None." the other Drakh replied. "You do realize of course, Rak'shivalht, that this means nothing -- that vessel could be within striking range of the *Mis'rah* at this very moment, and we would not know it until it was too late." "She has agreed to meet with us," Belanak reprovingly reminded his First, "And one is lead to hope that this time, the Anla'shok under her command may be persuaded to listen to what we have to say, before striking out against us..." He paused then, however, as a message-warning sounded -- and Belanak turned to face the Zener presently serving at his communications station, and rose to his feet. {The message-we-await} he rasped in the servant's own tongue, {It comes?} {It comes.} the servant acknowledged. {The signal arises from a great canyon in the world-beneath's northern wastes -- a canyon issuing from a great volcano near the ice-beyond.} "Then descend we must," Belanak concluded, "To meet our destiny." * * * And even as the *Mis'rah* sank out of orbit, another ship arose from its asteroid hiding place unseen, undetected even by Julia Tikopai's ever watchful Rangers, and also sank towards the reddish wastes below, glistening in the light of Murasaki's Star. And within that vessel, preparations were being made -- as Mei'riki, leaving her ship to take care of the details of descent, drew out of storage several large containers, and proceeded to open the largest. Mei'riki replied. A hiss of pleasure passed along the canyons of her mind -- followed abruptly by the abrupt emergence of six tentacled dein'ak from within the support chamber that protected them when *she* could not -- creatures that swarmed up her body to commune with their favored companions. Cousins of the Keepers they were, of course -- but with a very different purpose. Instead of merging with and controlling sentient beings, the dein'ak were used to immobilize their prey... and disable those who might interfere with the hunt. And while they easily tired, the dein'ak were, for the most part, *very* good at what they did. Her servants thus freed to do her bidding, Mei'riki turned her attention back to the descent -- and was pleased to see the surface now very near indeed. And when they landed, then would the hunt begin. And soon thereafter... if all went as planned, her Zha'vanare and Anla'shok quarry would once again understand the meaning... Of terror. * * * In hyperspace. Life, as his ancient zhaka-nahr instructor had once taught him, could sometimes be treated as a weavework of questions and answers. In the beginning the pattern would be simple, with more questions than answers. But as time progressed, he had been told, the answers would lead to more difficult questions... and some of those would not be solved before life's-end. Palakz thought he knew the answers to those questions -- believed that he had done the right thing when the Anla'shok warship he hunted had shattered his order of battle above the human world named Sinzar... for in the days that had followed, he had gathered a new order in his hands, and set out to destroy one of the greatest enemies his people had ever possessed. At first glance, this was an easy question to answer -- he was Vekh'shivalht, and Zha'vanare... the leader of the greatest fleet of ships one of his kind had ever commanded. And yet, at the same time, there was no doubt he had also been declared renegade by the Council of Return... for by now the Entire had no doubt accumulated sufficient evidence to conclude that he and his still lived. Less easy, these questions were to address... for if he *was* renegade, he did not serve the Council, did not serve the Entire. Perhaps he served the race as a *whole* instead... yes, this was undoubtedly partly true, for until the Rangers and their warship were destroyed, the race as a whole, both Zha'vanare and Entire, were threatened. And as for who he trusted... he trusted his Favored Claw, of course -- and in the memory of the Ancient Masters for leading him onto the path. That question, of course, had been posed recently by Raeznon herself... and was indeed a difficult one to address. To think beyond the end of this hunt... could not be conceived of, at least for the time being. Once the threat was removed, perhaps then he would address the consequences of his actions, but for now... For now, there were other matters to attend to. Or, as his opponents might say, other fish to fry. For that was another thing the zhaka'nahr had said to him from time to time... that to understand one's enemy, one occasionally had to think as they did. Though whether this would lead him to victory or not... had yet to be determined. "Raeznon..." he rasped, "Our status?" "We approach the system-of-meeting. Your orders?" "We prepare for battle." Palakz replied. "We prepare... To *strike*." * * * "And now," Galen allowed, "The *real* test 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 15, Act III Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2000 22:30:52 -0600 "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE" EPISODE FIFTEEN: "MY MASTER'S KEEPER" (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture) * * * <> Murasaki VI, Northern hemisphere -- 09:47 hrs, EST -- Aug 23, 2267. Julia stood alone on the red sands of the landing site, and tried not to shiver as she watched the brilliant, nearly two and a half AU distant blaze of Murasaki's Star slowly clear the edge of the canyon in front of her... which was even larger than the Mariner Valley on Mars, if Sheynell was to be believed... and why not? After all, her telepath friend *had* spent a lot of her childhood and teenage years on that planet, in the service of the now-disbanded Psi Corps. And then, Julia shivered anyways, as she cast her gaze down into the fog-filled valley bottom over two miles below, and her mind onto other matters. What, exactly, were the Drakh up to this time? Her instincts were telling her... And then, a hand suddenly came down on her shoulder -- and she jumped, before turning to face her operations officer, who was bundled in black thermal garments, as she was... as every other member of the party was -- for the air in this place, while breathable... was *very* cold. "The view is remarkable, is it not?" Larieken declared, his voice even over the inter-suit comm channel. "There are few if any defiles in Minbari territory to compare to this one... and therein lies my concern. Your mind appeared to be on other