**"So many things lead to this day; so many events that could have gone differently. In hindsight, when I look back, it can almost be termed a miracle that both of us survived to reach it...what with the secession of Babylon 5, the battle at Sector 83, the subsequent kidnapping and trial at Z'ha'dum for both of us, and *then* the Battle of Corianna VI, there were many opportunities where things could have gone the other way, but didn't...
..at one point, Delenn and I spoke on the matter, and she seemed to think that all of us, all of the ones who *had* to be in the right places at the right time, for all that mattered, were destined to survive; were fated, somehow, to live, despite our own actions.
An absolutely frightening way of looking at things, if you ask me.
However...there's still so much to tell, so let me come straight to the point. We existed in a moment of perfect beauty...a pause between great movements. And in between the fires of the past and the pain still to come, we found a moment of joy; and that was all that mattered..."**
- From "Storm Crossing: The Shadow War, and Other Responsibilities"
* * *
Babylon 5; May 20th, 2261; Mid Morning.
N'rothak looked about the quarters, and nodded in satisfaction. G'kar had worked quite hard to refit the rooms in a style befitting that of distant Narn, not unlike the Ambassador's own quarters, that suite that G'kar had lived, dined and raged in for more then five years now. But ever since Homeworld had been freed, regardless of his condition, G'kar had, from N'rothak's point of view, been in an unusually good mood.
But who was to question the motives behind that? It was enough for him to understand that G'kael was in an equally good mood; a lot of that had to do with the fact that the two humans who meant the most to his Master were about to be joined in their Ceremony of Union a mere two days, from now. This was what many humans would call 'marriage' but from what G'kael had been telling him of the event, William Westcastle and Jennifer Clifford had decided to apply a decidedly *non*-human style to the event.
This was not terribly surprising, given that they had both immersed themselves in the Minbari culture, and, more importantly, the doctrines of the Rangers for some time now. Not surprising at all.
Behind him, the door twisted open, and N'rothak turned, to see G'kael enter the chamber. It took a moment to understand what was different about his Councillor and Master, and then, the moment took hold.
"So how does it look?"
"Your eye!..."
G'kael nodded in satisfaction, as he turned to gaze around the quarters. "Stephen Franklin, the chief physician at this place, has done a great deal for me in the recent past, N'rothak, and what I received in the hour just past was the greatest gift of all, greater even then what he did for my burn scars! He has returned my sight to me, N'rothak! However, there were, shall we say, a certain few complications."
"How so?"
G'kael turned fully towards him, and N'rothak nodded, now understanding the comment in full. "The eye that Doctor Franklin was able to find for me; the eye that G'kar *insisted* I receive, even before his!...was constructed for use in humans, and as such, does not conform to our styles and physique. It is unfortunate, but we must face the situation together, G'kar and I..."
"If it is only a matter of the colour." N'rothak chided, "Then what is the concern?"
"You, as well as I, understand that there are those on Narn who would look on me, and see imperfection. Well, the time will come when they will realize that the matter of the *gift* is more important then the appearance, my friend. For now, however, there are, shall we say, events to involve ourselves in..."
* * *
C&C; 1500 hrs.
"Jumpgate online." Corwin reported, as Ivanova gazed on, a look of slight annoyance on her face. "It's a part of the White Star Fleet, Commander; ten, to be precise; a fairly unusual number, for them, wouldn't you say?"
"Not if you understand the significance behind that formation, Lieutenant. " Ivanova dryly replied. "The White Star in the center of that group is White Star Four; and the commander of White Star Four is a senior member of the Rangers named William Westcastle."
"Of course!.." Corwin earnestly replied, checking his instruments with only part of his attention. "From what I've heard, Ranger Westcastle, well, distinguished himself on numerous occasions during the Shadow War..."
"If only you knew, Lieutenant; if *only* you knew."
Corwin decided, rather wisely, not to pursue that avenue. "So what brings him back to the station?"
Ivanova told him, and Corwin shook his head, and sighed. "How soon shall we call on the Chief?"
