EPISODE 10

Metamorphosis 

The Smiths
Asleep


Sing me to sleep 
sing me to sleep 
I'm tired and 
I want to go to bed 
Sing me to sleep 
sing me to sleep 
and then leave me alone 
don't try to wake me in the morning 
because I will be gone 
don't feel bad for me 
I want you to know 
deep in the cell of my heart 
I will feel so glad to go 
Sing me to sleep 
sing me to sleep 
I don't want to wake up 
on my own anymore 
sing to me 
sing to me 
I don't want to wake up 
on my own anymore 
don't feel bad for me 
I want you to know 
deep in the cell of my heart 
I really want to go 
there is another world 
there is a better world 
well, there must be 
well, there must be


Located a few kilometers outside of what had once been the Narn city of G'Kamazad was an outcropping of boulders that to the untrained eye was nothing more than a landmark in the midst of an otherwise desolate and unimpressive wasteland.  The mass drivers delivered by the Centauri had done their job; a planet that had already been abused by its conquerors to the point of devastation was now scarred with the charred remains of civilization.  Particulate still circulated through the sky, blocking the sun so that only minute rays were left to trickle through, leaving the air cold and stale.  Raging winds blew across desert plains where once there thrived flora and fauna of thousands of variations.
	Through this wind, a lone figure traveled, wearing no protection other than his warrior's uniform, his Ka'Toc strapped securely to his back.  The Centauri allowed him to keep it without fear of it being used.  After all, when the threat of five hundred of your own kind dead for one Centauri circles around you, you are unlikely to make a foolish move.  So he was able to keep the symbol of his soul, if not the heart of it.  He was born to be a warrior that much was certain.  From his straight bearing to his arrogant and quelling expression, everything about this particular Narn spoke of barely held-in-check power and stability.  That he was forced to submit -- to give over to the superior forces of another race -- was the most tragic aspect of his life.  For submit he would, if only to protect those he cared for.   
	Nearing the unobtrusive outcropping, the Narn hesitated for a moment, glancing around to make certain that he was not followed and then quickly ducking between the rocks, following the small fissure until it opened into the mouth of a larger cave.  From there the ground sloped downward, twisting through the earth almost a quarter of a kilometer before finally leveling out.  Ra'Nam came to a halt just inside the first chamber, waiting as his eyes adjusted to the low light given off by a few well-placed torches.  If he were to continue to follow the main path, Ra'Nam knew it would lead him back into the city of G'Kamazad, where the underground resistance met in secret chambers to plan the eventual overthrow of the Centauri from their world... for the second time.  But traveling through the tunnels alone was a dangerous undertaking.  Many of the Narn people had gone underground to live when the Centauri had claimed their world.  Without adequate food and drink, they were forced to fight for what they needed, killing whoever came too close and taking what their victims had on them.  Ra'Nam could not blame them, life on Narn had become a terminal struggle but that did not mean he would purposely make himself available to their attack either.  
	Ra'Nam's gaze scanned the room, taking in the knocked over chairs and tables littered with dirty cups and plates from the revelries the night before.  There were members of the underground for whom this was a secret meeting place, an area where they could plan and scheme for the future how they would ultimately destroy the Centauri.  The group was composed of about a dozen of the more militant members, those who felt that the only way to help their people was by cleansing the galaxy of every last Centauri.  More than once Ra'Nam wished that G'Kar were there to speak to them, to attempt to reason with them and perhaps teach them.  They were all young and angry, raised on the stories of the Centauri's prior occupation and forced slavery.  They had never truly experienced the ruthlessness of their enemy until the bombing of their homeworld, and that had only served to fan the flames.  
	Moving around a bend in the earth, Ra'Nam doubled-back into a smaller room located directly under the rock formation on the surface.  A tiny slit of light appeared from an opening in the rocks above, its pale glow illuminating the face of Tu'Roc, who looked up at Ra'Nam's entrance.
	"There you are.  Took long enough," the Narn commented, climbing to his feet from his position on the floor.  "What were you doing?"
	"I brought food," he replied setting the plate on the floor.
	The other Narn scoffed.  "What a waste."
	"Perhaps."  Ra'Nam's gaze moved over to the figure that was huddled in the corner, silent and unmoving.  
	"So you had a taste yet?"  Tu'Roc commented crudely, nodding toward the figure in the corner.
	Ra'Nam ignored the question, reaching down to grab the threadbare blanket that lay at his feet.  He moved over to the prisoner, laying it gently over the exposed flesh. 
	"I have yet to understand why you bother.  She will be dead soon either way."
	Ra'Nam cast an angry glance over his shoulder.  "Even prisoners of war are treated with some decency," he barked.  "She is a civilian ---"
	"Civilian? Ha!"  Tu'Roc laughed.  "She is a Kyra.  Do you know how many Narns were bought and sold by the Kyra's?  How many died at their hands?  On top of that, she is the one responsible for G'Kar's capture!  I would not let her pretty face fool you, Ra'Nam.  You were told of the torture she put the last of the Kha'Ri through."
	Ra'Nam nodded.  "I do not deny any of that.  But neither will I lower myself to her degree."  He removed his gaze from the other Narn, looking back at the young woman before him.  "I believe your shift is over, Tu'Roc."  He waited until he heard Tu'Roc had shuffled out of the room before settling back against the wall to watch the prisoner.
	Lady Aelora Kyra.  The night that she had been brought before them, Ra'Nam had celebrated with the others in the luck of her capture.  According to the two Narns who had appeared with her (and subsequently disappeared without anyone's notice), they had met up with her on a transport for Babylon 5.  She had been loudly bragging to the other passengers that she had arranged citizen G'Kar's capture and had personally overseen his torture beside that of Emperor Cartagia.  According to her captors, they had easily overtaken her, bringing her to the Narn homeworld so that her punishment could be properly executed.  No one had bothered to ask why two Narns found it necessary to break both her forearms in order to control her.  Nor had anyone asked the significance of the small area of her scalp which had obviously been sliced off with either a knife or razor.  All that had mattered was she was a Kyra, and she had been responsible for the imprisonment of the last of the Kha'Ri.  
	She had been quite indomitable at first, struggling against them as they came at her, lashing out with her legs to deliver well-placed blows, screaming obscenities and finally begging for mercy.  Through it all she had blathered on about how it was all a lie but they had ignored her pleas, stripping her of her clothing and taking her there in the tunnel, one after another, until her cries had ceased, the silence broken only by the occasional muffled sob.
	Ra'Nam had not taken part in it all.  He could not conceive how the others had believed such treatment was justified.  First of all, she was Human.  Many Narns knew that the Kyra's had adopted a Human child to raise as their own.  If word ever got out to the Earther's regarding her imprisonment and torture, Ra'Nam knew there would be no acceptable justification.  Second, she was a civilian, no matter what atrocities she had committed.  He was a Warrior, but he would not make war on women and children.  It was simply not in him to do so.  On the other hand, neither could he reason as to why he should stop the others.  She was still the enemy, had caused harm and pain to come to the greatest of them and though Ra'Nam found her treatment cruel, he could not say she did not deserve it.  But there were still rules of war to adhere to, and though they were not specifically at war any longer, Ra'Nam found no reason to treat a prisoner differently.  
	So that night, after the revelry had ended and the others had either passed out or crept back into G'Kamazad, Ra'Nam had carried the battered Human back into the small room and set about caring for her injuries.  He had set and bound her forearms, treated the deep gashes across her face and attempted to get her to eat.  That was when he had first looked into her eyes and he had known, from that moment on, that he would never forget what he saw there.  They had been empty, blank, crystal green voids from which no life was visible.  Her gaze had simply stared off into the distance, if she were truly staring at all, taking no notice of her surroundings or state.  Ra'Nam had tried to force the food on to her, but she had not accepted it.  He had spoken to her, taunted her, but received no reaction in response.  At first he reasoned that the mental state simply stemmed from her rape at the hands of Narns - any proper Centauri lady would be similarly dramatized.  But the more he watched her, the more he realized it ran deeper than that.  Suddenly, the entire story fed to them by her captors no longer seemed as clear-cut as it had at first.  That was when Ra'Nam had gone in search of her captors, only to discover they were nowhere to be found.  He had gone to Na'Kar, the leader of the resistance on Narn, and told him of his suspicions but the Narn had only laughed at him and questioned his Warrior's spirit.
	After that, Ra'Nam had kept his apprehension to his self.  He continued to treat Lady Kyra with the smallest shred of compassion, covering her nakedness with a blanket when the others were not abusing her, bringing her food that she never touched, talking to her though she never spoke in return.  He believed that Tu'Roc had been right; she would not live for much longer.  Either Na'Kar would have his fill of her and simply kill her, or she would end up starving herself to death.  It had been two days since she had arrived and still she would not take the food offered to her.  The night before, Ra'Nam had finally forced a few swallows of water past her parched lips.  There was already very little of her as it was, as she was very obviously unwell.  Her skin had a pasty, unhealthy tinge to it and was drawn tautly over her bones, as if ready to rip apart.  Ra'Nam believed that once she must have been very striking for a Human, if her coloring and the shape of her body were any indication.  He even allowed the thought that perhaps there was someone out there who loved her; someone who by now believed they would never see her again and missed her.  Quickly, the Narn pushed the thought from his mind.  She was still a prisoner, still guilty (or was she?) for many crimes against his people.
	Stretching out his arm, Ra'Nam grabbed hold of the plate he had brought and held it up to the Human.  "You should eat," he commented; comfortable with speaking to her, as he had done so since she had arrived.  "You need to retain your strength."  Immediately he mentally kicked himself for saying something so foolish.  For what did she need strength?  To continue to live in hopes of rescue?  Ra'Nam did not need to be in her place to know that she most likely sought after death as an elusive companion.
	"It is spoo again," he continued, finding that time passed more easily when he made conversation.  "It is all I can get.  Not that you have eaten any, so you obviously are not quite sick of it yet.  How are your arms?  I should probably check on the bindings."  He leaned over her, gently lifting her right arm into his hands and unwrapping the makeshift cloth that held the two pieces of wood in place over her forearm.  He touched the bruised and battered flesh lightly, not wishing to cause her anymore unneeded pain.  He then rewrapped the crude cast and moved on to the other, taking the same painstaking care.  Settling back on his haunches, he tucked the blanket more securely around her then checked the chain that held her left ankle to the wall.  While he made it appear that he was checking to see if it still held properly, he also took a moment to make certain it was not cutting into her flesh.  He had never seen her make any moves to escape since the night she had first been brought to them, and that fact was evident by the lack of marks or chaffing made by the beryllium that bound her ankle.  The Narn could not help but wonder what would make someone give up so completely.  He could not imagine doing so.
	Standing, Ra'Nam grabbed the plate of untouched food and moved into the first chamber to clean up, not realizing that his departure was noticed.
	Twenty-four hours ago, Aelora would have considered escape, or at least would have considered the attempt.  Now, she simply blinked, her eyes taking focus, allowing her gaze to roam over the room that she was imprisoned in.  She winced, realizing too late that shifting her focus back to reality meant feeling the pain that continued to shoot through her body with every subtle movement.  Even breathing hurt, making her believe that ribs must have been at the very least bruised during one of the many brutal assaults on her body.  The earth beneath her was cold and the blanket that covered her offered little warmth but it was a concession that she had not expected.  The Narn who continued to attempt to coerce her into eating was unlike the others.  Not only had he refrained from raping her, which could always be due to a particular aversion to Human females, but he also seemed genuinely attentive to her welfare.  At first, she had considered thanking him but as the hours had passed and the nightmare of her imprisonment continued, Aelora found that his amnesty toward her was more torturous than welcomed.  She wanted him to be like the others, simply so she could become lost in the horror, giving herself over to the terror that consumed her.  She was tired of being strong, tired of holding out for something that would never come.
	Aelora hated closing her eyes.  Whenever she did so, the image of the decapitation of Lord and Lady Kyra entered into her mind and thoughts.  Cartagia had forced her to watch, taunting her all the while as to what a shame it was that she had been allowed to destroy such a noble House as the Kyras.  Lord Kyra had spat at her, calling her various obscenities while his wife had continued to sob, begging Cartagia for some leniency.  But the Emperor had ignored their pleas, ordering the guards to use dull swords and make certain they felt it.  Aelora had retched at the sight and sound of the Kyra's necks being hacked away at, almost losing herself in the insanity around her as Cartagia had dangled the bloody heads before her, laughing and taunting that he had "special" plans for her.  It was then that he had taken the dagger from the guard that held her and without warning had sliced off a two-inch section of her scalp, commenting that it was a memento for her Narn lover.  The pain had consumed her, making it impossible for his words to register.  Not until hours later, when she had already been shoved into the hold of the transport, did Aelora realize what Cartagia planned to do.  She tried very hard to convince herself that G'Kar would be saddened by the news of her death, that he would vow revenge and forever hold the memory of her in his heart.  But in the end, she could not believe that such would be the case.  He believed her incapable of love, incapable of caring for anyone but herself.  He would not mourn the loss of her but rather revel in it, heralding the notion that she had received exactly what she deserved.
	G'Kar... The simple thought of him and the chance that was lost caused her heart to tear slowly with each recollection.  Aelora forced her mind back to a time when there had been a moment of happiness between them, before she had coerced him to hate her.  Her favorite memory was of their night dining and dancing, how he had teased her and made her laugh, and the feel of his hands against her neck. She found herself wanting to relive that moment, to have the chance to say and do things differently, to end up in his arms rather than push him away and hurt him.  She just wanted to apologize for all of the things she had said and done to him, for the times she had foolishly chosen the Kyra's, her family, over the one person who truly did love her.  But such a simple wish was now impossible.  Aelora could only hope and pray that Londo would make good on his promise and G'Kar would soon be free and safe.  She would gladly give herself over to death were she to receive such a reassurance.
	Two days.  That was all that was left before she would have needed to take another injection of Sleepers.  She had promised G'Kar that she would stop the injections, that she would accept her abilities rather than allow their lack to kill her.  Now the choice was no longer hers.  In her heart though, Aelora knew she would not make it that long.  Her body and soul were tired; she longed to close her eyes and never wake up again.  The thought of withstanding her captor's hands on her once more terrified and revolted her.  There had been three of them the first night, four the next.  But their leader, Na'Kar she thought was the name, had promised her that he would introduce her to a few more of his friends. 
	Na'Kar frightened her.  That was something she could readily admit to.  He was the largest Narn she had ever seen, towering a good seven feet in height with mass to match.  He had a crudely shaped head that appeared flattened on one side as if he had been born with some birth defect.  His coloring was dark and mottled, his spots almost too close together in some areas and his eyes were small and hooded.  When he had taken her the first time, Aelora had been unable to even struggle against his assault.  He had held her with one hand while the other had beaten her into submission.  She quickly learned that it was easier to remain immobile, allowing him to toss her around like a rag doll while she lost herself in memories, pretending that she was anywhere but where she resided in reality.  
	Her forearms throbbed.  Aelora was certain she had felt no greater pain than when Cartagia had cruelly shattered the delicate bones, leaving them untended for days until the Narn, the only being to show her kindness in weeks, had cared for her.  She felt like an invalid, unable to sit up on her own, unable to fight off her aggressors.  Sometimes she just became so frustrated at her state.  Frustrated that if she had not taken the Sleepers she would not be in this situation.  Frustrated that had she trusted G'Kar to begin with, none of this would have ever happened.  Frustrated that she had spent a lifetime devoted to a mother and father who had never truly cared whether or not she existed.  She wanted to scream and cry and rail at the unfairness of it all but had not the strength to do so.  Besides, there was no one near to listen or care.
	As Aelora heard her guard moving back over the threshold, she carefully averted her eyes, appearing once more to be lost in a world of illusions.  She felt him kneel down next to her, regarding her silently.  Finally, he spoke:
	"It would be better if you ate something.  I know it does not seem like much but... it is all I have to offer."  He paused, waiting for a reaction.  Then, as if it had suddenly occurred to him to ask, he burst out, "Were you telling the truth?  Did the ones who brought you here lie?"
	Slowly, Aelora moved her gaze to settle on his, causing him to suck in a sharp breath of surprise.  She said nothing, fearing that if she were to open her mouth, just once, she would never be able to close it again, screaming out the pain and frustration and raw fear that burned through her.  She simply watched him in silence.
	"Who are you?"  Ra'Nam asked softly.
	Aelora closed her eyes, thinking that had she the strength left she would have laughed herself to tears.  




Clinging to the darkest of shadows, Ra'Nam moved quietly through the caverns and tunnels that ran beneath the battered surface of Narn.  He was aware of the dangers that lurked, and he knew that it was best to be alert, leaving nothing to chance.  He tightened his hold on the satchel he had slung over his shoulder, the ever-present sadness welling up within him.  Pain knifed through him as he thought about his people being force to fight and to scavenge for even the tiniest scraps of food.  How many innocents, women, children, the sick and the aged, had been left to die of thirst or hunger, their meager sustenance stolen from them?  His thoughts on the satchel he carried with him, he began to question the logic behind it.  Every day since Aelora Kyra's arrival on Narn, he had saved her a small portion of his own rations knowing she would be starved otherwise.  Yet he never stopped to consider why.  Aside from the nagging suspicions that there was more to her story than they had been given, there was little reason for him to do so.  There were countless others, his own people, who were more deserving of it than she.  He shook his head imperceptibly, knowing that with all the Human had been forced to endure even the smallest amount of compassion would be welcomed.  But would it? He wondered.  After all the mental and physical degradation, was he really doing the right thing by keeping her alive?
Na'Kar insidious laughter drew Ra'Nam's attention away from his thoughts and almost instantly his mind was filled with the many memories of the depravity he had witnessed in the past few days.  The images were enough to fill him with an intense nausea and for the briefest of moments he considered simply leaving to return later.  But his commiseration for the Human forced him forward, if only to enable him to prevent Na'Kar and the others from harming her too severely.
Taking a deep breath he passed through the crude archway leading to the cavern.  His eyes immediately fell upon the Human female, the usual pain her appearance provoked tearing through him.  She had been moved from the smaller adjoining chamber and now sat bound to a decrepit chair.  Even in the pale light provided by the occasional torch, Ra'Nam could see the full extent of her injuries.  The night before Na'Kar and several others had sought pleasure from the Human, beating and molesting her in increasingly aberrant ways.  What remained of her clothing was torn and bloody, doing little to cover her nakedness.  Her skin showed signs of deep bruising and severe cuts, her almost lifeless eyes rolled into the back of her head as she teetered on the edge of consciousness.  Every now and again she would mutter incoherently, encouraging Na'Kar to taunt her further.  Ra'Nam shook his head mentally; sickened by the depravity his people were capable of.  
"Ah, it appears our Centauri sympathizer has decided to join us after all," Na'Kar called out raucously, eliciting even more laughter from the others.  "We were just discussing Lady Kyra here.  We are wondering why you have refused to...uh... how should I say... partake of all she has to offer."
Ra'Nam moved past the other Narns to place the satchel on a nearby table, keeping his back to Na'Kar in an attempt to shroud his contempt.
At Ra'Nam's continued silence, Na'Kar laughed harder, taking hold of the Human's tangled red curls.  "It really is not so bad... if you keep your eyes closed."
Turning around in anger, Ra'Nam cast a furious glare at the others before focusing on Na'Kar.  "Perhaps I do not see the point of it."
"What is that supposed to mean?"  The larger Narn demanded taking a threatening step towards the other.
"Nothing.  I simply do not understand your intense interest in one who should disgust you," came the cool reply.
"And I do not understand your apparent interest in her well-being," Na'Kar shouted back at him.  "I would expect you, above all others, to wish to see her pay for her crimes.  You call yourself a friend of G'Kar's, yet you are unwilling to dispense justice on the one who is ultimately responsible for his torture and future execution."
Ra'Nam met Na'Kar's glare with one of his own.  "Unlike some, I can distinguish between justice and torture."
"Really?" Na'Kar asked, narrowing his eyes dangerously.  "Did she make this distinction?  Did any of the Centauri when they reduced our world to rubble?  I believe it is time you accepted the truth about, Lady Kyra."
"She is not Centauri!"
Na'Kar smiled broadly at this, apparently finding Ra'Nam's last comment immensely amusing.  "Funny you should say that, Ra'Nam.  We were just discussing how Human she appears.  Perhaps it is time we changed that."
Ra'Nam growing tired of the endless contention between him and the other Narn, stalked towards the doorway, stopping short as two of Na'Kar's comrades stepped in front of him, blocking his escape.
"You will stay, Ra'Nam," Na'Kar told him, feeling it prudent to leave any threat he might offer unspoken. 
Ra'Nam glanced around the room at the others, noting the eagerness in their eyes.  Against Na'Kar he may stand a chance, but if opposed by the others as well he knew they would surely kill him.  Deciding it best not to defy them further, Ra'Nam moved back into the room.
Keeping his eyes on Ra'Nam for a long moment, he finally turned his attention to the others gathered, instructing them to draw closer to the Human.  He assumed his usual position, at the center of things, before addressing them.  
"As Ra'Nam said, Lady Kyra, does not exactly appear Centauri, and I believe it is time we rectified that."  With a horrible smile, Na'Kar then grabbed a handful of Aelora's hair, while placing his other hand on the base of her slender neck.  He then used all the strength he possessed to tear the hair he held from its owner.
The shock and pain was enough to rouse Aelora from her trance-like state, evoking a pain-laden wail from her.  She struggled against her bindings as the warmth of her blood touched her back.  Never before had she experienced such pain.  Even during the countless rapes she had been forced to endure, she had been able to withdraw from them, escaping to the farthest reaches of her mind.  But now she feared she would be incapable of doing so.  She watched in terror as Na'Kar held up the clump of hair he had ripped from her, proudly, making of a point of showing her the layer of skin still attached to its base.  She clenched her eyes shut, choking back the fear and nausea that threatened.  Hearing Na'Kar ask for a volunteer she braced herself for the pain as another Narn, Ra'Len stepped forward eagerly.  
Unlike his leader, Ra'Len grabbed a clump from the front of Aelora's head, tugging several times before violently tearing it from her scalp.  Almost instantly, Aelora felt herself being sucked into unconsciousness, welcoming the respite it offered.  Na'Kar, however, slapped her hard across the face, returning her to the reality around her, determined to see she endured all the pain he believed she deserved.  
The next to step forward was Na'Dan, a relation of Na'Kar's, and one of the more demented of the group.  Aelora recalled with horror the night before, when both he and Na'Kar had seen fit to violate her.  It was an unsettling memory, one that urged her to recoil from him.  
He laughed at her as she withdrew from him, her eyes widening in terror.  He then reached under his tunic to remove a small dagger which he held up in front of her as a prelude to what was to come.  He fumbled it in his hand as if mocking her, watching with intense delight as her apprehension grew.  She started visibly as his hand moved to seize a large clump of hair over her left ear.  He then proceeded to slice it from her body, taking much of her scalp with it.  Blood instantly began to seep from the wound, flowing down the side of her face to her shoulder.  Had she had anything to eat she would have vomited from the pain, but as it were, she only gagged violently, gasping for breath.
"That is enough!"  Ra'Nam shouted, stepping between the Human and the next volunteer.  
Stepping to within inches of Ra'Nam, Na'Kar grabbed hold of the front of his uniform with barely held in check anger.  "It is enough when I say it is."  He thrust Ra'Nam away from him, instructing two others to keep him from interfering again.  He then turned back to the gathering, laughing loudly before stepping aside for more volunteers.
One by one, the Narns came at her, ripping or slicing her hair from her head, leaving her scalp bloodied and torn, pain unlike anything she had ever felt before screaming through her body.  As the abuse continued she began to picture her attackers not as Narns but as Lord and Lady Kyra, remembering how they had long ago beaten her then shaved her head.
"Please... I'll... I'll be good..." She sobbed to them, her voice barely audible.
Ra'Nam's heart and mind struggled against one another as the words echoed through his thoughts.  Part of him believed that the Human was deserving of everything she was receiving, yet a greater part of him begged to believe that his suspicions were correct, that she was truly more of a victim than any of them could imagine.  It was that part of him that screamed for him to stop the madness around him, regardless of the risk to his own life.  But logic told him that stepping in, to oppose Na'Kar again, would only mean his own death.  And then what...?  He was the only one who had shown any compassion to Lady Kyra, the only one among them to uphold the ideals of G'Kar.  If he were to sacrifice his life he would gain nothing, but his people may lose immensely.  
As he saw Na'Kar approach the Human, a lit candle in his hand, he found himself clenching his eyes shut, unwilling to witness anything further.  He opened them only when the sound of malicious laughter coupled with a horrid scream and the stench of burning flesh threatened to overwhelm his senses.  His eyes fell upon Aelora, the remaining hair on the back of her head still smoldering, the skin of her scalp and the sides of her head blackened and blistered.  
G'Kar forgive us was his only thought as the Human was swallowed by the blackness of unconsciousness, wishing not for the first time that it would claim him as well.




