CHAPTER SIX Soldiers of Darkness

As Delenn arrives at the Tuzanor Hospital she is meet by Healer Shela. "Healer Shela?"

"Yes Satai Delenn, honored council, please follow me."

As Shela leads Delenn and the Grey Council into the back room where she is treating Kelsey for mutation. As she walks on she is met by the other healers who have been helping Jake, Bri, and Mr. Morden. "How are they?"

Kala bows first followed by Isenla then Delna, as Shela is expecting a casual introduction, Kala pull Shela off to the side to tell her what she found. "Healer Shela I must speak to you about Jake."

"What about him, is he all right?"

"Maybe, he is an alien hybrid."

Healer Shela looks at Kala, "Are you sure?"

Healer Shela nods her head. "Yes I placed his blood in the species analyzer and when it read it stated that he was a Human/Minbari hybrid I had to check it again. Shela he is a hybrid in his cresting point, he is one third there!"

Isenla speaks next, "Hello Healer Kala."

Healer Kala greets back, "Greetings Healer Isenla and Shela, I come regarding concerns of my patient Mr. Morden."

Healer Shela asks for report. "And what about him if I may say?"

Healer Isenla looks at Healer Kala, "He has two DNA's Healer Shela."

Healer Shela trying to get a grasp on the freaky mutations, "Let me guess Minbari and Human?"

Healer Isenla shakes her head, "No, Shadow and Human, I can't believe it is possible Healer Shela; he is showing no signs of his Shadow DNA—yet."

Healer Shela takes in a deep breath, "Well that is a good sign!"

Healer Isenla nods, "That it is!"

As Healer Shela looks at Healer Delna who has been taking care of Bri, Delna comes up to talk of Bri's health. "Healer Shela, I have taken care of Bri and have added his DNA to our species database—Healer Shela he is a Minbari-Human hybrid."

Shela looks at Delna, Isenla, and Kala and tells them what she found and what will need to be done. "As I have reviewed Kelsey, she too is a hybrid of half Human half Asmaraqua and half Vorlon; we need to tell Delenn and the Grey Council what we found!"

Healer Isenla nods and speaks. "I agree."

Shela, Delna, Isenla, and Kala turn to face Delenn and the Grey Council, Healer Shela speaks, "Satai Delenn and honorable Grey Council, we have surveyed Bri, Jake, Kelsey, and Mr. Morden and have come up with some shocking facts…I will begin with my patient and let the other healers follow. As you already know my name is Healer Shela I worked with patient Kelsey, with final DNA check I can only conclude that Kelsey is a Human hybrid of Human, Asmaraqua, and possibly Vorlon."

Shela steps backwards and lets Isenla come forward, "Satai Delenn—Grey Council—my name is Healer Isenla I served patient Morden and can only conclude that Mr. Morden is a Human hybrid of Human and Shadow."

Healer Isenla steps backwards to let Healer Kala speak…but the Grey Council is in an uproar with the fact that the agent of darkness is a Shadow, but they say nothing to the others, they just keep it to themselves. As Healer Kala looks at Delenn she begins her diagnosis, "Satai Delenn and honored council my name is Healer Kala and I kept watch over Jake, as I put his DNA in the species analyzer it stated that Jake is a hybrid of Human and Minbari, he is going through his cresting and will require treatment for the transformation."

Healer Kala bows to Delenn and Delenn bows back. Healer Kala steps back and lets Healer Delna to speak about Bri. Healer Delna is quite nervous. "Satai Delenn and honorable Grey Council I took care of patient Bri and with closer survey with Bri's DNA he is an official Human-Minbari hybrid under the DNA family of our honored family…the Sheridan's." Delenn's eye's open in shock with the news. "If I may speak, he is a Child of Valen."

Healer Delna bows to Delenn and Delenn bows back. Delenn looks at the Grey Council and tells them to go to Mr. Morden and Kelsey and Jake, but Kala interrupts Delenn. "Satai Delenn if I may speak?"

Delenn looks at Healer Kala, "Of course!"

"May you please recall Jake; I need to tell you something personal about his DNA."

