**"Returned like a fire in the night, Westcastle now burned brighter then ever before, a man as changed by what he had experienced; further impassioned by the apparent second chance that his commanders had given him, the White Star commander then proceeded to place those under his command in the greatest danger they had, to that point, ever faced; for within the day of his reinstallment by Delenn as human commander of the Fleet, close to two thirds of the White Stars had left Babylon 5 to patrol the local Galactic region, watching and reporting on the continuing depredations of the Vorlons, as that race stepped up the pace of its policy of extermination relative to their enemies, the Shadows.
By the time the Shadows escaped from the shock of Sheridan's destruction of their most major city, and responded fully in kind, over two dozen colonies, stations and mid range outposts had been destroyed by the Vorlon Fleet, and in the cases where the Vorlons used their planetkillers (which was many of the worlds above mentioned) not even the planets themselves survived the attacks. And then, of course, the Shadow Planetkiller was unleashed, and things grew even worse...
But a change was coming, as the League worlds, desperate in their need to escape from the nightmare that was, brought their fleets to Babylon 5; never again has such an enormous fleet of starships been assembled under the command of one man; those who saw that sight will never be able to forget it, as long as they live.
And through sheer luck, this writer happened to be on Babylon 5 that fateful week, to see the sight firsthand..." **
- From "Holding The Line: A History of the Army of Light"
* * *
Late January, 2261.
Chronicles Log: summary.
I have seen the images, and can scarcely credit their possibility; but the images taken by those brave enough to stay and watch Armageddon descend upon their system make it impossible for us to ignore what is happening. The Vorlons are out of control; now, every day or two, word comes of another outer range colony world shattered into fragments by that horrifying weapon of theirs. But worst of all, the news that hit hardest to home was that the world where Jennifer and I met, so long ago, now, it seems, the once-peaceful world of Nighthawk, farthest bastion of Earth, encountered the depredations of the Shadows, and gave in to them, when they could have just said...NO.
But we all understand that sometimes, it's just easier to look the other way. It's easy to surmise that Nighthawk was being threatened by some sort of raiding party...and that the Shadows took advantage of that opportunity, extending their hand of dark friendship, and an offer of 'protection'. Which was all well and good, until the enemy that comes is not interested in direct combat with the screaming nightmare ships of the Shadow Fleet...
Instead, that enemy is only interested in blowing the planet they're stationed on out from under them; and if they happen to incinerate a few thousand, or a few million, or a BILLION other souls along the way...well the Vorlons would probably tell themselves, 'They were foolish enough to corrupt themselves with Chaos, therefore, they are become chaos, as bad as the Shadows; they should die, as well.'
They've used that argument across a dozen quadrants, now...and millions have died in the Name of Order. Worlds have died as well, worlds far, worlds near...
And a world that I valued; a world that I hoped to return to, to visit, if and when we succeeded in what we attempt. Now, I will never be able to do that..
The only place I can visit Nighthawk, now...is in my memories.
And because that's so, I find, behind all my beliefs, that doubt still stands, to mock all that we have done. And before we forge forth once again, I must banish these doubts.
And I believe that there is only one being in the Universe that can help me to do that...
* * *
The Garden.
"You've been avoiding me; why?"
The voice was oh SO very familiar to her, now; the voice of youth, the voice of pain endured, in the name of the One. Jennifer turned, grimaced and knew that the moment had come at last; the moment she had been avoiding for the better part of a week and a half. But the child that William had rescued, so long ago, it seemed, for so much else had happened in the meantime, had been through the Fire herself, in the name of the Rangers, in the name of the service she had sworn, first to William, and then to herself.
"You know why."
Julia's face dropped in resignation, when she heard those words. "So that's the way it has to be, is it? You blame *yourself* for the mistake that nearly killed us both; the mistake that none of us were able to forsee. Walther Gideon struck into the heart of what we were to draw William to Z'ha'dum. But through courage and aid least expected, you were able to come BACK to the Light! What you did, together, made up for the mistake; William himself told me, several days ago, that one of the reasons he went to Z'ha'dum was to help regain the honour I lost in that encounter with Darkness...the encounter that nearly killed me."
She nodded sadly. "William may feel that...but I don't. I can't escape the memory of that *hateful* Shadow agent striking you down. It was all MY fault; my fault that I placed myself in such a vulnerable position, in a place where what happened became inevitable; and my fault that you took that wound, all as a result of my foolishness! I can't forgive myself for what happened, not until I can find a way to make it up to you."
