Time to Begin
Dragonlots aka Dana Bell
Chapter 7
John wandered away from the celebration going on in the village. He was happy they'd found Teyla's people alive and well, but a deep part of him was sad. He knew the reason, he just didn't want to admit it to anyone least of all himself.
Kicking at a rock that skitted over the ground and landed with a small thud in the underbrush, he took a few steps into the woods. He just needed a few moments to clear his head before he headed back and sampled some of the local grog.
Sheppard closed his eyes and took several deep breaths. In the background he could hear people laughing and the beginning plucking and pounding of various instruments. There'd be some dancing in a few minutes.
Other sounds reached his ears as well. The deep tones of two male voices not far away and very low, as if they were afraid to be overheard. Slowly he inched toward the two talking. It was probably nothing, yet experience had taught him never to take anything for granted.
One he finally recognized as Major Lorne's. The other he couldn't identify. Probably one of Teyla's people.
"You should have reported in sooner," Lorne said.
"I know. I've had to be careful. Kanaan has almost caught me several times and is suspicious of me. They have not forgotten the Wraith worshipers."
Was one of Teyla's people a Wraith Worshiper? Was that the reason a cruiser had shown up?
"It was never promised our assignments would be easy."
Was Major Lorne one as well?
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"Do you have any idea what my parents had to go through to keep me safe?" Katie put her hands on her hips and glared at the Doctor.
"Two Minbari parents with a human child." He rocked back on his heels with a grin. "Now that must have been awkward."
"Wait a minute," Lyta interrupted. "You're Valen's daughter?"
"Yes."
"Who's Valen?" Weir asked.
"The most revered and honored Minbari in all of their history," the Doctor supplied. "Stopped their civil wars, set up the Grey Council, left behind prophecies."
The pony tailed ranger added, "A Minbari not born of Minbari."
Katie bit her lip. "My father had been human before he changed. So was my mother."
"Ah, yes, Carine." The Timelord seemed to be enjoying being in the know and not sharing.
"Catherine," Katie corrected. "She got sent back in time."
"And the rest is history!"
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Valen sat on a rock staring out at the desert. In his gray robed lap sat a piece of paper. Beside him sat an object he had brought into the past with him, a plain white envelope. A wind blurred past carrying sand to another part of the vast wilderness.
He felt her hand on his shoulder and he turned to give her a smile. "I see you remembered to bring it." She pointed at the envelope.
"I did."
"Know what you're going to say?"
"I know what I wish I could say." He glanced behind her and sighed. "I miss the children."
"They'll be fine." She kissed his cheek. "Now write your note and come inside."
He nodded. Dark began to fall and he knew he had to hurry in order to have enough light to finish his task. Carefully Valen wrote the name on the envelope and penned his note.
"From both of us, our thanks and friendship. Continue to dream that better future….where perhaps we'll meet again."
Valen folded the paper and sealed it in the envelope. In a few days their supply ship would come and he'd send the note back to Minbar for the Grey Council to seal into their vaults until the time came to present it to Marcus.
He sighed wishing he could find a way to send a note to Katie. But something had gone wrong when he'd tried to send her into the future to his good friend Michael Garibaldi. The Takion field had destabilized and she'd simply vanished. He had no idea where she'd gone or even if she was safe.
A lone sad howl filled the night. Slowly he rose and trudged down the path to the cave he shared with his wife. Carine greeted him and handed him his dinner.
"I'm sure Katie is fine," Carine said as if she'd read his mind.
"I truly hope she is."
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The heart of the Great Machine drummed continually and Draal could feel it. He could track all those who worked in the many levels and sometimes even allowed his mind to wander the universe. He always knew when he had visitors, so when a being suddenly appeared in the complex, he knew it instantly.
He sent his holographic image to great the unexpected visitor. "And just WHO are you?" Draal demanded, placing hands on his heavy hips.
"Oh, don't mind me," the human appearing man replied.
"I wouldn't, except I am the guardian here."
"Oh, you are? How curious." The older man gave him a friendly, yet knowing smile.
"I replaced the one from before at his request."
"Of course. That was allowed."
"Excuse me?"
The man made a sweeping gesture with his hand. "Not important." He walked a few steps on the smooth walkway peering at the pulsating walls. "I heard the humans won the Shadow War."
"They stood up to the older races."
"Brave thing to do."
"Excuse me, just who did you say you were?" Something about the visitor made Draal uneasy.
"I didn't." He turned back to face Draal again.
The Minbari then noticed the odd white suit, which stirred a memory of something he'd found in the records. "Your form is for my convenience, I suspect."
With a broad grin the man nodded. "I'm a friend of those who seek Earth."
"You mean the Colonials."
"Yes. Though I am surprised you know about them."
"I know many things."
"Hmmm." He tapped his fingers on his chin. "I am curious how much."
"You must use a name when dealing with Colonials." Perhaps an indirect question would get a response. Draal hoped so.
"Well, Apollo knows me as John."
"Does he know who you really are?"
"Do you?"
Draal crossed his arms over his chest. "I've read all that I can find here."
"Then you know one of us comes from time to time."
