Chapter 4: What We Enslave

Tick.

Lorien stood over the fallen form of John Sheridan. He hummed to himself, staring down at the body with intense interest. Sheridan had finally accepted the inevitability of his demise and now he could breathe what little life still remained and begin his life cycle again on the dying embers. He searched the ancient lore locked away in his millennia old brain, looking for the correct term and phrase that would allow him to revive the fallen champion.

Tock.

The child that he had carried was thrown across the ground, it's still form too broken to be fixed, even by the magics that were the Ancients. The fragile form of a child was not yet ready to receive the gift of life he desired to give. Any interference on his part would only result in detriment to the natural development of the child.

Tick.

Settling upon a certain phrase, he slowly bent his knees so he could kneel next to Sheridan's body. He grimaced slightly as his eons old bones and joints refused to give way as they once had. But he did not fret away his time with wishing for health or time that could not be. No, that was one of the many gifts of the Younger Races. The ability to wish for things to be different in the face of impossibility.

Tock.

He slowly reached his hand out, and placed it about a foot over Sheridan's sternum. That was the nexus of Human life. He began to mutter the words that were taught to the First Ones near the dawn of time for this galaxy. It was not difficult for him to say the words without an audience. The Shadows hadn't exactly been eager as of late to visit him, so he had taken to speaking with himself. Insanity some people might consider it. But the greatest wisdom lay in speaking ideas aloud so you can hear the words.

Tick.

He was so focused on his dealings with the fallen body he barely noticed the frozen touch as an icy chill began to fill the room. Nor did he notice the foul stench of death rising in great volumes. His attentions were focused solely on the task at hand and all things were secondary to this utmost task. Sheridan was a nexus that all things rode upon.

Tock.

The embers of Sheridan's life were staring like an automobiles engines firing up. Lorien wasn't sure how much he liked comparing the body though to something with no soul. The real truth was all being had two parts. The mortal coil of flesh, blood and bone. And the soul which was spirit and energy. Those two created the true destiny and potential of beings great and small. Was there a Supreme Being in the universe? The First Ones had decided that if there was such a being, he would reveal him or herself when they chose to and until that time there was no need to speculate.

Tick.

He felt something strong grab him, dark forces suddenly muttering as they began to take hold of him. Lorien cursed aloud as he struggled to free himself, but as soon as one dark tendon was snapped three more grabbed hold. Dark words were muttered of a language he had heard once upon a time, one he dreaded to see loose upon this galaxy, which was his domain.

Tock.

With a bone jarring crash he was thrown against the wall and he watched as darkness surged forward and hover over Sheridan. Then they slammed downwards onto the body, which jolted from the impact. Sheridan's back arched as his body was invaded by foreign agents and the body began to tremble. Lorien tried to say something, some words that could halt this terrible deed. But his mouth was wrapped shut by the forces.

Tick.

The body fell back to the floor as the invasion of darkness ended. Around his body began to materialize armor, etched with foul symbols. A glittering sword was produce near his still hand. Darkness shimmered around him, but the Vorlon Kosh was still there in the body and it was also subdued, but the color of its essence was pushed forth as well, creating a cloud that was both dark and light at the same time.

Tock.

Slowly the body sat up, it's eyelids closed. It sat there for a second, just sitting. Then it's head raised until it was facing Lorien. Slowly its arms moved in all the ways it could, slowly reaching up as high as it could go and as far back as it could be brought. Then it began to wiggle the fingers and toes, curling them then uncurling each finger one by one. It's head rolled around, back and forth it rolled. It's jaw moved back and forth, the mouth opening and closing. It's legs began to move, bending and slowly it stood up, pushing off from the ground.

Tick.

It walked slowly around, as if trying to test out the limits and abilities of the new body. It twisted it's torso around as far as it could to the right and then the left. The mouth opened and utter words no living being except Lorien could understand, approving the body that it was in. It then returned its face to Lorien and opened its eyes at long last. Reds and orange light filled the eyes of what had once been John J. Sheridan.

Tock.