Behind the Scenes

Point of No Return was definitely a monster. As you may all recall, back in the BTS section of In the Beginning I said quote: "The booklet also helped inspire the plotline of the story. Each page has a strip on it. And this strip shows clips of the episodes on each disc...These clips each are made into a chapter." I also said: "I also used clips on the discs to help mold the story."

Now, Season 3 of Babylon 5 is the only season where the discs and booklet have completely different clips. And so, I was suddenly forced into a major undertaking. There was fifty clips. And those fifty clips each would be turned into a chapter. Some of the clips are the same, but I decided to stay true to form. And man, am I glad I did.

Now, I wanted Sebastian and King Arthur to be in the story. Sebastian was a critical point in the molding of the "Chosen Ones" from the original series. Not only did it help create them into what the Vorlons needed, but also gave a hint at the cruelty of what he was capable of. And you will realize that most of the dialogue is very much the same as "Here Comes the Inquisitor". It's powerful stuff. And, well, why could Sebastian be really Jack the Ripper, but David McIntosh couldn't be King Arthur? So, I cheated in a sense by making him Nakenn, one of Valen's right hand men that was introduced in the comic book trilogy "In Valen's Name." And he was the first Minbari after Valen who had his soul transferred to a human host.

Now, the idea of the Crystal Queen and the Changing Emperor came directly from "Into the Fire". When Delenn and Sheridan are talking to the two races during the Battle of Coriana VI, Sheridan is faced with a woman, who looked like a female Centauri seer and Delenn was faced with either one or many creatures that looked like people she knew. So, who were these people? Why not they be the rulers of the Vorlons and Shadows? And why not have it be simply one person Delenn saw, the Emperor of the Shadows who Goes by Many Names.

Lyta and Talia. The super telepaths. The question was posed when I had Marcus sent off with Kosh by a reader that what was going to happen to Lyta? If Marcus was going to become the super doomsday weapons of the Vorlons, what was Lyta supposed to be? I replied that Marcus was not going to become the telepath, and I still had plans for Lyta. However, Lyta's seduction by the Shadows to Zack Allen made taking her from his side nigh impossible.

However, making Ari Ben Zayne a Vorlon Agent (a stroke of genius on my part I think), allowed me to kill not one, not two, but four birds at one time. I always wanted to get rid of Ben Hitler. Even in my story he's a crazy coot. Secondly, I wanted Laurel Takashima, who goes by Laura in my story, to get onto Zha'Valen'Venni, which was first introduced in In the Beginning, even if I didn't name it in the story. Third, I wanted Lyta to become the super telepath. I'm sure that a Vorlon entering your body would automatically began a physical and psychological change. Lastly, it allowed me to play with an idea I've had for roughly a year now. The last Emperor of the Byzantine Empire died during the last defense of his city, Constantinople. However, his body was never recovered, and he took on an Arthurian quality. There is actually a legend that he will return to take his place when people need him the most. So, I had always thought of doing a story where he was transported to a magical land. So, why not have the Vorlons grab him at the last second?

Talia's transformation, especially the scene with her naked in the test chamber actually comes from a picture I saw online. It had Lyta in the position instead of Talia and (while I say she looks mighty fine naked) instead of Zener it was two Shadows. But, the artist wrote how he thought the Shadows would have taken their revenge, and it was by grabbing the Vorlon super weapon and turning her into their own doomsday device. I couldn't do it with Lyta, because she had a Vorlon, but Talia was another super telepath and I was like, "Yes!"

I always liked the Markabs, and I had actually planned on doing their death during Coming of Shadows. But, I think it works better in this book, because it allowed me to also move Zha'Valen'Venni there. Playing off the "real world" like of Stephan Franklin for the Markab and Sheridan's wanting to stop the grave-robbers. Also allowed for one of my favorite scenes from the story. The Oracle scene. I really loved that scene, partially because for all intents and purposes, it was about as original as I could get with the story.