matters..." "And I'm too close to the edge for your comfort..." Julia replied, her tone wry, "Is that it?" Larieken inclined his head, his expression neutral, and with a sigh, she backed away from the edge, and made her way back towards the shelter they'd erected a short distance away -- a shelter that entered onto the larger cave beneath... an area protected from the winds and also from prying eyes, or so they could hope. While she certainly appreciated her friend's... over- protectiveness, as it had gotten her out of some nasty situations over the past few years, there were *some* days... "Look!" Sheynell suddenly exclaimed, "Here they come!" All too easily she found it, a growing sparkle in the northwest sky... a sparkle that quickly resolved into an arrow-like landing craft with three of the signature Drakh 'petals' surrounding its prow -- a lander that silently, efficiently sank onto the desert sands nearby. A moment passed, and then a small swarm of guards emerged, their heads protected by skull-like helmets, and followed by... Followed by a taller figure, its protective clothing darker and slightly more ornate -- undoubtedly the 'Zha'vanare' who had contacted them earlier. And even as the small Drakh party began to approach, Larieken and Julia made their way through the shelter's entrance and into the warmer region within to prepare for the arrival of their... guests. "Everything," the Minbari cautiously observed, "Would appear to be going according to plan, thus far." "Yeah..." she replied. "And that's what's worrying me." * * * 09:53 hrs, EST. Upon entering the structure erected by his race's Anla'shok enemies and descending to the meeting place below, Belanak found himself tempted to let out a hiss of amusement -- were these the humans that commanded the vessel Palakz had once named 'Adversary'? -- Order be banished, but they were so *young* to have induced so much fear in those he knew! Belanak allowed none of this to reach his face, of course -- keeping his expression impassive, he and his guards approached the Ranger contingent... and then, his amusement grew as the circle of warriors surrounding their leader opened their pikes simultaneously. "That's close enough." his opposite warned, her expression difficult to read. "You wanted to talk us, 'Zha'vanare'... so start talking." "You have shown great initiative in letting this meeting occur." he replied, after a moment. "There are many members of my race who would, if given this opportunity, seek to strike you and yours down where you stand." "But you don't consider yourself part of that group?" the inquisitive reply came, as Belanak joined her at the table of meeting, their respective guards and warriors forming a nervous ring beyond. "Why?" "Ah... but that is the question, isn't it? Perhaps *now* would be a good time to explain a few things to you, Captain Tikopai -- perhaps now would be the time for you to learn some truths about my people, and why..." "You name yourself Zha'vanare?" "All in good time." he cunningly replied. "For now, the most important thing you need to know is that not *every* member of my race wishes to see yours obliterated -- and not every Drakh believes that your Captain Gideon will fail to find a cure to... our plague, before time runs out." "And if the crew of the *Excalibur* do find a cure, what then?" "Many among your kind will seek to destroy us, in turn -- to... ensure that the Drakh responsible for the attack pay for their crimes. I, and others like me, wish only to ensure that the race continues -- that not everything that makes us what we are is lost *when* that most inevitable counterattack begins." "And what are you, if not servants of the Darkness now banished?" the Observer's stern-faced Minbari guardian inquired. "Do you go so far as to claim that not all of you are servants of Chaos, and seekers of revenge?" At this, one of Belanak's own guardians hissed a curse in the ancient -meraaik- dialect -- a dialect that had first originated in the Z'ha'dum polar cities where his people had once enjoyed the height of their power in the dark circles of the Ancient Masters... but then the Rak'shivalht raised one taloned hand, and the younger Zha'vanare fell silent. "You may believe what you wish, *Minbari* -- but in the end, the truth will speak for itself. And in the days to come, you may yet come to realize that there are greater and darker enemies in this universe for you to face then *us*... that in time, all quests may come to an end, and all secrets will come out in the open. And that wars do not last forever. All too few of my race are capable of thinking beyond the here and now.... of considering a life without vengeance and beyond the war I speak of -- the war you fight against my... brethren. But there to be to be peace, some sacrifices must be made -- and someone *must* take the first step." "And that someone is you?" "So he would claim, yes." another voice snarled -- a voice Belanak recognized only too well. And even as the startled Ranger captain rose to her feet in shock, he snarled an ancient curse of his own and whirled to face a dark figure in the cave entrance who hadn't been there a moment before... someone who had made their way past the outer guards without being heard and without being noticed. And that meant... "So he would claim, weakling human!... and that would be his greatest weakness." And even as his guards flung themselves at the one he had feared would come, Belanak knew already that it was too late. The za-deinarakh had come -- *Mei'riki* had come. And now, even the Observer would come to learn the meaning of... terror. * * * a voice shrieked in her mind, as the stone-tipped boots of the hunter scraped against the ground behind her head. "Oh, but it *is*." the hunter whispered, as she knelt at Julia's side. "It is, child. You were so secure in your belief that you could never lose, weren't you? So... believing in your skills, and theirs -- and that nothing could ever harm you. And yet, because of those beliefs, and because of your hope that this one was telling the truth... you fell into my trap. *All* of you fell into my trap." The hunter bared her teeth, and beckoned with one talon -- and against her will, Julia found herself rising to her feet and walking over to join the Drakh she had come to this place to meet -- while trying not to look at the mass of unconscious bodies on the ground around her, a contigent composed both of her own