Chapter Ten

                "Nothing but Shadows on My Mind"

Two hours later, Captain's Picard and Garrett in a small café on Babylon Five were trying their best to relax in one another's company.  By mutual consent this conversation would, indeed could not, be held on either ship.  It would be just the two of them.  Even as they sat drinking their tea and coffee-or what passed for tea and coffee here on this station- the two of them were constantly amazed by the number of different, non-Humanoid species present on B5.  This universe had far more diversity than theirs, possibly because of far less Humanoid seeding that seemed to have occurred in far more abundance in their universe.  Their conversations drifted from official business to the surprises seen on Babylon Five.  Those pleasantries lasted all of ten minutes before the argument began.

"The Klingons are not a threat here," Captain Garrett had started.  "Dangerous, yes.  A threat?  No.  At least not now."

"This entire situation is unacceptable," Picard hissed.  "That is a Klingon heavy cruiser out there, Captain, blood enemy to the Federation.  No matter what Guinan says, our troubles have followed us here to this universe.  How many more have followed us?  Have you thought of the ramifications?  Ambassador Mollari is correct in his assessment.  For all they know there may have a fleet of warships preparing to invade this sector of space."

"But that's not true and you know it," Garrett snapped back.  "The rift was shrinking even before we entered.  The Klingons must have entered just before the aperture closed and you know what happened to our ships.  They must have been caught in the temporal flux because as you can see, theirs was a far worse trip than ours.   But they made it and they're here.  It's our mess and we have to clean it up so, what do you suggest we do about it?"

Picard looked at her as though this woman had lost her mind.  "The Klingons are a warrior race," he told her as though she were a little child, all the while watching her bristle at the implied insult.  "How long do you think it will take before the unreality of this situation takes hold and they start shooting at anything they perceive as a threat?"

"That won't happen," she responded.  Picard could see the pure determination in her every feature.  "I won't let it happen."

Picard placed his glass down and looked at her as seeing her for the first time.  "Rachel, you feel responsible for the war," he said.  He surprised himself as his voice involuntarily softened.

Yes I do, Jean Luc," she snapped. "My ship should have gone back alone and faced the consequences.  None of this would have happened."  Her face was flushed, betraying the hurt and guilt like a beacon.

Picard glanced at his glass examining its contents before answering.  "It appears that we cannot turn back the clock, as of yet.  What is done is done."  So far all of their experimentation searching from a way home had been fantastic failures.  They were still stuck here with no possibility of getting home.  "Our universe will survive whether we return or not."

Now it was Garrett's turn to look at him, giving him an equally analytical stare.  "Don't sound so sanctimonious, Captain.   I'm not worried about our universe.  It can take care of itself.   I'm concerned about our crews.  Yes, I feel the guilt.  But then, so do you," she said catching the surprise and then anger in his eyes.  "You know the truth and yet you still allow yourself to succumb to your hatred of the Klingons.  You know that we'll be stronger with them than without.  Sooner or later, they're going to come for us, Jean Luc," she said point towards Earth and its Government forces.  "We represent a major threat.  But we also represent a technological boon of unprecedented proportions to everybody else as well.  Pretty soon their greed will overcome their fear and they will come for us in force.  Ambassador Mollari as much as said so and in this case, he was quite correct.  EarthGov will try their best to destroy us before our technology passes into someone else's hands."  She looked him in his eyes.  "If we plan to star here then we need them."

Picard found himself agreeing to her logic, however distasteful.  Babylon Five would not be able to protect them forever.  The Klingons would definitely be helpful.  However there was something else going on, something at the periphery that made his skin crawl.  Guinan had mentioned something about the shadows of this universe being some type of danger.  He did not understand what it meant but the way she had said it remained with him.  She never gave idle threats.  No, the true threat wasn't EarthGov, but something far more sinister.  "You may be correct," he said after a few minutes of thought.  "But how do we convince the Klingons?"

Inwardly, Rachel relaxed.  They both were over the hurdle.  "Most of their crew are little more than kids.  Hot-headed yes, but frightened, lost kids.  And that is our main concern.  We need a strong hand to lead them since most of their senior officers didn't survive the journey."

"Do not fall into that trap of them being little kids.  Much of our crew fit into that same category, for example Mister Crusher.   But I do understand your point," he acknowledged.