Delenn looks at Healer Kala and nods, "Go to Mr. Morden and Kelsey to checkup on them; leave Bri, my son and Jake to me."

The Grey Council nods, but Neroon answers. "Yes Satai Delenn!"

The Grey Council and Shela and Isenla go with the Grey Council. Delenn looks at Healer Kala, "Okay what is so personal to tell me in private?"

Kala looks at Delna and tells Delna to go first. "Satai Delenn, I need to correct you about your statement, when I looked at Bri's DNA it is similar to your daughter Delenn II, so I checked the bone crest and it at this moment is only containing two horns to the crest bone, which are similar to the Minbari female, and not four which is similar to Male Minbari, but this is only my guess so I believe he will begin to change into the hypo-chrysalis that shared the two souls of your daughter and him."

Kala now begins, "And as I surveyed Jake it places him also under the Sheridan family, but matches him with your son."

Delenn wonder then ponders for a second. "So your telling me that Bri is Delenn II and Jake is David?"

Kala and Delna nod their heads, "Yes, but it is only a guess, but we would tell you to keep them close, they will need you!"

Delenn is lost in words, "Thank you Healer Kala and Delna."

Neroon rushes to Delenn, "Satai Delenn you should come and see."

Delenn turns to face Neroon, "See what?"

"Kelsey, something is changing about her!"

Delenn, Delna, and Kala go to Kelsey's room to see that Kelsey has further transformed. Kelsey has scales on her face, hands, but they are spreaded out. As Delenn walks towards Kelsey she touches her face, Kelsey is not sure what she's doing and flinches a little. As she looks at Kelsey she asks how she is feeling? "Are you in pain Kelsey?"

Kelsey shakes her head. "No pain Delenn, the scales are just annoying, it itches badly!"

Delenn looks at the shiny scales, "Well try to resist the temptation."

As Delenn looks at Shela she then looks back to Kelsey. "Do you know what is happening to you Kelsey?"

Kelsey looks at the monitor of the Species Analyzer. "I am changing I believe, into what I believe a race called an Asmaraqua or maybe a Vorlon or maybe both."

Delenn nods, "Maybe both, are you afraid?"

Kelsey does not know how to answer, for being afraid got you killed in Nazi, Switzerland times. "A little Delenn, I am afraid of what I am becoming!"

Delenn nods and turns back to Shela, "Have the other three shown signs of transformation?"

Shela nods, "Only two."

"Who?"

"Jake and David, both showing the beginning of the cresting."

Delenn is surprised, "Cresting—all ready?"

"Delenn, by age range they should have crested five years ago."

Kelsey looks at Shela and Delenn with confusion. "What is cresting?"

Delenn looks down at Kelsey, "Cresting is the coming of age in Minbari."

"They are Minbari?"

Delenn looks at Shela, "Well yes and no, they are half-Human half-Minbari…they too are transforming."

Kelsey is shocked that she is not alone. As Delenn goes to Shela she ask if Kelsey is well enough to move? She says no. As Delenn looks at Kelsey she wonders if Mr. Morden will stay with Kelsey. As she enters Mr. Morden's hospital bedroom Mr. Morden is sitting looking outside at Tuzanor. "Mr. Morden?"

Mr. Morden looks at Delenn and flashes her that one creepy smile, "Hello Delenn, you've found us and you plan to separate us?"

"Only half of that statement is true, I was wondering if you would stay with Kelsey as a person to help her and viscera?"

Mr. Morden drops that creepy smile and goes to a straight face. "And why do you ask this? What is to happen to Jake or Bri?"

"They are cresting and will need a place to stay and that will need to be a Minbari…mostly a Minbari hybrid because they are leaving their Human stage and are entering their Human-Minbari hybrid stage…when they begin severe cresting that includes tremendous pain will you know what to do to help comfort them in this painful point of life?"

Mr. Morden's mouth hangs open. "Okay I believe your saying Delenn that the friend I have made called Bri and Jake is to be ended and I am to watch over Kelsey as I begin my own reformation?"

Delenn nods partially, "Well I believe you've got it Mr. Morden."

