Author: Julie the Tall Terror
Summary: The galaxy learns that some Humans are Immortal. While greedy aliens are after the secret to immortality, the Minbari and Watchers search for a particular Immortal, Valen. Babylon 5/Highlander crossover.
Setting: 2264. The new Interstellar Alliance is still very shaky.
Babylon 5 characters: Valen (Sinclair), Delenn, Catherine, Sheridan, Garibaldi, possibly more.
Highlander the Series characters: Methos, the Watcher organization, possibly more.
You do NOT need to know anything about Highlander: the Series to understand this story. If you do, just enjoy the familiar characters.
Big thanks to John Hightower for creating the Minbari Dictionary at Jumpnow.de and my beta readers, Sarah t and Marianne Todd.
Chapter One
Immortals Among Us
"Valen was the greatest of us. A thousand years ago he came from nowhere, formed the Grey Council, and brought peace to our people. They say he was a Minbari, not born of Minbari."
-- Lennier, Babylon 5: "Passing Through Gethsemane"
- o0o -
2247
17 years ago
Just after the Earth/Minbari War.
"Out of twenty thousand ships, perhaps two hundred people have survived. Horror," the president stated bluntly, "doesn't begin to cover it."
President Beth Levy paced her office, her high heels echoing louder with each step as she walked from the carpet to the wood floor and back again. The room was intimidating and formal in a way that normally didn't match the warm motherly style she'd cultivated. It did today as her parental persona dropped all gentleness. Finally she turned back to look at Valen, or Jeffrey Sinclair as he was calling himself now, one of the few Immortals that Earthgov had identified. "At ease! Goodness, just because you aren't wearing the fleet admiral's stripes anymore..." she sighed quietly.
Valen shifted his feet slightly into parade rest, but didn't truly relax. He continued to stoically face her desk as she angrily paced the room.
"What were you thinking? You could have died!" The president's voice rose with every word. "We may call your kind Immortals, but had the Minbari blown up your Starfury you'd have died just as permanently as I would. How could you?"
He didn't answer her rhetorical question.
She stormed over to her desk to face him. "The Joint Chiefs are demanding you be tried for treason," she told him and gauged his reaction.
"I am as loyal to Earth as I have always been, Madam President," Valen answered without flinching.
"I believe you, but many do not," she said grimly. "Therefore, you will remain an Earthforce officer under your current rank and alias of Jeffrey Sinclair."
"To keep track of me," Valen stated.
"Yes. Should you disappear again, I will have no choice but to put you on trial and it would end in your imprisonment, I assure you." Her features softened slightly. "I don't need to remind you that Immortals are in peril of being regulated like the telepaths. It is only that mortals are safer not knowing about your immortality that has prevented the government from taking such measures. Maintaining the secrecy of your existence from the rest of Earth is not easy."
"And keeping us a secret from aliens, Ma'am?" Valen asked. Earthforce's furious reaction to the twenty-four hours he was missing made more sense if they believed he'd been in league with the Minbari and had cowardly fled the battleground. Making an intuitive leap, he said, "That is what this is about. You're afraid that somehow the Minbari have discovered Immortals and you think I'm to blame."
"I hope not. Most of my advisors, the Senate and the Joint Chiefs are divided on that. So, without some way to prove otherwise, they will not trust you and I cannot risk trusting you either."
Valen closed his eyes and suppressed a sigh. The darkening sky outside the windows made the room gloomy and the distant rumble of thunder matched his mood.
"Even if it had not taken a full day for the recovery crews to locate your damaged ship, which led to all of this suspicion and paranoia, you still have betrayed Earth."
"I would never -" Valen began protesting in the first real anger she'd seen from him. But the president raised a hand and he fell into a resentful silence.
"Perhaps you haven't betrayed us to the Minbari," she reluctantly granted. "But you weren't here when we needed you. At the start of the war, I was certain you'd show up at my door ready to serve as you always have. Everyone who has clearance to know of your existence was sure you'd lead our fleet against the Minbari, just as you led us to victory in the Dilgar War."
"I could never have given you a victory against the Minbari. We were outgunned! Our technology so far behind them that -"
"I know that," Levy interrupted, "and the Senate does as well. But our losses would not have been so devastating, our people not so easily slaughtered, nor -"
"Madam President!" Valen nearly yelled at her. "You can't know that!"
"Neither can you!" She shouted at him before visibly regaining control of herself. Through gritted teeth she said, "When you vanished after the Dilgar War twenty years ago, you sent everyone into a panic. My predecessor was convinced that some remnant of the Dilgar military had kidnapped you. We never gave up searching for you all these years."
She began to laugh mirthlessly. "And here you turn up, as an Earthforce officer. Right under our noses! Worse still, you've spent the last two years on the battlefront. We could have lost you forever."
"I'm not an object to be shut away in a glass cage, Ma'am."
"If you told us after the Dilgar War that you wanted to go through the ranks on your own merit, everyone would have been confused, yet allowed it. But not during wartime! And certainly not to waste your skills as a mere fighter pilot. Why?" she demanded again.
"I can't answer that, Ma'am."
She seemed to expect him to say that and the look of anger at his betrayal never left her face. "You'll have to work hard to earn back everyone's trust and as I'm sure you know, many of those who served with you against the Dilgar will never forgive you for this," she said firmly. "Dismissed."
Valen saluted and turned to leave. When he was just at the door, the president spoke one more time.
"And Valen," she said sadly, using his real name for the first time. "Prepare yourself for the worst assignments and don't expect to be promoted. It isn't fair, I know, but I had to allow the military some way of punishing you that didn't include prison or your head on a platter."
Valen only nodded, his face devoid of expression, and left.
