(disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture)
* * *
<<ACT FOUR>>
"Who do you serve? And who do you trust?"
- Galen
* * *
In my time, I have been called many things, some of them not very flattering. I have been the Follower, and I have been a dutiful student of my art and my discipline. I have stood at the bedsides of those I care most about in this universe, awaiting their return out of the darkness... and I have walked through the Fire, in Valen's name, and theirs. In this time and this place I am known as the Teacher, and as far as I can tell, I have nearly completed my tasks in this place.
Nearly. For even as the forces of Alliance form a barrier in the skies above us, a line drawn against the forces of Darkness, Jeffrey Sinclair, an alternate version of the man who helped me when I needed help the most, leads us down to the surface of Epsilon 3... our destination, the planet's Great Machine, guarded in this reality by Londo Mollari... while alongside our descending shuttle flies the black splintership that John Sheridan, ex-Imperial Warlord, used to escape from his followers.
Why Sheridan should be joining us on the planet's surface is as yet unclear -- but then again, a great number of things about this 'operation' are still unclear. For instance, the 'something to say' and 'something to do' that Entil'zha Sinclair referred to on the EXCALIBUR. At the moment, I haven't got a clue what he was referring to -- I'm *quite* sure it will come to me soon enough, however.
Such is the curse of who I am and what I do... such is the curse of Observance.
* * *
#There#
"Not good." Zathras muttered, as he stood in the middle of the great skybridge and gazed upward towards the surface of Epsilon 3, as great arcs of energy crawled up the walls of the fusion reactor core around him, focused on the temporal disturbance just above the surface of Epsilon 3. "Rift is becoming unstable -- we warned you this would happen, but listen, did you? No! No one ever listen to Zathras, any Zathras!... and now we have no more time."
"There is time enough to finish what must be finished, my quizzical friend." Alwyn informed Zathras, as the Technomage arrived at his side. "The stabilization pattern calculated by Isabelle and Jaenisara will shortly be implemented by your friend the Guardian. And if we are correct..."
At that very moment, the pattern of energy on the walls of the reactor briefly fluxed before establishing itself into a new pattern. Another moment passed, and then Zathras breathed a sigh of relief. "Perhaps Zathras jumping to conclusions again, as humans have been known to say from time to time. Rift has stabilized as you have said -- we have perhaps one of your hours before focus is lost again. May be enough time to finish what must be finished -- for the Teacher to say what must be said -- and for the ONE to close the circle that *must* be closed."
"And for that to happen," Alwyn noted, his gaze now far away, "Our esteemed warriors must do their duty..."
* * *
"Thirty percent damage to lower decks," the EXCALIBUR's exec tersely reported, as the mighty destroyer shook from the latest strikes of the Imperial wolfpack harrying their flanks. "We're having problems engaging the Imperial vessels, sir -- they're very much like the splintership that Sheridan used to come over to our side -- Shadowtech hulls, beam weapons, and faster then lightning. Reports coming in from the Minbari captains and the commanders of the DAMOCLES and SHEVA'TA indicated they're taking just as much damage as we are. This can't last forever, sir -- we're going to have to make a concerted strike at their battleline or face the possibility that they may break through and attack the region around the temporal rift."
"They are the Enemy," Gideon replied, as he rose to his feet, "And every enemy has a weakness to exploit. Now all we have to do is figure out what that weakness is."
A moment later, a transmission from the planet below came that caused both officers to raise their eyebrows -- a transmission that soon looked like it was going to provide an answer to the question at hand. "This is Sheridan to EXCALIBUR. Captain Gideon, can I assume you'd be interested in learning that there just happens to be a design flaw in the Wolfpack battlecruisers?"
"If you were looking to get my attention, Mr. Sheridan, you now have it. Start talking -- we're getting pounded to pieces up here, and the sooner you can give us that information, the better."
"Then start taking notes, because I'm only going to say this once. The only way to kill one of those things is to fire a continous, full-power energy burst into the bow twenty-five feet above their fighter bays. If you hit the right area, this *should* set up a destructive chain reaction in the bio-hull that will tear the ships apart -- but only if you hit the right area."
"And what happens if we miss?"
"If you miss, Captain, you'll have an angry crew *and* an angry ship coming after you."
