"STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE"
EPISODE THIRTEEN: "THE FLAME IN THE CRYSTAL"
(disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture)
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<<Act Three>>
The 'Shard of Night' -- main bridge. 13:13 hrs, EST -- Aug 6th, 2267
They moved towards one another in silence -- while Julia found herself hesitating with each and every step she took towards... *it*. The creature... the entity in front of her had threatened the worlds of the younger Races with annihilation, before it and its fellows had been banished beyond the Rim by President Sheridan and her Entil'zha. And now? That was the question, wasn't it? But not the most most important -- there were far deadlier ones to consider, such as the question the Shadows had asked the Younger Races for thousands if not millions of years... but with a twist...
What did *it* want? What had brought the Shadow to this place, accompanied by its screaming, living weapons -- ships she'd honestly hoped she would never have to see again in this life? It hadn't attacked and destroyed her Rangers and her ship... yet -- and now, it stood before her, multi-legged, terrifyingly real... near enough to touch. Near enough to...
A part of her wanted to say 'too near' -- that was, of course, if it was here at all. After all, how could the Shadow have simply *appeared* on the *Shard of Night*, unless... unless it walked into hyperspace from its ship, and then out again, here. Which was, of course... impossible? That, of course, was when its eyes began to glow -- and Julia swayed in mid-step as a low, whispering voice filled her ears. {Servant of the one-who-hunts -- Zhe'chal remembers you.}
"The... one who hunts?" she managed, as she fought against the trembling that threatened to consume her. "Who..."
{The one-who-hunts, the one who leads, the one who stands closest to the light, and yet farthest away.} The Shadow that named itself Zhe'chal raised one long taloned claw, as if reprovingly. {An opportunity to serve, the Hunter was given... the same offer we made to the one-who-watches, after our servants struck you down on the world of the threefold lost. One of the greatest mistakes we and *they* have ever made.}
Julia jumped, then, as a warm hand came down on her shoulder, and she turned, to find that Larieken had come to her side. "Perhaps it is refering to the High Councillor and his chosen, your former instructor and mistress."
Of course -- that had to be it. Yet again, Julia forced herself to turn again to face those eyes. It was *so* hard, but she had to -- Lorien had made that very clear. "It... appears you speak the truth. Even now I serve the Watcher -- the man we name Rimstalker... and I am a friend to she who watches."
{As you have been called upon to watch, as well.} And then the Shadow became a blur, as it moved to stand between her and Lorien... and closer than before. Again she asked herself... *was* it really here? {You wonder why you still live -- the answer you seek is a simple one, even as other answers are required, for the greater angers to be set aside. The Eldest is here, and the ones-who-hide, as well -- you have strong allies, Watcher.)
"Yes... we do."
{Has the Eldest told you that we have changed since coming to this place?}
"He has."
{Believe the Eldest, do you?}
"I want to."
A pause. {It is... a beginning. The Eldest insists upon balance -- and thus we have done what is necessary. *Now* you will tell us what has brought you to this place -- and also how it is that you surround yourself with Order's workings.}
"You mean the Vorlons..."
Zhe'chal shrieked, then -- and everyone on the bridge flinched... while Julia found herself almost turning to run, as one of the Shadow's midnight-black limbs whipped down, the long talons of its hand skittering along the line of her jaw... which answered her prior question, in an almost heart-stopping fashion. {Even now, those-who-opposed are *not* to be named. Careful you must be, Watcher... for if you anger us overmuch, or if the answers we seek are not forthcoming, even the Eldest will not prevent our wrath from descending upon you and those-who-serve.}
Julia bowed her head and took a long, shaky breath. "I understand." she managed, her voice the barest whisper in the silence of the bridge, as the Shadow finally withdrew its claws from her skin. "We desire to *live* -- you must believe us when we say that our coming here was not intentional!"
