EPISODE 13

Heaven Coming Down

Heaven Coming Down – The Tea Party

With nothing to do you’d waste away

Obscured in exile

They’ve witnessed the times you’ve gone astray

Whose fault? Now you’re thinking...

There’s nothing to prove

A message from the crowd

To the shore.....

And it feels now

Just like heaven’s coming down

Your soul shakes free

As it’s conscience hits the ground

So strange are the ways

They all have changed

Still life it stays the same

A break from the past

Could make it last

Maybe just a little longer

There’s nothing to prove

A message from the crowd

To the shore.....

You surrender

Love under will

Rest assured you’re adored

And it feels now

Just like heaven’s coming down

Your soul shakes free

As it’s conscience hits the ground

This time, this fate

Takes a path you didn’t choose

Stay strong, keep faith

There’s a change that’s coming through

Hold on my love

Hold on

It had been well over two weeks since G’Kar had initiated a relationship with Aelora and he was still amazed by how happy he became whenever he saw the Human. Even now as she rounded the corner in the corridor to meet him for their scheduled lunch with Terann, he felt his heart begin to race at the sight of her. Selfishly, he often found himself wishing that she did not have to work, so that he could spend every waking moment in her company. Watching her as she rediscovered her humanity was one of the single most satisfying pleasures he had ever experienced.

“Well you’re on time,” Aelora smiled as she reached up and kissed him in greeting. “I thought you were against this little planned tête-à-tête?”

G’Kar frowned. “I am. But seeing you is enough to make me early to my own death.”

The telepath rolled her eyes but laughed all the same. “Please promise me that you’ll at least be cordial to Terann?” She asked as they started down the hall toward the lift. “I mean I really want to get to the bottom of the problems that exist between the two of you. The past two weeks haven’t exactly been easy for me, you know.”

“I am sorry,” he leaned over and kissed her temple. He did feel guilty for the tug of war that seemed to exist between him and Terann when it came to sharing Aelora’s company. Neither wished to be in the vicinity of the other and yet they both wanted to spend time with the Human. Aelora was left with the impossible task of trying to please them both, wondering all the while why he and the Minbari seemed bound and determined to remain unfriendly. Guilt stabbed him whenever Aelora flashed him and Terann that questioning look when they chanced to cross paths. Neither had any intention of telling Aelora that a rift existed between them that would most likely never mend. Too many questions would be raised and then where would they be?

“I will give it my best if it will make you happy, shon’Ur,” he continued as they stopped at the lift. “But I cannot make you any promises. You cannot force us to become friends.”

“I don’t understand that,” Aelora commented entering the lift. “Red 3,” she requested then turned back to the Narn. “You seemed to get along fine before…” She hesitated, frowning as she considered what she was about to say. “Before everything on Centauri Prime and my captivity.”

“Perhaps we simply both wish to protect you,” G’Kar told her, pulling her against him and gently kissing her neck.

Her frown increased as he nuzzled the skin beneath her right ear. “Protect me from what?”

The Narn sighed. “Computer, halt.” As the lift came to a stop, G’Kar turned her around in his embrace to face him. “Aelora, look. This animosity between us could stem from various areas. Perhaps she feels slighted because she was the one to rescue you and save your life and yet you have turned to me. Perhaps I have centered my own feelings of guilt on her because I was not there to protect you, that I was not the one to bring you back here to safety. Whatever it is, you must understand that we both care for and love you and perhaps we are simply a bit overzealous in what we consider to be right for you.”

“Well I wish you both would stop it,” Aelora complained, leaning her head against his chest with a sigh. “It gives me a headache, trying to keep up with the two of you.”

G’Kar chuckled. “Well you know what they say is a good cure for those…” He trailed off as he bent over and captured her mouth with his, hoping to turn her thoughts to something more pleasant, and less dangerous, than the recent hostility between him and the Minbari.

“We have to meet Terann,” Aelora reminded him softly as he moved away from her mouth to trail kisses across her cheek and down her throat.

“We have time.” G’Kar chuckled, leaning down to cover her lips with his own. They were soft and pliant beneath his touch and a desire like he had never before experienced washed over him. Aelora opened her mouth and invited him inside taking his tongue with her own and hinting at the delights that were yet to come. The taste of her was intoxicating and G’Kar could not stop himself from plundering her mouth completely, drinking in all that she had to offer, allowing the love he felt from her touch to wash over him. The touch of her fingers dancing timidly over his chest and shoulders sent shivers through his body. He pulled her body closer to him, feeling the length of her against him, her curves fitting into him like the missing piece of a puzzle. Once more he found himself wondering at his inability to get enough of her, his insatiable need to have her and touch her beyond anything he had before experienced. She did not protest as he pushed her back up against the wall, nipping at her neck playfully until she gave a husky laugh, her arms winding around his shoulders. The tiny sigh at the back of her throat at his touch was like an explosion going off in his head. G’Kar lifted her off the floor against him, his mouth moving from hers to nibble and tease her neck, trace her ear with his tongue, his groin pressing against her, his desire evident.

Aelora wrapped her legs around the big Narn, and then captured his mouth once more with her own, taking his lower lip and sucking on it hard before biting it gently. G’Kar groaned at the torture, shifting his hold on her so that one arm held her against him while the other hand was free to touch her. He cupped her breast, rubbing his thumb across the fabric of her shirt until he felt the nipple harden into a tight bud. Aelora moaned into his mouth, moving her hips against him suggestively until G’Kar thought he would go mad. He continued to tease and caress her breasts until the need to have her became enervating.

Lifting her skirt and freeing his sex from its confines, he took her swiftly, pausing for a moment as he throbbed within her. With a groan he drew himself forth and then ground himself into her once more, ramming fiercely back and forth until Aelora began to whimper with mindless passion. Pleasure swept over her as she met his blazing desire with her own, pushing herself against him hard, her head thrashing back and forth against the wall. The swiftness of their passion was sharp and sweet. Aelora felt herself quickly soaring upward as G’Kar’s hardness pierced her to her soul. She stuffed her fingers into her mouth to keep from shrieking her pleasure but could not muffle her moan of sheer delight as her crisis overtook her and she shuddered with complete pleasure as she felt the Narn reach his own.

“We really must stop meeting like this,” G’Kar commented against her neck once their breathing evened out.

Aelora laughed shakily as he slowly slid her back to her feet and she rearranged her clothing. She glanced at him, coloring suffusing her face at the thought of what they had just done in such a public place. At her blush, G’Kar allowed a self-satisfied smirk that earned him a punch to the stomach.

“Computer, resume,” he grunted then playfully pulled her back to his side kissing her cheek.

“Control yourself,” she whispered as the lift came to a halt and the doors slid open.

Before them stood a crowd of inhabitants, anxiously awaiting the use of the lift. Aelora felt horror wash over her, certain that every single being before them knew why the lift had taken so long and what they had just done within it. She quickly exited, pushing through the crowd, unable to meet the eyes of anyone before her and not caring whether G’Kar had followed or not. The Narn’s quiet chuckle signaled that he was still near.

“Miss Campbell, is everything all right?”

Aelora fought against the need to suddenly break into a run at Sheridan’s voice. Composing herself, she turned and forced a smile, silently ‘casting to G’Kar that if he even dared try to embarrass her further he would be sleeping alone for the next Earth standard year. “Everything is fine, Captain Sheridan. Why do you ask?”

“When I contacted facilities about why the lift had not arrived they said it had stopped,” he informed them, missing the heightened color in the telepath’s cheeks. “I wondered if it had malfunctioned.”

“Only for a bit,” G’Kar commented.

“Yes,” Aelora joined in happily. “Such a short amount of time I hardly even noticed.”

“Ha!” G’Kar returned loudly.

Sheridan glanced from one to the other in confusion before looking down at Delenn who moved up beside him.

“Hello G’Kar, Aelora,” she intoned pleasantly.

G’Kar cast a quick look at the Human, wondering if she would react towards Delenn as she had in Fresh Air but instead she offered a small smile and returned the greeting. The Narn smiled, pleased that she seemed to be putting her anger at the Minbari Ambassador behind her. Even her attitude toward Sheridan had improved greatly.

“By the way, since you two are here,” Sheridan began, moving off to the side and indicating that they both follow. He waited until they were out of range of being heard by others and told them, “I wanted to let you know that ISN has a crew here putting together a report on Babylon 5 –“

“Let me guess,” Aelora interrupted. “You wanted to remind me to be on my best behavior?”

Sheridan threw her a glare. “No. The thought never crossed my mind. I simply wanted to let you both know that this could be our chance to get the real story out to the people on Earth as to what exactly is going on around here. G’Kar, being a key member of the Ambassadorial staff, they may seek you out for an interview.” He looked back to the telepath. “As for you, word has gotten out regarding your telepathic abilities. It is possible they may come to you regarding your amnesty here from Psi Corps.”

Aelora raised a delicate eyebrow. “I have amnesty? Since when did that occur?”

“Don’t make me rethink the offer,” the Captain warned, giving her a tight smile.

“You can just feel the love,” G’Kar commented to Delenn off-handedly.

The Narn’s attempt to alleviate the tension seemed to work. There was a long moment of silence before all four began to chuckle and finally laugh comfortably.

“Come on,” Sheridan told Delenn, tugging on her hand gently. “Let’s catch this lift before we have to wait ten minutes for the next one.”

“Take care,” Delenn called out as they moved away.

Aelora let out a sigh of relief at their departure as her tensed muscles instantly relaxed. Had someone asked, she would not have been able to explain why the presence of either the Captain or the Minbari Ambassador caused her such distress. She could only reason that it stemmed from past encounters that her mind refused to let go of. If that were true, she only hoped that someday she would be able to put the past behind her, as she had with so many other things, and perhaps see Sheridan and Delenn as so many others around her, including G’Kar, saw them.

“Now we are running late,” G’Kar commented as he held up her arm and looked at her watch.

Aelora swore in Centauri, which earned her a frown from G’Kar before they both hurried off toward the Eclipse Café.

The couple arrived in the Zocalo at one of the busiest times of the day, making it difficult to maneuver around the crowd. Aelora instantly felt the strain against her mental blocks and she found herself hesitating. G'Kar noticed the distress on the Human's features and took her hand reassuringly, squeezing it before leading her the rest of the way.

When they arrived at the café, they were quickly shown to their table located in a secluded corner of the establishment. Terann was already seated, looking much like one anticipating an execution. Upon seeing Aelora and G'Kar she rose to her feet.

"Sorry we're late," Aelora offered hastily. "We were held up in the lift."

Terann allowed the lie, taking more comfort in it than she would the truth. "It is alright, I just got here." Her gaze then moved over to the Narn. "Hello G'Kar."

The Narn nodded to her in greeting then helped Aelora into her chair before taking his own. They spent the next few minutes in silence, looking over the menu, commenting briefly on the various dishes offered. They resorted to small talk, led mainly by Aelora, until the waiter came and took their orders. Through much of it, Terann and G'Kar avoided even the most insignificant interaction, refusing to speak with one another or meeting each other’s gaze.

It was not until after several uncomfortable minutes that Aelora slammed her hand on the table. "In Valen's name! I brought you two here to try and settle things and you can't even look at one another? For over two weeks now it seems that you are ready to kill each other. Now can you please tell me what the hell is going on?"

Terann and G'Kar exchanged an uneasy glance; both silently acknowledging that to tell Aelora the reason behind their animosity meant alluding to the truth of the mindwipe. And this was something neither could allow. In performing the mindwipe both had breached Aelora's trust and violated her mind in the worst way for what could be considered selfish reasons. How could they ever expect her to understand? And the question was, did they even deserve her understanding? As the days grew into weeks both the Minbari and the Narn had developed their own regrets in regards to the mindwipe.

For Terann, these regrets had formed rather quickly, spawned not only by the sense of loss when seeing her friend opting to spend time with G'Kar but from the recurring nightmares that continued to plague her. It was as if she had taken the horrors that Aelora had faced and made them her own. No longer did she see Aelora being violated at the hands of Na'Kar and the others, but instead she saw herself. She felt the pain of their hands against her skin, the humiliation as they did with her body as they wished. But unlike Aelora, who before the mindwipe had others to talk to, Terann was forced to remain silent, to bottle these things up inside herself. To do otherwise meant admitting the truth, and that was not something she could allow.

With G'Kar the regrets had formed more slowly. At first he had been overjoyed with the opportunity to finally express feelings he had been forced to hide for so long. But as time passed and Aelora seemed more and more relaxed around him, he began to feel guilt, believing that Aelora was not truly meant to be his. He had deceived her; there was no doubt in his mind of this. He was so certain of this he began to wonder if she truly would have grown to love him if given the chance. He tried to assure himself that regardless of all that had happened on Centauri Prime and Narn that she would have eventually forgiven him and his lack of faith in her, and come to him in love. But it was not an easy task. He remembered the fear in Aelora's eyes and knew from where it stemmed and even found himself wondering if he would have acted any different if the situations had been reversed. And though the debate continued to rage within him, slowly he began to believe that he and Terann had made a terrible mistake, one that would cost them unimaginably in the end.

Through their musings, both the Minbari and the Narn remained silent, adding to Aelora's growing frustration. Could they not simply accept that she loved them both dearly, one as a friend and the other as a lover and to even consider life without one of them was unthinkable?

"Will you please just try to talk to one another?" Aelora pleaded.

"Aelora," Terann explained. "It is not that easy. Things have happened…"

"What things?" Aelora asked. "Before I left for Centauri Prime you both got along fine. Something has obviously occurred to change that."

"It is not something we can explain," G'Kar offered. "Perhaps we are both just concerned about you."

"I don't buy that, G'Kar," Aelora told him before turning her gaze back to the Minbari. "Terann, before I returned home, you encouraged my relationship with G'Kar, were pleased when I merely mentioned his name. Now all of that has changed, you have changed. Some of this I understand but most of it I don't. If you have problems, I am here, I will listen but please don't insist on making my life miserable simply because you are unhappy."

At this Terann scoffed, “You can not honestly believe that this happiness will last.”

“And why not?” Aelora demanded.

“He will never understand you.”

“But he does, Terann,” Aelora argued. “Almost as well as you do.”

Terann shook her head. “It may seem that way now, but as you learn to use your gifts you will see how impossible this relationship truly is.”

“And why is that?” G’Kar asked, pointedly.

Terann’s eyes narrowed, not caring for the tone that the Narn was taking with her. “She is a telepath; a telepath with gifts and possibilities you can not possibly comprehend. Your world is without telepaths…” At this Terann’s voice trailed off, a horrible realization sweeping over her. “You bastard!”

“Terann!” Aelora shrieked.

But the Minbari would not listen, her anger now sparked. “That is it, is it not?”

“I have no idea what you are talking about,” G’Kar spat meeting Terann’s enraged gaze with his own.

“Do not believe me a fool, G’Kar. The Human telepath, Lyta Alexander, was close to the Vorlons. Do not think we did not know of your offer. Are you now trying to rectify that failure?”

“What offer, G’Kar?” Aelora asked, her green gaze searching his features.

But it was the Minbari who answered. “Do you not see it, my friend? The Narns are desperate; they have no telepaths of their own. This leaves them at a disadvantage. When Lyta arrived four years ago, G’Kar approached her, offering substantial compensation for access to her genetic material. But Lyta knew what the Narns were like, knew that she would be aiding in the creation of a slave race.” She turned her attention back to G’Kar. “Aelora is still young. With modern advances she may still have thirty or forty years left to bear children. By that time you will have the beginnings of your own army of telepaths.

“Of course you can not father them all; this would create a weak genetic foundation. So how will you do it? Pass her around to your friends? Or maybe you could harvest what you need from her, and employ surrogates. This way she will only have to carry those you sire --”

“Terann,” Aelora pleaded, her upset apparent. “How can you say such things?”

“It is so obvious,” Terann told her friend. “When you first came here you were not unlike any proper Centauri female; one who had been raised and taught to hate Narns, yet he pursued you. When you turned to him in hatred, he continued, swearing his devotion to you. Why?” She turned to the Narn. “Why, G’Kar?”

The Narn was mortified. If given a hundred years, he would never have guessed Terann would suggest that he was merely using Aelora to create telepaths amongst his own people. Reluctantly, he admitted that Aelora’s telepathic abilities had encouraged him to draw closer to her, but not for the reasons Terann now suspected. She fascinated him by what she could do. If he had dreamt of having children with her it was out of love, and not some twisted need to add telepathic DNA to his people’s gene pool. His anger boiled through him, searing his blood. Had it just been Terann and him present, he would have been eager to finish things between them once and for all. But he now had Aelora to consider. Here were the two people whom she cared for the most quite ready to tear each other limb from limb.

If only for the Human’s sake, G’Kar forced back his anger, affecting a more passive appearance before fixing the Minbari with a level stare. When he spoke his voice was calm and controlled, effectively burying all his anger deep within him. “Have you become so blinded by the way the universe has treated you, that you are unable to believe that some things are created out of love? That not everyone is motivated by his or her own agendas?”

Terann clenched her hands into fists. She knew she was upsetting Aelora; that much she could tell from the emotions that were emanating from the Human, but she found she no longer cared. Aelora was all she had left, the only person she cared for. For too long, those who would otherwise have not given a damn about them had used them both for their gifts and Terann was determined to see an end to it. If truths were told and secrets were uncovered then so be it, she was tired of hiding all the horrors she had been forced to bear. In her mind, she knew G’Kar would not remember where she got her information from and if he did it would make little difference. The truth would be out, once and for all, and if Aelora then decided that she wished to continue in her relationship with him, then there was little more that Terann could do. If her friend meant to be used for the ambitions of others, she would wash her hands of it all. She took a slow, calming breath, knowing that what she was about to say would be accepted more readily if not spoken in anger. Finally she cast a glance at Aelora before meeting G’Kar’s eye once again.

“Is that what you would have me believe, that you wish nothing more than a relationship built on love and respect? Unfortunately, I know you, G’Kar…”

“You think you know me,” he told her. “But really you have no idea. You believe that because you are a telepath that you can see into someone’s soul, but you cannot. You cannot see what is in my heart.”

“But I can, G’Kar. I have seen what you are capable of, I know what you can be driven to, that your loyalty to your people is unwavering and that you would do anything for them.”

“In this, Terann, you are correct.” He then paused slightly, taking Aelora’s hand in his and squeezing it reassuringly. “There was a time when instilling pride and confidence back into my people was my only goal in life. I wanted to see the Centauri finished. I wanted to feel their skulls crushed beneath my boots and feed off of the meat on their bones. I wanted them to feel every bit of humiliation and pain that they forced my people to suffer. And there was nothing I would not do to bring that day around.” He leaned forward. “But people change, Terann. At least, some can.”

Terann’s eyes narrowed at his rebuke. “And so you lay all of your past ill deeds at the feet of the Centauri, do you? They were the ones you were out to punish, to take your revenge on?”

“Yes.” G’Kar would not deny it. There were many circumstances of his past that he would have liked to go back and changed but then, he may not be the Narn he was today. He may not have had Aelora sitting at his side, holding his hand encouragingly. If he could, he would have erased his entire first year on Babylon 5, would have found a way to earn the respect of Aelora’s father, instead of his animosity.

“Just the Centauri?” Terann baited. “But what about the Tuchanq? What would they say now, I wonder, if you were to tell them it was only the Centauri you were out to punish?”

G’Kar sucked in a sharp breath; angry that he had not at first realized where this conversation was going. He glanced over at Aelora whose gaze reflected her confusion. She was watching Terann, searching her emotions for the truth.

“The Tuchanq?” The Human asked. “I have never heard of them. Who are they?” She looked to G’Kar for an answer but it was Terann who replied.

“That is no surprise, since G’Kar is the sole being responsible for almost wiping their existence from the face of the galaxy!”

“What?” Aelora looked sharply from one to the other, refusing to accept what her ears had just heard. “I… I don’t understand. G’Kar?”

“Yes, tell her, G’Kar,” Terann sneered, ignoring the growing rage on the Narn’s face, knowing only that Aelora was listening to her now. “Tell her how you bombed them from space, much as the Centauri bombed your people, killing 10 million of them and then showed up, offering them protection, claiming that the Centauri were to blame!”

“That’s not true!” Aelora denied heatedly. She turned to the Narn beside her. “G’Kar, tell her it’s not true! You would never do such a thing.”

“He cannot deny it, Aelora,” Terann told her friend, sympathy running through her at the expression of distrust that was slowly gathering in Aelora’s eyes as she stared at G’Kar. Terann knew that expression well. She had watched it appear on another’s face as he stared at her.

She shook the image from her mind, continuing, “He cannot deny it because it is true.” She laughed without humor. “Would you like to tell her the rest or should I, G’Kar? How your offered protection included enslaving their entire race, forcing them into labor so that you could build weapons for your continued retribution against the Centauri. You used their resources, destroyed their world – does this sound familiar, Aelora?” She looked at her friend who refused to meet her gaze, unable to take her own off of the silent Narn. “But let us not forget the best part, G’Kar. You should explain to Aelora exactly how you fed the Tuchanq’s own dead to their population to save on food costs --- ”

“No!” Aelora jumped to her feet. “I don’t believe it! Stop these lies, Terann! G’Kar, tell her to stop!”

Terann smiled at the Narn’s condemning silence. “You learned well from your masters, G’Kar.”

His temper exploded and G’Kar leapt across the table, locking his hands around the Minbari’s throat. Aelora screeched, jumping back as the two combatants fell to the ground, table and chairs crashing around them. While some customers fled the scene, others gathered around, curious as to the goings-on before them.

Terann cursed herself for not gauging G’Kar’s temper as his fingers closed around her slender neck, effectively beginning to cut off her airflow. He had caught her unawares and now she was having difficulty fighting the strong Narn above her. Aelora’s cry distracted G’Kar enough that his hold loosened only slightly and Terann took the opportunity to push him off of her, using her telekinetic abilities to send the Narn flying into the wall across from them. As she rose to continue the battle, Security rushed in and grabbed hold of her, holding her back.

Her victory was short-lived and Terann almost cried out in anger as Aelora hurried over to where G’Kar was slowly climbing to his feet.

“Just what in Sam hell is going on here?” Zack bellowed, glancing from Terann, who he had already labeled as Trouble Maker Number One, over to Aelora, Trouble Maker Number Two and finally G’Kar, who he knew had always ranked somewhere in the Top Ten.

Aelora looked up at his question and moved over to him, once she was certain G’Kar was uninjured. She could tell from the fire in Terann’s eyes that the Minbari was fine. She would most likely bruise around her neck from G’Kar’s grip, but little more.

“There… there was a spider,” Aelora lied calmly.

Zack folded his arms over his chest, raising a brow in disbelief. “A spider?”

She nodded. “It was a particularly nasty one – very possibly poisonous. G’Kar reached across the table to get it off of Terann and the table fell over and she…” Aelora glanced at the Minbari. “She is terribly afraid of spiders and freaked and that is how G’Kar ended up over there.”

“Aelora?”

“Yes, Chief?”

“Your nose is growing.”

Aelora did not catch the reference, reaching up to check her nose as if he were somehow telling her the truth. Letting it pass, she told him, “I’m sorry for the mess but that’s what happened.”

“So you are denying that some sort of fight broke out here between Terann and G’Kar and that he attacked her and then she used her abilities to throw him across the room?”

The redhead nodded. “Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

He threw his hands into the air, turning to Terann. “Dammit, you do realize, don’t you, that if Captain Sheridan were to learn that you just attacked an Ambassador, using the abilities that you have been warned against using, that he would have you off of this station in seconds?”

The Minbari frowned, realizing why Aelora had told such a blatant lie. If she were to corroborate it, then it was possible the subject would be dropped and the thin ice she already treaded on would not grow thinner still. Then again, she was certain that G’Kar would do or say anything to make certain Sheridan did throw her off the station. Her only shred of hope lay in the fact that Aelora had not pointed the finger at her to begin with; that Aelora had lied to protect her.

“There was a spider,” she said finally, hoping that her downcast gaze was sufficiently humbled enough.

Zack frowned, whirling around to G’Kar who had finally come to stand beside Aelora. “And you, Ambassador? Did you see this spider as well?”

No! He wanted to shout. No, that destructive and vicious creature behind you who knows of nothing but hatred needs to be delivered from this station immediately! Or so help him, G’Kar would kill her himself one day. But he glanced at Aelora standing silently beside him, refusing to meet his gaze or even acknowledge his presence, and G’Kar knew it would be a tough enough battle to regain her trust. What had he done to anger Terann so? He wondered. Why had she told Aelora of the Tuchanq so violently and spitefully? It was something he may never have the answer to.

“Yes, Chief Allen. There was a spider and I apologize for the trouble it caused.”

Zack turned around, indicating with a sharp nod of his head to the other security officers that the show was over. “Don’t bother calling if you see it again,” he commented over his shoulder. “Since I very highly doubt that you will.”

There was a long silence as the costumers around them slowly dispersed. Aelora was uncertain of where to go, what to do, or which of them she was angrier at. She began to turn to G’Kar, to say something, but realized she could not do so. Realized she did not even want to look at him at that moment. So many secrets! That he could keep something like that from her, when for so long she had beaten herself up over the crimes she had committed in the past. Crimes? Ha! She was a saint compared to him. She mentally shook her head, unable to deal with that matter now, not wanting to face it.

Terann was surprised when Aelora walked up to her. Surprised further still when she spoke.

“I am not going to ask you why you did this, Terann,” she said softly. “But know this: it was cruel, and so very beneath you. I hope you’re proud of yourself, Terann. Because I could never conceive of doing such a thing to someone I called a friend.”

With that said, Aelora turned and walked away, saying nothing as G’Kar moved up beside her and followed her down the corridor.

“Terann. Please, come in. I am glad that you were able to meet with me on such short notice.”

“Entil’zah Delenn,” Terann greeted as she stepped over the threshold into the Minbari’s quarters. “Is everything all right?”

“Oh yes. Please, sit. Can I get you anything?”

Terann shook her head, taking a gingerly seat on the edge of the couch. She could tell that Delenn was stalling for time, no matter what she said. Not that it mattered. Terann did not have anywhere pressing to be at the moment.

Delenn sat down across from her and smiled. “How are you? Have things been going well?”

Terann blinked at the question before replying, “Yes.”

“And Aelora? John and I ran into her and G’Kar recently – they seem very happy. I am pleased with the change that has come over her although I am surprised at how quickly it came about. I mean, physically I expected her to improve quite easily but mentally… well, it is very surprising as I said.”

