"STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE"
EPISODE THIRTEEN: "THE FLAME IN THE CRYSTAL"

         (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture)

* * *

        <<Act Two>>

        The 'Shard of Night' -- in hyperspace near cluster Messier 2. 09:43 hrs, EST -- Aug 6, 2267.

        "So..." Julia asked, as Dasouri brought the 'Shard' to a relative stop less than a mile above one slender tip of the massive Cha'hal'zhamon habitat, "What now?"

        "You must prepare yourself for the discussion to come, as you have no doubt already surmised." Lorien replied, his expression maddeningly calm. "Understand that this will not be easy for you -- but that it is necessary. They wish to aid you, Observer... but the Cha'hal'zhamon are, as your leader has no doubt already told you, not like any other species in this galaxy, or beyond -- even the ancient ones you name 'Shadows' are understandable compared to them."

        Julia closed her eyes and nodded as William's words returned to her, fresh as the day he had spoken them, almost five years before. "I remember. What the High Councillor told me, just after he arrived on Minbar to take on his new position, was this... the Cha'hal'zhamon spoke to him in his dreams."

        "And while that is true... we do not have the time to spare to wait for you to enter the world of the Dream." The First One sighed. "I fear a more *direct* approach may be called for."

        "Val'na!" Sheynell warned a moment later, "An energy impulse has left the side of the Cha'hal'zhamon construct, coming this way -- impact in forty seconds... thirty..."

        "Let it come." Julia took a deep breath, and rose to her feet -- and was surprised indeed when Lorien extended his hand to meet hers. "You will help me?"

        The First One nodded. "As I have helped those in need before, so now will I shield you from the worst of what must be." And then it was that the energy impulse launched from the Cha'hal'zhamon place of power entered the bridge...

        And encased her in reddish-green fire. For the briefest moment, there was pain -- and then she *felt* Lorien intervene -- and the pain faded away, even as something passed in front of her eyes...

* * *

        To be replaced by darkness -- and a voice... pleasant and even. "You do not belong in this place. Why are you here?"

        "A mistake was made." she whispered. "A race of weapons was created -- a race imprisoned by the Shadows for the crime of existence. And then, another mistake followed that one... our mistake. We let them out... and now, they've brought us here..."

        "Beyond the Rim." All of a sudden, there was light -- and Julia found herself standing in a room that seemed to be made completely of rainbow-hued crystal. What appeared to be a man was standing in front of her, his bearded face compassionate, his hair gathered into a short pony-tail at his neck. "We understand the meaning of mistakes, Miss Tikopai -- we've made so many ourselves since we came into this place from our original home. But as the First One implied, we remember the bargain that was made, and the alliance we forged with the human you serve, before we came to this place."

        "How..."

        "Do we know this?" The man smiled. "We tasted the currents of your minds shortly after you arrived in this place -- and we quickly learned that you were Rangers... and we know who you serve, and who you trust -- and why. Westcastle and his chosen are bright and vivid in your mind, Miss Tikopai... they trained you, while you serve them... in your own way, and for your own reasons. And so we honour the promise that was made -- even if this fulfillment comes sooner than any of us believed it would."

        "Thank you...?"

        "You may call me... Raiphin. I can't translate my name any better than that in your limited language -- many apologies for the term! -- but my name is not as important as the other matter we must discuss at this time. The rest of the Ancients have noticed your arrival here, as the First One has already told you -- and they *are* coming. We will attempt to protect you when they do arrive -- and perhaps you will talk quickly enough to convince them *not* to start a small... war out here, between those who would protect you... and those who would punish you simply because you have come to this place, beyond the Rim."

        Julia remembered the expression that Lorien had worn upon his appearance, and his words -- 'this is not your place -- not yet'. They'd been very lucky to encounter him when they had, and now the Cha'hal'zhamon, as well... the next encounter, as Raiphin had just suggested, might not go *quite* so well. "Do you know how long we have until the first groups of First Ones arrive?"

        "Not long." Raiphin replied, his expression now grim. "Shortly after your arrival, we detected ship launches from many of the enclaves in the stellar cluster that exists nearby... in the other universe, the place that you call home. Many expeditions have been launched -- the first will arrive in perhaps... three of your hours -- and that one is by far the most dangerous."