"Immediately; an event like this *always* means trouble."
* * *
Arrivals Lounge; one hour later.
"Too long, this parting has been!" G'kael expounded, as William and Jennifer stood close together with him, the rest of their attendants nearby. "Far too long! And after so much sadness and pain, and so much loss, it is only right that all who care for you, all who have stood by your side loyally throughout the course of the dread war just past, and even all those you have served, if their hearts are just, shall join us, to see what should have long since come to pass, finally be realized."
"I see, G'kael, that being exiled to the edge of Beyond hasn't affected your powers of speech!" William replied, his smile broad.
"Not that I had noticed, no...in fact, on certain occasions, it was that which allowed me to hold the remnants of the Fleet together."
"And how, may I ask, did you gain an eye to replace the one you lost?"
"And why is it *blue*?" Jennifer inquired, a slightly amused look on her face. "Please don't tell me that you had that done just to upset the more traditionalist elements on your Council?"
"Hah!...no, nothing of the sort, although the idea does have merit, now that you mention it! No, G'kar and the Doctor of this place, one Stephen Franklin, whom I understand you have had close dealings with in recent months, conspired to gain me an artificial replacement for that which I lost in the battle against the Shadows; but come...enough talk of the eye, it exists, I use it, and that is enough! You must tell me what you have both been up to, since the end of the War."
"Well..." Jennifer mused, "It seems that even in peace, our tasks never end...between my aiding Durhan in some of the training at Tuzanor, and William running around the Rim investigating the ruins of a few abandoned Vorlon observation posts, when he wasn’t rescuing as many groups of cut-off survivors of the War as he could find, we've kept ourselves fairly busy for the last couple of months..."
"Yes, I can understand that that would be enough for anyone! Another inquiry; I note that while we have begun to assemble in this place, there are, shall we say, certain *details* lacking in reference to the event itself..."
William laughed, and drew G'kael aside. "Let me explain..."
A short time later, the two rejoined the rest, and Jennifer raised one eyebrow, as G'kael finally laughed out loud. "By G'quan! Well, I'm sure that you will please the Minbari in attendance, in any case."
"We'll see...." William's reply trailed off in mid-sentence, and G'kael observed his two friends abruptly stride across the lounge, and approach a dark haired human female, dressed, so it seemed to him, more or less as they were. After a brief conversation, the three rejoined him.
"And who, then, is this?"
"G'kael..." Jennifer drolly replied, "I have the distinct honour to introduce you to my one-time Acolyte, and now trainee with the Rangers on Babylon 5, one Julia Tikopai."
G'kael bowed to the girl, which she half returned, a small smile on her face. "Ah, yes!...the youngster who dared to deal with Ambassador Kosh himself, before his departure beyond the Veil, and faced death at the hands of the servants of the Shadows. I have a heard a great deal about you from those you see as teachers and leaders, on a great many subjects..."
"Good, or bad?" the girl shot back at him.
"Well now; that all depends on your point of view, I am afraid."
* * *
A short time later, a smaller group of Rangers entered through the Arrivals section, carrying a small, but apparently quite *heavy* object between them, completely covered in a gray veil.
"You're sure that they're gone, and didn't see us arrive?" Tashann asked of Talion, his gaze pointed.
"*Quite* sure; trust me, Tashann, between Julia and their friend, the Councillor from Narn, there's quite enough to keep our esteemed leaders occupied for the rest of the day."
Tashann nodded, a small smile on his face. "Very well then; Valen willing, you are right; those who gave this to us *insisted* that the gift should be a surprise; I would not want their trust in the completion of that task to be wasted."
"So...are you going to tell me what this is all about, Tashann?"
"In due course, perhaps I will; come, we still have a great deal to do, and there is only a handful of hours seperating us from the Ceremony itself; and this is among the most important of all our Ceremonies..."
* * *
Elsewhere...on the Bridge of White Star Three.
"All plans have been set in motion, as you requested, Sha'vei Vikotal; although the request itself seems to be a little, shall we say, unusual."