Terann paced the landing pad, impatience knifing through her as she awaited the arrival of the shuttle from the White Star.  She had received transmission from it over thirty standard minutes before saying that they had reached Minbar and were sending down a shuttle to bring her aboard.  Terann could not help but fear that they would not reach Aelora in time; that too many days had already passed.  She did welcome the need to go after the Human though.  It gave her an excuse not to concentrate on her own problems, to forget about the recent upheaval in her life.  Now, leaving Minbar was easier.  She could pretend that she was only doing so because Aelora needed her, not because she was being forced to.  Not because the truth of her parentage had made it so that she could no longer call Minbar her home, could no longer refer to the Minbari people as her own.
    The Minbari stepped back as she heard the sound of the approaching shuttle engines, shielding her eyes with her hand as she glanced up into the sky.  As it landed, she gathered her bags into her hands and moved towards it, hesitating as the door opened and a familiar face stepped out.
	"Terann."  Marcus nodded to her as he approached, his expression drawn into a slight frown.
	"Marcus, I am surprised to see you here," she commented honestly.  "I thought you would be helping Delenn and Sheridan in their war against the Shadows."
	"I was."  He took her bags from her and started back toward the craft, hesitating only momentarily when it appeared she was not following him.  Once she fell in to step beside him, he continued, "I heard them talking about you needing a White Star for a personal mission and that they felt it would not be prudent to pull any ships away from patrolling at such a crucial time.  When I asked what it was you needed to do, they told me that something had happened to Aelora.  That was when I volunteered."
	"I find it hard to believe they gave in so easily," Terann commented dryly.
	Marcus shook his head.  "They didn't.  Not at first."  Stepping into the shuttle he settled her bags into an empty compartment then took a seat next to her in the pilot's chair.  Once they were strapped in and the engines roared to life, Marcus resumed his story.  "They argued with me, quite fiercely in fact."  He frowned at this, as if he were baffled that they had done so.  "What with Sheridan wanting neither of you on the station period and Delenn concerned over the Shadow threat... Well, needless to say, they were not about to budge for your request."
	"And?"  Terann prompted him.
	"And I told them that Aelora was my friend and that she meant a lot to me and if they would stop being so stubborn they would see that both you and Aelora are more an asset to them and the Army of Light than anything."
	Terann snorted.  "I have difficulty believing that you said any such thing to them."
	"Well not in so many words exactly," Marcus flashed a quick grin at her, his lilting accent holding a mildly ironic tone to it.  "But they got the point I was trying to make.  And, I figured that you and I together should be able to get to Aelora and back before my absence became too apparent.  They finally agreed."
	The Minbari beside him gave a soft sigh.  "Well, it is good that someone who cares for Aelora is here to help.  I fear that this may not be easy, that what we might find may not be pleasant."
	Her comments caused Marcus' frown to return.  "Captain Sheridan did not fill me in on details."
	"I only know what Rane, Aelora's cousin, told me.  Apparently she let her friendship with G'Kar be known by the Centauri Emperor and it enraged him.  He subsequently murdered the Kyra's and sent Aelora to Narn, telling her captors that she was responsible for G'Kar's capture and torture."
	"Poor Aelora," Marcus lamented with a shake of his head.  "The Kyra's were all she had left."
	"Not necessarily," Terann replied, fixing the Ranger with a steady gaze.  "She has you, she has me... and she has G'Kar."
	"That is on the assumption that he survives his imprisonment," Marcus commented.  Then added, "As well as the assumption that he forgives her for her betrayal."
	Terann stared out at the sight of the White Star as they neared its position above Minbar.  She was silent for a long moment, debating what was and was not her business to interfere in.  Finally she decided that had she made the decision to interfere in Aelora's life in the first place, many things would have happened differently.
	"Just how well do you think you know Aelora?"  She finally questioned the Human beside her.
	"Well enough," Marcus replied, his tone indicating that he was offended by her question.  He had never hidden his distrust of the Minbari Warrior from the moment she had first appeared on Babylon 5.  For her to behave as if she somehow understood Aelora better than he did was a blatant insult.  He had known Aelora far longer than Terann.
	"Then you know her well enough to know whether or not she would consciously betray someone."
	Marcus gave an impatient sigh, remaining silent for the moment while he maneuvered the shuttle into the docking bay of the White Star.  Once he had brought it to a safe landing and shut off it's engines, he turned to the Minbari.  "I never claimed to know the Centauri side of her."
	"Her mind says she is Centauri," Terann replied to him.  "Her heart dictates that she follow the Human side of her which she attempts so valiantly to hide."
	"Just what are you saying?"
	Terann shook her head, wondering why it was that so often Humans seemed completely oblivious to the universe around them.  "Aelora lied to G'Kar.  She did not betray him.  Her actions on Centauri Prime only go to prove more deeply the emotions that she harbors for him.  Her cousin appeared on Babylon 5 threatening G'Kar's life.  Aelora, wishing to protect him and never once considering that a grown male Narn could very easily protect himself, decided that by distancing him from her, he would be safe.  So she lied, gained G'Kar's hatred, was dismissed from the Rangers by Delenn and discovered that I had been keeping the truth regarding Sinclair from her all along," Terann finished in a tone that indicated she was less than pleased with her own duplicity.
	"How do you know all of this?"
	"She came to me and confessed."  Terann shrugged her small shoulders.  "She was looking for guidance and counsel and all I could give her in return was more pain.  I came to realize that the Aelora we began to see on Babylon 5 - the angry, cruel Aelora - stemmed from emotions in herself that she could not face.  She was both shocked and terrified by the scope of her feelings for a Narn.  So she lashed out at him and anyone who tried to make her come to terms with it all.  Since G'Kar was involved with the situation, he could not see it for what it was.  And the rest of us simply fell back on the reasoning that Aelora was raised Centauri and therefore, we expected the worse from her, never once considering that not all Centauri are bad.  And even if they were, Aelora is not Centauri.  She is the child of Valen."
	"You make it sound as if none of us gave Aelora a chance."
	"We did not," Terann stated flatly.  "Worst of all, Aelora did not give herself a chance."
	Marcus shook his head, moving to grab Terann's bags and exiting the shuttle.  As they walked from the docking bay, he cast a surreptitious glance at the Minbari beside him, thinking that not only had he misread Aelora, he had done the same with Terann.  It was obvious by all that she had said that she cared about Aelora, considered her a friend.  It was something that Marcus had not thought possible and he candidly said as much to Terann.
	The Minbari glanced over at him.  "Perhaps I see myself in her.  We are like mirrors of one another.  Unaccepted by our own people because they do not understand us, afraid to acknowledge the truth that resides within us, afraid to trust for fear of rejection.  We are both so wrapped up in what is expected of us, in what we have been taught to hate and what we have been taught to believe, that we are afraid to love, afraid to accept that we can change.  Afraid to believe that there is, very possibly, someone out there who truly cares."
	Marcus found himself slowly beginning to trust the Warrior beside him.  He was both surprised and pleased that she seemed to willing to be open with him, so willing to speak of herself, her fears and her mistakes.  Perhaps this mission to help Aelora would be good for both of them.  He would conquer his prejudice against the Warrior caste and, very possibly, make a new friend while he was at it.   
	"How long has Aelora been on Narn?" Marcus finally asked.
	"According to Rane, two days now."  She stopped, her gaze searching the Rangers until she shook her head.  "I know what you are thinking.  You hope that Aelora somehow got the Narn to listen to her and believe that she would never intentionally hurt G'Kar.  I too briefly found myself hoping for such a thing.  There are only two problems with that.  One, the Narn are a stubborn and vengeful people.  Their hatred for the Centauri unfortunately overshadows any good judgment on their part.  And two, were Aelora no longer a prisoner, she would have contacted Babylon 5 or someone by now in the hopes for transport or to gather a rescue party for G'Kar.  Sadly Marcus, we must continue under the assumption that Aelora is being held prisoner and is likely receiving less-than-humane treatment."  She paused for a moment, wishing she did not have to be so forward with the Human beside her.  She could immediately see by the expression in his eyes that it hurt him to think that Aelora could be in pain.  
   	"This could all be supposition," Marcus commented hopefully.
	Again, Terann could only shake her head.  "My... senses tell me otherwise."  At the Ranger's look of confusion, Terann explained, "Remember when Neroon appeared on Babylon 5 to challenge Delenn's position as Entil'zah?"
	"How could I forget?" He replied ironically.
	"After your battle with him, I battled him as well.  He left me severely injured - near death.  Aelora came to me and, with her significant abilities, saved my life.  I am not certain how she does it but it is almost as if she gave a piece of herself to me.  Since then, it is as if I am somehow connected to her.  There are times when I feel what she is feeling; her happiness, her sorrow, her pain."
	"And what is it you feel now?"
	Terann hesitated, looking away from his searching gaze.  "I feel... " She sighed, turning back, her eyes holding his.  "I feel as if we are losing her."
	Marcus sucked in a sharp breath, dropping Terann's bags at his feet.  "We must move quickly then.  What are the instructions?  Should we go in with guns blazing?"
	The Minbari shook her head, smiling slightly.  "No.  Rane has arranged for a Centauri warship that is loyal to him to meet us just outside of the Narn homeworld.  Once there, we must meet with a contact by the name of Bainter."
	Marcus nodded.  "I will get us there at the best possible speed."
	"I will join you in a moment," Terann commented as Marcus trotted down the corridor toward the bridge.  
She bent down and lifted her bags in her hands, carrying them towards the sleeping area.  Surprisingly, she found herself welcoming the Ranger's presence.  When she had first seen him, she dreaded the possible tension that would exist between them but now she found she was pleased that she had someone who she was at least familiar with by her side.  That, along with the fact that he was Aelora's friend made it easier to trust him.  Had it not been for Marcus she realized there might not have been a chance to rescue Aelora at all.  
At this thought, Terann clenched her teeth against the anger that arose.  Damn Sheridan and Delenn for believing that they had all of the answers, for believing that they had the right to dictate who should live and who should die.  Had they any sense at all, they would have sent someone after G'Kar as well.  Did they not understand who their true allies were?  Had they no clue at all to the fact that the universe did not revolve around them?  Terann found she could not wait until she returned to Babylon 5.  She wanted to see them both.  She wanted to accuse them of attempted murder for not wanting to lift a finger in Aelora's rescue; and she wanted to berate them for their attack against the Vorlons, for killing Ulkesh and for somehow believing that they were better than everyone around them.
Terann shook her head with an ironic smile.  It was not bright to anger a Vorlon.  No, it was not bright at all.






Ra'Nam stood leaning against the earthen wall, watching as Lady Kyra slept.  For the first time since her arrival, he began to know true pity for her.  He had spent hours tending the ravaged skin on her scalp, stopping the bleeding and doing what little he could to ease the pain.  He knew there were wounds that the fragile Human harbored that he would never be able to heal.  He tried not to think of the crimes his own people had committed against her, of the suffering they continued to cause, caring nothing for the living being inside the delicate shell.  A part of Ra'Nam was disgusted at himself for not stepping in and attempting to stop everything that had been done to her over those never-ending hours that Lady Kyra had been at Na'Kar's mercy.  
After she had fallen into unconsciousness, Ra'Nam had been certain the torture would end.  But he had been wrong.  The others had been deep into their libations by the time they had begun their torture of Lady Kyra, and their night had just begun.  Her lack of consciousness had only served as a respite for them to become even more drunk and depraved.  When she began to come to, an utter of pain escaping her, which had been heard by her captors, Na'Kar had quickly pulled her from the chair, tossing her amidst the others and instructing them that it was time for some true fun.  In truth, Ra'Nam was not certain how the Human had survived through the night.  They had raped and molested her repeatedly, sometimes taking turns, other times two and three of them taking her at once.  When the smallest spark of rebellion appeared in their play toy, they would find numerous, inventive ways of causing her pain until she gave in, and they would then force her to perform the most dissipated and vile acts they could think of.  It had continued for hours until the last of her captors had finally fallen to sleep, filled on drink, food and debauchery.  
That was when Ra'Nam had finally been able to retrieve her broken and battered form but not before his own body had betrayed him at the sight of her, causing him to retch what little he had been able to consume.  She was covered in blood and the semen of the many Narns who had defiled her, her body bruised and lacerated where they had both bitten her and ripped at her flesh with their nails.  She had been so still and unmoving that Ra'Nam had been moved to immediately check for a pulse.  Not only was her heart still beating strongly but her eyes were open and staring.  And the expression they held shamed Ra'Nam beyond comprehension.  For the next few hours while he carefully administered to her many wounds, gently washing the feculence from her body, he had been unable to look at her, unable to face the heinousness of his own people that he had been forced to witness.          
But what could he have done?  They would never have listened and though he might have been able to hold his own against a few of them, he would never have survived a fight against all twelve.  And without him, the female would not live long.
Of course, there was the idea that death could be the solution Ra'Nam sought.  It would be so easy to cover her mouth and nose until she suffocated or wrap his hands around her slim neck.  It would be quick and painless and she would not be forced to suffer at the hands of her captors any longer.  He would simply tell the others that she had died in her sleep, unable to fight against the wounds and sickness that had obviously befallen her.  They would believe it and move on to another distraction and her presence among them would soon be forgotten.  Yes, it would be so easy...
Ra'Nam took a step toward her, his mind still arguing with his heart.  A small voice continued to nag that she deserved everything that was done to her, that she was only a consummate actress or perhaps a witch who had lured him under her spell, tricking him into believing she was more of an innocent than he had been told.  Ra'Nam paused, his fist clenching at his sides.  That side of him said that death was too easy.  He took another step, silently arguing with himself, telling himself that a true Warrior would give her the release she so obviously sought.  He would suffocate her, he decided, taking another step closer.
  The Human whimpered in her sleep and Ra'Nam found himself hesitating once more.  She sounded so childlike, so... afraid.  He knew it was silly to believe that she could sense what he was about to do but he still found himself rethinking his intentions.  He watched her for a moment longer, noting that her face was drawn into an expression of terror.  Was she reliving the nightmares of her reality? He wondered.  Could she not even escape her imprisonment in sleep?  She spoke a word, though her voice was muffled and difficult to understand, as if she had intentionally whispered it.  Ra'Nam crouched down, leaning nearer, his curiosity momentarily pulling him away from the course he had set for himself.  Lady Kyra whimpered again, thrashing her head to one side.  Ra'Nam reached out, meaning to better set her bandages before she writhed out of them when her sudden cry stopped him.
"G'Kar!"
The Narn froze.  Speaking the name of the last of the Kha'Ri implicated Lady Kyra without question, proving that she knew him.  But it was the tone of her voice and the way she had cried out that had caused him such surprise.  There had been no anger in her tone, no hatred, no disgust.  Instead, her cry had hinted at desperation, longing, even... love?  
"G'Kar... "  She whimpered once more, softly this time, almost pleading.  "Please... stay with me... "
Ra'Nam sat back on his heels, his eyes wide in confusion.  Again, her voice did not hold the tone of someone who would imprison another and torture them.  She had sounded so full of pain and need, her voice gentle and sweet.  Cautiously, he reached out and touched her shoulder, shaking her just enough to wake her without causing pain.  
She started, her gaze immediately fearful, knowing that to be awakened only meant further abuse.
"Shhh... " Ra'Nam quieted, ashamed that he had pulled her from her dream world.  "You cried out in your sleep.
"You spoke of G'Kar," Ra'Nam commented quietly, quick to notice the softening of her eyes when he said the name.  "Do you know G'Kar?"
Though he had hoped for something he received no answer in response.  The Human only continued to watch him, as if waiting for him to say or do something else.  Ra'Nam sighed, rubbing a hand across his eyes in frustration.  Lady Kyra was not making this easy on him.  If something were wrong, he wanted to know it before it was too late.  If there was someone he could contact, some way to learn the truth so that he knew for certain whether or not Lady Kyra was guilty.  But the Human seemed determined not to cooperate.  He could not help but wonder why.  If it meant a chance to end the torture and pain that she was suffering then why did she not take it? 
"Lady Kyra, I am only asking this because I am confused," Ra'Nam pleaded with her, hoping there was some way to reach beyond the distance that he saw in her eyes.  "We have been told that you were responsible for Citizen G'Kar's capture and torture but... the way you cried out in your sleep just now... " He shook his head, unable to voice his thoughts.  It was ludicrous, really.  Impossible.  Why would a child of the House of Kyra care for a Narn?  Sure, biologically she was a Human but she had been raised under Centauri beliefs and ideals.  The customs and dictates of one's childhood were not easily discarded.
Ra'Nam decided to try a different approach.  "I am fortunate to be able to call G'Kar a friend," he told her.  "I believe in G'Kar.  I believe that his wisdom can lead our people beyond the hatred and revenge that resides inside our hearts.  I fight for our people with my sword but G'Kar, he fights for our people with his words, his ideas, and his dreams."  He paused, watching the prisoner, noting that her expression had not changed, had perhaps even turned inward more fully.  Ra'Nam wondered if perhaps he were already too late.  The recent abuse suffered by Lady Kyra at Na'Kar's hands may have pushed her over the edge.  For all he knew, she may not understand a word he was saying to her.
And yet... And yet when he had first mentioned G'Kar's name, something had appeared in her eyes.  It was nothing that he could pinpoint, nor anything that he could put a specific name to.  But it had been there.  She had reacted, if only briefly, and it had not been a negative response, either.  What it meant though, Ra'Nam could not fathom.  He continued to watch in silence, as Lady Kyra's gaze grew more and more distant, withdrawing from the reality around her to some hidden corner, deep inside her mind.  Silently, he cursed, standing.  There was nothing left for him to do, no way left for him to help her.  Obviously, it would be best to simply forget.
Moving into the main chamber, Ra'Nam found Na'Kar standing over the corner table, his attention focused on blueprints spread before him.  He looked up at the other Narn's entrance and nodded briefly to him before returning his gaze to the papers.
"What is this?"  Ra'Nam asked, moving up beside him.
"Just received some interesting news.  Apparently, the Centauri Emperor has grown tired of torturing Citizen G'Kar.  He has set the date for his execution and, he is performing it here."
"On Narn?"  Ra'Nam blinked, uncertain he had heard Na'Kar correctly.  "Why here?"
"Sources say he wishes to make an example."  Na'Kar shrugged.  "Whatever it is, we can not allow it to happen.  We must make plans to keep the Centauri from executing Citizen G'Kar."
Ra'Nam was surprised that he and Na'Kar actually agreed on an issue.  More so, he wondered if perhaps he had been judging Na'Kar too harshly.  For he had always believed that the leader of the Resistance would prefer to see Citizen G'Kar dead and out of the way, so that the Narn people would listen to Na'Kar, follow him.  
"G'Kar's death would be dangerous for our people," Na'Kar continued, turning to face the Warrior.  "It would make him a martyr, and that is something we can not have.  He would turn our people into priests if he had his way.  Narn does not need spirituality - we need strength!  Drive!  Power!  We need the kind of force behind us that the Centauri once had to expand throughout the galaxy, to be impenetrable enough to never again be subjected beneath the boot heels of another."     
"You would have our people become warlike, destructive," Ra'Nam commented, mentally berating himself for even briefly considering that he and Na'Kar agreed.
"I would have us become strong!"  Na'Kar barked, thrusting up his fist into Ra'Nam's face for emphasis.
"War does not make one strong, Na'Kar. Only foolish."
"I do not care so much for your tone, Ra'Nam," Na'Kar threatened with a low growl.
Ra'Nam only shrugged in response as if it were not his problem.  Na'Kar took a step toward him then hesitated as if coming to the conclusion that any further argument was useless.  He did not understand the Warrior before him, concluding that Ra'Nam had simply spent too much time in Citizen G'Kar's company.  Although that did not explain why the Narn appeared so concerned for Lady Kyra's welfare.  If he looked up to G'Kar, then why did he not wish revenge on the Human?  Why did he continue to look after her, nursing her wounds and attempting to coerce her into eating?   
	"Anyway," Na'Kar continued, turning back to the blueprints.  "We have been keeping an eye on the area where the execution will take place.  Soon, everything will be set in motion so that when the time comes, the execution will be interrupted and Citizen G'Kar will be hidden from the Centauri."
	"What of the repercussions?"
	Na'Kar stared at him blankly.
	"You know the Centauri will retaliate.  Most likely by executing more of our people."
	"Our people know that many will need to sacrifice their lives if we are to reach our ultimate goal."
 Ra'Nam could not believe what he was hearing.  That Na'Kar would so unwittingly throw away the lives of hundreds, even thousands of his own people, was unthinkable.  If the Narn before him represented the future of his people then Ra'Nam feared that future ever coming to pass.  He watched silently as Na'Kar moved away from him, heading back towards the room where Lady Kyra lay recuperating.  For a moment, he considered calling out to him, making up some reason to keep Na'Kar from injuring the Human further but decided there was really no point.  The sooner her death came, the better off she would be. 
Not wanting to bear witness to anymore of Na'Kar's violations on the Human, he quickly left, making his way through the darkened corridors until he was certain he would not hear her weakened cries of protest.
Back in the chamber, Na'Kar stood silently, observing the Human for a moment, trying to decide what he would do with her.  He found that with others present he was more restricted in his degradation of Lady Kyra, but alone...  those were the times he truly enjoyed.  It was these times that he could do with her as he pleased, when he did not have to be fearful of what the others would think.  Begrudgingly, however, he found himself conceding to the fact that he was quickly tiring of his plaything.  The longer her imprisonment lasted, the less aware she became and he hated that she refused to fight him.  He remembered, with great fondness, the first time he had taken her in the corridor on the night she was delivered to them.  She had struggled greatly then, kicking out with her legs, biting him, even lashing out with her broken arms.  Yet now she appeared to have accepted her death, merely awaited it, as if nothing else could harm her and this angered the Narn, more than he cared to admit to the others.
He stood regarding the Human for a moment longer, noting how drastically her appearance had changed since her arrival.  Even then, after her mistreatment at the hands of the Narns who had captured her, she remained strangely attractive.  Despite her filth, the many bruises that covered her body and her severely broken forearms, there was something about her, something he found arousing.  The first time he had taken her, in the corridor, he was as driven by his compulsion to hurt her as much as he was by his desire to have her.  It was something he was forced to hide something he could never divulge to the others. 
But now, in her prolonged imprisonment, he found nothing but revulsion for her.  Aside from the obvious stench, her head was bloody and swollen, her body becoming more emaciated the longer she refused what little food she was offered and she was continuing to show signs of grave illness.  It was not that he cared really, since he believed firmly that she was getting everything she deserved.  It was just shocking to him to finally notice how close to death she truly was, how close they had brought her.  And whether it was sickness or injury that finally claimed her, he cared not; he only wanted to be there to see it when it happened.  To look into the lifeless eyes of the child of House Kyra, the one who had robbed the Narn of the best of them was something he was certain to enjoy.  He would not purposely kill her, regardless of the fact that every inch of him screamed to do so, for that would only shorten her suffering.  And mercy was not something she deserved.
Marching over to where she lay on the floor in the corner of the small dreary room, Na'Kar snatched up the blanket Ra'Nam had covered her with.  She stirred only slightly, muttering incomprehensibly.  Her refusal to acknowledge him angered the Narn, and he kicked her violently in the back.  Aelora only moaned slightly in pain as she turned her head to regard him with an unfocused stare.
Aelora's body was ravaged, both mentally and physically, and she found herself more often than not, drifting over into insanity.  The Narn during their countless assaults on her body had effectively stripped every shred of dignity, innocence and self worth from her.  She had learned quickly that remaining complacent, as they violated her, served to shorten their assaults, as they quickly grew tired of her unwillingness to fight.  It was not like she could even if she had wanted to.  Every inch of her body screamed in protest at even the slightest movements.  It had become so that breathing itself was something she dreaded.  She had sensed Na'Kar as he watched her, believing she was unconscious, had felt the bite of the cold air on her skin as he pulled the makeshift blanket from her body.  The agony, however, that shot through her entire body when he kicked her in the back was intolerable, and she turned to fix her gaze on him, if only to avoid more pain. 
What she saw in him frightened her, as it always had.  His eyes betrayed his depravity sending a cold wave of fear crashing over her.  She scanned the room with her eyes, desperate to find another of her captors.  Even the most hardened of them served to restrain Na'Kar's more vitiated side.
"I assure you, we are quite alone," Na'Kar informed her as the corners of his mouth forming a demented smile.  
Aelora turned away in dread, curling her body into a tight ball, withdrawing herself from the reality around her, knowing that otherwise she would not be able to withstand his attack on her.
He came at her quickly, pulling her up until she was half sitting, leaned up against the wall.  He stepped back for a moment, watching her intently, as if trying to decide what to do with her.  He watched with satisfaction at the way her body began to tremble in anticipation.
"It does not have to be like this," he told her, his voice almost calm, gentle.  He then reached out a hand to caress her cheek.  Instinctively, Aelora turned away in revulsion, clenching her eyes shut.  Her action was enough to shatter his feigned pleasantness and he struck her hard across the face.  The Human swallowed hard against the pain, forcing herself to remain quiet.  
Na'Kar's ire drove him forward; grabbing her tender forearms and squeezing them hard enough to elicit a slight whimper from the Human, he then slammed them into the wall over her head, holding them immobile.  Bringing his face close to hers he warned her against defying him again, biting her cheek hard to assure her of his threat.
With sharp pain shooting through her arms, Aelora forced herself to relax, knowing the Narn was more than eager to follow through on his threat.  She closed her eyes and pushed away from the reality around her.  Such was her concentration that she was barely aware as he as he fondled her breasts roughly, pinching her and slapping her for her unwillingness to cry out, still she refused to acknowledge the pain and degradation he was causing her.  
He stepped back, regarding her with seething anger, as she teetered on the edge of consciousness, his eyes dark and foreboding.  He grunted once at her, and then knelt beside her, wrapping one large hand around her throat while the other fumbled with his uniform.  Once he had freed his sex from its confines, he tightened his grip on her neck, forcing her to gasp for breath.
Bringing his mouth to within inches of her ear, he whispered, his voice terrifyingly low, "Bite me once, you Centauri whore, and I will personally rip out every last one of your teeth."  
Then he shifted his hold on her neck, moving his hand around the back of her head, his fingers biting into her battered and burnt flesh.  He then positioned himself in front of her, forcing her mouth open before thrusting her towards him.
As the Narn forced her to pleasure him orally, Aelora retreated into her mind, pushing aside the nausea that welled up within her.  It was easier now for Aelora to drift away from the harshness around her with her mind still under the influence of the Sleepers coupled with the humiliation she had been forced to bear.  
She found herself back on Babylon 5, within the immense gardens in the heart of the space station.  All around her was a sense of peace, a sense of belonging.
This isn't right!
The voice screamed through her mind, but she blithely ignored it seeking comfort in her surroundings.  The memories flooded back to her.  It was the night that G'Kar had taken her to the Lake Side, and she remembered when he had hollowed in feigned pain when she stuck her fork into the unknown Narn dish he had coerced her into ordering. More than anything, she remembered how good it had felt to be held in his arms as they had danced together.  Her mind then wandered further into the memory:
"Great Maker," she whispered without thought.  "What I would not give for you to not be a Narn."
As she recalled her words an intense pain shot through her heart.  She remembered how she had hurt him with her comment and how she longed to recant.  If only...  
Glancing behind her, she found herself smiling as she caught site of the Narn...  
		G'Kar smiled at that, reaching out to brush the remaining tears from her cheeks.  He stilled when Aelora moved against his palm, much as she had done in her sleep.  Their gazes locked and held.  As if of its own volition, G'Kar's hand moved behind her head and began gently pulling out the pins that held her curls in place, letting it fall about her shoulders.
		"You should wear your hair down," he whispered, his hand tangling in the curls as his fingers moved to caress her neck.
		Aelora felt herself relaxing under his touch, her head leaning back into his hand.  This time she did not give her thoughts voice, instead she allowed him to caress her gently, taking comfort in the feel of his nearness.  Slowly she tilted her head back, allowing him to capture her mouth with his own.  The kiss was tender yet passionate, full of longing and desire.  Pressing her body against his, she revealed her need to have him, holding nothing back, doing, as her heart had wanted to for so very long.
	She started in shock and confusion as the large Narn released his hold on her, pushing her from him roughly.
	"G'Kar?" the Human begged, moving back to him.
	The Narn sidestepped her, gazing at her with a mixture of hatred and disgust.  "What makes you think I would want you?" He demanded finally.
	"I don't understand.  G'Kar, it's me... after everything..."
	"After everything... all they have done to you, you still believe I would desire you?  You are dirty, abused, undeserving of even my pity."
	"Please G'Kar, don't do this!"  Aelora cried out, tears flowing without encumbrance.  
	"Poor Aelora," he began to mock.  "Please, cry again for us.  Show us how we should feel sorry for you, how you are deserving of our compassion.
	"You are pathetic!" He shouted at her, taking a threatening step towards her.  "How could you possibly believe that I would care for you, after all they did? After all you let them do?!"
	"How can you say such things, G'Kar?  I love you... I was so afraid to admit it before, but now I can, there is nothing anyone can do to stop that."
	The Narn looked at her quizzically for a moment, his brow furrowed.  "Am I now supposed to fall to my knees before you, Lady Kyra?  Do I now tell you that everything is all right?  You who inflict suffering on everyone who dared to ever care for you.  You deserve everything you get, Aelora Kyra."
	He spun around, stalking away from her.  Aelora, feeling as though her heart had been ripped from her chest, started after him, panicking when she found herself unable to move.  "G'Kar!"  She cried out to him as he disappeared in the distance, begging him to come back to her. 
	 "Please G'Kar, don't leave me...!"  She cried out, stunned back to reality by Na'Kar beating her violently.  She curled herself into a ball as his fists continued to slam into her head, pulling her battered arms up to protect her face.  When she cried out, he took hold of her neck once again, tightening his grip making breathing impossible.  He then dragged her up to sitting once again, only to slam her back into the wall with head spinning force.
	"You dare speak his name, Centauri," he growled.  "You who delivered him to that madman, you who would torture the greatest of us.  I should cut out your tongue, harlot."
	He released his hold on her neck, moving his hands to her shoulders then roughly forcing her to the ground.  He did not waste time in his assault, choosing instead to couple his beating and rape of her.  The end result was more violent than anything that had been visited upon her previously was, and Aelora found herself begging for the death that had for so long eluded her.
	"Poor Aelora."
	The voice pushed its way into her thoughts, urging her to turn in its direction.  Catching sight of Terann she immediately cried out for help, but her current state made her words incomprehensible.
	"You wish for me to help you?"  The Minbari asked incredulously, her features indifferent as she stood watching Na'Kar in his violation of her friend.  "You believe you are undeserving of your fate, that you are somehow an innocent in all of this.  Misunderstood in someway."  She then paused kneeling down beside the Human, stroking her battered head gently, lowering her voice, and assuming a more gentle, sympathetic tone.  "Foolish human, how wrong you are.  You are a creature of your own making; you created this... all of this.  Your privileged life, the lies, the deceit, the hate... all of it is now over!"
	"NO!"  Aelora cried out, terror and pain crashing over her, threatening to consume her as unconsciousness slowly claimed her.  The last she heard was Terann's mocking voice:
	"Yes Aelora, run.  Run away... while you still can."
	







