Chapter Two: Helping Hand
Minutes ticked past. T'lon wished he'd been able to get into the Palace. But that was only permitted by those whom the Emperor chose. He didn't have a rank high enough for the Emperor to notice, and warriors were not permitted inside anyway, lest they threaten Cartagia. He resigned himself to waiting. He wondered if the event would be recorded. It was, after all, supposed to be the final blow to the Narn spirit. The death of the last of their leaders. He hoped there would be a recording, so he could watch and attend G'kar's final hours, even though he could not stand by his side.
Shouts erupted suddenly from the interior of the Palace, so unexpected they startled even him. Even more so when the guards in the corridor responded to some signal he couldn't see and raced inside. He stepped forward to the door, ahead of the other stunned Narns, who were looking at each other and whispering. There were shouts echoing from deep within the Palace, shouts that spoke to him of confusion, panic...and an odd note of excitement. His hands clenched on the door frame.
What was going on? For half a credit he'd have gone inside himself, but he stayed at the door. Whatever it was, rushing in blindly was a good way to get killed. Something was transpiring, what he did not know. Action taken too soon could get himself, and possibly several others, killed. Could perhaps even get G'kar killed.
There was a clatter of metal on stone, and a Centauri guard came flying into his line of vision, followed closely by two Narns. One stationed himself over the guard, the other came rushing toward them. "Quick...we must guard the corridor, and the door. It must be held!"
T'lon caught his arm. "Why? What has happened?"
The Narn's eyes were shining with excitement. "It is G'kar. The Emperor accused him of treason and sentenced him to death by vivisection." T'lon winced, and was certain he was not the only one. That was an ugly death indeed. "But G'kar has broken his chains, and now he fights!"
T'lon stared. How? He had seen the thick chains on G'kar's wrists, the tortured and broken condition of his body. How in G'Quan's name had G'kar managed to shatter those bonds, much less fight? He shook himself. It did not matter.
He released the man. "Return to G'kar and aid him. We will hold this corridor and door for you. If things go ill, bring G'kar here, and I will see him safely away. My word as a warrior on it." He could get G'kar out, and he had enough contacts with Babylon 5 to get both of them off planet and bound for the station within an hour if needed.
The man nodded, then turned and pelted back up the corridor, catching his companion as he did so. Half a dozen Narns from the crowd around T'lon surged forward to follow them. One of them stopped to kick the downed Centauri guard back into unconsciousness. T'lon was tempted to do so himself, but he had sworn to guard the door. That was his task, no matter how he longed to race to G'kar's side. He directed the others to form an honor guard, then set himself to waiting.
Minutes later, there was another outcry from within the Palace. This one sounded distinctly Centauri. T'lon ground his teeth. He was too far away to hear whether the outcry was one of dismay or celebration. He couldn't tell if the Centauri were reacting in terror, or outrage, or if they were reveling in capturing their enemy again. His fist clenched, and he uttered a short prayer to whatever forces in the universe might be listening that the sound was not a sign that G'kar had been recaptured, and was even now being tortured to death.
The time crawled past. There was no sign of the Narns who had gone to aid G'kar, but that did not ease his frustration or his concern at all. For all he knew, the Narns had all been killed trying to protect G'kar. In a riot, the Centauri would show no mercy to those who had helped their prisoner. The only thing that kept him in his place was his own discipline, and the fact that he had not heard G'kar scream. He watched the corridor and swore to himself that if he heard the sound of G'kar's voice raised in pain, he would go to the Narn's side or die trying to reach him.
An hour passed. Then another. The Narns behind him muttered and shifted restlessly, as nervous and concerned as he was. Then, just when he thought his nerves could take no more, just when it seemed that he would be shoved to one side while another group entered the palace, they heard the sound of footsteps. T'lon tensed, waiting to see guards dragging bodies, defeated faces.