"That may be so." Vikotal replied, as many on his bridge tried to hide their smiles, "But be sure, we are going to perform the display as *I* command. On the occasion soon due, great honour shall be ceded to them; they have done more for the Rangers, more for Mankind and the Minbari, more for all in this Galaxy, then you could possibly comprehend; and while Captain Sheridan and the Entil'zha have done more still, this day belongs to the Rimstalker and his Chosen."
"It shall be as you command, then. The full assembly of the Fleet only waits for the return of the honour flight that accompanied them to Babylon 5."
"Good; time is growing short, we would not want to be *late*."
* * *
Babylon 5; 1900 hrs....
"Are you sure that you still want to do this?" Larieken inquired.
Julia nodded, as they moved down the Zocalo together. "Absolutely; I've waited for a change in...I guess you could say *style*, for far too long; and some of the things they want me to do require a, I guess you could say, *different* approach."
Larieken sighed. "That is a significant simplification of the true situation, as you well know."
Julia tutted impatiently. "Yes, yes; now *come on*."
* * *
Later...
"Ah." the Tall Man mused, as he read the short note, shook his head, and laughed. "So; I was right, yet again...they are, as my mother once told me, 'taking the plunge, for good or ill.' For myself, I believe it will be good, but who can say?
Now what shall I wear?" he mused, brow furrowed.
It was an interesting and *unexpected* problem.
* * *
The Zocalo...that evening.
It had been a long, but stressful movement, but finally, Tashann, Dreann and the rest had been satisfied with the hiding place they had found for the gift, and now, Talion decided, before things really got underway, that there might be time, if all went well, for some dinner.
"Talion." An all too familiar voice intruded, and he turned his head, quite slowly, to see Brianna standing a few feet away, a dangerously irritated expression on her face. "Tashann and Dreann are hiding something from me; you wouldn't happen to have any idea what it is, would you?"
Now how fair was this? So much for dinner.
* * *
Brianna sighed, as Talion dissapeared into the mob; there hadn't even been time for her to try even a surface scan...
* * *
Between one day and the next.
William stood on the bridge between two of the Ranger towers, and waited. All around him, the lights of the Garden shone through the dimness, some bright, some dim, and many less then in the hours before. While the business of the station continued at all hours, this was the time between, when many of the residents of Babylon 5 had retired from the waking world.
There would be no such luxury for him, this night; not until it was all over would he once again find rest. But this was the way things had to be; he knew that his love for Jennifer was absolute; he had gone to Z'ha'dum to prove this to her, and in the end, she had believed in him, and all that had followed, was partly as a result.
Now, however, he would have to prove to all his friends and comrades, near and far, that this was so.
A sharp crystalline chiming sound alerted him, and he turned, to see Shival, dressed all in gray and white, ten paces along the bridge, waiting, with staff in hand, his expression stern.
"Why do you come?"
"To prove my dedication to what is."
"And for what do you seek?"
"The Other Side of my Soul."
A slight smile appeared at the corner of Shival's mouth. "Then follow, Rimstalker, we shall walk through the shadows of this long night, together, and talk of things past, and things yet to come; of lost sorrows, and joys hoped for..."
* * *
The cool glow around her made her shiver; it was already ten minutes into the new day; what could *possibly* be the delay? She sighed. It was, of course, the tradition of this Ceremony that someone should walk with the Two Seekers, through the night and into the new day...to tell the tale of *what* had brought them to this point, on this day, and why.
But who had chosen to walk with her, this night?
"Jennifer; the Night awaits."
"Julia." she replied, and turned. "I should not be surp..."
But she found, to her astonishment, that she was. Julia's long dark hair was gone, replaced by a pixie-ish cut of midnight black curls, somehow darker now then it had been before, barely visible beneath the hood of her robe. It made her look, somehow, both younger and more mature at the same time, if that were possible, which was aided by her expression of combined solemnness and joy. "Why do you come?"
"To reveal what must be." she whispered.