"Terann."  Marcus peered into the sleeping area.  "We've reached the rendezvous point."
Terann pulled herself up from the prone position on the pallet, hesitating as the sleep disappeared from her eyes.  "Is our contact here?"
The Ranger nodded.  "He's on his way over in a shuttle right now to take us on board."
The Minbari slipped off the pallet, straightening her clothes then walked past Marcus into the corridor.  He moved up alongside her as they headed toward the docking bay.
"Marcus."  Terann paused for a moment, glancing sidelong at the Human male beside her.  "I... I wish for you to stay onboard the White Star while I journey to Narn."
Marcus came to an abrupt halt, fixing an icy glare on the Minbari he had actually begun to trust.  "She's my friend too, Terann.  I am not about to stand by, twiddling my thumbs while you are off playing hero."
She shook her head.  "I am not going to argue this with you, Marcus.  I am going to Narn without you."  She resumed her movement down the hall.
"Wait just a damn minute!"  Marcus grabbed her by the arm, spinning her around.  "I thought we were doing this together.  A team."
"We have done this together, Marcus."  The telepath fixed him with a steady and sincere gaze.  "I could not have gotten this far without your help.  You supplied the much-needed quick transportation to speed me on my way.  Now I must continue on my own.  I am not excluding you out of spite, Marcus."  She laid an understanding hand on his arm.  "Someone needs to be here, needs to be ready in case there are complications, to have the crew ready to depart at a moment's notice.  You know that."
"Someone else --- "
"It is you I trust, Marcus."
The Ranger knew what a sacrifice it was for her to utter such words.  His reservations diminished somewhat but still he protested.  "What if you need help?"
The comment was enough to make her smile.  "You know of what I am capable.  There will be no trouble, I assure you."
"The unexpected can occur," he insisted stubbornly.
"Which is exactly why you must remain.  If I do not return with Aelora in four standard hours, then you must form a backup plan.  You know as well as I that we could potentially have very little time left to get her away from here.  Please.  We are wasting valuable time in argument."
He finally nodded in acquiescence though inside he wished to continue the debate.  After all, he had known Aelora much longer and was much closer to her than the Minbari could ever possibly be in his opinion.  Truthfully, he was surprised that Aelora meant so much to Terann.  It was abnormal for a member of the Warrior caste to trust, let alone befriend a Human.  That Aelora and Terann had become so close was in itself an amazing circumstance.
As they entered the docking bay, the Centauri they were to meet was just emerging from his shuttle.  He was tall and slightly built, his blonde hair upswept in the shorter style made popular by Emperor Cartagia.  His dark blue eyes watched Marcus and Terann warily as they approached him.  
"You are Bainter?"  Terann asked, coming to a halt only a few feet in front of him.
The Centauri nodded.  "Yes.  I am a distant relation of Aelora's...er, the Kyra's," he corrected quickly.  "If you are Terann then we must move quickly.  The Emperor's ship is expected to arrive at Narn in little more than six standard hours.  Once he has arrived, the Ilaws will be put on patrol and will not be able to pull away."
Marcus frowned at the news, glancing down at Terann.  "Why would the Centauri Emperor risk coming to Narn?"
"For an execution," Bainter explained quickly.  "The last of the Kha'Ri is to be executed as an example to his people."
Terann sucked in a sharp breath.  Beside her, Marcus cursed.
"Now I must go down with you, Terann," Marcus insisted.  "We can rescue G'Kar as well."
The Minbari shook her head in the negative.  "No, Marcus.  We do not have the time.  We would have to wait until Cartagia arrived and by then the Ilaws would not be able to help us.  The White Star would have to join in the battle and that could lead to war between the Alliance and Centauri Prime.  We cannot risk that, not even for G'Kar.  I am as torn by this as you but we have no choice.  G'Kar will have to find his own means of escape."
"And if he does not?"  
Terann closed her eyes against the question, thinking to herself that she would not wish to be the one to tell Aelora that G'Kar was dead when she had the chance to save him.  She knew it would destroy the Human, even if no relationship existed between her and the Narn.  Terann pictured the roles reversed; wondered how she would feel if Aelora ignored the chance to rescue Neroon then felt the renewed pain at wounds that had yet to heal.
"Time is wasting," Bainter commented.
Terann placed her hand on Marcus' arm.  "Wait for me here.  I will return with Aelora shortly.  We came here for her, not for G'Kar."
Marcus looked ready to argue but finally nodded without speaking.  He watched as Terann followed the Centauri into the shuttle, the door sliding shut behind them.  He moved out of the docking bay, waiting as the doors opened and the shuttle disappeared out into the stars.  He hoped that Aelora was all right, and prayed that G'Kar would find a way to escape his imminent execution.  Not for the first time, he cursed himself for listening to G'Kar when he had first tracked the Narn in his search for Garibaldi.  He should not have left the Narn alone, knowing that the Centauri wanted him captured.  The Ranger should have argued more heatedly, contacted someone else at Babylon 5 to look into the information they had discovered or simply knocked G'Kar over the head with his pike and dragged him back to the station.  Marcus hated the feeling of helplessness that currently consumed him.
The occupants of the shuttle spent the trip to the Ilaws in silence.  Both continued to question their role in the upcoming rescue, one with hesitancy, and the other with an eagerness that stemmed from an unconscious need for revenge.  While Terann told herself the main reason she was so willing to rescue Aelora was because she was a dear friend, deep inside she knew the truth resulted from a much more selfish reason.  Within her, the need to be vindicated for the pain she was caused by her own people seethed.  It appeared as if those you were taught most to trust always turned out to be the first willing to cause you pain and harm.  It had happened to Terann, and now it was happening to Aelora.  Unfortunately, Terann had no one she could lash out at, was forced to run from her home rather than to stay and fight.  But through Aelora's pain and exploitation, she could exact her revenge on all of those that saw fit to destroy those they could not understand and feared because they were different.  
Once the shuttle came to a landing on the Centauri warship, Bainter turned to address the Minbari beside him.
"The crew have instructions to now take us within range of Narn, just over the main city, G'Kamazad.  I will shuttle you under the guise that you were sent by the Minbari government to oversee Centauri Prime's treatment of the Narn people.  
"Once we are there, I will give you directions to an establishment where I am certain you will locate the one who can help you, a Narn named Ra'Nam.  He has been at least somewhat cooperative with my government and I have met him on a few occasions.  He is smarter than most - seems to understand the best ways to help his people.  He is also very trusted by his people.  He should be able to get you where you need to go.  I have information that he knows those who hold Aelora.
"I will wait for you within G'Kamazad.  You will have exactly two hours to find Ra'Nam and rescue Aelora before you need to be back at the shuttle.  It is the only time we have before we must get back to the Ilaws and then return you to your ship.  Do you understand?" 
"You need not worry, Centauri," Terann replied coldly.  "I will not jeopardize your position."
"If I truly worried about such a thing, would I be helping you?" Bainter asked, his eyes narrowing.  
"Then why are you helping?  Your Emperor is the one who sent Aelora here, who gave her to the Narn knowing they would exact revenge for what her family has done.  Your Emperor is the one who destroyed Lord and Lady Kyra."
Bainter flashed a glare for a moment then moved to stand and walk away but Terann reached out and grabbed hold of his hand, keeping him there.
"Why?" She demanded, considering for a moment simply ripping the information from his mind.  It had of course crossed her thoughts that this could all be a setup by any one of her enemies, of which there were many.  If his answer did not make sense, she would scan him to learn the truth.
The Centauri looked back at her for a long moment before finally settling back into his chair.  "I was present at Court when everything happened.  You see Aelora's cousin Tiro was one of my best friends.  We grew up together.  He had always been one of the most loyal of our people.  After the bombing of Narn, he... changed.  At first I did not understand it but he finally confessed everything to me and as he did... I do not know how but it seemed to make sense.  All of it.  He was right.  Centauri Prime was tearing itself apart from the inside and no one seemed to notice.  
"After Cartagia had Tiro executed, most of the crew made a vow not to let our home be pulled into the mire that threatened.  We began watching everything that was going on, making certain that Tiro's sacrifice had not been in vain.  I had returned to Centauri Prime when I learned that Aelora was there in hopes of a chance to speak with her, ask her for help.  I knew she was associated with the Rangers and Tiro had always trusted her so I thought she could help.  Only I never got the chance."
He turned to face Terann.  "Cartagia had a hold over her, that much was certain.  She was terrified of him; it was evident every time I saw her in his presence.  And he... it seemed as if it were some sort of game to him, with her as the amusement.  Then, on that last day when the entire palace seemed to dive into the pits of hell, I saw Aelora regain some modicum of strength and courage.  Cartagia had G'Kar brought in before the Court.  He wanted the Narn to mate with a female Narn for the Court's amusement." He paused at Terann's muffled gasp of disgust before continuing.  "The Court pretended to find it all highly entertaining though I could tell there were many who felt as I did, that the Emperor had gone too far this time.  He threatened to kill the female if G'Kar did not comply and was in the throes of doing so when Aelora... well, she attacked him.  She just seemed to come alive at that moment, become something different than Lady Kyra.  She was enraged and would most likely have killed the Emperor had she not been so sick and weak.  Unfortunately, she was not strong enough to do anything other than turn Cartagia's anger on her and her family.  He beat her severely, there, in front of us all, breaking her forearms so she could not fight back.  But she never gave up.  It was... a heartening thing to see.  She cursed him, cursed us all, even as they dragged her off to a cell."
"Then he sent her to Narn," Terann finished for him.
Bainter nodded.  "I was not a part of that, though I tried to be, thinking there was some way I could get her out of it.  Oh, do not get me wrong.  I think she brought most of it on herself.  Getting oneself killed over the life of a Narn is dumb at best but you still had to admire her courage.  Too, I am not so stupid as to not realize what could happen to Centauri Prime if Earth discovered we were responsible for the death of a Human.  I am not so naïve as to not believe that Aelora has friends outside of Centauri Prime."
Terann raised her brow.  The Centauri did not realize how close he was to the truth.  "Powerful friends as a matter of fact," she commented, considering for a moment what the Shadows would have done if they still needed Aelora in their grand scheme of chaos.
"I hope you can get her out of there," Bainter commented.  "I do not want the blood of another innocent on Centauri hands."
"It would make little difference," Terann told him cruelly.  "The death cries of millions already reach out to the ears of your people and go unheard.  You are damned, whether you save the life of one or a million like Aelora.  Running from it is not going to wash away the culpability, Bainter.  It only makes you that much more guilty."