From what the Federation officers had gleaned from the inebriated Klingons, two of their three battle cruisers and the surviving Bird-of-prey that originally attacked the two Federation vessels, had entered the rift less than two seconds before it closed.  Lieutenant Commander LaForge and lieutenant Gomez along with Lieutenant Commander Data theorized that the same thing that happened to us happened to them except far worse.  The last ship to enter blew up with all hands while the Bird-of-prey and the first cruiser survived the journey."

"But the rift seemed to be designed for passage of one ship only.  Both of us barely made it through intact."

"Correct," Picard confirmed.  "When the Klingons entered, the molecular re-structuring was too much and the smaller vessel lost antimatter containment upon entry here.  The cruiser also lost antimatter containment but managed to jettison the warp coil.  But that wasn't the worst of it.  You remember that we were all knocked out by the transit...everyone except the Klingons."

"Worf and B'Elanna."  Realization dawned on her.  She could not imagine what might have happened onboard those ships.

"Yes.  Evidently the same thing happened to the other Klingons onboard their ships.  Most of the damage to their vessels was made by the Klingons themselves.  More than a third of the crew went insane.  More than a third died during the temporal transit."

Rachel shook her head in dismay.

"In their eagerness to get at us, they entered less than two seconds after we did but they arrived almost a three weeks later, half-insane survivors on a crippled ship."

A half-formed thought erupted before she could stop it.  "Do you think that the rift was rigged?"

"In what way?"

"My Enterprise was pulled into the future.  Maybe whoever directed my ship to your coordinates, set it so that my ship could return to correct the time line.  When we both entered we disrupted the flow and the Klingon photon torpedoes aggravated the situation and created the micro-fractures which pulled us here."      

"So you're saying that the micro-fractures may have been a form of protection, a defense to make sure that only one ship, yours, could return to correct the time line," he finished.  "More than one ship or a vessel with a different configuration, would activate those fractures sending them both to somewhere else.  But because of the addition of uncontrolled energy from the photon torpedoes, we were sent much further than we should have been on an unpredictable vector.  And then before the rift closed the Klingons followed-"

She nodded her head in agreement.  "The Klingons followed..."

"We need to inform Sheridan of this to alleviate any fears he might have of invasion by our universe," Picard said, sipping his tea and watching some kind of large intelligent, mantis-like insect walk passed accompanied by two Humanoids asking lost of questions.

"What about Guinan's warning about so-called shadows?"

"I will mention it to him," Picard answered.

"I'm so glad we had this conversation.  It went much better than I expected."

Picard smiled warmly.  "We can't fight all the time, Rachel."  He was just as glad as she was.  He really did hate fighting with her.  She was just so, so willful.  But she was a Captain of an Enterprise after all.   "It was believed by Starfleet that we would have to sue for peace with the Klingons within the year.   I told you we were losing.  But in light of what we have seen it appears that the Klingons were in the much the same situation we were in.  The mentality of the warrior mind-we had the resources of hundreds of worlds while they had basically their own people and their captive protectorate to rely upon for the actual conflicts." 

"And the Romulans," she added.

"That was never proven, but yes, them also." 

Both Captains each lost in thought were silent for a long moment. 

"Good news," he said changing the subject.  The Yeager will be ready for her test flight tomorrow."  The now re-assembled Saber-class fighter had been onboard the Enterprise-D being transported to Argella-Four to augment Federation Forces there.  Of course, it never made it.  It boasted a crew of one hundred two people and weapons, re-enforced shields and now updated tactical systems sufficient to take on just about anything seen so far in this universe one-on-one with the exception of maybe a Minbari ship-of-the-line.  And even then, it might be a toss-up.

"Have you given any more thought as to who will be her Captain?"

"Well actually, yes."

Commander Ivanova, Lieutenant Commander Data, Lieutenant Troi and a very uncomfortable B'Elanna were walking thru the Zoccalo, located in blue sector, the heart and soul of the population of Babylon Five, admiring the sites.  There were shops, entertainment facilities, restaurants, bars, almost everything one could think of in one vast central complex.  Susan watched as Data took in everything as though he were a child.  He seemed so unusual, so Humanlike but so outside Human norms that she couldn't get a handle on him. 