Okay, I'm not a romantic. However, I wanted Lyta and Zack to get together. So, why not force her into the relationship. I don't think that even on her own she would have eventually turned to Zack after Byron's "death". So, why not make the Shadows influence her to his side? This also allowed for Zack's revenge against the Minbari.

I wanted to bring in a new supporting character for the series. One in Remnant Force. And I settled upon Jake Thompson, who in the battle between the White Star Fleet and the Advanced Omega Destroyers-X in Season 4 introduced himself as "Captain J. Thompson." And well, there was Samuel Thompson from Crusade as well. So, bringing the two together as a father-son duo, it's very fun. It also allowed for the destruction of Minbar.

Marrain and Neroon's rebellion was in many ways to be what the Centauri rebellion could never be. A full blown open engagement. And Vir put into practice on Centauri Prime what he's learned in the Conspiracy of Light.

I wanted Centauri Prime to fall. It will allow me to do some stuff in the next book I couldn't have done otherwise had I not done so. It also saw the rise of the Selvan, which I think are an awesome race, and completely a new race. I originally had it planned where they arrived at Narn, battled their way past the defenses and then suddenly the Selvan turn on them with lasers that sun around the middle of their ships and would pretty much slice and dice the Centauri fleet. But, I really loved my showdown between Lord-General Marrago and G'Kar. I've been talking about how Marrago's this awesome general, but we've never seen his genius. I wanted to give it you guys. Also, the whole Dormo verses the Shadows had to be done. It really did. The Gorash battle between the G'Sten's Narns and the Shadows was powerful and awesome and I wanted something similar. As for the giant hand...that's going to be revealed later on.

Delenn's getting sick being the catalyst for Sheridan going to Za'Ha'Dum was actually inspired by the third massive volume of the A Dark, Distorted Mirror B5 alternative story. In that, John Sheridan was paralyzed after Epsilon 3 exploded when the Shadows attacked. Delenn is given an option by the Vorlons to heal him. The price was her to go to Za'Ha'Dum. I decided to reverse it, where Delenn was going to die, Sheridan asks the Vorlons for help but denied and the Shadows offer it as long as he agrees to come with them.

Now, I was saddened when Kosh died. Because he's the biggest mother out there and I'm sure he could have rocked Za'Ha'Dum if he had gone there with Sheridan as he promised. So, I deliberately made it so that Kosh went with Sheridan to Za'Ha'Dum.

As for Anna coming back, I always wanted her to come back. I killed her in COS so that way when Sheridan did go to Za'Ha'Dum, he was faced with his wife who was living and also find out the son that he saw in his vision was not actually his and Delenn's but his and Anna's.

Now, for some predications and teasers for you all.

The Selvan are not gone for good. They will be back. I do plan on Talia being unleashed in the next book, and well get to see Lyta as well be unleashed. The Minbar-Human Wars are basically done, but we haven't seen the last of Marrain and Neroon. Vir is going to do the unthinkable during the next book.

Now, I haven't decided whether I'm bring Sheridan back, but either way, we are finally going to be getting to see Corwin's leadership skills, which I've hinted at from time to time. Julia Musante and David Corwin...well, we shall have to see where that goes. The giant hand that destroyed the Centauri Fleet. That's not going to be explained in the next book. Probably it'll either be book 6 or 7. But, don't worry, the Giant Hand will not be stopped.

Now, this book was almost two whole months writing, a new chapter every day. It was a beast, and I am officially worn out. I need to take a break from the Babylon 5 Alternate Universe. However, that doesn't mean I'm not coming back to it. Because I am. But the next two weeks I will be gathering my strength for the plunge again.

But, I will say this, with the end of this book, we have officially reached 60% of the story. And I do plan on probably ending it at book 7. So, we are going to be coming to the starting up of wrapping up storylines by the end of book 5 No Surrender, No Retreat.