	



Terann followed the directions that she had been given deep into what had been the heart of G'Kamazad.  Now little was left of the seat of the Narn government beyond shelled out buildings and the enormous craters that littered the ground.  It was the first time the Minbari had seen Narn after the bombing by the Centauri and the sights that greeted her sickened her.  The few Narn who came into sight were obviously starving, sick and beaten into submission by their aggressors.  Twice, Terann had been prompted to move toward them and offer her help only to be stopped by the voice inside her that reminded her that there were some things with which she could not interfere.  She knew her conscious was right but it still hurt to simply turn away.  For the first time, Terann was beginning to understand what drove the Narn people to behave the way they did, putting revenge and loyalty above all other things.  It was difficult to see the ruins around her and not find an ounce of hatred for the Centauri herself.
	To think Aelora was raised by the people who could so easily do this, Terann thought silently but quickly reminded herself that it was the Centauri government who did this, not the people.  There were both good and evil in every race.  Unfortunately, the majority of the evildoers tended to gravitate toward political office.  
	Her course suddenly veered into a deep grotto, pulling her from her musings and she glanced down the steep steps with a less-than-enthusiastic expression.  She could not help but think that is was the perfect place for an ambush as she peered into the darkness.
	Reminding herself that no one knew she was coming, Terann started her way down the decline without looking back.  Opening her senses to the area around her, the Minbari was immediately assaulted by the alien minds that surrounded her.  She staggered for a moment, only keeping herself from stumbling down the stairs by grasping onto the crumbling railing beside her.
	She silently cursed herself for being so foolish as to give in to the familiarity of having her own kind all around her on Minbar, and attempted her scan again, this time opening herself up more cautiously.  
	Her first impression was an over-whelming hatred from all sides, Narn and Centauri.  She had never felt anything so strongly before, the emotions washing over her.  She fought past it, pushing it to one side, searching for possible danger, sensing little more than a stalemate surrounding her.  There were thoughts of rebellion and resistance, terror and pain, subterfuge and hopelessness.  She felt the occasional Centauri, their thoughts a jumbled mass of arrogance and hidden fear, as if they secretly knew they could not hold the people around them in chains for long.  Stretching her scan more deeply, Terann gently probed the minds around her until she found the one she searched for and moved more quickly down the steps toward the shanty that rose out of the darkness.
	As she neared the obviously seedy establishment, a Centauri guard appeared out of the shadows, moving to block her path.  Her first impression of him was the overwhelming smell of Brevari and she took an involuntary step back from him to escape the scent.
	"Well what have we here?"  The Centauri commented, leering toward her.  "A little out of your part of space, are you not, Minbari?  Now what would a lonely little Minbari be doing here on Narn anyway?"
	Terann covered her nose with her hand, glaring at the male before her.  She felt nothing but malice from him and it sparked her ire.  "Kindly move out of my way," she told him as politely as she could.
	"Who's going to make me?" He jeered at her, taking another step toward her and reaching out to grab her waist.
	Terann easily stepped out of his reach, her expression darkening.  Without another thought she reached deeply into his mind and ripped his memory from him, planting one repeated thought: Everything you have done in your life is bad.  You are a horrible being and must atone for your actions.  Go from here now and never return to this planet, never again harm those to whom you have brought so much pain.  She watched indifferently as the Centauri stumbled from her, sobbing over the transgressions and pain of his life.  What she had just done she had been taught over and over again to never do, she was to never interfere, to never take the life of another into her hands so carelessly.  But Terann did not care anymore.  She found herself pitying whoever else attempted to get in the way of Aelora's rescue for she refused to show mercy any longer.  After all, had such consideration ever been shown to her?
	Stepping through the threshold, Terann entered the dark establishment, hesitating for a moment while her eyes adjusted to the low light.  Immediately she felt the stares of the curious Narn around here, as well as two Centauri guards who hovered in the corner, watching the proceedings around them.  She sent out a telepathic sense of danger, warning them from coming near to her.  She scanned the room quickly until she found the presence she searched for near the bar.  Terann passed by the patrons, glancing neither to the right or left of her, until she stood beside the Narn she sought.
	"Are you Ra'Nam?" She asked quietly.
	The Narn turned to regard her, attempting to hide his surprise at the sight of a Minbari standing beside him.  "Who wants to know?" He answered suspiciously.
	"I am Terann.  I was told that you could help me."
	"Told?  By whom?  To help with what?"
	Terann hesitated, formulating the right words.  "Who is not important.  What... well, there is someone I am looking for.  I believe you know of her location."
	Ra'Nam cast her a nervous glance.  "I doubt there is anything that I can help you with.  If you will excuse me."
	Terann grabbed his arm as he turned to go and by the look in his eyes she could tell her strength surprised him.  "I am here to find a Human by the name of Aelora Kyra... I see you know the name."
	"Every Narn knows the Kyra name," Ra'Nam spat.  "Their - legacy - among our people is unforgettable."
	"Look, I am offering you a choice here, Ra'Nam," Terann whispered fiercely, her gaze catching his.  "I can take the information from you and leave but I thought to offer you the chance to make your death quicker and less painless than the alternative."
	"I do not take well to threats, Minbari," the Narn warned her.
	"Oh, make no mistake.  It is no threat."  Terann flashed a terrible smile, allowing her anger to coalesce within her.  "Where is Aelora being held?"
	Ra'Nam refused to listen to the female a moment longer, pulling his arm free and moving to leave once more.  He hesitated only when he felt a strange pressure-like sensation in his head.  He turned quickly, narrowing his eyes at the Minbari.
	"You are a telepath," he accused.
	She shrugged, her eyes watching him steadily.
	Ra'Nam clenched his fists at his sides and took a step toward her.  "You scanned me."
	Wasting no time with a denial, Terann commented, "I am confused.  You speak of the Kyra name with venom and yet... and yet you have not harmed Aelora yourself.  Have in fact nursed her wounds.  Why?"
	Ra'Nam looked at those around them, then nodded to Terann indicating that she follow.  They moved to an empty table on the far side of the room, out of the range of curious ears.  The Narn sat, waiting for the Minbari to do the same before he spoke.
	"Although I feel that Lady Kyra should be punished for her and her family's crimes against my people, I do not believe in torture.  She should have been tried and, if found guilty, executed.  But what she has been put through... I would not wish on my worst enemy."
	Terann nodded.  "You will help me then?"
	"No.  I will not go against my people."
	"But your people have made a mistake," Terann hissed.  "One that you even suspect."
	"What are you talking about?"
	"Aelora is not guilty for the crimes of which she has been accused."
	Ra'Nam seemed to think this over for a moment then shrugged.  "If I were to believe you, I could admit that I have thought that myself.  But it does not matter.  She is a Kyra.  There are obviously a few crimes of which she is guilty."
	"I am sorry you feel that way," Terann told him, standing.  "You see, I was willing to take you with me to rescue her, to ask for your assistance in making certain I got her out safely.  Since you have gone out of your way not to bring harm to her, I would let you survive.  As it is, I cannot consciously do so now.  So I will go and rescue my friend myself.  I will kill those who caused her pain and I assure you, their deaths will not be pleasant.  After I am done and Aelora is safe, I will come for you.  I promise to make your death quick and painless but I will carry it out nonetheless for your reluctance to do the right thing.  You have a few hours left to get your affairs in order and say your goodbyes."
	Ra'Nam felt the chill spread through him as she turned to leave and he realized he believed her.  There was something about this Minbari that was frightening to behold.  He had no doubt that she would make well on her threats.
	"That is not fair!"  He raged after her.
	"Fair?"  She whirled about, her hands slamming down on the table between them.  "Do you wish to speak of fair?  Then let us discuss Lady Kyra, who sacrificed her life and happiness to protect the lives of a female Narn and G'Kar.  Who attacked the Centauri Emperor in order to preserve G'Kar's dignity and pride!  Let us speak of the Human who was raised Centauri, taught to believe like a Centauri, only to have those teachings go to war with her heart when she met a Narn whose love she could not back away from.  What is fair in this instance, Ra'Nam?  Is it fair that the House of Kyra be brought to ruin because their only child chose to love a Narn?  Is it fair that both G'Kar and Aelora be robbed of such happiness because the Centauri and the Narn chose to hate and kill?  Is hatred and intolerance against you by your own people, because you are different, fair?"  Terann seethed her emotions within her warring between pain and anger.  How wrong it was that she and Aelora were forced to go through such rejection, such ultimatums.  Could they not simply be whom they were meant to be and not have to conform to certain standards and beliefs?  It was as if the universe hated them, hand picked them from billions of others to make examples of.
	Terann calmed herself, standing straight and focusing a level gaze on Ra'Nam.  "I am going now to rescue my friend who has been so unjustly punished for loving someone who is different than herself.  I suggest you make peace with whatever god it is you worship."
	Terann walked out of the shanty without looking back.  She could not remember the last time she was so angry, so frustrated with the universe around her.  Did no one understand how futile self-interest truly was?  Was there no one left that cared enough to set wrongs right?  To rescue those in need?  Perhaps the Shadows did have the right idea, after all.  Just destroy the galaxy and let it start over again.  To hell with those who were not strong enough to survive!
	Moving up the steady incline, Terann mused over the information she had gathered during her scan of the Narn.  She took careful note of the path which daily led him to where Aelora was being held and started off in that direction.  According to Ra'Nam's thoughts, there were approximately a dozen or so Narn involved in Aelora's imprisonment and their treatment of her ranged from passive to violent.  She had not scanned Ra'Nam deeply enough to see Aelora but from the emotions she felt from the Narn, she knew that the Human was badly wounded and near death.  Not for the first time, Terann found herself cursing Aelora's obstinacy.  Had she gone to G'Kar in the first place, none of this would have happened.  Had she not taken the Sleepers, she could have protected herself in the Centauri court, could have freed both herself and G'Kar.  Mentally, Terann shook her head.  It was always easier to see in hindsight what should have been done to begin with.
	Terann's path took her across a narrow suspension bridge that stretched across an enormous chasm, the bottom of which was a good few hundred meters down.  Enormous geysers shot up from below, their soft spray brushing across Terann in the breeze.  She found herself imaging Narn before the Centauri had arrived; how beautiful it must have been.  It was difficult for her to understand how a race could so willfully destroy an entire planet without conscience or remorse.  She doubted that anyone would ever truly understand the Centauri and what drove them to behave as they did. 
	Reaching the end of the bridge, Terann moved between the rocks that rose on either side of her, slipping through the tapered pathway until it opened out into an open vista.  The sight that greeted her was unpromising.  The land was dry and lifeless, across which a hard wind blew kicking up the dust and particulate that still hung in the air from the bombing.  She reached into her mind, extracting the information she had pulled from the scan of the Narn and started off in the direction shown to her.  It was only moments later that she sensed an approaching presence and, upon realization of the identity, allowed a small smile.
	"You move quickly," Ra'Nam commented, moving up alongside her.
	"There is little time to waste."  She cast a sidelong glance at the Narn.  "You have changed your mind then?"
	He shrugged.  "Not for you, or even for her.  If what you tell me is true, if G'Kar truly cares for the Human, then it is for him that I will take this risk.  He has suffered enough for our people I believe."
	"So the threat of your death meant nothing?"
	Ra'Nam came to a halt, fixing her with a steady gaze.  "I am a Warrior.  Do you think I fear death?  It is something I expect if I am to uphold my beliefs and ideals.  No, Minbari, I am not afraid of you."  That said he finally smiled.  "Though I do get the distinct impression that I should be."
	Terann gave a quick nod.  "Then you show intelligence as well as courage."
	The Narn chuckled then started off once more, leading the Minbari toward the tunnels.





Aelora awoke to the scent of ozone.  So heavily did it permeate the air it caused her to begin choking when she inhaled too deeply.  As she climbed to her knees, her fingers digging into the soil beneath her, she realized the ground beneath her was not the cool dirt that she expected but burnt and blackened hard granules that cut into her skin.  She pulled her hands back in reaction, lifting her head to scan the area around her.  The entire landscape seemed to be formed from the burnt ground, stretching beyond the horizon with no signs of buildings or plant life to break the monotony of the view.  Standing, Aelora shielded her eyes to glance up into the sky where an enormous red giant burned.  The sun reminded her of the Narn system and she glanced at her surroundings once more to make certain that she had not mistaken what she had seen.  But only the same desolation greeted her.
"Hello?"  She called out softly, curious to see if there was anyone near.  The sound of the winds blowing across the bleak landscape was the only sound she received in response.
Deciding that she would get nowhere simply standing there, Aelora walked toward the small hill to her left, struggling up the incline which was made difficult by the sand-like soil.  Once she gained the top she discovered that the land beyond the rise was just like that before it - barren and blackened.  Squatting down, she dug her fingers deeply into the soil, grasping a handful and lifting it for inspection.  Aelora was hoping that she might be able to feel some sort of life from it, or perhaps even see into the past to understand what had happened here but unfortunately the Sleepers were still affecting her.  She let the sand sift through her fingers then brusquely rubbed her hands together until they were clean.
"Will there ever be a point when you will cease to bring pain to my life?"
Aelora whirled around at the voice to find G'Kar standing behind her.  A smile immediately appeared on her face and she took a step toward him only to hesitate when she noticed the hateful gaze in his eyes.  The significance of his words rushed over her and a chill ran down her spine.
"What... What do you mean, G'Kar?"  She questioned, her eyes searching his.  "I would never wish to cause you pain.  I love --- "
"QUIET!"  He grabbed her roughly by the arms, shaking her.  "Do not speak your lies to me again!  Love?  What do you know of love?  The entire concept is foreign to you!"
Aelora shook her head, tears springing to her eyes.  Great Maker, had she not convinced him of the truth of her heart yet?  "No.  G'Kar... please?  I am not lying to you.  I would do anything --- "
"Anything?"  He pushed her from him, eyeing her suspiciously.  "Anything?  Would you?  Have you not done enough?"
"I... I don't understand."  Aelora grew fearful.  She could feel G'Kar's hatred seething from him like a tangible object.  She had no misconceptions that his love for her, the brief love that he had one time felt, was over.  
"Look at your legacy, Aelora."  G'Kar spread his arms wide, indicating the desolate vista around them.  "Only true evil could rain down Armageddon from the heavens."  He turned his gaze back to her.  "And you are true evil."
The Human took a step back, shaking her head in denial.  "No... I don't... that is --- "
"Look at it!"  He grabbed her once more, turning her head forcibly to gaze out at the black wasteland.  "Look, Aelora!"  He demanded, his fingers biting into her skin.  "Look... "
Realization suddenly dawned and her eyes sprang open in horror.  Narn!  This was Narn.  As far as the eye could see, the blackened earth of Narn spread before her.  There was nothing left to give any indication that a civilization had lived there.  No clues as to who they were, how they lived and loved and hated, no indication that life of any kind had once existed.  Aelora pulled away from G'Kar's grasp, pointing toward the horizon as panic seized her.
"I didn't do this!  I don't believe you!  I couldn't have!"
"No?"  G'Kar took a step toward her.  "Everything touched must die..."
Aelora stared up at him, her face frozen in a mixture of misunderstanding and horror.  
"He is right, you know."
Aelora started at the familiar voice, turning to find Terann standing behind her.
"Wha - What?"
"G'Kar is right.  Everything touched must die."  Terann raised a brow.  "Do you think yourself above the others?  Better, perhaps?"
"Terann, I don't understand what you are saying."  Aelora glanced over her shoulder to find that G'Kar was no longer there.  She turned back to the Minbari.  "I don't understand any of this."
"Poor Aelora," Terann sighed, reaching out to cup the Human's chin.  "You pretend to be such an innocent... while you knowingly destroy those around you with your selfishness."
Aelora pulled out of the hold and glared at Terann.  "That is enough!  I did not choose to be who I am!  That choice was never mine to make, remember?"
"Oh yes, I forgot.  Perhaps we should all fall to our knees in tears for the tragedy that is Aelora's life."
"Shut up!"  Aelora raged, her hands balled into fists at her sides.  "Go away!  Leave me alone!"
"Leave you so that you can make another mistake like this?" Terann indicated the dead world around them.  "Leave you so that you can continue to ruin the lives of others?"
"How can you put this on me?"
"Easily."  Terann stepped toward her, their gazes locked.  "You accepted it, Aelora.  Without fear or regret you took what they had to give, and now others are paying the price.  You could not be happy with what you had.  No, you needed more.  And now, everything and everyone you have ever cared for is paying the price for your selfish choices."
Aelora felt a chill whisper across her skin and hugged her arms around herself for warmth.  She glanced away from Terann, briefly remembering the hatred in G'Kar's voice, the disgust in his eyes.  There had been a time when he had looked at her with such love, such desire...
"I want G'Kar to love me again," she commented softly.
Terann moved toward her once more, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.  "There is a way -- a way to regain his love and to bring an end to the hurt you have caused, to ensure that no more lives are ruined.  That this," Terann waved a hand at the scene around them, "never comes to fruition."
Aelora trembled.  She knew that she wanted more than anything to have G'Kar's forgiveness, to know that he was able to love her again, that he would never feel pain or regret for doing so.  But the fear remained.  Fear that she could not control what was about to happen; fear that she could make the wrong choice, fear that she really did not understand what those choices were.
"How?"  She asked finally, the one whispered word hanging between them.
"One can not kill what is already dead," Terann told her quietly.  "One would not waste the time."
The Human closed her eyes.  "I do not want to die."
"Is your life so much more important than the lives of millions of Narn?"  Terann questioned.  "Which do you think G'Kar would choose?  Your life?  Or the lives of his people?"
Aelora opened her eyes to find that she was back in the underground shelter on Narn.  The pain of her treatment returned to her, along with the unbearable shame and fear.  Terann knelt beside her, touching her cheek and wiping the tears that lingered there.
"All of the pain will go away, Aelora. You have that power.  You have that choice.  Your pain, G'Kar's pain, the pain of the future.  All you need is the courage to make the right choice."  She leaned over Aelora, drawing close to her ear.  
"Be strong, shon'Ur," she whispered, kissing the wet cheek softly.  "End it... "

Aelora opened her eyes, her ears immediately alert to the sounds around her.  She was alone, for the moment.  Tu'Roc was pacing in the front room, muttering to himself about the Centauri.  Aelora winced against the pain that shot through her body, the white-hot knifing sensation in her abdomen almost overwhelming.  Angling her head upwards, she saw the dagger that lay unobtrusively within reach of her grasp.  She stared at it solemnly; never once questioning it's appearance or purpose.  She pulled at it with her fingers, dragging it across the dirt, hesitating only once when she heard Tu'Roc's footsteps near the door.  When they passed by, she resumed her struggles until she had the weapon securely wrapped in the fingers of her right hand.
Struggling to a sitting position, using the wall behind her for support, Aelora positioned the blade over her left wrist.  For a brief moment, she considered the fact that her shattered forearms no longer caused her pain, in fact felt strong and mobile.  As with all thoughts that lately crossed her mind, this one simply whispered away and Aelora quickly and firmly slashed the sharp blade across her wrist.  The blood streamed down her makeshift cast, splashing onto the cool earth as she switched the dagger to her other hand and sliced into the skin of her right wrist.  She watched numbly as the blood poured from her veins.
"There now," Terann's voice whispered into her ear.  "The pain is over.  G'Kar can love you now... And you will never again bring harm to another.  Sleep, my friend.  Soon, it will all be over."
Aelora allowed phantom hands to push her back against the earth beneath her, eliciting a sigh as gentle fingers stroked softly across her battered skin.





Battling against the howling winds, Terann and Ra'Nam made their way across the battered landscape.  They moved in silence, the driving wind making speech almost impossible.  The Minbari strained through her squinted eyes at the decimated planet, not for the first time being reminded of how close her own people had come to doing the same to the homeworld of the Earthers.  It was a thought that she did not relish; unlike others of her Caste... others like Neroon.  Her heart grew heavy in her chest as she recalled her last encounter with him, the weight of all she had been forced to sacrifice settling over her.  She knew of no way to ever bridge the gulf that had formed between them, for he no longer saw her as a Minbari, wrongfully declared outcast by those who did not understand her.  He saw her only as a freak, one he should have seen fit to shun, as so many others had.  She swallowed hard against the pain, knowing that now was not the time to concentrate on her own problems.
The Minbari allowed the Narn to lead, trusting his knowledge of the terrain.  Coming to a large depression, Ra'Nam glanced back at her, gesturing with his hand toward a rocky outcropping.  She followed him into the crevice the boulders protected, into the dark underworld of Narn.
Though the caverns were dark and cold, Terann found herself welcoming them, if only to escape the terrible winds on the surface.  The skin of her face felt weathered and her chest hurt when she breathed, clearly from the particulate matter that still hung in the atmosphere.
"We should rest," Ra'Nam suggested, pulling a small canteen of water out from under his uniform.
"We would be wasting time," the telepath argued.  "Time that Aelora can ill afford."
"We cannot risk going in unprepared.  There is much you still do not understand about the dangers that lurk down here.  Now sit!"
Terann continued to eye the Narn fiercely, then did as he instructed.  As much as she hated to admit it, he was right.  There was still a great many things she did not understand about what they were about to face.  Her earlier scan had given her little more than directions on how to locate Aelora, and the Human's current state.  So she listened carefully, as he detailed the hierarchy of the resistance cell, the names of Aelora's captors and brief details regarding what had been done to the Human.  When he came to explain the group's leader, Terann noted the fear in the Narn's eyes and she soon understood why.  Na'Kar had been the one to lead most of Aelora's mistreatment and had in fact been the one to encourage the depravity of the others.  The telepath carefully filed this information away in her mind to be accessed when the time came.
Upon completing his explanations, Ra'Nam rose to his feet, waiting for the Minbari to do the same, before heading away from the main tunnel towards a smaller secondary one.  "These caverns are used by many of us," Ra'Nam explained, outlining further the dangers they faced.  "Most of my people were forced underground after the bombing, and those that live down here are angry, hungry, injured or sick.  They will not care that you are Minbari, so stay close."
Terann refrained from comment and allowed him to lead their way.  As they moved through the darkness, Terann opened her mind, searching for any signs of danger.  At first she was met with the anger and hatred she had been earlier met with in G'Kamazad, but now it was interlaced with hints of fear.  She assumed it was emanating from the large number of civilians Ra'Nam had told her of.  She quickly brushed this aside, not wanting to further her desire to help those around her.  Instead she sought out signs of malice, be they from a hapless wanderer or one of Aelora's captors.  
Winding their way through the endless tunnels, Terann found herself grateful for her Narn companion.  While she had easily uncovered the route in Ra'Nam's thoughts, the path was difficult; rocks strewn about and the occasional gaping cavity made traversing the darkness that much more treacherous.  They moved cautiously, speaking only when it was necessary to do so, both aware of the need to be prepared.  After covering well over a kilometer of tunnels, the pair came to a junction; the cavern to the right would wind around back to the main tunnel, while the left would lead to the cavern where Aelora was held.  Almost as soon as Ra'Nam moved to turn in the direction of the Human, Terann sensed the presence of others.  She reached out and took hold of the Narn's arm, stopping his short.  The telepath then reached out with her thoughts, touching on the consciousness of those that approached.  What she sensed in them was a strange combination of inebriation and self-satisfaction that served to nauseate her.  She scanned them only deep enough to determine that they were involved with Aelora's imprisonment before withdrawing from their thoughts.
"What is it?"   Ra'Nam asked, glancing down as the Minbari removed her collapsed pike from under her tunic.
"Ta'Rel and Na'Tal," she said calmly moving in front of Ra'Nam.  She signaled silently for him to wait before taking any action towards the two approaching Narns, and then turned to wait for them to near the corridor in which they stood.  She followed them with her mind, determining the exact moment that they would round the corner then activating her denn'bok she brought it up violently, catching Na'Tal across the face.  Ra'Nam taking advantage of the moment of surprise, lunged at Ta'Rel, landing two well-placed blows before the other Narn steady himself enough to fight back.  Na'Tal, though the smaller of the two, was far quicker to react.  He charged at the Minbari growling dangerously from between clenched teeth.  Terann sidestepped him at the last minute, grabbed hold of his forearm and slammed him into the cavern's wall.  Without hesitation she then tore into his mind, pulling from him every minute detail of what he had done to Aelora.  She twisted his pleasure and insidious delight thrusting it back upon him as humiliation and shame caring little for the mind she was destroying in her pursuit of vengeance.  The images of Aelora's suffering racing through her mind, she tightened her grip on Na'Tal's mind, frying synapse, shutting down major organ function stopping only when she felt him slipping into darkness.  She pulled from his mind, satisfaction washing over her as her gaze fell upon his still form as he collapsed to the ground at her feet.  She turned in time to see Ra'Nam as he finished disposing of Ta'Rel.  She then moved to his side, showing no concern for the Narn's bruised chin or swollen eye.  
"We must hurry, the others will be returning soon," Ra'Nam told her, turning to resume their journey.
Terann narrowed her eyes slightly then turned back to Ta'Rel's inert body where he had come to rest propped between a boulder and the cavern wall.  Brushing past Ra'Nam she knelt beside the fallen Narn, noting how his body trembled slightly.  She then took his head in her hands, reaching into his thoughts uncovering his darkest secrets before violently twisting his head to the right, snapping the bones in his neck.  Rising to her feet once again, she cast Ra'Nam an almost hateful glare before pushing past him.
The Narn's arm snaked out to take hold of the Minbari, pulling her close to him with barely held in check anger.  "Was that necessary?  He was no threat to us."
"Understand this, Narn," Terann told him, breaking free of his hold.  "They all die."
Ra'Nam watched as Terann moved away, heading down the corridor towards her friend; his eyes moving to regard the lifeless forms of Na'Tal and Ta'Rel, a wave of guilt washing over him.  He could not deny their crimes against Lady Kyra nor the need for justice.  But this was not justice.  In his mind the brutal murder of those that were responsible for the mistreatment of the Human was no less of a crime.  He considered briefly, confronting the Minbari in an attempt to stop her, but he knew the attempt would be wasted.  She would simply follow through on her threat to kill him then continue on alone.  Even attempting to kill her would most likely be fruitless, as her telepathic abilities would most assuredly alert her to his intentions before he was able to move against her.  Silently he found himself comparing the Minbari telepath to Na'Kar.  Both possessed a great deal of power and the eagerness to use it, coupled with the belief that they were each on some sort of quest to dispense justice on those that had harmed those they cared deeply for.
Swallowing back his growing unease, he raced to catch up with Terann.  "I do not agree with this."
"Your opinion does not concern me."  Came the cool reply.  
"It should."
Terann came to an abrupt halt, spinning around to face the Narn.  "Is that a threat?" She almost laughed.
"No," the Narn told her plainly.  "But you asked for my help and this does not include the merciless slaughter of twelve of my people."
"Then what would you have me do?  Ask them nicely to release Aelora?  Or perhaps we can appeal to their gentle nature.  Is this what you would have happen?  Do you seriously believe Na'Kar or any of the others being capable of seeing reason?"
"But they have not killed Aelora."
"No!   But they have tormented her soul beyond imagination," Terann spat.  "Do not for one moment believe I am not fully aware of what they have done to her, the pleasure they derived in their violations of her.  Any action I take against them will pale in comparison to what I truly wish to do to them.  And I assure you that G'Kar would be in full agreement with me."
"I will not help you kill them," Ra'Nam called out as the Minbari once again moved away from him.
"Then do not.  Simply help me get Aelora out and I will tend to the rest."  
Ra'Nam sighed audibly, and then nodded solemnly.   As much as it pained him, he believed the Minbari to be correct.  If G'Kar did care for the Human, as he suspected, he would show little mercy towards her captors.  Then why should he, himself?  It was a thought that concerned him.  After all he had witnessed why would he still fight to spare those who would treat another being with such brutality.  

