They held a memorial service for the crew of the Lexington, but Anna hadn't gone. To go would mean admitting that John was gone and was never coming back. She wasn't ready to do that. Instead she remained in the house, clinging to a fragile thread of hope that seemed to be slipping away from between her fingers.
She wouldn't believe he was dead.
She heard the door open downstairs and footsteps approached the bedroom. Anna was lying on the bed she and John always shared when they were together on Earth. It was wide and lonely without someone to share it with.
"Anna?" There was Lizzie at the door, her black dress testimony to a funeral Anna couldn't accept.
"Are you alright, Anna?" Anna just shook her head. She didn't think she'd be alright again unless John came home.
Lizzie sat on the bed beside Anna, a gentle hand on the shoulder of her old friend. As she smiled sadly down on Anna, Anna looked away. She couldn't bear to see the pity and sorrow in her eyes. How could she have given up hope?
"You should have come, Anna. You should have been at the service."
"I won't mourn for him until someone shows me his body. He might be alive."
"Minbari don't take prisoners," Lizzie said.
"Then where is he? Why wasn't he on that ship?"
"I don't know."
It had been all over ISN. They'd pulled the records of the fight from the Lexington's computer. Proof that the Minbari could be destroyed, and the news of the Lexington's sacrifice. Anna had stayed shut in her room in the days after that, unable to cope with all the visitors come to offer their condolences.
She ate when the others brought food up to her, but she didn't taste it. Eating was just something necessary, no longer something enjoyable. Most of the time she just lay there, thinking, remembering, hoping.
With each passing second that hope seemed to drift further away and she began to wonder if the others were right. What if John were dead? What if she never saw him again?
***
John woke up suddenly, and realised why as soon as his eyes opened. Minbari were pulling him from his bed. Both wore the green badge. Entilzah was standing in the open doorway.
"What's going on?" John asked.
"You are to come with us." The two Minbari pulled John's arms behind him and before he could fight back had some sort of handcuffs on him. John struggled against them, but found they did their job all too well.
"They are a precaution," Entilzah explained. It seemed the Minbari on either side of John were a precaution as well. As they walked out of the cell and along a few corridors, each kept a loose grip on John's arm that could be tightened if he gave any resistance.
They came to a large room, probably some sort of launch bay, with a ship in the centre. The ship was small, probably only capable of carrying a couple of people. A hatch opened in the side of the ship. As John had guessed, there were two seats in the cockpit.
The Minbari pushed him inside and into one of the seats. His hands pressed uncomfortably into his back, more so when they pulled some sort of safety harness on. Entilzah climbed in and sat in the other seat. John shifted slightly, partly to try and find a more comfortable position, partly to see whether he could get out. Unfortunately, the harness fastened from the front, and his hands were securely fastened behind him.
As Entilzah began pressing switching, evidently preparing for takeoff, a huge door slid open in front of them, revealing a view of stars. Either they were on a ship or a space station.
A few moments later, and John was back among the stars where he belonged. He twisted his head round to look through the window and saw a huge Minbari warship behind him. They must have some sort of artificial gravity. John hadn't even realised he wasn't on a planet. In front of them was another warship, apparently their destination.
"What's going on?" John asked.
"You will see the Grey Council. You must answer their questions honestly."
"What sort of questions? I'm not going to betray my people or give away military information."
"I am glad, to do so would be dishonourable." Entilzah refused to say anything more during their brief journey to the other ship. Once on board John was led along corridors that looked exactly the same as the previous ship. At one intersection of corridors, Minbari stood waiting, all wearing identical, white robes.
"Entilzah Lenonn, you must remain here," one said. John guessed they'd used English to ensure he understood. He walked forwards, the white-robed Minbari around him until they reached a door. Someone undid the restraints and released his hands. As the door opened, the Minbari stood aside. John knew he had to go in alone.
Inside there was only darkness. Looking in from the bright corridor he could see nothing. Anything could be in there. Feeling something in between nervousness and fear, he stepped through the door.
It closed instantly behind him, leaving him alone in the darkness. John felt like a child, straying into some forbidden place. Childlike fear of the silent dark began to grow inside him. His eyes were adjusting to the darkness, but still he could see nothing. Perhaps there was nothing to see and he would remain in here forever.