Terann shifted uncomfortably, uncertain as to how to respond. Aelora’s recovery was remarkable – at least to those who did not know about the mindwipe. And it certainly was not something they could tell everybody about, eventually someone would slip the information to Aelora and all would have been for naught. Realizing this, Terann chose her words carefully. “Aelora has learned to be strong, drawing from inner reserves I do not believe even she knew she possessed. She is trying to put all of it behind her, not wishing to speak of it, preferring to focus instead on the future and the memories she once more recalls of her mother and her time before Centauri Prime.”

“That is very wise of her.” Delenn smiled, looked away for a moment as if contemplating her thoughts then turned back to Terann, her smile gone. “I acted rashly with Aelora and am now regretting it.”

The telepath nodded. “It hurt Aelora – what you said to her, your action of removing her from the Rangers. I believe it was ultimately what sent her to Centauri Prime. She felt she had no one here any longer to count on and so she turned back to the Kyra’s. Only they turned out to be as untrustworthy as the rest of us.” At Delenn’s continued silence, Terann softened her tone, “I am not saying that you alone are responsible for what happened to her. Everything she did, every decision she made, ultimately led her down the path of destruction. Had she been honest with G’Kar from the beginning, had she not allowed her fears and childhood teachings to guide her, things would have been different. Had she trusted any one of us enough to help her…” Terann shrugged. “We could spend hours debating the wisdom of Aelora’s course but ultimately we could not change what she went through. We can only encourage her along her present path.”

Delenn was smiling again. “I see now where Aelora’s wisdom is coming from. She is lucky to have you for a friend.”

Terann inclined her head in acknowledgment of the compliment.

“And her relationship with G’Kar – it was a surprise, to say the least.”

Again, Terann refrained from reply.

“When I think about her attitude when she first arrived, the hatred she expressed for the Narn people… “ Delenn shook her head. “I thought G’Kar insane for continuing his attempt to befriend her, his belief that somehow she would change and accept him. Now I understand that he saw something the rest of us did not.”

“Yes, the telepathic possibilities were endless,” Terann muttered, still angry that Aelora had not listened to her during their lunch meeting. She could see that the Narn was only using her. Why could Aelora not see the same?

“What was that?”

“Nothing.” Terann forced a smile.

Delenn sighed. “You don’t suppose… I mean, do you think there is any way I could convince Aelora to come back to the Rangers? As I said, I feel horrible about the things I said and the way I treated her, and given who her father – well, it seems only right that she belong, that she follow in his footsteps. Perhaps if you were to broach the idea to her – “

“Delenn.” Terann held up a hand, interrupting her. “I would not presume to know Aelora’s mind or how she would react to such an invitation. Aelora now understands who and what her father was, and admires and respects the memory of him, but I cannot say she would wish to follow in his footsteps, as you say. As I said, she was crushed when you, Entil’zah, turned away from her. I cannot say if she will ever forgive you for that. But, if you continue to wish to press her about it, I can broach the topic if and when the subject seems appropriate.”

Delenn frowned, but accepted what Terann was saying. She had made a grave mistake in misjudging Jeff’s daughter and it seemed now that she would spend her lifetime repaying it.

“What was it you wished to speak with me about? I doubt it was simply your interest in Aelora,” Terann said, hoping to steer the conversation elsewhere. She did not wish to discuss the relationship between Aelora and the Narn any longer.

Delenn shook her head and gave a small laugh. “No. But I was hoping John would be – There he is!” Her smile brightened as Sheridan walked in through the door and she quickly stood to greet him.

Terann frowned slightly at the all too obvious relationship shared by the Captain of the station and the Minbari Ambassador. To her, it was unfitting and seemed to make a complete mockery of both species, especially when one paused to consider the war that they were involved in less than two decades before. The telepath was surprised that more of the alien governments did not object to it – after all, no one could deny that Delenn’s opinion weighed more heavily with Sheridan than any of the other Ambassadors. It gave the Minbari a certain edge on Babylon 5. Pulling her attention from the Human and Minbari, Terann glanced at the door to see the Ranger, Tyler, hovering silently in the background. They smiled a greeting at one another before Terann turned back to Sheridan as he began to address her.

“Terann, I am glad that you agreed to meet with us.”

“Entil’zah requested a meeting, so I came,” she answered simply.

Sheridan accepted that. “You remember Tyler?” A pause as she nodded, then, “I would like the two of you to do a little scouting for us.”

“Scouting?” She repeated.

Sheridan nodded, clasping his hands behind his back and pacing around the room before him. Terann could not help but think You can take the man out of the military but you cannot take the military out of the man.

“Delenn and I have discussed and considered what you said about the possibility of the Shadows having allies who may or may not be still hanging around, preparing to make a strike against us in retaliation for sending the Shadows beyond the Rim. And to finish what their masters began. So, after sharing our ideas with the Council, we have decided to send you and Tyler on a fact-finding mission, to learn all you can about who is out there and what they are planning –“

“Captain,” Terann interrupted with a frown. “While I understand your concerns and thoughts on the matter, I must disagree with your plan. To make such a move, so boldly and so soon, would only alert their allies to our knowledge of them, forcing them to act more quickly, before we are prepared to withstand their attack.”

Sheridan shook his head. “I don’t agree with that estimation. For years the Minbari refused to speak of the Shadows, refused to alert the other species to their presence, afraid that the Shadows would then know we knew. But in truth, they knew all along. They counted on us knowing about them, just as they always knew the Vorlons would secretly build up their forces to fight them while they slept, waiting. I believe their allies are the same. I am sure they already acknowledge our own suspicions as to their identity and purpose. They know we came for Z’ha’dum and they know we saw them leaving which can only lead them to conclude that we would act on our own curiosity.”

“Not every species is inclined to understanding or even knowing the concept of curiosity, Captain,” Terann pointed out. “I believe that trait is owned by Humans alone.”

“Not so, Terann,” Delenn corrected. “Though we did not act on it, the Grey Council began researching and studying the Humans centuries before we ever made any contact. For myself as well as Dukhat, I know this interest stemmed from curiosity alone. Though it may not be an accepted form of interest among our people, I believe that all sentient beings are born with an innate curiosity within them, which pushes them to seek answers to the unknown. Even these allies of the Shadows.”

Terann stood by her argument. “Still if we force them to make a move against us before we have built up the required force – “

“I would prefer to force them at our leisure than to wait until they have laid all of their plans into motion,” Sheridan pointed out. “We need to know everything early on, Terann, or we could run into the same situation as we did with the Shadows and Vorlons. And this time, there are no First Ones left to help us. We could lose this battle.”

Terann frowned, still unconvinced.

“And what of your friend Aelora?”

The telepath looked up at the question, her gaze narrowed. “What of her?”

“For her protection, as well as our own, we need to know if these allies could have the same potential control over her as their masters did. It would be unwise, and possibly fatal, of us to assume that we had all of the answers and then they were to appear one day and take control of her mind.”

It was a valid point, though Terann was loathe to admit it. There was still quite a bit to Aelora’s enhancements that they did not understand, and had possibly not even seen yet. If any of the allies of the Shadows could have access to her abilities, especially now that she had grown so much stronger, the result could be disastrous.

The Minbari telepath shook her head. “Suppose you are right and we do need to know. Why me? Why choose me to go on this mission? You know I would rather leave that part of my life behind.”

Sheridan sighed, stopping before her. “As loathe as I am to admit it, Terann, we need you. We need what you are, what’s inside of you. Considering what you are and who created you, I am willing to believe that you have the innate ability to ‘sense’ the presence of those who have been touched by or are a part of the Shadows, your natural enemies. It is for this reason I believe you are the best person to track down the information that we need.”

Terann stood, casting a quick glance at the Human Captain before moving around to the back of the room, considering his words. If there were one thing about Sheridan she admired, it was his capacity to be honest with her where few others were. While everyone else, including Aelora, sidestepped the truth of her origins, Sheridan faced them directly, forcing her to be what she was and not afraid to tell her what he thought of that. If nothing else, they always knew where they stood with one another.

She stopped before the Ranger, watching him as he in turn watched her. “What do you say, Tyler of the Anla’shok? Do you agree with the Captain’s estimation?”
Tyler appeared surprised by the question but finally nodded. “Yes, I do.” He shrugged. “You seem to forget, I was in command of the White Star that delivered you and Aelora from Minbar. I saw firsthand what happened and frankly it scared the hell out of me. I would prefer not to experience anything like that again and will do whatever is necessary to make certain of that.”

Terann raised an eyebrow. “Including kill Aelora, my friend, were the allies of the Shadows able to take control of her?”

Tyler glanced away from her direct gaze, looking for help from either Delenn or Sheridan. It was the Captain who finally stepped forward, clearing his throat in the uneasy silence.

“We would prefer that option never present itself, Terann. Even I have seen the change in Aelora, what she means to G’Kar and those closest to her, and I would hope it never come to that. Which is why I think we need to find our enemies now, before it’s too late.”

She found she could not argue with the logic or the potential dangers if they did not act quickly enough. Giving in, Terann nodded finally, accepting the mission placed before her and Tyler. Sheridan wasted no time at her acquiescence, removing a crystal from his pocket and informing them that they already had a lead on a potential contact and that Terann and Tyler were scheduled to depart on White Star 43 immediately. Terann pocketed the data crystal, telling Tyler that she would meet him on the ship in four hours, only mentioning that she had a prior meeting already scheduled. She did not know if Aelora would show up for their scheduled training session or not but she did not plan on being the one to cancel. Until then, she would return to her quarters and gather the few things she had left from the Vorlons that may be of assistance to them in their search.

G’Kar stared at the writing in the book before him without actually making sense of any of it. The silence in the room was like a death knell ringing through his mind. As much as he tried to ignore it, to pray that it would go away, the weight of it remained around his neck like a noose, tightening ever so slowly. Aelora had said nothing to him on their way back from the Zocalo – there had been no questions, no recriminations, not a single syllable spoken. Even now, she sat silently on the couch, continuing to regard him with an empty gaze that G’Kar was afraid to meet. Not for the first time, the Narn found himself wishing that he were the telepath, just so that he could know what Aelora was thinking, how she was feeling. He was used to being able to read her emotions in her eyes but lately she had seemed particularly adept at hiding them, at masking herself so that nothing could be seen. And this behavior worried G’Kar.

Glancing up he noticed that the Human was now staring down at her hands, as if they had suddenly become particularly fascinating to her. G’Kar could not take the silence any longer.

“Shon’Ur, please. Say something.”

Aelora lifted her eyes. She felt as if she were seeing G’Kar for the first time. The Narn behind the desk was a complete stranger to her. “What do you want me to say, G’Kar?”

“I do not know,” he ran a hand in frustration over his eyes. “Something. Anything. Just… do not ignore this.”

“Haven’t you been ignoring it this entire time?” She snapped.

G’Kar looked away from her piercing gaze. “Do you think I am proud of what I did?” He turned back to her. “Do you? Do you think that should be the first thing I say when I introduce myself to others? ‘Hello. I am G’Kar. A murderer of millions’.”

“Maybe you should,” she spat, jumping to her feet. “At least people then would know who they were dealing with.”

“Schrock, Aelora!” G’Kar threw his pen angrily across the room. “I have never lied to you about who I am.”

“Haven’t you?” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. The lies, the omission – none of that matters. But do you want to know what does, G’Kar? Do you want to know what hurts the worst? That throughout the entire time I have known you, I have beaten myself up over my past, beaten myself up over the things I have said and done, thinking I was some horrible being who had to spend her life making up for past wrongs. Only now I discover that compared to you, I should be sainted! And you never said a damn thing!”

“I did not want you to know, Aelora,” he told her, getting to his feet. “I did not want you to see that side of me – not until you understood that I was no longer capable of such things –“

Aelora narrowed her eyes. “Your faith in me is astounding.”

G’Kar turned away, angry that the conversation was fast falling out of control. How did he make her understand that he never told her the truth because of the fear that he would lose her? And yet, it had nothing to do with faith. He knew that she would judge him by the being he was today – but how did anyone get past the atrocities he had committed in the name of his people?

“Aelora, please,” he tried again, moving toward her. “Try to understand.”

“Understand?” She whipped around, her eyes wide and disbelieving. “Understand what? How someone could so callously murder 10 million people and then show up and blame it on someone else? And then you couldn’t stop there! Oh no! You had to go and enslave them, destroy their world and force them to eat their own people to stay alive! And you want me to understand?”

“Tell me something,” G’Kar demanded. “Are you having a problem with this because it was me, or because it was done? I mean, if you had heard the same thing had been done, but by a different Narn, would you be as upset? Or would you let it pass, blaming it on the oppression forced upon his people by the Centauri? Would you point to how he was raised and what he was taught to believe in and how he was trained to fight back? Would you say his actions were a product of his environment and that he had not been given any other choices, that he had learned early in his childhood that you either get stepped on, or you do the stepping yourself?” When Aelora turned away, G’Kar grabbed her arm and pulled her around, forcing her to face him. “Answer me!”

The telepath shook her head angrily while prying his hold off of her. “Don’t you dare try to blame it on your childhood, G’Kar. And don’t blame the Centauri. You acted off of free will – you have free will, you know. It’s what makes you a sentient being!

“I’ve spent years blaming the Kyra’s for my mistakes when in truth the only one I ever should have blamed was myself. The thought of what you must have done in the name of your precious empire scares the living hell out of me.”

G’Kar said nothing as Aelora moved away, terror suffusing him with the realization that she could walk out on him at this very moment. He could lose the very thing that was perfect and beautiful in his life simply because of his past choices and mistakes. No longer did he revel in his accomplishments as he had when he was young, but he was proud of who he had become, of the level of understanding and truth that he had reached. But how did he make her understand this? How did he make her realize that there was not a day that went by that he did not regret the choices of his past?

“Shon’Ur,” he began softly, hoping that if he did not say the right words that she might at least hear what he meant in his voice. “I can not take back what I did, nor can I apologize to those who have died or suffered because of my decisions. But you are still here and I can right the wrongs that I have done to you if you will simply give me that chance.” At her continued silence, his tone became pleading. “Please, shon’Ur. I cannot lose you.”

Did they ever have a chance at happiness? She found herself wondering silently. Perhaps Terann had been right. Aelora realized she would have much rather have continued on in blissful ignorance of G’Kar’s past than to have it shouted at her as Terann had done. Still, she could not find true anger in her heart at Terann. The destruction at Tuchanq was something she needed to know about, though she did not agree with the method in which Terann had informed her. She simply wished that it had come from G’Kar, that he had trusted her enough to understand and forgive him. Neither of them were whom they used to be – she of all people understood that one could escape their past if they tried. But by his not telling her it was almost as if he were admitting to having not changed, that perhaps he feared deep inside he were truly that person who could so easily slaughter without thought. Aelora fought against the tears that threatened to spill.

“I don’t know you,” she whispered.

G’Kar felt her words like a knife through his chest. Desperation tore through him. “Aelora, you do know me. Better than anyone, I promise you that. You know the person inside of me now could never do the things I did in the past. I have learned; I have grown. The person I was could never have earned your love and trust, but I have. Do you not see that?” He moved toward her once more, needing to be near her, wanting to touch and hold her, afraid to do either.

Aelora tossed aside the desire to forget the past few hours and simply pretend that everything was once more perfect in her little world. If for no one else, she needed to remain strong for those whose lives had been sacrificed. She turned back to the Narn, her expression stony. “My heart begs me to forgive you, G’Kar. But my mind… it can’t. In my mind there are these images – and they won’t go away. All I can wonder is what else have you done? What horrible things are you too afraid to admit to me?”

“That was the worst of it all, shon’Ur. Trust me,” he insisted, stepping forward and placing his hands on her shoulders.

Looking up at him, her gaze centered on the patch that covered his eye and a shudder ran through her. Who was she to judge? If she had been there when Cartagia had done that to him, and if she had the ability, would she not have taken her anger out on all of Centauri Prime? But the Tuchanq were innocents, having nothing to do with the Narn or the Centauri or anything. It was all so damned convoluted. There was such a fine line between forgiving someone because of your love for them and forgiving them because it is the right thing to do. Hold me, G’Kar! Her heart screamed.

“I… I can’t trust you.” They were the four most difficult words she had ever spoken.

G’Kar sucked in a sharp breath as all hope seemed to whither away within him. Just when he was about to turn away, he noticed a flicker in Aelora’s eyes, something that told him not to give up just yet, that she wanted him to fight. And with it an idea sparked. “Aelora, what if you were to scan me, and learn my history from my memories? That way I could hide nothing from you and you could judge me for yourself.”

“Scan you?” Aelora shook her head. “I am not very practiced at it. I could – “ She was about to say she could end up hurting him but that seemed a foolish thing to mention to someone who was responsible for millions of deaths.

“I do not care what the consequences may be,” he told her. “Aelora, if this is the only way to regain your trust, then I am willing to open myself to you.”

She seemed hesitant so the Narn held his hand out to her, making the first move and forcing her to decide. She hesitated only a moment longer before taking his hand in her own and reaching deep inside herself for the strength to move forward with what must be done. Narrowing her eyes, she focused on his thoughts, moving forward with caution, pulling back briefly from the strangeness of such an alien conscious, before taking a steadying breath and pushing into his mind.

At first, G’Kar felt little beyond a simple tickle at the back of his mind. He was not even certain if he had only imagined it. Just when he allowed himself to relax, a tearing pain shot through his head and he reflexively grabbed hold of it, trying in vain to block out the sudden invasion of his deepest secrets. He tried to push her out, tried to speak to let her know that he had changed his mind, but her strength was great and he could do little more than succumb to her entry, praying to G’Quan that his brain did not explode over the duration.

Having little practice with the operation, Aelora was not gentle in her exploration, tearing through the Narn’s memories at an exhaustive rate. Images flashed through her mind of a young Narn growing up during the occupation, a child watching his family subjugated under Centauri rule, all pride and self-worth torn from his people bit by bit. She witnessed the deaths of his parents, the sight of his father hanging from the j’hala tree and G’Kar’s first murder. From there began a steady decline into darkness as the need for vengeance -- for the complete and utter destruction of the Centauri -- consumed him, pushing him beyond the limits of suitably moral behavior. Even though the destruction of the Tuchanq was the most heinous of his actions, it was only one of a staggering number that Aelora was forced to witness through his memories. Atrocities she could not have dreamed of she saw the being she loved perform, and the knowledge of the life he had led tore at her. She relived with him his many behind the scenes machinations once he had arrived at Babylon 5, including the attempted assassination of Ambassador Kosh. She sat through confrontations between G’Kar and her father, ugly threats and barely disguised hatred. But as the war between Centauri Prime and Narn broke out, Aelora was privilege to the changes in G’Kar, living with him through the immense terror and fear that his people would once again fall beneath the boots of their worst enemy –- a fear the eventually became reality.

Even though his machinations for the good of his people continued during the second occupation, Aelora saw the sincerity behind it. It was as she watched his agony under the influence of the Dust, and the strange, instinctually maddening music of the Vorlons rose up through her mind, that Aelora felt rather than heard G’Kar’s scream of pain. Subconsciously realizing that her intrusion into his mind was causing him harm, Aelora pulled out much more quickly than she should have, causing the Narn to cry out once more as he dropped to his knees.

It took Aelora a moment to orient herself to where she was after her disconnection from G’Kar’s mind. She found herself feeling as if she had suddenly lived two lives and for the first few moments had trouble distinguishing reality from fantasy. She would have to talk to Terann about that – learn how to push the Narn’s memories aside from her everyday life. Once her heart slowed and she convinced herself that she was standing in G’Kar’s quarters on Babylon 5, Aelora turned her attention to the Narn who was still kneeling before her in pain. Reaching down, silently hoping she still had enough strength left in her to do some good, she touched G’Kar’s forehead gently, taking the pain he felt away, feeding to him any sense of peace and comfort that she could offer. She started when he suddenly reached up and grabbed her hand, signaling that he was better as he slowly climbed to his feet. In the gaze he focused on her, Aelora saw his need for closure, his desire to know that the pain he had just willingly suffered had been worth it. But the truth was, that was not something she was ready yet to offer.

“Aelora?” He questioned softly, the desire to reach out to her and pull her into his arms almost overwhelming. He thought he would feel shame and sorrow at her knowing everything about his past and his life, but instead he found himself feeling closer to her than anyone before. It was as if in those brief moments she had become a part of him. “What are you feeling?”

She shook her head, unable to discuss the past few moments with him, unable to explain the emotions that were running rampant through her. She could not even understand them herself, so how was she to clarify them to G’Kar? “I… I can’t, G’Kar. Not right now.”

The Narn took a step toward Aelora, tried to reach for her but she spun away and exited the quarters before he could catch her. The ensuing silence was the most terrifying sound G’Kar had ever before endured.

Keeping her senses alert, Aelora made her way through the darkened corridors of Brown Sector. Though she moved fairly quickly the air seemed to cling to her in a stifling cloud and she found herself fighting the urge to cover her nose with her hand. Most of those she passed seemed oblivious to her, making her passage far easier than she had feared. Contrary to what she had been told of the so-called Lurkers, most seemed to be neither criminal nor mentally lacking. Of course there were a few who quite clearly were, the environment being of the kind that nurtured such people. But the majority seemed simply to have been given a harder road in life, quickly becoming caught in the cycle of poverty. Strangely she found herself intrigued by them, wanting to learn more, to hear their stories and to possibly help them. It surprised her to see how a sort of community existed here; with makeshift shelters having been constructed around a sort of market place, where vendors sold food of questionable origins and anything else of value to the residents. The Human even stopped at one point watching as a middle-aged man bartered with an elderly woman over a blanket, their methods being both crude and masterful. At that moment she decided to stop avoiding this part of Babylon 5 and to never again accept anyone or anything at face value.

Resuming her journey, her thoughts left her surroundings and returned to recent events with G’Kar. As a child growing up on Centauri Prime Aelora had often heard tales of horrid crimes committed by the Narns. But as she gradually reached adulthood she began to dismiss these stories as having been created to frighten small children into behaving: a way to make them go to bed on time or to eat their supper for fear they would be taken away by a Narn.

And then she met G’Kar and for a time all the legends had returned to her, haunting her sleep, justifying her belief in the savage nature of his race. Yet as time passed and her ties to the Centauri began to fray so did her faith in the teachings of her youth. When she looked in his eyes she did not see a senseless monster or the ravenous fury she had expected. Instead she saw a kind gentle creature, one that possessed nobility that would shame any Centauri. Perhaps that was why the Centauri hated, even feared the Narns as they did. To see these things wasted on a race that they believed to be so far beneath them could be nothing short of infuriating.

But did the atrocities of the Centauri justify the actions of the Narn? As much as Aelora wanted to forgive G’Kar for what he had done at Tuchanq, in her mind she was not prepared to do so. Each time her heart willed her to her thoughts would return to the ten million innocents massacred for no reason other than the Narns’ need for allies. Allies! Aelora scoffed inwardly knowing ‘slaves’ was a more appropriate word. By forgiving G’Kar was she accepting his actions, effectively saying that what he did was all right? Or was she simply acknowledging that the person he was today was not the person he had been twenty years prior? And had he not done the same for her, by seeing past the Centauri she presented herself as to the Human that resided within? For what would be the fourth time, she recalled all that she had learned in her scan of the Narn. However, this time she did not concentrate on his memories of the past but instead focused on the present. How raw his emotions had been and how open his mind was to her. This was the G’Kar she loved, the one who only weeks before she had been willing to die for. Did this not count for something? Should this not be all that mattered?

Reaching her destination, she pushed her musings from her mind remembering the instructions Terann had given her. Spying the access panel the Minbari had told her of, she knelt before it, running her fingers along the smooth outer edges of it. Checking once again to ensure no one was watching she lifted the panel slightly before pulling it from its housing. She peered through the narrow opening before taking a deep breath and crawling inside. After replacing the panel she made her way through the narrow passage all the while questioning the sanity of her being here. The passage guided her beneath several large pipes before opening into a small chamber. At most it was only four meters in both length and width with a low ceiling that made it seem that much more confining.

“I am surprised you came,” the Minbari seated at the center of the room commented.

“I had considered not coming,” Aelora told Terann dryly.

“Then why did you?”

“Because I promised I would,” the Human told her. She then took a deep breath, catching Terann’s eyes with her own. “You hurt me, Terann, not because you told me about Tuchanq but how you told me.”

“You needed to know the truth, Aelora,” the Minbari argued.

“Yes I did, but not out of spite. You didn’t tell me to inform me, you told me to anger and upset me… and more importantly to hurt G’Kar.” Aelora took a calming breath not wishing to fight with her friend any longer. “I know something happened between you and G’Kar, something neither of you wish to talk to me about. But it is exactly that… between you and G’Kar. You want to protect me, so does G’Kar, but you both forget that I am a grown woman capable of taking care of myself. And if I screw up…”

“I will be there for you,” Terann answered softly.

“That is all I ask.” The Human settled to the floor in front of the Minbari, crossing her legs. “So what’s that?” Aelora asked, nodding towards the satchel Terann held in her lap.

“I thought we should begin exploring your telekinetic potential,” Terann told her. She then produced several items; a coin, a red candle, a small green crystal, what looked to Aelora to be a coffee mug and a small bottle of water. After pouring the water into the cup, Terann then lit the candle and set it before her. She then turned her attention back to her friend noting the uneasiness in her eyes. “What is it, Aelora?”

Aelora fumbled with her hands in her lap before confessing. “I haven’t used my telekinetic abilities since that time on the White Star, when the Shadows took control of me. To be honest it scares me…”

The Minbari laid a comforting hand on the Human’s arm, “Do not be afraid. I know this is all so new to you, and I understand that it can be overwhelming, but trust that I will not push you any further than I believe you can go.”

Aelora nodded then asked, “So where do we start?”

“Understanding,” Terann told her. She then arranged each item between them according to size. “Despite its faults, the Psi Corps has designed a way of rating telepaths that is by far superior to any seen among all other races. They prize the strength of telepaths, always eager to find new ways to amplify them. A P5 can read surface thoughts, picking up on strong emotions, falsehoods. Their abilities are limited to those around them, and almost always they require line of sight. A P12, however, can stretch their minds into the farthest reaches of a person’s mind, they can tear through mental defenses, delve into the subconscious. If properly trained and possessing the strength and will they can do this, occasionally, without line of sight over greater distances.

“They rate telekinetics the same way. A K5 can move a relatively large item only a short distance, their abilities limited by size and range. Conversely a K12 can not only manipulate very large things but also those which are very small, and they can do so over a much greater distance.”

“So it goes both ways? Both inwardly and outwardly.”