The winter rain had lessened to a cold drizzle as he walked out of EarthDome. He put on his hat and pulled up his coat collar to ward off both the wet and being recognized. He'd used one of the lesser known exits to avoid the press camped outside the Dome eagerly waiting to learn how his meeting with the president had gone. Their outrage had reduced significantly after he was cleared at the hearing, yet it only increased their speculation. No one seemed to believe he'd really been unconscious in his Starfury for an entire day, but they couldn't prove otherwise.
The approach of another Immortal echoed in his head forcing him to scan the area out of instinct to locate where the person was coming from. He hastened his pace down the stone steps ignoring the icy puddles soaking his shoes.
"Jeff!"
Valen kept walking, but slowed unsure if he should stop or not. He knew this Immortal very well. She was a mercurial presence in his life, never to be found when he wanted her and always arriving exactly when he didn't need any additional complications. The longest they'd ever managed to spend together were the three blissful decades after they first met. It didn't last and they'd never managed to regain that happiness for that length of time since then.
"Jeff, wait!" she repeated, running to catch up with him. "Valen!"
That made him stop. She rarely called him by his real name, preferring the name she'd first known him by when they'd met on the Silk Road almost a thousand years ago.
"Catherine."
He finally turned around to face her. Catherine was holding an umbrella that had clearly lent her little protection from the rain. She was quite damp and chilled from the earlier downpour.
"I've been waiting for hours. I knew you'd come out this way, it was the only door the press weren't holed up at."
Valen only looked at her, waiting for her to say more. They hadn't seen each other since they'd both attended Earthforce Academy together a few years ago. Different assignments had split them apart until they lost track of one another.
"I've missed you," Catherine said. Her look of worry changed to dismay. "Aren't you glad to see me?"
"I don't know," he said with pitiful honesty. As much as Catherine would have preferred a friendlier greeting, even if it were a lie, it simply wasn't his way.
Catherine was irritated by his coldness, but not deterred. "Talk to me, please."
"What do you want me to say?"
"What do I want you to say?" she echoed shaking her head and slinging droplets of water from her hair around her. "Your picture is all over the news! Are you all right? Were you injured on the Line?"
"Yes I was. Not severely enough to be noticed by mortals at least," he answered. "But that isn't really what you want to know."
"No, it's not."
They simply stared at each other for a moment, each waiting for the other to ask the questions. The rain lessened somewhat while dense and depressing clouds rolled across the sky.
"All I can tell you is what I have told everyone else," Valen stated quietly. "My fighter was disabled during the battle. I blacked out and woke up twenty-four hours later."
"That doesn't happen to Immortals," she accused, her eyes very wide. "It would take decompression, or at least a piece of shrapnel stuck in your heart or brain! But neither of those things happened, did they?"
"No, they didn't."
"Then what did?" she demanded.
"I can't explain it, Catherine."
"Why were you even up there? I thought I was angry when I found out you'd fought in the Battle of Britain three hundred years ago, but at least then you had a chance of surviving if the Nazis shot down your aircraft."
"Catherine -"
"No! You listen to me! So many of the old Immortals have been killed, either by bombs or murdered by one of us for their power. How could you risk dying, permanently dying," she emphasized, "in space too far away from another Immortal to receive your Quickening?"
"I don't believe our Quickening, or whatever it is that we give up in a true death, matters. The knowledge transferred doesn't last long and it certainly doesn't make us stronger or heal faster. If it -"
"Enough!" Catherine bellowed. This was an old argument that they'd never resolved and could never convince the other to accept.
Valen looked down, away from her hurt face and accusing eyes.
"Sorry, I don't mean to yell," she said, apologetically. "Couldn't you have fought in the war from a safer position?"
"The president asked me that. She, and what seems like the entirety of Earthforce's officers, are angry that I didn't resume my duties as an admiral."
"Why didn't you?" Catherine asked, struggling not to sound judgmental.
"It wouldn't have been safer and I couldn't have changed the outcome."
"You don't know that."
Valen turned around quickly, unable to school his features. Yet, Catherine knew him too well to miss the odd expression that flitted briefly across his face.
"Jeff?"
"I couldn't lead our fleet again, Catherine. Please, just accept that."
Catherine's face changed from furious bewilderment to cold fear. "Why, Jeff? No one knew that the Minbari ships were so much more advanced than ours in the beginning and even if we had, that wouldn't have stopped you from doing what was right."
Valen began walking away from her, head down against the wind. His gaze was fixed on his footsteps that marred the still pools of water. Catherine stood dumbfounded, unable to follow.
"You couldn't have known how hopeless it was going to get!" Catherine yelled after him as he left. Her accusation echoed off of the stone buildings.
- o0o -
2264
Present day
Delenn sat in the command chair of her White Star, looking blankly at the orange of hyperspace outside the windows. It felt far longer than a few days since she left her home on Minbar, yet also as though no time had passed at all. Her goodbye to John was a blur. She dimly recalled putting her son, David, down for a nap and kissing his cheek before departing.
Immortals. The last of the First Ones departed little more than a cycle ago and already the Humans were unknowingly on the path to replace them. Delenn reminded herself that she'd told the Grey Council years ago that Humans had the capacity to walk among the stars like giants. However, the idea that the oldest living sentient beings presently in this galaxy could well be Humans was staggering.
Delenn pressed a button on her comand chair, activating a small holographic display. It showed a flat image of Earth's Interstellar Network News channel logo spinning in the center before zooming in on a row of Human commentators. ISN had been broadcasting constantly since they'd first reported the story. Delenn generally did not care to watch the news reports, preferring the slightly less inflammatory format of Earth's written news. However, she needed the latest information and ISN was currently her best source.