There was also the telepath who preferred to be called a Betazoid, Deanna, she who looked Human and acted Human, but wasn't.  Deanna was like no telepath she ever met.   She didn't have any of the hang-ups nor desires to remain isolated as Earth's telepath had.  She was an open book for the most part and as relaxed with herself as any person she had ever seen.  Try as she might, Susan couldn't quite place her with the others she had known.   In no way did Talia Winters, a Terran telepath, have the relaxation and control as these Betazoids apparently had.  From what little she had understood, their senses worked differently.  For them touch was not a requirement and even deep scans caused no pain.  Deanna was not a full telepath, but she could read minds if she concentrated enough, however most of them couldn't rip out stored information.  Try as she might she couldn't dislike the woman even though she was still weary of her.  Lyta Alexander, another Human telepath and renegade whose hatred of Psi-Corps almost rivaled Susan's, loved talking to her.  Susan had never seen her as comfortable as when she talked to the Betazoids and the Vulcans, for that matter.  

The third member of their little party was clearly the most confused of the group.  B'Elanna had been released from her limited confinement and was offered the choice by Captain Garrett to remain with them or return to the Klingon ship.  She had frozen, unsure what to do.  During her sessions with Deanna over the last few weeks, it was revealed to her that her whole life had been torn apart and rearranged.  Her mixed heritage had only served to tear her apart emotionally.  It was clear that she hated both halves of her people but now she had been given a new lease on life and the hatred had led to confusion.  But it was evident that she did trust Deanna, a woman with whom she had much in common.  Klingons had destroyed her home world, but Deanna had somehow moved on, whereas so many others had not, nor indeed could not.  That security and stability within herself had helped the young half Klingon.

Susan finished the tour and the four of them sat in an open café looking at the scenery.  From their position, the group could see almost one-half of the entire station.  The sight was breathtaking.  "This is where I come when I want to remember why I'm here and what I'm fighting for.  This station was designed as a place of peace and we've failed our objective."  Right now felt like more of a failure than usual.  It had become something more-their last, best hope for survival, because peace was sometimes another word for surrender.  She was sure that they would never go into the night peacefully.  

She had told Sheridan about Morden and both had agreed on his probable objective.  The question remained; should they tell Captains Picard and Garrett or keep the secret and let the chips fall where they may in order to save the future?  The opposite side of the coin was whether the Federation would stand with them as very powerful allies in the war to come.  The time for that decision was approaching fast.

"You have had setbacks," Deanna said in her professional voice.  "You haven't failed yet.  In fact, I see this as a great success.  True, you have enemies but you have powerful friends also.  It balances out in the end."

"Spoken like a true psychologist," Susan smirked.  "Miss Torres, what do you think?"

I think I could get lost in this place, be myself, and no one would care what I was.  I could be free here and live my own life with no one forcing me into something they think I should be, she thought.  What she said was: "I like the fact that people can co-exist without trying to kill each other," then quickly added, "for the most part.  I see freedom here."

"Earth Government has created a very impressive space station," Data said, "and has attempted to establish a lofty set of goals that in essence seem to represent the ultimate aims of Humanity both here and in our own universe."

"So do you like it?"

"I cannot like or dislike it, Commander.  I do not possess emotions.  However it is intriguing," Data said as he looked around taking in every movement, every nuance, everything.  

"Your people have no emotions at all?" the Commander asked.  He looked so Human that she naturally assumed that he possessed the same attributes.  A mistake, she realized.  One species looking similar to another didn't really mean a thing.

"There are only two of us," he explained.  "My brother, Lore has been endowed with emotions, but I have not."  Data's brother Lore, served on the U.S.S. Bozeman as Second Officer.

"Endowed?"  Susan was perplexed by his answer.  "What do you mean endowed?"

"There are only two of us, Commander Ivanova.  My brother Lore has the circuitry and programming that enables him to access emotions.  I, however do not.  I can analyze them, but I cannot experience them."

Susan who had sworn that nothing else would stun her about these people again discovered she had lied to herself.  "You're telling me you're some kind of robot?"

"The correct term is android, Commander," Data said cocking his head slightly.

Unbelievable she thought.  She had been sure that he was some kind of alien, but this!  Besides, she wasn't sure if he was telling the truth or not.  He looked so forlorn.

