** "Several times while we were running along the initially slow-moving, and finally collapsing front lines of the Narn-Centauri war, we found ourselves caught up in direct engagements with Centauri forces. The first time, the Narn warships accompanying us were more then sufficient to shield us from attack. But with the servant of the Darkness tracking our progress, and the Regime's fleet needed elsewhere, it seemed that even if I would be able to attack this creature directly and help to defeat it, that we would then find ourselves, if we were not careful, at the mercy of the Centauri.
I remember being so frightened and so resolute at the same time. Ulkesh's constant, distant song was one of the only comforts I had..." **
Brianna Tolmanes, as quoted in Michael S. Haskin's "The Lords of Order"
* * *
July 4th, 2259. Gvoladsh IV.
Chronicles Log: Remembrances. July 2259.
The Gvoladsh system was far enough off the front lines by this stage in the war for us to do what needed to be done. The Rangers had constructed a small base in the system against the need to retreat to places of redoubt should Minbar fall to the Shadows and their minions. Indeed, Dreann and Tashann had helped in the final construction of the base... and it was here that Jennifer, Brianna, myself and the other two Rangers headed, with a still slightly dubious G'kael in general agreement. Ko'cha dropped us off in orbit, loaned us a shuttle, and along with the small Ranger craft we already possessed, we descended to the surface, hoping that the Z'nipc, given the chance to strike again in a remote, unseen portion of the galaxy, would try its arts on us again.
We were, of course, right on that assumption. As it later turned out, this particular minion race of the Shadows, once given a task by their masters, fulfilled that task faithfully, even until death. In our case, it seemed that the Shadows were beginning to be concerned enough about our alliance with Light, even on top of their already curious interest in us, to warrant killing us, and stopping us from doing any further damage.
The Destiny we would end up playing would justify that response, and it was all too lucky that we were ready for what came next.
* * *
High over the north pole of Gvoladsh IV, a tiny, black, scorpion-shaped vessel flickered into view, and began to descend. The Z'nipc carefully, methodically...and eagerly guided its ship down into the lower atmosphere. Its targets and their companions had descended to the surface of this world less then an hour before...and the puny vessel of the
Narns had departed, needed elsewhere for the time being.
A perfect opportunity, and the Z'nipc had just about made up its mind about what needed to be done. The Masters had been correct in their warnings...after one test and a great deal of observation, it could be determined that these three were more dangerous to the Masters then they were needed. It was *true* that if they lived, they would play out their destinies, but those destinies stood to damage both sides. This was intolerable!...things had NOT gone as planned. The Masters were becoming irritated..and when the Masters became irritated, action was ALWAYS necessary.
In this case, the Z'nipc would track its targets to the tiny base to the south, slip in undetected (the mind-witch was its biggest concern) and methodically and carefully...
Kill them all.
* * *
Night...
"You are sure?" Ericsson enquired, his brow furrowed with concern. "Very sure that this is necessary, William? We will aid you if you need it...but you seem very sure that you can take care of the creature by yourselves. Can you?"
William nodded curtly. "This thing needs to be stopped before it does any more damage then it already has. It will dog our steps until we do away with it..that time has arrived.
That time is *now*"
"You aim to trap this creature; fair enough, and understandable. Is it..."
"Here?" Brianna coolly put in, her gaze both attentive...and elsewhere. "Yes. It has landed, and is readying itself for the attack to come. It is coming here, and *soon*."
"Then it's going to get a surprise." Jennie promised, her eyes dark...her hand, openly clenching her pike.
* * *
The Z'nipc looked to the stars, where two of this system's planets were currently in conjunction, and then back over towards the now nearby domes. None of this world's moons were currently up...and all was silent. The environment was hostile to those within the domes...but the Z'nipc paid no heed, for it was above such things.
With barely a whisper, it approached the wall. Getting *into* this place would be child's play. For a moment, a lacy, black sphere sprang into existence around the Z'nipc, and then it faded from sight.
A hiss ran over the sand, and a small utility cover slowly darkened...and then lightened again. Inside the dome, a matching, pressurized utility hatch also darkened, and then, a shimmer appeared in the near deserted hallway...a shimmer with glowing red eyes, quickly covered. The technology of the Masters was older then those it stalked suspected...with that technology, the Z'nipc could be both watcher, tester...
