CHAPTER ELEVEN: The Fall Of The Shadow's

Gram looks at the Vorlon vessel, "So what should we call this ship?"

Nanette looks at the organic vessel. "I'm not sure, let me think, how about the Metamorphic?"

Gram looks at Nanette, "Why?

Nanette looks at the organic flesh of the ship then looks at her crew. "Well it's crew are quiet altered beyond reality, and the ship was created for the Hybritical Respertorians, so that is why I think Metamorphic.

"Sounds great to me." Says Gram.

Nanette looks out the window. "Well then it is official, this ship is named, Metamorphic."

Arimira looks at Nanette. "Should we go through a check?"

Nanette turns around to look at Arimira, she is not use to seeing everyone looking like Human. "Yes," looks at Gram. "Gram you go to the engine room." Turns around to look at Arimira again. "Arimira go to the weapons control and find what our weapons and defenses are."

Arimira nods, "Yes, you'll have it in 10 minutes."

Nanette smiles and looks at Delteine. "Delteine go to the Navigation console to learn how to read it."

Delteine nods, "I'm on it."

Nanette looks at Iris, and Deltalenn; Delteine's son. "Deltalenn and Iris go find the Med Bay."

Iris nods, "Yes."

Nanette watches her own child leave the bridge and then turns to face Jake. "Jake, go make some rounds of this ship, you're our security officer."

Jake smiles, "I'll get right to it."

As Jake leaves the bridge, Nanette looks at Casthmatic. "Casthmatic, go to the mess hall to see what type of food we have, also check water."

Casthmatic nods, "Yes Nanette!"

Nanette looks at Delenn 3rd "Deylnn—sorry, Delenn 3rd I will need you on the bridge, if we run upon a serious problem I will need you there."

Delenn 3rd nods gently. "I'll see you there!"

Nanette goes to the bridge Captain's chair, and looks at Delteine, Deylnn, and Arimira. Arimira walks up to Nanette. "I've checked weapons; we've got some really true power. Four forward guns, missiles, lasers, landmines, thermal nuclear missiles, and best of all, a direct forward beam array."

Nanette smiles, "So we have weapons, how about shields?"

Arimira smiles, "Yes, they are very advanced!" Arimira turns and goes back to the Weapons station.

Delteine looks at Nanette from her station. "Navigation is simple; we have jump gate capability and stealth technology."

Nanette nods, "Good," Nanette goes to a com and locks into the engine room. "Gram, how's the engines?"

Gram looks for the com switch and after shifting many pipes around and finally arriving to the com he patches in. "The engines are highly advanced Nanette, we have more speed then the Invincible and the Armada put together."

Nanette thinks for only a second and patches in again. "Thank you Gram." Turns off the com.

Delteine see an armada of ships swarming towards the Metamorphic, they have gun ports open and are locked on. "Nanette a dozen of hostiles heading our way."

Nanette turns to looks at Delteine who has given the bad news. "All right, arm weapons, here they come."

As the Metamorphic flies to the left it dodges the enemy fire. As the vessels open fire again it hits the Metamorphic, but the ships defense grid reflects the energy outward. As the Metamorphic opens fire ship after ship are destroyed. When the last Shadow survey type vessel is disabled it goes to ramming speed and rams directly into the Metamorphic's side, as the ships impact is reflected off the sides one part of the ship breaks and crashes into the bridge. As the Metamorphic lies drifted Nanette awakes to a badly damaged bridge, as she looks to see the weapons console, Arimira is dead, slit through the neck by a shear metal piece. As she looks for Delenn 3rd she is okay, so is Delteine. As she stagers to the ships com there is a metal shear in her leg, it has cut all the way through. As she removes the metal the pain is severe, but the blood begins to scab over the puncture. As she begins role call one more crewmember is dead, it is Gram. When Nanette got down there, he was dead, cooked by steam explosion. As Nanette loaded the bodies of her friends in caskets the thoughts of revenge plagued her mind, she was going to take the Liberators to hell with her, they are going to die! As Nanette resembles her team she asked Jake to take over weapons and for Iris to take over Navigation. As the Metamorphic entered hyperspace Nanette programmed the ship to go to Sector 900, the once homeworld of the Shadow's. Iris could not figure out why Nanette was going to the once Z'ha'dum sector, but Z'ha'dum was not gone—it was being rebuilt by the Liberators advanced technology. And the Shadow's were rebuilding fleets ten time faster then the two past great wars, they also were being made better, their planet was being made super fortified and the Liberators were using Z'ha'dum as a channel to X'ha'dum. The Shadow's and Liberators have returned, the Hand got the other side of the deal, the Liberators enslaved them, but the Hand did not care, they believed they were with the superior race. The other thing the Liberators knew was that coming was the Metamorphic, they have stationed most of their ships to intercept the Metamorphic and destroy it. The Liberators were ready! About two jumps outside Z'ha'dum is a 2254 explorer shuttle carrying one Human waiting to intercept the Metamorphic. As hyperspace is broken by the appearance of the Metamorphic, the shuttle powers beacon and shield, but not weapons. As the shuttle begins transmitting out a code, the Metamorphic responds. The message states that they are friends and need assistance. Iris is worried about the message, but Nanette tells the vessel to dock after seeing weapons down and still cold. As the ship docks it is meet by Nanette, Delenn 3rd, Casthmatic, Deltalenn, and Delteine. Jake was told to say at weapons to maintain weapon control, Iris was told to remain putting to navigate to Sector 900. As the door opens out walked a young man, mid 30s with blue eyes, black hair that was slicked back. He walked out with his right hand near his heart and his left hand at his side. He wore dark clothes with a charm around his neck. The last memorable feature was his glance and sheepish smile. As he stops only few feet from Nanette and the others he begins to speak. "You are captain?" As he points his thin pointer finger at Nanette.