"Are you okay, Commander?"

"Am I okay?  I'm sitting with a mixed Human telepathic empath; an android that I couldn't even tell was an android, and a Klingon-Human woman, at a time when we thought it wasn't possible for different species to interbreed.   My whole life has been turned upside down but other than that, I'm okay."

"Are you sure, Susan?"

"I'm Russian," she whispered as though that explained everything.   "This happens to me all the time.  Speaking of which..."

She activated her comm.  "The commander gave the okay.  Bester can come in, but he's confined to the docking bay until Sheridan's okay.  I'll be there shortly."

The man was going to be as mad as a hornet.  But he should be happy she thought.  "I could have shot him," she said to no one in particular.

Commander Sisko, Worf and Captain Koral also sat in another small bar in plain sight of several nervous Klingons, trying to inconspicuously guard their Captain and failing.  Even Koral felt uncomfortable with Sisko so close to him.  There had been rumors about this Human, a ground warrior and his units, specifically trained to fight and kill Klingons in hand-to-hand combat.  It was considered a great honor to kill such warriors as he, but this situation in which he sat and drank with the enemy had disorientated him.  No matter what his leaders had said about the Humans, they were not weak.  He understood this.  Were they stupid?  In some ways yes, when it came to offering mercy to a defeated foe, but Klingon cunning verses Human cunning balanced each other.  Humans were just as vicious as any Klingon could ever be. 

But now he was sitting with one listening to the most outlandish story he had ever heard.  And what was even more surprising was that he believed it.  Despite the name Ambassador, the configuration and power signatures unique to every Federation vessel confirmed that this was the ancient Enterprise-C.  That it was pulled into the future, thereby starting a fruitless, dishonorable war enflamed him.  In site of themselves the other Klingons had moved so close, they could hear everything. 

Sisko simply sighed and invited the 'stealthy' guards over, praying that this wasn't a mistake.   For the next hour the group was in deep discussion.

"Lord Duras has claimed victory over the Federation," a young guard named Koss said.  He looked all of nineteen.  "The Federation will surrender within the year.   The war will continue until we have won."

"And what glorious victories that victory hold for us," Worf snapped.  "Our people have given everything to the war.  Our protectorate planets and been bombed, its people killed.  Klingon colonies have been destroyed.  Instead of expanding, the Empire has grown smaller and we are hated and feared throughout vast regions of space while the House of Duras has grown rich on the backs of our people.  And when the war is over, that House will sit back in comfort and laugh of the good old days, while our people struggle and oversee a Federation seething for revenge.  Soon there would be another glorious war and the House of Duras will again grow fat off the labors of our people."

"Yes, we are feared, as it should be," Koss snapped back.  "We will grow again to become the power in our-that universe.  You speak like a traitor, Worf.  Your exposure to the Humans has corrupted you."

Worf's eyes narrowed into slits.  "Fool, do you not understand?  We did not start this war.  Someone else maneuvered us into it and we fell willingly into its trap.  When this war is over the only winners will be the Romulans and the Cardassians, and whoever began the war.  Our two powers will be weakened, useless for generations, prey for any predator.   Can you not see this?"

"We have been played with like children!"  Koral screamed, stunning the surrounding patrons.  He fully understood the implications now.  Why hadn't the Empire seen this sooner?  He understood the answer.  The Duras clan had to be part of it all.  "Honorless death of our families, our best and brightest."  Once more, he stared at Worf and Commander Sisko.  "Our people must know the truth!"

Koss looked at his Captain.  "I do not understand."

"We fight because it is in our blood," Koral responded.  "But we fight for our own reasons, not at the biding of someone else's desires.  Only carrion are the true winners in a war like this."

Sisko watched the exchange in silence.  It was obvious that this was a turning point for them.  Either they would now go off on their own seeking a way back or maybe, just maybe they could be persuaded to make some sort of alliance with their Federation antagonists, the details to be determined later.  "Koral, why did you choose Babylon Five?"

There it was, the question Sisko could see that he was dreading.  Koral had thought of a thousand answers that would appease everyone, but none of them were good enough and he had discounted them all.  The truth before dishonor he surmised. 

