** "All around us, the shades of the Darkness reached out, the words of G'Quon made real for us. We had heard of the whispers, the fearful worlds bowing their necks to invisible Masters, and knew that time was running out for us. The Fleet of Narn, what there was that remained of it, was fully repaired, and those ships of the humans that had come to our place of hiding were, how is it said, similarly endowed. But should the Shadows, in their random attacks and searches, come close enough to our hiding place to discover its presence, all the work we had done would be as for nothing. And since the esteemed Captain Tikopai decided to patrol the sector watching for their presence, that this would happen eventually was a given.
The outcome of the encounter, however, was far from what we had initially expected.." **
- Remarks attributed to the Narn G'kael during his command of the Narhlak Base, mid August 2260, Earth Reckoning
* * *
August 9th, 2260; Narhlak Sector...
G-7810 was a fairly nondescript yellow star about twenty light years from Narhlak. It possessed only five worlds, two small greenish gas giants, and three rocky, but uninhabitable worlds. The most livable of the three, and this no more then a Mars-type environment, had, long ago, been named Dagashi by the Centauri Republic, when that empire was at the height of its power. Now however, Dagashi played no important role in the events of the galaxy.
Or so, everyone lead themself to believe; but for the time being, Dagashi played host to a group of VERY important somebodies, and as such, demons were about to come calling.
Six hundred thousand kilometers above Dagashi's north pole, realspace and hyperspace came together in five ominous patches, and with a ripple born in the pool of quantum ruthlessness, parted again. Where before there had been only empty space, five enormous Shadow war cruisers hung in space, their mind-numbing screams a penetrating horror. Their masters had sent them from Z'ha'dum only a short time before to replace those ships lost in the conflict with Order, short days before. Their job, as always, was to spread chaos and horror among the younger worlds, and this place, they had not, as yet, visited.
After a brief pause, it was determined that the opportunities in this system were enormous. A tiny cluster of primitive starships hung in orbit about the planet below; after examination, it was determined these ships belonged to the races called *Humans* Humans, while proving useful to their masters, were divided amongst many camps...useful...manipulated...and rebels.
The Shadow vessels decided, rightly, that *these* were rebels.
As such, they could be destroyed with ease, and the Manipulated would thank them.
In due course.
Several minutes passed, and the Shadow vessels observed the approach of a patrol group of human fighters. Decisions were made, the Time was now..
The cruisers acted.
* * *
Sirens wailed on the NIOBE's bridge, and Bethany gazed upon the projection, her face grim. They had been about to depart for the next patrol point when the worst possible thing that could have happened, did. G'kael had warned her, through the voice of his Ranger contact, that the Shadows had, in the last weeks, sporadically attacked targets throughout local space; and now, it seemed, it was their turn to be terrorized.
And, quite possibly, destroyed outright.
Behind her, Commander Alwhin looked up from his display, his face close to ashen; he had taken to heart the warning that G'kael had given them about the Shadow vessel's sheer power, it seemed. "Captain."
"Yes, Commander."
"I'll be honest with you, the patrol who ran into those...Shadow vessels, they were destroyed in seconds; and now that we know they're there, we can follow the disturbance in space that those...things generate. They're about twenty minutes away from us, at their present speed...and even if we run, that sheer, deadly speed.." Alwhin shook his head in disbelief. "I wish we could have convinced G'kael to send some of his Narn warships with us; I wish Iain and his command were here with us, and not off on their own patrol pattern..."
"If wishes were truths, Commander.." Bethany replied with as much resolution as she could manage, "Then all you have just mentioned would be happening; but that's not the case. However, it is in our best interest to extend this chase as long as is possible; while we run, we live. If we stand here, we will die all the faster. You saw the images G'kael showed us; those ships could cut us to pieces *instantly*."
"I understand, Captain." Alwhin turned to Lieutenant Telluride, who immediately began to set about the task of ordering the task group fighter squadrons to what would, if no one came to help them, or if they could not escape, be their final duty. Then, the order to jump hung on Bethany's lips..
When something completely, extraordinarily unexpected happened.
* * *
The small Vorlon squadron moved with purpose through hyperspace, their goal clear. The Elder had, of course, requested their aid some time before, and they had done what was asked, but the Elder had paid for his request with the destruction of most, if not all of his existence. The Many had both been shocked and dismayed by that action, but the Rules of Engagement in that action had been strained to the limit, and the price had been paid.
Those who Commanded the squadron had been equally dismayed, and as such, had been slow to rejoin the Fleet. Their decision had, in fact, almost been made when they discovered the presence of Chaos in their vicinity.
