"STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE"
EPISODE TWELVE: "WHAT LIES HIDDEN"
(disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture)
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<<ENVOI>
"The histories tell the tale -- and even now, hundreds if not thousands of years later, the tale has not changed -- bearers of bad news are always looked upon with ill favour -- and this day was no different. For all those who stayed behind, it seemed as if we had been swept from existence. Miranda Feist and her Rangers, of course, had no way of activating the explorer-portal the Craneori's masters had left behind them -- those intelligences were, in all likelihood, the last to possess that secret -- and they had gone with us, beyond the Rim -- to search for them.
Those who stayed behind, our friends, our superiors... our friends, knew none of this, however. All they knew was what they had to go by from Feist's report -- and from that report, certain disturbing conclusions would shortly be made.
* * *
August 4th, 2267. Babylon 5.
"Anla'shok Veyshahk, I assure you..."
"Make no assurances to me unless you possess 'cold, hard facts' to back them up, as some of my comrades have said to me from time to time." the *Shard*'s physician coldly replied. "Now, let us try this again -- within the past half day, White Stars have returned from the mission at Neilgeitha Prime bearing news of what has happened -- and even more recently..."
"Veyshahk -- enough." So often he had known humour or dry, sarcastic wit to come from *this* Ranger -- but neither of those were present in Jamie Pratchett's voice in the here-and-now. "Come into my parlour -- we have matters to discuss." And only when Veyshahk and his superior had retreated into that sanctum, did he ask the question that had been plaguing him for several days, now --
"What has happened to them, Sha'vei?" he quietly began. "Have they..."
"What I'm about to tell you isn't common knowledge, Veyshahk." Jamie quietly replied. "And if it *did* become common knowledge and the Drakh found out..."
"The *Shard of Night* has been destroyed, then."
"No -- *not* destroyed. Only..."
* * *
"Missing?" John Sheridan exclaimed, as Lanniel stood at parade rest in front of his desk in Interstellar Alliance headquarters. "Damnit, Lanniel! -- we needed that ship, and that crew, to help protect the 'Excalibur' during her mission. And now, if they're gone..."
"Through the portal, as Captain Feist's testimony indicated." Lanniel reminded the President. "They are gone, sir -- but they may yet return."
"But not before whatever force took over the *Shard of Night* finds what it's looking for -- if you're right, the force that trapped Captain Feist's command and also Dr. Trent's team on Neilgeitha Prime, am I right?" Sheridan rose to his feet and made his way over to look out upon the peaceful Tuzanor evening, as he had done so often in the past few months. "And if that force doesn't find what it's looking for, what then?"
"There are no guarantees on this road we travel," Lanniel slowly replied. "But you do not know her like we know her, Mr. President -- if there is a way for her to return...
She will find it."
* * *
Beyond the Rim.
In all his long existence, he had seen many things -- witnessed much, endured much -- and even now, after all that had come before, he knew that his duties were, as yet, incomplete. He found this... almost amusing, but at the same time, knew that it was a necessary burden. But now...
Now, something unexpected had occured -- something that even he had not predicted would come to pass. Long ago, some of those who had followed had grown bold enough to build several... portals, and they had explored in the darkness for a time -- before they had, as one, travelled beyond the Rim like all the rest who had come before. A very long time had passed since the portals had been used -- in truth, he had believed them nonfunctional. That, however -- had not been the truth -- he had seen much, but even he could admit that he could be... wrong.
Once in a while.
And now, there was no time to lose -- for a ship of the younger races, a most *unusual* ship, had emerged out of the place-between worlds, and most assuredly from its position, had also travelled through the ancient explorer-portal, as well. He did not know if any of the former Guardians were nearby -- he did not believe so, but it was best not to take chances. And if he was right about this ship -- if the captain of that ship was who he thought it was... he was, perhaps, the only one who could help her with her...
Problem.
* * *
"To continue..." Julia dictated, as her captain's log faithfully recorded her words on the desk behind, "The Craneori have propelled us some 40,000 light years beyond the edge of the galaxy in the direction of the constellation humans name Aquarius. My initial impressions of our situation have since been proven inaccurate, as we have arrived in fairly close proximity to the globular cluster my race names Messier 2.
Our chief concern, however, is unabated. The Craneori that have taken over the body of the archeologist named Jordan Pieke have informed us that until, and *if*, their 'Creators' come for them, they will not allow us to return to the galaxy. We have attempted to reason with them... we have even come close to pleading -- but the Craneori remain resolute. They have possessed my ship -- and until they get what they want -- or until we find some way of... exorcising them, we are trapped here. Beyond the Rim..."
The com-link chimed, and Julia turned in mid step as a hologram of her first officer sprang into existence. "Yes, Klairika?"
"Val'na -- may I respectfully suggest you return to the main bridge? We have detected an energy source approaching our position from intergalactic space -- it's approach rate is formidable."
"Oh damn!" This was what she'd been afraid of -- that sooner or later, the First Ones who had gone beyond the Rim at the end of the Shadow War, and before, would notice their presence here -- and there was no guarantee that *this* entity, or energy force, or whatever it was approaching them was friendly to their cause. And what was worse, in her mind, was the possibility that they might run into... the Shadows again, out here -- but there was time enough to worry about that later. For now, she had to deal with the here-and-now. "How long until this 'energy source' reaches us?" she inquired, as she burst through the door of her ready room and into the bridge.
"Ninety seconds, at its present rate of closure." Sheynell informed her. "Do we open fire?"
"No." Julia sharply replied, even as a faint light appeared in the forward viewports, a light gaining in size and brightness with each passing second, "We do not, Sheynell. We must walk carefully in this place -- for we do not know what it is that has happened with the First Ones, in the years since the end of the War."
"I fear that we are," Larieken pointed out, as the 'energy source' made its final approach, "About to find out the answer to your question."
A moment later, the brilliant ball of hazy light passed across the SHARD's prow, and in another instant, filled the forward view ports of the bridge. Julia flinched -- but then, the ball of light abruptly shrank to more... manageable proportions as it entered her ship -- not a weapon after all, then. And if not a weapon, then...
Julia's eyes widened as her train of thought abruptly switched to another track -- and she let out a sigh as the ball of light shrank still further, and resolved into a familiar figure -- a figure she had never thought to see again in this life.
"Lorien?"
"This is not your place," the First One intoned, his eyes flinty. "Not yet. And yet -- we remember you, Observer. You dance with fate, and with destiny -- and now, you will tell me what has brought you and your crew *beyond the Rim*."
"They have." Julia turned, and pointed an accusing finger at the balls of light infusing the walls of the bridge. "They call themselves Cranoeri -- they're looking for their..."
"Creators." Lorien sighed, walked across the bridge and reached out his long figures to touch the semi-organic wall. "This changes everything. We are spread far and wide in the darkness beyond the Galactic Rim -- I have not seen the race they seek in a very, *very* long time -- and even before, they were not easy to find."
"Then are you saying there's no..."
"Hope?" the First One smiled. "Not at all. As long as we are alive, there is hope. And you and your crew are most assuredly alive."
"Then you'll help us?" Sheynell asked.
Lorien nodded. "I am here -- and your need is great -- while the destiny of your captain must be fulfilled, for all to go as I have foreseen. I will help you, telepath...
Let our search *begin*."
* * *
TO BE CONTINUED...
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