Chapter 24: Resting Conspiracy's Ugly Head
The outpost of the Minbari Federation on the planet Ziger was a dusty place. There was very little water to be found, and it was more a dumping ground for warriors that had discipline problems. They did very little but bickered amongst themselves, and the Alyt of the run down outpost, Tilgeran of the Ten Fane of Chudomo had given up any pretense of trying to enforce law and order amongst the men and women of his command.
It was late in the afternoon and his head was resting against the table, his eyes closed. Hopefully he could fall asleep. It had been a normal day, which meant nothing happening at a swift pace. A tall glass of a fruit drink was to the side, half-drunk.
There was a chiming from the door and he groaned. They couldn't give him one day without problems rising? This wasn't an important enough place to be fighting!
"What?" he asked, annoyed at the intrusion.
"Sorry, my lord," one of his men said, walking with bowed head into his private chambers, "A ship has landed just outside the perimeter wall, and someone has emerged from the ship."
Tilgeran didn't look up. "Who is it?" he asked.
"The Betrayer," the Minbari said, the man said, "Marrain."
Marrain strode forward. Unarmed, and without guard. These outcasts that looked at him were in awe of the confidence and complete control Marrain emanated as he passed through the gates of Minogo. The guards called for him to stop, but forward he strode, in the black garb of the Warrior Clan. All looked up at him as he walked, and found nothing within themselves to resist him.
He strode up towards the commander of the outpost, who looked at him, unsure whether he should be bowing or fighting him. He stopped just feet from him and looked deep into his soul, and found virtue, garnished in the rust of being outcast.
"I am Marrain!" he said in a voice that carried throughout the run down waypoint. "For too long have you men wasted away in the darkness. Alone, forgotten. Cast aside. I come to ask for your allegiance and to help me cast down the Usurper who calls himself Emperor. Join me in a cause holdier and more noble then you have ever dreamed. What say you? Will you join me?"
Meanwhile, as Marrain rallied the outcasts and defects into his ranks, another man slowly climbed out of the hover-carriage and walking on weak legs headed towards his estate. He had no memory of where he had been or what he had done over the past couple months. Last he remembered he had been onboard the Selvan flagship. And now...Londo Mollari, Prime Minister of the great Lion of the Galaxy could not remember what had happened.
"Did I not warn you?" Timov primly asked as she stepped up to him and walked by him, not offering to assist him, "This whole politics is nothing but trouble. But no...you have to go off and do whatever it is that nearly gets you killed."
"You are a Nakaleen Feeder," he grumped, "Sucking the life out of anything that gets close to you."
"Better that then dead," she held her chin up in the air.
"Gods Tomov," he breathed out, slowly walking up the steps towards the mansion, "Where is the rest of my adoring wives?"
"Mariel is off sinking her claws into who knows who," Timov waved a hand, "And Daggir is probably wasting your money of frivolous things."
Mollari made a fake enthusiastic smile. "Yes, it is good to know I'm appreciated by my adoring wives."
Timov's eyes grew wide. "I wouldn't go that far," she smartly replied and continued on her way, walking away from him.