Nanette nods, "Yes and you are?"

Mr. Morden folds his fingers in and looks at Nanette. "My name is Morden, that Mr. Morden to you."

Nanette thinks of the names. "Morden—the Shadow serving Morden?"

Mr. Morden smirks and nods, "Funny how the past can stick to you and yes that would be me."

Nanette puts her hands near her weapon. "What are you doing here?"

Mr. Morden, not skilled in firearms, but grew accustom to noticing where they are, but he puts his fears behind him and cuts to the chase. "I came to warn you…more of you are about to die if you don't take my warning seriously."

Nanette keeps her hands near the weapon. "What the warning?"

Mr. Morden smirks and looks at Nanette. "Ah—there's a price to this information…I request membership—or you could leave me out to die in hyperspace."

Nanette shakes her head, "No, but you need to understand the crews tensions towards you."

Mr. Morden looks at the Human crew. "Ah—yes, I would only hope for the best."

Mr. Morden looks at Nanette who has released the hand that was near the gun and extends it out to Mr. Morden as a gesture of welcome. "Well let me then welcome you to the Metamorphic, I will introduce you to the crew."

Mr. Morden shakes his head. "No need to Captain Nanette, you see, being dead has its advantages, I get to watch your lives unfold before me—it's been quite interesting!"

Nanette interrupts Mr. Morden for the information. "You said some of us will die?"

Mr. Morden nods, his smile melts away. "Yes, but we can stop that nightmare if you don't jump!"

Nanette looks at the remaining crew. "Why not—what's waiting for us on the other side?"

Mr. Morden looks at the crew then back at Nanette. "The Shadow and Liberator fleet, they know you're coming—they were told."

Nanette looks at her crew thinking: not again, another mole! "By whom?"

Mr. Morden tries to remember the name. "By ex—security officer Incevi."

Nanette is almost going to answer, but the name strikes down in her memories. "Incevi—that's impossible" Nanette begins to lose control, autism, the gift from Iris, is setting in, Nanette holds back the urge to stutter, and continues. "I killed him and placed his body on Sigma 957."

Mr. Morden notices the stress on Nanette's face. "That's correct, but you left it at the Eye's doorstep, he was reincarnated to give them his service."

Nanette is frozen scared. "I see," Nanette is thinking to herself. Nanette goes to the com. "Iris don't make the jump!"

Iris patches in, "It's too late we're jumping!" Iris looks at the jump point and see a terrifying sight.

As the Metamorphic jumps there is a blaze of pink beams hitting the Metamorphic, as Jake is caught by surprise, he targets and fires back striking ships but not even injuring the vessels. As Iris has the jump engines on, the Metamorphic enters hyperspace ablaze. As the Metamorphic drifts on fire, Mr. Morden, Deltalenn, Delteine, Casthmatic, and Delenn 3rd are trying to remove a metal beam off Nanette, Nanette is dying and struggles to speak, Mr. Morden tries to silent her but she resists. "Delenn 3rd?" Says Nanette carefully.

Delenn 3rd looks at Nanette. "Yes Nanette?"