And assassin.
The hiss moved off down the silent corridor. Foolish of them to come to this place. Now they would *pay*!
* * *
The tight knot of fear in Jennie's stomach intensified, as nearby, Brianna went further into her fugue state then she had ever seen her go before. Her dark eyes were now almost completely *black*, pupils expanded so much that the rest of the iris had just about vanished. It was something to do with that Vorlon...it had *to* be!
"Get ready." Brianna whispered, in that tight, not-quite-there voice she had when actively using her now more or less well honed abilities to their full extent. "It's almost here."
Jennie twisted the Denn'bok slightly, and it sprang open. Threaten them, would this thing?? Very well, then, it was time for her to experience the truth of what she was. When this thing showed itself, she would attack, and see what it's response would be.
* * *
Ten feet away, behind the barriers they had erected against the coming of the Z'nipc, Tashann and William direly looked across at the door, and then over at their companions, both of whom had their pikes out and ready. Will quailed at the determined, near-rage of Jennie's gaze. Protective was no longer the word...
"They will attack this thing the moment it shows itself, and they could easily kill it" Tashann cautioned. "We must be ready to stop them and interrogate the creature, if possible."
"Agreed. I just hope that Brianna knows what she's doing..."
* * *
A numbing sensation crossed the Z'nipc's mind. The mind-witch was at work again; but no matter!...if they knew it was here, it would attack anyways, and *not* the way they were expecting.
The black sphere came into being around it, and the wall faded to darkness outside the redoubt of those it sought...
* * *
<#NOW#> The voice of Ulkesh exploded across Brianna's mind. <#In between, the Watcher will be seen. Act...or die!#>
She whirled, and saw the stain of darkness expanding across the wall behind Jennie and Dreann, and almost screamed. It wasn't coming through the door...
But through the *wall*, instead!
<In between> The song of Ulkesh ever present far in the distance, Brianna reached out to touch the mind of the Z'nipc again. It was like descending into a dark, putrid sewer...a flood of darkness threatened to overwhelm her, but she found what she was looking for...the inherent spot of weakness in the thing's mind. The song of Ulkesh intensified in the background...
And then, she struck.
* * *
The Z'nipc doubled up, its passage through the wall only partly concluded. How...the pain!
The mind-witch would pay! With a snarl of pain and frustration, it strode through, barely able to think, and prepared its attack.
And almost immediately met a whirlwind of death.
* * *
The bubbling, harsh scream warned them, and as one, Dreann and Jennie whirled, to see the red-eyed, insectoid creature behind them, reaching out and coming forward in a blur.
"Fight it!!" Brianna screamed, her voice a rasp, her eyes black vortices into the darkness. "Now, while it's vulnerable, it's only for a moment!"
<HURRY>
But *they* could move just as fast...in one smooth motion, Jennie and Dreann struck at the creature. Any surprise the Z'nipc had possessed was now lost to it...and the end result was exactly what the Rangers had wanted. They had drawn it into an arena of their choice, and out into the open. Brianna had attacked its mind in the vulnerable spot she had found before, and now the two wielders of the ancient pike were taking on its physical form.
"Stop!!" William cried out, as Jennie raised her pike for the killing blow. "We have to try and interrogate it!"
On the floor below, the Z'nipc's pincered, blood-covered face twisted into a rictus snarl. "Never." it hissed, and reached for its belt.
"Run!" Brianna screamed, her face a mask of horror. "It means to destroy itself!"
Jennie and Dreann threw themselves away from the body, hand over hand, and over the barriers...and just in time, as that end of the redoubt around the body of the Z'nipc vanished in a brilliant green flash. Chunks of chitinous armour rained down on them all...and the concussion drove everyone to the floor...
There was a moment of silence amidst the rubble, and then five smoke covered heads, three human, and two Minbari, arose to make sense of the results of their trap. Tashann nodded grimly. "It is done. Unfortunate that we were unable to extract information from it..but the battle is finished this day."
"Mostly successfully." Will agreed, looking around. "If any of *you three* were hurt by that thing in any way, tell us *now*, though."
Across from him, Brianna raised a trembling hand...and then fainted
dead away.