"For those ISN viewers just tuning in," the reporter was saying. "The kidnapped Immortal has been identified as Pierce Adam Benson. I repeat the Immortal has been identified."
An image of a smiling man appeared with a caption of his name below it. He was dark haired, with an angular face and was nearly as pale as a Minbari. Delenn noticed several of the bridge crew craning their necks to get a better look. They quickly returned to their duties the moment they realized she'd seen them.
"Copy that picture and search for all information on Mr. Benson," Delenn ordered.
"Yes, Entil'Zha," answered one of the crew.
"To return to our discussion," the reporter was saying. "The Narn government continues to insist that their people have not kidnapped an Immortal Human and considers the accusation, and I quote via translation, 'Absurd' and insist that 'Anyone who believes that fragile Humans could live forever must be mad' end quote. What are your thoughts, Senator?"
The image displayed an older woman with the name 'Senator Walker' captioned below her.
"Sam," she addressed the reporter. "I find it absurd that the Narns are focusing all their energy in refuting immortality instead of proving they aren't to blame."
"Ah," Sam said holding up one finger, "but Earthgov officials were saying the same just yesterday."
"To protect the Immortals," she explained. "And to stop ISN from making unverified accusations against an alien government that is currently our ally in the Interstellar Alliance."
"But it wasn't unverified. We have the security recording of the whole debacle. Including the man clearly dying and returning to life!"
"I've seen it," Walker answered in disgust. "And you can't tell who his captors are."
"Eyewitnesses confirmed they were Narns."
"Centauri eyewitnesses. Who is to say they're telling the truth?"
"You want to talk about truth, Senator? How about the fact that Earthgov has repressed ISN from reporting about Immortals for decades."
"I say again, to stop ISN from making unverified accusations. You can't out the Immortals without proof and morally," she stressed the word, "you shouldn't have revealed their existence at all."
"Senator, -"
"ISN has sparked a manhunt for Immortals, not just on Earth, but across the galaxy. You aren't helping this man – you're condemning our entire race to his fate! Just because you and I wouldn't revive like he did won't stop some alien from killing us to find out."
"Entil'Zha?" the Anla'shok manning the communications station interrupted.
"Yes?" Delenn answered absently over the sound of the Humans' heated debate.
"The Defa'Rosh has arrived," he pointed out.
Delenn turned the channel off. The hologram dispersed and reformed to show her an image of a jump point winking out and the silhouette of a Minbari cruiser slowing. Delenn blinked, she hadn't even noticed that her own ship had exited hyperspace. She waited for a flyer to disembark as planned.
Minutes passed. She could hear one of her crew talking faintly to the cruiser's Alyt. Just as Delenn was about to ask if there was a problem, the crewman spoke again.
"Receiving transmission from the Ven'sha'ir," he announced.
"Put it through."
The image of a younger Minbari woman appeared.
"Greetings, Entil'Zha Delenn," she said. "My apologies for the delay."
"Greetings, Ven'sha'ir Nerlise," Delenn said to the Grey Council messenger. "Is there a problem?"
"Yes," Nerlise answered. "The Human delegation insists on continuing to the Interstellar Alliance headquarters on Minbar."
"They insist?" Delenn echoed, snapping out of her daze abruptly. She sat up straighter, her fingers digging into the armrests of her chair. "There isn't time to take them to Minbar. This is a crisis! Two major members of the Interstellar Alliance are threatening each other. The Humans' panic must be stopped now before they do something rash. Bring these people aboard, at once."
- o0o -
Delenn stood in the center of the room, stern yet composed. The simple furnishings of low benches and tables in muted colors lent it informality. It was a useful place for serving tea, polite conversation and for receiving surly guests. The arched door-less entry allowed her to hear the Humans approaching long before she saw them.
"…could've let Earthgov shoot itself in the foot," a woman was saying more than a little snidely.
A man's voice answered her. "If you say, 'I told you so' one more time, so help me-"
"Oh, shut up! It's not like the Tribunal can do anything now."
The two Anla'shok escorting her guests came into view followed by a clearly annoyed Nerlise with the four Humans. Behind them were several rather harried aides. The Anla'shok bowed respectfully and took up posts by the doorway. Nerlise and the other Minbari came forward, bowing in a formal greeting while Delenn responded likewise.
"Welcome," Delenn said to them.
The Humans remained a bit distant from the Minbari, watching the ritual in silence. They stood a little straighter when she turned to them repeating her bow. All four were rather non-descript looking for Humans and wore the business style of dress. The youngest of the group, a woman began a timid bow a fraction of a second before a middle-aged man and an older woman next to her did the same, but gracefully. The second man, who looked to be the oldest of the four Humans, just looked stoically at Delenn without moving. The group didn't appear to have an organized leader and stood awkwardly looking at her.
"I am Delenn, leader of the Rangers."
Finally, the young woman made an odd noise Delenn sometimes heard John make when particularly exasperated. "Hi, I'm Aria Dakirounisha," she said nervously. "And this is Corbin Teguese, Elspeth Sisen and James Reth, but I'm sure you know all that."
She stepped forward holding out her hand, then paused, checking the action. Delenn reached out quickly to show her that she understood the custom. Relief spread across the woman's face as they shook hands. Delenn then turned to the others. With obvious reluctance, they each shook Delenn's hand.
"Mind telling us why we've been kidnapped?" Corbin Teguese, the younger of the two men, asked snidely.
"Corbin!" Aria scolded.
"Mr. Teguese," Delenn addressed him with firm politeness, "you were sent to request help from the Minbari Federation, were you not?"