{We are listening.}
"The... the Eldest has told us that we do not belong in this place, and he speaks the truth, as well. Our kind... our kind is evolving, but we are not yet ready to become what you have become -- to walk where you have walked... if we ever will. We are destined to walk on other paths for now -- for even though you are gone from the galaxy, other enemies there are for us to fight. For this reason and others, our allies from the world of the threefold chose to build this ship using the gifts given to us by your... opponents of old, as others have used *your* gifts to build their own.
We are Rangers -- and while we have fought you in our time, our greatest goal has always been to maintain the balance we have created since you left us to come to this place -- the same balance the Eldest speaks of, even if under different circumstances."
Zhe'chal turned towards Lorien, then -- and everyone on the *Shard*'s bridge sensed but could not hear the brief, but blindingly complex conversation that passed between them. Finally, however, the Shadow turned back to face her. {The Eldest tells us you speak the truth -- and while we will not say we are *pleased* that this vessel cries out to us of enemies past and Order's hated song -- we accept your arguments, Watcher... even though others of our kind would not. For this reason we came to this place, to maintain... as you say, the *balance*. But now you must answer the more important question that plagues us...
If not intentionally come, what has brought you into the darkness, away from the warmth of your worlds?}
It was then that Lorien gestured sharply, and the archeologist Jordan Pieke strode forth, his face dark with barely repressed rage -- his eyes glowing almost as bright as Zhe'chal's as his possessors let their ancient hate for the Shadows be known. "They have. We found them on a dead world, a world deserted for millenia. They call themselves the Craneori -- and they're searching for their creators."
There was silence for a moment -- and then a bitter cry filled the bridge, and Julia's eyes widened -- was this the sound of irony -- of amusement? {We remember the weapons -- intelligent weapons, created by Order to be used against our kind.}
"They're not the first, and certainly not the last." Sheynell suddenly said, as she came to stand beside Julia... and then the *Shard*'s tactical officer forced herself to gaze into the blazing orange eyes of the Shadow, as her captain had before her. "Those who created my kind made many mistakes in their time, Zhe'chal... and so did your fellow Shadows. And now, it looks to me as if one of those mistakes has come back to haunt you."
Nearly, Julia thought that Zhe'chal's thoughts would turn to anger again, then -- but finally the glow of the Shadow's eyes dimmed -- even as it moved to loom over the deathly pale, but still defiant, telepath. {Perhaps this younger weapon speaks the truth. It could hurt us, if it tried -- that you have not given it such a command leads us to believe that perhaps we *can* trust you... Watcher-who-leads in this place of lies. So -- the weapons-that-were, weapons we imprisoned for the crime of their existence, long before your race rose into the darkness -- were released, and learned the great conflict was finished. And now..."
"And now," Lorien suddenly interrupted, as Sheynell wisely retreated back towards her station, "It is time for you to help these Rangers close another unhealed wound, Zhe'chal. The Craneori have brought them to this place in their need to find their creators. It is... perhaps your duty to aid them in finding those they seek."
{You would have us bring order out of chaos?}
"Hardly." the First One replied for the benefit of the Rangers, even as his faint and complicated background discussion with Zhe'chal continued unabated. "We seek balance, so that these short-lived creatures may return to where they are most needed -- is this so difficult a concept for you to understand?"
A long moment passed, but finally... {Your judgment, we accept.} Zhe'chal acknowleged. {As we accepted it before -- so it seems we must again. Those who follow this Watcher must depart for the balance to be restored. The banished-weapons will be reunited with those they seek.} And with that, and a final cry of closure, the Shadow faded from sight.
"Is that it?" Julia managed, as she wobbled her way over to her chair, a concerned Larieken at her side. "The interview... it's over?"
"Indeed it is." Lorien replied, a twinkle of amusement now visible in his eyes. "You have come far since last we saw you, young Observer -- and while you still have far to go before your destination is reached... what you have done in this place is a remarkable thing, indeed."
"Remarkable, you say?" Larieken verbally sparred. "Rather, I would say..."
"Don't say it, any of you!" Julia exclaimed, even as the Shadow command ship finally whirled away and vanished into the murk, followed by its deadlier cousins.
"Naah, probably wouldn't be a good idea." Dawson observed. "Although don't you think it's a *damn* good thing we managed to run into a member of the 'can't we all just get along' Shadow faction?"
