Disclaimer: The universe of Babylon 5 belongs to Babylon Productions. The world of the Highlander belongs to CBS TV Distribution but the words of the story are mine.

AU: General Susan Ivanova finally died and died happy until she suddenly woke up and was young again. Something had gone terribly wrong. 'No, not again,' But the truth stared back at her. Now she has to find out why and return to a familiar place. The year now is 2259 the place Babylon 5.

Chapter 7

The New Path

In the days to come, Michael would have never thought things can go in such a crazy direction. Having agreed to the man's terms, he was shown the whole future, the one from which Susan came from. There were many ups and downs, but mostly unpleasant downs. He chose to change that future and the man gave him the means for it but he warned him that there will be repercussions.

Michael knew that messing with established events and pushing them in different directions will wield a new and unpredictable future but he did not want to live in the one he was not only shown but felt. Yes, he felt every decision, every turn of it and he hated it. He wanted a different path and one he forges. He hated external forces such as the Shadows and the Vorlons interfering where they did not belong.

He wanted the power to stop them and the man granted it to him. He was not a God but he was more than a mere mortal. He also understood that he has to move in the shadows of things, the man warned him not to be in the light otherwise the external forces will seek his end.

Michael needed a power base. He needed people he can trust and that was a difficult commodity but he decided to tempt fate and gathered the three he already knew everything about. To say that their story was extraordinary was the least one could say. He understood the difficult path they walked.

He gathered the three and explained what has happened. Anyone else would have written off his story as delusional but these three had seen a lot and a lot of weird too. They did not dismiss his story nor the burden he had been granted.

"Michael, this is a dangerous game you want to start playing." Susan noted as he finished explaining what he had in mind. "I have contemplated the impact of changing history and…"

"You are one person albeit being immortal you are not unstoppable."

"Neither are you, Michael. Granted, you are a resourceful bastard but this is a very different game with unpredictable outcome. For all we know you could make things a lot worse."

"True, there is no guarantee but for some of the things we already have intel. We have everything the Gamoreans have on the major players. We only need to move certain pieces in certain places and watch how the rest unfolds, and adjust accordingly."

"That is a lot of ifs at play, Michael and we can't intervene everywhere."

"Not yet, "

"You are talking about building an organization from the ground up and…"

"…filling it with immortals." Nick finished her sentence having understood part of Michael's idea.

"Immortals survive most things but they did not have to worry about the Shadows or the Vorlons before. Now, the moment these two realize there are players who are immune to their tactics they would utilize them in full strength. You know that. Now, how about we'd be ahead of them, on this?"

Susan had to admit that there was some logic in his words. She knew that the moment the Vorlons realize that the immortals are no longer confined to Earth they would change their tactics to fit them into their plans, and so would the Shadows.

"It is way too dangerous. We have to tell John at least."

"NO!" Michael said. "You know his martyr complex. I love the man but I won't expose him to that."

"Including that Centauri might be an interesting move," Amanda suggested. "From what I understand these Drakh screwed him over big time."

Michael had thought of including Molari and Vir. They paid a horrific price. But it was the ambition of the Centauri that he feared. He knew Molari wanted to return his people to their previous glory and without power and bloodshed that can't be achieved.

Still, there could be a way to include them a bit. Molari could get them vital resources. But before he could do that, he needed to know everything about these Drakh. And for that he needed a particulate Technomage, Galen.

"Ok, so, this is what we are going to do. For now, we will allow time to proceed the way you remember it, Susan. Nick and Mrs. Pierce will acquire a base on four separate worlds for which we know are abandoned. Each base will have a Commander and all four bases will answer to a…I don't know a Governor.

Each base will have the job to gather intelligence on the Shadows and all of their little hidden ships throughout the galaxy, and especially their cloud killers. I will secure an audience with the Technomage Galen and task him to find everything about the Drakh, and especially where they keep their ships.

