(disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture)
* * *
<<ENVOI>>
ISAS SHARD OF NIGHT -- enroute to Minbar in hyperspace, May 20th, 2267.
"Mom *never* told me about this ship!" Celia dutifully informed Julia as the pair of them emerged onto the bridge, something Julia had been loath to do until Veyshahk had declared William and Jennifer's daughter unaffected by her recent ordeal. "And what's with all the Minbari fighting with those crystals in the ceiling?"
"Well," she replied, "We had to fight a battle with the nightbirds to get you back, Celia -- and when ships and their captains have to fight, sometimes things break."
"That," Nicholas muttered from his position up near the ceiling, "Can *definitely* be counted as one the understatements of the century."
"Now, now, Mr. Dawson..." Julia gently chided, "Be *nice*."
"If I must." Dawson replied with a shrug.
"Who's *she*?" a goggle-eyed Celia exclaimed, pointing at Klairika. "Bray-kiri, right?"
"'Brah'" Klairika enunciated, as she bent down to the child's level. "But the way it is said is something you will learn in time, child -- for now, perhaps the most important thing is that you are going home."
"Uh-huh." Celia replied, as she slowly wandered past a slightly nervous Dasouri and out into the observation area to look at the Eloi'a cruisers keeping station with the SHARD as it moved slowly through hyperspace. "I really miss Mom and Dad... and I'd sure like to see *David* again, too -- he's *never* going to believe all the stuff I've seen!"
"Um..." Nicholas noted from his perch, "That wouldn't be David *Sheridan* you're talking about, would it, kid?"
"Yeah!" Celia chirped. "Do you know him too?"
"They start *so* young." the engineer wryly muttered.
"She shows great promise," Nirisha observed, as she came to Julia's side. "Perhaps in time, she may even grow into greater power then any of the Observers your race presently possesses."
"A guess."
The avian nodded. "Perhaps... for now, there are more pressing concerns to address, of course. If you do not mind me asking -- what has the third member of your triad, Verah, decided to do with his life?"
Julia sighed then, as Celia scampered off in Sheynell's direction, who looked no more pleased then Dasouri was to have a kid scampering around the bridge of one of the most powerful warships in existence... but would, she knew, patiently endure, nevertheless. "I'm really not sure, actually. He and Jaarisa Kaise appeared to have hit it off, somewhat -- and since he can't go home as long as the quarantine's in effect, maybe he'll follow Jennifer and I and become a Ranger... who knows?"
"The important thing, of course," Nirisha replied, "Is that his mind is now whole -- that the fears are gone, and that he is able to pursue a normal life again. The rest... will come in time."
"And what about you?"
"An even harder question to answer, I am afraid. Taeldric and his warriors have assured me that they will escort you as far as the edge of Minbari space -- any farther, I fear, would be unwise -- and then, he and I must be on our way. Our struggle against the Traditionalists of the Cradle is barely begun... and I hope that you will not be affected overmuch by it."
"You hope... but you don't *believe*."
Nirisha nodded. "Indeed. The war I mentioned before is coming, Julia -- and when it arrives, I am afraid you will become involved despite all I can do to prevent it. My father now holds emnity against you, of course... be wary, and watchful... for when you least expect it, then will he strike."
"Though not in the near future, I suspect, if your Wingleader has anything to do with it."
"You may be right... but enough. Would you care to escort me to your smallcraft bay? I believe that it is, as your kind says, 'time that I was going'."
Julia smiled, before casting a quick glance in the direction of the pint-sized hurricane still moving around the bridge. "That would be *wonderful*."
* * *
"And now that's dealt with," Alwyn observed a short time later, as the SHARD's hangar-bay doors sealed shut behind Nirisha's departing smallcraft, "I believe it is time for *me* to be going as well."
"I'm sorry we didn't have more time to talk during this crisis," Julia apologized to the Technomage. "Perhaps next time?"
Alwyn laughed. "Oh yes... be assured, young Tikopai, there *will* be a next time. While I expect Galen will also be stopping by for a chat as well... eventually."
"Would you like to be a little more specific?"
Alwyn laughed... and a moment later, a puff of flames reached up to envelop the Technomage, leaving Julia only his laughter drifting away upon the breeze. Breeze? On a *starship*?
"Wizards." she muttered, before turning away to stalk down the corridor.
"Mom!" Celia cried out, as an openly weeping Jennifer Westcastle bent down to receive her daughter's affection. Nearby, Julia stood beside her High Councillor, who was, she noted, hard pressed to hide the tears in his own eyes, as well... but they were tears of joy, this time around. All in all, she concluded, things had more or less ended on a good note. This time.
"I find it astonishing, you know," William observed, as the two walked away to look out upon the Minbari orbital crews hovered around the outer skin of the SHARD OF NIGHT, "That you're still capable of surprising me."
She quirked one eyebrow, before turning to gaze appraisingly up at him. "And isn't that a good thing, sir? If I'm capable of surprising *you*, then I should definitely be capable of surprising our enemies."
"Hmm, yes... but please do be a little more careful from now on, though, Julia." the Rimstalker observed, his tone now critical. "You've got a Hell of a ship, but even she's not completely indestructible."
"A lesson hard-learned." she whispered, as her eyes went to the spot on the SHARD's belly where the Eloi'a missile had tore into her command, and stolen away two Ranger lives. "But as you found out yourself on a number of occasions, sometimes that's the only way *to* learn the lessons that count."
William nodded, as a familiar figure came around the corner nearby, and moved at speed towards them. "Just so -- but we can talk more on this at a later date. For now, looks like there's 'someone' who wants to talk to you -- and I know you've both got some catching up to do. Good day, Val'na." And with that, in addition to a small wink and a slight bow of thanks, William moved off to join the rest of his family -- which left Julia facing the new arrival, an arrival that shortly thereafter drew off the hood of his cloak...
"Larieken!" she exclaimed, moving forward to clasp hands with her friend. "I've... I've got so much to tell you!"
"And I, you." the Minbari admitted. "It has been, how do you say it?... 'a most eventful week'."
"You've got that right. But anyways, looks like the crews are going to be working on the SHARD for at *least* a few days..."
"A much needed holiday, then."
"And to start it off, a good meal and better company would certainly be appreciated."
"Ah." Larieken pondered. "I believe I know *just* the place, then."