"STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE"
EPISODE EIGHTEEN: "SOUL SEARCHERS"
'Featuring'
DEBRAH FARENTINO as Bethany Tikopai
ADAM BALDWIN as Paul Telluride
MICHAEL MORIARTY as Na'Zan
MARC ALAIMO as G'Kael
JAMES MARSDEN as Mordechai
NICHOLAS LEA as Rahkeel
KARI WUHRER as Illithan
PETER WINGFIELD as Palakz
ROBIN SACHS as Aielyn
AMANDA TAPPING as Miranda Feist
With,
RUSSELL CROWE as William Westcastle
BRUCE BOXLEITNER as President John Sheridan
PETER WOODWARD as Galen
RUTGER HAUER as Guttricht Haaker
and IAN McKELLEN as The Keymaster
* * *
(disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture)
* * *
Hyperspace - Three jumps from Babylon 5 - onboard Narn Regime Dreadnought *Tu'Fahr*. 12:55 hrs, EST - Dec 4th, 2267.
The first operational cruise of the Narn Regime's latest and greatest warship had already included more than one surprise - the greatest of which, Warleader Na'Zan considered, had been the arrival of Councillor G'Kael aboard before their departure from Homeworld some days before. Na'Zan, of course, had been quick to ask the question that was foremost on his mind when the Councillor had arrived on the bridge, his pair of aides in tow - had the kHa'Ri changed its mind about choosing him as the *Tu'Fahr*'s commander, and if so... why?
"You need not fear that fate, Na'Zan... not yet, at least." the Councillor had replied, after they had retired to the Warleader's ready room. "Let me be honest with you - the trials of rebuilding both government and also the morale of our people has weighed greatly on me in the past few years... and the occasions are now few and far between when I find the time to travel offworld..."
"So - you sought to take a leave from your duties, then?"
"From my offices, yes." G'Kael had corrected. "From my duties... never. The mission we are undertaking is a grave one, Na'Zan - a mission that must succeed if we are to have any hope in defeating the darkness that the Shadows have left behind them. The Drakh must not be allowed to succeed in their mission of destroying the peoples and creatures of the human homeworld - they have sacrificed too much already to die in such a fashion. We must help them, as *they* have helped us in turn... and myself particularly. Let the others hold the reins of power for the time being - I am needed out here, to aid in the hunt for the cure to the Drakh Plague."
As it turned out, there were more than a few Narns who shared the Councillor's outlook on the matter - and many of *them* had elected to serve on this vessel and take part in the search. But again Na'Zan considered the fact that his arrival, while the greatest surprise, had not been the only one... what with the fact that the *Tu'Fahr* was the first Narn warship to include areas of artificial gravity within its bulkheads, in accordance with the agreements made with the Minbari and the Alliance government in general... and now had come this rescue, before they had even properly arrived at Babylon 5 itself.
"You appear deep in thought, Na'Zan - I hope I'm not disturbing you?"
A thin smile appeared on the Warleader's face as he turned in the corridor to face G'Kael, who had come up from behind without Na'Zan noticing. "Disturb me, Councillor? No... never that - but I confess I do have... certain concerns regarding this 'rescue'. This Ranger female, for instance... what can you tell me about her?"
"That she is curiously intelligent for one so young - that she has used her relationship with the High Councillor of the Rangers to her own advantage on more than one occasion - that she was, at one point, touched by the Vorlon named Kosh... an event that forever changed her life. Little more do I know or *want* to know."
Na'Zan sighed - now whether or not *that* was true was certainly a matter of perspective. "And what of the 'accident' that befell her, Councillor? I find it curious that she allowed herself to become stranded in this fashion... if she *is* indeed as intelligent as you claim. In any case, it is fortunate that we... happened along, yes?"
""Yes, fortunate indeed." G'Kael agreed, as they arrived at the *Tu'Fahr*'s hangar bay. "Or perhaps she is 'blessed with good luck', as the humans might say."
"Perhaps..." Na'Zan began, but then it was that he caught sight of the two humans striding towards them across the hangar bay floor - the taller male wearing some sort of grey and black uniform, and the shorter dark haired female, obviously this Tikopai person, the more formal Ranger blacks of her craft. And then Na'Zan looked into her eyes, and saw the authority waiting there. "Or perhaps she makes her own luck?"
"An ability," G'Kael agreed, "That she shares with other members of her family in equal measure. I must tell you one day, Na'Zan, of the time her mother stared death in the face at the hands of the Shadows... and was saved by the Vorlons in turn, and also of how she sacrificed her warship to save the people of Earth... but that day is not today. For the present, I must take my leave of you - I would speak to our guests in private."
Na'Zan inclined his head, a thousand questions burning in his mind - all of which, for now at least, remained unsaid. "It shall be as you say... Councillor."