Then, we will wipe them out or cripple them, whichever works. We will then get Molari and Vir to assist further as we move against the Vorlons and the Shadows. And in the meantime, of all this, Susan will search for the one that shifted and brought the Game back on."

"Sounds like a plan." Nick said.

Susan was not entirely onboard with this but as her contact was the one who gave Michael the green light she conceded. Keeping it a secret was the biggest obstacle. She also needed to find who killed Duncan and repay him.

Also convincing the other immortals to postpone the Game would be a challenge. Most of them were pricks of the highest order. But if some were to come here, she will do her best to recruit them.

Six months later

The year was 2260. Michael Garibaldi used the influence his position gave him and made several moves to help build his new organization. He also gave the heads up to the Psi cops concerning their people being taken by the Shadows and Mr. Morden.

The latter involvement of Earth was not prevented as Michael had some hopes of doing but he wanted to spare Molari's people from him. He had a few of the Anlashok follow him around and a few of the immortals. He also made contact with the Custodes, the watchers of the immortals and task them to find as many as possible of them.

So far, the only true victory he had achieved was to keep Mr. Morden away from influencing further the Centauri. And that was not easily achieved but he had been persistent. He had to bribe quite a few Centauri to make it happen. Morden has since then reoriented his efforts towards the Brakari. For the moment, this was not an issue as their ambitions were not as great as those of the Centauri.

His greatest challenge was Galen the Technomage. He met him on a remote world where Galen was doing something for his order. He had been quite surprised of Michael's presence but it got even more interesting when he tried to study him. It was the first time Galen had met someone he can't read at all.

"Michael Garibaldi, Chief of Security of Babylon 5." Michael introduced himself. "And you are Galen of the Technomages. I've been looking for you."

"It seems you have found the right path." Galen replied.

"It is not easy what follows but I need your help to locate every single base and ship of the Drakh."

Galen raised an eyebrow. He had expected a much different request. This one was very specific given the tone and precision of the voice. It got him curious.

"Why do you seek the Drakh?"

"To remove them from the equation,"

"Why do you think they are important enough for that?"

"It won't be long before the servant become masters themselves and that can't be allowed."

Galen was stupefied. This man sought something very specific based on knowledge he shouldn't possess. That much was clear. It was no long ago when his order predicted the way the future will unfold. Weirdly enough those were nearly the same words he would use one day.

"And how do you think I can help with that?"

Michael hesitated for a moment. What was to come will not be easy to swallow but it had to be done. "Your people have evolved using Shadow technology. But unlike them, you are trying to use it for good.

As you're essentially using their tech, you could much more easily move in their wake than anyone else. You can find the needed information without alarming them at all. And once I have it, I will cripple the Shadows supply and then send them straight to hell."

Galen stood speechless. How this man possessed such knowledge? He could sense the truth streaming from him. He was not guessing he knew. What he was proposing was not without danger for him but it was doable. As the Shadows were gearing up for the upcoming war, their security was not that tight. But how did he plan to send them to hell and with what? But looking in his eyes, he saw a powerful flame. He had the means. He just needed a target.

Still, he needed to know where he obtained this knowledge. He started casting a spell that got blocked with such blunt ease it startled him. In the wake of his surprise, he saw a symbol he had seen only once before. It was the everlasting tree of life. This man bore a powerful totem of protection. But there was more to it than met the eye.

"I would be going against the will of my order not that they are very appreciative of me but still."

"I doubt this would be the first time you would do such a thing, nor the last."

The insight he possessed in this one moment was staggering or perhaps it was his future knowledge that spoke. Still, he used it well. Galen was impressed.

"I will assist you with this." Galen said. "I will contact you when I have something."

Their talk ended and Michael left. 'Weirdoes,' he always thought they were such and now he was certain of it.

It was time to take some action against the Shadows' influence on Earth. He decided to use Mr. Bester for it. It was time this slug earned his spot. He felt it as a payback for all the pain he had caused him advancing his agenda in that future that will never be.

Bester was on some remote world chasing rogue telepaths. He was very surprised meeting Michael, mostly because he did not sense him come.

