(disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture)
* * *
<<ACT THREE>>
Medlab onboard ISAS SHARD OF NIGHT -- in pursuit. May 18th, 2267.
"He is sleeping for the time being, then?"
"How did you guess?"
"A reasonable assumption to make -- if he had not been, *you* would not have emerged to take rest from this vigil you have held at his side, ever since we left Minbar to begin this 'stern chase' -- which is, is it not, the way your kind describe such pursuits?" Having said all that, Physician Veyshahk then turned his attention upon the vital statistics of his nearby patient while Jaarisa Kaise finished up the cup of herbal tea (or was it something else?) which had mysteriously materialized in Medlab some moments before.
"Ever since we've come aboard, sir," she finally replied, "He's been... much quieter then he normally is." As one, the two turned their heads at that point to gaze at the reclined figure of Alkanion Verah through the cross-hatched crystal pane behind them. "I find this curious."
"Perhaps this has to do with the presence of another of his kind aboard." Veyshahk replied after a moment. "I have heard that Sech Westcastle, together with our Val'na, have chosen to visit him on occasion -- and that from time to time their presence seems to calm him. In this case, however, the effect, whatever it may be, may be amplified due to the greater... skills of our Eloi'a guest."
"I must confess I do not understand how this 'Observing' can be as important as reports suggest it is!" Jaarisa said. "To weave the threads of a history together into a tapestry for future generations is a special gift, I will admit -- but the evidence laid before us by this contact with the Eloi'a that suggests the 'gift' that Anla'shok Sech Westcastle and Val'na Tikopai share with Alkanion Verah is genetic in nature... this I find harder to believe."
"And from that statement, comes another thread I would discuss with you at this time," was the Minbari's reply. "Trainee Kaise, it is apparent to me that you hold interest in the art of healing others. As you must soon choose your path with the Anla'shok, it would please me greatly if you would join me on the path that I walk with Anla'shok Nividia and the rest." Veyshahk smiled, then. "Our numbers are small for now, but in time, this may yet change."
For a moment she did not reply, so astonished was she by the physician's suggestion -- but then, a smile blossomed on her face, as she *finally* realized what it was she had been unconsciously aiming towards all along, since Observer Verah had fallen under her care. "Your suggestion, sir -- it is truly a remarkable one.
Why, the answer I have been searching for, it has been before me all this time!"
"Such is the way of things, on occasion." Veyshahk allowed. "And now that this has been decided..." All conversation slid to a halt then, however, as the doors at the main entrance to Medlab slid apart behind them, and a small procession of Rangers entered the room. Central to the new arrivals were two individuals that she had only just been thinking about a moment before. The first, her shimmery wings tucked close in behind her back, her grayish-green plumage neatly groomed, was their avian-heritaged guest, the Eloi'a named Nirisha-Shalios- Trakande. The other, of course, the black-and-silver uniformed captain of this vessel -- and as always, Jaarisa shied away from meeting her rapier gaze -- a silly reaction to have with a woman who was over five years younger then herself... but nevetheless appeared the same age as she did.
"Veyshahk."
The Minbari bowed. "Val'na, your timing is excellent on this occasion... as usual -- he is at peace for the time being. What it is your companion is about to attempt -- she would be wise to begin *now*, before he awakens to realize what is happening."
"Nirisha?"
"The circles of being wait for no one," their visitor replied, her voice low and mysterious. "But the synchrony cannot be ignored -- in this place and this time, the circles of flesh, spirit and star may indeed stand as one. He is near to us, but so very *far* away at the same time."
"Can you reach him?"
"I believe so." came the avian's reply as she moved through into the room where the other Observer slept unawares. "Now all must be silent -- heed my words, if this is to succeed, I must not be distracted!"
* * *
Her claws fully retracted-in-peace, Nirisha took a deep breath into her powerful lungs as she reached out her hands and laid them carefully against the face of the human below her -- and then closed her eyes, whispering as she did so the ancient chant of Together-walking for the ill one to hear, as she reached out to touch the muddled currents of thoughts that moved within him. The phrases of the First-brood escaped from her mouth in a silent blurred torrent as she searched through the mists of *gla'ima* to find the pattern of his mind, and slowly, ever so slowly, she fell out of the waking world and into the in-between of what he was.