people... and his. A group of protectors who had been disabled seemingly in the blink of an eye by creatures moving so fast that no one had seen them coming. One such was, even now, sitting on her neck between shoulder and ear, its tentacles splayed across her back and... and through her uniform. Julia knew the names of these creatures, knew what the Drakh used them for, and yet, she hadn't, it hadn't... "They are not Keepers, if that is what you are thinking." the hunter replied, derisive amusement in her tone. "The dei'nak do not merge with their victims, but I assure you, Anla'shok, that if you try and escape *or* attempt to aid your comrades -- there will be pain... a great deal of pain, and that if you cause too much trouble, I *will* kill you. You understand this, yes?" "I understand." she whispered between clenched teeth. "What do you want?" "Ah..." the hunter replied, "There it is -- the question of questions. It is not what I want, Anla'shok, but what the *Renegade* wants... and he is coming to this place, drawn by a traitor in our midst, a traitor who serves my purposes as well. And when he arrives..." She frowned -- the Renegade? Who, in Valen's Name, was this that the hunter was talking about? A renegade Drakh? An enemy of their people? "You don't really think you've got that much time left, do you?" she asked the hunter. "My people..." "Will not interfere." the Drakh replied, her tone still mocking. "You cannot stop them from interfering." "Can I not?" the Drakh asked her. "Are you so sure as to have absolute belief in them... gai-neiu`nak Tikopai?" "Yes." she replied, straightening her back proudly even as the other Drakh averted his eyes -- perhaps because of the title the hunter had given her? What did it mean? "They've never failed me yet..." The hunter clenched her hand, and even though she knew it was coming, Julia still cried out at the pain the dein'ak cast through her -- the same pain the hunter had used to elliminate the rest of her Rangers from the equation. "Prepare, therefore" the Drakh declared, "To have your beliefs... Shattered." * * * 10:15 hrs, EST. The *Shard of Night* was over five hundred kilometers to the northwest of the landing site when it happened -- Klairika having authorized Dasouri and the bridge crew to conduct weapons and conduct drills in the absence of her Val'na and the rest of the senior staff. As per Julia's wishes, who had politely suggested that even peace-seeking Drakh were likely to have an itchy trigger finger, and that having the firepower of a fully-armed ISA battlecruiser hovering over the 'summit' table might destroy any hope they had to making this work. Klairika had guardedly agreed with that suggestion, apart from reminding her captain that it would still be a good idea to have their 'ace in the hole' hiding nearby in case things got hot... that 'ace' being Azhahk Fenric and his squadron of Ranger pilots. Things, as it turned out, as she raced back to the bridge, had just turned *hot* -- in a hurry. Which meant that all bets about the success of the talks were now off. "Dasouri..." she managed, "What news?" "All efforts at re-establishing contact with landing base have failed." the young Drazi gruffly replied as he moved to the executive officer's station, even as Klairika took his place in the captain's chair of the *Shard* -- his regular station and all the rest being filled with more junior members of the crew for the time being. "We have also lost contact with Mr. Fenric and his fighter group -- their present location is unknown." "Mr. Dawson," she frostily inquired, turning to face the engineer, "Were we not given to understand during the course of one of your early briefings that this should not even be *possible*?" "In spades, yeah!" Dawson exclaimed, his expression showing exactly how amused he was by this latest turn of events even as he conferred with a small group of his Minbari comrades... which was not at all. "As near as we can tell, there's some sort of *distortion* field interfering with the whiskers and the comm system..." "I see. Not that it matters -- as we are about to proceed to the conference site to determine the status of our landing team..." But even as the *Shard*'s helmsman moved to act on that command, two other events interfered, one unpleasant, and another... more than distressing. "Na'lai!" Dasouri exclaimed, "Sensors indicate jump points opening in orbit... MANY jump points!" And even as Dasouri said those words, most every system and console in the Interstellar Alliance warship named *Shard of Night* suddenly failed simultaneously -- and an astonished Klairika barely had time to rise to her feet before the battlecruiser pitched over onto its nose and sailed off across the dry red plains of Murasaki VI, completely out of control. Luckily for everyone concerned, artificial gravity, life support and the darklight stealth systems were not included in that category. * * * In a dark place, an equally dark figure finished casting his latest spell, and observed that all was going according to plan... for everyone concerned. There was one more card to play before this game would finish -- but the time for that move was not yet. Very soon now... but *not* yet. * * * Far above the north pole of Murasaki VI, space crackled, and then tore... and their ranks ordered, Palakz's order of battle moved out of hyperspace and formed up around the NELAZIZ, their warleader's flagship. "Raeznon..." Palakz inquired, as his Favored Claw bent over her display, "Are we being hailed by our... contact?" "We *are* being hailed, Vekh'shivalht." the other Drakh acknowledged, "And the code pattern would appear to be the correct one." "And what of Tikopai and her light-cursed Rangers?" Palakz spat. "And her even more cursed warship? Are they here?" "If their stealth systems are operational," Raeznon reminded him, "It will be difficult to detect their presence." "But *not* impossible." Palakz replied, as his surrounding support vessels and fighters settled into high orbit. "Certain parts of the Minbari's... intelligence indicated that there are weaknesses in the stealth design. This time, if they are here and they choose to attack, we may have some warning. But for now, perhaps we should have a word with our... accomplice." Raeznon nodded -- and a moment later, the face of another Drakh appeared on the viewscreen... and then it was that Palakz spat out an oath... as every other Drakh on the bridge either