(disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture)
* * *
<<ACT FIVE>>
This wasn't how it was supposed to end -- not like this, tumbling slowly through hyperspace next to one's opponent, with three almost-certainly hostile enemy cruisers bearing down on you! The pale violet lights that spoke to her of the damage her ship had suffered in this engagement shone upon her pale skin -- at least the artificial gravity hadn't failed. After a moment's decision, Julia finally decided to walk to the front of the bridge, and stood in the observation area the SHARD shared with its White Star predecessors to gaze out upon the approaching Eloi'a vessels. After a moment, she realized that Klairika and Nirisha, who had so far been silent during the engagement, had come to her side -- as was just. "Friend, or foe?" she whispered, turning to the Eloi'a who had come to her side in this affair. "Can you tell? Is the answer an easy one?"
"The answer is *never* an easy one, with my kind." the avian regretfully admitted, "But in this case, I'm afraid I cannot give you the answer you seek... yet. The commander of that force, he is hiding his thoughts from me -- and for this to be possible -- "
At that point, the SHARD abruptly shuddered, and the lights of emergency faded away and were replaced by the familiar lighting of normal operations, although Julia noted that there was still a rather significant number of bridge control surfaces that remained dark. "...stand by, damnit!" a familiar voice barked. "This is Dawson to the bridge -- do you receive?"
"Right here, Nicholas." she replied. "What's our status?"
"Not good, Captain -- look's like the Eloi'a missile that hit us amidships severed one of the energy feeds to the main gun -- it was only Alwyn's Technomage power source that actually let us fire the damn thing this time. In any case, several of the power couplings in our reactors still overloaded and burnt themselves out during the engagement, so it's going to take at least a little while before we can things even reasonably back on line... and certainly at least twenty minutes until the breach in our hull is completely healed."
"Sounds like we're going to have to spend some time in dock to repair the internal damage," she observed, "This is, of course, assuming that we'll actually be given such a chance."
"What do you mean?" the bemused Engineer inquired.
"In case you haven't noticed, Mr. Dawson," she sharply replied, "Three Eloi'a cruisers are bearing down on us as we speak..."
"Oh, Hell!" And as if to prove the point, an insistent chime came from the tactical station at that moment, and Julia turned to look in Sheynell's direction, a look to which the telepath regretfully nodded.
"... Which have just entered firing range. Stand by."
Everyone held their breath, then -- and then, all of a sudden, Nirisha's face brightened. "Set aside your fear, my friends... I have good news."
Which turned out to be entirely true a moment later, as six beams of gravitational force sprang out from the Eloi'a cruisers... to latch onto the still-helpless form of Speaker Aeilyn's flagship! "Signal coming in from the new arrivals." an astonished Klairika reported as she returned to her station. "The commander of the force, a 'Taeldric', wishes to speak to you, Val'na."
"Do you know this Taeldric?" Julia asked Nirisha.
"I *do*." came the reply, and Julia could hear and *sense* the smile behind those words, even if Nirisha was not capable of smiling herself. "He was declared Fallen by our Speaker when I had not yet begun my training. That he is here with his forces is a potent sign."
And with that, she straightened as the image of another Eloi'a bridge shimmered down -- and center to that bridge was the Observer who commanded there. "Ah -- you would be the younger human wielder of the Gift, then?" Julia nodded. "Excellent -- I am known as Taeldric-Axar-Luun, the last of my line, and, as you no doubt have already been told by your companion, Fallen to those who rule in the Cradle. It appears that we have come just in time to aid you -- and since the Traditionalists have damaged your vessel and caused harm to you and yours, ask of us what you will -- if possible these things are, your wishes we will fulfill."
"The leader of the 'Traditionalists', as you name them," she carefully replied, "Has stolen a child of my race who is to be an Observer when she comes to maturity. Understand that the 'tithing' pursued by his kind was refused by the child's mother -- we must recover this child, and return her safely to her family."
"As such," a now deadly serious Taeldric noted, "A boarding party will be necessary -- and a guard of protection and honour, as you would no doubt say. It shall be as you wish, then, Observer Tikopai -- I will shortly be sending over six smallcrafts of warriors which will accompany you to the TIELDA'S PRIDE. Once we have proceeded onboard, and I assure you, we *will* be proceeding onboard -- we will fight our way to where this stolen child has been imprisoned, and we shall recover her for you."
"Taeldric," Nirisha suddenly implored, "This plan you suggest, it will only involve more bloodshed for all concerned. I cannot have this on my conscience -- there must be a better way!"
"Very well then, daughter newly joined to our Circles..." Taeldric replied, his eyes narrow, "Explain to us your plan."