It had been a long time since she had done such a thing as this -- too long. Father, of course, had frowned on the practice as being 'beneath her station' but only in Together-walking could Observers truly deduce the patterns of the souls -- the nature of those they would call friends. In time she would attempt this with Julia-Seeker-Tikopai... before they parted ways at the end of this affair, as inevitably they would. For now, however, she walked down a different road -- a road that descended into darkness.
And then *fire*.
"Who are you?" the man cried out, as she emerged out of the night onto a ledge of rock that stretched out of sight in both directions. "What are you?"
"A friend." she gently replied. "A hand to hold on to, in your time of need."
"I have been alone in the Dreamtime for so long -- dimly I have heard the whispers of the Others, but though I have cried out to them for aid, they could not hear me!" the man replied, his eyes showing the despair that had plagued him for so long. "You are the first to reach me in this place." Again he frowned. "Human, you are not -- you must first tell me what you are if I am to trust in this vision."
"Of course I must. Eloi'a, I am... and an Observer, such as yourself."
"You have the *sense*, yes -- but strong, stronger then I have ever known!"
"The others have sent me to help you, Alkanion Verah -- and help you I shall, if you would let me do so. The first thing I shall ask is this -- you are hiding from the world, hiding from your fears behind a mask of madness. Why have you done this thing?"
"Know this place, do you?" Verah replied, gesturing behind him -- and then, all of a sudden, Nirisha suddenly saw what was behind him, and could not stifle a sudden gasp -- it was a *city*, a city of darkness and light, in a cave vaster then any she had ever beheld. "I see from your expression that you do not. Very well, then, tell you I will what this place is -- the city of darkness and light, the heart of the place named *Z'ha'dum*... the homeworld of the beings named Shadows. Imprisoned here, I was, before the man named Westcastle came to save me."
"The Dark Ones kept you in this place?" she managed.
"They did. They sought to use my talents to advance their own plans to fruition, but other forces denied them this aid. An ancient being came to me, and drew me away from Z'ha'dum. In time, I came to meet the man who would seek to save me, and on his ship of wonders, we moved towards a place of safety, a place where my rescuer assured me I would be safe."
Verah's expression turned bitter at that point, however. "The truth was not so kind -- in a moment of weakness, they came upon us, the ones of Light, the speakers of *lies* -- the ones named... Vorlons." In a sudden instant, the world around them changed, and Nirisha suddenly beheld a vast armada of tentacled vessels in space, the power of their golden forms unmistakable -- full of menace and unstoppable pride. "Took me, they did, into a place of horrors -- they asked me many questions, painful questions, and when I did not give them the answers they sought, more pain did they deal in return."
Of course. "You've been hiding from them!" she managed. "They hurt you badly, both the Dark Ones *and* these Vorlons."
"I cannot face them again, not after what they did to me!" Verah suddenly cried. "I will hide from them in this place until the end of time if need be, but I cannot face them again!"
"Human," Nirisha carefully replied, "A secret, I must tell you -- the ones who lead in this place, the ones named Sheridan and Delenn, they have banished both Dark Ones and Vorlons beyond the walls of night. They are gone, Alkanion Verah!... for more then six of your years they have been gone."
"Gone?" Verah suddenly cried out, his face now full of anger. "No, I do not believe you, bird-woman -- I *cannot* believe you. You speak lies!"
"Lies?" she all but snarled in return. "You would dare accuse me of this? You would accuse a daughter-of-the-Circle, an Observer such as yourself, of such a thing?"
"I do not believe you, I *cannot* simply accept your word on this matter!... it is too easy a way out, for all that I know, you may be an agent of theirs, sent to draw me out of my hiding-place! Too much pain have I suffered at their hands to come so easily out of this place.. Proof you must give me, before this tale of yours I will believe."