Lesser decisions were made, with greater impunity then was normal. They would, this time, not act for the Elder, but, instead, in his memory. And then, to their surprise, they found that Those of Chaos stalked a small group of *Human* ships. A brief discussion ensued; were *these* humans, perhaps, standing against their fellows, those who had been corrupted by Chaos??
If so, they deserved to be saved.
Consensus was arrived at.
The Vorlons acted.
* * *
Behind them, space flared with the colours of death and destruction, as the NIOBE and her two escorts rushed into the jump point they had just generated. Bethany kept her gaze level and steady, and around her, her bridge staff performed their duties still...but the look in their eyes, the things she felt herself, made what had happened all the more important. The command to jump she had been about to give stalled and faded, as in front and around them, three jump points had opened. Enormous...powerful...vibrant, and out of them had come the Vorlons.
The Shadow vessels had paused, it seemed, in confusion, not expecting the arrival of such equally matched opponents. The Vorlons had not waited on that delay, but had immediately attacked. While Vorlon ships had died, the surprise, once again, weighed the outcome in their favour.
Before they had gone, however, the Vorlons had passed on, in a mind-numbing blast of sound that everyone on her ships had heard, one word, and one word, only...
**SERVE**
Bethany had heard, through G'kael, what the Vorlons had done in Brakiri space, and now, she owed the Vorlons, as well. How, and in what way, could they be repaid for this favour?
As the NIOBE departed from space-time, she tried, and failed, to find an answer to that question.
* * *
The Many were displeased at what the squadron had done in Kosh's memory, but the action itself could not, of course, be taken back. A Desperate Measure had been enacted, a measure of conflict that the Vorlons, for only the second time, had entered into. The time would come, *perhaps*, when all inhibitions were let go. But that time was not yet, and all the Units were warned, and the message was past through all the Many.
Their Order would only engage Chaos again if something DRASTIC changed in the power balance.
And that, of course, was completely dependent on the Younger Races. Would someone step forward to hurt Chaos, without the Vorlons helping?
The answer to THAT question was, as yet, unknown.
* * *
Z'ha'dum. The Early hours of Aug 10th, 2260..
"So." Morden mused, as, nearby, Justin reclined, smoked his pipe, and scowled ominously. "Once more, the Vorlons appear, engage ruthlessly, and disappear from our sight."
"They should be punished for their actions."
"They have already been punished for their past actions, Justin; if the past is anything to judge by, the group that did this has already been chastised and demoted by their Many. The Rules WILL be obeyed, there is nobody who can change that."
"Hmmph. We shall see."
"Patience. Our associates will soon, once again, move at will among the Younger Races, weeding out the Weak. The process will continue, until there comes the time when the Nexus will step forward, to unite the Races against us."
Justin's eyes narrowed. "And do you have your suspicions, boy, as to that might be?"
Morden smiled, and nodded.
* * *
I have been called the Guide, though I do not, now, know if I still deserve that title. I was once called the Avatar of Downbelow, and earned that name through the use of force. One found me, then, and through the gift of his reborn soul, saved me from the fate that awaited. But now, through my own belief in service to Those who made me what I am now, I lost that One, lost his trust in me. And I see the truth, the truth that EVERYONE will see in due course.
In all the time we have known them, the Vorlons have never revealed their true faces to us; and in all the worlds, there is not a Master so callous as mine. He has shown me this sight, because he knows the Anla'shok no longer trust me as I am. He has revealed the might of the Many to me, because he knows ONE truth, a truth I believe; that if I betrayed him again, he would kill me in an instant.
And so, I stand, surrounded by the light and song of Ulkesh's ship, and I see beyond, to the ranks, the uncounted ranks of the Fleet that waits.
And I fear for what must be.
* * *
Tuzanor. August 11, 2260.
The dinner had been well prepared, ritual had certainly been followed, the company had been welcome, and what the humans called 'small talk' illuminating...but while he had come far to visit absent comrades, the truths he searched for, the hopes he needed, now needed to be discussed.
"I thank you for inviting me..." Shival commented, as together with William and Jennifer, he watched the sun set beyond the western mountains from their favoured ledge and place of Power. "The tasks that await on Babylon 5 are varied and beyond number, but it takes only a moment like this to appreciate that there is still beauty in the universe, that Valen brought us to this point, in this Age, because there is still hope, still time to appreciate the beauty that is.
But I digress. William, I have heard, through channels both intricate and simple, that you and Vikotal progress well with the task the Entil'zha has given you; that the White Star Fleet will, in due course, be ready to take the battle to the Great Enemy. Do these rumours hold even the slightest measure of truth in them??"