He had probably only been inside a few seconds when there was suddenly something to look at. A cone of light, a few metres ahead, emanating from some hidden point above him.
Since this was the only visible point in the room, he walked towards it. As he stepped into the light he felt very vulnerable. If there were other people in the room he was a clear target while they were still invisible to him.
He had barely enough time to begin worrying about this, when he wasn't the only visible thing in the room. Cones of light appeared all around him in a circle, each with a figure standing in it. He couldn't have said whether they were Minbari or not, all he could see where shapes in grey robes. One held a staff, but other than that he couldn't tell them apart.
"Did Lenonn tell you why you have been brought here?" one asked. The speaker had a slightly higher voice than the other Minbari John had heard speak. A female? Another class? A coincidence?
"He just said you'd ask me questions, he didn't say what they'd be about."
"You will tell us what you believe transpired when your ships encountered us."
"The Prometheus was trying to get some information on your ships when you knocked out their engines with some sort of scanner and then approached on an attack vector with gun ports open. The Prometheus fired, that's all there is to it."
"You were on the. . . Prometheus?" it was the first Minbari who spoke. At least John thought so, it was difficult to tell for sure.
"No," he said, "but the crew reported back to Earth before you destroyed the base."
"The Prometheus attacked us because the crew felt we meant to attack them?"
"Didn't you?" John asked.
"No." For a moment John was too shocked to register what had just been said. If the Minbari hadn't meant to attack, then the Prometheus had fired without a good reason.
"But your gun ports were open," John said, once he'd recovered from the shock.
"Among the Minbari warrior cast, open gun ports are a sign of respect," one of the Minbari said, "We display what we are capable of to show that we hide nothing." John could think of nothing to say. If the Minbari hadn't meant to attack, then they probably felt the humans had started this war for no reason.
One of the Minbari spoke in their own language, and soon there was a conversation among them. John tried to follow which of the figures was speaking, but in the end he stopped, as it would mean constantly spinning round to face a different part of the circle.
When the conversation ceased, one of the figures walked into the shadows. He came back quickly, holding something triangular in his hands. Of course it would be a triangle. He stood in front of John, and John was very tempted to back away. He held his position though, knowing that he was surrounded and had nowhere to go. Besides the triangle thing didn't look like a weapon.
The Minbari held it up in front of John's face.
"Do you swear that what you have told us. . ." the Minbari broke off. The triangle glowed blue. There was a reaction John guessed to be surprise from the Minbari, but he couldn't tell because of their hidden faces. And what was surprise in a human expression might look like something completely different on a Minbari face.
The Minbari retreated to a huddle and conversed in quick, excited tones. John was left standing in the central light. He considered trying to run, but he couldn't remember what direction the door lay, and even if he could get out there was nowhere to run. He wouldn't recognise the controls of a Minbari ship, and he'd still have to get there. He had no idea how many guards might be waiting outside for him.
All he could do was wait, while the Minbari glanced frequently in his direction. He wished he could understand what they were saying about him. He had the feeling something significant had just happened.
One of the Minbari walked into the darkness. Suddenly there was a rectangle of light, and John got a view out into the corridor. The Minbari said something quietly to one of those in white robes. Then Lenonn walked into the room. He joined the huddle of Minbari and spoke with them for a while. Their talk was too quick for John to follow, even if he'd been able to understand.
Lenonn's face wasn't covered, so John could see clearly the shock on it as the Minbari talked. John was beginning to get afraid now. Whatever the triangle thing was, it was important, and it had done something they didn't expect. Who knew what that meant they would do in response?
After some minutes of anxious waiting, Lenonn came and put a hand on John's arm, leading him gently out. So they weren't going to kill him then, or at least not immediately.
Stepping into the brightly lit corridor, John blinked a few times to allow his eyes to adjust, and let himself be led. He thought they were going back to the transport, which was good. Perhaps he could make a break for it when he got there, get away from Lenonn and fly the ship out himself.
Unfortunately that depended on him figuring out the controls and them not shooting him down. He had a feeling that whatever had just happened was important enough for them to be desperate about him not getting away. He couldn't be sure though.
"What just happened?" John asked, "What did that triangle thing mean?"
"It means the time of prophecy is at hand," Lenonn replied, and refused to explain any further.
