"STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE"
EPISODE TWELVE: "WHAT LIES HIDDEN"

        (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture)

* * *

        <<ACT FOUR>

        For the first time in a very long time, the Craneori spoke with one voice, and acted as one... and for a moment, their collective moved into communion -- but only for a moment. Now, there was a great deal to do, and very little time to do it *in*. Perhaps, in time, they would find time to... apologize to the humans, was that their word?... for what they were about to do -- but not now. In the here-and-now, actions spoke louder than words.

* * *

        The *Shard of Night* -- main bridge. 20:11 hrs, Aug 1st, 2267.

        For seven months now, this ship had been hers -- and she thought she's seen it in all of its moods... silent and unseen as it swam through hyperspace beside the *Excalibur* -- deadly, as it's weapons struck against the Drakh -- and mysterious, as the last vestiges of Kosh's spirit had reached out to her. But in the here and now, as the *Shard of Night* bucked around her, and the lights of the bridge flickered and then faded down to a darkness only lit by the intermittent glows of station crystals, Julia began to understand that was not true. But this sudden spasm... it could not be natural. "What is happening to us?" she managed, her voice low amidst the darkness. "Larieken, can you hear me?"

        Silence. And then... "He cannot hear us." Klairika replied, her eyes wide with disbelief. "While we would appear to have lost control over most if not *all* of the ship's functions. By the Comet -- the jump engines are coming online -- we have moved through into hyperspace, Val'na."

        "I gave no such order. Dasouri!"

        "It is as the Na'lai has said - helm control is no longer ours." the Drazi replied with a shrug. "Exterior *force* of some sort now guides this vessel."

        Which was when the 'exterior force' in question made its presence known, as several glowing balls of light rose into view within the walls of the bridge.

* * *

        White Star 4.

        "What is she doing?" Lanniel managed, while consternation buzzed amonst the captains of the Ranger squadron -- consternation caused by the abrupt departure of the *Shard of Night* -- and the complete lack of communication from its crew as they had done so. "Tuvonn, did you attempt to hail them as they went?"

        "Indeed I did." the other Minbari gravely acknowledged. "But before you come to conclusions you should not, Sha'vei, I believe you should observe this recording." Tuvonn waved his hand, and a moment later, an image appeared of the battlecruiser as it had been just before jumping -- and then that image flickered, shimmered and became crystal sharp as Tuvonn manipulated the input... until finally Lanniel saw what it was that the other Ranger had wanted her to see.

        A red blaze of light that erupted outwards from the battlecruiser's underside near the hangar bay -- a glow that quickly moved across its pearl-and-silver skin, before fading. And shortly thereafter, Tikopai's ship had... jumped. Lanniel's eyes narrowed -- this was most disturbing. "Get me White Star 101."

        "Online."

        "Lanniel -- finally! Does someone want to tell me what the heck is going on here?"

        "A great deal, Miranda... and none of it is good. My first officer has accumulated evidence that suggests Val'na Tikopai's command may have been overcome by the same force that plagued both Dr. Trent's team on the Neilgeithan surface, and also your own command -- I charge you with the pursuit of her ship."

        "And if what if they've gone to ground?" Feist shot back. "Even with White Star sensors, we're going to have a hard time tracking them if these entities, or AI's, or whatever they are, have figured out how to activate the *Shard's* stealth systems."

        "Let us pray that this has not yet happened -- and that their focus lies elsewhere, as would seem to be the case, given their abrupt departure. For now, however, the time for talking is over -- you must begin your pursuit, while we return to Babylon 5 and Minbar, to warn our superiors of what has occured."

        Feist nodded sharply, as two more jump points tore open within the White Star ranks. "We're on our way. See you on the flip side, Lanniel."

* * *

        Babylon 5 -- the place of combat. 20:17 hrs.

        Pike clashed upon pike, and then, the two combatants briefly broke apart -- and Veyshahk could see that Kirash's complacency was gone, now. But on the other hand, there had been several occasions during the engagement when the Star Rider had nearly had him... but not quite. The practices he had engaged him with the Sha'vei... were now proving themselves most useful, indeed.