It was in that moment that Nirisha decided she had him *right* where she wanted him. The strain would be difficult, but it was necessary -- and a moment later, she rose back into the waking world, and turned her gaze towards the Rangers who waited nearby. "Julia..." she whispered, "Help me, you must, to convince him that I do not lie."
"Help you... how?"
"Were you not at the last battle of the War of Light and Darkness?" Nirisha sharply replied. "The battle your records speak of, above the world named Corianna VI?"
"I was, yes." Julia said, her gaze now faraway as Nirisha watched her sink back ito a memory of a time best forgotten. "And I will never forget that day, for as long as I live."
"That proof, I require. Give to me your hand, Seeker..." she commanded, falling into the cadence of circle-prime to student. "Show him your memories, we must."
"But I... I don't how to do what you want me to!"
"I will guide you in this," Nirisha promised. "You need only *follow*."
* * *
The ways of the world are sometimes mysterious ones, she would write later on -- and there are many things hidden from us that happen just the same. In that instant of understanding, I watched the visitor and the captain of the SHARD OF NIGHT merge their left and right hands and drop into communion with the man I had cared almost since I had come to this place to become Anla'shok. I watched their eyes flutter almost closed in that moment of union -- and finally, I beheld a miracle... as Alkanion Verah cried out, a cry of surprise and of disbelief, as he rose fully into the conscious world for the first time in almost seven human years.
* * *
"It is true, then?" Verah asked, his voice shaky, as the two who had brought him back stood before him. "Are they actually gone?"
"We have showed you the truth of what is." Nirisha replied. "There is no other."
"Tell me this, you must -- what is the year?"
"It is the fifth month of the Earth Year 2267." Julia slowly replied, and she almost looked aside then to see the dismay that appeared on the other's face at those words. "The galaxy has changed a great deal since you fell behind your veil of madness, Mr. Verah... and as much as I would like to explain this to you, for the moment I simply do not have the time... but *she* might."
"And... she is?"
"Her name is Jaarisa Kaise -- and she has invested a great deal of time in ensuring your continued health in recent months. Talk to her, and she will talk in return... won't you, Trainee Kaise?"
"It would be... an honour to serve in this way." Kaise replied, her words slow and steady, although she still showed her shock at Alkanion Verah's sudden recovery from Julia's point of view. "Greetings to you, then, sir -- it seems that we have a great deal to talk about."
"And now this deed is done," Nirisha whispered in her ear, "It is time for us to be elsewhere. She will tell him all he needs to hear, Julia -- and in a shorter time then any of us may believe, a new weaving may emerge."
"How, exactly, did we do that?" she asked, her voice full of wonder now as she ran her mind back over the bright memory of the link just past. "Is it because..."
Nirisha nodded. "All three of us are Observers, my Seeker-friend -- our talents, while not finely honed on the part of you and the other, may dance as one in situations such as this one. I had indeed hoped the matter would as easy to resolve as this -- it is with relief that on this occasion I find those hopes to be one and the same with reality."
"Which is all for the best, of course." Julia replied with a sigh, "Since our *prime* concern has yet to be dealt with."
"It should not be much longer, now."
As if to reinforce that claim, all of a sudden an image of Klairika, the rest of the bridge behind, sprang into existence ahead of them. "Ah, Val'na -- there you are."
"Spare me the small talk, Klairika -- what's up?"
"The outermost elements of our probe network have just overtaken the vessel commanded by the Eloi'a named... Saakli." the Brakiri replied with bared teeth. "If all goes well, we shall soon be overtaking that vessel.
Do I, at this time, have your leave to bring this vessel to full combat readiness?"
* * *
Minbar.
"There is little time left to do what must be done."
"There will be enough time for us to do what we must... we have observed the others speaking their dark words... and the seeds they have planted in young Ariekaas will shortly be bearing fruit, I fear."
"What will he do, do you think?"
"What is expected, of course. One of the only ways for Kendraii's youngest child to gain advantage in this is to ensure that his Anla'shok brother does not arrive at council on time..."
"Do you fear sabotage, then?"
A shrug. "It is... inevitable, I am afraid -- but nevertheless, the result may not be what Ariekaas is expecting."
