6
Chapter Two: The Inquisitive Mr. Garibaldi
"G'Kar!" Ni'Kar called after his brother's retreating backside, "Come back! I have not finished speaking to you yet..."
"It will have to wait, my brother," G'Kar returned his call, waving his arm in the air to signal that the short discussion which had been taking place a minute ago between the siblings was over, "I have a Council meeting to attend. After that, if you wish, you may join me for supper in my quarters."
"Arrrrrghhh!" Ni'Kar growled in frustration.
He knew that his younger brother was busy dealing with many diplomatic issues aboard the bustling space station, Babylon 5, but he sometimes felt as if G'Kar delighted in dismissing his big brother as a display of his greater political power. G'Kar was a proud Red-Eye and a member of the Third Circle of their government; and he did not hesitate to pull rank on Ni'Kar whenever he felt that the big brown-eyed White-Spot was taking advantage of his familial relationship with him. Ni'Kar knew that he could not blame him for doing so, but nonetheless it irritated him. G'Kar should respect Ni'Kar's position as elder brother within the Family Brood, but he often neglected to do so.
Ni'Kar wandered around the space station aimlessly. The Ta'Kel was docked and shut down for a diagnostic, and so he and most of the crew had been set loose on Babylon 5 for the next few hours at least. He felt a momentary desire for an alcoholic beverage as he walked by one of the busy "B5" bars. He kept walking, for he knew that the moment he started drinking he would not be able to stop. The last time he was here, he had disgraced himself and his brother by becoming so intoxicated that the Security Team was obliged to lock him up for the night. G'Kar had been so disappointed in him that he had left him in the custody of the Human Security Officers, and Ni'Kar knew that he had richly deserved it. His drinking had always been a big problem for his wife and family, and he had finally determined that he was going to stop once and for all.
The Human Security Chief of Babylon 5, Michael Garibaldi, had recommended a group for him called "Alcoholics Anonymous" which had encouraged him to stay sober. Garibaldi himself had the same problem, and he had even gone with Ni'Kar to the first meeting.
Ni'Kar went over to a big screen, where the meeting times were posted. He keyed in the initials "A.A." and a list of times came up on the screen in both English and Narn. The next one would not be until tonight; and he was scheduled to have supper with G'Kar at that time. Well, maybe the next time, he thought wearily. At least aboard the Ta'Kel, there would be no temptation. Alcoholic beverages were strictly forbidden aboard the military vessels.
"There's another one tomorrow," a man in a grey Security jacket told him.
Ni'Kar whirled about to see his friend, Mr. Garibaldi.
"Garibaldi," he said in the Earth language, "It is good to see you again."
"I hope you're keeping out of trouble, Ni'Kar," Garibaldi returned, "I don't want to have to haul your white-spotted ass into a jail cell again on a "drunk-and-disorderly" charge."
"I try, Garibaldi," Ni'Kar replied, "It's not easy."
"No, it never is," the Security Chief responded, "What's your mission this time, Big Guy? You have any more Centauri refugees under your wing?"
"No, Garibaldi," Ni'Kar responded, "Ragesh 3 is over, and has been allowed to stay under Centauri jurisdiction."
"Well, that's nice of you guys," Garibaldi replied in his usual sardonic manner, "Have you been selling weapons to any more Raiders lately?"
"No, Garibaldi, I do not sell to those vipers. I admit the Narn Regime is bad, but you know I try to do what is right—when my Regime will let me."
"Well, you and your 'Regime' have been a pain in the ass over the last few months. Sorry to be inquisitive, but I like to know what's coming down the pipes if at all possible."
"I cannot blame you, Garibaldi. No, right now I am here to talk about territorial incursion by your people—mostly aboard cargo ships. They are challenging the boundaries, and I am worried that some may get hurt if they run into the more aggressive Narn Commanders."
"The Narn Empire is still operating at its most generous level, I see," Garibaldi replied darkly, "Why don't you guys just leave the cargo vessels alone? They're not hurting anything. They just want to keep using their traditional routes, that's all. Sinclair says he's been receiving a lot of complaints lately. He's been trying to clear things up with your gracious brother, but so far no luck."