"As opposed to his 'shoot to kill' comrades, you mean?" Klairika replied, her voice deadpan.
The engineer shrugged. "I calls 'em the way I sees 'em, Na'lai."
Julia cleared her throat... pointedly.
"Oops. Getting back to work now, yes I *am*."
"So..." the Brakiri inquired, as she came to Julia's side, "*Do* we follow them?"
Julia shook her head in amazement -- that it should come to this, Rangers following a Shadow elder of sorts to find the race the Craneori were looking for. Even in her wildest dreams or nightmares, she would *never* have predicted this... even if it did involve a bit of good old fashioned blackmail on Lorien's part. "We follow them, yes -- don't look so worried. I'm sure the Cha'hal'zhamon will tag along to make sure the Shadows don't try to pull a fast one on us."
"They wonder what it is their ancient enemies are up to -- and they are worried about you, as well." Lorien allowed. "And so, yes, they will follow you and stay at your side, until this is finished."
"In that case..." Julia nodded in the direction of her helm-draz, and Dasouri's hands, while as shaky as the rest of her crew, worked their usual tricks. And a moment later, the *Shard of Night* sprang off in the direction of the just vanished Shadow squadron, as the monolithic Cha'hal'zhamon habitat fell in behind.
* * *
ISAS 'Night's Dagger' -- medical section. 15:17 hrs, EST.
"Is he right, do you think?" Rebecca Anderson asked Veyshahk, as the Minbari grimly reviewed the store of medical supplies that had been brought aboard the prototype Ranger cruiser before its departure from Minbar. "The Z'shaiyl, do you really think they'll come gunning for Gideon and his crew without asking the Drakh for orders?"
Veyshahk turned away from his review, and for a moment considered telling the other Ranger of Moreil, the rebellious member of that race who had from time to time aligned himself with his former commander... but then thought better of it. Anderson would not, he considered, understand what it was to work with Julia Tikopai -- the almost... magical, he supposed Anderson would call it... effect she could have on those whose loyalty she had earned, including himself. "It is the worst of many possible outcomes to consider -- but likely, yes, given what we know of their thinking. Even though the Shadows may be gone, those of that race who serve the Drakh often appear unaffected by that departure -- they are true servants of chaos, Na'lai -- in short, I believe they will come, yes."
"And we are sworn to fight them." Anderson replied, as she glanced away from him. "And if we die, far from home... who will remember us?"
"That fate," he replied, "Is not, as yet, 'set in stone' as you and our Val'na might say. This movement is not yet finished -- and perhaps..."
"Don't say it, mister." Anderson sharply interrupted, her tone suddenly gone cold. "You know there isn't another Ranger ship within light years of us -- and if the Z'shailyl are coming...
If they're coming, it'll take a miracle to save us." And with that, she whirled away, and fled out of medlab.
Veyshahk nodded slowly, his mind now on other matters then his supplies. A miracle -- her assessment of the situation was probably accurate. And yet...
And yet... he had not given up hope completely, and quickly glanced over at the candle burning on the stand nearby -- the latest in a series he'd burned since coming aboard. So many times she and those who'd made her what she was had brought light when all appeared to be as darkness. And until those candles were extuinguished...
He would pray for their return. And hope that Anderson was wrong.
* * *
Z'shailyl scout-vessel 'Ln`trac' -- 16:47 hrs, EST.
"What does it say?" Aazhvar inquired, as Viknahz viewed the message sent by Ves`aili before he and his crew were... obliterated by the ship that had attacked them during their probe of the daggership's defences. "Dare we hope...?"
"It seems... clear," the younger Z'shailyl carefully replied a moment later, "That Ves'aili and his crew were attacked by an Anla'shok vessel of a type we have never before encountered -- but it's form is understandable -- observe." With that, Viknahz called up a frame from the message log displaying an image of the ship in question... and Aazhvar let out a long, hissing breath as he found his hypothesis confirmed.