averted their eyes... or snarled in anger. "MEI'RIKI!" "In the flesh, zha'neilag Palakz." the hunter replied. "I must assume from your expression that you were not expecting to find me here... but no matter. I have a... proposition for you -- and a gift, as well." Palakz watched as Mei'riki's eyes hardened and she beckoned at someone offscreen -- and then his widened as a disheveled, dark haired human woman appeared in the field of view -- very young, with a jade badge on her breast... her gaze defiant, even now. Palakz winced -- 'shade of destiny' the hunter had named him -- what *was* Mei'riki up to, this time? One thing was certain, however -- he recognized the human female in Mei'riki's clutches... it was Tikopai. How had the hunter done it? "Can it be? You have captured my enemy, my adversary?" "Indeed it can. We know of your long standing hatred towards this human, and of your quest to deal with the threat she represents to the race. What would you say if I were to suggest giving this *Anla'shok* to you, as a gift?" "The only gifts given by hunters are deadly ones in our experience. I would say... try again, Mei'riki -- convince us that you are telling the truth -- convince us that you are not serving the Entire in this matter." "We do not serve the Entire in all things." Mei'riki replied. "We would bargain with you on this matter, if you are so willing." "Vekh'shivalht!" Raeznon suddenly exclaimed, "You cannot mean to trust this creature... she is a servant of the Entire, and not one of us..." Palakz snarled out a command, and after a moment, his First resentfully subsided. "Convince me that my Favored Claw's opinion of you is an inaccurate one. And tell me why I should bargain with you for the ownership of this human." "Believe me or do not, I do not care either way." Mei'riki said. "My hunt is over -- and yours may be, as well, if you are willing to take the chance that I am telling the truth, that is. Again I ask you -- will you bargain with me for the ownership of this *Anla'shok*... while I return to the Entire with the traitor she helped to lure into my trap?" "I must admit that your... proposition interests me." Palakz finally admitted, even as he watched Raeznon slowly shake her head out of the corner of his eye. "Certain guarantees must be made, of course, before we proceed with this. First... I will not come alone to this meeting place of yours." "Accepted." "And what of the Anla'shok female's warship?" "My... associates have assured me that it will be otherwise occupied for the duration of our discussion." Mei'riki continued. "And now, Palakz, I ask you one final time... will you come to this place, or not?" The decision, when it came, was easier than he had expected it would be. "I will come." And thus were two fates decided. * * * While elsewhere, another Drakh made another decision, and some moments thereafter, descended from her own stealthily hidden command to take part in the movement to come. * * * Elsewhere, another portal opened, and after a moment, two ships left the hyperspace realm and re-entered normal space -- one of them Alyt Rahkeel's 'Stormwind'... and the other, the mysterious, perhaps partly organic ship controlled by the human who had named himself ' The messenger'. Rahkeel, while he had rested for a short time during the journey, had found himself filled with anticipation for what was to come... and now that they had passed the Messenger's... test, perhaps they would learn what, exactly, this was all about. "There is a message incoming from *his* vessel, Alyt." Tirivail sourly informed him, and at this, Rahkeel chuckled. She would not, of course, call the Messenger by the title he had given himself... and he thought he understood why... for had not their Shai Alyt once said that 'a warrior can accumulate all the titles he wants, and still lose the most important of battles?' "Very well -- let us see what he has to say to us *this* time." And then, even as the face of the other captain appeared, Rahkeel made his move. "And now, 'Messenger' -- perhaps it is time to cast aside all veils. Perhaps now it is time for you to tell us exactly what this is all about." "Tell you, no." the Messenger replied. And then, before either Rahkeel or Tirivail could reply, the tall, grey-haired man said one more thing. "*Show* you, yes." And that was when *another* ship suddenly appeared beyond the Messenger's -- a ship of darkness, and of purpose. "Now do you understand why I have drawn you here? And what it is we now must do?" There was a pause as Rahkeel and Tirivail looked at one another, their expressions bleak... and then he turned back to face the Messenger, and nodded. "We understand." The things both Minbari had wanted to say remained unsaid, however. Into darkness they had travelled, this Rahkeel would now freely admit. Whether there would be a dawn to follow, however... was now in doubt. * * * To be continued! * * * http://www.connect.ab.ca/~dgolding/star_circle.html From: David Goldingay Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode 15, Act IV Date: Fri, 08 Sep 2000 22:08:34 -0600 And here it is at last... yes, folks, I'm finally almost done with this one. And once it is done -- things begin to get a little more (ahem) interesting. You'll see what I mean, soon enough! * * * "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE" EPISODE FIFTEEN: "MY MASTER'S KEEPER" (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture) * * * <> Murasaki VI, Northern hemisphere -- on the edge of the Great Canyon... underground. 