"Yes," Teguese began. "But-"
"Specifically in freeing Mr. Benson."
Teguese opened his mouth, but Delenn didn't give him a chance to speak.
"And protecting Immortals in future?" she emphasized.
"Being hauled along for the ride wasn't part of the deal," Teguese snapped.
Delenn stepped closer, her eyes boring into him. "Mr. Benson and other Immortals who may find themselves in need of rescue in future are unlikely to respond favorably to Minbari or even Human Rangers. Having Humans they trust to speak to them-"
"Oh, no," Aria blurted out. "No, we can't do that."
Delenn looked sharply at the woman, who quailed visibly under Delenn's gaze. Aria glanced quickly at Teguese, but he only crossed his arms.
"Why not?" Delenn asked in a slightly demanding tone. This was not what she'd expected at all.
"Well," said Aria, carefully. "Most Immortals have no idea we know they exist… well, they do now, but we don't have permission to talk to them."
"Is the Immortal we are to rescue aware that you know what he is?"
"Yeah, Benson knows, but…" Aria's voice trailed off and she looked pleadingly at Teguese again, but he didn't respond.
"We took an oath," the older woman, Sisen explained. "To observe and record, never interfere."
Delenn was still confused at their determination to have their own way. None of this made sense or fit with Nerlise's report. Were these Humans being deliberately obstinate or did they have a legitimate reason for not complying? To take such an oath would have to be serious.
"Is Mr. Benson dangerous?" she asked in concern. Freeing him would be more perilous if he attacked his rescuers.
"Not exactly," answered Aria quietly.
"The penalty for fraternizing with an Immortal is death," the other man, Reth, spoke for the first time, his eyes raking across everyone in the room before returning to Delenn. "You'd be murdering us."
That set off a great deal of angry murmuring amongst the rest of the Minbari. Delenn expected that was his intent and she didn't like how satisfied he looked. Aria at least, wasn't so arrogant.
"Really," the young woman muttered in obvious disgust.
He turned angrily to her. "We agreed to go to the Alliance headquarters on Minbar. We agreed to provide information. Not this," Reth spat looking back at Delenn, "gallivanting about the galaxy!"
Delenn's cold frown did nothing to make him waver. Nerlise came forward for the first time.
"Perhaps," she said calmly. "You should ask your superiors for instructions."
"We can't risk you tracing the message," said Teguese stubbornly.
Aria groaned aloud. "Send it to Earthgov to pass along for us, you paranoid maniac."
Teguese glared at her for the name-calling and she glared back. Delenn had had enough of this nonsense. She signaled to the waiting Anla'shok, grateful that she'd had the forethought to select two Humans as escorts. Perhaps these people would be calmer around them.
"We will continue this after you've had time to rest and contact your superiors," said Delenn. Normally she would have chosen a more diplomatic phrasing, but felt that a direct order was more likely to achieve results in this case. "These Rangers will show you to guest cabins."
Teguese strode after the Rangers without another word to the Minbari. Aria followed, but paused in the doorway, her expression torn between anger and contriteness.
"Sorry about, well," she stammered and sighed as if she'd lost the will to continue trying to salvage the situation.
Nothing about this meeting had gone as Delenn expected. She could not fathom why everything had gone so wrong, unless there was yet another problem she was unaware of. She waited until she was sure they were well out of Human hearing range before turning to the other Minbari.
Nerlise bowed humbly. "I take full responsibility, Entil'Zha."
"What happened?" Delenn asked.
"They fervently objected to being transferred to your ship."
Delenn closed her eyes, dreading the answer. "How fervently?"
"It required five of the Defa'Rosh's crew to deposit them in the flyer without harming them -"
Delenn's eyes flew open in horror. She hadn't thought it was that bad.
"- and two of my aides to restrain Mr. Teguese from attacking the pilot," Nerlise finished saying.
Delenn's earlier order to Nerlise to bring the Humans aboard came back to haunt her. The idea that the Humans would physically resist never occurred to her. That they would argue, bluster, threaten, before eventually cooperating for the opportunity to complain to a higher authority, yes. Not this. The exposure of their Immortals was having a worse effect on the Humans than she'd thought.
"I should have asked for further instructions-" Nerlise was saying.
"You are not to blame," said Delenn. "I am. I misjudged the situation. You did as well as you could under the circumstances and avoided causing injury to them. Were any of you harmed?"
"Nothing significant," Nerlise replied.
"Good. I apologize for placing you all through such an ordeal," said Delenn with a bow. The others bowed in return. "Now I must ask for forgiveness from the Humans before the negotiations begin."
- o0o -
Delenn arrived early, as did the other Minbari. She was rather glad that of all their messengers, the Grey Council had chosen Nerlise to represent them. Delenn's investigation of her past was quite thorough and she determined that Nerlise was a typical religious caste Minbari. She had no personal grievances towards Humans and though she had little patience for their immoderation, she generally spoke well of them. Most Minbari found it easiest to express warmth or praise for Humans when not actually around them. Delenn could sympathize, despite becoming half Human and marrying one, they were sometimes extremely alien to her.
The trait Delenn appreciated most in Nerlise was that she avoided referring to the war whenever possible. It explained why Nerlise was chosen to negotiate a matter normally under the purview of the warrior caste.
Delenn's purpose in being here was not so clear. Earth's representative to the Interstellar Alliance had made no requests for aid from the Rangers or the ISA. When other representatives offered assistance, he'd rebuffed them stating that Earth was not prepared to accept help from anyone at present. Yet this delegation came in secrecy implying that they were here to do just that. Confused by the exclusion of the ISA, the Grey Council had asked Delenn to personally offer the Rangers' support.