Tu'Roc paced anxiously from one corner of the cavern to the other, his mind never straying far from the bound human in the adjoining chamber.  Earlier that day Na'Kar had told them that he had something special planned for the Human but had given no indication as to what these plans were.  He had then left with the others, promising to return in a few short hours.  Tu'Roc had used this time in solitude contemplating what it was that Na'Kar was alluding to.  He did not believe the cell's leader intended to kill the Earther despite her deteriorating condition.  So what then?  There was nothing that Tu'Roc could imagine that hadn't already been done to Lady Kyra.  But then he admitted he did lack Na'Kar's creativity.  A slight, guileful grin played at the corners of the Narn's mouth as he recalled some of the things he had witnessed, even taken part in, since the Human's arrival on Narn.  He had in fact been one of those present during her initial violation in the corridor the night she had been delivered to them.  He had been the third to take her and he remembered with great indignation how angry he had been about having to 'wait his turn'.  After all, he had lost as much as if not more then any of the others.  
His mate and young son had been killed in the first hour of the bombing and with them his soul had died as well, leaving him a barren empty shell.  His only desire now was to seek revenge and in his quest for vengeance he found himself eager to lash out at any and all of his oppressors.  The first had been a young Centauri soldier who had become separated from this garrison.  He and another Narn, Ra'Dan, had found the youth late at night as he stumbled about the devastated ruins of the capital.  They made short work of him; the boy's naïveté being little match for the Narns' hardened combat experience.  In the aftermath of the kill, Tu'Roc was surprised by the lack of remorse he felt.  Where before he would kill only out of duty and honor, he now found he could do so for any reason without the threat of regret.
As the body count escalated so did his depravity.  The most brutal had been only days before the arrival of Aelora Kyra.  It had involved a Centauri advisor he and Na'Dan had discovered injured, apparently after a fall into a deep chasm just outside the city.  Both Narns had heard rumors regarding the treatment of their own kind and were eager to experiment.  After carefully weighing the options and associated risks of each they opted for the ancient practice of vivisection.  Though their instruments and techniques were crude they had managed to keep the Centauri conscious for almost an hour.  The fear and pain he had seen in the eyes of his victim served only to stoke his own sense of power and he thrived on these feelings, eager to duplicate them.
This had been the sole reason behind his having fought with Na'Kar and his leaders' resistance to simply execute the human female.  But now, after watching the torture of the Human, he admitted there was wisdom in this decision that he had not previously seen.  
All of his people knew tales of the atrocities committed by House Kyra, crimes that had thus far been left to go unpunished.  Until now.
Where the others had seen merely another Centauri deserving only of death, Na'Kar had seen infinite possibilities.  And so it was decided.  Aelora Kyra would die, that much was certain, but if they could prolong her suffering, then perhaps this would atone for the crimes of the Kyras.
Tu'Roc's attention was pulled from his musings as he heard the young Human stir in her sleep in the adjoining room.  He ceased pacing just outside the doorway and for a brief moment he considered taking her for his own pleasure, if only this one time to show her personally, without the scrutiny of others, the true scope of her crimes.  He quickly forced the urges aside allowing his repulsion for both the woman herself and her current appearance to take over.  Resuming his pacing, he decided it best to trust the judgement of Na'Kar and whatever it is he had planned.
Turning towards the doorway, he caught sight of Ra'Nam just as the other Narn entered the cavern. 
 	"Ra'Nam, I..." He was cut short as he caught sight of Terann as she emerged from behind Ra'Nam, her opened pike in her hand.  As she swung it towards his head he attempted to move his hands to block her, confusion taking over as he found he was unable to.  It was as if his movements were cut off, neither allowing him to block or evade her.  
Terann used all her strength as she brought her denn'bok violently across the Tu'Roc's face, shattering his nose and sending him slamming into the cavern wall.  As the Narn attempted to right himself, the Minbari brought her pike in low, this time striking him hard against his knees bringing him to the floor at her feet.  She collapsed her pike, then dropped to her knees beside the fallen Narn.  
Feeling the Minbari relax her hold over him, Tu'Roc moved quickly to retaliate, grabbing hold of a dagger that he had been concealing under his uniform.  He lashed out at her, the knife clenched firmly in a tight fist, only to have her grab hold of his wrist tightly.  Crying out in anger he struggled to break her hold on him, stopping only when he felt a blinding hot pain shoot through his mind.
Caring little for the Narn's suffering, Terann tore into his thoughts, ripping each of his memories from him, tightening her grip on his mind each time he struggled against her.  She witnessed the deaths of the many Centauri Tu'Roc had helped killed, saw the brutality he had used and sensed the pleasure he felt while he did it.  She then moved onto his memories of his involvement in the torture and degradation of Aelora.  What she saw infuriated her beyond comprehension.  She bore witness to the countless rapes and beatings, watched, as if she had been there, as Tu'Roc sliced of a wide strip of scalp from the Human's head all the while cognizant of his execrable laughter as it echoed throughout her mind.  
Showing little compassion for the pain she would cause, she pulled violently from his mind, fixing him with a fierce glare.  Tu'Roc's breathing was labored and shallow, a faint trail of blood leading from his left eye.  With his remaining strength he attempted to pull his hand, still clutching the dagger, free of the Minbari's grasp.  But to no avail.  Feeding off her disgust and rage Terann twisted his wrist then plunged the knife deep within his throat, never flinching as his blood seeped from the wound and onto her hand.  She remained there, unmoving, her eyes darkened dangerously until she was certain he was dead.  Then slowly she rose to her feet, turning to face Ra'Nam.  "The others will be returning soon," she informed him impassively.  "Watch the doorway, while I help Aelora."
Still stunned from all he had witnessed of the Minbari telepath, Ra'Nam only nodded then moved over to the doorway.  Watching the Narn for a moment, then taking a deep breath, as if to prepare herself, Terann walked briskly into the adjoining room.  
Her eyes immediately fell upon Aelora and the full weight of all she had learned in her scans of the Narns fell upon her.  From first appearances, Terann found herself almost wishing that she had been too late to save her friend.  Though the Human lay huddled in the corner, her legs drawn tightly to her chest, Terann could see many of her injuries.  Her scalp was a bloody mass of torn and burnt skin that clearly showed signs of developing infection.  Her face was no better off; bruises so severe that her once attractive features were now horribly disfigured, a deep cut trailed from her left temple down to her chin, dried blood and filth covered every inch of her exposed skin.
Swallowing hard against her burning anger, Terann knelt beside Aelora's still form and gently, so as not to aggravate her wounds further, turned her slowly towards her.  
"NO!"  Aelora screamed teetering on the edge of consciousness, her arms flailing madly in an attempt to ward off another assault.
Gingerly, Terann took hold of Aelora's upper arms, wary of the broken bones in her forearms.  "Aelora," she soothed.  "You are all right.  It is Terann.  You are safe now."
Only after the Human stopped struggling did the Minbari's eyes fall upon the severe gashes on her wrists.  Gasping audibly, she realized that the wounds had in fact been self-inflicted, in an attempt at committing suicide.  Mindlessly tearing at the hem of her tunic, Terann formed two swathes, binding the wounds tightly to reduce the bleeding.  In her mind, the Minbari attempted to reason how it was her friend was still alive.  In her efforts to bandage Aelora's wounds, Terann could easily see that her friend had been successful in severing the major veins in her wrists yet she had lost little blood.  The Minbari began to attribute this to either the alterations made to her by the Shadows or the effects of the Sleepers that she could still feel numbing her friend's mind.  Pushing her curiosity aside, Terann removed her tunic, wrapping it around her friend, then moved to gather her into her arms.  As she did, her eyes fell on a dagger that had previously been hidden under Aelora's inert form.  It had apparently been the instrument Aelora had used in her attempt to end her life.  But it confused Terann.  Its mere presence did not make sense.  As dim as she believed Aelora's captors to be, it did not make sense that they would leave a weapon easily within her reach.  Disregarding any affront to her honor, Terann reached out to take the knife into her hand, a sick feeling washing over her as her eyes fell upon the markings that adorned its hilt.  Almost instantly the song of the Vorlons reverberated through her mind, pushing her into the farthest reaches of her mind...
Terann found herself alone in a darkened room, the only light forming a single column, illuminating the spot in which she stood.
"You did this!" She shouted at them, their musical tones echoing through her mind.   "'Everything touched must die', you say.  But Aelora is no threat to you.  The Shadows can no longer control her.  You know this, yet that isn't enough."
"How foolish you are, Terann."
Spinning around to face the speaker, Terann instantly felt herself recoiling in horror.
Morden smiled insidiously.  "How naïve." He told her sympathetically, moving his hand in an attempt to caress her cheek, only to have it slapped away harshly by the Minbari.  He glanced at his hand as if hurt by her rejection, before thrusting it back into his pocket.  "They have blinded you, shielded you from the truth.  She will kill you.  You know that.   And it will be their fault."
"You lie!" Terann spat.  "Aelora and I have moved beyond the ability to destroy one another.  You can not control her..."
"But that's where you're wrong," Morden informed her, moving close enough for Terann to feel his hot breath on her face.  "My Associates know how to control their creations, build in assurances, things that even our enemies can not find.  Even if we fail, our legacy... Aelora will continue our work."
In that instant, Aelora, or rather a grim duplicate appeared beside Morden, her features, cold and hard, her eyes as dark as death.  She moved towards the Minbari, who immediately began to back away from the terrifying double of her friend.  
This isn't Aelora, she reminded herself.
"But I am!"  Came the lifeless reply.   "Yet I am so much more, the secret part of her, given to her by the Shadows, meant to serve only them.  She can fight me, reject me, but in the end she will lose... As will you!"

Terann started from the intrusion, gasping for breath as she tried to make sense of it.  Unlike the touch of the Vorlons, which left her with feelings of warmth and belonging, she was now left with a near suffocating sense of cold and death. Desperately she fought against the truth that had been revealed to her.  But was it the truth? she wondered.  Or was it merely what the Vorlons wanted her to believe.  A battle began to rage within Terann, the Minbari eager to help her friend while the Vorlon questioned the cost of doing so.  The Shadows had seized control over Aelora once before, but what if their hold over her went further than that.  What if the Vorlons were correct in their belief that Aelora truly was still a threat and would remain one long after the current conflict was forgotten?  Terann had seen first hand the modifications the Shadows had made to the Human and she found herself wondering how far the Human's abilities stretched.  Mentally she began comparing Aelora to her younger self she had encountered during her dreaming, comparing their untrained abilities, fearing Aelora's true potential once she honed her gifts. She did not doubt the Shadows' modifying Aelora to counter the threat of the Vorlons' creation of herself, and the idea of a dark servant with equal abilities to her own sent a shiver down Terann's spine.  
Everything touched must die.
The songs of the Vorlons returned and Terann reached out to them, seeking the comfort and reassurance she so desperately needed.  They wrapped themselves around her, embracing her, drawing her deeply within them.  They showed her worlds ravaged by war, destruction stretching throughout the galaxy, chaos, panic and fear reigning over all in existence.  The terrifying images permeated her mind, tearing through even the strongest of her blocks as if they were paper, imprinting themselves on the very fabric of her being.
She glanced down at her now still friend, a million thoughts racing through her mind, before moving her eyes to the knife clenched in her hand.  She knew what the Vorlons were asking of her, knew what needed to be done, yet she hesitated, the songs of the Vorlons echoing through her mind.  She fought against them, fought against herself, her mind urging her forward, her heart begging her not to give in to the Vorlons' demands.  
Their songs melded together, forming layers of voices, speaking separately yet as one, all attempting to convince her to use the weapon against Aelora, to succeed in ending all the pain and fear and destruction while it was still in its infancy.  Slowly, piece by piece, they tore from her the friendship that had formed between her and the Earther, until all that Terann saw before her was a servant of the Shadows, not unlike the creature Morden, who was capable of unimaginable terrors.  
She did not fight them as she felt them take control of her movements, her hand moving as if under its own volition.  In her mind she saw herself thrust forward with the knife, embedding the vicious blade within the Human's chest.  An almost giddy sense of pleasure washed over her as she saw Aelora's eyes snap open, the color of a thousand deaths, the horrible wail of the Shadows echoing through her mind.  In a desperate attempt to silence the blood-chilling cry, she forced the weapon deeper until she felt the Humans sternum cave under the stress, blood spilling forth unfettered.
"You'd better hurry!"
Ra'Nam's voice pulled Terann's attention away from Aelora only momentarily and when her eyes once again fell upon the injured Human, the Minbari was stunned.  Though the knife was still in her clenched hand, there was no sign that she had used it against her friend.  The blood was gone, the horrible scream was gone, the Vorlons... no they were still there.  At the farthest reaches of her mind they lingered, never relinquishing their grip on her fully.  It angered her, they angered her, and their persistent need to torture her, to use her for their own purposes angered her.  At first she fought them, attempted to push them from her thoughts, but received only a sharp wave of pain for her efforts.  Finally she opted, instead, to build a wall around them, silencing their call enough to help the Human.
Aelora, her heart cried as she once again became cognizant of the broken form before her.  Carefully she gathered Aelora into her arms, holding her tightly against her.  She paid little attention to the smell of filth and burnt hair and skin that lingered on the Human, instead she silently begged for forgiveness.  Regardless of the fact that she had truly not done anything to harm Aelora, the guilt remained.  Silently she cursed the Vorlons, cursed their arrogance and obstinacy.  But above all she cursed herself.  Not only for her inability to challenge the Vorlons and their hold over her, but also her inability (unwillingness?) to rise above convention, for having contributed to Aelora having to leave Babylon 5 in the first place.  
Still aware of Ra'Nam's presence as he continued to regard her from the doorway, she quickly tucked the dagger into the folds of her clothing before slowly rose to her feet, supporting Aelora's body with her own.  Taking a moment to straighten the tunic she had wrapped around the Human to conceal her nakedness, she then followed the Narn into the antechamber.  They entered the larger room just as Na'Kar and several other Narns entered.
Upon seeing him, Terann's initial reaction was to simply kill them all then leave with Aelora, but a larger, darker part of her sought vengeance, screamed with the need to inflict pain on those who had harmed Aelora.   Calming herself, she quickly 'cast to Ra'Nam, telling him to offer no resistance until she indicated otherwise.
Catching sight of Terann with Aelora, Na'Kar lunged at her, using one hand to tear the Human from her grasp and the other to backhand her across the face.  The force of the blow was enough to throw the Minbari backward into Ka'Ran, who seized hold of her still tender wrist, twisting her arm roughly behind her back.
"What have we here?"  Na'Kar sneered, still holding Aelora, his large hand clenching her by the back of her neck.  "You weren't planning to take Lady Kyra from us, were you?"
Terann remained silent, struggling to loosen Ka'Ran's grip on her arm, all the while forcing back the urge to use her abilities against Na'Kar.  She wanted-needed-to know all that Aelora had been forced to endure.  She could easily rip the information from the Narns' minds but her conscience demanded that she break them as brutally as they had her friend.  And so she waited, continuing to regard Na'Kar silently, soon coming to understand why the others followed him without question.  From his immense size and misshapen head to his dark, fiery eyes she could tell they did so out of fear rather than respect.  From the way he stood arrogantly, to the thoughts that coursed through his mind, everything about Na'Kar reeked of confidence and Terann quickly became determined to rob him of it.
"What should we do with Ra'Nam?"
Mi'Ret's query pulled Na'Kar's attention away from Terann to Ra'Nam who, like the Minbari, now stood restrained, both arms held tightly behind his back.  His face was marred with several large welts and a faint trail of blood had formed at the corner of his mouth, obvious signs of his struggle.
Na'Kar's gaze moved from Tu'Roc's lifeless form in a darkened corner of the room and back to Ra'Nam, a horrible smile tugging at the corner of his thin lips.  
"We should thank him.  This one is near death," he said releasing his grip on Aelora, allowing her limp form to collapse at his feet.  "We will need another."
All of the others broke into crude laughter with their leader, except Tu'Ram who reluctantly raised the question:  "But... but she is Minbari... do you believe this is wise?"
Na'Kar spun around to face Tu'Ram, barely held in check anger apparent on his mottled face.  "After years of pain and suffering under the tyranny of the Centauri, do you honestly believe there is anymore that can be done to us?"
"But she has done nothing.  Certainly the Kyras are guilty of unimaginable crimes against us... but the Minbari..."
"This Minbari," Na'Kar spat, taking a step towards Tu'Ram until he towered over him menacingly, "was attempting to rescue Lady Kyra.  This alone makes her guilty of all the Kyras' crimes against our people.  Would you question my judgment?"
Tu'Ram's eyes widened in fear momentarily before shaking his head and stepping away from the enraged presence before him.  The cell's leader kept his eyes on Tu'Ram momentarily then quickly scanned the other Narns with a stony gaze, before returning his attention to Terann.
The Minbari's features ranged from revulsion to intense anger as she kept her eyes focused on Na'Kar.  She carefully touched his thoughts, probing him gently, nothing that he would detect of course, simply allowing herself to establish a foothold within his mind.  Aside from his obvious over-confidence, she felt his growing arousal, sensed how the approval of the others served to build these things within him and how he fed off the fear of both his victims and those who served under him.  She pulled herself from his mind, flinching in repulsion, as he reached a hand out to trace the outline of the carved spikes of her crest.
"Warrior Caste," he commented with great interest.  "Perhaps you will offer more fight than Lady Kyra did."  With that he kicked Aelora with his booted foot, causing Terann to curse strongly at him in Vik as she struggled more violently against Ka'Ran.  
To her surprise Na'Kar did not lash out at her as she had hoped, instead he only burst into laughter.  "Yes," he leered glancing at the others, "we like it when they fight."  Once again they all joined him in his laughter as he then launched into a salacious discussion on all he and the others could do to the Minbari.  Spurred on by Na'Kar's vivid discourse the others quickly joined him throwing in equally crude comments at random.
Through this all Terann remained silent, using their words and the thoughts they provoked to build in her mind an image of Aelora's torture and degradation.  It soon became clear to Terann that her refusal to fight and struggle angered Na'Kar as he began to grope at her roughly, attempting to tear the course cloth of her robes from her body.   
And as he worked so did she, focusing her efforts on Tu'Ram who had quickly overcome his fear of Na'Kar.  He had moved closer in the hopes of gaining a better view of the proceedings and it was obvious from the thoughts that Terann pulled from his mind that he was eager to witness her rape at the hands of his leader.  Pushing these thoughts away in disgust she centered on his subconscious, uncovering things he had valiantly tried to hide.  She did not pry hard enough to dislodge the memories simply extracted what she needed then fled his thoughts.
She returned to the reality around her just as Na'Kar set about biting hard at her neck while his hand took hold of her breast.  She struggled once more, using all her strength, attempting to free her arms before kicking at his shins violently.  He stopped short, stepping away from her slight before raising his arm to strike her.
It was all the distraction she needed.
Diving back into Tu'Ram's thoughts she quickly activated the command she had left in his mind, triggering the memories he had tried so desperately to forget.  

He had still been relatively young, the oldest, however, of four siblings.  Though the Centauri had long been driven off their world, Tu'Ram's family was forced to live in squalor, fighting for every scrap of food, every shred of clothing.  Often they were forced from their makeshift shelters by gangs who cared little about sending a family with young children scurrying into the night.  
It was one such occasion that had forced them deep into the tunnels that ran under the city of G'Kamazad.  Times were hard then, harder than usual, and often Tu'Ram was forced to watch over his younger brother and sisters while his parents worked to keep them all alive.  It was cold and damp in the tunnels and for the most part they were left in peace, but others they weren't so lucky.  
The threat however did not come in the form of thieves or gangs but in something much smaller yet just as deadly.  

Tu'Ram cried out in terror, just as Na'Kar was about to strike the Minbari.  The sound was so horrifying that Na'Kar stopped short, spinning around in the hopes of discovering what it was that had cause the other Narn to scream so horribly.  All he was met with was more confusion as he watch Tu'Ram as he scratched madly at his arms, ripping first through the heavy material of his tunic not stopping when he came to bare skin.  Blood soon began to flow from the fresh wounds and those who attempted to calm him were only met with violent, frantic fists.  
In his mind he could see them, the gr'Tar insects, the ones who had come in the night, so many years ago, the ones who would burrow through any exposed skin in the hopes of depositing their ravenous larva in the soft underlying tissue.  He clawed at them, desperate to rid his body of them, but there were so many, more than he had ever seen, even the night they had claimed his sister, Tu'San.  He fought against them as they made their way up his arms and onto his chest, could feel them as they tunneled under his skin, devouring him in a flurry of excruciating pain.  He cried out in denial as the others tried to restrain him, lashing out at them with his blood stained hands.  He collapsed to the ground, curling himself into a ball ripping chunks of flesh from his battered body.  Feeling them enter his skull, he began beating his head into the ground all the while continuing to tear at his flesh and eyes.  Finally locating a nearby rock, the crazed Narn grabbed it, pounding it into his head until with one final blow he moved no longer.
"What - what was that?"  Ka'Ran cried out in panic, his hold temporarily loosening on Terann.
"That," the Minbari replied in a steely-edged voice.  "Was me."
She pulled out of his grip and turned, her gaze focusing on his, ensuring that he knew exactly who as currently entering into his mind to play havoc.  

