"STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE"
EPISODE FOURTEEN: "CRIMES OF ASSOCIATION"
'Starring'
MENA SUVARI as Viyana Metois
MICHAEL BIEHN as Edward Cattrall
ROMA DOWNEY as Brianna Tolmanes
MALCOLM GETS as Colin Ferris
LARA FLYNN BOYLE as Jennifer Westcastle
MELANIE SMITH as Belaii
BRIAN McDERMOTT as Durhan
PAT MORITA as Miyonn
With,
BRUCE BOXLEITNER as President John Sheridan
MIRA FURLAN as Delenn
RUSSELL CROWE as William Westcastle
*and* WALTER KOENIG as Bester
* * *
(disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture)
* * *
<<Act One>>
Tuzanor, Minbar -- ISA Headquarters. 14:45 hrs, EST, August 9th, 2267.
Over the course of its almost five years of existence, a great deal of discussion on various matters had taken place within the confines of the Council Chamber in Interstellar Alliance headquarters... but this, Julia considered as she strode through the main portal, was almost certainly going to be a first. The species she was about to... discuss with the President and the others had been a great topic of 'interest', of course, back when there had been no Interstellar Alliance... only the League of Non-Aligned world and the 'greater' powers, as they had been known in those days. The species was a race that no one now alive would ever forget... their name still used, she suspected, to strike fear into the hearts of children all across the galaxy.
'Be good - or the Shadows will come for you.'
This day, only the most senior members of the ISA ruling council were present as she made her way across the smooth, gray tiled floor and through a gap in the great table of alliance to stand before the two individuals who had, for five years now, ruled the Alliance side by side. A man who'd walked through the fire and out the other side to pursue the agendas destiny had thrown in his path. And his partner, the Minbari who'd first become a bridge between peoples, and then the greatest ally the man had ever possessed - in more ways than one. And then it was that President John Sheridan rose to his feet, his silver-bearded face solemn, as the portals to the chamber closed behind her.
"Captain Tikopai - thank you for coming down from your ship on such short notice. While I hope you'll forgive us for excluding your senior crew from this discussion - time is short, and with so much else going on at the moment..."
Julia nodded in understanding. "You decided that I should be the one to brief you on what it was we saw and who it was we encountered, after the living Neilgeithan weapons cast us beyond the Rim almost a week ago."
Sheridan nodded, but Delenn, as she had expected, was the next to speak. "You say, Val'na, whom you encountered. The President has informed us that the First One who names himself *Lorien* chose to aid you in your quest - may we assume that with this aid, the creatures that named themselves 'Craneori' found their creators?"
"Not... entirely, no." Julia carefully clarified. "While Lorien was the first to reach us, others weren't far behind. The next species we encountered were friendly to our cause, however... and chose to honour an alliance that was established some years ago, before the Shadow War reached its height. If you will allow me to display some images from our sensor logs?"
Sheridan nodded, and then turned to face the worker caste technician who was waiting nearby - and a moment later, that Minbari inclined her head, to indicate that an uplink had been established between the headquarters computer network and the 'Shard', orbiting high above. "We encountered the species in question at time index 0937 - 06". She paused, then, as the HQ computer obligingly pulled up an image from that moment in the air behind her. "They were..."
Off to the President's right, a sudden laugh filled the silent chamber, and Julia smiled as her High Councillor, William Westcastle, began to speak. "Well, I'll be damned! -- so they did manage to find a place where they could live in peace."
"The Cha'hal'zhamon were nearly as ancient as the other First Ones." Delenn reminded her second-in-command. "I find myself unsurprised that Lorien encouraged them to travel beyond the Rim with the rest."
"While they told me as much, on at least one occasion I can recall." Westcastle confirmed. "But if I may be blunt - it wasn't them that helped you to find the Craneori's creators, was it?"
"No, sir." Julia confirmed, "It wasn't. The next species we encountered was one we feared would not be nearly so friendly - luckily for us, however, the elder in charge of the expedition sent to meet us proved to be more moderate than any of us could have dreamed."