William smiled, and replied, "What you are about to see, Shival, will display the truth of what you have heard. The White Star Fleet has been practicing for some time now, and while it has not, as yet, reached its final state, and will not for some time yet, we progress; observe."
Shival turned his gaze to the swiftly darkening sky above, and smiled, as in a multitude of places above the horizon, flares of light appeared, and jump points appeared. With practiced response, he raised a magnifing instrument to his eyes, and focussed on the nearest, to see a small group of White Stars emerge. "There are over fifty of them now, and the number will continue to grow, as long as the Enemy threatens us."
"And in the longer term??"
"There may come a time..." Jennifer commented, as above, the points faded from sight, "When we will be needed for other tasks, for keeping the peace instead of waging war; but that time is not yet, Shival. The White Stars stand as a beacon of hope, a sign that all is not lost to the Darkness. And while we believe enough to train crews to use them, and while the Worker Caste believes enough to build them, we will continue, and if we prevail, then, perhaps, what I have said will come to pass!"
Shival chuckled. "Indeed it may! Forgive me my doubts, William, but in Valen's Name, I cannot think of a better human among the Anla'shok then you for the job that lies ahead. Eventually, the time will come when the training will be finished; when that happens, you will, once again, stand ready, as your title suggests, to stalk the foe. But there are other things you may be interested to know, things that I have observed occuring on Babylon 5."
"Oh?" Jennifer declared...no great surprise there, the Observer in her had immediatly come to the fore. "Say on, please!!"
"Something is happening there, friends..something different; something... momentous. While you have played your part in that Place's history, your tasks now lie elsewhere, leaving me to see what now comes. Captain Sheridan and Delenn have begun something remarkable, first with the White Star, and now, with their sheer belief that they are doing the *right* thing. Sheridan achieved the goal of pressing the Vorlons into engaging the Enemy, and they have both succeeded in making of Babylon 5 what it is; a center for the Anla'shok to use with impunity...and, I believe, the heart of what will come..
..an Army of Light, to stand against the foe."
"Momentous, indeed." William whispered, his gaze considering, "But not unexpected. The time may come, all too soon, when Sheridan, Delenn and I will meet once again. If it is on the field of battle, I will not be surprised; if it is under the banner of Victory, I will be pleased. Either way, we are, all of us, in the right place, doing the right thing, at the right time."
Shival briefly observed the light of unpleasant memory in Jennifer's eyes at those words, but decided to let the moment pass. They were good words, and the future would show whether they were right, or not...
* * *
Mid August, 2260. Three hours after the departure of Entil'zha Sinclair to Babylon 5.
Nightfall in the Valley of Sorrows.
Heart heavy, Julia stood on the tip of the mountain peak, and gazed down upon the tangled rubble fall below. Over a year before, her Mistress, along with Brianna Tolmanes and the Minbari Dreann, had nearly been killed by the attentions of a servant of the Shadows named a *Z'nip'c*. And it had only been through the combined efforts of William's cadre that the Servant had been defeated. Now, however, she had asked for permission to come to this place, a permission that Jennifer had given, her eyes asking the question *why*.
Partly, it was to see a place that had guided Jennifer to be what she was now.
Mostly, however, it was to be as alone as possible.
The flyer that William had ordered to bring her up here would be back in half an hour. That was, she hoped, enough time to clear her thoughts, to make sense of what had just happened. Something she had not understood, but something she certainly had to go over in her mind...
The man who had lead the Rangers for more then a year and a half, the man who had once commanded Babylon 5, the man who had, when he had the time, taken her under his wing in the short time she had been on Minbar, was gone. This man, who had, amongst others, shown her what it would mean to be Anla'shok, had suddenly, abruptly, and without much in the way of warning, left Tuzanor, and gone, it was said, to Babylon 5.
*WHY*, in Valen's name, had he done such a thing?? When the Rangers needed him the most, Sinclair had left them behind. And, more importantly, to her, Sinclair had acted as somewhat of a father figure to her, a father she had missed for so long, a role her nearly always missing mother could not fill in for. William had brought her here, but Sinclair had helped, in many respects, to show her not, as Jennifer did, what she was, but rather, what she *could* be.
She sat down on the rocks, and cast her gaze to the fading light along the western horizon. She just *didn't* understand...
"A interesting place to visit, isn't it?" She jumped, and turned, to see a man stride out of the darkness, his gaze impassive. "Your reasons for coming here are yours alone, and I mean no intrusion. But understand this warning, Julia Tikopai, and understand it well! Your Mistress goes into the Fire that awaits us all, and if you follow her, or seek to help her in the wrong fashion at the wrong time, you may find yourself burned."
