STAR AND CIRCLE: "THE SEEKER'S FIRE"
EPISODE 21: "THE END OF THE INNOCENCE"
<<ACT TWO>>
ISAS Excalibur - Medical Facilities. 09:31 EST, Dec 12th, 2267.
"Okay, Doc," Matthew Gideon began, even as he sat firmly on the small kernel of hope deep inside. "Let's have it." The hope that this might mean the beginning of the end for the hunt that had taken him and his crew across a hundred sectors and through a multitude of star systems in the past year. "The truth, and nothing but the truth. This Hughes girl - was she…"
"A plague carrier?" Sarah Chambers finished for him. The doctor, on the other hand, as Gideon was quick to note, wasn't trying to hide her hope at all. "Captain, at first I didn't know what to believe - but yes, it does appear that she was. I emphasize, was. If we are to believe her testimony, the people that captured her exposed her to something that saw the Drakh plague as an enemy, and moved to destroy it. This battle seems to have left a visible residue on the membranes of every cell in her body. Something…"
Gideon snorted, interrupting the doctor at that point. "Well you know what, Doc? - that just sounds like more Shadow technology to me. And in my opinion, there's still way too much of that running around these days…"
"Agreed. The question is, can we find enough of this cure to make a difference for the peoples of Earth?"
"If all goes as planned, all the folks in our little fleet intend to have an answer to that question very soon now. Wouldn't mind an answer to something completely different, though. What's with the Technomage peanut gallery?"
"Who, them?" Chambers replied, waving a hand in the general direction of the pair of black-clothed humans waiting silently on the other side of Medlab. "Seems that Miss Hughes' young rescuer made a promise to her - something about keeping her safe…"
* * *
"I would be interested to know why exactly it is we are here." Vejar asked his young apprentice, having raised a curtain of silence so the other two people in Medlab could not hear their words. "Since we've rescued Miss Hughes from our opponents and delivered her safely into the hands of the Excalbur's crew, some would say our job might be over."
"And how, exactly, would you define 'safe', Master?" Jaida retorted. "It seems to me that this matter you've involved me in is far from over - and until it is, none of us are safe. Plus, remember that I was the one who played the biggest part in saving Kaitlyn from her captor, and as such…"
"You've established a bond with her - a compact of trust - a friendship?" Vejar sighed. "That can also be dangerous, in a number of different ways."
"Yeah, don't I know it." Jaida admitted, her eyes downcast as she thought of Selene, back on Babylon 5, "But I've discovered that the universe is a whole lot bigger than it used to be since you started to teach me about all this Mage stuff - and I made a promise to her. A promise I intend to keep."
"So be it, then." the Mage replied after a long moment. "Though when the time comes, we will speak of this again - and you will tell me whether or not this was the right thing to do."
Jaida nodded as the Mage left her side, her thoughts already far away. Vejar, as always, had raised some very good points - how, exactly, was she going to explain any of this to Selene when the time came?
* * *
Interstellar Alliance Headquarters, Tuzanor, Minbar. 09:45 hrs, EST.
"Well, well - look what the cat dragged in."
"I am hardly a mouse, Mr. President," Harriman Grey retorted, "And even if I were - well, the safest course to take is sometimes to hide in the walls until the fighting is all but over. The course that keeps you alive."
"I take your point, Mr. Grey - but as you know, we have little time for small talk at the moment - so why don't we just get to the point?"
"As you wish." Grey replied, as a small and knowing smile appeared on his face. "I have something you need - something you need very badly, as a matter of fact; something that I almost died acquiring, if you must know. And now it can be yours - for a price."
"And what price would that be, Mr. Grey?" Sheridan inquired, a steely glint appearing in his eyes.
"Oh, nothing substantial, I assure you, Mr. President - merely to be protected, should our mutual enemy escape from the trap being set for him."
"Mutual enemy, huh? You wouldn't care to name this individual, would you?"