Nanette looks at Delenn 3rd, she is losing sight, "Since my taking of the Metamorphic, I command under stress and grief, you are now in charged do you confirm Mr. Morden?"

Mr. Morden nods, "Yes captain."

Nanette looks at Delenn 3rd, "Delenn 3rd?"

Delenn 3rd looks at Nanette with tears filling her eyes. "Yes Captain Nanette?"

Nanette pauses for a second, breathing becomes more shallow. "Give my love to my son and daughter on Earth—tell them I love them."

Delenn 3rd thinks of the time. "Nanette it's been 738 years since we left 3261, why don't you tell them on your own my old friend."

Nanette looks at Deltalenn, she is falling asleep, death is only seconds away. "Deltalenn, please take care of Iris; I was to protect him—will you now?"

Deltalenn takes Nanette's hand. "Yes Nanette."

Nanette looks beyond them. "It's time to rest, but be assured I will be back Delenn 3rd, you know what I talk about."

Delenn 3rd gets on her knees and whispers. "Yes I know Sati Delenn 2nd, I will wait for you, but rest for a while my sister, we will meet again."

And with those final words Nanette dies. As Deltalenn, Delteine, Casthmatic, Delenn 3rd, and Morden stand around they can't believe their eyes or ears. How could Nanette have died, as they turn their backs to get some clothes they are surprised to find no body, Nanette has disappeared like John Sheridan. The strongest hit was that Delenn 3rd knows Nanette will be back so to lead this fleet against the Shadow hordes, but now she needs to be strong and take Nanette's command. As Captain Delenn 3rd regathers her thoughts a message from Iris reaches Delenn 3rd. "Is Nanette their Delenn 3rd?" Says Iris who does not know the tragic news yet.

Delenn 3rd fight back the will to cry. "No, Nanette has died, I'm in charged now."

Iris is shocked and grief stricken. "What happened?"

Delenn 3rd looks at Mr. Morden. "She was killed due to the Shadow-Liberator attack."

Iris receives a typed message regarding Mira. "Dear god, I've have more bad new, Mira has died. The room she was in was directly hit."

Delenn 3rd can hear the terror in his voice. "How are you holding Iris?"

Iris looks at the flames surrounding the Metamorphic. "I'm holding—but just seeing what I saw I might have nightmare for the next 200 years!"

Delenn 3rd looks at the others, "What did you see?"

Iris luckily had the recorder on, and watches the short battle. "Why don't you come up here captain—I think you all need to see this—brings an extra pair of shorts I believe you'll need them!"

As Delenn 3rd, Jake, Casthmatic, Deltalenn, Delteine, and Morden enter C&C they see Iris, Iris is wondering who is the new member. "Who's he?"

Delenn 3rd looks at Iris. "This is Morden he is from the rim."

Iris looks at Mr. Morden. "You served in the 2261 Shadow war."

Mr. Morden nods, wishing people would drop it. "Yes I served the Shadow's I have not shame in my past—neither should you Iris." Iris does not look at him directly. "So what's our status?"

Iris looks at Delenn 3rd, not Mr. Morden. "We have two dead and the vessel is quiet shot up."

Mr. Morden looks at Iris. "Talking about the vessels what did you see?"

Iris looks at the screen as a picture comes up. As hyperspace opens up there are hundred of thousand of Shadow and Liberator vessels everywhere all firing. The space is lit up in a dazzling display of beams. As they hit, the ship tries to reflect most of the fire outward. As the brightness dims there is a huge circular mass behind the spidery fleet. It's a planet—it's Z'ha'dum, but as Casthmatic and Iris look again they see that the planet is covered in gas—volcanic gas. It is then clear that the planet is X'ha'dum. The Liberators have pulled the planet out of Sigma 1257KX19. AS the space foils more spidery vessels come out of Shadowspace and the Eye comes out. As the Eye begins to pull the Metamorphic in, the Metamorphic jumps back into hyperspace. As the film shuts off Delenn 3rd stands stunned. "We are going to need many ships!"

Mr. Morden steps forward. "That's where I can step in, most of the Vorlon's don't agree with the Liberators rule, also the they will act at your command, they await he in hyperspace unnoticed waiting for your command."

Delenn 3rd smiles, "Thank you Mr. Morden."

Mr. Morden smiles freakishly. "Your welcome Delenn 3rd, what should we do?"