And then it was that she called up another image - and watched the faces of the President and the rest stiffen in surprise as the familiar, deadly arachnoid forms of Shadow warships appeared in the holographic display - followed by another, of her and the Shadow elder who had called himself Zhe'chal, on the bridge of the 'Shard of Night'. "Lorien, to our great amazement, declared the Shadows responsible for the whole situation. A very long time ago, during a war that happened before any of our species entered space, the Craneori were imprisoned by the Shadows for the crime of existence. And because this was so, Zhe'chal, the Shadow elder who came to confront us, eventually agreed to help us find the species who'd created the Craneori. And shortly thereafter..."
"That species helped you to return to where you were most needed." Westcastle said.
"Yes, sir..." she replied. "They did."
A small smile appeared on Delenn's face, then, while the President appeared to be having difficulty coping with the concept that the Shadows appeared to have actually done something... almost *good* for once. "So - perhaps they are learning what it means to leave their past behind - to move on, to become more than they were."
"Learning, Delenn?" Sheridan replied. "That would appear to be the understatement of the year!"
"This," Julia countered, "May not exactly be the best way of looking at the situation, sir. We were, in many respects, lucky this time around - especially since, in his closing remarks to us, Zhe'chal implied that they might not be so kind to the next group that came knocking at the door. These were special circumstances, for the simple reason that it wasn't our fault we were sent beyond the Rim..."
"The Shadows," Westcastle clarified for everyone present, "Found that they had to make another bargain to pay for the crime they committed, long ago. And one part of that bargain..."
"Was to help us, so we could get out of their place of rest as fast as possible -- and ensure that no other members of the Younger Races disturbed them for the forseeable future."
Sheridan sighed. "Ah, well... only to be expected, I suppose. The important thing, of course, is that you managed to get out of there without getting any of your people killed..."
"And back to where you are most needed." Delenn concluded, as she turned to face her husband. "I believe that she has told us what we needed to hear." Both Sheridan and Westcastle nodded at this, and so it was that Julia's Entil'zha turned back to face her, to say the words she'd been waiting for. "Nalae`n vash val'na merian'nal."
Or, as humans would say it - 'we give you your leave, Captain - rest now, until you are needed again'.
"mer'aian vash nai." Julia gratefully replied, as she turned to leave. "I shall."
* * *
Melanas Practice Ground -- the Ranger Compound. 16:55 hrs, EST.
The rumble of thunder high above the mountains of the Valley of Sorrows was the only sound to disturb her meditation -- but that was enough to shatter the silence of the practice ground, otherwise silent on this day of storms and change. Most of the current crop of trainees were, she understood, away on a training expedition into the mountains, and would not return until tomorrow at the earliest. And so she had come here to rest, to clear her mind -- to think back on what had been, and what might yet be.
<The battles we fight, Sheynell, are for the good of us all> Sheynell let out a ragged breath, and opened her eyes, her hand briefly moving to rest upon the badge of silver and jade on her right breast. This was what she was... but even now, she could not ignore Alfred Bester's whispers, come down to her through all the years of pride and loss... and pain. Where was he now, she wondered -- did he even still live? A question best not examined too closely, that one -- for that way lay obsession -- and she could not... *would* not, let herself go down that road.
Again. A road that the Vorlon touched telepath Brianna Tolmanes had thrown her forcibly off of, almost two years ago.
For now, however, there were other matters to consider. Sheynell rose to her feet as she sensed the approach of two warm yet strict mental glows that signified the arrival of the two instructors she was waiting for. "Anla'shok Keynes!" a deep, authoritarian voice boomed, "It is time."
"Show yourself." a gentler voice implored, a voice she recognized only too well from her dinner engagements at *that* instructor's household during her time as a trainee. "So that we may begin this dance."
She rose to her feet then, and moved onto the practice ground to face the two figures in black that waited there. The first, of course, was F'hursna Sech Durhan -- formerly a Minbari warrior of the highest caliber, Durhan had been among the first instructors to come to this place back during the time when Entil'zha Sinclair had taken on the task of drawing together the Rangers to fight the Shadows... and the second? The second, her face solemn but with just the hint of a smile thrown in for good measure, was Jennifer Westcastle, the wife of the High Councillor. Sech Westcastle, of course, had served honorably at her husband's side on the White Star flagship for the duration of the Shadow War and after... was an Observer in her own right... and finally, an instructor of the highest caliber, trained by Durhan himself in the use of her pike. And now...