10:51 hrs, EST -- Aug 23, 2267. Julia's eyelashes flickered as consciousness returned... as she slowly emerged from the dark place the Drakh hunter had flung her into... almost an hour before? She remembered... throwing herself desperately at the hunter, knowing even as the action was taken that the creature on her shoulder would probably stop her from succeeding in the attempt. The Drakh had shaken its head sadly, and clenched a fist. A moment later, the pain had enveloped her, and now... "Get up." the hunter hissed, and Julia cried out as the dei'nak sent repeated, stabbing pains shooting down her backbone... as a warning, no doubt, that its mistress's commands were not to be ignored again. "You would do well to think more carefully before you attack me again -- next time, I will not be so kind. Understand that it has been long since I have allowed the dei'nak free rein with their prey... too long by far -- but if you press me too far, human, I *will* let them have their way with you." "Why are you doing this?" she managed. "This 'renegade' you mentioned, why does he..." "Want you?" the hunter replied, her tone once more one of amusement. "So smart you are supposed to be, Tikopai-Observer... so *intelligent* in the ways of your craft and your order. And yet you play at being ignorant of the Renegade's identity? His name, in your tongue, child -- would best be translated as 'Palakz'... and I can remember the day when he was one of our greatest warleaders..." "You say... was." The hunter nodded... bitterly? "Palakz commanded the order of warships that was ordered to attack the world your race knows as Sinzar -- the battlegroup you and your crew destroyed, yes?" "In Valen's name... " Of course. It was bound to happen eventually, and now it had -- as any student of physics knew, for every action, there was supposed to be an equal and opposite reaction. Julia had ordered the ships under the command of this 'Palakz' annihillated at Sinzar, and now, it seemed that the results of that action were coming back to haunt her. "Swearing in *his* name will not help you this time." the hunter mocked. "I see that you *do* understand my words, however. From the moment of his defeat at Sinzar, Palakz has allowed himself to descend into an obsession over the vessel he named 'Adversary' -- your command, Tikopai-Observer... the invisible Anla'shok warship that haunts my people even now. He has gone so far as to vanish into exile along with his followers among the Zha'vanare... a *complete* battlegroup lost to our Purpose and our guidance! Our... leaders have come to consider this situation intolerable, and thus ordered me to draw Palakz into a trap that he could not possibly escape from." "And you found out about the meeting I was going to have with the other Zha'vanare... sabotaged that summit and captured us all, just so you could draw Palakz into your web?" "Not... exactly." the hunter clarified. "He was coming here in any case -- but it does not hurt, as your kind would say, to possess additional *insurance* as an added precaution. And now, very soon, the Renegade will come... and this game will progress to its inevitable, expected... Conclusion." Except... Julia suddenly stiffened as her Observer's Sense suddenly cried out, and she turned, to see a pair of glittering eyes looking back at her from the shadows beyond the cave entrance.... eyes that vanished from sight a moment later. And in that moment of transition, knew that once again, the rules were about to be changed. Or broken. * * * Palakz had thought of many things during his descent from the NELAZIZ -- what had brought him to this place, what had driven him to lead his order of warriors into exile... and also of the offer the hunter was making to him. At that his lips tightened, even as he quietly, professionally brought his private transport to rest besides the similar vessel that Belanak and his guard had brought to this place, some time before. And how *wrong* it was for him to accept it. The Vekh'shivalht shook his head in bitter amusement as he stepped out onto the desert sands and approached the structure his Anla'shok enemies had constructed... even now, he could hear the voice of his Favored Claw as conscience, asking the questions he was unwilling to approach directly. He would explain it all to her in time -- but the heart-matter was this... a message needed to be sent to the Council and *also* to the Entire -- that the Zha'vanare, so long ground underfoot by their 'betters', should have someone to look up to. And that once this matter was successfully dealt with, he would return to lead them out of servitude. Successfully -- *honorably*. At that thought did Palakz bare his teeth in anger -- how dare Mei'riki subvert the code of -ukrah- that all Drakh warriors lived by? This meeting with his enemy... this was *not* the way it was supposed to be! -Ukrah- demanded that he and Tikopai meet in battle, their crews around them... and that only one ship would survive that encounter. The Minbari's report had told him that his opponent was intelligent for her age... but this situation also showed him that even so, she still lacked experience. Something to remember for later, assuming that the human escaped to return to her own people -- an option that was not at all guaranteed, he darkly mused, even as he descended into the caverns below the Ranger shelter. And then froze, just beyond the cave entrance, as a thin barrel poked into his back... the barrel of a more than active weapon. "That's far enough, I think... Ilv`nar Palakz." * * * *Above*. "We are experiencing a... 'general systems failure', you say?" Raeznon exclaimed, simply unable to believe what it was she was hearing, even as her Vekh'shivalht's Nak'laht scrambled to learn what it was that had caused the sudden loss of power fleet-wide, a loss that had left them unable to launch landing- or attack-craft... unable to protect themselves should the enemy come upon them. "What has caused this?" "Unknown." the reply came. "Though it would appear, Vaarliht, as if some sort of outside interference is at work, here." "Outside... interference?" The words died in Raeznon's throat as her anger cooled enough for her to register an unfamiliar, crawling sensation at the base of her spine -- what did this... And then she remembered. Remembered the words of the ancient magus who had once come among the youthlings of her clan, many years before. An ancient master who had warned of workings they might encounter in their travels -- of sorcerers who worked for neither the Ancient Masters nor their opponents. The magus had also warned her, personally, that he sensed some sort of 'latency' about her, that while she was incapable of magery herself, that she might be able to sense... A mage at work. And now it had happened, and if this was true, if *they* were involved in this... Then everything had changed. "So..." she hissed, "Perhaps *they* are the ones responsible for this, then. It is all now beginning to make some sort of sense." "They?" the underling inquired, his expression puzzled. "They who?" "They... who?" Raeznon icily inquired. "Why, the *Technomages*, of course... the technomages. And now that they are involved... it would appear that our troubles are only beginning." * * * Elsewhere, the figure in black observed the status of his spellwork, shook his head