"Not just yet." Grey laughed as the scowl on Sheridan's face deepened. "Come now - you don't expect me to give away all the cards in my hand in one fell swoop, do you? Besides, if things progress as I am expecting, you will soon know the name of the individual in question in any case. Now - do I have your word that I will be protected should our enemy escape, and begin plotting against us anew?"
"I'm reasonably sure that can be arranged. Now, as for what I want…"
"Of course." Grey passed over a crystal. "Inside are the codes you will need to shut down the jammers, and return control of the interstellar comm network to its rightful owners."
"I've only one more question for you at this time, Mr. Grey - why?"
"Because he must be stopped, Mr. President." the telepath replied, his expression suddenly growing more intense. "If he is allowed to succeed in his quest in setting up a private little empire, he will be a thorn in your side until the end of your days. I possess enough decency, even after all I have been through, to know that this cannot be allowed to come to pass."
At which point Sheridan's eyes moved to the door of his office. "So - was he telling the truth?"
"Suprisingly enough, the answer to that question is yes, Mr. President." another voice said. Grey's head whipped around in astonishment, as the owner of that voice appeared in the door. "He has his own reasons for doing what he's done - but his heart's in the right place."
"You!" Grey accused, as he rose from his chair. "They all said that you were dead!"
"They," Brianna Tolmanes replied, her expression serene, "Have been known to be incorrect on that score on more than one occasion, Mr. Grey. And with more than one person."
"This is a very dangerous game you're playing, Mr. President." Grey accused. "A very dangerous game indeed."
"It all comes with practice, Mr. Grey," Sheridan said. "And with the territory."
"And speaking of dangerous games," yet another voice intruded, "There is perhaps something we should discuss - something in a place with a little more privacy than your present abode possesses."
"You!" Sheridan snapped. "What are you doing here?"
"Changing the way the game is played," Shai Alyt Kozorr replied, his expression both mysterious and smug at the same time, "As you will soon see -- Mr. President."
* * *
ISAS Shard of Night - approach to main bridge.
09:55 hrs, EST.
"…So in summary, it looks as if we're back in top operating condition again - albeit with some reservations." Nicholas explained to Sheynell, as the Shard's chief engineer and tactical officer moved towards the bridge at speed. "Lesaki's doing a damn good job of getting our whisker network back under control, but there's still holes in the coverage for the time being - as well as some sort of problem with sensor ghosts…"
"Ghosts, huh?" The telepath muttered. "Ghosts I can live with, as long as you can promise a fully operational suite of weapons when we reach our target."
"Not a problem." Nicholas confirmed as they reached the doors to the bridge, "Speaking of said target, I wonder if our little mole has told us where it is yet…"
The doors, when open, revealed their captain in the midst of a three way conversation with Mr. Kavanagh and the captain of the Excalibur. "…The supply depot in question is in orbit around the sixth planet of system GC 39371-D - heavily stealthed, of course. But the important thing to remember at this point is that Ben Zayn has almost certainly pulled all of his front line ships into one fleet by now, leaving next to nothing to protect his various other investments. This could, of course, change in next to no time at all if he begins to suspect what we're up to."
"Which means we've got to move fast." Julia said. "Luckily for all concerned, the ships in this fleet are more than capable of that."
"The kid has a point." Gideon agreed, "But I've got another. The ISA needs all the ships in the fleet to take on this Ben Zayn guy when the time comes. If we can't capture the cure without getting killed ourselves, if this is a trap…"
"With all due respect, Captain," Julia retorted, her expression becoming one of challenge, "We've all come too far and paid too much to let this one slip through our fingers. It is our duty as Anla'shok to pursue this goal and capture it, even unto death."
