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

(disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture)


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        <<Envoi>>

        Interstellar Alliance Starship *Shard of Night* -- Captain's quarters -- 21:15 hrs, Aug 24th, 2267.

        As much as she'd hoped this wasn't going to happen, it had anyways. It had taken somewhat more than a day for word of their latest exploits to reach ISA HQ on Minbar, and now... now it was time to face the music. "So... let me see if I've got this *straight* in my head..." Julia's High Councillor muttered, as he paced back and forth in the holographic field of view, "Without asking for advice or checking with us to see if *any* of this made sense, you decided to make contact with this 'Zha'vanare' -- a Drakh claiming to come in peace..."

        "Yes, sir."

        "Said Drakh was later ambushed by another, a hunter claiming to come both in search of the peaceful one *and* another she named 'Renegade' -- the Drakh in charge of the fleet you and your crew destroyed at Sinzar..."

        "Yes... sir."

        "At the same time as your command is *mysteriously* incapacitated, your crew rendered powerless to aid you in your time of need. And the only thing that saved you..." Councillor Westcastle darkly observed, "Was this -- when the renegade..."

        "His name is... Palakz, sir."

        "Did I *ask* for you to interrupt my train of thought, Val'na?" the Rimstalker barked.

        "*No*, sir." Julia managed. "You didn't."

        "When this *Palakz* showed up, the only thing that saved you was the fact that all the other Drakh apparently hated this 'hunter' more than they hated you? And then they departed with said hunter, leaving you unharmed... because this warrior enemy of yours didn't want to upset a Drakh military code that states that you and he must meet in battle, or else risk upsetting said code?"

        "That... does appear to be the case. Sir."

        There was a pause, and then Westcastle snorted. "'Sir' this and 'sir' that -- how long has it been since someone's told you off?"

        "A *while*, actually." she carefully replied. "And now you come to mention it..."

        "Well, even star pupils *are* known to screw up from time to time." Westcastle finally admitted. "In any case -- may I assume that in the future, you'll think first before turning away from your primary mission on a wild goose chase... especially if that chase involves come into close and personal contact with a Drakh who would like nothing better than to kill you?"

        "Yes, sir... you *might* at that."

        "In that case, Julia..." Wiliam concluded, his tone quickly becoming more congenial, "I think we're done with lectures for the time being. I've just received word that Captain Gideon and his crew are proceeding to investigate a world on the fringes of the former Vorlon Empire... you and your crew would be well advised to watch for trouble -- and keep yourself out of the same, if you can *manage* it."

        "We'll try to keep that in mind." she said with a laugh. "Unfortunately... it *does* appear that trouble seems to come looking for us..."

        "So I've noticed." Westcastle admitted with a sigh. "ISA HQ... out."

        Julia shivered as the connection severed -- and turned away from her comm terminal with a yawn. "Star pupil, huh?" she muttered, shaking her head wearily. "There's days when I wish I'd never taken on this job..."

        "Do not deceive yourself, Miss Tikopai." a familiar voice intoned. "Even *I* know and understand the meaning of destiny's call. You are in the right place, for the right reasons... doing the right things. But it does not hurt to remember that *humility* is also an quality to prize in oneself, and others."

        "Galen!" Julia whirled, to find a shimmery image of the technomage hanging in the corner of her quarters. "How, why..."

        "You are asking the wrong question." the technomage replied, his tone cool. "Instead, perhaps you should ask *who* was responsible for the unpleasantness just past."

        Julia's eyes narrowed and then flared with anger as she understood what her uninvited guest was getting at. "You? But..."

        "Why?" Galen laughed, the sound bitter in the silence surrounding them both. "I have watched you since long before your present rise to command, young Tikopai... I have seen you walking in the paths of giants, protected by your friends... associating with those who have changed the shape of the galaxy. You have, in your years upon the dark and starry ways, witnessed many great and terrible things... and you have come, I believe, to believe yourself invulnerable."

        "What? But's that not..."

        "The truth?" the technomage challenged. "Ah, but what is the truth... and who is to say who is right, and who is wrong? The Drakh hunter, who sought to capture you and the renegade... was she wrong to do what she did? Or Belanak, who seeks a peaceful solution to the conflict between his people and humanity? Or Palakz... who blames you for the loss of those who served him, and would rather meet you on the battlefield than face to face? They all believe that they are doing the right thing... can you say the same?"

        "I... I don't know." Julia finally admitted. "I guess... sometimes we have to learn the hard way if we're doing the right thing, or not."

        "Sometimes, that is the only way to learn -- even and especially *if* your life is endangered in the process. Remember, however... that this was only a test." Galen cautioned. "The Drakh responded as I had suspected they would... and as such, you were never *really* in any danger. Next time, however... the fates may not be so kind -- and to think yourself incapable of losing may place you in great danger... may, in fact, doom you and those who follow you to destruction at the hands of your enemies. Do you understand?"

        "Yes." she whispered. "The student understands the lesson she has been taught."

        "Then we may both yet live to see our purposes fulfilled." Galen allowed, as a small and *very* grim smile appeared on his face. "Until our next meeting, then, Seeker... keep to the path. And all may yet be as I have forseen."

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        Elsewhere...

        "So, Rahkeel..." Palakz began, as he and the still wary commander of the *Stormwind* sat down to table together, "Perhaps *now* you understand the situation we face. Apart, we may never find the victory we seek, but together... together, along with the new resources that I have uncovered with the help of my... agents, victory may yet be within our grasp."

        "I never thought this day would come..." Rahkeel slowly admitted, "But perhaps you are right, Drakh. Perhaps this is the only way we *can* succeed in bringing down Tikopai and her Rangers without Sheridan and the Alliance tracking us down... without Gideon and his damned crew coming after us, as well. Perhaps..."

        "I would remind you, however, that the -shatoz- are, as yet, untested in battle against either the daggership named *Excalibur* or Tikopai's light-cursed warship." Palakz growled. "The technology was tested before the conflict you know as the... 'Shadow' War, but since then -- our associates have had few if any opportunities to continue their... experiments. We must move carefully with this matter, Minbari... *very* carefully. If either of our races learn of this matter..."

        The meaning... was obvious. Neither Shai Alyt Kozorr and his warriors nor the Drakh Entire would be... pleased to learn of this alliance between warriors that had once stood in opposing camps, before the boundaries between those camps has become... blurred. "And if Gideon does find out what is going on... what then?" Rahkeel inquired.

        "One thing at a time, Alyt Rahkeel." the Drakh replied. "One thing... at a time."

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