Thanks for the comments, guys!
John, Kirk will do something against the Borg that is...Kirkesque. ;-) As for Gillian, I had no plans for her to chase Kirk, but if you like, I will bring her back into the thick of the story.
At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? … If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher.
—Abraham Lincoln, 1838 CE
The woman in white let the iron-bound door close behind her. Rough stone walls and a bare floor that seemed to have melted out of the planet's bedrock made the room have the intimidating look of a prison. She would have preferred spotless gleaming white porcelain, sleek and sterile. A dark-blond haired man hung spread-eagled from nothing in the middle of the room. Delicate gravity fields held him captive. The Zener had brought him and his companion here to Z'ha'dum for her.
The man peered at the woman. Even though, she no longer looked as young as when he last saw her, she was even more breathtakingly beautiful. "Liria?" the man inquired. "Liria Satarah, is that you? Please help me."
Ignoring the noise, the woman studied Dr. John Howard. Once she would have known the man, but no longer. She glanced at the xenoarchaeologist's clothing. People felt safer dressed than undressed. Carefully, she manipulated the gravity fields around the man, slicing away every article of clothing. The sliced up shirt, pants, undergarment, socks and shoes were bundled in a tight ball in front of the hanging man. Appreciating how the man's body was nicely made, hairy and softly muscular, she manipulated the Shadow gravity technology once more, breaking the bonds between atoms,and the clothes became fine dust falling onto the stone floor.
Howard's eyes bulged. Not even the Federation's most advanced worlds could imitate these simple feats.
"Liria?" This time there was an edge to Howard's voice. Fear. It was always good if that began early.
The woman reached into Howard's mind telepathically. Once more, she marveled at her body's abilities. They held potentials that she didn't have before being thrown into the eternal sleep. She soon found the pain centers of the man's brain. Very carefully, she began to stimulate them. Only a little at first, building slowly. Too much at once could kill quickly. It always amazed her how much the human body could take if fed in finely increasing amounts.
The spread-eagled man shook his head as if he could shake off the pain. Realizing that he couldn't, he fixed the woman with a stare. She merely watched and continued stimulating his synapses. In spite of the urgency, she could be patient.
The eternal sleep. She frowned at the unfairness of that. A long dreamless sleep that she did not deserve. She had never taken sides, so why be punished that way? The one side was as guilty as the other side for making deals, alliances, with her. She deserved equality! Was that so much to ask?
Beads of sweat appeared on the man's pale face. His jaw tensed and his nostrils flared as he sucked in air. Now and then, he gave a small grunt. Patience. Soon, now.
Yes. It was jealousy. The hypocrisy of those who imprisoned her disgusted her. Well, in this body, she could do better than she had done in the ancient war. Given time, she could break the strongest man, the proudest woman, mold them as an artist would mold clay. It was enjoyable to turn them to her own will. On their knees they had begged to give their souls to the side that employed her skills. The Light. The Darkness. They had served obediently until they died. The greatest pleasure had been the way their faces went pale, even years later, when they saw her, in life and in dreams, the way they hurried to assure her of their faithfulness.
The first sob ripped out of the man hanging in the air. She waited impassively. Haste could spoil this. More sobbing sounded, growing louder and louder in spite of Howard's 'manly' efforts to suppress them. Soon enough, they grew into a howl. She waited. The man's naked body shone with sweat, his head thrown side to side. The shrieks came and lasted until breath was exhausted and began anew as soon as he could inhale. His wide bulging blue eyes saw nothing as the pain wrenched him.
The woman stopped the stimulation abruptly, and waited as the screams faded into pants. The man shuddered, licked his lips, coughed. He looked confused and frightened. "Please, Liria. What do you want? I'll do anything you ask."
She smiled. She didn't care about the name given to her body. She tenderly reached out to lift up Howard's chin. "It is good to give in." In the human brain, there are pain centers and pleasure centers. She stimulated the pleasure centers, just for a few moments. Howard widened his eyes as he felt the sudden difference, gasping and shuddering once more with closed eyes and parted lips.
She took a handkerchief out of the sleeve of her white dress. Gently and tenderly, she cleaned the sweat off the prisoner's face. "I know this is very hard on you, John," she said warmly. "You must try not to make it more difficult. Would you like something to drink?"
Through Shadow technology, she manipulated gravity and a glass of water floated from a corner of the room. Howard never took his eyes off the woman he once knew as Liria, and drank greedily.
"Yes, that's better, isn't it? Remember, try not to make it difficult for yourself." Taking the glass, she turned away from the suspended man. Howard managed to speak in a rasping voice.
"I'll get you, Liria! Do you hear me? A penal center is too good for you! I will…."
The woman stopped listening. Any other time, she would have felt glowing pleasure at the fact that the prisoner hasn't lost defiance yet. Shaving away defiance and dignity in minute slices gave her delight. No time for that now. The Shadows need information about his universe. The latest incursion has made that need urgent. Naturally, the all-knowing Great Lord didn't need it, but His servants must help themselves. Carefully, she stimulated Howard's neural pain centers and delicately turned that task over the delicate electricity projectionShadow technology. As an added twist, she extended the electrical projection to the synapses that would stimulate paranoia in humans. She turned out the light and closed the door behind her. Darkness would do its work. Alone, in the dark, with the pain.