Nirisha did... and a while later, after Anla'shok Fenric had returned the fighter units of his squadron damaged during the engagement to the SHARD, the remaining operational fighters in the squadron escorted a single flyer over to the TIELDA'S PRIDE, the supporting craft of Taeldric's warrior brethren close behind.
The confrontation the two passengers in that flyer knew was coming was now close at hand.
* * *
Tierann Holding, Minbar.
"Hurt?" Ariekaas scoffed, as his brother stood solemnly at the heart of Tierann's great audience chamber. "Perhaps the truth is painful for you, brother, but as for me..."
"You have spoken quite enough already this night, Ariekaas!" Larieken interrupted, his voice a blade that cut through his younger brother's posturings, which threw the suddenly astounded Ariekaaas into silence. "Now, it is time for you to listen -- time for everyone present to hear *my* words, to hear the truth in this matter.
Called I was to this place by our father Alyt Kendraii... for a reason. It has taken me some time to deduce the pattern of all this, but in the end, deduce it, I have." At that, he laughed, a slightly mocking chuckle that filled the silence around him. "The truth, I said -- understand that the truth comes in many forms -- and that what I said in response to my brother's 'claims' was also an accurate statement. If I had stayed, I would have joined my elder brother in becoming a respected warrior of our clan... in fulfilling the wishes of our elders, in doing the *expected* thing.
The thing I did was not an easy one for all to endure -- but it was necessary, necessary for some of us to make the stand against the Great Enemy when many among us refused to believe they had returned. Necessary for those of us who did what we did, myself, Val'na Lanniel and Sha'vei Shival, for instance -- to show the path for the rest to follow. Which," Larieken concluded wryly, "In time many of you did."
"Your points are accepted, Anla'shaok Larieken." Araell allowed, a faint smile now upon her face. "And deal with the initial attacks of your sibling. Now would you address the other, before proceeding further?"
He nodded, before turning to face the members of his clan. "Again and anon, I hear the word 'changeling' used by various members of our clan and caste -- and while the term is accurate, the way it is used is *not*. It is easy to declare the human female Julia Tikopai unfit for command simply on the basis of her age, is it not? Easy to conclude that she has not fought enough battles, others will claim -- and if I had not seen her in action, I might agree with you... but this I cannot do. The Vorlon Kosh Naranek chose her for a reason, did what he did *for* a reason... Delenn, in concordance with all those who have trained my Val'na since first we met, understands this, and perhaps Sheridan does as well, in his own way. And while the full tale is not yet written, each day I stand at her side another page is added to the tome. I have supported her from the beginning -- and I will support her until the end. There is no other option."
"Oh *well* done, brother!" Ariekaas cried out, a moment later. "With each word, you dig yourself deeper..."
"Ariekaas."
The young warrior blinked, and raised his eyes to meet the stare of his Elder. "D'hal Sina'h?"
"Your brother has not finished revealing his truths to us." Araell observed, her voice icy against the silence of the cave. "Interrupt him again, and I *shall* have you removed from this chamber until he is finished. Is this clear to you?"
"With all due respect..."
"Do *not* make me repeat myself. The last warrior to make *that* mistake found himself posted to the Rim for a very long time -- if this is your intent of course, Ariekaas, please do feel free to continue."
Ariekaas shut his mouth, then, bowed rather quickly, and backed away from the Elder's table. "And now, Larieken," Araell observed, "Comes your most difficult challenge. Now that you have dealt with the incidentals, you shall address the main issue at hand -- tell us why you should be allowed to lead your family upon your father's passing... and why your brother should not."
"But that is the question, is it not?" Larieken thoughtfully replied. "For some among you, is it not a choice between two evils? On one hand, you see a member of your clan who chose a path frowned upon, but a path that was necessary. And on the other, my brother -- one who did indeed choose the accepted path, but is known for making... unwise decisions. If neither of us are fit to lead once my father has passed beyond the Veil, what then will become of our family?"
"If the leadership of the family passes out of Kendraii's direct line," another elder critically observed, "The power your family has held in this clan may falter, Anla'shok Larieken... and given the choices at hand, perhaps this is an acceptable choice."
"Acceptable?" Kendraii suddenly roared from the shadows. "Such a statement, D'hal Chaeran, could only come from *your* lips."
"That," Chaeran smoothly replied, his tone daggered, "Is a somewhat inaccurate claim, Alyt Kendraii -- there are many among our people who think as I do, that your family has held its power too long, that it is time for others to take up the burden you have supported."