"There is no one in this universe that was familiar to us.  Even the Humans were different.  We were not at war with them.  That afforded an opportunity.  Sensors picked up the battle between the Enterprise-C and the Human warships.  We could not understand why Humans would fight Humans.  The battle was glorious and we followed, scanned communications and understood.  Babylon Five offered a chance of survival and maybe a way home."

"Use the name Ambassador," he corrected.  "There are those Humans here in this universe that hate everything alien.  They happen to be the ones in power.  Your ship is damaged and the Human government of Earth will stop at nothing to get to you and your technology.  On this station there is freedom and honor.  They will keep their promises to the death if necessary and we will do the same.  What do you chose?"

"We will do nothing to hurt Babylon Five.  Beyond that I do not know what we will do.  But for now there will be peace between us."

"Then there will be peace," Sisko echoed.

"There will be peace and the discovery of the truth," Worf said.  Then he added, "for the time being."

Koss clearly didn't agree with the issues of peace.  "Humans know nothing of peace.  They are liars," he snarled.  "Now you wish us to trust them?"  He rose from his seat, looking at Sisko as though he would pounce on him. 

Benjamin's entire demeanor changed as his body subtly shifted into combat mode.  The other Klingons backed away slightly.  This was Koss' challenge and it was a foolish one, although he didn't know it yet.  His crewmates would not help him.

"Koss," Sisko growled, his voice rising.  "Sit down!" 

Koss froze for a moment sensing the shift in mood around him.  He could not back down because pride would not let him.  He had been told all his life that Klingons could outfight any Human, but right now, he could not quite believe it, not with this man sitting in front of him.  So he stood there, not backing down, but not moving any close either.

"Yes, young one, sit down," said a voice from behind. 

The instant Koss realize that the voice behind him belonged to an alien, he struck out, relieved that he would now be able to focus his rage in another direction without losing his honor.  His hand was stopped by something incredibly strong, and held it effortlessly.  Stunned, he turned to face a lizard-like Humanoid with piercing red eyes.  The creature's strength surprised and disoriented him and he stumbled.

"Are you so ready to die?" the Narn asked him. 

G'Kar had moved in so easily that few had noticed him until he was almost behind the Klingon called Koss.  Ancient wars can so easily restart themselves he thought.  And those who are young usually had the least understanding of how easily those conflicts could destroy multiple roads to peace. The young Klingon was outclassed and he knew even as he had stood up.  But pride wouldn't let him back down. 

How so much like Koss he had been.  Had it really been that long ago?  He decided to deflect the anger to him, and then dissipate it.  He grabbed the Klingons arm and held it.  "Bloodshed will come sooner that you think.  Have patience young one and be ready to fight for those who will need you."

"Who are you?" Koss snapped, intimidate by the Narn's strength. 

"I am First Citizen G'Kar of the Narn regime," he answered with some pride.

"Your empire was destroyed by another," said Koss.  His voice dripped with humor and sarcasm that was clearly evident with every word he spoke. "You were weak and you were defeated."

The Narn trembled.  "Someone wins and someone must lose," he answered after regaining control.   "We lost.  Now we have nothing, but as long as we are alive we are never defeated.  We will rise again and we will prevail.  But, what of you?  Will there be enough of you left to rise again?"  He moved in closer.  "You will fight for your pride and you will die separated, but with the knowledge that could have worked with your once enemies.  They will come for you and your pride will blind you to the true enemy."

Koral spoke now, pushing Koss away from G'Kar who did not protest the humiliating action   "And who is our enemy?"

"You should ask rather, who your friends are," G'Kar countered.  "Your enemies will make themselves known to you soon enough."

In her quarters onboard Babylon Five, Guinan paced back and forth like a caged lion.   Everything had gone so well with the Klingons that even she was surprised about the outcome.   Between Picard Sheridan and Garrett the possibility of peace between old enemies looked encouraging.  The veiled threat by Londo had left her somewhat suspicious about his true motives but he was correct.  The Centauri were even more aggressive than Earth Force, having spread their aggression towards their neighbors.  Presently EarthGov was simply aggressive against its own people. She made a mental note to look into the Centauri situation in the very immediate future. 