"And for what do you seek?"
"The Other Side of my Soul."
Julia's smile was brief and to the point. "Then follow, my former Mistress; and let us talk of many things, but mostly, I think, of a day, long ago, far away, and in another age, on a lost world named Nighthawk... "
* * *
To be continued...
Next: the main event!
RIMSTALKER: THE RIDERS ON THE STORM, PART 10
"THE STARS BURNING BRIGHTLY" ACT II OF II
**"The Path conspired, to show us joy, to give us to our Fate; from Fate most dire, we felt the fire, the love twas demonstrate. Through dark we walked, and bared our souls, no secrets did remain; for love so true, and fire so hot, the stars, they sang our names..."**
- From the Book of the Observer
* * *
I have, among others, been asked to tell this tale; I accept that task willingly, for I, among others, will never be able to repay those we honored, that day.
The day was a day of realization, a road travelled to its ultimate end. This particular road had started on a doomed world, and along its path, had captured the rest, and taken us on towards a destiny we did not, at first, understand. But while this was so, we learned that more was still to come, much more, indeed. For in their own way, the two humans who we among the Anla'shok had come to call the Rimstalker and the Observer, had helped to bring about the new Age we lived in, in ways both large and small.
It was, by the way humans count time, the twenty-first day of their fifth Month, in the Year 2261. A day of Union, and a day of remembrance for lost friends. But that would come later, for above all, that day was also one of surprises...
* * *
The Lights of the Garden had just risen to their full daily brilliance, and Shival gazed out upon the scene, his thoughts content. Within the tower behind him, the human he had served in the past; the Ranger who had, in some ways, revealed his deepest secrets, had now parted ways with him. They would not, now, see each other again until the Ceremony itself, but that was the way of things, the way it *had* to be.
He sighed. It had been very hard for William to return to all the places of pain he had entered to reach this point, very hard indeed. Shival had travelled with him to a station destroyed, onto a dark mountainside on Homeworld, and finally, onto a precipice on lost Z'ha'dum; and in all these places, the Rimstalker had revealed the core of why he had, in many respects, done the things he had.
Amazing it was, the hold this emotion had over the humans; amazing, and yet, at the same time, understandable...for if the tales Shival had heard were true, even Captain Sheridan himself had undertaken some of his actions for similar reasons.
One could even surmise that the force of their emotions, and the beliefs they held because of them, had helped to bring about the Elder Races' exile. A curious notion, but if true, then this day's Observations were all too just.
* * *
They rescued me from darkness, from deaths committed in the name of chaos; and he brought me back to the Light, in a way most unusual, and unpredictable. But that has been his nature all along, has it not? Confound enemies, do the unexpected, make the hardest choices, work behind the scenes, and above all else, serve the One, in ways both seen and unseen.
We followed him through the Fire; and now, in the name of our survival, we give them blessing.
* * *
The Eleventh hour.
"You know what, Mack." Bo remarked, as the two maintenence workers stuck their heads into the Sanctuary, to observe the setup inside, "I haven't got a clue how all those Rangers we've seen around in the last day or two are gonna fit in here."
"Like sardines, maybe?"
"Trust you to think of food at a time like this."
"Yeah, yeah; so do you remember what this is all for?"
"Yeah; some pair of high Ranger types are 'coming together', I guess."
"You mean, like, getting married?"
"Well, you know those Rangers; I've heard they never quite say what you expect to hear."
"True enough; hey, I guess I'm starting to get hungry, too...want to go for lunch?"
A shrug. "Yeah, why not?"
* * *
She came to me on Minbar, unsure of herself, unsure of her place in this life, to reveal part of her past. A challenge we would not learn of until later was given, and she left us, with Durhan's blessing, as an owner of one of the few and valued warrior pikes available to the Anla'shok, at that point. She *earned* it; and later, used that knowledge to keep herself alive; one of only three humans to survive the horror at Z'ha'dum. As long as we both do live, we shall be true comrades...and perhaps, even, what the humans would call...
...friends.