She walked into another room where another man hung in midair like Howard. This one appeared weak, small and ordinary. The terrorist was not really important, but every bit of information helped. His dark eyes tried to drill into her head as she manipulated gravity to remove his clothing and destroyed them as she had Howard's. He was nearly hairless and didn't look like he would be able to keep a wife physically interested. But he never flinched and said nothing. His defiance was different, fueled by hopelessness and despair. He, she knew, thought he didn't have anything to lose. She smiled. Soon, Robert Carlson would know otherwise.
This time, the woman in white telepathically reached for the pleasure centers in his brain and began the slowly increasing stimulation. Carlson frowned and shook his head, then his eyes narrowed, trying to deny the impossible rising pleasure. She almost smiled. Perhaps a woman might enjoy his now increasingly impressive asset, but clearly, it wasn't enough to keep his wife back on Earth. He would think that pleasure was easier to fight than pain. She had broken people with no more than this. But afterward, they tend to think nothing more than wanting more of the ecstasy that bloomed in their heads. Even so, it was quick, and they would do anything for more.
Pleasure. She had used that with consummate skill in the eternal battle between the two sides before that terrible long sleep. The physical aspect of pleasure had been a major part of her dispute about equality. She and her first husband had been created at the same time, from the same material, so wasn't she entitled to equality? Instead, his male insecurity drove him to whine and try to force himself on her.
She had been right to leave Adam.
She did not deserve to be punished! At least, he received the gift of mortality and soon enough, no longer walked in the world. The satisfaction of that knowledge was small. It was a drop in the ocean of ecstasy she now felt in the presence of the Great Lord.
The Great Lord. Once, she would have remained neutral in the eternal war, preferring to seek power for herself. For now, the Great Lord of the Dark was useful for her purposes. She could afford to think that in the safety of her head.
An odd feel in her telepathic link pulled her out of her thoughts. She took one look at Carlson and clicked her tongue in exasperation. His head hung to one side, his chin dark with blood where he had chewed his tongue, eyes staring and already dull-looking. Inattention, she chided herself. She had been distracted and the stimulation grew too fast, too far. With an irritation that didn't show on her face, she withdrew from the man's head. There was no point in trying to stimulate the brain of a corpse. Remembering Dr. John Howard, she hurried back to the first room.
She sighed with relief when she could hear screams filtering through the iron-bound door. There were barely intelligible words among the howls. "Pleeeeaaaaaase! Oh, God, PLEEEEAAAAAASE!"
She smiled. Now that she would worry about only one man, there would be a little fun after all.
Royal Palace, Imperial City, Centauri Prime
All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts pathological personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it is magnetic to the corruptible. Such people have a tendency to become drunk on violence, a condition to which they are quickly addicted.
—Missionaria Protectiva, Text QIV (decto), Chapterhouse: Dune by Frank Herbert
Londo Mollari thought that the air on Homeworld felt thick. The courtiers' eyes shift nervously even as they radiated the false confidence that came with eagerly absorbing the power of the Royal Court. Even the servants appeared jumpy. Female servants squeaked at any curt order. Male servants widened eyes and moved almost at a run to do their lords' bidding.
Those were signs of a people who knew their world may soon die.
The Royal Admiralty and Court had kept all military engagements with the Borg quiet, but rumors still leaked out of the Royal Palace and swept through the streets. Families everywhere were discovering reasons to visit friends or relatives on other worlds. Soon enough, the Admiralty would have to resupply the constantly activating jumpgates with Quantium-40. If the jumpgates will still be needed later.
"Magnificent, isn't it?"
Londo looked sharply at Lord Refa. "What?"
"Don't get me wrong, Londo. I have Centauri Prime in my best interests as much as you do. Fear does make people more…compliable. Easier to control."
Londo had to grind his teeth to keep himself from snarling at Refa. Doesn't he care about the 3 billion people on Centauri Prime? "If we don't do something about the Borg, Homeworld will burn!"
Refa chuckled. "Londo, Londo…. I am not so blinded by the glitter of Court. We are doing something about it. Allies will soon be welcome to Centauri Prime. They will establish a base here where they will help with the defenses."
Londo stared at Refa hard. Suddenly, the air felt cold. "Allies? Do you mean those…what are they called? Remalins?"
"Romulans. Do pay attention when you're at Court, Londo! Come, come. It is time. The Emperor wants you to see something. Of course, I mean I want you to see something." Refa smiled and made a beckoning gesture to Londo. The ambassador frowned subtly. Refa liked to flaunt the fact too much that he was the power behind the throne.
He went with him down the palace corridor to a hall-chamber. Here, chandeliers marched along the middle of the vaulted ceiling painted with murals of scenes in Centauri history and mythology. Along one long wall, mirrors arranged like windows reflected the real windows on the other long wall. Emperor Turhan, upon being raised to the throne, had ordered the Hall of Mirrors built according to the plans of an ancient royal palace on Earth.
The arched windows were all open. Londo could see almost the entire Royal Court standing on the patio and in the gardens outside the open windows. Everyone appeared to be looking up at the sky. Even his wife, Lady Timov was there, staring up along with everyone else. Londo could see Minister Virini standing at a window. Virini caught sight of Londo and Refa entering the Hall of Mirrors, and excitedly beckoned at Londo.