sadly, and sighed. Sooner rather than later, the balance would be upset, and the stasis he had imposed upon the weapons of war involved in this nexus would fail. And when that happened -- at least one of the parties involved might very well die. And not even *he* knew which. * * * *Below*. "Fal'meain?" Palakz whispered, as he and his third-born turned to face one another. "By the memory of Darkness... it *is* you! But how? What brings you to this place?" He had known her in the instant she had spoke, of course... for she had addressed him by the ancient patriarchal title of *Ilv'nar* -- a title not often used by either branch of his People in this day and age. "Long you have been apart from us -- so you cannot know what has happened since you and your warriors began the quest to find the Interstellar Alliance warriors who destroyed your order of battle at the human colony world Sinzar. I chose to align myself with Rak'shivalht Belanak, to walk upon his path, and in the shadow of his... greatness. That path brought me to this place, and now..." "And now, anything is possible!" Palakz hissed, his eyes glinting brightly in the darkness. "Have you brought your Protectors with you? -- those that were given to you on your naming day?" The younger Drakh inclined her head. "And so has my Rak'shivalht." Fal'meain continued. "Together, we could easily bring down the hunter, snare her prize and deal with our enemies, including the one you seek. And yet..." "And yet, sacrifices may yet be necessary in order for -ukrah- to be maintained." Palakz replied, his tone now full of regret. "Mei'riki is expecting my arrival -- and what she is expecting, we will give her." "And more. Sacrifices, you said?" "Yes." "I understand, my Ilv`nar." Fal'maein acknowledged. "You shall have your day in the darkness... this I swear, by the memory of the Ancient Masters who look down on us from Beyond." "No more will I ask." * * * "Ah... Palakz -- at last you come to us." Julia turned towards the cave entrance at those words -- and rose to her feet when she saw who it was that was standing there... a tall Drakh, much taller than the hunter, his expression forbidding. "You choose to honor our bargain, then?" "I come before you this day to say what I must." the warrior Drakh replied. "Understand that what you have done cannot be forgiven -- you have made a mockery of our codes -- and yet..." "Your codes, your precious *ukrah* -- mean nothing to me." Mei'riki spat. "We have an agreement, you and I -- I am to return to the Entire with my prisoner, while *you* may have this one, in exchange for your non-interference on this matter." Mei'riki clenched her fist, and Julia stumbled forwards toward the warrior with a cry, as the dei'nak on her shoulder reacted to its mistress's command. A sibilant hiss emerged from the warrior's mouth a moment later -- and after a moment, Julia came to realize that this was the Drakh equivalent of laughter. "As in, the bargain you intended to break from the start?" "To what do you refer?" "Come now, za-deinarakh... do you take me for a fool? I look into the eyes of my enemy, and see written there your duplicity. We are destined to meet on the battlefield one day, her and I... but -ukrah- demands that I deal with this matter in one way, and one way *only*." "You fool!" Mei'riki spat. "Then this one means nothing to you, or I, for that matter. And the Entire, therefore, demands that she die..." Several things happened in quick succession, then -- even as she tensed, waiting for the pain to return, the pain dealt out by the hunter's creature, another tentacled lifeform, as quick as the dei'nak, leapt across the cavern... and struck the dei'nak on her shoulder squarely in its tiny living core. A moment later, both creatures were gone... even as Belanak rose to his feet, a forbidding expression on his face. Julia's eyes widened -- it had seemed to her as if that Drakh had been unconscious the whole time she and the Hunter had been speaking to one another... but now this appeared not to be the case at all! "Her day may yet come, za-deinarakh... but that day is not this day. Even I understand the strictures of the warrior's code... and what you plan cannot *be*." At that, Mei'riki laughed herself, even as her small legion of dei'nak gathered close, their eyes wide and hungry. "So... you and the warrior have Protectors, do you? That is... unfortunate -- my dei'nak will kill them slowly, and then..." "*Wrong*." yet *another* voice hissed, and now Mei'riki's eyes widened as yet ANOTHER Drakh appeared -- with four more of the creatures Julia now knew to be Protectors sitting on her shoulders, ready and waiting to join the battle. "You shall not have them, Hunter -- so I swear it, by the memory of the Ancient Masters!" "Then the battle will be an even-sided one." Mei'riki replied. "Whenever you are ready." There was a shriek -- and then something struck Julia on the side of the head, and she knew no more. * * * Elsewhere... Galen knew that the test would not last forever -- and now the time had come to, as those among his own race were known to say from time, 'cut his losses' while he still could. His promises... had been kept, and perhaps the students had learned the lesson he had wanted to teach them. Perhaps. * * * "Val'na! Can you hear us... are you well?" Someone was shaking her shoulder -- and a moment later, Julia jerked her hand up to catch the one that was shaking her. "Larieken?" "Val'na... you are well?" "Well enough." she finally admitted, as her Minbari friend helped her to her feet. "Nothing seems to be broken -- and I... ow!" "'Ow', she says." another voice intoned, and Julia turned in relief as Veyshahk appeared through the entrance of the cavern, Klairika at his side. "If 'ow' is all it is, then perhaps you were not injured so severely as your young protector feared." "But... the Drakh!" Julia blurted, as she spun around on her feet to take in the figures surrounding her -- all were Rangers. "What happened to the Drakh?" "That is something I would like to have an answer to myself." Klairika sharply replied, as she came to Julia's side. "As well as an answer to what immobilized your command *as* well as every other ship in the system during the heart of the crisis." "Immobilized?" Julia inquired, her eyes now gone hard as Veyshahk ran a medical sensor over her battered uniform jacket. "Explain." "It all began when we lost contact with you and the others..." the