"STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE"
EPISODE FIFTEEN: "MY MASTER'S KEEPER"

(disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture)


* * *

        <<Act Three>>

        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.

* * *

        <Impossible> a voice shrieked in her mind, as the stone-tipped boots of the hunter scraped against the ground behind her head. <This is not happening, this *cannot* be happening...>

        "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.

        <We understand that we have passed the point of no return. We understand that we may have damned ourselves through this search.>

        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!

* * *

        Return to "The Seeker's Fire" Episode Index