"Good day to you too Mr. Bester," Michael said having anticipated how the conversation should go.

Alfred Bester continued to observe Michael while trying very hard to penetrate his mental defenses. Usually, he was not allowed to peak in the minds of normal ones but here on some godforsaken planet the rules did not matter.

Strangely enough, he always thought that accessing the chief of security's mind would be a cake walk but he was wrong. His mental defenses appeared to have been augmented with a strength he has never encountered before. He knew right away that no normal could possibly mount such a defense, not without help.

A small crack appeared in the wall and Bester used it to get in though then he wished he hadn't. He found himself on glade surrounded by thick and ancient forest. It was perfectly sunny and the colors were more vibrant and vivid that he could ever thought. Still, he sensed immediately the threat.

"Alfred, child of the Mind Walkers," A melodic voice cut through the silence. It was definitely not the voice of Mr. Garibaldi.

The voice took form. If Bester could give it a description, he would have said that some deity from the Pantheon had just appeared before him, godlessly beautiful with ice piercing eyes and hair almost white but more blondish.

The figure smiled. "Greed is a dangerous tool, Alfred. One should learn to control its impulses."

"Ah, what?" Bester was not sure how to respond to this being. "Who are you?"

"Ah," The figure before him whispered. "I have had many names throughout the dawn and the day of today's existence." The reply was and then he added with a chuckle. "No, I am not the one you would refer as God."

"Then… why am I here?"

"Now this is a far more interesting question." The godlike-being replied. "You followed a crack in the wall hoping to find out who built a wall the infamous Psi cops can't penetrate, and that is commendable. But it also should have occurred to you that sudden, unexpected victories are to be checked before jumping in head first."

"I …"

"No need for modesty, Alfred." The godlike-being said. "I suppose you should have controlled the urge as now the price of curiosity comes due."

"What price?"

"I am glad my little incentive lured you here. You are perfect for the task at hand."

"What task?"

"I wish to employ your services, Alfred."

"To do what?"

"First task would be to drive the Shadows influence away from Earth. You will have to deal with Mr. Morden in person."

"That will not be difficult…"

"Not so fast, young Alfred. The task is not an easy one. Mr. Morden is not himself. He was pushed inside one of the shadow vessels and no longer has a will of his own. He serves in every aspect the one you refer to as Shadows.

He travels at all times accompanied by two shadow guardians. Their will is what you will have to defeat. Three of your strongest Psi Cops should do it. They would freeze them and you will use your Pajamas, no, sorry, PJs to kill them. Then, killing Mr. Morden should be an easy task."

"If he were travelling with two of them, we would have seen it…"

The melodic voice turned into a soft laughter. The godlike-being waved his hand and a memory of Mr. Morden in the office of the current President appeared. "Do you see them, Alfred?"

"No,"

"Ah, now, focus your mind, clear your thoughts, empty your mind and clear the memory."

Alfred followed the instructions and almost fell off. Next to Morden, there were two dark beings that looked like grotesque multi-legged spider. They seemed to communicate with Morden. That explained the weird ticks he had picked from him but as he was not allowed to scan him, he did not pay much attention to it. He was surprised though his memory held such information.

"When you manage to silence the ruckus in your mind, you will be surprised what you can actually do." The figure said as though reading his mind, which was not far from the truth.

"Those are them then?"

"Yes, they are very powerful and they can do a lot of damage but they exist in a…how I should put it…in a different frequency if you will. But a targeted telepathic light can push them into the visible, and then…"

"They can be killed."

"Very good," The figure nodded approvingly. "Once, you get them away, and dispose of Mr. Morden, you will remove Mr. Clark from office, compel if you will, however you see fit."

"Who will replace him?"

"Oh...I don't know. Find the most annoying for you senator, one that preaches things you hate and put him/her into his place as interim president. That will keep the opposition from wanting to take over right away, at least until proper elections can be held."

"That sounds reasonable."

"Then,"

"Then what?"