“Exactly,” she told the Human. “The strength of a telepath is dependent not only on how deep they can scan but also over how great a distance they can do it. It is the same with a telekinetic. Average size items, like this crystal, a K5 would have no problem moving, but if you increase the weight, or make it very small, the same telekinetic would find it impossible to move it. This is why high-powered telepaths, to say nothing of telekinetics, are so rare and are often unstable.”

It all seemed so overwhelming and Aelora said as much, but once again Terann reassured her, telling her that as she grew more confident in her strengths she would soon forget her weaknesses. Still hesitant, Aelora finally asked, “So what do I do?”

“Do you remember anything of the battle on board the White Star? How you used your abilities then?”

Aelora shook her head. “No, not really. In fact it seemed as if I had no conscious involvement in any of it, as if I were dreaming and only a spectator.”

“That would make sense considering the Shadows took complete control over you actions. Very well, we will start at the beginning. I want you to focus on the flame, use it simply to block out everything around you, concentrate as you never have before, but do not try to control your abilities, let your strength flow through you.”

Aelora nodded then gathered her thoughts. She centered her gaze on the heart of the flame, ignoring even the slightest flicker. She then slowly blocked out the ambient noises of the station around her until all that remained was herself.

When Terann was certain Aelora was sufficiently prepared, she silently guided her attention to the silver coin set before her.

Try to move it… but focus on the goal, not the task. Do not try to push it with your mind, simply make it move.

Not certain exactly what it was that Terann was saying, Aelora took a deep breath then closed her eyes. In her mind she visualized the coin, saw where she wanted it to move to and with every ounce of strength she reached out willing it to do, as she wanted.

Slowly she opened her eyes, laying them upon the silver coin as it lay precisely where it had moments before. Sighing deeply in frustration she looked up at Terann who appeared as perplexed as she currently was.

“I can’t do it!” She proclaimed, quickly giving into her feelings of defeat. “I can see it move, I can see it right in my head. And then it doesn’t.”

Terann remained silent for a moment, considering the situation carefully. Throughout Aelora’s attempt she had kept a weak telepathic link between them, not to scan the human, merely to help her. And though the Human’s technique was not perfect it should have been enough to at least summon a small amount of movement out of the coin… yet it did not.

Not as willing to give up as the Human was, Terann instructed Aelora to take her hands so that she could better guide her. Once again, Aelora did as the Minbari instructed, focusing her thoughts, imagining the coin sliding effortlessly across the deck plate. Yet as before, even with Terann’s added guidance, when she opened her eyes again the coin had not moved.

“Dammit!” Aelora cursed. “Why can I not do it?”

“Maybe you are still suppressing your abilities,” Terann offered, though she did not believe this to be true. She had watched too closely and would know instantly had the other telepath’s subconscious attempted to block her abilities. “Or…”

The Human’s brow furrowed. “Or what?”

Terann pursed her lips, considering her words carefully. “Perhaps the Shadows’ hold over you was greater than either of us suspected. It is possible that they simply saw you as a tool, something to be manipulated, that they altered for their usage alone.”

“But my other abilities… my ability to heal…”

“Those have all been present in some way since you were a child, long before you were taken by the Shadows. When you displayed telekinetic abilities it is possible that these were not your own, that you were simply an outlet for the Shadows’ own abilities.”

“But what about your abilities?” Aelora argued. “Even with the Vorlons gone you still have full use of your psi.”

Terann smiled at her friend, trying to calm her upset. “Aelora, you were born Human, to Human parents, your blood, your genetics, regardless of what the Shadows did to you everything about you is still Human.” At this the Minbari paused as she withdrew a dagger… the dagger… the one the Vorlons had used in their bid to destroy Aelora. She kept her gaze focused on that of the Human as she pulled back the sleeve of her tunic. Then in one smooth motion she sliced the skin on the inside of her forearm from her wrist almost to her elbow. Blood spilling forth unfettered, Terann continued, ignoring the wide-eyed expression of her friend. “My blood, my DNA, even my soul is not Minbari… I am Vorlon.”

Still shocked by Terann’s actions, Aelora’s eyes remained on the pool of blood that had formed on the floor. Even on the uneven surface of the deck plate, in the dimly lit chamber, Aelora could see the strangeness of it, the subtle differences in color and viscosity that made it not Minbari. Such was her horror that she did not notice Terann take her hand again, did not notice as the Minbari forced her fingers tightly around her heavily bleeding arm until she heard Terann ‘cast to her:

Remember your strengths… and forget your weaknesses.

It took Aelora only a fraction of a second to realize what Terann was truly telling her. Quickly she calmed her mind, calling upon those things within her that, though unique, were as much a part of her as breathing. She stretched out with her mind, focusing on Terann’s battered arm, reconnecting severed blood vessels, mending torn muscles then finally urging the cells in her skin to regenerate. When she once again withdrew into her own mind, only minutes later, all that remained on the Minbari’s arm was a faint purple scar.

“Do you see now, Aelora?”

“See what?” The Human asked, suddenly angry with her friend and not fully understanding why.

“Do you see all the good that can come from your gifts?” Terann asked. “You can heal a severe wound in only a few short moments, mend damaged tissue, possibly even breathe life on those who are dying.”

“You don’t get it do you Terann?” Aelora said rising to her feet. “If I can encourage cells to heal, who is to say I can’t urge them to die? I can destroy life just as easily as I can give it. I didn’t ask for this, I don’t even want this, and quite frankly it scares the hell out of me!”

“I understand your fears, Aelora…”

“No you don’t!” The Human spat.

The Minbari did not respond verbally. Instead she simply focused her eyes and her thoughts on the ceramic cup before her. Mentally she could feel the coolness of the water even allowed it to wash over her as she pushed further and deeper. Only when she could see on a molecular level did she unleash her Vorlon-gifted abilities, speeding up the basic elements of the water, forcing the temperature higher and higher. Only when the liquid churned violently within the cup did she pull her eyes from it, settling them on the other telepath. “Imagine, Aelora,” she said calmly… too calmly. “That this water was someone’s blood.”

She then rose to her feet slowly, meeting Aelora’s green gaze with her own. “Do not believe that you alone hold the power of life and death in your hands. I have seen more death and destruction at my own hands than you can possibly imagine. Some I remember intimately, their screams etched upon my soul, others I have casually forgotten. But unlike you, this is all I have, all that I am. By design I am a weapon, a tool of destruction. But you, you have the ability to create life. Forget what you fear, remember all the good you can do, the happiness you can bring by the simple touch of your hand.”

Tears springing to Aelora’s eyes, she collapsed against her friend. “I’m afraid, Terann,” she confessed softly as the Minbari wrapped her arms around her.

“I know you are, Aelora, but I will not abandon you.” She then held Aelora away from her until their eyes met, the traces of a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Even if you continue to insist on seeing the Narn.”

At this Aelora laughed, and then wiped her tears away with her sleeve. “So,” Aelora said nodding towards the steaming water on the floor. “How did you do that?”

“Molecular manipulation,” Terann replied.

“Oh is that all!” Aelora scoffed returning to her place on the floor then carefully picking up the cup and studying it with great interest.

“And this was a simple task?” Terann asked holding out her scarred forearm.

“Quite simple,” Aelora retorted stifling a giggle.

Terann returned the smile. “I have missed you, my friend.”

“I have missed you, too.”

Terann return to her former place across from Aelora, carefully replacing the items in her satchel. When she moved to replace the dagger under the folds of her clothing, Aelora stopped her short.

“May I see that?” Aelora asked.

Terann hesitated for a moment before passing the knife to the Human. In truth she had shown it to Aelora as a test, to determine the stability of the memories she had implanted in the Human’s mind. She hated constantly having to push at Aelora’s memories, to always be questioning her own abilities in performing the mindwipe. Had it been anyone else she would have been confident enough in her training to leave well enough alone. But with Aelora it was different, as her strong telepathic abilities created the remote possibility of the memories resurfacing.

So occasionally, over the weeks following the mindwipe, Terann would nudge gently at Aelora’s subconscious. Each time her efforts proved fruitless and she would feel herself relax… at least for the time being. Silently she found herself wondering if she would ever truly be at ease with what she and the Narn had done to the Human.

Inwardly she sighed, as she sensed no change in the Human’s surface thoughts as she studied the alien weapon. There may have been a slight feeling of déja vu, but nothing that Aelora did not quickly dismiss.

“This is Vorlon?” The Human telepath asked tracing the dark markings on the hilt with her finger. When Terann nodded, she questioned, “And you understand it?”

Terann nodded once more. “I can read Vorlon and I can understand it when it is spoken. I cannot, however, speak it… at least not verbally. Telepathically I can.”

“So what does this mean?”

Terann’s brow furrowed as she considered her reply, not wishing to pique the Human’s suspicion. Finally she replied simply: “It loses something in the translation.”

Aelora sensed the Minbari’s hesitancy, but did not push. She and her friend were once again becoming comfortable with one another, trusting each other enough to open their hearts and minds to each other that Aelora did not wish to do anything to jeopardize it. So she handed the weapon back to Terann before shifting the subject. “Shall we continue with my lessons?”

Terann smiled at her friend, and then began explaining further all the things she wished to teach her about her telepathic abilities. For the next hour, Terann showed Aelora different ways to protect herself against other telepaths. Aelora completed each task set before her, often amazing the Minbari with her adeptness with her newfound abilities. None of the hesitancy she had seen the Human display with her other abilities existed in her use of her basic telepathy. When Terann would attempt to scan, Aelora would counter with a block, even once going so far as to attempt a counter scan at which point Terann decided to finally test Aelora.

“So far I have tested you with short scans, probably equivalent to a probe by a P10 or P11. In this you have performed very well.” At the Human’s wide grin Terann continued, her tone almost coy, “However, you need to be able to hold up under the unexpected, especially when in stressful situations when time is short and telepaths will do anything against another.”

“So what is it you want me to do?” Aelora asked, her confidence forming a cloud around her.

“Picture something in your mind, it can be a name, or a face, not something overly obvious though. Then build a wall around it, protecting it as if your life depends on it.”

Aelora nodded then centered her thoughts trying to imagine something Terann would never think to look for. G’Kar and her father were too obvious as was anything on Babylon 5, then remembering a trick once played on her by Terann herself, she created an image of a very naked, very obese Centauri. She then topped it off by affixing the Centauri with the visage of the late Emperor Cartagia, and then stifling her own laughter she signaled to the Minbari that she was ready.

Terann sensed the Human’s giddiness as something almost tangible then quickly brushed it aside, forcing her way into the telepath’s mind. As Aelora was busy concentrating on her task, entering her mind was not difficult, finding what she needed, however, soon proved to be. Aelora had effectively created a house of mirrors within her mind, a very clever strategy, she admitted, one that proved to be both disconcerting and frustrating. Each time she believed she found the right block, it would shatter under her touch. After several such attempts Aelora began mocking her, laughing at her growing frustration.

Give up, my friend? Aelora teased.

Terann found herself almost amused by her friend, not for the first time thinking how nice it was to have the old Aelora back with her. But now was not the time for such thoughts, Terann reminded herself, gathering her sensibilities about her. Had she wanted desperately enough to know what it was that Aelora was hiding from her, she had no doubt that she could break through the nonsense within the Human’s mind. But to do so may harm Aelora, and would most assuredly destroy the fragile trust that now existed between them. But aside from that, Terann knew that Aelora would ultimately learn nothing from the lesson. So instead, Terann withdrew slightly, gathering her own strength around her, focusing on her plan. Once mentally prepared she lashed out violently at the Human’s mind, catching her off guard.

Though she faltered slightly, once Aelora regained her footing, she fought back against the Minbari, forcing her back, inch by precious inch, at each stop building one wall after another. It was then that she felt it, the strange alien sensation accompanied by the mind numbing songs of the Vorlons.

Got it! Terann proclaimed, pulling both the Minbari and Vorlon parts of her out of the Human’s mind.

“What the hell was that?” Aelora asked, rubbing her throbbing temples with her hands.

“Humility,” Terann told her plainly.

“I’d call it cheating,” Aelora retorted.

“You must be prepared for anything,” she reminded Aelora.

“Even you and your multiple personalities?”

Terann found herself laughing at this. “Yes, Aelora. You cannot allow yourself to become complacent. The Psi Corps will pick up on this immediately.”

Begrudgingly Aelora admitted that her friend was right. She knew the Psi Cops and their bloodhound units were always on the lookout for some sign of weakness, something that could be used to bring in a rogue, and she knew she could not allow herself to become over-confident.

“So is there anything else?”

Terann smiled at Aelora’s eagerness to reach her full potential. “There is always more to learn, but not now. I have something I must attend to, something I promised Delenn I would do.”

As soon as the name escaped her lips, Terann regretted it. She knew Aelora had still not forgiven the Minbari Ambassador for hiding the truth regarding her father and then revealing the truth in spite. But she could not allow herself to interfere in affairs that did not involve her. She had reached an agreement with Delenn and she had to uphold her end of the bargain.

“Will I see you later?”

“I will be gone for no more than a few weeks.” As Aelora opened her mouth to question further, Terann stopped her. “That is all I can say Aelora, I am sorry. And I know you have problems with Delenn and whether I agree with the rightness of your feelings for her or not, I must leave things as they are: between you and Delenn.”

The Human sighed, clearly not agreeing with Terann’s stance but knowing it to be the same one she had asked of the Minbari regarding the problems she had with G’Kar. “Very well, Terann. I guess I will see you when I see you.”

As the Minbari moved to leave she stopped short, turning back to her friend. “By the way,” she said. “Thank you for the wonderful image. I am certain I will be haunted by that Centauri for many weeks to come.”

Aelora laughed with her friend. “You deserved it, Minbari.”

After grabbing dinner and spending some time wandering through the gardens, Aelora considered going back to the apartment she shared with Terann for only the briefest of moments before she found herself moving in the direction of G’Kar’s quarters. She tried to tell herself it was simply habit formed over the past few weeks, and even attempted to convince herself to turn around and go back to her own bed, but her feet would not turn from their present course.

Standing outside the door of his quarters in the Green sector, Aelora sensed a peace and silence from inside that was only found in sleep. Not wishing to disturb the Narn, she entered quietly, moving her way through the front room in the darkness until she made it over to the enormous stone desk. She lit a nearby candle before curling up in the chair and allowing the warmth that she always found in that particular spot to engulf her.

The truth of the matter was, she loved G’Kar, and nothing he did in the past – no matter how traumatic – was going to change that. Aelora would be the first to admit that there was something between her and the Narn that went beyond explanation. It was something she would never fully understand herself, so how could she make others, including Terann, understand? Over the past few weeks, G’Kar and her had discussed the prejudice they would face with the reality of their relationship, and they had already seen much of the resentment surfacing among the inhabitants of the station. Almost daily, Aelora was forced to ignore snide comments and disgusted expressions from passersby, most of whom were Human. She could not understand how a race that had come so far in some respects still had so much to learn in others. G’Kar had tried to console her by saying that the Narn were just as opposed to inter-species relationships but Aelora knew he stretched the truth simply to make her feel better. Aelora found that if she thought about it too much, the hurdles that lay before them seemed almost insurmountable, and the recent information she had learned regarding G’Kar’s past only added to the impossibilities that seemed to surround their relationship.

Mentally shaking such depressing thoughts from her mind, Aelora leaned over to glance at the recently written pages that lay scattered across G’Kar’s desk. Her command of his people’s language had grown significantly over the past few weeks, due mostly to his instruction, and upon noticing mention of her name she picked up the top page, and began reading.

“The Humans have a saying, that your past comes back to haunt you, and in no way have I seen more proof of that then by what happened today. One of my greatest fears became realized, as Aelora was made privy to atrocities I committed when I was a much different, angrier Narn. When the truth regarding the Tuchanq was spoken, I felt hatred such that I had not felt in years. Hatred for the one who spoke, hatred for myself for committing those crimes, hatred for being who I was – and hatred for being ashamed. It did not occur to me to have faith in Aelora’s love and the being that I had become and I once more found myself disappearing into the past that I believed I had risen above. In doing so, I caused pain and mistrust for someone I care more for than the air I breath or the blood that pulses through my veins. But I have realized that it is not the fault of the one who spoke and told Aelora the truth of my past – the blame lies within my own inability to trust and believe in something stronger than the hatred which has consumed me for most of my life. I must forgive myself for my crimes and I must have faith in the one who loves me or everything we have both fought so hard for will have been for nothing. I have learned that through the love of another, I can be cleansed of my past wrongs and reborn under the guidance of wisdom and forgiveness. I only hope that this lesson has not been learned too late.”

Aelora returned the page to the desk as shame suffused her. She had walked out on G’Kar when he had most needed her acceptance and understanding. It had been completely selfish of her to worry more about how she was to handle his past rather than consider how her knowledge of his past affected him. What must he have been feeling when she left his quarters and had not returned?

Cursing her callousness, Aelora quickly blew out the tiny flame, uncurled herself from the chair and quietly wandered into the adjoining bedroom where G’Kar slept. Careful not to disturb him, she sat on the edge of the bed and regarded him silently in the Minbari ritual of an attempt to see his “true face”. It was true that one always appeared younger in sleep, when peace consumes and the harshness of reality disappears. Reaching out with her psi, Aelora gently brushed across his mind, self-reproach consuming her as she felt the sorrow and fear that clung to G’Kar even in sleep. Sorrow at what had been said between them and the fear that he had lost her. For a moment, Aelora considered the bond that was now shared between them due to the shared memories of his past. She had commented to Terann that it felt as if she had lived his life right along with him and that sensation still hovered around her. The Minbari had explained that she would need to perform certain exercises daily to train her mind to be able to distinguish her life from the lives of those she scanned. Truthfully, Aelora found herself silently praying that she need never scan anyone again. She now understood how an untrained telepath could easily become lost in the memories and life of someone they scanned.

After quietly undressing, Aelora slid into the bed next to G’Kar, pressing herself against him and burrowing her face against his chest. She sensed him awaken, felt his surprise and relief at her presence. His arms instantly wrapped around her and she felt his body give a slight tremble as he sighed against her hair.

“I thought you were not returning,” he admitted softly.

Aelora traced the outline of his chest with her finger, kissing the warm skin before pulling out of his embrace to lean up on her elbow and meet his gaze. “Truthfully, G’Kar, I thought about returning to my quarters… but I couldn’t. My heart led me here before I could argue.” She cupped his cheek, her thumb caressing it gently. “I love you, G’Kar, no matter your past. It just took longer for my mind to accept what my heart already knew. I will always love you, and nothing anyone told me about you could ever change that. I know the being that resides inside of you, and I’m proud of him. I believe in him. I believe in you.”

G’Kar crushed her to him, holding her as if he would never let her go. He covered her skin in kisses, silently conveying her worth to him as he made love to her.

After loving, they held one another while Aelora told him about her session with Terann in a softly spoken voice. Though she felt him tense at the mention of the Minbari’s name, he said nothing regarding her friend, quietly listening to all she had to say. His reticence did not fool her. How she would ever get the rift between G’Kar and Terann to mend, Aelora did not know, but she knew it had to be done. She could not – would not – be forced to choose between them.

“I think we’re going to make it,” she commented at last, angling her head back so that she met G’Kar’s gaze.

The Narn offered her a smile. “I could have told you that, shon’Ur.”

“We still need trust,” Aelora told him, tracing the outline of his jaw with her fingertip. “It’s hard for us, because we have been so at odds with one another, and our cultures are so at odds with one another. We learned to expect – or at least what we thought to expect – from one another and now all that has changed.” She sighed. “This last occurrence only goes to show further that faith is lacking.”

“I am sorry,” he told her placing a kiss against her forehead.

“I know.” She burrowed her head once more against his shoulder, listening to the faint beating of his heart that was perfectly in sync with her own. She had tried to explain to Terann that she felt safer in G’Kar’s presence than anywhere else; only the Minbari did not understand that. How did one feel safe in the presence of a being that massacred over 10 million people? In the end, Aelora had no answer for her. It was difficult even for her to understand except that her heart knew G’Kar would die to protect her, he would give his life to ensure her happiness and well being. He understood her and never expected her to be anyone but who she was. She loved him for that, and for so many other things that made him special.

“Promise me something?”

G’Kar was in a magnanimous mood at the moment. Had she asked for his homeworld, he would have given it to her. “Hmmm?”

“Promise me no more secrets.”

Her words were as effective as if someone had punched him in the stomach. His breath escaped him for a moment and he could think of nothing to say, could form no coherent reply. No more secrets? The greatest of his secrets, his deepest betrayal of Aelora, still remained unspoken. He had feared she would learn of the mindwipe during the scan but she had severed the connection before reaching into that point of his memories. So he and Terann had been offered a reprieve – but for how long? If he made this promise now, he would only be impounding the lie, making it greater and more dangerous. But if he did not offer his promise, she knew would know there were still more secrets left to uncover and she would never be able to trust him. Not speaking could cost him her love. And so could the admission.

“G’Kar?” Aelora leaned up on her elbows, her gaze regarding him fearfully. She had expected a quick response, perhaps even some teasing comment regarding her paranoia. But what she had instead received was silence… condemning, horrible silence. Even though she could not read G’Kar’s expression in the darkness, she could feel his hesitancy; feel the jumbled mass of thoughts that he was trying valiantly to keep from her. She could have easily reached in and invaded those thoughts, instantly discovering whatever it was he wanted so desperately for her not to know. But it all began with trust, and if she could not offer that then what was she doing here?

“G’Kar, promise me,” she prompted once more, holding her breath in expectation of a reply.

There was no help for it. If he did not promise now, then the gulf between them would widen, would become insurmountable and she would never give him her trust again. “I promise,” he replied without meeting her gaze in the darkness, his heart silently cursing him for his perfidy. “No more secrets, shon’Ur.”

“No more secrets,” Aelora echoed as she laid her head once more against his chest. It was a difficult task to fight against the tears that threatened to spill but somehow she won out, taking a steadying breath and struggling to remain strong.

She did not need to be a telepath to know that G’Kar was lying to her.

Growling in frustration, Terann slammed shut the book nestled in her lap and hurled it absently across the room. It skidded to a halt at Ranger Tyler’s feet, where he stood just inside the chamber’s entryway, a steaming bowl in each hand.

“Having fun?” He inquired lightheartedly.

Deciding not to dignify his comment with a response, Terann simply extended her hand summoning the discarded book back to her.

Seeing the casual use of her telekinetic abilities startled Tyler and moving over to her he commented, “I will never get used to that.”

Terann smiled haughtily. “Was there something you wanted or did you come simply to share your charming wit?”

Settling to the floor, Tyler harrumphed sarcastically before pushing one of the bowls he held towards her. “I thought you could use something to eat. Besides you’ve been hiding away in here since we left Babylon 5 and I thought you might like some company.”

“I have been busy.”

“Doing what?” He asked with a teasing grin.

“Before we left, Sheridan asked me for any information I had about what we may be dealing with. If it is just gunrunners then that is one thing. If however, these are allies of the Shadows, then we are up against something far worse.”

Tyler’s brow furrowed noting the almost certain tone Terann took when speaking of the latter possibility. “Have you found anything?” he asked nodding towards the stack of books on the floor beside her.

“Not really,” Terann sighed. “I have been, as you Humans say ‘racking my brain--quite literally I might add--and I have found nothing.

“I am able to extract the most insignificant of suppressed memories from the mind of another but I handle my own with all the skills of a normal.”

Tyler’s brow furrowed in confusion. “I don’t understand.”

“During my time with them, the Vorlons implanted certain things in my mind, programming me to do what it was they needed me to. Over time I was expected to discover these things for myself.”

“And you’re okay with this?”

“It is not like that. To the Vorlons nothing is given freely. It must be earned.” Terann then moved to steer the subject back to something a little less painful. “I have read through those books and though there is a sense of familiarity I find nothing more than what I already know. It’s almost as if the answer is right there in front of me, only I am too blind to see it. I only wish the Vorlons had not been so secretive with me.”

“Well, much of what the Vorlons did made little sense.” He had spoken without thought and almost as soon as the words had escaped his lips, Tyler regretted them. “Terann, I did not mean…”

The Minbari only shook her head sadly. “It is all right, Tyler. I know most people possess a certain—disdain—for the Vorlons, and I admit that I understand why. But there is too much of them in me for me to feel for them as I suppose I should.”

Tyler sat silent for a moment, regarding the Minbari opposite him. He could see the sadness in her green eyes, knew the loneliness she must be feeling. Would he not feel the same way if suddenly he were the only Human left alive in the galaxy?

Once again pushing a bowl towards her he told her she should eat.

Terann leaned forward, studying the contents of the bowl with curiosity. “What is it?”

“Beef stew,” he told her, picking up his own bowl and stirring it almost lovingly. “Where I grew up it was very cold in the winter and my father would make this for us. Now that he’s gone, I make it whenever I can. It reminds me of home.”

Gingerly Terann picked up the bowl and poked at it with her spoon. Admittedly it smelled delicious, but then so did spoo. Balancing a piece of meat on her spoon, she cast a suspicious look at Tyler. “What is this?”

“It’s supposed to be beef, but meat from Earth is next to impossible to get these days. It’s actually a type of Centauri meat, but the taste is very similar.”

“And they let you bring it on board?”

Tyler laughed knowing the ‘they’ that Terann was referring to was in all certainty the members of the crew from the Religious Caste. “They don’t have to eat it. Besides, they may be able to live on vegetables and flarn, but I can’t, nor can the rest of the Humans on the ship.”

“Do not worry,” Terann said. “Neither can I.”

For the next few minutes the pair ate in silence and Terann found herself oddly relaxing. The stew Tyler had made was delicious and far better than the bland food she had grown accustomed to eating on a White Star. It was little things like this that cemented in her the belief that the Humans were a benefit to the Anla’shok.

Putting his empty bowl aside, Tyler pulled one of the texts towards him. Absently he began flipping through it, attempting to read the faded print.

Noting the difficulty he was facing, Terann set her bowl aside and moved to sit beside him. “It’s ancient Minbari,” she explained. “Essentially a dead language and only a handful of priests can read it. Dukhat taught me.” She flipped back a few pages and continued. “This explains about Valen… A Minbari not born of Minbari.”

“Sounds like someone else we know,” the Human commented with a smile.

Terann only grunted in reply, then turned a few more pages. “This documents the end of the Shadow War a thousand years ago, when the minions of the Shadows became desperate. They struck out at anyone, both friend or foe. They used telepath bombs to exterminate the telepaths on Narn…”

“Telepath bombs?”

Terann nodded. “Basically it amplifies a telepath’s natural abilities while causing a feedback into their mind. In most cases it affects only telepaths and the results depend solely on the psionic strength of the target. The lucky ones die instantly, those less fortunate are locked in their own minds forced to relieve their worst nightmares over and over again. If used against a low rated P5 it would affect not only him but every telepath within a kilometer or so.”

