Meredith D. Holt beckihblumer@fuse.net The Shadows of Yesterday, The Whispers of Tomorrow No Adult Warnings "Shadows Of Yesterday, Whispers of Tomorrow" by Meredith D. Holt Hi (agian), Yup, its me agian. Don't I get annoying? Well, some of you may have been wondering exactly WHAT happened after Kathy Franklin came out of exile, so here is a story to tell you. If you haven't read the previous story: "In the Shadow of My Dreams" then it may be a good idea since this is kinda hard to understand. The prequel, "On Winds of Time" isn't finished yet, but the first 5 parts are at Alternate Universe Today, along with "In the Shadow of My Dreams." WARNING: This IS an alternate universe story, so if you are offended by such things then this is not a story for you. A bunch of virtual roses and flarn to Adam, Liz Irionheart and Genisis Grace Heart, my beta readers and some virtual stress pills to my mom for putting up with crazy ol me. Also a virtual baby blanket to my friend, Sunshine. Once more to Genisis for her inspirational poems, "Deep" and "Are you there?", they do depress me so. Enough blab, talk is cheap. Love Always, Meredith Legal Disclaimer: I am not the genius behind Babylon 5, good Great Maker Joe is. I do not finance it, PTEN and WB do. I do however, watch it, read it, and dream about it. Most of these places and characters are the property of one J. Michael Straczynski, they do however run around in my head on occasion. Celest Sheridan Holt-Stargate, Estara Holt-Stargate Sheridan, Hannha Holt-Stargate Franklin, Kathy Franklin, Fay Franklin Cole, Lucill Cole, Marc Cole, Amia Garibadli, Leslie Garibaldi, Al Bester Jr., Gerra Holt-Stargate, Anakin Holt-Stargate, Yundle Holt-Stargate, Stephen Franklin Jr, Luc, Nic, Len, Lizboth and Toria Holt-Stargate are my Characters, so please ask if you want to use any of them. Personal Disclaimer: I am, a hopeless Irish Romantic, this is a dangerous thing to be, ask my dear Adam, he will tell you. I promise not to hurt John or Delenn, but anybody else is fair game. Also I am not responsible for Kathy's mental state, she was formed from Genisis' personality. Character Summary: Aleia Holt-Stargate- Lennier's human wife, a seer. Anakin Holt-Stargate- Aleia's eldest adoptive son. Gerra- Anakin's Centari Wife. Luc, Nic, & Len- Anakin's sons Lizboth and Toria- Anakin's Daughters. Sofie Holt-Stargate- Aleia's eldest adoptive daughter. Estara Holt-Stargate- Aleia's Eldest natural daughter. David Sheridan- Estara's husband Yundle Holt-Stargate- Aleia's Eldest Natural Son Celest Sheridan Holt-Stargate- Yundle's Wife. Hannha Holt-Stargate Franklin- Aleia's youngest natural daughter Stephen Franklin Jr.- Hannha's husband Marc Cole- Marcus Cole and Susan Ivonava's eldest Lucill Cole- Marc's little sister Eleen Holt-Stargate Franklin- Stephen Franklin's wife Fay Cora Franklin- Eleen's daughter Kathy Annabelle Franklin- Fay's Twin Leslie Marie Garibaldi- Michael Garibaldi & the late Lise Hampton's daughter. Amia Garibaldi- Michael Garibaldi's daughter by Talia Winters Wesly Holt-Stargate- Aleia's younger brother Janice Bennet Holt-Stargate- Wes' wife Sylvia Holt-Stargate- Wes' only daughter Prologue-"Shadow Tears"- 3419- Earth Kathy Annabelle Franklin was crying. Her tears slipped from her eyes down her cheeks, indenting the brown dusty earth. She felt like running, but there was no where to run, no one to run to. Every one on Earth was dead, and she was all alone, forever. For the first time since she had turned fourteen, 1145 years ago, the dark necklace that controlled her was silent. The whisper woman, the shadow that was trapped in the necklace, no long taunted or even spoke. Perhaps she mourned the loose of Kathy's companion, Anna. Anna Sheridan, the second wife of Kathy's 'uncle'. but this was unlikely, even though the necklace had once been worn by Anna, the Whisper woman loved no one. The necklace, the heart shaped black medallion on the golden chain that Kathy had found when she was 5 was silent. It normally controlled her every move, telling her if she didn't do what she was told, it would break, detaching itself from her, and she would die. As much as Kathy hated living in the dark corners of her mind, she knew that life held hope, and she had to keep living. Now everyone was dead. Her sister Fay, her mother, her father, her little brother, her best friends, even the boy she had wanted to marry. Dead, all of them. 1,070 years dead. And now, so was the entire earth population, and it was all Kathy's fault. While under the influence of the Dark Necklace, she had sent a virus to Earth, killing everyone, eating away at their bodies like a chemical, and now, leaving only the structures behind. It was like everyone had just up and left. Anna had been killed when their damaged ship had plummeted to the Earth after the virus had dissipated. So Kathy was all alone. She sat on a rock, wishing she could change things. The desert sky was dotted with clouds, blue and brilliant. Kathy saw the near by cave and for once, sought solace in the darkness. She wandered inside. It was an old Hopi burial cave, really old. Noticing a beautiful bowl on one of the ledges, Kathy meandered over to it, picking it up. Inside were nine smooth black stones, and three smooth blue stones. The Bowl was engraved with the words: What might have been? What can I change? Is time fluid, To rearrange, Here in the darkest hour, I lay out these stones, I feel the power. It was a strange inscription, but this place was also strange. It felt of Vorlon influence, which Kathy took an unexpected comfort in. There were no bats in this cave, no spiders, cobwebs, or dust. It was clean, how odd. Kathy wandered further into the cave and saw that a stone floor had been laid in. It had a circular pattern on it, like, a map of the universe. In the center there were to circles, one had nine back points on it, the other three blue. The out side read: "Patterns, circles of light and dark, back and forth, time to change what has gone before." Suddenly it hit her. Time travel! This place was