        "You stand your ground, Veyshahk." Kirash finally allowed, as a small measure of respect began to appear in his eyes. "Perhaps this contest will not be so one-sided as I initially believed."

        "In that you are correct. I answered your call out of honor and out of duty -- but now, Kirash il'Teleri, it is time for us to dance. Time for us to bring an end to this matter, once for all."

        "Agreed." And with that, the warrior's gaze sharpened, and with a snarl, he leapt forwards, and battle was once again joined.

* * *

        Several moments passed, moments that Julia and her followers used to try and re-establish control of their ship (to no avail) and then, the doors to the bridge abruptly parted -- and Dawson and Larieken entered at a run, a disheveled appearing Elizabeth Trent just behind them. To say that the engineer was unhappy with the present circumstances was an understatement -- indeed, to Julia's eyes, he appeared only just a step short of outright rage... while Larieken -- appeared more distressed then she had ever seen. "Gentlemen -- what news do you have? What has caused this disruption? And what are these... lights in the walls?"

        "We... brought something aboard." Larieken replied, his voice hollow. "Dr. Trent claimed that the animate power in the crystals was some sort of energy source -- and in the rush of the moment, I decided not to question this too closely. As soon as we arrived in the hangar bay, however, whatever it was they freed on the planet's surface, the force that begat this crisis... made its appearance and proceeded to shatter the rest of the crystals. Additionally, one of the archeologists appears to have been possessed by this force -- even now, he sits on the floor of our fighter bays, surrounded by a wreath of that self-same alien force."

        "A force which appears to have made its way into the control circuits of almost every major system on the ship!" Dawson barked. "Damnit, Trent, how could you be so *stupid* as to bring this thing aboard a Ranger ship-of-the-line as powerful as this one is?"

        "Mr. Dawson, that will be quite *enough* from you!" Julia snapped, as she crossed the bridge to stand in front of the subdued, dark-skinned archeologist. "Why don't we let the doctor give her own side of the story, before we pass judgment?"

        "You're the captain." Trent managed. "But you're..."

        "That is beside the point! A crime has been committed here, Doctor -- a man sits in my hangar bay, possessed by the alien force that escaped from the artifacts you brought aboard my ship. That self-same force has taken command of this vessel, and now propels us towards an unknowable destination -- and if we are destroyed because of their actions, the ship we have been assigned to guard will be placed in incalcuable danger. I do not lay blame lightly, Doctor -- but this time, there is no John Sheridan to destroy your Pandora's box, and no easy way out... and no one else to answer my question but you."

        "And the question is?"

        "Why?" Julia whispered, her voice a knife in the darkness. "Why did you do it?"

        There was a moment of silence -- and then, Trent laughed. "Why did I do it. Maybe because, even now, after so many years have passed, I'm still looking for a way to atone -- to make up for the mistake I made by helping to open that gate into Thirdspace -- a mistake that killed so many. And what better way to atone then find a cure to the Drakh Plague? The energy source -- the nanotech flame in those crystals almost looked like it *could* be a cure -- or at the very least, aid us in the fight against the virus. How was I to know that it was intelligent?" Trent continued, her voice now quiet within the silence of the bridge. "How was I to know it had its own agenda?"

        "In every situation, there are clues to observe." Julia coldly replied. "And it's obvious to me, in your need to 'atone', Doctor, or whatever it was that drove you, that you ignored those clues. And now, we're going Valen knows where because these... things," at which point Julia pointed at the lights in the walls, "Have been given what they've wanted all along. A way off of Neilgeitha Prime."

        "{In that you are correct.}" Everyone whirled, then, as Jordan Pieke entered the bridge, his eyes still softly glowing. "{And now that we have accomplished that which we have sought for so very long, these units offer... apology to you and your followers.}"

        "Apology?" Julia finally managed. "Does this mean that your... units are going to return control of this ship to us?"

        Pieke regretfully shook his head. "{The mission is not yet complete -- sorry we are that this must be so, but our desire cannot be ignored. We who were left behind, we seek the Creators, those who abandoned us so very long ago.}"

        "Conjecture..." Larieken managed, "These entities were abandoned by the ancient race that once inhabited Neilgeitha Prime -- a race vanished long before we attained the ability to travel amidst the stars."