But for some reason that she could not yet understand, she felt her 'otherness' warning her of some perceived threat that she had not yet identified.  The last time she had felt something this intense, the two ships had entered this universe.  This gift she referred to as 'her otherness', was something that she had come to rely on heavily throughout the centuries.  It had been thrust upon her though no actions of her own, but instead of offering her freedom and power to do what mortals only dreamed of, she understood it for the curse it was.  The power corrupted and destroyed those not matured enough to use it wisely.  Even the Q and others of their kind a whole, caused more harm than good.  They were fully aware of this little problem, which is why they constructed such rigorous rules and regulations to keep everyone in line. 

She was not born to the power, and it almost destroyed her.  A century ago, due to a brush with an energy barrier, a radiation-mutated Gary Mitchell had not been as fortunate.   His ever-expanding psychic and psionic powers corrupted him totally, causing him to try to kill his best friend and commanding officer, James T. Kirk, not to mention desiring travel to a planet full of colonists, where he would become a God no less.   It was not the barrier itself that had caused her change but the end results had been the same.  

Absolute insanity. 

But unlike poor Gary, she was not Human and had enough wisdom to reject the insanity given to her.  Still, it took every bit of power she possessed to resist and subject that which grew within her, finally using that unimaginable power to will herself to normalcy and it worked-up to a point.  Then, the Q started harassing her, especially Q, trying to break her spirit, make her use her power, to prove to everyone that a mere mortal could never control the raging psionics.  He failed, causing his rage to be felt all through the sector and they became enemies, or rather adversaries.  Their dealings with one another were legendary, for those who knew of the arguments, throughout the galaxy.  But she had never been tempted enough to use them, even when facing death.  She had kept her promise to herself but that had not stopped it from asserting itself as it did now.  Survival instincts were one of the most persistent forces in existence.

Her door chime rang. 

Instead of her ordering the door opened she walked up to the door and manually opened it.  A man in his thirties sporting dark hair stood there with a smile that never touched his eyes.   

"Hello, Ambassador Guinan?  My name is Morden," he announced.  "I represent a group of associates that are every interested in forming a working relationship with you and your Federation representatives.  It would be very lucrative, very beneficial for all concerned," he finished flashing his brightest smile.  "May I come in?"

"No, I don't think so, Mr. Morden.   Whatever you want to say can be said from right here," she answered in a half smile.  

The man looked somewhat perplexed by her answer.  "Is there anything wrong?" he asked graciously.  "Is this an inconvenient time?  I can come back later."

"That won't be necessary, Mr. Morden," she said just as graciously as he had a moment ago.  She did not like the man.  His aura was indistinct and that caused warning signals to flare up.  "As I've just said, you can say what you want to say from here."

"Well," he started, resigned to standing at the door.  "There have been certain, shall we say, misunderstandings between you and the government of Earth.  My associates and I can mediate a truce between your two respected groups and cease this unnecessary conflict."

That sounded intriguing to Guinan. It was the type of thing that someone would say was too good to be true.  "Your and your associates can do this?  I am impressed," she said.  "But I believe that there is some type of price involved? As in a tradeoff in technology?" she asked, knowing full well that technology had nothing to do with this conversation.

"To prove our sincerity and concern about this terrible conflict, we will gladly do it for free," he said, dangling the hook.  "We would only ask a small favor from you every now and then."

 "No."

 "No?"  He obviously did not like what he had just heard.  "No?" he repeated.  "As in-?"

"No," she finished with a touch of indifference evident in her voice.  "We'll settle our own differences, Mr. Morden."  Guinan watched as his whole demeanor changed from a businessman to someone was much more threatening.  Much more.

"This is an opportunity that you shouldn't dismiss of hand, Ambassador.  My associates can do quite a bit for you.  Possibly even get you and you people home."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Morden," Guinan said rather loudly.  "You don't seem, I don't know, trustworthy for some reason.  Please tell you associates that we are not interested.  Now excuse me.  I have a headache.  Goodbye."

The door abruptly closed.  She heard him yell through the door after her.    "Ambassador, is there anything that you personally want?"

"Goodbye, Mr. Morden," she yelled back, ignoring his last question. 