And now, as they had indicated, it was time to show her worth. "I am here." she replied. "I seek what may be earned -- I ask for the opportunity to demonstrate what I have learned."
"Ah, but it will not be quite so simple as that!" Durhan warned, as he raised a finger in warning. "The first thing we must consider, young telepath, is the matter of *anticipation*."
"I..." Sheynell paused, confused by the observation. "I'm sorry, Sech Durhan, I don't understand."
"Then let me elaborate." Sech Westcastle continued. "The greatest problem we've had with your application to earn the denn'bok is the very nature of your gifts. You are, as all are aware, a P12 telepath of the highest caliber. Because of your strength, it is all too possible for you to *anticipate* our moves even as we are making them -- and thus, the opportunity to advance, and more importantly, to *learn*, is lost."
Sheynell's mouth opened, and then shut, without her saying a word, so surprised was she by this observation. And yet... and yet, they were right, of course -- she had taken her abilities for granted for *so* long that she hadn't even considered this would be a concern. And since this was the case -- she lowered her head in resignation, while raising her blocks as high as they would go, so she wouldn't be able to sense anything of what they were thinking. "I... understand, Sech. I must assume, therefore, that my application to earn the pike has been rejected?"
The two instructors looked at one another for a moment, and then Durhan... laughed. "In Valen's Name... *no*! I did not imply anything of the sort."
"Then what, but..."
Durhan nodded in the direction of one of the exits, and a moment later, another Minbari entered the arena. "Do you recognize this Ranger, Anla'shok?"
Sheynell unleashed a brilliant smile as she finally understood what was going on... even as the Minbari in question bowed in her direction, and a moment later, they exchanged glyphs of greeting. "Vahzil, you are well?"
"Well enough, yes." the other telepath replied. Vahzil, of course, had been the Ranger to help her when she had been convalescent in the nearby medical facility recovering from the results of the vicious attack that had come soon after her abrupt departure from the Psi Corps. "Sech Durhan has asked me to aid him in this matter -- 'to even the scales somewhat' I believe he termed it."
"The rules are simple." Durhan explained, "Vahzil will be responsible for setting up what amounts to a telepathic *noise* screen during our practice session. In this fashion may we ensure that even if you do let your blocks drop by accident, or are tempted, our fellow Ranger is to ensure that scans will be near to impossible."
"And if I try too hard," Sheynell finished for him, "He will tell you, and the contest will be over in any case."
Durhan nodded in approval. "You have it, Anla'shok Keynes. And now..."
She saw the shimmer of light coming through the air towards her only at the last instant -- and then she whirled to catch the tiny cylinder of metal that Sech Westcastle had thrown in her direction... and now? -- Sheynell nodded -- she knew the rules. After a moment's hesitation, she entered the practice circle, and as one the two combatants, student and master, bowed to one another...
And then a moment later her opponent had opened her pike and was rushing towards her. Keeping her blocks firm, Sheynell opened her own weapon and moved to guard.
* * *
Elsewhere in the Ranger Compound, two other figures danced the same dance, but at the same time, a different one... for these two, once divided, would soon be serving together... after a fashion. They had fought each other to a standstill on more occasions than they cared to remember -- and this day was no different. Except...
"You progress well." Larieken admitted, as he and his sparring partner closed their pikes. "It appears that the Sech'sha have taken something already well honed, and made it sharper."
Belaii, formerly of the Wind Swords and now a senior trainee in the Anla'shok, let out a laugh as she and her love left the circle together. "If you refer to my skills in battle, I thank you for the compliment -- but yes, you are right, Larieken. The Rimstalker's chosen, in particular, has seemed eager to push me farther than I have ever gone before in such skills -- an astonishing way of thinking, this is, for a human."
"And honorable, as well. For now, however -- it is my understanding that they have granted you an evening's leave so that we may sit down to meal together -- and also... discuss matters."
Belaii extended a hand, and without a moment's hesitation, he closed his upon hers. "Your suggestion is not without merit -- but may I suggest we make our way down into Tuzanor proper? I find that I wish to walk with you, to discuss what you have seen..."