"And if this is so," Larieken suddenly countered, "What means would you use to bring this future to pass, D'hal? Would you, perhaps, advise a member of our clan to attempt injury upon a member of my father's direct family, to ensure that his opponent did not appear at this council?"
"That you *dare* to accuse me of such a crime is proof of your taint, Anla'shok outcast!" Chaeran roared. "You should not have returned, and you certainly do not deserve to hold power as a Wind Sword, after all that you have done, and all that you have said!"
Larieken laughed. "So easily you assume that I returned because I saught power -- what if I was to say that I returned because my *father* asked me to come, and because the loyalty to family may in certain cases be higher then any other?"
"You make a most humble claim, Larieken," Araell noted, while other elders mused on these points, "And if true, what you have suffered since your return is a crime that must be answered for. And is there not one among us who is the other side to your soul, a warrior who stood aside rather then affect your past decision to become Anla'shok?"
Larieken nodded. "This is so."
"This warrior was injured, protecting Anla'shok Larieken from a most *unnatural* rockfall." Araell continued. "Injured because there are those among us, like your brother and D'hal Chaeran here, for instance, who are afraid of you -- afraid of what you are, who you are, and what you represent. And," the Elder cunningly concluded, "What you might *yet* be, if given the chance."
"You go too far, Sina'h!" Chaeran cried out, "I will..."
"You will do *nothing*, D'hal!" Araell suddenly barked, her now-fierce eyes casting the younger Minbari back upon his heels. "I had hoped that this would be resolved the easy way, but now you give me no choice. Understand that I and my attendants have been watching this situation develop most closely -- and it is very interesting what one may see when one sets up observation crystals throughout one's lands."
"You have not!" a suddenly appalled Chaeran replied. "You could not have!..."
"The 'backstabbing' in this affair, as the humans have been known to say from time to time, has gone on long enough, in *my* opinion." Her fingers steepled thoughtfully, Araell leant forward over the table then, her smile suddenly predatory. "Will it be necessary for me to show the evidence to the rest, D'hal?"
"Enough!" another voice suddenly cried out, and as a ripple of sound that might almost be a gasp passed across the chamber, Ariekaas suddenly stepped forward again, his face more pale then Larieken had ever seen. "Enough, Sina'h! -- it... appears I cannot hide the truth from you."
"If you had been even *slightly* more cunning," Araell observed, "You might have succeeded in your aims, young one. Instead, you displayed your intent as openly as a *mik'ari zat* would, blundering through the crystals in pursuit of its prey. You have, I fear, Araell concluded, "Much still to learn."
Ariekaas nodded, his expression now blank as his now-furious father watched the proceedings from the crowd. "It was. But do not assume that I will admit wrong-doing in this, brother... I did what I did because I believed that it was right -- because I believed in the words my *advisors* spoke in my ears. Believed that my plan would lead me to become the future head of my family."
"It appears that you erred in this assessment."
"Why so it does!" Ariekaas replied, his tone now snide. "And now that I will in all probability be joining my eldest brother in exile, it *also* appears that you have won this engagement, brother. My congratulations."
"Your answer we must have, Anla'shok Larieken." Araell noted, her eyes now fully upon him. "If this matter is to be brought to a satisfactory conclusion. Is it within you to stand aside from your path when the time comes to return to this place?"
Larieken took a deep breath, and slowly revolved upon his feet to take in the waiting ranks of his clan, before returning to face the expectant, waiting (and partially disgruntled) rank of his Clan Elders.
And then, he gave his answer.
* * *
"Let me go!" Celia Westcastle cried out, as Aeilyn once more reached down to grasp her hands, while chaos swirled around him. "I don't want to do what you want me to!"
"This is no longer your choice to make, child..." he wearily informed the human eggling. "The moment of bonding has come."
<I think *not*, Father.> a venomous whisper suddenly cut into the back of his mind, and Aeilyn whirled upon his feet, and spat a long and intricate curse. Nirisha, she was upon this ship... but *how*?
<'My oh my'... we Fallen are just *full* of surprises, now aren't we?>
The humans, and *one* human in particular, Aeilyn concluded, had obviously been influencing *her* far too much. And even as he thought on this, Celia Westcastle slipped away from him, dropped down on her knees, and scampered away under the nearby row of consoles.
* * *
Even before she emerged from the flyer, Julia knew what she would see... sensed in her heart the discontinuity in this race, the schism that was still growing, a rent that would need to be healed if the Eloi'a were ever to understand peace in her lifetime. But that day was not this day... as she strode forward, Nirisha at her side, to stand before the gathered squads of Eloi'a battletroops, while Taeldric's own forces stood ranks deep behind them. The tension in the air was almost unbearable -- and if anyone in the room decided to fire, it was almost certain that everyone in the chamber would die, including herself.