And for these reasons, and for reasons unsaid, I stand in the doorway of Babylon 5's Sanctuary, this day, with the distant fire of the stars revolving, in the endless night beyond, and shall observe their Ceremony of Union.
In this, I honour her, and give her blessing.
* * *
C&C; The Thirteenth Hour.
"I don't believe it." Corwin muttered, his eyes wide.
"Don't believe what?"
"Look for yourself, Commander..." Corwin replied, as the image relayed from the hyperspace probes began to display itself more clearly on the screen. "That has to be *all* of them, waiting out there!"
* * *
I have been asked to speak, by the others, of what I saw in the Sanctuary that day; what little must be said will be said, for this is, in many respects, a private matter. Before the War of destiny that brought us together, we saw things differently, the humans and us; but in that war was forged the Anla'shok as they now are; and this is a bond that may now never be broken, if all goes well.
However the matter, all the Rangers of Babylon 5, in addition to Rangers from all across known space, converged on the place called the Sanctuary that day. Never had I seen the uniforms so perfect, the respect on every face so true, our sigils burning jade and silver. All of us, together, had moved to face the Enemy, and we were the survivors of that rite of passage; and so, we came, that day, to take part in their Ceremony, and to give our blessings.
Beyond the assembly, near hidden in the back, but never far from our minds, stood our Entil'zha, and she stood with the human who, above all others, had captured her *soul*, and had lead us all to victory, the human named John Sheridan. Tall he stood that day, his expression solemn, but at the same time, with a hint of pride for what happened. From the beginning, as I was told, William and he had crossed paths; indeed, Shival told me, not long ago, what William had told him; how Sheridan had saved him from the wreck of his former warship, and began all that followed.
And then, it was time; first cameWilliam, with Shival, the Ranger who had chosen to guide him through the Long Night, before. Exhausted by now, he must have been, but he did not show it. Midnight black he wore, and a robe of darkest gray. The silver streak in his hair stood out in bold contrast to this. They came before the dias, and for a moment, paused, before the Facilitator of Union...as history records it, I shall repeat it; Sech Devariax had come, that day.
Devariax; he of the High Council of the Anla'shok, and of the Religious Caste, and versed in the many arts of the Ceremony. Rarely had we seen him at Tuzanor, and rarer still had he ever left Homeworld. But the respect invoked in the request of the beseechers, and seconded by our Entil'zha, could not be ignored, and so, he had come. Now, William knelt before him, and wait he did.
Then, chimes did sound, as was proper, and *all* the Rangers present did kneel, save for Shival, who stood by William's side. Now Jennifer entered, in palest gray, together with her conscience, she who had come into the story only at mid mark, but had assumed a status far beyond her years. In her we saw our future, and a bright one it might yet be...but this has yet to be determined. Before Devariax they did come, and kneel, she did. Of all those present, only Shival and Julia Tikopai remained standing, for *they* had been the Confessors, and to them, the attention was first focussed.
These two come before us, and desire Union, Devariax stated, his expression stern. Sworn in Valen's name, they have walked through the Long Night with their Confessors to reach this place; Sha'vei Shival, Lakotal Tikopai, you shall explain to us whether they shall be justly allowed to continue in this.
Explain they did, both of them; and the nature of that explanation captured all of our attention. From the beginning, much if not all of what they had done had been in support of their love for one another; William, indeed, had gone to Z'ha'dum, knowing death was certain, because he could not bear to be seperate from Jennifer, should *her* end be near. It was made clear to us all, although certain members of the congregation had known this from the start, that if they were to die in battle, they fully intended to die together. Many other things were said, but that was the core of the understanding.
In due course, Devariax accepted this testimony, and as one, Shival and Julia kneeled, and William and Jennifer did rise. Then, were the words said that mattered, and while the rest, I have revealed, the words they spoke to Devariax and to one another, must remain theirs alone. Suffice it to say, the dedication they had to one another was shown in their actions, and in their eyes. The fire that dwelt there could not be ignored, and as all could see, it was clear that the Rimstalker and his Observer, at that moment, had eyes only for each other.