Delenn 3 looks at the monitors. "We need to get the ship back on line." Delenn 3 looks at the injured crew. "Okay we will assign jobs, Deltalenn I need you in the Med Bay, and so I propose you as Med Bay officer. Jake, since the leaving of the Armada I need a weapons officer, which will be you. Iris, your possibly the best navigator I've seen, you will be our navigation officer. Casthmatic, you are our best cook, so you will be our chief! Delteine, I need you in the security room. And Mr. Morden you had a past as a engineer, so you will work as our engineer. I am your captain—I have been placed here due to Nanette's last wishes—Nanette does not want us to seek revenge, instead lets mend our problems then attack when we are ready!"

Mr. Morden interrupts. "I can concur these actions that Delenn 3rd puts forth."

Delenn 3rd looks at Mr. Morden, "Thank you Mr. Morden, let get going. We'll go to Minbar to repair our vessel."

Mr. Morden shakes his head. "No Delenn 3rd we need to go to the outer rim I have some further contacts we need to investigate into."

Delenn 3rd is becoming irritated with Mr. Morden trying to take control. "Who?"

Mr. Morden looks at Delenn 3, "Oh just a few friends from the past."

Delenn 3rd does not bend. "Who Mr. Morden?"

Mr. Morden looks to the side and smirks. "The entire Vorlon and past Shadow fleet—they are here like me too, to repay the sin we committed on Z'ha'dum in 2261, the ancient fleets can't rest until the Liberators fall."

Delenn 3rd looks at Iris in confusion. "You mean the Shadow's are back?"

Mr. Morden nods, "Yes the 2261 Shadow's of Z'ha'dum, they can't go beyond the rim till they fulfill their responsibility to purifying themselves."

Delenn 3rd is confused by this logic. "Okay—then Iris set course for the outer rim in sector?"

Mr. Morden interrupts. "Sector 14."

Delenn 3rd, who has heard of this space is shocked by Mr. Morden's proposal, Iris, and Deltalenn and scared of that place...so weird things happen there. As Delenn 3rd looks at the crew she then looks at Mr. Morden. "Sector 14, that's where we were caught in the time rift, why there?"

Mr. Morden's smirk melts away like snow in summer and is flooded by a serious complexion. "It's the only place in time where space is linked between past-present-and future."

Delenn 3rd thinks to herself. "Okay, Sector 14, we should be there in two hours."

As two hours past they jump to see a fleet

Delenn 3 looks at the fleet. "This is the fleet?"

Mr. Morden looks at Delenn 3rd. "Yes they are loyal to only destroy the Liberators—if we want to see our love ones again. Oh and one more thing—may we speak in private?"

Delenn 3rd is uncertain, and Iris looks at Delenn 3rd. "You sure."

Delenn 3rd gets up and walks into a room and closes the door. "So what is so important to talk to me in private?"

Mr. Morden looks at the door. "You know there is only going to be one way to defeat the Liberators—the Liberators thrive on chaos and death, but they can't touch anything that is living and breathes the breath of life, this would be the joined Children of Valen, Children of Light, Child of Time, and Prosperity of Light. Of this moment you have Deltalenn and Casthmatic who make up of the Children of Valen, you make up the Children of Light, but you are missing one child of Valen, two Children of Light, the Child of Time, and Prosperity of Light."

Delenn 3rd looks at Mr. Morden wondering where he is going with this conversation. "So what does this have to do with me Mr. Morden?"

Mr. Morden looks at the Human form of Delenn 3rd. "If you are going against the Liberators you have to have all, when this happens the Liberators can't hurt you and other life."

Delenn 3 look confused and impatient. "So who are the others?"

Mr. Morden ponders for a second. "The Child of Valen you are missing is your mother Delenn, but she is with the Vorlon vessels she will soon be coming over with the second Child of Light, her son David Sheridan, but the other three are going to be children from this crew."

Delenn 3rd looks shock. "What!"

Mr. Morden stress himself, this is going to be difficult to talk about. "When you were on Earth they implanted certain people with embryos made up of either the host's DNA or two DNA's, I am telling you because by your 16th birthday you will give creation, this is why you have to mend your wounds as Nanette said, because she is the third Child of Light. She knew she was going to die so she tried to warn you because you are her host. When you were called Deylnn, enough DNA was collected by the Vorlon's so your genetics and Nanette's genetics were fused with you're create a hybrid of half Human, half Minbari."

Delenn 3 looks at herself, "I am carrying Nanette?"