Guinan was unnerved by this experience.  At least now she understood why she was so apprehensive.  The man literally reeked of some ancient, powerful darkness.  And those things with him!  Jet black in color, very spider-like with raised legs and multiple grasping appendences, it had a large flattened head and what she assumed were fourteen eyes set in two roles, three above and four below that shined with dark, dark intelligence.  They would be invisible to most of the population but she had seen them, of course.   And there was more to them than that.  They were partially phased, a natural defensive mechanism most likely.  Somehow those things could alter their molecular density-to a point-evidenced by their ability to move soundlessly down hallways and passed so many without being detected. 

The creature had gotten passed her and searched her room while she was engaged in conversation with Morden.  It didn't find anything of interest and of course, it had not known that she had observed its every move as it cast its malevolent shadow across her stuff.  Then it had stood behind her, examining her, as if almost daring for Guinan to detect it.

"So that was a Shadow," she mused darkly.   She now had a name for her dream.  Quickly, she checked her quarters and then only when she was completely satisfied did she make the call.  She touched her comm badge. "Guinan to Captain Picard." 

 "Picard here."

"Are you still on the station?"

"Captain Garret and I are at a restaurant in the Zoccalo.  Is there a problem?"

"You may be receiving a visitor in the immediate future," answered confirming his fears.  "Consider this a warning.  This Mr. Morden is not what he seems.   Remember what I told you when we first came here?" she asked meaning when they had first entered this universe. 

"Yes, I remember, " he responded.

"Well, they've decided to make their presence known," she said.  "Don't let them know that we know of their existence.  Don't even hint.  And one more thing."

"Yes, Ambassador?"   

"Don't agree to anything."

The Psi-Corps shuttle, which had been waiting for clearance for the last three hours outside Babylon Five, was finally allowed into the docking bay.  One very irate Psi-cop now and his partner had to endure the indignity of waiting in an isolated area until the little puppet god Sheridan decided he could leave.  At least it was positive side to this, Bester mused.  They could have blown his shuttle up.  B5 and EarthGov were not exactly on the best of terms these days, especially with those two warships out there.  They were fascinating he had to admit.  The design was very unusual even though they seemed a little small to have done the damage they had.  Being a level twelve telepath, he had tried to scan the ship, but that served only to give him a headache.  First, because it was too far from the shuttle and next there were so many telepathic emanations on so many alien wavelengths, that he couldn't separate one from another clearly.  It was quite interesting.

The door opened finally, and four figures walked in.  The first one he recognized, but the others were strangers.  He resisted the urge to scan them, although he really wanted to.  However that might serve to get him kicked off the station at the least, or 'accidentally' killed at the worst.  The times were perilous now and he didn't want to take chances.  

"Well, Commander Ivanova," he said with his usual sarcastic tint.  "I expected Sheridan and he sent his underling and three strangers to meet me after what?  Four hours?  At least Mr. Garibaldi should have been here to meet me when I got off the shuttle.  I could always depend on him at least."

Susan's anger threatened to boil over but somehow she managed to control it.  "You're lucky that I didn't have your shuttle blown up as soon as it exited the gate," Susan growled.  "You shouldn't even be here.  I'm sure EarthGov would be very unhappy if they found out that you're flaunting their quarantine which they have been trying so hard to maintain."

The cop laughed heartily.  "Quarantine?  Everybody's breaking quarantine trying to get here!  This place is very popular, didn't you know that?"

"What do you want, Bester?" Susan's patience was wearing thin.

"Okay, Commander."  No more bantering around, he needed to see these people and get out.  Psi-Corp's agenda was not EarthGov's, not completely.  "Since Sheridan chooses not to lower himself to meet me, I guess that I have to lower myself to meet with you.

"Bester!"

"Alright, alright.  Susan, you're no fun at all."  He sighed.  "I came to meet with the telepaths onboard those two Federation starships, to make sure that they're being treated well."

"They're being treated wonderfully," Data said.  "They have had no complaints as far as I know."

"And you are?"

"Lieutenant Commander Data of the Federation Battleship Enterprise-D."  Data moved closer to Bester and continued.  "We are the people that you and EarthGov seems so interested in knowing about."

"I see," Bester said.  But he didn't.  In fact, he was slightly intimidated.  The Data person had no aura, no psychic fingerprint at all.  It was like he wasn't there.  No wonder the Commander had brought him here with her. 

This was going to be a problem.