***
Author's note: Thank you to everyone who's reviewed, especially to Aubrey for your advice.
She wouldn't believe he was dead.
She heard the door open downstairs and footsteps approached the bedroom. Anna was lying on the bed she and John always shared when they were together on Earth. It was wide and lonely without someone to share it with.
"Anna?" There was Lizzie at the door, her black dress testimony to a funeral Anna couldn't accept.
"Are you alright, Anna?" Anna just shook her head. She didn't think she'd be alright again unless John came home.
Lizzie sat on the bed beside Anna, a gentle hand on the shoulder of her old friend. As she smiled sadly down on Anna, Anna looked away. She couldn't bear to see the pity and sorrow in her eyes. How could she have given up hope?
"You should have come, Anna. You should have been at the service."
"I won't mourn for him until someone shows me his body. He might be alive."
"Minbari don't take prisoners," Lizzie said.
"Then where is he? Why wasn't he on that ship?"
"I don't know."
It had been all over ISN. They'd pulled the records of the fight from the Lexington's computer. Proof that the Minbari could be destroyed, and the news of the Lexington's sacrifice. Anna had stayed shut in her room in the days after that, unable to cope with all the visitors come to offer their condolences.
She ate when the others brought food up to her, but she didn't taste it. Eating was just something necessary, no longer something enjoyable. Most of the time she just lay there, thinking, remembering, hoping.
With each passing second that hope seemed to drift further away and she began to wonder if the others were right. What if John were dead? What if she never saw him again?
***
John woke up suddenly, and realised why as soon as his eyes opened. Minbari were pulling him from his bed. Both wore the green badge. Entilzah was standing in the open doorway.
"What's going on?" John asked.
"You are to come with us." The two Minbari pulled John's arms behind him and before he could fight back had some sort of handcuffs on him. John struggled against them, but found they did their job all too well.
"They are a precaution," Entilzah explained. It seemed the Minbari on either side of John were a precaution as well. As they walked out of the cell and along a few corridors, each kept a loose grip on John's arm that could be tightened if he gave any resistance.
They came to a large room, probably some sort of launch bay, with a ship in the centre. The ship was small, probably only capable of carrying a couple of people. A hatch opened in the side of the ship. As John had guessed, there were two seats in the cockpit.
The Minbari pushed him inside and into one of the seats. His hands pressed uncomfortably into his back, more so when they pulled some sort of safety harness on. Entilzah climbed in and sat in the other seat. John shifted slightly, partly to try and find a more comfortable position, partly to see whether he could get out. Unfortunately, the harness fastened from the front, and his hands were securely fastened behind him.
As Entilzah began pressing switching, evidently preparing for takeoff, a huge door slid open in front of them, revealing a view of stars. Either they were on a ship or a space station.
A few moments later, and John was back among the stars where he belonged. He twisted his head round to look through the window and saw a huge Minbari warship behind him. They must have some sort of artificial gravity. John hadn't even realised he wasn't on a planet. In front of them was another warship, apparently their destination.
"What's going on?" John asked.
"You will see the Grey Council. You must answer their questions honestly."
"What sort of questions? I'm not going to betray my people or give away military information."
"I am glad, to do so would be dishonourable." Entilzah refused to say anything more during their brief journey to the other ship. Once on board John was led along corridors that looked exactly the same as the previous ship. At one intersection of corridors, Minbari stood waiting, all wearing identical, white robes.
"Entilzah Lenonn, you must remain here," one said. John guessed they'd used English to ensure he understood. He walked forwards, the white-robed Minbari around him until they reached a door. Someone undid the restraints and released his hands. As the door opened, the Minbari stood aside. John knew he had to go in alone.
Inside there was only darkness. Looking in from the bright corridor he could see nothing. Anything could be in there. Feeling something in between nervousness and fear, he stepped through the door.
It closed instantly behind him, leaving him alone in the darkness. John felt like a child, straying into some forbidden place. Childlike fear of the silent dark began to grow inside him. His eyes were adjusting to the darkness, but still he could see nothing. Perhaps there was nothing to see and he would remain in here forever.
He had probably only been inside a few seconds when there was suddenly something to look at. A cone of light, a few metres ahead, emanating from some hidden point above him.