* * *
Ariekaas remembered the times before the war -- remembered how his brother had always had 'places of power' that he would retreat to in times of great doubt and struggle with the thoughts that were... with the patterns that might yet be. Already during this visit Larieken had stood at one of those -- and now, predictable as always, he had come to the greatest of those that remained -- the bridge at Kei'zhei portal. That bridge had stood across the gorge for over seven hundred cycles... and while what he planned here today would not damage the bridge overly, he had taken several steps to ensure that there would be no connection made between the 'accident' to come and the council close at hand. His gaze certain, his hand steady, Ariekaas watched the scene unfold through the watcher's-crystal his 'friends' had given him some time ago. A useful technology, this was -- all one had to do was place small elemental crystals infused with certain optical/transmission technologies, and one could safely observe the movements of those one was interested in... watching.
And in this moment, Ariekaas watched with baited breath as his brother slowly approached the north side of Kei'zhei portal, and the gateway through the canyon wall that waited there. Watched, and carefully set his finger against the remote trigger in his right hand, a trigger that spoke to a countless multitude of tiny explosives which had wormed their way into the rock face above his brother only moments before. A terrible rock fall it would be, he had calculated the aspects of the 'disaster' quite throroughly in multiple predictive runs since he had gone into seclusion following his disagreement with his... friend. A terrible fall, but not life-threatening -- Larieken would recover, but by then, the council would be over -- and it would be too late.
His concentration on the moment immense, Ariekaas awaited until his brother stepped into the portal itself -- and then his finger came down on the trigger.
And if he had seen the figure stepping *out* of the portal to meet his brother, would his reaction have been any different?
* * *
In the times to come, Larieken would go back over and over this moment in his mind, seeking to find a moment in time where things could have gone differently -- a different future, without the moments of pain that had resulted in this one. He remembered the sharp crack of stone... remembered looking up to see a hundred and more fragments of stone shatter away from thec canyon wall above him. There would be no time... and then there was, as an ever-so-familiar pair of hands closed around his waist, and *pulled* him bodily through the portal. Even then their escape was not complete, however, as with a thunderous roar, the rockfall smashed down upon the surface of the bridge and then rebounded, casting long, jagged slivers of stone in all directions. One of those grazed his face...
While three more far larger ones embedded themselves in the shoulder and head of the one who had saved him from his fate. And after a moment of disorientation, he found himself looking up into the face of the one he loved in his life... and feeling his heart tighten to see the blood pouring down her face from the wound she had endured only a moment before... blood echoed in lesser amounts by the wound in her shoulder, and also that running down his own face.
"Belaii!" he cried out, "Why did you do this thing?"
"For you, I would dare to assault all the hidden dark places we know of in this life," she whispered in reply, her breath coming in short gasps through the pain she was feeling, while he ripped aside a piece of fabric from his garments and tied it around her head to staunch the blood loss. "And now, for me, justice you must seek. This was not... not a natural fall, Larieken. A force saught to keep you from council this day of all days -- a guess, my love, to the identity of that individual."
Even at that, even at hearing those words from her lips, his hands tightened upon her own, so did he wish to doubt her accusation. "Minbari do not kill Minbari." he exclaimed, invoking the time-honored saying as bastion against a truth he did not want to believe.
"He did not seek to kill you, Larieken -- only to *delay*."
"He shall pay for his choices then, this day," he ground out as he took her into his arms and moved away at speed, one of his hands clamped tightly upon the wound in her shoulder. "This cowardly act must be answered for!"
"And answer for it, he shall... but not in the manner you seek in *this* instant." she whispered in his ear, barely conscious now. "Promise me you will remember reserve before you face him -- promise me, Larieken, or this thing that we have together may die."
"In Valen's Name, I swear it shall be as you say." he promised. "There shall be a reckoning between us -- but I hear your words, now you must hear mine. Listen to my voice, Belaii, we approach a place where help may be found..."
* * *
Elsewhere.
"What's happening?" the girl cried out in the darkness. "Why won't you talk to me?"