"This is where it becomes more complicated." The godlike-being said. "There are two more ships of the Shadows parked in your solar system. Your people have already uncovered the one on Mars and thus some of your people went missing. You already got help for that and managed to save your lover but there is much more to be done.

Clark and his partners are constructing ships using the technology of the bugs. Those ships, you will seize and fill them in with Rogue Telepaths. They will amass near Vorlon space."

That did not seem like a wise thing to do. Bester realized this creature knew quite a lot about the inner workings of everything.

"Why telepaths?"

The godlike-being simply showed him why. Bester now understood the full scope of the problem he had with these Shadows. They were using his people as an onboard computer but a telepathic block could stop dead in its tracks a Shadows ship.

"Why not amass them near Shadows space and take them out?"

"This is a very smart question, Mr. Bester but I have other plans for the Shadows themselves. Your job is to antagonize the Vorlons as to why, here is why."

And again, he was shown why. Bester could not believe his eyes. It is the bloody Vorlons' fault that his people had suffered and that his people actually existed. These luminous bastards were the reason for all this pain. They had to pay.

"I still have to call you something." Bester insisted.

"Hmm, very well, you may refer to me as Gallean."

In a moment that lasted no longer than a millisecond, Bester experienced the mind of this powerful being. To say that Bester's mind was blown away and many preconceptions he had were wiped was the least that could be said. And that was just the fraction he was allowed to see.

"And Garibaldi, what is his stake in this?" Bester asked.

"Mr. Garibaldi has decided to play with fire, and I am merely entertaining the possibilities he wants to create. But he will send you instructions every now and then, and when he does, they take absolute priority. Do you understand me, Mr. Bester?"

Alfred has had many experiences in his life, some pleasant, some not so much, but nothing compared to sheer power before him. He did not think that the combined might of the Shadows and the Vorlons, and their parents would be a match for that. He also understood that defying this being would be a colossal mistake as he could easily erase him with a mere, benign thought.

Given what he had seen, it was in his best interest to comply. He did get the feeling he did not have much choice either way. But Gallean was not a malevolent being that much was certain. He was more indifferent to the usual bull Alfred had to deal with on a daily basis. Gallean simply wanted results however they are achieved. And that was something Alfred could do in his sleep.

Still, he sensed there was more to this game plan. He did not enjoy being left out of the loop.

"All in good time, Mr. Bester," Gallean said as though sensing his hesitance. "There is indeed a broader game in play. But there is a reason you know only part of it. Think about it and you will reach the proper conclusion on your own. If everyone involved knew the entire plan then…"

"The plan will fail." Bester agreed to the logic of these words.

"I will come to visit every now and then." Gallean reassured.

Michael did not witness this conversation but he sensed that Bester was entranced, and while it did not last long, he was certain Mr. Bester had just been recruited.

"What can I do for you, Mr. Garibaldi?" Bester asked as he seemed to have emerged from his trance.

It still sounded weird given what he had seen in the other reality but time waited for no one.

"Have two of the Shadow ships attack the closest colony of the Centauri Republic – no survivors."

"Should Clark be the one to suggest it?"

"Yeah, sure, why not," Michael liked the way that bastard thought. "There is a base of the Anlashok – this one." He showed him where to strike. "Have the Shadows attack it too – no survivors."

"Would there be anything else?"

"Yes, Edgar Senior, you need to kill him. He's amassing a decease that can wipe out all telepaths. He is close to an antidote of course but he needs to go."

Bester's eyes flared with dangerous flames. How dared this mundane normal even contemplate touching his people? Oh, he will pay for that. He will extract the knowledge out of him even he renders him a vegetable, and then he will have a viable weapon against the rogues.

"Do not be hasty in the choice of your weapons and on whom they should be used, young one." Bester heard Gallean's voice in his head. "The rogues are not your enemy. They can be very helpful when properly guided without the need for them to serve any particulate symbol other than the most helpful cause – your own."