“And the stronger a telepath’s abilities…”

“The wider spread the damage is.”

Tyler nodded his understanding, then: “So what would happen if one of these was used against a telekinetic?”

“The weapon does not discriminate. A K5 could easily destroy a building and everyone in it.”

“And you?”

Terann’s brow furrowed. “Let us just hope we do not find any of those.”

“Gotcha,” Tyler smiled and continued to study the pages. “This writing is different.”

Terann’s eyes moved to where Tyler pointed. “It is Vorlon,” she said, a hint of sadness in her voice.

Tyler shook his head, “Why would there be Vorlon in a Minbari book?”

“This book is almost a thousand years old. The Vorlons were… different back then… desperate I guess.”

“So what does it mean?”

“The one who is many,” the telepath read, then lifting her eyes to meet his she commented; “Always cryptic are they not?”

“It could be a reference to an ally of the Shadows,” the Human suggested.

“I am certain it is,” Terann confirmed. “I just don’t know what it means. If I had a name, or a homeworld… anything… I believe the rest of the pieces would fall into place.”

“Have you considered asking another telepath to help you?” Tyler suggested, cringing at the look he received for doing so. “How about Aelora then. You two are close and I know you trust her.”

Terann pursed her lips. “I trust Aelora, but…”

“But what?” the human pressed as the Minbari trailed off.

Terann took a deep breath. “If Aelora were simply a human, I wouldn’t have any hesitation in asking her to help me. But she was altered by the Shadows and I guess I find it difficult to trust so implicitly in her abilities.”

Tyler’s brow furrowed. “You believe she would harm you?”

The telepath shook her head. “No… at least not intentionally. But I also don’t think the Shadows were foolish enough to allow her, even unintentionally, to reveal any information about them or their allies.”

Tyler nodded then went back to studying the text. He understood maybe a handful of the Minbari writing, but time and divisions in Minbari society had thoroughly bastardized their meaning.

Terann regarded the human before her as she finished her bowl of stew. Her thoughts moved from the attack by the Shadows the last time she had been aboard his ship to their current assignment. She found herself curious about him, about his upbringing and what had driven him to become a Ranger. The desire to ask him was there but the courage was not. Ultimately she was fearful she would ask something inappropriate, or mention something that was painful. Normally such worries did not concern her, but with so few true friends she decided it better to err on the side of caution. So she ate in silence, effectively burying the questions within her. Perhaps someday…

Once finished, she set her empty bowl with his before turning to the matter at hand. “Have you had a chance to review the data crystal given to us by Captain Sheridan?”

Tyler nodded shutting the text before him. “As you know there wasn’t much for us to go on…”

“Still so certain about our mission?” Terann muttered beneath her breath.

Tyler glared harshly at the Minbari but did not bother with a response. “The colony where we are to meet our contact is in a fairly uninteresting part of space and is under joint-jurisdiction of several of the league worlds.”

“That should at least make our going unnoticed fairly easy.”

“Exactly,” Tyler agreed. “The settlement where we are to meet our contact is well known for inter-planetary commerce, so it should not be too difficult for us to pass as ordinary traders.”

“And no one will wonder about a Minbari being accompanied by a Human?” Terann asked with a raised brow.

“No,” Tyler told her confidently. “Actually I think it will work to our advantage. It hasn’t taken long for word of Earth’s recent isolationist movement to reach even the most distant of outposts. Your presence with me should only alleviate any fears they may have.”

“And what of our contact?”

“Other than his being a Ranger, I know nothing about him.”

“Then how are we to trust him?” Terann demanded.

The Human shrugged. “He is a Ranger.”

“Just because one is a Ranger does not instantly entitle one to trust.”

“No, but it does mean he took the same oath as all Rangers do. He has sworn to serve The One and if necessary lay down his life in doing so.”

“That just makes me feel so much better.”

Tyler fixed her with a frustrated look. “Why is it so difficult for you to trust, Terann?”

“Why is it so easy for you to do so?” The Minbari countered. “You say he has sworn an oath to serve Delenn, but these are just words, Tyler. Too many times I have heard others speak of such things only to turn on you when you need them most.”

“Do you honestly think Sheridan would risk so much if he was unsure about the integrity of our contact?”

Terann nodded. “I would never believe Sheridan to be above anything.”

Tyler closed his eyes, a sigh of frustration emitting from his lips. “I will never understand what it is you have against Sheridan and what he is trying to accomplish.”

“No you will not,” Terann snapped. “Because you do not see things as I do. You do not see the contempt he harbors for me, for what I am. And no matter what he will have us believe I know he is simply using me, be it for my telepathic abilities or my connection to the Vorlons. He does not see me as a sentient being. He sees me as a tool, something to be used when the situation arises and something he can cast aside as a burden when not needed.”

Tyler shook his head solemnly. “It’s sad to see you think of people in that way.”

“I do not require your sympathy,” Terann ground out. “I have seen too many of the universe’s evils to believe anything else.”

“Then maybe you do require my sympathy after all,” Tyler told her softly, before rising to his feet. He regarded the telepath for a silent moment before moving towards the exit, wishing he could find someway to break through the barriers she hid behind.

“Miss Campbell? Miss Campbell a word with you, please?”

Aelora turned with a blank stare to see a well-dressed, taller than average man heading toward her. He had dark hair and eyes that Aelora found herself instantly not trusting. When she glanced just over his left shoulder, she noticed the camera that floated in the air beside him and her suspicions were confirmed.

“I don’t really have time right now,” she commented, scanning her surroundings for an escape. Unfortunately there did not seem to be any opportunities at hand.

“It will only take a moment,” he assured her, holding out his hand in greeting. “Names Dan Randall. I’m with ISN and we are doing a special feature on Babylon 5, to show the station’s side of everything that has been happening up here and give the citizens of Earth a chance to make up their own minds.”

Aelora was tempted to call him on the lie. Certainly, if he knew of her telepathic abilities, then he should have stayed clear of her, knowing that she would be able to see right through him. Why then take the chance? Aelora had to admit that her curiosity was piqued. She found in herself the desire to see exactly where this conversation would end. “Why in Valen’s name would ISN wish to interview me? I don’t even understand how you know me.”

Dan noticed her casual glance at the camera, and the curious gaze she then focused on him. He shifted uncomfortably under the steady regard with which she watched him. There was something otherworldly about the young woman before him and it made him nervous. It reached beyond the simple rumors he had heard about her and her supposed telepathic abilities. The reporter knew he was taking a risk in speaking with her -- risking that she may casually scan him and then know the truth behind ISN’s visit. But earlier he had convinced himself that the risk was worth it. There had been questions regarding encounters between the telepath and Sheridan, and if he could get one more person on camera to help damage Sheridan’s reputation then that would appease his superiors that much more. If there were any truth behind the comments he had heard regarding her dislike for Sheridan, then he doubted he had any worry of her exposing his lie.

“In some of my recent interviews, your name has been mentioned,” he explained.

“Really?” She raised a brow in surprise. “And may I ask by whom?”

“My contacts are confidential.” He smiled.

“I see. Then none of what was said about me is on tape?”

“Just casual conversation,” he assured her, his smile widening.

It was one lie after another but Aelora found herself giving over in a need to see it through. There was no use in running when everyone now knew where to find her. Psi Corps had already caught up with her and thankfully, she was now receiving much needed protection from Sheridan. She had nothing to hide, and if by granting the interview with ISN she could prove that, then so much the better. Besides, she thought it would be fun to turn the tables on Mr. Dan Randall.

“Very well, Mr. Randall. I see a table free over there at the Café. Shall we?”

If he had known it would be this easy, Dan would have approached her with more confidence. He found himself questioning the plausibility of the rumors of her abilities, since she did not seem to suspect the truth behind the interviews. Either that or she simply did not care. Both reasons were acceptable to him. Turning on the charm, Dan held the chair out for her when they reached the table then quickly caught the attention of a server so that they could order drinks. He leaned back in his seat, and offered the young woman across from him a broad smile.

“So tell me, Miss Campbell, you were raised on Centauri Prime, correct?”

Aelora nodded while taking a sip from her drink. “That is correct. My mother died and left me under the care of a Centauri couple.”

“You had no family on Earth because your mother was a rogue telepath, isn’t that right?”

Well, that was certainly a leading question, Aelora thought to herself with a frown. She forced a small smile. “My mother was a dutiful member of Psi Corps until she discovered she was pregnant with me. She did not want her daughter raised in the Corps so she left.”

“One does not simply leave the Corps, Miss Campbell,” he reminded her. “There are certain rules in place to protect Earth’s telepaths.”

“I don’t see what this line of questioning has to do with Babylon 5,” Aelora snapped, quickly losing all vestiges of patience.

“My apologies,” Dan told her quickly. “I didn’t mean to offend you, I just wanted to give the audience a feel for who you are – “

“By making me appear as a rogue telepath who was out to cause trouble and waste their tax dollars with a lengthy pursuit!”

“No, no. That isn’t it at all. I am sorry. Perhaps I wasn’t questioning you in the right manner. Can we give it another go?”

Aelora narrowed her gaze, realizing that whatever she answered he was going to end up turning the interview around to somehow bring harm to her or the station. Again, she found herself searching for a way to escape him, secretly wishing that G’Kar would mystically appear; as he was usually want to do. But she knew he was currently in negotiations with the Brakiri Ambassador and doubted she would see him until well into the evening. Tapping her fingers impatiently against the tabletop, Aelora finally nodded, certain that if she could not get out of the interview, she could at least steer the conversation into safer territory.

“Great.” Dan smiled again. “Now, you say you were raised on Centauri Prime, what brought you to Babylon 5?”

“I worked as a Ranger.”

“A Ranger?”

She nodded. “The Rangers are part of a Minbari organization, kind of like the knights of old, there to do good deeds and protect the innocent, things like that.”

“But you are no longer a Ranger?”

“No.”

“May I ask why?”

“Let’s just say I had a personality conflict with the leader.”

“You mean Delenn?”

Cornered! Aelora frowned, realizing too late that she should have known he would have heard about the Rangers and who was currently in charge. The questioning would have never gone in that direction if he had not. The interview was quickly turning into a game to see who could catch who at their own lies – only Dan Randall seemed to have more experience at it than she. Taking a deep breath, Aelora calmly replied, “Yes. Delenn.”

“This was in regards to your father, was it not?” The reporter glanced down at some notes that suddenly appeared at his side. “Jeffrey Sinclair, I believe, the first commanding officer of Babylon 5 who was called away as an emissary to Minbar only to then mysteriously disappear.”

He was good; Aelora would give him that much. She wondered who his contacts were and considered scanning him to find out. But she knew that would not look good – the unauthorized scan of an ISN reporter caught on film. “I believe that is an extremely personal question, Mr. Randall.”

Her interrogator shrugged. “Do you also then refuse to acknowledge that you hold Ambassador Delenn personally responsible for your father’s disappearance?”

“That is not true!” Aelora denied, jumping to her feet. “How dare you come in here making accusations about things which you know nothing about? Just what kind of reporter are you? Let me guess, you happen to be on Clark’s personal payroll!”

Dan appeared unruffled by her accusation though in truth he was becoming nervous under the telepath’s obvious agitation. He knew he had just a few more questions to throw at her, just a few more reactions to catch on film but he was quickly losing his tenuous hold. She appeared ready to bolt at any moment and he was uncertain as to how he would keep her there for just a few minutes longer. It was then that he noticed the second camera that appeared behind her following along with one of his crew, and he instantly relaxed. Even if she did attempt to leave, he knew he could get at least one more photo opportunity out of her.

“Now, now, Miss Campbell. You are becoming all worked up over nothing. These are simply things that I have heard during my stay here which I now find are obviously all untrue,” he lied to mollify her.

Aelora was sick of playing his game. “Is all journalism based on supposition and rumors, Mr. Randall?” She spat.

The reporter shifted in his seat, knowing that particular comment would be instantly erased. As Aelora turned to leave, he leaped from his seat, moving after her. “One more thing, Miss Campbell,” he called out. “There are those that say the only reason you are here on Babylon 5 is because Psi Corps would not approve of the relationship that you are currently involved in.” Relief flooded through him as he watched the woman come to a halt at his words. Believing she was ready to supply him with a few more answers, he continued, “Many say that Sheridan is setting a poor example for Humans by his relationship with an alien. You have obviously fallen prey to his example. And if the rumors are true regarding your telepathic abilities, then it would seem you are wasting a gift given to humanity… on an animal.”

The truth of the matter was Aelora did not care who had just spoken; she would have reacted the same way. She was sick of others attacking her relationship with G’Kar and everything seemed to coalesce in that single moment. Between the truth regarding G’Kar’s past and Terann’s decision to help Delenn, Aelora had just about enough with everyone around her. She acted without thought regarding the consequences, whirling around to slam her left fist hard into the reporter’s cheekbone before giving him an upper cut to the jaw with her right. The blows were so powerful as to knock him backward onto the table they had just departed with enough force to break it beneath him, sending him and everything around him to the floor. She advanced toward him, fully prepared to bash his face into the floor when two security guards grabbed her from behind as the chief appeared between them.

“What in the hell is going on here?” The security chief demanded, casting a suspicious gaze on Aelora.

Before she could speak, Dan Randall climbed unsteadily to his feet. “Did you get that?” He asked of his crew, and then turned back to Zack. “That unregistered telepath attempted an illegal scan on me!”

“What?!” Aelora struggled against the two guards who held her in an attempt to get at the reporter and rearrange his face. Unfortunately, her strength was not what it used to be and the hold on her remained true. “That is a bald-faced lie!”

“I called her on it and she attacked me,” Dan finished, throwing a glare at the accused.

Zack turned to Aelora. “Scanning and attacking, Aelora?”

“I did not scan the bastard – although I should!” She threatened.

“Go ahead,” Dan taunted. “The cameras would love it.”

Aelora’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Don’t fuck with me, Randall,” Aelora told him, reverting to a warning she had heard once given by Garibaldi. “You have no idea of what I am capable.”

The reporter took an involuntary step back from the enraged female before him. When Zack was no longer watching him, he mouthed to her “Animal –lover” which only served to intensify her aggravation.

“Get her out of here!” Zack told the guards, who had to drag the kicking female away as she alternately cursed at the reporter in Centauri and Minbari. Zack looked back at Randall with a frown. “I don’t know what you did to piss her off, Mr. Randall, but my word of advice is I would be a little more selective in who you choose to make enemies with.”

“I am sick of threats,” Dan commented, straightening his jacket.

“I’m just giving you a word of friendly advice,” Zack replied. “If you think Miss Campbell doesn’t have powerful friends, think again.”

By the time Zack appeared at the holding cell, Aelora had calmed sufficiently to remain without a guard. She glanced up at the chief as he entered then immediately returned to staring at the table before her. Zack took the seat across from her, attempting not to smile when he remembered the image of Dan Randall splayed out on the floor of the Café with tea all over his clothing.

“Would you like to tell me what happened?” He asked.

“I didn’t scan him,” Aelora muttered.

“I know.”

She looked up at him then, her gaze questioning.

“Look, whatever you may have done in the past, Aelora, I would never accuse you of playing around in people’s heads,” he told her. “Unfortunately, he does wish to press charges regarding your attack. Would you like to explain what prompted such behavior?”

Aelora sighed, rubbing distractedly at her knuckles, which were currently aching with pain. “He… he just kept pushing me… “

“And?”
“And I hit him.”

“Aelora… “

“Fine. Look, he started in on my relationship with G’Kar and then he… well he called G’Kar an… an animal.”

Zack grimaced. “I see.” He regarded her silently for a moment longer then added, “I am surprised you didn’t shoot him.”

The telepath laughed. “I didn’t have a PPG on me. Wanna loan me yours for next time?”

“There won’t be a next time,” he told her plainly. “Do you understand? I have enough problems around here without people complaining that we have a ballistic telepath on our hands.”

“Can’t you just consider what I did as a community service?”

Zack grinned. “In my book, I couldn’t agree more.” He stood. “Look, stay low for a bit. They should be leaving by the end of the day and hopefully it will be the last we see of Dan Randall.”

“I for one wouldn’t mind running into him again,” she muttered.

Zack was about to comment when the door flew open and G’Kar rushed in. The Narn’s gaze immediately centered on the telepath and he rushed to her side.

“Shon’Ur! Are you all right?” He knelt next to her, scanning her with his eyes for any injuries. He glanced curiously at her hands, which she seemed to cradle gingerly.

“I’m fine, G’Kar.” She smiled to reassure him.

As if he were unable to believe her, the Narn looked to Zack for confirmation.

The security chief grinned. “She’s alright, G’Kar, although, she’s got a mean upper hook. Took out a reporter and a table all in one blow. My suggestion is to keep her on a leash for a while, at least until Randall and his crew is out of here. You might also want to caution her on reacting on her baser instincts.”

G’Kar returned his gaze to Aelora. “Shon’Ur, what is he talking about?”

“Remember what Sheridan cautioned us about?” At his nod she flashed a mischievous grin. “Well, I didn’t heed his warning very well.”

The Narn ran a hand over his eyes, remaining silent for a long while before mumbling, “You didn’t? You did.” He sighed, standing, and approached Zack. “What’s the damage?”

“It’s just a misdemeanor. I was going to suggest some community service but I think she has already done that.” He winked over at Aelora.

The telepath moved over to G’Kar and took his hand in hers. “Am I free to go?”
The security chief nodded. “Yah. Stay out of trouble.” As they neared the door, Zack called out, “Oh, and Aelora? Not everyone feels the same about your situation.”

The telepath nodded, squeezing G’Kar’s hand reassuringly at his questioning look. “Thanks, Zack.”

“Good morning, Aelora. Punch anyone lately?”

Aelora turned to find Zack Allen moving up beside her, a friendly smile on his face. She flashed him a grin. “No, but if you are volunteering…”

“So how many years you think they’d give you for punching the security chief?”

“Are you kidding?” The telepath laughed. “They’d pin a medal on me.”

“Oh ha.” Zack cast her a brief frown, pausing to let her pass as they rounded a corner, exiting the Zocalo. “When did you become the resident comedian?”

She shrugged. “I figured people around here needed to lighten up. Everyone is just too tense these days.”

“You’re telling me. Last night not one, not two, not even five but seven fights broke out in Eight to the Bar.”

“No joke? What’re all the fights about?”

“I thought you could tell me.”

Aelora smiled. “I’m a telepath, not a psychic. Don’t you have something better to do than follow me around?” She added as an after-thought, though her tone was teasing.

Zack affected an offended expression. “Do I offend? Don’t answer that.” He shook his head. “Actually, it just seems that I am heading in the same direction as you are. I am meeting up with Corporal Ladan. We’ve received a few tips regarding some black market smuggling in Down Below.”

“Forgive me for asking this.” Aelora cast a surreptitious glance at the Security Chief. “But, considering we are no longer associated with Earth, isn’t everything we get on this pile of junk from the ‘black market’?”

“Pile of junk?” Zack appeared flabbergasted. “Are you implying that Babylon 5 is not the most prime, sophisticated piece of machinery in the galaxy?” When it was obvious that Aelora was abstaining from a reply, Zack continued, “Everything we do here is completely within legal boundaries. We aren’t out to raise prices or scalp anybody. But with the sanctions imposed on us… sure, we have to go through a few suppliers we wouldn’t normally associate with.”

“So these marketers that you and Ladan are after, they don’t belong to that elite group the station is currently dealing with?”

“How is it you have turned a perfectly innocent and routine operation into something seedy and underhanded?”

Aelora frowned. “Everything on this station ends up seedy and underhanded eventually.”

“Ouch.” Zack glanced at the female next to him, wondering where this sudden negativity stemmed from. “That doesn’t sound like you. Something wrong?”

“No. Sorry.” Aelora waved a dismissal. “I see Corporal Ladan over there, flashing me a less than welcoming gaze. Hello, Corporal.” Aelora waved mockingly to her then turned her attention back to Zack. “You had best get over there and explain to her that you were giving me the routine once-over.”

“Why do I get the feeling that you and Corporal Ladan have some sort of history to which I am not familiar with?”

“Because you are just that good of a detective, Sergeant. Good day.” Aelora moved off, allowing the security chief to mull over her comment in confusion as to whether it was serious or not.

Wanting some time to herself, Aelora chose not to return to her quarters but wandered the station, practicing her skills when out of reach of others, allowing her senses to reach out to the inhabitants one by one and acclimating herself to the “feel” of them. She never intentionally scanned anyone but as Terann had warned her, there were those who were projecting their emotions so strongly that she could not help but hear what was going through their minds. It was like being the commentator of a soap opera – she could hear all the little trivial happenings in people’s lives, the petty arguments and family disagreements. Slowly, she began to understand why mundanes feared telepaths. It would be much too easy for her to learn everything about the inhabitants and use it against them, to destroy their reputations, characters and lives from the secrets they held bottled up inside them. Terann had told her there were teeps among Psi Corps who could program a mundane to do whatever they wished. The thought of someone doing such a thing terrified her. Whenever Aelora thought of the actions a telepath could perform, be it reprogramming a mundane or mind-wiping someone of their memories, she wondered as to the sanity of allowing telepaths to exist. The idea of someone playing around with her mind was anathema to her – she could only imagine what a mundane, without any defenses against such a thing, should feel about it.

Her own abilities were just as mysterious to her. On the surface, they seemed miraculous and could do only good for the galaxy. But it did not take Morden’s explanation for Aelora to understand the true devastation her abilities could bring about. Even on a small scale, such as the disruption of her life and those around her. There were those who would gladly force her into servitude, and there were those who would just as easily kill her. Instantly, Michael Garibaldi came to mind and she mentally had to shake the thought from her head. She was saddened by his change of heart toward her and wished that there were some way to regain the closeness they had shared when she had first arrived on Babylon 5 and he had taken her under-wing like a favored uncle. She could not help but wonder if all the changes in his life were somehow her fault. If she had gone off in search of him and found him when he had disappeared, instead of becoming wrapped up in her own petty problems, then perhaps things would have been different. She knew she could spend her life contemplating the “what ifs” and get nowhere in answering any of them.

Entering the customs area Aelora quickly strengthened her mental blocks, protecting herself from the onslaught of alien minds that surrounded her. This area she found was even more overpowering than that of the Zocalo, since so many were arriving on Babylon 5 for their first time and emotions were high. Aelora discovered quickly that it was the best place on the station to practice her blocking ability especially when the occasional telepath arrived. She had only seen maybe half a dozen, all of which had obviously been on the run from Psi Corps, each one emanating an emotion of fear that was palpable. Had Aelora been more confident of her abilities and her place in the universe – she had yet to decide if being telepathic were a good or a bad thing – she would have offered them solace and the protection they sought. But the reality of it was, she was on the run herself, and could not decide who it was exactly she was running from.

“Soria?”

The sound of her mother’s name sent a mixture of fear and longing soaring through her heart. At first she worried that perhaps another member of Psi Corps, like Mr. Bester, had come to seize her. The fear lasted only briefly on realization that the speaker was most definitely mundane and alien at that. Turning, Aelora found herself face to face with a male Narn who, if it were possible, appeared even greater in strength and size than G’Kar. He was regarding her with an expression of love and longing that caused the telepath a slight moment of embarrassment.

“No,” she replied hastily with a shake of her head. “Soria was my mother.”

The Narn’s expression turned to one of wonder and his mouth formed an “O” of surprise. “Aelora?”

Aelora frowned. There was something in his tone when he spoke her name, a sense of familiarity that brought with it feelings of warmth and shelter. She took a step nearer to him, scanning his face, searching his eyes until all of the memories fell into place. “Da’Tan?” She whispered, unable to believe the truth even as she spoke it.

The Narn before her smiled broadly. “I feared you would not remember me.”

“Ah!” Aelora screeched suddenly, throwing her arms around his shoulders and hugging him tightly. “In Valen’s name!” was all she could think to say as she swallowed back the tears of happiness that threatened.

“Let me look at you,” Da’Tan instructed, holding her away from him to regard the woman that she had become. When last he had seen her, Aelora had been no more than five Earth years and the light of her mother’s life. She was almost the spitting image of Soria, save for the fact that the light of life seemed to sparkle more brightly in her eyes, obviously from the lack of Psi Corps influence. She had apparently acquired her father’s height for she came to the top of his shoulders, which was unusual for a Human female.

“Do I pass muster?” Aelora laughed at the intense scrutiny that she was under.

“I think you will do – for a Human, that is,” he added for clarity. “Where is your mother? Is she on the station as well?”

Aelora sucked in a sharp breath at his question, uncertain how to inform the Narn before her that the woman he loved so much died shortly after their departure. She glanced away for a moment, attempting to focus on others in the area, gathering the strength to relive that awful moment when her life was irrevocably altered. Turning back to him, she told him softly, “No, Da’Tan. Mother isn’t here. She… she died of Serum Sickness shortly after we left the colony.”

Aelora could not decide which was worse – getting up the nerve to tell Da’Tan the truth or the quiet stoicism with which he received it. He looked away from her for a moment and she allowed him the privacy to collect himself before she continued:

“There was nothing you could have done, Da’Tan. She became ill shortly after you left for supplies and then Psi Corps appeared… and we had no choice but to run.”

“If she had not tended me while I was ill – “

“And if she had not fallen in love with my father she would not have had me and been forced to run from Psi Corps,” Aelora replied, her voice strong and commanding. She laid her hand on his arm, forcing him to turn back to her. “My mother made her own choices, Da’Tan. Her choices for what she thought would be best for those she cared about, including you and me. They may not have been the right choices but they were hers to make and we can’t change them, no matter how much we would wish to.”

Da’Tan knew the female before him was right but all these years he had pictured Soria – his fragile, delicate Soria – safe and happy. He should have been there for her, protected her the way that he had promised. At least he could have been there for Aelora. Frowning, he focused his gaze on the child-woman. “Who cared for you when your mother died?”

Aelora took a deep breath. Funny how it used to be so easy to admit the identity of her adopted family. “A Centauri couple – the Kyra’s.”

The Narn thought for a moment he had not heard her correctly. “The Kyra’s?”

“Yes. The noble House of Kyra,” she told him, the sarcasm evident in her tone. “It’s… quite a long story actually.”