The ambassador reluctantly went outside and shielded his eyes against the sun as he looked up. He was horrified to recognize a scene from his worst nightmare. Huge black spiny spider-like ships were just beginning to pass over Imperial City, escorted by equally black spiky fighters. At first, they were few and then more. Hundreds. A thousand. Many more that Londo immediately lost count. Soon, there were so many that they blotted out the sun.
Jaw slack with horror, Londo stumbled backward back inside the palace. Turning around in the cool dimness of the hall, he could see the huge mirrors mocking him with more views of the Shadow ships flying overhead in the sky. Tearing his eyes from the sight, he caught sight of the Emperor watching the terrible spectacle through a window. Cartagia appeared beside himself with glee.
Frightened, Londo hurried to pull the fool away from the windows. A Royal Guardsman pulled out a dagger and held it at the ambassador's throat.
Londo's eyes were still bulging in his fright. The Shadows scared him more than the guard's dagger. "Your Majesty, what is this? They're terribly dangerous!"
Refa haughtily stepped to stand beside the Emperor. "We feel, and His Majesty agrees, that it is strategically wise to have our allies keep a fleet on Centauri Prime. They are extremely powerful. They will help with the defenses. Let the Borg come!"
Londo dumbly stared at his rival. Refa really must be removed! He turned to Cartagia with beseeching eyes. "What did they give you, Your Majesty? If they hide behind the Centauri, we will die first when their enemies come!"
Cartagia gave a bright toothy smile and clapped his hands rapidly with glee. "Much more importantly, Lord Mollari, is what I will have! Thanks to Lord Refa, they were able to enter negotiations with us. I will achieve the godhead for the simple price of the island of Celini! Isn't it exciting? I will be like the Emperors of old! Just think! I will be a god walking among you! Of course, I don't need to die first. That's the beauty of it!"
Londo, keeping himself under careful control, haughtily pulled himself out of the guard's hold. If the Minbari caught wind of this, they would celebrate the day Centauri Prime burns. He bowed to the Emperor. "It is, as you say, a most exhilarating day."
He walked out of the Hall of Mirrors, barely able to hold his fearful horror. Once the tall doors closed behind him, he stumbled, nearly falling into the arms of Minister Virini. Lady Timov stood beside the Minister of Protocol. Horror made the ambassador careless as he gazed into the eyes of Timov and Virini. "He is insane!"
Virini shushed him as his wide eyes shifted around the corridor with fear. He held a bony finger up to his lips and whispered, "You must not say that. There are…eyes and ears everywhere. There have been…disappearances recently."
Timov nodded slowly. Even her normally cold haughty visage seemed to have cracked. "Don't be a fool. I did not stay married to you just so you could vanish in thin air. Those disappearances…. Well, a witness claimed she saw someone…turn into a pillar of light and vanish. Ridiculous. Of course, because she was a servant, nobody listened. Then again…soon after her hysterics, she fell down some stairs and broke her neck. Poor thing."
Londo was aghast. If that's not a teleporter like what the Newcomers have, then he's a spoo! Refa really must be removed if the Republic is to be saved!
Babylon 5
Doctors McCoy and Franklin were discussing medicine in the Main Medlab over a patient lying on a gurney when the call came through Franklin's comlink. The voice of Ivanova came out of the device.
"Code 7-R. Code 7-R."
McCoy and Franklin exchanged glances. "This is Franklin. McCoy and I will be there. Nurse! Take care of this one. We gotta go."
xxxxxxxxx
McCoy and Franklin arrived at a meeting of the Babylon 5 War Council where everyone involved were gathered. Only Captain Sulu was missing as his starship was still at Abba IV. They exchanged quick greetings. Then the golden-looking holographic form of a Minbari man appeared among them. It was Draal from the Great Machine within Epsilon 3. He beamed beatifically.
"Ah! I see you have made alliances with each other…. Good! Great things will come from your alliance. Wonderful!" Draal turned to focus his attention on the technomage Galen. "I'm surprised your order has allowed you to participate."
Galen gave a half grin. "I'm not participating. I'm merely…an observer."
Draal gave a knowing smile and look. "Of course. Pardon me for making conclusions from my own observations. Now. The Borg are still in this universe. They need to be…removed before they can do any further damages." The custodian of the Great Machine turned twinkling eyes to Delenn, turning the burden over to her.
Delenn stood up. "We need allies. Not only for the Borg, but also for the coming war with the Shadows. Many times over the last million years, the Shadows were fought to a standstill by the First Ones, races immeasurably older than our own. After the last war, a thousand years ago, we believe the First Ones went away forever, passing beyond the galactic rim where no human or Minbari has ever ventured. But the Vorlons remained. It is possible that some of the others may still be around. Some have gone to sleep where they would not be bothered. Others still walk among the stars on unknown errands."
Marcus Cole looked up at Delenn from his chair. "The First Ones are very old. Possibly very very dangerous."
Spock said, "As I understand the appellation 'First Ones,' we have knowledge of such species in our universe. Our own contacts have not been entirely beneficial. Nor have they been entirely harmless. Once their notice is attracted, it is akin to a human noticing a colony of ants."
"Yes," said Delenn. She wasn't sure what ants were, but she understood the gist of what the Vulcan was saying. "We need all the help we can get. They must be found and contacted."