Mr. Morden looks at Delenn without the creepy smile or reflection of his once Shadow former-self. "Please just call me Morden, I have done bad things in the past, but that name refers to a formal shadow of my formal self."

Delenn is becoming impatient." I need your response Morden?"

Morden thinks for a while, "Will you promise Kelsey and I that we may meet Bri and Jake because it seems to me that you are taking the role of mother?"

Delenn nods, hoping to get Mr. Morden to take on the role of father of Kelsey. "I would grant permission to you to visit Bri and Jake, but their energy will decline over the year."

"So they are dying?"

Delenn shakes her head with disagreement, "No, the transformation takes most of their energy."

Morden just stares at Delenn with a bland face. Morden then stands up slowly and walks towards Delenn. "I will help Kelsey."

Delenn smiles, "Thank you Morden."

Delenn exits the room and goes to Bri's room. As Bri is lying down he hears Delenn walk in, but Bri does not open his eyes because he is having a terrible headache. As Delenn walks towards Bri she notices the skin color alteration that shows he is cresting. "Bri…I am here to take you back home." Bri keeps his eyes close and cringes to the sound of Delenn's voice because of his headache. As Bri thinks of a reply Delenn then speaks again. "You and Jake will be joining me, I know what you are feeling and I can help you and comfort your pain!"

Bri opens his eyes and looks at Delenn. "Why?"

Delenn looks at Bri in sympathy. "Your DNA Bri is changing you, but you are fluxing from Human male to Minbari-Human hybrid female.

Bri looks at Delenn with a stern face and Delenn tries to conquer over his feelings. "A Minbari-Human hybrid, which is a female—get real Satai Delenn!" Delenn is now lost in words and just looks at Bri. As Bri looks at Delenn he decides to speak again. "When do you want us to leave?"

Delenn is shocked to hear this from Bri and the reversal is shocking, "Leave?"

Bri looks at Delenn, "Yes, go home."

Delenn thinks quick, "I am taking Jake and you back home to Tuzanor and Morden and Kelsey are going to remain here at the Tuzanor Hospital till Kelsey is well enough to move."

Delenn exits Bri's room to go to Jake's hospital bedroom, when she arrives she sees Jake with much more cresting then Bri and she walks slowly to face Jake who is looking at the hospital monitors. "Isn't funny Delenn…I spent most of my life in a hospital setting and I still am not afraid…do you know why Delenn?"

Delenn shakes her head lightly, "I'm sorry Jake, I really don't know why."

Jake looks at his reflection. "Because when I was alive on Earth I spent most of my life in a hospital room and spent many years in a hospital bed awaiting death to come an to take me away to a better life—well death has come, but does this equal the better life?"

"I can't really say Jake; you have to make that decision on your own."

Jake faces Delenn to expose the uplift in his face and the edges of the crest is visible. "You see Delenn, when I was born I was sent to Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center to be treated for cystic fibrosis. It was apparent that both my mother and father were both carriers of the CF gene. Well as I grew up in the hospital I died almost 30 times from a CF attack and every time I would have one of these attacks it left my at the hospital for another three to four months maybe longer. I was never a loud to leave the hospital to go outside until I was about nine years old when I was a loud to sit outside in the city air. By my twelfth birthday my life changed and I began to experience life at the cost of my life. This was when I met Bri ,and Bri and I were roomed together as patients on the sixth floor in the overnight stay. Bri and I then stuck together through the invasion of the darkness of the Third Reich and went to many places together. We sometimes never agreed on some things and other things we have, but if your going to separate us I won't stand for it!"

Delenn agrees with Jake's statement, "No Jake…I have no plans of separating you or Bri, all I need to know is if you will obey me if I tell you to do something, because you've already disobeyed my orders once."

Jake looks at Delenn with more compassion. "Delenn you have to understand that I don't want to be concealed in any house ever again, I want to be free to go anywhere I please with of course permission!"

Delenn touches Jake on the shoulder as a sign of compassion. "And I would grant this Jake; I was just recalled in a hurry."

Jake looks at Delenn, "For what?"