Ka'Ran found himself strapped into a chair in the middle of the room, the others surrounding him, taunting him.  He called out to them, asking why were they doing this?  Why did they not let him go?  But they did not seem to hear him, did not seem to notice that he was in fact their friend.  
Na'Kar moved up behind him with candle in hand, laughing viciously as he placed the burning flame against Ka'Ran's neck.  The Narn screamed out at the pain, struggling against the binding that held him in place, unable to escape the scalding flames as they moved down his back, igniting on to his clothing, quickly absorbing him in their deadly grip. 
The Narn drew back screaming, slapping at the invisible flames as they continued to consume his body.  His screams rent throughout the cavern, stilling the others in unmitigated terror, providing Ra'Nam with the distraction he needed to pull away from Mi'Ret and Du'Nar.  Extracting his Ka'Toc from its sleeve, he swung around quickly; slicing Mi'Ret across his shoulder while simultaneously kicking Du'Nar in the stomach hard enough to throw the Narn back against the wall.
While Ka'Ran's screams began to lessen, as his throat grew hoarse and uncooperative, Terann took the opportunity to move over to Na'Kar who was watching the proceedings with a mixture of confusion and growing fear.  He noticed her just as she drew near and reacted quickly, striking out with his leg.  But the reaction came too slowly and before he could touch her, invisible hands grabbed his body, flinging him back against the cavern walls.  
Terann advanced on him, her voice calm and cold as she spoke:
"You have no understanding of what you have done here.  While you bully and threaten others, inside you quake with your own fear and inadequacies.  You take out your anger and frustrations for being less than all of those around you on the hapless and weak."  As he struggled to stand, she crushed the bones in his forearms with a single thought, causing him to collapse to the ground once more, screaming out in pain.  "Everything you forced her to suffer, you will suffer tenfold!  Every time you close your eyes, you will feel the pain and terror she felt, experience the degradation and shame.  You will trust none in your fellow race, for they will only serve to remind you of those who caused you such suffering."
Na'Kar snarled at her, cursing in Narn.  He flailed on the ground, attempting escape, crying out for the others to help him.  But Ra'Nam had already knocked the other two out and was currently bending down to lift Lady Kyra's unconscious form into his arms.
"Hurry, Terann," he instructed her.  "Forget about your vengeance and think of your friend.  She does not have much time left."
Terann did not move from her position where she hovered over the cowering Na'Kar.  "Take her from here," she told him.  "Head back for G'Kamazad.  I will join you shortly."
Ra'Nam was about to argue, thinking that the Minbari before him seemed to have lost sight of her mission.  But when he asked himself what he would have done in her situation, had a friend of his been found such as this, subjected to such torture and pain, he realized he could not blame her.  Wrapping the cloak more securely around his light burden and shifting her so that he did not touch the more ravaged sections of her body, Ra'Nam hurried back towards the tunnels.
Terann knelt down next to the large Narn, regarding him steadily.
"Bitch!"  He snarled.  "If you are going to kill me then do so!  I have no remorse for what I did.  In fact, I loved every moment of it!  She was a bit of a fighter at first but once we broke her spirit, she learned to do what we told her.  You should have heard her screams the first time I took her.  She was begging for mercy long before I was done!"
Terann's expression did not change and Na'Kar felt the fear continue to grow inside of him.  The creature before him was no ordinary Minbari that much was for certain.  What she had done to the others, he did not know, but he was certain he would prefer a quick death to whatever horrors they had been forced to suffer.  He attempted once more to goad her into killing him quickly.
"Actually, I think Lady Kyra learned to enjoy it.  Yes, as a matter of fact, the more of us there were, the less she fought.  There were quite a few times I am certain I heard her screaming in pleasure - "
Terann laughed suddenly, bringing Na'Kar's words to an abrupt halt.  He wondered if the Minbari were not insane.
"I pity you, Na'Kar," she told him.  "I truly do."  She stood, though the invisible bonds that held him down did not lessen.  "I only wish G'Kar were here to thank you himself.  When he discovers what you have done, when he realizes that the woman he loves will not allow him to touch her because of what his own people have done to her, I am certain he will wish only death for you and every member of your family."
Na'Kar eyes widened at her words and his fear became almost palpable.
Terann only nodded.  "But death is too good for you, Na'Kar.  Too simple.  You must pay for the crimes you have committed, for the life and innocence that your acts have destroyed.  Her pain, her screams, her terror, her shame, her helplessness will all be yours now."  
It was then that Terann tore brutality into his mind, taking no time to worry about the pain it caused him or to consider the screams that uttered from his mouth.  She tore into his memories of the past few days, reconstructing every detail so that it was he who suffered the beatings, he who was sexually violated, he was humiliated and driven to near death by a group of Narns.  She embedded every image and feeling deep into his mind, so that no amount of time or therapy or drugs would ever rid him of the memories.  She ensured it so that no matter if Na'Kar was awake or sleeping, he was reliving those days of terror over and over in his mind.  And to ensure that he would never be able to take the coward's way out and end his own life, she gave him a silent command to never bring himself harm and never beg for other's to take his life from him.  There was nothing more that Terann wished at that moment then for the Narn before her to die as an old man in his bed, the images of the crimes he suffered - that he forced Aelora to suffer - still embedded firmly in his mind.  
When Terann caught up to Ra'Nam just outside of G'Kamazad, she was silent, calm.  Eerily so.    She led him to where the Centauri shuttle sat, still waiting.  They had only minutes left to spare and for the first time since she began to take her anger out on the Narns did Terann realize she had acted foolishly.  The time she had spent exacting pain on them took away from the time she could have better spent getting her friend the medical attention she badly needed.
"We have not much time," Bainter admonished her as he opened the shuttle door.  He glanced down at the bundle in Ra'Nam's arms.  "Great Maker!"  Were the only words he could find to speak.
Terann turned to Ra'Nam, taking Aelora from him and gently placing her friend on the bunk just inside the shuttle.  Once she made certain the Human was safely ensconced for the journey back to the Ilaws, she turned to the Narn.
"I thank you for this, Ra'Nam.  If G'Kar somehow makes it safely from his own imprisonment, I will make certain that he hears of your bravery and kindness in this matter."
Ra'Nam shook his head in denial.  "I acted neither brave nor kind on Lady Kyra's behalf.  To do so would have meant to save her from such suffering before it had begun.  I stood by without speaking, without stopping them and by doing so, am guilty of committing the acts myself."
Terann nodded.  "I can not disagree with you, nor give you the forgiveness that you seek.  Only you and Aelora can do that.  And sadly, my friend may not live long enough to even curse the names of those who caused her such suffering.  But you took responsibility for your actions, Ra'Nam, and you showed her more kindness than I am certain she has been granted in weeks.  For that, I must thank you and you must forgive yourself."
Terann turned from him then and entered the shuttle.  She did not bother to look back as Bainter started up the engines and pulled away from the planet of Narn.  Her attention was focused on the Human who lay before her, the friend who, for a moment, had forced her to look away from her own problems and focus her thoughts elsewhere.  Never before had she seen someone she cared about so near death and it frightened her.  Terann hated feeling hopeless and currently, that was all she could feel.  During the rescue she had a purpose she had been needed. But now?  She could only watch and wait and hope that she had not wasted too much time.
"We must hurry," she called back to Bainter.  "I do not believe she can hold on much longer."
"I will contact the White Star and tell them to meet us so that we do not need return to the Ilaws," he replied as he leaned toward the comm panel.  
The Minbari knelt down next to Aelora, reaching out to touch her friend's cheek.  Her skin was hot and feverish, her complexion the color of alabaster.  For the first time, Terann realized exactly how important Aelora's gifts truly were.  Had their situations been reversed, Aelora would need only reach out and touch Terann to heal her, to take away her pain and fever and send her back toward recovery.  But Terann could perform no such miracle.  She wanted to feel anger and jealousy at her friend over the realization but could form no such emotions.  Instead, she made a silent promise to herself that if - when - Aelora recovered, she would do everything in her power to help the Human to understand how beautiful and precious the gifts she had been given were.  
When they reached the White Star, Marcus was already waiting for them in the shuttle bay.  Terann lifted Aelora into her arms; once more cursing her condition for the Human weighed no more than a feather.  The Minbari knew she must have lost over forty pounds since she had last seen her and found herself wondering what had caused such rapid weight loss.  She was only with the Narns for a few days and could have lost no more than a few pounds in that time.  So what had caused her to become so sickly while on Centauri Prime?    
"In Valen's name!"
Terann looked up at Marcus at his curse as she stepped out of the shuttle.
"Aelora!"  He started toward her, his face contorted in a mixture of pain and disbelief.  "What have those bastards done to her?!"     
"We do not have the time now," Terann said firmly, moving past him quickly on her way toward the infirmary.  "Have the crew get us to Babylon 5 immediately.  I do not know what our Healer can do for her and Dr. Franklin has worked with Aelora before.  He will know better how to get her body to respond to treatments."
Marcus did not immediately move but reached out a hand to touch Aelora, his expression filled with sorrow.  
"Marcus now!"  Terann barked, not wishing to be cruel but also knowing that there was no time to waste.
For a split second the Ranger was ready to argue.  He did not believe Aelora was going to make it and he wanted to be able to spend her last few minutes with her.  But his heart urged him not to give up just yet and he finally nodded to Terann, gave a brief caress to Aelora's pale cheek and then hurried off toward the bridge.
Terann continued toward the infirmary as she began to recite a litany over and over in her mind:
Valen, if you had ever loved your daughter, even for the briefest of moments, watch over her now.  Give her your strength, Valen.  Give her your strength.      
 


BABYLON 5


Dr. Stephen Franklin was going over lab reports when he received the call from customs that a critical care patient was being brought to MedLab 1.  When he asked for specifics, he was only told it was a Human female being transported from a White Star.  Expecting an injured Ranger, he debated alerting Delenn then decided to contact her once the patient was stabilized and their identity known.  Making certain that the IsoLab was ready and his assistants were available to help, Stephen moved about restlessly, waiting for the patient to arrive.  
When the doors opened, the last person Stephen expected to see was the Minbari telepath, Terann.  His eyes widened in surprise as she entered, moving toward him, two members of security pushing a gurney behind her.  Behind them followed a male Minbari he did not recognize and bringing up the rear was Marcus.
"Terann."  Stephen moved toward her, knowing that his shock was evident and not caring.  The last he had heard, he doubted that the Minbari/Vorlon hybrid would return to Babylon 5.  "What are you -- ?"
"You must help her," Terann cut him off, pointing to the gurney.  "The Healer has done all that he can."
Stephen moved over to the stretcher, nodding briefly at the Minbari Healer then glancing down at his patient.  He paled at the sight before him; his gaze immediately meeting that of Terann's who had moved to stand on the opposite side of the gurney.
"This isn't... " He trailed off, unable to reconcile the woman he knew with the being that lay before him.
Terann nodded.  "A lot has happened to Aelora since we all last saw her, Doctor."  She looked down at the comatose Human, stretching hand out to touch an ashen cheek.  "I do not know if you can do anything more but... " She lifted her eyes to meet his once more.  "You were the only one I could think of who would at least try."
"Get her into IsoLab," Stephen barked at his assistants, moving over to the Healer.  "What is her condition?"
"She fell into a coma shortly after she was brought onboard the White Star," the Minbari offered in a quiet, steady voice.  "We were able to stop the bleeding --- " He paused at the Human doctor's look of confusion.  "Apparently she attempted to take her own life."
Stephen swore and moved up behind Terann as she stood staring through the observation windows into IsoLab.  "Terann, what happened?"
The telepath sighed.  "It is a long story.  But the end of it is, she became a prisoner on Narn and those who held her... well, they used her badly, Doctor.  As Fennir just told you, by the time I got to her she had slit her wrists in an attempt to end her life... "
"Fortunately, the drug in her system slowed the blood flow," Fennir supplied.  "We were able to bind the wounds and restore the blood lost before it became too critical."
"Drug?"
Terann glanced briefly at Stephen.  "The Sleepers."
Stephen swore once again, more emphatically than before.
"What is the matter?" Terann asked in bewilderment.  "We should be pleased that the Sleepers helped save her life."
"That's just the problem," he replied, stepping away from her toward the IsoLab.  "I warned her to stop taking the Sleepers before she left," he continued over his shoulder.  "They were killing her."
Terann glanced back at Fennir who only shrugged then turned to look at Marcus who had been uncharacteristically silent.  He stood staring through the IsoLab windows as the medics scurried around their patient.  The telepath could feel his fear for Aelora and moved over to him, placing a hand on his arm to get his attention.
"She will be alright," she assured him quietly.  "Aelora is strong... for a Human."
Marcus shook his head.  "If she were strong, she would not have attempted to take her own life, Terann."
Unwilling to tell him who she believed had truly been responsible for Aelora's suicide attempt, Terann simply responded, "Look at what she has been through, Marcus.  Because of her love for G'Kar, she lost the Rangers, her foster family, her home and any innocence she might have still harbored has been destroyed forever.  I am sure she reached the point where she believed she had nothing left and no one to turn to.  What would your choice be?  To continue to allow them to tear your soul apart, piece by piece?  Or to make that one final choice that no one can take from you?"
"Then are we being any more humane than her captors?"  Marcus asked, catching Terann's gaze.  "Should we fight to keep her alive or... Or let her escape the pain of her memories through death?"
Not wishing to form a reply, Terann turned away from the Ranger and focused her gaze once more on Aelora's inert form.  Unfortunately, Marcus had a good point.  Would Aelora be thankful that they had rescued her?  Or angry that they had trapped her inside a nightmare from which there was no escape?  Terann could not begin to imagine what the Human would be feeling if she regained consciousness.  How does one continue on in life knowing first hand the horrors that sentient beings could exact upon one another?  The Minbari tried to convince herself that once Aelora knew she had Terann and Marcus there to lean on, to turn to when the memories became too terrifying, that she would feel safe and secure.  But she knew she was only lying to herself.  She and Aelora not parted on the best of terms and she knew the Human's obstinacy.  It was very possible that Aelora would pull away from everything and everyone around her.  It was tragic to think that she had come so far, only to be set back even further than before.
"Good God!"  
Stephen's roar from the IsoLab pulled Terann from her thoughts and she looked up to see that he had unwrapped the bandaging from Aelora's head.  "Terann!"
The Minbari calmly moved into the room, knowing before he spoke what answers he was searching for.  "I scanned those who did this to her.  It was simply another form of torture, a way of making her look Centauri and less Human, perhaps to ease their own consciences."
"But they did not shave her hair," Stephen stated, his expression telling her that he refused to acknowledge what his own eyes could see.
"No.  They ripped it out, cut it, and burned it.  Their leader was extremely large and capable of such things.  They were... inventive in creating her pain."
Stephen cursed colorfully for the next few moments, all the while dressing and caring for his patient's wounds.  Terann stepped from the room to stand beside Marcus once more and wait.  For the first time in her life, she found her abilities to be lacking.  If she had Aelora's talents, she could heal the Human easily, just as Aelora had done for her.  But here she stood, not even able to help her friend as much as the doctors, her only talent being the ability to punish those who had harmed her friend.  The uselessness of it all swarmed her, almost suffocating her with its oppressiveness.  Terann pushed the feelings aside, unprepared to deal with the sensation of inadequacy and insecurity that had began to assault her ever since her last encounter with Neroon.
 It was over an hour before Stephen finished stabilizing Aelora and getting her situated in IsoLab.  When he rejoined Marcus and Terann, the exhaustion and concern was obvious in both his eyes and stance.
"How is she?"  The Ranger asked immediately, moving up beside Terann.
Stephen shook his head.  "Truthfully, I am surprised she is alive.  All I can attribute that miracle to is the 'modifications' she underwent by the Shadows.  Unfortunately, those same modifications were also working against her.  As I said, when I first began administering the Sleepers to her, during the initial checkups I realized something was wrong.  Her body was reacting obtusely to the drug, breaking down bit by bit.  I told her to stop taking them but she refused.  She threatened to get some from Down Below and I fear that might be exactly what she did before leaving for Centauri Prime."  Stephen glanced back at his patient then returned his attention to Terann and Marcus.  "Currently she is suffering from kidney problems, heart and lung problems.  Her blood cell count, both red and white, is all over the place.  She has pneumonia, her scalp is terribly infected and internally..." He hesitated, rubbing a hand over his eyes.  "Well, the damage is massive.  Right now I would not guarantee her ability to ever have children."   
Marcus swore neatly in Minbari but Terann appeared undaunted.
"Have the Sleepers worn off yet?"  The Minbari inquired quietly.
Stephen frowned.  "I can not tell for certain, with everything that is currently going on in her body.  Why?"
Terann shrugged.  "It seems to me that once the drug is out of her system, her strength will return, allowing her body to heal itself.  It is something I am almost certain of.  Physically, Aelora will be fine, given time.  Emotionally..." Terann trailed off, meeting Stephen's gaze.  
The doctor nodded.  "I could tell from her wounds much of what had happened but I would like to hear what you know as well."
Terann nodded, filling him in on everything she had learned along the way between Bainter's accounting of what had happened on Centauri Prime and the information supplied from her scans of the Narn.  She left nothing out, providing graphic descriptions of Aelora's treatment and the state she had found her in when she had arrived.  She left out any mention of the Vorlons and their part in it all, knowing it had little bearing on the information she knew the doctor required to treat Aelora properly.  
Stephen listened as the Minbari recalled the details for him, taking note of the monotone voice with which she spoke, the lack of facial expression and animation in her eyes.  He found himself curious as to what she might have gone through in the weeks since she had left Babylon 5 and even questioned her regarding the matter.  But Terann ignored the query, finishing her account of Aelora's rescue with few details of how she dealt with the Narn.
The Human continued to regard the Minbari long after she finished describing Aelora's torture at the hands of the Narn.  He could tell there were things she was purposely omitting, yet something about her advised against questioning her further.  It was not anything he could readily identify, just a sensation that there was more to the situation than what she would lead him to believe.  Laying a reassuring hand on Terann's arm he moved back to Aelora's bedside his mind still full of unanswered questions.
Not for the first time since her friend's rescue Terann attempted to reach out to touch Aelora's mind and once again she quickly recoiled in horror.  The madness that stormed through the Human's thoughts was both nauseating and infuriating and left her unable to tell if it was the Sleepers or the effects of her ordeal.  Her ire sparked, Terann found she did not care for the reason behind the insanity in Aelora's mind, she only longed to hurt those that had done this to her.  Not just the Narn, but the Shadows and the Centauri as well.  For she knew they had all played a pivotal role in bringing Aelora to her current state.  
Moving forward to touch the glass separating her from her friend, Terann felt the dagger dig slightly into her hip, bringing back the memories of the Vorlon's demand.  She remembered with sadness how close she had come to killing Aelora; she even recalled the pleasure she gleaned from the images of her plunging the knife into Aelora's chest.  It was a thought that sickened her until she recalled the words of the Ranger and how he wondered if they were in fact torturing her further by keeping her alive in the shell she now inhabited.  Perhaps there was some truth to what he said and that they were truly no more merciful than those who had imprisoned her. 
The thoughts racing through her mind, she felt the ever-familiar presence of the Vorlons as they returned to her thoughts whispering words that inspired both hope and despair:
Terann, there is still time.
I cannot harm her, she replied, her desperation obvious.
It is not your choice to make.  You are nothing without us.
They fled her mind then, leaving only a faint trace of themselves, enough to serve as a reminder.  Sadly Terann knew they were right.  She had sacrificed everything, lost all hope of ever salvaging her life.  The Vorlons were all she had left, the only ones that had truly cared for her, regardless of who she was.   But the idea of sacrificing Aelora to ensure her own future was unconscionable, even if it were truly as Marcus suggested, that Aelora would somehow resent them for having saved her.  Pain pierced through the Minbari's heart as she came to believe that killing Aelora was the only true way of saving her.