Draal nodded. "The Great Machine in Epsilon 3 holds great stores of information that may be helpful in locating the First Ones. Tales of encounters with alien forces beyond description, stories of vast and nameless beings that prowl the ruins of ancient cities. Each file ends with the words 'Do not approach.' One of you can investigate these files in person."
Captain John Sheridan would have liked to go, but the negotiations with the League were now intensifying and the Federation ambassador has requested his assistance with the more difficult League representatives. He turned to Susan Ivanova. "Commander, can you go down for me?"
"You can count on me, sir."
Draal wasn't exactly enthusiastic about having a stranger enter Epsilon 3. "Surprises are not…always so tolerant of a person's health."
Ivanova shot back, "Surprises can be good. Life would be boring without them!"
Draal laughed. "All right, I have decided that I like you. Come on down, then."
Captain Kirk envied Ivanova's chance at taking a close look at the Great Machine. But they still had one more thing to do before adjourning this meeting. "Ambassador Delenn. You will agree that we cannot rely solely on these First Ones?" Upon receiving a nod from Delenn, he continued. "The Minbari Federation can be instrumental in stopping the Borg. You have the ships."
Delenn made a formal half bow. "Yes. But our ships were built to fight the Shadows, not the Borg. I…doubt the Grey Council would be willing to sacrifice ships to this alien invasion. An invasion that has not touched the Minbari."
"So far!" interjected Dr. McCoy.
Delenn inclined her head, signaling her concession to that possibility. Valen preserve her people safe from that biomechanical horror! "So far, the Borg has attacked only the Centauri. The Grey Council feels that it would help remove a major element from the Shadows' arsenal of allies. It would also help the Narn free themselves. So, James, unless they can be convinced otherwise, they won't commit the ships."
Kirk glanced at his science officer. "Spock?"
Spock held up a compadd and a datacrystal. "Ambassador, we are offering the specifications for our shield technology to the Minbari Federation. If your Council decides to send the ships against the Borg, the ships will have shields as an additional protection. Will this be sufficient incentive?"
Delenn, dumbfounded and mouth open, reached out for the compadd and datacrystal. She looked up at the Federationers and gratefully nodded.
xxxxxxxxx
A Minbari flyer went from Babylon 5 to the jumpgate which activated at its approach. On it was Delenn and valuable information about a technology that would change the balance of power in this part of the galaxy forever. Meanwhile, an Earth shuttle went from the space station down to the planet below.
Euphrates (Epsilon 3)
Ivanova watched with amazement as the hologram of Draal vanished and the eyes opened on Draal's real face. His real body soon pulled itself out of the interface matrix. The Minbari looked at Ivanova and waited, his meaning clear.
Ivanova took a deep breath and stepped into the interface matrix. Draal guided her. "Relax and open your mind. But whatever you do, do not stray from the Path."
Ivanova felt her consciousness slipping into a conduit and closed her eyes. Suddenly, she found herself in the airless starry void of space. Instinct told her to seize what air she could find in space. "I…I can't breathe!"
"It's all right," assured Draal. "Try to calm your mind. Focus. All life forms are connected. Look for the Path. Look for the Path."
A faint blue ribbon began to form in front of her. Is that the Ethernet Path that Draal talked about? "I see it."
"It is the power that binds us, one to another, across the darkness of space. Focus on the First Ones, on the most ancient of ancients. Let the Path take you to them."
The Path became more and more solid and visible, looking like the theories of a wormhole's appearance. Ivanova allowed herself to be pulled into it and she rushed through the depths of space, passing stars at impossible speeds. This is like that warp experience at Salos that the Enterprise gave me. But much faster! Soon enough, she arrived at a planet. She was surprised to see that it was familiar to her.
"I know this place... I've seen it on the star charts. Sigma 957. They were here. I can feel their footprints in the sand. Hear their words...whispering on the wind." She consciously moved to look at the planet from all angles. It appeared to slowly change as she moved. Lines, both straight and curving seemed to glow through the sandy surface of Sigma 957. They were like the old legends of ley lines on Earth. "It's beautiful. They're coming back again...soon. I can... Draal? Draal, something's wrong." She thought she could feel space itself vibrating, convulsing as if the universe wanted her to go somewhere. A feeling of urgency pervaded her. "Draal, the Machine wants to show me something."
"Let yourself go. You know there are First Ones at that planet. It is done. Allow yourself to be pulled into the Path. It could be important."
Once more, Ivanova was in the wormhole-like Path and she swept through space. She then arrived at a star system. A beautiful Earth-like planet shone in the distance. "It's Davo." She could see a large fleet of Centauri warships of all classes. Peppered among the ships were a few alien ships, mostly vinZini. Then the stars swung as she spun around to see what the fleet was facing. "My God…. It's them!"
Draal looked at Ivanova sharply. If it was the Enemy….
A huge cubical vessel that seemed to be all pipes with soft green light glowing from within slowly approached.
"We are the Borg. You will be assimilated.Disarm all weaponsand surrender your ships. Resistance is futile."
A chill swept through Ivanova at the sound of the Borg announcement. It was totally devoid of emotions. It didn't even have arrogance in it, even though the words were arrogant. It sounded like a stadium full of people speaking with one voice. Ivanova, pushed by curiosity 'flew' to the Borg cube and went under it, almost touching it.