Delenn removes her hand and takes a deep breath. "The Soldiers of Darkness."

Jake states the names, wondering if that is what he heard. "The who?"

Delenn replies. "Soldiers of Darkness, a race, which is as old as the Vorlon's, they wreaked havoc on thousands of worlds and the only way it was recorded was through myths that you may recall as the movies of the Lord of the Rings and The Mummy Returns."

Jake looks confused, "What do those movies have to do with about the Soldiers of Darkness?"

Delenn looks around and walks to the door and closes it. "Back in 3999 a project was made called the Invincible Project, its job was to rid of all Ancient of Darkness from the universe, the only way it could be done was if all the Minbari prophecies were gathered in one place at one time and this was only half done in 3999 with the recreation of the Children of Valen, Children of Light, Prophecy of Light, and the Child of Time. With only eight out of sixteen gathered the darkness was on destroyed, but instead banished to the Rim, which is here. That is what I believe the 50 are for is to help this process to begin again to completely destroy the Soldiers of Darkness and the Ancients of Darkness from every affecting Earth 3."

Jake is uncertain, "Earth 3?" Says Jake is a statement form.

"Yes, oh you might not understand…Earth 3 is where we will go after we die here. You were born on Earth 1, where we are all given the chance to make our own destiny."

Jake interrupts Delenn, "But then why am I transforming into an alien?"

Delenn thinks for a second, "Well an possible explication could be is that once you were born, you were born the same second as one of the prophecies and because you were Human, your Human DNA was used to create a hybrid. In all configurations there should be at this moment 16 Human-Minbari hybrids, once all are crested and joined together the races of darkness will fall."

Jake is still unclear and is becoming impatient. "But what I still don't understand is what does the Lord of the Rings or The Mummy Returns have to do with the Soldiers of Darkness?"

"About 500,0000 BC a dark lord called Asron rose to power after he created a ring of power that could take over the minds of any younger race. The alliance of worlds declared war against Asron in 1500 after he slaughtered the species inhabitations of the planets. This is one of the things that we all feared, and it could even be traced in your own species culture under the ethnic of species you call Egyptians, they created their afterlife judge, and ultimate warrior called Anubis. In reality it was a race born of black ash from Mount Cerfire called the Soldiers of Darkness. They're of ancient warrior of Human-jackal hybrid type zombies that can reproduce just from the ashes of another species. The only way we could defeat them was by using water—lots of water."

Jake still is uncertain, but is beginning to understand. "If Asron was so powerful why did he not use ships to level worlds instead of using medieval tactics?"

"Asron wanted the worlds in tack, but only the superior species was to die." Jake is freaked out. "Well to continue, in 2290 Asron broke out of K'ha'dum and in 2293 attacked Minbar and Minbar got to see for the first time these Soldiers of Darkness, and I was there to join the fight that I will never forget. By the end of 2293 the Soldiers of Darkness had slaughtered species from the races of Centauri, Narn, Drazi, Minbari, and Non-Alliance worlds like Earth. In response we all declared war against the Soldiers of Darkness. 2294 the worse had came true and Asron had made the journey back to Mount Cerfire to pick up his ring of power and to once again raise his second in command leader Lord Anubis the leader of the Soldiers of Darkness. Lord Anubis was in comparison to Asron much more wickeder then Asron, but nothing compared to the most darkest of them all, from the Lord of the Rings, Asron created the Witch-King—something you call a Nazgul."

Jake remembers the darkly figure from the movie that did not creep him out, but instead, spooked him out. "He was also real?"

"Yes and almost indestructible, the Witch-King commanded the nine who were in command of the Soldiers of Darkness. In 2294 at the closing of that year we barely defeated the Soldiers of Darkness and cast away Asron, but like all good things, they must come to an end. In 3261 the Hand began to wreck havoc on the universe, and then the Liberators so a group of men and women created a ship called the Invincible that was to act as a major scanner to find anyone who may have the DNA of the prophecy, and the once simulating the trip used drugs to place themselves there—one did not make it out. I myself was reborn in 3999 under my original self and with my part in the prophecy we cast away the darkness, but we then found out that we were error and needed to find the other eight somewhere in time, but we were running out of time. Now the darkness is rising again and the only thing that can stop it is the Minbari prophecy. But if 50 of us have appeared here on Minbar, but only 16 are the prophecies, then who are the other 83?" Delenn thinks of her own question. "They probably play a role in helping the 16, and if one is left out, the prophecy will fall and the Soldiers of Darkness will win the war.