Since this was the only visible point in the room, he walked towards it. As he stepped into the light he felt very vulnerable. If there were other people in the room he was a clear target while they were still invisible to him.
He had barely enough time to begin worrying about this, when he wasn't the only visible thing in the room. Cones of light appeared all around him in a circle, each with a figure standing in it. He couldn't have said whether they were Minbari or not, all he could see where shapes in grey robes. One held a staff, but other than that he couldn't tell them apart.
"Did Lenonn tell you why you have been brought here?" one asked. The speaker had a slightly higher voice than the other Minbari John had heard speak. A female? Another class? A coincidence?
"He just said you'd ask me questions, he didn't say what they'd be about."
"You will tell us what you believe transpired when your ships encountered us."
"The Prometheus was trying to get some information on your ships when you knocked out their engines with some sort of scanner and then approached on an attack vector with gun ports open. The Prometheus fired, that's all there is to it."
"You were on the. . . Prometheus?" it was the first Minbari who spoke. At least John thought so, it was difficult to tell for sure.
"No," he said, "but the crew reported back to Earth before you destroyed the base."
"The Prometheus attacked us because the crew felt we meant to attack them?"
"Didn't you?" John asked.
"No." For a moment John was too shocked to register what had just been said. If the Minbari hadn't meant to attack, then the Prometheus had fired without a good reason.
"But your gun ports were open," John said, once he'd recovered from the shock.
"Among the Minbari warrior cast, open gun ports are a sign of respect," one of the Minbari said, "We display what we are capable of to show that we hide nothing." John could think of nothing to say. If the Minbari hadn't meant to attack, then they probably felt the humans had started this war for no reason.
One of the Minbari spoke in their own language, and soon there was a conversation among them. John tried to follow which of the figures was speaking, but in the end he stopped, as it would mean constantly spinning round to face a different part of the circle.
When the conversation ceased, one of the figures walked into the shadows. He came back quickly, holding something triangular in his hands. Of course it would be a triangle. He stood in front of John, and John was very tempted to back away. He held his position though, knowing that he was surrounded and had nowhere to go. Besides the triangle thing didn't look like a weapon.
The Minbari held it up in front of John's face.
"Do you swear that what you have told us. . ." the Minbari broke off. The triangle glowed blue. There was a reaction John guessed to be surprise from the Minbari, but he couldn't tell because of their hidden faces. And what was surprise in a human expression might look like something completely different on a Minbari face.
The Minbari retreated to a huddle and conversed in quick, excited tones. John was left standing in the central light. He considered trying to run, but he couldn't remember what direction the door lay, and even if he could get out there was nowhere to run. He wouldn't recognise the controls of a Minbari ship, and he'd still have to get there. He had no idea how many guards might be waiting outside for him.
All he could do was wait, while the Minbari glanced frequently in his direction. He wished he could understand what they were saying about him. He had the feeling something significant had just happened.
One of the Minbari walked into the darkness. Suddenly there was a rectangle of light, and John got a view out into the corridor. The Minbari said something quietly to one of those in white robes. Then Lenonn walked into the room. He joined the huddle of Minbari and spoke with them for a while. Their talk was too quick for John to follow, even if he'd been able to understand.
Lenonn's face wasn't covered, so John could see clearly the shock on it as the Minbari talked. John was beginning to get afraid now. Whatever the triangle thing was, it was important, and it had done something they didn't expect. Who knew what that meant they would do in response?
After some minutes of anxious waiting, Lenonn came and put a hand on John's arm, leading him gently out. So they weren't going to kill him then, or at least not immediately.
Stepping into the brightly lit corridor, John blinked a few times to allow his eyes to adjust, and let himself be led. He thought they were going back to the transport, which was good. Perhaps he could make a break for it when he got there, get away from Lenonn and fly the ship out himself.
Unfortunately that depended on him figuring out the controls and them not shooting him down. He had a feeling that whatever had just happened was important enough for them to be desperate about him not getting away. He couldn't be sure though.
"What just happened?" John asked, "What did that triangle thing mean?"
"It means the time of prophecy is at hand," Lenonn replied, and refused to explain any further.
***
Author's note: Thank you to everyone who's reviewed, especially to Aubrey for your advice.