"So noted, Mr. Sheridan, thank you for the tip. EXCALIBUR out." At that point, Gideon twisted in his chair, to take in the visage of Shai Alyt Sinoval on the nearby monitor. "You caught all that, right?"
"Indeed I did, Captain." the tall Minbari gravely replied. "And I would suggest that only your vessel and the two other Alliance destroyers are capable of this feat. My battlegroup is presently beginning another pass towards the enemy line of battle -- perhaps it would be prudent for you to come in behind and determine whether Sheridan is telling us the truth or not."
Gideon nodded. "Clear the way with your cruisers and fighter groups, Sinoval -- we're coming in right behind you."
"Be careful in your aiming, Gideon." Sinoval warned. "I very much doubt the enemy will give us a second chance to 'experiment' on their vessels."
"Sinoval, have I *ever* missed a target when it really counted?"
The Minbari wisely chose not to respond on *that* score.
* * *
#In between the worlds#
<Now do you understand?> Galen asked the two astonished Rangers whose essences were hanging in front of his, hovering over the whirling maelstrom of the Mirror reality that had caused everyone involved in this matter far too much grief already. <The Soul Hunters and myself have known of this matter for some time now... but until the moment came when you could prove to me that you would go so far as to endanger your own lives to rescue your captain, I could not tell you of this matter.>
<And the moment came,> a thunderstruck Sheynell whispered, <And all of a sudden, you didn't have a choice any longer. You *had* to tell us why we couldn't rescue her immediately, or risk the destruction of an entire reality!>
<Precisely. Val'na Tikopai has fallen into a temporal nexus of sorts, a moment of destiny in this reality that cannot be interrupted. If she had not arrived on schedule, certain events would not have occured, and in short order, the forces of Darkness would have triumphed. As things now stand, however, there is a very real chance that all will go well - a chance that the mission at hand may succeed.>
<The circle must be closed... or everything will change.>
<Are you trying to tell us,> Klairika exclaimed, <That this happened in *our* reality, as well? That Entil'zha Sinclair went back in time and became Valen?>
Galen laughed. <Ranger that you are, and you do not know of this matter? Interesting, but not terribly surprising, I suppose. In any case, what we discuss is now history in our universe... it has happened, it is done, and it cannot be changed. For the present, however, we must be patient and wait for the moment to arrive, the moment we are all waiting for.>
<But how will we able to recognize that moment?>
<You will recognize it, Na'lai Alidiae.> Galen distantly replied. <The effects of that moment on the patterns below will be *quite* noticable.>
* * *
The flare of light told her everything, the flash that meant another of her best fighter pilots had died. Ivanova gritted her teeth and turned towards her chief Huntsman -- this situation was more then intolerable... something would have to be done and soon, before the prey she sought escaped from her grasp.
Permanantly. "Have you found a break in their battleline yet?"
The Huntsman grimaced. "I regret to report, Huntleader, that we have not. The Alliance battle-line is maintaining its integrity despite our continous assault against their capital vessels -- I do not know how much longer we can maintain this assault."
"The orders we have *must* be fulfilled." Ivanova icily reminded the Huntsman. "*He* has commanded the capture of the traitor Sinclair, and we have never disappointed him..."
It was then, however, that a proximity warning howled, and Ivanova stiffened, as she beheld the vessels bearing down on them -- three of the Alliance's deadly Victory Class Destroyers. "Evasive action!"
That order, however, came too little, and too late, to help the Wolfpack, as a moment later, the vacuum in front of Ivanova's battlegroup fluoresced brilliant white, as the enemy commander gave the order to...
* * *
"Fire!" Gideon exclaimed.
Their targets selected, the EXCALIBUR, DAMOCLES and SHEVA'TA engaged their main batteries in that singular, dreadful moment, and as Sinoval's battlegroup began to circle back, ready to protect the Alliance destroyers in their moment of weakness, a terrible stream of energy sprang out from each warship's prow to strike an Imperial battlecruiser head on. A moment later, each and every Alliance commander on the field of battle let out a sigh of relief, as the data passed on by Sheridan proved to be *entirely* accurate.
As those three targeted Imperial battlecruisers briefly shuddered...