And then, the end drew near, and as William and Jennifer placed their hands close, but not touching, Devariax drew out a honored ceremonial blade, and spoke the words of finality..
"It is agreed, then, in Valen's Name, beneath Valeria's gaze; they are as seperate halfs of the same Soul made..as *one*."
In that instant, did they close their hands upon the blade, and their blood mingled. But at the same time, did the core of those present, shift their attention to the stars beyond...and a great *many* moving objects, that had not been there a moment before...
* * *
The wait was over.
Corwin smiled, and said three, very simple words.
"Here they come."
* * *
It was an image I will never forget, not as long as I live, and after the Shadow War, I believed that there was very little that was ever going to surprise me again, but this did. The Rangers gathered, and William and his new bride, married according to Minbari customs (exactly how much of this am *I* going to have to go through, I don't know, but perhaps I will wait to ask, since it's never quite honestly clear to me, sometimes, what answer she will give me, from moment to moment!)
With hands clasped, they stood, and in an astonishing constrast, I realized that a sharp formation of jump points had come into being outside, the instant they closed their hands upon that blade; and out of those points came White Stars...not a few, but the whole fleet, in myriad flypast. For their commander, they flew; no higher honour do I know.
* * *
I was not, you see, privy to their Ceremony, for I am not a Ranger, and as I explained to Westcastle, never will be; but I will help where I can, and when. But now, I tell a tale of the last surprise we saw, that day. With the Ceremony complete, the Rangers had retreated to their compound for the meal that followed, and while there, a small number of gifts were passed on to the guests of Honour. The most surprising gift, however, came from a source none of us had anticipated, not even *I*...and this, indeed, may be counted as surprising.
All the previous gifts had been given when a robed sentient I was not familiar with approached. I soon learned that this was a V'cha'richae, one of the few survivors of that race rescued by Westcastle and his command. Hak'rah was its name, and as it approached, all the Rangers fell silent. Hak'rah, by that point, had the full attention of everyone in the room, and began to speak.
'We, as a race, are forever indebted to you, the Rangers we have come to know as friends. Without you, we would have died, forever entombed on the satellite of our lost Home. Now, we begin to prosper in this place; but have learned of your Union... honorable this is, and an occasion we could not ignore. Told your subordinate Tashann we did, what we wanted to do, and he returned to our satellite to retrieve a very special gift for you...almost did not find, because of great destruction, but luck was with us.'
Then it was, that a small group of Rangers approached with a covered item between them; quite heavy, it seemed, and yet, quite small. They placed it on a table before William, and Hak'rah then continued. 'Last of its kind, this may be, beyond the two my people still possess; all others, destroyed in the loss of our world. Now, we give over ownership of this to you, William Westcastle, Rimstalker, and Ranger, in the hope that it may help you.'
Then, the veil was drawn away, and revealed a long, sharp, white crystal. 'Singing crystal this is..' Hak'rah did say. 'Vision caller, seeker of future; not always accurate, not always certain, but sometimes useful. Note, please, that many crystals of Homeworld were unable to predict the great destruction; but help you, it may.'
And then, Hak'rah bowed one last time, and departed.
* * *
One more night, they spent on Babylon 5, my former Mistress and her new husband; and then, they boarded White Star 4, and vanished from our sight, taking along no one but themselves and their few closest friends among the Rangers. Their comrades would pilot their White Star for them, in the time they needed to themselves, for even in the Rangers, it was decided that they should find time for what we humans call a 'honeymoon' of some sorts.
And so, once again, I was left behind; left to my studies and to my practice; left to hone myself against the Future, against the fears yet to be.
Unfortunate that is, but of all the fears we knew, the fear that would assault us next was one we could never have predicted.
And William and Jennifer would return from their leave just in time to see it happen; a time of chaos and pain in our lives, and of change unbidden, brought about by something the Cha'hal'zhamon had tried to warn us about with their veiled mysteries...