Notes: This is a story I originally posted to the Anime Addventure.

Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma 1/2. It is the property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Kitty Films and Viz Media. I do not own Babylon 5. It is the property of J. Michael Straczynski and Warner Bros.

The New Circle

Chapter One: The Vorlons Aide

For thousands of years, the Vorlons and the Shadows competed with each other in a war of ideology. They fought this war not just to prove the superiority of their ideology to their enemy, but to convert other races, specifically those younger and less-developed, to their views.

Both the Vorlons and the Shadows influenced the development of these younger races, altering their genetic makeup and belief systems to make it easy to control them. Thus the younger races became pawns in the conflict between these two ancient super powers. Since most of the First Ones had left the galaxy, the Vorlons and the Shadows were free to do as they saw fit and carried out their war without interference for many tens of thousands of years.

Sometimes, they abducted members of the younger races they watched over, if they believed a specific individual would be useful to them. Normally, such incidents were extremely rare, since they preferred to alter the development species as a whole to suit their needs in the future. The gradually development of telepaths amongst many races under the Vorlon's care is one such example of meddling. However, on the planet Earth during the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, the Vorlons discovered a number of unique individuals who possessed many talents and abilities, but they had not been artificially modified in any way. Seeing the potential use for these beings, they took action.

1996 AD: Earth Orbit

High above the Earth and completely invisible to any man-made electronic devices, a Vorlon transport slowly circled the planet. Within the vessel, a solitary figure stared at several stasis pods. The glass casing of the pods revealed the forms of the occupants within them. A greenish liquid surrounded their bodies and each of them appeared to be in a deep slumber.

Kosh observed the pods silently. He wondered how these humans would react if they understood what was going to be asked of them. Unlike most of his brethren, he felt some sympathy for the younger races, not simply viewing them as tools for their use. But, while he was capable of compassion, he was not above using them, if it helped the cause of his people.

He decided it was time to return home. His transport, sensing its master's desire, automatically opened a jump point and proceeded to follow the quickest route to the Vorlon homeworld.

The stasis pods were stored on the Vorlon homeworld for many years, their occupants allowed to slumber in peace. However, as the time for the new war with the Shadows approached, it came time to awaken the slumbering humans.

2258 AD: Babylon 5

"So, Commander, what do you think Kosh wants with us?" Security Chief Michael Garibaldi asked.

"I'm not sure, Garibaldi, but Kosh seemed insistent that we meet him upon his return," Commander Jeffery Sinclair replied to his friend's inquiry.

Kosh had left the station a few days earlier to return to his homeworld. Apparently there was some official business he had to handle, but he did not give any specific reason for his departure. Of course, the Vorlon Ambassador never gave much of an explanation for any of his actions.

The ambassador's ship had just returned and was in the process of docking. Immediatly after exiting hyperspace, he had sent a transmission requesting that the station's command staff meet him in the docking bay. And so, Commander Sinclair, Security Chief Garibaldi, and Lt. Commander Susan Ivanova, Sinclair's second in command, were on their way to the docking bay. Dr. Stephen Franklin, the chief of the station's medical staff, had an emergency in medlab and was unable to attend.

"Whatever Kosh wants it must be something important," Ivanova spoke up, "He almost never to asks anyone to meet him and now he suddenly asks to see all of us on such short notice."

"Well, I guess we are about to find out," Sinclair replied as they arrived at the docking bay Kosh's ship was assigned.

The Vorlon transport gently came to a rest next to the boarding ramp. The patterns on the hull of the ship changed design every few seconds, a hint of the spacecraft's organic nature. An opening formed in the hull of the ship where no hatch had previously been located. Kosh slowly exited his craft, the helmet of his encounter suit turning in the direction of the assembled Earth Alliance officers.

"Welcome back Ambassador Kosh," Sinclair greeted, "Your message said that you wanted to see us."

"Yes," Kosh answered.

Sinclair waited a few moments to see if Kosh would expand on his simple answer, but he remained silent.

"Well, why did you need to see us?" Sinclair asked when it was clear the Vorlon was not going to volunteer information.

"There is a new arrival. You should be informed."

"A new arrival? You mean you brought someone back to the station with you?"

"Yes."

Sinclair and the rest of the command staff were genuinely curious. Naturally, they assumed the new arrival would be another Vorlon. Kosh was the only one any of them had met and the prospect of meeting another member of this mysterious race greatly interested them. It did not take long for Sinclair to ask the question that was on everybody's minds.

"Who did you bring with you?"

Kosh turned back toward his ship.

"He is coming."

At that moment, another figure exited Kosh's vessel. However, it was a human who emerged from the vessel, not another Vorlon. The young man was in his early twenties with black hair tied in a pigtail and blue eyes. He was dressed in a white Chinese vest with gold trim and black pants.

The unexpected appearance of a human from Kosh's ship was a great shock to the assembled Earth Alliance officers. As far as they knew, no humans other than them had regular contact with the Vorlons. Also, the Vorlons strictly guarded their space against intrusions by other races. How a human had ended up in the company of the Vorlons and why he was traveling with Kosh were questions that had Sinclair and and his companions completely baffled.

The pigtailed man moved next to Kosh and gave a small bow in the direction of the Earth Alliance officers. Sinclair decided to take the initiative and greet the latest arrival to his station. He could get to the bottom of this mystery once formalities had been squared away. "Greetings, I am Commander Sinclair. Allow me to introduce Lt. Commander Ivanova and Security Chief Garibaldi." Sinclair gestured to each of his subordinates as he introduced them. He then extended his hand toward the pigtailed man. "Allow me to personally welcome you to Babylon 5."

The pigtailed man grasped Sinclair's hand in a firm handshake. His face bore a pleasant smile. "Thank you for your warm welcome. I am Ranma Saotome, aide to Ambassador Kosh Naranek."

Even Sinclair took several seconds to recover from the shock of this revelation. All of the other ambassador's aides were members of their own race. While there were no rules or regulations preventing ambassadors from having aides from different race, it was very strange that a member of another race would be given so much trust. It seemed even stranger for the Vorlons, who were far more secretive than any other race known to humanity.

Sinclair was about to inquire into how Ranma had become Kosh's aide, but before he could ask Kosh proceeded to exit the docking bay, gliding past Sinclair and the other station officers. He had clearly decided that the discussion was over.

"It was nice meeting all of you. Now, if you'll excuse me." Ranma bowed once more before following after the Vorlon, leaving Sinclair and his companions still confused and bewildered.

"Well, that was interesting." Sinclair spoke as soon as they both had left.

"I'll say," Ivanova replied, "The Vorlons have always guarded their space from other races and yet somehow this guy, a human just like us, has been living on their world."

"And just why did they choose him to be Kosh's aide?" Garibaldi spoke up. "They must place an awful lot of trust in him. Makes you wonder how he gained that trust, doesn't it?"

"Good luck trying to get answers for those questions. Something tells me Kosh isn't going to be forthcoming," Sinclair replied, "In any case, I think things are going to be a little more interesting around here."

Well, this is the beginning. Let's see how Ranma's presence effects Babylon 5.

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