From all appearances, Terann looked calm, at ease, but inside she was a mass of contradiction.  The Vorlons had returned to her, battling away the last of her resistance, knowing that with her final expulsion from the Minbari that there was little keeping her from them.  And so they worked, chipping away at the few remaining reservations within her, calling to her, comforting her, assuring her that it was with them that she truly belonged.
At first, her anger at the universe in general had forced her to reject them but as time wore by she knew that they were right.  There was nowhere that she belonged, nowhere that she could be accepted, except with them and it was among them that she truly longed to be.  If only she knew that Aelora would be all right without her then she would be free to return to them and put the pettiness of the lesser races behind her.    There would be no more hiding, no more lies, no more suspicion; with them she would finally be free.
"You should get some rest."
Terann started out of her musings, turning her head toward Doctor Franklin.  She bristled slightly and immediately chastised herself for doing so.  It wasn't that she disliked the Human beside her, in fact he had been among the few to champion for Aelora and her.  It was merely that she wished to be alone, did not wish to engage in another conversation.  
"I am fine, doctor," she told him softly, turning back to regard her friend where she lay inside the IsoLab.  It continued to surprise Terann that Aelora was still alive and she found herself smiling slightly as she realized that she was far to stubborn to give up that easily.  It was a quality about the Human that Terann had found infuriating at times, yet she realized it was most likely the one thing that saved her life.
"Terann," the doctor said gently placing a hand on the Minbari's arm.  "You need your strength.  Though you won't tell me, I suspect you have been through a lot yourself and you aren't doing any good for yourself or Aelora."
"You concern is noted."  Came the cold reply.
The doctor's attention was pulled to the doorway as two security officers appeared pushing a gurney upon which laid an unconscious Centauri.  Franklin sighed audibly, wishing not for the first time that Terann would put aside her suspicion and distrust, before moving quickly to return to his work.
Terann followed him with her eyes, watching as he moved to care for the Centauri.  Instantly an almost uncontrollable rage formed within Terann as she recalled those who had harmed Aelora.  The voice of Aelora's cousin Rane echoed through her mind, reminding her of the horrors her friend had been forced to face on her homeworld, paralyzing her with hatred and disgust.  She regarded the young doctor as he worked feverishly to stop the bleeding around an apparent knife wound in the young Centauri's chest, barely holding back the urge to crush the fragile life that still lingered within him.
Everything touched must die.
The words of the Vorlons reverberated through Terann's mind, urging her to harm those who would inflict suffering on others.  She quickly brushed the desire aside, attempting to block the Vorlons' songs from her thoughts.  But as she did, her eyes fell back on her motionless friend and instantly the images of her mistreatment flooded her senses, threatening to overwhelm her.
Whirling back to the Centauri she reached out with her mind, ignoring the voices of the medical staff as they fought to repair the damage done to him, keeping one step ahead of them and their scanners.  She focused on the Centauri's hearts, knowing that there was where most of the damage lay.  She pinched off blood vessels while tearing others open, anything she could do that would not be detected by the Human doctor.  She forced him to the brink of death, the Vorlons encouragement ringing through her mind, ever conscious of the medical staff's efforts to save him, before pushing him into the abyss.  She pulled back just as the Centauri's body and mind shut down, unwilling to witness his death.  She then, impassively, turned back to regard Aelora, an almost perverse sense of power washing over her.
Pulling the bloodied gloves from his hands, Doctor Franklin kept his eyes fixed on the dead Centauri before him, confused as to why he had been unable to save him.  From what he saw of the injury, though severe, it had not been grave enough to kill him that quickly.  Then calling to one of the medical assistance to remove the body for further study, he brought his eyes up to regard the Minbari.  For a moment he felt a tingle of suspicion as he wondered if she had played a role in the death of the Centauri.  Almost as quickly as the thought formed he brushed it aside, deciding that his belief was unwarranted.
Terann turned to glance over her shoulder in time to watch the Human as he moved away into one of the other IsoLabs, sighing softly in relief.  She had felt his suspicion of her and had reacted quickly by pushing it gently from his mind.  She had acted carelessly, she knew that, but found that she did not care.  Then returning her gaze back to Aelora she 'cast:
For you, my friend.
For the next hour she remained silent, unmoving, her attention pulled from Aelora only once when Franklin came to update her on the Human's condition.  The song of the Vorlons kept her desire to enter her friend's thoughts at bay and she found herself oddly grateful for this.  The turmoil she had felt in Aelora's mind enraged her beyond comprehension and her mind began to fill with horrid thoughts, thoughts of death and destruction.  Remembering her vision she found herself siding with the madness of the Vorlons, if only to bring justice to those who would seek to harm one who had so much to give.  
A wave of nausea passed over her as she looked at her own hands, clenching them into fists as the thoughts whirled through her mind.  Bringer of death; was that truly all that she was?  Never had she stopped to consider what she truly was and all she was capable of.  She had always believed her abilities to be a tremendous gift, something that brought her closer to them, what she truly was.  But now she feared that she was created solely to kill and destroy, to be seen by them, not as an equal, but as a weapon to be used and discarded.  Forcefully, she pushed the thoughts from her mind, unwilling to question the wisdom behind their creation of her.  
"Miss... Terann?"
The voice broke into the thoughts of the telepath, and instinctively she reached out with her mind to touch on that of the speaker.  When she realized it was the security officer Zack Allan panic screamed through her as she began to fear that Doctor Franklin had learned about her involvement in the death of the Centauri.  As she moved deeper into his thoughts she found she sensed only fear coupled with curiosity and nothing more.  Sighing in relief imperceptibly, she slowly turned to face him.
"Was there something you wanted, Sergeant?"  She asked coldly, her gaze roaming over him apathetically.
"Captain Sheridan wishes to speak with you."
"I see," she commented, moving her eyes to regard the five security officers with him.  "Only six of you?"  She commented a slight smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.  It was not a threat; merely a comment and she began to question the veracity of Sheridan's earlier threat.  
"We don't need to make this difficult."  Came the calm reply as he gestured towards the doorway.  "Please, this way." 
Terann kept her eyes on him for several moments, realizing how much calmer Sergeant Allan was from Garibaldi.  Finally she nodded, allowing him to lead her to the War Room.
They moved in silence and Terann used the time to mentally prepare herself for the upcoming meeting.  She recalled her first encounter with Sheridan after her alcohol-induced attack on him, and later just prior to his journey to Z'ha'dum.  She found it to be no wonder that they were always clashing with one another, as it seemed they only met after one crisis or another.  She reminded herself that Kosh had chosen him, above all others, and was newly determined to at least attempt to listen to him.
Upon entering the War Room, however, she felt herself stiffen just from the sight of him.  It was not anything his appearance betrayed more of a telepathic sensation, something that told her to be on the alert.
She moved slowly down the steps, coming to a stop behind him where he stood with Delenn formulating battle plans of some kind.  She did not signal her arrival; instead she merely waited for him to acknowledge her.  When he and the Minbari beside him finally turned to face her, he fixed her with a fierce gaze.
"What are you doing on my station?" he asked through clenched teeth.
"My friend was injured," Terann told him, keeping her tone pleasant and calm.  "Your healer was the only one Marcus and I believed could truly help her."
"Is Aelora all right?"  Delenn asked with concern.
Terann turned her attention to the ambassador.  "She is still unconscious.  The extent of her injuries is quite severe.  Doctor Franklin is unsure of her prognosis."
Delenn sucked in a sharp breath at that, before laying a hand on Terann's arm in compassion for her apparent upset.
"That still does not explain why you are still here, Terann.  You were told..."
"Yes Captain, I know of your threat, but my concern for my friend outweighs any concern I might have over what you may or may not do to me."
Any reply Sheridan may have had was forgotten as his attention drifted beyond the Minbari.  Terann furrowed her brow slightly before turning to follow his gaze.  When her eyes caught sight of the being behind her an intense sense of reverence washed over her. 
Her expression was not lost to Sheridan.  "You know each other?"
L'orien smiled, keeping his focus on the Minbari before him.  "We know of each other."
Terann inclined her head respectfully to him, a gesture he returned, before turning back to face the Human captain.  When she spoke her tone was controlled and calm.  "Captain, I am not here to be a burden.  My friend was in trouble; I had to help her.  The only place I could think of to bring her was here.  As soon as I know she will be all right I will leave."
"That isn't good enough," Sheridan spat at her.  "So long as you are here, you are a threat.  With your abilities, everything we are planning, every strategy could be relayed back to the Vorlons.  Now if you are willing to take the Sleepers..."
"No!"  Terann shouted back at him.  "I will not allow you to suppress my abilities because of your paranoia."
"And I will not allow you to put this station and everything we have worked for at risk."
"John," Delenn said calmly, placing her hand on Sheridan's arm before turning to Terann.  "Terann, surely you know what the Vorlons are doing, how dangerous it is for you to be here.  We do not know where your loyalties lie, and until we do..."
"That is it, is it not?" Terann demanded of the Human captain.  "You do not trust me because I will not provide you with a way to kill them.  
"I know what they are doing, Captain.  I have seen it firsthand.  You think I agree with them?  That I like what they are doing?"
"Then help us stop them," Delenn beseeched her.
Terann shook her head.  "I cannot help you kill them, they are my people."  She paused, choking back the pain that was welling up inside her.  "They are all I have left."
"Then I suggest you go back to them," Sheridan told her coldly.  "You have one hour to leave Babylon 5."  He then turned his back to her, returning to the plans he had been previously studying.
Terann swallowed hard against her anger and upset, then turned to leave coming to a stop when L'orien called out to her.
"Are they truly deserving of your undying loyalty?  Or have they simply programmed you that way?"
She paused for a moment considering his question more than she did her response.  "It does not matter," came the almost inaudible reply.
"Oh but it does."  It was then he who paused.  "Who are you?"
Terann clenched her eyes shut knowing if it were anyone else she would simply ignore their query and continue out of the War Room.  But the Vorlons revered L'orien, and to deny him a response was unthinkable.  "I am nothing," she replied sadly.
"That is what they tell you, what they make you believe, all the while assuring you that you are their equal.  But you are not, are you?  You are different, special.  You believe you are beneath them, somehow less than they are.  But you are wrong, and they know that.  That is why they threaten you; why they fear you."
Terann turned slowly to face him, keeping her gaze lowered out of respect.  She said nothing but her features betrayed her disbelief of his claim.  
L'orien shook his head.  "Have you forgotten everything they have done to you?  The nights they haunted your sleep?  The time you spent on their world, learning to fight and to die for them?  How you lay huddled in the corner of your 'room' begging them to leave you in peace, to end their abuse?  Only to have your cries go unanswered."
Terann remained silent, unmoving.  Even as she felt his mind touch hers she refused to block him from her thoughts allowing him to awaken memories she had forced herself to forget.  She recalled the times they had abandoned her, leaving her to fight for them, the threats they had uttered, all the while telling her how they cared for her, when all along it was a... lie!  The pain and anger and resentment all surfaced, burning through her very soul.  As she closed her eyes to the madness she heard Lorien's voice echo through her mind:
Did you deserve this Terann?  Do they deserve you?
The images L'orien had invoked still fresh in her mind, Terann clenched her hands at her sides.  Without raising her eyes she addressed Sheridan.  "I will give you what you ask."
Sheridan's brow furrowed slightly before he inclined his head in gratitude.
"There is a cost," she told him as she raised her eyes to meet his.  "Whatever it is you are planning, between the Vorlons and the Shadows, I want to be there."  When he looked ready to argue, Terann took a step toward him, affecting a subservient stance.  "Whether I remain here or go with you, the Vorlons will kill me for my betrayal.  All I ask is you give me a ship; let me serve on a White Star, or a Warcruiser, give me a fighter, anything.  Let me die as a Minbari, born of the Warrior Caste."
"And if this ship is forced to take hostile action towards the Vorlons?"  Sheridan inquired.
Terann sighed.  "It is not something I can allow.  If they have programmed me the way I believe they have I doubt I could even if I wanted to."  She paused.  "Please Captain, allow me this and I will ensure you have everything you need; ways to defend yourself against them, and any weaknesses they possess."
He regarded the Minbari for a moment, trying to determine her sincerity, before finally nodding.
She inclined her head to him then turned to the Minbari Ambassador.  She reached under her tunic and removed her denn'bok, clutching it tightly in her hand before holding it out to her.  "Delenn, send this to Minbar for me.  See that Neroon gets it."  When the Ambassador cast her a questioning glance Terann said simply:  "He will understand... eventually."
She then bowed respectfully before taking her leave, intent on wandering the station, forcing herself to relax.  Between her mixed emotions and the usual upset that accompanied any meeting she had with the Starkiller, she knew she would not be properly prepared to face the Vorlons or the Shadows if she did not calm herself.  
Surprisingly, the Minbari found she was somewhat pleased to be back on Babylon 5.  It was almost as if she felt at home on the Earther's station, more at home than she ever had on Minbar.  Though she knew she had many enemies present, Terann also knew that the majority of the residents looked on her as simply another Minbari, knowing and caring nothing about her parentage or telepathic abilities.  She was simply another face in the crowd and for the moment that was exactly what she was searching for.
It was not long before her thoughts turned to the coming battle.  Terann knew she agreed to accompany Sheridan and Delenn as an observer, to make certain the Army of Light behaved accordingly.  In truth, she found herself wondering what she would do if shots were fired.  Who would she side with then?  Though she believed the Vorlons were all she had left, she still questioned their recent actions, and their continual demands for her to murder Aelora.  She knew she would never follow through with their order and wondered why they continued to ask it of her.  She and Aelora had already moved beyond the ability to destroy one another, had already bonded beyond such possibility of a recurrence.  Terann knew they could take control of her and force her to action, she had seen that happen on Narn, but she believed that the Vorlons would prefer her to do it of her own free will.  For her to do so would mean that she had finally turned away from her past giving her future to the Vorlons completely.   
From the direction of her thoughts, Terann was not surprised to find herself just outside of MedLab One. She paused before stepping inside, making certain that her defenses were up in case the Vorlons attempted to use her once more to end her friend's life.  She did not feel any lingering detection of their presence and attributed their absence to preparations for the coming conflict.  Otherwise, she doubted that they would miss out on such a perfect opportunity to destroy their enemy.  Stepping through the doors, Terann immediately took note of the pervading silence that permeated the area.  She glanced to her right to see Dr. Franklin sitting at a terminal, staring vacantly at the screen.  No other medical personnel were present.
"Doctor Franklin?"
The Human looked up at her voice, blinking for a moment against the glare of the lights.  "Oh, Terann.  I didn't hear you come in."
"It is quiet in here," she commented, glancing toward the IsoLab.
Stephen nodded.  "I sent everyone away so they could get some rest before the real work starts."
"And what about your rest?"  She asked pointedly.
He laughed.  "You sound like Garibaldi.  I assure you, I am fine.  I caught a few winks a couple of hours ago.  I can make it."  He reached behind his neck; rubbing at the sore muscles for a moment, then caught the Minbari's gaze.  "I was hoping you would come by."
"Is there a change?"
"Something like that."  He stood, moving around the desk then folding his arms and leaning back against the console.  "She's awake."
Terann's eyes widened.  "That is good news!"
"It should be... "
"But?"
The doctor sighed.  "But... "He shook his head.  "She doesn't appear to be all there, Terann."
"What do you mean "all there"?"
"Mentally.  She hasn't spoken a word since she opened her eyes and has given me no indication whatsoever that she can either hear or see me."
Terann spun around turned, moving toward the IsoLab with Stephen following behind.  "I am certain there is a way to reach her," the Minbari told him, thinking that she could simply enter Aelora's mind if need be.  She knew it would not be easy for either of them, and did not look forward to everything she would have to face but if it were the only way to get the Human to respond, then she would do so.  
Entering IsoLab, Terann saw that Aelora's eyes were indeed open though she seemed to be staring off into the distance, not really focusing on anything currently around her.  The most frightening aspect of seeing her friend like this was the complete lack of anything in Aelora's gaze.  There was no hint of emotion, intelligence or even a soul.  Terann fought to suppress a sudden chill as she remembered her nightmare of Centauri Prime and how Aelora had stood before her blackened and burned... and dead.  That was how she appeared now.  The only indication that the Human female on the bed was alive was her soft, subtle breathing.   Terann reached out tentatively, touching Aelora's shoulder.
"Aelora?"  She glanced back at the lack of response to see Dr. Franklin leaning against the doorframe, watching intently.  "Aelora, it is me, Terann," the Minbari spoke again, shaking her with more force.
Stephen sighed.  "I was hoping that you could at least get something out of her."
"I may be able to," the telepath replied quietly.
He frowned.  "You want to scan her?  When she is in this condition?  I don't know if I would advise that."
"What else would you suggest then?"  Terann asked harshly, fixing him with a sharp glare.  "For all we know she may believe she is still on Narn.  Somehow we need to let her know that she is safe.  Poking her with sharp instruments is not exactly what I would call therapy, doctor."
"That was uncalled for," Stephen snapped.  "Fine. You want to scan her, go ahead.  But if you harm my patient ---"
"I will not harm her," Terann cut him off, turning her attention back to Aelora.  
Curiously enough, she found that was frightened.  Not of the scan itself or what she might find but rather what she might not find.  What if Aelora truly had retreated back into the darkest recesses of her mind where none could reach her?  What if she really had lost her sanity?  These were the thoughts that haunted Terann as she gently lifted Aelora's hand into hers and began probing quietly into her mind.  She had seen the madness that Aelora had been subjected to and doubted her own ability to have escaped without losing herself within it as well.

Terann was standing inside a small black room, which held no doors or windows.  It was oppressive, cold and held a terrible, haunting silence.  She called Aelora's name softly, flinching as it echoed around her.  She turned, attempting to force her eyes to adjust to the darkness, and when she finished a complete circle, she discovered an opening where only previously there had been none.  Frowning, she glanced to her right, only to have yet another opening revealed to her, exactly opposite from the first.  A minute amount of light flickered from the second doorway and Terann found herself drawn toward it, stepping through the threshold cautiously.
The opening led into a short corridor along which there were three doors: two on the right and one on the left.  The end of the corridor branched off in two more directions.  Silence continued to permeate around Terann, growing so thick that she was able to hear her own heartbeat like a drum in her ears.  She stepped over to the first door on the right, grabbing the latch and pulling but nothing happened.  She used more force, finally determining that it was locked against entry.  The Minbari considered using her abilities to break through it but worried that she might cause damage to Aelora's brain so she stepped away, turning to the solitary door on her left.  It opened without difficulty and she moved inside.
The room was larger and more lit than the first, with a solitary chair centered in the room, its back to her.  She moved toward it, a frown slowly beginning to form as she got a closer look at the chair's composition.  It appeared to be built from bones and... skin?  She peered closer, her heart denying what her eyes saw and she sucked in a sharp breath.  Narn skin.  Anger suffusing through her, Terann made her way around the chair, stopping short when she found the late Centauri Emperor, Cartagia, lounging across the seat, his left leg dangling over the armrest.
The Centauri bounded up to his feet when he saw her, a smile crossing his too perfect features.  "Welcome, Terann!  I am so pleased to be afforded your company."
"What are you doing here?"  She hissed. 
"That seems to be the mystery of the Universe, hmmm?  Why any of us are here."
"No.  I meant why are you here? Now?"
Cartagia affected a slight pout.  "Terann, must you be so discourteous?  I am here for the same reason you are."
She snorted.  "I doubt that."
"Tsk, tsk."  The Centauri moved over to her, slipping his arm across her shoulders and guiding her along with him back toward the door.  "We are all here because of her, are we not?  She has trapped us here, locked us inside of these little rooms so she will never lose touch with us!  And so I am waiting for the day that I shall be let loose to shower her with my very sincere appreciation."  He sighed dramatically.  "I find it all very touching, really."
Terann's hands clenched into fists at her sides and she pulled away from the Centauri's grasp.  "Cartagia is dead, Aelora!"  She shouted out into the darkness.  "It is all over ISN.  He is dead!"
"Well that was entirely rude," the Emperor commented in a tone that indicated how offended he was.  He pulled out a lace handkerchief and pretended to dab at his eyes.  "And to think I considered us kindred spirits."
Terann only flashed him a hateful glare and moved to exit the room when Cartagia's hand snaked out to grab her arm.
"You will stay for the festivities, no?"
"What festivities?"
The Centauri clapped his hands together.  "Oh we shall have such fun!  So very much fun!"  He began dancing around the room, laughing and skipping and singing to himself insanely.
Terann shook her head and stepped back into the corridor, closing the door securely behind her.  She sighed; believing that she was beginning to understand a little more of Aelora's detachment from reality.  Moving across the small hallway, she clasped the second door on the right, pulling it open and peering inside.  Immediately raucous laughter and crude joking assaulted her.  Craning her neck around the doorframe, she discovered that Na'Kar and his associates inhabited this particular room.   Briefly, Terann considered stepping inside the room and disposing of Aelora's cruel captors once more but she pushed the idea from her mind, knowing such an action could prove to do more harm than good.  It was Aelora that Terann needed to find and confront not Aelora's memories.  She closed the door quietly, careful not to disturb the rowdy Narns, and continued down the hall.
When she reached the end, Terann was met with the decision to go to the left or to the right.  The corridor to the right of where she stood held a door on either side of the hall and one at the very end. Turning to her left, she saw nothing more than a long, empty gallery to which she could not see an end.  Not knowing how deeply into the Human's mind the longer corridor would take her, Terann turned to her right, moving to the first door she came upon and cautiously opening it.
"Come in, Terann."
The Minbari started at the familiar voice, relief flooding through her, as she believed she had finally found the door she sought.  Stepping through the threshold, Terann glanced around.  At first she saw little; a simple, dark room exactly like the others.  She wrinkled her brow in confusion, certain that she had heard the voice.
"Aelora?"  She called out.
"Here I am," Aelora's voice replied and a light appeared in the center of the room, only the person who stood beneath it was not the Human that Terann had come to know and care for.  This was the Centauri Aelora; her hair perfectly shaved with a red ponytail cascading down her back, bedecked in a dark blue gown shot through with silver thread, her makeup garish and bright.  She smiled at the Minbari and stepped lightly toward her.  "Did you want something, Terann?"
"Aelora, I... " Terann was at a loss of what to say to this strange recreation of her friend.  The green eyes before her were vacuous and insipid, with a hint of cruelty around the shape of the mouth.  "This is not you, Aelora."
Aelora Kyra frowned.  "Then who is it?  Honestly, Terann, you are not making sense.  If I am not Aelora then who am I?"
"You are simply what they wanted you to be," Terann insisted.  "They buried the true you beneath their own ideas and beliefs and concepts.  They fed you dreams that were not your own.  They built you from lies, Aelora!"
"Are we all not built from lies, Terann?"
Terann turned at the voice to find another Aelora standing behind her; only this one bore the form of a Minbari of the Anla'shok.  She pierced Terann with sharp green eyes that seemed to see too much.
"Is not most of the Universe built on lies, Terann?  Myself, you... Valen.  There is no greater lie, I think, than that of who we truly are."
"Oh please," Lady Kyra sighed dramatically.  "Spare me your philosophies, bonehead!  I do not remember either of us asking your opinion."
The Ranger ignored the Centauri; her gaze still concentrated on Terann.  "The entire Minbari society is built on lies, is it not, Terann?  Lies of who they truly are, of purity.  Is there really such thing as a "pure" Minbari anymore, Terann?  Is there really a pure "anything" out there?"  She paused, casting an annoyed glance at Lady Kyra who continued to complain about her presence.  She appeared ready to say something to the Centauri then seemed to think better of it and turned her attention back to Terann.  "And what of the Vorlons?  I would be willing to believe they are the greatest liars of them all.  Perhaps they taught the universe how to lie, hmmm?"
"The Vorlons have taught the universe peace and love and understanding," Terann countered.  "They have taught us that there are certain rules we must live by."
"Oh really?"
Terann looked to her right to see yet another Aelora enter the fray.  Though this incarnation appeared Human at first glance, as she drew nearer the Minbari realized that she was far from it.  She was dressed in black from head to foot and where the familiar green eyes should have gazed at her, two deep black pools of pure malice greeted her instead.   
"And do the Vorlons follow these rules?"  Aelora the Shadow agent questioned, circling Terann as a predator would circle its prey.  "Did the Vorlons create a Minbari hybrid for peace?  Understanding?  Love?  Exactly how much of that have you provided, Terann?"  She pulled her hands up, staring at them as if fascinated by their very presence.  "I was created for destruction through life.  And you... " She focused her dark gaze on the Minbari once more.  "You were created for life through destruction... Which is better, I wonder... "
"I am getting a headache!"  Lady Kyra complained to the others.  "And I do not like either of you!"
"Rest assured the feeling is mutual," the Shadow replied viciously.
"Both of you stop," the Ranger interrupted calmly.  "We are not here to bicker at one another.  We are here because of her.  We are all here because of her." 
The Shadow smiled hatefully at Terann.  "You should have killed her when you had the chance."
	"Her?"  Terann glanced at the three of them.  "You mean Aelora."
	The three who stood before her nodded.
	"Why has she forced you to be here?"
	"Because she cannot decide, you see," the Ranger replied helpfully.
	"She is terribly stubborn," Lady Kyra commented, playing with her ponytail absently.
	"Death comes through life," The Shadow Aelora told them all.  "If she were to give in to the one, she would have to face the other."  She cast her dark eyes back on Terann.  "You should have just killed her."
	Terann blinked and found herself standing back out in the middle of the corridor, the door she had walked through now closed.  She grabbed at the knob, attempting to reopen it only to find that the mechanism was now locked.  She shook it a few more times before finally giving up.
	"I am here to help you, Aelora!"  She shouted into the silence.  "I cannot do that if you continue to shut me out!"
	Her only reply was more silence.  Terann sighed in frustration, not understanding what this maze within Aelora's mind was trying to tell her or how to solve it.  Every room she came to was more complex, more disturbing than the last.  She considered ending the scan, giving both herself and Aelora time to rest when a familiar and much loved sound greeted her ears.  The musical tones called to her, wrapped themselves around her lovingly, like warm, soft arms and pulled her further down the hall, toward the second door.  Leaning her ear against it, Terann could hear the beauty of the Vorlons reverberating within the room and her heart strained at the sound, urging her against caution, begging her to step within and wrap herself in the security the music promised.  The door before her opened of its own volition and Terann seemed to glide inside instantly surrounded in the beautiful sound that seemed to seep deep into her soul.  She closed her eyes, losing herself in the isolation and comfort of the room.  
Suddenly, the sounds came to an abrupt and painful end, pulling Terann from her reverie.  She opened her eyes, only to wince against the harsh light that greeted her.
"She knows."
Terann started at the sound of her own voice and turned to find a mirror image of herself stepping forward.
"Knows what?" She queried.
"That we tried to kill her."  The other Terann circled her slowly, her gaze never straying.  "She has dreamt about it... and begged for it.  She begs for it now."
"I do not believe you," Terann snapped, turning to leave only to find the door she had entered through was no longer present.  She whirled back to the image of herself.  "Let me out of here!"
"Why?  You force Aelora to face herself when you do not have the courage to do it yourself?  How fair is that?"
"She is the one who has lost touch with reality.  Not me," came the reply.  When the mirror image simply raised her brow in reply, Terann broached a different subject.  "Why are you - me - Why are we here?  What do we have anything to do with this?"
"Aelora has a peculiar habit of taking pieces of those she has "touched" with her.  They become a part of her.  Killing her would be much like destroying ourselves.  Which is exactly why we refrain from doing so."
 Terann shook her head.  "I will not kill her because it is not right.  I will not kill an innocent."
The other Terann laughed harshly at that, holding up hands that were covered in blood.  "Do you remember how it felt to reach deeply into that Centauri's hearts and end his life?  Ripping and pinching at the blood vessels until his life seeped through your fingers.  You enjoyed it.  Do not deny it."
Terann did not reply, knowing in her heart that the accusation was correct but unable to admit to it.  She searched the room frantically for another door, a means of escape.  The fear was filling her that perhaps she had overstepped the boundaries, losing her own sanity to that which gripped Aelora.  The reflection of herself should not have been there, and Aelora certainly would not know of the Centauri's death at her hands.  Somehow, she had confused Aelora's psyche with that of her own.  Terann had crossed the lines between the two and could not find her way back.
"Where does one end and the other begin really?" The other Terann questioned, watching her true self curiously.  "Did you not say that you and Aelora were mirrors of one another?  Perhaps I am Aelora who is truly you.  Or perhaps you are truly Aelora."
"You are not making any sense!"  Terann spat.  "None of this is making sense!"
"Sense?  You expect the insane to make sense?" She laughed.
"Aelora is not insane," Terann argued.  "She is lost and confused, detached from reality.  But not insane."
"Where does one draw the line then, I wonder... " Her other self mused.  "I mean, when does one go from ignorance of reality to true insanity?  Or is the acknowledgement of reality the definition of insanity?"
Terann felt pain thudding through her temporal lobe, mind-numbing pressure building deep inside her brain.  She stumbled away from the image of herself, moving around the room searching for a way out.  She was losing her hold on the scan, losing control of herself and her thoughts, and the other began to laugh hideously at Terann as she frantically ran about the room, slamming into the walls, seeking the door she knew was there.  Realizing that the more she panicked, the worse the laughter and pain became, Terann forced herself to calm and focus, shutting out everything around her and concentrating once more on her purpose.  It was too easy to become lost in her own troubles and worries and questions and Terann had allowed that to happen instead of remaining focused on Aelora.  She pushed past the refuse that centered in her mind, moving away from her own thoughts and memories and slowly pushed her way back into the hallway.  
Once there, she welcomed the quiet that before had chilled her.  She glanced back at the door behind her, grimacing reflexively at what she knew resided behind it.  It was a doorway from Aelora's mind into her own; some sort of connection that bonded them together, a connection that neither of them had known existed.  Terann found herself troubled by the knowledge of its actuality.  Such a nexus could be dangerous for them both if used in the wrong way.  As much as she considered Aelora her friend, Terann knew she would never tell the Human of its existence for fear of her using it against the Minbari.
Bringing her attention back to her surroundings, Terann looked ahead to see that the door at the end of the hall was standing open.  A soft light filtered through the aperture into the hallway, almost beckoning with the promise of warmth and security.  Terann moved towards it slowly slightly chagrined at realizing she actually feared the unknown.  She hesitated just outside the threshold, leaning forward to peer at the interior.  Her eyes widened in surprise to discover that the room was nothing like the others she had previously visited.  The walls were not dark and foreboding but bright white covered with paintings of tiny blue and yellow flowers.  The air was warming instead of chilled and soft music greeted her as if it were welcoming her home.  Terann allowed the sounds to calm her pounding heart and stepped through the doorway, immediately recognizing the room before her as that which would belong to young girl, complete with bed and dressers.
"Hello."
Terann looked towards the voice to find a little girl, no more than four-years old, watching her curiously.  She wore a bright blue dress and black patent shoes, her bright red curls pulled back with a tiny blue ribbon.  In one hand she held a doll and in the other a pink blanket.  She gripped onto both as if she worried the intruder might take them from her.  The Minbari instantly knew she was face to face with a young Aelora.
"Hello," she replied gently.
"Are you here to play with me?"
Terann shook her head, kneeling down to meet the child's gaze.  "I am afraid not, little one.  I have much to do."
Aelora sighed, setting the doll and blanket down on the bed.  "Have you come here to hide too?"
"Hide?"  Terann's gaze swept over the child.  "Hide from whom?"
"The monsters," Aelora replied matter-of-factly.  She scrunched up her tiny face in disgust.  "The monster's are terribly mean.  I am waiting here for my mommy.  She told me to wait.  So I am.  I'm a good girl, huh?  Have you seen my mommy?"
The Minbari once more shook her head, fighting against the tears that threatened.  "No.  I am sorry.  I have not."
The child sighed again.  "It's okay.  I like it here.  It's my castle on a cloud."
"What?"
"It's a song my mommy plays for me.  It goes "I know a place where no one's lost.  I know a place where no one cries.  Crying at all is not allowed.  Not in my castle on a cloud."" The child quoted the words in a singsong voice then flashed a bright smile at Terann.  "It's pretty huh?"
Terann nodded, unable to speak.  She had not found the Aelora she sought but the child that resided within her friend, and that was enough to begin with.  It was that lost part of herself, the lost innocence, she knew Aelora had to regain if she was ever going to face reality once more.     
"Want to see my drawings?"  Aelora moved away from the Minbari, gathering a handful of papers from the nightstand and bringing them back to spread out across the bright yellow quilt.  "See, that is my mommy.  Isn't she pretty?"
Terann smiled as she looked at the crudely draw picture of a stick figure with flowing red hair.  The next picture was slightly more disturbing.  It was a stick figure as well, but this one had four separate heads growing from its shoulders.  She glanced sharply at Aelora.
"Who is that?"
"That's my daddy!"  Aelora proclaimed proudly, her tone carrying a slight befuddlement.
Terann looked more closely at the drawing, finally recognizing that each head represented a different race: one Centauri, one Narn, one Human and one Minbari.  She knew that the Centauri represented Lord Kyra, the Human Sinclair and the Minbari Valen but she was confused as to the presence of the Narn.  G'Kar, perhaps?  She mentally shook her head, knowing it made little sense.  Was there a Narn in Aelora's past that she did not remember?  If so, it would be an ironic discovery.
"Those are the bad mens," Aelora told her as she shifted another drawing into her view.  
This one depicted three separate groups: Narn, Centauri and a group of Humans who Terann recognized as representing Psi Cops.  She turned her gaze back to the Human child, wishing there were a way that she could assure her not everyone she knew would turn her back on her.
Aelora moved forward, taking her tiny hands and placing them on Terann's cheeks.  "Do not be sad, lady," she whispered.  "The bad mens can not hurt me now.  Not in my castle on a cloud."
"Aelora --- "
"Shhhhh."  The child put her finger against the Minbari's mouth to silence her.  "It's time."
"Time for what?"
Aelora moved away from her to the door, stopping to turn back and hold her hand out toward Terann.  "Come on.  I will show you."
Terann stood and taking the child's hand allowed Aelora to lead her back down the corridor in the direction she had come, passing the hall that ran perpendicular to it and moving on into the long gallery to which Terann could not see an end.  As they followed the length of it, Terann began to realize it was not as long as she had initially believed it had simply been a trick of the mind - perhaps to keep her from following it first?  She could feel that Aelora was fighting against the intrusion into her mind, using tactics that might slow Terann up or confuse her.  
The child led her into a large circular room into which five different halls led.  The Minbari's attention became focused on the center of the room where a glass box rose out from the floor, inside of which Aelora sat, huddled against the far corner.  She appeared oblivious to her surroundings, not noticing Terann's presence or that she was imprisoned within the tiny box.  The Minbari started toward it when she heard voices and pounding feet, and turned her attention away from her friend to watch as the personalities she had earlier encountered all entered the room from the separate hallways.  They gathered around the box, laughing and joking and hollering out at Aelora, taunting her.  The Narns, Cartagia, Lady Kyra, the Shadow agent - all of them converged together, creating a cacophony of sounds, mingling with one another as if they were long lost friends.  Terann pushed her way through the throng, fighting off those who attempted to deter her until she finally reached Aelora's glass prison.  She pressed her palms against it, calling out to her friend but received no reaction in response.  She slammed her hands against the glass, then began pounding with her fists, all the while calling Aelora's name, asking for some sign that she could hear her.  But the Human remained motionless staring out at the crowd that surrounded her.
Young Aelora moved up beside Terann, taking her hand.  "It's time to go now," the child told her.
"What?  No.  I have to reach her --- you... I have to --- "
"It isn't time yet."  The child tugged at her.  "I want to stay here.  We all want to stay.  You are only here to hurt us!  Go away!"
"No!  Wait!"  Terann pulled her hand from Aelora's grasp, turning to find that the others began to surround her.  
"You aren't wanted here," young Aelora stated matter-of-factly.  "Leave!"
"NO!  Aelora!"  Terann called out.  "Stop this!"