Draal finally guessed what Ivanova was seeing. "Don't touch them! Do not go in! We can't afford them knowing about the Great Machine!"
Heeding his warning, she pulled herself away from the cube. Just then the night was lit up with weapons flying between the cube and the Centauri fleet. Sentri fighters swarm the cube, totally ignored. Green beams and points of light slammed into the familiar warships. Ivanova was dismayed to see invisible barriers similar to the Federationers' shields halt some of the Borg attack. But they must be weaker versions, because they immediately failed under the power of the Borg weapons, not that it meant much to her.
One of the larger battlecruisers came close enough to the cube and it was grabbed by a wide dark blue tractor beam and a bright golden-red string of light that appeared to be wrapped by a lightning bolt shot through the inside of the dancing beam at specific points of the Centauri armor. Instantly, the armor on one of the forward points of the Primus shattered and fell away, exposing the battlecruiser's forward innards. Tiny explosions lit up the wound and bodies spilled out of the now tilting vessel.
Horror pulled Ivanova away from the carnage even as the Borg repeated the tractor beam tactic with a Vorchan.
"My God…. How can we defeat them? They're slaughtering them! Wait…. Draal, I'm not alone. Someone else is watching the Borg." She looked away from the battle, toward the sound of almost-insectoidal chitter. "It sees me. It knows I'm here. It... It's pulling me in. Can't stop it." In the fabric of space, four points of flaming light, looking as if they were alien eyes, formed and began to approach Ivanova directly.
What he was worried about has finally happened! Draal shouted, "It is the Enemy! Pull away! Go back to the Path!"
"I can't. It…. It knows I'm here. It knows my name!"
"Break off! I can't pull you off without killing you. Pull away! Don't look at it!"
Susan Ivanova managed to tear her eyes away from the sight just as the points of light were about to reach her while more flaming points appeared in the vicinity. Reinforcements for the alien. The blue ribbons of the Path soon slid the human woman along.
"That's it," said Draal. "Come back now…."
"Wait…. There's something else." Ivanova was now in orbit of Jupiter. A massive ship slowly moved through space with fighter escorts, all of them painted white and blue. "That's EarthForce One before it exploded! I can warn them! I can save the President!"
"No. It's too late. You're seeing the shadow of things long gone."
Then everything froze for Ivanova and was replaced by the image of Morgan Clark back when he was a vice-president, sitting at a desk. The image had a lot of static in it. "I've wanted Santiago dead for so long. I wasn't sure we could really pull it off. You're sure it's done?"
Another voice responded, a deep male voice. It was Mr. Morden. "EarthForce One will never return from Io. The power is yours, Clark. Mr…President."
Morgan Clark leaned back into his chair his chair, looking smugly satisfied. The image snowed into static.
Ivanova was once more out in orbit of Jupiter, watching as a small explosion caused the presidential ship to tilt down and slowly halt the saucer section's centrifugal rotation, light flickering in windows. Its fusion reactors breached and the ship shattered in a final explosion.
It was too painful for Ivanova to watch the assassination so vividly again. She turned her head away from the sight and she was suddenly back in the Great Machine on Epsilon 3.
Draal was looking amazed. "I do not understand! A normal human mind should not have been able to do that!"
Ivanova knew that her mind wasn't exactly normal, but it wasn't the time or the place for that. Besides, her mind was too busy trying to drink in the revelation behind the assassination. "I saw it…. I saw it all. The image I saw…the message. Can you record it?"
"Yes, but how…."
"Do it, please. It's the proof we've needed that President Luis Santiago was assassinated, that Clark was behind everything. We've got it. We've got it!"
Royal Palace, Imperial City, Centauri Prime
Londo bowed to the Emperor in the Grand Hall of the Royal Court, and backed away from the throne to the grand doors, occasionally bowing along the way. His exit would have been flawless if not for a noble lord's incessant coughing fits. He knew it was Lord Dugari. He understood it was merely an unavoidable illness.
Unfortunately, Cartagia didn't understand. He was narrowing his eyes in annoyance at Dugari who was trying to hide in the crowd of courtiers.
Londo turned around and left the Grand Hall, allowing the Royal Guards to close the doors behind him, leaving the ambassador in the Hall of Ambassadors. Ahead of him was Lord Refa standing in the Sublime Porte and looking smug.
"Ambassador."
"Vocator." Londo thought Refa didn't deserve that title accorded to a speaker of the Centaurum. But he must keep his feelings in check if his plans were to succeed. "Ah, Antono Refa, I have needs."
Refa raised his eyebrows. "I'm flattered, Londo, but I already have my wife, the Lady Celes."
Londo laughed good-naturedly, hiding his disgust. What a horrible thought! "No, no, that's not what I'm talking about. You see…. I'm trying to create an alliance with the Minbari…."
Refa studied the ambassador carefully and suspiciously. "The Minbari? What need do we have for them? They keep themselves out of others' affairs. Soon enough, we will be able to stand up even to them."
Londo waved a finger at Refa. "Ahhh yes, we will. But until then, we cannot move close to their space without fearing a reprisal from their warcruisers. Many key League worlds are close to their borders. If the Minbari agree to an alliance with us, we can conquer those worlds without any meddling from their fleets. Some of those worlds may get the idea of turning themselves in to be part of the Minbari Protectorate. With this alliance, that idea cannot even materialize in their heads."