"Who *are* you??" she exclaimed, rising to her feet. "What do you mean?"
The man smiled. "You will understand in due course, or not; the future awaits, Julia...make the right decisions, and you may yet survive what is to come." He turned, and faded from sight.
Julia then spent the few minutes remaining to her searching the peak for that mysterious, frightening man. But it was almost as if he had simply vanished into thin air.
* * *
"You are sure about this??"
"Yes; the instructions are most explicit, Vazorr. The letters that waited for Ambassador Delenn and Entil'zha Sinclair were meant to be known to each. However, *this* message was meant to be more...secret, more refined in nature, and if the recepient decides to reveal what has happened to her companions, then so be it. But *she* must make that decision herself."
"I understand; where, persay, does she now stand?"
"I have been given to understand that Acolyte Tikopai has gone to the mountains, to visit the site of the Z'nip'c attack upon Val'na Clifford.
"Ah; that will, however, be concluding shortly, will it not?"
"We shall see."
* * *
The Chapel. Later that night.
Rest, it seemed, would be denied her this night, as had happened before, and would happen again. Julia sat, her eyes blurry, and looked up at the statue of Valen. Between the shock of the Entil'zha leaving, and the visit on the mountain, she doubted this night could get any weirder...
But she had been wrong before on that score...and might yet be again.
"Valen..." she whispered, "The Rangers believe in you *so much*, they swear in your name, by your beliefs, in the name of the code you helped to create for them. I don't know what to think...tonight, it's almost as if the foundations are crumbling beneath me.
I...I was confronted by someone tonight, someone I don't know...but someone who knew *me*. The Z'nip'c proved to my Mistress that the Shadows could get somebody onto Minbar's surface unnoticed; would they bow so low as to send one of THEIR agents to give me a warning?...a warning I don't even understand?
If...if you're real, if the Minbari are right, and their souls are reborn, or carry on somehow, then give me a sign.
Please."
"Forgive me if I intrude upon your meditation." a calm, but level voice intruded, and Julia whirled, to see a robed Minbari, proud in stature, standing behind her. "But I come on important business, Acolyte Tikopai. I understand and appreciate your sadness on the departure of the Entil'zha, but, perhaps, there is something here that will aid you. I do not understand how it could be so, but there is, it is said, a purpose to all things, and in the darkest hour, a light will shine, and an answer will be given."
The Minbari held out his hand, and Julia looked down, to see, it seemed, a simple letter in that hand. A well written, almost gothic script was on the letter, two words, and two words only.
Her name.
"Who...who is this from??"
The Minbari's face showed, among other things, amazement and respect when he replied. "Valen."
Julia felt her mouth drop open, and did not move to prevent that from happening. "But...what? How?" It seemed, somehow, in some way, her prayer had been answered!
"I do not know the answer to that question, only that *he* wrote this letter, nearly a thousand of your years ago, in your name, and gave instruction that the letter be sealed away, until the time described in his instructions came to pass.
That time was three hours after the departure of Entil'zha Jeffrey Sinclair from the surface of Minbar...and now, the letter comes to you." The Minbari bowed to her, and she could not hide her shock..it was CLEARLY evident how highly placed in their culture he was. "Valen willing, in his name, and in the sight of his writing, I pray this letter brings you wisdom, Julia Tikopai; in this night, and this place, the words are for you alone."
The Minbari turned, and left the Chapel. With trembling hand, Julia raised the letter close to her face. Could she do it?? Could she open the letter?...a letter from *Valen* himself, a letter that had waited a thousand years to reach her, this night??
She made her decision.
* * *
The Fourth Context of the Follower, the Truth of what Was, what Is, and What would Be...
I opened the letter, and with hands still trembling, read the words upon that paper.
And again.
And then still yet again.
And then, I decided that prayers *could* sometimes be answered. I believed that there was hope in what was still to come upon us all. I knew, at last, why the Entil'zha had done what he had, and that understanding, I have kept closer to me then any other secret I have ever had, and ever will. The next day, I returned to my studies, to Observing what was, and while Jennifer perceived the change in me, she did not inquire, and thus, the secret has stayed, until now.
But at the same time, I came to understand that the written word could not only change a person, it might have the power to change a people, or even a world.
And I wonder, now, what effect these words will have, in the years, decades, and centuries to come, should they survive...
* * *
To be continued...
Next: things get a little strange in the world of the Rimstalker, as this author borrows a page from "Deconstruction" and takes a brief peek ahead in time to see how the Book of the Observer comes to be..."A Light in the Darkness", the 12th part of "Dark Circle", starting soon...