As they waited for the Humans to arrive, Nerlise updated Delenn on what little she'd learned about this group.
"They are not part of Earth, Mars or any of the other Human colonies' governments, yet they are empowered with full authority to negotiate on behalf of all Humans to resolve the Immortal crisis. Also, I have reason to believe Earth pressured this particular group into coming."
"So their displeasure is not restricted to us."
"The Grey Council was unable to obtain any further information about them," Nerlise said grimly. "Not even the name of their organization."
"That is most unusual for Humans," Delenn commented. "And odd that the council doesn't know."
"The council is not surprised that aliens have discovered the Immortals, though it is difficult to believe such a broken and disorganized race as the Narns could be responsible for their exposure."
Delenn could not argue with that. "Yes, I wonder that we did not discover them ourselves."
Although most of the other races had been in contact with Earth far longer than the Minbari, it still surprised Delenn that they hadn't found the Immortals. If not during the war against Earth, then they should have later when numerous Humans joined the Anla'shok. Or perhaps some Minbari had and helped to hide those Humans from further discovery. Delenn realized that she'd have to investigate the possibility that Immortals were hidden in the ranks of the Anla'shok.
"I suppose we must coax the secret out of them," Nerlise said with a hint of resentment in her voice.
"Surely you sympathize with the Humans' plight?" Delenn asked in surprise.
Nerlise was only a little younger than Delenn had been when Babylon 5 was established, but she ducked her head abashedly like a child at the scolding. "Immortality is a prize everyone wants," Nerlise said sadly, instead of answering Delenn's question.
Delenn was about to reply, but stopped herself as the Humans entered the room. They took the four chairs on the opposite side of the table and began arranging various plastic printouts, data entry tools and other accoutrements Delenn normally associated with the Humans' business caste, not diplomats.
"I hope you are aware," Teguese began haughtily without offering a greeting, "how reluctant we were to meet with you."
Delenn could understand. The Minbari people were themselves unused to sharing their secrets with outsiders. The Humans were as a rule far too unguarded, something she observed that caused them to stumble many times, her husband included. This group's demeanor was beyond merely restrained.
"We understand that your position is a precarious one," Nerlise answered. "Earth cannot prevent aliens from kidnapping Immortals, even worse attempting to prove they are doing so could well result in war."
"Not just the Immortals. Since they don't know how to detect immortality, they're preying on any Human they can. Murdering and dissecting us," he spat out. "The number of incidences is growing daily and the Interstellar Alliance can do nothing when their own members' governments will not admit to imprisoning our people. They claim it's all isolated incidents over which they have no control or responsibility."
Delenn listened quietly. They had yet to actually ask for help. Was it pride or fear? Or something else? The Grey Council hoped that they'd request the Rangers' assistance. The Rangers' autonomy made them the best suited for the task and ought to appeal to the Humans. Delenn wondered if it was the Rangers' connection to the Interstellar Alliance that was hindering them. If so, her presence could be causing their hesitation now.
"The Minbari Federation would like to offer all Humans our support in freeing those held against their will and transporting them to safety whether they be Immortal or not. We will not interrogate them, nor violate their person. To carry out this task, we will require access to all you know of Immortals," Nerlise stated softly.
Though kindly spoken, the actual terms were not as gentle as Delenn was expecting. They at least suited the Humans' preference for directness.
"I'm not prepared to give you everything. Some information certainly, but even we do not know as much as we'd like about the Immortals. Earthgov only learned of their existence a century ago and has managed to identify and keep track of very few of them."
"If we do not know it all, how are we to know how to protect and approach the Immortals?"
Delenn noticed a hint of frustration creeping into Nerlise's voice, not surprising given that she was expected to obtain something the Humans were not likely to share.
Teguese was becoming very uncomfortable now. "You don't understand, some things cannot be revealed. It's too dangerous for them and us."
Nerlise looked at Delenn, her eyes pleading for help in encouraging them to cooperate. Delenn noticed that Teguese had not commented on what they were offering and wondered if he truly believed them.
"Be assured," Delenn said, "no Minbari would be so barbaric as to deliberately hurt an Immortal. However, if we try to help them without knowing what to do, they may not trust us, could attack us and we could even mistakenly do them harm."
Delenn watched the Humans' faces cycle through emotions as they whispered together. They were most displeased, yet were also clearly desperate. They didn't want to trust any Minbari, yet Delenn was certain that they had to know that Minbari could be relied on not to inflict harm on an Immortal.
"It isn't that simple," he insisted. "Lending aid is not enough."
"Not enough?" Nerlise burst out in irritation before stopping herself abruptly and regaining her calm composure.
"We want... no, we demand," Taguese emphasized, "to know the truth about certain events your people have previously kept silent on."
"To what events are you referring?" Nerlise asked in genuine confusion.
Delenn was surprised that he'd questioned their honesty without actually calling them liars, an offense that would normally require a Minbari to kill him, though they took care not to do so to aliens as a rule. Perhaps he was wiser, or at least more informed about Minbari culture, than she'd thought.
"What really happened to Ambassador Sinclair?" he asked intently and his companions likewise leaned forward a little in their seats in anticipation of the answer.
Delenn was bewildered at his question. It hadn't been on the agenda at all. His tone of voice made it sound as though he were deviating from his instructions. "Why do you ask this? As your people were informed three of your years ago, Ambassador Sinclair was regrettably lost in an accident."
As she watched, the entire group became angry in unison. If he was adding this demand without Earth's knowledge, then the entire group was in on it.
"We have reason to believe that he is not dead," he cautiously answered, as if afraid to reveal too much. Yet his expression said it all.