Refa inclined his head. "That's true. How can I help?"
"Mmmmm." Londo slowly walked around Refa, shaking his upraised finger and glancing through the open Sublime Porte at the gardens of the Royal Palace's front courtyard. "The military, the ministers and the various key lords know you are the power at the Royal Court."
Refa smiled his satisfaction. "Also true."
"And I, Londo Mollari, a mere ambassador, have been away from Homeworld too long. The people that I need for the negotiations are…skeptical of my Centauri purity."
Refa shrugged. "What can we do? The Divine Turhan chose to send you to Babylon 5. It is the Imperial prerogative."
"You can make it easier for me to relate to key people at Court. If you help, you will have the credit for being the one who finally got the Minbari to side with us for the first time in Centauri history."
Refa's eyes gleamed at the thought of the honors heaped upon him by the Court. Londo can even see the way to the throne being open in Refa's mind. He's hooked. "Londo, how can I help?"
"Give me your tessuro medallion."
Refa dumbly stared. Among the Centauri, male children of the nobility wore a medallion as a necklace which identified their Houses and essentially announced to everyone: 'Lay one finger on this child and you will be dealing with powerful people.' Upon their coming of age at the Rite of Ascension, the medallion is removed from the child and his long hair is for the first time raised up to the typical Centauri crest. Most lords keep their childhood medallion and often used them as seals to impress on the sealing wax on traditional documents.
"Excuse me?"
Londo smiled. "If they are to truly believe that I am your ally, they must see that you trust me well enough to lend me your tessuro medallion."
Refa was apprehensive. While Londo had a point, it is always hard to let someone have something that is intricately tied into your life. He plunged a hand into a pocket and brought up a golden circle the size of a child's hand. Embossed on it was the sigil of House Refa and other symbols. He pressed the medallion into Londo's outreached hand.
"Thank you, Lord Refa. You won't regret this." Londo smiled gratefully. So it begins!
Valen'tha, Grey Council Command Ship
Delenn came upon the round portal of the Council Chamber where a white-robed acolyte waited. The acolyte bowed and moved away as the hatch slid aside. Delenn stepped into the darkness and cautiously walked in the darkness, moving with memorized steps, resisting the temptation to reach out with her hands for guidance. Glancing up at the unseen ceiling, she could see the faintly glowing and hovering crystal diamonds slowly moving in a circle far above.
Suddenly, a bright light shone down. Delenn was relieved to find that her memory was not faulty yet. She was standing in the center of the Council circle.
"I come, not as a former Satai of the Nine, but as an ambassador answerable only to you. I come also as a bearer of a proposal. A proposal of alliance."
The nine pillars of light came on into being. The Nine stood around Delenn, concealed by grey robes and hoods. One of them held the staff of leadership. Hedronn. A voice came from one of the Nine. "State your proposal."
Delenn took a careful breath. "The proposal is not entirely mine. It comes also from the Newcomer known as Captain James Tiberius Kirk."
Another voice spoke. "This Kirk is an intruder. His intrusion risks derailing all we have worked for."
Delenn recognized the voice as coming from Satai Neroon. Her lips almost twisted in distaste at the imbalance of power in the Grey Council. The voice of Hedronn, Satai and now the Chosen One since the death of Jenimer on Minbar, sounded. "Speak, Delenn, of this proposal."
"The galaxy is falling into shadow. The Darkness is growing. A new threat has appeared and threatens to displace both the Light and Darkness."
Neroon said, "Yes. We know of the Borg. The Centauri will fall." He sounded dismissive.
Delenn swirled to face Neroon. "Yes. If that is allowed, all other worlds will follow the Centauri. The Borg seeks to consume technology. We are the most advanced of the younger races. After the Centauri, they will doubtlessly come against us. The Borg must be stopped before the Circle is entirely ruined."
Satai Coplann snorted. "Is not the Circle ruined already with the arrival of the Newcomers?"
"Perhaps. But we still have a responsibility. We can use the Borg threat to create a new alliance of star nations. It is our responsibility to work against the Darkness and to combat it. Lately, I am…troubled by the Council's inactivity in the face of the rising Darkness. Without revealing our knowledge of the Shadows, we could be lending aid to the Non-Aligned Worlds without using military intervention. Prevent them from being tempted by offers from the Shadows. We could be involving the Warrior Caste more with the Rangers…. Instead, we have stood by and done nothing!"
Neroon pulled his hood to reveal his face. "Until the Shadows come, it is not our war." Delenn took a sharp breath at this sign of arrogance. Neroon's lips twisted in a resentful sneer. "In the last war, the Warriors fought and died. We fought as you prayed with the Priests and the Workers built the ships and weapons for us. Then at the moment of final victory, you pulled us back and forced us all to surrender. Surrender to a primitive race that was already defeated! It was too much. You ask us to fight another war with a race that is not the Shadows. No. This war is not our affair."
Delenn bristled as her eyes shot daggers at Neroon. With four of the Nine being of the Warrior Caste, they only needed one other Satai to gain a voting majority. She was tempted to break the Council, but she felt it was not the time for it. "You have not heard all of my proposal." She pulled out a datacrystal from within her robes. "In here is information and the schematics for the Newcomers' force shield technology."
Surprised murmurs rippled through the Grey Council. Delenn continued.