And then tore themselves asunder.
* * *
"Your... orders, Huntleader?" the Huntsman croaked.
Ivanova sat still for a moment, simply unable to believe what had just occured -- how three of her *finest* warships had been swatted from space in an instant. How had they done it? How had those *bastard* Alliance captains destroyed her ships?
It was Sheridan, it had to be. Somehow he had *known* about a design weakness that her OWN engineers had not seen fit to inform her about -- and in that knowing, had betrayed those he had once commanded -- a final betrayal, in her eyes.
Nearly she screamed, then -- but she held back that scream, because that would be showing weakness... and *that* could not be allowed. Ever. There would be other days, and other battles, but for now, this battle had been lost. If they stayed, they would probably all die -- while if they left, there was a chance, a very *real* chance, that Sheridan could be made to pay for this. Eventually.
"Prepare to open jump points!" she snarled. "We retreat, while we still can."
"Mistress?"
"Do NOT make me repeat myself." Ivanova ground out. Slowly. Icily.
"Yes, Mistress!"
She clenched one fist, then, and nodded, the plans already coming together in her mind. She would have her revenge -- in due course.
For now, however, there was the matter of choosing someone to carry the blame for this defeat...
* * *
"Hah!" Londo exclaimed, as Sheridan, Delenn, Sinclair and Julia joined Zathras, G'kar and the Technomages at the heart of the Great Machine, "Now *that* was a suitably large set of explosions, wasn't it?"
"I told you he wouldn't miss, Mollari." G'kar replied. "If it's one thing I've learned from my time spent among the obelisks of the Gateworld, it is this: all the various Gideons I have spied upon in the past several years share one thing in common -- give the man a target to shoot at that's difficult to attain and yet produces a rather *remarkable* result, and he will hit that target, or die in the attempt."
"Pah! And if I still used money, I would have to pay up on the bet we made with one another, is this what you are saying, G'kar?"
The Narn smiled. "Oh, I'm sure I can think of some sort of price for you to pay in the immediate future, Londo. Be assured of that."
"And speaking of prices," Sinclair interjected, "The time has come for us to discuss the fate of several of the individuals present at this gathering. Without exception, all of us have travelled long roads to come to this place at this time, and without exception, every one of us have come for a *good* reason, even though those reasons may not be clear to some of you.
Londo, G'kar, Delenn and myself, together with our followers and allies, have been battling the Empire for many years. Delenn, as some of you already know, stepped forward to serve as a bridge between her people and mine when the need was greatest... when the Shadows and the forces of Empire descended upon the Alliance... while Londo and G'kar were chosen as Guardians of the installations most critical to our success this day.
And while the mission is a difficult one, I have accepted the risks and the mission as *necessary*. The circle must be closed... and the Minbari, while divided in this age, will be one people again eventually. But only if I go back, to do what needs to be done."
"So let me see if I've got this straight..." Sheridan interrupted. "While Delenn became partly human in order to serve as a focus for the forces of Alliance in their battle against the Empire and the Dar...ah, their masters, you and Zathras will be going *back* in time with my splintership... and you will become completely Minbari at the same time?"
"Not completely, no." Sinclair corrected, "But to all outward appearances, I *will* be Minbari -- a leader come out of darkness to lead his people into exile. A leader able to slip through the forces of Darkness and appear as one of their own, as necessary. And that exile will establish the foundations for the victory to come."
"Now hold on just a minute, here!" Sheridan exclaimed. "If you're going back in time to become this Valen, who's going to take charge of the battle against the Empire?"
Sinclair smiled.
"You're not seriously suggesting that *I*..."
"Not right away, no -- but eventually, yes, that day will come. For the time being, Sinoval and Gideon will lead the battle against the Empire, while you and your, shall we say, 'assistant', will conduct undercover strike missions against the Imperial forces until the peoples of the Alliance believe in your dedication to the cause. Then, and *only* then will you come to the forefront, to lead the final strike against the heartworlds of Empire.
A strike that will bring an end to the Darkness. A mission that will bring peace to a galaxy that has not known peace for generations."
"And the 'assistant' you're referring to?"
Sinclair turned in Julia's direction at that point. "Her, of course... or rather, this reality's version of her, when the other, the visitor to this place, departs. The question I have for *her* at this time, however, is this.