She looked up, then, to feel Julia's thin, long hands rest on her own, and looked up into her protege's serious, but ever-so frank gaze. "Is that what you want, then?" the younger Observer whispered, a small smile coming to her face. "Is it that simple??"
"I don't..."
With one, smooth motion, Julia stepped back, and something came into her hands that Jennifer hadn't seen before; a strong staff of wood, steel and what appeared to be silver. "I didn't want to show you this before; I didn't believe you were ready to see it. But Brianna believed in me enough to give me this gift when I thought you lost on Z'ha'dum. Not so long ago, I swore to follow in your footsteps in most things, and this is one of them. My new companion, Larieken of the Minbari, has tested my mettle, but I can't believe he's your equal in the use of the pike, Jennifer. I know that you can teach me better then he...and eventually, if all goes well, I may even earn the right to carry one of my own, as well.
Now astonished, she watched as Julia bowed before her. "If you wish to atone for your errors that day, I beeseech you to instruct me me in that which you learnt from F'hursna Sech Durhan.
Please! I would have *no* other teach me what I must learn; you've taught me so much already; surely you can give me THIS, as well??"
Unbidden, she felt a smile come to her face, and with smooth motion, she reached for her pike, and opened it. "Larieken himself has told me of this; and while the methods he was instructed to use with you were, in my opinion, unwise, the reasoning was sound...until my return, that was. Now, if you wish to learn the ways of the pike...we will do it MY way."
"It shall be as you command."
A small joy lit within her; maybe, just maybe, this would work... "Then let us begin."
And with that, the clash of metal on wood began.
* * *
The Sanctuary.
William stood, waiting patiently. What he waited for, he did not know, but in the meantime, there was a great deal to see. Space around the station was beginning to crawl with purpose; the station's Starfury and Thunderbolt squadrons had been out on near constant practice runs for some time now, joined, in places, by squadrons from several of the Minbari cruisers on station. Beyond them, in the distance, towards Epsilon III, several dozen of the White Stars under his command were currently practicing above the planet's atmosphere...and then he turned, as a movement caught his eye. A figure stood in the entrance, his wise eyes turned to the vision that William also saw, a figure robed and cowled; a figure he knew from his Dreams, between the moments.
He bowed. "Lorien."
"I believed that I would find you here." Lorien replied, his smile enigmatic. "This is not the first time you have stood here, looking out upon the universe, is it? Indeed, perhaps it is that the universe, in some small part, gives you guidance in that which you attempt."
He nodded, somewhat bitterly, before returning his gaze to the vista outside. "What we attempt; I don't know, sometimes it seems that I've stepped out of the frying pan, only to step right back into the Fire, as an old saying of my race goes. Both Sheridan and I returned to find the Vorlons gone mad; but our return also gave both the Younger Races and the Rangers a chance to believe that we can do SOMETHING to end what is! But still...I dread the possible outcomes, Lorien; is it justifiable for them to all to believe in us, when we face Vorlon planetkillers and, quite possibly, even worse weapons of Shadow nature?"
Lorien inclined his head, taking the point as moot, it seems. "Quite possibly you are correct; however, I shall, at this time, make a comment you may find quite valuable. At Z'ha'dum, you found courage where it was least expected, acting in the name of that emotion which neither of those races possesses, any longer. That is something which makes your quest a possible one; Sheridan begins to move, even now, to attempt that which must be attempted, and in so swearing to follow him, to death, or so I understand, there is a distinct possibility that vow will require you to follow him to LIFE, instead."
He turned, one brow raised. "Would you...care to explain that comment?"
Lorien nodded. "This small doubt that you retain, Rimstalker, is a false one; and this I say, because through the actions of my servant, I was able to observe, in a fashion, the movements of both you and Sheridan simultaneously. In recent times, though in different ways, both of you have shone brighter and brighter, and all those around you see this Light, and understand. You have seen both sides of the worst that is, through the eyes of your followers, both present *and* lost, and Sheridan, at least, begins to believe that there is another choice, beyond Chaos and Order.
For you, the belief that this is so comes with more difficulty, but you *may* allow it to come, if you hear my words, and understand them. From your beginnings, you have forged a mighty thing; Sheridan rescued you, and there, the bond between the two of you was created; but in that saving, you began to assemble a company around you, diverse and varied, I will admit, but a company who BELIEVED as you did. In the successes of this company, was their belief in you reinvested; and even when they believed you lost at Z'ha'dum, their dedication to do that which was right in your memory, grew greater still.