Brakiri replied. "Immediately afterwards, a great deal of the *Shard*'s systems began to act... oddly, and for a while, we were, what is the word? -- ah yes, *careening* madly across the landscape. Mr. Dawson, as you might well imagine, was not pleased." "Oh *yeah*," Julia replied with a grin, "I *can* imagine. But as you were saying?" "Shortly after that, what appeared to be a complete Drakh order of battle entered the system -- and then another of their transports descended to the landing site. Shortly after *that* all of the warships in that Order were also briefly rendered powerless. May I ask if you encountered the occupant or occupants of that lander?" Julia nodded, thinking of the warrior named Palakz -- the Drakh that Mei'riki had named as her enemy. "I *did* -- but what happened afterwards..." "A short time passed," Klairika concluded, "And then that transport, in addition to the one belonging to the Zha'vanare we came here to meet, ascended to their respective ships... and then *all* of the Drakh vessels departed." "Two..." Julia clarified, "Not three?" "That is correct." Klairika acknowledged with a small frown. "If I may inquire..." "*Someone* didn't make it back to their ship..." Julia mused, as she and the other Rangers made their way out of the cave-of-meeting and back up into the light above. "Now I wonder who *that* could be?" And then it was that her breath caught in her lungs, even as her first officer spoke through the commlink to the Rangers waiting in the *Shard of Night*, even now descending into a hover above the edge of the canyon. What had Galen said to her in the dream... 'beware false messengers'? The implication... the implication was clear -- *one* of the factions amongst the Drakh she'd encountered this day had been telling the truth... and some if not all of the other had been lying. Which one it was, be it hunter, warrior or Zha'vanare, she could not say... but one thing *was* clear, however -- one day, if this code of -ukrah- the warrior swore by was to be believed... one day soon, she and Palakz would meet on the battleground. And only *one* of them would leave it. * * * "So..." Palakz muttered, as he stalked back and forth in front of the battered hunter he had captured with the help of his fellow Zha'vanare, Drakh who had helped him in order that all survive. "What *are* we to do with you, Mei'riki?" Belanak had not been pleased, of course, to receive a warning from a warrior... but in time, and with the added persuasion of his own Favored Claw, the worker-captain had eventually agreed with Palakz's points. In time, and under duress. This was not the time for peace -- would not be the time for peace until several... situations were resolved. The first thing to consider, of course -- was the humans hunting for the cure. If Gideon and his followers actually managed to find the cure to the plague the Drakh had unleashed upon humanity, than would the wrath of their race be great -- then might they send their warriors against his People. Palakz and his fellow Vekh'shivalht would be waiting for that day - for Belanak *had* been right about one thing... no matter what, the People had to survive, would have to, one day, progress beyond the need for revenge if they were to survive. But that day was not today... and the path that Belanak had been walking upon was not the correct one to follow. Which brought him to his other problem -- that of the human warrior female named Tikopai, the female who had been humbled by the hunter in front of him... the enemy he had set free, in order for -ukrah- to be maintained. Until they met in battle, and the question of who was fittest was answered... "What are we to do with you?" he repeated. "Now that your plan has failed?" The hunter did not speak. "You would have me decide for you, then? Very well -- you chose to engage the Zha'vanare, and you failed. In return, you will serve *me* until I say otherwise... and I will be assigning Watchers so that you will not stray." "What are you planning, Palakz?" Mei'riki managed. "What is this all about?" "Greater plans are afoot than any of you realize." Palakz replied, his tone now cunning. "And one facet of those plans is about to be fulfilled. Raeznon!" "My Vekh'shivalht... command me." "Have we reached the rendezvous point, yet?" "We have." "Then bring us out of hyperspace. If all has gone as planned, Guttricht and the Minbari *should* be waiting for us. What is this all about, you ask?" Palakz allowed, turning back to face the hunter. "An alliance has been made... an alliance that we should have exploited from the start." "You cannot mean to say..." "I can -- I do." Palakz said. "The -shatoz- await us, Mei'riki -- the -shatoz- await. And it would not *do* for us to be late." * * * To be concluded... http://www.connect.ab.ca/~dgolding/star_circle.html From: David Goldingay Subject: STAR AND CIRCLE: "The Seeker's Fire", Episode 15, Envoi Date: Sat, 09 Sep 2000 23:42:08 -0600 "STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE" EPISODE FIFTEEN: "MY MASTER'S KEEPER" (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture) * * * <> Interstellar Alliance Starship *Shard of Night* -- Captain's quarters -- 21:15 hrs, Aug 24th, 2267. As much as she'd hoped this wasn't going to happen, it had anyways. It had taken somewhat more than a day for word of their latest exploits to reach ISA HQ on Minbar, and now... now it was time to face the music. "So... let me see if I've got this *straight* in my head..." Julia's High Councillor muttered, as he paced back and forth in the holographic field of view, "Without asking for advice or checking with us to see if *any* of this made sense, you decided to make contact with this 'Zha'vanare' -- a Drakh claiming to come in peace..." "Yes, sir." "Said Drakh was later ambushed by another, a hunter claiming to come both in search of the peaceful one *and* another she named 'Renegade' -- the Drakh in charge of the fleet you and your crew destroyed at Sinzar..." "Yes... sir." "At the same time as your command is *mysteriously* incapacitated, your crew rendered powerless to aid you in your time of need. And the only thing that saved you..." Councillor Westcastle darkly observed, "Was this -- when the renegade..." "His name is... Palakz, sir." "Did I *ask* for you to interrupt my train of thought, Val'na?" the Rimstalker barked. "*No*, sir." Julia managed. "You didn't." "When this *Palakz* showed up, the only thing that saved