Delenn sat backward in her chair quickly, the implications sending her thoughts into a jumble. She'd have to inform the Grey Council at once. Then call John, and Susan would wish to know as well as Mr. Garibaldi, of course... but not yet, she made herself slow down. It would not do to build up their hopes. Until she was certain, Delenn decided, only the council could be told of her suspicions.
"Sinclair is Immortal?" Nerlise whispered in awe, shattering Delenn's plans. Her question caused the rest of the Minbari, all of them rather young aides, to gasp.
Teguese stood so quickly Delenn was unable to do more than wonder at his anger.
"If he is dead," he growled viciously as he looked down at them. "There will be another war, I promise you."
Delenn stood as well, but slowly as if that might calm him down. "I will contact my government. Should I obtain all of the information about Ambassador Sinclair that you require, will you grant us all you know about him in exchange?"
He looked calculatingly at her for a moment before answering. "Agreed."
- o0o -
They met again an hour later. The Grey Council had come to an agreement easily. The possibility that Sinclair was an Immortal, alive somewhere in the galaxy, was more than enough of an incentive. Delenn was relieved that Nerlise was already aware of much of the details about Sinclair's time as an ambassador and Entil'Zha on Minbar. Even the messenger's aides knew that the explanation the council provided Earth with was half-truth, half fabrication. Gossip and speculation that Sinclair possessed a Minbari soul and that he was the reason that the council had ended the Earth/Minbari War was still sufficiently abundant that Delenn was spared from having to go into much detail.
While confirming the rumors did not shock her audience, telling them the rest of the truth about Sinclair turned their perceptions upside down. The higher-ranking Anla'shok had experienced much the same in the wake of Sinclair's departure to the distant past. Apparently, the Rangers and the council had kept those revelations to themselves better than Delenn had hoped, if most of those who served the council were unaware that Sinclair was Valen.
She watched as the Humans took in her words. Their reactions were much like those of Nerlise and her entourage when she'd told them the same only minutes before this second meeting began. There was only one fact she'd withheld from the Humans, the most important one for her people. It had shaken the souls of the other Minbari. The Grey Council did not want her to reveal the name Sinclair used on Minbar a thousand years ago to the Humans unless absolutely necessary.
"So, what you are telling us," Taguese said in a shaky voice. "Is that not only did you send Sinclair into the past, but you gave him a machine that he used to make himself partly Minbari the same way you did to become partly Human?"
"Yes."
"And he lived on Minbar for decades?"
"He did," confirmed Delenn. "We know when he left Minbar, but we have no record of Sinclair's death."
"Then he might still be alive, providing that transformation," he waved a hand nervously as he spoke, "didn't compromise his immortality."
"The Grey Council believes that there is a chance it did not."
"But you said that the travel through time caused him to physically grow older. Once immortality is awakened, an Immortal's body ceases to age."
That made Delenn pause. She'd seen Jeffrey's face become lined and his hair grey when they'd traveled forward in time on Babylon 4. He'd stated quite plainly that continuing forward with them to their own time would surely kill him. However, now she wondered did he mean he would truly die or only temporarily die? Could the time distortion's severe aging effect have killed him?
"We have only a few, blurred images of him that only the council may see," said Nerlise suddenly, her voice growing steadier as she voiced her speculation. "However his appearance upon arrival must have been sufficiently youthful for he lived on Minbar for nearly a century without anyone suspecting he wasn't aging appropriately."
The young woman, Aria, leaned over to speak to their leader. "Corbin," she spoke in barely a whisper, but it was quite audible in the room. "The rapid aging may have been more of a breakdown of cells, like radiation exposure or burns. His immortality would be slower to reverse it, but he'd heal completely once away from the time travel's effects."
The rest of the Humans nodded as looks of hope spread across their faces and they all began to babble at each other.
"We need to find out if any of his friends -"
"- if one was in contact with a Minbari recently -"
"Aria, start by scanning the Minbari database of citizens -"
"- if they have ID photos -"
"If I may," said Delenn suddenly over the din. "It is time for your half of the bargain."
They settled down reluctantly, their excitement barely contained and with a much friendlier manner.
"Yes," Taguese said, nodding his head in that odd way Humans did. "First, you need to know a little about our purpose. We," he waved to his three companions, "are Watchers. For thousands of years, our organization has recorded the lives of Immortals secretly to ensure that even the Immortals who perish will not be forgotten." He looked to his left. "Mrs. Sisen?"
The older woman stood and placed a secure case on the table, the kind frequently used by Humans to transport valuable documents and data crystals. She unlocked it with great care. Inside was a wrapped, rectangular object that she slowly placed in front of Delenn. With great reverence, she pulled back the wrapping to reveal an ancient book.
Delenn leaned closer to get a better look at the animal skin cover and metal clasps. Embossed on the front was a symbol, a circle ringed with thirteen dots and an almost triangular shape in the center. Below it were words in a language Delenn didn't recognize yet the script was quite similar to the modern letters used by Humans. The other Minbari crowded around her as they too began to understand what the book was. Delenn knew one of the words on the cover quite well, even written in the Human language.
"Valen," she whispered in awe.
"Yes, these are the Chronicles of Valen. This book is one of many volumes in which previous Watchers have recorded Valen's life as they witnessed it for over twenty-seven centuries."
"Three thousand, seven hundred and four years now," Reth, the gruff looking man sitting against the wall corrected him. "Adding the millennium they claim he's spent on Minbar."
Taguese ignored the interruption. "I am Valen's Watcher. Normally, I follow him and record his life, but when he was made ambassador to Minbar, it was necessary to send another Watcher. It was meant to be a temporary assignment until I arrived."