"Why have you come to this place?" an authoritarian voice suddenly cried out, and she watched a tall, slightly graying Eloi'a moved out to the forefront of the defending ranks. "Nirisha -- you *must* understand that I cannot let you through?"
"Wingleader," Nirisha replied, going down on one knee as she spoke, "From the egg you have protected me, watched me as I grew towards my gift and into my full powers. As the seasons have turned and the ice has come and gone, you stood beside me beneath our flame-crystal towers, and never once have you sought to interrupt my path-of-flight. Now, in this instant, I stand between two worlds... and I give you a chance to move aside from the path of darkness you have set yourself upon, a chance to avoid the bloodshed to come if you should ignore my words."
"Because of our past history," the Wingleader replied, "I will hear your words, Fallen One -- but speak quickly, for even now, tradition calls me to battle!"
"You understand that this thing my father the Speaker has done is wrong, do you not? The tithing that is common to the races of our Cradle is not a thing that is done with these humans -- my father, however, chose to ignore this fact and moved ahead regardless... ordered his minions to 'kidnap' the human child, and bring her to him. He intends to engage in an unlawful bond with this human eggling, a bond that is doomed to failure even before it is established, for the child will fight him... and only pain can result."
"And what of this willful female you travel with?" the Wingleader challenged. "Attacked my vessel, she did, with claws of fire and flame. Would you have me give over this child so easily, without fear of further agression from this *Ranger* and her Interstellar Alliance?"
"I would, yes." Nirisha bluntly replied, as she rose back to her feet. "I would have you return the child to us, so that insult does not become injury... and then hate. For the smallest of insults have warfleets been launched -- would you have her Alliance, with their numerically superior if technologically inferior forces, burn our worlds to the bedrock, for the sake of a stolen child?"
"This is..."
"Unlikely?" Nirisha exclaimed. "Of course it is unlikely, but it is possible, Wingleader!... and I *cannot* ignore a possibility so dire, for if I am right, our people may be doomed if your Speaker goes ahead with what he plans."
"So -- what would you have us do, then?"
"I would have you escort us to the command-sphere, my Wingleader. I would have the stolen child returned to my comrade-in-arms -- and finally, I woud have my father the Speaker returned to the Cradle to answer for his crimes -- and stripped of his rank, if need be."
"Most hasty, these claims are... but it appears that there is truth to some of what you say." The Wingleader gestured sharply, and somewhat resentfully, to Julia's eyes at least, the ranks of waiting Eloi'a stood aside to let Nirisha and her warrior escort pass through. "I would not see my people involved in another war so soon over something so... trifling."
"You do not know the humans as well as I do." Nirisha reminded him. "What was it you said, Julia?... that a frown once launched a thousand ships?"
"Well..." she carefully replied, "Not *quite*."
* * *
The tread of dark boots upon the stone was what brought her back from the abyss -- as for the first time in hours, Belaii opened her eyes, and gazed out upon the shadows that were. In the near distance, a figure waited, dark of cloak and hood -- the only setting piece the emerald and silver jewel upon his breast. "Larieken." she whispered, the hint of a smile coming upon her face, "How fare you?"
"The answer to that question is not an easy one, I fear," came the reply, as he drew back his hood and reached out to take her offered hand in his. "The answer to a different question, however, *has* been resolved."
"Ariekaas?"
"Revealed his treachery through his own inexperience, as I had suspected he would. The Elder challenged him, and he could not sum up the courage to muster an adequate defence." At that, Larieken smiled, if a trifle bitterly. "He will be sent from this place for a number of cycles, I believe, to walk the far reaches and gain much needed experience, and when he returns, he will be better for it."
"But that will not be soon."
Larieken regretfully nodded. "For as long as Araell and her successors form a majority in our Councils, I fear the watch upon the Nightmarch will continue for my brother."
"And thus, the day will come when you must return to this place... for good?"
Another nod. "Indeed. But that day will not be soon -- for as long as my father does live, Belaii, my place is amongst the Anla'shok... and the time draws near for me to return to my duties." He sighed. "I do not wish to be parted from you again so soon, but there is no other choice..."
"In that," she replied, "You are incorrect, my love."
A long pause, and a frown. "Explain."
"I have decided, Larieken, to follow your example." she carefully replied. "To become Anla'shok, to walk in your footsteps and follow the code of honour that helped guide you in your choices, this day of all days. I almost followed you when first you left us -- for duty's sake, I held my ground then. Duty, however, is no longer enough -- if you must walk among the stars in the service of the One, then so shall I -- and again and anon, our paths may cross, until you are called home, for I will *not* endure another seperation such as the one just concluded."