"Yesss! -- this vessel appears to be closely based upon known Minbari technologies -- and while larger and more heavily armed then those cursed ships named 'White Stars', it possesses no organic hull, no cloak of invisibility... none of the characteristics of that *ship( which has caused us so much... difficulty in the recent past. And if this ship is all Sheridan's Alliance can spare to protect the daggership *Excalibur*... if our master's adversary is missing -- yesss..."
"Que'zhail?"
"Enough!... my decision is made. We go to clear a path for our master Palakz, so that he and his order may attack the daggership with impunity, and thus regain what was lost."
"We must be very careful." Viknahz warned his Que'zhail. "Many before us have thought this about the Anla'shok, and have been taught the error of their ways... often in a *terminal* fashion."
"Your warning is heeded," Aazhvar acknowledged, even as he barked out another order, and a jump point opened before his small squadron. "But we are many, and they are one, my Favored Claw.
Victory may *yet* be ours in this game we play with the humans. Now -- how long will it take us to overtake the daggership and its... latest guardian?"
"Gideon moves swiftly towards his next target, and our own no doubt accompanies him closely." Viknahz observed. "It will be difficult to overtake them, but perhaps we shall..."
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'The Shard of Night' -- main bridge. 17:21 hrs, EST.
This was it -- the moment they'd all been waiting for... no, *hoping* for, ever since this had all begun. "You're sure they're gone?"
Sheynell nodded, her expression almost... worried. "This ship could find Shadow vessels *for* us, Val'na, without any difficulty at all -- and the sensors, in no uncertain terms, are telling me that Zhe'chal and his spidery friends have just phased their way over into normal space."
"You must follow them." Lorien declared, as he strode to the front of the bridge. "The destiny of those who have brought you here awaits."
"In that case -- Klairika, take us into normal space." The Brakiri's hands moved over the controls -- and a moment later, hyperspace twisted away in front of them to form the familiar funnel of a jump point... and Julia rose to her feet and moved forward to join Lorien as the *Shard* passed through translation, accompanied by a pair of Cha'hal'zhamon stealthships, to reveal...
"In Valen's Name!" On one side of the sky there was darkness, and on the other -- the million burning beacons of the globular cluster named Messier 2. And there, nearer than all the rest, was a fiery orange star -- and against that glare were silouetted the familiar forms of the Shadow vessels, moving inwards towards a shimmery crescent perhaps thirty degrees off of their present course.
"That would *appear* to be their destination."
"{Yes!} the Craneori suddenly said, and all the Rangers whirled as Jordan Pieke began to laugh... and also to cry. {So long it has been since we have seen them... too long. The exile..."}
"Unbearable?" Lorien observed. "If you believe that, then you do not understand the meaning of pain -- and never will."
"{We are here, as was intended!} the Craneori insisted, as the *Shard* fell towards the waiting planet. "{The reunion is close at hand.}"
And that, as it turned out, was when Larieken cleared his throat. "Ah, Val'na..."
"Larieken -- what's wrong?"
"The planet -- I am afraid that it is not what it seems."
"{You lie, Minbari!}" the Craneori responded, their tone now venomous. "{Their world, this is -- nothing can stop our reunion now! NOTHING!}"
"Nothing except... the truth, perhaps." Larieken gravely replied. "Observe." And with that pronouncement, a holographic image of the 'planet' came into being in front of them... sharp and sun-lit from the perspective of one of the *Shard*'s sensor drones.
"{No...}" the now horrified Craneori exclaimed, "{It cannot be! We sense them in this place -- this cannot be!}"
"What is, is." Lorien proclaimed, his expression stern... and sad. "It is their home -- and what they have become."
What they had become -- Julia cast a glance in Pieke's direction, and shuddered to see the stricken expression visible on the man's face -- an expression that reflected the thoughts of the nanonic intelligences within him. And the reason they were so upset, of course, was this:
The world of the Craneori's creators, a place the Shadow named Zhe'chal had brought them to in order to fulfill his debt to the First One...
Was a single, spherical *crystal*-- more then thirty thousand miles across.
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To be continued!
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