We have, in our time, named you the 'Darkness Born', Julia Tikopai, and you have killed many of our finest in battles waged in the name of hate. Are you willing to turn aside from your past, and embrace a better future? Can you help your former commander battle the forces of Empire, and end this war, before it's too late?"
There was a long moment of silence, then, and Julia used that moment to turn inwards and search for the half-seen light that was the Other. <Can you do this for them? Are you capable of atoning for the mistakes you've made, in the service of the Empire?>
Nearby, Isabelle sighed, and as one, all the Technomages nodded. "That," Isabelle noted, "Would be the fifth question."
"But what," Alwyn mused, "Will be her answer, I wonder?"
There was another long pause, and then a long sigh emerged from the darkness, a sigh that only Julia could hear. <Am I capable, my better, brighter echo? If you has asked me this question a week ago, the answer would have been no. But after all that I have experienced, all that I've learned? After the questions you asked me, the answers you forced out of me, the *truths* you forced me to confront first hand? You know the answer, and so do they -- when you are gone, I will do what I must, when I must. It will not be easy, but what choice do I have? It is either do this, or be imprisoned, or possibly even executed for war crimes.
No, my conscience, there is no choice, and no hesitation. What is real is in the here and now... and I have a LOT of penance to perform.>
Julia smiled then, and turned towards the rest. "She says...
Yes."
* * *
#In between the worlds#
<Technomage.>
<I hear you, Praetor Questus.>
<Has the moment arrived?>
<It has -- the pattern is beginning to shift, as I had hoped it would. There is merely... one small matter to take care of, and then we shall return.>
<This is well -- you should know that the instabilities are getting worse.>
<Even this is well.> Galen replied. <The instabilities will serve their own purpose, soon enough.>
<This thing you intend -- it is... unfortunate, but necessary.>
<Very necessary, yes.>
<We will make the arrangements, then. And when you return, we will be ready to act.>
<This is well.>
<Well... indeed.>
* * *
"You have very little time left in this place, Miss Tikopai, Now that I have released my hold on your... presence here." G'kar warned Julia, as the group walked across the landing area towards the waiting shuttle and splintership. "There are certain individuals in your own reality who are searching for you -- if you are intending to pass on farewells to anyone in THIS reality, now would be the time."
"I... please let me be honest with you! -- this whole experience, it's been both terrifying and an eye-opener for me. And if I've made some difference in how future events will run, here..."
G'kar chuckled. "A difference? Yes, you *have* managed to do that, now haven't you? In your own way, you may have managed to change the destiny of your alternate self... and in her own way, through the experiences she has endured in your presence, she will help Sheridan do what he has to."
"She will help Sheridan destroy the Empire, you mean."
"Perhaps." G'kar allowed. "Time will tell on that score, I'm afraid. G'quon be with you, Miss Tikopai -- and may your own quest be as successful as ours."
And with that, G'kar moved away, and Julia turned, to find Sinclair waiting patiently nearby... and almost involuntarily, she smiled. "It's strange, you know, what with all the momentous events happening, and battles being waged, that I should still get the chance to say something I never got to say to your opposite in my reality, before he left, to go back in time to fight the Shadows..."
"Say what you have to, Julia." Sinclair gently replied. "Before the moment slips away, never to return."
"Such a simple pair of words it is, but with so much meaning. The Minbari never use it, because it is their belief that there is always a chance of coming this way again. But in this case, I know that once I leave, I may never return -- and so, I say this while I can, and because I must.
Goodbye... Entil'zha."
And even as she said the words, it was almost as if a great light lit behind her, and she turned, to try and see what was causing the light, how could anything be so *bright*...
She blinked. And blinked again. The sensations of a moment before, the faces and the environment -- it had all changed in an instant, replaced by icy coldness and shadows...
And a moment later, through no fault of her own, having just emerged from out of a coma, she passed out again.
#Here#
"What happened?" Larieken exclaimed, as the SHARD OF NIGHT's medical personnel quickly carried Julia, Klairika and Sheynell out of the shelter and towards the waiting shuttle.