A group of Narns turned the corner and came down the hall, some several dozen, far more than had raced to the rescue. Several were sporting wounds, bruises and bloodied lips and cuts. All were emanating a mood of barely restrained exultation. Their eyes were wild with excitement, with blood recently roused to battle. And in their center...
G'kar walked in the center of the group, flanked by his people in what was clearly a protective guard. The heavy stock was gone from his shoulders, though manacles still bound his wrists. There was new blood on his face, and on his hands, but his eye burned with triumphant fire and grim satisfaction. He was staggering slightly, and the Narns on either side of him watched him closely, awe evident in their faces, though neither of them touched him.
T'lon stepped back to allow them out. He could see G'kar was barely standing, his great strength on the verge of giving out. He could also see that the Narns who surrounded G'kar were too awestruck, and too euphoric over whatever had happened to see how near the warrior was to collapse. He waited until G'kar emerged from the Palace door, then spoke. "G'kar."
G'kar's head snapped up, turned, looking for him. T'lon stepped sideways, into G'kar's range of vision, then strode forward. G'kar stared at him. "T'lon."
"Indeed." he moved through the final ring of guards, to stand at G'kar's side. Up close, G'kar stunk of sweat and old blood and worse. But it seemed so insignificant, compared to the strength in his eye.
G'kar stared at him. "I left you on Babylon 5. With Sheridan." His voice was hoarse and broken, a mere whisper of it's usual deep rumble.
"Yes. And now I have left my lieutenant in charge, and come here." He met G'kar's gaze. "Sheridan knows where I am. He even gave me a ship, in case I needed to leave the planet quickly."
G'kar nodded. "Why are you here?"
T'lon exhaled. "Because I swore an oath. Because I had heard of your...predicament, and of what was meant to transpire here today." He offered a thin smile. "You didn't think I would let you face this alone, did you?"
G'kar shook his head. "I did not know what to think. But I confess, I did not expect to see you here. And your presence is...comforting." He was trembling, and exhaustion was fast replacing the fire in his eye.
"Indeed. But tell me G'kar...I saw you led to your death, not three hours hence. What have you done?" he had to know. As much as he knew he needed to get G'kar somewhere safe, he had to know.
A grim, dark laugh broke from G'kar's chest. "What indeed? I do not know that I did anything. But no matter. Cartagia is dead. Londo Mollari is now Prime Minister, and ruler of the Centauri, for the moment. And he has declared that the Centauri are leaving. That we are too much trouble. That we have cost them two rulers, and he wishes not to be the third. And so...Cartagia is dead, and we have gained our freedom."
T'lon felt as if the air had been knocked from his lungs. Freedom. After all this time...after all the death and the enslavement... "You are sure they are leaving?"
Something bitter and anguished moved under the smile on G'kar's face, mirrored in a spark of madness in his eye. "Oh yes, I am sure. As sure as I have ever been of anything."
Wild elation filled T'lon. So did a deeper, darker understanding. G'kar knew more of what was transpiring than he had said. There was more to this than the death of an Emperor, and the cowardice of a Centauri. Much more. He recalled the battle light he had seen in G'kar's eye when the man had stumbled on the road to his execution. The death of the Emperor Cartagia was not unexpected to G'kar. Nor was their new-found freedom. Why that was true, T'lon had no idea, but he knew in his heart that it was.
He also knew it didn't matter. G'kar was trembling even more now, and his eye was hazing over with exhaustion and pain. The emaciated body was swaying slightly. He was on the verge of collapse. He needed to be taken somewhere safe, to have his wounds treated and the filth cleaned from his body. He needed to rest.
T'lon put the thoughts away for later. "A glorious victory indeed." He offered G'kar a stronger, warmer smile than the previous one. "You have done well, G'kar. As well or better than any warrior I have ever known." He pressed a hand to his heart and bowed. "Congratulations on your victory. And now..." he straightened, and held out his hand. "You must rest."