"So the last guardian noted." He leaned toward his guest. "I also know originally built this complex."
"I'm guessing, that is why you're interfering."
A slow smile spread across Draal's face. "Could I do any less?"
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It had been good to see Draal again, Delenn reflected as her ship smoothly docked with Babylon 5. She disembarked her ship bowing slightly to the two Rangers who awaited her return. The fell into step behind her as she entered the busy corridors of the station.
Zack Allan waved her on through not bothering with the usual ID check. His action caused curious stares and resentful glares from the other beings waiting in line to be admitted.
Her long blue skirt glided across the polished floors and she gave the security chief a gracious smile as she passed. She didn't miss the watchful glances of the two rangers. It was their job to protect her.
They finally reached the diplomatic wing and her two protectors took positions outside the door. Delenn entered the quarters assigned to her. It wasn't the same as those she'd inhabited when she' d been the ambassador here. The décor was much simpler, intended for a temporary or short stay.
Her husband, John Sheridan, glanced up from where he was sitting on the white couch and turned off the crystal he'd been reading. "How'd it go?"
"It went well." She sat beside him. "Where's David?"
"Our son and Vintari are playing a game in the other room. Come to think of it," John glanced at the closed bedroom door on the other side of the living area. "They've been awfully quiet."
Gracefully Delenn rose and lightly knocked on the door. The Centauri Prince Regent answered. His blond hair was spiked, as was the fashion of his people and his clothes formal as always. She had to wonder if he ever relaxed. Vintari had not done so in the year he'd been staying with her family.
"Hi, mom," David greeted from his place on the carpeted floor. His young face frowned as he examined the intricate puzzle constructed on a small table. It glittered in places and sparkled like a rainbow.
"We are almost finished," Vintari told her.
She inclined her head. "Please, continue."
The young man went back in the room and the door closed.
"They are engrossed." Delenn resumed her place beside her husband.
"No wonder they were quiet." John took the moment alone to pull her next to him. They kissed and she happily snuggled against him.
"What were you reading?" she asked.
"Just progress reports." He waved his hand in dismissal. "I can't believe that this time last year we were celebrating the Interstellar Alliance's tenth anniversary."
"No further contact from Galen?" She worried the techo mage might once again try to contact John with more dire events that needed her husband's attention.
"Thankfully, no."
Delenn glanced at the closed bedroom door. "Do you really think you can kill Vintari if it comes to it?"
He sighed. "He's like a member of our family. It would be very hard."
"But if the future of Earth depends on it?" She gazed up into her husband's clear blue eyes.
"I promised Galen I'd take care of it."
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"Should never have said ways," Galen groused. He tapped the dirt beneath his feet in agitation and felt a slight shifting in the ground. That wouldn't do. Wouldn't do at all. He didn't want to end up unceremoniously landing on his butt, not when he wanted to make a grand entrance.
There was a party going on below. Fires were burning and many were dancing to odd piping and drumming music. There was lots of food spread about on wooden tables, and if his eyes didn't deceive him, it was getting dark. Also, there seemed to be a party from Atlantis. Now that was good.
He noted the position of the pair who were the leaders of this village and smirked as he tapped the ground, vanished briefly, and appeared in a flash and thunderclap in the precise center of the festivities.
"And just who are you?" a round faced man demanded. Galen spared a brief glance at the open primitive computer on the table. He supposed the man must be a scientist of some sort.
"My name is Galen."
"And I'm Dr. Rodney McKay and how'd you do that?"
"It's magic." Galen gave the man a superior grin.
"Yeah, right."
The dancing stopped and the music. A woman waddled up before him and struck what would have normally been an imposing stance, if not for the child she carried. "Why are you here?"
"You always liked flashy entrances."
Every head turned to face a dark haired man in military uniform. He shook his head. "I know all about you."
"You do?" McKay sounded like he was surprised.
Another man with black hair joined the woman, putting his hand on her shoulder. He frowned, his dark eyes darting between Galen and the other man.
"Major Lorne, you know this person?"
"Yes, Colonel, I do." Major Lorne walked over to stand beside McKay "He's a techo mage, and if he's here, that's trouble."
"Oh, come now," Galen objected. "Surely not."
"Maybe I should just shoot him," the one who Lorne had called Colonel said.
"Might not be a bad idea." Lorne propped his leg up on one of the tree stump chairs. "Except you'd never get a shot off."
"Nice to know." A hand was extended. "I'm Colonel John Sheppard."
Galen simply looked at the hand. "I'm here to help."
Sheppard lowered his hand. His face reflected his suspicion.
"Careful when he says that," Lorne warned.
"And how would you know?" the Colonel shot back.
"I don't like being ignored," Galen tried to interrupt.
"Nor I," the woman put in. "I am Teyla, leader of my people."
"I know."
Her shocked expression was all the reward he needed. This was going to be fun.
"I'm a Ranger," Lorne answered.
Now that revelation was not something Galen had expected. He glanced at the military man and knew from the looks on everyone else's faces, they had no idea what that meant.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Babylon 5 – The Lost Years was used as a reference for part of this story.