        Julia's eyes widened, as she caught the meaning of his words. "Are you trying to say that... *they're* going to be the first ones here?"

        Raiphin inclined his head. "The ones we know as the Dark Ones... yes. We have fought them in the past -- and many a time, we have lost those battles. We must -- pray, I believe your word is? -- that the Dark Ones have changed their ways since coming to this place -- that they and their minions may be willing to talk, rather then simply attempting to destroy us. And you."

        A long moment passed, but then Julia finally nodded -- firmly, but with a tinge of regret. "That's a long shot, Raiphin... but I guess it's our only hope."

        "And if they attack us... what will you do?"

        Her eyes hardened. "We are Rangers, Raiphin... and will defend ourselves -- as we have before, so we will again... if this should prove necessary."

        "Then we stand with you." Raiphin replied, his face now calm again. "And let us hope we are both..."

* * *

        "Wrong!" she exclaimed as the flaming energy faded from around her. "Oh damn!"

        "What have you learned?" Klairika asked.

        "That Lorien was right -- the Cha'hal'zhamon have offered to protect us against the First Ones expeditions coming this way -- and that the first such group is now no more than two or three hours away from reaching us."

        "And they would be?" Larieken asked.

        Julia settled back into her chair, and cast a caustic glance in her operations officer's direction -- and his face paled. "Guess."

        "Not..."

        "The Shadows." Sheynell wearily finished for him. "The Shadows are going to get here first. And here we are, in a warship full of Vorlon technology."

        "Who were, of course..." Nicholas noted, "Their sworn enemies for what, millions of our years?"

        "A battle is coming." Dasouri predicted. "A battle we must prepare for."

        The question was, Julia mused, even as her Rangers readied themselves for the trials ahead, would that battle be one of words...

        Or weapons?

        "Lorien?"

        "You will learn the answer to your question." the First One replied. "Soon enough."

* * *

        System GC 9741 -- 10:41 hrs, EST.

        "They are near." the Z'shailyl named Ves`aili allowed, even as his guiding-claw turned his small command away from their latest and *closest* approach to the daggership the humans named 'Excalibur'. "And yet our master's 'adversary' does not attack... has not made an appearance. Interesting, this isss..."

        "Yes." Vesaili's First acknowledged, his eyes bright. "It would appear that our Que'zhail's guess was accurate -- and that the rumours we hear of may even be true."

        What both Z'shailyl were about to learn, however... was that rumours should not always be believed. And that several someones, were watching their movement from nearby. These individuals were *not* among the crew of the vessel their Vekh'shivalht named 'Adversary', of course... but the end result would be the same.

* * *

        ISAS 'Night's Dagger' -- main bridge. 10:44 hrs, EST.

        "All right," Nathan Gardinier ground out , as he settled into the captain's chair of the Ranger cruiser, "'Becca, have you matched the silouette of that ship with anything in our database, yet?"

        "Yes, sir," Anderson replied, her expression thoughtful. "As a matter of fact, I have. It's just like you thought -- they're Z'shailyl. And they've just turned away from the 'Excalibur' again... just like last time."

        "Except," Gardinier reminded her, "Ever since we jumped into this system to guard Gideon's back two hours ago, they've been pulling this stunt -- approaching the 'Excalibur', and then turning away. And *each* time, they're getting a little closer. If I didn't know any better, I'd have to say they're probing Gideon's defenses, to try and find out if the 'Shard's' still guarding his back."

        "Which, of course" Anderson replied, somewhat fatalistically,"We both know they're not."

        "But the Drakh and their servants don't know that yet..."

        "Oh Hell!" Gardinier stopped in mid-sentence and turned towards his first officer. "Sir -- whatever Captain Gideon and his crew were doing, they've just finished doing it. The 'Excalibur' is moving away from the target world, preparing to jump... they've jumped, sir."

        "And what about our Z'shailyl 'friends'?"

        "They've come to a full stop -- coming about to match the *Excalibur*'s jump course."