G'kar blinked. "T'lon..."
"You need rest. Every warrior rests after the battle, G'kar. Come with me, and I will see that you are tended to."
G'kar blinked again. "But there is still so much to do...we have a world to rebuild...and the Centauri..." His words were slurring together, his voice weaker.
"The Centauri have enough on their minds, and you have said they are leaving. The world will take time to rebuild, and can certainly wait a few days. It has waited over a year already. And you will accomplish all that you desire much more efficiently if you are rested and healed first. Besides...it will take time for the word to spread, and be believed, that we are free again. By the time the people need a leader, you will be ready to be that for them. In the meantime...come now. It is time to rest."
G'kar swayed again. "I..."
T'lon sighed. "Do you not trust me?"
A thin smile crossed G'kar's face. "I have trusted you with my life before."
"Then trust me once more, G'kar." He held out his hand again.
"I...yes. Very well." G'kar took one step forward. Then his knees buckled and he collapsed.
T'lon caught the Narn as he fell, catching his arm to swing around his shoulders. He had expected G'kar's fall, honestly. Given his condition, it was a miracle G'kar had gotten as far as he had. Point of fact, it was a miracle that G'kar was even alive at all. He pulled the thin, battered frame a little more securely against his shoulder. G'kar's head lolled, and he suspected the other had finally lost his tenuous hold on consciousness. Which was all to the good, as far as T'lon was concerned.
One of the Narns crowding close spoke up. "Is he...?"
"He will be fine, with rest. I shall see to it that his wounds are tended." He shifted G'kar's weight, a little alarmed at how little the other weighed, and thought. He had come alone, and via public transportation, and on foot. But he felt it best if G'kar was taken to a private place to recover. He deserved at least that much peace, and dignity, given what he had so obviously suffered. And what he had achieved. So...his own house. But he would need a way to transport the Narn there.
"How may we assist you and the honored citizen?" Another Narn was pressing forward.
T'lon pounced on the offer. "I am in need of a vehicle. I will take him somewhere private to rest and recover. Somewhere the Centauri cannot find him." he left it unspoken that he didn't want the Narns to find G'kar too soon either.
Another Narn stepped forward, eyes eager. "I have a transport. I am an inspections officer. I travel often. My vehicle has a full load of fuel, and can take you anywhere you wish to go."
T'lon smiled. "Excellent. Show me to it, please."
The Narn nodded and turned down the access corridor toward the outside. T'lon lifted G'kar a little higher in his arms. Under normal circumstances, he might have slung the unconscious body over his shoulders, or into his arms. But G'kar deserved as much dignity as he could give him. So...He pulled G'kar's arm a little tighter over his shoulder, and stepped forward.
It took them twenty minutes to find the vehicle. T'lon's shoulder was aching by then, but he gave no sign. Instead he listened as the other gave him the pass-codes to the vehicle, promised to see that it was returned, then stepped forward to lay his burden inside. Fortunately, inspector vessels were made with some accommodations for comfort, since their owners traveled great distances, and often slept in their transports. The passenger seat where he deposited G'kar's body was even cushioned somewhat, a mercy for the battered, tortured frame. The Narn whose vehicle he was appropriating helped him tuck the limp figure into the seat, then snap the restraints around him. He checked them one last time, then straightened. "Thank you."
The inspector nodded. "I am honored to serve." His eyes tracked to the motionless figure in the seat, then he saluted, bowing with his fist to his heart. "Rest well, Citizen G'kar." His eyes came back to T'lon. "Tend him well, warrior."
T'lon dropped his head in a quick bow. "I shall." Then he strode to the opposite side of the vehicle and climbed in. A touch and quick keying of the override code brought it roaring to life. The other Narns backed away, and he took off, carrying his precious burden with him.
Author's Note: So...G'kar has been rescued. How do you think T'lon will react when he sees what G'kar has gone through? And how is he going to handle G'kar's wounds?