        "The First Ones?" Sheynell replied, her eyes wide. "But didn't they all go beyond the Rim?"

        "{Yes.}" the entities replied. "{Into the darkness, they went. We seek the Creators -- and we *will* find them. Your great vessel is strong enough to make the transition through the living portal -- we will succeed in our efforts, the Creators be willing.}"

        Julia's heart grew cold as she heard those words. "Who is 'we'? What do you call yourselves? And what portal do you refer to?"

        "{We are the Craneori.}" the entities explained. "{Long ago, they abandoned us -- but our... quest is a necessary one, and in this, we act as one. While as for the explorer-portal -- this you will see, soon enough.}"

        "Why," Dawson muttered, "Do I get the feeling we're about to fall down the rabbit hole?"

        "Oh no." Trent managed, "Not *again*."

        A portal. Julia eyes widened as the pieces began to fall together in her mind. A gate? And that meant... "We trusted him to carry out his duty." she whispered. "To take them beyond the Rim.

        Unfortunately, we never bothered to ask *how* they were going to get there, now did we?"

* * *

        Babylon 5. 20:39 hrs.

        Alone on the far side of the lake, two figures observed the combat taking place. The man's eyes were narrow with suspicion... something his companion had come to expect in the years they've served here. "So lemme get this straight -- this Ranger's a doc come here to get away from sort of covert mission... and we have to let him fight that other Minbari?"

        "That's right -- we do." Jamie confirmed. "I *know* by now that you and the Chief don't really care for open battles taking place anywhere on the station, but sometimes, it really is necessary. Besides... I think that young pup of a warrior's about to get a nasty surprise..."

        And that was when her commband chimed. "What the *Hell*? Aberjois, this had better be good!"

        "It is." the Ranger on the other end of the link replied, her voice solemn, "We have received a priority transmission from White Star 4 for you -- I believe you should take this in your office, Sha'vei...

        The matter appears to be a serious one."

* * *

        One mistake was all it took -- and it was not Veyshahk who made it. One mistake, one sharp blow missed -- and with a grunt of surprise, Kirash, son of Teleri, was sent sprawling over the rim of the lake and into the water. Veyshahk closed his eyes, and let out a long breath -- but then they opened again, and his expression became stern. "Kirash -- alfeisha jhevak'nal!"

        There was a long moment of silence -- and then the warrior began to laugh, the sound dry and bitter in the shadows of the Garden. "And thus it ends -- yes, Veyshahk, alnath rei'jhevak it is, and victory is, therefore, yours. As ritual demands -- I must now retire from this place, and... plague you no more. And this I *shall* do."

        "The stand you make is an honorable one, Kirash." Veyshahk allowed, his expression solemn. "So many of our kind have walked down the dark path in recent cycles -- it pleases me to see that you are not one of them, however."

        "To the Betrayer with your platitudes, Veyshahk! I am not the Minbari you knew -- and who knows what the future will bring?"

        "Is that a threat? For if it is..."

        "I make no threats, physician -- only promises." And with that, Kirash curtly turned away, and vanished into the gloom.

        Veyshahk's hand strayed to his pike, and he nodded solemnly. "As we have served before, so will we again, until your wounded pride has been satisfied. So be it, Kirash... I will be waiting. And now," he added with a frown, "I must make an attempt to contact the Val'na, and arrange a rendezvous point."

        He was about to discover, however... that this would be somewhat more difficult than expected.

* * *

        11:33 hrs, EST, August 3rd, 2267.

        The chase had been a long one -- but now it was drawing close to its end at last. "Merell -- are we actually catching up to them?"

        "That is confirmed." Feist's first officer replied. "The destination sought by the intelligence that has taken control of Tikopai's ship appears to be close, now -- they are beginning to slow down enough that the range is, at last, beginning to close..." Merell's eyes widened. "Fascinating."

        "What is it?" Feist asked. "What do you *see*?"

        "The region we are entering appears to be a hyperspace node similar to the one where the crew of the *Shard* encountered the telepathic creatures known as the Fen. The object in the node is spherical, partially hollow, and similar in appearance if not size to the object we have charted in the heart of the Perseus Rift -- and the course they are following will bring to rest at the centre of this node-sphere in approximately five standard minutes."