"Terann?  Terann!  Can you hear me?"
Together or apart...
"Terann!"
Child of Valen...
Terann opened her eyes to find Dr. Franklin leaning over her, an expression of concern burrowed into his forehead.  She felt the cool floor beneath her and realized she must have passed out.
"Thank god you're alright," Stephen sighed, helping her to her feet.  "I didn't know what was going on."
"What happened?"  Terann glanced to the bed to see Aelora's eyes closed and one of the MedLab assistants hovering near her on the other side of the bed.
"I thought you could tell me.  Aelora flat-lined and then you passed out.  We got her stabilized but could get nothing out of you.  You've been out for a few minutes now."
It had not felt that long.  What had happened?  Terann stepped over to the unconscious Human, reaching out to touch her cheek.  Aelora, she cast softly.  You are going to have to break out of that prison if you ever want to wake up.  You must face your demons; I cannot do it for you.  
"Did you lose control?"  Stephen asked quietly.
Terann shook her head.  "No.  We are both too strong, too powerful.  She fought and I fought and... well, I almost lost my way."  She turned her gaze to the doctor.  "If she does not come back to us soon, I fear that she will never recover.  There is true insanity going on in her mind, but she has locked herself away from it.  It continues to fight, threatening to overtake her.  And someday it will, if she does not face it and prove her strength.  There is no more that I, or anyone for that matter, can do for her."
"Then we wait," Stephen sighed.
Terann glanced back to Aelora and nodded solemnly.  "Yes.  We wait."	  



  

Terann paced on the bridge of the White Star that had been given to her to command.  She had been more than slightly surprised when Delenn had come to her in MedLab where she stood at Aelora's side, telling her that Sheridan had made the decision to provide her with a command of her own.  She knew it was a test to see if she truly meant to remain on their side or not.  But it was still more than she had expected. 
Delenn had appeared sincerely concerned over Aelora's condition when she had joined her at the Human's bedside.  When Terann had briefly described what her friend had been forced to suffer, the Ambassador had been justifiably shaken.  But when Terann had gone on to explain Aelora's true motives for her actions when she was last on the station, Delenn had been uncharacteristically silent.  Terann knew that she had not expected to hear that she had falsely accused and attacked an innocent person.  Terann felt the briefest sentiment of satisfaction at Delenn's apparent guilt.  Now as the enormous fleet that Sheridan and Delenn had gathered together hurried toward the rendezvous point, Terann could not help but feel mild fear at the thought of never seeing her friend alive again.  The Vorlons could still strike or Aelora's wounds could simply prove to be too much for her to fight against.  And there would be nothing Terann could do but rail against the injustice of it all.  She prayed to Valen to provide his daughter with just a moment's happiness.  Between Aelora and herself, they had already lived lifetimes of sorrow.
"We have received the signal to come out of hyperspace," the navigator called out in Adronato.   
Terann snapped out of her reverie and nodded.  "Continue to follow their orders."
She looked out at the starfield as the jumpgate formed before them and the massive fleet came to a slowing halt over the planet of Corianus VI.  It was a peaceful, innocuous sector of space and Terann had difficulty believing that soon it would be littered with explosions and death.  Would the inhabitants of the pre-industrial planet below them look up to the sky and see the fainting winking of lights?  And if they did, what would they believe it to be -- A trick of the eye; a meteor shower?  Would it ever occur to any of them that each light that winked out of existence was like a flame before a strong wind, dying under the onslaught?  Once more, she found herself cursing the Vorlons for betraying her the way that so many others had.  She had believed in them, had bled for them, had truly thought she stood and fought for their ideals.  In truth, she had only been their puppet to manipulate and play with at their choosing.  They had sullied everything she had ever believed in and now she could only find herself questioning her place and reason in the universe.  Before she had a purpose.  Now, she had nothing.     
	"Alyt, there is a communication from Captain Sheridan."
	Terann nodded, indicating that they link the transmission to the viewscreen before her.
	"Captain," she nodded as his image appeared above her.
	"Terann, Delenn and I were just discussing your presence here and thought it could be helpful to us if you would alert us to any changes or specific thoughts you may glean from the Vorlons," he instructed.
	She could do no more than nod, feeling as she did so the shame of betrayal.  But whom was she truly betraying?  Those who had only looked upon her as a pawn to be used or herself?
	"If you would prefer that we put another in charge... " Sheridan began.
	She shook her head.  "No.  I am fine, Captain."
	The Human nodded.  "Very well."
	"Captain," she called out before he could end the transmission.  "Is L'orien with you?"
	Sheridan frowned at the question.  "He is on his way now.  He and Ivanova were out gathering the last of the First Ones.  Why?"
	"No reason."  She could not admit - not to Sheridan - that there had been something calming and reassuring about the ancient one's presence.  If she could only speak to him once more, before this confrontation were to take place, she knew she would gain much needed confidence and assurance that she were doing the right thing.
	Sheridan ended the transmission and Terann turned to begin her pacing once more.  At any moment, jumpgates would open and the Vorlon ships would appear.  Would they sense her presence immediately?  Or did they already sense her perfidy in the coming battle?  They knew she was pulling away from them from the moment she resisted their demands to kill Aelora.  Perhaps the seed of rebellion had been set when Aelora had first questioned their motives back on Minbar.  Terann had told herself that Aelora had been foolish in her skepticism but now she realized that her friend had been closer to the truth than she had allowed.
	Time continued to pass slowly and Terann found her patience wearing thin.  She knew she was simply anxious to see this drama played out to its conclusion, anxious to end her part in it.  She could accept her death, if that was would be demanded of her but she could not accept any further interference in her life and her choices.  If the Vorlons would now ask her to give the ultimate sacrifice for them, she would do so, but only of her own choosing.  If Sheridan asked her to help in the destruction of the race that created her, she would do so, but only of her own choosing.  She knew that whatever came in the next few hours would affect her for the rest of her life, whether she was allowed to continue living it or not.
	For the briefest of moments, she allowed herself to think of Neroon and the few moments of happiness they had shared together on Minbar.  If the Vorlons had not made her who and what she was, she could have shared a normal and happy life among her caste, among her people, with the only being she had ever truly loved and trusted.  But she had not been given that opportunity or choice.  It did not matter that Neroon should have accepted her for who she was; it did not matter that the Minbari people needed to begin to look beyond purity of their race and accept the change that was growing in the galaxy around them.  What mattered was that her happiness had been stripped from her, had never truly been hers to begin with because from her conception she had never been allowed to truly become.  Not Minbari, not Vorlon, not a telepath in the truest sense.  She was simply Terann, and she no longer understood who Terann was.     
	She missed Neroon.  No matter how hard she tried to convince herself that he had been in the wrong, that he should have accepted her, that his love should have been strong enough, she still found herself wishing there could have been another way.  Occasionally, she would assign the blame to herself, telling herself that if she had only been honest from the beginning, things would have worked out.  Her mind refused to accept the idea that Neroon would not have accepted her simply because she was impure.  In her eyes, she had built Neroon up to be infallible, a being she was not only undeserving of but unworthy of as well.  Only in his presence she had felt as if she could conquer the galaxy with a single stroke.  When Terann thought she should feel less, she had felt proud and strong.  He had never caused her to feel otherwise.
	Not until he had discovered that she had been lying to him all along.
	No, Terann!  It is not your fault!  She silently berated herself.  He was the one.  He was the one who forced your hand and then refused to hear what he was being told.  He did not love you enough to accept you for what you were, only for what he wanted you to be.  You cannot continue to torture yourself with such delusions.  You will only serve to cause yourself more pain.
	What she wanted more than anything was someone to talk to; someone to tell her she had made the right choice.
	A tremor in the space around her snapped Terann from her reverie.  The emotive song of the Vorlons filled her mind and for a moment Terann found herself succumbing to its beauty and promise of peace.  Quickly she shook from its hold, casting a message to Sheridan:  They are here.  
	"Stand at the ready," she called out to the crew around her, moving to take a seat in the center command chair.  Truthfully, she questioned herself as to why she was bothering.  She had no intention of going into battle.  
	A chill spread through her as the ancient enemy slowly began to appear in the viewscreen above her.  Only seconds later, jumpgates formed and the Vorlons appeared en masse, complete with Planet Killer.  At first they appeared not to notice the massive fleet spread before them, moving instead to intercept the Shadows while their Planet Killer moved into place.  Terann reached out to them, searching for some signal that they knew she was there but they appeared either oblivious to her presence or were pointedly ignoring her.  She expected it was the latter.
	Apparently, Sheridan and Delenn were angered by their complete dismissal as well for Terann soon saw the telltale explosions of the nuclear bombs that were hidden amidst the asteroids in an attempt to "get their attention".  Terann felt first the surprise then rage of the powerful beings before them.  She found herself questioning Sheridan's sanity for the briefest of moments as the Vorlons and Shadows attentions turned from each other to the tiny races that stood between them.  Once more, she reached out to them with her mind, calling to them, pleading with them to speak to her.
	I am here, she said. 
	You are nothing, came the reply. 
	Terann slumped into her seat as the battle around her began.
	It was immediately apparent that the amassed fleet was no match for the ancient beings they faced.  It was only their determination and spirit that seemed to drive them to continue, refusing to give quarter or accept defeat.  Though Terann's crew seemed impatient and eager to join in the fight, she continued to hold them back, allowing interference only when a nearby ship seemed in danger of being destroyed or their own lives were in peril.  She knew the battle would not last for long though as what had been a fleet of a thousand ships was quickly becoming depleted.  Through it all, she persisted in calling out to them, asking their forgiveness, asking for an explanation, an apology, anything they were willing to give.  But they stubbornly ignored her, destroying the ships around her, not even providing her with the dignity of a courageous and fiery death.  Her ire rose at the chaos that grew around them.  It was no more than a distraction for the Vorlons, something that kept them from answering her pleas, ignoring her questions and refusing to acknowledge her presence.  It was not until Sheridan gave the signal for the First Ones to appear that sanity once more began to permeate the battle.  The six ships, prodigious in size and obvious strength, entered into the fray, destroying the Vorlon's Planet Killer in moments and bringing an immediate halt to the battle around them.  It was as if a sudden, stunned silence settled over the mêlée.
	Terann stood, moving forward, reaching out once more to her creators.  
	Please, she called.  Speak to me.  Tell me.  Answer me why?  That is all I ask.  You stand-alone now.  You against all of these others.  Only I am willing to listen.
	You are their fool!  The voices taunted, reverberating through her mind, their intensity growing with each word spoken.  We gave you everything!  A purpose, an existence, gifts beyond measure and you thank us with your betrayal.  You were taught but never learned.  
	No!  She replied, pushing the voices away, quieting them so that they did not threaten to over-power her.  I did everything you asked.  I followed your dictates, believed in you, and loved you.  And you pay me back in betrayal.  You never cared.  You never cared that I was alone and lonely, that I wanted to know my place in this universe.  That I wanted to love and be loved.  
	Our only mistake was in creating a being that was so flawed, the Vorlons replied.  You are no longer of use to us.  
	They attacked her from within, tearing at her memories, at all of the words and songs and truths she had ever heard.  They wrenched from her the emotions she felt, the words she spoke, and the ideals she believed in.  They made every experience their own, destroying the beauty she had shared in Neroon's arms, mocking the love she had felt there.  They magnified every bit of humiliation and shame and disgrace she had ever suffered, tearing down her confidence piece by fragile piece, leaving her no quarter to stand on her own, with nothing to fight against them and no will to continue.  She collapsed under their onslaught, finding she had not the strength to resist, giving over to a less than glorious death until a single authoritative voice interrupted the proceedings:
	She is no longer yours to direct.
	The attack halted abruptly and Terann found herself standing in a void, the song of the Vorlons coming from her left and the image of L'orien standing to her right.
	She was our creation, they protested. 
	L'orien smiled.  She was yours, in the beginning.  But like those who she now stands with, she no longer needs your direction or guidance.
	She is nothing without us.
	L'orien looked to Terann, saw the pain their words caused and asked her Who are you?
	She hesitated, uncertain of how she was to respond.  Before when she had answered that same question, he had not been pleased with her reply.  This time she considered the question carefully.  She was a Warrior; she was Minbari; she was Vorlon; and she was a telepath.  She closed her eyes.  She had once been the beloved of Neroon.  Opening them, she returned her gaze to L'orien.  I am Terann, she replied.
	The ancient one smiled, returning his attention to the Vorlons.  You created her for all of the wrong reasons, never once considering that she was a sentient being in her own right.  Never acknowledging that she would remain loyal to every voice within her, not simply to the songs with which you plagued her.  You thought you could choose her destiny for her as you hoped to choose the destiny of the younger races, but you were wrong.  You created her with the purpose of being strong - and that is where you succeeded.  But she must be allowed to choose her own course now.  You can no longer guide her.  
	She is alone, the Vorlons taunted.
	No, L'orien assured them, a secret smile on his face.  She is not alone. None of them are alone.
	Slowly, the song of the Vorlons, which had been ever present in Terann's mind since birth, receded leaving her surrounded by silence.  She turned to speak to L'orien but he too was gone and she was once more standing in the center of the bridge of the White Star.  In the back of her mind, she knew the war was over.  The First Ones were leaving to allow the younger races to continue on their own.  A significant event had occurred in the evolution of the galaxy around them.  The Vorlons and the Shadows and even L'orien were passing beyond the Rim.
	I am afraid, she thought, her mind calling out for the missing songs of her creators.     
	You have no need, L'orien's voice spoke through her, wrapping her in a last blanket of warmth and acceptance before she felt him draw away, speeding toward his destiny outside their space.  
	Terann's heart cried out at the loss as she watched the ships, both Shadow and Vorlon speed away, winking out of existence as if they had never been to begin with.  She was free now.  Free to make her own choices, to move forward of her own accord, to be who she wanted when she wanted, to stand on her own.  She had survived, this was what she had wanted, was it not?  
	The loneliness quickly took hold.  Terann had never before known such silence, such complete isolation and separation.  Before they had always been there, hovering at the back of her mind, like an invisible friend that no one could touch.  But they were gone and Terann had no one to turn to.  The separation had come too late.  She had lost the Minbari people, turning her back on them for a loyalty they did not believe she possessed.  And now her creators had departed, without reason or explanation for who she was or why she had been created.  She was alone, no matter what L'orien believed.  There were no others like her, no others who could understand and empathize, none who would accept her for what she was.
	She was Terann.  And she still was uncertain as to who Terann was supposed to be.





Sister Awake - The Tea Party

When the winter was over
She returned there to find him
And her memories filled her with light

She remembered the beauty
She remembered desires
And her memories filled her with light

I am the sun in the flame
Cold from the flame turns away
And in these winds came a change
She awakes...

Sister walk through these fields of delight
But I want you to know
Desperation's the tenderest trap
So gently you go
What will it take
Sister awake

When this beautiful cult of desire
Has left you for dead
Isolation will cradle the lies
Of things left unsaid
What will it take
Sister awake

And you look to the heavens above
And taste it's deceit
These temptations have blinded desires
To sleep at their feet
What will it take
Sister awake

And you'll hear them call out your name
Invoking the fates
Chances are you've traveled too far
In stirring their hate
What will it take
Sister awake