Da’Tan could think of no more to do than nod in reply. At first, the thought of Soria having left her child with the Centauri, after everything he had told her regarding the occupation, was beyond his comprehension. The more he thought about it though, the more he realized that she had made the correct choice. At the time, it would have been dangerous to leave a child with Aelora’s abilities under the care of the Narn. Eventually, she would have been used as leverage for something the Narn needed in their war against the Centauri and she would have been traded back to the Psi Corps. But the Centauri had been strong and would have been able to protect Aelora from any outside influences. As much as he hated to admit it, Aelora would not have been safe if she had remained with the Narn much longer. Still, he could not help but feel a personal responsibility toward Soria’s daughter, especially when left in the care of one of the most notorious families of the Centauri Empire.

“If only I had known,” he told her, his voice indicating his regret.

“I know.” She hugged him once more, providing them both with the solace and comfort they had needed for the many years since their separation.

“Shon’Ur?”

Aelora started at the sound of G’Kar’s voice and turned her head to find him standing behind her, a less-than-welcoming glare directed at Da’Tan. She could not help but feel a tug of satisfaction at the jealousy that was currently emanating so strongly from G’Kar at the sight of her in another Narn’s arms. She pulled out of Da’Tan’s embrace and flashed a brilliant smile.

“G’Kar, I would like you to meet Da’Tan, the one who was responsible for saving my mother and I all those years ago.”

G’Kar could not begin to explain the relief he felt at the discovery of who the strange Narn was who had been holding Aelora in an overly familiar embrace. He immediately placed his fists to his chest in greeting. “It is an honor to meet you, Da’Tan. Aelora has told me much about you.”

“It is I who am honored, Citizen G’Kar,” Da’Tan corrected with the same manner of greeting. “What you have done for our people will be remembered for generations.”

Aelora rolled her eyes. “Can we save the mutual appreciation society for later? I am excited here! This has to be the happiest moment of my life!” She threw her arms around G’Kar then pulled Da’Tan over to her as well and hugged them both. The absurdity of the situation caused her to laugh out loud.

“I do believe your appearance has finally pushed her to the edge of her sanity,” G’Kar commented blandly.

Aelora shook her head before kissing G’Kar playfully on the cheek. “No, no you don’t understand. Can you imagine what my adopted parents would have said had they seen this picture? Me -- hugging two Narns? They would have gone into a fit of apoplexy!”

G’Kar smiled down at the Human, thinking he truly had never seen her so radiant and alive. Da’Tan’s appearance could not have come at a better time, when she needed stability and security in her life. G’Kar would be the first to admit that the two of them still had many hurdles to yet overcome, especially with the recent admission of his past, and hopefully the elder Narn would provide some insight for them both. It was that as well as being pleased to see Aelora so happy. Her smile was one of the few simple joys in his life.

“You must join us for dinner, Da’Tan,” Aelora told him.

“I do not wish to impose,” the Narn replied, eyeing the couple before him. He had to admit he was curious as to the circumstances of their relationship. That Aelora, who was raised by the House of Kyra, was now associated with the last of the Kha’Ri was beyond any simple coincidence. He was certain a story had to be in there somewhere.

“I insist,” she replied, and then grinned impishly. “And I always get what I want. Ask G’Kar.”

“Unfortunately, she is correct,” G’Kar answered, the smile he gave the Human an adoring one.

She returned it then looked back to Da’Tan. “Please? We have so many years to catch up on.”

Da’Tan sighed. “I cannot say no to those eyes.”

G’Kar grimaced as Aelora “whooped” with joy.

“Believe me. I can relate.”

“What a great place to build a vacation home!” Tyler shouted sarcastically over the driving rain that was currently soaking both him and the Minbari through to the bone.

Terann cast a wry smile at his attempted humor, thinking for a moment that it sounded very much like something Aelora would have said. She pulled the cowl of her hood further over her face in an attempt at blocking the hard rain from pelting against her skin painfully. The visibility was almost zero so she was forced to use her senses both to watch for any danger as well as direct them to the rendezvous point. More than once, she caught herself wondering if Sheridan had not sent her here on purpose – to the most uncomfortable environment imaginable. She would have believed the thought too, if Tyler were not with her. She doubted Sheridan had something against any of his Rangers.

“Does that look like a building to you?” Tyler called out, pointing ahead.

Terann nodded, sensing inhabitants inside the dwelling. At the thought of shelter, they both sped up, almost jogging through the rain toward the building that was stuck out in the middle of nowhere, alone and isolated. Tyler held the door open for Terann, and then jumped in surprise as the wind slammed it shut behind him. The loud noise caused every head in the dark room to turn toward them and conversations stilled as they stared at the new arrivals.

“Sorry,” Tyler grinned sheepishly.

“Way to remain unnoticed,” Terann whispered under her breath to Tyler as she forced a smile for the group before them. She quickly scanned the room, making certain they were in no danger but the occupants seemed little more than curious about her and the Ranger. Still, she did not relax for something about the entire mission had her on edge, though she could not say what it was. Looking around the room, Terann noticed a heavyset man wearing the signifying pin of a Ranger moving toward them. She grabbed hold of Tyler’s sleeve and pulled him along toward their contact.

The man nodded toward a set of curtains off to the right and they followed in the indicated direction, lifting the thick, burgundy colored material to find a secluded alcove decorated in little more than a table and four chairs. The Minbari and the Ranger sat down silently, waiting as their contact joined them.

“Drink?” He asked jovially.

Terann shook her head but Tyler shrugged as if it seemed like a pretty good idea. “Something to warm me up,” he suggested.

The other Ranger chuckled. “They have a local brew here that I guarantee will do just the trick. But be careful! Too much of it will go to your head very quickly!”

“I would like to get this over with quickly,” Terann told the man before her. “Mister…?”

“Call me Kale, little lady.”

Tyler chuckled, taking his drink from the waitress as she delivered it and hiding his smile behind the glass.

“Kale.” Terann forced a smile that was more a grimace. The man named Kale smelled like he had not bathed in days. He was a pitiful representation of a Ranger. While there were plenty of good reasons for including the Humans in the Anla’shok, there were also bad. “I would like to know what information you have for us?”

He held up a hand, taking his drink with the other and lifting it up before Tyler. “First, a drink and a toast. To wine, women and contraceptives!”

Tyler almost choked on his drink trying not to laugh at the outraged expression on Terann’s face. He clinked his glass against the other man’s ending the toast. The Minbari beside him looked ready to spit fire.

Forcing herself to calm, ignoring the rudeness of the man beside her, Terann continued, “Mister Kale, we are on a tight schedule. If you have information of value, do you not think – ?”

“Well, you’re a regular little spitfire, ain’t ya?” Kale took a large gulp of his drink, leaving some greenish hued foam on his beard and mustache. “Of course I have valuable information for you.”

Terann had to look away from the man beside her, as her stomach churned at the smell of his rancid breath and slovenly manners. Ranger, indeed! She took a deep breath and turned back to him.

“And?” She pressed.

He belched, wiped his sleeve across his mouth. “Weapons.”

Tyler and Terann looked at one another briefly before turning back to Kale. “Weapons?” Tyler asked, wondering if he had missed something. He glanced at his glass, wondering if he had finished it and not known it but it was still more than half full. He looked back up. “What about weapons?”

“They’ve been showing up here and there,” Kale shrugged. “Strange looking things. Never seen ‘em before. Could be Shadow tech.”

Terann and Tyler waited for him to continue but he said nothing more, taking another large swallow of his beverage before setting the empty tankard onto the table with a loud thud. He belched again.

“That is it?” Terann asked, clenching her fists in her lap. “Weapons?”

“Yep.” He glanced at the outrage on her face and frowned. “Well, hell little lady, what’d ya want? A fuckin’ dissertation on jumpgate technology?”

Tyler scratched his head. “Well, no,” he replied, noting that Terann’s temper was reaching its end point. “But we kind of expected a little more than that. There are unknown weapons all over the Black Market. Who’s to say where they came from? What we need to know is who is putting them out there and why. We need names, pal. Names, places, maybe an understanding as to why.”

“Well that’s all you’re gettin’,” the older Ranger replied. “I think you’d be goddamned grateful for something.”

“Now listen here – “ Tyler stood, prepared to beat some sense into the man when Terann stayed him with her hand. She shook her head, indicating for him to sit back down. When he had done so, Terann turned back to their contact.

“Kale? Do you know what I am?”

He shrugged. “Minbari. I fought your kind in the War.”

She smiled. “Yes but I am also a telepath.” As his eyes widened, so did her smile. “Yes, I see that you understand now. For you see, if you are lying to me, I will know.”

Kale made a face. “You can’t scan me! I have to give you permission!”

“Now see,” Terann told him. “There is your mistake. I am Minbari, not Human. I do not need to abide by your Psi Corps rules. Now, shall we begin?”

Before the man could protest further, Terann pushed into his mind, tearing through his thoughts as she sought the information they needed. Once she discovered all that he had to share, she played with his memories, blurred his senses, his depth and perception. When she pulled out of his mind, his head dropped hard onto the table, his eyes rolled back in his head. It took her less than thirty seconds to complete the scan.

Tyler stared down at the over-sized head on the table. “Is he… “ He swallowed hard. “Dead?”

“No,” Terann replied. “But he deserves to be.” She frowned. “He’ll wake up with what he can only believe to be a hangover, his memory befuddled by too much drink. He won’t remember telling us anything more than the part about the weapons.” She stood. “Come. We have somewhere to go.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t rearrange his brain matter,” Tyler commented as they stepped back out into the rain.

Terann pulled her cowl back over her head. “You cannot say he would not have deserved it.”

“Why? What did you learn?”

“Seems our friend there has been playing both sides, something we must make Entil’zah aware of when we return. Apparently someone paid him to give us just enough to let us know they are out there but not enough to let us know who they are.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

“No?” Terann shook her head. “Actually it makes perfect sense and that is why it bothers me. Someone wants to let the governments know that they have the power to produce mass weaponry and get it into places it should not be. They want us to look for them but be unable to find them. They want to scare us because we do not know who they are. They want to catch us off guard while they pull strings like --- what are those dolls called? Those Earth dolls?”

“Marionettes?”

“Yes. Correct. Marionettes.”

“So who are they?”

At this, Terann shrugged.

“Whoa! Wait, you didn’t get a name? A face? Nothing?”

She shook her head. “There was a go-between. I got nothing more than a location.”

“But what is it is a set up? Maybe we should go back to Babylon 5 and give the location to Sheridan.”

Again, the Minbari shook her head. “No. If we move quickly enough, then we stay one step ahead of them. We must find what is there and destroy it.”

Tyler stopped, his boots sloshing in the mud. “Wait. We received no orders to destroy anything.” Terann continued on as if she had not heard him. “Dammit, Terann!” He called out to her. “Maybe you go against orders, but I don’t and I won’t.”

The Minbari turned back to him, stopping when she stood before him. She lifted her gaze up to meet his, the rain pelting her in the face. “You yourself just said we received no orders to destroy anything, correct? Then how can you possibly be going against them? Trust me on this one, Tyler. We need to move now, while we have the chance. Whoever they are, they may still become suspicious when Kale has no recollection of how our meeting went. If we wait and come back later, this lead might be gone as well. We cannot take this chance. Now, are you coming with me or must I do this alone?”

She turned and started back down the hill before them.

Tyler sighed but followed close on her heels.

They wound their way down the hill and around a small man-built lake before reaching a dense copse of trees where Terann came to a halt.

“It is in there.” She pointed.

Tyler shook his head. “I have a bad feeling about this.”

Terann did as well but doubted it was for the same reason. She led the way into the woods, moving through the darkness until they spied a light ahead hanging from what appeared to be an enormous warehouse.

“Strange place for a warehouse, don’t ya think?” Tyler commented with a wry expression.

Terann moved up to the door, finding it was unlocked. They looked at one another and Tyler shrugged.

They stepped inside immediately affecting a defensive posture; Terann reached out with her psi while Tyler checked a nearby computer access port looking for signs of an alarm system. Upon finding none the Human turned to the Minbari. “Anything?”

“No, the building is, for the moment, deserted.”

Tyler breathed a heavy sigh of relief, then fell into step beside the Minbari as they moved deeper in to the warehouse. Simultaneously the pair pulled their rain-soaked cowls from their heads, staring in awe at the sight before them.

The warehouse though narrow, in length it seemed to stretch on for an eternity. Even more daunting was the fact that spanning its immense length were several rows of ceiling high shelving-units each stacked with crates and freight containers of varying sizes and shapes.

“Let’s hope whoever works here isn’t coming back anytime soon,” Tyler commented dryly.

Terann cast a glance at the dark haired Ranger, which she hoped would effectively tell him what she thought of his comment. Secretly, however, Terann agreed with his assessment of their current situation. To inspect each and every container would take far more time than they currently had, to say nothing of the tedium of such a task. Casting a look over her shoulder she nodded towards the computer console. “Perhaps there are records in their computer which will be of some use to us.”

“Good idea,” Tyler assented hurrying towards the console, leaving Terann to ponder the situation.

The Minbari regarded the Human for a silent moment, watching as he called up shipping logs, and inventory records. While she immediately detected his natural human curiosity, she also found a level of trust and respect that she found surprising. It baffled her how despite her making every attempt to distance herself from others, how regardless of the walls she had quite effectively built around herself, Tyler was still able to see past all the things she lacked. For a moment she found herself thinking of Neroon and wondering how he could possibly believe himself to be superior. Would he have accepted this mission, knowing what little he had to gain? Sadly Terann knew the answer long before the question had formed in her mind. For all his posturing, Terann knew Neroon was a coward, knew he would never face the unknown or the unseen. But Tyler, a Human, had agreed to come, not knowing what they would be facing and yet accepting the very real chance neither of them would return. These were strange thoughts for Terann. Aside from Aelora, she had maintained a distance from the Earthers, believing them to be beneath her. Oddly though, she found herself pleased that she had been wrong.

Turning her attention back to the problem at hand, she began making her way down the first row of containers. Gently, her fingertips barely touching the surface, she ran her hand along the edges of a nearby crate. If they were in fact dealing with Shadow technology, she knew she would have to be cautious, relying more on instinct than on her natural abilities. Many of the weapons designed by the Shadows were dedicated solely to eradicating the telepath threat and to use her psi to find them may prove to be disastrous.

Moving slowly down the row, however, Terann found herself finding nothing to implicate the Shadows or their allies. What she did find was exactly what one would expect to find on a remote colony; medical supplies, vacuum packed food rations, tools and even terraforming equipment. Nothing that could be used as a weapon in anyway. Briefly she began to think that their contact Kale had been little more than a carefully placed diversion, but it made little sense. Though her scan of Kale had been hurried, she had found nothing to suggest that the information had been anything but genuine. Implanted information and memories always felt different than those that were unaltered.

No, she thought sternly, whatever it was they were looking for was here, she merely needed to find it and if that meant taking risks with both her life and Tyler’s than so be it. She had not survived as long as she had by being cautious.

“Terann!”

The Minbari turned back, giving Tyler time to catch up. When he was standing beside her she noticed the printout in his hand. Nodding towards it she asked: “Did you find something?”

“Maybe,” he said showing her the thin transparent sheet. “I think I’ve figured out their inventory system.”

Terann’s eyes scanned the sheet as he held it out for her, but she could make little sense of the alien writing. She recognized it as being Centauri, but no more than that. “You can read Centauri?” She asked, a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth.

“I’m a man of many talents,” he told her, broadening her smile. Clearing his throat he pointed her in the direction they needed to go. “From what I found, this building is used for storing things long-term. But everything coming in from Lupis is moved in and out as fast as possible.”

“Lupis is a Centauri Outpost near the Narn border.”

“Yes,” Tyler confirmed. “And the encryption codes were all Centauri.”

“It makes sense,” Terann said thoughtfully. “The Centauri were allied with the Shadows during the war.”

“Then you think this is solely the work of the Centauri?”

“Perhaps. It’s certainly clandestine enough for the Centauri. But…”

“But with what little we know about any other Shadow allies—“

“Exactly.” Terann shook her head. The Vorlon part of her was accustomed to secrecy, but the logical Minbari part of her preferred things to be out in to open and more easily dealt with. In many ways she was grateful Sheridan and Delenn had assigned a Human Ranger to accompany her. Humans possessed an abundance of curiosity; it is what had driven them to the stars in the first place. For the Minbari it had been their drive to be superior, their innate arrogance that had first taken them from their homeworld. But the Humans lived for the unknown, to uncover that which was hidden, to explore everything that made them Human. It was an admirable quality, one that secretly she wished she possessed more of.

The pair continued on in silence, ever wary of the Centauri’s eventual return. Both Human and Minbari knew that were they to do so, their mission would become infinitely more complicated. The Human cast a surreptitious glance at the Minbari beside him wondering what would happen if they were, in fact, discovered. Personally he would be quite content to make a stealthy escape and return to Sheridan and Delenn with the minute amount of information they already possessed. But Terann was of another mind-set completely. He wanted to believe the best of her, had always tried to with everyone, but something inside continued to nag. Terann had been adamant that the weapons be destroyed, but was she prepared to do so at the expense of others? This was where his fear laid. Terann was Warrior caste and half Vorlon neither of which were known throughout the galaxy for their compassion or respect for life. Yet his mind recalled the events surrounding the near destruction of Whitestar 46 as well as Aelora’s Shadow-assisted attempt to destroy Babylon 5. At the time, Terann had done everything in her power, even so far as accepting her own death, to safeguard the lives of his crew and the quarter million inhabitants on Babylon 5. Had she been simply a Vorlon or acting solely as a member of the Warrior caste he was certain her actions would have differed significantly. He wanted to believe that she would respond in this situation the same as she had before. Yet now the circumstances seemed different, Terann seemed different. Her determination was clearly evident, even on the Whitestar where she had locked herself away, resolved to uncover the secrets of allies of the Shadows and back in the tavern when she had used her heavy-handedness in dealing with Kale. He knew she felt justified in her actions but that did not make her actions just. He would have to watch her, attempt to keep her focused on their mission and, if at all possible, avoid any bloodshed.

Tyler’s thoughts were pulled from their musings when he noticed Terann come to a sudden stop. “What is it?”

Terann’s brow furrowed in deliberation as she felt something in the far reaches of her mind. It was subtle, almost beyond the realm of perception, but there nonetheless, almost taunting her with its presence. Gingerly she reached out, tendrils of psi probing the area around them, seeking some sort of clarity. Though she got a general feeling of where to look she picked up nothing concrete and instantly her mind began to whirl with questions. Had they been set up? Were they too late?

“Terann?”

Terann snapped back to attention at Tyler’s sharp tone. “There’s something—“ she paused glancing around, studying the containers piled around them. “There!”

Tyler rushed to crate she pointed to, hesitating at the last minute. He truly did not know what they would find inside—if anything. All he remembered was the fear on Terann’s face when earlier she had described some of the more inventive devices used by the Shadows. He ran his hand thoughtfully over the smooth surface of the freight container, stopping to trace the Centauri symbols printed on it, thinking almost flippantly that by simply opening it they stood a very real chance of dying. He glanced back at the Minbari, noting the determination there, before pulling on the secure-tape. In the same movement he pushed the lid to the floor, the sound of it hitting the floor echoing throughout the immense warehouse.

Curiosity drove Terann forward, moving her to stand beside the Human. The first thing she noticed about the crate’s contents was the telltale opaque black shell that identified it as being Shadow tech. Yet that was all. Oddly there was no other signature that linked any of the crates contents to the Shadows or anyone else for that matter. Without further thought for her own well-being she reached in and withdrew one of the football shaped husks, her mind probing at it gently, attempting to illicit some kind of response from it.

Nothing.

“What is it?” Tyler asked his eyes focused on the object in Terann’s hands.

Terann cocked her head slightly. “A telepath bomb.”

“What?!” The Human exclaimed taking a noticeable step backwards.

Terann shook her head imperceptibly then brought the device down hard onto the edge of the crate. The husk split only slightly, but enough to afford Terann’s fingers room to pry it apart. “It is not functional. There are several parts missing.”

“But why?”

“To prevent attracting undue attention I assume,” Terann commented. “They want us to know, but not enough so that we try to stop them. They are arrogant, I will give them that.”

“Lovely,” Tyler commented wryly. “So now what do we do?”

“What we came here to do.” Terann then bent down, placing her hand on the concrete at her feet. Reaching out with her mind she studied first the structural then the mechanical features of the building. As she suspected it possessed an independent power source, making it completely self-sufficient to say nothing of making it much easier to destroy. For a moment she noticed subtleties, things about the warehouse’s generators that pointed to someone far greater than the Centauri. Knowing whoever it was behind the shipments would most certainly be returning she forced herself to focus on her primary task, accepting that the unknown would simply have to remain that way.

The work was difficult and took much of her concentration. She used her gifts to pull conduits from their housings, to pinch off venting shafts knowing that the build up of heat and gases would lead to the desired explosion. Once certain of her success, she withdrew back into her own mind, physically and mentally exhausted.

“We need to go now,” she told Tyler, turning to head for the exit.

The pair moved quickly and silently, the door they had used to enter coming into view less than fifty meters away, filling them both with a sense of certainty. Their relief was short lived as their attention was drawn to their left by the laughter of several beings entering the building followed closely by the sound of a door slamming.

“Damn!” Tyler cursed under his breath. “We can’t leave them here to die.”

Terann peered between stacks of crates, catching sight of several Centauri before turning back to Tyler. “That is exactly what we must do.”

“Terann—“ Tyler began to argue but the Minbari cut in.

“We can not risk it, Tyler. I am too exhausted to even attempt slowing the process. This building is going to explode and I would prefer we were elsewhere when it happens.”

“I am a Ranger,” Tyler told her grabbing hold of her arm as she once again began to move away spinning her around to face him once again.

“Yes you are Tyler,” Terann told him pointedly pulling her arm from his grasp. “And as a Ranger you have an obligation to return with the information you were sent for. I highly doubt those Centauri are going to be very amicable to our presence here, so what makes you think we can convince them to leave with us? So either because of the Centauri or because of the explosion, if you try to warn them you are dead, plain and simple. Now are you coming?”

Tyler gritted his teeth together in anger. Deep down he knew Terann was right but that did not mean he had to like it. So he watched for several more moments, pondering the situation, if only to not give Terann the satisfaction before silently running to catch up with her.

Upon exiting the building they were met once again by the driving rain, yet neither seemed to notice. Their only concern was to put as much distance between them and the doomed warehouse. Pushing their way through the brush, the Human and Minbari became faintly aware of a faint whistling sound. It wavered for a moment then gained in intensity piercing the air around them sending native birds and wildlife scurrying for sanctuary from its wail. It only stopped when a soft boom shook the ground at their feet, followed by a second more powerful explosion. The force of the blast sent both Terann and Tyler to the rain-soaked ground and sending a wave of intense heat over their bodies. Only after several moments of stillness did either of them rise to their feet and while Tyler seemed eager to return to the warehouse in the hopes of finding any survivors, Terann simply wiped what mud she could from her robes before turning to leave.

“That’s it?!” Tyler called out after her.

“What would you have me do, Tyler?” She asked turning back to him, clearly frustrated with his continual concern for the Centauri’s well being.

“We could at least go back and see if anyone survived. They don’t need to know we were involved—“

“Oh I am certain the local authorities will believe that,” Terann laughed without humor. “It is a lovely day for a walk, is it not, Human?”

The venom she placed on her last word was enough to push Tyler past the boundaries of his patience. “What the hell is wrong with you?” He demanded, stalking over to her, his blue eyes flashing in anger. “How can you so shamelessly take another’s life without regret or remorse?”

“You do not know me Tyler, so save your platitudes. Those Centauri were not the innocent victims you would like to believe them to be.”

Tyler’s eyes search her features for a moment before he shook his head sullenly. “I wonder which forced you to be so bloodthirsty; the Vorlons when they abandoned you, or your caste when they exiled you.”

Terann’s response came swiftly as she backhanded him across the left cheek.

The Human faltered backwards but did not fall, quickly assuming a defensive posture as the telepath came at him again. He knew his words had enraged her but there was no turning back. If she chose to kill him he knew she could with little effort. He braced himself for her attack as her continence darkened noticeably, but none was forthcoming. Instead she stepped to within inches of him, her eyes appearing almost accusatory and when she spoke her voice was barely above a whisper. “Tell me Tyler, did you engage in this kind of soul-searching when you were ordered to fire upon the Vorlons at Corianus?”

“The Vorlons were killing millions of innocents,” he argued matching her cold gaze with one of his own.

“And I assume you believe the Centauri were going to use those weapons in their Emperor’s inaugural festivities.”

“You don’t know who or what those Centauri were! You had no right—“

“Did I not?” Terann asked stepping away from him. “If we can save a million lives at the cost of a dozen do you believe we should not?”

“No,” Tyler said begrudgingly lowering his gaze from hers.

“Tyler,” she said softly, her hand touching his arm gently. “I do not enjoy killing, but I do it because I must, because the universe demands that I do.”

The Human met her eyes again this time noting the hints of sorrow that resided there. “It doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

“I could not respect you if you did.”

With that the pair turned and headed towards their awaiting shuttle, eager to leave the colony behind.

“…So here is this tiny Human female, jumping up and down on top of the fusion reactor, yelling ‘Look at me, mommy! Now I’m taller than those Narns!’ and poor Soria is burying her head in embarrassment as panicked Narns are running all over the place trying to figure out what to do!” Da’Tan broke off from the latest of his “Making a Fool out of Aelora” stories with a wink at the female who was currently standing behind the kitchenette counter with an ever deepening frown on her face.

G’Kar was certain he had not laughed so hard in a very long time. During the past couple of weeks, Da’Tan had taken to joining them for dinner and the antics of Aelora’s childhood that Da’Tan described were amusing in themselves – the idea of Aelora as a child touched G’Kar in a way he could not define – but it was her ever-increasing disgust with the tales that made it ever funnier. It was readily apparent that Da’Tan had come to deeply care for Soria Campbell and her daughter and had cherished the memories of their short time together for all of their years apart. Ever so often, G’Kar would catch the Narn watching Aelora with an expression that could only be described as a doting and proud parent.

“I don’t see what all the hilarity is about,” Aelora commented as she placed a platter of food before them on the table that caused G’Kar to make a face as the aroma rose up to meet him. “I could’ve killed everyone there.”

“But Aelora,” Da’Tan protested. “You attempted to destroy that colony at least once a week – if not twice.”

“You make me sound like a horrible child,” she muttered, glancing over at G’Kar as he gingerly reached out with a finger and poked at the meal set before him. Her brow furrowed as she watched him until Da’Tan’s voice pulled her attention away.

“Horrible, no. Incorrigible? Yes. Trouble did not find you wherever you went… but you did go looking for it.” He chuckled. “Rambunctious would be the term I would use for you as a child.”

“Hold that thought,” Aelora interrupted, crossing her arms and turning to regard the Narn to her left. “G’Kar, what are you doing?”