"That is why I am here, Garibaldi," Ni'Kar explained, "I have been running into many cargo vessels—Human, Drazi, Pak'ma'ra, Brakiri, Abbai—and they are all challenging the boundaries. In the zone that I have been patrolling, it is mostly the Humans of the Io Colony that I meet. I was hoping to speak to G'Kar to find a peaceful solution to this problem—I do not want there to be any incidents that might lead to conflict, or even war, between the Narn Regime and other governments. G'Kar, however, is busy with other important matters. He has agreed to give me some time with him at the supper hour, but I doubt that we will accomplish much. Garibaldi, if you could mention to Commander Sinclair that I am here on the matter of Territorial Incursion, I would be grateful. I could arrange to meet him in the Parkland area of B5."
"Another one of your "unofficial meetings" with Sinclair, huh?" Garibaldi replied, "Are you trying to take over the role of Narn Ambassador from your brother, or are you still operating 'under the radar', so to speak?"
"Garibaldi, you are a very suspicious man," Ni'Kar responded, "You ask questions about every detail."
"I want to know everything that's happening here on B5—it's my job as Chief of Security. So, what I want to know is—what's your job, Ni'Kar? I've heard you being referred to as both 'Councilor Ni'Kar' and 'Commander Ni'Kar'. Which is it? Both?"
Ni'Kar sighed. He liked Garibaldi as a person and as a friend, but he found his compulsive inquisitiveness rather unsettling. It seemed as if the Chief had a paranoid approach to life which led him to mistrust just about everyone he met. Ni'Kar would not have been surprised to learn that Michael Garibaldi had been a Narn in a previous incarnation.
"Garibaldi, you are a pain in the pwowtyiuu," Ni'Kar told him in a jovial manner, "But because it is you I will answer your question. I am a Councilor of the Fourth Circle and Fleet Commander for the Colonies and Outer Territories. I occupy two roles in one—both military and political. I have governmental authority over matters pertaining to the Narn colonies and bases, and I also command a large section of the forces which watch over them. I do not have absolute authority, of course—we are, at varying degrees, all members of "The Kha'ri", a governmental body which rules Narn and its colonies. We are many voices working together, but some of us are more powerful than others. G'Kar is Third Circle, which means that he is more powerful than I. He is my superior, and I am accountable to him. Within my jurisdiction, however, I do everything I can to ensure peace between the Narn and the Others. I am also an Envoy and am often sent to mediate disputes between Narns and the original inhabitants of any world which we have conquered."
"In other words," Garibaldi muttered in obvious contempt, "You're sent to squash rebellions."
"Yes," Ni'Kar admitted, "But before we use military force, I like to meet with the Leaders of such rebellions and work out our differences peacefully. Some, like the Mhrr'Unik, refuse to negotiate—they want only for us to leave their world. Others, such as the Triars, are peaceful people and welcome the chance to work with the Narn as opposed to making war."
"In other words, you negotiate the terms of their slavery," Garibaldi answered in an accusatory tone.
"I work very hard to give them rights which have been denied them," Ni'Kar explained, his irritation beginning to bubble to the surface, "I do not like the route that my government has taken any more than you do, Mr. Garibaldi. But I work within the system to try to change it...a little at a time. If I do too much, I will be thrown in prison and possibly executed. If I do too little, I become ineffective as an agent of change within the Narn Military. I need to strike a balance in order to save lives. I negotiate with my Regime for the rights of lower-Circle Narns and of the Others in the same manner that I used to negotiate with my Centauri Masters during the Occupation when I was but a pouchling. I used humor to ease the tension between the Masters and my Brood-Family so that the Centauris would not kill my family members. I have been using that humor just as much in my adult life serving the Narn Regime as I did when I served The Riala—our Centauri Masters."
Garibaldi looked at the big Narn doubtfully, but he at least eased up on the questions for the time being.
"Okay, Ni'Kar," Garibaldi conceded, "I'll whisper into Sinclair's ear that you're on B5 and wanting to have a picnic with him in the Parkland area."
"Tell him to bring with him Earth meatballs for the 'picnic'," Ni'Kar called out to Garibaldi's back as the Security Chief turned to leave. Garibaldi said nothing, but he did raise his hand to acknowledge Ni'Kar's request.