        "All right, that's it!" Gardinier rose to his feet, his expression now severe. "This has gone on long enough -- power us up, and bring us to full combat readiness. It's pretty damn obvious what the Z'shailyl are up to -- and it's job to make sure the Drakh don't find out the 'Shard's' not around."

        "*Yes*, sir!"

* * *

        Ves`aili and his First received little warning of their end -- but enough to matter, as their sensors abruptly warned them of a warship powering up its systems nearby -- and then of that ship locking its weapons systems onto his.

        "Is it them?" Ves'aili asked, even as the new enemy bore down on him, and his ship's guiding-claw began to throw his command into a wild, and probably futile, series of evasive maneuvers, as blasts of plasma began to fill the void around them.

        The First checked the sensor readings, and bared his teeth. "It is not -- the vessel attacking us is of a new design, never before encountered... but it *does* appear to be an Anla'shok vessel."

        "So -- we have learned what we came here to learn. Activate jump engines -- and prepare to launch a homing beacon containing a log of what we have learned here. The destination -- Que'zhail Aazhvar's command vessel."

        "It is done." the First acknowledged, even as space crackled in front of the Z'shailyl vessel, and began to tear open into a jump point.

        Ves`aili rose to his feet. "Then the Dark Ones have mercy on us all.

        Launch!"

* * *

        "We've got a confirmed lock with the main guns." Anderson informed Gardinier. "Firing!"

        Gardinier watched on with no small satisfaction, then, as two dazzingly bright beams of yellow fire reached through space to the Z'shailyl ship, and tore it asunder... watched the tiny jump point wither and die. "We did it." He laughed, and rose to his feet. "I'll be *damned* -- we actually did it!"

        "Uh, sir... we *may* have a small problem."

        Gardinier turned towards his First with a frown. "Explain."

        "That Z'shailyl ship launched a homing beacon into hyperspace just before we destroyed it. And I'm fairly certain they captured a scan of our profile and power output just before that... sir."

        Gardinier closed his eyes, and sank back into the *Night's Dagger*'s command chair. "And if they've found out we're here, and the *Shard* isn't..."

        "Things could get a little ugly." Anderson commented, her expression now grim. "What do we do now, sir?"

        "What we have to, of course. Helm, get us on the *Excalibur*'s tail -- not close enough that they can see us, of course... *but* close enough that we'll be able to see the enemy coming before they do."

        "And that's what you think's going to happen?"

        Gardinier nodded. "If I was the Z'shailyl commander, and I'd just received evidence that the ship that was supposed to be protecting the *Excalibur* wasn't doing its job... or was missing... I wouldn't wait to ask headquarters, in this case the Drakh, for orders. I'd attack, immediately, with every ship I had."

        "And if they should choose to do that." a voice announced, "Then we will almost certainly die. We are one ship, Val'na -- more powerful then the White Stars, yes... but untested in combat with a numerically superior enemy. At best, we will destroy some of them, and be severely damaged. At worst... they will destroy us, and kill every Ranger aboard."

        "I know that, Veyshahk." Gardinier replied after a long, long moment. Even though he didn't like to think about it, the Minbari was right -- had said something neither he nor Anderson had been willing to say -- had probably done the very same thing for Val'na Tikopai on occasion. However... "But our orders stand. If the Z'shailyl should choose to attack, we are the *only* thing standing between them and the *Excalibur* with the rest of the White Star Fleet returned to searching for a cure to the Plague. President Sheridan asked your former captain to draw a line in space around Captain Gideon's ship, a line that no one, not Z'shailyl and especially not Drakh, can be allowed to cross. This ship may not be the *Shard of Night*, Veyshahk... but we can make a difference."

        "And if the secret should come out?" Veyshahk quietly replied. "If Gideon notices the battle, and comes to investigate?"

        "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, Veyshahk."

        "Let us hope, then... that the bridge does not collapse beneath us as we do so."

* * *

        Beyond the Rim -- hyperspace. 12:35 hrs, EST.