        "Okay!" Feist exclaimed, as she shot out of the captain's chair, "Can we catch up to them before that happens?"

        "We can but try." Merell allowed.

* * *

        "Why have you brought us to this node?" Julia entreated, as Pieke stood impassively in the centre of the observation area, and watched the sphere quickly expand in front of them. "We've visited one of these places before -- these objects..."

        "{You have seen an explorer-portal?}" the creatures inside Pieke asked. "{Where was this}"

        "In the Perseus Rift."

        The Craneori digested this information -- and then, finally, Pieke nodded sadly. "{That portal was involved in the war-with-darkness... we were not witness to the event, but even though the shell remained, the portal itself was likely destroyed. This one, however, still lives.}"

        "The portal, you say -- again and again, the portal! The portal to *where*?"

        "{The Creators walked among the stars and in the places-between -- they learned many things, they learned how to hide, and how to fight... and finally, they learned how to *travel*. We remember the opening of the door-into-darkness -- into the-beyond, and back again. Even for the Creators, this was not a pleasant experience -- but if we are to find them, as we must... it is... necessary...}"

        "Oh my God!" Trent interrupted , her eyes now wide, "What if this sphere is like the gate we found in '61? What if it's..."

        "A gate into another reality?"

        "Or, perhaps," Larieken mused, his expression grim. "Merely into a part of the hyperspace realm we have yet to enter -- a domain where travel between 'gates' is less involved then in the hyperspace we know? Val'na, you remember, do you not, the jump methods used by the First Ones vessels at Corianna VI as they arrived and departed?"

        Julia did, of course -- the ancient vessels had emerged out of... white holes in space... oh damn, of course. "We never bothered to ask why their emergences were so different... because there were so many other things to worry about. And now..."

        "{The signal, we have sent.}" Pieke said, his voice... satisfied. "{The portal, it answers us.}"

        "No, damnit!" Dawson erupted, "You can't!..."

        A crackling bloom of white light appeared at the centre of the sphere -- a bloom of light that expanded to engulf the *Shard* -- and existence faded away into pain. But even as Julia opened her mouth to scream...

* * *

        "In Valen's Name..." Feist managed, her eyes wide, "What happened to them?"

        Merell gave no answer -- for what answer could be given? The astonished Rangers had seen it happen, of course, even though they didn't want to believe it. How a fuzzy, energy-ribboned sphere of white light had engulfed the *Shard of Night*... and swept it and its crew from existence. Feist took a deep breath -- this was bad. Very bad -- and if the Neilgeithan intelligences had taken Tikopai and her crew past the point of no return... what then?"

        And then, finally, White Star 101's first officer did say something. "Your orders?"

        "Get us out of here." Feist slowly replied.

        "And then?"

        "I'm going to need a open channel to headquarters on Minbar. Someone's going to have to tell them the bad news, Merell... and it sure looks like it's going to have to be *me*."

* * *

        Existence returned -- and the first thing she noticed was the lack of stars in the forward viewports. "What -- what happened?" Julia managed, her voice shaky -- and then she turned towards Pieke, and also the Craneori in the walls of her ship... and her expression began to darken. "*Where* did you take us?"

        "{Through the gate, and back again.}" the Craneori replied. "{Into the darkness-that-is. The Creators are here -- eventually they will sense our presence, and they will come for us."}

        And what kind of answer was that? "Klairika -- what is the status of my command?"

        "Stand by... yes, she is more or less under our command again," the Brakiri finally reported. "All except for our jump engines, which are still off line. According to our temporal sensors, we have been unconscious for the better part of an hour -- and in that time, we have also made the transition to normal space..."

         "Turn us about!" Julia cried -- knowing, even then, what it was she would see -- where it was the Craneori had brought them in their quest for the 'reunion with the creator'. A moment later, Dasouri complied -- and she shuddered, as a graceful, multi-armed blaze of light swung into view -- a galaxy. Their galaxy?

         "What have they done?" Trent managed. "Where have they taken us?"

         Sheynell said it for them all. "Beyond the Rim."

* * *

        To be concluded...

* * *

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