"If you agree to send the ships to stop the Borg, we will equip all of our ships with the shield technology generously provided by Captain Kirk. We hear rumors of the Centauri equipping their warships with shields taken from Valen knows where. The Rangers report that even the Narns are shielding what ships they have left. If you refuse…." Here, Delenn raised the datacrystal as if to throw it down and shatter it on the Council floor. All knew that datacrystals were unbreakable, but the symbolism of the act was important nonetheless. "We will not have what the lesser races have. We will fall behind the lesser races. Our ships will be hard-pressed to defeat any ship of the lesser races. You say you could not abide the loss of honor in the surrender to the Earthers. Can you abide the humiliation of being no longer the most advanced, the strongest of the younger races? Can you?"
Neroon and the others of the Nine exchanged uneasy glances.
USS Enterprise-A
Captain Spock studied the reports from Commander Ivanova. Something about her experience disturbed him. His mind was being tickled by something overlooked. A beep sounded on Uhura's console. He halted his study and went over to the Kenyan woman's station, and waited as she listened intently to her earpiece.
Nyota Uhura looked up, looking worried. "The White Star reports they have contacted the Walkers of Sigma 957. They have refused to help us against the Borg, but they have made themselves available for our need against the Shadows."
Spock grimly nodded. "From what I have learned, that is a typical…'First One' response. It does not appear to be useful for the current crisis. We must, then, rely on ourselves."
Uhura sighed. They had spent years of their lives saving their home universe from the various threats. Now they had yet another universe to save. "If we are able, where would we go to stop the Borg? It might be too late to save Centauri Prime. If we manage to stop the cube, what can we do about three billion assimilated Centauri?"
A light finally came on in Spock's mind. He had, in a flash, figured out what was bothering him. "Thank you, Uhura. You have helped solved a dilemma for me. Although, the dilemma has become much larger."
Uhura was puzzled. "What do you mean?"
Spock turned to the front of the bridge. "Mr. Chekov, please bring up the star maps for this reality."
The main viewscreen then became a star chart. "Mr. Chekov, locate the interuniversal transit point whereby we have entered this reality."
A red blinking star appeared right next to the double-stars of Zeta Reticuli.
Spock glanced down at the communications officer, adopting the pose of a lecturer in a Vulcan school. "Miss Uhura, this is where the Borg cube have transited into this universe and defeated a Centauri fleet. Now, look at the star system of Turan, also known as Quadrant 27."
Mr. Redpath turned to look at Spock. "Isn't that where we saved that Markab transport from a Centauri 'quarantine' action?"
"Indeed. It is also where a Centauri battlecruiser was attacked and assimilated by the Borg. As you can see, there is a straight line from the transit point to Turan. Beyond it, the line continues to Centauri Prime at Zeta Tucanae in a straight line. If you please, Mr. Chekov, pinpoint for us the location where the Borg made their next attack."
The star labeled 'Beata' was highlighted. "The straight line has now almost reached Centauri Prime," said Spock. "From what Commander Ivanova has seen through the Great Machine on Epsilon 3, the Borg defeated another Centauri fleet at the Davo System."
Chekov obliged Spock by highlighting another star, the star of Davo. The straight line was now no longer straight. It had sharply turned at Beata at an angle. Davo was the same distance from Beata as Centauri Prime was from Beata, but Davo was in another direction entirely. The Russian man pointed out, "Spock, we should have been hearing about a Borg attack on the Centauri homeworld by now."
"Indeed. Something happened at the Beata System which has changed the Borg's course. It was not a defeat. Otherwise, the Centauri would be boasting of it. No, the Borg has found another and more lucrative target to assimilate. Pavel, will you please forecast a straight line from Beata through Davo and keep drawing it across this area of the galaxy?"
The red line suddenly shot forth from Davo, crossing several star systems. Only one of the star systems was squarely in its path. The bridge crew recognized the system and gasped.
Uhura whispered, "Spock, isn't that…?"
"Yes, Uhura. What did the Borg attack at Beata?"
Horrified understanding came upon Uhura's handsome face. "A…a civilian luxury liner belonging to the Earth Alliance!"
Akdor, Sh'lassien Triumvirate
General Abbas Kossell glanced at the Nova-class destroyer EAS Schwartzkopf hanging in orbit above the planet Akdor in a viewer on the Omega-class destroyer EAS Midway, and refocused on the abacus in his hands. He used the abacus to calculate the odds for battles and logistics. Here, he now used it to manage the logistics of the peacekeeping force on Akdor and the other two planets of the Sh'lassien Triumvirate. With the device invented by ancient Arabs, he had suppressed a new rebellion on the planet Hazor. As a reward for that, the Sh'lassien triumvirs legitimized the Earth occupation of the former rebel fortress of Matok on Akdor. Matok was now officially a military outpost of the Earth Alliance, thanks to General 'Abacus' as he was called by those who knew him.
A chirping beep sounded on the scanning officer's console. The general turned to her. "What you've got?"
"There's an unidentified ship approaching. It's odd…. It's flying in normal space, not hyperspace. Just came out of nowhere."
Abacus frowned at the officer strapped in her seat. "Alien?"
"Ummm, I'm not sure…. Let me put it up."
Abbas Kossell turned to watch the viewer. The view of the Schwartzkopf was replaced with a small gray dot in the night sky.