"Then Clark enacted martial law on Earth," said Mrs. Sisen, "and all communication with Minbar was terminated. This did not concern anyone at the time, as it was still possible to travel to Minbar. Watchers often have gone for years unable to contact our headquarters. When communication was finally reestablished, we discovered that our Watcher had died early in the Shadow conflict and all the recent records were missing, presumed destroyed."
"Then you suddenly declared Valen to be dead before anyone could reach Minbar," the gruff man said.
"Reth," Taguese said warningly.
"At first," continued Mrs. Sisen, "we believed he had simply moved on. It is crucial that Immortals change their identities before someone begins to question why they are not aging. Valen spent twenty-three years using the name Sinclair. It was time for him to change it again."
"I expected to locate him again in a matter of months," said Teguese. "A year at most. He's one of the few Immortals that are aware we are recording his life and he has never made any effort to hide from us. Even Earthgov knows he's Immortal, but he doesn't seem to mind."
Delenn's mind was reeling as she tried to absorb all that they were telling her. She opened the book's cover hardly daring to breathe lest she somehow damage it. It was so fragile and old. The pages were stiff and yellow, made not of paper, but more animal skin. Yet the colors of the illustrations were as brilliant as the crystal windows in Minbar's greatest temples. She was accustomed to Human designs being nearly colorless and simplistic, she had no idea they could create such a beautiful manuscript.
Taguese placed three cases of data crystals onto the table. "Here is a copy of the entire Valen Chronicle, both scans of the original hand written volumes and modern translations. You may keep this book."
"Keep it?" Nerlise exclaimed. The other Minbari echoed her astonishment, a few in their own caste language rather than in Human words.
"We know how much Valen means to you."
"You knew?" Delenn stated bluntly and with a hint of suspicion. The Grey Council had not wanted to reveal that when he became a Minbari, Sinclair was called Valen, except as a last resort to obtain what they wanted to know about Immortals. How could the Humans guess so easily that he used his birth name in the past?
"It's easy to make the connection after what you just told us," he admitted. "With the way your people are always referring to him in everything you do, I'm not the only Watcher to be curious about the identical name and find the other similarities an interesting coincidence. It's nice to know someone else appreciates him."
"Now," said Mrs. Sisen, "do you understand why we don't want to reveal everything we know about Immortals?"
"Yes," Nerlise murmured absently, still distracted with the book.
"So, your people will help protect Humans, all Humans, and aid in rescuing Immortals from aliens?"
"We will," Delenn answered for Nerlise. "And so will the Rangers. Perhaps, we could search for Valen together?"
"We'd be delighted. Thank you."
The tension in the room seemed to dissipate at once. Two of the Watchers let out rather loud noises of relief and one actually slumped in her chair. Not the proper level of decorum Delenn expected from people dedicated to Valen's life, but she was willing to grant them a little latitude in this situation. The group broke up as different Watchers began consulting their handheld computers and the Minbari pored over the manuscript.
Delenn walked to a nearby window, but didn't really see the orange hyperspace outside. Rather she found herself at odds with her own beliefs. Like most of her caste, she'd always believed Valen would return. Yet, once she'd met Sinclair, she concluded that was the return prophesied. True, it wasn't precisely a return, but rather the beginning of his journey, yet it was the only thing that fit the facts. She'd not lost all her faith in the prophecies that had yet to come to pass, but regarded them as warnings of what paths to avoid based on Sinclair's wisdom and understanding of her people. They were ambiguous possibilities at best and the only thing she knew for certain was that Valen would never return. Now, she was far from sure and afraid to hope she was wrong.
"Amazing how completely their attitude has changed," Nerlise commented dryly in Adronato with a glance at the Humans before returning to the book. "Fewer people would view them with such disdain if they behaved in this pleasing manner more often."
"I suspect their erratic behavior is a reflection of how all Humans are feeling just now. Cornered," replied Delenn as she walked near the table.
"Valen could be anywhere," a wide-eyed aide whispered to another, terror tingeing his voice. "Traveling through the galaxy unprotected."
"We will find him," his fellow answered, also in their own language. "We might be among those who meet him," she murmured excitedly.
"Think of all of the Valen sightings over the centuries," Nerlise said. "Suppose some of them weren't visions, but Valen himself?"
Visions. It reminded Delenn of something she'd experienced as a child. She'd been very young, too young at the time to understand her family's speculation that she'd seen a vision of Valen while she was lost in the city that day long ago. As an adult, she'd never had the courage to believe it herself, thinking only those with the power to understand its meaning would be blessed with a vision. She'd received no revelations therefore it could not have been a vision, but merely a kind priest guarding a lost child. Now, she wondered if Sinclair had watched for her birth and met her…
"Nerlise," said Delenn suddenly, wanting to ask questions about Valen. "Tell me, how do I pronounce the name of the youngest Watcher? Their names were not written in your report."
Nerlise looked up, mortification spreading across her face. "I'm afraid I cannot quite recall the precise syllables…"
"Aria Dakirounisha," her aide said, saving her from further embarrassment.
"Are you certain?" Delenn asked.
"Reasonably so."
Delenn tried the syllables 'Are-ree-ah Dack-key-row-knee-sha' silently on her tongue. Feeling she had no other options but to try, she walked slowly around the table to the Watchers.
The woman looked up from her console as Delenn approached.
"If I may," Delenn began. "Ms. –"
"Please, call me Aria," she answered with a long-suffering smile. "Everyone butchers my last name, even back home."
"Aria," said Delenn with a smile. "I would like to ask, how long have you followed Valen?"
"Oh, I don't watch Valen. My assignment is the Immortal the Narns kidnapped, so I'm stuck with the research department for the moment."