* * *
G'Kael's quarters - 13:15 hrs, EST.
"It is, I must admit, *good* to see you again after so long." the Narn Regime's former spymaster allowed, after he and his two guests, Ranger and Ranger-to-be, had retired to a more secure location. "And now, Julia, perhaps you will tell me what it was that caused you to be stranded in hyperspace?"
"Well, my associate and I were just beginning to figure that out when you appeared..."
"Your associate? Come, come!" G'Kael tutted, "I believe Mr. Dawson possesses a more important title then *that*. Perhaps... chief engineer?"
Julia's eyebrows rose. "You *know*?"
G'Kael slowly nodded, a cunning smile appearing on his face as he did so. "I know... enough to understand what it is that causes you to travel from place to place incognito, using transports to visit locales where your own command cannot safely travel. Val'na. I know that I am not the only one who knows this. And finally, I understand that there are now many who wish you dead *because* of your willingness to fight for what you believe in, to obey your President's orders... to hold the line, as he once said... no *matter* the cost."
"Did..."
"Our mutual friend the Rimstalker tell me of this matter?" G'Kael inclined his head slightly. "Your High Councillor *and* my friend told me what he thought he could afford to. While also requesting that if I was ever in a position to aid you, that 'could I please do so, while trying not to reveal her little secret to the galaxy at large'?".
Julia laughed in turn - yeah, that sounded like something William would say, all right. "*Thank* you." she managed, as beside her Nicholas let out a sigh of relief. "And now, if you don't mind, there's one other thing I have to ask you..."
"How are we to reunite you with the rest of your followers?" Julia nodded warily. "That will not be as easy as I might have hoped, but should not, at the same time... be impossible. You should know that we have already relayed word of your rescue to your superiors on Minbar - I am expecting a reply from them momentarily."
"That's good to hear..." Julia fell silent then, however, as a warning bell suddenly sounded in G'Kael's quarters, and the Councillor's eyes abruptly hardened as he leant forward and barked an interrogative in his native tongue. A fast stream of conversation with someone on the bridge of the *Tu'Fahr* soon followed, to which G'Kael eventually nodded. "You will please stand behind me at this time, Val'na," the Councillor requested. "I believe you will find this conversation interesting - I believe, in fact... that sooner rather than later you and those who follow you will be involved in this matter in any case."
A now frowning Julia did as he asked - but a moment later the frown on her face was replaced with shock as a familiar face appeared on the comm screen before her.
The face of John Sheridan, President of the Interstellar Alliance.
* * *
Although Julia would not learn of these matters until much later, other events were also taking place during that moment of revelation - the first of which involved a triad of White Stars far out on the Rim of known space.
* * *
White Star 101 - Sector 994, 100x14x91.
"You've got to be kidding." Miranda Feist muttered, as she cast a quick glance over the report that had arrived on her command several minutes before. The more pertinent details leapt out at her almost immediately - and while she could take time to digest the entire report at a later date, it was almost immediately clear what was probably going to happen next. "You're not, are you?"
"I'm afraid not, Miranda..." William Westcastle confirmed, his expression deadly serious... which almost always meant trouble was afoot. "We've just received word of a Gaim scout vessel reporting a sudden surge of energy from what we'd assumed was an uninhabited system in the former Shadow territories. They got the Hell out of there before anything could happen to them... but the Gaim believe that the energy may have come from an organic source."
Feist ground her teeth irritably. "The damn Shadows couldn't be content with just leaving the galaxy to the Younger Races, could they? Hell no, they had to leave behind dozens of supply caches for their servants to stumble across!"
"Or others." Westcastle reminded her.
The High Councillor was referring, of course, to the unknown powers behind the shadowtech warships that had plagued the crew of the *Shard* and others in recent weeks - individuals who were keeping a low profile for the time being, but who *knew* how long that was going to last. "So... you want us to go in and investigate this 'energy source'..."
"And deny its use to our enemies, yes. After all, we really don't need any of them to get hold of more Shadowtech at the moment. The hunt for the cure has stretched our resources to the limit - we cannot, and I *emphasize* this, easily handle another assault from our opponents at the moment."
"Understood, sir - loud and clear. Am I to assume that the White Stars in my triad will be the only ones assigned to this operation?"
At that, the High Councillor smiled. "On that score at least, there is some good news. I've called in some favours, and several more Alliance warships will be joining you shortly..."
* * *
In another part of Alliance territory, a part not regularly patrolled in this age of crisis and search, a large asteroid tumbled slowly around the gravity well of a brilliant B-class white supergiant, an apparently... unremarkable asteroid. In this case, however, appearances were deceiving... as within minutes of one another three jump points opened nearby - the first, born from the engines of a rather large Drakh fleet carrier - the second, by a somewhat unusual Minbari warship... and the third by a warship resembling a long silver needle... if needles could be over a mile in length, that was. A few moments passed, and then transports left those three vessels and descended towards the asteroid below - and the *well* hidden entrance waiting there.