"It is difficult for me to explain, and for now, we do not have the time in any case." Galen impatiently replied, as a massive vibration ran through the ground below them. "It is enough for you to know that we have rescued your captain, and in due course, that all three of them will recover completely. For now, however, you and your followers must leave this place, Minbari. Immediately."
"Why? Now that we know some of the secrets of this place, we could..."
"That would now be impossible." the Praetor Questus dourly announced. "The gate was kept open longer then it should have been, and our actions forced this in some respects. The gate has now destabilized, and the power source within the obelisk is quickly approaching critical mass. It is time for you to leave -- we will join you in orbit around this world once we are sure the danger has passed, and the gate is truly closed. Now GO, before it is too late!"
Larieken went.
* * *
Together they waited, until the Rangers had boarded their vessel and disappeared into the skies above, and then it was that the Praetor Questus and the Fhedayar approached Galen, to say what had to be said. "There will be a price to pay for this." the elder Soul Hunter warned the Technomage.
Galen turned towards the Praetor Questus, and inclined his head, taking the point as moot. "The obligation will be met in due course -- for now however, now that the moment of crisis and destiny has passed us by, it is time to close the gate... to close all of them, for all time."
"All is ready... the moment has arrived. Do what you must, Technomage, or not at all."
Galen inclined his head again, and with a single sweeping motion, raised his staff high above his head, and brought the tip down to strike at the ground in front of him.
Behind them, the obelisk that had caused all the problems, the obelisk that had opened a gate between realities...
That obelisk suddenly shook violently, and began to shatter, revealing an unpleasant, curdled-green light that began to brighten even as it appeared -- a light that would, if the increase continued, soon be as bright as the sun.
"Now we go." Galen said, with some finality.
"Now it is finished."
* * *
Later...
"Are you sure you're ready to see it?" Klairika asked. "After your experience..."
"There are always prices to be paid for any action, as well you know." Julia replied, as she slowly made her way down the corridor. "And while no one will tell me what's happened, it's a given that you and the rest kept that gate between realities open for longer then you should have."
"Perhaps we did, and perhaps there was a price to be paid -- perhaps there still *is* a price to be paid for the rescue... this we will discover soon enough. But what we have gained in your return -- can that gain be balanced against the damage we have caused?"
"What *are* you talking about?" Julia exclaimed, as they entered the viewing chamber.
"Observe." Klairka replied, as she snapped out a short series of commands in Minbari -- commands that Julia translated in her head as they were spoken... commands that caused her to tense, for even though she knew what was coming, it was becoming obvious that the vision would not be a pleasant one...
An instant later, the image sprang into being all around them, the darkness of space, the spangled stars, and below them, the disc of Amaranth...
A good portion of which seemed to be on fire.
"What... how..."
"According to Galen and the Soul Hunters, the gate you fell through developed an instability while we were searching for you, and after we returned, they told us to leave because the power source in the obelisk was about to go critical. They tried to prevent it from happening, or so they told us afterwards -- but once one of the obelisks exploded, they *all* began to explode."
"And when they did explode..."
"Everything on that continent that could burn, did, which has made the planet uninhabitable for some time to come, I'm afraid. Not that I *want* to come back here any time soon, after what we've experienced here."
"No." Julia whispered, as she gazed down on the inferno that she had, in some respects, brought into being. "As a matter of fact, we should probably get the Alliance Council to declared this world off limits for the forseeable future."
"Agreed." the Brakiri allowed... but then, Klairika's expression changed, and became more inquisitive. "I do, however, have one more thing to ask you, before we are done with this matter. Will you ever be able to tell us what happened to you on the far side of the gate?"
Julia sighed. "You were the one who stood in the gate to look for me, Klairika -- you've earned that telling, many times over. And when the day comes that I'm ready to talk about it, you'll be the first one I hunt for."
"But that day..."
"Isn't today."
"Then I make a bargain with you, Julia Tikopai." the Brakiri replied, her gaze intent. "I have saved your life, and the time may come, soon enough, when you will have to save mine. When this occurs, and when we are both safe, I will tell you a secret that no one outside the Brakiri race knows about -- and you will tell me what happened to you on the other side of the gate.
Do we have, as your kind says, a deal?"
She smiled, and nodded -- it was a fair bargain -- more then fair. "We do."