“Trying to figure out what that is,” he replied, pointing to the platter.

“That is your favorite -- lukrol.”

The Narn made a face. How exactly was he to tell her that what was sitting before him did not even remotely resemble lukrol, let alone smell like it. “You do not expect me to eat it, do you?”

Aelora began to sputter out a reply when Da’Tan quickly answered, “I think it looks wonderful.”

“Maybe Dr. Franklin should fit you with some glasses,” G’Kar suggested.

Da’Tan chuckled as he glanced over at the fuming female. “One more word, G’Kar, and she is liable to dump your dinner in your lap.”

“It would be a better use of it,” came the reply.

“Oh you!” She sputtered again, making an attempt to move past him but G’Kar’s arm snaked out and he pulled her into his lap, laughing, before she could get away.

“Shon’Ur, I am teasing you,” he told her, kissing her cheek.

Aelora pursed her lips in a pout, refusing to acknowledge him.

“I think you are going to have to eat your words – literally,” Da’Tan pointed out, indicating the meal in the center of the table.

“Perhaps I should write out my Will first,” the Narn pondered aloud, receiving a hard jab in the ribs. He laughed again, hugging the Human tightly. “I apologize, my love, but honestly I do not believe you were cut out to be a Narn cook.”

“Perhaps you should attempt a Centauri dish?” Da’Tan suggested.

“No good.” Aelora sighed deeply, flashing a pathetic expression at the plate of lukrol. “I couldn’t cook any of those either.”

Both Narns exploded into laughter at her chagrined confession. After the merriment died down, G’Kar suggested they order out and went to the BabCom unit to do so while Aelora poured herself another glass of Tagro. She glanced up to find Da’Tan watching her with a soft smile.

“What is it?” She asked.

“You seem very happy, Aelora. I know that would please your mother.”

The Human returned his smile. “I only wish it had happened sooner. Nothing has been easy lately.”

“The best things in life usually do not come easily, Aelora,” Da’Tan commented gently. “That is why they are so special to us.”

She nodded. “I guess that puts this relationship pretty high on the grand scale of things then, hmm?” She shook her head, her smile hinting at sorrow. “When I think of how I was raised, the things I did in the name of the glorious Centauri Empire, the lies that I so foolishly believed – “

“You were all alone, Aelora,” Da’Tan assured her. “A child lost on a world full of strangers. You had to survive, and to do so you had to become like those around you.”

“I hurt so many people.”

“Aelora.” Da’Tan leaned forward across the table, catching her gaze with his own. “Your mother did what she needed to protect you. She knew it would not be easy – she of all people knew what the Centauri were capable of – but they were the best choice to keep you safe. You adapted to the life she chose for you and now you have adapted back to the person you were meant to be. It is something to be proud of. Not many could have broken free as you have.”

Aelora looked up at G’Kar as he moved back to the table, taking the seat next to her. She heard him thinking I love you, projecting it, as strongly and forcefully as a mundane could and she smiled, knowing that without his strength, she could not have come as far as she had. “I would not have done it without G’Kar. His patience and faith in me goes beyond comprehension.”

Da’Tan flashed a grin at the other Narn. “I used to tell Soria that any man who fell in love with Aelora would have to have the patience of a saint. Seems I was correct.” He watched the two of them for a minute, noting that there were moments between them when it seemed as if his presence were completely forgotten or unnoticed. Soria, he thought, I think you would be pleased.

Staring into her glass of Tagro, Aelora’s mind drifted back to the day that she and her mother were forced to leave the safety of Da’Tan’s presence. It was a memory she had not allowed herself to recall since shortly after beginning her life on Centauri Prime. She remembered waiting for days after her mother’s death for Da’Tan to appear and rescue her, but he never did show and little by little she began to blame him for her new and unwanted life. It was, she believed, part of why she had so easily learned to hate the Narn. They had been larger than life to her, protecting her mother and her in their greatest time of need and Aelora had been prepared to believe that their strength and honor was invincible. And when to a child a myth is destroyed, the foundation of their reality weakens and crumbles.

Slowly, ever so softly, she began to speak, welcoming Da’Tan and G’Kar to share her memories of a time that had long been lost to her…

The outpost where Da’Tan had taken Soria and Aelora after rescuing them from Psi Corps’ clutches, was small and truly inhospitable for any living creature. But as the Narn people were capable of handling just about any environment and molding it to fit their purposes, they had created a settlement that if not inviting, was at least livable. It was hot, dusty and the winds at times reached velocities so high that everyone was forced to take cover underground. But the dust storms created provided a perfect mask from enemies and so the menacing atmospheric conditions were tolerated. There were only a total of 112 inhabitants in the settlement, of which only 5 were children, but Aelora made due, making friends with just about anyone who would give her the time of day. There were plenty of Narns who did not believe the Humans should be there, and voiced their complaints and anger on a daily basis to Da’Tan, who listened with only half an ear. He had discovered very early on that there was an attraction between him and the Human female, and he was not about to deprive himself of her company for the sake of the other inhabitants. Besides, he had promised to protect Soria and her child, and he meant to keep that promise.

If there was one thing Aelora had learned growing up on the run, it was how to adapt quickly and easily to her new surroundings. Within days, she believed herself no different from the Narns around her, imitating their mannerisms and even their mode of dress. Soria was tolerant with most of her daughter’s behavior, until she tried to declare a blood oath on one of the Narn children and was severely reprimanded for even harboring such a thought. If there was one thing that Soria would not countenance from her child it was any ill will directed towards another sentient being. When Da’Tan attempted to step in on Aelora’s behalf, Soria supplied him with just as stinging a set down, letting him know that how she chose to raise her child would not be interfered with. Aelora was sent to bed without supper and was not allowed to play with the other children for the next week.

As the months passed, Aelora was quick to notice the changes in her mother, even though she was too young to understand from where they truly stemmed. Soria laughed more and cried less, and when Aelora slipped one day and referred to Da’Tan as “daddy”, her mother only flashed the Narn an affectionate smile and did not bother to correct her daughter. They developed into a happy little family, where Aelora was granted the father figure she needed and Soria was assured of the safety and protection she sought. The only anxious moments arrived when Da’Tan had to leave the colony to collect much needed supplies. During those times, Soria kept her senses alert and did not allow Aelora out of her sight. Sometimes she wondered if she were taking things too far, silently telling herself that Psi Corps had lost her trail, that as long as they remained with Da’Tan, they would be safe. But then something would happen – she would hear some whispered words, catch a subtle glance her way and know that she and Aelora were not out of the woods yet.

But the happy times quickly came to an end when an outbreak of Narn Serum Sickness swept across the settlement. Without proper medical supplies, many Narns died. Da’Tan was one of the first to contract the sickness and, though he begged her to stay away, Soria remained at his side, nursing him back to health, too frightened to consider life without him to worry about her own safety. Shortly after his recovery, Da’Tan and his crew left to acquire the much-needed antidote, though he worried for the well-being of his new family, the Narn realized he also had a duty to his people.

The day after Da’Tan’s departure, Aelora was playing with the other Narn children in the center of the hamlet, when she heard her mother cry out her name. Jumping to her feet, the child ran back toward her home as her mother hurried to meet her.

“Momma?” Aelora questioned as Soria grabbed her hand in hers and hurried with her deeper through the settlement until they were lost among the haphazard dwellings. She felt her mother’s fear and knew immediately that the “bad men” had come for them once more.

Soria knelt in front of her daughter, holding her tiny shoulders with her hands. “Aelora, honey, I want you to listen to me carefully and do exactly as I say, alright? We’re going to play a game.” When the child nodded, Soria took a deep breath and instructed, “I want you to clear your mind, of any thoughts or fears or whatever is in there. I want you to picture yourself as invisible and I want you to see me the same way. I am transparent. I am not here. And neither are you. Can you do that, honey? Can you pretend to be invisible?”

Aelora nodded solemnly, knowing that they only played this game occasionally and that her mother always wanted her to play at it very seriously. She took hold of her mother’s hand once more and silently followed her out of the hamlet toward the landing field, where Da’Tan sometimes took her to fly in one of the Narn fighters. Breaking into a fast trot, Soria led her daughter to one of the fighters, instructing her to continue playing her game while she prepared the ship for flight. Aelora hunkered down behind the left wing, her gaze surveying the outline of the settlement. It was not long before she saw movement and five men in black uniforms heading toward them. She stood, meaning to go to her mother and warn her when three Narns who lived near them, and had offered their friendship and protection to Soria and her daughter while Da’Tan was away, moved to intercept the Psi Cops. They hesitated and there was a short exchange of voices that Aelora strained to listen to before the sound of gunfire exploded through the stillness. The child watched as the three Narns fell to their deaths and a sob escaped her, alerting the bad men to her presence.

“Aelora!” Her mother shouted. “Come here quickly!”

For a long moment, Aelora was unable to obey her mother as the feeling of death surrounded and enveloped her in its grasp. The three alien souls swept around her, pulling and pulsating through her tiny frame, growing ever colder as their hold on existence slowly diminished. Aelora trembled under the onslaught but remained still, offering what comfort and solace she could to her lost friends before she finally obeyed her mother’s frantic call and climbed up into the fighter.

Hurrying to Soria’s side, Aelora cried, “Momma!”

“I know, honey.” She put a consoling arm around her daughter’s shoulders while she quickly fired the propulsion on the ship. “They sacrificed themselves for us. We must never forget what they have given us.”

The fighter barely cleared the atmosphere before two Psi Corps ships were close on their tail. Soria did what she could to outmaneuver them but the Narn fighter was not very agile or quick and she knew that before long they would be able to overtake her. Grasping the controls tightly for a moment, Soria made a quick decision.

“Aelora, do you remember what Da’Tan taught you about flying a ship like this?”

“Yes momma.”

Soria slid out of the seat and lifted her daughter into it. “Do you see that tiny star off in the distance? The one that seems to have a ring of fire around it?”

Aelora nodded.

“I want you to head straight toward it, understand? No matter what happens, I want you to go there. We’ll be okay.” She touched her daughter’s soft curls and told her, “I love you, honey.”

“I love you too, momma,” came the soft reply though the child’s attention was directed on the star ahead of them, just as her mother had instructed.

Soria headed toward the rear of the fighter where a tiny portal provided her with a view of the attacking ships. She glanced down at her hands for a moment, noting how they trembled ever so slightly. She was no fool and understood that she was becoming sick, had most likely contracted Narn Serum Sickness from tending Da’Tan. She was growing weaker each day and was not certain she would be able to perform the task at hand. But one look back at the beautiful creature whose tiny form was engulfed by the enormous pilot’s seat and Soria knew that she could not fail.

Gathering her strength and focusing all her attention on the ships following them, Soria reached out and began to slowly manipulate the matter that composed the engines. She wrapped her invisible grasp around each ship, carefully, cautiously, so as not to be noticed by the occupants, and with strength she did not know she possessed, Soria drew the ships toward one another. Altering their courses so that their angle became too steep, their trajectories too close, the pilots noticed too late that they had lost control and the two ships rammed into one another in a fiery explosion.

“Momma?” Aelora glanced over her shoulder but was unable to see her mother behind her. Afraid to move from her position, remembering what she was told, the child turned her attention back to the star ahead of her and continued to pilot the ship, her small hand clasping and unclasping the vial that hung on a chain around her neck…

Aelora’s hand had crept to her neck where it was currently clasping the imaginary vial that Lady Kyra had crushed beneath her foot on Centauri Prime shortly after Aelora had recalled her past. She did not realize that G’Kar was holding onto her other hand until he gave it a reassuring squeeze and she turned to meet his curious gaze.

“What was the vial for, shon’Ur?”

The Human opened her mouth to speak but could not find the words to reply. The memories were so fresh it was as if she had been there, just now, abandoning the only happiness she had discovered as a child.

“It was a very quick acting, painless poison,” Da’Tan replied to G’Kar’s question for her.

“What?” G’Kar was both shocked and appalled at the information.

Da’Tan held up his hand quickly, realizing what the other Narn was thinking. “Soria would have done anything to keep Aelora from the Corps, G’Kar. She believed that even death was better than slavery. I think you should appreciate such a sentiment.”

G’Kar did but could not understand what kind of strength it would take for a mother to purposely take the life of her own child. There was obviously much about Psi Corps that G’Kar did not know or understand. Silently, he swore to himself to protect Aelora from them at any and all costs.

“What happened after you escaped them, Aelora?” Da’Tan questioned gently when he noticed that Aelora seemed to have regained her composure.

She took a deep breath and continued with her recollection. “What it took for my mother to do what she did weakened her considerably. She may have been able to fight the sickness had she not used up her strength but there was little hope for her afterwards, and she knew it. When she was strong enough to return to me, she took over controls of the ship and told me to get some sleep. I could feel that there was something wrong – everything inside of her just wasn’t as it should have been – but I was tired and the moment I closed my eyes, I was asleep.

“We arrived at Ragesh III shortly thereafter and within hours my mother had befriended the Kyra’s and made her request of them. I remember standing there with her and her telling me that they were going to take care of me and… and I… I didn’t want to go… I… “

Aelora broke down then, the tears spilling down her cheeks, as G’Kar pulled her into his embrace and held her tightly while she wept for the mother she would never again have to hold her.

Tyler and Terann arrived on Babylon 5 late in the night but still headed directly for the War Room, knowing that Sheridan, if not Delenn as well, would still be there. They were silent as they moved through the station’s corridors, knowing that the coming confrontation would not be easy. While it had been settled between them, what Sheridan and Entil’zah would say regarding the matter was a different story.

Terann found herself relaxing as they walked. Very few of the station’s inhabitants were up and about, sticking to the scheduled time as if there really were a difference between night and day in space. Those who did pass by them were mostly travelers, on layover from their flights, or night crews that worked around the station. As they passed by a pair of Narn security officers, Terann found herself wondering how Aelora was and whether or not she was with G’Kar, or safe in the quarters they shared. She refused to believe the former, hoping that when the forthcoming meeting ended, she and her friend would have a chance to talk and catch up on the past few weeks. She missed the camaraderie she was able to share with another female, that no matter how different they were from one another, there was still something between them, something that bonded them through time and space.

“Ready?” Tyler glanced at the Minbari as they reached the door. He suddenly found himself wanting to tell her that he hoped they would be partnered for a mission again, that he wanted to see her maybe, outside of work. Perhaps dinner or something. But he could not find the words nor the courage to do so – he feared rejection would be more forthcoming than acceptance so he swallowed the urge and walked through the door, with Terann following.

As expected, Sheridan and Delenn were seated at the conference table, their heads close together, discussing matters in whispered tones. They looked up at the unexpected entrance, Delenn smiling in welcome and Sheridan flashing his ever-present grimace at being interrupted.

“We’ve been expecting you,” Delenn told them, standing to return their bows of greeting. “Was everything successful?”

The pair glanced at one another for a brief moment. Tyler chose to be the first to speak.

“We found our contact without difficulty but…”

“But?” Delenn prompted.

“He was… “ Tyler was not certain how to word it so that he did not overly upset Delenn. After all, she was Entil’zah and Kale was one of her Rangers, and he had betrayed her as well as the organization.

“He was betraying us,” Terann answered flatly, ignoring the look from Tyler. “He was playing both sides, one against the other, to get what he wanted, which probably amounts to little more than money. Either way, I would make it a point not to trust or listen to anything he has to say again.”

Delenn sat down in the nearest chair, her expression distraught. “What would make a person do such a thing – a Ranger? I do not understand.” She looked up at the Human and Minbari. “It was a set up then?”

“No,” Tyler replied before Terann could. “He gave us very basic information, nothing which really helped us in anyway. I was beginning to think that we had gone a long way for nothing.”

“And then?” Sheridan stepped forward, eyeing the telepath. Obviously, there had been a reason he had included her on the mission, for just such circumstances.

Terann shrugged. “I jogged his memory a bit.”

Sheridan grunted but did not ask for specifics.

Delenn glanced up sharply at the woman who stood beside her chair. “What did you learn?”

“Not much. A location. He blathered on about weapons to us but said nothing else. All I could get from him was a location of where those weapons were being stored. Apparently there was a middle man who worked the entire operation so that whoever was truly behind this remained anonymous.” Terann cast her gaze to Tyler who remained silent at her side.

“And?” Sheridan moved toward them, standing only a few feet in front of Terann. “Did you go there? Did you find anything to link these incidents to allies of the Shadows?”

“Yes and no,” Tyler replied, though Terann was shaking her head.

“You disagree?” The Human captain seemed more inclined to listen to what the telepath had to say.

“I would say it was a very definite yes,” she told him, ignoring Tyler’s warning look. “The technology was a Shadow derivative – not exactly like it but not possible without Shadow influence. And those who were present at the warehouse, along with the image I received of Kale’s informant… “ Terann shrugged. “They were allies of the Shadows in the past.”

Sheridan frowned. “How do you know this?”

“They were Centauri.”

A long silence followed as Delenn sucked in a sharp breath. Sheridan clenched his fists at his sides and moved restlessly around the room, cursing under his breath. The Centauri! What was it with them, anyway? Was their near annihilation by the Vorlons because of their association with the Shadows not enough? Sheridan ran a hand of frustration over his face. And how exactly did one mention such a thing to Londo? How did one ask, in casual conversation, who they had decided to associate themselves with this time around? And what exactly did they hope to gain from it all? Glory? Power? The destruction of the Narn? He shook his head. Once, it seemed so very long ago, but he felt he had known Londo, could trust him. Now, Sheridan did not even know whom he was dealing with any longer.

“What happened? Did you bring some of the weaponry back with you?” He asked, turning back to the Ranger and telepath.

Tyler shook his head, biting the inside of his cheek nervously. “No.”

“No?” Sheridan raised his eyebrows in a mixture of confusion and disbelief. “What do you mean, no? There are potentially dangerous weapons out there gathering against us, fused from a technology we know nothing about, and you bring nothing back with you?”

“It was because of exactly that reason that I chose to destroy them, Captain,” Terann told him plainly. “Your people do not need access to such weapons. You are not ready for such technology.”

“And the Centauri are?”

“I took those particular weapons out of the hands of the Centauri as well. I will continue to do the same as I come across them.”

Sheridan took a threatening step toward her. “Just who the hell do you think you are, telling me what my people are not ready for? The Vorlons tried to play the same stupid game and look where I sent them? I already have a place in mind to send you!”

“John.” Delenn stood, placing a restraining hand on his arm. She turned to Terann, her voice calm. “Terann, while I do understand your objections, and your reasons for doing what you did, I do believe you should have checked with us first. This is not your personal crusade –“

Terann laughed. “Obviously not! Only a fool would step between Sheridan and his apparent appropriation for power!”

Delenn had to step in front of Sheridan as Tyler did to Terann to separate the two. Delenn pulled the Captain aside, speaking to him softly, calming him from his outrage. Tyler grabbed the telepath by the arm and turned her to face him.

“What are you trying to do?” He whispered furiously. “We agreed that I would do all of the talking! You are making things worse than they need to be. This intentional bating of Captain Sheridan is childish and pointless!”

“I am sorry, Tyler,” Terann replied softly. “But I do not worship his footsteps as you do.”

“Goddammit!” He muttered, turning away from her. “Sometimes your arrogance oversteps its boundaries, Terann. Perhaps you’d have more friends if you learned that.”

“I do not need friends,” she said from behind him.

He ignored the comment, moving back over to where Delenn and Sheridan stood.

“Captain, I know you are disappointed in the ultimate outcome of our mission but we did what we felt was right,” he explained. “No one should have access to these weapons, to the technology. What if we were to take them and then EarthForce were to somehow get their hands on them?” Tyler shook his head. “No, out of everything that occurred, I do believe we made the right choice.”

Sheridan sighed and Delenn squeezed his shoulder encouragingly. “Very well, Tyler. What about the Centauri who were there? Did you question them? Learn anything that can lead us to the source?”

Tyler shifted his feet uncomfortably, glancing back at Terann who stood stubbornly facing him, taunting him to finish his tale. He looked down at the floor for a moment before finally lifting his gaze to meet Delenn’s, refusing to look at Sheridan. “Unfortunately, there were some casualties, Entil’zah.”

“Oh.” Delenn took a deep breath, watching as the man’s expression beside her slowly began to darken once more. “How many?”

“I am not certain. We had already begun the process for the place to destroy itself when they appeared. We didn’t even now they were there until then. By then, we barely had time to escape ourselves.”

Sheridan glared past Tyler at Terann. “I’ll bet she knows exactly how many died, don’t you Terann?”

She raised her chin defiantly. “Nine.”

“In Valen’s name!” Delenn uttered the oath, sliding once more into the seat beside Sheridan as he flew to his feet in rage.

“You killed nine Centauri and you walk in here and act as if it was just another day’s work!” He bellowed.

“They are a dying race,” she replied matter-of-factly.

“Why you arrogant bitch.”

Sheridan started toward her again, coming to a halt only as she said, “Come any closer and you will see what kind of bitch I can be, Captain.”

He stopped, his fury palpable, the flames of his anger touching her. “You have no right to decide who lives and dies. I don’t care who the hell you think you are. I’ve killed a Vorlon. I can kill you.”

“John! Terann!” Delenn hurried between them, her voice pleading. “Can we stop this animosity, please? Is there not enough hate in the Universe without the both of you adding to it? We are supposed to be fighting the enemy, not each other!” She shouted, her normally calm voice rising with her frustration. “Instead of tearing one another’s throat’s out, perhaps we should try to figure out who this dark enemy is that has aligned itself with the Centauri?”

“Dammit, Delenn,” Sheridan argued. “What am I supposed to do when the Centauri government comes forward asking us to explain the deaths of nine of their citizens at the hands of Rangers?”

“They will not know it was anything other than a malfunction in the equipment,” Terann told him. “We made certain of that. Besides, if they truly are in league with any Shadow allies, then I doubt they would have the nerve to come forward. These deaths would only be looked upon as casualties of war. They obviously view their people as expendable.”

“And it is easy to see that they are not alone in their viewpoint,” Sheridan snapped.

Terann only shrugged.

The Captain sighed, glancing over at Tyler who had remained silent throughout the exchange. “Keep your eyes open. Delenn and I will discuss what to do next and alert other Rangers out there to watch the Centauri, keeping an eye on those who come and go from their colonies. Also, this Kale, the one who is working for them, what would you suggest we do?”

Tyler considered the question for a moment. “He might be useful. When we left him, he would think nothing more than that he was overly drunk. If his informant does not kill him out of suspicion, then it is very possible that we might be able to learn more from him in the future.”

Sheridan nodded, glancing at Delenn for confirmation. “Very well.” He reached out, shook the Ranger’s hand. “Thank you for your help in this.”

“My pleasure, Captain. Entil’zah.”

Tyler moved from the room, waiting at the door for Terann to join him then following closely behind her as she exited the door. Once they were deep enough into the hallway, Tyler pulled her to a stop, his upset evident in his face.

“What the hell were you doing in there?”

“Trying to make them understand.”

Tyler threw his hands up in the air. “There you go – acting like a Vorlon again.”

“I am a Vorlon,” she told him, her voice rising to match his.

“You know what you are, Terann? You are alone! And that is how you are always going to be if you don’t stop acting as if you are better and smarter than everyone around you!” He stepped closer to her, so that their faces were mere inches apart. Terann could smell the scent of him – very male, a scent of spice. She looked away from the anger in his eyes.

“I’ve never told you how beautiful I thought you were,” he told her, his voice flat. “I’ve never told you how special I thought you were, how amazing. But right now, I can’t even bear to look at you. Your arrogance makes you ugly, Terann. Did you know that? Your apathetic attitude towards loss of life makes you uglier still. As ugly as the Shadows and the Vorlons and their manipulation of our races put together.”

He walked away and Terann almost let him go. She fought back the pain that rose in her chest and behind her eyes and turned to go after him.

“Tyler! Wait, please!”

The Ranger stopped but did not turn around. She moved in front of him to meet his eyes.

“Tyler, I am sorry. Please do not think that way of me, I beg you. I only…” She shook her head, unable to form the words cohesively. “I –- sometimes I look at Sheridan and Delenn and all I see are those responsible for sending the Vorlons from me and I know you will never understand what is inside of me but their leaving was much like if I were to suddenly yank your soul out of your body and yet you remained alive.

“I know their time to go had arrived. I know that they were no better than the Shadows in how they used the younger races, how they manipulated everyone into doing their work for them – In Valen’s name, I am a perfect example of that! And sometimes my frustration gets the best of me and the Vorlon side of me comes out and I try to recall so very hard what they said to me and taught me but before I know it, I am warring with my Minbari side, with the part of me that was raised to be a Warrior, that was taught to rail against the inherent stupidity of others and then – “ She shook her head. “Then I am saying things and behaving in a way that really is not me. And the sad part is, more often than not, I am not even certain who I really am.” She dropped her gaze, her voice softening. “I used to think Aelora was the only one with an identity problem but hers was easy to face. She was one person, taught to be many. But I am many, learning how to become one. And whether you or I or Delenn or anyone likes it, the Vorlon side of me will always hate Sheridan for sending the Vorlons away, for killing Ulkesh. And the Warrior side of me will always hate him for the Drala Fi, even if the Religious side of me came to respect him. Can you begin to understand?”

Tyler looked away, his mind working. He understood what she was saying to him though he still felt outrage at the disrespect she exhibited before both Sheridan and the Entil’zah. And beyond it all lay her casual disregard of those Centauri who died. Yes, the Centauri brought on their own problems, deserved retribution for what they did to the Narn and so many others, but it was not their place to make that retribution. That alone was left to the Universe around them.

“Please, Tyler.” Terann touched his sleeve hesitantly. “I cannot bear to lose your friendship.” She offered a tentative smile. “After all, one needs friends.”

The Ranger finally nodded. “In that, you are right, Terann. We can all use friends.” He sighed. “I am never going to understand you, am I? But I guess it doesn’t matter. So long as you continue to try to understand yourself.”

Terann hugged him impulsively and allowed the small pleasure of his arms wrapping around her in return to sweep through her. Being touched by another was something she received too few and far between and the warmth of his embrace was a balm to her spirits. He would never know it, she would never show it to another, but the deaths she caused did touch her, deeply. She carried with her the face and name and last memories of every person who had ever died at her hand, and the numbers had grown through the years. And too often, late at night, they would come to her, asking her why she made the choice, asking her what made one over another worthy of death at her hands.

And someday, perhaps, she would have an answer for them.