"You *cannot* do this!" Larieken exclaimed.
"You cannot stop me." she replied, and reached up her hand to touch his face. "I have made up my mind -- the decision is made, and cannot be undone."
A sigh. "You are sure about this?"
"Very."
"In that case," Larieken regretfully concluded, "I fear that I must contact some of my associates in Tuzanor before I depart... the life partner of the one named 'Rimstalker', for instance."
She laughed, the sound bright against the night-time darkness. "I have heard *so* much about this human, Larieken! Are all the stories really true?"
Larieken bent down on one knee beside her, and leant his head against hers. "There is time enough to tell his tale, Belaii -- it begins like *this*..."
* * *
"Where must we go?" Julia asked her companion, as she carefully moved through the low-grav environement of the command-sphere at Nirisha's side. "Where is he?"
"In his place of power, of course... up there." Nirisha pointed to a platform high above. "There we will also find the stolen child."
"And how," she tartly inquired, "Am *I* going to get up there?"
"Like this, of course." All of a sudden, before Julia could even cry out in alarm, Nirisha grasped her around the waist as two of Taeldric's warriors did the same for her. A moment passed then, in which the Eloi'a Observer passed her orders to the warriors, and finally, as one, the three avians rose towards their goal, Julia suspended between them beneath their fiercely beating wings.
"I am going," she carefully enunciated, "To *get* you for this."
"Later, perhaps," Nirisha replied, as they rose level with the darkened platform, and slowly descended onto it a moment later. "After this movement is concluded."
"You have come too late, Nirisha." a familiar, caustic whisper emerged from the darkness. "The moment has passed, the child is *mine*."
"I would know if that were true, *father*." Nirisha spat. "She has resisted your advances ever since she learned the truth about her invisible 'friend', as well you know. As a matter of fact, is she not even now hiding beneath your command consoles?"
"The bond is closed!" Aeilyn suddenly thundered. "You have come in vain!"
Nirisha sighed. "So -- we shall soon learn whether or not this is true -- for there is one here who is capable of reaching out to the child in a manner you cannot emulate... one who has stood in vigil over her since she came into this world. Julia," Nirisha suddenly implored, "Call out to her, as I have called out to you since we have met. Only this way can the cycle of fear be broken."
"She... she will hear me?"
"If dedicated to this task you are," the avian promised, "She will -- I promise you."
And at that, Julia closed her eyes, blocking out the distractions of the outside world, and cleared her mind. <Celia,> she called out, along the band she shared with both Nirisha and also the sullen, angry Speaker for the Cradle, <It's Julia -- I'm here for you, all you have to do is...>
"Julia!" With a roar, Aeilyn moved to catch the streak of human child that erupted from beneath his feet, but he was nowhere near quick enough, and a moment later, Julia went down on one knee to catch Celia Westcastle in her arms. "I *thought* I was dreaming -- I didn't believe you'd come!"
"Sssshhh..." she whispered, gathering the now-shaking child into her arms. "Tell me later, once we're back on my ship, okay?"
"This farce is now concluded, *father*." Nirisha smugly informed Aeilyn, even as the Wingleader and his troops arrived on the platform to begin the process of returning the Eloi'a flagship to normality. "Your mistake, spelled out, for all our people to see."
"Nirisha," the Wingleader wearily informed his former charge, "Now that certain... mistakes have been rectified, I believe that is time for you and your allies to depart. Our sensors have detected the outer elements of our fleet approaching this position, and I cannot guarentee your safety if you are still here when they arrive."
"My wishes," Nirisha asked him, "Will they be fulfilled?"
The Wingleader nodded. "To the best of my admittedly limited ability, yes. The proof is in hand of our Speaker's 'transgressions', and now the child has been rescued, this proof will be brought before the Elders -- they will decide his punishment."
"As is proper."
"Now go, before it is too late!"
"We go." Nirisha promised. "Farewell, my Wingleader!"
"Be warned, Lost One!" Aeilyn suddenly cried out, as the forces of the Wingleader took him into custody. "I will remember this day... and there *will* be a reckoning!"
"Is he right, Nirisha?" Julia finally decided to ask her companion, as Taeldric's soldiers once more gathered around them and they prepared to leave the platform behind. "Is he capable of striking back at us, after all that we've done to hurt him this day?"
"This answer," the reply came, "I wish I *could* give you, Julia... but the future is veiled to my sight. One thing is certain, however," Nirisha concluded, her voice suddenly full of sorrow. "The Schism is spreading -- and one day, very soon...