you was the fact that all the other Drakh apparently hated this 'hunter' more than they hated you? And then they departed with said hunter, leaving you unharmed... because this warrior enemy of yours didn't want to upset a Drakh military code that states that you and he must meet in battle, or else risk upsetting said code?" "That... does appear to be the case. Sir." There was a pause, and then Westcastle snorted. "'Sir' this and 'sir' that -- how long has it been since someone's told you off?" "A *while*, actually." she carefully replied. "And now you come to mention it..." "Well, even star pupils *are* known to screw up from time to time." Westcastle finally admitted. "In any case -- may I assume that in the future, you'll think first before turning away from your primary mission on a wild goose chase... especially if that chase involves come into close and personal contact with a Drakh who would like nothing better than to kill you?" "Yes, sir... you *might* at that." "In that case, Julia..." Wiliam concluded, his tone quickly becoming more congenial, "I think we're done with lectures for the time being. I've just received word that Captain Gideon and his crew are proceeding to investigate a world on the fringes of the former Vorlon Empire... you and your crew would be well advised to watch for trouble -- and keep yourself out of the same, if you can *manage* it." "We'll try to keep that in mind." she said with a laugh. "Unfortunately... it *does* appear that trouble seems to come looking for us..." "So I've noticed." Westcastle admitted with a sigh. "ISA HQ... out." Julia shivered as the connection severed -- and turned away from her comm terminal with a yawn. "Star pupil, huh?" she muttered, shaking her head wearily. "There's days when I wish I'd never taken on this job..." "Do not deceive yourself, Miss Tikopai." a familiar voice intoned. "Even *I* know and understand the meaning of destiny's call. You are in the right place, for the right reasons... doing the right things. But it does not hurt to remember that *humility* is also an quality to prize in oneself, and others." "Galen!" Julia whirled, to find a shimmery image of the technomage hanging in the corner of her quarters. "How, why..." "You are asking the wrong question." the technomage replied, his tone cool. "Instead, perhaps you should ask *who* was responsible for the unpleasantness just past." Julia's eyes narrowed and then flared with anger as she understood what her uninvited guest was getting at. "You? But..." "Why?" Galen laughed, the sound bitter in the silence surrounding them both. "I have watched you since long before your present rise to command, young Tikopai... I have seen you walking in the paths of giants, protected by your friends... associating with those who have changed the shape of the galaxy. You have, in your years upon the dark and starry ways, witnessed many great and terrible things... and you have come, I believe, to believe yourself invulnerable." "What? But's that not..." "The truth?" the technomage challenged. "Ah, but what is the truth... and who is to say who is right, and who is wrong? The Drakh hunter, who sought to capture you and the renegade... was she wrong to do what she did? Or Belanak, who seeks a peaceful solution to the conflict between his people and humanity? Or Palakz... who blames you for the loss of those who served him, and would rather meet you on the battlefield than face to face? They all believe that they are doing the right thing... can you say the same?" "I... I don't know." Julia finally admitted. "I guess... sometimes we have to learn the hard way if we're doing the right thing, or not." "Sometimes, that is the only way to learn -- even and especially *if* your life is endangered in the process. Remember, however... that this was only a test." Galen cautioned. "The Drakh responded as I had suspected they would... and as such, you were never *really* in any danger. Next time, however... the fates may not be so kind -- and to think yourself incapable of losing may place you in great danger... may, in fact, doom you and those who follow you to destruction at the hands of your enemies. Do you understand?" "Yes." she whispered. "The student understands the lesson she has been taught." "Then we may both yet live to see our purposes fulfilled." Galen allowed, as a small and *very* grim smile appeared on his face. "Until our next meeting, then, Seeker... keep to the path. And all may yet be as I have forseen." * * * Elsewhere... "So, Rahkeel..." Palakz began, as he and the still wary commander of the *Stormwind* sat down to table together, "Perhaps *now* you understand the situation we face. Apart, we may never find the victory we seek, but together... together, along with the new resources that I have uncovered with the help of my... agents, victory may yet be within our grasp." "I never thought this day would come..." Rahkeel slowly admitted, "But perhaps you are right, Drakh. Perhaps this is the only way we *can* succeed in bringing down Tikopai and her Rangers without Sheridan and the Alliance tracking us down... without Gideon and his damned crew coming after us, as well. Perhaps..." "I would remind you, however, that the -shatoz- are, as yet, untested in battle against either the daggership named *Excalibur* or Tikopai's light-cursed warship." Palakz growled. "The technology was tested before the conflict you know as the... 'Shadow' War, but since then -- our associates have had few if any opportunities to continue their... experiments. We must move carefully with this matter, Minbari... *very* carefully. If either of our races learn of this matter..." The meaning... was obvious. Neither Shai Alyt Kozorr and his warriors nor the Drakh Entire would be... pleased to learn of this alliance between warriors that had once stood in opposing camps, before the boundaries between those camps has become... blurred. "And if Gideon does find out what is going on... what then?" Rahkeel inquired. "One thing at a time, Alyt Rahkeel." the Drakh replied. "One thing... at a time." * * * Next -- even as a mysterious warship of darkness appears and begins a series of wanton attacks across ISA space, two of the Rangers onboard the 'Shard of Night' come to discover that their 'simple scouting mission' has just become a struggle... for survival. "The Few and Far Between" -- the 16th episode of "S&C". Coming soon... http://www.connect.ab.ca/~dgolding/index.htm