And now you have returned, not as Sheridan did, but to an equally important challenge. The beliefs of your company, those that Ride on the Storm in your name, are greater now then ever before, and the emotion called love that allowed you to save your Observer is equally valued. They look upon you mostly in silence, but now know that it is possible to defeat their opponents. And in that possibility, is doubt dissauded; in those beliefs, know the end to your doubts; BELIEVE as they do, and you will find that which you require."
At that, he allowed himself to smile; Lorien was right, of course...but he hadn't been able to tell HIMSELF that! He bowed yet again, but deeper, this time. "I thank you for your wisdom, Lorien; it prevails upon the madness we endure, and gives me the focus I need to carry on."
Lorien nodded in return, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "The focus was within you all along; if I aided in any way, perhaps it was merely to clarify that focus. Now, however, I must leave you, for I am needed... elsewhere. A great burden is about to fall upon One who needs my aid, even now, and I cannot abandon that task."
* * *
"Well now..." the security guard commented, his eyes quite tired, his stance a little shaky, as he faced the latest, smallest, and quite possibly the LAST refugee group he wanted to see today. "Yet more refugees from Hell, I see; I can't say whether or not I should welcome you here; Babylon 5's a bit of a madhouse right now, I'm afraid."
The Tall Man nodded in return, and smiled. "Welcome us, or do not; we are alive; that is all that matters, for now."
* * *
With a slight shudder, Lyta walked down the corridor, her mind focused on the twin problems of 'Kosh' and the equally important problem of keeping the other telepath Kosh had misused, Brianna, isolated from this as much as possible. The twin focuses would hurt her, eventually...
Eventually, Kosh would grow suspicious; and then, Lyta would be unable to protect Brianna from what followed. It would be difficult enough to protect HERSELF from that wrath, as it was.
* * *
The Time of Darkness Passing; Initial Movements.
With an almighty scream, Brianna arose into consciousness, feeling, like never before, the force of Ulkesh's mind upon her own. Danger! Incredible Danger! Without command, she felt her legs begin to move, under the massive compulsive pull of his mind, the mind that had controlled her, so many times already.
No, damn you!...she shrieked, fighting to control the demonic urges but unable to; space and time blurred, and she found herself stumbling down the corridor, out of control, the beings around her casting frightened and fearful looks upon what they saw. In their minds, Brianna saw herself, wild haired, ashen faced, and understood their fears. I'm not myself, she wanted to tell them...but the terrible compulsion the Vorlon was placing upon her pulled her onwards.
It was getting worse, MUCH worse, for him, worse enough that a glimpse from his mind leaked into hers; of human figures in black armour, attacking with bursts of plasma fire. Ordinarily, these would pose no significant threat, but the number, the horribly great numbers...
Brianna felt the station shudder around her, and understood. Ulkesh had summoned his ship to action, and that companion would shake the station apart if it was not so released. In due course, as she proceeded, the shuddering passed, and then after a time, did she feel first shock, and then renewed arrogance in Ulkesh's mind.
The humans, those working for Mr. Garibaldi, had destroyed Ulkesh's encounter suit!...but the Vorlon did not, now, feel any hesitation in striking out against those who had done him such harm. In due course, he would escape to return to the Many. It was obvious that those in this place, like so many others, had been touched by Chaos. They would, in due course, pay for that crime.
And then, for the first time she could remember, Brianna felt astonishment in the Vorlon's mind; and then, rather abruptly, another force interfered.
A force...she somehow recognized.
"Kosh." she whispered, before collapsing to the deck in a dead faint.
* * *
A group of Gaim and Drazi appraoched the unconscious human woman warily, but then, they were interrupted by the arrival of a figure they had come to respect.
"In the name of the One!" Talion Quintara proclaimed, his gaze stern, "Leave her be!"
They did, and the Ranger remained, to stand guard. Soon enough, he knew, someone would come to help Brianna; though he didn't know how he knew this, he knew, beyond a doubt, that it was TRUE. First to bring her out of the Hell she had created for herself; and then, after that, who knew what could happen?
* * *
<Brianna..> a voice whispered, and she blearily returned to the waking world, to find Lyta's intent eyes over her, concern foremost in that gaze. <Come on, now; come back to me!>
<Lyta. What happened??>
<A terrible test, Brianna, for both of us, a test that I tried to protect you from. Captain Sheridan and Mr. Garibaldi acted to banish the Vorlon I knew as Kosh; and you knew, more rightfully, as Ulkesh. By itself, what they attempted would not have worked; He *would* have escaped, and the retribution of the Vorlons would have been swift. But there's...another here now, one called Lorien, and believe it or not, Lorien managed to contact the small part of the *original* Kosh that resided within the Captain. They did far more then banish him, I'm afraid.>
It was then, that she realized what had changed in the world around her. The near constant thunder of *His* mind, the manic, distorted, often furious thunder that had plagued her for months now...