"Research?"
"Yes, until I find Benson again."
"So, Valen's Watcher and these others are helping you search for Benson?"
Aria nodded. "Benson and Valen are old friends, so we are working together with some senior researchers," she leaned closer to whisper conspiratorially, "old fussbudgets who've never tracked an Immortal in the field. Anyway," she said sitting back, "if we find one of them, we might be able to track down the other. I'm trying not to get my hopes up. They haven't run into each other for many decades as far as I know."
"You've watched Benson for a long time then?"
"Only three years," stammered Aria. "When all that mess with Clark started, my first assignment dropped everything to return to Earth. Practically gave away her off-world business. I'd proven myself able to trail an Immortal on various alien worlds," she said with a hint of pride, "so I was promoted to watching Benson."
That caught Delenn's attention. "Benson is an important Immortal then?"
Aria fairly glowed, she grinned so broadly. "Yes," she almost whispered. "He – "
"Aria!" snapped the gruff older man from behind them.
Aria's enthusiasm deflated bitterly at the interference. "I'm not a child, Reth."
"Don't gossip like one then," Reth grumbled before shuffling away.
Aria contained her anger poorly, but said no more about her assignment.
"Entil'Zha, may I have a word," Teguese asked as the Humans returned to their seats quietly.
The other Minbari did not look pleased at the interruption from their perusal of Valen's Chronicles, but followed Delenn's lead as she also returned to her seat. Teguese placed a set of data printouts in front of her.
"We've prepared for the eventuality that Immortals could be discovered by aliens ever since first contact with the Centauri two hundred years ago. Most of our contingency plans have been rendered useless now," Teguese said with some distaste. "However, we do have a list of aliens we believe are more likely to prey on Immortals."
"The Centauri, Drazi, Vree and obviously the Narns," Delenn read from the list in front of her. "Yes, despite that their physiology is completely different from yours, the temptation alone is enough for both the Centauri and Narns to try kidnapping Immortals. Why the Drazi and Vree?"
"The Drazi are hindered by their close proximity to the Centauri," Teguese conceded. "Yet they are militant enough to want an Immortal's healing ability, if not for their own race then at least to forcibly conscript Immortals to fight for them."
"The Vree might auction off an Immortal just for fun," said Mrs. Sisen in disgust.
Delenn accepted that and said, "Other less likely possibilities are the Brakiri or Gaim. Though the Brakiri are friendly with your people, mostly from centuries of receiving Earth's broadcasts, they might risk it even at the cost of losing business with Earth. I believe we all can agree that if anyone can decipher Immortal genetics, it's the Gaim."
"They live in hives and have poor mechanical defenses. Would they even bother?" Mrs. Sisen asked.
"Perhaps not," Delenn admitted. "The Gaim's lack of individuality does significantly reduce their compulsion to attain personal advantages. The Llort, Pak'ma'ra, and the rest are unlikely threats."
"I agree," said Teguese. "They don't have the resources to protect themselves, much less prevent another race from taking any Immortal they snag. They'd know they'd get no profit from it."
"What about Minbari?" Nerlise asked shrewdly, catching Delenn by surprise. "We are not on your list."
Teguese stared her down, clearly unwilling to answer and not afraid to be rude about it. Aria looked distinctly uncomfortable and Mrs. Sisen merely sullen. They all were silent, except for the gruff man in the back of the room.
He laughed sardonically and said, "You were on it."
"Reth," Teguese warned.
"What?" Reth asked and laughed again. "Don't want our new friends to know they were our number one threat?"
"Were," said Teguese turning back to the Minbari, "being the optimum word. That assessment changed when Minbar helped create the Interstellar Alliance."
"So did the Centauri and Narns," Reth countered. "But I don't see any of us shaking their hands. You wouldn't be trusting them," he pointed at the Minbari, "at all if they weren't your key to finding Valen."
"Cut it out!" hissed Aria.
Teguese, Delenn noticed, remained oddly calm. He almost smiled at his colleague. "The Watcher Tribunal agreed with my assessment of the situation. Take it up with them."
Reth glared, but was silent. Delenn was disturbed. Their war with Earth aside, she didn't like that the Watchers had considered her people to be more threatening than any other race. She herself had worked hard to make it abundantly clear that they would not go to war against Earth again, no matter how dearly many of the warrior caste desired to. Likewise, the whole galaxy knew that Minbari did not take prisoners, slaves or participate in kidnapping of any sort. They'd never mistreat the Immortals.
Delenn had encountered this hostility many times on Babylon 5. Yet as her friendship with the station's staff grew, she came to believe that such vicious alien-haters did not make up the majority. Here were people who knew one of their own had become a Minbari, but that knowledge appeared insufficient to clear away all their suspicions.
Had her people's surrender, support in freeing Earth from Clark and seventeen years of peace and their overtures of friendship meant nothing at all?
- o0o -
End Chapter One
Preview of Chapter Two:
The Interstellar Alliance's first order of business was to ask their president if he was an Immortal.
"If that snotty-faced, fluff coming out of his rear…" words to describe that representative were clearly failing John Sheridan as he ranted, "demands I prove I'm not Immortal one more time, I'll…"
Delenn let him vent his frustration. It was painful for her to hear, but she listened anyway. Some of the representatives insisted that John's return from death at Z'ha'dum was proof of immortality and couldn't be convinced otherwise. It was yet another reminder that John's life had a time limit, a short time at that. She knew injury or illness could take him from her sooner or take her from him. However, thinking about that was of no comfort.
Especially since assassination was more likely. Though the Anla'shok prevented most would-be assassins from ever coming close, they had nearly failed to intercept the most recent attempt.