Mr. Morden shakes his head. You've been mistaken, you are not Delenn 3rd, for you are carrying Delenn 3rd, you are Delenn 2nd and the child you are carrying is Delenn 3rd, so to answer your question, you are carrying Delenn 3rd."

Delenn 2nd, not use to thinking of her name being that is confused, but worries about the others. "The other two know they're pregnant."

Mr. Morden is caught off guard. "Who?" Mr. Morden thinks, "Well Deltalenn genetics were fused by Iris's DNA to create a child Deltalenn calls Deliris, a Human, Asmarminbari hybrid. The last child is going to be from Casthmatic, her genes were fused with Jakes DNA to create a Human, Asmaraqua hybrid called Ananette."

Delenn 2nd ponders on the DNA of the Asmaraqua. "But where does the Asmaraqua come from—Casthmatic and Jake are both Humans?"

Mr. Morden shakes his head gently. "Not exactly."

Delenn 2nd looks at Mr. Morden. "What do you mean?"

Mr. Morden looks at Delenn 2nd with compassion. "They are both Hybritical Respirtorians, there puberty don't begin till age 16 then things get really strange."

Delenn 2nd can't comprehend that they are not Human...they looks Human. "But I don't understand."

"Take the Minbari for example; when Minbari are born they have no crest bone till they're 16, when they hit that age there transformation begins to maturity. It's all in the times Delenn 2nd, that's why your still looking Human because you have not reached 'cresting'."

Delenn 2nd walks off to the side of the room and looks at the lightly colored glass figures. "This is hard to believe Mr. Morden!"

Mr. Morden turns around, and nods gently. "Yes I know it is hard to except, but it is the truth."

Delenn 2nd puts down the figurine. "So what do you want us to do Mr. Morden?"

Mr. Morden looks at Delenn 2nd. "I don't know—you're the captain—I would say go to the place where you and the others will be accepted."

Delenn 2nd thinks for a second and comes up with an idea. "Okay—well I'll call the crew—thank you for being truthful with me Mr. Morden." Morden just nods his head and they both exit the room.

Delenn 2nd goes to the com to tell the crew the news. "This is Delenn 2nd speaking may I have your attention please. Some of you know the future that is in front of you; we are going to Minbar to rest for about seventeen years so please go to your rooms and pack we should be at Minbar in nine hours." Delenn 2nd shuts off the com and talks to the fleet. "This is Delenn 2nd to Shadow and Vorlon fleet meets us near Minbari controlled space in seventeen year—we will then move."

Receives a message. "This is Delenn Sheridan to Delenn 2nd, is it all right if my son and I come aboard?"

Delenn 2nd looks at Mr. Morden, he was right! "Yes, you may—welcome home."

17 years latter, Yedor, Minbar

Delenn Sheridan walks in to see her 26 year old daughter Delenn 2nd, Delenn 2nd has changed into a hybrid of Minbari and Human as Morden said would have happened, also ten years ago she gave life to Delenn 3rd, the child is a energetic female looking mostly Human because Delenn 3rd has not reached her cresting age yet. But the shocking thing about Delenn 3rd is she still has some memories of her past life. Deltalenn also had her child about ten years ago and named her Deliris. Deltalenn and her husband Iris also went through some changes themselves, they are now called Hybritical Respirtorians which are a new species with characteristics of Minbari crest bone, arm structure, and no sweat glands. The Hybritical Respirtorians has Human hair and the emotions which most species lack. The last things they have are scales on the neck, which protects the gill structure. Deltalenn is different then her husband, she is a Minbari hybrid thus is because she is a Child of Valen. The other child was given life from Casthmatic who is now married to Jake; her name is Ananette, which is also a Hybritical Respirtorians like her parents. As Delenn touches Delenn 2nd's shoulder she smiles and then in a stern voice tells her that it is time to call the fleet, it's time to fight the Liberators. Delenn 2nd nods her head knowing it is time to face prophesy. As the families and crew board the vessel Docetist they head to Sigma 1257 to end all things. As Delenn 2nd walks in front of Delenn 3rd she takes off the captains staff and gives it to the 10 year old. Delenn 3rd smiles to Delenn 2nd and takes the seat where she once ruled over.

As Delenn 3rd takes her seat upon the captains chair she presses the com. "This is Delenn 3rd speaking…it is great to be back as captain. I know many of you been through changes and are uncertain about your qualification. I look forward to long service and proud to be your captain again—I won't lie—this is a suicidal mission one we will probably lose, but we are creating history one step at a time! May Valen and God be with us!

The fleet enters hyperspace