"Ah, yes... that." Larieken cleared his throat. "Let me be honest with you, Belaii -- while I have made my vows before the Entil'zha, vows I cannot unswear... there are some days when I am *certain* she is going to get us all killed."
Belaii laughed -- which 'she' Larieken was referring to was not even in question. "Come then -- and tell me *more*..."
* * *
The upper ledges. 18:45 hrs, EST.
The training session, as she'd expected it would be, had been a trying experience -- but much progress had been made. Sheynell let out a deep sigh as she sat on the ledge, and looked out over the green valley slopes, and the mountains beyond. Sech Durhan -- had been pleased by her efforts, and while at no time had she defeated Sech Westcastle in the contests, Durhan had eventually informed her that while more training sessions would be necessary before she and the rest of the *Shard*'s crew returned to their duties, he suspected that yes, she would be allowed to carry a pike before her leave from duty was over...
<Hello, Sheynell...> a whisper intruded on her senses, <I'm not *disturbing* you, am I?>
Her eyes snapped open, and with a cry of astonishment, she sprang to her feet and whirled to face the menacing dagger of telepathic force that had suddenly materialized behind her -- and then she froze when she saw the figure standing there. It had been him, then, just as she'd feared. He was dressed in a grey and ash suit, well tailored -- and unbidden, the whispers of memory came back to haunt her...
<This isn't over between us, Keynes -- do you hear me? This will never be over until one of us is *dead*>
She remembered the uniform he had worn, the last time she'd seen him -- the same uniform that she'd worn, once upon a time. She remembered the hunts that Bester had ordered to conduct, and how he, as a member of the Humanist faction, had tried to intervene...
<Don't you get it, Keynes? Don't you understand how wrong this is? Didn't Ferris teach you anything during your meetings with him on Babylon 5? You can't do this!>
Shock quickly gave way to white-hot anger in her mind, then. How *dare* he confront her like this? She didn't need this, this was intolerable... she wasn't answerable to THEM, the ISA had granted her asylum before she'd become a Ranger...
"I'm sorry, Sheynell." Edward Cattrall informed her, his tone resigned but firm. "But that's just not going to cut it... not this time. It's taken us a long time to catch up to you... but now we have, it's time for you to answer a few questions for us, I'm afraid. Now you can either have this the easy way, or the hard way -- which will it be?"
"You want to know the way it's going to be, do you?" she angrily retorted. "Then understand this, Edward -- I am a *Ranger*, and a servant of the Interstellar Alliance... while I am involved in a mission more critical to the survival of the human race then you can possibly comprehend."
"Oh, I'm sure that's important to you." Cattrall replied with a shrug. "But there's something you've forgotten -- I'm not the only one who's been looking for you. They want you to talk, Sheynell -- and I'm afraid that they're not going to take no for an answer." And with that, the other P12 moved towards her, his pace quickening towards a run. She only had a moment to react -- and her first instinct, as it had been before, was to turn and...
Her mouth dropped open, even as her brain tried to make sense of the figure that had *folded* out of the air behind her. Oh Valen, no!... she was out of practice, to fall for this trick, to...
Pain. Hands closed around her waist from behind, and even as she opened her mouth to scream, there was a prick on her arm, and the world began to narrow into a tunnel as the synapse blocker drugs began to sever her connection to reality. A tunnel centered on a face she knew only too well -- the face of the woman who'd once been her closest friend...
"Viyana." she whispered, as she sagged down onto the ledge, Cattrall supporting her from behind. "You won't..."
"Get away with this?" her former roommate suggested, her narrow eyebrows upturned in mock surprise. "So sorry to disappoint you, Sheynell -- but I already *have*."
And then she had no more time to argue, as the drugs finished their work, and the darkness consumed her.
* * *
"That," Viyana Metois observed with a smile, as Cattrall slung the much lighter Ranger telepath over his shoulders, "Was just *too* easy."
"Don't get overconfident just yet." Cattrall warned, as they made their off the ledge and out of the compound proper. "We still have to find a way to get her off the planet and back to Mars."
"We will. But first... we need to deactivate her marker crystal so they can't find us... "
"And then?"
Metois's smile began to curdle. "Our inquisition...
Begins."
* * *
To be continued...
* * *
Return to "The Seeker's Fire" Episode Index