Jake thinks to himself and realizes that Bri and Mr. Morden must be also transforming to play part in this messed up prophecy. "That would mean that Bri and Mr. Morden are reforming?"

Delenn nods her head. "Correct, we already know what their paths are taking them, I was just not prepared for what path it was."

Jake looks at Delenn, hearing the tone of worry in her voice. "What do you mean?"

"As I was saying, you all play some part in the prophecy, but as I know only two of you are of the 16."

Jake being very good observer, "Two of us…who?" Delenn looks at Jake, but says nothing; Jake is piecing the facts back together and it dawns on him. "My God are you trying to say that I have to do anything with the 16?"

Delenn decides to tell him the whole truth. "Jake, understand, you are becoming a Minbari-Human hybrid this is also backed up with your DNA, which is under my family. As I can guess, you are the reflection of my son David Sheridan, the one who helped you when we first met." Jake is in disbelief. "Don't stress it Jake, at least you will still have most of your own features to separate you from my son, but by genetics you both are twins. Well just consider this, at least you are only making a species transformation, your friend Bri is making two transformations one species and the other in male verse female."

Jake looks down to the crystal floor them back up to Delenn, facial expressions that of a lemon face. "You mean he is actually a girl?"

Delenn nods, then stops then shakes her head. "In reflection to his own DNA, it belongs to my first daughter Delenn II, he will make the transition with his male Human body, but his bone structure will collapse his male bone structure and will put him through a scaling that will make him a mirror of my daughter."

Jake chuckles, "Poor Bri, what about Kelsey or Mr. Morden?"

Delenn takes in a deep breath due to the pressure. "Well as we know they are only here to assist you—with what I do not know?"

Jake looks from the floor back to Delenn. "Does your son know I am him?"

Delenn shakes her head. "Not yet, but strangely enough I have a feeling that he may know."

—Two hours later—

Bri and Jake have been reunited and both are checking out one another's cresting, just in two hours both have changed so much. As Delenn is filling out papers for the release of Bri and Jake, Jake pulls Bri off to the side to talk to him. "Have you've been informed about why we are here?"

Bri looks at Jake, but makes no gestures. "That only depends on what your reasons for the meaning informed."

Jake reforms the question. "Do you know who you are?"

Bri answers according to the facts given to him. "Well according to the Species Analyzer I am a Minbari-Human hybrid in the cresting point, and according to Delenn I am a female hybrid, and with reviewing the documents I am afraid it is true."

Jake nods, "I know how you feel, I am a Human-Minbari hybrid, who is suppose to be a reflection of Delenn's son, David Sheridan, the one who met us on the street after my CF attack! I know, but it does not explain why we are here—this I don't understand!"

Bri looks at one of the nine, and remembers the nine from the Lord of the Rings...Nazgul... "We are here because of a war with the Lord of the Rings and The Mummy Returns."

Jake recalls the movie, the same movie he played dumb-founded with Delenn to gather information from Delenn. "You mean that mirror image person who is supposed to be Sauron?"

Bri corrects Jake. "You mean Asron?"

Jake agrees, "Correct, and the Soldiers of Darkness? How did you know?"

Bri watches the nine and answers quietly. "I was told before we met Kelsey and Mr. Morden."

Jake looks at the nine, but not with direct eye site. "I see."

Bri and Jake look at Delenn as Delenn calls out their names. "Bri, Jake…come."

Bri and Jake go to Delenn. "Where are we going Delenn?" Says Bri.

Delenn looks at Bri and Jake and lowers herself to their levels. "We're going home, and then after I get you to settle in then we will go and explore the city-how does that sound?"

Jake looks at Bri and Bri nods his head with agreement, Jake looks back to Delenn. "Sounds great."