Bester understood better Gallean's orders. The telepaths had to forge their own destiny without Earth or any other institution in their way, including the Corps. It was time they lived their lives on their own planet, dealing with their own problems and no longer solving other people's issues, or waging their wars.

Michael had a few more things for Bester to do. He just put them on a pad and gave it to him. Bester nodded in his usual manner and left. Michael could only imagine the pain his opponents were about to face. He could see the righteous anger that poured out of him, and that put a dark smile on his face.

Immortal Base Apollo

Nick came to visit finally. He has been aiming to do it for some time but always had other things to attend to. The base had come along surprisingly fast. He knew Michael had made contact with some race that had built it practically in a blink of an eye. He envied the race that can do that.

The number of immortals on the base was staggering. The Watchers have done their jobs too well. There were every now and then some outbursts among the residents but they never ended with someone getting shorter with one head.

Apparently, no one enjoyed the return of the Game that much. They all had their lives and they had no desire to just give it up in the name of that previous absurdity. And they wanted to help find the bastard that ruined their lives.

They also agreed full heartedly to assist with threats that roamed space, namely the Shadows and the Vorlons. Everyone knew that as long as these two were there, peace will not be found in any form. Also, they did not want to be used in the upcoming war.

The strangest thing for Nick was how quick they have accepted Amanda and Susan's leadership. He, himself, was viewed more as the gullible sidekick but it worked for him. He did not want the attention or the glory that came with the position the girls ended up with.

This base was the first of its kind and unlike the others this one focused on the Vorlons. The research that has been done was staggering. It appeared that the luminous bastards have interfered in numerous cultures and appeared as some sort of angels. It seemed they have guided everyone into the light but that was only on the surface of the perceivable acts they had done.

However, there was more than met the eye. And apparently, the Immortals have seen more than the Vorlons could have anticipated. They have seen them take people away and returning them to either other times or back to their own but changed.

One of the immortals had studied the changed ones. He had been some kind of a crazy scientist that had slipped through the annals of history unseen by his brethren but now his research would prove very useful. Also, he was on the base.

Nick met him and determined he's really out there. Crazy did not even begin to diagnose his condition. It made him wonder how this yahoo has managed to survive. At first sight, he did not appear to be even able to lift a sword let alone defend himself with one. But as he had seen lately nothing is as it seems.

"The Vorlons, my single cell friend, are beings of light. They have shed their corporeal selves to become beings of energy. And thus, they had nearly believed themselves to be gods in their own time."

Nick at first had some difficulty understanding the man before him as he talked very fast while he evil giggled at every syllable. At some point, he started to understand him and noticed the nickname he had received – single cell or single nuclei, or lively but kicking ameba. He got the feeling the man was trying to dumb it enough for him to catch up. He talked the way a teacher talks to a stupid child.

His lecture about the Vorlons had continued for several hours of which Nick understood only a portion of it. Apparently, not everything can be made simple enough for anyone to understand. Thankfully, there were those there that understood this weirdo.

The man's name was Amir Jasper. According to one of the Watchers, Amir was some kind of prince from the oldest Arabic tribes who ran away instead of following his duties. He was killed by the king's guards and left for dead. But they couldn't have imagined that the man was an immortal. Still, when he came to it, he chose to run and never return.

He has been everywhere and has studied everything that he could. He developed the passion for studying the inexplicable and when he ran into a Vorlon he had been fascinated. He has studied them ever since. It was rumored that he even fought one and killed him, though the Vorlon did kill him first, or so the story went.

Nick tried to imagine how in the past with zero technology worth anything he would have accomplished that feat. Amir of course dismissed that ridiculous whisper. He did say that he had encountered a Vorlon before but they have parted amicably. Nick did not believe a word Amir said and anyway he did not really care as long as the information he had was worth something.

As predicted, the Vorlons did notice the absence of the immortals on Earth. They sent probes throughout the cosmos to find them. But the immortals kept a low profile and besides there were other forces at play that were not going to let anyone find them until it was too late.

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