Was GONE.
She blinked, not wanting to believe. <He's...?>
<Dead. It's over for both of us...*finally* over. Now, we both have to claim what's been denied us, for so long.>
She rose, then, with Lyta's aid, wanting both to laugh, and to cry, and decided, eventually, to do both. It was over...
She was FREE.
* * *
The meeting between the gathered Sha'vei and Val'na in the council chambers was growing quite spirited, and as William watched, a smile upon his face, he could see that what Lorien had said to him was indeed true. Now that the Army of Light had begun to arrive, in its singles, and triads, and DOZENS, their purpose had become far clearer, and his mission, equally clear. He had been foolish to doubt; what he had helped to build was reason enough to believe. It seemed that they would follow him into Darkness and into Death, without question, if that was the fate they faced. However, that was yet to be determined...
And then, a noise at the entranceway made them all turn, and he rose, as Talion entered the Chamber, his face calm, but set. "Forgive my intrusion, sirs, but there is one outside who wishes entrance; one who seeks to redress that which was lost; one who awaits the chance to regain the honour she has been denied by her former master." He then watched Talion turn towards him. "And there is only one amongst this gathering who can do that; one to whom the task was fated, from the beginning...and only now, has it become possible to act on this."
Then, understanding dawned, and he rose. The Vorlon, of course, had been banished by Sheridan and Lorien; and that meant...
The doors swung open, pulled apart by the Rangers outside, and proud, if battered, straight backed, if a little ragged, Brianna slowly walked into the chamber, and knelt before the astonished gathering of senior Rangers. Beside him, Shival smiled, and nodded towards him; it was time, at long last, it was time, to put this behind him!
"Seven months ago," Brianna whispered, her voice barely heard, "I walked away from you, bidden by a force I could not ignore. Though courage and dedication, though need and reason, that force has been banished by John Sheridan, our leader...the commander of the Army of Light. And so, now I return to you to reswear my allegiances. I ask to be returned that which was given freely, that which I lost. For above all other things, now compulsion is banished, I live for nothing but the One; I will from this day forward, serve nobody but the One!...and I will die, not only for the One, but for he who holds my honour, he who saved me when no one else could."
He winced, slightly; he'd nearly forgotten, in all the events that had transpired; had HER sigil survived what had happened at Z'ha'dum? And if that was so, had those Minbari who repaired and reinvested his garments left it in the place he had...
With one sure hand, he reached up inside, against his breast, and smiled, as he felt the smooth, cool shape of her sign, still in the place he had put it, months before. With smooth stride, he walked towards Brianna, and withdrew it. "He remembers." he replied, coming to a halt just before her. "But know this truly, Brianna: you never *lost* that which you earned truly; it was only denied you for a time. But now that he's gone beyond the Veil, banished by our commander, what was once yours, IS yours again."
He reached down, and grasped her hand, which she opened, ever so slowly, and pressed the badge into her palm. "I return to you your honour, Brianna; and despite all that was said, we never really lost our friendship; the words, while harsh, were only for the moment, and the moment, does not the Future make."
Brianna rose then, her smile brilliant, and for a brief moment, his gaze passed beyond the chamber, and into the knowing eyes of Lorien, waiting beyond. The First One inclined his head briefly, a mysterious smile on his face. He nearly laughed, but managed to smile in return, before the First One turned away.
Lorien had been right...beyond all doubts, one lost to him had returned; the shattered union rebuilt. NOW, they would stride forward, as Three, once again.
The Time was drawing near for all veils to be cast aside.
The Swords were Gathering.
And soon, on the command of Captain Sheridan, would they stride forward, into the Fire.
To be continued...
* * *
Next: While final preparations are made at Babylon 5, William and Jennifer take their White Star and a small squadron of the Fleet to render aid to one who trained with them; to one commanded to a greater Sacrifice then any Ranger before him. For if the Sacrifice is to be made real, the Shadows must believe it to be a true one...and here, the Rimstalker and his companions will render aid, in the name of the One..for what higher honour is about to be imposed then this one, to gather the Vorlons and the Shadows at the world called Corianna VI?