A month after Da’Tan’s arrival on Babylon 5, G’Kar led him through the station, acquainting him with various points of interest as well as the daily operation. G’Kar had secured a bunk for him in shared quarters with some of the Narn security officers, which Da’Tan had been immensely grateful for. He found a common soul in G’Kar and the two came to trust one another quickly, their mutual admiration for a certain redheaded female not withstanding. The conversation between them was relaxed, and they were able to share their memories of Narn, both occupations by the Centauri and the place of their people in the galaxy. Da’Tan explained to G’Kar that he had left homeworld because he could not stand to see his people’s misery any longer. When they should be joining together to help rebuild their world they instead mill around and plan their revenge against the Centauri. He commented to G’Kar that he wondered if their people had learned anything or if the cycle would simply begin again.

G’Kar waited until they were seated in Eight to the Bar to grab a quick snack before replying, “I understand what you are saying. I saw the same thing when I was last there. All they could talk about was striking back at the Centauri. None of them seemed to even consider rebuilding and taking care of our own people. Unfortunately, we are lost in a cycle of death and though I have often tried to reason with our people, I am at a loss as to how we are to move forward.”

“You can not expect to reeducate our people all by yourself, G’Kar,” Da’Tan told him. “I fear that we are liable to stumble many times more before we look to our mistakes for inspiration.”

The last of the Kha’Ri nodded, knowing that what he said was true. It was difficult to argue against the destruction Homeworld and the Narn people had suffered at the hands of the Centauri. Still, he knew his people would not survive if they did not find peace within themselves and the galaxy around them. That was why he looked to the Humans for inspiration, with the hope that somehow their ability to grow and evolve could reach the Narn, and his people a better way.

“I only hope we survive for that long as a race,” he commented finally.

“This conversation is too depressing,” Da’Tan told him, shaking his head. “Let us talk of something pleasant, hmm?”

G’Kar smiled. “Excellent idea.”

The server appeared and they each ordered their meal and drinks and then G’Kar began explaining some of the history of Babylon 5 to his cohort as well as what the station had come to mean to him. He briefly outlined his history there, careful to include the bad with the good. When he reached the moment he and Aelora first met, he hesitated, wondering just how much he should tell Da’Tan. It was really up to Aelora to share her full history with the Narn, so he paraphrased the bulk of their relationship, leaving out the details but still covering the most important events between them. When G’Kar told him of Aelora’s lie regarding the smuggled shipment of supplies to protect him, Da’Tan offered a small smile and nodded as if expected.

“Soria would have done the same. Such behavior is, I suspect, what makes them Human,” he commented.

G’Kar nodded in agreement. “Forgive me for asking – you do not need to answer but did you ever consider marrying Soria?”

Da’Tan was silent and thoughtful for a long moment, thinking back to those conversations between him and the telepath that always ended in anger and hurt for either one or both of them. “We discussed it… quite often, actually.”

“You decided against it then?”

“I do not believe a decision was ever truly made. Or at least, we never admitted to one.”

“I do not understand.”

The other Narn looked away to gather his thoughts before turning back to meet G’Kar’s gaze. “First and foremost to Soria was Aelora’s safety. Her own happiness meant nothing in the face of protecting her daughter, which was as it should have been. But because of what Aelora and Soria were, and because of who they were running from, remaining with me was not something which Soria believed to be a good idea.”

“But you offered your protection,” G’Kar protested, not understanding the choices that Aelora’s mother made.

Da’Tan smiled, knowing that what he told the Narn before him would make all the difference in his relationship with Aelora, should he choose to accept the advice. “Soria did not need my protection.” At G’Kar’s frown, he explained, “Soria could do things that I could not even dream of another creature being capable of. She could move objects with just a thought, and not a coin or a pebble but ships, as Aelora told us last night. And the people that were after her could do amazing things as well – they could kill with a single thought. How was I to protect her against that? How was I to even understand it? See, the thing was, G’Kar, I was in their lives not because I made the choice… but because Soria had. And the same goes for you.”

“I do not agree,” G’Kar replied stubbornly. Aelora always referred to him as her ‘Knight in Shining Armor’. “I believe we are together because we both made the choice. Because we needed each other.”

“Aelora does not need you, G’Kar.” Da’Tan shook his head. “And that is something you must come to understand or your relationship will never last. Eventually she will realize that she is not providing you with the role that you believe you need, that you thought was there for you all along. And she will resent you for it, as well as resenting what she is.”

“If that is what happened between you and Soria –“

“No, let me finish,” Da’Tan interrupted, holding up his hand. “You want to protect Aelora. I understand that; I wanted the same with Soria. Because she is Human, you see her as delicate and frail and in need of your protection. I know what she means to you, what you feel when she is near. You feel stronger when you hold her in your arms, something you do not feel with our own females because they are built for strength as we are. There is nothing wrong with it, and with a normal Human female, it would be right.

“But Aelora is not normal, and neither was her mother. Aelora may not know it now, but she does not need your protection. You could not truly begin to protect her if you tried. By virtue of what she is, she is inherently stronger than you. Perhaps not physically but still. Subconsciously she understands this. And subconsciously she has accepted that you are with her because she wants you there. Not that she needs you. Truthfully, she needs no one. I have come to understand in the years after Soria and Aelora disappeared from me that telepaths are different from any of us. No matter how many others they surround themselves with, how happy they appear to be, they are and always will be alone, even among one another. Perhaps it was developed as a defense mechanism, knowing that they could not truly be open to anyone for the “noise” that would remain with them constantly. But they will always remain to themselves and they will always remain a mystery.” Sensing that he had reached G’Kar with his words, Da’Tan paused, allowing them to sink in, waiting for a reaction.

G’Kar did not like what the other Narn was telling him, though he knew that it was the truth. He knew that Da’Tan did not know the extent of Aelora’s abilities – she had often told him that her mother did not allow her to use them in front of others – and truthfully, G’Kar would not know where to begin if he were to attempt to explain them. What she could do and see and be was beyond his comprehension. And he loved her for it, loved her for being so amazing and beautiful inside. Loved her for trusting him with that knowledge, and for sharing that part of herself with him. The idea that she did not need him there though terrified him. What if one day she realized she did not need him and simply walked away? He expressed this fear to Da’Tan.

The other Narn smiled. “I do not believe that will happen, G’Kar. She loves you. It is evident in her eyes. And that is the beauty of it, as it was with Soria and me. She knew that remaining amongst our people – a race that was so desperate to grow strong enough to destroy the Centauri that they would gladly sacrifice a Human female and her child – was dangerous and foolish. And yet, she did so. Not because she thought I could protect her and keep her safe but because she wanted to. She chose to be with me and have me as a part of the lives of her and her little daughter because she wanted me there. And the same goes for you and Aelora, G’Kar. She wants you there, she wants you in her life, and that alone could be the greatest gift she could ever offer you.”

“What if I need her?” G’Kar questioned softly, afraid of the answer and afraid of his own reason for asking.

Their meals arrived and Da’Tan waited until everything was situated before shaking his head. “Aelora knows you better than that. She would not allow herself in that sort of situation. Remember, being that she is a telepath, she probably knows you better than you know yourself, especially if you have allowed her to become close to you, allowed yourself to trust her.”

G’Kar winced, remembering their recent situation regarding his lack of trust. He wanted very much to share his betrayal of Aelora with Da’Tan; he wanted to explain to him why he had Terann perform the mindwipe and why he felt the need to continue to lie to Aelora about it. But that would mean telling Da’Tan details about Aelora that even she did not know of. It would be an invasion of privacy and yet another betrayal on his part. He could only hope that if the time ever arrived – G’Quan forbid! – when Aelora’s mind chose to break past the barriers in place, that Da’Tan would be able to understand his reasoning.

They ate their meals in companionable silence, speaking only when the occasion called for it or an abstract thought would cross their minds. When they were finished, G’Kar continued his tour of the station, taking him to MedLab where he introduced him to Dr. Franklin and then to meet Zack Allen, who wasted no time in accepting Da’Tan for the position he wished for on the security force. No matter what some of the station’s inhabitants may have said about him, Zack was no fool. Crime on the station was at an all-time low and he knew the addition of the Narns was the reason for it. If the entire Homeworld appeared, wishing to be hired, he would have gladly handed them their PPG’s.

Entering the Zen Garden, which Da’Tan commented reminded him of their homeworld when he was young, G’Kar quietly agreed before commenting, “You never answered the question regarding marrying Soria.”

“Ah, yes.” Da’Tan sat on the bench at the edge of the grass and stared up at the rotating station bulkhead above him. “I wanted to… I wanted very much to marry her, to take Aelora as my child. But it always came down to the question of what kind of life would it be for her? Where could we go that our relationship would be accepted? Even among the Narn, there would be questions as to why I chose a Human female over one of my own kind. And there would always be the accusation that I was only with her because she was a telepath and I was looking to reacquire that much needed gene back into our people.”

G’Kar grimaced, recalling Terann’s accusation a little over a week before. “Then you believe my relationship with Aelora is futile?”

“I did not say that.” Da’Tan turned his attention to the Narn beside him. “Aelora is not Soria. I believe she is stronger. She had to be to survive on Centauri Prime. Perhaps that was part of Soria’s reason for leaving her there.

“I am not saying it will be easy. No relationship ever is, and an inter-species relationship is even more difficult, let alone adding in the fact that one of the party is a telepath and the other comes from a people who no longer have telepaths.”

“You are not making this easy, Da’Tan,” G’Kar chuckled.

Da’Tan joined in his laughter. “Forgive me, my friend. I meant to give hope and advice, not to take it away. From my standpoint, all looks well between you and that little redheaded devil. All you need to do is remember that you love one another and even the big hurdles will be surmountable.”

The quarters shared by Aelora and Terann were empty when the Minbari returned to them, just as she expected. She had briefly considered seeking out Aelora to let the Human know she had returned but she did not relish the idea of spending more time in the company of G’Kar. It was not that she disliked the Narn, no matter what Aelora might believe, but his mere presence made her uncomfortable. Knowing that it stemmed from their mutual betrayal of Aelora’s trust, there was little she could do about it. In truth, she still blamed G’Kar for forcing her to go through with the mindwipe at all.

Tossing her cloak onto the small couch, Terann spent the first few minutes putting away her belongings and glancing over the clutter that Aelora had left in an obvious hurry to get somewhere. Either the Human had awoken late for work or she had been particularly excited about a meeting with the Narn. Clothes were strewn about the floor, shoes tossed as far as the confined area that served as their kitchen and various cosmetics lay across Aelora’s bed. Terann could do no more than shake her head at the disaster that lay scattered around her before she began clearing it all away. By the fourth outfit and third pair of shoes, the Minbari found herself wondering when her friend had acquired so much clothing – and what in the galaxy she needed it all for anyway? She reminded herself that not only was Aelora a Human but that Centauri had also raised her. Frivolity was as much a part of her nature as her biting sarcasm.

As Terann divested her friend’s makeup accessories into the bathroom cabinet, she hesitated a moment before picking up the small cylinder of lipstick, glancing at the word scripted across it horizontally in gold letters: Siren. Her brow furrowing as she mouthed the ridiculous name, the Minbari twisted the cap off as she had seen her friend do so many times and stared in consternation at the deep red stick before her. Casting a quick glance over her shoulder, as if she were certain someone would be watching, Terann looked up at her reflection in the mirror before her and slowly raised the tube to her mouth. She started as she first brushed the colored stick across her lips, not expecting it to be quite so soft and cool to the touch. Moving back to her experimentation, the Minbari carefully attempted to apply the false color to her mouth as she had seen Aelora do. Only it did not come out quite right and Terann quickly flew into a panic to get the horrid stuff off of her mouth the moment she finished. At first she succeeded in doing no more than smearing the offending substance across her cheek and down her chin and finally resorted to washing her face entirely. Casting a vicious glance at the tube of lipstick, Terann tossed it into the nearby trash receptacle before returning to the main room. She was once more completely baffled by the habits of her friend.

When the apartment was once more in sufficient order, Terann considered preparing her something to eat when she noticed the message light was blinking on the COM panel. The Minbari called out for the computer to activate the stored message, figuring that it was a note from Aelora letting her know that she was with G’Kar should Terann need anything. Outwardly she appeared unaffected by the appearance of Neroon before her, though inside her heart leapt at the sound of his voice as he spoke:

“Greetings, Terann.” He paused, as if searching for the correct phrasing for his words. “I know you are most likely quite surprised to hear from me, especially after the outcome of our last meeting. Unfortunately, no matter what has happened between us in the past and what differences and problems circle around us, what matters most is our world and our people, and these reasons are why I come before you now to ask your forgiveness.

“Though you may not believe it, I have my… reservations regarding certain plans for our people, of which I know you are aware. My anger, and yes, even hurt, over the lies that stood between us clouded my vision over what was happening around me. I see that now and wish to do something about it. You are the only one I feel I can trust enough at this juncture to help. So I ask you now, Terann, will you help? Do you love Minbar enough to set aside your anger at me to work with me, trust me, and help restore our world and its people?”

“Computer, pause,” Terann called out, turning away from the frozen image of Neroon and inhaling a steadying breath.

Of all the messages Terann had expected to see, one from Neroon would never have entered her mind. Especially one in which he was claiming to want her… forgiveness. Her immediate instinct was to erase the message without seeing it through to the end and ignore that he ever contacted her, but her heart would not allow her to do so. She needed to watch it, if for no other reason than to prove to herself that she was strong enough to put him from her mind, that he really meant little to her and that his words to her would simply fade away.

Turning back to the monitor, Terann called out for it to continue, watching as Neroon became animated before her once more, his words and his expression appearing sincere and even slightly contrite.

“If you are as willing as I to set aside our differences and help our people then I ask you to meet with me at Notsalrad in forty-eight standard hours. There is a small outpost there that I am certain you know of. I will arrange for us to have a private meeting room at the tavern known as Galactic Faire. I have told no one of this meeting and hope that you will do the same. In times like these, we can not be too careful.” He paused, seemed to stare off screen for a moment then focused his gaze ahead once more. “I do not know where this will lead, Terann, if it will lead anywhere at all. I hope, for Minbar’s sake and the future, that we can be the unlikely pair we were in the not too distant past once more.”

Terann let out the breath that she had been holding as the message ended. Unfortunately, his words were proving to mean more to her than she had hoped. The sight of him, the sound of his voice, was a surprising balm to her otherwise sorrow-filled spirit. She knew she was being a fool, knew that her succumbing to his words and platitudes was no better than Aelora choosing to ignore the atrocities of G’Kar’s past. The difference was, Terann knew Neroon better than Aelora knew G’Kar, and Terann was not about to blindly offer him her trust and forgiveness. She would remain cautious, as always and never allow him the upper hand at the same time allowing him to continue to believe he had it.

According to the time the message was received, Terann had twenty-four standard hours to reach Notsalrad. If she left immediately, she would arrive with little time to spare. Considering the options before her, Terann chose what to take with her carefully. She changed out of the green tunic she wore and into her Warrior caste uniform. She knew it would be an excellent method of catching Neroon off guard, of showing him that her heart and allegiance were still in the right place, and that he could give her his full trust, Warrior to Warrior. To wear anything else would have instantly set her apart from her people and would only serve to remind him of her differences. Terann had to approach as Terann of the Warrior Caste – not Terann the Telepath or Terann the Religious Acolyte and especially not Terann the Vorlon. He would most likely be expecting her to embrace that which made her different and she had to make him see her as being a true Minbari.

Once she was ready, Terann began to tuck her denn’bok inside her uniform when she hesitated. In the furthest reaches of her mind, a soft voice called out for her to be cautious, to not take anything for granted, no matter how fiercely her heart wished to believe. Nothing was ever as it seemed and this meeting with Neroon had no reason to be different. For all she knew, he and Shakiri could be lying in wait for her, planning to rid Minbar of the stain of her existence. And who would care? Who would be prepared to look for her if she did not return? Who would exact revenge in her death?

The Minbari knew she could not alert Aelora to her planned rendezvous with Neroon. The Human would verbally tear her limb from limb and then would most likely attempt everything within her power to keep Terann from leaving – and she could very well succeed. But Terann knew without a doubt that were she in danger, were she ever in need of help, Aelora would come looking for her and that was the precaution she needed to take. In the time it would take her friend to realize that she was gone and where it was she had gone to, Terann would be returning. If all went well, she would be able to contact Aelora before she set out after her and let her know that all was right. Otherwise, should the meeting take a turn for the worse, should something unexpected happen that Terann was unable to plan for, Aelora would already be in the process of setting out after her.

Knowing that she would feel a deep emptiness in her soul without it next to her, Terann set the denn’bok in the center of her bed, staring at it with one last parting glance before exiting from the apartment.

Heading toward the docking bays, Terann prayed that she would not have to wait long for permission to depart. She had already sent through a request to C&C in the hopes that it would speed the process along. There was always the chance that Aelora would return to their quarters unexpectedly and would find Terann before she had the chance to leave. And then there would be a terrible fight that could only end in Terann breaking the Human’s legs. There was something to be said for stubbornness. There was something else to be said entirely for stubbornness in Humans.

Thinking she would have less of a chance of meeting up with anyone, Terann took a shortcut to the docking bays, moving through a less-traveled region of the space station through the upper levels. The silence around her only caused her to reflect inwardly on the coming meeting with Neroon. As much as she wanted to regard it objectively, her heart seemed to race ahead, her excitement building as time passed. In a few short days, everything could be erased between her and Neroon and she would once more be able to bask in the warm glow that could only come from the love of another. No longer would she be forced to envy Aelora’s happiness, quietly keeping to herself all of the disappointment and loneliness she felt as she watched those around her in their relationships. After all, Neroon had seemed so sincere and apologetic in his message – certainly she would have been able to read otherwise!

“Terann.”

The Minbari stopped at the voice and looked up to see G’Kar moving toward her. In panic she reached out to sense for Aelora’s presence but quickly realized she was nowhere near and breathed a silent sigh of relief. “G’Kar,” she nodded hesitantly.

“I did not know that you had returned,” he commented stiffly.

She shrugged. “Not long ago.”

The Narn glanced over her clothing and seemed to read her mind. “Going somewhere?”

“I… er, there is another mission. Delenn felt I needed to be there to handle it."

“Ah.” G’Kar nodded. “So Aelora has not seen you?”

Terann shook her head, her patience waning. “No. I figured she was with you.”

“Actually, I was just looking for her. I stopped by the shop but it appears Da’Tan beat me there. I suspect they are spending some father/daughter time together.”

Terann frowned at the name and G’Kar’s comment. “Who is Da’Tan? And why would he be spending time with Aelora?”

“Ah, yes. You just returned.” G’Kar flashed her a tight smile, and she could feel his pleasure at knowing something about Aelora that she did not. She allowed him his small victory and pressed for answers.

“He is a Narn that protected Aelora and her mother for some time before Soria’s death.”

Terann suddenly remembered her first voyage through Aelora’s mind and the image of Aelora as a child that she had encountered. Little Aelora had drawn pictures and one was of her “father” and had depicted Sinclair, Lord Kyra and a Narn that Terann had mistakenly taken for G’Kar. She realized that it was instead this Da’Tan, the memory of which Aelora’s mind had pushed away during her time on Centauri Prime. Terann was pleased to know that Aelora finally had someone with her that she could consider family.

“Please tell Aelora that I am happy for her,” she told him, quickly sidestepping the Narn to hurry on her way.

“She will want to know where you have gone,” G’Kar called out after her, receiving no reply as the Minbari disappeared around the corner. He frowned for a moment, thinking it was odd that Terann would not wish to tell her friend more, but finally shrugged; figuring it was simply another undesirable side of the Minbari. If Aelora asked if he had seen Terann, he would tell her. Otherwise, the Minbari could seek Aelora out on her own when she returned from her current mission.

“I can’t believe you haven’t bothered to take a tour of the station yourself yet,” Aelora commented to Da’Tan as they moved through the Zocalo. She stopped by a floral stand to purchase a single Star Lace, thanking the Narn as he paid for her, then continuing on through the market. “It’s not very easy to get lost around here. I mean, it could be, then again there are signs everywhere and it’s easy to tell if you are somewhere you shouldn’t be. The Narns that G’Kar has set within security are very good, and serious about their jobs. If you’re not careful, you’ll be out an airlock moments after you have crossed your boundaries.”

Da’Tan chuckled. “It was good of G’Kar to find a way for the Narns on the station to belong, to feel as if they have purpose. I am surprised the Captain agreed to the idea.”

Aelora shrugged. “At the time he didn’t have much of a choice.” She sniffed at the Star Lace bud, memories of her childhood on Centauri Prime drifting briefly through her mind.

“One moment you are happy, the next you are sad. Why is this, Aelora?”

The Human cocked her head as she glanced at the Narn beside her. “Are you sure you aren’t a telepath?” She smiled.

Da’Tan shook his head. “Your expressions have always been easy to read, Aelora.”

Your eyes are the window to your soul, Aelora heard Londo’s words echo through her mind. Words spoken to her during that dreadful time on Centauri Prime, when she had not as yet faced her love for G’Kar. She mentally shook her head, attempting to chase away the memory.

“You would not be very good negotiating I believe,” Da’Tan pointed out. “Or gambling.”

Aelora laughed. “I’ll be certain not consider either as prospective employment opportunities.” She sobered, recalling his question. “This Star Lace reminded me of ho – Centauri Prime.”

The Narn nodded, looking down at her thoughtfully. “You still consider it home.”

She shrugged.

“It is right and proper that you should, Aelora. No matter what came of it, what you may have suffered, your years there, the childhood you spent, made you who you are today. Were any of it to be erased, you would be a different person.”

“Perhaps a better person,” she pointed out.

Da’Tan put an arm around her shoulders, pulling her against him comfortingly. “I do not believe that, Little One, and neither should you. If for no other reason, believe in your own worth because G’Kar believes in you. He loves you very much, you know.”

Aelora smiled, her happiness reflected in her eyes. “Yes, I know. And it is because of him that I have made it through all of this; that I wake up each morning and face the day with that much more confidence and purpose. I don’t know what I would do without him,” she commented, and then mentally shuddered at the thought of having to learn.

“Your mother would have liked him.”

The redhead glanced up at the Narn, her gaze hopeful. “Would she have? I like to think that. I know my father didn’t.”

Da’Tan seemed disbelieving and said as much.

“Oh no!” The Human laughed at his disbelief. “G’Kar and my father did not get along well at all from what I understand. You do realize that G’Kar was down right nasty during his first year here. He did or attempted to do some pretty nasty things and he and my father were always going around, threatening one another and whatnot. Michael – he used to be Security Chief and was my father’s best friend – well, he has told me all sorts of stories, including one about finding hot pink panties in G’Kar’s quarters.”

“What?”

Aelora laughed again. “Apparently, G’Kar has always had quite the reputation with the ladies.”

“That is well over with,” Da’Tan assured her. “His heart belongs to you now.”

“It’s not his heart I worry about,” Aelora giggled suggestively.

“Aelora!” Da’Tan chided then laughed. “I believe, Little One, that you will fit in amongst our people just fine.”

A sarcastic quip regarding her Centauri upbringing was on the tip of her tongue but Aelora held it back, slowing beginning to realize that it would be impossible to convince the Narn beside her that she was anything other than perfect. It felt wonderful to have Da’Tan with her again; he was a link to her past, someone with whom she could share memories about her mother, and he would always continue to remind her of her humanity. Not once in his presence was she ever allowed to believe she was anything other than Human. He was the father to her that was denied her of Jeffrey Sinclair. And though she still pined for her biological father’s presence, with Da’Tan she knew she had someone whom she could call family.

“Well, I think I have shown you everything,” Aelora told him as they entered a lift near Brown sector.

“But we have not gone to the lower level, the place the inhabitants refer to as Down Below.”

Aelora made a face. “I didn’t think you would want to go there, Da’Tan. Venturing down there is taking a certain gamble on your life.”

“I had never thought you cowardly or conceited before now, Aelora.”

She sighed, rolling her eyes heavenward. That sounded like such a G’Kar thing to say. It must be inherent in Narns, the whole guilt factor, she thought. “Level One,” she told the computer.

Da’Tan was considerably unimpressed the moment he stepped out of the lift. It surprised him that the Human’s would allow such a place to exist on their station – especially when one considered the affluence and power the Humans truly had. The miserable and wretched beings that passed before them were truly at the lowest barrier of society – any society. On Narn such people would be outcasts, pushed out of the towns and villages, forced to live on the fringes of civilization. It was much the same here. But then, he had always been taught that the Humans were much more civilized than many of the other races, except the Minbari. If that were true, such squalor and poverty would not exist.

“It is shameful,” Da’Tan commented in reproach.

Aelora nodded in agreement, somewhat ashamed that she hated to be down there, hated to have the poor creatures that inhabited the area brush against her or make contact in any way. She stayed close to the big Narn beside her, knowing that the section was notorious for robberies, rapes and murders. When she was about to suggest that they return to the upper levels and maybe grab lunch, Da’Tan moved further down the corridor, curiosity overriding his better judgment. He began to fire questions at her as they moved through the tunnels, asking her about policies and injunctions that she had no answers for. When he asked why no one above did anything to help these people, Aelora could only reply that most inhabitants on the station ignored the fact that they were even down there, except when one of them venture up to commit a crime above.

Da’Tan continued to shake his head in disbelief, unable to comprehend what his eyes were showing him. He stopped to speak with a Human, an old woman huddled in a corner, her meager belongings scattered around her. The Narn offered her some of his credits, an action that Aelora tempted to shield with her body so that no one near them viewed it. She knew that whoever saw the money would assault the woman the moment they walked away. Quickly scanning the minds of those around her, she realized that none suspected the exchange. She was about to tell Da’Tan that they really should return when she pheard a cry in her mind. She froze, unable to comprehend the unfamiliar sense.

The Narn stood up before her, about to move on when he noticed her face. “Aelora? Is something wrong?”

“I… “ She cocked her head, listening with her senses, reaching out further into Down Below, searching the corners and crevices, ignoring the more detached or frightening minds she encountered, until she located the one in pain.

Without a word, she darted away from Da’Tan, heedless of his cry to her or the fact that he hurried to catch up to her, unquestioning of her destination as he followed behind at her pace. The area of Down Below she entered was dark and difficult to maneuver through, and Aelora was forced to use her senses as never before to guide her through the trash and around corners, down corridors and large conduits before the pain in her mind grew stronger. Her target lay on the ground only a few feet from her, a young male Centauri, unmoving and badly beaten.

Aelora crouched down beside him, barely hearing the intake of breath from the Narn beside her.

“How did you know he was here?” Da’Tan asked.

The telepath ignored the question. “Find someone and get a Med Team down here. Quick!”