* * *
July 5th, 2259. Z'ha'dum.
Eyes dark, Walther Gideon strode down the hallway, his mind clearer then it had been in months. It was exceptional that Corrolan had chosen to bring him to this place...and the correct thing to do. Any and all doubts he had once had about those he had once known as the Shadows were gone, now. His associate whispered in his ear about the plans that were underway: plans of grandeur and of war...of oppurtunities to last a lifetime!
The hallway twisted slightly, and angled downwards, and then abruptly lead out onto a balcony overlooking the great city below. Gideon quickly glanced up at the stars visible through the tremendous portal overhead, and nodded. This was *the* place that things were beginning to happen...face calm, thoughts firm, he strode out onto the balcony with his companion to join Corrolan, who was also gazing down on the city, his smile broad and sinister...an enviable quality, one that Gideon would no doubt have to learn to emulate.
"They are pleased." Corrolan commented, turning to him above the thousands of lights below. "You have done well, Walther...very well, but the tasks have barely begun. Over the course of the next year, our associates, may their true name ever be upheld, will be taking greater and greater action against the younger worlds, advancing them into the chaos that will make them *stronger*."
"Yes...I understand that. I understand *everything* now: the reasonings...and my place in the way of things." In the back of Gideon's mind, a faint, forgotten voice spoke up, and was *instantly* silenced. "I will return with Vendant to Babylon 5, and interact with the Organization on Earth. They are falling under our control all too easily."
Corrolan nodded. "They *wanted* something...and they will get what they want. And if a few tens or hundreds of thousands of humans must die in order to fulfill that reality, then so be it...that is, as you put it, the way of things."
Gideon nodded, his face impassive. "Indeed. I must go now, as you surely understand. I have work to do...great work."
"As do we all, friend." Corrolan briefly bowed to him in farewell as Gideon and his associate turned to leave. "As do we *all*."
* * *
July 6th, 2259. Gvoladsh IV high orbit.
"You're sure you're feeling better, now?" Jennie inquired, her face still concerned.
Brianna nodded. "It took a lot out of me, taking on the Z'nipc, that's all. We managed to stop it when it mattered, and a lot of that fell down on me."
Nearby, Will sighed. "I just wish I could have done more to help, in what you two did."
Jennie laughed, and wrapped her arms around him. "You did just fine, Will, being the leader and all. The leader's supposed to direct, and plan...and his warriors have to protect him, and attack all comers. This we did, and this you did."
He nodded. "You're right. We should treat this as a object lesson, our first outside of the classroom or the arena. We succeeded *this* time...but the worst is still to come."
"I'm not going to argue with you on that score..." Jennie replied, her gaze moving elsewhere. "Now where the HELL is G'kael and Ko'cha?? They said they'd be back be now!"
A sudden beeping caught their attention, and Dreann abruptly appeared from the direction of the flight deck. "Come. We have what your kind calls l 'a problem'."
"What?" Will inquired, pulling himself into the flight deck, and looking upward through the viewport. "Oh."
The comm system crackled....the voice authoritative, the manner Imperial. "This the Centauri War Cruiser 'Felarious' to unknown shuttle. Stand away from the Narn vessel accompanying you, or be destroyed!"
* * *
"It went well, then?"
"Of course." Corrolan replied. Gideon responded exactly as planned."
"All too well." Justin harrumphed. "The other options open to us are rapidly narrowing in number, and the Z'nipc, damn it all, failed in its task as well. If we cannot find a way to stop them *soon*, they will become a significant hindrance to our plans."
"I understand that, sir. Gideon's sole task, although he doesn't know it yet, will be to foil the work of his former friends."
"Very well, then..." Justin darkly added. "I will give you some time to see if this works. *They* are growing concerned that the Watcher and the Stalker, damn stupid titles they've chosen for those two, are being diverted from the Path. This must be corrected, and if it cannot, then eventually, they will have to be either elliminated, or brought here and converted. Is this clear?"
Corrolan nodded. "Of course, sir. But give us a little time to see how things work...the next year and a half will be exceedingly busy on all of us, as you realize. If by the end of 2260, Gideon has not succeeded in his aims, then we will reconvene on the matter...."