        Only three warships he had brought with him -- but Zhe'chal considered this more then sufficient for the task at hand. There were... other forces out here, of course... forces more than willing to attack because of what he and the others had done in the past. It would, he knew, take a *very* long time for his kind to escape from under that dark cloud -- and some there were who would not believe his ships were present only for protection's sake. Such as the Cha'hal'zhamon, for instance.

        He knew, of course, that that the greatest habitat of their kind had managed a rendezvous with the Anla'shok vessel. By now, one of their dreamspeakers had, no doubt, managed to speak with the human or Minbari who captained that ship -- this would, of course, complicate an already difficult situation. Additionally, after some investigation while enroute, Zhe'chal had also learned two other, very interesting things.

        The first was this -- even at this distance, Zhe'chal and his companions could detect the aura of the *First One* present on the Anla'shok ship. That he had involved himself in this matter implied that he would have to move very carefully indeed once rendezvous had been achieved.

        And the second? Now this was a thing that would have to be answered for, and soon. The Anla'shok vessel, while *similar* to those he and his armies had encountered during the Last war of Chaos and Order, contained much more of the Great Opponent's technology -- enough to make the vessel *almost* sentient, as a matter of fact. To say that Zhe'chal found this... greatly disturbing, was one of the greatest understatements of his life to date. And his life had been a *very* long one, indeed.

        [[How long until we reach the Cha'hal'zhamon place of power?]] he asked his underling, the bonded-one who commanded the vessel that carried him on this mission.

        [[Not long.]] the bonded one replied. [[We will arrive... very soon now, Great One.]]

        [[Very soon now.]]

* * *

        'The Shard of Night' -- main bridge. 13:07 hrs, EST.

        "How long until they enter firing range?"

        "Five minutes."

        She'd never believed she would live to see this moment, of course -- that she would be commanding a Ranger ship of the line in combat against the warships of the Shadow armada. This whole situation felt like a nightmare -- except it wasn't. This was *real* -- as real as it got. And the ships that still, even now, showed up in her dreams from time were about to enter firing range in...

        "Three minutes."

        "Do we have a visual, yet?"

        Klairika nodded, her face expressionless. The Brakiri waved her hand across one of the crystals on her board, and a moment later, the viewscreen shimmered down, and she shivered, as the familiar, spidery forms of Shadow ships-of-the-line came into view, surrounded by a cloud of fighters. And in the middle, what appeared to be... a scout-vessel? Except...

        "That Shadow scout vessel..."

        "Appears to be somewhat larger than any encountered by our forces during the Shadow War." Larieken agreed.

        "Somewhat?" Dawson barked off a laugh. "I've read the specs on these things -- that ship may look like a scout vessel, but it's almost *ten* times larger."

        "A command ship of some kind, then?"

        "The Shadow vessels," Sheynell predicted, "Will enter firing range in two minutes at their present rate of closure... hold on -- what the Hell?"

        Julia turned, and frowned at the telepath. "What's going on?"

        "I don't believe it." Sheynell managed, her voice so low as to barely be heard... except the bridge was still enough to make her whisper quite audible. "The warships and fighters -- they're slowing down, and... beginning to peel away to form what appears to be a defensive perimeter of some sort."

        "And what of Larieken's 'command' ship?" Julia asked.

        "Now within firing range -- it's coming to a relative halt."

        "And their weapons systems?"

        Sheynell shook her head disbelievingly. "They're all powered down, as far
I can tell. With all due respect, Val'na, Larieken... you've fought these things... this isn't exactly normal behavior for them, is it?"

        "No..." Julia replied, as she cast a suspicious glance in Lorien's direction. "It isn't."

        Lorien laughed. "The journey we have embarked upon has changed us all -- even them. And now, it is my belief that one of their elders has come to this place to learn what it is that has brought you beyond the Rim. I would choose my words carefully, if I were you."

        And even as the words were spoken, a piece of air at the front of the bridge shimmered, and the familiar figure of a Shadow appeared. "A suggestion or two would be nice at this point."

        Lorien shook his head. "You must conduct this negotiation yourself, young Observer. I cannot help."

        Julia sighed, and turned back to face the waiting Shadow. It was, as the saying went...

        Time to face the music.

* * *

        To be continued...


* * *

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