* * *
The *Tu'Fahr* - G'Kael's quarters. 13:19 hrs, EST.
"Mr. President - to what do I owe the honour of this call?"
"To cut a long story short, G'Kael, we need your help - something's come up." Then it was that the President turned his most piercing glare on Julia. "Captain Tikopai - in trouble again, were we?"
"Uh... yes, sir." Julia managed, as she cast a glance in Nicholas' direction, who was, of course, apparently enjoying seeing her on the hot seat. "My chief engineer and I were on our way back to the *Shard* when we encountered, ah, engine difficulties..."
Sheridan nodded, his expression grave... except that Julia thought she could also sense a touch of humour mixed in there, as well. "Well, it's a good thing that G'Kael found you, Captain - I need both of you and your respective crews in on this one. We've just received a report that seems to indicate the presence of a previously unknown base out on the Rim near the former Shadow border. The nearest members of the White Star Fleet are already enroute to that location - similar orders have also been passed to your first officer, Captain... she and the rest of your crew will rendezvous with the *Tu'Fahr* at the following location..." at which point the President specified a location in hyperspace approximately half way between the dreadnought's current location and the hypothesized Shadow base, "And you will then carry on and meet up with the other Rangers on site."
"A simple enough operational order, but with a possibly dangerous outcome." G'Kael said. "So... we are to investigate this 'base', secure the energy source if possible... and destroy it, if not?"
"Exactly. Remember, though, G'Kael, that the search for the cure to the plague..."
"Must remain a priority." the Narn agreed. "Very well - the Rangers and I will handle this, Mr. President - we will report back when we have learned more. *Tu'Fahr* out!
There, you see?" G'Kael told Julia a moment later, "Sometimes the universe, and our leaders in particular, actually *do* try and solve the problems of their followers instead of making things worse."
"Except of course that the President's sending us towards what's probably an ancient Shadow base - just another 'from the frying pan into the fire' situation."
"Ah, come now, Mr. Dawson - these are the sort of situations that fire the blood, that keep our lives... exciting!"
A moment passed, and then the engineer chuckled, and nodded his head ruefully. "Yeah, guess you're right about that - if I had wanted a quiet and peaceful life, I wouldn't have signed on to work for little miss lightning rod over there."
"Yes, William and Jennifer have sent word of some of the... adventures you've had aboard the *Shard of Night* since you began guarding Captain Gideon's ship - an eventful cruise, to be certain."
"Eventful, huh? There were a few times when I was almost sure we were gonna get killed."
G'Kael leant back and put his feet up on the desk. "Please! - there is some time to... kill, I believe you would call it, before we arrive at the rendezvous point. I would certainly appreciate hearing about some of these adventures from the source."
At that Nicholas grinned, while Julia began casting a warning glare in his direction... one he chose to ignore. "Well, letssee, may as well start with the time we ran into the Shadows and the First One out beyond the Rim..."
* * *
Asteroid Base - 13:30 hrs, EST.
"My comrades," Guttricht Haaker began, "Thank you all for coming. It has taken a long time for us to reach this point, but now it is our belief that we are almost ready to act..."
"I am curious to learn what you mean by 'us'..." Palakz suddenly interrupted. "And 'we'... Messenger."
Haaker laughed, but behind the humour the Drakh could also detect a note of warning. "That title served me well enough during the preparatory stages of our working relationship, Vekh'shivalht, but now that our intent has been revealed to you, perhaps the time has come to do away with it - permanantly?"
"To be replaced by what, Haaker?" Rahkeel inquired. "Overseer? Master of all you survey?"
"Master? No, Minbari... never that. You might do better to call me the 'king's' right hand."
"And if you are the hand, then who is the king?"
"That, I suppose... would be me." A colder voice intoned, and as one, all present turned towards the doorway, now filled by a tall, broad shouldered man whose features were hidden in shadow. "A respectable allusion, Guttricht - 'General', however... *will* do."
"And who is this?" Palakz inquired, "This human who hides his face from us?"
"I hide nothing from those I trust." the General replied, as he moved forward into the light, allowing all those present to see the deadly intensity in his eyes. "As you should hide nothing from me in turn."
"You have not as yet answered my question, human... *who* are you?"
The General's expression twisted into a sneer as he sat down besides his second-in-command. "You are asking the wrong question, Vekh'shivalht... shouldn't yours be 'what do you want'?"
"We all know what we want, I think." the General's third guest said - and then, Speaker Aielyn-Trakande-Xexus rose to his feet and leant across the table towards the General and Haaker, the claws in his hands screeching across the surface as he did so. "There is, I believe, a human in this galaxy who has humiliated all of us - a human who believes herself untouchable. She *must* be made to pay for her crimes!..."