"You've just about died once already fighting this enemy, Captain." Gideon replied, a nasty glint appearing in his eyes as well. "We may not be there next time to save your collective…"
"If I may intrude," Galen interrupted from behind Gideon, "An observation - fighting the enemy is more important than fighting with each other, and the more time we waste here, the closer General Ben Zayn gets to his primary target. For the sake of our mission, my fellow Mage and I are willing to place our resources at your disposal. It would, shall we say, make sense for us to be a part of the mission sent into this secondary base to acquire the cure, should it be present - while all and sundry guard against enemy incursions."
"The headmaster has spoken." Nicholas muttered, for only Julia to hear. "Children, please don't fight - let's do it this way instead."
Julia let a small smile appear on her face and nodded before turning back to the screen. "That appears to make sense - and if we add Earthforce and Rangers to the mix…"
"Well, Hells Bells - a plan is coming together before my very eyes." Gideon said. "Now, if there's nothing else?"
"It's time we got going." Julia agreed. "Shard of Night out. So," she continued, turning to Klairika as the viewscreen rippled up and faded from sight. "Ready to find out whether we have working jump engines or not?"
"Droll, ladies," Nicholas muttered, "Very droll."
"Most assuredly." The Brakiri agreed, as the Shard moved out of its parking orbit, the rest of the fleet close behind. "All telemetry seems to confirm that our good chief engineer has not been lying to us thus far…"
The disappearance of the battlecruiser into hyperspace moments later proved that claim - a disappearance soon echoed by every other ship in the fleet.
But not, unfortunately, every ship in the system.
* * *
"Ga`zaeln fruuh!" Viknahz cursed as the various ISA ships vanished from sight, "They are moving already - it is too soon!"
"Be calm, friend." Aazhvar instructed from the nearby viewscreen, "We are coming, and will be with you in short order, while the vessels controlled by the Vekh'shivalht and his ally are not far behind. You are to jump, and follow the Alliance fleet. Tell us of their destination when it becomes obvious - and above all, do not be seen."
Viknahz nodded, his thoughts becoming more composed. "That should not be difficult, the Dark Ones be willing. Given the speed of their movement, I do not believe they are committing much time to looking around them. They only see their destination…
"Whatever that may be."
* * *
"I fear that this news will not be welcome to you," Kozorr said, as together with Sheridan the Minbari War Leader stood on the secluded viewing platform atop the summit of ISA Headquarters, "But there can be no hiding of this matter from you given the current state of affairs. Mr. President, let me be blunt - the decision you made regarding Alyt Rahkeel of the Storm Dancer Clan has now come back to haunt you. You, and I, have decisions to make, and one at least of them will not be a pleasant one."
Sheridan's eyes narrowed as he recalled the warrior who had stormed into his office almost a year before - a Minbari who'd demanded that Sheridan unmake the decision he'd just made, the decision that had placed Julia Tikopai in charge of Rahkeel's former command, the Shard of Night. "Would you care to be more specific, Shai Alyt?"
"In this case, I would and must. A short time after you relieved Alyt Rahkeel of his command, what you might term a… splinter group within the Warrior Caste made a proposition to him - a proposition he chose not to refuse. The group, as it turned out, had gained access to the technologies developed during the Shard of Night project - and had developed a ship of their own using those technologies, a ship they named Stormwind. This ship they gave to Rahkeel under one condition - that the ship that was his at one time be denied to the use of your race, and also the Anla'shok. An order they now consider to be corrupted by the influence of the humans under Delenn's command, such as Councillor Westcastle and his followers."
Sheridan sighed, shook his head - and then, to Kozorr's surprise, began to laugh, the sound ironic in the wind-whipped air. "Years ago, when I took on this position, I would've been madder than hell to hear you say something like that, Kozorr - but now? Given what I know about the politics of your Caste, and considering what you've said, and also what you haven't - no, let me get to the point. I don't have the time or the interest to want to know what political necessities brought you here today, Kozorr - I just want this situation fixed."
"Oh by all means, Mr. President." Kozorr agreed, perhaps just a little too quickly for Sheridan's peace of mind - even as a small and knowing smile appeared on the Minbari's face. "What exactly did you have in mind?"