The general leaned forward as far as possible in his chair harness, and squinted. "Focus on that and magnify."
The viewer now showed a vessel seemingly built of pipes in the shape of a cube.
Another officer spoke up. "Isn't that what is attacking the Centauri?"
Abbas 'Abacus' Kossell grimly nodded. It would appear that the Centauri were not the only target for the invaders. If the Centauri had failed to stop them, then the Earthers would have work that much harder to save themselves. "Mister Gairon, dispatch a tachyon message to General Richard Franklin at Earth Central…. We have engaged the Borg in the Sh'lassien System."
Abacus could see and hear most of his bridge officers making their reactions, varying from widened eyes, intakes of breath to grim determination.
Suddenly, the cubical ship vanished from the viewer with a streak.
"Sir! The alien vessel is in orbit of Akdor!"
Abacus stared at the scanning officer as the viewer switched to show the cube hanging just beyond General Franklin's former command ship. The Schwartzkopf was now turning to face the Borg. "Are the scanners working?"
"Yes, general. Could be an advanced point-jump capability. It could even be the space distortion drive that the Federationers seem to have at Babylon 5."
The communications officer reported, "The alien is talking."
"On speakers."
"We are the Borg. Existence as you know it is over. Disarm all weapons and surrender your ships. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile."
General 'Abacus' looked down at his abacus. He knew that EarthForce only had three ships in the system. A Nova, an Olympic corvette and an Omega, the Omega destroyer being his own ship. He knew that the Centauri tried to resist with much larger fleets and failed. The next order would be very difficult, but necessary.
"Mister Gairon, warn the Sh'lassien government. Order all personnel at Matok to hunker down for a possible siege. We will be back for them. All ships: open jumppoints and retreat. Repeat: all ships retreat!"
The Borg cube latched onto the Schwartzkopf with a dark blue tractor beam as the Midway opened a jumppoint and fled into hyperspace. Elsewhere, a patrolling Olympic-class corvette fired thrusters to rush into an activating Sh'lassien jumpgate.
USS Enterprise-A
Galen walked briskly through a corridor, passing several crewmen and women, most of whom glanced at the robed technomage curiously. Even after all the time of staying on the Federation starship, he was a mystery to most of the crew. He didn't care. All he cared about was the integrity of this universe and the Light. Now, both of them were in danger.
Arriving at an entrance, Galen waved at the door, using technomagic to override the door's mechanism. He didn't have the time or patience for the niceties of knocking or ringing the bell and waiting for the occupant's permission to enter. Barging through the opening door, he could see Captain Kirk sitting in a chair, reading a leather-bound book. A Tale of Two Cities. Galen smiled mirthlessly at the book. How appropriate.
"James, we must move! The universe waits for no man!"
Kirk looked up over his spectacles quizzically. "Excuse me, Galen. Perhaps you have forgotten to knock before entering…?"
Galen snorted. "The stars will be swept aside and you're worried about civility?" The technomage shook his head and withdrew a hand from inside his robes. In his hand was a small crystal ball. Galen held the ball forward for Kirk to see closely.
At first, all Kirk could see was his own face made to appear upside-down in the crystal ball. Then he thought he could see a cubical ship moving through the starry darkness of the crystal ball. The Borg. Light flashed from within the ball as the cube attacked what appeared to be an Earth Nova-class destroyer.
Kirk looked up at Galen with surprise as the technomage quickly put the crystal ball back inside his dark robes. "Is that real?"
"As real as the dead! The Borg has decided to invade the Earth Alliance!"
Kirk stood up quickly from his reading chair, alarmed.
Galen continued to speak, his eyes almost sparkling at Kirk. "There is something at Earth that could stop the Borg. We must go there."
Royal Palace, Imperial City, Centauri Prime
A knocked sounded on the door to Londo's suite in the Royal Palace. A Centauri woman came in and informed the ambassador that a message came for him from Babylon 5. Londo thanked her. The female upper-echelon palace servant turned to leave.
"Wait." Londo eyed the woman up and down. In spite of her status as a high servant, she was dressed like a minor noble lady. She would do just fine. "Take off your clothes."
The woman bowed and immediately undressed, revealing her naked body. With an experienced eye, Londo appreciated her beauty.
The woman restrained herself from fidgeting under the ambassador's eyes. "What would my lord like to do?"
"I want to borrow your clothes."
The woman looked up at Londo and smiled. "Ahhh, of course. Emperor Cartagia also plays this game with me, but…I'm not your size, milord."
Londo smiled. "Oh, I'll make do."
xxxxxxxxx
Londo Mollari thanked Royal Guardsman who had guided him through the dark underbelly of the Royal Palace. Bribery would keep him silent about this. If a whiff of this appeared anywhere on the planet, poison would silence him forever. The Guardsman opened the cell door and Londo entered, holding aloft a glowglobe, and holding a bag in the other hand.
A Narn woman chained to a grimy wall looked up, red angry eyes squinting at the light. She growled softly with recognition.
"Hello, Na'toth. I'm here to help you get your revenge."
Londo upended the bag, letting the high servant's dress and the veils of a Centauri lady fall out. He pressed a hand against one of his pockets, feeling a medallion in it and smiled as Na'toth looked at the elaborate dress with confusion.