a Vorlon cave, put here for what Kathy didn't know, but she could change her mistakes, fix it so that she never found that damned necklace. Kneeling on the stone, her black velvet gown drinking in the cold, she drew the stones out of the bowl and set them on their places. Nothing happened. Then Kathy notices a dark heart in the center of the circles. She yanked off her necklace and placed it there. The wind rushed in from outside the cave and an electric blue light enveloped her. A bright swirling pool of even brighter blue light was where the circles had been. Kathy tentatively put her foot in, then boldly jumped in. {Time Surged} { Yesterday's Voices asked} { the Tomorrow's replied} Part 1- "Daylight on Za'ha'dum"-2257 Kathy found herself standing outside the main entrance to the main Shadow Capital, loosely translated into English as: "Darkness". She pulled her hood over her head and glanced about. The Shadows were still sleeping. Anna and the Icarus had yet to arrive and awaken them. Using her pass code, given to her by the necklace, Kathy opened the pressure lock and walked in. The air was stale, as she walked down the halls to the human sector. Here one black door stood out from all the rest, as if daring her to enter. Kathy did. Inside, laying on a velvet cushion was the hated necklace. Kathy walked up to it. [Hello, Kathrine, hello.] Its siren song called. "Oh, no. Not this time." Kathy told it. She reached in her gown and found in her pocket the one thing she had always kept. A book of matches from her "Aunt" Susan and "Uncle" Marcus' wedding. She hadn't allowed the Whisper Woman to destroy them. She opened it now and struck one on the rough surface. [What are you doing, Kathy, dear?] the necklace asked. "Killing you," she told it. With that she dropped the burning match on to the red cushion, and it burst into flames. The necklace was surrounded in the flames, then finally engulfed. Kathy never looked away, even as it cried out to her. [ no, oh, no, no.] It cried. Kathy watched it smolder and the flame extinguish itself. She ripped her cloak and gathered the ashes in the torn piece. As turned and left, closing the sealed door and standing in the blood red sunlight, the dust of a dying culture all around. She took the ashes in her hand, and set them to the wind. Part 2- "Ashes set in gold"- 2284 Celest Sheridan, soon to be Holt-Stargate stood at the door of her father's home, welcoming her family and friends in to celebrate her 22nd brithday. She had changed out of her usual ranger uniform and into a stunning sky blue gown that accented her black hair and delicate bone crest. Her husband to be, Yundle, stood beside her, his arm around her waist pocessivly. Celest smiled as she greeted her 'Aunt' Aleia and 'Uncle' Lennier, soon to be her in laws. Aleia smiled and took her hand, whispering in her ear: "Dear, you look absolutly stunning tonight, my son is very lucky to have caught you." Aleia's eyes gleamed with mischief. Her husband looked down at her and pulled her towards the dance floor. Aleia and Lennier loved to dance, and they were wonderful to see together. Yundle's triplet sister Hannha Holt-Stargate Franklin, stood on stage singing. Her career had taken off like a rocket and already four of her crystals had gone diamond. Yundle's other sister Estara, entered with her husband, Celest's brother David, a moment later. Celest smiled at her best friend, who was now the head advisor to the current Entil'Za, Celest's mother, Delenn. Estara smiled and pressed a small package into her hand. Celest looked at it a moment later. It was a blue and purple crystal. A Mimbari fertility charm. She glance agian to the dance floor, this time to see her mother and father dancing closely, just like the old days. Next came 'Aunt' Eleen and 'Uncle' Stephen Franklin and their daughters. Eleen and Stephen were the head emigration and racial doctors for the Alliance, and their twin daughter, Kathy and Fay had done just as well. Fay, a interstellarly renowned gymnast and Kathy following her parent's foot steps as a doctor. Following this came Aleia's son Anakin and his wife and children. The eager little ones jumped and squealed to see Celest, their favorite baby-sitter. Twelve year old Lizboth and three year old Toria ohhed and awed at Celest's dress before their parents pushed them on. Following them was Uncle Mickey and Aunt Talia and their daughter, Amia. Also with them was Mckey's first wife's daughter, Leslie. Marcus and Susan soon joined in with their children Marc and Lucill. Sofie, was the last to join them, apologizing for being late due to her explorer ships late landing. Celest smiled, her whole family was here, she felt safe and warm, not wishing to ponder the possibilities of another day. Part 3- "The Calling of my Heart." (Aka. The Call of the Stars Revised.)2285 aboard White Star 93, the Cassiopia. My name is Celest Sheridan Holt-Stargate, yeah, I'm the Entil'Za of the rangers. My mother, Delenn, the former Entil 'Za is so proud that I have taken this up. And so am I. I gaze out at the stars from my command chair, marveling at their beauty. They are forever, and they will be here when I am done. My revere is broken by my husband Yundle. "Hey, love." he calls to me. I turn and smile. Some say that love fades in marriage, but ours, like our parents, grows and flourishes. "Yes?" I ask him. "What has my free floating agent of chaos have for me?" "Great news!" He tells me. It must be good, he radiates happiness and joy. "Well, am I to die waiting?" I tease him. "Your father just announced the building of a new interstellar space station, the Jerusalem project!" he tells me. I feel as if I shall burst into tears of joy. My father always wanted another Babylon 5. I guess he'll get his wish. "And," Yundle adds, beaming, "You and I are being asked to command it!" Now I do start to cry. Headless of my crew I jump into his arms as he swings me wildly. The crew nods, knowingly, they understand. we stand on the edge of a new age. The year is 2284, the place, Jerusalem Station.