Delenn, Bri, and Jake leave the Tuzanor Hospital as the Grey Council follows. Delenn decides it is time to disperse. "Honored council, if you don't mind, I would like to spend some time alone with my children." The council says nothing except bows and leaves Delenn's presence to go back to the Grey Council Complex.

Delenn walks with Jake and Bri to the entrance of their new home, it is gigantic in crystal form, flowing bluish-purple. "Welcome to your new home Bri and Jake." Delenn shows them their rooms. As Bri goes into his room he looks at all the crystal features, they are all divisions of threes, three sides, three major colors, white, pink, and blue. As Bri goes to his bed it is at a 70 degree angle and Bri is guessing this must be the bed he has seen on Babylon 5, it takes quite much meditation to sleep on these beds.

K'ha'dum, Khazad'dum, Minas Morgal

On the planet K'ha'dum in the city of Khazad'dum at the black tower of Minas Morgal is the creature formally known as the Witch-King, he was once the great leader of the Hand just before he came up to power. The Witch-King was banished by the Hand for terror tactics and was taken by Asron and offered power to be immortal. The Witch-King took the bait and the cost was his soul, he was filled with evil and his body changed into plasma energy. The only way to kill him was if all the prophecy was gathered and at the same place, but because this has not happen ever the Witch-King thrives and prepares to go to battle. "Servant bring my helmet now."

The orc like creature goes to fetch the metal helmet. "Yes Master Witch-King."

The servant brings the black iron helmet to the Witch-King. As the Witch-King stands there the servant places the helmet on the Witch-King's head. Next the servant took the gloves and placed them on the Witch-King's hands. As the Witch-King clenched his gloves the metal spikes move with the movement of his hand. As the servant watches, the Witch-King moves against the servant and chokes him to death with his hand and stabs the servant with his other hand. As the sound of the cry echoed through the fiery landscape Asron looks towards the black tower of Minas Morgal, he knows that the Witch-King has awaken; now all that awaits to waken is the Lord Anubis and his Soldier's of Darkness. On the slopes of Mount Cerfire stands Asron as he stands on the parchment looking at the black ashy landscape that borders Mount Cerfire. As the winds begin to blow fire towards Asron, Asron reaches out his hand towards the volcano. As the sky blackens, Asron begins a devilish chant to the landscape. "Hear me. Who now has the power to stand against the armies of Asron and Anubis and the conjoinment of the reign of rulers?"

As the ash begins to boil upward it began to make cocoons and as the cocoons began to enlarge sharp claws began to emerge out of the cocoon and then feet, arms, and then the heads. The first was the tallest and largest of them all. He wore the outfit that symbolizes that of the Egyptians. As Lord Anubis walks towards Asron they stop in front of one another. As they look at one another the Soldiers of Darkness gathered behind Lord Anubis. As the slopes on Mount Cerfire are clogged with soldiers Lord Anubis decides to address Asron. "My Master Asron, I've return to your call."

Asron looks at the army. "You tell the Soldiers of Darkness that they will soon taste victory with the slaughter of the wicked and diseased."

Anubis raises his sword and turns to face the army. "Listen up you soldiers, the hour approaches, prepare yourselves for battle, we will go to Minbar to slaughter the prophesy and those who oppose us, for we only have to remove those who will not side with us." As Anubis looks at Asron. Anubis turns again and looks at the Soldiers of Darkness. As Lord Anubis raises his sword he produces a loud noise that echoes throughout K'ha'dum. As the Soldiers of Darkness load the vessels Lord Anubis looks back to Asron. "There will be neither surrender nor retreat!"

Asron looks at the marching soldiers of Darkness, "It will start with the Minbari. My dark tower the Barad-dur is ready. We will together march through Minas Morgal to the site of Forth Eorlingas. There we will go to Minbar to kill the enemy." As Lord Asron and Lord Anubis look off in the distance, the hear a deep rumble and them it is followed by a gigantic light, the greatest enemy is awaking, the one that no living man can kill. As they follow to that light, the sky is boiling from the static electricity and thunder is constant.