<Even those who cannot be seen must be elsewhere on occasion. While children such your yourself must sometimes be seen and not heard.>
"I thought you were my friend!" Celia shouted. "You said you'd never leave me alone!"
<But I am.> the voice carefully replied, in a tone the child could not understand. <And as for you being *alone*, child -- there is an alternative to that...
If you are brave enough to accept it that is. Brave enough to accept that you will never see your mother and your father again in this life, now that the nightbirds have stolen you away...>
* * *
"Will she never cease that confounded wailing?" Saakli ground out, his expression bitter. "It was my belief, Speaker, that your... intervention would aid in this."
the larger-than-life image of Aeilyn nodded, his expression severe and pleased at the same instant. "And help it has, my friend... help it has. The time when she will accept the offer grows near -- now all that you have to do is reach us. We are near, the distance grows short!"
"I pray that you are right, for our time is running out..." It was at that very moment, of course, that the low sustained rumble of a proximity warning filled the command-deck of Saakli's bridge, and the operative winced. "Pray let me amend my previous statement, O Observer -- our time appears to have run out."
* * *
"Weapons officer," Julia smoothly began, as she took her seat at the heart of the bridge. "Our range to target, if you please."
"Their stealth-tech's making it difficult for us to get a clear lock on them." Sheynell replied, her gaze intent upon her instruments. "Less then twenty thousand kilometres, more then fifteen... but we're closing on them, *rapidly*."
"Stand by." Klairika replied to her fellow Ranger, "I am about to change the sensor network scanning pattern... perhaps this will help."
"If I make another suggestion," Nirisha advised, "It may be possible for us to bring this vessel's stealth technology 'into phase', if you will, with the technology built into Saakli's vessel."
"Nicholas?" Julia inquired, "Is that possible?"
"Maybe..." the engineer replied, a moment later. "Hold on -- Alwyn's nodding his head wisely in the corner -- tell you what, let me confer with our resident wizard for a moment, and then we'll see what we can do for you."
"Do your best, Mr. Dawson -- bridge out." And with that, Julia's expression turned even more hawk-like. "Anla'shok Keynes -- time until we enter weapons range?"
"Estimating... eighty seconds." And then, the telepath blinked. "Make that seventy-one seconds, mark! Whatever it was Nicholas and our guest did down there, it's done wonders for our fire control system. Range to target, nine thousand one hundred kilometres and closing!"
"Get me a channel to the enemy vessel."
"Done." Klairika replied a moment later.
"This is Anla'shok Val'na Tikopai of the Interstellar Alliance warship SHARD OF NIGHT to Eloi'a vessel. You will stand your vessel down and prepare to be boarded -- you have sixty seconds to comply."
"He will *not* stand down." Nirisha muttered, as the seconds ticked by. "It is not his way. And I warn you not to underestimate him, and especially not to underestimate my father. As well you know, when things appear easiest, there will be trouble."
"Maybe not this time, Nirisha. After all, we reached him before he reached your father, now didn't we?"
"We've just entered weapons range!" Sheynell suddenly exclaimed at that point. "All batteries are hot!"
"Bring the secondaries to bear on a vector off of his port quarter, if you please." Julia commanded.
"Ready."
"Fire!"
Almost as one, the two vessels, hunted and hunter, fell towards a natural fold in hyperspace with only slightly more then four thousand kilometres separating them. It was at that point, as two golden threads of energy rocked his vessel with their passage that a now desperate Saakli ordered his vessel flipped end over end and fired in return... a shot that went wide as the just as maneuverable SHARD OF NIGHT ducked beneath the weapons burst and closed to near point-blank-range.
Julia began to smile -- if this was how the hunt was going to end, they were getting off *easy*. "Make ready our boarding party, Klairika." she said, rising to her feet. "This was easier then I thought it was going to..." Then it was that she realized the entire bridge had gone silent... and slowly, very slowly, she turned around. "Be?"
As the half-mile wide prow of the Eloi'a dreadnought TIELDA'S PRIDE emerged out of the hyperspace pocket in front of them.
"This is, then," Dasouri wearily said for them all, "How trouble is defined where you come from?"