Her hands moved lightly over the Centauri, seeking out the worst of his injuries. She could feel his heartbeat move through her hands, into her bloodstream, spreading throughout the cells of her body. It had been a long time since she had used this facet of her power and the increased strength behind it left her momentarily shocked. She quickly forced her attention back to her work as she felt the Centauri’s heartbeat slowing, his life-force fading. Closing her eyes, she allowed her senses to locate what her hands and eyes could not. She let his cells to lead her, showing her the way to the worst damage, skirting past the bruises and cuts that only marred the skin until she located the problem. A small puncture wound in the skin – either from an ice pick or something else similarly thin in design – had pierced through his lung and up into his left ventricle. Air was seeping into his left heart and he was unable to breathe. Gathering her abilities together, shaping them in her mind like surgical tools in her hands, Aelora set about repairing the damage, closing the holes and then taking ‘hold’ of the affected heart and slowly helping it to pump once more, regaining it’s previous rhythm.

When she opened her eyes, the world around her swam into focus and Da’Tan reached out to steady her just as the Med Team appeared around the corner. She held onto the Narn for support, watching as the medics gathered around the Centauri and began to prepare him for lift onto the gurney.

“His left lung and heart were punctured, though the right seems fine,” she told them as Da’Tan helped her to her feet. One of the medics glanced over at her, obviously doubting that she had any idea as to what she was talking about. Aelora understood the expression and the meaning behind it and told Da’Tan that they needed to follow them.

Da’Tan agreed without question, supporting Aelora as they followed behind the Med Team out of Down Below toward MedLab One. “Do you think he was attacked by a Narn?”

Aelora heard the worry in his voice and touched his hand in reassurance. “No. I think… I mean I believe it was a Human. At least that was the presence I felt around him.”

Da’Tan looked at her sharply. “You learned all of this from simply touching him.”

The telepath had no reply.

When they entered MedLab, Aelora and the Narn hung back as Doctor Franklin hurried forward to the patient. He began firing questions at the Med Team before one of them pointed over at Aelora. The doctor told his team to get the Centauri hooked up to the monitor then moved over to the telepath.

“What happened, Aelora?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know details. I was showing Da’Tan Down Below when I felt his cry.” She nodded toward the unconscious Centauri. “When I finally found him his attacker was gone. He was punctured through the left lung and ventricle with something small and sharp. I repaired both but didn’t have time to tend to his other injuries.”

Stephen nodded, noticing the expression of shock and disbelief on the Narn’s face beside her. Very few people had knowledge of Aelora’s ability and when they heard of it, it always became difficult for them to accept. “Will you wait here a moment while I tend to my patient? I have something I want to discuss with you.”

Aelora nodded, taking a seat at the desk while Da’Tan continued to hover around her. She could feel the questions that were burning through the Narn, the shock of discovery, and the realization that there were aspects of her of which he had no comprehension. He understood little regarding her disappearance outside of Z’ha’dum and even less of the enhancements she had received. All he really knew of her were the abilities she had harbored as a child, how flowers and leaves and grass would bloom and grow around her. While she knew he deserved an explanation, she was too tired at the moment to give him one.

It was more than half an hour before Stephen finally returned to take a seat beside Aelora. Da’Tan still hovered in the background, almost guarding her. Stephen updated her on the Centauri’s condition, telling her that she had saved his life by mending his injuries so quickly. Aelora accepted his words without comment, wondering what the doctor would tell his patient when he revived. She felt for certain that even though unconscious, the Centauri would have trace memories of her mind working inside of him.

“Aelora.” Stephen leaned forward in his seat, his voice low. “Do you know about the telepaths I have in cryo? The ones who built with certain enhancements by the Shadows?”

She nodded, her expression darkening. She hated hearing any mention of the Shadows or their damned enhancing of telepaths. Compared to those he spoke of though, many would say she had lucked out. Aelora though, was of quite a different opinion. At least they were sleeping through it, with the possibility of one day being awakened. “A little,” she replied. “Terann and I discussed it once. That is it.”

Stephen nodded, rubbing his hand over his chin absently for a moment while he considered his next words. Finally, he said, “Aelora, nothing I have done has been able to help those people. Lyta tried, but the Vorlons touched her and because of this, the Shadow enhancements react badly to her presence. Now, if you were to possibly – “

“No!”

“Aelora, just listen. If you could – “

“No, Stephen!” Aelora jumped to her feet, regarding the doctor angrily. “I can’t believe you would even ask this of me! I want nothing to do with them or anything they have touched, do you understand? Haven’t I done enough?”

Stephen stood, stepping closer to her, keeping his voice calm and soft. “Don’t you want to help them, Aelora? Especially if you can! You may be the only person, the only way – “

“I said no and I meant it,” she replied, her voice edged with steel. “I don’t care if they rot in those damned cryo’s, do you understand? Why should I help them, huh? Who is going to help me, Stephen? Who is going to make me normal again? Who is going to make it so I don’t wake up every morning wondering if I am going to lose hold of myself and begin slaughtering those closest to me? If I have to live with that fear every damn day of my life than they can certainly sleep through theirs!”

“Aelora!”

She walked away from him, leaving MedLab without a second glance at either Stephen or Da’Tan, who was attempting to make sense of the conversation he just witnessed. He stepped over to the doctor, his gaze confused.

“She is very powerful, is she not, doctor? She can heal, with just a touch of her hands?”

Stephen finally turned from the empty doorway to address the Narn standing before him. “Yes.” He nodded. “That’s right.”

“And she does not wish to share this gift? Am I understanding this correctly?”

Frustrated with the recent turn of events and the miracle that was placed before him that he was unable to do anything with, Stephen simply shrugged in reply and walked away. After all, he had a patient to look after.

Terann entered the Sh’lsoy’kavo Tavern, a seedy establishment filled with smoke, a low blue light and the various smells of alcohol and several species of unwashed aliens. The Minbari pulled her dark hood further over her face, obstructing the view of those too-curious few, while she lightly scanned the area around her for signs of Neroon. She stepped out of the way as an inebriated Drazi stumbled past her, casting her barely a glance before shuffling out into the cold night air of Notsalrad. A slight tremor passed through her, something that Aelora has once referred to as ‘someone walking over your grave’. Terann had never considered herself quite so fatalistic but for a moment she found herself wondering if she had been foolish in coming. Or at least, she should have brought Aelora with her. Either way, there was little that she could do now to rectify any mistakes she may have made. Besides, she doubted that anything would come up that she would not be able to handle. Neroon was Warrior Caste and she knew him – there was little he could conceive that would surprise her.

Moving deeper into the tavern, at last Terann felt Neroon’s presence. She allowed a smile, for as always, he was bursting with impatience, removed from the other beings within the establishment because he considered himself above them, his awareness heightened for anything untoward that might occur. For the briefest of moments, Terann considered turning and leaving, returning to her ship and Babylon 5 and forgetting all about Neroon and his existence. But as she had grown accustomed to, his very presence seemed to call out to her and, through no volition of her own, she moved toward the back of the tavern where Neroon sat waiting in a private room.

The Warrior stood at her entrance, the surprise at her appearance not masked. For a long moment they quietly regarded one another before Neroon spoke:

“I was beginning to think you would not come.”

“The thought never crossed my mind.”

“This could be a trap, you know.”

“Yes. It could. So I would be so much more the fool for trusting you. But for now, I will believe that your request to meet was sincere.”

Neroon blinked at that, clearly taken aback by her words. He seemed to consider them for a moment, causing Terann once more to rethink the trust she was offering. Then a smile crossed his face and he chuckled, a deep rumbling sound that vibrated from the very depths of his chest.

“You are sure of yourself and everything around you, Terann,” he commented and it was not meant to be an insult. “It is one of the many things I have always admired about you.”

“My heritage demands it.” There, she had said it. Put it out into the open for both of them to face, for Neroon to answer to and deal with. If she had made a mistake in coming, now would be when she would know.

The Warrior took a deep breath, glanced away for a moment as if struggling for words, then turned back to her, his mouth set in a look of grim determination. “Terann, I have said things… that I am not proud of. Perhaps behaved in a manner beneath me. The truth… is still difficult to come to terms with.”

“You spoke of ‘love’ to me, Neroon,” Terann told him quietly. She pulled her hood off of her head, meeting his gaze, letting him see her anger, her sorrow and disappointment. “You spoke of ‘forever’. Never before had I ever met someone who could so easily say words they did not mean.”

“In Valen’s name, Terann!” Neroon threw his hands up into the air and stalked away from her, pacing around the table that sat in the center of the tiny, darkened room. “You were raised as a Minbari! You know our people; you know how important purity is to our race! I had begun to see you as superior, as the Minbari that future generations would be, the Minbari we all should be! Only to learn that what I admired was another race, what I aspired to be was a lie, a manufactured representation of what could be!”

“That hurt,” Terann whispered, slipping her cloak back over her crest and turning to leave.

“Wait!” Neroon took two steps over to her, grabbed her arm. “I did not mean that the way it sounded. Please, do not leave. Not yet. Stay and allow me a chance at retribution.”

Terann considered his words before finally nodding and allowing him to guide her back into the room. He led her to a chair beside the table, helping her to remove her cloak before inviting her to sit down. He crossed to the back of the room where Terann noticed a black curtain hung and he peered through it for a minute before returning to sit in the chair across the table from her.

“I took the liberty of having a meal prepared for us.”

It was a thoughtful gesture on his part and Terann felt her suspicion raise a notch. Quickly she chided herself for being so distrustful, for not giving him at least a chance. During the flight to Notsalrad, she had considered the option of scanning him but finally had decided against it. If any trust were to renew itself between them, then she could not go around using those things that made her different against him. She would have to rely on her instincts and his honor as a Minbari that he had not lied to her.

The next few moments they made small talk while a diminutive Gaim female entered and set out a meal before them, a mixture of Minbari entrees as well as a few Antarean side dishes. Neroon queried about the past few weeks, her work with the Rangers and events on Babylon 5. Terann offered only short, concise answers, determined not to give too much of herself away. Though she had begun detailed and dangerous work with the Rangers, she did not want Neroon to begin to suspect the amount of time she spent wandering the station, feeling sorry for her plight, missing him, allowing the loneliness to take hold. She was proud that she had pulled herself out enough to begin to move forward, to even see her mistakes regarding her reaction to the relationship between Aelora and G’Kar. She only hoped that coming here, that holding on to the smallest shred of hope, would not turn out to be yet another mistake.

They ate quietly and Terann began to relax in the companionable silence. The food was prepared as excellently as if by a Minbari chef and the two decidedly different alien flavors worked well together. Terann realized that it was the first time she had eaten for enjoyment in many months and the thought saddened her. How much of life had she missed out on? She knew she had been so wrapped up in her own pain that she had been unable to see Aelora’s happiness without feeling her own anger and regret, and for that she had almost pushed her friend away. As Aelora had reminded her, there was a time that Terann had encouraged a relationship between her and the Narn, only to then turn around and criticize it once it occurred. Certainly, some of her misgivings had stemmed from the mindwipe and her part in it but the action had led to Aelora’s happiness, which was exactly the reason behind its implementation. What else had she missed? What other part of life had she been blind to? It was as if the shades on the window of her life had been closed and suddenly opened and she sat there at that table realizing that nothing around her was as horrible as it seemed, that she had suffered through worse and survived, that there were others out there whose lives were filled with more loneliness and sorrow and pain than she could possibly imagine. Something inside her opened up and Terann felt as if a great weight were lifted from her shoulders and her spirits soared and she knew then that everything would be all right. The Universe had not been created with the sole purpose of tormenting and testing her. She was but a tiny spark amidst galaxies of fire.

Glancing up she caught Neroon and smiled at him, causing his brow to furrow in confusion and it only made her smile more.

“Something you wish to share?” He asked, as his brow rose in curiosity.

“I do not know if you could understand.” She moved the food around on her plate with her fork in distraction for a long moment before answering, “I think I have finally accepted my life, my role in the Universe. I think… I believe things will be okay from here on out.”

Neroon remained silent, watching her. His gaze was unfathomable to Terann at the moment and again she was tempted to scan him then pushed the thought aside. She need not fear that everyone she met was out to get her. There had to be good in the Universe or else what was the purpose of living?

After they finished their meal, the Gaim female returned and cleared the plates, leaving them once more in a companionable silence. Neroon leaned back in his chair, studying the Minbari across from him for long moments before finally leaning forward across the table, his eyes taking on a strange and sudden light.

“I do wish you had gone along with all that Shakiri had spoken to you of back on Minbar.”

Terann froze abruptly as she lifted the cup of tea to her lips. She regarded Neroon for the next minute before setting the cup between them. “What do you mean? You are determined to drive the Minbari people apart?”

“I am determined not to allow any more impurities into the Minbari race, Terann.”

Her gaze narrowed as he stood and moved around the table.

“Nothing is more important to Shakiri than the Minbari people, Terann. I thought you would have seen that.”

“Nothing other than perhaps his own importance,” Terann replied, gathering her feet beneath her to stand. “Pity. I thought you had changed.”

“Oh, I have, Terann. I have,” Neroon told her, reverting to his most smug of tones.

When she went to stand, Terann realized almost belatedly that her limbs seemed heavy, as if steeped in mud. She used her hands to leverage herself with the table but once on her feet, she could do little more than sway unsteadily. The room around her was beginning to spin; her eyes could not focus.

“What… What have you done to me?” She demanded of Neroon, attempting to take a step toward him only to fall forward as her legs collapsed beneath her. She remained on her hands and knees on the ground, forcing her mind to focus, closing her eyes against the nausea that was surging through her. Her body felt like led.

“Tired, huh?” Neroon crouched down in front of her, watching her eyes as she fought to keep them open, as her body continued to sway from the exertion she used to keep from collapsing completely.

“Wh – what…”

“It is an interesting little concoction your Earth friends designed. They are quite imaginative when you come right down to it. Brutally so. I cannot see a Minbari going to such imaginative lengths to cause discomfort to another. We would certainly use more… practical techniques. You should be quite unconscious in oh, say five more minutes or so.”

“Not… possible,” Terann attempted to argue, her arms giving way so that she fell to her elbows. Her speech pattern was becoming slurred, her heartbeat slowing, her senses dulled to a soft hum. She tried to reach out in anger with her mind to Neroon, to simply tear into his mind and shred his brain to pieces and be done with it but she found she could not call upon any such ability that had been available to her since birth. Slowly, she shook her head in disbelief.

“I would not have believed it possible either,” Neroon commented, lifting her chin up so that their gazes met. The fire in hers was slowly diminishing as her eyes lost their focus. You are inordinately beautiful, he thought regrettably. Pity.

“But again, the Earthers seem to think of everything, especially that Psi Corps. Seems they developed some highly potent drug just for you. Ingested through food, unable to detect through smell or taste, it works both as an inhibitor for your psychic abilities and a drug to put you to sleep. Imaginative, as I said. I had not realized you were so valued among them or I may have sought them out myself. Amazing that they would go to such lengths for freak.”

Terann slurred a curse in Vik that only caused Neroon to laugh.

“What a touching scene.”

Neroon dropped his hand, jumping quickly to his feet at the voice. Four male Humans and the Human female he knew as Ashlen stood just inside the door. Ashlen’s arms were folded over her chest and she stared down at Terann with an odd mixture of contempt and curiosity.

“You are early, Human,” Neroon sneered, allowing his dislike for the beings before him to show.

“Did you think I would truly allow a mundane to attempt this on his own?” Ashlen laughed. “Please. I’d rather trust a Teek.” She moved forward, jabbing the toe of her boot into the inert form of Terann. The Minbari/Vorlon hybrid could only stare at her, unable to speak.

“So how does it feel?” Ashlen returned her attention to Neroon. “Betraying one of your own people?”

Neroon raised his head defiantly. He had hated the female before him on sight but his duty to the Minbari people had forced him to work with her. Otherwise, he would have gladly broken her body into tiny pieces. “She is not Minbari. I have done this for my people.”

“Sure you have.” Ashlen smiled coldly and without a word or signal the four male Psi Cops stepped forward, gathering Terann up into their arms and carrying her from the tavern to their awaiting ship.

Ashlen turned back to Neroon, quickly scanning through his mind. What she found there did not surprise her. “Don’t be a fool, Minbari,” she warned him. “No second thoughts now. I could make you into a vegetable with very little effort. Just keep in mind that what you have done here is a great service to the entire Universe.”

“If I truly believed your people would gain anything from this, I would never have agreed to it,” Neroon told her, his fists clenched at his sides.

“That shows what you, a mundane, understands.” Ashlen flashed him another small, cold smile. “But it doesn’t matter. I have what I want and you… well, perhaps one day the Minbari people will understand what they have lost. Good day to you, Shai Alyt Neroon.” She bowed arrogantly and disappeared from the room.

Neroon remained alone in the silence long after the Humans had left.

The door sliding open before her, Aelora breathed a heavy sigh of relief to once again be back in her quarters. She had just finished another eight hour shift and she felt even the most insignificant muscles in her body protest her every movement. Collapsing on the sofa, she glanced at the communications terminal that was incessantly blinking at her. She closed her eyes, attempting to ignore it, but curiosity won out quickly and she called out for it to relay any new messages. As she suspected there was only one -- from G’Kar, and she found herself smiling as the Narn’s deep voice played through the com-unit’s speaker.

The Human had grown accustomed to these daily recordings G’Kar had taken to sending her. At first she had found them to be frivolous, as G’Kar usually met her directly after her shifts ended, meaning she would receive the messages after having seen him. But as the days passed and the daily messages continued she began to take comfort in them. Finally someone cared about her, worried about her and thought of her constantly and it caused a warm feeling to rush over her. To have someone profess their feelings was one thing; to see these feelings acted upon was something completely different and admittedly foreign to her.

The recording ended with G’Kar telling her that he would pick her up for dinner at six that evening and Aelora grunted wearily as she noticed that she had only a little more than an hour to wash and dress and make herself look presentable.

Moving into the adjoining washroom, Aelora found herself oddly longing for the comforts of home, where she would have been able to treat herself to a proper bath instead of the vibe showers that were standard on Babylon 5. She remembered how as a child she loved the exquisite feel of the bubbles as they enveloped her tiny body. Her mother--her real mother would sit on the edge of the tub and together they would build mountains with the suds, making up stories of princesses and knights rescuing them from evil. More often than not, Soria would end up as wet as her child and both would be reduced to tears of laughter. Only when the bubbles had disappeared and the water around her had grown cold would the young Aelora allow her mother to help her from her bath, wrapping her in a thick towel and holding her close to her.

Pushing the painful memories from her mind, Aelora’s hand brushed against her cheek, feeling the wetness of the tears that now stained them.

At one time she had longed for memories of her mother, the ones that predated their final flight from the Psi Corps, the ones that had been squashed with years of Centauri teachings. But as they had returned, she found herself missing her mother more than she believed she ever had. As a child she had felt the pain of her mother’s death but the warmth and comforts offered by the Kyra’s did much to settle a child who was accustomed to the cold harshness of the outside world. Now as a woman, one with a job, a home, the comforts of a lover and the closeness of those who called her friend, she found she no longer possessed the same frailty that had protected her before.

Stepping from the shower, she wrapped herself in a thick, dark-green robe, glancing at herself in the mirror; silently pleased with the way she looked. Her hair growth was progressing quickly and now fell in loose ringlets that just barely brushed her shoulders and the vibe shower had given her cheeks a rosy glow. Casually she dropped the robe from her shoulders, holding it closed over her breasts with one hand while her other gathered her loose curls atop her head. She cast a sultry pout at her reflection before bursting into a fit of laughter.

Moving back into the main room she pulled her robe back around her, stopping briefly with the realization that she once again found herself to be attractive. Gone was her fixation on the loss of her long red hair or the countless scars that marred her body. Had G’Kar’s love for her finally set her mind at ease allowing her to come to terms with all that they had been forced to bear? Had she finally accepted those things that she was incapable to change? These thoughts empowered her as she realized that for the first time in her life she was completely free. She could be the person that she always suspected resided deep within her without fear of recrimination. She no longer had to play act at being a proper Centauri woman with the Kyra’s -- or their eyes -- always looking over her. All the secrets of her life had been erased with one broad stroke. Da’Tan had returned, helping her to uncover the truth of her past before Centauri Prime. The Shadows were gone and so was the fear that lingered there. Everything she had ever dreamed of was finally clenched tightly within her grasp.

Moving over to the closet she shared with Terann, she began her search for something to wear, tossing one outfit after another onto the Minbari’s empty bed as she decided against them. As G’Kar had not told her where he was taking her, it made the choice that much more difficult. Her income and the hefty discount that Harden had offered her had enabled her to add to her wardrobe. Only now did she realize how much she had purchased and began to wonder where she would keep the new outfits she was planning to buy as she was already encroaching on Terann’s half of the closet. Not that it mattered. As a Minbari, fashion was one of the furthest things from her mind and her limited wardrobe only proved this. Absently, Aelora noted that Terann’s ever-present uniform was no longer hanging in the closet. She had never actually seen her friend wear it and still had difficulty picturing the Minbari’s slight frame amidst its many bulky layers. Oddly a wave of sadness washed over her. Moments before her mind had been whirling with her own sense of happiness and security about her present and future but now she found herself guilty for feeling such things. While she had G’Kar who loved and cherished her, a job, even one as mundane as hers was, and a future which lay wide open before her, Terann had nothing; no home to speak of, no one aside from Aelora who truly loved her and no real purpose in life. The thought made her both angry and sad, yet she knew that the Minbari would be upset that Aelora felt this way. Terann took comfort in her belief that she needed nothing and no one but Aelora knew otherwise. Figuring that the Minbari must have discarded her uniform in an attempt to forget a life that was no longer available to her, Aelora pushed its absence from her mind.

Shaking her head, Aelora moved back to her task, choosing a long black skirt marked with dark greens and browns offsetting it with a black top. She had purchased the outfit only the day before and was eager to show it to G’Kar. As she set about dressing the chime sounded at the door and after straightening her shirt over her skirt Aelora called out:

“Come!”

The door slid open and the Human instantly smiled as G’Kar stepped across the threshold. “You’re early,” she admonished the traces of her smile still on her face.

“I could not wait any longer,” G’Kar admitted, moving about the room curiously, looking over the small quarters Aelora called home.

“Well you will have to wait,” Aelora informed him. “I’m not ready yet.”

“So long as I am seeing you, I could wait for an eternity.”

Aelora rolled her eyes at that then offered G’Kar a seat on the sofa while she continued to get ready.

The Narn’s eyes followed the Human as she returned to the washroom before he settled back on the sofa. Once again he began looking about the room, noticing the subtle eccentricities of the two women that lived there. Silently he hated the thought of Aelora living in Brown Sector, preferring that she had agreed to accept his offer of sharing his quarters with him. He understood Aelora’s loyalty to her friend, regardless of how he himself felt about Terann, yet still he felt ill every time he thought of her being forced to live in such simple surroundings. Hopefully, he thought, that would all soon change.

Several moments later Aelora returned, her hair a mass of red curls, her eyes and lips accented by the light application of make-up. “Ready?” She asked, standing at the end of the sofa.

“Yes,” G’Kar said rising to his feet then almost immediately sank back onto the couch. “No.”

Aelora’s brow furrowed. “What’s wrong?”

When G’Kar paused, she moved to sit beside him taking his hand in hers. She could sense his uncertainty about something but was not callous enough to probe further into his thoughts. Reassuringly she squeezed his hand urging him to confide in her.

The Narn met Aelora’s gaze with his own, noting how easily he could become lost in her. “I love you, Aelora.”

“And I love you, G’Kar.”

“No.” He shook his head. “It is more than that. I want to protect you...”

Aelora cast him an annoyed look. “You aren’t going to start that again, are you?”

“It is not that, Aelora.” He told her, moving off the couch until he kneeled before her. “I need to protect you, to know you are safe and happy. I never want you to know pain and fear again. I want you to know the person you are as I do, to love yourself as I love you.”

“I...” Aelora began but her words were cut off as G’Kar drew a small, delicate cloth from under his tunic. He held it out to her, unfolding the intricate layers, revealing a small ring made of the most beautiful material the Human had ever seen. The metal was a strange reddish color and was inlaid with countless tiny diamonds.

“I have been studying all that I can about Earth and its customs, and I know that it is tradition for a man when he feels as I do, to give the one he loves a ring as a promise to stand by her, and to care for and love her as long as they both live.

“Among Narns it is seen as more of a business arrangement, but among Humans, marriage...”

“Marriage!” Aelora shrieked, not knowing what to think. Certainly she loved G’Kar with all her being, but marriage? It was not something she had considered perhaps out of her belief that eventually everyone abandoned her.

“If it is too soon...” G’Kar offered.

“No it isn’t that.” She paused hoping to form the words but G’Kar did not need her to, so well did he know and understand her.

“You are afraid.”

She nodded, worrying her lower lip trying to force back the tears.

The Narn took both her hands in his, baring his emotions and projecting all his love to her. “You do not need to be, shon’Ur. Through all we have seen and all we have been forced to endure, I have stood by you as you have me. Even when we were both too stubborn or arrogant or afraid to love, we still did. Can you not see that we have already passed insurmountable odds; we have faced down the universe and emerged in each other’s arms. Is that not enough to convince you?”

As Aelora considered his words, he placed the ring on her finger, lovingly caressing the underside of her wrist as he did so.

She studied the ring, noting how the color of it changed depending on the way the light hit it, shifting from the deepest red to almost a rusty orange. “I have never seen anything like it,” she commented.

“It is a metal mined from the G’Quan mountain range on Homeworld. It holds no significant value, which is why the Centauri did not strip it from my world, but it does hold great spiritual significance.

“In ancient times when we did not possess the technology to create artificial breathing devices the thin atmosphere on the mountains made it impossible for all but the strongest of us to reach the summits. Those that did returned with small samples of this metal as a reminder that we possess, within each of us, the courage and strength to overcome any obstacle.”

Lifting her eyes to meet his, Aelora placed her hands on his cheeks, sensing his bared emotions and transmitting her own back to him. She then pulled him into her embrace, kissing him passionately.

G’Kar felt himself melt in her embrace, leaning into her, his hands gently exploring the curves of her body. She moaned slightly, drawing him closer until they lay entwined in each other’s arms upon the sofa.

“Is this a yes?” G’Kar asked pulling his lips from hers only briefly.

“Yes!” Aelora managed laughing joyfully, her mouth once again finding his, all trepidation fleeing as she lost herself in his embrace.

This was where she belonged, she realized. Here with G’Kar, safe in his arms. It was suddenly as if she could feel Soria Campbell smiling down on her, and she knew she had made the right choice.

Here, now, Aelora’s life was finally beginning.