"And she is not the only one who will be made to pay, Eloi'a." the General corrected, his expression terrible to behold. "It has been said that some must be sacrificed if all *is* to be saved - and both your target and the individuals she is protecting are drawing too near to the truth for my own peace of mind. If Gideon was to be the one to find the cure, he and his crew would be treated as heroes, I suppose - on the other hand, what do you think would happen if they failed? If the *Excalibur* was, for instance, to be destroyed?"
"Chaos would reign, of course." Rahkeel replied. "If Gideon fails, if his ship is destroyed, if the humans believe there is no hope, their civilization would most likely fall to pieces..."
"Allowing others to step in and offer a cure in turn... for a price, that is."
"Bah... enough of this!" Aielyn barked. "Your preoccupation with this Gideon and his ship concerns me not - the only reason I have come to this place is..."
"Because we agreed to help you deal with your *little* problem?" the General all but snarled in turn . But then the anger on the General's face faded into calculation. "Yes... I suppose we did at that, didn't we?" Haaker nodded. "There is a price to pay for that aid, however - and all depends upon the success of the mission presently underway."
"Name your price, human." Palakz hissed.
"All in due course, Drakh - all... in due course. First, though, let us see if the young woman you want destroyed will sow the seeds of her own downfall."
"And you think it will be that easy, do you?" Rahkeel challenged. "Again and again since our Drakh *friend*'s race attacked the human homeworld, Tikopai has walked through the fires around us untouched. Thrice and thrice again she has faced challenges from both those in this room and others, including assaults from your own vessels!..."
"Prototypes, only." the General corrected. "Do you know what your greatest problem is, Minbari? You and the others all hate this Anla'shok named Tikopai, this *child* who has dared to stand against you - and not *once* have you attempted to work as one! You, Rahkeel... you possess knowledge of the foe's vessel, while you, Drakh, and you, Eloi'a, possess sufficient strength of arms to take the battle against them..."
"The one named Haaker has spoken to us of this," Palakz retorted, his arms crossed in disdain, "But what you are describing..."
"IS possible!" the General roared. "I will *make* it possible! Gideon has made himself a thorn in my side, and until we deal with this Tikopai brat and her occasionally-invisible ship from Hell, I cannot safely deal with the master of the 'Excalibur' and *his* followers! So... you will get what you want, and in turn I will get what *I* want - but not until you understand that I will not have you fighting amongst yourselves to be the one who gets the job done. Is... that... understood?"
"You would threaten *us*?"
The General's expression became mocking. "To those who think themselves mighty - remember that even they can be laid low. Recall that even your greatest citadels can be invaded by those who think their causes righteous enough. Remember that *none* of you are safe as long as she is at large... and that you do not want to make me your enemy... Speaker. For her wrath is as nothing compared to *mine*."
Aielyn's expression blackened, but all present could see that he understood the point the General was trying to make. "So - do I have your agreement on this... or not?"
"You have it." the Eloi'a hissed.
"Yes." Palakz said. "Let us end this, let us end *her*."
"Once and for all." Rahkeel concluded. "And now..."
"And now," the General cut in, "It's time to see what the *boy* has been up to while I've had my mind on other matters..."
* * *
Mars - Main Dome. 14:15 hrs, EST.
"Captain," General Veyan Shakotu began, as Bethany strode into his office, her expression guarded, "Thank you for coming on such short notice. I understand that you wanted to attend to reprovisioning your ship and taking care of your crew, but for various reasons that will soon become clear to you, these matters are for the time being best handled by your XO and the rest of his staff."
Bethany winced - *his* staff, the General had said. Here it came - the General was probably going to say something, anything, that would justify the Joint Chiefs sticking her behind a desk, attache to someone or other, she expected. It was just like she'd told Paul... they were reeling her in, putting her somewhere where they were *sure* she couldn't do any more damage. "I... see. Would the General care to tell me why exactly it is I'm being relieved of command, when all I've ever wanted to do is command a ship out on the deep range?"
Shakotu's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Relieved of command? Captain, for God's sake, whatever gave you that idea?"
"Sir?"
"Captain, surely you remember how long you've held your present rank? You're one of our most experienced captains, you've always fought for what you've believed in..."
"And just about been drummed out of the service once or twice because of it..."
Shatoku chuckled as he conceded the point. "That too. The thing is, most of the Joint Chiefs were trapped on Earth when the Drakh attacked, and as such, we are presently *very* light on personnel up on high who haven't been infected. The offworld brass, myself included, have had to make a lot of difficult decisions in the past few months on how best to handle this problem - and one of those was this one."
Bethany's mouth fell open - oh *no*, he wasn't saying, he couldn't be...
Shakotu held out a hand. "Congratulations, *General* - and welcome to the team."
* * *
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