Chapter Three: Bargain with the Devil (G'Kar's POV)
G'Kar frowned, and poured himself a drink. He didn't want to remember what had come after he'd been taken away. It was one of the worst periods of his life, and he had no wish to relive it. And yet...faced with what had happened earlier in the day, he found himself returning to those memories. Through the thin link of minds he'd brought Londo to face them, showed him proof of his inadequacy, but something had touched his mind as well. Something...that felt off-center, that didn't fit with the blind hate he believed he'd felt. He closed his eyes, remembering what had come.
They'd thrown him in a prison cell, shackled to the walls. He had no idea how long he'd sat there, awaiting his fate, but then the door had opened, and Mollari had entered. He'd thought the other man would leave the door open, as a safety. He'd thought the other man would mock him, gloat. Make cracks about how the mighty had fallen. It was something Londo would have done, before. But he hadn't. He'd stood there, awkward, barely managing to say hello. G'Kar remembered the odd light in his eyes. And when the Centauri finally began to speak, there'd been no mockery. No cruelty. Only words. Words so surprising that G'Kar still remembered them. He closed his eyes, and let the words replay in his memory.
"You were foolish to leave Babylon5, G'Kar." Londo had thrown him a dark look, almost amused, but too shadowed for laughter. "If you wanted to die, why didn't you contact me? I would have arranged it. Quickly, and with a measure of dignity. But here...here..." He stopped, dropped onto a nearby bench with a sigh, and all humor fled from his face. "Here, they will make you into a toy. And...you will be tortured. You will be tortured for a very long time. Hours. Days. Months. I have seen them prolong suffering. And when they are done, they will strap you to a table, and make an incision, below the neck." His hand gestured, making it painfully clear what he meant, and how. "Then, they will open you. Assuming you are still conscious, they will begin removing your organs. And somewhere along the way...you will die."
The words hadn't surprised him. Not much. He'd heard the rumors, of course. But the grimness in Londo's voice had been startling. So had the dark resignation in the other man's eyes. He almost would have called it sorrow, had it been anyone else. It flew in the face of the expression he'd seen on Londo's face earlier. The surprise, the contradiction, had been what led him to ask. "Does this please you?"
And Londo had surprised him. That he denied it was a little bit un-nerving. But that he had meant the denial, that had been astounding. G'Kar had been unnerved himself, startled by the feeling that this was the true Londo Mollari, the man behind the mask. His mind insisted on replaying the words.
"No. Once, long ago..." Londo shook his head. "No. Not even then. You have never been a friend to me, but what he will do to you I do not wish for anybody."
G'Kar grimaced and took another drink. To say they'd never been friends was like saying the universe was big. The words were completely inadequate. And he knew damn well that there'd been times that Londo had tried to rip him open himself. And yet...he knew the man had meant it. Just as he'd meant what he'd said, when he'd knelt upon the dungeon floor and spoken softly into G'Kar's ear.
"There is a monster on the throne, a well-protected monster. You can help me get rid of it. I believe I can save your life, but it will be difficult. You will suffer greatly before this is over." Mollari had turned his face away, a very brief spasm of pain flickering across it. "I cannot help that. I wish that I could. I do not wish to see you suffer.However, I must watch, and you must endure, until the time is right. And then...we will take care of it. You will help me, yes?"
He'd known he would. Because as much as he'd hated Mollari, Cartagia was worse. And because he'd seen that flicker of pain in his old enemy's face, heard the sincerity in his words. And it had been that one flicker, those quiet words, that had led him to do something he'd never have considered before. To bargain. To offer his help, his life and suffering, for the sake of his world. To promise his complete cooperation, to free both their worlds. He'd known, somewhere deep inside, that this was the moment Kosh had warned him of, the moment he could save both their peoples. More, he'd known that this Mollari, this man who'd whispered those words, might do it. And so he'd bargained.
"You didn't ask the price. You wish my cooperation, for the sake of your people. I will give it, for the sake of my own. If I do this, remove the monster from your throne, you must remove the monster from my world. Leave Narn. Set us free."
A hell of a bargain, made with a man he had considered Hell's Ambassador. But he'd known it would be worth it, if Mollari agreed. And...Londo had. He'd looked like death warmed over, like there was a knife to his throat, but he'd agreed. He'd given his word. And G'kar had taken it, because he'd known that this man...the man who stood before him truly meant it.
G'Kar swallowed, looking into the candles light that lit his room. That moment, he'd felt like he was making a bargain with the devil, and had no doubt Mollari felt the same. It had been almost a physical wrench, a pain in his soul, when Mollari had nodded and walked out the door. He still remembered sitting, gasping, feeling that sick feeling in his gut. Knowing what was to come, and praying he hadn't been a fool.
A Chance for Salvation (Londo POV)
Londo scowled, and took a sip of water. The memory of what had come next was an uncomfortable one. But then he couldn't think of a single memory of that time that wasn't uncomfortable. He resigned himself to it and let his mind replay the scene.
It had taken him a few hours to come up with an idea. Once he'd known what he wanted to do, he'd gone to see G'Kar. He'd found him shackled to the walls, his face bloody, and only the eyes as he remembered them. Dark, angry, red with hatred. He'd stood, staring at the wall, barely able to muster a greeting. He'd known what G'Kar must think of him, and he felt almost ashamed to admit that there'd been a time when G'Kar would have been right. When he would have come and gloated. The thought gave him a little room to breathe, allowed him to find a weak taunt to throw at his enemy, and possible ally. A taunt of foolishness that rang hollow even then, but nonetheless allowed him to get his feet under himself.
He'd been brutally honest with the Narn. While he hadn't gone into graphic details, except for the execution, he had made it plain. He'd known that he had to tell G'Kar everything, that he wouldn't allow the Narn to walk into this blindly. So he'd told him. Told him how Cartagia would play with him. How he would suffer, as long as they could make him. And what the end would be.
It hadn't surprised him when the Narn had asked if it would please him. But when he opened his mouth, he was almost as surprised as the other by his answer. No, it didn't please him. Never would have. There were time's he'd have loved to shoot the other man, gut him with a knife. Times he'd thought longingly of roasting him on an open fire. But those had been times of fury, gone fast. And those fates were mild compared to Cartagia's idea of fun. He'd said so, and seen G'Kar's surprise. But more than that, he'd seen that the other man believed him. And that, that gave him hope enough to move forward, to kneel and offer G'Kar his bargain. Live. Suffer. Bleed. And together, they could destroy Cartagia. Because G'kar was just stubborn enough to give him the opening. Just exasperating enough to push even Cartagia to be reckless.
It had come as a surprise, to feel that odd clenching in his gut when he spoke of G'Kar's suffering. He hadn't meant to say what he had, about wishing he could prevent it. But once the words were out, he'd known he meant them. That he did not wish to see this man, this strong, brave man, endure what must be done. Not even if he was an enemy.
It had been that feeling that had stopped him, when G'Kar spoke of the price. When the Narn demanded an equal bargain, one world for the other. And it had driven him to agree to that bargain. He knew he could do it, that if they succeeded, he would have enough political clout to do as G'kar asked. He'd looked into those blood red eyes, seen the desperation and determination, and said yes. Given his promise to a man who had just accepted agony, for his world's sake, because he couldn't do anything else.
Londo grimaced into the darkness and took another drink of water. He'd kept his word, and G'Kar had kept his. He still remembered the days that had followed their agreement. He hoped the Narn didn't remember them as clearly as he did.