"As you may or may not know, Councillor Westcastle and several other ISA personnel are now putting a plan in motion that will restore interstellar communications in short order. Therefore, this is what I propose …"
* * *
The bridge of the Stormwind - enroute in hyperspace. 10:13 hrs, EST.
"Good day to you all." The black garbed commander began, as Rahkeel and his first officer gazed stonily at the viewscreen. "At this time it is my duty to pass on orders from the General…"
"And his Mightiness cannot speak to us in person, then?" Rahkeel inquired.
"Ah, but the General is a busy man." Palakz observed from the nearby holodisplay, his tone just as sly. "Conquering the universe does that to a person, yesss?"
The commander's eyes narrowed. "Your insolence is not required, only your obedience. At this time it shall be noted that we possess several secondary staging areas that require protection - protection that we cannot ourselves provide, given the urgency of our present task. You are to therefore proceed as best possible speed to the secondary base located in system GC 39371-D, and await further orders."
"And if we choose not to, what then?"
The commander's eyes glittered with displeasure. "You will pay the price for that disobedience, once we have dealt with more immediate concerns. Do I make myself…"
"Oh eminently - Stormwind out." At which point Rahkeel turned to face Tirivail, and shook his head wearily, even as the other Minbari killed the comm channel, cutting Ben Zayn's lackey off in mid tirade. "What a fool."
"He is, perhaps, not quite so much of a… fool as you might believe." Palakz observed, his tone and expression becoming even more sly, if that were possible. "Raeznon has just relayed word from our Z'Shailyl scouts - the fleet controlled by Gideon and Tikopai have recently jumped. Their destination appears to be in that very same system."
"WHAT?" Rahkeel whirled incredulously back to face the screen. "You're certain?"
"Yesss." The Drakh bared his teeth. "I would be… interested to learn what it is that draws our enemies to the system that Ben Zayn has ordered us to protect. Very interested indeed."
"Coincidence and fate have given us what we want and need, Palakz - we would be fools to ignore this chance. Tirivail!"
"Command me, Alyt."
"Prepare to change course."
* * *
Even as those words were spoken, other words had already been spoken - words brought on by Harriman Grey's betrayal of his former master. Words that cast a bubble of change outwards from the Minbar system, restoring the tachyon communications links between the worlds of the Interstellar Alliance. But nothing is instantaneous - and while news would be fast in coming to those waiting for it, at first the passage was somewhat sporadic…
* * *
"So," Tashann said, as Gardinier reclined nonchalantly in his command chair, "It is well that you managed to find her ship and crew, and even better that Gideon's scientist was able to deduce the identity of the man in charge of the enemy fleet. Remarkable it is that Gideon's first officer was the one instrumental in finding the Shard. But the news I found most astonishing of all was…"
"The kid who had the plague - and now doesn't." Gardinier finished for him.
"Precisely. Anla'shok Dechene was able to relay that piece of information just as soon as communications was restored. It is only a matter of time now before the news reaches Minbar. For now, though, I would be interested to hear news of what has caused Val'na Tikopai and Captain Gideon to join forces so whole-heartedly."
"Well, sir, it's like this…"
* * *
Minbar. A short time later.
"You are certain of this, then. There is no other course of action we can take?"
"None." Kozorr confirmed, his expression grim. "We are now aware of their location due to recent Anla'shok transmissions. You are now aware of their destination. You have your orders, Alyt - you are to carry them out at once."
* * *
And elsewhere…
"There is evidence that the interstellar comm network is being restored, sir. But as yet we have been unable to make contact with the main fleet."
The commander of White Star 79 nodded wearily, even as his ship raced onwards towards its destination, now a little less than three hours away. "Keep trying - because if the fleet's not in the enemy's path in thirty one hours,
An awful lot of people are going to die."
* * *
To be continued...
* * *
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